Liverpool take on Leeds in the Premier League, and it kicks off in 15 minutes:

Only one Championship game is still ongoing – Stoke still lead Hull 1-0, into the 102nd minute. Time to run through all the results …

Goals in League Two: Swindon are two goals to the good against Gillingham, Aaron Drinan netting his 19th goal in all competitions this season. Grimsby have taken a late lead at Fleetwood, in a game I’m calling the Fish Derby.

Bristol Rovers have doubled their lead at Shrewsbury, but the good news for the Shrews is that Newport and Harrogate are both losing. “This seems to be our main tactical plan, banking on the fact that there is someone more rubbish than we are,” notes Jeremy Boyce.

A rare day to savour for Port Vale fans – they lead Blackpool 4-1, Devante Cole getting on the scoresheet. Marcus Browne has sealed victory for Wimbledon at Leyton Orient in a mid-table London derby.

“Hi Niall, and Happy New Year!” And to you, Simon McMahon. “No games in Scotland today, but this happened eleven years ago on New Year’s Day, and still gives me a warm glow even now.”

Bolton are level at Doncaster, Kyle Dempsey with the goal. In League Two, Barnet lead Crawley 2-1, while Salford are ahead at Barrow through Kelly N’Mai.

League Two leaders Bromley are 2-0 up at home to Newport through Nicke Kabamba, while the team immediately above them on the league ladder – Port Vale – lead Blackpool 3-1. Cheltenham’s comeback at Crewe hasn’t materialised – the hosts now lead 4-1.

Big saves from Charlton’s Thomas Kaminski to deny Coventry’s Liam Kitching, and from Gavin Bazunu to deny Millwall’s Thierno Ballo in a game of few clear chances at St Mary’s.

Ipswich could climb to second today, but they could use a third goal to seal the deal at home to Oxford; it’s still 2-1 at Portman Road. Still goalless at St Mary’s between Southampton and Millwall – the only 0-0 in the Championship, because …

In League One, Wimbledon now lead at Leyton Orient through Miles Hippolyte, while Peterborough are 2-0 up at lowly Rotherham through Brandon Khela.

A bad day for Bradford – the League One promotion chasers are three down at Mansfield, Rhys Oates grabbing his second. Barnsley have equalised at Wigan through Adam Phillips, and in League Two, Cambridge’s Ben Knight almost completes a sensational hat-trick, but his overhead kick clatters the crossbar!

Jeremy Boyce’s prediction (2.46pm) may be coming true – Fabrizio Cavegn has put Bristol Rovers 1-0 up at Shrewsbury. In League One, Malachi Boateng has levelled for Plymouth at Stevenage – and Lincoln are all square with Huddersfield, Adam Reach bundling home from close range.

Back to League One, and Huddersfield lead at Lincoln, Leo Castledine making the breakthrough in a battle of promotion contenders. Port Vale are making their man advantage count – they now lead Blackpool 2-1.

A worrying injury for Robert Bozenik, who needed oxygen after appearing to dislocate his shoulder. The Stoke scorer was able to walk off the field, and is replaced by Sam Gallagher.

In League One, Port Vale have levelled against 10-man Blackpool through Jayden Stockley, while Doncaster lead Bolton thanks to Glenn Middleton’s opener.

In League Two, Ben Knight has his second goal for Cambridge, a lovely lob doubling their lead over Walsall. Elsewhere, Swindon are a goal up at home to Gillingha, Ryan Tafazolli heading in from a free kick.

There are four Premier League games coming up later; join Michael Butler for Liverpool v Leeds coverage, kicking off at 5.30pm.

Contender for name of the day here, as Luther James-Wildin puts Stevenage in front at home to Plymouth. A further blow for Argyle: fellow strugglers Exeter have taken the lead against Luton through Pierce Sweeney – another contender there.

Coventry have a chance to double their lead at Charlton, but nobody can turn the ball home after a goalmouth scramble.

Half-time reading: Will Magee has recapped Enzo Maresca’s 18-month tenure at Chelsea. It’s surprisingly easy to forget he made them world champions.

A couple of big goals in League Two: Ben Knight has put in-form Cambridge in front at home to Walsall, while leaders Bromley have broken the deadlock against Newport thanks to an own goal.

