Brighton and Hove Albion, Brentford and Leeds United all registered key Premier League wins this weekend in the early Sunday matches.
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It was an eventful day of action in the Premier League on Sunday (January 2). The day’s early kick-off saw three matches begin at the same time.
Brighton and Hove Albion took on Everton at Goodison Park, Brentford hosted a resurgent Aston Villa and Leeds United face off against a visiting Burnley.
Brighton ran out 3-2 winners against Everton, whereas Brentford secured a 2-1 win over Villa. Leeds, meanwhile, put some distance between them and the drop zone with a 3-1 win.
The 3-2 scoreline, in truth, flatters Everton. Brighton took the lead in the third minute thanks to Alexis Mac Allister’s neat finish after collecting Neal Maupay’s knockdown.
Dan Burn then doubled their lead with a well-placed header. But Everton were handed a lifeline when Enock Mwepu fouled Anthony Gordon inside the penalty area.
Sadly for the Toffees fans, Dominic Calvert-Lewin – making his first appearance since late August – fired the spot kick against the bar.
However, Everton grew into the game and early in the second half got their reward. Gordon’s deflected effort went in and the lead was suddenly halved.
But the next goal was scored by Brighton, as Mac Allister rifled one into the top-tight corner. At that point, the game looked dead and buried.
Yet there was to be plenty of last-minute jitters for Graham Potter’s men. Gordon scored again from a Jonjo Kenny cross and, with 14 minutes still left to play, anything seemed possible.
Thankfully for Brighton fans, they hung on. The result, however, will do little to ease the pressure on Rafael Benitez going into the second half of the season.
Brentford, meanwhile, had to fight back from a goal down to notch up a 2-1 win over Aston Villa. The visitors had taken the lead thanks to a cool finish from Danny Ings in the 16th minute.
However, they could not build on that lead. Yoane Wissa levelled things for the Bees with a curling strike just three minutes before the break.
And the newly-promoted side left things late to secure the win. Mads Roerslev, who had set up Wissa’s goal, scored on the rebound after his first shot was saved by Emiliano Martinez.
The result keeps Brentford in 12th, one point above Villa in 13th.
Most points won from losing positions in 2021/22:
1️⃣2️⃣ West Ham
1️⃣1️⃣ Everton
✨ 9️⃣ Brentford ✨#BREAVL pic.twitter.com/nDzy0ZE098— Premier League (@premierleague) January 2, 2022
Leeds also needed a late flurry of goals to get past Burnley. Jack Harrison gave Marcelo Bielsa’s men the lead in the 39th minute.
However, Maxwel Cornet equalised with a free-kick in the 54th minute and it looked like another long slog was in store for Leeds.
Stuart Dallas ensured that wouldn’t be the case when he restored their lead in the 77th minute. And Leeds put the result beyond doubt in injury time, with Dan James getting their third.
Burnley now sit 18th in the table with 11 points, level with Newcastle but ahead only on goal difference. Leeds, meanwhile, sit 8 points clear of the drop zone in 16th place with 19 points.
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