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The Fiver | Adding insult to injury, Alex McLeish hasn't been sacked

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Shortbread McFiver woke up at 5.05pm on Sunday on a San Marinian strada. The Fiver’s increasingly problematic stereotypical cousin from north of Brexitland had spent the previous evening sampling Scazzottata, the grappa-flavoured diesel beverage (EN 590 standard, €1.20/l at Agip), his head was sore, and he was irritated to discover that he’d missed the first four minutes of Scotland’s Euro 2020 qualifier with the enclaved microstate in which he’d just met the brand new day. “Jings, crivens and other words popularised by DC Thomson,” he cried, realising that Kenny McLean had already opened the scoring with a deft header. “At least this is the worst I’ll feel all day.” Oh Shortbread!

Related: Old Firm hype allows SFA to hide sorry tale of grim football governance | Ewan Murray

Paying homage to some of our best loved kits over the past six years!  Revealing the limited-edition @nikefootball celebration shirt that features a “mashup” of nine memorable City kits from our six-year partnership with Nike ⚽️ #mancity

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Spain 2-1 Norway, Italy 1-0 Finland and more: Euro 2020 qualifiers – as it happened

Sergio Ramos and Moise Kean made the headlines as Spain and Italy got off to winning starts.

Euro qualifiers roundup: Spain and Italy start with wins

10.52pm GMT

Here’s what happened tonight in the Euro 2020 qualifiers

Related: Euro 2020 qualifying roundup: Spain and Italy start with wins, Swiss beat Georgia

9.51pm GMT

It won’t go down as one of international football’s more memorable nights. No shocks, no surprises. Then again, tell it to 18-year-old Moise Kean, who scored on his first competitive start for Italy. Or the irrepressible Sergio Ramos, who dinked home a Panenka to give Spain a winning start. Or Kostas Fortounis, who swept a gorgeous volley into the net for Greece. On second thoughts, it was pretty good after all. Thanks for reading! Nighty night.

9.47pm GMT

It couldn’t be tighter at the top in Group F. Malta, Spain and Sweden all have three points after registering 2-1 victories over the Faroes, Norway and Romania. Meanwhile in Group J, Greece and Italy lead the way, thanks to their 2-0 wins over Liechtenstein and Finland, while Bosnia-Herzegovina are behind in third, the cost of conceding that late penalty.

9.44pm GMT

And after a lengthy period of injury time in Valencia, the whistle blows and the Spanish are off to a winning start. Spain should have been leading by more than Rodrigo’s early opener when Norway won a penalty and equalised through Joshua King. But the Spanish soon had a spot kick of their own, and Sergio Ramos dinked it home like it was 1976.

9.41pm GMT

Told you. Henrikh Mkhitaryan halved Armenia’s deficit in injury time, but Rade Krunic and Deni Milosevic’s goals secured the three points for Bosnia-Herzegovina.

9.40pm GMT

A late consolation from 12 yards for the Armenians in Sarajevo. But it won’t be enough. Too little, too late.

9.38pm GMT

The 2004 champions and 2012 quarter-finalists didn’t make it to the finals last time round. But they’ve started their Euro 2020 campaign in a most acceptable fashion, Kostas Fortounis and Anastasios Donis with their goals.

9.36pm GMT

A satisfying night’s work for Italy, who score twice for the first time since they beat Saudi Arabia last May. A win to begin their Euro 2020 qualification campaign. And what’s best, the exciting Moise Kean has opened his international account on his first start in royal blue.

9.34pm GMT

The closing minutes in Italy, and very nearly a fistfight. Donnarumma spills a simple save, the ball breaking off his shin and nearly rolling to Arajuuri, free on the right. Donnarumma does well to gather at the Finn’s feet, but he receives an accidental kick for his trouble. He springs up looking for a fight, but everyone around him, from both teams, calm him down. Arajuuri was entitled to go for the loose ball. It all cools down quickly enough, and everybody’s happy.

9.31pm GMT

Deni Milosevic hits the bar ... then minutes later finishes neatly to seal the deal for the hosts in Sarajevo.

9.28pm GMT

Quagliarella pearls a shot towards the top left. He hits the junction of crossbar and post. The ball pings off the top of the frame and out for a goal kick. So unlucky. Italy’s sub pushing hard for a start against Liechtenstein on Tuesday.

9.27pm GMT

Anastasios Donis makes sure of the points for the 2004 champions in Vaduz, squeezing in a shot from a not particularly generous angle.

9.25pm GMT

Fabio Quagliarella, not long on the field, plants a header towards the bottom left. It’s turned away wonderfully by Lukas Hradecky. It’s not quite Pele versus Banks, but let’s not set the bar ludicrously high. A stunning save.

9.23pm GMT

Kean, fuelled by excitement and happiness, Garrinchas his way infield from the right wing. He enters the area and makes to diddle his way past Vaisanen. He goes over, the defender refusing to give way, turning and sticking his rear out to shove the attacker off balance. That’s a penalty all day long, but the referee’s not interested. That’s the second time Vaisanen has got away with a dismal challenge in the box. Kean looks nonplussed at the non-decision, and no wonder.

9.18pm GMT

Kean realises all that potential in double-quick time! Immobile cuts in from the right. He then slips a ball forward, down the channel, for Kean, who enters the box, draws Hradecky, and slots into the bottom left! So cool! He was never missing. Despite a couple of wasted opportunities earlier in the half, he hasn’t stopped coming at Finland. And now he’s got his reward. What a talent! That’s his first international goal. And Italy have scored two in a match for the first time in a year.

9.15pm GMT

Say what you like about Sergio Ramos, he’s one hell of a player. He scores from the spot ... with a Panenka. Cute as you like!

9.13pm GMT

On another night, Morata could have scored three or four headers. As it stands, he’s got nothing. But hello! Here he comes racing down the left. He’s straining to reach his heavy touch forward. He enters the area ... and is upended by a ludicrous slide from the keeper Jarstein! It’s another penalty!

9.11pm GMT

Now that’s put the cat among the pigeons in Valencia. Spain respond as you’d expect Spain to respond, pouring forward in the hope of instantly reclaiming the lead. A cross from the left finds Morata, who sends a fine header towards the top left. It’s inches wide and high.

9.10pm GMT

Inigo Martinez wrestles substitute Bjorn Johnsen to the ground, as the pair compete under a high free kick sent in from the left. The referee points immediately to the spot. Joshua King steps up and slots into the bottom right, David de Gea with no chance!

9.07pm GMT

As Chiellini scraps for the ball on the floor, Lod stands on his leg. It’s totally accidental, but Chiellini’s not happy. A lot of rolling about. The big man will be fine. He’s up soon enough.

9.04pm GMT

For the second time since the restart, Kean has a wonderful chance to harm Finland, romping into acres down the right. For the second time, he turns down the opportunity to shoot, then plays a terrible ball inside. Italy get a corner as a result, it’s true, but it could have been so much better. And the set piece is a total waste of everyone’s time. Still, Kean’s very young; erratic output is a large part of the promising teenage player’s charm.

9.02pm GMT

Real Madrid loanee Martin Odegaard won’t get a chance to wow his paymasters on his return to Spain. He’s just been hooked. Back off to Vitesse in a hot funk.

8.56pm GMT

End-to-end fun in Valencia. Morata scampers down the inside right only to be denied by Jarstein; Joshua King tears down the left but can’t find a fellow Norwegian in the middle. That was a scintillating run by the Bournemouth star; shame there was no end product.

8.54pm GMT

Italy continue to step it up a bit. Jorginho and Immobile play a crisp one-two down the inside-left channel. The striker can’t get a shot away because Hrdecky is quickly off his line to smother. Then Kean zips down the right, in acres, and should do better than simply earning a corner off the first man. The resulting set piece is a waste of time.

8.50pm GMT

The second halves are under way. That looks odd. It doesn’t seem right. We’re off again, let’s put it like that. And it’s a fast start by Italy, who appear to have been given a bollocking by Roberto Mancini. They look a yard faster. The excellent Bernardeschi dribbles down the left and earns himself enough space to hoick a wonderful cross to the far post, where Immobile is only denied by a brave intervention from Vaisanen. A clash of heads, but both men will be OK to continue.

8.41pm GMT

Half-time entertainment. Big Eck, traipsing around the touchline, wearing a massive hairshirt, trying to avoid the brickbats and cabbages flying down from all four stands.

Related: Winning is only way for Scotland to apologise for Kazakhstan, says McLeish

8.37pm GMT

Bosnia-Herzegovina 1-0 Armenia
Italy 1-0 Finland
Liechtenstein 0-1 Greece
Spain 1-0 Norway

8.35pm GMT

On the stroke of half-time, the 2004 champions take the lead in Vaduz! And it’s a stunner! Dimitris Kourbelis quarterbacks from deep, passing long, the ball dropping over the shoulder of Kostas Fortounis, who sweeps home!

8.32pm GMT

Just before that scramble, Italy had a good shout for a penalty turned down. Bernardeschi dribbled into the area from the right, and had his ankle clipped by the hanging leg of Sauli Vaisanen. Bernardeschi tries to stay up, before finally giving in to gravity. The decision costs him, as the referee assumes he just stumbled a couple of steps later. It should have been a spot kick.

8.30pm GMT

Ciro Immobile powers down the middle in the Nat Lofthouse style. His bargin’ and a-challengin’ panics Finland’s defence; Lukas Hradecky comes through the melee to punch clear. Albeit not with much conviction. The ball drops to Moise Kean, on the edge of the box. He shanks a dismal effort wide left of the unguarded goal.

8.28pm GMT

Spain are playing some lovely one-touch stuff. They ping it around, all flicks and tricks, down the left flank, sending Norway into a flat spin. The ball’s whipped low into the middle, where Jordi Alba rolls home with studied insouciance. Mesmerising. But he’s a yard offside, and the flag goes up.

8.23pm GMT

Rade Krunic opens the scoring in Sarajevo, converting Miralem Pjanic’s corner.

8.22pm GMT

Two headers in a minute for Alvaro Morata! Neither ripple the net, though he’s very unlucky with the first of the two efforts: he plants a header towards the top right, only for Rune Jarstein’s strong arm to shut the gate. That’s some fine keeping.

8.20pm GMT

An absurd escape for Spain! Markus Henriksen tears down the right, reaches the byline, and fizzes a low cross towards Tarik Elyounoussi. A poke of the toenail will send the ball over the line, but Elyounoussi somehow manages to send the ball in the opposite direction as he slides in. David de Gea breathes a sigh of relief and gathers.

8.18pm GMT

Marco Verratti very nearly releases Moise Kean free on goal. A lovely defence-splitter down the inside-left channel. But Finland keeper Lukas Hradecky has read the play well, racing off his line to claim just in time, on the edge of his area.

8.16pm GMT

Finland are forced back into their final third. The in-form Bernardeschi drops a shoulder and mooches from the centre towards the inside-left channel, before threading a low diagonal shot wide of the right-hand post.

8.12pm GMT

So having said that, the Norwegians start to come back into it in Valencia. They fling a few balls into the Spanish box, from both flanks. Sergio Ramos is required to clank a couple of headers away with white shirts lurking. Then David de Gea is forced into a panicked clearance as Daniel Parejo plays him into trouble with a ludicrous backpass.

8.09pm GMT

Spain continue to dominate against Norway. Rodrigo nearly converts a low Jesus Navas cross from the right with a cute back-flick at the near post. Not quite, but for a nanosecond that looked in.

8.07pm GMT

A little period of possession for Finland in the Italian half. The crowd getting a little antsy. The visitors press Italy back, then Robin Lod wastes all the good work by blootering a dreadful effort miles over the bar, and wide to boot. Finland have never qualified for a major international tournament. With shooting like that etc., and so on, and so forth.

8.05pm GMT

The pressure finally counts! Jordi Alba bursts down the inside-left channel and reaches the byline. He scoops into the centre, where Rodrigo can’t miss: he bashes home from six yards, and the three-time champions have got their bid for a fourth European title underway.

8.02pm GMT

Meanwhile Spain continue to press Norway back. Jesus Navas dribbles with great purpose down the right and whips a glorious ball, dripping with danger, across the face of goal. At the far post, Morata can’t connect.

8.01pm GMT

Italy look refreshed. Good. International football needs a strong Italy. Without them, there was something strange about that last World Cup, wasn’t there? Good as it was. Just not quite right. Moise Kean skedaddles down the left, reaches the byline, and whips a ball across the face of the Finnish goal. Cristiano Piccini, coming in at the far post, can only volley wide on the stretch.

7.58pm GMT

Finland respond impressively, working their way down the right wing. Some pretty passing. Then the ball’s teed up for Tim Sparv, just to the right of the D. He snatches at his shot, sending it sailing wide of the left-hand post. Gianluigi Donnarumma had it covered all the way.

7.56pm GMT

Nicolo Barella wins a free kick out on the left. The set piece is flung into the mixer. It’s half cleared by the Finns, and drops to the very same Barella, who hits a low first-time screamer from the edge of the box. The ball’s heading towards the bottom left, until it takes a massive deflection and nestles into the bottom right, past a rooted, wrong-footed Lukas Hradecky. Italy have had terrible trouble scoring goals in the last couple of years, so an early one tonight comes as blessed relief! They celebrate accordingly.

7.53pm GMT

Spain have also come out of the traps with intent to fly. Alvaro Morata, who didn’t have a good game for Atletico Madrid against Juventus the other week, plants a header straight at Norway keeper Rune Jarstein. Plenty of power, but it was such a good chance, he really should have scored.

7.51pm GMT

Italy are very much on the front foot during the early stages of their match with Finland. Federico Bernardeschi, who had such a good game for Juventus against Atletico Madrid the other week, has already got the crowd going with a couple of fine runs down the inside-right channel. But Lukas Hradecky hasn’t had a save to make yet in the Finnish goal.

7.47pm GMT

All of the teams are out, so we’ll be off in a minute. Time for the national anthems, currently being performed concurrently in quadraphonic sound across Europe.

7.29pm GMT

Young scene. Martin Ødegaard was signed by Real Madrid as a 16-year-old in 2015. He’s currently on loan at Vitesse in the Netherlands, so his first competitive start for Norway in four years is timed perfectly. All of Spain will be watching. Meanwhile Italy have handed the 18-year-old Juve prodigy Moise Kean his first competitive start in the blue shirt of his country. Kean was the first player born in the 2000s to play in Serie A, a stat that makes him sound box-fresh at the moment but will one day make him feel so very old. In about 60 years time, admittedly.

7.20pm GMT

Italy: Donnarumma, Piccini, Bonucci, Chiellini, Biraghi, Barella, Jorginho, Verratti, Kean, Immobile, Bernardeschi.
Subs: Sirigu, Mancini, Spinazzola, Pavoletti, Grifo, Romagnoli, Sensi, Politano, Quagliarella, El Shaarawy, Zaniolo, Cragno.

Finland: Hradecky, Granlund, Toivio, Sauli Vaisanen, Arajuuri, Pirinen, Lod, Sparv, Kamara, Hamalainen, Pukki.
Subs: Joronen, Jaakkola, Taylor, Jensen, Schuller, Soiri, Kauko, Leo Vaisanen, Sumusalo, Lam, Karjalainen, Lappalainen.

7.14pm GMT

Liechtenstein: Benjamin Buchel, Wolfinger, Kaufmann, Rechsteiner, Goppel, Hasler, Martin Buchel, Wieser, Polverino, Salanovic, Gubser.
Subs: Hobi, Brandle, Malin, Ospelt, Sele, Kuhne, Meier, Yildiz, Eberle, Frick, Majer.

Greece: Vlachodimos, Bakakis, Siovas, Kourbelis, Koutris, Zeca, Fortounis, Samaris, Masouras, Mitroglou, Bakasetas.
Subs: Paschalakis, Valerianos, Risvanis, Bouchalakis, Siopis, Koulouris, Donis, Kolovos, Mavrias, Papastathopoulos, Kolovetsios, Barkas.

7.13pm GMT

Bosnia-Herzegovina: Sehic, Todorovic, Bicakcic, Zukanovic, Civic, Pjanic, Besic, Krunic, Visca, Dzeko, Zakaric.
Subs: Kjosevski, Kolasinac, Memisevic, Duljevic, Cimirot, Gojak, Sunjic, Koljic, Kodro, Milosevic, Piric.

Armenia: Airapetyan, Hovhannisyan, Haroyan, Calisir, Daghbashyan, Grigoryan, Mkrtchyan, Adamyan, Mkhitaryan, Ghazaryan, Karapetyan.
Subs: Meliksetyan, Khachaturov, Manucharyan, Avetisyan, Babayan, Barseghyan, Briasco, Yedigaryan, Hambardzumyan, Ishkhanyan, Ozbiliz, Avagyan.

7.11pm GMT

Spain: de Gea, Jesus Navas, Sergio Ramos, Martinez, Jordi Alba, Parejo, Busquets, Ceballos, Rodrigo, Morata, Asensio.
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Sergi Gomez, Gaya, Saul, Canales, Hermoso, Bernat, Rodri, Mata, Muniain, Sergi Roberto, Pau Lopez.

Norway: Jarstein, Elabdellaoui, Nordtveit, Ajer, Aleesami, Odegaard, Henriksen, Selnaes, Johansen, King, Tarik Elyounoussi.
Subs: Bratveit, Hovland, Rosted, Sorloth, Mohamed Elyounoussi, Fossum, Daehli, Svensson, Linnes, Johnsen, Kamara, Grytebust.

7.07pm GMT

Elsewhere, in Group D ... Switzerland won 2-0 in Georgia, thanks to second-half strikes by Steven Zuber and Denis Zakaria, while according to our own Barry Glendenning, Mick McCarthy’s Republic of Ireland sent out “a loud message across all of Europe. ‘We are not very good!’ it says.” But a win’s a win. Just ask the Scots.

Related: Gibraltar 0-1 Republic of Ireland: Euro 2020 qualifier – as it happened

7.03pm GMT

Final Score. Before we immerse ourselves in this evening’s hot Euro action, let’s find out what’s already happened in Spain and Norway’s Group F.

Malta 2-1 Faroe Islands
Sweden 2-1 Romania

5.02pm GMT

Welcome to our coverage of the Saturday evening kick-offs in the qualifiers for the 2020 European Championship. Here’s the fixture list ...

Bosnia-Herzegovina v Armenia (J)
Italy v Finland (J)
Liechtenstein v Greece (J)
Spain v Norway (F)

Continue reading...

England 5-0 Czech Republic: Euro 2020 qualifier – as it happened

Raheem Sterling was the hat-trick hero as England thrashed the Czechs at Wembley to begin their Euro 2020 qualification campaign in style

Sterling hits treble in Wembley demolition

11.45pm GMT

England final have some attackers that the country can enjoy watching ...

Related: England’s discover a perfect, potent blend of skill in attacking trio | Barney Ronay

11.45pm GMT

Elsewhere in international football ...

Related: Euro 2020 qualifiers: France turn on the style but Portugal held to draw

11.44pm GMT

Needless to say, Gareth Southgate was quite pleased with Raheem Sterling ...

Related: Gareth Southgate says England hat-trick hero Raheem Sterling was devastating

11.43pm GMT

Here are your player ratings ...

Related: England 5-0 Czech Republic ratings: Who caught the eye at Wembley

10.00pm GMT

And so this MBM draws to a close. All that’s left is to point you in the direction of Daniel Taylor’s report. Click and enjoy ... and we hope to see you back here for the Montenegro game on Monday evening! Thanks for reading; nighty night.

Related: Raheem Sterling hits hat-trick in England demolition of Czech Republic

9.57pm GMT

Gareth Southgate’s verdict on Sterling’s stunning performance. “Raheem was brilliant, electric all night. He’s looked that all week in training, involved in four of the goals, and I’m really pleased for him. It’s a special night for him. We’ve got exciting wide players, you saw the two young boys as well. Marcus Rashford can play there. We’ve got others. It gets us good offensive players on the field, and higher up the pitch as well. Raheem has really matured as a person and a footballer, he’s hungry for goals and determined to get into the right areas of the pitch. The quality of his finishing, he’s just hitting things instinctively and not thinking about things too much. There was some really good football at times.”

