Comparing Arsenal & Man City's Premier League title run-ins
Mar 24 | 2 min readPremier League Matchday 15: Highlights and how to watch every game on BT TV
The Premier League was back with another set of fascinating fixtures featuring some huge games from West Ham vs Chelsea to Ralf Rangnick's Man United debut against Crystal Palace.
The Premier League returned after a round of midweek fixtures, as the games begin piling up in the traditional busy December schedule.
BT TV is once again your go-to for the ability to watch live so read on, or jump to a specific match, for all you need to know.
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Saturday 4 December
Sunday 5 December
Monday 6 December
Saturday 4 December
West Ham 3-2 Chelsea
West Ham twice came from behind to stun league leaders Chelsea as they sealed a hard-fought victory at the London Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Thiago Silva's first half header was cancelled out by Manuel Lanzini's spot-kick after Eduoard Mendy had felled Jarred Bowen with a clumsy challenge.
Mason Mount restored Chelsea's lead with a stunning volley before Bowen hauled the Hammers level with a smart finish of his own.
And the home side secured a grandstand finish when Arthur Masuaku's misshit cross wrong-footed Mendy and found the top corner.
The result means West Ham will remain in the top four for another week as they extended their lead over Arsenal and Tottenham below.
Newcastle 1-0 Burnley
Callum Wilson finally handed Newcastle their first Premier League win of the season at the 15th attempt as they rode their luck to see off fellow strugglers Burnley.
Eddie Howe’s men were decidedly second best for long periods in front of a crowd of 51,948 at St James’ Park but made the most of a slice of good fortune when Wilson blasted home his sixth goal of the season after goalkeeper Nick Pope had dropped the ball at his feet.
The 1-0 victory, which was a reward for hard work and doggedness rather than quality, lifted the Magpies off the foot of the table and, while they still have a mountain to climb, they have at least established base camp four games into their new head coach’s reign.
Wolves 0-1 Liverpool
Liverpool moved to the top of the Premier League as Divock Origi’s stoppage-time winner gave them a 1-0 victory at Wolves.
Chelsea’s defeat at West Ham earlier in the day had given Liverpool the perfect incentive for a fifth straight win in all competitions.
Jurgen Klopp’s men had scored at least two goals in their previous 18 Premier League games.
Southampton 1-1 Brighton
Neal Maupay’s last-gasp tap-in plundered Brighton a 1-1 Premier League draw at Southampton.
The French forward produced the fastest reaction after Jakub Moder’s free-kick, to deny Ralph Hasenhuttl a win on his three-year anniversary as Saints boss.
Maupay’s sixth top-flight goal in 15 appearances rescued a point for Graham Potter’s side in the eighth minute of added time, but Brighton are still winless in 11 matches in all competitions.
Armando Broja’s smart finish had for so long appeared sufficient for Saints to grab a first win in four Premier League outings.
Watford 1-3 Man City
Manchester City moved to the top of the Premier League as Bernardo Silva scored twice in a 3-1 victory over Watford at Vicarage Road.
City made the most of Chelsea’s defeat at West Ham earlier in the day with a seventh straight win in all competitions.
Silva struck twice either side of half-time to put the game firmly beyond the Hornets and climb back above Liverpool, who had won 1-0 at Wolves.
Sunday 5 December
Leeds vs Brentford, KO 2pm
Leeds United will hope Raphinha’s dramatic 93rd-minute penalty winner can be the catalyst to kickstarting their Premier League campaign after a disappointing season so far.
The Whites have been battling an unfortunate injury crisis throughout the campaign with many of last season’s key performers having been missing at some stage.
Patrick Bamford remains sidelined and Leeds have desperately missed his goals as Marcelo Bielsa’s side have found the back of the net just 13 times in the league – fewer than Newcastle and Burnley.
The burden looks likely to rest on Raphinha once again to help Leeds claim consecutive wins for the first time this season; the former Lille man has scored 46% of the team’s goals so far this season, earning seven points for Leeds in the process.
Brentford, meanwhile, will be looking to take advantage of the mid-table congestion to rocket up the league with a victory over Leeds.
Just six points separate 17th from 9th at the moment and with Brentford in 12th, they could finish the weekend in the top half if they pick up all three points.
Thomas Frank’s side have found it a little tough going of late after such an impressive start to Premier League life.
Five defeats in their last seven is a worrying trend but the Bees remain well placed to stay clear of trouble.
Man United vs Crystal Palace, KO 2pm
It’s been another eventful week at Old Trafford with their midweek victory over Arsenal marking the end of Michael Carrick’s association with the club.
The much-loved midfielder-turned-coach resigned from his position despite incoming boss Ralf Rangnick’s attempts to convince him to stay.
Rangnick, who watched on during United’s comeback victory over the Gunners on Thursday night, was impressed by the atmosphere inside Old Trafford but spoke of his desire to "bring more balance into the team" in search of “better control” during his introduction to the press on Friday morning.
However, there’s barely been time for the new manager to get his feet under the table before they welcome Crystal Palace to the Theatre of Dreams this Sunday afternoon.
