Rob Smyth's Blog, page 133

Norwich City 4-0 QPR: Championship – as it happened

Teemu Pukki scored twice as Norwich extended their lead at the top of the Championship with a delightful performance that was marred only by a late red card for Emi Buendia

3.01pm BST

Teemu Pukki bagged a brace as 10-man Norwich cruised to a 4-0 win over managerless QPR at Carrow Road to take another giant step towards a return to the Premier League.

The Canaries were in a different class to a ragged visiting side and could easily have won a one-sided encounter by a bigger margin, despite having Emi Buendia sent off midway through the second period for a badly-mistimed challenge.

2.30pm BST

That’s it for today’s blog. Thanks for your company, and thanks to Norwich for 90 minutes of sheer delightful football. Bye!

2.29pm BST

There are some big Championship games this afternoon, including Birmingham v Leeds and Preston v Sheffield United. You can follow those and more with Ben Fisher.

Related: Bournemouth v Burnley, Newcastle v Crystal Palace and more – live!

2.26pm BST

Post-match interviews

Kenny McLean

2.24pm BST

Peep peep! That was a charming performance from Norwich, who passed a lumbering QPR side to death and all but secured an eighth consecutive win in the first 12 minutes. The only downside was a needless red card for the brilliant Emi Buendia, but that aside they were a pleasure to watch.

2.19pm BST

89 min Another Norwich change: Tom Trybull is replaced by Jordan Rhodes.

2.19pm BST

88 min Osayi-Samuel misses a good chance for a consolation goal, splashing a half-volley high and wide from the corner of the six-yard box.

2.18pm BST

87 min Teemu Pukki walks off to an ovation, with Moritz Leitner replacing him. Pukki scored twice and played superbly.

2.15pm BST

Teemu Pukki gives Norwich fans a happy ending. Zimmermann scooped a ball forward from inside his own half, Hernandez blocked the covering defender Lynch and that allowed Pukki to surge through and ram the ball high into the net.

2.12pm BST

83 min Norwich are working so hard to keep their clean sheet, and if anything their intensity has increased since Buendia was sent off.

2.10pm BST

80 min A Norwich change: the superb Marco Stiepermann is replaced by Todd Cantwell.

2.09pm BST

79 min Leistner rakes a fantastic long pass to Osayi-Samuel, who zips into the area before being dispossessed by the tireless Pukki.

2.07pm BST

76 min The substitute Osayi-Samuel beats Aarons with a stepover and drives a low shot that slithers through the hands of Krul, who is fortunate to claim the ball at the second attempt.

2.04pm BST

75 min Another QPR challenge: Bright Osayi-Samuel replaces Pawel Wszolek.

2.03pm BST

73 min That’s a real shame for Buendia, who scored one, made two and was the best player on the pitch.

2.02pm BST

72 min I thought Buendia’s tackle was pretty similar to Leistner’s challenge on him a few moments earlier, more scissor than two-footed. Leistner wasn’t booked; Buendia was sent off. That said, I haven’t seen a replay yet so it may have been more dangerous.

2.01pm BST

71 min There are boos all round the ground and Buendia looks shocked. It was a zealous challenge on Scowen with both feet off the ground and, though I thought it only merited a yellow card, it was a stupid and unnecessary tackle.

1.59pm BST

71 min “Rob,” says JJ. “Could I just weigh in on the not-the-answer question? As a Spurs fan, I don’t think Sherwood has had the word ‘tactics’ explained to him - and watching his teams answers the question: ‘What if you had someone pick what they thought were the best eleven players and just told them to run around a lot and score goals?’”

You say that like it’s a bad thing.

1.59pm BST

70 min Leistner is lucky not to be booked for a scissor tackle on the breaking Buendia.

1.57pm BST

67 min “Might the Sport Guardian overlords be planning coverage of the Bundesliga sechs-punkter this evening?” asks Ian Copestake. “Not that I’m addicted to quality banter-based football coverage or anything.”

You’re darn tootin. It won’t be Bundesliga Bobby, though, as I’m on the FA Cup semi-final.

1.55pm BST

65 min Buendia misses an excellent chance, curling over the bar from the edge of the area after fine play from Stiepermann. This is joyous, joyful football from Norwich.

1.54pm BST

64 min A classy flick from McLean sparks yet another charming passing move from Norwich, which ends when Lewis’s low cross is blocked.

1.53pm BST

63 min The second half has been more evenly matched, mainly because Norwich have subconsciously declared at 3-0.

1.51pm BST

60 min A brilliant, determined run from Hernandez, who plays on despite being fouled at least twice, leads to a corner for Norwich. Nothing comes of it but that was lovely play from Hernandez.

1.48pm BST

59 min Another change for QPR: Josh Scowen replaces Geoff Cameron.

1.47pm BST

57 min QPR win a couple of corners in quick succession, prompting their fans to dance around in mock delight. The second of those corners brings an excellent save from Krul, who plunged to his left to palm Furlong’s downward header off the line.

1.44pm BST

53 min Norwich don’t quite have the same intensity as in the first half, which is understandable in the circumstances. QPR are just waiting for the relief of the final whistle.

1.43pm BST

52 min The QPR caretaker manager John Eustace is scribbling something on a piece of paper. It looks important. Mind you, so did Jackie Treehorn’s scribbling.

1.40pm BST

50 min “I take exception to Michael Hann’s assertion that QPR lose every bloody week,” Darren Leathley. “As a Leeds supporter, I wonder how the bloody hell we lost to them. Twice.”

1.40pm BST

49 min After yet another fine move, Lewis’s dinked cross from the left skims off the head of Buendia at the far post. Lynch did well to put Buendia under enough pressure to ensure he couldn’t get a clear header.

1.37pm BST

47 min “Afternoon Rob,” says Matt Loten. “I’ve not had a chance to watch Norwich so far this season (yet I’ve managed to catch Pulis’s Boro perform crimes against the beautiful game on at least five occasions) and their football is certainly brightening up a drizzly day on the banks of Loch Long. The other half is on a dive instructor training course, splashing about in the dark, freezing water, so I’ve done what any sensible person who finds themselves situated amongst the dynamic scenery of the Scottish Highlands would do: sought out the nearest pub, ordered a pint of bitter and sat down to watch a kickabout on the telly. Heaven.”

And the good news is they’re showing Swansea v Middlesbrough at 3pm.

1.35pm BST

46 min Peep peep! Norwich begin the second half.

1.33pm BST

“Do yourself a solid?” asks Sean Jones. “I have never heard of that saying. Tears of laughter. What does it mean actually.”

1.19pm BST

A wise man once said that no challenge should be faced without a little charm and a lot of style. Norwich have plenty of both, and a delightful display of passing and movement has taken them to the brink of their eighth consecutive league victory. This game isn’t finished, but it is over.

1.16pm BST

45 min Stiepermann curls a dainty free-kick onto the roof of the net. Lumley had it covered.

1.16pm BST

43 min Lynch is booked for taking an old-fashioned shortcut through the back of Stiepermann just outside the area.

