Scott Murray's Blog, page 147

Chelsea 0-1 Manchester City: Premier League – as it happened

Kevin De Bruyne settled the match with a stunning goal, just reward for City who were on top for the duration.

7.23pm BST

That’s about as comprehensive a one-goal victory as you’ll ever see. City bossed the game from the get-go, creating many a chance. It’s a credit to Chelsea’s defensive stubbornness that City required a moment of blistering brilliance from Kevin De Bruyne to make the difference. City return to the top of the table at the expense of their neighbours United. Chelsea stay in fourth, at least until tomorrow, one point behind Spurs and six shy of the Mancunian duo. A two-horse race for the title? Too early to be sure, but the signs are there.

7.22pm BST

90 min +3: Fabregas takes the corner quickly, and it’s not very good. Kante clatters into the back of Gundogan, and the pressure on City is released. And then De Bruyne is swapped for Danilo.

7.21pm BST

90 min +2: Azpilicueta, out on the right, hoicks long. Walker is forced to head out for a corner! Late pressure from Chelsea, and City are living on their nerves!

7.20pm BST

90 min +1: There will be three added minutes. One has already elapsed without incident.

7.19pm BST

90 min: The free kick is sent long by Fabregas to Christensen, who sends a header high and wide left from ten yards. That was a real chance to claim a smash-and-grab draw!

7.18pm BST

89 min: Willian looks to pick up possession down the right. He’s upended by a ludicrous tackle from behind by Otamendi. A booking, and a free kick in a very dangerous position, just to the right of the City box!

7.15pm BST

87 min: Jesus and Bernardo Silva exchange crisp passes down the left. Silva hits long towards Sterling, lurking to the right of the Chelsea goal. Cahill is forced to head behind for a corner. Fernandinho meets the set piece with his head, but it’s a weak effort, heading for the bottom right. Courtois claims.

7.13pm BST

85 min: Gundogan comes on for Sane, City looking to see this one out in the professional manner. His first move is to send Sterling into acres down the right. Sterling loops long for Jesus, who opens his body up and sidefoots a powerful volley towards the right-hand portion of the net. Courtois is beaten, so it’s lucky that Rudiger is on hand to block. The resulting corner comes to nothing. What a move that was by City, and what a shot by Jesus. A fine, fine defensive block by Rudiger denied a picture-book goal.

7.11pm BST

83 min: Jesus takes a ball from the air and kills it with one touch. He slides a pass right for Sterling, who can’t return it with interest for the tap-in. Chelsea are beginning to take risks at the back.

7.09pm BST

81 min: City stroke it around the back in the clock-bothering style. It’s textbook game management. Chelsea buzz about in frustration.

7.08pm BST

79 min: Ederson kicks the ball this time. Pantomime boos.

7.07pm BST

78 min: Batshuayi crosses from the left. Delph misses his clearance, allowing Azpilicueta to pick up possession to the right of goal. But his whipped cross from the byline is confidently picked by Ederson. The keeper flings the ball out in the basketball style, coming pretty close to running out of his own box as he does so. The crowd scream for a free kick, but they’re not getting it.

7.05pm BST

77 min: Alonso romps down the left, and his low cross isn’t far away from finding Pedro in the box. Then Fabregas nearly slips Pedro clear down the middle, but the pass is a little overcooked. Chelsea have finally upped their game.

7.04pm BST

76 min: City swap their Silvas. David off, Bernardo on.

7.03pm BST

75 min: Azpilicueta sends a ball into the City box from the right. With Batshuayi lurking, Otamendi is forced to bundle the ball out for a corner. Stones deals with the set piece. Chelsea need more of this, and quickly.

7.02pm BST

73 min: The rain is coming down now. Willian lands on the sodden turf, having just taken an accidental arm from Otamendi in the face. He’ll be OK to continue, by the looks of it, but that was a sore clatter.

7.01pm BST

71 min: City are still dominating possession. Chelsea have to make a couple of changes. And so on come Pedro and Batshuayi, in place of Hazard and Bakayoko.

6.59pm BST

69 min: City did quite a lot of cavorting after that goal. They deserve to be in the lead; it came just before frustration set in, having just missed a series of chances. It was their 14th attempt on goal.

6.58pm BST

It’s fair to say this had been coming. De Bruyne, perhaps frustrated at watching his team-mates blow chances with over-elaboration, keeps it basic and simple ... albeit with some style. He powers down the middle of the park, drifting right to left slightly, then smacks a stunning riser into the top right! Belt! Courtois had no chance whatsoever! What a player De Bruyne is, and that really is some strike!

6.55pm BST

66 min: Room for Sterling in the Chelsea box on the right, set free by Walker. He cuts back for Silva, who must score from the penalty spot. But instead of shooting first time, he takes a touch, and his shot is eventually blocked. City come again, Sterling crossing from the right. Silva was waiting to tap home, but Jesus flicks the ball away from his own man. Chances being spurned here.

6.53pm BST

65 min: De Bruyne, deep on the right, curls low into the Chelsea box. Jesus sticks a boot out, but can’t connect 12 yards out. The ball sails through to Courtois, who claims easily.

6.52pm BST

63 min: City get back on the ball. Tap-tap-tap. Sterling makes off down the left suddenly, and nearly breaks into the box, but the ever-superb Azpilicueta sticks to his shoulder and eventually hustles him out of it.

6.50pm BST

61 min: Fabregas wrong-foots a sleepy City by shaping to shoot, then sliding a pass down the left. Hazard has the ball at his feet in the box. He shoots hard from a tight angle, and Ederson parries well. City have been in total control since the restart, but they’re beginning to allow Chelsea back into the game.

6.49pm BST

60 min: So having said that, out comes Martin Atkinson’s yellow card for the first time. It’s Fernandinho, who has severely tested the ref’s patience 60 seconds after getting a good talking-to, by clipping an in-full-flight Hazard. Free kick, 30 yards out.

6.48pm BST

59 min: Willian wants to burst off down the right wing. Fernandinho cynically barges him off the ball. Free kick, but no booking, which is fairly generous in today’s climate. Still, the ref has been even-handed with his laissez-faire decision-making tonight, so nobody really complains. The crowd don’t even bother getting irate.

6.45pm BST

56 min: Sterling dribbles in the troublesome style down the left and into the Chelsea box. He can’t get a cross or shot away. The ball breaks to Silva, whose shot isn’t up to much. It’s deflected out for a throw, and the danger is gone.

6.43pm BST

54 min: Another City attack, as Sane and Jesus chase after a ball down the inside right and into the area. Sane is lightly tapped by Alonso, and goes down wanting a penalty. Nope! They earn a corner, though, from which Sterling has time on the edge of the area to line up a shot towards the top right. He gets far too much oomph behind it. Goal kick.

6.42pm BST

52 min: Hazard and Willian try to combine down the left wing, hoping to launch a rare Chelsea attack. But Chelsea’s passes aren’t sticking. Frustration plays across their coupons.

6.40pm BST

51 min: Jesus scampers after a ball prodded down the right wing. He clatters into Christensen, and wants a penalty kick. He’s not going to get it. An honest shoulder charge, the defender easing his man off the ball.

6.38pm BST

49 min: ... nothing much happens. But Chelsea struggled to keep hold of the ball in the first half, and City are immediately back on top in this second period. They’re hogging possession.

6.37pm BST

48 min: Sterling lifts a gentle pass down the right wing to send Jesus zipping towards the Chelsea area. Rudiger is forced to slide out for a corner. De Bruyne takes. Willian clears, but City are soon coming back at their hosts. Fernandinho, Silva and Sterling combine beautifully down the left, the latter reaching the byline and earning another corner. From which ...

6.36pm BST

47 min: City are immediately on the front foot, Sane probing down the left and nearly breaking into the box. He earns a throw which leads to nothing. Silva has a wee look down the same flank. He’s upended by Rudiger. The free kick is tapped backwards. Finally Otamendi tries to send Sane scampering down the wing, but his pass clanks into touch.

6.33pm BST

Here we go again! No further changes. Chelsea - after being made to wait by City - set the ball rolling for the second period.

6.21pm BST

Half-time reading: To mark the 40th anniversary of Pele’s retirement. Love, love, love.

Related: How Pele lit up soccer in America and left a legacy fit for a king

6.19pm BST

This is what can happen when you get two tactical geniuses in the dugouts. It’s been interesting ... but not particularly exciting. City have had the upper hand, by 309 to 130 passes, give or take. And Courtois has been the more active keeper. A fascinating second half awaits us!

6.16pm BST

45 min: Free kick for City, deep on the right. De Bruyne sends a glorious curler into the box. Azpilicueta is forced to stick out a toe and poke the ball out for a corner on the right. De Bruyne takes, and Fernandinho meets it with a crashing header, 12 yards out! It looks like it’s the opening goal, but Courtois makes a stunning reaction save, the ball heading for the bottom right at pace.

6.14pm BST

43 min: De Bruyne faffs around in the midfield, letting Bakayoko make off with the ball in the candy-from-baby style. He drives down the left, glides inside, then looks to release Azpilicueta free down the right with a crossfield pass. He’d have managed it, too, were it not from an excellent sliding interception from Delph. An uncharacteristically dozy moment from the normally outstanding De Bruyne, though. Very strange.

6.11pm BST

41 min: More pretty City triangles. Eventually Sterling comes in from the right. De Bruyne gets involved, and curls one towards the far post. Jesus eyebrows it on, in the hope of finding Sane, coming in from the left. But he gets too much on it, and the ball flies harmlessly out of play for a goal kick.

