Scottish Premiership halves

Halftimes of the championship

Premier League halves

Liverpool 0-1 Fulham. After being the second-best team for most of the half, Liverpool left the game as the stronger opponent at the break. A fascinating second half awaits, with all sorts of consequences for the top of the table.

Newcastle 1-0 Leicester. Ruud van Nistelrooy has to do a lot during the break because his team showed very little.

Wolves 0-1 Ipswich. The boos against Molineux at half-time were undoubtedly aimed at the manager rather than the players.

Arsenal 0-0 Everton. It’s half time at the Emirates. Jordan Pickford, who has been busy but irrepressible, walks away with a slight pride, a smile playing on his lips. A good day at the office for him so far.

Liverpool 0-1 Fulham. The league leaders appeared in attack for the first time, but Luis Diaz whistled his header into Anfield. The hosts could probably do with hearing the half-time whistle and regrouping. The first big pants test for Arne Slot is imminent.

Newcastle 1-0 Leicester. Bruno Guimaraes wants a penalty for a foul by Jannik Vestergaard, but he went down too easily. No yellow card for diving, which is a good thing, because minutes later he enthusiastically tackles Stephy Mavididi and the police get a yellow card. Meanwhile, Chris Paraskevas says: “Please mark this historic day on the calendar (December 14/15, 2024, depending on time zone):
a) A well-rehearsed set piece situation from Newcastle led directly to a goal;
b) A tame, non-threatening Jacob Murphy Half-Shot-Cross™ led straight to a goal.
This is not a practice.”

Arsenal 0-0 Everton. But after corners it is 5-0 for the hosts. Speaking of which… “The expectant silence during free kicks and corners is unlike anything I can remember,” writes Kári Tulinius. “Almost like golf spectators waiting for a putt, except for the yelp from Nicolas Jover.” Mary Waltz added: “Everton have come through a few corners, but it’s akin to a cat cornering a mouse and deciding to take one To play with it for a while before she finishes her off.”

Wolves 0-1 Ipswich. Rayan Aït-Nouri and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde take turns missing excellent chances to equalize at Molineux. The hook on which Gary O’Neil’s coat hangs is becoming increasingly shabby.

GOAL! Newcastle 1-0 Leicester (Murphy 30)

Liverpool 0-1 Fulham. Slotball has given way to Amorimball, with the ten-man hosts now playing with a back three. Ryan Gravenberch has resigned to help Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez, while Cody Gakpo has been moved to full-back in Andy Robertson’s absence. Fulham still dominates.

Arsenal 0-0 Everton. The Gunners are all over Everton and are currently holding firm. “I just had a cardiac ultrasound,” writes Gary Naylor. “NHS must have known I was an Evertonian and scheduled it for 3pm rather than 4.30pm. “I hope all is well, sir.

Liverpool 0-1 Fulham. The whole thing happened at Anfield, where former Reds player Harry Wilson went close with a free kick. Fulham did Liverpool a favor by beating Arsenal last weekend, but they are just about to level things up and then some.

Liverpool 0-1 Fulham. The VAR checks whether Wilson was offside before the Robertson challenge. Could the Liverpool defender get a reprieve? No. The decision stands.

RED CARD: Andy Robertson (Liverpool)

GOAL! Wolves 0-1 Ipswich (Doherty Matchday 15)

Sky pundit and former referee Mike Dean’s take on this Pereira challenge: “He’s nowhere near the ball, he knew what he was doing, it should have been a 100 percent red card.”

GOAL! Liverpool – Fulham 0-1 (Pereira 11)

Arsenal 0-0 Everton. A quick start for the hosts, with the mere presence of Bukayo Saka causing jittery Jordan Pickford anxiety. The goalkeeper makes it just in time. He then claims a corner from Declan Rice. “Greetings from the Free State of California,” writes Mary Waltz. “It’s pitch black, it’s pouring rain, the perfect environment to watch my Everton march into Arsenal’s home stadium. I’m not feeling particularly optimistic, but who knows… who am I kidding, it’s going to get ugly. Sigh.”

Liverpool – Fulham 0-0. Andy Robertson got a slap on the wrist early on, courtesy of Issa Diop, who covers the book. Robertson is back on his feet, but it took him a while to get back on his feet. A problem for the hosts at Anfield Road.

While we wait for something to happen, here are the results of the first kick-offs. There was no lunchtime game in the Premier League.

championship

League One

League Two

Whistles ring out across the country as the 3 p.m. begins. (SFX)

To Scotland. “Can you believe it’s December 14th already?” asks Simon McMahon. “This time last year Dundee United lost at home to Raith Rovers in the Scottish Championship and today we are at Motherwell where a win leaves us five points clear of our hosts in fourth place in the Scottish Premier League table with European Cup would dreams are a vivid possibility if we enter that drunk busy holidays. United have the third-best defensive record in the league behind Celtic and Rangers, and on-loan Sam Dalby has regularly put them in their place. If you ignore the fact that we’ve already lost twice to Motherwell this season, what could go wrong? A shout out to superfan Evie McMahon who is part of the traveling Tangerine Army again today. Come united! Other teams are available including Hibs v Ross County and St Johnstone v St Mirren.”

The state of the Premier League at the start of the 3 p.m. There’s plenty to play for at both ends of the table, with Liverpool and Arsenal in action and a relegation six point at Molineux. Newcastle and Leicester keep things interesting in the middle.

It will be an emotional day at the Emirates as Arsenal and Everton meet for the first time since the death of Kevin Campbell. The popular striker played for Leyton Orient, Leicester City, Nottingham Forest, Trabzonspor, West Bromwich Albion and Cardiff City. However, he is best known for his appearances with the Gunners and the Toffees, for whom he scored 59 and 39 goals respectively. Campbell is celebrated on a poster outside the stadium…

… and right at the forefront of today’s matchday program. “Nice to see KC being celebrated,” writes Jeremy Boyce. “A man who brought sunshine to every band he played with.” Kevin Campbell obituary.

The notable additions and omissions. For your occasional pleasure.

• arsenal welcome Gabriel back to their defense

• Dwight McNeil is out Everton so Jack Harrison takes his place

• Liverpool can finally call on Diogo Jota and Federico Chiesa, even if only as substitutes; see also Darwin Nunez falling to the bench

• Fulham Defender Calvin Bassey is suspended, meaning Jorge Cuenca makes his Premier League debut

• Nick Pope is injured, so Martin Dubravka takes his place Newcastle Goal

• Stephy Mavididi receives the call from Jordan Ayew Leicester

• Wolves Replace the suspended Joao Gomes with Jean-Ricner Bellegarde

• There are no Sammie Szmodics for this Ipswich

The teams

preamble