Match reports
Updated
That’s all from me. I’ll leave you with the Premier League table, but stay tuned for match reports. In summary: a good day for Claude Puel and Rafa Benítez, a very bad day for Mark Hughes, and a bad, then good, then very bad, then very good day for Jürgen Klopp. Thanks for joining me. Happy New Year.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Man City | 21 | 49 | 59 |
| 2 | Chelsea | 21 | 25 | 45 |
| 3 | Man Utd | 21 | 27 | 44 |
| 4 | Liverpool | 22 | 25 | 44 |
| 5 | Arsenal | 21 | 12 | 38 |
| 6 | Tottenham Hotspur | 20 | 19 | 37 |
| 7 | Burnley | 22 | 0 | 34 |
| 8 | Leicester | 22 | 2 | 30 |
| 9 | Everton | 21 | -7 | 27 |
| 10 | Watford | 21 | -7 | 25 |
| 11 | Huddersfield | 22 | -17 | 24 |
| 12 | Brighton | 22 | -10 | 23 |
| 13 | Newcastle | 22 | -10 | 22 |
| 14 | AFC Bournemouth | 22 | -12 | 21 |
| 15 | Southampton | 21 | -10 | 20 |
| 16 | Stoke | 22 | -24 | 20 |
| 17 | Crystal Palace | 21 | -14 | 19 |
| 18 | West Ham | 20 | -16 | 18 |
| 19 | West Brom | 21 | -13 | 16 |
| 20 | Swansea | 21 | -19 | 16 |
League One and Two results
League One Bristol Rovers 2-1 Portsmouth; Charlton 1-2 Gillingham; Fleetwood 1-2 Bradford; Northampton 0-1 Wigan; Oxford United 3-1 MK Dons; Peterborough 1-1 Doncaster; Plymouth 1-0 Walsall; Rochdale 1-2 Blackpool; Rotherham 1-1 Blackburn; Scunthorpe 1-0 Bury; Shrewsbury 1-0 Oldham; Wimbledon 2-0 Southend.
League Two Accrington A-A Morecambe; Barnet 1-2 Swindon; Colchester 0-0 Cambridge; Coventry 1-0 Chesterfield; Crewe 2-0 Grimsby; Forest Green 1-2 Wycombe; Luton 4-2 Lincoln; Mansfield 3-1Carlisle; Newport 2-1 Exeter; Notts County 1-0 Port Vale; Stevenage 4-1 Cheltenham; Yeovil 1-2 Crawley (98th minute winner).
Updated
Championship results
Bolton 1-0 Hull City
Derby County 1-1 Sheffield United
Leeds United 0-0 Nottingham Forest
Norwich City 2-1 Millwall
Preston 2-3 Middlesbrough
QPR 2-1 Cardiff City
Sheffield Wednesday 0-3 Burton
Sunderland 0-1 Barnsley
In the Football League, Bristol Rovers have rallied to defeat Portsmouth 2-1, while Derby were held by Sheffield United and Cardiff have lost once again at QPR. Still playing at Leeds and Sunderland...
Full time: Stoke 0-1 Newcastle
It’s a managerial misery full house for Mark Hughes: he’s trudging off to a chorus of jeers and boos, soaked by the rain after a narrow home defeat – and the A5 banners are out. Ayoze Pérez got the winner for Newcastle, who just about deserved it.
Updated
Full time: Burnley 1-2 Liverpool
What a big result that could be for Liverpool, who looked to have thrown victory away only to snatch it back in stoppage time. They’re now just a point behind second-placed Chelsea. No idea how there were three goals in that game, mind you.
Updated
Full time: Leicester 3-0 Huddersfield
After a dour first half the hosts take control to comfortably see off Huddersfield through goals from Riyad Mahrez, Marc Albrighton and Islam Slimani.
Updated
GOAL! Burnley 1-2 Liverpool (Klavan 93)
Liverpool have grabbed all three points in the dying seconds, Ragnar Klavan heading in from half a yard after Dejan Lovren had sent Emre Can’s free kick back across goal. Cue scenes on the Turf Moor touchlines.
Updated
GOAL! Leicester 3-0 Huddersfield (Albrighton 90)
Huddersfield’s long, long wait for a win at Leicester will continue, as Marc Albrighton makes certain of victory.
Sheffield Wednesday 0-3 Burton, Tom Naylor finishing from close range. It’s also Luton 4-2 Lincoln, Stevenage 4-1 Cheltenham and Fylde 5-1 Tranmere as the goals fly in.
