Key events
And that’s about it for today’s Matchday live. Thanks for reading and please head over to join Scott Murray for live coverage of Manchester United v Tottenham. Can Spurs go a ninth game unbeaten against the Red Devils?
Barcelona confirm exit from failed European Super League
More from Spain and Barcelona have confirmed their withdrawal from the failed European Super League project. It leaves Real Madrid as the only club still involved.
“Barcelona announces that today it has formally notified the European Super League project and the clubs that have been part of it, of its withdrawal,” said the Catalans in a statement.
Barca president Joan Laporta said in October 2025 Barcelona wanted to reestablish links with UEFA, moving away from the project launched by 12 clubs in 2021 which quickly collapsed under the weight of immense fan and institutional pressure. AFP
La Liga match postponed due to “unsafe” conditions
Rayo Vallecano’s La Liga match at home against Real Oviedo on Saturday was postponed hours before kick off because of unsafe playing conditions, a day after the squad protested against the owner.
La Liga said the match at Rayo’s ramshackle Vallecas stadium, due to kick off at 1pm GMT, would be suspended because of the state of the pitch, “with the aim of safeguarding the physical integrity of the players”.
“At present, the playing field does not meet the necessary guarantees for holding the match under safe conditions,” said La Liga in a statement.
They said Rayo had made “significant efforts” this week to allow the match to go ahead, including “undertaking a complete replacement of the turf”, but adverse weather conditions had hampered the work.
Rayo players, backed by the coaching staff, released a statement via the Association of Spanish Footballers (AFE) on Friday calling for better working conditions and criticising the state of the stadium, pitch and training facilities.
The players said “the state of the grass at Vallecas stadium has been clearly deficient” over the last month, and does not meet the “minimum requirements to play a top-level match”.
They also complained about not being able to train at the club training ground during pre-season because of the poor condition of the pitches there, as well as demanding better treatment for the fans from the club.
Rayo president and owner Raul Martin Presa, a controversial figure, has had several feuds with the club’s supporters and is widely disliked. Presa aims to move the club from their Vallecas home, which fans have protested against. AFP
How was it for you… in terms of the transfer window? Let’s look at the verdicts in both the Premier League and WSL. It’s a good chance to raise an eyebrow and wonder how that one passed you by. Kalvin Phillips (Man City to Sheffield United, loan), Jamaal Lascelles (Newcastle to Leicester, undisclosed) and more below…
WSL team news
The teams are in for second-placed Manchester United’s Women’s Super League game at Leicester. That one kicks off at noon.
Leicester: Clark, Kees, Swaby, Ale, Neville, Mayling, Tierney, van Egmond, Cain, Williams, Lehmann.
Man Utd: Tullis-Joyce, Lundkvist, Le Tissier, Janssen, Sandberg, Zigiotti Olme, Miyazawa, Park, Naalsund, Malard, Schuller.
Marc Guehi believes Manchester City can still land the title this season as he prepares to face the club that almost signed him. City head to Liverpool on Sunday needing a victory to arrest a poor run of form and maintain hope of overhauling Premier League leaders Arsenal.
England defender Guehi, who moved to City from Crystal Palace for £20million in January, came close to joining the Reds last summer only for a move to collapse on deadline day. His loyalties are now firmly in the City camp and, although they have dropped points in five of their last six games, he is confident heading to Anfield.
The goal is always to win and always to get better. There’s still a long season ahead – lots of points and games to fight for. The mindset is to look forward and to try and win. We just need to keep going. We’re definitely going in the right direction.
Winning games is massive and big in any competition so as long as we keep going like that, I don’t see why we can’t achieve our goals this season.
City have a poor record at Anfield, having won their just once in their last 22 league visits, and that came behind closed doors in February 2021. The 25-year-old centr-back has belief though.
It’s not an easy place to go to, but as long as we show that resilience and team spirit together – knowing that we have the qualities to compete against any other team – we thoroughly believe in ourselves. It’s about doing our job. Making sure we turn up in the right spirits, focus our mentality and go out there and try to get the win.
Guehi’s fellow new recruit Antoine Semenyo is relishing the contest. The Ghana international, who arrived in a £62.5million deal from Bournemouth last month, has made an impressive start to his City career, scoring four times in his first six appearances.
As an outsider before joining here, it was always entertaining watching City and Liverpool. To be part of it, I’m so grateful, but it’s going to be a challenge. We’re prepared for it and we’ll be fired up for it on the day. I’m looking forward to the game.
Tottenham team news
And this is the team going into battle for Thomas Frank.
Tottenham: Vicario, Gray, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie, Sarr, Palhinha, Gallagher, Odobert, Simons, Solanke.
Man Utd team news
Here’s how Manchester United line up against Tottenham. It’s probably the team that most expected. Why change a winning formula?
