Thank you very much for joining me for a lively night of football.
Until we meet again!
Full time! Barcelona 3-1 Atletico Madrid
Barca extend their lead at the top to four points.
GOAL! Barcelona 3-1 Atletico Madrid (Torres 90+5)
That seals it.
Barcelona 2-1 Atletico Madrid: Six minutes added on.
Barcelona 2-1 Atletico Madrid: Christensen is sent on for Lamine Yamal to shore things up.
The great John Brewin had a calmer assignment in Bournemouth.
Paul MacInnes has managed to sum up tonight at Craven Cottage …
Suzanne Wrack watched England women beat Ghana earlier.
GOAL! Barcelona 2-1 Atletico Madrid (Olmo 65)
The league leaders are in front.
“I think someone should call for a wellness check on Mr. Hirst to make sure his heart is still beating,” suggests Mary Waltz.
Barcelona 1-1 Atletico Madrid: Rashford replaces Lewandwoski.
Erling Haaland says: “When you are striker for City, you should be delivering great numbers. That is my job.”
If you need to be calmed down, Newcastle v Tottenham could help.
I can’t stress how awful City’s defending was throughout that game. Utterly pathetic. Guardiola is having a chat with Savinho. He might need to speak with his defenders first.
Updated
FULL TIME! Fulham 4-5 Manchester City:
A very silly game of football.
Fulham 4-5 Manchester City: City clear!
Fulham 4-5 Manchester City: A 99th minute corner for Fulham …
Fulham 4-5 Manchester City: CITY CLEAR ONE OFF THE LINE! Gvardiol saves City after King beats Donnarumma!
Updated
Fulham 4-5 Manchester City: Still at least two minutes to play. Ake on for Foden.
Fulham 4-5 Manchester City: Cherki is cleared out on the halfway line. The Frenchman will delay getting up as much as possible.
Full time: Bournemouth 0-1 Everton
Grealish edges it for the Toffees.
Fulham 4-5 Manchester City: Fulham clear one off the line.
Bournemouth 0-1 Everton: The Toffees are killing time. Into the second minute of four of injury time.
Fulham 4-5 Manchester City: The ball is sent into the City box and the whole defence panics but eventually clear.
Fulham 4-5 Manchester City: Eight minutes added on …
Fulham 4-5 Manchester City: O'Reilly is down with cramp. A tricky night for him.
Fulham 4-5 Manchester City: Chukwueze goes through a couple of City defenders but on this occasion his finish lets him down.
Fulham 4-5 Manchester City: Donnarumma drops a shoulder to take on a Fulham forward. I am not sure the risk is worth it but he gets past him and clears.
Fulham 4-5 Manchester City: Another Fulham corner to make City nervous but they just about get rid of it.
Fulham 4-5 Manchester City: City keep making awful decisions. Kusi-Asare claims a penalty after going down under pressure from O’Reilly but nothing is doing.
Fulham 4-5 Manchester City: Kevin on for Fulham, Cherki for City.
GOAL! Bournemouth 0-1 Everton (Grealish 78)
The Manchester City loanee cuts in from the left and beats Petrovic thanks to a deflection.
Updated
Fulham 4-5 Manchester City: GOAL! Dunnarumma punches a corner straight to Chukwueze, who pings it straight past the goalkeeper.
GOAL! Fulham 4-5 Manchester City (Chukwueze 78)
Ruddy heck!
Updated
Fulham 3-5 Manchester City: City’s defence is utterly awful. King and Kusi-Asare are on to add to their problems.
Fulham 3-5 Manchester City: GOAL! Chukwueze is in the right place to smash home a shot inside the area. VAR takes a LOOOOOOOONG look for offside … but it is all fine.
GOAL! Fulham 3-5 Manchester City (Chukwueze 72)
This is a silly game.
Updated
Fulham 2-5 Manchester City: A Savinho chip to the back post finds Haaland, his header looks goalbound but it bounces back off the post.
Fulham 2-5 Manchester City: O’Reilly drives up the pitch, taking the ball around 50 yards but he can’t find Haaland with his final pass.
Bournemouth 0-0 Everton: A decent chance for Barry from a Garner pullback but the finish is utterly atrocious. I think he’s gone out of the ground.
