{"id":46983,"date":"2025-12-29T14:36:15","date_gmt":"2025-12-29T20:36:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gambyl.com\/?p=46983"},"modified":"2025-12-29T14:36:26","modified_gmt":"2025-12-29T20:36:26","slug":"premier-league-matchday-18-roundup-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gambyl.com\/en\/premier-league\/premier-league-matchday-18-roundup-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Premier League Matchday 18 Roundup"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Matchday 18 of the Premier League\u2014the Boxing Day round\u2014has come to an end, bringing few surprises and leaving the battle at the top three still red hot.

Arsenal remain in first place after defeating Brighton 2\u20131, while Manchester City and Aston Villa stay right on the \u2018Gunners\u2019 heels, both earning 2\u20131 away wins against Nottingham Forest and Chelsea, respectively.

Meanwhile, Liverpool climbed into fourth place after beating Wolverhampton 2\u20131, a team that still has yet to register a win this season.

Elsewhere, Manchester United defeated Newcastle 1\u20130 in the only match played on December 26.

At\u00a0Gambyl Exchange<\/a>, you can explore all the predictions for the\u00a0Premier League<\/a>, the final bets for this matchday, and the odds for each match.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Premier League Matchday 18 Games <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Manchester United 1-0 Newcastle <\/em><\/td><\/tr>
Forest 1-2 Manchester City <\/em><\/td><\/tr>
Burnley 0-0 Everton <\/em><\/td><\/tr>
West Ham 0-1 Fulham <\/em><\/td><\/tr>
Arsenal 2-1 Brighton <\/em><\/td><\/tr>
Liverpool 2-1 Wolves <\/em><\/td><\/tr>
Chelsea 1-2 Aston Villa <\/em><\/td><\/tr>
Sunderland 1-1 Leeds <\/em><\/td><\/tr>
Crystal Palace 0-1 Tottenham <\/em><\/td><\/tr>
Brentford 4-1 Bournemouth<\/em><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Premier League Matchday 18 Roundup: Nottingham Forest vs. Manchester City <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Forest +450<\/em><\/td>City -165<\/strong><\/em><\/td>Draw Offs:+333 <\/em><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Manchester City remain second in the table, very close to the top, after earning a hard-fought 2\u20131 victory away at Nottingham Forest.

The goals did not arrive until the second half, starting in the 48th minute when Rayan Cherki played a perfectly weighted through ball to Tijjani Reijnders, and the Dutchman finished across goal with his left foot to make it 0\u20131.

Forest equalized in the 54th minute following a well-worked team move that ended with a cross from the left by Igor Jesus and a finish from Omari Hutchinson.

However, the standout player of the match emerged in the 83rd minute: Cherki. The French midfielder had already struck the post earlier, but this time he received a headed pass from Jo\u0161ko Gvardiol off a corner kick and struck a first-time shot from the edge of the box to restore City\u2019s lead at 1\u20132.

It was an entertaining match with chances at both ends, but it ultimately went City\u2019s way. The \u2018Citizens\u2019 now sit second with 40 points, two behind Arsenal, and have won eight straight games across all competitions.

Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, remain in 17th place, just one spot above the relegation zone, but still holding a five-point cushion over 18th.

Result: Nottingham Forest 1-2 Manchester City <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Premier League Matchday 18 Roundup: Liverpool vs. Wolverhampton <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Liverpool -450<\/strong><\/em><\/td>Wolverhampton +1200<\/em><\/td>Draw Offs: +600 <\/em><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A one-minute burst was all Liverpool needed to defeat Wolverhampton 2\u20131 and climb into fourth place in the Premier League.

First, in the 41st minute, Jeremie Frimpong broke down the right flank and cut the ball back to Ryan Gravenberch, who struck a low first-time shot to make it 1\u20130.

Just one minute later came Florian Wirtz\u2019s first goal in a \u2018Reds\u2019 shirt. Hugo Ekitik\u00e9 threaded a pass through to the German, who finished calmly into the corner for 2\u20130.

