Summary
That’s your lot. Some massive results near the bottom of the table, particularly for Burnley, who climb out of the bottom three at the expense of Southampton, who will be delighted with their point away to Chelsea. That’s eight defeats on the bounce for Huddersfield, the first time in their league history that that has happened.
“I’m eager to hear Sean Dyche’s thoughts on Brady’s disgraceful foul given his recent moralising re diving …” emails Stephen Carr (the real one?!).
An incredibly frustrating evening for Chelsea, not only for the result, but also the performance. It’s not as though they were knocking down Southampton’s door, although Angus Gunn did make two saves which caught the eye. Palace are now six points clear of the bottom three with that 2-0 win at Wolves – Roy Hodgson has got Zaha and co playing well.
A crazy game at Bournemouth, where we saw six first-half goals and four within six minutes to leave this MBMer particularly flustered. Two well-matched teams in truth, Watford will feel more frustrated, having let a 2-0 and 3-2 lead slip. Neither teams are likely to trouble the European places or relegation zone this season.
The same can probably be said for West Ham and Brighton. The Hammers’ defending at set pieces was AWFUL but they are lucky to have a striker like Arnautovic, who could easily play for a Champions League team in my opinion. Worth noting that two of West Ham’s subs, Noble and Antonio, had a real impact off the bench, although it was debatable as to whether Antonio kept the ball in play to set up West Ham’s equaliser. It was a matter of millimetres.
Thanks for reading, and for your emails and tweets. I’ll see you next time.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liverpool | 20 | 40 | 54 |
| 2 | Tottenham Hotspur | 21 | 25 | 48 |
| 3 | Man City | 20 | 38 | 47 |
| 4 | Chelsea | 21 | 22 | 44 |
| 5 | Arsenal | 21 | 15 | 41 |
| 6 | Man Utd | 21 | 11 | 38 |
| 7 | Leicester | 21 | 2 | 31 |
| 8 | Watford | 21 | -1 | 29 |
| 9 | Wolverhampton | 21 | -2 | 29 |
| 10 | West Ham | 21 | -3 | 28 |
| 11 | Everton | 21 | 0 | 27 |
| 12 | AFC Bournemouth | 21 | -9 | 27 |
| 13 | Brighton | 21 | -5 | 26 |
| 14 | Crystal Palace | 21 | -7 | 22 |
| 15 | Newcastle | 21 | -14 | 18 |
| 16 | Burnley | 21 | -21 | 18 |
| 17 | Cardiff | 21 | -22 | 18 |
| 18 | Southampton | 21 | -17 | 16 |
| 19 | Fulham | 21 | -28 | 14 |
| 20 | Huddersfield | 21 | -24 | 10 |
Updated
Match report: Bournemouth 3-3 Watford
I’ve just seen footage of Fabregas after the final whistle at Stamford Bridge. He is clearly saying his goodbye to the Chelsea fans, waving to the crowd and blowing kisses and he makes his way around the pitch.
Updated
Match report: Huddersfield 1-2 Burnley
Match report: Chelsea 0-0 Southampton
It’s also all over at Newcastle, where Manchester United have won 2-0. That’s four wins on the bounce for Ole Gunnar Solskjær – Manchester United are now just six points adrift of Chelsea in fourth!
Updated
Match report: Wolves 0-2 Crystal Palace
Full-time: Bournemouth 3-3 Watford
That it on the south coast. A crazy first half, an underwhelming second.
90+2 min: Penalty shout for Watford! Cleverly beats Ake to the ball in Bournemouth’s box, toe-poking the ball round the Dutchman, but the former Manchester United and Everton man falls a little too theatrically. Not given.
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Match report: West Ham 2-2 Brighton
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90 min: Three minutes added on at Bournemouth 3-3 Watford. Both teams look knackered.
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It’s worth remembering that Southampton made eight changes from their last game, but they defended with real cohesion and heart. Valery, Vestergaard and Yoshida in particular were excellent. Saints fans will be delighted that their team has that resilience under Hasenhüttl. They certainly didn’t look capable of a goalless draw at Chelsea under Hughes.
