🚨 Liverpool march on, Man City stumble again, fourth defeat in five for Man United, Fulham's late show and much more...
Plus all of the other stories making the news in the world of football...
Good morning everyone and welcome to the Daily Briefing! Thanks as always for reading, and hope you enjoy :-)
Today’s top stories:
Worries for Barcelona as Dani Olmo’s agent arrives in Manchester
Nottingham Forest win again to go third in the Premier League
Plus more from Arsenal, Newcastle and Sunderland
Arsenal
Arsenal have begun laying the groundwork for multiple wonder kid signings.
Boxing Day Results - Premier League
Manchester City vs Everton (1-1): Erling Haaland was the villain for a change for the hosts, missing a penalty that would’ve handed City a much-needed win. As it was they had to settle for a point, Bernardo Silva’s 14th minute opener cancelled out by Iliman Ndiaye’s 36th minute reply [pictures from Amazon Prime Video Sport]:
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa (3-0): Goals right at the start and right at the end helped the Magpies to a deserved win. Oddly for Villa, they managed just one shot on target in the entire game. Anthony Gordon (2), Alexander Isak (59) and Joelinton (91) were the scorers.
Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham Hotspur (1-0): Anthony Elanga was the hero for Forest as his 28th minute goal saw Nuno Espirito Santo’s side edge into third, just a point behind second-placed Chelsea. Djed Spence was sent off late on for Tottenham.
Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace (0-0): No goals at the Vitality Stadium but not for the want of trying, as both teams managed 28 shots at goal between them.
Chelsea vs Fulham (1-2): Marco Silva’s side staged an epic smash and grab in the West London derby. Chelsea led through Cole Palmer’s 16th minute strike and with 10 minutes to go the Blues were still leading. Step forward Harry Wilson (82) and Rodrigo Muniz (95) to silence Stamford Bridge [pictures from Amazon Prime Video Sport]:
Southampton vs West Ham United (0-1): It was by no means a vintage performance from West Ham, but the three points might just have kept Julen Lopetegui in the job for another few games at least. Jarrod Bowen scored the game’s only goal just before the hour mark. West Ham’s Lukasz Fabianski was stretchered off in the first half and there was a 10 minute delay after what looked like a serious injury sustained by the keeper.
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Manchester United (2-0): After a goalless first half, this match sprang into life on 47 minutes as United captain, Bruno Fernandes, was shown a red card. Just 11 minutes later, Matheus Cunha scored direct from a corner to open the scoring, before Hwang Hee-chan sealed victory with a second in the 99th minute to complete a miserable night for the Red Devils [pictures from Amazon Prime Video Sport]:
Liverpool vs Leicester City (3-1): The Foxes took the lead with their first shot on target, Jordan Ayew firing home on six minutes to silence Anfield. Right on half-time, Cody Gakpo equalised for the hosts with a beautiful finish, before Curtis Jones and Mo Salah ensured another win for Liverpool [pictures from Amazon Prime Video Sport]:
Barcelona
Dani Olmo's agent has arrived in Manchester after it emerged he could leave Barcelona for free in January. There would appear to be problems over registering him in their squad, with the clock ticking on their finances.
Barcelona youngster opens up on being given extra responsibility by Hansi Flick.
Chelsea
Ahead of Chelsea’s fixture against Fulham, Enzo Maresca told reporters: “It makes me laugh when critics claim Pep is finished. I spoke to Pep… he is completely calm and knows exactly what has happened. If you are involved in football you can see the amount of injuries they have, this is not normal.”
The future of Christopher Nkunku at Chelsea remains a talking point. Enzo Maresca: “We like Christo and we want him here. There will always be players that are not happy and some that will ask to leave in January. I am not sure if that will be Christo’s or another player’s case. We want to keep them here. If players who are unhappy knock on the door and they want to leave… I’m not going to say ‘No, you have to stay here, 100 per cent.’ If they want to leave, the best thing for everyone is that the players who aren’t happy leave.”
Si Phillips on the bad end incoming for Ben Chilwell.
Cole Palmer scores again… and he makes it 12 goals, 6 assists in 18 games this season. 18 G/A in 18 games. As a Chelsea player so far in the Premier League: 51 G/A in 51 games.
Cole Palmer spoke to the media after the loss against Fulham and said: “We knew we weren't going to win every game. It is the manager's first season with us. We are learning. Everyone said from the start we aren't title contenders, we are just getting better as a team and growing.”