1.14pm BST

42 min “Steve McClaren said he paid the price for QPR being inconsistent,” writes Michael Hann. “Hardly. QPR have been incredibly consistent this year. And they’re keeping it up today. The most consistent team in the Championship. Losing every bloody week. Terrible every bloody week.”

It’s a good thing they already have 44 points, because it’s hard to see them picking up many more.

1.12pm BST

40 min The scariest thing about this first half is that the scoreline seriously flatters QPR. Norwich have been wonderful.

1.10pm BST

That was a gift for Norwich. Freeman played a dreadful pass towards Lynch just outside the QPR area. Buendia read it and guided a simple ball through to Pukki, who slipped it past Lumley from 10 yards.

1.10pm BST

Teemu Pukki gets his customary goal.

1.09pm BST

36 min Buendia’s movement off the ball is so good. At the other end, Rangel’s snap volley from 12 yards is smartly saved down to his right by Krul.

1.08pm BST

35 min Buendia almost scores a gorgeous goal. After a meandering passing move, McLean waved a fine pass over the defence. Buendia stuck out a telescopic leg to control it on the run before hitting a low shot from a tight angle that hit the right leg of Lumley and dribbled into the side netting.

1.06pm BST

34 min Bidwell boots Buendia up in the air. It’s his last contribution - he has a knock and has been replaced by Toni Leistner.

1.05pm BST

33 min “Hi again Rob,” says Phil Withall. “We meet up for a lot of matches, numbers vary because of the time difference but it’s a good laugh. If anyone is interested @BrisCanaries is the Twitter link to contact.”

1.02pm BST

30 min McLean stabs a pass into the area for Pukki, who cuts the ball back perfectly for Hernandez near the penalty spot. He has a simple chance to make it 3-0 - but he drags it wide of the far post.

1.00pm BST

28 min Pass pass pass pass pass pass pass. This is a pleasure to watch, one of the most eye-catching performances I’ve seen all season.

12.58pm BST

25 min “Perhaps modern football could be rebuilt based on a swap system rather than transfers,” says Ian Copestake. “Obviously to get it going there would have to be a cull.”

12.57pm BST

24 min A huge crossfield pass finds Stiepermann on the left. He curls a sweet cross into the centre, where Lumley’s punch hits Buendia and rebounds just wide of goal. Norwich have been magnificent and could be 5-0 up already.

12.55pm BST

23 min “Evening Rob,” says Phil Withall. “I’m in the rather strange situation of being in a pub in Brisbane with twenty other Norwich fans, watching sumptuous football and having members of a hen party coming over to check what the score is even though I suspect football isn’t their priority. That is the power of Farke’s Norwich. Bringing people together the world over.”

That’s brilliant. Do you meet up for every game?

12.54pm BST

22 min Another chance for Hernandez. McLean slides a beautiful through pass to Hernandez, who lifts the ball back across Lumley and wide of the far post. He should have squared it to Pukki, who would have had an open goal.

12.52pm BST

19 min “These are grim times even for a QPR fan used to grim times,” says Roy Allen. “This game will likely get very ugly. Whilst the recent run has been abysmally poor, sacking McClaren without a replacement lined up seems like panic. All Les Ferdinand (great player, hero, terrible administrator) can suggest is his old pal Tim. I don’t care what the question is, Sherwood is not the answer. I’ll now check how many Norwich have scored while I’ve been typing this.”

I actually think Sherwood is a decent manager, although I usually don’t share that opinion in polite society. But you’re right, it does all feel a bit shambolic.

12.50pm BST

18 min This is painfully one-sided. Hernandez cuts infield from the left, using Buendia’s off-the-ball run by not using him, and cracks a low shot from 20 yards that is well saved by the diving Lumley.

12.48pm BST

16 min “Leaving aside that automatic promotion is not quite as done and dusted as you reckon, going up to the Premier League is weird for a small-medium club (and with a 27k capacity that’s what we are),” says Ben Heywood. “Yes, the glory of temporary success is a brilliant feeling - but then what do you do? Like a dog chasing a car, the chase is much more fun than the outcome, which is often a series of tonkings from the big boys, scrappy wins against the rest, a brief, Icarus-like moment if you have either splashed some cash or stumbled upon an outstanding talent or two and then a free-form, depressing tumble down the table and out of the league again when the aforementioned big boys nick your best players or your manager - or decide they’ll spend the sort of money that you just don’t have.

“I’ve followed Norwich all my life and seen all this happen many times over. I love watching us in the Championship - can’t we stay in it for a bit? Win back to back titles maybe? The Premier League odds are so stacked against a small club (and yeah, I know, Leicester - but even they had more money than we’ll ever have) that it just doesn’t feel fair any more. Gone are the days when a small provincial club can nearly win the thing as we so nearly did in the very first Premier League season! Still, I guess it’s worth it just to say that we managed it - and if our inclusion makes you feel better about the world in general, I’m all for it. On the ball City!!!”

12.47pm BST

14 min That was almost 3-0. Stiepermann ran onto a return pass from Hernandez and lifted the ball over Lumley from a tight angle, but Lynch came across to head it off the line.

12.46pm BST

14 min Do yourself a solid: watch a Norwich game before the end of the season. They are a quite lovely football team.

12.44pm BST

Buendia played a cute pass down the right to Stiepermann, who moved infield onto his left foot and drove a crisp low shot from 20 yards that went through the left hand of the diving Lumley. He probably should have saved it, though it was really well struck and he was also unsighted.

12.43pm BST

Game over, already.

12.42pm BST

9 min Norwich look too good for QPR at the moment. Their passing and movement is really lovely.

12.39pm BST

What a fine goal! Godfrey drives a long crossfield pass to find the full-back Aarons in all kinds of space on the right side of the area. He looks up and plays a precise low cross to the similiarly unmarked Buendia, who drags the ball into the corner from eight yards. It was beautifully constructed, a really neat move, although QPR’s defending was on the shambolic side of negligent.

12.37pm BST

5 min Norwich are already playing some lovely stuff. They look so confident and purposeful in possession. You’d hope so after seven straight wins, but even so, it’s very nice to watch.

12.35pm BST

2 min An early half-chance for Norwich. Buendia shovels a nice pass through the inside-right channel for Pukki, who looks offside but is allowed to play on. He moves into the area and slams a shot from a very tight angle that is claimed at the second attempt by Lumley.

12.34pm BST

1 min A good start from QPR. Cousins’ inswinging cross from the left is headed towards his own goal by the under-pressure Godfrey, and Krul makes a comfortable save.

12.32pm BST

1 min Peep peep! QPR get the match under way. They are wearing their fuchsia pink (sic) away strip; Norwich are in yellow and green.

12.05pm BST

If any footballer has a story to tell, it’s Norwich legend and occasional wrestler Grant Holt. His upcoming autobiography should be great.

11.43am BST

Pre-match reading

Related: 'He took my job': Ian Holloway hits out after Steve McClaren is sacked by QPR

11.42am BST

Norwich manager Daniel Farke has picked the same starting XI for the eighth consecutive game, so he has. QPR’s caretaker manager John Eustace makes five changes.

