Manchester United's struggles continued as they suffered a humiliating 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth on Sunday, marking their second consecutive loss following Thursday's League Cup exit at Tottenham. Chelsea, meanwhile, missed the opportunity to claim the Premier League's top spot after a goalless draw at Everton.
United manager Ruben Amorim, who controversially omitted Marcus Rashford from the squad for the third consecutive game, now faces mounting pressure during the festive period. The defeat leaves United languishing in 13th place, with four losses in nine matches since Amorim replaced Erik ten Hag in November.
Bournemouth took the lead in the 29th minute when 18-year-old defender Dean Huijsen capitalized on poor marking to head past Andre Onana from a set piece. The second half compounded United's misery, with Justin Kluivert converting a penalty after Noussair Mazraoui's foul and Antoine Semenyo adding a third goal moments later.
Amorim's decision to sideline Rashford has drawn fresh criticism, particularly after the forward hinted at seeking a "new challenge." The atmosphere at Old Trafford was toxic, with boos greeting both halftime and full-time whistles.
In contrast, Chelsea's visit to Goodison Park ended in frustration as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Everton. The Blues missed the chance to temporarily overtake Liverpool at the top of the table, remaining one point behind the leaders, who have two games in hand.
Everton, now four points clear of the relegation zone, showed resilience under their new owners, the Friedkin Group. The closest Chelsea came to breaking the deadlock was Nicolas Jackson's first-half header, which struck the post.
Elsewhere, Wolves began life under new manager Vitor Pereira with a resounding 3-0 victory at relegation rivals Leicester. Pereira, who joined from Saudi Pro League side Al-Shabab, saw his side dominate thanks to goals from Goncalo Guedes, Rodrigo Gomes, and Matheus Cunha. The win moves Wolves within two points of safety.
At the bottom of the table, Southampton secured a 0-0 draw at Fulham under the watchful eye of incoming manager Ivan Juric. The Saints remain eight points from safety, having won just one of their 17 league games this season.
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