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Pep Guardiola still frustrated with Man City players despite thrashing West Ham

mike mcgrath
·28-min read
Savinho was a threat for Man City all afternoon
Savinho has finally come of age after a slow start to his Man City career - Reuters/Lee Smith

Manchester City have been looking for January transfer targets but one “arrival” in the last week has been Savinho, who has announced himself to the Premier League after a slow start to English football.

They have a new match-winner in Savinho and finally recorded back-to-back wins, but Pep Guardiola made it clear this was not the Manchester City of old, regardless of the scoreline.

City fans have waited more than two months for consecutive victories so it was no surprise they got nervous as the final whistle approached, even when they established a comfortable lead — much to the annoyance of Kevin De Bruyne afterwards.

Guardiola bemoaned misplaced passes, admitting his team could have been two goals down before their own lucky opener. His team are “suffering”, as they have since mid-October when their crisis started. They are still not out of it.

“When we attack quick, the opponent attacks quicker,” Guardiola said. “We don’t pass the ball. That’s why we suffer. We lose the ball too easily, that’s why we run. How many times did we go to the full-back?

“The opponents are good and we are miles different. We need to find our tempo. We cannot run with the ball, we have to pass.”

It sounded like a manager who had just been walloped. Not after a 4-1 victory.

When an old sparring partner from the press pack asked him if City were back, he stared them down. “Sorry?” he asked. “You judge the results. We saw in many years our level. We are not at our level. Our performance was not good. In the first minutes we deserved to be 0-1, 0-2. We were lucky in the first goal.”

That lucky first goal came through the work of Savinho, who has enjoyed an excellent couple of games. City have been looking for January transfer targets but the Brazilian has come of age of late.

Savinho looked a player reborn
Savinho celebrates after his cross leads to Manchester City’s opening goal - Getty Images/Carl Recine

The £30.8 million signing from Troyes, part of the City Football Group, struggled to make an impact following his summer move but followed up his first goal of the season against Leicester by taking centre stage here.

He was responsible for the opening goal, with his cross skidding off Vladimir Coufal, before twice setting up Erling Haaland with assists. Phil Foden added another goal before Niclas Fullkrug pulled one back.

“He’s clean in his mind,” said Guardiola when asked about Savinho. “He doesn’t think nothing in his head in the past. When you are many years here, the players think they deserve something special for what they have done and that is a big mistake. You have to prove it again and again and again.”

After forcing Coufal into a lunge that led to the first goal, Savinho elegantly skipped around the Czech Republic full-back and crossed deep for Haaland to head in. The Norwegian benefitted from Savinho’s next assist when the Brazilian’s slide pass sent him in towards goal after the interval, with the Norway striker lifting his finish over Alphonse Areola.

Erling Haaland scored twice for Manchester City
Erling Haaland enjoys the first of his two goals, both of which Savinho set up - Getty Images

“That sense of [aggression] has a lot to improve,” said Guardiola. “Not aggressive enough without the ball, a little bit soft in many departments. But right now he has something special and brilliant that helped a lot for the team. He scored a goal, a bit lucky, but the two assists are brilliant. I’m so happy for him and he deserves to play.”

Foden finished after Mohammed Kudus’s mistake allowed City in again, with Fullkrug pulling one back — but West Ham could only look back to the first half when they had early chances. They also saw Crysencio Summerville harshly penalised for pulling back Manuel Akanji when he pinched the ball and was through on goal.

David Moyes watching from the stands at the Etihad Stadium was a reminder that all eyes are on Julen Lopetegui and how easily his side are conceding goals — nine in their past two games, in which they have proven compliant opponents when teams need a result. They are comfortably clear of the relegation zone, despite their results being poor.

“It is not easy to explain the match. I think it has been very strange. I think we deserve more,” said Lopetegui. “We have to do better in four finishing chances. We have a very clear situation when Summerville with Akanji was not fouled, the referee say ‘fouled’.

“There are a lot of little details that can explain why the score is like this. But it is true we did very good positive things.” He is waiting for news on the fitness of Jean-Clair Todibo, who limped off in the second half.

05:15 PM GMT

Full time verdict from the Etihad

David Moyes was watching this match from the stands at the Etihad. He saw his old West Ham team have their moments and the scoreline flattered City. 

