This week’s round of #PL action saw Leicester City suffer yet another gut-wrenching loss. This loss was their seventh-straight match without recording a single goal scored. It’s a sordid and disheartening statistic that reflects just how far this team still has to go. They’ve now lost 15 of their last 17 matches in all competitions. In contrast, other teams debuted fresh talent to great effect. Standout performances from guys like the aforementioned Julio Enciso and Diogo Jota made for thrilling action that led directly to their teams’ big wins.
Whether each player was a veteran or a newcomer, the games this weekend had their highs and lows. Even though Bournemouth were terrible, they were still unlucky not to score four or five goals themselves as they went on to miss 19 big chances. Their xG (expected goals) total of 1.95 tells the story of a game in which they didn’t capitalize on their chances. Even with 24 shots, they were stymied. They truly could not buy a goal.
Leicester City Faces Grim Reality
On the pitch, Leicester City’s sudden collapse has sparked a firestorm of concern from fans and pundits. The four-time FA Cup champions have failed to score in their past seven Premier League games. They’ve combined this with a shocking run of defeat in 15 of their last 17 matches in all competitions. This unfortunate development would put any club in a difficult position. They are in big trouble and flailing to find their way out of the bottom of the league.
Head coach Arne Slot expressed his anger and disappointment towards similar displays from his players. He felt like his players were getting hurt and the laws of the game were not doing them any justice.
“He would have helped us with set-pieces,” – Arne Slot
Slot’s acknowledgment of the team’s shortcomings suggests a need for change as they continue to search for solutions to their scoring woes.
You could be forgiven for thinking that analysts were eager to highlight just how bad things had gotten in Leicester. Dan Long, one of the area’s most respected high school football commentators, didn’t mince words in his criticism of the team’s recent performances. He said what Leicester did was just sad, highlighting the desperation that is abused from fans.
Bournemouth’s Missed Opportunities
Bournemouth had every reason to enter the match with optimism. Instead, they returned to The District with a bad taste in their mouths after failing to convert on multiple golden scoring opportunities. Unsurprisingly, the dynamic team recorded an incredible 24 shots throughout the game. Although they were able to, they missed a multitude of chances and finished with an xG of 1.95.
Bournemouth were ferocious with chance creation. They just weren’t able to find that final touch needed to get the deserved result. This ineptitude at scoring still haunts them as they look for more and more consistency in their play.
Looking back on the game’s result, Bournemouth’s lads admitted they had to be better when it came to finishing. They are still very much focused on changing their luck in the next round of fixtures.
Emerging Stars Shine Bright
As some teams wrestled with rough patches of form, for others, they saw the emergence of young players making their mark on the big stage. Julio Enciso made headlines by scoring his first goal in English football, showcasing a superb performance that lit up the match. His impact turned out to be crucial for his team and was a harbinger of things to come.
Not only that, but along with Enciso making a name for himself, Diogo Jota broke his own goal drought with an absolute banger of a goal against Everton. He expertly powered down the opposing backline, firmly establishing his command on top as the leading forward. That majestic display was the Brazilian’s immediate response to a long-timed goal-scoring drought.
“It was difficult for the goalkeeper and difficult also for me,” – Tonali
Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones was the key player in their historic win, showing just how important he was to their success on and off the pitch. What these new, rising stars had in common was their influence on the tactical dynamics of their games.
As you can hear, David Moyes was quite upset with how the entire situation was handled. Not everyone was content to accept the validity of Liverpool’s goal. His comments make apparent the current and historical controversy over officiating in the sport and how problematic decision-making can affect results.
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