The Guardian

Tottenham v Borussia Dortmund: Champions League – live

Submitted by daniel on Tue, 20/01/2026 - 18:34

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And Will Unwin is in the one and only Clockwatch seat, with Inter v Arsenal and Real Madrid v Monaco on the agenda.

Manchester City are having a miserable trim in Nordland. You can get the latest from their match against Bodø/Glimt with Barry Glendenning.

This, by David Squires on Spurs and Thomas Frank, is too good

Team news

Thomas Frank makes five changes, four of them enforced, to the team that lost against West Ham. Kevin Danso, Destiny Udogie, Lucas Bergvall, Djed Spence and Dominic Solanke replace Micky van de Van (suspended), Ben Davies (injured), Conor Gallagher, Mathys Tel (both ineligible) and Randal Kolo Muani.

With Spurs down to the bare bones, either Djed Spence or Destiny Udogie will start as a wide attacker.

Dortmund, who beat St Pauli 3-2 on Saturday, make three changes. Ramy Bensebaini, Yan Couto and Serhou Guirassy come in for Emre Can, Julian Ryerson and Fabio Silva.

Tottenham Hotspur (4-2-3-1) Vicario; Porro, Romero, Danso, Udogie; Gray, Bergvall; Odobert, Simons, Spence; Solanke.

Subs: Kinsky, Kolo Muani, Austin, Scarlett, Olusesi, Thompson, Hardy, Byfield, Williams-Barnett, Akhamrich, Rowswell.

Borussia Dortmund (3-4-2-1) Kobel; Anton, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini; Yan Couto, Bellingham, Nmecha, Svensson; Adeyemi, Brandt; Guirassy.

Subs: Beier, Duranville, Chukwuemeka, Fabio Silva, Can, Sule, Ryerson, Anselmino, Ostrzinski, Meyer, Mane.

Referee Glenn Nyberg (Sweden)

Borussia Dortmund are the best of the rest in Germany. They’re second in the Bundesliga, just 11 points behind Bayern Munich, and like Spurs they have taken 11 points from their six Champions League games. Dortmund are above Spurs on goals scored.

David Hytner

Thomas Frank has insisted the Tottenham hierarchy are standing with him in the face of the storm gripping the club.

The manager’s job is in the balance, his situation precarious after the home defeat against West Ham on Saturday. The Spurs support were so incensed by the result and the continuation of the team’s terrible Premier League form – they have won twice in their past 13 league matches – that they demanded Frank be “sacked in the morning”.

Frank has survived, for now, and will be in the dugout for the Champions League tie at home against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday. It remains to be seen whether it proves to be merely a stay of execution. Frank has a selection crisis for the Dortmund clash, with only 11 available outfield players – three of whom he said would struggle to complete the 90 minutes. His back is firmly against the wall.

Preamble

Spurs’ Champions League campaign is going swimmingly. They’ve picked up 11 points from six games and are on course for a playoff place, perhaps even an automatic passage to the last 16. Alas, as Ange Postecoglou found out, progress in Europe does not keep the wolf from the door, or the boos from the shell-like, and there is widespread expectation that Thomas Frank will be the next Premier League manager to lose his job.

Frank has been forced to carry the entirely imaginary Dead Man Walking Stick™ after a run of two wins in 15 domestic matches. At the weekend Spurs were beaten by West Ham, extending an unfathomably poor home record – at least in the Premier League.

In the Champions League, Spurs’ home form has been perfect: three games, three wins, eight goals scored, none conceded. Tonight’s opponents, Borussia Dortmund, are a step up from Villarreal, FC Copenhagen and Slavia Prague. Spurs could do with a good performance, but all that really matters is the result.

Kick off 8pm.

The Guardian

Spurs v West Ham, Chelsea v Brentford, Liverpool v Burnley, and more: football – live

Submitted by daniel on Sat, 17/01/2026 - 13:30

Real Madrid 0-0 Levante: More than half an hour has been played at the Bernabéu and it’s still goalless. A penny for Álvaro Arbeloa’s thoughts? He’s fielded all his superstars: Kylian Mbappé, Vini Jr and Jude Bellingham have all started the game, but Los Blancos are yet to muster a shot on target.

It really is a must win for Madrid at home against the team second bottom of La Liga.

Preamble

Hello and welcome to Saturday’s clockwatch. We’ve got five Premier League games for you at 3pm, with West Ham traveling to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to face Spurs and Burnley travelling to Anfield to play Liverpool.

Both London clubs have struggled in the past few weeks. Spurs have won just two of their last 12 games and lost to Aston Villa in the FA Cup last week. Meanwhile, West Ham progressed to the fourth round of the FA Cup after beating Queens Park Rangers, but remain winless in their last 10 Premier League games. With both sides lacking flair, this game will likely be decided by set pieces – Spurs have scored 11 times from corners this season (the joint highest tally in the league) while West Ham have conceded 12 goals from corners (the highest tally in the league).

Liverpool are on a good run of form after their early season stutter, unbeaten in their last 11 games in all competitions. Burnley on the other hand, are battling relegation, but Scott Parker will be hoping that their 5-1 victory over Millwall in the FA Cup is a turning point.

I’ll also bring you updates from Chelsea v Brentford, Leeds v Fulham and Sunderland v Crystal Palace, as well as the games in the Football League, Scotland and Europe’s major leagues.

Team news is on its way shortly. Get in touch with your thoughts on today’s games.

Updated at 15.12 CET

The Guardian

Tottenham v Aston Villa: FA Cup third round – live

Submitted by daniel on Sat, 10/01/2026 - 16:45

Preamble

Well, it has been a terrific day in the FA Cup so far, with Macclesfield’s history-making victory over Crystal Palace the undoubted highlight. There won’t quite be that kind of magic in north London this evening but rather an intriguing meeting of a couple of Premier League big beasts.

