Bournemouth vs Luton abandoned after Tom Lockyer suffers cardiac arrest
Luton’s Premier League match at Bournemouth was abandoned following Tom Lockyer’s collapse after suffering a cardiac arrest.
The Luton Town defender and captain was attended to by paramedics and staff in the second half, when the score was 1-1 with the clock paused at 65 minutes.
Lockyer was removed from the field of play on a stretcher surrounded by the medical team, and there was a standing ovation from the crowd.
After the players were taken off, the Premier League confirmed the match had been abandoned.
A statement from the Premier League read: “The Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Luton Town FC has been abandoned due to a player medical incident.
“Our thoughts are with Tom Lockyer and all players involved in today’s match.”
An emotional day
06:54 PM GMT
An emotional day
Thankfully the news coming from Luton Town is positive, Tom Lockyer has been ‘alert and responsive’, but still a day to reflect on and remember what’s really important in life. Understandable that the match at the Vitality Stadium was called off and let’s hope the Luton captain makes a full recovery.
Here’s a full and comprehensive round up of what happened on a worrying day on the South Coast.
06:43 PM GMT
More reaction from Bournemouth
Bournemouth responded to Luton’s update on Lockyer’s condition, saying: “We’re relieved to hear Tom is responsive.
Our thoughts will continue to be with Tom and his family at this time. We’d like to thank all the medical staff for their quick action as well as everyone inside the stadium for their support and unity during a difficult moment.
06:36 PM GMT
An unhappy Pep Guardiola speaks to the BBC - 'We made bad decisions'
“We gave away two points. We had a good performance. We controlled the transitions really well and made a lot of set pieces but Crystal Palace’s second goal cannot happen at this level. We took bad decisions in the 18-yard box and we were punished.”
06:23 PM GMT
Fabrice Muamba sends his best wishes to Lockyer
Fabrice Muamba has tweeted his best wishes to Tom Lockyer. In March 2012, Muamba suffered a cardiac arrest while playing for Bolton against Tottenham.
Muamba wrote: “Wishing you a speedy recovery, Tom Lockyer. It’s great to hear you are responsive and alert. Rest up and God willing you recover well. Thinking of you and your family today.”
Wishing you a speedy recovery, Tom Lockyer. It's great to hear you are responsive and alert. Rest up and God willing you recover well. Thinking of you and your family today 🙏🏾❤️ pic.twitter.com/gp2vwfrFKD
— fabrice muamba (@fmuamba6) December 16, 2023
06:01 PM GMT
Wales FA have tweeted their thoughts
Lockyer is a Wales international with 16 caps to his name.
Our thoughts are with Tom Lockyer ❤️ pic.twitter.com/5NQdSuEZ2x
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) December 16, 2023
05:50 PM GMT
Luton Town confirm Tom Lockyer suffered a cardiac arrest
Here’s the latest club statement in full
Our medical staff have confirmed that the Hatters captain suffered cardiac arrest on the pitch, but was responsive by the time he was taken off on the stretcher.
He received further treatment inside the stadium, for which we once again thank the medical teams from both sides.
Tom was transferred to hospital, where we can reassure supporters that he is stable and currently undergoing further tests with his family at his bedside.
We would like to thank everyone for their support, concern and loving messages for Locks.
05:40 PM GMT
A happy Mauricio Pochettino speaks to the speaks to the BBC...
On the win...
“I’m very pleased. The performance was good. It’s always good against a team who play aggressively with a low block. In the second half we changed the position of Palmer and Raheem Sterling, we tried to put Palmer and Mudryk in a better position in front of goal.”
On the form of the side...
“I’m confident, even when we lose. I really believe in the players and the club. Now it’s about to use that in the next competition in the quarter-final of the Carabao Cup.”
On Cole Palmer...
“For me he’s a playmaker, a player who can link the team. He’s also a player with the capacity to score goals and give assists. The contribution of Cole Palmer from day one has been massive.”
05:36 PM GMT
Man City's Rico Lewis speaking to the BBC
On the shock comeback draw...
