EPL 2024-25: Matchweek 34 Recap

With the title now officially wrapped up, Matchweek 34 delivered defining moments across the table. Liverpool sealed the Premier League title in dominant fashion at Anfield, while Newcastle secured Champions League football and Ipswich officially joined Leicester and Southampton in going down. Wolves’ hot run continued, Fulham kept their European dream ongoing, and Brighton stunned West Ham with a pair of screamers at the death. From heartbreak at Bournemouth to a Brentford bounce-back, here’s how the rest of the week played out following the midweek drama.

Manchester City 2–1 Aston Villa
Arsenal 2–2 Crystal Palace
(Previously covered in the Matchweek 33 recap and Matchweek 34 preview article.)

Chelsea 1–0 Everton

A composed first-half finish from Nicolas Jackson proved enough for Chelsea to edge past Everton at the Bridge. The Blues generated 0.98 xG and took control early but eased off after the break. Everton nearly equalized through a fierce McNeil volley, but Robert Sánchez produced a standout save. The Toffees grew into the match but couldn’t break through, while Chelsea held firm to collect a key three points ahead of a title-celebration showdown with Liverpool.

Brighton & Hove Albion 3–2 West Ham United

A wild finale at the Amex saw Brighton come from behind twice to stun West Ham in stoppage time. Ayari opened the scoring with a rocket from distance before Kudus equalized after halftime. Soucek looked to have won it for the Hammers in the 83rd minute, but Mitoma nodded home the equalizer and Baleba’s 92nd-minute stunner clinched all three points. Brighton posted just 1.35 xG but finished brilliantly, while West Ham’s winless run hits seven. Despite the heartbreak, Ipswich’s result earlier confirmed West Ham’s safety.

Newcastle United 3–0 Ipswich Town

Relegation confirmed. Ipswich’s Premier League journey ends with a one-sided loss at St. James’ Park. Alexander Isak, Dan Burn, and William Osula got the goals for a dominant Newcastle side, who created 3.05 xG and cruised despite some early wastefulness. Ipswich were reduced to ten men after Ben Johnson’s second yellow in the first half and registered just 0.12 xG. Newcastle climb to third, securing a Champions League berth, while Ipswich return straight to the Championship.

Southampton 1–2 Fulham

Fulham kept their slim European hopes alive with a comeback win at St. Mary’s. After conceding early, the visitors responded through two well-worked goals and finished with a strong 2.16 xG. Southampton managed just 0.56 xG and, despite brief flashes, they fell short again. The Saints remain stuck on 11 points—matching Derby’s infamous low tally—with two matches left to avoid finishing with the worst total in Premier League history.

Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–0 Leicester City

Another statement win from Wolves, another rough outing for the already-relegated Foxes. Matheus Cunha opened the scoring, Strand Larsen added a second, and Gomes finished it off late—all assisted by Cunha in a fantastic display. Jamie Vardy missed a penalty on what may be his final Wolves appearance, as Leicester’s 1.15 xG was inflated by that lone chance. Wolves, with 2.22 xG, were dominant and continue to look like one of the form teams in the league.

AFC Bournemouth 1–1 Manchester United

A late equalizer spared United’s blushes in a scrappy draw at the Vitality. Antoine Semenyo had fired Bournemouth ahead with a clinical finish, and the hosts nearly doubled their lead through Ouattara’s free-kick, which crashed off the bar. But a controversial VAR red card to Evanilson gave United a man advantage, and they finally capitalized through Rasmus Hojlund in stoppage time. Bournemouth were unlucky not to win, finishing with 0.67 xG to United’s 2.44, and will feel hard done by as their European hopes take a dent.

Liverpool 5–1 Tottenham Hotspur

Crowned in style. Liverpool clinched the Premier League title with four games to spare, dismantling Spurs at Anfield. Solanke’s early header shocked the Kop, but the Reds roared back with three before halftime and never looked back. Salah added a fourth with his trademark cut-and-finish before Udogie’s own goal sealed the rout. Liverpool ended with 2.14 xG to Spurs’ 0.37 in a performance that capped off a sensational season. For Tottenham, their league form continues to crater ahead of their Europa League tie midweek.

Nottingham Forest 0–2 Brentford

Clinical, composed, and effective—Brentford delivered a blow to Forest’s top-four hopes with a disciplined road win. A defensive error gifted Kevin Schade the opener just before halftime, and Yoane Wissa sealed it with a delicate finish on the counter. Brentford finished with 1.65 xG and rarely looked troubled, while Forest managed just 0.97 xG despite spells of second-half pressure. Forest remain sixth, but their margin is thinning as the race for Europe tightens.

