Premier League Pre-Match Buzz and Latest Football News

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

This can be a difficult time for soccer fans. Is it possible to maintain the required focus on our club while displaying suitable excitement for gift choices, wrapping, food shopping and preparation, table decorations, joining in family get-togethers....? We'll certainly do our best! Sorry, what was that you were saying...?

Man Utd Pursue Neves and Gallagher

The Red Devils are searching for a midfielder. This likely isn't positive for Kobbie Mainoo… with two 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 kick off the football. Eddie Howe’s side are down in 12th and Enzo Maresca’s men are in fourth. A mere six-point gap separate them, given Newcastle's strong home form set to provide a stern test for Chelsea.

Newcastle may be hamstrung, though, by their sheer number of current defensive absentees. Tino Livramento has joined Sven Botman, Dan Burn, Emil Krafth, Jamaal Lascelles, Kieran Trippier and goalkeeper Nick Pope on the treatment table, and Lewis Hall is questionable.

Despite this, and even with the manager stating his growing admiration for the squad recently, you wouldn’t bank on an easy Chelsea win at St James’ Park. Will the coach decide on a consistent attacking trio? The wingers were substitutes during the midweek cup tie and found the net appearing as candidates for a starting spot.

Predicting games like Newcastle v Chelsea this season has been very, very difficult.

Top 100 Players Discussion

Observations show considerable debate among fans about the Guardian’s Top 100 players… such lists are inherently opinion-based, naturally. An indisputable fact is the positioning of Ousmane Dembélé at the very summit.

Key Weekend Storylines

10 things to look out for: The scrutiny on Burnley's manager, Wolverhampton's hunt for three points, appeals for the striker's inclusion in the national team setup, everything is covered.

Friday Night Round-Up

For those who didn't see late drama unfolded in the all-Welsh Friday night Championship clash. The shot-stopper presented Swansea with the win 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.

A gift from Okonkwo – who is one of Bukayo Saka’s best friends in football, by the way, and local supremacy go to the Swans.

Steve Evans steered Bristol Rovers to their first point ending a poor run, but stated the 1-1 draw at Crewe was disappointing as they faced ten men for most of the game. In the fourth tier, Cambridge United jumped into the playoff spots with a 2-0 win over Accrington while Cheltenham won at struggling Barrow.

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

Over in Germany, the derby went Dortmund's way, Max Beier scoring in the 97th minute to defeat Gladbach after Julian Brandt struck early on.

Preamble

Good morning all to our latest live football coverage. It’s Saturday morning meaning pre-match excitement! It's truly a packed schedule featuring eight top-flight matches, kicking off with Newcastle v Chelsea at 12.30pm, followed by four afternoon games, Tottenham v Liverpool at 5.30pm, and then two 8pm games: Everton v Arsenal and Leeds v Crystal Palace (UK time).

There is also a full schedule of games in the Scottish Premiership, Championship, League One and League Two, plus lower down the pyramids and in Spain, Germany and beyond too. See – bumper.

As always with matchday lives, we encourage your comments and emails, so share your predictions for the day ahead, thoughts on 2025 in general as it concludes, or your plans for a football-filled day. Should be fun!