Premier League Matchday 37 Game Reviews 2020

Updated: 10/12/2024

Sheffield United 0, Everton 1 – Bramall Lane – 20 July 2020

Everton edge past Sheffield; Blades' Europa entry hangs by the thread

Everton striker Richarlison's lone winning header in the 46th minute was enough to put Sheffield's Europa League dreams in peril at Bramall lane on Monday night.

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Chris Wilder’s team, coming out of a disappointing defeat to Leicester on Thursday, began the game untidily as both sides relented possession with frustrating regularity at the beginning of a largely mundane first half.

The Toffees came flying out of the blocks in the second half, displaying a lot of quality when Richarlison expertly aimed Gylfi Sigurdsson's free-kick beyond goalkeeper Dean Henderson.

In fact, the visitors had a chance to go ahead in the first half itself when Theo Walcott clipped a cross to the far post and Calvert-Lewin got above his marker but headed the ball against the post from four yards.

The Blades tried to up up their ante but not to much effect and looked far from the formidable home side they normally are at Bramall lane.

David McGoldrick immediate attempt at a equalizer for Sheffield United was thwarted when his low drive from inside the box was blocked and that happened to be the only time Everton keeper Jordan Pickford was tested.

Instead it was Carlo Ancelotti's men who looked the more likely ones to add to their lead as Calvert-Lewin forced a save out of Henderson before Andre Gomes drove just wide of the post in the closing stages.

The win for Everton moved them above Southampton and into 11th. Sheffield are left clinging to a 8th spot with 54 points and have no option but to win their last fixture with Southampton if they are to remain in the last eight.

Wolverhampton 2, Crystal Palace 0 – Molineux stadium – 20 July 2020

Strikes from Daniel Podence and Jonny put Nuno Espirito Santo's Wolves on the path to a Europa League entry. The well-drilled Wolves had no problems in keeping an out-of-form Crystal Palace under the thumb from the start, culminating into one of their rare first-half goals.

Midfielder Joao Moutinho essayed a perfect chipped pass on to the path of a running Matt Doherty who pulled it back for Podence to nod in an easy finish.

They grabbed a second one in the 68th minute when Jonny got his first goal at the Molineux stadium since September 2018, receiving a lay-off from Raul Jimenez before spinning expertly and curling home a smart finish past goalie Vicente Guaita.

For a woeful Palace side that has lost their past seven games in the league,chances were few and far between while it was the Wolves who could have added to their tally of two.

The tireless Adama Traore flying down the right flank saw one of his powerful drives to the near post somehow kept out by Guaita.

The visitors' only attempt came from Jeffrey Schlupp who broke clear and dragged a shot wide early in the game. The talismanic Wilfried Zaha has been far below his brilliant best – one of the prime factors behind the Eagles' disastrous show in the 2019-20 season.

The Wolves moved a point above Tottenham's 58 to the sixth place and look like staying in the spot with only a game left.

Aston Villa 1, Arsenal 0  – Villa Park – 21 July 2020 

Villa stun Arsenal; Gunners' European hopes in danger   

Just when things were looking up for Arsenal after big wins last week against Liverpool and Manchester City, things came crashing down for the Gunners when they were humbled 0-1 by a unfancied Aston Villa.

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Mikel Arteta's men came to Villa Park with an outside chance of getting to 7th place and earning a Europa League spot.

But that was not to be as Trezeguet scored Villa's only goal in the 27th minute. Tyrone Mings diverted a corner into Trezeguet's path which the Egyptian international finished powerfully.

The hosts had some nervy moments in the match but with the likes of Pierre Aubameyang and Alexander Lacazette totally off-colour they didn't have to worry much from an uninspiring Arsenal attack.

The Gunners with as much as 70 per cent possession didn't test Villa goalkeeper Pepe Reina even once.

The good thing for Dean Smith's Villa is that they are temporarily out of the relegation zone and on equal points with 18th placed Watford but ahead on a goal difference.

Arsenal, who are presently on the 10th spot with 53 points will get one more opportunity to add three more points when they host Watford for their final fixture of the season on Sunday.

But even then, they will have to pray for both Sheffield and Burnley to lose their remaining fixtures. To be frank, that's expecting a lot. The chances of a move into the Top 8 space and a Europa League entry looks dim for the Gunners.

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