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By HARRY BAMFORTH and ISAAN KHAN AT THE EMIRATES and LEWIS STEELE AT ANFIELD and CRAIG HOPE AT ST JAMES' PARK and JOE BERNSTEIN AT MOLINEUX Published: 00: 00 AEDT, 15 December 2024 | Updated: 02: 59 AEDT, 15 December 2024 104 View comments Follow Mail Sport's live blog for the latest team news, updates and live score from the 3pm Premier League meetings including Arsenal vs Everton, Liverpool vs Fulham, Wolves vs Ipswich Town and Newcastle vs Leicester City. By Harry Bamforth Where to start with Liverpool? Pretty much everything has been going their way this campaign but now they are in a real spot of bother. A goal and a man down against a Fulham side who look like they may score with every attack. A tricky spot to be in, right? It really is hard to see Liverpool finding a way back into this game. I know they usually do, but this is a tougher situation than normal. If they somehow do, then it will feel like their name is already on the title. By Lewis Steele At Anfield By Joe Bernstein At Molineux By Harry Bamforth Well, well, well. That has to be one of the most chaotic halves of football this season and Liverpool end it behind. Andres Pereira has Fulham ahead but on another day he may not have even been on the pitch to score after escaping a red card. That is the reality for Andy Robertson though, who is having to watch the game from the dressing room. Plenty of work to do for the Reds. By Harry Bamforth A big team talk coming up for Gary O'Neil. His Wolves side are currently 45 minutes away from losing their fourth league game on the bounce. Ipswich have been good for their lead, while the hosts have been miles off it at times. By Harry Bamforth Newcastle are a goal to the good at the break but in all honesty, they could have many more. The Magpies have been all over Leicester and are head thanks to Jacob Murphy. Ruud van Nistelrooy needs to think of something or the Foxes will be left in Newcastle's wake. By Harry Bamforth Everton somehow make it to half-time. It has been al Arsenal but they just haven't been able to find a way past Jordan Pickford yet. With Liverpool losing, the Gunners really need to find a goal from somewhere after the break. I'm sure Mikel Arteta will make his feelings known during the next 15 minutes. By Harry Bamforth How Everton are still in this game beats me, it really does. The Toffees are clinging on and it's Jordan Pickford who keeps bailing them out. He makes a lovely stop to deny Gabriel Martinelli, although it's one he should make. The ball will go past him at one point though, surely? By Craig Hope At St James' Park By Harry Bamforth Wow, Liverpool really should be level! Dominik Szoboszlai finds Luis Diaz in the area and he has a free header just six yards out. I already started typing goal only for the winger to nod his effort over the bar somehow. He lets out a scream in frustration - he knows how big a miss that is. By Harry Bamforth It should be 2-0. Joelinton slides through Alexander Isak and you just expect the net to ripple. But he fires the ball straight at Mads Hermansen and Leicester stay in the game. You would have bet your bottom dollar on Isak to finish that. .. By Harry Bamforth Oh, Bruno. .. Guimaraes is creaming for a penalty but is then shown a yellow card for diving. I mean, it's like he is trialling for the next Olympics, that was a stunning dive with no splash. 10s from me. By Harry Bamforth Everton are throwing bodies on the line. Martin Odegaard has just been foiled by James Tarkowski and then Jordan Pickford. It's all Arsenal, but the visitors are doing brilliantly to stay in this match, but surely they can't survive this onslaught. By Harry Bamforth This time Jacob Murphy does find the back of the net! It's a lovely finish from the winger as he slots the ball home following a pull back from Anthony Gordon. He is absolutely buzzing as he runs off to celebrate, like a child on Christmas Day. You love to see it. By Harry Bamforth Newcastle really should be ahead here, they are battering Leicester. Jacob Murphy is the latest player to see a chance goes begging as he curls wide a rebound after Joelinton sees a shot blocked. Leicester really are clinging on for dear life. By Harry Bamforth Liverpool are having an absolute mare today. They are really struggling with 10 men and Fulham are pulling them to pieces. You just feel like another goal for the visitors is on it's way, surely the Reds can't keep Fulham out. By Craig Hope At St James' Park By Harry Bamforth Everton are still standing strong at the Emirates. Bukayo Saka is giving Vitali Mykolenko a torrid time though down the right, he is ripping him to pieces. You just feel like Saka will be the man to break the deadlock. By Joe Bernstein At Molineux By Harry Bamforth It goes from bad to