EPL game reviews – 2025-12-28

EPL Saturday Wrap: Tight Finishes, Big Wins and Late Drama

It was a cracking day of Premier League action with a full slate of fixtures delivering just about everything – tight 2–1 wins, a statement 4–1 result, a couple of tense 1–0 and 0–0 grinders, and a high-profile comeback in the late game. Using the match data and stats, we’ll walk through how each contest unfolded, who stood out, and what punters can take away when lining up their next bets.

Across the board, there was a noticeable trend: plenty of sides started fast and then had to hang on, while others left it late to turn the screw in the second half. From Arsenal edging Brighton in a 2–1 battle, to Brentford putting Bournemouth away 4–1, to Aston Villa turning the tables on Chelsea after the break, it was a day that rewarded sharp in-play reads and a close eye on the numbers.

Brighton vs Arsenal – Gunners Edge a 2–1 Contest

Arsenal came away 2–1 winners against Brighton in a match where they led from the front but had to manage a second-half response. The full-time “standard” metric shows a 2–1 result to the home side, with Arsenal also on top in corners, seven to two across the 90 minutes.

How the goals and chances shook out

The scoring pattern was clear from the period stats: Arsenal went in 1–0 up at half-time, added another after the break, while Brighton found their only goal in the second half. The 1st-half “standard” scores show 1–0 to the home team, with the 2nd half split 1–1.

On the individual front, Martin Ødegaard was central for Arsenal. He registered one goal from one shot on target and one total shot, converting clinically when it mattered. Bukayo Saka didn’t get on the scoresheet despite heavy involvement, racking up four shots and two shots on target, and adding an assist – reflected in his “player assists” score of one and “score or assist” at one. That combination made him a standout attacking contributor for anyone on goal involvement markets.

Forward Viktor Gyökeres was another constant threat, producing two shots, both on target, although he couldn’t find the net. In midfield, Martín Zubimendi chipped in with a shot and shot on target, while Mikel Merino added a shot of his own. Defensively, Gabriel Magalhães and William Saliba both posted a single shot or none, with no goals, but did their job in limiting Brighton’s clear-cut looks.

Brighton’s response and key performers

Brighton’s fightback after the break showed in the attacking metrics. Diego Gómez scored their only goal, registering one goal from one shot on target and one shot in total – a perfect return when he did get a look at goal. Young attacker Yankuba Minteh was lively with one shot, one shot on target, though he couldn’t get on the scoresheet. Jack Hinshelwood also worked the keeper once with a shot on target and one total shot.

In terms of corners, Arsenal applied pressure throughout: two corners in the first half and five in the second, compared to Brighton’s one and one. For corner and territory-based markets, that dominance was reflected nicely in the numbers.

Overall, Arsenal’s superior shot quality from their key creators, plus control of the wide areas leading to a 7–2 corner count, underpinned their 2–1 victory.

Wolves vs Liverpool – Reds Take It 2–1 with a Fast Start

Liverpool claimed a 2–1 win over Wolves, building a decisive first-half lead and then absorbing pressure after the break. The full-time “standard” metric reads 2–1 to the home-listed side (here carrying Liverpool’s players), with a 2–0 lead at half-time and a 1–0 second half in Wolves’ favour.

Liverpool’s first-half control

The numbers show Liverpool did their damage early. They led 2–0 at half-time, and their attacking pieces were busy. Midfielder Ryan Gravenberch posted two shots, one on target, and converted one goal. His “player goals” metric at one and “score or assist” also at one underline his impact in the final third.

Young creator Florian Wirtz was similarly influential: two shots, one on target and one goal, backed by a “score or assist” value of one. In the build-up phase, Jeremie Frimpong grabbed an assist (one in the “player assists” row and one in “score or assist”), providing the final ball on one of those first-half strikes. Hugo Ekitiké was active up front with two shots, none on target, but did notch an assist, reflected in his “player assists” score of one and his “score or assist” at one.

Alexis Mac Allister also peppered the goal with two shots and one on target, although he didn’t score or assist on the day. Curtis Jones chipped in with one shot and one shot on target, underlining Liverpool’s spread of attacking involvement.

Wolves’ second-half push

Wolves were much more dangerous after the interval. They pulled one back in the second half, as shown by the “standard” 2nd-half score of 0–1. Centre-back Santiago Bueno provided a rare attacking moment from the back, delivering one goal from a single shot on target. His “player score or assist” also sits at one, marking him as Wolves’ most decisive contributor.

Up top, Mateus Mané was very active with four shots and two shots on target, though he couldn’t find a goal or assist. Tolu Arokodare also kept Liverpool honest, finishing with three shots and one on target. Wolves’ threat increased late on, but the damage from the first half proved too much to claw back.

