New Delhi: Matchday 16 of the Premier League delivered drama, goals, and late twists across the board. Manchester United stole the spotlight with a thrilling 2-1 comeback victory over Manchester City at the Etihad, inspired by a sensational Amad Diallo performance. City, who led through Josko Gvardiol’s header, were stunned by United’s late resurgence as Bruno Fernandes and Amad turned the derby.
Tottenham ruthlessly dismantled Southampton at St Mary’s, scoring five in a blistering first half to leave the Saints rooted to the bottom of the table. Meanwhile, Chelsea kept their quiet title charge alive with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Brentford, though Marc Cucurella’s red card post-match added a sour note.
Elsewhere, Crystal Palace came out on top in a feisty clash with Brighton, securing a crucial win in the M23 derby. The latest results keep the title race and relegation battle alive with plenty of intrigue.
Manchester City 1-2 Manchester United
MANCHESTER. IS. RED. 🔴#MUFC || #MCIMUN
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 15, 2024
Amad Diallo was the star as Manchester United pulled off a stunning late comeback to beat Manchester City 2-1 in a thrilling derby at the Etihad Stadium. City looked set for a crucial win after Josko Gvardiol’s first-half header gave them control, but United had other ideas.
City started brightly, keeping the ball well, but struggled to create real chances. Their breakthrough came in the 36th minute when Gvardiol rose highest to head in Kevin De Bruyne’s cross. Despite the equaliser, the home side seemed unsettled, allowing Manchester United to dominate proceedings after the interval.
Amad, who had already tested Ederson with a header, stepped up when it mattered. In the 88th minute, he won a penalty after being fouled by Matheus Nunes. Bruno Fernandes stepped up confidently and slotted the penalty to bring the match level.
Just minutes later, Amad latched onto Lisandro Martinez’s long ball, took a brilliant touch past Ederson, and slotted home from a tight angle.
The dramatic win ended United’s two-game losing streak and gave Ruben Amorim a huge boost. City, on the other hand, were left frustrated, slipping further behind in the title race. It was a moment to savour for United fans, who will hope this sparks a turnaround in their season.
Southampton 0-5 Tottenham
A five-star display ⭐ pic.twitter.com/ZaE7CS5ynE
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) December 15, 2024
Southampton endured another humiliating Premier League evening as Tottenham cruised to a dominant 5-0 victory at St Mary’s, leaving the Saints rooted to the bottom of the table. A disastrous first half saw Russell Martin’s side concede four goals within the opening 25 minutes, triggering widespread boos and an early exodus from frustrated fans.
James Maddison set the tone with a goal just 36 seconds in, capitalising on a lacklustre Southampton midfield. Moments later, Heung-Min Son added to the Saints’ misery after Jan Bednarek’s poor header gifted him an easy chance. Spurs kept up the pressure, with Son turning provider for Dejan Kulusevski to make it three.
Pape Sarr then pounced on shambolic defending to net Tottenham’s fourth, making Premier League history for their fastest four-goal lead.
The fifth came before half-time, with Maddison squeezing in a brilliant strike from a tight angle. Martin, visibly dejected, walked down the tunnel early, missing the home crowd’s jeers. Southampton’s players looked bereft of ideas, managing only a disallowed goal late on as their struggles deepened.
Tottenham eased off after the break, conserving energy for their upcoming Carabao Cup clash. For Southampton, however, this was another reminder of their steep struggles, as they now sit nine points adrift of safety with the spectre of relegation looming large.
Chelsea 2-1 Brentford
Five #PL wins in a row! 🔵#CFC | #CHEBRE pic.twitter.com/lwwr2yVyee
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 15, 2024
Chelsea secured an important 2-1 victory over Brentford at Stamford Bridge, keeping their title ambitions quietly alive. Goals from Marc Cucurella and Nicolas Jackson proved decisive, though the evening ended with drama as Cucurella saw red after the final whistle.
Chelsea entered the game with confidence, knowing Arsenal and Liverpool had dropped points earlier. Enzo Maresca’s side started aggressively, pinning Brentford back and creating several chances. Nicolas Jackson, lively throughout, tested Mark Flekken early, while Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez forced further saves. Brentford’s defence held firm, with Ethan Pinnock making crucial interventions to keep the hosts at bay.
The breakthrough came just before half-time. Noni Madueke’s precise cross found Cucurella, who powered a header past Flekken. The left-back’s energy and defensive work embodied Chelsea’s resurgence under Maresca. Brentford fought back, with Christian Norgaard and Fabio Carvalho coming close, but Robert Sanchez stood tall with key saves.
As Brentford pushed forward, Chelsea capitalised on the counter. Jackson’s clinical strike doubled the lead, sending Stamford Bridge into celebration. Though Bryan Mbeumo’s late goal added tension, Chelsea’s resilience secured the points. Cucurella’s post-match dismissal, however, cast a shadow over an otherwise positive evening.
Other results
Brighton 1-3 Crystal Palace
Amad Diallo inspired Manchester United’s stunning late comeback to beat Manchester City 2-1 in a thrilling Etihad derby. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