In the second half, at the 51st minute, the visitors pulled one back from a corner kick. Tolu Arokodare\u2019s header was saved by Alisson, but the rebound fell to Santiago Bueno, who just tapped it in to make it 2\u20131.

Both sides had further chances, but the scoreline remained unchanged. Liverpool secured their third straight victory and now sit fourth with 32 points, while Wolves continue to sink at the bottom of the table with just two points.

Result: Liverpool 2-1 Wolverhampton<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Premier League Matchday 18: Arsenal vs. Brighton <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Arsenal -220<\/strong><\/em><\/td>Brighton +700<\/em><\/td>Draw Offs:+375 <\/em><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Arsenal came through a tough test and defeated Brighton 2\u20131 at home to retain their place at the top of the Premier League.

The scoring opened in the 14th minute with a brilliant long-range strike from Martin \u00d8degaard. It was the Norwegian\u2019s first goal of the season for the \u2018Gunners\u2019.

The lead was extended in the 52nd minute from a Declan Rice corner kick, which Georginio Rutter inadvertently headed into his own net to make it 2\u20130.

Brighton pulled one back in the 64th minute after a shot from Yasin Ayari struck the post and the rebound fell to Diego G\u00f3mez, who finished into an empty net in one of the \u2018Seagulls\u2019 few chances of the match.

A few minutes later, Brighton nearly equalized, but a spectacular diving save from David Raya preserved the win for Arsenal.

The \u2018Gunners\u2019 remain top of the table with 42 points, holding a two-point lead over second place, while Fabian H\u00fcrzeler\u2019s side sit 13th with 24 points.

Result: Arsenal 2-1 Brighton<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Premier League Matchday 18: Chelsea 1-2 Aston Villa <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Chelsea -114<\/em><\/td>Aston Villa +300<\/strong><\/em><\/td>Draw Offs<\/strong>: +280 <\/em><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

One of the shocks of the weekend was Aston Villa\u2019s 1-2 victory in London against Chelsea, a result that keeps them firmly in the title race in England.

Despite the outcome, it was the home side who struck first in the 37th minute. A corner kick delivered into the six-yard box caused confusion between the goalkeeper and defenders, and Jo\u00e3o Pedro ended up unintentionally nudging the ball in for the 1\u20130.

The \u2018Blues\u2019 were the better side for much of the match and created numerous chances but failed to capitalize. In the second half, Ollie Watkins emerged as the star with a brace. His first goal came in the 63rd minute after his initial shot was saved, only for the rebound to hit him and roll into the net. The second followed in the 84th minute, when he headed home from a corner kick.

Chelsea pushed relentlessly for an equalizer but could not find it, losing at home and dropping to fifth place with 29 points. Aston Villa, meanwhile, sit third with 39 points, three behind leaders Arsenal, and are on an 11-game winning streak across all competitions.

Result: Chelsea 1-2 Aston Villa <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Matchday 18 of the Premier League\u2014the Boxing Day round\u2014has come to an end, bringing few surprises and leaving the battle at the top three still red hot. Arsenal remain in first place after defeating Brighton 2\u20131, while Manchester City and Aston Villa stay right on the \u2018Gunners\u2019 heels, both earning 2\u20131 away wins against Nottingham […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":33590,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":"","_wpscp_schedule_draft_date":"","_wpscp_schedule_republish_date":"","_wpscppro_advance_schedule":false,"_wpscppro_advance_schedule_date":"","_wpscppro_dont_share_socialmedia":false,"_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"","_twitter_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type":"","_pinterest_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_instagram_share_type":"","_medium_share_type":"","_threads_share_type":"","_google_business_share_type":"","_selected_social_profile":[],"_wpsp_enable_custom_social_template":false,"_wpsp_social_scheduling":{"enabled":false,"datetime":null,"platforms":[],"status":"template_only","dateOption":"today","timeOption":"now","customDays":"","customHours":"","customDate":"","customTime":"","schedulingType":"absolute"},"_wpsp_active_default_template":true},"categories":[94],"tags":[171],"class_list":["post-46983","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-premier-league","tag-soccer"],"aioseo_notices":[],"modified_by":"Erwin Noguera","aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t