Reds bench strength plus other stats & stories you might have missed in today’s Premier League action
No fewer than seven matches took place in the Premier League this Saturday.
The day began at 3 pm with Tottenham, Liverpool, Newcastle, Brighton, West Ham and Chelsea among those in action.
That was a precursor to a contest between Luton and Aston Villa in the late kick-off.
With the bulk of matchday 27’s fixtures being played, it’s only natural if you miss an important or memorable event. But don’t worry – Squawka is here with several things you might have missed from this latest round of games.
38 games and counting
History was made at Tottenham’s home when Timo Werner equalised for the hosts against Crystal Palace. That effort meant Spurs have now scored in 38 consecutive Premier League matches, equivalent to going an entire regular season without being shut out, a feat managed once before. And that was by fierce rival and neighbour Arsenal, who hold the outright record: 55 straight games between May 2001 and December 2002.
Timo's first goal in Lilywhite 🤍 pic.twitter.com/7YZZC1bzoR
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) March 2, 2024
Furthermore, the Gunners remain the only side in history that has scored at least one goal in every match of a Premier League season, which they did in 2001/02. Tottenham are on course to match that, but they still have a series of tough fixtures, including trips to Villa Park, St James’ Park and Anfield. Before encountering Liverpool, they face tough matches against Manchester City and Arsenal at home.
Werner’s effort was soon followed by Cristian Romero and Son Heung-Min finding the net, meaning Ange Postecoglou’s men snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. Eberechi Eze had given the visitors a 59th-minute lead. Success also means Spurs are now unbeaten in their last 12 top-flight meetings against Palace at home (ten wins and two draws) since a 0-1 defeat in November 1997.
Super subs
When things were heading towards a goalless stalemate at the City Ground second half substitute Darwin Núñez headed a 99th minute winner. Liverpool have now seen their substitutes produce a combined 22 goals (11) or assists (11) in the Premier League this season; in the competition’s history, only Manchester City in 2011-12 (24) and Arsenal in 2009-10 (23) have had more goal involvements by substitutes in a single season.
Macca's cross 👏
Darwin's finish 😍Late, great drama 💜 pic.twitter.com/lUEPcbN8Ra
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) March 2, 2024
From a personal standpoint, Núñez scored more Premier League goals for Liverpool this season (10) than he managed in the entirety of last season (9). Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espírito Santo lost all seven Premier League meetings with Liverpool. Only three managers have a worse 100% loss record against a side in the competition – Gary Megson v Liverpool (lost 9/9), Marco Silva v Man City (9/9) and Paul Jewell v Man Utd (8/8).
Standing on the shoulders of giants
These two! 😍 pic.twitter.com/TKEVgQ34Wn
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) March 2, 2024
Pressure on Eddie Howe was alleviated further as Newcastle ran out comfortable 3-0 winners over Wolves, their first home Premier League game of 2024 – ending a run of four consecutive games in the competition without a win at St James’ Park, with the victory ensuring that the Magpies have avoided their longest winless such run since November 2021.
Getting the ball rolling was Alexander Isak, the Swedish marksman has netted 11 goals across 19 Premier League appearances for Newcastle this season, surpassing his tally in the competition from last term (10 goals in 22 games). Meanwhile, Isak he’s opened the scoring in each of his two appearances against Wolves in the top-flight.
What’s even more impressive, the former Borussia Dortmund man has scored 12 goals in his first 20 home Premier League games for Newcastle; only Alan Shearer (21), Andy Cole (21) and Les Ferdinand (16) have scored more in their first 20 at St James’ Park for the Magpies.
Anthony Gordon — who’s last seven Premier League strikes have come at home — and Tino Livramento completed the scoring. Back to Howe, he’s now recorded his 100th win in the Premier League, making him the eighth English manager to reach that milestone in the competition.
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Southpaw
Arjen Robben’s right foot was once described as “made of chocolate” by compatriot Johan Cruyff; the Dutch word ‘chocoladebeen‘ subsequently means a player’s weak foot. Harry Wilson’s right peg would be his, and the Fulham forward cemented that sentiment when he put Marco Silva’s men in front against Brighton this afternoon.
