LIVE: PREMIER LEAGUE - All the Boxing Day football action as it happens

26 December 2009 18:38
With the formalities of dinner with the family, snoozing in front of the TV and drinking too much on Christmas Day behind us - it's down to the festive tradition we actually relish -  Premier League football.  Eight fixtures this afternoon starting with Birmingham v Chelsea at 12.45pm, ending later this evening as Liverpool host Wolves at 5.30pm with plenty of action in between - Sportsmail will keep you up-to-date with all the goals and action as it happens. [LNB] PREMIER LEAGUE LIVERPOOL 0 WOLVES 0  BIRMINGHAM 0 CHELSEA 0 (FT) FULHAM 0 TOTTENHAM 0 (FT)WEST HAM 2 PORTSMOUTH 0 (FT) BURNLEY 1 BOLTON 1 (FT)MAN CITY 2 STOKE 0 (FT)SUNDERLAND 1 EVERTON 1 (FT)WIGAN 1 BLACKBURN 1 (FT)  6.42: RED CARD! Wolves down to ten men after Stephen Ward receives his second yellow card for a huge tug on Benayoun's shirt. BUT only after much confusion after Andre Marriner mistakenly showed a yellow card to Christophe Berra. [LNB]6.40: Great save Hahnemann. Gerrard had ages to tee up his shot on the edge of the box - his side-footed effort was angling for the bottom left-hand corner until it was pushed round. [LNB]6.36: Wonderful pass from Aquilani was met by Benayoun who had ghosted into the box behind Ward but his first touch skewed the ball away. Wasted chance.[LNB]6.35: The second half is underway. [LNB]6.18: HALF TIME - Almost complete silence greets Andre Marriner's whistle to call an end to the first 45 minutes. The home crowd totally apathetic to the lackluster performance they have just watched.  To Wolves credit, they have chased and harried non-stop and created some decent chances. [LNB]Alberto Aquilani has been ...well... OK, I suppose. He's an attack-minded player but the hosts have looked short of ideas this half. [LNB]6.17: One minute added on to be played. [LNB]6.15: Chance for Liverpool. Gerrard squares across the 18 yards box to Glen Johnson who forces his way through a challenge and thumps his shot to Hahnemann's left but a strong arm keeps the ball out. [LNB]6.12: One act summarises this last 25 minutes for Liverpool - a Steven Gerrard corner goes out of play before swinging back in. [LNB]6.07: The Wolves fans have started to 'ole' every successful pass from one of their players - it's not quite one of those games just yet but Liverpool do seem to be lacking ideas.  [LNB]6pm: Steven Gerrard shows the frustration creeping into the Liverpool side by throwing himself into two challenges with unnecessary vigour but escapes with just a talking to. [LNB]5.57: Another chance for the visitors. Liverpool don't know how to defend. Doyle given ages hooked a ball back across goal and Milijas should have done better from the edge of the box - his shot bobbled wide. [LNB]5.54: Doyle should have given Wolves the lead! Nenad Milijas's free-kick was tipped over by Reina and from the resulting corner the hosts seemed to scrap marking and Doyle headed wide from four yards.  [LNB]5.50: It has been all Liverpool ... until a great chance for Ebanks-Blake. Johnson beaten far too easily down the left by Jarvis who squared to the Wolves striker, his instinctive turn and shot from six yards was well saved by Pepe Reina.[LNB]5.46: Torres goes down after zero contact with Joey Craddock - the home fans are incensed but the referee called that right - no free-kick. [LNB]5.42: Wonderful clearing header from Torres. The only problem being he was in the Wolves box and met Aurelio's free-kick on the full instead of flicking it on. [LNB]5.38: Save keeper! Torres twists and turns inside  Wolves' box, fashions himself a yard but his shot was tipped over the bar by Hahnemann.[LNB] Chipping in: Wolves' Ward plays the ball forward as Benayoun closes in[LNB]5.36: 'Sacked in the morning, you're getting sacked in the morning.' The Wolves fans stick it to Rafa - conveniently forgetting this is supposed to be the season of goodwill. [LNB]5.33: A crunching tackle from Stearman sends Torres crashing to the ground. The Spaniard slowly gets up and, worryingly, limps away.  [LNB]5.30: We're underway at Anfield. [LNB]5.25: In more exciting news for Rafa Benitez, his side can leap to the lofty heights of seventh with victory over McCarthy's side who could go into 11th ... if they win.