Summary

  • Benteke scores Palace's first away goal of season

  • Belgian sets Zaha up for second, sub Sako adds late third

  • Ndidi sent off for diving in the box on his birthday

  1. The title is wrapped uppublished at 12:26 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2017

    Man City v Tottenham (17:30 GMT)

    Mark Lawrenson
    Former Liverpool defender on Football Focus

    I don't think anyone will challenge Man City this season, the title has gone, that ship has sailed. So, Man United are battling for second, third and fourth now - with Chelsea, Spurs and Liverpool.

  2. A red hot atmosphere in a very cold stadium?published at 12:25 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2017

    Leicester v Crystal Palace (12:30 GMT)

    Gary Flintoff
    BBC Radio 5 live at King Power Stadium

    King Power StadiumImage source, BBC Sport

    This is the view from the 5 live commentary box at the King Power Stadium. It is a very cold day in Leicestershire. It was only one degree Celcius when I drove into the car park this morning. Three hours later it has only warmed up by one degree! Leicester fans usually create a great atmosphere at the King Power and Palace supporters are renowned for their noise levels. Let us hope they have a lot to shout about from 12:30 GMT. You can listen live on 5 live and the BBC Sport website and app.

  3. Fabulous Puelpublished at 12:23 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2017

    Leicester v Crystal Palace (12:30 GMT)

    Leicester manager Claude PuelImage source, PA

    Since Claude Puel took charge of Leicester City for the first time on 29 October, only Manchester City (21) and Burnley (18) have won more points in the Premier League than the Foxes (17).

  4. A Blue Christmas for Leicester?published at 12:19 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2017

    Leicester v Crystal Palace (12:30 GMT)

    Gary Flintoff
    BBC Radio 5 live at King Power Stadium

    Christmas treeImage source, BBC Sport

    Leicester City bid to make it 20 points from nine games under Claude Puel this afternoon. There is a festive feel at the King Power following impressive away wins at Newcastle and Southampton. Or could this be the day that Crystal Palace score their first goal away from home in the Premier League this season? And who is on penalty duty for Palace with Luka Milivojevic suspended?

  5. Counteringpublished at 12:17 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2017

    Leicester v Crystal Palace (12:30 GMT)

    Crystal Palace

    Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson: "We know how much of a threat Leicester will pose for us today.

    "It is a case of us doing our job of defending well and making sure we profit when we do win the ball and hurt them on the counter attack."

  6. Can do betterpublished at 12:16 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2017

    Leicester v Crystal Palace (12:30 GMT)

    Leicester City

    Leicester manager Claude Puel: "We have had some good results, but we still have some aspects to correct.

    "We must try to continue to improve today against a good team."

  7. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 12:15 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2017

    #bbcfootball, 81111 (UK only), MOTD Facebook page

    Hughes was sacked by QPR, less than halfway through the season. He didn't take them down at all.

    Rob, Newbury

    They were bottom of the table when they got rid of him...

  8. Pep has improved Sterlingpublished at 12:13 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2017

    Man City v Tottenham (12:30 GMT)

    Leon Osman
    Former Everton midfielder on Football Focus

    Raheem Sterling has grown in confidence under Pep Guardiola. When he went to Man City he was still trying to develop and he was a bit in awe of the rest of their squad, I think. But this season it looks like he's been prepared to step up and take more responsibility.

  9. Postpublished at 12:11 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2017

    Leicester v Crystal Palace (12:30 GMT)

    Crystal Palace are unbeaten in six games under manager Roy Hodgson and the former England boss took a peep at his players in the warm-up at the King Power Stadium.

    Crystal Palace manager Roy HodgsonImage source, LCFC Snapchat
  10. Battle of the elder statesmen?published at 12:08 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2017

    Leicester v Burnley (15:00 GMT)

    Gary Flintoff
    BBC Radio 5 live at King Power Stadium

    Leicester v Palace scarvesImage source, BBC Sport

    Leicester City and Crystal Palace are on the up after an uninspiring start to the season. Claude Puel and Roy Hodgson have turned round the fortunes of Leicester and Palace respectively. Seeing their faces side by side on the way to ground I cannot help but think that in another life both men could have been diplomats as opposed to football managers. Although it might be suggested football management is not that different to working for the diplomatic corps.

  11. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 12:06 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2017

    #bbcfootball, 81111 (UK only), MOTD Facebook page

    Mark Hughes forgetting when he resigned QPR to relegation

    Jeremiah, Exeter

    GOOD point.

  12. Tune inpublished at 12:01 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2017

    Football Focus

    Your regular serving of Football Focus is under way now on BBC One and at the top of this page.

    It's a Merseyside derby all over again in the studio.

    Former Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson and midfielder Paul Ince are alongside ex-Everton midfielder Leon Osman.

