Premier League LIVE SCORES: Newcastle dominant & West Ham draw as City crisis continues with defeat to Villa – updates
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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Palace vs Arsenal - LIVE
That's all from us in here tonight - but we do have live updates from Crystal Palace vs Arsenal as it happens below:
Brentford vs Nottingham Forest
Read up on Forest's brilliant win in west London:
West Ham vs Brighton
Read how SunSport saw the game at the London Stadium:
Ipswich vs Newcastle - match report
Read SunSport's verdict here
'We got punished'
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler said his team got punished for "one mistake" and lamented two points lost.
He said: "I think it's two points lost in the end because there were plenty of big chances. We weren't able to score and we weren't able to keep a clean sheet.
"Then we got punished for that one mistake. In the end it was our fault that we didn't leave the pitch as winners.
"There were positives things but we also need to get the result to get out of this circle of bad experiences. It's the business to get results if you want to achieve something.
"We have to get our higher standards back. We can defend better. We have to keep going and we have to trust the process."
'It happens - that's football'
Thomas Frank was surprisngly "quite pleased" with the way his team played, despite the 2-0 defeat.
He said: "I thought we performed well, if I’m honest. I thought we were on top in a lot of moments, but we had more dangerous moments without having clear-cut chances. Defensively, it was probably our best performance of the season.
"Of course we’ve conceded two goals. That’s different. The second goal is obviously a mistake. The first one we can do better too, no doubt about that.
"Maybe we didn’t have enough on the bench because of injuries, but I’m quite pleased with the performance. It happens – that’s football.
"Nottingham Forest have played 4-2-3-1 all season but changed to a 5-4-1 here, which is a credit to what we’ve done [at home]."
'Upward trend'
In the other dugout, Eddie Howe was delighted with the Toon.
He said: ""Whenever you go away from home and you make that early impression, you have a chance to go on and win. We have conceded the early goal too many times, today we were professional."
Speaking about Alexander Isak, he added: With Callum [Wilson] injured he has to play the majority of minutes, and he relishes that. He's got everything, he showed that with his goals today. He is technically gifted, and has a coolness in front of goal."
And on Jacob Murphy, who provided a dazzling assist: "Jacob is capable of the unexpected. He is a very unselfish player, so I am very pleased when he scores. We need variety, different sources of goals, even if Alex will grab the headlines. Hopefully we are on an upward trend in that respect."
'Tough day'
Ipswich Town defender Conor Chaplin summed up their 4-0 battering against Newcastle, by saying: "Tough day definitely. We were second best. I don't think we helped ourselves, we need to be better at game management when we are up against it, make better individual decisions to see the threat off.
"The team are disappointed, it's a tough one to take. But we will stick together, there are lessons we will learn going into the next one, we have to find solutions."
'We've achieved nothing yet'
Nottingham Forest are up into third and absolutely flying - but boss Nuno said they need to keep their feet on the ground.
The Portuguese said: “I think we competed really well. We work very hard every day, so the boys should be happy and proud.
“I think we’ve been working well. The beginning was hard. We were able to solve a lot of problems that we had last season. It’s about this journey together. Every day is important in improving the team.
“The fans are happy. Now we go back to Nottingham and prepare for our next game. It’s about enjoying the moment. It’s a very hard competition. Every game is so difficult and the next one is going to be very tough.”
“We’re very proud of all the things we’ve been able to achieve, but we’ve achieved nothing yet.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Goal - Dan Burn (Newcastle)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Goal - Mohammed Kudus (West Ham)
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.
Goal - Alexander Isak (Newcastle)
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.