An email from Matt Richman:
I’m preaching to a small but preexisting choir now when I complain about the state of Chelsea’s fans. Heading to the Bridge’s exit as soon as the clock hits 90, at 0-0 against a bottom half team with the away fans bringing the only audible noise in the arena? Come on now …
84 min: Watford have the ball in the net, but Deeney is denied his hat-trick for a foul on Aké. It’s a good header from Deeney, who glances it inside the near post but in fairness, Watford’s captain didn’t argue with the decision to rule of the goal.
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Full-time: Huddersfield 1-2 Burnley
Burnley hold on for the win, despite going down to 10 late on.
Full-time: Wolves 0-2 Crystal Palace
A huge result for Roy Hodgson.
Full-time: West Ham 2-2 Brighton
Dale Stephens becomes the first Premier League player to score against the Hammers AND have a dad who was on Homes Under the Hammerhttps://t.co/0tbcLnUHuD
— Adam Hurrey (@FootballCliches) January 2, 2019
Full-time: Chelsea 0-0 Southampton
What a defensive performance that is from the Saints: especially Angus Gunn on his Premier League debut!
GOAL! Wolves 0-2 Crystal Palace (Milivojevic 90+2)
Zaha has got a reputation of going down a little easy, but there’s no doubt that this was a spot kick: Wolves’ Bennett the guilty party. Milivojevic makes no mistake, curling a brilliant shot into the top left corner.
90+1 min: Penalty shout for Chelsea! Long nudges Alonso inside the box, the Spaniard goes down but Mike Dean waves play on!
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RED CARD FOR BURNLEY'S BRADY!
89 min: It’s 10 v 10 in Huddersfield! Brady given a straight red for a tackle on Mbenza. Both feet were off the ground and it was a pretty shocking scissor tackle in truth! Five minutes added on here for injury time.
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87 min: Huddersfield are going route one now. They’ve got three minutes left to find an equaliser against Burnley.
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71 min: After a manic first-half in the 8pm kick-off at Bournemouth, there have been no goals in the second. It’s still 3-3 there.
“Watford should be down to 8 men,” emails J.R. in Illinois. “Doucoure got only a yellow for a flying kung fu kick on Fraser and Capoue, already on a yellow, somehow is still on the pitch after lashing out and raking his fingers across Gosling’s eyeballs. It’s pretty crazy. Referee David Coote has had no control of the game at any point.”
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85 min: Southampton are defending magnificently at Chelsea. Yoshida in particular has been great. Still 0-0.
Updated
GOAL! Wolves 0-1 Crystal Palace (Ayew 82)
A massive goal for Palace, and it’s a good finish from Jordan Ayew, who scores his first goal for the south London club. If results stay this way, they will be six points clear of the bottom three at full-time.
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80 min: Declan Rice goes close to completing the comeback for West Ham. The ball breaks kindly to the youngster on the edge of the area and Rice absolutely leathers a shot towards the top corner, but it just flies wide into the side netting.
77 min: Morata denied again! This time it’s a fantastic save from Gunn which keeps the score goalless. Loftus-Cheek, who came on for Willian in the first half, uses his pace and power to drive forward and the ball eventually ends up with Morata on the left. The Spaniard is one on one with Gunn, but is rushed into taking the ball onto his left foot. Gunn sticks out a left hand and palms it again.
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GOAL! Huddersfield 1-2 Burnley (Barnes 72)
Burnley come from behind to take the lead against 10-man Huddersfield. And it was the red card that was probably decisive, Huddersfield were far too stretched at the back. Wood found Westwood on the edge, and the former Villa man neatly slipped in Ashley Barnes, who had time to take a touch and slot it past Lossl.
Updated
GOAL DISALLOWED FOR CHELSEA!
70 min: Morata is deemed to be offside, but this is a matter of inches! He’s probably just off, after Fabregas showed great awareness to slip him in. Still goalless at the Bridge with Southampton.
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GOAL! West Ham 2-2 Brighton (Arnautovic 68)
Two goals in three minutes sees West Ham level! It’s that man Arnautovic again, after good work from another substitute, Antonio. The Englishman showed great pace and power to get to the byline ahead of Bernardo, Antonio cut the ball back to Arnautovic and the Austrian showed great composure to kill the ball dead and lash it in off the underside of Brighton’s bar. Arnautovic looks really fired up! He beckons for his team-mates to get the ball, West Ham are now going for the winner!
