And with that, I’m done. Bye!
The league tables as they stand:
Premier League
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liverpool | 14 | 17 | 31 |
| 2 | Tottenham Hotspur | 13 | 13 | 25 |
| 3 | Leicester | 13 | 7 | 24 |
| 4 | Southampton | 14 | 6 | 24 |
| 5 | Man City | 13 | 7 | 23 |
| 6 | Everton | 13 | 5 | 23 |
| 7 | Man Utd | 12 | 3 | 23 |
| 8 | Chelsea | 13 | 12 | 22 |
| 9 | West Ham | 13 | 5 | 21 |
| 10 | Wolverhampton | 13 | -4 | 20 |
| 11 | Aston Villa | 11 | 8 | 19 |
| 12 | Crystal Palace | 14 | -6 | 18 |
| 13 | Leeds | 13 | -2 | 17 |
| 14 | Newcastle | 12 | -5 | 17 |
| 15 | Arsenal | 13 | -5 | 14 |
| 16 | Brighton | 13 | -6 | 11 |
| 17 | Burnley | 12 | -12 | 10 |
| 18 | Fulham | 13 | -10 | 9 |
| 19 | West Brom | 13 | -16 | 7 |
| 20 | Sheff Utd | 13 | -17 | 1 |
Championship
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Norwich | 20 | 11 | 43 |
| 2 | AFC Bournemouth | 20 | 19 | 38 |
| 3 | Swansea | 20 | 11 | 36 |
| 4 | Brentford | 20 | 13 | 35 |
| 5 | Watford | 20 | 8 | 34 |
| 6 | Middlesbrough | 20 | 9 | 33 |
| 7 | Stoke | 20 | 5 | 33 |
| 8 | Reading | 20 | 4 | 33 |
| 9 | Bristol City | 20 | -1 | 30 |
| 10 | Cardiff | 20 | 6 | 29 |
| 11 | Blackburn | 20 | 10 | 28 |
| 12 | Huddersfield | 20 | -3 | 28 |
| 13 | Barnsley | 20 | -3 | 28 |
| 14 | Luton | 20 | -4 | 27 |
| 15 | Preston North End | 20 | -3 | 26 |
| 16 | Millwall | 20 | -1 | 25 |
| 17 | Birmingham | 20 | -6 | 22 |
| 18 | Coventry | 20 | -8 | 22 |
| 19 | QPR | 20 | -8 | 20 |
| 20 | Nottm Forest | 20 | -11 | 17 |
| 21 | Rotherham | 19 | -9 | 16 |
| 22 | Derby | 19 | -12 | 16 |
| 23 | Sheff Wed | 20 | -10 | 12 |
| 24 | Wycombe | 20 | -17 | 12 |
League One
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portsmouth | 19 | 17 | 35 |
| 2 | Lincoln City | 18 | 9 | 35 |
| 3 | Hull | 18 | 11 | 34 |
| 4 | Doncaster | 17 | 13 | 33 |
| 5 | Peterborough | 18 | 10 | 32 |
| 6 | Ipswich | 18 | 4 | 32 |
| 7 | Charlton | 17 | 9 | 31 |
| 8 | Accrington Stanley | 16 | 6 | 30 |
| 9 | Crewe | 19 | 4 | 29 |
| 10 | Fleetwood Town | 19 | 10 | 28 |
| 11 | Sunderland | 17 | 9 | 28 |
| 12 | Blackpool | 18 | -1 | 27 |
| 13 | Gillingham | 18 | 0 | 26 |
| 14 | Plymouth | 18 | -9 | 22 |
| 15 | AFC Wimbledon | 18 | -5 | 21 |
| 16 | Milton Keynes Dons | 19 | -4 | 19 |
| 17 | Oxford Utd | 17 | -4 | 19 |
| 18 | Bristol Rovers | 16 | -6 | 19 |
| 19 | Rochdale | 18 | -7 | 19 |
| 20 | Northampton | 19 | -19 | 18 |
| 21 | Shrewsbury | 17 | -6 | 17 |
| 22 | Swindon | 19 | -13 | 17 |
| 23 | Wigan | 18 | -15 | 15 |
| 24 | Burton Albion | 19 | -13 | 13 |
League Two
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newport County | 19 | 10 | 37 |
| 2 | Forest Green | 19 | 10 | 36 |
| 3 | Carlisle | 19 | 10 | 35 |
| 4 | Cheltenham | 19 | 9 | 33 |
| 5 | Morecambe | 19 | -5 | 31 |
| 6 | Exeter | 18 | 14 | 30 |
| 7 | Salford City | 18 | 11 | 30 |
| 8 | Walsall | 19 | 2 | 30 |
| 9 | Cambridge Utd | 18 | 12 | 28 |
| 10 | Colchester | 19 | 0 | 28 |
| 11 | Crawley Town | 19 | 4 | 27 |
| 12 | Leyton Orient | 19 | 4 | 27 |
| 13 | Tranmere | 18 | -1 | 27 |
| 14 | Oldham | 19 | -3 | 26 |
| 15 | Bolton | 19 | -7 | 25 |
| 16 | Port Vale | 19 | 2 | 24 |
| 17 | Harrogate Town | 19 | -4 | 22 |
| 18 | Scunthorpe | 18 | -8 | 20 |
| 19 | Grimsby | 18 | -14 | 19 |
| 20 | Mansfield | 19 | -6 | 17 |
| 21 | Bradford | 18 | -7 | 17 |