United failed to win either of their league encounters against Palace last season and will find it even more tricky against the young, spirited side being fostered by Patrick Vieira this season.
The Eagles have become one of the tougher teams to face in the opening third of the season but performances have not necessarily been rewarded with the points so far.
The south London side have conceded three 90th minute goals this season – including one against Leeds in midweek - costing themselves five points in the process.
That will be an area Vieira will demand improvement over the coming weeks and, speaking to the press on Friday, Eagles assistant Osian Roberts challenged the side to rise to the occasion to spoil Rangnick’s United debut.
"He's a highly respected coach with highly talented players at the club, the options he'll have are numerous," Roberts said.
"It'll still be about our principles of play, how we want to play with and without the ball.
"If we get that right more often than not it'll hold us in good stead in terms of the performance."
Cristiano Ronaldo could miss the clash after complaining of a tight hamstring, while Luke Shaw, Paul Pogba and Edinson Cavani look likely to miss out again.
Joachim Anderson and James McCarthur will miss the Eagles’ trip north.
Tottenham vs Norwich, KO 2pm
Antonio Conte will have been pleased to see a response from his side in their first outing since a humiliating defeat to Mura in the Europa Conference League.
An own-goal from Sergi Canos and an incisive finish from Son Heung-min were enough to help the Lilywhites overcome Brentford in midweek.
And they could make it timely back-to-back wins with a victory over another newly-promoted side when Norwich head to north London on Sunday.
Spurs have won their last three home Premier League games against the Canaries, while Harry Kane will be licking his lips having scored five in his last three appearances against the East Anglian outfit.
Kane’s struggles this season have been well documented but the England man remains key to Spurs’ chances of surging towards the top half of the table.
Norwich, meanwhile, are looking to build on a decent start to life under their own new manager as Dean Smith’s mini-revival continues to breathe life into a side who previously looked doomed for the drop.
They’ve taken eight points from their last four games, racking up two more points than they’d managed in the previous 25 combined.
It remains a tough ask to keep Norwich out of the drop zone this season but a victory against an inconsistent Spurs could put them level on points with Watford in 17th if other results go their way.
Milot Rashica, Mathias Normann and Sam Byram will be absent for the visitors while Cristian Romero and Dane Scarlett miss out through injury for the hosts.
Aston Villa vs Leicester, KO 4.30pm on NOW via BT TV
Steven Gerrard’s impressive start to life in the Aston Villa hot seat continued with a brave showing against Manchester City in midweek.
Villa fans won’t be too disheartened by a 2-1 defeat to the reigning champions, particularly off the back of wins over Crystal Palace and Brighton in Gerrard’s first two games in charge.
Remarkably, that defeat to City was only Gerrard’s second league defeat in his last 55 matches.
He will be desperate to avoid adding another to his record against a Leicester side that Villa lost at home to last season.
The Foxes have had a good record against their Midland rivals in recent times, winning five of their last seven encounters – as many as in their previous 22 meetings against the Villains.
It’s been a testing season for Brendan Rodgers’ men however; Leicester have not quite kicked on as many believed they might and they are without a clean sheet in their last 14 away games.
That poor defensive record has contributed to an inconsistent campaign that sees them parked in 10th nearing the midway stage of the season.
There remains plenty of time for Leicester to rediscover some positive momentum to carry throughout the campaign but Rodgers will want that to happen sooner rather than later given the hectic festival schedule coming up.
Jamie Vardy is back among the goals this year will be hoping to fire his side to victory once more; only Mo Salah has scored more times than the 34-year-old in the league this season.
Monday 6 December
Everton vs Arsenal, KO 8pm on NOW via BT TV
Two sides nursing painful midweek defeats to rivals go head-to-head on Monday night as Everton face Arsenal.
It’s a return to the scene of the crime for Everton who were played off the park by Liverpool in a 4-1 thrashing in midweek.
The result sparked scenes of protest in the stands with fans’ fury aimed primarily at the Everton hierarchy rather than the beleaguered Rafa Benitez in the dugout.
He has not escaped blame for Everton’s miserable run either though with the Spaniard already on thin ice due to his Liverpool roots.
In mitigation, injuries have crippled Everton this year with talismanic striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin a long-term absentee alongside defensive stalwart Yerry Mina.
Neither man looks set to return in the near future, leaving Benitez plenty to mull over ahead with a tricky set of fixtures fast approaching.
Meanwhile Arsenal failed to capitalise on an early lead in Manchester as they were beaten 3-2 by the Red Devils on Thursday night.
Mikel Arteta will have been pleased by much of what he saw in their performance at Old Trafford but Arsenal’s inability to take points off the big sides in the division will also be a growing concern.
There can’t be many better sides to play than Everton currently, given the hosts have lost six of their last seven games.
That should be the basis on which Arsenal pick up their first away win at Everton in four attempts, particularly given the impressive form of Emile Smith Rowe of late.
The 21-year-old, who found the net against United on Thursday, has had a hand in eight goals in his last 11 appearances in all competitions for Arsenal.
