The Premier League delivered yet another weekend of action, with league leaders Liverpool running ragged at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Manchester City’s woes continued and Arsenal defeated Crystal Palace in an all-London affair. Here’s a recap of the matches that defined the weekend.
Liverpool blow away Tottenham
Liverpool surged four points clear at the top of the Premier League as Mohamed Salah’s brilliance inspired a stunning 6-3 demolition of Tottenham on Sunday. Salah was at his scintillating best, contributing two goals and two assists in a dazzling display that showcased Liverpool’s dominance under Arne Slot in north London.
Capitalizing on Chelsea’s earlier 0-0 stalemate with Everton, Liverpool strengthened their claim as title favourites heading into the festive season, with Salah orchestrating their relentless attack through intelligent pressing and fluid passing. The Egyptian talisman remains the only player in the Premier League this season to hit double figures in both goals (15) and assists (11).
It was a dazzling showcase of Liverpool’s attacking prowess, with Luis Díaz and Alexis Mac Allister finding the net early to establish control. Dominik Szoboszlai added a third just before halftime, and after the break, Salah stole the show before Díaz completed his brace.
Aston Villa pile on the pressure as Manchester City’s struggles deepen
Aston Villa dealt a significant blow to Manchester City’s faltering campaign with a 2-1 triumph at Villa Park, deepening Pep Guardiola’s woes as his team endured their ninth loss in 12 outings across all competitions.
Strikes from Jhon Duran and Morgan Rogers sealed a statement victory for Villa, with Phil Foden’s late goal serving as mere consolation for the defending champions. The defeat drops City to sixth place, nine points behind leaders Liverpool, who hold two games in hand. In contrast, Villa climbed to fifth, bolstering their push for a coveted top-four finish.
Arsenal hammer Palace; Chelsea held by Everton
Gabriel Jesus continued his torrid run against Crystal Palace, scoring twice as Arsenal cruised to a 5-1 victory at Selhurst Park on Saturday, reclaiming third place in the Premier League standings. Just days after his hat-trick in the League Cup quarter-finals at the Emirates, the former Manchester City striker tormented Palace again. Jesus struck twice in the first half and came agonizingly close to a hat-trick, hitting the post before Kai Havertz tapped in the rebound.
Ismaila Sarr had briefly leveled for Palace but squandered two golden chances early in the second half. Arsenal capitalized, adding two more goals to leapfrog Nottingham Forest, who had overtaken them earlier in the day.
Title hopefuls Chelsea were left frustrated as they settled for a 0-0 draw against Everton, handing Premier League leaders Liverpool a significant advantage. Battling through difficult weather conditions of wind and rain, Chelsea carved out the better opportunities but failed to capitalize.
Jordan Pickford came up big for Everton, denying Nicolas Jackson after a well-crafted team move, while Jackson later rattled the post with a close-range header. Sean Dyche’s side showed resilience, and Iliman Ndiaye nearly stole all three points, only to be thwarted by a vital block from Tosin Adarabioyo. The draw left Chelsea with just a point from their trip to Merseyside, a blow to their title challenge.
Bournemouth shock Man Utd; Nottingham Forest continue to impress
Manchester United suffered a humiliating 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth at Old Trafford on Sunday, December 22, further extending their dismal run of form. The loss cemented another unwanted Premier League record, with the Red Devils languishing in 13th place—marking the first time they’ve found themselves in the bottom half of the table at this stage in the Premier League era.
Ruben Amorim’s tenure has gone from bad to worse, as earlier in the week, United crashed out of the EFL Cup in a dramatic 4-3 loss to Tottenham Hotspur, compounding the woes for the 19-time English champions heading into the Boxing Day fixtures.
Anthony Elanga marked his return to Nottingham Forest’s starting XI with a key role in handing Brentford their first home loss of the season. Nuno Espirito Santo’s impressive Forest side, known for their strong away performances, solidified their spot in the Premier League’s top four with goals on either side of halftime from Ola Aina and Elanga.
Wolves earn a crucial win against Leicester; Newcastle thrash Ipswich
Wolves kicked off their Premier League campaign under Vitor Pereira with a dominant 3-0 victory over Leicester City, marking their first-ever top-flight win at the King Power Stadium. Taking charge from Gary O’Neil earlier in the week, Pereira saw his side settle in quickly, delivering an impressive performance.
Goals from Goncalo Guedes and Rodrigo Gomes gave Wolves a commanding lead in the Midlands derby, with Matheus Cunha adding a third before halftime to seal the win. Leicester, under Ruud van Nistelrooy, suffered their first home defeat. This result lifted Wolves above Ipswich Town into 18th place, just two points behind Leicester in 17th.
Alexander Isak netted a stunning hat-trick as Newcastle United cruised to a 4-0 win over Ipswich Town at Portman Road on Saturday, piling further pressure on the struggling side. The victory marked Newcastle’s first Premier League win in five matches, lifting Eddie Howe’s team to seventh in the table, just one point behind Manchester City, who suffered a 2-1 loss at Aston Villa. Ipswich, managed by Kiernan McKenna, now remains in the relegation zone on 12 points, two behind Leicester, who have a game in hand.
West Ham and Brighton share spoils, Southampton hold Fulham
The points were shared at the London Stadium as Mohammed Kudus’ 58th-minute goal leveled the score after Mats Wieffer’s opener just seven minutes earlier. The Seagulls remain winless in their last five matches, having failed to capitalize on several chances to secure all three points later in the game.
Southampton, sitting at the bottom of the table, earned just their second away point of the season with a solid defensive display that saw them hold Fulham to a 0-0 draw at Craven Cottage on Sunday. It marked only their sixth point of the campaign, but the improved performance will have provided optimism for new manager Ivan Juric, who watched from the stands.
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Mohd Faisal Hakak is a sports author from Kashmir. He likes to keep tabs on the sporting world with a keen interest in football, motorsports, NBA, and other marquee sports. He is a science graduate from Islamia College Srinagar.
