That brings an end to proceedings but as ever, thank you very much for reading, your emails and tweets. Cheerio!
Updated
Full-time! West Ham 2-1 Southampton
Quite the turnaround at Upton Park with Southampton in control and 1-0 at half-time before Carroll came on and headed the winner after Antonio had levelled. That’s a first win in nine for West Ham after five straight draws.
Full-time! Manchester United 0-0 Chelsea
It has finished goalless at Old Trafford. Join Michael Butler for the latest
Updated
Full-time! Arsenal 2-0 Bournemouth
After a slow start it was comfortable for Arsenal who are back to winning ways thanks to goals from Gabriel and Ozil. The Gunners, for 24 hours at least, are top of the Premier League table.
Into added time at the Emirates and Upton Park. Arsenal have the points sewn up against Bournemouth, West Ham not quite so comfortably agains Southampton.
Richard showing sense …
I opted not to watch the Manchester goalfest. I was anticipating no goals from the one ground I’ve actually been to, but West Ham have scored two (technically three). Antonio’s goal was the antithesis of those at Goodison, but they all count the same.
A lid like that and you’d better score the winning goal …
It's all about the new hairstyle for big Andy Carroll! Off the bench with a goal vs Southampton! #COYI pic.twitter.com/v0IhYKOpno
— Spencer FC (@SpencerOwen) December 28, 2015
Goal! West Ham 2-1 Southampton (Carroll 79)
West Ham lead with just over 10 minutes to go and it’s that man Andy Carroll nodding home after Antonio, who scored the equaliser, had hit the underside of the crossbar. Southampton are shellshocked having been so comfortable in the first half.
Updated
A few pot shots coming in from Bournemouth but Arsenal are in cruise control and are heading back to the top of the Premier League.
Goal! West Ham 1-1 Southampton (Antonio 69)
It has been coming. Carroll and Lanzini have made a considerable difference since coming on and Antonio has levelled things up by lifting the ball over Stekelenburg and into the net.
Updated
West Ham remain in search of a leveller against Southampton but the visitors go close with Romeu’s drive, too close to Adrian.
Goal! Arsenal 2-0 Bournemouth (Ozil 63)
After creating one Ozil has scored the second which gives Arsenal some breathing space with Bournemouth coming back at them, slotting past Boruc after linking up with Giroud.
Updated
Close for Bournemouth … King gets clear one-on-one with Cech but Gabriel gets back to rescue Arsenal. Gunners living dangerously.
Arsenal in control at the Emirates but while it remains just one Bournemouth will still fancy a goal on the counter.
Updated
West Ham have already significantly improved and Collins sees his header cleared of the line by Martina, he of the outrageous curling effort against Arsenal. Carroll fires over from close range soon after.
Updated
Carroll is indeed on for West Ham, who gave their fans very little to shout about. Southampton will hope for as easy a ride in the second half.
Carroll and Lanzini on for West Ham, Song and Zarate off. Don't see a future for Zarate at West Ham.
— Jacob Steinberg (@JacobSteinberg) December 28, 2015
Updated
It’s also half-time at Old Trafford where it remains goalless. Join Michael Butler for the latest.
Updated
Half-time! Arsenal 1-0 Bournemouth
Bournemouth began brightly enough with Arsenal slow to move through the gears but once they hit their stride the opener, scored by Gabriel from an Ozil corner, was inevitable. They should possibly be further ahead, Mertesacker missing a glorious chance.
Half-time! West Ham 0-1 Southampton
Southampton have been dominant since taking the lead in the 13th minute through Jenkinson’s own goal. Tadic, who may yet claim the goal, may have had another while Long has picked up from where he left off against Arsenal.
Make of this what you will …
.@MesutOzil1088 has been integral in #AFCvAFCB so far. Here's his pass map (yellow = key passes, blue = assist) pic.twitter.com/qU2gnOU1ou
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) December 28, 2015
Southampton close to another one at West Ham but Adrian keeps Fonte’s from an Antonio corner out and Wanyama’s follow-up effort is over the bar.
