The Guardian

Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur: Premier League – live

Submitted by daniel on Sat, 07/02/2026 - 11:00

Key events

Show key events only

Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature

Tottenham Hotspur, wearing second-choice yellow, get the ball rolling. They’re kicking towards the Stretford End in this first half.

The teams congregate in the Old Trafford tunnel. Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes helps his manager Michael Carrick to adjust his black armband, a small but touching moment of togetherness. Carrick and Thomas Frank lead their players out, each carrying a wreath which they place on the turf once trodden so elegantly by the Babes. A poignant beat … then a crackle of expectancy and excitement ahead of the big match. We’ll be off in a couple of minutes.

Updated at 13.32 CET

This is also the time of year when thoughts turn to the Busby Babes. The Munich disaster occurred 66 years ago yesterday, and Michael Carrick was among the many club representatives who yesterday honoured United’s fallen heroes in a memorial event. A separate matchday service took place earlier this morning, and flags at Old Trafford will fly at half-mast today, while the team will lay a wreath. Sleep well, Flowers of Manchester.

This weekend’s Premier League card is dedicated to the Premier League With Pride initiative. With Pride aims to “bring together the ongoing LGBTQ+ work the League and clubs carry out across the year to help deliver long-term change … with a focus on embedding three core themes: education, celebration and action.” There will be With Pride-themed handshake boards, ball plinths, assistants’ flags, substitution boards, perimeter LEDs and pin badges, though captains will wear standard Premier League armbands. More details can be found here.

Thomas Frank has talked to TNT. “We can keep building on the consistency and the performances we have shown … not only the City game but the Champions League games … we are ready for this game … [Manchester United] have a massive threat up front but we are ready for it … [Cristian Romero] is our captain and one of our most important players … [Micky van de Ven] is a top centre back … his partnership with [Romero] is very, very good and they are getting stronger and stringer together.”

Updated at 13.12 CET

So smoothly is Michael Carrick’s caretaker stint going, there’s just one change to Manchester United’s squad today. Tyler Fletcher, son of erstwhile United midfielder Darren, nudges out Scouse winger Shea Lacey. And while we’re on the subject of fresh talent on the periphery, here’s Richard Stant: “Great to see Lucá Williams-Barnett getting a spot on the bench. He’s going to be an amazing player … although as he’s at Tottenham he’ll spend most of his career on the treatment table.”

Michael Carrick speaks to TNT Sports. “Ben [Šeško] is going to be a big player here for a long time … everything about him is really encouraging … it was a huge moment for him last week … I’m sure he’ll have more of those … he’ll come on and make a difference again for us … [Tottenham] are a good team with some really good players … we’ve got to be aware of that … it’s not going to be perfect … if we do it with the right intent, and the supporters feel it, and we bounce off each other, we’ve got a good chance … we want to look good with and without the ball.”

Michael Carrick is in an if-it-ain’t-broke frame of mind. His Manchester United are unchanged from the 3-2 win over Fulham. Matthijs de Ligt, Mason Mount and Patrick Dorgu are all injured.

Spurs boss Thomas Frank makes three changes to his starting XI following the 2-2 draw with Manchester City. Micky van de Ven, Wilson Odobert and Pape Matar Sarr are in; Randal Kolo Muani, Radu Drăgușin and Yves Bissouma drop to the bench.

Updated at 12.32 CET

The teams

Manchester United: Lammens, Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw, Casemiro, Mainoo, Diallo, Fernandes, Cunha, Mbeumo.

Subs: Bayindir, Mazraoui, Zirkzee, Malacia, Yoro, Ugarte, Heaven, Sesko, Tyler Fletcher.

Tottenham Hotspur: Vicario, Joao Palhinha, Romero, van de Ven, Gray, Gallagher, Sarr, Udogie, Odobert, Simons, Solanke.

Subs: Kinsky, Dragusin, Bissouma, Tel, Souza, Muani, Olusesi, Byfield, Williams-Barnet.

Referee: Michael Oliver.

VAR: Paul Tierney.