6.09pm BST

39 min: Free kick for Chelsea out on the left, Willian stopped illegally by De Bruyne. Chelsea load the box. Willian takes, and his delivery is preposterously bad, blootered straight into the only man standing ten yards away. There goes that danger, too.

6.08pm BST

37 min: City tap it around quite a lot. Then Silva dribbles at intense speed into the box from the left, and fires a low pass into the centre, where there are three burgundy shirts waiting to take up possession. However, the referee blows, possibly for offside, possibly an obstruction. It’s not clear. But the attack is over.

6.06pm BST

35 min: Morata’s match is over. He feels the back of his leg, and limps off, shaking his head. No risk taken with a tight hamstring. Willian comes on in his place, Chelsea taking the opportunity to beef up their midfield a wee bit.

6.04pm BST

33 min: Fernandinho tries to release Sterling down the inside-right channel with a flat, hard diagonal pass. It’s an ambitious idea, all right, but it very nearly comes off. Just a few inches ahead of Sterling. Goal kick.

6.02pm BST

31 min: De Bruyne makes off down the right. His low cross earns a corner. Otamendi meets the set piece with his head, six yards out, but the effort flashes well wide left of goal.

6.00pm BST

30 min: Silva one-twos at pace with Sane down the left, and unleashes a low shot towards the bottom left which is well parried by Courtois. Chelsea go up the other end. Hazard lob-wedges an outrageously good pass down the right to release Kante into the City area. But City have pushed up, and that’s offside.

5.58pm BST

28 min: Morata spins and sashays his way down the inside-left channel, earning his side a corner. The set piece comes to nothing, but Chelsea are beginning to work their way back into this match after a slightly impotent spell.

5.57pm BST

26 min: Azpilicueta crosses from the right looking for Morata. It’s half cleared. Azpilicueta picks it up again, and shoots from the right-hand corner of the area. Ederson half-saves, half-spills, and that’s a corner. He makes up for that slightly nervous moment by plucking the set piece out of the air with great confidence. City stream up the other end, through Sterling down the right. His low cross somehow evades Silva at the far post. Phew.

5.55pm BST

25 min: Azpilicueta sends Delph tumbling as the City man makes good down the left. A free kick and another chance to put it into the mixer. But this time they opt to take it short and whistle it around in pretty triangles for a while. Mixing it up. Eventually Sane adds some zip down the left and very nearly finds De Bruyne on the edge of the Chelsea box. But it’s not an accurate pass.

5.53pm BST

23 min: Stones, all fixed, is back and in the thick of it, by the way.

5.52pm BST

22 min: Chelsea are struggling to get out of their final third right now. City are closing the hosts down at great speed, and snapping into the tackles as well. They’ve made 161 passes to Chelsea’s 57 so far.

5.51pm BST

20 min: City push Chelsea back with some of their new-fangled relentless passing. Eventually the ball drops to Delph, who looks to lash a shot goalwards from 25 yards. It clanks off Rudiger and out for a corner. The set piece is worked back out to De Bruyne, who from a deep position on the right, looks for Stones by the left-hand post. Under pressure from Rudiger, he heads wide and goes down. And he looks to have hurt his finger, or perhaps his wrist, can’t quite see, as he fell. He’s busy getting the end of his arm taped up now.

5.48pm BST

18 min: Another free kick for City in the middle of Chelsea territory. City pack the box, and De Bruyne does the old-fashioned thing of sticking it in the mixer, hoping someone will stick their nut on it at the back stick. Wallop! He overcooks it, and the ball flies out of play for a goal kick. City are not afraid to mix it up.

5.47pm BST

16 min: Kante gives the ball away in the centre circle. Silva threatens to break clear down the left, with options inside. But he hesitates, allowing Bakayoko to put a stop to his gallop.

5.46pm BST

14 min: This is lovely end-to-end, ping-pong entertainment. Ping! Hazard nearly sets Azpilicueta free down the Chelsea right. Ping! De Bruyne tries a cross from the City right. Pong! Alonso looks to have set Morata clear past a rashly sliding Walker down the Chelsea left, but the flag goes up for offside. The correct decision, but that was poor from Walker, whose intercept-or-bust slide nearly cost City dear.

5.43pm BST

12 min: Walker goes on another power jog down the middle of the park. For a second, it looks as though he’ll go the whole way, but eventually he’s surrounded. He flicks the ball to Silva on his left. From the left of the D, Silva tries to thread a shot into the bottom right. Not quite. Goal kick. From which Courtois faffs around, and his clearance is blocked by Jesus. The ball could go anywhere - in the net, for example, for the keeper is on the edge of his six-yard box - but the gods are good to him, and it balloons over the crossbar.

5.41pm BST

9 min: Fabregas has options: Morata on his left, Azpilicueta wide right. He gets caught in two minds, and plays an uncharacteristically witless ball down the middle. City mop up easily. City have seen more of the ball in these opening exchanges, but Chelsea will gain succour from that little half-chance of a dangerous attack, even if it wasn’t taken.

5.39pm BST

7 min: Otamendi and Bakayoko come together in the midfield, both sliding in to win a 50-50. The Chelsea player comes off worse, and grimaces quite a lot. When the game eventually restarts, Rudiger takes an age to make a common-or-garden clearance upfield, and is nearly robbed by Silva, closing his man down in the fashionable style. He gets away with a lazy one.

5.37pm BST

6 min: City stroke it around the middle of the park for a good 90 seconds or so. Suddenly Sterling turns on the jets, cutting in from the right and going over under a (fair) challenge from Rudiger. Sterling wanted the free kick, just to the right of the D, but he’s not getting it.

5.35pm BST

4 min: And now it’s a free kick to City, 30 yards from the Chelsea goal in the centre of the park. De Bruyne flashes a direct shot towards the top right, but it’s easily gathered by Courtois. This is already a lot of fun.

5.33pm BST

3 min: A fast start, this! Azpilicueta slips Kante free down the right. He reaches the box and chips towards the near post, where Morata flashes a header off target. He should have worked Ederson at least. A let-off for City.

5.33pm BST

2 min: Morata contests a high ball down the left wing. He’s unfairly nudged off the ball by Stones. Free kick, and it’s taken super-quickly by Fabregas, who nearly slides Morata free down the inside-left channel! Morata shifts to make space to shoot just inside the box, but Stones covers well, making up for his earlier error.

5.31pm BST

One last rousing blast of Blue Is The Colour ... and we’re off! City get the ball rolling, and stroke it around the back awhile. Walker immediately thinks about bombing with pace and power down the middle, but can’t quite control. An early sign that City want to get on the front foot, though.

5.28pm BST

One of the big fixtures of this season coming right up! It could define an entire campaign, especially with Manchester United currently lording it at the top of the division, and not looking in the mood to slip up any time soon. Accordingly, there’s a wonderful anticipatory atmosphere at Stamford Bridge, the Home of the Champions, to quote a massive sign thrown up outside the place. No doubt everyone’s hoping for a cerebral tactical battle, but I’m simple folk, and a shapeless goalfest would do just fine. Or a bench-emptying brawl. Perhaps at various points we’ll get all three, and everyone will be happy*. Anyway, the players are out, Chelsea in their famous blue, Manchester City in second-choice burgundy. They players are shaking hands and tossing up;we’ll be off in a minute!

* Thinking-of-the-kids caveats may apply

5.19pm BST

Antonio talks! “There are players who maybe needed to rest, but I have picked a lot of players who played in Madrid. Victor Moses played the last two games, and expended a lot of energy. To play three games in seven days is not simple.”

5.06pm BST

Pep speaks! “Unfortunately Sergio had an accident. We are so happy he is not injured so dangerously. Fabian Delph is a guy who can play in several positions. He played really well in the Champions League so he continues to play.”

4.43pm BST

Chelsea make two changes to the team who were the bosses of Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night. David Luiz is suspended while Victor Moses drops to the bench. In come Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen.

City just make one swap from the side that saw off Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday, and it’s enforced. Sergio Agüero is out with a broken rib, so Raheem Sterling is the first cab off the rank.

4.33pm BST

Chelsea: Courtois, Rudiger, Christensen, Cahill, Azpilicueta, Kante, Bakayoko, Fabregas, Alonso, Hazard, Morata.
Subs: Caballero, Pedro, Moses, Kenedy, Zappacosta, Willian, Batshuayi.

Manchester City: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Otamendi, Delph, De Bruyne, Fernandinho, Silva, Sane, Gabriel Jesus, Sterling.
Subs: Bravo, Danilo, Gundogan, Mangala, Bernardo Silva, Alexander Zinchenko, Toure.

10.21am BST

... in which the champions Chelsea, increasingly impressive after a slow-ish start, welcome the freewheeling Manchester City, who have scored 16 times in their last three Premier League outings. City are on a seven-game winning streak; Chelsea have won seven of their last eight. Good luck predicting this fixture, then, especially upon consideration of City’s last three visits to Stamford Bridge, which have ended 5-1, 0-3 and 2-1.

No Sergio Agüero, but it’ll be star-studded nonetheless. It’s on, and it kicks off at 5.30pm BST.

Continue reading...

Huddersfield Town 0-4 Tottenham Hotspur: Premier League – as it happened

Harry Kane took his September tally to 13 as Spurs won big on the road yet again.

2.45pm BST

Related: Harry Kane and Tottenham show Huddersfield no mercy to win at a canter

2.21pm BST

And that’s that! Spurs win their sixth successive Premier League away game, and their fourth this season. They were thoroughly dominant, with Harry Kane relentless as ever. That’s ten goals in three matches on the road in eight days. Can they play away from Wembley every week? Spurs move into third place, at least for a couple of hours, while Huddersfield fall to tenth, their goal difference finally taking a bit of a knock. The Terriers were outclassed today, but there’s no shame in that: Spurs are doing this everywhere they go right now.

