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Agence France-Presse

Christmas Premier League chart-toppers Liverpool are overwhelming favourites to see off struggling Leicester on Boxing Day, Thursday.
Meanwhile, both crisis-hit Manchester clubs will seek a festive fillip, with faltering champions City at home to Everton and United away to Wolves.
Second-placed Chelsea host Fulham while in-form Arsenal will fancy their chances against relegation-threatened Ipswich on Friday, even without the injured Bukayo Saka.
Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham, licking their wounds after a brutal 6-3 hammering at home by Liverpool, face a tough assignment at high-flying Nottingham Forest.
Here are some of the major talking points in the run-up to one of the busiest points of the English football season.

Nowhere to hide for the Foxes
Liverpool are top of the table on Christmas Day for the first time since the 2020/21 season and will want to make it count.
Just once in the past seven top-flight campaigns in which they have sat at the summit on December 25 have they gone on to win the title.
Arne Slot’s side returned to winning ways in style on Sunday, overwhelming Spurs following two frustrating draws.
They are four points clear of Chelsea with a game in hand. It would be a huge surprise if they slipped up against Leicester at home, especially with Mohamed Salah enjoying a purple patch.
The Egypt international is the first player in the history of the Premier League to reach double figures for both goals (15) and assists (11) before Christmas.
Leicester won their first match under new manager Ruud van Nistelrooy earlier this month but have collected just a single point in their past three matches, conceding nine goals.
The leaky Foxes have not won at Anfield since 2000 and are just two points clear of the drop zone after returning to the top flight this season.

Another Saka punch for resurgent Gunners
A buoyant Mikel Arteta said the Premier League title race was “on” after Arsenal swept Crystal Palace aside 5-1 on Saturday.
But one dark cloud was Saka limping off at Selhurst Park, with the England winger set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.
It is a blow for the Arsenal boss, depriving him of his most potent attacking weapon – Saka has scored nine goals and provided 13 assists in all competitions this season – just as Arsenal are finding their form again.
“It’s going to be a really good exercise for all of us to think about ways to overcome another challenge, because we’ve already had a lot in the season,” said Arteta, whose team are third in the Premier League table.
Arteta has a number of attacking options, with Gabriel Martinelli a candidate to fill the void, but Saka, 23, offers something unique.

Forest dreaming of miracles again
Nottingham Forest fans are dreaming of a return to the Champions League – more than 40 years after they last played in Europe’s premier club competition.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have won seven of their past 10 Premier League games to climb to fourth in the table ahead of their match against Tottenham on Thursday.
Forest have not won a major trophy since 1990 but they have a proud tradition in continental competition – with the Midlands club twice crowned European champions under former manager Brian Clough, in 1979 and 1980.
While Forest are not prolific scorers, they are impressive at the back – only Liverpool and Arsenal have conceded fewer goals in the English top flight this season.
Former Spurs boss Nuno is bracing himself for the unknown against his former club, who have built a reputation as great entertainers.
“You never know what’s going to happen in the game,” he said. “What we can see is good players, a lot of goals, also conceding goals.”
Fixtures
Thursday (1500 GMT unless stated): Manchester City v Everton (1230); Bournemouth v Crystal Palace, Chelsea v Fulham, Newcastle v Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest v Tottenham, Southampton v West Ham; Wolves v Manchester United (1730), Liverpool v Leicester (2000)
Friday: Brighton v Brentford (1930), Arsenal v Ipswich (2015)


English Premier League preview: Liverpool host Foxes, Arsenal prepare for life minus Saka

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Who is singer Anitta’s boyfriend? Vinicius Souza once played for Brazil’s top football team, is tight with Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr, and has played in the English Premier League

Fantasy Premier League: splash your Saka cash on Isak, or bet on Foden, City getting better

English Premier League

Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah (left), scoring his side’s fifth goal against Spurs, is the first player in EPL history to hit double figures in goals and assists before Christmas. Photo: Xinhua

Leicester under new manager Ruud van Nistelrooy have won just one point in their past three games. Photo: Reuters

Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka will be out for weeks after sustaining a hamstring injury against Crystal Palace. Photo: Reuters

Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels (right) clears the ball in their 2-0 win at Brentford on Saturday. Photo: AP

It took just 23 minutes of Arsenal’s game against Crystal Palace for Bukayo Saka’s Christmas plans to fall down around him. Photo: Reuters

Newcastle’s Alexander Isak is a good place to start when looking for a replacement for Bukayo Saka. Photo: DPA

Lar Hamer’s initial squad ahead of the start of Gameweek 18 on Thursday. Photo: Lars Hamer

Hong Kong footballer targets 2025 preseason return after ‘life-changing’ Australian surgery

Dominic Johns is now walking without the crutches that accompanied him for more than six months. Photo: HKFC

Johns’ HKFC teammates react after he suffered a serious injury against North District in May. Photo: HKFC 

Johns was named HKFC’s player of the year for 2023-24 after scoring five goals in 21 games. Photo: HKFC

Sport

Football

After returning to rampant form against Spurs last weekend, the league leaders will hope to finally capitalise on their position this season


After returning to rampant form against Spurs last weekend, the league leaders will hope to finally capitalise on their position this season.


Mohamed Salah

Christmas