Updated at 12.32 CET

Preamble

The cynics will tell you that Manchester United have just taken their first three innocent missteps into another cycle of caretaker-boom-then-bust … but didn’t they look genuinely good against the top two teams in the land? Tottenham Hotspur meanwhile languish in 14th spot with home fans revolting … but what a second-half comeback against Manchester City last week, a performance that followed their securing of fourth spot in the Champions League first phase!

All of which is all a long-winded way of saying: here are two teams nobody can quite get a handle on right now. United have won three on the bounce under Solskjær-du-jour Michael Carrick, and sucker-punched Spurs in the last minute at New White Hart Lane last November; Spurs are unbeaten in four and clean-swept United last season, ultimately in silverware-collecting style. So good luck predicting this meeting of two of the most entertainingly erratic, but always so goddamn glamorous, clubs in the world. Kick-off is at 12.30pm. It’s on!

The Guardian

Premier League news, Manchester United v Spurs buildup, and more – matchday live

Submitted by daniel on Sat, 07/02/2026 - 08:15

Key events

Show key events only

Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature

It’s a Manchester 1-2 in the Women’s Super League although City are absolutely running away with it. United travel to Leicester in the only WSL fixture today. It kicks off at 12pm which is a bit daft given that the men’s team are in action at 12.30pm. What if you’re a big fan of both? Anyway, here’s the table. United will hope to cut the gap to eight points.

Premier League team news. Okay, the fantasy deadline has already gone due to Leeds playing Nottingham Forest last night but for those who love to ponder starting XIs, see who’s crocked and check current form along with each club’s top scorer, this is the article just for you.

Man Utd v Spurs team news will be with you at 11.15pm today by the way.

All games across the EFL will kick off a minute later than usual today and there’s a very good reason why.

It’s part of the Every Minute Matters campaign which calls on football fans across the country to learn CPR and help build an army of 500,000 lifesavers during Heart Month.

The gesture serves as a powerful reminder that every minute counts when someone suffers a cardiac arrest - with survival chances dropping by up to 10% for every minute without CPR or defibrillation.

Micah Richards has joined forces with Bristol Rovers defender, Tom Lockyer, who suffered a cardiac arrest in December 2023 when playing for Luton.

Former Manchester City defender and now TV pundit, Richards said: “Every Minute Matters is a brilliant partnership that is just bigger than football. Learning CPR takes just 15 minutes, and it could save a life. It doesn’t get bigger than that.

“Listening to Tom and seeing what he has achieved is inspirational. We’re asking fans to ‘Show Your Heart’ this February and learn one of the most important skills of all, CPR.

“If football can do this and create an army of half a million lifesavers, it would be an incredible achievement.”

After an appalling tally a fortnight ago, I managed a healthy haul of 80 Premier League Fantasy points last week. That was mainly thanks to the blossoming relationship of Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike. There was an Opta start doing the rounds later that the Liverpool pair have combined for six goals in all competitions this season, more than any other Premier League duo. They’s assisted each other three times. It’s pretty obvious that Wirtz and Ekitike are now the heartbeat of the Liverpool attack, with Mo Salah’s influence receding.

Having said all that, I’ve captained Bruno Fernandes (v Spurs) this weekend. You?

Whoops, I forgot to mention two other Friday matches. Perhaps because neither witnessed a goal.

In Ligue 1, bottom club Metz did well to hold fifth-placed Lille to a 0-0 draw while there were also blanks in a Championship London derby. Charlton 0-0 QPR left the hosts in 17th while the visitors snuck up a place to 10th. It’s cramped around the playoff spots, as you can see.

So what else happened on Friday night? A quick spin through some of the games in Europe.

Serie A

Verona 0-0 Pisa. A goalless draw between the two bottom teams. Not very helpful for either.

La Liga

Celta Vigo 1-2 Osasuna. A good away win for Osasuna, who nudged up to eighth, one spot behind Celta. The hosts could have gone fifth with a win but Osasuna stole the points via a late goal from Raúl García de Haro.

Bundesliga

Union Berlin 1-1 Eintracht Frankfurt. It all happened late here with both goals and a red card in the final six minutes. Frankfurt are now managed by former Liverpool winger, Albert Riera, but he was denied a winning start by Leopold Querfeld’s 87th-minute penalty.

