Football

In a day where Arsenal went back to the league summit and Tottenham improved their Top 4 credentials, let’s see how I fared with predictions yesterday Crystal Palace vs Swansea – Crystal Palace Win NO Everton vs Stoke – Everton Win NO Norwich vs Aston Villa – Draw NO Watford …

The landmarks are being reached thick and fast here at realfootballman as I can announce I’ve just recorded 10,ooo page views for the blog in December. To put that into some context, it is more than double of November’s readership and accounts for one third of total views since I …

No 5 Good, 5 Bad today as I haven’t really got the time and I drunk too much yesterday but here are a few brief Match Of The Day musings. Manchester United vs Chelsea was an absolute stinker. United were too afraid to lose and Chelsea played without a striker. …

3rd in the league well at least for 24 hours, what a good Christmas period this is turning out to be Those are the kind of wins that will get you in the Top 4 come the end of the season It may not have been pretty at times but …

Sunderland defender John O’Shea is struggling with a calf problem and could be replaced by Wes Brown, who has only made one appearance this season. Younes Kaboul remains sidelined by a hamstring injury that will keep him out for a number of weeks. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says he won’t …

Leicester’s two leading scorers Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez were both substituted at Anfield on Boxing Day but are fit to face Manchester City. Danny Drinkwater could return from a hamstring injury. Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany is unlikely to feature after suffering a recurrence of a calf injury against …

Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney could be recalled after he was only named as a substitute against Stoke. Midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger returns from suspension and defender Matteo Darmian could be available following a hamstring injury. Chelsea will be without striker Diego Costa, who is suspended for accumulating five bookings this …

West Ham pair Aaron Cresswell and James Tomkins were both substituted because of injuries against Aston Villa and now face fitness tests. Andy Carroll could return, but Manuel Lanzini, Victor Moses, Dimitri Payet, Winston Reid and Diafra Sakho are likely to miss out again. Southampton will again be without Graziano …

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger could make changes following the crushing defeat at Southampton. Substitutes Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Calum Chambers and Alex Iwobi all impressed Wenger during that game. Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe will make a late decision on whether to include Harry Arter, who was brought off at half-time on Boxing …

West Brom pair Salomon Rondon and James McClean continue to serve three-match suspensions. West Brom head coach Tony Pulis said he will rotate his squad and he could bring in striker Saido Berahino for his first start since October. Newcastle defender Jamaal Lascelles is back in training but is unlikely …