Who’s looking like title contenders and/or favorites?
Almost at the halfway mark of the 2022-23 season, Arsenal and Manchester City are looking head and shoulders above the rest though Newcastle is not going away and Manchester United has surged into contention.
The Gunners will have their hands full for the duration of their title challenge, as Erling Haaland continues to take the Premier League by storm with an almost impossible goal-scoring record.
Uneven Tottenham are hanging in the top four battle, while Liverpool is struggling to stay in the Champions League scrap. Chelsea has some work to do while surprising Fulham and Brighton are hanging around on the periphery with fine campaigns.
Who are the candidates for relegation?
Everton, Bournemouth, and Southampton currently occupy the relegation places.
But Leicester, West Ham, Nottingham Forest, Wolves, and Leeds all find themselves within a few points of the bottom three after a topsy-turvy start.
Below you will find the latest Premier League table.
Harry Kane scored his 266th Tottenham goal as Spurs got back in the Premier League win column with a 1-0 defeat of Fulham at Craven Cottage on Monday.
And what a goal it was.
Kane’s goal in first-half stoppage time was a combination of power and touch, a 19-yard rip worthy of the three points it went on to acquire from plucky Fulham.
The goal also brings Kane level with Jimmy Greaves for the most in the fabled shirt of Tottenham Hotspur.
The Cottagers, for their part, were just a bit off all match long, losing a second 1-0 fixture in a row following last week’s defeat at Newcastle United. Star forward Aleksandar Mitrovic limped off the pitch in the 87th minute in a further worry for Fulham.
Tottenham moves to 36 points, three points off the top four and five more than seventh-place Fulham.
Spurs go the distance to take all three points at Fulham
Craven Cottage has not been a cakewalk for Premier League opponents this season, and newly-repromoted Fulham could’ve passed visiting Spurs with a win on Monday.
That didn’t happen, even though Spurs center forward Aleksandar Mitrovic and goalkeeper Bernd Leno have been about as influential to a single club as any players outside of Erling Haaland and Harry Kane.
Problem is Kane was also at the Cottage on Monday.
Kane’s 15th league goal of the season was a phenomenal strike and Spurs also got a terrific performance from wobbly goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who made five saves and looked more like the player we’ve seen steal points in the past.
Spurs were fortunate, however, that Heung-min Son was not sent off for a nasty lunge, studs-first, into the ankle of Kenny Tete, but Antonio Conte will accept the good luck and take the three points.
Now will Tottenham find him more players, as Arsenal’s made waves across North London with first place on the table and two World Cup participants added to its roster in the last few days (Leandro Trossard and Jakub Kiwior).
Before losing 1-0 to 3rd-place Newcastle last time out, Fulham won four straight following the World Cup break to emerge from the mid-table pack and mount a challenge on the European places. Marco Silva’s side has typically gone as Aleksandar Mitrovic (11 goals) and Andreas Pereira (2 goals, 5 assists) have gone, with a pair of Americans — World Cup veterans Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson — making up the left side of defense.
Up in north London, calls for Antonio Conte to be fired have come from fans following recent results, leaving Tottenham with an uncertain future and Manchester City next on the fixture list (again). Harry Kane remains on 264 goals as he chases Jimmy Greaves’ record. The club lists 266 goals for Greaves at Tottenham, while at least one prominent stats service has “seen more external sources suggest it should be 268 goals.”
Premier League injury news: It’s time to take a look at which players might be unavailable for matchweek 21 of the 2022-23 Premier League season, due to injury.
Prior to every matchweek this season, we’ll update this Premier League injuries page with the latest news and update, so make sure to check back regularly to see how your favorite — or least-favorite — club is getting on.
Players, like Chelsea and France star N’Golo Kante, designated “out for World Cup” will miss the 2022 tournament in Qatar before (hopefully) returning to club football shortly thereafter.
Let’s check out the latest Premier League injury news, below.
Arsenal injuries
OUT: Gabriel Jesus (knee), Reiss Nelson (thigh) | QUESTIONABLE: Mohamed Elneny (knock)
Aleksandar Mitrovic had a penalty goal taken off the board and Alexander Isak scored in the first minute of stoppage time as Newcastle United found a way past Bernd Leno in a 1-0 win over Fulham at St. James’ Park on Sunday.
Ex-Newcastle forward Mitrovic slipped while taking a VAR-awarded penalty and clipped his shot off his plant leg and into the goal, the double touch eventually spotted and nullifying the visitors would-be lead.
Newcastle had dominated the game aside from one early spell and the penalty, controversially-awarded in the first place, and Callum Wilson’s close-range chip to Isak was nodded home just after the clock read 90:00.
