IT WAS A busy, and eventful, day of Premier League action as a full schedule of Boxing Day fixtures threw up plenty of talking points. Here, we look at five to digest after the day’s games.
Does nobody want to win the league?
THIS SEASON HAS been nothing if not unpredictable. Just when it seemed one side – Arsenal – were seizing control of the title race, they suffer a setback and we’re back to square one.
It makes for a thrilling watch but it’s amazing that we’ve reached this stage of the season and not one side have stamped their authority on the campaign. In bygone years, we’ve had one protagonist and a chasing pack. This year, we have a pack chasing each other’s tails.
After their victory over Man City, the bookmakers installed Arsenal as title favourites. The league is there for the Gunners’ taking. Many believe Leicester’s tilt will eventually run out of steam, Man City are incredibly inconsistent and, well, Man United are in a complete mess.
Of course, Crystal Palace and Tottenham are sniffing around too but when you consider Arsenal’s squad, you could argue this title is their’s to lose – and you wouldn’t bet against it either.
A 4-0 defeat at Southampton was typical Arsenal. They went into the game knowing victory would take them top as the turn of the year approaches yet now more questions have been raised about their title credentials.
It’s anyone’s game….again.
- Ryan Bailey
Foxes handed rare defeat as Benteke takes his chance… then wastes another
You have to go back as far as 25 September to find the last time Leicester City suffered defeat in the Premier League.
Even more impressively, it’s seven months since the Foxes, top of the table going into today’s meeting with Liverpool, failed to score in the English top flight.
At Anfield this afternoon, however, Claudio Ranieri’s side were seriously short of the type of energy and attacking endeavour that has served them so well over the past year — with key pair Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez nowhere near their best.
The Reds were well-deserving of their victory with Christian Benteke finishing off Roberto Firmino’s excellent move just after hour mark.
Benteke was on the field as Divock Origi picked up an injury early on (Jurgen Klopp explained afterwards that: “Hamstring is the shit word of the year for me”), and the Belgian took his goal extremely well but was guilty of missing an absolute sitter before the final whistle.
The performance bodes well for Liverpool ahead of Wednesday’s winnable game against Sunderland, while Leicester may struggle to bounce back against Man City on Tuesday.
- Ben Blake
Oscar slips up to rob Hiddink of a winning return
Life after Jose Mourinho began at Stamford Bridge as Guus Hiddink began his second spell as interim manager with a draw.
Much-maligned for his performances this season, there were encouraging signs from Diego Costa and the striker scored twice — before picking up a yellow card late on meaning he will miss Monday’s clash with Manchester United.
Watford have shown they are more than capable of holding their own since returning to the Premier League and front two Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo again proving their worth with a goal each.
That said, Chelsea should really have come away with three points but for Oscar’s slip while attempting to take a penalty in the dying minutes.
The Blues may be a long way off their best while Man United have real problems of their own, but Monday’s all-Dutch showdown at Old Trafford promises to be an intriguing one.
- Ben Blake
An imminent departure for van Gaal starting to feel inevitable
Today’s loss at Stoke, coupled with defeats by Wolfsburg, Bournemouth and Norwich City, means that for the first time in 54 years, Man United have lost four consecutive competitive matches.
The outcome of today’s game at the Britannia has consequently heaped further pressure on the club’s embattled manager, Louis van Gaal, and the Dutchman even hinted he could leave the club of his own accord, telling reporters after today’s game:
“I am the one who wants to speak first with the board of Manchester United, or with the staff, or with the players, not with you.
“The club doesn’t have to fire or sack me, sometimes I do it by myself.”
Yet regardless of what happens, it is starting to seem like an impossible situation for the Dutch manager.
Crystal Palace’s draw with Bournemouth means United are now in sixth place, above Watford on goal difference, and they were probably flattered by their higher league position in the earlier parts of the season.
And today, Man United’s players looked so listless and out of sorts that it’s hard to imagine them recovering from their current predicament with the 64-year-old Dutchman in charge.
- Paul Fennessy
Harry Kane deserves recent accolades
Some eyebrows were raised when Harry Kane finished 38th in The Guardian’s recent list of the world’s top 100 footballers.
It marks an incredible 12 months for the 22-year-old — when you consider that he only properly broke into the Spurs first team in November 2014, he has only been playing football at this level for just over a year.
The aforementioned list, perhaps surprisingly, had Kane as the only Englishman in the top 50, but in truth, can you think of any of the country’s other players who have had a better 2015 overall?
Jamie Vardy has only really come into form this season, while Wayne Rooney has struggled to recapture past glories and Raheem Sterling is not quite the finished product despite showing plenty of promise.
Against Norwich today, Kane outlined his qualities once more, claiming a brace, and making it 10 goals in his last nine Premier League appearances overall for the prodigious Spurs striker.
- Paul Fennessy