The Premier League kicked off last night with a crucial game at a windy and rainy Elland Road. And, for the fifth straight time this season, Leeds won a night game in front of their home fans. Supporters and atmosphere make a difference, right. Here’s Aaron Bower’s match report.

And this is what it did to the table. Leeds are now nine points clear of the drop zone.

Yesterday was the 68th anniversary of the Munich Air Disaster. Manchester United boss, Michael Carrick, was asked what the remembrance meant to him.

Munich is probably the biggest part of the history of this club in terms of the tragedy itself, how the team and the football club bounced back from it and went on to success... and everything from there was carried on. Sir Alex when I came would mention it, it was important to him, it was important to us [the playing squad at the time] and then it becomes a way of life and a way of the club. I think it’s important that we carry that on. I was here for the 50th [anniversary], I was here for the 60th, we’ll see about the 70th, we’re not sure yet. But being aware of it and being around it, especially in those moments, you really feel that emotion to be honest with you. On Saturday, inside the stadium, we’ll feel it as well.

Today’s Premier League fixtures (3pm GMT kick-off unless stated otherwise):

Man Utd v Tottenham (12:30pm GMT)

Arsenal v Sunderland

Bournemouth v Aston Villa

Burnley v West Ham

Fulham v Everton

Wolves v Chelsea

Newcastle v Brentford (5:30pm GMT)

Preamble

There’s still something about a Saturday morning that can never be beaten in terms of sporting anticipation. And, if the feeling is mutual, you’ve come to the right place!

While you may want to dabble in the Winter Olympics and Six Nations later on (we have live blogs on both), this page is all about the football. And what a cracker we have to start things off at 12.30pm – rejuvenated Manchester United v rejuvenated Tottenham. Although the latter refers to one good half against Man City, let’s go with it.

It’s one of seven Saturday fixtures in the Premier League, with two on Sunday including the blockbuster that is Liverpool v Manchester City. If you’re finger counting and have only reached nine, that’s because we’ve already had Leeds v West Ham. More on that Friday result shortly.

And how about you? Off to a game? Let us know! Lots to discuss as we cast our eye around the football world so strap in and let’s get things on the road!

The Guardian

Tottenham v Man City: Premier League – live

Submitted by daniel on Sun, 01/02/2026 - 15:21

That Spurs bench tells its own story. Thomas Frank has been beset by injuries for the bulk of the season. He’s without Maddison, Kulusevski, Kudus, Van de Ven, Bentancur, Bergvall, Porro and Davies today – and that’s just off the top of my head.

Archie Gray at right-back certainly has a job on his hands to contain Antoine Semenyo, who Spurs tried to sign earlier in the window. The former Bournemouth man has been electric sign he joined City, slotting straight into Pep Guardiola’s preferred XI.

Against a Spurs defence that has looked vulnerable to say the least of late, he will surely be licking his lips.

Preamble

Welcome along to this the headline fixture of the Premier League weekend. Out-of-form Tottenham welcome title-challenging Manchester City in a game fans of both teams may well want City to win, given Spurs supporters’ preference to see Arsenal bottle fail to win the title.

There will be no such thoughts from Thomas Frank of course. The former Brentford coach desperately needs some league wins to go with his team’s positive Champions League campaign and, despite City’s lofty league standing, can have some hope of a decent result given this fixture’s recent history. Tottenham have won three of their last four games against Pep Guardiola’s side and eight of the last 15 dating back to 2020. People talk about Dr Tottenham but maybe City simply develop a strong case of Cityitis whenever they face Spurs.

It all gets under way at 4.30pm (GMT) at the the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Join us for team news and updates next, before match updates of course.

The Guardian

Champions League: Benfica keeper earns playoff place; Liverpool, Spurs and City book top-eight spots – as it happened

Submitted by daniel on Wed, 28/01/2026 - 20:06

Champions League: goals and action from all 18 matches in league phase finale – live - The Guardian

Key events

Show key events only

Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature

Pope saves Dembele's penalty!

Peep peep (x18)! The night o’ chaos is under way.

