Weekend's Football Roundup: The Reds versus Brighton, Chelsea v The Toffees along with More Action

Up-to-the-Minute Game News

Good day from the capital, a place where the sunshine is indeed beaming, though by the time we're at the interval, dusk will be falling. Talking of which, can there be a positive farewell for Mohamed Salah? And, that doesn't have to be a departure forever, of course. The player, like many others will be heading to the Africa Cup of Nations, regardless of what happens. We are waiting for the team news from Liverpool's game with Brighton.

Here are today's 15:00 UK time matches.

  • Chelsea v Everton
  • Liverpool v Brighton

There is also a full schedule of EFL action, too.

Confirmed Starting Lineups

Stamford Bridge versus The Merseyside Blues

Chelsea Lineup: Sanchez, Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella, James, Fernandez, Pedro Neto, Palmer, Garnacho, Joao Pedro.

Chelsea Bench: Jorgensen, Adarabioyo, Badiashile, Bynoe-Gittens, Santos, Hato, Acheampong, Guiu, Estevao.

Everton Starting XI: Pickford, O’Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko, Garner, Gueye, Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall, Grealish, Barry.

Everton Substitutes: Travers, Patterson, McNeil, Beto, Dibling, Alcaraz, Aznou, Iroegbunam, Campbell.

Game Referee: Thomas Bramall.

Liverpool versus Brighton

Liverpool Starting XI: Alisson, Gomez, Konate, van Dijk, Kerkez, Gravenberch, Jones, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Wirtz, Ekitike.

Liverpool Substitutes: Mamardashvili, Isak, Salah, Chiesa, Robertson, Ramsay, Ngumoha, Lucky.

Brighton Lineup: Verbruggen, Wieffer, van Hecke, Dunk, Kadioglu, Baleba, Hinshelwood, Minteh, Gruda, Gomez, Rutter.

Brighton Bench: Steele, Welbeck, Kostoulas, Milner, Boscagli, Mitoma, Ayari, De Cuyper, Veltman.

Game Official: Craig Pawson.

The Egyptian forward starting from the substitutes for the Reds. So is Alexander Isak. More selection details is imminent but it appears like Florian Wirtz supporting Ekitike in attack.

Early EFL Roundup

Significant scoreline in League Two, where it's a local derby of Bristol Rovers v Swindon; the M4 derby. Swindon are leading 3-0.

In the second tier, three early kick-offs at the break:

  • Norwich 0-0 Southampton
  • Oxford 0-1 Preston
  • Stoke 1-0 Swansea

League One Scores:

  • Huddersfield 1-0 Wigan
  • Wimbledon 0-0 Mansfield

League Two Updates:

  • Bristol Rovers 0-3 Swindon
  • Salford 1-1 Colchester

Later Goals have come through, and it's now Huddersfield 1-1 Wigan, Oxford 1-2 Preston, Salford 1-2 Colchester, Norwich 1-1 Southampton. At Norwich, whose equaliser came from Jovon Makama, Southampton failed to convert a first-half penalty and have now drawn level through Ryan Manning.

Norwich have gone back in front, the decisive strike coming from Jovon Makama, his second of the game.

Additional Soccer News

News from Spain, where Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso said Kylian Mbappe is fit to play on Sunday against Alaves. Mbappe missed the Champions League defeat by Manchester City. Alonso confirmed, "We've got Kylian back, he's ready to play, and tomorrow we'll see and decide on his involvement." Real Madrid are without several injured players including Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dani Carvajal and Eduardo Camavinga.

On that Bristol Rovers v Swindon game, one fan reported: "Hi. Bristol Rovers 0 Swindon 3 doesn't tell the half of it. Ten League defeats in a row incoming, which is one club record. Five home losses in a row is another club record... It's not much fun being a Gashead these days." For Swindon, Aaron Drinan has joined Rovers' Kacper Lopata in being shown a red card.

Complete Afternoon Match List

EFL Championship 15:00 kick-offs

  • Birmingham v. Charlton
  • Coventry v. Bristol City
  • Leicester v. Ipswich
  • Middlesbrough v. QPR
  • Millwall v. Hull
  • Portsmouth v. Blackburn
  • Wrexham v. Watford

League One 15:00 fixtures

  • Barnsley v. Leyton Orient
  • Blackpool v. Lincoln City
  • Bolton v. Exeter
  • Bradford v. Reading
  • Burton Albion v. Wycombe
  • Cardiff v. Doncaster
  • Luton v. Port Vale
  • Peterborough v. Northampton
  • Plymouth v. Rotherham
  • Stockport County v. Stevenage

League Two 3pm fixtures

  • Accrington Stanley v. Bromley
  • Cheltenham v. Harrogate Town
  • Chesterfield v. Barnet
  • Crawley Town v. Oldham
  • Gillingham v. Barrow
  • Grimsby v. Notts County
  • Milton Keynes Dons v. Cambridge Utd
  • Newport County v. Fleetwood Town
  • Tranmere v. Crewe
  • Walsall v. Shrewsbury

Only two games in the Scottish top flight, as well.

  • Dundee Utd v. Motherwell
  • Livingston v. Dundee
Erin Ross
Erin Ross

A film critic and historian with over a decade of experience analyzing global cinema, focusing on narrative techniques and cultural impact.