EPL 2024-25: Matchweek 27 Recap

The Premier League title race remains firmly in Liverpool’s hands as they secured another crucial win over Newcastle this past weekend, while Arsenal dropped points in a frustrating draw at Nottingham Forest. Manchester City edged past Tottenham to stay in the top-four mix, while Chelsea bounced back in style with a dominant win over Southampton, a crucial three points they desperately needed..

Elsewhere, Crystal Palace produced a stunning attacking display to dismantle Aston Villa, Brighton continued their European push with a victory over Bournemouth, and Manchester United scraped past Ipswich in a thriller, although fans will argue that it should have been a much easier three points. At the bottom, Leicester’s survival hopes took another hit, and Southampton’s season is spiraling toward an inevitable relegation.

Matchweek 28 presents another set of high-stakes fixtures. Arsenal travel to Old Trafford needing a response, City visit Forest looking to build momentum, and Liverpool host Southampton in what should be a routine win. Meanwhile, Chelsea have another must-win clash with Leicester, and Newcastle face a tricky away trip to West Ham, both teams looking for a positive momentum push. As always, before diving into the Matchweek 28 preview, let’s break down all the key action from Matchweek 27.

Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1 AFC Bournemouth

Brighton edged past Bournemouth to secure a crucial three points in the battle for European spots. Joao Pedro gave the Seagulls the lead from the penalty spot after being brought down by Kepa, but Justin Kluivert hit back for the visitors with a well-taken finish from outside the box. The hosts piled on the pressure late, and Danny Welbeck delivered the winner with a close-range strike, lifting Brighton level on points with Bournemouth.

Crystal Palace 4-1 Aston Villa

Crystal Palace put on a clinical display, thrashing Aston Villa at Selhurst Park. Ismaila Sarr starred with a brace, while Jean-Philippe Mateta and Eddie Nketiah also got on the scoresheet. Despite Villa controlling possession, they struggled to break through Palace’s disciplined defensive setup. Morgan Rogers briefly pulled one back for the visitors, but the Eagles responded immediately, securing a dominant victory that keeps them climbing the table after a poor start to the season.

Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-2 Fulham

Fulham continued their push up the table with a resilient win at Molineux. Ryan Sessegnon put the visitors ahead inside the opening minute, capitalizing on a defensive error from Wolves. The hosts responded before halftime through Joao Gomes, but Rodrigo Muniz’s brilliant chip secured all three points for Fulham early in the second half. Wolves pushed for an equalizer but lacked cutting edge in the final third.

Chelsea 4-0 Southampton

Chelsea bounced back from a poor run of form with an emphatic win over relegation-bound Southampton. Christopher Nkunku opened the scoring, followed by goals from Pedro Neto, Levi Colwill, and Marc Cucurella as the Blues ran riot. Southampton barely tested Chelsea, managing just seven shots—only two on target—and remain rooted to the bottom of the table, with survival looking increasingly unlikely.

Brentford 1-1 Everton

Everton extended their unbeaten run under David Moyes with a hard-fought draw at Brentford. Yoane Wissa gave the hosts the lead in stoppage time of the first half, but Everton responded through Jake O’Brien’s first goal for the club. The visitors had chances to snatch a winner, with Beto coming closest, but Brentford’s Mark Flekken made a key late save to ensure the points were shared and left with the Man of the Match award.

Manchester United 3-2 Ipswich Town

Manchester United returned to winning ways but made hard work of it against relegation-threatened Ipswich. Jaden Philogene put the visitors ahead early, but a Sam Morsy own goal and a Matthijs de Ligt strike turned the game in United’s favor. However, Patrick Dorgu’s red card before halftime left United under pressure, and Ipswich took full advantage as Philogene grabbed his second to bring them level. Just as momentum seemed to shift, Harry Maguire rose highest moments later to head home the winner, securing a much-needed victory for Ruben Amorim’s side.

Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal

Arsenal’s title challenge continued to falter as they were held to a goalless draw at the City Ground. The Gunners controlled possession but lacked a cutting edge, with their best chance falling to Riccardo Calafiori, who struck the post early on. Forest, meanwhile, frustrated the visitors with a disciplined defensive display and nearly snatched all three points late when Chris Wood forced a save from David Raya. Arsenal have now failed to score in back-to-back league games, slipping further behind Liverpool at a crucial moment in the title race.

Tottenham Hotspur 0-1 Manchester City

Erling Haaland’s first-half strike proved the difference as Manchester City edged Spurs in a tight contest. The Norwegian tapped in from close range after a clever pass from Jeremy Doku. Tottenham improved in the second half, with Heung-min Son and Wilson Odobert both forcing saves from Ederson, but City held firm to claim an important win that keeps them in the Champions League race.

Liverpool 2-0 Newcastle United

Liverpool extended their lead at the top with a composed victory over Newcastle at Anfield. Dominik Szoboszlai opened the scoring with a well-placed finish, and Alexis Mac Allister added a second after a strong run from Mohamed Salah caused havoc in the Newcastle defense. Newcastle managed just three shots all game, none of which tested Alisson, as Liverpool’s defense remained untroubled.

