Scott Murray's Blog, page 156

Masters 2017: Contenders and outsiders to watch, from Johnson to Luck

Dustin Johnson is in fine form, Hideki Matsuyama poses a threat while Rory McIlroy and Jason Day chase elusive Augusta glory

Once prone to buckling spectacularly with the majors in sight – think Pebble Beach in 2010, the Open at Sandwich or those three putts on the final green at Chambers Bay – the big man is fast becoming expert at calmly getting the job done. His confident march to the 2015 WGC-Cadillac at Doral was the first sign of a new inner serenity; his tranquil closing out of the 2016 US Open at Oakmont despite a wholly unfair rules brouhaha established the point, as well as finally breaking his major duck. On a run of three Tour victories in a row, and the current holder of three of the four WGC titles, the only worry is the fate of the most hotly tipped at Augusta National; no favourite has won since Tiger in 2005.

Related: Danny Willett: ‘There have been massive highs but some pretty low lows’

Related: Jordan Spieth: ‘To win the Masters you will have to beat Dustin Johnson’

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Southampton 0-0 Bournemouth: Premier League – as it happened

Harry Arter launched a penalty into space, denying Bournemouth a first-ever win at Southampton.

7.22pm BST

So that’s that. This game was threatening to turn into a real stinker, but the last quarter was pretty entertaining. Bournemouth have never won at Southampton, but they should have today. They were gifted the softest of penalties, but Harry Arter slipped, kicked the ball with both feet, and sent it high into the stand. It was the second half of his ersatz David Beckham tribute act, and in that sense the more successful part: earlier on, he tried to score from the halfway line. Saints remain the top dogs in the south, then, but both teams are comfortable enough in mid table. Last word to Julian Le Saux: “I bet you thought nobody was reading your commentary. There are actually millions of us out here, hanging on your every word, but we’ve all been keeping quiet as a joke! April fool!”

7.19pm BST

90 min +2: Smith stands over it ... and blasts it miles over the bar, an awful effort.

7.19pm BST

90 min +1: Fraser goes on a slalom run down the middle, and is bundled over from behind by Romeu. That’s the first booking of the match, and a free kick near the left corner of the Saints D.

7.17pm BST

90 min: There will be three added minutes.

7.16pm BST

89 min: Wilshere tries to Gazza his way into the Bournemouth box down the right. He’s easily hustled off the ball. But it’s the visitors who are finishing much the stronger.

7.15pm BST

88 min: Arter nearly makes up for the absurd penalty miss by sending a swerving shot towards the top right from 25 yards. It’s a lovely, sweet strike, but Forster tips it away at full stretch. That would have been a pearler, and some story.

7.13pm BST

86 min: Smith clatters into the busy Boufal out on the left. A free kick, and a chance to load the Bournemouth box. Bertrand’s delivery isn’t up to much, allowing Pugh to head clear purposefully.

7.12pm BST

85 min: Redmond makes good down the inside-right channel and sees his long-range effort deflected over the bar for a corner. From the set piece, Boufal twists and turns down the right, and sends a fierce cross in from a tight angle. Boruc does well to fist clear.

7.11pm BST

83 min: McQueen bursts down the left and does extremely well to dig out a cross from a tight position. Cook heads clear with Long winding his neck back behind him. Marvellous football all round.

7.09pm BST

81 min: Tadic is replaced by McQueen.

7.09pm BST

80 min: Afobe swans in from the right and sends a wild effort into the stand behind the goal. Remember: Bournemouth have never won at Southampton.

7.08pm BST

79 min: Arter slips as he reaches the ball. His left toe moves it half a turn forward, and his right blooters it miles over the bar! Beckhamesque!

7.06pm BST

78 min: Tadic loops long down the middle. Boruc comes out of his area and, under pressure from Romeu and Tadic, batters clear. Wilshere, on the counter, slides a pass down the right for Fraser, who enters the area and runs into the hanging arm of Bertrand. Jon Moss points to the spot! That’s a very generous penalty. There’s not much in that at all.

7.04pm BST

76 min: Bournemouth have an extra body in midfield now, and they look so much happier. A collective spring in their step, they’re first to everything right now. Saints look a little rattled at this sudden turnaround in the flow of the game.

7.02pm BST

74 min: More nonsense in the Saints area! Pugh sends Daniels scampering away down the left. Daniels returns the ball. Pugh must score, with time on the penalty spot. But his low shot is blocked, and after some pinball stylings, a clearance is made.

7.00pm BST

72 min: Chaos in the Saints box! First Fraser very nearly bustles clear down the middle. He’s crowded out, but the ball breaks back to Smith, who rushes in from the right and creams a shot off the base of the left-hand post from 25 yards! The rebound falls to Pugh, who can’t sort his feet out. Saints survive. But how?!

6.57pm BST

70 min: King is replaced by Arsenal and the London Media’s Jack Wilshere.

6.56pm BST

69 min: Soares slips a ball down the right for Tadic, who turns and chips a gorgeous ball further down the channel for Long. The Saints striker strides into the box, draws Boruc, and sends a floater over the keeper and inches wide of the goal. As near as anyone’s come.

6.54pm BST

67 min: A dreadful loose pass in the centre circle by King sends Saints on the attack. Boufal spins and spins down the left, all along the byline, and very nearly into the six-yard box. Francis does very well to usher him out of play just before a real chance presents itself.

6.52pm BST

65 min: Soares swings a fine cross in from the right. Long can’t rise above Cook to meet it with his head, eight yards out. Where’s Rodriguez when you need him?

6.51pm BST

64 min: Saints make a double change: Ward-Prowse and an unhappy Rodriguez off; Boufal and Long on.

6.51pm BST

62 min: Saints go up the other end and nearly punish Bournemouth for that ludicrous miss. Redmond sends a swerving shot straight at Boruc, who parries. The ball breaks right to Tadic, who attempts to steer a shot into the left-hand side of the net, but sends it well wide. But this is a lot better! More of this, please, teams!

6.49pm BST

61 min: What a miss! A simple long ball, with Saints asleep. King beats Yoshida to a high ball and races down the right. Bournemouth are suddenly two on one, with Afobe in the middle, all clear! The pass inside is fine. Afobe takes a heavy touch, and prods an uncertain effort past Forster and wide of the left-hand post. That was appalling!

6.47pm BST

59 min: Bournemouth hoick it long for Afobe, who makes a token effort at chasing it down the right, knowing full well he’s got no chance of beating Yoshida to the prize.

6.45pm BST

57 min: Did Arter try to score from inside his own half there? Please say no. It wasn’t clear what else he could have been trying to do, though. A through ball? But there was nobody there. The ball barely reaches the edge of the Saints area, anyway. Forster tidies up and has the good grace not to guffaw in the theatrical style.

6.43pm BST

56 min: This is a pretty miserable game. To think the poor home fans have waited the best part of two months for this.

6.42pm BST

54 min: After a long period of sterile possession in the middle of the park, Saints burst down the inside-right channel through Davis. He flips a ball inside for Rodriguez, on the right-hand corner of the six-yard box, but the striker’s gone too early and the flag goes up for offside before he can get a shot away.

6.39pm BST

52 min: Still raining.

6.38pm BST

50 min: Redmond skedaddles down the right wing before cutting inside and spraying a delightful crossfield pass towards Tadic on the left. Eventually the ball’s slipped towards Bertrand near the corner flag, and he whips a cross towards the near post. Rodriguez is sniffing about, but can’t quite connect.

6.37pm BST

49 min: Smith makes a bit of ground down the right but, with King and Afobe in the middle screaming for a pass, his cross doesn’t beat the first man Stephens.

6.35pm BST

48 min: A subdued atmosphere at St Mary’s now. Nothing much going on, you see.

6.35pm BST

46 min: With less than a minute of the half gone, Surman is hooked for Arter. Slightly strange. Surman tweaked something while miskicking in front of goal towards the end of the first half; it looks as though he’s tried to run it off, but couldn’t continue.

6.33pm BST

Right-o, here we go again! Bournemouth get the ball rolling for the second half. Neither side has made a change. Afobe goes up for a high ball, and looks to have come back down to earth, bang on his coccyx. Ooyah oof. He’s up and about again soon enough.

6.22pm BST

Half-time quiz. Events at Madeira Airport earlier this week will have no doubt reminded Saints fans of the great Ted Bates statue debacle. Anyway, poor old Cristiano Ronaldo is the latest victim of a professional sculptor phoning it in, and to mark the occasion, we knocked up the following quiz. Enjoy!

Related: Who are the footballers celebrated in these statues? – quiz

6.18pm BST

The half ends with a couple of corners for Saints, who push hard for the goal their overall dominance has deserved. But it doesn’t come. Not a classic, but that doesn’t mean the second 45 can’t be the half of the season. Faith! See you in ten minutes!

6.16pm BST

45 min: Saints come straight back at Bournemouth, Rodriguez chasing after a long punt down the inside-right channel. He takes a stride into the area and sends a sweet dipping volley over Boruc and towards the top left. But the keeper manages to arc backwards and tip the ball over the bar. The corner leads to nothing, though Yoshida falls to the floor under pressure from Afobe, and there’s a weak shout for a penalty kick. Nope.

6.14pm BST

44 min: Gosling and Tadic get tangled up down the Saints right. The ball pings out of play, and that’s a corner for the hosts. The set piece is whipped towards the near post by Tadic. Yoshida rises high, and attempts to steer a header into the top left, but sends it flashing wide.

6.12pm BST

42 min: Forster looks to be in full-on flap mode today. Here he comes racing through a crowded area to punch clear a long Fraser hoof. All he achieves is the clattering of his own man Stephens to the ground. The punch was awful, and very nearly broke to Afobe, 12 yards out. But it’s eventually cleared. And it looks as though the momentarily confused Stephens will be all right after a fashion.

6.10pm BST

40 min: Some scrappy rubbish on the edge of the Saints area. Neither King nor Afobe can get a serious shot away, and the danger, such as it was, is gone.

6.09pm BST

38 min: Ward-Prowse busies himself down the inside-right channel, and pulls a pass across for Tadic on the edge of the Bournemouth box. Tadic takes a touch, shifts himself to the left, and clips a lovely shot off the outside of the left-hand post. Goal kick, but a few inches to the left, and that was whistling into the net past the rooted Boruc.

6.08pm BST

37 min: Davis tries to up the tempo. A flick on the edge of the Bournemouth area doesn’t quite come off. So he picks up the rebound and sends Bertrand scampering towards the byline down the right. A low, driven cross is hacked clear by Cook, with Romeu lurking.

6.06pm BST

35 min: Surman injured himself in making that lunge. He’ll be OK to continue by the looks of it, but there’s a couple of minutes of treatment.

6.05pm BST

33 min: ... Francis heads weakly goalwards. Forster comes off his line and flaps. Surman sticks out a leg, six yards from goal. He doesn’t connect, but Forster misses the ball altogether, and is relieved when Davis clears off the line.

6.03pm BST

32 min: King strips the ball from a dozing Ward-Prowse in the centre circle. He tears off down the left, and is tugged back by the Saints man. No booking. What a nice man Jon Moss is. A free kick, though, and the lump into the box is headed behind for a corner on the right by Stephens, with Fraser lurking. And from the set piece...

6.01pm BST

30 min: Bournemouth are working their way into this game at long last. So much so that Pugh attempts, and nearly perfectly executes, a Cruyff Turn out on the left touchline. Soares isn’t fooled and puts a stop to his gallop. But this is a little better from the Cherries, who are finally enjoying their share of midfield possession.

5.59pm BST

28 min: Daniels earns another corner for the visitors, down the left off Soares. The set piece is punched weakly upfield by Forster. Gosling is in space, 20 yards out. Anything on target, through a crowded box, could cause trouble, but he skelps a dismal effort over the crossbar.

5.57pm BST

27 min: Bournemouth go up the other end and win their own corner. That proves a nonsense as well. This game hasn’t quite sparked into life yet. Plenty of time.

5.57pm BST

25 min: It’s raining quite a lot. Saints stroke it around the back awhile. All of a sudden, Ward-Prowse bursts down the middle, feeds Rodriguez further along the channel, and it’s a corner. The award is met with ironic cheering at goal volume. That’s the most fun Southampton can extract from the situation, for the actual set piece is a waste of time.

5.54pm BST

23 min: Saints have been well on top, but they nearly gave up the first big chance of the match here. A long ball down the Bournemouth left sees King scamper into a lot of space. For a second, it looks like he’ll be breaking into the Saints area and shooting, but Stephens comes across to cover magnificently, snuffing out the danger.

5.52pm BST

22 min: Redmond is a talent. He bursts through a small space down the middle of the park, and looks to slip Bertrand clear down the right, but Pugh clips him to the floor. Just a free kick; Jon Moss really is in a kindly mood this evening. The resulting free kick is lofted towards the Bournemouth box, then Romeu cushions a tame header straight into the arms of Boruc.

5.50pm BST

19 min: Redmond sails down the left wing with ease. He cuts inside and passes square towards Rodriguez. The ball doesn’t reach Rodriguez; rather it’s deflected towards the left-hand corner of the six-yard box. Rodriguez is the first to react, and very nearly smashes a shot goalwards from a tight angle. But Cook is over to cover, and that’s a corner. Or at least it should be. The referee points for a goal kick.

5.48pm BST

17 min: Bournemouth are second to everything right now. Tadic slips a ball down the left for Rodriguez, who drops a shoulder to power inside, and blasts a shot towards the near post. Boruc stoops to gobble up the shot. It’s surely just a matter of time before Saints score; Bournemouth simply haven’t turned up yet. That international break really has jiggered their rhythm.

5.46pm BST

15 min: Redmond tears down the left in a fever, and whips a low curling ball into the Bournemouth box. Rodriguez is free! He puts the ball in the net, at the second attempt, after Boruc smothers his first sidefoot from the penalty spot. But the flag’s gone up for offside. It’s the correct decision. Bournemouth were ludicrously open there.

5.44pm BST

14 min: All a bit scrappy. What can you do.

5.43pm BST

12 min: Bournemouth are struggling to retain any sort of meaningful possession. Gosling sloppily concedes the ball to Romeu, who sends Rodriguez scampering into a lot of space in the Bournemouth half. But having drifted out to the right, and with Redmond free in the middle, he hesitates and the danger is gone. That looked a promising break for a few seconds.

5.40pm BST

10 min: Cook requires a bit of treatment after over-stretching in a tackle on Rodriguez. It looks like he’ll be OK to continue, but Eddie Howe looked concerned for a minute there.

