Happy New Year.

Wishing every one a Happy New Year.

Leicester vs Manchester City starting line up.

Leicester XI: Schmeichel, Morgan, Huth, Simpson, Fuchs, Drinkwater, Albrighton, Kante, Mahrez, Vardy, Inler.

Subs: Schwarzer, De Laet, Wasilewski, King, Dyer, Okazaki, Ulloa.

Manchester City XI: Hart, Sagna, Kolarov, Mangala, Otamendi, Sterling, De Bruyne, Silva, Fernandinho, Yaya Toure, Aguero.

Subs: Caballero, Zabaleta, Demichelis, Navas, Horsfield, Bony, Iheanacho.

Kick off: 8:45 pm.

Manchester United vs Chelsea, Arsenal vs Bournemouth & West Ham vs Southampton starting line up.

Arsenal XI: Cech, Gibbs, Mertesacker, Bellerin, Ozil, Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ramsey, Chambers, Giroud.

Subs: Ospina, Debuchy, Koscielny, Monreal, Campbell, Iwobi, Reine-Adelaide.

Bournemouth XI: Boruc, Smith, Francis, Cook, Daniels, Surman, Ritchie, Gosling, Arter, Pugh, King.

Subs: Rantie, Stanislas, Federici, Tomlin, Distin, Murray, O'Kane.

Manchester United XI: De Gea, Darmian, Smalling, Blind, Young, Schneiderlin, Schweinsteiger, Mata, Herrera, Martial, Rooney.

Subs: Jones, Depay, Carrick, Romero, Fellaini, Borthwick-Jackson, Pereira.

Chelsea XI: Courtois, Ivanovic, Zouma, Terry, Azpilicueta, Mikel, Matic, Willian, Oscar, Pedro, Hazard.

Subs: Begovic, Baba Rahman, Djilobodji, Ramires, Loftus-Cheek, Traore, Kenedy.

West Ham XI: Adrian, Jenkinson, Collins, Tomkins, Ogbonna, Song, Kouyate, Antonio, Noble, Zarate, Valencia. 

Subs: Randolph, Carroll, Obiang, Lanzini, Hendrie, Oxford, Cullen.

Southampton XI: Stekelenburg, Martina, Fonte, van Dijk, Bertrand, Wanyama, Romeu, Tadic, Mane, S Davis, Long

Subs: Yoshida, Clasie, Ward-Prowse, Juanmi, Ramirez, Gazzaniga, Caulker. 

Kick off: 6:30 pm

Watford vs Tottenham, Everton vs Stoke and other EPL starting line up.

Everton XI: Howard, Galloway, Funes Mori, Stones, Coleman, Barry, McCarthy, Deulofeu, Kone, Barkley, Lukaku.

Subs: Robles, Baines, Gibson, Naismith, Cleverley, Besic, Osman.

Stoke XI: Butland, Pieters, Wollscheid, Shawcross, Johnson, Whelan, Affelay, Cameron, Arnautovic, Shaqiri, Bojan.

Subs: Haugaard, Joselu, Wilson, Van Ginkel, Adam, Diouf, Walters.

Watford XI: Gomes, Anya, Cathcart, Britos, Ake, Capoue, Watson, Abdi, Deeney, Jurado, Ighalo.

Subs: Arlauskis, Nyom, Prödl, Holebas, Behrami, Guedioura, Diamanti.

Tottenham XI: Lloris, Trippier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose, Dier, Dembele, Lamela, Carroll, Alli, Kane.

Subs: Vorm, Walker, Davies, Mason, Eriksen, Chadli, Son.

West Brom XI: Myhill; Olsson, Yacob, Evans, Morrison, Anichebe, Brunt, McAuley, Fletcher, Dawson, Sessegnon.

Subs: Lindegaard; Chester, Gardner, Gamboa, Lambert, Berahino, McManaman.

Newcastle XI: Elliot, Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Dummett, Sissoko, Colback, Anita, Wijnaldum, Mitrovic, Perez.

Subs: Darlow, Mbabu, Lascelles, Tiote, Gouffran, Thauvin, De Jong.