Meanwhile, scenes at Yeovil where the hosts are down to nine men against Crawley – and play has just been stopped due to a drone flying overhead. Its 1-1 there.
Updated
Darlow denies Diouf again as Newcastle hang on at Stoke. At Elland Road, Pierre-Michel Lasogga’s header back across goal lacks the required power, and Forest are hanging on. Late goals for promotion chasers Notts County and Scunthorpe, but David Ball has pegged Blackburn back at Rotherham.
GOAL! Burnley 1-1 Liverpool (Gudmundsson 87')
This one will sting for Liverpool – Burnley are level after more poor defending. Gudmundsson arrives unmarked at the far post to head home from Sam Vokes’ near-post flick on!
Updated
Liverpool so close to adding a second, but Nick Pope denies Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Team news is in for Everton v Manchester United, which you can follow with Gregg Bakowski:
Goals chalked off at Derby and QPR – David Nugent’s strike ruled out for a foul, and Junior Hoilett denied a Cardiff equaliser after he was flagged offside. It looked a marginal call. In League Two, goal machines Luton lead Lincoln 3-2 in a thriller at Kenilworth Road.
Darlow denies Diouf’s acrobatic effort from 12 yards out, turning the ball behind for a corner. Mark Hughes could really use an equaliser here. Norwich lead Millwall, whose away drought is set to continue. James Maddison drills home to add to his earlier assist.
@niallmcveigh Arsenal are a laser disc. At one time exotically years ahead of its time and lovely to look at, but now requiring almost a different mindset to understand its point. Huge space needed for expensive playing "equipment" too. Hard to buy replacement parts.
— Gary Naylor (@garynaylor999) January 1, 2018
Updated
Demarai Gray on for Riyad Mahrez, who looks to have orchestrated another hard-earned win. Leicester are looking good to finish best of the rest; the question is, why does nobody want to buy Mahrez?
Middlesbrough lead at Preston, Daniel Ayala scoring with his second header of the day as the visitors turn it around. Another turnaround in the Championship – debutant Paul Smyth’s superb solo goal has made it QPR 2-1 Cardiff.
Updated
GOAL! Stoke 0-1 Newcastle (Pérez 73)
Oh Sparky! Jacob Murphy picks up the ball in midfield and waits patiently before sliding a pass to Ayoze Pérez, who gets in behind the defence and puts the visitors ahead!
Updated
Liverpool holding on to their lead with relative comfort at Burnley, where Jeff Hendrick is replaced by striker Sam Vokes. Goalscorer Sadio Mané is replaced by Roberto Firmino. This would be a big win for the visitors, who have so often struggled to win ugly.
Newcastle appeal for a penalty, Dwight Gayle going down in the area under Kurt Zouma’s challenge. You’ve seen them given...
“Manchester City are Bitcoin,” says Mark Turner. “Market valuation going parabolic, the world wondering if this is the brave new world or just another flash in the pan.”
Jonny Howson has levelled for Middlesbrough at Preston with a fine curling finish from the edge of the box. In League One, Portsmouth and Blackburn have taken the lead at Bristol Rovers and Rotherham respectively, and Bradford also lead at Fleetwood.
Phew. Still goalless at Stoke, where Choupo-Moting has tested Karl Darlow and Mame Biram Diouf is on for Xherdan Shaqiri, who took an earful from fans for a half-hearted display. For Newcastle, Dwight Gayle replaces the profligate Christian Atsu.
Updated
Two big goals in the Championship: QPR equalise against Cardiff as Matt Smith heads home from a long throw, and Leon Clarke levels for Sheffield United at Derby.
Updated
GOAL! Leicester 2-0 Huddersfield (Slimani 61)
Leicester double their lead on the break, Mahrez picking out compatriot Islam Slimani who blasts the ball home!
Updated
GOAL! Burnley 0-1 Liverpool (Mané 61)
Liverpool lead at Turf Moor, as Sadio Mané collects Alexander-Arnold’s cross, turns on the edge of the area and fires a shot past Pope and into the roof of the net!
Updated
Surprise scoreline of the day: Tranmere, sixth in the National League having won their last five games, are 4-0 down at AFC Fylde. In League One, goals for Blackpool – who lead at Rochdale – and Bradford, who are level at Fleetwood.
Cardiff take the lead at QPR, Joe Ralls converting a penalty. At Carrow Road, Norwich have equalised against Millwall, Tom Trybull heading home James Maddison’s free kick.
