That’s it for today’s clockwatch. It took a while to get going but the second half was full of good, old-fashioned narratives goalflashes. Don’t forget to join Luke for Brentford v Bournemouth. Goodnight!
Report: Everton 1-2 Southampton
Here’s Andy Hunter’s report on a dramatic, moody afternoon at Goodison Park, where James Ward-Prowse scored twice to give Southampton their first Premier League victory under Nathan Jones.
Brentford v Bournemouth: team news
In all the excitement, I forgot there was a 5.30pm game. Brentford can move above Liverpool and into eighth by beating Bournemouth, who themselves will jump three places with a victory. Luke McLaughlin has the latest.
Report: Wolves 1-0 West Ham
Ben Fisher was at Molineux to watch Daniel Podence lift Wolves out of the relegation places.
Report: Brighton 3-0 Liverpool
Here’s John Brewin’s report on a memorable victory for Brighton, and another very bad away trip for Liverpool.
Updated
The Premier League table
It’s well worth repeating, and repeating, and repeating, that the bottom seven are separated by only two points.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 17 | 26 | 44 |
| 2 | Man City | 18 | 28 | 39 |
| 3 | Man Utd | 18 | 8 | 38 |
| 4 | Newcastle | 18 | 21 | 35 |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur | 18 | 12 | 33 |
| 6 | Fulham | 19 | 4 | 31 |
| 7 | Brighton | 18 | 10 | 30 |
| 8 | Liverpool | 18 | 9 | 28 |
| 9 | Brentford | 18 | 2 | 26 |
| 10 | Chelsea | 18 | 0 | 25 |
| 11 | Aston Villa | 19 | -5 | 25 |
| 12 | Crystal Palace | 17 | -8 | 22 |
| 13 | Nottm Forest | 19 | -19 | 20 |
| 14 | Leeds | 18 | -7 | 17 |
| 15 | Leicester | 19 | -7 | 17 |
| 16 | Wolverhampton | 19 | -15 | 17 |
| 17 | AFC Bournemouth | 18 | -21 | 16 |
| 18 | West Ham | 19 | -10 | 15 |
| 19 | Everton | 19 | -11 | 15 |
| 20 | Southampton | 19 | -17 | 15 |
The full-time scores in our featured games
Premier League
Brighton 3-0 Liverpool
Everton 1-2 Southampton
Nottm Forest 2-0 Leicester
Wolves 1-0 West Ham
WSL
Championship
Burnley 1-0 Coventry
Sheffield United 3-1 Stoke
League One
Ipswich 1-1 Plymouth
Full time: Ipswich 1-1 Plymouth
An injury-time equaliser from Bali Mumba – who is on loan from Norwich, and has thus had a good day at two offices – keeps the League One leaders Plymouth seven points clear of third-placed Ipswich in the race for automatic promotion.
Everton 1-2 Southampton
“Something between audible and deafening, Rob,” says David Parnell. “Loud?”
My point exactly. It’s fascinating how much a frantic liveblog can scramble the brain, unless it’s just me.
It’s just me isn’t it.
Full times: Burnley 1-0 Coventry, Sheff Utd 3-1 Stoke
The top two in the Championship both won, though they had to work harder than many of us expected.
Full time: Nottingham Forest 2-0 Leicester
Forest continue their terrific form, with Brennan Johnson scoring both goals after a toothless, Maddison-less Leicester.
Everton 1-2 Southampton
“Alas,” says Gary Naylor, “enough.”
It sounds poisonous, and it’s been a few minutes since the final whistle. Meanwhile, Nathan Jones is growling and punching the air in front of a delirious away end, some of whom chanted “You don’t know what you’re doing” the week before last. Football, bloody etc.
Full time: Wolves 1-0 West Ham
And a precious win for Wolves, who continue their excellent start under Julen Lopetegui thanks to a really good goal from Daniel Podence.
Full time: Everton 1-2 James Ward-Prowse
A precious victory for Southampton at Goodison Park, their first in the Premier League under Nathan Jones. Everton have lost four league home games at home in a row for the first time since 1958, and the boos are pretty deafening. Okay, they’re someone between ‘audible’ and ‘deafening’ but I can’t think of the word right now; there’s a lot going on.
