The Premier League was at its brilliant best on the weekend even though only five matches were played. On Saturday, West Ham produced a stunning comeback against Huddersfield in a seven-goal thriller at the London Stadium.
Here are 5 things we learned from the Premiership this week;
Newcastle’s Miguel Almiron is the real deal
A lot of eyebrows were raised when Newcastle signed the Paraguayan playmaker for a club-record £20million in January. But he has been brilliant for the Magpies and that was once again the case against Bournemouth.
For Newcastle’s first goal, Almiron ran 60 yards all on his own to earn his side a free-kick – which Salomon Rondon expertly converted. He has created an average of 3.25 chances per game since joining the club – no-one in the division has created more since his arrival.
Chelsea do further damage to their top four hopes
Consistency has been the problem at Chelsea since Christmas and despite showing some promising signs of recovery in the aftermath of their EFL Cup Final defeat to Man City, they have once again lapsed into horribly familiar territory.
A 2-0 away defeat to Everton leaves them down in sixth and while they are still onlye three points off the top four, a seventh loss of the season will do little to boost the belief that they can string together a crucial unbeaten run between now and the end of the season.
Brendan Rodgers is getting the best out of the Foxes
Leicester struck late against Burnley to pile further pressure on Sean Dyche’s side – who now sit dangerously in 17th position and two points adrift of safety. But what is now clear is that Rodgers is getting the best out of the Foxes. His side put in a spirited display with ten-men on the pitch for all but four minutes of the match.
Liverpool showing title fight
Jurgen Klopp’s side were far from convincing against Fulham but they showed their title credentials by grinding out the victory at Craven Cottage to return to the top of the division.
However, one major cause for concern for Reds fans is the form of their star striker Mohamed Salah.
The Egypt international drew a blank for the fifth consecutive Premier League game in a row and many Liverpool fans took to social media to call for the forward to be dropped in their next match.
Burnley are dangerously sinking into the relegation battle
This game looked poised for a crucial Burnley victory which would have allayed their relegation fears after a recent run of poor form. The wind and rain swirled and bombarded the Lancashire terraces on Saturday afternoon, as a hot and cold Leicester City visited Turf Moor. If Burnley needed more encouragement, Harry Maguire was happy to provide it, after getting himself sent off after just over three minutes on the pitch.
Credit must go to the Foxes though, as they dug in and continued to play their way, creating big problems for Burnley despite their numerical disadvantage and early shock to the system. Burnley fans will be bitterly disappointed to have seen their side toil against ten men, as the home side managed just two shots on target all game. Wes Morgan’s late winner for Leicester leaves the Clarets stuck fast in the relegation mire with just seven games left on the board to save their skin.
The Cleveland Cavaliers will be without forward Isaac Okoro for at least two weeks after he sustained a shoulder injury during Monday’s dominant 130-101 victory over the Brooklyn Nets.
The 23-year-old was diagnosed with a sprained AC joint in his right shoulder. This is an injury that will be re-evaluated in a couple of weeks to assess his readiness to return.
Okoro, now in his fifth year with the Cavaliers, has been a reliable contributor this season. He averaged 6.6 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game.
Notably, he is shooting with exceptional efficiency, achieving career-high percentages in both field goal accuracy (49.5%) and three-point success (49.2%).
His performance reflects a steady improvement in offensive consistency while maintaining his reputation as a strong defender.
Selected as the fifth overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, Okoro built his career on stellar perimeter defence.
This season, opposing players have struggled to score against him from beyond the arc, shooting just 35.7% when he is the primary defender.
This defensive mark is the second-lowest of his career, following the 35.5% he held opponents to during the 2021-2022 season.
Okoro’s value to the Cavaliers was underscored when he signed a three-year, $38 million contract extension in the offseason. This secures his place on the team through 2027.
His blend of defensive prowess and improving offensive contributions has made him a key piece of Cleveland’s lineup.
Currently, the Cavaliers boast the best record in the NBA at 23-4, thanks to their well-rounded roster and consistent performance.
Despite Okoro’s absence, the team will aim to maintain its winning momentum while he recovers and prepares for a return to action.
The 27-year-old Nigerian international outshone Achraf Hakimi, Ronwen Williams, Serhou Guirassy, and Simon Adingra to claim the prestigious 2024 CAF Awards in Marrakech.
Before this achievement, Lookman secured a remarkable 14th position in the 2024 Men’s Ballon d’Or rankings.
His exceptional season with Atalanta, culminating in a hat-trick during the Europa League final victory over Bayer Leverkusen, undoubtedly contributed to this recognition.