The Magpies move back into third place, a point behind Man City and six back of Arsenal. Newcastle’s played more matches than both, and their 38 points are the same as fourth-place Manchester United.
Fulham sits sixth with 31 points, seven points off fourth.
Fulham won a second half penalty almost completely against the run of play when Bobby Decordova-Reid came together with Kieran Trippier on the right edge of the box.
Initially waved away by referee Robert Jones, VAR asked Jones to head back to the screen for another look and the referee saw a penalty this time.
Aleksandar Mitrovic, the former Magpies forward, went to the penalty spot. But he slipped as he planted to take the shot and the ball ended up touched both of his feet on its way past Nick Pope.
That’s a double touch, if you will, nullified the attempt and Newcastle had an indirect free kick In the end.
(Photo by Alex Livesey – Danehouse/Getty Images)
Bernd Leno is having a season, but Newcastle is, too
fotmob.com
Ex-Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno’s move across London is arguably one of the main reasons Fulham is flying so high on the Premier League table.
Leno, 30, has clawed away so many would-be opponent goals for a Fulham team who entered the day with the highest expected goals against total in the Premier League.
The German backstop is second in the league with 4.2 saves per match and is the main reason Fulham’s 35.8 xGA has only led to 29 goals against.
One of those, however, is Alexander Isak’s late winner for Newcastle. It was an easy goal but a well-earned one for the Magpies, who out-attempted Fulham 20-5 and won the xG scrap 2.13-1.14 while holding 62 percent of the ball.
Newcastle is legit and probably should have had this game in the bag by halftime or soon after the break. Allan Saint-Maximin’s good play off the bench and Callum Wilson getting the assist on substitute Isak’s winner will give Eddie Howe food for thought as Miguel Almiron was bright but made way for Jacob Murphy and was not a part of the goal.
What, eventually, will be Newcastle’s Best XI by the end of the season?
Bruno Guimaraes injury threatens Magpies’ season goals
Newcastle’s most important player left the field on his own power but in tears in a move that Magpies supporters will be hoping is just an abundance of emotion.
The Brazilian spoke with the trainers on the pitch midway through the first half but soon returned to the pitch and made it the rest of the half.
It was then that cameras spotted him in tears, still limping a bit, and Allan Saint-Maximin took Guimaraes’ spot for the second half.
But there’s a riddle here, and it involved Guimaraes finishing the half. Surely the trainers wouldn’t have let him risk long-term injury, but the emotional reaction certainly delivers a fair bit of anxiety to the Toon.
Stars of the Show
Bernd Leno
Fabian Schar
Alexander Isak
Miguel Almiron
Harrison Reed
What’s next?
Newcastle goes to Crystal Palace for a 12:30pm ET match Saturday, while Fulham hosts Spurs two days later.
Aleksandar Mitrovic penalty video: Freak occurrence denies goal
Aleksandar Mitrovic thought he gave Fulham the lead, but his penalty kick is disallowed because he kicks it off his own foot.
How to watch Newcastle vs Fulham live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 9am ET, Sunday TV Channel: USA Network Online:Stream via NBCSports.com
Key storylines & star players
Newcastle’s seen one top-four rival beat another and needs a win to guarantee the third-place footing it held going into the weekend. Alexander Isak and Allan Saint-Maximin are now healthy, so the Magpies are the closest to full-strength they’ve been in some time. Miguel Almiron’s been the club’s finisher in their absence, while Bruno Guimaraes has been simply sensational.
Fulham’s been magnificent, too, and Carlos Vinicius filled in well for suspended Aleksandar Mitrovic at midweek. The former Newcastle striker has been filling up the nets and will hope to do the same at his old haunt.
Newcastle team news, injuries, lineup options
OUT: Jonjo Shelvey (lower leg), Matt Targett (heel), Emil Krafth (knee).
Joao Felix’s bright Chelsea debut ended with a late lunge and a red card as the loanee’s Blues debut was a microcosm of the Graham Potter tenure in a 2-1 loss at Fulham at Craven Cottage on Thursday.
Former Chelsea star Willian had given Fulham a halftime lead but Kalidou Koulibaly had the Blues level after the break and Felix showed instant chemistry with Kai Havertz.
But Felix went in hard and late on Kenny Tete in the 58th minute, and Graham Potter’s Chelsea misery continued when Carlos Vinicius snapped home an Andreas Pereira cross late for the win.
Fulham’s victory boosts it sixth in the Premier League with 31 points, six more than 10th-place Chelsea.
The Blues have played one more match than Fulham, but they’ve won just one of their last nine games in all competitions. Fulham has five straight in all competitions, beating Palace, Southampton, Leicester, Hull CIty (FA Cup), and now Chelsea.
