Well, few sports betting fans expected many of these results.
As January ended and February began, here was a set of football games to shake up many of the chasers at the top and give hope to the clubs at the bottom.
Certainly, if you took a gamble and plumped on betting odds for Watford, Sunderland and Hull all faring well, you may have had a lucrative 24 hours!
Bournemouth 0-2 Crystal Palace
At the sixth time of asking, a league victory for Sam Allardyce.
A goal on the first and final minutes of the second-half eased the frustration for the Eagles and their supporters.
They may remain in the bottom three but the relief that greeted the goal which sealed only their second league win since September 24 – Christian Benteke’s
90th-minute clincher – suggests the Allardyce era is finally up and running.
Burnley 1-0 Leicester City
These are heady days at Turf Moor.
In truth, Sam Vokes’ late winner should probably not have been allowed to stand due to a handball.
However, the imposing hosts found a way to extend their superb home record, while reigning champions Leicester continue to search for a win on their travels – they have now not won for 14 games on the road.
Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea
The top clash of the week and honours are even.
A superb David Luiz free-kick gave the visitors the lead against the run of play, although Simon Mignolet was asleep.
He redeemed himself to save Diego Costa’s tame late penalty after Georginio Wijnaldum had headed a deserved equaliser. A pulsating encounter and a good result for Chelsea.
Middlesbrough 1-1 West Brom
January proved an unproductive transfer window for Boro boss Aitor Karanka, the result of which may prove costly as the season progresses.
However, at least this was another point on their road to top-flight consolidation.
Alvaro Negredo’s cool penalty cancelled out James Morrison’s impressive opener. No side (other than Manchester United) has drawn more than Boro in the Premier League.
Sunderland 0-0 Spurs
Few saw this result coming.
It wasn’t so much a surprise that Sunderland held previously free-scoring Spurs, although that was not exactly expected.
It was more the fact they kept a clean sheet that was the biggest shock.
In truth, this result was of little use to either side’s league position.
Swansea City 2-1 Southampton
Gylfi Sigurdsson must be one of the most undervalued players in the Premier League.
He popped up with the winner for the second successive game as the Swans made it three wins out of four under Paul Clement.
Southampton remained bright and lively in attack before the sucker punch 20 minutes from time.
West Ham 0-4 Manchester City
Oh how the Hammers must be fed up of seeing City.
This took the aggregate score over the course of the season to 12-1 in City’s favour.
West Ham were ripped to shreds as City’s front three of Leroy Sane, Raheem Sterling and new signing Gabriel Jesus ended the contest before the break.
When City play like this, you have to ask: why are they 10 points behind league leaders Chelsea?
Manchester United 0-0 Hull City
After a win apiece in the League Cup semi-finals, perhaps the law of averages suggested this would be a draw.
That it was, was hugely frustrating for United who wasted the opportunity to make inroads on the top five.
But it was super by Hull as new manager Marco Silva continues to make a positive impact.
This was their first point away from home since September and enough to climb off the bottom.
Stoke City 1-1 Everton
Honours even on a night Peter Crouch marked his 100th Premier League goal.
Everton equalised shortly before half-time with a deflected goal which home fans and players felt was offside, while Everton felt Romelu Lukaku was not interfering with play.
Both sides could have won it but this entertaining draw deservedly ended in a stalemate.
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