West Ham appear to be looking to shake things up …
38: @AndyTCarroll receives instructions from Nikola Jurcevic before starting a vigorous warm-up. Will he be on soon? [0-1] #WHUSOU #WHUFC
— West Ham United FC (@whufc_official) December 28, 2015
Chaos at the Emirates where Arsenal contrive to miss four chances in next to no time. Mertesacker was the chief offender, fluffing his lines from two yards out. Bournemouth are reeling though.
Pretty frank assessment from the Guardian’s very own Jacob Steinberg.
West Ham dire, Southampton one up and should be two or three.
— Jacob Steinberg (@JacobSteinberg) December 28, 2015
More on Arsenal goal – Ozil’s corner headed home by Gabriel from close range. That’s 16 assists for the German this season.
Southampton continue to dominate at West Ham. Both Romeu and Davies have had decent efforts while Fonte’s searching ball managed to miss everyone.
Goal! Arsenal 1-0 Bournemouth (Gabriel 27)
It looked like it was coming and Arsenal have opening the scoring through their Brazilian centre-half Gabriel, nodding home from a corner.
Updated
Let-off for Bournemouth with Walcott just unable to reach Ozil’s cross. Still goalless but Arsenal are upping the tempo at the Emirates.
No real sign of Arsenal improving against Bournemouth, who, lest we forget, are unbeaten in six coming into this match.
Meanwhile, if you want to catch up with all the Football League action today, look no further.
Updated
On second glance, it may well go down as a Carl Jenkinson own goal, but either way, Southampton are ahead.
Goal! West Ham 0-1 Southampton (Tadic 13)
As I was saying, lively. Tadic is on hand to tap in from close range after a ball across the face from Arsenal’s tormentor-in-chief, Shane Long.
Updated
Lively start at Upton Park as well, Zarate has flashed one across the face of goal for West Ham while Tomkins has to be alert to deny Southampton’s Mane, who was lurking at the far post.
Arter is down with a knock but Bournemouth have started brightly enough against Arsenal, looking to prey on any doubts after the Gunners’s Boxing Day defeat at Southampton.
Charles Antaki has the lowdown on the Arsenal line-up …
Decisions, decisions… but ought Wenger have dropped Walcott rather than Campbell? Campbell seems to have more of the brio and stickability that the younger Walcott used to have. And anyway the replacement Oxlade-Chaberlain has looked awkward and imprecise when he’s been on. But a win will ease all of those uncertainties.
Scroll down to read the match reports from the five earlier Premier League kick-offs but onwards and upwards. Kick-off at the Emirates and across town at Upton Park are almost upon us.
Team news
Arsenal v Bournemouth
Arsenal: Cech, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Gabriel, Gibbs, Ramsey, Chambers, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ozil, Walcott, Giroud. Subs: Debuchy, Koscielny, Ospina, Monreal, Campbell, Iwobi, Reine-Adelaide.
Bournemouth: Boruc, Smith, Francis, Cook, Daniels, Surman, Ritchie, Gosling, Arter, Pugh, King. Subs: Rantie, Stanislas, Federici, Tomlin, Distin, Murray, O’Kane.
Referee: Roger East (Wiltshire)
West Ham v Southampton
West Ham: Adrian, Jenkinson, Collins, Tomkins, Ogbonna, Song, Kouyate, Antonio, Noble, Zarate, Valencia. Subs: Randolph, Carroll, Obiang, Lanzini, Hendrie, Oxford, Cullen.
Southampton: Stekelenburg, Martina, Fonte, van Dijk, Bertrand, Wanyama, Romeu, Tadic, Mane, Steven Davis, Long. Subs: Yoshida, Clasie, Ward-Prowse, Juanmi, Ramirez, Gazzaniga, Caulker.
Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland)
Updated
Time for a breather after all that excitement. The latest Premier League table is below and I’ll be back shortly to take you through this evening’s matches – Arsenal v Bournemouth and West Ham v Southampton while Michael Butler is at the helm for Manchester United v Chelsea right here.
Championship final scores
Bolton 1-0 Blackburn
Birmingham 1-0 MK Dons
Burnley 4-0 Bristol City
Charlton L-L Wolves
Preston 1-0 Hull
QPR 1-1 Huddersfield
Reading 1-2 Brentford
Premier League final scores
Crystal Palace 0-0 Swansea
Everton 3-4 Stoke
Norwich 2-0 Aston Villa
Watford 1-2 Tottenham
West Brom 1-0 Newcastle
Updated
Richard Johnson asks …
I picked the right game to watch in Everton and Stoke. All of the goals have been stellar. And now a penalty. What next? Should I watch Man Utd and Chelsea?
