Thank you very much for joining me. You can get back to your cold turkey now.
Aaron Bower reports from the delayed game at Bramall Lane.
That’s not the end of the action today! You can join Simon Burnton for Manchester United v Newcastle.
Another bad day at the office for Stamford Bridge.
Everton the club in the right place at the right time.
@Will_Unwin think lot of teams could have missed out on ancelloti,,, vast experience etc, arsenal with arteta ? Zero experience!
— paulmoody (@wherenowhow) December 26, 2019
A good day for Carlo Ancelotti.
Ed Aarons witnessed a fine winner at Selhurst Park.
Paul MacInnes was our man at Villa Park.
Full-time: Sheffield United 1-1 Watford
Here is Ben Fisher’s report from the Vitality Stadium:
David Wall asks: “How long until the calls to replace Arteta start appearing on phone-ins and Arsenal TV?”
The main man.
8 - Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti has only lost once in his first game in charge of a team in all competitions in his managerial career (W7 D2 L1), going unbeaten in his last eight such matches. This sole defeat came with Parma in 1996. Impact. #EVEBUR pic.twitter.com/wJAwY9cBfm
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 26, 2019
Even the Macclesfield scoreboard wants the owner to quit.
‘Amar Out’: Macclesfield Town scoreboard tells the club’s owner what the fans - and presumably a rogue member of staff - what is wanted. #silkmen pic.twitter.com/r5SOPUqOqM
— John Brewin (@JohnBrewin_) December 26, 2019
Premier League full-time scores
- Aston Villa 1-0 Norwich
- Bournemouth 1-1 Arsenal
- Chelsea 0-2 Southampton
- Crystal Palace 2-1 West Ham
- Everton 1-0 Burnley
- Sheffield United 1-1 Watford (kicked off 10 mins late)
Full-time: Aston Villa 1-0 Norwich
A huge win for Dean Smith.
Full-time: Everton 1-0 Burnley
A winning start for Carlo Ancelotti.
Full-time: Crystal Palace 2-1 West Ham
A fine comeback from the Eagles.
Full-time: Chelsea 0-2 Southampton
Another dreadful Chelsea display.
Full-time: Bournemouth 1-1 Arsenal
Arteta gets a point in his first game in charge.
Harry Wilson whips in a free-kick from 25 yards but it lands in Leno’s arms. We’re heading for a draw in Bournemouth.
That is an excellent goal.
OH. MY. WORD. 😮
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) December 26, 2019
That's a contender for goal of the season, surely...#PLonPrime #CRYWHU pic.twitter.com/DEAZQt35xK
Lacazette breaks away, then picks out Willock on the edge of the box in space but he hits a very tame shot which Ramsdale drops on top off.
GOAL! Crystal Palace 2-1 West Ham (Ayew, 90)
Ayew gets the ball on the wing and dribbles through the entire defence before sending the ball into the back of the net. It’s a cracker!
Updated
WHAT A SAVE! Heaton reacts superbly to a Hernandez volley from just nine yards to keep Villa ahead.
STRIKER!
Listen to the Goodison Park ROAR 🔊
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) December 26, 2019
Dominic Calvert-Lewin puts Carlo Ancelotti's @Everton ahead with a fantastic header, and you can hear the relief! 🔵#PLonPrime #EVEBUR pic.twitter.com/hb7EuR0quu
Wigan are beating Derby, who are really struggling. Could Wayne Rooney be player-manager soon?
Lewis Cook goes into the book for Bournemouth after going through the back of Pepe. It was a pretty poor challenge and Pepe is yet to get up.
Ben Foster is a fine chap.
How on earth have you kept that out, @BenFoster ... 😳#PLonPrime #SHUWAT pic.twitter.com/KBarro8AnY
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) December 26, 2019
GOAL! Everton 1-0 Burnley (Calvert-Lewin, 80)
Sidibe sends in a wonderful cross, then Calvert-Lewin flings himself at the ball to send a diving header beyond Pope.
Updated
Disallowed goal for Bournemouth. Wilson is first to react after Leno palms a weak Fraser shot back into a dangerous area - the striker taps home but the flag is up and VAR confirms the decision.