Updated
“The Emirates = a pair of Bose noise cancelling headphones,” says Giles Allison.
@niallmcveigh Liverpool are like Sony. Imperious a while back at all things. Been playing catch up since demise of VHS, Walkman and Vinyl.
— Andrew James Sutton (@andrewjsutton) January 1, 2018
GOAL! Leicester 1-0 Huddersfield (Mahrez 52')
We have a goal! And it’s Riyad Mahrez who gets it, finishing smartly from Marc Albrighton’s cross.
Updated
Oh boy, Sunderland are behind – Ethan Pinnock heads home for Barnsley from a corner, with the marking not the best. More bad news for Chris Coleman as Lloyd Dyer fires Burton ahead. Jarrod Bowen hits the post for Hull, who are getting dragged right into the mire.
Peep!
We’re back under way in the three Premier League games. Goals please!
Mourinho is Tesla, I think” offers Emily G, “incredibly expensive and hyped, impressive and cool in a lot of ways but painfully unreliable and temperamental, not to mention controversial.”
David Flynn also goes for Guardiola as Steve Jobs: “idealistic, visionary, polo necks, a bit irritating.”
Match off! Accrington v Morecambe has been abandoned with rain falling relentlessly for the last hour. Stanley were winning 1-0, not that it matters now.
More of your techy teams: “Burnley are a Nokia 3310. Basic, durable, not very fancy, but what it does it does well,” says Ben Park.
Charles Antaki makes it personal: “Pep Guardiola is obviously Steve Jobs – elegance, style, innovation, success and gazillions of dollars. Whereas José Mourinho is, erm — this is a family paper, right?”
Football League half-times
Championship Bolton 1-0 Hull; Derby 1-0 Sheffield United; Leeds 0-0 Nottingham Forest; Norwich 0-1 Millwall; Preston 2-1 Middlesbrough; QPR 0-0 Cardiff; Sheffield Wednesday 0-1 Burton; Sunderland 0-0 Barnsley.
League One Bristol Rovers 0-0 Portsmouth; Charlton 0-2 Gillingham; Fleetwood 1-0 Bradford; Northampton 0-1 Wigan; Oxford United 2-1 MK Dons; Peterborough 1-0 Doncaster; Plymouth 0-0 Walsall; Rochdale 0-0 Blackpool; Rotherham 0-0 Blackburn; Scunthorpe 0-0 Bury; Shrewsbury 1-0 Oldham; Wimbledon 1-0 Southend.
League Two Accrington 1-0 Morecambe; Barnet 1-2 Swindon; Colchester 0-0 Cambridge; Coventry 1-0 Chesterfield; Crewe 2-0 Grimsby; Forest Green 0-2 Wycombe; Luton 2-2 Lincoln; Mansfield 2-0 Carlisle; Newport 1-0 Exeter; Notts County 0-0 Port Vale; Stevenage 2-1 Cheltenham; Yeovil 1-1 Crawley.
Premier League half-times
It’s not been a thrilling first 45 minutes.
Burnley 0-0 Liverpool
Leicester 0-0 Huddersfield
Stoke 0-0 Newcastle
In the Championship, Millwall lead at Norwich thanks to a pearler of a half-volley from Steve Morison. It’s still 0-0 in a relegation battle at the Stadium of Light, where Sunderland and Barnsley have had a half-chance each. At Deepdale, Preston hit the bar. As it stands, they are edging into the top six. Luton are level against Lincoln – quite the first half there.
Updated
Stoke have a penalty shout waved away by Chris Kavanagh as Joe Allen goes down. The home crowd getting restless there. Burnley are back on the front foot at Turf Moor, where it’s absolutely pouring.
Updated
Liverpool threatening at Turf Moor, with last-ditch challenges required to deny Dominic Solanke and Fab Four soloist Sadio Mané. Preston lead Middlesbrough, Jordan Hugill nodding in his eighth league goal of the season.
Updated
It’s all happening at Luton, where Lincoln have taken the lead but seen Harry Anderson sent off. Ten men each there, and Forest Green are also down to 10, Charlie Cooper – son of manager Mark – taking an early bath. His father protests too much, and is sent to the stand himself.
Updated
Wilfried Ndidi fires wide after a half-hearted penalty shout at Leicester, where Huddersfield are wearing that red and black kit that looks like a Prodigy CD single cover, circa 1993. At Hillsborough, Burton lead through Tom Flanagan, who George Weahed his way through the Wednesday defence.