GOAL! Ipswich 1-1 Plymouth (Mumba 90+3)
Bali Mumba, on loan from Norwich of all teams, has equalised for the League One leaders with a belter!
Full time: Brighton 3-0 Liverpool
Brighton’s marvellous form continues with a thumping win over Liverpool. Solly March scored two and Danny Welbeck finished things off with a lovely goal. It takes them above Liverpool and into seventh place.
GOAL! Sheff Utd 3-1 Stoke (Bogle 90)
Jayden Bogle’s second goal has sealed a hard-fought victory for Sheffield United.
Everton 1-2 Southampton
“Hello from Pittsburgh!” weeps Eric Peterson. “One more of too many moments of senselessness from Everton this season, in this case from Anthony Gordon. Thou shalt not foul a Southampton player within 30 yards of your goal! Never give James Ward-Prowse the chance to be brilliant.”
Brighton 3-0 Liverpool
“I loved Danny Welbeck’s Pelé tribute for the third goal,” says Kári Tulinius.
And I love this hot new form of journalism, in which the readers get to see the action being described and the writers don’t.
Updated
Everton 1-2 Southampton I’ve just seen Ward-Prowse’s free-kick, and it looks like Jordan Pickford might have been at fault. He didn’t move and, though the only angle I’ve seen it from isn’t great, it doesn’t look like the ball went right in the corner. It certainly wasn’t a howler from Pickford, but it might have been an error.
GOAL! Burnley 1-0 Coventry (Beyer 82)
It took a while, but the leaders have finally broken Coventry down with a superb header from Louis Beyer.
GOAL! Nottm Forest 2-0 Leicester (Johnson 84)
Brennan Johnson seals a precious victory for Forest, scoring his second goal at the end of a terrific counter-attack. Forest are now 13th in the Premier League, and there are only two points separating the bottom seven.
Updated
GOAL! Brighton 3-0 Liverpool (Welbeck 81)
Brighton’s glory is complete. Danny Welbeck has scored a marvellous individual goal to give them the emphatic margin of victory that their performance deserves. This will be their first league win over Liverpool in 62 years.
Updated
Everton 1-2 Southampton That is a huge goal, Ward-Prowse’s second of the game. And now look how tight it is at the bottom.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | Wolverhampton | 19 | -15 | 17 |
| 17 | AFC Bournemouth | 18 | -21 | 16 |
| 18 | West Ham | 19 | -10 | 15 |
| 19 | Everton | 19 | -11 | 15 |
| 20 | Southampton | 19 | -17 | 15 |
GOAL! Everton 1-2 Southampton (Ward-Prowse 78)
Southampton are in front after a majestic free-kick from James Ward-Prowse!!
Updated
Here we go!
🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Chelsea board now in Poland trying to reach verbal agreement with Shakhtar for Mudryk and hijack the deal! Official bid ready close to €100m. 🔵 #CFC
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 14, 2023
Arsenal always been leading the race, in talks with Shakhtar after 3d official bid.
Mudryk position, now crucial. pic.twitter.com/CwWWerfoQ8
Nottm Forest 1-0 Leicester
Daniel Amartey has been booked for a foul on Lewis O’Brien. Forest thought he was the last man and should have been sent off; the referee disagreed.
The latest scores in our featured games
Premier League
Man Utd 2-1 Man City (FT)
Brighton 2-0 Liverpool
Everton 1-1 Southampton
Nottm Forest 1-0 Leicester
Wolves 1-0 West Ham
WSL
Championship
Burnley 0-0 Coventry
Sheffield United 2-1 Stoke
League One
Ipswich 1-0 Plymouth
“Big goal at Fir Park where Motherwell have taken the lead against Ross County,” says Simon McMahon. “Dundee United still lead 2-1 at Hibs, and It’s now St. Johnstone 2-3 Livingston.”
Wolves 1-0 West Ham Ruben Neves has hit the bar at Molineux with a trademark rasper. Wolves aren’t going down under Lopetegui, are they.
