Results - last week before christmas

Stoke City 3-0 Manchester City
Goals: Mahrez(pen) 18, Giroud(Deulofeu) 32, Mahrez(Deulofeu) 64
MOTM: Riyad Mahrez.

Hull City 1-1 Chelsea
Goals: Ferreira-Carrasco(Halilovic) 67; Aguero(Neymar) 78
MOTM: Lucas Biglia - Did a superb job protecting the defence and forcing Chelsea to rush things in the middle.

A game dominated by Chelsea but with a bit of hard work and a little look Hull got a point. Chelsea threw the kitchen sink at Hull and will probably feel hard done by, they created plenty of chances but found Hulls 3 CBs and keeper in the way of every shot on target, whilst they had a bit of an off day themselves with their finishing. The midfield 4 worked so hard off the ball too to make sure Chelsea weren’t going to have anything easy and they did a particularly good job limiting the FBs, whilst going forward young Belgian Ferreira-Carrasco always looked a threat on the break, getting the best of Florenzi. They even took the lead! Chelsea though got back into it through some good changes from Fan with De Bruyne and Morata coming on and Rodriguez getting pushed further on and this finally saw them get a deserved goal when Rodriguez drew Jedvaj right out to the touchline and slipped Neymar into space behind him, Neymar left one CB on his back side, played a one two with Rakitic and then set Aguero up for a tap in.

Liverpool 2-1 Wolves
Goals: Vidal(Gotze) 14, Vidal(PK) 72; Tevez(Dzeko) 54
MOTM: Arturo Vidal.
Red: Niklas Sule 87

Manchester United 0-2 Arsenal
Goals: Benzema(James) 54, Ronaldo(Modric) 81
MOTM: Luka Modric.


Newcastle United 2-1 Southampton
Goals: Suarez(Firmino) 12, Suarez 34(Pjanic); Adriano(Teixeira) 75
MOTM: Luis Suarez - A constant threat to the defence, his movement, skill and finishing ability is worthy of someone playing at a higher level.

A tight game, both creating good chances, Newcastle with the more attacking outlook but Southampton’s midfield stifled them well after an early onslaught from Newcastle. It was that early energy that caught Southampton out though.


Everton 0-2 Leicester City
Goals: Higuain(Di Maria) 34, Higuain(Nolito) 55
MOTM: Gonzalo Higuain.

AFC Bournemouth 1-0 Portsmouth
Goals: Mandzukic(Bellarabi) 81
MOTM: Keylor Navas.

A shock win for Bournemouth against high flying Portsmouth today. It was Portsmouth who had much of the game but couldn’t find a way past Navas in goal, the Costa Rican keeper showing why he’s rated so highly. Bournemouth got their set up spot on this week too, they had bodies back and they made it very difficult, Portsmouth did get some joy down the wings against their FBs, particularly Silva cutting in and allowing Alves to bomb on, but this weekend every ball into the box was cleared. They grabbed the win late on when Mandzukic held the ball up against Savic, played it out to Bellarabi as Bournemouth countered, taking advantage of Kurzawa’s over eagerness to get forward and the german international picked out Mandzukic and he just got a toe to the ball before Hummels.

Birmingham City 1-3 Aston Villa
Goals: Vardy(Benteke) 67; Lacazette(Reus) 2, Kompany(Koke) 13, Reus(Koke) 27
MOTM: Koke - At the heart of every Villa attack today, pulled the strings.

An early onslaught in a heated second city derby was enough today for Villa to get a win. Koke ran the show in the first half an hour, floating around and linking play, Birmingham couldn’t contain him. Birmingham got back into it late on but they’ll be know Jamie Vardy party tonight.