Norwich City (4-2-3-1) Krul; Aarons, Zimmerman, Godfrey, Lewis; Trybull, McLean; Buendia, Stiepermann, Hernandez; Pukki.
Substitutes: McGovern, Vrancic, Leitner, Rhodes, Klose, Hanley, Cantwell.

10.13am BST

Plot spoiler: Norwich City will be playing Premier League football next season. Seven straight wins have given them a seven-point promotion cushion with seven games to go, and it’s nigh-on impossible to see them blowing it now.

They have been up and down a few times in recent years, but I suppose it’s better to be a yo-yo club than a dodo club. And those of us who used alleviate the extremities of puberty in the late 1980s and early 1990s will always feel the world is a slightly better place when Norwich are doing well.

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

Mo Salah scored his first goal in nine games as Liverpool came from behind to keep up their title challenge with another nerve-shredding victory

11.45pm BST

Related: Liverpool recover their composure after Southampton’s stinging start

11.34pm BST

Related: ‘We play our own football’: Klopp praises Liverpool’s resolve after comeback win

10.02pm BST

Dom Fifield’s match report has landed, so I’ll leave you with that. Thanks for your company, and especially for your pedantry. Goodnight!

Related: Liverpool made to sweat before cool Mo Salah eases title nerves

10.01pm BST

“This was never in doubt,” says Paul Griffin, “which makes me somewhat regret pledging the soul of my first-born to Lord Satan himself for a win when it was 0-1.”

Arf. I really think Liverpool will win it now. They are two points clear having played a game more, but City’s game in hand is at Old Trafford, they have a tougher run-in and a probable fixture pile-up. And Liverpool’s sense of destiny gets stronger with every nerve-shredding victory.

9.59pm BST

Post-match interviews

Jordan Henderson “Every game is massive for us. We have to win every game. I thought the lads showed great character in the first half, and it was a big performance in the second half. Me and Milly wanted to make a difference when we came on and thankfully we did that.

9.59pm BST

That double substitution from Jurgen Klopp - Henderson and Milner for Alexander-Arnold and Wijnaldum - was a turning point, an ostensibly defensive change which enabled them to win the game.

9.54pm BST

Liverpool’s players are all beaming as they walk off the field. Van Dijk and Klopp are laughing about something or other, and I’m suddenly mesmerised by Jurgen Klopp’s teeth. It’s a different reaction to the aggressive relief after the Spurs game, more a warm contentment at a job seriously well done.

9.53pm BST

PS Yes, it was Bednarek who was twisted inside out for the third goal. I did a mistake!

9.52pm BST

Peep peep! Liverpool go back to the top of the table with an admirable and seriously hard-fought win at St Mary’s.

9.52pm BST

90+4 min Mane is booked for kicking the ball away.

9.50pm BST

90+1 min “Hi there,” says Filip Zec. “Not exactly sure how could Vestergaard have been ‘twisted inside out’ by Firmino for the third Pool goal as he was substituted earlier after Mo’s goal…”

My point exactly.

9.49pm BST

90 min Henderson is booked for booting Bertrand.

9.48pm BST

89 min Robertson is booked for handball just outside the area on the right. He slipped, so I’m not sure how deliberate it was, though he’d probably have been penalised for a foul on Sims anyway. On Sky Sports, Jamie Carragher is now in full Fanzone mode. It won’t be to all tastes but it should be easy to empathise with how he is feeling.

9.46pm BST

88 min Liverpool make a change, with Naby Keita replaced by Dejan Lovren. This is such an impressive win for Liverpool because Southampton have played really well. And Mo Salah breaking the seal is a significant added bonus. I think they’ll win all their remaining games; whether that’s enough, who knows.

9.45pm BST

87 min “Axiomatic: if Liverpool’s would-be-legendary front three can’t get a goal against a relegation-threated side then they can’t credibly claim a right to the title,” wrote Eric J Schawb, a couple of milliseconds before Salah’s goal. “Certainly City’s front men wouldn’t go through this game without scoring at least once.

9.44pm BST

Firmino made the goal beautifully, twisting Vestergaard inside out on the right side of the area before slipping a low cross into the middle. Henderson, arriving late, stormed into the area to slap it past Gunn from six yards.

9.42pm BST

Liverpool are top of the league!

9.41pm BST

84 min Sadio Mane deserves credit for that goal as well. When the Southampton corner was half-cleared, he made a superb block-tackle 30 yards from goal. The ball was then headed forward by Henderson to Salah, who did the rest in a manner that will become immortal should Liverpool win the league.

9.39pm BST

83 min A double change for Southampton: Charlie Austin and Stuart Armstrong replace Romeu and Vestergaard.

9.39pm BST

82 min It used to be said that 1-0s win titles. Liverpool are doing it slightly differently, with nerve-shredding 2-1 wins.

9.38pm BST

The goal came from a Southampton corner. It was cleared to Salah, who scampered 50 yards and had a two against one with Firmino. I thought he should have passed to be honest, but he got the edge of the area and swept an emphatic left-footed shot across Gunn and into the corner. In the circumstances that is an immense finish, not least because he would have been slaughtered for selfishness had he not scored.

9.36pm BST

Mo Salah ends his goal drought!

9.34pm BST

77 min Liverpool are starting to look desperate - mostly in a good way - and the match has become really frantic. There’s a break in play while Bertrand and another Southampton player receive treatment. Klopp, meanwhile, is having an exchange of views with Redmond and Hojbjerg. It seems good-natured enough.

9.33pm BST

76 min “I don’t agree about the no-penalty decision,” says Ric Arthur. “I think Keita could easily have jumped over Yoshida’s legs, but didn’t because he’d lost control of the ball. I think he initiated the contact, not Yoshida.”

But is it incumbent upon him to hurdle the challenge? You are right that he had lost control of the ball; whether that matters, I don’t know. I need to swot up on the laws of the game.

9.31pm BST

75 min Bertrand is booked for timewasting.

9.31pm BST

74 min: Great chance for Liverpool! Mane plays a brilliant pass down the left to Robertson - but he overhits a relatively straightforward cross to Salah, who was unmarked in front of goal. That’s so unlike Robertson, and Salah waves his hands in disgust.

9.30pm BST

74 min “The Zutons are at Liverpool Olympia tonight,” says Charlie Taylor. “I think the band are waiting for the final whistle before they come on....and half the audience are glued to the Guardian football thread!”

I always knew I’d play a big venue one day.

9.29pm BST

73 min It’s all Liverpool now. Southampton get a bit of a breather when they cross the halfway line, and then Bertrand is warned for timewasting at a throw-in.

9.27pm BST

71 min “Obviously I’m not happy, but I’m not panicking yet,” lies Matt Dony. “I have to admit, there is a dirty little part of me that would love to see a scrappy 92nd-minute winner because of some horrendous defensive error, purely because it would be enough to make some City fans’ heads explode. I’m expecting them to win the league, so I’ll take whatever victories I can along the way.”