5.39pm BST

9 min: A long ball down the middle is headed by Rodriguez out to the right, allowing the busy Tadic to stride into the box and lash a low shot across Boruc and out of play to the left of goal. This is all Southampton.

5.38pm BST

8 min: Tadic, playmaking from deep, rakes a ball down the inside-right channel for Rodriguez. The Saints striker nearly breaks clear but Daniels is on his shoulder and the danger is snuffed out.

5.37pm BST

6 min: A free kick for Bournemouth out on the left, and a chance to load the box. Fraser’s free kick is easily cleared by Yoshida. Redmond looks to punish Bournemouth on the break, but he’s tugged back by Smith as he races upfield. You’ve seen bookings for that, too. The referee is being very lenient during these opening exchanges.

5.36pm BST

5 min: Saints have started brightly, though. Ward-Prowse crosses from the right for Tadic; not quite. Then Tadic curls one in from the left and nearly finds Rodriguez, who can’t connect properly from ten yards.

5.35pm BST

4 min: The ball drops to Tadic, 25 yards out. There’s no real danger, until Francis inexplicably drops off instead of closing down his man. It’s a preposterous decision, and gives Tadic time and space to step forward and line up a shot from the edge of the box. Given the generous opportunity, he probably should score. Or at least get his shot on target. But instead he sends a witless blooter high into the crowd.

5.32pm BST

2 min: Fraser looks to turn Bertrand down the right, and is upended from behind for his trouble. A little more time on the clock and you suspect that could have been a yellow card. But it’s early, so there’s no fuss. The resulting free kick is in the middle of the park, and leads to nothing.

5.31pm BST

And we’re off! Saints get the ball rolling. And then there’s a bit of head tennis in the middle of the park. The home supporters giving it plenty. Hey, they’ve been patient, they’ve earned the right.

5.27pm BST

The teams are out! Southampton are in their favoured red and white stripes, so Bournemouth can’t get away with their usual red and black garb. The visitors are in second-choice blue. Pompey blue, if you fancy ratcheting it up a notch. There’s a fine atmosphere at St Mary’s. No wonder, since it’s a local derby, though in addition the hosts have waited a long while to sing their songs: Saints haven’t played a home game since West Ham won 3-1 here in early February.

5.19pm BST

Claude Puel speaks! “It is always difficult to play just every two weeks. Bournemouth have had just three players away for the international break, so were able to work with everyone. By contrast, we have had 15 players away. It is always difficult. But it’s important we keep focus. The statistic [that Bournemouth have never won at Southampton] is not for me. I think it is important to keep a good focus, they are a good technical team, and I respect them.”

5.13pm BST

Eddie Howe speaks, and begins by addressing why London media obsession Jack Wilshere remains on the bench. “The last few games, we’ve created chances and looked solid at the back. The players are in good shape. We’re confident we can carry on where we left off. We’re aware of our record here [Bournemouth have never won at Southampton] and it’s something we want to break. We’re fighting for points.”

4.39pm BST

It’s pretty much as you were for both teams. Southampton make the one change from the side sent out to a narrow 2-1 defeat at Tottenham before the international break. And it’s enforced. Jay Rodriguez takes the place of the injured Manolo Gabbiadini.

Bournemouth meanwhile name the same XI who started the 2-0 victory over Swansea a couple of weeks ago. It’s seven points from the last nine for the Cherries, so hey, if it ain’t broke.

4.36pm BST

Southampton: Forster, Soares, Stephens, Yoshida, Bertrand, Davis, Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Tadic, Redmond, Rodriguez.
Subs: Clasie, Long, Caceres, Boufal, Hojbjerg, McQueen, Hassen.

Bournemouth: Boruc, A Smith, Francis, S Cook, Daniels, Fraser, Surman, Gosling, Pugh, King, Afobe.
Subs: Arter, Brad Smith, Stanislas, Allsop, Wilshere, Ibe, Cargill.

9.53am BST

They take turns being top dog down south. Portsmouth were the dominant force during the late 1940s and early 1950s. Southampton became the daddies in the 1970s and 1980s. Portsmouth were in charge again during the 2000s. And now, should Bournemouth win at St Mary’s this evening in the Dorset-Hampshire derby, the Cherries will leapfrog the Saints in the Premier League pecking order and take over as reigning kings of the south coast. Temporarily at least. It’s all to play for!

Of course, this Saints-Cherries rivalry, while very much local, is not particularly intense. Not compared to the vicious Saints-Pompey affair, anyway. Little in the way of history between the clubs, you see. Since Bournemouth reached the top flight for the first time in 2015, they’ve beaten Saints once and lost to them twice. Other than that, Saints did the double over them in League One in 2010/11, and knocked them out of the League Cup that same year too. Beforehand, Bournemouth triumphed in a League Cup tie in 1987, but then we have to go back another thirty years or so for some semi-regular Third Division action. Here, the events of 1957/58 look particularly tasty: Bournemouth won 5-2 at Dean Court, while Saints triumphed 7-0 at the Dell.

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Liverpool 3-1 Everton: Premier League – as it happened

Sadio Mane scored a fine goal before going off injured as Liverpool’s recent domination of the Merseyside derby continued.

2.43pm BST

Paul Wilson’s match report from Anfield:

Related: Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho quick to send Everton to derby defeat

2.24pm BST

Liverpool do the double over their Merseyside rivals! They’re deserved winners of a game which threatened to boil over once or twice, but in the end didn’t. It’s three wins out of three in the derby for Jurgen Klopp, who will be happy with his team’s performance, but worried about Sadio Mane’s fitness. And so Everton’s barren run at Anfield goes on. Still no win here since 1999.

2.21pm BST

90 min +3: Everton have the ball, but Liverpool are sitting back, and there’s no way through.

2.20pm BST

90 min +2: Mirallas dribbles with purpose down the left, but eventually runs out of room.

2.18pm BST

90 min +1: There will be four added minutes. Most of the first is used up by Williams, as he slowly walks to the touchline after his medical moment.

2.17pm BST

90 min: Williams is down in his own area. While he’s getting treatment, Firmino is replaced by Klavan.

2.16pm BST

88 min: Lukaku works a little space down the inside-right channel, but his cross into the area - populated by more blue shirts than red - floats harmlessly out to the left of goal. Frustration furrows his brow.

2.15pm BST

87 min: Mirallas turns Milner easily in the midfield, glides past a static Matip, and drifts out to the right. For a second, it looks like he’s going to score a goal not unlike Mane’s early opener, but upon reaching the right-hand side of the Liverpool D, he blasts wildly over the bar.

2.13pm BST

85 min: Alexander-Arnold is not short of confidence. Wijnaldum finds him on the edge of the Everton area, and the young man attempts a curler into the top right. Robles claims it easily enough.

2.13pm BST

2.11pm BST

83 min: Wijnaldum makes good down the left and crosses low. Barkley intercepts with Alexander-Arnold and Origi in attendance. He opts to dribble across his own box, and is dispossessed by a Peter Beardsleyesque tackle from behind. Pocket picked. Origi can’t subsequently work the space to shoot, mind, but that was impressive persistence.

2.09pm BST

82 min: Calvert-Lewin is replaced by Mirallas.

2.08pm BST

80 min: Can should send the ambitious Alexander-Arnold clean through on goal, but his misplaced pass allows Williams to intercept. Then Clyne goes on a romp down the right, but his decent low cross, trundling along the corridor of uncertainty, is snaffled well by Robles with Origi lurking.

2.07pm BST

79 min: A hesitant Matip opts to leave a long ball sent down the middle, and very nearly lets Lukaku in on goal. Fortunately for the Liverpool defender, Lovren is on hand to hack away from trouble.

2.05pm BST

77 min: Can turns into space down the right, reaches the byline and pulls a ball back for Alexander-Arnold. The pass is a little behind the marauding full back, but he digs out a shot anyway, scooping a strange effort across Robles and towards the top left. The keeper claws it out of the air, a fine save, even if the whole thing was played out in trippy slow-mo.

2.03pm BST

76 min: Wijnaldum romps down the left into acres, and sets up Origi on the edge of the Everton D. The striker should belt one goalwards, but hesitates and the chance is gone.

2.01pm BST

74 min: The free kick is cleared by Matip. And then a slightly surprising substitution by Klopp, who removes Coutinho in favour of Alexander-Arnold. Recognition that Everton have been on the front foot for a while.

2.00pm BST

72 min: Barkley is bossing the midfield right now. He sprays a pass wide right towards Holgate, whose fierce cross is deliberately top-armed by Milner, to the right of the Liverpool area. Free kick in a dangerous position. No booking, strangely. The referee is all over the shop today.

1.58pm BST

69 min: Everton come very close to halving the deficit. Holgate has a blast from distance on the right. Mignolet, having gone down early, somehow manages to claw it away from danger. Baines recycles the ball on the left, and sends in a cross which Barry somehow heads over from close range. This is far from over.

1.57pm BST

68 min: Can is booked for a studs-up lunge on Gueye. He’s saved a red card by pulling out of the challenge at the very last second. This game should never have got so ugly.

1.54pm BST

67 min: Everton make a double change. Davies is replaced by Valencia, while Barry comes on for the goalscorer Pennington.

1.52pm BST

65 min: A lengthy stoppage, but Can’s finally up and about, and looks like he’ll be able to continue.

1.51pm BST

62 min: Williams faffs about in the midfield. He takes a heavy touch and chases after the ball, studs up. He clatters into Can, and that’s a booking. Can looks in real agony here, with stud marks across his knee.

1.49pm BST

This was way too simple. Coutinho shimmies in from the left, draws Williams and slips the ball inside for Origi. The sub takes a stride towards the box and lashes a shot into the top left. Robles had charged out to the edge of the area, which was a strange decision. Everton have not defended well today.

1.46pm BST

59 min: Origi dribbles in from the left wing and looks to curl an ambitious one into the top right. Nope.

1.46pm BST

58 min: Liverpool look a bit rattled by the Mane injury, and Everton are enjoying the lion’s share right now. Barkley Gazzas his way from left to right across the front of the Liverpool box. He slips the ball wide right to Holgate, who should find Lukaku free in the middle, six yards out. But the cross isn’t any good.

1.44pm BST

56 min: Liverpool will hope that’s not too serious, but that could be an ankle-ligament job. Mane limps off down the tunnel. Origi will come on. In the meantime, Barkley has a whack from distance; his shot balloons off a red shirt and threatens to squirm into the top right, but Mignolet is behind it and able to gather.

1.42pm BST

54 min: A worry for Liverpool here as Mane twists his ankle while challenging with the innocent Baines. He goes down and receives lengthy treatment. He tries to limp off, with a view to playing on, but falls again before he can leave the pitch. He’ll not continue.

1.40pm BST

51 min: Barkley slips over in the midfield, but earns a free kick because Can plants a boot on his arm. Like Williams earlier on, that was daft and asking for trouble, but it’s nothing more than a free kick that goes nowhere. The referee’s been a bit laissez-faire today.

1.37pm BST

50 min: A pleasing end-to-end start to this second half. Everton force a corner down the right. Barkley’s delivery is cleared by Milner. Good luck guessing which team scores next.

1.36pm BST

49 min: But Everton are still looking shaky at the back themselves. Can dribbles in from the left and gets a shot away from the edge of the area. It’s blocked by Williams. On another day, Coutinho is slapping the rebound home from six yards, but it sticks under his feet. Everton clear.

1.35pm BST

48 min: A free kick for Everton down the left. Barkley floats it to the far post. Williams tries to guide it back across the face of goal with a telescopic leg, but the ball’s too near Mignolet, who smothers. Liverpool’s defenders are still in the dressing room, I think.

1.34pm BST

46 min: Davies, deep inside his own half on the right, sets Everton on the attack with a glorious first-time crossfield rake. Lukaku is sent striding down the right, and crosses for Calvert-Lewin, but Matip smacks clear. Everton showing early intent, though. A big few minutes coming up.

1.32pm BST

Here we go again, then! Liverpool get the ball rolling and they’re kicking towards the Kop in the second half, which is just how they like it. Then again, Everton are kicking towards the end at which this happened ...

1.24pm BST

Half-time reading: Can Everton get back into the derby? Sure they can, with Romelu Lukaku leading their line, a player of power and poise who fits into a grand tradition stretching all the way back to Dixie Dean. Jonathan Wilson ran the rule over him earlier in the week.

Related: Everton’s Romelu Lukaku is a traditional No9 who could play in any era

1.19pm BST

Can tries to beat Jagiekla in a foot race down the right. Neither man being the fastest, it’s a faintly comical sight, and both of them have the good grace to smile wryly as Can is penalised for running into the back of the Everton man. And that’s that for an engrossing first half. With this game still thoroughly in the balance, you’ll not be going anywhere, I’ll be bound.

1.16pm BST

45 min: Coutinho embarks on another hectic ramble down the inside-left channel. He very nearly makes space to shoot again, but Gueye nips in from behind to steal the ball, a wonderful challenge with his team in danger.

1.15pm BST

44 min: A much-needed period of calm. The referee could do with half-time coming round quickly.

1.14pm BST

42 min: Lucas comes clattering into Holgate, face to face, momentum knocking the young man down like a skittle. On the touchline, Koeman goes into meltdown, demanding a yellow card and then engaging Klopp in philosophical debate. There wasn’t much in that, but tempers are fraying now.

1.11pm BST

40 min: Coutinho has a look from the edge of the box, but the ball drifts well wide left.

1.11pm BST

39 min: This is beginning to heat up now. Lukaku wins a towering header to set up Barkley, 30 yards from goal. But Barkley overruns the ball, and in trying to retrieve it, plants his studs on Lovren’s shin. That’s a leg-breaker of a challenge, and he should be sent off. Luckily it doesn’t seem to have done Lovren any serious damage. Barkley is booked, preposterously for repeated transgressions, if Anthony Taylor’s mime is anything to go by.

1.08pm BST

36 min: Williams plants his boot in the small of Can’s back, after the Liverpool player fell forward while laying a ball off to a team-mate. There wasn’t much meat in the stamp, more of a gentle prod really, but it was a deliberate motion, and daft too, because if the officials had spotted it, he could have been in serious trouble. Strange, because while this game has been contested at a high tempo, and there have been a few crunching challenges, it’s been played in the right spirit.

1.05pm BST

34 min: Coutinho, so impressive for Brazil during the week, is back on his game it would seem. He very nearly breaks clear down the left channel, latching onto a Firmino backheel. Williams is forced into a panicked clearance into the stand behind the goal. Mane is penalised for pushing at the corner, some much-needed relief for Everton who, after hauling themselves level, were beginning to rock again.

