Rob Smyth's Blog, page 124

October 4, 2019

Football transfer rumours: Harry Kane to leave Spurs at end of season?

Today’s gossip told you to mind the cards

Spurs are on tenterhooks about Harry Kane. They are terrified the next time he opens his face, the words “We need to talk” will fall out. The word on the street is that Kane will join FC Do One in the summer.

Christian Eriksen’s move to Real Madrid is also still alive and wheezing.

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Published on October 04, 2019 00:41

October 3, 2019

Arsenal 4-0 Standard Liege, Celtic 2-0 CFR Cluj: Europa League – as it happened

Manchester United were disappointing, Arsenal were exceptional and there were contrasting fortunes for the Glasgow giants in the Europa League

10.26pm BST

And that’s all from me. It was a disappointing early evening for Manchester United and Rangers, an excellent later evening for Arsenal and Celtic, and there was plenty of other fun including some drone-related madness in Luxembourg. Bye!

10.22pm BST

Unai Emery is dead chuffed:

Proud for the players ... I think we did a lot of things good ... I think it’s good.

I think we can improve, some moments to keep the ball, more long possession, and also better positioning of attacking players.

10.15pm BST

Here’s Sachin Nakrani on Arsenal’s comfortable cruise against Standard Liege:

For Unai Emery this was an occasion to both savour his work and question himself. The Arsenal manager quite rightly took great delight in seeing his team maintain a perfect start to their Europa League campaign in rampant fashion but it hardly did his reputation as a judge of players much good that the man who got two of Arsenal’s four goals against Standard Liège is someone Emery does not feel has what it takes to be a striker.

That was Emery’s assertion of Gabriel Martinelli before this game yet he will now have to have a rethink. The 18-year-old, who arrived from the Brazilian side Ituano in the summer, scored two goals of high-quality, adding to the two he got against Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup last month, and throughout looked a real threat from a centre-forward position. If he cannot make it as a goalscorer then it is hard to see who can.

10.10pm BST

Ewan Murray has filed his report on Celtic’s 2-0 win over Cluj:

Celtic exacted the perfect revenge on Cluj, architects of their Champions League downfall, with a victory every bit as comprehensive as the scoreline suggests.

Neil Lennon, the Celtic manager, retains legitimate aspirations of progression from Group E; the Europa League has given the Scottish champions scope to develop. Dan Petrescu, Lennon’s opposite number, missed pre-match media duties after falling ill at a Glasgow hotel. The former Chelsea defender recovered sufficiently to bark instructions from the bench, even if nothing Petrescu witnessed would have raised his spirits. Celtic were superior in every department.

10.07pm BST

Joe Willock is extremely enthusiastic:

The manager drills into us to keep on going, even if it’s 3-0 or 4-0. We have to keep on pressing and try to score goals, so that’s what we try to do. It’s very exciting because we have a manager who wants to play youngsters. You just have to take every opportunity, try to work hard and try to make a difference. It’s so exciting at the moment.

10.01pm BST

Here’s Hector Bellerin on Martinelli:

He’s kept his head down, he’s worked very hard, he’s listened to the coaches, he’s listened to the players and it shows on the pitch. He’s doing what the coaches ask him to do which is the most important thing, and he’s still very young. I’m sure there’s a lot more to come from him.

9.57pm BST

On the subject of Dudelange, it turned out Luxembourg’s sports minister, Dan Kersch, was in the ground tonight and he took to the microphone amid the first-half drone-related chaos to appeal for calm and apologise on behalf of his country. Meanwhile Paul Philipp, president of the Luxembourg FA, sniffed that “sport doesn’t exist to make political statements”.

9.55pm BST

It’s all going wrong for Dudelange, down to 10 men after Mickael Garos got shown a second yellow card with half an hour to play, and now Dani Quintana has put Qarabag 4-0 up.

9.52pm BST

Celtic are top of Group E after two games, after beating the only side to win their first group game, and doing it in some style.

9.50pm BST

Arsenal’s romp to victory over substandard Liege is complete! Martinelli never completed his hat-trick, but he did some extremely fine work tonight.

9.47pm BST

Trabzonspor’s lead over Basel lasted for precisely two minutes, the time it took Noah Okafor to equalise for the Swiss side.

9.45pm BST

Arsenal are in a semi-permanent state of almost-scoring at the moment. Somehow Standard are holding out.

9.41pm BST

Martinelli creates another good chance for Arsenal. This time Torreira’s shot hits a defender.

9.40pm BST

A couple of key goals to report: in Celtic’s Group E Lazio have come from behind to now lead Rennes 2-1, CIro Immobile with their latest. And in Group C Trabzonspor have precisely matched them, coming back to now lead Basel 2-1, Jose Sosa with their second.

9.38pm BST

And they could have scored a fifth! Martinelli is again the inspiration, running into the left of the area and pulling back to Pepe, whose shot hits a defender.

9.35pm BST

Arsenal have brought on Aubameyang in place of Nelson, for 10 minutes or so of full-throttle goal-sniffing.

9.33pm BST

A couple of goals have been pulled back: At Krasnodar, Ferreira Ari has made it 1-2 with 20 minutes to play, and at Rosenborg Samuel Adegbenro has made it 1-3.

9.23pm BST

Another goal at Lazio, where Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, whose brother Vanja is keeping goal for Standard Liege at Arsenal this evening, has equalised for the home side. 1-1 now!

9.22pm BST

A couple of other goals to tell you about: Markus Rosenberg has equalised for Malmo at home to Copenhagen, and Sporting have scored twice in five minutes to now lead LASK 2-1.

9.19pm BST

Elsewhere in Celtic’s Group E, Rennes have taken the lead at Lazio, where Jeremy Morel has made it 0-1.

9.18pm BST

Forrest bursts down the right, gets into the area, waits for Elyounoussi to arrive in support and then passes to him on the edge of the area. He shoots across the keeper but it deflects off a defender and goes the other way, rolling just inside the post!

9.14pm BST

Ceballos scores his first goal for Arsenal, with Martinelli this time getting the assist! Played in on the right of the area he chips the ball over the keeper, and it might even have gone in and become one of the all-time most glorious keeper-chipping goals had Ceballos not turned it over the line (or a defender hooked it clear).

9.09pm BST

Ooof! Martinelli gets his studs on Nelson’s low cross, but can’t divert it into the net!

9.07pm BST

Apparently the Dudelange-Qarabag match has not been postponed, merely interrupted. According to a report on Luxembourgois website l’Essentiel, the drone “angered Azeri players and fans”, some fans invaded the field and some Qarabag players started fighting, though who with is not clear. The drone’s owner eventually guided it back to him on a nearby roof and scarpered, allowing the game to restart after a half-hourish stoppage. Qarabag are now 3-0 up, with the game approaching half-time.

9.01pm BST

Peeeeep! The second half has begun at Arsenal. And some other places, probably.

9.00pm BST

Jon Tumbridge is as close as I’ve got to an eyewitness. “A friend in Baku tells me that the Qarabag match has been suspended, as a drone with a ‘Qarabag Republic’ flag has been flown over the stadium,” he writes. “Both teams are off, they have found the pilot and the local plod are having a chat with the miscreant.”

8.56pm BST

All your half-time scores!

Group A
Sevilla 1-0 APOEL
Dudelange P-P Qarabag
Group B
Lugano 0-0 Dynamo Kyiv
Malmö 0-1 Cobenhagen
Group C
Krasnodar 0-1 Getafe
Trabzonspor 1-1 Basel
Group D
Rosenborg 0-3 PSV
Sporting 0-1 LASK
Group E
Celtic 1-0 Cluj
Lazio 0-0 Rennes
Group F
Vitoria Guimarães 0-1 Eintracht Frankfurt
Arsenal 3-0 Standard Liège

8.54pm BST

Crazy scenes. And also quite puzzling.

Match suspended!

Dudelange and Qarabag have their #UEL match suspended after half an hour after a drone began hovering over the pitch. #UEL #OptusSport pic.twitter.com/6pzDZEtb7D

8.52pm BST

A drone carrying an Armenian flag hovered over the centre circle, and the referee eventually decided that he could not guarantee the players’ safety.

Se acaba de suspender el Dudelange-Qarabag por la aparición de un dron adornado con una bandera... #UCL #Qarabag pic.twitter.com/qoc8tAiPXR

8.50pm BST

Mad scenes at Dudelange, where the match has been abandoned, apparently because of a drone invasion!

8.46pm BST

A puzzling non-penalty decision at Arsenal, where Nelson is played through, nicks the ball away from the advancing keeper and is then clattered. The referee waves play on.

8.44pm BST

The Cluj striker Mario Rondón has been booked at Celtic Park for a particularly egregious dive.

8.43pm BST

In Arsenal’s Group F, Eintracht Frankfurt are 1-0 up in Guimaraes, Obite Ndicka scoring. And PSV have scored a second goal in four minutes, Donyell Malen making it 3-0 at Rosenborg.

8.42pm BST

PSV Eindhoven have doubled their advantage in Rosenborg, their full-back Denzel Dumfries scoring with eight minutes to play in this first half.

8.40pm BST

Goals are flying in everywhere now. In Group C, Silvan Widmer gave Basel the lead at Trabzonspor in the 20th minute but Parmak has since equalised. There have only been two shots on target in that game, so that’s top-notch chance conversion. Meanwhile at Krasnodar, Rodriguez Angel has just given Getafe a 1-0 lead.

8.36pm BST

This was, I’m told, the first time in the entire recorded history of all time that Manchester United have played a Europa League game without mustering so much as a single shot on target.

8.35pm BST

Paul Doyle meanwhile was at Vodafone Park to see Wolves snatch victory over Besiktas through Willy Boly’s stoppage-time strike.

Wolves kickstarted their Europa League group stage campaign thanks to a stoppage-time goal by Wily Boly, who turned in a cross by Rúben Nevez to secure a memorable victory in Turkey. Wolves won all three of their away matches in the preliminary stages of this competition and Boly’s goal ensured this match ended up as the perfect way to atone for the home defeat by Braga in their first group game.

8.30pm BST

Paul Wilson has filed his match report from the Kyocera Stadium, site of Manchester United’s latest underwhelming away day:

Ole Gunnar Solskjær is still looking for his first away win as Manchester United’s permanent manager. Newcastle on Sunday would seem an inviting opportunity but Solskjær is going to have to alter his team and his tactics to have any hope of beating even demoralised opponents.

This was just as presentable a chance to turn a corner, yet a United side sorely lacking in ambition and creativity were unable to take it, merely adapting to AZ Alkmaar’s level and in the end being quite fortunate to escape with a draw.

8.28pm BST

Cluj have the ballo in the net at Celtic! But as Boli wheels away to celebrate he sees the linesman’s flag is raised, and it does appear that Rondón was six inches offside when Forster shovelled the ball straight into his path.

8.24pm BST

Arsenal have a third! Nelson’s shot from outside the area hits a defender and deflects to Willock, who takes a touch to control before shooting across the keeper and in!

8.22pm BST

That’s a super goal! A lovely ball through to Bolingoli, and he does brilliantly to catch it before it goes out of play and dink a cross to Edouard, who can hardly miss!

8.21pm BST

And two in Group A, where Qarabag are a goal up at Dudelange while Sevilla are beating Apoel Nicosia. Meanwhile at Celtic, Forrest somehow fails to find Edouard with a pull-back.

8.19pm BST

Two goals to report in Group D, where PSV have taken the lead at Rosenborg through Pablo Rosario, and LASK are 1-0 up at Sporting, thanks to Marko Raguz.

8.17pm BST

And another one! This is so, so smart from Martinelli, who has the ball in the area on his left foot and looks set to head for the byline but suddenly changes his mind, checks back, and curls a right-footed shot inside the far post!

8.15pm BST

A fine, long pass from right to left, Tierney’s cross picks out Martinelli right on the corner of the six-yard box. That was a tough chance, but he flashes his header past Milinkovic-Savic and in!

8.12pm BST

Twelve games. Ten minutes. No goals. Celtic have just come extremely close, though, only for Arlauskis to save.

8.06pm BST

Arsenal have started brightly. Willock gets into the area, but a defender flings out a foot to divert the ball into touch, off the Arsenal player.

8.00pm BST

BONG! The clock strikes eight, and they’re off!

Arsenal have scored in the opening 20 minutes of each of their last five Europa League matches at the Emirates Stadium.

7.58pm BST

Hello everyone! But a few moments away from kick-off in this evening’s 8pm matches. Quite a few empty seats at Arsenal, I see.

7.55pm BST

That’s it from me. Simon Burnton is waiting eagerly to be tagged in for the 8pm kick-offs. You can get in touch with him by emailing simon.burnton@theguardian.com or tweeting @Simon_Burnton. Night!

7.52pm BST

Group G
Feyenoord 2-0 Porto Young Boys 2-1 Rangers

7.51pm BST

A fine win for Wolves. Willy Boly scored the winner in injury time, a very calm finish after he was left alone in the area.

7.50pm BST

That’s a bad result for Rangers. The winning goal was a terrible one to concede. James Tavernier missed an attempted interception, and then Christian Fassnacht’s shot went through the hand of the diving Allan McGregor.

7.47pm BST

Wolves have nicked it!

7.47pm BST

That’s a decent result for Manchester United. But the game was crap, and United didn’t have a single shot on target.

7.45pm BST

A sickener for Rangers!

7.44pm BST

AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Manchester United Jesse Lingard has gone off the field with a hamstring injury, so United are down to 10 men. United’s injury list is brutal.

7.43pm BST

Besiktas 0-0 Wolves Roman Saiss has had a late goal disallowed for offside. I think it was the right decision, though I’d like to see another replay.

7.42pm BST

Group G
Feyenoord 2-0 Porto Young Boys 1-1 Rangers

7.41pm BST

“This is probably the most boring game I’ve watched this calendar year,” says Pete W of AZ 0-0 Man Utd. “To anyone not watching: don’t bother trying to catch the highlights. With five minutes to go, there have been none.”

7.38pm BST

AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Manchester United This would be a good result for United, even if their attacking performance has been pretty lamentable.

7.37pm BST

AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Manchester United Lingard misses a good chance, flashing a shot just wide after a smart pass from the substitute Scott McTominay.

7.36pm BST

“I’m wondering what you make of Man Utd’s youth prospects?” says Rajiv. “Much has been made about them, maybe mostly by Solskjaer, but I honestly can’t see much of a future for them at a big club outside of James.”

Greenwood looks a cert to me and should be starting in the Premier League. I don’t think Chong will make it at United; I haven’t seen enough of Gomes, though he clearly has a lot of class. Rashford, who I thought would become a superstar after his performances in 2016, is regressing. The other one to watch is James Garner, who by all accounts is a terrific midfielder.

7.33pm BST

AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Manchester United Rashford goes down in the area after being clipped by the sliding Wuytens. That should have been a penalty, but the referee was unsighted and the assistant wasn’t interested.

7.31pm BST

AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Manchester United This United team have forgotten how to shoot, never mind score. Mind you, once upon a time it was even worse under Sir Alex Ferguson. In April 1989, United scored once in five games - and that was an own-goal from Tony Adams.

7.30pm BST

Group G
Feyenoord 1-0 Porto Young Boys 1-1 Rangers

7.30pm BST

AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Manchester United Idrissi’s fierce shot is punched away by de Gea. Jesse Lingard has gone into the false 10 role, just behind Rashford.

7.29pm BST

AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Manchester United Idrissi swishes a lovely shot just wide of the far post from 20 yards. AZ are starting to put United under increasing pressure. Here comes Jesse Lingard, on for Mason Greenwood. He had an anonymous game, mainly because nobody gave him the ball.

7.27pm BST

AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Manchester United Fred puts hands on de Wit, who goes down in the area. The referee ignores AZ’s penalty appeals, and there’s no VAR. That could easily have been given, even though de Wit made a meal of it.

7.24pm BST

AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Manchester United David de Gea makes an acrobatic save, pushing away a long-range shot from Wijndal. That’s AZ’s third shot on target; United have had the square root of eff all.

7.23pm BST

GOAL! Sporting Braga 2-1 Slovan Bratislava Braga are back in front through Galeno.

7.22pm BST

AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Manchester United The service to Mason Greenwood has been abysmal. He had a decent chance in the first half, when his snapshot was blocked by Vlaar, but that’s all.

7.22pm BST

“That crop of Arsenal youngsters is awesome,” says Bill Hargreaves. “And that’s minus one Serge Gnabry. I hope they manage to fulfil their potential. On which subject: how much of top-level coaching is bringing on talent, how much getting the tactics right, how much motivating the team, and how much touchline attire?”

We all know the answer to that.

7.18pm BST

GOALS!

CSKA Moscow 0-1 Espanyol (Wu 64)
Ferencváros 0-3 Ludogorets (Rafael Forster 64)

7.16pm BST

Group G
Feyenoord 1-0 Porto Young Boys 1-1 Rangers

7.15pm BST

AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Manchester United Marcus Rashford is on for Daniel James.

7.15pm BST

Arsenal v Standard Liege team news

Arsenal (4-2-3-1) Martinez, Bellerin, Mustafi, Holding, Tierney, Willock, Torreira, Maitland-Niles, Ceballos, Nelson, Martinelli.
Subs: Leno, Aubameyang, Pepe, Chambers, Guendouzi, Kolasinac, Xhaka.

7.13pm BST

AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Manchester United No sign of any substitutions yet. United have a few big names on the bench, including Marcus Rashford and former footballer Jesse Lingard. Half an hour remaining.

