English Premier League

Arsenal 2-1 Brighton, Liverpool 2-1 Wolves, Senegal 1-1 DR Congo, and more – as it happened

December 28, 2025

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Arsenal 2-1 Brighton, Liverpool 2-1 Wolves, Senegal 1-1 DR Congo, and more – as it happened

Key events

… and that wraps up an afternoon of superb entertainment, both in the Premier League and Scottish Premiership. There’s still more fun to be had, though, so please head over to the MBM of the Chelsea-Villa game; Will Magee is in the hotseat. Thanks for reading this Clockwatch. Here’s to you enjoying the rest of the festive period.

MATCH REPORT: Brentford 4-1 Bournemouth. John Brewin reports on a banner day for Kevin Schade.

MATCH REPORT: Liverpool 2-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers. Andy Hunter was at Anfield to see Florian Wirtz finally break his duck.

MATCH REPORT: West Ham United 0-1 Fulham. It’s now two wins a row for Fulham, but seven without victory for the Hammers.

MATCH REPORT: Arsenal 2-1 Brighton & Hove Albion. Ben Bloom was at the Emirates as the Gunners shot back to the top in short order.

MATCH REPORT: Nottingham Forest 1-2 Manchester City. Ben Fisher witnessed City’s hard-fought victory in a match that will give Sean Dyche hope of survival.

MATCH REPORT: Burnley 0-0 Everton. Will Unwin reports on an underwhelming game at Turf Moor.

Hearts’ dramatic loss in the Edinburgh derby allowed Celtic to move to within three points of them at the top. Celtic made hard work of winning at bottom side Livingston, though. Rangers also were unconvincing in victory, but their dispatch of Motherwell moves them up to third, and while you wouldn’t fancy them to win the league, it’s also true that they’re not out of the title race quite yet. And there’s a transfer window opening up shortly, so you never know how that might pan out. Exciting times in Scotland.

Arsenal’s win over Brighton takes them back to the top of the Premier League. Liverpool rise to fourth after their skittish victory over bottom side Wolves, though Chelsea can reclaim that spot if they beat Villa this evening. Brentford’s big win over Bournemouth whistles them up to eighth, while West Ham spurn the opportunity to close the gap on Nottingham Forest in their attempt to extricate themselves from the dropzone. Forest will be much happier with their performance in defeat today than the Hammers.

Full-time at Afcon

Scottish Premiership full-times

Premier League full-times

Arsenal 2-1 Brighton & Hove Albion
Brentford 4-1 Bournemouth
Burnley 0-0 Everton
Liverpool 2-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Nottingham Forest 1-2 Manchester City
West Ham United 0-1 Fulham

FULL TIME: Burnley 0-0 Everton

This happened as well.

FULL TIME: Rangers 1-0 Motherwell

Rangers leapfrog Motherwell into third, and if they win their game in hand, they’ll only be six points behind leaders Hearts.

FULL TIME: Brentford 4-1 Bournemouth

Another big result for the Bees, who were supposed to struggle after the departure of Thomas Frank. Well that hasn’t happened. Hats off to Keith Andrews, one of the breakout managerial stars of the year.

FULL TIME: Liverpool 2-1 Wolves

The Premier League’s bottom club made the champions work for that. Wolves, who came so close to frustrating Arsenal a couple of weeks ago, come agonisingly close at one of the division’s big boys again. They’re off to Manchester United next. Third time lucky?

GOAL! Brentford 4-1 Bournemouth (Schade 90+6)

It’s a hat-trick for Kevin Schade.

Kevin Schade heads home Brentford’s fourth goal and completes his hat-trick. Photograph: Peter Cziborra/Action Images/Reuters

Schade (centre) celebrates with Michael Kayode. Photograph: Peter Cziborra/Action Images/Reuters

FULL TIME: Arsenal 2-1 Brighton

Mikel Arteta celebrates going back to the top of the tree. But that was a nervy one for the title favourites.

