🔗 Share this article English Top-Flight Pre-Match Buzz, Spanish Football, Afcon Knockout Stage and Old Firm Derby – Matchday Live Introduction Greetings. It’s … (checks diary) … Saturday. After the festive confusion, it’s now the third day of the new year although a schedule of only four top-flight matches indicates things aren't back to normal. Nevertheless, for many out there, this is the final weekend of the holiday so a perfect opportunity to make a trip to the stadium. That selection of four EPL games includes Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest at half past twelve while, starting simultaneously, we have the little matter of an Old Firm derby. One with particular intrigue given the current chaos at Celtic. Later in the day at 5.30pm, leaders Arsenal travel to a Bournemouth side who can’t win anymore but are still capable of playing out entertaining draws with the glamour teams. While the lower leagues have a day off, there is plenty of action in Serie A, La Liga and Ligue 1 while we’ve entered the knockout phase of Afcon. Senegal v Sudan at four o'clock and Mali v Tunisia at seven o'clock keep the fun flowing. Typical for our live coverage, we’re looking for interaction so hit us with comments and emails. Attending a match today? Do you have fresh optimism for your team now the calendar has flipped? Or simply just tell us if your day consists of wall-to-wall football on the tellybox as you polish off the final chocolate oranges. It's widely accepted the caramel variety doesn't compare to the original. Right, it's time to begin the weekend's action! A Fan's Epic Journey One fan has made an epic trip. Christer Aakeroy emails this: “Journeying more than 4,400 miles from Manhattan, Kansas – the 'Little Apple' – to support my beloved Seagulls, I really hope that they fulfill their obvious talent and bring plenty of cheer and happiness to the Amex this afternoon.” Brighton host Burnley (3pm) so the odds are in your favour/favor Christer. Then again, this piece of data might be worrying: Burnley are without a loss in their last seven league visits to Brighton (W2 D5) since a 2-0 loss in August 2013. They’ve remained undefeated at the Amex in the top flight (W2 D4). Live Coverage Galore If you like an MBM (minute-by-minute), we have you covered. And then some! 12.30pm Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest – Sarah Rendell 12.30pm Celtic v Rangers – me, David Tindall 5.30pm Bournemouth v Arsenal – Barry Glendenning Additionally, Billy Munday will bring you live updates from the two 3pm Premier League kick-offs in his Saturday clockwatch while Dominic Booth is on hand with live coverage of the first two Afcon last-16 ties (4pm and 7pm kick-offs). Oh, keep your eyes peeled for live coverage of the fifth and final Ashes Test (Tim de Lisle and Angus Fontaine) and the PDC World darts final (Rob Smyth)! European Round-Up A few results around Europe from last night. Serie A Cagliari 0-1 AC Milan La Liga Rayo Vallecano 1-1 Getafe Ligue 1 Toulouse 0-3 Lens In Italy, Rafael Leao marked his comeback with the opening Serie A strike of the new year. His second-half winner put Milan top of Serie A by two points although local rivals Inter can reclaim top spot when they host Bologna on Sunday. Serie A Table (Top 5): 1. AC Milan – 38 pts 2. Inter Milan – 36 pts 3. Napoli – 34 pts 4. Roma – 33 pts 5. Juventus – 32 pts Meanwhile in France, Lens increased their lead at the top to four points over champions PSG with a comfortable 3-0 success at eighth-place Toulouse, who were clearly hampered by being having a player sent off after just 20 minutes. Lens have now won seven consecutive matches. Could they pull off a title shock? Ligue 1 Table (Top 5): 1. Lens – 40 pts 2. PSG – 36 pts 3. Marseille – 32 pts 4. Lille – 32 pts 5. Lyon – 27 pts Get In Touch Heading to a Premier League match today? Maybe you've embarked on an adventurous journey to the Africa Cup of Nations? Share your predictions and stories with us.
Introduction Greetings. It’s … (checks diary) … Saturday. After the festive confusion, it’s now the third day of the new year although a schedule of only four top-flight matches indicates things aren't back to normal. Nevertheless, for many out there, this is the final weekend of the holiday so a perfect opportunity to make a trip to the stadium. That selection of four EPL games includes Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest at half past twelve while, starting simultaneously, we have the little matter of an Old Firm derby. One with particular intrigue given the current chaos at Celtic. Later in the day at 5.30pm, leaders Arsenal travel to a Bournemouth side who can’t win anymore but are still capable of playing out entertaining draws with the glamour teams. While the lower leagues have a day off, there is plenty of action in Serie A, La Liga and Ligue 1 while we’ve entered the knockout phase of Afcon. Senegal v Sudan at four o'clock and Mali v Tunisia at seven o'clock keep the fun flowing. Typical for our live coverage, we’re looking for interaction so hit us with comments and emails. Attending a match today? Do you have fresh optimism for your team now the calendar has flipped? Or simply just tell us if your day consists of wall-to-wall football on the tellybox as you polish off the final chocolate oranges. It's widely accepted the caramel variety doesn't compare to the original. Right, it's time to begin the weekend's action!
A Fan's Epic Journey One fan has made an epic trip. Christer Aakeroy emails this: “Journeying more than 4,400 miles from Manhattan, Kansas – the 'Little Apple' – to support my beloved Seagulls, I really hope that they fulfill their obvious talent and bring plenty of cheer and happiness to the Amex this afternoon.” Brighton host Burnley (3pm) so the odds are in your favour/favor Christer. Then again, this piece of data might be worrying: Burnley are without a loss in their last seven league visits to Brighton (W2 D5) since a 2-0 loss in August 2013. They’ve remained undefeated at the Amex in the top flight (W2 D4).
Live Coverage Galore If you like an MBM (minute-by-minute), we have you covered. And then some! 12.30pm Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest – Sarah Rendell 12.30pm Celtic v Rangers – me, David Tindall 5.30pm Bournemouth v Arsenal – Barry Glendenning Additionally, Billy Munday will bring you live updates from the two 3pm Premier League kick-offs in his Saturday clockwatch while Dominic Booth is on hand with live coverage of the first two Afcon last-16 ties (4pm and 7pm kick-offs). Oh, keep your eyes peeled for live coverage of the fifth and final Ashes Test (Tim de Lisle and Angus Fontaine) and the PDC World darts final (Rob Smyth)!
European Round-Up A few results around Europe from last night. Serie A Cagliari 0-1 AC Milan La Liga Rayo Vallecano 1-1 Getafe Ligue 1 Toulouse 0-3 Lens In Italy, Rafael Leao marked his comeback with the opening Serie A strike of the new year. His second-half winner put Milan top of Serie A by two points although local rivals Inter can reclaim top spot when they host Bologna on Sunday. Serie A Table (Top 5): 1. AC Milan – 38 pts 2. Inter Milan – 36 pts 3. Napoli – 34 pts 4. Roma – 33 pts 5. Juventus – 32 pts Meanwhile in France, Lens increased their lead at the top to four points over champions PSG with a comfortable 3-0 success at eighth-place Toulouse, who were clearly hampered by being having a player sent off after just 20 minutes. Lens have now won seven consecutive matches. Could they pull off a title shock? Ligue 1 Table (Top 5): 1. Lens – 40 pts 2. PSG – 36 pts 3. Marseille – 32 pts 4. Lille – 32 pts 5. Lyon – 27 pts
Get In Touch Heading to a Premier League match today? Maybe you've embarked on an adventurous journey to the Africa Cup of Nations? Share your predictions and stories with us.