MANCHESTER, Dec 27: Coronavirus postponements aside, 28 goals in the Premier League’s six Boxing Day games provided a heavy dose of drama even without changing the complexion of the title race.
Even Manchester City, coasting at 4-0 after 25 minutes, managed to shake things up with a 10-minute second-half implosion to end up delivering a nine-goal thriller. The 6-3 win over Leicester left the defending champions six points in front.
Chelsea is now level on points with Liverpool after coming from behind to beat Aston Villa 3-1. Arsenal is six points further back but in high-scoring form, routing last-place Norwich 5-0.
City has now won nine consecutive matches in its title defense to gain top spot and pull clear.
The early goal blitz saw Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan score from open play and Riyad Mahrez and Raheem Sterling net from penalties.
Leicester threatened a comeback when James Maddison, Ademola Lookman and Kelechi Iheanacho scored in 10 second-half minutes but Aymeric Laporte’s header and Sterling’s second eased City’s path to victory.
Romelu Lukaku hadn’t scored in the Premier League since the home game against Villa. Lukaku took 11 minutes to find the net after glancing in from Callum Hudson-Odoi’s cross. A foul by Ezri Konsa to cut out Lukaku’s run then led to another penalty that Jorginho converted in stoppage time.
Tottenham’s Lucas Moura scored one and set up goals for Harry Kane and Son Heung-min. Wilfried Zaha was sent off in the 37th when Palace was already trailing 2-0 after flinging his arms at Davinson Sanchez having already been booked.
Arsenal’s fourth consecutive league win came with a sparkling performance that saw Bukayo Saka score twice, Kieran Tierney net, Alexandre Lacazette convert a penalty and Emile Smith Rowe add in stoppage time.
Brighton celebrated a first league win in 12 attemptswith a 2-0 win over Brentford.
West Ham lost 3-2 to Southampton. (AP)