1.02pm BST

Pennington was the hero a minute ago, but he’s at fault here. He allows Coutinho to run at him down the inside-left channel. Run and run and run. He doesn’t get tight enough. Coutinho enters the box, drops a shoulder to the right, and curls one into the top right! Some game we’ve got here.

1.01pm BST

31 min: Liverpool try to respond immediately, Firminho sending a header goalwards. Jagielka blocks. The rebound falls to Can, scampering in from the right. He belts the ball. It’s blocked again. Everton clear. But in vain, because...

1.00pm BST

The ball’s fired at head height towards the near post. Jagielka eyebrows it on. Williams can’t connect as it drops to the ground, but the ball sits up, six yards from goal, and Pennington, making his first start of the season, can’t miss! He smashes it into the net and celebrates in front of the Kop!

12.58pm BST

28 min: Calvert-Lewin works his way down the left and earns another Everton corner. From which...

12.57pm BST

26 min: The first yellow card of the match, as young Tom Davies slides in recklessly on Mane. From the side, but very late, flipping the player high into the air. In fairness to the referee, that was the most obvious of all the potential bookings, and he has no choice but to flash his card.

12.56pm BST

25 min: Barkley dribbles in the Gazzaesque style down the inside-right channel, and is unceremoniously upended by Can. That could have been a booking too, but it’s just a free kick, to the right of the D. A dangerous position, but Baines clatters it straight into the wall.

12.54pm BST

24 min: Liverpool ping it around in the pretty fashion, Mane cutting in from the right, laying off for Coutinho, who in turn finds Milner down the left. Milner should send Wijnaldum away, but shanks his pass down the flank into the stand. Milner puffs his cheeks out hard, knowing full well he let backtracking Everton off the hook.

12.52pm BST

22 min: The first corner of an open match, as the ever-dangerous Baines curls one in from the left. It’s intended for Lukaku, but Matip slashes it into the Kop. Jagielka gets his head onto the resulting set piece, but flies that one into the famous old stand too.

12.51pm BST

19 min: Coutinho scampers clear down the left, after a Firmino pass. He enters the box, drops a shoulder, and works plenty of space to shoot. He curls one towards the top right, and it’s parried well by Robles. Nevertheless, the ball flies into the sky, and would loop into the top right were it not for Jagielka, heading clear off the line. Coutinho should probably have given Robles no chance, but take nothing away from the save.

12.49pm BST

18 min: Mane has the opportunity to feed Clyne into an awful lot of space down the right, but chooses to go inside himself, and eventually loses possession with a loose pass.

12.48pm BST

16 min: Lukaku brushes Lucas off with contemptuous ease, holding the ball and setting Everton on the attack. Baines, out on the left, scoops a fine cross into the Liverpool box. The ball evades Lovren, who mistimes his jump, and falls at the feet of Calvert-Lewin, on the right-hand corner of the six-yard box. But the young Evertonian takes his eye off the ball and lets it roll under his boot. What a chance he’d have had, were he able to trap it then.

12.45pm BST

14 min: But they’re still a bit frantic and panicked in the middle of the park. A loose Davies ball is pounced on by Coutinho, who should break into a lot of space with Everton light at the back but takes a heavy touch.

12.44pm BST

13 min: Everton enjoy a little possession in the midfield, taking the opportunity to take the heat out of the game. Liverpool were looking for the quick second goal there, so it’s a wise tactic.

12.42pm BST

11 min: Can has a belt from distance. His shot is deflected wide left and lands at the feet of Firmino, who very nearly opens Everton up after an exchange with the busy Can. Wijnaldum was hovering around too, but Holgate keeps his head to intercept and clear.

12.40pm BST

10 min: Everton are rocking. Coutinho attempts to replicate Mane’s moment of brilliance with a dribble of his own, sliding right to left and very nearly bustling into the box. But he tries one hip-swivelling shimmy too many, and Williams slides in to block before he can shoot. For a second, though, it looked like a second might be on the cards.

12.39pm BST

So much for everyone calming down! Mane turns deep on the right. He exchanges passes with Firminho and drifts inside. He could slip Coutinho into the box, but continues drifting to the left. When he reaches the left-hand edge of the D, he swivels and threads a shot into the bottom right, past a stranded, planted Robles! What a solo effort that is! Anfield erupts.

12.37pm BST

6 min: The first brouhaha of the afternoon as Barkley clatters into Can in the centre circle. Lucas wants the yellow card flourished, much to Lukaku’s irritation, and this should be a booking too, as Barkley had landed his studs flush on the top of Can’s boot. But again the ref plays it cool. He does get Jagielka and Milner together for a lecture, though. Calm down, everyone.

12.35pm BST

4 min: Everton’s young team seem to have settled well enough. Davies, Barkley and Holgate are all involved in some pretty triangulation down the right, though the move comes to nothing. Then Baines steals a yard from Clyne down the left, and he’s pulled back. Only a free kick; by rights, that should have been a booking for the Liverpool right back. But the referee, Anthony Taylor, decides to keep his powder dry for now.

12.32pm BST

2 min: All a bit scrappy in the early exchanges. Barkley snaps at Matip’s heels on the edge of the Liverpool box, but a cheeky drag-back by the defender gets him out of trouble.

12.31pm BST

And we’re off! Everton get the ball rolling, and kick towards the Kop in this first half. It’s launched long. Lucas miskicks, and nearly gifts possession to Lukaku on the edge of the box. But Lucas gathers himself and clears at the second attempt. Some atmosphere at Anfield, but that goes without saying on days like these.

12.29pm BST

No pre-match chat with Jurgen Klopp. A pre-record, but nothing said this morning. If there was, I missed him, so apologies for that. Anyway, amid the usual derby-day bedlam, the teams come out. Liverpool in red, Everton in blue, the classic aesthetic of Merseyside. But before the game starts, there’s a heartfelt rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone and a minute’s applause for Ronnie Moran, Mr Liverpool, who passed away last week. One way or another, he was involved in 13 League titles, four European Cups, five FA Cups, five League Cups and two Uefa Cups. He celebrated one of those titles by plonking a cardboard box full of winners medals on the dressing room table and telling the team to take one “if you think you deserve it”. Seems he also used to refer to Jamie Redknapp in training as “Harry”. Wonderful. RIP Bugsy.

Related: Ronnie Moran, Liverpool captain and boot room legend, dies aged 83

12.05pm BST

Ronald Koeman speaks! “We have not adjusted a lot. The game plan for today is not changed. Of course the position of Seamus Coleman has changed, and Mason Holgate is starting. And the same thing has happened with Ramiro Funes Mori and Matthew Pennington. The rest is the same. Of course they are two young players, but I am totally confident in them. It is a big day for everybody, but Pennington is doing really well, I am not afraid to start him in this match.”

11.51am BST

Pre-match reading. In lieu of having a programme to idly flick through, here’s a classic Joy of Six from the pen of Peerless Paul Doyle.

Related: The Joy of Six: classic Merseyside derbies

Related: The Joy of Six: Merseyside derby moments | Scott Murray

11.42am BST

Neither club is able to name the starting line-up they’d rather. Damn those internationals. Liverpool are missing Adam Lallana, who picked up a thigh strain with England. Lucas comes in to replace him; bang goes plenty of creativity. Still no Jordan Henderson, but Dejan Lovren is back in the centre of the defence, replacing Ragnar Klavan.

Everton suffered more than most during the break. Ramiro Funes Mori picked up a knee injury with Argentina, while Republic of Ireland pair James McCarthy and the desperately unlucky Seamus Coleman are also out. Morgan Schneiderlin meanwhile still hasn’t recovered from his calf problem. Matthew Pennington, Mason Holgate and Dominic Calvert-Lewin give the Toffees a very fresh-faced look.

11.32am BST

Liverpool: Mignolet, Clyne, Matip, Lovren, Milner, Can, Lucas, Wijnaldum, Mane, Firmino, Coutinho.
Subs: Karius, Grujic, Klavan, Moreno, Origi, Woodburn, Alexander-Arnold.

Everton: Robles, Jagielka, Williams, Holgate, Pennington, Davies, Gueye, Baines, Barkley, Lukaku, Calvert-Lewin.
Subs: Kone, Mirallas, Barry, Valencia, Stekelenburg, Lookman, Kenny.

Related: Joel Robles confident Everton will end Liverpool’s Anfield derby dominance

12.51am BST

Evertonians using recent history as their guide won’t fancy this one at all. The most recent Merseyside derby, played just before Christmas, was settled by a late Sadio Mané smash and grab. Everton’s last visit to Anfield was a four-goal humiliation in which they hardly touched the ball. They’ve not beaten Liverpool since Roy Hodgson was wedged in the away dugout at Goodison with a confused grin spread across his face: that was seven years ago. And they’ve not won on their arch rivals’ turf since the slap-happy days of Sander Westerveld and Franny Jeffers: Kevin Campbell’s winner was 18 years ago. Eighteen years!

And yet despite all that, there will be plenty of Evertonians who fancy this one very much. See, there’s a feelgood vibe emanating from Everton right now. Since defeat in the derby in December, they’ve lost just one league fixture in a dozen, and there’s no shame in getting beaten away at Spurs. They’re looking sharp up front: 17 goals in their last six matches. They’re keeping it tight at the back: four clean sheets in the last five. Romelu Lukaku is the Premier League’s hottest striker, while Ronald Koeman effortlessly exudes the sort of confidence and gravitas beyond Roberto Martinez’s wildest dreams. The kids look highly promising, Ross Barkley’s back on song, there’s money in the bank, and a fancy new £300m stadium in the pipeline. Best of all, the thing about long winless streaks ... well, winless streaks have to end sometime, don’t they?

Related: Everton’s momentum gives Liverpool’s Jürgen Klopp his most testing derby yet | Andy Hunter

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Stoke 1-2 Chelsea, West Ham 2-3 Leicester City and more: clockwatch – as it happened

Another good day for runaway Premier League leaders Chelsea, as reigning champs Leicester finally win on the road this season.

5.04pm GMT

And now the Championship: Birmingham 0-0 Newcastle; Blackburn 2-2 Preston; Burton 3-5 Brentford; Cardiff 3-1 Ipswich; Fulham 1-3 Wolves; Norwich 2-0 Barnsley; Nottm Forest 2-2 Derby; QPR 5-1 Rotherham; Wigan 0-2 Aston Villa.

The Scottish Premiership: Aberdeen 2-0 Hearts; ICT 1-1 Ross County; Kilmarnock 1-1 Partick Thistle; Motherwell 1-2 St Johnstone; Rangers 4-0 Hamilton.

4.56pm GMT

The Premier League full times are in! Crystal Palace 1-0 Watford; Everton 4-0 Hull; Stoke 1-2 Chelsea; Sunderland 0-0 Burnley; WBA 3-1 Arsenal; West Ham 2-3 Leicester City.

So runaway leaders Chelsea take another step towards the title; Leicester finally win away from home this season; Palace pull away from danger at the bottom; and Everton move into sixth spot ahead of Manchester United. “If United win tomorrow at Boro they’ll do more than reclaim their spot from Everton: they’ll go above Arsenal into fifth place,” notes Julian Le Saux. “It’s Arsene Wenger whose jaiket is on the shoogliest of pegs at the moment if I’m not wrong.”

4.54pm GMT

A desperate late challenge on Fabregas, and he’s off.

4.51pm GMT

To answer my own question: yes.

4.49pm GMT

A huge goal at the bottom of the Scottish Premiership! Alex Schalk has scored an 86th-minute equaliser for Ross County in the Highland derby at ICT. A sickener for the bottom-placed Caley Jags. Meanwhile Conor Sammon has levelled things up for Kille against Partick in the 87th minute.

4.48pm GMT

They’re going to miss him if he goes, aren’t they.

4.47pm GMT

Stoke come back at Chelsea. Ramadan Sobhi shanks a great chance from ten yards, out for a throw. And then the league leaders go up the other end, Cahill making up for giving away a penalty by scoring what is surely the winner!

4.46pm GMT

What a game at Burton! Brentford took an early lead, Burton went 3-1 up, the visitors levelled, and now Brentford are 5-3 up, Lasse Vibe and Jota scoring a quick-fire late double to surely win a classic!

4.43pm GMT

Another chance for West Ham against Leicester! A big comic-book scramble in City’s area, but nobody in claret-and-blue can poke it home. Meanwhile a second goal for Villa at Wigan; Scott Hogan with that. And in League One, promotion-chasing Bolton were losing at home to Northampton, but Adam Le Fondre and Filipe Morais have turned that one around late on.

4.42pm GMT

And now Ayew has missed a one-on-one against Schmeichel! Leicester are hanging on a bit. Meanwhile up in Scotland, there might be hope for Oor Simon yet: Simon Murray has pulled one back for his Dundee United at Raith. It’s 2-1. And Martin Boyle has equalised for leaders Hibs against Dumbarton. That’s 2-2.

4.39pm GMT

Andy Carroll has just seen a downward header clawed away from the goal, Gordon Banks style, by Kasper Schmeichel. Carroll = Pele. Just writing that when I can.

4.37pm GMT

That red-card decision better have been correct, because it’s done for relegation-haunted Hull. More space in the midfield, and Enner Valencia one-twos with Lukaku to secure the three points. The Toffees will move up to sixth place, ahead of Manchester United, who’ll need to win at Middlesbrough tomorrow to reclaim their spot.

4.34pm GMT

Wolves have re-established their two-goal lead at Fulham: Dave Edwards tapping in to make it 3-1. James Chester has given Aston Villa the lead at Wigan. And up in the Scottish Premiership, Chris Erskine has given Partick Thistle the lead at Kilmarnock, while Rangers have made it 4-0 against the Accies, Lee Wallace with that one. A fine debut in the Ibrox dugout for Pedro Caixinha!

4.31pm GMT

A straight red card at Everton for a studs-up slide tackle on Lukaku. On the touchline, Marco Silva engages in trenchant philosophical debate with the fourth official, arguing that it’s a soft red.

4.28pm GMT

Chelsea are beginning to cause Stoke City some bother in the Potteries. Luiz hits a free kick from a stupid distance, not far inside the Stoke half. His brazen cheek is enough to shock Grant in the Stoke goal, who nearly parries the bouncing, swerving ball straight to Costa. Soon after, Alonso has a dig and rattles the bar. Stoke hanging on a little.

4.26pm GMT

Could it be three wins on the bounce for revitalised Palace? Troy Deeney has headed past his own keeper, and this could be a huge goal at the bottom of the Premier League table! Hull, Sunderland and Middlesbrough will be feeling the funk.