| 22 | Barrow | 19 | -4 | 16 |
| 23 | Stevenage | 17 | -9 | 13 |
| 24 | Southend | 18 | -20 | 13 |
Ralph Hasenhuttl has a post-match chat:
It is not what I think about, if we deserved more. We played a better game than in the summer when we won 1-0. It was a great commercial for the Premier Leagaue because it was so up and down, we fought so hard, we dominated for a few moments. This time they scored and we didn’t. It was clear we took a risk to play [Ings], but hopefully it’s not a big injury. It’s not the knee, it’s a hamstring. But before the game I was thinking about leaving him out, but it’s such a big game and you want to give him a chance. You take risks in this game.
Today says that we learn quick and we’re getting better. It doesn’t mean that we are always able to take points against the top six teams, because they have quality. This way of playing football we have now 24 points, so it’s good. We must keep on going.
He’s asked about Southampton’s two penalty shouts, one for a foul on Ings and another for a handball by Raheem Sterling:
We have a VAR, we have a referee, and if they decide not then you have to accept it.
And Rob Smyth is back to take you through all the action from Goodison Park:
Jacob Steinberg has filed his match report from St Mary’s Stadium:
Classic Pep. Forced to defend by a talented side who enjoyed hearty backing from a noisy home crowd, Manchester City found their resolve on the south coast and dug in to earn an ugly 1-0 win on the road, finding a way to acknowledge Sam Allardyce’s return to Premier League management by battling hard to emerge from a frantic encounter with three crucial points.
It will not go down as one of the great displays from a Pep Guardiola side. While there were flickers of class from Kevin De Bruyne, who created the only goal for Raheem Sterling, it was more brawn than beauty from City for much of a frantic encounter. The result mattered more than the performance and City did not disappoint, grafting to a win that moves them up four places to fifth, seven points off Liverpool at the summit.
Much more here:
Pep Guardiola is pleased.
First how impressed I was with the game. The quality Southampton built up, they put a lot of players, fast, high pressing, they played really good. Our momentum is not good, and the other team had the momentum, in terms of playing football and points. Yeah, it’s a good result to climb a little bit in the table. Before today we could not finish, the second half the chances we had, but the goal was good, good finish. All four [defenders], Kyle was amazing, John as well, the other two guys, so good. Rodri was amazing too, his presence, his personality. Everyone.
He’s asked how close his side now are to being back to their best.
We’re away. Look at the table. It’s a lot of points. Liverpool have the momentum in terms of goals, like I saw against Tottenham how good they played. There’s no doubts about how good Liverpool are. I said to the guys, forget about it. We cannot focus too much. Last year we came here, we played incredibly well, and we lost. Today we played, yeah, well but not like last season, and we won. Sometimes it happens. It’s football.
It’s all over at Northampton, where Brennan Johnson scored a 98th-minute fourth for Lincoln and it thus ends 0-4.
