Scott Murray's Blog, page 124

February 12, 2019

Manchester United 0-2 PSG: Champions League last 16, first leg – as it happened

Paul Pogba saw red as Ole Gunnar Solskjær tasted defeat as Manchester United manager for the first time

Read Daniel Taylor’s match report from Old Trafford

12.35am GMT

12.34am GMT

10.32pm GMT

So that’s that, on a miserable night for Manchester United. Their participation in this season’s Champions League is hanging by a thread after PSG turned up the heat during the second half. Our man Daniel Taylor was at Old Trafford to witness it all, and here’s his verdict. Thanks for reading!

10.29pm GMT

And now Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who has just tasted defeat for the first time as Manchester United manager. “First half, both teams looked at each other, and there really wasn’t too much in it. But when they got the first goal ... it was a poor goal to give away ... but then they got the momentum and started to control the game. You can see that we have not played in games at this level for a while, and we will have to learn from the experience. It is not going to be a season-defining one for us, it is one we are going to learn from. Injuries are not a reason, we had quality players to come on. Let’s hope Jesse and Anthony are not too serious, they are muscle injuries so we have to wait a couple of days. Paul is trying to get his body across, and Alves is clever enough to put his foot in there so he hits him. I know he just wanted to shield the ball, but he’s unlucky and it hits him on the knee. Mountains are there to be climbed, aren’t they? You can’t lay down and say this is over. We are going to have to go there and play a good game, believe in ourselves. But today was a reality check.”

10.24pm GMT

A word with Ander Herrera. “I think the game was tight until the corner. After the first goal, they played the way they wanted to play. I couldn’t say we were the better team until that moment, but until then we were not worse than them. They played counter attack, which is what they wanted. It made the difference. We won away against Tottenham, away against Arsenal, big games against big teams, and we will try to win away. We lost some pace, but won some combinations with Alexis and Juan, so I am not sure [the injuries to Martial and Lingard] is the right analysis. Today was tough but now we can not lose our focus. We will try to stay in the top four and try for the FA Cup.”

10.06pm GMT

A grim-faced Solskjaer trudges off as PSG cavort in front of a bouncing away end. Their support was magnificent tonight, as impressive as their team. Some perspective will surely be in order. PSG were third favourites to win the Champions League this morning, and bossed this match accordingly. United gave it a good go in the first half but couldn’t absorb the blow of losing so much pace in Lingard and Martial. United - whose home form in Europe is becoming something of a problem - will have to do something special at the Parc des Princes next month if they’re to turn this around. But never say never: they’ve already won a big away game this season, at Juventus, while Solskjaer has been known to inspire the odd European comeback in the past.

9.58pm GMT

A dreadful night for United comes to a close. They’ve lost Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard to injury, while Paul Pogba stupidly got himself sent off and will miss the second leg in three weeks time. PSG have two away goals in their pocket, and one foot in the second round. United have it all to do. It’ll be fascinating to see how Ole Gunnar Solskjaer responds to the first serious setback of his interim reign.

9.56pm GMT

90 min +3: It’s a game of keepball now for PSG, and their fans are enjoying it very much. It’s ole football; just not the Ole football the home faithful were hoping to witness.

9.55pm GMT

90 min +1: Now it’s Shaw’s turn to go into the book, for clanking into the back of Dani Alves. There have been ten yellow cards this evening, with six shown to United players, two of them to Pogba alone. He’ll be a huge miss in Paris for the second leg.

9.54pm GMT

90 min: There will be four added minutes.

9.54pm GMT

89 min: Yes, it’s a second yellow. For a while, it looked as though the United captain Young has talked himself into trouble, and been shown a second card. But after some confusion, it’s Pogba that’s been sent packing, and he can have no complaints. That wasn’t a good tackle on Dani Alves at all. He departs down the tunnel, a frustrated figure.

9.52pm GMT

88 min: Dani Alves blooters a witless free kick straight into the United wall. That allows Pogba to have a wander down the left. Upon losing control, he crumps his studs into Dani Alves’s leg. That’s a poor challenge. A second yellow coming up?

9.50pm GMT

87 min: Mbappe spins and turns on the jets. As he approaches the United box he’s nicked to the floor by Herrera, who becomes the latest player to go in the referee’s very thick notebook.

9.49pm GMT

86 min: Shaw and Mata work their way down the left. The ball’s dinked forward in the hope of sending Sanchez scuttling off into space, but the flag goes up for offside. The home fans are getting a little frustrated with Sanchez, a smattering of groans here and there.

9.47pm GMT

84 min: United have got PSG pinned back in their box. But they can’t fashion space for a shot, or find the killer through-ball. Herrera tries to wedge Rashford clear, but the ball harmlessly bounces out for a goal kick. And then Rashford is replaced by Lukaku, United’s final throw of the dice tonight.

9.46pm GMT

82 min: Herrera has been his usual relentless self. He makes a little space to the left of the D, and looks to snap a curler into the top right. It’s wide and high, but not so far away. A decent effort out of very little.

9.44pm GMT

81 min: Di Maria, who has two assists to his name tonight, despite getting the bird all evening, is replaced by right-back Champions League debutant Colin Dagba. Di Maria takes his sweet time to depart, and ostentatiously claps the away support before he sits down.

9.43pm GMT

80 min: United enjoy their best period of possession of the night. But they go nowhere, with PSG happy to sit back in their final third and keep their shape.

9.42pm GMT

78 min: United knock the ball this way and that. Then Herrera slips Young free with a cute pass down the right. Young whips a low ball down the corridor of uncertainty ... but nobody in red has taken a chance, and four white-shirted defenders can usher the ball away from danger. A sorry end to a nice passage of play from United.

9.39pm GMT

76 min: A ball-on-string dribble by Mata down the inside-right channel. He flicks a pass wide to Young, but the resulting cross is easily cleared by Thiago Silva. United come again, but Mata’s shot from distance is a poor effort.

9.38pm GMT

75 min: Verratti is down getting treatment, having turned his left ankle. The physio applies some magic spray, but it doesn’t work, and he’s limping off in some pain. Paredes, the £47m signing from Zenit, comes on in his stead.

9.36pm GMT

73 min: Rashford looks the best bet if United are to get something out of this. Young sprays a lovely ball down the right, the lively striker nearly getting clear. But Bernat does just enough to close him down.

9.34pm GMT

71 min: But that’s allowed United to up the pressure for the first time in this second half. Herrera has a whack from distance and the ball pinballs out for a corner. However Shaw’s delivery is appalling and the visitors are able to clear.

9.33pm GMT

69 min: A lull, which will suit PSG down to the ground. Matic tries to get something going from a deep position on the left, sending a glorious crossfield ball towards Rashford. But the striker can’t control, and it’s a throw to PSG deep in their own territory.

9.30pm GMT

67 min: Herrera, out on the right, crosses long for Shaw, who brings it down and shoots from the left-hand corner of the box. Dani Alves charges it down; danger over.

9.28pm GMT

65 min: Now Draxler sends Bernat into acres down the left. His rising screamer is tipped over the bar by de Gea, who has just single-handedly kept his team in this. The resulting corner comes to nothing. United need to clear their heads, and quick.

9.27pm GMT

63 min: United are in serious danger of losing this round-of-16 tonight. They’ve overcommitted, and when Herrera’s cross is intercepted, Mbappe is sent screaming down the right. He’s clear into the box, draws de Gea, and looks to dink over the keeper and into the net. De Gea sticks up an arm, while starjumping in the Schmeichel style, and that’s a crucial - and brilliant - save.

9.26pm GMT

62 min: Dani Alves comes through the back of Pogba, who springs up in a furious mood. The referee flashes yellow; the resulting free kick is easily cleared by the visitors.

9.25pm GMT

PSG glide up the other end, and take control of this tie. Kehrer slips Di Maria away down the left. Di Maria’s low cross is perfection, allowing Mbappe to open his body up and meet it with a dainty sidefoot six yards out, flicking the ball past de Gea and into the bottom right. That was such a clinical break; what a cross and finish.

9.23pm GMT

59 min: But this is better from United. Mata swings one in from the right. It’s only half cleared and drops to Herrera, whose first-time smash goalwards bounces through a crowded box and millimetres wide of the bottom left! Buffon looked as though he knew that was going wide, but dear me he was taking some risk there. That was ludicrously close to the goal United desperately need.

9.21pm GMT

58 min: United are struggling to put anything together in attack. They’ve been second to pretty much everything since the restart.

9.21pm GMT

56 min: Draxler’s corner is half-cleared by Rashford. The ball drops to Dani Alves on the edge of the box. The resulting volley comes off the ankle of Pogba, and nearly flies into the left-hand side of the net past a wrong-footed de Gea. Fortunately for United, the ball flies inches wide of the left-hand post, and the second corner leads to absolutely nowt. But that was so close to a terribly unlucky break for the hosts, who are rocking a bit here.

9.19pm GMT

55 min: PSG have been in control of this match since the restart. Marquinhos sends Di Maria away down the left; he wins a corner off Young. Di Maria prepares to take, and someone eejit launches a bottle towards him. Draxler will take instead.

9.18pm GMT

Di Maria takes from the right, looping the ball to the far post. United are standing as statues, and Kimpembe races in to sidefoot a volley past de Gea from close range! That’s as easy a goal as you’ll see; United were collectively asleep there. And now the French champions have a precious away goal.

9.16pm GMT

53 min: Draxler finds Dani Alves again on the right, and this time his cross is decent. Mbappe escapes the attention of Lindelof and Bailly and heads towards the bottom right from ten yards. De Gea does very well to turn the ball round the post for a corner. From which ...

9.15pm GMT

52 min: Di Maria drives at the United back line, then lays off to Draxler, who then feeds Dani Alves on the right. The resulting cross is a waste of time. But PSG get the ball back and hog it awhile.

9.13pm GMT

50 min: Lindelof is the latest player to go in the book, for a tug on Mbappe. That’s three apiece now.

9.12pm GMT

49 min: Young pearls a pass down the right for Rashford, who makes off into space before being stopped by Thiago Silva. Rashford one-twos with Mata, then whips a cross through the box to nobody.

9.11pm GMT

47 min: Lindelof barges into the back of Mbappe. No foul. Then Rashford appears to be hauled back by the already-booked Kimpembe. No foul for that one either! This referee was card happy in the first half; it appears he’s taking a more laissez-faire approach for the second.

9.08pm GMT

And we’re off again! Manchester United get the second half underway. They’ll be kicking towards the Stretford End, having made their second enforced change of the evening during the break: Martial isn’t able to continue either, and he’s replaced by Mata.

8.54pm GMT

Half-time entertainment.

8.52pm GMT

And that’s it for the first half. Not much in the way of penalty-box action, but that was rollicking good end-to-end fun nonetheless. Stay tuned for another tense 45! “United should take Sanchez off at half time,” opines Mark Coward. “He’s done absolutely nothing in the first half.”

8.51pm GMT

45 min +4: It looks as though Lingard can’t continue. He’s down holding his left hamstring. Sanchez had prepared to come on for Martial a few minutes ago, but now he’s taking Lingard’s place instead.

8.49pm GMT

45 min +2: Dani Alves scoops a harmless free kick over the bar, de Gea behind it all the way.

8.49pm GMT

45 min: United easily clear the corner and stream upfield. Verratti crunches into Martial, who looks revived, to put a stop to the break. PSG counter the counter, and Matic brings down Draxler just to the left of the D; a free kick. In between times, Lingard goes over and requires some treatment. There follows a couple of minutes of downtime, before we get round to the free kick. The two minutes of added time will effectively start now, announces the ref.

8.47pm GMT

44 min: Di Maria and Bernat combine well down the left, turning Bailly and Young this way and that. Lingard is forced to track back and concede a corner.

8.45pm GMT

42 min: Young wins a corner down the right. It comes to nothing. Di Maria comes back on the field of play to a chorus of boos. This has been high-octane fun, if not particularly full of quality play.

8.44pm GMT

40 min: It all kicks off as Mbappe slips a pass out to the left for Di Maria to chase. It’s not a good pass, and Di Maria’s never getting to it before it goes out of play. But Di Maria and Young are going at full pent. Young needlessly shoulder barges Di Maria off the pitch and into the wall surrounding the pitch. Ooyah, oof. Everyone gets involved in a heated discussion, but the referee does nothing. Young is perhaps fortunate to escape a second yellow - that’s certainly what the PSG players wanted to see - while Di Maria remains off the pitch having his arm looked at, the result of that awkward fall.

8.41pm GMT

39 min: Martial is down feeling his hamstring. Not sure whether he’ll be able to continue. Sanchez, warming up on the touchline, is summoned back to the bench.

8.40pm GMT

37 min: A lull. Then suddenly PSG spring to life! Verratti slips a ball down the middle to split United’s defence in two. Mbappe and Di Maria are both clear! Mbappe defers to Di Maria, which isn’t the right decision as he’s offside, whereas the striker isn’t. Di Maria tries to round de Gea on the outside, and manages it, but then fails to sidefoot into the open net, inexplicably allowing de Gea to gather. The home crowd enjoy his failure very much indeed. Di Maria is very pleased to see the flag go up, so his miss didn’t matter, but PSG made a right balls of that.

8.37pm GMT

34 min: Yes, there’s a good chance this won’t end with 22 men on the field. Now it’s Bernat who goes into the referee’s notebook, punishment for running with great feeling into Young as the two challenge for a 50-50 down the United right. Five bookings already!

8.36pm GMT

32 min: Pogba slides across the wet turf and nearly clatters into Thiago Silva. Then seconds later, Shaw clatters into Kimpembe as he tries to round him out on the left. The ref sees neither challenge as a foul, which is probably correct and also just as well, seeing both Pogba and Kimpembe have already been booked. They need to wind it back in a bit.

8.34pm GMT

31 min: Di Maria curls it into the mixer. Lindelof heads clear. But the Parisian fans continue to make the most of the noise, as their team begin to take a semblance of control (though there’s not much in it).

8.32pm GMT

30 min: Mbappe chases after a long pass down the left, and is hauled back unceremoniously by Young. That’s a clear booking and a free kick for PSG out by the touchline. They load the box in preparation.

8.31pm GMT

28 min: Mbappe had been quiet, but suddenly he’s come to life. Verratti, quarterbacking from deep, slips a pass down the inside-right channel that’s immediately helped on by Draxler. Suddenly Mbappe is free in the area! But he’s never in control and hoicks a shot wide right while falling back, de Gea having got right up in his grille. A suggestion Mbappe might have been an inch or so offside; it’d have been a poser for the dude in the VAR truck had it gone in.

8.29pm GMT

27 min: Mbappe turns on the jets and nearly gets past Lindelof. The United defender just about kept on his tail, doing enough to force Mbappe into a heavy touch that puts a stop to his gallop. But for a second there, United look exposed by Mbappe’s pace.

8.29pm GMT

25 min: More nerves, as Verratti dribbles back towards his own area and is nearly stripped by Rashford. The ref blows for a free kick, getting Verratti off the hook. Then the same player is kicked from behind by Pogba, and you know what this referee thinks of that. Yellow card. A fair chance already that this won’t end 11 versus 11, not that it’s a particularly dirty game.

8.27pm GMT

24 min: Lingard one-twos with Rashford down the right and suddenly he’s racing into a PSG half that contains only one defender! He’s got Martial on the other wing, but just as the crowd get excited, he plays a dreadful pass behind Martial and out of play on the left. Both sides are looking a little shaky right now.

8.25pm GMT

22 min: Pogba sticks his glove over the mouth of Marquinhos as the pair tussle in midfield. It’s a free kick, and the United midfielder is a wee bit lucky that the ref doesn’t flash a card in his grid. He was probably helped by Marquinhos going down in theatrical style.

8.23pm GMT

21 min: The 4,000 PSG fans are giving it plenty. Their heroes ping it around awhile, their first period of sustained possession. Verratti then tries to release Mbappe down the inside-left channel, but the pass is way too strong and flies out for a goal kick. On the touchline, Thomas Tuchel throws semaphore shapes in a grand fit of anger with his own players.

8.21pm GMT

19 min: Now Draxler is booked for a clip on the heels of Herrera. It wasn’t the worst challenge you’ll ever see, but this ref is taking no nonsense.

8.20pm GMT

18 min: Young continues to be a nuisance out on the right. He sends in a lovely cross that nearly finds Lingard, but the ball is eyebrowed away from the United striker, six yards out, by Kimpembe. That’s such a crucial clearance. The ball goes out for a throw on the left; from that, Pogba blazes wildly over from distance.

8.19pm GMT

16 min: Pogba swans past Kimpembe out on the United right and reaches the byline. He fires a low ball towards Lingard at the near post. Buffon does extremely well to get down and snaffle under extreme pressure. Thiago Silva goes over in a tussle with Lingard and isn’t particularly happy about it, but the ref simply tells him to get on with it.

8.17pm GMT

15 min: It’s gone a little scrappy. Young charges down Kimpembe, who makes a meal of clearing from the left-back position. But the ball breaks through to Buffon.

8.16pm GMT

13 min: A couple of slinky runs down the middle of the park by Marquinhos and Verratti. It’s a long time before they’re challenged by Matic, something United will need to address sooner rather than later. PSG look confident whenever they make their way forward.

8.14pm GMT

11 min: Rashford’s quick feet in the centre of the park forces Kimpembe into dragging him back. That’s the first booking of the tie, and one of PSG’s central defenders treading on eggshells already.

8.13pm GMT

10 min: PSG pass it around the back awhile. Then Buffon blooters a simple pass towards Bernat into the stand out to his left. Many ironic cheers greet this.

8.11pm GMT

8 min: Good work by Young out on the right as he combines with Lingard to earn a little space. He then feeds Rashford down the wing; his shot-cum-cross nicks off Bernat and is heading for the top right. Buffon turns the ball round the post for a corner, which leads to nothing. Meanwhile here’s Justin Kavanagh: “I read this morning how those rumours about Gordon Banks’ food being poisoned in 1970 were never quite dispelled. And then there was the infamous water-spiking incident at Italia 90 when Branco was gotten at by Argentina. Do you think in the future VAR will be hacked to send false directives to referees during matches? Or will hackers alter the video so handballs look more obvious in the area? Or will they just dope the cups of tea being sent into the transit van? How will football villains break the rules in the digital age? I imagine Mourinho is working on this as we speak.”

8.09pm GMT

6 min: The first serious effort on goal of the evening, and it’s by Di Maria, who looks to curl one into the top right from 25 yards out on the left. It’s always bending wide, but it’s not certain that de Gea would have got his fingertips to it had it been bending the other way and into the top corner.

8.08pm GMT

5 min: Rashford is surrounded in the centre circle and suddenly there are four white shirts running at the United back line. But a loose pass allows United to counter, Rashford trying to free Lingard into the area from the right. Not quite. But this is a lovely open, exciting, end-to-end start to the match.

8.06pm GMT

3 min: Angel Di Maria, erstwhile United record signing, goes on a wander down the left. The roof nearly comes off as he’s given the bird by his old fans. He didn’t have a great time at Old Trafford, did he.

8.05pm GMT

2 min: Bernat dribbles down the left but is easily robbed by Matic, who sets Lingard away on a run into PSG territory. Lingard is barged in the back by Marquinhos, who is fortunate to escape a booking for his cynicism. The resulting free kick comes to nothing.

8.04pm GMT

And we’re off! Amid proper bedlam, PSG get the party started. And they’re quickly pressed back, United coming quick and hard out of the blocks, Lingard and Young nearly stripping Kimpembe of possession near the right-hand corner flag. They press a bit too hard, and a free kick releases the pressure, but what an early statement of intent by United!

