That, dear friends, is all we have time for. Please join Scott Murray, the finest MBMer in the observable universe, for Aston Villa v Arsenal at 5.30pm. Goodnight!
Match report: Brighton 1-1 Burnley
Man Utd 0-3 Bournemouth
Jamie Jackson was at Old Trafford to see an historic victory for the Premier League’s form side.
Wolves 1-1 Nottm Forest Will Unwin was at Molineux to see Nottingham Forest keep Steve Cooper in a job (probably/hopefully).
This is a startling statistic
FT. Boos. Stadium looks half-empty. Fourth time this season #mufc have been 3-0 down at Old Trafford.
— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) December 9, 2023
Full time: Real Betis 1-1 Real Madrid
A classy goal from Jude Bellingham wasn’t enough to give Real Madrid victory at Real Betis.
In case you missed it
Presented without comment Manchester United now have a worse goal difference than Everton.
“If it’s any consolation, Rob,” begins Simon McMahon, “at least Dundee United won to go back top of the league.”
The story of the day has been written by Bournemouth. But the game of the day is still to come. Scott Murray has team news ahead of a potential humdinger at Villa Park.
The updated Premier League table
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liverpool | 16 | 21 | 37 |
| 2 | Arsenal | 15 | 19 | 36 |
| 3 | Aston Villa | 15 | 14 | 32 |
| 4 | Man City | 15 | 19 | 30 |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur | 15 | 7 | 27 |
| 6 | Man Utd | 16 | -3 | 27 |
| 7 | Newcastle | 15 | 15 | 26 |
| 8 | Brighton | 16 | 5 | 26 |
| 9 | West Ham | 15 | 1 | 24 |
| 10 | Chelsea | 15 | 2 | 19 |
| 11 | Brentford | 16 | 1 | 19 |
| 12 | Wolverhampton | 16 | -5 | 19 |
| 13 | AFC Bournemouth | 16 | -9 | 19 |
| 14 | Fulham | 15 | -5 | 18 |
| 15 | Crystal Palace | 16 | -8 | 16 |
| 16 | Nottm Forest | 16 | -11 | 14 |
| 17 | Everton | 15 | -2 | 10 |
| 18 | Luton | 15 | -14 | 9 |
| 19 | Burnley | 16 | -18 | 8 |
| 20 | Sheff Utd | 16 | -29 | 8 |
Full-time scores
They’re still playing in Andalucia, where Real Betis are drawing 1-1 with Real Madrid, but the 3pm games are done and dusted. These are the final scores in our featured games.
Premier League
Brighton 1-1 Burnley
Man Utd 0-3 Bournemouth
Sheff Utd 1-0 Brentford
Wolves 1-1 Nottm Forest
Championship
Leicester 4-0 Plymouth
Middlesbrough 0-2 Ipswich
Scottish Premiership
Rangers 3-1 Dundee
Bundesliga
Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1 Bayern Munich
Full time: Manchester United 0-3 Bournemouth
Let’s not get carried away: this is only one of the greatest days in Bournemouth’s history. Their first ever victory at Old Trafford was spectacular and ultimately emphatic, and they have now taken 13 points from the last five games.
Updated
Full time: Wolves 1-1 Nottm Forest
Forest stop the rot with a good draw at Molineux. That should, if reports are accurate, be enough to save Steve Cooper’s job.
Full time: Sheff Utd 1-0 Brentford
James McAtee’s magnificent goal has given Sheffield United a crucial victory at Bramall Lane. Chris Wilder is back.
Full time: Brighton 1-1 Burnley
A very good point for Burnley, who withstood a second-half battering at the Amex.
NO GOAL! Man Utd 0-3 Bournemouth
VAR spotted an accidental handball by Ouattara, so the goal has been ruled out. Bournemouth will have to settle for a modest 3-0 victory.
GOAL! Man Utd 0-4 Bournemouth (Ouattara 90+4)
I can’t spake! The substitute Dango Ouattara has scored a fourth goal for Bournemouth!
Updated
Man Utd 0-3 Bournemouth It sounds like Bruno Fernandes was lucky not to get a second yellow card for a petulant kick at Adam Smith.
