Chelsea 1-2 Fulham, Newcastle 3-0 Aston Villa and more: as it happened

Thanks for your company today. That’s all from me – join Rob Smyth for Wolves v crisis club Manchester United here (it kicked off a few minutes ago). Goodbye!

Hmmm just saw that red card for Aston Villa’s Jhon Durán and indeed it looks harsh.

“We can manage the game better,” says Chelsea’s Maresca. “We conceded too many transitions second half. They [Fulham] are very good in transition. It’s a game we can learn many things. We need to manage better the game …

“It’s just a game that unfortunately we lost. Now we have to recover energy and go again in three days.

“Not because we win or lose, we are ready or not ready [to win the title] … it’s the feeling we have inside. The best thing we can do is focus game by game and see what we need to improve.”

“To lose at the end is difficult,” says Cole Palmer, of Chelsea’s late defeat by Fulham.

“We played well in the first half. We controlled the game and we had quite a few chances. Second half, we lost a bit of control, and they are a good transition team.

“I don’t think we lost energy or intensity. We just lost control. They turned it into a game – running and stuff – that we are not so good at. We have to try and manage the game a bit better."

“We knew we weren’t going to win every single game … it’s the manager’s first season … we’re just improving and playing better as a team … it’s a good opportunity to learn.

“It’s football, it happens, it’s one of them games where we lost control for 20 minutes and they scored two. Well done Fulham.”

Final question: Did he mean to nutmeg Issa Diop for his goal?

Palmer nods and says: “Yeah.”

Pep Guardiola and the Manchester City board will discuss new signings for the January transfer window this week, the manager said after his team dropped another two points in the 1-1 draw with Everton.

The result makes it one win in City’s last 13 matches and several key players are out, such as Rodri for the whole season, Oscar Bobb also for the long term and Jack Grealish, Rúben Dias, John Stones, Ederson and Matheus Nunes at present. Against Everton Kyle Walker was missing because of illness.

Blackburn 2-2 Sunderland, Middlesbrough 3-3 Sheffield Wednesday, Coventry 4-0 Plymouth, Sheffield United 0-2 Burnley.

A smattering of scores from the Championship, there, and you can see all today’s scores here.

If we take the view that Southampton are doomed – and, as a reminder, no club has ever stayed in the Premier League with such a lowly points tally at this stage of the season – then small positives must be sought wherever possible for the unfortunate regulars at St Mary’s.

So, while this defeat by West Ham extended the hosts’ winless streak to eight games, there was at least evidence that the Ivan Juric era might offer some fresh hope; if not for this campaign then beyond.

Sandro Tonali has brought Newcastle an abundance of riches but perhaps foremost among them it is the rare ability to slow games down that offers Eddie Howe’s high-intensity team the sort of invaluable control they have so often lacked in recent months.

With the Italian once again imperious at the base of midfield as he ran through his Andrea Pirlo-esque repertoire of short and long passes, seamless interceptions and all-round superior vision, Newcastle were in front even before Jhon Durán’s controversial, 32nd-minute sending-off.

Perhaps there will be some debate over Fulham’s equalising goal after 81 minutes of this 2-1 west London derby victory for Marco Silva’s team at Stamford Bridge. Certainly Pedro Neto spent a long time prostrate on the turf being tended to by the medical team after being caught by Alex Iwobi’s shoulder as he skated past him far too easily on the Fulham left. Perhaps Neto might be better served trying to tackle with his feet in future.

But there was no debate about the winner, which arrived five minutes into added time, tucked in calmly by the sub Rodrigo Muniz, reward for a relentless second-half display, and a moment that left the Fulham bench leaping and writhing in a full bobbing huddle on the touchline.

Wolves v Manchester United – live!

“To come here, a local rival … we played a bit differently with a back five and it worked,” says Fulham’s Harry Wilson. “We didn’t come here and park the bus, we tried to play.

“I’m trying to shake the super-sub tag.”

Of his goal: “I thought I might have been offside, I was looking across the line. I didn’t realise it hit the post, I thought I found the bottom corner. That was lucky.”

“I always wonder why Rooney doesn’t just give up and do punditry,” writes Sean. “But I guess taking huge losses in the Championship is still preferable to listening to Carragher and Richards performatively guffaw over some lame pun every weekend.”

Also fair.

Saints v West Ham is ongoing. West Ham are winning 1-0.