8.02pm GMT

RIP Emiliano and Gordon. Before we kick off, there’s a minute’s applause for the tragic Emiliano Sala, and England’s 1966 World Cup winning goalkeeper Gordon Banks, who passed away today.

7.58pm GMT

The teams are out! Manchester United wear their famous red shirts with black trim, while PSG sport second-choice white. There’s a proper European atmosphere at Old Trafford, as you’d expect when two of the biggest clubs in Europe prepare to get it on for a place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. It doesn’t look as though Thiago Silva has dragged the tassels of his pennant through that gunk, while in other gift-related news, our picture editor has confirmed that it is indeed another arguably unnecessary ® stitched underneath Uefa’s logo on the United flag. So apologies for casting any aspersions on the quality of the embroidery. Anyway, we’ll be off in a minute!

7.49pm GMT

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer - relaxed, smiling, impressive and thoroughly likeable as always - speaks to BT Sport. “I don’t think we could have been in a better frame of mind going into this game, or in better form. So we are looking forward to it. Let’s hope we can have a good start, that’s going to be important. We have prepared without Neymar, Cavani and Meunier, but I think the crowd would have loved to see those players and as players you’d rather play against the best ones, we’d have enjoyed their best team being out there. Bailly and Lindelof have done well together, and against Mbappe they will have to be at the top of their game. We need to be clinical. It’s important for us to get to Paris with the chance to go through.”

7.38pm GMT

VAR will be used for the first time in the Champions League tonight. The whole kit and caboodle is set up in the back of a Transit van in the Old Trafford car park, which will send a cold shiver down the spine of anyone who sat through ITV early-evening light-entertainment show The Premiership back in the day. Uefa refereeing bigwig Hugh Dallas is interviewed in the truck by BT Sport, brandishing a leaflet which explains using words and pretty pictures that the VAR team will “constantly check for clear and obvious errors related to the following four match-changing situations: goals, incidents in the penalty area, red cards, and mistaken identity.” So there you have it. Incidentally, the feed cut out and the screen went to black exactly 16.3 seconds into the interview. Hopefully that’s not a harbinger of things to come.

7.26pm GMT

Pennant watch. So what will Ashley Young and Thiago Silva be swapping when they shake hands before kick off? Manchester United’s commemorative flag is painstakingly embroidered, right down to a ® next to the crest, surely an unnecessary legal safeguard on what is essentially a bespoke gift to another football club. A quality item, though don’t be pulling at that loose thread at the bottom of the Champions League logo, or the whole thing might unravel. (Unless that’s another ®, in which case pick away.)

7.09pm GMT

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer makes five changes to the Manchester United team named at Fulham on Saturday. In come Ashley Young, Eric Bailly, Victor Lindelof, Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford; they replace Diogo Dalot, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Juan Mata and Romelu Lukaku.

Thomas Tuchel makes six changes to the PSG XI selected for the scrap against Bordeaux in Ligue 1 at the weekend. Edinson Cavani and Thomas Meunier picked up injuries; they’re replaced by Thilo Kehrer and Kylian Mbappe. Meanwhile Stanley N’Soki, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Christopher Nkunku and Moussa Diaby make way for Marquinhos, Angel Di Maria, Juan Bernat and Julian Draxler.

7.01pm GMT

Manchester United: de Gea, Young, Bailly, Lindelof, Shaw, Herrera, Matic, Pogba, Lingard, Martial, Rashford.
Subs: Romero, Jones, Sanchez, Mata, Lukaku, Fred, Dalot.

Paris Saint-Germain: Buffon, Kehrer, Thiago Silva, Kimpembe, Bernat, Verratti, Marquinhos, Dani Alves, Draxler, Di Maria, Mbappe.
Subs: Areola, Paredes, Choupo-Moting, Kurzawa, Nkunku, Diaby, Dagba.

4.14pm GMT

The world was a different place back on December 17. Jose Mourinho was still manager of Manchester United, for another 24 hours anyway, and when the draw for the Champions League Round of 16 was made, it looked all over for the three-time winners. They’d been paired with Paris St Germain, going great guns while United were misfiring badly. A humbling looked a very real possibility.

But a couple of months on, everything has changed. Ole Gunnar Solsjkær has restored United’s self-belief in spectacular style, winning 11 of his first 12 games as interim boss. Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial are purring. PSG meanwhile are in the midst of an injury crisis. Edinson Cavani isn’t expected to shake off a hip problem, Thomas Meunier is concussed, and Neymar is out with a broken metatarsal. And their form suddenly isn’t all that: they’ve recently lost their first league game of the season, to Lyon, and required extra time to get past third-tier Villefranche-Beaujolais in the cup.

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Published on February 12, 2019 14:32

The Fiver | Arsenal’s clothes have been stolen by the flamboyant Parisians

When the draw for the first knockout phase of Big Cup was made in December, José Mourinho was still in charge of Manchester United, blissfully unaware he was just 21 fun-packed hours away from the sack. Suffice to say, it was pretty much universally expected that Paris Saint-Germain, with whom United were paired in the Round Formerly Known As The Round Of Arsenal, were going to give them an awfully hard smack in the mouth. But events, dear reader, events! And the world has turned quite a bit since then. Mourinho is gone, reinvented as a star of the stage, his music-hall tumbling act having taken Russian society by storm. This Ole Gunnar Solskjær seems like a nice lad. And poor Neymar’s feet have been found to have the load-bearing properties of a defence built around David Luiz. Oh Neymar! What have they done to you.

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Published on February 12, 2019 07:56

February 9, 2019

Brighton & Hove Albion 1-3 Burnley: Premier League – as it happened

Chris Wood’s double earned Burnley three precious points in their battle against Brighton

• Report: Wood strikes twice in win at Brighton

8.00pm GMT

Well, history told us not to expect too many goals from this fixture. But we got them, with some added controversy thrown in for free. Brighton are within their rights to feel aggrieved over the penalty non-decision, but Burnley were worth their win on balance, just that little bit more staunch in defence, more clinical up front. And of course the luck was with them tonight, as it arguably wasn’t against Southampton last week. These things have a habit of coming around. The verdict from the ground is below. Thanks for reading; nighty night!

7.54pm GMT

And now the view of Chris Hughton. “It’s an obvious penalty. At the time we felt, and you saw the reaction of the players, which sometimes gives you a fair idea on the touchline. But when you see it again it’s an absolute blatant penalty. Between the linesman and the referee that’s ten yards away, I can’t believe it’s not given. And of course they go up the other end and get a third goal. What I’m not taking away from is the performance of Burnley, who play a certain way, they do it very well, and they’re in good form at the moment. I thought we tested their goalkeeper, but we didn’t put our chances away and you can’t do that against a good side like Burnley. The penalty would change the momentum of the game, but we conceded poor goals, and that’s not like us. My overriding feeling is one of disappointment at the goals we have conceded.” Hughton was given every opportunity by BT Sport to blow his top and go off on a rant, but he kept his counsel. A class act, isn’t he?

7.47pm GMT

Sean Dyche is asked a few questions about the match, and he praises his centre forwards Barnes and Wood, plus the keeper Heaton. But let’s be honest, we just want to know his opinion of the Hendrick incident. “I think you’ll probably be aware of the decisions that haven’t gone for us lately. I’ve tried not to go overboard on it, I’ve only said that over a season you want it to balance out. So we got one today that’s an important one. But the other side of it is, our penalty is a definite penalty. Maybe it’s payback for last week, when Barnes should have had one.”

7.41pm GMT

Some instructive footage of Burnley walking off the pitch at the end of the match. James Tarkowski is larking around with Jeff Hendrick, miming the shoulder-turn and handball the midfielder got away with, just before the Clarets were awarded a match-settling penalty of their own. A lot of laughter, they know they’ve got away with one tonight.

7.36pm GMT

Tom Heaton, all cheeky smiles, is interviewed by BT Sport and handed the man-of-the-match award. “It was a massive win. We took our goals really well. In fairness, the ball hit Jeff’s hand, bounced up, but it’s difficult for the referee, I don’t think it was a penalty, I don’t think he really meant it. You’ll tell me more than I can see it. It’s one of those, it sometimes goes for you, we got the breaks today.”

7.27pm GMT

Anthony Knockaert engages the referee Stuart Atwell in a full and frank discussion over the non-award of a penalty for the Hendrick handball. But he’s getting nowhere. It’s over. Burnley got the decision, while Brighton were left to seethe, their ill fortune magnified when they pulled a goal back immediately after Barnes scored Burnley’s third. The result means Brighton end the weekend in 14th spot, ahead of Burnley on goal difference, on 27 points. The pair are both three points clear of the final relegation spot, which is now filled by Southampton. This is going to be some run-in at both ends of the table.

7.24pm GMT

And that’s it! Burnley escape from the relegation zone to leap to 15th place in the table. But their win wasn’t without controversy, as Brighton didn’t get a penalty for Jeff Hendrick’s clear handball, Ashley Barnes going straight up the other end to win and score a spot kick himself. It was the crucial difference between 1-2 and 0-3. But the breaks went with Burnley tonight.

7.21pm GMT

90 min +3: Knockaert whips a cross in from the right. Tarkowski heads out powerfully; the ball caroms off the nearby Mee and nearly ricochets into the bottom right! But Heaton, who has been superb all evening, reacts brilliantly to smother, ensuring Burnley’s evening doesn’t end in high farce.

7.20pm GMT

90 min +2: Dunk and Barnes tangle out on the Burnley left. A foul to the visitors, and a chance to run the clock further down.

7.19pm GMT

90 min +1: There will be four added minutes. The first passes without incident.

7.19pm GMT

90 min: Happily, Mee is up and about. He’s taken a sore one on that leg, but is able to rejoin the game after running it off.

7.18pm GMT

88 min: Propper floats one in from the left. Murray contests the ball with Mee, who clears but falls awkwardly. He’s down in a lot of pain, holding his left leg. Tarkowski and Heaton make frantic calls for the physio.

7.15pm GMT

87 min: It’s still pelting down, the ball making trails now as it’s passed across the pitch. And it’s all happening in the Brighton half, the home team’s late rally having flagged somewhat.

7.13pm GMT

85 min: Jahanbakhsh whips a flat cross into the Burnley box from the left. It’s a dangerous ball, but well defended by Tarkowski, who has been excellent this evening.

7.12pm GMT

83 min: Another penalty appeal! Knockaert swings one in from the right. Propper nips in ahead of Tarkowski at the near post, but falls to the ground in the process. All innocent, and it’s another goal kick. But Brighton are fuelled by a sense of injustice here, and it’s making for a hell of a finale!

7.10pm GMT

82 min: Montoya works hard down the right to win a corner. The kick’s sent to the far post, where Duffy climbs on Barnes and heads wide. Goal kick, though Brighton are claiming for everything now, in the hope of getting some karmic payback.

7.09pm GMT

80 min: The Amex is a bubbling cauldron of righteous indignation, and this doesn’t help. Murray, just inside the Burnley box on the left, tries to flick a ball inside but it hits the arm of Cork. No penalty, because Cork’s arm was in a natural position and the two players were right next to each other. Still, that’s a decision the referee could have done without after his mistake over the Hendrick handball.

7.06pm GMT

78 min: Burnley win a corner down the left. It’s hit long, and Mee should probably head home at the far post, but he flashes his effort wide. Incidentally, Ryan was booked for his role in the penalty. What a huge difference that minute of madness has made to this match!

7.05pm GMT

A free kick near the centre circle as Bissouma breaks down the right. He’s hauled back by Westwood, who is booked. Knockaert takes the set piece, and Duffy rises highest to guide a wonderful header down and into the bottom right!

7.03pm GMT

Barnes gets up and takes the penalty himself, slotting it into the bottom left. That’s a controversial goal all right, because Hendrick definitely handled when turning and clearing up the other end. A huge difference between 1-2 and 0-3.

7.02pm GMT

72 min: Well this is quite the event. Brighton want a penalty as Hendrick controls the ball away from Murray with his chest ... but then it hits his upper arm. No decision. With Brighton surrounding the ref, Burnley stream up the other end, Barnes totally clear! Barnes attempts to round Ryan on the right, and is brought down. The ball breaks to Wood, who misses the open goal, but that’ll be a spot kick!

6.59pm GMT

71 min: Bissouma nearly releases Bong into the Burnley box with a cute pass down the left channel, but Tarkowski reads the play well, comes across, and blooters the ball into Row Z.

6.58pm GMT

70 min: And now the match has slipped into a proper lull, a state of affairs right up Burnley’s street.

6.56pm GMT

68 min: Some sterile domination from Brighton. They ping it around the middle, and Burnley seem more than happy to let them get on with it.

6.54pm GMT

66 min: So Brighton make a double change, replacing Locadia and Gross with Jahanbakhsh and Bissouma.

6.53pm GMT

65 min: The rain continues to belt down, matching the mood of the home support. Brighton are going nowhere all of a sudden.

6.52pm GMT

63 min: Ryan didn’t cover himself in glory with that goal. He got a hand on Wood’s shot, but it bent weakly and the ball squeaked past. Brighton had been the better side since the restart by some distance, so that’s a blow.

6.50pm GMT

This comes out of nothing, and against the run of play. Dunk hits the ball long. His pass is easily headed back upfield, allowing McNeil to race down the middle of the park, pretty much unchallenged. He slides a ball wide left for Wood, who glides inside and curls a low shot across Ryan and into the bottom right for his second goal of the evening!

6.47pm GMT

59 min: Propper, on the left-hand edge of the penalty box, looks for the top right with a curler. It’s wild and over the bar. Heaton’s not so proactive this time as he takes a bloody age to restart the game with a goal kick, and the referee bollocks him accordingly. The fans give him the pantomime bird.

6.46pm GMT

57 min: Heaton rushes out from his area to ping a quick free kick forward towards Barnes and Wood, with Burnley light at the back. Very proactive from the keeper, as that free kick was in the centre circle. Unfortunately the levels of proactivity aren’t matched by his accuracy; it’s easy for Brighton to clear.

6.43pm GMT

55 min: Brighton continue to press Burnley back. They’re getting plenty of crosses in from both flanks, thought the Mee-Tarkowski partnership is dealing with everything that’s been launched at them.

6.42pm GMT

53 min: Knockaert has been busy since coming on; now he skitters down the right but can’t quite get his cross in. Brighton have hogged the ball since the restart. Burnley have looked agitated and nervous in possession. On the touchline, Sean Dyche orders his men to calm down.

6.40pm GMT

51 min: The first corner, from the right, leads to a second, on the left. From that second one, Knockaert drives at Barnes, who has gone to ground early, sliding along the wet turf on his trousers. Knockaert goes over Barnes, and screams for a penalty, but he’s not getting it because Barnes had eventually won the ball before contact was made. A smarter, arguably more cynical, player would have purchased a cheap penalty from Barnes then. But Knockaert didn’t play a smart hand.

6.37pm GMT

49 min: Brighton stress-test the Burnley defence by looping crosses in from both wings. It holds up. Then Knockaert takes his first tilt at the back line, running at Taylor down the right. He wins a corner for his efforts.

6.36pm GMT

48 min: March has been one of Brighton’s stand-out performers this evening, so it’s sad to see him forced to depart with an injury. He’s replaced by Knockaert.

6.35pm GMT

47 min: Cork is brought down in the centre circle. Heaton launches it long as Burnley load the Brighton box. Tarkowski eyebrows it on, but neither Barnes nor Wood have read the flick-on, and the ball flies through to Ryan.

6.33pm GMT

We’re off again! Brighton get the second half underway. It’s pelting stair-rods. No changes.

6.22pm GMT

Half-time reading. Ben Fisher was our man at St Mary’s this afternoon to witness the Bluebirds putting the cat amongst the pigeons down at the foot of the Premier League. Here’s his take on a dramatic match that has consequences for both Brighton and Burnley.

6.18pm GMT

And that’s that for the half. Burnley were the better team for most of the first 45, though the hosts came back into things towards the end there, and will wonder how they’ve not scored with at least one of their efforts. It’s not a technical classic, but it’s a really good rollocking Premier League battle, and it could be a very entertaining second half. The evening’s young, so stay awhile with us, don’t be heading out for your Saturday night just yet!

6.16pm GMT

45 min: Tarkowski and Murray challenge for a high ball, 35 yards out. The Burnley man’s put an elbow on the back of the Brighton striker’s nut there. He’s got away with it, though. Then it’s Murray v Tarkowski II, as the resulting free kick’s looped into the area from the left. The defender eyebrows it out for a corner. From the set piece, Duffy plants a downward header towards the bottom right. For once, Heaton is beaten ... but Hendrick is on the line to hack clear! That was such a good header; great defending by Hendrick.

6.14pm GMT

43 min: Burnley have been the better team on balance; nevertheless Brighton haven’t been bad, and Heaton’s had to make some big saves. Locadia crosses from the left. At the far stick, Gross loops a header towards Murray in the middle. Murray is preparing to tap a header home from inches out, but then Heaton flicks it away from him with the tips of his fingers, and the ball sails out for a corner, left of goal. Nothing comes from the resulting set piece. What a save!

6.12pm GMT

40 min: It’s started raining heavily on the south coast. The cold droplets ping off Sean Dyche’s fizzing pate, the Burnley boss on a hot setting, Brighton having been awarded a corner down the right after a battle between March and Taylor. The ball had clearly come last off the Brighton man. Eventually the lino calls the ref over and explains the error of his ways. It’s a goal kick. Dyche calms down, a little bit.

6.09pm GMT

38 min: March embarks on a rococo ramble down the right. He pulls one back for March, who slams a shot towards the top right. Bardsley saves the goal by taking one flush in the grid.

6.07pm GMT

37 min: A stat from the BT Television Service: of the 16 matches Brighton have fallen behind in this season, they’ve only won one. More worryingly for the hosts, they’ve lost 12. Burnley will be feeling pretty good about themselves right now. Southampton, who as things stand will be slipping into the relegation zone, will not.

6.06pm GMT

35 min: Gross nips down the right and crosses towards Murray at the near post. The Brighton goal machine does very well to power a header wide right; it was a very difficult chance. But close equals no cigar.

6.04pm GMT

34 min: Bong works hard for a little space down the left, but his low cross is too close to Heaton, who snaffles without fuss. Burnley go up the other end, Barnes pealing a shot from distance towards the bottom right; Ryan parries then claims.

6.03pm GMT

33 min: Burnley are much the better side. Hendrick causes all manner of panic in the Brighton box. The ball finds Bardsley, coming in from the right. Bardsley shoots low and hard towards the bottom-right corner, but Ryan is on the spot to gather.

6.01pm GMT

31 min: Westwood loops the corner towards the far post. Tarkowski isn’t far away from meeting it from close range, but the ball’s an inch too high. A goal wouldn’t have counted anyway, because Dunk was bowled over in the middle of a penalty-box melee. Free kick to Brighton.

6.00pm GMT

30 min: McNeil is fine, and he’s soon zipping down the left wing to win a corner with his low cutback intended for Hendrick.

5.59pm GMT

28 min: Brighton respond well, winning a free kick out on the left. There follows a game of head tennis involving Duffy, Dunk, McNeil and Barnes in the box. Then a scramble. Duffy jumps with his arms out, and Duffy hits him on the arm with the Burnley player’s back turned. That should have been a penalty, but Brighton don’t get it, and adding insult to injury, the ref blows for a head injury when McNeil falls to the ground. Pressure off.

