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Five things we learned from the weekend's Premier League action

Five things we learned from the weekend's Premier League action
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Manchester City lost further ground to Liverpool in the title race.

Liverpool maintained their relentless march towards the title with Leicester in hot pursuit, while Manchester City came unstuck against their derby rivals.

Newcastle made it four wins from six and Son Heung-min served up one of the goals of the season.

Here, the PA news agency looks back at five things we learned from this weekend's action.

City waving white flag?

City show their defiance on the big screen during their derby defeat at the Etihad Stadium
City show their defiance on the big screen during their derby defeat at the Etihad Stadium (Mike Egerton/PA)

City's title defence appears to be over. The often-defining Christmas fixture schedule still lies ahead, but the reigning champions' thrilling 2-1 derby defeat to Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium has left them so far behind Liverpool, even boss Pep Guardiola has conceded his side will find it difficult to catch them. No club has ever recovered from a 14-point deficit to capture the Premier League crown and, with more than half a season still to play, City will surely be looking elsewhere for silverware.

Who can stop Reds now?

Liverpool extended their club record unbeaten league run to 33 games and chalked up their 15th win in 16 Premier League matches this season by dismantling Bournemouth on the south coast. There is an air of swaggering inevitability about Jurgen Klopp's side as their comfortable 3-0 win edged them closer to their first league title in 30 years. Confidence continues to soar at Anfield and Klopp was able to rotate his squad at Bournemouth, making seven changes, but another three points were never in doubt.

Foxes relishing the chase

Leicester registered a club record eighth successive Premier League win in a clinical 4-1 win at Aston Villa on Sunday to emerge as Liverpool's closest challengers. Brendan Rodgers' side dispelled any lingering doubts that they are genuine title contenders, staying eight points adrift of the summit. The Foxes have racked up more points after 16 games than they did on their way to their stunning title success in 2016, while Jamie Vardy's brace lifted him on to 16 league goals this season.

Magpies' tails are up

Federico Fernandez celebrates his late winner against Southampton
Federico Fernandez celebrates his late winner against Southampton (Owen Humphreys/PA)

Newcastle came from behind to make it back-to-back league wins thanks to defender Federico Fernandez's late winner against Southampton on Sunday. The Magpies climbed into the top half of the table with a fourth win from their last six games and boss Steve Bruce, for now, appears to be silencing his critics. Bruce was an unpopular choice among the Geordie faithful to replace Rafa Benitez in the summer but has used all his experience and know-how to galvanise the club after a shaky start.

Super Son steals show

Tottenham bounced back from their midweek defeat at boss Jose Mourinho's former club Manchester United by thrashing Burnley 5-0 in a game that will be best remembered for Son Heung-min's stunning solo effort. Mourinho described his side's win as a "complete performance", but Son stole the headlines. The South Korean collected the ball on the edge of his own penalty area and in a devastating length-of-the-field burst left a clutch of defenders trailing in his wake before slotting home a contender for goal of the season.

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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool29217169274270
2Arsenal281510352242855
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest28156745331251
4Chelsea28147753361749
5Manchester CityMan City28145953381547
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2814594738947
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton28121064640646
8Aston Villa2912984145-445
9Bournemouth28128847341344
10Fulham2811984138342
11Crystal Palace2810993633339
12Brentford28115124844438
13Tottenham HotspurSpurs281041455411434
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd2897123440-634
15Everton2871293135-433
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham2896133248-1633
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2865173857-1923
18Ipswich TownIpswich2838172658-3217
19Leicester CityLeicester2845192562-3717
20Southampton2823232068-489


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