4.23pm GMT

Nope, that elusive away victory for Leicester City isn’t in the bag quite yet! Some head tennis after a corner, and Carroll sets up Ayew to reduce West Ham’s arrears!

4.22pm GMT

More news from Scotland, where Simon McMahon has slipped into Sunday Post vernacular. “United in a richt fankle noo, 2-0 Raith Rovers!! McKinnon’s jaiket will soon be on a shoogly peg at this rate. Hibs losing 2-1 at hame tae Dumbarton, tho. Seems naebody wants tae win this league.”

4.20pm GMT

Hull have been asking questions of Everton, but they were nearly made to pay for their new boldness by Romelu Lukaku on the break. It’s still 1-0 to the home heroes at Goodison. Dumbarton have quickly regained the lead at Hibs through Robert Thomson. And Brentford have hauled themselves level at Burton, Sergi Canos scoring his second of the afternoon from a prohibitive angle.

4.16pm GMT

Completing our Wolves triptych, Fulham have pulled a goal back at Craven Cottage through Denis Odoi. Martyn Waghorn has put Rangers 3-0 up against the Accies, converting a penalty kick. And in the Scottish Championship, leaders Hibs had been trailing Dumbarton at Easter Road, but a Daniel Harvie own goal has put them on terms.

4.12pm GMT

More good news for struggling Wolves: Brentford are back in it at relegation threatened Burton, Lasse Vibe reducing his side’s deficit to 2-3.

4.09pm GMT

This could be a big goal in Scotland: Greg Tansey gives Caley Thistle the lead in the Highland derby against Ross County. If they hold onto that, they’ll be leapfrogging Hamilton at the bottom, with the Accies currently losing at Ibrox. Meanwhile Andreas Weimann has given Wolves a 2-0 lead at Fulham. This would be some result for the old gold, who couldn’t have expected much against in-form play-off hopefuls.

4.07pm GMT

A lot of empty seats at Sunderland today. The folk who have turned up for the visit of Burnley nearly had something to celebrate early in the second half, but Fabio Borini couldn’t convert a one-on-one. Mild seething from the stands, though weary resignation remains the top note.

4.04pm GMT

The second halves are under way all across the country. More exciting breaking news as we have it!

3.54pm GMT

Some more news on Arsene Wenger, with Arsenal all over the shop right now. He says he will announce his decision about his future “very soon”. Ah, God bless the modern 24-hour breaking-news cycle. “I know what I will do in my future, so you will soon know. Very soon!”

3.52pm GMT

Some Premier League half-times, then! Crystal Palace 0-0 Watford; Everton 1-0 Hull; Stoke 1-1 Chelsea; Sunderland 0-0 Burnley; WBA 3-1 Arsenal (F); West Ham 1-3 Leicester.

The Championship: Birmingham 0-0 Newcastle; Blackburn 2-2 Preston (F); Burton 3-1 Brentford; Cardiff 1-1 Ipswich; Fulham 0-1 Wolves; Norwich 1-0 Barnsley; Forest 2-2 Derby (F); QPR 2-1 Rotherham; Wigan 0-0 Aston Villa.

3.48pm GMT

The latest news from our Cultural Cringe of the Day: Real Madrid are a goal up at Atheltic Bilbao, Cristiano Ronaldo setting up Karim Benzema just before the half hour.

3.45pm GMT

Clint Hill, the Rangers hero against Celtic last weekend, has scored again! A tap-in to put the Teddy Bears 2-0 up at home against the Accies. Meanwhile an equaliser for Motherwell against St Johnstone: Scott McDonald with that one. And our Clockwatch pal Simon McMahon will be beelin’: Craig Barr has given Raith the lead over downwardly mobile Dundee United.

3.43pm GMT

Sam Clucas has missed a glorious opportunity to level things for Hull at Everton. Ashley Barnes has similarly spurned one for Burnley at Sunderland. Matt Ritchie has bundled the ball into the net for Championship leaders Newcastle at Birmingham, but it’s been disallowed for offside. And Burton have made it 3-1 against Brentford; Cauley Woodrow with their latest.

3.40pm GMT

Carroll misses a simple clearing header from a Mahrez corner. Vardy is on hand to tap home. The champions, once again, are looking good for their first away win of the season. Leeds United 1992-93, eat your heart out!

3.38pm GMT

Cahill shoves Walters in the back. A soft penalty, but a penalty. Walters scoops himself up and slots the spot kick away. The league leaders are pegged back!

3.37pm GMT

Stoke have had the ball in the net against Chelsea, but they’re not level. Martins Indi heads home from a corner, but Berahino has been a-pushin’ and a-shovin’, and the flag goes up for saucy play. Meanwhile more bad news for the Blackburns and Forests of this world: Ivan Cavaleiro has put fellow Championship strugglers Wolves 1-0 up at promotion-chasing Fulham.

3.31pm GMT

Emerson Hyndman has given Rangers the lead over relegation-threatened Hamilton Accies at Ibrox. The other goal in the Scottish Premiership from the 3pm kick-offs so far: Liam Craig has put St Johnstone 1-0 up at Motherwell.

3.28pm GMT

Arsenal, who went down 3-1 at West Brom in the lunchtime kick-off, have now lost four of their last five Premier League games. Here’s under-fire Arsene Wenger, stating his case before the fan channels go into predictable (but predictably entertaining) meltdown. “It was a typical Premier League game nowadays where there is a team with a lot of the ball and a team who defends very well and plays on the counter-attack and set-pieces. We take all responsibility, it’s always a disappointment when you lose a game like that. We have all to take responsibility and to prepare for our next game. It’s very worrying because we are not used to that. Overall, I think we have a hell of a task to fight back but we need to regroup and focus on the games coming up because we have many big games.”

3.24pm GMT

So much for that Blackburn succour. At the foot of the Championship, Marvin Sordell levels things up for Burton against Brentford ... then adds a second to give Nigel Clough’s side the lead! Two goals in two minutes.

3.23pm GMT

Kasper Schmeichel was the hero at the King Power against Sevilla on Tuesday, but he shows Manuel Lanzini too much of the goal at a free kick, and the West Ham man whips it in. The Hammers are back in it! And Leicester’s first away win of the season isn’t secure quite yet!

3.17pm GMT

Some succour for Blackburn Rovers, who just threw away two points against Preston. It’s an early goal for Brentford at fellow strugglers Burton Albion. The former Liverpool winger Sergi Canos with that one.

3.15pm GMT

A mistake by Stoke City keeper Lee Grant, who flaps a ball straight into the road of Willian. The champions elect (yes) are on their way.

3.13pm GMT

The young man gives the Toffees an early lead! Barkley sets the 20-year-old up for his first Premier League goal on his first Premier League start for the club!

3.10pm GMT

... and this! First Mahrez floats a cross over Vardy and Okazaki and straight into the net. And within a few seconds of the restart, Huth heads an Albrighton cross home!

3.07pm GMT

No away win for Leicester this season yet. But look at this...

3.06pm GMT

Twitter, I take it all back. Seems it has a use after all. This is delightful. Many, many thanks to our man Gregg Bakowski for the tip-off.

John Burridge made his Palace debut 39 years ago today! pic.twitter.com/eNkrACM3HA

3.02pm GMT

Some afternoon of action already, huh? And there’s more to come, because the 3pm kick-offs are GO! “As in life (or sport) nothing alas in sport (or life) is ever certain,” begins Ian Copestake, who sounds as though he’s been at the poetry books again. “So three draws for Chelsea in a race in which a draw is the new loss will spring a cat among the aviary.” Two minutes gone, no goals yet. A long, long way to go!

3.00pm GMT

A couple of huge late goals in the early Championship kick-offs. Aiden McGeady has salvaged a draw for Preston North End at Blackburn Rovers, while Daniel Pinillos did likewise for Nottingham Forest against Derby County in the East Midlands derby. Both matches ended 2-2. That’ll hurt Rovers; had those matches both ended 60 seconds earlier, they were leapfrogging Forest at the bottom in the tight relegation scrap. As things stand, the 1995 Premier League champions are still third from bottom, still looking up at the 1979 and 1980 European Cup winners. Here, suddenly I feel very old.

2.47pm GMT

And there’s already one top-flight result in Scotland, too. Aberdeen have seen off Hearts 2-0 at Pittodrie, a result which means Celtic can’t win the title at Dundee tomorrow. (Their knees won’t be knocking too much, mind you; just two wins from their last ten matches will do it.) Shay Logan and Jonny Hayes got the goals for the second-placed Dons; Jayden Stockley was sent off for some petulance towards the end. The highlight of the game, though, was the manner in which Graeme Shinnie took down a ball from the heavens, then sent a pearler goalwards from 25 yards. Lionel Messi couldn’t have done any better. OK, couldn’t have done much better. Anyway, Jack Hamilton spilled Shinnie’s shot, Adam Rooney tucked away the rebound, the flag went up for offside, and I sense I’ve lost your attention already.

Anyway, all that happened. And with matters Caledonian in mind, here’s Simon McMahon with the usual: “Hot league action in Scotland today, not least in the Championship where Dundee United will be looking to arrest an alarming slump in form that has seen them drop to fourth against Raith Rovers. Leaders Hibs host Dumbarton and Falkirk meet Morton in the teatime kick off. In the Premiership it’s a Highland derby in Inverness as Ross County visit, and elsewhere it’s Rangers v Hamilton, Kilmarnock v Partick and Motherwell v St. Johnstone. In League One it’s East Fife v Alloa and Queens Park v Brechin, and in League Two Cowdenbeath, looking to avoid a third successive relegation, and on their best run of the season (unbeaten in two), host Montrose while Edinburgh City visit Clyde.”

2.39pm GMT

There’s already been one Premier League result. West Brom have swatted Arsenal aside, 3-1 at the Hawthorns. More highly strung comment pieces / YouTube rants regarding Arsene Wenger ahoy! Rob Smyth watched that one: here’s how his MBM unfolded. Paul Wilson had his eyes peeled too, and this is his match report.

2.36pm GMT

Crystal Palace make one change from the XI sent out for the win at West Brom. Jeff Schlupp comes in for Patrick van Aanholt. Watford make two changes to the starting XI that went down 4-3 against Southampton. Craig Cathcart and Darryl Janmaat are in; Jose Holebas and Stefano Okaka are out.

Everton make two changes to the 3-0 winners against West Brom. Idrissa Gueye and Dominic Calvert-Lewin come in for Kevin Mirallas and Gareth Barry. Hull City, fresh from a 2-1 win over Swansea, swap Kamil Grosicki for Curtis Davies.

2.07pm GMT

Crystal Palace: Hennessey, Ward, Tomkins, Sakho, Schlupp, Cabaye, Milivojevic, Zaha, Puncheon, Townsend, Christian Benteke.
Subs: Speroni, Dann, Campbell, Lee, Sako, Delaney, Kelly.
Watford: Gomes, Cathcart, Kaboul, Prodl, Britos, Janmaat, Capoue, Behrami, Cleverley, Niang, Deeney.
Subs: Amrabat, Success, Doucoure, Zuniga, Holebas, Pantilimon, Okaka.
Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire)

Everton: Robles, Coleman, Ashley Williams, Jagielka, Baines, Schneiderlin, Barkley, Davies, Gana, Calvert-Lewin, Lukaku.
Subs: Lennon, Barry, Valencia, Stekelenburg, Funes Mori, Holgate, Lookman.
Hull City: Jakupovic, Elabdellaoui, Davies, Ranocchia, Maguire, Robertson, Markovic, Huddlestone, N’Diaye, Clucas, Hernandez.
Subs: Meyler, Maloney, Grosicki, Diomande, Marshall, Elmohamady, Tymon.
Referee: Paul Tierney (Lancashire)

6.00pm GMT

It’s another fascinating set of traditional Saturday 3pm kick-offs in the Premier League. Here’s the card...

Crystal Palace v Watford
Everton v Hull City
Stoke City v Chelsea
Sunderland v Burnley
West Ham United v Leicester City

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Monaco 3-1 Manchester City (agg 6-6): Champions League last 16, second leg – as it happened

Manchester City crashed out of the Champions League last 16 to a spirited and talented Monaco on away goals

9.37pm GMT

That’s that! City simply gave themselves too much to do after a terrible first-half display! And so last year’s semi-finalists have failed to make it through the Round of 16. Pep Guardiola’s 100th match in European competition ends in failure; it’s the first time he’s crashed out at this stage of the Champions League. City had chances to get themselves out of trouble in that second half, but passed too many up. For six minutes, it looked like Leroy Sane had saved them, but Tiemoue Bakayoko’s header put Monaco through. On balance, the French league leaders deserve to scrape through this high-scoring tie on away goals; they were always effervescent in attack, and tonight’s first half was the one big difference in an otherwise tight ding-dong battle over two legs. City’s long wait for their first European Cup - their journey started back in 1968 - goes on. Monaco are a step closer to their second final. And Leicester City are the Premier League’s sole representatives in the quarter finals. Hey, they are the champions of England, after all.

9.36pm GMT

90 min +3: De Bruyne loops a dreadful free kick straight down Subasic’s throat!

9.35pm GMT

90 min +2: A final chance here! Lemar slides in on De Bruyne as the City man makes his way down the inside-right channel. A booking, but more importantly a free kick, 35 yards from goal. David Silva and De Bruyne stand over it, with the box loaded.

9.34pm GMT

90 min +1: Monaco sit deep, holding their shape. It’s not really what they’re all about. Sterling, tight on the right, hoicks a poor cross out of play on the left.

9.33pm GMT

90 min: Germain is booked for a time-wasting foul in the middle of the park. It’s his last act of the evening. He wanders off, to be replaced by Dirar. There will be three added minutes.

9.32pm GMT

88 min: Space for Sane down the left. He’s got men in the middle, but his cross doesn’t clear the first man. Monaco break upfield, and De Bruyne is forced to stop the move with a foul. It’s not worth a second booking, but it does run down the clock.

9.30pm GMT

87 min: The clock is not City’s friend, and the hosts are keeping hold of the ball.

9.29pm GMT

86 min: Bakayoko does well to escape from a tight spot on the Monaco right, romps up the wing and finds Germain, who buys a cheap free kick. Lemar launches it long, into the City box. Caballero comes off his line and punches clear with purpose and passion, under all sorts of pressure from Jemerson.

9.27pm GMT

84 min: Iheanacho comes on for Clichy.

