Zedtainment.com

Author: Addie K

  • Nottingham Forest 1 – 1 Chelsea

    Nottingham Forest 1 – 1 Chelsea

    Nottingham Forest claimed a valuable point in their relegation fight with a deserved draw against Chelsea, who lost ground in the Premier League top four.

    Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling volleyed home from five yards after Wily Boly had flicked a cross onto his own bar.

    Forest attacked with vigour in the second half and Morgan Gibbs-White crashed a stunning strike off the bar.

    Serge Aurier showed fine composure when he controlled the ball on his chest and volleyed home the equaliser.

    Chelsea, who have now only won successive league games once under Graham Potter since he was appointed on 8 September, climb above Brighton into eighth but are seven points behind Manchester United in fourth.

    Forest, who claim a point for the first time this season after going behind, move above Wolverhampton Wanderers into 18th and are only behind fourth-bottom West Ham United on goal difference.

    In the first half, Forest was keen to use the pace of Brennan Johnson in behind the Chelsea defence and he came closest for the hosts in a one-on-one with Kepa Arrizabalaga.

    Despite falling behind early on the atmosphere at the City Ground was built throughout the half, inspired in part by the crowd becoming frustrated by the performance of referee Peter Bankes.

    Steve Cooper’s team then leapt out of the blocks after the break, with Johnson having an effort saved before Gibbs-White rattled the underside of the bar with a wonderful strike.

    The runs of Johnson and Taiwo Awoniyi in the channels caused Chelsea problems throughout the game, but as has been the case throughout the season – they have only scored 12 goals in 17 league games – they lacked the necessary quality in the final third.

    It took a superb piece of finishing from defender Aurier to earn them a point but with yet more additions likely to be on their way in the January transfer window and a vocal fan base that has helped them go unbeaten in six games in all competitions, they have a chance of survival.

    source – BBC Sport

  • Tottenham 0 – 2 Aston Villa

    Tottenham 0 – 2 Aston Villa

    Aston Villa increased the pressure on Tottenham manager Antonio Conte with victory at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. An error by goalkeeper Hugo Lloris in his first game back since the World Cup allowed Emiliano Buendia to score before Douglas Luiz doubled the lead.

    A lacklustre Spurs, who fell out of the Premier League top four on Saturday, have now won only two of their past seven matches.

    Villa have won back-to-back away league games as they improve under Unai Emery.

    It appeared this contest would pit the two keepers who faced off in the 2022 World Cup final penalty shootout against each other, but Argentina’s spot-kick hero Emiliano Martinez had to settle for a place on the Villa bench.

    It was a poor match all round for returning finalists. Spurs’ World Cup-winning defender Cristian Romero was shown a yellow card in the first half – and fortunate not to get a second late on after barging Philippe Coutinho – while Lloris endured a shocking moment in the 50th minute.

    He spilled Luiz’s long-range effort and Ollie Watkins squared the rebound for Buendia to slam home.

    Luiz started and finished the move for 2-0, sliding a pass to John McGinn before racing on to receive the return and chipping cutely past Lloris.

    Spurs were booed off at the final whistle, while some fans directed angry chants directed towards chairman Daniel Levy.
    Having lost their place in the top four to Manchester United, the onus was on Tottenham to produce an improved performance.

    While they did improve on their previous five games by not trailing at half-time, Spurs continue to look disjointed, exemplified after 18 minutes when Son Heung-min ripped off the protective mask he wore throughout the World Cup and threw it away in frustration.

    Striker Harry Kane also cut an irritated figure, coming deep into midfield to get the ball after barely touching it in the early periods.

    The England captain came closest to opening the scoring in the first half.

    Ivan Perisic was played in over the top before being forced wide by keeper Robin Olsen, but he cleverly dinked a cross back over for Kane to head down. Ashley Young covered, having initially played Perisic onside, and managed to direct the effort behind for a corner.

    Perisic should have scored shortly after Buendia’s opener when the ball fell kindly 15 yards out and he scooped over the bar.

