The Premier League standings are beginning to evoke memories of 1979, with Liverpool currently occupying the top spot and Nottingham Forest trailing closely in second. On Sunday, Liverpool extended their advantage by delivering a commanding 5-0 victory against West Ham, while Nottingham Forest secured their position by triumphing over Everton with a score of 2-0. This recent success has energized Forest’s supporters, who have witnessed their team’s surprising ascent as they vie for a chance in the Champions League.
Historically, Nottingham Forest was the runner-up to Liverpool in the English top tier back in 1979, the same year they captured their first of two consecutive European Cups under legendary manager Brian Clough. Since then, they have not reached such heights in the domestic league. The current manager, Nuno Espirito Santo, has instilled a renewed hope among the club’s long-suffering fans. However, he remains realistic, cautioning that their time in second place may not be permanent.
“The current position is inconsequential,” he remarked, emphasizing that the team has not accomplished anything significant yet. As the new year approaches, Nottingham Forest risks slipping back, currently just one point above Arsenal and two ahead of Chelsea, both of which have a game in hand. Liverpool, on the other hand, appears to be solidifying their dominance as they continue to improve; their performance against West Ham showcased an impressive display with five players scoring, including Mohamed Salah, who netted his league-leading 17th goal of the season.
Salah, who also recorded an assist, has accumulated 52 goal contributions across all competitions in 2024, making it a remarkable year for the forward. When questioned about his future with the club, given that his contract expires at the end of this season, Salah was non-committal. “We are quite far from that,” he stated. His immediate focus remains on aiding Liverpool in their quest for the league title. “It’s vital that we stay concentrated and humble as competition intensifies,” he affirmed.
Currently, Liverpool boasts a nine-point lead over Arsenal and a ten-point cushion over Chelsea, all three teams having played 18 matches. Meanwhile, Manchester City finds themselves 14 points behind Liverpool after winning 2-0 against Leicester, marking a notable occasion for their manager Pep Guardiola, who celebrated his 500th game in charge with this win.
City’s recent performance has been less than stellar, making the victory against Leicester a welcome relief. Erling Haaland continued his scoring prowess by netting a goal, while Savinho marked his first strike for the club, demonstrating a flicker of hope for the struggling reigning champions. Despite holding a 2-0 advantage, City faced substantial pressure from Leicester, especially as they were trying to break a five-match winless streak across all competitions.
Guardiola expressed relief post-match, stating, “Relief is the best way to describe our feelings. While the performance wasn’t perfect, this win might uplift our spirits.” This victory also marked only the second win in their last 14 matches, illustrating the challenges they’ve faced. Savinho opened the scoring in the 21st minute, skillfully finishing after a rebound from a Phil Foden shot, and later assisted Haaland’s header to secure the win.
In contrast, Tottenham’s season took another hit as they allowed a late equalizer, ending their match 2-2 against Wolves. This disappointing outcome has intensified scrutiny on manager Ange Postecoglou, particularly regarding his team’s defensive shortcomings, which were glaringly evident as they conceded the late goal to Jorgen Strand Larsen. Wolves had initially taken the lead early on, but Tottenham equalized thanks to Rodrigo Bentancur, followed by a goal from Brennan Johnson just before halftime.
Additionally, Bournemouth managed to grab a late equalizer against Fulham, finishing their match 2-2, while Crystal Palace came from behind to secure a 2-1 victory over Southampton, now sitting at the bottom of the table. The fluctuating dynamics at both ends of the Premier League create an intriguing landscape as teams vie for points in the ongoing season.
