Premier League match reports
I’ll leave you with reports from Selhurst Park, Craven Cottage, Kenilworth Road and the City Ground. Thanks for your company, goodnight.
The updated Premier League table
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liverpool | 21 | 29 | 48 |
| 2 | Arsenal | 22 | 23 | 46 |
| 3 | Man City | 20 | 25 | 43 |
| 4 | Aston Villa | 22 | 14 | 43 |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur | 21 | 13 | 40 |
| 6 | West Ham | 21 | 3 | 35 |
| 7 | Newcastle | 22 | 11 | 32 |
| 8 | Brighton | 22 | 1 | 32 |
| 9 | Man Utd | 21 | -5 | 32 |
| 10 | Chelsea | 21 | 4 | 31 |
| 11 | Wolverhampton | 21 | -1 | 29 |
| 12 | Fulham | 22 | -8 | 25 |
| 13 | AFC Bournemouth | 20 | -11 | 25 |
| 14 | Crystal Palace | 22 | -11 | 24 |
| 15 | Brentford | 20 | -4 | 22 |
| 16 | Nottm Forest | 22 | -13 | 20 |
| 17 | Luton | 21 | -10 | 19 |
| 18 | Everton | 22 | -4 | 18 |
| 19 | Burnley | 21 | -21 | 12 |
| 20 | Sheff Utd | 22 | -35 | 10 |
Full time: Aston Villa 1-3 Newcastle
Not even Quasimodo saw this coming. Villa hadn’t lost at home in the Premier League since February; Newcastle had lost six of their last seven league games and had only one away win all season. But Newcastle played really well, particularly in the first half, and deserved the victory. Fabian Schar scored twice in five minutes and then Alex Moreno scored a slapstick own goal just after half-time.
Villa played their best football after going 3-0 down. Ollie Watkins scored and had a second goal disallowed for a Spandex-tight offside in the 75th minute. That knocked the stuffing out of Villa, who were battering Newcastle, and they never really threatened thereafter.
Newcastle’s win, coupled with Brighton’s defeat, lifts them from tenth to seventh.
Updated
Full time: Crystal Palace 3-2 Sheff Utd
But it’s all over now. Palace move six points clear of the relegation places after twice coming from behind to beat Sheffield United. Ebere Eze scored two crackers, while Michael Olise made both those goals and then scored a high-class winner. They are sheer delightful footballers. And though Sheffield United contributed fully to a dramatic game, they are surely going down.
Crystal Palace 3-2 Sheff Utd (90+14 min) I’m not even joking. Fourteen minutes!
Full time: Morocco 0-2 South Africa
South Africa will play Cape Verde for a place in the semi-finals after a shock win over Morocco. All the drama was in the second half, with Evidence Makgopa and Toboho Mokoena scoring either side of a missed penalty from Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi. Sofyan Amrabat was also sent off.
The match completes a shocktastic round of 16. Not even Quasimodo predicted this quarter-final line-up at the start of the tournament:
Nigeria v Angola
DR Congo v Guinea
Mali v Ivory Coast
Cape Verde v South Africa
Crystal Palace 3-2 Sheff Utd (90+10 min) Yep, ten minutes of added time and counting.
“Here’s a truly immortal/unique goal...” writes Chris Paraskevas. “Only in Oceania, eh?”
Well you might think that but I couldn’t possibly comment.
Aston Villa 1-3 Newcastle (83 min) Newcastle have managed to calm things down at Villa Park. That disallowed goal seems to have knocked a bit of hope out of Villa.
Updated
GOAL! Morocco 0-2 South Africa (Mokoena 90+5)
Teboho Mokoena has sealed a famous win for South Africa!
Afcon: Morocco 0-1 South Africa (90+2 min) It’s all too much for Sofyan Amrabat, who has been given a second yellow card. He’s off, probably back to Manchester.
Edit: apparently it was upgraded to a straight red after a VAR check. And he’s definitely going back to Manchester, because…
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“When it comes to unique goals,” writes Kári Tulinius, “the mind wanders to this brilliant bit of improvisation from the Welsh wonder Dean Saunders.”
“Unbelievable goal from Olise,” writes Max Williams. “Someone on the Five Year Plan podcast said he won’t be Palace’s greatest ever player (Zaha, obv) but he might end up being the greatest player to ever play for Palace. That feels about right.”