“I’d like to take some of the credit for Fulham’s remarkable win,” writes Phil. “I have spent a considerable portion of the afternoon telling my mates that we hadn’t won at the Bridge since October 1979 and that was unlikely to change today.”

“I’m not sure how good Man United’s new bosses are at the football part,” writes Zach. “But their media management has been very strong. Days and days of focus on a player who has pretty quietly sunk to the bench being bravely sold has filled the headlines instead of them still being poor on the pitch.”

Fair. What I’m wondering is, how is it sensible to advertise the fact that cut-price offers will apparently be welcome for Rashford? Not very marginal gains.

Coventry 4-0 Plymouth is a full time score from the Championship. Not looking good for Rooney at Argyle.

Fulham break down the right! It’s crossed low and Muniz takes a good touch and applies a smart finish back across the keeper! Fulham have won it at the death, it seems!

“Good afternoon,” begins David Alderton.

“Regarding the Merseyside weather, I’ve just returned from a promenade at New Brighton (as sang about by local band The Boo Radleys) and it was a proper pea-souper out there. Can barely see the new Toffees ground over the river, and Anfield usually sits proudly atop the crest of the hill over the water.”

“Funny there’s such diverse opinion centred around Antony Gordon lookalikes,” writes Hasan. “Whenever I see him I’ve always got immediate recollections of 1984 era Jonny from the Karate Kid franchise. Anyway, let’s hope Forest are channeling their inner Cobra Kai today. Strike first, strike hard, no mercy Spurs! (Sorry, had to do it...)”

Fulham are well on top of “Chels” right now. Nearly full-time.

But now Chelsea nearly win it! Sancho forces a great save from Leno!

Simon McMahon, our unofficial and most certainly unpaid Scottish Premiership correspondent, writes in:

“Dundee United, having trailed at half time, have turned it around in Perth and currently lead St. Johnstone 2-1 with ten minutes remaining. Celtic are 3-0 up at home to Motherwell, meaning United would leapfrog the Steelmen into fourth should they see it out. Kilmarnock and Ross County both lead 2-0 against Aberdeen and Dundee respectively.”

Al Pacino snuck into the away dugout at St James’ Park today, points out my colleague Paul Bellsham:

Andy writes in on City conspiracy theories:

“My theory is they know they’re getting a European ban, so why bother this year?

“Ortega never moved on the Ndiaye goal, Harland bottling penalties, the evidence is there, wake up sheeple ;)"

Ha ha, that’s made me chuckle, that has.

On the subject of resemblances,” writes Bill, “I note that Chris Paraskevas makes the common mistake of seeing Lee Bowyer in the clash with Kieron Dyer, when in fact it was post-Beverley Hills Cop Jonathan Banks. Such was Bowyer’s reputation at Toon that the team were never allowed formal buffet events.”

Love it, Bill.

“Is this the gentleman who ruined the buffet at the Harrow club this morning?”

“Now I know you are not John Kettley (he’s a weatherman) but there is talk of fog spoiling the Anfield game,” writes Ian. “Do you have the latest skinny?”

My sources tell me Liverpool v Leicester (8pm KO) is ON.

Sels has made three good saves from Brennan Johnson, the former Forest man, says Michael Dawson on Sky. But he adds that Forest look comfortable.

That means Bournemouth 0-0 Crystal Palace is the sole remaining goalless encounter of the five 3pm kick-offs.

Forget all this Spurs chat. Forest are going third (again) if they close out this win! Sheer 1994-95 vibes.

On MOTD last week, Gary Lineker said Forest’s style under Nuno reminds him of Leicester’s Premier League title-winning side of 2015-16. They couldn’t, could they? No. Surely not.

In the Championship, Wazza’s Plymouth have steadied the ship, but still they trail Lampsy’s Cov by four goals to nil.

Nearly 3-0 for Newcastle. Did Isak have the ball in the net? I think he did but he’s offside.

“I wonder if, for all their reputation for chaos, Tottenham are simply the league’s median team,” writes Kári Tulinius. “They beat sides that are slumping and lose to ones that are on an upward swing.”

I think Jonathan Wilson agrees:

Marcus Rashford is not in the Manchester United squad for their visit to Wolves (5.30 KO).

LATEST SCORES!

Toon 1-0 Villa
Forest 1-0 Spurs
Bournemouth 0-0 Palace
Chelsea 1-0 Fulham
Saints 0-0 West Ham

No goals in His Majesty’s Premier League since half time.

