Rob Smyth's Blog, page 103

September 19, 2020

Manchester United 1-3 Crystal Palace: Premier League – as it happened

United’s season got off to an abysmal start, with Wilfried Zaha scoring twice to give Palace a thoroughly deserved victory at Old Trafford

7.42pm BST

7.36pm BST

Andros Townsend speaks “Mentally we felt we had an advantage. We knew it was United’s first game and that maybe we could catch them cold if we started fast. We did that in the first five minutes and once we get ahead we’re a very well-drilled team. Wilf was incredible, what more do you want me to say? We’re very fortunate to have him.”

7.30pm BST

7.27pm BST

Peep peep! For the first time in their history, Palace have won the first two games of a top-flight season. It was a deserved win that could have been even more comfortable. Andros Townsend’s early goal was followed by two from Wilfried Zaha, either side of a debut goal by the United substitute Donny van de Beek. United were abysmal, particularly in defence, but Palace did an emphatic number on them.

7.24pm BST

90+4 min “I feel sorry for van de Beek,” says Niall Mullen. “He was my favourite one in Dawson’s Creek.”

7.23pm BST

90+3 min “Think you’re being a bit a bit harsh on the officials there Rob,” says Michael Keane. “Palace were disadvantaged by both Lindelof and then de Gea, and their actions which were against the rules. Marginal maybe, but I didn’t see any mention of either player getting a card, and it’s only right that the team that missed out should get the decisions in their favour. Rules is rules after all.”

I thought that was exactly what I said. I don’t think Martin Atkinson had much choice in either situation; I just don’t agree with the handball rule.

7.21pm BST

90 min Six minutes of added time.

7.20pm BST

90 min Batshuayi blasts over from 25 yards. United’s defending has been desperate.

7.19pm BST

89 min This is the first league game United have lost since Bruno Fernandes joined in January. It’s been a desperate day for them, especially in the context of such a quiet transfer window.

7.18pm BST

88 min James McArthur/McCarthy, I’m not sure which, is replaced by Luka Milivojevic.

7.17pm BST

87 min It’s been a chastening day for United but that shouldn’t overshadow a superb performance from Palace, who have been much the better team. This is no fluke - they have form for winning away at Big Six clubs, and they’ve done it again.

7.16pm BST

Mitchell, on the left, slid the ball into Zaha on the edge of the area. He resisted a wishy-washy tackle from Lindelof, moved infield and belted a low shot past de Gea with his right foot. The defending was poor; the finish was emphatic.

7.15pm BST

A brilliant goal from Wilfried Zaha seals a superb victory for Palace!

7.14pm BST

83 min “Will the goalkeeper on the line be looked at each match?” asks Martin Lancon.

It will – it was one of the new directives for the season.

7.12pm BST

82 min McTominay has gone to right-back for United, who are now playing 4-4-2.

7.12pm BST

81 min A substitution apiece: Ighalo for Fosu-Mensah, Batshuayi for Ayew.

7.11pm BST

It was a good finish from van de Beek. Fosu-Mensah’s nothing cross from the right was missed by Kouyate and hit the unsighted Ward. The ball deflected back towards goal and into the path of van de Beek, who sidefooted it calmly into the far corner.

7.10pm BST

Donny van de Beek gives United hope with a debut goal!

7.10pm BST

80 min Another poor pass from Maguire, who has had a bit of a shocker, allows Palace to break. Townsend flicks a terrific ball with the outside of the foot towards Zaha, who looks set to move through on goal until the last man McTominay makes a desperate sliding tackle. That probably saved a goal.

7.07pm BST

77 min This will be the first time Palace have ever won the first two games of a top-flight season - and the first time they’ve won consecutive matches at Old Trafford.

7.06pm BST

76 min Palace make a change: Eberichi Eze is on for Jeff Schlupp.

7.05pm BST

75 min You can understand why United are so angry - de Gea sarcastically applauded after the second goal - but I think both decisions were correct under the current laws. Obviously those laws are a total mess, but that’s a different argument.

7.04pm BST

Zaha scores! de Gea got a hand on it but there was just enough elevation to beat him.

7.04pm BST

74 min Zaha is going take it this time.

7.03pm BST

72 min de Gea has been penalised for encroachment! “That is an absolute disgrace,” says Gary Neville. “We’re talking millimetres.”

7.02pm BST

72 min It was a poor penalty from Ayew, and de Gea dived to his right to push it away.

7.02pm BST

72 min The law is a joke, but I don’t think Martin Atkinson had much choice but to give that.

7.01pm BST

71 min “Not a chance,” says Gary Neville.

7.01pm BST

70 min Lindelof’s arm was in an unnatural position and, though he was very close to Ayew, I think this will be given. Gary Neville is already fuming on Sky Sports.

7.00pm BST

70 min Martin Atkinson is coming across to look at the monitor!

7.00pm BST

69 min: And now a chance for Palace! They look so dangerous on the break. Ayew surges into the area and flicks a shot that hits Lindelof and loops through to de Gea. There’s a VAR check for handball against Lindelof, however - and I think this will be given.

6.59pm BST

68 min: Chance for United! Fernandes’s dipping corner is headed on by McTominay and volleyed over by Lindelof at the far post. It came at a slightly awkward height and he could only sidefoot it over the bar.

6.58pm BST

68 min van de Beek has gone into the No10 role, with Fernandes dropping deeper alongside McTominay.

6.57pm BST

67 min Donny van de Beek comes on for his Manchester United debut. Paul Pogba has gone off.

6.57pm BST

66 min: Zaha has a goal disallowed for offside! It will be checked by VAR, which confirms the right decision was made. It stemmed from a dismal pass by Maguire. Palace broke and Zaha lifted the ball past de Gea, but he was offside.

6.55pm BST

65 min Greenwood beats Mitchell with a stepover and drives a shot that is blocked by McCarthy.

6.54pm BST

64 min Maguire is booked for a lunge at Zaha.

6.53pm BST

62 min Zaha plays a lovely disguised pass to release Townsend on the right. He picks out a cross to Schlupp on the edge of the area, and his shot is blocked by McTominay.

6.50pm BST

60 min: Greenwood misses an excellent chance! United should be level. Fosu-Mensah curled a decent cross beyond the far post, where the unmarked Greenwood headed wide from eight yards.

6.49pm BST

59 min United’s tempo has been so slow. It’s been easy for Palace’s two banks of four to shuffle from side to side.

6.48pm BST

58 min Fosu-Mensah is booked for a late tackle on Mitchell.

6.46pm BST

56 min United have been a mess today, with and without the ball.

6.46pm BST

55 min Maguire’s crossfield pass goes straight to Schlupp, who slides a pass down the inside-left channel to Zaha. He moves into the area but is well held up by McTominay and the attack peters out.

6.45pm BST

55 min Ward is booked for a foul on Greenwood.

6.44pm BST

54 min Schlupp goes on a brilliant run infield from the left and pulls the ball back to Townsend, who makes room for a shot that hits Pogba and deflects over the bar.

6.42pm BST

52 min Zaha cuts into the area from the left and hits a shot that is crucially blocked by Lindelof. Palace still look dangerous on the break, helped by the nervousness in United’s defence.

6.41pm BST

51 min A tame long-range shot from Pogba is easily saved by the diving Guaita.

6.39pm BST

49 min Ayew receives a short pass from Townsend in the centre circle and surges away from Lindelof. Shaw gets back to cover and Ayew hits a shot from 20 yards that is comfortably saved by de Gea.

6.38pm BST

48 min Lots of possession for United at the start of the second half, though all of it has been in front of the Palace defence.

6.35pm BST

46 min Peep peep! United begin the second half.

6.35pm BST

United have made a half-time change: Mason Greenwood is on for Dan James, who looked bereft of confidence.

6.33pm BST

This will make United fans feel better

Reyna and Bellingham combine to put Dortmund ahead at the break #Bundesliga #BVBBMG pic.twitter.com/35Gp5NA307

6.21pm BST

“As Ayew was winding up for his shot,” says Mary Waltz, “I imagine nervous United fans were hitting the Hen..keys on their keyboard.”

No need to count their chickens before they’ve hatched.

6.20pm BST

Half-time reading

6.20pm BST

Peep peep! Palace lead deservedly through Andros Townsend’s early goal. They’ve kept a sluggish United at arm’s length without too much trouble and could have scored a second just before half-time.

6.17pm BST

45+1 min: Good save from de Gea! Jordan Ayew almost makes it 2-0. He ran at McTominay on the left side of the box, shuffled inside and smashed a rising shot from 10 yards that was tipped over by de Gea. That was a good reaction save.

6.17pm BST

45 min Four minutes of added time.

6.15pm BST

45 min “Chivas - please drink responsibly” shout the advertising boards at Old Trafford. The players aren’t doing much to encourage responsible drinking among United supporters; they’ve been poor.

6.14pm BST

44 min Fernandes plays a good pass out to the left to Shaw, who is too slow to keep the ball in play. Jeez.

6.13pm BST

43 min “Hi Rob,” says Duncan Edwards. “United a goal down early at home, Luke Shaw dozing, Rashford on the deck, and a spate of typo-laden emails betraying an urge to mock. Ah yes, football is back!”

6.12pm BST

41 min: No penalty, just a free-kick. Fernandes’ clipped effort hits the head of Ward and goes behind for a corner.

6.11pm BST

40 min There was a tangle of legs with Pogba but I’m not sure McCarthur knew much about it. A penalty would be very harsh. They are still checking it though.

6.10pm BST

39 min Fernandes is fouled on the edge of the D by Townsend. This is a chance for United. In fact there is now a VAR check for a possible foul on Pogba in the penalty area.

6.09pm BST

38 min I suspect we’ll see Donny van de Beek or Mason Greenwood at the start of the second half. I’d probably bring them both on for James and Pogba, but I suspect it will just be James who is taken off.

6.08pm BST

37 min “As a Welshman, I obviously have a vested interest in Daniel James, and his situation is concerning,” says Matt Dony. “At Swansea, he did show that he can play a bit. There’s more to him than raw speed. But he hasn’t really progressed. A whole year at a club the size of United, he really should be showing something more. It’s hard to tell whether it’s down to the player or the coaching or (most likely) a bit of both, but I really hope he kicks on this season. Not for United’s sake, naturally.”

He started pretty well, too, but faded badly as the season went on. I think I’d have offered him to Leeds on loan this season.

6.07pm BST

36 min Fosu-Mensah’s cross is only half cleared to James, whose tame shot from 15 yards is blocked by McCarthy.

6.06pm BST

35 min Martial plays an excellent pass inside Ward to find Shaw, whose cross is woefully overhit. Palace are not dominating as they did in the first 15 minutes, but they are still pretty comfortable.

6.05pm BST

35 min “All Utd fans should relax,” says Paul Fitzgerald. “They’re just a trailing leg in the box and a hop and a skip from Fernandes away from getting back into the game.”

6.05pm BST

34 min Rashford’s shot from the edge of the area is blocked by Sakho. Most of United’s shots so far have been from 18-25 yards.

6.02pm BST

31 min McCarthy’s corner hits a United defender and falls to Schlupp, whose snapshot is blocked. At the other end Guaita comes a long way out of his area and slices a clearance straight up in the air. Ward heads the loose ball clear and elbows Rashford in the head in the process. No foul was given but there’s a break in play while Rashford is treated.

6.01pm BST

30 min Zaha leads a Palace break and tries to run the last man Lindelof, who does well to stay with him and concede a corner.

6.00pm BST

29 min Palace’s defensive shape is as sound as ever, and United are struggling to create any clear chances.

5.58pm BST

27 min “Afternoon Rob,” says Stephen Carr. “I know he’s young and all that, but Daniel James definitely looks like he graduated from the Jesus Navas School of ‘If He Wasn’t Fast, He Wouldn’t Be a Pro’.”

I was very surprised he started today. His confidence looks shot; you’d be better off with van de Beek or Mata, never mind Greenwood.

5.57pm BST

26 min Fernandes wins the ball 25 yards from goal and hits a deflected shot that is comfortably saved by Guaita, falling to his right.

5.56pm BST

26 min “Less than 10 minutes into a new United season and I’ve already been told to watch my language by my lovely wife,” says Jake Shaffer. “It looks like it is gonna be a long season.”

For you as well.

5.55pm BST

25 min Townsend shoots over from the edge of the area. Palace look a threat on the break.

5.55pm BST

24 min McTominay overhits a simple pass to Martial, who would have been clear on the left side of the area.

5.53pm BST

22 min United are starting to wake up. Fernandes feeds a lovely pass into McTominay on the edge of the area. He looks up and curls a shot that takes a nick off a defender and drifts a few yards wide of the far post.

5.51pm BST

20 min Rashford flicks a pass to Pogba on the edge of the box. He dummies to shoot, beats Schlupp and hits a good low shot that is well held to his right by Guaita.

5.50pm BST

20 min United are all over the show. Never mind 1-0; the way this is going, Palace have a big chance to get a second.

5.49pm BST

19 min “Maybe between this start and the past few weekends, United will nudge itself into an actual, meaningful transfer strategy,” says Ted Lee. “Generally, they seem to be like the person who walks past a car dealership, presses their nose the glass, fogs up the window, never goes inside, then tells everyone that night that he spent the day looking at Rolls-Royces.”

5.49pm BST

18 min Fernandes is okay.

5.48pm BST

17 min Palace are harassing United very effectively. Now Bruno Fernandes is down, which won’t improve Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s humour.

5.45pm BST

13 min United win their first corner. Nothing comes of it and McArthur punts the ball downfield. Lindelof’s header back to de Gea is a bit short, but Zaha pulls out of a 40/60 ball with the keeper 20 yards from goal. I’m not sure why Zaha did that - it didn’t look like he bottled it, more that he didn’t realise what a great opportunity it was.

5.43pm BST

12 min After some nice one-touch passing, Townsend shoots well wide from 25 yards. “United aren’t being outfought - they’re being outplayed,” says Gary Neville on Sky.

5.42pm BST

11 min “I am reminded of the start of the 2006-07 season with Rashford-Martial as the new Ronaldo-Rooney,” says Digvijay Yadav. “Apathy abounding due to only one midfielder coming in the summer while their rivals all strengthened. Liverpool had also won a couple of trophies in the previous two years. I don’t know. I am just looking for something to clutch at.”

I don’t remember a single thing about that summer I’m afraid. Nope. (Also, they were 4-0 up after 20 minutes in the opening match of the season.)

5.41pm BST

10 min It’s been a poor start from United, who look half asleep. Palace have been sharper.

5.39pm BST

Mitchell played a good ball down the left to Schlupp, who held off Lindelof too easily and drove a low cross towards the far post. Townsend arrived late, on the blind side of Shaw, and forced the ball past de Gea with his right foot!

5.38pm BST

Crystal Palace are doing it again!

5.38pm BST

6 min De Gea plays an abysmal pass straight to McArthur, 25 yards from goal. He gets away with it because McArthur’s forward pass is blocked by Shaw, but that wasn’t great.

5.35pm BST

5 min “Hi Rob,” says Alex Netherton. “Could we get someone else on for the game? This isn’t really your thing.”

You should read my chess MBMs.

5.35pm BST

4 min It’s been a leisurely opening to the game. United don’t make many fast starts, do they.

5.33pm BST

2 min Townsend is fouled by McTominay on the right wing. He takes the free-kick himself and Shaw heads clear.

5.32pm BST

2 min “Crystal Palace’s away kit looks like it’s sponsored by Aquafresh,” says Tomasz Rykala.

It’s not great, is it. Their white kit last season was beautiful.

5.31pm BST

1 min Peep peep! Palace, in their white away strip, kick off from right to left.

5.29pm BST

The players emerge on a warm evening in Manchester. Let’s crack on.

5.25pm BST

Goals goals goals “Hey Rob,” says JR in Illinois. “Do you happen to know what the record is for most goals scored in one gameweek since football was invented in 1992? We’re on 14 and not even through the second game yet!”

I think it’s 43 in February 2011, the weekend when Newcastle came from 4-0 down to draw with Arsenal. (Edit: that’s the record since the league was reduced to 20 teams. There were a whopping 53 goals in 11 matches on the last weekend of the 1992-93 season.)

4.54pm BST

Leeds have beaten Fulham 4-3 in a thriller at Elland Road. They were 4-1 ahead but ended up hanging on. The early signs are that Leeds’ promotion is the best thing to happen to the Premier League in years.

4.48pm BST

Pre-match reading

4.41pm BST

A couple of surprises in the United team. Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Daniel James start on the right, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Mason Greenwood on the bench. Donny van de Beek is also among the subs, but Nemanja Matic isn’t even in the squad. And David de Gea is still United’s first-choice keeper.

Palace make one change from the team that beat Southampton last weekend: Mamadou Sakho replaces the injured Scott Dann at centre-back.

4.33pm BST

Manchester United (4-2-3-1) de Gea; Fosu-Mensah, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; Pogba, McTominay; James, Fernandes, Rashford; Martial.
Substitutes: Henderson, Bailly, Fred, van de Beek, Greenwood, Ighalo, Wan-Bissaka.

Crystal Palace (4-4-2) Guaita; Ward, Kouyate, Sakho, Mitchell; Townsend, McArthur, McCarthy, Schlupp; Ayew, Zaha.
Substitutes: Hennessey, Kelly, Inniss, Milivojevic, Meyer, Eze, Batshuayi.

11.08am BST

Hello. It’s time for another season in the irresistible soap opera that is Manchester United post-Fergie. The last one went pretty well: United finished third in the league, realistically the highest achievable position, and reached the semi-finals of all three cup competitions. But these are not the kind of laurels on which a club of United’s stature should rest; their task for this year is to continue the dramatic improvement that was sparked by the arrival of Bruno Fernandes in January.

While Donny van de Beek looks a crafty signing, most people expected United to do more business in the transfer market. Jadon Sancho and Sergio Reguilon will not be making their debuts tonight, and a slightly frustrating off-season was compounded by the sight of Harry Maguire and Mason Greenwood on the front pages.

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Published on September 19, 2020 11:30

Everton 5-2 West Bromwich Albion: Premier League – as it happened

Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored the first hat-trick of his career and James Rodriguez oozed class as Everton punished 10-man West Brom

2.49pm BST

2.27pm BST

2.26pm BST

Peep peep! Everton go top of the Premier League, at least for the next eight hours, after an ultimately emphatic win over West Brom. The match was settled in a 90-second period just before half-time when James Rodriguez made it 2-1 to Everton and Kieran Gibbs was sent off for shoving James in the face.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin was the star with the first hat-trick of his career, while James again oozed class. It’s been a very, very good seven days for Everton.

2.21pm BST

90 min Four minutes of added time.

2.20pm BST

89 min Sigurdsson sprays a beautiful crossfield pass to Digne, who cushions a lovely first-time volley across the area. Richarlison gets in front of his man but can’t make proper contact on his stooping header and the ball drifts wide.

2.19pm BST

89 min Nothing much is happening. Everton would quite like a sixth goal but they’re not desperate; West Brom just want to get out of town.

2.19pm BST

88 min “Six goals for Everton this season,” says Gary Naylor. “Or 13.3% of last season’s 45. Top of the league!”

The 2021-22 Champions League is a done deal.

2.16pm BST

87 min “This was me not getting carried away,” says Kári Tulinius. “My first thought was to email asking if you thought Everton were going to win the league.”

2.14pm BST

84 min Allan’s long pass is cushioned deftly by Sigurdsson into the path of Keane, who shoots over from 20 yards.

2.12pm BST

82 min West Brom just want this game to end.

2.09pm BST

79 min “Where are the ‘olés’ on the crowd soundtrack?” asks Gary Naylor.

2.08pm BST

78 min Moise Kean replaces James, who was again very impressive.

2.07pm BST

77 min “Hello Rob,” says Kári Tulinius. “As a neutral, the Merseyside derby hasn’t been something I particularly look forward to, but I’m already now looking forward to the 17th October. If it’s not a humdinger of a game, I’ll be surprised.”

Let’s not get too carried away.