    However, Spurs set an unwanted club record of conceding at least two goals in seven successive Premier League fixtures.

    They looked toothless in attack – Bryan Gil made his first league start in place of the injured Dejan Kulusevski, but was replaced just past the hour following an anonymous display – and Conte looked more miserable as his side slipped towards another worrying defeat.

    While Emery’s reign at Arsenal was not a success, he did manage to get the better of Tottenham – going unbeaten in three games against their local rivals.

    He continued that trend on Sunday, a solid defensive performance justifying the decision to leave a World Cup winner on the bench.

    Martinez’s heroics in Qatar were not enough to unseat Olsen as Emery named an unchanged team from the side that lost to Liverpool on 26 December.

    He was rewarded. Watkins and Buendia were bright to pounce on the opening Lloris handed them, while Luiz controlled midfield and deserved his goal.

    They ensured Emery became the first Villa manager since John Gregory in 1998 to win his first two Premier League away matches.

    The Spaniard also set a record of 55 Premier League games in charge without being involved in a goalless draw, surpassing former Spurs boss Ossie Ardiles.

    Source: BBC

  • Brighton 2 – 4 Arsenal

    Brighton 2 – 4 Arsenal

    Arsenal moved seven points clear at the top of the Premier League with an entertaining victory at Brighton.

    This result, allied to Manchester City’s 1-1 draw with Everton, extends Arsenal’s advantage heading in to 2023.

    The visitors were cruising at 3-0 thanks to goals by Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Eddie Nketiah before Kaoru Mitoma pulled one back.

    Gabriel Martinelli settled any nerves with Arsenal’s fourth before Evan Ferguson added Brighton’s second with his first league goal.

    Mitoma had a second goal chalked off to deny the home fans a grandstand finish as Arsenal held on for a deserved three points.

    Brighton was a long way off the pace for the first hour, but after Martinelli had restored the three-goal advantage they showed great spirit to reduce the arrears again through Ferguson.

    They were then convinced they had made it 4-3 with two minutes remaining when Mitoma looked to have scored again, but after a VAR check, the Japanese midfielder was revealed to be just offside.

    Arsenal is back in action against Newcastle United on Tuesday, buoyed by an increasingly formidable-looking lead over champions City with both sides having played 16 games.

    Although the Premier League season is still not at the halfway point due to the World Cup hiatus, this win could be a key moment in Arsenal’s bid for a first title since 2004.

    Brighton had been the last side to beat Arsenal – a 3-1 Carabao Cup win in November – but the prospect of a repeat looked unlikely as soon as Saka had latched on to a rebound from Martinelli’s shot to tuck the ball home for his sixth league goal of the season.

    The absence of striker Gabriel Jesus through a knee injury collected while on World Cup duty may have worried Arsenal fans, but Saka and Odegaard are compensating for the Brazilian striker’s layoff.

    Arsenal captain Odegaard’s seventh goal of the season came when he capitalised on a poor header out by Billy Gilmour to put his side 2-0 ahead before half-time, the Norwegian’s shot going down into the ground and beyond Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.

    And they started the second half just as well as the first, Nketiah poking the ball in from close range after Sanchez fumbled Martinelli’s shot from a tight angle.

    But they wobbled when full-backs Ben White and Oleksandr Zinchenko were substituted after an hour. Rattled by Mitomo’s goal and then a good spell from the hosts, Martinelli finished off a length-of-the-pitch move with a shot that went in off Sanchez’s legs to seemingly put the game beyond Brighton’s reach.

    William Saliba was then too casual on the edge of his own area, allowing Ferguson his chance to pull another goal back, and when Mitoma seemed to have made the score 4-3, Mikel Arteta’s side looked worried until the decision by VAR.

    Arsenal faces a tough January before reaching the league campaign’s midpoint, with Tottenham and Manchester United to follow after Newcastle.

    Their two meetings with second-placed Manchester City are also yet to come, and Arteta will want to address the defensive frailties that surfaced on the south coast.

