Arsenal vs West Ham LIVE: Premier League result and final score as Eddie Nketiah goal completes comeback
Arsenal 3-1 West Ham: The Gunners extended their lead at the top of the Premier League table to seven points after a second-half comeback at the Emirates
Arsenal moved seven points clear at the top of the Premier League table after goals from Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Eddie Nketiah completed a second-half comeback against West Ham.
The Premier League leaders were missing the injured Gabriel Jesus for the first time this season and trailed at half time after Said Benrahma converted a first-half penalty.
But in the absence of Jesus, Arsenal’s other forwards stepped up when Saka and Martinelli scored in the space of five minutes to flip the Boxing Day fixture on its head, with Nketiah adding a third with a brilliant turn and finish shortly afterwards.
The win was Arsenal’s fourth in a row, moving them seven points clear of Newcastle and eight ahead of Manchester City, and came as former manager Arsene Wenger returned to the club for the first time since his exit in 2018.
Follow all the reaction from the final Premier League outing on Boxing Day below
Unai Emery ‘excited’ about plans to bolster Aston Villa’s squad in January
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery admits he is more than happy with his current squad but is “excited” about their plans for the January transfer window as he aims to bolster his pack.
The upcoming transfer window will be Emery’s first opportunity to bring new players in since he replaced Steven Gerrard, who was sacked in October.
Although Emery has highlighted the importance of freshening up his side, he does not want to lose focus on upcoming games against Liverpool and Tottenham before any business can be done, and he has underlined the significance of those who will have a part to play over the next week.
Unai Emery ‘excited’ about plans to bolster Aston Villa’s squad in January
The upcoming transfer window will be Emery’s first opportunity to bring new players in
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
The solitary previous Boxing Day league fixture between these teams was Liverpool’s 2-1 away victory in 2001. Will they repeat that performance or can Villa shock the Reds today?
Aston Villa vs Liverpool team changes
It’s been a while since Aston Villa had a competitive outing and as such Unai Emery has made four changes to his starting XI. Ashley Young starts at right back in place of Matty Cash with Ollie Watkins and Leon Bailey up top.
Robin Olsen starts in goal ahead of Emi Martinez.
Jurgen Klopp makes six changes to the Liverpool team that lost to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup last time out. Alisson returns in goal with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk joining Joel Matip and Andy Robertson in defence.
Jordan Henderson and Fabinho bolster the midfield whilst Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain starts alongside Mo Salah and Darwin Nunez.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool line-ups
Aston Villa XI: Olsen; Young, Konsa, Mings, Digne; Kamara, Luiz, McGinn; Bailey, Watkins, Buendia
Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Thiago, Henderson; Salah, Nunez, Oxlade-Chamberlain
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
Aston Villa have lost eight of the nine most recent league meetings between these two teams with the exception being an extraordinary 7-2 home victory in October 2020.
Liverpool’s only other defeat in their past 21 Premier League visits to Villa Park came in May 2011. They have won here 14 times, drawn four times and lost twice in that run.
Domestic football back with a bang as Man City edge Liverpool in Carabao Cup thriller
It is a moot point how many of the world’s best managers are found at the World Cup these days but two of the finest were found in the Carabao Cup, shifting attention back to domestic duty in typically compelling fashion. This is not the trophy Pep Guardiola has admitted he needs to complete his time at Manchester City. But, while he dreams of the Champions League, he moved closer to a record fifth League Cup, eliminating the holders Liverpool FC and beating his old nemesis Jurgen Klopp.
It was the night the club game returned with a vengeance, wresting the attention from its international counterpart, suggesting the standards can be higher here, illustrating that many of the sport’s finest forwards were not seen in Qatar in the last month. Three of them scored, in Erling Haaland, Riyad Mahrez and Mohamed Salah, though the match-winner was the only World Cup quarter-finalist to start, in Nathan Ake.
Arguably the evening’s outstanding figure was one of the World Cup’s great underachievers, in Kevin de Bruyne, who set up City’s first and third goals. Having controversially, if correctly, deemed Belgium too old to succeed in Qatar, he looks likelier to secure silverware in the colours of his club.
Domestic football back with a bang as Man City edge Liverpool in Carabao Cup thriller
Man City 3-2 Liverpool: Erling Haaland was among the goals as City edged a thrilling clash to reach the quarter-finals
Aston Villa vs Liverpool prediction
A tricky Boxing Day clash for Liverpool, who need wins quickly to launch themselves up the table, against a Villa side who have been brought some stability since Unai Emery’s arrival.
Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool predicted line-ups
Aston Villa: Olsen; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne; Kamara, Luiz, McGinn; Bailey, Ings, Bunedia
Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Thiago, Henderson; Salah, Nunez, Carva
What is the team news?
Aston Villa No 1 Emiliano Martinez will be unavailable, Emery confirmed, as he is given an extended period of rest following his World Cup exploits and celebrations in Argentina. Robin Olsen will deputise, while the match also comes too soon for Jacob Ramsey as he looks to recover from a hamstring injury.
James Milner picked up a hamstring injury in the loss to City and will miss another return to a former club, but both Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold are expected to return to the fray.
Roberto Firmino’s availability is thought to 50-50 due to a calf issue, but Alisson Becker is expected to return in goal.
Where can I watch Aston Villa vs Liverpool?
The game will be played at 5:30pm GMT on Monday 26th December at Villa Park.
This and all other Boxing Day fixtures will be shown live on Amazon Prime Video. That means while it’s not on a terrestrial or digital TV channel, it can be streamed via any TV or device which has access to the Prime Video app or desktop website. If you’re not an Amazon Prime Video subscriber start a free 30-day trial here.
We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments