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Match reports
Time to sign off; I’ll leave with you with our match reports from tonight’s action. Ta-ra then.
Key events
David Moyes gives his verdict: “You can definitely see over the years that the financial situation has played its part on the pitch and that’s the outcome. All the supporters are aware of that.
“There was very little in the game, they had a couple of chances which we were fortunate with. We needed a better control of the game, a better level of possession. We didn’t deliver at set pieces and we had six or seven corners and a good chance at the end.
On transfer window plans, he added: “I think it’s really important if we can add some of that quality and give the players a little lift as well. The crowd were good but I can sense them saying: we’ve seen a lot of this before, we need to see something else.”
Match reports
Time to sign off; I’ll leave with you with our match reports from tonight’s action. Ta-ra then.
Premier League table
Arsenal go second, Newcastle are up to fourth and Aston Villa move level on points with Manchester City. At the other end, it was a good night for Ipswich – and Manchester United slip into the bottom six.
Full time: Arsenal 2-1 Tottenham
All over at the Emirates! Pedro Porro hit the outside of the post in stoppage time, but Arsenal hold off a late Spurs charge to win the derby and move four points behind Liverpool.
At Ibrox, Leon Balogun has added a second in stoppage time for Rangers – they lead Aberdeen 2-0, and cut the gap to leaders Celtic to … 13 points.
Bundesliga results: Bayern Munich 5-0 Hoffenheim, Bochum 1-0 St Pauli, Stuttgart 2-1 Leipzig, Union Berlin 0-2 Augsburg, Werder Bremen 3-3 Heidenheim. Serie A result: Inter 2-2 Bologna.
In the Coupe de France, fifth-tier Espaly had pegged PSG back at 2-2, but Bradley Barcola has struck in the 88th minute to spare the visitors’ blushes. In the Copa del Rey, Atlético lead Elche 3-0, and Barcelona are 5-1 up at home to Betis.
Blackburn 3-0 Portsmouth: Three second-half goals lift Rovers to fifth in the Championship, while Portsmouth slip to second-bottom, behind Hull on goal difference.
Eddie Howe has Newcastle firmly in the top-four picture, but he tells TNT Sports the club are “not actively pursuing anyone” in the January transfer window. “It’s more a case of keeping what we have,” he adds.
Here’s what Unai Emery made of tonight’s victory…
“We competed very well, the match was very tight – we were better in the first half, controlled the game more. But we got the goal in the second half. One thing we have to improve is confidence away [from home], today’s result and clean sheet, is confidence for everybody.”
“In terms of the squad, I don’t think Palace are notably better than the five teams below them in the table but what keeps them from being pulled under is that their game plan is crystal clear,” writes Kári Tulinius. “The same can’t be said of the Foxes.”
Full time! Newcastle 3-0 Wolves
It’s FOG ON THE NINE for Newcastle … er, nine straight wins in all competitions – thanks to another two goals for Alexander Isak, who has now scored in eight consecutive league games. Isak set up Anthony Gordon for the hosts’ third as Wolves offered an attacking threat, but were exposed defensively.
Arsenal are still leading Spurs 2-1 – follow that one with Scott Murray:
Full time! Leicester 0-2 Crystal Palace
Boos around the King Power as the hosts suffer their sixth straight league defeat. Jean-Philippe Mateta broke the deadlock early in the second half, before Marc Guehi’s volley sealed the deal for Palace.
Sarr almost adds a third for Palace, but his shot is pushed away at the near post. Four minutes of five added have been played …
Full time! Everton 0-1 Aston Villa
All over at Goodison Park, where Ollie Watkins’ second-half strike was enough to earn Villa victory and spoil David Moyes’ homecoming. Everton struggled to make chances – but Dominic Calvert-Lewin passed up a golden opportunity to level in stoppage time.
Eight minutes of stoppage time at Newcastle, where Wolves are still pushing – but still 3-0 down. No signs of a comeback at Leicester, either, with Palace two goals up and cruising.
Huge chance for Everton! Just as time appears to be up, Lindstrom picks out Calvert-Lewin with a cross – but the forward fires over the bar from six yards out! The ball was bouncing, but he would have backed himself to score there.