The answer is no Richard, follow it here:
Full-time! West Brom 1-0 Newcastle
A thrilling match, if not that high on quality, settled by Darren Fletcher.
Full-time! Norwich 2-0 Aston Villa
Villa remain without a win in 18 matches. Norwich back on track after their limp defeat at Spurs.
Full-time! Watford 1-2 Tottenham
More late drama, this time at Vicarage Road, with Son grabbing an 89th-minute winner. A critical win for Tottenham’s top-four ambitions.
Full-time! Everton 3-4 Stoke
Stoke edge a seven-goal thriller thanks to Arnautovic’s late penalty.
Adam Griffiths is not happy …
I blame your predictions entirely for what’s happening at Carrow Road, you bad predictionator you.
Stupid football.
Updated
Goal! Everton 3-4 Stoke (Arnautovic 89pen)
What. A. Game. Arnautovic thunders in his seventh goal of the season, cool as you like. That looks like that’s that for Everton.
Updated
Penalty to Stoke!
Here we go …
Goal! Watford 1-2 Tottenham (Son 89)
Yiiikkkkes. Watford though they had scored direct from a Watson corner, they hadn’t. Now Tottenham have scored, Son bamboozling Gomes with a backheel.
Updated
Wigan have just gone 2-1 up at Fleetwood. They won the FA Cup a few years ago, now they’re playing at Fleetwood.
Goal! Norwich 2-0 Aston Villa (Mbokani 87)
Aston Villa are heading into 2016 with eight points. EIGHT. Mbokani with Norwich’s second at the far post.
Updated
Wise words from Tom D. Wise words indeed.
@gerard_meagher Re: 16:38 Smart money don't gamble
— Tom D. (@tomd1900) December 28, 2015
In the Championship Andre Gray has a hat-trick and Burnley are 4-0 up against Bristol City and QPR are 1-0 against Huddersfield with a frankly awful goal from Sebastian Polter.
In League One, Walsall are ahead at home to Peterborough through Jason Demetriou and are likely to stay top.
Goal! Everton 3-3 Stoke (Joseleu 80)
Eeeeeeek! Stoke are level. It’s Joseleu, teed up by Arnautovic, with a volley into the top bag. It’s topsy and it’s turvy at Goodison. Where’s the smart money for a winner?
Updated
Goal! West Brom 1-0 Newcastle (Fletcher 78)
Mr Reliable, Darren Fletcher, nods in the first goal and Karl Darlow, Newcastle’s stand-in goalkeeper, will want the ground to open up and swallow him whole.
Updated
The voice of reason speaks on Watford’s red card.
I’ve seen Nathan Ake’s red card tackle again - it’s one of those that gets worse with every viewing. Much like those blokes who climb tall buildings to take selfies, it was very high and very reckless.
Cheers!
Jimmy in Brighton
Brentford are back in front at Reading, Sergi Canos, on loan from Liverpool, with an excellent goal, cutting in from the left and thumping into the bottom corner.
Bit of team news for you now quickly, Wazza is back …
.@WayneRooney returns for #MUFC while @Memphis drops to the bench! 🔴⚪️ #MUNCHE pic.twitter.com/6NUhrJnIoS
— BT Sport Football (@btsportfootball) December 28, 2015
Join Michael Butler for the latest.
Updated
We’re approaching the business end of the afternoon. It’s level between Crystal Palace and Swansea; Watford and Spurs as well as West Brom and Newcastle. Norwich and Everton lead by the odd goal at home.
Goal! Everton 3-2 Stoke (Deulofeu 71)
Gerry follows Rom on to the scoreline with a close-range finish, teed up by his partner in crime. Everton have come from behind to lead. This one has been a belter.
Updated
Staying in the Championship and Paul Gallagher has put Preston a goal to the good against Hull. Cheeky little free-kick routine that one.
