EPL review: Sanchez struck twice to ease fans discontent, Aguero scored his 100th Premier League goal
– Vernon Anita snatches a significant equaliser to earn Newcastle a brave point
– Liverpool rout Everton in a dominant Merseyside derby win
– Carroll’s stunner and Noble’s penalty brace revives the Hammers Champions League hopes.
– Unlikely hero Mattio Darmian helps Manchester United to put pressure on Arsenal
NAIJ.com sports brings you the continually intriguing EPL season with Newcastle United’s battling draw at home to Manchester City. Liverpool claimed the bragging right with a comprehensive thumping of Everton, while West ham are now four points from the top four.
Mesut-Ozil and Alexis Sanchez
Arsenal 3-0 West Bromwich Albion
Alexis Sanchez rediscovered his goal scoring form to score a brace and help Arsenal to an easy win at home to West Brom, reaffirming their third place on the table.
It was a well deserved victory with the Gunners creating so many chances but failed to convert them to a more comprehensive score line with Ozil, Sanchez and Ramsey having good chances.
Sanchez’s opening goal was a fantastic solo effort after a delightful pass from Aaron Ramsey from 30yards out’ rounding the visitors defence to smash a lovely strike past the goalkeeper, Ben Forster in the seventh minute.
He made it two in the 37th minute with a 20yard free kick to effectively end the contest. Arsenal are now within 10 points of leaders Leicester with four games remaining.
Sergio Aguero
Newcastle United 1-1 Manchester City
Newcastle United are now within a touching distance of Sunderland and Norwich with this well deserved point which could have been three if not for Sergio Aguero’s offside goal.
The Geordie manager Rafael Benitez’s team selection was justified as Cheik Tiote, Moussa Sissoko, and Andros Townsend came to the fore with impressive performances to give the Champions League semi-finalist a lot to ponder before their encounter with Real Madrid.
It might have been an entirely different outcome had the substitute, Georgino Wijnaldum scored a late chance to win a thoroughly pulsating game.
Aguero’s 100th Premier League goal and 22nd in this campaign, put City ahead in the 14th minute when he headed an incisive free-kick from Kolarov into the net. It should never have stood as he was offside.
Anita, who was deployed out of position at right-back rather than midfield, had not scored for more than two years, levelled the scoring with a delightful low shot through a tangle of legs from Sissoko’s crossfield pass.
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With only two points separating the Geordies from safety, they have now given themselves a great chance to retain their EPL status, while the Etihad outfit has a fight on their hands to finish in the top four.
Jurgen Klopp laughing at his team’s victory
Liverpool 4-0 Everton
Liverpool extended Everton’s long wait for an Anfield victory with a moral sapping thumping, a dominant and one-sided Merseyside derby.
Divock Origi, Mamadou Sakho, Daniel Sturridge, and Philip Coutinho scored the goals that gave Liverpool a comprehensive win in this Merseyside mauling, to leave the Everton manager Roberto Martinez “embarrassed”.
James Milner was the star performer with two assists. He supplied the first with a superb cross for Origi to firmly nod home for the opener two minutes before the break – his fifth goal in as many games, before supplying another for Sakho to double the scoring in stoppage time.
Sturridge, who replaced Origi after a dreadful challenge by Ramiro Funes Moris made it three just after the hour mark to reach a half-century of goals for Liverpool in just 87games.
Coutinho put a seal on the proceedings with a well taken fourth in the 76th minute, to cut the gap to fourth-placed Arsenal to just six points, heaping more pressure on the Gunners and the Everton manager ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final clash with Manchester United.
Louis van gaal
Manchester United 2-0 Crystal Palace
A stunning goal by Darmian, after forcing an own goal for the lead put Manchester United back in the hunt for a Champions League place.
The unlikely hero ensured United are now within a point of the EPL top four. His low cross turned into the visitors net by Damien Delaney after just four minutes, before firing the second to double the scoring shortly after the break and give United another straight forward home victory to follow Saturday’s win that relegated Aston Villa.
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The score-line could have been worse for the visitors who made six changes to their starting line ahead of their FA Cup semi-final with Watford on Sunday, but for some wonderful saves by the stand-in goalkeeper Julian Speroni.
West Ham players celebrates their victory
West Ham 3-1 Watford
The Hammers ended a run of five consecutive league draws in the EPL with a fine victory against a depleted Watford, who made seven changes to the side with the FA Cup semi-final encounter with Crystal Palace on Sunday in mind.
The hosts took full advantage to keep their top four hopes alive with Andy Carroll’s volley in the 11th minute setting the tone. Mark Noble’s first of penalty brace came just before the break, before doubling up from the spot again eight minutes into the second half.
Sebastian Prodl scored an excellent consolation goal – a stunning half-volley, but not enough to stop the run of just one win in eight league games.
West Ham are now just four points from Arsenal and with a realistic prospect of a Champions League place.
Editor’s note: It was originally published in the morning of April 21 and updated in the evening after the last match.
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