Premier League 2016/17

[Just Joe]

36 minutes ago, Colly said:

I used to work with a few Hull fans, one of them unapologetically had their walkout music as his phone ringtone which at the time was 'that music off the Apprentice' (sorry) with someone reading William Blake's 'The Tyger' in a pseudo scary voice over the top. I'll be honest, I was actually surprised that they rejected the name change.

Dance of The Knights, Prokofiev....They knicked it off us, Philistines. 

[Colly]

Do you still walk out to the worst Futureheads single?

[Nerf]

Klopp and Hendo have won Manager/Goal of the Month. Now we just need Lallana for POTM and clean sweep!

[Lineker]

Son for Player of the Month too - the first Asian player to ever win it apparently!

[DavidMarrio]

Can't argue against Son winning it. He was outstanding last month.  

[Whisper]

Fingers crossed that the Manager of the Month curse does its stuff on Monday.

[Lineker]

The Premier League have announced a slew of fixture changes in December and January to facilitate live TV coverage, with Southampton perhaps the biggest losers. Claude Puel’s team are to play three times in six days on account of their Boxing Day fixture with Tottenham being moved to 28 December. They also host West Bromwich Albion on New Year’s Eve before travelling to face Everton on 2 January.

Spurs’ other two games have been put back. They will now play Watford away on 1 January and host Chelsea on 4 January.

Jürgen Klopp has aired his grievances over the alterations, saying it is unacceptable for Liverpool to play against Manchester City and Sunderland with only one day of rest between. City’s visit to Anfield on New Year’s Eve has been moved to a 5.30pm kick-off with their 2 January trip to Sunderland remaining unchanged.

“We have less than 48 hours between our game against Man City on December 31 and in Sunderland on the 2nd,” Klopp said. “Forty-eight hours is an interesting idea but less than 48 hours I cannot believe. I learn more and more about this league and maybe I have to ask someone if we can ask if there will be another time for us at Sunderland.

“Our job is to do everything we can to win games. I understand tradition - I would never say Boxing Day is not a good idea as I love it and I have absolutely no problem. But now having a match day with two days between, there should be another possibility. I don’t know why we play Monday. Is January 2 a special day in England?”

Liverpool are also off on 26 December – the home game with Stoke has been pushed back a day, starting at 5.15pm. Their trip across Stanley Park a week earlier has been moved from Saturday 17 December to Monday 19, kicking off at 8pm.

Arsenal have had six matches changed and the champions, Leicester, will be shown on four occasions during the two months. Five West Ham fixtures have been moved, including the home games against both Manchester clubs and their visit to Anfield on 11 December.

Fixture amendments (all times are GMT)

Saturday 3 December Manchester City v Chelsea (12.30pm, Sky), West Ham United v Arsenal (5.30pm, BT)

Sunday 4 December Bournemouth v Liverpool (1.30pm, Sky), Everton v Manchester United (4pm, Sky)

Monday 5 December Middlesbrough v Hull City (8pm, Sky)

Saturday 10 December Watford v Everton (12.30pm, Sky), Leicester City v Manchester City (5.30pm, BT)

Sunday 11 December Chelsea v West Bromwich Albion (12pm, BT), Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur (2.15pm, Sky), Liverpool v West Ham United (4.30pm, Sky)

Tuesday 13 December Everton v Arsenal (7.45pm, BT)

Wednesday 14 December Sunderland v Chelsea, West Ham United v Burnley (both 7.45pm), Crystal Palace v Manchester United (8pm, BT)

Saturday 17 December Crystal Palace v Chelsea (12.30pm, Sky), West Bromwich Albion v Manchester United (5.30pm, BT)

Sunday 18 December Bournemouth v Southampton (1.30pm, Sky), Manchester City v Arsenal (4pm, Sky)

Monday 19 December Everton v Liverpool (8pm, Sky)

Monday 26 December Watford v Crystal Palace (12.30pm , Sky), Hull City v Manchester City (5.15pm, Sky)

Tuesday 27 December Liverpool v Stoke City (5.15pm, Sky)

