Premier League final scores
Bournemouth 0-0 Crystal Palace
Aston Villa 1-1 West Ham
Chelsea 2-2 Watford
Liverpool 1-0 Leicester
Man City 4-1 Sunderland
Spurs 3-0 Norwich
Swansea 1-0 West Brom
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Right, well here’s how all that affects the table. It was a good day for north London, with Arsenal having they chance to go top tonight if the beat Southampton and Spurs pulling two points clear of Palace in fourth place. Liverpool have ended a run of three games without a win with a morale-boosting victory over the league leaders, Leicester. It will be interesting to see how the Foxes respond. Thanks for your emails and tweets. You can follow Newcastle United v Everton here with Jacob Steinberg and join me later for Southampton v Arsenal. Bye.
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Full-time: Aston Villa 1-1 West Ham
A missed opportunity for Remi Garde and Villa, who controlled the second half.
Full-time: Bournemouth 0-0 Crystal Palace
Move along. Nothing to see here.
Full-time: Liverpool 1-0 Leicester City
A frantic finish. Benteke misses a gilt-edged chance to put Liverpool 2-0 up, Leicester break and Huth misses a header and that’s that. Leicester are beaten. Liverpool are victors. Breathless.
Full-time: Chelsea 2-2 Watford
On current form, perhaps that’s a good result for Chelsea. But they will lament that Oscar penalty miss in the second half.
Full-time: Man City 4-1 Sunderland
Easy as you like. City have lost Kompany to injury again though.
Full-time: Spurs 3-0 Norwich
Pochettino will be dancing to some god awful music tonight all right.
Leicester are laying siege on the Liverpool goal. King has just had an effort deflected away from goal by Emre Can. The resulting corner is poor. Which is an extra special waste as Liverpool are bobbins at defending corners.
Costa has been booked for Chelsea. That’s him suspended for the match against Manchester United that could resemble two injured old war veterans pushing each other lamely.
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As it stands, Swansea stand to get their first win since 1899, Man City are cruising to victory, Liverpool are hanging on for a narrow win at Leicester’s expense, Spurs have the win in the bag against Norwich, Aston Villa are pushing frantically for a winning goal against West Ham and nothing seems to be happening in the match between Bournemouth and Palace, which I said could be a belter. Maybe Glenn Murray will have his say yet.
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Chelsea missed penalty! And what a missed penalty!
Oh Oscar! Oh Chelsea! Hazard is brought down by Behrami. Oscar, who scored cooly from the spot last week, slips and sends his shot skittering into the stands, where some poor paying punter gets the ball in the face. Dear me.
Goal! Tottenham 3-0 Norwich (Caroll 82)
With what’s nearly his first touch of the match since coming on, he strikes from 20 yards. Game over.
Goaaaaaaalllllll! Disallowed!
Poor old Villa. They thought they’d taken the lead. They’re all over West Ham here though. If they’re going to survive they’ll need to convert this kind of dominance into points.
Vincent Kompany has come on for Manchester City. And Vincent Kompany has gone off for Manchester City. He’s injured again. That’s a real blow for City. Not in this match, obviously. They could put Aguero in defence and win this. But with the run-in just up the road it could be very costly. They still lead Sunderland 4-1.
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Goal! Chelsea 2-2 Watford (Costa 63)
This is turning into a right royal rumble at the Bridge. It’s Costa again. The hat-trick is on. Could the most villainous villain make himself a hero again?
Goal! Aston Villa 1-1 West Ham (Ayew 63)
Jordan Ayew from the spot. Can they get one of those 10 wins that Garde has asked for today?
Goal! Liverpool 1-0 Leicester (Benteke 63)
Honestly, I didn’t know that was going to happen. Right-footed first-time finish from the big Belgian. Leicester are pretty good at coming back though aren’t they?
He’s going to score isn’t he?
Tempted to compare Benteke to Carroll at this point, but that'd be doing a disservice to Big Andy's zest for life.