“What have you done to deserve this 18-match live blog from The Man?” writes Krishnamoothy V. “It feels like those simultaneous chess games that grandmasters play. My head would be scrambled and fried by half-time if I were to do this.”

They told me it was a birthday present.

GOAL!!! No, not really; it’s not even 8pm. I’m just getting ready for the orgy of goals that is about to begin.

PSG v Newcastle

“G’day Rob, hope you’re well!” writes the never-less-than-chipper Chris Paraskevas. “Newcastle’s rather awkward lineup doesn’t fill me with confidence at all. A front three of Willock, Woltemade and Elanga probably doesn’t strike fear into PSG, but their front three makes me feel very uncertain and awkward - like that time I turned up to my girlfriend’s high school prom with a Socceroos scarf and realised I was woefully out of my depth/underprepared on the big stage... Still hoping this will be a cracking match.”

I was surprised to see Gordon on the bench but I can understand Elanga’s selection given the likelihood that Newcastle will be forced to play on the break. Bruno not being fit enough to start is a huge blow.

Real Madrid, Liverpool and Spurs are guaranteed a top-eight place if they win tonight. For the rest, including Newcastle, Chelsea and Manchester City, it’s a bit more complicated.

Athletic Club v Sporting team news

Athletic Club Simon, Gorosabel, Paredes, Yuri, Boiro, Ruiz de Galarreta, Rego, Gomez, Sancet, Guruzeta, Navarro.

Subs: Padilla, Vesga, Berenguer, Areso, Lekue, Serrano, Hierro, de Luis, Ibon Sanchez, Selton Sanchez, Gift.

Sporting Rui Silva, Fresneda, Diomande, Inacio, Araujo, Hjulmand, Simoes, Catamo, Braganca, Trincao, Suarez.

Subs: Virginia, Francisco Silva, Matheus Reis, Morita, Pedro Goncalves, Vagiannidis, Kochorashvili, Alisson Santos, Flavio Goncalves, Quaresma, Nel, Ricardo Mangas.

Referee Felix Zwayer (Germany)

Thirteen minutes to kick off. A reminder that we have a separate live blog for Napoli v Chelsea, with John Brewin doing the honours.

“After defeat, get right back on the horse, isn’t it?” writes Charles Antaki. “Ideally a rough-riding war horse to test your mettle and give you back pride and confidence. Arsenal, though, have something a little less daunting in front of them; perhaps one of those small friendly ponies you see at petting zoos. No disrespect to Kairat FC of course, but they are bottom of the league. So maybe just a gentle canter round the ring for Arteta and his men? Of course, if they fall off this time, even though it won’t mean much in Champions League terms, there will be Unhappiness among the faithful.”

Union SG v Atalanta team news

Union SG Scherpen, Mac Allister, Burgess, Sykes, Patris, Van De Perre, Zorgane, Khalaili, Smith, Ait El Hadj, Florucz.

Subs: Chambaere, Fuseini, Schoofs, Niang, Keita, Berradi, Huygevelde, Hamoutahar, Leysen.

Atalanta Sportiello, Kossounou, Hien, Ahanor, Zappacosta, Musah, Ederson Silva, Bernasconi, Samardzic, Lookman, Krstovic.

Subs: Zalewski, Scalvini, Kolasinac, Djimsiti, De Ketelaere, de Roon, Scamacca, Pasalic, Sulemana, Carnesecchi, Rossi.

Referee Michael Oliver (England)

Barcelona v FC Copenhagen team news

Barcelona Joan Garcia, Kounde, Cubarsi, Gerard, Balde, Eric Garcia, Lopez, Yamal, Olmo, Raphinha, Lewandowski.

Subs: Szczesny, Kochen, Araujo, Torres, Rashford, Bernal, Torrents, Bardghji, Marques, Casado.

FC Copenhagen Kotarski, Meling, Hatzidiakos, Gabriel Pereira, Suzuki, Lopez, Larsson, Clem, Achouri, Elyounoussi, Dadason.

Subs: Runarsson, Gadeberg-Burr, Garananga, Claesson, Moukoko, Robert, Madsen, Moalem, Hojer, Ankamafio, West.