Tottenham and Thomas Frank have been having a miserable time of it in the Premier League, where they have won just twice since October – a run stretching back 12 matches. Aston Villa, meanwhile, have been in sensational form, a return to the Champions League is basically nailed on and the only concern of note is keeping hold of Unai Emery.

But in the FA Cup of late the form suggests a different story. Villa have tended towards feast or famine – in the nine years between reaching the final in 2015 and the semis last year there was a run of seven successive third-round exits sandwiched between two fourth-round defeats. Spurs have been remarkably consistent – they have been knocked out in the third round only once since 2005-06, a pretty decent two-decade run.

It all could/should make for something quite entertaining. Kick-off is at 5.45pm GMT.

The Guardian

Fulham v Chelsea, Bournemouth v Tottenham, and more: Premier League – live

Submitted by daniel on Wed, 07/01/2026 - 20:21

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It’s also goalless at Burnley, where Daniel Harris is watching the Fletchera begin.

Leeds have started brightly at Newcastle, in what I reckon might be the biggest game in England between one-club cities. Feel free to tell me I’m wrong, of course.

Premier League half-times

Bournemouth 2-1 Tottenham

Brentford 1-0 Sunderland

Crystal Palace 0-0 Aston Villa

Everton 1-0 Wolves

Fulham 0-0 Chelsea 🟥

Manchester City 1-0 Brighton

Updated at 21.26 CET

No goal! Harry Wilson slots home from 12 yards out – but Jimenez was just offside as he ran back to hold the ball up. Lucky for Chelsea’s ragged back line, who almost played Fulham onside twice in that move.

Two more games, sure, why not? Burnley v Manchester United, and Newcastle v Leeds, are both up and running. You can follow events at Turf Moor with Daniel Harris:

Antoine Semenyo is booked on what looks likely to be his final Bournemouth appearance. At Selhurst Park, Villa are having marginally the better of a scrappy game, but it remains goalless.

Back at Craven Cottage, Cole Palmer stings Leno’s palms with a shot from distance, before Smith Rowe goes close with his own effort from the edge of the area.

Pep Guardiola was booked before the penalty was taken, and our man on the ground, Will Unwin, reports he had a heated exchange of words with Fabian Hurzeler.

GOAL! Manchester City 1-0 Brighton (Haaland pen 40')

Normal service resumed as Haaland slots the penalty home. There’s a sense of relief around the Etihad, where City had really been struggling for inspiration.

Penalty for Manchester City? VAR are checking Diego Gomez’s challenge on Doku – it looks a pretty clear penalty, and Thomas Bramall points to the spot. A chance for Haaland to end his mini-drought …

GOAL! Bournemouth 2-1 Tottenham (Kroupi 32')

A quick turnaround at the Vitality, with Senesi cutting back for Eli Junior Kroupi to score, after Semenyo air-kicked his shot.

Updated at 21.31 CET

No joy for Manchester City so far, with Brighton happy to soak up pressure. “Are you going to mention all the empty seats at the Etihad?” demands Alexis Panton. I’d say you’ve done it for me.

GOAL! Brentford 1-0 Sunderland (Thiago 26')

What’s happening at the Gtech then? Well, the hosts have taken the lead through red-hot striker Igor Thiago, who runs onto a through ball, rounds Robin Roefs and slots home. That’s his 15th league goal of the season – and Brentford are fifth as it stands.

Updated at 21.18 CET

Newcastle v Leeds teams (8.15pm KO)

Newcastle (4-3-3): Pope; Miley, Thiaw, Schar, Hall; Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton; Barnes, Woltemade, Gordon.

Subs: Trippier, Ramsdale, Botman, Wissa, Livramento, Jacob Murphy, Willock, Alex Murphy, Ramsey.

Leeds (3-5-1-1): Lucas Perri; Rodon, Bijol, Struijk; Justin, Gruev, Ampadu, Stach, Gudmundsson; Aaronson; Calvert-Lewin.

Subs: Darlow, Piroe, Nmecha, Okafor, Harrison, Tanaka, Bornauw, Byram, Gnonto.

Wilson’s free kick, and Jimenez’s shot on the rebound, are both blocked, with Santos taking the latter squarely in the bread basket. Chelsea are set to make a change, bringing on Jorrel Hato for the ailing Santos.

Chelsea’s players will not stop complaining – I’m not really sure on what grounds – and both Fernandez and Tosin are booked for dissent. Marco Silva joins them, presumably complaining Fulham have a free kick on the edge of the area, rather than a penalty.

Red card! Cucurella sent off for Chelsea

Chelsea had been dominating but Fulham break away, and Harry Wilson gets beyond Cucurella, who stops him with a tug on the arm. Peter Bankes shows a straight red card, and it’s upheld by the VAR!

Updated at 21.06 CET

GOAL! Bournemouth 1-1 Tottenham (Evanilson 21')

Bournemouth are back on terms, through a terrific Evanilson header. Tavernier curled in a perfect cross, and the Brazilian got up to head emphatically past Vicario!

Updated at 21.10 CET

Brennan Johnson looks poised to score his first Palace goal – but Emi Martínez makes a fine save to deny him. Back at Craven Cottage, another corner causes problems, with Leno saving from Caicedo at close range.

GOAL! Everton 1-0 Wolves (Keane 17')

The Wolves revival stalls as Michael Keane gets a toe to the ball in a crowded area, and fires Everton in front!