Updated
In the Championship, Jacques Maghoma has just scored a very tidy goal to put Birmingham 1-0 up against MK Dons.
Elsewhere, Berahino is coming off the bench for West Brom and Nicky Clark has put Rangers 3-1 up against Hibs.
Hassan has been in touch again …
On the question of men like Shawcross and Whelan, I think Monsieur Tim Whelan is right. I am a Gooner so I should know a thing or two about how wobbly one can get without a Stoke-sized spine.
Goal! Everton 2-2 Stoke (Lukaku 64)
Anything Shaqiri can do … Cleverley rakes a 60-yard pass to Lukaku who pulls it down on his chest and fires into the far corner. That’s 11 in 10 and we’re level again.
Updated
Red card! Watfords's Nathan Ake
Ake goes for a high ball with Lamela and catches the Argentinian. Perhaps a touch harsh but Anthony Taylor wasted no time in whipping the red card out.
Updated
Conor Sammon, remember him, has just put Sheffield United 2-0 against Bradford in League One.
It’s getting lively at Vicarage Road …
This is good, some tasty challenges flying in. QSF urging his players to calm down; Poch already been on the pitch to stop some handbags.
— Alan Smith (@alansmith90) December 28, 2015
A bit of house-keeping. Charlton against Wolves has been delayed by about 15 minutes after an injury to the referee Keith Hill.
At Vicarage Road, Kane, spurred by Ighalo’s strike, is sniffing a goal but no joy just yet. It remains Watford 1-1 Tottenham.
It’s still somehow goalless at The Hawthorns but Newcastle have hit the bar through Dummett, only for West Brom to scramble the ball clear. It’s been an absorbing match if no goals as yet.
Updated
Bad technology funny at Turf Moor …
Luckily for Burnley they're 2-0 up - they don't need a big screen... good job Final Score: https://t.co/5ve30Lcnmf pic.twitter.com/YI3N3P9UYG
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) December 28, 2015
In League Two, Jake Jervis has pulled the leaders level – it’s Newport County 1-1 Plymouth.
It’s still goalless at Selhurst Park but Fabianski has made an excellent save to deny Hangeland. The first goal can’t be too far away.
At Vicarage Road, Eriksen is on for Dembele for Spurs.
Updated
Seems like I’m not doing Shaqiri’s second goal justice. Less of a thump, more of a lob, and the consensus seems to be that he meant it. They don’t call him the Alpine Messi for nothing.
@gerard_meagher 2nd Shaqiri goal gets my vote for goal of the season. No need to wait till May.
— Alan Watt (@AlanW1141) December 28, 2015
Updated
Joshua Reynolds also has an answer to a different Stoke question …
I’ve lived in Sacramento and been to Stoke to see the Potters play. Stoke and Sacramento are similar in that they are both places that are commonly reviled but when you are actually in the city, they aren’t too bad at all!
Tim Whelan has been in touch to answer the Stoke question …
Bojan had a reputation for being a prodigy who’d faded and was too injury prone so he needed a Stoke sized club to come back with.
Arnaoutovic had a repuation for being barking mad and no one but Stoke would take him on. (And he’s still mad. Shame there’s not enough as mad as him about).
Shaqiri wanted to come to Stoke. Probably because of Bojan and Arnie
As for stealing stuff off Wenger.....one of the things that make these 2 so great is Ryan Shawcross. And another is Glen Whelan. You need men like that at the back so that the men at the front can shine.
And in the Championship …
Birmingham 0- 0 MK Dons
Bolton 1-0 Blackburn FT
Burnley 2-0 Bristol City
Charlton 0-0 Wolves
Preston 0-0 Hull
QPR 0-0 Huddersfield
Reading 0-1 Brentford
A question to ponder at half-time.
I think the big question is this: why the bloody hell did bigger clubs overlook Bojan, Arnautovic and especially Shaqiri? I am really stoked for Stoke because finally they are a football team (may have stolen that one from Wenger!)
Hassan
Aberystwyth
Half-times in the Premier League
Crystal Palace 0-0 Swansea
Everton 1-2 Stoke
Norwich 1-0 Aston Villa
Watford 1-1 Tottenham
West Brom 0-0 Newcastle
Goal! Everton 1-2 Stoke (Shaqiri 45)
Ooooh that’s a special goal. A long ball over the top to Shaqiri who thumps the ball into the top corner first time. Did he mean it? Do Stoke fans care? That’s two for Shaqiri now.