Enzo Maresca was philosophical after the game: “It’s not a chance missed… this is just a game that unfortunately we lost,” he said. “I didn't feel or see the players playing with pressure. I don't think the results against Everton and Fulham have been about pressure.”
João Félix didn’t get on the pitch as Chelsea lost at home against Fulham. Enzo Maresca attempted to explain his decision after the game: “We decided to sub on Nkunku for Nico… João plays more or less the same position as Cole Palmer. They played together already but it’s also a matter of balance and that’s why he didn’t play.”
“If the coach says that we are not in title race, it’s because it’s like that,” Enzo Fernández told reporters after the Fulham loss. “We are always training and playing to defend Chelsea and leave us as high as possible in the table.”
Juventus
Antonio Silva’s agent Jorge Mendes spoke about a potential move for the player to Serie A. “Juventus want Antonio and he wants Juventus,” Mendes told Sky Sports Italy. “He is an important player with great qualities and admired by the biggest clubs in the world. The decision is on Benfica… let’s see, we have to wait for their call.”
Every Serie A contract expiring in 2025; Dybala, De Gea and more…
Liverpool
Encouraging words from Virgil van Dijk to The Times ahead of Liverpool’s Boxing Day fixture against Leicester: “I love the club, the club loves me. I love the fans, the fans love me. In my opinion I can play for another three, four years at least at the highest level. We will see what the future brings.”
Liverpool agree terms with star in huge boost for Arne Slot.
19 goals and 15 assists in all competitions this season for Mo Salah.
“This year feels different. I want to win the Premier League, we really want to win it,” Mo Salah said to the media after Liverpool’s win over Leicester. “Let’s do it, but remember that the most important thing is to keep working and stay humble.”
Arne Slot was as coy as ever after the match: “Van Dijk, Trent and Mo Salah’s contracts? We don’t talk about it in public, you know.”
Manchester City
“I incredibly feel supported by the club... I speak with Khaldoon every week and he always said that the situation is what it is and what we have to get better, to improve and move on to the next game,” Pep Guardiola said to the media prior to Manchester City’s match against Everton.
After struggling to a 1-1 draw against the Toffees, Pep Guardiola said in his post-match interview: “If we can, we have to add players in January… definitely. We struggled especially at the back and in the middle. I think even the players asked whether we are going to add some players! The result is not good… but the performance was brilliant. First-half was brilliant until the penalty. The first time they arrived into our area, they scored a goal. Of course, right at the end, on the counter attack, we could’ve suffered a defeat.”
Manchester City have now conceded 28 goals in the last 13 games in all the competitions, have one win in that time and only have 28 points from 18 games in the Premier League.
Jordan Pickford’s hilarious antics succeed in putting Erling Haaland off before missing penalty.
Manchester United
Before Manchester United travelled to the Midlands to face Wolves, Rúben Amorim noted: “This is maybe one of the lowest moments in our club, so we have to face it and be strong. That’s what I want from every player.”
Antony’s agent Junior Pedroso: “Clubs approached us for January… Man United never expressed any interest to let him go.”
Matthijs de Ligt was back with the Man United squad and on the bench at Wolves after being ill recently.
For the fourth game in a row, Marcus Rashford was completely overlooked and out of the Man United squad altogether.
Tyrell Malacia was also not even on the bench for Man United and it’s understood that this absence is not injury related.
Man United insider hints at star's contract being terminated.
Back on December 4, Rúben Amorim noted: “The storm will come, we are going to be found out in some games.” Twenty two days later and Man United have lost five games in all competitions, and four in the last five Premier League matches.
Rúben Amorim was asked, again, about Marcus Rashford’s omission: “If he's not here… you can make your mind up. It's always the same reason. We have to be the same professionals, same guys, winning or losing. Losing, I have to be stronger, but I will continue with my idea until the end.”
Newcastle United
With his goal against Aston Villa, Alexander Isak has now completed 9 G/A in the last 5 games in the English top-flight.
Newcastle want injured 30-year-old to agree deal after Eddie Howe approval.
Nottingham Forest
Three goals in the last three Premier League games and 19 G/A since the start of last season for Anthony Elanga.
Nottingham Forest are currently 3rd in the Premier League table with 24 goals scored, 19 conceded… and 34 points in 18 games.
Sunderland
Jude Bellingham was in attendance at Blackburn vs Sunderland to follow his brother Jobe in action. The 19-year-old has 7 G/A in 19 Championship games this season.