worse for Liverpool! Andy Robertson has been sent for an early shower for a late challenge on Harry Wilson. VAR takes a while to check the challenge and in the end, the red card stands. Now this is a real test of character or Arne Slot's side. By Harry Bamforth Right on cue! Gary O'Neil is going to be fuming as his side concede one of the unluckiest own goals I have ever seen. Omari Hutchinson sees his effort blocked on the line but it then bounces back off Matt Doherty and into the net. Nothing is going for Wolves at the moment. By Harry Bamforth There is a reason I have not been giving updates from this game - it's because nothing is happening. I really wish I could tell you more, but I'm still waiting for it to get going. Let's hope it does soon. By Lewis Steele At Anfield By Harry Bamforth What a finish! Anfield is silenced by Andres Pereira as he produces a wonderful volley at the far post to fire Fulham into the lead. It's a lovely goal but there is a question of whether he should be on the pitch after poor tackle on Ryan Gravenberch. But Fulham won't care about that! By Harry Bamforth Earlier I informed you about the tribute to Kevin Campbell, and now you can read all about it. It was a heartwarming display of affection to a striker who did so much for both Arsenal and Everton. By Harry Bamforth What a goal that would have been! Liverpool have started brightly at Anfield and Luis Diaz comes close to opening the scoring in spectacular fashion. Cody Gakpo whips the ball in and Diaz acrobatically leps up and produces a fine overhead kick. It's a lovely effort but flies just over the bar. By Harry Bamforth Not too much happening early on at the Emirates. Arsenal are having all the ball which is to be expected, and the Toffees are sitting back and standing firm. I wonder how long they can keep that going. .. By Harry Bamforth Now that is the definition of walking 'gingerly'. Andy Robertson is up and looks like he will play on, but he is hobbling and is still struggling. Issa Diop was booked for the challenge in the end, although it took a very long time for that to come. By Harry Bamforth Oooft, this doesn't look great for Andy Robertson. The Liverpool full-back is down after being clattered by Issa Diop and he looks in agony on the floor. It's really concerning, he doesn't look in a good way whatsoever. By Harry Bamforth Right then, the time for talking is over. All four 3pm kick-offs are now underway and I will be keeping you updated across all the biggest moments this afternoon. Which side will start fastest? By Harry Bamforth Arne Slot, Liverpool boss, speaking to Sky Sports: By Harry Bamforth Sean Dyche, Everton boss, speaking to Premier League Productions: By Harry Bamforth Mohamed Salah could reach yet another milestone today - it feels like I say this every week now. We all know just how much Salah loves playing in front of the Anfield crowd, don't we? Well, if he scored today it will be his 100th Premier League goal at home. I mean, two of his 99 were as a Chelsea player, but that's a very, very small percentage. Still, home comforts and all that. By Joe Bernstein At Molineux By Harry Bamforth Alisson is all of us right now. .. I'm wishing the time away just because I want the Premier League action to get going. I feel like I have been waiting forever. We don't have too much longer to wait though, just over 15 minutes. Then let the chaos begin. By Harry Bamforth Mikel Arteta, Arsenal boss, speaking to Premier League Productions: On Myles Lewis-Skelly: By Lewis Steele At Anfield By Harry Bamforth Before kick-off at the Emirates today, both Arsenal and Everton will pay tribute to their former striker Kevin Campbell, who passed away in June aged just 54. Campbell came through the ranks at Arsenal before later playing for Everton between 1999 and 2005. This is the first meeting between the two sides since his death, and they will mark it by paying their respects to their former player. By Joe Bernstein At Molineux By Harry Bamforth Look, I'm not trying to pile in on Everton but my word their record against Arsenal really is terrible. I keep coming across more and more statistics proving it. And while it's bad enough overall, it's actually somehow even worse regarding just away games. Everton have only won two of their last 32 matches away at Arsenal. Yep, you read that right. Their only win when visiting Arsenal in the past 28 years was in 2021. .. By Harry Bamforth Chris Sutton, It's All Kicking Off! co-host, on BBC Sport: By Isaan Khan At The Emirates By Harry Bamforth I think it's time we rewind back a calendar year. The last time Fulham visited Liverpool in the league there were fireworks. We were treated to a seven-goal thriller and to this day I have no idea how Liverpool won the match. The Reds were 3-2 with four minutes of normal time