Ben Foster is the hero once more for Watford with a fantastic save to repel a Fleck effort.
Updated
Mason Greenwood starts for Man United today, while Pogba is left on the bench. Newcastle start Dwight Gayle.
The hero we all deserve.
Connor Wickham with a poor attempt when clean through on goal. Roberto is West Ham's hero
— Ed Aarons (@ed_aarons) December 26, 2019
Arsenal have been on top since equalising at Bournemouth but they have suffered a blow as it looks like Sokratis needs to go off.
GOAL! Chelsea 0-2 Southampton (Redmond, 73)
A shock on the cards at Stamford Bridge. The ball deflects into the path of Redmond who beats Kepa to it and sends a shot into the back of the net.
Updated
Burnley have been superb at the back against Everton. Tarkowski and friend of the show Mee have not given the opposition strikers a sniff.
Updated
Aaron Wilbraham has now scored an own goal! Rochdale 2-2 Fleetwood. Does it count as a hat-trick?
Lacazette fails to take advantage of a perfect pass through the middle as the Frenchman hits his shot straight at the feet of Ramsdale who diverts the ball wide.
GOAL! Crystal Palace 1-1 West Ham (Kouyate, 68)
McArthur lifts a ball to the back post from the left, Kouyate sprints into the box to volley home the knockdown for his first Palace goal, ironically against his former club.
Updated
The weather at the Vitality Stadium is apocalyptic. Absolutely hammering it down.
GOAL! Aston Villa 1-0 Norwich (Hourihane, 64)
Grealish does superbly well on the edge of the box to find space for a pass to Hourihane who curls the ball into the corner. A tad unfair on Norwich who have dominated.
Updated
Aaron Wilbraham has scored again!!! Rochdale 2-1 Fleetwood.
GOAL! Bournemouth 1-1 Arsenal (Aubameyang, 63)
Now Arsenal are level. Aubameyang takes it into the box and it comes back to him a few seconds later after Nelson sends it to the back post from where Aubameyang taps the ball into the corner.
Updated
Byram almost opens the scoring for Norwich after combining with his fellow full-back, Aarons, who flings the ball across the box for the left-back but he can only head the ball wide.
Arsenal should be level! Ozil slips a delightful ball through the defence to Aubameyang who takes a poor first touch and ends up jabbing a shot at Ramsdale which the goalkeeper blocks.
GOAL! Crystal Palace 0-1 West Ham (Snodgrass, 57)
From fighting to celebrations in the West Ham ranks. Antonio does well on the wing, sends a cross into the box where Snodgrass sweeps it into the net.
Updated
Maitland-Niles goes into the book. The full-back first fell over and then pulled down King as he went down.
No Christmas spirit in the West Ham dressing room.
A few pushes betwen Mark Noble and Aaron Cresswell after the latter gave the ball away. Palace fans chant "Off!"
— Ed Aarons (@ed_aarons) December 26, 2019
Heaton gets down to stop a Zimmerman header to keep things level at Villa Park. Norwich have been on top throughout and are unlucky to not be ahead.
A few teams could do with this man leading the line ... but he is off back to Milan.
Macclesfield are leading against Grimsby thanks to a Joe Ironside penalty. Let’s hope they sort out their financial issues.
The game’s gone:
A first ever #PLonPrime marriage proposal!
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) December 26, 2019
At Goodison Park against Burnley... where else would you pop the question?@Everton #EVEBUR pic.twitter.com/JpJrBBmSsF
It will be interesting to see how Arteta reacts when it comes to substitutions. He does have Pepe at his disposal.
Aubameyang goes close! The Gabonese striker gets the ball inside the box, opens his body up and looks to curl the ball into the top corner but he sends it inches wide.
Second half
Chelsea have replaced Zouma with Mount which is an exciting substitution. Everyone else is back underway, too.
Deulofeu has just whacked a free-kick from 35 yards over the bar! Sheffield United and Watford go in level at at the break.
Updated
They’ve add five minutes on at Bramall Lane. No rest for me.
Charles Antaki offers to save us all a job: “A generous gift from the Arsenal team to all journalists, who can now recycle the ‘at least the new manager now knows the scale of the problem’ from Emery’s and Ljungberg’s debuts. Who says that the players don’t care?”
