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Brentford were held to a goalless draw with Tottenham on Thomas Frank’s return to his former club as Spurs supporters sang "boring, boring Tottenham" at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Frank joined Spurs in the summer after six-and-a-half years in charge of Brentford and earned a 2-0 victory over his old side just 26 days ago, but they struggled to pose a threat in west London as the away fans lost patience with their performance, booing them off at half-time and full-time.

Spurs fans sang the songs of their former stars like Dele, Moussa Dembele, Eric Dier and even former boss Martin Jol during the first half and then delivered a damning 'boring, boring Tottenham' late in the second period.

Asked where supporters need to be more understanding, Frank said: "That question is very difficult for me to answer. We are going off a few boos after the game and I'm not reading anything on social media or articles.

"I watch the team and I'm very aware that we are not where I want us to be."

As it happened | Teams | Stats

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Tottenham, though, did have more shots on target than Brentford and recorded more xG than the hosts, but goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher was untroubled by the toothless attack.

Frank has made his mark on Spurs, with this their seventh clean sheet of the season in the Premier League, more than the six under Ange Postecoglou across the entirety of last season.

A drab first half from both sides saw Brentford's Kevin Schade have a fifth-minute tap-in ruled out for offside while Archie Gray's goal-bound header was crucially blocked by Nathan Collins for Spurs.

Brentford improved after the break, unlike Tottenham. Spurs captain Cristian Romero, back from suspension, was fortunate to escape a potential red card for his last-man foul on Igor Thiago, who was brought down when the defender missed his clearance and then handled the ball.

"I thought it was a red card," said Brentford boss Keith Andrews. "I felt Spurs were very lucky."

A minute later, Gray went down in the box under a challenge from Schade which went unpunished by referee Andy Madley before the VAR cleared the incident.

The hosts' Keane Lewis-Potter missed his kick when well-placed in the box, while Thiago skied an effort from close range. Vitaly Janelt also forced a good save from Guglielmo Vicario with a header as Spurs held on for a point.

Frank: Defence was excellent but we lacked cutting edge

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank:

"The positive is that against a very good home team that you need to respect with the results they've had where they're beating Liverpool, Man United, Newcastle, Villa, drawing with Chelsea, and keeping them to that low amount of chances, chances and seven shots in total.

"That's a very, very strong defensive performance. I think the back four did excellently, the whole team did excellently.

"The amount of unforced errors is the biggest negative, and that's the bit that then takes out eight, nine, half transitions where you're not getting into good positions. And then when we were up there, we lacked the cutting edge on the day."

Andrews: Spurs respected us

Brentford boss Keith Andrews:

"We edged it in the second half, for sure. If anyone was going to go and win the game, I felt it would be us. I felt we were building momentum, we were sustaining attacks, we were getting into good areas.

"The way they were playing, slowing the game down, not wanting us to gain momentum, it was always going to be difficult to just keep that going. I felt we did and I felt we created a few decent opportunities. Unfortunately, we couldn't take them.

"Thomas knows his club better than I do. So, he's very aware of what can happen here. And when the electricity starts to get going within the stadium, the fans, the players feed off that, vice versa, it's a very dangerous place to come and play.

"I thought he was very respectful of the environment and what we can produce as a team here. And he did his best to nullify that."

Story of the match in stats...

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Can Liverpool banish set-play blues?

Liverpool vs Leeds - 5.30pm, Wednesday - live on Sky Sports Main Event

Liverpool have won their last three league games, having won just two of their previous 10 beforehand. The ship is steadying. But Arne Slot still has problems to solve. His most glaring headache must be the rate at which his side continue to concede from set-pieces - 12 so far, the joint-worst record in Europe.

When Liverpool went to Leeds in early December, they were pegged back by this very issue, falling to a late Ao Tanaka equaliser from a corner.

Over 50 per cent of Liverpool's goals conceded have been from set plays (including penalties) this season.

Why are Liverpool so bad at set-pieces?