Man Utd: Lammens, Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw, Casemiro, Mainoo, Amad, Fernandes, Mbeumo, Cunha.
Historians will look back to life on earth in 2026 and ask one overriding question: how did Spurs finish fourth in the Champions League group phase table? But it happened and it’s below in black and white. Perhaps a trip to three-time European Cup winners Manchester United will get their juices flowing more than the 2-2 draw they stumbled through at Burnely in their last Premier League away game. Tottenham head to Old Trafford in 14th place in the English top-flight.
A reminder of today’s Premier League fixtures (3pm GMT kick-off unless stated otherwise):
Man Utd v Tottenham (12:30pm GMT)
Arsenal v Sunderland
Bournemouth v Aston Villa
Burnley v West Ham
Fulham v Everton
Wolves v Chelsea
Newcastle v Brentford (5:30pm GMT)
No. 4 on that list is an absolute must-win for Burnley but also vitally important for West Ham. Will Unwin holds his finger up in the cold Lancashire air to test the current mood at Turf Moor.
Have you played ‘On the ball’ yet?
The rules are simple: guess the Premier League player, past or present, with the fewest clues possible.
I scored 65 today with just two guesses although, in hindsight, maybe I could have gambled after one. That puts me in the top 46% of players which is surely a credit to the excellence of my fellow quizzers rather than a reflection of my own seemingly modest performance. Yeah, that’s how I’m going to frame it.
Your go now.
Get On the ball from the Puzzles tab of the Guardian app.
Quotes here from a man who can definitely trap a football. Daniel Farke was speaking after Leeds beat relegation rivals Nottingham Forest 3-1 at Elland Road last night.
I’m very proud because this was complicated game for us. First and foremost, because we had lost the last game (4-0 at home against Arsenal).
I know it was Arsenal, but a loss always does something with the confidence and belief. It’s always difficult to respond after a loss, and this made it a difficult game.
Second, it was, of course, a game where there was a bit more on the line, not just the three points. Sometimes during the season there’s a game that feels just a bit more important than other games.
And then to deliver in this way, with such a spirited performance, with our intensity to be so dominant and to play such a good football game.
I think it will do a lot with our confidence, our belief, our spirit within the group. This was second to none today, and for that, it’s a massive performance and a massive win.
An email on Michael Carrick. Could this happen?
Morning David, from my sofa, another coffee within reach, on Tyneside. With Milner, ex-of NUFC, reaching Barry’s milestone – I hope as being in my 40’s myself, it allows me and many others a chance to dare to dream – but with Michael Carrick (ex-of this parish growing up) looking on the sidelines like he’s relatively svelt, I can’t be the only neutral hoping he registers himself to come on for his last game in temporary charge of Man Utd? 44 I’m guessing would be the oldest EPL player ever if he did? Come on Michael, make it happen!
Em Jackson (a neutral observer), Newcastle.
“When people say to me, ‘Oh, would you rather be thought of as a funny man or a great boss?’ my answer’s always the same: to me, they’re not mutually exclusive.” *
There can’t have been too many Chelsea bosses compared to David Brent and Will from the Inbetweeners (second mention today) but Liam Rosenoir has had to face those mocking accusations. Ahead of Chelsea’s trip to Wolves today, Jacob Steinberg reports that the Blues boss isn’t afraid to laugh at himself.
* Liam Rosenoir has never said this
Ekitike: choosing Liverpool was easy
Hugo Ekitike has revealed he chose Liverpool over Newcastle in the summer because he could not say no to the champions. Newcastle made a move to sign the French striker from Eintracht Frankfurt as they tried to line up a replacement for Alexander Isak before agreeing to sell the Swede to Liverpool, but instead both forwards ended up at Anfield.
Some questioned how much playing time Ekitike could expect in Liverpool’s overhauled frontline but the 23-year-old was the quickest of their summer signings to make an impact, and his brace in last week’s 4-1 win over the Magpies took him to 15 goals in a red shirt.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Ekitike said it had been an easy decision to pick Liverpool.
“First of all because they are champions last season,” he said. “You can join the best team in England. How can you say no? And obviously the players, the style of play. I saw myself playing in this team, I was thinking it would look really good. For me that was the best choice. Really easy (decision).”
Florian Wirtz laid on the first of Ekitike’s two goals last week, and the two summer signings are developing a flourishing partnership. They have now combined for six goals in all competitions this season – more than any other combination of players in the top flight.
“I think they complement each other really well,” team-mate Alexis Mac Allister said on the Liverpool website. “They are both big talents and I think everyone can see their quality.
“We can notice that they love to play one-twos and these kind of things, which is really good because they can generate goals and assists in just a moment.