Barcelona 1-1 Atletico Madrid: Half time in Catalonia.
Bournemouth 0-0 Everton: A well-worked corner routine, sees Kluivert pick out Milosavljevic at the back post but his header is poor.
Fulham 2-5 Manchester City: This is all a lot of fun. Neither team look too confident in defence. City send on Stones and Silvinho for Gonzalez and Doku.
Bournemouth 0-0 Everton: Tavernier and Evanilson come on in the hope things liven up at the Vitality.
Edan Tal writes: “I’ve got a terrible birthday, 26th December. Don’t have a favourite game on such a busy football day because I get to spend the day driving to Birmingham and back each year. Only thing I get to share it with is with Chairman Mao, the 2006 Tsunami, and Aaron Ramsey.”
James Humphries says: “My favourite, to cheat a bit, is probably actually one I gave rather than received - got my daughter a Scotland top for her birthday last year and she was gratifyingly, heart-achingly delighted with it.
“She won’t be so pleased after a few more years of being a Scotland fan, etc.”
Fulham 2-5 Manchester City: Stones is coming on …
Bournemouth 0-0 Everton: Dewsbury-Hall sets up Barry but his first touch is heavy and he then chips his shot over the bar.
Fulham 2-5 Manchester City: GOAL! The ball finds Iwobi in space on the edge of the box and he curls the ball into the bottom corner at the first time of asking.
GOAL! Fulham 2-5 Manchester City (Iwobi 57)
A lovely finish!
Updated
Barcelona 1-1 Atletico Madrid: MISSED PENALTY! Lewandowski whacks the ball well over from the spot after Olmo was fouled.
Fulham 1-5 Manchester City: GOAL! Doku curs in from the left and finds the top corner thanks to a deflection.
GOAL! Fulham 1-5 Manchester City (Doku 54)
Start the car.
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Fulham 1-4 Manchester City: Fulham get a chance to get back into the game but Jimenez pings his shot into Gonzalez’s midriff
Updated
Fulham 1-4 Manchester City: GOAL! City break on Fulham, concluding with Doku trying to find Haaland in the box but it takes a deflection, sending the ball straight to Foden at the back post. It is a fine finish for City’s fourth.
GOAL! Fulham 1-4 Manchester City (Foden 48)
Is this done and dusted?
Updated
Barcelona 1-1 Atletico Madrid: Joan Garcia produces a fine save from Baena.
Kári Tulinius writes: “Back in February of 2015, I had a project deadline that coincided with my birthday, so I couldn’t do much to celebrate. However, after working through the day, I managed to finish up in time to watch my Arsenal take on Monaco in the Champions League, so I took myself to my local pub to watch the game as my birthday treat. The Gunners were, of course, dreadful, losing three to one at home. I can still picture Bernardo Silva put Yannick Carrasco-Ferreira through on goal in the final minute of extra time like it happened yesterday. Not my worst birthday, but in my bottom three.”
Fulham 1-3 Manchester City: The hosts make two changes, with Castagne and Chukwueze on for Tete and Lukic.
Second half
Here we go again!
GOAL! Barcelona 1-1 Atletico Madrid (Raphinha 26)
Pedri sends the ball through for Raphinha who goes round Oblak and taps into an empty net.
Updated
As Tim Stappard points out: “Barcelona high line does them again.”
GOAL! Barcelona 0-1 Atletico Madrid (Baena 19)
Baena runs through on goal and dinks a shot out of the goalkeeper’s reach to silence the Camp Nou.
Updated
“Happy birthday from Vienna, Will!” says Jon O’Shea. “Austria vs England in Vienna in 2004. England cruising before an absolute David James howler.
”But on the upside I was sitting across from Trevor Brooking and Peter Taylor. The best halftime chat I’ve ever had in a footy ground.”
Joe Pearson says: “As none of my friends and family really get football (I live in Indiana, remember), the only person to get me a football related gift was me. After Liverpool won the League in 19-20, I got myself an early birthday present. It was a third kit jersey with Klopp’s name and 19 as the number (both to represent their 19th championship, but also my favorite NFL player growing up, Lance Alworth, who was a wide receiver for the Chargers back in the 60’s). Niche, I know”
Barcelona 0-0 Atletico Madrid: The visitors have been required to make a change, with Koke replacing Cardoso.
