City, 6-3 at Leicester, but with the thrill. Count and Arsenal easy, West Ham falls

From our correspondent Stefano Boldrini

December 26th
– london

Skip Liverpool-Leeds, Wolves-Watford and Burnley-Everton for Covid, the Premier Boxing Day was still staged, albeit in a reduced version. Four matches in the afternoon ended, then awaiting Aston Villa-Chelsea (18.30) and Brighton-Brentford (21). Ninth consecutive victory for the City which risks a sensational comeback at home with Leicester, down 4-0 after 25 ‘, but able in the second half to go back up to 4-3 before the goal by Laporte which calms the Citizens who then close on 6- 3 with Sterling (brace). All easy for Tottenham (3-0) with Crystal Palace, 10 for the red to Zaha at the end of the 1st half. Arsenal also dominated, 5-0 in Norwich, while West Ham (overtaken by the Spurs) took over Southampton twice before succumbing to Bednarek’s goal.

City e Gunners

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Crazy match at the City Stadium. Manchester City immediately put Leicester on the ropes and after 5 ‘they pass with a great left from De Bruyne. At 14 ‘the doubling of the Citizens on a penalty converted by the former Mahrez. James Maddison frightened the hosts by forcing Ederson to make a big detour that sent the ball over the crossbar. But in the 20 ‘comes Gundogan’s 3-0 on a short rejected by Schmeichel after a low cross from Cancelo, who seems to have already closed the accounts. The goleada continues 5 ‘later: another penalty with a foul by Tielemans, already guilty of the foul of the first penalty: Sterling transforms for City’s poker. Leicester shortened the counterattack with Maddison in the 55th minute after a lethal slip by Laporte. The City does not reconnect the plug and leaves too much space for the hosts: Maddison launches Iheanacio who only beats Ederson alone: ​​4-2 in the 59th minute. And it is again Iheanacio who reiterates the goal in the goal rejected by the crossbar after a shot by the usual Maddison and signs the 4-3 in the 65th minute which resoundingly reopens the game. But after 4 ‘Laporte with a header on the corner puts an end to the bleeding of the Citizens by signing the 5-3. Sterling’s brace in the 87th minute puts Guardiola’s team on the safe side.

Arsenal passed easily to Norwich (3-0), breaking the deadlock in the 6 ‘with a good move that freed Saka’s deadly left. One minute from the break Odegaard opens splendidly for Tierney who scores his first goal of the season for 2-0 Arsenal. The 3-0 in the 65th minute with another great left by Saka that definitively closes the accounts. At 84 Lacazette’s penalty (for a foul by himself immediately) is worth the poker. The 5-0 comes in full recovery with Smith Rowe.

West Ham and Spurs

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West Ham falls at home (2-3) with Southampton. At 8 ‘the guests pass with yet another left of this Boxing Day: from the edge it is Elyounoussi who stabs Fabianski, crowning a good choral action to throw the guests. In the second half Antonio returns after the stop for Covid and in the 50th minute he already gives the equal to the Hammers head on the edge of the offside. 5 ‘passed, Dawson’s push on Broja who managed to reach the area before being definitively knocked down by the defender. The referee goes to the Var and decrees the penalty that Ward-Prowse transforms, giving Southampton the advantage. At 65 ‘the new West Ham equalizer: Bowen unmarks Benrahma who beats. The emotions don’t end there though: Ward-Prowse’s punishment cut off and Bednarek with a header finds the corner for 2-3. Six minutes of injury time with a final siege of West Ham which, however, does not find the same.

Conte and his Tottenham win easily at home against the Palace (3-0). Spurs ahead shortly after half an hour with Harry Kane’s first winning low shot on an assist from Lucas Moura. That 4 ‘signs the doubling of the head on a cross from Emerson Royal. The Palace remains in 10 in the 38th minute for a double yellow to Zaha, effectively removing from the Crystal, without the technical Vieira positive at Covid, any chance of a comeback. It was then Son in the 74th minute who signed the knockout blow with a left touch on yet another assist from Lucas Moura.

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