Right, that is all from me. Thanks for joining me.
The football is not over, though. Join Scott Murray for Newcastle v Chelsea.
Pukki the man for Norwich again.
Norwich will be boosted by their win over relegation rivals Bournemouth but look set to lose key centre-back Godfrey for a few games at his sending off today, which is a blow.
Not sure this will change things ...
Watched Cenk Tosun score on his full debut for Crystal Palace today. Feel a renewed urge to tell the UK commentariat they are saying his name wrong.
— John McManus (@JohnMcManus06) January 18, 2020
It’s Toe-son (as in ‘on me toe, son’) not Toss-un.
I’m going to leave Çağlar Söyüncü for another day. Pick your battles…
Ben Fisher witnessed a cracker at St Mary’s ...
Nick Ames was our man at Arsenal v Sheffield United.
Where would Aston Villa be without Grealish?
All even at West Ham.
Football League results:
9️⃣0️⃣
— EFL (@EFL) January 18, 2020
Here are your full-time scores!#EFL pic.twitter.com/yXtEQ5pjLr
The title race was over in November, so I wouldn’t get too excited about City dropping more points at home.
A decent last 10 minutes at the Etihad ...
I think this lad might make it ...
Updated
A Scottish update from Simon McMahon: “No big shocks in the Scottish Cup today, the closest being at Pittodrie where Dumbarton, sixth in Scottish League One, held Aberdeen until the 86th minute before a Sam Cosgrove penalty won it for the Dons. Giant killers of the day award therefore goes to Ayr, third in the Scottish Championship, who beat SPL Ross County 1-0, and there were comfortable wins for Hamilton, Hearts, Kilmarnock, St. Johnstone and St. Mirren.”
Regrets, I’ve had a few ...
@Will_Unwin Love to see Tosun score. Everton are gonna regret not playing him enough.
— The Øtüken Post (@OtukenPost) January 18, 2020
Premier League full-time scores
- Arsenal 1-1 Sheffield United
- Brighton 1-1 Aston Villa
- Manchester City 2-2 Crystal Palace
- Norwich 1-0 Bournemouth
- Southampton 2-3 Wolves
- West Ham 1-1 Everton
Full-time: Norwich 1-0 Bournemouth
A big win for Norwich as both sides end with 10 men.
Full-time: Brighton 1-1 Aston Villa
Maupay and (I think) Konsa have a little scuffle at the end after something was said.
Full-time: Southampton 2-3 Wolves
What a comeback!
Updated
Full-time: Manchester City 2-2 Crystal Palace
Aguero thought he had won it but Fernandinho turned the ball into his own net late on.
Updated
Full-time: West Ham 1-1 Everton
The points are shared, which seems about right.
Full-time: Arsenal 1-1 Sheffield United
A throughly deserved point for the Blades who put in a cracking display.
Will we get some more drama in the final stages?!
A VAR check at West Ham looks set to result in Ajeti being sent off just minutes after coming on. The striker seemed to headbutt Holgate but the officials don’t seem to think it merits a red.
GOAL! Manchester City 2-2 Crystal Palace (Fernandinho, 90og)
Zaha gets past Stones, whacks it across the goal and all Fernandinho can do is divert it into this own net!
Updated
GOAL! Manchester City 2-1 Crystal Palace (Aguero, 87)
WHAT A PLAYER! WHAT A MAN! When City need something special they can always rely on Aguero who moves superbly to head home a Mendy cross from the left.
Updated
Martinelli endorsed.
Gabi’s gonna be a superstar 🙏🏽 Not because of the Goal because of the attitude Energy and mindset ☝🏽
— Aubameyang P-E (@Aubameyang7) January 18, 2020
A decent record ...
250 - Sergio Aguero has scored his 250th goal in all competitions for Man City, in what is his 360th appearance for the club. Glut. #MCICRY
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 18, 2020
GOAL! Arsenal 1-1 Sheffield United (Fleck, 83)
Robinson fires in a cross, which Sharp wins and then Fleck fires the ball home to level things up and it thoroughly deserved.
Updated
GOAL! Manchester City 1-1 Crystal Palace (Aguero, 82)
Jesus sends in a cross from the left and Aguero does the rest with a lovely finish. Eight minutes left on the clock.
Updated
Ancelotti has brought on Niasse. Bold.
Barry Bryan is as confused as the rest of us, he writes: “I don’t like it, but I thought I at least understood the new handball rule. Now I’m just totally lost.”
