Roberto Mancini makes his bow as Manchester City manager on Boxing Day then 24 hours later Arsenal host Aston Villa at Emirates Stadium. Elsewhere on this festive weekend of footballing action, bottom two teams West Ham United and Portsmouth go head-to-head, league leaders Chelsea make the trip to Birmingham City, out-of-form Liverpool lock horns with in-form Wolverhampton Wanderers while Fulham meet London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

This will probably be my last post until Boxing Day, so its time to sign off with some pics of Babes in Arsenal Shirts to cheer everyone up over the festive season. I have featured quite a few over the season, so i have built up a good selection for you to look at, and I [...]

George Gillett has had enough of Liverpool and wants out.
The final straw came for him when The Spirit Of Shankly group prevented him and Hicks from entering Anfield the other week.
That blockade was peacefully observed by SOS and it looks like it has achieved real results with the American realising that his time as Liverpool joint-owner is now up.

Troubled Liverpool face a Christmas of uncertainty with fresh claims that a Saudi prince is ready to buy the 50 per cent stake of co-owner George Gillett.
Prince Faisal bin Fahad bin Abdullah announced on television that he was flying to England to attend the Barclays Premier League match against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield on Boxing Day as a guest of Gillett.

I hope you have something better to do on Christmas Eve than read this... Boxing Day derbies used to have more spice than a fixture against Fulham, who we face for the third year running. In the late 70s/early 80s Arsenal were the regular opponents on the 26th or 27th, followed for the next few seasons [.

Your Gameweek 19 Captain, Fernando Torres
After Boxing Day, we'll be exactly half-way through the Premier League season. Exciting stuff. We'll have 5 more months of fantasy footie, a brilliant title race brewing, a few weeks off - and then bam: South Africa! But for now - our attention is focused strictly on the league.

With Manchester United not playing until Sunday, Ryan Giggs has welcomed the first Christmas Day off in his entire career.

Since the birth of his children, Libby in 2003 and Zach in 2006, Giggs has craved some time off to spend with his family and now he finally has the chance to do so.

"Until I had kids I never got excited about Christmas," said Giggs.

Ola Futbolitas! Many of you may not know this (and a few amici still tease us about it) but last December, we interviewed Greaseano himself aka Cristiano Ronaldo via phone from Japan). And yes, he was nice and sent us his autographed book so we've been pretty mean calling him names.

Liverpool have refused to release Javier Mascherano for Argentina's friendly against Catalunya later this month.
The midfielder, who is skipper of his country, was named by Diego Maradona in the squad for the showpiece match, which takes place on December 22.
But with Catalunya, who are coached by Johan Cruyff, an autonomous Spanish region and not a country, the fixture is not recognised by FIFA.

ssshhhh

Apologies to my loyal readers for the radio silence up until this point; simply put I found it pretty difficult to bring myself to writing a post about the league cup game that would have done justice to the shambles that occurred. Whilst it is now a distraction we won't have to worry about as we focus on consolidating a good position in the league, losing in such a feeble manner was a bit of a bitter pill to swallow.

Due to the light schedule over the next week, this will be the final "weekly" WCR Top 25 of the season. Next week, in place of the weekly ranking will be the fiftieth Annual Rankings in which we will anoint the 2009 WCR Club of the Year. If you haven't voted (though, be warned, voting is just for fun and doesn't decide the winner), feel free to go the left side of the screen and vote.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez says his side must not dwell on their defeat to Portsmouth and focus on the next game.
The Reds slumped to a 2-0 defeat on Saturday thanks to goals from Nadir Belhadj and Frederic Piquionne either side of Javier Mascherano's sending off, which led to Benitez launching a bizarre rant at referee Lee Mason.

Alberto Aquilani is in contention to play against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Boxing day after missing the tie against Portsmouth last weekend. Aquilani has been one of the most talked about players to have barely played a game for Liverpool, yet there's a chance he will finally be given a league start against Wolves given the fact [.

Happy Holidays!

It's Christmas Eve, so I would be remiss if this week's preview didn't have a Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa/Festivus/Ashura theme.

I'm more of a Christmas kind of guy myself, so that's the direction I'll be heading in first.

It may not have come upon a midnight clear, but this is the TV schedule for the week so dear.