Referee Benoit Bastien (France)

Borussia Dortmund v Inter Milan team news

Borussia Dortmund Kobel, Can, Mane, Schlotterbeck, Ryerson, Bellingham, Nmecha, Bensebaini, Beier, Silva, Guirassy.

Subs: Ostrzinski, Meyer, Yan Couto, Brandt, Chukwuemeka, Adeyemi.

Inter Milan Sommer, Akanji, Acerbi, Bisseck, Luis Henrique, Sucic, Zielinski, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco, Bonny, Thuram.

Subs: Di Gennaro, Josep Martinez, de Vrij, Lautaro Martinez, Frattesi, Diouf, Carlos Augusto, Darmian, Cocchi, Bovo, Esposito, Bastoni.

Referee Istvan Kovacs (Romania)

Benfica v Real Madrid team news

Benfica Trubin, Dedic, Tomas Araujo, Otamendi, Dahl, Barreiro, Aursnes, Prestianni, Sudakov, Schjelderup, Pavlidis.

Subs: Ferreira, Antonio Silva, Barrenechea, Bruma, Ivanovic, Manu, Banjaqui, Neto, Oliveira, Anisio Cabral, Rego, Prioste.

Real Madrid Courtois, Valverde, Asencio, Huijsen, Carreras, Guler, Tchouameni, Bellingham, Mastantuono, Mbappe, Vinicius Junior.

Subs: Lunin, Gonzalez, Carvajal, Alaba, Camavinga, Rodrygo, Gonzalo Garcia, Ceballos, Francisco Garcia, Diaz, Aguado, Cestero.

Referee Davide Massa (Italy)

Liverpool v Qarabag

Remember the summer of 2008? That was when Pep Guardiola was appointed as first-team coach at Barcelona, Jürgen Klopp arrived at Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea gambled on a certain Luiz Felipe Scolari. Since then the west London club have had 12 different permanent managers. Qarabag, who Liverpool play in the Champions League on Wednesday, have had one: Gurban Gurbanov, also known as the Azerbaijani Sir Alex Ferguson.

Gurbanov has become one of the longest serving elite coaches in the world and he has built a remarkable empire, turning the club into a force to be reckoned with in European competitions.

This season is destined to be their best. As Qarabag visit Anfield on the last matchday of the league phase of the Champions League, they have a very good chance of qualifying for the next phase. They are 18th on 10 points, one ahead of European powerhouses such as Marseille, Bayer Leverkusen and PSV Eindhoven. Even a defeat may be enough to stay in the playoff places.

Liverpool v Qarabag team news

Ryan Gravenberch starts in defence for Liverpool, with Andy Robertson returning at left-back.

Liverpool Alisson, Frimpong, Gravenberch, Van Dijk, Robertson, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo, Ekitike.

Subs: Mamardashvili, Woodman, Endo, Kerkez, Chiesa, Nyoni, Nallo, Morrison, Ngumoha.

Qarabag FK Kochalski, Matheus Silva, Mustafazade, Medina, Cafarquliyev, Pedro Bicalho, Jankovic, Andrade, Montiel, Zoubir, Duran.

Subs: Ramazanov, Buntic, Mmaee, Kouakou, Akhundzade, Addai, Daniel, Kashchuk, Qurbanly, Bayramov, Abbas Huseynov, Badavi Huseynov.

Referee Ivan Kruzliak (Slovakia)

Paris Saint-Germain v Newcastle team news

A blow for Newcastle, whose captain Bruno Guimaraes is only fit enough for the bench.

Paris Saint-Germain Safonov, Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Nuno Mendes, Zaire Emery, Vitinha, Neves, Kvaratskhelia, Dembele, Barcola.

Subs: Chevalier, James, Lucas Beraldo, Zabarnyi, Goncalo Ramos, Doue, Hernandez, Mayulu, Mbaye.

Newcastle Pope, Thiaw, Botman, Burn, Hall, Miley, Ramsey, Tonali, Elanga, Willock, Woltemade.