Sheff Utd 1-0 Brentford As things stand Sheffield United are still bottom, but this would be a huge victory for them.
“£100m for Rashford?” says Bob Coyne. “What are you smoking over there emoji emoji.”
You don’t think PSG would pay £100m for him?
Match report: Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1 Bayern Munich
“There’s no point sacking ten Hag at this point in time, the bigger issues are above him,” writes Mark Gillespie. “No serious club gives the manager as much control as he seems to have over signings (as shown by how many of is former players come in), and he didn’t have that control at Ajax. They’ve also bought a centre forward for the future because they couldn’t afford the wages of the finished article, then wonder why he isn’t playing like Harry Kane.
“Get the structure right above him (a proper footballing director of football, with a control over football operations including transfers and style of play) then look at who fits that in terms of both players and manager. If it’s ten Hag, great, if not fine, but there’s no shortcut, the dressing room clear out with a vision for who comes in is needed and won’t be quick.”
I’d agree with all of that, though I do think ten Hag’s brain is becoming scrambled and it’s a long way back once that happens. Ralf Rangnick wasn’t wrong about the state of the club, was he.
Man Utd 0-3 Bournemouth Bruno Fernandes has been booked for dissent, which means he’ll miss next weekend’s defeat at Anfield. United are having the day from hell.
Man Utd 0-3 Bournemouth
“I am slightly bewildered how a player who looked so imperious at the Human Rights World Cup™ can look like a novice, a work experience kid, a trainee,” writes Alex Whitney. “Amrabat was yards away from his man on that 3rd Bournemouth goal. In the 3 or so MU matches I’ve seen him feature, he just doesn’t seem to get it.”
It’s weird, isn’t it. I think he’s an excellent player. More importantly so does Jurgen Klopp, who is a very good judge of a central midfielder and was desperate to sign him. He’s not the only one either. Old Trafford has become a Bermuda Triangle.
Updated
The latest scores in our featured games
Premier League
Brighton 1-1 Burnley
Man Utd 0-3 Bournemouth
Sheff Utd 1-0 Brentford
Wolves 1-1 Nottm Forest
Championship
Blackburn 0-2 Leeds (FT)
Leicester 4-0 Plymouth
Middlesbrough 0-2 Ipswich
Scottish Premiership
Rangers 3-1 Dundee
Bundesliga
Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1 Bayern Munich (FT)
La Liga
Real Betis 1-1 Real Madrid (3.15pm)
Updated
GOAL! Real Betis 1-1 Real Madrid (Ruibal 67)
Well, well. Aitor Ruibal has equalised for Betis against Jude Bellingham Team. If it stays like this, Girona will have the chance to go top of the La Liga when they visit Barcelona tomorrow.
GOAL! Brighton 1-1 Burnley (Adingra 77)
Simon Adingra, the new poster boy for Brighton’s scouting algorithm, has equalised at the Amex Stadium.
Updated
Man Utd 0-3 Bournemouth “That racehorse eh?” sniffs Niall Mullen.
GOAL! Man Utd 0-3 Bournemouth (Senesi 73)
My days. On the 34th anniversary of ta-ra Fergie, another Manchester United manager is having a truly miserable Saturday afternoon at Old Trafford. Marcos Senesi has headed Bournemouth into a three-goal lead, and their first-ever victory at Old Trafford is surely a done deal. Iraola out!
Updated
Full time: Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1 Bayern Munich
This game ended ages ago but I was drowning in goals elsewhere. Talking of which…
GOAL! Middlesbrough 0-2 Ipswich (Hutchinson 67) Ipswich are heading for their sixth away win of the season.
GOAL! Man Utd 0-2 Bournemouth (Billing 68)
Pass the Crisis Baton™: Bournemouth have gone 2-0 up at Old Trafford!
Updated
GOAL! Real Betis 0-1 Real Madrid (Yep 53)
Jude Bellingham breaks the deadlock in Andalucia with a superb goal, his 16th of the season. He cut inside from the left, played a square pass to Brahim Diaz and kept running. Diaz played a golf shot over the defence that Bellingham controlled on the chest and slipped past the keeper, all in one smooth, imperious movement.
