This archive report was first published on 29 December 2019.
On December 28, 2019, Leicester City dealt a significant blow to Manuel Pellegrini's tenure as West Ham United manager with a 2-1 win, marking the final game of his time in charge.
Manchester United, meanwhile, closed in on the Premier League's top four with a convincing 2-0 victory over Burnley, thanks to goals from Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford.
Leicester's win, which came despite making nine changes to their lineup, saw them move 10 points behind Liverpool, who have played two games more, and stretch their lead over Manchester City to four points.
Demarai Gray scored the winner for Leicester, who were without Jamie Vardy due to the birth of his daughter. Gray also saw an early penalty saved by Lukasz Fabianski.
"Anytime you come in if you're not playing so much you have to try and stamp your mark and get yourself in the team," Gray said.
West Ham's defeat, their seventh in nine games, left them just one point above the relegation zone, prompting the club's joint-chairman David Sullivan to announce that a change in management was necessary to get the team back on track.
"It has become clear that a change is required to get the club back on track in line with our ambitions this season," Sullivan said.
Manchester United's win, meanwhile, saw them close to within a point of fourth-placed Chelsea, with Martial and Rashford again proving to be their talismen.
"It is a big difference to get a clean sheet. It is important for us to know we can grind out results as well," said United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
