Brighton youngster Evan Ferguson is firmly on Chelsea’s radar (Picture: Getty)
Chelsea have two Premier League forwards in their sights ahead of the January transfer window.
Enzo Maresca has quickly won Chelsea fans over since succeeding Mauricio Pochettino in the Stamford Bridge hot seat, with the Blues surpassing expectations in the first half of the Premier League campaign.
But having spent in the region of £220million on summer signings, the west London outfit are preparing to enter the transfer market once again with a view to boosting their title hopes in the second half of the season.
A resurgent Nicolas Jackson has started all but one of Chelsea’s opening 17 league matches this term and the club are keen to ease the Senegalese’s workload by strengthening up front.
According to talkSPORT, Ipswich’s Liam Delap, 21, and Brighton’s Evan Ferguson, 20, find themselves at the top of Chelsea’s shortlist of attacking targets, though a deal for either player will likely prove difficult next month.
It’s claimed Chelsea have sent scouts to watch Delap on multiple occasions, with the England Under-21 international firing on all cylinders across an eye-catching debut season at Portman Road.
A number of clubs have been credited with an interest in Delap in recent weeks, including Manchester City, who made sure to include a buy-back option for the youngster in their summer deal with Ipswich.
Chelsea are keen to bring in competition for Jackson in attack (Picture: Getty)
Chelsea are keeping tabs on Ipswich striker Delap (Picture: Getty)
The report states that Ferguson – who is currently sidelined with an ankle injury – remains a player firmly on Chelsea’s radar, but Brighton are said to be demanding a fee of between £80-100m for the Republic of Ireland man.
Ferguson, who has also been linked with the likes of Manchester United, Leicester and West Ham, is tied into a contract at the Amex Stadium until 2029.
Recent reports suggested Ferguson could be set for a loan move in January, with the striker managing just one goal in all competitions this season for the Seagulls.
Responding to the speculation, Fabian Hurzeler insisted he was ‘really happy’ to have Ferguson in his ranks but eager to ‘find the right solution’ for the Irishman.
‘At first, I think he needs to get back on the pitch. The rumours, I won’t discuss them in public,’ the Brighton head coach said ahead of his side’s trip to Aston Villa.
‘I think it’s very important the player knows our idea, that we know the idea from the player and then it’s most important to be honest with each other, to find the right solution for the club and in the end also for the player.
‘I’m really happy that Evan is in our squad and I’m hoping that he will be back on the pitch as soon as possible.’
According to recent reports, Chelsea is reportedly eyeing an £80m Premier League striker as an alternative to signing Liam Delap from Manchester City. The Blues are said to be interested in bolstering their attacking options in the upcoming transfer window and have identified the unnamed striker as a potential target.
Delap, who is highly rated at City, has been linked with a move to Chelsea in recent weeks. However, it appears that the London club is exploring other options as they look to add more firepower to their squad.
The £80m striker is said to be a proven goal scorer in the Premier League and could provide Chelsea with the cutting edge they need to challenge for major honours next season. The Blues are reportedly willing to splash the cash to secure his signature and are confident that he would be a valuable addition to their squad.
It remains to be seen whether Chelsea will pursue a deal for the £80m striker or if they will continue to pursue a move for Delap. Either way, it looks like the Blues are determined to strengthen their attacking options ahead of the new season. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing transfer story.
Eddie Howe will be nervous about holding onto star striker Alexander Isak at Newcastle as his fine goalscoring form continues.
That’s according to talkSPORT’s Tony Cascarino with Premier League clubs potentially set their sights on a move for the Magpies’ talent.
4
Isak was in excellent form for Newcastle with three goals at IpswichCredit: Getty
Isak scored a hat-trick in Newcastle’s 4-0 win at Ipswich Town on Saturday, with his first coming in the opening minute.
The Sweden international has now netted in his last four consecutive league games, although linked with an exit to a rival club.
Arsenal have been regularly linked with Isak ever since he signed for Newcastle from Real Sociedad in 2022.
With the January transfer window around the corner, speculation is set to increase but Howe is confident of being able to keep him.
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“Yeah I am,” he told talkSPORT. “I think we’re trying to build, I say many times every transfer window that comes round, we’re trying to build.