We're top of the league, they're third bottom and have one point from the last six games and have lost five out of their last six home games. So tomorrow's televised Boxing Day game against Sheff Wed should be a walkover, right? Aye, not likely, not when you consider the last time Newcastle won on [.

For as long as I can get away with it here at my parents house without feeling like I'm ignoring the holidays-with-the-family thing. <p><a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php?option=com_mobile&task=viewaltcast&altcast_code=da2614361e" >Boxing Day Live</a></p>

Controversy, casual defending and a lack of commitment put paid to a full three points at Hillsborough, and so our Boxing Day jinx continues, as it's now 21 years since we last recorded a win on our travels. A sluggish-looking Newcastle might as well have been back on the bus as Sheff Wed took the [.

There he is. The last of an extinct breed.

In attendance at Liverpool's 2-0 Boxing Day win over Wolves, this guy perhaps fittingly stands behind a man in a Yankees cap. Liverpool scored both their goals only after Wolverhampton's Stephen Ward was sent off in the 53rd minute.

[Photo: Reuters]

The Boxing Day features in England didn't go the way of the Americans, with only Jonathan Spector's West Ham United winning. Tim Howard was in goal for Everton, who drew 1-1 against Sunderland. Clint Dempsey went the full-ninety with Fulham drawing 0-0 with Spurs. Dempsey hit the crossbar from a freekick and had another opportunity that almost broke the deadlock.

Rafael Benítez has said that Liverpool's confidence and Champions League credentials will be under scrutiny at Villa Park tomorrow. The Spaniard is considering whether to give the midfielder Alberto Aquilani a second start in four days.
Liverpool are five points behind Aston Villa after their Boxing Day win over Wolverhampton Wanderers and Aston Villa's subsequent loss to Arsenal but they have not won successive league matches since September and have several injury problems.

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez admits he must assess the risk of using Italian midfielder Alberto Aquilani in tonight's critical Barclays Premier League clash at Aston Villa.
The £20million summer signing from Roma finally made his first league start in Liverpool's 2-0 victory over Wolves.

Wow, someone at the north pole must really like Rafa Benitez as he got everything he wished for this Christmas.

An injury time winner from Fernando Torres gave Liverpool a huge 1-0 win at Aston Villa. Combined with Liverpool's 2-0 win over Wolves on Boxing Day, Rafa's reds find themselves only four points out from the last Champions League place as we end the year.

Christmas is less than three weeks away and thoughts no doubt will be turning to the 25th, a day when many of us will relish the chance to loosen our belts, stuff our digestive systems with the richest foods we can lay our hands on and watch the sort of TV that none of us in our right minds would normally tolerate at any other time of the year.

If you're an English supporting fan like myself, the holiday period can be a time busier than any other. Should you support a team in the top four flights in England, then you have a bevy of entertainment opportunities as your club is destined to play: the weekend before Christmas, the day after Christmas (Boxing Day) [.

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher is praying that there are good times around the corner as the off-colour Reds look for an upturn in fortune.
Sunday's luckless 2-1 home defeat by Arsenal means that Liverpool have now won just three times in 15 matches.
"I pray that we win the FA Cup, Europa League and get in the top four," Carragher told BBC Radio Merseyside.

Following on in my series of away guide for Newcastle United fans, my third attempt focuses on our Boxing day trip to the steel city, and a visit to Hillsborough the home of Sheffield Wednesday. Traditionally, Boxing day fixtures are someting that I've turned my nose up at travelling many many miles with [.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez tellingly spoke of the need to "change your targets" after Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Portsmouth.
The Spaniard may well have been talking about shifting focus to the Boxing Day clash against Wolves but following the performance at Fratton Park, the comment could easily apply to Liverpool's season.

It was probably unsurprising that Manchester City should choose one of the most extraordinary weekends of the season to trump everybody else. While Liverpool supporters finally seemed to be turning on Rafael Benitez after Liverpool lost at Portsmouth, Manchester United were being given a masterclass in ecomonical football by Fulham and Chelsea were scratching and scrambling their way to a draw at West Ham United, City were playing out another mini-drama at The City of Manchester Stadium against Sunderland and then sacking their manager.