    The Seagulls returned from the World Cup break in fine style, winning 3-1 at Southampton on Boxing Day, but they will regret their slow start here.

    Errors by Sanchez played a part in Arsenal’s third and fourth goals, but Roberto de Zerbi’s side finished strongly after capitalising on a dip in the Gunners’ performance following the substitutions of White and Zinchenko.

    Ferguson, 18, was a handful on just his third Premier League appearance, all as a substitute, and he was smart enough to latch on to Saliba’s error to give his side a sniff of a comeback.

    Mitoma was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet twice, but the Seagulls nevertheless end 2022 in eighth – their highest-ever placing in the top flight at the end of a calendar year.

    source – BBC Sport

  • Newcastle United 0 – 0 Leeds United

    Newcastle United 0 – 0 Leeds United

    Manager Eddie Howe said 2022 had been a “year of real progress” after Newcastle ended it third in the Premier League despite being held to a goalless draw at home by Leeds.

    The Magpies go into 2023 a club transformed from the one that, three months after their Saudi Arabia-backed takeover, was 19th in the table a year ago.

    “2022 has been a great year,” Howe said. “The team has developed really well.

    “We have had some great results. There are big challenges ahead but we look forward to those.”

    Newcastle offered almost all the attacking threat at St James’ Park but was unable to find a winner which would have given them a seventh consecutive league win.

    Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier saved excellently from both Chris Wood and Fabian Schar in the second half, which was played almost exclusively in the visitors’ territory.

    Still, Newcastle is now unbeaten in 12 games – a run which goes back to August – and are two points behind second-placed Manchester City. They are nine adrift of leaders Arsenal, who increased their cushion with a victory against Brighton.

    The hard-earned point for Leeds, who had one shot on target all match, moved them up a place to 14th.

    Jesse Marsch’s side is now three points clear of the relegation zone.

    This time a year ago the thought of Howe refusing to rule out a title challenge, as he did before this game, would have been fanciful at best.

    They end the year in the top three for only the third time in the Premier League era – and the first since the 2001-02 campaign.

    Much has been made of Newcastle as an attacking force this season with Miguel Almiron the most obvious improvement. Despite almost constant pressure, the winger was largely kept in check by Leeds’ resolute defence, who repelled wave after wave of Newcastle attacks.

    Sean Longstaff blazed over from inside the area but otherwise, Newcastle’s clearest opening came from set pieces with Kieran Tripper’s delivery proving dangerous.

    Meslier spread himself to make the block at the feet of Wood after a knock-down and saved with his feet to keep out Schar’s header.

    Callum Wilson, fit again after illness, came on after 64 minutes for his first appearance since the World Cup but was kept quiet.

    “It is a sign of how far we have come that they were timewasting and doing everything they could to take time out of the game,” Howe told Sky Sports. “All that was missing was the final third.

    “It was one of those days for us. We had enough chances to win the game comfortably.”

    Newcastle’s next match, a visit to Arsenal on 3 January, will offer some indication of whether they can indeed mount a title challenge.

    Meanwhile, the clenched-fisted celebrations at the end from Leeds, whose one goalbound effort was a curling strike by Rodrigo tipped away by Nick Pope, suggested this was a point gained from their perspective.

    “I feel good about coming here and getting a draw,” Marsch said. “The first half was good from us but in the second half, they started playing every ball into our end.

    “I’m happy with how we dealt with the crowd and the mentality to get a draw and keep a clean sheet.”

    source – BBC

  • Manchester City 1 – 1 Everton

    Manchester City 1 – 1 Everton

    Manchester City defender John Stones says a point against Everton is “difficult to take” after his side was held in a feisty Premier League contest at Etihad Stadium.

    The result leaves second-placed City seven points adrift of Arsenal, who extended their lead at the top of the table after beating Brighton on Saturday.

    “I don’t really know what to say. I feel like we’ve lost two points,” said Stones.

    “It’s difficult to take after the game. We showed great character to keep fighting and pushing. It was a bit of a scrappy game.”