Raheem Sterling has a post-victory chat:
I know I haven’t been at the level I should be, but it’s a work in process. It’s football, it’s one of those things. It’s unpredictable, that’s why we love it. Not every year you’re going to be at your best. I feel there’s a real team spirit, it doesn’t matter if we’re winning or drawing, we try to stay compact and that’s what does it. We’re trying to head in the right direction. It’s still early days.
Here is a classified check of today’s full-time scorelines. The match at Northampton, where there are nine minutes of stoppage time, is still ongoing, the others are all over:
Premier League
Southampton 0-1 Man City
Championship
Birmingham 1-4 Middlesbrough
Brentford 3-1 Reading
Huddersfield 2-0 Watford
Luton 0-0 Bournemouth
Millwall 1-1 Nottm Forest
Norwich 2-0 Cardiff (Final score)
Rotherham v. Derby POSTPONED
Sheff Wed 1-0 Coventry
Stoke 1-0 Blackburn
Swansea 2-0 Barnsley
Wycombe 1-1 QPR
League One
Accrington Stanley 0-0 Blackpool
Burton Albion 1-3 Doncaster
Fleetwood Town 1-1 Wigan
*Latest Score* Northampton 0-3 Lincoln City
Plymouth 1-0 Milton Keynes Dons
Rochdale 1-4 Gillingham (Final score)
Swindon 2-2 Charlton
Wimbledon 1-2 Crewe
League Two
Barrow 3-0 Cheltenham
Bolton 0-3 Tranmere
Bradford 1-0 Cambridge Utd
Colchester 1-2 Morecambe
Forest Green 1-0 Carlisle
Grimsby 1-0 Scunthorpe
Harrogate Town 0-1 Salford City
Leyton Orient 1-2 Crawley Town
Mansfield 1-1 Southend
Newport County 2-4 Oldham
Walsall 4-3 Port Vale
Scottish Premiership
Hibernian 1-1 Dundee Utd
Rangers 3-1 Motherwell
Ross County 0-2 Hamilton
St Mirren 3-2 St Johnstone
Final score: Southampton 0-1 Manchester City
The final whistle sounds, and City have the three points! Southampton played excellently, but end their afternoon with no points and an injured Danny Ings.
They’re deep into five minutes of stoppage time in Southampton, and De Bruyne is taking the ball towards the corner flag.
Valencia have equalised in Barcelona, and seem pleased.
GOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL! MAXI MAXI MAXI!! 🔥🔥
— Valencia CF 🦇🍊🌊 (@valenciacf_en) December 19, 2020
2-2 | ⌚️ 68' #BarçaValencia 🦇 pic.twitter.com/Ow19AFUr23
City waste about three chances in two seconds! De Bruyne run down the right and passes infield to Sterling. He might have shot but played in Silva, who might have shot but teed up Mahrez, who did shoot but blazed over a gaping goal!
Lionel Messi’s goal today was a header - his penalty was saved, the ball rolled to the left of goal, was crossed back in and he headed home. It was his first headed goal for nearly four years, since March 2017.
Ederson, the Manchester City goalkeeper, has been booked for timewasting as the visitors cling on to their 1-0 lead in Southampton.
My word, Walsall v Port Vale is an absolute stonker! Port Vale took a two-goal lead into half-time, Walsall drew level within 11 minutes of the restart, Devente Rodney gave Vale a 3-2 lead with quarter of an hour to play, and now the Saddlers have grabbed two in three minutes to lead 4-3!
Joining Barcelona in the coming from behind to turn a 0-1 home deficit into a 2-1 lead club are Rangers, Cedric Itten heading in a corner.
Barcelona have come back to take the lead against Valencia, Ronald Araújo making it 2-1 with an extremely tasty finish.
Not bad for a centre back! 😂
— Premier Sports 📺 (@PremierSportsTV) December 19, 2020
Ronald Araujo shows great technique to fire Barcelona into the lead 💥 pic.twitter.com/MEHYk8nBRb
Meanwhile in Southampton, McCarthy tips the ball over the bar as Gundogan’s 20-yarder arrows towards the top corner.
Rangers have finally equalised at home to Motherwell, Kemar Roofe with the Rangers’ 14th shot of the game, and their first successful one. Motherwell have had three, and just the one on target.
Team news for the early evening game at Goodison Park has landed, and here it all is:
Everton: Pickford, Holgate, Mina, Keane, Godfrey, Sigurdsson, Doucoure, Davies, Iwobi, Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison. Subs: Kenny, Tosun, Nkounkou, Bernard, Coleman, Gordon, Branthwaite, Olsen, Lossl.