Wednesday 28 December Southampton v Tottenham Hotspur (7.45pm, Sky)

Friday 30 December Hull City v Everton (8pm, Sky)

Saturday 31 December Liverpool v Manchester City (5.30pm, BT)

Sunday 1 January Watford v Tottenham Hotspur (1.30pm, Sky), Arsenal v Crystal Palace (4pm, Sky)

Monday 2 January Middlesbrough v Leicester City (12.30pm, Sky), West Ham United v Manchester United (5.15pm, Sky Sports)

Tuesday 3 January Bournemouth v Arsenal (7.45pm Sky), Crystal Palace v Swansea City, Stoke v Watford (both 8pm)

Wednesday 4 January Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea (8pm, Sky)

Saturday 14 January Tottenham Hotspur v West Bromwich Albion (12.30pm, Sky), Leicester City v Chelsea (5.30pm, BT)

Sunday 15 January Everton v Manchester City (1.30pm, Sky), Manchester United v Liverpool (4pm, Sky)

Saturday 21 January Liverpool v Swansea City (12.30pm, BT Sport), Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur (5.30pm, BT)

Sunday 22 January Arsenal v Burnley (1.30pm, Sky), Chelsea v Hull City (4pm, Sky)

Monday 23 January Southampton v Leicester City (8pm, Sky)

Tuesday 31 January Liverpool v Chelsea (8pm, BT)

Wednesday 1 February West Ham United v Manchester City (7.45pm, BT)

[DavidMarrio]

I hate how it seems every year we play Stoke over Christmas.  

Bloody Stoke....

[TCO]

Those Boxing day games are shite, New Years eve is tasty though!

[Lineker]

American Football uniforms designed for football teams

@Meacon

[Meacon Keaton]

Benfica, Celtic, Leicester City, and Spurs helmets are awesome looking.

I'd like Man City's too, if it wasn't Man City's.  

[Lineker]

4 minutes ago, Meacon said:

Benfica, Celtic, Leicester City, and Spurs helmets are awesome looking.

I'd like Man City's too, if it wasn't Man City's.  

Did you click on the arrows to view the jerseys, also?

[TCO]

Helmets are quality but jerseys are terrible. Football jerseys don't have sponsors and have big numbers, poor effort!

[Gazz]

6 hours ago, TCO said:

Those Boxing day games are shite, New Years eve is tasty though!

I'm literally salivating at the prospect of the colossus of Watford versus the titans of Crystal Palace!

[Colly]

I feel like @Little Red Srarvette would enjoy the Atletico Madrid helmet for reasons.

[Baddar]

Line-ups

Chelsea

• 13Courtois
• 28Azpilicueta
• 30David Luiz
• 24Cahill
• 15Moses
• 7Kanté
• 21Matic
• 3Alonso
• 11Pedro
• 19Diego Costa
• 10Hazard

Substitutes

• 1Begovic
• 14Loftus-Cheek
• 23Batshuayi
• 26Terry
• 29Chalobah
• 34Aina
• 41Solanke

Leicester

• 1Schmeichel
• 2Hernández
• 5Morgan
• 6Huth
• 28Fuchs
• 11Albrighton
• 4Drinkwater
• 13Amartey
• 15Schlupp
• 7Musa
• 9Vardy

Substitutes

• 10King
• 17Simpson
• 19Slimani
• 21Zieler
• 22Gray
• 23Ulloa
• 26Mahrez

Referee:

Andre Marriner

[stokeriño]

I asume by the listed order that's supposed to be a 3-4-3 for Chelsea? Erp.

At least I'm at the Bridge today...nearly wasn't because until 10:30am I thought for some stupid reason that this match was tomorrow!  

[Baddar]

Yeah, it's 3-4-3. Conte just said in the pre match interview. 

[stokeriño]

I'm sure this will end well with no defensive cock-ups whatsoever. Yessir.

[Baddar]

You'll be fine today. At least you'd better be. Chelsea are part of my 4 team acca in which Cardiff have already won their match.