EPL 2024-25: Matchweek 35 Recap

Matchweek 35 brought more drama from top to bottom, with Brentford and Chelsea lighting it up at home, Bournemouth stunning Arsenal, and Brighton holding Newcastle to a draw that could shake up the top-four race. Liverpool looked flat post-title celebrations, United collapsed in a seven-goal thriller, and the bottom three all failed to win again. With just three games to go, the stakes continue to rise.

Manchester City 1–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers

City made it three straight wins with a hard-fought 1–0 over a dangerous Wolves side at the Etihad. De Bruyne, in what may have been his final home appearance in a City shirt, slotted home the winner in the 35th minute after Doku’s cut-back. Wolves hit the post twice, once through Ait-Nouri and again via Cunha, and Bellegarde wasted a one-on-one before halftime. City had 64 percent possession and 0.71 xG, while Wolves managed 0.40 and saw their six-match win streak snapped.

Aston Villa 1–0 Fulham

Villa kept pace in the Champions League chase with a gritty win over a flat Fulham side. Tielemans headed home from McGinn’s corner in the 12th minute, and though chances were few and far between in the first half, Watkins missed twice in the second and Malen hit the bar in stoppage time. Both keepers made big saves. Villa ended with 0.96 xG and five big chances to Fulham’s 0.85 and one big chance, sitting in seventh place but only three points behind Newcastle United in the race for fourth.

Everton 2–2 Ipswich Town

Already-relegated Ipswich showed real spirit to fight back from two down and steal a point at Goodison Park. Beto and McNeil gave Everton a deserved 2–0 lead, but Enciso’s 40-yard rocket shifted the momentum before halftime. In the 78th minute, Hirst headed in from Hutchinson’s cross to complete the comeback. Everton created 0.55 xG to Ipswich’s 0.85 and are now winless in 10 of their last 11 league games. Ipswich, despite the fight, remain 18th and relegated.

Leicester City 2–0 Southampton

A rare highlight in a forgettable campaign for Leicester, who ended a nine-match home scoring drought in style. Vardy’s one-touch finish opened the scoring, his 199th goal for the Foxes, and Ayew added a second minutes later by converting a rebound after his own free-kick was blocked. El Khannouss had chances to make it three, but the Foxes settled for 1.40 xG and 14 total shots, and their first home win since January. Southampton managed just 0.53 xG and are now mathematically locked into a bottom-place finish.

Arsenal 1–2 AFC Bournemouth

A costly defeat for the Gunners, who let a lead slip for the second time in a week. Rice marked his 100th Premier League appearance with a well-placed opener, but Bournemouth, now unbeaten in five, flipped the game after halftime. Semenyo set up Huijsen’s equalizer from a long throw just seconds after coming on, and Evanilson sent in the winner after Tavernier’s flick. Arsenal had more shots and more xG, 1.42 to 0.97, 13 total shots to 9, and four big chances to three, but couldn’t find a late breakthrough. The result snapped their 10-match unbeaten league run and puts pressure on them from teams chasing that second-place spot.

Brentford 4–3 Manchester United

A wild back-and-forth in West London saw Brentford take another big step toward European football. Mount gave United the lead against the run of play, but a Shaw own goal and Schade’s brace turned it around for the Bees. Wissa made it 4–1 before Garnacho and Amad Diallo struck late to set up a nervy finish. Brentford finished with 2.57 xG to United’s 1.50 and move up to ninth. United, who fielded their youngest-ever Premier League starting XI, slumped to a 16th league defeat.

Brighton & Hove Albion 1–1 Newcastle United

Newcastle’s grip on a top-four spot loosened slightly as Brighton held firm at the Amex. Minteh opened the scoring against his former club with a composed finish after cutting in from the right. The Magpies had multiple penalty shouts waved away before VAR awarded a spot-kick for Ayari’s handball late, which Isak converted for his 23rd of the season. Brighton were outplayed for the majority of the match but nearly won it through substitute Diego Gomez, who headed wide in stoppage time.

West Ham United 1–1 Tottenham Hotspur

Spurs, clearly rotated with their eyes on Europe, settled for a point against West Ham in a low-spirited affair. Odobert capitalized on a defensive error to fire Tottenham ahead in the 15th minute, but Bowen equalized soon after with a well-placed finish. Spurs created just one big chance to West Ham’s 11 shots and two big chances and rarely threatened after halftime. Both teams stay locked in the bottom half, with just one win between them in the last five rounds.