GOAL! Southampton 2-3 Wolves (Jimenez, 76)
What a turn around at St Mary’s as Jimenez completes a cracking counter-attack.
Updated
GOAL! Brighton 1-1 Aston Villa (Grealish, 75)
WHAT A CRACKER! Douglas Luiz sends the ball into Grealish, who controls it, drives into the box and smashes it into the net on the half-volley.
Updated
RED CARD! Norwich 1-0 Bournemouth (Godfrey, 75)
Godfrey goes over the top on Callum Wilson. It goes to VAR and then the referee wanders over to the monitor at the side of the pitch. It’s a reckless challenge and Paul Tierney belatedly produces the red card.
Casemiro gets his second of the match to make it Real Madrid 2-1 Sevilla.
Updated
We all know VAR needs work. Will it get it, though?
@will_unwin what was the difference between the penalty shout in the ManCity game and the Southampton one? Not much in my opinion. VAR needs work.
— Nathan Eyland (@NathanEyland) January 18, 2020
PENALTY TO MAN CITY?! Riedewald sees the ball bounce onto his arm in the box. The referee gives it but it goes to VAR and it is NOT GIVEN.
Updated
Pukki fluffs his lines after getting beyond the Bournemouth defence, getting one-on-one with the goalkeeper only to put it too close to Ramsdale who gets down to save.
Redmond dribbles round a couple of Wolves players and launches a shot but it clips the crossbar and goes over.
De Jong quickly levels things for Sevilla at Real Madrid!
“Jesus coming on for Man City. Well, they certainly need a miracle if they’re to win the league this season,” says Simon McMahon. They certainly do.
GOAL! Southampton 2-2 Wolves (Jimenez, pen, 65)
After the long VAR delay, Jimenez steps up and converts from the spot, sending McCarthy the wrong way.
Updated
Wolves are calling for a penalty where Jonny is squashed by Soares and Stephens, the latter catching the wing-back. VAR is checking ... it must be ... surely ... they are looking ... it is a pen!
No surprise at the Etihad, where Jesus is stripped off and preparing to come on.
Fleck whips in a corner, McBurnie heads towards the net only to see his effort cleared off the line. So close to an equaliser.
Updated
Casemiro has put Real Madrid ahead against Sevilla.
Updated
A shame about the answers ...
Asking the questions... 30 minutes to go.
— Manchester City (@ManCity) January 18, 2020
🔵 0-1 🦅 #MCICRY #ManCity pic.twitter.com/9rq5hAk4Lj
Haaland now has a hat-trick for Dortmund!
GOAL! Southampton 2-1 Wolves (Neto, 53)
Traore gets past his man on the right, crosses into the box for Neto to chest down and fire beyond McCarthy. VAR checks it for handball but it’s all fine.
Updated
WHAT A SAVE! Aguero has a shot blocked and then Guaita gets out quickly to repel Silva’s follow-up. City really need to up things at the Etihad.
Sheffield Wednesday are now 4-0 down against Blackburn. Lewis Holtby has scored two of those.
Updated
Ancelotti has taken off Bernard and replaced him with teenager Anthony Gordon at West Ham. A bold substitution.
Not a bad debut from Haaland, scoring twice within 15 minutes of coming on. I think he might be quite good.
Haaland has put Dortmund 4-3 up at Augsburg!
Updated
Charles Antaki writes: “I’m sure that it’s been noted before, but when the TV dwells on Chris Wilder in the Sheffield Utd dugout, it immediately brings to mind an older, grittier, more hard-bitten version of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Also a more successful and fulfilled one, but he doesn’t look it, to his credit.”
I’ve not seen it mentioned before ...
Second-half
Here we go again!
Tony Barr on VAR: “At first look I thought Stones had shouldered him off the ball. No foul.
“The replay shows he clearly didn’t get the ball and tripped Zaha - how the hell did the VAR ref review it and not see that?
“Unless of course they didn’t review it..or I’m more biased that I though.”
Augsburg and Borussia Dortmund are currently drawing 3-3 with half an hour remaining. Haaland and Sancho on the scoresheet.
Updated
Simon McMahon with an update from Scotland: “Half time in Scotland, Will, and some SPL teams have work to do to avoid a shock against lower league opposition. Aberdeen are being held 0-0 by Dumbarton, Ayr lead Ross County 1-0, Raith are up at Livingston by the only goal, and St. Mirren are level 0-0 at home to Broxburn. In the league it’s Cove 2 Cowdenbeath 0.”
