Key events
Real Madrid are at Rayo Vallecano in a local derby, while Barca travel to Celta Vigo.
Villarreal lost to Cyprus’s Pafos this week, but their win at Espanyol on Saturday saw them leapfrog Barcelona.
If you want a title race, look at Serie A. Atalanta v Sassuolo kicks off at 11.30 UK time but then Napoli go to Bologna, Roma host Udinese and then, in the evening game, it’s Inter v Lazio.
Barney Ronay reminded us on Saturday that we probably need to talk about Sudan.
Here’s the Premier League as it stands. City or Liverpool can go second by winning. Bournemouth can go second if that game at the Etihad is a draw. Crystal Palace can go top five if they beat Brighton in that famed rivalry that nobody else understands.
Politics corner, via the BBC.
The culture secretary has apologised for breaking rules by failing to declare she had received donations from the man she picked to be England’s new football regulator.
On Thursday, the commissioner for public appointments published a report, external which found that David Kogan had made two separate donations of £1,450 to Lisa Nandy, when she was running to be Labour leader in 2020.
Speaking to the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Nandy said: “We didn’t meet the highest standards – that is on me.”
The Conservatives have said Nandy’s actions were “a serious breach of public trust” and called for a further investigation into Sir Keir Starmer, who also received donations from Mr Kogan.
Keep the comments coming in. There’s quite a few vacancies out there – Norwich, Celtic, Southampton, Boro with Wolves’ new boss expected to be confirmed.
Rob Edwards will reclaim his crown as the Premier League’s best looking man of a certain age.
I heard yesterday that Middlesbrough head coach Rob Edwards ‘can talk to wolves,’ which is pretty cool. Made me wonder what other managers might have undocumented superpowers.
If I had to guess, I’d say David Moyes shoots lasers out of his eyes and Mikel Arteta can transform into a VW Beetle.
Everyone love’s a quiz, right? Today’s teaser on the app is a toughie, and I set the question…
David Hytner spoke to Thomas Tuchel’s right-hand man.
“Everything starts with a dream … But I’m a believer that obsession can move mountains, as well. You have the dream but then you bring it down: ‘How do we do it, day-by-day, step-by-step?’ We dream about winning the World Cup. But dreams won’t get it done. We have to build a methodical process that allows us to have the best chance.”
Saturday’s European action; Bayern stopped in their tracks, and a goalless Turin derby.
Championship news:
Eight home losses did for Liam Manning at Norwich. City have been off the ball, to say the least.
Will Unwin got to sit down with Liverpool’s hottest striker.
What other guidance has Slot offered Ekitiké? “Obviously keep my shirt on,” he says with a smile. “I would say he’s on my back, but not for a bad thing. He just wants to help me, so I don’t take that badly. He wants me to give more and more. Maybe sometimes you feel like it’s a little bit too much and you want to complain. It’s a good thing because I think if a coach doesn’t like you, he will not speak to you or not try to get the best of you.”
Important story from Suzanne Wrack.
Jonathan Wilson has previewed Sunday’s big game; it’s not a title decider, more an eliminator.
Never before, not even in the four years when he had Lionel Messi in his side at Barcelona, has Guardiola focused his play so much on one player. After overhauling his squad since January, everything is geared to creating chances for Erling Haalandwho has scored a preposterous 27 goals in 17 games for club and country this season.
City’s leading scorer in the league this season after Haaland is Maxime Estève, who scored two own goals in City’s 5-1 win over Burnley in September. Once Guardiola would demand his side played 15 or 20 passes to deal with a potential counter before launching an attack; now everything is about trying to play Haaland in quickly behind the opposing defensive line.
It’s looking grim for Fulham at the moment. Everton are having an Everton season, sat in 11th.
Another win for West Ham, but more rebellion among the fans.
Wolves may have a new manager soon, and Rob Edwards has a job on his hands.
The day began with late drama at Tottenham.
Let’s begin the review of Saturday’s action with Arsenal’s late slip at Sunderland.
Premier League fixtures today:
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Crystal Palace v Brighton
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Aston Villa v Bournemouth
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Brentford v Newcastle
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Nottingham Forest v Leeds
Preamble
Good morning, football. A busy day awaits, and one of the blue – and red – riband fixtures of the season as Manchester City welcome Liverpool for Pep Guardiola’s 1000th game in management. All that, and a review of Saturday’s action. There’s talk the title race might be back on.
Join me.