7.10pm BST

Basaksehir 1-0 Borussia Mönchengladbach (Visca 55)

7.08pm BST

AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Manchester United The home side still look the likelier scorers, though it’s a poor game in truth.

7.07pm BST

Feyenoord 1-0 Porto Another goal in Rangers’ group: Jens Toornstra has given Feyenoord the lead.

7.06pm BST

Roger Assale equalises from close range for Young Boys after brilliant play on the left by Ulisses Garcia.

7.02pm BST

RZ Pellets WAC 1-1 Roma An equaliser for the home side in Wolfsberg; Michael Liendl is the scorer.

7.01pm BST

Besiktas 0-0 Wolves Adama Traore has come on at half-time for Wolves in place of Pedro Neto.

6.59pm BST

The second halves are under way. Peep peep!

6.56pm BST

Celtic v CFR Cluj team news

Celtic (4-2-3-1) Forster; Elhamed, Jullien, Ajer, Bolingoli Mbombo; Brown, McGregor, Forrest, Elyounoussi, Christie; Edouard.
Subs: Gordon, Bitton, Sinclair, Bauer, Hayes, Rogic, Ntcham.

6.49pm BST

“Hi Rob,” says Peter Oh. “As a Karius sympathiser, I’m pleased to see that he’s keeping the Wolves at bay, so far.”

At the risk of puncturing the mood of generosity, Wolves haven’t had a shot on target.

6.47pm BST

Some half-time reading

6.45pm BST

Group G

6.45pm BST

Sporting Braga 1-1 Slovan Bratislava The captain Andraz Sporar has equalised in the fourth minute of added time.

6.42pm BST

Nothing to see here.

6.41pm BST

Alfredo Morelos has given Rangers a deserved lead, sweeping confidently past David von Ballmoss from 12 yards.

6.39pm BST

AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Manchester United Victor Lindelof has been excellent, comfortably United’s best player, and he makes another classy interception to thwart a promising AZ attack.

6.36pm BST

Ferencváros 0-2 Ludogorets Rafael Forster doubles Ludogorets’ lead in Hungary.

6.34pm BST

AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Manchester United Angel Gomes misses a half-chance at the far post from a very fast cross by Dalot. United have played pretty well for most of the half, but there is a lack of conviction in attack.

6.30pm BST

“Bob,” says Mac Millings. “Wolf XI. Two of them aren’t real footballers - can you spot them?

6.28pm BST

AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Manchester United A chance apiece. Mason Greenwood’s close-range shot is blocked by Ron Vlaar, and then Myron Boadu mistimes a header from eight yards.

6.27pm BST

Sporting Braga 1-0 Slovan Bratislava Braga, who beat Wolves in the opening game, are ahead through Bruno Viana.

6.25pm BST

Group G

6.24pm BST

RZ Pellets WAC 0-1 Roma Leonardo Spinazzola has given Roma the lead in Austria.

6.20pm BST

Besiktas 0-0 Wolves It’s not a classic, yet.

6.19pm BST

AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Manchester United The home side are controlling the game now. United, as they have for most of the season, look impotent in attack.

6.18pm BST

RZ Pellets WAC 0-0 Roma AS Roma are wearing their third kit in Austria. It’s a beauty.

6.13pm BST

Saint-Étienne 1-1 Wolfsburg The Brazilian defender William equalises for Wolfsburg in France.

6.11pm BST

AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Manchester United David de Gea makes a good diving save from Idrissi’s 20-yard strike, which kicked up awkwardly off the plastic pitch. AZ are starting to look the more dangerous side.

6.10pm BST

Group G

6.09pm BST

Saint-Étienne 1-0 Wolfsburg Timothee Kolodziejczak has done a goal.

6.08pm BST

“Good spot from Nigel,” says Matt Dony. “I might drive a couple of towns over and follow the MBM from The Wolfe Inn, Wolfscastle. (Partly because it’s fitting, but also because everything is better in Pembrokeshire, and I still feel a little dirty having crossed county lines.) is Ricky Van Wolfswinkel playing?”

I beg your pardon?

6.07pm BST

AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Man Utd Boadu has a goal rightly disallowed for offside.

6.06pm BST

AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Man Utd United’s team is not quite as expected. Daniel James is playing up front, with Gomes left, Greenwood right and Mata in the hole.

6.04pm BST

Oleksandria 0-1 Gent The former Huddersfield forward Laurent Depoitre has given Gent the lead in Ukraine.

6.02pm BST

AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Man Utd Nothing much to report so far. The plastic pitch looks very fast, but United have started pretty well.

6.01pm BST

Ferencvaros 0-1 Ludogorets An early goal in Hungary, with Jody Lukoki given Ludogorets the lead.

6.00pm BST

“After a cracking Premier League result on Saturday, which has lifted the relegation gloom, I’m looking for a big win tonight for Wolves,” says Pete Higginson. “Though we’ll miss Jota, I predict a 3-1 win for us.”

5.56pm BST

Peep peep! The 5.55pm games are under way.

5.53pm BST

Louis van Gaal, who won the Eredivisie with AZ in 2009 and the FA Cup with United, is at their match. Only one of his signings, Marcos Rojo, is in United’s starting line-up.

5.51pm BST

“What a coincidence,” says Nigel in Toronto. “Three games at the same time involving Wolfsburg, Wolfsberger and Wolverhampton.”

And in the spirit thereof, I’m trying to wolf down my supper before those matches kick off.

5.46pm BST

Partizan Belgrade have won 2-1 away to Astana, which puts them top of Group L for the time being.

5.37pm BST

5.03pm BST

There’s one early game in Group L, which is Manchester United’s group. The half-time score is Astana 0-1 Partizan Belgrade.

5.02pm BST

Some pre-match reading

5.01pm BST

Besiktas v Wolves team news

Besiktas (4-3-3) Karius; Douglas, Vida, Uysal, Pedro Rebocho; Tokoz, Elneny, Ljajic; Lens, Yalcin, Nkoudou.
Subs: Roco, Mehmet Nayir, Ozyakup, Hutchinson, Gonul, Erkin, Yuvakuran.

5.00pm BST

AZ Alkmaar v Man Utd team news

The young left-back Brandon Williams makes his first start for United, while Mason Greenwood is up front.

4.57pm BST

Young Boys v Rangers team news

Young Boys (4-4-2) Ballmoos; Janko, Sorensen, Zesiger, Garcia; Fassnacht, Aebischer, Lustenberger, Gaudino; Assale, Nsame.
Subs: Wolfli, Petignat, Ngamaleu, Burgy, Mambimbi, Lotomba, Schupbach.

10.55am BST

Hello. You’ll not believe this, but there’s more football on tonight. Yep, it’s time for Matchday 2 of the Europa League, with 24 games in all. It’s too early to talk of must-win game for anyone, though Wolves could do with at least a draw in Turkey after their disappointing defeat to Braga in the opening game. And Manchester United would like to win in the Netherlands to take a bit of heat off Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, whose pitiful inability to instantly turn someone else’s sow’s ear into a silk purse has been exposed.

The storm damage to Alkmaar’s home ground means the match will be played on a synthetic pitch at ADO Den Haag’s ground. Alkmaar are a good side, only one point behind Ajax and PSV in the Eredivisie, and are generously priced to win this game. We’ll have team news for all the 5.55pm kick-offs any minute now.

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Published on October 03, 2019 14:26

October 2, 2019

Liverpool 4-3 Red Bull Salzburg: Champions League – as it happened

Mo Salah’s second goal settled a pulsating game in which Salzburg’s intrepid young side came from 3-0 down to stun Anfield

Report: Salah settles seven-goal thriller

10.00pm BST

That’s it for tonight’s blog. I’ll leave you with Andy Hunter’s match report from Anfield. Night!

9.59pm BST

“Please don’t compare this team to the 87-88 side again,” says Niall Mullen. “You jinxed them into the 97-98 team instead.”

I call it the Kvarme karma.

9.57pm BST

Post-match interviews

Mo Salah “It’s can be tough because the human mind is a little bit like, ‘Okay we’re gonna win, we’re gonna score again and again’. But they made the game tough for us, and I’m happy that we got three points – that’s the most important thing.”

9.53pm BST

That was literally a game of three halves. Liverpool eased into a 3-0 lead and looked like they could score at will; Salzburg scored three quick goals either side of half-time to give Anfield an almighty fright; and then Liverpool composed themselves to win the match through Mo Salah.

There were superb goals from Mane, Robertson, Hwang and Minamino. And while the defending on both sides left all sorts to be desired, it was pulsating stuff.

9.49pm BST

Peep peep! A weird and wonderful football match ends in victory for Liverpool, just about.

9.47pm BST

90+2 min “Are you sure this isn’t a classic Liverpool v Newcastle game?” says Guy Read. “Someone washed the stripes off the Salzburg kit.”

9.47pm BST

90+1 min There will be three minutes of added time.

9.46pm BST

90 min Mo Salah is replaced by Salzburg alumnus Naby Keita.

9.45pm BST

89 min The match is petering out. Salzburg look knackered, mentally as much as anything. It’s been a brilliant game, so much fun to watch.

9.42pm BST

86 min Fabinho is booked for a cynical foul on Ashimeru.

9.41pm BST

86 min “How on earth,” says Tony Hughes, “can it go to extra-time?”

My point exactly.

9.40pm BST

85 min Salzburg look like their race is run. Haaland has been slightly disappointing, apart from his goal. I can’t wait to see the return game, though, especially if there’s something riding on it.

9.39pm BST

84 min I wonder what Brendan Rodgers has made of this.

9.37pm BST

81 min “What a contest!” says Paul Griffin. “Fittingly rhythmic given that Salzburg is the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. It’s such a shame that Rick Astley is actually from Warrington, otherwise this could have been a contest between the birthplaces of the world’s most influential musicians. Of course, Carole Decker out of T’Pau is from Liverpool, but ‘most influential’ it seems a bit of a stretch for them, despite the achingly beautiful soft rock crescendo and profound lyricism of ‘China in Your Hand.’ And OMD were actually from the Wirral. And a Flock of Seagulls weren’t all that. Oh well, nevermind.”

No, they were from Seatt- oh, nevermind.

9.37pm BST

80 min For the first time in this half Liverpool have the game under control, at least relatively speaking.

9.34pm BST

78 min Salzburg make their final substitution (unless it goes to extra-time). Majeed Ashimeru replaces Zlatko Junuzovic.

9.32pm BST

76 min Okugawa drives straight at Adrian from 20 yards. It was a decent chance, because he’d made space for himself by cutting inside Alexander-Arnold. He could also have played a reverse pass to put Haaland through on goal.

9.32pm BST

75 min Whatever happens in the next 15 minutes, Salzburg will be dining out on this game for years, and quite right too. Some of their attacking play has been gloriously intrepid.

9.29pm BST

72 min Mane misses from a yard. It was an ingenious corner from Alexander-Arnold, similiar to the Origi goal against Barcelona, but the ball had so much pace on it that it flashed straight past Mane’s face as it bounced up at the near post. The corner was so well disguised that the goalkeeper was further away from goal than Mane.

9.27pm BST

71 min A Salzburg change: the Hungarian teenager Dominik Szoboszlai is replaced by Masaya Okugawa.

9.26pm BST

Salzburg couldn’t get out of their third for a minute or so, and they eventually paid the price. Fabinho won the ball off Szoboszlai and lobbed it to the edge of the area in the same movement. Firmino headed it cleverly into space and Salah steered the bouncing ball past Stankovic.

9.24pm BST

Salah does Salzburg.

9.24pm BST

68 min Much better from Liverpool. After a good passing move, Robertson’s dangerous cross is put behind by Onguene. But Milner’s delivery is poor and Haaland nuts it clear.

9.22pm BST

66 min Liverpool are all over the place. You’d expect them to come round soon enough, such is their quality, but right now Salzburg are the calmer, more confident side.

9.20pm BST

64 min Divock Origi, the Champions League specialist, replaces Gini Wijnaldum.

9.19pm BST

63 min Salzburg have now scored nine goals in 150 minutes of Champions League football this season.

9.18pm BST

62 min James Milner comes on for Jordan Henderson.

9.18pm BST

Salzburg have been absolutely sensational in the last 10 minutes, and now Erling Braut Haaland has equalised. Hwang’s speculative reverse from the right beat Fabinho and came to Minamino on the right of the area. He pushed it past van Dijk and drove a low cross into the six-yard box, where Haaland was waiting to tap the ball into an open goal. Their coach, the American Jesse Marsch, went flying down the touchline to join in the celebration and was booked. Like he’ll care. This is epic stuff, a reverse Istanbul.

9.16pm BST

This is incredible!

9.15pm BST

59 min What a chance for Szoboszlai! He was put through by Hwang, eight yards out, but dithered and eventually pushed a shot just wide of the near post. He was then flagged offside, but replays showed he wasn’t so the goal would have counted.

9.13pm BST

57 min Salzburg play their trump card: Erling Braut Haaland replaces Patson Daka.

9.12pm BST

Hwang moved into space down the left and picked out a precise cross to the edge of the area, where Minamino slammed an excellent volley into the ground that kicked up to beat Adrian.

9.11pm BST

Another superb goal has brought Salzburg back into the match!

9.11pm BST

55 min Gomez makes a vital last-ditch tackle on Szoboszlai, who was in the act of shooting from 10 yards. Liverpool break and Mane has a shot superbly glocked at the other end. This is great stuff.

9.10pm BST

54 min And now a good chance for Liverpool. Mane, who has been brilliant, beats two men on the left and tees up Wijnaldum, who sidefoots a rising shot just wide of the far post from 15 yards.

9.09pm BST

53 min Another chance for Salzburg! Minamino drives a deep cross/pass to Szoboszlai just inside the area on the left. He plays it lovingly into the path of Hwang, whose mishits shot dribbles well wide.

9.07pm BST

50 min “Speaking as a cowed and chastened Spurs fan, I am so jealous of this superb Liverpool team,” writes Jill O’Donnell. “If Jurgen decides to take his sabbatical, do you think he could be persuaded to coach my team by e-mail and text from his spa retreat?”

I’m not sure the consideration of Serge Aurier, Eric Dier et al would be entirely beneficial to the wellness experience.

9.05pm BST

49 min Adrian almost makes a Karius of himself. He received a backpass from Gomez, dummied to hoof it clear and tried a nonchalant return pass which hit the stretching Daka and went just wide.

9.03pm BST

47 min “Have to agree with you that this is the best Liverpool side I’ve seen in some 25 years of regularly watching them,” says Hubert O’Hearn. “But you know, while Klopp is one of the great managers, I never would have fired Brendan Rodgers. There was a falling off after 2014, sure, but you don’t lose Suarez and Sterling and not have a falling off. Saturday is going to be quite interesting – Brendan’s revenge game with a Leicester side firing on all cylinders. If James Maddison is healthy I think it ends in a draw and a loss would not shock me silly.”

9.01pm BST

46 min Peep peep! Liverpool begin the second half.

8.46pm BST

Half-time reading

8.46pm BST

Peep peep! That was as much fun as we hoped. There were some fine goals, with Andy Robertson’s the pick, and the scoreline is about right. See you in 10 minutes for the second half.

8.43pm BST

42 min Maybe it had become a bit too easy for Liverpool. The goal stemmed from a sloppy pass by Henderson (I think).

8.40pm BST

Salzburg deserve this, and it’s a fine goal too. Hwang surges through the inside-left channel into the penalty area, twists back inside van Dijk and lashes a shot into the far corner.

8.39pm BST

39 min Another half chance for Salzburg. The excellent Minamino pushes a pass into Daka in the D; he spins the ball past Gomez and smacks a shot over the bar.

8.36pm BST

Another one. Mane’s cross is flicked towards goal by the head of Firmino. Stankovic pushes it straight out to Salah, who does the necessary from eight yards. That wasn’t great goalkeeping.

8.35pm BST

34 min Salzburg work a short corner, from which Wober heads wide. He was offside anyway. Salzburg are still attacking with puppy-dog enthusiasm, despite the imminent pasting.

8.33pm BST

33 min Kristensen beats Alexander-Arnold, moonlighting at left-back, to win a corner.

8.32pm BST

31 min The lively Minamino forces a decent save from Adrian. Salzburg worked the ball well: Hwang found Szoboszlai, who slid a pass down the inside-left channel for Minamino. He held off Alexander-Arnold and screwed a left-footed shot towards the near post that was pushed behind by Adrian.

8.30pm BST

30 min Fabinho clips a lovely pass over the top to find Salah, who thrashes a half-volley wide from 14 yards. He probably should have scored. Fabinho has quietly become the most important player in Liverpool’s midfield.

8.29pm BST

28 min It’s not news, but Liverpool are a seriously good football team. This is comfortably their best side since 1987-88.

8.26pm BST

Robertson started the move with a surging run past Minamino and over the halfway line. He slipped the ball square to Henderson, who played a one-two with Salah and slid a first-time pass into space for Alexander-Arnold. He crossed first-time towards the near post where Robertson, who had kept running, opened his body to steer it past Stankovic from close range. It was a very accomplished finish as well. That’s sheer delightful football.

8.25pm BST

This is another beautiful goal, a celebration of one-touch football.

8.24pm BST

24 min Liverpool look very comfortable at the moment. Salzburg haven’t played poorly by any means but there is a difference in class.

8.20pm BST

20 min Alexander-Arnold’s cross is too close to Stankovic. It’s been a fairly dull game so far, that excellent goal notwithstanding.

8.18pm BST

18 min Szoboszlai plays a good ball to Hwang, who faffs just outside the area and loses the ball. It comes to Miramino, who is muscled off it with ease by Robertson. The crowd enjoyed it.