Corners and game flow

The corner stats show Liverpool’s early control and Wolves’ gradual response. Liverpool led 5–1 on corners at the break, eventually finishing 6–4 ahead. For total corners or first-half corner markets, backing Liverpool would have paid off strongly given that 5–1 opening half split.

In the end, Liverpool’s clinical first half – led by Gravenberch and Wirtz and backed by Frimpong and Ekitiké in creative roles – was enough to hold off a spirited Wolves side and secure a 2–1 away-style victory.

Bournemouth vs Brentford – Brentford Power to a 4–1 Win

This was the day’s biggest scoreline. The full-time “standard” metric shows a convincing 4–1 win for Brentford (listed as the home side in the data), with a 2–0 advantage at half-time and a 2–1 edge in the second half. Bournemouth did rack up a huge corner count – 15 to Brentford’s two – but it didn’t translate into goals.

Brentford’s clinical finishing

The standout figure on the day was Kevin Schade. He produced five shots, all five on target, and converted a hat-trick, as shown by his “player goals” score of three and “score or assist” at three. That level of efficiency – three goals from five shots on target – is exactly the sort of profile that grabs attention in anytime goalscorer markets.

Around him, Brentford had a solid supporting cast. Igor Thiago managed two shots, one on target, and picked up an assist (one in the “player assists” row and one in “score or assist”). Yehor Yarmolyuk was involved in the build-up, with one shot and one shot on target and one assist, which also shows up as one in his “score or assist” stat. Mikkel Damsgaard also grabbed an assist, while midfielder Vitaly Janelt contributed a shot on target from one effort.

In terms of pure volume, Brentford were not particularly shot-heavy compared to their opponents, but their chances were high quality and, importantly, converted. Four different home players contributed either a goal or an assist across the match.

Bournemouth’s chances but blunt edge

Bournemouth (the away-listed team) generated plenty of attacking moments. Winger Antoine Semenyo fired off four shots, all on target, and scored once. His “player goals” metric reflects that single strike, and his “score or assist” stands at one, making him Bournemouth’s brightest attacking spark.

Marcus Tavernier and Marcos Senesi each logged a shot and a shot on target, while David Brooks managed two shots on target from two attempts, and Justin Kluivert chipped in with two shots, one on target. Amine Adli also tested the keeper with one effort on target. Despite all that activity (and the huge corner count), Bournemouth couldn’t match Brentford’s cutting edge in front of goal.

Corners tell a different story

One of the more remarkable stats from this game is the corner tally: Bournemouth took 15 corners to Brentford’s 2. They trailed 1–2 in the first half but dominated 13–1 in the second 45. For corner-based markets, anyone on Bournemouth total corners or second-half corners would have been very happy, even though the match result markets went the other way.

All up, Brentford delivered a textbook example of clinical finishing – led by a prolific Schade – in a 4–1 win that never really looked in doubt despite sustained Bournemouth pressure and set-piece volume.

Everton vs Burnley – Stalemate at 0–0

Not every game on the slate delivered goals, and Everton vs Burnley ended in a 0–0 draw according to the full-time “standard” scores. Both 1st-half and 2nd-half standard metrics are also 0–0, confirming there were no late twists.

Plenty of shots, no end product

Despite the scoreline, there was a fair bit of shooting activity from both sides. For Burnley (the home-listed team), Josh Laurent, Bashir Humphreys, Lesley Ugochukwu, Lucas Pires, Armando Broja, Jacob Bruun Larsen and Florentino Luís all registered at least one shot. Humphreys, Laurent and Ugochukwu each managed one effort, while Larsen and Luís had two shots apiece.

On the Everton side, the most active in front of goal was Carlos Alcaraz with four shots and two on target. Beto chipped in with two shots and one on target, Dwight McNeil recorded one shot and one on target, and Thierno Barry and Nathan Patterson each added a shot on target. Centre-back Jake O'Brien also got up the pitch for a shot and shot on target. Still, none of those chances ended up in the net, with every “player goals” entry for both sides reading zero.

Corners and territory

The corner count hints at a relatively open contest. Burnley finished with seven corners to Everton’s five, with a 1–1 split in the first half and a second-half surge where Burnley led six to four. For punters, those territory numbers highlight that while Burnley generated more set-piece pressure, Everton’s better quality efforts on goal (particularly Alcaraz’s four-shot outing) were what kept the game competitive.

In the end, this one was all about missed chances and solid defending, leaving backers of under goal totals and correct score 0–0 tickets smiling.

Fulham vs West Ham – Fulham Edge It 1–0

Fulham ground out a 1–0 win over West Ham in a match decided after the break. The full-time “standard” metric shows 1–0 to the away-listed side, with 0–0 at half-time and a 0–1 split in the second half.

