It is rare to see the Premier League take a back seat on Boxing Day, but that’s exactly what happened this year with just the one top-flight fixture and a bumper schedule instead on Saturday and Sunday.
Manchester United beat Newcastle in the only game of the day on Friday – though there was plenty of EFL and non-league action as usual – leaving Manchester City and Arsenal to battle it out for top spot on the 27 December.
The Gunners’ lead at the summit has looked a little more precarious in recent weeks, but there is a positive omen for Mikel Arteta’s side – the team that was top on Christmas Day has gone on to win the league in 17 of the previous 33 seasons.
Meanwhile Liverpool have marked today to pay further tributes to Diogo Jota as they face his former side Wolves. Jota’s wife Rute Cardoso will be in attendance with their two children, Dinis and Duarte, who will walk out with the players as mascots.
Follow The i Paper’s live blog for updates.
Martinez’ Man Utd impact
Had Lisandro Martinez stayed even remotely fit, Ruben Amorim could be viewed in a very different light altogether. In the beleaguered manager’s blueprint, Martinez instigates attacks, gets on the ball more than anyone else, while adding some steel that is all too often missing when he is absent.
Read my full analysis from Old Trafford here.
An emotional day at the City Ground
Nottingham Forest are planning to name a stand after club legend John Robertson, who died on Christmas Day. Robertson played a key role in Forest’s two European Cup triumphs under Brian Clough.
Forest will pay tribute to the Scotsman when they face Manchester City at the City Ground – here’s the starting XI they’ve named:
Nottingham Forest XI: John Victor, Savona, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams, Dominguez, Anderson, Hutchinson, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi, Igor Jesus.
Man City team news
Rodri is back in the squad for the first time since November following a hamstring injury. It is a welcome boost for Pep Guardiola, who is without Rayan Ait-Nouri or Omar Marmoush as they are away at the Africa Cup of Nations. Oscar Bobb and Mateo Kovacic are both out.
Man City XI: Donnarumma, Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly, Nico, Bernardo, Reijnders, Foden, Cherki, Haaland
A bumper day of football
Hello and welcome to today’s live blog. We’ll have coverage of all today’s big games as Nottingham Forest try and put some distance between themselves and the relegation zone when they face Manchester City, who are hoping to go top with a win in the early kick-off. Arsenal face Brighton later and Chelsea take on Aston Villa in the 5.30pm kick-off. Here are today’s Premier League games in full:
- Nottingham Forest vs Man City – 12.30pm
- Arsenal vs Brighton – 3pm
- Brentford vs Bournemouth – 3pm
- Burnley vs Everton – 3pm
- Liverpool vs Wolves – 3pm
- West Ham vs Fulham – 3pm
- Chelsea vs Aston Villa – 5.30pm
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