Fabian Schar slides across to cut out a dangerous ball into the Newcastle box and hand Manchester City their first corner of the game but it is a poor one and the visitors clear.

Not too much happening at the Etihad in these early stages.

Manchester City are yet to forge their first attack and instead it is Newcastle with an early opportunity with a free kick but Matt Ritchie's delivery is dealt with comfortably.

There's an early corner for Sheffield United and Ben Osborn's deliver goes through to Enda Stevens on the far side of the box but his shot is blocked by Gylfi Sigurdsson.

Pep's got the big coat on, hood up and is wearing an expression that suggests he'd much rather be tucking into the turkey dinner leftovers than stood outside as rain droplets almost as big as a fist hammer down.

There's a minute's silence as those who have passed away in 2020 are remembered before tonight's final two Premier League fixtures get under way.

Chelsea

Chelsea boss Frank Lampard, speaking to Sky Sports: "It wasn't good enough. We fought in the second half but in the first half we gave ourselves too much to do. The players who came on added speed energy and intensity.

"I'll take responsibility on the outside but the players also have to take responsibility. The message was clear - Arsenal are a dangerous team. When you go out and play 60 or 70 per cent then you're not going to win any games

"I am angry because I want us to win games. It was an opportunity to go second. You get what you deserve."

It is a grim, grim night in Manchester with the rain hammering down. It is very cold and very wet but City will be in determined mood tonight because a win will see them up into the top four.

The weather looks marginally better over in Sheffield, where the home side will be happy to take a win of any sort and give themselves some hope of avoiding the drop.

Chelsea

Chelsea boss Frank Lampard to BBC Sport: "In the second half we showed some urgency but it was too late. The first half we gave ourselves too much to do, we were very poor. You can't lack energy and desire in the Premier League and we did.

"You can prepare as well as you want but if you turn up like that that's another thing. It's in the mind.

"If you perform below par things go against you like the Saka goal. That's life. On another day we could have scored the penalty and come back but it's not a day for us.

"The teams that win, win, win relentlessly weren't winning two or three years ago. We are not there yet, that's clear. I felt it when we are on our long unbeaten run and I feel it now. We got a lot wrong today."

Manchester City

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, on leaving Sergio Aguero on the bench again as the striker works his way back to full fitness: "Maybe for the final moments we can use him. If he was fit he would play 100%. But he comes back from a long time out with injury and hopefully for the minutes he will be ready."

Arsenal

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta to BBC Sport: "The result is the main thing today, we really needed that win. We have been unlucky and frustrated with our results in the last eight weeks so this was a big day for us.

"From the first whistle you could see the team had the energy and willingness to come out and win the game.

"The spirit before the game was really positive, they really wanted it. I am pleased for the players and for the supporters, We have let them down for many weeks so it was a good day to give them something to cheer about.

"When we gave the penalty away I couldn't believe it - it's the magnificent game called football. It can always surprise you."

Arsenal

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, speaking to Sky Sports: "It's a really big win for us. We were really disappointed with the results - not so much the performances. Our players were suffering, our fans were suffering.

"It doesn't get any better than winning a London derby against Chelsea on Boxing Day. Hopefully this is a turning point. I know they can play at this level. We know how good Chelsea are but big moments in the game we were the better team.

"The injuries, the Covid, playing 10 men...you start to think what do we need to win a match.

"It's nice to give something back to fans because I can imagine they have been really disappointed. We started well and we were dominant. That gives the team confidence.

"Let's carry on. We still have big things to improve on."

Jermaine Beckford
Ex-Leeds Utd striker on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

Newcastle are a struggling side - the big issue has been Allan Saint-Maximin, when he first came in he was a breath of fresh air, he was a wrecking ball. Nobody knew what he was going to do he didn't even know. Players like that are borderline impossible to play against.

Unfortunately he's had one or two injuries and he's obviously he's out now, they miss his wildness and creativity. I enjoy his directness, he picks the ball and runs straight at you. Callum Wilson has figured that out and he has just decided that when Saint-Maximin has got the ball he just gets in the box - I think they're struggling with that at the moment.

Arsenal

Image source, EPA

Arsenal wideman Bukayo Saka to BBC Sport: "I saw him off his line so I thought I could chip him. [Really?] Yeah!

"We feel that we are a good team who have been unlucky with results and red cards but this is a big one for our confidence. It's been tricky, tough, but we have come out of it and we are trying our best.

"We grew up with each other, the young players all want to play and have the passion for this club. We want to make the fans happy."

Simon Stone
BBC Sport at the Etihad Stadium

Image source, Getty Images

There is no such thing as an easy game in the Premier League apparently.

That may be true but this is one of those that tends to be quite straightforward for Manchester City.

They have won the corresponding fixture on 11 successive occasions by a combined score of 39-7.

Newcastle fan Tony Blair was in his first term as Prime Minister and City were playing at Maine Road when Newcastle last recorded an away win, in September 2000.

Mark Lawrenson
BBC football expert

Newcastle did not play well against Brentford when they went out of the Carabao Cup in midweek, and they only managed a draw at home to Fulham last weekend.

The Magpies will have to do a lot better than that to get anything at Etihad Stadium and I don't see it happening.

Lawro's prediction:3-0

Mark Lawrenson
BBC football expert

This will be physical because both teams can play that way. Everton have got more quality but Sheffield United showed they were up for the scrap against Brighton last weekend, when they almost held on for a win despite going down to 10 men.

Despite only picking up two points from their first 14 games, I don't think the Blades' survival chances are all over just yet. Their hopes are fading fast though.

Lawro's prediction: 1-1

Arsenal

Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney, speaking to Sky Sports: "We needed that result. We've had a few bad performances but we started better than we have lately and didn't wait until we were 1-0 down to start playing.

"All the youngsters here are hungry to play. We have to keep going. At half-time the message was to keep going. Bernd Leno dug us out of a hole at the end. It would have been a long five minutes had that gone in."

Can't beat a Boxing Day nap. Or an any day nap for that matter.

Anyway, we'll have reaction to that big Arsenal win while also building up to the games that kick off at 20:00 GMT.

Last up today are:

Manchester City v Newcastle

Sheffield United v Everton

Here to steer you through the post-nap hours is Gary Rose.