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Hello and welcome to the Newcastle United live blog for Sunday, December 24.

Newcastle United beat West Ham yesterday ending a damaging run of eight defeats from nine as they enter the crucial Christmas period. While Rafa Benitez is battling problems on the pitch there is also a measure of uncertainty off it, with the takeover still apparently up in the air.

United have been linked with a crop of new names - Islam Slimani, Danny Ings and Charly Musonda were among the names linked on Wednesday.

We'll have the latest on the takeover and also January transfer rumours that are starting to stack up.

As ever we want to hear from you, so please send us your thoughts over Facebook at www.facebook.com/chroniclenufc/ or on Twitter at @ChronicleNUFC.

West Ham 2-3 Newcastle

Lee Ryder reviews the game.

Five things we learned. .

Agree?

Morning podcast: strikers

It was the midfielder who netted the goals yesterdays and the striker force have lacked goals all season - here’s Supermac’s take.

Benitez on Diame and Saivet

It’s fair to say, there were a few reservations when the team were announced but Rafa, he had no worries.

Saivet understands the game, technically he is good and he can take free-kicks. Both he and Diame are from Senegal so it was important they understood each other and they did really well.

Good morning!

Happy Christmas Eve! What a day it was yesterday! Let’s recap!