JR emails: “The contest for the funniest moment of the weekend is over! In the Mike Dean 500 game at the Emirates around the 19th minute Oli McBurnie got kicked in the, um, bathing suit area. When Mike Dean realised this he had himself a little chuckle then, as the physio was approaching him you could see Mike Dean say to him very clearly ‘Balls’.”
As a Manchester City fan, I am used to these frustrating performances now. Get Jesus on a half-time and go two up top.
Half-time Premier League scores
- Arsenal 1-0 Sheffield United
- Brighton 1-0 Aston Villa
- Manchester City 0-1 Crystal Palace
- Norwich 1-0 Bournemouth
- Southampton 2-0 Wolves
- West Ham 1-1 Everton
GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Sheffield United (Martinelli, 45)
Ozil and Lacazette combine well to get the ball out to the wing for a cross to be whipped in which Martinelli reacts, gets into space taps the ball into an empty net.
Updated
GOAL! West Ham 1-1 Everton (Calvert-Lewin, 44)
In-form striker Calvert-Lewin reacts first to Holgate’s glancing header from a cross to divert the ball home.
Updated
Our man in East London.
1-0 West Ham. Diop with the header. Deserved lead.
— Jacob Steinberg (@JacobSteinberg) January 18, 2020
GOAL! Brighton 1-0 Aston Villa (Trossard, 38)
Trossard absolutely thwacks one beyond Reina to give Brighton the lead after good work from Maupay.
Updated
GOAL! West Ham 1-0 Everton (Diop, 40)
Snodgrass whips in a cross from the right and Diop does the rest with a header in off the post.
Updated
GOAL! Manchester City 0-1 Crystal Palace (Tosun, 38)
And City pay the price! Cenk Tosun is allowed a free header after Cahill wins the first header from a corner, allowing the Turkish striker to complete the job. It’s their first attempt on goal and they’ve made it count.
Updated
City are being frustrated by Palace but they are not helping themselves with some slow passing and movement by their standards. Expect a rocket from Pep and a few changes if nothing changes.
GOAL! Southampton 2-0 Wolves (Long, 35)
A rare goal for Shane Long - a first in 19 games. Soares crosses into the box for Long to make a run and flick the ball into the net beyond Rui Patricio. Southampton have certainly made the most of being on top.
Updated
A proud record lost.
304 - Steve Cook's red card for Bournemouth was his first in 304 appearances across the Premier League and the EFL. Handed. #NORBOU
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 18, 2020
GOAL! Norwich 1-0 Bournemouth (Pukki, pen, 33)
A huge goal in the relegation battle as Pukki steps up and whacks the ball down the middle! Norwich are a goal and a man to the good.
Updated
RED CARD! Norwich 0-0 Bournemouth (Cook, 31)
Bournemouth are down to 10 men after Cook dives to fantastically tip a shot onto the post. Sadly, Cook is a centre-back and that is a certain handball. There’s a VAR check for some reason or other.
Sheffield United are putting Arsenal in their place at the Emirates but have yet to test Leno.
Southampton are now very much in charge against Wolves since going ahead. Soares almost makes it 2-0 but his header at the back post is directed straight at compatriot Rui Patricio.
Now Sheffield Wednesday are down to 10 men after Massimo Luongo is dismissed. Holtby just keeps working his magic.
Players you’ve forgotten about No 37383: Lewis Holtby has put Blackburn ahead at Sheffield Wednesday.
Swansea loanee Rhian Brewster has equalised for Swansea against Wigan. The first of many in his career?
Noble lifts the ball into the box for Haller to head towards goal but he does not trouble Pickford.
VAR CHECK! Zaha goes down in the area after Stones leaves a leg out. The referee on the pitch gives nothing and he is backed up by the official at Stockley Park. Many would disagree.
Updated
GOAL! Southampton 1-0 Wolves (Bednarek, 15)
Ward-Prowse whips in set-piece which no Wolves player can deal with, allowing defender Bednarek to calmly steer it home.
Updated
Manchester City are certainly knocking on the door. Aguero has just whacked one into Guaita’s face and then De Bruyne has crashed against the bar.
Gosling gets on the end of a Harry Wilson cross but gets too much onto it. He is given offside, anyway, but it is a sign of content.
