Aston Villa edges past Southampton amid VAR drama
Aston Villa edged past Southampton at St Mary’s with a 1-0 win but all of the talk will be about a goal disallowed by VAR.
FULL MATCH REPLAY
James Ward-Prowse thought he had given Southampton the lead with a deflected effort but it was disallowed after referee Michael Salisbury was asked to go to the VAR monitor as a foul was spotted by Mohamed Elyounoussi on Jacob Ramsey. He then disallowed the goal.
Ollie Watkins then headed home the winner late on from a free kick, as that was checked by VAR and he was just onside to seal a third win in their last four league games.
[ MORE: How to watch Premier League in USA ]Unai Emery has won five of his seven Premier League games in charge since replacing Steven Gerrard in November, while Southampton remain bottom of the table but are just two points from safety and the performances have been better which will give them hope.
Lady luck not on Saints’ sideThese are the kind of results which happen when you’re at the bottom of the table. Southampton thought they had gone ahead with a deflected goal in the second half but it was chalked off via VAR for a soft foul. Nathan Jones and his players were furious and that perhaps led to them switching off at a free kick as Aston Villa grabbed all three points. The fine margins have gone against Southampton in recent games and although performances are improving, they are still bottom of the table. Villa showed extra nous and experience and Saints badly need to add experience, and a clinical finisher, in the final days of the January window if they’re going to stay up. They are so close to climbing out of the relegation zone and are heading in the right direction but the nature of this defeat to Villa will sting.
Stars of showEmiliano Martinez: Made some great stops in the second half to grab the win for Villa.
Ibrahima Diallo: Won the ball back so many times and did his best to dig deep defensively.
Graphic via FotMob.comHow to watch Southampton vs Aston Villa live, stream link and start timeKick off: 10am ET, Saturday
TV Channel: Peacock
Online: Stream via Peacock Premium
FULL TIME: Southampton 0-1 Aston Villa – That is a tough one for Saints to swallow. Villa edge it and they are flying under Unai Emery.
SAVE! Emiliano Martinez pushes away a great effort from Moussa Djenepo.
Orsic and Djenepo are on late on. Understandably Southampton are going for it.
GOALLL! Ollie Watkins heads home a free kick and Aston Villa lead at Southampton. After a VAR check, he was just onside. Villa 1-0 up. Can Southampton respond late on?
Southampton really unlucky not to be ahead. Seeing the replays again, that is a very harsh call on Elyounoussi.
That is a horrible VAR call. James Ward-Prowse's deflected shot went in but Elyounoussi called for a foul as he clipped Ramsey's heel. Not much in that at all. Such a shame for Southampton. Villa have got away with one there. #SaintsFC 0-0 #AVFC #SOUAVL
— Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) January 21, 2023
SAVE! Emiliano Martinez with a big stop to deny Adam Armstrong after a lovely move down the right from Southampton. James Ward-Prowse with a lovely cross.
More possession for Southampton now but not much going on.
We are off in the second half and Villa have a great chance. Bazunu with a poor clearance but Villa didn’t make the most of it with a tame effort. Saints have been really sloppy in possession.
HALF TIME: Southampton 0-0 Aston Villa – The visitors have had the better chances but Saints are hanging in there. They have decent options on the bench and Nathan Jones will want to see more of an attacking threat from his side in the second half.
The game is back underway after that bizarre stoppage. A good chance for Leon Bailey as the ball comes in but he slips at the crucial moment. Villa looking much better.
A drone is currently flying over the pitch at St Mary's Stadium and the Southampton vs Aston Villa game is paused as the players are taken off the pitch while it is investigated. #SaintsFC 0-0 #AVFC #SOUAVL
— Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) January 21, 2023
SAVE! Gavin Bazunu denies Ramsey with a fine stop after a great Villa counter. Bailey then smashes the rebound over.
No goal! Che Adams somehow can’t bundle the ball home and Kyle Walker-Peters does, but they were both offside and the flag is up. Southampton close to an opener.
Nervy moment for Saints as Gavin Bazunu clatters into Jacob Ramsey in the penalty box and VAR has a look. But no penalty kick. Bazunu just got to the ball first.
Strong start for Saints as they are putting Emiliano Martinez under pressure and pushing high.
KICK OFF! The sun is out on the South Coast and Southampton are going after four wins in a row in all competitions.
