EPL 2024-25: Matchweek 23 Recap

The Premier League title race and battle for European spots continue to heat up as we move into Matchweek 25. Liverpool remain at the summit, but Arsenal and Nottingham Forest refuse to back down, while Manchester City’s title defense took a brutal hit in their crushing loss to the Gunners. Chelsea remain in the top four, but Newcastle’s inconsistency has left them struggling to keep up. At the bottom, Leicester, Ipswich, and Southampton continue to fight for survival, while Everton’s recent results have given them a much-needed boost.

The last two matchweeks delivered some of the most statement results of the season—Nottingham Forest dismantled Brighton 7-0 in a ruthless display, Arsenal humiliated Manchester City 5-1 to strengthen their title charge, and Tottenham’s erratic form continued as they fell to Leicester before rebounding against Brentford. Meanwhile, Manchester United’s issues deepened with a dismal home defeat to Crystal Palace, while Everton’s resurgence under David Moyes has given them a fighting chance to climb the table.

Looking ahead to Matchweek 25, the pressure intensifies. Manchester City face a must-win clash against Newcastle to keep their fading title hopes alive, Arsenal travel to struggling Leicester with the chance to pile on more misery, and Spurs take on Manchester United in a battle of two inconsistent heavyweights. With so much uncertainty in the table, every match carries weight.

Let’s dive into the full recap of Matchweek 23 & 24 before previewing what’s to come in Matchweek 25.

AFC Bournemouth 5-0 Nottingham Forest

Bournemouth delivered a statement performance, thrashing Nottingham Forest 5-0 at home. Justin Kluivert set the tone early with a clinical finish in the ninth minute before Dango Ouattara stole the show with a stunning second-half hat-trick. Forest, missing the creativity of Callum Hudson-Odoi, struggled to impose themselves and were completely overwhelmed by Bournemouth’s pressing game. This emphatic result lifted Bournemouth further into European contention while raising questions about Forest’s true strength on the season.

Brighton & Hove Albion 0-1 Everton

A first-half penalty from Iliman Ndiaye was enough for Everton to secure a crucial away win at the Amex. Brighton controlled 69% of possession but lacked finishing touch, managing just one shot on target throughout the match. Everton’s defensive shape held firm as they frustrated the Seagulls, continuing their revival under David Moyes with a second straight victory.

Liverpool 4-1 Ipswich Town

Liverpool strengthened their grip at the top of the table with a dominant 4-1 victory over Ipswich at Anfield. Dominik Szoboszlai opened the scoring, and Cody Gakpo added a brace, continuing his excellent form. Liverpool created chance after chance, limiting Ipswich to just one shot until the 60th minute. Jacob Greaves netted a consolation goal late on, but it was another routine win for the title favorites.

Southampton 1-3 Newcastle United

Newcastle bounced back with a solid away victory, overcoming an early deficit to defeat Southampton. Jan Bednarek had given the Saints an early lead, but Alexander Isak responded in style, equalizing before halftime and adding a second from the penalty spot. Bruno Guimaraes dictated the midfield, while Newcastle created six big chances, ultimately sealing the win through a late strike from Anthony Gordon.

Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-1 Arsenal

Arsenal left Molineux with all three points in a narrow 1-0 victory despite playing with 10 men for much of the match. The Gunners had to grind out the win, with Riccardo Calafiori scoring the decisive goal late in the second half. Wolves started aggressively but failed to capitalize on their pressure, and Arsenal’s defensive resilience saw them through in a hard-fought contest.

Manchester City 3-1 Chelsea

Manchester City overcame an early setback to comfortably defeat Chelsea at the Etihad. Noni Madueke had given Chelsea the lead following an error from debutant Abdukodir Khusanov, but City quickly responded through Josko Gvardiol and Erling Haaland. Phil Foden added a third to put the game out of reach, while Chelsea’s inefficiency in front of goal continued to haunt them, with Nicolas Jackson missing a golden opportunity to equalize.

Crystal Palace 1-2 Brentford

Brentford edged past Crystal Palace with a composed away performance at Selhurst Park. Bryan Mbeumo converted a penalty—retaken after an initial save—before Kevin Schade doubled the lead with a well-placed header. Eberechi Eze was Palace’s most dangerous player, creating five chances, but the hosts struggled to break down a disciplined Brentford defense. Romain Esse pulled one back late, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Palace from slipping to another frustrating defeat.

Tottenham Hotspur 1-2 Leicester City

Leicester stunned Tottenham with a comeback victory in North London, further exposing Spurs’ struggles. Richarlison’s first-half strike had given the hosts the lead, but Jamie Vardy equalized just 58 seconds into the second half before El Khannouss completed the turnaround with a cool finish. Heung-min Son, playing centrally, was unable to make an impact, and Tottenham’s lack of midfield control and lack of a healthy defender ultimately cost them.

