Follow Apex Football’s live blog for coverage of this afternoon’s Premier League clashes, including Manchester United vs Newcastle, Aston Villa vs Chelsea, Leeds vs Arsenal and Southampton vs West Ham.
Leeds vs Arsenal
Bamford MISSES PENALTY!
Arsenal breath a huge sigh of relief as Bamford drags it wide from 12 yards out.
The Penalty was awarded after Saliba’s hand-ball.
FT: Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea
Mount fires brace to seal Potter’s 5th consecutive win
FT: Man Utd 0-0 Newcastle United
It finishes goalless at Old Trafford.
Howe’s comments in the weeks about Newcastle being the size of United one day look rather fitting now.
It was a very even game at Old Trafford. The visitors probably had the best chance of the game when Almiron hit the crossbar in the first half, but United piled on the pressure after the break.
Antony was brilliant on the right but was given no room to cut in and his crosses were dealt with well.
The result leaves United fifth and Newcastle sixth in the league, still seperated by one point.
Leeds vs Arsenal
HALF-TIME at Elland Road
The Gunners going into the break with the lead thanks to Bukayo Saka’s 35th minute powerful strike.
It’s been an enthralling encounter and Leeds have had chances of their own to get on the scoresheet.
Aston Villa vs Chelsea
65′ – GOAL! Mount Chelsea’s lead
What a free-kick that is!
Mount steps up from 30 yards or so and finds the top right corner. Martinez should be doing better there but the Chelsea midfielder will not care one bit.
Leeds vs Arsenal back underway!
35′ – GOAL! Saka puts Arsenal ahead
Just how did he get that in?
Rodrygo’s attempted switch is intercepted by Saka who finds Odegaard. The Norwegian returns the favour and Saka smashes it in from the tightest of angles.
Leeds vs Arsenal back underway!
After a long 38 minute delay, the match resumes with a Leeds throw
Aston Villa vs Chelsea
31′ – Incredible save by Kepa Arrizabalaga!!
It’s probably the best save you will see all weekend. Bailey delivers a superb cross and it’s headed by Ings, but the Chelsea goalkeeper denies him with a pointblank save.
Leeds vs Arsenal update
Referee Chris Kavanagh has come out with the ball and he bounces it on the line of one of the goals to check if the technology works.
A few players are out and going through warm ups.
Man Utd vs Newcastle
27′ CHANCE FOR RONALDO
Ronaldo makes a good run and is played in behind the defence.
He looks to lift the ball over the keeper but doesn’t quite it right and it goes over.
Aston Villa vs Chelsea
Quiet Villa Park
Mount’s early goal looks to have stunned the home crowd. You could almost hear a pen drop at Villa Park!
Chelsea are well on top and they are enjoying the lion share of possession.
Man Utd vs Newcastle
24′ CHANCE FOR NEWCASTLE
Trippier’s free kick hits the wall but it falls nicely for Joelinton, who volleys it against the crossbar.
He then hits the rebound goalwards and De Gea makes a good save.
The resulting corner is whipped into a good area but comes to nothing.
Man Utd vs Newcastle
23′ Newcastle free kick
Newcastle win a free kick in a dangerous area just outside the box.
Trippier stands over it.
Man Utd vs Newcastle
17′ Newcastle providing an aerial threat
The visitors have looked dangerous from headers in the box.
Something for United to watch out for.
Leeds vs Arsenal suspended
After a long seven-minute delay, the game is suspended as communication issues between the referees continue. It’s quiet bizarre situation.
Aston Villa vs Chelsea
6′ GOAL!!! – Mount gives Chelsea the lead
It’s a goal Mings will want to forget about. With the ball falling down from the sky, the Villa defender bizarrely heads it back towards his own goal and Mount is there to take advantage.
Man Utd vs Newcastle
6′ Schar looks hurt
Fabian Schar looks hurt after colliding with the advertising hoardings.
Newcastle are forced to defend a corner with ten men as re receives treatment.
The defender then rejoins play, he looks OK>
Leeds United vs Arsenal
3′ – Delay at Elland road
There’s a communication issue with VAR and the game is momentarily paused. Both managers are doing a team talk…
Man Utd vs Newcastle
3′ Chance for Fred
Bright move from United as Sancho comes forward down the left.
His initial cross is dangerous but can’t find anyone, but the ball eventually falls to Fred outside the box, who hits it wide.
First chance of the game.
Aston Villa vs Chelsea
2′ – Fast start by Villa
Ings delivers a cross that goes beyond Kepa’s grasp before being cleared away by Kovacic. It eventually comes out to Luiz, whose effort is easily held by the Chelsea keeper.
KICK OFF
All four games are now underway. We’re in for an intriguing afternoon to say the least…
Man Utd kick off comes after Sir Alex Ferguson presents awards to David De Gea and Cristiano Ronaldo. Two of his wiser investments.
United get things underway in this half.
500 Manchester United games for David De Gea
It’s been a rollercoaster for the Spanish goalkeeper.
He could play an important role this evening.
15 minutes to go
We’re closing in on kick off now in Manchester.
The players are starting to warm up.
Man Utd starting XI vs Newcastle
Ronaldo parts with Sancho in lead Man Utd starting XI as Rashford benched. Eriksen left out due to illness.
Ronaldo makes first Premier League start since August as Portuguese forward returns to Ten Hag’s XI .
Newcastle starting XI vs Man Utd
Bruno Guimaraes starts for Newcastle tonight after a stunning start to the season for the midfielder.
Howe said of him earlier this week: ‘We desperately want Bruno to be happy here, to enjoy his football and see a long term vision.
‘We want to build a team. We’re in the very early stages of that so we don’t want to disrupt the group we have, we want to add quality – that’s the aim.’
Chelsea team news
Graham Potter makes three changes from the last outing against AC Milan.
Cucurella, Loftus-Cheek and Havertz replace James, Jorginho and Koulibaly.
Leeds team news
Luis Sinisterra returns from his one-match suspension and he replaces Patrick Bamford.
Southampton team news
Stuart Armstrong and Ibrahima Diallo make way for Mohamed Elyounoussi and Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
Arsenal team news
Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel, Granit Xhaka, Thomas Partey, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Aaron Ramsdale all return to the starting line-up after being rested in the Europa League victory over Bodo/Glimt.
The big man starts
Cristiano Ronaldo starts this afternoon after scoring his 700th club goal in his last Premier League outing.
He made a stirring homecoming against Newcastle a year ago.
‘All successful teams have strong home records’
Erik ten Hag: ‘All successful teams have very strong home records and we absolutely have to build that at Old Trafford.
‘Already this season we’ve produced impressive displays against Liverpool and Arsenal to get important victories.
‘Visiting teams know they will be in for tough 90 mins.’
Reece James’ injury
One man who will not feature for the Blues this afternoon is Reece James, who is set to be sidelined for eight weeks after picking up a knee injury in the win over AC Milan.
FA staff are understood to have queried why the defender was allowed to stay in Milan given the potentially serious nature of the injury…
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