    Erling Haaland, noticeably incensed after an early exchange with Everton’s Ben Godfrey that left the Norway striker requiring treatment, finished off a lovely Riyad Mahrez move to open the scoring in the 24th minute.

    However, during a tumultuous second half Demarai Gray scored a stunning equaliser after Rodri gave the ball away, making ground down the left and curling home a shot from just inside the area.

    City threw what they could at the visitors during 11 minutes of stoppage time, but Everton stifled their attempts to cap off the year with a win.

    Stones added: “We controlled the game for the majority of the time and had a lot of chances but couldn’t seem to get that goal.

    “I’m very pleased with how we played. The result doesn’t reflect that. When the game is so disrupted, a lot of time-wasting [happens]. We kept creating chances but it didn’t come off.

    “We conceded two shots all game but it’s overlooked because of that incredible goal.”

    A victory would have seen Pep Guardiola’s side close the gap on his former assistant Mikel Arteta’s relentless Arsenal. After the same number of games last season, City were top of the league and the Gunners were 12 points behind in sixth.

    This season, City are trying to win a third successive Premier League title but has dropped points on three more occasions than Arsenal, with the two sides still yet to face each other in the league.

    Having scored twice against Leeds on Wednesday to become the quickest player to 20 Premier League goals in a season, Haaland seemed to direct any further frustration at his four-week World Cup-enforced absence from football towards Godfrey.

    The defender, starting his first game since breaking a leg in Everton’s season opener, nudged Haaland in the early stages in an attempt to assert his authority, but seemed to only anger him – and the two engaged in a battle throughout the opening 45 minutes.

    Haaland gesticulated and waved at the crowd in an attempt to spur them on, celebrated his opener wildly in Godfrey’s direction, and was eventually forced to calm down after being booked for a rash challenge just before half-time.

    In a first half lacking clear opportunities, Haaland hit the side netting and Stones’ header struck a post as referee Andy Madley dished out five yellow cards.

    Lengthy delays prevented City from truly taking control of the game in the second half.

    A six-minute delay on account of the assistant referee’s radio being faulty, followed by another break as City forward Jack Grealish received treatment, sapped the energy that had been so high in the first period.

    Gray’s equaliser rekindled some fire in City but the game ebbed away from them as Everton defended resolutely.

    A searching pass from Mahrez could not find a way through to Haaland and a frantic melee in the box resulted in a stellar save from Pickford.

    City is without a win in two home games, having recorded 11 straight victories at the Etihad before conceding in the 98th minute and losing to Brentford last time out.

    Guardiola said: “I would say they had eight in the back. They made a fantastic goal and when that happens you say ‘congratulations’, but in general, we did really well.”

    Everton had shipped seven goals in their past three league matches and won only one of their past eight.

    An air of inevitability around how Everton’s season was shaping up had seemed to settle on supporters, the pressure was mounting on manager Frank Lampard, and a lack of progress on the pitch looked to be continuing in Manchester.

    But while Guardiola’s side looked somewhat deflated by the second-half stoppages, Everton seemed all too pleased for the game to become fragmented and to limit City’s usually expansive football.

    Gray’s magnificent goal almost came from nowhere, and every City attempt at a winner was blocked by a pink Everton shirt.

    Crucially, Seamus Coleman got in the way of Phil Foden’s late opportunity and Rodri completely mistimed a header from a corner in the final seconds.

    A point, at the home of the defending champions, is a valuable one for Everton and leaves them 16th in the table, two points above the relegation zone.

  • Fulham 2 – 1 Southampton

    Fulham 2 – 1 Southampton

    Southampton remained rooted to the foot of the table after a late winner by Fulham’s Joao Palhinha condemned the visitors to a fifth straight Premier League defeat.

    James Ward-Prowse’s superb second-half free-kick, which cancelled out his earlier own-goal, seemed set to secure his side a much-needed point.

    But a clever flick-on from Kenny Tete set up Palhinha’s 88th-minute header.

