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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Niall McVeigh

West Ham 3-0 Crystal Palace, Barcelona 5-0 Las Palmas: clockwatch – as it happened!

West Ham Andy Carroll acrobatically makes it 2-0.
West Ham Andy Carroll acrobatically makes it 2-0. Photograph: Ian Kington/AFP/Getty Images

Barcelona have beaten Las Palmas 5-0, Luis Suarez scoring twice and Lionel Messi, Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal also getting on the scoresheet. Newcastle have won 2-1 at Brentford, while the latest in Europe is Rennes 0-1 PSG, and Benfica 1-3 Boavista. That’s about all she wrote; there’ll be Premier League reports and plenty of reaction to come. Bye!

Updated

League One & Two results

League One:

Bolton Wanderers 1-2 Swindon Town
Bury 5-1 Peterborough United
Charlton Athletic 0-0 Millwall
Chesterfield 1-0 Coventry City
Fleetwood Town 2-0 Bristol Rovers
Northampton Town 1-2 Scunthorpe United
Oldham Athletic 1-0 Gillingham
Shrewsbury Town 1-0 Bradford City
Southend United 2-1 Rochdale
Walsall 4-1 Sheffield United
Wimbledon 2-1 Oxford United

League Two:

Barnet 1-3 Doncaster Rovers
Cambridge United 0-0 Blackpool
Carlisle United 1-1 Morecambe
Cheltenham Town 3-0 Accrington Stanley
Crawley Town 1-0 Hartlepool United
Crewe Alexandra 1-2 Luton Town
Grimsby Town 0-3 Exeter City
Newport County 1-1 Colchester United
Plymouth Argyle 4-2 Stevenage
Portsmouth 2-1 Leyton Orient
Wycombe Wanderers 1-1 Yeovil Town

Championship results

Birmingham City 0-0 Nottingham Forest
Brentford 1-2 Newcastle United (L)
Burton Albion 0-2 Wigan Athletic
Fulham 2-0 Barnsley
Ipswich Town 3-2 Blackburn Rovers
Preston North End 2-0 Brighton
Rotherham United 2-1 Norwich City
Sheffield Wednesday 2-0 Huddersfield Town

It’s been a bad day for Brighton; Tomer Hemed has missed a penalty in stoppage time. Not the best for Norwich either; they’re 2-1 down at Rotherham, while Newcastle have nine minutes of injury time to see out.

GOAL! Barcelona 5-0 Las Palmas (Vidal)

Aleix Vidal adds another for Barcelona, who have kept the heat on Real Madrid ahead of their big game at Sevilla tomorrow.

Premier League results

Burnley 1-0 Southampton
Hull City 3-1 Bournemouth
Sunderland 1-3 Stoke City
Swansea City 0-4 Arsenal
Watford 0-0 Middlesbrough
West Ham United 3-0 Crystal Palace

Fernando Forestieri scores on the break to confirm victory for Sheffield Wednesday, while Chesterfield have beaten Coventry in a League One six-pointer, and Swindon have snatched victory at Bolton through Yaser Kasim!

The referee is dishing out yellow cards after a corner flag skirmish at Vicarage Road. Still no goals there, and I fear there might not be one.

Huddersfield are a goal and a man down at Hillsborough, but are pushing for an equaliser. At Turf Moor, Tom Heaton claws a Shane Long shot away as the hosts cling on.

I hope Simon McMahon is still watching; Dundee United have just equalised through Simon Murray.

Newcastle retake the lead at Brentford, Daryl Murphy’s goal putting them top of the provisional Championship table. Brighton are still two goals down at Preston, while Josh Morris has given Scunthorpe a vital lead at Northampton. That’s his 18th goal of the season.

“What was that I was saying about United being unbeaten at home? Dundee United 1 Queen of the South 3. I’m off to the pub. Happy New Year!”

Same to you, Simon McMahon - although United have pulled one back.

GOAL! West Ham 3-0 Crystal Palace (Lanzini)

Antonio’s smart through-pass sends Lanzini clear, and he lifts the ball over Hennessey. Are West Ham finally settling into their new home?

Sheffield United are 4-1 down to Walsall. That... is unexpected. In a big League Two relegation battle, Cheltenham lead Accrington 3-0, and Exeter lead Grimsby by the same score.

