Premier League LIVE: Mudryk temporarily suspended, Wolves agree contract for new manager, Southampton look at free agent to replace Martin, Sterling’s future

Live Blog

Gameweek 17 fixtures

• ‘Gobsmacked’

  Simon Jordan has provided his view on Mykhailo Mudryk’s failed drugs test.

  The Ukrainian winger has been temporarily suspended after he returned a positive sample for a banned substance, known as Melodonium in an A sample.

  Chelsea and the player are now waiting on the B sample to come back.

  However, Simon Jordan clearly believes that he’s expecting the B sample to be exactly the same.

  Speaking on talkSPORT, he said: “The bottom line is it’s appropriate for the player to be suspended if he’s failed a test, irrespective of what he thinks about it.

  “It’s very unique in football, but there is a process to be followed.

  “I would be gobsmacked if his B sample comes back with anything different from the A.”

• Suspended

  talkSPORT has been informed by sources close to Mykhailo Mudryk that he has been provisionally banned from football after a positive drugs test.

  The Ukraine international and Chelsea have both now confirmed the findings after reports in Ukraine emerged suggesting the issue.

  In a short statement, Chelsea said: “Chelsea Football Club can confirm the Football Association recently contacted our player Mykhailo Mudryk concerning an adverse finding in a routine urine test.

  “Both the club and Mykhailo fully support The FA’s testing programme and all our players, including Mykhailo, are regularly tested. Mykhailo has confirmed categorically that he has never knowingly used any banned substances. Both Mykhailo and the club will now work with the relevant authorities to establish what has caused the adverse finding.

  “The club will not be commenting any further.”

  And on Instagram, Mudryk said: “I can confirm that I have been notified that a sample I provided to The FA contained a banned substance.

  “This has come as a complete shock as I have never knowingly used any banned substances or broken any rules, and am working closely with my team to investigate how this could have happened.

  “I know that I have not done anything wrong and remain hopeful that I will be back on the pitch soon. I cannot say any more now due to the confidentiality of the process, but I will as soon as I can.”

  

• Raheem’s the dream

  Raheem Sterling isn’t planning to cut his loan at Arsenal short in January despite struggling for game time, according to reports.

  The England international joined the Gunners on transfer deadline day in the summer from Chelsea for the season after he was told by Enzo Maresca he wasn’t part of his plans.

  However, the move to the Emirates hasn’t quite worked out.

  He’s only made six Premier League appearances for Arsenal, starting just once.

  It hasn’t been too much better in the Champions League either, with just two appearances.

  But he has started both of their Carabao Cup games.

  Unfortunately, for Sterling, he is Bukayo Saka’s backup, and Mikel Arteta doesn’t drop Saka very often.

  However, he won’t be going anywhere and could yet produce a vital moment this season.

  

• Wolf in sheep’s clothing

  talkSPORT understands that Wolves have verbally agreed a contract with Vitor Pereira for him to become their new manager.

  The Portuguese head coach is set to sign a one-and-a-half year deal at Molineux to replace Gary O’Neil, who was sacked on Sunday.

  The Old Gold will pay his current club, Al-Shabab, £1 million in compensation, and he is travelling to England on Tuesday.

  Pereira has never managed in England and has been in the Middle East since February this year.

  He’s previously been in charge of Porto, Olympiacos and Fenerbahce.

  

• Bournemouth 1-1 West Ham – FULL TIME

  The referee blows the final whistle and brings an end to a cracking Premier League encounter.

  Bournemouth will be disappointed they didn’t win, but they’ll be thankful to Enes Unal for his stunning free-kick.

  That salvaged a point from the match that they dominated.

  Lucas Paqueta thought he must have won the game with a late penalty after Tyler Adams was adjudged to have handled in the area.

  But Unal had the last laugh with a stunning free-kick, and the spoils are shared.

  

  

• GOAL! Bournemouth 1-1 West Ham – Enes Unal

  WOW! WOW! WOW!

  Bournemouth are awarded a free-kick 25 yards from goal after a foul.

  The substitute Enes Unal steps up and whips a stunning effort over the wall.

  It flies beyond Lukasz Fabianski, and just like that, the Cherries are level.

  

• GOAL! Bournemouth 0-1 West Ham – Lucas Paqueta

  HUGE GOAL!

  Lucas Paqueta is the coolest man in the stadium, as he steps up, stops and sends Kepa Arrizabalaga the wrong way.

  He kisses the badge and runs straight over to Julen Lopetegui to give him a hug.

  The Spaniard has been under a lot of pressure, but that is a big sign of support from the Brazilian.