    Dan Walker has a job on his hands to keep them apart.

  13. Not for lack of tryingpublished at 11:58 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2017

    Watford v Huddersfield (15:00 GMT)

    Huddersfield winger Tom Ince has attempted a Premier League-high 40 shots without scoring this season.

    40 shotsImage source, .
  14. 'Dyche is British, that's why he's not getting bigger job'published at 11:56 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2017

    Brighton v Burnley (15:00 GMT)

    Ray Wilkins
    Former England midfielder on BBC Radio 5 live

    To finish the weekend in fourth place before anyone else kicked off was incredible. I couldn’t believe it. Burnley have turned their home form into their away form too.

    The way they play, their unity is fantastic. Nobody thinks they’re better than anyone else. I love it. When they make a substitution, they hug each other and on they go.

    When you go to a club who are higher with more successful players, you take on the ego. Sean Dyche has a player who is just a level - without being disrespectful – below the top level. If you go top level, it’s very different. Their players will have a totally different outlook on football.

    He's British, that's why he's not being given the opportunity to get a job in the top four or top five.

    You have to beat the teams around your area. They beat those teams and now they’re beating the teams in the middle of the table. They are sixth, ahead of Arsenal and Leicester.

    Sean DycheImage source, Getty Images
  15. Dunk closes on recordpublished at 11:54 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2017

    Brighton v Burnley (15:00 GMT)

    Lewis Dunk has scored three Premier League own goals this season, one shy of Martin Skrtel's record of four in a campaign, set in 2013-14.

    Lewis DunkImage source, .
  16. 'Stoke have an ageing team'published at 11:52 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2017

    Stoke v West Ham (16:00 GMT)

    Jermaine Jenas
    Former Tottenham midfielder on BBC Radio 5 live

    Stoke have an ageing team in vital positions. Ryan Shawcross at centre-back, Darren Fletcher has come in. Are they lacking a bit of mobility? I've seen them get picked apart. Losing late games, not scoring, the drubbing at Spurs, they're low on confidence.

    There's constant negativity from the fans to Mark Hughes. They'll forget how good a job he's done. He tried to create a better brand of football to the Tony Pulis spell. That was brave. Maybe this is the year it falls apart.

  17. 'I'm not going to start now, am I?'published at 11:47 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2017

    Stoke v West Ham (15:00 GMT)

    Stoke City boss Mark Hughes is in defiant form - despite sitting 15th in the Premier League table.

    Asked if his bosses were giving him the support he wants, he said: "Why wouldn't they?

    "They're good football people, they've been around football a long time and they understand what it's about.

    "They know they've got good people working for them and one of their constants is that they allow people who can get the job done to get on with their job and do the job that they're paid to do. And that's what they're doing with me."

    Mark HughesImage source, .
  18. 'Newcastle missed a trick in the summer'published at 11:43 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2017

    Arsenal v Newcastle (15:00 GMT)

    Jermaine Jenas
    Former Newcastle midfielder on BBC Radio 5 live

    I worry a little bit for Newcastle. The goals situation is a problem. They brought in Joselu to score goals.

    I think they overachieved earlier this season. If you go through the players, they’re a Championship side. Where they were in the league until recently was astonishing. It’s going to be very tight.

    The takeover is so important. The frustration is starting to build but it’s focused at Mike Ashley.

    A new striker is definitely top of the list. When they came up, they missed a trick. Charlie Austin was sat on the bench at Southampton, they could have probed around. Kelechi Iheanacho went to Leicester. There’s players to go and get.

    Maybe they need another defender. They need to look at a couple of position to give themselves a fighting chance.

  19. 'Newcastle won't go down'published at 11:40 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2017

    Arsenal v Newcastle (15:00 GMT)

    Kieron Dyer
    Former England and Newcastle midfielder on BBC Radio 5 live

    Do I think Newcastle will be safe? I do. It looks like this takeover will be happening and once it does the fans support, the base will be like a carnival atmosphere and they can be like a 12th man.

    Yes things are not going well for Newcastle but the performances are not too bad. You would be worried if the results and the performances were bad."

  20. 'Flabbergasted Arsenal didn't sell duo'published at 11:37 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2017

    Arsenal v Newcastle (15:00 GMT)

    Ray Wilkins
    Former England midfielder on BBC Radio 5 live

    I'm flabbergasted that Arsenal allowed Arsene Wenger, and I think the world of him, to throw away £140m. Because Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez will go. Someone along the line will say to Ozil and Sanchez we'll give you £30m to join us and then we'll pay you after.

    If you look at Arsenal's wage bill, some of them are doubling what Harry Kane is earning. Yet Harry produces week in, week out. The situation baffles me to death. To replace those two will cost a minimum of £60m each.