The Premier League is back: Here’s what we learned on Boxing Day

The Premier League is back and despite fears about the potential impact of the World Cup break, it seems to have made no difference.

Arsenal are still blowing the rest of the league away, Newcastle United are still bullying teams off the pitch, Brighton & Hove Albion are still the new Southampton, and Southampton are still the new… Burnley?

After several weeks of being deprived of their press seats, our reporters have been back on the road, reporting from the Boxing Day Premier League fixtures. These are the things they learned.

Newcastle are still taking the…

“Geordie boys are taking the piss”, is what many of the 3,200 Newcastle United away supporters chanted during their 3-0 demolition of Leicester City, as they moved up to second in the table.

Some worried the World Cup break came at an unwelcome time given their five successive top-flight victories beforehand, but the pause has not impeded their momentum, at least not initially, writes Chris Waugh.

The travelling supporters — cold, wet, topless — got into the festive spirit by taunting deserting Leicester fans about empty seats being “every f***ing where” once Chris Wood, Miguel Almiron and Joelinton had scored.

Bruno Guimaraes was singled out. In turn, he clapped, then gestured to the away end with a bow. The Brazil midfielder was highlighted on television for celebrating a second-half tackle like he had just scored.

Is anyone in the Premier League enjoying themselves as much as Newcastle and their fans right now? Unlikely…

3 – Eddie Howe is only the third English manager to win more than 20 Premier League matches in a single year (21 in 2022 so far), after Kevin Keegan (24 in 1994, 23 in 1995 with Newcastle) and Roy Evans (22 in 1996 with Liverpool). Significant. pic.twitter.com/GJHIADtnHS

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 26, 2022

Fifty-six minutes is enough to judge the new Southampton

Southampton still look like relegation fodder. Boos rang around the stadium before half-time against Brighton, with Southampton 2-0 down and lacking the “new manager bounce” from Nathan Jones. When Solly March got Brighton’s third, the home crowd began to trickle out after 56 minutes, writes Jacob Tanswell.

The three goals conceded against Brighton means Southampton (68) are on the coattails of Leeds (69) for the most goals conceded in 2022, with six points in eight home games and St Mary’s an increasingly deflating place to be.

Jones changed shape five times in the game and, damningly, was onto his fourth system and third sub by the time Roberto De Zerbi decided to make his first tweak of the afternoon. The 3-1 defeat only served as a reminder that any hope of festivities at Southampton were always going to seem far-fetched.

Asked Jones whether the manner of the goals (he wasn’t happy with March being allowed to shoot for the third) showed #SaintsFC‘s brittle confidence:

“I think so. Southampton have kept one clean sheet in 17 games. That’s not good enough.”

The Q is whether he can fix this in time

— Jacob Tanswell (@J_Tanswell) December 26, 2022

The manager who came in from the cold

Arsene Wenger and Arsenal appear to be reconciled. The 73-year-old Frenchman returned to the Emirates Stadium for the first time since his departure in 2018 to take in the 3-1 win over West Ham, writes James McNicholas.

It is a significant moment — Wenger had felt aggrieved at the manner of his exit and wounds have taken time to heal. Yet on Boxing Day he watched from the director’s box and was due to meet manager Mikel Arteta in the dressing room after the game. Owners Stan and Josh Kroenke were also in attendance.

Arsene Wenger celebrating an @Arsenal goal again…

Love to see it 🥺♥️#PLonPrime #ARSWHU pic.twitter.com/vWxnkdYbWu

— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) December 26, 2022

“It was a really special day,” said Arteta. “Hopefully walking through the building he’s going to feel everything that everybody thinks of him, the legacy he left here… Thank you to him for everything he did at the club.”

The World Cup break has left some actors rusty

Footballers, we get it. After a few weeks off you’re out of practice. Your touch is off, your rhythm is off, your passes aren’t as sharp. You need time to get up to speed.

