Premier League Roundup, Matchday 18
The 18th round of the Premier League has concluded, featuring exciting games, remarkable individual performances, and unexpected outcomes. Here is an overview of these Premier League matches.
Manchester United 1-0 Newcastle
Manchester United ended a three-match winless streak at Old Trafford by beating Newcastle United 1-0, leaving the struggling Magpies with only one win in their last 12 Premier League away games. The home side moved up to 6th place after achieving just their third league win in the past nine matches. Eddie Howe is probably disappointed with his team’s finishing in the second half, especially since they have failed to score in six of their last twelve Premier League away fixtures.
Nottingham Forest 1-2 Manchester City
Rayan Cherki netted a goal and set up another to help Manchester City achieve a 2-1 victory over a resilient Nottingham Forest side at the City Ground. This result extended Pep Guardiola’s unbeaten record against Sean Dyche in the Premier League to 17 games, with 15 wins and 2 draws. Manchester City claimed their eighth consecutive win across all competitions, maintaining pressure on Arsenal, while Nottingham Forest now occupy 17th place, just one position above the relegation zone.
West Ham 0-1 Fulham
Fulham added to West Ham United’s festive woes by securing a late 1-0 victory at the London Stadium, extending the Hammers’ winless streak in the Premier League to seven matches (3 draws, 4 losses). This outcome keeps West Ham stuck in the bottom three, five points away from safety, while Fulham, who have either won or lost their last seven league games by a single goal, move up to 10th place.
Liverpool 2-1 Wolves
Liverpool clinched a 2-1 victory against Wolves at Anfield in the Premier League to finish 2025, with both goals coming in the first half. This win boosts Liverpool’s strong record against the West Midlands side to 17 wins in their last 18 league meetings. Liverpool maintained their advantage and prevented a comeback, earning their 18th win in their last 21 top-flight games played between Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Burnley 0-0 Everton
Burnley and Everton delivered what was probably the least exciting match you will see during Christmas 2025, as their goalless draw extended Burnley’s winless streak in the Premier League to nine games. Burnley had to settle for a point that did little to improve their chances of staying up, especially after Zian Flemming struck the post in the final moments, which was one of the few moments of excitement in an otherwise dull game.
Brentford 4-1 Bournemouth
Brentford extended their impressive unbeaten streak against AFC Bournemouth to nine matches with a dominant 4-1 victory at the Gtech Community Stadium, thanks to Kevin Schade’s second Premier League hat-trick in 13 months. Some Bournemouth fans may feel uneasy heading into the final round of Premier League fixtures in 2025, especially since the Cherries sit 15th on the table, 9 points above the relegation zone.
Arsenal 2-1 Brighton
Arsenal perfectly answered Manchester City’s earlier Premier League triumph by securing a tight 2-1 victory against Brighton & Hove Albion, achieving their sixth straight Premier League win at the Emirates Stadium. With this third consecutive Premier League win by a single goal, the Gunners returned to the top of the league standings.
Chelsea 1-2 Aston Villa
Aston Villa rallied from a deficit to achieve a 2-1 win against Chelsea in the Premier League, recording their third victory in their last four visits to Stamford Bridge. This marked Aston Villa’s 11th consecutive win, keeping them only three points behind the league leaders. Chelsea experienced their first defeat in four matches across all competitions, placing them in fifth position.
Sunderland 1-1 Leeds
Sunderland extended their unbeaten home league streak this season to nine games following a 1-1 draw with Leeds United, marking the first draw in 11 Premier League meetings between the two teams. Farke’s squad couldn’t convert their control of the match into a winning goal and had to settle for a point. However, since this result increased their lead over the relegation zone to seven points, it wasn’t a bad outcome. Sunderland stay firmly in contention for European qualification but will view this as a significant chance missed.
Crystal Palace 0-1 Tottenham
Tottenham Hotspur earned only their second Premier League victory in nine games as Archie Gray’s inaugural goal for the team made the difference in a closely contested 1-0 win against Crystal Palace. In the end, Frank’s squad stayed strong to finish 2025 on a positive note, climbing to 11th place in the Premier League standings.
