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Southampton stunned Premier League leaders Liverpool, Manchester United continued his good form by beating Aston Villa, West Ham scored a late winner in Everton and Tottenham they were too good for Leeds.
Leicester won in Newcastle and Manchester City scored three against Chelsea to take the three points from Stamford Bridge.
Take a look at my team and then make your own selections towards the bottom of the article.
Goalkeeper – David de Gea (Manchester United)
David De Gea: There were two crucial moments in the remaining minutes of this game that signaled the importance placed on Manchester United winning the match. Eric Bailly’s block on Keinan Davis’s shot that was almost certainly destined for the back of United’s net and Matty Cash’s De Gea save.
There were other excellent saves by De Gea early in the game from John McGinn and Ollie Watkins, but a goalkeeper from De Gea’s class is expected to keep them out. Villa was impressive and deserved a point from this game but was denied it due to De Gea’s big game temperament.
De Gea is United’s number one for a reason. He wins you games.
Did you know De Gea made four saves against Aston Villa, only against Wolves did he make more in one Premier League game this season (five).
Defenders: Kieran Tierney (Arsenal), Angelo Ogbonna (West Ham), Ruben Dias (Manchester City)
Kieran Tierney: When I saw Tierney making fun of West Brom’s Darnell Furlong, not once, but twice, I thought he was overdoing it a bit, but what happened was finishing in the best way from the Arsenal side. That the left-handed Scotsman cut inside and let fly with such precision with his weaker foot was very impressive.
Tierney has been one of the few bright lights in what has been a difficult season for Arsenal so far, but this win over the Baggies is the Gunners’ third straight win. I wonder if they turned the corner.
Did you know Tierney created the most chances (four) and had the most touches (95) for Arsenal against West Brom.
Angelo Ogbonna: This was another top-notch defense case by West Ham’s Ogbonna. He never kicked Everton forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin; That said, the service the English international received from his teammates at the Toffees was virtually non-existent.
The Hammers have had a grueling schedule during the festive period, while Everton had a few more days to rest after their game with Manchester City was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The forced break appeared to interrupt Everton’s rhythm, with West Ham looking like a team with momentum, poised and ready for battle. However, this turned out to be less of a battle for the Hammers and more of a smash and grab.
Did you know Ogbonna made seven clearances against Everton, with only Crystal Palace’s Cheikhou Kouyate (eight) achieving more all day.
Ruben Dias: This was one of those performances where anyone could have played all four of Manchester City’s defenses and looked like a world champion, they were that good. There’s been a lot of talk about the John Stones resurgence, but it was Dias and his authority on defense that I found impressive.
City is another team where the spread of the coronavirus had forced them to make changes but the way they have adapted has been amazing.
Meanwhile, Chelsea boss Frank Lampard looks like a man, for the first time, who doesn’t know his best team and how to provide a different combination for different matches, which is concerning because he has players.
Did you know Dias made the most punts (six), blocks (four) and interceptions (three) of any Manchester City player against Chelsea.
Midfielders: Tomas Soucek (West Ham), Youri Tielemans (Leicester City), Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
Tomas Soucek: West Ham’s victory over Everton must have given their coach, David Moyes, enormous satisfaction. After all, he had been in charge of the Merseyside club for 11 years before his fateful stint at Manchester United.
Soucek’s impressive one-touch spike off an underhand shot by Aaron Cresswell was brilliantly directed past Jordan Pickford, securing the points for the Hammers. Soucek’s taste for goals was beautifully illustrated by the way he anticipated Cresswell’s shot going off target. Now that is a natural finisher.
Did you know In addition to the winning goal, Soucek had the most shots on goal (two), recoveries (15) and successful passes (43) of any West Ham player against Everton.
Youri Tielemans: Marc Albrighton was impressive, as was James Maddison, but it was Youri Tielemans’ performance that signaled Leicester’s determination to stay among the league leaders.
For much of this match, Newcastle looked like the game against Liverpool had taken too much away from them, but they still made the Foxes work for their victory.
The highlight was Tielemans’ goal. I don’t want Leicester to lift the title one bit, but it’s another team that will have a say in who will.
Did you know Tielemans scored with his only shot on goal and was the one who made the most passes in the opposite half against Newcastle (28).
Kevin de Bruyne: He was involved in City’s first and second goals and scored the third in the best 45 minutes of football I have seen since Manchester City all season. Chelsea must have walked into his dressing room at halftime drunk.
