Picture Roundup: Everton thrash Manchester City as Real Madrid's run ends
Francesco Totti can’t be kept on the bench forever. The captain made his first appearance of 2017 in Roma’s 1-0 win at the Dacia Arena yesterday, replacing Stephan El Shaarawy in the 63rd minute. He has now played in each of the last 25 calendar years.
The look of a manager who’s suffered their heaviest defeat — ever! Manchester City’s 4-0 loss at Everton this weekend is Pep Guardiola’s biggest loss in league competition since becoming a manager. City have now lost 5 matches in the Premier League this season. Guardiola has never lost more in a single campaign - and there’s still 17 games to go.
Another game, another late goal from Sergio Ramos. But this time it was an 85th minute equaliser for former club Sevilla. It is only the second time in his career that the Ramos scored an own goal. His only other effort for the opposition was in the 2012/13 Champions League knock-out stages at Old Trafford for Manchester United. Stevan Jovetic scored a 91st minute winner to bring Real Madrid’s 40-game unbeaten run to an abrupt end.
A goal in each of his last three Premier League appearances has seen Peter Crouch move just one short of a century of goals. Wayne Rooney (194), Jermain Defoe (155) and Sergio Agüero (113) are the only active players that have scored more Premier League goals than Crouch (99).
No Payet, no problem. At least this weekend. With a security guard stationed in front of of the wantaway playmakers portrait outside the London Stadium, the players got on with things on the pitch. Michail Antonio picked up three assists as the Hammers saw off Sam Allardyce’s Crystal Palace with relative ease. Antonio is the first West Ham player to register 3 assists in a Premier League match since April 2000 (Paolo Di Canio vs Coventry).
As comprehensive as West Ham’s performance was, one giant pony-tailed man stole the show. Andy Carroll entered the ‘goal of the season’ fray with a bicycle kick from the edge of the box. He celebrated by picking up three of his teammates in one fell swoop — and was not injured in the process.
Paul Pogba may want to focus a little more on training and a little less on his social media profile. Just days after Twitter revealed the player was to be the first with his own hashtag emoji, the Frenchman had a largely forgettable performance. While Manchester United managed to rescue a point against Liverpool, Pogba conceded the opening penalty and ended the day with the lowest WhoScored rating he has ever received - 5.56.
Chris Wood was once again on the scoresheet for Leeds this weekend. Their 1-0 win over rivals Derby County saw them climb to third in the race for promotion. The Whites have not lost a match in which Wood has scored — 18 wins, 10 draws.
As Chelsea made their way to Leicester on Friday night, stories erupted across social media that Diego Costa had not travelled with the side. Eden Hazard was officially Costa’s replacement in the team in the false nine role - but it was another Spaniard who stepped up with the goals. Former Bolton man Marcos Alonso only went and scored a brace, and was unlucky to not leave with a hat-trick. While Pedro scored his first goal away from Stamford Bridge this season. Chelsea have now had more goals scored by Spanish players (23) than any team in La Liga this season.
It’s been a big week for Harry Kane - he became father for the first time and joined Robbie Keane and Jermain Defoe in the record books. They have each scored 3 Premier League hat-tricks for Tottenham, no player has netted more for Spurs.
From sinner at Saints -- Joey Barton pulled himself away from the bookies long enough to score the lone goal in Burnley’s 1-0 win against Southampton on Saturday. Barton was brought on as a 73rd minute sub for Dean Marney - and five minutes later found the back of the net. He is the first player in nearly a year to score a Premier League goal from a direct free-kick as a substitute.