Demarai Gray was relieved to see Leicester City end 2016 on a high and praised the presence of striker Islam Slimani following their 1-0 win over West Ham United.

Slimani, who was signed from Sporting Lisbon in the summer, scored the only goal of the game on New Year’s Eve as he headed home a cross from Marc Albrighton.

And Gray insisted the belief in the Foxes camp has never wavered despite a mixed start to the new season which has seen Champions League success but difficulties in the Premier League.

“We said before the game it was important to end the year on a high and we did that. The performance was good and hopefully we can take that into the next games,” he said.

(Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

“It’s been an up and down start to the season, but every time we’ve been down we’ve tried to react.

“If we get off to a good start and get some momentum, a lot of teams will struggle against us. If we can keep it up I think we can pick up some points.”

“That’s what Islam does, that’s his threat. The attackers were positive and one goal was enough. Sometimes the game turns around and the opposition are on top.

“We all stuck together. We said in the changing room this might happen and we rode it out.”

James Milner admitted it was not Liverpool’s prettiest display of the season after they ground out a 1-0 win against Manchester City.

Georginio Wijnaldum’s first-half header proved to be the difference between the two teams at Anfield as Liverpool remain six points behind leaders Chelsea.

And Milner was relieved to get the three points despite his side not being able to play their usual fast style against Pep Guardiola’s side.

“Obviously it’s a tough game against a top team so it’s just about the result really,” he said.

(Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

“It’s probably one of our worst performances for how we want to play this season but a very different and gutsy performance. (There was ) great defending from everyone throughout the pitch and I thought we ground out the result and you have to do that.

“We didn’t execute as we would have liked and didn’t get on the front foot as much as we would have liked. Credit to them, they stopped us playing, they caused us problems and they’re a good team.

“You can’t always win games the way you like to and play flowing football, its about grinding out those results when you’re not at your best and I think that’s a massive victory for us tonight.”

A lack of quality finishing cost West Ham United according to manager Slaven Bilic after 25 shots against Leicester City failed to produce a goal.

The Hammers left the King Power Stadium empty handed as Islam Slimani’s header in the first half proved to be the difference between the two sides.

With Kasper Schmeichel in fantastic form, there was no way past the Foxes’ defence leaving Bilic cutting a frustrated figure.

“It’s very frustrating to lose a game like this,” he said. “They started better, and were the better team for 20 minutes.

“They deserved to score, but then after that we played very good and had a few chances in the first half that we should have scored from.

(Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

“Second half we were missing that final touch, that final ball. We gave everything and it’s a shame to lose like this. That’s life.

“The finishing or the last ball was not quite there. Okay they defended with bodies and they put a lot of players in the box, so it’s hard to break them.

“But basically we were there in the good positions in the whole second half and we just couldn’t finish it.

“I think we deserved something out of the game.”

Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be looking to increase the number of assists he makes for his Manchester United teammates in the New Year.

The Swedish striker is the club’s leading marksman this season with his goal against Sunderland on Boxing Day his 17th of the season in all competitions following his arrival in the summer.

But the 35-year-old insisted that football is a team game and he wants to improve the opportunities he provides for his fellow Red Devils – like his Boxing Day assist for Henrikh Mkhitaryan at Old Trafford.

“When I scored [against Sunderland] it was 50 [goals in 2016] but that is not one of my objectives because if a player starts to focus only on scoring goals it means he’s focusing only on himself,” he said.

(Photo by James Baylis – AMA/Getty Images)

“Like I said, I’m not here to focus on myself because I’m here to help my team-mates win.

“The goals come in the second wave – the first wave is my team, the collective part that I want to win with them. If the collective does well, the individual will do well and I prefer to have it that way.

“If you know the way I play my game, I’m the one who scores or tries to help my team-mates score.”

Manager Antonio Conte insists silverware rather than statistics are what is motivating his Chelsea side.

The Blues made it 13 league wins in a row on Saturday with a 4-2 victory over Stoke – equalling the record posted by Arsenal at the end of the 2001/02 season.

Conte’s side sit top of the table heading into the New Year and conceded two goals in a game for the first time since their 3-0 defeat to the Gunners all the way back in September.

But despite the eye-popping statistics, Conte insists he and his charges are focused on one thing and one thing only – re-claiming the Premier League crown they last held in 2015.

“Numbers are not important if you do not win the title,” he said.

(Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images)

“Now, they are fantastic and we are proud, but we must concentrate on the second part of the season.

“Congratulations go to my players. To win 13 games in a row in this league is very difficult.

“Stoke played very well. They hit long balls to Crouch and fought for the second ball. My players showed they can adapt to the different kinds of game we face. They showed great commitment, work-rate and will to win. I’m delighted for them.

“Now, it’s important to celebrate the arrival of the new year, then to think of the next game against Tottenham.”

Hull City boss Mike Phelan cut a frustrated figure at the final whistle after seeing his side throw away a winning position against Everton on Friday night.

Phelan was convinced the Tigers would bank a precious three points in their fight against Premier League relegation but with just six minutes remaining midfielder Ross Barkley headed in the equaliser.

Everton fell behind to Michael Dawson’s strike before goalkeeper David Marshall’s own goal on the stroke of half-time levelled the match – Phelan described the goal as a ‘turning point’.

Scotland international Robert Snodgrass thought he had sealed the win with a fine free-kick before Barkley’s late intervention.

