Francis Benali
Former Southampton defender on BBC Radio 5 live

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Good that they had an opportunity to play a competitive game in the EFL Cup but this is the business side of it now. Crucial for Nathan Jones to get off to a good start.

I have heard from a few of the players - there has been that buy-in from them. It's great that Jones has had the opportunity to work with the squad during the World Cup break, now it is important to show that out on the pitch.

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Nathan Jones is hoping to start feeling at home as quickly as possible and a win in his first Premier League game at St Mary's would be good start.

Ironically, the new Saints boss is facing a club who he knows very well.

The 49-year-old Welshman played over 150 league games for the Seagulls between 2000 and 2005, helping them win three promotions.

After seven games at Yeovil, Jones returned to Brighton in 2013 as assistant head coach under Oscar Garcia and later became caretaker manager after Sami Hyypia's sacking in 2014.

“I met some good friends, good people, and built some sort of reputation there. Then I had the opportunity to go back as assistant manager to three managers," said Jones, who also worked with Chris Hughton before leaving to take over at Luton.“It gave me an education, it gave me a real kick in football and I got real good people there that helped me along my way.“They really helped me in my progression and it’s a club close to my heart. It won’t be on Boxing Day."

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Don't make Roberto de Zerbi angry.

Brighton's surprise EFL Cup penalty shootout defeat at League One side Charlton last week did exactly that - and the Italian will be hoping his team respond at Southampton.

"We lost a game we could win easy, in terms of chances to score," said the Italian.

"I think we didn't play bad, I think we played a good game, not a fantastic game - but a good game enough to win.

"But we have to learn when there is these type of games, we have to be more aggressive to find the right moment to score.

"It was a bad result, we are angry for this game."

Brighton will be hoping Southampton don't like them angry...

Mantej Mann
BBC Sport at King Power Stadium

Leicester and Newcastle were two of the form teams before the break for the World Cup.

The Foxes are chasing their third league win in a row, while Newcastle have won their last five games.

Something has to give at the King Power this afternoon.

Kick off is just minutes away...

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport at Goodison Park

Frank Lampard's Everton side have managed to score just six goals at Goodison Park this season which is the second worst record in the Premier League.

And you've guessed it, bottom of the table Wolves are the only side to have fared worse on their home patch (with five). Wolves have also only mustered three on the road as well so far this term.

Hardly the makings of a classic on the face of it but if either of these two struggling Premier League teams can serve up a festive feast of goals it would definitely be most welcome.

Leicester have only won two of their 16 Boxing Day Premier League fixtures - 1-0 at Sheffield Wednesday in 1998 and 2-1 at home to Manchester City in 2018.

Newcastle could become the first English league team to lose seven successive Boxing Day games since Walsall did so between 1949 and 1957.

Carlton Cole
Former West Ham striker on Final Score

You wanted Harry Kane to get on the scoresheet because there were a few demons he wanted to put straight.

I joked that it probably did him a favour that Spurs didn't get a penalty. He probably would have put that away.

Image source, .

Both of these sides were in great form before the World Cup - Leicester had climbed the table thanks to four wins in five league games, while Newcastle flew up to third with five league wins in a row.

The Foxes won this fixture 4-0 in December last year, but Newcastle are a completely different team now. It will be close, but I'm backing them to find a way of winning this one too.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport at Goodison Park

Everton suffered three consecutive defeats before the Premier League campaign was paused for the World Cup losing to both Leicester City and Bournemouth in the top flight and the Cherries in the EFL Cup.

In his pre-match programme notes Everton manager Frank Lampard says that his players have not reached the levels expected at times but he hopes "collective frustration" can be used "as fuel to get better over this period."

And what a period. Everton could find themselves in the bottom three if things don't go to plan today, with a trip to Manchester City on the horizon on 31 December before they host Brighton and then travel to Manchester United in the FA Cup.

Marc Webber
Final Score at St Mary's Stadium

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It definitely doesn’t feel like a winter’s day at St Mary’s. The weather is sunny, as is the disposition of the travelling Brighton fans who have just seen one of their players lift a World Cup while they spend Christmas in the highest position they’ve been in the Premier League ever.

The mood in the home stands is less sunny, but there’s still hope. Many are already tweeting admiration for the bravado of Nathan Jones's debut home team selection, which seems to want to switch things up.

Saints have never lost here on Boxing Day. Will that stay the case come 4.55pm?

Mark: Liverpool are only eight points off the top four. One of Spurs and United will be caught.

The London rivals come into today's game joint-10th in the Premier Leaguer on 19 points.

Crystal Palace are aiming to get back to winning ways after losing 1-0 at Nottingham Forest before the World Cup break while Fulham lost 2-1 to each of the Manchester clubs in their last two games.

Palace have won only two of their past 13 home league games against Fulham but have the chance to make it four home wins in a row for the first time in the Premier League.

Stephen Kelly
Former Tottenham defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

It's just staggering how much we see this from Tottenham. It's almost as if they have to wind the manager up and get in at half-time. I can imagine what might happen in that changing room. Then they come out the second half and are fired up and energetic. Brentford in the first half were stifling Tottenham, bullying them, then couldn't get in the game the second half.

Brentford rise to ninth after making it five matches unbeaten in all competition.

They have not been behind for more than five hours of football.

Richard Wolfenden
Match of the Day commentator

The sun might be out on Merseyside but there’s still an arctic blast blowing around Goodison. Most of the media are staying indoors as long as they possibly can to avoid turning the same colour as the home side's kit…

Image source, BBC Sport

Four Premier League games coming up in half an hour.

They are...

• Crystal Palace v Fulham
• Everton v Wolverhampton Wanderers
• Leicester City v Newcastle United
• Southampton v Brighton and Hove Albion

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The Premier League is back in style. That was terrific viewing in the end.

A chance for Son Heung-min to win it. His attempt from the edge of the box is kept out by David Raya.