Half time! Fulham 1-3 Manchester City:
City are in control but Fulham have given themselves hope.
Half time! Bournemouth 0-0 Everton:
Not much to see here.
Bournemouth 0-0 Everton: NO GOAL! A cross from the right is deflected into Kroupi’s path by a teammate but the striker is offside at that point. A nice finish, though.
Fulham 1-3 Manchester City: GOAL! Wilson sends in a cross, which Smith Rowe stoops to head into the corner.
GOAL! Fulham 1-3 Manchester City (Smith Rowe 47)
One back!
Updated
Fulham 0-3 Manchester City: GOAL! Leno punches a corner straight to Foden on the edge of the box, he takes a couple of touches and then smashes the ball into the top corner.
GOAL! Fulham 0-3 Manchester City (Foden 44)
WHAT A HIT!
Updated
Bournemouth 0-0 Everton: The next corner is flicked onto his own bar by Scott. This means there is another which is dug out from under the bar by the goalkeeper.
Bournemouth 0-0 Everton: A Mykolenko cross smashes into Adams’ head and goes out for a corner. The American did not enjoy that. The set-piece is a dangerous inswinging cross but Truffert is able to head it behind before Barry can reach it.
Fulham 0-2 Manchester City: GOAL! Haaland is the man with the assist, holding off his man, allowing him to slip a through ball for Reijnders to latch onto. The Dutchman produces a cool scoop over the goalkeeper.
GOAL! Fulham 0-2 Manchester City (Reijnders 37)
The Dutchman decides to do it all himself.
Updated
Fulham 0-1 Manchester City: Reijnders lifts a pass over the top for Doku but his shot is blocked and Haaland can’t do much when the ball goes loose.
Fulham 0-1 Manchester City: Wilson whips in a dangerous cross from the right but Dias gets his head on it first.
Some worry for City as Haaland goes down after a foul by Bassey.
Bournemouth 0-0 Everton: I am becoming suspicious that Bournemouth are looking a little lethargic here. Not able to get up to speed.
Fulham 0-1 Manchester City: City are doing their best to keep the ball away from Fulham, passing it around to maintain control.
Fulham 0-1 Manchester City: Nunes picks out Haaland in the box but his head is deflected wide.
Bournemouth 0-0 Everton: Semenyo shoots and Pickford makes a strong save. Bournemouth claim there is a handball in the buildup, forcing VAR to check for a penalty which is not merited.
Updated
Fulham 0-1 Manchester City: Smith Rowe receives a pass in the box and takes aim for the near post, it is a powerfully struck shot but Donnarumma gets behind it.
Fulham 0-1 Manchester City: Bassey dispossesses Haaland 20 yards from his own goal and then sprints about 60 yards himself to take his team up the pitch but nothing comes of it.
Bournemouth 0-0 Everton: A very dangerous corner is swung into the box by the Toffees but Bournemouth do not look concerned, sending it out to the edge of the box, from where Iroegbunam smashes over.
Fulham 0-1 Manchester City: GOAL! Doku picks out Haaland in the box and the Norwegian smashes the into the back of the net from the penalty spot at the first time of asking to bring up the century
GOAL! Fulham 0-1 Manchester City (Haaland 17)
One hundred up!
Updated
Fulham 0-0 Manchester City: Fulham are starting to look dangerous but are yet to create a noteworthy chance. Iwobi chips a pass into the box but it is just in front of Jimenez.
Bournemouth 0-0 Everton: Grealish and Jimenez have a bit of a tussle, with foreheads getting far too close together after a battle on the touchline.
Fulham 0-0 Manchester City: Silva’s side are starting to get into this game. Jimenez is bundled over by Gonzalez, winning a free-kick 40 yards from goal.
Updated
Bournemouth 0-0 Everton: A clash of heads leaves Tarkowski and Garner on the ground. Both seems to be OK.
Fulham 0-0 Manchester City: The home team break with Wilson getting ahead of the City defence. He tries to play Rowe Smith in but City converge, giving away a corner.