But what we didn’t expect was for you to lose your ability to fall to the floor in a fairly convincing manner to try to win a penalty.

Yet step forward Tottenham’s Matt Doherty, who may as well have said, “Oh look, there’s a leg in front of me, it’s impossible to avoid, I simply must fall over,” as he tried in vain to earn a spot kick, writes Tim Spiers.

Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo watched this, took a swig, then asked Doherty to hold his beer. Less than a minute later he produced an impression of a nervous baby seal flopping into the sea for the first time in its life.

Some things change but some things stay the same: referee David Coote kept up the time-honoured English tradition of maddening refereeing inconsistency by booking Mbeumo but not Doherty.

Mbeumo into the box, Forster out, Mbuemo goes down…..and Cootey says it’s a dive. And yeah it really was. Even worse than Doherty’s a minute ago. They’re all out of practice.

— Tim Spiers (@TimSpiers) December 26, 2022

Darwin Nunez is bizarre, but that might be OK

Darwin Nunez was the big Liverpool recruit over the summer, a £64million ($77.2m) striker brought in to score goals, writes Andrew Hankinson.

And there have been goals: five in the Premier League.

There have been… near misses. And some distant misses. And some bizarre, chaotic stuff.

Against Aston Villa, he played 88 minutes and Liverpool won 3-1, which is what matters, and the fact he might have been slightly more clinical is hardly worth mentioning.

Though has anybody got Cody Gakpo’s phone number? Jurgen’s been asking.

Darwin Núñez ended the game with more shots (6) than completed passes (4) for Liverpool, yet you come away feeling he was a key player in the win. Yet more chaos from the Uruguayan. #LFC pic.twitter.com/LG82J4Oo2n

— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) December 26, 2022

‘RIP Maxi, rave on brother’; ‘George Cohen, he’s one of our own’

Instead of walking out to Glad All Over, Crystal Palace and Fulham’s players were greeted by the sound of Insomnia, the 1995 hit by Faithless, before ‘God is a DJ’ blared through the public address system at Selhurst Park, writes Matt Woosnam.

It was a fitting tribute to the band’s singer, Maxi Jazz, who died in his sleep on Friday, aged 65. He was a staunch Palace supporter and former associate director of the club. While the band’s most famous hit Insomnia has often been part of the pre-match staple, this time it had the crowd clapping along as the players came out.

A scoreboard tribute to Maxi Jazz at Crystal Palace v Fulham (Photo: Henry Browne via Getty Images)

“RIP Maxi, rave on brother” read a banner held aloft in the 65th minute by supporters, as the crowd applauded in further tribute.

Then came a minute’s applause for Fulham hero George Cohen, the World Cup winner with England in 1966, who died on Friday, and the away support proudly sang “George Cohen, he’s one of our own”.

Without Mac Allister, Brighton were Gross

The question was how would Brighton cope away to Southampton without influential World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister, who has been given two weeks off, writes Andy Naylor.

The answer came from their versatile, evergreen German Pascal Gross.

It was Gross, not Billy Gilmour, who partnered Moises Caicedo in Mac Allister’s customary role for Brighton — in the double pivot of central midfield (he starred further forward in Qatar for Argentina).

No player involved in the afternoon kick-offs completed as many passes as Gross’ 90 or won possession more times than the 31-year-old (10).

No player to play in the Premier League today has completed as many passes as Pascal Groß (90). 🥇

No player to play in the Premier League today has won possession more often than Pascal Groß (10). 🥇@OfficialBHAFC pic.twitter.com/KC4EHhwoGG

— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) December 26, 2022

He gave away the penalty for Southampton’s consolation, but Gross continues to demonstrate his value to the team, no matter where he plays.

Gilmour, introduced in the closing moments, could make his first Premier League start for the club alongside Gross when Arsenal visit on New Year’s Eve, as a late caution for Caicedo means the Ecuador star is suspended.