Key storylines & in-form players to watchSaints’ main man is James Ward-Prowse and he is a flourishing in a more advanced role as a No. 10. He has banged in superb free kicks against Fulham and Everton and is leading by example with five goals in his last six games in all competitions. Center back Duje Caleta-Car has been exceptional, while Kyle Walker-Peters is also back to his best and is operating out of position at left back.
Villa’s goals are coming from everywhere as Leon Bailey is looking lethal on the counter and the balance is now right in this side. They look solid enough at the back and already have a clear identity and plan. Emery is getting the best out of this talented squad and Boubacar Kamara has been outstanding in central midfield.
Southampton team news, injuries, lineupTino Livramento suffered a setback on his long recovery from a knee injury, while left back Juan Larios remains out. Armel Bella-Kotchap, Theo Walcott and Alex McCarthy are all close to a return. Southampton make one change as Adam Armstrong comes in, while new signings Mislav Orsic and Carlos Alcaraz will be key off the bench.
???? Oh when the Saints ????
Your #SaintsFC side taking on #AVFC: pic.twitter.com/2ZsDSKQCNI
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) January 21, 2023
Aston Villa team news, injuries, lineupDiego Carlos remains out, while John McGinn is battling back from a hamstring injury and won’t be available. Ollie Watkins had an ankle issue but has shaken it off. Lucas Digne, Jed Steer and Ludwig Augustinsson remain out, while Matty Cash (recovery from injury) and Leander Dendoncker (suspension over) are back and are on the bench.
Introducing: Your Aston Villa team to face Southampton. ????#SOUAVL pic.twitter.com/GaFAtie26k
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) January 21, 2023
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Kevin De Bruyne’s gaudy assist numbers give rise to any number of considerations, and we have to wonder if the Manchester City star has ever wondered if the Premier League record would be his in a world in which Jose Mourinho found better use for him at Chelsea.
De Bruyne’s 10 assists this Premier League season are three more than his nearest competitors — Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka and Man Utd’s Christian Eriksen — and give him 96 for his career. That’s fifth all-time, two more than Dennis Bergkamp and 66 (?!) behind record holder Ryan Giggs.
[ MORE: Premier League Golden Boot race ]
The Belgian star, 31, arrived at Chelsea from Werder Bremen at the age of 22 and managed only 425 in a half-season before being offloaded to Wolfsburg. Back in the Bundesliga, De Bruyne got six assists the rest of the way before setting up 21 goals the next season to set up a move to Man City.
He’s since won the nascent Premier League Playmaker of the Season Award twice, including a 20-assist 2019-20 season, and he’s on pace to make it three of six. Harry Kane, Mohamed Salah, and Eden Hazard have also won the award, which is only five years old.
De Bruyne also led the Premier League in assists in 2016-17, the year before the league but a name on the honor.
His stats hint that there’s more to come, as ‘KDB’ is creating a gaudy 3.61 chances per 90 minutes. After a season in which he scored 15 times with eight assists, De Bruyne is back taunting those who’d dare chase him in terms of setting up goals (Some guy named Erling Haaland is helping…).
Take a look at De Bruyne’s shining stats, and read on to see who’s chasing him in a list of the Premier League assist leaders for the 2022-23 season.
Premier League 2022-23 assist leaders
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Kevin De Bruyne, Man City — 10
Bukayo Saka, Arsenal — 7 Christian Eriksen, Manchester United — 7 Bernardo Silva, Man City — 5 Dejan Kulusevski, Tottenham Hotspur — 5 Alex Iwobi, Everton — 5 Andy Robertson, Liverpool — 5 Gabriel Jesus, Arsenal — 5 Martin Odegaard, Arsenal — 5 Ivan Perisic, Tottenham Hotspur — 5 Andreas Pereira, Fulham — 5 Jamie Vardy, Leicester City — 4 James Maddison, Leicester City — 4 Marcus Tavernier, Bournemouth — 4 Kieran Trippier, Newcastle — 4 Mohamed Salah, Liverpool — 4 Granit Xhaka, Arsenal — 4 Michael Olise, Crystal Palace — 4 Kenny Tete, Fulham — 4 Ollie Watkins, Aston Villa — 4 Mathias Jensen, Brentford — 4 Jack Harrison, Leeds — 4 Morgan Gibbs-White, Nottingham Forest — 4 Solly March, Brighton and Hove Albion — 4 Rodri, Manchester City — 4 Douglas Luiz, Aston Villa — 4Follow @NicholasMendola
For those tempted to write off Erling Haaland’s historically-hot start to life as a Premier League striker, we get it.