Championship: Preston 0-4 Norwich
Teemu Pukki has got his second at Deepdale, where Norwich are having a day out in David Wagner’s first league game as manager.
Man Utd 2-1 Man City
“It’s a hard sell to frame Pep as a process manager not focused on trophies when he’s got a massive silverware cabinet and routinely cite how much you’ve won whenever you lose a match,” says Justin Madson. “He doesn’t coach the teams with the talent level and ambition he has coached if he’s a ‘focus on the process’ manager. His teams are built to do one thing only: win silverware, and teams pay him millions to do so.”
I know what you mean, and he does say his style of play is not an artistic choice but the one he believes is most likely to win games. However, I still think he is more process-driven than almost any other manager, <Brent> a perfectionist first and a winner second </Brent>. And to be fair, though he was a bit cakey after the game today, I can think of many great or current managers who are consistently worse losers: Wenger, Ferguson, Klopp, Arteta, Mourinho etc.
Brighton 2-0 Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp has made a quadruple substitution at the Amex Stadium.
69’ – Four changes for the Reds:
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 14, 2023
➡ Elliott, Doak, Gomez, Keita
⬅ Oxlade-Chamberlain, Fabinho, Matip, Henderson
[2-0]#BHALIV
GOAL! Ipswich 1-0 Plymouth (Burns 63)
Now then. Wes Burns has put Ipswich ahead against the League One leaders Plymouth, finishing superbly past Michael Cooper (it tays here).
The Premier League player of the month for January is… James Maddison. Leicester are bereft without him.
The latest scores in our featured games
Premier League
Man Utd 2-1 Man City (FT)
Brighton 2-0 Liverpool
Everton 1-1 Southampton
Nottm Forest 1-0 Leicester
Wolves 1-0 West Ham
WSL
Championship
Burnley 0-0 Coventry
Sheffield United 2-1 Stoke
League One
Ipswich 0-0 Plymouth
Brighton 2-0 Liverpool
Brighton have now scored 16 goals in their last five games. I don’t whether Roberto De Zerbi has been an upgrade on Graham Potter, but he certainly constitutes a exhilarating change of direction from the cerebral to the primal. That’s an oversimplification but you know what I mean. Please say you know what I mean, because I don’t.
Updated
“Dundee United 2-1 up at Easter Road at half-time, and it could have been more.,” says Simon McMahon. Well okay, he said it about 20 minutes ago but I’ve been struggling to keep up with this orgy of netbusting. “Motherwell v Ross County goalless. Livingston three up at St. Johnstone. As it stands United are ninth, only 5 points off the top six, but five points off the bottom too.”
Premier League table
It’s sure getting cosy down there.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 17 | 26 | 44 |
| 2 | Man City | 18 | 28 | 39 |
| 3 | Man Utd | 18 | 8 | 38 |
| 4 | Newcastle | 18 | 21 | 35 |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur | 18 | 12 | 33 |
| 6 | Fulham | 19 | 4 | 31 |
| 7 | Brighton | 18 | 9 | 30 |
| 8 | Liverpool | 18 | 10 | 28 |
| 9 | Brentford | 18 | 2 | 26 |
| 10 | Chelsea | 18 | 0 | 25 |
| 11 | Aston Villa | 19 | -5 | 25 |
| 12 | Crystal Palace | 17 | -8 | 22 |
| 13 | Nottm Forest | 19 | -20 | 20 |
| 14 | Leicester | 19 | -6 | 17 |
| 15 | Leeds | 18 | -7 | 17 |
| 16 | Wolverhampton | 19 | -15 | 17 |
| 17 | Everton | 19 | -10 | 16 |
| 18 | AFC Bournemouth | 18 | -21 | 16 |
| 19 | West Ham | 19 | -10 | 15 |
| 20 | Southampton | 19 | -18 | 13 |
“Jordan Pickford kept Everton up last season and is giving us a chance this season too,” says Gary Naylor. “The only people who say that he’s an automatic choice for England because he’s never let Southgate down haven’t been watching him for the last three years or so.
“Unlike some players, he was intelligent and humble enough to recognise he had an issue and worked with a sports psychologist to sort it. Hugely important for Everton to get his contract sorted.”
