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It was not initially billed as a classic, but Everton versus Leicester City on Sunday turned into one of the most thrilling games of the Premier League season so far.
After Everton scored inside 30 seconds, the champions responded to go 2-1 up after 10 minutes. The Toffees turned it around, leading 3-2 at half time, before scoring once more to earn all three points.
A brilliant game, but the best in the Premier League so far this season? Here, Sportsmail’s reporters give their view on what has been their pick for game of the campaign…
Jose Mourinho’s much-anticipated first clash with Pep Guardiola in English football and the sense of occasion was matched by a frantic Manchester derby at Old Trafford.
Kevin De Bruyne and Kelechi Iheanacho put City ahead, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic fired United back into the game before half-time. Claudio Bravo’s penalty-box challenge on Wayne Rooney threw up some controversy, but City held on in a thoroughly entertaining game.
A thrilling midwinter fight-back by Arsenal in a game played at a breathless tempo and littered with defensive frailties and debatable decisions. In an age where the big games are over-hyped and every twist and turn is over-analysed here was a reminder that football’s imperfections are what make it so exciting.
Arsenal could not cope with the direct pace of Ryan Fraser as Bournemouth went 3-0 before the recovery began. A red card for Simon Francis boosted the visitors and Olivier Giroud equalised in the second minute of stoppage time.
It had a an elbow, a headstamp, an unjust sending-off, a Zlatan missed penalty, and a shock result with Eddie Howe’s team gaining a 1-1 draw with 10 men thanks to a goal from Josh King, who started his career at United. With some games, there isn’t enough to write about. With that one, there was too much to fit in.
The night the ‘snakes’ showed their venom. Clearly stung by criticism of their role in Claudio Ranieri’s sacking, Leicester’s players unleashed their full potential.
Liverpool arrived off a comprehensive win over Tottenham, Leicester on a run of five successive Premier League defeats, but Craig Shakespeare pressed the reset button and the home side were back to their breathless best, characterised by Jamie Vardy’s crunching tackle on Sadio Mane early on.
The King Power rocked like it did last season as Vardy then Drinkwater scored sizzling goals to put the home side 2-0 up. Vardy’s second after the break gave the scoreline a surreal feel. A strike by Philippe Coutinho even provided the edgy finish required of the best matches. Leicester’s 4-2 win over Manchester City was also electrifying but this will be the one remembered most from 2016-17.
What looked certain to be heading for an entirely predictable Liverpool win eventually turned into a match that summed up the total unpredictability of the Premier League.
Two-nil and then 3-1 up, Jurgen Klopp’s side were cruising. Inspired by substitute Ryan Fraser, the Cherries staged a breathtaking comeback scoring three goals in the final 14 minutes culminating in Nathan Ake’s winner in the third minute of injury time. It was a freezing day on the south coast, but the football was on fire.
I had the pleasure of being at Goodison Park and it is right up there with some of the games I have seen this season, as is Everton’s 2-1 win over Arsenal in December. It’s a fabulous stadium to cover football when the crowd is up and the tempo is fast.
The game I’ve enjoyed most of all, though, was Manchester City’s 1-1 draw with Liverpool. The scoreline did not reflect the quality of the contest. Everyone who left the stadium that day agreed they had been treated to a spectacle.
Liverpool’s attacking talents matched with their defensive fragility make Jurgen Klopp’s team easy entertainers. This game showcased their good and bad sides but the real stars were Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth.
2-0 down at half-time, 3-1 with 15 minutes to play, they turned this wild game on its head with Ryan Fraser emerging from almost-unknown to match-winner and Nathan Ake grabbing their fourth in a 4-3 win. This was a game made brilliant by just how frantic and breathless it was - plus the seven goals.
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