Premier League Reveals December Manager of the Month Nominees

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The Premier League has announced the four contenders for the Manager of the Month accolade for December.

Following Ange Postecoglou of Tottenham securing the award for the initial three months of the season and Erik ten Hag from Manchester United claiming it in November, neither manager is in the running this time, paving the way for a potential new recipient.

Here’s an in-depth look at the four nominees;

Jurgen Klopp – Liverpool

• Games Played: 6
• Wins: 4
• Draws: 2
• Losses: 0
• Goals For: 11
• Goals Against: 5

Liverpool, the current Premier League leaders, maintained an unbeaten record throughout December, solidifying their position at the summit.

Starting the month with a tense 4-3 triumph over Fulham, Jurgen Klopp’s side secured comfortable wins against Sheffield United, Crystal Palace, and Burnley. The month also featured draws against rivals Manchester United and Arsenal.

Notably, in the match against Manchester United, Liverpool set a new record for the most shots on goal without scoring in a Premier League game, registering an impressive 34 attempts.

David Moyes – West Ham

• Games Played: 6
• Wins: 4
• Draws: 1
• Losses: 1
• Goals For: 10
• Goals Against: 7

West Ham United quietly climbed the Premier League table in December, securing four wins out of six games. Under the guidance of David Moyes, the Hammers achieved a notable victory over Tottenham early in the month.

Despite a surprising 5-0 defeat to Fulham, they bounced back impressively with three consecutive wins against Wolves, Manchester United, and Arsenal, managing clean sheets in all three matches.

Starting the month in ninth place, West Ham has now risen to sixth, firmly positioning themselves in the race for additional European football opportunities.

Unai Emery – Aston Villa

• Games Played: 7
• Wins: 4
• Draws: 2
• Losses: 1
• Goals For: 12
• Goals Against: 9

December marked the moment when casual fans took notice of Aston Villa’s serious contention for the Premier League title.

Under Unai Emery’s leadership, the team secured consecutive victories against both Manchester City and Arsenal early in the month, putting them in the running to top the table at Christmas.

However, a setback against Sheffield United dashed that aspiration. Despite this, Villa concluded December in second place in the standings, leaving supporters intrigued about the duration of this remarkable form.

Andoni Iraola – Bournemouth

• Games Played: 6
• Wins: 4
• Draws: 1
• Losses: 1
• Goals For: 14
• Goals Against: 7

The sole nominee who was previously in contention for November’s prize, Andoni Iraola and Bournemouth concluded 2023 on an impressive streak.

With at least two goals scored in five out of six games, including a notable 3-0 victory on the road against Manchester United, Bournemouth has made a strong recovery from a challenging start to the season, dispelling early relegation predictions.

Central to this turnaround has been Iraola’s skill in optimizing the performance of striker Dominic Solanke, who netted six goals in December and is now nominated for the Player of the Month award.

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