Surely West Ham would not turn to Moyes a third time? They have points in the bag but that is nine goals conceded in the last two games.

05:14 PM GMT

Haaland always has his way with West Ham

Haaland happy - West Ham
After his brace this afternoon, Haaland now has nine Premier League games against West Ham - the most the Norwegian has scored against any other team. - Gareth Copley/Getty Images

05:02 PM GMT

Pep pummels West Ham yet again

Pep WHU celebration
Pep WHU celebration

Pep Guardiola is now unbeaten in all 18 of his Premier League games against West Ham.

This is the most times a Premier League manager has faced a specific opponent without ever losing in the competition’s history.

05:00 PM GMT

Full time scores

04:58 PM GMT

Man City start 2025 in style

04:57 PM GMT

GOAL! Southampton 0 Brentford 5 - Wissa

Brentford are not in the mood for showing mercy, with Yoane Wissa getting another injury time goal for Brentford’s fifth to rub more salt in Southampton’s wounds.

04:54 PM GMT

Full time: Palace 1 Chelsea 1

Chelsea are now winless in four Premier League games, as Crystal Palace earn a late home point at Selhurst Park.

04:53 PM GMT

GOAL! Southampton 0 Brentford 4 - Lewis-Potter

Brentford have clinched their first away league win of the season in style, as Keane Lewis-Potter has scored the visitors’ fourth.

04:51 PM GMT

Final stages of all five matches

All five matches are now in stoppage time. Will there be any late drama?

04:48 PM GMT

Boom, Mateta’s in the room.

04:44 PM GMT

View from Selhurst Park

Selhurst Park is buzzing as Palace draw level through JP Mateta. The excellent Ismaila Sarr wins the ball deep inside the Chelsea half and plays in Eze.

The England international draws Sanchez out towards him, but squares the ball unselfishly to the big French forward and tucks the ball home.

Chelsea are being made to pay for all those missed chances from Jackson, who was replaced by Enzo Maresca by young Spanish forward Marc Guiu instead of Christopher Nkunku.

04:42 PM GMT

GOAL! Crystal Palace 1 Chelsea 1 - Mateta

The corner flag at Selhurst Park is shaking, so you know what that means?!

Jean-Phillipe Mateta has equalised for the home side!

04:39 PM GMT

GOAL! Bournemouth 1 Everton 0 - Brooks

Bournemouth have scored a magnificent goal through David Brooks, who superbly arrows the ball with a volley into the top corner past Jordan Pickford from Milos Kerkez’s cross.

04:36 PM GMT

GOAL! Aston Villa 2 Leicester 1 - Bailey

The home side are back in front, as Leon Bailey restores Villa’s lead with a close-range finish from Ian Maatsen’s cross.

04:34 PM GMT

View from Selhurst Park

The game has gone a bit flat in the last 10 minutes as Chelsea continue to dominate possession and Palace try to pick them off on the counter-attack.

Chris Richards had a header  tipped over the bar by Sanchez from an Eze corner before Nicolas Jackson spurned yet another opportunity to put the game to bed when he fired wide when he really should have hit the target.

JP Mateta’s shot is deflected over by Colwill after Sancho is robbed by Tyrick Mitchell. While it stays 1-0 Palace will fancy they can get something out of the game in the final 20 minutes but a second goal for Chelsea will kill them off.

04:31 PM GMT

GOAL! - Southampton 0 Brentford 3 - Mbeumo

Bryan Mbeumo now has two goals at St Mary’s this afternoon, dispatching a penalty to heap more misery onto the home supporters.

04:30 PM GMT

GOAL! - Man City 4 West Ham 1 - Fullkrug

Fullkrug consolation
Fullkrug consolation

Niclas Fullkrug has scored a consolation for West Ham at the Etihad, firing the ball low past Ortega in the bottom corner.

Something for the away fans to cheer, I suppose.

04:26 PM GMT

GOAL! Southampton 0 Brentford 2 - Mbuemo

Brentford finally have their second goal in this match, as Bryan Mbeumo’s thunderous finish sees the ball fly into the bet for his 12th league goal of the season.

