Manchester United poured on the misery for flagging Premier League champions Manchester City as late goals by Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo snatched an unlikely 2-1 away victory from the jaws of defeat on Sunday. Ruben Amorim's first Manchester derby looked like ending in a third successive league defeat after Josko Gvardiol's header put City ahead but Ivory Coast youngster Diallo tuned the game on its head in stunning fashion.
Diallo was fouled by City's Matheus Nunes after latching onto a dreadful back pass by the same player with Fernandes stroking home the penalty in the 88th minute. City had hardly got over that shock when seconds later it became the "Diallo Derby" as he sent the visiting fans into delirium with a superb finish from the tightest of angles.
What was initially a worrying slump in form by champions City has now snowballed into a full-on nightmare before Christmas for Pep Guardiola's side as they have now lost eight of their last 11 games in all competitions, winning one. They stay fifth in the table with 27 points from 16 games, nine points behind leaders Liverpool having played a game more. United remain in the bottom half with 22 points but will hope their smash-and-grab raid at The Etihad Stadium will spark a move up the table during the festive period.
Southampton sack manager after 5-0 thrashing by Spurs
Southampton sacked manager Russell Martin shortly after his side's 5-0 drubbing at home to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday left them rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table. The humiliating defeat, in which Spurs scored five times in the first half, left Southampton on five points from 16 matches. Martin was the second Premier League manager sacked on Sunday after second-bottom Wolverhampton Wanderers parted company with Gary O'Neil.
Martin was appointed in June 2023 and guided Southampton to promotion via the playoffs last season, earning plaudits for his side's attractive style of football. This season, however, they have been brutally exposed in the top flight, losing 13 of their opening 16 games and seemingly on course for a quick return to the second tier.
Four Premier League managers have been sacked this season with Steve Cooper leaving Leicester City and Dutchman Erik ten Hag being dismissed by Manchester United.
Chelsea close in on Liverpool
Buoyant Chelsea moved within two points of leaders Liverpool on Sunday as goals from Marc Cucurella and Nicolas Jackson earned them a 2-1 victory over neighbours Brentford, their fifth Premier League win in a row.
Chelsea pushed Brentford back from the start, with 15 attempts on goal in the first half, but it was not until the 43rd minute that Cucurella raced into the area and dived athletically to head Noni Madueke's cross past goalkeeper Mark Flekken. It was the Spain fullback's first Premier League goal for Chelsea. But his triumphant night was spoiled after the fulltime whistle when he received a second yellow card for shoving Kevin Schade.
Ten minutes from the end, Jackson had squeezed the ball inside the near post for his ninth Premier League goal of the season after latching on to a pass from Enzo Fernandez. Jackson said the players had listened to their manager and followed his game plan. "We did that. It was more difficult at the end because they wanted to score again," the striker said.
Brentford, whose Premier League tally of 32 goals scored is second only to Chelsea's 37, finally got on the scoresheet when the ever busy Mbeumo pulled a goal back in the last minute of regulation time to give Chelsea, now four points clear of third-placed Arsenal, a nervy finish.
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