1730 GOODNIGHT
Thank you for being with us today. We hope you enjoyed yourself (how could you not with the late drama?!) and found the blog useful
Get full reports of all today's Premier League Games here
Get full details of the day's Sky Bet EFL games from all three leagues here.
Get the latest Live League Tables
Scroll below to link to our Sunday Previews and tips
We will be back with our next blog from 1pm on Boxing Day, so please joins us for that.
Have a wonderful Christmas and thank you for being with Sporting Life in 2018!!
1729 SUNDAY'S GAMES
1725 🎆 BETTING SUCCESS
So let's review our betting success today.
In our Premier League Previews we called right....
- Bournemouth to beat Brighton and over 1.5 total goals at 7/5
- Danny Ings to score anytime for Southampton against Huddersfield at 2/1
1720 📊 PREMIER LEAGUE ODDS
So these are the latest odds from Sky Bet for the Premier League after today's games....
Manchester City 10/11
Liverpool 11/10
Tottenham 22/1
Chelsea 100/1
Arsenal 150/1
Huddersfield 2/7
Burnley 4/9
Fulham 8/13
Cardiff 4/6
Newcastle 9/2
Southampton 8/1
Palace 12/1
1715 - The 1730 CHAMP GAME
Hull City host Swansea
Last Christmas, the Cardiff fans gave Sol Bamba their heart, and I'm sure they will be doing the same this time around. The defender should be heavily involved in the attacks for the hosts as they look to the aerial route if they are to find the net. Bamba has two on his tally already this season and has had 15 shots on goal, the seventh-highest in this Cardiff team. Backing him to have one or more shots on target at the better side of 2/1 is value worth taking.
Here are the key stats for the game
Here are the team line ups
1642 EFL UPDATE
Today is going Leeds United's way in the Sky Bet Championship, as Norwich as still being held at Blackburn 0-0. Remember Leeds play at Villa tomorrow, so could extend their lead with a win
WBA are still 4-0 at Rotherham and closing in on the top two
Middlesbrough are trying to get back into form and are 1-0 at Reading.
Stoke are closing in - slightly - on the top six as they lead 1-0 at home to Millwall
1639 WILL PALACE HOLD ON?
Well to be honest, despite City having 73% possession, Palace are looking comfortable. City came close to pulling one back from a free kick. But Palace are organised and have limited the Champions to just 3 shots on target in the whole game.
Palace 3-1 up with 6 mins and injury time to hold on. This could be a major moment in the Premier League season
1638 🔍 IN PLAY ADVICE
Kenedy could, and possibly should, have had a penalty for Newcastle after being pulled back.
The Magpies are looking the more likely winners in the closing stages – to take three points late on.
1634 🌩 PL GOAL FLASH
Bournemouth 2-0 Brighton - Brooks
Brooks grabs his second to surely give the home side the lead and ANOTHER SUCCESS for us. George Pitts called Bournemouth to beat Brighton and over 1.5 total goals at 7/5 in his Premier League Preview Tips
1630 🔍 IN PLAY BETTING ADVICE
Now how is this one going to go at Stamford Bridge?
Leicester lead 1-0, but rather than shutting up shop they are pushing for a second and equally looking open at the back.
Vardy almost gets a second, then Hazard almost gets a leveller.
Thommo on Soccer Saturday shouts for them to get organised otherwise Chelsea will find an equaliser.
Current stats
Shots on Target - Chelsea 6, Leicester 2
Shots off Target - Chelsea 6, Leicester 1
Although be warned, City have not been creating much in this second half so far.
1619 🌩 EFL GOAL FLASH
Stoke 1-0 Millwall - Berahino
Stoke need to start winning home games and closing the gap on the play-off's in the Championship - are they just about to do both after finally taken the lead in the this one
Wigan 0-3 Birmingham
Birmingham's excellent season under Garry Monk is continuing
Brentford 1-0 Bolton - Maupay
The home side have been sinking quickly and relegation was a big fear, a win today can really help ease those fears and now they lead against a Bolton side stuck in the bottom three.
