Liverpool go top on Boxing Day, Man Utd recover to beat Aston Villa
Football
By
Associated Press
| Dec 27, 2023
Liverpool moved to the top of the Premier League on Tuesday night after a hard-fought 2-0 win away to Burnley.
Darwin Nunez's early goal and a late finish from Diogo Jota were enough to put the Reds two points clear of Arsenal, who don't play until Thursday. They also needed to defend well against a rival that moved the ball well but lacked punch in their penalty area.
Nunez curled in the opening goal with his instep on six minutes after a swift break, and Jota ensured the win in injury time after Luis Diaz opted to pass rather than shoot from a narrow angle.
Burnley have lost nine out of 10 home games this season, and despite some neat passing, they failed to have a shot on target all game.
Aston Villa wasted the chance to go second after surrendering a 2-0 halftime lead to lose 3-2 away to Manchester United.
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Unai Emery's men looked to be on track to add more pain to United's season after John McGinn and Leander Dendoncker put them 2-0 ahead after 26 minutes.
Two excellent goals from Alejandro Garnacho after 58 and 71 minutes drew United level, before Rasmus Hojlund turned home his first league goal following a corner with eight minutes left to play.
Chris Wood scored a 16-minute hat-trick against his former club to give Nuno Espirito Santo his first win as Nottingham Forest coach, with a 3-1 victory away to Newcastle United.
Alexander Isak put Newcastle ahead from the penalty spot in the 23rd minute, before Wood scored his first goal in first-half injury time after a counter-attack led by the impressive Anthony Elanga.
Elanga was involved in Wood's second goal in the 53rd minute, giving a curling pass before the striker turned the defense inside out and scored with a chip over the keeper.
Wood then finished his hat-trick on the hour after being slipped through on goal, before rounding the keeper and slotting home.
Dominic Solanke was on target again as Bournemouth notched their sixth win from seven games with a 3-0 home victory over Fulham.
Andoni Iraola's side moved into the top half thanks to Justin Kluivert's 44th-minute opener, Solanke's penalty in the 62nd minute and Luis Sinisterra's injury-time third from David Brooks' assist, as they punished their rivals on the break.
Luton Town came out on top in a battle between recently promoted sides, with a 3-2 win thanks to two own goals after they had trailed 2-1 away to Sheffield United.
Alfie Doughty put Luton ahead in the 17th minute after a run and shot that United keeper Wes Foderingham should have dealt with better.
Oli McBurnie swept the Blades level in the 61st minute, and Anel Ahmedhodzic fired them ahead after a goalmouth scramble eight minutes later, but from there it all went wrong for the home side.
Jack Robinson headed into his own goal after misreading Carlton Morris' cross in the 77th minute, and just three minutes later, Anis Ben Slimane misjudged another Morris cross to slice the ball beyond the despairing Foderingham and give Luton a huge lifeline.
Three matches are to come on Wednesday, with Chelsea at home to Crystal Palace, while Everton entertain newly-crowned FIFA Club World Cup champions Manchester City, and Brentford face Wolverhampton Wanderers.
On Thursday, Arsenal face West Ham, while Tottenham Hotspur visit Brighton.