🔗 Share this article Top Flight Buildup and Fresh Football News Live Feed This comment strikes a familiar chord for my liking. The holiday season is invariably focused on soccer initially, fir trees second. Supporters face a tricky balance 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 certainly do our best! Apologies, could you repeat that...? Man Utd Target Neves and Gallagher The Red Devils are searching for a midfielder. This likely isn't positive for the young talent… with two former Premier League stars are on the radar of the Old Trafford club. Newcastle v Chelsea Pre-Match Preview 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 lies between them, given Newcastle's strong home form likely to make it tough for the Blues. Newcastle may be hamstrung, though, due to a lengthy list of current defensive absentees. Tino Livramento has joined Sven Botman, Dan Burn, Emil Krafth, Jamaal Lascelles, Kieran Trippier and goalkeeper Nick Pope on the treatment table, with Lewis Hall also a doubt. Despite this, and despite Maresca claiming his growing admiration for the squad recently, it's unwise to predict an easy Chelsea win at St James’ Park. Can Maresca settle on a consistent attacking trio? The wingers came off the bench during the midweek cup tie and found the net appearing as candidates to start this one. Predicting games like Newcastle v Chelsea this season has proven exceptionally tough. Top 100 Players Discussion I notice there’s lots of discussion among fans regarding rankings of the world's best… such lists are inherently opinion-based, of course. An indisputable fact is the positioning of Ousmane Dembélé at the very summit. Key Weekend Storylines Major plotlines this weekend include: The scrutiny on Burnley's manager, to Wolves’ long search for a win, appeals for the striker's inclusion in the national team setup, it’s all here. Friday Night Round-Up For those who didn't see there was drama during the Welsh derby. Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo handed victory to Swansea in the 90th minute when he dropped Ben Cabango’s header right into the path of Adam Idah. The Swans substitute was left with a tap-in to tap home to make it 2-1. An early Christmas present from the Arsenal academy graduate, by the way, and Welsh bragging rights for Swansea. The manager guided Bristol Rovers to their first point ending a poor run, but stated the result was “frustrating” given the home side had 10 men for most of the game. Elsewhere in League Two, Cambridge United jumped into the playoff spots thanks to a victory against Accrington Stanley and Cheltenham picked up a 2-1 win at struggling Barrow. Northampton strolled to a comfortable victory in League One. And in the Bundesliga, the battle of the Borussias was won 2-0 by Dortmund, with a late Beier goal to see off Mönchengladbach following an early Brandt strike. Introduction Good morning all and welcome to another matchday live blog. Saturday is here so that can only mean one thing – buildup! It's truly a packed schedule with no less than eight Premier League games, starting with Newcastle v Chelsea at 12.30pm, followed by four afternoon games, Tottenham v Liverpool at 5.30pm, and concluding with two late matches: the Merseyside and London clashes (UK time). There is also a full schedule of games in the Scottish Premiership, Championship, League One and League Two, plus lower down the pyramids and in Spain, Germany and beyond too. It's a feast. Following our usual format, we welcome your interaction, 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 day of festive footy-ball. Enjoy!
Live Feed This comment strikes a familiar chord for my liking. The holiday season is invariably focused on soccer initially, fir trees second. Supporters face a tricky balance 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 certainly do our best! Apologies, could you repeat that...? Man Utd Target Neves and Gallagher The Red Devils are searching for a midfielder. This likely isn't positive for the young talent… with two former Premier League stars are on the radar of the Old Trafford club. Newcastle v Chelsea Pre-Match Preview 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 lies between them, given Newcastle's strong home form likely to make it tough for the Blues. Newcastle may be hamstrung, though, due to a lengthy list of current defensive absentees. Tino Livramento has joined Sven Botman, Dan Burn, Emil Krafth, Jamaal Lascelles, Kieran Trippier and goalkeeper Nick Pope on the treatment table, with Lewis Hall also a doubt. Despite this, and despite Maresca claiming his growing admiration for the squad recently, it's unwise to predict an easy Chelsea win at St James’ Park. Can Maresca settle on a consistent attacking trio? The wingers came off the bench during the midweek cup tie and found the net appearing as candidates to start this one. Predicting games like Newcastle v Chelsea this season has proven exceptionally tough. Top 100 Players Discussion I notice there’s lots of discussion among fans regarding rankings of the world's best… such lists are inherently opinion-based, of course. An indisputable fact is the positioning of Ousmane Dembélé at the very summit. Key Weekend Storylines Major plotlines this weekend include: The scrutiny on Burnley's manager, to Wolves’ long search for a win, appeals for the striker's inclusion in the national team setup, it’s all here. Friday Night Round-Up For those who didn't see there was drama during the Welsh derby. Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo handed victory to Swansea in the 90th minute when he dropped Ben Cabango’s header right into the path of Adam Idah. The Swans substitute was left with a tap-in to tap home to make it 2-1. An early Christmas present from the Arsenal academy graduate, by the way, and Welsh bragging rights for Swansea. The manager guided Bristol Rovers to their first point ending a poor run, but stated the result was “frustrating” given the home side had 10 men for most of the game. Elsewhere in League Two, Cambridge United jumped into the playoff spots thanks to a victory against Accrington Stanley and Cheltenham picked up a 2-1 win at struggling Barrow. Northampton strolled to a comfortable victory in League One. And in the Bundesliga, the battle of the Borussias was won 2-0 by Dortmund, with a late Beier goal to see off Mönchengladbach following an early Brandt strike. Introduction Good morning all and welcome to another matchday live blog. Saturday is here so that can only mean one thing – buildup! It's truly a packed schedule with no less than eight Premier League games, starting with Newcastle v Chelsea at 12.30pm, followed by four afternoon games, Tottenham v Liverpool at 5.30pm, and concluding with two late matches: the Merseyside and London clashes (UK time). There is also a full schedule of games in the Scottish Premiership, Championship, League One and League Two, plus lower down the pyramids and in Spain, Germany and beyond too. It's a feast. Following our usual format, we welcome your interaction, 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 day of festive footy-ball. Enjoy!