Aston Villa 1-1 West Ham United

A much-improved West Ham side battled back to earn a point at Villa Park. Jacob Ramsey put Villa ahead early, but Emerson’s towering header in the second half rescued a draw for the Hammers. West Ham controlled the latter stages, generating 1.06 xG in the second half alone, but neither side could find a winner in an even contest.

Fulham 0-1 Manchester United

Manchester United secured a gritty win at Craven Cottage, edging Fulham 1-0 thanks to a deflected strike from Lisandro Martinez. United managed just one shot on target in the entire match but defended resolutely to claim the points. Fulham came close to equalizing late on, but a crucial goal-line clearance from Harry Maguire preserved the victory for United.

EPL 2024-25: Matchweek 24 Recap

Nottingham Forest 7-0 Brighton & Hove Albion

Nottingham Forest delivered a stunning response to their Matchweek 23 humiliation by handing Brighton their own crushing defeat. A nightmare start for Brighton saw Lewis Dunk turn a Gibbs-White cross into his own net, setting the tone for a disastrous afternoon. Chris Wood stole the show with a hat-trick, finishing twice from Elanga assists before converting a penalty after Lamptey’s foul. Late goals from Neco Williams and Jota Silva piled on the misery as Brighton collapsed completely. This was Forest’s biggest win of the season, reigniting their push for the top four and restating their strength in the race.

AFC Bournemouth 0-2 Liverpool

Liverpool extended their lead at the top with a professional performance away at Bournemouth. A goal in each half from Salah sealed the points for the Reds, who controlled possession and created the better chances throughout. Bournemouth, despite their impressive form, struggled to break down Liverpool’s well-organized defense. This win further solidified Liverpool’s grip on the title race, keeping them firmly in control.

Everton 4-0 Leicester City

Everton dismantled a struggling Leicester side, securing a much-needed dominant victory. The hosts were in complete control from start to finish, punishing Leicester’s defensive lapses and lack of attacking efficiency. This result continues Leicester’s miserable run of form, keeping them rooted in the relegation zone with little sign of improvement even after their promising start under Ruud Van Nistelrooy.

Ipswich Town 1-2 Southampton

Southampton earned a crucial three points on the road, edging Ipswich in a tightly contested battle. Despite the hosts showing plenty of fight, Southampton’s quality in the final third proved decisive as Onuachu scored the winner in the 87th minute. A resilient defensive performance in the closing stages ensured they left with the win, keeping their survival hopes alive.

Newcastle United 1-2 Fulham

Newcastle’s recent struggles continued as Fulham left St. James’ Park with all three points. The visitors frustrated Newcastle with a well-executed counter-attacking approach. Newcastle took the lead through Jacob Murphy but goals from Jimenez and Muniz in the second half turned the tide for Fulham. A late goal for Newcastle made things interesting, but Fulham held firm to seal an impressive victory on the road.

Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-0 Aston Villa

Wolves capitalized on a fatigued Aston Villa side to claim an important home win with goals from Bellagarde and Cunha. The hosts produced a disciplined defensive display and struck twice in the second half as Villa, struggling with fixture congestion, couldn’t find their usual rhythm. This result boosts Wolves’ survival hopes while halting Villa’s push for European football.

Brentford 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham picked up a valuable away win, seeing off Brentford with a clinical display. After a tight first half, Spurs found their breakthrough with an own goal before sealing the victory late on through Pape Sarr. Brentford struggled to create clear-cut chances, and Tottenham’s defensive structure held firm to secure the clean sheet despite missing almost all of their first choice defensive options.

Manchester United 0-2 Crystal Palace

Manchester United’s inconsistent season took another hit as Crystal Palace secured an impressive win at Old Trafford.Two goals from Mateta were enugh for Leicester as United’s attempts to rally were undone by a second goal late on. Palace’s defensive resilience frustrated United throughout, exposing the home side’s ongoing struggles in front of goal.

Arsenal 5-1 Manchester City

Arsenal issued a massive title statement with a dominant victory over the defending champions. The Gunners took an early lead through Martin Odegaard after a costly defensive error. While Erling Haaland briefly brought City level, Arsenal responded immediately with a deflected goal from Thomas Partey. The second half saw a ruthless Arsenal put City to the sword, with Lewis-Skelly, Kai Havertz, and Ethan Nwaneri all getting on the scoresheet. Nwaneri’s celebration, mimicking Haaland’s meditation pose, summed up Arsenal’s dominant night and further dampened City’s morale.