Updated
Rangers have turned it around and now lead 2-1 against Hibs, Jason Holt again on target.
Meanwhile, Chesterfield are 1-0 against Coventry in Danny Wilson’s first match in charge.
Goal! Watford 1-1 Tottenham (Ighalo 42)
He’s got another one. Both Vertonghen and Alderweireld were in close attention but they Belgians were powerless to stop Ighalo adding to his tally. Game on.
Updated
Big goal in the Championship, promotion chasing Burnley are 1-0 against struggling Bristol City thanks to Andre Gray with the sort of run-from-the-half-way-line-then-cut-inside-defender-and-shoot goal that we just don’t see in the Premier League any more.
Nothing if not pithy Brendan.
@gerard_meagher Lamela = flash tit
— Brendan Large (@brendanlarge) December 28, 2015
Rangers have pulled level against Hibs. It’s 1-1 at Ibrox – Jason Holt the scorer.
Peter Oh is Stoked.
Hi Gerard,
It is still mind-boggling reading, that “Bojan, Arnautovic and Shaqiri” combine for...Stoke! That is a massive amount of skill in those six legs, and a spectacular re-branding effort by the club. Even though the Potters are not my team, these days I find myself looking for their results second. I can’t wait to visit Stoke to find out what the fuss is about!
Sincerely,
Peter
A Liverpool fan, writing from Sacramento California
I’ve never been to Stoke so I couldn’t possibly try comparing it to Sacramento …
Updated
A question …
@gerard_meagher Which decision by Mourinho is looking more daft: selling Lukaku or de Bruyne?
— Parlour Games (@ParlourGamesN5) December 28, 2015
Everton are in the ascendancy but they’ve lost McCarthy to injury, Cleverley, match winner against Newcastle, is on.
Speaking of Newcastle, Karl Darlow is having a blinder so far against West Brom.
And Watford are rallying against Spurs and the Hornets can consider themselves unfortunate not to have a penalty – clumsiness’s Eric Dier the culprit.
Brian Francis has had his say on Lamela …
@gerard_meagher Re: @Coco_Lamela He needed time to adjust. He got time to adjust. He adjusted. He's been good, and he'll only get better.
— Brian Francis (@B_Franq) December 28, 2015
In League Two, Newport County are 1-0 up against the league leaders Plymouth thanks to Scott Boden’s opener.
Goal! Norwich 1-0 Aston Villa (Howson 24)
Wallop! Howson thumps a left-footed volley home. Hard lines Kevin, hard lines.
Updated
An interesting email from Michael Cosgrove …
Hello, and they may not be Messi, Saurez and Neymar, but this Bojan, Arnautovic and Shaqiri trio are turning out to be real clients aren’t they!
That should have said Dag & Red are 2-0 to the good at Stevenage. Thank you Tim O’Brien.
Goal! Everton 1-1 Stoke (Lukaku 22)
Well that didn’t take long. That’s 10 in 10 for Lukaku, seven in seven at Goodison. Yowsers.
Updated
Erik Lamela. Discuss.
In Football League news, Brentford are 1-0 at Reading after a thunderbolt from Ryan Woods, Dag & Red are already 20 to the good at Stevenage.
Goal! Watford 0-1 Tottenham (Lamela 17)
Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. Craig Cathcart, what were you thinking? The Watford man just had his pocket pinched by Dele Alli who fed Lamela, the Argentinian clean through from halfway and giving Heurelho Gomes the eyes.
Updated
Goal! Everton 0-1 Stoke (Shaqiri 16)
Our first Premier League goal of the day is a belter. Bojan, Arnautovic and Shaqiri all combine for the Swiss’ first goal in Stoke colours.
Updated
The men in form are the men in early action at Goodison. Lukaku goes close to a 10th goal in 10 games for Everton, Arnautovic also has a sight of goal for Stoke.
Newcastle are under the pump at The Hawthorns, Anichebe heavily involved early, as is Karl Darlow in net.