8.16pm BST

17 min Hwang gets the wrong side of Gomez, who pulls him back just outside the area. The referee gives nothing.

8.15pm BST

16 min It’s such a shame that Haaland is unwell and only on the bench. I suppose it doesn’t matter in the grand scheme - Salzburg probably budgeted to lose this game regardless - but it would have been nice to see him kick a football.

8.13pm BST

15 min “I’m lying in bed with multiple illnesses, too ill to try and see if the game is on free TV, so I’m hanging on your every MBM post!” says Sam Metta Bexar. “And then a spoonful of Mane appears to make the medicine go down. That man is on fi-yah.”

It’s an odd thing to say about a key man in arguably the best team in the world, but it feels like Mane is still a bit underrated.

8.13pm BST

13 min After a neat passing move from Salzburg, Minamino tries a pirouette on the edge of the box and is dispossessed by Robertson. That was an important piece of defending because he was the last man.

8.10pm BST

Sadio Mane scores against his old club. He picked the ball up on the left wing, 40 yards from goal, and immediately charged infield towards goal. He ran past Kristensen, played a slick one-two with Firmino on the edge of the box and slid the ball past Stankovic from close range. That was so decisive and so clean; Salzburg didn’t feel a thing. There was a VAR check for offside but he was just okay. And no, since you asked, he didn’t celebrate.

8.09pm BST

This is a fantastic goal.

8.07pm BST

7 min Liverpool are starting to pin Salzburg back. Alexander-Arnold curls a superb ball into the area towards Firmino, who is shaping to shoot when Onguene gets a slight but vital touch to divert the ball away.

8.04pm BST

4 min Salzburg have started with intent, as we thought they would. Their defence doesn’t exactly look watertight, but this should be an enjoyable, end-to-end game until Liverpool get their fouirth.

8.03pm BST

3 min Minamino picks up a loose ball 25 yards from goal, gets it out of his feet and whistles a low shot just wide of the near post. Adrian probably had it covered but it was a fine effort.

8.01pm BST

36 secs A promising early move from Liverpool. Henderson sweeps a pass across the field to Mane, who plays in the overlapping Robertson on the left of the area. He is motoring to such an extet, however, that he leaves the ball behind.

8.00pm BST

1 min Peep peep! Salzburg, in their black away kit, kick off from left to right. Liverpool are in red.

7.49pm BST

Chelsea are also in action tonight, with a tricky trip to Lille. Ben Fisher is watching that one.

7.48pm BST

Another email! “Back in the day when eggs were eggs Liverpool used to sign players on the basis of who they hated playing against,” says Ian Copestake. “Going for Mane seemed to herald a revival of that non-stat based approach to who to spend big on as he fair murdered us at home. Having watched Koulibaly be a rock of a defender against Liverpool I can’t help but imagine him alongside Virgil. But Lovren is obviously fine also.”

Where does the signing of Jimmy Carter fit into that philosophy?

7.47pm BST

An email! “As Liverpool are the reigning champions of England the whole nation is behind them, but from here in Norway I do hope we get to see what some of the fuss is about regarding The Beast,” says Duncan Edwards. “I doubt very much that he’s injured, just a sensible manager holding him back until Jordan Henderson has kicked someone else’s ankle first.”

7.46pm BST

Genk 0-0 Napoli The other game in this group has finished goalless, which is a decent result for Liverpool and Salzburg. (And Genk as well.)

7.38pm BST

In other news, the Sextuple is stil on

7.34pm BST

Liverpool’s home record borders on the obscene. The last time they lost a Premier or Champions League at Anfield was 23 April 2017, when Christian Benteke scored twice for Crystal Palace in a 2-1 win. They’ve never lost at home in Europe under Jurgen Klopp.

7.16pm BST

Pre-match reading

7.02pm BST

Jurgen Klopp picks his strongest possible side, with Joe Gomez replacing the injured Joel Matip. Erling Braut Haaland is only fit enough for a place on the Salzburg bench.

Liverpool (4-3-3) Adrian; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mane.
Substitutes: Kelleher, Lovren, Milner, Keita, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Lallana, Origi.

5.41pm BST

Hello. Now, this match should be a lot of fun. It’s the European champions against Europe’s form team; the irresistible force vs the irresistible force. And while most of Salzburg’s good results have come in the relatively weak Austrian Bundesliga, it’s still eye-catching stuff. This season, in all competitions, they have played 12, won 11, drawn one and scored 55 (F-I-F-T-etc). That includes three huge wins away from home: 7-1, 6-0 and 5-1. Erling Haaland, the teenage son of former Leeds charmer, Alf-Inge, has belted 17 of those – including a hat-trick in a 6-2 win over Genk in their opening Champions League group game.

Haaland looks like the next big Red Bull Salzburg export. Liverpool know all about their ability to find future stars, as Sadio Mane and Naby Keita both spent two years at the club in their formative years. The Salzburg squad is full of promising youngsters from Africa, Asia, South America and Europe, and their starting line-up tonight should have an average age of around 22. Liverpool should be too big a step up in class, but the Salzburg players won’t die wondering.

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Published on October 02, 2019 14:00

September 29, 2019

Leicester City 5-0 Newcastle United: Premier League – as it happened

Jamie Vardy scored twice as a swaggering Leicester thumped Newcastle, who were struggling long before Isaac Hayden was sent off just before half-time

6.54pm BST

That’s it for today’s blog. I’ll leave you with Paul Doyle’s match report on another very happy day for all connected with Leicester City. Night!

6.47pm BST

The Newcastle captain Jamaal Lascelles speaks

“Terrible. We’ve nobody to blame except ourselves. It’s just not acceptable. We really do need to look ourselves in the mirror. We’ve never considered five goals since I’ve been at the club. I dunno… The boys do care, and being a man down is a disadvantage, but you can still roll your sleeves up and get into a shape where they don’t score anymore. We didn’t do that. It ain’t good enough.

6.34pm BST

Post-match reaction

Jamie Vardy

6.25pm BST

That was a mismatch even before Isaac Hayden was sent off for a horrible tackle on Dennis Praet just before half-time. Leicester are an excellent side - so much fun to watch and, it seems, to play in. Elite football isn’t supposed to be enjoyable but Leicester’s players look like they’re having a whale of a time. Their next game is at Anfield next Saturday, and there’s already water in my mouth.

6.22pm BST

Peep peep! Leicester thump 10-man Newcastle to move up to third in the table. It’s their biggest win in the Premier League era.

6.22pm BST

90+2 min “I fear you’re being too optimistic,” says Scott Bassett. “Shelvey is erratic, Yedlin functional, Leujeune, to be fair is very good. But keeping Carroll fit is far from given, Joelinton, Willems and Saint-Maximin are unproven and, worst of all, Bruce seems to be a complete mediocrity. It was the tactical knowhow of Rafa that made a decent team from an average-ish bunch of players. Bruce has none of that, as best I can tell.”

I quite like a front four of Saint-Maximin, Almiron and Ritchie behind Joelinton. My gut feeling is that they’ll stay up, though they need to start winning at home very quickly.

6.20pm BST

Wilfred Ndidi gets one for the road, beating Dubravka with a smart shot on the turn from 12 yards. Leicester are going to the top of the Premier League’s Second Division in some style.

6.18pm BST

88 min Schar is booked for something or other. Something, I think.

6.18pm BST

87 min “It’s funny how you can just take to certain players for almost no reason,” says Matt Dony. “I know little about Almiron, I have no real ties to Newcastle, but I really like him. I enjoy watching him, and it’s disappointing how things still haven’t quite come together for him. He’s got so many good qualities, and in all honesty, I’m not even completely sure exactly how Newcastle fans feel about him, but I hope he sticks around the league for a good while.”

Admirable sentiments which you’ll doubtless repeat when he roofs one from 30 yards to deny Liverpool the title on the final day of the season.

6.12pm BST

84 min Imagine how messy this might have been for Newcastle had James Maddison been fit.

6.11pm BST

83 min Another Leicester change - Demarai Gray replaces Ayoze Perez.

6.10pm BST

82 min Leicester put together a move of at least 20 passes, and then Ricardo ruins it all by being offside.

6.08pm BST

79 min A Leicester change: Hamza Choudhury, whose Hayden-esque tackle on Matt Ritchie caused such controversy when these sides met in the Carabao Cup, replaces Dennis Praet.

6.03pm BST

74 min Tielemans’ stinging shot from 20 yards hits Longstaff and goes behind for a corner. Nothing comes of it.

6.02pm BST

73 min Another Newcastle change: DeAndre Yedlin replaces the sadly anonymous Miguel Almiron.

6.00pm BST

71 min The Newcastle fans are still making most of the noise. They’re a hardy bunch all right.

5.57pm BST

68 min “The Hayden red card unfortunately hands Bruce a ready-made excuse for this Newcastle disaster, who have looked awful since maybe the 10th minute,” says Scott Bassett. “The loss of Rondon and Perez were major, but obviously the most consequential loss for this team was Benitez. Is it too early to say Newcastle are doomed?”

Yes, but it’s not too early to say they’re in bother. They are missing some very good players through injury, though. A team with Ritchie, Shelvey, Yedlin, Lejeune, Willems and a match-fit Carroll and Saint-Maximin would be so much stronger.

5.53pm BST

It’s grim and grimmer for Newcastle. The substitute Albrighton floats a delicious cross from the left towards Vardy, who gets behind Dummett and heads past Dubravka from close range.

5.52pm BST

64 min “Vardy seems to be dangerous again,” says Ian Copestake. “I really thought he would not buy into Brendan’s way of doing things. It is quite impressive seeing the team go from one with a penchant for downing tools when their Perrier water is not the right temperature to style trailblazers.”

5.51pm BST

63 min A Newcastle change: Joelinton off, Andy Carroll on.

5.49pm BST

61 min “Rob,” says Ron Harris. “Surely the reason why there are far fewer broken legs these days is because of the carpet slippers that players wear compared to the much more rigid footwear of yesteryear.”

Ah, I meant the opposite – why were so few legs broken back in the day, given the number of eye-watering challenges.

5.49pm BST

60 min Vardy misses his kick, 12 yards from goal. Leicester have the full swagger on now.

5.48pm BST

59 min I’d like to see a replay of the second goal. The only one we have seen, from a dodgy angle, suggested Barnes probably had a nasal hair offside in the build-up. But presumably the proper replays were shown to the VAR people.

5.47pm BST

58 min A Leicester change. Marc Albrighton replaces Harvey Barnes.

5.47pm BST

This is getting grisly for Newcastle. Ricardo finds Praet, whose cross deflects off the stretching Dummett and beats the wrongfooted Dubravka at the near post.

5.44pm BST

GOAL GIVEN! I thought there was an offside in the build-up, but apparently not. It was a nicely worked goal. Praet’s long, angled pass from centre to left found Barnes, who cushioned the bouncing ball into the area for Vardy. He was too quick for Schar and drove a low shot from a tight angle that beat Dubravka at the near post. That’s a goalkeeping error.

5.43pm BST

VAR check Hang on, I think this is offside.

5.42pm BST

Goodnight.

5.41pm BST

52 min “I predicted Leicester would finish top four before the season started, so feeling faintly smug,” says Norrie Hernon. “You could argue that the Prem has never been poorer, given the giant gap between top two and everyone else. Or you could argue that the ridiculous wealth in the league has actually resulted in a levelling of sorts, so there’s not much between 3rd and 8th. But it’s all good fun. City don’t seem to be quite as good as before. Liverpool pulling off April wins in September. Ah, don’t you just love it?”

Yep, watching City and Liverpool become probably the best two teams in the world is the stuff dreams are made of.

5.39pm BST

50 min Leicester’s next match is ... away to Liverpool, next Saturday at 3pm. That, for mine, is the most intriguing fixture of the season so far. I don’t know whether to be irritated or happy that it won’t be televised.

5.38pm BST

49 min Leicester have picked up where they left off, moving the ball from side to side in an attempt to open up the Newcastle defence. A second goal shouldn’t be too far away.

5.34pm BST

46 min Peep peep! Newcastle begin the second half.

5.33pm BST

“Good afternoon Rob,” says John Davis. “On first sight, I thought that was reckless but not too bad - a dark yellow (yes, I am a Newcastle fan). Having seen it back, that’s exactly why the law has been changed over the years. It was out of control and could have broken his leg easily. I understand Hayden protesting he had to go for it and what else was he to do, but even if you win the ball you can’t endanger someone like that.

“I know - crowbar - Souness was playing in a different era, but he’d barely have finished a match. Just like in rugby, you have to be able to be physical but you shouldn’t be able to put your opponent at such a high degree of physical risk. You need to be better and not be put in that position in the first place.”

5.19pm BST

Some half-time reading

5.19pm BST

Peep peep! Leicester are a goal up, a man up, and 45 minutes away from moving up to third in the table. Ricardo Pereira’s majestic solo goal was the least they deserved for a performance full of style and swagger. Newcastle were hanging on even before Isaac Hayden was sent off for a 20th-century tackle on Dennis Praet. See you in 10 minutes for the second half.

5.18pm BST

45+3 min After another neat move down the left by Leicester, Barnes hits a sizzling drive from 18 yards that just clears the crossbar.

5.16pm BST

45 min The more you see that tackle, the worse it gets. Praet’s leg almost gave way, and he is limping heavily. Newcastle have made a necessary tactical change, meanwhile, with Ki Sung-yeung replacing Muto.

5.14pm BST

44 min Hayden got the ball first but his follow through took him into Praet, studs first at shin height. He’s not happy, saying ‘What’s the point in playing?’ to the fourth official as he leaves the field, but it looked a clear red card.

5.13pm BST

43 min Newcastle are down to 10 men. Hayden ploughed through Praet, a horrible challenge that could easily have broken his leg, and Craig Pawson gives him a straight red.

5.12pm BST

42 min Tielemans’ inswinging cross from the left is headed over at the near post by Vardy. He needed a gentler touch, though it was only really a half chance.

5.10pm BST

41 min Nothing much to report in the last few minutes. It’s hosing down at the King Power Stadium, as it has throughout the match.

5.05pm BST

36 min The biggest danger for Leicester is complacency. They are in total control of the game.

5.04pm BST

35 min “Rob,” says Redmond Grimes. “I think you will find that Schar was shooting.”

Either way, it was a hot hot mess.

5.04pm BST

34 min Atsu runs at Pereira, beating him on the outside before thrashing a shot over the bar from the left side of the box.

5.01pm BST

31 min Schar leads a Newcastle counter-attack, reaching the halfway line before trying to pick out Muto with a driven pass from the right wing. Goalkick to Leicester. Dear lord.

4.59pm BST

29 min Barnes’ cross is punched away by the flying Dubravka. It goes only as far as Praet, whose fierce shot from 15 yards is blocked by a defender on the six-yard line. Leicester are much the better team.

4.58pm BST

27 min “Rob, I agree with you about the Foxes chances,” says Mary Waltz. “Before Rodgers’ arrival Leicester were limited to a counter-attacking strategy. Rodgers has introduced a more well-rounded offensive attack while keeping their defensive rigour.”

I know he is occasionally ludicrous, but I think Rodgers is a superb manager. He’s also world-class at choosing which jobs to take, which sounds obvious but often isn’t the case. It’ll be fascinating to see how he does if he ever inherits a top side.

4.55pm BST

25 min I’m not sure I’ve ever met a better judge of a footballer than my colleague Paul Doyle. This week, in an email exchange about the joys of James Maddison, he added, “Ricardo Pereira = diamond.” Doyle knows.

4.54pm BST

24 min Vardy is booked for a late tackle on Schar.

4.50pm BST

18 min That could have been 2-0. Tielemans’ exquisite little pass down the inside-left channel releases Chilwell, whose shot is excellently saved by the outrushing Dubravka. The ball comes back to Chilwell, whose follow-up is blocked desperately by Lascelles on the line.

4.49pm BST

That really was fantastic. Ricardo received the ball just inside his own half, played a one-two with Ayoze Perez and surged into space. Once he got within range he shifted the ball onto his left foot, away from Schar, and cracked a beautiful daisy cutter from 20 yards that swerved just inside the far post. Brilliant.

4.47pm BST

What a wonderful goal from Ricardo Pereira!

4.46pm BST

16 min “Rob, as much as I dislike The Brodge, Leicester are definitely more fun to watch again since he took over,” says Joe Pearson. “But predictions of top three may be premature. The only ‘good’ team they have beaten so far this season is Spurs. And well, ‘lads, it’s Spurs’.”

Oh, I don’t think they will finish third, just that they could. And since Rodgers took over they have won more points than any team other than City and Liverpool. They’re a terrific side. And lovely to watch too.

4.46pm BST

15 min Ayoze Perez lofts a cross beyond the far post to Tielemans, whose sweetly struck left-foot volley deflects off Krafth and flashes into the side netting. The referee, presumably unsighted, gives a goalkick.

4.44pm BST

12 min Muto misses a good chance for Newcastle. Hayden’s mishit shot from 25 yards fell to him 10 yards from goal, but he was unable to sort his feet out and missed the ball completely. I thought he might have been offside but replays showed he was fine.

4.38pm BST

8 min Leicester are having loads of possession, as you’d expect. They are a very confident, watchable side.

4.36pm BST

6 min It’s been an open start to the game. Newcastle’s revamped team look quite bright going forward.

4.34pm BST

3 min Barnes’s cross was just slightly behind Perez, which is why he ended up shooting a bit too close to Dubravka.

