Premier League 2017-18 – Match Week 17

Wednesday 13th December

Wayne Rooney’s solitary close-range goal was enough for the Toffees to win their first Premier League away game since January, and extended the Newcastle’ winless streak to eight games.

Leicester took an early lead at St Mary’s with a fine individual goal from Algeria winger Riyad Mahrez, who cut in from the left before striking a low, powerful shot into the corner of the net.

Japan international Okazaki added a second just after the half-hour mark, pouncing from close range after Southampton failed to clear a shot from Christian Fuchs following a corner.

Puel’s side were three goals ahead by half-time when Maguire crossed for midfielder Andy King to tap in at the back post.

Southampton, much improved after the break, pulled a goal back after an hour through defender Maya Yoshida, who climbed highest in the six-yard box to head in Ryan Bertrand’s corner kick.

But the visitors blunted any hopes of a Saints comeback when Jamie Vardy’s cross picked out strike partner Okazaki’s brilliant run and he finished emphatically.

Silva scored twice, and further goals from Kevin de Bruyne and Sergio Aguero ensured City maintained their 11-point lead over Manchester United at the top of the table.

The Spain playmaker elegantly flicked the fluent visitors in front from close range before De Bruyne’s whipped free-kick evaded several players on its way in.

The procession continued after the interval as the elegant Silva delicately scooped the ball over Lukasz Fabianski for Manchester City’s third.

Aguero then surged into the penalty area and drove in a late fourth as Swansea’s sixth defeat from nine home league matches this season left them rooted to the foot of the table, two points adrift of safety.

Roberto Firmino screwed a side-foot finish narrowly wide before Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross eluded Mohamed Salah in the first half.

The Baggies came just as close before the interval, however, with Hal Robson-Kanu’s measured curling shot from distance flicking the bar.

Liverpool pressed further forward in the second with Salah mis-timing a header with the net gaping.

United bounced back from their defeat by rivals Manchester City with a victory, but failed to make any inroads on unbeaten league leaders City, who thrashed Swansea 4-0 to maintain their 11-point advantage.

Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku scored the winner in the first half, heading in to the top corner from Juan Mata’s cross towards the six-yard box.

Tottenham moved back into the Premier League top four as goals from Serge Aurier and the in-form Son Heung-min helped them to victory over a stubborn Brighton at Wembley.

Spurs dominated both territory and possession from the start but had been frustrated by the visitors until Aurier’s cross from the right touchline fortuitously looped over Mat Ryan and into the far top corner of the net to give the Ivory Coast full-back his first goal for the club.

It was a harsh way to concede for Albion, who had put in a well-organised defensive display in pursuit of a first win in six matches and a first away goal against a side above them in the table.

They failed to find either during the second half and their challenge was ended when Son scored for the fourth game running via a stooping header from Christian Eriksen’s free-kick.

The Gunners are without a Premier League win in three games and are now down to seventh in the table as West Ham continued their revival under new manager Moyes.

Tuesday 12th December 2017

Substitute Barnes struck in the 88th minutes to send the hosts above Spurs, Arsenal and Liverpool in the Premier League table.

The game turned when Watford’s Tom Cleverley was sent off for a second yellow card in the 87th minute, setting up a breathtaking finale.

Bakary Sako bundled in an equaliser two minutes later before James McArthur snatched the winner in the second minute of stoppage time, side-footing home from Wilfried Zaha’s cross.

The Hornets had looked comfortable until that point after Daryl Janmaat had given visitors the lead after just three minutes.

The victory for Hodgson’s Palace extends their unbeaten run to six games and sees them climb above West Brom into 17th place in the table.

France midfielder Bakayoko, substituted at half-time in the surprise defeat to West Ham on Saturday, set Conte’s side on their way by clipping the ball beyond Jonas Lossl after the Huddersfield keeper had slipped in the wet conditions making a clearance.

Brazil midfielder Willian doubled the lead before the interval with a header before teeing-up Pedro to hammer the third goal.

Substitute Laurent Depoitre headed a late consolation but Huddersfield were well beaten.