Key events
Half-time scores
There are four 2pm kick-offs in the Premier League. This is how they’re going.
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Everton 0-0 Chelsea
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Fulham 0-0 Southampton
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Leicester 0-3 Wolves
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Man Utd 0-1 Bournemouth
As things stand Bournemouth are fifth in the table, above Manchester City and in a different postcode to Manchester United. Andoni Iraola is the real deal isn’t he?
“And it came to Molby…”
There’s more than one way to win a title, as Liverpool showed throughout the 1970s and 1980s. They often set a blistering pace that nobody could live with (1978-79, 1982-83 and 1987-88 come to mind, not to mention 2019-20). But there was also a few seasons in which they started slowly and were written off, only to come through the field like The Terminator.
One such example was in 1985-86, when a dramatic victory in a televised game at Spurs was the catalyst for them to reel in the champions Everton.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the final Premier League game before Christmas, the one that may determine who is top at Christmas. Liverpool return to Spurs, scene of the definitive VAR fiasco last season, knowing a win* will keep them above Chelsea. Being top at Christmas doesn’t always result in the title, but it beats being 13th and it would be an apt reflection of an almost unimaginably brilliant start under Arne Slot.
Spurs, meanwhile, have become the Premier League’s answer to the Pakistan cricket team. They’re mercurial to a fault, they use the sublime and the ridiculous as starting points from which to go further west and east. And they couldn’t be involved in a dull game if they tried, which they’re not going to by the way. Spurs’ 13 home games this season have produced 49 goals. For the neutral, this should be loads of fun.
Kick off 4.30pm.
* This is if Chelsea win at Everton in their 2pm kick-off. If they don’t, Liverpool will be top regardless.