5.57pm GMT

This had been coming. Barnes, tight on the left touchline, hooks a ball down the channel under pressure. Dunk should clear, but slips and that allows Wood to tear clear on goal! Wood’s not looking this gift horse in the mouth, and sends an unstoppable screamer into the top left. Ryan had no chance of stopping that power drive. But an awful mistake from Dunk.

5.56pm GMT

25 min: Locadia makes good ground down the left and slips a ball across the face of the area to March, who drops a shoulder, cuts inside, and pearls one towards the top left. But Heaton sticks a strong arm up to stop it. The resulting corner comes to nothing.

5.55pm GMT

23 min: A look at the replay of the twin twang of the crossbar suggests Barnes could have done a lot better with his header. It was a pretty good chance; a simple cushioned header into an empty net. He didn’t have to make as much adjustment as I thought, coming straight onto the ball. It qualifies as a bad miss.

5.51pm GMT

21 min: Possession’s been exactly 50-50 so far. But Burnley have done more with their share. The Amex has fallen a little quiet as a result.

5.50pm GMT

19 min: Burnley are beginning to boss this now. Barnes makes good down the left, tearing after another long Tarkowski pass, and whips a glorious first-time cross through the Brighton box. Wood nearly connected at the near post, but didn’t make it, and the danger is over. Wood didn’t totally commit to that; if he’d thrown himself at the cross, he might have been able to bundle that in.

5.48pm GMT

17 min: Burnley hit the woodwork twice in a couple of seconds! McNeil is sent into the Brighton box down the inside-left channel, after a cute Hendrick pass. McNeil shoots low, looking for the bottom right. Duffy, sliding in, deflects the ball up and off the crossbar with a telescopic leg. It drops to Barnes, who tries to cushion a header into the unguarded net from 12 yards, but can’t adjust his body in time. His header brushes the top of the bar and out for a goal kick.

5.46pm GMT

16 min: Westwood hooks a clever improvised pass down the right to release Hendrick into space. Hendrick whistles a cross through the six-yard box, but nobody in Burnley black has taken a gamble, and Ryan watches it through his area and away from danger.

5.45pm GMT

14 min: Tarkowski tries to release Wood down the right with a raking pass from deep. Nope. Too much on that, and it’s a goal kick. But both teams appear to be in the mood to go for the crucial three points in this season’s increasingly unpredictable scrap to avoid the final relegation place. (Let’s face it, Fulham and Huddersfield are gone.) No settling for a point. Not yet, anyway.

5.42pm GMT

12 min: McNeil curls the free kick long and deep. It’s only half cleared by Brighton, and Hendrick, coming in from the right, meets the ball with a fierce low drive. It pinballs away from danger, but that was an extremely sweet strike. He’ll be bemoaning the thicket of players he was forced to shoot through.

5.41pm GMT

11 min: Duffy barges into the back of Barnes, as the pair contest a high ball down the Burnley right. That’s a fairly clumsy challenge, and a free kick to the visitors in a very dangerous position. They load the box.

5.40pm GMT

9 min: Thankfully Bong is soon up and about. He looks a little groggy, but a shake of the head later, he’s cleared to continue.

5.39pm GMT

8 min: Bardsley bombs forward down the inside-right channel. He shows a little bit too much of the ball to Bong, who is able to come in and make a block tackle. But Bardsley is going at full pelt, and the two come together in a sickening but totally accidental and fair clash. Bardsley gets up quickly enough, but Bong is still prone. The ref immediately stops the game.

5.37pm GMT

6 min: Well, this is a bright, open start. Some head tennis in the Burnley box, Gross having hit a diagonal free kick into the mixer from deep on the right. Murray makes a nuisance of himself, and the ball nearly drops to Locadia at the right-hand post. But Taylor sticks a leg out to divert, just as the Brighton man was preparing to tap in. It’s a corner, which comes to nothing.

5.35pm GMT

4 min: Space for Gross down the right. He slams a low cross into the area. It hits Taylor in the seat of his pants, but Gross claims for a penalty kick anyway. He’s not getting it.

5.34pm GMT

3 min: ... Gross chests down, 12 yards out, a little to the right. He creams a rising shot towards the top left. Heaton’s behind this one as well, turning it away from danger! We might get our goalfest after all, if the teams keep this up.

5.33pm GMT

2 min: And now it’s Brighton’s turn to contribute to this fast start. Locadia sends a ball into the Burnley area from the left. March, coming in from the other side, guides a fine header towards the top left. But it’s tipped over by Heaton for a corner. From which ...

5.32pm GMT

And we’re off! Burnley get the evening’s entertainment underway. And they immediately win a corner down the right. Tarkowski rises highest to meet it, but the ball only skims off the top of his head and away from danger.

5.30pm GMT

Kick-off in a minute. First some warm applause in memory of Emiliano Sala, and then the teams take to the field of play. Brighton in their blue-and-white stripes, Burnley in alternative black. “I have to agree that this fixture doesn’t have Goalfest! written all over it, but fingers crossed Brighton-Burnley burns brightly,” quips Peter Oh, albeit slowly, taking great care over each syllable.

5.10pm GMT

Brighton boss Chris Hughton talks to BT Sport! “We’re on the back of a very good performance against Watford, even if we didn’t get the win we wanted. And it was good to get through in the FA Cup. It’s been a good week. At the moment from an injury point of view we’re in good shape.”

Burnley manager Sean Dyche adds! “We’ve got back to being ourselves. We’ve found a relentlessness in how we play, including a last-minute goal in our last game, and that attitude is growing all the time. But it was unlikely that we’d be up and down all season, I thought we’d come into form at some point, thanks to the work our players do on the training ground. Now it’s about finding and maintaining consistency.”

5.01pm GMT

A big result in the 3pm kick-offs. Cardiff City were leading 1-0 at Southampton through a Sol Bamba volley as the game moved into added time. Then Jack Stephens scored with another volley, earning Southampton an equaliser they barely deserved. But it wasn’t over: Kenneth Zohore restored Cardiff’s lead even deeper into injury time, and it ended Saints 1-2 Cardiff. That’s a huge three points for Neil Warnock’s side. It takes them up to 15th spot ... and pushes Burnley into the bottom three. But anything for Burnley in this match will send the Clarets into 15th themselves, knock Cardiff down a spot ... and send Southampton into the bottom three tonight. It’s awfully tight at the bottom.

4.36pm GMT

Brighton make one change to the team named in the Premier League last weekend for the goalless draw against Watford. Dale Stephens comes in for Yves Bissouma, who drops to the bench.

Burnley are unchanged. It’s the same XI who earned a draw against Southampton last week, with veteran newboy Peter Crouch once again given the role of supersub.

4.32pm GMT

Brighton & Hove Albion: Ryan, Montoya, Duffy, Dunk, Bong, Gross, Stephens, Propper, March, Murray, Locadia.
Subs: Kayal, Bissouma, Knockaert, Jahanbakhsh, Button, Bernardo, Burn.

Burnley: Heaton, Bardsley, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor, Hendrick, Westwood, Cork, McNeil, Wood, Barnes.
Subs: Lowton, Gibson, Crouch, Hart, Ward, Vydra, Long.

10.35am GMT

We’ll be straight with you: this fixture does not scream GOALFEST!!! The Seagulls and the Clarets have met each other in the top flight of English football on three previous occasions. The classified scores: 1-0, 0-0, 0-0. And neither team have been banging them in much this season; they’re both scoring at a rate of one a game, give or take a couple of hundredths here and there. You’ll thank me for tempting fate when this ends 4-3.

But both sides will nevertheless be in a reasonable state of mind. Brighton have only won once in their last ten Premier League games, but they’ll be buoyed by their fourth-round FA Cup victory over West Bromwich Albion in midweek. Burnley meanwhile were in a little trouble for a while back there, but an unbeaten run of six games in the league, coinciding with Tom Heaton’s return in goal, has extricated them from bottom-three bother.

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Published on February 09, 2019 12:00

Fulham 0-3 Manchester United: Premier League – as it happened

Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial starred as United won yet another match under their interim boss Ole Gunnar Solskjær.

3.05pm GMT

And that’s your lot. Jacob Steinberg was our man at Craven Cottage; here’s his take on a fine performance from United, and a worrying one for Fulham. Thanks for reading!

3.04pm GMT

And now a much happier Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. “If you don’t risk, you don’t win, and it’s a squad game. You have to trust the players and I didn’t have any worries. Yes, the first ten minutes we were put under pressure, but after the first goal we were different class. I was happiest with the second half, we took the tempo down and controlled the ball, which is different to what we did against Leicester, and that’s another step in the right direction.” He’s then asked about playing Ander Herrera deeper so Paul Pogba can go further forward, and jokes that the players are “finally doing what they are told”. Oh Jose!

2.56pm GMT

A downcast Claudio Ranieri speaks. “I was so happy the first ten minutes, we created two good chances to score goals. But after we conceded, we had to stay calm, and we lost our composure. Our fault was big, but against Manchester United we needed to do something better. We have got to work hard, it’s important to do our best. I watched my team down 3-0, but they still wanted to score a goal, so that is a good thing. We fight.”

2.33pm GMT

Man-of-the-match Paul Pogba speaks! “It feels great. That’s what we wanted, since Ole came: the top four. We’re there and we want to stay there. We have big games coming up, so it won’t be easy. But we put in a good performance as a team. When we need three points, we get the three points. But these big games coming up will determine where we end up. I feel great, the team feels good.”

2.25pm GMT

Both teams have some big tests coming up. It doesn’t get any easier for Fulham at Craven Cottage: their next three guests will be Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City! United meanwhile prepare for a tricky triptych of their own: a Champions League tie against PSG, an FA Cup match at Chelsea, and the visit of Liverpool in the league. They do so from a good place: they’ll stay in fourth unless Chelsea get a point at City tomorrow afternoon.

2.21pm GMT

Nothing much happens in added time, and there’s the final whistle. An easy victory for United, Ole Gunnar Solksjaer’s tenth in 11 attempts. Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial were quite magnificent. They go into fourth spot, ahead of Chelsea; that looked a pipe dream just a few weeks ago! PSG will hold few fears when they’re in this mood. Fulham by contrast started bright but petered out quickly. They remain in 19th spot, seven points away from safety. They’re booed off by a section of the home support.

2.17pm GMT

90 min: There will be three added minutes.

2.17pm GMT

89 min: Finally Fulham show a little fight ... albeit literally. Mitrovic and de Gea go nose to nose, the keeper running the clock down with the ball at his feet, then getting barged after he finally picked it up. It all calms down quickly enough, and they’re both booked.

2.16pm GMT

88 min: Mitrovic slips Sessegon into space down the left, but the flag goes up for offside.

2.14pm GMT

87 min: Cairney has a whack from 25 yards. It’s always going wide right.

2.13pm GMT

85 min: Before it can be taken, Herrera is replaced by Bailly. Mata’s corner doesn’t beat first man Ream, but it’s only half cleared, allowing McTominay to fizz a low, diagonal pass from the right wing towards the far post. Smalling slides in, but can’t connect. Close to a fourth, and that wouldn’t flatter United.

2.11pm GMT

84 min: See 84 min. Then Mata turns it up a little down the right, his low cross intended for Lukaku. But a corner will do.

2.09pm GMT

82 min: United stroke it around, feet up, pipe on.

2.09pm GMT

80 min: Sessegnon comes on for Bryan.

2.08pm GMT

79 min: Craven Cottage is pretty quiet right now, the travelling support apart. Their team started well, but have shown little spirit since falling behind. The rain comes down, matching a mood.

2.06pm GMT

77 min: Babel is hooked in humiliating circumstances, seconds after an astonishing miss. There’s some pinball in the United box, and the ball ends up at Babel’s feet, a yard out, just by the left-hand post. He knocks his shot against the woodwork, the rebound clanking off his shin and out of play for a goal kick. Off he goes, immediately, to ironic cheers. Cairney comes on to replace him.

2.03pm GMT

75 min: Fulham struggle to clear the corner. Sergio Rico flaps. Babel loses possession. That allows Sanchez, out on the left, to send a high cross into the box. McTominay flashes a header inches over the bar. That would have been quite the instant impact.

2.02pm GMT

74 min: McTominay comes on in place of Pogba. Then a dismal clearing header by Le Marchand clanks into Sanchez, who races clear. He should score, but allows Sergio Rico to turn the ball round the right-hand post for a corner.

2.01pm GMT

73 min: A lull. And then suddenly Fulham come to life, pinging it around prettily. Babel feeds Christie down the right. The resulting cross finds the head of Mitrovic, who aims for the top right. It’s on target, but there’s no real pace to the header, and de Gea plucks it from the sky easily enough.

1.57pm GMT

70 min: This match couldn’t have gone much better for United. Long over, it’s being played at testimonial pace now, Fulham offering very little resistance. Time to give Martial a rest ahead of the PSG match. Sanchez comes on in his place.

1.56pm GMT

69 min: Chambers sends a pea-roller towards the bottom left. De Gea gathers with a yawn.

1.55pm GMT

68 min: Christie bothers Shaw enough to win a corner on the right. Seri hits it long to nobody in particular.

1.54pm GMT

67 min: Babel valiantly tries to get something going for Fulham, dribbling down the right. But he’s got no options nearby, and is soon forced to turn tail.

1.53pm GMT

Pogba doesn’t stutter much, by his own elaborate standards anyway. And then he sidefoots powerfully into the bottom right. Sergio Rico guessed correctly, but still had no chance. It’s not as though this third goal wasn’t coming.

1.52pm GMT

64 min: Lukaku bursts down the right. He could shoot himself, reward for a powerful run, but slips inside for Mata. The pass is behind Mata, and the danger looks over, but Le Marchand clumsily clips him from behind. It’s a no-brainer, in more ways than one.

1.50pm GMT

63 min: Herrera belts a shot towards the top left from 25 yards. Sergio Rico parries well. This is a lop-sided affair now, attack versus defence.

1.50pm GMT

62 min: Lukaku brings down a long ball, spins, and tries to thread a pass down the middle to release Martial. Not quite.

1.48pm GMT

61 min: United are in complete control of this match. Martial probes again down the left; Sergio Rico punches his cross clear of danger. But the visitors keep on coming back. Another phase of passing, and Pogba tries a low drive from the edge of the D. It’s blocked, but there’s a sense that a third goal is only a matter of time. The away fans are giving it plenty; the home fans, not so much.

1.47pm GMT

60 min: Pogba is clipped over by Seri, out on the right. Mata takes a quick free kick but only manages to scoop it into the arms of Sergio Rico.

1.46pm GMT

58 min: A corner for Fulham out on the left. Seri’s delivery is not great, and United are able to streak upfield in numbers. But for once they’re a little laboured in the final third, and Fulham, light at the back, escape.

1.45pm GMT

56 min: A dreadful clearance by Odoi is returned by Pogba, who slips Martial free into the Fulham area down the inside left. Fortunately for the hosts, Martial is flagged offside, correctly so. It’s double fortune, given Le Marchand came sliding in on Martial, clattering him to the ground. That would have been a decision for the ref to make, had the flag not gone up.

1.42pm GMT

55 min: Christie is quickly into the thick of it, making good ground down the right. But his cross leads to nothing. No matter, he comes again, battling hard to break through a couple of tackles and laying off to Babel. But Babel takes a heavy touch that allows Pogba to shepherd the ball out of play for a goal kick.

1.41pm GMT

53 min: The home fans belt out a chorus of “You don’t know what you’re doing” as Ranieri sends on Christie ... but hooks Schurrle, one of Fulham’s better players this afternoon.

1.39pm GMT

52 min: Mitrovic tees up Chambers, 25 yards from goal. Chambers shoots, but falls backwards while doing it. The ball sails harmlessly over the bar.

1.39pm GMT

51 min: Pogba and Mata make a nuisance of themselves down the inside-left channel. Martial takes up possession and nearly dribbles his way into space, but there’s no room in the area and the ball breaks through to Sergio Rico.

1.37pm GMT

50 min: United assumed a quiet control of this match. They’re quite happy to let Fulham ping it around the middle of the park, because the hosts are going nowhere. United conserving energy and happy to play on the break.

1.36pm GMT

48 min: A little bit of space for Schurrle out on the right. He clips a long diagonal ball towards the near post. There’s nobody there. De Gea calmly watches it sail behind for a goal kick.

1.34pm GMT

46 min: United are immediately up in Fulham’s grille. Pogba chips down the right to tee up Martial, but instead of shooting from a tight angle lays off to Mata ... who shoots from a tight angle. That’s blocked. Then Herrera has a couple of weak attempts from 20 yards. Fulham are a right old state at the back, like that’s a piece of breaking news.

1.32pm GMT

United get the second half underway. No half-time changes. Now, Fulham were two goals adrift at half-time in their last game at Craven Cottage, too, but came back to win 4-2. It was some story when they did that to Brighton & Hove Albion; it’ll be a tale for the ages if they replicate the feat today.

1.20pm GMT

Half-time entertainment.

1.19pm GMT

There’s time for one more Martial run down the left, but for once Odoi sticks with him and the ball ends up trundling into the arms of Sergio Rico. Then de Gea flaps at a Schurrle cross from the right, and there’s calls for a penalty as Jones clears, but it hit the big lad’s chest. And that’s the end of an entertaining first half. Fulham have been lively, but United’s quality at the sharp end has been the difference. Anthony Martial has been sensational.

1.15pm GMT

45 min: Odoi curls one in from the right. Mitrovic tries to spin Smalling, but the United defender isn’t having it, outmuscling the striker before clearing.

1.14pm GMT

44 min: From the resulting free kick, the ball drops to Chambers to the right of the D. He attempts to Le Tissier an insouciant volley into the bottom right, but his dipping shot is well snaffled by the safe hands of de Gea.

1.13pm GMT

43 min: But now he’s in the book for barging into the same player’s back. He can have no complaints, and to be fair doesn’t bother making any.

1.12pm GMT

42 min: Matic sticks his arm across Babel, who was trying to zip down the left, and is fortunate to escape censure.

1.11pm GMT

40 min: Martial causes all manner of bother down the left again. He’s got Odoi on toast. He looks for the top right, but the ball deflects out for United’s first corner of the match. The ball’s hit long. Martial reaches the byline on the left, and pulls back for Lukaku, who cocks his leg to shoot but fresh-airs it. The ball breaks to Jones on the edge of the area; the big defender creams a glorious shot inches over the bar, tipped away by the fingertips of Sergio Rico. Nowt happens from the second corner.

1.09pm GMT

38 min: Chambers is booked for standing on Smalling’s extended leg in a 50-50 on the edge of the United area. It’s clumsy at best; players have seen red for less. Thankfully Smalling is quickly up and about again.

1.07pm GMT

36 min: Herrera slips as he goes into a 50-50 challenge with Ream, and comes off second best. He’ll be OK to continue, and he’s rather fortunately won a free kick out of sympathy. Nothing comes of it, even though United load the box, which is probably the best thing for karmic balance.

1.06pm GMT

35 min: Chambers creams a long ball down the middle, but there’s only Schurrle there. Smalling and Jones are always shepherding that one back through to de Gea.

1.04pm GMT

33 min: Well, we say nothing comes of it ... but United nearly score a third. United scamper up the other end on the counter. Herrera slips a pass into the Fulham box from the right, Pogba having broken clear down that channel. Pogba briefly thinks about a first-time lash from a tight angle on the right this time, but hesitates slightly and is eventually crowded out.

1.02pm GMT

32 min: Bryan hooks it into the mixer. United half clear, and Seri returns it, with a view to scoring in the top-right corner. A deflection sees the ball go out for a corner on the right, from which nothing comes.