Bournemouth 0-0 Everton: O’Brien slings in a long throw but Barry turns it behind.
Fulham 0-0 Manchester City: I am not sure Fulham have strung two passes together – it is all City. Foden plays the ball through for Haaland, he is surely about to net his 100th Premier League goal but watches his shot rebound off the inside of the post.
Bournemouth 0-0 Everton: Kroupi reaches a ball over the top, he reaches it but his touch is poor and Pickford gets to it.
Updated
Fulham 0-0 Manchester City: A ball is slipped into the Fulham box, it should be easy to deal with but Bassey gets his feet in a mess before eventually recovering and clearing.
Updated
Fulham 0-0 Manchester City: The visitors are keeping the ball at the back, knocking it around slowly as they look to build into the game.
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Kick off
The whistles are a-peeping.
“Games that made your birthday?” asks Peter Wilkinson. “My 12th birthday - 30th July 1966 - will take some beating.”
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“My birthday always falls during the early-season international breaks, so generally served up an uninspiring England qualifier during my childhood,” emails Adam Berry. “An undoubted lowlight was a bleak 0-0 draw against Bulgaria in Glenn Hoddle’s last days, counterbalancing the year before where a far more exciting 0-0 draw in Italy saw England qualify for the 1998 World Cup. Other fond childhood memories include a 0-0 stalemate with Finland and a rollercoaster 0-0 in Turkey. Can you sense a theme?”
The wonderful Scott Murray is on deck for Newcastle v Tottenham.
Jared Brown emails: “I know this is a stretch because it wasn’t a birthday but close - a deathday. The day of my girlfriend-at-the-time’s father’s funeral, 22nd June 1986. England are 2–0 down to Argentina following ‘those goals’. I am listening to the game with an earpiece in at the wake. Sir Johnnie of Barnes puts the ball into the box with 10 minutes to go. I lean forward muttering to myself.. ‘Come on... Come on...’ Suddenly, somehow, Salt n Lineker gets it in the back of the net. England are back in the game. The dream is still alive. Unfortunately, the girlfriend’s father is still dead. I leap up from the sofa and into the status of ex-boyfriend - arms raised screaming ‘YEEESSSS! COME ON!!!’ Not my best moment.”
Happens to the best of us.
Marco Silva on the poor run against City: “It’s the worst run against one side in the Premier League from our football club.And of course, every time we play against them, it’s an opportunity for us to change it. And that’s what we can do.”
“As for your question, I’ve been to a couple of games on or around my birthday - a 4-1 v West Brom at Anfield was quite nice - but I’d say the best was when my Mam surprised me with tickets for a game down in London at West Ham,” writes Shaun.
“We’re from Cumbria so this is/was a fair old hike for a bunch of 5 young lads back in 91/92. The lad who drove all the way had just passed his test and I’m not sure he was even legal for the motorway but he was brilliant.
“And apart from one mini-moment when just off the M25 we went around in circles for 10/15 minutes, we found the ground without much fuss. (No phones, GPS maps, etc back then.)
“Game was a fairly average 0-0 but it was the only time I ever went to Upton Park and I’ll always cherish it.”
Richard Hirst emails: “Happy birthday Will. Hope you’re having a better day than the evening I’m expecting as a Fulham supporter. Apparently our 18 straight defeats are a record in English league history. I suppose it must end sometime, but almost certainly not tonight. I’d bite your hand off now for a mind-numbing 0-0.”
Will Haaland join the 100 Club tonight? Here is my advice on how Fulham can stop him.
Elsewhere … England are playing Ghana in a friendly. Join Yara El-Shaboury for that one.
Barcelona v Atletico starting lineups
Barcelona: Joan García; Koundé, Cubarsí , Balde, Gerard Martín; Pedri, Eric García; Olmo, Lamine Yamal, Raphinha; Lewandowski.
Atletico: Oblak; Molina, Giménez, Lenglet, Hancko; Giuliano, Barrios, Cardoso, Nico González; Álex Baena, Julián Alvarez
“Happy Birthday from here in chilly Poland!” writes Phil Lacy.
