Thanks for joining us on the match day live blog; please follow us over to the clockwatch for coverage of four Premier League games.
Here are the Premier League games we’ll be covering in that clockwatch – it could be a big day in the battles at the top and bottom of the table.
Premier League 2pm (GMT) games:
Arsenal v Crystal Palace
Aston Villa v Manchester City
Bournemouth v Nottingham Forest
Wolves v Burnley
Half time: Hearts 1-1 Celtic
Shankland sees a shot blocked at close range before a late Hearts corner is claimed by Schmeichel. All square at the break: updates will continue in our Sunday clockwatch.
After Hearts’ lightning start, Celtic have been able to exert more control as the half has gone on, and the champions should really be ahead. Benjamin Nygren finds himself on the ball six yards out but takes an extra touch and his shot is well saved.
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Still level at Tynecastle and getting a little heated, as Devlin and McGregor square up and have to be separated. There’s also a minute’s applause for Marius Zaliukas, the former Hearts captain who died five years ago this week.
Genoa lead Torino 1-0 at half-time, Morten Thorsby’s goal lifting the visitors from bottom to 16th in the live Serie A table. Replacing them at the bottom are Fiorentina, who host Bologna later today.
GOAL! Hearts 1-1 Celtic (McGregor 12')
Celtic were on the ropes in the first 10 minutes but have grabbed an equaliser to quieten down the home crowd. It’s Callum McGregor who finds the bottom corner from Kieran Tierney’s cross, and Brendan Rodgers can’t resist a wry smile.
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GOAL! Hearts 1-0 Celtic (Murray OG 7')
Hearts have started at a relentless pace, and they take the lead after just seven minutes! After Kasper Schmeichel had clawed away Claudio Braga’s header, Lawrence Shankland drilled the rebound across goal, and Dane Murray’s attempted clearance is sliced into the net. The title challengers lead …
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KICK-OFF: Hearts v Celtic
The action is under way at Tynecastle Park!
“When Hearts went top of the table during a captivating but ultimately ill-fated campaign of 1985-86, the Scottish football writer John Fairgrieve insisted far too much was being made of his team’s prominence. ‘This is the club that represents the capital city,’ he wrote. ‘Not merely Stenhousemuir, Montrose, Hibernian or Arbroath.’
“The dig at Hibs still makes those who frequent Tynecastle Park smile, but there was a broader truism. Edinburgh, for reasons enhanced by four decades of Old Firm championship dominance, is viewed in provincial football terms…”
Serie A: Genoa have taken an early lead against Torino thanks to an eighth-minute strike from Morten Thorsby.
Over in Serie A, Torino v Genoa has just kicked off at Olimpico Grande Torino.
Score predictions, anyone? Just under 30 minutes until kick-off!
Eberechi Eze is yet to score his first Premier League goal for Arsenal. Could it come against his former club, Crystal Palace, today?
Premier League leaders Arsenal host Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium this afternoon. A win and three points will see them keep their place at the top of the table and potentially extend their lead. The Gunners can go into the game full of confidence following their 4-0 win over Atlético Madrid midweek. However, they could potentially be without defender Gabriel Magalhães due to a knock.
Hearts v Celtic team news
Hearts starting line-up: Schwolow, Kingsley, Halkett, Baningime, Shankland, Braga, Devlin, Milne, Findlay, McEntee, Kyziridis
Substitutes: Gordon, McCart, Kabangu, Kabore, Steinwender, Spittal, Magnusson, Kerjota, Ageu
Celtic starting line-up: Schmeichel, Donovan, Murray, Scales, Tierney, McGregor, Hatate, Engels, Nygren, Tounekti, Kenny
Substitutes: Sinisalo, Trusty, Balikwisha, McCowan, Shin, Bernardo, Saracchi, Forrest, Ralston
High hopes in Edinburgh as high flying Hearts take on Celtic at Tynecastle. Victory for the hosts - who have not been Scotland’s champions since 1960 - would send them eight points clear of Brendan Rodgers’ side.
Celtic are without Cameron Carter-Vickers, Daizen Maeda, Kelechi Iheanacho and Alistair Johnston through injury. Colby Donovan and Dane Murray come into the back four.
Hearts name an unchanged team for the fifth game in a row. Their record signing, the Brazilian midfielder Ageu, returns from injury to make the bench.
Celtic have been wildly inconsistent this season but impressed during their 2-1 win over Sturm Graz on Thursday night. Today would be a fine time to back up that showing.