2.06pm BST

76 min: Richarlison has a goal disallowed for offside! It was a spectacular half-volley from Sigurdsson’s cross, but he was just ahead of the last defender when the ball came in.

2.05pm BST

75 min Another West Brom change: Sam Field replaces Romaine Sawyers.

2.04pm BST

74 min Iwobi almost gets a pass through to Richarlison in the area. Ajayi does well to intercept.

2.01pm BST

71 min A double substitution for West Brom: the excellent goalscorers Grady Diangana and Matheus Pereira are replaced by Kyle Edwards and Matt Phillips. And Everton’s hat-trick hero Dominic Calvert-Lewin is replaced by Alex Iwobi.

2.00pm BST

71 min “Apropos of nothing,” says John Norris, “how about a plug for Warrington Town who are promoting their scarf on the club webshop with a perma-grinning Harry Redknapp, although they make it clear he isn’t included...”

It’s a triffic scarf.

2.00pm BST

70 min The scoreline is seriously harsh on West Brom, who have done so many good things in this game.

1.58pm BST

James’s outswinging corner from the left was slightly behind Calvert-Lewin, who twisted his neck in an attempt to steer a header towards goal. The ball hit the back of his neck, I think, and flew past Johnstone. It was hideous defending from West Brom as well - Calvert-Lewin was completely unmarked eight yards from goal.

1.57pm BST

A hat-trick for Dominic Calvert-Lewin!

1.56pm BST

66 min: Digne hits the bar! It was a nice free-kick that took a slight touch off the West Brom wall and clattered off the top of the bar.

1.55pm BST

65 min Livermore fouls James 22 yards from goal. Before the free-kick is taken, Gylfi Sigurdsson replaces Doucoure.

1.55pm BST

64 min “If you run into the box James will find you,” says Mary Waltz. “No goal, but what a pass.”

It was pretty erotic.

1.54pm BST

James flipped a delicious pass over the defence to release Richarlison, who cushioned a slightly awkward left-footed volley past Johnstone. The ball was going just wide, I think, but then Calvert-Lewin slid it over the line from a yard. The pass from James really was beautiful.

1.52pm BST

Everton should be home now.

1.48pm BST

59 min I should have said that Dara O’Shea has moved to left-back, so West Brom are now playing a 4-4-1.

1.48pm BST

58 min After good play from Diangana and Pereira, Robinson slides a low cross into the six-yard box that is cleared by Digne.

1.44pm BST

Digne’s free-kick from the left was headed towards goal by Richarlison at the near post. Johnstone made a smart save to his left but Keane reacted first to force the loose ball over the line.

1.44pm BST

Everton take the lead again!

1.43pm BST

52 min Whatever happens from here - and you’d still expect Everton to win against 10 men - it’s been such an encouraging afternoon for West Brom. Diangana has been majestic, and Robinson has quietly had a very good game up front.

1.41pm BST

50 min Replays show that Mina, in the wall, didn’t jump in an attempt to stop Pereira’s free-kick. Had he done so, it would have smacked him in the coupon and Everton would be 2-1 ahead.

1.39pm BST

48 min Sheesh, this is great entertainment.

1.38pm BST

That was a spectacular free-kick from Matheus Pereira. He was 25 yards out, to the right of centre, and curled a beauty into the top corner with his left foot. Pickford had no chance.

1.37pm BST

Ten-man West Brom equalise with another belter!

1.37pm BST

46 min Furlong crosses towards Diangana, who is sandwiched by Coleman and Doucoure. There’s a slight appeal for a penalty but Diangana had missed his header before Coleman bumped him.

1.36pm BST

46 min Peep peep! West Brom begin the second half.

1.35pm BST

“Hi Rob,” says Neill Brown. “Now Bilic has to watch the second half from an empty stand, is there any protocol that states he can’t just shout his instructions more loudly than usual?”

Haha, that’s a very good point.

1.35pm BST

“Mike Dean thinks he is the king of the league,” says Mary Waltz. “He could have simply walked away, Bilic was not using foul language, he simply asked for Dean to check the tape again. Dean could have said, ‘I will”, and ended it. But no, Dean’s ‘You must respect my Author..I-TEE’ act took over and he gave him the boot.”

Yes, at first I assumed Bilic was using the language of the docker but it turns out that wasn’t the case.

1.33pm BST

Half-time reading

1.21pm BST

Slaven Bilic is fuming with Mike Dean - and now Bilic has been sent off! He walked onto the field at half time and started ranting at Dean, who took it for a few seconds and then sent Bilic off. You can understand Bilic’s frustration: West Brom started so well, but now they are a goal and a man down.

1.20pm BST

45+2 min James made the most of it, as modern footballers do, but it was an almost bizarre moment of indiscipline from Gibbs.

1.18pm BST

45+1 min What a nightmare for West Brom. James went down after a collision with Gibbs, and Mike Dean whipped out the red card straight away. Replays show why: James nibbled at Gibbs, who took a couple of seconds to decide what to do and then shoved James in the face. A ludicrous business, and a clear red card.

1.17pm BST

It was a really nice strike from 20 yards. Richarlison started the move by forcing his way past Ajayi and surging towards the penalty area. He squared the ball to James, who took a little touch to set himself up and drove an immaculate low shot into the far corner. That’s a lovely goal.

1.16pm BST

James Rodriguez gets his first Everton goal!

1.14pm BST

43 min Ajayi concedes another corner, Everton’s 4914th of the half. Digne curls it towards the near post and Pereira heads clear.

1.13pm BST

41 min “Grady Diangana looks like the player Mark Noble would like to be,” says Gary Naylor. “I wonder if his Twitter finger is twitching.”

1.12pm BST

38 min Everton are playing much better now, though West Brom still look menacing on the break.

1.06pm BST

34 min The dangerous Diangana slides a nice pass into the area to Pereira, who tries to clip the ball across the face of goal. Pickford flies from his line to make a good block.

1.04pm BST

33 min It was a deft finish from Calvert-Lewin, who reacted smartly to jump and backheel the ball past Johnstone.

1.04pm BST

The goal stands!

1.04pm BST

32 min Coleman lofted a cross towards Richarlison, who challenged for it with Furlong at the far post. The ball hit Furlong and bounced towards Calvert-Lewin, who backheeled the bouncing ball over the line from a couple of yards. He was in an offside position, which is why the flag went up, but replays show Richarlison didn’t touch the ball so I think this will be a goal.

1.02pm BST

31 min: Calvert-Lewin has a goal disallowed for offside! This will be checked, because the touch through to him may have been off a West Brom defender.

1.00pm BST

30 min This is a good spell for Everton, and Digne’s outswinging corner is headed over by the leaping Keane. He couldn’t quite get over the ball.

12.59pm BST

28 min A long throw is helped on by Keane to Richarlison, whose snap volley deflects behind for yet another corner.

12.58pm BST

27 min After some nice footwork from James, Coleman’s cross is put behind for another corner. Bartley heads it away again.

12.57pm BST

26 min Richarlison plays a smart one-two with Andre Gomes but slices wide of the near post with his left foot. It was only a half chance.

12.55pm BST

24 min Everton look flustered and impatient, which is a surprise after such a composed performance at Spurs.

12.54pm BST

22 min: Livermore hits the post! West Brom could be 2-0 ahead. Furlong’s lofted cross from the right skimmed the head of Robinson and dropped to Livermore just behind him. In one smooth movement he controlled the ball, swivelled and slammed it off the post. Pickford was well beaten.

12.52pm BST

21 min Coleman wins another corner for Everton. James’s inswinger is headed away by Bartley.

12.51pm BST

20 min The fake fans are getting restless.

12.49pm BST

18 min At the other end, Robinson’s long-range shot is pushed away by the diving Pickford. That was a tougher save than Johnstone’s, though still essentially comfortable. West Brom have a peedie spring in their step.

12.48pm BST

17 min Allan’s long-range shot is comfortably held by Johnstone.

12.48pm BST

16 min Doucoure is booked for pulling back Diangana, who had beaten him with an extravagant scorpion flick.

12.47pm BST

15 min Digne’s cutback is intercepted by Saywers, who then plays a ludicrous pass inside his own six-yard box. It’s nicked by Calvert-Lewin, whose shot on the turn deflects wide.

12.46pm BST

14 min “A fine example of why Everton is looking for a centre-back,” says Mary Waltz.

12.45pm BST

12 min The BT Sport commentary team think Pickford might have done better on the goal. I’d like to see it again - his positioning might have been iffy.

12.43pm BST

11 min Richarlison almost equalises straight away. Digne’s free-kick leads to a big a scramble in the West Brom area, and Richarlison’s snapshot from six yards is crucially blocked by Livermore.

12.42pm BST

Diangana picked the ball up 70 yards from goal and started to surge into space. Everton’s defenders kept backpedalling until Diangana reached the edge of the D and crashed a left-footed drive into the far corner. Carlo Ancelotti spreads his hands wide at his defence, as if to say, ‘Why the eff did none of you effers tackle him?’ It was poor defending from Mina in particular, but a cracking strike.

12.41pm BST

Grady Diangana gives West Brom the lead with a terrific goal!

12.38pm BST

7 min Diangana’s cross is deflected towards Livermore in the D. He hoofs it over the bar. It’s been quite a bright start from both teams though.

12.35pm BST

3 min: Great chance for Calvert-Lewin! Everton should be ahead. James’s wicked inswinging corner from the right reached Calvert-Lewin, who got away from Furlong at the far post but planted a header just wide from six yards.

12.33pm BST

22 seconds: Pickford saves from Diangana! The half-chance came from Pickford’s own lazy pass. It was picked up by Robinson and fed back to Diangana, whose clean low strike was held to his left by Pickford.

12.32pm BST

1 min Peep peep! Everton, in blue, kick off from right to left. West Brom are in yellow and green.

12.28pm BST

It’s a really pleasant autumn day at Goodison Park. The West Brom players have arrived from their temporary dressing-room in the car park; the Everton team are already out on the field.

12.19pm BST

“Two wins to start Everton’s season, Rob?” says Gary Naylor. “Some of us might prefer two defeats.”

Heh, very good. They still don’t get enough credit for their dominance that season, particularly after Christmas: they had a run 16 wins and two draws in 18 games. It was 21st-century consistency in the mid-1980s.

11.35am BST

Both teams are unchanged from their league matches last weekend.

Everton (4-1-4-1) Pickford; Coleman, Mina, Keane, Digne; Allan; James, Doucoure, Andre Gomes, Richarlison; Calvert-Lewin.
Substitutes: Joao Virginia, Kenny, Sigurdsson, Iwobi, Davies, Bernard, Kean.

11.34am BST

Pre-match reading

11.09am BST

Hello. It’s been eight years since Everton won the first two league games of the season. Baby steps and all that, but this is a good chance to build on their impressive 1-0 win at Spurs on Sunday. Everton looked organised and purposeful, with a sprinkling of fantasy from James Rodriguez. A few folk have been getting carried away, human nature being what it is, but Carlo Ancelotti will know that the Spurs game was literally only a thirty-eighth of the league season.

On paper, this is the perfect follow-up fixture. West Brom struggled against Leicester and were eventually well beaten. They have a tough start to the season - Chelsea are up next - but will be desperate to get some points on the board as soon as possible.

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Published on September 19, 2020 06:27

September 14, 2020

Brighton 1-3 Chelsea: Premier League – as it happened

Jorginho’s penalty, a Reece James screamer and a deflected volley from Kurt Zouma gave Chelsea a slightly flattering victory at the Amex Stadium

10.12pm BST

Brighton 1-3 Chelsea Barney Ronay has filed from the Amex Stadium, so I’ll leave you with his report. Goodnight!

10.08pm BST

Peep peep! A solid start for Chelsea, even if the scoreline flatters them. Timo Werner looked sharp - he’s a velocista if ever I’ve seen one - and won the penalty that led to the opening goal from Jorginho. Leandro Trossard’s second-half equaliser, which Kepa might have saved, was followed almost instantly by a screamer from Reece James. After Lewis Dunk missed a sitter, Kurt Zouma’s deflected volley settled the match. Brighton deserved more, but who said life was fair.

10.05pm BST

90+2 min In other news.

10.04pm BST

90+1 min Four minutes of added time.

10.04pm BST

90 min Kante’s chipped cross is cleared inside the six-yard box by Dunk, who takes a hit from Mount in the process.

10.03pm BST

89 min The match is petering out. Brighton were the better team for 66 minutes but the third goal broke them.

10.02pm BST

88 min “It seems a good season to be a James,” says Ian Copestake. “Not that I am bitter but I seem to recall a season that was a calamity for one so-named.”

10.01pm BST

87 min Azpilicueta has gone to right-back with James moving into midfield.

10.00pm BST

85 min “Something I feel I’ve noticed in Chelsea games is that the team will often end up passing the ball all the way back to the defenders, and from there to Kepa, who ends up spanking it forwards,” says Ed Wall. “This seems to happen frequently, and not just from normal buildup but with the team in decent positions high up the pitch. The players’ body shapes when receiving the ball even seem to be angling that way - as though going backwards is the first thought. They seem very risk averse. Do you think this is a sign of something of a lack of confidence, or is it a lack of coaching? It always seems to be inviting a certain amount of pressure. Reece James, for example (screamer aside) seems to be a prime culprit, which is bizarre when his crossing is so excellent.”

I can’t say I’d noticed that but it’s an interesting point, especially about the body shape. I’ll keep an eye out when I watch the match again tomorrow morning.

9.58pm BST

84 min There’s a break in play while Jorginho receives treatment. Cesar Azpilicueta is going to replace him, though it only looks like a precaution.

9.55pm BST

81 min Lamptey is booked for fouling Barkley.

9.54pm BST

80 min Connolly’s long-range shot is comfortably held by Kepa.

9.54pm BST

80 min And now a change for Chelsea: Callum Hudson-Odoi replaces Kai Havertz, who made a subdued debut.

9.53pm BST

79 min A double change for Brighton: Pascal Gross and Ali Jahanbakhsh replace Alzate and the limping White.

9.51pm BST

77 min A deft touch from Havertz releases Kante and starts a Chelsea break. Barkley takes over, running 40 yards before slipping in Werner on the right side of the area. His shot is well blocked by the sliding White.

9.49pm BST

76 min March beats Havertz too easily this time and stands up a deep cross that is headed away by Alonso.

9.48pm BST

74 min Havertz diligently tracks March all the way back into his own area to make an important tackle.

9.48pm BST

74 min “Bournemouth were also a good side with a good coach and went down,” says Ian Copestake. “A common denominator is these are teams who buy players from Liverpool.”

Erm, what about Barcel- oh.

9.47pm BST

73 min For the first time in the game, Chelsea are comfortable. In fact they have a bit of a strut on.

9.46pm BST

72 min “One thing I would say about that Trossard goal Rob, and this is not to defend Kepa particularly, but that new Nike ball is really difficult,” says Martin Gamage. “My 15 yo son has played two games with it and it made him look like a chump both times. It can spit at the keeper when it bounces or it can fly unpredictably. He conceded one exactly like Kepa which seemed to ‘die’ in flight and slide under his gloves. Kepa won’t be the last to look stupid using it.”

That’s interesting and would explain it. It’s quite unusual to see a keeper dive over the ball like that.

9.45pm BST

71 min Trossard hits a dangerous cross towards Maupay that is very well defended by Christensen.

9.42pm BST

68 min “I saw a lot of people slotting Brighton for relegation in previews,” says Brad Wilson. “I didn’t think that sounded right, and on today’s evidence they look like a solid mid-table team. If Dunk had somehow not missed ...”

Yeah they’re a good, likeable side, very well coached. They need more penetration but I’d be pretty surprised if they went down.

9.41pm BST

And now Chelsea lead by two! James’s outswinging corner was volleyed optimistically towards goal by Zouma, 15 yards out, and the ball took a big deflection off Webster to wrongfoot Mat Ryan.

9.40pm BST

66 min James wins a corner off March. This is Chelsea’s best spell of the match.

9.38pm BST

64 min Havertz finds the overlapping James, who crosses low towards Werner at the near post. His imaginative flick behind the standing leg is blocked.

9.37pm BST

63 min We haven’t seen Trossard’s goal again. It did dip awkwardly in front of Kepa, but it was still a surprise when it ended up in the net.

9.35pm BST

61 min A Chelsea substitution: Ross Barkley replaces the disappointing Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

9.34pm BST

59 min: What a chance for Dunk! I don’t know how he has missed that. He was still forward from a free-kick when Trossard curled over a superb cross from the right. Dunk was unmarked at the far post, six yards out, but he tried to be too precise and headed wide.

9.32pm BST

58 min It’s very harsh on Brighton but that really was a magnificent goal.

9.31pm BST

Reece James restores Chelsea’s lead with a storming goal! Jorginho played a square pass to him, 30 yards from goal. James’s first touch into space was excellent: it moved the ball away from Alzate and gave him the room to run on and spank a spectacular drive into the top corner.

9.30pm BST

Pick that out!

9.30pm BST

The goal came after a very patient build-up. Eventually Lamptey pushed the ball back to Trossard, who swished a left-footed drive from 22 yards that sneaked into the bottom corner at the far post. That looked like an error from Kepa, who seemed to dive over the ball, though I’d like to see it again.

9.28pm BST

A deserved equaliser for Brighton!

9.27pm BST

53 min Havertz flicks a simple pass towards Zouma. Throw-in to Brighton. That sums up his night.

9.26pm BST

52 min It’s all Brighton at the moment. Chelsea’s attacking-midfield trio of Mount, Loftus-Cheek and Havertz have done nothing so far.

9.24pm BST

49 min: A fantastic run from Lamptey almost brings an equaliser! He charged infield from the right, zig-zagged between Alonso and Mount at the corner of the area and smashed a shot that deflected behind off Zouma. Having beaten the two men on the edge of the area he should probably have picked out the unmarked Connolly, but you can understand the appeal of trying to score against his old club. He is such an exciting player.

9.22pm BST

48 min This is a really good start from Brighton. Alzate slides a nice pass into the area for Connolly, who takes it in his stride and hits a shot that is well blocked by James.

9.21pm BST

47 min March swaggers down the left and hits a very sharp cross to the near post. Connolly gets away from Christensen - too easily, truth be telt - but the cross is so fast that he can’t sort his body out in time. It hits his chest and goes behind.

9.19pm BST

46 min Peep peep!

9.19pm BST

Okay, I’ll make an exception for this email

“Just wait until some boffin comes up with an Expected Net Spend metric,” says Matt Dony. “‘Club Y only bought a reserve right winger, but their xNS was considerably higher because of their charismatic coach and attractive training facilities.’ I can almost see the spreadsheets now.”

9.17pm BST

Net spend (the end) “Has Mr Radcliffe failed to notice that Chelsea have spent nothing the last two transfer windows, have sold their (arguably) best player in Hazard, plus Morata, and might have a few quid rattling around the piggybank?” asks Julian Menz.

And with that, no mas. We’ll just end up calling each other bad words.

9.14pm BST

Half-time reading

9.08pm BST

Half-time chit-chat

“Hasn’t Mary Waltz seen the much-publicised net spend table doing the rounds?” says Jonathan Radcliffe. “I think Liverpool’s was £23m over the last four seasons. Think Klopp was spot on if that’s anywhere near accurate.”

9.06pm BST

Peep peep! Chelsea lead through Jorginho’s penalty, won by the impressive Timo Werner after a mistake from Steven Alzate. It’s been a pretty even game between two good passing sides, but Werner has looked by far the most penetrative player on the pitch.

9.05pm BST

45+2 min: Good effort from Werner! He has looked so sharp tonight. He runs past Dunk on the left side of the area, shapes to cross and then drives a surprise shot towards the near post from a very tight angle. Ryan dives to his right to push it behind.

9.05pm BST

45+1 min Four minutes of added time. Connolly has gone up front, with Trossard dropping back into midfield.

9.00pm BST

45 min Poor Adam Lallana is going off. He doesn’t look in much pain, at least not physically, which suggests he has tweaked something. Aaron Connolly replaces him.

8.59pm BST

44 min Lallana is down, which is a worrying sign given his problems in recent years.