“And I think this window for us is probably more about getting the best out of the players that we have rather than looking externally.
“I don’t see us doing huge business, incomings, so it goes without saying, we want to keep our best players.”
talkSPORT understands that Newcastle are under pressure to sell players in January amid Profit and Sustainability [PSR] fears.
However, Weekend Sports Breakfast’s Cascarino senses Howe is nervy of the interest in Isak, saying: “It’s quite clear, Eddie Howe is nervous.
“You know, ‘We can’t do much business, it’s important we keep the best players we can,’ and I totally get that by Eddie. He’s got a challenge, he’s going to have to fight off a number of clubs and whether they make a bid in excess of £100million, if that happens…
“One thing in the paper that Eddie quotes as well, because this says a lot, he said he’s also very popular in the dressing room with the Newcastle lads.
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Isak is regarded as one of the best strikers in the Premier LeagueCredit: Getty
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Howe could be forced to bid farewell to his star manCredit: Getty
“He spoke about not only his goalscoring but he actually said he’s very popular there as well, so he would be a huge loss.”
Isak’s ten Premier League goals have him sitting joint-fourth in the standings this season with Bryan Mbeumo and Chris Wood.
Only Erling Haaland, Mohamed Salah and Cole Palmer have netted more than the trio.
Isak has also reached a total of 47 goals in 86 appearances for Newcastle, with the forward now in his third season at St. James’ Park.
A January move may prove difficult for interested clubs given it the transfer window comes halfway through the campaign.
However, Newcastle could find it even tougher to keep hold of Isak in the summer should he maintain his success in front of goal.
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Isak put on a clinic against Ipswich
Eddie Howe ‘nervous’ that he could lose Alexander Isak amid Premier League rival links
Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe has expressed his concerns about the future of star striker Alexander Isak, as Premier League rivals reportedly circle around the talented forward.
Isak, who has been in scintillating form for Bournemouth this season, has caught the eye of several top-flight clubs with his impressive performances. Howe, who has been instrumental in the development of the young Swede, is understandably anxious about the prospect of losing him to a rival team.
Speaking to reporters, Howe admitted, “I am nervous about the situation with Isak. He is a key player for us and has been crucial to our success this season. It would be a huge blow to lose him, especially to a Premier League rival.”
Despite the mounting interest in Isak, Howe remains hopeful that the club can hold onto their prized asset. Bournemouth are reportedly in talks with the striker over a new contract in a bid to fend off potential suitors.
However, with the lure of playing in the Premier League proving difficult to resist, Howe knows that he faces a tough battle to convince Isak to stay at the Vitality Stadium.
As the transfer window approaches, Bournemouth fans will be keeping a close eye on developments surrounding Isak’s future, with the fear of losing him to a rival club looming large. Howe will be hoping that his star striker remains committed to the Cherries as they continue their push for promotion to the top flight.
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Ruben Amorim’s team has fallen to embarrassing defeats to Bournemouth and Wolves over the last two matches, and the Portuguese has just two wins in the league so far during his tenure.
And United face a Newcastle side who have found form in recent weeks, with consecutive 4-0 wins followed by a 3-0 victory over Aston Villa last time out.
After a mixed start to the season, the Magpies find themselves in seventh ahead of kick-off, with the potential to move into fifth if they grab three points tonight.
And with the recent form of both sides, Newcastle have rarely had a better chance to earn a first league win at Old Trafford since 2013.
Follow all the latest updates from Old Trafford below:
Man Utd vs Newcastle LIVE
Manchester United host Newcastle in the Premier League, with kick-off at 8pm | Live on Sky Sports
Ruben Amorim’s side sit in 14th, with eight losses so far this season
The Magpies have risen to fifth in the league after a run of three big wins
Manchester United XI: Onana; De Ligt, Maguire, Martinez; Mazraoui, Casemiro, Eriksen, Dalot; Diallo, Zirkzee, Hojlund.
Neville continues on Amorim’s 3-4-3 setup and on the prospect of altering that somewhat if he continues to suffer defeats:
“If you remember Louis van Gaal, it felt he signed several players to play wing-back but it changed very quickly. If the results continue as they are for Amorim, he might have to change something. Man United can’t go any lower than they are.”
