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Premier League Weekend Review: Spurs crumble, Cole Palmer magic and Manchester United lose to Forest…

Photo of Nicky Nicky09/12/2024 - 08:17 am
Pep Guardiola's Manchester City are struggling in the Premier League
(Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)

The Premier League never fails to deliver high-stakes drama, and this weekend was no exception. From thrilling comebacks to shocking collapses, every match seemed to carry its own narrative weight. Chelsea produced a stunning turnaround against Tottenham Hotspur, not just reigniting their own momentum but deepening Spurs’ struggles under Ange Postecoglou. Meanwhile, Manchester United’s defensive frailties were exposed yet again in a humbling defeat to Nottingham Forest, while Arsenal were left frustrated by fine margins and VAR controversy in their draw with Fulham.

Elsewhere, Brentford turned the Gtech Community Stadium into an impenetrable fortress with another scintillating home display, and Manchester City’s stuttering title defence continued as they dropped more points in a hard-fought draw at Crystal Palace.

Dive into the key stories that defined another unforgettable round of Premier League action.

Chelsea and Cole Palmer are fantastic

Chelsea’s 4-3 victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium wasn’t just a match; it was a microcosm of two clubs heading in opposite directions. For Chelsea, this was a performance that exuded a confidence bordering on arrogance, epitomized by Cole Palmer’s audacious Panenka penalty. After falling 2-0 behind within the first 10 minutes, lesser Chelsea sides of recent seasons—under Mauricio Pochettino, Graham Potter or Frank Lampard—might have crumbled. Instead, Enzo Maresca’s men stood tall, with Jadon Sancho’s sublime 17th-minute strike injecting life into their comeback. By half-time, the momentum had shifted, and after the break, Chelsea turned dominance into devastation for Spurs.

Maresca’s tactical tweaks were pivotal. The introduction of Malo Gusto and a defensive reshuffle shored up Chelsea’s backline, while their midfield led by Enzo Fernandez and Romeo Lavia dictated the game. Fernandez’s thunderous half-volley cemented Chelsea’s control before Palmer’s penalties highlighted their ruthlessness. With 11 goals and six assists this season, Palmer has become Chelsea’s main creative outlet, oozing class in big moments. This win doesn’t just cement Chelsea as contenders; it raises the tantalizing question of whether they might mount a surprise Premier League title challenge. For Spurs, however, it was another chapter in an all-too-familiar tale of bright starts undone by fragility and injuries.

Tottenham continue sliding

For Tottenham fans, this match was a painful déjà vu. A blistering opening 35 minutes saw them race into a 2-0 lead, fueled by a confident Dominic Solanke and a resurgent Dejan Kulusevski. For a moment, it felt like a repeat of their exhilarating 4-0 thrashing of Manchester City earlier this season. But as has been the case too often, Spurs’ promising play collapsed into chaos. Injuries to Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, and Brennan Johnson compounded their misery, leaving Ange Postecoglou with a threadbare squad for the crucial festive period.

The defeat, their seventh in just 15 league games, highlighted Spurs’ chronic inability to manage matches. Despite their early dominance, they were undone by defensive lapses and Chelsea’s relentless pressure. The booing from sections of the home crowd after Cole Palmer’s second penalty underscored growing frustration among fans. Postecoglou has undoubtedly brought attacking flair to the team, but consistency remains elusive. Injuries are part of the story, but questions are rightly being asked about squad depth and defensive organization. Tottenham now sit in the bottom half of the table, with a mountain to climb to salvage their season.

Despite scoring loads of goals, Spurs are struggling in the Premier League
(Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)

Manchester United lose at home to Nottingham Forest for the first time in 30 years

If there’s one word to describe Manchester United’s 3-2 home loss to Nottingham Forest, it’s “avoidable.” Defensive lapses, particularly from set pieces, once again proved to be their Achilles’ heel. Nikola Milenkovic’s towering header from a corner within two minutes set the tone, exploiting a mismatch against the diminutive Lisandro Martinez. Forest’s second goal, a speculative strike from Morgan Gibbs-White, caught goalkeeper Andre Onana flat-footed, while Chris Wood’s looping header for Forest’s third summed up United’s defensive ineptitude.