8.58pm BST

42 min Werner feeds the ball into Loftus-Cheek near the halfway line and sets off in support. Suddenly Chelsea have a two-on-one, but Loftus-Cheek’s attempted pass through to Werner is crucially blocked by the well positioned White. Werner really is lightning fast.

8.57pm BST

42 min Newsigningswatch: Werner dangerous, Lallana bright, Havertz anonymous.

8.55pm BST

39 min “Maupay seems to be settled at Brighton,” says Peter Oh, “but if he wants even mo’ pay he might consider a move to Chelsea.”

Ho-honk!

8.53pm BST

38 min Apart from giving away that eminently avoidable penalty, Brighton have probably been the better team.

8.52pm BST

37 min “I admire Klopp but I think he stepped in it with his gripe about Chelsea spending,” says Mary Waltz. “The big six have more cash to splash then quite a few clubs.”

I’m quite enjoying the nascent needle between the clubs, especially as they play each other this weekend.

8.52pm BST

36 min Lallana breaks forward and flicks a nice pass through to Maupay, whose first touch is just too soft and allows a couple of Chelsea defenders to crowd him out. Had he pushed it into the space he would have had a shot at goal.

8.50pm BST

35 min: Good effort from Alzate! That would have made up for his mistake. He moved smoothly past two Chelsea players in midfield and rifled a right-footed drive from distance that was pushed away by the diving Kepa. The rebound came to March, whose follow-up was blocked by James.

8.48pm BST

33 min The impressive Lamptey nutmegs Alonso, forcing Jorginho to cover and concede a corner. March drives it deep, Kepa fresh-airs his punch but gets away with it when the ball clears White.

8.46pm BST

32 min Maupay is back on, though he’s moving a little gingerly.

8.45pm BST

30 min Zouma accidentally treads on the back of Maupay’s foot, and there’s a break in play while Maupay is treated. That looked pretty painful.

8.44pm BST

30 min Werner has looked much livelier than Havertz, which is probably a reflection of how long they have been at the club. Havertz has only been training for a week or so whereas Werner had a full pre-season, such as it was.

8.43pm BST

28 min We’ve just seen a replay of the penalty incident. There wasn’t much contact between Ryan and Werner, but probably enough for a penalty. I do feel a bit sorry for keepers in that situation, though, because Werner could have avoided contact if necessary.

8.42pm BST

27 min “4231?” says Peter Oh. “Is that Chelsea’s formation, or what they spent this summer, in millions of pounds?”

8.41pm BST

26 min: Chance for Maupay! The dynamic wing-back Lamptey put over a delicious first-time cross from the right. It cleared Zouma and reached Maupay, who mistimed his attempted header from six yards. The ball hit his shoulder and looped into the loving embrace of Kepa. In Maupay’s defence, it was slightly behind him.

8.40pm BST

25 min Lallana finds Alzate in space on the edge of the area. He takes a touch and hits a firm shot that is blocked. Chelsea break dangerously through Werner, whose low shot from the right side of the box hits Dunk. Werner didn’t really get hold of it.

8.39pm BST

24 min John Beck’s Cambridge never gave away penalties like that.

8.38pm BST

It was a typical Jorginho penalty. He waited for Ryan to dive to his left and slid the ball the other way.

8.38pm BST

Jorginho scores!

8.37pm BST

22 min Alzate played a loose square pass that was intercepted by Jorginho, 30 yards from goal. He quickly moved it forward to Werner, who went round Ryan and was fouled.

8.36pm BST

PENALTY TO CHELSEA! Werner has been brought down by Ryan.

8.36pm BST

20 min A beautiful bit of interplay between Alzate, March and Trossard, who surges into the area and hits a speculative low cross that is cleared by Mount.

8.34pm BST

19 min Mount’s inswinging cross is flicked on by Werner towards Havertz. Webster gets in front of him to intercept and the ball loops through to the keeper Ryan.

8.31pm BST

15 min Maupay wins a corner down the right for Brighton. March’s deep corner is headed away as far as Bissouma on the edge of the area. He swishes it back across to the unmarked Trossard on the other side of the area, but his first-time cross is straight at Kante.

8.28pm BST

13 min Timo Werner looks sharp. Kai Havertz hasn’t seen much of the ball so far.

8.27pm BST

10 min Not much is happening. Both teams are passing the ball nicely but harmlessly. In other news, Jude Bellingham has scored on his Borussia Dortmund debut.

30 | HEY JUDE!!!

ON HIS DEBUT!!!#MSVBVB 0-2 pic.twitter.com/GXAKDWayWO

8.22pm BST

6 min Brighton have started well. They have some really nice footballers in their team; with a greater cutting edge they could finish in the top half.

8.21pm BST

5 min Webster swans forward from defence and drives over the bar from 25 yards. It’s another reminder of Brighton’s progressive approach.

8.19pm BST

3 min Werner slides a dangerous low cross that just evades Mount. It wouldn’t have counted as Werner was flagged offside after the event.

8.18pm BST

2 min Chelsea are playing a 4-2-3-1, with Loftus-Cheek ahead of Kante and Jorginho and Havertz on the right. Brighton’s formation is a straight 3-5-2.

8.16pm BST

1 min Peep peep! After both sets of players take a knee, Brighton kick off from left to right.

8.15pm BST

Brighton are wearing their new home strip, the best of all this season’s kits for my money, not that I’ll be spending any on it. Chelsea are wearing this.

8.12pm BST

The players are in the tunnel, ready for another season. Right Here, Right Now is on the tannoy. It’s business o’clock.

8.00pm BST

Sheffield United 0-2 Wolves was the score in the early game. Wolves were 2-0 up inside six minutes: Raul Jimenez’s high-class finish was followed by a header from Romain Saiss.

7.49pm BST

“It’s nice to see Lampard mixing four academy graduates with the new toys,” says Roberto Álvarez. Unfortunately, where Caballero or Mendy should be, there is a kind of friendly looking Spaniard warming up. Seems like a good guy. Don’t know if he can parry a ball though.”

7.44pm BST

“Kindly explain,” says Kalema Leon, “the meaning of ‘mouthwatometer’.”

Well, it’s an ometer that tells you how much your mouth is watering. I broke mine the first time I smelt the bone marrow gravy at the Hawksmoor.

7.39pm BST

Pre-match business

7.37pm BST

“Ok,” says Rob Coughlin, “I thought Pulisic was fit again? Wa’happened?”

I haven’t a clue. You’re welcome! (I thought he’d be on the bench as well.)

7.18pm BST

Timo Werner and Kai Havertz start for Chelsea, as do Adam Lallana and Ben White for Brighton. The rest of the Chelsea’s summer signings are either injured or not match-fit. Their next signing, Edouard Mendy, will have his gloves kept warm by Kepa.

Brighton (3-5-2) Ryan; White, Dunk, Webster; Lamptey, Lallana, Bissouma, Alzate, March; Maupay, Trossard.
Substitutes: Steele, Burn, Veltman, Stephens, Gross, Jahanbakhsh, Connolly.

4.37pm BST

Hello. At the start of a new season, there’s always a unique buzz around the team that has spent the most money. This year it’s Chelsea, who have divested themselves of around £200m to sign some serious talent. The most eye-catching signings are Kai Havertz and Timo Werner, the two best young players in Germany, but Thiago Silva, Ben Chilwell and Hakim Ziyech also register pretty highly on the mouthwatometer.

It’s arguably Chelsea’s most exciting spree since 2003, when a newly rich club bought 42 per cent of the registered professional footballers on the planet. The new team gelled pretty quickly: that season Chelsea finished second and reached the Champions League semi-final, and their manager Claudio Ranieri was sacked.

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Published on September 14, 2020 14:08

September 13, 2020

Tottenham 0-1 Everton: Premier League – as it happened

Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s towering header gave an impressive Everton a deserved victory over a listless Tottenham

9.33pm BST

Angry Mourinho ...

9.33pm BST

Some Jonathan Liew ...

7.38pm BST

Here is the report from David Hytner ...

6.50pm BST

Here’s Jose Mourinho

“I’m disappointed with the performance, yes. In the first half we had the best chances, a couple of important saves by Pickford. In the second half, when they scored, we were not able to create and they dominated the game. The struggle started in the way we pressed, or the way we didn’t press – it was very, very poor. It was lazy pressure, and when you let them play from the back they are comfortable. In spite of that, I repeat that in the first half we had some good moments.

6.34pm BST

Here’s Abdoulaye Doucoure “It’s a dream start for all of us. The week was brilliant, the manager was focussed on the game and we are very happy to win. I have only trained three times with the team but I kept in shape to be ready for this game, and the manager had trust in me. I’m very happy.

“I’m sure we’re going to achieve good things this season. We want to get into Europe, that’s our main goal. Today is only the start but it’s a great win against a good team.”

6.24pm BST

“I know it’s early,” says Dom Salmon, “but as a Spurs fan I’d like to apologise to everyone in the world, not just football fans, for the utterly pointless dross we’re going to inflict on you this season. I mean sure, column inches will be generated because, you know “Jose’. But we’re sorry you might end up reading that, instead of, I don’t know, spending time with your kids, your family, friends you haven’t seen in ages.

“And there’s the actual ‘games’ themselves. Again, you could be pairing socks, doing tax returns, creosoting fences? Useful stuff certainly. But no, you’ll probably NOT be doing that, and instead watch us serving up anaemic, pedestrian bilge, week in week out. Even if you flip channels to Amazon, there’s no escape. And I for one, am sorry it came to this.”

6.23pm BST

That was an outstanding day’s work for Everton, both the result and the performance. Their new signings were all excellent, and they played with a purpose and order that was lacking for so much of last season. For Spurs, it was a bit of a stinker, and Jose Mourinho has a rare old face on as he stomps towards the tunnel.

6.21pm BST

Peep peep! Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s towering header gives Everton a deserved victory over a listless Spurs.

6.20pm BST

90+3 min Hojbjerg’s high, hanging cross is claimed decisively by Pickford.

6.18pm BST

90+2 min Tom Davies replaces the impressive James Rodriguez, who decorated the game with moments of class.

6.17pm BST

90+1 min Four minutes of added time.

6.17pm BST

90 min Davies’s fast cross is slightly miscontrolled by Son, which allows Allan to get in front of him and clear. He’s had a really solid game.

6.15pm BST

88 min Moise Kean replaces the goalscorer Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

6.13pm BST

86 min There’s still no urgency to Spurs’ play, it’s all very strange.

6.12pm BST

85 min Richarlison and Hojbjerg both go down in pain after a foul by the latter, prompting a bit of shoving from players on both sides. Hojbjerg is booked.

6.10pm BST

84 min Doucoure slides a good pass through to Calvert-Lewin, whose crisp shot from the edge of the area is too close to Lloris.

6.07pm BST

81 min Kane loops a header straight into Pickford’s arms from Davies’s cross. This is a bit better from Spurs.

6.07pm BST

81 min Son’s corner is headed on at the near post by Alderweireld and hooked towards goal by the off balance Davies. Richarlison heads it clear from inside the six-yard box.

6.06pm BST

80 min Everton haven’t won away to a ‘big six’ side in the Premier League since December 2013.

6.05pm BST

78 min Son’s corner is headed over by Kane, under pressure from Calvert-Lewin. It wasn’t much of a chance.

6.04pm BST

77 min Everton probably can’t believe how easy this has been, particularly since they went 1-0 up. Spurs have been lamentable.

6.03pm BST

76 min “The MBM feed here in the States is about 30 seconds ahead of the NBC Peacock feed,” says Mary Waltz, “or you are the fastest typer in the world.”

I wear my genius lightly.

6.02pm BST

75 min Pickford flies from his line to punch clear after Doherty loops a header back across the area. Time for another Spurs change: Tanguy Ndombele replaces Doherty.

6.00pm BST

74 min It’s all Everton. Coleman cuts across a volley from 25 yards but it’s too close to Lloris and he saves comfortably.

5.59pm BST

72 min Another good effort from Richarlison, who runs at Doherty, cuts inside and curls a shot just wide of the far post. That was closer than the last one, though it was also a better chance as he was only 12 yards out.

5.58pm BST

71 min It’s been an impressive, controlled performance from Everton, who look much more organised and purposeful than last season.

5.56pm BST

69 min At the other end, Richarlison cuts inside Sissoko and cracks a curling shot that goes a few yards wide of the far post. It was a decent effort, though Lloris didn’t seem unduly worried.

5.55pm BST

69 min Lucas Moura does well to manufacture a header at goal from Davies’s lobbed cross. Pickford moves across his line to make a comfortable save. That’s Spurs’ first attempt at goal since half-time.

5.54pm BST

68 min An Everton change: the quietly excellent Andre Gomes is replaced by Gylfi Sigurdsson.

5.52pm BST

65 min Gary Neville is laying into Spurs on Sky Sports. “The reaction to giving that goal away is not good enough. Just look at them, walking round the pitch. Sulking.”

5.51pm BST

64 min Everton look very comfortable at the moment. Spurs have been so subdued.

5.48pm BST

61 min Spurs are now playing with Sissoko alongside Hojbjerg in the midfield. Lucas Moura has moved back to the right wing and Bergwijn is playing alongside Kane.

5.46pm BST

60 min Another change for Spurs: Steven Bergwijn replaces Harry Winks.

5.44pm BST

58 min The free-kick was taken maybe five yards further forward than it should have been, so you can understand Jose Mourinho’s irritation. I’m not sure it made much difference to the goal but it’s still not great refereeing.

5.42pm BST

56 min Spurs are unhappy with the goal. Apparently they think the free-kick was taken from the wrong position. I did not see the incident.

5.41pm BST

Digne curled an excellent free-kick from the left towards Calvert-Lewin, who towered over Dier and Alderweireld and slammed a header into the top corner. Brilliant goal.

5.41pm BST

Dominic Calvert-Lewin gives Everton the lead with a thumping header!

5.39pm BST

54 min “Picture this,” says Ian Copestake. “Next season, Bielsa to Spurs! But who will take over as caretaker until then?”

5.39pm BST

53 min Alderweireld makes a desperate block from Andre Gomes. This is an excellent spell for Everton.

5.38pm BST

52 min James clips a beautiful angled pass over Doherty to find Richarlison, who heads wide from five yards. He must have been unsighted by Docherty jumping in front of him; with a clear view it would have been a simple chance.

5.37pm BST

51 min Keane drives a pass over the defence to Calvert-Lewin on the left. He looks up and steers the ball back to James, who completely mistimes a first-time shot from 12 yards. The ball dribbles apologetically wide of the far post. That was a chance, certainly for him.

5.35pm BST

49 min Nothing much is happening. I’ll level with you, it hasn’t been a great game so far.

5.32pm BST

47 min “Not much chance of Lo Celso coming on,” says John Tumbridge, “if he’s not on the subs bench.”

God bless the Grauniad.

5.32pm BST

46 min Peep peep! It’s the same 4-2-3-1 formation for Spurs, with Sissoko on the right and Lucas Moura playing behind Harry Kane.

5.31pm BST

Spurs have made a half-time substitution: Moussa Sissoko is on for Dele Alli.

5.29pm BST

“There is but one problem with Mourinho,” says Digvijay Yadav. “If you are a top player playing under him, you are likely to cast envious glances at other more ‘progressive’ coaches. That makes it tougher for him convince them that having the ball isn’t all that.”

5.27pm BST

“I was just zipping through your reporting on today’s game and was baffled by the person who said the media were racist re: Jose because they criticized him,” says Claire McConnell. “ As a Chelsea fan who has supported them since the 1970s I feel well qualified to comment. The criticism directed towards him is quite justified. He used to be brilliant, both as a tactician and a man manager, and his time at Chelsea the first time was fantastic for all. The second time: not nearly so successful and managed to alienate several players. Now - he is so miserable and whiny, I cannot stand listening to him. He still has skills, but he is nowhere near the coach he used to be, and I think Spurs are going to be very sorry they ever hired him.”

One strange thing is that he is brilliant on TV, so he clearly still has plenty of his old charisma, but something fundamental has changed.

5.25pm BST

“Harry Winks rarely, if ever, plays a forward pass,” says Steven Porter. “It’s easy to have great passing stats if all your passes are 10-yard balls backwards or sideways. We need Lo Celso second half.”

You might get him, but it won’t be for Winks, at least not while it’s 0-0.

5.17pm BST

Half-time reading

5.17pm BST

A cagey half of football. Everton dominated possession, with James looking bright, and Richarlison missed a good early chance after going round Hugo Lloris. Spurs were a bit ponderous but Dele Alli and Matt Doherty forced good saves from Jordan Pickford. See you in 10 minutes for the second half.

5.16pm BST

45+1 min Spurs get a free-kick on the left wing. Son plays it short... and Martin Atkinson blows the whistle for half-time. Oh dear.

5.14pm BST

44 min “What is going on with Harry Winks?” says Thomas Nolan. “He has barely played a forward pass in the whole game - every time he gets the ball it’s back to Dier or Alderweireld or else square to Hojbjerg - Is it just me or is he adding absolutely nothing to Spurs’ midfield so far?”

The only thing I would say in his defence is that the movement ahead of him hasn’t been great. But it looks like his main role is to spoil alongside Hojbjerg.

5.13pm BST

43 min Richarlison makes space to crack a low shot from the edge of the area that is saved at the second attempt by Lloris.

5.12pm BST

42 min: Another good save from Pickford! Doherty almost gives Spurs the lead on his debut. He clipped the ball into Kane, who waited and then scooped a beautiful return pass over the defence. Doherty ran onto it and sidefooted a half-volley that was well blocked by Pickford.

5.09pm BST

39 min Son’s cross is headed up in the air by Alli and cleared by Digne. Spurs are starting to look a little more dangerous, mainly through Son.

5.08pm BST

38 min Allan and Lucas Moura both limp away from a 50/50. I think they’re fine.

5.07pm BST

37 min Doucoure nicks a loose ball off Winks and gives it to James, 25 yards from goal. He moves infield, onto his left foot, and flicks a lovely shot that bounces just wide of the far post. I think Lloris had it covered, though he was scrambling desperately across his line.

5.03pm BST

34 min Kane was really unhappy with Son for not passing to him.

5.03pm BST

33 min: Good save from Pickford! Digne wins another corner for Everton, who continue their admittedly sterile domination of the game. Digne’s excellent corner is headed away brilliant by Dier and Spurs break menacingly. Son ignores Kane’s run through on goal and instead slides an angled pass to Alli, who spanks a rising shot that is tipped over by Pickford. That was a smart reaction save.

5.01pm BST

32 min “It seems like a midfield maestro match up here,” says Jeremy Dresner. “Alli is passing waywardly and looks frustrated James passing beautifully seems instantly comfortable. That seems about the only difference in a slow burner so far.”

5.01pm BST

31 min Richarlison’s shot hits Alderweireld and spins behind for a corner.

4.56pm BST

26 min Coleman makes two excellent defensive headers in the space of five seconds, first from Doherty’s cross and then from Son’s shot. Everton break and James drags a tame shot through to Lloris with his right foot.

4.55pm BST

25 min After Winks wins the ball in a dangerous area, Kane releases Alli on the right side of the box. But his low cross is a bit wishy-washy and Everton clear.

4.54pm BST

24 min: Chance for Spurs! Son’s wicked inswinging cross from the left just evades the sliding Kane and zips bounces a couple of yards wide of the far post.

4.53pm BST

22 min “Hi Rob,” says Stephen Carr. “Watching Spurs, one could be forgiven for thinking that Mourinho actually doesn’t like being in possession of the ball. It’s almost like he sees it as a potential problem.”

I’d be really interested to see the possession stats by season of each of his teams. He has definitely become more of a disciple of counter-attacking.

4.50pm BST

20 min The tempo of this game has been a bit ponderous. It’s a very warm day, which might be a factor.

4.49pm BST

19 min Son, who has been Spurs’ most dangerous attacker, wins a corner off Coleman. He takes it himself and Allan clears.

4.47pm BST

16 min: What a chance for Richarlison! Everton should be ahead. Davies played a very loose pass across the face of his own defence towards Alderweireld. Richarlison got there first and scooted away from Alderweireld before going round Lloris. But his touch was a bit heavy, which made the angle too tight, and he screwed his shot wide of the near post.

