BOURNEMOUTH smashed Newcastle with Justin Kluivert scoring a brilliant hat-trick in the first game of the day.
The standout 3pm match sees Premier League leaders Liverpool head to the capital to take on Brentford.
There are two other games with West Ham facing Crystal Palace and Leicester hosting Fulham.
Later, Arsenal go head-to-head with Aston Villa in this weekend’s blockbuster clash.
- Kick off times: 12.30pm/3pm/5.30pm GMT
48 – GOAL!! Leicester 0-1 FULHAM
EMILE SMITH ROWE opens the scoring after a couple of minutes of the second half!
48 – GOAL!! West Ham 0-1 CRYSTAL PALACE
The first goal in the 3pm games and it’s JEAN-PHILIPPE MATETA!
Second half!
Back under way then for the second 45 minutes.
These six teams have left us waiting for some goal action but there’s going to be PLENTY coming in this second half.
My prediction: 7 goals will arrive across the three games.
Just nothing
Dean Henderson would be as well sitting watching this beside me.
The Fabianski save from Mateta was a fantastic one but in truth not much else outwith that, particularly the Hammers not forcing a save yet.
It has to be better after the break, right?
Graham Hill at the King Power
Ruud van Nistelrooy will be pleased to go into the break on level terms. Leicester have threatened on occasions, but it will only need one lapse at the back and Fulham will be in control.
Victor Kristiansen should have done better after carving out space but slicing his shot wide.
Fulham went close through Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey before the break. But if Leicester want to stop the rot, they need to find the net – something they have struggled with recently.
Dan King at the Gtech Community Stadium
It’s nervy one, this, now.
The home fans are getting restless because of the number of chances their team is giving up and the sense that Liverpool will surely score at some point.
But the longer the visitors dominate without breaking the deadlock, the more their own fears, and those of their supporters will grow, that it is going to be another one of those days.
The Reds had nine corners in the half but have not made any of them count like they did at Forest last Tuesday night.
Half time scores
The three Premier League scores at half time:
Brentford 0-0 Liverpool
Leicester 0-0 Fulham
West Ham vs Crystal Palace
HALF TIME! Leicester 0-0 Fulham
And it’s a copy and paste job. Fulham dominant at the break but chances at either end. No goals.
HALF TIME! Brentford 0-0 Liverpool
Liverpool knocking at the door but as of yet unable to break it down.
Goalless at the Gtech.
HALF TIME! West Ham 0-0 Crystal Palace
Not too much to discuss there.
Chances amiss
Chris Sutton tells BBC Radio 5 Live: “Liverpool cannot keep passing up opportunities like they are. Brilliant work, devastating on the counter.
“Mark Flekken does brilliant to narrow the angle but Cody Gakpo’s effort is tame and weak.
“How many chances are Liverpool going to waste?”
39 – Brentford 0-0 Liverpool
Gakpo is picked out excellently by Salah as Liverpool counter.
Flekken rushes off his line and Gakpo manages to get it past him – using his heel it looks like – but it just rolls harmlessly wide.
Let-off for the Bees.
On top?
How is this game still goalless?
Liverpool with eight corners and 12 shots on goal after just less than 40 minutes on the clock. Just the three of those on target, though.
They’ve had the bulk of the possession too but Brentford look really dangerous going forward.
35 – Brentford 0-0 Liverpool
SZOBOSZLAI HITS THE BAR!
What a hit and what a stunning goal this would’ve been.
Szoboszlai allowed to take his time to line it up, take a couple of touches to set himself 25 yards from goal, on the right of centre and he smashes a shot which beats Flekken but flicks the crossbar on the way by and away over to safety.
So close to a bit of magic
Jack Rosser at the London Stadium
It is freezing at the London Stadium and the football has done nothing to distract anyone from that fact.
The play and atmosphere are both flat as anything. West Ham again are moving the ball with a bit more pace than they did under Julen Lopetegui.
But with just Mohammed Kudus and Lucas Paqueta as they’re attacking options chances are hard to come by.
Dan King at the Gtech Community Stadium
A strangely subdued atmosphere at the Gtech. It’s been a decent game, though.
The duel between Bryan Mbeumo and Kostas Tsimikas is going to be crucial. The Greek picked up an early booking for tugging back Brentford’s main man and now the home side are trying to isolate him against Mbeumo as often as possible.
Liverpool are lacking authority at both ends of the pitch with Luis Diaz fluffing a chance. The first goal is very important in this one.
Graham Hill at the King Power
It’s looking even between the sides at the moment, but you can sense Fulham know Leicester have a fragile defence and can always concede.
Jamie Vardy caused some early problems for Fulham. The 38-year-old showed he still has a devastating turn of pace and his cross into the box almost forced former Foxes defender Timothy Castagne to put through his own goal – only a Bernd Leno save spared his blushes.
Fulham look a threat going forward and Harry Wilson set up Emile Smith-Rowe who curled his shot just wide.
26 – West Ham 0-0 Crystal Palace
Michael Dawson told Soccer Saturday: “Yeah pretty dull, nil-nil.”
That’s him being kind…
22 – West Ham 0-0 Crystal Palace
Just a couple of shots at goal from either side as they’ve cancelled each other out at present.
Mateta gets in down the right and forces a very good save from Fabianski who pushes it away at full stretch.
Edson Alvarez then tries his luck from distance but can’t beat a cluster of players in front of him.
That Damsgaard miss…
A picture never really does the game justice, admittedly.
But the video footage is even worse than this miss looks still. Not entirely sure how they’re not in front, Brentford.
Premier League latest scores
Around 18 minutes in across the top flight…
Brentford 0-0 Liverpool
Leicester 0-0 Fulham
West Ham vs Crystal Palace
4 – Brentford 0-0 Liverpool
WHAT A CHANCE for Damsgaard!
Liverpool started strongly and had a corner inside 90 seconds which came to nothing – but they should be behind.
Roerslev slides a terrific ball across goal and Damsgaard looks to have a tap-in, into an empty net, but just misses it altogether!
The view at the King Power Stadium of Graham Hill
It’s a huge game for Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy as he looks to avoid a SEVENTH straight league defeat.
Ironically, a Foxes win would take them out of the bottom three due to their rivals’ recent struggles.
Leicester fans have been taking out their frustrations on director of football Jon Rudkin, so it’ll be interesting to see which direction that heads.
There is no place for new signing Woyo Coulibaly who signed from Parma in midweek – but the paperwork to allow the French full-back to play here was not completed in time for him to have enough training sessions.
Fulham will look to bounce back after their 3-2 defeat at West Ham.
The view of SunSport’s Jack Rosser watching West Ham vs Crystal Palace at the London Stadium
Graham Potter made a fantastic start to life at the London Stadium with a thrilling win over Fulham in his first home game in charge on Tuesday night.
The new Hammers boss would certainly like things to be a little easier than that 3-2 win, and has moved to a back three to try and match up Crystal Palace.
Given how thin they are up top, Lucas Paqueta’s form will be key. He was impressive in midweek but has struggled for consistency for far too long now.
KICK-OFF!
No better time in the week than 3pm on a Saturday!
And the three Premier League games are all under way. All the talking points to come….
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