1.01pm GMT

31 min: Herrera gets a bit too close to Mitrovic, the pair tussling 35 yards from the United goal, and that’s a free kick to Fulham, just to the left of centre. A chance to load the box.

1.00pm GMT

30 min: Vietto battles well to bring down a long pass on the left-hand corner of the United box. But a ball rolled across the face of the area evades Mitrovic, and the crowd allow themselves a wee groan in frustration.

12.59pm GMT

28 min: Schurrle and Babel are still probing away, both busy as ever. Nothing’s quite working for them, though. Babel drops deep, and tries to slip Vietto free down the inside-left channel. There’s a huge gap in the United defence, but the pass is way too strong, and the opportunity is wasted.

12.56pm GMT

25 min: Why on earth was Jose Mourinho trying to bundle Martial out of the door? It’s staggering. In the meantime, Fulham are struggling to clear their heads after that quick United double. Bryan goes sliding in late on Smalling, and he becomes the first booking of the afternoon.

12.55pm GMT

This is a truly sensational goal! Martial picks up possession on the halfway line, and bursts down the right. He’s got the legs on Odoi, who is burned off quickly enough. Then he drifts inside, briefly shows the ball to Le Marchand, and then breezes off down the channel with it, another defender left behind. He’s clear in the area. He opens his body and sends a low curler into the bottom right. Sergio Rico had no chance whatsoever with that one!

12.52pm GMT

22 min: Matic drives down the middle, and it nearly opens up for him. Just as he thinks about a shot from distance, Seri smothers him. Just in time.

12.51pm GMT

20 min: De Gea is fine to continue. Meanwhile Fulham have responded well to falling behind, in terms of territory at least, though United are holding firm on the edge of their own box. No way through. Odoi tries to burst clear down the right, but Martial comes back to lend his defenders a hand, and eases the Fulham right-back away from the danger zone.

12.49pm GMT

18 min: That was Pogba’s seventh goal in his last eight Premier League outings, by the way. It was some effort, though whenever a keeper’s beaten from a tight angle at his near post, there’ll be questions. It wasn’t top-drawer netminding, granted, but the ferocity of Pogba’s shot, added to the element of surprise, surely limits any criticism. It was a hell of a strike. Accentuate the positive.

12.47pm GMT

16 min: So much for Fulham’s fast start! Mitrovic chases after a long ball but only manages to clatter into de Gea. The United keeper’s down, receiving treatment.

12.46pm GMT

After a rocky start, United begin to assert control. Martial has another run at Odoi, but can’t find anyone in the middle. And then: bang! Another phase of attack, and Pogba is slipped in down the left. He’s faced with a tight angle, but lashes an outstanding first-time shot past Sergio Rico, beating the keeper at his near post! That was a real whipcracker!

12.43pm GMT

13 min: Matic is down, having taken a couple of his former Chelsea team-mate Schurrle’s studs on his knee. For a second, he looks in some distress, but the big man gets up again quickly enough, albeit gingerly.

12.42pm GMT

11 min: United are looking for Martial down the left every time. The winger appears to have the beating of Odoi, but he’s not received a particularly inviting pass yet.

12.40pm GMT

9 min: Fulham will be extremely happy with this start. Nearly half of the match so far has been played in United’s final third.

12.39pm GMT

7 min: Herrera sends a witless ball forward to nobody, full of panic amid the Fulham press. But Le Marchand, wandering upfield having taken up easy possession, runs into Lukaku. Suddenly Martial and Pogba are tearing down the inside-left channel. Pogba enters the box, tussles with the recovering Le Marchand, and the pair fall limply to the ground. A half-arsed shout for a penalty, but it was 50-50 and United are never getting that.

12.36pm GMT

5 min: Now Schurrle sends a speculative effort over the crossbar! Setting aside the small matter of actually getting an attempt on target, Fulham have looked extremely dangerous in these opening exchanges.

12.35pm GMT

4 min: And once again Fulham cause United a whole world of problems. Babel dribbles down the left and feeds Bryan on the overlap. Bryan finds Mitrovic at the far post, but the big striker can only head across the face of goal from close range. Shaw prods a clearance straight to Schurrle, who leans back and blazes over from the penalty spot.

12.34pm GMT

3 min: More good work by Schurrle, who nearly breaks clear down the right. But Shaw does enough to block, and it’s a goal kick.

12.33pm GMT

1 min: What a start to this game! First up, Dalot was fouled down the United right. From the free kick, Pogba fluffed a header from eight yards. Fulham broke upfield through Schurrle down the right. With United having committed everyone up for the free kick, they’re light at the back. Schurrle wedges across to Vietto, on the left-hand corner of the six-yard box. He’s free, but scuffs his first-time shot wide, his body shape all wrong. What a chance that was for an early shock!

12.30pm GMT

And we’re off! Fulham get the ball rolling. Incidentally, before kick-off, there was a moment’s applause in loving memory of Emiliano Sala.

12.29pm GMT

The teams are out! A marvellous atmosphere at one of the prettiest grounds in the country. Fulham are in their storied white-and-black garb, while United wear ... we’ve already covered this. “Agree that the gear looks good on the tiling,” begins John O’Donovan. “Do you reckon they wear brand new stuff every time? Or is there a chance to wear things in? If I get a new t-shirt I’m not comfortable till I’ve cut the tags off and worn it in a few times. Must be weird being box-fresh all the time.” I guess as professional sports stars they’ve long become used to their entire lives being box-fresh. A bit like that old Billy Connolly line about the Queen assuming the whole world smells of fresh paint, because there’s always someone ten feet ahead of her frantically tarting the place up for her arrival.

12.08pm GMT

Claudio talks to Sky! “They can change eight, 11 changes, anything on the pitch. They have a lot of champions. But we are ready for the battle, to try to show our football. I hope we can make our fans happy at the end of the match. Schurrle gives us experience and intelligence. We have to move the ball quickly, and forward. We have to be compact and press. We have to be calm, very fast and quick!”

12.06pm GMT

A quick peek behind the scenes. And you have to say that United’s gear pairs well with the tiling at Craven Cottage. A slight shame about those bottles of squash, sitting there all orange, yellow and purple. An isotonic blight on an otherwise very satisfying composition.

11.53am GMT

Ole speaks to his old team-mate Gary Neville on Sky. “A couple of changes had to be made. Marcus Rashford has had a dead leg against Leicester, Victor Lindelof is a slight concern but hopefully he’ll be OK for Tuesday. Chris Smalling and Phil Jones did really well against Aleksandar Mitrovic last time, and we felt this is going to be a fight in the box with him so we put them in there. When we came in, we were way behind top four. So if you get the chance to take the three points and jump in, see what happens with City and Chelsea tomorrow, it’s an important game for us today. We have to stand up and be resilient, it will be tough today. There is no complacency. There is no secret to playing football: you have to enjoy yourself, and you need good players that are able to express themselves. Work hard, stay together. It’s simple.” It’s a simple set-up for the self-aware Neville, who cracks wise that “it wasn’t simple for me at Valencia when I tried that!” Hearty laughs and slaps on the back, and the old pals are off their separate ways.

11.40am GMT

Both teams have had a nice week off to relax and recuperate. Fulham come off the back of a 2-0 loss at Crystal Palace, and make two changes to the team named for that one. Luciano Vietto and Andre Schurrle take the places of Tom Cairney and Cyrus Christie, both of whom drop to the bench.

Manchester United make six changes to the team selected for the 1-0 victory at Leicester City, with PSG on Tuesday night no doubt in mind. Diogo Dalot, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Juan Mata, Romelu Lukaku and Anthony Martial are in; Ashley Young, Victor Lindelof, Eric Bailly, Jesse Lingard, Alexis Sanchez and Marcus Rashford step down.

11.31am GMT

Fulham: Sergio Rico, Odoi, Le Marchand, Ream, Bryan, Chambers, Seri, Babel, Schurrle, Vietto, Mitrovic.
Subs: Ryan Sessegnon, Kebano, Cairney, Ayite, Christie, Zambo, Ramirez.

Manchester United: de Gea, Dalot, Smalling, Jones, Shaw, Herrera, Matic, Pogba, Mata, Lukaku, Martial.
Subs: Bailly, Sanchez, Rashford, Lingard, Young, Romero, McTominay.

10.29am GMT

This is Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s 11th match as interim manager of Manchester United Football Club. So far during his astonishing reign, United have won nine games, and staged a late two-goal comeback in the other fixture played. It’s fair to say they’re on a roll; relegation haunted Fulham, who have lost four of their last five Premier League matches, have it all to do this lunchtime.

As if current form doesn’t paint a bad enough picture for the Cottagers, the head-to-head record is an appalling sight as well. They’ve lost eight of their last nine matches against United to an aggregate score of 25-7. In the Premier League era, they’ve lost 19 times to the Red Devils, winning just the three. They’ve already been whacked 4-1 by them this season, and that was when the shackles were very much still on, during the miserablist reign of Jose Mourinho.

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Published on February 09, 2019 07:05

February 4, 2019

West Ham United 1-1 Liverpool: Premier League – as it happened

Liverpool drop two precious points in the title race, having been unable to break down the robust and impressive Hammers.

1.13am GMT

10.38pm GMT

No word from Manuel Pellegrini, so that’s your lot! It’s been a poor evening for Liverpool, a good evening for West Ham United, and an even better one for Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur. But we should remind ourselves Klopp’s side are still three clear at the top. There will be plenty more twists yet. Jacob Steinberg was on hand at the London Stadium to witness the latest turn, and here’s his verdict. Thanks for reading, and nighty night!

10.30pm GMT

And now an agitated Jurgen Klopp, who isn’t happy with the referee at all. “It was not our best. We scored the goal which I heard after the game was offside, which explains a little bit the second half, because I think the referee knew at half-time, I thought they only knew at full time but he knew it for sure at half-time. But there were a lot of strange situations, not decisive but rhythm-breakers, which doesn’t help. They scored the goal so it’s a deserved draw. I spoke to the ref about the situations but really calmly. He did not respond nicely. I asked is that the way we talk now? And he said we don’t talk at all. And then I left, so nothing serious. The second half there were so many free kicks for the other team in a counter-press situation when Naby wins the ball back and they go down. That’s not a foul. But as a human being if I knew I made a big mistake in the first half, I don’t want to open the gap a bit more, so I understand that. But during the game I did not understand it because I didn’t know our goal was offside. It’s a point, so let’s carry on. We have to perform. It is too early to talk about a title race. I didn’t see a good game, and a couple of players did not perform at the highest level, but that’s normal, it has happened before and will happen again.” He seemed a lot happier towards the end of the interview; maybe having got that off his chest, he’s talked himself out of a hot funk.

10.19pm GMT

Now it’s the turn of West Ham captain Mark Noble. “January was a bad month, so to come here after three defeats was massive for us. We should have scored more goals. Liverpool are a fantastic team but we defended well tonight and we deserved to win. You have to defend really well, and keep your shape. As well as that, we scared them with two or three counters. I’m just gutted we didn’t come away with the three points. We’re gutted in there because their goal was a mile offside. All in all, they’re probably the best team in the league at the minute and we played really well today.”

He’s then asked whether Liverpool’s nerves are betraying them. And his response is pretty interesting. “Well I watched the game at Anfield in the week [against Leicester] and you can tell that with the history Liverpool have got, there was anxiety around the stadium, and that feeds into the players. You could feel it sitting at home on my sofa. It’s just that Liverpool want to win the league so much. They’ve got a great chance of doing it, but obviously their fans have to stick by and keep supporting them, especially when you’re leading and everyone’s chasing. And Man City are not going to rest for one game. I’m pretty sure they’ll be fine, they’ve got a fantastic squad of players and a world-class manager and do you know what? For the Liverpool people, I think it’d be fantastic if they did win it. Manchester City have won a few!”

10.06pm GMT

A melancholic Virgil van Dijk speaks. “A draw is tough but they defended very well, and we were unlucky we didn’t win. Our defending could have been a lot better, but it is what it is. We have to take our one point from tonight and keep going. Set pieces are their strength, they practice them a lot and it showed. For us, it would have been better to not give easy fouls away. Though I think the referee was a bit easy at times, but it’s his decision and we need to do better as well. All the players who come in have the quality to fill in, but when you have a back four that doesn’t change, maybe it’s a little easier. What can we do? We take it game by game. We’re still top of the league, though we’ve made it hard for ourselves. But we’re still in the title race, and some teams are not. You need to enjoy the pressure, you can also be playing for nothing. We need to be our best for the rest of the season. We’re disappointed, but we go again.”

9.57pm GMT

Jurgen Klopp doesn’t look happy at all. He holds a full-and-frank discussion with Manuel Pellegrini as the pair shake hands, then rants awhile at the referee. Neither man seems particularly interested in engaging. Not sure what his problem is, to be honest. It might be about the amount of added time? In which case, Liverpool still had 94 minutes across the piece to score more than one goal. His team were very poor tonight. West Ham, by comparison, were excellent. Their point consolidates their position in 12th, where they sit behind Leicester on goal difference, 32 points. Liverpool extend their lead over Manchester City to three points, on 62 points, but they’ll be knocked off top spot in a couple of days should Pep Guardiola’s side win at Everton. City will have played a game more, of course, but then Liverpool’s corresponding extra fixture is at Manchester United, and the form book suggests only one winner there. It’s not been a good week for Liverpool at all.

9.51pm GMT

Keita flicks the ball over the West Ham back line to release Origi! But the striker can’t sort his feet out, and shoots straight at Fabianski! And that’s it! Liverpool drop two points in the title race, West Ham more than deserving of the draw!

9.50pm GMT

90 min +2: Milner crosses from right. Doip slices hysterically into the air. But Ogbonna clears. Up the other end, Allison races from the box only to head straight to Carroll! Fortunately for the keeper, Robertson is on hand to sweep up.

9.48pm GMT

90 min +1: Nothing happens in the first added minute. It’s all played in Liverpool’s half, as well. West Ham have been excellent tonight.

9.47pm GMT

90 min: Felipe Anderson makes way for Arthur Masuaku, as the stadium announcer gives him the man-of-the-match award. There will be three minutes of added time.

9.46pm GMT

89 min: Fellow would-be title-winners Spurs have found late goals in each of their last three matches. Can Liverpool get one here? It doesn’t look like it right now. Milner finds a bit of space down the right and pulls one back for Keita, who shapes to shoot but hesitates. He’s eventually dispossessed by Snodgrass, who wins a free kick into the bargain.

9.44pm GMT

87 min: Robertson and Mane pair up to zip down the left. Robertson’s eventual low cross forces Cresswell to hack out for a corner. The set piece falls to the feet of Salah, but Antonio is up in his grille in short order, and the danger is cleared. Salah looks pained.

9.42pm GMT

85 min: Keita has the ball in the middle of West Ham territory. But there’s no movement ahead of him, no pass to be made. He waves his arms about in Kloppian style, equally frustrated with how this match is panning out.

9.41pm GMT

83 min: Salah and Shaqiri try to combine down the inside-right channel, but the passes aren’t sticking. On the touchline, Klopp is incandescent, throwing his arms around in a very animated manner. It’s only a month ago that Liverpool were playing a match at Manchester City in the hope of going ten points clear. Now, unless they score in the next seven minutes, City can leapfrog them by winning at Everton in a couple of days.

9.38pm GMT

81 min: Origi motors his way down the left and is illegally tugged back. A free kick, and a chance for Liverpool to load the West Ham box. Shaqiri takes. It’s half cleared. Salah takes a shot from the edge of the D. It hits van Dijk, who isn’t offside and can bustle down the inside-right channel. He’s clear in the box but doesn’t fancy a shot from a tight angle. Instead, his weak cross is easily snaffled by Fabianski.

9.36pm GMT

79 min: A double change by West Ham. Mark Noble and Javier Hernandez are replaced by Pedro Obiang and Liverpool’s former £35m man Andy Carroll. This script almost writes itself. Let’s see where this goes, then.

9.34pm GMT

77 min: Felipe Anderson is sent racing down the left by Noble’s fine crossfield ball. He one-twos with Snodgrass on the edge of the Liverpool box. It looks for a nanosecond like he’s through, but Matip reads it well, sticks out a telescopic leg, intercepts and clears.

9.33pm GMT

76 min: Liverpool have scored 14 times this season in the final 15 minutes. Only Arsenal and Chelsea can match that record. What the visitors would do to grab a precious 15th tonight. They’re seeing plenty of the ball; they’re just not doing a great deal with it, and West Ham look extremely comfortable.

9.32pm GMT

75 min: Liverpool make their second change of the evening, hooking Firmino, strangely ineffectual tonight, and sending on Divock Origi.

9.31pm GMT

74 min: Keita’s cute dribble down the inside-left channel nearly opens up West Ham. But his flick to Salah comes off his team-mate’s arm, and the pressure is off.

9.30pm GMT

73 min: Snodgrass dribbles his way past Matip down the left. He cuts back for Felipe Anderson, who half handles the ball into the path of Noble. The West Ham captain sends a first-time shot inches over the bar. That was so close. West Ham have had their chances.

9.28pm GMT

71 min: There’s not a great deal going on right now. West Ham will be happy enough with that: a point will put a stop to their current losing run. Liverpool, not so much. This is a big 20 minutes in the Premier League season. Far from decisive, of course; it’s only February after all. But big enough.

9.25pm GMT

69 min: Liverpool are finally able to make their substitution. Lallana is sacrificed for Shaqiri.

9.24pm GMT

67 min: Liverpool have very little going on right now. Accordingly, they’re preparing to bring on Xherdan Shaqiri.

9.23pm GMT

65 min: Matip beckenbauers his way upfield, but there’s one feint too many. He has the ball nicked off him by Rice, who launches a counter into the space left by the Liverpool defender. The ball is sent wide right for Antonio, who instigates a game of pinball in the Liverpool area. Hernandez doesn’t get the break, and Liverpool can hack clear.

9.21pm GMT

64 min: Liverpool’s desperation is beginning to bubble to the surface. Robertson tries his luck, 30 yards out down the left. Nope!

9.20pm GMT

62 min: Salah suddenly looks lively. Another shot, this time wild and over the bar. But he was a complete non-event in the first half, and this represents a big improvement. Liverpool certainly need something more from him. On the touchline, Klopp claps in encouragement.

9.19pm GMT

61 min: Salah jigs in from the right and shapes a shot around Cresswell, towards the far corner. But there’s no real whip on the shot, and it’s easy pickings for Fabianski. Salah looks pained; the away fans sing his name by way of support.

9.17pm GMT

60 min: Hernandez is booked for coming through the back of Fabinho in the centre circle. A pointless challenge.

9.17pm GMT

59 min: Liverpool are looking very rusty. They’ve got a three-on-two, but Mane and Firmino confuse each other with misplaced passes, and West Ham can tear clear.

9.15pm GMT

58 min: Salah is sent free by Fabinho’s long ball down the inside left, but Fredericks has him covered and it turns out Salah is offside anyway. West Ham go up the other end through the ever-impressive Felipe Anderson, who nearly sets Cresswell off on the overlap, but overhits the pass slightly. Goal kick. This match continues to entertain, even if the quality isn’t from the top drawer.

9.13pm GMT

56 min: Space for Milner down the right. His whipped cross is a dangerous one, but avoids everyone. Robertson tries again from the other flank, having retrieved the ball, but his cross takes a deflection and loops into the arms of Fabianski.

9.12pm GMT

55 min: Cresswell slams the free kick straight into the Liverpool wall and then sprays the rebound miles over the bar.

9.11pm GMT

54 min: And now Matip goes in the book as he drags Felipe Anderson to ground as the West Ham winger spins him. Lallana is still moaning about the non-decision earlier. Anyway, this is a free kick in a central position, 30 yards out.

