Key events
Ever wanted to ask Charlie Nicholas a question? Well, this is your chance. Whether you want to know about the season he scored 50 goals for Celtic, or the day he scored both goals as Arsenal beat Liverpool in the League Cup final, or his time on Soccer Saturday, let us know.
Drop your questions in the form below and we will put them to him.
I’d certainly like to ask him about that Specsavers comeback at Jeff Stelling on Soccer Saturday …
Another fantastic 3pm game in prospect, and it’s now dark enough for floodlights at that time. Quite right too, as football is better in the dark and drizzle, and that’s a fact.
I’m especially looking forward to seeing Pascal Groß again, the best footballer with ein eszett since Thomas Häßler. Groß leads the stats this season on assists, distance covered and chances created. He’s just a great playersl to watch – clever and versatile and hard working and imaginative. Can’t think of any others in the league even close to his level in their mid-30s.
I don’t think it’s going overboard by saying Pascal Gross has been one of the players of the season in the Premier League so far. Also, I agree, 3pm games are just better when it gets dark at half-time.
Brighton visit the Etihad for the second time this week after losing on penalties in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday. And it’s a second weekend in a row in the north-west after their trip to Anfield last Sunday. On Thursday, their travels take them to Getafe near Madrid – not as glamorous as it sounds, I’ve been there.
“Sunderland’s story is important and something we’ve analysed,” Coventry’s Frank Lampard said in August. Today’s meeting at the CBS Arena is the first since the dramatic Championship playoff semi-final they contested 18 months ago – Dom Ballard and all that.
Since then, the two sides have taken diverging paths – Coventry spent another season in the second tier while Sunderland’s post-promotion form led them all the way into Europe. But today they meet as near-equals – they occupy the bottom two places in the Premier League table.
Both are in need of points and, particularly for Sunderland, in need of pride. “There’s always a new story and a new chapter to write,” Sunderland’s Regis Le Bris said this week. “This game will be an exciting one with our intention to be us, show up with our identity, our pillars, our foundations and, after that, the game will be the game. Coventry have won twice in the Premier League so they are competitive. The Premier League is a new chapter for them but they are still efficient.”
That article from Barney made my head hurt.
And here it is! Don’t let Stillgrizzly put you off …
Manchester United Women are on a roll right now. After some teething problems under new manager Eva Olid, United have won seven of their last eight games in all competitions and drew with the WSL champions in the Manchester derby last weekend.
Speaking after United’s 3-0 win over Burnley in the League Cup on Wednesday, Olid said: “This match is really good for momentum but we cannot relax on Saturday, we have Everton in the league. In the league, anything can happen and everyone is difficult to play.”
Captain Maya Le Tissier had played every minute of United’s last 118 games until she was subbed against Burnley. “She knew [about the sub], because the records are good but I need to protect her,” Olid said. “I think she needed a rest and I think it was the best decision, but still, she’s starting all games.”
Today’s game is, of course, taking place at Goodison Park, which Everton Women have to themselves after the men moved to Hill Dickinson Stadium.
It’s Wolves v Cardiff today, which is a good excuse to remember the all-time classic of April 2018. As both teams chased promotion in the Championship, Cardiff missed two stoppage-time penalties, Ruben Neves scored a great free-kick and Neil Warnock told Nuno Espirito Santo to “f*** off” for celebrating too much.
Reckon Brian Barry-Murphy and Cesar Peixoto will go at it today?
More on Chelsea v Man United – a quiz!!!
….13 games ago they also met competitively in the FA Cup semi-final (2020, Chelsea won 3-1, Covid closed doors I think)
There were players of 14 different nationalities across the two starting 11s that day.
Name a player and his nationality who started that game (no AI/Google cheating) – Chelsea v Man Utd FACSF 2020
Lowest score (rarest answer in my head) wins.
Good luck.
Stooze does his best Alexander Armstrong impression … is Willy Caballero (Argentina) a pointless answer?
Alonso rules out January loan for Estêvão despite lack of minutes
Will we see any of Estêvão at the Bridge today? Xabi Alonso has ruled out a January loan exit for the 19-year-old after questions about his limited game time. Estêvão was left on the bench for the Carabao Cup game against Liverpool and has played just 47 minutes in the Premier League so far this season.