Chelsea are set to make a change at the break, with Mason Mount going through a vigorous warmup routine on the pitch. They have failed to create anything of note.
Aaron Wilbraham is 40! You have to admire his longevity.
It is chucking it down at Bramall Lane where Sarr is down and looks very groggy after clashing with O’Connell.
Half-time scores
- Aston Villa 0-0 Norwich
- Bournemouth 1-0 Arsenal
- Chelsea 0-1 Southampton
- Crystal Palace 0-0 West Ham
- Everton 0-0 Burnley
- Sheffield United 1-1 Watford (kicked off 10 mins late)
Updated
GOAL! Sheffield United 1-1 Watford (Norwood, pen, 36)
Baldock gets into the box and is taken down by Hughes. Norwood steps up to equalise for the Blades.
Updated
Aaron Wilbraham has scored for Rochdale! Aaron Wilbraham is still playing football. Who knew?
King almost doubles the lead for Bournemouth. The forward gets the ball on the halfway line and sprints past Sokratis, bulldozes Nelson out of the way on the byline only to toe poke his shot straight at Leno who forces it behind.
And he is Deulofeu scoring. Amazon really are helping me today. I might order a new frying pan to thank them.
The visitors are in control 🐝
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) December 26, 2019
Gerard Deulofeu calmly finishes to silence Bramall Lane#PLonPrime #SHUWAT pic.twitter.com/OcjAlQYudK
Speaking of cracking goals. Here is Obafemi’s for Southampton.
Obafemi, take a bow!@SouthamptonFC take the lead at Stamford Bridge thanks to a sublime finish 😇#PLonPrime #CHESOU pic.twitter.com/MFk2gyLro5
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) December 26, 2019
GOAL! Sheffield United 0-1 Watford (Deulofeu, 27)
No operational issues for Deulofeu. The Spanish winger collects a flick on, cuts inside and calmly passes the ball into the back of the net. What a cracking finish!
Updated
GOAL! Bournemouth 1-0 Arsenal (Gosling, 35)
Bournemouth push forward with Stacey overlapping down the right wing, allowing him to pull the ball back from the byline for the onrushing Gosling to poke home.
Updated
Bad news for Villa as El Ghazi has been forced off with an injury. He is replaced by Jota.
Palace should be ahead against West Ham but Jordan Ayew has missed twice in quick succession. I think he is the least clinical striker in the Premier League.
GOAL! Chelsea 0-1 Southampton (Obafemi, 31)
Southampton with a sucker punch. Obafemi gets the ball in the final third, dribbles into the box and curls a shot into the top corner with his left foot for his first Premier League goal!
Updated
RYAN BERTRAND BOOKED IN 28TH MINUTE FOR TIME WASTING!! Is this a new record?
A stunning Arsenal move from their own area ends with Saka firing a low cross across the six-yard box which finds it way to Nelson at the back post but he panics and ends up sending a tame shot straight into a defender’s chest.
Roberto update:
Palace knocking on the door here, another corner sort of dealt with by Roberto. He loves a punch!
— Ed Aarons (@ed_aarons) December 26, 2019
Lacazette turns in the both and whacks a shot a goal but Lerma gets into between the striker and the net to deflect the ball over. The Frenchman has had a couple of chances but is yet to threaten Ramsdale.
If you’re into goals, Hibs scored two earlier. Read all about it:
Not a single goal in the Premier League thus far. One assumes all the players ate too much goose yesterday or some other cliched line I am too lazy to think of.
David Luiz has just had a go from 30 odd yards with his left foot. Needless to say, it went nowhere near the goal.
Bournemouth and Arsenal are playing some good football but each side keep giving the ball away needlessly. There should be goals though.
Norwich hit the bar! A corner lands on Byram’s head, the full-back directs it into the ground but it bounces up and onto the bar. A let-off for Villa.
Chelsea are unsurprisingly in charge of proceedings at Stamford Bridge but no one has actually had a shot on goal. Southampton do not look like they have much ambition in the capital. They would take a goalless draw now.
Updated
Sheffield United v Watford is underway, which is a relief.
Bournemouth almost take the lead when a cross from Fraser lands on Wilson’s left foot and he whacks a volley from 18 yards just over the bar. It would have been a cracker.