9.48pm GMT

Raheem Sterling, the match ball tucked under his arm, talks! “It was a beautiful team performance. I was happy to help the team, and most importantly we got the win. I’m just confident in myself, trying to get in there and take shots, and not worry about anything. I just go with it. The first goal pleased me the best, to get myself up and running again.”

His captain Harry Kane adds: “It was a brilliant team performance. Everyone worked hard and pressed. We’re enjoying it out there, we’re confident off the back of last summer, and the Nations League. So we feel good. Everyone’s expressing themselves, we’ve got young and hungry players.”

9.44pm GMT

Five goals against one of the great European Championship nations. A hat-trick for Raheem Sterling. Extremely promising displays from Jadon Sancho, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Ben Chilwell and Declan Rice. It’s pretty much a perfect start to England’s Euro 2020 qualifying campaign. It’s not a vintage Czech side, sure, but there’s nothing England can do about that. In the other match in Group A, Bulgaria and Montenegro have drawn 1-1, so England sit proudly atop the table. A fine evening’s work.

9.38pm GMT

How about that Raheem Sterling, huh. Thanks to a hat-trick from the flying Manchester City winger, England’s Euro 2020 qualification campaign is off to a flyer. Next up: Montenegro on Monday night!

9.36pm GMT

90 min: Happily for England, the youngster is soon up and about. Happily for the Czechs, there will only be two minutes of added time.

9.35pm GMT

89 min: Hudso-Odoi is down, having collided with Vydra. He looks to have fallen awkwardly on his side, the area he’s clutching.

9.34pm GMT

87 min: Maguire takes an agricultural swipe at the ball, and smacks into Vydra’s shin on the follow-through. That’s not particularly dainty, nor adroit, and will have been a sore one for the Burnley striker. He’s good to continue, though.

9.32pm GMT

86 min: The noise at Wembley is quite something. And no wonder. The 82,575 punters have been treated to an excellent display by England, and in particular the quite magnificent Raheem Sterling.

9.31pm GMT

Sancho turns in the midfield and drives towards goal. He sends a pass wide left for Hudson-Odoi, who dribbles powerfully into the box, opens his body, and sidefoots low and hard towards the bottom right. Pavlenka does well to get a hand to the shot, but can’t do anything as it rebounds to Kalamity Kalas, who can’t get out of the way and slap-traps clumsily into the bottom right. Oh dear.

9.28pm GMT

82 min: Beep beep! Here comes Skoda, taking the place of Schick.

9.27pm GMT

81 min: Soucek, just to the right of the England box, slips a pass inside for Vydra, who snatches at his shot from eight yards. The ball flashes wide of the right-hand post. He should have scored.

9.26pm GMT

80 min: Soucek tries to get the Czechs bouncing down the right this time, but his rolled pass up the flank is miscontrolled by Vydra and England clear their lines.

9.23pm GMT

78 min: It’s party atmosphere in Wembley. Scdhick and Soucek causing Walker and Maguire a few problems down the left doesn’t change that.

9.22pm GMT

76 min: Kane turns in from the left and tries to send a curler into the bottom right. Pavlenka does very well to stick out a strong arm and save. “No shame in losing heavily away from home to a side that are moving up the Fifa world rankings, is there?” asks Simon McMahon, who may or may not be obliquely referring to this:

Related: The Fiver | Humiliation calculated as Kazakhstan = 1978 x (Costa Rica + Uruguay)²

9.20pm GMT

74 min: Schick has a whack from distance. It’s a screamer, too, inches wide of the left-hand post. Pickford wasn’t getting to it.

9.19pm GMT

73 min: Sterling’s second, in the visual style.

2️⃣ for @sterling7
3️⃣ for the #ThreeLions pic.twitter.com/88hvEPjKM4

9.18pm GMT

72 min: More space for Chilwell down the left. His cross is met by Barkley, rising highest, but the resulting header flashes wide right. The Czechs just want to get out of here.

9.17pm GMT

70 min: OK, so that hat-trick goal might be taken off Sterling, as I’m not 100 percent sure his shot was on target, having been set out to the right. However, I’m not sure it wasn’t, either, and who could deny an England hat-trick for this genuinely world-class winger? It’s Sterling’s! And it’s his last act of the evening, as he makes way for Hudson-Odoi.

9.15pm GMT

Sterling is so hot right now. He completes his hat-trick by cutting in from the left and going for a curler into the top right. The ball pings off Celustka’s back and into the top left, past a wrong-footed Pavlenka!

9.13pm GMT

67 min: Darida comes on for Masopust. Lukas. What the Czechs would give for a modern-day Josef right now.

9.11pm GMT

66 min: Sancho scoops a clever ball down the inside right to release Barkley into the area. Barkley’s centre is once again inaccurate, and the visitors can back clear. The Czechs are in damage-limitation mode now, with England looking dangerous in attack again after their stuttering start to the second half.

9.10pm GMT

64 min: Republic of Ireland fans look away: here comes Declan Rice in an England shirt. He comes on for Alli, recently back from injury, his race run.

9.09pm GMT

Alli slips a fine pass down the inside-right channel for Sterling. Novak slides in, and once again the luck’s not with him. His hook clear rebounds off Kalas and back into the path of Sterling, who has his back to goal. Sterling takes a touch, tricks Celustka by turning inside, and curls a delicious shot into the top left past a helpless Pavlenka! What a wonderful finish by this sensational player!

9.06pm GMT

61 min: It’s all a bit scrappy again. But out of the manic pinball nonsense ...

9.06pm GMT

59 min: Alli robs Darida out on the left, and sends Sterling away. Sterling shuttles the ball forward to Kane on the overlap. Kane pulls one back from the byline for Sancho, who can’t connect properly. But the ball breaks off the sliding Novak, then pinballs onto Alli and over the bar from six yards! Alli very close to scoring one of the most farcical goals you’d ever see there.

9.03pm GMT

57 min: Henderson tries to shake England into life again with a burst down the left. But he’s forced to turn back on himself. The home side haven’t been half as dominant since the restart.

9.01pm GMT

55 min: Space for Chilwell down the left. His cross confuses Kalas and Celustka, whose slapstick coming-together nearly ends with the ball sailing into the right-hand side of their own net. Pavlenka does extremely well to swish the ball off the line and away from danger.

9.00pm GMT

53 min: Pickford tries to launch an instant counter and is closed down by Schick, who is booked for his intervention.

8.59pm GMT

52 min: And again they nearly make England pay for what is now officially a Slow Start to the second half. A corner on the right finds its way to Pavelka, eight yards out. England are fortunate Pavelka’s first-time shot is weak and straight at Pickford.

8.58pm GMT

51 min: A free kick for the Czechs out on the right. It’s flashed into the box. Soucek meets it with a diving header, level with the right-hand post, 12 yards out. He eyebrows it across Pickford, the ball sailing an inch wide of the left-hand post. So close to getting the Czechs back in the game!

8.56pm GMT

49 min: Pavelka goes for goal from 25 yards. It’s no good. England counter through Sancho, who from a position to the right of the centre circle, nearly releases Barkley down the inside-left channel. His pass just evades Barkley ... as well as Kalas, who launches himself in the air horizontally and attempts an absurd clearance. Was he trying a Keith Houchen style header or a Rene Higuita scorpion kick? It could have been either. Or both. Anyway, he misses the ball altogether. The Czechs clear.

8.53pm GMT

48 min: But eventually they get moving. Kane, once again quarterbacking from deep, pings a pass down the right to release Barkley into space. The resulting cross isn’t much cop, but this already looks like more of the same as England continue to dominate possession.

8.52pm GMT

47 min: It’s not an exciting start to the half. England roll the ball around the back awhile.

8.50pm GMT

We’re off again! England get the second half underway. The Czech Republic have made a change, replacing Jankto with Matěj Vydra of Burnley.

8.39pm GMT

Half-time entertainment: It’s going well for England at Wembley; over in Brussels, not so much. The incomparable Marina Hyde reports.

Related: For Theresa May, ‘I’m a tin-eared lunatic’ seems to be the hardest word | Marina Hyde

8.38pm GMT

That’s the very last act of the half. The teams troop to the dressing rooms, the Czechs feeling slightly aggrieved at the penalty award, which was in the area of soft-to-generous - was Sterling going to get the ball, and was he really impeded unfairly? - though you can make a case for as well as against. Either way, England are fully deserving of the half-time lead. They’ve been much the better side.

8.36pm GMT

What price a Panenka against the Czechs? That’d be cute, wouldn’t it. But Kane opts for power instead. Which is just as well, because his shot, to the left side of the goal, is close enough for Pavlenka to get a hand on the ball. Kane’s given it a real belt, though, and the keeper’s hand hinges back and the ball reaches its intended destination.

8.34pm GMT

45 min +1: Sterling looks to dribble into the Czech area, chasing a cute Alli backheel down the inside-left. Kaderabek and Kalas close the door by coming together. But the referee says they’ve blocked Sterling, who was trying to squeeze through the middle, unfairly! Did he run into the defenders, or did they bowl him over? Hmm. Kaderabek is booked, anyway.

8.33pm GMT

45 min: Kane, on the edge of the Czech box, turns and attempts an ambitious chip towards the top left. The ball deflects out for a corner, which is easily cleared. “That’s got to be the first time anyone has referred to Raheem Sterling’s leg as telescopic,” notes Dan C, tape measure hanging loosely over his shoulders.

8.31pm GMT

43 min: Both teams seem happy enough to settle for a 1-0 half-time scoreline. Because there’s not an awful lot going on.

8.29pm GMT

41 min: Darida makes good down the inside-right channel and is preparing to shoot when Alli pokes the ball away from him, and out for a corner. The referee blows for a foul at the set piece when Henderson is manhandled by Schick.

8.28pm GMT

39 min: And here’s another fine contribution from Sancho, who Garrinchas his way down the inside right to earn a corner. The Czechs are all over the shop while defending the set piece, Kane seeing a snapshot from the left-hand corner of the six-yard box cleared, Barkley nearly bursting clear down the left when England come again. The ball’s eventually hacked away.

8.26pm GMT

37 min: Ah, this is a bit better. Sancho, out on the right corner of the box, nearly opens up the Czechs by rolling a diagonal pass towards Sterling, six yards out. Celustka hooks clear.

8.24pm GMT

36 min: Jankto high-kicks the ball away from Henderson, who goes down upon being brushed. He wants a free kick but he’s not getting it. This has suddenly become uneventful and scrappy.

8.22pm GMT

34 min: A lull. Which allows us to present SATIRE CORNER with John O’Donnell: “England winning? I blame Raheem.”

8.20pm GMT

32 min: Darida curls the free kick into the England box. Walker contorts his body to clear brilliantly under pressure from Schick, but it’s a free kick anyway, because Kane was tugged back by Kalas.

8.19pm GMT

31 min: Kane shapes to shoot from 25 yards, but falls over. His playmaking has been more impressive than his striking skills tonight. So far. That allows Schick to tear off up the other end. He lays off to Darida, who is clumsily bowled over by Barkley, 25 yards out on the left. A free kick and a chance for the Czechs to load the box.

8.17pm GMT

29 min: The Czechs are on the ropes right now. Walker nearly burns Novak down the right. He’s forced to turn back, but lays off to Kane, who scoops a cross into the mixer. Pavlenka does well to come out and claim, with the effervescent Sterling lurking nearby, sniffing more glory.

8.16pm GMT

28 min: The England goal, in moving picture form.

What a well worked goal by @England!

The front three combine and @Sanchooo10 squares for @sterling7 who finishes a lovely move! ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/6oWHkO4ZGe

8.15pm GMT

26 min: Sterling is so hot right now. That’ll give Sancho a boost, too. He’d been pretty quiet, save a couple of unspectacular and unsuccessful dribbles. But he was alert there, and teed up his team-mate with a cross of fuss-free perfection. Sterling couldn’t miss.

8.13pm GMT

This was deliciously simple. Kane, playmaking from deep, splits the Czech defence with a sliderule pass down the inside-right channel. Sancho is in behind! And he rolls a simple ball across the front of the six-yard box. Pavlenka is out of position, having been drawn towards Sancho, and Sterling sticks out a telescopic leg to guide the cross into the net!

8.11pm GMT

23 min: The Czechs launch their first sortie into England territory. Kaderabek romps down the inside-right channel, before laying off to Darida inside. Darida has time to take a touch and shape a shot towards the top left from 25 yards. Fortunately for England his geometry is all out of whack, and it flies harmlessly over the bar.

8.08pm GMT

21 min: More England possession, though they’re not doing a whole lot with theirs, either. One for the purists so far.

8.07pm GMT

19 min: Schick looks to break up the Czech left, but he’s unceremoniously upended by Walker. The Czechs send the free kick backwards, as opposed to committing players forward. A defensive approach, much as Southgate suspected in his pre-match interview. They’ve not got into England’s final third yet.

8.05pm GMT

17 min: Dier departs, though it’s not Rice who replaces him. Ross Barkley comes on instead. It was probably a little bit too early to be throwing the debutant Rice into the thick of the action.

8.03pm GMT

15 min: Kane wedges a fine pass down the inside-right channel for Sterling, who tries to trap and turn just inside the area. He falls over instead, under pressure from the nearby Kaderabek. Wembley screams for a penalty, but England aren’t getting one. The correct decision.

8.02pm GMT

14 min: Soucek had stood on Dier’s foot while making that aforementioned challenge, and the England man’s down on the turf feeling sore. Declan Rice leaps to his feet and warms up, receiving a smattering of applause as he does so. But he’ll not get on yet. Dier is back up - rubbing his hip, which suggests he’s not ailing as a result of Soucek’s tackle - and good to continue for now.

8.00pm GMT

12 min: The Czechs are beginning to work their way into the match, having been dominated early on. Darida threatens to burst clear down the right but doesn’t trust himself and turns tail. But this is some welcome possession for the visitors.

7.58pm GMT

10 min: Soucek goes in hard, recklessly so, on Dier. If the England man’s early challenge on Selassie was close to a booking, that one was surely over the line. But the referee awards a foul, nothing more. The referee in generous mood. It’s still early, I guess.

7.56pm GMT

9 min: England are hogging possession in the early exchanges. They’re looking dangerous on the wings, both full-backs pushing forward. Chilwell had a little look down the left a minute ago; now Walker is found in acres down the right. His cross isn’t great, but it’s good enough to earn a corner. Nothing much comes from the set piece, but this is encouraging for England.

7.55pm GMT

7 min: Sancho sends Henderson into a little space down the right. Henderson gets to the ball just before it goes out for a goal kick, looping a cross into the box. Pavlenka flaps a bit, but does just about enough to paw it away from the danger zone.

7.53pm GMT

5 min: England stroke it around the back again. Walker plays a heavy ball inside from the right, nearly letting Pavelka in, but Keane is on hand to intercept the pass just in time.

7.52pm GMT

4 min: Dier slides in on Selassie. It’s not a great challenge, and he’s a little fortunate not to go in the book. Hey, it’s early.

7.51pm GMT

3 min: Now the Czechs have a go at rolling the ball around. A measured start by both sides.

7.49pm GMT

And we’re off! The Czechs get us underway, and quickly give up possession. A chance for most of the England team to get an early touch of the ball, as it’s stroked about hither and yon. Both sets of fans contributing to a lovely bubbling atmosphere.

7.48pm GMT

But before the game starts, Wembley pays its respect to Gordon Banks, one of the heroes of 1966. Fred Pickering, another England star of the sixties who passed last month, is also remembered. Wave after wave of the warmest, most heartfelt applause. RIP.

Related: Gordon Banks – a life in pictures

7.44pm GMT

The teams are out! England wear their world-famous white, while the representatives of Czechia sport their similarly storied first-choice red. A rare old atmosphere at Wembley. The Czech anthem is stately and grand. Altogether now!

Where my home is, where my home is
Water roars across the meadows
Pinewoods rustle among rocks
The orchard is glorious with spring blossom
Paradise on earth it is to see
And this is that beautiful land
The Czech land, my home
The Czech land, my home!

7.32pm GMT

The ever-likeable Gareth Southgate speaks to Independent Television. “There’s a lot of excitement in the squad. The fact we’ve got a full house and people are excited means a lot to them. So we’ve got to make sure we put on a performance that excites the fans, and stick with the things that have got us a lot of improvement over the last 12 months. Callum Hudson-Odoi was close to starting: he’s trained really well and we’d have had no hesitation in starting him. Jadon Sancho has had a little bit longer working with us, and a little bit more understanding of how we are. But Callum has been excellent. They are very confident boys, and that’s credit to the older players as well, who have created an environment to which they can come in and feel they can be themselves. Declan Rice has trained really well, and we’d have had no hesitation to start him, but he’s only had a few days with us. We need some of our leaders on the field, having made some changes. It’s important to have stability as well as new attacking talent. It’ll be interesting to see how the Czechs approach it. They look a little more defensive in midfield, so we’ll have to be patient - but also play at a tempo that makes things uncomfortable for them. We’ll be judged on results and performance, and you have to deliver both. We’ve got to handle that expectation.”

7.09pm GMT

A peek inside the changing rooms. England’s shirt is so pretty in its crisp simplicity. Sir Alf would have approved. The pennant Harry Kane will hand over is equally free of baroque embellishment. Shades of Fiorentina violet in the Wembley lighting.

6.44pm GMT

Jadon Sancho of Borussia Dortmund makes his first competitive start for England. Marcus Rashford’s ankle injury gives him that opportunity in attack. England’s other 18-year-old sensation Callum Hudson-Odoi has to make do with a place on the bench. The Chelsea youngster will sit in the dugout alongside

the Republic of Ireland’s
West Ham United’s Declan Rice, both desperate to make their debuts.

6.33pm GMT

England: Pickford, Walker, Keane, Maguire, Chilwell, Alli, Dier, Henderson, Sancho, Kane, Sterling.
Subs: Heaton, Trippier, Rose, Tarkowski, Rice, Ward-Prowse, Barkley, Wilson, Hudson-Odoi, Butland.

Czech Republic: Pavlenka, Kaderabek, Celustka, Kalas, Novak, Soucek, Pavelka, Gebre Selassie, Darida, Jankto, Schick.
Subs: Kolar, Coufal, Zmrhal, Dockal, Frydek, Masopust, Kral, Suchy, Kudela, Vydra, Skoda, Koubek.

3.38pm GMT

On the whole, England enjoy the European Championship qualifiers. In their entire history of participation, stretching back to 1964, they’ve played 96 qualification matches, and only lost ten. Nearly a third of those came under that campaign under Steve McClaren. Oh Steve. Set that fiasco aside, and England haven’t lost one of these qualifiers since November 1999, when Scotland beat them at Wembley. And even then, they still went through to the finals.

Last time round, they won ten out of ten. Well done, Roy! England are unbeaten in their last 18 European qualifiers, ever since McClaren’s rain-soaked Waterloo against Croatia in 2007, so hopes will be high that Gareth Southgate’s World Cup semi-finalists can continue that impressive trend. Especially as they’ve only lost at Wembley once under Southgate, against Spain in the Nations League last year.

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The Fiver | Humiliation calculated as Kazakhstan = 1978 x (Costa Rica + Uruguay)²

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Shortbread McFiver woke up at 2.59pm on Thursday afternoon. “Oof och ooyah ma heed!” the Fiver’s increasingly unacceptable stereotypical cousin from north of Brexitland yelped. Po’ Shortbread was recovering from an evening during which he’d sunk seven bottles of Fistfight, the 87.32%ABV whisky-flavoured turps beverage, one bottle of turps (87.33%ABV) found at the back of Granny Fiver’s sideboard, and, to keep it all down, 18 piping-hot bowls of Cullen Skink. “Ah well, at least this is the worst I’ll feel all day,” chuckled Shortbread, making the best of a bad lot. Oh Shortbread!

Related: Alex McLeish confident of ‘bouncing back’ after Kazakhstan debacle

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Rory McIlroy wins the 2019 Players' Championship – as it happened

Jim Furyk narrowly misses out on becoming oldest championMcIlroy given boost going into next month’s Masters

10.17pm GMT

All that’s left is to take a look at the final leaderboard ... and to thank you for joining us on this live hole-by-hole report. Thanks for reading! Happy St Patrick’s Day, wherever you are!

