Billing and Bournemouth deserve praise
Sometimes, football has to come second. When Tom Lockyer collapsed in the 65th minute of Luton’s game at Bournemouth, the match rightly became a distant afterthought. The Hatters’ official social media post actually apologised to supporters of both teams when announcing the abandonment of the game, but there was no need, such was the understanding shown by every part of the Vitality Stadium. It must have been an incredibly distressing situation for all, and particularly strange for those connected with Bournemouth. Not that you would have known. Praise is deservedly being dished out to Philip Billing, who was the first to dash over to the stricken Lockyer, and to his teammate Dominic Solanke, who was seen calling urgently for medical support. The speed with which they grasped the severity of the situation was commendable and they played a part in getting Lockyer the help he needed. When the game was abandoned, it was with the full support of Bournemouth’s players, staff and supporters. They showed the best of the beautiful game. Dominic Booth
Varane makes case for place in United defence
We are all left to wonder why Erik ten Hag did not play Raphaël Varane for almost two months. He returned in defence against Bayern Munich, a team aiming to win the Champions League, and performed admirably considering his rustiness. The centre-back kept his place for the visit to Anfield to face a team full of attacking verve but, alongside Jonny Evans, kept Liverpool relatively quiet. Varane offers a cool head in tough environments and proved his worth to United. It was the eighth different centre-back pairing to start a game for Ten Hag this season but they looked more comfortable than any other duo who have been slung together. There are rumours Varane may be available for transfer in January but his experience and leadership in tough situations are valuable assets. If this is how he plays after a lengthy spell out without being afforded any minutes, United’s defence will be in a better place if he can get a run in the side. Will Unwin
Match report: Liverpool 0-0 Manchester United
Gabriel and Saliba add steel to Arsenal’s title hopes
Arsenal will be top of the league as the annual festive brouhaha kicks in. Big deal. They were top last Christmas too, and top for 28 of 38 match days. What has changed is the texture of this team. Arsenal are less interesting. This is good. The 2-0 defeat of Brighton was a process of steady wearing away. The key difference is the defence. Gabriel and William Saliba, currently the best pairing in the league, were understatedly secure. The whole team defend with a mania. Only one team since the year 2000, Manchester United in 2012-13, have won the Premier League while conceding more than a goal a game. Last season Arsenal conceded 1.13 per game. So far this season it’s 15 in 17 games, equal fewest with Liverpool. What happens now is a different world to what happens in April when the muscles start to tighten. But in a season of fragility elsewhere, and for all the head scratching over David Raya, it is Arsenal’s defence that should give them hope. Barney Ronay
Match report: Arsenal 2-0 Brighton
Guardiola hopes Saudi trip will do City good
Disappointed with the late penalty conceded by Phil Foden that cost Manchester City victory over Crystal Palace, Pep Guardiola was happier with the overall display and urged his players to forget about the potential gap to the league leaders when they next play in the Premier League – at Everton on 27 December. “Of course, we have to win games to make it depend on ourselves,” he said. “It’s not to think about what they do [City’s competitors] and what would be possible. The performance was really good against Crystal Palace.” City are now in Saudi Arabia for Tuesday’s Club World Cup semi-final against Urawa Red Diamonds in Jeddah. “We love to go to play in the Club World Cup,” Guardiola insisted. To go there you have to win the Champions League. I’m very pleased and excited to try and win it.” Jamie Jackson
Match report: Manchester City 2-2 Crystal Palace
Newcastle injuries ask questions of Howe
Another match, another two Newcastle injuries. This time it was Fabian Schär (glute) and Joelinton (hamstring) heading for a Tyneside treatment room already bursting at the seams. With several casualties suffering soft tissue problems, the moment for a full-scale review – not just of Newcastle’s medical department but also Eddie Howe’s training methods and playing style – has surely arrived. Thanks to a combination of Raúl Jiménez’s early dismissal for a ridiculous karate challenge on Sean Longstaff and the outstanding Lewis Miley’s first senior goal, Newcastle arrested a run of three straight defeats in all competitions. We can expect Marco Silva to receive an FA misconduct charge following a rant about the “inexperienced” referee, Sam Barrott. Fulham’s manager was annoyed the official missed a perceived elbow on Jiménez from Jamaal Lascelles and believed he should have stuck to his original decision to caution the forward rather than upgrade to a red following the video assistant referee’s intervention. Louise Taylor
Match report: Newcastle 3-0 Fulham
Pochettino seeks right man for No 10 role