4.33pm BST

2 min Dubravka makes a smart save from Ayoze Perez. Barnes played a one-two with Tielemans on the left, surged into the area and crossed low towards the near post. Perez got in front of Dummett to shoot from eight yards, but Dubravka got down quickly to his left to save.

4.30pm BST

1 min Peep peep! Leicester get the match under way, kicking from right to left.

4.28pm BST

The players are ready for business. It’s a dank afternoon in the East Midlands, and both of the managers have gone for a bit of cagoule chic.

4.24pm BST

“Bob,” chirps Mac Millings. It’s a controversial position, I know, but I hate VAR. To register my displeasure here’s my all-time VAR XI, or, as I like to call them, VARcelona:

3.56pm BST

Pre-match reading

3.38pm BST

Dennis Praet replaces James Maddison, who is out with an ankle injury, in the Leicester side. Another promising midfielder, Sean Longstaff, returns to the Newcastle team after a month out.

Leicester City (4-1-4-1) Schmeichel; Ricardo, Evans, Soyuncu, Chilwell; Ndidi; Perez, Tielemans, Praet, Barnes; Vardy.
Substitutes: Ward, Justin, Morgan, Gray, Albrighton, Choudhury, Iheanacho.

3.37pm BST

Hello. At the start of the season, Leicester were an outside bet to break into the top six. Now they look a useful bet to break into the top three. Since Brendan Rodgers took over, they have probably been the best team in the Premier League outside the Really Big Two, and a win at home to Newcastle today would move them to third in this season’s table.

The likeliest scenario is a comfortable Leicester win, although they are without the injured James Maddison. And Newcastle can be a contrary bunch; their only win so far this season was away at Spurs, and they have won on their last two visits to the King Power Stadium. But their ambitions are more modest than Leicester’s. Never mind the top three; they’ll be happy to finish outside the bottom three.

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Published on September 29, 2019 10:54

September 28, 2019

Atlético Madrid 0-0 Real Madrid: La Liga – as it happened

An uneventful Madrid derby ended in an honourable goalless draw despite the best efforts of the briliant Thomas Partey in the Atlético midfield

10.12pm BST

Here’s Sid Lowe’s match report.

9.52pm BST

The Madrid derby ends in an honourable draw. It was a fairly uneventful game, although Jan Oblak made one outstanding save from Karim Benzema. Thomas Partey and Toni Kroos were great in midfield, but both attacks struggled. Thanks for your company - goodnight.

9.50pm BST

Peep peep!

9.49pm BST

90+2 min Diego Costa is limping heavily. Atletico have used all their subs.

9.48pm BST

90+1 min There will be three minutes of added time.

9.47pm BST

90 min Diego Costa’s looping header, from Lemar’s corner, is easily claimed by Courtois.

9.47pm BST

89 min A draw would be a fair result. There has been very little between the sides.

9.45pm BST

88 min Luka Jovic comes on for Real to replace Karim Benzema.

9.44pm BST

87 min Real are finishing the stronger, although Atletico look as solid defensively as ever. Nacho shoots over from 35 yards.

9.42pm BST

85 min “Thomas has been quite great, hasn’t he?” says Ruth Purdue.

He looks so good. Apparently his release clause is 50m euros, which is absurd. He would improve pretty much every team in the world.

9.40pm BST

82 min Thomas plays a cute pass into Correa, who spins Ramos neatly and finds Trippier on the right. His fast cross is volleyed wide by Koke, just in front of the near post. It was a half-chance, no more, but that was a lovely move from Atletico. Thomas has been so impressive.

9.38pm BST

81 min A draw would move Real back to the top of La Liga, a point ahead of Granada and Atletico.

9.37pm BST

Benzema goes as close to scoring as anyone has so far in this game!

Great save from Jan Oblak to keep Atletico on level terms pic.twitter.com/1NSqqGa6GS

9.36pm BST

78 min Atletico appeal unsuccessfully for a penalty when Angel Correa goes over after a shoulder charge from Sergio Ramos. It was a risky challenge, but not strong enough for a penalty to be given.

9.34pm BST

77 min Eden Hazard, who looks shattered, is replaced by James Rodriguez.

9.34pm BST

75 min: Brilliant save from Oblak! Real kept the ball for an age, moving it left and right. Eventually Nacho whipped an inswinging cross towards the penalty spot, where Benzema rose highest to flick a beautifully timed header towards the bottom corner. Oblak plunged to his left and stretched to make a desperate save with his left hand. He is such a good shot-stopper.

9.30pm BST

72 min Saul’s flicked header, from Koke’s near-post corner, flashes just over the bar. That was a fine effort.

9.29pm BST

71 min Bale stabs a superb pass to find Modric on the right of the area. He drives an even better low cross that flies across the six-yard box and behind for a goalkick. Real needed a six-yard sniffer like Micky Quinn there; instead they had Karim Benzema lurking on the fringes.

9.26pm BST

70 min That’s Joao Felix’s last touch - he’s replaced by the former Real player Marcos Llorente.

9.26pm BST

69 min Varane is booked for sending Joao Felix to the canvas with a nasty tackle from behind.

9.25pm BST

68 min Real bring on Luka Modric for Fede Valverde.

9.24pm BST

67 min Kroos drives a long pass to Carvajal, who wins a corner off Saul. Real make a complete Horlicks of the corner.

9.21pm BST

63 min Kroos is needlessly fouled by Partey, 30 yards from goal. The free-kick is slightly to the left of centre ... and Casemiro bullets it over the bar.

9.18pm BST

61 min Another Atletico change - Thomas Lemar replaces Renan Lodi, so Saul goes to left-back.

9.15pm BST

57 min: Bale misses Real’s best chance! Hazard played a nice pass down the left to Nacho, who screwed a low cross into the area. It was behind Benzema but ran perfectly into the path of Bale, who walloped a first-time shot into orbit from 15 yards.

9.12pm BST

55 min Bale has a pop from 30 yards. Goal kick.

9.11pm BST

53 min Benzema and Bale look well off the pace. Hazard has been threatening, and Kroos has played with his usual unobtrusive excellence, but that aside Real haven’t offered much in the final third.

9.08pm BST

51 min For the umpteenth time tonight, Thomas drives a long pass to find Trippier in space. His cross is blocked. Thomas has had a storming game; his passing, short and long, has been especially good.

9.06pm BST

49 min Atletico have started the second half strongly. Costa flips a neat pass over the defence to find the substitute Correa, who mistimes a header that goes well wide. It was a half chance at best.

9.04pm BST

47 min Apparently Simeone was fuming because Sergio Ramos abused the assistant referee. Simeone claims Ramos used the same phrase - about defecating on his “prostitute mother” - that got Diego Costa an eight-match ban last season.

9.02pm BST

46 min Peep peep! Real begin the second half. Atletico have made a substitution, with Angel Correa replacing Vitolo.

9.01pm BST

Diego Simeone wasn’t sent off, though he was told off by the referee for something or other.

8.56pm BST

Half-time reading

8.47pm BST

Peep peep! There is a suggestion that Diego Simeone has been sent off by the referee. As for the football, it was a relatively uneventful half, with no clear chances for either side. See you in 10 minutes for the second half.

8.45pm BST

44 min Another fine pass from Thomas allows Trippier to surge into a huge gap on the right wing. He looks up, considers his options and threads a low cross towards Koke, lurking in front of an open goal at the far post. Courtois dives to his right to palm the ball away at full stretch. It won’t go down as a save but that was a superb and vital bit of goalkeeping.

8.41pm BST

40 min Kroos works Oblak again from distance, this time with a low, first-time curler. I think it would have hit the outside of the post but Oblak played safe, palming it behind for a corner.

8.39pm BST

39 min After lovely play from Thomas, Joao Felix cracks a fine low shot from 20 yards that flashes just wide of the far post.

8.38pm BST

38 min That, in fact, was the first shot on target in the match. It hasn’t been a classic.

8.37pm BST

37 min Kroos’s sudden long-range shot is saved at the second attempt by Oblak, sprawling to his left. It was a decent save, no more or less.

8.33pm BST

33 min Vitolo wins a corner for Atletico, who are having a good little spell. Trippier whips it towards the near post and it’s headed away.

8.31pm BST

30 min Thomas, found by Trippier on the right, drives a stunning low cross that flashes right across the six-yard box. The stretching Diego Costa just failed to reach it in front of an open goal, and then got up appealing for a penalty. There was nothing in it.

8.27pm BST

27 min Real win three corners in the space of 30 seconds. The third, from Kroos, is noggined away by Trippier.

8.25pm BST

26 min Real are looking increasingly dangerous, especially on the counter-attack. Atletico need Diego Costa to pick a fight to get the crowd going again.

8.23pm BST

24 min “‘Ramos leaves a snide one on Diego Costa’, you say?” sniffs Matt Dony. “I’m surprised. It’s not like either of those two to get involved in any poo-housery. Also, Martin Blank is very much the ideal I aspire to. In my top five films. Genius.”

It’s in my top three, so I win. Bing bing bang, popcorn that.

8.23pm BST

23 min A gorgeous pass from Valverde releases Hazard on the left. He moves into the area, slips Savic and hits a cross that takes a deflection and goes behind for a corner on the other side.

8.22pm BST

22 min Nacho is booked for flattening Trippier.

8.18pm BST

17 min Nacho’s inswinging cross is headed behind by Lodi, under a lot of pressure from Bale. A goalkick is given but I’m sure the last touch was Lodi’s.

8.17pm BST

16 min Diego Simeone is patrolling the touchline, dressed like Martin Blank. The game hasn’t really got going yet, with that half-chance for Joao Felix the only incident of note.

8.12pm BST

13 min Ramos leaves a snide one on Diego Costa, a questionable tactic with 77 minutes still to play.

8.11pm BST

12 min Real have been the better team in the last few minutes. Hazard is taking up some dangerous positions.

8.10pm BST

10 min Bale shoots from 30 yards. It’s a mess.

8.09pm BST

9 min Real are fuming that Trippier has not been booked for a cynical foul on Hazard, and rightly so. Mind you, Ramos should have been booked a few minutes ago as well.

8.08pm BST

8 min The first chance for Atletico. Diego Costa, in his own half, lobs a simple ball through the inside-right channel for Joao Felix. He scoots into the area, far too quick for Sergio Ramos, but the angle is fairly tight and he drags his shot wide of the far post.

8.07pm BST

7 min Real have their first spell of possession in the Atletico half. You don’t need to be looking at the screen to know when Sergio Ramos is on the ball.

8.06pm BST

6 min Trippier is back on and seems okay. Real have been camped in their half since the match started. I’m sure they have crossed the halfway line, but I can’t remember it.

8.05pm BST

5 min Joao Felix slips Sergio Ramos with a lovely nutmeg and is flattened for his impudence. Ramos waves him to his feet, but it was a clear foul and he should probably have been booked.

8.04pm BST

5 min It was an accidental challenge from Hazard, who was looking the other way and had no idea Trippier was behind him.

8.04pm BST

4 min Trippier is down after the backpedalling Hazard landed on his right foot. This doesn’t look good.

8.02pm BST

2 min Trippier’s first involvement in a Madrid derby is a cross from the right that is volleyed away by Sergio Ramos. Real haven’t crossed the halfway line yet.

8.00pm BST

1 min Peep peep! Atletico get the match under way, kicking from left to right.

7.59pm BST

There’s a glorious noise all around the Metropolitano Stadium as the players emerge from the tunnel.

7.13pm BST

Atletico Madrid (4-4-2) Oblak; Trippier, Savic, Gimenez, Renan Lodi; Saul, Thomas, Koke, Vitolo; Joao Felix, Diego Costa.
Substitutes: Herrera, Lemar, Arias, Felipe, Adan, Llorente, Correa.

Real Madrid (4-3-3) Courtois; Carvajal, Ramos, Varane, Nacho; Kroos, Casemiro, Valverde; Bale, Benzema, Hazard.
Substitutes: Eder Militao, Vinicius, Areola, Jovic, James, Modric, Lucas Vazquez.

5.45pm BST

Hello. There have been some monstrous Madrid derbies in the Simeone years. This isn’t quite at the top of the list - it’s not a Champions League final for a start - but it does feel bigger than usual. Not only will the winner, if there is one, overtake Granada and go top of La Liga; they will also make a statement of title-winning intent.

With the usual champions Barcelona looking vulnerable away from home, today’s victory at Getafe notwithstanding, there is at least the potential for a new winner of La Liga.

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Published on September 28, 2019 13:53

Tottenham 2-1 Southampton, Chelsea 2-0 Brighton: clockwatch – as it happened

Harry Kane secured an important victory for 10-man Spurs, Wolves won their first league game of the season and West Ham drew a cracking match at Bournemouth

5.16pm BST

Peep peep! Time’s up for today’s clockwatch. If you still want - need - more association football, Scott Murray is your man for Everton v Manchester City.

5.14pm BST

5.12pm BST

More match reports

5.08pm BST

Scott Murray is in the chair o’ happiness for Everton v Manchester City. Tinkerpep has left out the Silva brothers and Sergio Aguero.

5.04pm BST

Get your match reports here

5.00pm BST

4.56pm BST

Full time: Aston Villa 2-2 Burnley

4.56pm BST

Full time: Wolves 2-0 Watford Wolves jump out of the relegation places after their first league win. Watford are bottom, and in bother.

4.55pm BST

Full time: Crystal Palace 2-0 Norwich Palace move into the top half with a comfortable win.

4.54pm BST

Full time: Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Southampton Peep peep! An important win for 10-man Spurs, who move up to fourth in the table. Poch out!

4.53pm BST

Full time: Bournemouth 2-2 West Ham That was a cracking game, despite the best efforts of VAR.

4.52pm BST

Full time: Rangers 5-0 Aberdeen Rangers move within a point of the leaders Celtic after a crushing victory.

4.51pm BST

Andros Townsend seals victory for Palace with a nice finish. Norwich’s desperate away form continues - played four, lost four.

4.50pm BST

Full time: Chelsea 2-0 Brighton A good win for Chelsea, thanks to goals from Jorginho and Willian. A clean sheet will make Frank even happier.

4.49pm BST

GOAL! Swansea 1-1 Reading (Yiadom 90) Swansea would have gone top of the table with a win.

4.49pm BST

4.48pm BST

“Dundee United 6-0 Morton,” weeps Simon McMahon. “I haven’t felt this good since Dave Narey scored for Scotland against Brazil in 1982.”

4.48pm BST

Bournemouth 2-2 West Ham Josh King has his shirt pulled in the West Ham penalty area. No penalty.

4.47pm BST

This would be a terrific win for Spurs, given the week they’ve had and the sending off of Serge Aurier in the first half. For all the negativity, Harry Kane looks in his best form since the 2017-18 season, and an in-form goalscorer can paper over a lot of cracks.

4.41pm BST

“Dear Rob,” says David Reynolds. “I don’t know what makes sports reporters, so endlessly susceptible to describing something good being done after something bad as “redemption”, but please please make it stop. All summer long, I have winced as Steve Smith playing excellent cricket has been repeatedly described as “redemption” for him previously presiding over cheating, even though in no logical sense can the second act redeem the first. Even today, two Guardian MBMs have described a good save following a goalkeeping howler as “redemption”, but the second could in no way alter the first, and this is simply not redemption. If a team messes up the first leg of a cup tie and then roars back in the second to go through, then this would be a genuine sporting redemption.”

It’s a fair cop.

I’ll try to redeem myself by never doing it again.

4.39pm BST

GOAL! Rangers 5-0 Aberdeen (Defoe 80) It’s officially a shellacking.

4.39pm BST

Well that didn’t take long.

4.38pm BST

The impressive John McGinn, who was VARed in the first half, has given Villa the lead against Burnley.

4.35pm BST

“Can someone please explain the point of Serge Aurier?” says Ian Davis. “He’s been a walking red card ever since he arrived at Spurs.”

I can’t. You’re welcome!

4.34pm BST

West Ham have equalised in an excellent game at the Vitality Stadium. Aaron Cresswell scored with a deflected shot, his second goal in as many games.

4.33pm BST

The latest scores in our featured games

4.33pm BST

It’s been a nervous second half for Chelsea, but Willian’s deflected shot should seal their first home win in the league under Frank Lampard’s.

4.30pm BST

Scottish Premiership James Tavernier has scored his second penalty for Rangers, who are walloping Aberdeen 4-0.

4.26pm BST

Full time: Paderborn 2-3 Bayern Munich

4.25pm BST

The substitute Jay Rodriguez equalises for Burnley with a smart header.

4.24pm BST

GOAL! Preston 2-3 Bristol City (Baker 60) Nathan Baker restores Bristol City’s lead; all three of their goals have come from set-pieces.

4.24pm BST

Wolves are cruising towards their first league win of the season. An unfortunate own goal from Daryl Janmaat has doubled their lead, and that’s all there is to it.

4.22pm BST

Spurs 2-1 Southampton Hugo Lloris makes another outstanding save, this time from Maya Yoshida.

4.20pm BST

The latest scores in our featured games

4.18pm BST

GOAL! Paderborn 2-3 Bayern Munich (Collins 84) Paderborn won’t go quietly. A long-range blooter from Jamilu Collins has brought them back into the game.

4.17pm BST

Spurs 2-1 Southampton Hugo Lloris, who made an eejit of himself in the first half, makes a redemptive, brilliant save from James Ward-Prowse to keep Spurs ahead.

4.15pm BST

Bournemouth 2-1 West Ham Nathan Ake has had a goal disallowed for offside. Meanwhile, Preston have equalised at home to Bristol City; it’s 2-2. Both Preston goals came from the penalty spot, though they switched the taker for the second one.