Norwich XI: Rudd, Martin, Bennett, Bassong, Brady, Tettey, Howson, Dorrans, Hoolahan, Redmond, Mbokani.

Subs: Ruddy, Whittaker, Jerome, Lafferty, Olsson, O'Neil, Odjidja.

Aston Villa XI: Guzan, Hutton, Richards, Clark, Richardson, Bacuna, Gana, Westwood, Veretout, Sinclair, Ayew.

Subs: Bunn, Lescott, Traore, Gil, Lyden, Gestede, Grealish.

Southampton vs Arsenal starting line up.

Southampton XI: Stekelenburg, Martina, Van Dijk, Clasie, Fonte, Bertrand, Davis, Wanyama, Ward-Prowse, Mane, Long

Subs: Gazzaniga, Yoshida, Tadic, Romeu, Juanmi, Ramirez, Caulker.

Arsenal XI: Cech, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Flamini, Ramsey, Walcott, Ozil, Campbell, Giroud

Subs: Ospina, Reine-Adelaide, Chambers, Gibbs, Gabriel, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Iwobi.



Kick off: 8:45 pm.

Manchester City vs Sunderland, Chelsea vs Watford, Liverpool vs Leicester and other 4pm starting line up.

Man City XI: Hart, Sagna, Otamendi, Mangala, Kolarov, Toure, Fernandinho, De Bruyne, Silva, Sterling, Bony.
Subs: Kompany, Caballero, Jesus Navas, Delph, Clichy, Demichelis, Aguero.

Sunderland XI: Mannone, Jones, O'Shea, Coates, Van Aanholt, Johnson, M'Vila, Gomez, Graham, Fletcher, Borini.
Subs: Brown, Cattermole, Lens, Pantilimon, Defoe, Watmore, Toivonen.

Chelsea XI: Courtois, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta, Fabregas, Matic, Willian, Oscar, Pedro, Costa.
Subs: Begovic, Zouma, Baba, Ramires, Hazard, Mikel, Remy.

Watford XI: Gomes, Nyom, Cathcart, Britos, Holebas, Abdi, Watson, Capoue, Jurado, Ighalo, Deeney.
Subs: Prodl, Behrami, Guedioura, Berghuis, Anya, Diamanti, Arlauskis.

Aston Villa XI: Guzan, Hutton, Okore, Lescott, Bacuna, Westwood, Sanchez, Gana, Veretout, Gestede, Ayew.
Subs: Clark, Sinclair, Richardson, Traore, Gil, Bunn, Grealish.

West Ham XI: Adrian, Tomkins, Collins, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Obiang, Kouyate, Antonio, Noble, Zarate, Valencia.
Subs: Randolph, Song, Jenkinson, Hendrie, Oxford, Cullen, Parfitt-Williams.

Tottenham Hotspur XI: Lloris, Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies, Dembele, Dier, Lamela, Alli, Eriksen, Kane.
Subs: Rose, Bentaleb, Son, Vorm, Trippier, Chadli, Carroll.

Norwich XI: Rudd, Martin, Bennett, Bassong, Olsson, Mulumbu, Odjidja-Ofoe, Redmond, Tettey, Brady, Jerome.
Subs: Ruddy, Whittaker, Howson, Mbokani, Hoolahan, Dorrans, Lafferty.

Swansea XI: Fabianski, Rangel, Fernandez, Williams, Taylor, Britton, Ki, Routledge, Sigurdsson, Montero, Ayew.
Subs: Shelvey, Nordfeldt, Gomis, Cork, Naughton, Bartley, Barrow.

West Brom XI: Myhill, Dawson, McAuley, Olsson, Brunt, Evans,
Gardner, Fletcher, Yacob, Morrison, Lambert.
Subs: Chester, Anichebe, Gamboa, Berahino, McManaman, Lindegaard, Sessegnon.

Liverpool XI: Mignolet, Clyne, Sakho, Lovren, Moreno, Henderson, Can, Lallana, Firmino, Coutinho, Origi.
Subs: Toure, Benteke, Lucas, Allen, Bogdan, Teixeira, Randall.

