Tottenham Hotspur extended Manchester City’s shocking run of losses to five matches across all competitions with a 4-0 victory at the Etihad. It was the second time during City’s losing run that Spurs were on the winning end, the London side having earlier defeated Manchester City in the EFL Cup. An up and down season had seen Spurs lose to newly promoted Ipswich Town before the international break, allowing supporters to fill the dead time with calls for the head of Manager Ange Postecoglou. The Australian manger has at least temporarily quieted those calls with his club’s masterful performance at the home of the defending league champions. Ange Ball was at its peak form in overrunning a Manchester City midfield rendered toothless by the absence of all world player Rodri. James Maddison scored twice for Spurs in a rout which sent Manchester City to a third straight Premier League loss.
Pedro Porro & James Maddison #MCITOT pic.twitter.com/9u7gXGAp0n
— ًًً (@HQwallp) November 23, 2024
The Citizens find themselves eight points behind Liverpool after the Reds defeated surprisingly game Southampton 3-2 on the south coast. Manager Arne Slot’s undefeated league leaders found themselves down 2-1 in the second half before Mohamed Salah placed the world back on its axis with two goals to send the cellar dwelling Saints to a 10th league loss. Liverpool will thus host second place Manchester City next weekend having won seven of eight matches to take control of the title chase. While Liverpool has created separation at the top, only five points separates second place Manchester City from 10th place Newcastle United. Three clubs are locked on 22 points, one behind the Citizens, three clubs are a further three points back on 19 points and two clubs are tied with 18 points.
Chelsea remains third in the table on goal differential over Arsenal after a victory in the Maresca derby at Leicester on Saturday. A rare goal by Enzo Fernandez in the 75th minute gave Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca a victory in his first battle against the Foxes after leading them to promotion last season. Fernandez assisted Chelsea’s first goal by Nicolas Jackson before scoring the winner with his first goal since February in a positive response to Maresca’s calls for the midfielder to become more involved in the club’s attack. Following the defeat, Leicester parted ways with Manager Steve Cooper. The sacking seemed premature for the former Nottingham Forest manager who has had but 12 matches to implement his system. Ownership, however, pushed the panic button as a third loss in four matches dropped the Foxes to within a point of the relegation line.
As Cooper departs, two other Premier League managers made their case to extend their stay over the weekend. Wolverhampton manger Gary O’Neil was nearing the door after his club lost seven of its first eight matches this season to take up residence in the relegation zone. Wolves moved out of that feared space (on goal differential) with a second consecutive victory, defeating Fulham by a decisive 4-1 scoreline at Craven Cottage. Wolves ceded the opening goal to their hosts before scoring four consecutive times, a barrage which included a brace by Matheus Cunha. The suddenly prolific Wolves attack has scored ten goals, half their season total, in a current four match unbeaten run.
West Ham Manager Julen Lopetegui, meanwhile, orchestrated West Ham’s most impressive win of the season in a 2-0 victory at Newcastle. The win moved West Ham to within three points of 10th place Newcastle in a victory sorely need by the Hammers’ new manager who had failed to impress supporters with just three wins, two against current relegation sides, entering Monday’s match.
Nottingham Forest supporters, meanwhile, were thrilled by their club’s early success this season. The Tricky Trees were fooling the entire league as Manager Nuno Espirito Santo’s side, expected to be relegation ramblers this season, had risen all the way to third in the table after ten matches were played. Saturday’s 3-0 loss to Arsenal dropped the Trees to seventh as Forest has conceded six goals across two consecutive losses. Arsenal snapped a three-match winless run in the league to stay nine points behind Liverpool.
Only Liverpool has lost fewer matches than fifth place Brighton after the Seagulls downed Bournemouth 2-1. Brighton scored twice before having to navigate with ten men after a 59th minute red card, successfully holding off the Cherries until a 93rd minute Bournemouth consolation goal.
Bournemouth slipped behind now 12th place Manchester United as the Red Devils drew 1-1 at Ipswich Town in the debut of Manchester United Manager Ruben Amorim. The Portuguese manager has much work to do after the Red Devils failed to score a victory over the newly promoted and currently relegation bound Tractor Boys. An exciting second minute goal by Marcus Rashford was followed by the more typical futility of the Red Devil attack, Amorim’s debut being spoiled when Tractor Boy Omari Hutchinson scored in the 43rd minute. Ipswich Town currently shares the relegation zone with last place Southampton and the more surprising drop candidate, Crystal Palace.
Thanks to a goal and assist by Ismaila Sarr, the Eagles managed what could be a crucial point in their survival fight in a 2-2 final at Aston Villa. It could have been three points but for a 77th minute equalizer for Aston Villa by Premier League veteran Ross Barkley. Despite clawing back for the point, Aston Villa saw its current winless run extended to six matches. Only Southampton has scored fewer goals than Crystal Palace this season while Everton has scored the same paltry 10 goals as the Eagles after 12 matches.
The Toffees, a precarious two points above the drop, ground out a second consecutive goalless draw in their match with Brentford on Saturday. Helping Everton to the point was a 41st minute red card assessed against the Bees which stalled the Brentford attack. Unsurprisingly, Everton was unable to capitalize for a much-needed home win. The frustrated Bees, meanwhile, have yet to win an away match this season.
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