Summary

  • Liverpool miss host of chances as Man Utd hold them to goalless draw

  • FT: Arsenal 2-0 Brighton - Jesus & Havertz send Gunners top of table

  • FT: Brentford 1-2 Aston Villa - Moreno & Watkins score as Villa come from behind to win

  • FT: West Ham 3-0 Wolves - Kudus (2) & Bowen give Hammers comfortable win

  1. Postpublished at 54 mins

    Liverpool 0-0 Man Utd

    Ryan Gravenberch breaks into space in the middle. He finds Luis Diaz, who tries to cut inside Diogo Dalot on the edge of the box but Dalot sticks in a well-timed boot to deal with the danger.

  2. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 17:41 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2023

    #bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only - standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826

    Barbour is deluded. His ‘Ultimate PL derby’ includes one team that has never won the PL, or even a trophy since 2008. The other hasn’t won the PL since 2003.

    Peter, Cornwall

    Contender for the most overrated PL fixture. 2nd half can only get better

    Josh the neutral, York

  3. Postpublished at 52 mins

    Liverpool 0-0 Man Utd

    Liverpool have won every single game at home so far this season so if Manchester United can get a draw it will be an excellent result.

    A long way to go but at the moment Liverpool are having real trouble getting in behind the visitors' defence.

  4. Hojlund 'not getting the service'published at 17:38 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2023

    Liverpool 0-0 Man Utd

    Dion Dublin
    Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

    It's non existent for Hojlund at the moment.

    He's making the runs and putting himself in good positions but he's just not getting the service.

    Then when he does, he's not putting them away.

  5. Postpublished at 50 mins

    Liverpool 0-0 Man Utd

    Liverpool are once again camped firmly in the Manchester United half. The ball is worked out wide to Darwin Nunez, whose cross for Mohamed Salah is a bit too high.

    The two then trade roles as Salah tries to play in Nunez at the near post but the striker can't get there ahead of Andre Onana.

  6. Postpublished at 17:37 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2023

    Liverpool 0-0 Man Utd

    Raphael Varane rallies the fans at the end of the first halfImage source, Getty Images

    As the first half came to an end, Raphael Varane asked the Manchester United fans for more.

    What can the away side do in this second half?

  7. 'Possession doesn't win you games'published at 17:36 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2023

    Liverpool 0-0 Man Utd

    Dion Dublin
    Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

    United haven't done much but they've defended well. They're still in the game as possession doesn't win you games.

  8. Postpublished at 48 mins

    Liverpool 0-0 Man Utd

    Trent Alexander-Arnold is into the box for Liverpool but it is a difficult angle for the shot and he puts it into the sidenetting.

    Still, it is once again a positive start to a half by the hosts.

  9. Postpublished at 47 mins

    Liverpool 0-0 Man Utd

    Liverpool, perhaps unsurprisingly, are the side immediately on the attack after the restart but a couple of balls into the box are batted back out by the Manchester United defence.

  10. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 17:33 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2023

    #bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only - standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826

    I hate to be realistic on this, but Erik Ten Hag is not the type of coach Man Utd need at the moment. Even if we talk about the likes of Man City and Liverpool being way ahead of us, I expect him to at least get his team to play good football (basic pass and support). If he can't do that, he is not worthy to be there.

    Martin, Tanzania

  11. Emery unhappy with 'behaviour' of players during winpublished at 17:33 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2023

    FT: Brentford 1-2 Aston Villa

    Aston Villa

    Brentford v Aston VillaImage source, Getty Images

    More from Aston Villa boss Unai Emery, speaking to Match of the Day: "At the end some moments, some behaviour, of us as well, I'm going to manage our behaviour and take control of it. I will analyse it with our players because it was not normal.

    "We were a bit excited and we needed control of ourselves. When you are reacting like that, other players and the other opponent is maybe not being in good behaviour like the match needed.

    "I'm going to manage everything we did that was not good and our mistakes in our behaviour.

    "Maybe it's not the best for football and for us but always we have very good behaviour with the referees, always respect their decisions, VAR and I will keep doing the same.

    "The players are reacting to circumstances from the opponent or from supporters and we are human but we have to build the team and in difficult moments we can control our mind and be under control."

  12. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 17:33 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2023

    #bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only - standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826

    This is still a big fixture. England's two most successful clubs - History and 'bigness' just cannot be erased.

    Julian, Swansea

    To Aniu from Tanzania: Did you consider it a big game during the 31 years when Liverpool couldn't win the league? Or when Liverpool were winning the league every year? Or in '74 when United were relegated? I think you simply do not understand.

    Mike, South Africa

  13. KICK-OFFpublished at 46 mins

    Liverpool 0-0 Man Utd

    We're back under way at Anfield.

  14. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 17:31 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2023

    #bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only - standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826

    Al: Something's telling me that like their last win at Anfield in 2016, United will score from their first shot on target!

    Jack: Good luck to the MOTD highlights team in getting anything from those 45 minutes

  15. Postpublished at 17:31 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2023

    FT: Arsenal 2-0 Brighton

    Brighton & Hove Albion

    Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi: "Arsenal had more energy. They were in a different physical condition. They were better, they were stronger. We fought in the right way.

