Fans' verdicts: Manchester United players fail to shine across the board while Willian is key as Chelsea demolish Stoke in the Premier League 

  • Another weekend of Premier League action was filled with the usual excitement 
  • Supporters travelled across the country to see their side try and cap off 2017 well
  • Sportsmail's fan panel have weighed in with their takes on this weekend's games 

Another weekend of Premier League football was filled with thrills, spills and no shortage of controversy.

Whether your team had a good result or a bad one to remember the festive season by, there was plenty to assess ahead of the turn of the New Year for supporters across the country.

Sportsmail's fan panel have chimed in with their thoughts after the round of fixtures. 


Bournemouth

Peter Bell (Cherry Chimes)

A much needed win lifted Bournemouth out of the bottom three. It was a strong team performance with Jordan Pickford made to work hard to keep the score down. 

Although Callum Wilson missed an early one-on-one, Ryan Fraser was on top form along with Jordan Ibe and Benik Afobe. It’s pleasing to see Bournemouth really go looking for goals again and the crowd certainly enjoyed Fraser’s late winner. 

However, another injury to Josh King is not what Eddie Howe needed.

Star man: Ryan Fraser

Everton

Joel Parker (Toffee Analysis)

And so the unbeaten run comes to an end, which was expected when you consider the complete lack of any attacking option would become unravelled soon.

Playing three defensive midfielders has never, ever worked for us. What is the harm in giving Klaassen a go? I understand three months ago we was in a horrendous position but we have players who can genuinely create attacking play. All three managers have all reverted back to ‘hoof’ balls. With the links to players such as Tosun coming in January, can Allardyce actually produce attacking football?

Star man: Jordan Pickford

Ryan Fraser was on form for a Bournemouth side that went hunting for goals against Everton

Ryan Fraser was on form for a Bournemouth side that went hunting for goals against Everton

 

Chelsea

Andy Seaby (Chelsea Daft)

I felt that Chelsea had played within themselves in what has felt like being stuck in second gear this season so far.

The players clicked into first gear on Saturday and delivered a much better performance, inspired by Willian. They blew a poor Stoke City side away with the added bonus of Danny Drinkwater starting and scoring.

It’s always nice to finish the year on a high especially when we also see Jose Mourinho and his Manchester United side drop more points in order to leapfrog them into second place behind Manchester City.

We now need to build on this performance at the Emirates against Arsenal on Wednesday.

Star man: Willian

Stoke

Martin Smith (The Oatcake)

Mark Hughes gave up on the fixture before kick-off, making several changes and resting players for what he obviously considers a more important, and winnable, New Year’s Day game against Newcastle.

The defeat was thus inevitable though the feeble manner of our surrender remained unacceptable. This was as hopeless as hopeless gets.

It was also yet another thumping to add to all the others and we remain way out on our own in terms of the most goals conceded. Stoke looked like a team which could well be relegated come May.

Star man: Jack Butland 

Chelsea's dominant performance against Stoke was inspired by Brazilian forward Willian

Chelsea's dominant performance against Stoke was inspired by Brazilian forward Willian

 

Huddersfield

Harry Greenwood (Better Than Klopp)

A lacklustre, tired performance and a sluggish 0-0. The heavy December schedule showed in Town’s below-par performance, with key players underperforming all over the pitch.

Burnley were well organised and will feel unlucky to have not taken all three points, as Lossl kept Town in the game on numerous occasions.

The game will have highlighted the areas Wagner needs to address in the transfer market, with a lack of quality in midfield, but the fight from Town to preserve a point and another clean sheet is a positive. One more point closer to safety…

Star man: Jonas Lossl

Burnley

Tony Scholes (Up The Clarets)

It’s coming to something when Burnley fans are returning home from an away game disappointed at only picking up a point from a 0-0 draw. That’s the negative from today’s trip to Huddersfield but the positive comes with the performance.

We were head and shoulders better than Huddersfield who, one early effort apart, didn’t trouble our goalkeeper Nick Pope. Our only problems today were not finishing at least one of the chances that came our way and being lumbered with referee Paul Tierney who turned down the most blatant of penalties.

But what a way for Burnley to go into the new year - seventh in the Premier League with 34 points.

Star man: Jack Cork 

Jack Cork was good for a Burnley side that enter the new year in seventh place

Jack Cork was good for a Burnley side that enter the new year in seventh place

 

Liverpool

Dave Usher (The Liverpool Way)

Liverpool have had more impressive wins this year but few have been more satisfying. The Reds usually win big or they draw, so to win a close one felt good, especially given Leicester’s excessive time wasting.

After the worst possible start Liverpool created a host of chances, most of which were squandered by Mo Salah. 

The Egyptian must have found his shooting boots at half time though as he was unstoppable after the break. He’s been unstoppable all season. 

What a player he is.

Star man: Mohamed Salah

Leicester

Warwick Kay (LCFC World)

It was always going to be a big ask to get anything at Anfield but when Vardy struck after just three minutes there was a glimmer of hope.

But, as expected, it was one-way traffic in the second half and we did well to keep the score to 2-1.

I am not a fan of this squad rotation and I would have at least kept Vardy on.

Star man: Wilfred Ndidi 

Mohamed Salah is showing himself to be an exceptional player and impressed on Saturday

Mohamed Salah is showing himself to be an exceptional player and impressed on Saturday

 

Newcastle

Tom Bore (Read Newcastle)

Two Championship clubs operating in the Premier League is the best way to describe this.