2.18pm BST

Son drives at Huddersfield with the home side light at the back. Davies is set clear down the left. He flicks into the middle, where Sissoko must score. And he does, but only after miscontrolling and seeing his shot, aimed for the bottom left, flick off the boot of Schindler and into the bottom right.

2.16pm BST

90 min: Nope. There will be three added minutes.

2.15pm BST

89 min: Space for van la Parra down the right. His cross is deflected out for a corner. Can Huddersfield - who, to be fair, hit the woodwork in the first half, and could easily have been awarded a penalty - grab a consolation?

2.14pm BST

87 min: No hat-trick for Kane; he’s replaced by Son. The substitution allows the away fans to give their favourite son a deserved standing ovation. The home fans, to their great credit, generously join in.

2.12pm BST

86 min: Alli slips Sissoko away down the right. Sissoko drops a shoulder to zip past the sliding Schindler, but his shot flies straight into the chest of Lossl.

2.11pm BST

85 min: Malone has looked lively since coming on, though. He has another busy run down the left, though the cross doesn’t work out.

2.10pm BST

84 min: Billing, sat very deep, sprays a glorious right-to-left pass towards Malone. Spurs are a little light at the back; sadly for Huddersfield, Malone falls flat on his face upon taking receipt of the ball.

2.08pm BST

82 min: A change apiece. Hogg is replaced by Whitehead, while Trippier makes way for Walker-Peters.

2.06pm BST

80 min: Alli floats a chip down the middle of the park and very nearly releases Kane into the area. Jorgensen wins the battle and the ball goes back to Lossl.

2.04pm BST

78 min: Not that Spurs would say no to another goal or two, should they happen to come along. Sissoko uses his fresh legs to bustle his way into the box down the right, but his cross isn’t up to much.

2.04pm BST

77 min: We’re in Training Mode now. Both teams would be more than happy to call it a day now, by the looks of it.

2.01pm BST

75 min: Spurs make their first swap. The hugely impressive Eriksen is replaced by Sissoko.

2.00pm BST

74 min: ... there’s nothing.

2.00pm BST

73 min: Kane sprays a pass wide left for Davies, who powers past Smith and earns a corner. From the set piece, Dier picks up possession on the edge of the box, and looks to sidefoot a clever one into the bottom right. It’s deflected out for another corner, this time on the right. From which ...

1.58pm BST

71 min: Eriksen chases after a chip down the left. He beats the flapping Lossl to the ball, on the byline to the left of goal. But his attempt to find Kane in the middle with a floating cross is no good, and Lossl makes up for his error by claiming back the ball.

1.57pm BST

70 min: The Huddersfield fans have finally found their voice, and are giving it plenty right now. Is there a better noise in football than the defiant support of the defeated? Malone responds with another fine run down the left. He reaches the byline and dinks a fine ball into the middle. Kachunga can’t meet it at the near post, and Alderweireld flicks away.

1.54pm BST

67 min: Eriksen sashays infield from the left, leaving Jorgensen and Hogg in his wake. His low whack towards the bottom left is easily gathered by Lossl. “It’s worth pointing out that Dele Alli is now a yellow card away from receiving simultaneous suspensions from Fifa, Uefa and the FA,” notes Danny Michaux, who I’m guessing wouldn’t have him any other way.

1.52pm BST

65 min: A booking for Kachunga, who came second-best in a high-kicking contest with Vertonghen, as the pair attempted to deal with a disobedient bouncing ball. There really wasn’t much in that.

1.51pm BST

64 min: Malone tries to snap the match back into life. He makes off down the left and curls a low cross into the centre. Vertonghen doesn’t clear, but there’s nobody in blue-and-white stripes lurking, and Lloris claims with ease.

1.49pm BST

63 min: This match has slipped into Testimonial Mode. The away supporters are still enjoying themselves.

1.47pm BST

61 min: Huddersfield make a double change: Malone and Billing come on for Mooy and Lowe.

1.46pm BST

60 min: Vertonghen latches onto a loose Hogg pass in the midfield. He’s got options to feed team-mates in on goal, but takes a blooter from 30 yards instead. No good!

1.45pm BST

58 min: Alli dribbles his way past Schindler and into the area down the left. He looks to poke the ball past Lossl from a tight angle, but over-runs it, then goes over theatrically before he reaches the keeper. It’s not a very good dive, and he’s booked for it. He grins sheepishly as he jogs back upfield.

1.43pm BST

57 min: Huddersfield stroke it around the back awhile. The clock ticks on. It’s like that already. Eventually they’re forced to move upfield, and lose the ball in short order.

1.42pm BST

55 min: Tripper insists he’s good to go again, and the physio agrees. He’s quickly back into the action, nearly getting on the end of a pass down the right wing.

1.40pm BST

54 min: Ince clatters into Trippier, as the pair legitimately contest a high ball. The Spurs full-back comes off worse, having taken a whack to the back of his head. All accidental. A break while he’s quizzed by the physio and wiped down with a cool, wet sponge.

1.38pm BST

51 min: Kane wheels down the right wing and nearly finds Alli and Davies in the middle with a floating cross. Not quite. Huddersfield are in damage-limitation mode, but they’re in danger of shipping more goals yet.

1.37pm BST

49 min: Davies dinks Eriksen away down the left. Eriksen can’t get a shot away from a tight angle. He tries to cue up Kane, but Schindler is on hand to block. Eriksen has another go, and the ball squirts out for a corner on the left. From the set piece, Dier flicks on, and Kane should batter home from six yards, but he mistimes his leaping kick and the ball flies out to the right of goal.

1.35pm BST

48 min: Winks wedges a pass down the inside-right channel with a view of releasing Kane into the Huddersfield box. Schindler is on hand to battle and eventually force the in-form Spurs man out of play. Goal kick.

1.33pm BST

47 min: Lossl launches it long. Depoitre briefly threatens to break clear, but there’s to be no good old-fashioned 1980s route-one goal, as Sanchez steps across to ease the Huddersfield striker out of the road.

1.31pm BST

And we’re off again! Huddersfield get the ball rolling for the second half. No changes by either side.

1.20pm BST

Half-time reading: There are some supporters who would give anything to be on the end of a half-time scoreline like this ...

Related: Brazil's 'worst team in the world' starts winning – and the club's fans are livid

1.18pm BST

So that’s 13 goals in September for Harry Kane. Seven in the last in seven days. And Spurs have scored three on the road for the fourth match in a row, following games at Everton, West Ham and Apoel Nicosia. (Just the two at Newcastle on the opening weekend, the slackers.) Poor Huddersfield.

1.16pm BST

45 min: Winks, Dier and Eriksen combine to confuse each other in the centre circle, and for a second it looks as though Depoitre is going to take advantage and scoot clear. But he’s not got the jet-power, and his attempted pass to send Kachunga away down the right is weak and misplaced.

1.14pm BST

43 min: Depoitre bombs down the inside-right channel, and with no other option but to go it alone, sends a powerful rising shot towards the top right from 25 yards. It pings off the top of the crossbar and out. A little bit lower, and Lloris was picking that out of his net; he wasn’t getting across to it. Huddersfield have been comprehensively outplayed, and yet they’ve hit the woodwork and had a fair shout for a penalty kick. The margins in the Premier League are fine.

1.12pm BST

42 min: ... Spurs do very little. But Hogg makes an awful hash of a clearance, another fresh-air swipe. He eventually gets the job done, but he’s betraying Huddersfield’s frayed nerves.

1.11pm BST

41 min: Spurs hog the ball for a bit, then Davies turns on a little speed and wins a corner down the left. From which ...

1.09pm BST

38 min: Trippier reaches the right-hand corner of the pitch and whips a glorious cross into the Huddersfield box from a tight spot. What a ball. Who needs Kyle Walker?! But Kane can’t get on the end of it, and Schindler lifts clear.

1.07pm BST

36 min: Dier, quarterbacking from deep on the left, finds Kane in the area, cutting in from the right. Kane sticks a leg out and guide the ball first-time into the bottom left. But it’s no hat-trick - yet - because the flag goes up for offside. Kane has a face on, but it was the correct decision.

1.06pm BST

35 min: Or are they? A couple of decent attacks, both involving Kachunga, who breaks down the right, and nearly finds Ince in the centre with a fine low cross that’s deflected away by Vertonghen, then draws a foul from the same defender to the left of the D. Mooy’s free kick is hopeless, but Huddersfield recycle the ball. Mooy nearly makes amends with a fine chip into the box from the left; Lloris fingertips it away from the lurking Depoitre.

1.04pm BST

33 min: Davies and Kane combine down the left, nearly splitting Huddersfield in two. But there’s a loose pass, and the move breaks down on the edge of the box. Huddersfield are already desperate to hear the half-time whistle.

1.02pm BST

31 min: Eriksen dances down the right and slips a pass inside for Alli, who enters the box, sends Jorgensen off to the wrong fire with a simple drop of a shoulder, and curls a shot past Lossl and off the base of the left-hand post. Davies curls the ball back into the box from the left wing. Alli isn’t far away from guiding a header into the top right from a tight angle. Huddersfield are being ripped to pieces at the back by the movement of Eriksen, Kane and Alli.

1.00pm BST

30 min: Huddersfield venture forward once or twice. Ince has a probe down the inside-left channel, but has to turn back. Then some space for Lowe down the left. He earns a corner off Trippier, from which Mooy’s eventual cross is easily claimed by Lloris.

12.59pm BST

27 min: Huddersfield try to take the sting out of the game with a little sterile possession in the midfield. It’s all they can do. It’s fair to say Spurs have quietened this stadium.

