In a jaw-dropping statistic, Arsenal and Chelsea are tied in almost every aspect of the Premier League table after Gameweek 13. However, the Gunners are currently ahead of the Blues in the standings, and it's not because of alphabetical order. A little-known Premier League rule has come into play, which looks at the teams' goal difference, goals scored, and points collected in head-to-head matches. With this twist, Arsenal has the edge over Chelsea, and fans are left wondering how the tables could turn in their next encounter at the Emirates Stadium.
The FA Cup third round draw has been announced with defending champions Man Utd facing a tough match at Arsenal, while new Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy expresses his surprise at receiving multiple job offers. Meanwhile, McLaren has petitioned for an investigation into Lando Norris' penalty during the FIA race, sparking debates about fairness in the sport. In the world of science, CrowdScience looks into finding ways to improve our sense of direction and asks experts for their insights. Fans of war dramas can also look forward to the return of Steven Knight's popular series, SAS Rogue Heroes, soon on iPlayer.
Chelsea midfielder Cole Palmer's blunt response to whether his team is a contender for the Premier League title has left fans in stitches. Despite their impressive form, Palmer believes it is too early to make any claims about their title chances. Manager Enzo Maresca echoes this sentiment, stating that his team still has room for improvement before they can seriously consider themselves title contenders.
During game week 13 of the 2024/2025 Premier League season, Liverpool secured a 2-0 victory over reigning champions Manchester City, opening up a nine-point lead at the top of the table. Meanwhile, Arsenal and Chelsea both recorded big wins, which landed them at joint second place with 25 points each. However, Arsenal was ranked ahead of Chelsea due to a better goal difference, but fans were surprised to see this given that both teams had the same points and goal difference. According to Premier League rules, if teams have the same points, the first tie-breaker is based on the points accumulated, followed by goal difference.
Chelsea put on an impressive performance at home, easily defeating Aston Villa with a 3-0 result. The team's captain, Enzo Fernandez, and Cole Palmer linked up for a brilliant goal, while Wesley Fofana suffered a hamstring injury that will likely keep him out for five weeks. The win puts Chelsea in third place in the Premier League, behind Arsenal on alphabetical order. Keep up with the action and highlights from the game live.
Sky Sports' coverage of the Premier League match between Chelsea and Aston Villa was disrupted by technical problems, forcing the commentary team to improvise and bring in former Villa defender Micah Richards. Despite the early hiccups, Chelsea managed to secure a convincing victory, with goals from Nicolas Jackson, Enzo Fernandez, and Cole Palmer. Villa's manager Unai Emery expressed frustration with a disallowed goal in their previous Champions League match, while Chelsea's manager Enzo Maresca praised the performance of loanee Jadon Sancho.
In a match between Arsenal and West Ham, referee Anthony Taylor caused quite a stir among Arsenal fans when he penalised Declan Rice's clean challenge on Lucas Paquetá, leading to a goal for the opposing team. Despite their stunning 5-2 victory, the fans could not believe Taylor's decision and took to social media to express their frustration. Taylor's controversial call has sparked debate among football fans, with even supporters of rival team Chelsea joining in the criticism of the referee. Ultimately, the fans feel that Taylor's decision may have hindered Arsenal's dominating performance.
As Aston Villa prepares to take on Chelsea this weekend, they will have to wait to see if their key players will be fit enough to play. Christopher Nkunku, who has been a standout player, recently became the first Chelsea player to score in his first four major European appearances. But with injuries to Pedro Neto and Malo Gusto, and Reece James currently sidelined, former Aston Villa academy player Omari Kellyman may have his chance to make his senior debut for Chelsea.
Chelsea is keeping a close eye on Brighton & Hove Albion striker Evan Ferguson as they continue their search for a center-forward. The 20-year-old Irishman, who has been a target for the Blues for some time, impressed last season with 10 goals and even scored a hat-trick in the Premier League. Despite some injury setbacks, Ferguson is still highly regarded by Chelsea, who are looking to add him to their squad alongside recent recruits from Brighton such as Marc Cucurella and Robert Sanchez. The club's previous attempts to sign Victor Osimhen and Samu Aghehowa fell through, and it remains to be seen if they will be successful in bringing in Ferguson.
Despite speculation linking them with Nigerian star Victor Osimhen, Chelsea have no plans to buy a forward in the January transfer window. The club is satisfied with their current attacking options, with forwards Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku in good form. However, an "extraordinary" offer for Nkunku could potentially force the club to reconsider their stance. Otherwise, they are focused on potential reinforcements for next season.