A bit of a laugh in-studio then as it’s pointed out Man Unitedcan in fact go somewhat lower…! Not that Neville and co want to even consider that prospect!
Man Utd v Newcastle – live
19:20 , Karl Matchett
On Sky Sports, Jamie Carragher has been discussing the lack of final-third ability from Man United’s wing-backs and now Gary Neville suggests Newcastle wouldn’t take too many players from their opponents.
How far have they fallen?
“There’s no doubt he’s sick of conceding goals at set pieces. When you look at Newcastle and Manchester United, how many players would Newcastle take? There wouldn’t be many.
“An in-form Onana over Dubravka, Amad over Murphy and maybe the form Maguire has been in, but then I’m struggling. Not sure Eddie Howe would be taking too many from the red shirts.”
Man Utd manager Ruben Amorim drops fresh hint over Marcus Rashford’s future
19:10 , Harry Latham-Coyle
So a return to the squad for Marcus Rashford, which means he has managed to impress Ruben Amorim sufficiently after some pointed comments from the Manchester United manager last week:
Eddie Howe praises Martin Dubravka on Old Trafford return
19:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Keeper Martin Dubravka will renew acquaintances with Manchester United this evening having come in from the cold to play his part in Newcastle’s December revival.
The 35-year-old Slovakia international has conceded just one goal in four games and none in three Premier League outings since taking over from the injured Nick Pope earlier this month, and he will head for Old Trafford, where he had a loan spell during the 2022-23 campaign, looking for a fifth successive win.
Dubravka’s form, and in particular his distribution, has helped provide a solid foundation for the Magpies, and head coach Eddie Howe has been hugely impressed with the way a man who had made just one appearance for the club since May has slotted into the team.
Howe said: “I’m very pleased with Martin. It’s never easy to come in for a goalkeeper in any situation when you haven’t played for a while because it’s about rhythm and it’s about confidence, but Martin has picked it up from minute one.
“He’s distributed the ball really, really well – that’s been a huge thing in his game that’s always been there.
“Against Aston Villa (on Boxing Day), I think back to a number of aerial claims, catches that he’s taken under pressure – he’s dealt with that aspect really well too, so I’m really pleased with Martin.”
(PA Archive)
Newcastle team news
18:49 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Tino Livramento makes the bench for Newcastle after recovering from illness, with Eddie Howe’s starting line-up unchanged from the win over Aston Villa.
Marcus Rashford is back on the bench for Manchester United, with Ruben Amorim plumping for a midfield combination of Casemiro and Christian Eriksen. Lisandro Martinez captains in the absence of Bruno Fernandes while both Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund start.
Manchester United XI: Onana; De Ligt, Maguire, Martinez; Mazraoui, Casemiro, Eriksen, Dalot; Diallo, Zirkzee, Hojlund.
Team news on the way…
18:40 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Just a matter of minutes now before the line-ups are out at Old Trafford. How will Manchester United assemble themselves without the suspended Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte? And could Tino Livramento make his return from illness in the Newcastle backline?
Amad Diallo keen to ‘make history’ with Manchester United
These remain troubled times for United, who have taken only seven points from Amorim’s first seven Premier League games in charge going into tonight.
But Diallo has offered some cause for optimism with his recent form, highlighted by his dramatic late winner in the Manchester derby as United scored two late goals to win 2-1 at City earlier this month.
Ruben Amorim enjoying ‘danger’ at Manchester United amid dismal form
18:20 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Ruben Amorim said he cannot be comfortable in his position as Manchester United head coach but likes the danger as his side’s slump continues.
United suffered their third consecutive defeat when they lost 2-0 at Wolves on Boxing Day to leave Amorim with five losses in his last seven games.
And he believes that his transfer fee – United paid Sporting CP €11m (£9.1m) to meet his buyout clause and bring him to Old Trafford early – will not protect him from the sack.
Bruno Fernandes is suspended after his red card against Wolves, as is Manuel Ugarte after reaching the five yellow card threshold. Victor Lindelof, Luke Shaw and Mason Mount remain absent.
