There’s no substitute for experience. Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, who’ll turn 50 this month, spent the buildup to Sunday’s match against Chelsea explaining as much.

“No, of course I am better, definitely,” Guardiola said of his current skill set. “Experience helps you — especially the way I live my profession. Before I thought I would retire soon, now maybe I am thinking I might retire older. I don’t know. 50 already, it is a nice age!”

After Kieran Tierney scored a stunning solo goal on Saturday, I texted a bad joke to a friend saying that was definitely Arsenal’s best goal of the year. Within minutes I had to take it back as the Gunners had combined for one of their trademark beautiful team goals on the way to a 4-0 win over West Brom on Saturday at a snowy Hawthorns.

Tottenham Hotspur condemned the actions of midfielders Erik Lamela and Giovani Lo Celso and defender Sergio Reguilon after the trio breached COVID-19 protocols to attend a Christmas party.

Pictures on social media showed the three Spurs players together at a party along with West Ham United midfielder Manuel Lanzini.

Spurs players Sergio Reguilon, Giovani Lo Celso, Erik Lamela and West Ham's Manuel Lanzini were all pictured breaking lockdown rules over the Xmas period.

Eleventh-place Leeds United takes on Tottenham Hotspur, which could have gone joint-top as little as two weeks ago but has now slipped to seventh, on Saturday.

BURNLEY, England — Burnley's new American chairman has vowed to back manager Sean Dyche in the January transfer window as the East Lancashire club look to pull further clear of the Premier League relegation zone.

The Clarets confirmed on Thursday that American investment group ALK Capital had purchased an 84 percent controlling stake in the club and that the deal had been ratified by the Premier League.

Three-and-a-half years after leaving Schalke to join Arsenal on a free transfer, Sead Kolasinac is returning to the Veltins-Arena on a six-month loan. 

@seadk6 is back!

Welcome home, Seo! #S04 | #Kolasinac

Ole Gunnar Solskjær's Manchester United has the opportunity to pull even with Liverpool on Friday, but the Norwegian and his side will have no easy task. 

Next: #MUNAVL! pic.twitter.com/8J7VgURoZo

— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) December 30, 2020

Newcastle United held Liverpool to a 0-0 draw at St. James’ Park on Wednesday thanks largely to the play of goalkeeper Karl Darlow, who recorded four saves in his third clean sheet of the season. 

The 30-year-old Englishman has started all of Newcastle’s 15 Premier League matches with usual No. 1 Martin Dúbravka recovering from an ankle injury, but Darlow has been the Toons’ early player of the season with only West Brom’s Sam Johnstone recording more saves in England’s top flight.