9.26pm BST

69 min We’ve just seen a replay of the Keita penalty appeal. In real time it looks like Keita may have played for it, but in slow motion it looks a clear penalty. Even if he did play for it, I think it was a foul because Yoshida slid across the line and would have taken him out regardless.

9.24pm BST

68 min All of a sudden, Southampton are hanging on. Milner’s corner comes to Henderson, whose chest-volley is accidentally blocked by van Dijk.

9.24pm BST

66 min: Brilliant block from Yoshida! Whether by accident or design, Firmino controlled Keita’s left-wing cross and lobbed it over the head of Vestergaard in the same movement, and when the ball sat up he lashed it towards goal from eight yards. Yoshida charged across to make a vital block.

9.21pm BST

65 min Insight department: this is a huge 25 minutes for Liverpool.

9.21pm BST

64 min It’s now Liverpool’s turn to dominate possession, with Southampton reverting to their counter-attacking approach. Mane, who looks very lively, plays a one-two with Salah before being crowded out in the area.

9.20pm BST

63 min “Somewhere seen on the grainy black-and-white screen of my memory there was a fine player named Shaqiri who made an excellent start to the season,” says Hubert O’Hearn. “Wonder what became of him?”

9.19pm BST

62 min Mane runs Bednarek down the left and cuts the ball back to Firmino, who mis-hits wide from eight yards with his left foot. That was a decent chance, albeit in a crowded area and with his weaker foot.

9.18pm BST

61 min Southampton make their first change, with Josh Sims replacing the goalscorer Shane Long.

9.17pm BST

60 min Firmino’s curling shot from 20 yards is saved comfortably by Gunn.

9.16pm BST

59 min Henderson and Milner replace Wijnaldum and Alexander-Arnold. That’s interesting but understandable, because Alexander-Arnold, though he created the goal, has had a difficult night defensively.

9.15pm BST

58 min: Big penalty appeal for Liverpool! Keita plays a one-two with Mane, surges into the area and goes over after a sliding challenge from Yoshida. Paul Tierney waves play on. I think that should have been a penalty, even though Keita had overrun the ball and was probably looking for it. It was still a foul for mine.

9.12pm BST

56 min Jordan Henderson and James Milner are about to come on for Liverpool.

9.12pm BST

55 min This is a fine spell for Southampton, who are dominating possession for the first time in the match.

9.11pm BST

54 min “Maybe it’s because I’m in the U-S-A! and completely ignorant (please read on) about these things,” says Peter Oh, “but the missive about cricket had me hearing crickets, and the update on Dundee had me imagining a crocodile.”

9.10pm BST

53 min Shane Long tries a shot from a narrow angle 35 yards from goal. I think it would be an insult to your football knowledge to tell you what happened next.

9.09pm BST

53 min Ward-Prowse’s corner is headed wide by Bednarek, under pressure by the penalty spot.

9.08pm BST

52 min Brilliant play by Redmond. He skins Fabinho on the left, cuts into the area and tries to run Matip, who stays on his feet and blocks the eventual shot at the expense of a corner. Redmond has been excellent tonight.

9.07pm BST

51 min Southampton have started the second half positively. Redmond’s snapshot from 20 yards is deflected behind for a corner.

9.05pm BST

49 min Bednarek is booked for a foul on Mane.

9.05pm BST

48 min Valery wins the ball off Fabinho and curls a superb cross from the right that is just missed by Redmond at the near post. Any touch with his head and that would probably have been a goal, because Alisson was in no-man’s land.

9.02pm BST

46 min Peep peep! Southampton begin the second half, kicking from left to right on my television screen.

9.01pm BST

“Just some housekeeping, Rob, if anyone’s interested,” says Simon McMahon. “Dundee United have just conceded a 94th-minute equaliser to Ross County to virtually hand the Scottish Championship title to the Highlanders, and now face the play offs for a third season running, possibly against neighbours Dundee. So, you know, it could be worse, Liverpool fans.”

Oh lordy, not again.

8.58pm BST

“Great to see Southampton and Liverpool joining in on the County Championship action,” says Ramkumar Rajgopalan, “although I don’t understand how Keita could have scored 36 runs if it’s 1-1...”

I blame Haseeb Hameed; I’ve had cricket on the brain today.

8.48pm BST

Half-time reading

Related: When Serie A title races captivated the world

8.47pm BST

Peep peep! An excellent first half ends with a fair scoreline. Shane Long gave Southampton an early lead, reward for a very fast start, but Liverpool kept their nerve and Naby Keita’s first goal for the club brought them level. See you in 10 minutes.

8.45pm BST

45 min Firmino’s speculative, driven shot from the right edge of the area goes a few yards wide of the far post. He has looked quite sharp tonight, more so than Salah and Mane.

8.44pm BST

44 min Much better from Southampton. Hojbjerg slides a pass down the left for Redmond, whose dangerous cross is cleared by van Dijk.

8.42pm BST

43 min Liverpool have controlled the game in the last 10-15 minutes, with Southampton less dangerous on the break. They look like they need half-time, mentally and physically.

8.40pm BST

41 min “Do I eat my words now about Keita,” says Michael Gibson, “or wait until the end of the match?”

Treat yourself to a half-time snack.

8.39pm BST

39 min Firmino’s dinked cross from the left skims off the head of Mane, six yards from goal. That was a chance, but he mistimed his jump and the ball drifted to safety. Liverpool are getting a lot of joy from crosses.

8.38pm BST

Salah was fractionally offside at the start of the move, and Southampton aren’t happy about that. But plenty happened between that moment and the goal, which came from a wonderful cross near the byline from Alexander-Arnold. He curled it at pace to the far post, where Keita’s close-range header bounced through the hands of the sprawling Gunn and into the net.

8.36pm BST

So that’s why he picked Naby Keita!

8.35pm BST

35 min A quiet spell in the game. I’m only typing this entry so you know I haven’t gone home.

8.31pm BST

31 min Southampton’s 5-4-1 formation is starting to look like a 9-0-1 at times. Liverpool are having so much of the ball. But despite a few scrambles in the area, they have only created one major chance.

8.29pm BST

30 min A headed clearance is volleyed over from 25 yards by Firmino. It was a very difficult chance, if that.

8.28pm BST

29 min After another neat, precise counter-attack from Southampton, Hojbjerg’s cross from the left just clears Long at the far post. They are getting a lot of joy down the left, where Trent Alexander-Arnold has looked unusually vulnerable.

8.27pm BST

27 min “I see,” says Habit Butt, “that the much-maligned Liverpool midfield is being missed tonight.”

It would have been an idea to play a midfield, definitely. But yes, I’m slightly surprised there isn’t a dog of war in there to patrol Southampton’s counter-attacks.

8.25pm BST

26 min Ward-Prowse’s deflected cross is watched onto the outside of the post by Alisson. Goalkick to Liverpool.

8.25pm BST

25 min Hojbjerg swishes a sweet half-volley from 30 yards that is blocked by Southampton. In context, this is a brilliant game.

