The losersArsenal
“You don’t win the championship on Boxing Day but you can lose it,” said Sir Alex Ferguson. Arsenal could be the main victim of this 2023 vintage. One point out of nine and three positions less in the standings. After the split against Liverpool (1-1), the Londoners fell in their two derbies, against West Ham (0-2) then at Fulham (2-1). “It’s going to be painful for a few days, but we have to move on,” admitted Mikel Arteta after the defeat to Timothy Castagne’s side on Sunday.
Newcastle
Zero points in two games (before the match against Liverpool this Monday evening). The Magpies ended the year with the same momentum as in previous weeks. In contact with the top 4 for several weeks, Eddie Howe’s team cracked during the month of December (1 point out of 15) and even more during the holidays by being beaten by two candidates to maintain, Luton Town (1-0 ) then Nottingham Forest (1-3). Newcastle are now 9th, just one point ahead of Chelsea.
Brentford
Two defeats to also end 2023 in a very bad way (5 consecutive defeats in December). Beaten by Wolverhampton (1-4) and Crystal Palace (3-1), the Bees fell four places in the standings (12 to 16). The return of their striker Ivan Toney, suspended until January 17, 2024 for having violated the rules of the English federation relating to betting, is impatiently awaited by coach Thomas Frank.
Everton
Amadou Onana’s team is the only one to have lost its three end-of-year matches, against Tottenham (2-1), Manchester City (1-3) and Wolverhampton (3-0). The specter of relegation has thus resurfaced since its pursuers managed the holidays much better: the seven lengths ahead of the red zone before Christmas were reduced to just one.
The winnersLiverpool
The record is not perfect (4/6), but it has the merit of allowing the Reds to end the year at the top of the championship. Before hosting Newcastle this Monday evening, Jürgen Klopp’s team had 42 points. The same total as Aston Villa, two points ahead of Manchester City and Arsenal. “This is the time for us to continue the hard work we have done in the first half of the season and develop it in the second”, positive the German manager, aware that the fight for the title will be fierce.
Manchester City
The Citizens rode the wave of their success in the Club World Cup to close 2023 with two more victories and one place better in the championship. “The position we find ourselves in is more than good, thinks Pep Guardiola, who has returned to contact with the leaders. We’re going to lose games, they’re going to lose games. But we will try to lose as little as possible.”
Wolverhampton
An unforgettable Christmas. The Wolves are the only ones to have achieved a 9 out of 9 during the holidays. Previously stuck in the herd around 13th place with Brentford, Fulham or Crystal Palace, Gary O’Neil’s team has now returned to level with Chelsea, just five points from the top 6. “It’s been a week “amazing,” O’Neil said. Taking nine points in three games with a reduced squad due to injuries was incredible.”
Nottingham Forest
The best operation at the bottom of the ranking is that of the team of Orel Mangala and Divock Origi. By taking on Newcastle (1-3) then Manchester United (2-1), Forest gave themselves a lot of breathing space by climbing two places and maintaining a five-point lead over the first relegated side, Luton Town.
Luton Town
Six points out of nine also for Luton Town which was only beaten by Chelsea (2-3) this Saturday. Thomas Kaminski and Albert Sambi-Lokonga do not let go of their 18th place, but they have moved away from their two pursuers, Burnley (+4) and Sheffield United (+6), while coming back to just one point behind Everton, first team outside the red zone.
2024-01-01 16:34:22
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