remaining, but then Jurgen Klopp's side just did their thing. Two goals in two minutes turned the match on its head and sent Anfield absolutely bananas. It was one of the best comebacks of the Klopp era, and that is saying something. If we are treated to anything remotely close to that game today, we are very lucky. Fulham will be hoping the result changes this time, though. .. By Harry Bamforth I bet Liverpool fans are buzzing to see this photo. Diogo Jota has not played since the Reds win over Chelsea in October due to injury, but today he has returned to the squad. In his absence, Darwin Nunez only managed to score a single Premier league goal. They have certainly missed his clinical finishing. Well, I say that, but Mohamed salah has been banging them in for fun, so they haven't really. Still, Jota's return is a big boost for Arne Slot. By Harry Bamforth Oh, hello. .. Now I was not expecting to see Ole Gunnar Solskjaer trock up at Molineux today. I wonder why he is there. .. Maybe Wolves already have a replacement in mind if Gary O'Neil loses yet another game today. By Craig Hope At St James' Park By Lewis Steele At Anfield By Harry Bamforth It's a big day for Jorge Cuenca. The Fulham defender is handed his first Premier League start, and it's a hell of a place to be handed it. He is in for the suspended Calvin Bassey while Harry Wilson and Andreas Pereira also start. By Harry Bamforth And in the blue corner. .. Only three of the players who started the brutal defeat at home to Bournemouth last week miss out today. Wes Burns, Jens Cajuste, and Harry Clarke are all brought back into the team by Kieran Mc Kenna. Can this side make up for last weekend? By Harry Bamforth Nelson Semedo starts after being handed the captain's armband yesterday. So does his predecessor, Mario Lemina, despite the call to strip him of the armband. Gary O'Neil just makes the one change with Jean-Ricner Bellegarde coming into the starting line-up. By Harry Bamforth Ruud van Nistelrooy has decided to make a few changes. .. Two of them come in the midfield with Wilfried Ndidi and Boubakary Soumare absent from the squad. Oliver Skipp and Hamza Choudhury come into the engine room while Stephan Mavididi replaces Jordan Ayew in the forward line. By Harry Bamforth Sandro Tonali is back in. The midfielder is back in the starting line-up after being benched last week away at Brentford. Anthony Gordon also comes back in after being given a rest in west London, with Harvey Barnes making way. Of course, Alexander Isak leads the line. By Harry Bamforth Just the one change for Everton from their win over Wolves 10 days ago. It's an enforced change as Dwight Mc Neil has not travelled to the capital and Jack Harrison replaces him. Mc Neil being out is a huge blow for Sean Dyche. By Harry Bamforth Well then, we have our answer. Gabriel comes straight back into the starting line-up to partner with his old pal William Saliba at the back. Myles Lewis-Skelly also keeps his place at left-back after impressing against Monaco in the week. A very strong side. By Harry Bamforth Well then. .. Darwin Nunez's poor run of form sees him benched by Arne Alot as the Dutchman makes just one change from Liverpool's win over Girona. Cody Gakpo comes in and it's likely that Luis Diaz will play the role of striker today. Diogo Jota and Federico Chiesa are named on the bench as the pair return after long absences with injury. A huge boost for the Reds. By Isaan Khan At The Emirates By Harry Bamforth Arsenal fans are desperate to have an answer to this question. The Gunners have been without defender Gabriel for the past three games, which has been far from ideal for them. But there was some positive news from Mikel Arteta regarding his fitness yesterday. The Brazilian has returned to training. However, it is still yet to be seen if he will be risked today against Everton. Do you think Gabriel will be involved in some way? We will find out very soon. .. By Harry Bamforth Not many managers in world football need a win more than Gary O'Neil right now. The Wolves manager is having a terrible time of it at the moment and I'm sure will just be glad he still has his job. After losing to West Ham on Monday, most people thought he would be handed his P45. But instead, he was given the backing of his bosses. Their patience will only last so long though as three defeats on the spin has left Wolves in a tricky spot. They currently sit down in 19th on just nine points and already have 10 league defeats to their name. Today they face an Ipswich side, who are in a very similar predicament, which is a huge clash down at the bottom. It's an early relegation battle six-pointer, neither side can afford to drop points. By Harry Bamforth Eddie Howe, Newcastle manager, speaking on Friday: By Harry Bamforth Newcastle have been a really