Leicester XI: Schmeichel, Simpson, Morgan, Huth, Fuchs, Mahrez, King, Kante, Albrighton, Okazaki, Vardy.
Subs: De Laet, Kramaric, Ulloa, Dyer, Wasilewski, Schwarzer, Inler.

Kick off: 4:00 pm.

Stoke Vs Manchester United starting line up.

Stoke XI: Butland, Cameron, Shawcross, Wollscheid, Pieters, Johnson, Whelan, Shaqiri, Krkic, Afellay, Arnautovic.

Subs: Joselu, Wilson, Van Ginkel, Adam, Diouf, Walters, Haugaard.

Manchester United XI: De Gea, Jones, Smalling, Blind, Young, Carrick, Herrera, Mata, Fellaini, Depay, Martial.

Subs: Rooney, Romero, Schneiderlin, Varela, McNair, Borthwick-Jackson, Pereira.

Kick off: 1:45 pm.

Arsenal close in on £5million deal for Basle midfielder Mohamed Elneny.

Arsenal are in advanced talks with Swiss club Basle as they aim to complete a £5million deal for their Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Elneny.

The Gunners are hoping to push the move through in the first few days of the January transfer window, after Elneny, 23, has agreed personal terms and undergone a medical.

Arsene Wenger has moved swiftly to bring in January reinforcements due to the long-term injuries suffered by the likes of Francis Coquelin and Santi Cazorla. 

However, the Gunners boss, who is rarely one for mid-season activity, is unlikely to bring in any other new faces next month.

Elneny made his debut for Basle in February 2013, and has since gone on to become a key part of the squad in their last three title-winning campaigns.

Source: Dailymail.

Sanchez out till January.

Arsene Wenger has confirmed that Alexis Sanchez could miss four matches over the holiday period after the striker suffered 'a setback' on his comeback from injury.
The Arsenal manager had said Sanchez had a 'slight chance' of facing Manchester City on Monday after missing the Gunners' last three games with a hamstring injury.
But Sanchez did not make the bench for the 2-1 win at the Emirates stadium and Wenger said: "Sanchez will be back for around the 10th January. He had a little set-back. He was planned to be on the bench tonight. We didn't take a gamble at all."
Should Wenger's prediction be correct, Sanchez will miss league games against Southampton, Bournemouth and Newcastle plus the FA Cup match against Sunderland on January 9.

source: Dailymail.

Arsenal vs Manchester City starting line up.

Arsenal XI: Cech, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Ramsey, Flamini, Walcott, Ozil, Campbell, Giroud.

Subs: Ospina, Chambers, Gabriel, Reine,Adelaide, Gibbs, Iwobi, Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Manchester City XI: Hart, Sagna, Otamendi, Mangala, Kolarov, Fernandinho, Toure, Delph, De Bruyne, Silva, Aguero.

Subs: Caballero, Demichelis, Clichy, Navas, Sterling, Iheanacho, Bony.

Kick off: 9:00 pm.

Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini banned from football for eight years.

Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini have been banned from football for eight years.
The pair have been punished for the £1.35m Blatter gave to Platini in February 2011 as a salary for unofficial work he undertook as a presidential adviser from 1999-2002.
Ethics judges ruled that Blatter broke FIFA Code of Ethics rules on conflicts of interest, breach of loyalty and offering gifts, and Platini broke rules on conflict of interest and loyalty.
In a statement FIFA's ethics committee said: "Mr Blatter, in his position as President of FIFA, authorised the payment to Mr Platini which had no legal basis in the written agreement signed between both officials on 25 August 1999.
"Neither in his written statement nor in his personal hearing was Mr Blatter able to demonstrate another legal basis for this payment. His assertion of an oral agreement was determined as not convincing and was rejected by the chamber."
The committee's statement on Platini went on to add: "Mr Platini failed to act with complete credibility and integrity, showing unawareness of the importance of his duties and concomitant obligations and responsibilities.
"His actions did not show commitment to an ethical attitude, failing to respect all applicable laws and regulations as well as FIFA's regulatory framework to the extent applicable to him and demonstrating an abusive execution
of his position as Vice-President of FIFA and member of the FIFA Executive Committee."
The bans - from all football-related activities on a national and international level - come into force immediately, and in addition, Blatter has been fined £33,000 and Platini £54,000.

