Chelsea missed the opportunity to increase their threat to Liverpool with a poor draw at Everton (0-0), Sunday during the 17th day of the English championship. Ruben Amorim's Manchester United fell again to Bournemouth (3-0).
– Chelsea misses a step
Only six months after having inflicted a heavy defeat (6-0) at Stamford Bridge on the same Everton team, the Londoners were expecting an easier Sunday, which could have allowed them to be leaders for at least a few hours, while waiting for the result from Liverpool to Tottenham (5:30 p.m.).
This poor performance leaves Enzo Maresca's team one point behind the Reds, who have two games in hand.
After eight consecutive victories in all competitions, Chelsea deserved nothing more in the rain and wind at Goodison Park.
It was even Everton, 15th in the standings, who pushed the hardest to achieve victory in the second half. An intervention by Tosin Adarabioyo in front of Iliman Ndiaye (77th), facing the goal, at least made it possible to preserve the invincibility of the Blues (last defeat at Liverpool, 2-1, on October 20).
– New snub for Amorim
Ruben Amorim in Manchester on December 22, 2024 / Darren Staples / AFP
With seven goals conceded in three days, after the elimination in the League Cup at Tottenham on Thursday evening (4-3), Ruben Amorim had confirmation of the defensive difficulties of his team, pitifully beaten by Bournemouth (3-0).
As in the defeats against Nottingham Forest and Arsenal, Manchester United were found wanting on a set piece, with a goal from young central defender Dean Huijsen (29th).
Without Marcus Rashford, who was not retained, nor Rasmus Hojlund nor Alejandro Garnacho, who only entered in the second half, the Mancuniens waited too long to shake up their opponent.
Justin Kluivert (61st, on penalty), then Antoine Semenyo (63rd) completed the work, which allowed Bournemouth to overtake Aston Villa and Manchester City in the standings and spend Christmas in fifth position.
Thirteenth, nine points from fourth place, Manchester United may have drawn a line under participation in the next Champions League.
– Vitor Pereira in trumpet
Forty-four minutes were enough for Wolverhampton's new coach, Portuguese Vitor Pereira, to secure his first victory.
In Leicester, Gonçalo Guedes (19th), Rodrigo Gomes (36th) and Matheus Cunha (44th) ideally inaugurated this new era. This success ends a series of four defeats, which had plunged Wolves into the relegation zone and cost Gary O'Neil his place.
On the other hand, after an ideal start against West Ham (3-1) during his first match on the Leicester bench at the beginning of December, Ruud van Nistelrooy saw his team's play crumble. This defeat against a direct rival for maintenance follows a correction at Newcastle (4-0) and a draw at home against Brighton (0-0) The two points lead over Wolverhampton, still first in relegation, risks disappearing quickly after the next three confrontations (Liverpool, Manchester City and Aston Villa).