Tino Livramento could return after illness for Newcastle but Sven Botman, Emil Krafth, Nick Pope, Jamaal Lascelles and Callum Wilson remain unavailable for Eddie Howe.
Early team news
17:51 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Some early, major team news from Old Trafford – Marcus Rashford appears to be back in the Manchester United squad.
(Getty Images)
Is Man Utd vs Newcastle on TV?
17:50 , Chris Wilson
When is Man Utd vs Newcastle?
Man Utd vs Newcastle is due to kick off at 8pm GMT on Monday 30 December at Old Trafford.
How can I watch it?
Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League.
If you do not have a Sky Sports subscription, you can buy a NOWTV day pass.
If you want to stream major sporting events while you are travelling or watching from abroad you’ll need a VPN. Get the best VPN deals in the UK. Viewers using a VPN need to make sure that they comply with any local regulations where they are, and also with the terms of their service provider.
Heading into this contest, Newcastle are seven points clear of Man Utd as the Magpies look to extend their winning run to five games.
Man Utd vs Newcastle LIVE
17:28 , Chris Wilson
Good evening and welcome to TheIndependent’s live coverage of tonight’s Premier League match between Manchester United and Arsenal.
United are desperately hunting three points to take them up from 14th, while a win for Newcastle would take them into fifth ahead of the new year.
And we’ll have all the latest news, updates and team news here.
Premier League team news: Marcus Rashford returns to squad
Exciting news for Manchester United fans as star forward Marcus Rashford has returned to the squad after recovering from injury. Rashford, who has been out of action for the past few weeks, is expected to make a timely comeback just in time for the crucial Premier League fixtures.
The England international’s return will be a huge boost for United, who have been struggling to find consistency in front of goal in recent matches. Rashford’s pace, skill, and goal-scoring ability will undoubtedly add a new dimension to the team’s attacking play.
With Rashford back in the fold, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be hoping to see an upturn in results as United look to climb up the Premier League table. The Red Devils will be counting on Rashford to make an immediate impact and help lead the team to victory in their upcoming matches.
Stay tuned for more updates on Rashford’s return and how his presence will impact Manchester United’s performance in the Premier League. #PremierLeague #TeamNews #MarcusRashford #ManchesterUnited
Manchester United have lost just one of their last 39 home league games against Newcastle (W28 D10), going down 1-0 in December 2013 under David Moyes.
Newcastle have won two of their last three Premier League games against Manchester United (L1), as many as they had in their previous 16 against them (D4 L10).
Manchester United lost their last game of 2023 2-1 against Nottingham Forest – they’ve not lost their final league game in consecutive calendar years since 1985 (vs Everton) and 1986 (vs Norwich).
Newcastle haven’t won their final league game in any of the last seven calendar years (D5 L2), since beating Nottingham Forest 3-1 in the Championship in 2016. Their last such Premier League victory was in 2014 against Everton (3-2).
No team has lost more Premier League games since the start of December than Manchester United (4). They last lost more league games in a single calendar month back in September 1962 (5).
Manchester United have lost 3-2 against Nottingham Forest and 3-0 against Bournemouth in their last two Premier League games. They’ve not lost three league games in a row at Old Trafford since February 1979, while they last conceded 3+ goals in a three in a row at home in October 1962.
Newcastle have won their last three Premier League games by an aggregate score of 11-0. They last won four in a row in March/April 2023 (5), while they last did so without conceding in April 2012.
Manchester United have lost four of their last five Premier League games, going down 3-0 against Bournemouth and 2-0 against Wolves in their last two. The Red Devils haven’t lost three consecutive league games without scoring since May 2015.
Anthony Gordon scored home and away against Manchester United in the Premier League last season – no Newcastle player has ever scored in three consecutive appearances against the Red Devils in the competition.
Alexander Isak has scored in each of his last five Premier League games, with Joe Willock the last Newcastle player to score in six in a row (a run of seven ending in May 2021). Isak has also scored 24 Premier League goals in 2024, with only Alan Shearer netting more in a calendar year for the Magpies (27 in 2002).
Manchester United will take on Newcastle United in an exciting Premier League clash this weekend. Both teams will be looking to secure a crucial victory in their quest for a top-four finish.
