It’s Christmas Eve but Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are hard at work bringing you The Game podcast from The Times with Henry Winter and Gary Jacob.

It’s time to critique an incredible Crystal Palace performance at the Etihad as they beat the champions Manchester City. It’s a result that sends Liverpool 4 points clear at the top of the table but Henry Winter is quick to highlight the humility of Jurgen Klopp’s squad. Including perhaps the most important player in the league, Virgil Van Dijk.

Tottenham thrash Everton 6-2 but how big will the January transfer window be in terms of providing a clue as to Mauricio Pochettino’s future? And how big is the window for the top 4 hopes of Chelsea and Arsenal?

Manchester United put 5 past Cardiff in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first game in charge. Can United be accused of cheating Jose Mourinho or are they just a group of very good players? And has Solskjaer been given the remit to show off some of the lesser seen stars?

Plus we look at Mike Dean’s flamboyant behaviour, Neil Warnock’s hair and Ralph Hasenhüttl in Rocky II.

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