— Liverpool Offside (@LFCOffside) December 26, 2015
Goal! Manchester City 4-1 Sunderland (Borini 59)
The comeback is on!
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Goal! Chelsea 1-2 Watford (Ighalo 57)
Who else? Somewhere a wry smile has just appeared on Mourinho’s face. Capoue shoots, Courtois saves. Chelsea can’t clear it and Ighalo strikes at goal. It takes a deflection but finds its way into the Stamford Bridge net. What a run of form this is by Watford.
Goal! Manchester City 4-0 Sunderland (De Bruyne 54)
That’s his 10th of the season. Deary me. This is a horrible afternoon for Sunderland.
Gestede has just had one of those moments. He’s missed a free header for Villa after Hutton’s cross and injured himself as he fell to the floor in a sorry heap. Poor sod. Villa still trail West Ham 1-0.
Sheffield Wednesday are 3-0 up against Birmingham in the Championship now. Forestieri has got his second of the day. That’s some scoreline for Wednesday.
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In the Championship, here are the half-time scores:
Bristol City 1-0 Charlton
Derby 0-0 Fulham
Huddersfield 1-0 Preston
Hull 0-0 Burnley
Ipswich 0-1 QPR
MK Dons 0-0 Cardiff
Rotherham 0-0 Bolton
Sheff Wed 2-0 Birmingham City
In case you’re wondering, the PA feed to our live scores appears to have its feet up, taking it easy on Boxing Day. In other words, it’s kaput. I’ll try to keep you up to speed as best I can. I blame Storm Eva.
Half-time in the Premier League
Bournemouth 0-0 C Palace
Aston Villa 0-1 West Ham
Chelsea 1-1 Watford
Liverpool 0-0 Leicester
Man City 3-0 Sunderland
Swansea 1-0 West Brom
Tottenham 2-0 Norwich
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Goooooaaaaaaaaallll! Aston Villa 0-1 West Ham (Cresswell 45)
Yes, really. West Ham have scored. Their run of goalless draws are over. I wanted them to notch another just so i could marvel at the strange, ugly glory of it. Oh well. Villa really are that bad.
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“Thank you for that musical interlude, which has somehow escaped my attention until now,” offers Marie Meyer, just letting us all know that her music collection not one that shames her. “Interesting juxtaposition by Ms. Spears: adopting a posh elocution whilst using naughty words. But the song itself is pants. Will I. Am without Fergie is, for my money, a bit like Manchester United without Fergie.”
Goal! Chelsea 1-1 Watford (Deeney 42 pen)
Matic handballs. Deeney places the ball on the spot. And you wouldn’t bet against him would you? Cool as you like, he sends Courtois the wrong way.
Goal! Tottenham 2-0 Norwich (Kane 42)
Kane is played in by Alli before slamming it into the bottom-left corner after a swift drop of his shoulder.
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“Bloody hell, my Baggies are hard to watch this year,” begins Chris Brockhous, after some initial pleasantries that were too pleasant for this Clockwatch. I had hopes of better things from watching Pulis’s Crystal Palace, but we seem to have gone Stoke x 5 minus the glamour. Is this the definition of ‘tough love’?” I think it is Chris. Meanwhile, Berahino twiddles his thumbs.
The queue for the Liverpool treatment table has just got a little longer. Origi has gone off injured. Benteke is on in his place. Can he take his chance? Liverpool are still on top but they’re no longer attacking with the Storm Eva force of the early exchanges.
So it would appear I’m aiding and abetting some gambling in rural Wales today. “My brother-in-law and I have escaped the family Christmas on holiday in deepest, wettest North Wales to get down the pub. With no football on in solid Rugby country we’ve improvised a complete set of predictions and are hanging on every MbM word to see us through. Spirit of Christmas.” Indeed Thomas Shepherd. How’s the pint taste? No, don’t tell me. Too painful.
