🦁 Forest down Man Utd; Villa leave it late; City, Palace, Chelsea win | OneFootball

Six Premier League matches took place on the final Saturday of 2023.

Here’s what went down.

Man Utd end 2023 in familiar fashion at Forest

Scorers: Domínguez 64′, Gibbs-White 82′; Rashford 78′

Manchester United ended 2023 in somewhat familiar fashion as they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest.

Erik ten Hag’s side headed to the City Ground without Rasmus Højlund, who was sidelined for Saturday’s fixture through illness.

It took the Red Devils until after the interval to fashion a meaningful chance as Diogo Dalot crashed a first-time shot against Matt Turner’s lefthand post from outside the area.

Nicolás Domínguez produced an opener for the hosts midway through the second half with a sweeping finish from Gonzalo Montiel’s cut-back on the edge of the box.

Forest’s lead would prove relatively short-lived after erratic goalkeeping from Turner allowed Marcus Rashford to side-foot home a leveller in the game’s final third.

But no sooner had United snatched an equaliser that it was taken away from them as Morgan Gibbs-White restored the Tricky Trees’ lead at a counterattack.

Man City end winless home run against Sheff Utd

Scorers: Rodri 14′, Álvarez 60′

Manchester City ended their run of three home matches without a win and moved two points behind league leaders Liverpool when they overcame Sheffield United at the Etihad.

City dominated possession in the early stages and got their reward when Rodri ran at the Sheffield United defence and side-footed into the bottom corner to open the scoring.

Phil Foden had a good opportunity to make it 2-0 early in the second half when he latched onto a Jack Grealish ball over the top, but goalkeeper Wes Foderingham did well to snuff out the chance.

The second goal did come on the hour mark and Foden was the provider, rolling the ball across the goalmouth for Julián Álvarez to tap-in.

Villa leave it late to edge past 10-man Burnley

Scorers: Bailey 28′, Diaby 42′, Douglas Luíz (PEN) 89′; Amdouni 31′, Foster 71′

Red card: Berge (Burnley) 56′

Aston Villa needed a late penalty to overcome a valiant Burnley side despite the visitors playing much of the second half with 10-men.

The first goal midway through the first half at Villa Park and Leon Bailey was the scorer, firing into the roof of the net with the aid of a deflection.

Burnley struck back immediately, however, when Dara O’Shea headed a set-piece delivery into the path of Zeki Amdouni for 1-1.

The Clarets then thought they’d gone 2-1 up when Lyle Foster raced behind Villa’s high line and slotted in at the near post, but a VAR check confirmed he was just offside.

However it was Villa who retook the lead three minutes before half-time, and Moussa Diaby was the scorer, tapping in after Ollie Watkins had squared to him in the box.

Burnley’s hopes of a fightback were dealt a huge blow early in second half when Sander Berge was shown a second yellow card for dragging down Douglas Luíz.

Remarkably however, the 10-men did get themselves back level in the 71st minute. Foster again exposed Villa’s high line and again fired in at the near post, only this time he was just onside and the goal stood.

But Burnley’s hearts were broken in the dying minutes, when Douglas Luíz fired Burnley back in front from the penalty spot after Jhon Durán had been tripped in the box.

That result moves Villa up to second in the table and level on points with Liverpool.

Everton humbled at Molineux

Scorers: Kilman 25′, Cunha 53′, Dawson 61′

Wolves continued their high-scoring winning run with a comfortable victory over Everton.

Max Kilman drew first blood for Wolves at Molineux, poking the ball across the line after Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford had made a good save to prevent a Jarrad Branthwaite own goal.

The second Wolves goal came early in the second half and it was Matheus Cunha who got it, finishing Hwang Hee-chan’s cross at the back post and celebrating by holding absent team-mate Mario Lemina’s shirt aloft – a tribute to Lemina’s father, who sadly passed away on Friday.

Just after the hour mark Craig Dawson made it 3-0, prodding into the bottom corner to wrongfoot Pickford after Cunha’s delivery.

Pedro Neto then thought he’d made it 4-0 in stoppage time, only for his goal to be ruled out for offside.

That means Gary O’Neil’s side have now scored nine goals in their last three matches, whereas Everton remain just above the drop zone after their third consecutive defeat.

Olise and Eze shine as Palace beat struggling Brentford

Scorers: Olise 14′, 58′, Eze 38′; Lewis-Potter 2′

Brentford suffered their fifth consecutive defeat after squandering an early lead to lose at Crystal Palace.

The visitors took the lead after two minutes at Selhurst Park when Mads Roerslev found Keane Lewis-Potter with a great cross, which the forward volleyed home.

They weren’t ahead for very long, however, with Michael Olise soon turning in Jordan Ayew’s cross at the back post to equalise for Palace.

And the hosts completed the turnaround five minutes before half-time, when Eberechi Eze spun and cleanly fired into the bottom corner for 2-1.

Palace started the second half as they’d finished the first and soon went 3-1 up, with Olise bagging his second at the game, rolling into the bottom corner after the Brentford backline had backed off him.

Palmer Chelsea’s hero but Luton impress

Scorers: Barkley 80′, Adebayo 86′; Palmer 12′, 70′, Madueke 37′

Cole Palmer’s first ever Premier League double helped Chelsea beat a spirited Luton side 3-2 at a lively Kenilworth Road.

Palmer returned from suspension to take his place in the Chelsea attack whilst former Blues man Ross Barkley was named in the starting XI for Luton.

It wasn’t long though before Chelsea were in front as Palmer received the ball on the edge of the area from Hatters defender Issa Kaboré and fired into the bottom corner.

The hosts were keeping the ball well and looking dangerous down either flank but slightly against the run of play, Chelsea doubled their lead.

Noni Madueke danced his way past two Luton defenders inside the area and then rifled an effort into the roof of the net.

Luton were much the better side up up to the hour mark with Tahith Chong added a new depth to their attack.

But not for the first time today, Chelsea struck against the grain as Palmer raced in and rounded the goalkeeper before calmly slotting home.

Luton thought they were finally rewarded for all their hard work with 15 minutes to go but Elijah Adebayo’s header was ruled out for offside in the build up.

They did however, get their goal just moments later as Barkley headed in from a corner.

The hosts were pushing for a second and got it with four minutes to go as Adebayo ghosted into space at the far post and tapped in.

But despite a late rally, Chelsea held out for a victory which leaves them 10th in the table, while Luton remain 18th.

Tomorrow sees Fulham host Arsenal and Tottenham take on Bournemouth.