The 2022/23 Premier League season resumed in style with seven Boxing Day matches producing a total of 25 goals following a six-week break for the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar.
Monday’s seven fixtures produced 25 goals, with table-toppers Arsenal showing no signs of letting up by securing a 3-1 win over West Ham.
Southamptom are at bottom of the league following a home defeat and Everton were left in despair after conceding late on at Goodison Park.
Summary of the seven Boxing Day Premier League games; Arsenal go seven points:
- FT: Arsenal 3-1 West Ham – Benrahma penalty opens scoring; Saka, Martinelli & Nketiah put Gunners in control
- FT: Aston Villa 1-3 Liverpool – Salah opens scoring; Van Dijk doubles lead; Watkins pulls one back but Bajcetic adds Reds third
- FT: Crystal Palace 0-3 Fulham – Decordova-Reid, Ream & Mitrovic on target; Mitchell & Tomkins sent off for hosts
- FT Everton 1-2 Wolves – Mina opens scoring; Podence levels & Ait-Nouri with late goal
- FT: Leicester 0-3 Newcastle – early Wood penalty; Almiron & Joelinton for visitors
- FT: Southampton 1-3 Brighton – Lallana, Perraud own goal & March; Ward-Prowse responds
- FT: Brentford 2-2 Spurs – Janelt opens scoring & Toney doubles lead; Kane pulls one back & Hojbjerg levels.
Leaders Arsenal underlined their title credentials with a 3-1 turnaround win over West Ham United, the only recorded home victory on Monday.
Mikel Arteta’s men extended their lead to seven points after coming from behind to defeat the Hammers courtesy of goals from Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Eddie Nketiah.
Bukayo Saka equaled Arsenal legend Thierry Henry’s record after the Gunners came from behind to beat West Ham 3-1 in their Boxing Day fixture.
Saka drew Arsenal level in the 53rd minute after intercepting a low shot from Martin Odegaard before slotting into the bottom corner.
The goal means Saka is the first Arsenal player to score in three successive Boxing Day matches (2020, 2021 and 2022) since Henry (2002, 2003 and 2004).
“Once we got one, we could all feel the atmosphere in the stadium,” said Nketiah. “There is that real unity and connection with the fans.”
Arsenal lie seven points clear of second-placed Newcastle, but Pep Guardiola’s City, who are in third, can claw the deficit back to five points with victory at Leeds on Wednesday (kick-off 20:00 GMT).
“We are here to stay,” said Gunners legend Thierry Henry on Amazon Prime.
With City not playing until Wednesday, Newcastle moved a point above the Premier League champions into second place with an impressive win at Leicester.
The Magpies dominated and went 3-0 up with only 32 minutes on the clock. A Chris Wood penalty, plus goals from Miguel Almiron and Joelinton, made it a day to savour for the travelling fans.
The Newcastle supporters were heard chanting “we’re gonna win the league” but does manager Eddie Howe think the same?
“We can do anything,” said Howe. “The season is still young enough for all possibilities to exist for us.”
There are managers still trying to find their feet with their new clubs in the Premier League and Monday fixtures brought up differing results for Julen Lopetegui, Nathan Jones and Unai Emery.
Lopetegui got off to a dream start after Rayan Ait-Nouri scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner as Wolves came from behind to beat Everton 2-1 at Goodison Park.
The victory for the Spanish boss lifted his side off the bottom of the table and into 18th place, one point behind Frank Lampard’s Toffees.
While Lopetegui soaked up the adulation from the away fans, Southampton boss Nathan Jones – taking charge at St Mary’s Stadium for the first time in the Premier League – had to suffer boos from the home supporters after his Saints were comfortably beaten 3-1 by Brighton.
The relegation scrap has become even harder for Jones as his side now prop up the league table following Wolves’ victory.
Aston Villa failed to bring cheer to Villa Park as Emery experienced his first league defeat as Villa manager after Liverpool picked up a 3-1 away victory.
Lampard said Everton “deserved” to win against Wolves but the fact remains the Toffees are firmly in the relegation fight once again following their disappointing defeat.
Former West Ham striker Carton Cole said on Final Score: “I kind of feel sorry for [Lampard] because he knows what he wants from his team.
“But he needs to brush up and get a bit more stability in midfield – then they can start scoring more goals. Once they do create – which is once in a blue moon – they don’t put it in the goal. That’s where you need a ruthless striker.”
Meanwhile, ex-England striker Dion Dublin told BBC Radio 5 Live that while he is not worried for Lampard yet, “another couple of defeats” and his time at Everton could be up.
Brentford and Tottenham had set the tone for the day with a four-goal thriller in the early kick-off.
Vitaly Janelt and Ivan Toney put the Bees on course for a first win over Spurs since 1948 before Harry Kane launched the fightback in his first match since missing a penalty in England’s 2-1 defeat by France in the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg made it 2-2 with a curling finish – and neither side was able to find a winner, with Kane heading a chance against the crossbar.
“What a game to reopen the Premier League with,” said Brentford boss Thomas Frank, while Spurs boss Antonio Conte added: “It was an exciting game.”
New Premier League referees chief Howard Webb told BBC Sport last week he wants to demystify the refereeing process and to improve the current VAR system.
Monday late evening, game between leaders-Arsenal and strugglers-West Ham, referee Michael Oliver awarded a penalty for William Saliba’s foul on Jarrod Bowen, with Said Benrahma converting from the spot.
Late in the first half, Oliver awarded another penalty for a ‘handball’ by Aaron Cresswell but after consultation with the VAR and watching a replay on the pitch-side monitor, he rightly overturned the original decision as the ball had clearly hit the West Ham full-back in the face.
Two more fixtures will take place on Tuesday; Chelsea face AFC Bournemouth, Manchester United Vs Nottingham Forest.
