Premier League Buildup and Latest Football Updates

That remark feels a bit too relatable personally. The holiday season is consistently focused on soccer initially, fir trees second.

This can be a difficult time for football supporters. Can we manage to maintain the required focus on our club while showing appropriate enthusiasm for presents, holiday meals, and family events...? We'll certainly do our best! Sorry, what was that you were saying...?

Man Utd Target Neves and Gallagher

The Red Devils are searching for midfield reinforcements. This likely isn't positive for the young talent… with two former Premier League stars are on the radar of the Old Trafford club.

Newcastle v Chelsea Pre-Match Preview

The clash at St. James' Park in the early Saturday slot is a great way to start the day’s action. The Magpies occupy 12th place while Chelsea are in fourth. Only six points separate them, given Newcastle's strong home form likely to make it tough for the Blues.

The home side could be hindered, though, due to a lengthy list 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, with Lewis Hall also a doubt.

Even so, and even with the manager stating his growing admiration for the squad earlier this week, you wouldn’t bank on an easy Chelsea win at St James’ Park. Can Maresca settle on a regular forward line? The wingers were substitutes in the Carabao Cup against Cardiff to score appearing as candidates for a starting spot.

Forecasting results like Newcastle v Chelsea this season has been very, very difficult.

Top 100 Players Discussion

Observations show considerable debate in the comments regarding rankings of the world's best… such lists are inherently opinion-based, naturally. An indisputable fact is Ousmane Dembélé’s place at the top.

10 Things to Look Out For

10 things to look out for: The scrutiny on Burnley's manager, Wolverhampton's hunt for three points, to calls for Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the national team setup, it’s all here.

Weekend Football Recap

For those who didn't see there was drama in the all-Welsh Friday night Championship clash. Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo presented Swansea with the win with a last-minute error when he dropped Ben Cabango’s header right into the path of Adam Idah. The Swans substitute was left with a tap-in to tap home for the decisive goal.

An early Christmas present from the Arsenal academy graduate, by the way, and Welsh bragging rights for Swansea.

The manager guided his team to a draw in 10 league matches, but stated 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 over Accrington while Cheltenham won at struggling Barrow.

Northampton cruised to a comfortable victory in the third division.

Over in Germany, the derby went Dortmund's way, with a late Beier goal to see off Mönchengladbach after Julian Brandt struck early on.

Introduction

Hello everyone and welcome to another live football coverage. It’s Saturday morning so that can only mean one thing – buildup! And we can safely call it a bumper day of action with no less than eight Premier League games, starting with Newcastle v Chelsea at 12.30pm, followed by four afternoon games, Tottenham v Liverpool at 5.30pm, and concluding with two late matches: the Merseyside and London clashes (all times GMT).

There is also a full schedule across the UK leagues, plus lower down the pyramids and in Spain, Germany and beyond too. It's a feast.

As always with matchday lives, we welcome your interaction, so let me know your forecasts, reflections on the year as it concludes, or your plans for a day of festive footy-ball. Should be fun!