An Aston Villa handball shout is waved away at Selhurst Park, while back at the Etihad, debutant Max Alleyne heads wide from a corner. Did you know: he’s the son of former England cricketer Mark Alleyne? You do now.

Cole Palmer goes down on the edge of the area, but the decision goes against him for handball as he fell. The Craven Cottage faithful liked that one.

While we wait for some more goals, here’s what Liam Rosenior had to say on Sky before kick-off.

“For this opportunity to come up at this stage of my career is great but my biggest focus is not about being Chelsea manager, it’s about being a winning Chelsea manager, and that is the message that I gave the players yesterday. We need to hit the ground running for the rest of the season.

Every manager has an idea of the way that they want to play, [but] it has to suit the players. I think that is one of the reasons I have been brought to the club, it suits the players perfectly, but you have to be able to adapt in terms of tactics, systems, formations. That’s why I was brought into the project to begin with.

“To be honest I never thought it would end up with me stood here in January as Chelsea manager, but in life you never know what’s going to happen.”

Erling Haaland hasn’t scored in three league games – quite the drought by his standards. He looks to get in behind Brighton’s back five on the break, but Phil Foden can’t find the through ball.

Updated at 21.11 CET

Cucurella’s cross is cleared away by Diop, but Chelsea have a corner. Enzo Fernandez whips it in and Leno has to punch off the goal line, under pressure from Delap.

Updated at 20.51 CET

In the Spanish Super Cup, Barcelona have raced into a 3-0 lead over Athletic Bilbao. Real Madrid take on Atlético in the second semi-final tomorrow night.

GOAL! Bournemouth 0-1 Tottenham (Tel 5')

Mathys Tel with a very welcome goal for Spurs! He cuts in from the left wing and drills a low shot into the far corner. Petrovic might have done better, although Tel’s shot may have taken a slight deflection.

Updated at 20.52 CET

An early half-chance for Fulham, with Harry Wilson denied by Sánchez at the near post. He had time and space to test the Chelsea keeper further.

Here we go!

Six Premier League games up and running. We’ll focus on the action at Craven Cottage to start with, but will endeavour to cover every game, everywhere, all at once.

Full time in Serie A, and it’s ended Napoli 2-2 Verona. Giovanni di Lorenzo pulled a late goal back for the hosts, after Rasmus Højlund’s strike was ruled out by VAR.

Get well soon, King Kev.

Manchester United begin their post-Amorim era at Turf Moor tonight. You can follow that one with Daniel Harris.

“Very disappointed Liam Rosenior has joined Chelsea,” writes Richard Hirst. “I was hoping they would take Marco Silva so that Liam could come to his and his father’s homeland. Cut his Premiership teeth in a more supportive environment at Craven Cottage, moving to SW6’s second team later on if absolutely necessary.”

Updated at 20.37 CET

There are also five Serie A games tonight, and in one of two earlier kick-offs, Napoli are in a spot of bother at home to struggling Verona. The visitors took a shock 2-0 lead but Scott McTominay has pulled one back. Elsewhere, Atalanta lead 2-0 at Bologna, while Inter face Parma later on.

Brentford v Sunderland teams

Brentford (4-2-3-1): Kelleher; Kayode, Ajer, Collins, Henry, Yarmolyuk, Janelt; Jensen, Lewis-Potter, Schade; Thiago.

Subs: Valdimarsson, Hickey, van den Berg, Pinnock, Henderson, Nelson, Damsgaard, Peart-Harris, Donovan.

Sunderland (4-2-3-1): Roefs; Hume, Mukiele, Ballard, Alderete; Geertruida, Xhaka; Rigg, Le Fée, Adingra; Brobbey.

Subs: Tutierov, Harrison Jones, Hjelde, Mundle, O’Nien, Mayenda, Neil, Cirkin, Patterson.

Everton v Wolves teams

Everton (4-2-3-1): Pickford; O’Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko; Garner, Iroegbunam; McNeil, Armstrong, Grealish; Barry.

Subs: Travers, King, Patterson, Beto, Dibling, Rohl, Aznou, Welch, Campbell.

Wolverhampton Wanderers (3-5-2): Jose Sá, Mosquera, Santiago Bueno, Krejci; Tchatchoua, Arias, Joáo Gomes, Mané, Hugo Bueno; Arokodare, Hwang.

Subs: Johnstone, Doherty, Wolfe, Andre Trindade, Larsen, Pedro Lima, Chirewa, Lopez, Ojinnaka.

Bournemouth v Tottenham teams

Bournemouth (4-2-3-1): Petrovic; Jiménez, Hill, Senesi, Truffert; Scott, Cook; Semenyo, Tavernier, Junior Kroupi; Evanilson.

Subs: Forster, Soler, Brooks, Smith, Diakité, Adli, Unal, Milosavljevic, Rees-Dottin.

Tottenham Hotspur (4-3-3): Vicario; Porro, Romero, van de Ven, Spence; João Palhinha, Bentancur, Bergvall; Kolo Muani, Tel, Simons.

Subs: Kinsky, Dragusin, Danso, Richarlison, Gray, Odobert, Davies, Scarlett, Williams-Barnet.

Crystal Palace v Aston Villa teams

Crystal Palace (3-4-2-1): Henderson; Canvot, Lacroix, Guéhi; Devenny, Wharton, Hughes, Mitchell; Johnson, Pino; Mateta.

Subs: Benitez, Uche, Sosa, Richards, Rodney, King, Benamar, Casey, Drakes-Thomas.

Aston Villa (4-3-3): Martínez; Cash, Konsa, Lindelöf, Digne; Kamara, Tielemans, McGinn; Rogers, Sancho, Watkins.