“It’s really unfortunate but we’ve got to look at ourselves and look at our individual decisions and then look at us as a group. We can’t blame anyone else. We can only blame ourselves for it.”
On the Palace penalty that secured them the point...
“There’s no complaints. The ref’s given it as a penalty, it’s a penalty. That’s all I can say. Like I said, it’s down to us. It’s our mistakes. There’s no complaints from us, only to ourselves.”
05:25 PM GMT
Luton issue statement about Tom Lockyer
We all hope and pray for our leader and captain Tom Lockyer, who is thankfully responsive and has been taken to hospital.
We don’t know the full extent of what happened and what the next steps are at this stage, but we thank Bournemouth and the medical staff on both sides for their immediate response, which was absolutely amazing.
We are sorry to all supporters present that players from both sides were in no state of mind to continue with the game after seeing their much-loved team-mate and friend taken off like that, and staff could not carry on with managing the game in such circumstances having had to deal with the situation.
We thank everyone for the wonderful applause and singing of Locks’ name inside the stadium at such a difficult time. Now is the time for all of our players, staff and supporters to come together as we always do and give our love and support to Tom and his family. Our thoughts are with him and them all.
05:09 PM GMT
Palace do like an away day at the Etihad
They’ve won twice there before and today, having been down and out at 2-0, came back to shock Pep’s title chasers.
There were boos ringing out at the final whistle...
05:04 PM GMT
The three remaining games are all over
Here are the full-times.
Manchester City 2-2 Crystal Palace
Newcastle 3-0 Fulham
04:59 PM GMT
There's been a goal at the Etihad, but for who?!
It’s only gone for Palace...so much for it being game over when City went 2-0 up.
The equaliser has come from the penalty spot: Foden tries to clear the ball as Mateta is through, but only suceeds in bring him down and Paul Tierney points straight to the spot.
Olise makes no mistake from 12 yards and what a turnaround...more City slip ups...
Man City 2-2 Crystal Palace
04:57 PM GMT
Thoughts flooding in for Lockyer
Praying for Tom Lockyer 💙 🙏 pic.twitter.com/g2aeIfMIRq
— John Terry (@JohnTerry26) December 16, 2023
Thoughts and Prayers with Tom Lockyer and his family 🙏🏾
— Ashley Young (@youngy18) December 16, 2023
Tom Lockyer 🙏🏼
— David de Gea (@D_DeGea) December 16, 2023
04:53 PM GMT
GOAL: Newcastle make sure of the three points
Newcastle 3-0 Fulham
Dan Burn has two goes at goal after Bruno’s brilliant cross. Leno, in the Fulham goal saves the initial header, but the lanky defender hits home the rebound.
04:51 PM GMT
Bournemouth vs Luton called off
After conversations with both managers and, I assume the players as well, the referee Simon Hooper has called the match off. Obviously the result of a match pails in importance to the health of the players and probably the right decision to make.
Lockyer is apparently responsive and let’s hope that he is fine and makes a full recovery.
04:44 PM GMT
Still no news on whether play will resume at the Vitality
The players are still in the dressing rooms.
The Bournemouth staff doctor has confirmed that Tom Lockyer is "alert & responsive". #BOULUT
— Gary Taphouse (@garytaphouse) December 16, 2023
04:43 PM GMT
Look away now Broja...
It should be 3-0 at Stamford Bridge, Palmer again at the heart of it, and somehow Broja misses from a yard...oh dear.
04:41 PM GMT
Slither of hope for Palace
Yep, they’ve got a goal back at the Etihad. It’s come via the boot of Mateta who has an open goal to slot into after fine work from Jeffrey Schlupp.
Man City 2-1 Crystal Palace
04:40 PM GMT
GOAL: Newcastle double lead
Newcastle 2-0 Fulham
Almiron taps into an empty net after a lovely pass from Anthony Gordon.
04:36 PM GMT
Tom Lockyer
Is alert and responsive, that is good news.
