Premier League 2024-25 roundup: Isak fires Newcastle into top four, Moyes begins second Everton stint with loss
Premier League 2024-25 roundup: Isak fires Newcastle into top four, Moyes begins second Everton stint with loss
Alexander Isak scored for the eighth straight Premier League game Wednesday to propel Newcastle into the top four.
The Swedish international struck twice in a 3-0 victory over Wolverhampton to take his season total to 17 in all competitions. He became the fourth player to score in eight consecutive games in England’s top flight, following Ruud van Nistelrooy, Jamie Vardy and Daniel Sturridge.
Isak’s form has pushed Newcastle into Champions League contention. He’s scored 12 in his last 10 games in all competitions, and Newcastle is on a nine-match winning streak.
Isak opened the scoring in the 34th minute against relegation-threatened Wolverhampton at St James’ Park. He got his second in the 57th, and Anthony Gordon maintained his own scoring form with his fourth goal in successive games.
Eddie Howe’s team is now one point ahead of fifth-place Chelsea.
David Moyes’ return to Everton didn’t get off to the start he wanted after a 1-0 loss to Aston Villa.
In his second spell at the Merseyside club, Moyes took charge of his 519th game as Everton manager and was welcomed by the Goodison Park crowd.
But he couldn’t inspire his relegation-threatened team to victory as Ollie Watkins’ goal six minutes into the second half sealed Villa’s win.
Everton is 16th in the standings and a point above the bottom three.
Moyes’ immediate priority is to find goals from somewhere. Everton has failed to score in nine of its last 11 league games.
The hiring of Ruud van Nistelrooy hasn’t paid off for Leicester yet.
A 2-0 loss at home to Crystal Palace leaves the 2016 champion second from the bottom of the standings and without a league win since Van Nistelrooy’s first game in charge at the start of December.
It’s now six straight defeats in the league, with Jean-Philippe Mateta and Marc Guehi scoring for Palace in the second half at the King Power Stadium.
Manchester United doesn’t play until Thursday, but Palace’s win saw the record 20-time champion slip to 15th in the standings.
Ruben Amorim’s team plays last-place Southampton at Old Trafford.
