🔗 Share this article Premier League Buildup and Fresh Soccer Updates Matchday Live Blog This comment strikes a familiar chord for my liking. Christmas time is always focused on soccer initially, decorations later. Supporters face a tricky balance for soccer fans. Can we manage to maintain the required focus on our team while showing appropriate enthusiasm for gift choices, wrapping, food shopping and preparation, table decorations, joining in family get-togethers....? We'll certainly do our best! 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… with two ex-English top-flight players are on the radar of Ruben Amorim’s side. Newcastle v Chelsea Fixture Analysis The clash at St. James' Park at 12.30pm is a great way to kick off the football. Eddie Howe’s side are down in 12th while Chelsea sit fourth. Only six points separate them, given Newcastle's strong home form set to provide a stern test for the Blues. The home side could be hindered, though, due to a lengthy list of unavailable defenders. The full-back has added to a host of sidelined players in the medical room, with Lewis Hall also a doubt. Even so, and despite Maresca claiming his growing admiration for the squad earlier this week, it's unwise to predict an easy Chelsea win on Tyneside. Can Maresca settle on a regular forward line? The wingers came off the bench in the Carabao Cup against Cardiff and found the net 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 among fans about the Guardian’s Top 100 players… such lists are inherently opinion-based, naturally. One thing you cannot argue with is Ousmane Dembélé’s place at the very summit. Key Weekend Storylines Major plotlines this weekend include: From pressure on Scott Parker at Burnley, Wolverhampton's hunt for three points, appeals for the striker's inclusion to feature in Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup plans, it’s all here. Friday Night Round-Up For those who didn't see late drama unfolded in the all-Welsh Friday night Championship clash. The shot-stopper handed victory to Swansea in the 90th minute when he dropped Ben Cabango’s header straight to the substitute. Idah was left with a tap-in to score to make it 2-1. A gift from Okonkwo – who is one of Bukayo Saka’s best friends in football, by the way, and local supremacy go to the Swans. The manager guided his team to a draw in 10 league matches, but stated the result was “frustrating” given the home side had 10 men for most of the game. In the fourth tier, Cambridge United jumped into the playoff spots thanks to a victory against Accrington Stanley 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, Max Beier scoring in the 97th minute to defeat Gladbach after Julian Brandt struck early on. Preamble Good morning all to our latest live football coverage. Saturday is here so that can only mean one thing – buildup! And we can safely call it a bumper day of action with no less than eight Premier League games, starting with the early kick-off, heading into the four 3pm kick-offs, the evening fixture, and concluding with two late matches: the Merseyside and London clashes (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 and in Spain, Germany and beyond too. It's a feast. As always with matchday lives, we encourage your comments and emails, so share your predictions for the day ahead, reflections on the year as it concludes, or your plans for a football-filled day. Enjoy!
Matchday Live Blog This comment strikes a familiar chord for my liking. Christmas time is always focused on soccer initially, decorations later. Supporters face a tricky balance for soccer fans. Can we manage to maintain the required focus on our team while showing appropriate enthusiasm for gift choices, wrapping, food shopping and preparation, table decorations, joining in family get-togethers....? We'll certainly do our best! 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… with two ex-English top-flight players are on the radar of Ruben Amorim’s side. Newcastle v Chelsea Fixture Analysis The clash at St. James' Park at 12.30pm is a great way to kick off the football. Eddie Howe’s side are down in 12th while Chelsea sit fourth. Only six points separate them, given Newcastle's strong home form set to provide a stern test for the Blues. The home side could be hindered, though, due to a lengthy list of unavailable defenders. The full-back has added to a host of sidelined players in the medical room, with Lewis Hall also a doubt. Even so, and despite Maresca claiming his growing admiration for the squad earlier this week, it's unwise to predict an easy Chelsea win on Tyneside. Can Maresca settle on a regular forward line? The wingers came off the bench in the Carabao Cup against Cardiff and found the net 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 among fans about the Guardian’s Top 100 players… such lists are inherently opinion-based, naturally. One thing you cannot argue with is Ousmane Dembélé’s place at the very summit. Key Weekend Storylines Major plotlines this weekend include: From pressure on Scott Parker at Burnley, Wolverhampton's hunt for three points, appeals for the striker's inclusion to feature in Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup plans, it’s all here. Friday Night Round-Up For those who didn't see late drama unfolded in the all-Welsh Friday night Championship clash. The shot-stopper handed victory to Swansea in the 90th minute when he dropped Ben Cabango’s header straight to the substitute. Idah was left with a tap-in to score to make it 2-1. A gift from Okonkwo – who is one of Bukayo Saka’s best friends in football, by the way, and local supremacy go to the Swans. The manager guided his team to a draw in 10 league matches, but stated the result was “frustrating” given the home side had 10 men for most of the game. In the fourth tier, Cambridge United jumped into the playoff spots thanks to a victory against Accrington Stanley 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, Max Beier scoring in the 97th minute to defeat Gladbach after Julian Brandt struck early on. Preamble Good morning all to our latest live football coverage. Saturday is here so that can only mean one thing – buildup! And we can safely call it a bumper day of action with no less than eight Premier League games, starting with the early kick-off, heading into the four 3pm kick-offs, the evening fixture, and concluding with two late matches: the Merseyside and London clashes (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 and in Spain, Germany and beyond too. It's a feast. As always with matchday lives, we encourage your comments and emails, so share your predictions for the day ahead, reflections on the year as it concludes, or your plans for a football-filled day. Enjoy!