Key events
THE END! Tottenham 1-1 Wolves (Bentancur, 12 mins)
A lightning-fast equalizer for Spurs: Bentancur meets the corner at the near post and heads it into the net!
In the first book for James Tarkowski Verton against Nottingham Forest. And I’ll keep it decent at Cottage, David Brooks putting Bournemouth ahead.
THE END! Tottenham 0-1 Wolves (Hwang, 7 min)
Close to a free kick The right corner of the penalty area is rolled on the edge of the box to Hee-Chan Hwang, who sends a first-time two-footed shot right off the post and into the net!
3.01pm, and the kick is blunt. And also, who Watford. Callum Robinson of Cardiff with the first goal of the day.
Other players come out before kicking off at 3pm. A football festival awaits.
THE END! Manchester City 1-0 Leicester City (Savinho, 21 min)
The goal, and indeed to the city of Manchester! Jamie Vardy just misses the chance after he dodged to the back of Guardioli’s head, now Savinho runs in with a low rebound after Foden’s shot is saved and beats it into the back of the net!
And here will Unwin of the wonderful transformation of Nottingham Forest under Nuno Espirito Santo:
It’s been exactly a year since Nuno Espírito Santo arrived at Ground City with the task of turning the ship around. The Portuguese found Nottingham Forest alive in the battle, sitting one place above the relegation zone, as they finished the season exactly, confirming their position in the top flight just on the last day. It was an effective first few months in charge but it did not suggest that Forest would become Champions League challengers for the 2025 approach.
Forest visits Goodison Park on Sunday, the scene of the lowest season since the return to the Premier League in 2022 when the social media reaction from the club’s X system recognized the officials in the 2-0 victory over Verton in April. At that point, Silva was looking at the circus and the prospect of identifying themselves with the possibility of a championship was serious, but they have only done enough by winning four of their last thirty-two games. Eight months into the club, the X system is used to mark victories, when it has already surpassed the tally of the last season. What started out as a surprise turned out to be a real shock to the European system.
Much more here;
Here’s Ben McAleer of WhoScored on Tottenham’s business against Matthew Cunha this afternoon:
Cunha finished his expected draw in 6.02, the biggest overperformance in the division. He should have scored only four goals in the league this season. While not supported, Cunha’s third appearance in the final is the core cause after Wolves scored 29 league goals in 2024-25 – just one short of defending Premier League champions Manchester City – and they are now a point outside the relegation zone.
The 25-year-old force of impact in this Wolves side in the third quarter of the final fifth has produced the most passes (38) and has become the 11th most key passes (33), the former key of the Wolves side is about the seventh lowest. return possession (46.6%), in order to relieve the pressure on the defense. This ability to mask in addition to the title will undoubtedly be the key in Sunday’s game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Much more here;
The top league teams!
Team sheets are handed out; and the lines for four 3pm games look at this;
Crystal Palace v Southampton
The Crystal Palace: Henderson, Chalobah, Lacroix, Richards, Munoz, Hughes, Lerma, Mitchell, Sarr, Eze, Mateta. Subs: Turner, Nketiah, Schlupp, Clyne, Kamada, Doucoure, Riad, Devenny, Kporha.
Southampton: Ramsdale, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Wood-Gordon, Bree, Aribo, Fernandes, Walker-Peters, Dibling, Armstrong, Onuachu. Subs: McCarthy, Manning, Lallana, Sugawara, Sagittarius, Sulemana, Taylor, Ugochukwu, Bella-Kotchap.
Referee: Michael of Salisbury.
Verton v Nottingham Forest
Verton: Pickford, Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Mangala, Gueye, Doucoure, Harrison, Broja, Ndiaye. Subs: Virginia, Patterson, Keane, Calvert-Lewin, Beto, O’Brien, Chermiti, Lindstrom, Armstrong.
Nottm Abnoba; Sels, Milenkovic, Murillo, Morato, Aina, Dominguez, Anderson, Williams, Elanga, Gibbs-White, Wood. Subs: Carlos Miguel, Avon, Toffolo, Moreira, Equitum Prosse, Jota Silva, Sosa, Boly, Abbott.
Referee: Tony Harrington.
Fulham v Bournemouth
Fulham: Leno, Castagne, Diop, Andersen, Bassey, Wilson, Andreas Pereira, Lukic, Iwobi, Robinson, Jimenez. Subs: Benda, Rodrigo Muniz, Cairney, Traore, Vinicius, Cuenca, Rex, Sessegnon, Smith Rowe.
Bournemouth: Arrizabalaga, Hill, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez, Billing, Cook, Brooks, Christie, Semenyo, Evanilson. Subs: Dennis, Travers, Ouattara, Unal, Aarons, Winterburn, Kinsey-Wellings, Harris, Rees-Dottin.
Referee: Robert Jones.
Tottenham Hotspur v Wolverhampton
Tottenham Hotspur: Forster, Porro, Dragusin, Gray, Udogie, Bentancur, Bissouma, Johnson, Kulusevski, Son, Solanke. Subs: Austin, Reguilon, Maddison, Bergvall, Werner, Sarr, Lankshear, Dorrington, Olusesi.