Raúl Jiménez the difference

The key figure for Fulham was Raúl Jiménez. He finished with four shots and one on target, and crucially, one goal as indicated by his “player goals” row. His “player score or assist” metric of one confirms he was directly involved in the match’s only strike. Jiménez’s volume of attempts paired with that single goal made him a strong anytime scorer outcome.

Supporting him, winger Harry Wilson was busy down the flank, posting two shots and one on target and an assist – his “player assists” and “score or assist” metrics both show one. Defender Joachim Andersen also threatened from set pieces with one shot and one shot on target, even if he didn’t get on the scoresheet.

West Ham’s limited threat

For West Ham (the home-listed side in the data), chances were much harder to come by. Lucas Paquetá did register a single shot and a shot on target, while Jarrod Bowen and Callum Wilson each had two shots but could not hit the target nor influence the scoring metrics – all of their “player goals”, “assists” and “score or assist” rows remain at zero.

West Ham did generate some set-piece and wide pressure, reflected in the corner stats, but they lacked a genuine cutting edge in front of goal.

Corners and match flow

The corner tally finished 5–4 in West Ham’s favour. Interestingly, most of that came in the first half, where West Ham led 4–3 on corners. After the break, things tightened up considerably, with just one corner apiece. For corner punters, first-half overs or home-team corners were the angles that landed here.

Overall, Fulham’s efficiency in the final third, spearheaded by Jiménez with Wilson’s support, was enough to snatch a valuable 1–0 result in a game with few clear-cut chances.

Aston Villa vs Chelsea – Villa Turn It Around to Win 2–1

The late game delivered drama, as Aston Villa came from behind to beat Chelsea 2–1. The “standard” period metrics show Chelsea 1–0 up at half-time before Villa surged back with a 2–0 second half to flip the result.

Chelsea strike first through João Pedro

Chelsea started well and took a 1–0 lead into the break. Their only goal came from João Pedro, who recorded two shots, two shots on target, and one goal – reflected in his “player goals” figure of one and “score or assist” at one. That level of efficiency made him an early winner in first goalscorer or anytime scorer markets.

Around him, Cole Palmer had two shots and one on target, Alejandro Garnacho added one shot, and Enzo Fernández chipped in with one strike of his own, though none of them converted. Reece James popped up with a shot and an assist, shown by his “player assists” figure of one and “score or assist” at one – he provided the key service in Chelsea’s only goal.

Watkins and Villa step up after the break

After half-time, Villa flipped the script. Centre-forward Ollie Watkins led the line with four shots, four on target and two goals, as highlighted by his “player goals” score of two and “score or assist” at two. In terms of pure attacking impact on the day, no one matched him.

Villa’s midfield also weighed in. Boubacar Kamara was quietly effective with one shot, one on target, while left-back Ian Maatsen also recorded a shot on target. Youri Tielemans didn’t shoot often but made his mark as creator-in-chief with a single assist, reflected in both “player assists” and “score or assist” at one. Left-back Lucas Digne and winger Jadon Sancho each managed a shot and shot on target, keeping Chelsea’s back line under pressure.

Set-pieces and territory

The corner count illustrates just how open this match was. Chelsea finished with six corners to Villa’s seven. Chelsea had the edge early – one corner to nil in the first half – but Villa stormed back in the second, earning seven corners to Chelsea’s six after the break. For total corners and second-half corners markets, backing a high tally – or Villa to ramp up late – would have been justified by the data.

In the end, Villa’s second-half surge, powered by Watkins’ brace and Tielemans’ creativity, turned a 1–0 deficit into a sharp 2–1 win, capping off an entertaining day of EPL football.

Conclusion – What Today’s Numbers Tell Punters

Across this Premier League slate, the data tells a few clear stories. First, fast starts mattered: Arsenal, Liverpool, Brentford and Chelsea all went into half-time ahead. But only some of them could maintain that momentum, with Villa flipping their game after the interval and Wolves and Brighton pushing back but just falling short.

Second, the value of clinical finishing was obvious. Brentford turned a modest volume of chances into a 4–1 win thanks largely to Kevin Schade’s hat-trick. Brighton and Bournemouth showed how even good shot and corner numbers don’t always translate to goals when the final touch is missing. And matches like Everton vs Burnley and Fulham vs West Ham highlighted the power of solid defensive structure, keeping scores low despite reasonable shooting activity.

Finally, corners and period splits (first half vs second half) offered big edges. Bournemouth’s 15 corners in a losing effort, Wolves’ late surge in both shots and corners, and Villa’s second-half dominance on set pieces all provided opportunities for punters who were tracking more than just the scoreboard.

If you’re looking to turn these kinds of insights into smarter bets, it pays to shop around. Before you lock in your next wager on goal scorers, corners, or match results, use our odds comparison tool to line up the best prices across the bookies. With up-to-date markets and side‑by‑side odds, you can make the most of the stats and squeeze every bit of value out of days like this in the EPL.