8.24pm BST

24 min “On Sunday, I was in such a pit of gloom that even when we scored in the last minute, I wasn’t even that happy,” says Tim Woods, who really has got it bad. “And while one man (you) sees a series of lucky winners as destiny, another (me) sees it as us using up all our luck for the season six games too early. I’m going to watch a film instead. Any suggestions?”

Terminator 2?

8.22pm BST

23 min A cleverly worked short corner comes to Salah, who flicks a shot with the outside of the boot that is blocked on the six-yard line.

8.21pm BST

22 min Liverpool need to hold their nerve. There will be a spell in this game when they create chances galore. It’s important they are no more than one goal down when that spell comes.

8.21pm BST

21 min Southampton continue to look the likelier scorers of the game’s second goal. They have been quite outstanding so far.

8.20pm BST

19 min: Long misses a great chance! Alexander-Arnold lost the ball just outside the Liverpool area, drilling an attempted pass straight at Bertrand. Redmond moved the ball back to Bertrand, whose low cross flashed past the unmarked Long at the near post and was diverted just over his own bar by van Dijk. Long missed his kick, basically.

8.17pm BST

17 min This is a fine match, both tactically and viscerally, and it’s not often you can say that with a straight face.

8.16pm BST

16 min: Gunn makes a good save from Mane! The move started with a regal surge forward from Matip, who beat three or four players and found Salah. His floated cross was headed too close to Gunn from six yards by Mane, and the stretching Keita stabbed the rebound off the outside of the post. Mane’s was the big chance. In his defence, there was no pace on the ball for him to work with.

8.14pm BST

15 min Matip heads the corner clear to the edge of the area, where Hojbjerg mishits a volley into the ground.

8.14pm BST

14 min Redmond wins a corner for Southampton. “Liverpool can’t match Southampton’s intensity at the moment,” says Jamie Carragher on Sky. Ward-Prowse will take the corner...

8.13pm BST

12 min Southampton have been excellent so far. You see a lot of teams who defend admirably in numbers against class opposition but then have no idea what to do when they get the ball. Southampton know exactly what they are doing.

8.11pm BST

11 min “Is it true,” says Peter Mumola, “that that any decent Southampton player has been dropped from tonight’s XI as a(nother) potential Liverpool signing?”

No, but Brendan Rodgers has just bid £400m for Shane Long.

8.09pm BST

It was a neatly constructed goal, though Liverpool will wonder why Long was unmarked eight yards out. Bertrand’s curling chip from the left was cleverly backheaded across the area by Hojbjerg. The ball dropped over Robertson and came to Long, who controlled the ball and slammed it past Alisson.

8.08pm BST

Shane Long has scored a goal!

8.08pm BST

8 min “This title race is Terminator 2,” says Niall Mullen. “City are the relentless T-1000. Liverpool are John Connor. And Klopp is the larger-than-life German-speaking cyborg (do fake hair & teeth make you a cyborg?). Ultimately we’ll defeat the cold-eyed futuristic killer but at the expense of Klopp sacrificing himself, but not before hugging us all and saying ‘now I know why Scousers cry’. The pressure is not getting to me.”

Thanks for plotspoiling a film that only came out 23 years ago, mate.

8.07pm BST

7 min Liverpool are having loads of the ball, with Southampton set up to counter-attack. They are sitting so deep, but they are springing with intent when they get the ball.

8.05pm BST

6 min “Having hoped for about the last five matches that Klopp would pick Fabinho in midfield, probably over Henderson, I now find myself scratching my head at putting him with Keita tonight,” says Michael Gibson. “Is he resting Henderson and Milner for Porto?”

No. You’re welcome! He’s picked what he thinks is the best midfield to win this match. I thought he’d play Fabinho and one of Milner and Henderson, but of late I have reluctantly conceded that Premier League managers might know more about football than me.

8.05pm BST

5 min ... and Matip will head it away.

8.04pm BST

5 min A good attack from Southampton. Redmond plays a nice ball down the left to Bertrand, whose cross is headed behind by van Dijk. Ward-Prowse will take the corner...

8.03pm BST

4 min “Having hoped for about the last five matches that Klopp would pick Fabinho in midfield, probably over Henderson, I now find myself scratching my head at putting him with Keita tonight,” says Michael Gibson. “Is he resting Henderson and Milner for Porto?”

No. You’re welcome! I’m sure he’s picked what he thinks is the best midfield to win this match. I thought he’d play Fabinho and one of Milner and Henderson, but of late I have grudgingly conceded that Premier League managers might know more about football than me.

8.02pm BST

3 min It’s been a good start from Liverpool, with Southampton forced back into a 5-4-1 formation. Firmino’s pass into the area towards Salah is intercepted by Yoshida.

8.01pm BST

2 min “Wakes up at 6.45am in Wellington, New Zealand, rubs hands... and hands only...” says Nick Close. “Liverpool to be two points clear again by 9.45am. Anticipation is right... Can’t remember the last time The Pool played on a Friday night. Even bought a new shirt. Still prefer my Crown Paints one!”

Bit snug now?

8.00pm BST

1 min Peep peep! Liverpool, sporting their away kit, get the match under way. The New Balance design comes in a deep violet shade, which last featured on the team’s third strip for 2012-13, and provides a striking alternative to the traditional home kit. The kit adopts the same jacquard linear graphic as on the front of next term’s home shirt, which takes inspiration from the architecture of Anfield’s Main Stand.

Southampton are in red and white.

7.57pm BST

There’s a brilliant atmosphere at St Mary’s. This has got a sniff about it.

Bob’s Prediction: Southampton 2-3 Liverpool.

7.56pm BST

The players are in the tunnel. Virgil van Dijk, who is about to be booed for two hours solid, looks like he’s off to do his grocery shopping. The man is ridiculous.

7.52pm BST

“Sometimes, a man has to embrace his inner Han Solo,” says Matt Dony, making a bold claim to manhood. “I have a bad feeling about this. Ralph has done a sterling job at Southampton; he’s improved performances, results, and just the general feeling of the club. And, as much as recent late winners have looked very destiny-ish, they also belie a team who aren’t as fluent as we’d like. Certainly aren’t as fluent as City. (Although there’s no shame there.) Long story short, I’m nervous. But then, I kinda feel like I’ve written an awful lot of emails that basically say, ‘Hi Rob, I’m scared.’ (Almost always about football, but there was that kidnapping episode...) Maybe it’ll all be ok. Maybe I should just relax.”

Embrace the misery. It’s what

life
title races are for. I call them traugasms.

7.44pm BST

“Surely Chelsea at home is Liverpool’s toughest fixture?” says Paul Grimes. “One they may slip up in?”

I think this is tougher, mainly because of the influence of the crowd. But I wouldn’t question your parentage on a popular social-media platform for suggesting Chelsea is the tougher game.

7.42pm BST

“What a mouth-watering managerial clash this is!” ooohs Peter Oh. “The Austrian Ralph Hasenhüttl - the Alpine Klopp - versus the German Jürgen Klopp - a.k.a. The Klopp. It’s the Umlaut Derby! Shortly after his arrival at Southampton, Hasi quipped that if anyone wanted guarantees, they should have bought a washing machine. Klopp delivers heavy metal football. Oh the sound of metal crunching against metal!”