When enquired about the impact of his career transitions from the English Premier League to the Bundesliga and subsequently to Serie A, Lookman shared his insights:
“I think the environment that the club (Atalanta) gave me has been very key to obviously my growth as a player.
“And also, just timing, you know, I’ve always believed in myself and to be able to achieve great things. But, yeah, the time has come and, you know, just blessed to be here.”
Lookman’s Journey from Waterloo to African Football’s Elite
Ademola Lookman’s footballing journey began at Waterloo, where he ascended through the youth ranks.
His talent caught the eye of Charlton Athletic, who offered him his first professional contract. In 2017, he made a significant move to Everton, signing a four-and-a-half-year deal.
However, limited opportunities at Goodison Park led him to seek a fresh start at RB Leipzig. A series of loan spells to Fulham and Leicester City followed.
This is where he showcased his abilities, scoring eight goals and providing eight assists in various competitions.
In 2021, Lookman made a pivotal decision by signing a four-year contract with Atalanta, joining fellow Africans Jeremie Boga and Moustapha Cisse.
This move proved to be a turning point. He flourished in Serie A and earned a more prominent role in the Nigerian national team.
Reflecting on his career, Lookman acknowledged the impact of his infamous Panenka penalty miss during his time at Fulham.
He emphasised how he transformed this setback into a source of strength. Also, he expressed his hope that his recent achievements would inspire future generations of footballers.
“Yes, they were not very happy with me, but, you know, they gave me a lot of love and support after especially the coach, Scott Parker,” he continued.
“He helped me a lot to overcome that time but like I said on the stage it’s about turning your pain into power.
“I’ve managed to do that over the past couple of years and continue to do so. To the kids out there aspiring to improve and achieve in life: life may knock you down, and it may not deal you the best cards.”
Ademola Lookman’s triumph as African Player of the Year marks a significant milestone in Nigerian football history.
He becomes the sixth Nigerian to claim this prestigious honour. This follows in the footsteps of football legends Rasheed Yekini, Emmanuel Amuneke, Nwankwo Kanu, Victor Ikpeba, and Victor Osimhen.
Despite representing England at various youth levels, Lookman pledged his allegiance to Nigeria. This includes the victorious 2017 FIFA U17 World Cup campaign.
He made his Super Eagles debut in March 2022, contributing to their 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification bid.
His brace against Cameroon in the Round of 16 and match-winning goal against Angola in the quarterfinals highlighted his impact on the team.
As Lookman continues his stellar form, he is set to feature for Atalanta in their upcoming Coppa Italia clash against Cesena. Just four days later, they will host Empoli in a Serie A encounter.
Atalanta, led by manager Gian Piero Gasperini, currently occupies the top spot in the Italian Serie A table with 37 points from 16 matches. They hold a two-point advantage over their closest rivals, Napoli.
The Friedkin Group has acquired a 94.1% stake in Everton, becoming the Premier League club’s new majority owner. The American group paid over £400 million to end Farhad Moshiri’s turbulent tenure.
The Premier League has approved the agreement reached in September. This makes Everton the 10th club that Americans own in the division.
“Today marks a momentous and proud occasion for The Friedkin Group as we become custodians of this iconic football club,” said incoming Executive Chairman Marc Watts.
“We are committed to leading Everton into an exciting new era both on and off the pitch. Providing immediate financial stability to the Club has been a key priority, and we are delighted to have achieved this.
“While restoring Everton to its rightful place in the Premier League table will take time, today is the first step in that journey.”
Club Statement: Everton Football Club acquired by Roundhouse Capital Holdings Limited, part of The Friedkin Group. 🔵
Dan Friedkin leads the Texas-based Friedkin Group and owns Serie A club Roma. The club has a reported net worth of £6.16 billion. Friedkin will serve as Everton’s board chairman, while Watts will manage the club’s operations.
The American group put forward a list of priorities for Everton. They aim to strengthen the first team, develop the academy, improve the women’s side, and enhance the club’s global reputation.
Dan Friedkin wrote an open letter expressing his pride about becoming Everton’s new majority owner.
Dan Friedkin writes to Evertonians following our takeover completion. ✍️🔵
“I take immense pride in welcoming one of England’s most historic football clubs to our global family, The Friedkin Group,” the 59-year-old said.
“Everton represents a proud legacy, and we are honoured to become custodians of this great institution.
“Whilst we are new to the Club, we fully understand the vital role Everton plays in local culture, history, and the lives of Evertonians here and around the world.
“We are deeply committed to honouring this legacy while contributing positively to the community, economy, and people of this remarkable city.”
Everton’s first match under new ownership will take place against Chelsea on Sunday, December 22nd. Members of the new ownership group are expected to attend the match.