9.10pm GMT

53 min: Lallana throws his arms in the air after failing to get a free-kick decision from a common-or-garden tussle in the midfield. Liverpool could do with calming down.

9.08pm GMT

51 min: Robertson slips a ball down the left for Mane, who lays off to Lallana on the edge of the box. Lallana tees up Salah, rushing in, but the resulting shot, while powerful, is straight at Fabianski.

9.07pm GMT

49 min: Lallana scampers down the right and attempts a flick into the box. The ball hits Ogbonna, just inside the area, on his arm. Lallana claims for a penalty, but that was totally accidental, Liverpool were never getting that. The first signs of frustration from Liverpool, who shouldn’t be getting desperate yet.

9.05pm GMT

48 min: But Liverpool don’t clear their lines properly, Allison slicing an upfield hoof straight out of play on the left. Antonio wins a corner from the throw. And from the corner, Diop has a clear header eight yards out, but guides it wide left. Liverpool can’t keep giving up chances like this.

9.04pm GMT

47 min: Felipe Anderson embarks on a skitter down the left and is blocked off by Milner. Yet another chance for West Ham to bother Liverpool with a cheeky free kick. But they make a balls of this one, Anderson dribbling in from the left and shooting witlessly into a thicket.

9.02pm GMT

And we’re off again! Liverpool are out early, waiting for West Ham. In the dugout, a pensive Jurgen Klopp sits biting his lip. He may be considering how Manchester City will be able to go top on Wednesday night if things stay the same here and they win at Everton. His charges get the second half underway when the hosts eventually turn up.

8.49pm GMT

Half-time entertainment:

8.47pm GMT

And that’s that for the first half. Title-chasing Liverpool will be pleased to hear the whistle, as they were beginning to seriously rock at the back. West Ham look much the happier as the players trudge off. Jurgen Klopp races down the tunnel, preparing to tell his defenders a few home truths, I’ll be bound. Don’t go anywhere, this promises to be a rip-roaring second half!

8.45pm GMT

45 min: There will be one added minute. This half of football has flown by.

8.45pm GMT

44 min: Mane nearly adds insult to injury, as he meets Milner’s inswinging free kick with a flashed header by the near post. Fortunately for West Ham, it’s straight at Fabianski.

8.44pm GMT

43 min: Fredericks thinks Mane has pushed him as the pair contest a ball down the Liverpool left. He’s not getting the free kick, though he should. So then he loses his composure and barges into the back of Mane. This time the free kick’s given, just to the left of the West Ham area.

8.42pm GMT

41 min: Fabinho gives away another free kick, needlessly tripping a surrounded Hernandez out on the West Ham right. What will they come up with this time? Felipe Anderson sends a diagonal curler over the top of the pack lined up on the edge of the box. It drops to Rice, totally free, 12 yards out! But Rice sends his header screaming over the bar when it was surely easier to score! He can’t believe he’s missed it ... though he might (stress might, it was very close) have been offside. Either way, though, the flag stayed down, and Liverpool’s defence is a complete shambles.

8.40pm GMT

39 min: Keita continues to attack with elan, gliding down the left and releasing Robertson on the overlap. Robertson crosses low and hard, through the six-yard box, but Ogbonna toe-pokes it away from Firmino and out for a corner. A corner that’s not awarded. Liverpool are collectively livid, and the crowd enjoyed that very much, cheering the decision almost as loudly as the equaliser.

8.39pm GMT

37 min: Snodgrass makes to bulldoze down the middle of the park, but he’s sent flying as Mane runs into his back. It should be a booking, but it’s only a free kick. And once again Liverpool are half asleep. Felipe Anderson wedges the set piece down the left, where Hernandez has peeled away into space. Fortunately for Liverpool, he shins one high into the air, miles off target. Liverpool do not look comfortable at the back at all.

8.36pm GMT

36 min: Lallana drags down Noble, out on the West Ham left. Another chance to load the box. Snodgrass’s free kick is half cleared by Matip, but only to Noble on the edge of the area. Noble takes a touch and shoots low and hard, but van Dijk is on hand to block and blooters clear.

8.35pm GMT

34 min: This is high-octane fare. Accurate passes are at a premium right now.

8.32pm GMT

32 min: Keita hasn’t let his role in the equaliser affect him too much. Again he dribbles with purpose at West Ham, down the inside-left channel, and is nearly sent clear into the area after one-twoing with Firmino. But Firmino’s backheel is too firm, and Fabianski gathers without fuss.

8.31pm GMT

30 min: Keita’s see-saw match continues, as he drives towards the West Ham box, a fine run that earns a corner. That one comes to nothing. Good luck predicting how this one’s going to end up. Surely not 1-1. It’s such an open, entertaining game.

8.30pm GMT

Fabinho clumsily bundles Snodgrass to the ground, gifting West Ham a free kick 35 yards out, Everyone’s bunched to the left of the D. Felipe Anderson gives it the eyebrows, making to cross, then slips a cheeky one down the right. Antonio is in the box free, having torn away from a dozing Keita. Antonio threads a glorious shot across Allison and into the bottom left! What a brilliant training ground free kick ... but terrible sleepy defending by the title hopefuls.

8.27pm GMT

26 min: Salah romps down the right and slips the ball inside for Mane, who rolls it on to Keita. Liverpool’s summer signing has been short on confidence, but here it seems to flood back with immediate effect, flicking an outrageous first-time backheel down the left to release Robertson. But Robertson’s low cross is blocked out for a corner, which leads to nothing.

8.25pm GMT

24 min: Liverpool haven’t lost after scoring first since April 2017, bogey team Crystal Palace doing for them that time. West Ham have troubled Liverpool already, though; can they put an end to that record?

8.23pm GMT

The in-form Mane gives Liverpool the lead against the run of play! It’s wonderful work by Lallana, tiptoeing on the right-hand touchline and dinking the ball past Cresswell and Snodgrass, who had surely boxed him in. But no! Milner’s set free. Milner pulls the ball back for Mane, who takes a touch, turns and pearls a shot into the bottom left! That was a delightful move. There’s only one problem, though ... Milner was a good yard offside when Lallana found him with his twinkle toes. Liverpool get a huge break there.

8.21pm GMT

21 min: Felipe Anderson nearly gets past Milner down the left, but earns a corner off the stand-in right-back. Cresswell takes the set piece, but it’s extremely poor and Salah is able to sweep the ball away from the danger zone without any trouble.

8.20pm GMT

20 min: A one-two between Firmino and Mane down the centre, and Firmino enters the box just to the left of centre. He looks for the bottom right, but scuffs his effort and the ball bounces harmlessly into the arms of Fabianski.

8.19pm GMT

18 min: Something of a lull, which Liverpool will welcome, having been unable to get a secure foothold in this match so far. It quietens the crowd. Well, a bit. “Good to see Liverpool wearing grey tonight rather than that ‘highlighter pen orange’ from last year,” writes Ian Sargeant. “If my memory serves they wore grey when Paul Ince did his thing in the League Cup 30 years ago. Yes that is a straw clutch.”

8.17pm GMT

16 min: Space for Cresswell down the left. He hooks low into the area, looking for Snodgrass. But the ball clanks off Lallana and back into Allison’s arms. A lucky break. But West Ham are soon coming at Liverpool again, Hernandez pearling a shot from the right of the D towards the top left. Allison does extremely well to bat it away at full stretch, and the danger is over. Liverpool are looking very nervous; West Ham can sense their shakiness.

8.15pm GMT

14 min: Felipe Anderson slips a pass down the left. It would have released Snodgrass, but the Scotland international slips on the turf, allowing Milner to swan off with the ball. The crowd appreciated that; West Ham have started very well in attack and Liverpool already don’t look totally secure at the back.

8.12pm GMT

12 min: Milner fires a low pass down the right. Salah is this close to shuttling it through a gap first time, down the channel to release Lallana. Ogbonna does extremely well to step in and close the door.

8.11pm GMT

10 min: And once again, West Ham are inches away from pearling one into the bottom right of Liverpool’s net! This time it’s Cresswell, who sends a low diagonal screamer just wide after cutting in from the left, the finishing touch to a good move involving Antonio down the other wing. The home fans thought that one was in, and no wonder, it was so, so close!

8.09pm GMT

9 min: Another corner for Liverpool out on the left, won by Robertson who had been sent into acres of space by a lovely van Dijk crossfield ball. Salah hits the corner too long, but it clanks off Cresswell and pinballs back to Firmino, who tees up Lallana on the edge of the area. He’s got plenty of space and time, but snatches woefully at the shot and sends a dribbler through to Fabianski. That was a real chance.

8.07pm GMT

7 min: Fredericks sends a poor clearance up the West Ham right. Liverpool come back at him through Mane, who dribbles his way to a corner off the same player. The gift of a set piece comes to nothing. This is a lively enough start.

8.06pm GMT

5 min: Keita scuttles around on the left, then launches a long diagonal pass to send Salah free down the middle. Just a little too much on the ball, which Fabianski deals with at the very edge of his box. Salah not miles off from that, though.

8.05pm GMT

4 min: Mane and Firmino combine well down the Liverpool left. A crisp little jink and flick from Firmino then sets Robertson clear into the box, but the flag goes up for offside. A sense already that there may be goals in this game.

8.04pm GMT

3 min: West Ham come so close to an early goal! Cresswell drives down the left. He cuts inside and finds Felipe Anderson, who feeds Noble, who slides a fine pass down the inside-left channel. Hernandez is able to turn van Dijk and curl low and hard towards the bottom right. The ball flashes inches wide of the post. Not sure Allison was getting to that, had it been on target.

8.02pm GMT

2 min: Some head tennis in the centre circle. Nobody’s quite found their range yet.

8.01pm GMT

Under a big screen screaming Come On You Irons, Hernandez gets the ball rolling! The hosts immediately blooter the ball out of play; the home fans finish a full-throated rendition of Bubbles. Both sets of supporters giving it plenty!

7.59pm GMT

The teams are out! Thousands of pretty bubbles float into the night air as West Ham United and Liverpool take to the pitch at the London Stadium. Mark Noble leads out the hosts, James Milner the visitors. A rare old noise at the London Stadium. It’s not quite at Upton Park levels, but it is what it is. As the teams shake hands, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah both look extremely relaxed; the same can’t be said for some of their supporters. For example, here’s Matt Dony: “Goes without saying, but it’s a big game tonight. I actually don’t think nerves were a big issue last week; more a case of a makeshift defence and a collective off-day. These things happen to every team now and then. But, there’s been so much talk about ‘nervousness’ since then, it’s bound to have some kind of effect. There’s an enormous amount of pressure on the players, they’re in an unfamiliar position, and it could become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Keep telling them that they’re nervous, and nerves will creep in. A big performance and a comfortable win tonight, and just maybe I can let myself start to dream. Any less than that, and I fear City will have the impetus. Argh! I flipping hate football!”

7.53pm GMT

Jurgen Klopp talks! “Gini had a knee problem, so we couldn’t use him. Hendo yesterday had to finish the session yesterday early. You want to have all your boys around, but that’s the Premier League and we need to be ready for a big fight. But West Ham are without Arnautovic and have a lot of injuries themselves, so that’s how football is. You have to make the best of what you have.” He’s then asked whether it gets harder to put what City are doing to one side. “Does it get harder to ask that question five million times in a row?! [laughs uproariously at own bon mot] I can’t give a better answer, for me no. If you want to be first at the end of the season you need to be ready for a tough fight, you cannot hope that you will be champion in March, that’s happened only two or three times in history, and at really big clubs in a much worse league than the Premier League. It’s all good, we have to win our games, that doesn’t change.”

7.47pm GMT

Tonight’s kits. West Ham will be wearing their famous claret and blue, sported here by the legendary Bobby Moore ...

7.31pm GMT

Manuel Pellegrini speaks! “Cresswell was injured the last game, but he is normally in the starting eleven. Pablo has been playing too many games so I think it is good for him to take a rest. Hernandez knows what he can give to the team, he’s a box player. Unfortunately for us he’s had a lot of injuries, now he’s got the chance again to start, and hopefully he’ll give us the goal we couldn’t get in the last games. We are playing against the leader, the best team this season, but in football you never know. We are not going to change our style, we are trying to win from the first minute.”

7.11pm GMT

Both managers make three changes from midweek. West Ham were hoping that Marko Arnautovic would recover from the foot injury he picked up in the 3-0 defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers, but he’s not made it. His place up front is taken by Javier Hernandez. Meanwhile Pablo Zabaleta and Arthur Masuaku drop to the bench, making way for Ryan Fredericks and Aaron Cresswell.

Liverpool are forced into a rejig in the wake of the 1-1 draw with Leicester City. Jordan Henderson has a muscle problem, while Georginio Wijnaldum has a sore knee. James Milner fills in at left-back, while Fabinho returns to the midfield. Meanwhile Xherdan Shaqiri makes way for Adam Lallana.

7.02pm GMT

West Ham United: Fabianski, Fredericks, Diop, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Snodgrass, Noble, Rice, Felipe Anderson, Antonio, Hernandez.
Subs: Zabaleta, Carroll, Adrian, Obiang, Masuaku, Lucas Perez, Diangana.

Liverpool: Alisson, Milner, Matip, van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Keita, Mane, Firmino, Lallana, Salah.
Subs: Sturridge, Moreno, Mignolet, Shaqiri, Origi, Jones, Camacho.

5.29pm GMT

Manuel Pellegrini has already denied Liverpool a first title since 1990, of course. He was the Manchester City manager who pipped Brendan, Luis, Stevie et al to the Premier League back in 2014. And if he does a number on them as West Ham United boss tonight, he’ll throw a spanner in the works of their latest championship challenge. “If we win, I will be very happy for our club first,” he says. “After that, if we can give a hand to Manchester City, it’s not our problem, but of course I am a fan of Manchester City also.”

Looking at it one way, Pellegrini is talking more in hope than expectation. Liverpool have put four goals past West Ham in each of their last four meetings. They’re top of the table, two points clear of champions Manchester City with a game in hand, while the Hammers are marooned in mid-table having lost their last three matches. That’ll explain why the home side are priced 8-1 for the win at your local turf accountant.

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Published on February 04, 2019 14:38

The Fiver | Ronnie Whelan can’t save them now

There hasn’t been this much talk about Liverpool’s bottle since they kept winning the Milk Cup during the early 80s. But Ronnie Whelan can’t save them now. Last weekend saw victories for The Son Heung-min Team at Wembley – now there’s a player you can’t do without – and Manchester City, who defeated Mattéo Guendouzi and a queue of 10 people waiting for a bus, daydreaming, whistling, checking their text messages, rolling a fag, absent-mindedly fiddling with the change in their pockets while scratching the back of their trousers, etc. It won’t be long before Arsenal Fan TV is worth watching again, will it? Anyway, those results have heaped the pressure on Jürgen Klopp’s side at the top of the Premier League, and Ronnie Whelan can’t save them now.

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Published on February 04, 2019 07:56

February 2, 2019

Leeds United 1-3 Norwich City: Championship – as it happened

Leeds were outplayed by Norwich on their own patch, and knocked off the top of the Championship table as a result.

7.54pm GMT

And that’s that, on the day Norwich go top at the expense of Leeds. Paul Doyle was our man at Elland Road. Enjoy his report. Night night!

7.53pm GMT

Farke speaks! “It was a close game. They started well, but I think it was totally deserved that we led at half time. On the counter we had better chances. We had some problems with our pressing and we spoke about it at half-time. It was totally better in the second half. We didn’t give them once chance. We are annoyed to concede a goal in the last minute from a corner that was not a corner! During the second half we controlled the game. I am pretty pleased.”

7.44pm GMT

Bielsa, whose side have lost five of their last seven, talks: “We couldn’t take our positive moments in the first half hour. We made mistakes in front of our box and helped Norwich to make chances. After they scored, it was hard for us to recover the ball. The way Norwich used the ball in the second half made it difficult for us. It was hard to play deep and attack constantly. This is an indication that the team is not doing very well right now.”

7.34pm GMT

So that’s taken Norwich top of the table on goal difference. Norwich and Leeds both have 57 points, in the automatic promotion places and ahead of Sheffield United, three points behind in third. West Bromwich Albion, Middlesbrough and in-form Bristol City take up the rest of the play-off places. It’s going to be one heck of a run-in!

7.31pm GMT

Speaking of composure, Krul went looking for Bamford after the final whistle. A shove in the chest, followed by a lunge with his head that thankfully didn’t connect. Not sure what that was all about. Krul ended up having a barney with his team-mate Zimmermann, too, as the big defender tried to pull his keeper away from bother and get him calmed down. Imagine what he’d have been like had Norwich lost.

7.26pm GMT

Leeds had plenty of possession, but Norwich were by far the superior side. Composed and clinical. The Canaries replace the hosts at the top of the Championship, and on this form will take some stopping.

7.25pm GMT

90 min +3: Leeds spend a bit of time inside the Norwich half, but never look like finding the killer pass that’d set up a very surreal final 60 seconds.

7.24pm GMT

Bamford, not to be denied, flashes a header past Krul. A consolation of sorts on a disappointing evening for Leeds.

7.23pm GMT

90 min +1: In the first of four added minutes, Roofe storms down the right and hooks one to the far post, where Bamford sidefoots towards the top right. Krul tips onto the crossbar and out for a corner. From which ...

7.22pm GMT

89 min: It’s top against bottom next Sunday. Norwich will host a certain side from Suffolk, who lost in the last minute to Sheffield Wednesday today. “Are you watching, Ipswich Town?” enquire the travelling support. They will be watching, and on this very impressive evidence, won’t be much looking forward to the derby.

7.20pm GMT

88 min: McLean’s first contribution is to win a corner down the right. It comes to nothing.

7.19pm GMT

87 min: Jordan Rhodes comes on for Teemu Pukki, Norwich having made all three of their changes with clock-management very much in mind.

7.18pm GMT

86 min: Leeds raise the tempo - too little, too late - and Forshaw is clipped by Vrancic. A free kick, out on the left. Jansson sends it in for Ayling, who clanks a header wide left from close range.

7.16pm GMT

85 min: And now Kenny McLean comes on for the impressive Emiliano Buendia.

7.15pm GMT

84 min: Tom Trybull is replaced by Alexander Tettey.

7.14pm GMT

83 min: Stiepermann is booked for repeated fouling.

7.14pm GMT

82 min: Hernandez dribbles his way into the box down the right. He slips and loses possession. But Stiepermann reclaims it, and gives the ball back to Hernandez, who pulls a shot across the face of goal and out to the left.

7.12pm GMT

80 min: Clarke takes a shot at the spectacular from a tight position on the right. It’s not Leeds’ evening though.

7.11pm GMT

There was still time. Not now. Douglas dithers and is stripped by Pukki, who slips Lewis away down the left. Lewis’s pullback breaks to Vrancic, ten yards out, level with the left-hand post. Vrancic shoots towards the bottom right; his shot takes a deflection off Douglas, bobbles under Casilla, and goes in.

7.08pm GMT

76 min: Bamford, Klick and Clarke triangulate at speed, and prettily, down the inside-right channel and into the Norwich box. Clarke slams a low cross towards Alioski, who hopes to slide home from six yards. But Aarons is in situ to slide in himself, and hook clear of danger. That was the best Leeds move of the match, and may give them some succour going into the closing stages. There’s still time.

7.06pm GMT

74 min: He’s quite happy to book Alioski, though, for a foul on Vrancic. In fact, that could easily have been, probably should have been, a red card, as studs met shin. It wasn’t a good challenge at all.