“I noticed Edan Tal can’t help but see a resemblance between Princess Diana and Antony Gordon,” writes Cathleen Gorman. “But in the US, all I can see is Nellie Olsen from Little House on the Prairie.”

I can’t find a pic so you’ll just have to find one yourselves.

“Long-time Plymouth Argyle supporter here,” writes Reg Gorczynski.

“How many more weeks will we have to put up with this insufferable manager? If he still calls himself that.

“He has doomed three clubs already to ignominy … and we are becoming the fourth and biggest laughing stock of all. Merry Christmas!!!”

And you, Reg.

“I reached out last year asking how long before Tottenham fans would get sick of Ange doing a late period Wenger tribute act,” emails Sean. “I’d just like to apologise for insulting Wenger’s legacy. At least his teams played up to their wage bill.”

“On Anthony Gordon and Lady Di,” writes Harvey.

“For me, AG is in the middle of a Micky Van de Venn diagram, between Lady Di and Clare Balding.”

Fascinating!

Adam Hazell writes in:

“Am I the only one convinced Pep’s boys are purposely tanking this season so as to avoid punishment for financial misgivings, only to come back next year with all monetary guns blazing? Seems a more logical idea than the teams suddenly turning bad, no?”

Well I don’t know about that. But thank you anyway.

The second-halves in the top flight have begun, mostly.

“Hi Luke, Merry Christmas and all that,” writes Jeremy Boyce. So far, so good.

“Already some fun fun going on in the Prem, but stern stuff in the Championship, with four of the top five playing each other today. Red Hot Blackburn currently besting Second-half Sunderland, and Scottie’s Burrrrrnleh taking a shock lead at fortress Bramall. Wilder will be seething, Burrrrnleh have a miserly defence. Meanwhile Farke’s boys [Leeds] will be waiting nervously for their 66% possession 2-1 defeat at Stoke [8pm kick-off]. It’s tight as a duck’s what not ...”

Saints v West Ham made it to half time at 0-0, by the way.

Big team talk for Big Ange.

“G’Day Luke,” writes Chris Paraskevas.

“Hope you’re well and Merry Xmas. Already been one mention of the Bowyer-Dyer Fight Of The Century on the telecast - personality machine and Newcastle EPL / Newcastle ‘legend’ Michael Bridges is on comms and just had to mention it.

“A little nod to the reinvention of Fabian Schar and Dan Burn into a modern-day Nesta-Cannavaro. I mean there are some genuine moments of class creeping into BDBs game in particular.

“Nesta-Cannavaro is pushing it actually but it’s Xmas, and I even bought the neighbour’s dog a present (after yelling at it the other night and feeling guilty).”

Merry Christmas to you too, Chris.

“I can’t help but see Princess Diana every time I look at Antony Gordon,” writes Edan Tal. “Does anyone else see the resemblance too?”

“Luke,” emails Peter Crosby. (A fair opening gambit.)

“I came into footballing consciousness during the Ardiles era, so a chaotic front-heavy formation low on sophistication but high on entertainment was what appealed to me. As an eight-year-old.

“I have no doubt age and general football-weariness are counting against me now, but key absentees notwithstanding, the scintillating manner of the attacking play is so regularly undermined by defensive foolishness that it’s almost impossible to enjoy it as intended.”

“He just passes it through Diop’s legs,” says Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, on pundit duty for Amazon Prime Video, of Palmer’s goal. “Then it’s too late for the keeper. This is just well-calculated.”

Due to the injury to Fabianski, Southampton v West Ham is ongoing.

Frank Lampard 4-0 Wayne Rooney at half-time.

Coventry 4-0 Plymouth, that is.

Josh Eccles has scored two.

“Eccles is tucking in today like me with the pigs in blankets yesterday,” says the Sky reporter.

Get out.

“Liverpool v Leicester could be called off due to fog!” emails Mike. “Fixture pileup ahoy.”

I wonder when the match could be played? I haven’t the foggiest!

Wowzers. Just seen the Palmer goal for Chelsea. What a talent he is. Passes the ball nonchalantly, softly into the corner from just outside the box after turning smartly and beating a couple of defenders. The finish is also a nutmeg of an unsuspecting Issa Diop. Very, very good indeed.

Fabianski is in a neck brace as he is taken off. Best wishes to him.

At Southampton there is concerning news. Lukasz Fabianski, the West Ham goalie, has been down for several minutes receiving treatment after a clash with Nathan Wood. Let’s hope he is OK.