It’s interesting how some players just can’t shake off a reputation. John Stones, who has been almost faultless whenever I’ve seen him in the last few years, is another.
Everton 1-1 Southampton Dominic Calvert-Lewin has hit the bar with a deflected shot. It sounds like an end-to-end slugfest in the second half.
GOAL! Nottm Forest 1-0 Leicester (Johnson 56)
It’s been given! That’s a huge goal for Forest, whose home form is giving them a serious chance of staying up.
Updated
GOAL?: Nottm Forest 0-0 Leicester Forest’s Brennan Johnson has had a goal ruled out for offside – but it’s extremely tight and VAR are checking.
GOAL! Brighton 2-0 Liverpool (March 53)
The Irish teenager Evan Ferguson does brilliantly to play through Solly March, who finishes emphatically for his second goal of the game! Apparently it’s the first double of his career.
Updated
Wolves 1-0 West Ham I’ve just seen the goal and it was really well taken by Daniel Podence, rifled first-time from the edge of the area with his right foot.
The as-it-stands Premier League table
I can’t believe I’m talking about the as-it-stands table in January.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | Wolverhampton | 19 | -15 | 17 |
| 17 | Everton | 19 | -10 | 16 |
| 18 | AFC Bournemouth | 18 | -21 | 16 |
| 19 | West Ham | 19 | -10 | 15 |
| 20 | Southampton | 19 | -18 | 13 |
Updated
GOAL! Everton 1-1 Southampton (Ward-Prowse 46)
James Ward-Prowse, who was denied by a stunning save at the end of the first half, has equalised at the start of the second with an excellent finish. It’s raining narratives!
Updated
GOAL! Wolves 1-0 West Ham (Podence 48)
West Ham were all over Wolves; they’t not now – Daniel Podence has scored. Meanwhile…
Updated
GOAL! Brighton 1-0 Liverpool (March 46)
A deserved lead for Brighton at the Amex. After a mistake from Joel Matip, Kaoru Mitoma’s cross shot was turned in by the in-form Solly March.
Updated
The second halves are underway, and West Ham are suddenly all over Wolves at Molineux.
Half time
That first half flew by, even though there were hardly any goals in our featured games. These are the latest scores.
Premier League
Man Utd 2-1 Man City (FT)
Brighton 0-0 Liverpool
Everton 1-0 Southampton
Nottm Forest 0-0 Leicester
Wolves 0-0 West Ham
WSL
Championship
Burnley 0-0 Coventry
Sheffield United 2-1 Stoke
League One
Ipswich 0-0 Plymouth
Everton 1-0 Southampton
Jordan Pickford has made a marvellous save at Goodison, tipping James Ward-Prowse’s shot onto the post. One of these days he might get credit for being quite good at his job.
Updated
GOAL! Sheff Utd 2-1 Stoke (Powell 45+1)
Stoke are back in the game at Bramall Lane thanks to an odd goal from Nick Powell, whose cross beat everyone and went into the net.
Snakes and Ladders latest
That goal has lifted Everton, who were 18th at the start of play, to 14th in the as-it-stands table.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 17 | 26 | 44 |
| 2 | Man City | 18 | 28 | 39 |
| 3 | Man Utd | 18 | 8 | 38 |
| 4 | Newcastle | 18 | 21 | 35 |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur | 18 | 12 | 33 |
| 6 | Fulham | 19 | 4 | 31 |
| 7 | Liverpool | 18 | 12 | 29 |
| 8 | Brighton | 18 | 7 | 28 |
| 9 | Brentford | 18 | 2 | 26 |
| 10 | Chelsea | 18 | 0 | 25 |
| 11 | Aston Villa | 19 | -5 | 25 |
| 12 | Crystal Palace | 17 | -8 | 22 |
| 13 | Leicester | 19 | -5 | 18 |
| 14 | Everton | 19 | -9 | 18 |
| 15 | Nottm Forest | 19 | -21 | 18 |
| 16 | Leeds | 18 | -7 | 17 |
| 17 | West Ham | 19 | -9 | 16 |
| 18 | AFC Bournemouth | 18 | -21 | 16 |
| 19 | Wolverhampton | 19 | -16 | 15 |
| 20 | Southampton | 19 | -19 | 12 |
Everton 1-0 Southampton Onana’s goal was an excellent downward header from Demarai Gray’s outswinging corner.