Source: Skysports.

Bayern confirm Guardiola's exit by the end of the season and Ancelotti confirmed as his replacement.

Bayern Munich chief Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has confirmed Pep Guardiola will be replaced by Carlo Ancelotti next summer when the Spaniard's three-year contract comes to an end. 

Guardiola, who has won back-to-back league titles in Germany since taking up the reins at the Allianz Arena, has decided to embark on a fresh challenge.

Rummenigge said of Guardiola's decision to leave the club: 'We are thankful to Guardiola for all he gave our club and hope to celebrate more success in the current season. 

'With Ancelotti we have another very successful coach coming to Bayern. We are looking forward to working together.'

Source: Dailymail.

Chelsea fans made their feelings known at Stamford Bridge.

It clearly shows that the Chelsea fans were in full support of Jose and angry at the players of not giving enough.

United beaten at home by Norwich.

Louis van Gaal and Manchester United slumped to their sixth game without a win as Norwich City scored a famous victory at Old Trafford on Wayne Rooney's 500th game for the home side.

United dropped out of the Champions League places as Cameron Jerome and Alex Tettey hit them on the counter-attack to lift The Canaries out of the bottom three despite a consolation strike by Anthony Martial.

After a week that saw Van Gaal's managerial prodigy Jose Mourinho sacked by Chelsea, there is now huge pressure on the 64-year-old Dutchman whose side failed to register a shot on target until Martial's goal after 66 minutes.  

Source: Dailymail.

Chelsea vs Sunderland, Manchester United vs Norwich, and other EPL starting line up.

Chelsea XI: Courtois, Ivanovic, Zouma, Terry, Azpilicueta, Fabregas, Matic, Willian, Oscar, Pedro, Costa.
Subs: Begovic, Baba, Ramires, Mikel, Traore, Remy, Cahill.

Sunderland XI: Pantilimon, Jones, Coates, O'Shea, Kaboul, Van Aanholt, Rodwell, Toivonen, M'Vila, Watmore, Defoe.
Subs: Borini, Johnson, Gomez, Graham, Yedlin, Mannone, Fletcher.

Man Utd XI: De Gea, Jones, Smalling, Blind, Young, Carrick, Fellaini, Depay, Mata, Martial, Rooney.
Subs: Romero, Ander Herrera, Schneiderlin, Varela, McNair, Jackson, Andreas Pereira.

Norwich XI: Rudd, Bennett, Martin, Bassong, Olsson, Tettey, O'Neil, Redmond, Hoolahan, Brady, Jerome.
Subs: Ruddy, Whittaker, Howson, Mbokani, Dorrans, Mulumbu, Odjidja-Ofoe.

Stoke XI: Butland, Johnson, Shawcross, Wollscheid, Pieters, Van Ginkel, Whelan, Shaqiri, Afellay, Arnautovic, Krkic.
Subs: Bardsley, Joselu, Wilson, Adam, Diouf, Walters, Haugaard.

Crystal Palace XI: Hennessey, Ward, Dann, Delaney, Souare, Zaha, Ledley, McArthur, Puncheon, Wickham, Bolasie.
Subs: Speroni, Hangeland, Bamford, Lee, Mutch, Chamakh, Kelly.

Southampton XI: Gazzaniga, Cedric Soares, Fonte, van Dijk, Bertrand, Wanyama, Clasie, Mane, Steven Davis, Tadic, Pelle.
Subs: Kelvin Davis, Yoshida, Long, Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Juanmi, Targett.

Tottenham Hotspur XI: Lloris, Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies, Dier, Dembele, Lamela, Alli, Eriksen, Kane.
Subs: Bentaleb, Son, Vorm, Chadli, Wimmer, Carroll, Winks.