4.43pm BST

13 min Everton continue to completely dominate possession. It’s still all in front of Spurs, who have settled into Jose’s beloved low block.

4.39pm BST

10 min James is seeing plenty of the ball and looks in the mood. It’s been a confident start from Everton.

4.37pm BST

8 min Everton are having plenty of possession, with Spurs happy to sit deep and play on the break. James sprays a lovely crossfield pass out to Digne, whose cross is headed away.

4.36pm BST

6 min Kane lobs a pass over the defence towards Son, who is well tracked by Coleman. Kane is such an underrated passer.

4.34pm BST

5 min At the other end, Richarlison tries a shot on the turn but misses his kick and falls over.

4.33pm BST

3 min Kane flicks a lovely pass out to Son on the left. He cuts infield, uses the overlapping Davies by not using him and drives a low shot from 20 yards that is comfortably saved by Pickford.

4.31pm BST

1 min It looks like Everton are playing a 4-1-4-1 with James on the right wing and Richarlison the left. Allan is slightly deeper than the other central midfielders.

4.30pm BST

1 min Peep peep! Spurs, in which, kick off from right to left. Everton are in blue.

4.25pm BST

It’s a lovely sunny afternoon in north London, and the players have their business faces on.

4.24pm BST

“This Everton lineup is a far cry from the team that beat Sheffield United 1-0 back in July, am I right?” says Matt Burtz. “ Cautious optimism is always the name of the game prior to every season, but I think it’s actually justified now. If nothing else, Allan can fill the Idrissa Gueye role that was sorely unfilled last campaign. Of course, if they lose 3-0 today, please pretend I never wrote this.”

4.22pm BST

“Very much a side note to the new signings and high profile managers in this clash, but is this the first meeting between Son and Gomes since the unfortunate injury?” says Duncan Edwards. “Even as top pros and decent blokes I wonder what both are thinking.”

They played against each other in July as well. I doubt something like that ever leaves you, mind.

4.14pm BST

“This is what is great about the Premier League,” says Mary Waltz. “The new signings have lifted this Everton’s fan traditional pessimism. For at least one game I can ignore my teams multi-year pattern of soul-crushing mid-table mediocrity. James will regain his Colombian World Cup form. All is well in the world, at least for the next half hour.”

4.13pm BST

“Evening Rob, exciting game today with 1-0 written all over it,” says Yash Gupta. “As a Spurs fan I notice the media has downplayed Mourinho and Spurs this season. Where do you see Spurs finishing?”

So much depends on Harry Kane. If he stays fit and gets back to his 2016-18 best they could finish third; if not, somewhere between fourth and seventh I guess.

4.09pm BST

In defence of Jose

“I really don’t understand the blatant racism placed on Jose Mourinho by Guardian newsmen,” writes Pedro Maia. “Had this been directed to any other person with such amazing results it would be more than enough reason for public outcry but with Mou it seems that being extremely competent at his job allows for you to abuse the man.

4.04pm BST

“‘The big summer signings for both sides all start’, eh?” sniffs Matt Dony. “No sign of Joe Hart in that Spurs line-up...”

3.46pm BST

Pre-match reading

3.35pm BST

The big summer signings on both sides all start. We’re not certain what formation Everton will play, though I reckon it’ll be a midfield diamond.

Spurs (4-2-3-1) Lloris; Doherty, Alderweireld, Dier, Davies; Hojbjerg, Winks; Moura, Alli, Son; Kane.
Substitutes: Hart, Sanchez, Aurier, Lamela, Sissoko, Ndombele, Bergwijn.

3.23pm BST

Hello and welcome to live coverage of a meeting between the Premier League’s eternal optimists. Despite perpetual disappointment, Spurs and Everton always come back for more with a hopeful demeanour and an open chequebook. This time the optimism stems from the fact it’s their first full season under two of the most successful managers of the modern era, Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti. Everton, too, have made some intriguing signings, particularly the darling of the 2014 World Cup, James Rodriguez.

It’s a huge season for both clubs. This might be Mourinho’s last chance to show he is still compatible with the modern footballer. And if Everton’s refurbished squad can’t improve on last season’s 12th position, they really are in trouble.

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Published on September 13, 2020 10:34

Chelsea 9-0 Bristol City: Women's Super League – as it happened

There were nine different goalscorers, including Pernille Harder and Fran Kirby, as a ruthless Chelsea demolished City

Read Suzanne Wrack’s match report

2.59pm BST

2.23pm BST

Peep peep! The referee Stacey Pearson puts Bristol City out of their misery. They were sadly outclassed by Chelsea, who took a while to get going but were ruthless when they did so. It was horribly one-sided. Pernille Harder came off the bench to get her first goal for Chelsea, while Fran Kirby scored her first WSL goal in 16 months. Chelsea have seen Arsenal’s 9-1 over West Ham and raised it.

2.21pm BST

90+2 min Spence misses a great chance to make it 10-0, rolling a shot past the outrushing Baggaley that goes just wide of the post.

2.19pm BST

89 min Harder’s shot is comfortably saved by Baggaley. Arsenal won 9-1 yesterday, Chelsea are winning 9-0 today; it’s not ideal, but what can you do?

2.16pm BST

Sam Kerr finally gets on the scoresheet with a confident finish! She ran onto Harder’s through ball, twisted inside Evans and swept the ball past Baggaley from eight yards.

2.15pm BST

85 min Another change for City. Laura Rafferty replaces Aimee Palmer.

2.14pm BST

84 min “How has Sam Kerr played today?” asks Patrick Wills. “She’s had a slow start to life at the club and Australian football fans down under would love to see her hit her stride and prove her worth to a wider audience. She is an excellent player when she’s on song.”

Pretty well, even though she’ll be frustrated that hasn’t scored. There are times when she’s been a bit too unselfish. She’s a better allround forward than I realised and is especially effective when she pulls out to the left.

2.10pm BST

81 min Salmon has a rare half-chance for City, curling over from 15 yards.

2.10pm BST

80 min Ji is one of the few Chelsea players not to score, but she has had a brilliant game. Her passing, short and long, is so classy. Her work is done for today: she and Fran Kirby have been replaced by Jessie Fleming and Drew Spence.

2.07pm BST

78 min Harder finds Ji, whose shot on the turn is flapped away by Baggaley. She has played pretty well, despite conceding eight.

2.04pm BST

75 min: Kerr hits the bar with a looping header from Eriksson’s cross.

2.04pm BST

Pernille Harder scores her first goal for Chelsea, and it’s a beauty. Charles played a give-and-go with Kerr and slid the ball across to Harder, who flicked it majestically behind her standing leg and past Baggaley. Pure class.

2.02pm BST

73 min Another change for City: Faye Bryson replaces Flo Allen.

2.00pm BST

70 min Baggaley makes another good point-blank save, this time from Kerr.

1.59pm BST

Niamh Charles scores with her first touch as a Chelsea player! Pernille Harder made it, twisting Allen inside out before hitting a shot that was well saved by Baggaley. The rebound ran to Charles, who tapped it into the empty net.

1.58pm BST

68 min “Do you think the level will even itself out over the years in this league?” asks Ruth Purdue. “I worry at the gap in victories and quality. I think it will, but may take time. Investment is a key factor too, in players and coaching. We shall see.”

There will always be inequality, I’d imagine, though the gap should close a little over time. I don’t think these huge margins of victory will be as common in 10 years’ time.

1.57pm BST

67 min A triple change for Chelsea: Pernille Harder, Niamh Charles and Maria Thorisdottir replace England, Mjelde and Leupolz.

1.55pm BST

Beth England gets her goal. Blundell’s sharp cross from the left was too hot for Baggaley, and England reacted smartly to crack a volley into the net.

1.53pm BST

64 min Cuthbert’s corner finds its way through to the unmarked Leupolz at the far post, 12 yards from goal. She chests the ball up and hits a volley towards the near post that is excellently saved by the sprawling Baggaley.

1.51pm BST

61 min Ji’s cross is headed over by the stooping Kerr. The ball was just behind her, which is why she couldn’t steer it on target.

1.51pm BST

61 min Chelsea are 5-0 up and their front two of England and Kerr are yet to score.

1.50pm BST

60 min England plays a lovely reverse pass to Kirby, who drags a cross-shot just wide. Kerr almost got on the end of it at the far post.

1.48pm BST

58 min Leupolz’s long-range short on the turn goes high over the bar.

1.47pm BST

58 min “Hello Rob,” says Kári Tulinius. “I was paying attention to the game for about half an hour until family matters pulled me away. I turn my eyes away for fifteen minutes and came back to this. Chelsea were worth their one goal lead, but didn’t seem like they were miles better than Bristol. Did Chelsea find another gear, or did they just have a patch where everything they attempted succeeded?”

It was a strange spell really, they just scored from every attack. Two were fairly cheap set-piece goals, one a penalty and the other a cracking strike from Erin Cuthbert.

1.47pm BST

57 min A triple change for Bristol City: Ebony Salmon, Abi Harrison and Emma Bissell replace Wellings, Daniels and Humphrey.

1.43pm BST

54 min Ji’s fierce shot is blocked on the six-yard line. The Chelsea pressure is relentless.

1.41pm BST

52 min Kerr pulls out to the left and puts in a superb low cross that is sliced just wide by the stretching Kirby. That was another great chance.

1.39pm BST

49 min Bristol City’s high press is a thing of the past. They are camped in their own half now, just trying to limit the damage.

1.36pm BST

47 min Kirby almost makes it six with a close-range shot that is blocked by Evans.

1.34pm BST

46 min Peep peep! Chelsea begin the second half.

1.34pm BST

I’ve been trying to think what Sophie Baggaley’s goalkeeper kit reminds me of: it’s a Blockbusters board.

1.33pm BST

“Hi Rob,” writes Minega. “I’ve been following the game through your minute-by-minute commentary but considering where the game is heading, I think I’m going to have to actually watch the second half! I’m still keeping up with your commentary though.”

You and twos of others.

1.27pm BST

The draw for the 2019-20 FA Cup semi-finals has just taken place:

1.15pm BST

Half-time reading

1.15pm BST

Do not adjust your set. After a slowish start, Chelsea took Bristol City apart with four goals in 10 minutes. We’ll be back in a bit to see how many they can score in the second half.

1.13pm BST

45 min Cuthbert’s corner is headed over from 10 yards by Eriksson.

1.13pm BST

44 min Mjelde surges past Purfield, who recovers well to concede a corner. City have been all over the place at set-pieces today.

1.09pm BST

It’s five! Mjelde’s free-kick from the right finds the criminally unmarked Bright, who heads past Baggaley from eight yards. Easy.

1.06pm BST

38 min This is brutal. At this rate Chelsea could match Arsenal’s nine goals yesterday. England almost gets a fifth but misses an attempted flick at the near post from Kerr’s low cross.

1.05pm BST

Three goals in six minutes! Ji finds Cuthbert in acres of space, 25 yards from goal, and she smacks a superb shot into the bottom corner.

1.04pm BST

34 min That was a terrific goal. She got in front of her marker Purfield and thumped a header past Baggaley.

1.03pm BST

It’s another one! Cuthbert on the left swings a free-kick to the far post, where Melanie Leupolz scores with a spectacular flying header. It’s her first goal for Chelsea.

1.00pm BST

Maren Mjelde blasts an emphatic penalty into the top-right corner. No keeper in the world would have saved that.

12.59pm BST

Ah, maybe not. Daniels slid in from the side but Ji got to the ball first and was fouled. It was a penalty.

12.59pm BST

PENALTY TO CHELSEA! Daniels has been penalised for fouling Ji, though I thought she got the ball.

12.58pm BST

30 min Bristol City are struggling to keep the ball, which means wave after wave of Chelsea attacks. A second goal feels inevitable.

12.56pm BST

27 min Kirby, who looks very lively, is fouled just outside the area by Mastrantonio. The free-kick is to the left of centre, and Ji clips it straight into Baggaley’s arms.

12.52pm BST

23 min We’ve just seen a replay of Bright’s chance in the 20th minute - I thought she hit the post but it looks like her shot actually hit Matthews on the line.

12.50pm BST

22 min Kerr’s stinging shot is beaten away by Baggaley. That’s her best save of the match so far. I don’t think it will be her last.

12.50pm BST

20 min: Bright hits the post! Bristol City are hanging on to their 1-0 deficit. A left-wing corner was headed back across goal by Eriksson towards Bright, who took the ball down and battered it off the post from close range. Leupolz’s header was then scrambled away by the diving Baggaley. Bright’s was the big chance.

12.48pm BST

20 min Chelsea are starting to turn the screw. Kirby plays a one-two with Ji and forces the ball through to Kerr, who looks set to score when Purfield makes a vital sliding challenge.

12.46pm BST

17 min Almost a second goal for Chelsea. Kerr lobs a pass over the defence to England, whose shot on the turn is saved by Baggaley. England didn’t quite get hold of it.

12.44pm BST

A lovely moment for Fran Kirby, who scores her first WSL goal for 16 months! It was a mistake from Sophie Baggaley, who let the ball slither through her and into the net. While it was a good left-footed strike from Kirby on the edge of the area, Baggaley knows she should have saved it.

12.43pm BST

15 min City are working so hard without the ball. It won’t be easy to sustain that intensity for 90 minutes, but so far their tactics have worked well.

12.42pm BST

13 min Leupolz twists away from Palmer, 25 yards from goal, and curls a good effort that drifts just wide of the far post. Baggaley had it covered.

12.40pm BST

12 min Anyone out there?

12.40pm BST

11 min England finds Kirby, who moves the ball on to the overlapping Mjelde down the right. Her cross takes a deflection and dribbles through to Baggaley, but these are good signs for Chelsea.

12.38pm BST

9 min Cuthbert hits a snap-volley well wide with her left foot. Chelsea are slowly finding their rhythm.

12.33pm BST

5 min The first half chance for Chelsea. Cuthbert and Keer combine nicely to find England, who drives over the bar from distance.

12.33pm BST

5 min It’s been an energetic start from City, who haven’t allowed Chelsea to settle. Five down, 85 to go.

12.31pm BST

3 min Bristol City are pressing from the front, which is a pretty brave tactic against this Chelsea team.

12.29pm BST

1 min Peep peep! Bristol City, in red and white, kick off from right to left. Chelsea are in blue.

12.28pm BST

The players were ready to go, but it’s only 12.28pm so they have to stand around awkwardly for 90 seconds.

12.25pm BST

It’s a beautiful day at Kingsmeadow, warm but with a pleasant cooling breeze.

12.21pm BST

Blur’s Parklife is blasting out of the tannoy as the Bristol City players congregate in the tunnel. Phil Daniels has just been rudely awakened by the dustmen.

11.57am BST

Possible formations

Chelsea (4-4-2) Berger; Mjelde, Bright, Eriksson, Blundell; Kirby, Ji, Leupolz, Cuthbert; England, Kerr.
Substitutes: Telford, Thorisdottir, Ingle, Carter, Reiten, Fleming, Charles, Harder, Spence.

11.44am BST

Pre-match reading

11.32am BST

Beth England returns to the Chelsea starting line-up, but Pernille Harder stays on the bench for now.

Team news is in!

Here's how the Blues line up against Bristol City...#CFCW pic.twitter.com/2UQWXwdtWZ

Here's your Robins' starting XI to take on Chelsea. #CHEBRC | #BristolCity pic.twitter.com/GJIQvIt94u

10.56am BST

Hello. If you’re a potential title challenger, the first weeks of a new season are about statements as well as points. Arsenal made a mighty one by putting 15 goals past Reading and West Ham in their first two games; now Chelsea have the chance to respond at home to Bristol City.

Chelsea could have scored a few at Leigh Sports Village last week, but missed chances and were held to a 1-1 draw by Manchester United. This should – should – be a more comfortable afternoon against a team they have beaten heavily in recent seasons: the last three games between these sides finished 6-1, 4-0 and 6-0. Bristol City also started this season with a disappointing 4-0 defeat at home to Everton.

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Published on September 13, 2020 06:23

September 12, 2020

Liverpool 4-3 Leeds United: Premier League – as it happened

Mo Salah’s late penalty completed a hat-trick and settled a pulsating match in which a fearless Leeds equalised three times

7.30pm BST

Here’s Andy Hunter’s match report from Anfield, which is my cue to head to the nearest sofa. Goodnight!

7.28pm BST

Give, Give, Give Me More, More, More

7.25pm BST

That was exhilarating stuff. A fearless Leeds equalised three times before eventually losing to a late penalty from Mo Salah. That also completed a hat-trick for Salah, who looked extremely sharp. The same can’t be said of both defences, though that only added to the entertainment. For 90 minutes, the world was a good place again.

7.22pm BST

Peep peep! The Premier League is back, Leeds are back, fun is back.

7.21pm BST

90+3 min Roberts makes space nicely on the right only to overhit his cross.

7.18pm BST

90 min Four minutes of added time.

7.17pm BST

89 min Joel Matip replaces Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has had a difficult night at right-back.

7.16pm BST

89 min That was such a stupid challenge from Rodrigo. A corner was bouncing around the area, and Fabinho was going nowhere. Rodrigo dangled a leg and tripped Fabinho.

7.15pm BST

Mo Salah completes a hat-trick with another excellent penalty, curled low to his left. Liverpool may finally - finally - have seen Leeds off.

7.14pm BST

PENALTY TO LIVERPOOL! Rodrigo has fouled Fabinho, a brainless and needless challenge.

7.14pm BST

87 min Salah spins Dallas brilliantly and finds Mane, who moves inside and puts Firmino clear. He flicks the ball a little lazily towards goal and it’s blocked. That was a great chance.

7.13pm BST

85 min Firmino’s deflected long-range shot spins behind for a corner. It’s headed away by Struijk.

7.11pm BST

84 min Liverpool are starting to pin Leeds back. It’s been a delightful game, and a late winner for Liverpool would be really cruel on Leeds.

7.10pm BST

82 min Alexander-Arnold’s mishit cross clears Meslier and goes just over the bar.

7.08pm BST

81 min Another Leeds change: Jamie Shackleton replaces the goalscorer Mateusz Klich.

7.07pm BST

79 min: Van Dijk has a goal disallowed for offside! That’s the fourth goal that has been disallowed tonight. Robertson’s right-wing corner reached van Dijk in space at the far post, and he slammed it emphatically into the net. The reason he was in so much space was because Jones had tripped his marker Koch.

7.05pm BST

78 min Salah pushes a low cross into the path of Wijnaldum, whose first-time shot is brilliantly blocked by Klich.

7.04pm BST

76 min A lovely free-kick from Phillips curls just wide. Alisson had it covered, I think, but it was a fine effort.

7.03pm BST

76 min Firmino is booked for a deliberate foul on Harrison 30 yards from goal.

7.03pm BST

75 min There’s a vague appeal for a penalty when Jones goes over in the Leeds area under challenge from Klich. It wasn’t a foul.

7.02pm BST

74 min If we make the (not unreasonable) assumption that Liverpool represents the ceiling regarding the quality of Premier League teams, this Leeds side should finish comfortably in mid-table, maybe even in Europa spots,” says Kishalay Bannerjee. “Of course, whether this tempo can be sustained throughout the season is to be seen.”

7.00pm BST

73 min Liverpool haven’t lost a home game in the league since April 2017. Can you imagine if Leeds ended that unbeaten run in their first game back.

6.59pm BST

71 min Ayling is okay to continue. Robertson’s cross is headed away to the edge of the area, where Salah belts a right-footed volley into orbit.

6.58pm BST

71 min The more you see Klich’s goal, the better Costa’s pass becomes. He waited for Klich’s run into the area and then slid a lovely ball that took three or four Liverpool defenders out of the game.

6.57pm BST

70 min A clash of heads between Ayling and Koch leeds to a break in play. Ayling went straight down, Koch is still on his feet. Ayling is sitting up now and will be tested for concussion.