Brighton 0-0 Liverpool Brighton were awarded a penalty for a foul by Alisson on March, but VAR spotted that March was offside.
GOAL! Everton 1-0 Southampton (Onana 39)
A goal! And a big one at that: Amadou Onana, who has only scored six goals in his career, has picked a very good time to get the seventh – and his first for Everton.
Updated
The latest goalless scores in our featured games
Premier League
Man Utd 2-1 Man City (FT)
Brighton 0-0 Liverpool
Everton 0-0 Southampton
Nottm Forest 0-0 Leicester
Wolves 0-0 West Ham
WSL
Championship
Burnley 0-0 Coventry
Sheffield United 2-0 Stoke
League One
Ipswich 0-0 Plymouth
Brighton 0-0 Liverpool According to Paul Merson on Sky, Brighton are absolutely hammering Liverpool, with the outstanding Kaoru Mitoma to the fore. At less than £5m – some reports have it as low as £2.5m - he was an absurd bargain.
Updated
Brighton 0-0 Liverpool
“I don’t think it’s a huge mystery what’s gone on with Liverpool,” says Niall Mullen. “Their success was largely reliant on all parts of a system working, in particular a hard as hard can be running midfield that allowed a front five attack which included both full backs. That just isn’t happening now with Mané leaving, key players ageing, others losing form, a hangover from last season, a serious injury list, and an attempt to rebuild the team. This has meant that they’re nowhere near their previous level. Who knows if they’ll get back to it, but it’s been a hell of a ride.”
It’s the lack of compromise that I can’t understand. They are still trying to play like 2019-20 Liverpool, but with the energy and intensity of 2009-10 Liverpool.
GOAL! Sheff Utd 2-0 Stoke (Bogle 33)
Looks like Sheffield United’s great run is going to continue; Jayden Bogle has put them 2-0 up with a deflected shot.
Championship
David Wagner’s first league game as Norwich manager is going exceedingly well. They’re already 3-0 up at Preston, with Kieran Dowell scoring twice after Teemu Pukki’s opener.
Everton 0-0 Southampton Two chances for Southampton. Salisu’s header is saved by Pickford, having had the pace taken off it by Iwobi’s hair (according to Clinton Morrison on Sky Sports), and then Elyounoussi’s shot deflects just wide.
Swindon 1-0 Grimsby
The referee Sam Purkiss was stretchered off after being hit by the ball at the County Ground in Swindon. That’s a bit worrying; some reports suggest he was out cold.
19mins: Referee Sam Purkiss has now been stretchered off, and we're going to see a change of match official here...
— Swindon Town FC (@Official_STFC) January 14, 2023
A really unfortunate incident. We hope it's nothing serious and wish him a quick recovery.
The action is back underway.
0-0#STFC 🔴⚪️
The latest scores in our featured games
I feel like a bit of a spare part here.
Premier League
Man Utd 2-1 Man City (FT)
Brighton 0-0 Liverpool
Everton 0-0 Southampton
Nottm Forest 0-0 Leicester
Wolves 0-0 West Ham
WSL
Championship
Burnley 0-0 Coventry
Sheffield United 1-0 Stoke
League One
Ipswich 0-0 Plymouth
Brighton 0-0 Liverpool
“In case you’re wondering, Liverpool’s formation appears to be ‘get it launched!’” says Joe Pearson. “Sigh. So far their best player has been Konate. Think how troubling that statement is.”
I haven’t a clue what’s happened to them this season. But don’t forget they were even more of a mess in 2020-21 and they still rallied to make the Champions League.
Everton 0-0 Southampton Demarai Gray has had a chance for Everton, chipping over Gavin Bazunu and onto the roof of the net.
Premier League
No goals so far, and it sounds like not much is happening either. Even Soccer Saturday’s Clinton Morrison, usually such an optimist, says the quality has been poor at Goodison Park.