Calvert-Lewin almost hooks a cross under his control, before Orel Mangala’s deflected shot is claimed by Martínez. Villa’s Boubacar Kamara is named man of the match.
Four minutes of added time at Goodison, where Villa still lead 1-0. In the Championship, Blackburn have hit the afterburners and lead Portsmouth 3-0; making up for events in the Women’s FA Cup, where Pompey have beaten Rovers 3-1.
I keep getting distracted by events elsewhere, but Everton are still huffing and puffing in search of an equaliser. Plenty of fight and endeavour, but still no cutting edge. Beto has come on for Doucoure, but time is running out.
Wolves hit the post! Larsen steers his shot past Dubravka but against the far upright. Newcastle will be deserving winners but the visitors could have made this a closer contest.
Bologna have levelled at Inter, where it’s now 2-2. Stuttgart lead Leipzig 2-1, while Bayern Munich now lead Hoffenheim 5-0, Serge Gnabry their latest scorer.
No goal! Wolves get one back from a corner, Santiago Bueno bundling home and trotting back to the centre-circle, ball under his arm … ah, no. It’s been disallowed for handball, which looks a fair call, if a little harsh on the away fans.
GOAL! Leicester 0-2 Crystal Palace (Guehi 77′)
Game over at the King Power, thanks to a lovely free kick routine. Eze scoops the ball over the Leicester defence and Marc Guehi is there to smash it home with his left foot! Finish.
GOAL! Newcastle 3-0 Wolves (Gordon 74′)
Isak turns provider with a cross for the unmarked Anthony Gordon to tap home – although VAR intervenes, with Isak potentially offside in the buildup. Nope, the green line appears, and the goal stands!
A big upset to report in the Coupe de France, where fifth-tier Bourgoin Jallieu have beaten Lyon on penalties. Mon dieu! PSG are kicking off the second-half against Espaly, where it’s still 1-1.
Everton are turning up the pressure, too, creating a crowd of bodies at a corner, before Branthwaite sees his close-range shot blocked. In the Championship, Blackburn lead Portsmouth on the hour mark – Makhtar Gueye the man to break the deadlock.
Leicester hit the bar! Soumaré goes close with a strange shot that bounces down into the ground and loops up onto the bar, with Henderson watching on. Moments later, Vardy blasts wide from a near-impossible angle.
Ever since Villa scored it’s been a scrappy affair at Goodison, with Everton increasingly irate about refereeing decisions. The key problem remains the same – they’re not scoring enough (or, in this instance, any) goals.
Leicester have offered very little going forward since half-time and Van Nistelrooy has seen enough, sending on Patson Daka, Ollie Skipp and Kasey McAteer in a triple change. Wolves have had their moments against Newcastle, and Cunha fires over the bar from a tight angle after racing downfield on the break.
Jakub Stolarczyk keeps Leicester in the game, denying Mitchell with a fine save. It’s half time at Ibrox, where Rangers still lead Aberdeen 1-0 – and at the Emirates, where Arsenal lead Spurs 2-1.
More uproar at Goodison Park where, from an Everton corner, Calvert-Lewin and substitute Lindstrom are both levered off the ball by Villa defenders – but there’s nothing doing. The first incident looked more problematic, Tielemans wrapping an arm around DCL’s shoulder.
GOAL! Newcastle 2-0 Wolves (Isak 57′)
And another! This one is definitely Isak’s goal, as the red-hot forward is played in by Bruno Guimaraes, helped by Wolves’ utterly ragged offside trap. He takes a touch and blasts the ball past Jose Sa!
Palace and Mateta almost make it two, but the striker can’t stick a boot on an excellent low cross from Daniel Muñoz. In the Bundesliga, Sané has his second and Bayern lead Hoffenheim 4-0, while Stuttgart have pegged back Leipzig at home.
A Gabriel special has Arsenal level against Spurs … and as I type, Leandro Trossard has fired the Gunners in front! Ange, mate.
Tempers are fraying at Goodison Park, with Gueye booked for a heavy challenge before Onana stops an Everton break with an arm on the shoulder. The hosts think that warrants a second yellow, and they might have a case. Pickford is booked for dissent in the aftermath.