Liverpool set-piece coach leaves club

Here presents the opportunity to right some wrongs, then. Leeds are exceptionally good from set-pieces - the anomaly among those ranked inside the top five most effective. Daniel Farke's side have scored 12 set-play goals, equal to Arsenal, and only one behind Manchester United's league leading 13. 48 per cent of their total goals have been scored this way.

This meeting is therefore the perfect test of Slot's vow to improve in this area, having parted company with set-piece coach Aaron Briggs just this week. If they don't tidy up, Leeds are more than capable of inflicting punishment. And Slot can ill-afford more fuel on the set-piece fire.

Laura Hunter

Fulham boss Silva bidding for history against goal-shy Palace

Crystal Palace vs Fulham - 5.30pm, Wednesday - live on Sky Sports Premier League

Two teams that are level on points but in differing form meet at Selhurst Park on New Year’s Day.

Crystal Palace are winless in their last five games in all competitions, with a hectic month of December fixtures taking its toll.

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But Fulham are on the march as they bid for a fourth consecutive league win - and only once before have they ever won four in a row in the Premier League.

The Cottagers will fancy their chances too of equalling their record run, with Palace struggling in front of goal right now.

Oliver Glasner’s side had just two shots on target in Sunday’s home loss to Tottenham and have scored just once in their last three league games.

It is no surprise to see Palace moving for Tottenham winger Brennan Johnson after agreeing a £35m deal for the Wales international, who was Spurs’ top scorer last season.

If Fulham manage to keep a clean sheet in south London, then it would be history for Marco Silva, as he would become the first manager to have kept six consecutive away clean sheets against the same opponent in the Premier League.

A Fulham shut-out would also heighten Palace’s need for the arrival of Johnson and further January signings if the Eagles are to start moving in the right direction in 2026.

Declan Olley

Man City becoming complete package again

Sunderland vs Man City - 8pm, Wednesday - live on Sky Sports Main Event

Manchester City are hitting peak. On a six-game winning run, this is the most formidable they have looked since the back end of 2023/24, when they won their final nine en route to the Premier League title.

Plenty has and continues to be made of their flush attack, constantly evolving to reveal new dimensions: Rayan Cherki is the latest revelation. He's been involved in eight goals in his last nine league appearances. But this squad is more than style and sparkle at the top end.

Pep Guardiola has found a settled formula at the back, too, naming the same four to start in 11 of 18 games so far. Of those 11 games, 10 ended in victory - the only exception being a 2-1 loss at Newcastle.

With Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias at the heart of things, City have two athletic centre-backs who can play, and balance the left and right sides perfectly. Jointly they have also chipped in with six goal contributions.

Flanking those two are a pair of former central midfielders, Nico O'Reilly and Matheus Nunes, perfectly equipped to provide robustness off the ball and creativity on it. Their energy to get up and down is what Guardiola likes, akin to a prime Kyle Walker, and means City are less vulnerable to counter-attacks.

With both full-backs providing width, City's forward players can flood central areas to create overloads and find Erling Haaland more consistently. Late underlapping runs, something O'Reilly is particularly good at, are difficult to track and add another layer of unpredictability.

This current Manchester City setup is unlike anything we have seen before, and it would be wrong to assume its effectiveness is solely down to Haaland and Co. Pep's structure is solid at both ends; not far off being the complete package.

Laura Hunter

Frank returns to Brentford for first time aiming to earn same love at Spurs

Brentford vs Tottenham - 8pm, Wednesday - live on Sky Sports Premier League

Before the start of the season, not many would have expected Tottenham boss Thomas Frank to be going back to Brentford at the start of 2026 with his new club below his old one.

But that is the case on his first return to the Gtech Community Stadium, where he was manager for six-and-a-half years and was universally worshipped.

“Brentford Football Club, the fans and especially the people that I worked closely with, have a special place in my heart,” Frank said at his pre-match press conference.

Six-and-a-half months into the job at Tottenham, he has yet to feel the same love and affection from the Spurs supporters.

Sunday’s pressure-lifting win at Crystal Palace was much-needed and has given Frank hope of getting 13th-placed Spurs moving upwards with a decent run of fixtures ahead.