Despite Bruno Fernandes’ best efforts—pulling the strings in midfield and scoring United’s second—Ruben Amorim’s side failed to capitalise on their dominance in possession. Defensive frailty has become a recurring theme under Amorim, with United now having conceded seven goals from corners this season, more than any other Premier League side. With back-to-back losses, United are slipping further from the top-four conversation, and the clock is ticking on their ability to course-correct.

Manchester City can’t catch a break

Manchester City’s trip to Selhurst Park proved to be another frustrating outing, as Pep Guardiola’s men were held to a 2-2 draw by a resilient Crystal Palace side. Twice trailing, City relied on goals from Erling Haaland and Rico Lewis to level the scores, but they couldn’t find a winner. The result leaves them eight points behind league leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand, marking yet another hiccup in City’s title defence.

City’s struggles were rooted in Guardiola’s defensive setup. Injuries to Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji forced Josko Gvardiol into a makeshift centre-back role, leaving City vulnerable against Palace’s quick transitions. Palace exploited this fragility early, with Daniel Munoz and Maxence Lacroix netting well-taken goals. In attack, City lacked their usual fluidity, despite flashes of brilliance from Haaland and Bernardo Silva. Guardiola’s decision to bench Jack Grealish raised eyebrows, as City appeared to miss his tenacity in the midfield battles.

Adding to City’s woes, Lewis’ second yellow card late in the game left them playing with 10 men, further hampering their ability to push for a winner. Guardiola has often spoken of Selhurst Park as one of the league’s most challenging venues, and this performance did little to change that narrative. With fitness concerns mounting and key players struggling for form, City’s hopes of catching Liverpool are starting to look increasingly precarious. For a side accustomed to dominating, this season’s inconsistency feels uncharacteristic—and deeply concerning.

Thinking of Michail Antonio

West Ham United forward Michail Antonio’s season took an alarming turn after a car accident on Saturday left him with a lower limb fracture requiring surgery. The incident, which involved his Ferrari in Epping, sent shockwaves through the football community. Fortunately, Antonio was reported to be “conscious and communicating” after the crash, but the surgery underscores the severity of the injury. West Ham’s statement expressed gratitude to emergency responders and pledged full support for Antonio during his recovery.

Wishing Michail a speedy recovery!

Michail Antonio is West Ham's top Premier League scorer of all time
(Photo by Molly Darlington – Pool/Getty Images)

Arsenal drop points at Fulham

Arsenal’s 1-1 draw at Fulham was a textbook example of fine margins defining title races. After Raul Jimenez gave Fulham an early lead with a clinical finish, Arsenal fought back in the second half through a well-worked corner routine finished by William Saliba. However, their celebrations were short-lived when Bukayo Saka’s potential winner was ruled out by VAR due to Gabriel Martinelli’s offside position in the build-up. It was a frustrating afternoon for the Gunners, who saw a golden opportunity to close the gap on league leaders Liverpool slip away.

Arsenal’s reliance on set pieces continues to pay dividends, with Saliba’s goal marking their 49th from corners since the start of the 2021-22 season. However, their struggles to break down Fulham in open play highlighted a lack of cutting edge against defensively disciplined sides. For Fulham, this result reinforced their status as a bogey team for Arsenal, having taken points in all three of their last league meetings. While Arsenal remain in the title mix, their fifth draw of the season feels like a missed opportunity, especially with Chelsea and Liverpool showing no signs of slowing down.

Brentford are lethal at home

No team in the Premier League boasts a better home record than Brentford, and their 4-2 dismantling of Newcastle United was another statement of intent. Thomas Frank’s side has turned the Gtech Community Stadium into a fortress, winning seven of their eight home games and scoring an eye-watering 26 goals in the process. Against Newcastle, Brentford’s fluid attacking play was on full display, with Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa tormenting the Magpies’ defence.

Brentford’s ability to dominate at home is no fluke. Frank has built a team that combines physicality with technical prowess, capable of overwhelming opponents with relentless pressing and sharp counter-attacks. Newcastle simply couldn’t cope with the pace and intensity of Brentford’s play, particularly in wide areas. The win propels Brentford into ninth place and strengthens their credentials as serious contenders for European football. While their away form remains a work in progress, Brentford’s home dominance is a foundation upon which they can continue to build. For visiting teams, the Gtech is rapidly becoming one of the most daunting venues in English football.

Lethal at home in the Premier League
(Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images)

By Nicky Helfgott – NickyHelfgott1 on X (Twitter)

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Photo of Nicky Nicky09/12/2024 - 08:17 am

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