It was his third of the campaign and notably only Stuart Pearce (20), Bryan Mbeumo (20) and Dwight McNeil (16) have scored more Premier League goals with all of them coming exclusively with their left-foot than him (12/12).
21 mins:
Goal – WILSON
Assist – MUNIZ32 mins:
Goal – MUNIZ
Assist – WILSON pic.twitter.com/1co5hwYbks— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) March 2, 2024
Fulham would consolidate their last-minute win over Manchester United at Old Trafford with a 2-0 success. Wilson initially converted a Rodrigo Muniz pass and the Welshman soon returned the favour by assisting Muniz’s effort after the half hour mark.
A near three-decade miserable run
Beto had the opportunity to put Everton in front against West Ham from 12 yards but fluffed his lines. He subsequently became the 31st player to take a Premier League penalty for the Toffees and the 23rd to fail to score one, with only Arsenal (24) having more different players miss from the spot. Meanwhile, it was the 27th Premier League penalty saved by a West Ham goalkeeper, three more than any other side.
Sean Dyche’s side did go ahead through Beto, though it was a shortlived lead as Kurt Zouma soon equalised. His effort coupled with Richarlison scoring for Tottenham means this is the first time Everton have had two former players score against them at Goodison Park in a single Premier League campaign since 2005-06 (Gary Speed and Wayne Rooney).
How we're feeling after that game 😅 pic.twitter.com/D6DI5j1eeN
— West Ham United (@WestHam) March 2, 2024
Tomas Soucek ensured all three points were heading south in the final stages. He’s scored more 90th-minute winning goals in the Premier League than any other West Ham player (three). Indeed, three of the Hammers’ last four such goals have been netted by Soucek.
Everton is winless in its last 10 Premier League games (five draws and five losses), including all seven in 2024 (five draws and two losses). It’s their joint-longest winless run from the start of a calendar year in their league history. The club’s last longer winless streak was from 20th August 1994 to 29th October 1994, a run of 12 games.
Blue Kryptonite
A topsy-turvy week for Chelsea ended with a disappointing result. Having gone in front at Brentford, the Blues required an 83rd-minute Axel Disasi equaliser to salvage a point, which means they have won just one of their six Premier League meetings with the Bees, losing three of their last five against the Bees (two draws). It’s their lowest win rate against any opponent they have faced 5+ times in the competition (16.7%).
Spoils shared.#CFC | #BreChe pic.twitter.com/Hege6g4Zfk
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) March 2, 2024
Nicolas Jackson had put the visitors in front before Mads Roerslev levelled proceedings. Yoane Wissa put the hosts ahead before the late drama. Those efforts from their west London neighbours mean Brentford have conceded 50 goals in their 27 Premier League games this season, already four more than they shipped in 2022-23.
Wonderful Watkins
This is undoubtedly Ollie Watkins’ breakthrough season. His efforts in the 24th and 38th minute at Kenilworth Road means he’s been involved in more Premier League goals than any other player this season (26- 16 goals and ten assists), with 16 goals being his most in a single Premier League campaign.
Only Erling Haaland has scored more (17) – it’s also the most Premier League goals by a Villa player since Christian Benteke scored 19 in 2012/13.
Ollie Watkins' 15th @PremierLeague goal of the season! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/gzVdkY8jUr
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) March 2, 2024
Furthermore, in 1997-98, only Dwight Yorke scored as many away goals in a single Premier League campaign for Aston Villa as Watkins’ nine this season. Creating that deadlock-breaking goal was Leon Bailey, the Jamaican forward have now combined for seven Premier League goals this season, more than any other duo.
A solid half-time lead was overturned in less than 30 minutes after the break, with Tahith Chong and Carlton Morris restoring parity; the latter has now scored four goals in five Premier League matches since the start of February, including one in each of his three games at Kenilworth Road – only Fulham’s Rodrigo Muniz has scored more home goals in that period (four).
Unai Emery’s men stared at more dropped points until the 89th minute when Lucas Digne nodded in Villa’s winner—his first Premier League goal with his head and inside the box.