12.57pm BST

25 min: On the touchline, David Wagner wears a textbook thousand-yard stare. His team have been swept away by the astonishing Harry Kane, who could quite easily have had a 14-minute hat-trick. Ah well, just the two brilliant finishes will have to do.

12.55pm BST

Oh Harry Kane’s got a bit of credit in the bank all right! He’s a football genius. He picks up possession with his back to goal, 30 yards out down the right. He’s got two men on his back. No worries! He spins round into space, shifts the ball left, and curls a vicious shot into the top left! “He’s just a one-season wonder,” trill the away support.

12.53pm BST

21 min: To be fair, Kane’s got a bit of credit in the bank right now.

12.53pm BST

19 min: BREAKING NEWS! HARRY KANE DOES SOMETHING WRONG! Lossl makes an awful hash of a common-or-garden kick upfield. A fresh-air swipe. Kane nips in, takes the ball off him, and should square to Eriksen for a simple tap into an unguarded net. But he opts to round the keeper, who is desperately spreadeagled in an attempt to make up for his whiff. Lossl snaffles the ball back as Kane over-elaborates and falls over. Oh Harry!

12.50pm BST

18 min: Kachunga bursts down the inside-right channel and dribbles into the box. He’s brushed to the ground by Sanchez. It’s a clumsy challenge, too much shoulder from behind and a boot stuck in there too, and you’ve seen penalties given for less. The crowd go wild, but the ref isn’t having any of it.

12.49pm BST

17 min: Spurs are smooth and confident. Kane makes a little bit of space down the left and attempts to lash a dipper into the net from the best part of 30 yards. It’s just over the bar, but not too far away at all.

12.48pm BST

Some pretty triangles down the right by Spurs, Eriksen at the heart of it all. And suddenly Eriksen is breaking clear down the inside right! He dawdles towards the box, and is caught up by Schindler and Jorgensen, who operate a pincer movement. But the ball squirts out between the defenders and to the left, where Davies is totally free! He steps into the area to meet the ball, and gently wedges it past Lossl and into the net.

12.45pm BST

15 min: Smith curls a ball into the Spurs mixer from the right. It drops to Mooy, 12 yards out, level with the left-hand post. He can’t quite get the ball under control. When he eventually manages it, he’s forced to spin around a bit to create space to shoot. When he shoots, it’s quickly blocked. But for half a second there, it looked like Huddersfield had created a chance to equalise.

12.43pm BST

13 min: Trippier is fortunate to escape a booking after leaving a high boot in on van La Parra. Both sides have been gifted one now.

12.42pm BST

11 min: That was a real sucker punch for Huddersfield, the goal coming as it did after a couple of promising attacks. The atmosphere quickly evaporated when Kane sent the net billowing, that’s for sure.

12.41pm BST

A kick upfield by Lossl is headed back into the Huddersfield half by Trippier. Lowe should clear, but Kane nips off with the ball instead, racing down the right, entering the area, and slamming an unstoppable shot into the bottom right. This guy is hot.

12.39pm BST

8 min: A really poor crossfield pass in the midfield by Alli allows Smith to scamper upfield on the break. He very nearly slips Depoitre away down the inside-right channel, but Sanchez gets in the road. The ball breaks left for Ince, whose shot is deflected wide left of the goal. Corner, from which nothing comes.

12.37pm BST

6 min: And now a little bit of space for Mooy on the left. His looping cross is aimed for Depoitre at the far post, but Vertonghen is first to the ball and clears the danger.

12.36pm BST

5 min: Huddersfield aren’t in the Premier League to make up the numbers, this we already know. And they make their first statement of intent, Smith taking a crack from 25 yards out on the right. It’s a belter of a shot, headed for the bottom left, and Lloris does very well to stick out a strong arm to parry it clear.

12.34pm BST

3 min: Jorgensen is slightly fortunate to escape a booking after a pointless challenge from behind on Eriksen in the midfield. He’s got a fine “Who me?!” shrug in his locker, the big defender. A roll of the shoulders, palms to the air. Textbook stuff.

12.33pm BST

2 min: The first corner leads to a second. Neither cause Huddersfield serious issues. But that was a fast, confident start by Spurs. A statement of intent.

12.32pm BST

30-odd seconds: And it didn’t take long for something to happen. Trippier rolls a ball down the inside-right channel, finding Kane in the area. For once, Kane is a wee bit hesitant, because a first-time shot could have seriously tested Lossl in the Huddersfield goal. But he takes a touch, can’t work space for a shot, then turns and tries to pass to Alli. The ball’s bundled out for a corner.

12.30pm BST

And we’re off! Spurs get the ball rolling. It goes out for a throw in double-quick time. More breaking news as we have it!

12.30pm BST

A rare old atmosphere at the Kirklees Stadium. The place is bouncing. Huddersfield Town (champions of England in 1924, 1925 and 1926) and Tottenham Hotspur (champions in 1951 and 1961) take to the pitch, the former wearing their famous blue-and-white stripes, the latter in second-choice deep purple. Or is it deep blue? You can picture it.

12.19pm BST

David Wagner speaks! “To be fair, for us, the first six games were big, our first matches in Premier League history. Now we are playing one of the teams who are probably playing for the title this season. I am excited, we are looking forward to seeing how everyone adapts. We want to show what we are about. They are in good form, but it makes no sense to be focused on their form. We have to make our details right, we have to be clear every single second, concentrate every single second, and we can see what we can get out of it. We are capable. We have an attitude to work together. We must be brave enough to create our moment. At the end, we have to deliver on the grass.”

11.47am BST

Mauricio Pochettino speaks! “Always our mentality is to win games, whether away from home or at home. We want to keep up the level of our performance. Today we have a tough game, they do not concede too many goals. It’s a massive challenge. They are a very energetic team with a lot of good-quality players. I admire Huddersfield, they are fantastic. It is important to recognise that. It is a great challenge after tough games in the Champions League and against West Ham.”

11.43am BST

Huddersfield make one change to the side held to a goalless draw at Burnley last Saturday. Abdelhamid Sabiri drops to the bench, making way for Rajiv van La Parra.

Spurs welcome back Dele Alli, Christian Eriksen and Jan Vertonghen to their starting XI. Missing from the team sent out against Apoel Nicosia: Heung-Min Son and Moussa Sissoko, who drop to the bench, and the suspended Serge Aurier.

11.31am BST

Huddersfield Town: Lossl, Smith, Jorgensen, Schindler, Lowe, Mooy, Hogg, Kachunga, van La Parra, Ince, Depoitre.
Subs: Malone, Whitehead, Billing, Sabiri, Cranie, Green, Hadergjonaj.

Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Trippier, Winks, Dier, Davies, Eriksen, Alli, Kane.
Subs: Son, Vorm, Nkoudou, Sissoko, Llorente, Foyth, Walker-Peters.

10.05am BST

... in which Huddersfield Town, without a win in five matches, look to rediscover some of that early-season sass. Meanwhile Tottenham Hotspur consider their chances of scoring three on the road for the fourth match in succession, after victories against Everton, West Ham United and Apoel Nicosia.

It’s Huddersfield’s first big test of the season. It’s on, and it starts at 12.30pm BST.

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The Fiver | Christmas has been totally ruined!

In today’s Fiver: a festive farrago, Carlo Ancelotti and a Highland winter

The Fiver would like to congratulate Chelsea and Manchester United for reaching the final of Big Cup, which must be what’s just happened if all the incessant simpering over swatting aside 2014’s Atlético Madrid and CSKA Basingstoke is anything to go by. We’ll double check all that, and get back to you tomorrow. But either way, it’s also been a good week of results on the continent for Tottenham Hotspur, and Manchester City, and the Queen’s Celtic, and … oh Jürgen! Oh Loris! Oh Daniel! How could you!

Related: Liverpool object to Sky Sports plan for moving Arsenal game to Christmas Eve

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Arsenal 2-0 West Bromwich Albion: Premier League – as it happened

Alexandre Lacazette scored twice to earn the points for Arsenal, though West Brom will point to an early penalty that never was.

10.18pm BST

Related: Alexandre Lacazette double earns Arsenal nervy win against West Brom

9.53pm BST

Just enough time for Ainsley Maitland-Niles to come on for Aaron Ramsey. A few seconds of running about for Maitland-Niles, and that’s his lot! Arsenal were the better side, and deserved their win. One massive caveat, though: on another night, West Brom would have been awarded an early penalty, after which things might have panned out differently. But they weren’t, and they didn’t, and Arsenal move up to fifth. West Brom, having acquitted themselves well, drop to 12th. It’s been a blast. Thanks for reading. Nighty night!

9.49pm BST

90 min +2: Arsenal press and probe for that third goal, but it doesn’t look as though they’re going to get it.

9.48pm BST

90 min: There will be three added minutes.

9.48pm BST

89 min: West Brom press Arsenal back a bit, Phillips causing a bit of bother down the right. He feeds the ball into the box. Mustafi slices an awful clearance, but the ball somehow squeaks through a forest of players and suddenly Arsenal are breaking upfield! The ball ends up with Ramsey, to the right of the box and one of many options. He shoots low and hard, and his effort is kicked away by Foster.

9.45pm BST

88 min: Some pretty Arsenal passing. Then the ball loops to Giroud, level with the left-hand post, ten yards out. He brings it under control, spins, and lays off for Xhaka, who leans back and hoicks a shot over the bar from the edge of the box. A three-goal defeat would be cruel on West Brom. Arsenal have been the better side, but the Baggies have played their part in a good match, without getting the breaks.

9.43pm BST

86 min: West Brom have given a good account of themselves tonight. And have a couple of hard-luck stories to tell. But their race looks run now. Arsenal press them back. Bellerin hooks in from the right. Dawson rises to batter a header clear with Giroud lurking.