Updated

Hat tip to Kevin Porter, who points out that Benfica, leaders of Portugal’s Primeira Liga, are 3-0 down at home to Boavista after half an hour. In France, new boy Julian Draxler has just made it Rennes 0-1 PSG.

GOAL! Burnley 1-0 Southampton (Barton)

Joey Barton, fresh onto the pitch, fires a free kick under the wall and in! Turf Moor goes wild.

Joey Barton’s cheeky free-kick gives Burnley the lead.
Joey Barton’s cheeky free-kick goes under the wall ... Photograph: Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Joey Barton of Burnley scores his sides first goal past Fraser Forster of Southampton.
And past Fraser Forster to give Burnley the lead. Photograph: Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Happy happy Joey Joey. Barton celebrates his goal.
Happy happy Joey Joey. Barton celebrates his goal. Photograph: Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Updated

GOAL! West Ham 2-0 Crystal Palace (Carroll)

Woof! West Ham surely wrap up the points, care of a sensational Andy Carroll bicycle kick!

A joyous Andy Carroll and some happy Hammers.
A joyous Andy Carroll and some happy Hammers. Photograph: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

Updated

GOALS! Barcelona 4-0 Las Palmas (Suarez, Turan)

Floodgates very much open at Camp Nou, Suarez getting his second before Arda Turan makes it four 60 seconds later.

Arda Turan, left, scores Barcelona’s fourth.
Arda Turan, left, scores Barcelona’s fourth. Photograph: Manu Fernandez/AP

Updated

Still goalless at Turf Moor, with Jay Rodriguez on for Southampton and Joey Barton on for the hosts. Van Dijk lifts a cross into the box, but Burnley clear after a proper penalty box melee.

The same scoreline at Watford, but Middlesbrough are shading the second half, and have thrown Rudy Gestede on to test Costel Pantilimon, on in place of the injured Heurelho Gomes.

GOAL! Barcelona 2-0 Las Palmas (Messi)

Lionel Messi doubles Barcelona’s lead after Javi Varas spilled Rafinha’s cross. At Swansea, Arsenal make it four through Alexis Sanchez, and are set to climb above Liverpool on goal difference.

Lionel Messi fires home Barcelona’s second.
Lionel Messi fires home Barcelona’s second. Photograph: David Ramos/Getty Images

Updated

Tough day for League One’s leaders, with Sheffield United 3-1 down at Walsall, and Bolton pegged back by Swindon.

GOAL! Swansea 0-3 Arsenal (Naughton OG)

Arsenal’s second may go down as a Jack Cork own goal, and Kyle Naughton joins him on the wrong side of the scoresheet. Tim Hill has more.

Arsenal’s Nigerian striker Alex Iwobi watches as his shot, ricocheted off Swansea City’s Kyle Naughton and past Swansea City keeper Lukasz Fabianski to score the Gunners’ third goal.
Arsenal’s Nigerian striker Alex Iwobi watches as his shot, ricocheted off Swansea City’s Kyle Naughton and past Swansea City keeper Lukasz Fabianski to score the Gunners’ third goal. Photograph: Geoff Caddick/AFP/Getty Images

Updated

GOAL! West Ham 1-0 Crystal Palace (Feghouli)

Antonio goes round Hennessey but sends his shot trickling wide... only for Feghouli, racing in at the far post, to bundle the ball home!

Lasse Vibe got the goal for Brentford, while Tom Lawrence is on target again as Ipswich pull clear of Blackburn. 3-1 at Portman Road, and Leicester could do worse than haul the on-loan Lawrence back to the Premier League. Callum Connolly has his second for Wigan at Burton, while Plymouth have gone 3-2 up at home to Stevenage.

GOAL! Hull 3-1 Bournemouth (Mings OG)

Hull are not toast. Tom Huddlestone’s well-struck shot deflects off Tyrone Mings and into the net, and they have a two-goal cushion.

Christophe Berra has put Ipswich ahead, Fulham lead Barnsley 2-0... and Brentford have equalised against Newcastle!

Brighton have slipped two goals down at Preston, Callum Robinson doubling the hosts’ lead. Newcastle are set to return to the top of the Championship. Sheffield Wednesday lead Huddersfield through a Ross Wallace screamer, and Cameron Jerome has levelled for 10man Norwich at Rotherham.