Fulham’s having a magnificent season but Chelsea controlled this match on the whole. The Blues’ list of injured attackers, however, continues to complicate things.
Injuries to Christian Pulisic and Raheem Sterling helped inspire Chelsea’s loan of Joao Felix from Atletico Madrid and he looked just the tonic over most of his 57 minutes on the pitch.
He wasn’t lifted for fitness or injury, however; Felix’s super late, studs-up challenge means Chelsea won’t have their new toy for a while.
It’s a shame, too, because Chelsea had racked up more than 2.00 expected goals as Felix was joined by Kai Havertz in a tantalizing young duo.
Joao Felix (fotmob.com)
The Blues had all the big chances in the game as Fulham’s goal came on Willian’s deflected effort — the longtime Chelsea man did not celebrate his opener.
Carlos Vinicius, a former Tottenham man himself, did celebrate his late goal that boosted Fulham up 2-1 and came as another ex-Londoner in Bernd Leno played very well between the Spurs’ sticks.
This was a good effort from Fulham. While the Cottagers continue to keep things interesting late in their close games, close wins build character.
Marco Silva’s men put forth plenty of his fire on the pitch, and they did it without Aleksandar MItrovic. The double-digit scorer will try to cool off Newcastle at his former home this weekend.
Stars of the Show
Thiago Silva
Kai Havertz
Bernd Leno
Carlos Vinicius
Willian
What’s next
Chelsea hosts Crystal Palace at 9am ET Sunday, while Fulham visits Newcastle at the same time.
Graham Potter’s reaction: Joao Felix red warranted, frustrated for fans
“We responded well but the red card changes the game. We could do better than we did on their goal and that’s what cost us. Really disappointed to lose,” Graham Potter said after the game. “There’s a reaction from the side and it’s a forward’s tackle, shall we say, and there was too much malice in it. I understand why he’s sent off. It’s another blow. The hits just keep coming at the moment. That’s how it is. He was really good and you could see his quality in the game so it’s doubly disappointing for us.”
“It’s tough. I feel for the supporters and the players and everyone at the club. We have to just keep going. We have to keep working. There’s no other solution, move to the next match and try to get three points.”
Willian goal video: Deflection helps Fulham in front
Kalidou Koulibaby goal video: Senegalese cleans up rebound
Joao Felix red card video: Bright start undone by late blades
Carlos Vinicius goal video: Back in front!
How to watch Fulham vs Chelsea live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 3pm ET, Thursday TV Channel: Peacock Online: Stream via Peacock Premium
Key storylines
Fulham are flying high after three-straight wins over the festive period and there is a very impressive resilience about the squad Silva has created. Of course, Mitrovic is the main man up top and will be sorely missed in this clash, but they have so much quality in midfield and attacking areas with summer signings Joao Palhinha, Andreas Pereira and Willian making a big impact. Also, Bernd Leno has been excellent in goal. Most people expected Fulham to go down this season so they’re now playing with house money and are full of confidence. Special things can happen when teams are in the kind of situation, and mood, the Cottagers find themselves in right now.
Chelsea are feeling the opposite of special. They have been hit hard by injuries, look lackluster in attack and questions are starting to fly when it comes to whether or not Graham Potter was the right hire. Todd Boehly has said he will give Potter plenty of time to sort things out but Chelsea’s squad don’t seem to be excited by the brand of football he is asking them to play. What is their philosophy? How will they hurt opponents? None of it is clear right now.
In-form players to keep an eye on
Mitrovic continues to score goals galore but he’s missing this one through suspension so Carlos Vinicius is likely to start up top. Pereira, Palhinha and Willian are winning the ball back and will be aiming to get the ball to Vinicius in dangerous areas. USMNT duo Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson have been excellent all season long and Leno has provided some real confidence as Fulham have improved massively in defense.
Chelsea have no players in good form but youngster Carney Chukwuemeka did play extremely well when he came on against Manchester City.
Fulham team news, injuries, lineup options
Mitrovic is suspended due to yellow card accumulation so Vinicius should start up top. Shane Duffy and Neeskens Kebano remain out, while Manor Solomon made his long-awaited return from injury in the FA Cup win at Hull and having him around will be a big boost.
Raheem Sterling and Christian Pulisic both joined Chelsea’s growing injury list as N’Golo Kante, Reece James and Wesley Fofana are getting closer to returns. Ben Chilwell, Armando Broja, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Edouard Mendy remain out, while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is battling through a back issue. At this point Graham Potter still has a lot of international players to choose from and he needs the likes of Jorginho, Mason Mount, Cesar Azpilicueta, Thiago Silva and Hakim Ziyech to stand tall.
