The Premier League was at its brilliant best on the weekend even though only five matches were played. On Saturday, West Ham produced a stunning comeback against Huddersfield in a seven-goal thriller at the London Stadium.
Here are 5 things we learned from the Premiership this week;
Newcastle’s Miguel Almiron is the real deal
A lot of eyebrows were raised when Newcastle signed the Paraguayan playmaker for a club-record £20million in January. But he has been brilliant for the Magpies and that was once again the case against Bournemouth.
For Newcastle’s first goal, Almiron ran 60 yards all on his own to earn his side a free-kick – which Salomon Rondon expertly converted. He has created an average of 3.25 chances per game since joining the club – no-one in the division has created more since his arrival.
Chelsea do further damage to their top four hopes
Consistency has been the problem at Chelsea since Christmas and despite showing some promising signs of recovery in the aftermath of their EFL Cup Final defeat to Man City, they have once again lapsed into horribly familiar territory.
A 2-0 away defeat to Everton leaves them down in sixth and while they are still onlye three points off the top four, a seventh loss of the season will do little to boost the belief that they can string together a crucial unbeaten run between now and the end of the season.
Brendan Rodgers is getting the best out of the Foxes
Leicester struck late against Burnley to pile further pressure on Sean Dyche’s side – who now sit dangerously in 17th position and two points adrift of safety. But what is now clear is that Rodgers is getting the best out of the Foxes. His side put in a spirited display with ten-men on the pitch for all but four minutes of the match.
Liverpool showing title fight
Jurgen Klopp’s side were far from convincing against Fulham but they showed their title credentials by grinding out the victory at Craven Cottage to return to the top of the division.
However, one major cause for concern for Reds fans is the form of their star striker Mohamed Salah.
The Egypt international drew a blank for the fifth consecutive Premier League game in a row and many Liverpool fans took to social media to call for the forward to be dropped in their next match.
Burnley are dangerously sinking into the relegation battle
This game looked poised for a crucial Burnley victory which would have allayed their relegation fears after a recent run of poor form. The wind and rain swirled and bombarded the Lancashire terraces on Saturday afternoon, as a hot and cold Leicester City visited Turf Moor. If Burnley needed more encouragement, Harry Maguire was happy to provide it, after getting himself sent off after just over three minutes on the pitch.
Credit must go to the Foxes though, as they dug in and continued to play their way, creating big problems for Burnley despite their numerical disadvantage and early shock to the system. Burnley fans will be bitterly disappointed to have seen their side toil against ten men, as the home side managed just two shots on target all game. Wes Morgan’s late winner for Leicester leaves the Clarets stuck fast in the relegation mire with just seven games left on the board to save their skin.
There’s a rumour swirling around Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen. It’s a tale of past success, present uncertainty, and a hefty price tag. Osimhen’s chapter at Napoli could be coming to a close. Their final game of the season ended in a disappointing draw, and rumours are swirling that the striker might be looking for new pastures.
Victor Osimhen, shining star, then a bump in the road
Osimhen has undeniably been a bright spot for Napoli. He played a key role in their 2022/23 Serie A championship win, even claiming the top scorer title that season. However, this past season wasn’t Napoli’s strongest, and Osimhen’s goal tally dipped to 15. Despite this, his talent hasn’t gone unnoticed.
A shopping list of seekers for Victor Osimhen
Victor Osimhen remains a hot asset, attracting interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs. Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United, and Liverpool have all reportedly expressed their desire to sign the striker.
The Premier League dream, or a lucrative detour?
According to Italian journalist Valter De Maggio, Osimhen’s ideal destination seems to be the Premier League, with Arsenal topping his list. However, his transfer fee is a staggering €130 million, which might make the Gunners hesitate. If a move to England falls through, De Maggio suggests Osimhen might be swayed by the financial muscle of clubs in the Middle East, particularly those in Saudi Arabia.
