Premier League 2017-18 – Match Week 18

Monday 18th December 2017

Gylfi Sigurdsson scored a superb strike against his former side as Everton beat Swansea 3-1 on Monday, with the result leaving the visitors bottom of the Premier League table.

The Swans opened the scoring at Goodison Park when Leroy Fer (34) tapped home at the back post but Everton levelled things up in the 46th minute with Dominic Calvert-Lewin lashing home the rebound from a saved Wayne Rooney penalty.

Sigurdsson – who made a £45m move from Swansea in the summer – produced a moment of magic to put the hosts ahead in the 64th minute with a fine curling effort, Rooney sealed Everton’s victory from the penalty spot after Martin Olsson was adjudged to have fouled Jonjoe Kenny.

Sunday 17th December 2017

Goals from Philippe Coutinho, Dejan Lovren, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino gave the Reds the win and took them above Burnley and Arsenal, although they are still 18 points behind leaders Manchester City.

This result came after Liverpool had only managed draws in their home matches against Everton and West Brom earlier this month.

Manchester United moved back within 11 points of Premier League leaders Manchester City with a victory at The Hawthorns that means West Brom remain winless under Alan Pardew.

Romelu Lukaku opened the scoring with a header, and Jesse Lingard doubled United’s lead before the break with a shot that deflected in off Albion defender Ahmed Hegazi.

The Red Devils appeared to be heading for a comfortable win until Albion substitute Gareth Barry poked home from close range with 13 minutes left.

But the Baggies could not add to their first goal in four games under Pardew, and remain second from bottom.

Saturday 16th December 2017

Ilkay Gundogan, in for the absent David Silva, headed City in front from a corner after 14 minutes and the only surprise was that it took until 20 minutes before time until man-of-the-match De Bruyne’s powerful shot extended their advantage.

Gabriel Jesus struck the post with a penalty after Jan Vertonghen fouled De Bruyne but Raheem Sterling crowned a sweeping move with a simple finish to put the game well and truly out of Spurs’ reach.

Sterling then took advantage of Eric Dier’s mistake to walk in the fourth for his 15th goal of the season before Spurs – for whom Harry Kane and Dele Alli were lucky not to get red cards from referee Craig Pawson for challenges on Sterling and De Bruyne respectively – pulled one back in stoppage time through Christian Eriksen.

Huddersfield’s Elias Kachunga scored his first Premier League goal when he tapped in after Watford had failed to clear a corner.

The visitors doubled their lead after only 23 minutes when a cross from the excellent Collin Quaner hit Aaron Mooy six yards out and went into the net.

Hornets captain Troy Deeney was shown a straight red card for a lunge on Quaner in the 33rd minute and Huddersfield added a third when Laurent Depoitre capitalised on a slip from Jose Holebas and smashed the ball past Heurelho Gomes.

Huddersfield skipper Jonathan Hogg was dismissed for two bookable offences and Watford’s Abdoulaye Doucoure pulled a goal back with a superb 25-yard half-volley.

However, the visitors added a late fourth as Mooy grabbed his second goal when he converted a penalty after Doucoure fouled Depoitre in the area.

Noble converted the penalty, while Austria international Arnautovic should have had a hat-trick, hitting the woodwork twice in the second half before finally finishing with his right foot into the bottom corner after a deft exchange of passes with Lanzini.

Substitute Sakho compounded Stoke’s woes when he collected the influential Lanzini’s through ball and slotted coolly past keeper Jack Butland.

Marcos Alonso’s winner sent Chelsea level on points with second-placed Manchester United, who boast a better goal difference and face West Brom on Sunday.

But both sides are 14 points adrift of City after the leaders recorded their 16th consecutive win with victory over Tottenham.

West Brom dominated the first half at the Amex, with Anthony Knockaert striking the post, before Murray headed straight into the gloves of Nick Pope from close range.

Murray should have made his side’s territory count when he won a penalty against James Tarkowski, but his wild effort flew over the crossbar.

Fifth-placed Burnley had the better of a second half in which Tarkowski saw a header cleared off the line by Dale Stephens, before a superb double save from Mat Ryan denied Scott Arfield from close range.

In the first top-flight meeting between the sides, Chris Wood spurned the best chance for the visitors, when his attempted chip was blocked by Ryan.

The result sees the south-coast club stay 13th.

Mesut Ozil’s brilliant volleyed goal in the first half was enough for Arsene Wenger’s side, who dominated until Newcastle rallied late in the game.

Palace had failed to score in their past 10 league away games but added a second goal of an organised and adventurous performance before the break when Benteke’s strong run and pass set up Wilfried Zaha for a brilliant individual finish.

Leicester only tested goalkeeper Julian Speroni when they rallied in the second half – the Argentine reacting superbly to reach Riyad Mahrez’s angled low drive with a strong palm.

And any potential comeback was hamstrung when Wilfred Ndidi was sent off on his birthday less than a minute after Vicente Iborra’s header was correctly disallowed for a foul.