Updated
Man Utd 0-1 Bournemouth “Happy holidays!” writes Liz White. “Re: sacking Ten Hag, I also vote ‘why bother?’ Who would they replace him with? United might have a little new manager bump, but then it’ll be more of the same or worse. Stick with him.”
Yes I’d give him until at least the end of the season, although there have been a few recent hints that the job is starting to overwhelm him. As scruffy as United have been this season, you can’t ignore the impact of injuries. Lisandro Martinez has been a particularly big loss. I would start by selling Marcus Rashford in January, if they can get at least £100m, and buying a right-back and a right-winger. They really missed a trick by not going for Tino Livramento in the summer.
Man Utd 0-1 Bournemouth Bournemouth are 30 minutes away from history: their first ever victory at Old Trafford.
The next Manchester United manager
“Yes, we’ve all made ‘Give it Big Sam’ jokes, but at this point, I can’t really think of a better option,” says Matt Dony. “Huge, confident personality, not afraid to lay the smack down in the dressing room. He might not have managed a club of that size, but he has managed truly elite players. And he’s certainly not afraid of the media spotlight. It’s sort of hard to tell, but I don’t think I’m joking.”
Have you been enjoying another Laphroaig brunch?
Updated
WSL match report: Man City 2-1 Aston Villa
The latest scores in our featured games
Premier League
Brighton 0-1 Burnley
Man Utd 0-1 Bournemouth
Sheff Utd 1-0 Brentford
Wolves 1-1 Nottm Forest
Championship
Blackburn 0-2 Leeds (FT)
Leicester 4-0 Plymouth
Middlesbrough 0-1 Ipswich
Scottish Premiership
Rangers 3-1 Dundee
Bundesliga
Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1 Bayern Munich (2.30pm)
La Liga
Real Betis 0-0 Real Madrid (3.15pm)
Man Utd 0-1 Bournemouth “Watching the United game, it’s clear that it no longer matters how well or badly poor old André Onana actually performs,” writes Robert Wilson. “That defence is playing like they have an elderly badger in goal. Zero trust or confidence. It can’t help. It’s basically a goal a game (it used to be called the Gary Sprake Rule). It’s adding greatly to the gaiety of nations.”
GOAL! Leicester 4-0 Plymouth (Ndidi 55) Leicester are running riot now. Wilfred Ndidi has scored their third goal in the space of seven minutes at the King Power Stadium.
Updated
GOAL! Leicester 3-0 Plymouth (Mavididi 52) Stephy Mavididi gets his second, a swaggering individual goal, to put Leicester 3-0 ahead. They are an exceedingly good association football outfit.
Updated
Frankfurt 5-1 Bayern “Eintracht Frankfurt’s performance hasn’t come out of nowhere, but they’ve been patchy this season and drawn more games than they’ve won,” writes Kári Tulinius. “Today they’ve looked like the Europa League-winning side of two seasons ago. Bayern haven’t been good, but the Eagles deserve more credit than the Bavarians deserve blame.”
I’m sure you’re right, not least because you’re able to watch the actual game, but Upamecano’s part in that fourth goal…
On Frankfurt, has Knauff been as good as he looked during that Europa League campaign?
GOAL! Leicester 2-0 Plymouth (Daka 49) Patson Daka gets his first goal of the season, finishing easily after a lovely flick from Issahaku Fatawu. Leicester are cruising to victory/promotion.
Updated
“On Ten Hag, I’ve changed my mind midway through this season,” says Digvijay Yadav. “I don’t want him sacked. What’s the point? When homegrown academy products can’t be arsed to apply themselves with dedication (like against Newcastle) then what good is it changing a manager? He is by all accounts a good coach and his previous club have found it onerously hard to replace him. Might as well stick with him and break this pernicious cycle.”
Half time: Real Betis 0-0 Real Madrid It sounds like that was a pretty quiet first half in Andalucia.
Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1 Bayern
The last time Bayern conceded five goals in a game was, yep, away to Eintracht Frankfurt.