04:24 PM GMT

GOAL! Aston Villa 1 Leicester 1 - Mavididi

Villa did not have their lead for long, as Stephy Mavididi levels the scoring for the visitors, tapping in the rebound to give Leicester a lifeline in this match.

04:18 PM GMT

GOAL! Aston Villa 1 Leicester 0 - Barkley

Aston Villa have broken the deadlock at Villa Park, and Ross Barkley has fired the home side in front.

04:17 PM GMT

GOAL! Manchester City 4 West Ham 0

Foden tap in
Foden tap in

West Ham fans, you may want to cover your eyes.

It’s now 4-0 to the home side as Phil Foden gets onto the score sheet.

Still over just half an hour left in this match...

04:15 PM GMT

GOAL! Manchester City 3 West Ham 0

Haaland dink
Haaland dink

Haaland has his second of the afternoon, dinking the ball over Areola to put the home side in cruise control in this fixture.

04:14 PM GMT

View from Selhurst Park

Palace have started the second half very brightly and Eze should have put the Eagles on level terms.

The England international was being picked out in the box by Ismailla Sarr’s low cross after a powerful run down the Chelsea left, but could only drag his shot wide. Palace can’t be squandering too many chances like that.

04:11 PM GMT

49 minutes: Crystal Palace 0 Chelsea 1

Eze has missed a wonderful chnace to get Palace’s equaliser, sidefooting the ball wide from close range after a tremendous cross from Sarr.

04:09 PM GMT

Second halves are underway

The action resumes across the Premier League.

04:07 PM GMT

Everton lacking goalscoring touch again

Bournemouth fans have been taunting the travelling Everton supporters in the first half, singing en masse: “How do you watch this every week?”

I’m sure the Everton fans will begrudgingly hold similar feelings, as their side has failed to score in a league-high 10 different Premier League matches this season.

Unless they show more quality after the break, they will surely make it 11 goalless league games this season from just 18 played.

03:52 PM GMT

Half time across the Premier League

03:51 PM GMT

Sancho enjoying life in blue surroundings

03:49 PM GMT

Half time verdict at Selhurst Park

Referee Tim Robinson brings an entertaining opening 45 minutes to a close and Chelsea are in full control despite having just one goal to show for their dominance.

The visitors had two good opportunities to extend their lead after Cole Palmer’s 14th-minute strike with Nicolas Jackson guilty of spurning two golden opportunities.

Jackson had side-footed wide after being found unmarked at the back post by Jadon Sancho after earlier being dispossessed by Chris Richards as he was about to shoot.

The Senegal international was then put through by Cole Palmer’s sublime through ball, but his shot with the outside of his right foot was narrowly wide.

Teenage centre-back Josh Acheampong has looked very assured on his full Premier League debut for Chelsea and the 18-year-old almost made it a dream start with a header than just dropped wide.

Eberechi Eze tried to get something going for Palace when he’s on the ball and his perfect pass picked out Daniel Munoz on the Palace right. 

The Colombian then found JP Mateta, but his shot was narrowly wide in the best chance of the game for the hosts who are facing a seventh successive home defeat by Enzo Maresca’s side.

03:44 PM GMT

GOAL! Man City 2 West Ham 0 - Haaland

Haaland smile
Erling Haaland now has eight goals from six Premier League matches against West Ham. - Martin Rickett/PA

The home side have their second goal, and Erling Haaland has scored his 15th league goal of the season, getting on the end of Savinho’s marvellous cross.

03:42 PM GMT

39 minutes: Crystal Palace 0 Chelsea 1

Nicolas Jackson ought to have put Chelsea 2-0 up after the striker was set up with Palmer’s brilliant through ball. However, the Senegalese cannot guide his effort on target.

03:39 PM GMT

38 mins: Crystal Palace 0 Chelsea 1

Palace now begin pose a threat against Chelsea, but Jean-Phillipe Mateta’s shot is blocked by Moises Caicedo after the French striker latched onto an terrific diagonal ball.

Moments later, visiting goalkeeper Robert Sanchez comes up with a huge save to palm away Eze’s goalbound cross.

03:32 PM GMT

View from the Etihad

Julen Lopetegui is furious with referee Michael Salisbury for giving a foul against Crysencio Summerville when he pinched the ball off Manu Akanji and was through on goal. It was a tight enough call to let the Dutch winger through before letting Var have a look. 