Goal! Chelsea 1-0 Watford (Costa 32)
He’s back. The striker takes advantage of some slack marking in the six-yard area to swivel and slam it home. He gives it the ‘Bad Man’ scowl in way of celebration.
Both Liverpool and Chelsea have dominated their games against Leicester and Watford respectively but neither has found a way past either goalkeeper. It’s around this time that an away team starts to gain a bit of confidence. Not that Leicester and Watford are lacking in much of that this season.
Goal! Tottenham 1-0 Norwich (Kane 26 pen)
That’s 11 in 11 for Kane. He was brought down by Rudd. He got up and stuck it past Rudd. No need for Pochettino to play this at half-time then.
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Goal! Manchester City 3-0 Sunderland (Bony 22)
Are Sunderland on this holiday already? Are they even at the Etihad? Bony has just headed home but Mannone should have saved it. Poor Mannone has been brought back into this game today. “Yeah, nice one boss.”
Liverpool could do with putting one of their many chances away. Lallana and Coutinho are the latest at Anfield to go close.
Goal! Man City 2-0 Sunderland (Touré 16)
So Touré’s in one of his moods when he fancies it today. He’s slammed one home from 18 yards. This could be a long afternoon for Allardyce.
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Meanwhile at Villa Park …
At Aston villa...never seen a home team get SO excited about winning a corner before!!
— Lady Brady (@karren_brady) December 26, 2015
Goal! Man City 1-0 Sunderland (Sterling 12)
You know a Sam Allardyce defence is malfunctioning when Raheem Sterling scores a header against you. It was largely down to De Bruyne’s industry, running down a ball that looked to be going out and keeping it in play, that led to this goal. On we go.
This is why Swansea should fancy their chances of getting that elusive win today.
50 - West Bromwich Albion have fired in fewer shots on target than any other Premier League team. Lacking.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 26, 2015
Liverpool are the dominant force against Leicester. Wes Morgan has made some important blocks but Liverpool continue to come forwards. Isn’t this when Leicester are at their most dangerous though?
Goal! Swansea 1-0 West Brom (Ki 9)
That’s a rare sight for Swansea fans. It’s Ki’s first goal in 19 games. Could this be the Swans’ day?
If looks could kill …
Proper stare https://t.co/oiqIhGd2UJ
— James Dart (@James_Dart) December 26, 2015
Liverpool have started brightly at Anfield. Coutinho has just tried to curl one around Schmeichel into the far corner but it’s just wide.
Peep! And we’re off. Brentford drew 0-0 with Brighton in the Championship so Chris Hughton’s side miss the opportunity to join Boro at the top. Let’s hope we see a bit more entertainment in the 3pm games.
Right, so we’re almost ready for kick-off around the grounds. The teams are trotting out on a mild but stormy Boxing Day in Britain. Ready? Good.
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Here’s Daniel Taylor’s on-the-whistle take on another sorry afternoon for Manchester United. And another fantastic one for Stoke against opposition from Manchester.
Crystal Palace have climbed above Man Utd into fifth without even kicking a ball. Watford could leap above United too, although they’d have to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge to do that. Not that that has been particularly difficult this season.
Gary Naylor is quick to the punch. No signs of Boxing Day lethargy on his part.
Is Giggs the man to get Manchester United the 11 points they need? I'm not so sure @GreggBakowski
— Gary Naylor (@garynaylor999) December 26, 2015
Full-time: Stoke City 2-0 Man Utd
Journalists ready their popcorn for the LVG press conference.
Aston Villa 0-0 West Ham team news
Aston Villa: Guzan, Hutton, Okore, Lescott, Bacuna, Westwood, Sanchez, Gana, Veretout, Gestede, Ayew. Subs: Clark, Sinclair, Richardson, Traore, Gil, Bunn, Grealish.
West Ham: Adrian, Tomkins, Collins, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Obiang, Kouyate, Antonio, Noble, Zarate, Valencia. Subs: Randolph, Song, Jenkinson, Hendrie, Oxford, Cullen, Parfitt-Williams.
