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The first day of Gameweek 21 of the Premier League season produced some big results at both ends of the top-flight table. Here is what happened on an eventful day of Premier League action:
Bournemouth headed into this game on a run of eight games without a win, while Everton were eight games unbeaten in all competitions. However, the result was a turn-up for the books, but the Cherries deserved their win.
Ryan Fraser volleyed on home on 33 minutes to put Eddie Howe’s side in the lead. A Steve Cook mistake allowed the Toffees to equalise on 57 minutes, as Oumar Niasse found Idrissa Gueye for a simple finish.
The home side won it with just two minutes left on the clock, as Fraser hit an effort that deflected off Michael Keane and over the helpless Jordan Pickford in the visitor’s goal. The win moved Bournemouth out of the relegation zone and up to 14th place in the top-flight table. Meanwhile, Everton stay ninth in the table.
Chelsea 5-0 Stoke
Stoke travelled to the capital with a major defensive crisis and the result illustrated their lack of defensive options. The tone was set for the game on four minutes, as Antonio Rudiger headed home from Willian’s cross.
It took less than five minutes for the Blues to double their lead, as Danny Drinkwater produced a superb volley from the edge of the area. Pedro added a third on 24 minutes firing past Jack Butland, after taking on youngster Josh Tymon. Willian won and scored a penalty to make it four on 73 minutes before Davide Zappacosta capitalised on an effort from Tymon to complete the rout on 88 minutes.
The victory moved Chelsea up to second place in the league table. Meanwhile, Stoke are 15th in the table and looking nervously over their shoulders at the relegation zone, as the Potters are just two points clear of the drop zone.
Liverpool consolidated their place in the top-four by recording a hard-fought win over the visiting Foxes. The visitors took an early lead when Riyad Mahrez teed-up striker Jamie Vardy for a tap-in after a mistake from Joel Matip.
Mohamed Salah missed two good chances in the first half. However, the in-form Egyptian did get on the scoresheet on 52 minutes. Sadio Mane produced a superb back-heeled pass to the winger and he fired low into the middle of the Leicester goal. The former Chelsea star also scored the winner on 76 minutes, as he turned away from Harry Maguire before firing past Kasper Schmeichel.
The win moves the Reds four points clear of fifth place Tottenham, who have a game in-hand. The three points also mean that Jurgen Klopp’s side are just three points behind third-place Manchester United. Leicester remains eighth in the league.
Swansea moved off the bottom of the table, as Portuguese boss Carlos Carvalhal recorded a win in his game in charge. The home side looked to have won the game, as winger Andre Carrillo headed home from a Richarlison cross on 11 minutes.
However, with just four minutes left the Swans equalised, forward Jordan Ayew scored from close-range. The Welsh completed the turnaround in the last minute. Heurelho Gomes parried Nathan Dyer’s effort, but Luciano Narsingh was the quickest to react and find net the winner. The victory saw Swansea move up to 19th place and three points off safety. Watford remained in tenth position in the Premier League table. The Welsh are still favourites to suffer relegation, though.
Other Premier League results:
Huddersfield 0-0 Burnley
Newcastle 0-0 Brighton
Manchester United 0-0 Southampton
Who produced the big performance on Saturday in the Premier League?
