Manchester United’s Rasmus Hojlund celebrates scoring the facet’s third purpose through the English Premier League match in opposition to Aston Villa on the Old Trafford stadium on December 26, 2023
| Photo Credit: AP
Liverpool moved again to the highest of the Premier League with a 2-0 victory at struggling Burnley on Tuesday as Manchester United gave their followers some Boxing Day cheer by rallying to beat Aston Villa 3-2.
There was little festive pleasure for Newcastle United although as they suffered a shock 3-1 dwelling defeat by Nottingham Forest for whom Chris Wood scored a hat-trick.
Luton Town received the day’s large relegation battle — beating Sheffield United 3-2 thanks to two personal targets — whereas form-team Bournemouth received once more to attain the highest half of the desk.
Liverpool have now received all six of their Premier League video games on Boxing Day underneath Juergen Klopp and whereas three factors at all times appeared possible in opposition to Burnley, it was not till substitute Diogo Jota’s Ninetieth-minute purpose that the factors have been sealed.
Darwin Nunez’s precision end after six minutes gave Liverpool a flying begin — his first Premier League purpose for nearly two months. Liverpool had targets by Cody Gakpo and Harvey Elliott dominated out after VAR checks and Mohamed Salah rattled the crossbar because the guests dominated.
But Nineteenth-placed Burnley rallied within the second half and there was a way of reduction for Klopp when a sweeping transfer ended with Jota slotting in from a decent angle late on.
Liverpool overtook Arsenal to transfer into first place with 42 factors from 19 video games. Arsenal are on 40 forward of their London derby with West Ham United on Thursday.
“Whatever the outside world thinks, it is really intense — and coming here and playing the game we played is absolutely exceptional,” Klopp advised reporters.
“It’s exceptional as well that we didn’t score more goals… actually, we did but for different reasons they took them away.”
On hitting the highest, Klopp mentioned: “42 points, that’s really pleasing, to be honest. That’s really cool because the first part of the season (is) done and it was absolutely alright what we did. Not perfect but it was alright.”
Hojlund scores winner
Manchester United turned halftime boos right into a fulltime ovation at Old Trafford as they got here again from two targets down to hand third-placed Villa their first loss in 11 video games in all competitions.
Alejandro Garnacho scored a brace to cancel out first-half targets from John McGinn and Leander Dendoncker earlier than Rasmus Hojlund clinched the winner together with his first Premier League purpose within the 82nd minute.
“I said it before the game, I said it during halftime, keep believing and we will win this game,” mentioned United supervisor Erik ten Hag, whose workforce moved up to sixth place.
Newcastle’s punishing schedule and harm checklist seems to be coming dwelling to roost as they misplaced for the fifth time in seven video games in all competitions.
Wood solely managed 5 Premier League targets for Newcastle throughout his time on Tyneside however returned to hang-out his previous membership and safe an enormous three factors for Forest.
Forest’s first win underneath new coach Nuno Espirito Santo lifted them to sixteenth within the standings on 17 factors, 5 above the relegation zone, whereas Newcastle’s fourth defeat of their final 5 league video games left them eighth on 29 factors.
Newcastle took the lead within the twenty third minute when Alexander Isak stroked dwelling a penalty he had earned.
Wood, who was loaned to Forest by Newcastle in January earlier than being signed completely, levelled simply earlier than the break with a close-range tap-in from Anthony Elanga’s move.
A counter-attack within the 53rd minute ended with Wood dinking an outstanding end over Martin Dubravka. The New Zealand worldwide accomplished his hat-trick on the hour mark when he rounded Dubravka and slotted dwelling.
In the basement battle Jack Robinson and Anis Ben Slimane scored personal targets within the remaining 13 minutes as Sheffield United let a late lead slip to lose 3-2 at Luton, who are actually only one level behind Seventeenth-placed Everton.
Alfie Doughty had given Luton the lead however targets by Oli McBurnie and Anel Ahmedhodzic turned the sport on its head.
But Robinson flicked a cross into his personal web and Slimane deflected a shot previous his goalkeeper.
Bournemouth moved into the highest half as targets by Justin Kluivert, Dominic Solanke and Luis Sinisterra earned them a 3-0 victory over Fulham.
