Premier League Reload - Matchday 8
Oct 10The Premier League clubs have opted to continue the season despite the rising number of Covid cases among squads depleting the recent fixture lists.
Just four games went ahead last weekend in a heavily depleted Matchday 18, but we hope for far more to get stuck into from the top flight this Boxing Day weekend.
BT TV is once again your go-to for the ability to watch live so read on, or jump to a specific match, for all you need to know.
Premier League decides against break
Premier League clubs have decided to carry on with the fixture list and not take a break despite seeing a number games called off due to Covid cases.
A statement from the Premier League read: “While recognising COVID-19 challenges, League’s collective intention is to continue current fixture schedule where safely possible.
"It was confirmed at a Premier League club meeting that while recognising a number of clubs are experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks and challenges, it is the League’s collective intention to continue the current fixture schedule where safely possible.
"The health and wellbeing of all concerned remains our priority and the League will continue to monitor and reflect public health guidance, always proceeding with caution."
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Sunday 26 December
Tottenham 3-0 Crystal Palace
Lucas Moura scored one and made two more as Tottenham piled on the Boxing Day misery for Crystal Palace with a 3-0 win.
Palace had failed in their attempts to get the game called off after a coronavirus outbreak in their squad, with manager Patrick Vieira one of those affected by a positive test and absent in north London.
And, after the Premier League ruled the game should go ahead, Moura made matters worse with a virtuoso display, setting up goals for Harry Kane and Son Heung-min either side of his own headed effort in the first half.
Wilfried Zaha compounded his side’s woes with a needless red card before the break, leaving Palace to wish their request had been granted.
West Ham 2-3 Southampton
A late goal from Jan Bednarek secured a rare away-day victory for Southampton as West Ham’s slump continued.
Bednarek’s header condemned the Hammers to a 3-2 Premier League defeat, their third straight loss, and earned Saints only their second win on the road this season.
West Ham’s hopes of a place in the top four now look increasingly forlorn after another below-par display at the London Stadium.
Norwich City 0-5 Arsenal
Bukayo Saka scored twice as Arsenal coasted to a 5-0 Boxing Day victory at Norwich to strengthen their hopes of a top-four Premier League finish.
The Gunners have been able to fulfil all of their fixtures of late as others in the table see games postponed due to Covid cases and Mikel Arteta’s side made light work of rock-bottom Norwich at Carrow Road.
Saka scored in both halves, his brace coming either side of a rare Kieran Tierney strike with Alexandre Lacazette winning and converting a late penalty and Emile Smith Rowe striking off the bench as Arsenal outclassed the Canaries, who rarely threatened.
Manchester City 6-3 Leicester
Manchester City held off a dramatic fightback to move six points clear at the top of the Premier League with a breathless 6-3 victory over Leicester.
The free-scoring champions raced into a 4-0 lead inside 25 minutes at the Etihad Stadium but the visitors fought back to 4-3 in a Boxing Day classic at the Etihad Stadium.
It took a further goal from Aymeric Laporte and a late effort from Raheem Sterling, his second of the game, to finally kill off the Foxes’ unlikely comeback.
Aston Villa 1-3 Chelsea
Romelu Lukaku climbed off the bench to inspire Chelsea’s comeback victory as he continued to haunt Aston Villa.
The striker scored his first Premier League goal since a September brace against the same opposition as the visitors came from behind to win 3-1.
Lukaku has now scored nine goals in his last 10 top-flight appearances against Villa and also caused havoc to win a stoppage-time penalty for Jorginho to score his second goal of the game.
Brighton 2-0 Brentford
Neal Maupay struck a stunning goal against his former club as Brighton picked up a first Premier League win in 12 games by beating Brentford 2-0.
Albion top-scorer Maupay – who cost £20million from the Bees in August 2019 – lashed an unstoppable effort into the top right corner just before half-time to light up a below-capacity Amex Stadium.
Leandro Trossard set the Seagulls on course for a first top-flight success in more than three months with an instinctive 34th-minute volley.
Brentford had second-half opportunities to salvage something but were denied by a couple of superb saves from Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, while Marc Cucurella brilliantly cleared an Ethan Pinnock header off the line.
Sunday 27 December
Newcastle 1-1 Manchester United
Edinson Cavani came off the bench to get Manchester United out of jail at Newcastle on a night when they were branded “a bunch of whinge-bags” by former defender Gary Neville.
The Uruguay international’s 71st-minute equaliser at St James’ Park salvaged a 1-1 draw after Allan Saint-Maximin’s early strike had threatened to hand the struggling Magpies just their second Premier League win of the season.
Television pundit Neville delivered a withering half-time verdict on the visitors’ attitude, and had it not been for the woodwork and a stunning late save from David De Gea, they would have headed back across the Pennines empty-handed after their first outing in 16 days.