7.05pm GMT

73 min: But Douglas is treading a fine line, because he clatters into Buendia again. The referee makes do with a three-strikes warning.

7.04pm GMT

72 min: Buendia drops a shoulder to make good down the right wing, but is stopped by Douglas’s cynical leg. Douglas would probably have been booked, were it not for Buendia’s internationally recognised mime for a yellow card. The ref’s not having that.

7.02pm GMT

70 min: This is a little better from Leeds, as Klich, Clarke and Douglas shuttle the ball right to left, across the face of the Norwich box. Bamford suddenly has a little space to stride into the box, but his shot from a tight angle is blocked out by Godfrey. The resulting corner comes to nothing.

7.00pm GMT

68 min: A little bit of space for Alioski down the left, but his cross batters first man Aarons. Leeds have been a complete non-event since the restart.

6.58pm GMT

66 min: And now he’s jumping around, throwing semaphore shapes in a hot funk, Norwich having been awarded a throw when the ball had clearly come off Aarons. But it’s in the midfield, where it matters little, and he’s just been booked. He needs to take care. The referee has a quiet word.

6.57pm GMT

65 min: Roofe is booked for a frustrated hack at Vrancic, who had just taken the ball off him.

6.56pm GMT

64 min: This should have been game, set and match for Norwich. Onel Hernandez dribbles down the left, reaches the byline, turns Jansson this way then that, and finally chips one back towards the penalty spot. Alioski should clear, but decides to spin with a view to striding off into space. He’s immediately robbed by Aarons, who has space on the spot but drives a wild effort wide right from close range. On the touchline, Bielsa shakes his head sadly.

6.54pm GMT

63 min: The last throw of the dice for Leeds, with just over an hour gone, as Patrick Bamford comes on for Tyler Roberts.

6.54pm GMT

62 min: Alioski sails in from the left, exchanges passes with Forshaw, and looks to shape one into the bottom right from the edge of the box. But it’s all too careful, without much in the way of power, and Krul gathers easily.

6.51pm GMT

60 min: Douglas passes long down the middle. Roofe skitters in from the right. He feels Lewis breathing down his neck and opts to go to ground. He claims a penalty; Norwich are incensed at what they consider a dive. Krul and Roofe discuss the matter during a full and frank exchange.

6.50pm GMT

58 min: Vrancic fouls Roberts, 40 yards from goal on the right. Douglas whips a flat free kick into the Norwich area, but nobody can get a head on it and the ball flies straight into the arms of Krul. The smallest of touches there could have caused Norwich all sorts of bother.

6.47pm GMT

56 min: Vrancic, in full flight down the inside-left channel, is brought to an unceremonious halt by Cooper. Free kick, 35 yards out. Buendia lumps it into the Leeds box, an easy pick for Casilla. A bit of a waste.

6.46pm GMT

54 min: The Elland Road faithful are doing their level best to spark their team into life. It’s bedlam. It’s also all a bit slow. That is until Clarke runs at Lewis down the right with twinkle toes, and nearly finds Roofe in the centre with his low cross. Norwich hack clear. Clarke looks a real prospect.

6.43pm GMT

52 min: Roberts is booked for a fairly cynical late clip on Aarons, who was haring down the right wing. He can’t really complain, and doesn’t bother.

6.43pm GMT

51 min: A lull, which is not really what Leeds need.

6.41pm GMT

49 min: Stiepermann climbs all over Douglas’s back. He should be getting booked, really, but the referee takes pity on him because while subsequently falling to the floor, he’s taken a proper whack in his special area. Ooyah, oof, that’s gotta hurt.

6.39pm GMT

47 min: Leeds have won 20 points from losing positions this season, so they will embrace this task with hope. Clare has his first run of the afternoon down the right, but doesn’t really threaten Lewis.

6.36pm GMT

Leeds get the second half underway. They’ve made a double change at half-time, hooking Pablo Hernandez and Jack Harrison and replacing them with Barry Douglas and the exceptional young talent of Jack Clarke.

6.24pm GMT

Half-time advertisement.

6.22pm GMT

There’ll be more goals in this, I’ll be bound. Don’t go anywhere!

6.20pm GMT

45 min: Roofe is fouled by Trybull, out on the right wing. Alioski scoops the free kick into the mixer. Krul flaps, and the ball drops to Ayling, who dinks it back over the keeper and into the net! But it won’t count, because Jansson was in the thick of it, shoving Vrancic to the floor.

6.17pm GMT

43 min: Roberts ghosts in from the left and is then shoved lightly in the back by Trybull. He wants a penalty, but he’s not getting it. It would have been soft, but Trybull made contact there, and will feel fortunate to have gotten away with that one.

6.15pm GMT

42 min: Pukki is brought to ground by Cooper as he dances his way down the inside-right channel. Leeds are all over the shop here. This is a free kick in a dangerous position. Vrancic tries to repeat his early heroics, but in looking for the top right again, sends the set piece sailing wide.

6.14pm GMT

40 min: The corner leads to nothing. But Norwich regain possession soon enough, Stiepermann flicking Lewis into acres down the left. Lewis flashes the ball hard across the face of goal; it deflects back to Buendia, who leans back and welts over, Leeds breathing again.

6.12pm GMT

38 min: But that second goal has taken the wind out of the Leeds sails. It was met with almost disbelieving silence. Onel Hernandez shoots from the edge of the Leeds D, and the ball balloons out for a corner on the right.

6.11pm GMT

36 min: Straight from kick-off, Roofe embarks on a mesmeric dribble down the inside-left channel, making it into the area. But another goal for the ages is denied us, his eventual shot blocked. This is some game!

6.10pm GMT

Well this is farcical. Buendia nicks the ball off a dithering Forshaw. He sets up Vrancic, who shoots low and hard towards the bottom right. But the ball takes a big deflection off Jansson; the sting off the ball, it pings wide right of the stranded Casilla, gifting Pukki the simple task of rolling into the empty net! Leeds had been applying almost relentless pressure in search of an equaliser, and now look!

6.07pm GMT

33 min: Buendia embarks on a Bestian left-to-right dribble across the face of the Leeds box. It’s a hell of a run, but the Leeds back line, sliding around in the slapstick style, does just enough to deny the Norwich trickster space for a shot. For a second, we were promised a goal for the ages.

6.06pm GMT

32 min: Leeds continue to press Norwich back, to little effect. A little frustration made vocal by the home fans.

6.04pm GMT

30 min: Space for Klich out on the right. He wedges diagonally into the Norwich box, dropping the ball on Roofe’s head. Roofe tries to guide a header into the top right from just inside the area; it’s ambitious and wide right.

6.02pm GMT

28 min: The resulting free kick doesn’t come to much. Forshaw sends a shot flying harmlessly off target.

6.01pm GMT

26 min: Fernandez knocks a bouncing ball down the inside-left channel. Roberts looks to be in, but Krul races out of his area to get in the road. Roberts loops the ball over him but sends it wide left of the target. However he’s then clattered by Krul. It’s not exactly Schumacher-Battiston at Espana 82, but it’s a yellow card nonetheless. And a free kick in a dangerous position.

5.59pm GMT

25 min: Jansson’s arm catches Stiepermann under his hipster chin. The Norwich man goes down, looking for a free kick and perhaps the issue of a yellow card, but he’s not getting it. Then it’s Jansson’s turn to have a claim turned down, as he goes to ground easily while challenging for a high ball in the Norwich area with Zimmermann. No penalty.

5.57pm GMT

23 min: Norwich can’t get out of their half. Pukki is on his own and unable to hold the ball up, constantly swarmed by white shirts. Bielsa’s team are playing at trademark full pelt.

5.55pm GMT

21 min: Harrison drives down the right and very nearly makes it into the area, but he can’t quite make himself space to shoot. Norwich clear, though the pressure on them is ramping up: exactly half of the match so far has been played in their final third.

5.53pm GMT

19 min: Corner for Leeds out on the right. Alioski takes. Jansson flicks the ball on towards Roofe, but the striker can’t connect with a lunge at the far post. Goal kick. But here’s a wild prediction: this match won’t end 0-1.

5.52pm GMT

17 min: This is simply wonderful high-octane nonsense. Stiepermann dribbles down the inside-left and looks to have been upended by Roberts to the left of the D. But his fall is theatrical and he diddles himself out of the free kick. Up the other end, Forshaw and Pablo Hernandez take turns to batter long-distance shots off target.

5.49pm GMT

15 min: Space for Alioski out on the left. He hooks into the middle, and Hernandez slices a dreadful clearance straight at Forshaw. Zimmermann is forced to nip in and blooter out for a corner. But Hernandez makes up for his mistake with some determined pressing as Leeds play the set piece towards Klich, and the pressure puts an end to the Leeds attack.

5.47pm GMT

13 min: This was nearly a sensational goal! Harrison reaches the byline out on the right wing. He hoicks a cross back into the area. Alioski, coming in deep from the left, meets the dropping ball first time, and flashes an unstoppable low drive towards the bottom right. But it’s inches wide of the post. Krul was nowhere.

5.46pm GMT

12 min: So anyway, the corner. Nothing to write home about, Hernandez sending one high into the stand.

5.45pm GMT

10 min: A corner for Norwich out on the right. Stiepermann prepares to take. Before he does, Pukki ends up on the floor, Alioski pushing him in the face. Pukki had shoved him first, mind, and doesn’t make a big deal of it when he gets up. Still, had the referee seen that, the Leeds defender would surely have been walking. Lucky that Pukki clearly just saw it as a bit of rough and tumble, the pair embracing before the referee arrived on the scene.

5.43pm GMT

8 min: Roberts responds with a shimmy and shake down the inside-right channel, but his eventual shot doesn’t have much power in it, and Krul swallows it up.

5.42pm GMT

7 min: Buendia dribbles in from the right and sets up Hernandez for a shot from the edge of the box. But Hernandez hesitates, and the chance is quickly gone. Leeds seem a bit shocked at the early goal; they’ll need to wake up smartish because they were almost opened up there.

5.40pm GMT

Buendia pretends to shoot. But Vrancic takes it instead. And curls it delightfully over the wall, into the top right! Casilla had no chance! The ball brushed Forshaw’s back as it went past the wall, in fact, but it didn’t really change the path of the free kick, which was beautifully delivered.

5.38pm GMT

4 min: Hernandez launches Norwich’s first attack, dribbling directly towards the Leeds area. He panics Jansson into a clumsy clip, and that’s a free kick in a central position, just outside the box.

5.37pm GMT

3 min: Roberts picks up a loose ball in the middle of the park and drives forward. He slips a pass wide right for Harrison, who shifts it back inside and shoots low and hard. Krul gathers. Leeds have flown out of the blocks.

5.36pm GMT

2 min: Alioski takes a finger in the eye from Buendia. Accidental, but a free kick out on the left and a chance to load the Norwich box. Cooper launches it forward, Ayling cushions it down for Klich, and the Leeds midfielder sends a wild shot into the stand behind. That’s warmed the crowd up even further, though.

5.34pm GMT

Here we go, then! Norwich get the ball rolling ... after a false start, Roofe sprinting into their half before the whistle. A second kick-off gets the game underway.

5.29pm GMT

The teams are out! Leeds United play in the famous snow-white shirts favoured by the Don, while Norwich are in their first-choice canary yellow. A rare old atmosphere at Elland Road. We’ll be off in a minute. Incidentally, it’s worth pointing out that, after the completion of this afternoon’s 3pm kick-offs, Norwich have dropped to third. They’re now behind Sheffield United, who beat Bolton Wanderers 2-0 today, on goal difference. So a draw will take Norwich back into second; a two-goal win would send them top.

5.22pm GMT

Daniel Farke talks! “It is a spotlight game with lots of attention. But just three points. OK, if we win this game we will be top but it’s not like we’ll have won the title. And if we lose it’s not as though we need to be concerned about relegation. We don’t have to put too much on this game. We face a difficult task and have full respect, but we will be competitive as well.”

Then it’s the turn of Marcelo Bielsa, who cuts straight to the chase. “In the first game we played, we were very efficient but Norwich were not that efficient.”

4.59pm GMT

Pre-match entertainment. A treat for us all, but especially for Onel Hernandez.

4.42pm GMT

Leeds make two changes to the team that won 2-1 at Rotherham United last week. Pontus Jansson and Tyler Roberts take the places of Kalvin Phillips and Jack Clarke. Barry Douglas and Patrick Bamford return from injury and take up places on the bench. Norwich meanwhile name the same XI sent out for the 2-2 draw with Sheffield United.

4.37pm GMT

Leeds United: Casilla, Ayling, Jansson, Cooper, Alioski, Forshaw, Hernandez, Roberts, Klich, Harrison, Roofe.
Subs: Peacock-Farrell, Douglas, Bamford, Phillips, Shackleton, Clarke, Gotts.

Norwich City: Krul, Aarons, Zimmermann, Godfrey, Lewis, Vrancic, Trybull, Emi, Stiepermann, Hernandez, Pukki.
Subs: Rhodes, McLean, Tettey, Hanley, Srbeny, McGovern, Cantwell.

10.26am GMT

First versus second. Yes, yes, these top-of-the-table clashes sometimes fail to live up to expectations. But this one has all the makings of a doozy.

We already know the team Marcelo Bielsa is going to send out. He named it three days ago, as is often his wont. Casilla, Ayling, Jansson, Cooper, Alioski, Forshaw, Harrison, Klich, Roberts, Hernandez, Roofe. Signs of a man confident in his charges. And no wonder: Leeds are three points clear at the top of the Championship table and looking good for a return to the top flight for the first time since 2004, despite a recent blip in which they’ve lost three from five.

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Published on February 02, 2019 11:54

Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Newcastle: Premier League – as it happened

Son Heung-Min struck late again to fire Tottenham into second place.

2.59pm GMT

So that’s your lot! David Hytner was at Wembley; here’s his report. Enjoy!

2.58pm GMT

And finally Poch. “It was a tough game, because after Newcastle beat Manchester City they had momentum and belief. It was a fantastic effort, I am so happy for my players. It showed the talent we have. Son is doing fantastic for us, his performance and the way he believes. Our squad must have massive credit. We were disappointed after the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, it was the worst moment for us. But we were always positive and we fight. We are now in a good position, and in the Champions League too. In football all is possible.”

2.45pm GMT

And now Rafa. “We did well out wide in the first half, we had chances at the beginning of the second half. But they were pushing and pushing, and we had to be better on the ball. The goal we could have avoided. You have to give credit to Son, because it was a good shot, but we could have done better. Tottenham are a very good team, they have some of the best players in England. It was not easy for us. If we work as hard as we did today, we can improve.”

2.41pm GMT

Fabian Schar talks. “It is a big frustration for us. We fought, they had some chances but so did we. We were so close to a point until that unlucky goal. It would have been a big point, so it’s a big disappointment. We knew the longer the game went, they would press because they had to win, and we had some counter attacks. It was good to keep the ball out [by clearing off the line] but we have no point. I think we are on the right way, but we still have to do a lot of work. There are some games coming where we can win, so we have to be focused.”

2.37pm GMT

Son speaks! “Of course I am tired, but the two games were very important. And with the six points, I think we have had a great week. It was a difficult game but we are very happy and we deserved this one. We tried to get the goal, but football is not easy and we had to wait. Luckily I had the chance and I’m very grateful for my team-mates. The team-mates and coaching staff give me confidence. I enjoy every second in the Premier League.”

2.28pm GMT

A third late winner in a row for Spurs. The sort of run that makes teams think: this could be our season. They’ll be dreaming again, and feeling very good about themselves after a difficult week in the cups. They’re second on 57 points, four behind Liverpool and one clear of Manchester City. We’ve got a real title race on our hands this season, folks!

Newcastle meanwhile remain in 14th place, on 24 points. They’re five clear of the drop zone, and will be cursing Martin Dubravka’s late mistake. Another precious point would have done very nicely. But although they rode their luck at times this afternoon, and Spurs were ultimately deserved winners, they acquitted themselves very well at the home of a serious title contender. If Salomon Rondon’s header had gone in, it could have been so different. Surely they have more than enough talent to escape relegation.

2.21pm GMT

Tottenham’s title challenge looked over a couple of weeks ago. But now they’re in second place, above Manchester City, and breathing down Liverpool’s neck! Just four points off the top! And a first title since 1961 is still very much on!

2.20pm GMT

90 min +3: Newcastle knock it about, but only where Tottenham let them, in the middle of the park. But suddenly Rondon flicks on a long ball. Longstaff is hovering, just inside the box, but Lloris comes out to clear.

2.19pm GMT

90 min +2: Yedlin looks to zip past Rose on the right, but he’s brought down in full flight. The referee thinks it was a fair 50-50 challenge, and play is waved on. Yedlin isn’t too happy.

2.18pm GMT

90 min +1: Perez clumsily clips Rose’s ankles, allowing Spurs to run the clock down further.

2.17pm GMT

90 min: Lascelles is panicked into hoicking over his own crossbar. Eriksen takes his sweet time over the corner, in the game-management style. There will be four added minutes. Can Spurs hold on? Or will Newcastle save themselves?

2.16pm GMT

89 min: To be fair to Dubravka, Son’s shot had a lot of dip and swerve. But it was straight at him. Anyway, the goalscorer is off, replaced by Dier.

2.14pm GMT

87 min: Son chases a lost cause down the inside-left channel. Dubravka, his head muddled, slides out and gets to the ball ahead of Son, but only clips it to Llorente, who should slam home ... but whacks wide left of an unguarded goal.

2.13pm GMT

86 min: Ritchie is replaced by the Newcastle debutant Barreca.

2.12pm GMT

85 min: Newcastle look sickened to a man, and no wonder: that was an appalling mistake by Dubravka. They look to respond, Longstaff winning a free kick out on the right. But the set piece is wasted. Wembley is in fine voice now.

2.10pm GMT

Llorente brings the ball down on the edge of the Newcastle box. He tees it up for Son, who shifts to the right and then batters low and hard towards goal. Dubravka should parry at the very least; claim probably. But he lets the shot squirt under his hands. Into the net it flies. And Tottenham’s title challenge is on!

2.09pm GMT

82 min: Newcastle replace Atsu with Ritchie.

2.08pm GMT

81 min: Sissoko strides down the left and wins a corner off Lejeune. Trippier takes, and loops it into the mixer. Llorente sidefoots towards goal, but the ball pinballs around in a preposterous style, somehow staying out of the net. A good clearing header from Ritchie, there. Newcastle have had some close scrapes this afternoon, and that’s right up there with them.

2.06pm GMT

79 min: Hayden goes off, and comes back on. He’s OK to continue.

2.05pm GMT

78 min: Before the action restarts, Tottenham replace Lamela with Rose.

2.03pm GMT

77 min: Hayden is down requiring some treatment. Time for both teams to take on some water.

2.02pm GMT

75 min: Spurs press Newcastle back some more. But as much as Eriksen, Son and Lamela work, they can’t jemmy any space. Newcastle continue to hold firm.

2.00pm GMT

73 min: A little space for Llorente just inside the Newcastle box. But he can’t sort his feet out. Then Perez goes wheeching up the right, but he’s stopped in his tracks by Sanchez. A suggestion that Sanchez might have used an arm to block his man, but there’s no free kick.

1.59pm GMT

71 min: Trippier floats in a cross from the right. Spurs have sent plenty of men into the box, so Newcastle are happy to see Dubravka come off his line to claim amid a packed box. Newcastle zip upfield, Perez nearly scooting clear down the inside-right channel. But Lloris comes out to intercept and clear. Then Eriksen sends a diagonal ball into the Newcastle box from the right. Llorente is free, but clanks a dismal header high and wide right. He squints into the sun, theatrically blaming the conditions.

