Manchester City’s Struggles Continue Amid Tight Premier League Race
Manchester City’s campaign seems to be unraveling as the Premier League champions struggle to find form. Over their last five matches, City have managed just one win—a record matched by Leicester City, their opponents at the King Power Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
In their most recent outing, Pep Guardiola’s side could only muster a 1-1 draw against Everton on Boxing Day. Despite Bernardo Silva giving City an early lead, a second-half missed penalty by Erling Haaland proved costly. The result leaves City 14 points behind the league leaders, having played a game more—a troubling gap for the defending champions.
Meanwhile, Leicester City’s initial resurgence under new manager Ruud van Nistelrooy has faltered. After collecting four points from his first two matches, the Foxes have now suffered three consecutive defeats, conceding ten goals and scoring just once. Their lone strike came in a 3-1 loss to Liverpool at Anfield on Thursday night. A victory over the struggling champions could provide Leicester with a crucial boost, potentially lifting them out of the relegation zone—at least temporarily.
West Ham Look to Halt Liverpool’s Charge
West Ham United have quietly revived their season, going unbeaten in their last four games and collecting eight points in the process. However, the Hammers face a daunting challenge on Sunday evening when they meet league leaders Liverpool.
Injuries and suspensions have left West Ham with a depleted squad. Key players such as Tomáš Souček, Guido Rodríguez, Łukasz Fabiański, Carlos Soler, Max Kilman, and Michail Antonio are all unavailable.
Liverpool are not without their absences. Ibrahima Konaté and Conor Bradley remain sidelined, while Dominik Szoboszlai will miss the match after picking up a suspension in the recent win over Leicester City.
Despite these setbacks, Liverpool boasts one of the most in-form players in the world: Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian star has amassed 27 goal contributions in just 17 matches this season. While Salah has a strong record against West Ham—scoring 10 goals and providing three assists—he has only found the net once in his last six encounters with the Hammers. Fans will watch closely to see if he can extend his streak of 11 consecutive Premier League matches with at least one goal involvement.
Newcastle’s Alexander Isak Shines in Premier League Scoring Race
Newcastle United continue to impress as they prepare for a Monday evening showdown with Manchester United at Old Trafford. The Magpies have surged in form, winning their last three Premier League matches while scoring 11 goals and conceding none.
Central to their success is Alexander Isak. The Swedish striker has been in scintillating form, netting nine goals in his last five appearances. His season tally now stands at 11 goals in 16 matches, putting him just behind Cole Palmer (12), Erling Haaland (13), and Mohamed Salah (16) in the Premier League scoring charts.
Isak will be confident of adding to his impressive numbers against a struggling Manchester United side. Under manager Rúben Amorim, United have lost their last three games across all competitions and failed to score in their last two outings. They currently sit 14th in the league, a precarious eight points above the relegation zone. Adding to their woes, captain Bruno Fernandes will miss the match after his Boxing Day red card against Wolves.
As Newcastle look to solidify their upward trajectory, Isak’s performance at Old Trafford could further cement his place among the league’s elite scorers.