Man Utd 0-1 Bournemouth
“What is everyone waiting for: Ten Hag has to go,” says Jeff Sax. “Enough is enough.”
He’s the manager of the month! (Rightly or wrongly, I suspect he’ll be gone by February. But who the hell would go near that job?)
Peep peep! It’s half-time in the 3pm games, so it’s a good time to remind you of the latest scores in all our featured games.
Premier League
Brighton 0-1 Burnley
Man Utd 0-1 Bournemouth
Sheff Utd 1-0 Brentford
Wolves 1-1 Nottm Forest
Championship
Blackburn 0-2 Leeds (FT)
Leicester 1-0 Plymouth
Middlesbrough 0-1 Ipswich
Scottish Premiership
Rangers 3-1 Dundee
Bundesliga
Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1 Bayern Munich (2.30pm)
La Liga
Real Betis 0-0 Real Madrid (3.15pm)
Red card! Rangers 3-1 Dundee Jose Cifuentes has had a yellow card upgraded to red by VAR, so Rangers are down to ten men.
GOAL! Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1 Bayern Munich (Knauff 62)
Ansgar Knauff has put Frankfurt into a barely believable lead against the champions Bayern, flicking the ball nonchalantly past Manuel Neuer with the outside of his right foot.
Updated
GOAL! Sheff Utd 1-0 Brentford (McAtee 45+1)
The first Sheffield United goal of Chris Wilder’s second spell is a beauty from James McAtee! He received the ball on the right edge of the area, shifted the ball onto his left foot and floated an extravagant curler into the far top corner. That’s a classic goal.
Updated
Man Utd 0-1 Bournemouth “Knowing how Man U need to beat Bournemouth by 20 goals today to go ahead of City (for 24 hours at least) made me think about Dion Dublin and how his broken leg at the hands of Eric Young of Palace forced Ferguson to find another striker,” writes Peadar de Burca. “By the time Dion recovered, Ferguson’s new find, a charismatic Frenchman, had clicked with Mark Hughes and the title was on its way to Old Trafford. Well done then, Eric Young.”
Do you think he’d have signed Cantona anyway? My hunch is that he would, although maybe the results wouldn’t have been quite so bad had Dublin stayed fit.
GOAL! Brighton 0-1 Burnley (Odobert 45)
The teenager Wilson Odobert has given Burnley a surprise lead at the Amex Stadium. He cut inside from the left and hit a speculative shot that deflected off James Milner and looped over the keeper.
Updated
GOAL! Eintracht Frankfurt 4-1 Bayern Munich (Ebimbe 50) Bayern are having a nightmare. Dayot Upamecano charges forward, overruns the ball like a Sunday league defender and is dispossessed by Fares Chaibi. He runs 40 yards and plays in Junior Dina Ebimbe, who clips a first-time finish past Manuel Neuer at the near post.
Man Utd 0-1 Bournemouth The goalscorer Dominic Solanke has hit the post for Bournemouth, who continue to look so menacing in transition.
NO GOAL! Rangers 3-1 Dundee Ahem squared. Joe Shaughnessy’s goal has been disallowed because of a foul in the build-up.
GOAL! Middlesbrough 0-1 Ipswich (Chaplin 36) Conor Chaplin has put Ipswich in front with a deflected strike from the edge of the area. Look, they can’t score goals like this every week.
GOAL! Rangers 3-2 Dundee (Shaughnessy 37) Ahem.
Updated
GOAL! Rangers 3-1 Dundee (Sima 34) Rangers are cruising now. Abdallah Sima has scored their third goal in a 15-minute spell that has flattened Dundee.
GOAL! Wolves 1-1 Nottm Forest (Cunha 32)
The revitalised Matheus Cunha has equalised at Molineux, sliding Pablo Sarabia’s excellent cutback past Matt Turner. That was a nice, clean goal from Wolves.
Updated
Sheff Utd 0-0 Brentford Frank Onyeka gets away with only a yellow card for what sounds like a really poor tackle on Vinicius Souza. It was checked by VAR and they decided the yellow card wasn’t a clear and obvious error.
