Liverpool sit top of the Premier League this Christmas after a massive weekend saw plenty of twists and turns.
Jurgen Klopp’s Reds kicked this weekend off in style after flicks in from Mohamed Salah and Virgil Van Dijk proved the difference in a tight encounter with Wolves at Molineux, sending them four points clear atop.
Manchester City then could of reduced the gap to a point but fell to a shock defeat at home to Crystal Palace. Gundogan opened the scoring for City before Jeffery Schlupp and Andros Townsend then struck back to turn the game on its head at half-time.
Embed from Getty ImagesPalace then gave themselves a 3-1 lead early in second half, after Kyle Walker fouled Max Meyer in box to concede a penalty which Luka Milivojevic fired in down the middle.
Sub, Kevin de Bruyne netted City a late consolation from a whipping cross which found the top left corner, although it wasn’t enough to take any points.
Arsenal meanwhile moved level with fourth-placed Chelsea following their 3-1 win over third-bottom Burnley whilst the Blues fell to a shock home defeat against Leicester, when Jamie Vardy struck early in second half to seal a scrappy win.
Those results meant that third-placed Tottenham Hotspur could move closer to the title fight but still remain in the fight for third, if could get victory away at Everton.
Embed from Getty ImagesA lively opening 20 minutes saw both teams waste chances with Richarlison and Harry Kane going closest but wide. Everton then broke the deadlock when Gylfi Sigurdsson found Dominic Calvert-Lewin who crossed for Walcott to fire in at near post.
Minutes later, Calvert-Lewin nearly gave the Toffees a two goal lead only to see his header ruled out for a tug on Davinson Sanchez. Spurs then punished him and Everton for that mistake when Son Heung-min intercepted a defensive mix up between Kurt Zouma and Jordan Pickford before blasting in the equaliser.
Things then got worse for the home side when Dele Alli and Kane both put away rebound shots to place Tottenham in firm control at the break.
Embed from Getty ImagesChristian Eriksen then volleyed Spurs into a 4-1 lead shortly after restart from a cleared Kane cross. Everton then received brief hope minutes later when Sigurdsson turned home Richarlison’s pass from just outside box.
That hope was however short-lived as ten minutes later, Son added Spurs’ fifth after slotting in Erik Lamela’s through ball before turning assistant as he collected Ben Davies’ pass then delivering it to Kane who fired home from close range to complete a 6-2 win.
The result therefore leaves Tottenham six points adrift of table topping Liverpool yet five points clear of Chelsea and Arsenal who sit just below them in table. As for Everton, they slip to just outside the top ten.
Following Jose Mourinho’s sacking in midweek, Manchester United thrashed Cardiff City 5-1 just days after former Bluebird manager – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took the reins.
Embed from Getty ImagesMarcus Rashford and Ander Herrera gave United a swift lead before Juan Camarasa pulled one back from a penalty. Anthony Martial then quickly restored their two goal lead with a neat finish before Jesse Lingard netted a second half brace to wrap up the points.
The result leaves United sitting sixth but two points clear of Watford, who saw off West Ham through Troy Deeney’s penalty and Gerard Deulofeu’s late strike as just three points separate those in 7-12th positions.
Bournemouth occupy eighth ahead of Leicester and Wolves after David Brooks’ brace sealed a win over Brighton.
Finally, Fulham remain bottom following a goalless draw at Newcastle but move level on points with Huddersfield who lost 3-1 at home to Southampton.
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