-16: McIlroy
-15: Furyk
-14: Pepperell, Vegas
-13: D Johnson, Snedeker, Fleetwood
-12: Matsuyama, Rose, Harman, Day
-11: Scott, Dahmen, Ancer, Rahm
-10: Taylor, Simpson, Bradley, Schniederjans
-9: Moore, DeChambeau
-8: Garcia, Poston, Finau, Kisner
-7: Grillo, Horschel, Kuchar, An
-6: Woodland, Woods, Wallace, Bjerregaard, Hoge

10.13pm GMT

Related: Rory McIlroy wins prestigious Players Championship in thrilling finish

10.11pm GMT

Rory McIlroy’s winning speech (abridged). “This has been one of the best starts to a year of my career ... all those chances helped me today ... I double bogeyed the fourth hole and didn’t get upset, and played some good golf down the stretch ... the driver didn’t behave itself very well yesterday, so I gave it a couple of slaps on the range yesterday and it behaved better today ... hopefully this will stand me in good stead for the rest of the year ... I’ve started the second phase of my career, and feel I can make the next ten years even better than my first ten ... I work very hard and do the right things ... it means everything to be a Players champion, it’s the toughest tournament to win, it’s got the deepest field in the world ... there are great names on this trophy and I am honoured and proud to put my name with them.”

10.04pm GMT

It’s fair to say McIlroy’s latest victory had been coming. Here’s his results so far this season on the PGA Tour:

Sentry Tournament of Champions: tied fourth
Farmers Insurance Open: tied fifth
Genesis Open: tied fourth
WGC-Mexico Championship: second
Arnold Palmer Invitational: tied sixth
The Players Championship: first

9.57pm GMT

The final match reaches the 18th green. Pars for Rahm and Fleetwood, the Spaniard signing for an extremely disappointing final round of 76, the Englishman a similarly distressing 73. Still no maiden victory on the PGA Tour for Tommy. Po’ Tom’s a-cold. But not for long: the pair enjoy a laugh, a smile and a warm embrace. When the hurt of this near miss subsides, they’ll both reflect on an excellent week’s work.

9.54pm GMT

Rory McIlroy, the new Players champion, speaks! “It’s very special. I just tried to treat it like another day. Even though I’ve had all those close calls this year, they didn’t mean anything. If anything, they were good for me. I call them remote misses. They give you even more hope to go forward and again. I think all those misses led me to this point, and ultimately they were good for me, because they got me over the line today. The final few holes were tough. To get that birdie on 15 after the dropped shot on 14 was massive. The way I played those last few holes gives me so much confidence going forward. If I hadn’t have won today, I would have said I don’t need a win going to Augusta. But it’s very nice to get a win. Especially on this golf course, that plays similar to the way Augusta will play in a few weeks time. I feel like I’m playing some of the best golf of my life and I just need to keep going with it, and keep doing the same things.”

9.47pm GMT

Ireland’s superstar pockets $2.25m for that, a lovely St Patrick’s Day treat. This win was gritty rather than spectacular, and for a while McIlroy’s hopes looked to be heading south. But he refused to buckle, went for it on 9, and the resulting birdie sparked a fire. He played the back nine wonderfully, his sensational second into 15 the moment he simply refused to let this one slip away. Heroic. Homeric. The Players is a huge deal all by itself, of course, and now Rory adds this to his stellar CV ... but still, this is one hell of a fillip for the Masters next month. And that long winless streak comes to an end!

-16: McIlroy
-15: Furyk
-14: Pepperell, Vegas
-13: D Johnson, Snedeker, Fleetwood (17)

9.40pm GMT

He sends his first putt 18 inches past the hole, but is never missing the one coming back. At -16, one shot ahead of Jim Furyk, he’s the champion! He blows out hard. That was a tough battle. But he really stepped it up after the turn, and is able to add the unofficial fifth major to his collection of four proper ones. Just the Masters left, then!

9.38pm GMT

Day is up first. He can’t quite make his birdie putt. He’ll make do with par and a level-par round of 72. Back on 17, Fleetwood wedges from the drop zone to three feet, and tidies up for bogey. Then on the last, it’s Rory’s turn ...

9.35pm GMT

McIlroy sends his second over the flag, the ball stopping 20 feet from the hole. He probably didn’t mean to draw the shot quite so far left, with the water over there, not so far from the flag. But he’d take that outcome every day. He’s got two putts to win the 2019 Players Championship!

9.33pm GMT

Rahm slam-dunks his tee shot into the water at 17. Yet another 54-hole leader at the Players who can’t seal the deal. He’s been as poor today as he was sensational yesterday. On 18, Day has found the centre of the fairway too, and the 2016 champion knocks his second pin high to 12 feet. What Rory would pay for that! He’s 155 yards away. Here he goes ...

9.31pm GMT

Rory’s going with driver at 18. He’s parred this hole on each of the first three days. What he’d give for one more now. He lashes a monster down the middle. For a second it looks like it might be toying with the water, but no. It’s a booming hit. And it’s going to set him up for possible victory, because back on 17, Fleetwood, the only man left who can realistically catch him at -16, goes for the flag. His ball hits the sleeper, and pings off into the murky blue. His race is run. Can McIlroy close it out with a par on 18? If he bogeys, it’ll be a three-hole play-off with Furyk. A double would be unthinkable.

9.27pm GMT

Rory’s putt has a massive left-to-right break, suddenly turning like a slingshot. He tickles it over the top of the shoulder he’s behind, and sends the ball rolling hole-ward. Not quite. but he’ll tap in the one coming back for par. And he’s more than happy with that, wandering off with a huge smile on his face. Meanwhile back on 16, Fleetwood taps in for his eagle. He’s -14, just two behind with two to play. Too little, too late?

-16: McIlroy (17)
-15: Furyk (F)
-14: Pepperell (F), Vegas (F), Fleetwood (16)
-13: D Johnson (F), Snedeker (F), Rahm (16)

9.23pm GMT

It’s the last roll of the dice for Tommy Fleetwood. Going down 16 at -12, he needs something to happen now. And it does: he creams a 7-iron straight at the flag, the ball getting a little help onwards from a sprinkler head and stopping three feet from the flag! A wonderful eagle chance that could thrust him back into contention at the death! It’s all witnessed by McIlroy, who glanced over to see what all the commotion was about. He strolls off towards the 17th green, chomping on a power bar, kidding on he’s the calmest dude in Florida. He won’t be, of course, but hats off to him for trying.

9.19pm GMT

Well, it’s not ideal, but it’s dry. He whips his iron straight and hard, and it only just reaches the front of the green. He’ll have a look at birdie from just inside Pepperell Country. Up on 18, Snedeker’s chip finds the green but never looks like going in. His race is run.

9.18pm GMT

The crowd surrounding the 17th erupts as Rory takes to the tee. His heart will be beating like a jiggered clock. One good 9-iron here, from 137 yards, and he’ll be within touching distance of his first Players Championship.

9.16pm GMT

McIlroy can’t make the eagle putt. But the ball stops just to the left of the hole, and he taps in for birdie. That gives him a one-stroke lead over clubhouse leader Furyk at -16 ... but the 17th and 18th await. A long way to go yet!

-16: McIlroy (16)
-15: Furyk (F)
-14: Pepperell (F), Vegas (F), Snedeker (17)

9.14pm GMT

Meanwhile back on 16, McIlroy puts the pedal to the floor. He fires a 178-yard approach at the par-five to 20 feet. He’ll have a good look at an eagle that would put him in control of this tournament as we approach the business end. Up on 18, Snedeker wangs a wild drive up a huge bank to the right of the hole, and is fortunate that it bounces back down to the cart path. That allows him to fire his second greenwards, but the ball snags up on the bank. He’ll need to chip in from there if he’s to have any chance now!

9.09pm GMT

Rahm can only splash out from the sand at 15 to 12 feet. The putt coming back is straight enough, but it stays out on the left. A bogey, and he slips to -13, two off Furyk’s mark. Meanwhile on 17, heartbreak for Schniederjans, who having nearly eagled 16 but settled for birdie, dumps his tee shot in the drink. It was miles short. The young man hangs his head in stunned despair.

9.06pm GMT

Snedeker caresses a fine tee shot into 17. It lands in the centre of the green, the camber bringing his ball right, towards the hole. He’s left with a very makeable uphill 12-footer, but pulls it, and it’s just a par. He’ll need to birdie 18, the trickiest hole on the entire course, if he wants to make a play-off with Furyk, the best outcome left available to him.

9.04pm GMT

Rahm’s drive at 15 finds a cart path deep in trees down the left. He tries to manufacture a Seve-style escape, but only finds a deep bunker front left of the green. That’ll be a tricky up and down.

9.00pm GMT

Furyk makes his birdie at the final hole! He gently punches the air. He’s the new clubhouse leader at -15. Snedeker is within one at -14, finding the 16th green with a couple of big booms, then rolling his long eagle putt to kick-in distance. Dustin can only make par at 17. And McIlroy makes a stunning birdie at 15, taking advantage of the good break he had in finding the bunker with his drive. He sends a big slice round a tree and into the heart of the green, then sinks the 20-footer he was left with!

-15: Furyk (F), McIlroy (15)
-14: Pepperell (F), Vegas (F), Snedeker (16), Rahm (14)
-13: D Johnson (17), Fleetwood (14)

8.54pm GMT

Another birdie for Dustin Johnson, this time at 16. He’s back in this at -13! His tee shot into 17 is average, nothing more, but folk have been rolling them in from everywhere, so let’s see how that pans out. On 15, McIlroy flays a dreadful drive towards the flowerbeds on the right, and he’s very lucky to catch the bunker in front of them. He’ll have a shot, at least. And he can’t afford any slip-ups, because up on 18, Furyk belts a drive down the left-hand side of the fairway, prime position, then screeches a wedge to three feet! There’s not a flicker of emotion on his face as he strides towards the green, the crowd going wild. He’s slipped into Business Mode. He’s certainly done the business with that shot. If he makes the putt, as he surely must, he’ll be signing for a 67 and will set a new clubhouse lead of -15!

8.48pm GMT

You’d need a stone-cold heart not to feel sorry for Furyk here. The grand old boy teases his putt, which has a huge right-to-left curl, towards the hole. Perfect weight. It’s surely going to drop! But no. Somehow it refuses to topple and stays out on the high side. That’s so unfortunate. Furyk takes a couple of steps back in frustration, then suddenly remembers where he is, and spins round just in time, ensuring he doesn’t topple into the water. He nearly fell in at 18 yesterday, too, his toes balancing on the edge to the left of the fairway. He allows himself a rueful smile. He remains at -14 ... though he’s got a share of the lead now, because Rory shoves a dreadful five-foot putt wide right at 14, and that’s a completely needless bogey. It’s very tight at the top now. Ludicrously so! Three-hole play-off, anybody?

8.41pm GMT

Rahm becomes the latest player to regain some momentum. A lovely iron whip-cracked at 13 ends pin high, eight feet from the flag. He rolls it in dead weight, and returns to -14. Up on 17, Furyk decides that he has to go for it, and aims straight at the flag, which is situated in the smallest portion of the green. He’s rewarded for his bravery as his ball lands 12 feet behind the flag. A chance for a birdie that’ll give him a share!

8.38pm GMT

Birdie for Fleetwood at 12. At -13, he’s moving back in the right direction. Dustin Johnson birdies 15 to return himself to -12. Justin Rose is in with a 68, ending his week at -12. And on 18, Vegas sends his second over the flag, but can’t make the 12-footer coming back. That birdie would have posted a new mark in the clubhouse, but he’ll have to settle for par and a 66. He shares the clubhouse lead with Pepperell at -14, one behind the active McIlroy.

8.32pm GMT

Pepperell can only send his second at 18 into thick oomska front right of the green. He bumps a fine chip straight at the hole; it slips off to the right and he’s left with five-footer coming back up the hill. In it goes! He signs for a sensational 66, and he’s the new clubhouse leader. Meanwhile back on the tee, Vegas smashes a fine drive down the right of the fairway. The perfect angle coming in. And on 13, Jason Day’s revival continues with another birdie. He’s -12 and back, baby, back!

-15: McIlroy (13)
-14: Pepperell (F), Vegas (17)

8.28pm GMT

Amid that kerfuffle, McIlroy made it back-to-back birdies with a cute chip and putt on 12. He’s now the sole leader of this tournament! Could his long Sunday suffering end today?

-15: McIlroy (12)
-14: Pepperell (17), Vegas (17)
-13: Rahm (11), Furyk (15), Snedeker (14)
-12: Matsuyama (F), Harman (14), Fleetwood (11)

8.26pm GMT

More sensational scenes on 17! Vegas has left himself a 70-footer with a huge left to right break, over the brow of a hill. And in it goes! One of those you just knew was dropping 12 feet from the flag. It’s not dissimilar in shape or vibe to Justin Rose’s mugging of Phil Mickelson on the 17th at Medinah in that Ryder Cup! The crowd go ballistic. Vegas orchestrates them, then having whipped them up, tries to calm himself down. He’s one good drive away from asking some serious questions of the players who still have a few holes to play. First Pepperell, and now this. This is astonishing!

8.22pm GMT

Despair for Jim Furyk! The veteran yips a tiddler for par on 15, and he falls out of the lead, back to -13. Neither Rahm nor Fleetwood can scramble their pars on 11. On 17, Vegas finds the green but he’s a million miles from the flag, out on the left. Birdie for Day at 12; having gone out in 38, he throws his arms wide in a self-deprecating hallelujah mime. He’s -11, and not out of this. And up on 18, Pepperell’s drive stays dry, but it’s short and in the thick stuff. He’ll have a testing second into the green.

8.17pm GMT

Vegas launches his second at 16 into the heart of the green. He’s left with an uphill eagle putt from 20 feet, fairly straight. But he doesn’t quite hit it. Never mind, it’s a kick-in birdie, and he moves to -13, one off the lead. Ancer drops back to -12 after some weak work around the green at 12. And sensational scenes on 17! Eddie Pepperell’s tee shot finds the green, but only near the front, with the pin tucked in its traditional Sunday spot, behind the bunker on the right. And he’s 40 feet away. No matter! He strokes it over the shoulder, right to left and back again, and the ball snakes into the cup! Bedlam! It’s his third birdie in a row, his fifth in seven holes, his seventh in 11 holes, and he’s suddenly the co-leader of this tournament at -14! He allows himself a shy smile. He’s on the brink of posting a properly testing clubhouse mark!

-14: Pepperell (17), Furyk (14), McIlroy (11), Rahm (10)
-13: Fleetwood (10), Snedeker (13), Vegas (16)
-12: Matsuyama (F), Harman (13), Ancer (12)

8.10pm GMT

Hideki Matsuyama nearly chips in for birdie at 18, but the ball rolls shamelessly past the hole and he’ll have to make do with par. That’s a closing round of 67 to go with yesterday’s 66, a fine weekend’s work. He’s the new clubhouse leader at -12. It’s unlikely to be enough but ... altogether now ... you never know.

8.08pm GMT

Disaster for Tommy Fleetwood on 11. He doesn’t catch his approach at the par-five, and he’s wet. His compatriot Justin Rose escaped with a par earlier today after making the same mistake. So all is not yet lost. And his playing partner Jon Rahm follows him in the water, attempting an absurd snap hook around a tree from a bunker, going for the green instead of taking his medicine and chipping out. That was ludicrous.

8.04pm GMT

McIlroy is left with a 30-foot eagle putt across the 11th. He strokes it to tap-in distance - the eagle effort’s always missing on the left - and he’s back in a share of the lead at -14. Snedeker pops in another birdie, at 12, and he’s one off the lead at -13. A street-fighting four for Furyk at 14, chipping close from the thick stuff to the side of the green. And a birdie for Pepperell at 16; a strong finish and the 28-year-old from Oxford will be in with a shout! This is such a great tournament. Look at this!

-14: Furyk (14), McIlroy (11), Rahm (10)
-13: Pepperell (16), Snedeker (12), Ancer (11), Fleetwood (10)
-12: Matsuyama (17), Vegas (15), Harman (13)
-11: Rose (16), DeChambeau (17), Scott (14), D Johnson (13)

7.56pm GMT

Matsuyama’s putt on 17 is downhill and treacherous. He does extremely well to nurse it towards the hole, and par is most acceptable. He remains at -12. Dustin Johnson will join him there, having nearly driven 12 then bumped a chip to a couple of feet. Back on 11, Rory sends his drive into sand down the left, but his lie is perfect and he can lash a long iron into the heart of the par five.

7.50pm GMT

Matsuyama only just gets over the water at 17! But he’s on the green, and will have a look at birdie from 30 feet or so. He’ll have certainly taken that when the ball was in mid air, taking all his hopes and dreams with it. McIlroy sends a wonderful second into 10, his ball screeching to a halt nine feet from the flag. But the birdie putt lips out. His frustration betrays him as he spins around in despair. Meanwhile birdie for Rose at 15, and he moves to -11, just three off the lead of Furyk and Rahm. What he’d give to play the 1st and 5th holes again on Thursday; they cost him five shots. How precious they’d be now.

7.46pm GMT

Here’s an interesting development! Hideki Matsuyama lashes a glorious long iron into the heart of the risk-reward par-five 16th. It ends up four feet from the flag. In goes the eagle putt, and he’s -12, moving into proper You Never Know territory. That was a sensational shot. Not quite up there with Rickie Fowler’s carpe-diem moment in 2015, but that bar’s set at an unfair height. What a move by the Japanese superstar! Also heading very much the right way: Eddie Pepperell, who has just chipped in from the side of 15 to move to -12 as well. This is the young Englishman’s first go at the Players, and he’s very much enjoying it.

7.42pm GMT

Nobody has ever successfully defended the Players. Last year’s champion Webb Simpson gave it a good go, though: he’s just signed for a final-day 68 to go alongside three rounds of 70. A shame he bogeyed 14 and 15, and only just failed to guide in a big left-to-right birdie breaker on the last. A couple of shots shaved off that round, and the way things are going ... well, you never know. But at -10 he’s a little shy. Still, a fine effort. The Sawgrass gallery gives the outgoing champ the warm reception he deserves.

7.36pm GMT

Fleetwood sends his third at 9 over the flag, but can’t make the 20-foot birdie putt coming back. It was a dimple’s width away from dropping, and he holds his head in his hands accordingly. Also frustrated: his partner Rahm, who has a simple enough straight putt from 15 feet, but sends it off to the left, never dropping. A pair of pars.

7.30pm GMT

If Jim Furyk triumphs today, he’ll become the oldest player to win this championship. He’d be 23 days older than 2005 winner Fred Funk, who was 48 years, nine months and 14 days young. And there’s a fair chance of this, because he’s just got up and down from sand at 11 to join Rahm at -14. Meanwhile McIlroy’s power and length earns a birdie at 9, and suddenly he looks a lot happier with life. He’s a shot off the leaders at -13.

7.26pm GMT

Jhonny Vegas continues to move effortlessly up the leaderboard. His fourth of the day, this time at 12, and he’s -12. Meanwhile Eddie Pepperell clips his tee shot at 13 pin high to six feet, and the birdie putt drops, a deserved reward. He’s -11. Both of these earlier starters will be thinking about posting a score and seeing how the final groups come in. On that subject, Nick Taylor is the new clubhouse leader, having signed for a fine 67 today. He ends his week at -10, by some distance the most impressive finish of his career.

7.21pm GMT

Ollie Schniederjans, a former amateur world number one, is sporting a strong look. The sort of moustache favoured by mid-1980s soccer stars, late-1970s new-wave musicians, and Kevin Webster off Coronation Street. He’s handsome enough to get away with it. He hasn’t been in any sort of form lately, but Butch Harmon has started coaching him and the results this week have been nothing short of spectacular. His approach into 9 is a thing of beauty, wedged to six feet. But he fails to hit his putt. It’s dead on line, but so timid. A par, and he’s out in 34, but that deserved better. He stays at -12, but that’s now two off the lead, because Rahm takes full advantage of his big break at 8, rolling in an uphill left-to-right slider for birdie. He regains sole ownership of the lead at -14. Bounceback birdie for Schniederjans’ playing partner Ancer, by the way.