1617 🔍 IN PLAY BETTING ADVICE
Palace have had five shots today so far – three goals, one hit the post and one off target! They’re now and a City comeback win
1615 🌩 PL GOAL FLASH
Huddersfield 1-2 Southampton - Billing
Sorry we called it wrong below, as Huddersfield finally have a shot on goal and would you believe it, it goes in. Clearly worth the wait from Billing, who normal scores stunners.
1614 🌩 EFL GOAL FLASH
Rotherham 0-4 WBA - Gayle
Gayle completes his hat trick as WBA continue to be the entertainers of the Sky Bet Championship
Portsmouth 2-1 Sunderland
A great battle at the top of League One going on here, as Sunderland pull one back
1610 🔍 IN PLAY BETTING ADVICE
The job seems already done for Southampton at Huddersfield, as they are still 2-0 up.
The home side STILL have NOT had a shot on goal.
Danny Ings to score a brace is 6/1 and he's 1 goal from 1 shot so far. Southampton 9/4 to score next is worth looking at again having had 8 shots so far, 4 on target
1608 🌩 PL GOAL FLASH
Manchester City 1-3 Crystal Palace - Milivojevic Pen
Yes, that score is right, from 1-0 down to 3-1 up at the Etihad. Townsend hit the post and in the scramble a penalty is award, it's debatable if it was the right decision or not, but Palace don't care as Milivojevic slots it
1607 🌩 PL GOAL FLASH
Chelsea 0-1 Leicester - Vardy
It is Vardy's first goal in open play since September 22 (he's scored three pens in that time) - will that goal help save his manager's job, after reports today Puel was to be sacked
1605 🌩 EFL GOAL FLASH
Ipswich 1-1 Sheffield United - Sharp
Ipswich were looking good for their second win under new boss Paul Lambert, but a clear rocket at half time from Chris Wilder has done the trick and woken the Blades up and who else but Sharp with the equaliser.
1600 SECOND HALF
Here we go again - the last second half of Saturday football before Christmas Day. Santa is almost here, will be deliver an early present for your side in the second half?
1559 🔍 HALF TIME BETTING ADVICE
What is happening at the Etihad? Can Palace hang on? . Gundogan to score a second is 1
🚨 SKY BET PRICE BOOST - Newcastle v Fulham
Can we get a goal at Newcastle? Rondon to break the deadlock is . They're certainly looking the most likely.
Troy Deeney to add a second is an , while Felipe Anderson, who's looked dangerous, is . Michail Antonio has had a chance or two and he's to get on the scoresheet.
1558 Secret Santa
While we take a quick break from the action, please enjoy our Secret Santa.
The Sporting Life team have paired off, but rather than buying each other little gifts, we've got each other a £5 best bet for 2019.
Here's one of them, see them all here
1555 Cardiff v Manchester United
We will provided some advice for the second halves shortly. But let us look ahead to the evening game as Manchester United post Jose begin in Wales.
1554 ⚽️ ACCA UPDATE
Not great so far, we admit...
Forest 0-1 QPR
Sheffield Wednesday 0-0 Preston
Charlton 2-0 Gillingham
Yeovil 0-0 Northampton
1550 ⏳ HALF TIME
Premier League
Bournemouth 1-0 Brighton
Chelsea 0-0 Leicester City
Huddersfield 0-2 Southampton
Man City 1-2 Palace
Newcastle 0-0 Fulham
West Ham 0-1 Watford
Sky Bet Championship
Blackburn 0- Norwich
Brentford 0-0 Bolton
Derby 1-1 Bristol City
Ipswich 1-0 Sheffield United
Forest 0-1 QPR
Reading 0-0 Middlesbrough
Rotherham 0-3 WBA
Sheffield Wednesday 0-0 Preston (Preston down to 10 men)
Stoke 0-0 Millwall
Wigan 0-2 Birmingham
1548 📸 ACTION SHOT
We've just watched the Townsend goal against Manchester City (we promise it wasn't on an illegal stream - cough) it is just incredible - make sure you watch it somewhere. It is a thing of beauty.