Arsenal: Leno, Holding, Luiz, Tierney, Maitland-Niles, Elneny, Ceballos, Saka, Pepe, Nketiah, Willian. Subs: Bellerin, Lacazette, Runarsson, Cedric, Mustafi, Willock, Kolasinac, Smith-Rowe, Martinelli.
Referee: Andre Marriner.
⚠️ TEAM NEWS! ⚠️
— Everton (@Everton) December 19, 2020
🔵 In the blue corner...#EVEARS pic.twitter.com/QGYSHc77pt
📋 Our team news for tonight's game...
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 19, 2020
🏴 @BukayoSaka87 keeps his place
🇧🇷 @DavidLuiz_4 returns
🇨🇮 Nicolas Pepe also starts
#️⃣ #EVEARS
Another City break, but this time Sterling hits a defender with his final pass. Then Southampton attack, and Tella’s cross comes off Stone’s boot and loops towards the far post, but a back-pedaling Adams can’t head it in!
A chance for Manchester City at Southampton, as a break ends with Bernardo Silva passing to Kevin de Bruyne, who runs onto the ball on the edge of the area, under no pressure and able to pick his spot. He picks a spot in McCarthy’s gloves.
Updated
Reading have pulled a goal back at Brentford, a fine cross and a fine header from Sone Aluko, and it’s 3-1 now.
Swansea have doubled their advantage over Barnsley. Again, they manage to avoid letting the ball hit the ground in the build-up. This time it’s a corner on the right, which is sent towards the near post, where Barnsley’s Victor Adeboyejo nods into his own net. Lots of informed opinion on the Championship this season have Swansea as the most impressive team. I’m not sure today’s goals show them at their best, but it looks like they’ll be banking three more points.
Chance for Southampton! Walcott runs to down the right, reaches the byline, pulls back to Redmond, who has recently replaced Djenepo, and he runs onto it, draws back his left foot, and falls over!
The second corner is partially cleared to Sterling, and bounces off his thigh into his arm. Southampton want a penalty, but the referee is unmoved.
City have improved significantly since the break. As I write that they nearly concede, Ederson pushing the ball away as Ward-Prowse’s corner curled towards the near post.
What a chance for Manchester City! De Bruyne bursts down the left and picks out Bernardo Silva with a low ball across the edge of the area. His first touch is great and opens up the goal, but then he decides to delay his shot, his second touch takes him wide of goal, and then he slips when finally shooting and miskicks!
Goal bonanza at Millwall! After a goalless first half Tom Bradshaw puts the home side ahead in the 47th minute, and Alex Mighten gets an equaliser for Nottingham Forest about 90 seconds later!
Messi’s goal is his 643rd for Barcelona in all competitions, the same number that Pele scored for Santos.
643 - Lionel Messi 🇦🇷 ha marcado 643 goles con el @FCBarcelona_es en todas las competiciones, los mismos que logró Pelé 🇧🇷 en toda su trayectoria en el Santos. Rey. pic.twitter.com/FXeiLDk538
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) December 19, 2020
Back in Barcelona, Leo Messi has scored an equaliser in the fourth minute of stoppage time against Valencia, and it’ll be 1-1 at the break.
Updated
Meanwhile, the players are back out and play has resumed in Southampton.
I do wonder how secure Vladimir Ivic’s position is at Watford. For all that they went into the weekend in third and look set to end it in fifth, they’ve played abysmally in the vast majority of their games this season, look nowhere near the sum of their parts, and the owner’s itchy trigger-finger has got to be starting to curl.
