Anthony Gordon and Dominic Solanke on target as England manager Thomas Tuchel has a busy day – Premier League hits and misses | Football news
The star of the English players ahead of Tuchel
English coach Thomas Tuchel watched from the stands of the Tottenham Hotspur stadium.
On his fourth day in the job, the German decided to attend Tottenham v Newcastle as his first game in charge – before traveling to watch Brighton host Arsenal – and he was not disappointed.
The entire English contingent of Newcastle shone, especially Anthony Gordon and Tino Livramento. The former finished brilliantly for the guests to equalize and was a constant threat, while the latter played brilliantly at right back.
English Spurs representative Dominic Solanke also impressed with an extremely well received goal, and his exceptional work and pressing came to light.
Tuchel’s presence has had a positive effect in North London and other clubs across the country will be hoping his performances can inspire such positive performances.
Declan Olley
Savinho plays in Man City
Manchester City have had to be patient with Savinho since his arrival in the summer, waiting until the last game of 2024 to score his first goal for the club, but fans – and opponents – can now see what makes the young Brazilian winger so special.
Pep Guardiola has suggested that Savinho prefers the right wing and has regularly deployed him there at the start of the season, but he has been at his best on the left for Girona. Occupying that space against West Ham, he was the best player on the pitch.
It was Savinho who provided the spark that was needed during a tricky opening for his confident side in what turned out to be a comfortable enough 4-1 win at the Etihad Stadium. Mohammed Kudus squandered his chances and Savinho punished them.
He caused Vladimir Coufal every possible problem for the first two goals, turning him inside out for the second before feeding Erling Haaland to score. His assist for the third, by setting up the same player, showed that he knows how to choose a pass, but also a cross.
Guardiola still has problems in this club, the need to create a new team is now obvious. But Savinho, 20, is certainly not responsible for this season’s dramatic decline. He seems a clear candidate to be part of City’s next great squad.
Adam Bate
A lack of faith is costing Chelsea
When Enzo Maresca says that nobody expected Chelsea to be in the title race, he is right. Levi Colwill echoed his manager’s sentiments, downplaying their headline acumen. Against Crystal Palace, we saw a Chelsea side relinquish control when they were in charge just as they gave way to their short-lived title ambitions.
The festive period can prove challenging for most sides, but a 12-match unbeaten run was snapped as things started to click under Maresco. However, despite finishing second before relegation, both players and manager refused to be drawn into the title race.
They may not be in the title hunt, but surely, now Chelsea believe they are not. The freedom and expression Chelsea played with went out the window after seemingly taking their foot off the gas. They seem to be wilting now due to a lack of self-belief, which is reflected in a poor holiday run.
William Bitibiri
Munoz deserves his flowers
It looked like it was going to be a long afternoon for Daniel Munoz when he and Chris Richards were beaten by Jadon Sancho in Chelsea’s first leg. However, he more than made up for the problems he had in defense by going forward.
He dragged Palace around the pitch at times, enjoying some space on the right wing where he could constantly pick out his teammates with balls into the box.
Much has been made of the threat Crystal Palace pose going forward and praise has been heaped on other members of their backline, but Munoz has been quietly doing his job as one of Palace’s main performers this term.
William Bitibiri
Spurs’ depleted season is now trophy or bust
Considering Tottenham played the second half defending a third keeper (Brandon Austin), a centre-half back (Dad Spence), a teenage centre-back (Archie Gray) and a left-back who appeared to have no future at the club last summer (Sergio Reguilon), Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou was rightly “proud” of their performance in the 2-1 home defeat by Newcastle.
Injuries and suspensions have greatly disrupted Spurs this season – although there is criticism that Postecoglou’s style of play has contributed to a long list of injuries.
It meant the Australian, amid a backdrop of illness in the squad, fielded Tottenham’s youngest Premier League starting line-up (23 years and 336 days) in almost a decade against Newcastle.
But despite their inexperience, Tottenham managed against the in-form visitors and will feel unlucky not to have taken something from the game, especially after Newcastle’s controversial opener.
