Superb Sanchez, Leicester’s League woes: What’s Hot and What’s Not in the Premier League

As we enter the month of December, the 14th instalment of Premier League fixtures this season provided the same amount of pulsating action it has done throughout the campaign so far.

Saturday’s televised lunchtime kick-off between Manchester City and table-topping Chelsea proved to be a feisty encounter at the Etihad Stadium, with Antonio Conte’s West Londoners coming from behind to claim maximum points.

Gary Cahill’s own goal on the stroke of half-time edged City in front, though strikes from Diego Costa, Willian and Eden Hazard in the final 30 minutes made it eight wins on the spin.

To compound the misery for Pep Guardiola’s side, Sergio Aguero and Fernandinho were both sent off in injury-time.

In the 3:00pm games, birthday boy Christian Benteke netted a brace to ensure Crystal Palace ended a run of six straight defeats with a 3-0 win over Southampton at Selhurst Park.

Tottenham goalscorers Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son – Photo: Mark Leech / Offside.

Stoke City moved up to ninth with a 2-0 win at home to Burnley. Jon Walters and Marc Muniesa were on target to see off the Clarets at the Bet365 Stadium.

At the Stadium of Light, Sunderland recorded a third victory in a row, defeating out-of-form title-holders Leicester City 2-1, courtesy of Robert Huth’s own goal and Jermain Defoe’s strike – David Moyes’ buoyed Black Cats remain in the bottom three by just a point.

Tottenham remain fifth after putting five past rock-bottom Swansea City at White Hart Lane. Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen both scored twice, either side of Son Heung-Min’s effort.

West Bromwich Albion moved up to sixth in the standings following a 3-1 win over Watford at The Hawthorns. Goals from Jonny Evans, Chris Brunt, and Matty Phillips confirmed the three points for the Baggies.

In Saturday’s late game, a London derby between two teams East and North of the River Thames, it proved to be the Alexis Sanchez show at the London Stadium, when the forward scored a second-half hat-trick as Arsenal thrashed West Ham United 5-1.  

Sunday’s scheduled fixtures continued the drama! Nathan Ake’s 93rd minute winner completed a sensational comeback for AFC Bournemouth as they defeated Liverpool in a seven-goal thriller at the Vitality Stadium, in a contest in which the Reds had been in control of.

Leighton Baines’ 89th minute penalty rescued a point for Everton, after Zlatan Ibrahimovic had powered Manchester United into a first-half lead at Goodison Park.

So, after Matchday 14, Shoot! looks at What’s Hot and What’s Not in the Premier League…