Week 19 bridged the gap between 2024, and 2025, and some teams went into the new year in style, while others will likely be viewing the new year as a chance for a fresh start given their latest outing.

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.

Salah Leads The Charge

Liverpool’s 5–0 demolition of West Ham at the London Stadium was one of those results that makes you sit up and take notice. From the opening whistle, Jürgen Klopp’s side were relentless, fast in transition, clinical in front of goal, and utterly ruthless. Goals from Luis Díaz, Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Diogo Jota painted a picture of complete domination. For a club that prides itself on intensity, this was Liverpool at full throttle.

Mohamed Salah once again showed why he remains the heartbeat of this team. A goal and two assists underlined his influence, but his overall play was just as impressive: sharp movement, clever link-ups, and that uncanny knack of creating danger out of nothing. By the end of December, Salah had already hit 20 goal contributions in all competitions, a testament to both his consistency and his longevity at the top level. His partnership with the ever-evolving supporting cast around him, Díaz, Gakpo, Jota and Darwin Núñez, looked as dangerous as ever.

For Liverpool, this result wasn’t just about points; it was about sending a message. The win stretched their lead at the top to eight points and showcased the depth of their attacking options. Every line of the team seemed in sync, the press suffocating, the defence solid, and the finishing cold-blooded. In a festive period where champions are often made or broken, Liverpool looked like a side intent on ending the season with silverware.

It’s still a long campaign, but this performance had all the hallmarks of a champion’s statement: control, conviction, and star quality. And at the centre of it all, as always, was Salah, a player redefining what consistency looks like in English football.

Forest Continue To Rise

Few could have predicted that Nottingham Forest would be sitting second in the Premier League table as the new year approached. Their 2–0 win away at Everton capped off a remarkable first half of the season, one built on discipline, tactical clarity, and an unwavering work ethic. Goals from Chris Wood and Morgan Gibbs-White secured the victory, but it was the team’s composure and organisation that truly stood out.

This was no fluke. Forest had quietly built momentum throughout the winter, blending solid defensive foundations with a willingness to play bold, progressive football when opportunities arose. Under their new structure, they managed to turn tight games into wins, the sort of consistency that separates mid-table teams from serious contenders. What had started as a good run of form now looked like something more substantial: a genuine push for Europe.

Perhaps the most striking element of Forest’s success was their adaptability. Away from home, they showed resilience and game management; at the City Ground, they played with verve and confidence. In Gibbs-White, they had a creative spark capable of dictating play, while Chris Wood’s resurgence in front of goal added a reliable focal point. It was a balance that few sides had managed to find in such a competitive season.

Whether they could sustain it was another question, but in that moment, Forest’s rise felt like a breath of fresh air in a league too often dominated by the same names. From relegation battles to the top two in the space of a year: it was a story that reminded everyone why football remains gloriously unpredictable.

City’s Morale Boost

Manchester City arrived at Leicester needing a result, and got it. Their 2–0 victory at the King Power Stadium may not have been spectacular, but it was exactly what the champions required: a stabilising, confidence-restoring performance. For a side that had looked uncharacteristically off-colour in recent weeks, this was a return to structure and simplicity.

City’s goals came from Savinho, who continues to impress in his debut Premier League season, and Erling Haaland, whose header in the second half ended a rare scoring drought. That moment mattered almost as much as the three points themselves. Haaland’s relief was visible, and with it came the sense that City might just be shaking off their mid-season lethargy. The Norwegian’s rhythm and City’s overall attacking cohesion had been missing of late, but this felt like the start of something more familiar.

Pep Guardiola, managing his 500th professional game, cut a measured but satisfied figure on the touchline. He admitted afterwards that City weren’t at their best, but the performance carried hallmarks of the discipline and patience that have defined his tenure. The team managed the game well, kept a clean sheet, and reasserted control, small details that mean a lot in a title race.

No one at City would claim the slump was over just yet, but this win was an important reminder: even when not at their most fluent, they remain capable of grinding out results. In a season of fluctuating form and high pressure, that resilience could prove decisive.

Game of the week: Tottenham Hotspur 2-2 Wolverhampton Wanderers With Spurs having a poor 2024, Wolves look refreshed as they claim a valuable point to help their survival chances. For Tottenham, going in at half-time level, and conceding so late on piles pressure onto Postecoglou who will be happy to leave 2024 behind.

Player of the week: Mo Salah It’s becoming a bit repetitive to talk about Salah’s efforts, but another goal and 2 assists helped them to cruise to victory over West Ham, and showed once again that a new contract has to be on the cards for their talismanic forward.