There were two games in the bottom half of the table in the Premier League on Tuesday, when Ipswich Town hosted Crystal Palace and West Ham visited Leicester City.
The Foxes were competing for the first time under new manager Ruud van Nistelrooy, a former Premier League top scorer with Manchester United who had an interim spell in charge at Old Trafford last month.
Ipswich began the evening third-bottom and on a run of two draws at home, level on points with 17th-placed Leicester and Palace immediately above them.
Here’s what happened in the Premier League results today, including scorers, highlights and where each team ended up in the standings.
📰 Table Of Contents
Leicester vs West Ham: Ruud awakening
Van Nistelrooy’s Leicester tenure had a terrific start when Jamie Vardy struck the opener against West Ham after two minutes at King Power Stadium.
Jamie Vardy is ruled ONSIDE and Leicester have an opener!#PLonPrime #LEIWHU pic.twitter.com/ph5R6MqfmE
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) December 3, 2024
Vardy charged onto Bilal El Khannouss’s low pass beyond the visiting defence on the left, entered the penalty area and slotted in to the far corner of the net, with the goal ruled onside following a Video Assistant Referee check.
West Ham produced 20 shots during the first half and had a goal disallowed after the break but fell 2-0 behind when El Khannouss rolled a precise low finish past Lukasz Fabianski from Kasey McAteer’s pass.
Bilal El Khannouss makes Ruud van Nistelrooy a VERY happy man and Leicester stretch their advantage! 🙌🦊#PLonPrime #LEIWHU pic.twitter.com/LnZuD6m2sr
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) December 3, 2024
“This was just the start,” Vardy told Amazon Prime Video Sport, describing himself as “over the moon”. “We’ve had one full day as a full squad together [with Van Nistelrooy] working on things.
Leicester have THREE! ⚽️⚽️⚽️
WHAT A NIGHT FOR RUUD VAN NISTELROOY! 👏🦊#PLonPrime #LEIWHU pic.twitter.com/nzjYfZmk0I
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) December 3, 2024
“You could see some of the things were working and some were a bit rusty… [now we’ll have] more time on the training pitch with the new manager to get his ideas across.
“We know what qualities [El Khannouss] has got – he does it every day in training. His first goal will be the first of many.
“You can hear [the fans] all singing here and joining in with the celebrations after. We’ll just make sure we knuckle down now.”
Victory moved Leicester four points clear of the relegation zone, while the Hammers suffered a second consecutive defeat and a third loss in five games.
“Today I fulfilled my dream” 🥹
🗣️ @LCFC‘s Bilal El Khannouss#PLonPrime #LEIWHU pic.twitter.com/MpmcwoGs76
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) December 3, 2024
Ipswich vs Palace: Mateta makes difference
Palace took advantage of a poor display from their opponents to move three points clear of the bottom three and leave The Tractor Boys second-bottom after 14 games.
Jean-Philippe Mateta’s first away goal of the season decided the encounter, producing fine footwork and a clinical finish for the 59th-minute winner.
Jean-Philippe Mateta opens the scoring for @CPFC against Ipswich! 🦅🔥#PLonPrime #IPSCRY pic.twitter.com/jXJ5T3yYmq
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) December 3, 2024
Forward Mateta should have doubled Palace’s lead but was denied by an impressive Aro Muric save, while Ipswich struck a post late on through Jacob Greaves’ header.
“It was not about performing brilliantly,” Eagles manager Oliver Glasner told BBC Match of the Day. “We expected a big fight and it was a big fight.
“It was an amazing goal, an amazing finish. We had two or three chances to take the game away from them and didn’t take them. At the end we had to be a bit lucky but we deserved to win.
“How are the abs coming along?” 😆
Jean-Philippe Mateta + @GaryJCahill = 💪💪💪#PLonPrime #IPSCRY pic.twitter.com/iHWjpyVv1o
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) December 3, 2024
“When JP gets the ball in the box, he is such a good finisher and it is usually a goal. We’re pleased with our defensive performance; we didn’t allow them a chance from open play, just one from a set piece in the first half and one in the second half.”
Palace have now lost one of their last seven matches in all competitions, while Ipswich are still seeking a second league victory of the campaign.