A win on New Year’s Day would put them into the top half of the table and have them back in European contention.

But Frank of all people knows his side face a sterner examination than at Selhurst Park, with Brentford a force at home – something he masterminded, and that has been superbly maintained by his successor, Keith Andrews.

The Bees have won eight of their last 12 Premier League home games, including four of the last five under Andrews. In fact, since the start of that 12-game run in April, only Man City (11), Aston Villa (10) and Arsenal (9) have won more home league games than Brentford.

It will be an unfamiliar feeling for Frank to be in the opposite dugout at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Kick Off 7.30pm: Chelsea vs Bournemouth - live on Sky

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Chelsea seek top-four spot, Bournemouth winless in nine

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Good evening!

It is the final game of 2025 for both Chelsea and Bournemouth as the pair meet at Stamford Bridge tonight, live on Sky Sports.

These two are facing each other for the second time in the league this month after their goalless draw on the south coast 24 days ago.

But Chelsea can ill-afford another draw, having won just one of their previous six league matches.

The Blues will be looking to immediately bounce back from Saturday's 2-1 home loss to Aston Villa with a win tonight that would move them into the top four heading into the New Year.

Bournemouth, though, are bang out of form with the Cherries on a nine-game winless run.

And if that extends tonight, then things could be looking even bleaker for 2026, with star man Antoine Semenyo set to join Manchester City next month.

Can Semenyo deliver a match-winning display in what is expected to be his last game for Bournemouth? Or will Chelsea get back to winning ways to move fourth?

We'll have the team news at 6.15pm followed by live updates and in-game clips from the 7.30pm kick-off, which is live on Sky Sports Main Event. Stay tuned...

Good evening!

It is the final game of 2025 for both Chelsea and Bournemouth as the pair meet at Stamford Bridge tonight, live on Sky Sports.

These two are facing each other for the second time in the league this month after their goalless draw on the south coast 24 days ago.

But Chelsea can ill-afford another draw, having won just one of their previous six league matches.

The Blues will be looking to immediately bounce back from Saturday's 2-1 home loss to Aston Villa with a win tonight that would move them into the top four heading into the New Year.

Bournemouth, though, are bang out of form with the Cherries on a nine-game winless run.

And if that extends tonight, then things could be looking even bleaker for 2026, with star man Antoine Semenyo set to join Manchester City next month.

Can Semenyo deliver a match-winning display in what is expected to be his last game for Bournemouth? Or will Chelsea get back to winning ways to move fourth?

We'll have the team news at 6.15pm followed by live updates and in-game clips from the 7.30pm kick-off, which is live on Sky Sports Main Event. Stay tuned...

Predict the score and select your Chelsea and Bournemouth teams...

Monterosa This content is provided by Monterosa, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Monterosa cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options. Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Monterosa cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Monterosa cookies for this session only.

Will Cucurella recover in time?

Chelsea are checking on the fitness of Marc Cucurella after he was forced off against Aston Villa with a hamstring complaint.

Reece James and Cole Palmer's workloads are being managed and Chelsea will wait to see how they recover ahead of Tuesday's game against Bournemouth.

Enzo Maresca says Tuesday's match likely comes too soon for Jorrel Hato but Wesley Fofana is in contention to start after being left on the bench against Villa.

Chelsea were boosted by the return of Liam Delap, Estevao Willian and Jamie Gittens over the weekend.

Levi Colwill, Dario Essugo and Romeo Lavia remain sidelined.

Maresca looking for answers after surrendering leads

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca admits he is at a loss to explain why his team continues to throw away leads in the Premier League.

Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at home to Aston Villa was the third time this season the Blues have lost at Stamford Bridge having been in front.

In total, they have lost 11 points from winning positions on their own pitch this season and that is the difference between Maresca’s side in fifth and second-placed Manchester City.

“It’s just a matter of understanding the reason why,” said Maresca, whose team host struggling Bournemouth on Tuesday, live on Sky Sports. “When something continues to happen, it’s not random.