Updated
Mousset and McBurnie are taking the attack to Arsenal’s questionable defence, who are just holding it together. Sheffield United are controlling proceedings at the Emirates.
Jordan Ayew is supposed to be tracking back for Crystal Palace but you will be unsurprised to hear he is not and that is allowing Mendy plenty of space. He has already put in four crosses in the opening stages. City very much on top.
Jude Bellingham has put Birmingham a goal up against Cardiff. Will the teenager still be at St Andrew’s when the transfer window closes? Plenty of Premier League teams have an eye on him.
Wolves are on top at Southampton with Moutinho whipping in a couple of dangerous corners into the box but nothing has come of them.
Crystal Palace look set to stick at least nine men behind the ball for the entire game and they seem pretty happy to sit back and rely on Zaha to counter-attack. Mendy already looks dangerous going down the left with a couple of dangerous crosses.
Kick-off!
There go the whistles all round the country.
Bubbles are blowing around Stratford, so we must be closing on kick-off.
Are the wheels coming off for Leeds?
Mary Waltz wants United to pay up: “After United is dragged around the pitch Sunday the 68 million will seem reasonable.”
The report from Vicarage Road ...
Manchester United do need some new players ...
Lots of milestones today ...
Skip's ready! 💪
— Manchester City (@ManCity) January 18, 2020
Captaining the team on his 300th @premierleague appearance!
🔵 #MCICRY #ManCity pic.twitter.com/RdiiC1ahUe
It’s all about Mike. Today he referees his 500th Premier League match.
This is how close Spurs were winning in injury-time:
This is how close Spurs were from taking the lead in injury time 💀
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) January 18, 2020
Jeez. pic.twitter.com/ycUQgiHk2f
Birthday boy!
18/01 - On this day in 1971, Pep Guardiola was born. He's won the league title in eight of his 10 full seasons as a top-flight manager (3/4 with Barcelona, 3/3 with Bayern Munich and 2/3 with Man City). Master. pic.twitter.com/aY0zclbZ8e
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 18, 2020
Simon McMahon is here to fill the gaps I leave short of the border: “ Scottish Cup fourth round today, though tie of the round is not until tomorrow when high flying Championship leaders Dundee United welcome Hibs to Tannadice. The pick of today’s matches with potential for upsets include Aberdeen v Dumbarton, Ayr v Ross County, Bonnyrigg v Clyde, Hamilton v Edinburgh City, Hearts v Airdrieonians, Kilmarnock v Queens Park, and St. Mirren v Broxburn. Partick Thistle v Celtic is a tea time kick off. Worth mentioning also the Scottish League Two fixture between leaders Cove Rangers and chasing Cowdenbeath, aka the Blue Brazil.”
Full-time: Watford 0-0 Spurs
Deeney saw a penalty saved and Lamela had a last-gasp chance cleared off the line to ensure the game ended goalless.
All the transfers!
Sheffield United’s forwards will be hopeful of getting some spare change out of an Arsenal back four consisting of Maitland-Niles, Mustafi, Luiz and Saka.
Pepe Reina comes straight into the Aston Villa XI after arriving from Milan this week. Can he make the difference in the relegation battle?
Sterling up against Riedeweld could be fun if Guardiola decides to go that way. It’s more likely to be Bernardo Silva against the left-back, which also seems a mismatch.
Starting lineups: Norwich v Bournemouth
Norwich: Krul, Aarons, Zimmermann, Godfrey, Byram, Tettey, McLean, Buendía, Duda, Cantwell, Pukki
Subs: Trybull, Drmic, Rupp, Hanley, Hernández, Lewis, Fährmann
Bournemouth: Ramsdale, Smith, Cook, Aké, Rico, Billing, Lerma, Gosling, Wilson, Wilson, Fraser
Subs: Surridge, Simpson, Cook, Boruc, Solanke, Francis, Surman
Starting lineups: Southampton v Wolves
Southampton: McCarthy, Soares, Stephens, Bednarek, Redmond, Hojbjerg, Ward-Prowse, Redmond, Armstrong, Long, Ings
Subs: Gunn, Vestergaard, Adams, Djenepo, Romeu, Boufal, Obafemi
Wolves: Patricio, Doherty, Coady, Saiss, Jonny, Dendoncker, Moutinho, Neves, Neto, Traore, Jimenez
Subs: Ruddy, Jordao, Gibbs-White, Giles, Kilman, Ashley-Seal, Rasmussen
Starting lineups: Brighton v Aston Villa
Brighton: Ryan, Webster, Dunk, Propper, Stephens, Bernardo, Alzate, Mooy, Connolly, Maupay, Trossard
Subs: Button, Duffy, Bissouma, Gross, Jahanbakhsh, Murray, Montoya
Aston Villa: Reina, Konsa, Mings, Hause, Guilbert, Nakamba, Drinkwater, Targett, El Ghazi, Grealish, Trezeguet
Subs: Nyland, Chester, Luiz, Lansbury, Hourihane, Elmohamody, Vassilev
Starting lineups: West Ham v Everton
West Ham: Randolph, Cresswell, Zabaleta, Diop, Ogbonna, Noble, Rice, Fornals, Snodgrass, Lanzini, Haller
Subs: Martin, Reid, Balbuena, Cardoso, Masuaku, Ajeti, Ngakia
Everton: Pickford, Coleman, Dige, Mina, Holgate, Davies, Delph, Bernard, Walcott, Kean, Calvert-Lewin.