Subs: Bizot, Buendía, Torres, García, Malen, Jimoh, Maatsen, Bogarde, Hemmings.

So, some interesting changes in the Chelsea line-up, with Reece James and João Pedro dropping to the bench, replaced by Andrey Santos – who was impressive off the bench against City on Sunday – and Liam Delap.

As for City, they’ve handed a first-team debut to Max Alleyne after recalling the young centre-back from his loan at Watford. Rodri and Rayan Cherki start on the bench.

Man City v Brighton teams

Manchester City (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Matheus Nunes, Khusanov, Alleyne, Ake; González, Bernardo Silva, Reijnders; Foden, Doku, Haaland.

Subs: Trafford, Cherki, Rodri, O’Reilly, McAidoo, Mukasa, Lewis, Mfuni, Reigan Heskey.

Brighton (4-2-3-1): Verbruggen; Hinshelwood, van Hecke, Dunk, Kadioglu; Ayari, Gross; Mitoma, Gómez, De Cuyper; Rutter.

Subs: Steele, Gruda, Watson, Welbeck, Milner, Boscagli, Coppola, Tasker, Howell.

Fulham v Chelsea team news

Fulham (3-4-2-1): Leno; Diop, Andersen, Cuenca; Castagne, Berge, Cairney, Robinson; Wilson, Smith Rowe; Jiménez.

Subs: Lecomte, Reed, Traore, Kusi-Asare, Lukic, Kevin, Sessegnon, Amissah, Ridgeon.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Sánchez; Gusto, Adarabioyo, Chalobah, Cucurella; Santos, Caicedo; Palmer, Fernández, Pedro Neto; Delap.

Subs: Jorgensen, Bynoe-Gittens, João Pedro, Hato, James, Fofana, Acheampong, Estevao, Garnacho.

Updated at 19.48 CET

Some sad news to bring you – Spurs legend Martin Chivers has died aged 80. The team’s players will wear black armbands at Bournemouth tonight as a tribute.

Today’s Football Daily takes a peek into the West Ham doom vortex …

Updated at 19.15 CET

Wednesday's Premier League games

Kick-offs 7.30pm GMT unless stated …

Bournemouth v Tottenham

Brentford v Sunderland

Crystal Palace v Aston Villa

Everton v Wolves

Fulham v Chelsea

Manchester City v Brighton

Burnley v Manchester United (8.15pm)

Newcastle v Leeds (8.15pm)

Preamble

A new era technically begins for Chelsea tonight, with Liam Rosenior appointed on Tuesday. No manager/head coach/performance coordinator wants to start with a derby, though, so Calum McFarlane stays in charge tonight. While their rivalry with Fulham hasn’t always been the fiercest, Craven Cottage under the lights has been a problem for Liverpool and Manchester City already this season.

With Arsenal hosting Liverpool on Thursday, City and Aston Villa must seize the chance to apply pressure and cut back that six-point gap at the top. Pep Guardiola’s stumblers host Brighton, who recently ended a long winless run, while Villa go to Crystal Palace, who are still stuck in their barren patch.

The same goes for Bournemouth, who will aim to end an 11-game stretch without a victory at home to Tottenham. In another surprising stat, Thomas Frank’s shiftless side still have the second-best away record in the league. Frank’s former team, Brentford, host Sunderland in a battle of surprise chasers of continental football.

Everton are struggling at their new stadium, so Wolves are either the best or worst visitors they could have tonight. In another glass-half-full/empty contest, Leeds (unbeaten in seven, with five draws) go to Newcastle. Eddie Howe’s side are improving, but they are also the last team to ever lose to Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United.

Updated at 19.41 CET

The Guardian

Morocco v Tanzania in Afcon last 16, Premier League reaction and more: clockwatch – live

Submitted by daniel on Sun, 04/01/2026 - 13:46

Fulham v Liverpool, Spurs 1-1 Sunderland, Afcon last 16 and more: clockwatch – live - The Guardian

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Report: Fulham 2-2 Liverpool

Perhaps they underestimated Harrison Reed. Certainly there was little reaction when the ball came back to the Fulham substitute with 96 minutes gone at Craven Cottage. Liverpool simply stood off Reed, almost daring the midfielder to shoot, and were made to regret their lack of urgency when one of Fulham’s more unfashionable players rescued a point for Marco Silva’s stubborn side by ripping a stunning shot into Alisson Becker’s top corner.

It was only the popular 30-year-old’s fourth goal in six years in west London, and it said a lot about the state of Liverpool this season. The champions, after all, had just gone 2-1 up through Cody Gakpo and should have defended their lead with more determination. Instead their complacency gave Fulham hope and left Arne Slot’s side ruing a missed opportunity to tighten their grip on fourth place.

Jacob Steinberg was at Craven Cottage, here’s his report:

Louise Taylor

Report: Newcastle 2-0 Crystal Palace

Eddie Howe describes January as “season defining” for his side and Newcastle’s manager looked suitably delighted to kick it off by collecting three points as Crystal Palace’s winless run continues.

Yet snapshots of a beaming Howe allied with the bald statistics do no quite tell the story of this often chaotic collision between the Carabao Cup and FA Cup holders. By the 78th minute, when a corner was dropped for Malick Thiaw to poke the ball past Dean Henderson, the disappointment writ large across Oliver Glasner’s face suggested the Crystal Palace manager knew the game was up.

Until then though, Palace had looked eminently capable of securing a draw from an ugly match almost as bleak as the bitter chill that ensured there would be no imminent thaw on a snowy, icebound Tyneside.

