EPL 2024-25: Matchweek 13 Recap

We have a quick turnaround in the English Premier League this week, with Matchweek 13 concluding on Sunday and Matchweek 14 kicking off as early as Tuesday. While players and staff may grumble about the relentless fixture congestion, for fans like us, it means more opportunities to watch our favorite teams twice in one week. As the league table starts to take shape, teams are making their cases for the title, European spots, and survival in the relegation battle.

The headline of the weekend was the Liverpool vs. Manchester City derby. With Liverpool’s victory, they now sit nine points clear at the top, with Arsenal moving into second. Meanwhile, City’s fourth consecutive Premier League loss drops them to fifth, putting immense pressure on Pep Guardiola’s side to bounce back. Brighton have cracked the top four, while Nottingham Forest hang on to sixth, fending off Tottenham, whose inconsistency keeps them on the outside looking in. Elsewhere, Manchester United climb into the top 10 following a brilliant home performance under Ruben Amorim, while Aston Villa’s winless run sees them fall to 12th, just behind another underperforming side in Newcastle United. At the bottom of the table, Leicester City have escaped the relegation zone and will now look to rebuild under new manager Ruud van Nistelrooy.

As for my predictions, I correctly picked six winners/losers/draws but missed out on any exact scorelines. It was a weekend of unpredictable results with three teams scoring four goals, another netting five, and several winnable matches ending in surprising draws. Given the chaos, I’m not too pressed about the outcomes this week and look forward to this matchweek for results.

With another quick turnaround, I’ll be back on Friday to recap Matchweek 14 and preview Matchweek 15. For now, let’s dive into how Matchweek 13 unfolded and what Matchweek 14 has in store!

Brighton 1-1 Southampton

Brighton seemed destined for victory after Mitoma’s well-taken header from Lamptey’s pinpoint cross put them ahead. However, Southampton showed grit, with Flynn Downes smashing home the equalizer in the second half. Late controversy arose when Cameron Archer’s potential winner was ruled out by VAR due to offside. Brighton dominated possession, recording 22 shots to Southampton’s 10, but their inability to capitalize on key chances proved costly. Coming off two wins and riding momentum against bottom-of-the-table opponents, the Seagulls will view this as a missed opportunity to strengthen their top-four push.

Brentford 4-1 Leicester City

A Kevin Schade masterclass inspired Brentford to a commanding win at home, maintaining their fortress-like record at the Gtech Community Stadium. Schade’s hat-trick, including two stunning strikes before halftime and a composed finish in the second half, overshadowed Buonanotte’s early opener for Leicester. Brentford showcased their attacking prowess, while Leicester’s defensive frailties remain glaring, even under the watchful eye of newly appointed manager Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Crystal Palace 1-1 Newcastle United

Selhurst Park witnessed a dramatic ending as Daniel Munoz scored a stoppage-time equalizer for Palace. Newcastle, struggling with injuries and creativity, took the lead through a Guehi own goal but managed only one shot throughout the game. Palace’s relentless pressure paid off late, as their fighting spirit earned them a deserved point, extending Newcastle’s dismal record at Selhurst Park.

Nottingham Forest 1-0 Ipswich Town

Chris Wood’s ninth goal of the season, a calmly but powerfully converted penalty, was enough to secure all three points for Forest. Ipswich defended admirably but failed to create meaningful chances, with Forest’s high press stifling their buildup play. Forest’s form and cohesive play continue to be pivotal as they aim to stay in the top half of the table.

Wolves 2-4 Bournemouth

A penalty hat-trick from Justin Kluivert made history as Bournemouth snapped their away winless streak in a chaotic affair. Wolves showed resilience, with Strand-Larsen scoring twice, but their defensive lapses proved costly. Evanilson’s electric movement earned all three penalties, and Bournemouth’s clinical finishing saw them take a vital step forward in their quest for stability.

West Ham 2-5 Arsenal

Arsenal delivered a statement win, dismantling West Ham in a thrilling encounter. Bukayo Saka starred, contributing to four goals, including a breathtaking assist for Trossard’s strike. West Ham briefly threatened with goals from Wan-Bissaka and a stunning free kick from Emerson, but Arsenal’s relentless attack proved too much as they put five past West Ham at the London Stadium, propelling them to second in the table.

Tottenham 1-1 Fulham

Tottenham’s inconsistency struck again as they failed to capitalize on Brennan Johnson’s opener. Fulham leveled through Tom Cairney’s long-range strike before Cairney’s red card left the visitors with 10 men. Despite their numerical advantage, Spurs lacked creativity in the final third, leaving Ange Postecoglou visibly frustrated—especially coming off last weekend’s emphatic 4-0 win over Manchester City at the Etihad.

Manchester United 4-0 Everton

Ruben Amorim secured his first home league win as United manager with a dominant display. Rashford and Zirkzee both bagged braces, while Amad Diallo shone as the creative force behind United’s second-half blitz. Everton’s defensive errors compounded their struggles as United took a much-needed three points through a dominant effort.

Chelsea 3-0 Aston Villa

Chelsea’s resurgence continued with a dominant display at Stamford Bridge, dispatching Aston Villa with ease. Nicolas Jackson set the tone with a sharp opener, followed by Enzo Fernandez’s well-timed finish. Cole Palmer added a touch of brilliance with a stunning strike to seal the win. Villa’s defensive vulnerabilities were exposed yet again, extending their winless streak to five matches, leaving Unai Emery searching for solutions to their alarming decline following a promising start to the season.