04:34 PM GMT
Brilliant Bruno
If there has been a silver lining to Newcastle’s injury problems it has been the emergence of Lewis Miley and the 17-year-old has come to his side’s rescue with his first goal for his hometown club. It was a lovely finish but when you see the highlights look at the brilliance of Bruno Guimaraes in the build up who beats four players.
04:33 PM GMT
While concentrating on events at Bournemouth
Newcastle took the lead against 10-man Fulham.
Bruno Guimaraes does brilliantly to beat several players before Lewis Miley fires home his first goal for his hometown club. He’s an impressive young player.
Newcastle 1-0 Fulham
04:30 PM GMT
Tom Lockyer being carried off the pitch
Let’s hope he’s OK, the Luton captain had heart surgery in June to address a problem that saw him collapse during Luton’s play-off final win at Wembley. But it’s not clear whether this incident is similar or the result of contact.
We’ll let you know more as soon as we receive information.
04:29 PM GMT
Support for Tom Lockyer
There's a break in play as Tom Lockyer seeks medical attention.
We are all with you, Locks 🧡 pic.twitter.com/vaGHqXf8Vk— Luton Town FC (@LutonTown) December 16, 2023
04:26 PM GMT
Players taken off the pitch at the Vitality Stadium
Tom Lockyer is still being looked at by the medics. The fans are clapping and cheering him while he receives treatment. Still not clear what happened. But worrying and troubling scenes on the South Coast.
04:24 PM GMT
Lewis clearly happy with the second
City fans not happy with Var again, after Julian Alvarez’s free-kick was ruled out moments earlier for Rodri being offside.
Lewis was checked when he volleyed in from close-range but got the all clear.
”****ing get in” he was clearly seen mouthing when it was confirmed as his goal.
04:23 PM GMT
GOAL: Breathing space for Chelsea
Chelsea 2-0 Sheffield United
Tap in for Jackson after Palmer crosses from the byline. Sheffield United have offered nothing in attack and you suspect Chelsea have the points all wrapped up.
04:21 PM GMT
Worrying scenes at Bournemouth
There’s big concern here for Tom Lockyer. It is concerning enough for Luton boss Rob Edwards to sprint onto the pitch to tell players to move away. The game has been paused while he receives medical attention.
More as we learn what exactly has happened...
04:18 PM GMT
GOAL: City double lead
Man City 2-0 Crystal Palace
You suspect that that is now Game, Set and Match at the Etihad. Grealish passes to Phil Foden who dinks it into the area and Rico Lewis fires it home.
04:17 PM GMT
Sigh of relief at Stamford Bridge
Goal for Chelsea! Pochettino swapped the positions of Palmer and Sterling at half-time and it has paid off as the pair combined for Palmer to score...oh wait, VAR check...it stands!
04:16 PM GMT
GOAL: Bournemouth equalise
Bournemouth 1-1 Luton
They’ve dominated since Luton took an early lead and it’s a scrappy equaliser from Solanke - they won’t mind about that.
04:15 PM GMT
GOAL: There's a goal at Stamford Bridge, but who's it for?
It’s gone to the hosts and it’s a much-needed strike...It’s a well-worked goal and it’s come via the boot of Cole Palmer (who is a huge bright spot in a grey season for Chelsea). He combines with Sterling before smashing it into the back of the net from short range.
Chelsea 1-0 Sheffield United
04:09 PM GMT
Chelsea looking limp
Chelsea 0-0 Sheffield United
The hosts are the better team but without any real cutting edge in the final third, and it’s all really comfortable for Sheffield United at the moment.
04:06 PM GMT
They're back under way at Bournemouth and Stamford Bridge
Big half for Chelsea coming up after they were booed off at the break...
04:00 PM GMT
All the half-times
Bournemouth 0-1 Luton
Chelsea 0-0 Sheffield Utd
Man City 1-0 Crystal Palace
Newcastle Utd 0-0 Fulham
Not many options for highlights reel...