    Aleksandar Mitrovic missed an injury-time penalty and the chance to add gloss to the scoreline.

    Fulham are up to seventh on the back of their fourth win in seven games.

    The hosts paid tribute to one of their own before kick-off.

    Manager Marco Silva, one of his mostly fondly-remembered predecessors Roy Hodgson and George Cohen’s son Anthony laid wreathes around the centre circle in memory of the 1966 World Cup winner, who died at the age of 83 on 23 December.

    Cohen was born in Fulham and swept the Craven Cottage stands as part of the ground staff before embarking on a 459-game one-club career with the Whites. A minute’s applause ended with the home fans chanting the former full-back’s name.

    Once underway, Southampton had the clearest early chance when Che Adams darted behind the hosts’ high line, but goalkeeper Bernd Leno did well to repel his effort.

    Mohamed Elyounoussi skimmed a shot narrowly over the crossbar, but Fulham gradually asserted themselves in midfield, with Palhinha to the fore, and was rewarded on 32 minutes.

    Willian clipped a corner to the edge of the penalty area, which Andreas Pereira met with his instep. The volley was well-struck but seemed to be heading off target until Ward-Prowse’s instinctive attempt to block instead ensured it ended up in the back of the net.

    Pereira stabbed a shot wide after the break as Fulham started the second half brightly.

    But Ward-Prowse, who is second only to David Beckham in Premier League free-kick goals, gives Saints a threat that few other sides can offer at set-pieces.

    The 28-year-old captain whipped a superb swirling free-kick around the wall and beyond Leno’s dive to cancel out his own goal and level the contest.

    It seemed the scores would remain equal before the contest sprung back into life in the final few minutes.

    Tom Cairney and Willian almost combined to set up Pereira at one end before Southampton substitute Romain Perraud threatened at the other.

    The hosts went ahead again when another well-worked set-piece isolated Palhinha, who stands 6ft 3in tall, against a clutch of smaller defenders.

    Mitrovic, who has 10 goals in his previous 13 Premier League games, had a chance to add to his prolific season after a foul on Dan James. But his penalty, well saved by Gavin Bazunu, ended an uncharacteristically quiet afternoon for the Serbian striker.

    Southampton’s next game is against Nottingham Forest, one place above them in the table, at home on Wednesday.

    Manager Nathan Jones, who took over from sacked Ralph Hasenhuttl in November, said his players need to be sharper tactically and mentally to avoid their efforts being undermined by more bad defending.

    “We didn’t do the basics well on two occasions and that is what let us down,” he said. “They have to be ironed out on the training ground and in peoples’ heads.

    “The overall performance was good today – we negated a fluent team – but we have to be better in those moments. We are gifting teams goals, they don’t have to do much to score, and that has to change.”

  • Bournemouth 0 – 2 Crystal Palace

    Bournemouth 0 – 2 Crystal Palace

    Bournemouth boss Gary O’Neil described Saturday’s 2-0 home defeat by Crystal Palace as “the worst I’ve seen” since he took over in late August.

    O’Neil, confirmed as head coach during the World Cup after impressing as caretaker, said: “That’s the first time since I’ve taken charge that we fell well below the standards that we’ve set, and the standards that we need.

    “I was really disappointed with nearly all aspects of the day. We looked so flat, and there were so many errors with the ball.”

    Opposite number Patrick Vieira felt a sense of “relief” as Palace recovered from back-to-back Premier League defeats to finish 2022 on a high.

    “People had doubts about us but I know my players well and how well they can play,” said the Frenchman.

    “It’s important to trust the players we have, when you have a young group of players, there will be some ups and downs.

    “Everybody needs to control their emotion and manage our expectations.”

    Palace had not registered a shot on target in their previous two games, but there was no subtlety about either goal, with both created by Michael Olise’s pinpoint delivery from corners.

    The opener came when Jordan Ayew was left virtually unmarked at the near post from Olise’s left-wing delivery, leaving him the easy task of planting a downward header across goal and into the net.

