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Despite the constant calls for a winter break, there isn’t too much better in the Premier League than the excitement of the Christmas fixtures, and it showed once again this weekend.
At the top of the table, Liverpool closed in on their first Premier League title with a commanding 4-0 win away at Leicester City. The victory, with probably their finest performance of the season so far, means they now 13 points clear of the Foxes, and it will now take an extraordinary series of events to deny them the title.
The game of matchday 19 came at Molineux, as Wolves came from two goals down to beat Manchester City 3-2 in an enthralling contest, with Matt Doherty firing home a late winner.
Just behind them, it was another difficult week for Chelsea, as their poor home form continued. They were beaten 2-0 by Southampton, their second consecutive home loss after their 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth, as the Saints moved a step further away from the relegation zone.
There were differing fortunes for the league’s new managers. Carlo Ancelotti’s reign at Everton got underway with a 1-0 win over Burnley, while Mikel Arteta’s first game in charge of Arsenal ended in a 1-1 draw against Bournemouth.
Here is the Premier League team of the week from matchday 19.
Ben Foster (Watford)
Watford’s season certainly hasn’t gone well so far. They started poorly, and were going into Christmas under the management of Nigel Pearson, with Javi Gracia and Quique Sanchez Flores already having been sacked. There has been a slight upturn in form over the last week though. First, they beat Manchester United at Vicarage Road, and on Boxing Day, picked up a vital point at Sheffield United. They owe a lot to Ben Foster for gaining that point though, as the goalkeeper made fine saves from Oli McBurnie and John Fleck to keep the game at 1-1.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
It isn’t often that your best passer of the ball plays at right-back, but that is most certainly the case in this Liverpool side. Trent Alexander-Arnold was at his brilliant best for the Reds on Thursday, almost running the show as they ran riot at the King Power Stadium. The 21-year-old scored one and provided two assists in a stunning performance, that helped move Liverpool a step nearer that elusive Premier League title.
Ben Mee (Burnley)
All of Burnley’s success since their promotion to the Premier League has been built on a solid defence. They may not be the most fashionable side, but the team that Sean Dyche has built certainly gets results. Therefore, it may be surprising to see a Burnley defender in the team of the week when the Clarets were beaten. Yet, it would have been harsh to leave Ben Mee out after such a good performance against Everton. He won almost everything in the air, and didn’t really deserve to be on the losing side.
Jack Stephens (Southampton)
There seems to have been a real upturn in Southampton’s performances, since their 9-0 defeat at the hands of Leicester City. The team appears to be a much tighter unit, and they appear to be much more committed to the cause. The Boxing Day win over Chelsea could be massive come the end of the season, and Jack Stephens was right at the heart of things, keeping the dangerous Tammy Abraham quiet all afternoon.
Adama Traore (Wolves)
What a change we have seen in Adama Traore since the start of the season. He used to be like a Ferrari without a driver, with all the pace in the world, but no final product to go with it. This season, he looks like a man reborn. He still has the pace and skill to beat his man, but he now has the final pass as well. He showed this against Manchester City, scoring from range to reduce the deficit, before setting up Raul Jimenez for the equaliser. If he keeps this form up, he could have some big clubs coming after him in the summer.
James Ward-Prowse (Southampton)
Southampton’s more defensive approach at Chelsea saw a change of roles for a number of players in the side. One such player was James Ward-Prowse, who put in a more industrial display at Stamford Bridge. He was all over the pitch, and was a constant thorn in Chelsea’s midfield, as they denied the Blues any chance to get the ball down and play.
Lucas Torreira (Arsenal)
It was interesting to see how Arsenal would line-up against Bournemouth in Mikel Arteta’s first game in charge of the north London club. There were some subtle changes in the midfield, but they still looked suspect at the back, and that is something Arteta will need to address. One man who he can rely on though is Lucas Torreira, who was at his best on Boxing Day, breaking up the play constantly, something Arsenal have really lacked in recent times.
Dele Alli (Tottenham)
Although there are clearly still some problems that Jose Mourinho has to solve at Tottenham, but one thing that he really has fixed is the form of Dele Alli. The Englishman appears to be much closer to his best, and showed it once more at home to Brighton on Boxing Day. He linked up well with Harry Kane for much of the afternoon, and scored a superb winning goal, his fifth strike in all competitions since Mourinho took over the club in November.
Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace)
Crystal Palace have been quietly climbing up the table in recent weeks, and now find themselves in ninth position, just outside of the European places. But the most notable incident from their win over West Ham was the winner scored by Jordan Ayew, one of the goals of the season so far. In the final minute, he took the ball on the edge of the area, went past Declan Rice, Angelo Ogbonna and Fabian Balbuena, and chipped the ball beyond Roberto into the net. It was a real moment of magic, and certainly something that could help give Crystal Palace momentum.
Michael Obafemi (Southampton)
The third Southampton player in the team of the week, and it simply highlights how well the Saints played at Stamford Bridge. Their opening goal was scored by Michael Obafemi, who produced an individual moment of brilliance to put his side ahead. It was a clinical finish from the striker, who took the one real chance he got all game.
Anthony Martial (Manchester United)
It is almost frustrating to see Anthony Martial play so well for Manchester United because it makes you wonder why he can’t play at that level more often. The Frenchman was a constant threat down the left side against Newcastle United, and was clinical in front of goal, scoring twice. If he finds that consistency, he could be vital to United’s challenge for a top four place.
Roberto Firmino of Liverpool also makes a strong case for himself to be included in the team, having scored twice against Leicester City on Boxing Day.
