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Martin Rickett
AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Manchester United v Bournemouth & Liverpool v West Brom, Premier League

There were seven games in England’s top flight tonight, with leaders Manchester City away to Swansea.

IT’S THE MOST wonderful time of the year — that three-week period in December when we’re spoiled with an abundance of Premier League football.

Just the seven matches scheduled for this wintry Wednesday evening. We’ll focus on Manchester United’s home game with Bournemouth as well as West Brom’s trip to Anfield, while also keeping you up-to-date on the scores elsewhere.

PL fixtures

There’s a rare start for Ireland winger James McClean tonight. It’s only the third time this season that the Derry native is named in the Baggies starting XI for a Premier League match.

A huge opportunity to impress new manager Alan Pardew then.

West Bromwich Albion v Watford - Premier League - The Hawthorns EMPICS Sport EMPICS Sport

The three 7.45pm kick-offs have just got going, so just 15 minutes to go until our feature matches start.

Jurgen Klopp says he has started Loris Karius ahead of Simon Mignolet because the Belgian goalkeeper is carrying a knock.

GOAL! Riyad Mahrez is the first scorer of the night. The Algerian puts Leicester City 1-0 ahead against Southampton after 10 minutes with a beautiful long-distance effort.

Kick-off – We’re now off and running the evening’s remaining games, including the meetings at Old Trafford and Anfield.

United attack early through youngster Scott McTominay, who finds Juan Mata but the half-chance comes to nothing. The rain is pouring down in Manchester.

Mata is playing in behind Lukaku and the Spaniard has been attempting to get forward and support the striker as much as possible during these opening minutes.

It’s been all Liverpool at Anfield with Wijnaldum finding Mane in a dangerous position early on, but the Senegalese attacker is ruled out for offside. No real opportunities to report yet.

GOAL! The leaders Man City are in front away to Swansea. David Silva was on target against Man United on Sunday, and he’s got another tonight.

GOAL! Wayne Rooney puts Everton ahead at St James’ Park — poking home after a bad mistake from Newcastle goalkeeper Ken Darlow to make it 1-0.

GOAL! Leicester 2-0 up on Southampton. Shinji Okazaki doubles the Foxes’ advantage after a goal-line clearance from Fraser Forster.

Martial clips a ball to the back post after a good run. It’s over the head of Lukaku and Mata can’t reach it either.

Former United youngster Josh King then runs through on goal but Phones makes the vital block.

GOAL! Kevin De Bruyne has arguably been the player of the season so far, and he has added a second for Man City at the Liberty Stadium.

SAVED! David De Gea has been called into action in recent minutes — First keeping out Charlie Daniels, before punching clear a Dan Gosling strike moments later.

At Anfield, Mane and Salah combine to create a chance for Firmino but the Brazilian can’t find the target.

GOAL! Manchester United 1-0 Bournemouth (Romelu Lukaku) 

The home side are ahead. Mata’s cross finds Lukaku and he heads home. He’s been quiet so far but that goal will ease the pressure somewhat.

GOAL! Andy King has made it 3-0 to Leicester City. Southampton need to regroup at half-time or they could be on the end of a drubbing.

Bournemouth’s Simon Francis swings wildly and puts the ball way over after it falls to his left foot from a corner.

Half-time scores in the 7.45pm matches:

ht 13 dec

Liverpool have been lucky as Hal Robson-Kanu hit the crossbar a few minutes ago. Coutinho has had a shot at Ben Foster’s goal down the other end.

GOAL! Tottenham lead Brighton through Serge Aurier’s first-ever Premier League goal. His cross has somehow found its way into the back of the net.

Ireland’s Harry Arter has already been in the wars at Old Trafford and Lukaku has just been booked for catching the midfielder with a late challenge.

The half-time whistle goes at Anfield and the Baggies will be delighted with how the first 45 minutes have gone. They’ve been extremely organised and Liverpool are having trouble breaking them down at the moment.

Half-time: De Gea is forced to make a save from Fraser before the sides head for the tunnel at the break.

At the interval in the 8pm matches, it’s as follows:

ht Dec 13

GOAL! David Silva, with his second of the night, makes it Swansea 0-3 Man City on 53 minutes. That appears to be done and dusted already.

Liverpool v West Bromwich Albion - Premier League - Anfield Firmino came closest for Liverpool in the first half. Peter Byrne Peter Byrne

Second half – Back underway at Old Trafford and Anfield now.

GOAL! Southampton have pulled a goal back against Leicester. Yoshida makes it 3-1 with a half hour left to play.

West Brom have been having some joy with corners early in the second half with Karius being kept busy at the moment — keeping out Yacob’s header before Hegazi misses the target.

GOAL! Southampton 1-4 Leicester. Okazaki with a second just as it looked like the Saints might have been about to stage a comeback.

WHAT A MISS! United really should be 2-0 after this latest opportunity. Begovic saves from Lukaku but the ball falls as far as Martial, who can only side-foot over with the goal gaping.

Ben Foster, what are you playing at? A cross from Mane sees the Baggies keeper try to  punch away. He makes a hames of it, then spills the ball on the second attempt but Evans comes to his team-mate’s rescue to hack away.

GOAL! Sergio Aguero gets in on the act at the Liberty Stadium to make it 4-0. This game pitted the leaders against the club sitting rock bottom, and that has been pretty evident.

OFF THE BAR! Rashford has absolutely rattled Begovic’s goal with a terrific strike from 25 yards out.

It’s all over at the Liberty Stadium, where Man City have put four unanswered goals past lowly Swansea. They look unstoppable right now.

Full-time at St James’ Park, where Wayne Rooney’s goal has proved decisive for Everton. Jonjo Shelvey picked up a late red card for Newcastle in that one.

GOAL DISALLOWED! Dominic Solanke appears to put Liverpool ahead but West Brom have been given a free-kick for handball. Lucky escape for the Baggies.

GOAL! Spurs wrap up three points against Brighton with a second goal late on. It’s Son with his fourth in as many games.

Bournemouth still pushing for an equaliser at Old Trafford. Francis takes advantage of Young finding himself out of position. A cross is directed towards Afobe and King, but the former can’t make sufficient connection.

Chance in injury-time for Lukaku, but it strikes a Bournemouth body and runs out for a corner.

At the London Stadium, it has ended 0-0 between West Ham and Arsenal. That’s another decent result for David Moyes.

Full-time: Liverpool 0-0 West Brom — that’s a frustrating night for the Reds.

Full-time: Manchester United 1-0 Bournemouth – They were under pressure in the closing stages, but the home side hold out to claim a win.

All tonight’s scores:

PL ft 13 Dec

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