Read Louise Taylor’s full report from St James’ Park:

Goal! Morocco 1-0 Tanzania (Brahim Díaz 64)

That man again! Brahim Díaz breaks the deadlock and gets his fourth goal of the tournament with a fierce shot. Masalanga has to do better, though, the Real Madrid forward’s effort squirms through the Tanzania keeper an in.

Andy Hunter

Report: Everton 2-4 Brentford

Brentford’s previously dismal away form defies comprehension on this evidence. Keith Andrews’s team had the good fortune to encounter Everton’s worst performance of the season, admittedly, but with the rampant Igor Thiago capping a dominant display with a hat-trick the visitors moved up to seventh in the Premier League in style at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Only Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappé and Harry Kane have scored more goals across Europe’s top five divisions than Thiago this season. Only bottom club Wolves have lost more away games in the Premier League this season than Brentford. But an abysmal display by Everton provided the ideal tonic for a visiting team in search of confidence.

Read Andy Hunter’s full report from the Hill Dickinson Stadium:

Afcon: Hakimi has a free-kick from just outside the box and it’s a good one, forcing Tanzania keeper Masalanga to tip the effort on to the bar.

Kick-off is coming up shortly at the Etihad. Rob Smyth has updates from Manchester City v Chelsea here:

Afcon: Mohamed Hussein hits the bar and on the follow-up an off-balance Salum fires over with the goal wide open. Tanzania so close.

Billy Munday

Report: Tottenham 1-1 Sunderland

Boos are becoming an increasingly frequent fixture at the end of Tottenham games. After travelling supporters had voiced their anger at the goalless draw at Brentford on Thursday, it was the home fans’ turn to vent their frustrations after a result against Sunderland that could easily have been worse.

After a promising first-half display and Ben Davies’ opener, this draw will be even more disappointing for Thomas Frank having seen how his team were outplayed after the break by a Sunderland team still heavily depleted by players away on international duty. Brian Brobbey’s 80th-minute equaliser came at a time when the visitors were considerably the better side and perhaps looked like taking all three points.

Read Billy Munday’s full report from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium:

Interesting questions via email from David Wall:

If Brentford are able to maintain their performances from the first half of the season should Keith Andrews be a contender for manager of the year? He was slightly dismissed for being the set-piece coach when he started (the new ‘just a PE teacher’) but they’re really in contention for a European place.

Also, do you think that Marco Silva would do well at Chelsea if they decided against promoting Rosenior? He’s used to making do with the players he’s given (though in Fulham’s case that’s more due to lack of transfers rather than someone else choosing for him), which is supposedly the conditions that a Chelsea manager has to work in.

On the first question, that’s a big if. There’s not a lot of consistency from the teams in mid-table. Brentford have definitely surprised people but today was a suprise because their away record isn’t great.

Second question, no. Silva would not be happy with the meddling model at Stamford Bridge.

Full-time: Fulham 2-2 Liverpool

Incredible drama at Craven Cottage, but Liverpool remain too soft.

Goal! Fulham 2-2 Liverpool (Reed 90+6)

OH MY WORD! That is outstanding from Harrison Reed! No one closes down the midfielder as he picks the ball up 30 yards out and unleashes a swerving shot that gives Alisson no chance as it swerves away from his outstretched glove into the top corner.

Updated at 18.17 CET

Goal! Fulham 1-2 Liverpool (Gakpo 90+4)

Drama! Finally Gakpo has one that will count, but this is all about the ball from Frimpong. It’s a wicked ball that no one deals with as it bounces across the six-yard box and there is Gakpo to prod home. He whips his shirt off in celebration and has to take a booking, worth it.

Updated at 18.18 CET

Afcon: It’s goalless at the break in Rabat. I’ll have more updates on that when the second-half kicks off shortly.

Seven minutes added at Craven Cottage. Will we get a winner?

EFL full-time scores

Championship

Blackburn 2-2 Charlton Athletic

Bristol City 0-0 Preston

Derby 1-2 Wrexham

Middlesbrough 4-0 Southampton

Millwall 2-1 Swansea

Norwich 0-2 Stoke

League One

Blackpool 2-1 Bradford

Cardiff 1-0 Wigan

Huddersfield 2-2 Exeter City

Plymouth Argyle 3-0 Burton

Reading 1-0 Stockport

Wycombe 2-0 AFC Wimbledon

Full-time: Everton 2-4 Brentford

Igor Thiago on fire as the Bees go seventh.

Full-time: Newcastle 2-0 Crystal Palace

The Eagles are now without a win in five.

Full-time: Tottenham 1-1 Sunderland

More boos at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Goal! Everton 2-4 Brentford (Barry 90+1)

Grealish makes this, he jinks through the Brentford box and stands the ball up to the back post for Barry to head in. Too little, too late.

Most of the 3pm games are in added time…

Goal! Everton 1-4 Brentford (Igor Thiago 88)

That’s his hat-trick! With Everton leaving huge gaps at the back, the Brentford man is played in one-on-one but has lots to do. Tarkowski is chasing back but only to see the Brentford man dink it over Pickford to make it 4-1.

Wilson so close to putting Fulham back ahead! Jiminez is played in and while Allison comes out to deny the striker the ball comes to Wilson who lofts a shot golward only to see it come back off the bar.

Close from Keane! Garner’s sharp cross picks out Michael Keane but his header is wide. It was a tough one from outside the six-yard box and an awkward angle.

League One: Lewis Wing has put Reading 1-0 up against Stockport, Laurent Tolay has made it 3-0 for Plymouth against Burton.

Ambitious from Beto. The Everton strikes turns and fires from fully 30 yards out but it goes way over. The home side are pushing but can’t apply consistent pressure.

Afcon: It’s still 0-0 in Rabat as with tick into the 45th minute.