[LNB]5.15: And so to Anfield - a day of football marked by it's lack of any real drama suddenly brings the headline of the day - Alberto Aquilani starts his first Premier League match. Happy Christmas Liverpool fans. [LNB]No Javier Mascherano who starts his four-game ban after his stamp in the matchagainst Portsmouth. [LNB]Mick McCarthy plays his full-strength side - no changes to the team that beat Burnley. [LNB]LIVERPOOL v WOLVES ... Debut boy: Aquilani finally gets to start a Premier League match[LNB]  5.01: So a good day for Manchester United who are just five points off top spot with a game in hand after Chelsea failed to beat Birmingham at St Andrews. [LNB]Also a day to remember for Roberto Mancini who picked up three points in his first game in charge after victory over Stoke City. [LNB]4.53: FULL TIME - The games at the DW, Stadium of Light and Eastlands have all finished. [LNB]4.49: We're just waiting on the final whistles at our 3pm kick-offs but over at Anfield - the team's are in ... Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Insua, Aquilani, Lucas, Benayoun, Gerrard, Aurelio, Torres. Subs: Cavalieri, Kuyt, Ngog, Spearing, Darby, Skrtel, Pacheco.Wolverhampton: Hahnemann, Stearman, Craddock, Berra, Ward, Foley, Henry, Milijas, Jarvis, Ebanks-Blake, Doyle. Subs: Hennessey, Elokobi, Surman, Iwelumo, Mancienne, Maierhofer, Castillo[LNB]4.43: GOAL! Felllaini absolutely buries the ball home from 10 yards out to bring Everton (deservedly) level. Hibbert's cross was flicked on and fell to the Belgian who made no mistake.[LNB] The equaliser: Fellaini hammers Everton level at Sunderland[LNB]4.35: Roberto Mancini raised some eyebrows by leaving Craig Bellamy on the bench today but he's on now and is given a huge ovation after replacing (the useless) Robinho. [LNB]4.27: Great save Tim Howard. Sunderland almost double their lead after Paolo Da Sailva's header was well saved. Nervy times at the Stadium of Light as Sunderland attempt to rediscover their early season momentum. [LNB]4.22: Chance for Stoke to get themselves back into the game at Eastlands. Huth headed across goal to James Beattie who controlled on his thigh but his shot was well saved by Shay Given. [LNB]4.15: Chance for Everton. Louis Saha hammers a shot just wide of the hosts upright - the Toffees are asking all the questions so far this half. [LNB]4.11: GOAL! Hugo Rodallega bags his seventh of the season as Wigan's pressure early in the second half pays off as the Columbian heads the Latics level.[LNB]4.10: Wigan have made a lively start to the second half - Boyce's shot is deflected just over the bar. [LNB]4.07: The games at Eastland, the DW and Stadium of Light have restarted. [LNB]3.55: FULL TIME - Bolton hang on for a draw with Burnley.  [LNB]3.50: HALF TIME - The 3pm matches at Eastlands, Stadium of Light and at the DW have all concluded their first 45 minutes. [LNB]3.47: GOAL! Tevez doubles the hosts lead with his 10th strike of the season with an acrobatic finish - right on half-time.  [LNB] Going to Pot: Tevez doubles Man City's lead over Stoke [LNB]3.40: Everton are slowly edging their way back into the game with Sunderland - Louis Saha has missed a couple of good chances just a few minutes before the break. [LNB]3.34: The Bolton goal is under siege in the closing stages at Turf Moor. Jussi Jaaskelainen has just made a great save from Chris Eagles down to his right but it looks likely that if a winner is going to arrive, it will be Owen Coyle's side to get it. [LNB]3.30: GOAL! Benni McCarthy fires Blackburn in front with just his fourth goal of the season. [LNB]3.29: GOAL! Martin Petrov gets the first goal for City under new boss Roberto Mancini. Robinho missed a sitter as the ball was squared across goal but Petrov made no mistake. [LNB]3.20: GOAL! Darren Bent heads his 11th goal of the season to give the Black Cats a deserved lead.  Great forward play from Kenwynne Jones who held up the ball then swung in a cross which was met by Bent. [LNB] Heads in front: Bent puts the Black Cats into the lead against Everton[LNB]3.18: The hosts are dominating the game at Eastlands - Robinho, Tevez and Petrov and Ireland are shaping the match so far.[LNB]3.17: GOAL! David Nugent heads Burnley level with his first goal in two months.