Sunday
Struggling Sheffield United went down to a three nil defeat at Southampton in the Premier League early this afternoon. Enda Stevens returned to action alongside John Egan while Shane Long was not in the ‘Saints’ matchday squad. Selhurst Park hosted the meeting of Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur with Matt Doherty an unused substitute for the visitors who were held to a one all draw. Goalkeeper Alisson returned to action for Liverpool with Caoimhin Kelleher named on the substitute bench for the match with Fulham which ended in a one all draw at Craven Cottage. Robbie Brady was in the Burnley side which defeated an ill disciplined Arsenal with the only goal at the Emirates Stadium Kevin Long and Jimmy Dunne were both unused on the substitute bench. Aaron Connolly was a 62nd minute substitute for Brighton & Hove Albion who went down to a three nil defeat at Leicester City.
Brighton & Hove Albion loanee Shane Duffy scored for Glasgow Celtic in their two nil Scottish Premiership defeat of visitors Kilmarnock this Sunday afternoon.
Saturday
Conor Hourihane was an unused substitute for Aston Villa who kicked-off the weekend action in the Premier League when they made the short journey to face Wolverhampton Wanderers in Molineaux and collected all three points with an added time penalty kick. Newcastle United and their Irish duo of Ciaran Clarke, who started, and unused substitute Jeff Hendrick returned to action following their short Covid related break and defeated visitors West Bromwich Albion by two goals to one. Dara O’Shea and Callum Robinson both started for the ‘Baggies’ but Robinson was withdrawn at half-time.
U21 international and Millwall loanee Danny McNamara continued his impressive form with Scottish Premiership side St Johnstone despite their two one home defeat by Livingston on Saturday afternoon.
The Championship action kicked-off at 12.30pm with the ‘Welsh Derby’ meeting of Cardiff City and Swansea City where the two left sided Galway born wing backs Greg Cunningham and Ryan Manning were unused substitutes for their respective sides with the visiting ‘Swans’ victors by two goals to nil. Jason Knight retained his starting position with Derby County who played out a scoreless draw with visitors Stoke City and Nathan Collins. Luton Town striker James Collins scored all three goals in their victory over visitors Preston North End who included Alan Browne in their starting eleven with Sean Maguire a 57th minute substitute. Tottenham Hotspur loanee Troy Parrott started for Millwall but was withdrawn after 59 minutes of their three nil defeat at Middlesbrough. Harry Arter and Cyrus Christie both started for Nottingham Forest with Arter withdrawn at half-time in their three one defeat by visitors Brentford. Conor Masterson is again an unused substitute for QPR who went down to a one nil defeat by visitors Reading. Callum O’Dowda was in the Bristol City side which suffered a two nil defeat at Rotherham United. Daryl Horgan started for Wycombe Wanderers but was withdrawn on 58 minutes of their two one defeat by visitors Coventry City. Darragh Lenihan returned from suspension alongside Derrick Williams for Blackburn Rovers who went down to a two one defeat by visitors Norwich City for whom Andrew Omobamadele was an unused substitute.
U19 defender Mark McGuinness, on loan at Ipswich Town from Arsenal, started alongside colleagues Alan Judge, Stephen Ward and substitute Aaron Drinan in the two nil League One defeat by visitors Portsmouth who had Ronan Curtis and Marcus Harness in their side. Southampton loanee Warren O’Hora was in action with MK Dons who played out a one all draw with visitors Burton Albion and Kieran O’Hara. London Road hosted the meeting of Peterborough United and Rochdale where U21 international Jack Taylor was again in action for the hosts who secured a four one victory. Watford loanee Ryan Cassidy was a half-time substitute for Accrington Stanley who suffered a four three defeat at Wigan Athletic.
U21 striker Joshua Kayode on loan at Carlisle United from Rotherham United scored in their four nil League Two victory over visitors Stevenage while Glasgow Celtic loanee Lee O’Connor started for Tranmere Rovers who crashed to a five nil defeat at Exeter City.