03:53 PM GMT
City have dominated
And at half-time it’s Man City 1-0 Crystal Palace. The visitors haven’t had a foothold in this match and you fear that it could be a long second 45 minutes for Roy Hodgson’s men.
03:51 PM GMT
No festive cheer at Chelsea
Chelsea finish the half with just one shot on target and are booed off by so of their fans.
03:50 PM GMT
Half-time at Stamford Bridge
And it remains goalless (Chelsea 0-0 Sheffield United)...that will, for obvious reasons, please Chris Wilder more than Mauricio Pochettino.
03:49 PM GMT
All quiet in the Premier League
Not a 45 minutes for the over excitable marketing types (BEST LEAGUE IN THE WORLD EVER!). Just two goals in the four 3pm kick-offs.
03:47 PM GMT
Fair amount of added time at St James' Park
Newcastle 0-0 Fulham
There will be as many as eight extra minutes in the North East. Plenty of time for another Newcastle injury then...
03:46 PM GMT
Half chance for Chelsea
Chelsea 0-0 Sheffield United
Decent shot on the edge of the area from Nicolas Jackson, but he cannot quite curl it into the corner of the net.
03:39 PM GMT
Another injury for Newcastle!
Newcastle 0-0 Fulham
Yep, they just keep on coming...this time it’s Joelinton’s limping off! The impressive youngster Lewis Miley comes on to replace him.
03:37 PM GMT
It's all Man City and a change for Palace
David Ozoh, 18, is going to come on for Crystal Palace as Joel Ward is struggling. Reshuffle for Roy Hodgson, with Chris Richards dropping back into the defence and the teenage sub in central midfield.
03:34 PM GMT
Snoozefest at Stamford Bridge
Only one shot on target so far at Stamford Bridge - pretty uninspiring stuff from the home side. Nicolas Jackson keeps getting caught offside, much to the frustration of Mauricio Pochettino and most of the Chelsea crowd.
03:33 PM GMT
Goal-getter Grealish
Jack Grealish makes it 1-0 to Manchester City after a load of pressure on Crystal Palace’s defence. Phil Foden nutmegged Joel Ward to set it up and Grealish scored in his third straight Premier League game. It is the first time in his career he has done that.
“F--- VAR” sang the City fans as they waited for Stuart Attwell to make the check at Stockley Park. It seemed to take a long time for a relatively straightforward decision.
03:30 PM GMT
Var works in huge shock...
Having initially shown Raul Jimenez a very lenient yellow card after a horrible aerial challenge on Sean Longstaff, which started off looking like a flying karate kick, before his hip connected with the face of the Newcastle player, referee Sam Barrott upgraded to a red. A very good VAR intervention.
03:28 PM GMT
GOAL! City go one up against Palace
Man City 1-0 Crystal Palace
It’s been coming and it’s Jack Grealish who has found the back of the net. Foden plays in Grealish and he makes no mistake with the finish. There’s a hint of offside and it goes to Var - but after a check the goal stands.
03:26 PM GMT
RED CARD!
Newcastle 0-0 Fulham
The visitors are down to 10 men early on and it’s Jimenez who has been sent to an early bath. The Mexican challenges Sean Longstaff, it seems that he jumps in and uses his body to collide into the upper body of Longstaff. It was initially given as a yellow card but Var intervened and was upgraded to red.
03:20 PM GMT
Bournemouth one-down but dominating
Bournemouth 0-1 Luton
Since Adebayo’s opener it’s been one-way traffic for the hosts. Luton keep giving the ball away and look vulnerable to the counter.
03:18 PM GMT
Injuries, they keep on coming...
And now Fabian Schar has pulled up with what looks like a nasty hamstring injury. Something about never raining but pouring...
03:16 PM GMT
More injury woe for Newcastle
Newcastle 0-0 Fulham
Just what Eddie Howe didn’t want to see. Fabian Schar is off with an injury Kraft has come on. They may be the richest club in the world (and have all the associated problems with being owned by a nation state...) but this season proves that even the money-bags clubs can be hugely affected by injuries.