Everton XI: Howard, Coleman, Stones, Funes Mori, Baines, Cleverley, Barry, Deulofeu, Barkley, Kone, Lukaku.
Subs: Robles, Gibson, Mirallas, Lennon, Besic, Osman, Galloway.

Leicester XI: Schmeichel, Simpson, Morgan, Wasilewski, Fuchs, Mahrez, King, Kante, Albrighton, Vardy, Okazaki.
Subs: De Laet, Kramaric, Ulloa, Dyer, Benalouane, Schwarzer, Inler.

West Brom XI: Myhill, McAuley, Dawson, Olsson, Brunt, Evans, Gardner, Fletcher, Morrison, McClean, Rondon.
Subs: Chester, Anichebe, Lambert, Berahino, McManaman, Lindegaard, Sessegnon.

Bournemouth XI: Boruc, Smith, Cook, Francis, Daniels, Surman, Ritchie, Gosling, Arter, Stanislas, King.
Subs: Pugh, Rantie, Kermorgant, Federici, Distin, Murray, O'Kane.

Kick off: 4:00 pm.

Chelsea confirm Guus Hiddink as manager until end of season.

Chelsea have confirmed that Guus Hiddink will take over as manager until the end of the season.
The Dutchman will not take charge of first-team duties for the game at Sunderland on Saturday, with Steve Holland and Eddie Newton in the dugout, but he will watch from the stands with owner Roman Abramovich.
Hiddink said: 'I am excited to return to Stamford Bridge. Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in the world but is not where it should be at the moment. However, I am sure we can all turn this season around.
"I am looking forward to working with the players and staff at this great club and especially renewing my wonderful relationship with the Chelsea fans."

Source: Skysports.

Roman Abramovich speaks to Chelsea stars.

Roman Abramovich told Chelsea's under-performing players that he didn't want to sack Jose Mourinho during an address at their Cobham training ground on Friday afternoon.

Abramovich was on site to watch Friday morning's session after the champions' departing manager had returned to Cobham to bid farewell to his former charges and thank them for their hard work earlier in the day.

Chelsea owner Abramovich then oversaw the preparations for Saturday's clash with Sunderland at Stamford Bridge, led by Steve Holland and Eddie Newton, and spoke to the players in his native Russian before it was all translated into English.

Abramovich, who fired Mourinho on Thursday at the club's training ground, told the players he had been reluctant to sack the most successful manager in the club's history.

He also added that he was left with little option but to fire the Portuguese coach after Chelsea were beaten for the ninth time this season in the Barclays Premier League by high-flying Leicester City on Monday evening.

Abramovich went on to tell the players that it is a fresh start and that he expected immediate improvements following the decision to replace Mourinho.

The club have been in talks with Guus Hiddink for several weeks about taking the job on an interim basis and he is expected to watch Saturday's clash at Stamford Bridge from the stands.

Source: Dailymail.

Jose sacked.

Jose Mourinho has been sensationally sacked as Chelsea manager after a 2-1 defeat by Leicester compounded his side’s miserable start to the season, leaving the club with no choice but to dismiss him, despite a possible £40m pay-out.

The Portuguese boss guided his side to the Premier League title in May, but Monday's loss was their ninth of the campaign, leaving them in 16th place, just a point above the relegation places. 

Guus Hiddink is set to be installed as the interim manager until the end of the season, and could even take charge of the Blues clash with Sunderland this weekend. 

Source:Dailymail.

Leicester vs Chelsea starting line up.

Leicester XI: Schmeichel, Simpson, Morgan, Huth, Fuchs, Mahrez, Drinkwater, Kante, Albrighton, Ulloa, Vardy.

Subs: Schwarzer, Benalouane, Wasilewski, Inler, King, Dyer, Okazaki.

Chelsea XI: Courtois, Ivanovic, Zouma, Terry, Azpilicueta, Ramires, Matic, Willian, Oscar, Hazard, Diego Costa.

Subs: Begovic, Cahill, Mikel, Fabregas, Kenedy, Pedro, Remy.

Kick off: 9:00 pm.

Europa League draw.

