Build-up to seven Premier League games

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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.

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 report 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 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.

PA

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

PA

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.

Reuters

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.

Rex

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, 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.  

AFP

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.

A Hogmany a whole lot less jovial than round Jools Holland's place.

The Old Firm derby is just over an hour away at Ibrox.

A dedicated live text and radio commentary has begun on the BBC Sport website.

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It looks like Pep Guardiola's play-it-out-from-the-back fundamentalism is going to come in for its fiercest test tonight.

He has described Liverpool counterpart Jurgen Klopp as "the best manager in the world" at creating a team to attack an opponent's back four.

For what it is worth John Stones is apparently in contention for the game after a knee knock forced him off 18 minutes into the Boxing Day win over Hull.

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It was the year Leicester City stunned football after Tottenham pushed them close - and it is one that ends with a fascinating tussle developing at the top and bottom of the Premier League table.

But when you look back over 2016, who would you pick in your team of the year?

Pick your way through our shortlist, agonise over who to select and share you choices with your friends.

Click here to have a go.

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Meanwhile Mark Clattenburg says that he projects a persona on the pitch that is different from his real personality.

"Some people have this perception that I'm an arrogant person but, when you are on the pitch, you have got to deal with these players differently than in life," he told AFP.

He says that he has no regrets over the tattoos that that he has had to commemorate his officiating of the London 2012 gold-medal match and Champions League and Euro finals of this year.

"People see it as a negative thing but I'm proud of what I've done," he added.  

Mick Mahon Tattoo

It's a new narrative to transfer windows, but it might become an even bigger one in the coming years.

Real Madrid were offered about £250m by an unnamed Chinese club for Cristiano Ronaldo, says his agent Jorge Mendes.

He said the 31-year-old Portugal captain had no interest in the deal, which included a salary of £1.6m... A WEEK.

Meanwhile, Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg says he would consider officiating in the Chinese Super League. Not sure they're going to offer him over £1m a week, mind...

BBC

How much of the transfer tittle-tattle you read in the papers and on the web can you believe though? How much of it is prime cuts of insider information and how much is pure tripe?

We have crunched the numbers behind the stories that appeared in the BBC Sport's gossip column in July and August.

Which Premier League club delivered every single player they were linked to?

Which newspaper had a near 70% success-rate?

And why a 23-year-old English midfielder is the thing to be when the window opens?

Step this way.

Rex Features

The top line in this morning's gossip column is the Sun's claim that Chelsea will bid £34m for Bayern Munich midfielder Arturo Vidal in January.

Vidal enjoyed great success under current Blues boss Conte at Juventus.

A combination of N'Golo Kante and Vidal in the middle of midfield would sink some pretty serious foundations for the title run-in.

AFP

Hull are off the bottom of the table this morning, but manager Mike Phelan will be thinking what might have been.

The Tigers were six minutes short of taking all three points at home to Everton before Ross Barkley headed a late leveller for the visitors.

 "We need more goals from all areas. We need to tighten up. We have a lot of work to do," said Phelan. 

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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola feels there are still six clubs in the Premier League title race.

Third-placed City visit second-placed Liverpool (17:30 GMT) as they look to close the gap on leaders Chelsea, who are six points clear.

Such is the size of the advantage that Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says it is "Chelsea's title to lose".

But Guardiola said: "Six teams are fighting for the title and the Champions League qualification."

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte said: "We have only played 18 games. Another 20 to finish the season. At the start of the season no-one trusted in this team to fight for the title. We have only six points more than the second team. There is still a long way to go."

This is your full card for today's top-flight matches

Burnley v Sunderland 

Chelsea v Stoke 

Leicester v West Ham

Manchester United v Middlesbrough

Southampton v West Brom

Swansea v Bournemouth

Liverpool v Man City (17:30 GMT)

Both are playing catch-up however.

"At the start of the season, not one coach, not one person, not one journalist trusted in this team to fight for the title in this league this season," said Chelsea manager Antonio Conte earlier this week.

Not quite true.

BBC

Trevor Sinclair, Steve Wilson and John Motson picked the Blues to win the title in the BBC's pre-season sweep of pundits predictions. But they were the only three in the 33 asked. 

The Blues will move nine points clear of their nearest rivals if they beat Stoke in the 15:00 GMT kick-off at Stamford Bridge.

BBC

Rex Features

It is just over two and a half years ago, but Philippe Coutinho's sharp finish that saw off Manchester City at Anfield and put the Premier League title in Liverpool's hands with four games remaining feels like a whole other era. 

Much has changed.

But tonight, for the first time since, Manchester City are back in town with both teams' title hopes still bubbling.

Kick-off is 17:30 GMT.

Rex

13 April 2014.

993 days ago.

Brendan Rodgers was Shankly's heir apparent. 

Giorgio Chiellini's shoulder was bite-free. 

Raheem Sterling was a Red and James Milner was a Blue.

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