Boxing Day football: English Premier League Gameweek 18 - As it happened...

Welcome to our live coverage of English Premier League Gameweek 18. The day, as popularly known as Boxing Day, will be a busy day for football with all 20 teams in action.

Boxing Day football: English Premier League Gameweek 18 - As it happened...

And here is the updated table

And cheers to Arsene Wenger

FULL-TIME: Arsena 2 - 1 QPR. The win keeps Gunners within the striking distance of finishing within top-three in the league. They are now on 30 points, five lesser than third place Mna Utd's 35.

REPORT


Arsenal (Sanchez 37', Rosicky 65') 2 - 1 (Austin (P)79') QPR: Charlie Austin converts from the spot to give traveling Palace lifeline. It was a bad tackle by Mathieu Debuchy.


Arsenal (Sanchez 37', Rosicky 65') 2 - 0 QPR: Despite a man down, Arsenal double the lead. Tomas Rosicky scores after Sanchez produced a brave run inside the Palace half. It was his first goal of the season.


Arsenal (Sanchez 37') 1 - 0 QPR: Gunners are down to 10 men. Olivier Giroud sent off after clashing with Onuoha. The Frenchman seemed to have head-butted his opponent on 53 min.


At the half-time, it's Arsenal leading by that solitary goal from Sanchez.

Arsenal (Sanchez 37') 1 - 0 QPR: Alexis Sanchez makes amend by giving his side the lead. Easy header following a good cross by Kieran Gibbs. It was Chilean's 15 goal of the season, in all competitions.


Arsenal 0 - 0 QPR: The summer's signing Alexis Sanchez missed a golden opportunity to open the scoring as his attempt from the penalty spot was denied for Robert Green.

Moments ago, the former Barcelona player won the penalty following a Aramand Traore foul inside the box. So the score still 0-0 after nine minutes.


By virtue of their victories, Chelsea, Man City and Man Utd are leading the table. Blues are on 45 points, three more from Citizens while United are on 35, and have seemingly regained their lost confidence.

With Arsenal taking on QPR in today's final match-up, the middle table order can see some changes. By the way, Manchester United, after the Newcastle win, became the first team to win 50 games on Boxing Day.


FULL-TIME Updates:

Burnley 0 - 1 Liverpool
Crystal Palace 1 - 3 Southampton
Leicester 1 - 2 Tottenham
Manchester United 3 - 1 Newcastle
Sunderland 1 - 3 Hull City
Swansea 1 - 0 Aston Villa
West Brom 1 - 3 Manchester City
Everton 0 - 1 Stoke City


Sunderland (Johnson 1') 1-3 (Ramirez 33', Chester 51', Jelavic 90+6') Hull: Jelavic scores a late goal to make the score-line impressive for Hull.


West Brom (Brown 86') 1 - 3 (Fernando 8', Toure (P)13', Silva 34') Man City: Albions also pull one back after Brown Ideye manages to put one pass Joe Hart after some confusion on top of knee-deep snow at The Hawthorns.


Crystal Palace (Dann 86') 1-3 Southampton (Mane 17', Bertrand 48', Alderweireld 53'): Palace find their consolation goal in the 86th minutes of the goal. Scott Dann connects his header following a Mile Jedinak cross.


Man Utd (Rooney 23', 37', van Persie 53')3-1 (Cisse 87') Newcastle: Papiss Cisse converts from the spot to to mark his 100th game for the Toons. Consolation goal, nevertheless, with only three minutes left in the regulation time.


Leicester (Ulloa 48') 1-2 (Kane 2', Eriksen 71') Tottenham: Christian Eriksen's lucky free-kcik goal helps Spurs lead at Leicester.


Arsenal vs QPR: Gunners XI - Szczesny, Debuchy, Mertesacker, Monreal, Gibbs, Flamini, Cazorla, Rosicky, Alexis, Giroud, Welbeck

Here is the team line-up for Queens Park Rangers.


Burnley 0 - 1 (Sterling 62') Liverpool: Europe's best young footballer finally provides struggling Liverpool lead against Burnley. Countinho's superb pass was not to be wasted by the talent of Sterling. He has scored 3 goals in his last 3 games after going scoreless for 17 games for the Reds.


Snow at The Hawthorns

Sunderland (Johnson 1') 1-2 (Ramirez 33', Chester 51') Hull: James Chester connects his header from Gaston Ramirez's cross to put the visitors ahead.


Crystal Palace 0-3 (Mane 17', Bertrand 48', Alderweireld 53') Southampton: Two goals within five minutes compounded home team's woes. Cool strikes from Ryan Bertrand and Toby Alderweireld.


Leicester (Ulloa 48') 1-1 (Kane 2') Tottenham: Promoted side Leicester also scored, equalising against visiting Spurs. Leonardo Ulloa is the hero.


Man Utd (Rooney 23', 37', van Persie 53') 3-0 Newcastle: After scoring two, Rooney sets-up one for his striking partner Robin van Persie and Man Utd are in cruise mode at Old Trafford. RvP has scored 5 goals in his last 6 games.


