Premier League 2020-21: Matchday 12 review

A rather unconventionally dull matchday 12 managed to flash by our TV screens as derbies and shock results managed to keep the thrill barely alive. Here is a look at all of the weekend’s action:

Results

• Leeds United 1-2 West Ham United 
• Wolves 0-1 Aston Villa 
• Newcastle United 2-1 West Brom 
• Manchester United 0-0 Manchester City 
• Everton 1-0 Chelsea
• Southampton 3-0 Sheffield United 
• Crystal Palace 1-1 Spurs
• Fulham 1-1 Liverpool
• Arsenal 0-1 Burnley
• Leicester City 3-0 Burnley

Match of the Week

Fulham 1-1 Liverpool

Scott Parker’s new look cottagers managed to salvage a point against the reigning Premier League champions. However, the hosts looked like they were set to seal all three in another upset victory for the Reds away from home up until the hour mark. 

4 – Having only earned four points from their opening nine league games this season (W1 D1 L7), Fulham have since picked up four from their last three such matches against Leicester, Man City and Liverpool (W1 D1 L1). Identity. #FULLIV pic.twitter.com/nkwXYw5JOR

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 13, 2020

Liverpool were rather sleepy and didn’t manage to deal with Fulham’s lively and prolific attacking, especially on the counter and on breaks from set-pieces. 

4 – Bobby De Cordova-Reid has scored four goals in 11 Premier League games this season, including netting in his last three in a row at Craven Cottage; he only managed five goals in his previous top-flight campaign for Cardiff in 2018-19 (27 apps). Formula. #FULIV pic.twitter.com/W9M9WpPgqd

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 13, 2020

The hosts fared much better defensively against Liverpool than they did against their neighbours. The only goal for Jurgen Klopp’s men came in a rather poorly placed penalty by Mo Salah.

Player of the Weekend

Vincent Guaita (Crystal Palace)

It is rare that a goalkeeper makes this much of an impact, but the Palace goalkeeper was the best player in the Premier League this weekend as his brilliant performance between the sticks managed to get Palace a point against Spurs, who have been on fire as of late. 

GUAITA WITH AN INCREDIBLE SAVE AT THE DEATH!#CRYTOT pic.twitter.com/921JUxRYVI

— ONSIDEVIEW (@theonsideview) December 13, 2020

Despite making a mistake as Harry Kane opened the scoring for Spurs, Guaita managed to make five very good saves to deny Jose Mourinho’s men a victory against their fellow London club. 

Spotlight Grabbers

• Arsenal managing to lose four games in a row at home for the first time in 61 years. 

4 – Arsenal have lost each of their last four Premier League home games, their worst top-flight run on home soil since December 1959, a sequence which also included defeat to Burnley. Lonely. #ARSBUR pic.twitter.com/kOmUXBeY9Z

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 13, 2020

• Granit Xhaka acting out on the pitch and getting sent off AGAIN. 
• James Maddison’s brace and Jamie Vardy’s goal and two assists to dispatch Brighton 3-0. 
• Chelsea slipping up against top-half opposition again. They have not managed to score even once against the top half clubs this season. 
• Southampton handing Sheffield United another defeat away from home. 

23 – Southampton have earned 23 points in this season’s Premier League (W7 D2 L3); only in 2014-15 have they had more after their opening 12 matches to a campaign in the competition (26). Superb. pic.twitter.com/X71L4KbftW

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 13, 2020

• West Ham climbing up to 6th as they beat Leeds at Elland Road.