MATCHWEEK 17 is HERE and there are some blockbuster Premier League ties taking place this weekend.
In today's early kick off, Manchester City suffered yet another defeat at the hands of Aston Villa which now means Pep's side have one win in their last TWELVE matches!
In the 3pm games, Newcastle BATTERED Ipswich Town 4-0, West Ham and Brighton drew 1-1 and Nottingham Forest secured another excellent win - this time 2-0 at Brentford.
Crystal Palace vs Arsenal is the evening game - you can follow live coverage from Selhurst Park with our blog.
Kick off times: 12.30pm/3pm/5.30pm
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FT: West Ham 1-1 Brighton
It is a stalemate in the capital.
Not the best of games and based on the stats, it is a fair result.
The point doesn't really do either side any favours.
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FT: Ipswich Town 0-4 Newcastle
It has been a harsh lesson in Premier League football for the Tractor Boys this afternoon.
They came across a Newcastle team with lots of attacking threat and confidence sky high.
Eddie Howe will be a happy man this evening.
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FT: Brentford 0-2 Nott'm Forest
Nuno Espirito Santo's side have ruined The Bees impressive home record this season.
There seems to be a solidity to this Forest team and confidence is high.
They fully deserved to come away with all the points in the capital.
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Ipswich Town 0-4 Newcastle
90+4. VAR has done Ipswich a favour here.
It was definitely offside but it certainly makes the defeat look a little bit better.
The Magpies have dominated this game from start to finish.
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Ipswich Town 0-5 Newcastle
90+2. The Tractor Boys are hoping VAR saves them here.
Terrible defending from the hosts and the big centre-back makes them pay.
Now we wait, hopefully it will be resolved before Christmas.
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Goal - Dan Burn (Newcastle)
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View from SunSport's Justin Allen at Portman Road
If this was a boxing bout — like Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk tonight - the referee would have stopped it.
This is an embarrassing mismatch. Ipswich are so easy to play against and you have to fear for them if they don't sort out this leaky defence.
Alexander Isak completed his hat-trick with a lovely poked effort, squeezing inside the right post, after a brilliant ball from, for me, Newcastle's man of the match Jacob Murphy.
Bruno Guimaroes had his the base of the right post after a bullet effort
Ironic cheers have just rung out as Ipswich win a corner!
Newcastle fans are in a party mood just before christmas.
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West Ham 1-1 Brighton
82. This is an incredibly even game in the capital.
You would have to say that a draw would be a fair result.
Sadly the Premier League doesn't play like that, defeat for either side would be painful.
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Brentford 0-2 Nott'm Forest
80. As things stand, Forest are moving to third in the table.
This has been impressive today, not many teams have been able to cope with The Bees in West London.
The fans will be dreaming of seeing their team in the Champions League next season, as things are at the moment, not many would bet against them.
Credit: Getty
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Ipswich Town 0-4 Newcastle
70. The Tractor Boys look like they want the final whistle now.
Newcastle are rampant and pinning Ipswich into their own half.
Eddie Howe will be pleased with this performance from his team.
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Brentford 0-2 Nott'm Forest
65. Forest have Sels to thank for their two-goal lead right now.
Damsgaard crosses into the box and Mbuemo heads it iinto the path of Ajer.
The defenders shot is well blocked by the Forest keeper.
Close.
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West Ham 1-1 Brighton
58. The London Stadium erupts as The Hammers equalise.
He started the season well for Lopetegui's side but has been very inconsistent since.
No one will remember that now he has got the hosts back in this game.
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Goal - Mohammed Kudus (West Ham)
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Ipswich Town 0-4 Newcastle
54. This is turning into a rout at Portman Road.
The Magpies are clicking and Ipswich just cannot cope with them.
Murphy has a mazy run into the box and cuts it into Isak who bags his hat-trick and the match ball.
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Goal - Alexander Isak (Newcastle)
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West Ham 0-1 Brighton
51. The away fans have that nervy wait as VAR checks a possible offside.
They get to celebrate a second time as it is cleared.
Wieffer gets his first Seagulls' goal and it could be an important one with the results elsewhere today.
Credit: Getty
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Goal - Mats Wieffer (Brighton)
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Brentford 0-2 Nott'm Forest
54. The high press from the visitors is causing all sorts of issues.
When Lewis-Potter takes a heavy touch, Elanga is immediately all over him.
He steals the ball, runs towards goal and drills it home.
That home record of The Bees looks under serious threat.
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Goal - Anthony Elanga (Nott'm Forest)
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View from SunSport's Jack Rosser at the London Stadium
The general vibe at West Ham is that everyone, fans and players, have somewhere better to be.
Jarrod Bowen has given it a go at getting West Ham into this one but that is about all there has been to report.
Neither side are playing with any real intensity and that is being reflected in the stands where the atmosphere is incredibly flat. Everyone just wants to tick this off and get Christmas underway.
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View from SunSport's Jack Rosser at the London Stadium
West Ham and Brighton should both be utterly ashamed of themselves after that first half.
The way both are playing either side could easily be winning this if they bothered to turn up, but neither look capable of much.
West Ham are defending well enough but every time they venture forwards the attacking player is largely on their own.
And the less said about Niclas Fullkrug's full debut, the better.
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View from SunSport's Justin Allen at Portman Road
JACOB MURPHY has been running the show for Newcastle.
It was fitting he blasted in a rocket off the underside of the bar for 2-0 because he has been magnificent.
Murphy also timed his run to perfection to get on to Fabian Schar's long pass down the right before teeing up Alexander Isak for the opener after 26 seconds.
The right winger has been causing Ipswich no end of problems.
And Toon were gifted an early Christmas gift by Ipswich for a third.
Keeper Arijanet Muric's ball out from the back to Jens Cajuste was intercepted by Bruno Guimaroes, who teed up Isak to slot in.
Kieran McKenna's side leak too many goals and until they sort that out can forget any chance of their return to the Premier League lasting more than this season.
Ipswich have not won a top-flight game at Portman Road since 2002. They have no chance of winning here today.
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HT: West Ham 0-0 Brighton
This is by no means a Premier League classic.
Neither side can really find a rhythm in the game but currently that is suiting Lopetegui's side more.
One thing the fans will be pinning their hopes to hear is that things can only get better.
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HT: Ipswich Town 0-3 Newcastle
This could be a painful watch for the home fans.
The Magpies are dominating and looking clincal in front of goal.
It is hard to see any result but an away win at Portman Road.
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HT: Brentford 0-1 Nott'm Forest
It is quite an even game at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Forest have taken one of their chances and have something to defend now.
Brentford will need to take it up a couple of gears if they want to protect theiir impressive home record.
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