Premier League Buildup and Latest Soccer Updates

This comment strikes a familiar chord for my liking. The festive period is always about football first, family gatherings after.

Supporters face a tricky balance for football supporters. Is it possible to maintain the required focus on our team while showing appropriate enthusiasm for presents, holiday meals, and family events...? We'll give it a damned good try! Sorry, what was that you were saying...?

Manchester United Eye Rúben Neves and Conor Gallagher

The Red Devils are searching for a midfielder. This can’t be good news for the young talent… with two 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 is a great way to start the day’s action. Eddie Howe’s side occupy 12th place while Chelsea sit fourth. Only six points separate them, with the Magpies’ formidable home record set to provide a stern test for Chelsea.

The home side could be hindered, however, due to a lengthy list of current defensive absentees. The full-back has added to a host of sidelined players in the medical room, with Lewis Hall also a doubt.

Even so, and despite Maresca claiming he was “falling more in love with [his players” recently, you wouldn’t bank on Chelsea strolling to victory on Tyneside. Will the coach decide on a regular forward line? Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho came off the bench during the midweek cup tie and found the net and look like contenders to start this one.

Predicting games in such fixtures in the current campaign has proven exceptionally tough.

Top 100 Players Discussion

I notice there’s lots of discussion in the comments about the Guardian’s Top 100 players… such lists are inherently opinion-based, naturally. One thing you cannot argue with is the positioning of Ousmane Dembélé at the very summit.

10 Things to Look Out For

Major plotlines this weekend include: 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.

Weekend Football Recap

For those who didn't see there was drama in the all-Welsh Friday night Championship clash. Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo presented Swansea with the win in the 90th minute when he dropped Ben Cabango’s header right into the path of Adam Idah. The Swans substitute had the simplest of task to tap home for the decisive goal.

A gift from the Arsenal academy graduate, incidentally, and local supremacy for Swansea.

Steve Evans steered Bristol Rovers to their first point in 10 league matches, although he said the result was disappointing given the home side had 10 men for the majority. Elsewhere in League Two, Cambridge moved into the top seven with a 2-0 win against Accrington Stanley while Cheltenham won away at Barrow.

Northampton strolled to a comfortable victory in League One.

Over in Germany, the derby went Dortmund's way, with a late Beier goal to defeat Gladbach following an early Brandt strike.

Preamble

Good morning all to our latest matchday live blog. Saturday is here meaning pre-match excitement! It's truly a bumper day of action with no less than eight top-flight matches, kicking off with the early kick-off, followed by four afternoon games, Tottenham v Liverpool at 5.30pm, and concluding with two late matches: the Merseyside and London clashes (UK time).

Additionally, there's a full schedule of games in the Scottish Premiership, Championship, League One and League Two, and further down the divisions along with European action. It's a feast.

As always with matchday lives, we welcome your interaction, so let me know your forecasts, reflections on the year now that it’s coming to an end, or just how you’ll be spending a football-filled day. Should be fun!