You say right, I say Wright. Olise could become even better, especially if he joins the right club as and when, but it’s a high bar.
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No goal! Aston Villa 1-3 Newcastle (75 min) Yep, Watkins was just offside, but Villa are looking dangerous every time they cross the halfway line.
VAR check for a Villa goal! Ollie Watkins has just finished beautifully from Bailey’s through pass. It was given offside on the field but it’s line-drawingly close.
Afcon last 16: Morocco 0-1 South Africa (85 min)
Achraf Hakimi has missed a penalty for Morocco! He walloped it off the top of the bar, and South Africa are five minutes away from a famous win.
Updated
GOAL! Aston Villa 1-3 Newcastle (Watkins 71)
Now then. The substitute Leon Bailey’s cross from the right is finished emphatically by Ollie Watkins. This game isn’t over, you know: Villa have played their best stuff since going 3-0 down.
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Full time: Luton 4-0 Brighton
Elijah Adebayo scored a hat-trick on a glorious night at Kenilworth Road, where Luton defenstrated Brighton and moved out of the bottom three. They have a lot of very winnable home games between now and the end of the season, and on current form it will be a surprise if they don’t stay up. Rob Edwards has done the most amazing job.
Aston Villa 0-3 Newcastle (66 min) It’s to Villa’s credit that they haven’t turned it in. They’re playing with the urgency of a team that is one goal down, not three. Watkins forces a decent save from Dubravka, who needs treatment but is okay to continue.
Full time: Fulham 0-0 Everton
The good news for Everton is that they earned an important point in a difficult away game. The bad news is that they drop into the bottom three because Luton are taking Brighton to a very dark place.
“A unique goal, Rob?” teases Gary Naylor. “You know what I’m going to choose.”
I thought you might have gone for this, a gorgeous goal to which you introduced me.
The latest Premier League scores
Nottingham Forest 1-2 Arsenal (FT)
Luton 4-0 Brighton (7.45pm)
Fulham 0-0 Everton (7.45pm)
Crystal Palace 3-2 Sheff Utd (8pm)
Aston Villa 0-3 Newcastle (8.15pm)
Afcon: Morocco 0-1 South Africa (8pm)
Aston Villa 0-3 Newcastle (60 min) While Villa have been peculiarly ragged, Newcastle’s performance has been their best away from home all season – including the 8-0 at Sheffield United.
As I type, Diaby has a shot cleared off the line by Schar after walking round Dubravka.
Crystal Palace 3-2 Sheff Utd It was a lovely goal from Michael Olise, though that phrase is pretty much tautologous these days. He ran onto a bouncing ball on the edge of the D and whipped an early shot with side of his left foot that beat the diving Grbic and bounced just inside the far post. The technique was beautiful because it was a really difficult ball to hit with such control.
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GOAL! Crystal Palace 3-2 Sheff Utd (Olise 67)
Palace lead for the first time in the match!
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GOAL! Aston Villa 0-3 Newcastle (Moreno 52 og)
Newcastle are taking Villa to the cleaners! Gordon released Almiron, whose deep cross was met by Murphy beyond the far post. His shot was off target – he should have scored - but the covering Moreno accidentally slid the ball into his own net and then slid his own balls into the post, Phil Babb-style. That looked exceedingly painful in pretty much every sense.
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Fulham 0-0 Everton (84 min) Everton will drop into the bottom three unless they score, though the bigger picture shouldn’t obscure what would be a very good result.
Full time: Nottm Forest 1-2 Arsenal
Arsenal go second in the table, for 24 hours at least, after goals from Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka gave them a vital win at the City Ground. Scott Murray has more.
“Fulham-Everton might be nearing a 0-0 draw, but it can’t be described as lifeless,” writes Matt Burtz. “Everton had the ball two-thirds of the way over the line before it was cleared, and Fulham have had their chances as well (with Pickford just now making a spectacular save in the 75th minute).”
Nottm Forest 1-2 Arsenal (90+3 min) My word, Awoniyi forces a save from David Raya after a scramble in the Arsenal area. A draw here is unthinkable for Arsenal.
Afcon latest: Morocco 0-1 South Africa
Evidence Makgopa has given South Africa a surprise lead against Morocco in their last 16 match. There’s just over half an hour to go.
