Manchester City Lead the EPL with 37 Points After 13 Matches

English Premier League

Shane Duffy of Brighton and Hove Albion shoots and misses during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Brighton and Hove Albion at Old Trafford on Nov 25, 2017 in Manchester, England. Gareth Copley/Getty Images

The thirteenth round of the English Premier League season got underway with Friday night’s match (Nov 24) between West Ham and Leicester City at the London Stadium, with West Ham still seeking their first win under new manager David Moyes after Monday’s defeat at Watford, and things looked bleak early on when Leicester City scored with their first attack when Marc Albrighton converted Jamie Vardy’s cross. However, West Ham were given a boost when Cheikhou Kouyate equalised just before half time, though neither side could find a second half winner. The draw still leaves West Ham in the relegation places, but gives some optimism that they can improve results and climb the table, though a quick look at the fixture list shows a very tricky period to come with Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal to play before the New Year.

In Saturday’s games, Crystal Palace hosted Stoke City at Selhurst Park, with the visitors taking the lead through Xherdan Shaqiri, before Crystal Palace struck back with an equaliser from Reuben Loftus-Cheek, and then an injury time winner from Mamadou Sakho for a 2-1 victory, a win that moves them to within a point of Swansea a place above them, and 3 points below West Bromwich in 17^th place above the relegation zone, though still on the bottom of the table ;  Manchester United hosted Brighton at Old Trafford and, despite having most of the play and chances, won with a late own goal from Brighton’s Lewis Dunk deflection of an effort from United’s Ashley Young, for a 1-nil victory that moves them 3 points closer in second to leaders Manchester City, until City play at Huddersfield on Sunday; Newcastle entertained Watford at St.James Park, and fell to their fourth successive defeat, a 3-nil win for Watford, courtesy of Will Hughes second goal in consecutive games, an own goal from Newcastle’s DeAndre Yeddlin, and a third from Andre Gray; Spurs hosted West Bromwich at Wembley Stadium, and conceded an early fourth minute goal from Salomon Rondon, a lead that West Brom used to frustrate the hosts with their 75% possession, until Harry Kane converted a Dele Alli cross late on for a 1-all draw that leaves Spurs 10 points behind leaders Manchester City; Swansea entertained Bournemouth at the Liberty Stadium, with the result an uninspiring nil-all draw that leaves Swansea second from bottom, 1 point above cellar dwellers Crystal Palace, and continues the pressure on the position of manager Paul Clement, though Leroy Fer will rue squandering an opportunity to win the game for Swansea.