Goal Tottenham 1-1 Sunderland (Brobbey 80)

Enzo Le Fée had just hit the post but he turns provider to find Brian Brobbey who lashes home the finishes. Spurs were much better the team in the first half but have not pressed home the advantage and are punished.

Updated at 17.44 CET

Goal! Newcastle 2-0 Crystal Palace (Thiaw 78)

Hard to see Palace coming back from this. A dangerous inswinging corner from Gordon drops to Thiaw inside the six-yard box, who bundles home.

Updated at 17.55 CET

The Guardian

Crystal Palace v Tottenham: Premier League – live

Submitted by daniel on Sun, 28/12/2025 - 15:15

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Last time out, both teams coming off a defeat:

Palace had that disappointing loss in the Carabao Cup to Arsenal this week, from which Oliver Glasner makes four changes. Dean Henderson has the gloves, while Nathaniel Clyne starts in defence and Will Hughes and Justin Devenny play in midfield.

Suspension robs Spurs of Xavi Simons and Cristian Romero for their red cards against Liverpool, as Richarlison and Kevin Danso come in.

The benches:

Palace: Benitez, Nketiah, Uche, Esse, Canvot, Sosa, Rodney, Benamar, Drakes-Thomas.

Tottenham: Kinsky, Dragusin, Joao Palhinha, Tel, Johnson, Takai, Odobert,

Davies, Scarlett.

The referee is Jarred Gillett (Australia)

The starting teams

Crystal Palace: Henderson; Lerma, Lacroix, Guéhi; Clyne, Wharton, Hughes, Mitchell; Pino, Devenny; Mateta.

Tottenham: Vicario; Pedro Porro, Danso, Van de Ven, Spence; Gray, Bentancur; Kudus, Bergvall, Kolo Muani; Richarlison.

It’s been a golden year for Crystal Palace. This is their last of 2025.

That Thomas Frank is under pressure is no secret. Though he is a tough character and pulls few punches.

At Brøndby, I didn’t win the first eight games and then we were unbeaten in nine,” he said. “At Brentford, we lost eight out of 10 games and then we were unbeaten in 10. So I am convinced we will see a similar pattern here. I’m not in doubt of that. Because I know how to make a competitive team. We will make a very competitive team here, as well.

Preamble

The pressure’s on for Thomas Frank. Spurs are having last season all over again, and he was supposed to be the manager to change things. Oliver Glasner meanwhile, can do no wrong, aside from sign a new Crystal Palace contract. A Palace win would put them into the reaches of the top five, while Tottenham can go a point behind the Eagles should they win at Selhurst. Maybe that wouldn’t be so bad, after all.

Kick-off at 4.30pm. Join me.

The Guardian

Tottenham v Liverpool: Premier League – live

Submitted by daniel on Sat, 20/12/2025 - 16:29

Early team news

James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Dominic Solanke, Radu Dragusin and Koto Takai remain sidelined for Tottenham, while Pape Mater Sarr and Yves Bissouma are away at Afcon.

As previously mentioned, Mo Salah is also away in Morocco with Egypt, while Dominik Szoboszlai, who along with Pedro Porro is one booking away from getting Christmas off, will undergo a late fitness test on the ankle injury that forced him off the pitch during Liverpool’s win over Brighton last weekend.

Joe Gomez has been ruled out with a hamstring injury, while Wataru Endo, Cody Gakpo and Giovanni Leoni are also unavailable. Conor Bradley is back from suspension and Jeremie Frimpong has been passed fit and will be in the squad after two months out.

Premier League: Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool

The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is the venue for today’s late-afternoon skirmish between two sides currently engaged in a spirited race to see who can look more profoundly confused by the concept of defending.

Spurs come into this one fresh from a 3-0 shellacking at the hands of Nottingham Forest, a performance that could scarcely have been more listless and ramped up the pressure on Thomas Frank. They are, of course, missing half a squad to injury and Afcon, with long-term absentees James Maddison and Dominic Solanke still inhabiting the treatment room, while Yves Bissouma (Mali) and Pape Matar Sarr (Senegal) enjoy the balmy warmth of West Africa—a luxury not afforded to Spurs fans currently shivering in North London.

Liverpool, meanwhile, arrive as defending champions in name only, their title defence having hit an iceberg somewhere around mid-October. While they are unbeaten in five in all competitinos, Arne Slot is still dealing with the fallout of the Salah-gate, but with the Egyptian King also away at Afcon, Liverpool’s Dutch head coach can at least focus on whether Hugo Ekitike can continue his one-man mission to prove that Alexander Isak is little more than a very expensive decoy.

The last time these two met, Liverpool won 5-1, but given both teams’ recent penchant for slapstick comedy at the back, we could be in for anything from a 0-0 snoozefest to a 12-goal thriller that leaves the tactical analysts needing a lie-down in a darkened room. Kick-off is at 5.30pm (GMT) but stay tuned in the meantime for team news and build-up.

The Guardian

FA Cup third-round draw: Macclesfield to face holders Crystal Palace, Spurs will host Aston Villa – as it happened

Submitted by daniel on Mon, 08/12/2025 - 19:01

Thanks for joining me. Hope your side got the draw they wanted.

Join me here for more fun …

Preamble

The third round draw of the FA Cup is upon us, when all the big names are thrown into a big hat with some right minnows. Most notable of the those lower down the pyramid are Weston-super-Mare and Macclesfield, who will be hoping to face Premier League sides.

The will be played around the weekend of 10/11 January but we can safely assume Friday and Monday nights will host a fixture.