6.56pm BST

69 min “Evening Rob, happy new season,” says Tim. As Pavement have already been mentioned, I am hoping it wouldn’t be poor form to request a little plug for Speakeasy Fanzine, a new project dedicated to 90s music of all shapes and sizes. It only costs £1 an issue, and is printed on actual paper that you can hold in your hand.”

Why didn’t I know about this before?

6.55pm BST

67 min This is sheer delightful entertainment.

6.55pm BST

It was a terrific finish from Mateusz Klich. Leeds won the ball high up the field, with Klich moving it out to Costa on the right. He curled a clever pass back towards Klich, who knocked the ball up with his first touch and slammed a volley into the corner with his second.

6.53pm BST

Leeds equalise for the third time!

6.53pm BST

66 min Jordan Henderson is replaced by Curtis Jones for Liverpool.

6.52pm BST

64 min Robert Speed has sent in the official laws regarding handball, in reference to Liverpool’s dodgy early penalty. This, I think, is the key line:

Except for the above offences, it is not an offence if the ball touches a player’s hand/arm:

6.50pm BST

62 min A double change for Leeds: Tyler Roberts and the record signing Rodrigo replace Hernandez and Bamford.

6.49pm BST

61 min Dallas plays a one-two with Hernandez, surges into the area and drives a low cross that is pushed away at the near post by Alisson. Liverpool break thrillingly through Firmino, Salah and finally Mane, who shoots over from 20 yards.

6.48pm BST

60 min Salah plays a super through pass towards Mane, who is impressively dispossessed by Koch. He showed good speed and strength there.

6.46pm BST

59 min Fabinho replaces Naby Keita in Liverpool’s midfield.

6.46pm BST

Koch drove a long pass over the defence to Harrison, who lobbed the ball over the outrushing Alisson and hared after it. Alexander-Arnold beat him to it but then headed it into his own net. Happily for him, the flag then went up and replays confirmed Harrison was just offside.

6.45pm BST

An own goal from Trent Alexander-Arnold is disallowed for offside!

6.44pm BST

56 min Leeds have had 52 per cent of the possession in the match, which is slightly surprising. A more telling statistic, as Jamie Carragher points out on Sky, is that Liverpool have won possession in the final third seven times, Leeds just once.

6.41pm BST

54 min “I have many, many unpopular opinions (Grease 2 > Grease, don’t @ me), but I’m still happily on board with VAR,” says Matt Dony. “In most cases, the real problem is the wording of the laws, and the almost arbitrary ways that various bodies decide they should be applied. I didn’t moan when, for example, Firmino’s armpit was adjudged to be gaining some advantage over the Villa defence, and I didn’t take any extra delight in seeing Alexander-Arnold not being penalised against City. It’s not perfect, but hey, what is?”

Moaning.

6.40pm BST

53 min Alexander-Arnold’s deep corner is headed over from 12 yards by van Dijk.

6.38pm BST

51 min “Whilst I understand the primal joy Jamie Carragher takes in performing the Hansen-role of mercilessly ripping into defences, he might qualify his criticism every now and again by mentioning the fact that this is an entirely new centre-back pairing,” says Michael Jenkins. “Struijk’s young and has never played at CB for Leeds and Koch’s only had a couple of days’ training at the club. And they are going up against one of the best frontlines in history.”

6.38pm BST

50 min A loose pass from Mane goes straight to Bamford, who moves to within 25 yards of goal and drives a shot that hits van Dijk.

6.37pm BST

50 min “Is Simon McMahon (26 minutes) the Simon McMahon from Lancaster University 20 years ago?” asks Simon Sylvester. “He loaned me a load of Pavement CDs. If so, hello. Rejoicing at the last-minute switch of my fantasy football captain from Aubameyang to Salah. Lamenting dropping Robbo.”

6.36pm BST

49 min Firmino’s low cross finds its way through to Wijnaldum, whose fierce shot is very well saved to his left by Meslier.

6.33pm BST

47 min “The winner of the VAR Cup last season was Brighton,” says Marie Meyer. “Not really a ‘big club’.”

See, even the journalists are in on the conspiracy.

6.32pm BST

46 min Peep peep! Leeds begin the second half.

6.24pm BST

Half-time purchase opportunity

6.22pm BST

“Deep down, I know VAR isn’t rigged,” says Brad Wilson. “I am a sports writer myself and I hate when people email me saying “the ref hates us” because I know it doesn’t work that way. But it can seem, to the casual observer, that VAR saves the big clubs constantly. That may be because they have the skill to force more challenges that VAR must review, or better defenders who on second look didn’t actually commit that foul. But the impression sticks, I think, with people who (like me) don’t want VAR in the first place, and it becomes, ‘VAR is terrible (which it is) and biased (which it isn’t).’”

I’m sure there is some subconscious bias with VAR officials, as there has always been with on-field referees. It’s just this suggestion of a grand conspiracy I don’t understand.

6.19pm BST

“Evening Rob,” says Brian Withington. “This game is turning into an excellent warm up for tonight’s main course at the London Stadium. Can’t wait to see what two proper homespun managers serve up for our delight after this little ‘amuse bouche’.”

6.19pm BST

Peep peep! There were stratospheric expectations ahead of this match, and the first half exceeded them. We had five goals, two of them crackers, and it could easily have been more. The defending was, a-hem, imperfect, but let’s not worry about that - it made for glorious entertainment.

6.16pm BST

45 min We’ve just seen a replay of that penalty appeal, and it was indeed a dive.

6.15pm BST

44 min Costa goes down in the area after a challenge from Salah, who waves his hands to suggest it was a dive. VAR decides it’s not a penalty.

6.12pm BST

41 min “Bielsa as manager and FOUR players sporting manbuns...” says James Boden. “Leeds are THE hipster football club.”

You should see the artisan Gatorade they have at half-time.

6.11pm BST

40 min Mane has two shots blocked, the first by Koch and the second by Ayling.

6.10pm BST

40 min Mane’s shot is kicked away by Meslier. Mane was flagged offside after the event but it was the wrong decision, so the goal would have stood.

6.09pm BST

39 min “Speed metal football, I love it,” says Mary Waltz. “Jose is having heart attacks as he watches.”

It’s a hockey score.

6.08pm BST

38 min A quiet spell in the game, believe it or not.

6.07pm BST

37 min “Anyone remember the 4-5 between these teams at Elland Road in ‘91?” asks Nick.

Weren’t Liverpool 4-0 up at half-time in that one? I vaguely remember a brilliant goal from John Barnes, though that applies to most weeks from 1987-91.

6.06pm BST

35 min “The cynic in me, and the bitter Evertonian as well (hard to tell them apart sometimes), thinks that had Leeds scored the way Liverpool did, with a Bamford shot ricocheting off Van Dijk’s thigh and arm and a penalty given, VAR would have overruled it in 0.00037 seconds,” says Brad Wilson. “But maybe that’s too cynical.”

I don’t understand why everyone thinks VAR is rigged. It’s not, it’s just crap.

6.04pm BST

Robertson’s free-kick was headed clear but only as far as Salah, lurking in space 15 yards out. He controlled the ball with his right foot and battered it into the roof of the net with his left. That was another cracking finish.

6.03pm BST

Thirty-three minutes, five goals!

6.02pm BST

31 min “Early contender for game of the season?” says Simon McGrother. “Fantastic stuff.”

It’s still Crystal Palace 1-0 Southampton for me.

6.01pm BST

Dallas, on the halfway line, lofted a speculative ball forward towards Bamford on the edge of the area. Van Dijk got there first but flicked the ball lazily towards Robertson. It hit Bamford and broke kindly for him to clip the ball past Alisson and into the net. That was a dismal mistake from van Dijk.

5.59pm BST

Leeds have equalised for a second time!

5.59pm BST

29 min After a mazy run from Salah, Keita’s shot is blocked by Struijk. It’s breathless stuff.

5.58pm BST

28 min: Great save by Meslier! Robertson’s cross was accidentally looped towards his own goal by the stretching Struijk, and Meslier backpedalled desperately before leaping to tip the ball over the bar.

5.56pm BST

26 min “Evening Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “Maybe somebody should shoot VAR? (Though to be fair, I thought it had been having a good season so far...)”

5.55pm BST

25 min Henderson whistles a half-volley from 25 yards that is held by Meslier. It was beautifully struck but straight at the keeper.

5.54pm BST

24 min This game could conceivably finish 4-3 to Leeds or 7-1 to Liverpool.

5.52pm BST

22 min Leeds almost equalise again! Ayling flicks a lovely pass through to Bamford, who tries to go round Alisson but is pushed too far wide to get a shot in. If he had the chance again I think he’d have shot first time.

5.50pm BST

Liverpool are back in front! Robertson curls a corner to the near post, where van Dijk loses Koch with ease and thumps a heder through Meslier. That was far too easy.

5.48pm BST

18 min Harrison’s cross from the left just evades the leaping Costa in the middle. Leeds look very dangerous, particularly down their left.

5.46pm BST

Now Mane has a goal disallowed for offside! I think it was against Robertson in the build-up. Meslier came out of his area to beat Robertson to the ball but gave it straight to Mane, who clipped it into the net from 40 yards. Replays show Robertson was offside.

5.44pm BST

14 min Leeds are almost in again, but Hernandez doesn’t have the pace to surge away from Alexander-Arnold. This is terrific stuff.

5.43pm BST

Phillips sprayed a beautiful long pass out to Harrison on the left. He killed it beautifully on the stretch, then zipped past Alexander-Arnold and Gomez before rifling a low shot past Alisson from the edge of the area. That is a magnificent goal!

5.42pm BST

Jack Harrison has equalised with a cracking goal!

5.39pm BST

9 min: Costa has a goal disallowed for offside! That was much better from Leeds. Hernandez’s cross led to a bit of a scramble in the area, but Costa was just offside as he held off Gomez and beat Alisson.

5.38pm BST

8 min Why wasn’t that overturned - or at least looked at properly - by VAR? The 2020-21 season has been ruined already.

5.37pm BST

6 min Actually, I don’t think that should have been a penalty: replays show that it hit Koch’s thigh and then deflected onto his outstretched arm, which doesn’t necessarily count as handball under the revised laws. The VAR check was cursory at best. I hate football.

5.35pm BST

5 min I do feel sorry for Koch, who certainly wasn’t trying to stop Salah’s shot. But in the modern game, that’s always going to be a penalty.

5.34pm BST

Salah blisters the penalty straight down the middle, and Liverpool are ahead!

5.34pm BST

Salah’s shot hit Koch, who has been penalised for handball. His arm was outstretched, and that’s all that matters these days.

5.33pm BST

PENALTY TO LIVERPOOL!

5.33pm BST

2 min An early chance for Liverpool! Keita slides a pass through the inside-right channel for Firmino, who for some reason decides to cut the ball back rather than shoot. It hits a defender and bounces to safety. I’m not sure why he didn’t just clip that over Meslier.

5.31pm BST

2 min “Of course everyone wants fans in the stands, but with Covid cases on the rise this is not possible,” says Mary Waltz. “Over on this side of the pond, our wishful thinking has led to funerals all over the states.”

There is still talk of having supporters at games in October. I wouldn’t rule anything out. On this side of the pond, as you may have noticed, we’re making it up as we go along.

5.30pm BST

1 min Peep peep! Liverpool, in red, kick off from right to left. Leeds are in white.

5.30pm BST

Jurgen Klopp warmly greets Marcelo Bielsa, who is perched on a bucket in the technical area. Let’s get it on!

5.27pm BST

“Somebody shot JR?” says Ian Copestake. “Sad. I always enjoyed his contributions to the MBM.”

That deserves the first honk of the new season. Ho-honk!

5.19pm BST

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been surprised by how many people have tipped Liverpool not to win the the league. While I understand the argument that it’s hard to maintain such a crazy standard for a third consecutive season, I’m not sure the usual rules apply to a Liverpool team that have abnormal levels of hunger and intensity. I think they’ll win it comfortably, maybe by 10 points or so.

5.01pm BST

“Hi Rob,” says Peter Oh. “Apologies to fans of old-school soap operas, but I think it’s going to take a lot more than Leeds showing up with a Dallas to keep Liverpool from building a Dynasty not seen since the 1980s.”

So who did shoot JR?

4.55pm BST

In the second Premier League game of the day, Wilfried Zaha’s goal gave Crystal Palace a 1-0 victory over Southampton at Selhurst Park

4.54pm BST

Pre-match reading/viewing

4.33pm BST

Jordan Henderson is fit to start for Liverpool, who have left Fabinho on the bench. Leeds’ record signing Rodrigo is also among the subs, but the German international Robin Koch starts in defence.

Liverpool (4-3-3) Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, van Dijk, Robertson; Wijnaldum, Henderson, Keita; Salah, Firmino, Mane.
Substitutes: Adrian, Matip, Fabinho, Milner, Jones, Minamino, Origi.

4.07pm BST

The fixture computer done good. It’s been a helluva long time since it threw up an opening-day match as mouthwatering as this: Liverpool v Leeds, Jurgen Klopp v Marcelo Bielsa, the irresistible force v the irresistible force. We don’t know how good Leeds will be this season - it’s a huge step up from the Championship - but we do know they will be all sorts of fun. After 16 years, the Premier League feels complete again: Leeds are back.

Kick off 5.30pm

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Published on September 12, 2020 11:30

Fulham 0-3 Arsenal: Premier League – as it happened

The debutants Gabriel and Willian swaggered as Arsenal cruised to victory at Craven Cottage in the opening game of the 2020-21 season

2.51pm BST

Here’s the view from our man at Craven Cottage.

2.23pm BST

Peep peep! That was a perfect start to the season for Arsenal. Willian made all three goals; the other debutant Gabriel defended well and scored the second goal; and Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang both got off the mark. Aubameyang’s goal was a beauty. Fulham did not play badly but were quietly outclassed.

2.22pm BST

90 min Three minutes of added time.

2.20pm BST

89 min Decordova-Reid tries to chip Leno from 50 yards, and fails.

2.17pm BST

86 min Eddie Nketiah replaces Alexandre Lacazette, who scored the opening goal.

2.16pm BST

85 min Pepe beats his man and pokes a low cross that is booted clear inside the six-yard box. Aubameyang was waiting behind for his second goal.

2.13pm BST

82 min “Yes, it’s only Fulham but Arteta has his squad in top form already,” says Mary Waltz. “In control from the start, they look like they have a goal or two left in them and a clean sheet on the road seems guaranteed. The Gunners look nothing like the side that gave ulcers to their fans in the recent past.”

2.09pm BST

78 min Granit Xhaka is replaced by Dani Ceballos.

You don't see this every day

Dani Ceballos and Eddie Nketiah got into a heated exchange during a pre-match training routine pic.twitter.com/u1qMPuZ8Ux

2.08pm BST

78 min That chould have been 4-0 to Arsenal. Bellerin slid a through pass to Aubameyang, who went round Ream and clipped a shot from a tight angle that was headed off the line by Hector.

2.06pm BST

75 min A substitution apiece. Fulham bring on Bobby Decordova-Reid for Onomah, and Nicolas Pepe has replaced the excellent Willian for Arsenal.

2.05pm BST

74 min Xhaka is down holding his right ankle after a challenge from Hector. I think he’s okay.

2.02pm BST

71 min Rodak makes an excellent point-blank save from Lacazette, though it wouldn’t have counted because Aubameyang was offside in the build-up.

2.00pm BST

70 min The match is petering out now. Arsenal’s next game is West Ham at home a week today; Fulham go to Ipswich in the EFL Cup on Wednesday and Leeds in the league next Saturday.

1.57pm BST

67 min Mitrovic shoots straight at Leno from 20 yards.

1.53pm BST

63 min A double change for Fulham: Aleksandar Mitrovic and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa replace Kebano and Kamara.

1.51pm BST

61 min Cairney is booked for fouling Willian 25 yards from goal.

1.51pm BST

61 min The scoreline is a bit harsh on Fulham. But it’s a helluva start for Arsenal, not least because of the performance of their two debutants. Willian has made all three goals; Gabriel has scored one and, more important, defended with rugged authority.

1.49pm BST

It started when Arsenal played through the Fulham press on the right wing. Then Willian - who now has a hat-trick of assists on his debut - sprayed an excellent crossfield pass to Aubameyang on the left. He moved into the area, used Odoi as a screen and swept a trademark curler into the top corner. That was a quite thrilling goal.

1.47pm BST

What a great goal!

1.47pm BST

56 min A good effort from Kamara, who whistles a low shot just wide of the far post from 20 yards. Leno had it covered though.

1.45pm BST

55 min Bellerin is booked for wrestling Cavaleiro to the floor on the left wing.

1.44pm BST

54 min “Time for Scott Parker to throw on another tie-pin,” says Charles Antaki.

1.44pm BST

53 min It’s a long way back from here from Fulham. They’ve done plenty of good things in this game but have struggled to penetrate the new, improved Arsenal defence.

1.40pm BST

Gabriel scores on his debut! Willian curled a dipping corner towards the six-yard line, where Gabriel got in front of Hector and forced the ball through the legs of Rodak. It looked like a straightforward header but replays showed it actually came off his shoulder. As if he’ll care.

1.39pm BST

49 min Holding plays an impromptu game of keepy-uppy before finding Lacazette, who wins a corner. That was a spectacular bit of play from Holding.

1.38pm BST

47 min A thrilling run from Aubameyang, who beats Hector with elegant ease before Ream comes across to make an important interception on the edge of the area.

1.36pm BST

46 min Peep peep! Arsenal begin the second half.

1.32pm BST

1.19pm BST

Half-time reading

1.19pm BST

Peep peep! Arsenal lead through Alexandre Lacazette’s scruffy early goal. It was a half of nice football if few chances: the debutant Willian hit the post with a fine free-kick, and a confident Arsenal deserve to be ahead. See you in 10 minutes for the second half.

1.16pm BST

44 min “Sammy Nelson, now there’s a blast from the past,” says Christopher Neal. “Once famously scored at both ends against Bristol City and dropped his shorts to the crown in celebration.”

That’s no way to address Her Majesty, etc.

1.14pm BST

43 min This hasn’t been a mismatch, far from it, but Arsenal’s superior class has been evident in a few key moments.

1.14pm BST

41 min “While we’re on attire, could Scott Parker be wearing a nicer suit?” says BD Simmons. “It’s making me feel a tad inadequate slouching around in my pyjamas.”

One word, two syllables: Sergio Ramos.

1.12pm BST

40 min “I am looking forward to Scott Parker’s half-time teamtalk being released as a single,” says Ian Copestake.

1.11pm BST

39 min Aubameyang is booked for a late tackle on Odoi.

1.10pm BST

38 min “Chelsea in red away kit used to be commonplace, right up to the 90s,” says Michael Tucker. “Don’t they teach kids anything in school these days? I’ll stop now, nurse is waving a bed pan my way.”

Who could forget the Commodore years.

1.10pm BST

37 min Tierney curls a terrific ball over the defence to Aubameyang, who controls it on the run and hits a left-footed shot that is saved at the near post by Rodak. That was really nice play from Arsenal.

1.08pm BST

36 min Fulham haven’t changed their approach since going behind. They’re very patient in possession and make good angles for the man on the ball. The tempo could be a bit quicker; that would be my only criticism.

1.07pm BST

34 min Lacazette gets behind the defence on the left and crosses towards Willian. Ream does very well to intercept at the near post. It turned out Lacazette was offside, though Ream didn’t know that.

1.04pm BST

31 min Odoi combines neatly with Kebano on the right and curls a glorious cross that flashes across the six-yard box. Kamara was penalised for a foul on someone at the near post anyway, but it was a brilliant cross.

1.03pm BST

30 min “It’s not that Arsenal in blue is problematic (it is); it’s that they’re even wearing a change strip to begin with,” says Michael Driscoll. “Red over white is their primary kit. Their clash kit this year is white with red accents. Fulham, as the home team, is wearing their primary white kit with black trim. Why wouldn’t Arsenal just wear their primary kit, as it doesn’t clash with the home side’s primary (and their “clash kit” actually does clash in this case)?”

I’ll give you a £60.00 clue. (£100.00 for the authentic kit, £45.00 for juniors.)

