Premier League fans can rejoice in the knowledge that there is no more international football until 2026 after another agonising two-week wait for the return of the top-flight.
But the wait was worth it after a scintillating Gameweek 12 that saw 26 goals, plenty of drama, and a few results that could tip the balance of the title race as we barrel feet-first into the festive period.
On Saturday, 14 teams were in action, with Chelsea’s win away at Burnley the curtain-raiser for a chaotic afternoon to follow. West Ham and Bournemouth played out a four-goal thriller, while Brighton left it late to complete their comeback against Brentford.
Elsewhere, Sunderland were stung by defeat for the first time since the beginning of October, and Liverpool were rocked at Anfield once again, losing in embarrassing fashion to Nottingham Forest.
Newcastle faced Manchester City in the evening slot, and Pep Guardiola’s men were handed a crucial blow to their title aspirations. That was compounded further on Sunday, when Arsenal dominated the north London derby against Tottenham to go six points clear at the top.
The scores are in, but who truly backed it in GW12 of the Premier League? And who bottled it when the pressure was on? Once again, BOYLE Sports has all the answers.
Backed It or Bottled It? Premier League Gameweek 12 Recap
Star of the Weekend
Star of the Weekend: Eberechi Eze
What a way to make a name for yourself in the north London derby.
Eberechi Eze was at the centre of the biggest transfer saga of the summer, which saw him snub Tottenham at the last minute to sign for his boyhood club, Arsenal.
The 27-year-old then decided to rub salt in the wounds of the Lilywhites, by scoring a hat-trick in his first derby appearance for the Gunners.
He became the first Englishman to score in his first north London derby for Arsenal since Ian Wright and Kevin Campbell in 1991, and it took his total tally against Spurs to six goals and an assist, his most prolific return against any opponent in the Premier League.
While Richarlison might have had the pick of the bunch with his stunning, long-range strike at the Emirates, it was Eze who emerged as the hero, becoming the first Arsenal player to score a hat-trick against Spurs since Alan Smith in 1978.
On a weekend where the pressure was on the Gunners to cement their spot at the summit of the Premier League table, there was no stuttering from Mikel Arteta’s side, despite missing club captain Martin Odegaard, powerhouse defender Gabriel and striker Viktor Gyokeres.
If they were not favourites already, Arsenal would have to undergo a serious collapse to fail in their pursuit of the crown. BOYLE Sports now have the Gunners sitting at just 4/9 to claim their first title since 2004 .
Flop of the Weekend
Flop of the Weekend: Erling Haaland
On a night where Erling Haaland could have bagged his 100th Premier League goal, the City star was a shadow of his usual self against Newcastle.
The Magpies’ backline deserves credit after joining Aston Villa and Tottenham as the only two teams to stop the Norwegian striker from scoring against them in the Premier League this season.
Haaland’s blank also means he will have to wait a bit longer to take his total season tally to 20 goals in all competitions. Had he bagged at St James’ Park, the 25-year-old would have become the third-earliest Premier League player to reach that tally, behind Andy Cole (1993-94) and Haaland himself (2022-23).
Can Erling Haaland break his own record of 36 goals in a Premier League season?
The ex-Borussia Dortmund man will undoubtedly be disappointed with his performance, but the setback will not be likely to dent his chances of claiming the Golden Boot this season.
Instead, Haaland’s worries will be on whether the loss at Newcastle could be a damning one in the title race, with Arsenal given more room to breathe than City would have liked after making the trip to the north-east.
Biggest Disappointment
Biggest Disappointment: Liverpool & Alexander Isak
Arne Slot will be feeling the pressure on Merseyside after another damning loss at Anfield, with the 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest summing up Liverpool’s season.
Virgil van Dijk launched a brutal assessment of his side’s recent form, but it will be his fellow countryman most at risk. Slot is currently 7/2 to be the next head coach sacked , just behind favourite Daniel Farke and Fulham’s Marco Silva - a bleak situation for the Dutchman to be in.