9.26pm GMT

83 min: City stroke it around awhile, 30 yards from the Monaco goal. Eventually David Silva, dropping a little deeper, floats a diagonal pass towards Sane, just inside the box on the left. Sane takes the ball down well, but there’s no danger here, because he’s been caught offside.

9.24pm GMT

81 min: De Bruyne overcooks the free kick, walloping it over everyone in the box and out of play on the right. Far from ideal in this situation.

9.23pm GMT

80 min: The Stade Louis II is bouncing right now. Some atmosphere. Sane is bundled over as he goes nowhere down the left. Rash from Sidibe, and a chance for City to load the Monaco box. But before the free kick can be taken, Mbappe is sacrificed for Joao Moutinho. “Mike Wilner has basically come up with a kids version of the student five-a-side classic ‘score with a shot’ where you have a shot of something strong (eg turps) for a good piece of play, and two shots for anything naughty,” writes Robin Hazlehurst. “Gets a bit messy and no-one remembers the final score, but great for motivation. I think.”

9.21pm GMT

78 min: This could still end 5-3 tonight, you know.

9.21pm GMT

Monaco load the box. Lemar curls it high towards the penalty spot. Bakayoko rises, and plants a downward header into the bottom right. Caballero no chance! Monaco are back in front, leading on away goals!

9.20pm GMT

76 min: Monaco push forward for the first time in this second half, pretty much. De Bruyne bundles Bernardo Silva over down the right. Free kick. From which...

9.17pm GMT

74 min: Sane tears down the left and earns City a corner. David Silva takes. It’s easily cleared, and Monaco pile up the other end. Sterling is forced to slide in on the rampaging Bernardo Silva. He picks up a booking that’ll keep him out of the quarter-final first leg, should City hold onto their lead in this tie.

9.16pm GMT

72 min: On the touchline, Pep Guardiola orders his men to keep piling forward. No change of tactic. Good old Pep!

9.15pm GMT

This is nothing more than Manchester City deserve for their second-half show! De Bruyne quarterbacks a pass down the right from the centre circle. Sterling, out on the right touchline, hares into the box at a right angle. He snaps a shot towards the bottom left. Subasic gets down to parry well, but the ball breaks to his left, towards Sane, who is faced with an open goal. Sane roofs the ball into the net! City lead in this tie again!

9.13pm GMT

70 min: Toure comes on. Almamy Toure, that is. He replaces Raggi for the home side, who are hanging on right now.

9.12pm GMT

68 min: City are utterly dominant right now. David Silva very nearly releases Sterling down the right. Not quite. Then they come again, Aguero making tracks down the same channel. He’s got a chance to shoot as he enters the area, but tries to get closer to the target. In doing so, he allows Subasic to close him down, and Jemerson to snap at his heels. He has to settle for a corner, which is wasted.

9.10pm GMT

67 min: Monaco are beginning to look nervous. David Silva slides a simple pass down the inside-left channel. Sane’s free this time! He looks to poke the ball under Subasic, rushing out to close the angle. His shot ripples the side netting, never looking like it was going in. A sense now, though, that it’s only a matter of time.

9.09pm GMT

65 min: Fernandinho chips a clever ball down the middle to release Silva on goal. He doesn’t have the pace to tear clear of three Monaco shirts, so he draws them all before slipping a pass to his right. Aguero’s free on the edge of the box! He steps inside the area and shoots low, only for Subasic to smother brilliantly! The ball springs out for a corner, which is dealt with by the home side. City are getting closer and closer.

9.06pm GMT

62 min: Sane skins Raggi on the left. He skitters into the box, reaches the left-hand corner of the six-yard box, draws Subasic, and slips the ball inside to Aguero. Normally that’d be in the net, but the ball clanks off Aguero’s shin and miles over the bar from close range. How did that not result in a goal? A sign that it’s not going to be City’s night? Ah, no need to panic yet. They’re beginning to carve out chances. And they just need one.

9.04pm GMT

61 min: Now it’s Sterling winning a corner on the right with a determined run. De Bruyne’s delivery is eyebrowed by Stones back to Sterling, just outside the box. Sterling can’t connect properly with his shot.

9.03pm GMT

60 min: Aguero dribbles into the Monaco box from the right. He’s never quite in control, but still makes enough of a nuisance of himself for Jemerson to hack out for a corner. Nothing comes from the set piece, but City are at least asking questions in this second half.

9.02pm GMT

59 min: A booking apiece as De Bruyne cynically tugs the shirt of Fabinho, then, soon after play restarts, Bakayoko highkicks Fernandinho in the back, very much second to a loose ball.

9.01pm GMT

57 min: Sterling should score! De Bruyne splits the Monaco defence in half with a stunning pass down the inside-right channel. He’s clear in the box, coming in from the right, with only Subasic to beat! But he hesitates, slows down to a halt, and looks for Aguero on the penalty spot instead. He should have taken that on, no least because Jemerson steps in to intercept and clear. Sterling had to shoot!

8.59pm GMT

55 min: Aguero and Sterling combine down the right-hand edge of the Monaco box. Sterling’s pullback very nearly finds David Silva, to the right of the D. But Silva can’t gather and falls over. And then the first sign of the dangers inherent in chasing the goal City require. Mbappe breaks upfield, and very nearly fashions a chance to shoot down the inside-left channel, swerving this way and that. But he over-elaborates his sashay, and that chance is gone too.

8.57pm GMT

53 min: Space for Mendy down the Monaco left. He’s got options in the City box, but blooters a poor cross high over the crossbar. Monaco, perhaps understandably, seem to have come out with a different mindset now they’re in charge of the tie. They’re not streaming forward in such a relentless manner.

8.55pm GMT

52 min: Further encouragement for City as Clichy, tight on the left touchline, wedges a lovely little ball inside and very nearly finds David Silva free in the Monaco box. Subasic comes off his line to gather, and takes a clatter from Silva for his trouble. He stays down, possibly as an attempt to slow down City’s second-half momentum. He’s up again after a fashion.

8.53pm GMT

50 min: David Silva slips a ball down the left for Sane, who has options in the middle but hesitates on the edge of the box, fails to make a pass, and the danger is gone.

8.52pm GMT

49 min: Fernandinho powers down the inside-right channel, chasing a David Silva pass. He’s eased away by the shoulder of Fabinho. Fine defending. But City have started this second half in a good frame of mind.

8.51pm GMT

48 min: De Bruyne creams a pass down the right to release Sterling into space. On another day, the following ricochet between Sterling and Jemerson, coming across to cover, breaks City’s way, and Sterling races clear into the box. But it flies out off Sterling for a goal kick instead. But already this is better from City. A low bar, admittedly, but progress is progress.

8.50pm GMT

47 min: Aguero does well to hold onto possession in a tight spot out by the left-hand corner flag. He eventually whips a low ball into the Monaco box, but there’s nobody in blue taking a chance.

8.49pm GMT

46 min: Germain goes haring down the left wing in acres. City are very relieved to hear the whistle blow for a push on Sagna. “I’ve developed some specific tactics for U8 teams,” begins Mike Wilner. “We tend not to use zonal marking, offside traps, or anything more complicated than a basic 3-1-3 formation. But the key - bribe the kids with frozen yoghurt. Score a goal, get a fro-yo. Make a save, more fro-yo. Win the match, it’s a BIG fro-yo.” Am I allowed a fro-yo too, please? I’ve been well behaved. I’ve tried my best. I’m a good boy!

8.48pm GMT

And we’re off again! City get the ball rolling for the second half. No changes yet. They’ve got to go hell for leather against a team so clinical on the counter. One way or another, this isn’t going to end 2-0, is it?

8.36pm GMT

Half-time coaching masterclass, with

Pep Guardiola
Curtis Ruder: “I coach my daughter’s team for U9s in San Antonio. When the other team has possession, we pretty much play a straight up 3-2-1. When gaining possession, the fullbacks bomb forward for width and one of the midfielders and the remaining defender become sweepers, making it more of a 2-3-1 or even a 2-1-3. Two main keys: having an eight year old who wants to play like Kante or Wanyama and just destroy and link. And then having a couple of fullbacks who won’t get sucked into the amoeba but are happy to run up and down the sideline. If you can keep width, and spread the ball from side to side, the other team will chase and wear down.”

8.34pm GMT

And that’s that for the first half. It’s been all Monaco, City have barely turned up. And as things stand, the French side are going through to the quarter finals on the away goals rule. City have it all to do. But Pep won’t be surprised. To quote his pre-match interview: “From my experience, if you do not score away, you have little chance of going through.” The man knows what he’s talking about. A mighty second half coming up!

8.31pm GMT

44 min: Monaco stroke it around the middle of the park awhile. Meanwhile the injured Falcao wanders down the touchline with his hands in his expensively tailored pockets. Not a care in the world. The home side are enjoying themselves.

8.30pm GMT

42 min: Something approaching a lull. City will be more than happy to run the clock down until half-time. They need a chance to regroup and cool their boots. This is far from over. “Surely it’s time for Yaya?” asks Rob Little. “Man City are playing a 5-0-5 formation at present.”

8.28pm GMT

40 min: Germain comes through the back of Fernandinho in the middle of the park. He’s a little lucky to escape a booking. Then again, Clichy has been testing the ref’s patience with a couple of slides on Bernardo Silva out on the right. Laissez-faire officiating.

8.25pm GMT

38 min: Bernardo Silva set Monaco on the attack with a cheeky backheel out on the left wing. Lemar breaks into the box and draws Caballero, but can’t find a head in the centre with his cross. Had he done so, it was almost certainly a third for Monaco with the net uncluttered by goalkeeper.

8.24pm GMT

37 min: Manchester City have had 51 percent of the possession so far. It certainly doesn’t feel like it. They’ve certainly done next to nothing with it. Stats are almost 100 percent useless.

8.21pm GMT

35 min: Clichy bundles Bernardo Silva over by the right-hand corner flag. So it’s basically a corner. Lemar whips it high to the near post. Caballero does very well to punch clear under extreme pressure from Jermerson.

8.20pm GMT

33 min: Plenty of time remaining, of course. A few blue shirts snap into a few tackles in the midfield, space closed down like it hasn’t been to this point. A sign that City have been shocked out of their lethargy? Their fans will certainly hope so.

8.19pm GMT

31 min: Aguero tries to fashion an instant response with some determined work down the inside-left channel. He earns a corner, but nothing much comes of it. Pretty much to a man, City look shellshocked. A collective 11,000-yard stare. They need to snap out of the funk they’ve been in pretty much since kick-off, or they’ll be heading out of Europe tonight.

8.17pm GMT

Lemar, out on the left, slips a ball down the flank to Mendy, who reaches the byline and pulls a glorious ball back to Fabinho, rushing into the area. Fabinho meets the ball ten yards out, opens his body up, and sidefoots purposefully past the helpless Caballero. Too easy. All of a sudden, Monaco lead this tie on away goals!

8.15pm GMT

28 min: Sterling plays a fine ball down the inside-left channel to set De Bruyne running towards the Monaco area. Raggi gets back to cover well and put a stop to his gallop. Meanwhile here’s Matt Dony: “I don’t know if it helps, but my memory of U8 football formations is largely ‘12 excited children crowded around the ball, with a bored child in each goal.’ Not wildly dissimilar to the first leg of this tie.”

8.13pm GMT

26 min: David Silva sweeps a glorious ball out to the left, allowing Sterling to attack Sidibe with purpose. He’s got his man on the back foot, but turns out he’d gone after Silva’s pass far too early, and the flag goes up for offside. A little shaft of light for City, though, who have done very little in attack so far. Plenty of time to change all that, of course: look how the first leg panned out.

8.11pm GMT

24 min: A common or garden long ball is contested on the edge of the City box by Sagna and ... Stones. Germain is lurking as the City players get in each other’s way, and Kolarov is forced into a panicked header out for a corner on the left. Again, the set piece comes to nothing much, but City are a collective bag of nerves right now.

8.09pm GMT

22 min: A rare period of possession upfield for City breaks down with a loose Aguero pass. Monaco stream forward and earn themselves a corner down the left. Lemar’s delivery isn’t all that, and the attack breaks down. City can’t get out.

8.07pm GMT

20 min: Lemar bombs down the middle of the park, dropping a shoulder and shaking a hip to evade a couple of challenges. He slips the ball out wide to the irrepressible Mbappe, who very nearly breaks into the City box from the left. Stones holds him up well, and the move is over. The home side are well on top right now. City can take solace in the overall scoreline, but little else.

8.05pm GMT

18 min: City’s nerves are betraying them. Once again they concede possession easily, allowing Monaco to come onto them. Germain has a whack from distance, and his riser only just clears the crossbar. Caballero had that one covered.

8.04pm GMT

16 min: Mbappe puts the ball in the City net again! He’s sprung clear into the box down the inside-right channel by a lovely sliderule pass from Fabinho, sitting deep. He batters it through Caballero and into the left-hand corner. But he’s half a yard offside. City played a good trap there, and the young man was a wee bit over-excited. Still, so close to putting Monaco in the box seat.

8.02pm GMT

15 min: City play it around the back, and very nearly let the lurking Mbappe snatch the ball on the edge of the area. There’s confidence.

8.01pm GMT

13 min: A slight lull in proceedings, which allows City to steady the ship a little. It’s been a high-tempo start, and the home side have rattled their guests. “Tony Hughes looks like he’s assembled quite the high-powered squad out there in Ohio,” observes Jerry Parks. “I don’t see a goalkeeper though; perhaps a cheeky bid for Joe Hart is in order? Assuming he could handle the step up in quality, of course.”

7.59pm GMT

11 min: Caballero easily claims a high ball hoicked into the City box. He shuttles it out wide right to Sagna, who miscontrols, then slides in hard on Bernardo Silva. That’s a booking. Nothing comes from the resulting free kick, but City need to simmer down. They’ve been shaken by that early goal, and need to clear their heads.

7.57pm GMT

10 min: Pep Guardiola is already prowling the touchline with a worried look playing across his brow. Bakayoko breaks down the right and is stopped illegally by the hanging leg of Fernandinho. A chance for Monaco to load the box.

7.55pm GMT

City half clear the corner. But Mendy is soon romping into the box on the left. He shoots from a tight angle. Stones slides to block. But the ball springs out to Bernardo Silva to the left of the six-yard box. He fires low into the centre. Mbappe nips in at the near post to turn home from close range! Just seven more goals, and we’ve another 5-3 on our hands, then.

7.54pm GMT

7 min: A huge save by Caballero! Mbappe latches onto a loose ball in the middle of the City half, and he’s suddenly bursting clear down the inside-right channel! He strides into the area, but his sidefoot towards the bottom left is turned out for a corner. From which...