1.00pm BST

27 min: Willian hits the post! It was a fine free-kick, whipped over the wall towards the side that Rodak was covering, and it dipped sharply before hitting the outside of the post. Rodak wouldn’t have saved it had it been on target.

12.58pm BST

26 min Hector fouls Lacazette on the edge of the D and is booked. A bigger punishment - a second goal - may follow from the free-kick.

12.58pm BST

25 min Kamara is brusquely dispossessed by Gabriel, who has defended with authority since that dodgy start.

12.56pm BST

23 min “Arsenal in blue?” says Stephen Parker. “What is going on? And what’s next? Chelsea in red?”

It’s so weird seeing Willian in a blue shirt. It’s not that unusual for Arsenal, who have had blue change strips in the past. They were wearing one in the Pizzagate match, for example.

12.54pm BST

21 min Fulham lose the ball in a dangerous area. Willian and Lacazette combine to find Elneny, who dummies Reed and sidefoots a shot that is crucially blocked by Ream. The rebound is wafted into orbit by Xhaka.

12.51pm BST

18 min “I’ll raise you Mitrovic, Saka and Martinez,” weeps Robin Burchfield.

12.48pm BST

16 min Bellerin flashes a dangerous ball across the face of goal, then Tierney’s cross is crucially cleared at the near post by Odoi. Arsenal are starting to dominate possession. It’s a pleasant game, very easy on the eye.

12.47pm BST

15 min “Mitrovic on the bench,” says Matt Dony. “The season is ten minutes old, and already I’m feeling the Fantasy Football-related anger. I never learn. I hate football. Make it stop. Again.”

I’ll see your Mitrovic and raise you Mitrovic and Saliba.

12.46pm BST

14 min “This is the best stadium in the country, in my opinion,” says Ruth Purdue. “Glad to see it back in the Premier League.”

Now there’s a debate. Not sure I have a favourite, now you mention it.

12.45pm BST

13 min That goal seems to have relaxed Arsenal, who hadn’t made the greatest start to the game.

12.43pm BST

12 min “Harsh to include Gooner favourite Sammy Nelson in your 1975 slating, and the fuller picture is that Highbury greats Brady, O’Leary, Rice, Armstrong and Kidd also started, says Michael Tucker. “Mancini was a centre-back and Kelly a winger, a decent one at that. Today they’re fielding Xhaka and Elneny as the Rice and Philips in a vogueish 7-0-3. These young buck managers are so innovative.”

It wasn’t my slating!

12.43pm BST

11 min A deep cross finds Kebano, whose volley is well blocked by Maitland-Niles.

12.41pm BST

Arsenal take the lead with their first decent attack. Xhaka’s shot from the edge of the area was only half blocked by Hector, leading to a scramble in the six-yard box. Willian’s shot was saved by Rodak and Lacazette tapped the rebound into the empty net.

12.40pm BST

8 min Fulham move the ball beautifully down the right, from one of the field to the other. Eventually the right-back Odoi beat Tierney with a Cruyff-turn and hits a left-footed shot from 20 yards that is beaten away by Leno.

12.37pm BST

5 min Fulham have made a brisk, confident start to the game. They’re nice to watch, very patient in possession.

12.35pm BST

2 min An early chance for Fulham! Maitland-Niles plays a lazy backpass towards Gabriel, who allows it to run through towards Leno. Kamara appears on his blindside and tries to go round Leno, who does well to dive at his feet and push the ball away.

12.34pm BST

2 min “Good day Rob,” says Grant Tennille. “Would I be tempting fate, not to mention the wrath of today’s MBM correspondent, by referring to three points against this freshly-promoted Fulham side as ‘bankable’?”

I’m not sure I have any wrath left, but you’d definitely be tempting fate.

12.33pm BST

1 min After the players on both sides take a knee, Aboubakar Kamara gets the season under way. Fulham are kicking from left to right; Arsenal are in their blue change strip.

12.26pm BST

The players emerge on a cloudy afternoon in west London. It’s time for the 2020-21 Premier League season. Mercy.

12.18pm BST

Pre-season optimism “Have Arsenal,” says Charles Antaki, “ever put out a less convincing team on the first day of the season? (Consults reference books.) Season 1975-76: Nelson and Kelly in the back line, with Mancini, Cropley and Hornsby further up (all of whose names should have a “?” attached). The season ended with Arsenal in 17th place. Hmm.”

11.40am BST

Some pre-match reading

11.37am BST

A few slight surprises in the teams. Aleksandar Mitrovic and Anthony Knockaert are only on the bench for Fulham, while Gabriel Magalhaes makes his Arsenal debut in defence. It was thought he wouldn’t start as he has only recently started training with his new teammates. Willian also makes his debut.

11.34am BST

Fulham (4-2-3-1) Rodak; Odoi, Hector, Ream, Bryan; Reed, Cairney; Kebano, Onomah, Cavaleiro; Kamara.
Substitutes: Areola, Le Marchand, Christie, Knockaert, Anguissa, Mitrovic, Decordova-Reid.

Arsenal (3-4-3) Leno; Holding, Magalhaes, Tierney; Bellerin, Elneny, Xhaka, Maitland-Niles; Willian, Lacazette, Aubameyang.
Substitutes: Macey, Saka, Kolasinac, Ceballos, Willock, Pepe, Nketiah.

9.35am BST

Hello and welcome to live coverage of 48 Days Later, a real-time motion picture about the return of the Premier League. It’s been just under seven weeks since the 2019-20 season finished, and now it’s time for the mother of all marathons: a condensed 2020-21 campaign that will test the players like never before. Welcome to the Red Zone season.

We start at Craven Cottage, where newly promoted Fulham host newly optimistic Arsenal. Although Arsenal finished eighth last season, their lowest position for 25 years, they made obvious progress under Mikel Arteta and won the FA Cup in stirring fashion. It’s hard to quantify what would constitute a good season for Arsenal this time. For Fulham, it’s simple: 17th place and an end to the yo-yoing of recent years.

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Published on September 12, 2020 06:23

September 11, 2020

Australia beat England by 19 runs: first one-day international – as it happened

Josh Hazlewood and Adam Zampa bowled Australia to a fine victory at Old Trafford despite a memorable maiden century from Sam Billings

10.40pm BST

9.09pm BST

50th over: England 276-9 (Billings ct Warner b Marsh 118) Mitchell Marsh completes a fine victory for Australia, who were in trouble at 123 for five but dominated the game thereafter. The margin of victory would have much more emphatic but for a memorable maiden century from Sam Billings, who was caught for a brilliant 118 off the final ball of the match. Thanks for your company, goodnight!

9.04pm BST

49th over: England 267-8 (Billings 113, Archer 6) Billings pulls Cummins for four to reach his first century in international cricket! His celebration is very modest, because England are going to lose the game, but his teammates are thrilled for him. Eoin Morgan in particular has an almost exaggerated grin on his face. It’s been a hugely impressive innings: 101 balls, 11 fours, two sixes.

Make that 13 fours. He hits Cummins for consecutive fours, a thumping pull on the run followed by a ramp from well outside off stump. England need 28 from the last over.

9.00pm BST

48th over: England 252-8 (Billings 98, Archer 6) The main focus now is whether Billings can score his first century for England. A bouncer from Starc hits him on the helmet and knocks some of the neck protection off, so there’s a break in play while Billings changed his helmet. A single off the last ball takes Billings to 98.

8.54pm BST

47th over: England 246-8 (Billings 96, Archer 3) A brilliant over from Cummins - only three runs from it. England need 49 from 18 balls. Not even Ben Stokes could win from here.

8.50pm BST

46th over: England 243-8 (Billings 95, Archer 1) Billings walks across to ramp Starc’s attempted yorker for four, another high-class stroke. But England can only take six from the over in total; they need 52 from 24 balls. No.

8.46pm BST

45th over: England 237-8 (Billings 90, Archer 0) After a difficult start, especially against Zampa, Billings has played ever so well. It won’t be enough for an England win, but it might bring him a maiden ODI century: he has 90 from 90 balls.

8.44pm BST

Rashid blasts Cummins miles in the air towards cover, where Maxwell steadies himself to take his third catch of the innings. He’s had a terrific day.

8.40pm BST

44th over: England 229-7 (Billings 87, Rashid 1) Billings reverse sweeps Zampa over short third man for another boundary; he’s played that shot superbly in the last 10 minutes. Zampa ends with fine figures: 10-0-55-4.

8.37pm BST

And gone. Zampa gets his fourth wicket, with Woakes holing out to long-off. Australia have just been a bit too good for England.

8.34pm BST

43rd over: England 221-6 (Billings 81, Woakes 9) Billings hasn’t given this up. He scrunches Starc’s yorker down the ground for four and then gets a big slice of luck when a top-edged pull lands between two fielders. England need 74 from 42 balls.

8.28pm BST

42nd over: England 213-6 (Billings 75, Woakes 8) Billings reverse-sweeps Zampa superbly for four - and then does it again two balls later. That’s terrific batting. This is now his highest ODI score.

8.25pm BST

41st over: England 203-6 (Billings 66, Woakes 7) England don’t think this is a lost cause. Mitchell Marsh’s fourth over has just gone for 13. Woakes drove over extra cover for four and Billings dragged over midwicket for six, but Marsh pulled it back by conceding only two from the last three deliveries.

8.20pm BST

40th over: England 190-6 (Billings 58, Woakes 2) England need 105 from the last 10 overs. With that, good luck.

8.15pm BST

39th over: England 182-6 (Billings 52, Woakes 0) Hazlewood ends a superb day-night’s work with figures of 10-3-26-3. His masterful new-ball spell left England with too much to do.

8.14pm BST

Moeen Ali drives Hazlewood straight to short extra cover, where Labuschagne leaps to take a good two-handed catch. Hazlewood has his third wicket, and Australia are on course for a big victory.

8.10pm BST

38th over: England 181-5 (Billings 51, Ali 5) Maxwell replaces Zampa and has a strong LBW against Moeen turned down by Richard Kettleborough. If it was pad first - and I think it was - then it was close. Replays show it was umpire’s call, so it wouldn’t have been overturned efven if Australia had reviewed. Moeen then gets away with a sliced drive that falls short of the cover sweeper Stoinis. England are running out of time: they need 115 from 12 overs.

8.07pm BST

37th over: England 177-5 (Billings 50, Ali 3) Josh Hazlewood replaces Mitchell Starc, who still has three overs remaining (groin permitting). Billings gloves a short ball round the corner to reach a calm fifty from 66 balls.

8.02pm BST

36th over: England 174-5 (Billings 49, Ali 1) Bairstow made 84 from 107 balls. It was an innings of two halves: 33 from 71 balls, then 53 from 36. Zampa almost gets his second wicket of the over when Billings cuts the ball onto the leg of the keeper Carey and away for a single.

8.00pm BST

Bairstow has gone! He launched Zampa towards long-on, where Hazlewood ran round the boundary to take a superb diving catch. That should be a matchwinning wicket.

7.58pm BST

35th over: England 169-4 (Bairstow 84, Billings 45) A glorious shot from Billings, who drives Starc’s attempted yorker whence it came for four. Bairstow then pulls mightily over square leg for six to move within 16 of a century. It’s been an innings of extraordinary defiance, because he barely middled a thing for the first 24 overs.

There’s a break in play while Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood look for the ball in the stands. Starc is also struggling with his groin, which could be very significant giving his peerless death-bowling ability. England need 126 from 90 balls.

7.52pm BST

34th over: England 158-4 (Bairstow 78, Billings 40) Adam Zampa, who has four overs remaining, also comes back into the attack. Bairstow sweeps his first ball brusquely for four and then drives a single to bring up a resilient, resourceful hundred partnership from 106 balls.

7.48pm BST

33rd over: England 152-4 (Bairstow 73, Billings 39) Mitchell Starc returns in an attempt to end this irksome partnership. He doesn’t manage that, at least not yet, but he does restrict England to just a single. The required rate thus moves up to 8.41 per over.

7.43pm BST

32nd over: England 151-4 (Bairstow 72, Billings 39) A pretty tight over from Stoinis; six from it, all in ones and twos.

7.37pm BST

31st over: England 145-4 (Bairstow 71, Billings 34) Cummins to Billings, who drags a pull stroke through midwicket for four. Time for drinks.

7.33pm BST

30th over: England 140-4 (Bairstow 71, Billings 29) Another bowling change: Maxwell off after one over, Stoinis on. He starts with a front-foot no-ball, which means a free hit. Bairstow’s heave is dropped by Labuschagne, which allows England to steal a second run.

Bairstow is then beaten by consecutive, legitimate deliveries from Stoinis before ending the over with a superbly timed cut for four. I don’t know how or why, but Bairstow is still at the crease and while that’s the case England have an outside chance. They need 155 from 120 balls.

7.28pm BST

29th over: England 131-4 (Bairstow 64, Billings 28) Oof. Bairstow clouts Cummins over midwicket for a big six, his third in the last five overs. An affronted Cummins ends the over with a stunning delivery that beats Billings.

7.23pm BST

28th over: England 122-4 (Bairstow 57, Billings 27) The offspinner Glenn Maxwell replaces Mitchell Marsh and goes round the wicket straight away. England settle for low-risk milking in his first over: five singles, a two and a bonus wide. England need 174 from 132 balls.

7.19pm BST

27th over: England 114-4 (Bairstow 52, Billings 25) Pat Cummins returns to the attack - and disappears for 15. Billings drives confidently over extra cover for his first boundary, and then top-edges consecutive pull strokes for four and six.

“Not sure if we’re allowed to be optimistic on the OBO,” says Ben Mimmack, “but if England win it from here, this will be an amazing two hours or so of entertainment.”

7.14pm BST

26th over: England 99-4 (Bairstow 51, Billings 11) Bairstow works Marsh off the pads for two to reach a laborious half-century. He’s been in abysmal touch almost throughout, yet has fought like a beast to keep England in the match. And he might have willed his way back into form. His first 25 runs took 60 balls, the second 25 just 18.

Billings then survives another big LBW shout from Marsh. It didn’t have much going for it: he was on the walk, probably outside the line, and it looked high.

7.09pm BST

25th over: England 96-4 (Bairstow 48, Billings 11) A long hop from Zampa is walloped over midwicket for six by Bairstow, who was been waiting all night to sweet-spot something like that. Bairstow misses a mighty slog sweep at the next delivery and is almost bowled, then drives sweetly over wide long-on for six more. Great stuff, and an excellent over for England: 15 from it.

7.05pm BST

24th over: England 81-4 (Bairstow 33, Billings 11) Six from Marsh’s over.

7.01pm BST

23rd over: England 75-4 (Bairstow 29, Billings 9) Billings survives another big LBW appeal after missing a sweep at Zampa. It looked just outside the line and Aaron Finch decides not to risk Australia’s final review. England are in all sorts of trouble here.

6.58pm BST

22nd over: England 70-4 (Bairstow 29, Billings 4) Mitchell Marsh comes on to replace his brother Starc. Billings, like most of the England batsmen, is really struggling to pierce the infield. He can only take a leg-bye off the last ball of Marsh’s over, which means he has 4 from 20 balls. The required rate is more than eight an over.

6.53pm BST

21st over: England 69-4 (Bairstow 29, Billings 4) A superb over from Zampa to Billings, who doesn’t know which way it’s spinning. Australia are all over England like a cheap cliche. It’s been a merciless performance in the field, very similar to their demolition job at Lord’s during last year’s World Cup.

6.52pm BST

Billings is not out! He didn’t need umpire’s call; ball-tracking showed it was just clearing leg stump. That’s fine umpiring from David Millns because it was a seductive appeal.

6.51pm BST

Australia review for LBW against Billings! It was a delicious googly from Zampa, and this looks close. Height should save Billings though, especially as he has umpire’s call in his favour.

6.50pm BST

20th over: England 68-4 (Bairstow 29, Billings 3) The tougher the challenge, the greater the opportunity, and a matchwinning century tonight would change Sam Billings’ life. He is taking his time to get his eye in, with 3 from 8 balls. Bairstow continues to struggle on, clouting a pull towards cow corner for two. He has 29 from 67 balls.

6.45pm BST

19th over: England 63-4 (Bairstow 26, Billings 1) I’ve just watched the Labuschagne catch again and it looks clean to me. His hand skidded along the floor but he twisted it so that the ball wasn’t touching the ground. That said, my eye prescription gets worse by the year, so for all I know he could have started scrubbing the turf with it.

Bairstow survives a big LBW shout after missing a sweep at Zampa. Outside the line. Bairstow. bless him, is in woeful nick but is fighting so hard. Possibly too hard. He’s called for a different bat grip in the hope it will make a difference.

6.41pm BST

18th over: England 61-4 (Bairstow 25, Billings 0) Lovely, aggressive captaincy from Aaron Finch, who brings back Mitchell Starc with a view to taking the wicket(s) that would finish England off. Since they slipped to 123 for five halfway through their innings, Australia have been spectacularly good.

“Nobody on the telly has noticed, but Labuschagne dropped that catch off Buttler,” says Nail Ashby. “It rolled along the floor before he threw it up, me thinks.”

6.36pm BST

17th over: England 58-4 (Bairstow 22, Billings 0) Billings survives a huuuuuuge shout for LBW from Zampa. I’m pretty sure there was an inside edge; Adam Finch decides not to review. Edit: there was a big inside edge.

“I am no longer looking forward to seeing how the innings pans out,” says Matt Dony.

6.33pm BST

Game over! Zampa has picked up the huge wicket of Jos Buttler. He sliced a lofted drive towards long off, and at first it looked like Labuschagne had misjudged it. But he hurtled towards the ball and dived forward to take an outstanding low catch.

6.31pm BST

16th over: England 57-3 (Bairstow 21, Buttler 1) Hazlewood continues, despite taking some punishment in his previous over, and beats Bairstow on the inside for the third or fourth time tonight.

“I really hope JB gets a ton,” says Austin Baird. “It will surely underline what a fantastic player he is even though not everything goes how you want it.”

6.27pm BST

15th over: England 55-3 (Bairstow 20, Buttler 0) The new batsman is the in-form Jos Buttler.

6.25pm BST

Adam Zampa strikes in his first over! That’s a huge moment because Morgan was looking so dangerous. He pulled Zampa firmly towards midwicket, where Maxwell took a smart catch.

6.20pm BST

14th over: England 48-2 (Bairstow 19, Morgan 23) After conceding five runs from his first six overs, Hazlewood’s seventh disappears for 14. It starts when Bairstow finally gets hold of an attacking shot, slapping a short ball through backward point for four. Then Morgan, on the charge, blasts a thrilling six over wide long off. This is an admirable counter-attack, 23 from 16 balls. The other England batsmen have scored 23 from 68 between them.

6.16pm BST

13th over: England 34-2 (Bairstow 12, Morgan 16) Morgan steals a quick single to Warner, who misfields and gives England another couple of runs. Morgan is doing everything he can to put pressure back on Australia; it’s fascinating to watch. After swaying out of the way of two sharp bouncers - there are two men out on the hook now - he charges Cummins and batters the ball over mid-off for a couple. He has 16 from 13 balls, Bairstow 12 from 42.

6.11pm BST

12th over: England 28-2 (Bairstow 11, Morgan 11) Bairstow plays a one-handed drive off Hazlewood that bounces short of mid-off. Then he mistimes a pull stroke and is hit in the arm. I’d love to hear his internal monologue right now; his facial expression suggests he is not entirely without rage.

Another maiden from Hazlewood, his third of the innings, includes an unsuccessful appeal for caught behind when Bairstow is beaten on the inside by a big nipbacker. It brushed his thigh, that was it. This is pretty awesome from Hazlewood: 6-3-5-2.

6.07pm BST

11th over: England 28-2 (Bairstow 11, Morgan 11) Eoin Morgan wasn’t born to die wondering. He has had trouble with the short ball against Australia in the past but still has the conviction to hook Cummins emphatically for four. He has 11 from 9 balls and has changed the mood ever so slightly.

At the other end, Bairstow’s innings is verging on the excruciating: 11 from 34 balls, and he has barely middled any of them. To his credit, he still wants to be out there. There are plenty who would have thrown the towel in by now.