Lopetegui gets a yellow card for his protest. “Who’s the ****** in the black?” is the chant from the West Ham section of the crowd.

03:31 PM GMT

28 mins: Crystal Palace 0 Chelsea 1

Josh Acheampong may have had a goal on his Premier League debut for Chelsea, but the young defender is unable to steer his header on target from Cole Palmer’s corner.

03:26 PM GMT

24 mins: Southampton 0 Brentford 1

Brentford have come inches away from doubling their lead, as Christian Norgaard directs a header that cannons off the crossbar.

The visitors are placing Aaron Ramsdale’s goal under siege, but the England goalkeeper has produced a pair of strong saves to keep the score down at the moment.

03:23 PM GMT

View from Selhurst Park

Cole Palmer opens the scoring for Chelsea with a sample finish, but the goal is all about Jadon Sancho.

The Manchester United loanee pulls off an audacious dummy to leave Palace defender Chris Richards flat-footed. The Chelsea winger then plays in Palmer with a perfectly-weighted pass and the England forward rolls the ball in the bottom corner after taking a touch to move the ball past Marc Guehi..

Chelsea have dominated the opening 15 minutes and Palace are staring down the barrel of a seventh successive home defeat to the Blues.

03:22 PM GMT

18 minutes: Aston Villa 0 Leicester 0

An unfortunate sight for Aston Villa fans this afternoon, as captain John McGinn withdraws from the action after falling to the turf with an apparent hamstring injury,

03:19 PM GMT

View from the Etihad

Savinho is celebrating this goal but it could well be a Vladimir Coufal oggie - it took a huge deflection off the Czech full-back and flew over Alphonse Areola.

03:16 PM GMT

GOAL! Crystal Palace 0 Chelsea 1 - Palmer

Palmer and Sancho celebration
Palmer and Sancho celebration

Chelsea have taken the lead at Selhurst Park, and it’s Cole Palmer on the score sheet yet again.

An audacious dummy from Jadon Sancho allows the winger to create the space to feed Palmer and set his teammate through on goal, and Chelsea’s number 20 coolly dispatches the ball to round off an excellent team move.

03:11 PM GMT

GOAL! Man City 1 West Ham 0 - Coufal (og)

Despite West Ham looking great at the Etihad early on, Manchester City have taken the lead with a Vladimir Coufal own goal, after the Czech defender’s heavy deflection from Savinho’s strike left Areola helpless to the delight of the home crowd.

03:09 PM GMT

GOAL! Southampton 0 Brentford 1 (Schade)

Schade goal
Schade goal

Brentford have the first goal of these 3pm matches, and it’s Kevin Schade who gives the visitors the lead, bursting behind Southampton’s backline and his clever flicked finish helps the ball past Ramsdale to break the deadlock.

03:07 PM GMT

5 mins: Crystal Palace 0 Chelsea 0

Chelsea have the better of the opening stages at Selhurst Park, and Jadon Sancho might rue not producing a shot on target from Pedro Neto’s cross, after the Portuguese’s haring run down the wing.

03:01 PM GMT

View from Selhurst Park

The sides are out on the field to the strains of Glad All Over by The Dave Clark Five, certainly one of the better walk-out songs in the Premier League, although the bar is lower than a snake’s belly.

Enzo Fernandez leads Chelsea out despite the return of club captain Reece James, who has to make do with a place on the bench. 

Eberechi Eze earned Palace their first point against Chelsea since 2018 when these sides met earlier in the season. He was back among the goals against Southampton last week and will be the main attacking outlet for the Eagles, who are looking to extend their unbeaten run to eight.

03:00 PM GMT

Kick off is here

All ten teams are ready to go for the Premier League’s first set of Saturday 3pm fixtures of 2025.

02:55 PM GMT

Villa - Leicester stats

Watkins dribbling
Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins has three goals from his last four Premier League starts. - Neville Williams/Getty Images

  • Aston Villa can complete their first league double over Leicester City since 2004, after their 2-1 victory at the King Power Stadium in August.

  • Leicester have triumphed in three of the previous four Premier League meetings between these two sides at Villa Park.

