What a nightmare ending of 2024 for the Blues and Red Devils! Chelsea and Manchester United have been swept aside 2-0 apiece on Monday night in the last two Premier League games of the year.EPL strugglers Ipswich Town stunned Enzo Maresca’s side for the first home win of the season, while Eddie Howe’s boys celebrated their only second victory at Old Trafford in the last 29 visits.Ipswich pick up their first home win of the season 🚜#IPSCHE pic.twitter.com/hMYutY5Gyu— Premier League (@premierleague) December 30, 2024 The Stamford Bridge outfit was dominant in terms of ball possession and notorious xG, but that was just insufficient to make a statement at Ipswich. The underdogs fought bravely and clinched a massive win thanks to Delap’s first-half penalty and Hutchinson’s second-half masterpiece. Two losses in a row, accompanied by a draw in the last three games of the year, have tarnished the value of Chelsea’s dividends in this campaign. Despite having the likes of Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernandez and Joao Felix in the starting XI, Maresca’s lot just couldn’t find a proper pace and the back of Ipswich’s net.Disciplined and brave, the hosts didn’t panick not for a minute, but maturely controlled the match and, subsuequently, celebrated a win that could prove crucial in their relegation battle.##EDITORS_CHOICE##Some 260 miles away from Portman Road, we saw another strange clash, only this time a 2-0 victory of the visitors, as the Magpies ran riots at Old Trafford. Another deplorable performance of Ruben Amorim’s squad saw them conceding two headers before the half-time break – through Isak and Joelinton. It could have been even worse, as Tonali was provided with a clear-cut chance following a wonderful team effort, but his shot ended on a post.🚨🏴 GOAL | Manchester United 0-1 Newcastle | Alexander IsakALEXANDER ISAK OPENS THE SCORING FOR NEWCASTLE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!pic.twitter.com/FcN4c63SLL— Tekkers Foot (@tekkersfoot) December 30, 2024 Newcastle United making thing go from bad to worse for Manchester United 😬⚪⚫ pic.twitter.com/rDcgNWM7e8— OneFootball (@OneFootball) December 30, 2024 Visibly nervous, Amorim opted for a change in the 32nd minute as Mainoo came on for Zirkzee. This seemed to have angered the latter, who didn’t want to sit in the dugout following the early substitution.Lukewarm United tried fighting back and were close to reducing the gap, but Hojlund’s attempt from a close range went just wide.It stayed 2-0 on the scoreboard, although Isak launched a lovely shot into the far corner for 3-0 before the break, but it was voided due to an offside.18 – Manchester United have conceded 18 goals in all competitions in December, their most in a single month since March 1964 (also 18). Leak. pic.twitter.com/gWvIHDHUBu— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 30, 2024 After the restart, Diallo and Yoro were not so far away from pegging one back. Alas, that was just not the Red Devils’ night.This is United’s third straight Premier League loss, and it is the first time they have lost three in a row since 2015. They are currently 14th, just seven points above the relegation zone. There’s nothing happy about this United’s new year, indeed.ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE – MATCHDAY 19Sunday Leicester – Man.City 0-2 (0-1)/Savinho 21, Haaland 74/Crystal Palace – Southampton 2-1 (1-1)/Chalobah 31, Eze 52 – Dibling 15/Everton – Nott.Forest 0-2 (0-1)/Wood 15, Gibbs-White 61/Fulham – Bournemouth 2-2 (1-0)/Jimenez 40, Wilson 72 – Evanilson 51, Outtara 89/Tottenham – Wolverhampton 2-2 (2-1)/Bentancur 12, Johnson 45+3 – Hwang 7, Larsen 87/West Ham – Liverpool 0-5 (0-3)/Diaz 30, Gakpo 40, Salah 44, Alexander-Arnold 54, Jota 84/Monday Aston Villa – Brighton 2-2 (1-1)/Watkins 36 pen, Rogers 47 – Adingra 12, Lamptey 81/Ipswich – Chelsea 2-0 (1-0)/Delap 12 pen, Hutchinson 53/Man Utd – Newcastle 0-2 (0-2)/Isak 4, Joelinton 19/