03:11 PM GMT
Fancy a Trevor Sinclair?
Newcastle 0-0 Fulham
Well Raul Jimenez clearly did - the Fulham man attempts an overhead kick from outside the penalty area (ambitious...) but Dubravka in the Newcastle goal isn’t troubled.
Here’s how you score the spectacular: Trevor, take it away...
03:08 PM GMT
Good chance for City
Man City 0-0 Crystal Palace
It came the way of Alvarez who forced Dean Henderson into a fine save - the cross came in from Kyle Walker and the Argentine glanced a header that the Palace keeper dealt with well. The key for Palace, you suspect, will be to keep level with their hosts for as long as possible, an early goal for City might well mean game over...
03:05 PM GMT
GOAL: Luton take an early lead at Bournemouth
Bournemouth 0-1 Luton
The visitors have taken the lead at in-form South Coast club. It’s the big man Adebayo who, as he did against Arsenal, rises highest at a corner to head Luton into the lead.
03:03 PM GMT
Before KO at Stamford Bridge
Pochettino had this to say...
“We look to find the best combination. It’s a period of a lot of games so it’s important to share, players we have in the squad who we need to be careful with and manage the load, and try to find the best combination to perform in the way that we want.”
03:02 PM GMT
All the matches are under way
And it’s been a decent change for Chelsea at home to Sheffield United, they have an early corner that the visitors deal with well.
03:00 PM GMT
Yet more injury news for Newcastle...
Yet more bad news on the injury front for Newcastle manager Eddie Howe as Alexander Isak, the club’s record signing, is not in the squad after suffering a recurrence of his groin injury. The club are officially briefing it isn’t a big deal but that won’t fill many people with confidence given the litany of injury breakdowns this season.
Sven Botman, though, does make the bench, the first time he has been involved in a squad since September. As has tended to be the case for the last month or so, you feel Newcastle are going to have to win the game with the 11 players starting the match rather than those coming off the bench.
02:58 PM GMT
Here's a stat courtesy of the Premier League
It’s seven months since Chelsea lost three in a row. For Mauricio Pochettino, it’s a decade.
02:57 PM GMT
Pep speaks ahead of Palace match
“We make two good performances and it must continue. The level of Julian Alvarez this season is unbelievable, in every aspect of the game. He is a young player, we cannot forget, he will improve a lot in the little spaces but the dynamic he produces have been unbelievable.”
02:54 PM GMT
City's bogey team...
Yep, you’ve guessed it - it’s Palace!
Since Pep Guardiola arrived in 2016, only three teams have beaten Man City at home on more than one occasion. They are Man Utd, Chelsea, and Crystal Palace. Last season, they were 2-0 down at half-time before yet another Erling Haaland hat-trick.
02:43 PM GMT
Poch under pressure
So Mauricio Pochettino knows these next two matches (today’s vs Sheffield United and next week’s Carabao Cup clash against Newcastle) must go his and Chelsea’s way or the pressure piled onto his shoulders will only increase and questions about his position thrown his way.
With that in mind he’s made five changes to the side that lost to Everton on Sunday. Goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic makes his home debut with Robert Sanchez out with a knee injury. Thiago Silva, Levi Colwill, Raheem Sterling and Nicolas Jackson all return.
The other big news is that Christopher Nkunku has been named in the matchday squad for the first time this campaign.
CHELSEA XI TO FACE SHEFF UTD: Petrovic, Thiago Silva, Disasi, Badiashile, Colwill, Gallagher, Caicedo, Palmer, Sterling, Mudryk, Jackson; Subs: Bettinelli, Bergstrom, Fernandez, Nkunku, Broja, Gusto, Maatsen, Gilchrist, Matos
02:23 PM GMT
TEAM NEWS: Newcastle vs Fulham
Newcastle: Dubravka, Livramento, Lascelles, Schar, Burn, Longstaff, Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton, Almiron, Wilson, Gordon.
Subs: Dummett, Botman, Ritchie, Krafth, Karius, Hall, Gillespie, Alex Murphy, Miley.