-14: Rahm (8)
-13: Furyk (10), Ancer (9), Fleetwood (8)

7.12pm GMT

A spot of good fortune for Rahm at the par-three 8th, as he pushes his tee shot to the right and gets a friendly bounce back onto the green, ten feet from the flag. Fleetwood lands about 12 feet away, though his route was rather more conventional, a straight whipcrack into the heart of the green, the ball landing hard and settling down in its own pitchmark. Chances for birdies there. Meanwhile birdie for Brandt Snedeker at 9; he’s out in 34 and just one off the lead at -12.

7.07pm GMT

Ancer had no answer (yes I know but I had to do it at some point) to the sandy trouble he found himself in at 8. That’s a full set of bogeys on that hole this week, and he drops back to -12. His partner Schniederjans can’t get up and down from the side of the green either, and suddenly the top of the leader board looks very different ... especially as the 48-year-old 2003 US Open champ Jim Furyk has just birdied 10, the result of an arrowed approach to six feet! Meanwhile there’s another yipped tiddler by Dustin Johnson, this time a birdie effort at 9. His flat stick has really let him down today.

-13: Furyk (10), Rahm (6), Fleetwood (6)
-12: Ancer (8), Schniederjans (8), McIlroy (7)
-11: Rose (11), Vegas (11), Scott (10), D Johnson (9), Harman (9), Snedeker (8), Day (7)

7.01pm GMT

A dropped shot for McIlroy at 7, the result of sending his second onto the top of a grassy knoll to the right of the green. The chip down wasn’t too bad; the par putt not so good. He slips out of the leading group, back to -12. Rose hangs on at -11, though, scrambling well after getting wet on 11.

6.58pm GMT

Bother dept. Ancer bogeyed the par-three 8th on Thursday. He repeated the trick on Friday. And yesterday. And now he’s yanked his tee shot into sand. Trouble too for Rose at 11, as he slaps a dreadful second shot into the drink. It’s a par five, so he’ll have an opportunity to limit the damage. And Fleetwood has hoicked his drive at 7 into the trees down the right. He might also have hit some poor punter upside the head. The conditions have turned this course into quite the test.

6.54pm GMT

Rahm turns the ship around with a glorious long bunker shot at 6. That’s clipped to six feet from 145 yards! That’s one of the shots of the week. It’ll be heartbreaking if he misses the birdie putt. But he’s never going to do that. In it goes, and despite an awful start, he’s now back tied for the lead at -13. He walks off grinning, which augurs well for the young Spaniard; a happy Rahm is a dangerous Rahm. The minute his lid flips, it’s all over. So he’s done extremely well to keep it together after those early hassles. Par for Fleetwood.

6.46pm GMT

Drama-free two-putt pars for Rahm and Fleetwood at 5. Harman shoves a dismal birdie putt wide left at 8. But McIlroy makes no mistake, and is going in the right direction again. It’s all bunched up at the top.

-13: Ancer (6), Schniederjans (6), McIlroy (6), Fleetwood (5)
-12: Furyk (8), Harman (8), Rahm (5)
-11: Rose (10), Vegas (10), Scott (9), D Johnson (8), Snedeker (7), Day (6)
-10: Taylor (16), DeChambeau (10), Dahmen (8), Bradley (7)

6.40pm GMT

Ollie Schniederjans, who shot 65 yesterday, birdies 6 to join Tommy Fleetwood at the top of the leaderboard. Also there, Schniederjans’ playing partner Abraham Ancer, who follows birdie at 2 with his second of the day at 6. They could soon be joined by McIlroy, who lands a sand wedge six feet from the flag at 5, and Harman, who whips in a 3-iron on the long par-three 8th to ten feet. But for now ...

-13: Ancer (6), Schniederjans (6), Fleetwood (4)
-12: Furyk (8), Harman (7), McIlroy (5), Rahm (4)

6.35pm GMT

Trouble for Dustin Johnson on 7. He sends his drive into the drink, then hoicks his third into greenside sand. He can only splash out to eight feet, but knocks in the bogey putt, a case study in damage limitation. He’s -11, two off Fleetwood’s lead. Back on 5, McIlroy steadies the ship with par, though he nearly holes a 45-footer for bounceback birdie. He stays one off at -12.

6.29pm GMT

Thankfully that chap is quickly up and about. Rahm - who to be fair shouted fore - gives him a hug (carefully!) and signs a glove. All warm smiles and friendship, which is lovely to see. The young Spanish star isn’t saving his par, though, unable to get up and down from the back of the green. Another shot gone. Meanwhile Ollie Schniederjans birdies 5, having already picked up a stroke at 1. He’s now just one stroke off the lead, Fleetwood having knocked in a ten-foot par saver on 4. This leaderboard is absurd.

-13: Fleetwood (4)
-12: Furyk (7), D Johnson (6), Harman (6), Ancer (5), Schniederjans (5), McIlroy (4), Rahm (4)
-11: Rose (9), Vegas (9), Scott (8), Snedeker (6), Day (4)

6.23pm GMT

Another birdie for Justin Rose, this time at 9. He’s out in 33 and right in the mix at -11. Dustin Johnson makes bounce-back birdie at 6; his partner Brian Harman makes birdie too, his second of the day, and he’s -12. Rory’s dip on the drink at 4 ends in double bogey, while Jason Day three putts the same hole for his second bogey of the day. And there’s trouble afoot for Rahm at 4, where his second flies through the green and smashes some poor punter in the chest. That’ll hurt, but thank goodness for small mercies, because there was a woman carrying a baby standing right next to him and a small child the other side. The alternatives don’t bear thinking about, because that ball was flying.

6.15pm GMT

McIlroy might not be co-leader for much longer. Having sent his tee shot at 4 into thick stuff down the right, he goes for the pin but doesn’t get enough on his wedge. The ball’s never making it over the water. Plop. More Sunday woes for Rory. Mind you, his co-leader Rahm couldn’t get up and down from sand at the par-three 3rd, and that’s a second bogey in the first three holes. A dreadful start. Some wag in the crowd cries “Ay caramba!” as the par putt slips by. That went down as well as you’d imagine.

6.11pm GMT

A tramliner for Jhonny Vegas at 7! The birdie takes him up to -11, alongside Dustin Johnson, who misses another short putt, this time at 5 for par. Bryson DeChambeau’s there too, after birdies at 4, 6 and 9. He’s out in 33. It’s a hell of a crowded leaderboard. Good luck calling the winner of this!

-14: McIlroy (3), Rahm (2)
-13: Fleetwood (2)
-12: Furyk (6), Ancer (4), Day (3)
-11: Taylor (13), DeChambeau (9), Vegas (8), Scott (7), Dahmen (6), D Johnson (5), Harman (5), Snedeker (4), Schniederjans (4)
-10: Rose (8), Bradley (4)

6.05pm GMT

Rory at the par-three 3rd. He sends his 8-iron straight at the flag, but 25 feet short. He knocks the left-to-right slider four feet past, but saves his par. He remains at -14, in a share of the lead with Rahm, who can only par 2 after sending his second into greenside sand. Meanwhile Rahm’s playing partner Fleetwood can’t get the speed of the greens at all: another three putt from distance, the first two left well short, and it’s just a par at the gimme-birdie par five.

5.59pm GMT

Nick Taylor continues to progress up the leader board. Having lost a little momentum with bogey at the par-five 9th, the result of a wayward drive, he’s birdied 10, 11 and 13 to move to -11. He’s six under for his round so far. A shot behind at -10, it’s Justin Rose and Bryson DeChambeau, who are both two under for their rounds today, through 7 and 8 respectively.

5.55pm GMT

Day does extremely well to bounce back from that opening-hole bogey to birdie the par-five 2nd. He rejoins the group at -12, which now features Jim Furyk, who has just chipped in from the side of 5. Par for Rory, who sent his second into greenside sand after a wild drive, and was unable to get up and down. Dustin Johnson misses a birdie tiddler after a lovely approach at 4; he remains at -12. And Tiger, having scrambled another par at 17, pars the last. A final-day 69 and he ends at -6. His putter got him out of quite a lot of trouble over that closing stretch; that’ll give him confidence going into the Masters.

5.51pm GMT

Here’s something for Jon Rahm to be thinking about. The last third-round leader at the Players to shoot a final round in the 60s was Stephen Ames in 2006. Since then, the average score of the 54-hole leader has been 74.9. And only four third-round leaders have gone on to win: Tiger in 2013, Kaymer in 2014, Day in 2016 and Webb Simpson last year. So all things considered, he’ll not be particularly calmed by a three-putt bogey on the opening hole. Fleetwood also three-putts for bogey; this hole has cost him three shots this weekend. It’s now a two-way tie for the lead.

-14: McIlroy (1), Rahm (1)
-13: Fleetwood (1)
-12: Furyk (5), D Johnson (4), Ancer (2)

5.43pm GMT

Two putts for McIlroy on 1, and that’s a solid enough start. Rory has some demons to conquer today: his Sunday performances when entering the final round in the top two have been dismal of late. Since 2016, he’s gone into battle like this eight times; he’s not won once, and he’s +4 overall, with an average round of 71.8. He’ll need to do an awful lot better today.

5.39pm GMT

The final pairing are on the course. Jon Rahm and Tommy Fleetwood both batter drives down the middle of the 1st fairway. Fleetwood is using an Open Championship umbrella today, perhaps procured from his home course of Birkdale a couple of years ago. Up on the green, Day duffs his chip out of the cabbage to the right of the green. He does pretty well to get up and down to limit the damage to bogey. He drops to -11.

5.36pm GMT

Tiger sends his approach at 16 into the water, short and right. But he manages to scramble a five, sinking a long par saver. He’ll need his putter to do some more hard work on 17, because his tee shot only just gets over the water, threatening to roll back, saved by the fringe. It’s Martin Kaymer Country, where the German fluffed a chip, then sank a monster putt on his way to the 2014 title. God speed, Tiger.

5.32pm GMT

The rain’s coming down at Sawgrass. Umbrellas up. And the penultimate group is out. Rory McIlroy toys with the first cut down the left of 1, but his ball stays on the fairway. Jason Day’s drive isn’t so good, short and well left. He’s in a little bother there, and pushes his second right of the green. Not a steady start from the 2016 champion. Rory’s on the green in two, but facing a very long birdie putt.

5.26pm GMT

Brian Harman rolls a long birdie putt in on 2. He’s -11, a shot behind his playing partner Dustin Johnson, who has started birdie-birdie. So there’s already a new flavour to the top of the leader board:

-15: Rahm
-14: Fleetwood, McIlroy
-12: D Johnson (2), Day
-11: Dahmen (3), Furyk (3), Harman (2), Ancer

5.23pm GMT

The cute play on the opening hole seems to be landing one’s approach on the grassy knoll to the right of the green. That will send the ball kicking sharp left, to the flag nearby. Jhonattan Vegas has already benefited from such a break, picking up birdie there, and following up with another at 2; he’s -10. And now it’s Dustin Johnson’s turn, the big man dropping a 7-iron on the hillock, his ball ricocheting to kick-in distance. He moves to -11, alongside the veteran Jim Furyk, who dropped a stroke at the opening hole but erased all the damage on the par-five 2nd with eagle.

5.20pm GMT

Should Rory McIlroy’s talent ever desert him, he should feel safe in the knowledge that he’d have a great career as a weatherman. Here’s his report. “With the rain earlier today, and maybe a little more to come, the course will be a tad softer. That’s not a bad thing, but the wind’s up and coming out of the same direction it was yesterday, so it makes the easier holes still easy, but the tougher holes just that little bit tougher. Some of the long par-fours will be playing back into the wind, three of the four par-fives will be playing downwind, so it’s just a matter of committing to your shots off the tee and selecting the right clubs.”

5.15pm GMT

The (very) early clubhouse leader is Emiliano Grillo. The young Argentinian - he’s still only 26, though it feels like he’s been around for years and years - shot a fine 66 today. Birdies at 1, 10, 11, 12, 14 and 16, and an eagle at 2. He would have matched Jon Rahm’s best of week 64 were it not for bogeys at a couple of par threes, the 3rd and the 17th, where he became the latest victim of the water. He joins a (very) long list. He’s -7 after his week’s work.

5.10pm GMT

Tiger Woods never really recovered from making a quadruple-bogey seven at the notorious island 17th on Friday. Starting the final day at -3, he was never in contention, but he’s looking to finish strongly. And he’s giving the Sawgrass crowd good bang for their buck. Birdies at 2, 4, 7 and 11, just the one bogey so far at 14, and a sensational scramble at the par-three 3rd, where he sent a lame flop into a deep bunker only to hole out from the sand with a perfectly weighted splash. He’s -6, having made a couple of big putts, all of which augurs well for Augusta National in a few weeks.

5.05pm GMT

The 30-year-old Canadian Nick Taylor is something of a journeyman. He’s done nothing of note in any of the majors, save becoming low amateur at the 2009 US Open, and his one PGA Tour win was at the Sanderson Farms Championship in 2014, contested while the big names were out in Shanghai playing for the WGC-HSBC. But this is suddenly shaping up to be his most notable week of his career: he’s birdied 2, 3, 5 and 8 today, and is suddenly in a tie for 13th spot at -9.

5.00pm GMT

Here we go, then! The final day of the first really big tournament of the 2019 PGA Tour season. Most folk are already out and about; we’ll get to the morning movers and shakers in a minute. But a quick spot of admin first ... here are the tee times of the final few groups.

12.55pm local, 4.55pm GMT: Dustin Johnson, Brian Harman
1.05pm, 5.05pm: Brandt Snedeker, Keegan Bradley
1.15pm, 5.15pm: Abraham Ancer, Ollie Schniederjans
1.25pm, 5.25pm: Rory McIlroy, Jason Day
1.35pm, 5.35pm: Jon Rahm, Tommy Fleetwood

9.46am GMT

Pete and Alice Dye’s signature work, the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass, sure is pretty to look at. But last year’s Players Championship wasn’t much of a spectacle. Webb Simpson’s second-round 63 blitzed the field, and the 2012 US Open champion never looked back. Simpson ended up so far clear – seven ahead going into Sunday - he was able to send his approach to the 72nd long and into the water, and the resulting double bogey didn’t matter a jot. He finished four clear of Xander Schauffele, Charl Schwartel and Jimmy Walker.

The Players isn’t a foregone conclusion this time. Jon Rahm leads the way after a best-of-week 64 yesterday. Tommy Fleetwood and Rory McIlroy sit just behind, both having carded 65s this week, both posting gritty 70s yesterday when things briefly threatened to spiral out of control. Also lurking within striking distance are some other big names: Jason Day, Dustin Johnson, Keegan Bradley, Jim Furyk, Brandt Snedeker, Patrick Reed, Adam Scott, Justin Rose. It’s a star-studded leader board. And don’t rule out the in-form Abraham Ancer or the up-and-coming Ollie Schniederjans either.

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Swansea City 2-3 Manchester City: FA Cup quarter-final – as it happened

Manchester City came from two goals down to reach the semis, on a controversial night at the Liberty.

7.46pm GMT

And that’s your lot! Ben Fisher was our man at the Liberty, lucky to witness a rip-roaring tie that had just about everything. Here’s his report. Enjoy, and thanks for reading this MBM!

Related: Sergio Agüero puts Man City into semi-final after fightback against Swansea

7.44pm GMT

Pep is asked about the two contentious decisions. “I honestly didn’t watch it, but if it’s not a penalty I am sorry, and if it is offside I am sorry. Why VAR is not here is a question for the authorities. I don’t like it, but honestly I didn’t watch the situation.” And the quadruple? “Ask me again at the end of April!”

7.41pm GMT

Graham Potter speaks! Is he proud or frustrated? “Mostly proud to be honest. We were incredible and showed great courage against a top team. They had some chances and we had some luck, but in the end it was a fantastic effort. With the quality they have, we knew we probably needed another goal. The penalty is touch and go, if I’m being kind to the referee. The winner is offside, which is disappointing for the players. Overall Manchester City had chances, I can’t deny they deserved to win the game. But it’s disappointing to lose goals in that manner. But that’s life, and referees make mistakes as well.” A really gentlemanly response to a disappointing end to Swansea’s cup run.

7.21pm GMT

That was a glorious FA Cup quarter-final. As good as it gets. Swansea scored the goal of the evening, a back-to-front flowing passing move gorgeously finished by Bersant Celina. Manchester City created a large number of chances, the kind they’d normally slot away. It looked like being one of those days, until the debatable penalty decision knocked the stuffing out of Swansea. A winner for Manchester City seemed inevitable thereafter, though when it came, it was marginally offside. This will sting Swansea badly - they were so close to reaching the semis for only the third time in their history - but once the pain subsides they’ll feel very proud of their performance, which augurs well for their future. Manchester City, meanwhile, continue to dream of an unprecedented quadruple.

7.15pm GMT

And that’s it! Manchester City join Watford in the semi-finals, but only just, benefiting from a couple of late, close, controversial calls to complete a comeback from two down. Swansea were sensational in the first half, but couldn’t hang on, eventually buckling under intense Manchester City pressure.

7.13pm GMT

90 min +5: One last chance for Swansea, as Roberts flings a long throw into the mixer from the right. But Manchester City do just enough to clear.

7.12pm GMT

90 min +4: Aguero runs the clock down near the corner flag. It looks all over.

7.11pm GMT

90 min +2: It’s been a sensational comeback by Manchester City, who look like coming back from two goals down for the first time under Pep. They’ve been two down eight times before; eight times they’ve gone on to lose. But not tonight. Some effort! However the penalty call and the offside winner will take a little shine off it. Expect to hear more.

7.09pm GMT

90 min: There will be four added minutes. Maybe a little more, because a clown in a red puffa-puffa jacket has lolloped onto the field of play. He’s eventually bundled back off, presumably to be thrown in the jug. Imagine that being your 15 minutes of fame. What a toolbag.

7.07pm GMT

Aguero has missed some fine chances in his brief period on the pitch. But now he’s scored at last. Bernardo Silva curls a lovely low cross on from the left. At the near post, Aguero stoops to guide a sensationally good header into the bottom left! But it’s another controversial one, because he was a smidgen offside. No VAR here today, much to the home side’s chagrin.

7.05pm GMT

87 min: Fulton is replaced by Harries. Walker sends a low shot inches wide of the left-hand post. Is anyone going to claim a dramatic late winner? If not, there will be a most acceptable extra 30 minutes of this rip-roaring fun! And maybe penalties to follow. Gotta love the FA Cup!

7.04pm GMT

85 min: This is end-to-end nonsense, a fantastic cup tie. Aguero can’t convert a low David Silva left-wing cross from close range. Asoro romps down the right and sends a shot from distance wide. Manchester City go up the other end and win a corner that comes to nothing.

7.02pm GMT

83 min: How did this stay out? Sterling loops a cross into the Swansea box from the right. Jesus heads down towards the bottom left. Nordfeldt pushes onto the post. The ball rebounds to Jesus, who only needs to poke home from close range. But Aguero gets in the way, taking over and slamming the ball straight at the keeper! What a fiasco!

7.00pm GMT

82 min: Mancehster City are pressing for the winner. They’ve enjoyed 80 percent of possession in the last five minutes. Swansea are all over the shop.

7.00pm GMT

80 min: That was a very soft penalty. Carter-Vickers got something on the ball. But did he also clip Sterling? A little bit, perhaps. Anyway, it was given. Swansea’s heads are addled. Suddenly, they’re in real danger of losing this tie. Aguero has a shot that Fulton blocks. David Silva has another pop; that one’s deflected away too.

6.57pm GMT

Aguero slams the spot kick onto the bottom of the left-hand post. It comes off the base of the post, flies across the face of goal, and clips Nordfeldt’s trailing heel - he’d gone the right way - and into the net. What terrible luck for the Swansea keeper.

6.56pm GMT

77 min: Sterling, the ball at his feet to the right of the D, suddenly turns on the jets. He races into the area. Carter-Vickers sticks out a leg. Sterling goes over, and the ref points to the spot!