@niallmcveigh Leicester City are Napster, short fame, scrwd all the big guns
— Magnus (@Kamew220) January 1, 2018
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“Liverpool are Windows,” says Michael Cosgrove. “They hum along nicely most times but as soon as they really get going, they freeze.” They’re still booting up at Burnley with half-time approaching.
Gudmonsson puts in a testing cross at Turf Moor, where the rain is pelting down. Ashley Barnes can’t quite get a head to it but the hosts continue to look lively. Ten-man Luton have equalised against Lincoln, while Stevenage have turned it around and lead Cheltenham 2-1.
Down at Loftus Road, Cardiff are looking to bounce back from three straight defeats and are having the better of a goalless first half against QPR. Gillingham lead 2-0 at Charlton, in takeover talks but rapidly shedding wheels from their League One promotion tilt.
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Newcastle should be ahead at Stoke, where Ciaran Clark has just hoiked an absolute sitter over the bar from two yards out. Elsewhere, advertising board of the day at Forest Green:
#racyvegans pic.twitter.com/vkHGCC0Zvn
— ppf (@peterparrotface) January 1, 2018
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Arfield tests Mignolet with a header as Burnley continue to pose Liverpool problems on the break. Unsurprisingly, it’s all a bit incoherent for Liverpool up front. In League One, it’s Oxford 1-1 MK Dons, and Wimbledon lead at home to Southend.
“Leeds are Texas Instruments – no-one under the age of 40 has heard of them. Coventry are Sinclair Research – irrelevant for the last 20 years,” says Phil James, sticking it to those mid-90s Premier League mainstays.
“Newcastle are an old flip-phone and Rafa is my eighty-year-old parents trying to figure it out in a world that has moved on,” says Colin Flint, who may not be happy to hear that Karl Darlow has nervously pawed at Charlie Adam’s long-range free-kick.
Derby lead Sheffield United, Matej Vydra banging in a penalty after George Baldock fouled Johnny Russell. In League One, Shaun Whalley has fired Shrewsbury ahead against Oldham, and Fleetwood lead Bradford City through Jack Sowerby.
The best goal of the year so far has come at Bolton, where Gary Madine has curled in a free kick to put the hosts ahead against Hull. Victory would lift Bolton above their opponents, and it’s possible that they and Sunderland will be in the bottom four tonight.
Updated
Here’s Ben Fisher’s report from the early game at the Amex:
Adam Lallana makes a decisive intervention at the back, getting back to deny Scott Arfield as he was threatening to break clear on goal. At Stoke, Christian Atsu has had three or four chances, but his radar is way off so far.
“Everton are McAfee,” says Kenton Toner. “Great at blocking but not designed to create anything.”
“Portsmouth are Tiny Computers – dodgy owners, briefly successful followed by bankruptcy,” adds Michael Hughes whose thoughts on Tiny Computers are his own.
Leeds denied at Elland Road, as Kieran Dowell clears Pontus Jansson’s header off the line. At Turf Moor, there’s a low-tempo, Bank Holiday vibe with the ball floating around midfield.
Middlesbrough lead at Preston, Daniel Ayala heading home as the Pulis effect takes hold. Oh, hang on – the hosts have equalised immediately through Callum Robinson. 1-1 at Deepdale.
Plenty of possession for Liverpool but that new-look front three aren’t clicking just yet. At the King Power, Huddersfield right-back Tommy Smith whips a cross towards Rajiv van la Parra, but can’t quite pick him out.
Penalty for Burton at Hillsborough – but Lucas Akins’ tame effort is saved! Lincoln have punished Sheehan, who was sent off for a punch, as Michael Bostwick fires the Imps ahead at Luton.
Slimani forces a smart save from Lossl, but the flag goes up anyway. Mixed news for the leaders of League One and League Two; Nick Powell’s header has put Wigan ahead at Northampton, but Luton’s Alan Sheehan has been sent off in their match against third-placed Lincoln City.
Ayoze Pérez picks out his strike partner for today, Christian Atsu, early on but his shot is blocked. Huddersfield have started brightly at Leicester, and the same goes for Sheffield United at Derby. Neil Warnock received a rousing reception from QPR fans on his return with Cardiff, but nothing much else of interest has happened so far.
We're off!
Stoke start off by pumping long balls towards Peter Crouch. Our first goal comes in League Two, where Cheltenham lead Stevenage.
Updated
Teams as technology: your thoughts
“Arsenal are surely Dell – great in the 90s and early noughties, and managed decline ever since” says Gavin Reddin.