GOAL! Swansea 0-2 Arsenal (Iwobi)

This had been coming, and Swansea could end the day back at the bottom of the table. Tim Hill has the 411.

Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi celebrates
Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi celebrates after his shot was deflected into the net by Swansea City’s Jack Cork to give the Gunners a 2-0 lead. Photograph: Matthew Childs/Reuters

Updated

Local boy Jay Rodriguez is still kicking his heels on the bench, as Southampton fail to break Burnley down. Portsmouth lead Leyton Orient 2-1, while David Wheater has headed Bolton into the lead against Swindon.

West Ham bring on Byram for Ogbonna, moving to a back four, as both Benteke and Carroll let half-chances pass them by. Watford v Boro has livened up too, with Okaka forcing Valdes into a fine save, before Da Silva tests Gomes from distance.

GOAL! Hull 2-1 Bournemouth (Hernandez)

Hernandez cuts inside and wallops an early shot into the top corner, and Hull have fought back to lead!

Hull City’s Abel Hernandez celebrates scoring their second goal.
Hull City’s Abel Hernandez celebrates scoring their second goal. Photograph: Andrew Yates/Reuters

Updated

Barcelona lead Las Palmas 1-0 at half-time, while it sounds like the big Yorkshire derby at Hillsborough isn’t delivering:

In League Two, Plymouth have been pegged back by Stevenage. Parity is the order of the day; only Doncaster, Exeter and Morecambe hold a half-time lead. Busta will be delighted. Any more random celebrities at football matches? Send ‘em this way.

None of the top four in League One are leading at half time: Sheffield United are level at Walsall, the same goes for Scunthorpe at Northampton, while it’s Bolton 0-0 Swindon at the Macron Stadium, and Bradford are behind at Shrewsbury, thanks to a goal from Crystal Palace loanee Freddie Ladapo.

The Africa Cup of Nations is about to kick off, so join Ben Fisher for Gabon v Guinea-Bissau:

It’s been a testy display from Barcelona; they’re dominant, but have picked up three yellow cards as they scrap for a second goal.

Championship half times

A couple of deadlocks broken very late in the first half: Chris Martin comes in from the cold to put Fulham ahead, and Wigan have the lead at fellow strugglers Burton.

Birmingham City 0-0 Nottingham Forest
Brentford 0-1 Newcastle United
Burton Albion 0-1 Wigan Athletic
Fulham 1-0 Barnsley
Ipswich Town 1-1 Blackburn Rovers
Preston North End 1-0 Brighton & Hove Albion
Rotherham United 1-0 Norwich City
Sheffield Wednesday 0-0 Huddersfield Town

Premier League half times

Burnley 0-0 Southampton
Hull City 1-1 Bournemouth
Sunderland 1-3 Stoke City
Swansea City 0-1 Arsenal
Watford 0-0 Middlesbrough
West Ham United 0-0 Crystal Palace

Swansea’s Ki is booked for diving after a hearty penalty shout, while Hope Akpan has grabbed an equaliser for Blackburn as games reach half-time, plenty of them goalless.

“Simon Murray’s early opener has been cancelled out by Queen of the South. Currently 1-1 at Tannadice” says Simon McMahon.

“Hibs lead Dumbarton 1-0, and it looks like a long(er) journey home for the Annan Athletic fans as they trail Elgin 2-0.” It’s now 3-0.

Tom Lawrence’s low free kick has put Ipswich ahead against Blackburn, Plymouth are now ahead against Stevenage, and Oldham have a crucial goal at home to Gillingham, Josh Law putting the Latics ahead. At Burnley and Watford, there is precious little to report.

Updated

GOAL! Sunderland 1-3 Stoke (Defoe)

With thousands of fans already heading home, Sunderland have a glimmer of hope through - who else - Jermain Defoe.

Jermain Defoe scores.
Jermain Defoe blooters a goal back for Sunderland. Is it the start of a mighty comeback? Photograph: Ian MacNicol/Getty Images

Updated

Rafinha drills a shot wide as Barcelona keep Las Palmas hemmed in. “I stand by my toast declaration,” says JR. There are three teams with a distinctly toasty appearance, and the third have just gone behind, Olivier Giroud putting Arsenal ahead at Swansea.