Team News:
Manchester United will be without the services of Marcus Rashford, who is sidelined with an injury. However, they will be boosted by the return of Edinson Cavani, who is back in contention after serving a suspension. Newcastle United, on the other hand, will be without the injured duo of Callum Wilson and Allan Saint-Maximin.
Stats:
Manchester United are currently second in the Premier League table, while Newcastle United are 17th. The Red Devils have won four of their last five league games, while the Magpies have only managed one victory in their last five matches.
Head-to-Head:
Manchester United have a dominant record against Newcastle United in recent years, having won seven of their last eight meetings in all competitions. The last time these two sides faced off, Manchester United emerged victorious with a 4-1 win.
This promises to be an exciting encounter between two teams with contrasting form. Manchester United will be hoping to maintain their push for a top-four finish, while Newcastle United will be desperate for points to climb out of the relegation zone. Make sure to tune in to see how this match unfolds.
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Enzo Maresca has named his Chelsea side to face Ipswich Town in the Premier League for their final game of 2024.
Chelsea travel to Portman Road on Monday night looking to bounce back at the first attempt from their Boxing Day loss to Fulham at Stamford Bridge.
The defeat to their west London neighbours ended their unbeaten run – totalling 12 games – which stretched just shy of two months in all competitions.
Chelsea can begin 2025 at least in third should they overcome Kieran McKenna’s side, and Maresca has opted to rotate heavily with Filip Jorgensen, Axel Disasi and Christopher Nkunku all being handed rare starts.
Here is the confirmed team news for the Premier League clash between Ipswich and Chelsea.
Manchester United’s starting XI: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw, Fred, McTominay, Fernandes, Rashford, Greenwood, Cavani
Both teams have put out strong lineups for this highly anticipated match. Who do you think will come out on top? Share your predictions in the comments below! #PremierLeague #Arsenal #ManchesterUnited”
The Premier League action for the week continues on Monday, Dec. 30 with three matches, including one contest that pits Aston Villa against Brighton & Hove Albion at Villa Park in Birmingham, England.
The match is scheduled to start at 2:45 p.m. EST and will be broadcast exclusively on Peacock, which provides highlights and post-match coverage across the Premier League.
Peacock also offers on-demand replays of Premier League matches shown on NBC, CNBC and USA Network in addition to having exclusive live games as well.
These squads enter this matchup right on top of each other in the middle of the table. Aston Villa is ninth with 28 points at 8-4-6. Brighton is 6-8-4 with 26 points, good enough for 10th on the table entering the day.
Peacock is the home to the Premier League, Sunday Night Football, exclusive college football games, WWE premium live events and the Olympics, as well as programing across the NBCUniversal networks.
The Premier League table is starting to have a 1979 kind of feel to it — with Liverpool at the top of the standings and Nottingham Forest in second place as the closest challenger.
Liverpool padded its lead with a 5-0 rout of West Ham on Sunday, while upstart Nottingham Forest climbed into second place by beating Everton 2-0 to continue its surprising push for a Champions League place.
Forest was runner-up behind Liverpool in the English top tier in 1979 – the same year it won the first of two straight European Cups under Brian Clough – but hasn’t finished that high in the domestic first division since then.
The club’s long-suffering fans finally have reason to believe that the good times are back under Nuno Espirito Santo. Although the Portuguese manager was the first to point out that his team may not stay in second place for very long.
“It doesn’t mean anything,” Nuno said of his team’s position. “We haven’t achieved anything yet.”
Forest could find itself back in fourth place by Jan. 1 as it is only one point above Arsenal and two ahead of Chelsea, with both London clubs having a game in hand.
Liverpool could prove a lot harder to overtake, though, as Arne Slot’s team only seems to be growing stronger and stronger.
The performance at West Ham was one of its most impressive yet, with five different players getting on the scoresheet — including Mohamed Salah, who netted the team’s third for his league-leading 17th of the season.
Salah also had an assist to take his tally to 52 goal contributions in all competitions for the calendar year 2024 — 29 goals and 23 assists.
Salah was asked after the match if he would soon have good news for fans about his future beyond the end of this season, when his contract expires. The Egyptian told Sky Sports: “No, we are far away from that.”