Chelsea 2-1 West Ham United

Chelsea moved into the top four with a comeback victory over West Ham at Stamford Bridge. Jarrod Bowen capitalized on a defensive mistake to give West Ham a first-half lead, but Chelsea responded in the second half. Neto equalized before a Cole Palmer cross forced an own goal from Aaron Wan-Bissaka, sealing all three points for the Blues.

EPL 2024-25: Matchweek 25 Preview

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2025

Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Chelsea – 3:00 PM

Brighton will be desperate for a response after their humiliating 7-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest, but Chelsea present another tough challenge. The Blues’ recent win over West Ham lifted them into the top four, and they’ll be eager to keep their momentum going. Cole Palmer continues to be Chelsea’s difference-maker, while Brighton will need a much-improved defensive showing if they want to avoid another rout.

Prediction: Brighton & Hove Albion 1-3 Chelsea

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2025

Leicester City vs. Arsenal – 7:30 AM

Leicester’s struggles worsened after a heavy 4-0 defeat to Everton, and now they face an Arsenal side full of confidence following their 5-1 demolition of Manchester City. Mikel Arteta’s side has been ruthless in recent weeks, with Odegaard and Nwaneri stepping up in crucial moments. Given Leicester’s defensive woes and Arsenal’s firepower, this could be another long afternoon for the Foxes.

Prediction: Leicester City 0-3 Arsenal

Aston Villa vs. Ipswich Town – 10:00 AM

Aston Villa will be looking to bounce back from their loss to Wolves as they host relegation-threatened Ipswich. While Villa’s recent fixture congestion has impacted their performances, they should have enough to control this game, especially through the new arrivals of Asensio, Malen and Rashford. Ipswich showed some fight in their narrow defeat to Southampton, but their defensive frailties remain a concern.

Prediction: Aston Villa 2-0 Ipswich Town

Fulham vs. Nottingham Forest – 10:00 AM

Nottingham Forest responded to their 5-0 defeat against Bournemouth in style with a 7-0 thrashing of Brighton. Now, they face a tricky away trip to Fulham, who just secured a solid win at Newcastle. Gibbs-White and Chris Wood will be key to Forest’s attack, while Fulham will look to frustrate them with a well-structured defensive setup.

Prediction: Fulham 1-2 Nottingham Forest

Manchester City vs. Newcastle United – 10:00 AM

Manchester City were dismantled by Arsenal last time out and will be eager to get back on track at home. Newcastle, on the other hand, are struggling with consistency, having lost to both Bournemouth and Fulham in recent weeks. City’s firepower should give them the upper hand, but they need a response after their defensive collapse against Arsenal.

Prediction: Manchester City 2-2 Newcastle United

Southampton vs. AFC Bournemouth – 10:00 AM

Southampton’s survival hopes received a slight boost after their win over Ipswich, but now they face a Bournemouth side that remains tough to break down. Bournemouth’s defensive organization has been one of their biggest strengths this season, and Southampton will need to be clinical to break them down.

Prediction: Southampton 1-2 AFC Bournemouth

West Ham United vs. Brentford – 10:00 AM

West Ham were undone by Chelsea’s late comeback and need a strong response at home. Brentford, fresh off a loss to Tottenham, will be looking to capitalize on West Ham’s recent inconsistency. This could be a close battle, with both sides needing points to find some consistency and both teams should get on the scoresheet without a clear winner to pick right now.

Prediction: West Ham United 1-1 Brentford

Crystal Palace vs. Everton –12:30 PM

Crystal Palace continued their impressive form with a 2-0 win over Manchester United and now host an Everton side that thrashed Leicester 4-0 and was able to hold league leaders Liverpool to a draw in the final Merseyside Derby at Goodison Park. Mateta has been in fine form for Palace, while Everton’s attack finally came to life last week. Both teams are capable of grinding out results, making this one tough to call.

Prediction: Crystal Palace 1-1 Everton

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2025

Liverpool vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers –  9:00 AM

Liverpool remain the team to beat, and they’ll be heavy favorites against Wolves at Anfield. Wolves are coming off a solid win over Aston Villa but will need an inspired defensive performance to contain Liverpool’s relentless attack. I expect Liverpool to come in motivated after their controversial draw to Everton during midweek, dominating possession and creating plenty of chances.

Prediction: Liverpool 3-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers

Tottenham Hotspur vs. Manchester United – 11:30 AM

Two inconsistent sides meet in North London as Spurs host Manchester United. Both teams secured wins last time out, but neither has managed to string together consistent performances this season. Tottenham’s attack, led by Son and Kulusevski, has looked sharper in recent weeks, while United’s midfield struggles remain a concern. With both sides needing points to get out of their slumps and improve in the table, this could be an entertaining affair.

Prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 2-2 Manchester United