Gene Mackie is impartially observing Watford v Tottenham where Dele Alli has already been booked.
Very much looking forward to seeing if Harry Kane can finish the year the way he began it: scoring two, assisting two, and showing that he should undoubtedly be England’s first-choice striker at the Euros. The idea that he’s behind Rooney in the pecking order is absurd. Kane has everything - he just needs to keep on improving under a manager who genuinely understand him.
Hard lines chaps, Sam Winnall is, appropriately, the winner. He’s put Barnsley 1-0 against Blackpool.
Harry Kane and Jonny Howson are the two shouts so far.
Updated
PEEEEEEEEEEPPPPPPP!
We’re up and running across the country.
A pound in the post for anyone who can correctly predict the first goalscorer of the day … (first up on Soccer Saturday)
Updated
It’s started already …
Don't look, Louis - Jose Mourinho Manchester United scarves on sale within sight of Old Trafford this afternoon pic.twitter.com/HA7CgJdqTa
— Tom Williams (@tomwfootball) December 28, 2015
Adam has written in with a request which I will be more than happy to grant …
Given that Villa have won just the once all season, predicting an away win seems a little unwise. If that useless shower do somehow manage to fulfill your prediction, could you post the numbers for Wednesday’s lottery at full time?
Much obliged.
Office sweepstake done. I have gone for …
Crystal Palace 3-0 Swansea
Everton 0-0 Stoke
Norwich 0-2 Aston Villa
Watford 3-2 Tottenham
West Brom 1-1 Newcastle
Talk to me …
Updated
Maybe Shaun Wilkinson was on to something … Newcastle have been forced into a late change with Rob Elliott dropping out with some unwell-ness. In comes Karl Darlow.
WATCH: The moment @KarlDarlow found out that he was making his @premierleague debut against @WBAFCofficial #NUFC pic.twitter.com/1418elGQZv
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) December 28, 2015
Updated
That’s the spirit …
Brass band giving it socks here at Vicarage Road. Hard to beat a rendition of 12 Days of Christmas to set you up for a big game.
— Alan Smith (@alansmith90) December 28, 2015
All over at Bolton, who have a first win in 18 matches! Gary Madine with the winner against Blackburn Rovers.
West Ham are not in action until a bit later but here’s some good/bad/ugly news for Hammers fans to digest.
High drama at Bolton, Blackburn have just hit the post but we’re into injury time and the Trotters remain ahead.
More Football League goal news – Millwall are 4-0 up at Southend now, O’Brien with the latest.
Shaun Wilkinson has written in, fearing the worst for Newcastle in the wake of Anichebe’s selection …
Few players sum up the long-suffering nature of being a Newcastle supporter than Victor Anichebe. Not only does he never score against anyone else apart from Newcastle, he doesn’t even seem to play against anyone else. Maybe Newcastle’s only option is to give in and buy him just to stop him scoring against them and only them, as they successfully did with Ryan Taylor a few years back.
Ever wondered what the tunnel looks like at Vicarage Road? Wonder no more …
Welcome to Watford... #COYS pic.twitter.com/iOZEIUkNFD
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) December 28, 2015
A bit more team news analysis for you know. Saido Berahino stays on the bench for West Brom with the January window looming large. Tony Pulis says, ‘he’s a smashing kid but he lets himself down at times’. Hmmm
In his place Victor Anichebe gets a rare start.
Goal news in the Championship’s early match … Gary Madine has put Bolton Wanderers ahead against Blackburn Rovers!
So let’s pick the bones out of that shall we?
- Tottenham have made a few changes, switching their full-backs and bringing in Rose and Trippier for Davies and Walker respectively but most notably giving Carroll a start for Eriksen after his first Premier League goal on Saturday.
- Crystal Palace, after their goalless draw with Bournemouth welcome back Cabaye for some added guile but there is no Wickham nor Bolasie so Chamakh leads the line.
- Swansea, despite a welcome win over West Brom last time out have made no less than eight changes.
- And Mark Hughes has decided to keep faith with the Stoke side that defeated Manchester United, naming an unchanged XI.
