Week 14 of the Premier League season sees us heading into the festive period where the schedule will once again become hectic and dramatic, starting already with some huge clashes between the likes of Newcastle and Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United and Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest.

As always, in this post we will be picking out 3 of the biggest talking points of the weekend, along with giving out the game of the week and player of the week awards. If we’ve missed something in this post that you saw over the weekend please do get in touch with us on all the usual places (Bluesky @NextGoalWinner – Instagram @NextGoalWin), and if you prefer an audio round up of the action then do check out our YouTube channel (@NextGoalWinner) where we post weekly reviews on there of all the key talking points in the Premier League and around Europe.

6 Goal Thriller

Liverpool’s trip to Newcastle United on December 4 turned into one of the most chaotic matches of the season so far, a 3-3 draw that had just about everything. The Reds, top of the table heading into the game, twice looked to have done enough to take all three points thanks to a Mohamed Salah brace. But Newcastle refused to lie down, showing the kind of resilience that has made them a tricky proposition at home. Fabian Schär’s dramatic 90th-minute equaliser sent St James’ Park wild and left Arne Slot shaking his head on the touchline.

For Liverpool, it was a frustrating night. They dominated large spells, created plenty, and yet defensive lapses again proved costly, a recurring theme that Slot will be eager to stamp out. Salah was typically brilliant, but others around him faded as the game went on, allowing Newcastle’s energy to pull them back in. For Eddie Howe’s side, it felt like a point gained rather than two lost, especially after fighting back multiple times against the league leaders.

The result may end up feeling like more than just a single match. It tightened the title race and reminded everyone that even the best sides are vulnerable when they switch off. For Liverpool, it’s a lesson in game management; for Newcastle, it was a sign that they can still rattle the big boys even without being at full strength. A December classic that leaves everyone hungry for the return fixture.

Set Piece Issues

Arsenal’s 2-0 home win against Manchester United was a performance that spoke of control, composure, and craft. The scoreline might look routine, but the way the Gunners got there told a fascinating story: both goals came from corners, with Jurriën Timber and William Saliba finding the net. It was another reminder of how dangerous Arsenal have become from set-pieces, a product of meticulous work on the training ground under Mikel Arteta and his specialist coaching team.

What stands out about Arsenal this season is how multifaceted their threat has become. When the flowing football doesn’t quite click, they can rely on the precision of their dead-ball routines. United, by contrast, looked toothless for long spells. Erik ten Hag’s side struggled to deal with Arsenal’s physicality at corners and rarely looked capable of responding once they went behind. It was a night that underlined the growing gulf between the two old rivals, one side brimming with purpose, the other searching for direction.

This result keeps Arsenal firmly in the title conversation. Beyond the scoreline, the win reinforced the idea that they’re now a mature, balanced outfit capable of winning games in different ways. They may not yet be at their free-flowing best every week, but this Arsenal side knows how to grind, press, and punish mistakes and in a long season, that could make all the difference.

City’s Slump Ends

After several games without a win, Manchester City finally clicked back into gear with a 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at the Etihad. Kevin De Bruyne marked his return to the starting line-up with a goal and an assist, Bernardo Silva dictated the tempo, and Jeremy Doku added a late third to seal a comfortable result. On the surface, it was business as usual for Pep Guardiola’s men. Yet beneath the score line, the feeling was still one of cautious optimism rather than outright relief.

City had been uncharacteristically inconsistent in recent weeks, dropping points and looking oddly flat. This win was vital not only for morale but also to stop the growing narrative that the champions were beginning to lose their edge. Guardiola’s post-match comments struck a balance between satisfaction and realism: the performance was good, but he knows that a single win won’t silence the doubts about their title credentials.

Even so, the match offered flashes of the old City, the crisp passing, the relentless pressing, and the cutting edge that has defined their recent dominance. Whether it marks the start of another relentless run remains to be seen. For now, though, it was exactly what they needed: a reminder to everyone, including themselves, that they’re still very much in the fight.

Game of the week: Newcastle United 3-3 Liverpool With a 6 goal clash on Wednesday evening, this game puts plenty of spice into the upcoming festive calendar, as Liverpool dropping points while others play catch up could prove pivotal, while Newcastle showed they are no pushovers.

Player of the week: Mo Salah While his 2 goals and assist weren’t enough to seal all three points, Salah’s efforts are certainly worthy of recognition. With talk over his longer term future continuing, the form shown already this season definitely proves he should remain at the top table in football terms.