GOAL! West Ham 1-2 Brighton (Arnautovic 66)
Mark Noble makes an instant impact! He floats a great ball over the top, Arnautovic shows great strength to hold off Duffy – no mean feat – and he pops the ball between the legs of the onrushing Brighton keeper Button.
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62 min: West Ham make two much-needed changes: Antonio comes on for Snodgrass and Noble comes on for Obiang. Looks like Arnautovic will have a strike partner now, West Ham are going for broke.
Bournemouth 3-3 Watford is getting back underway. Let’s hope for more of the same in the second half.
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GOAL! West Ham 0-2 Brighton (Duffy 58)
West Ham are going to pieces, and it’s due to more dismal defending at a corner. Another Gross delivery goes all the way through West Ham’s six yard box. Duffy is completely unmarked, has enough time to take a touch, and pokes a shot into the roof of Fabianski’s net.
GOAL! West Ham 0-1 Brighton (Stephens 56)
West Ham concede for the eight successive home game! Brighton score from a Pascal Gross corner: Locadia is standing on Fabianski, and the Polish keeper can only punch the ball to the edge of the area, where Stephens is waiting. The midfielder gets his knee over the ball and crashes a shot into the net. There was nobody on the far post: had there been, it surely would have been blocked.
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55 min: Nothing to report at Stamford Bridge, other than Valery, the young right back is having an excellent game against Hazard.
53 min: Big chance for West Ham! Felipe Anderson runs at Brighton’s defence – the Brazilian is so dangerous when he’s in full-flight – but the former Lazio man drags his shot inches wide of Brighton’s left-hand post.
52 min: West Ham’s Zabaleta has taken a knock: he’s clutching his head. Play has stopped, but I think he’s going to be OK to continue.
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50 min: Big chance for Burnley! A corner is delivered to the back post, Chris Wood has a free header two yards out, but he nods it wide! Lossl was flapping at thin air, he was nowhere!
47 min: Schindler apparently forgot that he had already got a yellow! Scenes.
@michaelbutler18 Radio 5 Live are reporting that Huddersfield's Chris Schindler argued so much about his second yellow/red because he wasn't actually aware that he was previously booked. D'oh!
— MoneyandtheHammer Europeanista (@MoneyandHammer) January 2, 2019
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Peeeeeep! We’re underway again in the 7.45pms.
Carroll has been hooked by Pellegrini at half-time. He’s taken off for Perez.
“London stadium resident here, emails Ian Sargeant. “No highlights here so far. It’s been dreadful. Guy next to me has texted the screen operator to see if they can show ITV3 instead of snippets of the game and adverts.”
Half-time: Bournemouth 3-3 Watford
The 7.45pm GMT games about to get underway, but why not give this a read and make yourself a cuppa.
44 min: Bournemouth break forward, Fraser is starting to enjoy himself on the left wing, cutting inside two players but slipping at the crucial moment. The ball simply popped up into Foster’s arms for an easy save.
So we’ve got no goals in three of the four 7.45pm kick-offs and six goals in Bournemouth v Watford.
GOAL! Bournemouth 3-3 Watford (Fraser 40)
This is getting silly now. We’ve had four goals in six minutes, and six in the half. It’s a wonderful Bournemouth move that brings them level. Brooks breaks down the right, sends a cross in which is dummied expertly by Wilson. Femenia buys the dummy, leaving Fraser free at the back post. The little Scot makes no mistake, calmly side-footing the ball into the corner. It’s fair to say that Bournemouth’s fans have gone absolutely mental.
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GOAL! Bournemouth 2-3 Watford (Sema 38)
Sensational scenes in our 8pm kick-off. Almost directly from kick-off, Watford re-take the lead! Deeney wins a flick on, and Sema steals in from the right. He takes the shot early, and fires a volley inside the near post from outside the box, catching Begovic completely off guard.
Half-time: Wolves 0-0 Crystal Palace
And breath.
GOAL! Bournemouth 2-2 Watford (Wilson 37)
Bournemouth are level! A quite sensational header from Callum Wilson, who beautifully glances a free-kick into the top corner. No chance for Foster!