“Our endeavour was good, our performance was good but we still made those elementary mistakes which cost us again,” said Phelan.

(Photo by Chris Brunskill Ltd/Getty Images)

“That is something we need to polish up on and quickly. You can find fault with any goal you concede and we all make mistakes, so it’s how you react to them.

“Conceding ten seconds before half time was a blow, but overall we put in another good shift, another good performance and this time we’ve taken a point from it – whereas we hadn’t taken any points from our performances in the last two or three games. Hopefully that can be a building block going forward.

“But I think the supporters have seen a real spirit and determination in the players during the last four or five games. They demand that and we’re giving them something, but we always need to try to do better to move up the table.”

Ronald Koeman wants Ross Barkley to take heart from his performance against Hull City after his goal helped earn Everton earn a point.

Once labelled the new Paul Gascoigne, Barkley has come in for criticism from some quarters this season, while he has also been linked with a move away from Goodison Park in the January transfer window.

(Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

However he put in a lively showing in front of watching England manager Gareth Southgate, and scored his third Premier League goal of the season when he headed in Leighton Baines’ cross with six minutes remaining at the KCOM Stadium.

And Koeman believes the game can act as a catalyst for Barkley going into 2017.

“I hope that goal really gives Ross a boost,” said Koeman. “He was that player that we expect in his position.

“We spoke about being more dangerous in front of the goal and to have better offensive movements and he was really important in the final part of attacking and scored an important goal for 2-2 in the second half.

“He was dangerous and was that player we need to have that better support for our strikers.

“We need productivity and we created a lot and that is one of the positives we take from it.”

Ahead of three games in a week, starting with Tottenham in the Premier League on Sunday, Watford manager Walter Mazzarri has revealed his difficulties in integrating youngsters into first team action.

Like all Premier League clubs at Christmas, Watford’s squad is being tested to the limit during a crowded festive period, prompting Mazzarri to turn to youth.

Watford’s squad has been decimated by injuries and Mazzarri is contemplating including teenagers such as defender Brandon Mason or striker Michael Folivi on the bench against Spurs.

Mazzarri said: “They are very young players and already since last week three have been training with us and we will see if one of them will deserve to be on the bench for the way they have been working. Most probably we will need one of them so we will see.

(Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

“I prefer not to say too much but Brandon Mason is a good left footed player while Michael Folivi is a very good young player but it depends on what position I will need so I still don’t know.

“I like to make young players grow and start in the first team, but you need to understand also the type of competition. It’s one thing doing it in a lower division and another thing at the highest level.

“It’s very important to understand you need to maintain the same competitive level while playing Under-23 players or new youngsters. This is a balance which is very difficult to achieve especially in a difficult competition like the Premier League.

“We are already trying it because players like Isaac Success or Jerome Sinclair are very young and have been slowly entering the pitch.”

Newly-appointed Crystal Palace manager Sam Allardyce is considering axing star striker Christian Benteke from penalty duties ahead of this weekend’s trip to Arsenal.

The Belgian striker missed his second spot kick of the season against Watford on Boxing Day, prompting Allardyce into a rethink over the festive period.

The former England boss has ruled over penalty takers in training ahead of the clash at Arsenal, having asked those who would be confident enough to step up and have a go.

“I have no idea who will take one  if we get one,” said Allardyce.

“We’ll think about that on Saturday when we’re practicing. The first thought is what team can be available with the injuries we have, as we’re in a difficult position.

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“Once we’ve decided that and what team we’ve picked, we’ll talk about the penalty situation from there on if we get one. Let’s hope we get one.

“I haven’t spoken to Christian about them. When we’ve made the decision, we’ll go on the training ground, talk about penalties, and if Christian’s the one to take penalties then we’ll maybe talk about what he’s thinking then.

“I’ll make the decision then. And who is going to put their hand up? I might just say ‘who fancies taking a penalty?’. And if they put their hand up in the first place then that’s what you want to see.

“I think Christian would be one to put his hand up, but I don’t know him well enough yet. He probably would do and say he wants to put it right.

“But in the end we’re missing too many penalties and the next one we need to make sure we score it.

“It cost us a couple of points at Watford on Boxing Day.”

Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey is desperate for a change of fortune in 2017 after suffering an injury-plagued campaign to date.

After enjoying a dream European Championships in the summer, where he helped Wales reach the semi-finals in France, Ramsey has spent the bulk of this season in the treatment room at the Emirates.

Ramsey pulled his hamstring on the opening day of the season against Liverpool and after returning from an elongated lay-off in October, his injury curse struck again in December.

The Welshman has started just two Premier League games so far this season and six games in total across all competitions – a stark contrast to the previous season where he was a mainstay of the Gunners’ midfield.

(Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Ramsey will be included in manager Arsene Wenger’s squad to face Crystal Palace on New Years Day and the Welsh midfielder will be hoping for a change of luck in 2017.

“I want to build it up and stay fit now,” he said. “It’s obviously been a very frustrating season for me so far, especially coming off a very good Euros with Wales.

“I wanted to kick on and get going this season, but it’s been a bit stop-start again. It’s something that I am trying to work on and trying to find out what’s right for me, and hopefully that will be the case from now on and I can stay fit.

“You have to get your fitness up in training, work your way back in, so it is frustrating but now I’m just looking forwards and staying fit.”