Palace getting the upper hand on West Ham, James Tomkins almost putting his old club a goal down. James Vaughan now has four in half an hour for Bury, and Doncaster lead Barnet, who peaked too early, 3-1.

GOAL! Sunderland 0-3 Stoke (Crouch)

Mannone spills a Shaqiri shot against the post and out for a corner, from which Peter Crouch nods home. Sunderland fans are leaving, and who can blame them?

Stoke City’s Peter Crouch wheels away in celebration after making it 3-0.
Stoke City’s Peter Crouch wheels away in celebration after making it 3-0. Photograph: Scott Heppell/Reuters

Updated

“Hull are toast. They’re lucky not to be down more than one to Bournemouth already. And then take a gander at their next four games. Away to Chelsea, Man U, and Arsenal and home against Liverpool. Like I said: toast.”

JR from Illinois with the gift of perfect timing.

GOAL! Hull 1-1 Bournemouth (Hernandez)

Hull are level! Abel Hernandez gets a rare top-flight goal with an excellent header.

Abel Hernandez gets Hull City back on level terms.
Abel Hernandez gets Hull City back on level terms. Photograph: Andrew Yates/Reuters

Updated

GOAL! Barcelona 1-0 Las Palmas (Suarez)

Gomes finds space on the right, and his cut back is dispatched into the far corner by Luis Suarez.

Luis Suarez fires Barcelona into the lead.
Luis Suarez fires Barcelona into the lead. Photograph: Albert Gea/Reuters
Suarez celebrates his goal.
Suarez celebrates his goal. Photograph: Manu Fernandez/AP

Updated

Inevitably, Newport lead Colchester 1-0 at Rodney Parade. James Vaughan has completed a swift hat-trick for Bury, and Fleetwood lead Bristol Rovers 2-0. Back in Stratford, Andy Carroll passes up a chance to put West Ham in front.

Dwight Gayle has put Newcastle ahead at Brentford, Doncaster are level at Barnet. At West Ham, it’s been a ‘slow burner’, according to the club’s own Twitter feed.

GOAL! Sunderland 0-2 Stoke (Arnautovic)

Arnautovic gets his second after a lovely bit of link-up play with Shaqiri, and Sunderland are in a whole heap of trouble already.

Marko Arnautovic slots home his, and Stoke’s, second of the game.
Marko Arnautovic slots home his, and Stoke’s, second of the game. Photograph: Matthew Lewis/Getty Images

Updated

They’ve kicked off at Camp Nou, and Lionel Messi has just fizzed a free kick wide. Bury have rallied to lead Peterborough, while it’s been a rough start for Norwich: Nelson Oliveira has just been sent off.

Bournemouth’s Artur Boruc unorthodoxly thwarts Hull City’s Abel Hernandez.
Bournemouth’s Artur Boruc unorthodoxly thwarts Hull City’s Abel Hernandez. Photograph: Andrew Yates/Reuters

On celebrities watching football:

Lovely stuff, more please.

A couple of surprising scorelines in the Championship, as bottom club Rotherham lead Norwich 1-0, while Paul Huntington has put Preston a goal up against Brighton. In League Two, the leaders are also behind: John Akinde has put Barnet ahead against Doncaster.

GOAL! Sunderland 0-1 Stoke (Arnautovic)

Denayer loses the ball in midfield, and Marko Arnautovic forces the ball past Mannone at the second attempt!

Stoke City’s Marko Arnautovic fires home.
Stoke City’s Marko Arnautovic fires home. Photograph: Lee Smith/Reuters
The home fans look suitably unimpressed, especially the child in the blue jacket in the top right corner of the pic, as Stoke City’s Marko Arnautovic celebrates opening the scoring.
The home fans look suitably unimpressed, especially the child in the blue jacket in the top right corner of the pic, as Arnautovic celebrates opening the scoring. Photograph: Scott Heppell/Reuters

Updated

Middlesbrough see a goal chalked off at Vicarage Road, with Cristhian Stuani prodding home from an offside position. Asked about his friend Claude Puel on BT, Emmanuel Petit says “he had a very difficult December, and lost a lot of games”. And that’s his friend.