9.41pm BST

84 min: The corner leads to nothing of note.

9.40pm BST

83 min: Before the corner can be taken, Lacazette and Sanchez are replaced by Giroud and Ozil. Not a bad bench Arsenal have there, huh.

9.40pm BST

82 min: Some head tennis in the West Brom box leads to a corner for Arsenal on the right. From the set piece, the ball’s worked to Bellerin, on the edge of the box. He unleashes a fierce riser towards the top right. It’d be in the net were it not for Rodriguez, who bravely got in the way, the ball pinging off his bonce and out for another corner.

9.38pm BST

80 min: Dawson comes through the back of Sanchez. He gets a little of the ball, which is what probably saves him from getting a second yellow. That was taking liberties in his situation, though. He was really chancing his arm. He’s very lucky to still be on the pitch.

9.36pm BST

78 min: More of that lull. And then Monreal turns on the jets, races down the inside-left channel, one-twos with Sanchez, and very nearly breaks clear into the box. The ball breaks back to Sanchez, who tries to guide a cheeky curler into the top right from a very long way out. Foster gathers.

9.33pm BST

76 min: It’s been a rollercoaster ride all evening, but suddenly the match has gone a little flat. Shame, but we’ve had value for money so far.

9.31pm BST

74 min: A final roll of the dice by Tony Pulis: a still-seething Allan Nyom is replaced by Matt Phillips.

9.31pm BST

73 min: And now Rondon pops up on the right, turning into space from a throw and busting into the box. He earns a corner, which is dealt with easily enough by Arsenal.

9.30pm BST

71 min: Rondon threatens to burst clear into the Arsenal box, chasing a long pass down the left. But he’s getting harried and hassled, and can’t quite get the ball under control.

9.28pm BST

70 min: Lacazette is so close to his hat-trick! Sanchez, deep on the left, finds Lacazette in the area down the inside-right. The striker takes the ball down from the air wonderfully, and rounds Foster on the right, but slices hysterically over the bar. That would have been something.

9.27pm BST

69 min: Arsenal really have their tails up now, and tear at West Brom en masse. Poor decisions from Lacazette and then Monreal put a stop to their gallop, though, the move breaking down on the edge of the area.

9.26pm BST

Lacazette slots the ball into the bottom right, and though Foster went the right way, he had no chance. Perfectly placed, and sweetly struck. Nyom, who was booked for his role in the penalty award, applauds the referee sarcastically. Careful, now!

9.24pm BST

66 min: After the events of the first half, a decision like this was inevitable. Ramsey bursts down the left, reaches the byline, and runs into the box. He’s barged to the ground by Nyom, who has attempting a shoulder charge but hit his man from behind. On the touchline, Tony Pulis sinks into a quiet seethe, the most frightening type.

9.23pm BST

65 min: Bellerin one-twos his way down the inside-right channel, first with Elneny, then Ramsey, and earns a corner. Bellerin’s been very bright tonight. The set piece is dealt with easily enough, though.

9.21pm BST

64 min: London Buses dept. Salomon Rondon replaces Hal Robson-Kanu.

9.20pm BST

63 min: The first change of the evening is made by West Bromwich Albion: James Morrison comes on for Jake Livermore.

9.19pm BST

61 min: Sanchez twists and turns down the left, and very nearly finds Ramsey free on the penalty spot with a cute ball inside. But Ramsey can’t quite battle his way into possession, and isn’t able to get a shot away.

9.18pm BST

60 min: A free kick for West Brom, deep on the right. Krychowiak sends a teasing floater into the Arsenal box. Cech comes a long way off his line and punches confidently clear, taking out Hegazy as he does so. No foul, all part of the rough and tumble of Premier League football. But the West Brom defender felt that all right.

9.16pm BST

59 min: West Brom launch their first sortie into Arsenal territory in this half. Nyom wins a throw deep down the right, and takes it himself. It’s easily cleared. All of which is not much. But it’s something. Before that little sequence, only four percent of the second half had been contested in Arsenal’s final third.

9.14pm BST

57 min: And now Krychowiak goes into the book for a cynical clip on Elneny, who had checked back as the pair scampered down the Arsenal left. A free kick just to the side of the Baggies box. Sanchez takes, and again looks to cause trouble at the near post, but there’s nobody there to attempt mid-air video-game gymnastics this time.

9.12pm BST

55 min: Rodriguez is lucky to stay out of the book after stepping on Monreal’s tootsies. It wasn’t aggressive, but it was late and clumsy.

9.11pm BST

53 min: Free kick to Arsenal wide on the right, from a deep position. Arsenal load the box. Koscielny’s delivery is appalling; he fails to beat the first man. But Arsenal are soon coming back at the Baggies, Bellerin forcing a corner down the left. The set piece is flicked to the near post, where Mustafi spins and nearly dispatches a mid-air back-heel into the top left from a tight angle! That would have been something else had it whistled into the net, but Foster was right behind it and gathered cleanly.

9.09pm BST

52 min: Kolasinac bursts down the inside-left channel. He’s got ahead of Nyom, and fires low into the West Brom box. Elneny traps and spins, setting up Lacazette on the penalty spot. He must score! But his shot is deflected over the bar by Gibbs, a marvellous last-ditch challenge, and the resulting corner comes to nought.

9.08pm BST

50 min: Dawson is booked for a pointless hack at the back of Sanchez’s legs near the centre circle. That was fairly witless, and he’ll needlessly play the rest of the match under unnecessary pressure. With Evans also on the tightrope, Sanchez and Lacazette could do worse than embark on a dribbling frenzy.

9.06pm BST

48 min: Lacazette buzzes around the front of the West Brom box. He slips the ball wide right for Bellerin, who lashes a stunning ball along the face of goal. Had any Arsenal attacker taken a gamble ... but they didn’t, and the ball rolls harmlessly out to the left of goal.

9.05pm BST

47 min: Sanchez tries to zip down the left, but runs into a wall called Nyom. West Brom attempt a break upfield through Livermore, but that move falls apart. The ping-pong continues as Sanchez has another look along the left flank, but his shot-cum-cross from 25 yards isn’t much cop.

9.02pm BST

And we’re off again! West Brom, who were bright and impressive in that first half, get the second period underway. No changes. Meanwhile here’s Sean Swift with more reasoned observations, and from a referee’s perspective’s to boot: “I’m a new referee working my way up here in the States, but even at the U-13 level that I’m working at right now, we’re strongly encouraged to let play go on in any case where the play can still possibly develop, such as when the fouled player stays on his feet. In most cases we can stop play after a few seconds and bring it back for a free kick, but I can sympathise with the referee that bringing it back for a penalty kick after already playing advantage would be a massively brave decision ... especially with the bright lights and TV cameras of the Premier League.”

8.51pm BST

Half-time advertisement: Fans of old-school football may be interested in Scott’s new book The Title: The Story of the First Division. Featuring the championship-winning antics of Alex James, Ted Drake, Fred Morris and Peerless Jesse Pennington. Plus some gentle whimsy about Herbert Chapman’s homburg, and the time Jimmy Hagan backed his Vauxhall Cresta into a canal, then bollocked the players who rescued him for appearing out of breath. In all good bookshops now!

8.48pm BST

Nothing comes from the second corner, and that’s that for the first half. Phew! The scoreline doesn’t tell half the story. Both sides have legitimate penalty-related grievances, while West Brom have also missed a couple of gilt-edged chances. A highly entertaining first half, with the promise of more fun coming up soon. Don’t go anywhere, now!

8.47pm BST

45 min: It’s half-cleared by Arsenal. Then Evans sprays wide right for the excellent Krychowiak, who loops into the middle. The ball’s missed by Cech and Bellerin. Barry, just to the left of goal, keeps the ball in play with a cushioned header. Rodriguez tries to poke home into the bottom left. His effort is deflected out for another corner.

8.45pm BST

44 min: Dawson is impeded by Kolasinac as he attempts to bomb down the right. Sanchez doesn’t like the decision to award a free kick, and is booked by the referee for making his point a little too forcefully. A light case of hands-on. The ref calls his captain Koscielny over, in the hope of calming Sanchez down. Sanchez eventually puts a lid on it. And then the free kick, which is eyebrowed out of play for a corner. From which...

8.42pm BST

42 min: Another chance for West Brom. Nyom, tight on the right touchline, whips into the Arsenal box. Robson-Kanu flicks on. Rodriguez slides in, but misses the ball by a toenail. The ball flies just wide left of goal. Arsenal are clinging onto this lead right now. Meanwhile here’s everyone’s favourite voice of reason, Gary Naylor, on that penalty non-decision: “I don’t think football (okay, association football) has much to learn from rugby on or off the field, but I do like their advantage rule. Allowing a phase of play to be completed before returning (if required) to the foul, seems fair and would cut out some diving. Oddly, it is applied from time to time by referees but not consistently, so it can be done.”

8.40pm BST

40 min: The resulting corner comes to nothing. But Rodriguez is soon coming back at Arsenal, desperate to make amends. He sends a low fizzer inches wide of the left-hand post from 20 yards, though Cech had it covered.

8.40pm BST

38 min: How are West Brom not level?! Krychowiak powers down the left with Arsenal light at the back. He floats a ball across towards Rodriguez in the middle, with Cech nowhere to be seen. Rodriguez heads down, and goalwards, though not powerfully. That allows Monreal to high-kick off the line, and over the bar, having shaped his body in mid-air like a treble clef! What a clearance! Though it probably has to go down as a chance spurned. Monreal should never have been given the chance to play the hero.