FULL TIME: Livingston 2-4 Celtic

Celtic close in on leaders Hearts, but what a Christmas meal they made of it.

FULL TIME: Senegal 1-1 Congo DR

A point apiece for the leading pair in Group D.

FULL TIME: West Ham 0-1 Fulham

Boos ring out at the London Stadium. That’s seven without a win for the Hammers, who are in all sorts of relegation trouble.

In addition to the boos, during the game Hammers fans held up red cards in a display of protest to the club’s ownership. Photograph: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

Liverpool 2-1 Wolves. There will be five minutes of injury time at Anfield as well. Can Wolves grab a goal for what would be just their third point of the season?

Senegal 1-1 Congo DR. It’s petering out in Tangier. Five minutes of injury time. Can anyone grab a winner?

Liverpool 2-1 Wolves. The bottom side look more likely to equalise than the champions extending their lead. The sub Jhon Arias is denied by Conor Bradley’s last-ditch block.

GOAL! West Ham 0-1 Fulham (Jimenez 85)

Raul Jimenez, the penalty hero for Fulham against Forest on Monday, may have won the game for his side again! He heads Harry Wilson’s cross off the post and in. West Ham’s relegation concerns are real.

Fulham’s Raul Jimenez powers a header goalwards … Photograph: Tony O’Brien/Reuters

And Fulham have the lead. Photograph: Nigel French/PA

Jimenez celebrates with Josh King as West Ham United’s Oliver Scarles looks dejected. Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Action Images/Reuters

Chelsea v Aston Villa. A reminder that when all the 3pms are over, Chelsea host in-form Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge. Will Magee has the team news.

Liverpool 2-1 Wolves. A big chance for Wolves as Tolu Arokodare heads over. Liverpool doing their level best to ship yet another two-goal lead. Wolves meanwhile are definitely going for it, sending on Jhon Arias to bolster their attack.

Livingston 2-4 Celtic. “Watching the game at Almondvale, you wouldn’t be surprised if it was to finish 6-5 to either team,” writes Simon McMahon. “That’s not a great look for Wilfried Nancy’s Celtic as they are chasing the title, while Davie Martindale’s Livvy are battling to avoid relegation.”

Arsenal 2-1 Brighton. Arsenal are still leading … but only because David Raya has just spectacularly tipped Yankuba Minteh’s shot over the bar. The Seagulls really going for this.

Arsenal’s David Raya saves from Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh. Photograph: John Sibley/Action Images/Reuters

GOAL! Brentford 3-1 Bournemouth (Semenyo 75)

Antoine Semenyo. Who else?

Brentford’s Caoimhin Kelleher in action as AFC Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo bundles the ball past Brentford’s keeper Caoimhin Kelleher. Photograph: Ian Walton/Reuters

Semenyo celebrates. Photograph: Ian Walton/Reuters

Senegal 1-1 Congo DR. Some worrying news for Sunderland fans. Arthur Masuaku caught his studs in the turf during the build-up to that goal, while mistiming a tackle, and he’s carried off.

Arsenal 2-1 Brighton. Needs must, and with Arsenal creaking a bit after conceding, Gabriel is sent on to shore things up. The home fans so happy to see him return from injury.

GOAL! Senegal 1-1 Congo DR (Mane 68)

Ibrahim Mbaye hares down the right and shoots. Lionel Mpasi saves, but can only push the ball across to Sadio Mane, who can’t miss from six yards. He dispatches the ball into the bottom left, and the joint favourites are level! That didn’t take long.

GOAL! Rangers 1-0 Motherwell (Aasgaard 67)

Thelo Aasgaard taps a loose ball home from close range, and this Rangers goal will stand.

Rangers’ Thelo Aasgaard scores the opening goal against Motherwell. Photograph: Andrew Milligan/PA

Arsenal 2-1 Brighton. Yasin Ayari has two shots blocked in as many seconds, and suddenly the title favourites are rocking. But holding onto their lead. For now.