“December in English football is the most difficult month,” former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has said many times.
“Pass it and get results,” it was Premier League the winner’s sage advice for the festive season, “then keep your head up and go from there.”
The flurry of games either side of Christmas Day has claimed countless early setters over the years, points dropped and players lost to injury. This year’s top pack has been affected once again, all three ArsenalLiverpool and Chelsea failing to record perfect records in this period.
As always, some went through the festive fixture list more smoothly than others.
Only two clubs won all four of their Premier League games between mid-December and the first week of January. Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest.
Not only do Forest have an unblemished record, but they haven’t conceded a goal since December 14th. Nuno Espirito Santo’s imposing outfit capped off a perfect Christmas season with a massive 3-0 win over former employers Wolves on Monday night. That sweet triumph was also the 50th anniversary of Brian Clough’s appointment at the City Ground – yet Forest’s current run of six top-flight wins in a single season was a feat never achieved even by Nuno’s legendary predecessor .
Newcastle have conceded just one goal, seeing off Ipswich Town, Aston Villa and Manchester United before coming from behind against Tottenham on the weekend.
|
Class |
Group |
Points |
|---|---|---|
|
1. |
Newcastle |
12 |
|
2. |
Nottingham Forest |
12 |
|
3. |
Liverpool |
10 |
|
4. |
Arsenal |
10 |
|
5. |
Bournemouth |
8 |
|
6. |
Manchester City |
7 |
|
7. |
Wolves |
7 |
|
8. |
Aston Villa |
7 |
|
9. |
Fulham |
6 |
|
10. |
Crystal Palace |
5 |
|
11. |
Bradford |
4 |
|
12. |
Brighton |
4 |
|
13. |
Ipswich |
4 |
|
14. |
West Ham |
4 |
|
15. |
Chelsea |
2 |
|
16. |
Everton |
2 |
|
17. |
Tottenham |
1 |
|
18. |
Manchester United |
1 |
|
19. |
Southampton |
1 |
|
20. |
Leicester |
0 |
LiverpoolHis lead at the summit of the Premier League remains as healthy as it was before the winter season 2-2 draw with United on Sunday. Arsenal was unable to capitalize on a rare slip from Arne Slot’s side as the injured Gunners were held to stalemate with Brighton.
Tottenham and Manchester United are at the opposite end of the form table. Two members of the traditional elite managed to collect so many points Southampton – one. Chelsea It didn’t fare much better, collecting two draws and defeats in a theoretically simple schedule against Everton (16th in the table), Fulham (ninth), Ipswich (18th), Crystal Palace (15th).
The only club that failed to pick up a single point during this period was Leicester City. With new manager Ruud van Nistelrooy a distant memory, the Foxes managed ten goals and 54 shots in four games. The Dutch manager’s mid-term decision to switch goalkeepers, dropping veteran Danny Ward for debutant Jakub Stolarczyk, did not bear fruit.
Leicester’s results may have been as bleak as the weather, but they tested Liverpool and gave Manchester City a almighty terror. Pep Guardiola’s side have been slow to reverse their perilous slide, picking up back-to-back wins against the Foxes and West Ham that were cathartic but not entirely convincing.
However, as Klopp was keen to point out, festive football in England is about points, not performances.