But he was not helped by his players on the pitch, particularly the anonymous Alexander Isak.
Can Nick Woltemade match or surpass Alexander Isak’s impact at Newcastle this season?
Liverpool’s £125 million summer signing started but barely touched the ball against Forest - just 14 times in fact - and has now become the first player in the club’s Premier League history to be on the losing side of each of his four starts.
Additionally, Liverpool have now lost back-to-back games by three or more goals in the top flight for the first time since 1965. Time is running out for the Reds, who are completely faltering in their title defence and are at serious risk of falling away from the European places as well.
Performance of the Weekend
Performance of the Weekend: Arsenal
While Eze has rightfully been recognised for his role in the 4-1 demolition at the Emirates, Arsenal’s overall performance against Tottenham was impeccable.
Aside from a stunning goal from the visitors, the home side had total control of the derby, and were barely made to work for the win.
Eze’s hat-trick was the 400th scored in the Premier League era, with no team having more different scorers than the Gunners.
Was Arsenal's draw at Sunderland a title-deciding moment?
Every player on the pitch could be praised, from David Raya in goal, to Piero Hincapie stepping in for the injured Gabriel to Declan Rice bossing the midfield, and Leandro Trossard for opening the scoring on Sunday afternoon.
It is now just one loss in their last 33 home games against their fiercest rivals, and the feeling in the red half of north London will undoubtedly be one of pure joy as they move to six points clear at the top.
On the other hand, concern in the Spurs camp continues to grow, with Thomas Frank’s side accumulating just 0.17 expected goals (xG) across their two biggest games this season, against Chelsea and Arsenal. With that being the case, it is not surprising to see Frank priced at as little as 10/1 to be the next manager sacked .
Surprise of the Weekend
Surprise of the Weekend: Nottingham Forest
It’s easy to pile on Liverpool for their role in the collapse at Anfield, but Nottingham Forest deserve just as much recognition.
Sean Dyche’s side were brilliant from start to finish, scoring three goals without reply, and lifting themselves out of the relegation zone in the process.
Only four teams have visited Anfield in the Premier League and won by three or more goals. They join Chelsea, West Ham and Manchester City in the history books, in what was a real statement win in the recovery under Dyche.
Where Will Nottingham Forest Finish This Season?
In more good news for the club, Forest’s impressive display on the road has significantly increased their odds of being relegated this season.
The Midlands side are now available at just 6/1 , compared to the damning 1/14 odds placed on Wolves after their 2-0 loss to Crystal Palace.
Forest may have boasted just 26% possession at Anfield, but they fashioned more shots on target (7), big chances (2), and duels won (56) than Liverpool.
Moment of the Weekend
Moment of the Weekend: Harvey Barnes Stuns City
In the absence of Anthony Gordon, it was going to take something special for Newcastle to overcome Manchester City. But up stepped Harvey Barnes to pull the strings in a brilliant 2-1 win for the Magpies.
Eberechi Eze’s hat-trick moment could have easily taken this spot, but Barnes’ seven-minute brace proved to be the difference in a huge match at St James’ Park, denting the visitors’ title hopes and giving the hosts a much-needed win after a disappointing start to the campaign.
The 27-year-old’s performance puts him on a pedestal alongside Tyneside royalty. Barnes’ quickfire double saw him become the first Newcastle player since Alan Shearer in 2003 to score twice against City in the Premier League.
Will Newcastle finish in the top half of the table this season? (PL 25/26)
Barnes has had to wait for his moment to prove his worth since joining the club from Leicester in 2023, but this may be his crowning moment as Newcastle look to claw their way back up towards the European places.
The former Foxes star was great value for his two goals as well. No player had more shots (4), touches in the opposition box (5) and touches in the final third (14).
His moments of magic may not have propelled Eddie Howe’s side into the top half of the table just yet, but the Magpies are certainly now on the road to recovery, and have even seen their chances of making the top four chopped to just 6/1.
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