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)
Many pitches in the north of England look like this today. Storm Eva has wreaked havoc in the lower league and non league games.
Sorry today's game has been cancelled due to waterlogged pitch pic.twitter.com/PVpKuwDU3O
— BurscoughFC OFFICIAL (@BurscoughFC1946) December 26, 2015
Swansea v West Brom team news
Swansea: Fabianski, Rangel, Fernandez, Williams, Taylor, Britton, Ki, Routledge, Sigurdsson, Montero, Ayew. Subs: Shelvey, Nordfeldt, Gomis, Cork, Naughton, Bartley, Barrow.
West Brom: Myhill, Dawson, McAuley, Olsson, Brunt, Evans, Gardner, Fletcher, Yacob, Morrison, Lambert. Subs: Chester, Anichebe, Gamboa, Berahino, McManaman, Lindegaard, Sessegnon.
Referee: Roger East (Wiltshire)
Manchester United are still trailing 2-0 at the Britannia. That’ll be the first time in 14 years they have lost four in a row. Oof!
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Bournemouth v Crystal Palace team news
Bournemouth XI: Boruc, Smith, Francis, Cook, Daniels, Surman, Ritchie, Gosling, Arter, Stanislas, Murray. Subs: Pugh, Rantie, MacDonald, Kermorgant, Federici, Distin, O’Kane.
Crystal Palace: Hennessey, Ward, Delaney, Dann, Souare, Ledley, McArthur, Puncheon, Mutch, Zaha, Campbell. Subs: Hangeland, Cabaye, McCarthy, Jedinak, Chamakh, Kelly, Dymond.
Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland)
Glenn Murray starts against his former team. Look out Palace!
Manchester City v Sunderland team news
Manchester City XI: Hart, Sagna, Otamendi, Mangala, Kolarov, Fernandinho, Toure (C), De Bruyne, Silva, Sterling, Bony. Subs: Caballero, Kompany, Clichy, Demichelis, Navas, Delph, Aguero
Sunderland XI: Mannone; Jones, O’Shea, Coates, van Aanholt; M’Vila, Gomez, Johnson; Borini, Graham, Fletcher. Subs: Pantilimon, Brown, Cattermole, Lens, Defoe, Toivonen, Watmore.
So no Billy Jones in goal for Sunderland, as is suggested in the printout handed out at the Etihad. Which is a shame. Would have been very leftfield for Big Sam.
Super Billy Jones will need to be extra super today if the Manchester City team sheet is to be believed... pic.twitter.com/j4tQNfXuxy
— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) December 26, 2015
Some Liverpool optimism here …
@GreggBakowski Imagining Vardy and Mahrez running at Lovren and Sakho - already know we're going to be on MOTD first...
— Elliot Jacobs (@jakeadopter) December 26, 2015
Chelsea v Watford team news
Chelsea’s first Hiddink (2015) XI: Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry (c), Azpilicueta; Fabregas, Matic; Willian, Oscar, Pedro, Diego Costa. Subs: Begovic, Baba, Zouma, Mikel, Ramires, Hazard, Remy.
Watford XI: Gomes (GK); Nyom, Britos, Cathcart, Holebas; Capoue, Watson; Abdi, Deeney (c), Jurado; Ighalo. Subs: Arlauskis (GK), Prödl, Behrami, Anya, Guedioura, Berghuis, Diamanti.
Liverpool v Leicester City team news
Liverpool XI: Mignolet, Clyne, Lovren, Sakho, Moreno, Can, Henderson, Lallana, Coutinho, Firmino, Origi. Subs: Bogdan, Toure, Benteke, Lucas, Allen, Teixeira, Randall
Leicester XI: Schmeichel, Simpson, Huth, Morgan (c), Fuchs, Mahrez, Kanté, King, Albrighton, Okazaki, Vardy. Subs: Schwarzer, De Laet, Kramarić, Ulloa, Dyer, Wasilewski, Inler.