Fulham: Leno, Castagne, Adarabioyo, Diop, Robinson, Joao Palhinha, Cairney, Iwobi, Andreas Pereira, Wilson, Jimenez.
Subs: Rodak, Tete, Reed, Ballo-Toure, De Cordova-Reid, Rodrigo Muniz, Willian, Lukic, Vinicius.
Referee: Sam Barrott (West Yorkshire)
02:21 PM GMT
TEAM NEWS: Man City vs Crystal Palace
Man City: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Ake, Gvardiol, Rodri, Lewis, Bernardo Silva, Foden, Grealish, Alvarez.
Subs: Phillips, Stones, Kovacic, Ortega, Gomez, Akanji, Matheus Luiz, Bobb, Susoho.
Crystal Palace: Henderson, Ward, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell, Riedewald, Richards, Olise, Schlupp, Clyne, Mateta.
Subs: Tomkins, Eze, Matheus Franca, Ebiowei, Ahamada, Matthews, Ozoh, Ola-Adebomi, Adaramola.
Referee: Paul Tierney (Lancashire)
02:17 PM GMT
TEAM NEWS: Chelsea vs Sheff Utd
Chelsea: Petrovic, Disasi, Thiago Silva, Badiashile, Colwill, Caicedo, Gallagher, Sterling, Palmer, Mudryk, Jackson.
Subs: Fernandez, Bettinelli, Nkunku, Broja, Gusto, Maatsen, Gilchrist, Bergstrom, Matos.
Sheff Utd: Foderingham, Bogle, Ahmedhodzic, Trusty, Lowe, Vinicius Souza, McAtee, Hamer, Brooks, Archer, McBurnie.
Subs: Adam Davies, Baldock, Traore, Thomas, Norwood, Osborn, Ben Slimane, Larouci, Osula.
Referee: Andrew Madley (West Yorkshire)
02:09 PM GMT
TEAM NEWS: Bournemouth vs Luton
Bournemouth: Neto, Smith, Zabarnyi, Senesi, Kerkez, Cook, Christie, Semenyo, Kluivert, Tavernier, Solanke.
Subs: Mepham, Brooks, Rothwell, Ouattara, Scott, Sinisterra, Moore, Billing, Travers.
Luton: Kaminski, Mengi, Lockyer, Bell, Doughty, Sambi Lokonga, Barkley, Kabore, Townsend, Brown, Adebayo.
Subs: Osho, Andersen, Ogbene, Morris, Chong, Mpanzu, Clark, Krul, Giles.
Referee: Simon Hooper (Wiltshire)
02:06 PM GMT
Big teams fear bloodied noses
Hello and welcome to live Premier League updates from what should prove to be four fascinating 3pm matches with just a hint of banana skin about them.
Struggling Chelsea host Sheffield United on the back of two defeats and should they suffer a third in a row to the bottom-of-the-table Blades, question marks will surely have to be asked about the future of Mauricio Pochettino at Stamford Bridge.
Earlier this week, Pochettino insisted he is “not crazy” for believing in Chelsea’s chances of success despite a growing injury crisis. Chelsea have seen defenders Marc Cucurella and Reece James and goalkeeper Robert Sanchez all join a growing list of sidelined talent this week.
Seventh-placed Newcastle are another team looking to end a run of two consecutive losses but they entertain a Fulham side full of beans on the back of their resounding 5-0 thumping of West Ham last weekend.
Luton may have lost three in a row but the Hatters took the lead in their last two matches against title contenders Arsenal and Man City, only to see the Gunners score a stoppage-time goal to win 4-3 while City hit back twice in the space of three second-half minutes to claim a 2-1 victory, so they can take confidence playing Bournemouth away.
And it’s not like Man City have been firing on all cylinders recently. Although, on saying that, neither have their opponents Crystal Palace so Roy Hodgson’s hopes of a morale-boosting win are likely to suffer a setback.
But whatever happens it’s going to be entertaining, and you won’t miss a single goal with our live updates.