Man Utd 0-1 Bournemouth It sounds like a very open game at Old Trafford. Marcus Tavernier has just had a goal disallowed for Bournemouth, while United have had 74 per cent of the possession.
Talking of which… “I might be none too pleased with the scoreline, but this is beautiful play from Manchester United with defenders rotating into attack and play spread all over the pitch - all while down a goal in the pelting rain!” writes Matthew Richman. “Credit to Bournemouth, who are executing a game plan well with Solanke sparkling. Martial should take note.”
Can’t you do it for him?
Updated
GOAL! Rangers 2-1 Dundee (Tavernier 26 pen) James Tavernier, with a little bit of help from the second, third and fifth letters of his surname, has put Rangers in front from the penalty spot.
Updated
Half-time: Eintracht Frankfurt 3-1 Bayern Munich
“I promise I am not a Harry Kane hater,” says Joe Pearson, “but wouldn’t it be funny if Bayern won nothing this season?”
I just want football to be the winner.
GOAL! Rangers 1-1 Dundee (Dessers 20) Cyriel Dessers gets his fifth league goal of the season to bring Rangers level at Ibrox. A win today would leave them five points behind Celtic after 16 games.
“Loving the Parlour hat-trick video - what a team that was!” writes Jake Lewis-Smith. “Also loving how the video you linked disproves your ‘I think’. The commentary includes the line, ‘His second hattrick for the club, following on from that treble at Werder Bremen in the Uefa Cup quarter-final last season’. Very warm wishes for a busy winter season ahead from a miserable pedant.”
Look, I’m sorry if my egregious cock-up has offended you, but the dramatic representations that we’re now having of my incompetence are absolutely absurd.
Match report: Sunderland 2-1 West Brom
Louise Taylor was at the Stadium of Light to watch the Daniels (no not them) give Sunderland victory over West Brom.
GOAL! Leicester 1-0 Plymouth (Mavididi 15 pen) The leaders lead through Stephy Mavididi’s penalty.
GOAL! Eintracht Frankfurt 3-1 Bayern Munich (Kimmich 44) Here it comes. Joshua Kimmich whips a 25-yarder into the net to give Bayern hope of a comeback in Frankfurt.
Updated
GOAL! Wolves 0-1 Nottm Forest (Toffolo 14)
Harry Toffolo has put Nottingham Forest into the lead in their mustn’t-lose game at Molineux. It was a triumph for wing-backery: Neco Williams made it with a deep cross and Toffolo’s downward header beat Jose Sa.
Updated
The latest scores in our featured games
Premier League
Brighton 0-0 Burnley
Man Utd 0-1 Bournemouth
Sheff Utd 0-0 Brentford
Wolves 0-0 Nottm Forest
Championship
Blackburn 0-2 Leeds (FT)
Leicester 0-0 Plymouth
Middlesbrough 0-0 Ipswich
Scottish Premiership
Rangers 0-1 Dundee
Bundesliga
Eintracht Frankfurt 3-0 Bayern Munich (2.30pm)
La Liga
Real Betis v Real Madrid (3.15pm)
Match report: Crystal Palace 1-2 Liverpool
Jonathan Liew was at Selhurst Park to watch Liverpool go top of the league.
GOALS! Rangers 0-1 Dundee (Bakayoko 5), Eintracht Frankurt 3-0 Bayern Munich (Larsson 36)
Bayern Munich are being taken to the cleaners.
Updated
On this day in 2000… Raymond Parlour gets the only hat-trick of his career (I think)
GOAL! Man Utd 0-1 Bournemouth (Solanke 5)
Bournemouth are rewarded for a flying start at Old Trafford! (And for not sacking Andoni Iraola.) Lewis Cook won the ball high up the field and crossed low towards Dominic Solanke, who beat Andre Onana with a deft first-time finish.
Updated
On this day in 1998… Gary Neville shows why he’ll be a great pundit one day.
GOAL! Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0 Bayern Munich (Edimbe 31) I say! Junior Dina Edimbe has doubled Frankfurt’s lead, wriggling past a defender and poking the ball into the net at the near post. Bayern’s defender was imperfect, to say the least.