GOAL! Leicester 0-1 Crystal Palace (Mateta 51′)
Palace take the lead! Leicester are caught napping in midfield and Sarr threads a lovely pass through to Mateta, who nicks the ball around the keeper and tucks it into the empty net.
Cunha has come on for Wolves and tests Dubravka with a snap shot at his near post. José Sá appears to be struggling with something after a brief jaunt upfield, but is carrying on for now.
GOAL! Everton 0-1 Aston Villa (Watkins 51′)
Villa could be about to poop David Moyes’ party. This was a very straightforward goal, Morgan Rogers pouncing on a loose ball and playing in Ollie Watkins, who steers the ball past an out-of-position Pickford.
In the Copa del Rey, Barcelona lead Betis 2-0 after half an hour; Gavi and Jules Koundé with the goals. In the Coupe de France, PSG went a goal down at fifth-tier Espaly – but Warren Zaire-Emery has just levelled for the Ligue 1 leaders.
A lively start at Everton as Jacob Ramsey flashes a shot wide of goal, before Calvert-Lewin goes down under a challenge in the area, only to be waved back to his feet by the referee.
Half-time in the Championship, where it’s Blackburn 0-0 Portsmouth. Sigh! In Serie A, it’s Inter 2-1 Bologna at the break.
Peep!
Back under way at Goodison and close to a restart at St James’ Park, where it looks like Matheus Cunha is coming on for Wolves.
A goal at the Emirates … for Tottenham! Son Heung-min has given Ange’s lads the lead.
Ben Fisher
Some Aston Villa transfer news for you …
Aston Villa are confident of signing Loic Bade from Sevilla. The 24-year-old defender, who received a France call-up in September but is yet to make his senior international debut, would bolster Unai Emery’s back line and represent another early-window boost.
Villa stepped up their efforts to buy a centre-half after Pau Torres sustained a metatarsal injury, which is expected to sideline the Spaniard until March. Villa plan to offload Diego Carlos, who has interest from Turkish clubs, providing they can seal a deal for Bade. Jaden Philogene is also expected to depart after the signing of Donyell Malen from Borussia Dortmund this week.
Meanwhile, Villa forward Louie Barry, prolific on loan at Stockport County during the first half of the season, is the subject of strong interest from Celtic. Championship clubs are also pursuing a deal for the 21-year-old, who could sign a new contract before departing on loan.
At Ibrox, Rangers lead Aberdeen 1-0, Hamza Igamane netting the opener after 13 minutes.
Half time: Leicester 0-0 Crystal Palace
Jamie Vardy has gone closest in a game that is very much goalless.
Half time: Newcastle 1-0 Wolves
At St James’ Park, Isak gets back to deny Hwang with a slightly risky shoulder charge in the area. At the other end, a Tonali shot pinballs beyond the post – and that’s half time, Isak’s deflected strike the difference.
Half time: Everton 0-0 Aston Villa
Everyone in the stadium thinks Jacob Ramsey has scored for Villa on the stroke of half-time, but his goalbound effort somehow ends up wide of the post. It’s goalless at the break.
Everton are getting some joy by pressing the Villa back line, and they win the ball high up the pitch again here. It’s worked to Calvert-Lewin, who takes it down and flicks the ball beyond Martínez … but Kamara is on hand to clear off the line!
Oof! Wolves have been second-best, but could easily have been level here as Larsen, unmarked in the area, drags his shot wide of the far post. Newcastle respond quickly, Joelinton sending an effort zipping over the bar.
Palace have a free kick out wide which Eze whips in, but Leicester deal with it and Vardy almost breaks clear at the other end. Fancy a Serie A update? It’s Inter 1-1 Bologna after 25 minutes.
Villa respond, with Kamara testing Pickford from the edge of the area. “After reading your post about Glasner I realised I couldn’t think what he looked like,” writes Nathan Fisher. “So I googled him and I swear I’ve never seen that man before. Is there some Nineteen Eighty-Four style sleight of hand going on here?”
The best chance yet for Everton as Doucoure meets Mykolenko’s pass, but his toe-poked shot is straight at Martinez. It stays goalless here and at Leicester, where James Justin has sent a free kick high and wide of goal.