The all-important ball numbers are below:

The Guardian

Manchester United v West Ham, Tottenham v Aston Villa, and more: WSL clockwatch – live

Submitted by daniel on Sun, 07/12/2025 - 11:03

Key events

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Spurs 0-0 Aston Villa: It doesn’t look great for Jess Naz, who has been a livewire for Tottenham this afternoon but has just been stretchered off the pitch after a worrying knock. Martha Thomas replaces her.

GOAL! Manchester United 1-1 West Ham (Martinez, 53)

There is the sucker punch United would have feared! It’s Shekiera Martinez who has levelled with a superb effort.

Silence befalls Leigh Sports Village.

RED CARD! Océane Deslandes (Aston Villa)

This may make things easier for Spurs. Deslandes has flown into a tackle on Tottenham’s Olivia Holdt and the referee, Abigail Byrne, has shown her a second yellow card.

Villa will have to survive the final 20 minutes or so with 10 players.

The pattern of this game hasn’t changed from minute one: City possession, City probing, Leicester defending… but no City goals.

“There’s more goals coming,” says Sue Smith on Sky Sports’ WSL multi-view – a great tool to follow all the action. I really hope she’s right.

United v West Ham is back under way too, by the way.

Marc Skinner will be eager to see his side bag a second goal to curb any nervousness.

London City Lionesses v Brighton resumes. We’re getting some seriously staggered games this lunchtime. The visitors are 1-0 up at Bromley, don’t forget, via that early Seike strike.

Tottenham v Aston Villa is back under way at Brisbane Road and Spurs have resumed with a real spring in their step, having had the better of a tepid first half without truly challenging Sabrina D’Angelo in the Villa goal.

Spurs can pressurise Arsenal with a win today.

HT: Manchester United 1-0 West Ham.

It’s been far from an ideal afternoon for West Ham so far. They arrived late at Leigh Sports Village due to traffic and they now trail having barely had a kick in that first half – bar the odd counter-attack.

The only silver lining amid the Greater Manchester cloud is that it’s only 1-0 and the situation is still retrievable. They’ll have to play better, mind you.

Three added minutes. Can West Ham produce an equaliser from out of the ether?

Toone’s cross is then squirrelled clear as the visitors look to avoid any further damage to the deficit before half-time.

More on that United opener: It came via a good low cross from Anna Sandberg who had charged down the left flank to feed Terland. The Norwegian striker then provided an emphatic finish to make it 1-0.

Five minutes plus added time remaining at LSV.

Half time scores

Leicester 0-0 Manchester City

London City 0-1 Brighton

Tottenham 0-0 Aston Villa

It’s Manchester United 1-0 West Ham after around 40 minutes. We can only hope for more entertainment and action in the second halves.

GOAL! Manchester United 1-0 West Ham (Terland, 38)

United finally find the goal their dominance has warranted! Elisabeth Terland had previously squandered a good few chances but makes no mistake on this occasion.

Updated at 14.00 CET

The half-time whistle has gone at Brisbane Road and it’s Tottenham 0-0 Aston Villa.

Some EIGHT minutes have been added on at the King Power. A result of those numerous injury stoppages.

Heading towards first-half added time. Can City find a way through this stubborn Leicester defence? Can we have a goal anywhere else?

Only half an hour has surpassed at United, of course.

It’s been a bit stop-start in the past few minutes due to various knocks. Miedema seems to be struggling with something.

Come on teams, give us another goal …

In other news… Bunny Shaw has put yet ANOTHER chance off target, this time heading over from six or seven yards.

Fully triple-screening now with the games involving the Manchester clubs and Spurs v Villa… although I realise that means I’m focussing on the three games that haven’t actually had a goal.

Manchester United should be 1-0 up through Terland but somehow Kinga Szemik has made a superb save in the West Ham goal to keep it goalless. Dominique Janssen also fired the rebound wide for United when it looked easier to score. Good grief.

The visitors continue to probe. How long can Leicester continue this laudable level of resistance?

Spurs have created the better openings against Aston Villa but have been unable to break through. The same can definitely be said for City at Leicester. They would have expected to score by now.

United have started strongly against West Ham with Hinata Miyazawa whizzing the first chance of the game just past the post, possibly via a deflection. The Japanese midfield metronome is enjoying a really impressive season.

Penalty saved by London City’s Spanish goalkeeper, Elene Lete!

It was a sloppy tackle by Wassa Sangaré to concede the spot-kick, but Brighton’s Madison Haley – who was fouled to earn the penalty – could not find a way beyond a sprawling Lete. Still just 1-0 to the visitors.

City have to be a bit slicker to break them down.

United v West Ham is now under way.

Marc Skinner’s side cannot afford to lose any more points after a rocky run of recent form.

It’s pinball in the box after that corner and Bunny Shaw really should have made it 1-0 after the ball fell kindly to her. Goodness me, how has she put that wide?

Updated at 13.15 CET

City still well on top at the King Power, with Leicester seeking to keep bodies behind the ball.

Rick Passmoor demanded determined defending from his Leicester troops before kick-off but we’ve not seen anything of the kind in these early stages. It seems like a matter of ‘when’ Manchester City score, rather than ‘if’.

GOAL! London City 0-1 Brighton (Seike, 6)

After a quiet start in Bromley in that game between the two middle-ranks, Kiko Seike breaks the deadlock for Brighton! It came from a rapid counter-attack.

Updated at 13.17 CET

City are wearing their change strip, which is mostly grey with fluorescent socks. It’s a novel look.

Updated at 13.05 CET

KICK OFF

Leicester v Man City, Spurs v Villa and London City v Brighton all get off and running. Let’s do this thing.