West Ham United 2-0 Leicester City

West Ham continued their resurgence under David Moyes with a routine win over a struggling Leicester side. Tomas Soucek gave the Hammers the lead, reacting first to a deflected save from Mads Hermansen, before Jarrod Bowen’s corner led to a Vestergaard own goal just before halftime, sealing the Hammers’ control. Leicester offered little going forward, failing to score for a fourth consecutive match, and now find themselves deep in relegation trouble.

EPL 2024-25: Matchweek 28 Preview

SATURDAY, MARCH 8, 2025

Nottingham Forest vs. Manchester City – 7:30 AM

Nottingham Forest will be looking to bounce back after a frustrating goalless draw against Arsenal, but they face a massive challenge in Manchester City. Pep Guardiola’s side secured a hard-fought 1-0 win over Tottenham and will be eager to build on that momentum as they aim to solidify their top-four spot. Forest’s defense has been resilient at home, but they’ll need another near-flawless display to keep City’s attack at bay.

Prediction: Nottingham Forest 1-2 Manchester City

Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Fulham – 10:00 AM

Brighton picked up a crucial 2-1 win over Bournemouth and will look to continue their European push against a Fulham side coming off a late victory at Wolves. Kaoru Mitoma and João Pedro were influential last time out, while Fulham’s attacking duo of Emile Smith Rowe and Rodrigo Muniz will need to step up again. With both teams in need of points, this could be a closely contested match.

Prediction: Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1 Fulham

Crystal Palace vs. Ipswich Town – 10:00 AM

Crystal Palace produced one of their best performances of the season in a 4-1 demolition of Aston Villa, with Eberechi Eze and Jean-Philippe Mateta running the show. They’ll be confident heading into this fixture against an Ipswich side that put up a fight but ultimately fell short in a 3-2 loss to Manchester United. With Palace’s recent attacking resurgence, they should have the edge here.

Prediction: Crystal Palace 2-0 Ipswich Town

Liverpool vs. Southampton – 10:00 AM

Liverpool remain in full control of the title race after a composed 2-0 win over Newcastle. They now welcome a struggling Southampton side that sits rock bottom following a heavy 4-0 defeat to Chelsea. With Mohamed Salah back in form and Liverpool’s defense looking solid, this should be another routine win for the league leaders.

Prediction: Liverpool 3-0 Southampton

Brentford vs. Aston Villa – 12:30 PM

Brentford battled to a 1-1 draw against Everton but will need to sharpen up as they host an Aston Villa side that was humiliated 4-1 by Crystal Palace. Villa’s inconsistency continues to hurt their European hopes, despite strong performances in Europe, while Brentford remain difficult to beat at home. I expect a tight contest.

Prediction: Brentford 1-1 Aston Villa

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Everton – 3:00 PM

Wolves let a late lead slip in their 2-1 defeat to Fulham, while Everton took a point against Brentford but remain in desperate need of wins. Both sides have struggled for consistency, making this a crucial match in the bottom half of the table. Wolves have been slightly stronger at home, but Everton’s resilience under David Moyes could see them take something here.

Prediction: Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-1 Everton

SUNDAY, MARCH 9, 2025

Chelsea vs. Leicester City – 10:00 AM

Chelsea finally delivered a dominant performance with a 4-0 win over Southampton, easing some of the pressure on Enzo Maresca. They now face a Leicester side deep in relegation trouble after a 2-0 loss to West Ham. Chelsea should have the quality to break down the Foxes, but Leicester’s defensive setup could make this a tougher test than expected.

Prediction: Chelsea 2-0 Leicester City

Tottenham Hotspur vs. AFC Bournemouth – 10:00 AM

Spurs’ 1-0 loss to Manchester City halted their momentum, but they’ll look to rebound at home against Bournemouth. The Cherries were narrowly beaten 2-1 by Brighton and have struggled against top-half sides all season. Tottenham’s attacking quality, led by James Maddison and Brennan Johnson, should be enough to get them over the line, but dominant wins have been hard to come by for Postecoglou’s side.

Prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 2-2 AFC Bournemouth

Manchester United vs. Arsenal – 12:30 PM

The biggest game of the weekend sees Manchester United host Arsenal in a crucial battle for both sides. United scraped past Ipswich 3-2 but remain well off the pace, while Arsenal were frustrated in a 0-0 draw at Nottingham Forest. Mikel Arteta’s side cannot afford another setback, while United are desperate to build momentum after a turbulent campaign. This one could go either way, but Arsenal’s title chase gives them extra urgency.

Prediction: Manchester United 1-2 Arsenal

MONDAY, MARCH 10, 2025

West Ham United vs. Newcastle United – 4:00 PM

West Ham stunned Arsenal with a 1-0 win and followed it up with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Leicester. They now face a Newcastle side that suffered a disappointing 2-0 defeat at Anfield and a cup loss to Brighton. Both teams have European ambitions, but with Newcastle’s defensive vulnerabilities, West Ham will fancy their chances.

Prediction: West Ham United 2-1 Newcastle United