Sports

Jonathan Cook’s World Game Wrap-Up

Posted on | Posted by Jonathan Cook

Pep’s tinkering pays off

Substitutes Riyad Mahrez and Jack Grealish combined for the only goal of the game as Manchester City beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

The duo was introduced on the hour mark, with Pep Guardiola having already made a double switch at half time.

Both sides struck the woodwork in a tight affair before Grealish crossed low for Mahrez to score from close range just three minutes after their entrance.

The win takes reigning Champions City back within five points of current league leaders Arsenal.

Spoils shared at The Emirates

The hotly anticipated game between Arsenal and Newcastle United ended goalless, meaning the Gunners dropped points at home for the first time this season.

Eddie Howe’s Newcastle defended well and frustrated their opponents in a feisty affair that saw a total of 9 yellow cards handed out.

While Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta bemoaned the lack of at least one penalty for his, their 13 off target shots pointed to an issue beyond the match officials.

Brentford beat the big boys again

Brentford overcame the absence of Ivan Toney and added Liverpool to their list of scalps this season with a 3-1 win at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Having already accounted for both Manchester clubs, the Bees were good value for three points against Liverpool as they bombarded Jurgen Klopp’s side with dangerous set pieces.

An own goal from Ibrahima Konate and Yoane Wissa’s strike put them two goals up at half time before Alex Oxlaide-Chamberlain reduced the Reds’ arrears on 50 minutes.

Bryan Mbeumo sealed the win with six minutes remaining and three points means Brentford now sit in 9th spot.

Lampard’s last stand?

Any good will from the weekend’s draw at Manchester City was undone inside an hour of Everton’s subsequent game against Brighton & Hove Albion.

Japan’s Kaoru Mitoma gave the south coast side the lead early on before three goals in six second half minutes left many exiting Goodison Park early.

Evan Ferguson, Solly March, and Pascal Groß also found the net for Brighton before Demarai Gray’s late penalty got the Toffees on the scoresheet.

Boos rang out at the final whistle with Frank Lampard’s side now in the relegation zone approaching the midway point of the campaign.

Kane at the double for Spurs

Erling Haaland’s goalscoring exploits for Manchester City are getting all the headlines but Harry Kane is having a superb season of his own in front of goal.

The England captain scored twice against Crystal Palace as he helped Tottenham Hotspur to a 4-0 win, all the goals coming after half time.

Kane now has 15 goals to his name in 18 games, putting him on track for his best season tally since he struck 30 times in 2017/18.

Matt Doherty and Son Heung-min got the other goals for Antonio Conte’s side who sit just outside the Champions League places in 5th.

Ten Hag tenure goes from strength to strength

Manchester United rose to the dizzy height of 4th spot thanks to their 3-0 win over Bournemouth, taking Erik Ten Hag’s win percentage to a whooping 72% in his first 25 games in charge.

Summer signing Casemiro has been a big factor in that run of good results, and he opened the scoring at Old Trafford against the Cherries.

Luke Shaw doubled the advantage just after the interval, and Marcus Rashford is back in the good books with yet another goal.

Saints’ slide continues

Southampton parted company with Ralph Hasenhuttl but their fortunes haven’t changed under interim boss Nathan Jones, and they sit bottom of the Premier League.

A 1-0 loss at home to Nottingham Forest is as grim as it gets, especially when the Saints failed to register a single shot on goal. Forest scored with their only effort on target.

They take on Everton, Aston Villa, Brentford, and Wolverhampton Wanderers in their next four league games and that run will go a long way to determining the club’s future in the top flight.

Coming up

Manchester United’s progress will be tested as they host City in the Derby on January 14, while Arsenal and Tottenham go head-to-head in the latest instalment of the North London rivalry a day later. Wolverhampton Wanderers host West Ham United, while Everton go up against Southampton in two huge games at the bottom of the ladder.

Matches: January 12: Fulham v Chelsea. January 13: Aston Villa v Leeds United. January 14: Manchester United v Manchester City; Brighton & Hove Albion v Liverpool; Everton v Southampton; Nottingham Forest v Leicester City; Wolverhampton Wanderers v West Ham United; Brentford v Bournemouth. January 15: Chelsea v Crystal Palace; Newcastle United v Fulham; Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal.




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