7.52pm GMT

5 min: Now Monaco push City back for a few seconds. Crosses are flung into the area from either side. But the visitors suddenly spring forward on the break, and if De Bruyne had played a quicker ball forward, he’d have sent Agureo scampering clear from the halfway line. Monaco’s defence, not exactly watertight by any means, looked a wee bit ropy there.

7.51pm GMT

4 min: If anyone’s been hogging the ball early doors, it’s Sterling. He bustles down the inside-right channel and slips the ball wide to De Bruyne, whose cross is uncharacteristically poor. Subasic snaffles with ease, under no pressure whatsoever.

7.50pm GMT

2 min: After that blistering start, both sides take a little time to have a touch of the ball. “Ask Tony Hughes what formation his U8 girls play,” writes Kostia Franklin. “I’m coaching U9 boys this year in Boston and have no clue what a 7v7 game is supposed to look like. Help please!” Tony? Wilson? Cox?

7.48pm GMT

And we’re off! Monaco get the party started. And it’s a false start, so they have to do it again, because there’s a problem with the pressure of the match ball. Sterling robs the new one within 13 seconds of the restart, and is very nearly sent clear down the right after a nifty one-two with De Bruyne. Monaco launch it back down the other end, Mbappe not far from latching onto the hoof. Caballero comes out to claim. All in the first 40 seconds. What a start!

7.44pm GMT

The teams are out! Monaco wear their famous red-and-white diagonal, while City sport their storied blue. “I’m assuming City won’t be facing a hostile welcome-to-hell Galatasaray-type atmosphere,” quips Stuart Race, one eyebrow arched in the direction of the singular Stade Louis II. In fairness, the ambience is not half bad for the top floor of a car park. The most glamorous car park in Europe? I should say so. Certainly ever since Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council broke up the brutalist masterpiece that once sprawled for miles across their town centre. Anyway, I digress. The Champions League anthem is blaring out across the stadium, and as ever it’s getting the glorious bird from the City support. We’ll be off in a minute!

7.33pm GMT

Pep Guardiola speaks ahead of his 100th match as a manager in European competition! “We want to win, so we will attack. From my experience, if you do not score away, you have little chance of going through. But we will also have to defend. They are strong on the counter attack, and they have to score goals. I am happy to be with my colleagues and managers on 100 games; I hope I will be celebrating tonight!”

7.14pm GMT

Other pre-match observations: “I can’t help noticing a number of similarities between the first leg of Man City v Monaco the other week and the Ohio SAY Soccer final, U8 Girls Passers game last November,” writes Tony Hughes. “As you may have been aware, the team I coached ended up winning 5-3 although we also were behind twice during the game. Differences: we scored four times in the last 20 minutes to Man City’s three and we did not miss a penalty as you don’t get penalty kicks at that level.”

7.06pm GMT

Some pre-match reading. In case you missed it, here’s Peerless Paul Doyle’s take on Monaco’s plans to put a little glide back in French football’s stride.

Related: Monaco out to restore French football’s pride against Manchester City

7.02pm GMT

Leonardo Jardim makes two changes to the Monaco XI named ahead of their 2-1 win over Bordeaux last Saturday. Out go Kamil Glik and Joao Moutinho; in come Andrea Raggi and Tiemoue Bakayoko. No Radamel Falcao, injured at the weekend.

Pep Guardiola makes four changes to the City side sent out to see off Middlesbrough in the cup at the weekend. Out go Claudio Bravo, Pablo Zabaleta, Nicolas Otamendi and Yaya Toure; in come Willy Caballero, Bacary Sagna, Alexsandar Kolarov and Fernandinho.

6.57pm GMT

Monaco: Subasic, Sidibe, Raggi, Jemerson, Mendy, Fabinho, Bakayoko, Lemar, Bernardo Silva, Germain, Mbappe.
Subs: De Sanctis, Jorge, Dirar, Joao Moutinho, Cardona, Diallo, Toure.

Manchester City: Caballero, Sagna, Stones, Clichy, Kolarov, Sane, Fernandinho, David Silva, De Bruyne, Aguero, Sterling.
Subs: Bravo, Zabaleta, Jesus Navas, Delph, Otamendi, Toure, Iheanacho.

11.41am GMT

Don’t get us wrong: Barcelona’s already legendary comeback against Paris Saint Germain was something else. But for true Nonsense Purists - those aficionados of games which spiral hectically out of control - the 5-3 between Manchester City and Monaco has been the one real deal of this season’s Round of 16 to date.

Two teams competing instead of one capitulating, you see. Monaco led twice at the Etihad three weeks ago, before City scored three times in the final 20 minutes. Sergio Agüero and Radamel Falcao both found the net twice; Falcao missed a penalty too. It could feasibly have ended 5-3 to Monaco, or 5-5, or 7-5 to City. It was breathless, breathtaking, beyond brilliant. All that, and we still haven’t got the foggiest who’s going to prevail.

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The Fiver | Chased over fields of broken glass in their dreams by Mr Roy

In today’s Fiver: Leicester City, bravery and José Mourinho on values

You may recall, with a shrug or heavy sigh, The Fiver banging on yesterday about erstwhile Aston Villa boss Ron Saunders. There he was, February 1982, storming off in high dudgeon, nine months after winning Villa’s first title in 71 years, his face red-hot with the funk after being refused a few extra quid for his troubles. We continue the story today, not with Saunders rocking up at Birmingham City and eventually getting them relegated, but with Villa replacing him with Tony Barton, who three months later won Big Cup. Barton had been previously unheralded outside of close club circles, to the extent of his name being omitted in the Big Cup final programme, kitman Roy McLaren earning a namecheck instead.

Related: Nasty Jamie Vardy and meaty Wes Morgan feed Sevilla to the dogs | Barney Ronay

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Juventus 1-0 Porto (agg 3-0): Champions League last 16, second leg – as it happened

Paulo Dybala’s first-half penalty was enough to settle a dull match, and send Juventus into the quarter finals.

Match report: Juventus 1-0 Porto (Agg - 3-0)

9.38pm GMT

Nothing happens in them, and that’s that! Juventus make it into the quarter finals! Ten-man Porto had a couple of decent chances to get back into the tie in the second half tonight, but couldn’t take them. Paulo Dybala’s first-half penalty, coupled with Maxi Pereira’s sending off, had broken their spirit. Juve were always in charge. But never mind that: tonight’s all about Leicester City. Just look!

9.34pm GMT

90 min: There will be three added minutes of this.

9.32pm GMT

89 min: Jota pearls one straight at Buffon from a more respectable range, 25 yards or so. The veteran keeper grabs it close to his chest.

9.32pm GMT

88 min: It was about this time, last week, when Barcelona started their late three-goal comeback against PSG. With this in mind, Felipe tries to beat Buffon from deep inside his own half. Nope! It’s fair to say Porto are really cutting this fine now.

9.30pm GMT

87 min: Pjaca dribbles in from the left, and nearly finds enough space to shoot. Nearly. No shot.

9.28pm GMT

85 min: Juve revert to hogging possession in the middle of the park.

9.27pm GMT

83 min: But Porto have had their chances in this half. Otavio flicks a pass down the left to free Diogo Jota. He glides into the area, and though Buffon comes out and closes the angle, the Porto man really should dink home. But he floats the ball over the keeper and into the side netting. That’s two golden chances, both spurned.

9.25pm GMT

81 min: The Porto fans are giving it plenty, by the way. Standing by their team. Defiance in defeat, a bittersweet melody.

9.22pm GMT

79 min: The goalscorer Dybala is replaced by Tomas Rincon.

9.21pm GMT

77 min: Jota goes on a power sashay down the middle of the park. It’s a great run, springing into the Juve half from deep, and he’s got Layun free on the right. He should send Layun clear on goal, but his pass has too much weight on it. Layun’s pushed out wide, and the chance of a goal ... and a late Barca-style comeback ... is gone.

9.19pm GMT

75 min: Dybala finds time and space down the right. He slides a low ball into the Porto box. Dani Alves nearly latches onto it, racing down the right channel, but is beaten to it by the toe of Felipe. Dani Alves goes over but doesn’t claim the penalty. It’s a corner instead, which comes to nothing.

9.17pm GMT

74 min: See 72 min.

9.16pm GMT

72 min: Porto hog the ball in the middle of the park. A sense that everyone involved just wants to hear the final whistle now.

9.13pm GMT

70 min: Porto make their final swap: Otavio comes on for Oliver Torres.

9.13pm GMT

69 min: More of the Juve keep-ball. Then Alex Sandro glides down the left and crosses deep; the relentless Dybala volleys harmlessly wide right from ten yards.

9.10pm GMT

67 min: Brahimi is replaced by Diogo Jota.

9.10pm GMT

66 min: Another little bit of something! Higuain once again busies himself, breaking into the area down the right and powering a low shot just wide of the left-hand post. Casillas was rooted to the spot; had that been on target, it was in.

9.09pm GMT

65 min: Juve play a bit of keep-ball for 90 seconds or so. “Essentially we’re now watching a Juventus training session,” observes Jim Beglin on BT Sport. His subscription service paymasters will be relieved to see the home side suddenly pick up the pace, Higuain taking a shot from the edge of the Porto box. It’s blocked. But it’s something.

9.06pm GMT

63 min: Boly and Danilo accidentally clatter into each other as they attempt to stop Higuain haring down the right. There’s a brief pause as the pair are sponged down by the physio and given time to recover.

9.05pm GMT

61 min: Benatia, so recently embarrassed by Soares, is hooked and replaced by Andrea Barzagli.

9.04pm GMT

60 min: Dani Alves crosses deep from the right. Mandzukic, on the penalty spot, donkey-flicks the dropping ball on to Pjaca, who chests down and, level with the left-hand post, ten yards out, lashes low and wide right. He should have steered that home, though the chest down was wonderful.

9.02pm GMT

59 min: This is just an exercise in running down the clock right now. A lot of scrappy nonsense. Hey, it’s Monaco versus Manchester City tomorrow night.

9.01pm GMT

57 min: Juve seem happy enough to let Porto enjoy a period of possession; the visitors are doing very little with it, after all.

8.59pm GMT

55 min: Felipe embarks on a determined dribble down the inside-right channel. It’s skilful and entertaining, and he reaches the right-hand corner of the Juve six-yard box. But his pull-back into the centre is slightly aimless, and the danger is gone.

8.58pm GMT

54 min: Marchisio crosses from the right, and very nearly finds Mandzukic on the penalty spot. A strange, subdued atmosphere right now.

8.56pm GMT

53 min: Juve knock it around the middle of the park awhile, just because they can.

8.56pm GMT

51 min: That miss has rather doused Porto’s spirit. Andre Andre has a dig from distance, but no, no, no. It’s a rather half-hearted, soft effort.

8.54pm GMT

49 min: Farcical scenes at both ends. First Dani Alves whips a low ball into the Porto box from the right. Boly crashes a header towards the bottom right corner of his own goal; Casillas does rather brilliantly to snatch it off the line, with a little help from the post. Then Porto go straight up the other end, Soares bustling down the left wing and overpowering Benatia. He’s clear on goal! He’s got to throw Porto a lifeline! But he sends his low shot across Buffon and wide of the right-hand post. What an opportunity spurned. On the touchline, his coach Nuno Espirito Santo wears the pained look of a man who knows the jig is up.

8.52pm GMT

47 min: Alex Sandro tries to float a cross into the Porto box from the left; Dani Alves looks to drive one in from the right. Neither ball finds a man. But early signs that Juve are looking to wrap this one up nice and early, if indeed that hasn’t already been sorted.

8.49pm GMT

OK, we go again. Both teams make a change. Porto swap Andre Silva for defender Willy Boly, a sign that damage limitation is their goal. Juve meanwhile remove Cuadrado and send on Marko Pjaca.

8.46pm GMT

The pause in proceedings gives us the chance to contemplate the untimely passing of our friend Dan Lucas. His contributions to the OBO were routinely magnificent; his rugby MBMs were unquestionably the best out there; his work always bubbled with passion, verve, knowledge and wit. He’ll be sorely missed, but fondly remembered; some heartfelt messages from readers in Jacob Steinberg’s MBM for the Leicester-Sevilla game attest to that.

Related: Dan Lucas, Guardian cricket and rugby union writer, dies aged 31

8.35pm GMT

There are still 45 minutes to play. Can ten-man Porto find the three goals they need to progress to the quarter finals? Hmm.

8.33pm GMT

45 min: Mandzukic very nearly opens Porto up down the left. Corner. From the set piece, the ball’s sent back upfield, then returned into the Porto box. Cuadrado takes it down, just inside the area on the left. He goes for the spectacular, but leans back, and that’s over the bar.

8.31pm GMT

44 min: But of course that’s surely settled this tie. Unless we’re due another strange, strange, other-worldly comeback. If Porto are to have any chance whatsoever, they need to get to half time, and regroup.

8.29pm GMT

Dybala steps up and lashes the penalty into the bottom right, Casillas going the other way. Porto just need the three without reply, then, and they’re through on away goals.

8.28pm GMT

40 min: The corner’s flicked towards the left-hand post. Casillas parries. Higuain, from close range, hooks goalwards. Maxi Pereira spreads himself, Peter Schmeichel style, and the ball hits his arm. The referee has no option but to brandish red and point to the spot!

8.26pm GMT

40 min: Andre Andre tugs back Higuain down the left. Free kick. Dybala takes. Benatia heads goalwards, but his effort is flicked away for a corner on the right. From which...

8.25pm GMT

38 min: Cuadrado, tight on the right touchline, flicks a gorgeous pass inside to release Dybala into the area. Dybala drops a shoulder to reach the byline, and it nearly opens up for him, but he has to settle for a corner. The set piece is flicked across the face of goal, right to left, by Mandzukic, and nearly trundled in at the far post by Bonucci. But the ball flies by too quickly, and out of play to the left. Juve haven’t exactly peppered Porto’s goal, but they have looked the more likely.

8.22pm GMT

36 min: Higuain dribbles down the middle of the park, and is taken by the neck by Andre Andre. That’s a booking for the Porto man. And nearly for Higuain, too, because the referee’s not impressed by the striker waving an imaginary card.

8.21pm GMT

34 min: This was so nearly very entertaining, though. Dybala curls one in from the left, and Mandzukic is this close to connecting with a diving header. Marcano eyebrows the ball away from danger seconds before the ball is Keith Houchen’d into the net.