  • Ollie Watkins scored and assisted in a Premier League match for a club Premier League record 10th time during Villa’s 2-2 draw vs. Brighton on Monday.

  • Leicester have just one win from their last 11 Premier League matches.

  • Jamie Vardy has not scored in his last six Premier League games against Villa. The 37 year old striker had scored five goals in his first six top-flight appearances in this fixture.

02:47 PM GMT

Crystal Palace - Chelsea stats

Palmer smirk at Selhurst Park
Cole Palmer was had 39 Premier League goal involvements in 2024: 26 goals and 13 assists, a record by a Chelsea player in a calendar year. - Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
Eze smiling
Eberechi Eze is vying to become the first Crystal Palace player to score home and away against Chelsea in the same season in 100 years. - Adam Davy/PA

  • Crystal Palace are winless in 15 league and cup encounters against Chelsea, drawing one and losing 14, since a 2-1 Premier League home victory at Selhurst Park in October 2017.

  • Chelsea have won in their last six matches against Palace at Selhurst Park, scoring 14 goals in that period.

  • Chelsea could fail to score in three consecutive Premier League away games in a single campaign for the first time since February 2019 under Maurizio Sarri.

  • Palmer’s 26 goals in 2024 is the most by a Chelsea player in a calendar year during the Premier League era, surpassing Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s previous record of 25 set in 2001.

02:38 PM GMT

View from Selhurst Park

Josh Achampong makes his first Premier League start, with Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca preferring the 18-year-old academy product to partner Levi Colwill ahead of the experienced duo of Tosin Adarabioyo and Axel Disasi who have to make do with places on the bench.

Skipper Reece James returns to the squad after two months out with a hamstring issue, but the game has come soon for midfielder Romeo Lavia who misses out again due to a hamstring injury.

For Palace, who have lost to Chelsea in their last six meetings at Selhurst Park, Chris Richards comes in for the ineligible Trevoh Chalabah and Cheick Doucore is recalled to the centre of midfield with Will Hughes missing out due to a foot injury.

Palace have not tasted victory over Chelsea since 2018 and have picked up just a single point in the last 15 matches between the two sides.

02:37 PM GMT

Man City - West Ham stats

Pep happy at Leicester
Under Pep Guardiola, Man City have won all eight of their Premier League home games against West Ham. - AP/Rui Vieira

  • Man City have won 14 of their last 15 Premier League home games against West Ham (L1), including the last eight in a row since a 2-1 loss in September 2015.

  • West Ham have not beaten Man City in their last 18 Premier League matches between the two teams, since a 2-1 away victory in September 2015. They London club have never had a longer winless run in their league history against a single opponent.

  • Manchester City have won their first league game in 17 of the last 18 calendar years, including each of the last 12 in a row since a 1-0 loss at Sunderland on New Year’s Day 2012.

  • In 2024, West Ham conceded more goals than any other Premier League side (79), finishing the year with a 5-0 home defeat against Liverpool.

02:24 PM GMT

Bournemouth - Everton lineups

Bournemouth

Travers, Hill, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez, Christie, Cook, Semenyo, Kluivert, Ouattara, Evanilson.
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Brooks, Adams, Unal, Billing, Aarons, Winterburn, Kinsey-Wellings, Rees-Dottin.

Everton

Pickford, Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Mangala, Gueye, Doucoure, Lindstrom, Broja, Ndiaye.
Subs: Virginia, Begovic, Patterson, Keane, Calvert-Lewin, Harrison, Beto, O’Brien, Armstrong.

Referee: John Brooks (Leicestershire)

02:23 PM GMT

Southampton - Brentford lineups

Southampton

Ramsdale, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Wood-Gordon, Bree, Ugochukwu, Aribo, Walker-Peters, Dibling, Onuachu, Sulemana.
Subs: McCarthy, Manning, Armstrong, Lallana, Sugawara, Brereton, Archer, Taylor, Bella-Kotchap.

Brentford

Flekken, Roerslev, Collins, van den Berg, Lewis-Potter, Jensen, Norgaard, Damsgaard, Mbeumo, Wissa, Schade.
Subs: Arthur, Yogane, Kim, Maghoma, Janelt, Konak, Meghoma, Yarmolyuk, Valdimarsson.