Wolverhampton: Jose Sa, Doherty, Dawson, Bueno, Nelson Semedo, Andre Trindade, Joao Gomes, Ait Nouri, Bellegarde, Cunha, Hwang. Subs: Larsen, Johnstone, Rodrigo Gomes, Doyle, Forbes, Goncalo Guedes, Meupiyou, Pedro Lima, Pond.
Referee: Christopher Kavanagh.
Hello world!
Hello! It’s going to be another jam-packed afternoon as the festive fixtures continue, so let’s get stuck into the right fixtures, shall we?
Supreme League
Crystal Palace v Southampton
Palace have only won one league game at home this season, and that was in October. Southampton, who has no name at all, is determined to keep running. Halls here Oliver Glasner in this year:
Unusual but never complain. As soon as I signed here I knew what was coming. I said it will be my house for Christmas [working]. It is often when you work in Germany, for one week, 10 days but we also do not come home then, it always goes somewhere in the south to the hot season and this time is different. But this is good practice and I choose this life so that no one can criticize. Here, many years ago, the Premier League decided to play at Christmas because the fans love it and we do everything for our fans.
Hmmm, I’d say the last point is the issue. Well, don’t get me started on that one.
Verton v Nottingham Forest
Verton are eighth in the table from the last four-games, with no defeats and only one goal conceded, but Woods are top, one side with the last four-game 100 record. Here’s Sean Dyche on Verton’s upturn:
There is no such thing as a player. When they eat, as they do, the will, the will as horses, is a great thing. I think we are showing. It’s time for developers to develop. I’ve always believed in my own mind, but it’s nice when you have a subwar of desire from a group of players who want to make a difference. I think we are slowly but surely building. Now taking the next games and trying to turn it into winning draws, but if you can’t, then it’s still not beating, and it’s true to that mentality.
“The beauty of longing” is a charming phrase. I think I will keep it. He could also make good adult only Harry Potter sequels.
Fulham v Bournemouth
Fulham are at the top of the league table in both leagues – in our league table – 77.8% of their league matches this season and both in points (Leicester, Brentford and Brighton) have matched them), but at home it is 88.9% (with only Brentford holding back in this one). The only time either side failed to score at Craven Cottage this season, and that was in their last home game, was against Southampton eight years ago. Here’s Marcus Silva (who gushed about Alex Iwobi: “He was great. He was top last season and he’s doing much better this season”) during the Bournemouth challenge:
What a battle it is going to be. Iraola is doing a great job, it’s always a tight game against them, competitive games, it’s going to be another one. They are really physical sides, the front line is at the highest level, they have grades, the capacity of both backs is full, they are an intense ball, they are aggressive and it will be a big challenge for us and we want to achieve it. the same for them also.
Leicester v City of Mon (2.30pm)
I’ll keep you updated on significant developments on this one, but he’s also got his own liveblog with Scott Murray at the helm:
Tottenham Hotspur v Wolverhampton
Never mind Vitor Pereira’s REPENTE, Wolves’ spurs have been better for centuries: during the last eight games, for example, a period that included a run so bad, the manager got the last bag, 12 points Tottenham won seven; even in the last 12 they are 14-13. Is this the first game this season that has entered into favors? Here Ange Postecoglou went up keeping his chin;
I where people look at my condition and think ‘Jeez, he needs to do something or he’s working,’ but I don’t think so. It’s not just an employee. I am not concerned about the nature of this role. What excites me about this role and what I love about doing what I do, the possibilities that I can create something special, that’s what I try and do. Our league position isn’t great, but it’s super tight and we’re not far off. It’s still all games, for us this year to make it a season where we can have success.”
West Ham v Liverpool (5.15pm)
Rob Smyth will be here in time to take you through this one so we don’t steal his thunder, right?
Patronage
Blackburn v Hull
Bristol City v Portsmouth
Coventry v Millwall
Derby v Leeds (5.45pm)
Middlesbrough v Burnley (8pm)
Norwich v QPR (12.30pm)
Oxford Utd v Plymouth
Preston North End v Sheff Wed (12.30pm)
Sheff Utd v West Brom (12.30pm)
Stoke v Sunderland
Swansea v Luton
Watford v Cardiff
Covenant One
Birmingham v Blackpool
Bolton at Lincoln
Charlton v Wycombe (12.30pm)
Exeter v Crawley Town
Huddersfield v Burton Albion
Leyton Orient v Cambridge Utd
Peterborough v Barnsley
Reading v Mansfield
Rotherham v Stockport County (12.30pm)
Salop v Northampton
Stevenage v Bristol Rovers
Wrexham v Wigan
Covenant Two
Bradford v Chesterfield
Bromley v Swindon (12.30pm)
Carlisle v Accrington Stanley (12.30pm)
Cheltenham v Notts County
Colechester v Doncaster
Fleetwood Town v Harrogate
Grimsby v Port Vale
Milton Keynes Dons v Crewe
Salford City v Morecambe
Tranmere v Barrow
Walsall v Newport County
Scottish Premiership
Celtic v St Johnstone
Dundee Utd v Aberdeen (5.15pm)
Hibernian v Kilmarnock
Motherwell v Sauce
Ross County v. Cor
St. Mirren, Dundee.