1.56pm GMT

69 min: There’s plenty of noise from both fans at Wembley. And yet you can still hear Rafa Benitez loudly micromanaging his men from the touchline! Newcastle respond well, falling into shape, Trippier eventually forced into conceding possession with a desperate speculative long pass. Goal kick.

1.54pm GMT

67 min: Yedlin is booked for a deliberate handball out on the right. The resulting free kick ins a total waste of time. Newcastle go up the other end, Perez sidefooting a curler towards the top right from 20 yards. Lloris does extremely well to turn the shot round the post for a corner. Nothing comes of that either. This is marvellous end-to-end fun now. Both teams will wonder how they’re yet to score.

1.53pm GMT

65 min: Son and Lamela take turns to dribble around in the Newcastle area. The visitors look extremely nervous again. The ball is bundled out for a corner on the left. It’s flicked on at the near post by Son, and Eriksen contorts himself to back-heel it towards the bottom-right from close range. It’s going in, but Schar sticks out a telescopic leg to whip it away from the line! What a clearance!

1.50pm GMT

63 min: Son and Longstaff contest a ball on the edge of the Newcastle box. Longstaff wins the challenge and strides off, only to get a slap in the mush from Son. All accidental, but it’s a chance for Longstaff to go down, buying time for his team-mates to regroup. They’d been chasing shadows for a few minutes.

1.49pm GMT

62 min: Spurs really have stepped it up. Trippier and Son cause Newcastle all manner of bother down the right, with their cute flicks and overlapping runs. Newcastle hold out, but the hosts are beginning to ask questions again.

1.47pm GMT

60 min: Spurs make the first switch of the day, Lucas Moura making way for the hero of Wednesday night against Watford, Fernando Llorente.

1.46pm GMT

58 min: Spurs up their game! Lifting the pace a bit, they ping it around to pull Newcastle this way and that. Then Eriksen slides a ball down the inside right for Trippier, whose low cross is hacked clear just in time by Hayden with Son ready to pull the trigger from six yards. That’s got the crowd going, too; they had also been a little flat since the restart.

1.44pm GMT

57 min: Lascelles and Lucas contest a long ball down the Spurs right. Lascelles brushes Lucas into touch and shepherds the ball out for a goal kick. The body language of the two men is instructive: Lascelles strides back upfield with purpose, while Lucas hangs his head a little and trudges back onto the pitch. Spurs need to up their game.

1.42pm GMT

55 min: Yedlin is again sent scampering down the right. His cross, intended for Rondon, is only half cleared, then Sissoko gifts possession to Ritchie instead of blootering clear. Ritchie sends a shot towards the bottom left from distance, but it’s an easy claim for Lloris. Newcastle look a much more potent attacking force now.

1.41pm GMT

54 min: Lamela chases after a ball bouncing down the inside-right channel. He nearly nips in between Lascelles and Longstaff, who are in the business of confusing each other. But the ball fortunately breaks through to Dubravka, who gathers.

1.40pm GMT

53 min: Spurs seem a little uncertain all of a sudden. They’re gifted a free kick inside Newcastle territory, but Eriksen sends the ball into the box with an uncharacteristic lack of wit. It’s easy pickings for Dubravka.

1.39pm GMT

51 min: It’s Newcastle’s turn to hit the woodwork! Some good play by Ritchie, Longstaff and Perez to gain ground down the middle. Then Rondon spreads play to Yedlin on the right. Yedlin’s cross is magnificent, finding Rondon, who heads towards the bottom right. Lloris is flat-footed and beaten all ends up, but the ball caroms off the post and away from danger. That would have been a very fine goal.

1.37pm GMT

49 min: Lucas brings down a long ball just inside the Newcastle area. He can’t turn to shoot, so lays off for Son, whose scuffed shot is deflected out for a corner on the left. Lamela whips it in, and Sanchez rises highest to send a header wide right. Had that been on target - and once again, it’s a Spurs header that really should have been - it’d have been a goal, because Dubravka was running across in a blind panic. He’d not have got there.

1.35pm GMT

48 min: But the second half has otherwise started pretty much like the first, with Spurs enjoying all the ball, Newcastle holding their shape.

1.33pm GMT

46 min: Longstaff drops deep on the left before wedging a pass down the channel to release Perez. He’s clear on goal, and for a second Wembley falls silent in collective anxiety, with Spurs having stopped to a man. But there’s a reason why, and the flag eventually goes up for an obvious offside.

1.32pm GMT

We’re off again! Newcastle get the ball rolling for the second half. Neither team has made a half-time change. Meanwhile on a chilly afternoon, warm up by putting your hands together for Adam Levine: “I hope every time Son runs past Schar he yells out ‘I got you, babe’.”

1.20pm GMT

Half-time reading.

1.17pm GMT

Vertonghen is clipped by Perez down the left, and there’s one last first-half chance for Spurs. A free kick, which Eriksen loops into a loaded box. But his delivery is dreadful, and doesn’t even clear the first man. And that’s it, the half-time whistle goes. Newcastle will be pleased with their efforts so far; Spurs look frustrated as they trudge off.

1.15pm GMT

45 min: There will be one added minute of play in this first half.

1.15pm GMT

44 min: But not for long. Ritchie hoicks another ball into the mixer from the left. At the far stick, Perez and Rondon get in each other’s way. Spurs have dominated in attack, but they’ve looked shaky at the back when pressurised. Newcastle have had their half-chances.

1.14pm GMT

43 min: Ritchie switches play and finds Yedlin in space down the right. Yedlin slides a pass down the flank, allowing Perez to dribble into the Spurs box, nearly turning Vertonghen inside out. But he can’t quite make the space for a shot on goal, and Vertonghen does well to recover. The danger’s cleared.

1.12pm GMT

42 min: Eriksen manages to cross from a tight spot out on the right. It’s heading towards Lucas, but Dubravka reads it well and claims just in time, without panic.

1.10pm GMT

40 min: Now it’s Newcastle’s turn to take the sting out of the game, having seriously rocked for a minute back there. It’s not clear how this game is still goalless.

1.09pm GMT

38 min: Son holds up a long Trippier ball down the right. He eventually slips Trippier away on the overlap. Trippier hooks to Vertonghen, whose attempt to guide in a volley isn’t all that. But the ball’s bundled out for a corner. From the set piece, Sissoko makes a better fist of a volley, though his shot is straight at Dubravka. The ball breaks free, but there’s nobody in white on hand to tap home. Oh Harry, where are you? Newcastle clear for another corner, and deal with that second one in short order.

1.06pm GMT

36 min: Lamela swings the corner onto the head of Sanchez, who heads miles over the bar from 12 yards.

1.05pm GMT

35 min: Spurs settle themselves down with a period of sterile domination in the middle of the park. Once equilibrium has been rediscovered, Vertonghen wins a corner down the left.

1.03pm GMT

33 min: More space for Ritchie down the left. He loops long, but Yedlin can’t force the ball on target from a tight angle on the right-hand edge of the six-yard box. Those last three or four minutes will give the away team plenty of encouragement.

1.02pm GMT

31 min: But then their first serious spell of attacking, and they could easily have taken the lead against the run of play! First Ritchie crosses from the left; Perez should score from six yards but scuffs his shot. Rondon looks to prod the ball into the bottom left from a position on the right, but has to settle for a corner. One corner leads to another, which leads to Hayden shooting from the edge of the box. It’s blocked, and Spurs eventually clear their lines. Much, much better from the Toon.

1.00pm GMT

29 min: Vertonghen is enjoying his rare run-out as a wing back. He’s got his attacking boots on today, having spent most of the time deep in Newcastle territory. Here he very nearly releases Lucas down the inside-left channel; not quite. Newcastle are being stretched to breaking point here. Nearly.

12.58pm GMT

27 min: So having said Newcastle’s tactics seemed to be working well enough, now we’re at a stage where it’s a wonder how Spurs aren’t ahead. They’ve had six attempts on goal, of various sorts, while Newcastle have yet to make Lloris do any work whatsoever.

12.57pm GMT

25 min: And now Lucas is sent free down the left by Lamela’s chip. He tries to round Dubravka, but clatters into the keeper. No penalty, and in any case the flag goes up late for offside.

12.56pm GMT

24 min: Spurs hit the bar! Vertonghen crosses from the left. Lucas flicks it on to Lamela, who sends a header towards the top right. But it’s just an inch or two too high, and back it comes off the woodwork. Lucas sends the rebound flying harmlessly over.

12.55pm GMT

23 min: A rare Newcastle attack, as Atsu breaks from the edge of his own box and sets Rondon off down the left. Sanchez does extremely well to shepherd him towards the touchline and turn him around.

12.53pm GMT

22 min: It’s beginning to slip into an attack-versus-defence drill, this. Newcastle seem happy to sit back and allow Spurs to pass it all around them. The home side haven’t been able to make all their possession and territorial advantage pay, that Lucas chance apart, so Newcastle’s tactics are working well enough.

12.50pm GMT

20 min: Eriksen drops a shoulder to make space down the inside right, and has a shot from a very ambitious distance. He whacks it straight into Lascelles, and Newcastle clear. But they’re having trouble getting out of their final third; nearly half of the game so far has been played there.

12.48pm GMT

18 min: Newcastle faff about a bit, just to take the wind out of Tottenham’s sail and let them consider the chance that’s just been spurned.

12.47pm GMT

16 min: A free kick for Tottenham out on the right-hand touchline. They load the box. Eriksen swings it in. Yedlin clears. Lamela picks up possession to the left of the D, and lob-wedges a stunning ball into the centre for Lucas Moura. The Brazilian must score, free six yards out, but plants his header wide with Dubravka waiting for the net to ripple. What a miss! But what a ball from Lamela.

12.45pm GMT

14 min: Eriksen sashays into the Newcastle box from the right. Hayden sticks out a leg, and Eriksen goes over it. The crowd bellow. But the Spurs star doesn’t appeal for a penalty, having slipped before making contact as he tried to jink round the Newcastle man. He was already falling over. Play goes on, as it should, all agree.

12.43pm GMT

12 min: The increasingly impressive Longstaff nearly releases Rondon down the left with a pearler of a diagonal ball from deep. Rondon can’t get past Tripper, but what a pass that was from the young midfielder, whose contribution to the win over City was crucial. He looks a player.

12.41pm GMT

11 min: So, yes, it’s the Chinese new year on Tuesday. In other news, Mike Ashley is in the stand, and he’s getting pelters from the away support, who via the medium of song, are telling him to do one with great force and feeling.

12.40pm GMT

9 min: Spurs stroke it around hither and yon. Waiting for a gap to develop. But no gap develops. Eventually Sissoko curls one in from the right, but Dubravka gathers easily ahead of Winks.

12.37pm GMT

7 min: Son and Eriksen probe down the inside-left channel again. But Newcastle hold their shape on the edge of their area, and there’s no way through. Eventually Sissoko tries to split the defence with a ball down the inside-right channel, but it’s woefully overhit. Goal kick.

12.35pm GMT

5 min: Eriksen looks in the mood. He drops deep and sprays a glorious ball down the middle with the outside of his boot. Son can’t quite reach the pass, but only because Dubravka read the danger early and was out to the edge of his box to gather.

12.34pm GMT

4 min: Spurs put the pressure on Newcastle, Eriksen and Son causing Schar all sorts of bother down the left. Newcastle eventually clear their lines, but only just in time, with white shirts swarming.

12.33pm GMT

2 min: A patient start by Spurs, who stroke it around the back in the considered style. Eventually Alderweireld hoicks it long, allowing Ritchie to head the ball clear. Newcastle’s first touch after one minute and 25 seconds. Then Son has a look down the left, nipping his way past Yedlin but sending a dribbler of a cross into the arms of Dubravka.

12.30pm GMT

And we’re off! Spurs get the ball rolling. Newcastle survive the first 24 seconds, which is more than they managed on Tuesday night against Manchester City. The good news keeps on coming for the Magpies.

12.27pm GMT

The teams are out! Tottenham wear their storied lilywhite shirts, while Newcastle sport a homage to that burgundy-and-blue-striped rugby-style top made famous during the mid-90s, Ginola, Ferdinand, Newcastle Brown Ale, all that. Both sets of lads look resplendent. A fine atmosphere bubbling away, even if Wembley is far from full. We’ll be off in a minute or two!

12.16pm GMT

Mauricio Pochettino speaks! “It was so important for us after the week against Chelsea and Palace. We were so down. It was important to feel a victory again, and it was a massive boost for us. But Newcastle are in a good moment after beating City, and this is going to be tough. We need to give our best to win. We are going to use Vertonghen on the left, trying to find the best way to defend. We need to change and adapt knowing Newcastle, trying to break them down. The challenge is to get the three points, and then we can think about the position we are in. It will be massive.”

12.12pm GMT

The folk at Sky Sports speak to a very content Rafa. “The main thing was to win against Manchester City. And afterwards, to see two new faces was important. When you go to January, the same players see the same manager. So if you don’t change the manager, you have to change some players, and be sure everyone has a boost. Spurs have some quick players up front, so we have to manage our tactics. I think Tottenham’s side is quite good! They have a very good team.”

12.06pm GMT

A quick peek inside the Spurs dressing room. Hanging on the pegs, some special shirts celebrating the Chinese new year, which arrives in three days time. A good omen? Sadly for those with a proud cockerel on their breast, it won’t be the year of the Rooster again until 2029. This is going to be the year of the Pig. Not sure who that’ll benefit. Anyone spring to mind, placard-wielding Newcastle fans?

11.39am GMT

Tottenham make three changes to the side named for the 2-1 win over Watford on Wednesday night. Danny Rose, Serge Aurier and Fernando Llorente make way for Kieran Trippier, Lucas Moura and Erik Lamela.

Newcastle are in If It Ain’t Broke territory. They name the same XI that shocked Manchester City on Tuesday evening.

11.35am GMT

Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris, Trippier, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Sissoko, Winks, Eriksen, Son, Lamela, Lucas Moura.
Subs: Gazzaniga, Foyth, Rose, Walker-Peters, Wanyama, Dier, Llorente.

Newcastle United: Dubravka, Yedlin, Schar, Lascelles, Lejeune, Ritchie, Perez, Hayden, Longstaff, Atsu, Rondon.
Subs: Woodman, Clark, Fernandez, Manquillo, Barreca, Kenedy, Joselu.

10.29am GMT

Tottenham Hotspur’s season was in serious jeopardy for a moment back there. Out of the League Cup, then out of the FA Cup, and a goal down at home to Watford in the Premier League ... no, it didn’t look too good. But two goals in the last ten minutes stung the Hornets, and in a week which saw both Liverpool and Manchester City drop points, Spurs are suddenly back in the title race!

All of a sudden, they’re just two points behind second-placed City, and seven adrift of the leaders Liverpool. With over a third of the race still to run, that’s far from an insurmountable gap. A first English championship since 1961 is still a live possibility, no matter how much Mauricio Pochettino tries to play it down.

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Published on February 02, 2019 06:59

January 29, 2019

Newcastle United 2-1 Manchester City: Premier League – as it happened

Newcastle conceded after just 24 seconds but battled back to shock title-chasing City

10.34pm GMT

And that, dear friends, is your lot. It’s been a great night for Newcastle United in their battle to avoid the drop, but a grim one for Manchester City as they strive to retain their title. They’ll be hoping Leicester City do them a favour at Anfield tomorrow night. Thanks for reading our MBM; nighty night and sweet dreams!

10.31pm GMT

Pep talks to BT Sport! “We were not at our best. We started with a goal, but the rest of the game, we did not have the rhythm that we need to impose our game. We were slow, we did not commit, we couldn’t find our players, we didn’t believe we could find them. Nothing. We had our chances. But I congratulate Newcastle for the victory.” He’s then asked about the controversial De Bruyne / Aguero free kick incident in the first half. And he needs to be reminded of it by someone off-screen. He doesn’t seem of a mind to complain about it. “Yeah, maybe, there are episodes and actions which can change the game. Of course. But in general our game was not in the rhythm we need. In many details our game was not there. It is now difficult [in the title race] because we now need to win a lot of games. The advantage is not huge, so we have to continue.”

10.21pm GMT

While we wait to hear from Pep, let’s take a late-night dip into the mailbag. “Rafael Benitez is the best manager in the EPL,” suggests Terence. “He has minimal resources (quality players) yet he beat Manchester City. Imagine if Mike Ashley had given him money to purchase players, Newcastle would be challenging for the league.” Meanwhile here’s emotion’s Hubert O’Hearn, from an email headed Yes! “I can barely see this screen for my tears of joy. I’m one of those people who have two clubs that they love. For Liverpool’s old gaffer to lead Newcastle to a famous win. I don’t think I’ve loved football so much since Istanbul. Hugs to Rafa!”

10.17pm GMT

Rafa - whose decision to rest Salomon Rondon for the FA Cup at the weekend has been vindicated, at least in the context of this match - speaks! “It was a great effort from everyone, and to win against a team as good as Manchester City ... they can pass, they can run behind, they are dangerous at set pieces. They are so good, so when you get three points against them, it means the players did really well. You could see until the 95th minute, everybody was running, trying, fighting for each other. To keep pushing until the end, you have to be really proud of your players. Salomon Rondon is a key player for us; he was very good today. Hopefully we can finalise [the Miguel Almirón deal] tomorrow. I am confident the team can do well to stay up. These players, they care.”

10.09pm GMT

Matt Ritchie speaks! “Especially after our home form of late, that’s a fantastic result. The main thing was belief. I’m not sure too many people believed we could win the game, but certainly in the dressing room we did. To go a goal down so early, we showed fantastic spirit, and the second half ... what a performance! It was a kick in the teeth to concede so early, but it was great spirit from the lads. To get in at half-time 1-0 allowed us to regroup, and then Ronnie [Rondon] scored a great goal. And obviously the penalty. To hang on at the end, we defended really well, and all of what the manager asked, we did. I was going to place the penalty, but it went on so long I decided to smash it. Luckily enough it went in. The place has been low but we have belief in the group that we could have a good season. We beat Manchester United at home last season, and that was a turning point, so hopefully this will be similar.” He then presents the man-of-the-match award to the thoroughly excellent Salomon Rondon, whose smile is wider than the Tyne.

10.03pm GMT

You have to say Newcastle deserved their victory. City dominated, of course, and can legitimately feel irritation at the chalking off of a goal from a quickly taken Kevin De Bruyne free kick. For the want of a referee with a lighter touch, City would have been two up and surely on their way to three points. But they were strangely listless in the second half, as Newcastle held firm, battled hard, and eventually applied enough pressure for them to buckle. It didn’t take too much, which might explain why Pep walked off looking very disheartened indeed.

9.59pm GMT

Pep warmly congratulates Rafa before disappearing down the tunnel. Rafa allows a small smile of satisfaction to play across his face. St James’ Park celebrates ecstatically; it’s a crucial three points in Newcastle’s battle against relegation. They catapult all the way up to 14th place: on 24 points, they’re now five clear of the relegation places, with Burnley, Crystal Palace and Southampton now beneath them. City meanwhile remain four points behind leaders Liverpool, on 56 having played one game more. A huge result at both ends of the table!

9.55pm GMT

And there it is! You’d have got a good price on this result after 24 seconds. Rafa Benitez has done his old team Liverpool a solid favour here! But it’s not all about the title race, and Newcastle’s magnificent second-half performance has given them a huge boost in their quest for survival!

