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1. The Villa Heist: Rogers & Emery's Masterclass

Are match outcomes be misleading? It's a valid query. Aston Villa's winning streak was extended versus Manchester United, accompanied by the nagging doubts. Statistically, they were inferior by a number of key indicators – fewer shots (12-15), less possession (43-57), not as many golden opportunities (2-3). As usual, the victory was a slender one. Consistently, statistical models sided with the opposition: according to data United were narrowly ahead 1.31-1.02. But, as every fan knows games are determined by more than statistics. They are won by collective effort, astute coaching and moments of magic – and Villa have all three. Morgan Rogers may be their sole standout, but he is performing like Father Christmas. The Villa manager is crafty, experienced, streets ahead of Ruben Amorim. Should Rogers have benefited from a defensive lapse, this was almost certainly because Emery had spotted that Yoro was playing out of position, and told Rogers to start wide, drive inside and torment him. Individual brilliance and coaching, in perfect harmony.

2. The Amorim Conundrum: Still Searching for Answers

Back in October after defeating Brighton 4-2 in late October, their fans felt optimism return. They had won three league games on the bounce for the first time under the Portuguese coach. Their position climbed to fourth. And the wins were all good ones – over Brighton (a traditionally tricky opponent), Liverpool (away!) and Sunderland (at Old Trafford, versus a newly-promoted side, but still – an untroubled victory). Senne Lammens looked solid, their forward line sparked and morale was high. But then United went back to black. Over the next eight fixtures, two wins, six games without a win. At Villa Park they were the better team without ever looking like winning. Yes, the Brazilian scored an excellent finish, but he also failed to convert a golden opportunity. Yes, United were unlucky with injuries (to influential figures), but they gave away cheap scores. Since his arrival in England, the coach continues to struggle with how to secure victories.

3. Arsenal Grind Out a Vital Victory

It was an 8pm kick-off on the Saturday before Christmas but a glaring absence of finesse in the attacking areas made for a forgettable match. For Everton, the issue came as no surprise with offensive players absent, and Jack Grealish failing to inspire an entire team single-handedly. In many respects it is astonishing that the Toffees sat fifth in the table recently given they have played all term without a reliable number nine. For Arsenal and the Spanish coach, while he enjoyed a merited victory and reclaiming first place of the table, the deficiency should be of similar concern given their designs on the Premier League. The manager claimed that victories will inevitably grow more comfortable with graft and determination. But it is a little early in the season for a team that can start with elite players, while leaving quality substitutes on the bench, to be relying on grinding out wins.

4. Guardiola's Strict Festive Regime for Champions

During the holidays the Catalan coach will check the weights to ensure his Manchester City players have not enjoyed excessive celebrations. Guardiola said his squad requested to enjoy a break after their latest win but he refused because the performance was insufficient. So it's recovery, work for those who didn't feature, and following a short break, then 48 hours of preparation for the upcoming match. The manager outlined how improvements can be made. “My strength is deciphering what happens in the game, where are the spaces – if the players were in the right areas, we could create more.” The boss also plans to enjoy a rest: “I will be on vacation with the family for celebrations. I'll visit Barcelona – it's a great city, the food is superb.”

5. A Costly Goal: Isak's Injury Mars Liverpool Win

The Swedish striker's finish at Tottenham felt, for a brief instant, like a statement. This was precisely the reason Liverpool invested heavily for him to do, to break tight games with his intelligent runs and finishing ability, and the assurance with which he clipped in from good service looked extremely positive. So the image of him leaving immediately, following a rash challenge, was a huge concern for the Liverpool manager and frustrating for fans who would like to see such a gifted player hit full tilt again. Reports suggest Isak has picked up a serious leg injury and he could be in for a lengthy period on the sidelines. It would be a significant setback with Liverpool having snuck up on the Champions League places, putting together a six-game unbeaten run featuring Isak’s maiden league strikes in their colours. Their prospects appear inextricably linked to those of their £125m investment.

6. Did Chelsea Get Away with One?

Managers often moan about contentious refereeing decisions as a means of shifting the focus from matters they would prefer were not talked about. The significant tally Newcastle have squandered when ahead this season appears relevant. The Newcastle boss certainly did not seem overly keen to mention that problematic pattern following his side’s inability to hold onto a 2-0 lead against Chelsea in a game they ended up drawing. Yet the Magpies' boss was surely right to question a decision made by the match officials not to award his team a penalty following a clear obstruction on the England international. With the score then 2-1, a penalty could have changed the narrative. Was the decision to offer the Chelsea defender the benefit of considerable doubt informed by past incidents for being skilled at earning fouls and sometimes exaggerating? Comments by a respected pundit was revealing. “He sees the challenge coming,” he said. “He's prepared for the impact and he’s waiting for it. I think he intends to hit the deck. But the nature of the contact there … it's more than just defending.”

7. A 99.17% Certainty

Brentford’s first away win this season spelled a welcome result for their manager. Instead of reveling in the win, Andrews expressed empathy for Wolves, the club he joined at 16. “My formative years were here,” he said. Wolves’ situation is truly alarming; data analysts state – maybe optimistically – their chances of relegation at overwhelmingly high, leaving little tangible to fight for beyond honour. A experienced defender brutally spelled out|bluntly outlined|frankly