Premier results. Manchester United and Chelsea defeated, Aston Villa drew

Chelsea and Manchester United sink, Newcastle with Sandro Tonali still protagonist soars. These are the last verdicts, together with the draw between Aston Villa and Brighton, of the Premier League in 2024. The last match of the first round, Brentford-Arsenal, is for 6.30pm on New Year’s Eve.

manchester united 0-2 newcastle

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Forty-five: the years since the last league series of 3 knockouts in a row at Old Trafford. Four: defeats in a row with Amorim. Eighteen: the goals conceded in the 9 games in December. These are just some of the numbers from Manchester United’s disaster, dominated for half an hour by Newcastle with Sandro Tonali increasingly the protagonist. The Magpies seem from another planet as they tear the Red Devils to pieces at the start of the match, scoring two photocopy goals (cross from the left, header from a free player in the center of the area for the goal) first with the unleashed Isak just after 4′ and then with Joelinton in the 19th minute. When Tonali graces Onana by hitting a sensational post in the 31st minute, Amorim is convinced that the Eriksen-Casemiro pairing in midfield isn’t working and has to insert Mainoo: the sacrificed player is Zirkzee, who doesn’t take it very well and goes to let off steam in the tunnel before returning to the team. bench a few minutes later. United play better once they find the right structure, but the goals don’t arrive and the disaster continues: the Red Devils are 14th in the table with 22 points in 19 matchdays, they have lost 5 of their last 6 games in the Premier League and with Amorim they travel with 6 knockouts in 11 matches. Quite the opposite of Newcastle: since Howe moved Tonali to the center of his midfield, in addition to bringing out the best in the blue, he has also brought out the best in the team. The victory at Old Trafford is the fourth victory in a row in the Premier League, all without conceding a goal, which is worth overtaking Manchester City in 5th place and 32 points in the standings.

Ipswich-Chelsea 2-0

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The Blues fall again. After the upset suffered at Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day against Fulham, Enzo Maresca’s team also loses at Ipswich, who close the group with goals from Delap (penalty in the 12th minute) and the former Hutchinson (53rd minute) first leg by winning their first home match of the year. 20 shots (only 5 on target), 17 chances and 75.7% of ball possession weren’t enough for Chelsea to score and straighten out the situation: they remain in fourth place in the standings with 37 points, but Maresca didn’t have two consecutive games never lost and now he has to understand why. For Ipswich the victory is oxygen: it is worth 15 points in the standings and the third last place ahead of Leicester.

Aston Villa-Brighton 2-2

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Stop again. Aston Villa and Brighton had to settle for a point each at Villa Park, but both would have liked more. Emery’s team caught up in the 81st minute after overturning the initial deficit and enjoying a victory to keep pace with the best; the seagulls, ahead first, were unable to interrupt the winless streak which now lasts 7 games. The good news for Emery are the goals from Watkins and Rogers, who confirm themselves as the best in form, the bad news is Pau Torres’ injury and the two goals conceded, which brings 5 ​​consecutive matches without keeping a clean sheet (and 7 of the last 8). Brighton’s last victory remains the one on 23 November against Bournemouth: since then two defeats and 5 draws, with the one at Villa Park taking them to 27 points in the standings. Aston Villa has 29, fewer than expected at the end of the first round.