Fulham are living the American dream

With Tim Ream’s goal in Fulham’s 3-0 win away to Crystal Palace, the London team now have as many Premier League goals from Americans as every other team in the division combined, writes Andrew Hankinson.

Clint Dempsey, from 2007-12, scored 50 goals in 189 Premier League appearances for Fulham.

Brian McBride, from 2004-08, scored 32 goals in 140 appearances.

Then came USMNT’s Ream, with just one goal in 49 appearances, but an important one for stat fans.

Tim Ream celebrates scoring for Fulham against Crystal Palace (Photo: Henry Browne via Getty Images)

What Lopetegui brings to the Premier League: Style and screaming

Julen Lopetegui introduced himself to the Premier League with a combination of style, passion and downright toughness that suggests he will add to the competition’s rich tapestry, writes Steve Madeley.

The new Wolves head coach cut a dashing figure on his touchline debut with a light trousers, dark turtle-neck combination that portrayed an eye for fashion of which Pep Guardiola would be proud.

Julen Lopetegui raising the Premier League’s fashion game (Photo: Naomi Baker via Getty Images)

But Lopetegui’s demeanour on the touchline was less panache, more raw emotion, leaping around and screaming at his coaches when his side made some poor early decisions on the ball, gesturing wildly at fourth official Anthony Taylor when decisions went against the visitors and celebrating joyously with fists clenched when Rayan Ait-Nouri scored a priceless late winner.

And clearly the genes that made his father Jose Antonio a champion stone lifter in their native Basque Country have been inherited by Lopetegui Junior, who ditched his overcoat early on when most of the press box remained cloaked in thermal vests, hats and gloves.

Things will get worse before they get better for Frank Lampard

The Premier League is back and so is the general sense of unease around Everton. The defeat to Wolves was another sign all is not well at Goodison, writes Patrick Boyland.

Despite taking an early lead through Yerry Mina, Everton struggled for coherence throughout, lapsed into bad old habits and allowed Wolves a route back into the game.

The paucity of options at Lampard’s disposal showed. Where Lopetegui was able to call on internationals from Portugal and Spain, as well as goalscorer Ait-Nouri from the bench, Lampard only really had Demarai Gray and youngster Tom Cannon at his disposal. The six-week break has done nothing to solve some of the squad’s most glaring weaknesses.

The pressure is on Frank Lampard…#BBCFootball #EVEWOL pic.twitter.com/AR1J6aAT2J

— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) December 26, 2022

Everton would like to strengthen a profligate attack in January but do not have the spending power of some competitors, including Wolves. That was outlined last week when Matheus Cunha, a player Everton had tracked, joined the Molineux club on loan with an obligation to buy for €50million. Lampard could only dream of such resources.

The problems do not end there for Everton. They will be equally worried by the boos that rang around Goodison at the end and the palpable frustration on the terraces during the 90 minutes.

There is some concern things will get worse before they get better, particularly with a trip to Manchester City to come on New Year’s Eve.

James Maddison’s absence was the ghost of Christmas yet to come

He might not have been on the pitch, but his absence against Newcastle United proved how reliant Leicester have become on James Maddison for their creative spark, writes Rob Tanner.

Maddison watched on from the stands, looking rather miserable after the third goal, alongside the sports physio staff at King Power Stadium.

Maddison can’t wait for the January window👀😂😂😂 #nufc pic.twitter.com/t6n9Fd2jmY

— The Magpie Channel (@MagpieChannel_) December 26, 2022

His absence left a gaping hole in an attack that took 82 minutes to register an effort on target, and it was a reminder that for the past 18 months he has been Leicester’s key figure; not just his goals and assists, but the way he inspires those around him.

Brendan Rodgers has pledged Maddison will not be sold in the January transfer window after Newcastle tried twice in the summer, but with his contract running down towards 2024, Leicester will do well to keep him.

(Top photo: Marc Atkins via Getty Images)