6.53pm GMT

76 min: Sterling slips a pass down the right for Walker, who fizzes a low one towards the near post. Aguero is at the right-hand edge of the six-yard box. You’d expect him to at least get something on target, but his control lets him down and Swansea escape.

6.52pm GMT

74 min: Jesus plays a Phil Mickelsonesque flop down the inside-left channel. It drops to Sterling, just inside the Swansea area. A perfect pass that’s carved Swansea open, but Sterling’s lost the flight of the ball and can’t get a shot away. Shame, that would have been quite a goal.

6.51pm GMT

73 min: Zinchenko glides down the inside-left channel before slipping a pass across the face of the box for Sterling, coming in from the other flank. Sterling leans back and sends a dismal shot sailing over; by his own superb standards, he should have done much better.

6.50pm GMT

72 min: Before the goal, Manchester City weren’t quite kaput exactly ... but they were beginning to look ragged. Now there’s an extra bounce in every footstep. They’re getting to the loose balls first again. Swansea will need to dig in.

6.48pm GMT

70 min: A pause before the restart because Fulton had taken a whack while blocking one of those Aguero efforts. That gives Swansea’s fans time to pick themselves up and trill those hymns and arias again. But Manchester City’s supporters are now singing too. It’s going to be a hell of a ride now!

6.47pm GMT

And here it is! Walker crosses from the right. Roberts doesn’t manage to clear. Aguero has a couple of snapshots blocked. The ball breaks left to Bernardo Silva, who power-curls a delightful effort around Nordferldt and into the top right! The atmosphere’s changed all right. Game on!

6.46pm GMT

67 min: Sterling dribbles his way down the left but eventually runs the ball out of play for a goal kick. On the touchline, Guardiola is beginning to look highly irritated. He’s literally hopping mad, waving at his players and ranting with great feeling. Time’s beginning to run out for his players. A goal soon enough would change the atmosphere.

6.44pm GMT

65 min: The pace of James sends Manchester City into a flat spin yet again. They’re all over the place as he tears into the box from the left. Gundogan does extremely well to step in and ease him off the ball. Ederson is then able to intervene with Routledge lurking on the penalty spot.

6.42pm GMT

64 min: Manchester City make their final change ... unless this goes to extra time, of course, in which case they’ll be able to make another. Mahrez is replaced by Aguero. The entire cavalry’s on, then.

6.40pm GMT

62 min: Manchester City are teetering on the brink here. Celina slides a pass down the left channel for James, who hopes to round Ederson, racing out from his box. But the keeper does just enough to intercept and clear. Anything else, and that would have been game over. Manchester City have never come back from two down under Pep; 3-0 would have surely been it.

6.39pm GMT

61 min: Dyer has been quiet. So he’s replaced by 19-year-old Joel Asoro, who comes with tactical notes in hand. He’s not managed to pass them on to anyone yet, though.

6.37pm GMT

59 min: Zinchenko’s first act is to go nose-to-nose with Roberts. The head gone, less than two minutes after coming on. Manchester City need to simmer down if they’re going to get back into this. As things stand, their quadruple dream is slipping from their grasp.

6.36pm GMT

57 min: Manchester City make a double change. Delph and Sane are hooked, Zinchenko and Sterling coming on. “Just wondering if a quick Jesus throw (37 min) is one theological step above a Hail Mary Pass?” quips Bob Lemon.

6.34pm GMT

56 min: Manchester City are finding James hard to handle. He rips down the left and forces the visitors on the back foot yet again. What pace he’s got! The ball’s worked to Byers out on the other flank; he runs it out for a goal kick.

6.33pm GMT

54 min: A corner for Manchester City down the right. From the set piece, a hectic game of pinball ensues. But Swansea are getting the breaks. Shots are blocked, ricochets fall to home boots. Eventually they clear. Carter-Vickers and van der Hoorn have both been immense so far.

6.32pm GMT

52 min: Swansea knock it around the back awhile, but nearly play themselves into trouble, and Nordfeldt is forced to hack into touch in the fretful style. Nothing much comes from the resulting throw, deep in Swans territory. But a warning that the hosts can’t get too carried away, despite playing with great style so far. “Why don’t teams of a similar level to Swansea in the Premiership just give it a go against Man City?” wonders Andy Tuohy. “That back line really doesn’t like it up ‘em! Most teams look it as a dead rubber, so they may as well give it a go and have an outside chance of getting something out of it rather than parking and losing, which is what happens most of the time bar the odd blip. Wait 75 minutes before parking it. But, of course, Man City might well tonk them 6-2 or something now I’ve said that.”

6.29pm GMT

50 min: This is turning into a wild end-to-end affair. James totally skins Otamendi for pace down the left, but Laporte comes across to double up and eventually the Manchester City duo manage to wrest possession back.

6.27pm GMT

49 min: Celina’s ankle must be just fine, because now he races into a large gap in the Manchester City midfield. He’s allowed to make up 40 yards, then shoots from distance. Well over the bar. Manchester City go up the other end, Sane twisting and turning down the left. But he can’t get a shot away, nor find a team-mate in the middle.

6.25pm GMT

47 min: Bernardo Silva makes good down the right His low cross is hacked clear by Roberts, but only onto Jesus, six yards out. The ball clanks just wide of the right-hand post. Another incident to file under One Of Those Days?

6.24pm GMT

Swansea get the second half underway! No changes. Manchester City are quickly on the front foot, Sane bursting down the left. There are no gaps to exploit, though. Gundogan then tries to release Mahrez down the middle with a cute chip, but van der Hoorn heads clear.

6.12pm GMT

Half-time entertainment. This quarter-final has been very entertaining so far. Will it join the pantheon? Only time will tell. But how about this classic Joy of Six on that very subject? Here’s Bobbie!

Related: Football | The Joy of Six: FA Cup quarter-finals | Rob Smyth

6.10pm GMT

Nothing much happens in the added-on time. That’s the half-time whistle. As the players troop off, a rattled Laporte gets himself in a silly tangle with Routledge and is booked for his trouble. And no wonder the visitors are losing their heads! Swansea City weathered an early storm, then hit them with a quick one-two. The second goal, a passing move from back to front, was a thing of Rodgers-era beauty. A Swansea win was 20-1 against! Well, it’s on, unless Manchester City can sort themselves out in the second half. What a 45 minutes we have coming up!

6.06pm GMT

45 min: Laporte takes a speculative shot from 25 yards, but it’s easily blocked. There will be two added minutes.

6.05pm GMT

44 min: Gundogan tries to release Sane down the left, but his pass is too heavy and Nordfeldt can come out and smother.

6.04pm GMT

43 min: Grimes whips a high free kick towards the far post. Carter-Vickers climbs highest, but can only send a weak header wide left. That was a good chance to turn an unlikely scoreline into a positively trippy one.

6.03pm GMT

42 min: Routledge spins Laporte out on the right, and is hauled down for his trouble. It should be a yellow card, but the referee only dishes out a lecture. But it is a free kick, and a chance for Swansea to cause more bother in the box.

6.01pm GMT

40 min: Mahrez shapes to shoot on the edge of the Swansea box. But he has the ball nicked off him, and suddenly James is romping up the left. He cuts inside and looks for Routledge through the middle, but the pass isn’t so good this time. Once again, though, Manchester City looked a bit tatty at the back. They’re there to be got at, if you’re adventurous enough. Some Premier League teams should give it a go sometime.

6.00pm GMT

39 min: Sane rolls a pass down the left to release David Silva into the area. Silva crosses; the ball comes back off Roberts and out off the Manchester City man for a goal kick. Nothing’s working for them, all of a sudden. What a start they had to this game, as well.

5.58pm GMT

37 min: A quick Jesus throw down the right frees Bernardo Silva into acres of space. Swansea were sleeping a little bit. Bernardo loops a cross into the area for Sane, but it’s uncharacteristically inaccurate. Swansea clear.

5.56pm GMT

35 min: Might this simply not be Manchester City’s day? Bernardo Silva skins Grimes down the right. His low cross finds David Silva six yards out. He must score, but Roberts sticks a leg out to block his shot on the line. The ball then pinballs off Nordfeldt and somehow spins round the right-hand post instead of going in. The resulting corner leads to nothing.

5.54pm GMT

34 min: Manchester City win a corner out on the left. It’s a total non-event. A few quadruple-hunting faces betray a little frustration.

5.54pm GMT

33 min: The goalscorer Celina appears to have gone over his ankle at some point. He’s down getting a little treatment. He doesn’t want to go off, and insists on trying to run it off.

5.53pm GMT

32 min: Nordfeldt can do no wrong at the moment. Bernardo Silva takes a shot from the edge of the box. It’s straight at the keeper, but fiercely hit, and it still needs stopping. Nordfeldt hooks the ball away from danger.

5.51pm GMT

31 min: The home fans singing their hymns and arias. Manchester City are in proper bother here!

5.51pm GMT

Manchester City are beaten at their own game! Swansea play from the back, Nordfeldt slipping a pass out from his own area. The ball’s soon with James, out on the left. James drifts inside, then shifts the ball to Routledge, in the middle 30 yards out. Routledge plays a first-time ball back to Celina down the inside-left channel. Celina - who missed in farcical scenes from the spot four days ago at West Brom - opens his body and sends a delightful first-time effort into the top right! Ederson had no chance!

5.48pm GMT

27 min: Manchester City knock it around the back, teasing Swansea forward. Then they suddenly spring forward. Jesus scampers into the Swansea box from the left, but can’t find anyone in purple with his cross. A suggestion that the ball might have flicked a Swansea hand there, but nothing’s awarded.

5.47pm GMT

25 min: It’s tipping down in Swansea. On the touchline, Pep is too busy frowning and looking enigmatic to put his hood up. His side have lost a little of that early momentum since falling behind. The hosts looking much more confident.

5.44pm GMT

23 min: Grimes nearly goes from hero to zero in 180 seconds. His dreadful clearance up the Swansea left is intercepted by Mahrez, who feeds Jesus. The Manchester City striker rolls a pass across the face of goal from the right, but it just evades Sane, who was hoping to tap in from a couple of yards. Grimes wipes his brow.

5.43pm GMT

22 min: That’s got the home crowd going, and City look a little shaken about what’s happened to them. Sane is caught offside, over-eager in his attempt to chase a David Silva pass down the left.

5.41pm GMT

Grimes wastes no time. He pops the ball on the spot and lashes it into the top left! Swansea, on the ropes pretty much since the get-go, lead the champions of England!

5.40pm GMT

20 min: And here’s another example! Delph stands off Roberts, out on the right touchline. Roberts is able to bring a long pass down, cut inside, and Delph panics, sticking out a leg and tripping his man from behind as he enters the box! A no-brainer, in more ways than one.

5.39pm GMT

18 min: Some good first-time flicking by Roberts, Celina and Routledge nearly opens Manchester City up down the right. Routledge’s control, as he enters the box, lets him and Swansea down. But once again Swansea have proved that, for all the visitors’ dominance, they sometimes let their concentration slip at the back.

5.37pm GMT

17 min: Sane should be OK to continue. Sterling had been warming up, just in case, but he’s back in the dugout now. On the pitch, Manchester City continue to dominate, Jesus nearly finding his way through the middle. Not quite.

5.36pm GMT

15 min: Sane is holding his hip, looking a little pained. The Manchester City bench are keeping an eye on him. He’s still fit enough to get a cross-cum-shot in from the left, though this one doesn’t seriously trouble Swansea.

5.34pm GMT

13 min: Sane scampers down the left and loops a cross towards the far post, where Bernardo Silva crashes a shot goalwards from eight yards. Nordfeldt parries brilliantly. The keeper has already earned his corn this evening, and we’re less than a quarter-hour in.

5.33pm GMT

12 min: Manchester City bomb upfield with Swansea light at the back. Sane feeds Mahrez who slips a pass down the inside-right channel for Walker, bursting into the box. But just as Walker’s preparing to shoot, James comes across and eases him out of the road, allowing Nordfeldt to gather. That’s sensational tracking back.

5.31pm GMT

10 min: Swansea suddenly show their quality! Celina strokes a pass down the left for James, who scuttles inside and lays off to Celina, who tries to sashay his way through the middle. Not quite, and the ball breaks through to Ederson, who clears. Celina made the wrong decision there; he had Roberts in acres of space to his right. Had he made that pass, Roberts would have been one on one with the keeper. That’ll give Swansea heart after a very shaky start.

5.29pm GMT

8 min: This is a very worrying start by Swansea. Sane should be in down the left, but he overruns it and has to settle for a corner off Roberts. That comes to nothing, but Mahrez is soon probing down the right, and his cross to the far post clips off James and out for yet another corner ... though they’re not awarded that one, the ref missing the deflection.

5.27pm GMT

6 min: There’s a massive gap between Swansea’s back four and the rest of the team. Jesus romps through it, then slips a pass to Sane, who enters the box in trademark silky style and batters a shot towards the bottom left. Nordfeldt saves well at his near post, though the ball loops to Mahrez, whose rushed header floats inches wide of the left-hand post. Had it been on target, Nordfeldt, back up on his feet, was not getting there.

5.25pm GMT

4 min: ... nothing much. Swansea are getting their defensive headers in, if nothing else, van der Hoorn standing tall.

5.24pm GMT

3 min: Manchester City stroke it around for fun. Swansea have barely had a touch yet. Bernardo Silva slides a pass down the right for Walker, who earns Manchester City’s second corner of the evening. That leads to ...

5.22pm GMT

1 min: ... Swansea half clear. Walker plays the ball back into the mixer from the right, and David Silva is caught offside on the penalty spot.

5.21pm GMT

And we’re off! Manchester City get the ball rolling and launch it long. They’re soon probing down the left, and after 25 seconds Sane enters the box and wins the first corner of the match. From which ...

5.20pm GMT

The teams are out! A cracking atmosphere at the Liberty Stadium. Swansea City are kitted out in their all-white kit, while Manchester City wear third-choice purple and orange. Freed From Desire by Gala blasts out of the PA. We’ll be off in a minute!

5.12pm GMT

And then it’s Pep Guardiola’s turn! “All the players in the squad have quality, and so we always try to do the best line-up to win the game. Swansea are a club with experience in the Premier League. They lost their last games against Norwich and West Brom but they played very good, so the results don’t define what happened. And in the FA Cup, one game away, anything can happen and we know how tough it will be after weeks of playing many games in many competitions. We expend a lot of energy in a lot of games, so today we will see if we have some more to qualify for Wembley for the semi-finals. Then we rest a little bit during the international break. We need everybody.”

5.06pm GMT

Swansea boss Graham Potter speaks to BT Sport. “This is an opportunity for us to play against the best, a great test, a learning opportunity. Then you just hope we can have a piece of magic and pull off a miracle. They’re a fantastic top team, but that’s what we’re going to try to do. We have to try to be us, of course you have to adapt, but there’s no point not being yourself. It’s a game our players should enjoy. Nobody’s expecting us to win, but we’ll try our best. ”

4.28pm GMT

Swansea make just the one change to the team that went down 3-0 at the Hawthorns during the week. Jay Fulton comes in for Kyle Naughton.

Manchester City give Swansea maximum respect by fielding a very strong team. I suppose their squad is packed with so much quality it’d be pretty hard to do anything else, but the point stands. Four changes from the side that humiliated Schalke on Wednesday night: Danilo, Alexander Zinchenko, Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguer make way for Nicolas Otamendi, Fabian Delph, Riyad Mahrez and Gabriel Jesus.

4.22pm GMT

Swansea City: Nordfeldt, Roberts, van der Hoorn, Carter-Vickers, Grimes, Fulton, Byers, Celina, Dyer, James, Routledge.
Subs: Asoro, McKay, John, Mulder, Dhanda, Baker-Richardson, Harries.

Manchester City: Ederson, Walker, Otamendi, Laporte, Delph, Bernardo Silva, Gundogan, Silva, Mahrez, Gabriel Jesus, Sane.
Subs: Danilo, Sterling, Aguero, Zinchenko, Foden, Muric, Garcia.

2.44pm GMT

This is the first time Swansea City and Manchester City have met in the FA Cup. But that’s about as good as the stats get for the Swans. Manchester City have won ten of their last 11 matches against Swansea. Last season they won their two Premier League encounters 4-0 and 5-0. On Wednesday, Manchester City beat Schalke 7-0, Leroy Sane delivering a masterclass; Swansea’s midweek effort was a 3-0 loss at West Brom, during which Bersant Celina filed a contender for worst penalty of all time.

Then again, there’s always hope. Swansea haven’t been beaten at home since Boxing Day. Manchester City are unlikely to be playing their full-strength team. Pep Guardiola’s side were knocked out of the cup at third-tier Wigan Athletic last season. And they let in a goal at Newport County earlier in this cup run.

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Watford 2-1 Crystal Palace: FA Cup quarter-final – as it happened

Andre Gray came off the bench to score the winner in a tight tussle at Vicarage Road

2.42pm GMT

And that, my MBM pals, is your lot. Congratulations to Watford, who are the first name into the hat for the semi-finals; commiserations to Palace, whose cup dream is over for another year. Ed Aarons was our man at Vicarage Road; here’s his report. Enjoy!

Related: Watford in FA Cup semi-finals after Andre Gray sinks Crystal Palace

2.40pm GMT

A very subdued Roy Hodgson talks to BT. “It was a good second goal, obviously against the run of play. I thought we were doing quite well. We were looking quite good. But these games are won and lost on small margins, and Watford had a good period in the first half with a succession of corner kicks and scored off one of them. But these games when the wind is swirling is hard, because both teams can’t get the ball down to play. I thought we were unfortunate not to bring the game into extra time at least, but they scored a good goal and that’s the end of it. Every defeat is hard to take. The target from the start of the season is to make certain that we are in the Premier League next year, and that is by no means certain. So we have to concentrate on the eight games left to play. We need some more points. We believe we are capable of getting those points. The cup has been a nice bonus, and it’s a pity that has gone away today.”

2.29pm GMT

Javi Gracia speaks to BT Sport. “I am very happy because it was a good chance for us. To be able to enjoy a semi-final at Wembley will be amazing for us. We try to play all of our games the same way, try to do our best. We will focus on our next game in the Premier League, but when the FA Cup semi comes we will be ready. First half we were better, but in the second we lost possession and defended in our half, they played better than us. We tried to be more offensive with Andre up front, and him scoring with one touch is no surprise. I trust all my players. They play really well. Heurelho Gomes is a special personality, we will see what happens in the next game, but I am very happy with him. We are ambitious, we will try to enjoy every game.”

2.21pm GMT

Watford hero Andre Gray speaks! “We knew there was a lot of space in behind. We took our foot off the gas a bit, so I came on and tried to put some energy back into the team. I managed to nick the winner. More importantly, we’re all going to Wembley now. Obviously every player wants to start, but there are two ways of going about it. You can sit there and sulk, or you just get on with it. I’ve been on the bench quite a lot this season, so I’ve got my mind round it now, and I’ve just got to come on and try to make a difference.”

2.17pm GMT

Emotional scenes as a tearful Heurelho Gomes says goodbye to the Watford faithful after what is likely to be his last appearance at Vicarage Road. A lap of honour and a respectful bow, as he thanks the crowd for their support over the years. He’s off to become a pastor. Will he get a run-out in the semi at Wembley, as Watford’s designated cup keeper? Or will Javi Gracia go with Ben Foster, now that the first major silverware in Watford’s history is a genuine prospect? That’s a big call for the Watford boss ... but one for another day. Gomes had a decent game today in testing conditions, and was part of a Watford side that thoroughly deserved to progress. Palace, a decent spell at the start of the second half apart, were second best.

2.11pm GMT

Watford are on their way to Wembley for an FA Cup semi-final! Roy Hodgson still hasn’t made it to the last four of the cup.

2.09pm GMT

90 min +4: And then, for a second, it looks as though Palace are about to level at the death! Gomes flaps under a high ball, Benteke making a nuisance of himself. Capoue scuffs a clearance, and the ball lands at the feet of Wan-Bissaka, on the edge of the area. Gomes isn’t guarding the net, but Wan-Bissaka snatches at his shot, sending it flying wide of the left-hand post!

