Premier League Round-Up: Matchweek 27 (League Cup Final Review)
Matchweek 27:
Cardiff 1-5 Watford
West Ham 3-1 Fulham
Burnley 2-1 Tottenham
Bournemouth 1-1 Wolves
Newcastle 2-0 Huddersfield
Leicester 1-4 Crystal Palace
Man United 0-0 Liverpool
Arsenal 2-0 Southampton
League Cup Final:
Chelsea 0-0 Man City (4-3 on penalties)
Kepa Stole The Show
When you tell the coach what to do
Photo Credit: CNN
Let’s start off with the League Cup Final, the smallest of the three trophies that big clubs can win in England, but nonetheless it’s still a trophy. The game was pretty dull 0-0, and ended up going to penalties, but there is one moment in the match as the minutes dwindled down in extra time that stole the show and has sent the media in a frenzy in the 24 hrs since the game. If you know anything about the sport or have even visited a a sports website you are already well aware of what happened. In the last minute, Chelsea head coach, for the time being, Maurizio Sarri attempted to pull starting goalie Kepa Arrizabalaga for back-up keeper Willy Caballero. Kepa said no. Check out the video.
Now Caballero is apparently known as a penalty specialist, that’s news to me, but the fact that Kepa who is only 24 yrs old and has been at the club for a whopping 6 months is refusing the coaches instructions is absolutely wild. I mean you’re not some club legend asking to stay in the game, you’re just blatantly defying the coach. Definitely a bold move that’s not going to do him any favors because not only did he stay in the game and Chelsea end up losing 4-3 on penalties, but he missed saving one of the worst penalties you’ll ever see from Sergio Aguero. After the game, Kepa came forward and said that it was a misunderstanding and that he thought Sarri only wanted to sub him out because Sarri thought he was injured when in fact he wasn’t. Sarri agreed with this narrative acted like it wasn’t a big deal. But let’s be serious folks, Sarri wanted Kepa out of the game regardless. This had nothing to do with a injury, he thought Caballero was the better keeper for the shootout and Kepa didn’t listen to his coach. If Sarri wants to be respected he will sit Kepa for the next couple games to teach him a lesson. And that pretty much sums up the final, folks. Nobody could score, Jorginho also had one of the most pathetic penalty attempts you’ll ever see to start off the shootout, Kepa misses Aguero’s awful penalty and David Luiz blasts one off the post. In the end, the performance wasn’t great but I think Sarri bought himself another game with this performance.
Liverpool Fan Have To Be Terrified
If there is one gif that sums up how Liverpool fans feel about their title chances it’s this
Liverpool have to be shaking in their boots. I mean one moment you are 7 pts clear past the halfway point of the season and the next your only 1 pt up with 11 games left. After Sunday’s draw against Man United, Liverpool have now dropped points in 3 of their last 4 games. They’ve also scored 1 goal or less in 3 of those 4 games so that’s a problem as well. Where is Salah and Firmino when you need them most? When the goals dry up, so do the points. Not a good look from a team that has a history of chocking. Liverpool get a couple of tough matches this week with 7th place Watford on Wednesday and then their cross town rival Everton on Sunday. They desperately need a bounce back with 2 wins this week or City could be wrapping up the title by the middle of April.
Other Notes:
Just when you thought Tottenham were gonna pick up their first tie of the year, they didn’t. No joke, we are 27 games in and Tottenham still don’t have a tie, maybe the craziest stat of the season. Tottenham allowed a 83rd minute goal to Ashley Barnes and lose 2-1 to now 14th place Burnley. Burnley have struggled all season long but pick up a big 3 pts that should all but secure them from relegation. Tottenham of course miss the chance to be only 3 pts back of 1st place and instead are now 6 pts back.
Also how about the fact that Tottenham went on such a good run when Harry Kane was injured but the first game that their best player comes back, they lose. Can’t make this stuff up.
Tottenham get Chelsea this Wednesday and that could very well be Sarri’s last game. I feel like we are on Sarri-watch for the next couple of weeks and all it will take is one more bad result and he’s gone. Tottenham have also had Chelsea’s number as of late winning 3 out of their last 4 Premier League matchups.
Other big games this week we have Tottenham again, vs Arsenal on Saturday morning and then as already mentioned the Merseyside Derby(Liverpool vs Everton) on Sunday.
We got a full slate of matches this week with Premier League both midweek and on the weekend, get ready because the title race can be flipped on its head in a heartbeat.
Thanny