Leno considers a short pass to a defender from a goal kick but after about 15 seconds of threatening to do so just whacks it long. Arteta has a bit of work to do here. I must say Ozil looks pretty lively for Arsenal, he has the freedom to roam and is finding lots of space.
Eoin Doyle has scored from the spot for Swindon against Cambridge. That’s his 22nd of the season already.
A Fulham defender was dispossessed in his own area, allowing LuaLua to score the opening for Luton. A wonderful feat of incompetence.
What are operational issues? Have they been unable to find a match ball? Referee lost his whistle?
Absolutely nothing happening at Bramall Lane ...
Due to operational issues, kick off has been delayed until 3.10pm.#SUFC 🔴
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) December 26, 2019
Burnley whip a free-kick into the box which Mina clears over his own bar rather than allow Mee a free header to open the scoring. Ancelotti will not be pleased that his return to England starts against Burnley as they’re such a tough side to face.
All quiet in the early stages. Arsenal are knocking the ball around the back. Many would say in a manner similar to Manchester City. Where did Arteta learn that?
Kick-off
The whistles are sounding all over the country!
From our man in south east London ...
A testing day for goalkeepers in south London today with all the wind and rain. West Ham's Roberto plays against Palace having conceded 19 goals in nine appearances this season. Could be interesting...
— Ed Aarons (@ed_aarons) December 26, 2019
I bought my brother a William Prunier cushion for Christmas. I assume no one got anything better.
Spurs have already seen off Brighton today.
Feel free to send me photos of your Boxing Day meals, as this is normal.
@Will_Unwin All the way from Kenya awaiting another win for Lamps after eating enough mutton for the whole 2020 pic.twitter.com/RhcYE8hWc8
— Ian (@_ianoooo) December 26, 2019
Andy Gray back on Sky Sports being interviewed about a new film on Everton in the 1980s.
JR emails in: “If I had known Roberto was starting I never would have traded Zaha out of my fantasy team. I mean I knew Zaha was likely going to be up against the 73 year old Zabaleta but I never considered Roberto would see a Premier League game again. Surely there can’t be any worse options than Roberto, can there be?”
Is Palace v West Ham the must watch game of the day?
Re Ozil starting, Arteta says: “He has been training really good, so let’s see how he can perform and what he can produce.”
Amazon have sent a very beardy Marcus Buckland to Bournemouth where he is joined by Tony Pulis and Karen Carney. Buckland’s facial really is quite impressive, pirate-esque.
Roberto is starting for West Ham! Very much the gift that keeps on giving.
My mother bought me a Manchester City annual as a present yesterday. I am 32 years old!
Boxing Days stats!
26/12 - On this day in 1999, Chelsea became the first side to name no English players in their starting line up for a Premier League game, beating Southampton 2-1 at the Dell thanks to a Tore Andre Flo brace. Diverse. pic.twitter.com/Ql6omvGgff
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 26, 2019
There are going to be six games on simultaneously on Amazon. How many games can I physically watch and enjoy?
Southampton have decided to rest Danny Ings. One assumes this is on the basis that they do not think they can beat Chelsea and have more important games coming up.
So ... that’s all the team news. Arteta has gone for an attacking lineup with Ozil in the side, with both Aubameyang and Lacazette starting.
Teams: Crystal Palace v West Ham
Crystal Palace: Guaita, Kelly, Tomkins, Sakho, Van Aanholt, Kouyate, Milivojevic, McArthur, Meyer, Ayew, Zaha.
Subs: Hennessey, Wickham, McCarthy, Camarasa, Woods, Pierrick, Riedewald.
West Ham: Roberto, Zabaleta, Balbuena, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Snodgrass, Noble, Rice, Fornals, Antonio, Haller.
Subs: Anang, Anderson, Lanzini, Sanchez, Diop, Masuaku, Ajeti.
Teams: Everton v Burnley
Everton: Pickford, Sidibe, Holgate, Mina, Digne, Coleman, Delph, Bernard, Sigurdsson, Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin
Subs: Stekelenburg, Baines, Keane, Walcott, Tosun, Davies, Kean
Burnley: Pope, Bardsley, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor, Westwood, Cork, Brady, McNeil, Rodriguez, Wood.