2.08pm GMT

90 min +3: Watford are back down near Palace’s left-hand corner flag again. They’re so close to the semi-final!

2.07pm GMT

90 min +2: Guaita launches one long. But it’s soon coming back at Palace, Deeney and Doucoure combining down the left, eating up more time.

2.06pm GMT

90 min +1: Some fine game management by Watford, who spend a little time deep in Palace territory by the left corner flag.

2.05pm GMT

90 min: There will be four added minutes.

2.05pm GMT

89 min: That’s Deulofeu’s afternoon over. He’s replaced by Tom Cleverley, after taking his own sweet time to depart. Then Wan-Bissaka flings a long throw in from the right, forcing a corner. It’s hit long, and flicked on by Benteke to Tomkins at the far post, six yards out. A decent half-chance, but one the defender snatches at, sending a poor shot wide left.

2.03pm GMT

87 min: A lot of space for Deulofeu down the right. Gray is free in the middle, but his team-mate doesn’t see him. Schlupp holds up Deulofeu, who eventually looks for Gray with a looping cross that’s easily snaffled by Guaita.

2.02pm GMT

86 min: Watford had a couple of big chances there, but Palace have somehow survived and are still in this. It’s going to be a tense end to this quarter final. It took a long time to warm up, but this is great fun.

2.01pm GMT

85 min: Benteke’s first contribution is a defensive header that leads to a second corner. Then it’s a third Watford corner in a row, out on the right this time. Cathcart meets this one with a header towards the top left, but he’s denied on the line by Milivojevic.

2.00pm GMT

84 min: Palace make an attacking change of their own, removing McArthur for Benteke. Then Deeney takes a smash from the edge of the Palace box. It’s heading into the bottom left. Guaita parries but the ball breaks to Deulofeu, who ... is denied by a stunning last-ditch lunge from Wan-Bissaka! What a tackle! One that keeps Palace in the game, though they’ll have to defend a corner now.

1.58pm GMT

82 min: Milivojevic batters the free kick in the wall. Watford half clear. Milivojevic smacks it into the wall again. Watford completely clear. Very poor.

1.57pm GMT

81 min: Palace have ten minutes or so to save their FA Cup dream. They come back at Watford, Milivojevic jinking down the inside left. Doucoure hangs out a leg and the Palace captain goes over it. A free kick in a very dangerous position, just to the left of the D.

1.56pm GMT

Pereyra bursts down the middle then drifts wide left. He wedges a delicious ball into the area, where Gray - who has been on the pitch for two minutes and one second - swings a first-time shot into the bottom left! Guaita had no chance! That’s a lovely goal.

1.54pm GMT

78 min: Some nice interplay between Deulofeu, Gray and Deeney, clipping passes down the middle, then sending Doucoure free down the left. But his cross floats harmlessly out of play for a goal kick.

1.53pm GMT

77 min: Watford make an attacking substitution, removing Hughes from the midfield and sending on Gray up front.

1.51pm GMT

76 min: A brief pause as Milivojevic recovers from an accidental elbow in the ribs from Duelofeu. A lot of grimacing but looks like he’ll be fine to continue.

1.51pm GMT

74 min: From the ridiculous to the sublime by Masina, whose excellent deep cross from the left is flapped at by Guaita. The ball drops to Pereyra on the right. Pereyra shoots, Guaita recovering to block well. Doucoure slices the rebound over the bar.

1.48pm GMT

73 min: Some genuinely pathetic defending by Masina, who does absolutely nothing as Batshuayi latches onto a ball he should have cleared, then wanders past him as though he’s not there. Batshuayi crosses low from the right. Meyer should do better with his snapshot from the edge of the six-yard box, but fluffs his chance.

1.46pm GMT

71 min: Palace hog the ball, but it’s all sterile stuff in the middle of the park. The wind’s not helping the spectacle, to be fair.

1.44pm GMT

69 min: This is all very scrappy now. In a game of few chances, extra time already looks a distinct possibility.

1.42pm GMT

67 min: Deulofeu sashays in from the left and attempts a whip into the top right. It’s straight at Guaita, who gathers.

1.41pm GMT

66 min: The Hornets have been stung into action. They’ve been travelling at half-speed since the restart. Deeney leads a counter charge, and instigates a game of frantic pinball in the Palace final third. Nothing comes of it, but that’s better from the home side.

1.40pm GMT

64 min: Just like Watford in the first half, Palace earn their reward after applying a few minutes of pressure. The away fans are giving it plenty. They like it, like it, like it.

1.38pm GMT

Mariappa, out on the Watford right, dozes over a clearance. He’s charged down by Batshuayi, who tears down the Palace left, cuts into the area, and whips a shot across Gomes and into the bottom right! A lovely finish ... but what sloppy defending by Mariappa. Maybe he should take up eating meat again.

1.36pm GMT

60 min: Schlupp curls a long pass down the left for Batshuayi, who welts a first-time shot, ball dropping over the shoulder wide left. It ends up looking more spectacular than it was, twanging off the stanchion behind the goal and back upfield.

1.34pm GMT

59 min: The corner’s a non-event. This is not a high-quality game. At least it’s delicately poised, huh.

1.34pm GMT

58 min: Townsend curls it towards the top right. It’s straight at Gomes, who opts to tip the ball over the bar instead of catching, a fair enough decision in this wind.

1.33pm GMT

57 min: The free kick is a nonsense. But Palace come again, and Meyer’s fouled again, jinking down the right and brought down by Masina, who is booked. Another free kick, just to the right of the Watford box.

1.31pm GMT

56 min: Palace continue to probe. Deeney gets fed up and clanks into Meyer, presenting Palace with a free kick out on the left.

1.30pm GMT

54 min: A period of Palace possession in the opposition half. But they can’t prise the hosts open. Watford hold their shape well.

1.28pm GMT

52 min: Deulofeu is out on the right touchline. He crosses from deep. It’s wild in the wind, which is a shame for Watford as Deeney is in space in the centre.

1.26pm GMT

51 min: Palace have looked much livelier since the restart. Presumably on the end of a half-time Roy rocket. Wan-Bissaka is seeing plenty of the ball out on the right.

1.25pm GMT

49 min: Palace win a corner out on the right. Townsend curls it into a packed box. Meyer stoops and guides a header towards the bottom left. Gomes tips it away from danger, although he makes a meal of getting across, Watford hearts in mouths. A boost for Palace, who haven’t created much.

1.24pm GMT

48 min: Deulofeu dribbles down the inside-left channel and very nearly breaks free into the box. But he’s gently shepherded wide left, so he can’t get a shot away. He chips a cross into the mixer, but it’s dealt with easily enough by Palace.

1.23pm GMT

47 min: Milivojevic wedges a pass down the right for Kouyate, but the wind takes it out for a goal kick.

1.20pm GMT

Palace - who were sent out early by a livid Roy Hodgson - get the second half underway. Watford have been forced to make a change, with Holebas unable to continue. Masina comes on in his place.

1.05pm GMT

Half-time reading. Some old-school FA Cup action, brought to you by the peerless Rob Smyth.

Related: When Manchester United were a nation’s darlings – and Wolves found out why

1.04pm GMT

And it ensures the hosts go into the half-time break leading. Deservedly so. They’re 45 minutes away from an FA Cup semi-final. Palace need to up their game.

1.03pm GMT

45 min +1: Meyer threatens to burst clear down the right, but Deulofeu comes across to shepherd him out of play. That’s fine tracking back by the Watford playmaker.

1.02pm GMT

45 min: Break soon! But first, two additional minutes.

1.01pm GMT

44 min: Townsend needlessly clips the ankle of Hughes, as the Watford man dribbles down a cul-de-sac on the right. A free kick, which Holebas curls into a packed six-yard box. The ball dinks off Schlupp’s knee - Watford claim hands - and McArthur clears.

12.59pm GMT

42 min: Holebas is back on, but he’s running gingerly, still limping, unable to put too much weight on his right ankle. The space left by the ailing Watford left-back allows Wan-Bissaka to chip a ball down the right for Meyer, who lifts a weak shot into the arms of Gomes from a tight angle.

12.57pm GMT

40 min: Townsend and Holebas slide in to contest a loose ball down the right. There doesn’t seem much in it, but Holebas stays down in some distress, holding his ankle. The physio comes on and treats the injured soldier.

12.55pm GMT

38 min: Deeney barges his way down the left and purchases a cheap foul from McArthur, who shoves him in the back. A free kick, 25 yards out to the left. Deulofeu takes, getting the ball over the wall and back down towards the bottom left. It’s a fine effort, but one that’s snaffled by Guaita. Great hands to make that stick in windy weather.

12.53pm GMT

36 min: The Palace captain Milivojevic comes sliding through the back of Hughes. It’s a pointless challenge, and also a poor one, and he deservedly ends up in the referee’s notebook.

12.52pm GMT

35 min: Milivojevic sprays a wonderful ball wide right for Wan-Bissaka, who curls a fine cross towards Batshuayi. Mariappa is forced to concede a corner. Nothing comes from the set piece, but that’s much better from Palace. Wan-Bissaka and Townsend look dangerous on the flanks; Palace just need to get the ball out to them.

12.50pm GMT

33 min: It’s gone scrappy again, but Palace will take that. They’ve been penned back for quite a bit, so a messy period in the middle of the park is fine by them, as they look to regroup.

12.49pm GMT

31 min: Doucoure continues to moan about the goal-kick decision. The referee’s patience is beginning to run thin, but another lecture suffices for now.

12.48pm GMT

30 min: This corner from the right hangs in the swirling wind and comes off Capoue at the far post. Goal kick. Watford seem incensed about the non-award of another corner, for some reason. The referee tells them to pipe down.

12.46pm GMT

29 min: Watford deserved that goal, after really ratcheting up the pressure on Palace with a series of corners. And here they come again, Deulofeu skittering down the inside-right channel and hammering a shot towards the top right. It’s flying in, so Guaita does very well to stick up an arm and divert it away for a corner.

12.45pm GMT

That corner goes long as well, and from it, Cathcart wins yet another corner on the right. Holebas sends it into the mixer. Guaita comes out and flaps. The ball breaks to Cathcart, on the left-hand corner of the six-yard box. He taps it instinctively into the middle for Capoue, who roofs one from close range!

12.43pm GMT

26 min: Holebas sends the corner long. Guaita, who likes an adventure, races off his line and chases a ball he’s never likely to claim. Instead, under very little pressure, he fingertips it out for a corner on the left.

12.41pm GMT

25 min: The second corner ends up at the feet of Hughes on the right wing, too. Hughes can’t quite get a cross away time. But Watford are beginning to show up front, and they come again, Deulofeu flicking a pass down the inside-right channel and releasing Deeney, who wins a corner on the right this time.

12.40pm GMT

23 min: After such a long wait, disappointment is an inevitability. Holebas’s delivery isn’t any cop, and sails away to the other flank. But Hughes doesn’t give it up, and whips in a ball that Tomkins is forced to head behind for another corner out on the left.

12.39pm GMT

22 min: Some scruffy but determined work by Pereyra earns Watford a corner out on the left. It’ll be taken at some point, presumably, but for now the referee is talking to everyone in the box, reminding them that VAR will be looking for every little shove and tug.

12.37pm GMT

20 min: Gomes launches it long immediately. Guaita is wandering miles from his box, and shanks a panicked clearance to the Watford left, where Pereyra is gifted possession. Pereyra crosses, hoping to find either Deulofeu or Deeney, but it’s no good. Not a classic yet, this.

12.37pm GMT

12.36pm GMT

19 min: Schlupp is tugged lightly by Hughes, as he makes his way down the left. A fairly generous free kick is awarded. A chance for Palace to line up on the edge of the area. Milivojevic takes. It’s a poor floater, and Gomes claims easily.

12.34pm GMT

17 min: Palace have been the sharper side in attack, but it’s Watford who force the first serious save of the afternoon. Deulofeu dances down the inside-right channel and into the box. It’s a fantastic run, and he’s worked enough space for a shot. But he’s faced with a tight angle and, though Deulofeu creams his shot well enough, Guaita is always going to parry at his near post. Good football all round.

12.33pm GMT

16 min: A brief interlude as the referee and pitchfork-wielding mascot Harry the Hornet burst a few loose balloons that are irritating the hell out of the players.

12.32pm GMT

14 min: Space for Wan-Bissaka down the right. He clips a cross into the middle for Batshuayi. Too high, and it sails away to the other flank. A shame for Palace, because Batshuayi had escaped the attention of Cathcart and Mariappa, and would have had a free header from six yards.

12.30pm GMT

13 min: A free kick for Watford in the middle of the Palace half. Holebas floats it into the mixer. As the ball sails out for a goal kick, Hughes tumbles over, and demands a penalty, but neither referee nor VAR operative is interested.

12.29pm GMT

11 min: Palace probe awhile. It’s patient possession football. Suddenly Milivojevic slips a pass down the middle for McArthur, who nearly turns free on the edge of the box. Not quite, but that was a promising attack. Palace look confident.

12.26pm GMT

9 min: Deeney spanks long for Deulofeu, but the ball bounces harmlessly through to Guaita, who hammers clear. Watford aren’t showing much up front, though of course it’s early days.

12.25pm GMT

8 min: Schlupp blooters high and long. The ball hangs in the wind. Cathcart does well to compose himself under pressure from Batshuayi, controlling and clearing his lines. Palace are much the brighter team in these opening moments.

12.23pm GMT

6 min: Meyer and Townsend both look in the mood. They combine again, the latter pushing Watford back on the left. He cuts back to Milivojevic, who doesn’t quite catch his shot from the left of the D. Gomes gathers, the ball dribbling towards the bottom left, though not in particularly clean fashion, fumbling then claiming the loose ball.

12.21pm GMT

5 min: Meyer bustles down the inside-left channel and slips a pass forward to Townsend, whose dribbling again causes Watford a little concern. Mariappa does very well to come across and blot out the attack.

12.21pm GMT

4 min: A fine burst down the left by Pereyra. For a second it looks as though he’ll break clear into the box, but Tomkins sticks to his side and shepherds him away from danger. Then Townsend counters down the Palace left, but he’s only got Batshuayi up in support, and can’t find him with his cross. A couple of neat runs there, though.

12.19pm GMT

2 min: A fair bit of wind around. Both teams struggling to get their foot on the ball in the early exchanges. Plenty of time left for this to turn into a classic for the ages.

12.17pm GMT

And we’re off! The hosts get the quarter-final underway. VAR is in operation today, for the first time at Vicarage Road. And this tie will be decided today, after extra time (with a fourth sub available) and penalties if necessary. It’s on!

12.15pm GMT

Here come the teams! Watford, the 1984 finalists, are dressed in their yellow and black stripes. Palace, finalists in 1990 and 2016, wear second-choice white with Team of the Eighties retro sash. A rare old noise being made at Vicarage Road! We’ll be off in a minute.

11.57am GMT

BT Sport chat to Roy Hodgson, and he fills up plenty of airtime with some metaphorical musing. “When you get this far in the competition, you see the Wembley towers in front of you and you dream of getting there. So you know how important it is to give a good performance on the day. It’s never easy going away from home, to a Premier League club, but we’ve got this opportunity and I hope the players will do their level best. It would be wonderful if we could reach the semi-final. I’ve never reached the semi-final in England, I’ve been lucky enough to do it once or twice in foreign countries, but the quarter-final is the first time I’ve got so far in the FA Cup, so it’s an opportunity for the players to elevate me to a new milestone in my career! It would be very nice if they do! I don’t know why our away form is so good, it’s quite strange. Our level of performance hasn’t varied enormously. I think we’re being shown quite a lot of respect at home these days. We don’t have a vastly different approach. Wilf Zaha has a tight hamstring, we’ve been nursing it all week, unfortunately he didn’t come through so we didn’t want to risk him.”

11.35am GMT

Pre-match pint and pie / vegan sausage roll.

Related: Watford’s Adrian Mariappa: ‘I can’t see myself going back to eating meat’

11.25am GMT

After the free-jazz selection stylings of the Etihad, Watford make eight changes, reverting to old ways. Heurelho Gomes, Adrian Mariappa, Craig Cathcart, Jose Holebas, Will Hughes, Roberto Pereyra, Gerard Deulofeu and Troy Deeney return; they take the places of Ben Foster, Darryl Janmaat, Miguel Britos, Adam Masina, Christian Kabasele, Tom Cleverley, Isaac Success and Andre Gray.

Palace are relatively unchanged by comparison. Just the three switches from the starting XI for the Brighton game. Martin Kelly, Cheikhou Kouyate and Max Meyer come in for Patrick van Aanholt, Scott Dann and Wilfried Zaha.

11.25am GMT

Watford: Gomes, Kiko, Mariappa, Cathcart, Holebas, Hughes, Doucoure, Capoue, Pereyra, Deulofeu, Deeney.
Subs: Dahlberg, Kabasele, Janmaat, Masina, Cleverley, Success, Gray.

Crystal Palace: Guaita, Wan-Bissaka, Kelly, Tomkins, Schlupp, Milivojevic, Kouyate, Meyer, McArthur, Townsend, Batshuayi.
Subs: Hennessey, Ward, Woods, Riedewald, Wickham, Benteke, Ayew.

10.51am GMT

The Eagles have broken Hornet hearts a couple of times recently. Crystal Palace pipped Watford to promotion in the 2013 Championship play-off, Kevin Phillips doing the business from the spot in extra time; then they won again at Wembley in the 2016 FA Cup semis, Yannick Bolasie and Connor Wickham the goalscoring heroes in a 2-1 victory. A couple of crunch victories there. Can Palace make it three in a row?

Perhaps, though the omens are otherwise good for Watford. The Hornets have won their last three FA Cup quarter-finals, in 2003, 2007 and 2016. They’ve not been defeated at Vicarage Road in the cup since Spurs won there in 2012, a run of five successive victories. They’ve never lost at home to Palace in the cup. And Javi Gracia’s side have already beaten Roy Hodgson’s men twice in the league this season, 2-1 on both occasions.

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Juventus 3-0 Atlético Madrid (agg: 3-2): Champions League last 16, second leg – as it happened

Cristiano Ronaldo was the hat-trick hero as Juve sensationally turned this tie around to reach the quarters.

10.21pm GMT

So Juventus join Ajax, Manchester City, Manchester United, Porto and Tottenham Hotspur in the quarter finals. Here’s the report of a glorious evening for Cristiano Ronaldo. Thanks for reading. Nighty night!

Related: Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick fires Juventus past Atlético and into last eight

10.00pm GMT

Now that was a match of football. In fact, two wonderful legs. Atletico were by far the better team three weeks ago in Madrid, and were good value for their two-goal lead coming into this game. But tonight they were forced onto the back foot from the get-go, Juve flying out of the traps and asking questions from beginning to end. Juventus were fantastic to a man, causing Atletico all manner of problems. No small feat, seeing the Spaniards hadn’t conceded a goal in their previous five matches. They deservedly turned this tie around. The headlines will go to the evergreen Cristiano Ronaldo, of course they will, but Federico Bernardeschi and Leonardo Spinazzola also caught the eye with magnificent displays. Poor old Atletico had no answer; their long wait for a European Cup goes on.

9.54pm GMT

And that’s it! Juventus deservedly complete a spectacular comeback, Cristiano Ronaldo the hat-trick hero! Atletico’s dream of contesting the final in their own stadium lies in ruins.

9.53pm GMT

90 min +4: A long ball down the middle. Correa contests it on the edge of the box with Chiellini. Correa barges him in the back ... or did Chiellini step across him? Either way, Juve are getting the decision, and their captain takes the opportunity to roll around in the theatrical style.

9.51pm GMT

90 min +3: Nothing comes of the corner. Atletico try to break. Cancelo intercepts a long ball but flicks it nervously at Godin. But Godin runs the ball straight out of play. This is all most acceptable for Juve, who are eating up this added time without drama.

9.50pm GMT

90 min +2: Ah, it was Vitolo who took Ronaldo down. He’s booked as a result. From the free kick, Can wins a corner. The clock ticks on, with Juve in total control.