Valencia vs Rapid Vienna

Fiorentina vs TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

Borussia Dortmund vs Porto

Fenerbahce vs Lokomotiv Moscow

Anderlecht vs Olympiacos

FC Midtjylland vs MANCHESTER UNITED

Augsburg vs LIVERPOOL

Sparta Prague vs FC Krasnodar 

Galatasaray vs Lazio

FC Sion vs SC Braga

Shakhtar Donetsk vs Schalke

UEFA Champions League draw.

Gent vs Wolfsburg

Roma vs Real Madrid

Paris Saint Germain vs Chelsea

Arsenal vs Barcelona

Juventus vs Bayern Munich

PSV Eindhoven vs Atletic Madrid

Benfica vs Zenit

Dynamo Kiev vs Manchester City 

Aston Villa vs Arsenal starting line up.

Aston Villa XI: Guzan, Hutton, Okore, Lescott, Bacuna, Okore, Gana, Veretout, Sanchez, Sinclair, Ayew, Gestede.

Subs: Bunn, Clark, Westwood, Traore, Gil, Lyden, Grealish.

Arsenal XI: Cech, Bellerin, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Monreal, Ramsey, Flamini, Walcott, Ozil, Campbell, Giroud.

Subs: Ospina, Debuchy, Gabriel, Gibbs, Chambers, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Iwobi.

Kick off: 2:30 pm

Alexis Sanchez set to return before Christmas.

Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez will return from a hamstring injury before Christmas, manager Arsene Wenger said ahead of his side's Premier League clash at bottom club Aston Villa on Sunday.

Sanchez, who has scored nine goals in 20 appearances in all competitions this season, will be keen to return to action for Arsenal's clash with title rivals Manchester City on December 21 having suffered the injury in the 1-1 draw with Norwich City last month.

'No new injuries. Sanchez is the shortest one, the rest will be back after Christmas,' Wenger said.

With Santi Cazorla, Mikel Arteta, Francis Coquelin, Danny Welbeck, Jack Wilshere and Tomas Rosicky all out injured, Wenger was open to the idea of dipping into the January transfer market but will not let the club's injury crisis force his hand.

'We will be out there and seeing what we can do, but we have the whole of December to go and we are in a strong position in the Premier League. 

'But we are short and it is important that we don't lose any more players,' Wenger said.

Source: Dailymail.

Manchester United will be without nine players at Bournemouth.

Manchester United will be without nine players at Bournemouth on Saturday, Louis van Gaal has revealed.
Defenders Chris Smalling and Matteo Darmian are the latest absentees after both were injured during the midweek defeat at Wolfsburg that saw United eliminated from the Champions League.
Van Gaal expects the pair to return before Christmas, along with Ander Herrera, but in the meantime the Dutchman heads to the south coast with a threadbare squad.
Wayne Rooney, Marcos Rojo, Phil Jones, Antonio Valencia and Luke Shaw were the other injured first-teamers to miss the Wolfsburg game, while Bastian Schweinsteiger begins a three-match suspension this weekend.

Source: Dailymail.

Vardy and Ranieri claim Premier league manager and player of the month award for November.

Jamie Vardy has picked up yet another accolade as the Leicester striker has been named the Premier League Player of the Month for November. 

He retains the award after scoring three goals in as many games during the month of November, including a record-breaking goal in his side's 1-1 draw with Manchester United. 

His 24th-minute opener against the Red Devils saw him break Ruud van Nistelrooy's previous record by scoring in 11 consecutive Premier League games.

Both Vardy and his manager Claudio Ranieri, who has been named manager of the month, have been rewarded for Leicester's outstanding results in the league.


Source: Dailymail.

Bastian Schweinsteiger given three-match ban.

Manchester United midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger will serve a three-match suspension for elbowing West Ham’s Winston Reid.
The ban begins with immediate effect after the Germany captain accepted an FA charge for violent conduct. The incident, last Saturday at Old Trafford, was not seen by the match officials but was caught on video.
Schweinsteiger caught Reid in the throat as the players battled for position from a first-half free-kick during the 0-0 draw.
He will miss the forthcoming Premier League games against Bournemouth, Norwich City and Stoke City.

Source: Skysports.