Weekend's Soccer Roundup: Liverpool versus Brighton, The Blues vs The Toffees and Further Fixtures

Good afternoon from London, a place where the sunshine is indeed shining, though by the time we're at the interval, darkness will be falling. Speaking of which, can there be a positive farewell for Mohamed Salah? Furthermore, that does not have to be one permanently, of course. The player, like many players will be heading to the Africa Cup of Nations, whatever transpires. We await the team news from Liverpool's game with the south coast side.

Here are this afternoon's 3pm UK time fixtures.

• Chelsea versus Everton
• Liverpool versus Brighton

There is also a complete schedule of EFL matches, as well.

Stamford Bridge v Everton

Chelsea Lineup: Sanchez, Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella, James, Fernandez, Pedro Neto, Palmer, Garnacho, Joao Pedro.

Chelsea Substitutes: Jorgensen, Adarabioyo, Badiashile, Bynoe-Gittens, Santos, Hato, Acheampong, Guiu, Estevao.

Everton Starting XI: Pickford, O’Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko, Garner, Gueye, Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall, Grealish, Barry.

Everton Bench: Travers, Patterson, McNeil, Beto, Dibling, Alcaraz, Aznou, Iroegbunam, Campbell.

Match Referee: Thomas Bramall.

Liverpool v Brighton

Liverpool Starting XI: Alisson, Gomez, Konate, van Dijk, Kerkez, Gravenberch, Jones, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Wirtz, Ekitike.

Liverpool Bench: Mamardashvili, Isak, Salah, Chiesa, Robertson, Ramsay, Ngumoha, Lucky.

Brighton Starting XI: Verbruggen, Wieffer, van Hecke, Dunk, Kadioglu, Baleba, Hinshelwood, Minteh, Gruda, Gomez, Rutter.

Brighton Bench: Steele, Welbeck, Kostoulas, Milner, Boscagli, Mitoma, Ayari, De Cuyper, Veltman.

Game Official: Craig Pawson.

Salah starting from the bench for Liverpool. Alexander Isak is also on Alexander Isak. Further selection details to follow but it appears like Wirtz supporting Ekitike in attack.

Big scoreline in the fourth tier, where it's a regional clash of Bristol Rovers v Swindon; the M4 derby. Swindon are ahead 3-0.

In the Championship, three afternoon starts at half-time:

• Norwich 0-0 Southampton
• Oxford 0-1 Preston
• Stoke 1-0 Swansea

League One Updates:

• Huddersfield 1-0 Wigan
• Wimbledon 0-0 Mansfield

League Two Updates:

• Bristol Rovers 0-3 Swindon
• Salford 1-1 Colchester

Subsequent Goals have come through, and it's currently Huddersfield 1-1 Wigan, Oxford 1-2 Preston, Salford 1-2 Colchester, Norwich 1-1 Southampton. At Norwich, whose goal came from Jovon Makama, Southampton failed to convert a first-half penalty and have now equalised through Ryan Manning.

Norwich are back in front, the decisive strike coming from Jovon Makama, his second of the game.

Reports from Spain, where Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso said Kylian Mbappe is fit to play on Sunday against Alaves. Mbappe was absent for the European defeat by Manchester City. Alonso confirmed, "We've got Kylian back, he's ready to play, and tomorrow we'll see and decide if he starts." Real Madrid are without several sidelined players including Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dani Carvajal and Eduardo Camavinga.

Regarding the local derby, one fan reported: "Hi. Bristol Rovers 0 Swindon 3 doesn't tell the half of it. Ten League defeats in a row incoming, which is one club record. Five home losses in a row is another club record... It's not much fun being a Gashead these days." For Swindon, Aaron Drinan has joined Rovers' Kacper Lopata in being shown a red card.

English Football League Second Division 15:00 kick-offs

• Birmingham v. Charlton
• Coventry v. Bristol City
• Leicester v. Ipswich
• Middlesbrough v. QPR
• Millwall v. Hull
• Portsmouth v. Blackburn
• Wrexham v. Watford

League One 3pm fixtures

• Barnsley v. Leyton Orient
• Blackpool v. Lincoln City
• Bolton v. Exeter
• Bradford v. Reading
• Burton Albion v. Wycombe
• Cardiff v. Doncaster
• Luton v. Port Vale
• Peterborough v. Northampton
• Plymouth v. Rotherham
• Stockport County v. Stevenage

League Two 3pm kick-offs

• Accrington Stanley v. Bromley
• Cheltenham v. Harrogate Town
• Chesterfield v. Barnet
• Crawley Town v. Oldham
• Gillingham v. Barrow
• Grimsby v. Notts County
• Milton Keynes Dons v. Cambridge Utd
• Newport County v. Fleetwood Town
• Tranmere v. Crewe
• Walsall v. Shrewsbury

Just two games in the Scottish top flight, too.

• Dundee Utd v. Motherwell
• Livingston v. Dundee