Matchday Live Blog
That remark hits a little too close to home for my liking. The holiday season is invariably focused on soccer initially, family gatherings after.
This can be a difficult time for football supporters. Is it possible to keep the necessary eye on our team while showing appropriate enthusiasm for gift choices, wrapping, food shopping and preparation, table decorations, joining in family get-togethers....? We'll give it a damned good try! Apologies, could you repeat that...?
Man Utd Pursue Rúben Neves and Conor Gallagher
Manchester United are on the hunt for a midfielder. This likely isn't positive for Kobbie Mainoo… as a pair of ex-English top-flight players are targeted by Ruben Amorim’s side.
Chelsea's Trip to Newcastle Fixture Analysis
The clash at St. James' Park in the early Saturday slot provides a fantastic start to kick off the football. Eddie Howe’s side occupy 12th place and Enzo Maresca’s men are in fourth. Only six points separate them, given Newcastle's strong home form likely to make it tough for the Blues.
Newcastle may be hamstrung, though, by their sheer number of current defensive absentees. Tino Livramento has joined a host of sidelined players in the medical room, with Lewis Hall also a doubt.
Despite this, and despite Maresca claiming he was “falling more in love with [his players” recently, it's unwise to predict Chelsea strolling to victory at St James’ Park. Can Maresca settle on a regular forward line? The wingers were substitutes during the midweek cup tie to score appearing as candidates to start this one.
Forecasting results like Newcastle v Chelsea this season has been very, very difficult.
Debate Over Elite Footballers
Observations show considerable debate in the comments regarding rankings of the world's best… such lists are inherently opinion-based, naturally. An indisputable fact is the positioning of Ousmane Dembélé at the top.
Key Weekend Storylines
Major plotlines this weekend include: From pressure on Scott Parker at Burnley, to Wolves’ long search for a win, appeals for the striker's inclusion in the national team setup, it’s all here.
Weekend Football Recap
For those who didn't see there was drama in the all-Welsh Friday night Championship clash. Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo presented Swansea with the win in the 90th minute fumbling a cross straight to the substitute. The Swans substitute had the simplest of task to tap home for the decisive goal.
An early Christmas present from the Arsenal academy graduate, incidentally, and Welsh bragging rights for Swansea.
The manager guided his team to a draw ending a poor run, but stated the result was “frustrating” given the home side had 10 men for the majority. Elsewhere in League Two, Cambridge United jumped into the playoff spots thanks to a victory over Accrington and Cheltenham picked up a 2-1 win away at Barrow.
Northampton strolled beyond AFC Wimbledon 3-1 in League One.
And in the Bundesliga, the battle of the Borussias was won 2-0 by Dortmund, with a late Beier goal to defeat Gladbach after Julian Brandt struck early on.
Introduction
Hello everyone and welcome to another live football coverage. Saturday is here so that can only mean one thing – buildup! And we can safely call it a packed schedule featuring eight top-flight matches, starting with the early kick-off, followed by four afternoon games, Tottenham v Liverpool at 5.30pm, and concluding with two late matches: Everton v Arsenal and Leeds v Crystal Palace (UK time).
Additionally, there's a full schedule of games in the Scottish Premiership, Championship, League One and League Two, and further down the divisions along with European action. See – bumper.
As always with matchday lives, we encourage your comments and emails, so share your forecasts, thoughts on 2025 in general now that it’s coming to an end, or just how you’ll be spending a football-filled day. Enjoy!