6.03pm BST

10th over: England 22-2 (Bairstow 10, Morgan 6) Bairstow has 10 from 30 balls and is getting increasingly frustrated at his inability to tonk fours and sixes like he usually does.

6.02pm BST

Jonny Bairstow is given out LBW - but he successfully reviews the decision. He fell over a delivery from Hazlewood that was angled in and would just have missed leg stump.

5.58pm BST

9th over: England 20-2 (Bairstow 8, Morgan 6) Morgan rifles Cummins through mid-off for four, a beautifully timed stroke that takes England’s run-rate above two an over. The required rate is still fine (6.7); the worry is how many more wickets England will lose in the next hour.

“Hello Rob,” says Geoff Wignall. “In the T20s, there was emphasis on having Buttler at the top of the order so as to maximize the overs available to him. Seems England are adopting a different method to allow him plenty of batting time today.”

5.53pm BST

8th over: England 14-2 (Bairstow 7, Morgan 1) The new batsman is Eoin Morgan, who will surely try to hit England out of trouble like he did in that Champions Trophy game in 2017. It’s easier planned than done against this attack. Hazlewood’s figures: 4-2-3-2.

“You’re going to appear on an 80s & 90s cricket podcast?” says Matt Dony. “Stepping out of your comfort zone, there, Rob? I jest, of course. Maxwell in full flow is a thrilling sight, but I can see Morgan taking it as a challenge. Looking forward to seeing how this innings unfolds.”

5.49pm BST

Root is put out of his misery by another jaffa from Hazlewood. It straightened to take the edge as Root fiddled outside off stump, and Alex Carey did the rest. This is stunning new-ball bowling from Hazlewood, who has two for two from 3.1 overs.

5.48pm BST

7th over: England 13-1 (Bairstow 7, Root 1) Pat Cummins replaces Mitchell Starc. Root gets off the mark from his ninth delivery, pulling a single round the corner, but England are going nowhere in a hurry: they’re scoring at less than two an over. Australia’s bowling has been relentless.

5.44pm BST

6th over: England 11-1 (Bairstow 6, Root 0) Hazlewood is bowling majestically. He beats Root with a beauty that straightens from a fullish length and zips another past the outside edge two balls later. Another maiden from Hazlewood, who has gorgeous figures of 3-2-2-1. It’s starting to resemble the World Cup match between these teams at Lord’s.

5.41pm BST

5th over: England 11-1 (Bairstow 6, Root 0) A short delivery from Starc is cuffed over cover for four by Bairstow. He needed that, as did England.

“When you did a ball-by-ball report on a football match, you wrote that VAR was making referees wary of making decisions that could be overturned - but this is a criticism that is never levelled by you, or your colleagues, against Hawkeye and its effect on umpires,” says Peter Hillmore. “Surely they are the same?”

5.35pm BST

4th over: England 7-1 (Bairstow 2, Root 0) Roy made 3 from 12 balls. The new batsman Joe Root is beaten by his first delivery, which completes a wicket maiden from Hazlewood.

5.34pm BST

This is the first time Roy has faced Australia since his Ashes horribilis, so maybe that’s in his mind as well. He’s really struggling to time the ball - and then the moment he does get hold of a shot, Hazlewood takes a blinding return catch! Roy drove the ball back towards Hazlewood, who stuck out his right hand in his follow through to take a super low catch.

5.30pm BST

3rd over: England 7-0 (Roy 3, Bairstow 2) Roy muscles a pull through midwicket for three to get off the mark. He didn’t time it particularly well, and it’s obvious that both these batsmen are straining for their usual fluency.

5.25pm BST

2nd over: England 3-0 (Roy 0, Bairstow 1) Josh Hazlewood starts with a wide to Jonny Bairstow, who is then beaten on the inside by a good nipbacker. England have started with unusual caution, probably for a couple of reasons: the ball is doing a bit and the openers aren’t in great form.

5.22pm BST

1st over: England 1-0 (Roy 0, Bairstow 0) Jason Roy hasn’t been in great form since lockdown, with 43 runs in six innings across all forms of the game, and he plays and misses three times in Mitchell Starc’s first over. A leg-side wide gets England off the mark.

“’Afternoon, Rob,” says John Starbuck. “It looks like the ECB should be taking a knee after shooting themselves in the foot (again).”

5.15pm BST

Those of a certain age and/or persuasion may be interested in this. (Full disclosure department: I’ll be on it next week.)

Episode 1 is here!

We take a look at the 1990 Tour of the West Indies and assess Ian Botham's career after 1981.

The 80's and 90's Cricket Show https://t.co/8moE7trQCT via @acast

5.09pm BST

Thanks Tim, hello everyone. England asked for it and now they’ve got it: a stiff test on a slowish pitch. Australia only have one full-time spinner, but this looks a big ask even for England. And they asked for it!

5.02pm BST

Sky are featuring England’s disability cricketers, who won the Ashes 8-0. In Australia! On that happy note, it’s time for me to hand over to Rob Smyth, who could be covering anything from a triumphant chase to a twilight rout. Thanks for your company, your quips and your views on taking the knee, which (ECB please note) is opposed by not one of our correspondents.

4.50pm BST

England’s women have a T20 series against West Indies starting on 21 September, and their captain Heather Knight says they will take the knee.

4.48pm BST

50th over: Australia 294-9 (Starc 19, Hazlewood 0) Before the wicket, Woakes got two slower balls past the bat and over the stumps. But after it, he gets it all wrong with a length ball that Starc can swing for six. Even given their rather constipated last ten overs, Australia can be delighted with that total after being 123 for five. England will need 295, which would be a record chase in an ODI at Old Trafford. The pitch is doing plenty, and I’d say Australia were slight favourites – but Morgan, Buttler and co. are champion chasers. It’s still beautifully poised.

4.45pm BST

England’s slower balls prove too much for Zampa, who gives the simplest of return catches.

4.39pm BST

49th over: Australia 286-8 (Starc 12, Zampa 4) Wood’s last over is another good one, mainly slower balls short of a length. Presented with a run-out chance, Wood takes a left-foot shot that hits the stumps without being sharp enough to bag the wicket. “He’ll be talking about that for the foreseeable,” says Broad. Wood finishes with three for 54. England’s pace aces have both been good, but maybe that means that Australia’s pace aces will all enjoy themselves.

4.34pm BST

48th over: Australia 282-8 (Starc 10, Zampa 3) Starc takes over as the main man, lofting Archer over mid-on. “He’s a powerful striker of the ball,” says Stuart Broad – takes one to know one. Archer finishes with three for 57. He’s been a different person since he got his hands on the white ball.

4.32pm BST

47th over: Australia 273-8 (Starc 4, Zampa 0) An admirable over from Wood, with a wicket and no boundaries. Marsh was staunch, but he didn’t hit many fours – only six off 100 balls.

4.30pm BST

Out! It was hitting leg, and the last recognised batsman has gone, after an innings that was straight from the 1970s. Well bowled Wood,

4.29pm BST

Struck in front, but it could be going down...

4.23pm BST

46th over: Australia 264-7 (Marsh 66, Starc 3) Stuart Broad, commentating, reckons England have had a conference and agreed to bowl every kind of slower ball – knuckle, leg-cutter, off-cutter – to protest that short boundary. Archer nearly picks up a fourth wicket as Mitchell Starc hooks a bouncer up in the air, but Billings racing in from the deep, can’t quite cling on. Only five off the over: Archer has three for 48 from his nine.

4.20pm BST

Another one! A knuckle ball from Archer, a skyer from Cummins, a slight fumble from Morgan at short extra but he holds on, dislocated finger and all.

4.17pm BST

45th over: Australia 259-6 (Marsh 64, Cummins 7) Wood joins Archer, so it’s hot stuff at both ends – but Pat Cummins is equal to it, shovelling a pull for four. Nine off the over, so 300 is still on. Morgan, in the infield, is wearing not two caps but three, which may be a record.

4.11pm BST

44th over: Australia 250-6 (Marsh 63, Cummins 1) Morgan gave Archer the dubious privilege of coping with the short legside boundary, and Maxwell seized his chance, lofting the first ball for six off a full length. The second ball was a full toss that could have been a wide but went for another six, flicked over fine leg with an air of contempt. The ball, after two trips into the stands, was looking like an old rag, but Archer had the last laugh and probably saved England 25 runs with one flick of his wrist. This game is beautifully poised.

4.09pm BST

The big one! Maxwell hits Archer for six, flicks for six more, and then plays on to the slower ball. A great retort from Jofra, and the end of a game-changing innings.

4.04pm BST

43rd over: Australia 237-5 (Marsh 63, Maxwell 65) A couple of swishes off Woakes and Maxwell overtakes Marsh, who was on 23 when he came in. The partnership is 113, a new record for the sixth wicket for Australia against England in ODIs, surpassing Mark Waugh and Simon O’Donnell. back in 1990-91. Woakes has one over left, Archer and Wood three each. I predict a slower ball or two.

4.00pm BST

42nd over: Australia 230-5 (Marsh 61, Maxwell 59) Rashid’s final over, and it feels like some time since he was taking wickets for fun. The batsmen see him off with five singles, and Rash finishes with two for 55. Australia are heading for 300 if these two stay together for a few more overs, and they may even be favourites.

3.55pm BST

41st over: Australia 225-5 (Marsh 59, Maxwell 57) A touch of genius from Maxwell, who flicks his wrist to play a sort of whipped push past Archer at mid-on. The bowler is Woakes, who comes as close to a reproachful glare as he can manage. Up comes the hundred partnership, off 104 balls: great stuff, with Maxwell playing lead guitar, and Marsh on rhythm.

And here’s Abhijato Sensarma. “I have one eye on these white-ball series for a simple reason - the IPL is coming up soon.” Sign o’ the times. “Glenn Maxwell had a fantastic year with Kings XI Punjab, but since then his fortunes have always swung one way or the other without much stability (as it has tended to throughout his career). He regained some consistency before taking a break for mental health. Hopefully this innings proves he’s carrying it over!”

3.51pm BST

40th over: Australia 218-5 (Marsh 58, Maxwell 51) More byes – real ones this time, as Rashid’s leg-break turns and bounces, beating both batsman and keeper. Rashid is now open to the shorter legside boundary and Maxwell cashes in with a six into the top tier. A member of the groundstaff retrieves it, holding it daintily in his mask, and drops it ... onto a speaker. It’s the Keystone Cops, Covid-style. Maxwell square-drives to reach a sparky fifty off 43 balls.

3.46pm BST

39th over: Australia 204-5 (Marsh 56, Maxwell 43) Morgan, who doesn’t seem inclined to give Root a go, turns back to Woakes. When he drops short, Marsh plays a pull that finds the gap and brings up the 200. The partnership is 81 at a touch more than five an over: an excellent rebuilding job.

3.41pm BST

38th over: Australia 197-5 (Marsh 50, Maxwell 42) Morgan goes back to Rashid, England’s main man of the past week. Maxwell aims a big mow at him and nicks it for four, over Buttler’s shoulder, but they’re given as byes. Marsh reaches fifty off 75 balls with an off-drive for a single that sums up the way he has played – soberly. He’s been the designated driver in the party.

3.36pm BST

37th over: Australia 188-5 (Marsh 48, Maxwell 39) Morgan keeps Moeen on for his last over and it’s a better one, going for just four singles.

3.34pm BST

36th over: Australia 184-5 (Marsh 46, Maxwell 37) Just when the batsmen are getting on top, Mark Wood puts them back in their place with an over that has the eternal virtues: pace and accuracy. H’s such a likeable figure, and he’s getting his just deserts today after a summer spent carrying the drinks.

3.31pm BST

35th over: Australia 182-5 (Marsh 45, Maxwell 36) Fortified by a drink, Maxwell tucks into Moeen, his fellow off-spinner. A reverse sweep for four, a cover-drive for four more, 11 off the over, and suddenly this partnership is 59.

3.24pm BST

34th over: Australia 171-5 (Marsh 43, Maxwell 27) Wood cranks his pace up to 92mph, and may regret it as Marsh plays a canny guide for four through gully. And that’s drinks, with Australia halfway to a salvage job.

3.19pm BST

33rd over: Australia 164-5 (Marsh 37, Maxwell 26) A fine over from Moeen, who concedes only two singles and draws a false shot from Maxwell, finding his inside edge. Mo’s figures, 8-0-44-0, don’t do him justice.

3.15pm BST

32nd over: Australia 162-5 (Marsh 36, Maxwell 25) Another change as Rashid, with three overs up his sleeve, gives way to Wood, who has an exceptional record against Maxwell in this format – 21 runs, three wickets. “Got the Wood on him!” says Shane Warne. In this over, he keeps Maxwell honest, conceding only one off four balls.

3.11pm BST

31st over: Australia 160-5 (Marsh 35, Maxwell 24) Morgan removes Archer, who didn’t provide the coup de grace he was looking for, and brings back Moeen. Maxwell gets four with a brutal shot through the covers, not so much driven as smashed. That’s 17 off the last two overs: has the tide turned?

3.08pm BST

30th over: Australia 152-5 (Marsh 33, Maxwell 18) Rashid bowls a rare bad ball, and almost gets a wicket as Maxwell pulls, off the toe end, and only just gets it over Banton at deep midwicket, who had crept in when he might have caught it on the rope. To add insult to injury, it goes for six. Another 40 minutes of Maxwell and the Aussies might yet reach respectability.

3.04pm BST

29th over: Australia 143-5 (Marsh 32, Maxwell 10) Marsh finds his mojo again, spotting yet another slower ball from Archer and waiting for the cover-drive. There’s plenty of time to rescue this innings.

3.01pm BST

28th over: Australia 136-5 (Marsh 26, Maxwell 8) Marsh has gone into his shell, anxious not to join the procession. He has 27 off 46 balls now, whereas Maxwell has 8 off 8. Rashid takes the opportunity to toss it up; he has 6-0-26-2.

2.58pm BST

27th over: Australia 133-5 (Marsh 26, Maxwell 6) Archer is mostly bowling slower balls in this spell, which seems a little too defensive. Even the quicker balls are 85 rather than 90, perhaps because the ball has gone soft. The upshot is only one run off the over, but not much threat.

2.53pm BST

26th over: Australia 132-5 (Marsh 26, Maxwell 6) A whole over from Rashid with no wickets: maybe the Australians are finally working him out.

On that subject, here’s Brian Withington. “Not sure what the Aussies are struggling with here,” he chortles. “As I have patiently explained, the Rashid googly is easily detected from behind the arm in super slow-mo. Get a grip!”

2.51pm BST

25th over: Australia 129-5 (Marsh 24, Maxwell 5) Morgan, going in for the kill, replaces Moeen with Archer, who started the rot with that 90mph jaffa to Warner. Maxwell takes a quick single to get up the other end and gets five for it as Moeen’s throw from mid-on is a wild one. That’s a piece of fielding from the other night, when Mo was captain. And that’s the halfway mark, with England well on top, thanks to four of their World Cup winners – Rashid and Wood, well supported by Woakes and Archer.

2.46pm BST

24th over: Australia 123-5 (Marsh 23, Maxwell 0) So another googly bears fruit, and Rashid has two for 20 from four overs. Australia badly need some fireworks from Glenn Maxwell, who’s quite capable of delivering them.

“Aussie are 1,2,3 for 5,” says Isaac Gow. “Has a nice rhythm to it.”

2.45pm BST

Rashid does it again! He’s all over the Aussies like a Rash. Another top-edged sweep, and this time it loops up nicely for the man running in from deep square. Not the brightest shot from Carey, who failed to learn from his mistakes.

2.42pm BST

23rd over: Australia 121-4 (Marsh 22, Carey 9) Three singles off Moeen, followed by three dots. The last five overs have yielded only 21.

2.40pm BST

22nd over: Australia 118-4 (Marsh 21, Carey 7) Carey, still hemmed in by that slip and leg slip, is struggling against Rashid. He top-edges a sweep and then thick-edges a square drive, but gets away with both. He’s a shadow of the man he was ten minutes ago, who reverse-swept his first ball.

2.37pm BST

21st over: Australia 114-4 (Marsh 19, Carey 5) The Aussies have been losing wickets but not losing heart. Marsh sees a quarter-volley from Moeen and sends it to the cover boundary with some top-class timing.

2.34pm BST

20th over: Australia 109-4 (Marsh 14, Carey 5) Another big scalp for Rashid, who has now deposed Jimmy Anderson as England’s leading wicket-taker in ODIs against Australia, with 39 in just 22 matches to Anderson’s 38 in 32. And this is only the second time Labuschagne has been out in an ODI for fewer than 40. In comes Alex Carey, and he reverse-sweeps his first ball for four, majestically. Morgan, snagging a collapse, brings in a slip and a leg slip for Carey, who then plays and misses, failing to pick the googly. England on top.

2.29pm BST

Yes, hitting middle and off. It was Rashid’s googly, perfectly pitched: stand by for some more swooning on social media.

2.28pm BST

This looks plumb, but he’s reviewing.

2.27pm BST

19th over: Australia 102-3 (Labuschagne 21, Marsh 12) Moeen tries a yorker, which takes Labuschagne’s edge and then nutmegs Buttler to go for two and bring up the hundred. This partnership, like the last one, has been busy: 22 off 21 balls so far. The Aussies will either get a big score, or be all out, or both.

2.23pm BST

18th over: Australia 98-3 (Labuschagne 18, Marsh 11) Wood’s reward for his excellence is to be taken off, or saved for later, as Morgan turns to Adil Rashid, the maestro of the moment. Marsh gets four as the googly goes too leg-side, but Adil has his riposte, beating him outside off. “I always look at team-mates,” Broad says, “and ask, do they get good batsmen out? And without doubt Adil does.”

2.20pm BST

17th over: Australia 91-3 (Labuschagne 15, Marsh 7) Broad, with his sharp cricket brain, has worked out why Moeen is on: the wind is from leg to off, so the slog-sweep is liable to sit up and be caught. Both these batsmen are sweeping, but along the ground, for ones and twos – until Mitch Marsh finds the gap behind square leg.

2.15pm BST

16th over: Australia 82-3 (Labuschagne 12, Marsh 1) Another fine over from Wood, who has two for 22. Both wickets have come from deliveries a touch fuller than a normal good length.

2.11pm BST

Wood gets his due! Stoinis, perhaps intoxicated with his own excellence, plays a loose drive and gives Jos Buttler a diving catch. That’s a big moment.

2.09pm BST

15th over: Australia 79-2 (Stoinis 43, Labuschagne 10) Stoinis tucks into Moeen’s first two balls, driving into the covers for two and lofting over mid-off for four. Morgan moves Root out from slip, but Stoinis still fiddles a push through the covers for two more. He’s been in a class of his own so far. Who needs Smith?

2.06pm BST

14th over: Australia 71-2 (Stoinis 35, Labuschagne 10) Wood is bowling fast, a steady 89mph with the odd 91. He beats Labuschagne and concedes only a single and a two. “Bit unlucky not to get more wickets,” says Stuart Broad, who has joined the commentators.

2.02pm BST

13th over: Australia 68-2 (Stoinis 34, Labuschagne 8) Morgan decides it’s time for spin, but not for Adil Rashid – it’s Moeen, counter-intuitively, as both these batsmen are right-handers. Maybe he’s trying to pump up Mo’s tyres. If so, it goes fairly well: there’s an LBW shout against Labuschagne – it would have hit the top of off, but he was struck outside the line – and a leading edge from Stoinis that lands safely in the covers.

1.57pm BST

12th over: Australia 63-2 (Stoinis 32, Labuschagne 5) A fine shot from Stoinis, cutting Wood for four, followed by a false one – an edge that might have been held, head-high, by the missing second slip. Is Morgan being a touch too defensive here? Stoinis collects a third four from the over with a pull that is the shot of the day so far. He has 32 off 24 balls, while his mates have 27 between them off 48.

