“December in English football is the hardest month ever,” Jurgen Klopp, former Liverpool coach, said on more than one occasion.
It was “get through it and get the results.” Premier League The winner's sage advice for the holiday period is, “Then just keep your head up and go from there.”
The explosion of matches either side of Christmas Day has seen countless top players killed over the years, points dropped and players lost to injury. This year's flagship package has impressed again, with all three ArsenalLiverpool and Chelsea failed to record perfect records during this period.
As always, some made it through the festive fixture list more smoothly than others.
Only two teams won all four of their Premier League matches between mid-December and the first week of January; Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest.
Not only do Forest have an error-free record, they have not conceded a goal since 14 December. Nuno Espirito Santo's side ended a perfect Christmas period with a resounding 3-0 win over former employers Wolves on Monday evening. This beautiful victory was also the 50th anniversary of Brian Clough's appointment at the City Ground – yet Forest's current run of six successive Premier League victories in a single season was a feat not even achieved by Nuno's legendary predecessor.
Newcastle conceded just one goal, beating Ipswich Town, Aston Villa and Manchester United before coming from behind. Against Tottenham Hotspur During the weekend.
|
Rank |
a team |
points |
|---|---|---|
|
1. |
Newcastle |
12 |
|
2. |
Nottingham Forest |
12 |
|
3. |
Liverpool |
10 |
|
4. |
Arsenal |
10 |
|
5. |
Bournemouth |
8 |
|
6. |
Manchester City |
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 United |
1 |
|
19. |
Southampton |
1 |
|
20. |
Leicester |
0 |
LiverpoolTheir lead at the top of the Premier League remains as intact as it was before the winter break though 2-2 draw with United Sunday. Arsenal Arne Slott's side were unable to capitalize on a rare slip by Arne Slott, as an injury-hit Arsenal clung to goal difference. Draw with Brighton.
Tottenham and Manchester United They find themselves at the other end of the model table. Two members of the traditional elite managed to collect the most points Southampton – One. Chelsea The team didn't fare much better, conceding a pair of draws and defeats during a theoretically clear schedule against Everton (16th in the table), Fulham (9th), Ipswich (18th) and Crystal Palace (15th).
The only club that failed to collect a single point during this period was… Leicester City. With new manager Ruud van Nistelrooy consigned to the distant memory, the Foxes scored ten goals and 54 shots in four matches. The Dutch manager's mid-season decision to change the goalkeeper, dropping veteran Danny Ward in favor of new signing Jakub Stolarczyk, did not pay off.
Leicester's results may have been as bleak as the weather, but they tested Liverpool and they capitulated Manchester City that Intimidating God Almighty. Pep Guardiola's side have slowed their perilous late slide, recording back-to-back wins against the Foxes and West Ham that have been cathartic but not entirely convincing.
However, as Klopp was very keen to point out, festive football in England is about points, not performance.