[LNB]3.12: Burnley should be level. Kevin McDonald's 20- yeard drive crashes against the woodwork and then just seconds later Matt Taylor almost double his tally for the day but his shot hit the crossbar.[LNB]3.09: Titus Bramble very nearly scored an own goal! Sliding in on McCarthy's cross, his connection saw the ball squirm just wide. [LNB]3.01: The games at Eastlands, Stadium of Light and the DW Stadium have kicked off. [LNB]3pm: Roberto Mancini receives a fantastic welcome as he is introduced to the home crowd - Craig Bellamy looks most dismayed to be on the bench. [LNB] Warm welcome: Mancini acknowledges the home crowd at Eastlands[LNB]2.59: More woe for Avram Grant as he watches his struggling team well outplayed by Gianfranco Zola's side - the Hammers move up to 17th, for now at least, Pompey remain rock-bottom. And Spurs were lucky to hold on to a point against Fulham -  the hosts had a number of great chances to take all three points at Craven Cottage. [LNB]2.53: FULL TIME - The games at Craven Cottage and Upton Park have ended. [LNB]2.49: GOAL! West Ham seal the three points as Radoslav Kovac's header  doubles the Hammers lead. [LNB]2.44: FULL TIME - Chelsea extend their lead at the top of the Premier League to five points, Birmingham continue their unbeaten run and remain seventh. A decent game despite the lack of goals. [LNB] Double team: Jerome holds off Ballack and Cole in the draw at St Andrews[LNB]2.41: There's six minutes added on to play at St Andrews and over at the Stadium of Light the teams are in ... Sunderland: Fulop, McCartney, Mensah, Da Silva, Bardsley,Malbranque, Cana,  Henderson, Reid, Bent, Jones. Subs: Carson,Nosworthy, Zenden, Campbell, Murphy, Meyler, Healy.Everton: Howard, Baines, Heitinga, Neill, Hibbert, Pienaar, Osman, Fellaini, Bilyaletdinov, Saha, Cahill. Subs: Nash, Vaughan, Neville, Yakubu, Coleman, Duffy, Baxter.[LNB]Referee: Martin Atkinson [LNB]2.37: RED CARD! Florent Malouda walks after his second booking - a horrible, poorly-timed challenge on Stephen Carr.[LNB]2.33: GOAL! Matt Taylor hammers a free-kick past Jensen to put Bolton in front in the North-West derby at Turf Moor. [LNB] You beauty: Taylor celebrates scoring the opener at Turf Moor[LNB]2.32: Roberto Mancini has announced his first side - Man City: Given, Zabaleta, Toure, Kompany, Sylvinho, De Jong, Barry, Robinho, Ireland, Petrov, Tevez. Subs: Taylor, Richards, Garrido, Vidal, Bellamy, Weiss, Boyata.Stoke: Sorensen, Wilkinson, Abdoulaye Faye, Collins, Higginbotham, Sanli, Whitehead, Diao, Whelan, Etherington, Sidibe. Subs: Simonsen, Huth, Lawrence, Beattie, Fuller, Pugh, Delap. [LNB]2.30: Gomes is called into action again at Craven Cottage - back peddling he paws away another Zomora header - the hosts are asking all the questions. [LNB]2.28: Here are the teams from the DW Stadium in the 3pm kick off -  Wigan: Kirkland, Melchiot, Bramble, Boyce, Figueroa, N'Zogbia, Scharner, Thomas, Gomez, Scotland, Rodallega. Subs: Kingson, Amaya, Cho, Sinclair, De Ridder, McCarthy, Bouaouzan.Blackburn: Robinson, Chimbonda, Samba, Nelsen, Givet, Salgado, Nzonzi, Andrews, Hoilett, McCarthy, Di Santo. Subs: Brown, Jacobsen, Roberts, Pedersen, Diouf, Kalinic, Jones.[LNB]Referee: Mark Clattenburg[LNB]2.25: Spurs are much more in the game after being totally dominated in the first half by Fulham but Gomes has been called into action again - saving Zamora's header. [LNB]2.22: Three chances in quick succession at St Andrews - Kalou wastes two fine opportunities and then Birmingham break with Cameron Jerome but a combination of Cech and Terry keep him out. 24 chances at goal in this game but no goals - as yet.[LNB]2.17: Some early team news from Eastlands ... Robinho starts but Emmanuel Adebayor doesn't even make the squad for the clash with Stoke. [LNB] Toppling giants: Lee Bowyer bundles over Florent Malouda at St Andrews[LNB]2.13: Daniel Sturridge has been replaced by Salomon Kalou - an industrious if unsuccessful start for the young striker. [LNB]2.10: Great save by Cech! Sebastian Larsson's free-kick from 25 yards looked to be curling into the top left corner but the Chelsea keeper pawed it round the post and then stays down for some treatment after he collided with the upright. [LNB]2.08: A patchy affair int he second half at St Andrews - neither side able to fashion a clearcut chance with just Ashley Cole's charged down effort worth a mention. [LNB]2.05: And the games at Craven Cottage and Upton Park have just restarted. [LNB]2pm: The game gets off and running between Burnley and Bolton.