Premier League Pre-Match Buzz and Latest Football Updates

This comment feels a bit too relatable for my liking. Christmas time is always focused on soccer initially, family gatherings after.

This can be a difficult time for soccer fans. Can we manage to maintain the required focus on our club while showing appropriate enthusiasm for gift choices, wrapping, food shopping and preparation, table decorations, joining in family get-togethers....? We'll certainly do our best! Apologies, could you repeat that...?

Manchester United Eye Rúben Neves and Conor Gallagher

The Red Devils are searching for a midfielder. This can’t be good news for the young talent… with two former Premier League stars are targeted by Ruben Amorim’s side.

Chelsea's Trip to Newcastle Fixture Analysis

Newcastle v Chelsea in the early Saturday slot provides a fantastic start to kick off the football. Eddie Howe’s side are down in 12th and Enzo Maresca’s men sit fourth. A mere six-point gap lies between them, given Newcastle's strong home form likely to make it tough for the Blues.

The home side could be hindered, however, by their sheer number of current defensive absentees. Tino Livramento has joined Sven Botman, Dan Burn, Emil Krafth, Jamaal Lascelles, Kieran Trippier and goalkeeper Nick Pope on the treatment table, and Lewis Hall is questionable.

Despite this, and even with the manager stating he was “falling more in love with [his players” earlier this week, you wouldn’t bank on Chelsea strolling to victory at St James’ Park. Can Maresca settle on a regular forward line? Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho were substitutes in the Carabao Cup against Cardiff and found the net and look like contenders for a starting spot.

Predicting games like Newcastle v Chelsea this season has proven exceptionally tough.

Top 100 Players Discussion

I notice there’s lots of discussion among fans regarding rankings of the world's best… these things are always subjective, of course. An indisputable fact is the positioning of Ousmane Dembélé at the very summit.

10 Things to Look Out For

Major plotlines this weekend include: The scrutiny on Burnley's manager, to Wolves’ long search for a win, appeals for the striker's inclusion in the national team setup, it’s all here.

Weekend Football Recap

For those who didn't see late drama unfolded during the Welsh derby. The shot-stopper handed victory to Swansea with a last-minute error fumbling a cross straight to the substitute. Idah had the simplest of task to tap home for the decisive goal.

A gift from the Arsenal academy graduate, by the way, and Welsh bragging rights for Swansea.

Steve Evans steered Bristol Rovers to their first point in 10 league matches, but stated the 1-1 draw at Crewe was “frustrating” given the home side had 10 men for most of the game. In the fourth tier, Cambridge moved into the top seven with a 2-0 win over Accrington and Cheltenham picked up a 2-1 win away at Barrow.

Northampton cruised beyond AFC Wimbledon 3-1 in League One.

Over in Germany, the derby was won 2-0 by Dortmund, Max Beier scoring in the 97th minute to see off Mönchengladbach following an early Brandt strike.

Introduction

Hello everyone and welcome to another live football coverage. Saturday is here meaning pre-match excitement! It's truly a packed schedule featuring eight top-flight matches, kicking off with Newcastle v Chelsea at 12.30pm, heading into the four 3pm kick-offs, the evening fixture, and then two 8pm games: Everton v Arsenal and Leeds v Crystal Palace (all times GMT).

There is also a full schedule across the UK leagues, plus lower down the pyramids and in Spain, Germany and beyond too. See – bumper.

Following our usual format, we encourage your comments and emails, so let me know your forecasts, thoughts on 2025 in general now that it’s coming to an end, or just how you’ll be spending a football-filled day. Enjoy!