By Chris Sampson
- Citizens and Magpies held at home
- Leaders Arsenal see off Seagulls
- Spurs sickened by improving Villa
UK -The latest round of festive football produced more Premier League drama.
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Manchester City 1 Everton 1
A superbly struck equaliser from Demarai Gray gave Everton a hard-earned point at Manchester City. Everton had conceded seven goals in their last three league games and won only one of their last eight. However, switching to a back five proved to be a shrewd move by Frank Lampard, with his side frustrating City.
The result leaves the second-placed Citizens seven points adrift of leaders Arsenal, having dropped points on three more occasions than the Gunners.
Erling Haaland, twice on target against Leeds on Wednesday to become the quickest player to 20 Premier League goals in a season, quickly became involved in a running battle with Ben Godfrey. The Everton defender was starting his first game since breaking his leg on the opening day of the season. He nudged Haaland in the early stages, clearly annoying the Norwegian international, and this set the tone for the opening 45 minutes.
Haaland opened the scoring on 24 minutes. He made space for himself in the area to convert Riyad Mahrez’s cross, making it an astonishing 21 Premier League goals in his first 15 appearances. He then celebrated his strike demonstratively in Godfrey’s direction.
The only other clear chances in the opening period saw Haaland hit the side-netting and John Stones head against the post. Haaland was still noticeably incensed due to his clashes with Godfrey and a rash challenge saw him booked just before half-time. This was one of seven yellow cards dished out throughout the afternoon, though it did appear to force the former Borussia Dortmund striker to calm down.
The second-half was more subdued, mainly because of a number of stoppages. But Everton drew level on 64 minutes with their first shot of the match, after Rodri gave the ball away. Gray appeared off balance but regained his footing to cut inside Manuel Ajankji and smash a rasping shot into the far corner via the underside of the bar.
City tried to respond but the game ran away from them, and they were forced to settle for a point. Pep Guardiola’s side are now without a win in their last two home league matches, having lost to Brentford before the World Cup break. A point will be a massive boost to morale for Everton as they look to move away from danger.
Newcastle United 0 Leeds United 0
Newcastle United’s six-game winning run in the Premier League came to an end on New Year’s Eve as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Leeds United at St James’ Park. A dominant Newcastle were unable to find a way past a stubborn Leeds defence, who kept their first clean sheet in eight league games.
Illan Meslier made some excellent saves, keeping out Chris Wood and Fabian Schar on multiple occasions, while Sean Longstaff and Joelinton were among the players to fire high and wide as Newcastle racked up 16 shots. They will perhaps feel aggrieved to have not been awarded a late first-half penalty after Tyler Adams’ clumsy challenge on Schar. Tensions boiled over late on too as Newcastle’s frustrations came to the fore, but Leeds held on for an impressive point.
Jesse Marsch’s side will finish the year in 14th place on 16 points, three above the relegation places, and the Leeds head coach was delighted with how his side performed.
The opening exchanges were end-to-end but Newcastle soon began to take charge with Kieran Trippier’s set-piece delivery causing Leeds real problems. Two corners saw Schar send a free header wide, with Dan Burn and the in-form Miguel Almiron also unable to convert. Sven Botman then forced a save from Meslier from a Trippier free-kick.
The second-half was competitive and feisty. Both goalkeepers were worked early on. Trippier’s free-kick was knocked down by Botman to Wood, but Meslier was out quickly to deny the Kiwi striker. At the other end, Nick Pope dived to keep out Rodrigo’s curling effort.
Meslier denied Schar once again as another easy header was pushed away by the Leeds goalkeeper. Longstaff had a glorious chance soon after with only Meslier to beat from close range, but he sent his shot over.
With Newcastle in the ascendancy, they introduced Callum Wilson and Allan Saint-Maxmin. However, chances continued to pass them by.
While Eddie Howe and his side will be disappointed not to take three points, they have made huge progress throughout 2022. They are unbeaten since August and sit third in the table. They will hope that they can maintain their momentum and secure a European place. Leeds will be pleased with their performance and will look to use it as a platform to move away from the relegation zone.
Brighton and Hove Albion 2 Arsenal 4
Arsenal took advantage of Manchester City’s 1-1 draw with Everton to go seven points clear at the top of the Premier League with victory at Brighton.
In an entertaining game Mikel Arteta’s side were two goals ahead at half time through Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard. Eddie Nketiah made it three-nil on 47 minutes before Kaoru Mitoma pulled one back.
Gabriel Martinelli restored Arsenal’s three goal advantage on 72 minutes before Evan Ferguson hit his first league goal to reduce the deficit. Brighton thought they had set up a grandstand finish on 89 minutes when Mitoma jinked into space and fired into the bottom corner. However, with the Amex rocking and the players set for the restart, VAR disallowed the goal for a marginal offside in the build-up.
Arsenal held on for a deserved three points and now have a significant gap over defending champions City with both teams having played 16 games. They have become just the fifth side in English top-flight history to pick up as many as 43 points from the first 16 games in a season (3 pts for a win) after Tottenham (46 pts in 1960-61), Chelsea (43 pts in 2005-06), Man City (46 pts in 2017-18) and Liverpool (46 pts in 2019-20).
Tottenham Hotspur 0 Aston Villa 2
Goals from Emiliano Buendia and Douglas Luiz at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium condemned the hosts to a fourth Premier League loss in seven games.
In the 50th minute Hugo Lloris, in his first game back since the World Cup, spilled Luiz’s long-range effort. An alert Ollie Watkins reacted to square the rebound for Buendia to slam home.
Luiz sealed the win 23 minutes later. He started and finished the move, sliding a pass to John McGinn before racing on to receive the return and chip smartly past Lloris.
The result left Spurs in fifth, Antonio Conte’s side having now won only two of their past seven matches. Villa continue to make progress under Unai Emery, the win being their second league away win in succession.
Gunners stretch lead, Saints rock bottom
Wout Faes scored two own goals as Liverpool came from behind to beat Leicester City two-one at Anfield. Brentford and Crystal Palace both enjoyed two-nil victories away from home, at West Ham and Bournemouth respectively. Fulham beat Southampton two-nil at Craven Cottage, while Marcus Rashford came off the bench to score the winner for Manchester United at Wolves. Raheem Sterling gave Chelsea the lead at Nottingham Forest, however an equaliser from Serge Aurier earned the hosts a point.
Arsenal lead the table by seven points from Manchester City who are two points ahead of third placed Newcastle. Manchester United move into the top four, with Spurs fifth, Liverpool sixth and Fulham seventh.
Southampton are bottom of the table on 12 points with Wolves (19th) on 13 and Nottingham Forest (18th) on 14. West Ham are level on points with Forest but are above the East Midlands side on goal difference.
The busy festive schedule rolls on, with the next round of Premier League fixtures starting on Monday January 2.
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