Here is a classified check of today’s half-time scorelines:
Premier League
Southampton 0-1 Man City
Championship
Birmingham 1-2 Middlesbrough
Brentford 3-0 Reading
Huddersfield 2-0 Watford
Luton 0-0 Bournemouth
Millwall 0-0 Nottm Forest
Norwich 2-0 Cardiff (Final score)
Rotherham v. Derby POSTPONED
Sheff Wed 0-0 Coventry
Stoke 1-0 Blackburn
Swansea 1-0 Barnsley
Wycombe 0-1 QPR
League One
Accrington Stanley 0-0 Blackpool
Burton Albion 1-1 Doncaster
Fleetwood Town 1-0 Wigan
Northampton 0-2 Lincoln City
Plymouth 0-0 Milton Keynes Dons
Rochdale 1-4 Gillingham (Final score)
Swindon 1-1 Charlton
Wimbledon 0-0 Crewe
League Two
Barrow 1-0 Cheltenham
Bolton 0-1 Tranmere
Bradford 1-0 Cambridge Utd
Colchester 1-1 Morecambe
Forest Green 0-0 Carlisle
Grimsby 1-0 Scunthorpe
Harrogate Town 0-1 Salford City
Leyton Orient 1-1 Crawley Town
Mansfield 0-1 Southend
Newport County 2-1 Oldham
Walsall 0-2 Port Vale
Scottish Premiership
Hibernian 1-0 Dundee Utd
Rangers 0-1 Motherwell
Ross County 0-1 Hamilton
St Mirren 1-2 St Johnstone
Half time! The whistle goes at St Mary’s and City limp into the break still clutching their 1-0 lead. Since I posted that Southampton had not had a shot of any sort they have had seven (two on target), and City none.
Over in Spain, Barcelona are hosting Valencia and they have just gone a goal down, Mouctar Diakhaby with it.
Southampton have absolutely savaged City since they went a goal down. Somehow they remain in arrears, with just a couple of minutes to go before the half-time whistle gives City a chance to regroup.
“Shame to see Ben Foster having a bit of a nightmare from your previous post,” writes Paul Jaines. “However, I would heartily recommend anyone interested in the day to day of a pro-footballer to check out his YouTube channel, The Cycling GK. Seems like an all-round decent chap, and interesting to see the day-to-day like of a Pro-footballer (lots of waiting in hotels basically). Will be interested how he talks through today’s events!”
I have seen several of his videos (here, if you’re keen), and look forward to in-net GoPro footage of today’s calamities.
Danny Ings has been forced off, and Nathan Tella is on to replace him. Ings walks off, so it’s nothing terribly serious, but there’s obviously a minor muscular issue bothering him.
Updated
Two more chances for Southampton against Manchester City, but Ings’ header deflects wide and Vestergaard’s header from the resulting corner misses the target.
Watford are having one of those days. Ben Foster gifted Huddersfield their first, and Etienne Capoue has now scored their second! It’s a corner from the left, which goes straight to Capoue, who is on his own at the near post, but his attempt to volley clear sends the ball the wrong way, and past Foster! It’s Huddersfield 2-0 Watford now.
Bryan Mbeumo scores his second! This time he receives the ball on the edge of the area, takes a touch or two and then shoots left-footed, low, back across goal, and in at the far post. It’s Brentford 3-0 Reading now!
Danny Ings wants a penalty, Mike Dean says no...
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) December 19, 2020
What do you think? 🧐#PLonPrime #SOUMCI pic.twitter.com/XaQDtfN95Y
29 mins: Now Vestergaard heads a corner goalwards, but Ederson saves. Southampton have destroyed City for the last five minutes or so.
Updated
Surely Southampton should have a penalty! A ball from left to right is volleyed back across goal by Walcott, and though Ings’ header bounces wide he’s absolutely flattened by Diaz after he heads it, but before the ball is off the pitch. The referee says no, as does VAR! I do not concur.
Updated
A second goal for Brentford at home to Reading, it’s an absolute cracker, Bryan Mbeumo receiving the ball on the right, cutting infield, and curling across goal and in at the far post from 20 yards!
And another chance! Again this comes from the right, and a cross from Walker-Peters to Che Adams, just beyond the far post, who mishits his volley
Now Southampton have had a chance! The ball is played to the right wing, passed infield to Walcott, a foot inside the area, and his drive is pushed clear by Ederson!
Updated
Danny Ings tries to change that statistic, but he jinks onto his right foot only to shoot into the leg of the nearest defender.
Southampton are yet to have a shot of any kind. City have had five, two on target.
De Bruyne ➡️ Sterling ➡️ GOAL!