Sheffield United have gone behind at Walsall, Amadou Bakayoko with the goal, while Peterborough lead at Bury. And - woo hah! - Busta’s Morecambe lead at Carlisle.

In League Two’s early game, Kevin Nolan got a point against Mansfield in his first match as Notts County manager. Stevenage have done what Liverpool couldn’t, Matt Godden beating the Plymouth defence inside two minutes.

Morecambe visit Carlisle today; according to local legend, Busta Rhymes used to live in Morecambe. Can anyone confirm or deny? And who’s the weirdest celebrity you’ve seen in your home town, or ideally at a football match?

GOAL! Hull 0-1 Bournemouth (Stanislas)

A dreadful start for Marco Silva, Harry Maguire’s oafish challenge on Fraser giving Junior Stanislas the chance from the spot after two minutes, which he takes.

Junior Stanislas despatches his spot-kick with aplomb.
Junior Stanislas despatches his spot-kick with aplomb. Photograph: Nigel Roddis/Getty Images

Updated

In Turkey, Basaksehir have seen off Kayserispor 5-0. Their unlikely title challenge goes on. And there’s a penalty at Hull...

“There’s only one Graham Taylor” rings around Vicarage Road. One tribute seen on TV says “you made me fall in love with Watford”. I think he’d have liked that.

A tribute to former Watford manager Graham Taylor who passed away earlier this week.
A tribute to former Watford manager Graham Taylor who passed away earlier this week. Photograph: Adam Davy/PA

Updated

Peep, peep, peep, peep

Games are getting under way all over the country.

La Liga team news

Barcelona: Ter Stegen; A Vidal, Umtiti, Mascherano, Alba; Busquets, Gomes, Rafinha; Turan, Messi, Suarez.

Subs: Cillessen, Rakitic, Iniesta, Neymar, Paco Alcacer, Digne, Mathieu.

Las Palmas: Varas; Michel, Garcia, Lemos, Helder Lopes; Roque Mesa, Vicente Gomez, Viera; El Zhar, Tana, Prince-Boateng.

Updated

Leagues One & Two preview

Charlton v Millwall, usually a lively South London derby, is likely to be overshadowed by off-field matters. Elsewhere, League One’s top four all face sides from the bottom half today. Leaders Sheffield United visit Walsall, Scunthorpe go to managerless Northampton, Bolton host Swindon and Bradford City face Shrewsbury. Below them, Rochdale and Fleetwood face tougher tasks against play-off rivals Southend and Bristol Rovers respectively. At the other end, Chesterfield and Coventry face each other in a bona fide relegation six-pointer.

In League Two, Newport County could bust many a coupon with a home win over Colchester today. The U’s have seven wins in eight; Newport have zero points in the same period. It’s back to business for Cup giant-tamers Plymouth – they host Stevenage hoping to close the gap on leaders Doncaster, who visit Barnet. Cheltenham face Accrington in a big relegation battle, David Artell begins life at Crewe against Luton, and Exeter City fans will want some change out of a 700-mile round trip to play Grimsby.

League One 3pm games:

Bolton Wanderers v Swindon Town
Bury v Peterborough United
Charlton Athletic v Millwall
Chesterfield v Coventry City
Fleetwood Town v Bristol Rovers
Northampton Town v Scunthorpe United
Oldham Athletic v Gillingham
Shrewsbury Town v Bradford City
Southend United v Rochdale
Walsall v Sheffield United
Wimbledon v Oxford United

League Two 3pm games:

Barnet v Doncaster Rovers
Cambridge United v Blackpool
Carlisle United v Morecambe
Cheltenham Town v Accrington Stanley
Crawley Town v Hartlepool United
Crewe Alexandra v Luton Town
Grimsby Town v Exeter City
Newport County v Colchester United
Plymouth Argyle v Stevenage
Portsmouth v Leyton Orient
Wycombe Wanderers v Yeovil Town

Updated

Championship preview

The top two face away days to be filed under ‘tricky’: leaders Brighton go to Preston North End, while Newcastle visit Brentford. Huddersfield and Sheffield Wednesday, the only other top-six sides in action today, meet in a Yorkshire derby at Hillsborough. Play-off dreamers Fulham and Barnsley have a chaff-sorting engagement at Craven Cottage while Norwich, sandwiched between them, will fancy their chances at rock-bottom Rotherham. Fellow strugglers Wigan can drag Burton right into the mire with a win at the Pirelli Stadium, and Blackburn could do the same to Ipswich with victory at Portman Road. In the early kick-off, it finished Bristol City 2-3 Cardiff City.