Updated
GOAL! Nottm Forest 1-2 Arsenal (Awoniyi 89)
The substitute Taiwo Awoniyi returns with a goal, and Forest have a sniff of an improbable draw.
Crystal Palace 2-2 Sheff Utd (50 min) “It’s by no means a facsimile,” says Martin Hughes, “but that Eze goal brought to my mind this stunner from Cuauhtemoc Blanco against Belgium at France 98. Not as spectacular or as dramatic obvs but a similar bit of improv using the outside of a telescopic foot.”
Yes! That’s a great comparison. Blanco’s was arguably better because he scored with the outside of the boot from beyond the far post.
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Luton 4-0 Brighton (60 min) Adebayo’s third goal was another close-range finish. Alfie Doughty’s corner skimmed the head of a Brighton player at the near post and flashed across the six-yard box. Adebayo was in the right place and tapped it into the net.
GOAL! Nottm Forest 0-2 Arsenal (Saka 72)
Bukayo Saka has surely sealed victory for Arsenal, who couldn’t afford to drop any more points ahead of their game against Liverpool on Sunday. It was a good finish, forced across Turner with his right foot after a penetrative pass from Gabriel Jesus.
GOAL! Luton 4-0 Brighton (Adebayo 56)
Luton are doing a spectacular number on Brighton at Kenilworth Road, where Elijah Adebayo has scored a hat-trick!
Updated
The latest scores
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Arsenal (74 min – Saka has just scored)
Luton 3-0 Brighton (55 min)
Fulham 0-0 Everton (60 min)
Crystal Palace 2-2 Sheff Utd (HT)
Aston Villa 0-2 Newcastle (45+4 min)
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“A list of the most obviously unique goals would be great (no beach balls allowed),” says Niall Mullen. “Bergkamp against Newcastle. That Borgetti header for Mexico against Italy. Poborsky’s scoop at Euro 96, Roberto Carlos from the end line… There must be loads?”
I can think of at least six. Gianluca Vialli’s sliding header is a particular favourite.
“It just struck me that Anthony Gordon’s play is very like that of Thierry Henry,” says Gary Naylor. “If he could finish like him, Newcastle would be fourth not Villa.”
I think I can see the stylistic comparison. But before tonight there were 14 points between Newcastle and Villa. He hasn’t missed that many chances!
Aston Villa 0-2 Newcastle (43 min) A blow for Newcastle: Alexander Isak is going off injured, with Miguel Almiron replacing him.
Luton 3-0 Brighton (50 min) Jordan Clark has just had a fourth Luton goal disallowed for offside.
GOAL! Nottm Forest 0-1 Arsenal (Gabriel Jesus 65)
And talking of Arsenal, Gabriel Jesus has scored a vital goal. He collected a quick throw from Oleksandr Zinchenko in the area, moved to the byline and somehow beat Matt Turner from an absurd angle.
Goal given! Aston Villa 0-2 Newcastle Blimey. Villa’s long unbeaten run at home is in serious danger. Their last league defeat at Villa Park was against Arsenal in February.
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Hang on, this Newcastle goal might be offside. The corner was headed away to Gordon, whose shot from 25 yards was sliced onto the underside of his own bar by Lenglet. Schar reacted quicker than anyone to knock it into the net from three yards.
GOAL! Aston Villa 0-2 Newcastle (Schar 36)
Another Newcastle corner, another goal for Fabian Schar!
Afcon latest
“Afcon has spoiled me, when it comes to the atmosphere in the grounds,” writes Kári Tulinius. “I’ve been flipping between Arsenal v Forest, Villa v Newcastle and Morocco v South Africa. The first two sound like a golf crowd compared to the skronk rock show going on in the stands of the Laurent Pokou Stadium.”
Talking of which, the half-time whistle has just gone in that game. It’s Morocco 0-0 South Africa and I have no idea whether that score is a fair reflection of anything. I ONLY HAVE TWO EYES AND ONE IPAD OKAY.
GOAL! Aston Villa 0-1 Newcastle (Schar 32)
Gordon breaks the offside trap again and has a shot deflected over – but the corner leads to a deserved goal for Newcastle. Trippier’s dipping outswinger is met by Schar, who gets away from Douglas Luiz too easily and bobbles a half-volley into the net from six yards.