Second-half actions started. Expect more goals with some of the biggest clubs keep themselves in hunt for points and glory in this busy Boxing Day.

HALF-TIME Updates

Burnley 0 - 0 Liverpool
Crystal Palace 0 - 1 Southampton
Leicester 0 - 1 Tottenham
Manchester United 2 - 0 Newcastle
Sunderland 1 - 1 Hull City
Swansea 1 - 0 Aston Villa
West Brom 0 - 3 Manchester City
Everton 0 - 1 Stoke City


Everton 0-1 (Boja 38') Stoke: Former Barca prodigy Bojan Krkic scores for the visiting team at Goodison Park.


West Brom 0-3 (Fernando 8', Toure (P)13', Silva 34') Man City: And United's so called noisy neighbors are busy scoring. Spaniard David Silva scores the third goal against a hapless Albions.

It's the first time Citizens score three first-half goals in 2014-14 season. They have done it four times last season.


Man Utd (Rooney 23', 37) 2-0 Newcastle: Rooney scores his second and it's 2-nil up for United. Rooney has now scored 12 goals against the Toons in the league.


Sunderland (Johnson 1') 1-1 (Ramirez 33') Hull: Hull City find equaliser thanks to a Gaston Ramirez strike.


Man Utd (Rooney 23')1-0 Newcastle: Goal no. 223 for Wayne Rooney as the England captain reaps good return from a Manchester United counter attack. Smooth work from the Red Devils to take the all important lead against visiting Newcastle. Falcao and Mata were instrumental, with brilliant runs and passes, to set up the goal.

It was Rooney's 91s goal at Old Trafford in the Premier League. He has scored 10 goals in his last nine Premier League appearances at home.


Crystal Palace 0-1 Southampton (Mane 17'): This season's one of the surprise team, Saints also have taken one goal lead over Crystal Palace in London.


Elsewhere in Wales, Gylfi Sigurdsson scores from a free-kick to provide Swans an early lead over the visiting Villans at the Stadium of Light. Swansea (Sigurdsson 13')1-0 Aston Villa


And more goals. West Brom 0-2 Man City (Fernando 8', Toure (P)13'): The defending champs are on a song, have taken a two goal lead within the first quarter.


Sunderland (Johnson 1') 1-0 Hull: Perfect start for Black Cats as Adam Johnson put one in the very first minute from a defensive mistake from the visitors.

More early goals. Leicester 0-1 (Kane 2') Tottenham: Harry Kane fires home from a Nacer Chadli cross to give Spurs lead.


Eight matches kicking off simultaneously and all the updates will be here. Liverpool, who are playing promoted side Burnley away, have lost both their Boxing Day fixture under Brendan Rodgers. With the current standing, a lowly 10th, another defeat today could mean exit road for him.


Match over at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea 2 (Terry 31', Costa 62') - 0 West Ham.


And the line-up for Crystal Palace-Southampton

 


Here are some more line-ups

Everton vs Stoke:

EVERTON XI: Howard, Baines, Jagielka, Stones, Coleman, Barry, McCarthy, Mirallas, Naismith, Barkley, Lukaku.
STOKE CITY XI: Begovic; Cameron, Shawcross, Muniesa, Pieters; Whelan, Nzonzi; Walters, Bojan, Arnautovic; Diouf.

Burnley vs Liverpool:

BURNLEY XI: starting XI: Heaton, Trippier, Shackell, Keane, Mee; Arfield, Jones, Marney, Boyd; Barnes, Ings. 
LIVERPOOL XI: Lloris; Walker, Fazio, Vertonghen, Rose; Bentaleb, Stambouli; Lamela, Eriksen, Chadli; Kane.

Swansea vs Aston Villa:

SWANSEA XI: Fabianski, Rangel, Fernandez, Williams, Taylor, Ki, Shelvey, Sigurdsson, Dyer, Montero, Bony.
ASTON VILLA XI:  Guzan, Hutton, Vlaar, Okore, Clark, Cissokho, Delph, Cleverley, Sanchez, Agbonlahor, Benteke.

Manchester United vs Newcastle United:

MANCHESTER UNITED XI:  De Gea, Jones, McNair, Evans, Valencia, Carrick, Rooney, Mata, Young, van Persie, Falcao. 
NEWCASTLE UNITED XI: Alnwick; Janmaat, Coloccini, S.Taylor, Dummett; Colback, Anita; Sissoko, Perez, Gouffran; Armstrong.

Adam Armstrong is the first player under the age of 18 to start a Premier League game for Newcastle. He is only 17years and 319days old.


Chelsea 2 (Terry 31', Costa 62') - 0 West Ham: Chelsea legend Didier Drogba is on for his heir apparent Diego Costa. Oscar also made way for Mikel with six minutes play left in the match.


Chelsea 2 (Terry 31', Costa 62') - 0 West Ham: Final change for the visitors in London as Amalfitano replaced Downing in the 74th minute. Despite all these tactical changes, Chelsea are enjoying one their best spells after taking two goal lead, deservedly though.