9.49pm GMT

90 min +1: Ronaldo goes on a wander down the right and earns a free kick off Koke. That’s a chunk of time run down.

9.48pm GMT

90 min: There will be five added minutes. Can Atletico find the away goal that’d silence the Juve faithful?

9.47pm GMT

89 min: Ronaldo backflicks a pass down the left. The blood’s pumping now. What a performance. That’s what Juve paid the big bucks for.

9.46pm GMT

88 min: That’s Ronaldo’s eighth hat-trick in the Champions League. He now shares the record with ... nah, I reckon you’ve already worked that out.

9.45pm GMT

Ronaldo’s not missing this one. He slams the penalty into the bottom left, sending Oblak the wrong way. A sensational hat-trick, and yet another Champions League comeback is on! The roof of the Juventus Stadium frisbees off towards the Alps.

9.44pm GMT

85 min: VAR takes an age to check. This is football now. But it’s a penalty. Gimenez is booked for trying to put Ronaldo off as he waits to take the spot kick.

9.43pm GMT

84 min: Penalty to Juventus! Bernardeschi tears down the left wing, then sashays into the area. He’s always ahead of Correa, who eventually panics and shoves the Juve man in the back. Bernardeschi goes over, knocked off balance. The referee doesn’t hesitate, pointing straight at the spot! What a sensational run by Bernardeschi, though Correa really lost the plot there.

9.41pm GMT

82 min: Nearly! Chiellini hoicks a clearance up the left wing. Gimenez is way out of position, and Kean is romping clear down the channel! He shoots across the retreating Oblak towards the bottom right, but the ball’s always curling away from the post. Just wide!

9.39pm GMT

80 min: Mandzukic is replaced by the 19-year-old Moise Kean, who scored twice at the weekend. Is yet another Champions League fairytale about to be told?

9.38pm GMT

79 min: Vitolo and Saul combine well down the left, but the resulting cross is easily cleared by Bonucci. Atletico come at Juve again, winning a free kick out on the same flank. Griezmann floats it in, gifting Szczesny an easy pick. Atletico just beginning to ask one or two questions, as the nerves kick in.

9.35pm GMT

77 min: Morata goes a-dribbling in the middle of the park. Can trips him up. He should go in the book, but the referee is in a pretty lenient mood tonight. Before the game can restart, Arias is repalced by Vitolo.

9.34pm GMT

75 min: Now there’s a free kick for Atletico, out on the right. Koke sends it into a packed area. Pjanic clears after a fashion. The tension is now palpable, seeing we’re almost at the point of next goal wins. A lot of players worried about becoming the fall guy.

9.33pm GMT

74 min: Pjanic loops the free kick to the left-hand corner of the six-yard box. Mandzukic stoops, trying to guide a header into the bottom left, but the ball clanks out off his thigh. He appeals half-heartedly for a penalty, Juanfran on his shoulder, but there’s nothing doing.

9.31pm GMT

73 min: Ronaldo is in the process of dribbling past Juanfran when the full back brings him down in cynical fashion. A clear free kick, out on the right, and a booking for the Atletico defender. Pjanic is over it, with the box loaded.

9.30pm GMT

71 min: It’s beginning to get tasty. Godin drags Dybala back. It’s a clear free kick. Koke slams the ball away in disgust. The referee is by far the coolest individual on the park, and he really can’t be bothered to acknowledge any of it. Again we play on.

9.28pm GMT

69 min: An off-the-ball brouhaha between Morata and Chiellini. A childish shoving match. Morata pushes his opponent over twice, the big man taking a spectacular tumble under the lightest pressure. Grown men, the pair of them, and all. The referee tells them both to stop being so bloody stupid, and we move on.

9.26pm GMT

67 min: Cancelo zips down the right, a wonderful run that has Juanfran in a panic. But the resulting cross isn’t accurate. Then Juve make their first change of the evening, Dybala coming on for Spinazzola. An attacking substitution, with Matuidi filling in at left-back.

9.24pm GMT

66 min: Chiellini, quarterbacking from deep, rakes a pass down the inside-left channel. Ronaldo, racing into the box, is inches away from taking it down and shooting. Not quite.

9.23pm GMT

64 min: Bernardeschi catches Arias in the face with his fingers. It looked accidental, but that’s the first booking of the evening.

9.20pm GMT

62 min: Correa works his way down the inside-right channel and tries to send a heatseeker into the top right from 25 yards. It’s overly ambitious, though you can see the logic: an away goal, out of nothing, would change the atmosphere in a second.

9.19pm GMT

60 min: The Juventus Stadium is on a rolling boil. Two-pass moves are suddenly at a premium. Atletico will be happier at the sudden chaos, because Juve were beginning to build up a head of steam.

9.18pm GMT

58 min: Ronaldo blooters the free kick straight into the wall. Atletico look to break up the other end. The ball’s loose in the midfield. Matuidi’s attempted hoick back upfield hits Correa on the arm. Correa tears clear, then is caught and crunched by Cancelo. Atletico want the foul; Juve get it for the earlier handball. Atletico are none too happy, the match suddenly threatening to boil over. The ref does well to calm everyone down.

9.15pm GMT

57 min: Chiellini slips a pass down the left for Ronaldo, who is immediately clipped to the ground by Gimenez, a little to the left of the D. Free kick. Ronaldo fancies this.

9.14pm GMT

56 min: Atletico can’t string more than a couple of passes together. The collective noggin’s gone. Something has to change, so Lemar is replaced by Correa.

9.12pm GMT

54 min: Atletico are hanging on by their fingernails. They can hardly get out of their own box. Can crosses from the right. Bernardeschi sends a weak header wide left from close range. Right now, a third Juve goal seems just a matter of time.

9.11pm GMT

52 min: Spinazzola dribbles down the left and sends yet another cross towards the far post. Bernardeschi can’t quite get on the end of it. Juve look in the mood.

9.10pm GMT

50 min: The atmosphere in the stadium is now off the scale. As things stand, we’ll be going to extra time and maybe penalties. But Juve have plenty of time to look for the third goal that’d see them through. Atletico could really curdle the atmosphere with an away goal, of course, but they don’t look likely to score one at the moment. They’ve been very passive all evening. By way of further illustration, Griezmann has another run, this time down the right ... but again there’s nobody up with him.

9.08pm GMT

Bernardeschi crosses from the right. Ronaldo rises highest, and plants a header towards the top left. It looks as though Oblak has clawed it out and away, but after a pause the referee points at his watch. It’s buzzed, and the ball’s crossed the line! Only just, but a couple of millimetres is more than enough! Juve have levelled up the tie!

9.06pm GMT

47 min: Griezmann heads off down the left. Juve are a little light at the back, but there’s nobody up in support of the Atletico striker, and he’s forced to turn tail. Juve win the ball, go up the other end, and ...

9.05pm GMT

And we’re off again! Atletico get the second half underway, and give up possession in short order. Juve are immediately on the front foot. Ronaldo bursts into space down the right and sails a cross towards Mandzukic, who prepares to nut home from six yards. But Gimenez does extremely well to eyebrow away from danger.

8.49pm GMT

Half-time reading.

Related: Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid return a masterstroke and he has all the aces | Sid Lowe

8.48pm GMT

Just enough time for Atletico to threaten Juve’s goal, Morata getting on the end of Koke’s right-wing cross and heading over from eight yards. And that’s the end of a whirlwind first half. After which ... well, this is poised rather nicely, isn’t it?

8.46pm GMT

45 min: Bernardeschi’s shot from distance is deflected over. From the corner on the right, Chiellini sends a powerful diving header towards the top left. Oblak tips over, a sensational reaction save. Chiellini’s taken an accidental whack in the face for his trouble. Blood everywhere. But the big man’s good to continue. Nothing comes of the next corner.

8.44pm GMT

43 min: Spinazzola hoicks another fine cross into the mixer from a tight spot on the left. Ronaldo rises at the far post but flashes his header wide right. By his lofty standards, that was a good chance, and a poor miss.

8.43pm GMT

42 min: Bernardeschi spins down the inside-left channel and very nearly releases Mandzukic into the box with a cute pass forward. Not quite. Bernardeschi has been very lively tonight.

8.41pm GMT

40 min: Atletico needed a breather, and they get it, with a little period of possession behind Juve lines. They don’t really threaten to open up the hosts, but that’s not really the point. And they’re irritating the home fans, who respond to their rare sortie upfield with a cacophony of whistles.

8.39pm GMT

38 min: Morata rises off the back of Pjanic, and that’s a free kick for Juve out on the right. Pjanic takes and loops long. Ronaldo probes down the left, but can’t beat his first man with the cross. Atletico continue to bend but not buckle. But they can’t continue like this, surely.

8.37pm GMT

36 min: On the touchline, Diego Simeone is beginning to look slightly concerned. Ponderous. His team have been second best so far, their defence tested to the limit.

8.36pm GMT

34 min: This has been a wonderful match so far, with Juve really going for it. Their fans are making plenty of noise. And the roof would have come off the stadium had this one gone in. Ronaldo flies down the left and slips a pass inside for Spinazzola, who - yes - elegantly spins 180 degrees and flicks a cross towards Bernardeschi. And somebody’s been studying Ronaldo in training, because Bernardeschi attempts to whip a bicycle kick into the top right! It’s not far off. Just over. That would have been some goal!

8.33pm GMT

32 min: But it’s Bernardeschi who steps up and takes it. His effort is decent, whipped over the wall and back down towards the top right ... but it just clears the bar.

8.32pm GMT

31 min: Bernardeschi makes his way down the inside-right channel and is clipped to the floor by Rodri, 25 yards out. This is a free kick in Ronaldo territory.

8.31pm GMT

30 min: A free kick for Atletico out on the left. Griezmann wafts it into a packed Juve box, but it hangs harmlessly in the air and that’s easy pickings for Szczesny.

8.30pm GMT

29 min: Juve’s penalty claim was for handball, Godin having climbed onto his own man Arias and headed down onto his team-mate’s arm. It was never a penalty ... and then Chiellini half-wrestled Godin to the ground. But the ref said that wasn’t a foul either. At which point Juve came again, and got the reward they deserve for their strong start to this match.

8.28pm GMT

Juve come straight back at Atletico. Bernardeschi makes good down the inside-left channel and curls a glorious cross towards Ronaldo at the far post. Ronaldo nips in ahead of Godin, and plants a header past Oblak. Game on!

8.27pm GMT

26 min: Spinazzola wins a corner down the left. From the set piece, there’s an awful scramble and Juve want a corner for something or other. They’re not getting it. But no matter, because ...

8.26pm GMT

24 min: Atletico spend a little time in the Juve half, their first prolonged spell in enemy territory this evening. Griezmann glides in from the right and welts a fine long-distance shot towards the middle of the Juve goal. It’s swerving around, and Morata’s in the way, causing Szczesny to flap a bit. He just about parries it away from danger, and the flag goes up against Morata anyway. He’s offside. Hearts were in Juve mouths for a second there.

8.23pm GMT

22 min: Koke has a crack from 20 yards. His rising effort isn’t too far away from the top right, but it’s just that little bit too high. Szczesny probably had it covered, too. But a reminder that it’ll only take one Atletico flash of brilliance for Juve to find themselves in a four-goal hole.

8.21pm GMT

21 min: Bernardeschi floats a cross into the Atletico box from the right. He’s hoping to find Mandzukic, six yards out in the middle, but Godin reads the flight perfectly and bashes a header away.

8.20pm GMT

19 min: It’s all Juve in terms of territory and possession. But Atletico aren’t giving up any space in the final third. A little bit for Cancelo down the right. He cuts back for Bernardeschi, who tries a shot from 25 yards. It’s blocked brilliantly by Juanfran. The first howl of frustration from the home fans.

8.18pm GMT

17 min: Another storming run by Spinazzola, who tears 50 yards up his wing and very nearly gets the better of Arias. But he can’t burst clear, the defender sticking out a leg and not only winning a tackle, but also deflecting the ball off the Juve man for a goal kick.

8.16pm GMT

15 min: Matuidi finds Spinazzola in a lot of space down the left. His cross isn’t all that and cleared by Godin. He takes another run along the flank, but runs out of space and it’s a throw to the visitors. Spinazzola is seeing a lot of the ball early doors. Juve have definitely targeted this left wing.

8.14pm GMT

13 min: Another long pass to the Juve right, and Cancelo traps well this time. He looks to have earned a corner off Juanfran, but the referee says no deflection. Atletico go up the other end, Griezmann having a dig from distance. It’s blocked the second it leaves his boot. But at least Atletico have finally shown something in attack.

8.12pm GMT

11 min: Juve are concentrating on this left wing. Ronaldo probes again. Once more, there’s nothing doing. He switches play towards Cancelo on the other flank, a fine raking pass, but the right-back lets the ball roll under his foot and out for a throw.

8.11pm GMT

9 min: Juve are seeing most of the ball, though it’s all a bit nervy and scrappy. Matuidi and Ronaldo very nearly work some space down the left, but the one-two doesn’t quite stick.

8.08pm GMT

7 min: One minute and 40 seconds, though. On the touchline, Diego Simeone looks reasonably content, his team having perhaps gotten away with one.

8.07pm GMT

6 min: After one minute and 40 seconds of waiting, the decision stands. No goal. There didn’t seem an awful lot in Ronaldo’s challenge on Oblak - some uncharacteristically slack defending by Atletico, as the ball pinballed around - but it remains goalless. There goes Juve’s perfect start.

8.05pm GMT

4 min: Bonucci flicks the corner on. Ronaldo challenges Oblak on the goalline. The ball breaks back to Chiellini, who stabs home from the edge of the six-yard box. Juve celebrate the early goal, but the referee says no. Juve are livid. This is going to VAR.

8.04pm GMT

3 min: Spinazzola makes good down the left and pulls back for Matuidi, who shoots first time from 15 yards. Godin hacks clear, but Juve come back and earn a corner on the left. From which ...

8.03pm GMT

2 min: Ronaldo’s first run of the evening, out on the left touchline. He makes good ground but Koke and Arias ensure there’s no gap to dribble through.

8.02pm GMT

Here we go, then! Juve get the ball rolling, as they go in search of the two goals they need to level this tie. Within 25 seconds, Matuidi reaches the byline to the left of the goal and pulls back for Mandzukic, but Gimenez is there to intercept and clear. A lot of noise.

7.57pm GMT

The teams are out! Amid a rare old noise at the Juventus Stadium in Turin - 30,000 flags have been handed out and are fluttering like crazy - the players take to the pitch. Juventus are kitted out in their world-famous black-and-white stripes, while Atletico sport a change strip of blue. We’ll be off in two shakes!

7.36pm GMT

Hot pennant action. Here’s what Juve captain Giorgio Chiellini will be handing over to his opposite number Diego Godin before kick-off. It’s pretty much impossible to decide who has the better crest, isn’t it.

7.27pm GMT

Who’s walking the disciplinary tightrope? Blaise Matuidi is the only player up there in black and white stripes. A booking would rule him out of a possible quarter-final. Atletico have three players teetering on the wire: Antoine Griezmann, Jose Maria Gimenez and Angel Correa.

7.21pm GMT

Juventus might become desperate for goals at some point this evening. With this in mind, they’ve named their 19-year-old prodigy Moise Kean as a smash-glass-in-emergency sub. Kean scored twice against Udinese last weekend, on his first Serie A start of the season, becoming the youngest player to bag two in a game for the Bianconeri since Giuseppe Galderisi in 1982. Our man Paolo Bandini was suitably impressed and penned the following love letter ...

Related: Moise Kean's explosive return offers Juve secret weapon against Atlético

7.10pm GMT

Massimiliano Allegri makes four changes to the Juve team named in the first leg in Madrid. João Cancelo, Leonardo Spinazzola, Emre Can and Federico Bernardeschi come in for Mattia De Sciglio, Alex Sandro, Rodrigo Bentancur and Paulo Dybala.

Diego Simeone makes three changes to his Atletico team from the one sent out at the Estadio Metropolitano. Filipe Luis, Thomas Partey and Diego Costa make way for Santiago Arias, Thomas Lemar and Alvaro Morata.

7.01pm GMT

Juventus: Szczesny, Cancelo, Bonucci, Chiellini, Spinazzola, Can, Pjanic, Matuidi, Bernardeschi, Mandzukic, Ronaldo.
Subs: Perin, Caceres, Dybala, Kean, Rugani, Bentancur, Caviglia.

Atletico Madrid: Oblak, Arias, Godin, Gimenez, Juanfran, Griezmann, Saul, Rodri, Koke, Lemar, Morata.
Subs: Adan, Kalinic, Correa, Savic, Vitolo, Carro, Montero.

2.31pm GMT

It wasn’t supposed to be like this for the grand Old Lady of Italian football. Juventus didn’t splurge on Cristiano Ronaldo in the hope of winning a 35th Serie A title, even if that’s what they’re going to do. They spent those 100 million euros to win a third European Cup, having come so close in recent years. The signing of Ronaldo would get them over the line. But instead, here they are on the precipice.

Atlético Madrid were by far the better side in the first leg of this round-of-16 tie at the Metropolitano. Late goals by Jose Maria Giménez and Diego Godín only tell half the story. Diego Costa missed a sitter, Antoine Griezmann hit the crossbar, and Alvaro Morata had a perfectly good goal chalked off by VAR for his part in a very light tussle with Giorgio Chiellini. The 2-0 result didn’t flatter Atlético at all.

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The Fiver | A thundering mid-life crisis

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In years gone by, Real Madrid would occasionally mine English football for the hottest managerial talent. The former Wellington Town striker Robert Firth, for example, who bossed Los Merengues for a couple of years in the mid 1930s, or Michael Keeping, whose win ratio of 45.12% during the late 40s led to the Poole Town gig a few years later. But no longer. They don’t just hand over the keys to anyone, so Sam Allardyce was never seriously in the running to replace Santiago Solari and land his dream job. Instead, it’s gone to three-time Big Cup winner Zinedine Zidane. Poor Sam! Never mind, big man, maybe you’ll get the chance to prove them all wrong next time.

Related: Zinedine Zidane vows to change things after returning as Real Madrid manager

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Manchester City 3-1 Watford: Premier League – as it happened

Raheem Sterling’s quick-fire second-half hat-trick sends City four points clear of Liverpool at the top of the Premier League.

7.54pm GMT

So City move four clear at the top. Daniel Taylor was our man in Manchester, and here’s his verdict. Thanks for reading this MBM and make sure to come back to us tomorrow lunchtime as Liverpool prepare to respond against Burnley!

Related: Raheem Sterling hat-trick for Manchester City ends Watford resistance

7.52pm GMT

And now it’s Pep’s turn! “It was almost impossible to attack them, they played so deep. It’s so difficult. But we created enough chances, and after the first goal it is easier. But the game was never over. The first goal is a debate for the referee, I don’t know. But it is easy: VAR. Ask the Premier League why it is not here. But some teams didn’t want it. I don’t want to score goals that are offside. Raheem Sterling can do better. He did not play good in the first half. But he scored three in the second, which is fantastic. But he can do better. Most of the games will be like this, tight and difficult.”

7.42pm GMT

Javier Gracia is clearly frustrated, but doesn’t see the point in going off on one, live on BT Sport. “We play a very good first half. Collectively a very good performance. I think everybody has seen what happened, I never criticise the referees and I’m not going to do it either. There is position and influence, and I think it is clear. I have confidence in all of our players, I know they are able to compete with other teams. Now we have to play eight games more in the league plus a cup quarter final. It is important that they are ready. We did our best.”

7.33pm GMT

Here’s Raheem Sterling, the man of the moment, talking to BT Sport! “The first half was very difficult. it was hard to break them down, they were very compact. We got the luck with the first one, and had a few more chances after that. We knew we only had 45 minutes left, and had to go for it and be more aggressive, and that’s what we did. I don’t know exactly what happened with the first goal, but I was praying and hoping, and we got some slight fortune, and we deserved it. I’m trying not just to score goals, but important goals. We’re taking it a game at a time, we’re strong contenders. Today it was really difficult, and it’ll be a difficult run-in, but now we’re going to focus on the FA Cup.”