National team duty and a decision to be made
With the club season wrapped up, Osimhen is currently enjoying a well-deserved break. He’ll soon be rejoining the Nigerian national team for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers. But before he steps onto the international stage again, a big decision looms – will he become an Arsenal player, or will his talents be showcased elsewhere? Only time will tell what Osimhen’s future holds.
In his final game of the season, playing for his team, Al Nassr, Cristiano Ronaldo scored two goals. These goals weren’t just any goals though! They were his 34th and 35th of the season, which achieved something remarkable.
By scoring these two goals, Ronaldo became the league’s top scorer for the entire season, breaking the previous record!
“I don’t follow the records, the records follow me,” the 39-year-old Portuguese forward tweeted afterwards.
Cristiano Ronaldo had a big night during his final game of the season for his team Al Nassr. He scored two goals. The first one came very late in the first half, just as extra time was being added on. The second one was a powerful header in the 69th minute. These two goals helped Al Nassr win the game 4-2 against Al Ittihad.
But that’s not all!
Ronaldo’s goals were even more special because they made him the league’s top scorer for the entire season. He scored a record-breaking 35 goals, beating the old record of 34 goals which was set by a player named Abderrazak Hamdallah in the 2018-19 season.
This achievement is even more impressive because Ronaldo’s team, Al Nassr, actually finished second place in the league. The champions were Al Hilal, who were far ahead with a 14-point lead.
Ronaldo joined Al Nassr in December of last year, which was the start of a trend where many famous players from other countries came to the Saudi league to play for a lot of money.
Despite playing in a new league, Ronaldo is still a star on the international stage. He was recently chosen to play for Portugal in the European Championship which will be held in Germany next month.
This will be his 11th international tournament, an incredible feat! He also holds the record for most appearances and goals scored in men’s international football, with a whopping 206 appearances and 128 goals.
Stanley Nwabali, the goalkeeper for Nigeria’s national team (the Super Eagles), is looking to switch teams. He wants a new challenge and a chance to play for a bigger club next season.
One club that has been mentioned most often is the Kaizer Chiefs.
This South African team is currently undergoing a rebuilding phase. Nwabali might be the missing piece they’re looking for. The question remains: can they convince him to join their team?
“Well, everyone would love to leave because when you are in some position, you need to grow,” the 27-year-old Nwabali said.
“Like everyone in my position, I would like to grow more. I’m talking about clubs higher than this [bigger than Chippa United] because I have been giving my all to my club this season.
“I just wish to have another challenge at some other place. To be honest, this season has been one of best seasons of my football career inside Chippa and outside Chippa.”
“This season, Chippa has been nice to me and being part of this family. We found ourselves ending the season better than the previous season. This season was one of the best seasons for me,” he continued.
The potential move to Kaizer Chiefs for Stanley Nwabali is interesting because of the current situation with their goalkeepers.
Uncertain pecking order
Right now, Brandon Petersen is the backup, with Bruce Bvuma holding the starting position. This could change, however.
Veteran goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune, who has been with the club for an impressive 25 years, is rumoured to be leaving soon. This unexpected opening creates a prime opportunity for a new starting goalie to step in.
Competition and a potential starting role for Nwabali
If Nwabali joins Kaizer Chiefs, he would likely be competing directly with Bvuma for the coveted starting spot. With Khune’s potential departure, Nwabali might see this as a golden opportunity to solidify himself as the main goalkeeper.
His talent and recent performance on the international stage would certainly make him a strong contender.
Adding another layer to the story, Nwabali is about to return to Nigeria to join his national team for a crucial FIFA World Cup qualifier against none other than South Africa. This upcoming match holds some extra weight.
Nwabali’s impressive performance against South Africa at the recent Africa Cup of Nations was a big reason they weren’t able to reach the finals. South Africa will likely be looking to settle the score this time around, making this qualifier an exciting clash with a bit of history repeating itself.