1545 🌩 GOAL FLASH
Wigan 0-2 Birmingham
1544 ⚽️ ACCA UPDATE
A bump in the road for us here. We've tipped Preston to win at managerless Sheffield Wednesday. It's 0-0 but Preston down to 10 men with Pearson sent off
1540 🌩 PL GOAL FLASH
Huddersfield 0-2 Southampton - Ings pen
So plenty of betting success here. In our Premier League Preview we called Ings to score anytime at 2/1 and as you'll see below, we called Southampton to score next at 6/4
1539 📸 ACTION SHOT
Palace at the Etihad so far – 23% possession, 2 shots, 0 corners – leading 2-1!! They’re 7/2 to complete the shock win and 9/4 to grab a draw.
There are two big fights later but neither will contain a punch like Alfie Mawson took off his own keeper! Rico came out and punched him with both fists as both Fulham men tried to clear the ball. Looks a nasty one.
1535 🌩 PL GOAL FLASH
Manchester City 1-2 Palace - Townsend
Wow, wow, wow. Le Tiss on Soccer Saturday is going mad claiming "it's the goal of the season" with a volley from 30 yards from Andros Townsend!!!
1534 🌩 PL GOAL FLASH
Manchester City 1-1 Palace - Schlupp
Would you believe it - Palace have levelled at City. Think every other city in the county could hear the cheer from Liverpool when that went it. Long way to go though
1531 🌩 GOAL FLASH
West Ham 0-1 Watford - Deeney Pen
Bradford City 2-0 Scunthorpe
West Ham's Fabianski had saved the last three pens taken at him, if he'd saved this one it would have been a Premier League record. But not to be as a lovely cool strike from Deeny puts the visitors ahead.
In League One, a rejuvenated Bradford are hammering their old manager Stuart McCall's Scunthorpe currently
1524 🌩 EFL GOAL FLASH
Derby 0-1 Bristol City
It is totally against the run of play and it is in fact their first attack of the day - not that they care about that - City lead at promotion chasing Derby - Sorry, let's give them their full name... Frank Lampard's Derby County
1520 🌩 GOAL FLASH
Bournemouth 1-0 Brighton - Brooks
Rotherham 0-2 WBA - Barnes
The two B's continue their great individual seasons with goals for their respective clubs.
As it stands WBA would be moving three points behind Norwich (who are currently earning a point) and leaders Leeds (who play tomorrow)
1518 🔍 IN PLAY BETTING ADVICE
John Stones is playing in midfield for Manchester City again and as you’d expect it’s one-way traffic so far. Sane’s hit the side netting; Sterling has just been denied from a great chance, and they’ve had one cleared off the line, while Palace have already been time wasting!
Just the 81% possession so far…
Unsurprisingly they are 1/5 to score the opening goal
1515 🌩PL GOAL FLASH
Huddersfield 0-1 Southampton - Redmond
The first Premier League goal goes in and Huddersfield's poor season is continuing at the moment, while Southampton's revival under Hasenhüttl is building and building
1510 ⚽️ ACCA UPDATE
Charlton 1-0 Gillingham
Great start for the Sporting Life ACCA!
We've backed Charlton, Nottingham Forest, Preston, and Northampton all to win
Forest 0-0 QPR
Sheffield Wednesday 0-0 Preston
Charlton 1-0 Gillingham
Yeovil 0-0 Northampton
1508 🔍 IN PLAY BETTING ADVICE
Slow first 10 minutes in the Premier League as a whole.
Fulham's Aleksandar Mitrovic has the first shot on target of the day after just a couple of minutes at Newcastle – he’s .
He’s surely going to bag today against his old club?
1505 🌩 EFL GOAL FLASH
Rotherham 0-1 WBA - Gayle (6)
Darren Moore's side score the first goal in the Sky Bet Championship, as they look to close in on the top two.
And Lincoln go 2-0 at home to Newport
1503 🌩 GOAL FLASH
First goal in the 3pm kick offs in the top four leagues goes to the Sky Bet League Two leaders Lincoln City. 1-0 up after three minutes against Newport with Akinde goal.
1502 ALREADY TODAY
If you are just joining us, then you are LATE - we stated at 1pm!!! Only joking, I mean thank you for being with us.
Arsenal have won 3-1 at home to Burnley in an entertaining and tough early Premier League kick off.