[LNB] Crumbling: Dempsey's drive heads goalwards past the Spurs wall[LNB]1.55: Team news from the clash at Turf Moor .... Burnley are without regular centre-backs Steven Caldwell and Clarke Carlisle against Bolton.[LNB]Both players are sidelined after suffering groin injuries during the defeat to Wolves.[LNB]Michael Duff has been recalled to the side and partners Andre Bikey at the back. David Nugent is also back in the team.[LNB]Bolton have made one change to the side that defeated West Ham with Chris Basham replacing Fabrice Muamba, who is suspended.[LNB]Burnley: Jensen, Mears, Duff, Bikey, Jordan, Elliott, McDonald, Alexander, Eagles, Nugent, Steven Fletcher. Subs: Penny, Kalvenes, Gudjonsson, Edgar, Blake, Thompson, Guerrero.Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Cahill, Knight, Robinson, Lee, Basham, Cohen, Taylor, Kevin Davies, Klasnic. Subs: Al Habsi, Samuel, Elmander, Gardner, Mark Davies, Ricketts, Andrew O'Brien.[LNB]Referee: Chris Foy [LNB]1.53: The game's back underway at St Andrews. [LNB]1.51: Plenty at stake for West Ham and Spurs - The East London club can move out of the drop zone and up into 15th with victory today and Tottnham can leap-frog Aston Villa and Arsenal to move into third. [LNB]1.47: It's half time in the games at Craven Cottage and Upton Park. [LNB]1.39: A lively affair between Birmingham and Chelsea - the hosts will feel aggrieved at having Benitez's goal struck off but in all honesty they are lucky to go level after a great amount of possession for the hosts brought a number of great chances. It's poised nicely for the second half. [LNB]1.33: Another chance for Chelsea - Malouda swings in a free-kick  that Belletti flicks on but Hart was well behind it. And then with the last kick of the half, Sturridge puts Drogba's cross wide from eight yards out. It's now half time at St Andrews. [LNB] Diamond strike: Diamanti hammers home the penalty at Upton Park[LNB]1.28: Alex hits the post. I've never seen the ball struck harder than that! From fully 35 yards he slams it against the crossbar, right above Hart's head. [LNB]1.23: GOAL! Alessandro Diamanti sends Begovic the wrong way from the penalty spot. A great start for the Hammers in a must-win match for both sides. [LNB] 1.20: Goal disallowed. Benitez taps in from two yards after Ridgewell's shot looked to be going wide but the linesman's flag went up - despite Ivanovic lying injured on the floor and playing him onside. [LNB]1.19: Fulham well on top in the clash with Spurs - three quick chances go begging. Zoltan Gera shoots wide, Heurelho Gomes saves Danny Murphy's shot and Chris Baird sends another header wide. [LNB] Spurred on: Jenas attempts to cut out Pantsil's pass at Craven Cottage[LNB]1.16: How did Lampard miss that? With no one around him, he hammered the ball straight at Joe Hart from 10 yards after breaking the offside trap.[LNB]1.11: What a save by Joe Hart! Ashley Cole broke into the box,  Dann's challenge sent the ball into Daniel Sturridge's path, his shot flew low to Hart's left but a strong hand kept it out. [LNB]1.06: It's been an entertaining opening 20 minutes between Birmingham and Chelsea - Lampard has just seen his drive from 25 yards fly well over the bar but the visitors are having much the better of the possession. [LNB]1pm: The games at Upton Park and Craven Cottage have just kicked off. [LNB]12.58: A lively start at St Andrews - Ivanovic has just sent a thundering header over the bar and then Benitez goes on a mazy run, skipping past four Chelsea players to win a free-kick yards out that cannons off the wall. [LNB] Blues battle: Benitez avoids the challenge of Mikel at St Andrews[LNB]12.50: To Craven Cottage now for the news ahead of the Fulham v Spurs London derby ... Tottenham will start with Robbie Keane alongside Peter Crouch in attack forthe clash at Fulham.[LNB]Jermain Defoe dropped to the bench to make way for club captain Keane, who has recently played second fiddle to the England marksman.[LNB]Ledley King and Luka Modric recovered from their respective hamstring and ankle injuries to secure inclusion among the substitutes.