Boxing Day action saw Chelsea beat a resilient Bournemouth side handsomely to extend their winning run to a club-record 12 games. There were no major upsets as Manchester City and Manchester United convincingly beat Hull and Sunderland respectively.
Arsenal were saved the blushes against West Brom, courtesy a late winner from Olivier Giroud; Liverpool came back from a goal down to see off Stoke 4-1 in a thrilling encounter at Anfield to keep their second place in the table.
Also read: SK Power Ranking: Top 10 EPL attackers - Gameweek 18
Leicester’s fortress was breached as Everton subjected them to a loss at the King Power whereas Burnley escaped unscathed at Turf Moor against a resurgent Middlesbrough. West Ham routed Swansea City 4-1 at the Liberty Stadium and Spurs beat Southampton by the same score-line, but Palace conceded a needless penalty to allow Watford to snatch a point at Vicarage road.
In this article, we take a look at the best / worst performances, along with players and moments that proved to be turning points in a game.
#1 Best goal: Fabio Borini
Match: Manchester United vs. Sunderland
United were leading by 3 goals and the game was put to bed but Fabio Borini, who had been on the prowl all game, ensured that the home side did not keep a clean sheet.
A cross into the penalty area from Jason Denayer was headed out by Marcos Rojo; the ball bounced twice in front of Borini who volleyed it into the far corner over a host of players including David de Gea.
It was a cracker of a strike and our pick of the week, but one that came too late for the Black Cats to gain anything from it.
Honourable mentions: Pedro (vs. AFC Bournemouth), Andy Carroll (vs. Swansea), Adam Lallana (vs. Stoke City)
Note: Henrikh Mkhitaryan scored a beauty but was offside by a considerable margin; although the goal stood, we see it inappropriate to consider it among the best, given video evidence.
#2 Defensive bedrock: Ben Foster
Match: Arsenal vs. West Bromwich Albion
Ben Foster kept out Arsenal for most of the game through superb saves, including a double from Alex Iwobi and Alexis Sanchez. If Brom had managed to nick a point from the outing, Foster would have to be the man Pulis owed it to, more than anyone else.
The visitors’ goalkeeper was exceptional throughout, denying Sanchez thrice during the course of the game besides keeping out shots from Iwobi, Giroud and Aaron Ramsey. He was watchful and attentive as Arsenal’s attack came in waves and from all angles and places.
There was nothing the Englishman could do about Giroud’s glanced curling header which kissed the top corner of the net; West Brom certainly owe their keeper big-time, for keeping them in the game right until the very end.
Honourable mentions: Ben Mee (vs. Middlesbrough), Ashley Williams (vs. Leicester), Gary Cahill (vs. Bournemouth), Bacary Sagna (vs. Hull City)
#3 Standout player(s)
(a) Eden Hazard
Match: Chelsea vs. AFC Bournemouth
Every attacking move was initiated, orchestrated or went through the Belgian on Monday. Eden Hazard toyed with the Bournemouth defenders and was at his creative best throughout.
His quick feet and passing range were a sight to behold, last season’s form seeming an increasingly distant blip at the moment. He may have only scored a penalty but it always looked likely that Chelsea were going to get one, given how effective and unplayable Hazard was in the six-yard box.
He won the penalty, scored off it and it was through his vision that the other goals and attacking opportunities came about; undoubtedly one of our standout players of the game-week.
(b) Paul Pogba
Match: Manchester United vs. Sunderland
Unlike Hazard, Pogba did not get onto the scoresheet at all but to ignore his performance would be criminal oversight. Zlatan may have scored two goals and assisted one, but those who watched the game would know that the 90 minutes belonged to Pogba.
The Frenchman was menacing, direct and at the heart of everything Manchester United did going forward; his passes were excellent and he had an assist to boot. The midfielder was unlucky not to score, his performance certainly worthy of one. He struck the inside of the post powerfully but the ball ricocheted off.
A man-of-the-match performance earns him a place on our list.