“So, I’m really pleased for them. I think they are showing how good they are. But as I said, I think as a team we still need to improve and that’s what we want.” PA Media
Man Utd v Tottenham. Some beefy Opta stats to peruse.
Man Utd are winless in their last six league games against Tottenham Hotspur (D3 L3), their joint-longest ever run without a win against them (also 6 between 1914 and 1921).
Manchester United are unbeaten in their last seven Premier League games (W4 D3) and have won all three since Michael Carrick returned as manager. The Red Devils last won four in a row in February 2024 under Erik ten Hag, while they last had a longer run without defeat in February 2022 (8 under Ralf Rangnick).
Tottenham are winless in their last six Premier League games (D4 L2), their longest run since their last seven in 2024-25. However, five of Spurs’ seven league wins this season have come away from home.
Manchester United are unbeaten in all nine of their Premier League games this season when they have less possession than their opponents (W7 D2), winning all seven when having less than 45%. They’ve won just four of their 15 league games when having over 50% of the ball (D6 L5).
Only bottom two sides Burnley (23) and Wolves (21) have conceded more first half goals than Tottenham (18) in the Premier League this season. Spurs are winless in all 10 of their league games when behind at the break this term (D3 L7) and are unbeaten in all six when leading at half-time (W5 D1).
Bruno Fernandes has more assists than any other Premier League player this season, with his 12 also his joint-best tally in a single campaign (level with 2020-21). The last Manchester United player to provide more was Antonio Valencia in 2011-12 (13).
Dominic Solanke – who scored twice against Man City last time out – has scored five goals in his last five appearances against Manchester United in all competitions. He’s averaging a goal every 88 minutes in all competitions this season, the best rate of any Spurs player.
Here’s our favourite weekly double digit column. Jamie Jackson runs the rule over Man Utd v Tottenham.
Manchester United are unbeaten in three games under Michael Carrick and Tottenham are unbeaten in four under Thomas Frank. While Carrick has overseen three victories, Spurs have two Premier League draws alongside Champions League wins. After Sunday’s last-gasp 3-2 win against Fulham at Old Trafford, Carrick was asked if his Midas touch could continue for his remaining 14 Premier League matches. In the interim manager’s calm way he smiled and said, in essence, there are no guarantees. But factor in a reinvigorated and re-engaged home crowd and even a draw for Spurs looks like a tough ask.
Man Utd v Tottenham is getting closer. Any thoughts or predictions for the 12.30pm kick-off?
Here’s Dave Estherby on email: “The Spurs of the North against the United of the South? Gonna be a painful one, this. Good job it’s on TNT…”
Remarkably, Tottenham are unbeaten in their last eight games against United in all competitions. That includes the dreadful Europa League final last May. Spurs won 3-0 on their last visit to Old Trafford so can they stop the Michael Carrick revival train?
As Will said to mechanic ‘Wolfie’ in The Inbetweeners: “You’re 17. You’re 17! There’s looking older and then there’s that. You look about 30.” Those words could easily have applied to a young James Milner and now the Brighton star is ready to update one of the great Premier League quiz questions.
Milner, now 40, can equal the all-time Premier League appearance record if he gets some game time against Crystal Palace on Sunday. That would bring him level with Gareth Barry at the top of the all-time charts with 653 appearances. The midfielder is also just the fifth player to play in the Premier League after reaching 40.
Here’s Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler paying tribute.
He will definitely be in the squad. For me, for us, James Milner is a role model, he’s a great character to work with. I think being a Premier League player in this age and still playing on the level he plays and also training on the level he trains… So when you just followed the last two training sessions, it’s incredible what he’s doing so I’m very pleased to work with him. I think that will be a special thing for him but he is focused on top of that on the ambitions from the club as well. He wants to be always successful like he was his whole life.
We also have action today in the Scottish Cup (3pm GMT kick-off unless stated otherwise):
Dundee Utd v Spartans
Dunfermline v Kelty Hearts
Elgin v Partick
Celtic v Dundee (5:30pm GMT)
Aberdeen v Motherwell (7:30pm GMT)
Pep Guardiola has been making different sort of headlines this week. Barney Ronay looks at what the talking heads are saying and whether the Manchester City boss should “stick to football”.
It’s a Manchester 1-2 in the Women’s Super League although City are absolutely running away with it. United travel to Leicester in the only WSL fixture today. It kicks off at 12pm which is a bit daft given that the men’s team are in action at 12.30pm. What if you’re a big fan of both? Anyway, here’s the table. United will hope to cut the gap to eight points.
Premier League team news. Okay, the fantasy deadline has already gone due to Leeds playing Nottingham Forest last night but for those who love to ponder starting XIs, see who’s crocked and check current form along with each club’s top scorer, this is the article just for you.
Man Utd v Spurs team news will be with you at 11.15pm today by the way.
