Manchester City led the model in a bumper Boxing Day design feast within the Premier League on Sunday (December 26) with a 6-3 put off over Leicester City sending them six parts obvious on the tip of the standings. The opening five games of the COVID-19 impacted festive programme delivered 26 goals with Arsenal romping to a 5-0 put off away to backside membership Norwich City and Chelsea enjoying a 3-1 put off at Aston Villa.
Tottenham Hotspur beat Crystal Palace 3-0 whereas Southampton enjoyed a surprise 3-2 put off at West Ham United. Pep Guardiola’s City are on 47 parts with Liverpool, whose match against Leeds United used to be called off ensuing from COVID-19 cases within the Yorkshire crew, on 41 parts.
Third-positioned Chelsea are also on 41 parts, whereas Arsenal switch as much as fourth save on 35 parts. City got off to a flying commence, grabbing a fifth-minute lead by Belgian midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, forward of a Riyad Mahrez penalty effect the hosts as much as speed 9 minutes later.
Watch highlights of Manchester City’s thrilling put off right here…
The simpler of the motion from a breathless stumble on on the Etihad! #ManCity pic.twitter.com/Jar7fzL0Dg
— Manchester City (@ManCity) December 26, 2021
Issues went from wicked to worse for a weakened Leicester aspect with Ilkay Gundogan and one more penalty, converted by Raheem Sterling, giving the hosts a four-design lead inner 25 minutes. Despite having a search for dull and buried, though, Leicester stormed help within the 2nd half as goals from James Maddison, Ademola Lookman and Kelechi Iheanacho threatened to derail the league leaders.
But Aymeric Laporte’s 69th-minute header and Sterling’s leisurely 2nd took the champions over the line. Arsenal’s fourth straight put off came in convincing model at Carrow Avenue with Mikel Arteta’s aspect taking a sixth minute lead by Bukayo Saka who done off a fine, flowing switch.
Kieran Tierney doubled the lead glorious forward of the damage with Martin Odegaard offering the killer scoot for the Scotland left help, who struck a low shot into the rep. England forward Saka grabbed Arsenal’s third within the 67th minute with one more low strike forward of Alexandre Lacazette used to be fouled within the box and got as much as stroke home the advise kick within the 84th.
Substitute Emile Smith Rowe wrapped up the put off with a easy faucet-in for the length of stoppage time. Chelsea fell within the help of at Villa when a Matt Targett corrupt flew in off the head of defender Reece James nevertheless Jorginho introduced Thomas Tuchel’s aspect level from the advise glorious forward of the damage.
Romelu Lukaku, a halftime exchange, effect Chelsea forward with a fine glancing header from a Callum Hudson-Odoi corrupt and then in stoppage time he used to be introduced down by Ezri Konsa and Jorginho again made no mistake from the advise.
Spurs stretched their unbeaten Premier League speed below contemporary supervisor Antonio Conte to six games ensuing from a solid veil against a Palace aspect lowered to ten men for the 2nd half. Lucas Moura created goals for Harry Kane and Son Heung-min and bagged one himself as Tottenham with ease beat a Palace crew for whom supervisor Patrick Vieira overlooked the game thanks to a favorable COVID-19 take a look at.
Palace had winger Wilfried Zaha used to be despatched off within the 37th minute nevertheless by that time Spurs were already smartly on high. Harry Kane had swept within the opener from Moura`s scoot forward of Moura himself headed the 2nd.
Son wrapped up the put off along with his aspect’s third from shut range within the 74th minute. James Ward-Prowse scored one and created one more as Southampton took three parts from their discuss over with to London Stadium against a West Ham aspect which beget long previous five games with out a put off.
Southampton took the lead after eight minutes by Mohamed Elyounoussi nevertheless exchange Michail Antonio levelled for the Hammers within the 49th minute. Ward-Prowse restored the away aspect`s advantage from the advise within the 61st minute, glorious for West Ham’s Stated Benrahma to restore parity.
Jan Bednarek secured the first put off since November 5 for the Saints within the 70th minute after deftly handing over a curling free kick from Ward-Prowse. Within the day’s leisurely fixture Brighton & Hove Albion ended an 11-game winless speed as they beat Brentford 2-0 to switch ninth – Leandro Trossard and Neal Maupay were heading within the correct direction forward of halftime.
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Watford and Burnley v Everton were also postponed ensuing from COVID outbreaks.
(with Reuters inputs)