City have struggled at times this season with De Bruyne unable to provide the inspiration of previous years, but with the football wizard back at his best, there was simply nothing stopping him from ripping the Blues apart.
The victory over Chelsea takes City to fifth place, two games behind the league leaders. I may not like Leicester for the title, but I wouldn’t bet against Manchester City, especially with De Bruyne in this mood.
Did you know He was involved in eight of Manchester City’s 18 shots against Chelsea (5 shots, three chances created), more than any other player.
Bukayo Saka: Oh I love this boy. The only problem with Saka’s ball in the box during the early exchanges of the game was that Alexandre Lacazette was not up to the task. But then we saw something that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta must see every day on the training ground: a wonderfully crafted team goal that, this time around, made West Brom look like statues.
The problem is that we have to wait too long for moments like this from Arsenal. Training sessions are fine, but their goal is to replicate what you do during practice when it matters. This time it seemed to work and the Gunners kicked West Brom out of the park.
Did you know Saka has scored (two) or assisted (one) a goal in each of Arsenal’s last three games.
Forwards: Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), Alexandre Lacazette (Arsenal), Son Heung-min (Tottenham)
Eberechi Eze: Since the arrival of this player from QPR, his development has been unmistakable. Eze plays the game with a grace and style that is hard to ignore. From the moment he replaced Jeffrey Schlupp, it seemed that the Sheffield United defenders took a step back.
The individual nature of his goal was quite brilliant, but it was the ease with which he passed the ball to the back of the net that really made me sit up and take notice. It not only indicates talent, but also a self-confidence that is not found in most players.
The head of the palace, Roy Hodgson, would do well to take care of this child. It could be a bit special.
Did you know Eze’s two Premier League goals have come from outside the box, and only James Ward-Prowse of Southampton has scored more such goals this season.
Alexandre Lacazette: It shouldn’t be difficult to play with a player in his correct position. However, it seems that Arteta has had a hard time understanding the obvious at times. The Arsenal manager has mixed and matched players, and has even tried putting square pegs in round holes on occasion.
Lacazette is a natural center forward and any other consideration is silly. It’s not complicated. The forward’s two goals suggest that Arteta would do well to leave him where he is. His perpetual manipulations have cost him in the past.
Did you know Lacazette is Arsenal’s top scorer this season, including seven Premier League goals.
Son Heung-min (Tottenham): I see these two are back. Harry Kane and Son combined to make Leeds a very sad afternoon at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. In fact, they destroyed Leeds in a matter of minutes.
Kane’s ball to allow Son to convert Spurs’ second goal was simply beautiful and only equaled by the end.
Fair play for Leeds, they may be new to this league, but they are not afraid to take risks, especially away from home. They are more than happy to mix it up with the greats. I don’t think they own a bus, but if they do, they may have to start parking it from time to time.
Did you know Son scored his 100th goal for Tottenham in his 253rd appearance with the club.
Thieves of matter
When a player, or anyone else, contracts Covid-19, they deserve our sympathy, not criticism. I have never come across a team that has not wanted to play a game, unless it has been devastated by injuries or, as is the case, has players with coronavirus.
Fulham’s cancellation of their midweek match against Tottenham, while inconvenient, must have been necessary, otherwise the Premier League would never have approved it. It’s hard to imagine how anyone could criticize someone’s efforts to keep people safe and not spread the virus knowing they had it, but José Mourinho was.
What did label the decision to postpone the event as “unprofessional” even more ridiculous was that Covid-19 has the ability to hit anyone at any time. That is why our hospitals are close to breaking point.
For the national game to continue amid coronavirus restrictions it must take extraordinary planning. So, seeing a relentless Mourinho sarcastically mocking the Premier League on social media with the tag “the best league in the world” after hitting the pitch at 2pm still not sure if his match was going ahead squeaked at me.
However, Mourinho was left with an egg on his face when three of his players You violated Covid-19 restrictions by attending a Christmas party.
Mourinho’s explanation of the Match of the Day was unconvincing. Even suggesting that you can’t monitor your players 24/7 was pathetic, you shouldn’t have to. By breaking the rules, your players put people’s health and safety at risk. Well, we all make mistakes, but I think the term “unprofessional” should not be directed at Fulham or the Premier League, but at Mourinho and his three players.
Choose your XI from our list and share it with your friends.