3pm kick-offs:
Birmingham City v Nottingham Forest
Brentford v Newcastle United
Burton Albion v Wigan Athletic
Fulham v Barnsley
Ipswich Town v Blackburn Rovers
Preston North End v Brighton & Hove Albion
Rotherham United v Norwich City
Sheffield Wednesday v Huddersfield Town

Full time at White Hart Lane! Spurs have beaten West Brom 4-0, and climb to second. Rob Smyth was watching:

Here’s Simon McMahon with what to look out for in Scotland:

As the Scottish Premiership enjoys a two week winter break, game of the day in Scotland really is at Tannadice as Dundee United, on a two match losing streak after going 14 unbeaten, look to get back on track against Queen of the South. Despite losing their last two, United remain unbeaten at home this season and are only four points behind leaders Hibs, who travel to Dumbarton.

Elsewhere in the Scottish Championship it’s Falkirk v Ayr and Morton v Raith. The weather has affected the lower leagues but in Scottish League One the games at Airdrie, Alloa and Stenhousmuir are on, and in Scottish League Two the matches at Arbroath, Elgin and Forfar go ahead.

I’m pleased to see Elgin v Annan go ahead, if only for the visiting fans who have walked (or possibly driven) 500 miles from the Borders to the Highlands.

And finally, here are the teams at Vicarage Road and the Stadium of Light:

Watford v Middlesbrough

Watford: Gomes; Kaboul, Prodl, Britos, Kabasele; Capoue, Behrami, Holebas, Doucoure; Deeney, Okaka.

Subs: Cleverley, Cathcart, Zuniga, Sinclair, Watson, Ighalo, Pantilimon.
Middlesbrough: Valdes; Chambers, Bernardo, Gibson, Friend; Da Silva, de Roon, Leadbitter, Forshaw, Stuani; Negredo.

Subs: Clayton, Fischer, Guzan, Downing, Fry, Gestede, Traore.

Referee: Jonathan Moss

Sunderland v Stoke

Sunderland: Mannone; Denayer, O’Shea, Djilobodji, Love; Larsson, Rodwell, Van Aanholt; Borini, Defoe, Januzaj.

Subs: Jones, Mika, Manquillo, Asoro, Maja, Honeyman, Embleton.

Stoke:
Grant; Johnson, Shawcross, Martins Indi, Pieters; Whelan, Adam, Shaqiri, Allen, Arnautovic; Crouch.

Subs: Bardsley, Muniesa, Afellay, Imbula, Given, Ngoy, Taylor.

Referee: Mike Dean

Here are the teams for Swansea v Arsenal:

Swansea: Fabianski; Naughton, Fernandez, Mawson, Kingsley; Cork, Ki, Dyer, Sigurdsson, Routledge; Llorente.

Subs: van der Hoorn, Fer, Borja Baston, Nordfeldt, Rangel, Fulton, McBurnie.

Arsenal: Cech; Gabriel, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal; Xhaka, Ramsey; Iwobi, Ozil, Sanchez; Giroud.

Subs: Lucas Perez, Ospina, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Holding, Welbeck, Reine-Adelaide, Maitland-Niles.

Referee: Mike Jones (Cheshire)

MBMer: Tim Hill (Guardian)

More team news...

Hull v Bournemouth

Hull: Jakupovic; Maguire, Dawson, Davies, Robertson; Mason, Huddlestone, Clucas, Snodgrass; Hernandez, Diomande.

Subs: Evandro, Niasse, Livermore, Weir, Marshall, Tymon, Bowen.

Bournemouth: Boruc; Adam Smith, Steve Cook, Mings, Daniels; Arter, Surman, Stanislas, Wilshere, Fraser; Afobe.

Subs: Gosling, Pugh, Callum Wilson, Brad Smith, King, Federici, Ibe.