8.36pm BST

36 min: Sanchez sends a dipping, curling effort past the wall and down towards the bottom right. It’s not far away. Just wide. Another magic effort. And once again, Foster would have been nowhere near it had it been on target.

8.35pm BST

35 min: Lacazette looks to round Evans in a central position, 25 yards from goal. Evans hangs a leg out. Lacazette goes to ground, while Evans goes in the book. Another free kick in a dangerous position. Sanchez’s eyes twinkle.

8.35pm BST

33 min: Arsenal are beginning to turn the screw. Sanchez slides a pass down the inside-right, which very nearly results in Ramsey rounding Foster on the outside and scoring. But he can’t get a shot away from a tight angle. Then Ramsey quarterbacks from deep towards the left, forcing Nyom to head out for a corner. From the set piece, sent deep, Krychowiak tugs away at Sanchez, who goes over and slips into an animated funk. Yet again, no penalty kick. On another day, we’d have had three now.

8.32pm BST

31 min: Meanwhile as advertised, here’s that alternative view on the penalty non-decision, courtesy of Ben Simmons. “Isn’t that a perfect advantage played by Madley? West Brom had two shots at goal as a result, one of them pretty much an open goal from around the penalty spot.”

8.29pm BST

28 min: Before that, though, here’s Monreal breaking into the West Brom box down the left, being sent scampering into space by a lovely pitching wedge of a ball from Sanchecz. Monreal’s never quite in control, juggling the ball in the hope it’ll sit up for a shot. Nyom is right on his shoulder, and tugging away like billy-o. Eventually Monreal toe-punts the ball well wide left. It would have been a harsh penalty, but you’ve seen them given, and Nyom was certainly taking a risk by repeatedly nipping away at his opponent. Had Monreal elected to tumble, the ref would have had a decision to make.

8.27pm BST

25 min: Good work by Sanchez down the right, and he’s very nearly finding Lacazette in the middle. Arsenal were looking shaky before the goal, but the lead has given them a real confidence boost. “Surely the one thing that encourages players to dive more that anything else is a referee not giving a penalty when a player stays on their feet despite being fouled?” asks Jim Denvir. “What possible incentive is there not to go down if you get penalised for staying on your feet?” An alternative viewpoint coming up, what with us all being adults.

8.24pm BST

23 min: West Brom continue to look dangerous down the left flank. Robson-Kanu chases after a long ball, brings it down, and lays off for Rodriguez, who looks to cut inside. But he’s never quite in control of the ball, and Mustafi is able to skelp clear. Arsenal transfer the ball up the other end in short order, and the on-fire Lacazette looks for yet another home goal with a chase down the middle. But he can’t quite latch onto the hoof. This match has been good breezy fun so far.

8.21pm BST

Sanchez looks for the top right with a lazy wave of the magic wand. He looks for the top right. Foster tips lightly onto the post. The ball drops to Lacazette, who can’t miss from a couple of yards with his header. West Brom aren’t particularly happy with the award of that free kick, suggesting there wasn’t too much contact between Evans and Elneny. But it’s no good: the home side take the lead, and the Emirates is bouncing!

8.19pm BST

18 min: Sanchez and Bellerin buzz around the edge of the West Brom area. The ball breaks loose. Elneny gathers it and is immediately upended by Evans. A free kick to the right of the D. From which ...

8.17pm BST

15 min: West Brom are giving as good as they’re getting in these early stages. Arsenal look a little uneasy. Koscielny, under no pressure whatsoever, flies a simple pass deep into the stand. The crowd react accordingly. “Barry would have played 733 Premier League matches had he not been suspended for all those yellow cards,” quips Gary Naylor. “But, as an Evertonian, congratulations and thanks are due from me.” And from Xabi Alonso, for his indirect role in his big move to Real Madrid?

8.13pm BST

12 min: This match is lovely and open. Robson-Kanu troubles Bellerin down the West Brom left, the Arsenal man only able to half-clear. Gibbs, rushing onto the scene, goes for the spectacular, and very nearly achieves it, lashing just wide and high of the top left from 20 yards. That would have been some strike by the former Arsenal man!

8.12pm BST

11 min: Space for Bellerin out on the right, found by a lovely crossfield pass from Elneny. Bellerin chips high to the near post, where Ramsey aims for the top right with his header. But it’s high and wide, from close range.

8.11pm BST

10 min: On the touchline, Tony Pulis indulges in a light fume. You can’t really blame him. Arsenal really got away with one there.

8.10pm BST

8 min: A lull. And then Rodriguez is sent scampering down the inside-left channel. He checks when he’s in the area, and is clipped towards the ground by a sliding Mustafi. It’s a penalty all day long, but the ref doesn’t blow, partly because Rodriguez is too honest, springing to his feet and curling across Cech towards the bottom right. Cech tips the ball onto the right-hand post. It comes out to Livermore, who, surprised, slaps a first-time shot wide right. West Brom are within their rights to feel very annoyed.

8.06pm BST

5 min: Sanchez, exchanging crisp passes with Lacazette down the inside-left, doesn’t need asking twice to go to ground when brushed by Dawson. It’s a foul and a free kick to the left of the D, purchased very cheaply. Sanchez, having earned it, takes the free kick himself. He sends a dipping screamer over the wall and towards the bottom-right corner. It’s millimetres wide. Had that been on target, it was a goal, because Foster was rooted to the spot, Sanchez having given him the eyes. A glorious effort.

8.03pm BST

3 min: The set piece doesn’t lead to much. Kolasinac tries to find Lacazette in the middle with a cross from a deep position on the left, but it’s nowhere near his man.

8.03pm BST

2 min: Some space in the middle for Ramsey, who attempts to switch the play to the right with an ambitious crossfield ball towards Bellerin. Gibbs, back on his old turf, steps forward to intercept and blooter clear. But Arsenal are coming straight back at West Brom, Sanchez winning a corner down the left.

8.01pm BST

And we’re off! Arsenal get the ball rolling. Two players, Lacazette and Sanchez, by the centre spot, you don’t see that so much these days. The hosts keeping it old-school.

7.57pm BST

The teams are out! Arsenal are in their storied Herbert Chapman clobber, red shirts with white sleeves. West Bromwich Albion sport their equally famous navy-and-white-striped tops. A blast of noise at the Emirates as the Gunners and the Throstles take to the pitch. We’ll be off in a minute!

7.45pm BST

Tony Pulis speaks! “We caused Manchester City a lot of problems going forward last week. Fingers crossed we can carry it on tonight. We have worked to make sure we are tight at the back, so we can be a bit loose on the other side of the pitch.”

7.44pm BST

Arsene Wenger speaks! “We have responded well to the defeat at Anfield. We have to make it up, we are focused to picking up points. At home we have done well and we are looking to continue that. Alexis Sanchez looks as though he is back physically and ready to play. West Brom are an uneasy team to play for everybody: their commitment, their organisation, they are dangerous on the counter, and of course their set pieces. We have to improve our concentration.”

7.17pm BST

Gareth Barry speaks ahead of breaking the Premier League appearance record. “It’s a nice moment for myself. I’m very proud. But I’m going to put it to the back of my mind, and just try to win the game. I can think about it afterwards.” An old pro to his boots. One of the reasons he’s lasted this long, huh.

7.15pm BST

A couple of changes for Arsenal. Danny Welbeck is injured, while Alex Iwobi is left out. Mohamed Elneny makes his first start since the opening day of the season, while Alexis Sanchez is named in the starting XI for the first time this campaign at home.

West Brom make three changes. James Morrison, Chris Brunt and Matt Phillips drop to the bench; Allan Nyom, Jake Livermore and Hal Robson-Kanu step up.

7.05pm BST

Arsenal: Cech, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal, Bellerin, Xhaka, Elneny, Kolasinac, Ramsey, Sanchez, Lacazette.
Subs: Mertesacker, Wilshere, Ozil, Giroud, Ospina, Walcott, Maitland-Niles.

West Bromwich Albion: Foster, Dawson, Hegazi, Evans, Nyom, Livermore, Krychowiak, Barry, Gibbs, Rodriguez, Robson-Kanu.
Subs: Yacob, Morrison, Rondon, Phillips, Brunt, Myhill, McClean.

12.41pm BST

... in which Arsenal try to build more momentum after their decent showing at Chelsea, while West Bromwich Albion hope to rediscover their early-season form, having given Manchester City a scare in the League Cup last week.

The Baggies haven’t won at Arsenal since September 2010. But they did give the Gunners a working over at the Hawthorns in March, and were only seen off here last time round very late on Boxing Day. So while Arsenal are hot favourites tonight, Tony Pulis and his men will fancy their chances too. Should be fun. Kick-off at the Emirates is at 8pm BST. It’s on!

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The Fiver | Implementing a two-for-one discount across his agricultural-produce range

In today’s Fiver: Dr Arsène, tiny coffees and getting knacked while celebrating

It’s more than two decades since a stranger arrived in the north of London Town, pulled up his wagon outside Highbury Stadium, and started to shift bottles of Dr Arsène’s Amazing Restorative Hydrogen-and-Oxygen-Flavored Polar Inorganic Compound™ from the back. As he launched into his sales spiel – “It’s the taste!” – suggestible members of the local soccer team gathered round to sample the miracle elixir. “Coo!” they thought as they began to feel some strength return to their legs, their temples started throbbing a little less alarmingly, and that strange dull stabbing sensation in their side went away. As they cheerfully emptied their pockets to purchase as many bottles of the magical liniment as they could afford, Dr Arsène gathered up the falling coins and quietly asked his assistant to dig out his old rainmaking kit, and maybe mark up that old crate of broccoli by 400% while he was at it.