4.13pm BST

Crystal Palace 1-0 Norwich City “Rob, you perhaps haven’t noticed that Norwich have suffered yet another injury, second choice keeper Fahrmann going off in the 22nd minute to be replaced by third choice McGovern,” says Rod Wooden. “And Fahrmann was making his debut …”

Their injury list is brutal just now. I still think they will get enough points at home to stay up, although the away performances are a worry.

4.13pm BST

GOAL! Dundee United 4-0 Morton (Shankland 56) That’s Lawrence Shankland’s hat-trick.

4.11pm BST

Robert Lewandowski has ended the nonsense at Paderborn by restoring Bayern’s two-goal lead. And Barcelona now lead Getafe 2-0 thanks to Junior Firpo.

4.09pm BST

League One Kayden Jackson has made it Ipswich 2-1 Tranmere.

4.09pm BST

GOAL! Rangers 3-0 Aberdeen (Morelos 50) Alfredo Morelos, who was sent off umpteen times against Aberdeen last season, seals victory for Rangers.

4.09pm BST

“Palace started very brightly and gained momentum after the (clear) pen, but Norwich have had the better chances and were all over us towards the end of the half,” says Matt P. “Wouldn’t be surprised to see a couple more goals in this, Norwich forwards looking dangerous but Zaha electric as ever going forward.”

Thanks. I could get used to this. But seriously, it’s very strange talking about matches you can’t watch.

4.07pm BST

Callum Wilson continues his storming form, drilling home from Josh King’s pass.

4.06pm BST

Chelsea finally take the lead. Mason Mount won the penalty and Jorginho scored it with his usual insouciance.

4.04pm BST

“Relieved that Wolves are ahead against Watford,” says Pete Higginson. “We were beginning to panic here that a relegation struggle would ensue. But we’ve got some tough away games next month, including Man City.”

You’ll be fine. I’m sure you’ll finish in the top half again.

4.03pm BST

GOAL! Paderborn 1-2 Bayern Munich (Proger 68)

3.56pm BST

Full time: Juventus 2-0 SPAL An easy win for Juve, who move back to the top for the next few hours at least. Pjanic and Ronaldo were the scorers.

3.55pm BST

Championship One other half-time score worth mentioning: Middlesbrough 1-4 Sheffield Wednesday. Ouch.

3.52pm BST

3.49pm BST

“As much as I hate the knee-jerk ‘club x in crisis’ narrative, Spurs are playing like a club in crisis,” says Felix Wood. “What on earth are they playing at?”

Being fourth in the table, as things stand. I agree there is a strange mood around the place, but still, fourth in the table!

3.48pm BST

European football A few big names have scored important goals. Cristiano Ronaldo has put Juventus 2-0 up at home to SPAL, Philippe Coutinho has done likewise for Bayern Munich at Paderborn, and Luis Suarez has put Barcelona ahead at Getafe.

3.45pm BST

Harry Kane puts 10-man Spurs back in the lead, finishing emphatically from Christian Eriksen’s pass.

3.42pm BST

“Afternoon Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “In the Scottish Championship it’s currently Lawrence Shankland 2-0 Morton at a sunny Tannadice. That’s twelve goals in six and a half league games for the United striker. I’ve not felt this good since Archie Gemmill scored for Scotland against Holland in 1978.”

3.41pm BST

Scottish Premiership Greg Stewart has put Rangers 2-0 up at home to Aberdeen. As things stand, they are a point behind Celtic.

3.40pm BST

Oh dear lord. Hugo Lloris faffs over a backpass, then faffs a bit more, and Danny Ings helps himself to the cheapest goal he’ll score for years.

3.39pm BST

“The decline of Spurs makes me think of two things,” says Hubert O’Hearn. “One, they’re like the seemingly happy couple who break up after 16 years because they’re just tired of one another. Two, Eriksen - and Pogba if rumours are true - wanting away to Madrid is doing it in an odd way. Both are playing like dead fish tossed onto the pitch. That makes them good buys? I’m missing something here. At least when Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Suarez wanted to go to Spain each gave absolutely everything to United and Liverpool respectively in their final seasons.”

3.38pm BST

Championship Another corner, another goal for Bristol City. Andreas Weimann has put them 2-0 up at Preston.

3.38pm BST

Aston Villa 1-0 Burnley That Villa goal did count. Meanwhile, Luke Garbutt has made it Ipswich 1-0 Tranmere in League One.

3.36pm BST

GOAL! Charlton 1-0 Leeds (Bonne 32) Leeds have battered Charlton - but now they’re behind.

3.34pm BST

VAR are checking this one as well.

3.32pm BST

Serge Aurier has been sent off. Two yellow cards, so Spurs are down to ten men against Southampton.

3.31pm BST

Championship Bristol City have taken a surprise lead at Preston, with Taylor Moore scoring from close range.

3.30pm BST

The latest scores in our featured games

3.28pm BST

McGinn’s goal has been disallowed by VAR. Don’t ask me why, I don’t know and I don’t care.

3.26pm BST

The promoted teams have been pretty impressive so far, in performances if not always results. Villa will hope to address that today, and the excellent John McGinn has given them the lead at home to Burnley.

3.25pm BST

It’s all happening. Son sets up Tanguy Ndombele to hammer Spurs into the lead against Southampton. As things stand, crisis club Spurs are fourth in the table.

3.22pm BST

Scottish Premiership Rangers 1-0 Aberdeen (Tavernier 20 pen)

3.21pm BST

Luka Milivojevic gives Palace the lead with an emphatic penalty. The award was, apparently, dubious in the extreme, but not enough for it to be overturned by VAR.

3.20pm BST

Joshua King has equalised for Bournemouth! The goal was originally disallowed for offside, but the decision was overturned after a long VAR check. The folk on Sky Sports thought there was an offside in the build-up, but Mr VAR disagreed.

3.18pm BST

Matt Doherty has given Wolves the lead with a fine goal.

3.16pm BST

The latest scores in our featured games

3.13pm BST

League Two Gavin Reilly has given third-placed Cheltenham an early lead against second-placed Crewe.

3.11pm BST

Andriy Yarmolenko scores a brilliant curler to give West Ham an early lead in the top-of-the-table clash at the Vitality Stadium.

3.09pm BST

“What are your thoughts re: Poch and the stalling Spurs?” says Bill Hargreaves. “It just seems to me that he’s on a par with Klopp and Pep in terms of managerial talent. Wouldn’t wonder if he’s grown tired of Levy and would be tempted to see what he could do with a chairman endlessly peeling off the Nelson Eddies over his shoulder.”

If I had a gun in my mouth and an order to predict where he’ll be this time next year, I’d say Manchester United, but nobody knows anything. There does seem to be a bit of inertia at the club, which is odd because this was supposed to be the season when everything came together.

3.04pm BST

Championship Chris Martin has enlivened a quiet week for Derby by giving them an early lead at home to Birmingham.

3.00pm BST

Peep peep! The 3pm matche are under way. While you wait for some goals to be scored, why not read this cracking interview with Joshua King.

2.56pm BST

Cedric has been injured in the warm-up at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, so Jannik Vestergaard comes into the Southampton side.

2.55pm BST

Brazen pluggery department

Latest Episode is here. Lee, Rob and @garynaylor999 take a long look at Ardiles' Tottenham and The Famous Five. There's also an underrated goalkeeper and perhaps the journeyman of journeymen.https://t.co/Mc0uRMIL1Y

2.54pm BST

“Very excited to see Sarr and Welbeck in the Watford starting lineup,” says Mac Millings. “I’m predicting a crushing 4-0 Hornet victory, because you can’t jinx a team that’s bottom of the league, with a goal difference nine worse than anyone else, can you? Can you? Can you?”

2.53pm BST

Goals goals goals!

Paderborn 0-1 Bayern Munich (Gnabry 15)

2.41pm BST

Here’s Louise Taylor’s report from a fascinating match at Bramall Lane.

2.40pm BST

It’s still 0-0 at whatever Juventus are calling their home ground these days. Etrit Berisha has just made a lovely save from Paulo Dybala.

2.28pm BST

It has finished Hibernian 1-1 Celtic at Easter Road. That gives Rangers the chance to move within a point of Celtic by beating Aberdeen the day.

2.26pm BST

West Brom have gone top of the Championship with a 2-0 win at QPR. The teenager Nathan Ferguson scored the opening goal, the first of his career, and he is emotionally naked in his post-match interview.

It means the world to me, it really does. I’ve been at this club for a while and I’ve been dreaming of this moment for years ... They gave me space! They gave me space so I thought, ‘You know what, I’m gonna drive into it.’ Mum and Dad always tell me to shoot, so I decided to shoot this time, and it paid off.

2.22pm BST

Full time: Sheffield United 0-1 Liverpool It’s all over at Bramall Lane. Liverpool have made it seven wins out of seven, which moves them eight points clear for the next few hours at least. It was their least convincing win of the season, against a superb Sheffield United, but they’ll not care.

2.17pm BST

Wolves v Watford team news

Wolves (3-4-2-1) Rui Patricio; Boly, Coady, Saiss; Doherty, Joao Moutinho, Dendoncker, Jonny; Traore, Pedro Neto; Raul Jimenez.

2.15pm BST

Spurs v Southampton team news

Spurs (4-D-2) Lloris; Aurier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose; Winks; Sissoko, Ndombele; Eriksen; Kane, Son.

2.13pm BST

Crystal Palace v Norwich City team news

Crystal Palace (4-3-2-1) Guaita; Ward, Kelly, Cahill, van Aanholt; McArthur, Milivojevic, Kouyate; Zaha, Schlupp; Ayew.

2.09pm BST

Chelsea v Brighton team news

Chelsea (4-2-3-1) Arrizabalaga; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Tomori, Alonso; Jorginho, Barkley; Pedro, Mount, Willian; Abraham.

2.07pm BST

Bournemouth v West Ham team news

Bournemouth (4-4-2) Ramsdale; Stacey, S Cook, Ake, Rico; H Wilson, Billing, Lerma, King; Solanke, C Wilson.

2.05pm BST

Aston Villa v Burnley team news

Aston Villa (4-3-3) Heaton; Guilbert, Engels, Mings, Targett; McGinn, Nakamba, Hourihane; Grealish, Wesley, El Ghazi.

2.03pm BST

WSL It has finished Manchester United 2-0 Liverpool at Leigh Sports Village. Lauren James scored a lovely first goal before Katie Zelem sealed the win against her old club with an injury-time penalty.

1.59pm BST

Liverpool have taken the lead at Bramall Lane with 20 minutes remaining, thanks to a grim error from the goalkeeper Dean Henderson. It’s really harsh on Sheffield United, who have played superbly and almost took the lead a few minutes earlier.

1.43pm BST

Some pre-match reading

1.41pm BST

Aaron Ramsey starts for Juventus at home to SPAL. That fixture is 2nd v 19th, and later we’ll see 20th v 1st: Sampdoria are hosting the leaders Internazionale.

⚪️⚫️ | Your Juve team to face @spalferrara! #JuveSPAL #FinoAllaFine #ForzaJuve pic.twitter.com/g5Da5mUYyX

1.33pm BST

Scott Murray is following the early game at Bramall Lane. You won’t believe the score!

3.03pm BST

Hello. You know the drill: Saturday, 3pm and a sensory overload of association football. It’s a decent fixture list today, with six matches in the Premier League - including an important game for crisis club (sic) Spurs - and scheduled appearances from Barcelona, Juventus and Bayern Munich.

These are the main matches we’ll be following, but you can see a full fixture list (and keep up to date with the latest scores) by clicking this thing here.

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Published on September 28, 2019 09:16

September 24, 2019

Somerset and Essex frustrated by rain again in title decider – as it happened

Roelof van der Merwe’s audacious, big-hitting 60 took Somerset to a useful total of 203 before Essex finished another rain-affected day on 25 for none

5.28pm BST

Contrasting innings from the captain, Tom Abell, and the irrepressible Roelof van der Merwe – plus a weather forecast that hints at a slight improvement – means Somerset players and fans have not yet given up all hope of a historic County Championship -triumph.

Thanks to Abell and Van der Merwe Somerset mustered 203 runs on another truncated day after an entertaining last-wicket partnership of 59. In reply Essex were 25 without loss when the rain returned.

4.53pm BST

Play has been abandoned for the day. Thankfully the forecast for tomorrow is much better, so Somerset’s title hopes aren’t over just yet. Essex will resume on 25 for none in reply to Somerset’s 203, a total that owed most to an audacious 51-ball 60 from the No10 Roelof van der Merwe.

4.44pm BST

4.07pm BST

It’s now pelting down at Taunton. There’s no play anywhere except at Hove, where Surrey are 210 for seven against Worcestershire. Ed Barnard has three-for.

4.02pm BST

Bad light has stopped play at the Oval

Only two overs were possible, in which time Surrey moved to 248 for two. Great stuff.

3.56pm BST

It’s raining, heavily

I fear that will be it for the day.

3.48pm BST

Latest scores

3.44pm BST

The covers are coming on It’s a precautionary measure, but the forecast for the rest of the day is not good. Either way, I’ll be back with you in 15 minutes or so.

3.43pm BST

11th over: Essex 25-0 (Browne 16, Cook 5) Spin at both ends, with Dom Bess coming on for the last over before tea. His first ball skids past Browne’s attempted cut, a dangerous shot given the low bounce, but the rest of the over is repelled comfortably by Browne and Cook. That’s tea.

3.40pm BST

10th over: Essex 24-0 (Browne 15, Cook 5) It’s time for Jack Leach. His third ball turns past everyone for two byes, prompting Somerset to bring in a leg slip to go with the orthodox slip and short leg. Cook tries a bit of timewasting in an attempt to ensure this will be the last over before tea, but he hasn’t succeeded.

3.34pm BST

9th over: Essex 21-0 (Browne 14, Cook 5) Cook jabs at a yorker from Gregory, which ends up in the hands of van der Merwe at gully. He appeals for the catch but nobody else is interested; replays confirm it was a bump ball.

3.31pm BST

8th over: Essex 19-0 (Browne 14, Cook 3) Cook is beaten again, this time by a fuller one from Overton. He has looked less assured than Browne so far. One from the over, and it might be time for some spin.

3.27pm BST

7th over: Essex 18-0 (Browne 14, Cook 2) Gregory goes a touch fuller and is punished by two lovely drives for four by Browne - the first through the covers, the second to the right of mid-on. Excellent batting.

3.23pm BST

6th over: Essex 8-0 (Browne 6, Cook 2) It’s not just spin that Essex need to worry about. The bounce is already uneven, so goodness knows what it will be like by Thursday. Browne and Cook have done well to survive a tricky opening spell, especially from Gregory.

3.20pm BST

5th over: Essex 6-0 (Browne 5, Cook 1) Cook continues to lead a charmed one, fencing a lifter from Gregory over gully to get off the mark. It’s been a brilliant start to the innings from Gregory, who zips another good delivery past Browne’s outside edge.

3.16pm BST

4th over: Essex 5-0 (Browne 5, Cook 0) This is extremely hard work for the Essex openers. Browne survives an LBW appeal from Overton - too high - before being beaten outside off stump. Another maiden.

3.12pm BST

3rd over: Essex 5-0 (Browne 5, Cook 0) Sir Alastair Cook is beaten by consecutive beauties from Gregory that straighten from around the wicket - and he plays and misses at the last delivery of the over as well. A superb maiden from Gregory.

3.09pm BST

2nd over: Essex 5-0 (Browne 5, Cook 0) Craig Overton to Nick Browne: short, wide, four. There’s plenty there for the seamers, though, and Browne is surprised by a delivery that goes through the top and pops past his nose. Somerset are right in this game; and unlike Essex, they have no stick/twist/WHERE’S THAT EFFING MET OFFICE APP SIR BLOODY ALASTAIR dilemmas.

3.05pm BST

1st over: Essex 1-0 (Browne 1, Cook 0) There will be a few overs of seam before the spinners come on. Lewis Gregory starts with a tidy over to Nick Browne, who is beaten by some sharp movement off the penultimate delivery and then survives a token run-out referral after taking a quick single.

3.00pm BST

There has been very little play around the country, because it’s BLOODY AUTUMN.

2.57pm BST

Your thoughts BTL

Ooft this has become pretty blimmin' tantalising.

Some serious batting for Essex to do today and tomorrow. They don't want to have to be out there too long on day 4 with whatever will be left of this pitch.

Harmer has been van der Merdered.

2.53pm BST

That’s the end of a storming innings from Roelof van der Merwe, who misses a reverse sweep and is bowled by Nijjar. It was some performance, though: 60 from 51 balls, including four sixes.

2.50pm BST

60th over: Somerset 201-9 (van der Merwe 58, Leach 11) van der Merwe launches Harmer miles over midwicket for another six. Pick that out! This is outrageous stuff, which has completely changed the mood of the match.

2.46pm BST

59th over: Somerset 194-9 (van der Merwe 51, Leach 11) Pongo! van der Merwe heaves Nijjar miles over long-on to bring up an audacious half-century: 42 balls, three fours and three sixes. A single off the next ball brings up the fifty partnership for the last wicket.

2.41pm BST

59th over: Somerset 187-9 (van der Merwe 44, Leach 11) van der Merwe’s rustic assault has unsettled Harmer, who now has no close fielders when he is on strike. This feels like a very useful score for Somerset, weather permitting.

2.38pm BST

58th over: Somerset 186-9 (van der Merwe 43, Leach 11) The left-arm spinner Aron Nijjar does come into the attack, replacing Porter. A good first over, just one from it.

