New Delhi: It is the first week of the reverse fixtures in the Premier League as the top flight of English football enters its 20th gameweek. The weekend started with a 2-1 win for Newcastle earlier in the day. Liverpool entered the matchday as table leaders with six points of gap at the top. `With five matches being played at the same time title contenders Chelsea played against Crystal Palace.
After a turnaround in fortunes for Manchester City in their final game from 2024, they hosted West at home in Etihad Stadium. Aston Villa started in the top ten and faced Leicester City at home. Bournemouth faced Everton after a draw in the last game. Table bottom-most team Southampton faced Brentford
Aston Villa 2-1 Leicester City
✚3️⃣ to kickstart 2025 👊#AVLLEI #UpTheVilla pic.twitter.com/K4arKmWJo5
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) January 4, 2025
The first half of the game was closely contested as neither Aston Villa nor Leicester City were able to break the deadlock. Villa were though much more methodical in their approach as Leicester kept losing possession and failed to capitalize when it was needed. There were some small moments of skirmishes as both sides kept getting into the offensive. However, at the end of the first half, neither team managed to create chances.
It was Ross Barkley who opened the scoring in the 58th minute when he made a low drive to the bottom-left corner as Leicester failed to clear the corner. Just five minutes later Stephy Mavididi equalized from Jamie Vardy’s rebound. Villa though kept their cool and waited for their next opportunity. Leon Bailey put Villa ahead from a close range after Ian Maatsen won a brilliant possession moments after entering the pitch.
Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea
A point at Palace.#CFC | #CRYCHE pic.twitter.com/z3hbiTpQgL
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) January 4, 2025
At the conclusion of the first half, Chelsea were ahead as Cole Palmer scored just 15 minutes from kick-off when Sancho fed him the ball inside the box. Crystal Palace had initially defended well against Chelsea’s amazing offensives. Though they attacked Chelsea’s defence frequently it just wasn’t enough for them to convert those into chances. Chelsea too were creating chances but were not able to extend the lead very far.
Palace seemed much more determined in the second half after being goal deficit. They were constantly on the hunt as Chelsea missed quite a few chances again. Palace equalized in the 82nd minute when Jean-Phillipe Mateta received a ball from Eberechi Eze on his right foot and scored from just yards away. As both teams shared points, it was Chelsea who would feel they lost two points today.
Manchester City 4-1 West Ham
FULL-TIME | Starting 2025 with a win! 👊
🩵 4-1 ⚒️ #ManCity | @okx pic.twitter.com/6QLROahKiy
— Manchester City (@ManCity) January 4, 2025
It was Manchester City’s day as they won their first back-to-back game in the league since October. Taking a two-goal advantage at the break against West Ham, their first one came when a shot from Savinho deflected from Vladimir Coufal’s foot in just the tenth minute of the game. They doubled their lead just three minutes before the break when Erling Haaland headed an early cross from Savinho at the far post.
Returning after the break, just 10 minutes after the game resumed, Halaand scored his brace again from Savinho’s assist who slipped from a central position to pass through the lines. Their fourth goal came when Kevin De Bruyne won possession from Mohammed Kudus’s misplaced pass. De Bruyne made a simple pass to Phil Foden who ensured that City scored their fourth goal. Though Niklas Fulkrug did score for the Hammers in the 71st minute, City were too good to leave any loose ends.
Bournemouth 1-0 Everton
Three points ✅
Club record unbeaten PL run ✅
Half-price pizza ✅
UP THE CHERRIES 🍒 pic.twitter.com/GkK5GU5doF
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) January 4, 2025
At the break it was a disappointing goalless draw, however, it was Bournemouth who had created more chances. They kept breaking into the defence and put Everton’s defence under pressure. Everton were always on the back foot in the game as they failed to hit the target with any of the five shots taken before the break.
It was given that a clinical performance in the second half from Bournemouth would be too good for Everton. Jordan Pickford had managed to keep Bournemouth in check for a long time but ultimately the entire defence did fall when in the 77th minute Milos Kerkez made a brilliant cross to the back post where David Brooks met it on the volley and tapped the ball into far corner for Cherries to take their complete three points.
Southampton 0-5 Brentford
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ pic.twitter.com/eeqp3r9AKt
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) January 4, 2025
Kevin Schade scored the opening goal of the goal-fest for Brentford in the sixth minute when he found the back of the net from Mikkel Damsgaard’s brilliant pass behind Southampton’s defence. Aaron Ramsdale did a brilliant job for Southampton as he managed to keep Brentford’s chances in check. At the end of the first half, Southampton were completely written off the competition.
Brentford though went on a scoring spree as they scored four times in the second half, with Bryan Mbuemo scoring a brace in just seven minutes of the game. The first goal came from a well-timed pass from Yoane Wissa, followed by a penalty a few minutes later which had ensured a Brentford win. Mbeumo then assisted Keane Lewis-Potter who stroked a low shot, making it his first goal of the season. The final goal came from Wissa who ensured the through goal gave them a 5-0 win.
Manchester City took home their first back-to-back win in the league since October while Crystal Palace took home a narrow draw from Chelsea in the Premier League. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