This was the second time that Mauricio Pochettino has tried Cole Palmer as a No 10 this month. Again, the ploy did not work. Palmer found it difficult to get on the ball during the first half against Sheffield United. He was crowded out and his influence was minimal. He was better after Pochettino shifted him to the right at half-time. Palmer had more space and scored Chelsea’s opening goal after combining with Raheem Sterling. Seven minutes later he popped up again to make Nicolas Jackson’s goal, and Pochettino would later accept the plaudits for the change. Chelsea have struggled against a low block and it is understandable their manager tried to give them a different dimension by switching from a 4-3-3 to 4-2-3-1, with Enzo Fernández on the bench, Conor Gallagher and Moisés Caicedo in midfield and Palmer, Sterling and Mykhailo Mudryk behind Jackson. It remains a work in progress. Jacob Steinberg
Match report: Chelsea 2-0 Sheffield United
Martínez escapes red card amid his red mist
There was a refreshing outbreak of adults in the room as Thomas Frank and Unai Emery reacted to a game that threatened to become known as the Battle of the Gtech. Both managers were probably pre-empting any charges, though, after a game of 10 bookings and two red cards, with coaches also censured. “Today, maybe not good,” said Emery of his Villa team’s behaviour. “We lost a bit of our control.” The visiting manager pointed to provocation from the opposition while admitting his team played their part. “I didn’t like all the incidents, that’s not how the game should be played,” said Frank. “Yes, it’s heated and, yes, there’s emotion and, yes, we want to win, but I didn’t like it.” Emery raced to calm Emi Martínez as the game’s final seconds boiled over, and the keeper escaped a red card. Good thinking. Without Martínez, Brentford would have had the game sewn up. The Argentinian is needed for Villa’s challenges ahead. John Brewin
Match report: Brentford 1-2 Aston Villa
Paquetá benefits from greater freedom
Lucas Paquetá may make David Moyes feel like pulling his hair out at times but the Brazilian showed his class with three brilliant assists against Wolves on Sunday. The 26-year-old dazzled in tandem with Mohammed Kudus in the 3-0 win and the West Ham manager admitted his star player has been given some extra “leeway” to accommodate his talent. “He’s a special player. I’ve not had a huge amount of special players with that amount of talent,” said Moyes. “There’s a bit of leeway we have to give him. As I’ve got a bit older I’ve realised when they have that talent you have to let them flourish. But his work rate as well for the team has been excellent.” Ed Aarons
Match report: West Ham 3-0 Wolves
Dyche adapts to maintain Everton run
It is now four consecutive victories without conceding a goal for Everton, the first time they have enjoyed such a run in 21 years. Sean Dyche might not offer the most exciting brand of football but he certainly knows how to organise a team. Three of last weekend’s back four were missing through injury and suspension, forcing Dyche to adapt to a back five, including the winger Dwight McNeil on the left. Despite the changes, Everton looked comfortable throughout as Burnley managed only two shots on target. The Clarets had 61% possession but it was rarely in the areas that mattered, leaving them to take aim from distance, a situation Jordan Pickford and his colleagues were very happy with. This Everton team are more adaptable than the Burnley squad Dyche managed for nine and a half years but are proving to be equally organised and resolute in defence, giving the Toffees the perfect foundation to build on. WU
Match report: Burnley 0-2 Everton
Bissouma’s absence another blow for Spurs
Ange Postecoglou has had to recast his Tottenham team on a few occasions this season. James Maddison’s ankle injury forced him to tweak his midfield and Micky van de Ven’s hamstring complaint has made him shift full-backs inside to centre-half. Yves Bissouma’s red card leaves another hole, this time at the base of the Spurs midfield. Bissouma will serve a four-match ban because his dismissal in victory at Nottingham Forest was his second of the season. The Mali international may not play again for Spurs until mid-February, depending on when he returns from Africa Cup of Nations duty. Postecoglou has options: Pierre-Emile Højbjerg and Oliver Skipp both came on to take the heat out of the game at the City Ground, but Bissouma’s absence represents another blow. “The guys are having to adapt to learn to play our football without crossing a line, but I love their commitment,” Postecoglou said. “Unfortunately, we paid a price because he obviously misses a big chunk now.” Ben Fisher
Match report: Nottingham Forest 0-2 Tottenham
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 17 | 20 | 39 |
| 2 | Liverpool | 17 | 21 | 38 |
| 3 | Aston Villa | 17 | 16 | 38 |
| 4 | Man City | 17 | 20 | 34 |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur | 17 | 12 | 33 |
| 6 | Newcastle | 17 | 15 | 29 |
| 7 | Man Utd | 17 | -3 | 28 |
| 8 | West Ham | 17 | -1 | 27 |
| 9 | Brighton | 17 | 3 | 26 |
| 10 | Chelsea | 17 | 2 | 22 |
| 11 | Fulham | 17 | -3 | 21 |
| 12 | Brentford | 17 | 0 | 19 |
| 13 | Wolverhampton | 17 | -8 | 19 |
| 14 | AFC Bournemouth | 16 | -9 | 19 |
| 15 | Crystal Palace | 17 | -8 | 17 |
| 16 | Everton | 17 | 2 | 16 |
| 17 | Nottm Forest | 17 | -13 | 14 |
| 18 | Luton | 16 | -15 | 9 |
| 19 | Burnley | 17 | -20 | 8 |
| 20 | Sheff Utd | 17 | -31 | 8 |