Updated
On this day in 1995… the champions lose 5-0 at Coventry.
Peep peep! Fix up look sharp: the 3pm games are under way.
On this day in 1989… ta-ra Fergie
Championship
Here’s more on those early wins for promotion-chasing Leeds and Sunderland.
Meanwhile, in Scotland
“Hi Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “After two disappointing defeats in cup competitions in their last two fixtures, Scottish Championship leaders Dundee United need a win today at home to Ayr to go back top of the Scottish Championship after Raith went above them by beating Partick last night. Raith have 10 wins and one defeat from 14 games, and a goal difference of +9. United have 9 wins and 4 draws from 13 games, and a goal difference of +27. To paraphrase Jimmy White of his nemesis Stephen Hendry, Raith are beginning to annoy me. And they’re at Tannadice next week…”
GOAL! Eintracht Frankfurt 1-0 Bayern Munich (Marmoush 12) I’m a bit late with this one – apologies. Anyway, Omar Marmoush have given Frankfurt a surprise lead about Harry Kane Team. It was a good finish too, snapped across Manuel Neuer after Fares Chaibi’s shot rebounded off the crossbar.
Updated
The updated Premier League table
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liverpool | 16 | 21 | 37 |
| 2 | Arsenal | 15 | 19 | 36 |
| 3 | Aston Villa | 15 | 14 | 32 |
| 4 | Man City | 15 | 19 | 30 |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur | 15 | 7 | 27 |
| 6 | Man Utd | 15 | 0 | 27 |
| 7 | Newcastle | 15 | 15 | 26 |
| 8 | Brighton | 15 | 5 | 25 |
| 9 | West Ham | 15 | 1 | 24 |
| 10 | Chelsea | 15 | 2 | 19 |
| 11 | Brentford | 15 | 2 | 19 |
| 12 | Fulham | 15 | -5 | 18 |
| 13 | Wolverhampton | 15 | -5 | 18 |
| 14 | Crystal Palace | 16 | -8 | 16 |
| 15 | AFC Bournemouth | 15 | -12 | 16 |
| 16 | Nottm Forest | 15 | -11 | 13 |
| 17 | Everton | 15 | -2 | 10 |
| 18 | Luton | 15 | -14 | 9 |
| 19 | Burnley | 15 | -18 | 7 |
| 20 | Sheff Utd | 15 | -30 | 5 |
Updated
Full time: Crystal Palace 1-2 Liverpool
Liverpool are top of the Premier League after coming from behind to win an eventful, controversial match at Selhurst Park. Read all about it with Dominic Booth.
Updated
Full time: Sunderland 2-1 West Brom
Goals from the Daniels, Ballard and Neil, were enough to give Sunderland victory at the Stadium of Light.
Updated
Full time: Blackburn 0-2 Leeds
Leeds extend their excellent run of form to nine wins in 11 league games with victory at Ewood Park. Dan James and Crysensio Summerville got the goals to move Leeds with four points of second-placed Ipswich, who play Middlesbrough this afternoon.
Pre-match reading: Sheffield United v Brentford
GOAL! Crystal Palace 1-2 Liverpool (Elliott 90+1)
Liverpool are going top of the Premier League for the first time in 18 months. The substitute Harvey Elliott has given them yet another come-from-behind victory with a brilliant individual goal. It’s harsh on Palace, who were the better team until the controversial sending-off of Jordan Ayew, but Liverpool have regained the very happy habit of scoring late winners.
Championship: Sunderland 2-1 West Brom
Daniel Neil doubled Sunderland’s lead in the 84th minute, but Brandon Thomas-Asante gave West Brom hope by pulling one back two minutes later.
Real Betis v Real Madrid team news
💚🤍💚
— Real Betis Balompié (@RealBetis_en) December 9, 2023
Our starting eleven for #RealBetisRealMadrid!#BetisDay pic.twitter.com/6hWNzq9FsF
📋✅ ¡Nuestro 𝗫𝗜 inicial 🆚 @RealBetis!@UnicajaBanco | #RealBetisRealMadrid pic.twitter.com/Fb3CuKovPE
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) December 9, 2023
Rangers v Dundee team news
🆕 Today’s #RangersFC team to face Dundee.