In League One, Mansfield have doubled their lead at home to Bradford, Lucas Akins heading home. Reading lead Burton 2-0 while in League Two, Cheltenham have pulled a goal back at Crewe, who lead 3-1.

Middlesbrough are without a goal in their last three games, and despite plenty of early pressure, they haven’t been able to break the drought at Pride Park yet.

League One: Mansfield have taken the lead at home to promotion-chasing Bradford, while Wimbledon are level at Leyton Orient thanks to a Demetri Mitchell own goal.

Also equalising are Wycombe, with Caolan Boyd-Munce levelling against Cardiff directly from a corner. Finally, bottom club Port Vale, who sacked manager Darren Moore on Sunday, are a goal down at home to Blackpool.

League Two latest: Barnet lead Crawley, Chesterfield are a goal up at Oldham and Crewe lead 2-0 at home to Cheltenham. Barrow v Salford, a fixture with undeniable rugby league vibes, is 1-1 after 20 minutes.

More on Wrexham’s early victory at Ewood Park, which leaves Blackburn mired in the bottom six.

The League One leaders are also in front – Chris Willock has put Cardiff 1-0 up at Wycombe with a brilliant finish from a narrow angle. Elsewhere, Leyton Orient lead Wimbledon and Wigan are a goal up at home to Barnsley.

“You mentioned second-bottom Newport’s visit to leaders Bromley – just above them there’s a ding-dong in my old stamping ground of Shrewsbury, with fourth-bottom Town hosting third-bottom Bristol Rovers in the first (of what may be many) big relegation six-pointer of 2026,” writes Jeremy Boyce. “I’m predicting a festive 0-1 and the second managerial departure of 2026 (Michael Appleton). Cheers!”

Full time in the early kick-off, and it’s finished Blackburn 0-2 Wrexham. Sam Smith opened the scoring before Ollie Rathbone smashed in an early goal-of-the-year contender for the visitors, who climb to eighth in the table.

And here’s your final two Championship team sheets. You can follow all the live games and see line-ups in our match centre.

Hull v Stoke

Hull: Pandur, Coyle, Egan, Hughes, Famewo, Slater, Crooks, Joseph, Gyabi, Millar, McBurnie.
Subs: Phillips, Akintola, Ndala, Hadziahmetovic, Furlong, Destan, Ashbee, Palmer, McCarthy.

Stoke: Simkin, Talovierov, Phillips, Wilmot, Gibson, Lawal, Rigo, Thomas, Bae, Cisse, Bozenik.
Subs: Bonham, Bickerton, Agina, Seko, Nzonzi, Manhoef, Fawunmi, Gallagher, Mubama.

Preston v Sheffield Wednesday

Preston: Iversen, Offiah, Storey, Hughes, Whiteman, Valentin, Devine, McCann, Lewis, Smith, Osmajic.
Subs: Walton, Lindsay, Keane, Jebbison, Frokjaer-Jensen, Thompson, Dobbin,
Small, Potts.

Sheffield Wednesday: Charles, Iorfa, Otegbayo, Cooper, Thornton, Palmer, Bannan, McNeill, Amass, Cadamarteri, Ingelsson.
Subs: Horvath, Fusire, Jamal Lowe, Redmond, Shipston, Johnson, McGhee, Emery,
Onukwuli.

More team news …

Swansea v West Brom

Swansea: Vigouroux, Key, Cabango, Burgess, Tymon, Goncalo Franco, Stamenic, Ronald, Yalcouye, Inoussa, Widell.
Subs: Fisher, Fulton, Vipotnik, Eom, Samuels-Smith, Wales, Casey, Galbraith, Sam Parker.

West Brom: Wildsmith, Campbell, Phillips, Taylor, Styles, Diakite, Mowatt, Iling-Junior, Johnston, Ahearne-Grant, Heggebo.
Subs: Griffiths, Mepham, Bielik, Molumby, Maja, Dike, Price, Bostock, Dupont.

QPR v Norwich

QPR: Nardi, Mbengue, Dunne, Cook, Norrington-Davies, Smyth, Madsen, Hayden, Dembele, Kone, Burrell.
Subs: Hamer, Morrison, Field, Morgan, Vale, Varane, Kolli, Poku, Saito.

Norwich: Kovacevic, Fisher, McConville, Cordoba, Chrisene, Mattsson, McLean, Wright, Jurasek, Schwartau, Sargent.
Subs: Grimshaw, Stacey, Darling, Mahovo, Springett, Ben Slimane, Marcondes, Makama, Kvistgaarden.