[ MORE: How to watch Premier League in USA ]
There is something somewhat dull about knowing the identity of the 2022 Golden Boot winner, the lone curiosity being the final number of his final tally.
Haaland’s Premier League-leading 22 goals has him six goals clear of the next closest challenger: Tottenham’s Harry Kane.
Haaland piled up 20 goals in a single Premier League season faster than any player in history… by seven games (Kevin Phillips of Sunderland did it in 21).
And the later this season goes with him projected so far over the current record, the less chucking is accompanied by marking out the pace (especially considering Haaland will not be beaten up by the World Cup, though he’d surely trade the chance for Norway to be in the tournament). And even though Haaland is currently overperforming his expected goals total, it’s already becoming clear that projecting him for the Premier League record is not farfetched at all.
How many record can Haaland break?Haaland may not be likely to hit 50 goals given the schedule congestion to come for Man City, but the Premier League record is very well under assault and that figure isn’t entirely absurd.
Mohamed Salah holds the 38-game season record with his 32 goals scored for Liverpool during the 2017-18 season, while Newcastle’s Andy Cole and Blackburn’s Alan Shearer bagged 34 during 42-game seasons in the 20th century’s final decade.
Haaland also could topple the record for goal involvements (goals plus assists) in a single season, including beating the 42-game record. Alan Shearer put up 47 over 42, while Thierry Henry holds the 38-game record with 44.
Other records that Haaland could legitimately tie or topple:
30 goals in a first Premier League season (Kevin Phillips, Sunderland, 1999-2000) Goals in 24 different Premier League matches (Salah, Liverpool, 2017-18) Most goals in a Premier League match (Five tied with five) 11-straight Premier League games with a goal (Jamie Vardy, Leicester, 2014-15)Read on to see the latest Premier League goal totals for the 2022-23 season, as Haaland looks to claim a Golden Boot in his first PL season.
Premier League 2022-23 Golden Boot race Erling Haaland, Man City — 22 Harry Kane, Tottenham — 15 Ivan Toney, Brentford — 13 Aleksandar Mitrovic, Fulham — 11 Rodrigo, Leeds United — 10 Miguel Almiron, Newcastle — 9 Marcus Rashford, Manchester United — 8 Martin Odegaard, Arsenal — 8 Roberto Firmino, Liverpool — 7 Phil Foden, Man City — 7 James Maddison, Leicester City — 7 Mohamed Salah, Liverpool — 7 Leandro Trossard — Brighton/Arsenal — 7 Gabriel Martinelli, Arsenal — 7 Harvey Barnes, Leicester City — 7 Wilfried Zaha, Crystal Palace — 6 Pascal Gross, Brighton — 6 Bukayo Saka, Arsenal — 6 Danny Ings, Aston Villa/West Ham — 6 Callum Wilson, Newcastle — 6 Gabriel Jesus, Arsenal — 5 Daniel Podence, Wolves — 5 Darwin Nunez, Liverpool — 5 Alexis Mac Allister, Brighton — 5 James Ward-Prowse, Southampton — 5 Kai Havertz, Chelsea — 5Follow @NicholasMendola
Michael Olise’s terrific free kick gave Palace a surprising draw with Manchester United at midweek, but threatens to disguise a three-match winless run that gives the Eagles four points from their last six matches.
STREAM LIVE CRYSTAL PALACE vs NEWCASTLENewcastle, meanwhile, has lost just once this year — a controversial defeat to Liverpool deep in stoppage time — and is coming off a 1-0 win over Fulham that was tight but well-earned.