In play we advised to back Aubameyang to get a second and, at 2-1, Arsenal to score next - both happened. So a good start for our in play betting advice. We'll try and help you more over the next few hours.
1500 🕒 KICK OFF
So here we go... best of luck to your teams and your bets.
We will bring you instant goal updates and key match moments, plus in play betting advice.
Our team are monitoring the stats, current match flow, player form and expert opinion for all Premier League and key EFL games in order to give you the best guidance possible for your in-play betting.
🔄 PLEASE REFRESH THIS PAGE FOR THE LATEST UPDATE 🔄
1453 Advent Calendar
Just before the madness descends at 3pm, let's take a look back at a magic 2018 moment from the Sky Bet EFL..
Our Sporting Life Advent Calendar has been reliving a great highlight every day.
To watch all 22 days so far then CLICK HERE.
Here's today's
1451 6⃣ SUPER 6 ADVICE
Final piece of Super 6 advice today, in case you've yet to enter your predictions for today's games and chance to win £250K
1447 📰 EFL TEAM NEWS
James McClean starts for Stoke as they take on Millwall and look for a win to close in on the Sky Bet Championship Play-Offs.
while the wide midfielder only has one of his tally this season, he does boasts four assists in his last three starts, two of which came in their draw with Aston Villa last time out.
- Eden Hazard is on the verge of scoring his 100th Chelsea goal and has been directly involved in 17 goals in the Premier League this season (eight goals, nine assists), more than any other player.
- Raheem Sterling has 12 goals in 25 appearances for club and country this season and has a good record in his previous eight appearances against Crystal Palace, scoring four.
- Callum Wilson, meanwhile, has 10 goals in 20 appearances for club and country this season, finding the back of the net in two of his last three Premier League appearances. He can get on the score sheet as Bournemouth host Brighton.
1442 Group Bets
Group Bets is the new feature from Sky Bet allowing you and your mates to combine your footy selections into one acca – and you can keep track of exactly how every one of you is getting on to see who’s the king of tipping and who couldn’t back a winner in a one-horse race.
To show you the way the Sporting Life team have our own weekly Group Bet going on – check out today’s winning selections right here.
1438 🔍 IN PLAY BETTING ADVICE
If you've read today's Paper Talk, you'll know a few National News Papers are reporting Claude Puel is facing the sack at Leicester City.
So he'd probably have wanted a better place to go than Chelsea this afternoon and here's why...
- Leicester have failed to win any of their last eight visits to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in all competitions, last winning there in September 2000 (2-0).
- Chelsea are unbeaten in 12 Premier League home games, keeping a clean sheet in each of the last three games at Stamford Bridge in the competition (W7 D5 L0).
Chelsea’s Eden Hazard has been directly involved in 17 goals in the Premier League this season (eight goals, nine assists), more than any other player. He's provided an assist in each of his last four Premier League games (five assists).
I'm personal going for him to get the games first goal.
Soccer Saturday Pundit Paul Merson offers his advice on Chelsea v Leicester and Manchester City v Palace....
1427 🔍 PREMIER LEAGUE TIPS
Newcastle have named Ayoze Perez in their starting XI today to face Fulham and he's one of George Pitts' tips for today...
We were tempted to back the Spaniard last week against Huddersfield, but went for Salomon Rondon instead – which proved the right call.
This week we know Perez is better on home turf and he can capitalise on a Fulham defence that’s let at least one in in all of their 17 games so far.
Perez scored in Newcastle’s last home game and has had six shots in his last two St James’ Park appearances.
1414 📰 TEAM NEWS - Man City v Palace
Delph and Otamendi start for Manchester City - Aguero and De Bruyne are on the bench.
Zaha returns for Palace and will be there main threat
1403 📰 TEAM NEWS - Huddersfield v Southampton
David Wagner recalls Isaac Mbenza and Steve Mounié, with Hogg and Depoitre going out.
Southampton are unchanged from the win over Arsenal. Ings, with 3 goals in 3 games, starts for the visitors.
Here's Jeff's view on this one
Wigan's 47 yellows and three reds gives them the worst disciplinary record in the Sky Bet Championship, while Birmingham's 46 yellows and two reds puts them in fifth.
Referee Ross Joyce has shown at least five cards on nine separate occasions this season.
