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
Jurgen Klopp happy Liverpool are within ‘punching distance’ of Premier League top four
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insists he is happy to be within “punching distance” of the top four as he looks to mount a bid for Champions League football in the second half of the season.
Inconsistent results meant the Reds headed into the World Cup break in sixth place, seven points behind fourth-placed Tottenham – albeit with a match in hand – and a huge 15 adrift of leaders Arsenal.
But a run of eight wins in 10 fixtures prior to the cessation of the Premier League suggested they had ironed out those rogue results and – although their return to action saw the defence of their Carabao Cup end at the hands of Manchester City – Klopp has his eyes on a renewed battle.
Jurgen Klopp happy Liverpool are within ‘punching distance’ of top four
Inconsistent results meant the Reds headed into the World Cup break in sixth place
HT Aston Villa 0-2 Liverpool
Liverpool have control of this match at Villa Park. Can the home side respond in the second half?
Half-time: Aston Villa 0-2 Liverpool
45+3 mins: There goes the whistle to bring the first half to a close. Liverpool have a two-goal cushion against an Aston Villa side giving it a decent go.
If the home side can score first after the break then it’s very much game on.
Aston Villa 0-2 Liverpool
45 mins: Three minutes of added time to play before the half-time break.
Aston Villa 0-2 Liverpool
43 mins: Lucas Digne gets clipped on the ankle by Joel Matip and winces in pain before limping away. That challenge caught him right on the back of his foot and hurt but the Villa defender is okay to play on.
Aston Villa 0-2 Liverpool
40 mins: That second goal could be a killer for Aston Villa. The hosts have had their moments but haven’t been able to take any of them and Liverpool look hungry in the final third.
Villa just need to get to half-time without conceding another goal.
GOAL! Aston Villa 0-2 Liverpool (Van Dijk, 37’)⚽️
37 mins: Two for Liverpool! Trent Alexander-Arnold whips the ball into the penalty area this time and it pinballs around before breaking to Mo Salah at the back post.
He’s got his back to goal so lays the ball off to Virgil van Dijk who volleys a shot at goal. The ball takes a deflection off Ezri Konsa which wrongfoots Robin Olsen allowing it to sneak into the far bottom corner.
Aston Villa 0-1 Liverpool
35 mins: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain brings the ball down the left wing for Liverpool and flicks a pass round the corner to get Nunez into the box. He cuts inside before searching for Salah at the far post.
The ball skips through the six-yard area but Mings beats Salah to the ball and pokes it behind.
Aston Villa 0-1 Liverpool
32 mins: Aston Villa are looking bright but they’re vulnerable on the counter-attack whilst playing with this high line. Jordan Henderson slips one down the line just as Ezri Konsa steps up to get ahead of Darwin Nunez.
Nunez carries the ball into the right side of the box and curls a cross over to Andy Robertson but Tyrone Mings turns the ball behind before the offside flag gets raised.
Aston Villa 0-1 Liverpool
29 mins: Chance! Liverpool’s clearance sees them boot the ball up the pitch and get Darwin Nunez in behind Ezri Konsa. Nunez watches the ball come over his own head and meets it on the volley.
The striker goes for goal but his effort is too soft and Robin Olsen gets safely in behind the ball.
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