Aston Villa go into their match against Manchester City this afternoon off the back of a shock loss to Go Ahead Eagles in the Europa League on Thursday. Ahead of the game, Villa head coach Unai Emery said: “That defeat didn’t shock me because we have had previous experiences like that in Europe. Legia Warsaw beat us two years ago and last year it was Brugge. It’s all a learning experience.
“Our objective is to be in the top 24 at the beginning and then the top eight. We are learning about different issues, collectively, individually and tactically. But for now, we are parking the Europa League and focusing on Manchester City.”
Manchester City have the chance to go second in the table again – or potentially first, depending on the outcome of Arsenal v Crystal Palace – against Aston Villa this afternoon. Ahead of the game, Pep Guardiola said: “They were much, much better than us in the last two fixtures we played at Villa Park. Hopefully it will be different on Sunday. The admiration I have for Unai is so high. He is incredibly consistent, well prepared and so smart, really good. Aston Villa I know they aren’t in the Champions League for a one point.
“I think in the last nine games they won eight and then just lost the last one at Old Trafford. So for me it is a team that is Champions League. They created a lot of problems for the Champions League winners, PSG so they are well organised, with a lot of quality and they have everything. It’s one of the toughest, toughest, toughest away games we have in the season.”
“Stefano Di Carlo was two months old when, in 1989, his grandfather, Titi, became the president of River Plate, taking over after the resignation of Hugo Santilli. He was seven months old when, that December, his grandfather narrowly lost the presidential election. He was three years old when his grandfather took him to his first River Plate game…”
There seems to be a lot of love for Sunderland today…
Barcelona will face LaLiga leaders Real Madrid in El Clásico at the Santiago Bernabeu without their Brazil forward Raphinha, assistant coach Marcus Sorg confirmed on Saturday, as the Catalan side grapple with an extensive injury list.
The 28-year-old Raphinha, who has not recovered from a leg muscle injury, joins a host of high-profile absentees, including Dani Olmo, Robert Lewandowski, Gavi and goalkeepers Joan Garcia and Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
With 10 players sidelined since August, Barca’s injury crisis has left their squad severely depleted ahead of one of the most crucial fixtures of the season.
Despite Raphinha’s setback, the Spanish champions remain optimistic that they can count on key players Ferran Torres, Jules Kounde, Andreas Christensen and Frenkie De Jong, who all took part in Saturday’s team practice.
“Any team would miss Raphinha, but the situation is what it is. He is injured,” Sorg told a press conference.
“We’ll see if Ferran (Torres) starts, we’ll decide tomorrow. Jules Kounde also trained this morning and may play. I still have no idea about the starting eleven.” Torres left Spain’s camp early with leg muscle fatigue, while De Jong missed three training sessions this week due to illness and Kounde was forced out of the 6-1 win over Olympiacos in the Champions League in midweek after a blow to the leg.
The injuries further complicate the Catalans’ selection headaches for the crucial encounter against Real Madrid, who sit two points ahead of second-placed Barca after eight games.
For the players, staff and travelling supporters of Truro City, the gruelling 914-mile round trip to Gateshead was a mixed blessing in the end. The 12-hour bus journey from Cornwall in the south-west all the way up England’s spine to the north-east bore a single point and a free pint or two.
Bryan Mbeumo and Bruno Guimarães were among the players to add to their Premier League goal tally yesterday. You can check the race for the golden boot here:
Thoughts on the change in kick-off time? Not sure how I feel about the 8pm Saturday kick-offs…
Don’t forget you can also leave a comment below the line, let’s take a look at some now…
Nottingham Forest supporter Andrea has messaged in:
“Wincing in anticipation of being battered by Bournemouth today, but also grateful it’s not going to be any worse #Impostecoglou.”
Krishnamoorthy has emailed in to say:
“Liverpool is an Enigma this season right? After an effortless stroll last season they are stumbling and City is no longer the menace it was. If Arsenal doesn’t self implode as it is capable of doing with unerring precision, this may finally be their season. I can’t think of a more gentlemanly PL manager than Arteta who deserves it.”
“England were brought back to earth with a small, if likely inconsequential, bump in the first match of their Homecoming Series as a 2-1 defeat by Brazil at the Etihad Stadium exposed the Lionesses’ defensive fragility. Brazil’s first-half goals were a reflection of England’s struggles with dealing with direct, transitional forward play as well as a consequence of their instability at the back and the fact they are missing key players.”
The Lionesses were also in action yesterday for the first time since their Euro 2025 triumph. England suffered a 2-1 defeat to Brazil after a slow start at the Etihad Stadium.