“We’ve made this a fortress over the past few years,” Leicester boss Rick Passmoor tells Sky Sports before kick-off. “We know the fans here will back us and make a noise.

“It’s important that we’re resilient off the ball and deliver our game-plan from the first whistle. I want to show the true identity of Leicester City, so the minimum is the work rate and the togetherness, and to be ruthless in the final third when we get the opportunity.”

We’re going to start our coverage by focussing on Manchester City, the league leaders, and their clash at Leicester.

Remember United v West Ham will not kick off until 12.15. We’ll have updates and goal flashes from all the games, of course.

Sky Sports have asked a good few WSL stars what their favourite Christmas film is and it seems Home Alone is the majority pick. A film made in 1990 – before many of the players were born! That shows how the standard of Christmas films has dropped in the past 30 years.

Not much love for Love Actually, which is disappointing.

Manchester United boss Marc Skinner has gone strong with his team today. Whenever he has rotated this season it hasn’t really worked – and depth remains a big issue for this United squad, who have dropped off after a stunning start to the season.

The prospect of Jess Park, Melvine Malard, Ella Toone and Elisabeth Terland playing together in a fluid front four should be a really exciting one for United fans. It’s also a big boon for them to have Phallon Tullis-Joyce back in goal, as she returns from a fractured eye socket – she’ll play in a protective mask.

West Ham are without recently-capped England defender Anouk Denton, which could be a big loss. They’ve won just once in nine WSL outings this season.

Kerstin Casparij takes the captain’s armband for Manchester City at the King Power Stadium today. City can put a healthy six-point buffer between themselves and title rivals Chelsea at the WSL summit by beating Leicester today. Chelsea, of course, will be hoping to cut that lead – praying for a slip-up from Andrée Jeglertz’s team.

Manchester United v West Ham team news

Belatedly, here’s how United will line up at the Progress with Unity Stadium, AKA Leigh Sports Village, at that slightly later kick-off time.

Manchester United: Tullis-Joyce, Sandberg, Le Tissier, Toone, Park, Malard, Terland, Riviere, Janssen, Zigiotti, Miyazawa.

The West Ham team has not yet been announced. It’ll be revealed here when it is.

And here it is …

West Ham: Szemik, Endo, Siren, Tysiak, Ueki, Nystrom, Martinez, Asseyi, Gorry, Morgan, Hanshaw.

Updated at 12.35 CET

Manchester United have announced that their game against West Ham will kick off at 12.15pm (GMT) – 15 minutes later than originally scheduled, because of “logistical issues affecting the arrival time of the visiting team”.

The clubs have apologised for any inconvenience caused to supporters by the late change in timings. Team news for that contest will follow.

Team news for matches at Leicester, London City and Spurs

Leicester v Manchester City

Leicester: Leitzig, Tierney, Boureille, Cayman, Ale, Eiríksdóttir, Thibaud, Cain, McLoughlin, O’Brien, Swaby.

Man City: Yamashita, Rose, Shaw, Miedema, Hemp, Ouahabi, Casparij, Blinkilde Brown, Fujino, Hasegawa, Knaak.

London City Lionesses v Brighton

London City: Lete, Fernández, Kumagai, Asllani, Linari, Godfrey, Parris, Goodwin, Imuran, Sangaré, Geyoro.

Brighton: Nnadozie, Vanegas, Minami, Kafaji, Symonds, Seike, Noordam, Hayes, Olislagers, Haley, McLauchlan.

Tottenham v Aston Villa

Tottenham: Kop, Bartrip, Nildén, Naz, England, Holdt, Vinberg, Hunt, Spence, Summanen, Neville.

Aston Villa: D’Angelo, Maritz, Patten, Deslandes, Grant, Kendall, Taylor, Maltby, Daly, Salmon, Hanson.

Updated at 12.40 CET

Preamble

Welcome along to another packed Women’s Super League Sunday. These smorgasbords of midday starts are becoming quite the fixture in the WSL calendar nowadays and they’re usually lots of fun.

Today, Manchester United host West Ham at Leigh Sports Village, with Marc Skinner’s side looking to jump back into the top three with three points, while there are mid-table clashes between Spurs and Aston Villa, and London City and Brighton. Manchester City can (and very much should) extend their lead at the summit with victory at Leicester. Chelsea face Everton a little later, potentially looking to capitalise on any dropped points from City.

Let’s get right into it. Team news will follow.

The Guardian

Tottenham v Brentford, Manchester City v Sunderland, and more: football – live

Submitted by daniel on Sat, 06/12/2025 - 13:45

The major team news for the Premier League 3pms: Xavi Simons gets his first start for a month for Spurs, Cole Palmer is back for Chelsea, Andoni Iraola makes four changes to the Bournemouth team that lost meekly to Everton, Yoane Wissa is on the Newcastle bench and may make his debut today, Pep Guardiola plumps for Rayan Cherki over Tijani Reijnders and Michael Keane is back for Everton.

Charlton v Portsmouth game called off

In the Championship, Charlton v Portsmouth has been abandoned:

“Due to a medical emergency in the crowd, today’s match has been abandoned. We thank you for your patience and understanding. Everyone at the club sends their best wishes to the supporter affected and thank our medical team and first responders. Information on when the match will be rescheduled will be announced in due course.”

It was 0-0, the game was just 15 minutes in.

Preamble

Good afternoon. A full deck of 3pm Premier League kick-offs awaits, with several big hitters in play, though not all of them in form. The midweek round really shook stuff up. Join us for news of the following, and the latest from the EFL.

Bournemouth v. Chelsea

Everton v. Nottm Forest

Man City v. Sunderland

Newcastle v. Burnley

Tottenham Hotspur v. Brentford

The Guardian

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