Summary

  1. A chink of title race light?published at 07:52 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December

    FT: Newcastle 3-3 Liverpool

    While Liverpool continue to rack up goals and points, they did drop two last night in Newcastle through that late Fabian Schar goal.

    It is the first time since October 27, when they drew 2-2 at Arsenal, that Liverpool failed to win a match in all competitions.

  2. Poll: Which top four side do you prefer to watch?published at 07:49 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December

    As you eagle-eyed readers may have seen, we are running a poll at the top of this live page today, asking which of the current Premier League top four sides you enjoy watching most.

    Is it Liverpool's steamrollering style under Arne Slot? Arsenal's set piece mastery? Chelsea's high scoring? Or are Manchester City your champions?

    Take your pick and we'll reveal the results later today.

  3. Pass-master Trent makes historypublished at 07:45 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December

    FT: Newcastle 3-3 Liverpool

    Trent Alexander-Arnold recorded his 61st Premier League assist last night, the most in the competition's history for a player who plays primarily as a defender.

    The Liverpool vice-captain came off the bench to set up both Mohamed Salah goals, thus taking him top of the assist charts - ahead of team mate Andy Robertson.

    According to Opta, since his first Premier League appearance for the Reds on 14 December 2016, Alexander-Arnold has made more assists and created more chances than any other defender.

    Trent Alexander-ArnoldImage source, Getty Images
  4. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 07:42 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December

    #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    I think the Liverpool result emphasises a theory that Liverpool have been lucky with when they've played the big teams like Madrid, Chelsea, City and Arsenal this season. None of those teams were in form. However, play against an in-form Forest and a re-emerging Newcastle, and the results start to falter. This isn't over yet.

    Dave

    This is why Caoimhin Kelleher is not number one.

    Jed, Cyprus

  5. How much do Liverpool need Salah?published at 07:37 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December

    FT: Newcastle 3-3 Liverpool

    Based on both his form and career stats for Liverpool, the answer is quite a lot.

    Since joining the Reds in 2017, Salah has never failed to score fewer than 18 goals in a Premier League season and 23 in a campaign across all competitions. He already has 13 goals in 14 league games this season, and 15 in 21 across 2024-25.

    He has won eight major trophies with the club, including their only Premier League title and the Champions League in 2019.

    Salah was the quickest Liverpool player in history to reach 50 goals for the club, and the fastest to score 100 top-flight league goals for them. He is also their all-time top Champions League scorer.

  6. Salah tops scoring chartspublished at 07:34 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December

    FT: Newcastle 3-3 Liverpool

    His two goals last night mean Mo Salah is now the Premier League top scorer so far in the 2024-25 season.

    He is now on 13 league goals, moving ahead of Erling Haaland who has 12. That duo has a gap to Chris Wood and Cole Palmer, in joint third place with nine goals.

    Salah has ended a Premier League season as top scorer three times - on his own in 2017-18 with 32 goals, then joint-winner with Sadio Mane and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in 2018-19, and with Son Heung-min in 2021-22.

  7. Liverpool 'expecting' Salah to continuepublished at 07:29 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December

    FT: Newcastle 3-3 Liverpool

    Liverpool boss Arne Slot says the club expect Mohamed Salah to "continue for a long time" after his stunning performance in the 3-3 draw at Newcastle.

    Salah, 32, is out of contract at Anfield at the end of the season and said last week he was "disappointed" by the club's failure to offer him a new one.

    The Egyptian again highlighted his worth at Newcastle, creating Liverpool's opener for Curtis Jones and then scoring twice before Fabian Schar's late equaliser.

    Slot told Amazon Prime: "Every time we need Mo Salah he scores a goal. We are hoping and expecting he can continue this for a long time. He was outstanding in the second half, he did many special things for us."

    Mo SalahImage source, Getty Images
  8. 'Best game of the season'published at 07:25 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December

    FT: Newcastle 3-3 Liverpool

    It was described as one of the best games of the season as Premier League leaders Liverpool drew 3-3 with Newcastle in an enthralling match at St James' Park.

    The Reds twice trailed and then led thanks to a double from the ever-reliable Mohamed Salah, and looked set to extend their winning run in the league to five games.

    But Fabian Schar's 90th-minute equaliser earned Newcastle a deserved point at the end of an exhausting encounter.

    "One of the best [games] I've seen this season," said former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin on BBC Radio 5 Live at full-time.

    "We have seen it ebb and flow. Both sides will be happy with the point in the end."

    But they will not be the only sides happy with the draw, with Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City - second, third and fourth respectively - all picking up wins on Wednesday. Fifth-placed Brighton, meanwhile, play Fulham on Thursday.

    It means Liverpool's lead is cut from nine points to seven at the start of a busy December that could see things change dramatically at the top of the table.

  9. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 07:21 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December

    #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    As ever, we would love to hear from you about everything football-related. Get in touch today using the details above.

  10. 'Kell's bells'published at 07:16 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December

    The Daily Star

    Finally, the Daily Star feature a picture of dejected looking Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher from their draw at Newcastle.

    Kelleher missed the 89th minute cross which allowed Fabian Schar to turn home Newcastle's late equaliser at St. James' Park.

    Star 51224Image source, Star
  11. 'Capital gains'published at 07:10 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December

    The Daily Mail

    The Daily Mail have used the same picture as the Telegraph on their back page, leading on Arsenal and Chelsea winning last night to close the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool.

    Chelsea won 5-1 at Southampton, as Liverpool were held to a 3-3 draw at Newcastle.

    Mail 51224Image source, Daily Mail
  12. 'United ditched LGBT jacket'published at 07:05 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December

    The Daily Telegraph

    The Daily Telegraph have double Manchester United on their back page. The image is of William Saliba, who scored one of the goals as Arsenal beat United 2-0 at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night.

    The story is about United abandoning plans to wear a jacket supporting the LGBTQ+ community before Sunday's win over Everton because a player refused to wear it.

    The Athletic, external said defender Noussair Mazraoui declined to take part in the initiative, citing his Muslim faith.

    Telegraph 51224Image source, Telegraph
  13. 'Back with a bang'published at 07:00 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December

    The I

    The i lead on Manchester City winning for the first time in seven games as they beat Nottingham Forest 3-0 last night.

    The Premier League champions picked up the comfortable win last night after a run of six losses and a 3-3 draw with Feyenoord, a game where they also led by three goals.

    i 51224Image source, i
  14. Good morning!published at 06:58 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December

    Welcome to Thursday's football news live text, it's good to have you with us.

    We'll have all the reaction to last night's Premier League action to kick us off, starting with the morning headlines...