🔬 The Debrief as Liverpool extend their lead; Chelsea stunned at home | OneFootball

Premier League action returned on Boxing Day as the English top flight continued through its difficult festive period.

Manchester City looked to arrest its poor run of form in the early kickoff against visiting Everton, while Chelsea hoped to keep pressure on Liverpool in the title race in a home tie against visiting Fulham in a London Derby.

Elsewhere, Aston Villa and Newcastle locked horns at Villa Park as both looked to pressure the top-four, in form Nottingham Forest looked to pounce on a struggling Tottenham while remaining in the Champions League places, and bottom-sitting Southampton looked to end their slide against West Ham on the South Coast.

Bournemouth's unexpected push for the European places would see them welcome Crystal Palace to Vitality Stadium to round out the fixtures before two critical evening clashes.

Manchester United traveled to a Wolves outfit benefitting from a new manager bump, and Liverpool hosted Leicester City at Anfield to continue their push for a debut season title under Arne Slot.

Here's how it all went down across the country.

What happened? 📝

Pep Guardiola's Man City could not find three points at the Etihad against recent draw specialists Everton, extending their winless run in the Premier League to four after a frustrating 1-1 scoreline at full time.

Chelsea slipped up in their pursuit of a Premier League title after going 1-0 up at home against Fulham, only to see the Cottagers storm back with a 2-1 win thanks to an equalizer from Harry Wilson, and late Rodrigo Muniz winner in stoppage-time.

Newcastle put ten-man Aston Villa to the sword at St. James' Park in a resounding 3-0 win on Tyneside, with Anthony Gordon, Alexander Isak, and Joelinton all finding the back of the net.

A dream season continues after Nottingham Forest piled on the misery for Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou, with Forest banking a 1-0 win at home against a Spurs side who ended the day with ten men after a red card in stoppage time.

The horror on the South Coast has yet to be arrested after Southampton were bested 1-0 at St. Mary's by visiting West Ham United, with Jarrod Bowen finding the lone goal in the tie.

Bournemouth and Crystal Palace played out a nil-nil draw, with the Cherries guaranteed to end matchday 18 in the top six.

Vítor Pereira is already making waves after a 2-0 win over ten-man Manchester United, becoming the first Wolves manager since 1977 to secure wins in his first two top-flight fixtures. Goals from Matheus Cunha and Hwang Hee-chan sealed the points after Bruno Fernandes was sent off just after the break.

Liverpool once again produced their title credentials to close out Boxing Day with a 3-1 comeback win over visiting Leicester City. André Ayew had set the Foxes off early with a goal in the 6th minute, but strikes just on either side of the interval from Cody Gakpo and Curtis Jones sealed all three points for the Reds before Mohamed Salah put the final touches on proceedings.

Player of the Day 🔥

Former Arsenal starlet Alex Iwobi may have gifted a late present to his former employers after a sensational display from the Nigerian international aided in Fulham's 2-1 upset win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Playing arguably the best football of his career since his move to Craven Cottage, Iwobi produced an all-action display in the London Derby to give the Blues a moment of pause on their potential title march, leaving the door open for the Gunners to climb up to second in the table should the win against Ipswich tomorrow.

Stat of the Day 📊

Football is a funny old game, and sometimes, the gods set out to teach you a lesson in humility.

For Manchester City star Erling Haaland, that lesson has been a rather harsh one surrounding the club's massive slump in form under Pep Guardiola as the season trods on.

Since the club's 1-1 draw against Arsenal earlier this campaign, the Norwegian goalscoring machine has broken down in front of goal, while missing 11 clear-cut chances along the way.

If City are to get back to their best at least guarantee Champions League football next season, Haaland may have to humble himself just enough to re-fire himself in the new year.

What this means

Liverpool head into Sunday with a seven-point clear over Chelsea as things stand, with Arsenal now capable of jumping up to second depending on their result tomorrow.

Nottingham Forest temporarily sits third after their win over Tottenham, Newcastle United moves up to fifth while level on points with Bournemouth in sixth, both of whom now sit ahead of Manchester City in seventh.

Fulham are up to eighth after leapfrogging Aston Villa (9th), while Spurs, West Ham, Manchester United, and Crystal Palace all remain in the bottom half of the table.

Wolves are officially out of the bottom three thanks to their win, while all three promoted clubs now find themselves in the relegation places.

What they said 🗣

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola remained in a defiant mood despite the frustrating result against the Toffees, claiming "The team played really good. I don't know how many shots we had on goal. They scored a goal at the end."

"We were very patient. We make crosses and crosses. I think we were very patient."

Unai Emery was far from happy with VAR after seeing Jhon Durán questionably sent off during Villa's 3-0 defeat at Newcastle, stating "I can accept maybe the other team asking for a red card, okay. But VAR please, and confirm it because the punishment now is three matches."

Enzo Maresca took to his media duties after Chelsea's late defeat against Fulham and offered a pointed answer regarding the unexpected absence of Noni Madueke, stating only that it was a "technical decision" that saw the England winger completely out of the squad.

Manchester United boss Rúben Amorim looked for the positives after the Red Devils fell to a 2-0 defeat at Wolves. "I think the good thing is we were near the goal, even with 10 men. That is a good thing, but we lost. It’s so tough to win games in this league with 11 men. With 10 men, it’s more difficult. We have to focus on that.”

What's next? 👀

A mid-table clash between Brighton and Brentford could prove to be entertaining as Fabian Hürzeler locks horns with Thomas Frank at the Amex before Arsenal hopes to climb into second place as Mikel Arteta's Gunners look to secure all three points against visiting Ipswich.

📸 PAUL ELLIS - AFP or licensors