Newcastle United Thrash Ipswich Town with Alexander Isak’s Hat-Trick
Newcastle United continued their surge up the Premier League table with a commanding 4-0 victory over Ipswich Town at Portman Road. Alexander Isak was the star of the show, netting his first Premier League hat-trick as the Magpies secured their third win in a week, scoring an impressive 11 goals in the process.
The match couldn’t have started better for Newcastle, as Isak opened the scoring just 25 seconds after kick-off. Jacob Murphy found space on the right wing, and although his cross was blocked, the ball fell to Isak, who smashed it past Arijanet Muric.
Alex Isak hits a hat-trick! pic.twitter.com/0OuWvlvW63
— Newcastle United (@NUFC) December 21, 2024
Newcastle maintained their attacking dominance, and Murphy added a second in the 32nd minute after Anthony Gordon’s mazy dribble created the opportunity. A defensive mix-up from Ipswich allowed Isak to double his tally on the stroke of halftime, leaving the Tractor Boys reeling at 3-0.
Nine minutes into the second half, Isak completed his hat-trick with a deft finish from Murphy’s inventive backheel, sealing the 4-0 result. Eddie Howe’s side now sits just one point behind Manchester City in the table, while Ipswich remains in 18th and faces a potential drop to 19th should Wolverhampton win their Sunday fixture against Leicester City.
Nottingham Forest Outclass Brentford to Climb to Third
Nottingham Forest continued their remarkable Premier League resurgence with a 2-0 victory over Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium. Ola Aina and Anthony Elanga were the scorers as Forest capitalized on defensive errors to secure three vital points.
The first half was a cagey affair, with both sides struggling to create clear-cut opportunities. Brentford’s Yoane Wissa failed to punish a defensive lapse by Morato in the 21st minute, and the Bees were made to pay when Aina surged forward in the 38th minute to convert Neco Williams’ precise cross.
Nottingham Forest are the first team to win at Brentford this season! @NFFC | #FestiveFixtures pic.twitter.com/xeusxnBJoD
— Premier League (@premierleague) December 21, 2024
Forest doubled their advantage just six minutes into the second half. A costly mistake by Keane Lewis-Potter allowed Elanga to intercept the ball and calmly slot it past the Brentford goalkeeper. Despite a valiant effort from Kristoffer Ajer to reduce the deficit, Forest’s Matz Sels produced a superb save to maintain his clean sheet.
With this victory, Nottingham Forest moves up to third in the Premier League standings, albeit temporarily, as Arsenal have a chance to overtake them with a win against Crystal Palace later in the evening.
West Ham and Brighton Share Spoils in Heated Encounter
West Ham United and Brighton & Hove Albion played out a 1-1 draw at the London Stadium in a match marked by high tension and second-half drama. Mats Wieffer and Mohammed Kudus scored in quick succession, but neither side could find a winner.
The first half was a physical battle with few clear opportunities, as both teams focused on containing each other. The referee was kept busy, issuing three yellow cards and officiating 20 fouls in the opening 45 minutes.
FULL-TIME: WEST HAM 1-1 BRIGHTON
• Wieffer M.
• Kudus M.Wieffer and Kudus score as West Ham and Brighton draw 1-1.
pic.twitter.com/7KdQ7rG6CY— Football Videos (@BarcaEvadon) December 21, 2024
The second half brought much-needed excitement, with Wieffer capitalizing on a Lukasz Fabianski error to give Brighton the lead in the 51st minute. However, the Seagulls’ advantage was short-lived as Kudus pounced on Bart Verbruggen’s deflection to equalize six minutes later.
Both teams appeared content with a point as the game progressed, with neither side taking significant risks. The draw keeps Brighton in sixth place, closing the gap to three points behind Manchester City, while West Ham remains five points adrift of their Saturday opponents.
Premier League Highlights and Key Stats
- Newcastle’s Rise: The Magpies’ 4-0 win against Ipswich solidifies their position as one of the league’s in-form teams. Isak’s hat-trick underlines their attacking threat, as they now sit just one point behind Manchester City.
- Forest’s Third Spot: Nottingham Forest’s tactical discipline and clinical finishing earned them a crucial win against Brentford. They move to third place, at least temporarily, ahead of Arsenal’s fixture against Crystal Palace.
- Brighton Resilient: Brighton’s draw with West Ham showcases their ability to grind out results, as they inch closer to Manchester City in sixth place.
- Ipswich’s Struggles: The Tractor Boys remain winless at home and face a daunting run of fixtures against Arsenal and Chelsea during the Christmas period.
Upcoming Premier League Fixtures
The Premier League action continues on Sunday with a series of intriguing matchups:
- Everton vs. Chelsea (17:00 GMT): Sean Dyche’s Everton will look to halt Chelsea’s resurgence at Goodison Park.
- Fulham vs. Southampton (17:00 GMT): A critical clash as Southampton seeks their second win of the season under new management.
- Leicester vs. Wolverhampton (17:00 GMT): Both sides are desperate for points as they battle to distance themselves from the relegation zone.
- Manchester United vs. Bournemouth (17:00 GMT): Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United aim to climb back into contention with a win at Old Trafford.
- Tottenham vs. Liverpool (19:30 GMT): A high-stakes encounter as Tottenham looks to disrupt Liverpool’s title aspirations.
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