Coventry v Ipswich, The Foxes v The Rams, along with Additional Football Action Previews
Welcome to a busy evening of Football League as well as international football fixtures. Our focus includes key Championship clashes and those crucial last pool games in this Afcon competition.
Introduction
Greetings to all. You are welcome to the reportedly this penultimate football live blog of 2025. There’s a full EFL slate, kicking off with Coventry v Ipswich at 6pm, while we will also monitor a close watch on both night games from the first group at the Africa Cup of Nations: Morocco hosting Zambia and Comoros v Mali.
We'll be focussing on these matches, with 7.45pm kick-offs except where noted.
Afcon 2025
- Comoros v The Eagles (19:00)
- Zambia v Morocco (19:00)
Championship
- Coventry versus Ipswich (18:00)
- Leicester v Derby
- Boro v Hull
- The Lions versus Bristol City
- The Red Dragons v North End
League One
- Cardiff versus Boro
Recent Team News
Ipswich at Coventry Team News
The early game, between the teams who are first and third in the second tier, looks like an exciting match. Here are the starting elevens.
Coventry (a 4-2-3-1 formation) Rushworth; van Ewijk, the centre-back, Kitching, the left-back; Torp, the captain; Sakamoto, the attacking midfielder, Mason-Clark; the striker.
Substitutes: The backup keeper, Allen, the forward, the defender, the full-back, Latibeaudiere, the midfielder, the youngster, the player.
Ipswich Town (4-2-3-1) Walton; the defender, the centre-half, the defender, Greaves; Matusiwa, Taylor; Walle, the playmaker, Jack Clarke; Azon.
Substitutes: Palmer, the defender, Johnson, the defender, Cajuste, the winger, McAteer, the attacker, Akpom.
Referee Anthony Backhouse (Cumbria).
Afcon 2025: First Group Scenarios
Look, it’s complicated. It always is when some but not all third-place sides qualify. This is the current state before this evening's final set of games.
- The Atlas Lions 4 points, GD+2
- Mali 2pts, GD0 (goals scored 2)
- Zambia 2 points, GD0 (goals scored 1)
- The Coelacanths 1pt, GD-2
In short, Morocco are probably fine but will want to defeat their opponents and top their pool. Zambia probably need at least a point against the hosts. The island nation likely need to beat their rivals, who will probably be okay with a draw.
Lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what-have-yous.
Angola v Egypt Latest
The final act to Group B at this Africa Cup of Nations is being covered. To avoid spoilers, don’t click the link.
Second Tier Table Overview
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coventry | 23 | 31 | 51 |
| 2 | Middlesbrough | 23 | 9 | 43 |
| 3 | Ipswich | 23 | 15 | 38 |
| 4 | Hull | 23 | 2 | 38 |
| 5 | Preston North End | 23 | 7 | 37 |
| 6 | Bristol City | 23 | 7 | 36 |
| 7 | Millwall | 23 | -6 | 36 |
| 8 | Watford | 23 | 4 | 35 |
| 9 | QPR | 23 | -2 | 35 |
| 10 | Stoke | 23 | 7 | 34 |
| 11 | Derby | 23 | 1 | 32 |
| 12 | Southampton | 23 | 4 | 31 |
| 13 | Wrexham | 23 | 2 | 31 |
| 14 | Leicester | 23 | -1 | 31 |
| 15 | Birmingham | 23 | 1 | 30 |
| 16 | West Brom | 23 | -5 | 28 |
| 17 | Charlton | 22 | -6 | 27 |
| 18 | Blackburn | 22 | -4 | 26 |
| 19 | Sheff Utd | 23 | -5 | 26 |
| 20 | Swansea | 23 | -7 | 26 |
| 21 | Oxford Utd | 23 | -8 | 22 |
| 22 | Portsmouth | 22 | -10 | 22 |
| 23 | Norwich | 23 | -9 | 21 |
| 24 | Sheff Wed | 22 | -27 | -8 |