Referee: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire)

02:22 PM GMT

Aston Villa - Leicester lineups

Aston Villa

Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne, Kamara, Barkley, Bailey, Tielemans, McGinn, Watkins.
Subs: Olsen, Buendia, Nedeljkovic, Maatsen, Onana, Bogarde, Ramsey, Swinkels, Jimoh.

Leicester City

Stolarczyk, Justin, Coady, Vestergaard, Thomas, Winks, Soumare, Ayew, El Khannous, Mavididi, Vardy.
Subs: Iversen, Faes, Okoli, De Cordova-Reid, Choudhury, Daka, Skipp, Alves, Buonanotte.

Referee: Jarred Gillett (Australia)

02:20 PM GMT

Crystal Palace - Chelsea lineups

Crystal Palace

Henderson, Richards, Lacroix, Guehi, Munoz, Doucoure, Lerma, Mitchell, Sarr, Eze, Mateta.
Subs: Turner, Nketiah, Schlupp, Clyne, Kamada, Riad, Devenny, Kporha, Agbinone.

Chelsea

Sanchez, Gusto, Acheampong, Colwill, Cucurella, Fernandez, Caicedo, Pedro Neto, Palmer, Sancho, Jackson.
Subs: Jorgensen, Disasi, Adarabioyo, Madueke, Joao Felix, Nkunku, James, Guiu, Veiga.

Referee: Tim Robinson (West Sussex)

02:19 PM GMT

Man City - West Ham lineups

Manchester City

Ortega; Ake, Akanji, Gvardiol, Lewis; Kovacic; Bernardo, Foden, De Bruyne, Savinho; Haaland Subs: Walker, Grealish, Doku, Gundogan, Carson (g), Simpson-Pusey, Nunes, O’Reilly, McAtee

West Ham

Areola; Wan-Bissaka, Kilman, Todibo, Coufal; Soucek, Edson; Summerville, Paqueta, Kudus; Fullkrug Subs: Foderingham (g), Cresswell, Soler, Mavropanos, Guilherme, Ings, Rodriguez, Irving, Scarles

Referee: Michael Salisbury (Lancashire)

02:18 PM GMT

View from the Etihad

West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui has made changes, as you would expect after the 5-0 defeat to Liverpool last time out. Emerson Palmieri and Konstantinos Mavropanos are replaced by Crysensio Summerville and Jean-Clair Todibo.

With Jarrod Bowen out with a broken foot, Niclas Fullkrug leads their attack. Tomas Soucek also comes in to captain West Ham, with Carlos Soler on the bench for the visitors.

02:14 PM GMT

Straight out of Cobham and into the lineup.

Josh Acheampong Palace
Josh Acheampong Palace

Chelsea academy gradaute Josh Acheampong makes his full Premier League debut at Selhurst Park this afternoon. The 18 year old defender signed a new contract last month, and is very highly regarded by those at the west London club. 

After four senior appearances across the cup competitions this season, the teenager now makes his Premier League bow in south London.

02:04 PM GMT

View from the Etihad Stadium

Manchester City are unchanged for the first time since their opening two games of the season. It means Savinho, who scored his first City goal in the win over Leicester, keeps his place.

“We know we’re not where we want to be in the table right now but hopefully we can gain some of that confidence and come back,” said the Brazilian.  

Pep Guardiola completed 500 games as Manchester City manager when his team won at the King Power Stadium, ending their run of five matches without a win.

He wrote in his programme notes: “I cannot deny, there was a little bit of relief that we managed to get the victory in our last match. In terms of the performance, still it was not the best, but we fought for absolutely everything and got the three points.”

02:03 PM GMT

400 up for De Bruyne

KDB Leicester
KDB Leicester

Manchester City captain Kevin De Bruyne makes his 400th appearance for the club, since signing in August 2015 from Wolfsburg for a then club record £55 million.

After 10 years of service that has brought 16 major trophies and 104 goals and 171 assists, the 33 year old has entered himself amongst the greatest midfielders of the Premier League era.

