Liverpool are nine points clear at the top of the Premier League, and crucially 11 ahead of Manchester City after beating Pep Guardiola’s Sky Blues 2-0 at Anfield.
A Mo Salah master-class won the day for Arne Slot’s Reds and, on the 1st December, it feels like Manchester City’s title race may already be run. At the end of this match, if City had won, the gap could have been as little as five points but even Real Madrid couldn’t stop Liverpool’s perfect start in the Champions League and the reigning league champions never looked likely to do any better.
The Reds simply battered the Sky Blues in the opening exchanges, and when Mo Salah sliced open the visitors’ defence Cody Gakpo had a simple tap in at the far post. And the only real surprise of the first half, apart from just how toothless City were, was that Liverpool went into the break with just the one goal in the bank. The Kop did become edgy in the second half as Manchester City began to control possession; but when Luis Diaz broke through and was wiped out by keeper Stefan Ortega, Salah had a chance from the penalty spot. And the Egyptian hero was coolness personified as he steered the ball just out of the reach or Ortega and into the bottom right corner.
This title is now Liverpool’s to lose.
Elsewhere, in the three Sunday lunchtime fixtures there were wins for Chelsea and Manchester United while Tottenham drew 1-1 with Fulham.
Nicolas Jackson rather unfairly had a name for missing chances last season but this term he’s taking them clinically, as he did on six minutes to fire Chelsea ahead of Aston Villa with his eighth of the campaign. Enzo Fernandez made it two goals in two games when he finished off a brilliant flowing move before half time. The second half at Stamford Bridge was quieter but the roof came off the stadium when Cole Palmer curled a beauty in to make it 3-0.
The latest Premier League 2024 betting odds say they are fourth favourites to win the title but the Blues have their sights set higher.
Marcus Rashford’s improved form under Ruben Amorin continued as he scored twice for Manchester United against struggling Everton on Sunday. And the new manager seems to be making an impact on the underperformers as Joshua Zirkzee scored for the fist time since the opening game of the season and his brace made it 4-0.
Now that is a new manager bounce!
This SBOTOP writer expected goals when Spurs met Fulham on Sunday but, you’ve guessed it; both teams hit the woodwork but this was the only 1-30 kick-off to be goalless at the break! Brennan Johnson broke the deadlock early in the second half before Tom Cairney levelled for the Cottagers with a sweet strike.
Gunners only need 45 minutes
Arsenal headlined on Saturday with a first half blitz to blow West Ham United away 5-2 at the London Stadium. Mikel Arteta insisted his team could overhaul a nine point gap at the top of the table and they reduced the deficit to six as the Hammers fell apart under the Gunners’ fire.
All seven goals came in the first half, and the deluge was started by Arsenal centre back Gabriel who headed in from a Bukayo Saka corner. It was the Brazilian’s fourth of the campaign to underline Arsenal’s brilliance from dead ball situations. England winger Saka was involved in the build up again as Leandro Trossard made it 2-0 and then he won the penalty which Martin Odegaard converted on the half hour. It’s no coincidence that Arsenal’s revival started when their captain returned from injury and Odegaard’s ability to link up the attacking play can make Arsenal’s attack irresistible.
Kai Havertz broke through to make it four but then the ugly mood among the home fans brightened briefly when Aaron Wan Bissaka finished cleverly to make it 4-1 and Emerson Palmieri fired home a pearl of a free-kick, in off the crossbar. But any chance of a West Ham fight-back ended when Lukasz Fabianski impeded Gabriel and this time Saka stroked home the penalty.
This five star performance made it 13 goals from three games from the resurgent Gunners who look ready to re-launch their title challenge.
Kluivert is the Cherries’ spot kick king
Bournemouth stunned Wolves with a 4-2 win at Molineux as two Premier League records were broken by the Cherries. Dutch forward Justin Kluivert became the first player to score a hat-trick of penalties while Brazil striker Evanilson became the first to win three spot-kicks in one game. Bournemouth were 3-1 up with just a quarter of an hour on the clock. Kluivert converted his first penalty on 2 minutes after Toti Gomes had fouled Evanilson. Jorgen Strand Larsen levelled soon after but Milos Kerkez restored the Cherries lead before the Evanilson/Kluivert combo struck again.
Larsen halved the deficit midway through the second half but Bournemouth’s lethal duo made history, with 15 minutes to go, and the game was up.
In other Premier League 2024 news Leicester City’s new boss Ruud van Nistelrooy watched on as the Foxes suffered a nasty sting, losing 4-1 to Brentford. And on Friday night Southampton were denied a second win of the season as a bizarre VAR decision cancelled out a Cameron Archer goal and the game against Brighton ended 1-1. Meanwhile that man Chris Wood scored to give Nottingham Forest a 1-0 win over Ipswich Town and Crystal Palace snatched an injury time leveller to draw 1-1 with Newcastle United.
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