2.36pm BST

57th over: Somerset 185-9 (van der Merwe 42, Leach 11) Essex have gone on the defensive, and van der Merwe is dictating the play at the moment. A pair of twos and a single off Harmer take him to within of an unlikely half-century.

2.31pm BST

56th over: Somerset 180-9 (van der Merwe 37, Leach 11) Aron Nijjar has bowled only two overs, which suggests a loss of faith from Ryan ten Doeschate. Mind you, the old ball is doing a fair bit for the seamers.

2.28pm BST

55th over: Somerset 179-9 (van der Merwe 36, Leach 11) This has been a fine counter-attack from van der Merwe, who mows Harmer to cow corner for two more. I wonder if his approach will give the Essex batsmen ideas. It takes a certain chutzpah to go after the spinners on a bunsen when you only need a draw, but it’s also asking for trouble to let Jack Leach and the rest settle into a rhythm with men round the bat.

Later in the over, van der Merwe sweeps Harmer on the bounce to deep square leg, where Cook slips over in the Samit style.

2.23pm BST

54th over: Somerset 172-9 (van der Merwe 29, Leach 11) Thanks Tanya, hello everyone. Getting interesting, this. Jamie Porter returns in place of Samuel Cook and has a huge shout for LBW against turned down by Alex Wharf. That looked on the plumb side of close; three reds on Hawkeye confirm its eminent DRSability.

2.20pm BST

53rd over: Somerset 167-9 (Leach 9, van der Merwe 21) Van der Mere scythes Harmer straight over Leach’s head for four. A couple more as Harmer, who holds the ball high in his fingers, almost as if he was displaying a porcelain egg, bowls on, and on.

And that’s it from me, I’ll hand you over to Rob Smyth for the rest of the day - enjoy!

2.17pm BST

52nd over: Somerset 160-9 (Leach 9, van der Merwe 21) A couple of scampered singles, then van der Merwe hits a skyer just short of the fielder. And Somerset add another three to the total. Softly, softy, catchy monkey.

2.13pm BST

51st over: Somerset 157-9 (Leach 8, van der Merwe 19) A boundary from van der Merwe that I missed, and Essex should remember that Leach is very adept at eeking runs from tricky positions.

2.11pm BST

50th over: Somerset 152-9 (Leach 8, van der Merwe 14) A huge cheer for Headingley hero Jack Leach who gets off the mark straight away with a thick edge for four before driving Cook through third man for another boundary and adding half again to Cook’s runs conceded tally in two balls. The cameras pan to a grey haired bloke in the crowd - blimey, that’s John Cleese. Yesterday, another Conservative with experience of the courts, Jeffrey Archer, spent a rainy afternoon at Taunton.

2.05pm BST

A sensational ball that nips in off the scrambled seam to destroy Bess’s stumps. That’s Cook’s fourth wicket - for just 15.

2.04pm BST

49th over: Somerset 144-8 ( Bess 10, van der Merwe 14) Harmer again, in a No. 11 shirt, no vest. All proceeds as normal until Van der Merwe keeps his wrists low and reverse-sweep-dinks him over the fielder at deep backward point for six.

1.58pm BST

48th over: Somerset 138-8 ( Bess 10, van der Merwe 8) Van der Merwe is taking charge, Yes!, No! he shouts at his partner, but then Cook squares him up like a kipper, legs twisted. Just a single from the over.

1.55pm BST

47th over: Somerset 137-8 ( Bess 10, van der Merwe 7) And there we are, van der Merwe gets down on one knee and sweeps Harmer’s first ball for six - what’s the fuss about, he sniffs? Then he pancakes one, somewhat disdainfully, over his shoulder for a single. Bess is watchful.

1.52pm BST

46th over: Somerset 130-8 ( Bess 10, van der Merwe 0) Not that things are much easier from Sam Cook’s end. A maiden. Somerset could really do with at least another 20 - from somewhere...

1.49pm BST

45th over: Somerset 130-8 ( Bess 10) Harmer resumes, sunglasses on, and immediately gets two lbws. Somerset need quick runs, preferably in the next over before they have to face Harmer again.

1.48pm BST

The second wicket of Harmer’s first over after lunch. Overton, hangdog, trots off. Ah, the replay shows it was a little high.

1.45pm BST

Abell steps back and Harmer’s delivery follows him, fixing him straight in front of the stumps.

1.42pm BST

44th over: Somerset 126-6 (Abell 45, Bess 10) Sam Cook, shirt untucked, mucky trouser legs, picks up the first over after lunch, his fifteenth over of the game. He’s as accurate as ever but his fifth ball whizzes through low almost trimming the heads off the grass (if there was any). A maiden.

1.39pm BST

And the players are out as we prepare to resume after lunch.

1.03pm BST

Perhaps that was a well-timed break for grub after all as the covers are wheeled on at Taunton. Round the grounds, play has already been called off for the day at Edgbaston and there has been no play anywhere else except Chester-le-Street where..

Durham 262-8 (Watling 104; Hogan 4-35) v Glamorgan

1.00pm BST

43rd over: Somerset 126-6 (Abell 45, Bess 10) Abell survives a chance of sorts at short leg but the ball dipped very quickly in front of (Bopara)‘s hands. That is followed by a wristy drive with the back foot well in the crease that was simply edible. Then a couple more as the anoraks are pulled on in the crowd and the players skip off for lunch.

12.56pm BST

42nd over: Somerset 118-6 (Abell 41, Bess 9) Just a snappy single from Porter’s over, and only a couple more to survive until that controversial lunch.

12.52pm BST

40th over: Somerset 117-6 (Abell 40, Bess 9) “Skills Harmy,” cries a fielder, but the sprinkling of rain that fell a few overs ago seems to have calmed the pitch a little, stroked it, pitch-whispered. Abell and Bess bat on.

12.51pm BST

39th over: Somerset 116-6 (Abell 39, Bess 9) Some very interesting talk from Mark Ramprakash and Ebony Rainford-Brent about the Lions and pressure on players to change once they fall on the ECB radar. They’ve been watching Jamie Porter’s run-up which, now I study it, does look rather laboured. But then I haven’t seen enough of Porter to know if it was ever thus.

12.46pm BST

38th over: Somerset 114-6 (Abell 33, Bess 7) I’ve not much to say about that Harmer over, a maiden, as I was reading this absolutely lovely email from Harry in Vietnam.

Good Evening (Morning) Tanya,

12.43pm BST

37th over: Somerset 113-6 (Abell 33, Bess 7) Under his maroon helmet, Tom Abell is clean shaven - quite rare in a sportsman at the moment. [ I must admit I’m a sucker for a bit of stubble] Anyway - that is a gorgeous drive by Abell as Cook stays a little, really classy, giving his bat face a great show.

12.37pm BST

36th over: Somerset 108-6 (Abell 33, Bess 7) Mark Ramprakash is on the mike, and is impressed with Dom Bess’s footwork. Forward he goes, back he goes, and that is a very handy outside edge from Abell which flies past the right hand of the diving Cook at slip for four. Nine from Harmer’s over as a shower passes slowly over the ground.

12.33pm BST

35th over: Somerset 99-6 (Abell 29, Bess 2) Sam Cook is poetry in motion. Non-demonstrative, he pitches the ball on a dime and beats the edge ball, after ball, after ball.

A magnificent email arrives.

12.29pm BST

34th over: Somerset 98-6 (Abell 29, Bess 1) Two off Harmer, more importantly they survive him. 150 would be a good effort from here.

12.27pm BST

33rd over: Somerset 96-6 (Abell 28, Bess 0) Dom Bess, whose nascent batting career is remembered by two innings - his 57 against Pakistan and his heave-ho against Lancashire in the Championship match here last year - watchfully plays out the remainder of Cook’s over.

12.21pm BST

I don’t think Gregory will want to see a replay of that. He tottered forward so his leg was just in front of the stumps, and left the ball. Cook was laughing as he celebrated.

12.19pm BST

32nd over: Somerset 96-5 (Abell 28, Gregory 17) Now Rob Key has mentioned Harmer’s big hands, I can’t keep my eyes off them. They’re huge. Hams - big fat Christmas ones. A single, an lbw shout and a possible chance grassed by Alastair Cook off the over.

12.17pm BST

32nd over: Somerset 95-5 (Abell 28, Gregory 16) The excellent Cook strays just a hand off his length and Abell flicks with some style - another boundary. Five dots follow.

Gareth Wilson is also feeling the pain of the break for sandwiches, “Hi Tanya- cricket doesn’t help itself, does it? Start play at noon then stop for lunch at 1? Seriously? Why not play till 2? It’s so frustrating.....”

12.14pm BST

31st over: Somerset 91-5 (Abell 24, Gregory 16) Gregory uses his feet turns and swivel-pulls Harmer to the leg-side boundary. This has to be the way, surely? No one is gong to out-bat Harmer. What’s this? He swings again, and gets an inside edge past the stumps, past the keeper for four more. And again! A precariously lucky edge that flies past Alastair Cook at slip. And then a fourth boundary, a textbook force off the back foot. Sixteen tasty runs off the over.

12.09pm BST

31st over: Somerset 75-5 (Abell 24, Gregory 0) A maiden from Sam Cook. It’s breezy out there in the middle and I take back what I said earlier, there is some blue sky up to the left behind the church.

12.06pm BST

30th over: Somerset 75-5 (Abell 24, Gregory 0) Classic Harmer. Such a menacing force, he goes round the wicket to Gregory who scuttles forward and survives the over.

12.03pm BST

A breakthrough in Harmer’s first over of the day as Bartlett goes back and turns the ball straight into the mitts of Bopara.

12.01pm BST

29th over: Somerset 75-4 (Abell 24, Bartlett 5) Cook finishes off his over prorogued yesterday by rain - a snorter that skids past the outside of Abell’s bat.

12.00pm BST

Aha! We have some action at Taunton, the players are out, the sky is greyish, but Sam Cook is bowling in short sleeves.

11.52am BST

Thank you! My inbox over-floweth. And yes, the thing that has enraged you all is the good old English lunch-break.

Mark Hooper growls, “The deciding match of the championship and they allow an hour’s play before stopping for lunch! You’d think that, just for once, they could just make do with a couple of satsumas and a protein shake? And then have a break when it rains again LIKE IT’S GOING TO DO ALL WEEK!”

11.48am BST

They’re playing cricket at Chester-le-Street, where at least one person is nail nibbling. Durham 238-8 against promotion possibles Glamorgan, with BJ Watling 93 not out.

@tjaldred They have been playing at Chester-le-Street again - one wicket and several boundaries achieved. (From an anxious @Gloscricket fan in Newcastle looking out of the office window praying for rain in these parts)

11.41am BST

Right, come on people, someone send me an email. That monkey on your back- the Cricketer’s Power List, the best chocolate bars to see you through autumn, the young player to watch for 2020 - give it a nudge.

11.21am BST

Away from the Supreme Court to Taunton, where the umpires have decided that play will start at noon with lunch taken at one o’clock.

Rob Key is out on the pitch, which is dry as a bone - the drainage system has played a blinder . The players are on the outfield stretching, bending, chewing the fat. The groundsmen are digging forks into the boundary edge.

10.59am BST

So .... Boris Johnson’s prorogation of Parliament was illegal...

Lady Hale: Legality of prorogration is justiceable.

Lady Hale: PM's advice to Queen was unlawful.

Lady Hale: Parliament is not prorogued.@NickFriend1: BUT WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR KOLPAKS!!!

"Boris, you're going to have to reverse your decision" pic.twitter.com/wYwFe7E6vA

10.53am BST

And through the precipitation pings an email:

“I failed yesterday to respond to your question, “if you had to give the ECB 100 lines, what would the sentence be?” writes Kim Thonger.

10.48am BST

Ah, we now have a full house. The rain is falling at Chester-le-Street too.

Still, some happy quotes from Dom Sibley who has more than deserved his chance to pull on the England cap this winter.

10.38am BST

The television is now working, though with subtitles, and I’ve turned on to find Dominic Cork talking about Simon Harmer’s BIG HANDS. The rain has stopped at Taunton so, while we wait, here are some Marcus Trescothick magic memories.

https://t.co/y3YRYwuYAf

10.21am BST

Ah. Thanks for the tip below the line - it is also raining in Canterbury and the start is delayed at Hove, Lord’s and Grace Road - where the club describe the prospects of play today as “bleak.”

But play will start on time at The Riverside! A glass raised to more autumn cricket north of Hartlepool.

☔️ | The rain is still going strong at @Spitfire_Ground and puddles are forming on the outfield

Very small prospects of play...#SuperKent pic.twitter.com/HAecsjWVNK

10.14am BST

If you missed the tour squads yesterday, (and rather exciting they were too) here is Ali’s take on them - omission of YJB and all.

10.09am BST

Elsewhere the news is ... damp. There will be no play before lunch at The Oval or Edgbaston, and things are also delayed at the crucial Division Two promotion bash at Bristol, with Gloucestershire perched uncomfortably in the dressing-room at 80 for 6.

10.04am BST

Good morning from heavy-sponged Manchester - and a soggy looking Taunton, where the super sopper is out and mopping furiously. The Met Office site shows signs of hope - clear weather between 10 and 2 - if the groundsmen can dry the outfield in time to get the players out before the next fat plopping rain clouds return. The umpires are due to peer again at the pitch at 11am.

Yesterday’s match stopped just before lunch with Somerset 75-4 on a dustbowl against the wiles of Simon Harmer and Sam Cook. It was tricky out there. As James Hildreth: said, “I think anything above 200 will be a good score. Every run out there seems massive”

UPDATES ➡️ https://t.co/dF6GhNA901 #SOMvESS #WeAreSomerset pic.twitter.com/Vn3C9HzZp2

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Published on September 24, 2019 09:08

Football transfer rumours: Raheem Sterling to Real Madrid?

Today’s gossip still doesn’t understand cognitive dissonance

The Mill wouldn’t be the Mill without a few knowing whispers of Real Madrid’s latest plan to poach the Premier League’s finest. On Tuesday the grapevine is humming with the news that they want to galacticise Raheem Sterling. The word is that their people met his people over the summer, and that Sterling is keen to play for them one day. What’s the worst that could happen?

If Sterling does go to Madrid, he might find himself working under Mauricio Pochettino. In a surprising development, Madrid will approach Pochettino if/when/why/what Zinedine Zidane is bundled off to the P45 farm.

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Published on September 24, 2019 00:44

September 23, 2019

County cricket liveblog: Somerset reach 75-4 against Essex before the rain – as it happened

Heavy rain meant only 27.5 overs were bowled at Taunton on a frustrating day for Somerset, who reached 75-4 in the title decider against Essex

6.55pm BST

The only thing Somerset have won so far is the toss and that may be the limits of their success in their last match of the season. They need to win this game to secure their first Championship pennant. For Essex, 12 points ahead, a draw would suffice to repeat their victory of two years ago and they would have taken comfort from the truncated action on Monday.

Having chosen to bat on a brown surface Somerset were 74 for four after 27.1 overs when the rain began to fall. It did not stop on a gloomy afternoon. It is not a great score, though superior to several around the county circuit. But that is not Somerset’s sole problem. Not only must they beat Essex, they must also beat the weather since the forecast remains unpromising.

6.03pm BST

That’s it for our county blog on a frustrating day for Somerset. They won an important toss on a Taunton dustbowl and reached a useful score of 75 for four before rain stopped play for the rest of the day. We’ll be back in the morning, when the forecast is goodness knows, so please join Tanya then. I’ll leave you with the close-of-play scores from around the country. Night!

5.49pm BST

BJ Watling (83*) and Ben Raine (26*) are frustrating Glamorgan at Chester-le-Street, where Durham are 197 for six with a few overs remaining.

5.01pm BST

Glamorgan have taken a sixth wicket at Chester-le-Street, where Durham are 162 for six. Michael Hogan has had a day out: 15-7-30-4. With Gloucestershire struggling at Bristol, Glamorgan have a serious chance of stealing a promotion place.

4.53pm BST

Play has been abandoned everywhere, in fact, except Canterbury and Chester-le-Street. These are the latest scores.

4.51pm BST

It’s stumps at the Oval, too. Surrey finish on 246 for two against Notts, with Scott Borthwick 109 not out and Ollie Pope - recalled by England earlier in the day - unbeaten on 78. Pope, who is still only 21, averages over 70 in first-class cricket for Surrey. Permission to be very excited.

4.49pm BST

To nobody’s surprise, play has been abandoned for the day at Taunton. The forecast for tomorrow is mixed, but the heaviest rain should fall before and after play.

4.40pm BST

Somerset 75-4 v Essex

4.39pm BST

Play has been abandoned at Edgbaston, with Yorkshire on 261-2. Tom Kohler-Cadmore has larruped an unbeaten 165 from 175 balls.

4.34pm BST

UPDATE: Some hope with brighter skies but unfortunately still spitting with rain #SOMvESS #WeAreSomerset pic.twitter.com/sH6lqmD5af

4.08pm BST

Rain or bad light have stopped play everywhere except Canterbury and Chester-le-Street. These are the latest scores:

4.02pm BST

Matt Parkinson celebrated his England call-up by dismissing his twin brother Callum, LBW for 29. Leicestershire were dismissed for 155, with a rampant Richard Gleeson taking six for 43.

3.59pm BST

Play has been abandoned for the day at Bristol, with Gloucestershire 80 for six against fellow promotion hopefuls Northamptonshire.

3.46pm BST

There’s no immediate prospect of an inspection at Taunton, never mind play. I’m sure that will be it for the day. I’m going to procure a coffee but will be back in five or 10 minutes. In the meantime, these are the latest scores from around the country.