Nottm Forest 0-0 Leicester
Harvey Barnes has just missed an excellent chance for Leicester, it says here. He’s usually a pretty accomplished finisher.
The latest scores in our featured games
Premier League
Man Utd 2-1 Man City (FT)
Brighton 0-0 Liverpool
Everton 0-0 Southampton
Nottm Forest 0-0 Leicester
Wolves 0-0 West Ham
WSL
Championship
Burnley 0-0 Coventry
Sheffield United 1-0 Stoke
League One
Ipswich 0-0 Plymouth
Brighton 0-0 Liverpool
Brighton are well on top, according to Paul Merson on Soccer Saturday. Liverpool’s last Premier League clean sheet away from home was at Goodison Park in the first week of September, a crazy stat for such a good team.
Updated
GOAL! Sheffield United 1-0 Stoke (Ndiaye 9)
Iliman Ndiaye, who started for Senegal against England at the World Cup a few weeks ago, has put promotion-chasing Sheffield United ahead.
Updated
“Pep says he’s not playing for the silverware,” says Jeff Sachs. “Give me a break. It is like Elon Musk saying he doesn’t do it for the money... BS.”
He was clearly in a foul mood, but I’d say there’s an element of truth in what he said. He, probably more than any other manager in the world, believes in the old “focus on the process, not the goal” philosophy.
Brighton 0-0 Liverpool
“What’s really worrying about that Liverpool midfield three is that it’s our best three,” says Nick Smith. “Come on Curtis Jones, where are you?”
He looked terrific in the Covid season, didn’t he? Was it Spurs at home when he played particularly well in a top-of-the-table clash. Not saying this will happen to Jones, as he’s still only 21, but it’s fascinating how much talented young players lose their way after making a great early impression.
“I can’t think of another way to say this,” says Stephen Carr, “but even taking into account the language barrier, Guardiola’s post defeat comments are never not really weird.”
Yeah, he has complete contempt for all the noise and nonsense that surround the actual football. And he’s kind of right, isn’t he.
Peep peep! The 3pm games are under way!
Here’s that Pep interview I mentioned earlier. I’ve been busy on Clockwatch duty so haven’t had chance to translate it into What Pep Really Means.
"I don't care about the Premier League and the Carabao Cup, we cannot win. We won a lot, so it's not a problem." 👀
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) January 14, 2023
Man City boss Pep Guardiola says he prefers playing with the right attitude and performance levels than chasing silverware...
🎙️ @TheDesKelly pic.twitter.com/MqcdgBORVP
Brighton v Liverpool (Ireland dept)
“No Nuñez today but keep an eye on Evan ‘Big Dunc’ Ferguson today for us,” says Niall Mullen. “Here’s hoping the latest ‘next Robbie Keane’ off the rank surpasses Long, Connolly, Obafemi, Parrott et al.”
Off The Ball is my favourite football podcast and the lads there are extremely excited about him, understandably so from what we’ve seen so far. It sounds like he much more mature than someone like Aaron Connolly, who briefly looked the part at Brighton before losing his way.
Championship
There was a a surprise in the early game, with Rotherham battering third-placed Blackburn 4-0 – despite having only 23 per cent of the possession. Blackburn’s record this season is surely unique in football history: P27 W14 D0 L13 F30 A34.
Pep speaks
I don’t care about the Premier League and the Carabao Cup. We cannot win. [Sneers] We won a lot, so it’s not a problem. The problem is to perform as we can – always we are focussed on that.
I don’t know whether he meant to mention the Premier League or not; his interview was 30 per cent sarcasm, 30 per cent passive aggression, 10 per cent anger and 30 per cent impatient weariness.
“It’s never nice to see players and managers falling out publicly (or, at least, that’s what we’re supposed to say!), but the lack of Trossard in Brighton’s team is really the only positive I have to hang on to today,” says Matt Dony. “Haven’t even got the swirling inferno of chaos that is Nunez for entertainment.”
Yes, in case you missed it, Darwin Nunez is out injured today. Is there any point carrying on?
Updated
I’m going to take a quick break before the 3pm games kick off. See you soon.
Man Utd 2-1 Man City
Here’s Jamie Jackson’s report from Old Trafford.