strange side this season. The Magpies have beaten Arsenal and got points against Manchester City and Liverpool. They have been brilliant against the big teams. The smaller ones, though. .. not so much. After such a brilliant draw against Arne Slot's side, Newcastle took another big step back with a humbling defeat away at Brentford last weekend. The inconsistency has rightfully angered many Geordies. They are currently four Premier League games without a win. Today they simply have to change that if they want to be serious about challenging for Europe again. They face a Leicester side who look rejuvenated under the stewardship of Ruud van Nistelrooy. Still, with the match being at St James' Park, it's definitely a match Eddie Howe's side should be winning. But with the way they have been performing, who knows. By Harry Bamforth Arne Slot, Liverpool boss, speaking on Friday: By Harry Bamforth Another one? Oh, go on then. Now this Squawka stat pack, shows just how dominant Liverpool have been against Fulham over the years. They have only lost seven times to the Cottagers in the Premier League, winning on 21 occasions. Can they add another one to the tally? By Harry Bamforth Liverpool's last Premier League game feels like a lifetime ago, doesn't it? Arne Slot's side were last in league action against Newcastle 10 days ago and my word was it a thrilling watch. They didn't win though as the Magpies netted a last-minute equaliser to stifle the Reds' winning run. Slot's side will most certainly want to get back on the victory trail and extend the lead at the top back up to seven points. However, it will not be easy. .. They face a Fulham side that has been flying lately and are battling for Europe. Just last week, the Cottagers put a dent in Arsenal's title hopes and now they will want to do the same to Liverpool. It's going to be a cracking watch. By Harry Bamforth Mikel Arteta, Arsenal manager, speaking on Friday: By Harry Bamforth There is a very good reason why I have told you all to expect a goal-fest between Arsenal and Everton today. The Gunners absolutely love banging them in against the Toffees. Arsenal have netted 124 goals in this fixture during the Premier League era, which is a competition record. That's a lot of celebrating, my word. Meanwhile, their 102 league wins against the Merseyside club is the most against a single opponent in English League history. I think these two stats pretty much prove why most Everton fans are not optimistic today. So, Liverpool and Chelsea supporters, I wouldn't get your hopes up. By Harry Bamforth You know what time it is. .. Yep, that's right, it's stat pack time. As always, our good friends at Squawka have delivered the goods and it's a very fascinating read. As you can see, Bukayo Saka's assist map is in full view and just look at how many of them are corners or crosses. Five of his Premier League assists this season have been converted from inside the six-yard box. His delivery is on the money every single time. By Harry Bamforth Today is a big game for Arsenal, it really is. After their draw away at Fulham last week, they really can't afford to drop any more points this month. They are six points behind Liverpool, who have a game in hand, and seven points worse off than they were this time last season. It's fair today, their start hasn't exactly been the best. But their recent form mostly suggests that they are back in their groove, having won five out of their last six games in all competitions. You wouldn't bet against them adding another one to the victory column today either as they take on Everton. The Gunners always seem to beat the Toffees at the Emirates, and normally with relative ease. So, I think we can expect a goal-fest. By Harry Bamforth Now we are into it, would you all like to take a look at the menu? Today we have five appetisers that will certainly tickle your fancy and get you in the mood for the Manchester Derby tomorrow. Here is this afternoon's Premier League schedule: By Harry Bamforth What time do you call this? Having no lunchtime kick-off today feels bizarre to me, and I'm not sure I like it. The day has felt rather empty so far. So luckily for all of us, we have some tasty 3pm fixtures to tackle now. You won't want to miss the action. Premier League leaders Liverpool are finally back in domestic action following the Merseyside postponement last week. The Reds face Fulham at Anfield as they look to pull away from Chelsea before they take to the pitch tomorrow. Meanwhile, fellow title-hopefuls Arsenal take on Everton as they look to stay in the hunt at the top. It is set to be a belting afternoon. The sun is back out and there is football on - you can't get much better than that, eh? So, without further ado, let's get cracking. Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group