Ultimately, though, it’s the 10th league defeat of the season that leaves Spurs in 12th place and 12 points off the top four.
The campaign is now trophy or bust with all eyes on Wednesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final first leg at home to Liverpool, live Sky Sports.
Declan Olley
Is Bailey back for Villa?
Leon Bailey, who has ended his 19-game Premier League goalless run, could arrive at the perfect time.
As highlighted by Villa’s interest in versatile Borussia Dortmund striker Donyell Malen in the January transfer window, the right winger’s production has been an issue this season.
After scoring 10 goals and adding nine assists in the Premier League last season, expectations were high for Bailey in the current campaign.
It’s safe to say he still hasn’t lived up to those lofty standards – but there have been positive signs in his last two outings.
His goal against Leicester may act as a much-needed confidence boost for the Jamaican winger, who could be instrumental in helping the team rise up the table again.
If Villa can get him back to even half the level he showed last season, contributions like today’s could be key at the end of the season.
Patrick Rowe
The shape of Brentford’s front three is crucial to any European push
There wasn’t much to shout about for Brentford in December. Injuries began to pile up and one win in five slowed their climb towards a comfortable place in the top 10. Their shocking away form – zero wins in nine – made a trip to Southampton a tougher prospect than it might have otherwise been.
At least on paper.
In reality, Thomas Frank’s side used the trip to the south coast to claim their first away win since May 11 in utterly ruthless fashion, with their front three showing just how lethal they can be when on the field.
Kevin Schade scored his fifth goal of the season and first since Dec. 7, while Yoane Wissa scored his 10th of the season with his eighth strike of the game and the unstoppable Bryan Mbeumo scored two of his own. The latter pair registered one assist each.
Between them, the trio scored over 100 goals for Brentford: Mbeumo (63), Wissa (40), Schade (8). They have scored 28 of the Bees’ 38 Premier League goals this season – only Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool have scored more.
With an attack this potent, if Brentford start to lock things down at the back, a real push for Europe could happen.
Dan Long
Survival symptoms for Leicester
There were signs of struggle from Leicester again in their fight for survival – but it’s not enough.
Led against Liverpool, fought to the bitter end against Manchester City and now conceded late on to Villa.
It was a resilient game from the Foxes, but it’s another game where they will come away empty-handed.
Two early results against West Ham and Brighton started the Ruud van Nistelrooy era in impressive fashion, but after seeing the points slip away, despite their performances undoubtedly improving, it’s clear that reinforcements will be needed if they are to have any chance of survival .
Patrick Rowe
Kerkez breaks through Everton and hits Dyche
When they don’t keep goals, Everton don’t win football matches. That was the case under Sean Dyche for almost his entire reign. A 2-1 win over Crystal Palace, their first of the campaign, was a rare example of his side being able to do things the hard way.
From the moment David Brooks volleyed into the far corner of Jordan Pickford’s net, the writing was on the wall. Another trip to the Vitality Stadium, another pointless outing. Everton’s inability to win here in the league predates Dyche, but their failures on show have been consistent with the current player’s faltering reign.
Dyche could prove a job well done in his first full season in charge given the off-field distractions. The noise. But now with a better team and new owners above him, he is feeling the cold in January.
Dyche’s side look more and more like being dragged into the relegation battle as they failed to hit the back of the net in 90 minutes. Now it is one goal scored in the last five matches.
Their inability to trouble their hosts looked almost comical with the ease with which Bournemouth broke through them time and time again, and another assured display made it five wins from eight for Andoni Iraola’s side.
The winning goal summed up everything Everton wasn’t. Miloš Kerkez sent a finely calibrated cross into the box where he arrived at the perfect height for David Brooks to leap into the air and, with the kind of confidence that has permeated his side’s brilliant season so far, blast beyond Pickford into the far corner.
It’s easy to see why Jamie Carragher is so keen for the Hungarian to join Liverpool. The 21-year-old once again excelled at left back and if he continues to believe in his abilities, he will have the choice of Europe’s elite clubs. Something that cannot be said for the eight members of Everton’s squad who are currently out of contract in the summer.
Ben Grounds