Honourable mentions: Yaya Toure (vs. Hull City), Andy Carroll (vs. Swansea City), Ben Foster (vs. Arsenal), Adam Lallana (vs. Stoke City), Dele Alli (vs. Southampton)
#4 Best team performance: Chelsea
Relentless, flawless, mesmerising – Antonio Conte’s Chelsea have been consistent and brilliant to watch after a few initial hiccups. Their Boxing Day performance was another showcase of intelligent link-up play, fine finishing and resolute defending.
It is noteworthy to mention that chief tormentors of the opposition – Diego Costa and N’Golo Kante – were out through suspension. However, that did nothing to curb the Blues as Hazard and Pedro, along with Fabregas effectively shimmied and dribbled around the Cherries’ defence to create space at will.
Chelsea’s 12th straight win – a club record – consolidates their position at the top of the league, almost midway through the campaign. It is also evidence of the strength of the team (and the bench), that the league’s top scorer’s absence was simply shrugged off while his replacement was able, effective and made a mark.
Honourable mentions: Manchester United, Liverpool, West Ham
#5 Worst / most ineffective player(s)
(a) Mike van der Hoorn
Match: Swansea City vs. West Ham
The Swans defender was inept and ineffective at keeping Andy Carroll at bay. The West Ham striker had no trouble getting past Hoorn throughout the course of the game. Angel Rangel had to play in his position and also cover for der Hoorn who kept straying away from his man and was out of position all the time.
The centre-back could and should have done better in marking Carroll and checking his influence on the game but did neither on a day when the former Liverpool man scored one and assisted another.
(b) Victor Valdes
Match: Burnley vs. Middlesbrough
Valdes quite literally cost Boro the game in a relatively evenly-matched contest at the Turf Moor.
Andre Gray’s shot was undoubtedly powerful but with no other threat in sight, Valdes managed to parry the ball into the goal instead of away from it. This despite managing to get a hand on it.
Surely players have done worse than an accidental mess-up but the Spaniard’s blunder came at a heavy cost for Boro.
Honourable mentions: Simon Francis and Adam Smith (vs. Chelsea), Didier Ndong (vs. Manchester United), Islam Slimani (vs. Everton), Andy Robertson (vs. Manchester City)
#6 Unlucky miss(es)
(a) Paul Pogba
Match: Manchester United vs. Sunderland
Zlatan and Mata combined well before passing the ball to Jesse Lingard who set up Paul Pogba for a shot from just outside the box. The Frenchman struck powerfully - and Pickford was beaten - but was extremely unlucky as the ball came off the inside of the post with a resounding thump.
(b) Kevin De Bruyne
Match: Hull City vs. Manchester City
A defence-splitting pass from the excellent Yaya Toure caught Silva on the run; Silva in turn passed the ball to De Bruyne before Gael Clichy also got involved in the action on the left. Clichy then found the Belgian on the edge of the penalty area but the latter’s shot came off the bottom of the post.
(c) Alexis Sanchez
Match: Arsenal vs. West Brom
Mesut Ozil’s corner did not find its intended target – Giroud - in the six-yard box.
In the melee that ensued after a couple of players from both sides fell, Sanchez recovered the ball and shot from a relatively tight angle but the post came in the way (again!)
#7 Controversial decisions
(a) Lamine Kone of Sunderland was highly fortunate to not concede a penalty after what appeared to be a blatant foul on Juan Mata. The Spaniard only had eyes for the aerial ball but Kone not so much. He shoulder-challenged Mata but referee Martin Atkinson waved play on, considering it to be probably just another 50-50.
(b) Craig Pawson continued his questionable performance with 11 bookings (yes, you read that right!) at Turf Moor, in what was not even a remotely temperamental fixture.
(c) Mike Dean sent off Nathan Redmond in what appears to be a harsh call during the fixture against Spurs. The referee awarded Spurs a penalty for Redmond’s ‘pull’ on Alli; the Saints striker’s offence should have been punished where it was first committed – outside the box. Instead, Dean chose to play advantage (which is fair, of course) and took his own time to send off Redmond.
Point to ponder: How Cesc Fabregas escaped a booking during Chelsea’s outing against Bournemouth remains a mystery. Well not so much if you consider the Spaniard’s repeated appeals with folded hands eh?