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) December 19, 2020
Trademark Man City strike to go in front#PLonPrime #SOUMCI pic.twitter.com/bJpJZtGDFt
GOAL! Southampton 0-1 Manchester City (Sterling, 16 mins)
City take the lead this time! The move starts with Ederson, who punts it downfield. A defender wins the header, but nods it straight to Kevin de Bruyne, which is a bit of a mistake. He exchanges passes with Bernardo Silva before crossing low to Sterling, who shoots in from 10 yards.
Updated
At Southampton, Manchester City have the ball in the net after a free-kick on the left, Rodri turning it in at the far post, but they also had three players offside, so it won’t count.
Updated
Talking of goalkeeping calamity, Brentford’s Mathias Jensen has just taken a shot that flew straight at Cabral, the Reading keeper, at chest height, and somehow went straight through him and bobbled in! Not literally straight through him, because that would be physically impossible, but from the footage I’ve seen I can’t completely rule that out.
Watford’s Ben Foster has just giftwrapped a goal for Huddersfield, collecting Ben Wilmot’s back-pass and then dwelling on the ball as he’s closed down, eventually hitting it into an opponent, and it breaks to Fraizer Campbell who knocks into the empty net. That is absolute rubbish (or great, depending on allegiance).
Rangers are losing a game of football! Having suffered defeat in the League Cup on Wednesday, their first reverse of the campaign, they are currently 1-0 down at home to Motherwell, Callum Lang putting the visitors ahead in minute six.
5 mins: Southampton attack, but Ings’ pass forces Djenepo a little wide, and his shot is thus delayed, and weak, and deflected behind for a corner. “Imagine last year anyone thinking that, on current form, City would be underdogs against Southampton,” writes Mary Waltz. “2020 is the most bizarre year ever.”
Updated
Swansea score the first goal of the afternoon, Jamal Lowe giving their a second-minute lead against Barnsley. They make light of the almost complete lack of grass on their pitch by not letting the ball touch the ground at all, sending a free-kick into the mixer from near half-way, and it’s headed out, headed back in, headed on and finally volleyed in.
Peeeeeep! The clock strikes three and our games are on!
Updated
The players are gathering in the tunnel. Kick-off is a shade over three minutes away.
Ralph Hasenhuttl says Southampton’s victory over Manchester City last season was important in showing them that they had the quality to threaten big teams. Still, he would not expect his side to be where they currently are:
I’d have laughed I think. To keep it looking like this we must make a good game today, because it’s a tough challenge for us. It was one part of the foundation, one part of the basement that we have built up over the lockdown. Courage. A different game with fans, and advantage for the home team. It definitely creates atmosphere, even if there are only a few thousand.
Pep Guardiola has a pre-match chat. Gabriel Jesus is, he says, out with concussion (I thought he said Jesus was suffering from “concussion in the teeth”, but surely I misheard). He’s then asked if his side are close to getting back to their best:
No. We’re not in a position to be at our best. There are many circumstances for one team. We are not playing well. We have created in most games more chances than the opponents but we’re not winning games and when you don’t win games you lose confidence.
There has been a last-minute postponement at Rotherham, where the match against Derby has been abandoned after a member of the Rotherham squad tested positive for Covid-19, and with “further players within the first team bubble showing symptoms of the virus at present”.
There are a lot of very excited statisticians right now.
📈 Liverpool’s 7-0 at Crystal Palace is the biggest away win in their top division history. This was their 2,090th away match in the top flight pic.twitter.com/CyNRSOVBAV
— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) December 19, 2020
Biggest away wins in the Premier League era:
— Mr. Numbers (@Mister_Numbers) December 19, 2020
9-0 | Leicester at Southampton
8-1 | Man U at Forest
7-0 | LIVERPOOL at Palace
7-1 | Forest at Sheffield W
7-1 | Spurs at Hull
(additionally, there have been nine 6-0 wins, four of them from Liverpool)
— Mr. Numbers (@Mister_Numbers) December 19, 2020
Crystal Palace’s punishment is over, and Liverpool have beaten them 7-0. Palace now have the worst goal difference outside the bottom four.
Updated
Southampton v Manchester City teams!
All the teams from all the 3pm kick-offs have been submitted, and these will be the line-ups at St Mary’s:
Southampton: McCarthy, Walker-Peters, Bednarek, Vestergaard, Bertrand, Walcott, Ward-Prowse, Romeu, Djenepo, Ings, Adams. Subs: Stephens, Long, Redmond, Armstrong, Salisu, Tella, Diallo, N’Lundulu, Forster.
