Author: Scott Murray

Second-half goals from Erling Haaland and Phil Foden boosted Pep Guardiola after an early mistake by City debutant Abdukodir Khusanov

Chelsea get the ball rolling. Then an early touch for the new boy Khusanov.

Before kick-off, a moment to remember three former Manchester City players who have recently passed on: Tony Book, Denis Law and Bobby Kennedy. The warmest of applause and an a cappella version of Blue Moon.

Chelsea moved up to fourth with their first Premier League win of 2025

2 min: James hits the corner long and Jackson gets on the end of it at the far stick, albeit to little effect. Sa claims the ball. But Chelsea come back again, Madueke out-powering Ait-Nouri down the right and entering the box. He’s got the opportunity to shoot, but takes one touch too many and a glorious chance is gone.

1 min: Chelsea are immediately on the front foot. Neto crosses from the left, the Wolves old boy’s ball earning the first corner of the evening. James to send it in from the right.

It took a while for the goals to come, especially at the Gtech

Brentford 0-0 Liverpool. The league leaders have started brightly, with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Cody Gakpo probing down the wings. An early half-chance for Mohamed Salah is blocked and cleared.

It’s 3pm, and whistles sound all across the land! I defy you to play this just the once.

United flirted with embarrassment against the Premier League’s bottom side before Amad Diallo stepped up late on to fire a glorious 12-minute hat-trick

2 min: Diallo embarks on the first positive run of the evening, down the inside-right channel. The crowd get excited … then Diallo slaps a wayward pass meant for Bruno Fernandes on the touchline out for a throw. Onwards and upwards.

United get the ball rolling. Saints are kicking towards the Stretford End in this first half.

Arsenal moved to within four points of leaders Liverpool with victory in the north London derby

Spurs kick off. They’re immediately on the front foot, accompanied by pantomime boos. But Arsenal snaffle the ball and Sterling wins a free kick out on the right touchline, bundled over by Spence. An early chance for one of those set-pieces!

The teams are out! Arsenal in red with white sleeves, Spurs in second-choice blue. Everyone looking real dandy. The atmosphere is ratcheted up to derby settings, and we’ll be off in a couple of minutes. “Glanced at the 2010 MBM to find a gratuitous reference to Roy Hodgson,” begins Richard Hirst, who is onto me and no mistake. “Perhaps you could remind your readers (he said pompously) what he achieved in 2010? Never to be forgotten in SW6.”

Manchester City, Bournemouth and Aston Villa edged closer to the Champions League spots while Brentford routed sorry Southampton

It’s 3pm. Whistles sound all across the land. Here we go!

There were three early kick-offs in the Championship. Here are your classified results.

Blackburn Rovers 0-1 Burnley

Stoke City 0-0 Plymouth Argyle

Swansea City 1-1 West Bromwich Albion

Arsenal came from behind to close the gap at the top to six points

4 min: A bit of space for Lewis-Potter down the left. He crosses low in the hope of finding Mbeumo in the middle, but Raya reads the danger and flops on the ball.

3 min: Jesus runs slap-bang into Norgaard and takes an accidental whack in the ribs. For a second it looks worrying for the striker, and Arsenal, but he’s just winded and is soon back up and running.

Goals from Alexander Isak and Joelinton in the first 20 minutes boosted Newcastle’s top-four hopes and left their sorry hosts stunned

The teams are out! Manchester United wear their storied red, while Newcastle United are in their equally iconic black and white stripes. The Stone Roses blare out of the PA system. This is indeed the one. Peter Oh is also in musical – and indeed festive – mood: “♬ Should old acquaintance be forgot...? ♪ Probably yes, if you’re Man United and you want to finally get out from under Sir Alex Ferguson’s shadow.” We’ll be off in a minute.

Pre-match postbag. “So can we expect Newcastle players to start high-fiving and hugging each other the first time they get a corner tonight? It’s as good as a goal against Manchester United these days, if they stick two Magpies on Onana” – Justin Kavanagh

Leicester had more of the ball, but couldn’t take their chances; the champions took theirs

2 min: The visitors patiently stroke it around awhile. Then suddenly Savinho explodes into life, dribbling down the inside-left channel and entering the box. It’s a fine run, but then he takes a heavy touch and it’s a goal kick.

Manchester City kick off. A clapper-fuelled atmosphere at the King Power.