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1. Rogers and Emery Combine for Heist

Are match outcomes sometimes deceive? It's a valid query. Aston Villa's winning streak persisted with a win over Manchester United, but so did the persistent questions. Statistically, they were inferior by several measures – a lower shot count (12-15), reduced ball control (43-57), not as many golden opportunities (2-3). Once again, the victory was by a narrow margin. Consistently, the xG metric painted a different picture: according to data United were narrowly ahead 1.31-1.02. But, as every fan knows games are decided on the pitch, not on spreadsheets. They are won by collective effort, astute coaching and moments of magic – and Villa possess each ingredient. The young forward could be considered their primary talisman, but he’s delivering with festive regularity. The Villa manager is wily, battle-hardened, five years ahead of the United boss. Should Rogers have benefited from a positional error, that was probably because the manager identified that Yoro was playing out of position, and instructed his winger to take up a wide position, cut in and torment him. Skill and strategy, in perfect harmony.

2. The Amorim Conundrum: Still Searching for Answers

When Manchester United beat Brighton 4-2 last month, their fans began to believe again. They secured three league games on the bounce for the initial occasion under their manager. They had risen to fourth. And the wins were solid results – over Brighton (one of their many bogey teams), Liverpool (on the road!) and Sunderland (at home, against a promoted club, but still – a comfortable clean sheet). Senne Lammens looked solid, the attack was exciting and morale was high. But then United slipped into a slump. In a run of eight matches, two wins, six games without a win. Against Aston Villa they were the more dominant side without ever appearing likely to triumph. Yes, their forward scored an excellent finish, but he also failed to convert a golden opportunity. Yes, United were cursed by absentees (to key players), but they gave away cheap scores. After 13 months in England, the coach continues to struggle with how to win consistently.

3. Arteta's Men Win Ugly to Return to the Summit

It was a late Saturday start on the holiday period but a noticeable shortage of fluency in the attacking areas made for a drab affair. For Everton, the issue came as no surprise with offensive players absent, and the experienced winger struggling to lift an entire team by himself. In many respects it is surprising that the Toffees were in fifth place in the table not long ago given they have played the entire season without a reliable number nine. For Arsenal and their manager, while he relished a hard-fought three points and reclaiming first place of the table, the flaw should be just as worrying given their title aspirations in the Premier League. Arteta insisted that positive results will inevitably become bigger with graft and determination. But it is somewhat premature in the season for a team that can start with elite players, while leaving exciting options on the bench, to be needing to win ugly.

4. Guardiola's Strict Festive Regime for Champions

Over the festive period the Catalan coach will check the weights to ensure his Manchester City players have not overdone the festive fare. Guardiola said the players asked to have a rest day after their recent victory but he declined because the performance was insufficient. So the schedule involves rehabilitation, training for the squad players, and post-holiday, then 48 hours of preparation for the next fixture. The manager outlined how improvements can be made. “I’m good at reading what happens in the game, where are the spaces – if the players were in the right areas, we could create more.” Pep also intends to enjoy a rest: “I will be on vacation with the family and champagne. I'll visit Barcelona – it's a great city, the food is superb.”

5. A Costly Goal: Isak's Injury Mars Liverpool Win

Alexander Isak’s goal at Tottenham felt, for a brief instant, as a turning point. This was precisely the reason Liverpool invested heavily for him to do, to unlock stubborn defences with his intelligent runs and finishing ability, and the calmness with which he converted from good service boded superbly. So the scene of his substitution immediately, the victim of a ill-judged tackle, was a huge concern for the Dutch coach and frustrating for fans who would like to see a top-class forward hit full tilt again. There are fears Isak has picked up a serious leg injury and he probably endures a long time on the sidelines. It would be a major blow with Liverpool having snuck up on the top four, putting together a string of positive results featuring Isak’s initial goals in their colours. Their campaign trajectory appear heavily dependent on those of their prize asset.

6. Did Chelsea Get Away with One?

Managers often lament contentious refereeing decisions as a means of shifting the focus from matters they wish to avoid discussing. The 13 points Newcastle have squandered when ahead this season seems a case in point. Their manager certainly did not seem overly keen to mention that unfortunate habit following his side’s inability to hold onto a 2-0 lead against Chelsea in a game they eventually tied. Yet Newcastle’s manager was surely justified in criticising a decision made by the referee not to award his team a penalty following a blatant body check on their winger. With the score then 2-1, a penalty could have altered the outcome. Was the decision to offer the defender the benefit of considerable doubt informed by Gordon’s reputation for being skilled at winning penalties and sometimes going down too easily? Analysis from a respected pundit was revealing. “He anticipates the contact,” came the observation. “He expects the tackle and he's ready. I think he's looking for the foul. But the force and aggression there … it's more than just defending.”

7. A 99.17% Certainty

Brentford’s initial success on their travels this season spelled a welcome result for Keith Andrews. Instead of reveling in the win, Andrews expressed empathy for Wolves, the club he started his career with. “I spent nine years here,” he said. Wolves’ situation is increasingly desperate; Opta state – perhaps generously – their probability of going down at 99.17%, leaving little tangible to fight for beyond professionalism. A veteran player brutally spelled out|bluntly outlined|frankly