“December in English soccer is the hardest month ever,” former Liverpool supervisor Jurgen Klopp mentioned on greater than as soon as event.
“Get by means of it and get outcomes,” was the Premier League winner’s sage recommendation for the festive interval, “then put your head up and go from there.”
The burst of fixtures on both facet of Christmas Day has claimed numerous early pace-setters over time, factors are dropped and gamers misplaced to harm. This yr’s main pack has been impacted as soon as once more, with all three of Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea failing to file good data on this interval.
As ever, some received by means of the festive fixture record extra easily than others.
Solely two golf equipment received all 4 of their Premier League video games between mid-December and the primary week of January; Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest.
Forest not solely boast a faultless file, however they have not conceded a aim since 14 December. Nuno Espirito Santo’s imperious outfit concluded an ideal Christmas spell with a thumping 3-0 win over his former employers Wolves on Monday night time. That candy triumph was additionally the fiftieth anniversary of Brian Clough’s appointment on the Metropolis Floor – but Forest’s present run of six consecutive top-flight wins in a single season was a feat even Nuno’s legendary predecessor by no means achieved.
Newcastle have solely shipped one aim, romping previous Ipswich City, Aston Villa and Manchester United earlier than coming from behind towards Tottenham Hotspur over the weekend.
|
Rank |
Crew |
Factors |
|---|---|---|
|
1. |
Newcastle |
12 |
|
2. |
Nottingham Forest |
12 |
|
3. |
Liverpool |
10 |
|
4. |
Arsenal |
10 |
|
5. |
Bournemouth |
8 |
|
6. |
Manchester Metropolis |
7 |
|
7. |
Wolves |
7 |
|
8. |
Aston Villa |
7 |
|
9. |
Fulham |
6 |
|
10. |
Crystal Palace |
5 |
|
11. |
Brentford |
4 |
|
12. |
Brighton |
4 |
|
13. |
Ipswich |
4 |
|
14. |
West Ham |
4 |
|
15. |
Chelsea |
2 |
|
16. |
Everton |
2 |
|
17. |
Tottenham |
1 |
|
18. |
Man Utd |
1 |
|
19. |
Southampton |
1 |
|
20. |
Leicester |
0 |
Liverpool‘s lead on the Premier League summit stays as wholesome as earlier than the wintry spell regardless of drawing 2-2 with United on Sunday. Arsenal could not benefit from a uncommon slip from Arne Slot’s facet because the injury-hit Gunners had been held to a stalemate with Brighton.
Tottenham and Manchester United discover themselves on the reverse finish of the shape desk. Two members of the normal elite managed to gather as many factors as rock-bottom Southampton – one. Chelsea did not fare significantly better, mustering a pair of attracts and defeats throughout a theoretically simple schedule towards Everton (sixteenth within the desk), Fulham (ninth), Ipswich (18th), Crystal Palace (fifteenth).
The one membership that failed to gather a single level throughout this era was Leicester Metropolis. With Ruud van Nistelrooy’s new supervisor bounce a distant reminiscence, the Foxes shipped ten objectives and 54 pictures in 4 video games. The Dutch supervisor’s mid-run determination to alter goalkeeper, dropping veteran Danny Ward for debutant Jakub Stolarczyk, didn’t repay.
Leicester’s outcomes might have been as bleak because the climate, however they did take a look at Liverpool and gave Manchester Metropolis an almighty scare. Pep Guardiola’s facet have belatedly slowed their perilous slide, amassing consecutive victories towards the Foxes and West Ham which had been cathartic however not solely convincing.
But, as Klopp was all too eager to level out, festive soccer in England is about factors somewhat than performances.
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