“The only thing on my mind is I want Liverpool to win the league and I want to be part of that,” Salah said. “I will do my best for the team to win the trophy. There is a few other teams catching up with us and we need to stay focused and humble and go again.”
Liverpool is nine points ahead of Arsenal and 10 above Chelsea, with all three teams having played 18 games.
Manchester City is 14 points back having played 19 games, after beating Leicester 2-0 away.
Guardiola marks milestone with win
In his 500th game in charge of Man City, Pep Guardiola had some reasons to smile again.
City marked Guardiola’s milestone with a win and a goal from Erling Haaland — things that the Spaniard used to take for granted but have been increasingly rare of late for the struggling four-time defending Premier League champions.
Savinho also netted his first goal for the club in a much-needed win, although the team still looked far from the juggernaut that has dominated English soccer for much of the Spaniard’s reign.
Leicester had several chances for an equalizer before Savinho set up Haaland for the second in the 74th as City ended a five-game winless run in all competitions.
“Just relief, that is the word to express how all of us feel,” Guardiola said. “It was not the ideal performance but hopefully the victories will give our mood a better position. … Hopefully in the new year we can bounce back a bit from a bad moment.”
This was only the club’s second win in 14 games in all competition. And even against a team mired in the relegation zone, City was pegged back for much of the second half until Haaland’s header ended Leicester’s resistance.
Savinho put the team ahead in the 21st minute by pouncing on the rebound after Phil Foden drove forward and tried a low shot from distance that Leicester goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk pushed to the side. The ball fell into the path of the onrushing Savinho, who lifted it over the goalkeeper and into the net.
The winger then turned provider by lifting a perfect cross into the box for Haaland to head home the second, shortly after Jamie Vardy had missed a good chance for a Leicester equalizer.
Spurs drop points again
Tottenham’s roller-coaster of a season had another downturn as Spurs conceded a late equalizer to draw 2-2 at home against Wolves.
Ange Postecoglou has come under increasing criticism of late because of his team’s all-attacking style of play and the team’s defensive vulnerabilities were on display again as Jorgen Strand Larsen was afforded space to beat Fraser Forster at his near post in the 87th minute.
Wolves had taken the lead through Hwang Hee-chan after a well-worked free kick routine in the seventh minute, but Rodrigo Bentancur equalized five minutes later and Brennan Johnson gave Tottenham the lead on the stroke of halftime.
Substitute Dango Ouattara netted an even later equalizer for Bournemouth to draw 2-2 at Fulham, while Crystal Palace came from a goal down to beat last-place Southampton 2-1.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
Are you ready for some Premier League action? Aston Villa is set to take on Brighton & Hove Albion in what promises to be an exciting match-up.
If you can’t make it to the stadium, don’t worry – you can still catch all the action live from the comfort of your own home. Simply tune in to the live stream of the game to cheer on your favorite team and witness all the drama unfold.
So grab your snacks, settle in, and get ready to watch Aston Villa vs. Brighton & Hove Albion in this thrilling Premier League showdown. Don’t miss out on all the excitement – tune in now!
A business-like Eddie Howe talks to Sky Sports. “It’s been a great few weeks for us … we come here in confident form … hopefully we can continue where we left off in our last match … it’s that word confidence, really … we always believe we have a really good team … we know coming here is a really difficult game, it always is, but we’re looking forward to the test … everyone individually is playing a lot better … Manchester United have very good players and an outstanding coach who I am very sure will be successful here … if we can hit our top levels I believe we can beat anybody in the league.”
Manchester United make four changes to the starting line-up after their 2-0 defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers … though all eyes are on Marcus Rashford’s return to the squad after four games on the naughty step. Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte are suspended, while Leny Yoro and Kobbie Mainoo drop to the bench. Casemiro, Christian Eriksen, Matthijs de Ligt and Joshua Zirkzee step up.
Newcastle United are in If It Ain’t Broke mode. They’re unchanged following their 3-0 home win over Aston Villa.
