28 Dec 2023

Man City win at Everton, Chelsea pip Palace and Wolves beat Brentford

11:24 am on 28 December 2023
Manchester City players Phil Foden, Kevin de Bruyne and Rodri.

Man City have reclaimed first place in the EPL. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Manchester City climbed back into the Premier League's top four as second-half goals by Phil Foden, Julian Alvarez and Bernardo Silva sealed a comeback 3-1 victory at Everton.

Pep Guardiola's newly-crowned FIFA World Club champions had lost ground in the title race after a run of only one win in six league games, but they returned to domestic action in style.

Everton took the lead against the run of play through Jack Harrison's close-range finish in the 29th minute.

But Foden drilled in a superb low shot after 53 minutes and Alvarez converted a penalty after a handball by Amadou Onana.

Silva wrapped up the points four minutes from time with a sublime finish after a mistake by Everton keeper Jordan Pickford.

Champions City moved above Tottenham Hotspur into fourth place with 37 points from 18 games, five behind leaders Liverpool having played a game less.

Late penalty earns Chelsea win over Crystal Palace

An 89th-minute penalty from substitute Noni Madueke earned Chelsea a hard-fought 2-1 home victory over Crystal Palace in the Premier League London derby.

Madueke was brought down by Eberechi Eze and, after waving play on, referee Michael Salisbury was called by VAR to the screen where he signalled a foul.

Palace's Michael Olise had shown fine skill when unmarked at the far post he chested down Jordan Ayew's pass and finished deftly past Djordje Petrovic in first-half stoppage time.

The goal cancelled out a 13th-minute strike from Chelsea forward Mykhailo Mudryk who turned in a low cross from Malo Gusto.

Chelsea climbed to 10th in the table. Palace remained in 15th place.

Hwang double as Wolves ease to win at Brentford

Hwang Hee-chan scored twice to lead Wolverhampton Wanderers to a 4-1 Premier League victory over Brentford in an end-to-end mid-table clash that featured four goals in the opening half hour.

Gary O'Neil's Wolves, who netted three goals in a league game for the first time this season, moved to 11th in the Premier League table on 25 points. Brentford are 15th on 19 points, four points clear of the drop zone.

Mario Lemina opened the floodgates in the 13th minute when he leapt to head in a long cross from Pablo Sarabia, the first of three goals in three minutes.

Hwang doubled Wolves' lead a minute later when defender Nathan Collins sold keeper Mark Flekken short and the Wolves forward beat Collins for an easy finish.

Yoane Wissa pulled one back for the hosts in the 16th minute when he stretched out a leg to tap a nice flick from Neal Maupay past Jose Sa.

Hwang completed his brace when he chipped the ball around Ethan Pinnock and finished neatly before Jeanricner Bellegarde completed the rout in the 79th minute.

-Reuters