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Half-times: Fulham 0-0 Everton, Luton 3-0 Brighton
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Nottm Forest 0-0 Arsenal (60 min)
Arsenal surely can’t afford to drop more points tonight. You can follow the last half hour with Scott Murray.
Aston Villa 0-0 Newcastle (30 min) Martinez makes another good save in an increasingly open game at Villa Park. Moments later, at the other end, Kamara can’t control Douglas Luiz’s delicious pass over the top.
“Hi Rob,” says Russell Yong. “Not having any footage on which to go and relying on the MBM to paint the picture, your description of Palace’s equaliser immediately brought to mind Robin van Persie’s stunner against Charlton in 2006. Arguably the moment he really announced himself as both a great scorer of goals and a scorer of great goals. Does Eze’s goal remotely compare?”
Nope, and thus I resign for being crap. It was from above five yards, and he only had to cushion it into an open goal – but it was almost at head height and he had to stretch a long way with both feet off the ground. It wasn’t a goal of the season contender, it was just strikingly unique.
GOAL! Crystal Palace 2-2 Sheff Utd (Eze 27)
Two assists for Michael Olise, two goals for Ebere Eze. He received a square pass 20 yards from goal, dribbled away from Vincius Souza (I think) and flashed a beautiful left-foot shot into the far top corner.
(Yes, I know this goal happened about 10 minutes ago – sorry, I can’t keep with all this. Have you heard about Eric Cantona joined Sheffield Wednesday?)
Aston Villa 0-0 Newcastle (20 min) Emi Martinez has just made a fine save from Anthony Gordon. But there’s no time to dwell on that, because…
GOAL! Luton 3-0 Brighton (Adebayo 42)
This is outstanding from Luton! Brighton snap the ball around near the halfway line, but Barkley isn’t having it and nicks possession. He plays a quick one-two with Adebayo, moves into space and picks his moment perfectly to put Adebayo through on goal. He beats Steele at the near post to complete a wonderful first half for Luton. Oh and he accidentally flattened Lewis Dunk while celebrating too.
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“Through my Irish lenses I’m delighted to see Ogbene score for Luton but I’m a little concerned about what’s going on with Big Evan Ferguson’s minutes at Brighton,” says Niall Mullen. “At first it seemed like De Zerbi was protecting him. Now it’s more like he doesn’t fancy him. What do you reckon Rob?”
My hunch (that’s all it is) is that De Zerbi will go through phases of fancying or not fancying certain players, especially forwards. Pep Guardiola and Sir Alex Ferguson do/did that a lot, so I wouldn’t be worried. Yet.
Aston Villa 0-0 Newcastle (15 min) A pretty quiet start at Villa Park, where Newcastle are doing well.
The latest Premier League scores
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal (7.30pm)
Luton 2-0 Brighton (7.45pm)
Fulham 0-0 Everton (7.45pm)
Crystal Palace 1-2 Sheff Utd (8pm)
Aston Villa 0-0 Newcastle (8.15pm)
GOAL! Crystal Palace 1-2 Sheffield United (McAtee 20)
It seems Palace don’t enjoy being level in this game. Oli McBurnie rides a couple of lazy tackles and finds James McAtee, whose shot from the edge of the area deflects off Marc Guehi and over Dean Henderson.
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Half time: Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
Scott Murray will give you chapter and verse.
GOAL! Crystal Palace 1-1 Sheff Utd (Eze 17)
Palace’s future superstars have brought them level. Olise curves a no-backlift cross into the six-yard box, where Eze stretches to cushion a flying volley into the net. I’m not doing Eze’s athleticism justice with that description, partly because I can’t remember a similar goal. The United keeper Ivo Grbic ran towards the far post, assuming there was no way Eze could reach it. He was wrong.
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“G’day Rob,” writes Chris Paraskevas. “I’m on the road for work, in an incredibly beautiful and serene part of the country - which inevitably means a 6am wakeup call from every living species of bird within a 5 km vicinity of the hotel, simultaneously.
“The silver lining is that I’ve had plenty of time to digest a familiar-looking Newcastle line-up. Even with players returning from injury, there are no guarantees that any of them will be able to find their best form before end of season... the FA Cup was a nice distraction but it could be ‘back to reality’ against Villa tonight, in the immortal words of Eminem.”