GOAL! Bournemouth 1-2 Watford (Ake 34)
Bournemouth get one back, but just wait …
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Half-time: Huddersfield 1-1 Burnley
Mike Dean is booed off for showing the red card to Schindler.
Half-time: West Ham 0-0 Brighton
West Ham have probably had the better of it.
Half-time: Chelsea 0-0 Southampton
It’s been a poor game: Gunn making one good save from Hazard.
44 min: Huddersfield are making an immediate change: Durm is coming on for Pritchard, so it looks like the Terriers’ attacking intent will be limited. Durm comes on at left back, with Kongolo moving inside to centre back.
Red card for Huddersfield's Schindler!
42 min: This game has turned on its head! What a nightmare couple of minutes for Huddersfield. McNeil, who has once again been very impressive for Burnley, drives at Schindler, who was already on a yellow card. The German is booked again – he argues but it’s a yellow all day long. It’s a free kick to Burnley on the edge of the box, Gudmundsson curls an effort over the wall but Lossl saves well.
GOAL! Huddersfield 1-1 Burnley (Wood 40)
Burnley get back on terms! Dwight McNeil gets some space on the left, and finds Chris Wood, who makes no mistake from six yards. That’s his 100th goal in English football.
GOAL! Bournemouth 0-2 Watford (Deeney, 27)
Watford double their lead, and it’s two for Deeney too! Deulofeu runs at Aké, his cross is blocked, but Deeney is there to pounce on the rebound and lash the ball into the net.
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37 min: Penalty shout for West Ham. Arnautovic goes down in heap after a clumsy tackle from Dunk. It’s probably a penalty but Chris Kavanagh waves play on!
35 min: Hazard denied by Gunn! Chelsea have been poor but they spring into life down the left. Hazard slips his man and fires a fierce shot towards the roof of the net, but the ball his Gunn in the shoulder and bounces clear. He didn’t know much about it, but that was an excellent save from the 22 year old.
GOAL! Huddersfield 1-0 Burnley (Mounié, 34)
Mounié’s first goal since April! This is a simple goal, but a good one, all owing to the cross from Mbenza, who curls a beautiful, inswinging, arching delivery from the left wing. It catches Mee and Tarkowski flat-footed in the middle and all Mounié has to do it glance it into the corner from six yards out. Massive goal at the bottom.
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30 min: Amazing double save from Huddersfield’s Lossl! First he gets down well to palm away a back-post header, then immediately gets up and spreads himself in front of Westwood, who sees his shot blocked from an acute angle!
GOAL! Bournemouth 0-1 Watford (Deeney, 14)
The away side take the lead with their first attack. Femenia plays an incisive ball into the right channel, Doucouré crosses and Deeney heads it back across goal. A classic header from the club captain.
10 min: First chance in the late kick-off between Bournemouth and Watford, which falls to the home side. A cross is headed out and Lerma slashes at it wildly. Should have done a lot better.
22 min: I’ve been impressed with Raúl Jiménez this season. He’s led the line well and also provided a genuine goal threat. Seems to be struggling tonight though against Palace. It’s 0-0 there.
Raul Jimenez has been directly involved in 10 of @Wolves' 23 goals in the #PL this season (6 goals, 4 assists)#WOLCRY pic.twitter.com/UOV4YeCQCT
— Premier League (@premierleague) January 2, 2019
20 min: Whisper it, but Southampton are looking quite comfortable at Stamford Bridge.
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17 min: Big chance for Huddersfield! Billing wings a long throw into the box: Mounié wins the flick on with the ball falling to Kongolo who swivels and misses. The ball breaks to Schindler six yards out and the German toe-pokes it at goal, but his shot is blocked by his team-mate Pritchard. Corner to Huddersfield, which is well cleared by Burnley.
15 min: It’s kicked off in the late kick off between Bournemouth and Watford, and also with Newcastle v Manchester United, which you can follow with Jacob Steinberg.
13 min: Azpilicueta floats a wonderfully-weighted ball over the top of Southampton’s defence and Morata has a golden chance to score, but only glances the ball into Gunn’s arms. It was a tricky header no doubt – a slightly easier version of that RVP goal for Holland in the World Cup – but still a tame effort from the Spaniard.
