Top Flight Buildup and Fresh Football News

This observation strikes a familiar chord personally. The holiday season is invariably about football first, family gatherings after.

Supporters face a tricky balance for football supporters. Can we manage to keep the necessary eye on our club while displaying suitable excitement for presents, holiday meals, and family events...? We'll give it a damned good try! Sorry, what was that you were saying...?

Man Utd Eye Neves and Gallagher

Erik ten Hag's side is looking for a midfielder. This likely isn't positive for Kobbie Mainoo… as a pair of former Premier League stars are targeted by the Old Trafford club.

Newcastle v Chelsea Fixture Analysis

The clash at St. James' Park at 12.30pm provides a fantastic start to kick off the football. Eddie Howe’s side occupy 12th place while Chelsea sit fourth. Only six points separate them, given Newcastle's strong home form set to provide a stern test for Chelsea.

The home side could be hindered, though, due to a lengthy list of current defensive absentees. Tino Livramento has joined a host of sidelined players in the medical room, with Lewis Hall also a doubt.

Even so, and even with the manager stating his growing admiration for the squad recently, you wouldn’t bank on Chelsea strolling to victory on Tyneside. Can Maresca settle on a regular forward line? Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho were substitutes during the midweek cup tie and found the net and look like contenders for a starting spot.

Predicting games like Newcastle v Chelsea this season has proven exceptionally tough.

Top 100 Players Discussion

Observations show considerable debate in the comments about the Guardian’s Top 100 players… such lists are inherently opinion-based, of course. One thing you cannot argue with is the positioning of Ousmane Dembélé at the very summit.

10 Things to Look Out For

10 things to look out for: The scrutiny on Burnley's manager, to Wolves’ long search for a win, appeals for the striker's inclusion in the national team setup, it’s all here.

Friday Night Round-Up

For those who didn't see there was drama during the Welsh derby. The shot-stopper handed victory to Swansea with a last-minute error fumbling a cross straight to the substitute. Idah was left with a tap-in to tap home to make it 2-1.

An early Christmas present from the Arsenal academy graduate, by the way, and Welsh bragging rights go to the Swans.

Steve Evans steered his team to a draw in 10 league matches, but stated the 1-1 draw at Crewe was “frustrating” given the home side had 10 men for the majority. Elsewhere in League Two, Cambridge moved into the top seven thanks to a victory against Accrington Stanley and Cheltenham picked up a 2-1 win away at Barrow.

Northampton cruised beyond AFC Wimbledon 3-1 in the third division.

And in the Bundesliga, the derby was won 2-0 by Dortmund, Max Beier scoring in the 97th minute to defeat Gladbach following an early Brandt strike.

Preamble

Hello everyone to our latest matchday live blog. It’s Saturday morning so that can only mean one thing – buildup! And we can safely call it a packed schedule with no less than eight Premier League games, kicking off with Newcastle v Chelsea at 12.30pm, heading into the four 3pm kick-offs, the evening fixture, and then two 8pm games: Everton v Arsenal and Leeds v Crystal Palace (all times GMT).

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

Following our usual format, we welcome your interaction, so let me know your predictions for the day ahead, reflections on the year now that it’s coming to an end, or your plans for a day of festive footy-ball. Should be fun!