On Boxing Day, Liverpool reach the halfway point in the season with a ‘make or break' game against Wolves. The club's fans have endured a torrid season so far with nothing but small victories to cheer, and great wins against Man United and Everton overshadowed by points subsequently being dropped .

What does Miller think he is doing? Gold Coast were falling apart and now he's gone and rescued them.
So how can we miss the opportunity to get involved in the Boxing Day panto? Boo baddies Miron and Charles? He's behind you, oh sorry he looked that way.
After his performance on Sunday - a flat sounding Miller was asked if there would be a repeat of his Robbie Kruse behaviour.

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Briatore to sink yacht in Bernie's Christmas card - Motorsport.

Manager Rafael Benitez insists Saturday's miserable 2-0 defeat at bottom club Portsmouth hasn't shaken his belief that Liverpool will qualify for next season's Champions League.
Javier Mascherano was sent off as they crashed to a seventh league reverse of the campaign.
Liverpool now find themselves seventh in the Premier League, eight points off fourth placed Aston Villa, ahead of the hectic festive period.

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- QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER! ...Visit (and feel free to post on!) the cutting-edge-for-news QPR Report Messageboard - updated throughout the day!
- Scroll Down For Earlier Posts re QPR. Or click on QPR Report for the earlier posts
Congratulations to Mikele Leigertwood and Lee Camp
- Team of the Week
-Bernie Ecclestone's Sense of Humour Evinced
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- Arrested for Illegally Broadcasting Premier League Games
- QPR vs Sheffield United Match Reports and Managerial Comments
- Next: Bristol City at Loftus Road on Boxing Day
- Past Christmas Greetings from The Club
- Giant QPR in The Snow Photo
- Ugo Ukah Update
- 1975/76 Video: Arsenal vs QPR
Year Flashback: "Times of Change at QPR"
-Four Year QPR Flashback "Fans Bewildered as Agents Run Club"
- A look at Old QPR Kits
- Paul Parker Now Lives in Austalia
- Two Year Flashback: Lakshmi Mittal Invests in QPR
- Paul Hart at Portsmouth: Perspective
- QPR's Vice Chairman Amit Bhatia and Managing Director Ishan Saksena Play in an Exhibition Game.

League 2 Saturday 19th December 2009
This would have been my last match at Whaddon Road for 2009. Unfortunately commitments mean I will miss Boxing Day's match against Bournmouth. So much can happen between now and 9th January 2010 when we entertain Hereford.
It's the mid-point of the season and the process of selecting a new manager is underway.

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- QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!...
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- Scroll Down For Earlier Posts re QPR. Or click on QPR Report for the earlier posts
- QPR Official Site: FAMILY FUN DAY WILL GO AHEAD
Today's festive Family Fun Day at Loftus Road will go ahead as planned The heavy snow that fell on Monday afternoon has now cleared in W12 and the event will start at 10.

Tottenham meet Fulham on Boxing Day for the third consecutive season, but on this occasion we travel to Craven Cottage. As Premier League tests go it is a stern one, with the Cottagers riding high after thrashing Manchester United.
We have won only one of our eight league trips to Fulham since they returned to the top flight in 2001/02, drawing three times and losing on four occasions.

Midfielder Lucas admits Liverpool will have to win 'almost every game' if they are to stand any chance of Champions League qualification.
The Reds trail fourth-placed Aston Villa by eight points in the Premier League table and will be looking to make it back-to-back home victories when they face Wolves on Boxing Day.

I still believe in Rafa Benitez and I'm convinced he will secure a top four finish for Liverpool this season.
However, a number of his players have got to have a long, hard look at themselves.
When I saw Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard, Pepe Reina and Jamie Carragher walking off at Portsmouth on Saturday they looked upset and annoyed.

As your probably aware, Newcastle United's Boxing day trip to Sheffield Wednesday will mark our 23rd league game of the season, marking the half-way point in what is turning out to be a fantastic season so far! This article takes a look at some of the happenings since the season began way back on the [.

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has admitted the Boxing Day clash with Wolves is a must-win encounter for his side.
The Reds currently find themselves in eighth spot in the table and eight points off the pace in the battle to finish in the top four.
Liverpool welcome Wolves to Anfield aiming to bounce back from their shock 2-0 defeat to Portsmouth last weekend and Benitez accepts three points is a must if they are to keep alive their hopes of a top four finish.