Referee: Martin Atkinson
So, Origi gets a chance to start ahead of Benteke. That’s a show of faith in the younger of the two Belgium strikers.
The team news should start trickling in shortly but while we wait you may want to know that Stoke are still 2-0 up against Manchester United in what seems to have been billed as LVG’s Reckoning. You can look in on it by following the link below.
Preamble
Afternoon. Merry Christmas. How are we all? Having fun or do you feel like screaming and throwing yourself out of the nearest window due to overindulgence, awkward chat and acute cabin fever? What about an afternoon football tonic then? Ah, good. Because, as is the British tradition, the fixture list contains more matches than your average box of Bryant and May. There are seven 3pm (UK time) kick-offs in the Premier League and a full schedule in the Championship and Leagues One and Two, weather permitting. Leicester City’s trip to Liverpool looks particularly tasty. The home team are favourites with the bookies but it doesn’t feel like a fair reflection of the form coming into the match. Jürgen Klopp needs a reaction from his team after the pitiful display at Watford that comprehensively ended his honeymoon period and gave him some serious thinking to do. Meanwhile, the Leicester City juggernaut doesn’t look like being stopped. The table-toppers hunted happily on Merseyside just last week, when they were typically fearless in a spirited 3-2 victory over Everton half a mile down the road from Anfield.
And then there’s Guus Hiddink’s first match in charge of Chelsea against Watford, who have won four on the bounce and will surely prove much less obliging opponents than Sunderland were in their 3-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge, a bizarre match in which Chelsea fans seemed to get angrier the better their team got. Will Hiddink rile the fans further today with another victory? Surely his kind-old-uncle shtick will help neutralise some of that antipathy, as will his relative success last time he came in to watch shop at Chelsea.
Bournemouth v Crystal Palace could be a Boxing Day treat. They’re both in form and pleasing on the eye. Dean Court could be the go-to place for throbbing excitement. I’m guessing Palace old boy Glenn Murray will have something to say if he starts for the Cherries.
Manchester City will be looking forward to bouncing back from their 2-1 loss at Arsenal. They’re playing Sunderland at home, so expect them to find quite some bounce. Sam Allardyce’s defence looks to have gone on this holiday a fortnight early.
Norwich will hope to build on their surprise victory at Old Trafford when they take on Spurs at White Hart Lane. Tottenham clambered above Manchester United last week and into the fourth Champions League spot. A place that Mauricio Pochettino hopes to make their own with the assistance of Britney Spears and will.i.am. “It’s like what Britney Spears and will.i.am sing: ‘Everybody in the club, all eyes on us, all eyes on us,’” warbled Pochettino this week, revealing a taste in music that may lose him a good chunk of the respect he has worked so hard to build up since arriving in England.
Swansea host West Brom, who had somewhat of a disciplinary meltdown in their last outing, a defeat by Bournemouth. Given that Swansea can keep possession all day long without mustering more than a couple of shots, they could do with the Baggies losing their heads if they’re going to find that win that has eluded them for seven games.
And finally there’s Aston Villa v West Ham, in which the Hammers could do the strangely glorious thing of drawing their fourth game in a row 0-0. Against Villa? Yes, it will happen.
There have been quite a few postponements in the Football League due to waterlogged pitches. Blackburn’s match against the Championship league leaders Middlesbrough is the biggest casualty. Blackpool v Oldham in League One has been washed out, along with Bradford v Burton, Wigan v Sheffield United, Rochdale v Crewe and Bury v Barnsley. And in League Two, Hartlepool v Notts County, Morecambe v Mansfield, Accrington v Carlisle and York v Northampton are all off. In the Scottish Premiership, Dundee United v Motherwell is off.
So, what was your worst present? Go on, let me know. Anonymity guaranteed. It was that Chelsea Falcao shirt wasn’t it?
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