“We need to understand why. No matter if we’re winning, drawing or losing, when we concede a goal we lose a little bit of control.

“We need to understand how to manage better when we concede goals."

Jones Knows: Back a Burnley win!

Sky Sports' betting expert Lewis Jones:

Despite being odds-on favourites at Burnley, Newcastle's recent road form suggests this won't be pretty.

Under Eddie Howe, in a season when they are juggling Champions League football, their record away from home in games played when they've only had three days or less to prepare for a game is horrendous. From 18 fixtures they've won just three of those, drawing seven and losing eight. That includes defeats to Luton, Bournemouth, West Ham and Brentford.

Overall, they've managed just one away Premier League win in their last 12 - a run that's been littered with moments of attacking promise but undermined by poor game management and defensive fragility.

The idea of Newcastle being a reliable bet on their travels doesn't quite ring true given the numbers. At 3/1 Burnley are worth a swing on the draw no bet with Sky Bet.

SCORE PREDICTION: 2-1

Hello and welcome!

The festive Premier League football continues with a full midweek round of fixtures - and you can watch every match live on Sky Sports, including this one.

Newcastle have been pretty dismal away from home and all eyes will be on them to take three points at Turf Moor.

Burnley are on a wretched run of NINE games without a win now and the gap to safety is becoming a worrying one for Scott Parker. He needs wins - and fast.

Teams dropping shortly.

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Predict the score and select your Burnley and Newcastle teams...

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Who will be Newcastle's No. 1?

Eddie Howe has revealed Nick Pope felt unwell in the lead-up to Newcastle's Boxing Day loss to Manchester United in a hint that he may have started the game otherwise.

Pope was included in the squad for the first time since his return from injury but Aaron Ramsdale kept his place in the starting line-up at Old Trafford.

Howe insists he has not yet made a decision on which goalkeeper will get the nod against Burnley on Tuesday.

"Nick declared himself fit and was then ill right before kick off, so it was probably fortunate that he wasn’t playing tonight," said Howe.

"I will take a view from training. I need to see that Nick is back to his best and Aaron has played well in his absence. So I will make a call."

Newcastle's injured players nearing returns

Eddie Howe hopes Newcastle's defensive injury crisis will ease before Tuesday's meeting with Burnley at Turf Moor.

The Magpies are currently without Dan Burn, Tino Livramento, Kieran Trippier, Sven Botman, Emil Krafth and Jamaal Lascelles but Howe says some of them are nearing a return.

"We have a whole group of players that are getting closer. The guys that have played [at the back] have done really well but we really would welcome some of those players back.

"Whether that is at Burnley I don’t know. We would like to rotate. We have a tough period of games coming up.

"We are in a period where we can’t lose any players."

On facing former club Burnley, Howe added: "It is a tough place to go, I know having managed there.

"We need to look at it independently and give everything we can to get a positive result there.

"We need to start feeling better about ourselves on the road for our supporters, who give so much and travel in such good numbers. We need to give the feeling that they want as well."

Howe being cautious with Wissa

Newcastle striker Yoane Wissa is still not ready to start regularly following his return from injury, according to Eddie Howe.

Wissa scored on his first start against Fulham on December 17 but subsequently featured from the bench against Chelsea and Manchester United as he builds back towards full fitness having returned from a knee problem.

"We’ve got to look after him in that he is still very early in his return to full fitness," said Howe of the summer signing from Brentford.

"He did really well in his one start against Fulham. The problem with us playing every three or four days, I don’t think he is in a position where he can start regularly at the moment."

Parker hoping to have Esteve back against Newcastle

Burnley boss Scott Parker is hoping to have Maxime Esteve back available for Tuesday's visit to Newcastle.

The influential defender has missed the last two games with a knock he suffered in training ahead of the 1-1 draw at Bournemouth on December 20.

Although he was initially thought to have been back in contention for Saturday's 0-0 draw with Everton, he did not make the matchday squad.

"Maxime's closer," Parker said as he looked forward to Tuesday's fixture. "Hopefully he'll be back in training with us (on Sunday) and hopefully he'll be in the frame to play."