7.30pm GMT

City are on some run. That’s 16 wins in their last 18 matches in all competitions! They haven’t even been particularly impressive in their last four games, yet during that period have picked up all nine Premier League points on offer and won the first major trophy of the season! Imagine what they’re going to be like when they rediscover their top form. Dear me. As for Watford, they stay in eighth place in a battle with Wolves for that Best of Rest title.

7.22pm GMT

City move four points clear at the top! Some controversy over the opening goal, but City were fully deserving of victory, despite Watford’s spirited show. Over to Liverpool, who really need three points against Burnley tomorrow lunchtime.

7.20pm GMT

90 min +4: He batters it straight into the wall, and into Kompany, making up for his error. It’s a corner, from which City break upfield in pursuit of a fourth. Foden and Jesus combine in the hope of releasing David Silva, but nothing doing.

7.19pm GMT

90 min +3: Now Kompany clatters into the back of Deeney, 25 yards out, just to the left of the D. Deulofeu fancies this.

7.18pm GMT

90 min +1: The first of four added minutes. Deeney wins a header on the edge of the City box. Kompany flicks Masina’s ankle, but it’s a very light brush. Watford want a penalty but the referee’s not interested.

7.16pm GMT

90 min: City make their last change, withdrawing Mahrez and sending on Foden.

7.14pm GMT

88 min: Sane dribbles down the left and purchases an easy corner off Janmaat. From the corner, Gundogan scores three points in the rugby-union style.

7.13pm GMT

87 min: More end-to-end entertainment. A long hoick towards the City box causes a mild kerfuffle. Watford can’t get a shot away, and suddenly Sane is bowling down the left, with Jesus free on the right. A spectacular diagonal ball nearly finds the striker on the edge of the box, but Foster does very well to stride out and hack clear.

7.11pm GMT

85 min: Gundogan slips Jesus free, into the area down the inside left. Jesus drops a shoulder to move in to the centre, beating Foster. He’s about to slot home with Kabasele slides in to block, a superb last-ditch challenge. The resulting corner is knocked long to Otamendi, who heads lamely wide of the right-hand post when he should have done so much better.

7.09pm GMT

83 min: Foster launches another free kick long. He’s looking for Deeney. Ederson gathers and sends it back upfield towards Jesus, who nearly latches onto it on the edge of the box. But Foster gets back to gather just in time. Now that’s end-to-end football.

7.08pm GMT

82 min: A final change for Watford, as Britos is replaced by Cathcart.

7.07pm GMT

80 min: No goal for Aguero today, so that’s good news for Sterling with the Golden Boot in mind. Jesus comes on in his place.

7.06pm GMT

79 min: Cleverley presses towards City’s box. But he loses possession and City break. Bernardo Silva tears upfield, exchanges passes with Mahrez, and nearly dinks over Foster. The keeper parries, the ball breaking to Sane on the left. Sane should probably score, but lashes wildly into the side netting.

7.04pm GMT

78 min: Aguero shoots from a tight angle on the left, having been sent into space by David Silva. Foster swallows at the near post.

7.03pm GMT

77 min: Walker bursts down the right and reaches the byline unchallenged. He whistles a low cross through the six-yard box. Had Sane made the run, he’d have had a simple tap-in. Britos knocks the ball out for a corner, from which very little occurs.

7.02pm GMT

75 min: Deulofeu powers down the right and nearly has the shirt taken off his back by Otamendi. A free kick just to the right of the City box. Watford load the area. Otamendi makes up for the foul by powerfully heading Deulofeu’s set piece away.

7.00pm GMT

73 min: Aguero turns on the jets and dribbles down the inside-right channel, nutmegging Cleverley and then dancing past Masina, into the area. He can’t jink past Britos as well, though. Not quite Maradonaesque, but not far off either.

6.58pm GMT

72 min: It’s raining heavily all of a sudden, mirroring moods in Hertfordshire and Merseyside no doubt. And yes the home fans are singing in it.

6.57pm GMT

70 min: City aren’t exactly rocking after that Watford goal. A lot of possession in the midfield, taking the sting out of the game and ensuring Watford don’t gain any unnecessary momentum.

6.55pm GMT

68 min: Sane blams it straight into Doucoure’s lug. The Watford man is floored, and play is immediately stopped. After some treatment, he’s good to go again.

6.54pm GMT

67 min: City come straight back at Watford, Doucoure bowling David Silva to the ground. A free kick, 25 yards out. Sane fancies it.

6.53pm GMT

How about this for an instant impact?! Foster hits a free kick long. Deeney’s first touch is a flick-on header on the edge of the box. Deulofeu’s first touch is to latch onto the knock-down, and slot the ball past Ederson and into the bottom right!

6.52pm GMT

65 min: Success and Femenia are replaced by Deulofeu and Deeney.

6.51pm GMT

64 min: Sterling, having made his mark, is replaced by Sane. Very much a testimonial feel to this now.

6.50pm GMT

63 min: Watford’s bubble has truly burst. They’re sitting back in damage limitation mode. That opening goal undid all of their determined first-half work in short order.

6.49pm GMT

61 min: Only Sergio Aguero (18), Mohamed Salah, Harry Kane (both 17) and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (16) have scored more Premier League goals than Sterling, who suddenly has 15! City aren’t just involved in a title race; they’re launching a two-pronged attack on the Golden Boot!

6.47pm GMT

A hat-trick in 14 minutes for the irrepressible Raheem Sterling! David Silva plays a perfectly weighted ball down the inside left. Sterling burns past Janmaat, drops a shoulder to sashay his way inside past Kabasele, and dinks a lovely finish over Foster!

6.45pm GMT

58 min: Aguero continues to buzz around in menacing fashion. He’s nearly released down the inside-left channel again, but Bernardo Silva’s chip is a little bit overcooked. Goal kick.

6.44pm GMT

57 min: Gundogan is bossing the game from a deep position. Now he slips Aguero free on the left with a pass down the channel, but the striker’s gone too quickly. Offside.

6.43pm GMT

55 min: Gracia has just had a look at a replay of the first City goal, on a nearby tablet, and is shaking his head in annoyance. He gives a critique to a nearby official. I’m guessing we’ve not heard the last of that game-changing decision. There will be talk, you know what folk are like.

6.41pm GMT

53 min: Gundogan, dropping deep, chips a ball down the middle for Sterling, who chests down in the Watford box. Foster does very well to come off his line and fingertip the ball away from Sterling, though the ball only drops to Mahrez, who smashes a first-time shot wide left of an unguarded net. Mahrez is happy to see the offside flag go up for Sterling’s initial run, though that’s a poor decision, as he was clearly level with the last defender.

6.39pm GMT

52 min: On the touchline, Javi Gracia doesn’t look impressed at all. Pep isn’t particularly happy either, ranting away at Mikel Arteta about something or other, but you know what he’s like. That quickfire double’s got the Etihad bouncing, anyway, as they celebrate their position at the top of the Premier League!

6.37pm GMT

Watford are beyond livid, and they’ve failed to clear their heads. David Silva, on the edge of the box, slips the ball wide right for Mahrez, and the ball’s rolled across the face of goal for a simple tap-in. A quick two-goal blitz that’s almost certain to send City four points clear of Liverpool!

6.36pm GMT

But after a long, long, long chat between referee and linesman, it’s been given! Janmaat, sliding in behind Sterling, had knocked the ball onto the City man before he shot. So Sterling was not offside any longer ... though Janmaat had only made the challenge because Sterling was offside in the first place! Controversy there.

6.34pm GMT

45 min 40 sec: Gundogan scoops a pass down the inside-left channel. Aguero chests it down to Sterling, who curls a shot around Foster and into the net! But it’s been disallowed, because Sterling was offside.

6.32pm GMT

Watford get the second half underway. No half-time changes. City won’t be worrying yet; they were goalless at the break in their last two Premier League matches, against West Ham and Bournemouth, and found a way. Plenty of time left. And on that subject, here’s JR in Illinois. “I have a theory that Ben Foster is actually a superhero. His superpower is time wasting. His powers were at their peak at West Brom under Pulis. Heck, he would even time-waste sometimes when the Baggies were losing just to show off. He’s still got plenty of strength in his abilities though. I have him averaging about 28 seconds every time he’s got his hands on the ball today. Part of his power is the way he almost always manages to escape a booking but I have to say I can’t see him escaping a card today. If he does it will be one of his most heroic performances.”

6.19pm GMT

Half-time reading.

Related: Will the US women's soccer team win their battle for equal pay?

6.18pm GMT

City depart to a frustrated rumble from the Etihad faithful. They’ve been all over Watford like a cheap suit, and created three superb chances to score. But they’ve all been missed, and at the break, Javi Gracia’s seven-change gamble is paying off. Expect City to turn it up after the restart, as they look to move four clear of Liverpool at the top.

6.16pm GMT

45 min +1: The corner’s worked out to Mahrez, to the right of the D. He sends a rising screamer towards the top left; it’s inches over. Foster had his feet planted. He was never getting to that.

6.16pm GMT

45 min: There will be one extra minute. And City will have a corner, because Aguero tears down the inside left and belts one towards the top left. Foster isn’t to be beaten at his near post, and parries round for a corner.

6.15pm GMT

44 min: Space for Gundogan just inside the Watford box on the right, released by a lovely defence-splitting pass from Mahrez. But the resulting cross is too high and too long, and easily dealt with by the visitors. A little frustration in the crowd, who will have been expecting some sort of breeze, especially when the Watford teamsheet landed.

6.13pm GMT

43 min: Watford can’t get out. City are probing and probing. Doucoure does well to strip Sterling of possession, but simply hacks clear and gives the ball straight back. Watford are doing pretty well to resist, but they’re also a little fortunate that City are running out of ideas. Kompany hoicks a long pass down the middle, and it’s easy meat for Foster.

6.11pm GMT

41 min: Gundogan floats one in from the left. Britos does well to nick the ball away from Aguero ... then gives it back. Another phase of City attack, and Zinchenko slips a ball down the left for Sterling. Kiko Femenia sticks out a boot to divert it out for a corner ... but the referee points for a goal kick instead. Zinchenko is beyond livid, and yaps accordingly at the referee. He’s within his rights to get annoyed by that, of course, but a referee never changes his mind.

6.09pm GMT

39 min: City win a corner down the right. It’s dealt with easily by Watford. Foster boots long. The ball goes all the way through to Ederson, who witlessly returns it to the Watford keeper. Ever so slightly farcical, and the crowd don’t seem particularly impressed with either keeper. A smattering of disapproval.

6.08pm GMT

37 min: A rare Watford attack. Success slips a pass into the centre from the Watford left. Cleverley tries to spin Otamendi in the box but goes over. There’s a little bit of contact from behind, but not much, and Cleverley was playing for it. The referee’s not interested at all. No penalty.

6.06pm GMT

36 min: Gundogan hopes to release the overlapping Zinchenko into the box with a cute flick down the inside left, but Foster reads it brilliantly to come racing off his line and claim.

6.05pm GMT

35 min: City have had seven attempts on goal. Watford none. But you know which manager will be happier right now.

6.04pm GMT

33 min: City continue to probe. Watford continue to hold their shape. Then suddenly Gundogan loops a pass down the inside-left channel to release Aguero into the box! Foster makes a fine David de Gea-style save with his feet, hacking away, but the flag goes up for offside anyway. Probably just as well Foster saved that, because Aguero looked level there. A poor decision.

6.02pm GMT

31 min: Foster takes a long, long, loooooooooong time to blooter a drop kick clear. He nearly pays the price for his faffing in karmic terms, as Sterling returns it with a determined dribble down the inside-right channel. Just as Sterling shapes to shoot from just inside the box, Janmaat slides in to block. What a perfectly timed tackle that was! City are getting closer and closer, though.

6.00pm GMT

29 min: City really should be ahead! Bernardo Silva crosses from the right. It’s blocked, and he gets the ball back. He’s facing back upfield now, but curls a glorious first-time cross towards the far post, right onto the head of Aguero, six yards out. He has to score, but sends his downward header flashing wide left. What a miss by this relentless goalscoring genius! That’s the textbook definition of uncharacteristic, right there.

5.58pm GMT

28 min: This is beginning to get really open now, and Watford are shipping chances as a result. Aguero bustles with purpose down the right. He nearly opens the visitors up. Watford swarm him and just about get the ball away. All very last-ditch.

5.57pm GMT

26 min: City go back up the other end and win a corner through Bernardo Silva out on the right. From the set piece, the same player skelps a low ball in from the wing. Britos backs clear. City recycle the ball, David Silva having another go. Kabasele batters free this time. There’s a half-hearted shout by City for a hand ball, but nothing’s doing there.

5.55pm GMT

25 min: Some nice work by Janmaat down the right. Watford then switch play to Masina on the left. Masina nearly bustles his way past Walker, but the City defender holds firm.

5.53pm GMT

23 min: Zinchenko fizzes a low diagonal cross through the Watford six-yard box from the left. Aguero is a toenail away from prodding home at the far post. He’d have probably been flagged offside, had he scored, but instead it’s taken a nick off a Watford boot and that’s a corner. Otamendi should do better with a header at the set piece. Then Foster again takes an age to restart the game with his goal kick, and the crowd are beginning to view him in pantomime terms. Booooo!

5.52pm GMT

21 min: Watford sit back. City stroke it this way and that. There are no gaps. Aguero gets involved in a great tussle with Britos, who is sticking to him like glue, as he tries to break free down the inside-right channel. He wants a free kick, but it’s nothing more than a fair fight. The ref waves play on, much to the home crowd’s disgust.

5.49pm GMT

19 min: Success attempts to break upfield, and is checked by Gundogan, who hangs out a leg. He wears the sheepish look of a man who knows he’s just got away with a booking.

5.48pm GMT

18 min: Walker is cynically checked by Cleverley as he storms down the right. That’s a free kick near the Watford box, and a booking for their midfielder. Gundogan scoops the set piece into the area, but it’s punched clear confidently by Foster.

5.47pm GMT

17 min: City force Foster into action for the first time, David Silva shooting from a tight angle on the left. Foster has the near post covered and parries away with a strong arm.

5.47pm GMT

16 min: Gundogan tries to slip Sterling away, down the inside-left channel. But the pass is heavy and that’s out for a goal kick too. Foster takes his own sweet time over the goal kick; the referee may soon form an opinion about that.

5.46pm GMT

15 min: A poor shot from distance by David Silva dribbles out for a goal kick, well to the left of the target. No early goal for City, but nobody’s panicking yet.

5.44pm GMT

13 min: Space for Sterling out on the left. His cross flies out harmlessly on the right. City are beginning to push Watford back, the visitors’ challenges and clearances just that little bit more desperate.

5.43pm GMT

11 min: But it’s a dangerous tactic, because Zinchenko curls a wicked cross into the Watford box from the left, forcing Kabasele to head behind for a corner. Watford deal with the set piece, though Janmaat is all over Aguero in the area. A tussle that could easily lead to the ref awarding a spot kick.

5.41pm GMT

10 min: Gray makes good down the right and reaches the byline before pulling one back towards ... nobody. Ederson gathers. The visitors appear to be treating this match very much as a free hit, happy to pile forward on the few occasions they have the ball, and see what occurs.

5.39pm GMT

8 min: City should be leading. Mahrez floats a delicious cross in from the right, and it drops right onto the head of David Silva. With Foster coming off his line and not getting there, Silva should score. But his header, dinked over the keeper, flashes wide. Ah hold on, Silva used his hand! He’s probably a little lucky the referee didn’t spot that, and punish him with a booking.

5.38pm GMT

7 min: This makeshift Watford side are knocking it around with confidence, to be fair. Not that they’re particularly going anywhere, but they’re clipping it about nicely when they do get the ball. Which admittedly is not that often.

5.35pm GMT

5 min: Success chests down a long ball on the halfway line and spins Walker, who sticks out a leg to bring him down. That’s a yellow for Walker, who has already tested the referee’s patience.

5.35pm GMT

4 min: Masina stands strong with Walker and Sterling probing down the City right. That’s decent defence, and he looks to break upfield on the counter but Walker’s not having it and clips him slyly. This is quite an open game already, which might not be ideal for the visitors.

5.33pm GMT

3 min: David Silva floats a pass down the inside-left channel with a hope to releasing Sterling. It’s not quite perfect, and Sterling can’t bring it down with a high boot. Foster is able to claim.

5.32pm GMT

2 min: City are full of confidence, as befitting a team atop the table. Otamendi strides forward and has a crack from distance. It’s straight at Foster.

5.31pm GMT

Right here ... right now ... we’re off! City get the ball rolling. And they stroke it around for a bit. Walker and Mahrez combine down the right and nearly thread the ball through to Bernardo Silva in the Watford box, but the door slams. This is already set up as attack versus defence.

5.29pm GMT

The teams are out! The reigning champions Manchester City wear their famous sky blue shirts, while Watford wear their second-choice green strip. A pointless change into green shirts didn’t do Brighton any harm earlier today, though one suspects this is somewhat a bigger ask for the visiting team. We’ll be off in a couple of shakes of a lamb’s tail.

5.14pm GMT

Pep is asked whether Watford’s selection was a surprise. “Yep! I expected Deeney and Deulofeu to play together because in part of the Liverpool game they were incredible together. But of course Javi has his own arguments and decisions. I guess with Gray and Success and Kiko, they will make more runs in behind and attack our space.”

5.13pm GMT

Javi Gracia explains his changes to BT Sport. “We have a big and a good squad, and at this moment I could choose between 26 players. I think it’s a good moment to change. We are playing a lot of games, and I think today we need fresh legs. We have a very important game next week, and this is a good option for today and for the next game as well.”

4.55pm GMT

That’s an intriguing selection by Javi Gracia. A surprise to see Troy Deeney and Gerard Deulofeu on the bench. Is Gracia keeping Watford’s powder dry ahead of the big FA Cup quarter-final against Crystal Palace next weekend? Then again, it’s not as though Deeney and Deulofeu - or Adrian Mariappa, Craig Cathcart, Will Hughes and Roberto Pereyra - did the business at Anfield a couple of weeks ago. So a different approach is worth a shot. Does Gracia have something up his sleeve?

4.45pm GMT

Manchester City make two changes to the starting XI named for the 1-0 victory at Bournemouth last Saturday. John Stones and Kevin de Bruyne are injured, so Vincent Kompany and Riyad Mahrez take their places.

Watford make a whopping seven changes to the team named for the last-gasp 2-1 win over Watford at Vicarage Road last Sunday. Miguel Britos, Christian Kabasele, Adam Masina, Kiko Femenia, Tom Cleverley, Andre Gray and Isaac Success take the places of Adrian Mariappa, Craig Cathcart, Jose Holebas, Will Hughes, Roberto Pereyra, Gerard Deulofeu and Troy Deeney.

4.32pm GMT

Manchester City: Ederson, Walker, Kompany, Otamendi, Zinchenko, Bernardo Silva, Gundogan, Silva, Mahrez, Aguero, Sterling.
Subs: Danilo, Laporte, Delph, Sane, Gabriel Jesus, Foden, Muric.

Watford: Foster, Janmaat, Britos, Kabasele, Masina, Capoue, Doucoure, Femenia, Cleverley, Gray, Success.
Subs: Gomes, Deulofeu, Deeney, Sema, Cathcart, Quina, Holebas.

2.34pm GMT

Having hit the front of the Premier League race at last, here’s where the reigning champions Manchester City are expected to pull away. Victory over Watford this evening - they’re 7-1 on with your local turf accountant - will see them pull four points clear of second-placed Liverpool. That’ll really put the pressure on the Reds when they host Burnley tomorrow lunchtime.

City are on a hot sequence of results, even by their own lofty standards. They’ve won 15 of their last 17 matches, and one of the other two was a goalless draw that ended with them winning a penalty shoot-out and the first silverware of the season. The aggregate score during this period: 54-8. At this point, Watford are permitted to take a deep gulp. Especially as, on their last ten visits to the blue half of Manchester, they’ve conceded three goals on six occasions, shipped four goals on another, and lost nine times. Since winning promotion in 2015, Watford have lost every match against City to an aggregate score of 22-3.

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