Forest goal stands! It was Djed Spence that gave the ball away in midfield after which Hudson-Odoi set up Elanga.

Matz Sels saves from Brennan Johnson with Spurs having the better of it at the City Ground.

Southampton 0-0 West Ham is a latest score. As is Nottingham Forest 0-0 Tottenham and Bournemouth 0-0 Crystal Palace.

Andy Flintoff (not that one) gets in touch:

“Manchester City got rid of Palmer because they didn’t need more than one left-footed young English inside forwards with dodgy haircuts, as they already had Foden.”

Lampard 2-0 Rooney in Coventry.

“That Cole Palmer - City could do with him,” writes Gary Naylor.

Having witnessed Forest’s impressive defending at Brentford last weekend it wouldn’t surprise me at all if they turn Tottenham over today. And where would that leave Ange Postecoglou?

Tell me on email, Tottenham fans.

“I’d be shocked if this ends up 0-0. But it’s 0-0,” Paul Merson says on Sky Sports of Chelsea v Fulham.

“It shocks me there aren’t more Gunners out there scared about our Carabao Cup draw,” writes Kieran McKintosh. “Facing the likes of Isak, Gordon, Tonali et al hammering our defence again and again twice in a row does not fill me with confidence. Especially since our own answer to Isak is injured. Fingers crossed for the New Year – both with this and asking that girl in my lectures out.”

Good luck mate.

I’ve had to bin the Scottish Premiership essay I just wrote, having received this from Simon McMahon:

“Season’s greetings to you and all clockwatchers, Luke. Hibs have beaten Hearts 2-1 in the Edinburgh derby to move up to seventh in the table and leave Hearts in 10th, just two points above St. Johnstone at the bottom, having played a game more. Hearts fans will now be looking for a favour from Dundee United, who visit St. Johnstone today and could go fourth with a win if, as expected, Celtic take care of Motherwell at home…”

Frank Lampard’s Coventry have gone 1-0 up at home against Wayne Rooney’s Plymouth Argyle in the Supposedly Golden Generation Derby.

That’s the 17th Premier League goal Newcastle have scored since the start of December. In three matches before this one it was three, four and three. Golazo!

Manchester City’s plight is their individual kind of deja vu nightmare. Featuring domination, taking the lead, creating numerous chances, the spurning of these, and the pesky foe taking one of their very few to thwart those in blue.

Add to the above a dismal 53rd-minute Erling Haaland penalty miss – greeted with a mischievous wink by Jordan Pickford following his save – and times are ever more trying for Pep Guardiola’s men.

Newcastle v Aston Villa: The Villans are unchanged after beating City. For the Magpies, Joelinton is back from suspension and Kieran Trippier also comes back in.

Bournemouth v Palace: Three changes for the hosts – Enes Unal returns after their 3-0 win against Manchester United. Captain Lewis Cook and Max Aarons are also back in.

Eberechi Eze, Daniel Munoz and Trevoh Chalobah return for Palace as Oliver Glasner also makes three changes.

Chelsea v Fulham: Enzo Maresca has restored Marc Cucurella to his team after suspension. Fulham’s Marco Silva, meanwhile, makes it five changes: Joachim Andersen, Sasa Lukic, Andreas Pereira, Adama Traore and Raul Jimenez all come in.

Southampton v West Ham: Ivan Juric takes charge of his first Southampton match. Lesley Ugochukwu and Paul Onuachu start in place of Joe Aribo and Tyler Dibling.

For the Hammers there are also two changes: Carlos Soler returns from a ban, and Guido Rodríguez starts.

Nottingham Forest v Tottenham: Big Ange Postecoglou restores Destiny Udogie, Brennan Johnson and Rodrigo Bentancur to his starting lineup. Bentancur has served his seven-game ban for a racial slur aimed at Heung-min Son. Pedro Porro, James Maddison and Yves Bissouma drop to the bench.

Forest, meanwhile, are boosted by the return of captain Ryan Yates in the middle of the park.

Savinho has just committed a hilarious mis-kick for City against Everton when apparently attempting a cross. That’s all you need to know.

Sporting have appointed Rui Borges as head coach, after the Portuguese champions sacked Joao Pereira on Boxing Day. The new head coach has signed a contract until June 2026, with an option to extend a further year.

Crisis club Manchester City are drawing 1-1 with Everton here:

Five or so minutes to go …