Table of Contents
Hello! The Boxing Day woes eased for some Premier League teams on Sunday, and a few more have the chance to join them and end the year on a high. I’m Pardeep Cattry, with the latest version as 2024 comes to a close.
📺 Foot correction
Always US/East
Monday December 30th
EPL: Aston Villa vs. Brighton, 2:45 pm ➡️ Peacock
🏴ꠁԠԠԠԠԠ EPL: Ipswich vs. Chelsea, 2:45 PM ➡️ Peacock
🏴ꠁԠԠԠԠԠ EPL: Manchester United vs. Newcastle, 3pm ➡️ USA Network
Tuesday, December 31
🌏 Gulf Cup of Nations: Oman vs. Saudi Arabia, 9:30am ➡️ ESPN+
🌏 Gulf Cup of Nations: Bahrain vs. Kuwait, 12:45 pm ➡️ ESPN+
⚽ The forward line
1️⃣ Salah shines again in Liverpool’s big win
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Liverpool ended 2024 with a lopsided 5-0 win over West Ham United on Sunday, demonstrating the ease that has become their trademark under manager Arne Slot and moving them eight points clear at the top of the table.
The match provided a multi-faceted view of Liverpool’s dominance, complete with five different goalscorers. However, the focus was squarely on Mohamed Salah, who added to his goal tally by scoring his 20th goal in all competitions this season. The Egypt international’s latest strike came despite West Ham’s attempts to keep him at bay, but as James Benge noted from the London Stadium, there is simply no stopping the person who is arguably the best player in the game right now world is.
- Benge: “West Ham could have put three more men on him. They could have alternately kicked him around the pitch. It wouldn’t have really made a difference. The best player in the world will sometimes be the best player in the world. A brilliant move on the ball. ” With his heel to the goal, Konstantinos allowed Mavropanos to attempt a penalty foul. Salah was strong enough to shake it off, the ball rolling for Gakpo to double the lead. By half-time Carlos Soler was in trouble, what else could He do Given the scarcity of options in front of him, Alexis Mac Allister picked up the ball, Jones cycled it to Salah, a low drive at the near post and another season with twenty goals in the bag for the new year.
Salah is already just five goals off his tally from last season, marking an impressive improvement in form for a 32-year-old. Going into the season, few will doubt Liverpool’s decision to let the goalscorer leave on a free transfer when his contract expires in the summer. His production dipped from the 2022-23 season into the following season, especially as he enters his post-peak years as a player. However, Salah’s impressive form in this campaign has strengthened arguments that the club should offer him a new contract as he becomes an early candidate to win next year’s Ballon d’Or.
Salah has hinted that this season will be his last at Anfield, but he has reached another level with eight goals and seven assists in his last seven games. His increased production means he has had more opportunities to answer questions about his future, and on Sunday he was quick to remind that this has not changed his contractual status, saying: “No, we are a long way from that. “
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🔗 Link play in midfield
🔴Manchester United’s big test against Newcastle
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The final day of this year’s Premier League action will be headlined by Manchester United, who host Newcastle United on Monday in a clash between two teams in contrasting form.
Newcastle’s rocky start is over and Eddie Howe’s side are now in the hunt for a top-four finish with a chance to rise to fifth with a win at Old Trafford. The Magpies are unbeaten in their last four and have outscored their opponents 14 to one in that time, making them the favorites to take home all three points in their final game of the calendar year. It’s the opposite of United’s situation at the end of the year, where things slowly went from bad to worse and changed over the past year.
United have lost their last three games and recorded just two wins in their last seven, including their surprise victory over Manchester City earlier this month. Newcastle’s goalscoring streak is a stark reminder that United are shaky defensively, as recent weeks have shown: they have conceded 16 goals in their last seven games, including nine in the last three. The results are not necessarily bad for new manager Ruben Amorim, who has received the support of many famous and vocal ex-United players who have felt the need to throw in their two cents in recent days. However, it is still Amorim’s responsibility to solve the Red Devils’ problems, and they are not limited to a leaky defense.