Speaking of Rashford and Bellingham…
Rick Harris has messaged in about El Clásico:
“Surely Sunday’s Barca v Real game is El Brittannico what with Jude Bellingham on one side and Marcus Rashford on the other. My money is on Rashford as he is in impressive form and Bellingham is not yet fully match fit.”
Bellingham or Rashford? That could prove to be the battle of the day…
Scottish Premiership
Hearts v Celtic
Aberdeen v Hibernian
Rangers v Kilmarnock
LaLiga
Mallorca v Levante
Real Madrid v Barcelona
Osasuna v Celta Vigo
Rayo Vallecano v Alavés
Bundesliga
Bayer Leverkusen v SC Freiburg
Stuttgart v Mainz
Serie A
Torino v Genoa
Verona v Cagliari
Sassuolo v Roma
Fiorentina v Bologna
Ligue 1
Lille v Metz
Angers v Lorient
Auxerre v Le Havre
Rennes v Nice
Lyon v Strasbourg
Today’s Premier League fixtures (kick-off at 2pm GMT unless otherwise stated)
Wolves v Burnley
Arsenal v Crystal Palace
Aston Villa v Manchester City
Bournemouth v Nottingham Forest
Everton v Tottenham (4:30pm)
Feel free to email in today with any thoughts, feelings, predictions or reactions. Will Arsenal extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table? Will Sunderland stay second? Let me know! Message matchday.live@theguardian.com with your takes.
Newcastle clinched a 2-1 win over Fulham yesterday following a late goal from Bruno Guimarães. Jacob Murphy broke the deadlock in the 18th minute before Saša Lukić equalised in the second half at St James’ Park. Guimarães then fired the hosts into the lead in the 90th minute. The result left Newcastle 11th in the Premier League table.
Ruben Amorim praised “working machine” Bryan Mbeumo, who scored twice, and pointed to the significance of a third consecutive league win after Manchester United’s 4-2 victory over Brighton at Old Trafford on Saturday.
First-half goals from Matheus Cunha and Casemiro were followed after the break by Mbeumo making it 3-0. Yet from cruising United suffered a scare as Danny Welbeck and Charalampos Kostoulas scored – the latter in added time before Mbeumo’s second close to the final whistle.
Amorim was asked about Mbeumo’s import and his role in recruiting him in the summer. “He’s a working machine. He’s so good in transitions. He’s improving when we are organising the final third,” said the head coach, before praising his connection with Amad Diallo at right wing-back. “[It] is really hard to beat these two guys because they change positions, they are really fast, they are good in one against one.
“My role was as a manager to explain what I want from him but it was more the club and you guys. We can struggle a lot but it’s Manchester United. When Manchester United is there and when we feel that this player wants to come here, no matter what, no matter what the position, no matter if it’s Champions League or not, we also give everything to bring these kind of guys and that was the case.”
While Liverpool suffered their fourth consecutive Premier League defeat yesterday, Manchester United earned their third successive win. The Red Devils managed a 4-2 victory over Brighton at Old Trafford thanks to goals from Matheus Cunha, Casemiro and a brace from Bryan Mbeumo.
Also in the Premier League yesterday, Sunderland clinched a 2-1 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge thanks to a late strike from Chemsdine Talbi. The Blues had taken a 1-0 lead in the early stages thanks to Alejandro Garnacho before Wilson Isidor levelled things up in the 22nd minute.
Talbi then scored the winner for the visitors in added time.
Arne Slot admitted that Saturday’s defeat by Brentford was “up there” as perhaps the most disappointed he has been in his time as Liverpool manager, and acknowledged that opponents seem to have worked out how to play against them.
“Teams have a certain playing style against us, which is a very good strategy to play,” said Slot, “and we haven’t found an answer yet, and that every time going 1-0 down doesn’t really help as well.”
In the late game yesterday, Liverpool fell to their fourth consecutive Premier League defeat which left them sixth in the table. The Reds suffered a 3-2 loss to Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium despite a late fightback.
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Preamble
Hello, good morning and welcome to another Matchday live! We’ve got five Premier League fixtures to look forward to this afternoon, with the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham all in action. Also on the agenda is the small matter of El Clásico as Barcelona travel to face Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu in LaLiga, while in the Scottish Premiership league leaders Hearts take on reigning champions Celtic.
But before we focus on those games, let’s take a quick moment to recap yesterday’s results – some of which were huge upsets.
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