1.52pm BST

11th over: Australia 50-2 (Stoinis 19, Labuschagne 5) A sixth over for Woakes, who helps himself to some dots as Labuschagne finds his feet. Five of them – but then Labuschagne gets out of jail with a straight drive for four, to bring up Australia’s fifty.

“Stoinis looking pretty good for a Steve Smith understudy?” says Anthony Noel. “He’s certainly more handsome than Marnus.”

1.48pm BST

10th over: Australia 46-2 (Stoinis 19, Labuschagne 1) Just as Archer’s wicket was partly the work of Woakes, so Wood’s was partly down to Archer, whose pace had driven Finch back. After his instant impact, Wood keeps it tight to the mighty Labuschagne, and even Stoinis’s two off the last ball come off the inside edge. So the Powerplay ends with England on top.

We now have a Marcus batting with a Marnus. If they stay together for long, I may have to slip into Latin.

1.43pm BST

Mark Wood strikes with his first ball! Finch, stuck on the crease when he should be forward, gets a regulation nick.

1.41pm BST

9th over: Australia 43-1 (Finch 16, Stoinis 17) Just when Morgan has taken out the second slip, Finch sends a nick in that direction, and gets four for it. Gent that he is, Woakes retorts with nothing more than a wry smile. Stoinis rubs it in with a back-foot drive for four more.

“Permission to line up firmly with the immense Michael Holding,” says Guy Hornsby. “This is just the beginning of cricket, and society, addressing these huge issues, not the end. The justification from both teams here feels pretty risible. No wonder he feels discarded. We must do better.”

1.36pm BST

8th over: Australia 33-1 (Finch 11, Stoinis 12) A couple of singles off Archer, who’s been superb, and has driven Finch so deep in the crease that he almost treads on his off stump.

“I loved Warner’s reaction to being beaten all ends up by Archer,” says Mark Hooper. “A big ‘Ooh!’, a nod of appreciation and a broad grin, looking him right in the eye. None of that fake posturing, just an honest reaction from one supreme sportsman to another.”

1.32pm BST

7th over: Australia 31-1 (Finch 10, Stoinis 11) Stoinis, who’s looking pretty good for a Steve Smith understudy, clips for two, but otherwise Woakes is himself again. Meanwhile Shane Warne is talking about Ed Sheeran, for reasons that are not clear.

1.27pm BST

6th over: Australia 29-1 (Finch 10, Stoinis 9) Archer puts the plug in. These two make such a good new-ball pair – a study in contrasts. But then Archer’s bouncer doesn’t climb steeply enough and Finch plays an excellent pull for four. Honours about even so far.

1.24pm BST

5th over: Australia 25-1 (Finch 6, Stoinis 9) Woakes blots his copybook! A rare wide, followed by a juicy morsel on leg stump that Stoinis duly gobbles up. A few singles too, as the Aussies show their usual appetite between the wickets.

1.19pm BST

4th over: Australia 16-1 (Finch 4, Stoinis 3) Archer is in the groove now, making the ball rear, and talk. The batsmen leave whatever they can, though Marcus Stoinis gets off the mark with a crisp block-drive for three.

1.16pm BST

That was the first really fast ball, 90mph, on a length. The wicket goes to Archer, but half the credit goes to Woakes.

1.14pm BST

Top of off! “David Warner was all at sea,” says Shane Warne. “Never looked happy.”

1.12pm BST

3rd over: Australia 13-0 (Warner 6, Finch 4) Woakes beats Warner again. And again! Shades of Stuart Broad last summer, though Woakes is coming over the wicket, not round. Warner escapes by way of a leg glance, the only run off an exemplary over.

1.09pm BST

2nd over: Australia 12-0 (Warner 5, Finch 4) Jofra Archer opens with a wide, followed by a half-volley, which Aaron Finch drives for four. Archer fights back with a lifter, clocked at 86mph but looking quicker; Finch shapes to pull before hastily letting it go. Jofra then beats Warner as the ball goes over the stumps, before bowling another wide, a touch harsh this, outside off. David Lloyd, who knows Old Trafford better than anyone, detects some swing for Jofra, perhaps because there’s a strong cross-wind.

1.04pm BST

1st over: Australia 4-0 (Warner 4, Finch 0) It’s Chris Woakes, who’s had a trim and dispensed with his Alice band. He starts with a dot and then has Warner playing and missing, though a nick wouldn’t have carried. Later in the over, Warner does edge it, along the ground through the vacant third slip, and he picks up a hard-run two. He finishes with a better shot, a cuff past mid-off, for two more.

1.00pm BST

The players are out there, and England are back in light blue rather than red. They look like World Cup winners.

12.52pm BST

On that very issue, here’s Bill Hargreaves. “I wonder if they’ll take a knee, as our Mikey seemed to suggest would be of value. I think I agree with him. I noticed the Premier League footballers won’t have ‘Black Lives Matter’ on their shirts this season, (shame, for me), but will have the PL’s alternative and might well take a knee.

“I agree with what I think is Mr. Holding’s view - that this is a long-term race to be won, that a long hard slog will be necessary. Thanks for the great commentary. Exciting!” It’s our pleasure. Thanks for the thanks!

12.50pm BST

The teams will not be taking the knee. And this is not going down well with Michael Holding, the conscience of cricket. He feels that as soon as the West Indians flew home, English cricket forgot that black lives matter. He’s right, isn’t he?

12.44pm BST

An email! “You say England may have won on Tuesday with Joe Root,” writes Smylers, “who only wasn’t in the squad because he wasn’t in the first-choice XI. Similarly, in the 2nd Test v West Indies, when England suddenly needed a replacement for Jofra Archer, Jimmy Anderson wasn’t available, having being omitted from the squad as well as the team. Are England misunderstanding the purpose of a squad, if they aren’t actually picking the players they’d most want to use as replacements?”

Good question. To be fair, Root did need a rest, and it can be awkward to have a sometime captain carrying the drinks, though Sarfraz Ahmed managed it for Pakistan. As it happens, Root is talking to Sky right now. “I’m a passionate cricket fan,” he says, “and I just want to play.”

12.41pm BST

England have nine of the XI who won the World Cup, though they have two of the match winners missing in Ben Stokes and Liam Plunkett. Australia have Marcus Stoinis impersonating Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell preferred to Ashton Agar as the second spinner. Morgan mentioned Root’s spin as well as Rashid and Moeen, so he may be planning to smother the Aussies with lack of pace on a surface that’s “tacky” and “a bit softer” than when England were last here.

Australia 1 Finch (capt), 2 Warner, 3 Stoinis, 4 Labuschagne, 5 M Marsh, 6 Maxwell, 7 Carey (wkt), 8 Starc, 9 Cummins, 10 Hazlewood, 11 Zampa.

12.36pm BST

Apparently he got a bang on the head in practice yesterday. Adil Rashid may be feeling robbed. But we wish Smith the speediest of recoveries.

12.32pm BST

Eoin Morgan does love a chase.

12.08pm BST

Afternoon everyone and welcome to yet another international series, England’s sixth and last of this peculiar summer. So far, they’ve won four (both Test series, ODIs v Ireland, T20 v Australia) and drawn one (T20s v Pakistan). Is it time for them to lose?

The Aussies, after winning the final T20 match, go to Manchester with a modicum of momentum. They may pick all three of Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins – a trident if ever there was one. And their ropey middle order will be suddenly steelier for the arrival of Marnus Labuschagne, who sounds like something out of Harry Potter and makes runs like a machine. He only won his first baggy yellow cap this year, but already has 300 runs at an average of 50, and has made it to 40 every time he’s got off the mark.

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Published on September 11, 2020 13:09

September 7, 2020

Netherlands 0-1 Italy, N Ireland 1-5 Norway: Nations League – as it happened

Nicolò Barella headed the winner for Italy in Amsterdam, Erling Haaland scored two belters at Windsor Park, and Scotland rode their luck in Olomouc

11.55pm BST

Italy returned to winning ways as Nicolò Barella’s header secured a 1-0 win over a below-par Netherlands at the Johan Cruyff Arena on Monday.

Italy showed the greater urgency and quality throughout and were full value for the win, getting the only goal just before half-time as Barella headed home Ciro Immobile’s cross. It was a welcome response from Roberto Mancini’s men after the disappointing 1-1 home draw with Bosnia.

9.53pm BST

9.42pm BST

9.40pm BST

The final whistle has gone in all tonight’s matches. Seven of the eight games were away wins; it would have been eight out of eight but for an injury-time equaliser from Israel’s Ilay Elmkies.

9.39pm BST

Full time: Netherlands 0-1 Italy Peep peep! Nicolo Barella’s header gives Italy an excellent win in Amsterdam.

9.38pm BST

Full time: Israel 1-1 Slovakia

9.37pm BST

Full time: Czech Republic 1-2 Scotland Ryan Christie’s penalty gives Scotland an unconvincing win over a scratch Czech Republic team - and puts them top of Group B2.

9.36pm BST

Full time: Northern Ireland 1-5 Norway A grim night at Windsor Park, where Northern Ireland were taken apart by the front pair of Alexander Sorloth and Erling Braut Haaland.

9.35pm BST

Israel 1-1 Slovakia Ilay Elmkies has ruined a potential clean sweep of away victories by equalising in injury time for Israel.

9.34pm BST

Czech Republic 1-2 Scotland Another near miss for the Czech Republic, with Jemelka’s looping header hitting the post. Scotland are hanging on desperately.

9.28pm BST

With around five minutes remaining, these are the latest scores:

9.26pm BST

“Hi Rob,” says Mahmoud Eltayeb. “It’s basically cheating to use Jan Koller but in Euro 2000, Czech Republic also had Pavel Kuka (1.83m) in the squad and all three strikers played together in the final minutes against Holland. Surely 5.81m has got to be an unbeatable record for a front three?”

Unless Robert Wadlow played football, that’ll be hard to beat.

9.24pm BST

Austria 2-3 Romania Karim Onisiwo has pulled one back for the home side.

9.24pm BST

Czech Republic 1-2 Scotland The substitute Callum Paterson misses an excellent chance to seal victory, driving wide from 10 yards.

9.22pm BST

Northern Ireland 1-5 Norway Steven Davis almost grabs a consolation goal on his big night, whistling a half-volley over the bar from 25 yards.

9.19pm BST

“Good evening Rob,” says Andrew Benton. “Is there anything better than the Nations League in football? It’s not a cash cow for already bustingly rich companies and individuals, but a really good run out for underused national teams, with a bit of national pride thrown in (though not too much). It’s the perfect antidote to modern commercial football. It’s post-modern football. The future has arrived.”

9.17pm BST

Czech Republic 1-2 Scotland It hasn’t been a particularly impressive performance from Scotland, who are still searching for the right formation under Steve Clarke. He stuck with a back three tonight; I suspect he’ll go back to 4-2-3-1 for the Euro 2020 play-off agianst Israel.

9.16pm BST

Alexandru Maxim has made it Austria 1-3 Romania in Klagenfurt. That result will put Romania on top of Group B1 after two games.

9.13pm BST

The latest scores

9.12pm BST

Kamil Grosicki’s goal means that the away team is ahead in all of tonight’s matches!

9.11pm BST

Czech Republic 1-2 Scotland David Marshall makes another superb save to keep Scotland in front. It looked like Stainslav Tecl would tap the rebound into an empty net, but he lost his balance and fell over in a heap.

9.07pm BST

“Sometime Czech pairing Jan Koller and Vratislav Lokvenc were a massive 3.98m combined,” writes Andrew Champney.

They need their own Postal Service song.

9.06pm BST

“Re: the Alexander Sørloth goal machine,” begins Karl Ruben Weseth. “How weird is it that Roy Hodgson can’t make use of a player who scored 34 goals in all comps last season?”

Especially as that’s more than the entire Palace team scored in all competitions last season.

9.04pm BST

Czech Republic 1-2 Scotland The Czech Republic almost equalise through Marek Havlik, whose fine free-kick hits the outside of the post with David Marshall beaten.

9.00pm BST

It’s turning into a grim night for Norther Ireland at Windsor Park. Erling Braut Haaland has got his second - and Norway’s fifth - with another devastating left-foot finish.

8.57pm BST

These are the latest scores. The away team is ahead in seven of the eight matches:

8.56pm BST

A couple of goals elsewhere

8.55pm BST

Scotland are ahead! Andy Robertson is fouled just inside the area by Tomas Malinsky, and Ryan Christie drags the penalty into the bottom-right corner. It wasn’t as emphatic as his penalty against Israel on Friday, but the result was the same.

8.53pm BST

“Hi Rob,” says Chris Martin. “Tore Andre Flo (1.93m) and John Carew (1.95m) did play together for Norway against Italy back in 2000; that’s a combined height of 3.88 metres. If England ever had Emile Heskey (1.88m) and Peter Crouch (2.01m) on at the same time they would have beaten that, but the best I could find was in the England vs USA game back in the 2010 World Cup when Crouch came on for Heskey. Capello couldn’t even get that right!”

8.50pm BST

“I think a decent result for Scotland would be holding the Czechs to three,” tubthumps Simon McMahon. “And I’ll drink to that.”

8.49pm BST

Norway’s large-and-large partnership strike again at Windsor Park. Haaland gets behind the defence, galumphs into the area and slides the ball across to give Sorloth a tap-in.

8.39pm BST

Half-time reading

8.33pm BST

Peep peep! It’s half-time in the various Nations League matches, and these are the scores:

8.32pm BST

“Surely Peter Crouch as a lone striker isn’t far off 3.8m?” hoots Matt Dony. “Hoping Scotland can get a decent result, and McMahon has a cracking case of Buckfast-brain in the morning.”

8.31pm BST

Not anymore! Nicolo Barella has put Italy ahead with an emphatic header from Ciro Immobile’s cross.

8.30pm BST

Kamil Glik has equalised for Poland in Zenica. The other game in Group A1 - Netherlands v Italy - is still goalless.

8.27pm BST

Czech Republic 1-1 Scotland David Marshall makes a beautiful fingertip save from Adam Janos’s long-range strike. He’s had a busier half than most people expected.

8.24pm BST

“The Norwegian front two is the unusual large-large partnership,” says Torbjørn O.K. “Any countries that can boast a duo with a combined height of 3.84 metres (Alexander Sørloth 193cm, Erling Braut Haaland 191cm)? Not bad footballers either.”

Did John Carew and Jostein Flo ever play together in the late 1990s? That would have been fun for a centre half.

8.22pm BST

“Hi Rob,” says Anis Aslaam. “Still remember Craig Levein and the 4-6-0 in 2010? I guess there’s just something about Prague that freezes the Scots dead in their knees.”

Even when the game’s being played in Olomouc.

8.15pm BST

The latest scores

8.14pm BST

Lyndon Dykes gets his first goal for Scotland! It was a classic poacher’s goal, the sort Scotland want him to score. The move started when Robertson clipped the ball out to his fellow wing-back Liam Palmer. He slid a dangerous low cross towards the near post, where Dykes got away from Jemelka and roofed the ball from five yards.

8.09pm BST

Czech Republic 1-0 Scotland The Czech Republic have been the better side and fully deserve to be ahead.

8.08pm BST

GOAL! Bosnia and Herzegovina 1-0 Poland (Hajradinovic 24 pen)

8.08pm BST

A bit of Premier League news

8.05pm BST

“Scotland are on a hiding to nothing tonight against a makeshift Czech side,” says Simon McMahon. “Which I suppose makes a change from just being on a hiding. You could even say it’s a no-win situation for Steve Clarke. Insert your own punchline here.”

8.05pm BST

Norway are on fire at Windsor Park. Haitam Aleesami’s gorgeous cross from the left is volleyed in from close range by Crystal Palace goal machine Alexander Sorloth.

8.04pm BST

GOAL! Austria 1-1 Romania (Baumgartner 17) An equaliser for the home side in Klagenfurt.

8.03pm BST

Kylian Mbappe has tested positive for Covid-19, so he’ll miss France’s match against Croatia tomorrow.

8.01pm BST

The latest scores

8.01pm BST

Another goal in Scotland’s group: Michal Duris has made it Israel 0-1 Slovakia.

8.00pm BST

“Rob, is it safe to like the Dutch football team now?” says Charles Antaki. “Memories of poor old Nigel de Jong and his fearsome kick into Xabi Alonso’s chest might now have faded from memory. (Perhaps not Xabi Alonso’s memory.) And they have cleancut young men playing attractive football, if not quite winning much. Probation over I think.”

I quite enjoyed the guilty comedy of their Neanderthal phase. I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed a football liveblog much as the filthy free-for-all against Portugal in 2006.

7.58pm BST

Oh, Scotland. The Czech Republic have taken the lead with a really good goal. Tecl turned and slipped an excellent through pass to Jakub Pesek, who drew Marshall and clipped the ball over him.

7.54pm BST

Czech Republic 0-0 Scotland Nothing much to report in Olomouc, though the all-new Czech Republic side have made a decent start.

7.52pm BST

Three goals in seven minutes at Windsor Park! Erling Braut Haaland runs onto a bouncing ball 20 yards from goal and slams it into the far corner with his left foot. Brilliant finish.

7.51pm BST

That didn’t take long either. Paddy McNair has equalised straight away for Northern Ireland, tapping into an empty net after Conor Washington’s shot was saved.

7.49pm BST

Austria 0-1 Romania Another early goal in Group B1: Denis Alibec has given Romania the lead in Austria.

7.48pm BST

That didn’t take long. Celtic’s Mohamed Elyounoussi has given Norway an early lead at Windsor Park with a smart chest-volley from Stefan Johansen’s long pass.

7.45pm BST

Peep peep! The seven matches are under way. Two eyes aren’t really enough on a night like this, but we’ll do our best.

7.36pm BST

This is the penultimate night of Nations League action for this international break. There are some decent games tomorrow, including Sweden v Portugal, Denmark v England and, best of all, France v Croatia.

7.32pm BST

“Hi Rob,” says Peter Oh. “With such obvious Holes in the Czech defence, even Scotland should have no trouble scoring.”

Those funny little plans, that never work quite right.

6.47pm BST

Czech Republic v Scotland team news

As expected, there are nine debutants in the Czech Republic side.

6.45pm BST

Northern Ireland v Norway team news

It’s a big night for Steven Davis, who equals Pat Jennings’ record of 119 Northern Ireland caps.

6.42pm BST

Netherlands v Italy team news

Netherlands (4-3-3) Cillessen; Hateboer, Veltman, van Dijk, Ake; De Roon, Van de Beek, F de Jong; Wijnaldum, Depay, Promes.

6.39pm BST

Bosnia and Herzegovina v Poland team news

Bosnia and Herzegovina (4-3-3) Begovic; Kvrzic, Bicakcic, Sanicanin, Civic; Besic, Hadziahmetovic, Hajradinovic; Hodzic, Koljic, Gojak.

6.35pm BST

Pre-match listening

4.45pm BST

Hello and welcome to another bumper night of Nations League action. Netherlands v Italy is the glamour match of the night, while there’s British interest in groups B1 and B2. Northern Ireland, who earned an excellent draw in Romania on Friday, are at home to Norway. And Scotland, who had a slightly frustrating draw at home to Israel the very same night, play the Czech Republic C team in Prague.

You probably know the story, but just in case: a couple of the Czech Republic players had to self-isolated after coming into contact with a backroom member of staff who tested positive for Covid-19, prompting the Czech FA to pick an entirely new squad of players and coaching staff to face Scotland. Only two of the new squad have international experience. It’s a great opportunity for Scotland to add to a list of infamous results that includes Iran, Costa Rica, the Faroe Islands and Kazakhstan.

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Published on September 07, 2020 13:53

The Fiver | Disgracing a once proud nation by breaching a biosecure bubble

The youthful Fiver was a model of good behaviour. We never quaffed an excess of White Lightning before defacing the annual flower show in our local park; we never put our boot through the window of Radio Rentals to impress peers we’d didn’t even like; and we certainly never allowed lascivious urges to impair our judgment. Nope. As such we have not a scintilla of sympathy for Phil Foden, 20, and Mason Greenwood, 18, who have disgraced a once proud nation by breaching the England biosecure bubble after the win over Iceland.

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Published on September 07, 2020 08:12

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