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Jurgen Klopp in the game against Burnley

Photo: Paul Currie / Shutterstock / IMAGO / Shutterstock

Liverpool FC took the lead in the Premier League on the traditional matchday on Boxing Day. Team manager Jürgen Klopp's team won 2-0 (1-0) at Burnley, who are second to last in the table, and moved past Arsenal (42) with 40 points. The Gunners don't face West Ham United until Thursday.

Aston Villa could have drawn level with Liverpool on Tuesday night, but squandered a 2-0 half-time lead at Manchester United to lose 2-3.

Liverpool lived up to their role as favourites early on and took the lead through Darwin Nunez (6th). The visitors remained in control of the game after that, but missed further good opportunities until the break.

The Reds were the better team even after the change. Harvey Elliott's goal (55th) was disallowed by the VAR due to an offside position by Mohamed Salah. Diogo Jota (90') made sure of the decision. John McGinn (21') and Leander Dendoncker (26') scored for Villa – the young Argentine Alejandro Garnacho (59'/71') equalised. Rasmus Höjlund's first Premier League goal (82nd) gave Man United something to cheer about.

Boxing Day was less successful for Bernd Leno. The national goalkeeper, who had a tussle with a ball boy, lost 0:3 (0:1) in Bournemouth with Fulham FC. Justin Kluivert (44'), Dominic Solanke (62', penalty) and Luis Sinisterra (90'+3') scored for the hosts. When Leno conceded the first goal, he didn't look good.

Wood's hat-trick for Nottingham

Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood kicked off the special matchday with a furious hat-trick. Thanks to the goals of the New Zealander (45+1, 53rd and 60th), the relegation candidate celebrated the first victory under new team manager Nuno Espirito Santo in the 3-1 (1-1) win at Newcastle United. At the same time, it was the first success after seven league games without a win.

Wood turned the game around after former Dortmund player Alexander Isak (23', penalty) had given the hosts the lead. Espirito Santo, former manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur, took over Nottingham the previous week after his predecessor Steve Cooper was sacked. On his debut last Saturday, the Portuguese had suffered a 2-3 defeat against Bournemouth.

Newcastle, meanwhile, are on a four-game losing streak in their last five league games and are in danger of losing sight of the Champions League places.

At the bottom of the table, Luton Town celebrated a 3-2 (1-0) win at bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United. After going 1-2 down, two own goals from Jack Robinson (77') and Anis Slimane (81') gave the visitors the victory.

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