“It’s no secret that all players want to be on the pitch,” Alonso said yesterday. “When any of them haven’t had enough minutes because of my decision, I have to take the responsibility for that. But everyone has to be ready because in any game they could be important. Este, his training and his attitude has been good.
I enjoyed Andy Hunter’s article on Alexis Mac Allister this morning. The statistics he refers to were interesting and I hope Macca can keep this up.
Here is the article in question and a snippet of Andy’s stat action …
Mac Allister’s sense of responsibility extends to implementing Iraola’s instructions for his new team. Figures from Opta show the midfielder is winning more tackles per Premier League game this season – 2.3 on average compared to 1.8 last season; winning more duels (4.8 from 3.8); winning more aerial duels (0.9 from 0.6) and winning more possession (5.6 on average compared to 3.8).
He is sacrificing the offensive side of his game to bring more aggression and organisation to the defensive aspect, and his touches in the opposition box, chances created, goals and assists are all down on last season as a consequence. Not that Iraola is complaining.
For those of you in the UK, today’s Milan derby is being shown free-to-air on BBC Two. How about that?
Inter and Milan this week unveiled plans for their new stadium that will replace San Siro from the 2031-32 season, in time for Italy to co-host Euro 2032.
The stadium, sponsored by Generali – Italy’s largest insurance company – will have a capacity of 71,500 seats and is expected to cost the two clubs €1.2bn (£1bn). The plans were revealed at a gala event at Milan’s Castello Sforzesco on Thursday – but some fans in attendance voiced their opposition to San Siro being demolished.
Shortly before the briefing began, a group of Inter fans walked into the courtyard of the castle and unfurled a banner reading: “You will never extinguish the lights at San Siro,” and chanting: “Hands off San Siro.” Work on the new stadium is set to begin in 2028, on the site of the existing 75,000-capacity venue.
Today’s standout fixtures
All times GMT
Premier League
12.30pm Chelsea v Man Utd
3pm Bournemouth v Leeds, Brentford v Nottingham Forest, Coventry v Sunderland, Hull v Ipswich, Man City v Brighton
5.30pm Tottenham v Crystal Palace
8pm Aston Villa v Fulham
Championship
12.30pm Lincoln v Birmingham
3pm Burnley v Portsmouth, Southampton v QPR, West Ham v West Brom
League One
12.30pm Bradford v Huddersfield, Plymouth v Reading
3pm Peterborough v Luton
League Two
3pm Crewe v Barnet, Salford v Exeter
Women’s Super League
12.45pm Everton v Man Utd
Scottish League Cup
5.30pm Rangers v Aberdeen
Europe
5.30pm Bayern Munich v Borussia Dortmund
7.45pm Milan v Inter
It is not all rosy at Chelsea either. A home defeat to Spurs can bring any season to a grinding halt and the manner of the performance last weekend has brought Xabi Alonso under scrutiny. Wednesday’s defeat to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup has not helped, with the domestic cups surely taking higher priority this season without European football.
But perhaps the most concerning thing for Alonso is his growing injury list. In recent days and weeks he has lost Reece James, João Pedro and Maxence Lacroix – with none of them expected back for a few weeks at least. Emi Martínez could soon make a return from his broken jaw, but it will be Mike Penders in goal again today.
Here are the predicted lineups for the lunchtime clash with Manchester United …
“It’s not always rosy and nice conversations,” Michael Carrick said on Thursday as he reflected on a difficult week at United amid speculation over his future and the general state of the club.
United have gone eight games without a win after their worst league start in 40 years. They are 16th in the Premier League, one point above the relegation zone. Carrick suggested he had held talks with Jason Wilcox and Omar Berrada this week …
It’s pretty clear, it’s not always rosy and nice conversations between anyone, whether that’s between me and the players, whether that’s between me, Jason, Omar or the owners.
It’s the truth, it’s the hard truth at times and it’s what we need to move forward. Whatever we need to move forward, we will do.