    The Eagles doubled their lead when Olise’s delivery from the opposite side was driven perfectly into the path of Eberechi Eze, who had space on the edge of the area to blast the ball past Mark Travers.

    With much of the game played in driving rain, Bournemouth struggled to find any fluency and created few clear-cut opportunities, although Dominic Solanke stung the palms of visiting goalkeeper Vicente Guaita after the break.

    Vieira described Boxing Day’s defeat at “one of the worst days” since he arrived as Palace manager.

    Forced into two changes after seeing two of his defenders sent off during the 3-0 home loss against Fulham, he resisted any temptation to make more alterations despite failing to score in five of their last six away games, and was rewarded with a no-nonsense display.

    Marc Guehi, back from a suspension of his own, marshalled the retooled Eagles defence well against the aerial threat of Kieffer Moore and the guile of Solanke.

    The defence and midfield were quick to pounce on second balls, while their front runners always posed a threat on the break.

    “Michael Olise is a young player, sometimes he will make mistakes and miss something, but I don’t have any doubt about putting him in the starting XI,” added Vieira.

    “Today he was disciplined, and he has grown as a player.”

    Even after Vieira had substituted both goalscorers in the 74th minute, a third Palace goal looked more likely than a reply from the hosts as the Eagles closed out their first league win outside London since April.

    New owner Bill Foley and minority owner Michael B Jordan were introduced to the Bournemouth crowd before the game, with a touch of Las Vegas glitz added to the pre-match atmosphere as half a dozen pitchside flamethrowers, more usually seen around the boundary in Twenty20 cricket, greeted the players’ arrival on to the pitch.

    When Foley travelled to Dorset in October to sign the takeover paperwork, he watched O’Neil’s side come from behind to beat Leicester 2-1, but a Hollywood-style comeback looked very unlikely after the second goal left Palace in full charge.

    And a year which featured the highs of promotion to the top flight, and the lows including a 9-0 thumping at Liverpool, concluded with something of a damp squib.

    The afternoon was summed up when substitute Siriki Dembele curled a tame late effort straight into the arms of Guaita, to be greeted with the home fans ironically chanting “We’ve had a shot”.

    Foley has already announced some bold plans for the Cherries’ future, but back in the present, a fresh injection of signings in January may be the top item in his in-tray.

    “There are no excuses, and I take full responsibility,” added O’Neil.

    “The Premier League is ruthless, if you’re going to perform like that and not do your job from set plays, it’s going to be a long afternoon.

    “We’ve achieved a decent points tally with the group of players we’ve got, but as with the other 19 teams in the league we’ll be looking to improve [the squad] in January.”

    source – BBC Sport

  • Wolves 0- 1 Manchester United

    Wolves 0- 1 Manchester United

    Marcus Rashford turned from villain to hero as he came off the bench to score the only goal against Wolves and move Manchester United into the Premier League top four.

    Manager Erik ten Hag left Rashford out of his starting line-up for “internal disciplinary” reasons.

    But after a disappointing opening period, in which Rashford’s replacement Alejandro Garnacho wasted the visitors’ best chance when his shot was saved by Jose Sa, the England man scored 14 minutes from time.

    Rashford picked the ball up outside the Wolves area, then, after exchanging passes with Bruno Fernandes, held off three defenders before driving home his 11th goal of the season in all competitions.

    It was the first time he had scored in three successive games for United since December 2019.

    The result ended Julen Lopetegui’s two-match winning start as Wolves manager and kept them in the relegation zone.

    However, they came so close to snatching a point in stoppage time when Raul Jimenez’s goal-bound header was turned away at point-blank range by David de Gea.

    The availability of loan signing Matheus Cunha for Wednesday’s West Midlands derby at Aston Villa cannot come soon enough for a side that struggles so badly to turn impressive approach play into goals.

    Lopetegui said: “The way they fought a big team like Man Utd, in the end, I thought we deserved more.”

