WITH ANOTHER CHRISTMAS done and dusted, it’s time to partake in that age old St Stephen’s Day tradition of putting the feet up for an afternoon of Premier League football and turkey sambos.
Today’s games in the English top flight have already begun with Sam Allardyce making his return to the game as Crystal Palace boss for their trip to Watford. That one is all-square at 1-1 heading into injury-time.
Manchester City are away to Hull City in the late game, while there are six 3pm kick-offs including Sunderland’s visit to Old Trafford:
We’ve got team news and it looks like Wayne Rooney has been given the day off by Jose Mourinho as a precaution.
Manchester United: De Gea; Valencia, Jones, Rojo, Blind; Carrick, Herrera, Pogba; Mata, Lingard, Ibrahimovic.
Sunderland: Pickford; Jones, Djilobodji, Kone, Van Aanholt; Denayer, Ndong; Borini, Larsson, Anichebe; Defoe
Over at Vicarage Road, Palace and Watford has ended 1-1.
The teams are on their way out. Will former United boss David Moyes be able to get one over on his old club? Unlikely. The Black Cats are 18th in the table, but they come into the fixture on the back of a 1-0 victory over Watford.
The Red Devils, currently sixth, are on a three-match winning streak.
KICK-OFF – We’re off and running. The home side are in their usual red, white and black. Sunderland, meanwhile, are wearing all white.
United enjoying all of the ball in the opening five minutes and, after a patient build-up, Paul Pogba drills the ball across Jordan Pickford’s goal mouth from a narrow angle.
The Sunderland goalkeeper does enough but they then gift their opponents possession back before Marcos Rojo blasts over.
Sunderland striker Victor Anichebe is currently receiving treatment after a clash with Phil Jones.
Chances at both ends to report. A super pass from Pogba sends Valencia away down the right, and the full-back crosses to the front post where Djilobodji heads away.
Pickford then finds Defoe and the former England striker rifles an effort just wide of De Gea’s goal.
GOAL! At the Liberty Stadium, Andre Ayew has scored for West Ham against his former club Swansea. That’s the only goal of the 3pms so far.
SAVE! Van Aanholt forces De Gea into a good stop.
Moments later, United attack and Mata goes down after a coming together with Kone. No penalty and rightly so.
GOAL! League leaders Chelsea are ahead against Bournemouth thanks to a well-placed curling strike from Pedro.
POST! Pogba exchanges a one-two with Lingard and clips the upright with a shot that takes a slight deflection off Seb Larsson.
BIG CHANCE FOR SUNDERLAND – Blind doesn’t deal with a ball into United’s box and Anichebe’s weak shot is blocked by De Gea. Borini follows up but completely fluffs his lines.
Let-off for the home side.
Pogba with two efforts. First, the Frenchman’s long distance attempt is comfortable for Pickford after he had begun the attack with a strong run.
The world’s most expensive footballer then volleys over.
GOAL! Manchester United 1-0 Sunderland (Daley Blind)
United are in front. Ibrahimovic finds the run of Blind and the Dutchman, playing at left full-back today, drills the ball into the bottom corner.
PICKFORD’S A BUSY MAN – The Sunderland stopper has to keep Pogba out again after good improvisation sees the midfielder receive a pass from Ibrahimovic and flick the ball up before volleying at goal.
Minutes later, Pickford gets down well to prevent Mata’s free-kick creeping in.
Half-time: Manchester United 1-0 Sunderland
Daley Blind’s goal separates the sides at the break.
Half-time scores around the grounds:
SECOND HALF – No changes on either side and Man United will shoot into the Stretford End for this 45 minutes.
GOALS! Eden Hazard doubles Chelsea’s advantage against Bournemouth, while a Winston Reid header means West Ham lead Swansea 2-0.
Good play from United. Zlatan breaks out wide right but his pass to Pogba is behind him. Herrera eventually gets a shot off but it’s well wide.
GOAL! Everton are in front away to Leicester City — Kevin Mirallas with the goal.
YELLOW CARD – Borino picks up a booking after fouling Herrera.
SUBSTITUTION – A big cheer goes around Old Trafford as Henrikh Mkhitaryan replaces Lingard.
Mkhitaryan immediately involved. The substitute collects a pass from Mata and curls his shot the wrong side of the post.
ANOTHER PICKFORD SAVE – This time it’s with his outstretched foot from an Ibrahimovic shot. The Black Cats number one is having a fine game.
ANOTHER CHANGE – Mata is leaving the field with Anthony Martial on in his place.
GOAL! It looks like West Ham are about to wrap up three points. Michail Antonio has put them 3-0 up on Swansea.
GOAL! Manchester United 2-0 Sunderland (Zlatan Ibrahimovic)
It was coming. N’Dong gifts the ball to United, Pogba slots in Ibrahimovic and the Swede picks his spot.
GOAL! Manchester United 3-0 Sunderland (Henrikh Mkhitaryan)
Wow. That’s an outrageous finish! Ibrahimovic’s cross is behind Mkhitaryan and the substitute flicks a backheel beyond Pickford on the volley.
GOAL! Manchester United 3-1 Sunderland (Fabio Borini)
GOALS! Romelu Lukaka makes it 2-0 to Everton against Leicester and Pedro grabs his second for Chelsea, who are now 3-0 to the good at home to Bournemouth.
Full-time: Manchester United 3-1 Sunderland
All today’s Premier League results so far:
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