There is a case to be made for Wigan seeing at least 30 booking points. Four of their last five home games have seen them hit this criteria, with the other game - a 2-1 loss to Leeds - fell one card short of the target.
The 11/4 on 30+ Wigan booking points is worth consideration, while 20+ booking points for each team is around the 2/1 mark.
1350 🌩 GOAL FLASH
Arsenal 2-1 Burnley - Barnes
Ashley Barnes, the pantomime villain for Arsenal fans today, gives Burnley a lifeline.
It's poor defending from the home side, unable to clear the ball in their own box, resulting in a bit of pinball and Barnes - "he's behind you" (see what I did there?) - smashes home the free ball.
1348 🔍 IN PLAY BETTING ADVICE
There is 20 minutes left in the Premier League early kick off and despite Arsenal cruising at 2-0, it's a really nasty game now, with both sides flying into challenges and picking up cards.
We now have SIX players on the pitch with a yellow card to their name, including Barnes, who is doing his best to get a second one. Burnley had a big pen shout too.
Jeff Stelling on Soccer Saturday believes there will be a red in this one, do you?
1345 🔍 PREMIER LEAGUE TIPS
We will have the team news from the Premier League 3pm games, once it starts ticking in from 2pm.
As we wait, here's another one of Sporting Life's Premier League tips...
City are usually quick out of the blocks, scoring in the opening 15 minutes in seven league games this term (and shortly after in some others), with four of those coming at home.
1342 📽 GOAL HIGHLIGHT
First Paul Merson calls West Ham v Watford
The attacking midfielder has scored in consecutive games, meaning he's netted three times in his last five matches. In total, Stiepermann has four goals and six assists this season.
Norwich have only failed to score in two of their last 20 games, with five goals in their last three games. Rovers’ have let in five in their past three games at Edwood Park.
1330 ⚽️ SPORTING LIFE ACCA
Our Sporting Life EFL ACCA came in two weeks ago (yes, we are still banging on about it).
Watch the video to see the facts behind our choices.
1322 🔍 IN PLAY BETTING ADVICE
So let us see what we can do in this Arsenal Burnley game in the second half.
Stats:
Possession: Arsenal 64% v Burnley 36%
Shots on Target: Arsenal 4 v Burnley 1
Corners: Arsenal 0 v Burnley 2
It hasn't been a dirty game but in the last 10 minutes of the first half there were two big flash points that have certainly heated the contest up and caused some of the players to lose their composure.
Ashley Barnes has been at the centre of both, receiving a yellow card for one and being fouled for the other, with Sokratis gaining a caution.
There's been seven fouls in the game and a red card in this one is
In terms of more goals, well...
1320 🚨 SOCCER SATURDAY SUPER BOOST
Back Manchester City, Chelsea and Newcastle United all to win at 4/1
Or
Back Manchester City, Chelsea and Fulham all to win at 9/1
1316 ⏳ HALF TIME
Arsenal 1-0 Burnley
For the first time this season Arsenal lead a Premier League match at half time. Only took them 18 games!
1315 🔍 PREMIER LEAGUE TIPS
Regular followers will know George Pitts has been on really good form this season calling the tips for the Premier League 3pm kick offs – Check out our transparent Tipping Record for proof of that.
He’s the first of his main tips for this afternoon's top fight action
Bournemouth are undefeated in their last nine matches against Brighton in all competitions. While Brighton have won just one of their last 11 away games against Bournemouth in all competitions.
1310 📸 ACTION SHOTS
1301 🌩 PREMIER LEAGUE UPDATE
So let’s start with an update from the Premier League’s early Kick Off.
Arsenal 1-0 Burnley
Having lost two games in a week, Arsenal have flown out of the blocks at the Emirates and were rewarded after 14 minutes, as Pierre Emerick Aubameyang strikes.
In our season preview in August Sporting Life picked Aubameyang to be the Premier League’s top scorer this season and that goal takes him to 11, joint top of the charts with Liverpool’s Salah.
The Gunners have had 3 shots on target on the opening 30 minutes, and 66% possession. Aubameyang is 6/1 with Sky Bet to score a hat trick right now!
Watch the goal here
