Friday 27 / December / 2024
LONDON: Leeds United pulled off the surprise of the weekend with a 2-1 win away to Premier League leaders, Manchester City on Saturday lunchtime.
Stuart Dallas's winning goal in injury time gave Leeds all three points after a brave second-half display with 10 men after Liam Cooper's sending off.
Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola rested several key players, such as Phil Foden and Kevin de Bruyne for the game against the side coached by his mentor Marcelo Bielsa and saw how Dallas's first goal put Leeds ahead two minutes before halftime with a shot that went in off the post.
The VAR then controversially decided Cooper's followthrough after winning the ball was worthy of a red card just before the end of the half and although Ferran Torres equalized with 15 minutes to go after waves of City pressure, Dallas won the game in injury time in a rare counterattack as City's 29 shots in the game brought no reward.
Chelsea produced a first-half whirlwind to take a 3-0 halftime lead away to Crystal Palace with Kai Havartz putting them ahead after just eight minutes and Christian Pulisic doubling the advantage two minutes later.
Kurt Zouma added a third after 30 minutes after Mason Mount's free-kick and the defender had another header cleared off the line at the end of a dominant first-half display from Thomas Tuchel's side.
Christian Benteke pulled a goal back for Palace in the 63rd minute, but Pulisic's second of the game assured the win for Chelsea.
Trent Alexander-Arnold's injury-time goal allowed Liverpool to come back from a goal down to beat Aston Villa 2-1.
Aston Villa beat Liverpool 7-2 earlier in the season and they took the lead through Ollie Watkins two minutes before halftime although Liverpool was unlucky to see the VAR rule out a goal moments later.
Mohamed Salah equalized in the 57th minute and the right-back sealed the win with a shot from outside of the box following a corner.
Adama Traore's late goal gave Wolves three points away to Fulham and added a further dint to the home side's survival hopes on Friday night.