8.20pm GMT

33 min: Juve stroke it around the middle awhile, the clock being on their side. This is not exciting, but the Italian champs have no obligations.

8.17pm GMT

31 min: Layun completes a miserable 60 seconds by tripping an in-flight Cuadrado, and picking up a booking.

8.17pm GMT

30 min: Andre Silva has a dig from deep, and wins a corner with the deflected shot. Layun takes the set piece, and it’s nearly as laughably poor as Brahimi’s free kick earlier. Once again, a dismal failure to beat the first man with a dead ball.

8.15pm GMT

28 min: But there are signs that Juve are beginning to cause Porto problems. Dani Alves cutely plays Higuain into the Porto box down the right. He reaches the byline and dinks one into the middle. Dybala is there, six yards out, but the ball somehow eludes him; he sticks out a leg but, falling backwards, he can’t connect. Porto clear.

8.14pm GMT

27 min: A little space for Soares down the left. He’s got Andre Silva lurking in the middle, but his cross is wild and high, and sails over his team-mate’s head. The home support is a little subdued right now, with Porto giving as good as they’re getting.

8.12pm GMT

24 min: That’s sparked Juve into life. Dani Alves, in a deep position on the right, curls a fine high cross into the Porto box. Casillas comes to claim, but doesn’t get there. Higuain would loop a header over him, but the presence and insistence of Felipe puts the striker off. Close enough to the opener, though.

8.10pm GMT

23 min: This is a lot better from Juve. Dybala, deep on the right wing, lays the ball back for Cuadrado, who whips high and deep towards Mandzukic, level with the left-hand post, ten yards out. Mandzukic plants a fine downward header goalwards, but it’s plumb centre and snaffled by Casillas. There was juice in that header.

8.08pm GMT

21 min: Marchisio, deep on the right, tries to find Higuain in the centre, but his cross is dealt with by the Porto back line. Juve haven’t threatened much since Dybala’s early flurry.

8.06pm GMT

19 min: This has the potential to explode in glorious uberviolence. Dani Alves plants his boot on Andre Silva’s ankle as the latter attempts to execute an elaborate spin in the middle of the park. Again, no punishment, but expect umbrage to have been taken.

8.05pm GMT

17 min: Layun comes through the back of Cuadrado. That’s a bit of saucy payback, and the Juve man felt it all right. No punishment, other than a free kick on the halfway line. Cuadrado has the good grace not to complain too much, perhaps well aware that, on another day, in a match officiated by a different referee, he could have walked for his out-of-control challenge earlier.

8.02pm GMT

15 min: Danilo makes good down the right, and his dinked cross very nearly finds Brahimi in the Juve area. Not quite. But the away side have found their feet in this game, and are beginning to cause the hosts a few problems.

8.00pm GMT

13 min: Brahimi’s delivery of the free kick, with many Porto players loaded in the Juve box, is laughably inept. It fails to beat the first man, and is headed clear of danger by Bonucci with ease.

7.59pm GMT

12 min: Cuadrado is booked for a ludicrous studs-up slide on Layun, who is flung into the air to the left of the Juve box. He’s throwing the slapstick shapes tonight all right. But this is a free kick in a very dangerous position.

7.57pm GMT

10 min: But it’s Porto who get the first shot on target this evening. Soares drops a shoulder, cuts in from the left, and curls a fairly lame effort straight at Buffon from the edge of the box. Danilo was free to his right, and informs him of this fact in the trenchant style.

7.56pm GMT

8 min: Alex Sandro tears down the left and slips the ball inside for the busy Dybala, who very nearly finds Khedira with a floated chip into the Porto box. Not quite. But Juve are on the front foot.

7.53pm GMT

6 min: Mandzukic playes a clever little ball down the left channel, allowing Dybala to stride towards the Porto box. To the left of the D, he has a lash towards the bottom right. It’s off target, but boy was that travelling.

7.52pm GMT

5 min: Porto pass it around the middle awhile. Eventually Andre Andre turns on a sixpence, 30 yards from goal, and nearly makes space to shoot. But he’s closed down, the Juve defence working in the time-honoured Italian style. Andre Silva tries to keep the move going, latching onto a loose ball, but he’s bustled out of it as well.

7.51pm GMT

3 min: Dybala makes some space down the inside-right channel. A clever little dinked header, which he chases and gathers himself, sees him zip into the Porto area. From a tight angle, he goes for the spectacular, sticking his pleasingly retro black boot through the ball. Hoof! That’s over the bar. Higuain, unmarked in the middle, six yards out, isn’t best pleased. The confidence of having two away goals in your back pocket, right there.

7.49pm GMT

2 min: Mandzukic threatens to break down the left. He’s eased off it by Maxi Pereira. Juve come again down the other flank through Dani Alves. His cross from deep is met on the penalty spot by Higuain, who heads powerfully but inaccurately wide right of goal.

7.47pm GMT

And we’re off! Porto get the ball rolling. It’s played back to Layun, who slips as he shapes to lump the ball upfield, and nearly falls flat on his face. Buster Keaton would have admired that. He regains his composure and blooters the ball upfield.

7.45pm GMT

After one of those new-fangled light shows they have these days, the teams take to the pitch at the Juventus Stadium! A cracking atmosphere. Juve are in their third-choice white kit with black stripes over the shoulders; Porto are in second-choice black. Those black-and-white and blue-and-white first-choice strips, and Juve’s second-choice blue, have caused all manner of combination problems. We’ll be off in a minute!

7.30pm GMT

Tonight’s game is contested by European royalty. Both of these famous clubs have two European Cups to their name: Juve beat Liverpool to the trophy in 1985 and Ajax in 1996, while Porto bested Bayern Munich in 1987 and Monaco in 2004. Juve have also reached six other finals; no other club has lost as many.

In the other big competitions, Juve edge it, with three Uefa Cup wins (1977, 1990 and 1993) to Porto’s two (2003 and the 2011 Europa League). Juve also have one Cup Winners’ Cup to their name, and to claim that they defeated none other than ... Porto. Juve triumphed 2-1 in the 1984 final: Beniamino Vignola struck early, António Sousa equalised, and Zbigniew Boniek netted the winner. Juve could name some side back then: their line-up also included Claudio Gentile, Gaetano Scirea, Antonio Cabrini, Marco Tardelli, Michel Platini and Paolo Rossi. The manager wasn’t half bad either: Giovanni Trapattoni. Ah, Serie A in the 1980s; football’s never been as glamorous.

7.00pm GMT

Juventus make four changes to the team sent out to squeak past Milan last Friday. Juan Cuadrado, Claudio Marchisio, Alex Sandro and Mario Mandzukic are back; Marko Pjaca, Andrea Barzagli, Miralem Pjanic and Kwadwo Asamoah make way.

Porto make just the one change to the XI which started the 4-0 win at Arouca on Friday. Miguel Layun replaces the suspended Alex Telles in defence.

6.52pm GMT

Juventus: Buffon, Dani Alves, Bonucci, Benatia, Alex Sandro, Khedira, Marchisio, Cuadrado, Dybala, Mandzukic, Higuain.
Subs: Neto, Chiellini, Pjanic, Barzagli, Pjaca, Lichtsteiner, Rincon.

Porto: Casillas, Maxi Pereira, Felipe, Marcano, Layun, Danilo, Andre Andre, Olivier Torres, Brahimi, Soares, Andre Silva.
Subs: Jose Sa, Boly, Ruben Neves, Depoitre, Herrera, Diogo Jota, Otavio.

2.26pm GMT

Porto have it all to do, all right. They’re two down from the first leg of this tie, played at the Estádio do Dragão three weeks ago, Marko Pjaca and Dani Alves having scored Juventus’s second-half goals. It’s a result that puts them in the tightest of tight spots: only twice in Champions League history has a side overturned a home first-leg defeat to go through. Ajax did it against Panathinaikos in the 1995-96 semi-finals, while Internazionale turned over Bayern Munich at this very stage in 2010-11.

Barcelona ripped up the comeback rulebook last week, of course. So anything can happen. But it’s one hell of a tall order. For starters, Juve are on a 20-match unbeaten home run in European competition, a sequence stretching back to 2013. They’ve also won all 36 of the European ties in which they’ve won the first leg away from home. Porto, by comparison, have only won one of the six European ties in which they’ve lost the first leg at home: against serial bottlers Panathinaikos in the 2002/03 Uefa Cup quarters.

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The Fiver | Chasing after his players wielding syringes full of monkey bongo juice

In today’s Fiver: Derby, Nottingham Forest, Judas and John Sheridan

The Midlands used to be a region renowned for managerial stability. Brian Clough was in charge at Nottingham Forest from 1975 to 1993. Matt Gillies spent most of the sixties at Leicester City; Arthur Cox the bulk of the eighties at Derby County. Major Frank Buckley managed to hold on to his job at Wolves for 17 years between the wars, despite spending the majority of that time chasing after his players wielding syringes full of monkey bongo juice, with a wild look in his eye. And George Ramsay was the main man at Aston Villa between 1263 and 1977, a fecund period during which the club won 98 league titles and 36 FA Cups. (Those figures are off the top of The Fiver’s head, though probably not so far out as you’d think.)

Related: Olympiakos owner Evangelos Marinakis in Nottingham Forest takeover talks

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Rostov 1-1 Manchester United: Europa League last 16, first leg – as it happened

Henrikh Mkhitaryan plundered a precious away goal as United earned a hard-fought draw in miserable conditions.

7.53pm GMT

There’s time for Fellaini to win a header in the Rostov box. He can’t quite get it on target, and he can’t quite find Martial next to him. And that’s your lot! Rostov were much improved in that second half, and deserve to come out of this with a draw. But United’s control in the first half earned them a crucial away goal, and so they’re looking good ahead of the return at Old Trafford next week. It wasn’t pretty, but the pitch was beyond awful, and that’s a good result for Jose Mourinho’s men. That elusive Fairs/Uefa/Europa pot could be theirs yet!

Related: Manchester United pegged back by Rostov but Mkhitaryan claims away goal

7.50pm GMT

90 min +2: United make a double change: Carrick and Valencia on, Blind and Herrera off.

7.50pm GMT

90 min +1: There will be three added minutes. Pogba needlessly bundles over Gatskan by the left-hand corner flag. Poloz shoves Jones by the far post when the ball comes in, and the pressure’s off.

7.48pm GMT

90 min: Rostov earn a corner down the right. Kalachev whips the ball into the centre. Fellaini sticks out a peg and sends it miles upfield. Here’s Simon Cherry: “Surely no talk of pies can be complete without the words of Colin Crompton as chairman at the Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club ‘Pies have come. Put plenty of salt on them, they came on their own.’”

7.46pm GMT

88 min: A bit of head tennis 35 yards from the United goal. Azmoun chests it down and back to Gatskan, who creams a curler towards the top left. It’s a fine hit, and on target, but Romero has read it well. Pluck!

7.45pm GMT

87 min: A free kick for United out on the left. Blind takes. He swings it high into the Rostov area. Medvedev comes off his line and punches clear with purpose. He also gets the benefit of a free kick, his being a goalkeeper and all.

7.43pm GMT

85 min: Poloz, deep on the Rostov left, sprays a fine ball down the channel for Azmoun to chase. He very nearly breaks clear of Jones. Very nearly, but not quite. Rostov earn a throw, and Erokhin claims to have been brought down by Jones near the dead-ball line. But he’s not getting the decision.

7.41pm GMT

83 min: The game descends into stop-start nonsense for the first time in quite a while. United will be more than happy to see the clock tick on without incident.

7.39pm GMT

81 min: Kalachev sends a low cross into the United box from the right. Azmoun traps and turns adroitly, and would have made space down the inside-right channel, between Smalling and Rojo, had the former not stuck out a toe at the very last. That was a neat little swivel, and it very nearly led to a chance.

7.38pm GMT

80 min: Ibrahimovic chases a long hoof down the middle, then slips over in the silent-movie style on this banana skin of a pitch. For a second he looks seriously hurt, but he’s just winded himself. And he’s up and about. Mourinho’s heart would have been in his mouth there.

7.36pm GMT

78 min: Herrera is booked for a naughty stamp on Poloz’s tootsies. He’s got the devil in him all right, has Herrera.

7.36pm GMT

7.35pm GMT

77 min: Blind hits it deep. The ball comes off the unwitting Mevlja’s arm, and out for a corner. United make a half-arsed claim for a penalty, but they don’t really believe in it. The corner comes to nothing.

7.34pm GMT

76 min: Martial jigs around down the left and earns a free kick, his skills drawing Noboa into a rash challenge. A free kick in a very dangerous position, just to the left of the Rostov box. A chance for United to load the area.

7.33pm GMT

74 min: The very promising young Iranian Sardar Azmoun comes on for the Rostov goalscorer Bukharov. Meanwhile Ibrahimovic has a dig from distance, but it’s always heading wide left, and Medvedev smothers.

7.32pm GMT

73 min: Kalachev cuts inside from the right and looks to curl one into the top left. It’s not miles away, but never threatening to go in.

7.31pm GMT

72 min: Kalachev is booked for hanging out a foot in the midfield. He’s now suspended for the second leg. He’s been Rostov’s best player by some distance; that could be a decisive moment in this tie.

7.30pm GMT

70 min: United need to take care here. Poloz chases after an agricultural hoof down the right. Rojo was on point, and took the ball off Poloz when the Rostov man miscontrolled slightly. But otherwise the visitors were light at the back. They’re sitting comfortably right now, with that away goal in their back pocket. They won’t want to let the situation slip with some more uncharacteristically lax defending.

7.26pm GMT

68 min: Mkhitaryan, returning from injury, isn’t risked any longer. He’s hooked in favour of Martial.

7.26pm GMT

67 min: And now a set piece for Rostov. A free kick, deep on the right. Kalachev takes. Mevlja eyebrows it on from the edge of the D. Navas, coming in from the left, meets the dropping ball and blams a volley miles over the bar. This half is a hundred times more entertaining than the first. Good end-to-end fare.

7.24pm GMT

66 min: A corner for United down the left. It’s sent into the Rostov area. Fellaini rises on the penalty spot and wins a fine header, but he plants it straight at Medvedev.

7.23pm GMT

65 min: Poloz busies himself on the right-hand edge of the United box. Drawing two men towards him, he flicks the ball inside for Erokhin, who suddenly bursts clear into space! He’s one on one with Romero, albeit at a tight angle. Instead of a calm dink, he attempts a strange curler with the outside of his boot, looking for the top left. That flies well wide, and at some pace. A decent chance spurned.