Like Eminem said, gravity always wins. Villa owe you for the 5-1 on the opening weekend of the season, but then I guess you owe them for the 3-0 doing at Villa Park in April.
Aston Villa v Newcastle, the last Premier League match of the night, is about to kick off. These are the latest scores in all the games.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal (7.30pm)
Luton 2-0 Brighton (7.45pm)
Fulham 0-0 Everton (7.45pm)
Crystal Palace 1-0 Sheff Utd (8pm)
Aston Villa 0-0 Newcastle (8.15pm)
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“Arsenal are ... missing Xhaka, and Partey a lot, aren’t they?” writes Andrew Hurley.
It’s a bit of a headscratcher. One week I think they’re missing Xhaka or Partey, the next Martinelli, the next Saka.
Ben Brereton Diaz’s goal came after precisely 22 seconds. Gustavo Hamer cracked a nice pass out to him on the left, and he cut inside before curling a fine shot into the far corner from the edge of the area.
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GOAL! Crystal Palace 0-1 Sheff Utd (Brereton Diaz 1)
Never mind Roberto De Zerbi’s internal monologue; I’d like to hear Roy Hodgson’s right now.
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Luton 2-0 Brighton (15 min) Tom Lockyer is at Kenilworth Road tonight for the first time since his cardiac arrest, which won’t have done the atmosphere any harm.
Things we love to see, Tom Lockyer back at Kenilworth Road 🙌 pic.twitter.com/HUmfBJNy3X
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 30, 2024
Crystal Palace v Sheff Utd is under way at Selhurst Park.
Nottm Forest 0-0 Arsenal (29 min) This is a helluva stat from the TNT Sports team. Passes in the final third so far: Forest 1-109 Arsenal.
Women’s Champions League
Chelsea have topped Group D after belting Paris FC 4-0 in Paris. Hacken’s win in Madrid means they also qualify for the quarter-finals.
Nottm Forest 0-0 Arsenal (25 min) Arsenal are completely dominating the match at the City Ground, though neither side has had a shot on target so the first 25 minutes would probably qualify for Arsene Wenger’s Big Book of Sterile Domination.
As things stand - I know, I know – Luton are out of the bottom three and Everton are in it.
Luton 2-0 Brighton (4 mins) Roberto De Zerbi’s internal monologue right now probably makes Peep Show look tame by comparison.
The first goal came inside 20 seconds, and that was after a Brighton kick-off. Adebayo headed in from close range after a cross from the right was nodded back across goal by Carlton Morris.
The second was a bit of a mess from Brighton’s perspective: a long pass released Ogbene, who ran past the outrushing keeper Jason Steele and walked the ball into the net.
GOAL! Luton 2-0 Brighton (Ogbene 3)
Chiedozie Ogbene has doubled Luton’s lead, already!
Updated
GOAL! Luton 1-0 Brighton (Adebayo 1)
Rob Knap’s life (see 7.27pm) has been saved by Elijah Adebayo!
“The ol’ xG table says Everton are a superior team to Fulham, and if we give them the ten points back they’re ahead of Fulham there too,” says Matt Burtz. “They’ve played well in London this season also. However, they’ve scored exactly two goals in January (albeit it only four games). This is a long-winded way of saying I have no idea what is going to happen at Craven Cottage. A resounding 3-0 win? Sure. A limp 2-0 defeat? Why not? A lifeless 0-0 draw? The possibilities are endless.”
Fulham v Everton and Luton v Brighton are under way, and these are the latest scores.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal (7.30pm)
Luton 0-0 Brighton (7.45pm)
Fulham 0-0 Everton (7.45pm)
Crystal Palace v Sheff Utd (8pm)
Aston Villa v Newcastle (8.15pm)
Nottm Forest 0-0 Arsenal (14 min) Arsenal are all over Forest, who are missing the counter-attacking threat of Anthony Elanga.
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Asian Cup
Bad news for Spurs fans: South Korea will play Australia in a mouthwatering quarter-final after winning a thriller against Saudi Arabia. The match ended 1-1, with South Korea winning 4-2 on penalties.