Subs: Ramsdale, Trippier, Wissa, Gordon, Barnes, Osula, Jacob Murphy, Alex Murphy, Guimaraes, Shahar, Harris.

Referee Slavko Vincic (Slovenia)

Updated at 20.37 CET

Napoli v Chelsea

This is the first meeting between the sides since a classic tie in 2011-12. Chelsea came back from a 3-1 defeat in Naples to progress on a wild night at Stamford Bridge, and one of our own was there.

Napoli v Chelsea team news

Napoli Meret, Di Lorenzo, Juan Jesus, Buongiorno, Spinazzola, Lobotka, McTominay, Olivera, Vergara, Elmas, Hojlund.

Subs: Contini, Spinelli, Gutierrez, Lukaku, Beukema, De Chiara, Garofalo.

Chelsea: Sanchez, Gusto, James, Fofana, Cucurella, Santos, Caicedo, Estevao, Fernandez, Pedro Neto, Joao Pedro.

Subs: Jorgensen, Merrick, Badiashile, Delap, Palmer, Bynoe-Gittens, Hato, Chalobah, George, Acheampong, Guiu, Garnacho.

Referee Clement Turpin (France)

PSV v Bayern Munich team news

PSV Kovar, Dest, Schouten, Obispo, Junior, Til, Veerman, Man, Wanner, Perisic, Saibari.

Subs: Schiks, Smolenaars, Saleh-Eddine, Flamingo, Driouech, Bajraktarevic, Sildialli, Fernandez, Nagalo, Verkooijen.

Bayern Munich Urbig, Bischof, Upamecano, Tah, Ito, Kimmich, Pavlovic, Karl, Musiala, Diaz, Jackson.

Subs: Neuer, Ulreich, Gnabry, Goretzka, Kane, Olise, Davies, Boey, Kiala, Mike, Chavez.

Referee Joao Pedro Pinheiro (Portugal)

Arsenal v FC Kairat team news

With Arsenal already sure of a place int he last 16, Mikel Arteta has picked a (very, very strong) reserve team.

Arsenal Arrizabalaga, White, Mosquera, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly, Eze, Norgaard, Havertz, Madueke, Gyokeres, Martinelli.

Subs: Setford, Gabriel, Hincapie, Zubimendi, Odegaard, Saka, Trossard, Gabriel Jesus, Salmon, Porter, Ibrahim, Bailey-Joseph.

FC Kairat Anarbekov, Shirobokov, Martynovich, Sorokin, Tapalov, Glazer, Sadybekov, Mata, Mrynskiy, Edmilson, Jorginho.

Subs: Buch, Kalmurza, Kasabulat, Kurgin, Stanojev, Gromyko, Bagdat, Ricardinho.

Referee Urs Schnyder (Switzerland)

Updated at 20.15 CET

Man City v Galatasaray team news

Erling Haaland returns to the City side after being rested against Wolves at the weekend.

Man City Donnarumma, Matheus Luiz, Khusanov, Ake, Ait Nouri, O’Reilly, Cherki, Silva, Marmoush, Doku, Haaland.

Subs: Trafford, Bettinelli, Reijnders, Gonzalez, Foden, Gray, Mukasa, Alleyne, Lewis, Mfuni.

Galatasaray Cakir, Sallai, Sanchez, Bardakci, Jakobs, Gundogan, Lemina, Sane, Gabriel Sara, Baris Yilmaz, Osimhen.

Subs: Sen, Guvenc, Icardi, Yunus Akgun, Elmali, Kutucu, Ayhan, Torreira, Kahraman, Karasu, Kocak, Singo.

Referee Alejandro Hernandez (Spain)

Updated at 20.15 CET

Eintracht Frankfurt v Tottenham Hotspur team news

Randal Kolo Muani and Wilson Odobert, who were involved in a car accident yesterday, both start for Spurs.

Eintracht Frankfurt Santos, Amenda, Koch, Theate, Buta, Hojlund, Larsson, Brown, Skhiri, Gotze, Knauff.

Subs: Zetterer, Grahl, Chaibi, Dahoud, Kristensen, Bahoya, Doan, Chandler, Collins, Doumbia, Dills, Staff.