Newcastle’s definitely in the top-four race with 38 points, holding a five-point lead on fifth place Tottenham. The Magpies have played one fewer match than Spurs. They’re also a point behind Manchester United and three back of second-place Manchester City.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Crystal Palace vs Newcastle.[ MORE: How to watch Premier League in USA ]
Crystal Palace vs Newcastle live score: 0-0How to watch Crystal Palace vs Newcastle live, stream link and start timeKick off: 12:30pm ET, SaturdayTV Channel: NBC
Online: Stream via NBCSports.comKey storylines & star players
Palace can score on anyone with Wilfried Zaha, Eberechi Eze, Odsonne Edouard, and Olise amongst others, but can it stop the opposition? Joachim Andersen being absent at center back is a huge ask for the EagIes. Will someone respond next to Marc Guehi? So far, USMNT back Chris Richards has done alright and is in the thick of a big opportunity.
The Magpies are playing without Bruno Guimaraes, a huge loss that could last a week or several — we don’t know yet — but will feel they still have enough to overwork Palace’s midfield. Newcastle’s defenders, led by Sven Botman, have only allowed 11 goals this year. That’s nine better than their 20 expected goals against, which is either a warning or the latest sign that having an elite shot-stopped like Nick Pope is a cheat code.
Crystal Palace team news, injuries, lineup optionsOUT: Joachim Andersen (calf), James McArthur (groin), Nathan Ferguson (other)
Our side to face Newcastle ????
???? @shophumm #CPFC | #CRYNEW
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) January 21, 2023
Newcastle team news, injuries, lineup optionsOUT: Jonjo Shelvey (calf), Matt Targett (ankle), Emil Krafth (ACL)
HOWAY NEWCASTLE! ????#CRYNEW pic.twitter.com/a5XlEa1LLF
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) January 21, 2023
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Bournemouth were 10 minutes from climbing out of the relegation zone, but the Cherries were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw with fellow Premier League new boys Nottingham Forest at Vitality Stadium on Saturday.
[ MORE: How to watch Premier League in USA ]
Bournemouth (17 points – 18th place) led 1-0 for nearly an hour after Jaidon Anthony took Dango Ouattara’s pass and coolly slotted the ball past Dean Henderson in the 28th minute. Three points would have taken the Cherries from 18th, where they began and end the day, all the way up to 14th.
Such is life in the incredibly congested bottom-third of the Premier League table these days. That’s five games without a win for Bournemouth and just one win their last 11 PL games, after Sam Surridge snuck in behind the Bournemouth defense and tapped home Brennan Johnson’s cross on 83 minutes.
Nottingham Forest (21 points) find themselves just outside the messy muck one place above, in 13th. Clawing the draw back leaves Steve Cooper’s unbeaten in their last four Premier League games (2W-2D-1L in five since returning from the World Cup break).
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How to watch Bournemouth vs Nottingham Forest live, stream link and start timeKick off: 10am ET, SaturdayTV Channel/Online: Stream via Peacock PremiumKey storylines & star players
This is a huge match for both teams, as Forest begins a run of six matches mostly against bottom-third sides and Bournemouth has in-form Brighton and Newcastle next. Bournemouth’s leaned on veterans Lloyd Kelly, Jefferson Lerma, and Phillip Billing, but will hope for new attacking blood like Dango Ouattara to deliver some flair to the side.
Forest has been looking a lot better of late, only losing once since the calendar hit November. Its won two-straight and will like its chances of riding in-form Morgan Gibbs-White past Bournemouth. That said, Taiwo Awoniyy and Ryan Yates could miss out while star Dean Henderson is definitely out. Ripe for the taking?
Bournemouth team news, injuries, lineup optionsOUT: Marcus Tavernier (thigh), David Brooks (thigh), Ryan Fredericks (other), Junior Stanislas (other), Dominic Solanke (knee), Lewis Cook (knee)
???? ???????????????? ???????????????? ????
???? Ouattara straight in
???? Stephens starts
???? Rothwell also involved
Our line up for #BOUNFO ???????? pic.twitter.com/rI539JVsqW
— AFC Bournemouth ???? (@afcbournemouth) January 21, 2023
Nottingham Forest team news, injuries, lineup optionsQUESTIONABLE: Taiwo Awoniyi (groin), Ryan Yates (head/face). OUT: Dean Henderson (thigh), Jesse Lingard (thigh), Moussa Niakhate (thigh), Giulian Biancone (knee), WIlly Boly (ankle), Cheikhou Kouyate (thigh), Omar Richards (calf)
Your #NFFC starting XI for today's clash against @afcbournemouth! ???? pic.twitter.com/dUUrolI2fU
— Nottingham Forest FC (@NFFC) January 21, 2023
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