3.36pm BST

A few bits and bobs from Ed Smith’s interview on Sky

3.29pm BST

“Surely Ellyse Perry has to be in with a shout as one of the Wisden five,” says Dave Harris. “Her performance in the Ashes was devastating showing in the Ashes, especially her 7/22 off ten overs at Canterbury in July.”

Yes, she feels like a cert along with Jofra Archer and Pat Cummins.

3.27pm BST

Ed Smith says being dropped is an opportunity for Jonny Bairstow to “reset” and work on a few things. “My prediction is he comes back very strongly.”

3.21pm BST

“Whilst I am of course impressed and amused by the quality of the attempted jinx in by one and all to deny The East Saxons the championship, I’d just like to point out that team on their final warning for the quality of their pitches producing a wicket ‘like a crumble base’ which is already kicking up ‘clouds of dust like mushroom cloud’ is asking for trouble,” says Steve Pay. “We East Saxons know how how expensive that can be - 1989 still lives in our memory.”

3.18pm BST

Here’s more on those exciting England squads

3.10pm BST

“Oh Rob, IT’S STILL RAINING,” says Cath Hanley. “But to be honest the real damage was done last week - if I can only spend the rain break inventing a time machine, I might go back and gently roll a ball under Kyle Abbott’s foot while he’s warming up ...”

3.09pm BST

England’s T20 squad

Tom Banton, Pat Brown and Matt Parkinson are included in a very exciting young squad for the five-match T20 series in New Zealand: Morgan (c), Bairstow, Banton, Billings, Brown, S Curran, T Curran, Denly, Gregory, Jordan, Mahmood, Malan, Parkinson, Rashid, Vince.

3.06pm BST

“Last cricket of the summer, so what are your predictions for Wisden Cricketers of the Year?” says Robert Razzell. “My guess is it will be bowler-heavy, Archer, Cummins, Hazlewood... perhaps Harmer, although it’s not often there’s a non-international cricketer of the year. How does Booth pick them?”

If I know Booth, it’ll be after the 12th sambuca. At this stage, I’d guess Archer, Cummins, Harmer, Perry and Labuschagne.

3.01pm BST

The latest scores

Glamorgan, who must win at Durham to have any chance of promotion, are starting to chip away.

2.59pm BST

There’s a lot to take in with that squad, never mind the omission of Jonny Bairstow. The inclusion of Saqib Mahmood and Matt Parkinson is really exciting, as are the less surprising call-ups for Zak Crawley and Dom Sibley. The team for the first Test might look like this: Burns, Sibley, Denly, Root, Stokes, Pope, Buttler, S Curran, Archer, Leach, Broad.

2.54pm BST

Root (c), Archer, Broad, Burns, Buttler (wk), Crawley, S Curran, Denly, Leach, Mahmood, Parkinson, Pope, Sibley, Stokes, Woakes.

I must say, I like that squad a lot.

2.53pm BST

Crikey, Jonny Bairstow has been left out of the England squad to tour New Zealand! I think that’s the right decision, but it’s still surprising.

2.52pm BST

Popewatch Ollie Pope is now 67 not out. If he doesn’t go straight into the England Test team this winter, I’ll be displeased. He averages over 70 in first-class cricket for Surrey.

2.43pm BST

Mark Hooper is a worried man “After a lifetime of watching Somerset anti-climaxes (amidst the odd one-day fireworks), it would be typical if they lost their best chance of the Championship title due to rain. (Yes, this is intended as a double jinx/anti-rain dance.)

It doesn’t look great, although you might only need around 180 overs of play for a result. Somerset may need to get very funky on the final day.

2.26pm BST

It’s still raining at Taunton. There’s about as much chance of any more play today as there was of England winning the Headingley Test when Jack Leach walked to the crease.

2.25pm BST

“I have to agree with John Edrich that Rob Sim’s square cut was piss poor – I was at school with him!” sniggers Andrew Battershill. “But in his defence his school year (and my brother’s) did manage to bowl out a local public school, Milton Abbey, for 10. Hi Rob!”

2.17pm BST

Thanks Tanya, hello everyone. Let’s start with some latest scores, shall we. Ollie Pope is in the runs again, 45 not out against Nottinghamshire.

2.13pm BST

Sky have resorted to a Steve Waugh master-class to nullify any overflow of sentiment.

Another correspondent writes from Aberdeen - Malcolm Ferguson. “Hello Tanya. I had the pleasure of being taught at Aberdeen Academy by the great Rohan Kanhai when he was pro. at Aberdeenshire. Did not do me any good as of all the games I have played my worst was cricket but enjoyed playing the noble game the most. Hello to my old teammates and pals at Saracens in the 60s.”

2.03pm BST

This is the scene. Advantage Essex.

The rain is still falling here at Taunton... ☂️️#SOMvESS pic.twitter.com/lJLL0f4TCC

1.59pm BST

In eastern Russia, a lone woman is following Essex v Somerset. That honour falls to Louise Allcock.

“You asked was anyone else taught by professional cricketers? Yes, Bryan Lobb was my housemaster at school. He taught me to play cricket aged 10. As one of very few girls (possibly the only) to enter the school single wicket cricket competition, I only drew Harvey Trump (11 himself so well before his Somerset days) in the first round. Pretty sure Mr Lobb (as will always be known to me) told Harvey to bowl gently! Pretty sure Harvey also went on to win the competition.”

1.54pm BST

The Met Office forecast says there is 95 per cent chance of rain at Taunton till five o’clock, where it declines to 60 per cent, and drops further to five per cent at seven o’clock, nine minutes before the sun is due to set. So another reminiscence from the front line, to cheer us up.

“Hi Tanya.”

1.46pm BST

“Back in the day, Laurie Potter and Chris Balderstone would come down from Leicestershire to run indoor nets at my old school, Robert Smyth in Market Harborough,” writes James Calder.

“I remember Balderstone bowling me all ends up with a leg-break. There was some serious talent on show at those nets: we had Ben Smith, who went on to win two county titles with Leicestershire before captaining Worcestershire, and future rugby legend Martin Johnson. Even in his mid-teens, Johnno was an imposing sight at the top of his run.”

1.37pm BST

Here is Marcus Trescothick holding the picture frame he was awarded in the lunch break. The mood music is perfect for Somerset to win the title for him in this final season, but the weather, blasted, dirty, filthy clouds, has little interest in playing fair.

Ah, the radio tells me that the tour parties will be announced in just under half an hour.

#ThankYouTres ❤️ pic.twitter.com/DxyQSDzEFh

1.29pm BST

Thank you Rob Sim, who had the pleasure of being taught by John Edrich, “who used to coach at Aberdeenshire Cricket Club. He used to tell me that my square cut was “piss-po[or?]t” quite frequently….”

Back at Taunton, the rain has miserably become heavier. And 44 overs into the Notts v Surrey game, the ball has been changed for the fourth time.

1.13pm BST

As the rain continues to fall at Taunton, an email arrives from Kim Thonger.

I see Brian Rose, as Club President, is making the presentation to the very wonderful Marcus Trescothick. Brian and I have previous. He was my PE teacher at Broadoak School in Weston-super-mare. I’m both proud and ashamed to say he once justifiably threatened to throw me through the wall bars for acting the giddy goat, and subsequently gave me 100 lines “I must not use obscene language in the gym”. Happier, simpler days.

1.04pm BST

Thanks to Tim de Lisle for alerting me to this cracking bit of observation from Ali Martin:

Interesting to see Simon Harmer has dropped the letters RSA from the end of his Twitter handle. Has spoken a lot about his England ambitions recently ... don't quite see how he can qualify any time soon though

1.01pm BST

Let’s have a look at the scores round the country...bundles of wickets for Northants in the Division 2 promotion match against Gloucestershire. In the other game with 2020 meaning, there has been a delayed start at The Riverside.

Division One

12.55pm BST

In the Sky studio, I can see the covers through the back window. They are on, and the sky is experimenting with different variations on black.

12.24pm BST

Somerset dine with heavy, but not iron, hearts. Hildreth looked in great touch before he was out; Abell has been tenacious. Simon Harmer is showing just why he is the leading Championship wicket-taker; Sam Cook has also bowled superbly. Time for me to grab a quick lunch and shove a birthday cake in the oven while Somerset make a presentation to Marcus Trescothick for long and wonderful service.

12.17pm BST

28.5 overs: Somerset 75-4 ( Abell 24, Bartlett 5) There’s a pretty good crowd in, great handfuls sitting in clumps in the various pavilions around the ground. You can still see the Quantocks from the Sky camera, but the groundsmen are leaning on the covers in readiness. Ah, there we go, the brollies are up and maroon covers are pushed on. This could be lunch...

12.13pm BST

27th over: Somerset 74-4 ( Abell 24, Bartlett 4) OOOOFFF, Bartlett pushes forward and the ball edges to the outstretched paw of Bopara at leg-slip, who can’t clutch on. Tricky but possible. Lucky, lucky Bartlett. A breath.

12.10pm BST

26th over: Somerset 71-4 ( Abell 24, Bartlett 1 ) After two successive maidens, Somerset garner some runs. Just five off Cook this morning from 8 terrific overs, but here Bartlett gets off the mark with a scurried run that might have been dodgy had Nijjar’s thrown hit. His reward - he’ll have to face Harmer next over.

12.06pm BST

23rd over: Somerset 69-4 ( Abell 23, Bartlett 0 ) Bartlett faces Harmer, who has such an array of tricks in his drawstring bag. Slower ball, quicker one, ripping turner. Bartlett, understandably, is tentative, a tall, slim young man, slightly hunched over his bat, who has impressed those who have seen him this season.

12.03pm BST

22nd over: Somerset 69-4 ( Abell 23, Bartlett 0 ) Nijjar is hauled off after leaking runs, and the excellent Cook returns. Abell watches and waits; swishing at one that passes by on the inside edge; then just getting a bat on one that inches away.

12.00pm BST

21st over: Somerset 69-4 ( Abell 23, Bartlett 0 ) Rare riches for Somerset, as Harmer sends up a dolly, and Abell pings him to the boundary, then clips him for another two.

The average runs per wicket this season at Taunton is 24.37 - I can’t see Somerset getting over 200 here today.

11.57am BST

20th over: Somerset 62-4 ( Abell 16, Bartlett 0 ) Bartlett has a slight advantage over Banton in that he gets to face Nijjar, not Harmer, for his first deliveries . Bartlett stretches forward and blocks him away.

11.54am BST

19th over: Somerset 61-4 ( Abell 15 ) Ciderabad bites the hand that feeds it.

11.53am BST

Oh dear. Harmer has two in three after switching over the wicket and clopping Banton on the shin very, very, in front of the stumps.

11.50am BST

Harmer, round the wicket, the ball kept low, Hildreth crept back on his crease and that was that. Rob Bailey, almost reluctantly, raises the finger.

11.48am BST

19th over: Somerset 61-2 ( Abell 15, Hildreth 32) Ah, a bowling change. Aron Nijjar, who inadvertently loosens the tap. Seven off his over as he strays off the line and Hildreth, eager as a tiger, collects a boundary.

11.45am BST

18th over: Somerset 54-2 ( Abell 14, Hildreth 26) Someone send Simon Harmer a vest, his shirt seems to be too short, pulling up and showing the bottom of his back with every delivery. It’s September! Your kidneys! Harmer is supremely unbothered, another superb over.

11.42am BST

18th over: Somerset 53-2 ( Abell 14, Hildreth 25) The gloom seems to be deepening. Abell decides to leave the final ball of Porter’s over which whips in off the seam, in a mushroom cloud of dust, a toffee-wrapper away from his body and the top of his stumps.

11.38am BST

17th over: Somerset 51-2 ( Abell 14, Hildreth 23) Ravi Bopara and Ryan Ten Doeschate crouch under the helmets at forward short leg and short gully, mouths open for a tasty crimson titbit. Somerset live dangerously.

11.36am BST

16th over: Somerset 51-2 ( Abell 14, Hildreth 23) Porter’s blond head and beard are shaved to about the same degree - I wonder if it grows in the off-season.. Hildreth drives an over -pitched ball but Porter just gets a finger to it and stops its momentum. In the crowd, a poodle seems to be eating a kit-kat.

11.31am BST

15th over: Somerset 50-2 ( Abell 14, Hildreth 22) The fifty comes up as Abell stretches forward to Harmer. A recovery, I think you could call this.

Some stats from Sky - no Somerset batsman has an average of over 33 this year.

11.29am BST

14th over: Somerset 46-2 ( Abell 12, Hildreth 21) A little light relief for the Somerset batsmen in the shape of dolly of a half-volley from Jamie Porter which Abell drives for four. The cameras turn side-on and we see how far Hildreth is batting out of his crease - a full shoe size out - he tips Porter through mid-wicket for a single.

11.25am BST

13th over: Somerset 41-2 ( Abell 8, Hildreth 20) Harmer again. Every ball feel like a potential wicket - the bounce is uneven, the batsmen are playing dangerously on the back foot. Abell scurries up the other end as soon as he can. Hildreth crouches down on his haunches after one scuttles low.

11.22am BST

12th over: Somerset 40-2 ( Abell 6, Hildreth 20) The umpires glance up at the sky; in the crowd we see an umbrella, raised. The umpires have pulled on their nylon zip-up coats; the players are mostly jumper-less. In the portable cabin, sit-out places they use for T20 games - the name escapes me, apologies - the players are drinking tea. Just one off the excellent Cook’s over.

11.18am BST

11th over: Somerset 39-2 ( Abell 5, Hildreth 20) Harmer drifts a little legside and Hildreth sweeps/swipes down for four. Then Harmer is a fraction, a tissue paper, short, and Hildreth sweeps again, squarer this time, for another boundary.

11.16am BST

10th over: Somerset 31-2 ( Abell 5, Hildreth 12) Somerset don’t have much leeway what with Harmer and one end and Cook at the other. Patience and luck will good friends today. Another relentless maiden from Cook.

Ian Copestake writes: “Somerset having a top order problem with Trescothick sitting in the wings makes me feel we have been needlessly denied.”

11.12am BST

9th over: Somerset 31-2 ( Abell 5, Hildreth 12) The floodlights are on and, with the wind tugging his shirt, Simon Harmer, off-spinner extraordinaire, takes the ball. He has has 78 wickets at 18.12 this summer. It soon becomes clear why - he’s an intimidating figure for an spinner - tall, stacked - and has the ball turning square. Rob Bailey turns down a pretty solid looking lbw appeal - rather him than me.

11.07am BST

8th over: Somerset 27-2 ( Abell 5, Hildreth 12) The two batsmen are scurrying between the wickets, Hildreth has added a soupcon of energy to the batting this morning. He knocks Cook for his first runs of the day but batting against him, in his red-soled shoes, is not easy.

11.04am BST

7th over: Somerset 26-2 ( Abell 5, Hildreth 11)A huge lbw roar from Porter’s first ball but, after a heart in mouth pause, the answer is no - possibly just outside the line. The skies, I’m sorry to say are darkening. Ah, that’s lovely: Hildreth clops the ball into the leg side for four; then a push into the offside, timing to die for, for another boundary.

10.59am BST

6th over: Somerset 17-2 ( Abell 5, Hildreth 2) We see Marcus Trescothick on the balcony, in leisure clothing, not whites. Sniff. Simon Harmer is warming those ample shoulders up on the boundary. And a maiden from Cook who has been terrific this morning, forcing the batsmen to play.

10.56am BST

5th over: Somerset 17-2 ( Abell 5, Hildreth 2) The slips can practically read the clothing label on the inside of Abell’s trousers - they’re close, and creeping closer, as the ball dips and hardly carries off the pitch. Abell strides forward hugely, and sends the ball scurrying square off Porter. Nice.

10.53am BST

4th over: Somerset 14-2 ( Abell 4) Cook angles the ball in from wide of the wicket, and Davies isn’t nimble enough to move out of the way. The Somerset tail has often rescued the top order this year - hope they’re prepared for a repeat performance today.

10.51am BST

Argh. Davies tucks his bat under his arm and trudges off. The last ball of Cook’s over is a straight one and Davies doesn’t move, the umpire ponders for a lifetime but the dodgy digit is raised.

10.46am BST

3rd over: Somerset 14-1 (Davies 2, Abell 4) The Somerset batsmen are nervy, playing and missing, pushing tentatively. Porter, straight, high-armed, run-up, is on the money. Davies turns him off his legs for a quick single. Then some relief as Porter over-pitches, and Abell drive him at 70 degrees for four.

10.42am BST

2nd over: Somerset 7-1 (Davies 1, Abell 0) Cook whistles the ball past the nervous pushing blade of Abell with his last ball of the over. He looks dangerous. Not the start Somerset were after.

10.39am BST

Sam Cook whisks the ball down, the seam wobbling all the way, it moves slightly away, Vijay nibbles, nibbles, nibbles, and the ball falls low into the left glove of a diving Adam Wheater.

10.36am BST

1st over: Somerset 7-0 (Vijay 6; Davies 1 ) Jamie Porter scurries in to Murali Vijay, who after two balls is kicking dust behind him like a donkey on a dusty spanish plain. A glorious drive brings up the first boundary of the match.

10.31am BST

TEAM: For the last time this season, here's your Essex XI...#SOMvESS pic.twitter.com/W5sDITrPO4

10.30am BST

TEAM: Here is your Somerset XI tasked with bringing the @CountyChamp title to Taunton #SOMvESS #WeAreSomerset pic.twitter.com/02yMeSBZXR

10.29am BST

In the manner of a Radio one DJ - perhaps something for the ECB to think about next year - a shout out from Finbar Anslow.

