Overview
- Morgan Rogers scored twice in a 2-1 win at Villa Park, delivering Aston Villa a seventh straight league victory and a tenth in all competitions.
- Manchester United were without suspended Casemiro, injured Kobbie Mainoo and others, lost Bruno Fernandes to a first-half injury, and also had players away at the Africa Cup of Nations.
- Arsenal remain top at Christmas after a narrow win at Everton, but Manchester City have closed the gap with a run of clean-sheet victories.
- Liverpool edged Tottenham 2-1 in a match that saw Spurs reduced to nine men after VAR upheld a red card for Xavi Simons and Cristian Romero was later dismissed, with Alexander Isak suffering a leg injury being assessed.
- Middlesbrough manager Kim Hellberg called Bristol City a very good team ahead of Boro’s trip to Ashton Gate in the Championship.