[LNB]Fulham were unchanged following their 3-0 win over Manchester United on Saturday but included Andy Johnson, back after a groin problem, on the bench.[LNB]Fulham: Schwarzer, Pantsil, Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky, Duff, Murphy, Baird, Gera, Dempsey, Zamora. Subs: Stockdale, Andrew Johnson, Nevland, Etuhu, Smalling, Greening, Kallio.Tottenham: Gomes, Corluka, Dawson, Bassong, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Jenas, Palacios, Kranjcar, Keane, Crouch. Subs: Alnwick, Bale, Huddlestone, Pavlyuchenko, Modric, Defoe, King[LNB]Referee: Steve Bennett[LNB]12.48: Great early chance for Cameron Jerome. Flighted ball over the top from Bowyer was picked up in the box by Jerome but his shot flew over. [LNB]12.45: The game is underway at St Andrews.[LNB] Lofty ambitions: Crouch's bagged two goals in the recent victory at Blackburn and starts again today at Fulham[LNB]12.40: The team news is in from the clash at Upton  Park ... West Ham defender James Tomkins came into the team for the clash against Portsmouth in place of Danny Gabbidon, who is out with a hamstring problem.[LNB]Valon Behrami is back on the bench following a knee injury for the clash between the two clubs who propped up the table at the start of the Christmas period.[LNB]David James is still out with a calf injury so Asmir Begovic continues in goal.[LNB]Avram Grant has called Hayden Mullins in to play against his former club, while Aruna Dindane is also recalled, with  Kevin-Prince Boateng and Hassan Yebda onthe bench. [LNB]West Ham: Green, Faubert, Tomkins, Upson, Ilunga, Collison, Kovac, Parker, Diamanti, Noble, Franco. Subs: Stech, Jimenez, Spector, Behrami, Da Costa, Nouble, Stanislas.[LNB]Portsmouth: Begovic, Finnan, Kaboul, Ben-Haim, Hreidarsson, O'Hara, Brown, Mullins, Belhadj, Piquionne, Dindane. Subs: Ashdown, Diop, Utaka, Boateng, Kanu, Yebda, Wilson.[LNB]Referee: Lee Probert[LNB] Spot on: Diamanti celebrates his successful penalty against Chelsea[LNB]12.35: The team news is in from St Andrews -  Carlo Ancelotti has handed Daniel Sturridge his first  start for the trip to Birmingham.[LNB]Sturridge - whose father Michael and uncle Simon are former Birmingham players - gets the nod in the absence of injured France striker Nicolas Anelka, while Brazilian centre-half Alex replaced Ricardo Carvalho, with the Portugal international among the league leaders' substitutes.[LNB]Birmingham are  unchanged for the seventh successive game, with Roger Johnson (knee) and Liam Ridgewell (ankle) recovering from minor knocks suffered in the1-1 draw at Everton last weekend.[LNB]Birmingham: Hart, Carr, Roger Johnson, Dann, Ridgewell, Larsson, Ferguson, Bowyer, McFadden, Jerome, Benitez. Subs: Maik Taylor, Phillips, Fahey, McSheffrey, Damien Johnson, Carsley, Vignal.[LNB]Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Terry, Alex, Ashley Cole, Belletti, Mikel, Malouda, Lampard, Drogba, Sturridge. Subs: Hilario, Carvalho, Joe Cole, Ballack, Zhirkov, Paulo Ferreira, Kalou.[LNB]Referee: Peter Walton [LNB] Main man: Lee Bowyer has been in fine scoring form for Birmingham this season[LNB]12.30: Good afternoon and welcome to Sportsmail's coverage of all the Boxing Day Premier League action. [LNB]Eight fixtures this afternoon as the nation shakes off it's festive slumber and gets stuck right back into the hustle of top-flight football. [LNB]We're kicking off the action today with Birmingham versus Chelsea from St Andrews - the league's top side against the form side  - it should be a (Christmas) cracker. Sorry.[LNB]There's action at both ends of the table with a crucial clash at the bottom of the table between West Ham and Portsmouth and we'll be keeping a keen eye on Roberto Mancini's first game in charge at Eastland as his side host Stoke City. [LNB] On his way: Drogba will be making his last appearance for Chelsea insome time today before he leaves for the Africa Cup of Nations[LNB] The rise and rise of Birmingham City: As good as it gets for Blues fansDes Kelly's Boxing Day quiz: Did John Terry's dad have snow this Christmas?Alex McLeish: 'Fergie put a stop to my move south... 25 years later, I'm so glad he did'Andy Townsend's Boot Room: What can City do with £14m turkey Toure? [LNB]  

Source: Daily_Mail