⏰ FT | 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia 1️⃣-1️⃣ Korea Republic 🇰🇷 (2-4 on pens)
— #AsianCup2023 (@afcasiancup) January 30, 2024
Two vital penalty saves by Jo Hyeon-woo leads Korea Republic to the Quarter-Finals! 🧤#AsianCup2023 | #HayyaAsia | #KSAvKOR pic.twitter.com/1RTovAqIPg
Women’s Champions League
Chelsea are hammering Paris FC in Paris: four shots on target, four goals, and Lauren James hasn’t even got onto the field. Join Sarah Rendell for the latest.
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Afcon latest
Mali have beaten Burkina Faso 2-1 in their last 16 match, which means they’ll play the hosts Ivory Coast in the quarter-finals. John Ashdown has more.
Nottm Forest v Arsenal is about to kick off. We’ll have goal updates here, but you can follow it in the depth it deserves – the depth you deserve – with Scott Murray.
“There are a lot of potentially cracking atmospheres in this round of games, aren’t there?” writes Rob Knap. “At the City Ground, Luton, Villa... Speaking as a humble TV viewer tonight, there’s nothing better than jaunty shots of the action, shaking cameras and the odd awkward ‘bloke behind me’ comment coming through loud and clear. I’m looking forward to it.
“Apologies in advance if you get three flat 0-0s in those games now, though I think I’d be willing to bet my life on Luton-Brighton not ending goalless.”
Especially as – how unfathomable is this – Brighton’s last two league games have been goalless. You’re right about the atmospheres; Selhurst Park is also right up there, plus Anfield tomorrow and Molineux on Thursday. I guess the Palace fans could turn if they go behind.
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Look at this old rogue
This foresight from Sir Alex Ferguson is astonishing.
— Premier League (@premierleague) January 30, 2024
Despite Aston Villa’s 5-1 loss to Newcastle in Matchweek 1, the legendary manager said no side had impressed him more than @AVFCOfficial on the opening weekend 😱@PLinUSA | @NBCSportsSoccer pic.twitter.com/9BiqiBDJMT
Here’s how the table looks ahead of tonight’s games
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liverpool | 21 | 29 | 48 |
| 2 | Man City | 20 | 25 | 43 |
| 3 | Arsenal | 21 | 22 | 43 |
| 4 | Aston Villa | 21 | 16 | 43 |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur | 21 | 13 | 40 |
| 6 | West Ham | 21 | 3 | 35 |
| 7 | Brighton | 21 | 5 | 32 |
| 8 | Man Utd | 21 | -5 | 32 |
| 9 | Chelsea | 21 | 4 | 31 |
| 10 | Newcastle | 21 | 9 | 29 |
| 11 | Wolverhampton | 21 | -1 | 29 |
| 12 | AFC Bournemouth | 20 | -11 | 25 |
| 13 | Fulham | 21 | -8 | 24 |
| 14 | Brentford | 20 | -4 | 22 |
| 15 | Crystal Palace | 21 | -12 | 21 |
| 16 | Nottm Forest | 21 | -12 | 20 |
| 17 | Everton | 21 | -4 | 17 |
| 18 | Luton | 20 | -14 | 16 |
| 19 | Burnley | 21 | -21 | 12 |
| 20 | Sheff Utd | 21 | -34 | 10 |
Aston Villa v Newcastle team news
Villa are unchanged from their FA Cup draw at Chelsea, which means another start for Youri Tielemans. Eddie Howe also sticks with the Newcastle team that beat Fulham at the weekend. Miguel Almiron is on the bench.
Aston Villa (possible 4-2-2-2) Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Lenglet, Moreno; Kamara, Luiz; McGinn, Tielemans; Diaby, Watkins.
Substitutes: Olsen, Wright, Diego Carlos, Zaniolo, Iroegbunam, Chambers, Kesler-Hayden, Bailey, Ramsey.
Newcastle (4-1-2-3) Dubravka; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Guimaraes; Miley, Longstaff; Murphy, Isak, Gordon.
Substitutes: Karius, Dummett, Ritchie, Krafth, Hall, Livramento, Almiron, White, Hernes.
Crystal Palace v Sheffield United team news
The dream scenario for Roy Hodgson: Michael Olise and Ebere Eze both start. They make Palace an infintely better side, as you’d expect of two players who would look entirely at home in a Pep Guardiola team.