All games across the EFL will kick off a minute later than usual today and there’s a very good reason why.
It’s part of the Every Minute Matters campaign which calls on football fans across the country to learn CPR and help build an army of 500,000 lifesavers during Heart Month.
The gesture serves as a powerful reminder that every minute counts when someone suffers a cardiac arrest – with survival chances dropping by up to 10% for every minute without CPR or defibrillation.
Micah Richards has joined forces with Bristol Rovers defender, Tom Lockyer, who suffered a cardiac arrest in December 2023 when playing for Luton.
Former Manchester City defender and now TV pundit, Richards said: “Every Minute Matters is a brilliant partnership that is just bigger than football. Learning CPR takes just 15 minutes, and it could save a life. It doesn’t get bigger than that.
“Listening to Tom and seeing what he has achieved is inspirational. We’re asking fans to ‘Show Your Heart’ this February and learn one of the most important skills of all, CPR.
“If football can do this and create an army of half a million lifesavers, it would be an incredible achievement.”
After an appalling tally a fortnight ago, I managed a healthy haul of 80 Premier League Fantasy points last week. That was mainly thanks to the blossoming relationship of Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike. There was an Opta start doing the rounds later that the Liverpool pair have combined for six goals in all competitions this season, more than any other Premier League duo. They’s assisted each other three times. It’s pretty obvious that Wirtz and Ekitike are now the heartbeat of the Liverpool attack, with Mo Salah’s influence receding.
Having said all that, I’ve captained Bruno Fernandes (v Spurs) this weekend. You?
Whoops, I forgot to mention two other Friday matches. Perhaps because neither witnessed a goal.
In Ligue 1, bottom club Metz did well to hold fifth-placed Lille to a 0-0 draw while there were also blanks in a Championship London derby. Charlton 0-0 QPR left the hosts in 17th while the visitors snuck up a place to 10th. It’s cramped around the playoff spots, as you can see.
So what else happened on Friday night? A quick spin through some of the games in Europe.
Serie A
Verona 0-0 Pisa. A goalless draw between the two bottom teams. Not very helpful for either.
La Liga
Celta Vigo 1-2 Osasuna. A good away win for Osasuna, who nudged up to eighth, one spot behind Celta. The hosts could have gone fifth with a win but Osasuna stole the points via a late goal from Raúl García de Haro.
Bundesliga
Union Berlin 1-1 Eintracht Frankfurt. It all happened late here with both goals and a red card in the final six minutes. Frankfurt are now managed by former Liverpool winger, Albert Riera, but he was denied a winning start by Leopold Querfeld’s 87th-minute penalty.
The Premier League kicked off last night with a crucial game at a windy and rainy Elland Road. And, for the fifth straight time this season, Leeds won a night game in front of their home fans. Supporters and atmosphere make a difference, right. Here’s Aaron Bower’s match report.
And this is what it did to the table. Leeds are now nine points clear of the drop zone.
Yesterday was the 68th anniversary of the Munich Air Disaster. Manchester United boss, Michael Carrick, was asked what the remembrance meant to him.
Munich is probably the biggest part of the history of this club in terms of the tragedy itself, how the team and the football club bounced back from it and went on to success… and everything from there was carried on. Sir Alex when I came would mention it, it was important to him, it was important to us [the playing squad at the time] and then it becomes a way of life and a way of the club. I think it’s important that we carry that on. I was here for the 50th [anniversary], I was here for the 60th, we’ll see about the 70th, we’re not sure yet. But being aware of it and being around it, especially in those moments, you really feel that emotion to be honest with you. On Saturday, inside the stadium, we’ll feel it as well.
Today’s Premier League fixtures (3pm GMT kick-off unless stated otherwise):
Man Utd v Tottenham (12:30pm GMT)
Arsenal v Sunderland
Bournemouth v Aston Villa
Burnley v West Ham
Fulham v Everton
Wolves v Chelsea
Newcastle v Brentford (5:30pm GMT)
Preamble
There’s still something about a Saturday morning that can never be beaten in terms of sporting anticipation. And, if the feeling is mutual, you’ve come to the right place!
While you may want to dabble in the Winter Olympics and Six Nations later on (we have live blogs on both), this page is all about the football. And what a cracker we have to start things off at 12.30pm – rejuvenated Manchester United v rejuvenated Tottenham. Although the latter refers to one good half against Man City, let’s go with it.
It’s one of seven Saturday fixtures in the Premier League, with two on Sunday including the blockbuster that is Liverpool v Manchester City. If you’re finger counting and have only reached nine, that’s because we’ve already had Leeds v West Ham. More on that Friday result shortly.
And how about you? Off to a game? Let us know! Lots to discuss as we cast our eye around the football world so strap in and let’s get things on the road!