Morata hasn’t scored enough for Chelsea this season, but Azpilicueta has a funny knack of picking out his compatriot with crosses. I remember at least three Chelsea goals from that combination. The two obviously have a good connection on the pitch.
11 min: Carroll is doing his best to hold the ball up, but he’s a little bit off the pace, and fouls Stephens well inside West Ham’s half.
9 min: Chelsea have their first big chance of the game with a free kick on the edge of Southampton’s box. It’s on the right side, so suiting the left footer, and Alonso sees his effort deflected over.
7 min: Palace are dominating at Wolves, they’ve had 83% possession! No big chances yet though.
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5 min: Huddersfield are having all of the ball against Burnley, who seem to have reverted to their normal selves: compact without the ball, direct with it.
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2 min: Brighton have started well at West Ham. Two corners in quick succession lead to two chances: the first sees in-form Locadia volley a shot at goal, which is blocked by Obiang. The second sees the ball drop to Duffy at the back post, but the defender can only loop a header into Fabianski’s arms.
Peeeeeeeeep! And we’re underway in four games:
Chelsea v Southampton
Huddersfield v Burnley
West Ham v Brighton
Wolves v Crystal Palace
Bournemouth v Watford will kick off at 8pm.
@MichaelButler18 Nasri is presumably a replacement for Lanzini, whom they lost to a season-long injury picked up whilst on Argentina duty.
— Jake Lynch (@ProfJakeLynch) January 2, 2019
Yep, although he doesn’t have as much dynamism. He can’t play wide, he can’t play in a two in midfield. He basically has to play in the No 10 role, which is not the same as Lanzini, or even Snodgrass.
West Ham’s No 9, Andy Carroll, is making his first start in exactly a year, when he started against West Brom. He did this in injury time. He’s got eight goals in his last eight games in January. Doesn’t even wear gloves.
Same again this year please, AC! 🙏 #OTD pic.twitter.com/c0cDDhqQlL
— West Ham United (@WestHamUtd) January 2, 2019
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FACT!
22 - Angus Gunn (22y 346d) is the youngest English goalkeeper to start their first Premier League match since Jordan Pickford (21y 315d) on January 16th 2016 (for Sunderland vs Spurs). Saint. pic.twitter.com/TcY0lLajwQ
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 2, 2019
If there is ever a campaign to bring back stanchions, this video is surely it. Palace battered Wolves 4-1 in 1995, scoring four worldies in the process.
Just a rumour but it looks like Dominic Solanke’s move to Palace is off.
Dominic Solanke deal to #cpfc sounds like it is off. Back to the drawing board for the Eagles.
— Richard Cawley (@RichCawleySLP) January 2, 2019
For all the confirmed transfers, have a go on our interactive.
In other news, this is a friend of a friend. If anyone can help with further sightings/ CCTV then please let the police know on 101 quoting incident 262 on 23rd December.
West Ham United urges supporters to share any information they might have to help Essex Police locate missing Hammers fan and Season Ticket Holder Jack Morrad.
— West Ham United (@WestHamUtd) January 2, 2019
Jack has not been seen since leaving Colors nightclub in Basildon at 2am on Sunday 23 December. pic.twitter.com/0I6qLu15GM
Samir Nasri is on the bench for West Ham, following the end of his doping suspension and his short-term move to east London. Will be very interesting to see how he gets on this season – it’s a very West Ham signing the guy is obviously a baller, but not sure he’ll have the legs to suit Manuel Pellegrini’s team. With Mark Noble and Robert Snodgrass in the squad, I’m not sure how much room there is for another ball-playing midfielder that sort of floats around the edge of the penalty box.
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Bournemouth v Watford will now kick off at 8pm. The fire service has been called to deal with an incident at Dean Court.
Was wondering where i left my mixtape
— Robert Cliffe (@Rob26AFCB) January 2, 2019
Team news for Bournemouth: Gosling and Lerma come into central midfield, with Surman dropping to the bench. Looks like Eddie Howe’s side are playing a 4-4-2 tonight.