Ivo Grbic starts in goal for United ahead of Wes Foderingham. Anis Ben Slimane is back after Tunisia’s miserable Afcon campaign. I think they’re playing a back four but I wouldn’t put the imaginary farm on it.
Crystal Palace (possible 4-2-3-1) Henderson; Richards, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell; Hughes, Lerma; Olise, Elise, Ayew; Mateta.
Substitutes: Johnstone, Tomkins, Franca, Schlupp, Clyne, Edouard, Ahamada, Riedewald, Ozoh.
Sheffield United (possible 4-1-4-1) Grbic; Bogle, Ahmedhodzic, Robinson, Trusty; Vinicius Souza; McAtee, Slimane, Hamer, Brereton Diaz; McBurnie.
Substitutes: Foderingham, Archer, Norwood, Osborn, Larouci, Osula, Norrington-Davies, Brooks, Seriki.
Fulham v Everton team news
Fulham return to their strongest XI after resting a number of players in the FA Cup defeat to Newcastle.
Everton are light in central midfield, so Ashley Young may demonstrate that he’s an even better Swiss Army Knife than we realised. Either that or he’s playing right wing-back and Jack Harrison is in midfield.
Fulham (4-2-3-1) Leno; Castagne, Tosin, Diop, Robinson; Palhinha, Cairney; De Cordova-Reid, Pereira, Willian, Jimenez.
Substitutes: Rodak, Tete, Reed, Ream, Muniz, Lukic, Vinicius, Francois, Sekularac.
Everton (possible 4-2-3-1) Pickford; Godfrey, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Young, Garner; McNeil, Harrison, Danjuma; Calvert-Lewin.
Substitutes: Virginia, Lonergan, Patterson, Keane, Beto, Chermiti, Hunt, Dobbin, Metcalfe.
Luton v Brighton team news
No big surprises in either team, though Luton have omitted Andros Townsend. Carlton Morris starts instead, while Danny Welbeck is preferred up front to Evan Ferguson for Brighton.
Luton (possible 3-4-2-1) Kaminski; Burke, Osho, Bell, Ogbene, Sambi Lokonga, Barkley, Doughty; Clark, Morris; Adebayo.
Substitutes: Krul, Potts, Berry, Woodrow, Chong, Mpanzu, Townsend, Johnson, Nelson.
Brighton (possible 3-4-2-1) Steele; Van Hecke, Dunk, Igor Julio; Milner, Gilmour, Gross, Estupinan; Gross, Gilmour, Milner; Buonanotte, Joao Pedro; Welbeck.
Substitutes: Verbruggen, Lamptey, Webster, Lallana, Moder, Baleba, Hinshelwood, Ferguson, Baker-Boaitey.
Nottm Forest v Arsenal team news
The influential Morgan Gibbs-White is back in the Forest starting line-up, with Anthony Elanga and Taiwo Awoniyi fit enough for bench. And Emile Smith Rowe – still only 23, still extremely talented – gets a rare Premier League start for Arsenal. All the best to him.
Nottingham Forest (4-2-3-1) Turner; Montiel, Omobamidele, Murillo, Toffolo; Mangala, Danilo; Wiliams, Gibbs-White, Dominguez; Wood.
Subs: Worrall, Awoniyi, Hennessey, Hudson-Odoi, Felipe, Elanga, Yates, Vlachodimos, Aguilera.
Arsenal (4-1-2-3) Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Rice; Odegaard, Smith Rowe; Saka, Gabriel Jesus, Martinelli.
Subs: Ramsdale, Nketiah, Kiwior, Cedric, Trossard, Jorginho, Nelson, Havertz, Walters.
That match has a dedicated MBM of its own, with the great Scott Murray at the helm.
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Preamble
The Premier League is jolly well back, baby. It never really went away – Brighton 0-0 Wolves was less than nine days ago – but technically there was a winter break and the second half of the season, the bit that really matters, begins tonight.
There are five games, generously staggered to ensure I won’t get a toilet break for about three hours. And they cover all the mini-leagues: title race, Europa League qualification, mid-table non-mediocrity and the relegation battle.
Nottingham Forest v Arsenal (7.30pm)
Luton v Brighton (7.45pm)
Fulham v Everton (7.45pm)
Crystal Palace v Sheff Utd (8pm)
Aston Villa v Newcastle (8.15pm)
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