BBC Radio 5 live

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There's still time to cram in 38 minutes of insightful, illuminating and illustrative punditry before the ball drops on the new year's eve action.

Stream or download the BBC Radio 5 live Football Daily Podcast here.

Among other things, former England defender Danny Mills tells us why Pep Guardiola will get it right at Manchester City.

Mark Lawrenson
Former Liverpool defender on Football Focus

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Since Ashley Williams left for Everton, Swansea have struggled.

I get that they got good money for him considering his age, but he was their dressing room, their personality.

Looking at the managers who are being discussed, I would take Gary Rowett in a heartbeat. It looks like Swansea will get relegated – if they do, who better to bring them back up?

Mark Lawrenson
Former Liverpool defender on Football Focus

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In his position with his ability, Ross Barkley should dominate far more games. He isn't consistent enough.

I think he will become a good player eventually, but it has to be sooner rather than later.

Trevor Sinclair
Ex-Man City & West Ham winger on Football Focus

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I have no idea why Henrikh Mkhitaryan hasn't been playing since the start of the season. With him in the United team I'd expect them to set on fire. 

Zlatan Ibrahimovic spearheads the United attack, the player the team looks towards. After a whole Jose has alighted on the right formation and approach. Things are finally settling into place.

Mark Lawrenson
Former Liverpool defender on Football Focus

This team of Manchester United over the last six to eight weeks is completely divorced and different from what came before.  

I think Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s set off a chain reaction, with space for Paul Pogba, Michael Carrick, Zlatan Ibrahimovic up-front. They look a completely different side.

Do you know what I like with Ibrahimovic? When he plays with the younger players and they play a bad ball, he never criticises. He has been excellent with the younger players.

Carrick passes the ball to you where you want it, not where he wants to pass it.

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That old chestnut of teams not getting the results their performances deserve?

As Jennifer Aniston says, "here comes the science bit".

Football analysts Gracenote, external have looked at which teams have more and less points than the you would expect based on the volume and quality of chances created and conceded.

Chelsea have made the most of their opportunities with 15 more points than you might expect - the best of any Premier League team.

Burnley have punched 10 points above their weight.

Southampton meanwhile are eight points light of what you would expect.

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Leaders Doncaster Rovers start today’s League Two programme at 12:15 GMT with the relatively short trip to Mansfield Town. Second-placed Plymouth Argyle, only behind Rovers due to goal difference, host Crawley Town at 15:00 GMT while a win for Carlisle United at struggling Notts County could see the Cumbrians go top if other results go their way.

At the other end of the table, bottom club Newport County will close the gap on Cheltenham Town if they come away from Exeter City with a win. 

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A bonus round of Premier League games means a bonus Lawro's predictions. This week the former Oxford manager takes on El-P and Killer Mike, aka American hip-hop duo Run The Jewels.

Check it out here.

And have a go at making your own predictions here.

Football Focus

And the Football Focus engine has roared into life.

Dan Walker is joined by Trevor Sinclair and Mark Lawrenson.

You can watch at the top of this page.

Middlesbrough defender Fabio da Silva and twin brother Rafael - now at Lyon - recall fond memories of playing for Manchester United before Boro's trip to Old Trafford on Saturday.

Watch more from the Da Silva brothers on Football Focus, Saturday 31 December from 12:00 GMT on BBC One, the BBC Sport website and app.

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Imagine being in a WhatsApp group with your boss...weird right?

But what if your boss was Jurgen Klopp? Loosen those banter brakes and let the emojis roll.

The Times reports, external today that Liverpool's German manager keeps in touch with his players on international duty via the app, but has hired physio David Gallery to travel to the Africa Cup of Nations with Sadio Mane such is the Senegalese's importance to his side.

The Times also has an interview with Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet in which he speaks about his rivalry with team-mate Loris Karius.

“There is no hatred. No, no. It is not Loris’s fault that I was not playing and it is not my fault that Loris is not playing at this time," he said.

“OK, so we are not going to be like I am with my brother but it is not like I take his chicken kebab off his plate when he is not looking.”

Quite.

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And we're not the only ones trying to shuffle the decks of every Premier League team.

The Guardian, external are among the other outlets to try and predict who will be where come the end of January - Wilfried Zaha to Tottenham anyone?

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Chelsea? Man City? Everton? None of the above?

Southampton's big man Virgil van Dijk is in big demand, with a host of clubs chasing the central defender.

But will he leave?

We've taken a look at every Premier League team and worked how who they need and who they might get shot of in January.

Big Van Dijk features heavily.

Read more here.

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Join the debate via #bbcfootball on social media or on the BBC Sport Facebook page.

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A morning-after tip-of-the-hat to Brighton, who delivered food intended for fans to a homeless hostel in the city after last night's match against Cardiff was called off less than two hours before kick-off.

"Exact quantities were not available but they will have been substantial and included items such as burgers and hot dogs," reports the Argus., external

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Manchester United have "not received one single offer they are going to accept" for one of their players, boss Jose Mourinho says.

West Brom have bid £15m for midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin, who wants to leave. Everton are interested in the midfielder and forward Memphis Depay.

The United boss said goalkeeper Sam Johnstone would be allowed to leave on loan for the remainder of the season, with Villa understood to want the 23-year-old.

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Choo-choo, Chinese Super League.

After Carlos Tevez and Oscar headed East for mega-money moves, it seems the perennial gossip-column botherer Axel Witsel is next to follow.

The 27-year-old Belgian midfielder's contract expires at Zenit St Petersburg in June and he was expected to head to Italian champions Juventus for £5.1m in January.

However, according to reports in Italy, external, he has now been swayed by offers of £295,000-a-week wages from Shanghai SIPG and Tianjin Quanjian.

Zenit are happy bunnies as they will pick up a fee of £17m.

Makky Hall: I can't see anyone else winning it to be honest. No European distraction. Doubt they will bother with the FA Cup as the league is far more valuable.

Tom Dodds: Would be rubbish if they won. Boring style and team.

Franky Babel: As a Liverpool fan I think Chelsea will win it, they look the part and Costa is a beast of a player.  

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The last day of 2016 sees six games in the Championship, which is headed by Newcastle following their 3-1 win over Nottingham Forest on Friday night. The Magpies took advantage of second-placed Brighton’s home game against Cardiff being called off due to fog, while Reading v Fulham was abandoned at half-time for the same reason.

Today’s games could see a reshuffle in the play-off places with Huddersfield, in fifth, hosting relegation-threatened Blackburn at 12.30 GMT. Sheffield Wednesday, one below Huddersfield, are at Preston while Derby will be hoping that a win over Wigan at home may move them into the top six if anyone above slips up.

Barnsley v Birmingham and Wolves v QPR are also on at 15:00 GMT, and the day’s Championship fixtures conclude with Brentford hosting Norwich at 17:30 GMT.