01:54 PM GMT

Brentford lineup

01:54 PM GMT

Southampton lineup

01:52 PM GMT

Leicester lineup

01:52 PM GMT

Aston Villa lineup

01:51 PM GMT

Everton lineup

01:51 PM GMT

Bournemouth lineup

01:49 PM GMT

West Ham lineup

01:49 PM GMT

Manchester City lineup

01:48 PM GMT

Crystal Palace lineup

01:48 PM GMT

Chelsea lineup

A full Premier League debut in Chelsea’s backline for 18 year old academy graduate Josh Acheampong.

01:41 PM GMT

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01:37 PM GMT

Preview: The first Saturday 3pm matches of 2025

Good afternoon and welcome to the Telegraph’s live clockwatch of the five Premier League matches kicking off at 3pm this Saturday.

With 30 points from 19 games, Bournemouth enter their home fixture against Everton with the highest number of points the club has amassed at this stage of a Premier League season. Incredibly, the eight victories Andoni Iraola’s side have earned this campaign match the total number of league wins Everton picked up in the entirety of 2024.

Justin Kluivert is available for the home side this afternoon after serving a suspension, as is midfielder Tyler Smith after recovering from an injury. Marcos Senesi, Julian Araujo, Adam Smith, Marcus Tavernier, Luis Sinisterra and Alex Scott are still sidelined.

Everton will be without Dwight McNeil yet again due to the winger’s ongoing knee injury that has kept him out of action since the first week of December. Captain Seamus Coleman is ruled out with a calf injury, and midfielders Tim Iroegbunam and James Garner will also not be in the visitors’ squad today.

Aston Villa take on Leicester at Villa Park, but defender Pau Torres will be absent for the home side, as the Spanish international is set to miss two months of action with a broken metatarsal sustained in Monday’s 2-2 draw vs. Brighton. Morgan Rogers and Jhon Duran are suspended while Diego Carlos and Jaden Philogene are both injured.

Leicester travel across the Midlands on the back of four straight league defeats, and will assess Wout Faes’ fitness before deciding on whether the Belgium international can play this afternoon. Goalkeeper Mads Hermansen remains unavailable due to his groin injury, and Wilfried Ndidi is expected to return later this month from a hamstring injury suffered against Brighton in December.

Crystal Palace welcome Chelsea to Selhurst Park, with Palace captain Marc Guehi available after suspension to feature against his former club. Incidentally, Trevoh Chalobah is ineligible for this fixture, as the defender is on loan from Chelsea, and Will Hughes also misses out with a foot problem.

Chelsea may include midfielder Romeo Lavia in their squad for the first time in seven matches, with the Belgian set to make his recovery from a thigh injury. Head coach Enzo Maresca announced Wesley Fofana is set to miss the rest of the season with a hamstring injury, which the 24-year-old picked up at the start of last month vs. Aston Villa.

Manchester City will not have Ederson and Ruben Dias available for their home match against West Ham due to injury, but manager Pep Guardiola has said both players are close to returning to first-team action. Matheus Nunes and John Stones are both unlikely to feature at the Etihad Stadium, and Oscar Bobb and Rodri are both long-term absentees.

West Ham will be missing captain Jarrod Bowen for their trip up to Manchester, as the England forward will be absent for up to six weeks after fracturing his metatarsal in the team’s 5-0 home defeat last Sunday vs. Liverpool. Goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski will also miss this fixture with a head injury sustained on Boxing Day against Southampton, but midfielders Guido Rodriguez and Tomas Soucek are both available after serving a suspension.

Bottom side Southampton, who have collected the second-fewest points by a Premier League team after 19 matches, will face Brentford at St Mary’s Stadium without Matheus Fernandes in the squad due to the Brazilian’s suspension. Defender Jack Stephens may miss the next month with an injury, but Flynn Downes may come back into the squad after missing the team’s 2-1 loss away at Crystal Palace last Sunday.

Brentford have eight first-team players ruled out for this match, with Kristoffer Ajer, Josh Dasilva, Rico Henry, Aaron Hickey, Ben Mee, Gustavo Nunes, Ethan Pinnock and Igor Thiago all sidelined. However, Fabio Carvalho could make it back into the squad, if the 22-year-old manages to recover from the groin injury that prevented him featuring in Brentford’s 3-1 home defeat vs. Arsenal on Wednesday.

Team news to follow…