Watford make a massive five changes from the side that drew against Newcastle: Femenía, Holebas, Doucouré, Sema, and Deeney come in for Janmaat, Masina, Quina, Hughes, Success
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Tough match this for Southampton, who are not expected to win at Chelsea but have a much easier run of games in January and February. Their next five games in the league see them face Leicester, Everton, Palace, Burnley and Cardiff. Saints are currently out of the relegation zone on goal difference. I’d say Ralph Hasenhüttl would be disappointed if there isn’t daylight between them and the bottom three by the end of that run.
Hasenhüttl does make a couple of interesting changes: England U-21 goalkeeper Angus Gunn, son of former Norwich keeper Bryan, makes his first Premier League start and 19-year-old Callum Slattery is on the Southampton bench for the first time. Matt Targett has a knock so it looks like Cedric Soares will play on the left side of defence.
Team news
Chelsea v Southampton
Chelsea: Arrizabalaga, Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Luiz, Alonso, Kante, Jorginho, Barkley, Willian, Morata, Hazard. Subs: Fabregas, Loftus-Cheek, Caballero, Zappacosta, Christensen, Emerson Palmieri, Ampadu.
Southampton: Gunn, Vestergaard, Yoshida, Bednarek, Cedric, Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Valery, Redmond, Armstrong, Ings. Subs: McCarthy, Stephens, Long, Austin, Elyounoussi, Ramsey, Slattery.
Referee: Jonathan Moss (County Durham)
West Ham v Brighton
West Ham: Fabianski, Zabaleta, Diop, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Snodgrass, Obiang, Rice, Felipe Anderson, Carroll, Arnautovic. Subs: Adrian, Noble, Nasri, Masuaku, Lucas Perez, Antonio, Diangana.
Brighton: Button, Montoya, Duffy, Dunk, Bernardo, March, Stephens, Propper, Locadia, Gross, Murray. Subs: Bong, Kayal, Bissouma, Andone, Knockaert, Balogun, Steele.
Referee: Chris Kavanagh (Lancashire)
Wolverhampton v Crystal Palace
Wolverhampton: Rui Patricio, Bennett, Coady, Boly, Doherty, Joao Moutinho, Saiss, Jonny, Ivan Cavaleiro, Jimenez, Helder Costa. Subs: Neves, Gibbs-White, John Ruddy, Ruben Vinagre, Dendoncker, Leo Bonatini, Traore.
Crystal Palace: Guaita, Wan Bissaka, Tomkins, Sakho, Van Aanholt, McArthur, Milivojevic, Kouyate, Townsend, Ayew, Zaha. Subs: Ward, Meyer, Hennessey, Schlupp, Wickham, Kelly, Riedewald.
Referee: Roger East (Wiltshire)
Bournemouth v Watford
Bournemouth: Begovic, Steve Cook, Ake, Daniels, Stanislas, Gosling, Lerma, Fraser, Brooks, Wilson, King. Subs: Boruc, Surman, Mousset, Ibe, Defoe, Rico, Mings.
Watford: Foster, Femenia, Mariappa, Cathcart, Holebas, Doucoure, Capoue, Sema, Pereyra, Deulofeu, Deeney. Subs: Gomes, Britos, Cleverley, Success, Masina, Hughes, Quina.
Referee: David Coote (Nottinghamshire)
Huddersfield v Burnley
Huddersfield: Lossl, Hadergjonaj, Jorgensen, Schindler, Kongolo, Hogg, Billing, Kachunga, Pritchard, Mbenza, Mounie. Subs: Bacuna, Diakhaby, Hamer, Lowe, Depoitre, Stankovic, Durm.
Burnley: Heaton, Bardsley, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor, Gudmundsson, Westwood, Cork, McNeil, Barnes, Wood. Subs: Lowton, Vokes, Brady, Hendrick, Hart, Vydra, Long.
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)
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Preamble
Festive football is nearly over, but not yet. One more round of games before the third round of the FA Cup marks the end of it. For some of these players this is the fourth game in 12 games. Limbs will be tired, defences stretched. Hopefully we’ll have some goals to speak of.
We’ll have live updates on these five games. If you want Newcastle v Manchester United, we’re liveblogging that separately.
Chelsea v Southampton
Huddersfield v Burnley
West Ham v Brighton
Wolves v Crystal Palace
Bournemouth v Watford
We’ll have the team news as soon as it drops. Kick-offs all at 7.45pm GMT.