  

  

• Bournemouth 0-0 West Ham – PENALTY!

  The Hammers have a spot kick!

  Aaron Wan-Bissaka drives down the right and drives a cross into the box.

  Tyler Adams’ arm is up in the air, and the ball just clips it as it lands on Tomas Soucek’s head.

  His header is saved, but after a VAR check, the penalty is awarded.

  Danny Murphy isn’t happy.

  Speaking on talkSPORT, he said: “You can’t give that.”

  

• Bournemouth 0-0 West Ham – Chances

  How is this game still 0-0!

  Substitute Phillip Billing sees a shot blocked on the goalline.

  It comes back out to Ryan Christie, and he drives in an excellent strike.

  It looks destined for the net, but there is Lukasz Fabianski to make a stunning one-handed save.

• Bournemouth 0-0 West Ham – Chances

  Andoni Iraola has his team riled up at the start of this second half, with the Cherries coming close in quick succession.

  First, Dango Ouattara cuts in from the left and rifles in a right-footed shot that just deflects wide.

  From the corner, the hosts cleverly work it to Ryan Christie.

  He drives in a stunning strike from the edge of the box that Lukasz Fabianski tips over the bar.

• Bournemouth 0-0 West Ham – HALF TIME

  That’s the end of the first 45 minutes, and it’s all square.

  Both sides have hit the woodwork and wasted good chances, in what has been an entertaining 0-0.

  Antoine Semenyo struck the post with a low shot before Jarro Bowen smacked the crossbar.

  Tomas Soucek and Dango Ouattara then both wasted glorious chances.

  

• Bournemouth 0-0 West Ham – Chance

  Well, Bournemouth had to score that!

  Antoine Semenyo drifts in from the right and drills in a low left-footed strike.

  It deflects to the far post and lands perfectly at Dango Ouattara’s feet.

  Lukasz Fabianski is at the other side of the goal, so all he has to do is fire in at the near post.

  But he drills his effort back across goal, and Fabianski blocks with his legs.

  

• Bournemouth 0-0 West Ham – Chance

  That should be 1-0 to the visitors!

  Mohammed Kudus has been very good in this first half, and he beats his man on the outside.

  He delivers a great cross to the far post that is chested down by Tomas Soucek.

  He has the whole goal to aim for but drags a bobbly effort wide of the far post.

• Bournemouth 0-0 West Ham

  Happily, it appears as if Evanilson has avoided any serious damage to his knee.

  Initially, it looked as if it was going to be very bad for the striker.

  But after a quick check over by the physio, he’s good to carry on.

  Of course, the Cherries will continue to monitor him, but for now, he’s still involved.

• Bournemouth 0-0 West Ham

  Some real concern here for Evanilson.

  The striker jumps into the air, and as he lands, he jars his knee.

  Immediately, he signals to the bench that he’s in trouble, and the West Ham players put the ball out.

  Andoni Iraola also looks concerned…

  

• Bournemouth 0-0 West Ham

  Carlos Soler is booked and will miss West Ham’s next game against Brighton after stopping Antoine Semenyo.

  The Bournemouth winger picked up possession in his half and drove through midfield.

  He got away from Edson Alvarez, but before he could pick a pass, Soler brought him down.

  In truth, that was probably a very good booking for the Spaniard to take.

• Bournemouth 0-0 West Ham – Chance

  Now it’s the Hammers’ turn to hit the woodwork!

  Mohammed Kudus threads a fantastic pass through midfield for Jarrod Bowen.

  He drives to the edge of the box and cuts in on his left foot.

  Bowen then bends a lovely strike that flashes off the top of the bar and out for a goal kick.

  

• Bournemouth 0-0 West Ham – Chance

  Very close to a Bournemouth opener!

  The ball is played into Evanilson, and he cleverly flicks it over the top for Justin Kluivert.

  The Dutchman nods it on and into Antoine Semeyo’s path.

  He takes a touch and drills a shot towards goal that beats Lukasz Fabianski.

  But it clips the outside of the post and deflects behind for a goal kick.

  

• Bournemouth 0-0 West Ham – Kick-off

  We are underway on the south coast for the final Premier League match of this gameweek.

  Bourenmouth start as big favourites and can end this evening in fifth, while the Hammers are seeking back-to-back wins.

  talkSPORT has live and exclusive commentary, with Sam Matterface and former Fulham midfielder Danny Murphy taking you through the action.

  To tune in to talkSPORT through the website, click HERE for the live stream.

  You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.

  

• ‘It’s time’

  Jamie Carragher believes that would be best for both Marcus Rashford and Manchester United if he were to leave the club.