Playing XIs for WBA-Man City match:

WEST BROM ALBION XI: Guzan, Hutton, Vlaar (C), Okore, Clark, Cissokho, Delph, Cleverley, Sanchez, Agbonlahor, Benteke.

MANCHESTER CITY XI: Hart, Sagna, Mangala, Demichelis, Clichy, Fernando, Toure (C), Navas, Silva, Nasri, Milner.


Playing XIs for Leicester City vs Tottenham match:

LEICESTER XI: Hamer, Simpson, Wasilewski, Morgan, Konchesky, Drinkwater, King, Mahrez, Nugent, Schlupp, Ulloa.

TOTTENHAM XI: Lloris; Walker, Fazio, Vertonghen, Rose; Bentaleb, Stambouli; Lamela, Eriksen, Chadli; Kane.


Teamsheet for the Sunderland-Hull City match:


Chelsea 2 (Terry 31', Costa 62') - 0 West Ham: And Chelsea doubled the lead thanks to a Diego Costa strike in the 62nd minute. Blues have stream-rolled the Hammers in London.


Chelsea 1 (Terry 31') - 0 West Ham: Double change for West Ham. Carroll and Noble taken off for Sakho and Song respectively on 59th minute.


Chelsea 1 (Terry 31') - 0 West Ham: Super save from Hammer goalie Adrian. Eden Hazard, who worked through some space on the left side, drilled a right footed drive only to witness Adrian produced an super save with feet on air. 55 minutes played.


Chelsea 1 (Terry 31') - 0 West Ham: Second half underway in London and Hammers are showing some urgency. Won a corner, but failed to capitalise. Their new recruit Valencia is working overtime.


Chelsea 1 (Terry 31') - 0 West Ham: Half-time at Stamford Bridge. Some unruly scenes dominated the final minutes of the first half. But the referee made it light on both sides, having blown the whistle in time for break.


Terry is a legend and this stat re-affirms that status

Chelsea 1 (Terry 31') - 0 West Ham: Chelsea takes the lead, thanks to a slot by the evergreen John Terry. The skipper benefited from the leaping Costa's header, which landed on the path of Terry. That's how Mourinho punched the air.


Chelsea 0-0 West Ham: First yellow card of the day, to James Collins, of West Ham. The defender has been brilliant today, marking Costa beyond doubt. Unluckily, got the booking for a clean tackle to the Spaniard. Referee That was in the 28th minute.


Chelsea 0-0 West Ham: In these first 20 minutes of play, Chelsea have dominated the proceedings with more than 70% possession. There were couple of good chances from the home side, but the score-board still remains blank. There was a brilliant save by Adrian as Chelsea took their first corner  to some perfection but without converting. Busy man, Adrian!

It seems, by the look of initial movements, Hammers are adopting a versatile 4-3-3 instead of more familiar diamond. For Chelsea, it's more of a Christmas tree 4-2-3-1 (Costa on top).


Remembering the past and heroes, a minutes applause for the First World War truce. And the match starts...

Players are in the tunnel, ready for the match!

Probably, today's best tweet. In response to Mounrinho's 19th century comment on Hammer's playing style, the visitors retorted in this fashion...

Hammers have a bad record at Chelsea. Their last win there came in September 2002, when a certain Paolo Di Canio scored twice in a 3-2 victory. But, Big Sam (Allardyce) has lost only once in Stamford Bridge against Jose Mourinho in four visits. Three were draws. Not a bad record.

The official team-sheet for the Chelsea vs West Ham United match


20-time champions Manchester United are the undisputed kings of Boxing Day. They have won 17 of their 20 games on December 26. Their only lost was a 3-1 defeat to Middlesbrough in 2002. There are two draws too.

Behind them are the perennial title hopefuls, Arsenal. Gunners have won 11 of their in 17 games. Despite a not so great record on Boxing Day fixture, league leaders Chelsea was involved in the highest ever scoring match, a 4-4 draw with Aston Villa in 2007.

Here is the list of top five teams:


And we have the line-up from the first match between Chelsea and Hammers.

CHELSEA XI: Courtois (GK); Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry (c), Azpilicueta; Fabregas, Matic; Willian, Oscar, Hazard; Diego Costa

Subs: Cech (GK), Zouma, Filipe Luis, Mikel, Ramires, Schurrle, Drogba

WEST HAM UNITED XI: Adrian (GK), Jenkinson, Cresswell, Collins, Reid, Noble, Kouyate, Nolan (c), Downing, Carroll, Valencia

Subs: Jaaskelainen (GK), O'Brien, Song, Amalfitano, Jarvis, Cole, Sakho

Here is the fixture


Welcome to our live coverage of English Premier League Gameweek 18. The day, as popularly known as Boxing Day, will be a busy day for football with all 20 teams in action.

First match will witness league leaders Chelsea fourth place West Ham United at Stamford Bridge. Hammers form, besides Southampton's, has been the revelation this season. The match will start early, at 6:15 PM IST

Then we have eight matches kicking of simultaneously at 8:30 PM IST Southampton. Arsenal-QPR match will anchor the day at Emirates.