And this is what United’s win does to the Premier League table. City have now dropped eight points in their last five games; by tomorrow evening, they could be eight points behind Arsenal.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 17 | 26 | 44 |
| 2 | Man City | 18 | 28 | 39 |
| 3 | Man Utd | 18 | 8 | 38 |
| 4 | Newcastle | 18 | 21 | 35 |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur | 18 | 12 | 33 |
Updated
Full time: Aston Villa 2-1 Tottenham
Rachel Daly’s ninth league goal of the season – she’s now the WSL top-scorer – has given Aston Villa an excellent win in their mid-table clash with Spurs.
Full time; Manchester United 2-1 Manchester City
Old Trafford is as high as it’s been in years after a rousing, if slightly flattering, comeback victory for United in the Manchester derby. Marcus Rashford scored the winner; of course he did. City are fuming about Bruno Fernandes’s equaliser, though I’m pretty sure it was the correct decision in accordance with the laws of the game. Whether the law is an ass is a different matter.
Updated
Meanwhile, in Scotland
“With Scottish League Cup semi-finals this weekend involving Celtic and Kilmarnock, and Rangers and Aberdeen, It’s all about the bottom half of the SPL today, with Dundee United’s trip to Hibs and Ross County’s visit to Motherwell having huge significance for all four clubs,” says Simon McMahon.
“United had taken seven points from nine since the World Cup break before last week’s defeat to Rangers, and having been rooted to the bottom of the table for much of the season, a win today would take United to within four points of Hibs in seventh (and with a game in hand).
“Depending on the result of Motherwell v Ross County, United could also finish the day six points clear of Ross County at the bottom, or level with them. Can it be a six-pointer if you’re not playing each other?”
Don’t push my six-pointer button, not today.
Brighton v Liverpool
“Afternoon Rob,” says Stephen Carr. “Genuinely fearful Liverpool fan here. That midfield [Henderson, Fabiho, Thiago] is astonishingly one-paced, over-reliant on Thiago and ridiculously easy to bypass. Brighton are 2/1 to win. Put a monkey on it.”
Burnley v Coventry team news
Today's XI to take on @Coventry_City 👊#BURCOV | #ClassicFootballShirts pic.twitter.com/nXuL3c8CVS
— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) January 14, 2023
📋 Lining up for the Sky Blues this afternoon...#PUSB pic.twitter.com/avbjhMb3f2
— Coventry City (@Coventry_City) January 14, 2023
Sheffield United v Stoke team news
Here's how United line up vs Stoke. 🔴
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) January 14, 2023
Baldock and Stevens miss out through injury, whilst Lowe, Bogle, Robinson and McAtee all start. Coulibaly is named amongst the substitutes.
𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄 𝐎𝐍 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐒! ⚔️✊ pic.twitter.com/GfCo8F7bH3
Up the Potters! 💪 pic.twitter.com/PiwJxSTCqT
— Stoke City FC (@stokecity) January 14, 2023
Ipswich v Plymouth team news
📋 Team news is in. #itfc pic.twitter.com/DGSjYWRiKa
— Ipswich Town FC (@IpswichTown) January 14, 2023
🟢 How Argyle line up for today's @SkyBetLeagueOne game against @IpswichTown 📋#pafc pic.twitter.com/COeZCWAvX2
— Plymouth Argyle FC (@Argyle) January 14, 2023
Wolves v West Ham
☝️ Cunha's first start.
— Wolves (@Wolves) January 14, 2023
🇬🇦 Lemina in the squad.
How we line-up to take on @WestHam.
