Premier League Pre-Match Buzz and Latest Soccer Updates

This comment hits a little too close to home personally. The holiday season is invariably about football first, family gatherings after.

It's often a challenging period for football supporters. Is it possible to keep the necessary eye on our club while displaying suitable excitement for presents, holiday meals, and family events...? We'll certainly do our best! Sorry, what was that you were saying...?

Manchester United Eye Neves and Gallagher

Erik ten Hag's side is looking for midfield reinforcements. This likely isn't positive for Kobbie Mainoo… as a pair of ex-English top-flight players are targeted by Ruben Amorim’s side.

Chelsea's Trip to Newcastle Pre-Match Preview

The clash at St. James' Park at 12.30pm provides a fantastic start to start the day’s action. The Magpies occupy 12th place and Enzo Maresca’s men are in fourth. A mere six-point gap separate them, given Newcastle's strong home form likely to make it tough for the Blues.

The home side could be hindered, though, by their sheer number of unavailable defenders. Tino Livramento has joined Sven Botman, Dan Burn, Emil Krafth, Jamaal Lascelles, Kieran Trippier and goalkeeper Nick Pope in the medical room, and Lewis Hall is questionable.

Even so, and despite Maresca claiming his growing admiration for the squad recently, you wouldn’t bank on Chelsea strolling to victory at St James’ Park. Will the coach decide on a consistent attacking trio? Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho were substitutes in the Carabao Cup against Cardiff to score appearing as candidates to start this one.

Forecasting results in such fixtures this season has proven exceptionally tough.

Debate Over Elite Footballers

I notice there’s lots of discussion in the comments about the Guardian’s Top 100 players… these things are always subjective, naturally. An indisputable fact is the positioning of Ousmane Dembélé at the very summit.

Key Weekend Storylines

10 things to look out for: From pressure on Scott Parker at Burnley, to Wolves’ long search for a win, to calls for Dominic Calvert-Lewin to feature in Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup plans, it’s all here.

Friday Night Round-Up

In case you missed it late drama unfolded in the all-Welsh Friday night Championship clash. Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo handed victory to Swansea with a last-minute error when he dropped Ben Cabango’s header straight to the substitute. Idah had the simplest of task to score for the decisive goal.

An early Christmas present from the Arsenal academy graduate, by the way, and local supremacy for Swansea.

The manager guided Bristol Rovers to their first point in 10 league matches, although he said the 1-1 draw at Crewe was disappointing as they faced ten men for most of the game. Elsewhere in League Two, Cambridge moved into the top seven thanks to a victory against Accrington Stanley and Cheltenham picked up a 2-1 win away at Barrow.

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

And in the Bundesliga, the derby was won 2-0 by Dortmund, with a late Beier goal to see off Mönchengladbach after Julian Brandt struck early on.

Introduction

Good morning all and welcome to another live football coverage. Saturday is here so that can only mean one thing – buildup! It's truly a packed schedule with no less than eight top-flight matches, starting with the early kick-off, heading into the four 3pm kick-offs, the evening fixture, and then two 8pm games: the Merseyside and London clashes (all times GMT).

Additionally, there's a full schedule across the UK leagues, plus lower down the pyramids along with European action. It's a feast.

Following our usual format, we encourage your comments and emails, so share your predictions for the day ahead, thoughts on 2025 in general now that it’s coming to an end, or your plans for a football-filled day. Enjoy!