“Morning Tanya, just got back from sunny Essex (though my heart lies elsewhere) and am now once more in drizzly Milan. A big hello to all Somerset fans especially my Mum, Barbara Anslow, 100 not out.”

10.26am BST

Impressive mowing from the Somerset groundsman - there actually doesn’t seem to be a single blade of grass on the entire pitch.

Alastair Cook, leading run scorer on either side in the Championship, is looking chilled. “It is amazing what momentum does,” he says ominously for Somerset.

10.21am BST

Sky has gone live to Somerset where the sky is blue and the flag is flying on the cathedral.

Nick Knight is wearing salmon trousers and waving the Championship trophy around.

Here's a look at the pitch ahead of Somerset v Essex #WeAreSomerset #SOMvESS pic.twitter.com/6z0ysBnHPE

10.14am BST

Hello from this first day of the final round of a dangly gold earring of a cricket season and, perhaps, the end of an era. The introduction of the Hundred next year, and the subsequent changes big and small likely to come from that, mean this could mark the beginning of the end of the rule of the 18 counties.

But, as if the Championship knew what might be in store, it has served up a cracker. Surprises, disappointments - from Nottinghamshire’s car-crash , to Surrey’s surprise hiccup - and the season going to the last, the Championship still in the balance at the final round. Somerset, perennial bridesmaids, five times this millennium, are after their first precious pennant. But to do so, they must overcome the 12 point deficit they take into their game against the leaders Essex at Taunton. Essex, 2017 Champs and fresh winners of the T20 Blast, need only draw..

10.07am BST

Here is some pre-game reading setting the scene …

View more on Rob Smyth's website »

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Published on September 23, 2019 09:49

September 22, 2019

Chelsea 1-2 Liverpool: Premier League – as it happened

Trent Alexander-Arnold and Roberto Firmino scored at Stamford Bridge as the leaders Liverpool won their 15th consecutive Premier League game

6.34pm BST

Chelsea 1-2 Liverpool Jacob Steinberg has already filed his report from Stamford Bridge, bless him, so I’ll leave you with that. Thanks for your company - goodnight.

6.32pm BST

“Liverpool played better at Stamford Bridge last year and drew,” says Niall Mullen, “so really nobody knows anything.”

You can’t be throwing opinions like that around without the xG stats, mate.

6.23pm BST

Peep peep! That’s an important win for Liverpool, their first away to one of the big six for over a year. It’s also their 15th consecutive league victory. That’s a staggering achievement, especially as they have scored at least twice in all 15 games. They were nowhere near their best today, particularly in the second half, but they defended resolutely and rode their luck to restore their five-point lead at the top.

6.22pm BST

90+4 min Alonso is booked for taking out Robertson, who bought Liverpool some time with a brilliant 60-yard run.

6.20pm BST

90+1 min Four minutes of added time. Joe Gomez replaces Mo Salah for Liverpool, who will play 5-4-1 for the last few minutes.

6.19pm BST

90 min: Mount misses a great chance! It was a lovely move from Chelsea. Willian drove a crossfield pass to Alonso, who took it down and threaded a low pass into the area for Mount. He had to take the shot first time, as the ball bounced up, and he spanked it wide with his left foot.

6.18pm BST

90 min Liverpool can’t get out. Their ball retention in second half has been abysmal.

6.16pm BST

88 min Batshuayi flicks a header just wide from Alonso’s cross. It was a decent chance, 12 yards out, but there wasn’t much pace on the ball and he couldn’t quite guide it inside the far post.

6.16pm BST

87 min Liverpool break dangerously, with Firmino putting Salah through against the last defender. Trouble is, that last defender is N’Golo Kante, and he wins the ball with ease. What a truly magnificent footballer he is. I take back that comment about a Premier League XI - Kante would walk into it, and probably a World XI too.

6.15pm BST

87 min Mount’s free-kick is headed clear superbly by Matip. Liverpool have crap with the ball in this half but they have defended impeccably.

6.14pm BST

86 min Milner is booked for a foul on Zouma.

6.14pm BST

85 min Willian, Mount, Willian... Milner.

6.13pm BST

84 min Kovacic is booked for something or other, dissent I think.

6.11pm BST

84 min Another Liverpool change: Adam Lallana replaces Jordan Henderson.

6.11pm BST

83 min It’s still all Chelsea, although they are struggling to get behind the Liverpool defence.

6.09pm BST

80 min Willian is fouled on the left wing by Matip. Mount’s free-kick finds the offside Alonso, whose header was saved by Adrian anyway.

6.07pm BST

79 min Azpilicueta’s cross is flicked well wide by Batshuayi. The ball was behind him so it was a speculative attempt.

6.06pm BST

78 min Fabinho is booked for a cynical foul on Batshuayi.

6.04pm BST

77 min Chelsea’s final substitution: Tammy Abraham is replaced by Michy Batshuayi.

6.04pm BST

76 min This is turning into a good test for Liverpool, who have been weirdly poor in the last 25 minutes or so.

6.02pm BST

74 min Liverpool have switched to a 4-4-2, with Henderson on the right and Milner on the left.

6.01pm BST

73 min Alonso, who has been a constant outlet for Chelsea, comes back infield and wallops into orbit with his right foot.

6.00pm BST

72 min James Milner replaces Sadio Mane, another example of Liverpool’s peculiar second-half caution.

6.00pm BST

It was all his own work. He turned away from Fabinho and scurried towards the edge of the area. Then, as three Liverpool players converged, he moved the ball slightly to the right and forced a rising shot that beat the diving Adrian and flew into the top corner. That was a lovely goal.

5.59pm BST

Oh my, that’s a spectacular goal from N’Golo Kante!

5.59pm BST

70 min Liverpool have kept Chelsea at arms length for almost all of this match. I bet Virgil van Dijk still has a resting heart rate.

5.58pm BST

69 min A dangerous break from Liverpool. Mane flights a pass over the defence to Salah, whose chest control is just too heavy, allowing the Chelsea defenders to get round and intercept.

5.56pm BST

67 min Azpilicueta’s dangerous lobbed cross towards Mount is high-kicked away by Alexander-Arnold. Had that been outside the area, a foul would almost certainly have been given for dangerous play. I haven’t a clue any more, I’ll be honest.

5.54pm BST

67 min “Not on board with playing for 2-0,” says Matt Dony. “I’d rather see Liverpool pile forward in search of a 9-0 statement victory.”

Well, if you’re going to win the league for the first time since 1989-90...

5.54pm BST

66 min Although they have had a lot of the ball in the last 15 minutes, Chelsea are not playing with much conviction. They look resigned to defeat.

5.53pm BST

65 min After a nice run from Firmino, Wijnaldum sprays high and wide from 20 yards.

5.52pm BST

63 min “Has there ever been a greater concentration of the top flight’s Grade A players at two clubs than just now Rob?” says Gary Naylor. “Or is it that the great swathes of C+ and C players (relatively speaking of course - they’re all brilliant compared to us plebs) who have always populated the majority of clubs have now slid to C and C-? It’s getting a bit Old Firmish isn’t it?”

Well, it’s only been that way for a year; and although it’s hard to see anyone getting near the top two for the forseeable future, experience tells us something will change in the next year or two. But yes, with Hazard gone you could argue that a Premier League XI would include only players from City and Liverpool.

5.49pm BST

61 min Liverpool have started to sit on their 2-0 lead, which is unlike them. The next goal is a big one.

5.48pm BST

59 min Chelsea are having a decent spell. Azpilicueta’s low cross is flicked behind his standing foot by Abraham, and it takes a touch off Matip before going behind for a corner. Chelsea appeal for handball from the corner, and then Kante rifles a low shot just wide from inside the D.

5.46pm BST

58 min “The problem with VAR as it is currently used is that it seems to be more concerned with motes than planks,” says Felix Wood. “Even if it’s accurate, who cares about offsides by millimetres? But a keeper being five yards off his line at a penalty with three players encroaching like in the Barca-Dortmund game is missed.”

They should bring VAR logic to the judiciary. Stealing a penny sweet = life in the jug. Breaking into the Bank of England = a slap on the wrist.

5.45pm BST

57 min Alexander-Arnold is booked for timewasting at a throw-in. What are Liverpool doing? They are miles better than Chelsea, they should just play.

5.44pm BST

56 min Michael Oliver warns the captain Jordan Henderson about Liverpool timewasting, which in turn helps them waste a bit more time.

5.43pm BST

53 min “Define ‘pompous’,” says Roger Domeneghetti. “Cheers!”

Any use of the word ‘narrative’. You’re welcome!

5.40pm BST

51 min It’s been all Liverpool since half-time. Kepa makes a spectacular reaction save after a rebound off Azpilicueta, although it wouldn’t have counted because of an erroneous offside decision against Alexander-Arnold in the build-up.

5.38pm BST

50 min “I’m in Eugene, Oregon and trying to explain to an American friend what this team is to an LFC fan,” says Paul Quigley. “I started supporting LFC in 86 and I think this is the best team I’ve ever seen from LFC. Which one of the great sides would you say is better, or is this the best?”

If they win the league I think they’ll sit alongside the teams of 1978-79, 1983-84 and 1987-88. You could make a case for any of them really. The 1987-88 team is the best I’ve seen, although the Manchester United supporter in me was a big fan of Roy Hodgson’s Liverpool.

5.38pm BST

48 min Mane heads wide from Fabinho’s cross. He was stretching, which meant he couldn’t control the header.

5.36pm BST

47 min: Kepa makes a fine save! Chelsea a mess at set pieces. A corner on the right was headed back to Alexander-Arnold, the original taker. He boomed a cross beyond the far post to find Firmino in a scandalous amount of space. Firmino cushioned a volley back across goal, and Kepa dived to his left to push it just past the far post. That’s a fine save.

5.33pm BST

46 min Peep peep! Chelsea begin the second half.

5.30pm BST

“Are you claiming he wasn’t offside?” says Mary Waltz. “I just saw the replay on the US feed and he looked offside. I am open to counter arguments.”

No, I think Mount was just offside. But I’m not certain that Son was yesterday in the Leicester-Spurs game, and that’s not good enough. My main problem with VAR, apart from the fact it’s turning football into reality TV, is that it was introduced at least a decade too early. It should have tested properly, so that various unforeseeable scenarios could be considered, rather than it being fasttracked so that it could make a mockery of an otherwise brilliant World Cup.

5.24pm BST

“Does it matter if the tech is very slightly inaccurate?” says Niall Mullen. “In the end it acts as an unimpeachable external arbiter that is less prone to error than the previous system. A bit like ball tracking on DRS. Would the ball really have clipped the top of off? Who knows but as we’ve all agreed to accept its decision we’re no longer arguing about it.”

I think it does, yeah, because once you introduce technology there’s a much greater expectation of fairness. I’d have a margin for error on offside, a bit like umpire’s call in cricket, to cover for the imperfections in the system when it comes to establishing precisely when the ball leaves the player’s foot.

5.24pm BST

Half-time reading

5.18pm BST

Peep peep! Liverpool are well on their way to a 15th consecutive league win. There hasn’t been a huge amount between the sides, but Liverpool have just had a bit too much for Chelsea: too much nous, too much authority, too much confidence and too much class.

5.16pm BST

45+2 min Alonso’s driven cross is fumbled by the diving Adrian, but he does well to grab the loose ball in front of Willian. Chelsea have had a bit of joy down their left.

5.15pm BST

45 min A chance for Abraham, who flicks a header wide from Azpilicueta’s lofted cross. That was a decent opportunity, although he may have been a little unsighted.

5.14pm BST

45 min “Certain VAR things are ridiculous, particularly it’s negative synergy with the handball laws,” says Niall Mullen. “But at least the offside for VAR is totally fair. It’s objective & applies equally to all.”

That assumes the technology is 100 per cent accurate, but it’s not.

5.14pm BST

44 min The match is meandering to half-time. Chelsea will do very well to get back into this, because there’s an air of fatalism around Stamford Bridge.

5.13pm BST

43 min “8-0, Rob,” weeps Mac Millings. “It hurts so much. Here’s my all-time Sadness XI:

5.12pm BST

42 min Kurt Zouma does come on to replace Christensen, who is the second Chelsea defender to go off injured in this match.

5.10pm BST

41 min Christensen is walking gingerly to the sideline. I don’t think he’ll be able to continue.

5.09pm BST

40 min “Don’t be daft,” says Roger Domeneghetti. “Mount’s whole body is offside - look at the photos, not the narrative.”

Ach, that’s such a shame – I thought we were going to get through a whole MBM without pompous use of the word ‘narrative’.

5.09pm BST

39 min Salah almost makes it 3-0, skipping easily past Tomori on the right before striking a rising shot across goal that is superbly blocked by Christensen. He’s injured himself in the process, and Kurt Zouma is warming up.

5.08pm BST

37 min “Rob,” says Matt Dony, “have I told you how much I flipping love VAR?”

5.06pm BST

36 min Adrian collects a cross from Jorginho and knees Abraham in the back in the process. Abraham is down and looks in a lot of pain.

5.04pm BST

33 min “Can you think of a time when there was more, good outstanding English talent in the league?” says Hubert O’Hearn. “At least in the EPL years I can’t think of a year like this when virtually every team has not just ‘a nice young lad’ but at least one and usually two players with legitimate shouts for an England call-up. Who do we credit? Better academies, or (gasp!) is the F.A. doing something right?”

The last time was probably in the early 2000s, when players like Gerrard, Lampard, Ferdinand, Carrick, Cole and Seth Johnson were coming through. As for why, who knows.

5.01pm BST

31 min Jorginho and Henderson square up to each other over something or other. Nothing to see here.

5.01pm BST

It was a simple goal. Robertson curled over a free-kick from the left, and Firmino got in between Alonso and Christensen to head past Kepa from six yards. That was far too easy.

5.00pm BST

It’s there!

4.59pm BST

29 min “Rob, I don’t suppose you could just fast forward to May and let me know if we (Liverpool) win the bloody thing,” says Niall Mullen. “I’d quite like to just enjoy the games, it’s too early in the season to be this beset by nerves.”

I really think you’ll do it this year, injuries permitting.

4.57pm BST

Mason Mount was 0.000000000000000000001 yards offside in the build up.

4.57pm BST

Oh lord, it’s going to be VARed.

4.56pm BST

Of all the gin joints in all the world.

4.56pm BST

25 min In fact, Abraham was being played onside by Alexander-Arnold, so that would have counted. He’ll feel he should have scored, though Adrian made himself big and blocked the shot with his right thigh.

4.54pm BST

24 min Adrian makes a fine save from Abraham, who was put through one-on-one by a fine pass from Christensen. I have a hunch it might have been offside had he scored, but it was a terrific save.

4.52pm BST

21 min Liverpool have this match under control, with Fabinho dictating the play in midfield. They are such an impressive side.

4.50pm BST

20 min Tomori is booked for a late tackle on Henderson.

4.48pm BST

19 min Adrian punches the corner clear and Liverpool break, only for Salah to run the ball out of play.

4.47pm BST

18 min Azpilicueta wins a corner for Chelsea, who have responded well to going behind.

4.45pm BST

15 min An early change for Chelsea, with Marcos Alonso replacing the injured Emerson.

4.45pm BST

That was a brilliant goal. Salah took the free-kick, dragging his studs over the ball to move it a few yards to the side. That created just enough space for Alexander-Arnold, who smacked a curling shot across Kepa and into the far corner. It was beautifully struck.

4.44pm BST

It’s there!

4.43pm BST

13 min Mane is fouled in the D by Christensen. It was a clumsy, rash tackle, and this is a great chance for Liverpool.

4.41pm BST

11 min After lovely play from Kovacic, whose fast feet left Alexander-Arnold for dead, Mount’s dangerous cross from the left just evades Abraham at the near post.

4.38pm BST

8 min Kante plays a nice pass down the side to Willian, who is eased to the floor by van Dijk. Nobody appealed for a penalty, even though it was a bit heavy-handed from van Dijk

4.36pm BST

7 min Liverpool are starting to dominate, with Chelsea pinned in their own half for the last few minutes.

4.34pm BST

4 min Henderson plays an imaginative long pass that would have put Mane through on goal but for a vital, last-gasp interception from the stretching Azpilicueta.

4.33pm BST

4 min Nothing to report thus far. It has, as you’d expect, been a frantic start.

4.30pm BST

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

4.26pm BST

The players are in the tunnel. The Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta, as always, is laughing and joking with the opposition.

4.14pm BST

There were two early games in the Premier League, and you can read all about them here.

3.35pm BST

Pre-match reading

3.34pm BST

N’Golo Kante plays for the first time in over a month, while Mason Mount is fit to start after suffering an ankle injury against Valencia.

Chelsea (4-3-3) Kepa; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Tomori, Emerson; Kante, Jorginho, Kovacic; Willian, Abraham, Mount.
Substitutes: Caballero, Zouma, Alonso, Pulisic, Barkley, Pedro, Batshuayi.

3.02pm BST

Hello. The thing Liverpool really, really want is Manchester City’s title. But it wouldn’t hurt to take their record along the way. Liverpool have won their last 14 Premier League games, and need five more victories to beat the Premier League record set by City in 2017-18.

A win at Stamford Bridge would be a particularly big statement of intent to win the title for the first time since 1990. If anything cost Liverpool the league last season, it was their away form against the big teams – they drew at Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and Everton, and were beaten at Manchester City. Not exactly ‘Klopp out!’ stuff, but it’s the closest Liverpool have had to a weakness since they went to the next level with the signing of Virgil van Dijk at the start of 2018.

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Published on September 22, 2019 10:34

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