OneFootball
Ben Browning·1 de diciembre de 2024
OneFootball
Ben Browning·1 de diciembre de 2024
A bumper day of Premier League action took place on Sunday as five of the big six were in action.
Here's how it all went down.
Scorer: Gakpo 12', Salah 78'
Premier League leaders Liverpool moved 11 points clear of reigning champions Manchester City with a comfortable 2-0 win at Anfield.
Liverpool started the game on the front foot, with Cody Gakpo testing Stefan Ortega with a low effort before the offside flag went up.
The early onslaught continued though, as Ortega was called into action several times in the opening minutes with Manchester City second best across the pitch.
The Reds continued on top, with Virgil Van Dijk seeing his header rebound off the post, and the pressure told 12 minutes in as Mohammed Salah found Cody Gakpo at the back post to tap home a deserved opening goal.
City still couldn't get their foot on the ball, and Van Dijk went close again as he headed wide from a corner before Cody Gakpo blazed over in what threatened to turn into an ugly loss for the Cityzens.
Guardiola's side began to improve, but could not find a way through the Liverpool backline, while their own continued to look shaky with Mo Salah a willing runner in behind.
They finally managed their first effort on goal after 38 minutes as Rico Lewis rolled his shot wide, but they offered nothing of note as they headed into the half time break, somewhat lucky to be just 1-0 down.
The game took on a more even look at the beginning of the second half, but the hosts remained the more threatening side as Cody Gakpo saw an effort saved by Ortega before Van Dijk again went close from the resulting corner.
Minutes later, with City in the ascendency, Mo Salah wasted a glorious chance to double Liverpool's advantage as he fired high and wide when faced with only Ortega to beat.
The introduction of wingers Jeremy Doku and Savinho swung the game dramatically in City's favour, with Guardiola's side beginning to dominate the ball and penning Liverpool back, though they were unable to test Kelleher.
And 13 minutes from time, a poor backpass from Ruben Dias allowed Luiz Diaz to steal in, before being brought down by Ortega.
Salah, who missed from the spot in midweek, made no mistake to put his side 2-0 up, and on the verge of moving 11 points clear of Manchester City.
There was still time for Curtis Jones to test Ortega before fulltime, a result that saw Pep Guardiola lose five straight league games for the first time in his career, and leave City's title hopes hanging by the thinnest of threads.
Earlier...
Scorers: Jackson 7', Fernandez 35', Palmer 83'
High-flying Chelsea extended Aston Villa's run without a win to eight games in all competitions as they moved level with Arsenal with a 3-0 win.
The hosts were ahead just seven minutes into proceedings with their first effort on goal, as Nicolas Jackson capitalised on some fine work from Marc Cucurella to slam the ball past Emiliano Martinez, off the inside of the post.
The game took on an end to end pattern as each side looked a threat on the counter attack, with Ollie Watkins testing Robert Sanchez.
Midway through the first half, controversy struck as Emi Martinez fell on a loose ball, only for the referee to award a free kick for a backpass from Pau Torres, leaving Chelsea with an indirect free kick nine yards from goal, only for Emi Martinez to deny Cole Palmer.
Another mistake from Martinez almost saw Nicolas Jackson gifted a second as he passed directly to the forward, but the Argentine recovered to smother his effort.
Minutes later though Chelsea got the second goal that their performance deserved as Cole Palmer fired the ball into Enzo Fernandez, who produced a half-volley with the outside of his foot which flashed past his compatriot to double Chelsea's advantage before half time.
The second half began in more even fashion, but Villa could not find a way to test Robert Sanchez despite having more of the ball, while Chelsea remained a threat on the counter attack through Nicolas Jackson.
And, with just eight minutes to go, Palmer ensured all three points remained in west London as he produced a beautiful finish from the edge of the penalty area to put the result beyond doubt, and leave Aston Villa eight games without a win.
Scorers: Rashford 34', 46', Zirkzee 41', 64'
After a draw against Ipswich Town, Ruben Amorim picked up his Premier League first win as Manchester United boss as they thrashed Everton at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils began the game strongly, with Kobbie Mainoo testing England teammate Jordan Pickford with an effort from the edge of the penalty area.
They continued to hammer on the Everton door in the early stages, but could not find a way through despite dominating possession.
Though two of the lowest scoring sides in the League, there were chances at both ends as Beto and Marcus Rashford both had opportunities to open the scoring.
And it was Rashford who eventually managed to do so 10 minutes before the interval, drilling home a well worked corner via a large deflection from Jarrad Branthwaite to continue his good start to life under Amorim.
Branthwaite was again involved at the wrong end minutes later, as he was caught on the ball by Amad Diallo before Bruno Fernandes rolled the ball across goal for Joshua Zirkzee to thump home and put Amorim on course for his first Premier League win.
Any hopes Everton had to spark a comeback in the second half were immediately quashed as Rashford grabbed his second of the game inside the first minute.
And the game threatened to turn into a rout as Joshua Zirkzee grabbed his second of the game just after the hour mark, with the Dutchman profiting from more good work from Amad Diallo on the right flank.
Everton offered little by way of threat, failing to register a shot on target in the second half until the 84th minute, as Ruben Amorim continued his unbeaten start in charge of the Red Devils.
Scorers: Johnson 54': Cairney 67'
Ange Postecoglou's side were looking to follow up their thrashing of Manchester City with a London derby win over impressive Fulham, but were forced to settle for a draw against the Cottagers.
The hosts were almost gifted a goal in the opening moments as a loose pass from Calvin Bassey was seized upon by Heung Min Son, only for Bernd Leno to come to his defender's rescue.
Fulham began to grow into the game, with Raul Jimenez looking threatening as they searched for an opener, and Spurs looking a shadow of the side so successful against Manchester City but remaining a threat against the Cottagers as James Maddison struck the post with a free kick.
The deadlock was broken ten minutes into the second half though, as Tottenham took the lead through Brennan Johnson, who was found at the far post by Timo Werner to volley past Leno.
But, reflective of the end-to-end nature of the game, Fulham weren't behind for long. with 20 minutes to play, Tom Cairney popped up to fire home a rocket from the edge of the penalty area to equalise, and set up a grandstand finish in north London.
With both sides pushing for the win, Cairney went from hero to villain as he was shown a red card for a high tackle on Dejan Kulusevski on the halfway line, leaving his side to hold on for the final seven minutes a man light.
Despite the late advantage, Spurs couldn't find a winner, and Marco Silva's side held on for a deserved point.
📸 ADRIAN DENNIS - AFP or licensors