“December in English football is the most difficult month ever,” said former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp on more than one occasion.
“Go through it and get results,” it was Premier League winner's sage advice for the festive period, “then keep your head up and go from there”.
The burst of games either side of Christmas Day has taken a toll on the pace over the years, points have dropped and players have been lost to injury. This year's main pack has been influenced once again, with all three ArsenalLiverpool and Chelsea failed to register perfect records in this period.
As always, some made it through the festive fixture list better than others.
Only two clubs won all four of their Premier League games between mid-December and the first week of January; Newcastle United AND Nottingham Forest.
Not only do Forest boast an unblemished record, but they haven't conceded a goal since December 14th. Nuno Espirito Santo's magnificent outfit completed a perfect Christmas spell with a 3-0 win over his former employers Wolves on Monday night. That sweet triumph was also the 50th anniversary of Brian Clough's appointment at the City Ground – yet Forest's current run of six consecutive top-flight wins in a single season was a feat that even Nuno's legendary predecessor never made it.
Newcastle have conceded just one goal, going past Ipswich Town, Aston Villa and Manchester United before coming from behind. against Tottenham Hotspur during the weekend.
|
Order |
Team |
points |
|---|---|---|
|
1. |
Newcastle |
12 |
|
2. |
Nottingham Forest |
12 |
|
3. |
Liverpool |
10 |
|
4. |
Arsenal |
10 |
|
5. |
Bournemouth |
8 |
|
6. |
Manchester City |
7 |
|
7. |
Wolves |
7 |
|
8. |
Aston Villa |
7 |
|
9. |
Fulham |
6 |
|
10. |
Crystal Palace |
5 |
|
11. |
Brentford |
4 |
|
12. |
Brighton |
4 |
|
13. |
Ipswich |
4 |
|
14. |
West Ham |
4 |
|
15. |
Chelsea |
2 |
|
16. |
Everton |
2 |
|
17. |
Tottenham |
1 |
|
18. |
Man Utd |
1 |
|
19. |
Southampton |
1 |
|
20. |
Leicester |
0 |
Liverpool's lead at the top of the Premier League remains as healthy as it was before the winter break drew 2-2 with United on sunday. Arsenal could not capitalize on a rare slip-up from Arne Slot's side as the injury-hit Gunners were held to a stalemate with Brighton.
Tottenham AND Manchester United are found at the opposite end of the form table. Two members of the traditional elite managed to collect as many points as rock bottom Southampton – one. Chelsea didn't fare much better, racking up a pair of draws and defeats during a theoretically straightforward schedule against Everton (16th in the table), Fulham (ninth), Ipswich (18), Crystal Palace (15).
The only club that failed to collect any points during this period was Leicester City. With new manager Ruud van Nistelrooy a distant memory, the Foxes shipped ten goals and 54 shots in four games. The Dutch coach's midway decision to change goalkeepers, ditching veteran Danny Ward for debutant Jakub Stolarczyk, didn't pay off.
Leicester's results may have been as dismal as the weather, but they tested Liverpool and delivered Manchester City A almighty fear. Pep Guardiola's side have slowed their perilous slide of late, picking up back-to-back wins against the Foxes and West Ham that were cathartic but not entirely convincing.
However, as Klopp was only too keen to point out, festive football in England is about points rather than performances.