On the reception he was given – and the boos his players received – at Old Trafford following defeat to Bournemouth last Sunday, Carrick said …
I’ll be totally honest, it was mixed feelings for me. To have the appreciation from the supporters and that connection and that respect is something I feel strongly about.
It wasn’t a nice situation but to feel that was important, of course, but it didn’t make me feel better in the fact that I’m with the players 100% and we’re all in it together. I’ve told the players that, I’m happy to say that.
Manchester United: What’s gone on this week? Well, you would have got long odds on Michael Carrick being in the dugout at Stamford Bridge when he trudged down the tunnel at Old Trafford last weekend.
Monday: The powers that be at Carrington – the immensely popular Jason Wilcox and Omar Berrada – hold talks over Carrick’s future. Carrick attends an under-21s match at the training ground.
Tuesday: Wilcox decides to give Carrick a chance to turn things around. Bruno Fernandes holds clear-the-air talks with Carrick after sitting out the defeat to Bournemouth. Eddie Howe emerges as United’s prime candidate if Carrick is sacked.
Thursday: Carrick says he will not strip Fernandes of the captaincy and says he is not surprised to have kept his job as head coach. “Between us, we’ve got to make a difference and push things in a good direction,” Carrick says.
Should Fernandes return to the United lineup at Chelsea today? If he does, he’ll lead them out as captain.
Suspicious bets for predicting Ballon d’Or under investigation
A series of suspicious bets that correctly predicted the exact top-five finishing order of this year’s Ballon d’Or and generated almost $200,000 (£149,000) in winnings is being investigated by the event’s organisers, France Football, who have also contacted the police.
It has been alleged that 12 Polymarket accounts – an American cryptocurrency-based prediction market – placed the bets, with more than $264,000 wagered on the outcome before Monday’s ceremony. Their extraordinary accuracy has raised serious questions about a potential leak of confidential results before football’s most prestigious individual award.
Harry Kane was crowned the winner at the ceremony at the London Palladium, finishing ahead of Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, Rodri and Lionel Messi. Remarkably, this was the exact order predicted by the group of accounts identified in French media outlet Upside’s investigation.
Aston Villa to take legal action against Carragher for ‘unacceptable insults’
Aston Villa have announced plans to take legal action against Jamie Carragher following his “unacceptable insults” about the club and its supporters.
Carragher told Villa fans to “shut the f*** up” after facing criticism for suggesting Unai Emery should consider taking the Manchester United job. Villa responded on Friday evening with a statement on X signed by their chair, Nassef Sawiris.
“Aston Villa will initiate legal action against Jamie Carragher for his unacceptable insults about the club and its fans,” the statement said. “Aston Villa will not allow anyone to stop our ascension in English and European football. Nassef Sawiris, chairman.”
There are a couple of news lines to bring you before we take a look at today’s fixtures.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to Matchday Live on a bumper day in the Premier League. I’ll be bringing you the latest news and buildup to eight top-flight games, with Chelsea v Manchester United on the menu at lunchtime. Michael Carrick lives to fight another day in the United dugout and so does Bruno Fernandes as captain after clear-the-air talks took place this week. We shall have to wait and see if Fernandes returns to the XI. Chelsea and Xabi Alonso could really do with a result after their poor display against Tottenham.
Elsewhere, there are five 3pm kick-offs including Manchester City v Brighton (again) and the basement battle between Coventry (19th) and Sunderland (20th). Plus there is a first game in charge of Championship Burnley for Fabio Celestini for the visit of Portsmouth to Turf Moor. It really starts to get spooky after dark as Spurs host Crystal Palace and Aston Villa face Fulham.
Two of British football’s grand old grounds host action as Everton take on Manchester United at Goodison in the WSL and Rangers face Aberdeen in the men’s Scottish League Cup semis at Hampden. Fleetwood, if anyone is asking, are at home to Bristol Rovers in League Two. Oh, and it’s Der Klassiker in Germany as Bayern Munich (and Ballon d’Or winner Harry Kane) host Borussia Dortmund. Is that everything? Nope, there’s a Milan derby, too.
If you’re on your way to a game today or have anything to get off your chest, you can email me here. Comments will hopefully be open BTL shortly, too.