7.35pm BST

“Seems Herr Klopp picked that midfield with his arms folded and with a ‘don’t tell me I don’t do things for you’ rejoinder,” says Ian Copestake. “You fans wanted a dynamic, non-sideways passing three? There you go.”

Football fans are Mrs Doyle.

7.18pm BST

Mind the Time?

Thirty five years ago last month, Sharon and Elsie and We Got It Made were shunted from BBC1’s Friday-night schedule to allow live coverage of Liverpool’s trip to Southampton. Danny Wallace made it all worthwhile by scoring the Goal of the Season.

7.17pm BST

The first email of the night comes from Bill Hargreaves

“Opens laptop at airport, rubs hands, here we go...”

7.06pm BST

Alternative MBM action

Related: England v Canada: women's international friendly – live!

7.05pm BST

Pre-match reading

Related: Manchester City look world’s best but Liverpool up for title fight, says Klopp

Related: Premier League title race: five key areas for Liverpool in the run-in | Andy Hunter

7.03pm BST

Southampton (3-4-2-1) Gunn; Yoshida,Bednarek, Vestergaard; Valery, Hojbjerg, Romeu, Bertrand; Redmond, Ward-Prowse; Long.
Substitutes: McCarthy, Stephens, Targett, Armstrong, Gallagher, Sims, Austin.

Liverpool (4-3-3) Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, van Dijk, Robertson; Wijnaldum, Fabinho, Keita; Salah, Firmino, Mane.
Substitutes: Mignolet, Lovren, Henderson, Moreno, Shaqiri, Origi, Milner.

5.33pm BST

Here we go again, again. Liverpool’s attempt to win their first league title since 1990 is the most compelling telenovela of 2019, and tonight we have a bonus Friday-night instalment. Episode 33: Southampton away is arguably Liverpool’s trickiest remaining fixture, against a team who are in excellent form and well on the way to escaping relegation. A draw is of little use to Liverpool; a win would put them above Manchester City for at least another eight days, albeit having played a game more.

It’s true that Liverpool have been hanging on to their one-point deficit, needing late goals to see off Fulham and Spurs, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The way they beat Spurs last Sunday will have massively increased their sense of destiny, and anyone with a GCSE in Steve Bruce Studies will know that such things matter. It’s also far better to win uglyish than lose pretty, especially as this stage of the season. April and May are no time to be looking at Expected Goals – Liverpool are finding a way, and if they win their last six games I think they’ll win the league.

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The Fiver | It might excite Jordan Pickford but for Liverpool it feels less appealing

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If this season’s Premier League title race doesn’t make you feel alive with excitement, you are one of two things: a Manchester United fan, or an irreparable husk whose glabrous lust for life has been inexorably eroded by the arbitrary vicissitudes of our existence, who has been clinically dead inside since 2011, and whose only scintilla of joy in life comes from putting down the latest Marlon James book and reinstalling Championship Manager 2001-02.

Related: Manchester City look world’s best but Liverpool up for title fight, says Klopp

Continue reading...

Football transfer rumours: Thibaut Courtois to Manchester United?

Today’s scuttlebutt knows where you live

Smell that? You smell that? Rumours, son. Nothing else in the world smells like that. The Mill loves the smell of napalm in the morning.

It’s particularly whiffy around Old Trafford the noo, where Ole Gunnar Solskjær is planning to address the mess he inherited from The Artist Formerly Known As The Special One. At least five players are set to leave the club, while potential signings include Raphaël Varane – available for just £429m, or three easy instalments or £143m – Jadon Sancho, Callum Hudson-Odoi and a DeLorean that can take them back to 1999 and make all this go away.

Related: Alexis Sánchez set to lead Manchester United exodus that may include De Gea

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

A last-minute own goal from Toby Alderweireld gave Liverpool a priceless victory after a nerve-shredding second half at Anfield

8.40pm BST

Here’s Andy Hunter’s player ratings:

Related: Liverpool 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur: player ratings from Anfield

6.52pm BST

Danny Taylor’s match report from Anfield has landed, so I’ll leave you with that. Thanks for your company, goodnight!

Related: Liverpool get out of jail as Alderweireld’s late own goal earns victory over Spurs

6.50pm BST

Liverpool’s next game is Southampton away on Friday night. A tricky match, that, but if they win it I’d fancy them to win their remaining games.

6.50pm BST

Mo Salah speaks

“Normally I stay outside the box on corners but I followed my intuition and went inside. I have to wait to see if the Premier League give me the goal. [They haven’t.] We got the three points, that’s the most important thing. I don’t care about the goal. There are some players with the same number of goals as me and they are having the best season of my life, and I’m supposed to be having a bad season. I want to win the Premier League; that’s the most important thing for me. The atmosphere was crazy and the fans help us a lot. They are desperate to win the league and we will do everything to make that happen.”

6.43pm BST

The more you see the winning goal, the more it looks like a bad mistake by Hugo Lloris, who should have caught Salah’s header. Instead he dropped it onto Alderweireld’s shin and it rebounded into the net.

6.40pm BST

It’s worth remembering the majestic, Beckenbaurian piece of defending from Virgil van Dijk, who showed the cool certainty of a bomb-disposal expert when he was left alone facing Sissoko and Son with a few minutes remaining.

Liverpool still needed Sissoko to blooter it into orbit, and he did that immaculately.

6.38pm BST

Andy Robertson (who was magnificent)

6.33pm BST

That last-minute goal gave Liverpool two points - and, almost as importantly, will massively increase their sense of destiny. I think they’ll win their last six games now. And if they do, City cannot afford to drop any points. This is some title race.

And, I’m sure you’ll all agree, it’s a great time to be a Manchester United fan.

6.30pm BST

“That,” says Frank McGirr, “must have been the best £14 that guy on the BA flight has ever spent.”

I hope the person sitting next to him wasn’t enjoying a nice nap.

6.29pm BST

When Alderweireld scored Liverpool’s winner, Jamie Carragher defenestrated all professionalism to giddily shriek, ‘Mo Salah you little dancer!’ I imagine this piece of commentary has significantly increased the volume of spittle on keyboards and monitors up and down the country, though I quite enjoyed it myself.

6.27pm BST

The win means Liverpool go two points clear of Manchester City, who have a game in hand. But that game in hand is at Old Trafford. It is exquisitely tight. For whatever it’s worth (clue: nowt), I think Liverpool are going to win it.

6.25pm BST

The nerves of everyone connected with Liverpool were sliced and diced during a deranged last quarter of the match, but it ended with the sheer euphoria of Toby Alderweireld’s 90th-minute own goal. If that doesn’t give them the impetus to win their remaining games, nothing will.

6.23pm BST

Liverpool go back to the top of the table after an unforgettable victory!

6.22pm BST

90+5 min There’s a delay because of a clash of heads between Fabinho and Llorente, who both need treatment for cuts.

