Tottenham vs Southampton live: Harry Kane breaks Alan Shearer's Premier League goal record as Spurs thrash Saints
Follow the latest from the Premier League clash at Wembley Stadium
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Your support makes all the difference.Tottenham have the chance to move back into the top four when they take on Southampton at Wembley Stadium in the Boxing Day early kick-off as the first of eight Premier League games.
Spurs striker Harry Kane seized his final chance to break Alan Shearer’s record of 36 Premier League goals in a calendar year, with the mark having stood for 22 years since Shearer helped fire Blackburn Rovers to the title until Kane headed in the opening goal of the match.
Spurs do have injury concerns on their hands though, with Eric Dier a doubt after suffering a calf strain and manager Mauricio Pochettino ready to rotate his side in order to avoid fatigue over the festive period. Southampton meanwhile are without the suspended Charlie Austin, who has been banned for three matches due to violent conduct, while defenders Cedric Soares and Ryan Bertand are doubtful.
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Good morning and welcome to our live Boxing Day coverage of the Premier League, kicking things off with Tottenham vs Southampton at Wembley Stadium.
The match is the first of eight matches on a bumper day of festive footy, and four of the top six are all in action in what could prove to be an important round in the race for the top four.
Premier League leaders Manchester City do not play until Wednesday, so rivals Manchester United will look to make up lost ground on Pep Guardiola's side following the 1-1 draw with Leicester City last time out when they take on near-by Burnley. Chelsea meanwhile will look to close the gap on the top two when they face Brighton, while Spurs have an early chance to overtake Liverpool and return to the top four if they beat Saints, with the Reds not in action until the evening kick-off against Swansea.
So enjoy all the festivities with our Premier League live blog throughout the day right here.
Ahead of the team news, let's have a look at what's happening down Wembley Way...
I haven't seen queues like this on a Boxing Day since Hamleys knocked 60% off the Ghostbusters' Fire House Headquarters back in 1988.
Here's a more in-depth focus at how the teams line up at Wembley...
...where Mauricio Pochettino has made two changes to the Spurs side that won so convincingly at Turf Moor on Saturday. Ben Davies and Moussa Sissoko drop to the bench, allowing Danny Rose and Mousa Dembele to come in at left-back and central midfield respectively. Harry Kane, one strike away from setting a new Premier League record for goals in a calendar year, leads the line.
Meanwhile, there are four changes in the Southampton ranks. In the visiting midfield, Oriol Romeu, Mario Lemina and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg come in with Steven Davis, James Ward-Prowse and Dusan Tadic dropping to the bench. There's also a start up top for Shane Long, his first for a month. Two notable absentees from the Southampton squad are striker Charlie Austin, banned for three games for violent conduct after he clashed with Huddersfield goalkeeper Jonas Lossl at the weekend, and Virgil van Dijk. There's no place for the Dutch defender once again as talk of a potential January transfer to Liverpool increase.
Tottenham: Lloris, Aurier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Rose, Dier, Dembele, Eriksen, Dele, Son, Kane
Subs: Vorm, Trippier, Davies, Winks, Sissoko, Lamela, Llorente
Southampton: Forster, Stephens, Yoshida, Hoedt, Targett, Romeu, Lemina, Hojbjerg, Boufal, Redmond, Long
Subs: McCarthy, McQueen, Pied, Ward-Prowse, Davis, Tadic, Gabbiadini
Referee: Graham Scott
Has anyone seen this man? The last sighting of Virgil van Dijk in a Southampton kit.
Meanwhile, in the Championship...
Get set for a clamour for baseball caps in the Teeside Boxing Day sales.
Here's a double whammy for Southampton fans...
...news of Tottenham's impressive history on this date and a reminder of when Portsmouth were decent.
Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino has been speaking about his star striker, Harry Kane, and the potential for a new Premier League record.
If he can make history by scoring a goal today, it would be fantastic for him – but he is thinking that the priority for him is scoring a goal that helps the team win.
Harry Kane needs one goal to set a new Premier League record, but another striker on the Wembley pitch this afternoon needs just one goal to give himself...well...a break.
Shane Long hasn't scored for club or country in his last 33 appearances.
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