7.22pm GMT

63 min: Blind goes tearing down the left. He’s stopped in his tracks by Mevlja’s telescopic leg. No foul, though Mourinho wants one. And it’s no foul up the other end, as Erokhin breaks into the United box on the right and goes over. But Smalling’s blocked the ball against him, causing him to fall, and that’s the correct decision as well.

7.19pm GMT

61 min: This pitch is a joke. Ibrahimovic nearly goes over on his ankle, then disappears in a cloud of dust as he falls to the floor. That’s not normal. United will be hoping to get through this evening without any injuries.

7.18pm GMT

59 min: Noboa is booked for attempting to circumvent Herrera with a cheeky dinked handball. Herrera boots him as he runs past, too, so it’s a double whammy of punishment for the Rostov midfielder.

7.17pm GMT

57 min: It’s all a bit scrappy again as both teams try to recalibrate their noggins. In the meantime, here’s Paul Ewart with a marvellous anecdote for those of you who enjoyed your half-time reading: “How important are pies in Wigan? David Barnett asks. I’ll tell you. My Dad played in a pysch-rock band in the 60s. Once, when playing nearby Billinge Higher End Labour Club, he was perplexed to find the PA turned off mid set by the owner of said club who proudly announced ‘Meat Pies ‘ave come.’ That’s how important pies are in Wigan and its environs. They literally stop the music.”

7.14pm GMT

55 min: Really not sure what Jones and Smalling were doing for the goal. They’d fallen asleep. Which is not to talk down Kalachev’s pass or Bukharov’s finish, both of which were sublime. But the defending wasn’t up to much there. Huge gaps in the middle of the United back line.

7.13pm GMT

Well this came out of nothing! Kalachev, in the centre circle, wedges a delightful ball down the middle of the park. Bukharov strides into the area, chests it down, and guides it into the bottom left with Romero planted. So simple! And suddenly the volume at the Olimp 2 is turned up to 11!

7.11pm GMT

52 min: Blind scampers into acres down the left. He slips a pass inside for Ibrahimovic, who dummies and lets it run for Young. Young meets the pass and shoots wildly right of the target from the edge of the box.

7.10pm GMT

51 min: Poloz has a chance to spring Kalachev free down the right, but his ball forward is charged down by Blind. Signs that the hosts have come out with a more attacking mindset, though. They really need a couple of goals tonight; you can’t see them winning at Old Trafford.

7.07pm GMT

49 min: Gatskan strokes a long ball down the right. Poloz, on the edge of the area, slides a pass across the front of the United box. It’s an opportunity for Noboa to take a belt, but he falls over when attempting to connect.

7.06pm GMT

47 min: Ibrahimovic drops a shoulder to breeze inside from the left wing. He looks to whack a spectacular curler into the top right, but the effort is high and wild.

7.05pm GMT

46 min: Gatskan, out on the right, hooks a cross into the United box. There are no yellow shirts within a mile of it, and Romero claims easily. On the touchline, a very large satisfied smile plays across Mourinho’s face. He’s earned the right. It’s all going to plan so far.

7.04pm GMT

Here we go again, then! No changes. United get the ball rolling for the second half. They launch it long, and the wind takes it out for a goal kick. The only way is up! But then we said that at the start of the first half, and look what happened there.

6.50pm GMT

A tasty half-time snack: “Pies are always fully encased in pastry, none of this slop with a crust only on top. They can be meat and potato or steak. If you’re vegetarian you can have a chicken pie, I suppose.”

Related: What is a pie barm? In Wigan, it’s a way of life | David Barnett

6.48pm GMT

Kalachev slips a ball down the right wing, sending Gatskan into the United area. Gatskan hits Rojo with his cross, and the ball clatters back into his face and out for a goal kick. The final indignity of a dreadful half for the hosts. In terms of entertainment and excitement, that was beyond appalling. But Manchester United won’t care. In tricky conditions, they’ve been in total control, and thoroughly deserve their lead. A professional masterclass, in fact, the sort of display you suspect Jose Mourinho enjoys the most.

6.44pm GMT

44 min: Bukharov stamps on Rojo’s foot. It’s a fairly unpleasant challenge, and he’s lucky not to go in the book. (Ah, tell a lie, he is yellow carded for that.)

6.43pm GMT

43 min: Terentyev clatters Pogba to the ground down the right wing. Free kick. Herrera sends a daft, high, swerving cross-cum-shot into the Rostov box. It nearly swirls over Medvedev’s head, but the keeper stays calm and plucks the ball from the sky on his goalline. You can see one of those catching the wind and embarrassing a keeper tonight.

6.41pm GMT

41 min: ... which comes to nothing.

6.40pm GMT

40 min: A free kick for Rostov out on the left, and an opportunity to load the United box. Kalachev curls in a hopeless set piece, allowing Romero to once again claim easily. United go up the other end, Pogba breaking down the left and winning a corner ...

6.39pm GMT

39 min: The goal appears to have encouraged Rostov to crank it up a bit. Kalachev makes his way down the right and dinks a cross into the middle. Terentyev, rushing in from deep, tries to Steve Nicol a long-range header into the top right. But this is not Highbury 1987. Romero gathers with a yawn.

6.37pm GMT

37 min: Straight from the restart, Erokhin bustles down the right, the ball breaking infield to Noboa, who shoots from distance while falling backwards. Romero claims easily.

6.36pm GMT

Something’s happened now! A long ball down the left. Fellaini takes it down brilliantly, and shuttles it down the channel for Ibrahimovic, who reaches the byline after tearing past Navas, and pulls back into the centre for Mkhitaryan. It’s a simple side-foot tap-in. They’ve been the better side, and now they’ve got that important away goal!

6.34pm GMT

33 min: Fellaini, to the left of the Rostov D, flicks the ball over his head and into the box. The ball nearly curls into the path of Mkhitaryan, free on the penalty spot, but Medvedev is quickly off his line to pluck the ball from danger. On another evening, one of these half-chances would have fallen correctly for United in the Rostov area, and the visitors would have a precious away goal. But though they’ve been the more progressive side, nothing’s happened for them yet.

6.32pm GMT

32 min: Blind and Ibrahimovic combine crisply down the left, one of the few successful passing combinations in this match so far. But Ibrahimovic, in space, blooters his cross into the first man.

6.30pm GMT

30 min: The wind is turning this into a shapeless nonsense, truth be told. Manchester United will be happy enough with the way things are going, though; Rostov have barely troubled them at all.

6.28pm GMT

28 min: A rare attack by the home side. Poloz, who has looked sprightly, zips down the right and hoicks a cross into the United mixer towards Bukharov. The offside flag goes up.

6.27pm GMT

26 min: Blind earns a corner down the left off Mevlja. Smalling and Kudryashov go down on the penalty spot, hugging each other. That could be a foul either way. It goes to the home side. You’ve seen penalties given for that.

6.25pm GMT

25 min: A yellow card for the captain Gatskan, who clatters Ibrahimovic in the midfield. He was late and can’t complain too much.

6.23pm GMT

23 min: After some dental examination on the touchline, Kudryashov is back on. Jose Mourinho predicted a physical encounter, and he’s been spot on so far.

6.22pm GMT

22 min: Mkhitaryan is booked for hanging an arm out and catching Kudryashov on the jaw with his elbow. That wasn’t an Ibra-style swing with a leading point; it looked clumsy rather than intentional. But the Rostov man is some pain, holding his chin and grimacing.

6.21pm GMT

6.20pm GMT

20 min: Poloz hooks a pass down the left wing for Bukharov, who is able to charge into the United box. Bukharov takes a whack from a tight angle, but it’s blocked by Smalling at the expense of a corner. The set piece comes to nothing, Romero claiming with confidence in the swirling wind.

6.18pm GMT

18 min: But Granat looked to have fallen heavily on his shoulder in that little episode with Mkhitaryan. He’s replaced by Terentyev.

6.17pm GMT

17 min: A rare attack for Rostov, Poloz skittering down the left before sending a high cross miles behind the goal. A bobble at fault there. United have certainly been the sharper going forward.

6.16pm GMT

15 min: Mkhitaryan bowls Granat to the ground as the pair chase a long ball down the right. Rostov want disciplinary measures but there was nothing much in that and the referee agrees. We move on.

6.14pm GMT

13 min: Fellaini very nearly finds Mkhitaryan free on the penalty spot. Not quite. Young recycles the ball on the right, and crosses deep. Fellaini and Ibrahimovic get in each other’s way at the far post. Mkhitaryan clatters Erokhin, and that’s a free kick that relieves the pressure.

6.13pm GMT

12 min: It’s still all very scrappy. The wind is whipping the ball around in manic fashion. It’s not conducive to attractive play.

6.12pm GMT

10 min: Ibrahimovic, on the left corner of the Rostov box, hooks inside and nearly finds Pogba in the centre. Rostov half clear. The perpetually scrapping Herrera challenges for a loose ball, and accidentally, but clumsily, kicks Bukharov in the face. The ref has a quiet word, and the two players shake hands. No drama.

6.09pm GMT

8 min: Erokhin cuts in from the right wing with purpose. For a second it looks as though he’s going to romp into space, and make good for the United box, but Smalling arrives out of nowhere, stepping in to block, and winning a free kick to boot.

6.08pm GMT

7 min: Pogba battles down the right wing and earns a free kick off Granat, who shoulder-charges clumsily. A chance for United to load the box. Mkhitaryan loops it long, towards the far post. The wind catches the ball and sends it on an arc towards the top left, but Medvedev adjusts his position well to claim the high cross. Just for a second, that looked like catching the Rostov keeper seriously off guard.

6.06pm GMT

6 min: United are playing with three at the back: Smalling, Jones and Rojo. They pass it hither and yon, always in control, though it doesn’t look too pretty as the ball bobbles around on the undulating pitch.

6.04pm GMT

4 min: It’s a high-tempo start. Pinball stylings. No discernible pattern to the match yet.

6.03pm GMT

2 min: Noboa, down the inside-left channel but a fair way out, sends an ambitious shot gliding straight towards Romero. United respond by going up the other end and nearly scoring, Young causing trouble down the right and finding Pogba on the right-hand corner of the six-yard box. Pogba revisits the dying seconds of the Bournemouth game by failing to connect properly; the whiff is cleared by Gatcan.

6.01pm GMT

And we’re off! The hosts get the ball rolling, and there’s a rare old atmosphere in the Olimp 2 stadium. The ball swirls around in the wind awhile; nobody can get control of the thing. The only way is up!

5.58pm GMT

The teams are out! The hosts Rostov are in their second-choice yellow kit as opposed to first-choice blue. Manchester United are able to gallivant around the shop in their famous red. It’s dark, windy and very cold. We’ll be off in a minute! “Is Tom Tomsk’s poor form this season due to a lack of rhythm in their play?” wonders preamble reader Dave Wall. Either that or a lack of direction.

5.39pm GMT

The state of the pitch: It’s uneven, bald in patches, and there are tyre marks all over it. The groundsman appears to have been wheelspinning around in his tractor like billy-o. “We don’t want to speak about the pitch now, it is not time for that,” shrugs Jose Mourinho. “Yesterday, yes. Not now. We have to realise we have to adapt. We have to try to create a team to fight against a hard opponent, and hard conditions. They are very difficult opponents. We try to be solid, to be competitive. We need a result that will allow us an opportunity to reach the quarter final in the second leg. This is not a passing game, it is not a game for creation. We will be direct and fight, let’s go for it.”

5.23pm GMT

While we wait ... it’s been a fairly eventful week in Europe already, what with Borussia Dortmund seeing off Benfica, Real Madrid putting Napoli out of their misery, and a couple of other results too. Here’s the latest edition of Football Weekly. Quick, quick, you’ll be done by kick-off, give or take a quarter of an hour.

Related: Barcelona complete their mission impossible – Football Weekly Extra

5.10pm GMT

Rostov make one change from the XI sent out to thrash Tom Tomsk last Friday. Dimitriy Poloz replaces Sardar Azmoun up front.

United name seven different starters from the Bournemouth game last Saturday. Sergio Romero, Chris Smalling, Daley Blind, Ashley Young, Ander Herrera, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Marouane Fellaini are back in. David de Gea, Antonio Valencia, Michael Carrick, Juan Mata and Anthony Martial drop to the bench, with Wayne Rooney and Luke Shaw out of it completely.

5.05pm GMT

Rostov: Medvedev, Kalachev, Mevlja, Cesar Navas, Granat, Kudryashov, Noboa, Erokhin, Gatcan, Poloz, Bukharov.
Subs: Goshev, Terentjev, Kireev, Bayramyan, Azmoun, Prepelita.

Manchester United: Romero, Rojo, Jones, Smalling, Blind, Ander Herrera, Pogba, Fellaini, Mkhitaryan, Young, Ibrahimovic.
Subs: de Gea, Mata, Martial, Lingard, Carrick, Rashford, Valencia.

11.05am GMT

Manchester United’s quest to land the one European trophy that eludes them shouldn’t come off the rails in Rostov-on-Don. They’re one of the form teams in Europe, having lost just one game in their last 27 matches in all competitions. That run has included the lifting of the League Cup, and four straight wins in the Europa League to an aggregate score of ten goals to nil. Before last weekend’s slightly strange draw at Old Trafford with Bournemouth, they’d won their last six matches straight. Confidence is high. Jose Mourinho isn’t finished quite yet, is he?

But take nothing for granted. Rostov might be a mid-table proposition in the Russian league, but their home form in Europe this season is worthy of respect. They beat Bayern Munich 3-2 in the Champions League group stage, and stuck four past Sparta Prague in the last round of the Europa. They’re coming off the back of a 6-0 win in the league, admittedly against bottom side Tom Tomsk. And the pitch at their Olimp 2 stadium is an affectionate tribute to the Baseball Ground of the 1970s.

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The Fiver | An actual comeback with tangible benefits and everything

In today’s Fiver: Barcelona, Barry Davies, Sir Chips and more

Of course, the most important thing to note about this Barcelona comeback against Paris Saint-Germain is how it’s consolidated The Fiver’s status as Match Predictor Extraordinaire. Yes, yes, admittedly we called the result as 3-0 to Barça. But you see that comes off the back of our sensational 5-1 Bayern Munich prediction. So over the last 48 hours, our success rate stands at an impressively high 50%, a marked improvement on the previous figure of zero, taken from a now-discredited data set covering the period between 1998 and 4.59pm on Tuesday. Hey, cut The Fiver a little slack on this one, will you, we ain’t got nuttin’ else goin’ on.

Related: Luis Enrique: It was a crazy night that no kid in Barcelona will ever forget

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