Man City: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Dias, Joao Cancelo, Gundogan, Rodri, Bernardo Silva, De Bruyne, Sterling, Torres. Subs: Ake, Aguero, Zinchenko, Mendy, Fernandinho, Mahrez, Carson, Foden, Nmecha.
Referee: Mike Dean.
🚨 TEAM NEWS 🚨
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) December 19, 2020
The #SaintsFC side to take on #ManCity this afternoon: pic.twitter.com/ogmEc8QCk0
Your City line-up to face the Saints! 📋
— Manchester City (@ManCity) December 19, 2020
XI | Ederson, Walker, Dias, Stones, Cancelo, Rodrigo, Gundogan, De Bruyne (C), Bernardo, Torres, Sterling.
SUBS | Carson, Ake, Aguero, Zinchenko, Mendy, Fernandinho, Mahrez, Foden, Nmecha.
⚽️ @HaysWorldwide
🔷 #ManCity pic.twitter.com/uwXMhheG9b
Liverpool still have 20 minutes to add to their goal tally at Crystal Palace. They currently lead 5-0, and Rob Smyth is your man for that one:
Hello world!
Saturday afternoon brings a glut of games, albeit with just one 3pm kick-off in the Premier League and the leaders of both the top flight and the Championship playing at lunchtime. In the Championship Norwich’s closest challengers, Bournemouth and Watford, are both playing away from home, at Luton and Huddersfield respectively, while fourth-placed Swansea host Barnsley and erstwhile leaders Reading travel to Brentford in a ding-dong 5th v 6th battle. Towards the bottom, Derby will haul themselves out of the bottom three if they outperform Nottingham Forest (who visit Millwall) or by winning at Rotherham, those three sides divided pre-match only by goal difference.
In League One, with several matches called off because of Covid cases Lincoln City (at Northampton, who are one point from the bottom four) and Doncaster (at bottom-of-the-table Burton Albion) are the only top-six sides in action. League Two sees second-placed Carlisle visit fourth-placed Forest Green in the game of the day while slightly further down the table two of the sides flirting with the play-off places - seventh-placed Colchester and Morecambe in eighth - play at the Colchester Community Stadium.
As for our one Premier League game, here are our predicted line-ups for Southampton v Manchester City:
Manchester City and Southampton both picked up disappointing draws in midweek, although Pep Guardiola should be the more concerned considering his side continue to struggle to score despite having ridiculously talented players in attack. Much may rely on whether Sergio Agüero returns. The talisman has the power to dispel City’s funk but if he continues his absence Ralph Hasenhüttl has a full-strength squad that has lost only once in their past 11. Saints may have a great chance of repeating last season’s upset.
And here are today’s fixtures in the English Football League and Scottish Premiership (all kick-off times 3pm GMT unless stated):
Premier League
Crystal Palace v. Liverpool (12.30)
Everton v. Arsenal (5.30)
Newcastle v. Fulham (8.00)
Southampton v. Man City
Championship
Birmingham v. Middlesbrough
Brentford v. Reading
Huddersfield v. Watford
Luton v. Bournemouth
Millwall v. Nottm Forest
Norwich v. Cardiff (12.30)
Rotherham v. Derby POSTPONED
Sheff Wed v. Coventry
Stoke v. Blackburn
Swansea v. Barnsley
Wycombe v. QPR
League One
Accrington Stanley v. Blackpool
Burton Albion v. Doncaster
Fleetwood Town v. Wigan
Northampton v. Lincoln City
Plymouth v. Milton Keynes Dons
Rochdale v. Gillingham (1.00)
Swindon v. Charlton
Wimbledon v. Crewe
League Two
Barrow v. Cheltenham
Bolton v. Tranmere
Bradford v. Cambridge Utd
Colchester v. Morecambe
Forest Green v. Carlisle
Grimsby v. Scunthorpe
Harrogate Town v. Salford City
Leyton Orient v. Crawley Town
Mansfield v. Southend
Newport County v. Oldham
Walsall v. Port Vale
Scottish Premiership
Hibernian v. Dundee Utd
Rangers v. Motherwell
Ross County v. Hamilton
St Mirren v. St Johnstone
Updated