Liverpool has entered the Christmas season with a commanding four-point lead in the Premier League and a game in hand, solidifying its reputation as the title favorite following an exhilarating 6-3 victory against Tottenham on Sunday.
In contrast, Manchester United, now managed by Ruben Amorim, finds itself in a troubling 13th position—their lowest at this time of the year since the 1989-90 season—amid growing frustration.
Once again, United suffered a home defeat, losing 3-0 to Bournemouth for the second year in a row, further highlighting the struggles of this historically successful club and the monumental task ahead for Amorim in restoring its former glory.
United’s challenges are compounded by the fact that archrival Liverpool appears unstoppable. This victory marks Liverpool’s 21st match without defeat across all competitions, helped by Mohamed Salah, who scored twice to surpass Erling Haaland of Manchester City in the Premier League scoring charts.
Liverpool now sits at 39 points after 16 matches, extending its lead over Chelsea, who could only manage a goalless draw against Everton and ended their five-match winning streak in the league.
In a match that resembled a high-scoring basketball game, Salah took his Premier League tally to 15 goals, momentarily leaving him wishing for even more. Liverpool’s goal spree featured contributions from Luis Diaz (with two), Alexis Mac Allister, and Dominik Szoboszlai, marking their first league game this season with over five goals scored.
“You can clearly see the quality of these players combined with top discipline,” stated Tottenham captain Son Heung-min. “They capitalize on any mistakes you make.”
Despite Tottenham’s injury struggles at the back, their offensive play posed ongoing challenges for Liverpool, with James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, and Dominic Solanke all finding the net.
Spurs have now dropped to 11th position, joining other traditionally strong teams in the lower half of the table.
The initial positivity borne from a late 2-1 derby victory at Manchester City has quickly evaporated for United, following a 4-3 defeat against Tottenham in the League Cup quarterfinals and then succumbing to Bournemouth by the same score as last year’s match.
Amorim acknowledged the tensions during the match, stating, “There was a sense of nervousness, which I felt throughout the crowd.” Since taking over, Amorim’s record stands at four wins and four losses, having begun his tenure with a draw against Ipswich on November 24.
Bournemouth made strides in the standings with their goals coming from Dean Huijsen, Justin Kluivert (a penalty), and Antoine Semenyo, promoting them to fifth place. Meanwhile, the reigning champions Manchester City have plummeted to seventh place—a staggering decline after four consecutive title wins.
Marcus Rashford has been absent from the United lineup for three consecutive matches. Intriguingly, during Amorim’s post-match media address, water was observed dripping from a ceiling light directly above journalists in the Old Trafford press room.
Meanwhile, Chelsea’s hopes at reclaiming the top spot were dashed after their hefty expenditure on new players—amounting to $1.3 billion and beyond—and managerial changes. A 0-0 draw against Everton halted Chelsea’s eight-match unbeaten run across competitions, which allowed Liverpool to forge ahead by four points.
Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson came close to scoring in the first half by hitting the post, while Everton had better chances go unconverted in the second period. Everton had recently held Arsenal to a similar scoreline.
“At times, we needed to adapt our game, and we are learning to adjust,” remarked Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, acknowledging Everton’s prowess in maintaining clean sheets.
Vitor Pereira enjoyed a triumphant debut as Wolverhampton manager, leading his team to a 3-0 victory over Leicester in his first match in charge. Appointed on Thursday as Gary O’Neil’s replacement, Pereira immediately ended the team’s four-match losing streak with goals from Gonçalo Guedes, Rodrigo Gomes, and Matheus Cunha in the first half.
While Wolves remain in the relegation zone, they are just two points behind Leicester, who sits precariously above the drop zone. Pereira expressed confidence in his team’s ability, stating, “I believe we can remain in the Premier League and perform better than what was showcased today.”
Leicester manager Ruud van Nistelrooy faced a second significant defeat after an earlier 4-0 loss to Newcastle. Additionally, Ivan Juric, another recently appointed Premier League manager, saw his first game at Southampton end in a goalless draw against Fulham, although he was seated in the stands due to not having a work permit yet.