Aston Villa

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery speaking to Amazon Prime: "We are only thinking about each match and today is an important one.

"We worked [together during the World Cup break] and I am very happy.

"I know better our players and we worked on tactics, set-pieces and knowing each other better. We have used the break to improve."

Liverpool

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Liverpool, currently in seventh, were outside the top four on Christmas Day for the first time since 2015-16 when Jurgen Klopp had been manager for only two months.

The Reds have dropped 20 points in their 14 league matches this season. They only dropped 22 points in the whole of 2021-22.

Brighton & Hove Albion

Brighton scorer Adam Lallana, speaking to Amazon Prime about his winning return to former club Southampton:

"It was thoroughly enjoyable, it is never easy to see out games and there were moments - especially when they scored the penalty - where we had a funny five minutes.

"But I thought we were outstanding. Some of the play was enjoyable, we gave them problems and it nice to come back home and win."

On the impact of boss Roberto de Zerbi since he replaced Graham Potter: "The biggest thing since Roberto has come in is the amount of tactical work he does.

"We thought they would play five at the back but then the teamsheets dropped and it was four. So we had another meeting of where he wants us to be and when you come onto the pitch and it works it is such a good feeling.

"He is obsessed with coaching, probably the most obsessed I 've worked with."

Steve Stone
Former England midfielder on BBC Radio 5 live

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Bruno Guimarães was excellent - he protects that back four really well and puts himself into some really good positions. He's not the quickest player in the world but has a real good footballing brain. He's just so key to this Newcastle side. He will get more attention and Newcastle will have to find other ways of playing to accommodate for that, but I think they can do.

Liverpool

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp speaking on Amazon prime: " I never have a problem of filling breaks. I had a two-week holiday and then we prepared for a very intense rest of the season.

"For the boys it is really tough what they have to do. We are obviously not over the moon about the first part of the season and we need to improve a lot - that is what we will try to do."

On Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's starting place: "Ox is a brilliant player and an even better person. I know about his situation [contract ending in the summer]. We cannot think now too much about the summer. He was not match fit before the break - but now he is. Unfortunately he was ill before the Manchester City game otherwise he would have started there as well."

On Liverpool's aims for the rest of the season: "We have to qualify for the Champions League. Obviously there is some distance. When I say we are within punching distance it is a long arm still. It makes sense that we give absolutely everything to do it otherwise we would suffer watching the others next year.

"Aston Villa today is as tough a start it gets. A new manager and a long time without football. They will be on their toes but we will do everything to get three points here today."

Leicester City

Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers to Amazon Prime: "The start of the game was clearly disappointing. We were so slow. Our attitude was really poor. Before we know it, we're 2-0 down. We lacked many things today. They were way better than us from the start of the game. At 3-0, they could come off it a little bit.

"Aggression - we weren’t angry enough today. We lacked a lot of quality on the ball. It's a disappointing performance and result.

"We gave them too much time and space to play in. We weren't strong enough in physical duels.

"We kept going. The spirit was there. One thing I’ve learned in 300 games in charge is you need a strong attitude in the Premier League. You need organisation and commitment when you don't have the ball and courage and aggression when you have it. We didn’t have any of that.

"We have to go again. The team have gone it a number of times. We’ll get in tomorrow, analyse it and get ready for Friday."

Nigel: It's goodbye Frank and farewell to Everton's many decades in the top flight. I've never in my life witnessed such a mess at this famous old club. Sad to see.

Atlas: Newcastle are having a crazy season. If they get Champions League football, that would be amazing and great for them. Their best player at the moment is Almiron.

Marc Webber
Final Score at St Mary's

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The sighs of resignation permeate the Solent air.

There was nothing new in what Southampton fans saw in that first home game for new manager Nathan Jones.

Defensive fragility allowed the first two Brighton goals, but Solly March’s screamer into the top left of Southampton’s goal for their third is worthy of a watch on Match of the Day tonight.

Even when James Ward-Prowse scored the rebound from a saved penalty, few here thought it would lead to a comeback.

Aston Villa

Still very early days but Unai Emery has made quite an impression at Villa Park so far...

We'll bring you all the reaction from the 15:00 GMT, but let's take a look at our early evening game between Aston Villa and Liverpool...

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Joe: Everton fans hoping there's another World Cup soon so that they don't have to suffer their football team for another month.

The Armless Fairy: Awful goal for Everton to concede. About 30 seconds before the goal, the defenders were passing the ball sideways to each other because no-one drops into the cavern of space right in the middle of the pitch to show for the ball. What is the point of Doucoure?

Stephen Warnock
Former England defender on Final Score

The big question is, can Everton afford to sack Lampard in the position they're in at the moment?

That is one of the questions people will be asking.

Not much optimism in Southampton for 2023...

Former Saints striker Kevin Davies, working pitchside for Amazon Prime, urges patience from the fans towards Nathan Jones.

"The crowd were restless but give him a chance," says the one-time England player.

"He had to change things and tried to. There was some positives in the second half, but they need signings in January. He needs more."

Carlton Cole
Former West Ham striker on Final Score

It was an incredible game. I didn't see this coming. Sometimes, Adama Traore hardly looks like he can control the ball - but he put in a great ball for the goal.

It was a position of maximum opportunity, as Sam Allardyce used to say.

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Newcastle United have won their last six games in the Premier League, their best run since March-April 2012.

Steve Stone
Former England midfielder on BBC Radio 5 live

Newcastle have been able to cruise this because they blew Leicester away in the first 10 minutes. They have shown why they are where they are in the league. Yes, they have some quality, but it is their work-rate and the basics they do for each other. It's been really impressive. I thought this would be a difficult afternoon for them, but it hasn't been.

Joachim Andersen went close in added time but there would be no consolation goal for nine-man Palace.

The Eagles looked off the pace even before Tyrick Mitchell was sent off in the first half, and James Tomkins' early exit in the second allowed Fulham to assert their superiority, claiming their first win in four to go level with seventh-placed Liverpool before their game at Villa later.

Huge boos ring out around Goodison Park at the full-time whistle. Everton fans are not happy at all.

Wolves were bottom of the table before the game but the three points lifts them up two places and they are now just a point adrift of Frank Lampard's men, who are teetering above the relegation zone.