Related: Arsène Wenger: 20 years at Arsenal – an incredible journey of joy and frustration | Amy Lawrence

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Premier League: 10 things to look out for this weekend

Liverpool look to blow away September blues, Saints seek 90s spirit to topple Manchester United and Sanches can show his class for Swansea

Liverpool fans could be forgiven for thinking January would be a shoo-in for their most miserable month of 2017. September, however, has the potential to be equally bleak. Jürgen Klopp’s side have yet to win this month, and opportunities to change that sorry state of affairs are thin on the ground, with only away games at Leicester City and Spartak Moscow remaining. A second defeat in four days at the King Power is far from unthinkable – the Foxes have been a bogey team since the 1960s, while Klopp may be forced to pair Ragnar Klavan and Joe Gomez at the back – and could send their season into a negative spiral, with a tricky run of games to come in October, nearly all away from Anfield. On the flip side, it wouldn’t take much for Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho to click sweetly again as they did in pre-season, in which case Klopp’s side could regain their momentum in some style. It’ll be fascinating to see which Liverpool turns up; good luck calling it. SM

Related: Mark Sampson sacked and the Carabao Cup – Football Weekly Extra

Related: Greater expectation for new Women’s Super League season adds pressure | Paul MacInnes

Related: It’s a fine line between pleasure and pain – the margins are brutal | Liam Rosenior

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The Fiver | Questioning the very point of this grand old three-handled tin can

In today’s Fiver: Milk Cup thrills, another sorry saga and Tevez making friends

It was another exciting evening in the Milk Cup. Manchester United conceded a goal. Manchester City conceded a goal. Chelsea conceded a goal. And Arsenal nearly conceded a goal. More please, English football! But despite all the rollocking entertainment enjoyed by hundreds of fans in half-packed stadiums across the nation, some cynics are questioning the very point of this grand old three-handled tin can. Well, when we say some cynics, we really just mean one person. And that person is José Mourinho, who wondered whether English football would be better off without a second cup competition clogging up the schedule, came up with the resounding conclusion of “maybe”, and yes it has been a slow Fiver news day.

Related: Holders Manchester United handed trip to Swansea in Carabao Cup draw

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Carabao Cup: third-round action plus fourth-round draw - as it happened

Fourth round draw: Spurs face West Ham, Chelsea draw EvertonMatch report: Manchester United 4-1 Burton AlbionMatch report: Chelsea 5-1 Nottingham ForestMatch report: Arsenal 1-0 DoncasterMatch report: WBA 1-2 Manchester CityMatch report: Everton 3-0 Sunderland

10.11pm BST

The fourth-round draw in full:

Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United
Bristol City v Crystal Palace
Swansea City v Manchester United
Arsenal v Norwich City
Chelsea v Everton
Manchester City v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Leicester City v Leeds United
Bournemouth v Middlesbrough

10.08pm BST

Bournemouth v Middlesbrough. And that completes the fourth-round draw, ties to be played the week commencing October 23.

10.07pm BST

Leicester City v Leeds United.

10.07pm BST

Manchester City v Wolverhampton Wanderers.

10.06pm BST

Chelsea v Everton.

10.06pm BST

Arsenal v Norwich City.

10.06pm BST

Swansea City v Manchester United.

10.06pm BST

Bristol City v Crystal Palace.

10.05pm BST

Here we go, then! Charlie Nicholas and Phil Thompson will make the draw for the fourth round. And the first tie is: Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United.

9.56pm BST

Stay awhile, please, will you? Because the draw for the fourth round is coming up soon! But while we wait, here’s the results from a night of action high on goals, low on drama, that late flurry at the Hawthorns apart:

9.54pm BST

And so Leroy Sane is City’s two-goal hero. The 1970, 1976, 2014 and 2016 winners are in the hat for the fourth round, at the expense of the 1966 champs!

9.52pm BST

What a chance for West Brom to equalise! McClean shoots from 25 yards out, down the inside-left channel. His effort is deflected, but drops to Robson-Kanu on the penalty spot! He’s just got to slot the ball past Bravo, but instead he crashes an effort off the outside of the left-hand post, and City survive! In the last minute of injury time!

9.51pm BST

No clean sheet, then, but the holders are comfortably through to the fourth round.

9.50pm BST

A consolation for Burton, and United finally concede this season at Old Trafford! Sub keeper Joel Pereira fumbles under a little pressure on his line, and Dyer smashes the loose ball home from a tight angle on the left!

9.48pm BST

A free kick for City just outside the Baggies box. A poor decision to faff about, though, and Robson-Kanu is given half a chance to attack on the break. The move breaks down for West Brom, but they’ll have five additional minutes in which to save themselves.

9.46pm BST

Just three minutes left on the clock at the Hawthorns, where the game is still in the balance. McClean threatens to break on goal but he’s disabused of that notion. Is there a surprise in this evening yet?

9.41pm BST

The Gunners are through, but that was something of a misfire. Still, in the hat is in the hat. Arsenal haven’t won this trophy since 1993. Could this be their year?

9.40pm BST

West Brom haven’t given this up by any means. Rondon flashes a header inches wide right of goal from six yards. Then Morrison threatens to break through, but can’t get anything meaningful away. A one-sided nonsense has suddenly exploded into life!

9.38pm BST

The 1977 and 1984 finalists see off the 1985 and 2014 runners-up.

9.37pm BST

Morrison is denied by a wonder save from Bravo. A second chance for West Brom to go ahead spurned. And then City fly up the other end, Sane sashaying down the right, gliding inside, dropping a shoulder, and floating a glorious effort into the top left!

9.36pm BST

And that’s Chelsea into the fourth round.

9.35pm BST

With the very last move of the match, Forest embark on some triangulation down the right wing. Finally the ball drops to Darikwa six yards out, and he sidefoots confidently into the bottom right for a consolation.

9.33pm BST

At the Emirates, Mandeville dribbles in from the left and nearly Ricky Villas a goal out of nothing! Doncaster so nearly level against Arsenal! Meanwhile at the Hawthorns, the ball is slipped to the feet of Robson-Kanu, six yards out! He must score, but shanks an effort wide left of the target. Suddenly it’s Manchester City on the ropes!

9.31pm BST

City are made to pay for their profligacy! A corner for the Baggies out on the right. The ball’s hooked into the mixer, where Jacob is on hand to sidefoot home from six yards! Where was the City defence? Not anywhere near Yacob. And we have drama! A match in the balance!

9.29pm BST

TV set for Michy Batshuayi, please! Kenedy hammers a shot onto the Forest cross bar from a tight position on the left. His spectacular effort drops to Batshuayi, who taps home for his hat-trick!

9.28pm BST

West Brom have been on the ropes all evening, but there’s only one goal in it at the Hawthorns. And suddenly Robson-Kanu flicks a ball down the inside-left channel to release Morrison into the City box! He threads a shot across Bravo and inches wide of the right-hand post. Then Sane romps up the other end, down the right. He’s clear, and should shoot, but squares it and the chance is gone.

9.26pm BST

A delicate diagonal Davies pass looped forward to Niasse on the left-hand edge of the Sunderland box. Niasse chests down and extends a leg, lashing a fine finish into the top right.

9.19pm BST

A one-two with Rashford sends Martial away, down the inside-right channel. Martial slots confidently, and powerfully, into the bottom right. Manchester United’s last two games have finished 3-0 and 4-0; there’s half an hour left for a pretty pattern to develop.

9.17pm BST

Lookman very nearly makes it three for Everton against Sunderland. A couple of quick-fire snapshots towards the right-hand corner from close range. But he’s denied both times. “Ah, Nigel Jemson,” writes Andy Coupe. “A scorer of a hat-trick in this competition. The sponsors gave him a TV.” As mentioned earlier: Rumbelows, a class act.

9.14pm BST

There’s not a lot going on. A lull. Despite the goals, this evening’s been one long lull. Drama, please!

9.08pm BST

Doncaster are threatening to give Arsenal a game at the Emirates. May very nearly tore clear of the Arsenal back line, but Maitland-Niles zipped back to deal with the danger. Meanwhile Luke Shaw is on for Manchester United, for the first time this season, and he’s quickly into the action against Burton, seeing a goal chalked off for offside.

9.05pm BST

The matches at Old Trafford and the Hawthorns have restarted, so we’re back up and running everywhere again. And Burton very nearly claw a goal back against Manchester United, a deep Palmer free kick from the right finding the head of Akpan, six yards out. He must work Romero at the very least, but the effort flies off target.

9.00pm BST

Hazard’s first touch to set up that goal was lovely, though not quite in the Roberto Baggio class. But then what is? In case you missed it today ...

Related: Golazos galore: the 25 best goals from the golden era of Serie A

8.58pm BST

Hazard brings a long ball down, dead, on the edge of the area. He drifts a little to the right, drawing half the Forest team with him. So he rolls it back towards the penalty spot, where Batshuayi hammers low. The League Cup glory days of Nigel Jemson seem a long time ago right now. Well, they are a long time ago, but you get the general point.

8.55pm BST

... and at the Emirates, it should be a brace for Walcott. But set free down the middle, he topples backwards and lifts a dreadful effort miles over the bar with only the keeper to beat. Doncaster aren’t out of this quite yet.

8.54pm BST

Sandro turns on the pace down the left and slides a ball forward for Calvert-Lewin, who sends a fine rising smash into the roof of the net! Two for Calvert-Lewin ...

8.52pm BST

A fast start to the second half by Chelsea, who don’t really need it, three up as they are against Forest. Hazard cuts in from the left and batters a powerful effort onto the right-hand post.

8.47pm BST

And it’s half-time in the 8pm kick offs. Good news for both Manchester clubs, as they head to the changing rooms in control. United are 3-0 up at home against Burton; City a goal to the good at West Brom.

