Another dramatic week of Premier League football has come and passed. This round of matches offered some high-profile matchups at the top of the league and offered a great opportunity for a lot of movement in the table.
Manchester City, entering the round in not in first place in the table for the first time in over a year, played host to Everton. Without star striker Sergio Aguero, Brazilian Gabriel Jesus led the line. The young Brazilian hadn't scored in 11 matches prior to this matchweek, but he righted the ship as he netted first in the 20' then in the 50'. Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored for Everton to halve the deficit, but Raheem Sterling netted his 9th PL goal of the campaign to restore Manchester City's two goal cushion just four minutes later. City took the three points and regained the top spot, temporarily.
In what was the headlining match of the round, Manchester United went into Liverpool looking for three points. In a fixture that is known for drama and goals, Liverpool knew that they must take three points to retain their one-point lead atop the table. The home side made the breakthrough in the 24' when Fabinho provided a beautiful lofted ball to Sadie Mane, who dispatched powerfully under oncoming David De Gea to take the lead. Man United responded when Alisson split a cross and Jess Lingard pounced to send the teams to halftime knotted at 1-1.
It was Jurgen Klopp's coaching that made the difference, when he introduced Swiss midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri in the 70'. Just three minutes later, Shaqiri found the back of the net on a powerful strike that was deflected up onto the crossbar and in. Shaqiri then finished the game off after combining with Roberto Firmino and clever movement from Mo Salah. This victory, their sixth consecutive in the Premier League, lifts Liverpool to 45 points and top of the league. Man United remain in 6th.
Tottenham avoided disappointment at home against Burnley. Burnley will feel extremely hard done by, as they held on against a powerful Spurs side for 90 minutes, but it was substitute Christian Eriksen who ultimately broke Claret hearts. Harry Kane turned provider when he laid the ball off to an on-rushing Eriksen in the box in the 90+1', who made no mistake. Joe Hart will feel especially aggrieved, as he made a superb save to deny Erik Lamela. The former England international still leads the Premier League with 72 saves.
Chelsea secured an important win away at Brighton on Sunday in what turned out to be another coming out party for Belgian midfielder Eden Hazard. It was great work from Hazard in the 17' minute when he set up Pedro for a tap-in to break the deadlock. Then, the provider turned scorer in the 33', when Willian played a beautiful through ball to slice open the Brighton defense, who were missing mainstay Shane Duffy due to a three match red card suspension. Solly March netted his first goal of the season to pull Brighton back into the match, but Chelsea hung on to remain in 4th in the league. Eden Hazard has now been directly involved in 17 goals (8G, 9A) this season, which is the most of any player in the Premier League
Wolverhampton Wanderers made history when they blanked Bournemouth 2-0 at The Molineux. Raul Jimenez got on the end of a clever ball from Diego Jota in the 12' to give Wolves the lead, and from there, defense and goalkeeping won the match for home side. Ivan Cavaleiro scored a second to seal the match in 90+4', securing Wanderers' first-ever three match winning streak in the Premier League. This was Wolves' 5th clean sheet of the second, and the victory elevates them into 7th, just one point behind Manchester United.
Bournemouth, after their blistering start to the season, have now dropped out of the top half, into 11th.
Watford got back to winning ways as they handled Cardiff City in a wildly entertaining match at Vicarage Road on Saturday. Watford certainly had their goal-scoring boots on on the day, as all three of their goals were brilliant. In the 16', Gerard Duelofeu dribbled through the Bluebirds' defense and finished brilliantly past Neil Etheridge to give the Hornets the lead. Then, early in the second half, defender Jose Holebas curled a beautiful strike into the upper corner to extend the lead. Young midfielder Domingos Quina got in on the action in the 68' minute, when he also curled one past the helpless Etheridge. Cardiff, looking down and out, made a game of it when Junior Hoilett did his best impression of his own previous goal of the season nominee, as he cut in from the left side and bent a brilliant strike into the far corner. Just two minutes later, Bobby Reid poked home after a scramble to claw the Welsh side within one. Watford did hang on to win by a score of 3-2. This win elevates Watford back into 10th on 24 points, while Cardiff sit in 16th on 14.
Crystal Palace handed Leicester City its second straight loss on Saturday, courtesy of a stunning strike from midfielder Luka Milivojevic. The captain is known for his ability to calmly slot home from the penalty spot, but he showed he can supply the goals from open play as well. Vicente Guaita made his Premier League debut for Palace in the goal, and helped the Eagles secure the clean sheet with an immense save against Jamie Vardy in the second half. This victory broke a stunning streak of 13 straight losses in matches when talisman Wilfred Zaha is not in the lineup (3 goals, 28 goals against in those matches).
Newcastle United frustrated Huddersfield Town in Huddersfield. Martin Dubravka made five saves in route to his clean sheet, including a brilliant save on a Philip Billing free kick in the first half. It was Solomon Rondon continuing his blistering form as he slotted home for Newcastle in the 55'. The victory moves Newcastle four points clear of the relegation zone, while Huddersfield Town are now two points from safety.
West Ham United extended their winning streak to four matches under manager Manuel Pellegrini. The former Premier League champion with Man City (2013-2014) has West Ham playing scintillating football, as the squad has scored two or more goals in each match during the win streak. Robert Snodgrass scored another beautiful goal and Michail Antonio added another with a cheeky nutmeg of goalkeeper Sergio Rico. The squad also secured what was only the 3rd clean sheet of the season. This result moves them up to 9th in the table.
For Fulham, on the other hand, this result is more of the same. It all could have been oh-so different if French forward Aboubakar Kamara could taken his chance early in the match, when he was put through on goal by strike partner Aleksander Mitrovic. Instead, Fulham were unable to score at home and leaked two more goals. The London side still finds themselves at the foot of the table, three points from safety. They have lost 12 of their 17 matches (2W, 3D).
In what was the result of the round, Southampton, under new manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, shocked Arsenal 3-2. Southampton was led by striker Danny Ings, who headed the Saints in front after 20' following a superb cross from Matt Targett. Henrick Mkhitaryan equalized for Arsenal eight minutes later, before Ings scored his second goal of the match with a perfectly-weighted header into the top corner. Mkhitaryan completed his brace in the 53' on a wicked deflection, and Southampton look destained to drop points again. But it was substitute Charlie Austin who scored his 5th goal in as many appearances against Arsenal to give Southampton their first win at home since April. This is only Saints' second win of the season, and it lifts them out of the relegation zone on goal difference. Hasenhuttl will look to stabilize the side and see that they stay out of the drop zone.
Although there was no movement within the Top Six this week, the wins were vital for the sides that got them. Liverpool, City, Spurs and Chelsea all won. Arsenal, won are looking to keep pace with the top four, dropped their first match since August, leaving them three points outside of the Champions League places.
Man United's loss is even more painful, as it leaves them eight points from 5th and 11 points from fourth. Wolverhampton have moved within one point of United, as the race for that 6th spot, which will likely offer a berth into the Europa League, intensifies. It is also important to note that 7th place in the PL often yield a berth into the first round of Europa League qualifying, but we will not know this for sure until very late in the season.
Teams will take this full midweek to train, rest up and get healthy as the festive fixtures get started during the next gameweek.
Interesting Stats:
— Charlie Austin has now scored in all 5 of his matches against Arsenal in the Premier League. Only Raheem Sterling against Bournemouth (6) has a better 100% record against a specific club in PL history.
— Four (4) teams current have a 0 goal difference, an especially-high amount for almost halfway through the season (Manchester United, Wolverhampton, West Ham United, Leicester City)
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