    Ten Hag proved with his treatment of Cristiano Ronaldo that reputation would not get in the way of reinforcing team discipline.

    Evidently, Rashford’s indiscretion was not on a serious scale as he was named on the bench, but, given Garnacho, was stopped from playing during the club’s pre-season tour because of persistent lateness, Ten Hag would view his actions as confirmation the same rules apply to all players, no matter what their status.

    As it turned out, Garnacho produced a decent first-half display but, with United failing to make the most of limited opportunities, Rashford replaced the 18-year-old at half-time.

    Ten Hag has made it clear he wants striking reinforcements this month. In their absence, Rashford remains United’s most potent goal threat.

    The determination he showed to drive through so many defenders and score his latest effort indicates a hunger that was absent for much of last season.

    Rashford thought he had a second near the end but his close-range effort was ruled out for handball after Sa saved his initial shot.

    The win moved Manchester United into the top four at full-time, the first time they have been in the Champions League qualification places this season.

    Ten Hag said: “We made a good step today – the first time we are in the top four but it means nothing.

    “We have to win every game. We want to try and win something. It depends on hard work from everyone.”

    In his first league home game in charge of the Wolves, Lopetegui was a demonstrative presence on the edge of his technical area.

    If not quite as manic as Tottenham manager Antonio Conte, the former Sevilla boss was open with his feelings.

    That included demanding a yellow card for Casemiro when he blocked Ruben Neves off during the first half, then letting the fourth official know it should have been two as referee Rob Jones finally a yellow card to the Brazilian when he fouled Daniel Podence.

    Once he calms down from such injustices, Lopetegui will know – as he always has – the answer to Wolves’ problems comes through finding the net.

    Lopetegui said: “We have to improve. I believe in my players. But it is not about one or two players. It is a team task. If we have more chances, we may score more.”

    Diego Costa worked hard for little reward before the break and, until Jimenez was introduced once the Spaniard was replaced, there was no focal point for the Wolves midfield to play to.

    Neves almost pulled one of his wonder strikes out of his repertoire to put the hosts in front, but De Gea was equal to that, just as he was when Jimenez’s stoppage-time effort was heading into the net.

    source – BBC Sport

  • Liverpool 2 – 1 Leicester City

    Liverpool 2 – 1 Leicester City

    Wout Faes scored two own goals as Liverpool came from behind to beat Leicester in their final Premier League game of 2022.

    The Foxes made the ideal start when they took the lead after just four minutes as poor defending by the hosts allowed Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to race through on goal before firing past Alisson.

    Both sides had opportunities to score after that in an open and entertaining first half but Liverpool’s equaliser came in hugely fortuitous circumstances.

    With seven minutes to go the break, Faes stuck out a boot to try and divert Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross behind but instead the ball looped over goalkeeper Danny Ward and into the back of the net.

    It got worse for Faes and Leicester seconds before the break when the defender again managed to put the ball into the back of his own net, this time firing in after Darwin Nunez’s chipped shot had bounced back off the post.

    It was the tonic Liverpool needed and they really should have put the game out of Leicester’s reach in the second half, with Mohamed Salah putting a decent chance wide of the post with only Ward to beat while Nunez – not for the first time in recent games – failed to make the most of a couple of decent opportunities.

    In the end, Faes’ two own goals were enough to give Liverpool the victory that moves them to within two points of the top four.

    Defeat for Leicester, meanwhile, means they remain 13th and four points above the relegation zone.

    It was a night to forget for Faes but one that was also so uncharacteristic, with the Belgian defender has been a huge player for the Foxes since joining on transfer deadline day back in September.

    He has been a key factor in Leicester’s rise off the bottom of the table and away from the relegation zone but it felt like everything that could go wrong for him did so here.

    Faes arguably could have done better for the first goal. Had he left it, then goalkeeper Ward – who clearly shouted for him to do so – had a straightforward gather at his near post, but instead, Faes made the most awkward of connections to send the ball looping over the Wales international.

