English Premier League: Liverpool end first while Man City stutter in the fight

Big day of upsets once again, but this time coming on Boxing Day. Has the wheels fell off of Man City and Pep’s bus? What’s happening in the title-defending campaign?

A two-day Matchday on Matchday 19 in the Boxing Day edition. Tottenham continued on their rumbling roll and put on another goal-feast display. Everton bounced back and built enough confidence for the next trial coming the weekend.

Best performers on the day would normally go to a team for a five-goal display. However, Leicester City pulled off the impossible and took advantage of a wounded animal still licking its wounds.

Matchday 10 from Wednesday Night in a nutshell

Fulham 1-1 Wolves
Burnley 1-5 Everton 
Liverpool 4-0 Newcastle 
Crystal Palace 0-0 Cardiff City 
Leicester City 2-1 Manchester City
Tottenham 5-0 Bournemouth 
Manchester United 3-1 Huddersfield
Brighton 1-1 Arsenal
Watford 1-2 Chelsea 
Southampton 1-2 West Ham 

Fulham and Wolves led the way with a draw detrimental to the home side. A win was on the cards with them getting on goal, time and time again. Mitrovic was given the armband and led the way. He could have easily had three or more on the day, but the clinical finishing was left at the training ground.

Everton, Liverpool and Tottenham, all put their opponents to bed on the day. The Reds and Spurs equally good at attacking and defending on the day. A clean sheet and four or more scored, is nothing short of fantastic in this crucial December time. Everton, the perfect bounce back to life after failing to the same fate, the weekend prior to this.

The team with the most surprising and emphatic victory goes to the second set of champ killers. Away from home and on a hot run, Leicester took down Man City in heated 2-1 battle. A red card heavy in favour of the travelling team – paid off in the best way possible, a victory over a side almost unable to lose at the Etihad stadium. A major hand played in the title race and favour Liverpool will never forget, repaying it some day in the future.

The second upset came from a side far improved from their previous campaign, Brighton. The Seagulls dodged the bullets from the Arsenal the Gunners had on hand. Points shared with a team who accomplished a 20-game unbeaten run. Amazing by Brighton.

A team who is a shadow of itself in this season specifically, Burnley. Burnley, not themselves since the season started. The best defence turned to one of the worst. Watford was off on the night and allowed Chelsea three points at Vicarage Road.

United’s new way gives them two in as many since their terrible loss at Anfield.

After the weekend’s results…

Burnley, Fulham and Huddersfield give themselves so much to do on the brink of New Year. Still at the bottom of the log and dropping further behind on points will make 2019 the hardest fight in their Premier League run.

Everton’s victory keeps them on the heels of the Foxes. However, Leicester’s win was worthy of a spot behind United. Talking things Man United, they afforded themselves a nice 6th place after scoring eight goals in two games, collecting six points in the process. Bournemouth fell hard, with Brighton and Palace playing the catch up game. However, keeping their clubs away from that brutal relegation battle.

Everton and Leicester City progress and impress, the latter more than the former. The Saints have more to learn from the new gaffer before a win becomes something done consistently. It’s been a busy and frequently changing EPL table.

The only team consistent and showing their class to the highest level, Liverpool. Man City’s failure to secure points gave the Reds a healthy six points gap ahead of Spurs. Not even Man City, who’s now dropped to third place on the table.