(Football news) The Premier League season has been a three horse race so far with very little to separate Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool. All three teams secured three points last night resulting in the Premier League table maintaining the status quo. With fixtures coming thick and fast during the festive season, a single slip up can have dire consequences for any of the three sides.
Liverpool faced fierce rivals Everton at Goodison Park in the Merseyside Derby, fully aware that the Toffees secured four points against Jurgen Klopp’s team last term and inflicted a season-ending injury to Virgil Van Dijk. However, the 239th meeting between the two teams went according to plan for the Reds who took the lead in the ninth minute through Jordan Henderson before Mohamed Salah doubled the score ten minutes later. Everton managed to pull a goal back through Demarai Gray in the 38th minute but failed to build up on it in the second half.
Mohamed Salah doubled his goal tally for the night when the Egyptian took advantage of Seamus Coleman’s error to score in the 64th minute before Diogo Jota wrapped up the comfortable win with Liverpool’s fourth goal in the 79th minute. This was Everton’s heaviest home defeat against Liverpool since 1982 and the Toffees are now 14th on the Premier League table with no wins in eight matches as pressure mounts on Rafa Benitez.
Steven Gerrard suffered his first defeat as Premier League manager at the hands of reigning champions Manchester City at Villa Park. City thoroughly dominated the proceedings and broke the deadlock in the 27th minute thanks to Ruben Dias while a stunning volley by Bernardo Silva just before half-time doubled their lead. Aston Villa managed to pull a goal back through Ollie Watkins in the 47th minute. The hosts almost grabbed an equalizer as Carney Chukwuemeka’s attempt was denied by Ederson. Jack Grealish returned to Aston Villa for the first time since his £100m move to the Premier League champions and was booed by the home supporters. City held on to keep pace with Chelsea and remain one point behind the league leaders while Aston Villa are currently 13th in the Premier League table.
Premier League leaders Chelsea visited Vicarage Road to face Watford in a must-win game to ensure the Blues maintained their first position. The game was halted for half an hour in the first half due to a medical emergency in the stands where a fan suffered from cardiac arrest but is now in stable condition. Chelsea took the lead in the 29th minute when Mason Mount found the back of the net after Kai Havertz’s unselfish assist. However, the home side found an equalizer in the 43rd minute when Emmanuel Dennis’ deflected shot off Antonio Rudiger found the back of the net.
With all to play for in the second half, Thomas Tuchel substituted Saul Niguez at half-time again (the first time was against Aston Villa) and the Blues took the lead through Hakim Ziyech in the 72nd minute in what Tuchel described as a “lucky win”. The result ensured that Chelsea remained in first position in the Premier League while 17th place Watford are three points above the relegation zone.