    The second goal, however, was just plain unfortunate as Faes’ momentum as he rushed to get back and clear off the line meant he could do little when the ball from Nunez’s shot bounced back off the post and into his path.

    Faes becomes just the fourth player to score two own goals in a single Premier League game, after Jamie Carragher (1999, Liverpool vs Manchester United), Michael Proctor (2003, Sunderland vs Charlton) and Jonathan Walters (2013, Stoke vs Chelsea).

    source – BBC

  • West Ham United 0 – 2 Brentford

    West Ham United 0 – 2 Brentford

    West Ham suffered their fifth consecutive Premier League defeat after being well beaten at home by Brentford.

    Ivan Toney put the visitors ahead with his 12th league goal of the season before Josh DaSilva doubled the lead.

    The Hammers were booed by a frustrated London Stadium crowd, with this defeat keeping them only one point above the relegation zone.

    The game also ended on a sour note for Brentford, as Toney was taken off on a stretcher with a knee injury.

    The victory sees the Bees rise to ninth in the Premier League.

    Not since a run between March and April 2017, under the management of Slaven Bilic, have West Ham lost five consecutive games in the league.

    Five-and-a-half years later, West Ham has enjoyed many highs under the management of David Moyes – however, this defeat puts the Scotsman’s role under serious question.

    It is not just the fact of another defeat, but the manner in which the goals were conceded.

    Both first-half goals came from West Ham failing to properly defend throw-ins, and both came after periods in the game when they had enjoyed good attacking spells.

    The opener arrived in the 18th minute, where a straightforward long throw by Mathias Jensen was flicked on by Mathias Jorgensen. Christian Norgaard hit his swivelling volley well, and after it was saved by Lukasz Fabianski, Toney reacted first to follow up and stab home.

    The second, shortly before half-time, was even worse from a West Ham perspective. Toney played a simple lobbed ball over the top of the sleeping home defence from a throw-in near the halfway line.

    Da Silva outmuscled and outpaced Aaron Cresswell to streak through and slot past Fabianski for his first goal since August.

    These teams will meet again in the FA Cup third round on 7 January. Whether Moyes remains in post for that fixture remains to be seen.

    In complete contrast to West Ham, Brentford has set a new club Premier League record of five consecutive games unbeaten. The Bees have not had a longer top-flight unbeaten run since they went six games without defeat between February and March 1939.

    Things could have been different had West Ham taken their chances – notably when Declan Rice struck the post early on and when Emerson Palmieri stung the gloves of David Raya with a near-post drive.

    However, Brentford saw out the second half in relative comfort. This result, combined with the 2-2 draw against Tottenham on Boxing Day, will leave Thomas Frank satisfied with how his side has returned to action following the World Cup.

    One question which remains however is what Brentford will do should a long-term injury rule out Toney.

    This is the stark reality they could face after the forward, tipped by many for a place in England’s 2022 World Cup squad, jarred his knee in the turf after an innocuous challenge for a late corner.

    Toney was left banging the turf, his face screwed up in clear pain, before being carried from the field on a stretcher.

    “Of course, it didn’t look great, but I’ve also been in this game long enough to know that you never know exactly what it is until it’s been assessed over the following days,” Frank said.

    “Hopefully it’s a minor injury, a minor thing, there’s a good chance for that, but of course it could be worse. We don’t know yet.”

    Even if the injury is not as bad as it first appears, Toney also faces being banned if FA charges of breaching betting rules are proven. He has until January 4 to respond regarding the 262 alleged breaches.

    On the field, Toney remains one of the Premier League’s deadliest strikers. He scored his 12th league goal of the season here, the same as his 2021-22 total, and he ends the calendar year of 2022 with 20 Premier League goals – only Harry Kane, with 26, has scored more.

    Toney celebrated his strike by baiting the London Stadium crowd, crossing his arms in a symbol closely associated with the Hammers.

    It demonstrates Brentford’s dominance over West Ham in this fixture – they have won all three Premier League meetings.

    source – BBC