  This comment follows from the England international being dropped against Manchester City on Sunday.

  He wasn’t injured, with Ruben Amorim confirming it was a tactical move to leave him out.

  And the Sky Sports pundit believes the time has come for Rashford to move on.

  Speaking on Monday Night Football, he said: “I think in some ways, it feels a bigger decision than it actually is [leaving out Rashford].

  “It looks like a big message but is Marcus Rashford in the best XI?

  “I think we talk about Marcus Rashford too much. He’s been a really good player for Manchester United, but it is time for him to leave the club.

  “But whether there will be any takers, who knows.

  “I think a parting of the ways is inevitable.”

  

• Botman and Robin

  Newcastle United defender Sven Botman is playing his first match in around nine months this evening.

  The Dutchman suffered a fully torn ACL during a 2-0 defeat for Newcastle in the FA Cup against Manchester City.

  This followed a partial tear of the same ligament in September 2023, but he elected not to have surgery then.

  But after fully tearing the ACL, Botman had surgery and was ruled out for the remainder of the season.

  But after a long time out, he starts for the Toon’s Under-21s in their Premier League 2 clash against Chelsea.

  Given Eddie Howe only has three first-team centre-backs available, he will be hoping Botman gets through the tie unscathed and bags some valuable minutes.

  

• Bournemouth vs West Ham – Teams

  Right, we have the XIs in for this one on the south coast.

  Bournemouth make one change from the 2-1 win over Ipswich last Sunday, as the man who scored the winner, Dango Ouattara comes in for Marcus Tavernier.

  Ouattara changed the game at Portman Road with a goal and an assist, and tonight, he gets his chance from the start.

  For the Hammers, Julen Lopetegui makes two changes from the 2-1 victory against Wolves.

  Vladimir Coufal and Lucas Paqueta come into the side.

  Emerson and Crysencio Summerville miss out, with Emerson not even on the bench.

  Bournemouth: Arrizabalaga, Smith, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez, Christie, Cook, Semenyo, Kluivert, Ouattara, Evanilson

  Subs: Travers, Brooks, Adams, Hill, Unal, Billing, Aarons, Winterburn, Kinsey-Wellings

  West Ham: Fabianski, Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Kilman, Coufal, Alvarez, Soucek, Kudus, Soler, Paqueta, Bowen

  Subs: Areola, Summerville, Fullkrug, Guilherme, Ings, Irving, Casey, Scarles, Orford

  

• He’s back

  Chris Kamara has announced that he will be back on TV for Amazon Prime on Boxing Day to join talkSPORT Breakfast host Jeff Stelling.

  The former player became one of the country’s most loved pundits during his time working with Stelling on Soccer Saturday.

  In April 2022, he was diagnosed with speech apraxia and had to cruelly retire.

  Apraxia is a neurological disorder that makes it extremely hard to speak, and Kamara has openly admitted just how difficult it was to deal with.

  Things have massively improved for Kamara since his diagnosis, and he will reunite with Stelling for Nottingham Forest’s home clash against Tottenham.

  In a tweet, he said: “Best phone call ever this afternoon.

  “Inviting me to do the Forest v Spurs game on Boxing Day reporting back to the unbelievable @JeffStelling in the studio. I thought I was done, so it’s a big thank you.

  “I am back.”

  

• Monday Night Football

  The final match in the Premier League this gameweek sees Bournemouth welcome West Ham, and it’s live on talkSPORT.

  The Cherries have already beaten Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester City at home this season, while the Irons have won their last two matches on a Monday.

  Julen Lopetegui eased a lot of pressure off himself last week with a 2-1 home victory over Wolves.

  Despite this, the Hammers are still 14th, just six points above the drop zone.

  Meanwhile, a win for Bournemouth by two or more goals would take them above Manchester City.

  talkSPORT’s live and exclusive coverage will be presented by Adrian Durham, with commentary coming from Sam Matterface and former Fulham midfielder Danny Murphy.

  

• Patient Potter

  Darren Bent has been left confused by Graham Potter not taking on a new job in management.

  There were two managerial casualties in the Premier League on Sunday, with Wolves sacking Gary O’Neil and Southampton axing Russell Martin.

  Potter has been linked with a fair few jobs and potential vacancies since he was sacked by Chelsea last year, but he remains unemployed.

  “The fact that Potter hasn’t been given an opportunity yet surpises me,” Bent said on Monday’s Drive show. “What is he waiting for?

  “With some managers, the longer you’re out, the more you’re forgotten about.”

  He added: “He’s obviously waiting for the right opportunity.

  “But when he said no to Ajax and his style of play suited them, it has to be the contract situation.”