Subs: Stekelenburg, Baines, Schneiderlin, Sidibe, Niasse, Gibson, Gordon
Starting lineups: Man City v Crystal Palace
Man City: Ederson, Cancelo, Stones, Fernandinho, Mendy, Gundogan, David Silva, Bernardo Silva, De Bruyne, Sterling, Aguero
Subs: Bravo, Walker, Rodrigo, Otamendi, Foden, Mahrez, Jesus
Crystal Palace: Guaita, Kelly, Cahill, Tomkins, Riedewald, McArthur, McCarthy, Kouyate, Zaha, Ayew, Tosun
Subs: Hennessey, Ward, Dann, Wickham, Woods, McGregor, Keutcha
Starting lineups: Arsenal v Sheffield United
Arsenal: Leno, Maitland-Niles, Mustafi, Luiz, Saka, Torreira, Xhaka, Pepe, Ozil, Martinelli, Lacazette.
Subs: Martinez, Bellerin, Ceballos, Holding, Willock, Guendouzi, Nketiah.
Sheffield United: Henderson, Baldock, O’Connell, Basham, Egan, Stevens, Fleck, Lundstram, Norwood, Mousset, McBurnie.
Subs: Verrips, Sharp, Robinson, Jagielka, Freeman, Osborn, Besic.
Speaking of being busy in January ...
Norwich have brought in a couple of new faces from the Bundesliga this week in the form of Ondrej Duda and Lukas Rupp. Will they slot into the side today and can they make the requisite difference to the team?
Could Reiss Nelson start for Arsenal today?
How will City lineup today? Will Pep start Aguero and Jesus once more? Will he stick Sterling up against whichever left-back Hodgson is forced to play? Who will be at the back? Will Angelino be brought back in for no reason whatsoever?
Guardiola is not looking up.
Ps Happy Birthday, Pep!
Preamble
Good afternoon!
In a strange turn of events for a Saturday at 3pm there are plenty of intriguing games happening in the Premier League.
Firstly, Manchester City host Crystal Palace. Roy Hodgson loves testing himself against Pep Guardiola and has done pretty well in the past. The Eagles were victorious at the Etihad last season thanks to a helluva strike from Andros Townsend, so the former England boss will be hoping for similarly positive result this time around with his ramshackle bunch. Wilfried Zaha will also been keen to show what he can do against a side not known for its defensive competence as he looks to prove he should be playing for a top four side.
There is also a fascinating tussle at the Emirates where Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal welcome Sheffield United, a side in fantastic form and looking up the league rather than down. The Basque has put an imprint on this Arsenal side already, making them more creative and energetic, with slightly more competent back four to go with it. Chris Wilder has certainly got his trademark pending on the Blades with their aggressive and slick style of play which few have been able to cope with since their promotion and will undoubtedly cause problems in north London.
Is it too early to discuss ‘six-pointers’? Well, Norwich host Bournemouth in a must-win match for both sides as they look to arrest their miserable form and give themselves some hope of staying up. It’s 20th versus 19th and neither side has won in their last five games and really something needs to budge if they are to give themselves a sniff of survival.
3pm kick-offs:
- Arsenal v Sheffield United
- Brighton v Aston Villa
- Manchester City v Crystal Palace
- Norwich v Bournemouth
- Southampton v Wolves
- West Ham v Everton