Updated
Team news
Crystal Palace v Swansea
Crystal Palace: Hennessey, Ward, Dann, Hangeland, Souare, Jedinak, McArthur, Zaha, Cabaye, Puncheon, Chamakh. Subs: Speroni, Bamford, Campbell, Lee, Mutch, Ledley, Kelly.
Swansea: Fabianski, Amat, Williams, Grimes, Taylor, Cork, Shelvey, Naughton, Emnes, Barrow, Gomis. Subs: Ki, Ayew, Nordfeldt, Montero, Sigurdsson, Bartley, Kingsley.
Referee: Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire)
Everton v Stoke City
Everton: Howard, Coleman, Stones, Funes Mori, Galloway, Barkley, Barry, McCarthy, Deulofeu, Lukaku, Kone. Subs: Robles, Gibson, Naismith, Cleverley, Besic, Osman, Baines.
Stoke: Butland, Johnson, Shawcross, Wollscheid, Pieters, Cameron, Whelan, Shaqiri, Afellay, Arnautovic, Krkic. Subs: Joselu, Wilson, van Ginkel, Adam, Diouf, Walters, Haugaard.
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear)
Norwich v Aston Villa
Norwich: Rudd, Martin, Bennett, Bassong, Brady, Howson, Dorrans, Tettey, Redmond, Hoolahan, Mbokani. Subs: Ruddy, Whittaker, Jerome, Lafferty, Olsson, O’Neil, Odjidja-Ofoe.
Aston Villa: Guzan, Hutton, Clark, Richards, Bacuna, Westwood, Gana, Sinclair, Veretout, Richardson, Ayew. Subs: Lescott, Traore, Gil, Bunn, Lyden, Gestede, Grealish.
Referee: Graham Scott (Oxfordshire)
Watford v Tottenham Hotspur
Watford: Gomes, Anya, Cathcart, Britos, Ake, Abdi, Watson, Capoue, Jurado, Ighalo, Deeney. Subs: Nyom, Prodl, Behrami, Guedioura, Holebas, Diamanti, Arlauskis.
Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris, Trippier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose, Dier, Dembele, Carroll, Alli, Lamela, Kane. Subs: Walker, Son, Mason, Vorm, Chadli, Eriksen, Davies.
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire)
West Brom v Newcastle
West Brom: Myhill, McAuley, Evans, Olsson, Dawson, Yacob, Fletcher, Brunt, Morrison, Sessegnon, Anichebe. Subs: Chester, Gardner, Gamboa, Lambert, Berahino, McManaman, Lindegaard.
Newcastle: Elliot, Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Dummett, Colback, Anita, Sissoko, Perez, Wijnaldum, Mitrovic. Subs: De Jong, Gouffran, Lascelles, Thauvin, Tiote, Darlow, Mbabu.
Referee: Mike Jones (Cheshire)
Preamble
Oi oi! You lucky people! It’s the most magical time of the year, when Premier League footballers really earn their pay packets, exerting themselves for 90 minutes for the second time in three days. Oh the humanity. It’s the time of year when fatigue enters the Premier League vocabulary, it’s the second instalment of the Crucial Christmas Period, oh, and a couple of has-beens, being run by a couple of Dutchmen, square off against each other a bit later.
Before that however, we have an intriguing tussle between Watford and Spurs at Vicarage Road. Tottenham’s Mauricio Pochettino needs no second invitation to talk up his side’s superior fitness but the proof will be in the Christmas pudding against a Watford side unbeaten in five matches, having walloped Liverpool 3-0 last time out at home. Odion Ighalo cannot stop scoring but Harry Kane is in a similar vain of form.
Elsewhere, we have Everton hosting Stoke, who, fresh from hammering what may be the penultimate nail into Louis van Gaal’s managerial coffin at Old Trafford can leapfrog their opponents with victory at Goodison. Rom and Gerry, as Roberto Martinez refers to his two dangermen, have been in fine form but so have Bo and Arn …
And there’s also Norwich against Aston Villa, one side flirting with relegation the other seemingly truly, madly, deeply in love with the idea; Crystal Palace against Swansea and West Brom at home to Newcastle. We’ll also chuck in some updates from the Championship, League One and League Two and I’ll even be staying put for this evening’s late games.
Premier League team news coming up …
Updated
Gerard will be here shortly.