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) December 9, 2023
🗒️ Full Team News: https://t.co/9Z23qAupi9 pic.twitter.com/OoHR5Dmsli
Dundee team to face Rangers this afternoon.#thedee pic.twitter.com/IEgbIZcTvE
— Dundee Football Club (@DundeeFC) December 9, 2023
Middlesbrough v Ipswich team news
The #Boro team 🔴⚪️@unibet #UTB pic.twitter.com/GGP2VsSfuc
— Middlesbrough FC (@Boro) December 9, 2023
Your #itfc! 💪 pic.twitter.com/TN7PFApWuq
— Ipswich Town (@IpswichTown) December 9, 2023
Leicester v Plymouth team news
Your XI on Filbert Way 🏟️#LEIPLY pic.twitter.com/lc0ud91B2u
— Leicester City (@LCFC) December 9, 2023
🟢 How Argyle line up for today's @SkyBetChamp game against @LCFC 📋#pafc pic.twitter.com/9SPZJhPfRL
— Plymouth Argyle FC (@Argyle) December 9, 2023
Sheff Utd v Brentford team news
Sheff Utd (possible 3-4-2-1) Foderingham; Ahmedhodzic, Robinson, Trusty; Bogle, Hamer, Vinicius Souza, Brooks; McAtee, Archer; Osula.
Substitutes: Adam Davies, Lowe, Traore, Thomas, Ben Slimane, One, Larouci,
Seriki, Peck.
Brentford (possible 4-3-3) Flekken, Ghoddos, Pinnock, Mee, Janelt; Onyeka, Norgaard, Baptiste; Wissa, Maupay, Lewis-Potter.
Substitutes: Goode, Jorgensen, Strakosha, Damsgaard, Peart-Harris, Roerslev, Yarmolyuk, Olakigbe, Adedokun.
Updated
Brighton v Burnley team news
Brighton (possible 4-2-3-1) Verbruggen, Gross, Dunk, van Hecke, Milner; Baleba, Dahoud; Adingra, Lallana, Joao Pedro; Ferguson.
Substitutes: Igor, Gilmour, Moder, Mitoma, Steele, Buonanotte, Hinshelwood, Boaitey, O’Mahony.
Burnley (possible 4-2-2-2): Trafford; Vitinho, O’Shea, Beyer, Taylor; Berge, Brownhill; Odobert, Gudmundsson; Rodriguez, Amdouni.
Substitutes: Roberts, Redmond, Ekdal, Zaroury, Ramsey, Ndayishimiye, Bruun Larsen, Massengo, Muric.
Updated
Championship latest
A couple of goals in the early games. Crysensio Summerville has put Leeds 2-0 up at Blackburn, and Daniel Ballard has opened the scoring in the game between Sunderland and West Brom.
GOAL! Crystal Palace 1-1 Liverpool (Salah 76)
A devastating double whammy at Selhurst Park. Jordan Ayew was sent off for not very much, and moments later Mo Salah’s deflected shot beat Sam Johnstone.
Updated
Wolves v Nottm Forest team news
Wolves (3-4-2-1) Jose Sa; Kilman, Dawson, Gomes; Nelson Semedo, Lemina, Joao Gomes, Hugo Bueno; Hwang, Sarabia; Matheus Cunha.
Substitutes: Doherty, Santiago Bueno, Traore, Silva, Kalajdzic, Doyle,
Bentley, Bellegarde, Chirewa.
Nottm Forest (possible 3-5-2) Turner, Voly, Niakhate, Murillo; Williams, Yates, Kouyate, Mangala, Toffolo; Elanga, Gibbs-White.
Substitutes: Sangare, Wood, Hudson-Odoi, Dominguez, Felipe, Vlachodimos, Origi, Danilo, Aina.
