Key events
Arne Slot’s satisfaction of seeing Liverpool move level on points with fourth-placed Chelsea was tempered by concern over Alexander Isak’s departure. The Sweden striker came on at half-time but was on the pitch for only 11 eventful minutes, sustaining an injury after being heavily tackled by Micky van de Ven in the process of scoring the opening goal.
“I don’t have any news on him but if a player scores, gets injured and doesn’t try to come back on then that’s not usually a good thing,” Slot said. “I can’t say any more than that, it’s my gut feeling, not medical. I haven’t spoken to him about it yet.”
Isak and Conor Bradley are due for scans to under the extent of their injuries. With Mo Salah at Afcon, Liverpool now have only one available striker and dwindling options at right back.
It’s very much ‘as you were’ at the top of the Premier League table after both Manchester City and Arsenal won.
Erling Haaland scored twice and Tijjani Reijnders once as West Ham were swatted aside, losing to City for the seventh time in a row after conceding at least three goals in the past six meetings. Jamie Jackson was at the Etihad to see that one.
Viktor Gyökeres’ emphatic first-half penalty sealed a slender yet merited win over an Everton team missing several important components. Arsenal were more efficient than impressive and rarely troubled throughout a scrappy contest, reports Andy Hunter at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
There was more drama at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, though. Nick Ames was there to see three goals, two red cards and a ghastly looking injury to Liverpool striker Alexander Isak as the Reds beat Spurs 2-1. Isak scored to make it 1-0 before Hugo Ekitike got the second, but the Sweden international was injured as he shot thanks to a scything challenge from Micky van de Ven. Perhaps surprisingly Van de Ven did not see red, but Xavi Simons did for a careless challenge on Virgil van Dijk in the first half and after Richarlison scored to make the late stages more interesting Cristian Romero earned a second yellow for a petulant kick out.
Preamble
Good morning reader and welcome to Sunday’s matchday live! While there may only be one Premier League game today there is no shortage of action elsewhere, including the opening game of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The hosts, Morocco, take on Comoros at the newly opened Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat. It doesn’t take an expert to tell you that will be a hell of an atmosphere.
In the Premier League we have (title challenging?) Aston Villa hosting Manchester United, in a fixture that should provide a decent measuring stick for both sides. There is also a slate of Women’s League Cup quarter-finals to look ahead to, plus three of the top four in the Scottish Premiership in action.
But first, let’s take a look at the headlines from yesterday…
