The Premier League returns with a bang on Boxing Day with eight games to enjoy.
Keep checking back for regular updates.
Chelsea host Fulham
Scorers: Palmer 17′
A west London derby takes place at Stamford Bridge and though it was the visitors that dominated the ball in the early stages, the Blues took the lead after 17 minutes through talisman Cole Palmer.
Beating two Fulham challenges, the Englishman rolled the ball into the bottom corner from 20 yards out to put his side in front.
Tottenham face Nottingham Forest
Nuno Espirito Santo faces his former side at the City Ground, and it was an open start to the game as Heung Min-Son tested Matz Sels.
Aston Villa lock horns with Newcastle
Scorers: Gordon 2′
Newcastle United flew out of the blocks at St James’ Park, with Anthony Gordon putting them ahead inside two minutes as the forward found the far corner from the edge of the penalty area.
Juric takes charge at St Mary’s
Ivan Juric faces West Ham in his first game as a Premier League manager, but it was West Ham who began the game the brighter, racking up several efforts without testing Aaron Ramsdale.
Bournemouth host Crystal Palace
Bournemouth are looking to continue their strong form against Crystal Palace, and the two were evenly matched in the opening stages as the game took on a scrappy look.
Earlier….
City fall short again
Scorers: Bernardo 14; Ndiaye 36′
Manchester City’s Premier League woes continued with a 1-1 draw against Everton.
Jack Grealish, Kyle Walker and Ederson were notable absentees for the hosts as they sought to arrest a slump of nine defeats in their previous 12 games.
Bernardo Silva handed the hosts an early lead on 14 minutes by slipping the ball past Jordan Pickford after being threaded clear down the left-hand side.
Sean Dyche’s side hit back with a sublime strike from Iliman Ndiaye, who prodded a half-volley past Stefan Ortega when Abdoulaye Doucouré found him in the box.
The fallen champions appeared set to retake the lead after Vitalii Mykolenko conceded a penalty shortly after the half-time interval for a foul on Savinho.
But Jordan Pickford kept the Toffees in the contest with a low save from the spot to deny Erling Haaland, whose headed follow-up found the net in an offside position.
Pep Guardiola’s move up to sixth after failing to win a fourth top-flight game in succession while Everton edge into 15th after a third successive stalemate.
Still to come
There’s another seven games to take in with Bournemouth hosting Crystal Palace, Chelsea taking on neighbours Fulham, Newcastle doing battle with Aston Villa and Southampton going head to head with West Ham.
Later, it’s a meeting of Portuguese managers as Vítor Pereira’s Wolves take on Rúben Amorim’s Manchester United before Liverpool entertain Leicester City in the day’s final game.
📸 Stu Forster – 2024 Getty Images
