3 h. ago Africa Cup of Nations final buildup, Premier League news, and more – matchday live

⚽ News, buildup and discussion before the day’s action⚽ Fixtures | Tables | Afcon final preview | Email us hereMeanwhile, title-chasers City were left red-faced after losing the Manchester derby to bitter rivals United. Michael Carrick enjoyed a dream start to life as United’s interim head coach and won the fans over in the best possible way.Elsewhere in the Premier League, Arsenal missed the opportunity to go nine points clear at the top of the table with a 0-0 draw away at Nottingham Forest. The Gunners missed several opportunities to take the lead, but the main talking point was a penalty incident that was cleared by VAR following a brief check. Mikel Arteta spoke very strongly about the handball incident at full-time. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Premier League buildup, EFL, Afcon last 16 and Paris derby – as it happened

News and buildup to the day’s action ahead of six Premier League games and more last-16 ties at AfconHave you played On the Ball – our new football game exclusive to the Guardian app? The daily puzzle involves guessing the identity of Premier League footballers, past and present.My score I fluked it a bit this time due to the answer being a player I was a big fan of. My score of 65 puts me in the top 10% of players today apparently. Better than yesterday’s abysmal effort with Emile Heskey. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Premier League buildup, EFL postponements, Afcon last 16 and Paris derby – matchday live

⚽ News, discussion and previews before Sunday’s action⚽ Get in touch by emailing us here or comment BTLHave you played On the Ball – our new football game exclusive to the Guardian app? The daily puzzle involves guessing the identity of Premier League footballers, past and present.My score I fluked it a bit this time due to the answer being a player I was a big fan of. My score of 65 puts me in the top 10% of players today apparently. Better than yesterday’s abysmal effort with Emile Heskey. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Premier League buildup, EFL postponement, Afcon last 16 and Paris derby – matchday live

⚽ News, discussion and previews before Sunday’s action⚽ Get in touch by emailing us here or comment BTLDoncaster have announced their Sky Bet League One clash with Luton has been postponed because of a partially frozen pitch at the Eco-Power Stadium. Second-bottom Doncaster announced on Saturday a pitch inspection would take place around 8:30am on Sunday morning, with frost sheets and lighting rigs used this week to offset the cold weather.However, despite “extensive efforts” to get the game on, Rovers announced it had been called off and a rearranged date will be announced in due course. Continue reading...

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2 w. ago Premier League buildup, La Liga, Afcon last 16 and Celtic v Rangers – matchday live

⚽ News, discussion and previews before the day’s action⚽ Fixtures | Tables | Follow us on Bluesky | Get in touchHeading to a Premier League match today? Or perhaps you’ve made a maverick trip to the Afcon? Send your thoughts and hopes to matchday.live@theguardian.comHello. It’s (checks diary) Saturday. After the festive confusion, it’s now day three in the 2026 house although just four Premier League fixtures today suggests a routine hasn’t yet been established. Still, for many out there, this is the final weekend of the holiday so a chance to head to the match. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Liam Rosenior addresses Chelsea ‘noise’, Pascal Gross seals Brighton return: football news – live

⚽ Read Jacob Steinberg on Maresca’s Chelsea departure⚽ Fixtures | Tables | Follow us on Bluesky | Email JohnEddie Howe is having none of the idea that Newcastle have no plan B, reports PA Media, and rejected suggestions they were under the cosh in their win at Burnley.Howe bristled at suggestions they had come under an onslaught at Turf Moor and there was nothing they could do about it. He said: “An onslaught? What, against us? Have you seen the stats of the game? You must have been watching a different game then. There was no onslaught.“Yes, we had moments, of course. We had moments the other way. I would never describe it as that. If it was an onslaught, I’d give you my opinion and say, ‘Yes, I thought it was’. Continue reading...

Sport

2 w. ago Liam Rosenior on Chelsea ‘noise’, Füllkrug joins Milan on loan: football news – live

⚽ Read Jacob Steinberg on Maresca’s Chelsea departure⚽ Fixtures | Tables | Follow us on Bluesky | Email TomEddie Howe is having none of the idea that Newcastle have no plan B, reports PA Media, and rejected suggestions they were under the cosh in their win at Burnley.Howe bristled at suggestions they had come under an onslaught at Turf Moor and there was nothing they could do about it. He said: “An onslaught? What, against us? Have you seen the stats of the game? You must have been watching a different game then. There was no onslaught.“Yes, we had moments, of course. We had moments the other way. I would never describe it as that. If it was an onslaught, I’d give you my opinion and say, ‘Yes, I thought it was’. Continue reading...