Chelsea 3–1 Liverpool

Chelsea played spoiler to the title winners and stayed hot, dismantling Liverpool with their third straight win. Enzo Fernandez opened the scoring after just two minutes, Quansah deflected in an own goal early in the second half, and Palmer converted a late penalty after a Szoboszlai giveaway. Van Dijk had briefly pulled one back for the champions, but the damage was done. Chelsea posted 3.13 xG, 17 total shots, and five big chances to Liverpool’s 1.05, 11 shots, and three big chances, and drew level with Newcastle on points, and look ready for a proper European push.

Crystal Palace 1–1 Nottingham Forest

A fiery draw at Selhurst Park saw Palace dominate but come away with just a point. Eze gave the hosts the lead from the spot after Mitchell was brought down, but Murillo scored on a Williams low drive shortly after. Palace hit the bar through Eze and had an added-time goal from Nketiah ruled out for offside. The match ended with 10 yellow cards and plenty of tension. Palace finished with 2.32 xG and 20 total shots to Forest’s 0.73 and zero big chances and will feel they let two points slip.

EPL 2024-25: Matchweek 36 Preview

SATURDAY, MAY 10, 2025

Fulham vs Everton – 10:00 AM EST

Fulham’s European push took a hit after a narrow loss to Villa, but they’ve been a tough side at home and should have the edge against an Everton team that has drawn eight of their last twelve. The Toffees are winless in four and struggled against Ipswich last week. This has the feel of a low-scoring grind.

Prediction: Fulham 1–0 Everton

Ipswich Town vs Brentford – 10:00 AM EST

Ipswich showed fight to come back from 2–0 down at Goodison Park but face an in-form Brentford side that just put four past United and are unbeaten in five. Brentford have goals from everywhere, and against an Ipswich team that has nothing left to play for, they should be too much.

Prediction: Ipswich 1–3 Brentford

Southampton vs Manchester City – 10:00 AM EST

Southampton remain on 11 points, and the Manchester City machine keeps rolling. Pep’s side edged Wolves last time out and are unbeaten in seven. The Saints have conceded multiple goals in five of their last seven and are unlikely to slow down a City team that still has a real shot at a top-2 finish.

Prediction: Southampton 0–3 Manchester City

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Brighton & Hove Albion – 10:00 AM EST

Wolves saw their six-game win streak snapped by City, but they’ve been excellent at Molineux and could bounce back. Brighton have drawn four of their last six and haven’t won in their last three on the road. This feels like it could go either way, but Wolves’ home edge might be enough.

Prediction: Wolves 2–1 Brighton

AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa – 12:30 PM EST

Bournemouth are unbeaten in five and are just coming off a victory against Arsenal away. Villa still have top-five hopes and will be desperate for a result here, but the Cherries are in form and fearless. I expect an intense, physical battle that could end in a split.

Prediction: Bournemouth 2–2 Aston Villa

SUNDAY, MAY 11, 2025

Newcastle United vs Chelsea – 7:00 AM EST

Massive clash with Champions League stakes. Newcastle are unbeaten in five at home, but Chelsea come in riding a three-match win streak, including a statement win over Liverpool. This feels like it will come down to moments, and Isak could be the difference at home.

Prediction: Newcastle 2–1 Chelsea

Manchester United vs West Ham United – 9:15 AM EST

United’s league form has been dreadful, but they are through to the Europa League final and could ride that momentum. West Ham haven’t won in eight and looked lifeless at times. Even a potentially rotated United squad might just help find enough against Graham Potter’s side.

Prediction: Manchester United 2–1 West Ham

Nottingham Forest vs Leicester City – 9:15 AM EST

Forest have taken just two points from their last three, but this is a golden opportunity to get back on track. Leicester are confirmed down and despite a glimpse of life last week, they have struggled mightily on the road and on the season. I expect Forest to come out flying in this match they cannot afford to slip up in.

Prediction: Nottingham Forest 3–1 Leicester

Tottenham Hotspur vs Crystal Palace – 9:15 AM EST

Spurs’ focus is clearly on Europe after reaching the final, and Palace could take advantage of another rotated lineup. The Eagles are unbeaten in three and continue to create chances. With Spurs stretched thin, Palace could steal it on the road.

Prediction: Tottenham 1–2 Crystal Palace

Liverpool vs Arsenal – 11:30 AM EST

Both teams come off tough weeks, with Liverpool losing to Chelsea and Arsenal slipping against Bournemouth. This match has lost its title implications, but pride is still on the line. The champions should bounce back at Anfield.

Prediction: Liverpool 2–1 Arsenal