The great Mancunian soap opera … is of course Coronation Street. It was nice to see Gail get a good send-off on Christmas Day. And her dance in the dream sequence with Richard Hillman was delightful. But there’s Marcus Rashford as well, and Manchester United have posted footage on the old Twitter of the striker, who had been left out of Ruben Amorim’s squad for United’s last four games, arriving at Old Trafford all dressed for work. So that’ll have a bearing on tonight’s teamsheets. Speaking of which …
Preamble
Manchester United have lost their last three games in all competitions, and their last two at Old Trafford, shipping three goals on both occasions. Newcastle United by contrast have won their last four by an aggregate score of 14-1. On the other hand, Newcastle have only won once in their last 39 visits to Old Trafford in the league, and Eddie Howe’s never won here in the league at all, drawing two and losing five of his seven visits. So both teams have some historical straw to cling onto, even though the here-and-now stuff favours the visitors, who are looking to condemn their hosts to a third consecutive league defeat for the first time since 1979. Kick-off is at 8pm GMT. It’s on!
Manchester United (Joe Jordan and Gordon McQueen) in 1979. Photograph: Colorsport/REX/Shutterstock
Are you ready for an exciting match between Manchester United and Newcastle United in the Premier League? Follow all the action live as these two teams face off in what is sure to be a thrilling encounter. Stay tuned for updates on goals, bookings, and all the key moments from this highly anticipated match. Let’s see which team will come out on top in this exciting Premier League clash! #ManchesterUnited #NewcastleUnited #PremierLeague #LiveUpdates
Chelsea have come to Portman Road for the first time in 22 years and are looking to leave with three points for the first time in 39 years.
In order to make that happen, Enzo Maresca makes five changes from Thursday, with Noni Madueke, João Félix, and Christopher Nkunku refreshing the attack and Axel Disasi rotating in for Malo Gusto at right back. Plus, we get a Filip Jörgensen start in goal, and Reece James is back from injury and in the squad as well!
Date / Time: Monday, December 30, 2024, 19.45 GMT; 2:45pm EST; 1:15am IST (next day) Venue: Portman Road, Ipswich Referee: John Brooks (on pitch); Michael Oliver (VAR)
On TV: none (UK); none (USA); none (India); SuperSport Action, Canal+ Sport 4 (NGA); elsewhere Streaming: none (UK); Peacock (USA); Disney+ Hotstar (India); DStv Now (NGA)
Be excellent to each other, and party on, dudes!
Ipswich Town vs. Chelsea, Premier League: Confirmed lineups; how to watch
The highly anticipated match between Ipswich Town and Chelsea is set to kick off soon, and fans are eager to see which players will be starting for each team. Here are the confirmed lineups for today’s game:
Fans can catch all the action live on their television screens or online. The match will be broadcast on Sky Sports in the UK, while viewers in the US can watch it on NBC Sports. For those who prefer to stream the game, it will be available on the Sky Go app or NBC Sports Live.
Don’t miss out on this exciting Premier League matchup between Ipswich Town and Chelsea! Stay tuned for all the latest updates and highlights.
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Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against a variety of guests.
This week, he takes on musician Emma-Jean Thackray, who is a Leeds fan.
Sutton’s prediction: 2-1
Both of these teams have been quite patchy in recent weeks, which makes them really hard to predict.
Brighton have gone six games without a win and, although they have only lost two of those, they seem to have lost a bit of the spark they had at the start of the season.
That makes me favour Villa more here, especially because they are at home – five of their six league defeats this season have come on the road.
Jhon Duran’s suspension is a blow for Unai Emery’s side but, unlike a lot of people, I actually think his red card against Newcastle was the right decision.
It is a real sickener for Emery, though. I know he was able to rotate Duran and Ollie Watkins up front, but recently Duran had been starting and scored in four straight games. He seemed to have that jersey nailed down, but when he comes back from his three-game ban, he will have to start again.
In the meantime it is down to Watkins to get Villa some goals. I am backing him to score here and to help them get the three points.
Emma-Jean’s prediction: 2-2
Villa are a similar sort of club to Leeds – with a really great history and similar size of fanbase. We had several seasons recently of being right up against each other in the Championship and closely matched in the Premier League too, then all of a sudden Villa have taken off. I am going for a draw.