Referee: Martin Atkinson

Burnley v Southampton

Burnley: Heaton; Lowton, Keane, Mee, Ward; Hendrick, Marney, Defour, Boyd, Barnes; Gray.

Subs: Flanagan, Vokes, Kightly, Robinson, Barton, Tarkowski, Darikwa.

Southampton: Forster; Cedric, Yoshida, van Dijk, Bertrand; Ward-Prowse, Romeu, Hojbjerg, Tadic; Long, Redmond.

Subs: Clasie, Rodriguez, Martina, Reed, Stephens, Taylor, Sims.

Referee: Paul Tierney.

Updated

Team news!

Starting at the Olym London Stadium:

West Ham: Randolph; Reid, Collins, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Feghouli, Obiang, Noble, Antonio, Lanzini; Carroll.

Subs: Adrian, Byram, Fletcher, Calleri, Fernandes, Oxford, Quina.

Crystal Palace: Hennessey; Tomkins, Dann, Delaney, Ward; Cabaye, McArthur, Ledley, Puncheon, Townsend; Benteke.

Subs: Speroni, Fryers, Kelly, Flamini, Schlupp, Lee, Remy.

Referee: Neil Swarbrick.

Updated

On Sky, Matt Le Tissier has a solution to West Ham’s Dimitri Payet problem: make every European club agree not to sign striking players. It’s a nice idea, but so are money trees.

Much more Football League chat to come, but Bristol City fans should look away now. From 2-1 up, they’ve fallen 3-2 behind against local rivals Cardiff. No such drama at the Lane, where Spurs are 2-0 up and cruising against West Brom:

What else is happening today? For starters, there’s a crunch La Liga clash as Barcelona try to cling on to Real Madrid’s coat-tails, with the leaders going to Sevilla on Sunday. They face Las Palmas, swashbuckling overachievers sure to make life difficult for their hosts.

Around Europe, there’s the return of Ligue 1, with PSG playing Rennes at 4pm BST, and Benfica hosting Boavista in Portugal at the same time. And this season’s Leicester, Turkey’s Istanbul Basaksehir, are set to extend their Super Lig lead; they’re 2-0 up on Kayserispor.

Premier League preview

The only way is up for the 12 teams in top-flight action this afternoon, with all but one of the division’s bottom dozen in action. Even Bournemouth, leading the pack in ninth, are closer to the drop zone than the top six. They travel to Hull, where Marco Silva has already taken in some British football staples: a sparsely-attended Cup tie, an ill-informed roasting from Paul Merson. His job starts in earnest today, against a team that won the reverse fixture 6-1.

It’s also the first proper day on the job for Paul Clement, the second Swansea manager of the season to begin against Arsenal. The Gunners may be the only top-six side in action this afternoon, but they’re under their own pressure to keep pace with the top four, against a team that have repeatedly proved tricky. Follow that one with Tim Hill.

Regrets, Sam Allardyce has had a few, but finding himself in the away dugout at the London Stadium probably isn’t one of them. This could be the perfect time for the Crystal Palace boss to reacquaint himself with a West Ham fan base he once labelled ‘deluded’. It’s been a bad week for the hosts, festive cheer undone by a 5-0 Cup defeat, and their best player demanding to leave.

By contrast, Burnley begin 2017 tucked in mid-table and enjoying a healthy profit margin. Sean Dyche, reliably quick to shut the till, welcomes a Southampton side who have lost their last three league games. It could be a long month for Sunderland and Stoke, with three players from both sides heading to Gabon. Sunderland could climb out of the bottom three, and add to discontent in the Potteries, with a win.

Finally, Watford and Middlesbrough are two teams in poor form, short on goals, with managers under scrutiny – but that will all rightly take a back seat as Vicarage Road remembers Graham Taylor, who led the Hornets from the fourth tier to the title race. A fitting tribute might be to keep faith with the incumbent Walter Mazzarri, whatever the result.

Graham Taylor, former England manager, dies aged 72

Premier League fixtures (3pm):

Burnley v Southampton
Hull City v Bournemouth
Sunderland v Stoke City
Swansea City v Arsenal
Watford v Middlesbrough
West Ham United v Crystal Palace

Updated

Niall will be here shortly. Until then, take a look at our transfer interactive for all of the latest January moves:

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