In case you missed it last night (what, did you have other plans?), Gabon v Côte d’Ivoire at Afcon was a belter of a game. Gabon led 2-0 but lost 3-2, ending their campaign with three narrow defeats. The Gabonese government’s response may be a touch heavy-handed …

Charlton v Coventry

Charlton: Kaminski, Burke, Jones, Bell, Coventry, Bree, Rankin-Costello, Berry, Campbell, Leaburn, Kelman.
Subs: Mannion, Gillesphey, Docherty, Carey, Olaofe, Apter, Gough, Fullah, Knibbs.

Coventry: Rushworth, Latibeaudiere, Thomas, Kitching, Grimes, van Ewijk, Allen, Eccles, Kesler-Hayden, Simms, Wright.
Subs: Wilson, Rudoni, Sakamoto, Mason-Clark, Bidwell, Woolfenden, Brau, Andrews.

Ipswich v Oxford

Ipswich Town: Walton, Furlong, O’Shea, Kipre, Davis, Matusiwa, Cajuste, Walle, Nunez, Philogene-Bidace, Akpom.
Subs: Palmer, Burns, Taylor, Young, Johnson, McAteer, Greaves, Azon, Jack Clarke.

Oxford United: Cumming, Long, Helik, Brown, Currie, Vaulks, De Keersmaecker, Placheta, Goodrham, Lankshear, Krastev.
Subs: Ingram, Mark Harris, Luke Harris, Spencer, Mills, Bradshaw, Leigh, Dembele, Romeny.

Bristol City v Portsmouth

Bristol City: O’Leary, Tanner, Vyner, Atkinson, McCrorie, Randell, Knight, Borges, Twine, Mehmeti, Jakobsen.
Subs: Lumley, Pring, Hirakawa, Dickie, Roberts, Pecover, Armstrong, Meerholz, Bell.

Portsmouth: Schmid, Devlin, Shaughnessy, Poole, Swanson, Dozzell, Le Roux, Segecic, Swift, Bowat, Kirk.
Subs: Bursik, Williams, Matthews, Umeh, Farrell, Blair, Chaplin, Singerr, Yang.

More Championship team news …

Southampton v Millwall

Southampton: Bazunu, Harwood-Bellis, Wood-Gordon, Stephens, Jelert, Downes, Bragg, Manning, Scienza, Matsuki, Archer.
Subs: McCarthy, Quarshie, Welington, Fellows, Jander, Williams, Robinson, Azaz, Armstrong.

Millwall: Crocombe, Crama, Taylor, Cooper, Sturge, Leonard, Doughty, Langstaff, Neghli, Ballo, Azeez.
Subs: Benda, McNamara, Mitchell, Emakhu, Bryan, Matthews, Bangura-Williams, Harding, Howland.

Watford v Birmingham

Watford: Selvik, Abankwah, Alleyne, Pollock, Bola, Maamma, Kyprianou, Louza, Ince, Chakvetadze, Kjerrumgaard.
Subs: Baxter, Keben, Sissoko, Semedo, Morris, Nampalys Mendy, Petris, Baah, Irankunda.

Birmingham City: Beadle, Sampsted, Neumann, Robinson, Cochrane, Iwata, Paik, Roberts, Willumsson, Anderson, Furuhashi.
Subs: Allsop, Cashin, Mazwi, Leonard, Isichei, Fujimoto, Koumas, Dykes, Ducksch.

We’re just a few hours into the new year, and a Premier League manager has already left his job. Here’s more on Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea departure – and talks he held with his former club.

Let’s run through some team news, starting at Pride Park.

Derby v Middlesbrough

Derby County: Zetterstrom; Langas, Sanderson, Clarke; Elder, Ward, Adams, Thompson, Clark; Brewster, Agyemang.
Subs: O’Donnell, Forsyth, Batth, Blackett-Taylor, Weimann, Salvesen, Jackson, Brereton Diaz, Travis.

Middlesbrough: Brynn; Brittain, Ayling, Targett, Bangura; Hackney, Morris, Whittaker, Burgzorg; Kaly Sene, Conway.
Subs: McLaughlin, Gilbert, Browne, Hamilton, Nypan, Silvera, Hansen,
Kante, Chaplin.