The Red Devils have not scored in their last two games and have scored just nine goals in their last seven. The low goal tally goes hand in hand with United’s inconsistent attacking performance, which saw them go from 23 shots and 2.28 expected goals in their 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth last Sunday to 11 shots and 0.44 shots in their 2- 0 defeat against Bournemouth. Wolverhampton Wanderers Thursday. United’s goalscoring record is even more patchy against teams that have been in and around the top positions in recent years. Amorim’s team have lost each of their three games against top-five teams last season, teasing that it may be too early for big wins. the new manager settles into the job.
So the big question for United is when they will actually start to show signs of improvement – and how long is too long to make those changes.
🔗 Top stories
���� Premier League figures: Liverpool and Nottingham Forest received high marks for their performances on Sunday, while Manchester City still look mediocre despite winning only their second game since October.
🩹 Pulisic injury: Former AC Milan manager Paulo Fonseca said Christian Pulisic suffered a setback as he recovered from a calf injury, but did not give a specific timeline for his return for Milan. Fonseca was replaced by Sergio Conceicao on Monday.
🔴 Arsenal minus Saka: Arsenal recorded a 1-0 win over Ipswich Town in their first match since Bukayo Saka suffered a hamstring injury that will keep him out for another two months after undergoing surgery.
✈️ Alexander-Arnold to Madrid?: Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold may have suggested Real Madrid as his next move, but the Reds will be prepared for life without him even if he chooses to leave in the summer.
💬 Ronaldo sounds strange: In an extensive discussion, Cristiano Ronadlo argued that the Saudi Pro League is better than the French Ligue 1 and also opined that Vinicius Junior should have won the Ballon d’Or from Rodri earlier this year.
📺 Thuram on TV: Inter’s Marcus Thuram said he hopes to emulate Thierry Henry after his retirement and work in American television.
🇺🇸 Aaronson scores: Brenden Aaronson scored in Leeds United’s victory over Derby County on Sunday, equaling his career-best total of seven goals in a single season.
💰The Back Line
💵 Best bets
- Premier League: Aston Villa vs. Brighton and Hove Albion, Monday, 2.45pm
💰 THE CHOICE: Ollie Watkins scores (+135) – Aston Villa will be without Jhon Duran following his red card on Boxing Day, but Ollie Watkins is a natural contender to spearhead the hosts’ goalscoring plans. Watkins has already scored seven goals in all competitions this season and is as likely to score as anyone at Villa Park on Monday. - Premier League: Ipswich Town vs. Chelsea, Monday, 2:45 PM
💰 THE PICK: Chelsea wins 2-0 (+700) – Chelsea may have suffered a surprise loss on Boxing Day, but there is little reason to believe this will become a habit. Expect the Blues to win again on Monday with second place in sight, especially against 19th-place Ipswich Town.
For more picks, predictions, expert tips and the latest betting news, don’t miss CBSSports.com’s betting homepage.
📺 What’s on CBS Sports Golazo Network
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☀️ Morning Footy (Weekdays 8-10am): Hosts Susannah Collins, Charlie Davies, Nico Cantor and Alexis Guerreros help fans get their day started on the network’s flagship morning show with highlights, interviews and the biggest football storylines. Morning Footy is also available in podcast formso you never miss an episode again.
3️⃣ Attacking third (Monday, Thursday): The leading ladies football podcast And social brand is now a live studio show. The NWSL season is back and our coverage of the women’s game is stronger than ever. Our analysts will analyze the USWNT, NWSL and European domestic seasons throughout the year. And don’t miss it Wednesday livestreams on YouTube at 11 a.m. ET.
⚽ Call it what you want (Monday and Thursday): a weekly podcast with Jimmy Conrad, Charlie Davies and Tony Meola cover all things USMNT and the state of the beautiful game in the United States. You can watch the show live on YouTube every Monday at 1:00 PM ET and Thursdays at 6:00 PM ET.
🥅 Scoreline (Daily): Scoreline is the latest place for fans to keep up to date with all the biggest news and results impacting global football, match highlights from the best football leagues and all the unmissable goals from the day’s action, which starts on Thursday and airs for seven days a week.
📺 How to watch: CBS Sports Golazo Network is a free 24/7 channel solely focused on providing unparalleled coverage of all the top football leagues worldwide. You can stream for free on the CBS Sports App, Pluto TV And Biggest+.