    "We suffered a lot. We're not used to this type of game. We suffered too much. Football can be like this.

    "We played better than Fulham, Sheffield United and Burnley did [in their draws at the Amex this season]."

    On Joel Veltman: "He feels his knee. I hope there will be not a big problem. We are playing without a lot of injured players. He's an important player for us."

  16. 'I was surprised how well we started the game'published at 17:30 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2023

    West Ham 3-0 Wolves

    West Ham United

    West Ham boss David Moyes speaking to BBC Match of the Day after his side's 3-0 win over Wolves: "We played really well against Freiburg in midweek, we just won the group and another really good performance today. It was a hard game, the Premier League is really difficult, every game is very hard. Today was no different.

    "When you are playing on Thursday night, I was surprised how well we started the game, how positive we were, how aggressive. The start of the second half we didn’t come out as strongly, a tight VAR call went our way. The margins in the Premier League are so tight, it could have swung either way. Wolves were playing very well at the time.

    On Lucas Paqueta and Mohammed Kudus: "They were both fantastic. Paqueta gets three assists and Mo’s finishes were brilliant, they weren’t easy. He finishes them off well as does Jarrod.

    On getting through to the Europa League last 16: "We’ve got to keep hanging in there and go a bit unnoticed. The players are doing a brilliant job. We’ve got a [League Cup] quarter-final to look forward to, the Europa League to look forward to, we’re in a good position in the Premier League.

    "I still think we’ve got more to come. I think we can play better and find that towards the second half of the season."

  17. 'The scoreline isn't a true reflection of the game'published at 17:30 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2023

    West Ham 3-0 Wolves

    Wolves

    Wolves boss Gary O'Neil speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "Three terrible goals to concede, gave West Ham all of them, I'm really disappointed with those. Some of the good spells we had - no one wants to hear about those when we’ve lost 3-0 and it looks like a comfortable win for West Ham.

    "The scoreline isn’t a true reflection of the way the game went, but if we are going to be so poor in some of our decision making, it’s the Premier League and you get punished."

    On the goals: "Disastrous first coal from our corner, all over the place. I don’t think he should score form there, he goes through Nelson [Semedo’s] legs. So a poor goal, and then we commit down the left and lose the ball in a poor area in the second. Then an even game where we have lots of shots blocked near the goal.

    "We score a fantastic team goal to get ourselves back to 2-1 but its deemed offside by a really small margin, a large point in the game and how we lose the second half 1-0 is incredible after the control we had and how much we were in the final third. Disappointed."

    On getting a yellow card: "No issues with the referee but I was really surprised with the booking, I thought it was incredibly harsh. I don’t want to complain about it, but it was the Coufal foul, he doesn’t even getting a yellow. I haven’t seen it back so I don’t want to moan about VAR."

    On not having a set centre-forward: "We’re a bit short in top end of the pitch. There’s a few reasons for why we aren’t tat the level we want to be, but we are getting closer. The future of the group and where we want to get to is in a really good place.

    "Today is a bad day for us and we have to accept that, but we will be absolutely fine."

  18. 'Arsenal played much better than us'published at 17:29 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2023

    FT: Arsenal 2-0 Brighton

    Brighton & Hove Albion

    Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi: "I’m disappointed with the result but not the other things. We deserved to lose. Arsenal played much better than us. They deserved to win the game. There was too big a difference between the two teams. They played a great game. We suffered a lot. We defended well, we felt in a good way. Today they played much better.

    "We had the chance to score three times in the second half. Maybe it could have been different but we didn’t deserve any points. Arsenal played a great game. We have to accept it. We spent a lot of energy on Thursday evening and we prepared for this game with one meeting. Sometimes we have to be honest and congratulate Arsenal. I think they’re the best team in the Premier League this season.

    "I’m really proud of the players. They fought like lions today. We’re not used to this type of game. We’re used to more possession, chances to score, more control of the game. Honestly today was difficult.

    "Arsenal had more time to prepare this game. A lot of their first XI didn’t play on Tuesday."

  19. 'We lost a bit of our mind'published at 17:29 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2023

    FT: Brentford 1-2 Aston Villa

    Aston Villa

    Aston Villa manager Unai Emery, speaking to Sky Sports about the incidents between both sets of players towards the end of the match, said: "Of course we are happy with the result and how we recovered. I'm not happy with our behaviour. I want to analyse with the players.

    "It's not my spirit. We try to respect everything but when they are on the pitch, they are excited and some nerves were showing. Things can happen like that, but I want to work on it.

    "The red card of [Boubacar] Kamara and some individual behaviour in my team, I don't want them to do it.

    "My message is respect everything, respect the opponent, respect ourselves, respect the referee. Today we lost a bit of our mind in some behaviours. I want to focus on the recovery and try to control it. We have to continue creating and building our team.

    "Winning the match and coming back was amazing but there's still work to do with how to handle situations after the goal. I don't really want these situations in my team."

  20. Postpublished at 17:29 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2023

    Let's catch up with some of the reaction to the earlier games.