Premier League Matchday 32 review: A title fight like no other

Monday 8 April 2024 by Jonathan Victoria  Features

The season is on the home straight now, but it is far from being concluded. With just seven games remaining for the top three and one point in it, the finale to the 2023/24 campaign is sure to be a banger.

Matchday 32 is complete and its time to give our opinions on it in the latest Premier League matchday review, taking a look at the good, the bad and the ugly from the weekend plus our choice of the biggest winners and star players from the weekend.

The Good

Credit: CHAOS at Old Trafford! | Manchester United 2-2 Liverpool | Premier League Highlights (Sky Sports Premier League, Youtube)

Let’s start with the results from the top three, as Arsenal and Manchester City’s wins coupled with Liverpool’s draw means that the Gunners go back to the top due to goal difference, with themselves and the Reds on 71 points and City one back on 70.

Arsenal were the strongest of the three this weekend, making light work of their visit to the Amex, beating Brighton 3-0.

Man City were made to fight for their 4-2 victory over Crystal Palace, going a goal down early on to make things interesting. From their performance in the first half, you’d think they may be on for a big slip-up. But then they remembered who they were in the second and dominated the remaining 45 minutes, albeit with one more slight hiccup towards the end.

Liverpool though didn’t capitalise on their first half over Manchester United. Up 1-0 and in complete control, a big mistake cost them their lead and ultimately gave the Red Devils the confidence they needed to take a point from the title hopefuls.

Elsewhere, Everton helped their survival chances slightly with a 1-0 win over nearly relegated Burnley, snapping their streak of 13 games without a win. 

West Ham moved back into the Europa Conference League spot with a 2-1 win over Wolves which included a sensational Olympic goal from James Ward-Prowse, the best deal ball specialist the world has ever seen (I said what I said).

Luton also gave hope to survival this year, coming back to beat Bournemouth 2-1, moving them to level points with Nottingham Forest in 17th.

The Bad

Credit: McBurnie stoppage time equaliser! | Sheffield United 2-2 Chelsea | Premier League Highlights (Sky Sports Premier League, Youtube)

After stealing the win in the game of the season against Man United in the midweek, it was back to business as usual for Chelsea as they slumped to a 2-2 draw with rock-bottom Sheffield United. While it wasn’t a loss, it certainly doesn’t help their efforts to try to get European football for next season, not that they seem ready for that challenge yet anyway.

Other than that, there wasn’t really anything bad to speak of. Aston Villa did surrender their fourth spot with a draw, but that was in a six-goal thriller with a formidable opponent in Brentford so it wasn’t bad, just unfortunate.

Newcastle also managed just a 1-0 win over Fulham which again, isn’t bad, but their season as a whole has been somewhat disappointing after the campaign they experienced last year.

Brighton not putting up much of a fight against Arsenal was kind of unexpected, although stopping the Gunners right now is a big ask. Boo’s from the home crowd were aimed towards former man Leandro Trossard although the real frustrations are likely at manager Roberto De Zerbi, who is failing to make his intentions for next season clear.

The Ugly

Credit: Clinical Gunners performance to go top! | Brighton 0-3 Arsenal | Premier League Highlights (Sky Sports Premier League, Youtube)

Just like the lack of bad this week, there really wasn’t anything ugly to speak of. Maybe just Burnley continuing to be the biggest disappointment of the year after many had high expectations for Vincent Kompany’s side following a dominant year in the Championship in 22/23.

Biggest Winners

Credit: Van de Ven THUNDERBOLT helps Spurs into top four! | Spurs 3-1 Nottingham Forest | EPL Highlights (Sky Sports Premier League, Youtube)

Despite Arsenal retaking the lead of the table, the biggest winners this week for us has to go to their biggest rivals, Tottenham.

Spurs claimed a solid 3-1 win over Nottingham Forest at home, with good performances all around and a goal-of-the-season candidate strike from Micky van de Ven for the go-ahead second goal.

The win moves them to level points with Aston Villa but ahead on goal difference to take the fourth and final guaranteed Champions League spot for now plus a game in hand for the North London side.

Ange Postecoglou’s first Premier League campaign has seen some mixed results but top four is very much theirs for the taking now.

Star Players

Kevin De Bruyne

Credit: Kevin De Bruyne MASTERCLASS | Crystal Palace 2-4 Manchester City | Premier League Highlights (Sky Sports Premier League, Youtube)

Just the one star this weekend, and if you didn’t know already, Kevin De Bruyne is a good football player. Maybe even a very good one.

His goals in City’s win over Crystal Palace were top-drawer as they often are with the Belgian. The guy seems inevitable at times, it’s like he’ll never lose a step.