Subs: Hart, Lowton, Gudmundsson, Drinkwater, Barnes, Pieters, Long.
Teams: Aston Villa v Norwich
Aston Villa: Heaton, Elmohamady, Konsa, Hause, Targett, Luiz, Nakamba, Grealish, El Ghazi, Wesley, Trezeguet
Subs: Nyland, Lansbury, Hourihane, Engels, Jota, Guilbert, Kodjia
Norwich: Krul, Aarons, Zimmermann, Hanley, Byram, Tettey, Trybull, Buendia, McLean, Cantwell, Pukki
Subs: Fahrmann, Vrancic, Hernandez, Lewis, Stiepermann, Amadou, Srbeny
Updated
Teams: Chelsea v Southampton
Chelsea: Kepa, Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Zouma, Tomori, Emerson, Kante, Jorginho, Willian, Hudson-Odoi, Abraham
Subs: Caballero, Christensen, Barkley, Pedro, Mount, Pulisic, Batshuayi
Southampton: McCarthy, Soares, Stephens, Bednarek, Bertrand, Armstrong, Ward-Prowse, Hojbjerg, Redmond, Obafemi, Adams
Subs: Gunn, Yoshida, Vestergaard, Ings, Romeu, Boufal, Danso
Teams: Sheffield United v Watford
Sheffield United: Henderson, Baldock, Basham, Egan, O’Connell, Stevens, Lundstram, Norwood, Fleck, McGoldrick, McBurnie.
Subs: Verrips, Freeman, Sharp, Robinson, Jagielka, Mousset, Besic.
Watford: Foster, Cathcart, Mariappa, Femenia, Kabasele, Hughes, Capoue, Chalobah, Sarr, Deulofeu, Deeney.
Subs: Gomes, Dawson, Gray, Quina, Success, Dele-Bashiru, Pereyra.
Teams: Bournemouth v Arsenal
Bournemouth: Ramsdale, Stacey, S Cook, Mepham, Simpson, Fraser, L Cook, Lerma, Gosling, King, Wilson.
Subs: Boruc, Surman, Solanke, Stanislas, Wilson, Billing, Kilkenny.
Arsenal: Leno, Maitland-Niles, Sokratis, Luiz, Saka, Torreira, Xhaka, Nelson, Ozil, Aubameyang, Lacazette.
Subs: Martinez, Pepe, Mustafi, Mavropanos, Willock, Guendouzi, Smith Rowe.
And here is a list for you to argue with your loved ones about over turkey sandwiches.
Arteta is cool.
👋 @m8arteta
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 26, 2019
Our head coach arrives for his first game in charge of The Arsenal 🔴#BOUARS pic.twitter.com/jHlTkpLn16
Granit Xhaka is terrific.
You’re all very welcome to email in to tell me about your Christmases and how football is making it better.
What will we learn about Arteta’s Arsenal today? Will he stick with the kids? Will he get Ozil back into the team? Will the defence be less awful?
This sums up today:
Here are today’s 3pm kick-offs in the Premier League:
- Aston Villa v Norwich
- Bournemouth v Arsenal
- Chelsea v Southampton
- Crystal Palace v West Ham
- Everton v Burnley
- Sheffield United v Watford
Preamble
Good afternoon!
I assume we all feel absolutely dreadful after a day of indulging ourselves. What better way to bring yourself back to reality than watching dozens of millionaires running around a bit of grass. It’s even more special this year as you can watch every single game on Amazon; you’ve probably bought all your Christmas presents from them, so it’s fitting you can continue your relationship with them on Boxing Day.
In terms of actual football, the intrigue comes at Bournemouth who host Arsenal for Mikel Arteta’s first game in charge, so we can all see if he has orchestrated a revolution of if they’re just bad. Elsewhere, Carlo Ancelotti leads Everton against Burnley in order to remind himself how ruddy bloody hard the Premier League is.
Last on Match of the Day will be Aston Villa v Norwich. It’s very much a relegation SIX-POINTER, so it’s got that in its favour, at least.
Anyway ... let’s pour another glass of wine and enjoy non-stop football.