“Spurs are the latest hyped tech enterprise, inevitably bought by Microsoft or Google” sighs Diego Salinas.
“Southampton are eBay” offers Andy Read.
Jürgen Klopp on that team selection: “Phil and Mo are not available, both injured. Not too cool but that’s how it is. We wanted the right formation and tactics for this game today. It’s good to have Lallana back, we were without him for a long period but now he’s ready to start. It’s cool for us.” Cool.
Some interesting Championship news: Sheffield Wednesday have appointed Katrien Meire as their new CEO. Meire left Charlton last week, where she was not exactly a fan favourite.
Sheffield Wednesday are delighted to announce the appointment of Katrien Meire as Chief Executive Officer.. Read more here:
— Sheffield Wednesday (@swfc) January 1, 2018
👉https://t.co/hV4SkYjGen #swfc pic.twitter.com/yQFQltheMm
Here’s a riff from Peter Edmunds: “If Man City are Apple (expensively assembled market leader), Liverpool are Samsung (exciting, high tech, prone to selling their best components) and Man United are IBM (former giant, but a little boring these days) - any thoughts on where other teams fit in. Are Everton Amstrad?”
Ideas welcome, and if anyone has a good NYE yarn, send it this way too. Keep it clean.
Championship team news (selected)
Derby v Sheffield United
Derby County: Carson, Baird, Davies, Keogh, Forsyth, Johnson, Huddlestone, Russell, Weimann, Vydra, Nugent.
Subs: Mitchell, Martin, Wisdom, Pearce, Winnall, Bennett, Thorne.
Sheffield United: Moore, Fleck, Stearman, O’Connell, Baldock, Lundstram, Duffy, Basham, Stevens, Clarke, Donaldson.
Subs: Blackman, Sharp, Wright, Carter-Vickers, Lavery, Lafferty, Carruthers.
Preston v Middlesbrough
Preston North End: Maxwell, Clarke, Huntington, Davies, Woods, Johnson, Pearson, Barkhuizen, Harrop, Robinson, Hugill.
Subs: Rudd, Cunningham, Horgan, Browne, Gallagher, Welsh, O’Connor.
Middlesbrough: Randolph, Christie, Ayala, Gibson, Friend, Howson, Leadbitter, Guedioura, Downing, Assombalonga, Traore.
Subs: Konstantopoulos, Shotton, Bamford, Fletcher, Johnson, Baker, Gestede.
QPR v Cardiff City
QPR: Smithies, Baptiste, Onuoha, Robinson, Cousins, Scowen, Luongo, Freeman, Bidwell, Smyth, Smith.
Subs: Oteh, Lynch, Wszolek, Lumley, Chair, Samuel, Sylla.
Cardiff City: Murphy, Paterson, Ecuele Manga, Connolly, Peltier, Hoilett, Ralls, Bamba, Bennett, Healey, Zohore.
Subs: Richards, Tomlin, Pilkington, Halford, Mendez-Laing, Damour, Etheridge.
Leeds v Nottingham Forest
Leeds United: Wiedwald, Ayling, Cooper, Jansson, Berardi, Phillips, O’Kane, Saiz, Hernandez, Alioski, Roofe.
Subs: Lonergan, Shaughnessy, Anita, Klich, Sacko, Lasogga, Cibicki.
Nottingham Forest: Smith, Lichaj, Worrall, Mancienne, Traore, Bridcutt, Cash, Dowell, McKay, Osborn, Brereton.
Subs: Henderson, Fox, Clough, Carayol, Vaughan, Bouchalakis, Walker.
It’s finished Brighton 2-2 Bournemouth in a game that was pretty lively for an early New Year’s Day kick-off.
Leicester v Huddersfield teams
The only other player from these six teams to score last time out (see Preamble), Jamie Vardy, is out with a groin injury. That gives Islam Slimani a chance to shine up front, while Adrien Silva is finally allowed on the Leicester bench after four months in limbo. Danny Williams, Joe Lolley and Steve Mounié come in for Huddersfield.
Leicester City: Schmeichel; Amartey, Morgan, Maguire, Fuchs; Mahrez, Ndidi, James, Albrighton; Okazaki, Slimani.
Subs: Hamer, Dragovic, Silva, Iborra, Gray, Iheanacho, Ulloa.
Huddersfield Town: Lossl; Smith, Jorgensen, Schindler, Löwe; Mooy, Williams, Lolley, Ince, van La Parra; Mounié.