Tottenham Hotspur Vicario, Spence, Romero, Danso, Udogie, Gray, Joao Palhinha, Odobert, Sarr, Simons, Muani.

Subs: Kinsky, Austin, Solanke, Scarlett, Kyerematen, Hardy, Byfield, Rowswell, Olusesi, Hall.

Referee Jesus Gil Manzano (Spain)

Updated at 20.16 CET

David Hytner

Eintracht Frankfurt v Tottenham Hotspur

Thomas Frank’s preparations for the Champions League game at Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday night have been rocked by injuries to Pedro Porro and Micky van de Ven – and a car crash affecting Randal Kolo Muani and Wilson Odobert.

The Tottenham manager reported that Kolo Muani and Odobert were OK after pictures emerged on social media of them standing by a black Ferrari with significant damage to its front end.

It is understood that the car belongs to Kolo Muani and had a tyre blowout on the motorway. Odobert was following behind in a separate vehicle and stopped to check on him. The players were making their way from the Spurs training ground to Stansted airport for the team flight to Frankfurt. Frank said neither had boarded it and they had to take a different flight to Frankfurt later on Tuesday night.

Jonathan Wilson

Has there been a great game in the Champions League group stage this season? Probably not. Even if there had been, it almost certainly didn’t mean all that much. But that’s the way of the modern game: an extremely protracted clearing of the throat before the real business begins.

Uefa will proudly tell the world that only six teams have nothing to play for in the final round of games on Wednesday, but whether it was worth 126 games to get to the mild peril of Napoli or Club Brugge possibly going out, or the questionable thrill of finding out whether Tottenham or Atalanta will have to endure the playoff round, is debatable.

The permutations

Look, it’s really complicated. But Billy Munday and Michael Butler have put together this very useful guide to what the 36 teams (well, 32, as four of them are out) need to do tonight.

The Champions League table (as it stands)

Preamble

Hello and welcome to live, goal-by-goal coverage of matchday eight in the Champions League. It’s the last night of the league phase, which means all 36 teams are playing simultaneously and every football fan on planet earth has the phrase “as it stands” on their lips.

This is the sophomore season of the Champions League’s Swiss model, so we’re still getting used to the unique chaos of this final round of fixtures. For those unfamiliar with the new format, let’s get down to brass tacks.

The top eight teams go straight through to the round of 16.

The teams finishing between ninth and 24th go into the playoff round, the draw for which takes place on Friday. Each team goes into a particular bracket based on their position: for example, with the current positions, Manchester City (11th) and Atletico Madrid (12th) would play either Monaco (21st) or PSV Eindhoven (22nd). The winners of those ties would then play Spurs (5th) or Paris Saint-Germain (6th) in the last 16.

The teams who finish between 25th and 36th get nada. Zilch. Bugger all. Not even a Conference League parachute.

City are the only English team outside the top eight going into tonight’s games, but the table is Spandex-tight: there are only two points separating Real Madrid in third and Atalanta in 13th. Arsenal and Bayern Munich have qualified for the last 16; the rest all have work to do.

We’ll attempt to keep across all 18 matches but neurological and physical restrictions may preclude this, so our main focus will be the six English teams. Here’s the full fixture list, all 8pm kick-offs.

Arsenal v Kairat Almaty

Athletic Club v Sporting CP

Atletico Madrid v Bodo/Glimt

Ajax v Olympiacos

Barcelona v Copenhagen

Bayer Leverkusen v Villarreal

Benfica v Real Madrid

Borussia Dortmund v Inter

Club Brugge v Marseille

Eintracht Frankfurt v Tottenham Hotspur

Liverpool v Qarabag

Man City v Galatasaray

Monaco v Juventus

Napoli v Chelsea

Pafos v Slavia Prague

Paris Saint-Germain v Newcastle

PSV Eindhoven v Bayern Munich

Union SG v Atalanta

The Guardian

Tottenham v Borussia Dortmund: Champions League – live

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

Key events

Show key events only

Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature

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

Key events

Show key events only

Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature

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

Key events

Show key events only

Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature

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

Key events

Show key events only

Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature

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

Subscribe to The Guardian