8.42pm BST

Burton, to their immense credit, keep on keepin’ on. Palmer, out on the left, loops a fine cross to the far post, where Lund brings the ball down but leans back and sends his effort from the right-hand corner of the six-yard box, way off target. A real chance. Up the other end, Lingard races into the box from the right and is lightly clipped by Turner. It should be a penalty kick, but the referee shows Burton some sympathy. You’d probably hear more about that were it goalless, or were United playing City. But this is where we are.

8.38pm BST

A testimonial feel at Old Trafford. And then suddenly it’s party time again, as Martial dribbles with extreme prejudice down the left, throws in a couple of pretty tricks, then finds Lingard on the edge of the box. He aims for the bottom right, but the ball takes a huge deflection off Turner and into the bottom left. Ripley in goal had no chance.

8.34pm BST

The half-times in the 7.45pm kick-offs: Arsenal 1-0 Doncaster; Chelsea 3-0 Forest; Everton 1-0 Sunderland. A good chance for Doncaster towards the end of the first 45, incidentally, May lashing a shot into the side netting from a tight angle on the right.

8.31pm BST

Burton have spurned a superb chance to get back into the match at Old Trafford. Mason was found free in the centre, on the penalty spot with the ball at his feet. He tried to lift it over the out-rushing Romero, but didn’t get any purchase on the ball and the keeper was able to smother with ease.

8.29pm BST

Gabriel Jesus has just scooped a shot over the bar at the Hawthorns from eight yards. What a miss by the brilliant Brazilian! West Brom could easily be three down already. No shame in that against this ludicrously entertaining Manchester City side. This Pep-v-Jose thing is shaping up to be quite a story, isn’t it. Here’s hoping both teams can keep it up all season.

8.27pm BST

It’s not going to come at Stamford Bridge. The young Belgian Charly Musonda romps into a bit of space down the inside-right and lashes an unstoppable shot into the net.

8.25pm BST

Everton have been on top at Goodison from the get-go. Now Calvert-Lewin takes advantage of a game of penalty-area pinball, the ball finally falling at his feet. He scoops it into the net from the spot. We’ve now got a full house of matches going the way everyone expected. Anyone fancy drumming up a little drama?

8.23pm BST

Manchester City continue to dominate at West Brom. Mangala has just had a header clawed off the line. “Penny for Oxlade-Chamberlain’s thoughts?” parrots Colin Mackay. “How about 40 mil for Klopp’s thoughts?”

8.20pm BST

Blind glides in from the left and feeds Rashford, who turns and larrups a stunning shot from the left of the D onto the left-hand post and in. What a shot! “No chance of one or both of them scoring, I suppose, but Burton Albion has both Flanagan and Allen in their starting line-up,” notes Steven Hughes. The Milk Cup, the 1960 US election, now memories of the music hall. The internet kids love this sort of thing. They can’t get enough of it. No need to thank us.

8.14pm BST

Sanchez, deep on the left, sprays a delicious diagonal ball into the box for Walcott, who kills it stone dead with an exquisite touch and flicks it into the net. Some pass, some finish. Arsenal are beginning to find a little form, just as Liverpool have misplaced theirs. Penny for poor Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s thoughts right now.

8.12pm BST

So having said that, Dowell nearly gives Forest a foothold in the game, whipping a glorious free kick towards the top right. But it’s an inch too high, and clatters into the post. Chelsea clear.

8.11pm BST

At Chelsea, Forest are hanging on. Kenedy races down the left and very nearly finds Batshuayi with a dribbler of a cross, but the striker’s a toenail shy of poking home. Then Fabregas releases Zappacosta, who finds the net but he’s offside.

8.08pm BST

Anything City can do, their rivals can match. Carrick quarterbacks from a deep position down the inside left. Mata, just inside the area, cushions the pass into the path of Rashford, coming in from the right. No mistake! Drama may well be at a premium tonight, the way things are going across the board.

8.06pm BST

Lovely twinkling toes on the edge of the D by Hazard. He slips the ball through the middle, Batshuayi sashaying into the area and clipping home.

8.04pm BST

Although goal-crazy Manchester City don’t need too much of a chance. Gundogan sees a snapshot from close range parried well by Foster; Sane is on hand to latch onto the rebound and smack home.

8.03pm BST

The matches at Old Trafford and the Hawthorns have kicked off, so all five matches are now underway. Just the one goal so far. Give them a chance.

8.00pm BST

Rudiger hoicks one in from the right wing. Ghosting in at the far post is Kenedy, who sidefoots with great purpose into the bottom left. The 1965, 1998, 2005, 2007 and 2015 winners take the lead against the champions of 1978, 1979, 1989 and 1990!

7.56pm BST

No goals yet in the three 7.45pm kick offs at Arsenal, Chelsea and Everton. Arsenal have gone closest, Olivier Giroud trying to out-spectacular his effort against Crystal Palace last season with a scissor kick against Doncaster. He’s clattered his effort onto the bar. “Great photo of the wholesome, nutritious beverage sponsor of yesteryear,” begins Peter Oh, child of the 80s. “In America in the 90s there was a popular advertisement campaign called Got Milk?, which featured images of celebrities sporting milk moustaches. Try that with a fizzy energy drink. It’s just not the same.”

7.53pm BST

And here’s Burton boss Nigel Clough, doing his bit to defend his Dad’s record. “Our mood is buoyant, we’ve been in a good run. These lads have played at Oldham and Cardiff, and have got us here, so I thought I’d stick with them. We need Man U to have an off night, they’re capable of tearing Premier League defences apart. We’ll try to hang on in there, and see if we can get a goal. We’ll try to enjoy it, we never know if we’ll ever come back here again. So we’re going to enjoy it, and have a go!”

7.51pm BST

Some hot Jose Mourinho pre-match chat. “We have to win tonight, and my experience in the English cups suggests that every match is a tricky one. Every opponent has a dream and every match can be very difficult. Let’s go step by step, and try to make the draw. Players are not happy when they don’t play, so I have to rotate. We have a good team, a team that respects the opponent, and a bench that gives me options should I need to meet changes.” Should Mourinho’s team retain their trophy this year, the manager becomes the most successful boss in League Cup history. He’s currently tied at the top with Brian Clough and Sir Alex Ferguson, having lifted the three-handled trophy on four occasions. He’s not worried about individual baubles, though, right?

7.31pm BST

It’s all change for Arsenal! Nobody who started the goalless draw at Chelsea is in their starting XI tonight. Jack Wilshere is back, as is Alexis Sanchez. League One Doncaster lost at home to Scunthorpe on Sunday; they make two swaps, with on-loan Chelsea midfielder Jordan Houghton and striker Alfie May coming in.

Chelsea make nine changes from that aforementioned goalless draw on Sunday. Gary Cahill and Cesc Fabregas are the only constants, while Willy Caballero makes his debut in goal, and Eden Hazard starts a match for the first time this season. Nottingham Forest make eight changes, with former Chelsea prospect Michael Mancienne the centrepiece of their defence.

7.05pm BST

Arsenal: Ospina, Holding, Mertesacker, Chambers, Maitland-Niles, Elneny, Wilshere, Nelson, Walcott, Sanchez, Giroud.
Subs: Iwobi, Monreal, Akpom, Macey, Joseph Willock, Da Silva, Nketiah.
Doncaster Rovers: Lawlor, Blair, Butler, Whiteman, Wright, Kongolo, Mason, Coppinger, Rowe, Houghton, May.
Subs: Toffolo, Alcock, Marquis, Williams, Marosi, Mandeville, Garrett.

Chelsea: Caballero, Rudiger, Christensen, Cahill, Zappacosta, Fabregas, Bakayoko, Kenedy, Musonda, Batshuayi, Hazard.
Subs: Morata, Moses, Willian, Clarke-Salter, Eduardo, Ampadu, Sterling.
Nottingham Forest: Henderson, Worrall, Hobbs, Mancienne, Lichaj, Bouchalakis, Osborn, Dowell, Fox, Cummings, Walker.
Subs: McKay, Clough, Brereton, Carayol, Darikwa, Vellios, Smith.

11.15am BST

It’s the third round of the League Cup! (No, I can’t bring myself to call it that. Rumbelows never seemed a classier brand.) And here are the remaining fixtures, to be played this fine evening ...

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The Fiver | Breaking the space-time continuum by enjoying 136% possession

In today’s Fiver: Mark Sampson, Liverpool and an over-excited PR executive

Mark Sampson is set to leave his post as manager of the England women’s team. Get the latest on the story here.

Related: Liverpool’s Jürgen Klopp ‘really sick’ after Leicester punish poor defending

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The Fiver | Finally it seems Everton can claim the upper hand in something

In today’s Fiver: Merseyside shambles, a random bucket list and much more

As anyone who has followed football since 1892 will know, Everton have historically struggled to get one up on their fierce rivals Liverpool. For example, during the early 1960s, they were very much the Paris Saint-Germain of their day, chucking eye-watering sums of money around to land the best players available. The Mersey Millionaires duly landed the title … only for Liverpool to wrest it off them and bag another in short order. Everton began the following decade as champions of England while their neighbours were busy getting knocked out of the FA Cup by second-tier Watford … but Liverpool ended the 70s having won another four titles of their own with the Blues languishing in mid-table. And Graeme Souness suited his perm better than Bob Latchford. Then in May 2005, David Moyes led the club to fourth place in the Premier League, proudly leaving Rafael Beneath Us trailing in his wake, only for … well, perhaps they went a bit early with that particular riff.

Related: Ronald Koeman frustrated by José Mourinho’s top-four comment

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