Subs: Malone, Hogg, Coleman, Cranie, Depoitre, Quaner, Hadergjonaj.
Referee: Graham Scott
Stoke v Newcastle teams
Six changes for Stoke from the patched-up team that got thumped at Chelsea, with Xherdan Shaqiri, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Peter Crouch all in to offer some big man-big man-little man attacking dynamics. Rotation-loving Rafa Benítez goes with Ayoze Pérez up front after Joselu and Dwight Gayle drew blanks against Brighton.
Stoke City: Butland; Cameron, Zouma, Wimmer, Edwards; Adam, Pieters; Shaqiri, Allen, Choupo-Moting; Crouch.
Subs: Ireland, Berahino, Diouf, Fletcher, Sobhi, Grant, Soutar.
Newcastle United: Darlow; Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Manquillo; Shelvey, Diamé, Ritchie, Murphy, Atsu; Pérez.
Subs: Dummett, Gayle, Hayden, Joselu, Merino, Haidara, Woodman.
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
In the south coast (sort of) derby, Bournemouth have just equalised against Brighton with the first great goal of 2018. Gregg Bakowski has more:
Burnley v Liverpool teams
Salah is unavailable for Liverpool – and Philippe Coutinho is left out of the squad, pouring petrol on those Barcelona rumours. Dominic Solanke starts up front with Adam Lallana making his first start of the season. James Tarkowski returns for Burnley after his three-game ban.
Burnley: Pope; Bardsley, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor; Gudmundsson, Defour, Cork, Arfield, Hendrick; Barnes.
Subs: Lowton, Vokes, Westwood, Walters, Wells, Lindegaard, Long.
Liverpool: Mignolet; Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Klavan, Gomez; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Can, Wijnaldum; Mané, Solanke, Lallana.
Subs: Karius, Milner, Firmino, Robertson, Ings, Matip, Woodburn.
Referee: Roger East
Today's fixtures
All kick-off times 3pm, naturally.
Premier League
Burnley v Liverpool
Leicester City v Huddersfield Town
Stoke City v Newcastle United
Football League
Championship Bolton v Hull; Derby v Sheffield United; Leeds v Nottingham Forest; Norwich v Millwall; Preston v Middlesbrough; QPR v Cardiff; Sheffield Wednesday v Burton; Sunderland v Barnsley.
League One Bristol Rovers v Portsmouth; Charlton v Gillingham; Fleetwood v Bradford; Northampton v Wigan; Oxford United v MK Dons; Peterborough v Doncaster; Plymouth v Walsall; Rochdale v Blackpool; Rotherham v Blackburn; Scunthorpe v Bury; Shrewsbury v Oldham; Wimbledon v Southend.
League Two Accrington v Morecambe; Barnet v Swindon; Colchester v Cambridge; Coventry v Chesterfield; Crewe v Grimsby; Forest Green v Wycombe; Luton v Lincoln; Mansfield v Carlisle; Newport v Exeter; Notts County v Port Vale; Stevenage v Cheltenham; Yeovil v Crawley.
Preamble
The relentless festive football schedule can be a comfort in that weird 10-day spell after Christmas. You may not be certain what day, or even what year it is but you can guarantee there’s football on. And plenty of it – 32 matches across the Football League and three top-flight 3pm kick-offs with a nostalgic feel to them.
All six of the teams involved were in action two days ago, and managed three goals between them. Two of those were scored by Mo Salah, who is ruled out through injury as Liverpool take a trip to Burnley. The first meeting at Turf Moor was a 3-3 thriller in 1894; the last was a chastening defeat for Jürgen Klopp. Home wins have been few and far between – the last five before that came in 1967, ‘73, ‘75, ‘83 and 2005 (Oh, Djimi...)
Stoke City and Newcastle United first played in a Test match back in 1898, but recent trips have been tough for the Magpies. A Demba Ba-inspired win in 2011 is their only away win since 1985. Another one today might consign Mark Hughes to the history books, too. Elsewhere, Huddersfield go to Leicester chasing a first away win there since 1954. David Wagner’s mob are used to taking out those kind of records, though.
In the Championship, second-placed Derby County take on Sheffield United, whose own promotion bid has faltered. These two first duked it out way, way back in 1893 but the Blades have the edge in recent years – they’ve won on four of their last five visits. Tony Pulis takes Middlesbrough to Preston, where they haven’t lost since 1972. History is going to be made somewhere, so stay tuned. After all, it beats working.
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