Liverpool 2-0 Manchester City

Liverpool cemented their position at the top of the table with a statement win over a struggling Manchester City. Cody Gakpo opened the scoring with a clinical finish, and Mohamed Salah sealed the victory with a solid penalty. Van Dijk led the backline superbly, nullifying City’s attacking threats. For Pep Guardiola’s side, the result marks a seventh straight game without a win across all competitions, with their inability to counter Liverpool’s relentless high press further highlighting their growing struggles.

EPL 2024-25: Matchweek 14 Preview

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2024

Ipswich Town vs. Crystal Palace – 2:30 PM

Ipswich, desperate for points, face a resilient Palace side fresh off their late draw against Newcastle. Daniel Munoz will look to inspire again, with Eze, Sarr, and Mateta pulling the strings for the Palace attack, while Omari Hutchinson and Liam Delap remain Ipswich’s main creative outlets. Both sides will view this as a winnable fixture, making for a closely contested match as they look to climb out of the bottom of the table.

Prediction: Ipswich Town 1-1 Crystal Palace

Leicester City vs. West Ham United – 3:15 PM

Leicester, under the new leadership of Ruud van Nistelrooy, face a tough test against a West Ham side eager to bounce back from their heavy defeat to Arsenal. The Foxes’ defensive frailties will be under scrutiny against West Ham’s aerial threat from Soucek and Bowen’s pace on the counter. While van Nistelrooy will hope for an immediate response from his team, the inconsistent form of both sides makes this a tricky match to predict.

Prediction: Leicester City 1-2 West Ham United

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2024

Everton vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers – 2:30 PM

Wolves, fresh off a chaotic six-goal thriller against Bournemouth, face an Everton side struggling to find the back of the net. Strand-Larsen and Cunha will aim to capitalize on Everton’s defensive vulnerabilities, while Wolves’ own issues at the back could offer the Toffees a rare opportunity to score. With Wolves’ recent ability to both concede and score freely, this match seems set for goals, though Wolves’ recent form suggests they might edge it.

Prediction: Everton 1-2 Wolves

Manchester City vs. Nottingham Forest – 2:30 PM

Manchester City’s title hopes are at a critical juncture as they host a resilient Nottingham Forest side holding on to a top-six spot. Pep Guardiola’s men are under immense pressure to end their seven-game winless streak, with Erling Haaland needing to rediscover his scoring touch. Meanwhile, Forest will depend on Chris Wood’s reliability in front of goal, but the challenge of facing City at the Etihad makes this an uphill battle for the visitors. Guardiola, visibly feeling the heat, knows his side cannot afford another setback.

Prediction: Manchester City 3-1 Nottingham Forest

Newcastle United vs. Liverpool – 2:30 PM

Liverpool head to St. James’ Park full of confidence, sitting nine points clear at the top of the table. Mohamed Salah’s red-hot form will be pivotal once again, as he leads a Liverpool side that has been relentless in their press and efficiency in attack. Newcastle, dealing with injuries and struggling for consistency, face an uphill battle. To stand a chance, the Magpies will need to find a way to counter Liverpool’s intensity and capitalize on counterattacking opportunities as they look to bounce back to winning ways after two matches without a victory. However, given Liverpool’s current dominance, they are likely to come away with another convincing result.

Prediction: Newcastle United 1-2 Liverpool

Southampton vs. Chelsea – 2:30 PM

Prediction: Southampton 0-2 Chelsea

Arsenal vs. Manchester United – 3:15 PM

A blockbuster clash unfolds at the Emirates as Arsenal, sitting second in the table, take on a rejuvenated Manchester United under Ruben Amorim. Arsenal’s Ødegaard and Saka will aim to dictate the tempo and continue their brilliant form, while United’s Diallo will look to build on his recent inspiring displays. With both teams pushing to meet lofty season ambitions, this could be a tightly contested affair with the potential for either a high-scoring spectacle or a tactical battle defined by narrow margins.

Prediction: Arsenal 1-1 Manchester United

Aston Villa vs. Brentford – 3:15 PM

Villa’s struggles show no sign of easing as they prepare to face a Brentford side brimming with confidence after their emphatic four-goal performance last week. Kevin Schade’s hat-trick showcased his clinical finishing, and Brentford’s tactical discipline could expose a Villa team that has managed just two goals in their last five games. While Villa will hope that playing at home provides the spark for a much-needed bounce-back, Brentford’s recent momentum and attacking efficiency might be too much for a Villa squad still searching for answers while juggling the demands of multiple competitions.

Prediction: Aston Villa 1-2 Brentford

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2024

Fulham vs. Brighton – 2:30 PM

Brighton’s dynamic attack, led by Mitoma and Joao Pedro, is set to challenge Fulham’s shaky defensive structure. While Raul Jimenez and Alex Iwobi offer creative outlets for the hosts, Fulham will need to tighten up defensively to avoid being overwhelmed by Brighton’s high-energy play. This has the makings of a tightly contested match, with Brighton’s recent form giving them a slight edge, though a draw feels like a realistic outcome if Fulham can hold their shape.

Prediction: Fulham 1-2 Brighton

Bournemouth vs. Tottenham Hotspur – 3:15 PM

Tottenham’s formidable attack takes on a Bournemouth side riding high after Kluivert’s historic penalty hat-trick last weekend. Bournemouth’s newfound confidence and attacking momentum will pose a challenge, but Spurs, eager to build consistency after an up-and-down season, have the firepower to edge this matchup. I expect a high-scoring affair as both sides aim to capitalize on their offensive strengths.

Prediction: Bournemouth 2-3 Tottenham