Sport

2 w. ago Chelsea manager latest, Füllkrug joins Milan on loan, and more: football news – live

⚽ Read Jacob Steinberg on Maresca’s Chelsea departure⚽ Fixtures | Tables | Follow us on Bluesky | Email JohnEddie Howe is having none of the idea that Newcastle have no plan B, reports PA Media, and rejected suggestions they were under the cosh in their win at Burnley.Howe bristled at suggestions they had come under an onslaught at Turf Moor and there was nothing they could do about it. He said: “An onslaught? What, against us? Have you seen the stats of the game? You must have been watching a different game then. There was no onslaught.“Yes, we had moments, of course. We had moments the other way. I would never describe it as that. If it was an onslaught, I’d give you my opinion and say, ‘Yes, I thought it was’. Continue reading...

Society

2 w. ago Chelsea manager latest, transfer updates and more: football news – live

⚽ Read Jacob Steinberg on Maresca’s Chelsea departure⚽ Fixtures | Tables | Follow us on Bluesky | Email TahaSo Enzo Maresca has left the building. It was a very decent stint on paper, one with two trophies, including a Club World Cup victory which may grow in significance if the tournament becomes a properly serious thing in the future. But it was pretty turbulent, too; Jacob Steinberg has the inside story on what went wrong.Hello, hello, hello and welcome to the first Friday blog of 2026. We’ve already had some drama at Stamford Bridge with the departure of Enzo Maresca, and there’s plenty of Premier League action to review/preview. But let’s just ease up before going full throttle and take in this excellent interview with Jess Carter, the Guardian Footballer of the Year.A lot of people don’t like the way I play football and that’s absolutely fine, but then attacking someone because of what they look like? I can’t do anything about that one, and I wouldn’t want to. I could never ...

Sport

3 w. ago Premier League and Afcon buildup, plus latest news – matchday live

News, discussion and buildup to the day’s actionGet in touch! Email us with your thoughts hereWissa needs more time to get over knee injuryYoane Wissa is still not ready to make regular starts for Newcastle but Eddie Howe is keen to find the Congolese striker more opportunities in the coming weeks.I think with Yoane, we’ve got to look after him, he’s still relatively early in his return. He did really well in his one start against Fulham, I was really pleased with him that day and there’ll be other opportunities.The problem for us is with our schedule playing every three, four days, I don’t think he’s in a condition where he could start regularly at the moment. Hopefully we can manage him to that point at some stage. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Premier League buildup, tributes to John Robertson at Forest and latest news – matchday live

News, discussion and buildup to the day’s actionGet in touch! Email us with your thoughts hereA few Optas ahead of today’s 12:30pm kick-off between Nottingham Forest and Manchester City. The Dyche v Guardiola one doesn’t bode well for those hoping for an upset.● Nottingham Forest won their last Premier League match against Man City 1-0 in March last season, last winning consecutive league games against the Citizens in September 1995. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Premier League buildup, Old Trafford reaction and latest news – matchday live

News, discussion and buildup to the day’s actionGet in touch! Email us with your thoughts hereA few Optas ahead of today’s 12:30pm kick-off between Nottingham Forest and Manchester City. The Dyche v Guardiola one doesn’t bode well for those hoping for an upset.● Nottingham Forest won their last Premier League match against Man City 1-0 in March last season, last winning consecutive league games against the Citizens in September 1995. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Birmingham v Derby, Premier League and Afcon buildup and John Robertson tributes – matchday live

⚽ All the latest ahead of today’s festive fixtures⚽ John Robertson, Forest and Scotland legend, dies aged 72⚽ Fixtures | Tables | Follow us on Bluesky | Mail TomA reminder that this is what CFG’s chairman, Khaldoon al-Mubarak, said back in 2019 when they bought Mumbai City:We believe this investment will deliver transformative benefits to Mumbai City FC, to City Football Group and to Indian football as a whole. City Football Group is committed to the future of football in India and to the potential for Mumbai City FC within that future. We are very much looking forward to playing an active role in Mumbai City FC’s fan and local communities, and working with our co-owners to further develop the club as quickly as possible. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Premier League, EFL and Afcon buildup and John Robertson tributes – matchday live

⚽ All the latest ahead of today’s festive fixtures⚽ John Robertson, Forest and Scotland legend, dies aged 72⚽ Fixtures | Tables | Follow us on Bluesky | Mail MichaelFirst they come for Boxing Day, now the 3pm blackout. Do these people have no respect?The relative lack of Premier League football does however give the Football League (and non league) a festive time to shine. Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago Premier League buildup and latest football news – matchday live

⚽ All the latest in the buildup to Saturday’s action⚽ Ten things to look out for | Tables | Mail us hereGood morning all and welcome to another of our matchday live blogs. It’s Saturday morning so that can only mean one thing – buildup! And we can safely called it a bumper day of action with no less than eight Premier League games, starting with Newcastle v Chelsea at 12.30pm, heading into the four 3pm kick-offs, Tottenham v Liverpool at 5.30pm and then two 8pm games: Everton v Arsenal and Leeds v Crystal Palace (all times GMT).There is also a full schedule of games in the Scottish Premiership, Championship, League One and League Two, plus lower down the pyramids and in Spain, Germany and beyond too. See – bumper. Continue reading...

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