6.19pm BST

90+3 min Llorente is on for Eriksen, but I think Spurs are done. This has been a ridiculous finish. Sissoko missed a glorious chance to finish Liverpool off; Alli shot this far wide; and then Liverpool snatched victory through Alderweireld’s own goal.

6.18pm BST

90+2 min There will be four minutes of added time.

6.18pm BST

Alexander-Arnold’s inswinging corner was headed away superbly by Kane. It was collected by Robertson, who played it out to Alexander-Arnold again. He swung a big, deep cross beyond the far post towards the unmarked Salah. He planted a header towards goal that Lloris pushed onto Alderweireld and into the net. Lloris should probably have caught it. There was nothing Alderweireld could do, really.

6.17pm BST

Liverpool’s desperation is rewarded!

6.16pm BST

90 min Origi wins a corner for Liverpool. This is exhilarating stuff.

6.15pm BST

88 min Spurs have another chance to win it! Eriksen hooks a wonderful pass to the left for Alli, who floats a delicious curler just past the far post with Alisson beaten.

6.14pm BST

87 min Another dangerous break from Spurs. Son plays the ball to Rose, who has options in the middle but overhits his attempted cross to Kane. Liverpool are ragged and desperate, but that isn’t always a bad thing.

6.12pm BST

85 min: Sissoko misses a sitter! Oh my goodness, what a chance! Spurs opened Liverpool up like a can of peas on the break and had a two against one with van Dijk faced by Son and Sissoko. Van Dijk did brilliantly, a bit like Franz Beckenbauer in the 1974 World Cup final, by blocking the pass to Son and inviting Sissoko to shift the ball onto his left foot and shoot. He did just that – and belted it over the bar from 15 yards.

6.10pm BST

84 min “I have a nasty feeling,” says Matt Dony, “ that Cannon’s next big case will be ‘The death of a dream.’ And if I don’t solve it, Millings can have my badge! (It might cover that weird thing on his chest.)”

6.09pm BST

83 min To borrow a phrase from my colleague Daniel Harris: Hell, bloody football. This is an almighty 10 minutes for Liverpool.

6.08pm BST

82 min Ben Davies replaces Lucas Moura for Spurs, who have been hanging on in the last few minutes.

6.07pm BST

81 min Origi’s free-kick hits the wall, wrongfoots Lloris and deflects agonisingly wide of the near post.

6.06pm BST

80 min Lucas Moura takes a booking, dragging down Salah 25 yards from goal.

6.06pm BST

79 min Origi wins a corner for Liverpool, who have dominated possession since the goal. And they almost get a second! Alexander-Arnold curls a brilliant inswinger that is missed by van Dijk at the near post and hits the unsighted Firmino in the six-yard box before falling into the arms of Lloris. It was a better chance for van Dijk, who was unmarked as he rose at the near post.

6.04pm BST

78 min This email from Tony Barr arrived approximately 0.12 seconds before Lucas Moura’s goal. I can only blame myself.

“Greetings from BA flight 104 to Dubai. After fighting the impulse I’ve just stumped up a whopping 14 quid to BA’s inflight wifi service to check the score and for that kind of money I’d prefer Liverpool to be 4-0 up. Am now bashing the refresh button constantly in search of value. Please be gentle with any bad news.”

6.03pm BST

77 min A double change for Liverpool: Fabinho and Origi for Milner and Henderson.

6.03pm BST

75 min Alexander-Arnold curls a left-footed shot that is just fingertipped over by the stretching Lloris. It might have been a cross; to be honest, I barely know what day it is any more. This is pulsating stuff.

6.02pm BST

74 min Liverpool did not win the title despite losing only two games in 2008-09. As things stand, they are in danger of going one worse.

6.00pm BST

73 min Liverpool cannot really afford a draw, so the rest of this match is going to be off the scale when it comes to intensity.

5.59pm BST

72 min The ball was probably moving slightly when Kane drove that long free-kick to Trippier, although it was a superb spot and a great pass.

5.58pm BST

It was a slightly scruffy goal but Spurs will not care. The alert Kane drove a quick crossfield free-kick to Trippier on the right. He passed it infield to Eriksen, who screwed a low ball across the area, wrongfooting most of the Liverpool defenders in the process. It fell perfectly for Lucas Moura, who forced it through Alisson from six yards.

5.56pm BST

Spurs have equalised!

5.56pm BST

69 min Spurs make a change, with Son replacing Davinson Sanchez. That means Rose goes to left-back and Vertonghen into the centre.

5.55pm BST

69 min Salah drills a shot over the bar from 20 yards. He’s had another relatively poor game.

5.53pm BST

67 min “I’d like to apply for the position of coroner on this new show you’re cooking up,” says Justin Kavanagh. “Matt Dony would ask me about the state of the victim’s heart at time of death, and I’d say something like “He was a Scouser. It was April. Take a wild guess!”

5.52pm BST

66 min This is deliciously tense. Another dangerous cross, this time from Eriksen, is put behind by Matip. Eriksen’s outswinging corner is lumped clear.

5.51pm BST

65 min “Mac Millings as Cannon and Bore’s boss?” sniffs Gary Naylor. “I’m not at all sure he’s the right calibre...”

Wahey!

5.50pm BST

64 min Rose drives a dangerous low cross towards the near post, where van Dijk smoothly gets in front of Lucas Moura. That was a brilliant piece of defending, made to look routine.

5.48pm BST

62 min Liverpool are largely playing on the counter-attack now, though they won’t particularly mind that with the pace they have up front. It’s a really excellent game, this.

5.47pm BST

60 min Salah could and possibly should have played Mane in rather than shooting, as Liverpool briefly had two against one. That said, the angle and distance meant it wouldn’t have been an easy pass, so you can understand why he went for the shot.

5.46pm BST

59 min Firmino plays a wonderful through pass to Salah, whose placed shot is blocked vitally by Alderweireld. This is a cracking game.

5.45pm BST

58 min That Eriksen shot would definitely have gone in but for Robertson’s block. The man is a bona fide hero.

5.43pm BST

56 min: A double chance for Spurs! Kane makes room on the left side of the box for a stinging left-footed shot that is beaten away by Alisson. He pushes it straight out to Eriksen, whose follow-up is blocked brilliantly by Robertson!

5.42pm BST

55 min Lucas Moura falls over in the area but Martin Atkinson isn’t interested. At the other end, Firmino appeals for a foul after a challenge from Sanchez, but again the referee ignores it.

5.41pm BST

54 min Milner’s cross is headed over from eight yards by Firmino. It was a good, powerful header under pressure from Trippier, but he had no pace on the ball to work with.

5.40pm BST

54 min It’s getting tense at Anfield, and it’ll stay that way until Liverpool get a second goal. Spurs are having more of the game now, but they still haven’t really tested Alisson.

5.38pm BST

52 min “Actually, I don’t want a sidekick,” says Matt Dony. “I want to be Virgil van Dijk’s sidekick. Just generally follow him around, and bask in his brilliance. What a player. What a man. On an unrelated note, Mrs Dony is currently packing for a trip to South America. I just went upstairs, and found her listening to Atmosphere by Russ Abbott. By choice. Should I be worried?”