Aston Villa vs Brighton Predictions: Chris Sutton on Premier League Game
Former Premier League striker and current football pundit Chris Sutton has weighed in on the upcoming match between Aston Villa and Brighton. Sutton, known for his insightful analysis and bold predictions, has shared his thoughts on how the game may unfold.
Sutton believes that Aston Villa, who have been in fine form recently, will have the edge in this match. The Villains have been playing some impressive football under manager Dean Smith, and their attacking prowess could prove to be too much for Brighton to handle.
However, Sutton also acknowledges that Brighton are a well-organized team who are difficult to break down. The Seagulls have proven themselves to be tough opponents for many top teams in the league, and they will be looking to secure a positive result against Villa.
In terms of a final scoreline, Sutton predicts that Aston Villa will come out on top with a 2-1 victory. He expects a closely contested match with both teams giving their all, but ultimately sees Villa’s firepower making the difference.
It will be interesting to see if Sutton’s predictions come to fruition when Aston Villa and Brighton face off in this crucial Premier League clash. Stay tuned for what promises to be an exciting and unpredictable game.
Aston Villa lost their last Premier League meeting with Brighton 1-0 in May, having won five in a row against the Seagulls before this.
Brighton have won just one of their 14 away league games against Aston Villa (D3 L10), losing the last three in a row including a 6-1 loss last season.
Aston Villa are looking to win their final league game in consecutive calendar years for the first time since 2007/2008, following a 3-2 win against Burnley in their last game of 2023.
Brighton have lost their final game of the calendar year in just two of their seven seasons in the Premier League (W3 D2), with both defeats coming in home games against Arsenal (2020 and 2022).
Aston Villa have lost just one of their last 14 Premier League home games (W7 D6), and are unbeaten in their last eight at Villa Park since a 2-0 loss to Arsenal in August (W5 D3).
Coming into this round of matches, no team has scored the first goal in more different Premier League away games than Brighton this season (7). However, the Seagulls have only gone on to win three of these games (D2 L2).
Aston Villa have kept just two clean sheets in their last 23 Premier League games, though both of these have come in home matches (0-0 v Man Utd in October, 1-0 v Southampton earlier this month).
Aston Villa’s 3-0 loss at Newcastle last time out was their eighth Premier League defeat by 3+ goals under Unai Emery – only Paul Lambert (16) and Dean Smith (9) have lost more games by such a margin in charge of the Villans in the competition.
Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins has scored more Premier League goals against Brighton than he has against any other opponent (6), netting a hat-trick in this exact fixture in a 6-1 win last season.
Brighton’s 14 Premier League away goals this season have been scored by 10 different players, with Danny Welbeck, João Pedro, Kaoru Mitoma and Carlos Baleba the only Seagulls to score more than once on the road (2 each).
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion: Premier League Preview
Aston Villa will face off against Brighton & Hove Albion in a crucial Premier League clash as both teams look to secure their spot in the top half of the table. Villa will be looking to bounce back from their recent defeat against Tottenham Hotspur, while Brighton will be aiming to build on their impressive draw against Manchester United.
Team News:
Aston Villa will be without the services of midfielder Morgan Sanson, who is sidelined with a knee injury. However, captain Jack Grealish is expected to return to the starting lineup after missing the last few games due to injury. Brighton, on the other hand, will be without the injured Adam Lallana and Tariq Lamptey.
Stats:
Aston Villa currently sit in 9th place in the Premier League table with 36 points, while Brighton are in 16th place with 26 points. Villa have won 11 games, drawn 3, and lost 9, while Brighton have won 5, drawn 11, and lost 9. Villa have scored 39 goals and conceded 28, while Brighton have scored 24 goals and conceded 33.
Head-to-Head:
In their last five meetings, Aston Villa have won 2, Brighton have won 1, and there have been 2 draws. The last time these two teams met, Aston Villa came out on top with a 2-1 victory.
This promises to be an exciting and closely contested match between two evenly matched teams. Both sides will be looking to secure all three points and improve their position in the league table. Tune in to see who comes out on top in this Premier League showdown.
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Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion, Premier League preview, team news, match stats, head-to-head analysis, Aston Villa FC, Brighton & Hove Albion FC, English Premier League, EPL match preview, football news, soccer stats, sports analysis