Neither side boast a great deal of genuine quality, nor were they convincing in front of goal despite a number of chances.

Neither will be confident of survival. Rafa Benitez is in desperate need of funds. The feel-good factor of promotion is long gone and Newcastle are crying out for some inspiration.

Star man: Ciaran Clark

Brighton

Simon Cox (Brighton Fans)

We were dogged, diligent and defended well, and I’ll take a point away all day.

However, I felt that when the locals got restless if we had pushed higher up the park and taken them on, we could have had all three.

Mind you, Mat Ryan kept us in the game twice, so mustn’t grumble.

New Years Day is huge but I could do without the early KO!

Star man: Lewis Dunk 

Lewis Dunk was part of a back line that were dogged and diligent against Newcastle United

Lewis Dunk was part of a back line that were dogged and diligent against Newcastle United

 

Watford

David Anderson (Golden Pages)

Swansea were almost certainly the worst team we have seen at Vicarage Road this season. But instead of taking advantage of this and building on an early lead, Watford decided to roll over and hand Carlos Carvahal’s new side what will surely be their easiest win of the season.

Inexcusably, we were time wasting from the hour mark, dropping deeper and deeper by the minute. We were deservedly punished with two late goals. Both looked suspiciously offside but, even if they were, our lack of ambition and defensive mindset meant we deserved the loss.

Star man: Marvin Zeegelaar

Swansea

Declan Terry (Read Swansea)

With Spurs, Arsenal and Liverpool all coming up in January, we desperately needed the three points to keep us within touching distance of the other relegation rivals.

Thankfully, Swansea somehow conjured up a timely victory thanks to a very late surge at Vicarage Road. The game itself was slow and uneventful, both sides lacking in attacking quality and in truth neither team deserved to win.

However, all three substitutes Oliver McBurnie, Luciano Narsingh and Nathan Dyer made a difference in the second-half and it was Ayew and Narsingh who bagged late goals to send the three points back to South Wales.

It’s not a bad start to Carlos Carvalhal’s tenure - but there’s still a huge amount do be done as the performance for 85 minutes was far from convincing.

Star man: Oliver McBurnie 

Oliver McBurnie had an impressive impact for Swansea after coming on from the bench

Oliver McBurnie had an impressive impact for Swansea after coming on from the bench

 

Manchester United

Sam Peoples (The Peoples Person)

Manchester United were atrocious against Southampton. It is worrying for United supporters that the team keeps failing to create. 

We were devoid of creativity and there can be no excuses with Paul Pogba in the team. Something has to change. 

Jose Mourinho is being slated but the players themselves need to massively up their game, too.

Star man: Nobody

Southampton

Aidan Small (Fresh Saints)

It’s hard to believe that this is the same side that shipped five goals on Boxing Day.

With an injury-ridden squad we managed to pull together as a collective with some fine individual performances at the back.

An encouraging showing from our two 23-year-old center backs - Wesley Hoedt and Jack Stephens - was a fantastic positive in the wake of Van Dijk’s departure.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg also showed himself to be composed, calculated and disciplined at the heart of the midfield.

But the bottom line is that the true value of this result will only be shown if we beat Palace this Tuesday.

Star man: Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg 

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg was composed, calculated and disciplined in the Southampton midfield

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg was composed, calculated and disciplined in the Southampton midfield

 

Crystal Palace

Jay Crame (The Eagles Beak)

Little old Palace managed to stop the City machine and spoil their record.

It’s actually a disappointment not to take all three points considering the late penalty miss which is remarkable considering everyone had predicted the Eagles to be on the end of a big loss.

Credit to Hodgson for setting out his side with some fresh legs all able to slot in and do an impressive job on the champions elect. Great to end the year on a high.

Star man: Timothy Fosu-Mensah

Manchester City

Steven Allweis (View From A Blue)

Disappointing to finally drop points, especially against such a limited side, but the potential injuries to Jesus and De Bruyne are more damaging than the draw.

Our overall play was just a little too flat and one-paced, and we miss David Silva’s guile and control. Walker was superb in nullifying Zaha with his pace and power. He’s proven to be a very shrewd acquisition.

Star man: Kyle Walker

Kyle Walker deserves praise after marshaling Crystal Palace's Wilfried Zaha so well

Kyle Walker deserves praise after marshaling Crystal Palace's Wilfried Zaha so well

 

West Brom

Alex Newton (Read West Brom)

What a result for the Baggies, especially against the 12 men of Arsenal.

Mike Dean was by far Arsenal’s best performer always in the thick of the action. Albion were sound defensively and effective on the counter attack.

I’m still confident that we can stay up, as long as we stop bringing on James McClean! We would have never got that result under Pulis.

Star man: Hal Robson-Kanu

Arsenal

Peter Wood (Le Grove)

Only one man was capable of making the most bland Arsenal game of the year interesting, and sadly, he was wearing black. Mike Dean made a shocking decision to kill Arsenal’s hopes of three points, incorrectly penalising Calum Chambers for a handball late on.

Dean, a consistent embarrassment, once again showed why VAR is a much needed innovation in the game. The hope of football futurists is that the new tech will eventually make attention-seeking show-pony officials redundant.

Star man: Alexis Sanchez

Alexis Sanchez was the star man for Arsenal as they drew against West Brom on Sunday

Alexis Sanchez was the star man for Arsenal as they drew against West Brom on Sunday