Updated
Man Utd v Bournemouth team news
Man Utd (4-2-3-1) Onana; Dalot, Maguire, Shaw, Reguilon; McTominay, Amrabat; Antony, Bruno Fernandes, Garnacho; Martial.
Substitutes: Bayindir, Rashford, Hojlund, Varane, Pellistri, Wan-Bissaka, Van de Beek, Evans, Mainoo.
Bournemouth (4-2-3-1): Neto; Smith, Zabarnyi, Senesi, Kerkez; Cook, Christie; Semenyo, Kluivert, Tavernier; Solanke.
Substitutes: Mepham, Brooks, Rothwell, Ouattara, Sinisterra, Moore, Kilkenny, Billing, Travers.
Full time: Man City 2-1 Aston Villa
City move up to second in the WSl, at least for 24 hours, thanks to two second-half goals from Lauren Hemp.
GOAL! Crystal Palace 1-0 Liverpool (Mateta 57 pen)
Crystal Palace are ahead at Selhurst Park. Jean-Philippe Mateta was fouled by Jarell Quansah and stroked the penalty straight down the middle.
Liverpool were very unhappy with the decision – not because it wasn’t a foul (it was) but because play continued for almost two minutes before the referee was asked to go to the monitor. Oh VAR, so much to answer for.
Updated
Eintracht Frankfurt v Bayern Munich team news
Eintracht Frankfurt (3-4-2-1) Trapp; Tuta, Koch, Pacho; Buta, Larsson, Chaibi, Dina Ebimbe; Gotze, Knauff; Marmoush.
Substitutes: Grahl, Smolcic, Hasebe, Nkounkou, Max, Baum, Aaronson, Ngankam, Hauge.
Bayern Munich (4-2-3-1) Neuer; Mazraoui, Upamecano, Kim, Davies; Kimmich, Goretzka; Sane, Choupo-Moting, Coman; Kane.
Substitutes: Ulreich, Guerreiro, Laimer, Krätzig, Pavlović, Gnabry, Müller, Tel, Musiala.
Women’s Super League: Manchester City 2-1 Aston Villa
There are just over five minutes remaining at the Academy Stadium, where Manchester City lead Aston Villa 2-1. Danielle Turner put Villa ahead early on; the magnificent Lauren Hemp scored twice in five second-half minutes to give City the lead.
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All together now: “What a waste of talent”
Championship
It’s half-time in the two early games. Third-placed Leeds are 1-0 up at Blackburn thanks to a goal from Dan James, and Sunderland are drawing 0-0 at home to West Brom.
Half time: Crystal Palace 0-0 Liverpool
It’s goalless at Selhurst Park, though Palace could easily be ahead. Alisson made a marvellous save from Jefferson Lerma, then a Palace penalty was overturned by VAR because of a foul in the build-up.
Preamble
Hello, good day and welcome to the antepenultimate Saturday clockwatch before Christmas. There are four Premier League games, and with a bit of luck at least one of them won’t be hijacked by the Brobdingnagian buzzkill that is VAR.
In some ways the biggest game is at Molineux, where Wolves play Nottingham Forest. If reports are to be believed – yes, yes, I know - Steve Cooper will be sacked if Forest lose. Award-winning/Crisis club (delete as appropriate) Manchester United are also in action, and will go level on points with Manchester City if they beat Bournemouth. Brighton, who could end the day in fifth place, will expect to beat Burnley at the Amex Stadium, and the bottom club Sheffield United face an Mbeumoless Brentford at Bramall Lane.
There’s also a full EFL programme, plus the latest episode in netbusting adventures of Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham.
These are our featured games, all 3pm kick-offs unless stated.
Premier League
Crystal Palace 0-0 Liverpool (12.30pm)
Brighton v Burnley
Man Utd v Bournemouth
Sheff Utd v Brentford
Wolves v Nottm Forest
Championship
Blackburn 0-1 Leeds (12.30pm)
Leicester v Plymouth
Middlesbrough v Ipswich
Scottish Premiership
Rangers v Dundee
Bundesliga
Eintracht Frankfurt v Bayern Munich (2.30pm)
La Liga
Real Betis v Real Madrid (3.15pm)
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