“For my birthday in 2005, my uncle procured a ticket for the FA Cup 3rd round match at Old Trafford, where we were among the thousands of Exeter City fans watch United’s 2nd XI fail to turn up. Terrible game on a technical level, but incredible memories, like babby Cristiano Ronaldo getting a Conference clogging after coming on.
“On my birthday in 2015, I was living and working in Cagliari and attended their game versus Cesena. It so happened that it was Gianfranco Zola’s first home game in charge. The turnstiles were so packed, we missed the first goal and Cagliari went on to win 2-1. Zola’s management was a fun time: the team always looked sharp going forward, but their defending was committed and remarkably slapdash.”
“Let me just start off by wishing you a very Happy Birthday!,” you’re too kind Kieran McKintosh.
“Not football ruining someone’s birthday, but close enough: A few months ago my brother’s 3D printer broke. However, at the exact moment it did, Martinelli beat Donnarumma with the lob to end all lobs, and snatched a point from City at home for us. So the second his printer broke, he heard me screaming ‘YES!’ across the entire house and celebrating like there was no tomorrow.
“My response is actually not a birthday gift I have received, but a Christmas gift I hope to receive. I have asked for a Leeds United 24/25 third kit. However, since it will arrive with no name on the back, I am considering putting Kylian Mbappe’s name and number on the back for a laugh. I was just wondering if others might get the joke or not.
“Have a good one!”
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Krishnamoorthy emails: “It will take a man with a stone heart not to support a team managed by Diego Simeone. I hope Barca does not unleash their frustration over losing to Chelsea on Atletico.”
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Dear reader, you will also be very excited to learn it is my birthday, so I ask the questions …
When has football made or ruined your birthday?
What is the best football-related gift you have ever received?
Stay on your feet, Gigi.
Bournemouth v Everton starting lineups
Bournemouth (4-2-3-1): Petrovic; Jimenez, Diakite, Milosavljevic, Truffert; Adams, Scott; Semenyo, Kluivert, Adli; Kroupi.
Subs: Dennis, Evanilson, Hill, Araujo, Smith, Enes Unal, Soler, Tavernier, Gonzalez
Everton. (4-2-3-1): Pickford'; Garner, O’Brien, Tarkowski, Mykolenko'; Iroegbunam, Alcaraz; N’Diaye, Dewsbury Hall, Grealish; Barry.
Subs: Travers, King, Patterson, McNeil, Beto, Dibling, Aznou, Welch, Campbell
Fulham v Manchester City starting lineups
Fulham (4-2-3-1): Leno; Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Sessegnon; Berge, Lukic; Wilson, Smith Rowe, Iwobi; Jimenez
Subs: Lecomte, Cuenca, Castagne, Reed, Cairney, Chukwueze, King, Kevin, Kusi-Asare
Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Gonzalez, Silva, Reijnders; Foden, Doku, Haaland
Subs: Trafford, Stones, Ake, Marmoush, Cherki, Ait-Nouri, Savinho, Khusanov, Lewis
Updated
Preamble
The main event, from our point of view, is at Craven Cottage tonight. Manchester City are still looking to find consistency this season under Pep Guardiola. The head coach insists he can smell something good cooking at the Etihad but two defeats in a row and just about edging past Leeds is not the way to go about creating the perfect dish. Erling Haaland is still looking for his 100th Premier League goal but at least Phil Foden started to offer support with a double at the weekend.
Fulham’s rocky start is fading away after three wins in four, including victory at Tottenham on Saturday night. They will be hoping the good vibes will continue but they have lost their past 18 clashes with City, which might be a slight concern for Marco Silva. No time like the present to end that run.
Bournemouth have picked up one point from the past 12 available, while Everton are looking to bounce back from a dismal home defeat to Newcastle.
Over in Spain, first-placed Barcelona are hosting Atletico Madrid, who sit fourth, in what is being billed as Marcus Rashford v Conor Gallagher in many places*. Hansi Flick’s side are in fine form in La Liga, shooing everyone they come up against but Atlético have won their past seven in all competitions.
Premier League
Bournemouth v Everton 7.30pm GMT
Fulham v Manchester City 7.30pm GMT
La Liga
Barcelona v Atletico Madrid 8pm GMT