9.54pm GMT

90 min +6: The corner’s lumped into the mixer ... and Stones heads it harmlessly over. As Dubravka takes his sweet time to tee up the goal kick, the crowd bay for the final whistle.

9.53pm GMT

90 min +5: City press Newcastle back. But Newcastle hold their shape. City are playing it slowly and patiently, despite it all. Then suddenly Aguero bursts down the right and wins a corner. One last chance for City!

9.52pm GMT

90 min +4: Hayden has the chance to release Rondon down the right, but his pass is short and allows Laporte to intercept.

9.51pm GMT

90 min +3: Dubravka collects an aimless long ball and the clock continues to tick in his team’s favour.

9.50pm GMT

90 min +2: Laporte has been booked for complaining at the award of a Newcastle throw. City are losing their heads a bit. But there’s still time to grab a precious point if they calm down.

9.49pm GMT

90 min +1: Perez is replaced by Manquillo.

9.48pm GMT

90 min: Sterling dribbles down the left and wafts a soft cross into Dubravka’s arms. The keeper gathers and makes a big deal of flopping to the floor, needlessly, in the time-honoured time-management style. There will be five added minutes.

9.47pm GMT

89 min: A rare passage of play in the City half. Not what the champions require in their desperation.

9.46pm GMT

88 min: Laporte hesitates under a long ball down the right, Perez nearly nicking it off him and zipping clear. But the defender does very well to recover and hoick clear of danger.

9.45pm GMT

87 min: Hold on, no free kick for that Yedlin tackle on Laporte?! It’s just a throw-in. Ah well, it makes little difference. It would have been practically a corner, and City win one in short order anyway. From that, Dubravka flaps, and Aguero very nearly fashions enough space to shoot at the far post. But he can’t prod home, and once again, amid a melee, the flag goes up for offside.

9.44pm GMT

86 min: Yedlin puts an old-fashioned reducer on Laporte. Before any free kick can be taken, Atsu makes way for Kenedy.

9.42pm GMT

84 min: No. Gundogan batters it witlessly into the Newcastle wall. Bernardo Silva tries to keep the pressure on, hooking back into the penalty area down the inside left, but a lot of City players are caught offside.

9.41pm GMT

83 min: Before the free kick can be taken, Gundogan comes on for Danilo. And Gundogan will take the free kick! This could be some first touch!

9.40pm GMT

82 min: On the touchline, Pep swings moodily from a bottle of water. Meanwhile the locals are bouncing. But for how long? David Silva nips down the inside-left channel and is cheekily clipped by Schar, just to the left of the D. A free kick in a very dangerous position!

9.39pm GMT

But he can’t stop it! Ritchie doesn’t take a particularly good penalty, sending it just to the right, within reach of the keeper. But Ederson can’t quite get down quickly enough, and though he gets something on it, the power of the kick takes the ball under the keeper and into the bottom right!

9.38pm GMT

79 min: Ederson stalls, pointing towards his groin. He’ll get some treatment before Ritchie can take the penalty! Ritchie is made to wait for what seems like an eternity. Is Ederson coming off? Yes! Hold on, no! He’ll face the penalty after all.

9.36pm GMT

78 min: Danilo, out on the left, passes to Fernandino in the City box. Fernandinho thinks he’s got an age to clear, and turns back to face his keeper. But Longstaff is right behind him, nicks the ball away, and is then bundled over by the City man from behind! Penalty all day long.

9.35pm GMT

76 min: Rondon and Hayden combine crisply down the right. Hayden reaches the byline and whips hard and low into the six-yard box. Ederson does very well to claim. A palpable tension has now descended on St James’.

9.34pm GMT

75 min: With the box packed, the free kick’s pulled back to Danilo, who shoots low and hard from the edge of the area. His shot can’t get through the thicket of players, though, and after some pinball several City players are caught offside.

9.32pm GMT

74 min: Jesus is almost immediately fouled by Ritchie out on the City right. A free kick near the corner flag, a very dangerous position. In the dugouts, Rafa screams at his defenders with great feeling.

9.31pm GMT

73 min: City are desperate for the goal that’ll keep the pressure on Liverpool at the top of the table. With this in mind, Jesus replaces Sane.

9.30pm GMT

72 min: So to reiterate: it was Perez, not Schar, who got booked earlier. Best to make that clear because he’s in the book now, the result of scything through David Silva.

9.29pm GMT

71 min: Aguero chases Silva’s pass down the inside-left channel but slips as he tries to move up through the gears. He screams in frustration.

9.27pm GMT

69 min: Rondon, working hard at both ends, heads Sane’s corner clear of danger. The atmosphere at St James’ Park is bubbling now.

9.26pm GMT

68 min: City have responded as you’d imagine, pressing Newcastle back into their final third. Danilo whacks a cross into the mixer from the left, but Lascelles hooks clear from a packed box. Then Danilo comes again, and wins a corner off Yedlin. From which ...

9.25pm GMT

Ritchie crosses from the left. It’s not much of a ball in, and it’s headed clear by Fernandinho. But Hayden returns it immediately, and it drops to Rondon on the penalty spot. The big striker hooks brilliantly into the top left, Ederson flat footed, and Newcastle are level!

9.23pm GMT

65 min: Perhaps wisely, City hook De Bruyne before he can get into more bother. Bernardo Silva comes on in his wake.

9.23pm GMT

63 min: And now it’s the already booked Perez’s turn to escape further censure, as he first fouls De Bruyne, then whacks the ball away in disgust. The referee once again makes do with a word. Each player gets another chance.

9.21pm GMT

61 min: De Bruyne comes in late on Ritchie, chasing a Fernandinho pass he’s never going to get. He clatters into his man, having already been booked. He could easily be walking - it was a garden variety foul, but you’ve seen folk booked for those. However the referee is perhaps mindful that the first yellow was a bit harsh, so gives him the benefit of the doubt.

9.18pm GMT

60 min: Walker very nearly tears clear down the right but there’s too much energy in the pass he’s chasing, and that’s a goal kick.

9.17pm GMT

58 min: City continue to probe and press. A sharp pass from De Bruyne on the right finds Silva in the City area. Silva bashes a shot goalwards, and Dubravka does extremely well to parry. The ball breaks to Sane, to the left, but he can’t get a shot away. Where’s their second goal? It’s been coming a long time.

9.15pm GMT

56 min: Ah hold on, scrub that. The yellow’s for Perez, who kicked the ball away after Schar committed the foul. Not a particularly obvious delivery of the card. Throw in the whistle business in the first half, and this referee needs to work on his theatrical flourishes.

9.12pm GMT

54 min: Schar is booked for a clip on Silva’s ankle. Clumsy rather than vicious.

9.11pm GMT

53 min: City have come out with a view of putting this game quickly to bed. De Bruyne scoops a pass down the middle. It’ll surely release Sterling! But Dubravka races from his area to improvise a spectacular clearing header.

9.10pm GMT

52 min: Rondon tries to bustle his way through a couple of challenges down the inside-left channel. Not quite, but Newcastle’s number nine is putting in a shift tonight.

9.08pm GMT

50 min: Yedlin, deep on the right, launches a long diagonal pass down the middle of the park. For a second, it looks as though Atsu might latch onto it and race clear on goal, but the bounce isn’t his friend and Ederson is able to step in and see off the danger.

9.07pm GMT

49 min: Silva slips Sane into space down the left. Sane flashes a stunning ball through the six-yard box. Dubravka is out of position and out of the game, but Sterling can’t connect, coming in at the far post. That was very close.

9.05pm GMT

47 min: Sterling suddenly bursts down the right and whips a glorious cross into the area. Aguero was uncharacteristically on the back foot, and Lascelles is able to flick a header clear under no pressure.

9.05pm GMT

46 min: City hog the ball in the opening exchanges of the second period. No super-fast goal this time, though. The home fans are nevertheless pretty subdued right now. A training-session feel right now.

9.03pm GMT

And we’re off again! City get the ball rolling for the second half; there have been no changes at the break.

8.51pm GMT

Half-time reading. And some better news for beleaguered Toon fans ...

8.49pm GMT

There’s just time for a scramble in the City area, instigated by Ritchie’s poor cross from the left. Atsu can’t control the ball from a shot, and there goes the half-time whistle. Newcastle will be relatively happy with 44 minutes and 36 seconds of that; just a shame about the first 24 seconds. Having said that, City haven’t brought their A-game tonight, and could feasibly be three goals to the good. It’s perfectly poised for the second half!

8.46pm GMT

44 min: Space for Danilo down the left. He dinks a cross into the mixer. Dubravka flaps under pressure from Sane. Schar heads straight to Silva, who stoops and tries to guide a header into the unguarded net. But his effort is blocked by Schar, the Newcastle defender continuing his heroics. So close to a second goal that would surely have settled this match before the break!

8.43pm GMT

42 min: City have played 320 passes so far to Newcastle’s 77. That’s pretty much as expected; the champions are in full control, despite being far from their very best.

8.42pm GMT

41 min: Perez looks to have fully recovered. He goes tearing down the right, after a long pass that would have caught the out-of-position Ederson out. But thankfully for City, Laporte is on hand to step in between Perez and his keeper, intercept and calmly play away from danger.

8.40pm GMT

39 min: Longstaff is robbed on the halfway line by De Bruyne, who feeds Aguero down the right and gets the ball back on the overlap. De Bruyne looks to cross for Aguero, who is free having peeled off into the box. But yet again Lascelles is on point, and his sliding tackle puts an end to City’s move.

8.39pm GMT

38 min: City ping it around the back with Perez down injured in the midfield. They think about launching an attack, but slow the game down to walking pace, allowing Perez to recover and get back up. A lovely sporting moment.

8.36pm GMT

36 min: Sterling dribbles into the Newcastle box down the inside-right channel. He nearly fashions space for a shot, but again Lascelles is Newcastle’s hero, sliding in to block for a corner that’s wasted.

8.36pm GMT

35 min: A lull. The crowd give it plenty about Mike Ashley.

8.35pm GMT

34 min: Sterling is booked for a grab at Longstaff’s shoulder, as the young man looks to break into some space in the middle of the park.

8.34pm GMT

33 min: Sane turns on the jets, and for a second it looks as though he’s going to sprint clear down the inside-left channel. But Lascelles sticks to him like glue, and does just enough to bundle him off the ball as the pair enter the Newcastle box, allowing Dubravka to gather.

8.33pm GMT

32 min: Aguero continues to be a menace. First he has a shot from distance that rolls into Dubravka’s arms. Then he nearly sets Sterling away down the right, but loses his balance while making the pass, which flies out of play. He’s been magnificent so far, like that’s breaking news.

8.31pm GMT

30 min: Rondon is sent into a little space down the right, but he doesn’t back himself in a footrace with Laporte, and he’s got no pals up with him. He ends up being shepherded away from danger with ease.

8.30pm GMT

29 min: ... Danilo, bombing in from the left, shins a shot many yards over the bar.

8.29pm GMT

28 min: Up the other end, Sterling makes a nuisance of himself down the right to win another City corner. From which ...

8.27pm GMT

26 min: A free kick for Newcastle out on the left, Sterling having shoved Ritchie in the back. Ritchie takes, and curls a nice one into the area. The ball breaks to Yedlin, on the edge of the area. His first-time volley is sliced high into the stand.

8.26pm GMT

25 min: So it seems the referee clearly showed De Bruyne his whistle before that quick free kick that led to the non-goal. Just so you know.

8.25pm GMT

23 min: Newcastle launch a rare sortie upfield. Rondon takes down a long ball on the edge of the City box, cushioning it for Atsu, whose first-time shot loops up off Stones and out for a corner. The set piece is no good, but that’ll give Newcastle a little succour. They need it, as they’ve been up against the ropes.

8.22pm GMT

21 min: Aguero has another go, down the left this time. Nearly bursts through; not quite. He looks very lively indeed.

8.22pm GMT

19 min: Aguero scuttles in from the right and very nearly powers his way through to goal. But Lejeune stands firm. Newcastle clear. City still look aggrieved to a man, and you can’t really blame them.

8.20pm GMT

18 min: De Bruyne takes it again, then. He hits it long, towards the far post, where Silva tries to force home but fails. Newcastle have got away with one there.

8.19pm GMT

17 min: City are beyond livid, and not least because De Bruyne has been booked for disobeying the ref’s instruction! That’s added insult to injury. The free kick was so clever, and Aguero’s finish so crisp. But City are punished, rather than rewarded, for their brilliance.

8.18pm GMT

16 min: Aguero’s goal has now been timed at 24 seconds, which makes it the fastest Premier League strike of the season. And for a second, it looks as though he’s got another. Ritchie fouls Sterling out on the right. De Bruyne takes the free kick, curling it low down the inside-right channel, where Aguero has sprung clear of the Newcastle back line. Aguero whips the ball into the top right. Goal! But it isn’t, because the ref had told De Bruyne to wait for the whistle, so they’ll have to take the free kick again.

8.15pm GMT

15 min: That’s given Newcastle a little hope, and now Ritchie has a smash at goal from 25 yards. The shot’s deflected harmlessly into the air and easily dealt with by the City defence.

8.15pm GMT

13 min: And so having said that, Silva heads dangerously back towards Walker, who is robbed by Perez. Perez tears down the inside-right channel into space, enters the area, and fizzes a low shot across Ederson and wide of the left-hand post. Not sure the City keeper would have got that, had it been on target.

8.13pm GMT

12 min: De Bruyne curls the set piece over everybody in the Newcastle area. The ball missed Laporte’s noggin by inches. Newcastle are clinging on a bit here.

8.12pm GMT

11 min: Schar bundles into the back of Aguero, out on the City left. A free kick in a very dangerous position.

8.11pm GMT

9 min: Another corner for City, this time won by Sterling out on the right. This one’s hit straight over the Newcastle area and causes no bother. A couple of wasted corners that prove this City team aren’t perfect superhumans. Might prove.

8.09pm GMT

7 min: Speaking of vision, that really was a sensational piece of improvisation by David Silva for the goal. He contorted his body while falling to guide a header back across goal towards Aguero. You could say it was lucky, maybe, if you were being uncharitable, but let’s remember what Gary Player used to say about that.

8.07pm GMT

6 min: Longstaff tries to get Newcastle going by spraying a pass down the right for Yedlin to chase. There’s too much juice on the ball, but top marks for vision and ambition.

8.05pm GMT

4 min: City win a corner down the left, and perhaps they feel sorry for Newcastle, because they needlessly over-elaborate and waste the set piece they’ve earned. What a start, though! City are already breathing down Liverpool’s neck at the top.

8.04pm GMT

2 min: On the touchline, Rafa is incandescent, perhaps thinking Dubravka was fouled by Sane. Or maybe he thought Aguero was offside in the middle. But the goal stands, and rightly so.

8.03pm GMT

Newcastle launch it long at kick-off. City come straight back at them through Sterling down the right. Sterling stops on the edge of the box, and loops a cross to the far post. Dubravka is on walkabout. Silva slips while waiting for the cross, but gets a head on it anyway, knocking it back into the centre for Aguero, who can’t miss from six yards!

8.01pm GMT

Before the match starts, there’s a moment of silent reflection for Emiliano Sala and pilot David Ibbotson, both lost off Guernsey last week. Perfectly observed. And then we’re off. Newcastle get the ball rolling. Meanwhile in the stands, the Toon faithful wave cards in protest against

Rio Ferdinand
owner Mike Ashley.

7.56pm GMT

The teams are out! And both are looking very pretty in their first-choice duds. Newcastle wear those world-famous black-and-white stripes, while City sport their internationally renowned sky blue. It’s a cracking atmosphere on a very bracing evening, and we’ll be off just after local hero Mark Knopfler does his thing.

7.44pm GMT

And now Rafa talks! “Always the most difficult game is the next one. This is the next one, against a very good team. So we have to do everything right if we are to get something. And we are capable to do it. The reality is, when you see the stats, normally they have possession, so you have to get the ball from them. You have to defend, and when you get the ball do a good counter-attack. You have to defend with everyone, but you also have to attack with everyone.”

7.41pm GMT

Bang bang. Here’s a young man hoping his heroes shoot down Pep Guardiola this evening. The pair enjoy a daft laugh and that, with the lad at one point shrugging his shoulders, the internationally recognised sign for “Come on, you don’t really need the three points like we do, do you?” Pep later speaks to BT Sport, and he’s asked why he’s made his five changes tonight. “When you play one game a week, you can be stable. But we have not had one long week since November. Everybody’s involved, and they know it, because the next game I am going to change players as well. If we achieve the title, then good, but if we don’t, bad luck. But everybody is going to be important. We need the right mentality to win the games.”

7.22pm GMT

Meanwhile there’s some major breaking transfer news involving the Toon. A string of words rarely seen together during the Mike Ashley era there. Newcastle have agreed a deal for attacking midfielder Miguel Almirón of Atlanta United and Paraguay ... and it looks likely to break the club-record transfer fee that’s stood since they paid

Airdrie £6,500 for Hughie Gallacher in 1925
Real Madrid £16.8m for Michael Owen in 2005.

7.12pm GMT

Newcastle won their last home Premier League fixture 3-0, so see no need to ring the changes. Rafa names the same team sent out to beat Cardiff ten days ago. For the record, it’s seven changes to the team that lost here to Watford in the FA Cup at the weekend: out go Freddie Woodman, Ciaran Clark, Javi Manquillo, Jacob Murphy, Kenedy, Federico Fernandez and Joselu; in come Martin Dubravka, Fabian Schar, Florian Lejeune, Ayoze Perez, Christian Atsu, DeAndre Yedlin and Salomon Rondon.

Manchester City make five changes to the side that thrashed Burnley in the FA Cup. Aymeric Laporte, David Silva, Raheem Sterling, Sergio Aguero and Leroy Sane replace Nicolas Otamendi, Bernardo Silva, Ilkay Gundogan, Riyad Mahrez and Gabriel Jesus.

7.02pm GMT

Newcastle United: Dubravka, Yedlin, Schar, Lascelles, Lejeune, Ritchie, Perez, Hayden, Longstaff, Atsu, Rondon.
Subs: Clark, Murphy, Kenedy, Fernandez, Manquillo, Roberts, Woodman.

Manchester City: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Laporte, Danilo, De Bruyne, Fernandinho, Silva, Sterling, Aguero, Sane.
Subs: Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, Mahrez, Otamendi, Gabriel Jesus, Foden, Muric.

2.08pm GMT

Manchester City have scored 28 goals in their last six matches, you’ll have heard that stat by now. They’ve won eight games on the bounce, some reaction to those back-to-back defeats against Crystal Palace and Leicester City in December, a run that includes a title-race-reanimating victory over Liverpool. They’ve only conceded one goal since the turn of the year.

But here’s the most relevant statistic of all: they’ve emerged victorious from 16 of their last 18 matches against Newcastle United. This one looks like a shoo-in for the reigning champions.

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Published on January 29, 2019 14:34

The Fiver | Nothing much happens in the January window these days

The FA Cup’s back, baby. It’s been some fourth round, and hot on the heels of memorable victories for the likes of Wimbledon, Millwall and Crystal Palace, came a six-goal thriller at the Hive between Barnet and Brentford. You’ll do well to see a better goal on the counter this season than the one Sergi Canos swept in, or a more precise free-kick than the effort battered into the top corner by Daniel Sparkes. And what a fifth-round draw, which surely further increases the likelihood of a final without the usual suspects! So instead of extemporising on all that for three exciting paragraphs, The Fiver has naturally decided to harp on about the transfer window for a couple of hundred words instead. No need to thank us, everything we do is designed with you in mind.

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Published on January 29, 2019 07:56

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