🐺📋 @AstroPay_OK pic.twitter.com/1YjWKoRXsg
Our starting XI against Wolves looks like this! ⚒️ pic.twitter.com/dqKsWQ29o8
— West Ham United (@WestHam) January 14, 2023
Nottingham Forest v Leicester team news
Your #NFFC side for today's clash against @LCFC. 🔢 pic.twitter.com/W8O52n5KJ4
— Nottingham Forest FC (@NFFC) January 14, 2023
Our XI to face Forest 📝 🦊#NFOLEI
— Leicester City (@LCFC) January 14, 2023
Everton v Southampton team news
Your Everton team to face Southampton! 👇 pic.twitter.com/IaD53gfPpU
— Everton (@Everton) January 14, 2023
Taking on the Toffees 🍬
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) January 14, 2023
Here's the #SaintsFC side for today's showdown at Goodison Park: pic.twitter.com/4NvN8RiXgY
Brighton v Liverpool team news
TEAM! 💙 Here's our starting XI to face @LFC this afternoon. 📝
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) January 14, 2023
📲 https://t.co/S3j1TIedJv // #BHAFC 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/iWYTM5Fl2S
🔴 TEAM NEWS 🔴
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 14, 2023
How we line-up to face Brighton this afternoon. 📋#BHALIV
And now there’s been a third goal…
There’s been a second goal at Old Trafford, and you’ll be thrilled to know it’s bathed in controversy.
Everton v Southampton
Frank Lampard wasn’t exactly full of the joys of January in his pre-match press conference either. If Everton lose today he may well be sacked, though whether he deserves to be such a lightning rod is open to debate/frantic shouting on Twitter.
Updated
Brighton v Liverpool
For different reasons, both managers weren’t in the best of moods yesterday.
There’s been a goal at Old Trafford. Can you resist this clickbait? Can you?
And Aston Villa have come from behind to lead Spurs at the Poundland Bescot Stadium, with Kenza Dali and Rachel Daly scoring after Beth England put Spurs ahead on her debut. Sarah Rendell is watching that one.
Updated
It’s goalless and cagey at Old Trafford, where the second half has just started. Scott Murray is watching that one.
Everton v Southampton
Here’s more on the news that the Everton board of directors won’t be at Goodison Park today because of fears over their safety.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to Voyeur Club. The first rule of Voyeur Club is There’s always been something slightly intrusive about watching teams fight for survival, especially when their managers are also in danger of the sack, and today scores highly on both counts. There are only four 3pm Premier League games, but six of the bottom eight teams – and four of the top six managers in the sack race – are in action.
There’s only one place to start: Goodison Park. Liverpool are also playing today but for once theirs isn’t the biggest game. Everton have craved primacy over their local rivals for a long time, but this isn’t quite what they had in mind. Everton, 18th, are at home to the bottom club Southampton, and if they lose all hell is likely to break loose.
Frank Lampard harnessed the abundant power of Goodison Park superbly last season, but it is starting to turn against him, the Everton players and especially the board. Everton were battered 4-1 by Brighton in their last home game, and there’s an extremely febrile atmosphere at Goodison right now – so much so that the board of directors won’t be at today’s game because of a “real and credible threat to their safety and security”. Crikey.
Southampton have lost their last six games but were extremely impressive in beating Manchester City in the Carabao Cup in the week. A win today could lift them off the bottom, depending on the result at Molineux. That’s where Wolves (19th) play West Ham (17th), with Julen Lopetegui already creating a siege mentality of his own. And an improving Nottingham Forest (15th) have the chance to a) avenge their 4-0 defeat at Leicester (13th) earlier in the season and b) move above Leicester.
Usually at least one team has been cut adrift by now; not this time. It’s never been so tight at this stage of a Premier League season, with only five points separating the bottom eight. There’s a game of Snakes and Ladders going on down there, and at least one team is going to step on a snake this afternoon.
The fourth and final Premier League game is enticing for different reasons: a battle for seventh between Brighton and Liverpool, who drew 3-3 in the return fixture at Anfield and have apparently abolished the clean sheet at both ends of the field. If that ends goalless, we might as well all pack up and go home.
We’ll do our best to keep with the EFL as well, though you can follow all the goals as they go in on our live scores page. There’s a biggie in League One, with third placed Ipswich at home to the leaders Plymouth.
These are today’s featured games, all 3pm kick-offs unless stated.
Premier League
Man Utd 0-0 Man City (12.30pm)
Brighton v Liverpool
Everton v Southampton
Nottm Forest v Leicester
Wolves v West Ham
WSL
Aston Villa 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur (12.30pm)
Championship
Burnley v Coventry
Sheffield United v Stoke
League One
Ipswich v Plymouth
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