I’d be more concerned about your erroneous and disrespectful spelling of Russ Abbot, mate.

5.37pm BST

51 min Spurs are now playing a loose-limbed 4-2-3-1 formation, with Alli in midfield and Rose, Lucas Moura and Eriksen behind Kane.

5.36pm BST

50 min “If McMahon’s in as the sidekick,” says Mac Millings, “maybe I could be the superior officer they drive crazy. ‘Damn it, Bore! You gotta keep Cannon in check, or either I’m gonna lose my mind, or he’s gonna lose his badge! Also, could you take a look at this thing on my chest? Does it look weird to you?’”

5.36pm BST

49 min A clever corner from Liverpool almost leads to a second goal. Alexander-Arnold played a short pass infield to Milner, who lost Eriksen and drove a first-time cross beyond the far post. Van Dijk arrived round the back but couldn’t get on top of a header that flew over the crossbar.

5.34pm BST

48 min Spurs have switched to a back four, with Vertonghen at left-back and Rose on the left of midfield. Meanwhile, Eriksen swishes high over the bar from 22.37 yards.

5.33pm BST

47 min “I don’t get to watch a lot of football live on the telly box, so this is proving something of a treat,” says David Horn. “I’m wondering though ... has someone smuggled Graeme Souness into one of those pods from the Cocoon movie? He looks about 35.”

It’s because he drinks the blood of a small Romanian midfielder every morning.

5.32pm BST

46 min Peep peep! Liverpool get the second half under way.

5.25pm BST

And some half-time viewing

5.17pm BST

Half-time reading

Related: Football’s double jeopardy will take Forestieri racism case into extra time | Daniel Taylor

5.16pm BST

Peep peep! Liverpool lead deservedly through Roberto Firmino’s goal, made superbly by Andy Robertson. Spurs were hanging on for a while, with Liverpool’s full-backs rampant, but restored order after a tactical switch to 3-4-3 and that should give them greater hope for the second half. See you in 10 minutes.

5.14pm BST

43 min This is Spurs’ best spell of the game, with a lot of possession and some sharper passing and movement. They need to work Alisson, though, who has looked very nervous.

5.11pm BST

41 min Eriksen is starting to look dangerous. He floats a delicate return pass over the defence towards Alli that is crucially headed away by the stretching van Dijk.

5.10pm BST

40 min Moura shoots tamely wide from 20 yards after collecting a good pass from Eriksen.

5.08pm BST

38 min Spurs have switched to a 3-4-3 formation, although at the moment it’s more of a 5-4-1. Liverpool aren’t giving them a moment’s peace.

5.07pm BST

37 min Mane, found well by Firmino, curls a sweet effort just wide of the far post from 20 yards. That was so close, and Lloris didn’t move.

5.05pm BST

34 min Firmino, who has been much more like his old self today, plays a fine return pass over the defence for Mane. Alderweireld comes across to concede a corner.

5.05pm BST

33 min That’s better from Spurs. Alli plays a one-two with Eriksen and swishes a half-volley just over the bar from 30 yards. Alisson had it covered but it was a good effort.

5.03pm BST

31 min Spurs are hanging on to their 1-0 deficit. Firmino beats Sanchez on the left of the area before hitting a low cross that is blocked. This could be over by half-time.

5.00pm BST

30 min “ESPN’s Katie Nolan, who is a delightful sport presenter, asked her followers what EPL team she should follow,” says Hubert O’Hearn. “Liverpool won a narrow vote. Today is Katie’s first EPL match live and in person. I think she chose a good one as she has already tweeted that Anfield took her breath away. True you know – there is nothing in the world that compares to a completely switched-on football stadium in a title race.”

5.00pm BST

29 min An outstanding cross from Rose flashes right across the face of the Liverpool goal. Robertson did very well to block off Lucas Moura, who would otherwise have had an easy chance.

4.59pm BST

28 min Alexander-Arnold curls the corner onto the outside of the near post. Lloris had it covered, I should stress.

4.58pm BST

27 min The indefatigable Robertson wins a corner for Liverpool. After a slow start, Liverpool have had an excellent 15 minutes and are in total control at the moment.

4.57pm BST

25 min “Tottenham have a hole in the middle,” says Jeremy Dresner. “Everything Erickson touches is going awry and Sissoko seems to be hugging the centre circle while being ringroaded as Liverpool take to the flanks with speed and success.”

Sissoko looked a weak link when the teams were announced, but the biggest danger has been Liverpool’s full-backs. I’m surprised Pochettino hasn’t changed formation, either to 3-4-3 or even 4-3-3, although the latter is difficult without making a substitution.

4.55pm BST

23 min Rose drives a long ball towards the edge of the Liverpool area, where Alisson gets in a tangle and is again lucky that the ball falls to him rather than Dele Alli.

4.54pm BST

23 min “Spurs’ defensive problems in a nutshell,” says Paul Binns. “More League Two kicking by Lloris, cross with no pressure on the ball, free header on the six-yard line with the goalkeeper standing on his line. Over and over and over again.”

It was poor defending but I don’t know that Lloris could have come for that. It was a brilliant cross.

4.53pm BST

22 min Firmino plays a good through pass towards Salah, who is about to shoot when Sanchez makes a desperate and excellent challenge at the expense of a corner. I think Salah was offside but it wasn’t flagged.

4.52pm BST

20 min Liverpool are all over Spurs now. Robertson again marauds down the left and pulls the ball back to Salah in the area. He plays it to Wijnaldum, who cushions it into the D for Mane to strike first time. His curling shot goes a few yards wide.

4.50pm BST

18 min Robertson’s cross is headed away to the edge of the area, where Alexander-Arnold waits for the ball to drop and swishes a fine effort just wide of the far post. “Liverpool’s full-backs are running the game at the moment,” says Gary Neville on Sky.

4.49pm BST

17 min “I’ve had three roll-ups in the first fifteen minutes,” says Hubert O’Hearn. “Football needs to come with cancer warnings.”

4.48pm BST

That goal was all down to the relentless Andy Robertson. He surged down the left and curled a glorious cross into the middle, where Firmino got between Sanchez and Vertonghen to steer a downward header past Lloris from eight yards. It was a relatively simple finish because the cross was sensational.

4.47pm BST

Brilliant goal!

4.46pm BST

15 min “Afternoon Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “I’ve always been a play-by-the-rules type myself so there could be some TV mileage in a series featuring myself as Dave Bore, alongside Matt Dony’s maverick Dirk Cannon. Alas, I fear I shall forever be the Steven Toast to his Ray ‘Bloody’ Purchase.”

Dave Baw, surely.

4.45pm BST

14 min This is an excellent game, full of moral courage and good intentions. Spurs have been better so far but Liverpool look a threat on the counter-attack.

4.43pm BST

12 min “Dearest Bob,” writes Mac Millings. “The instructions at the top of the page told me to email you with my thoughts, and I always do what I’m told. Why did I suddenly weigh 10 pounds more than I ever have before when I stood on the scale at the doctor’s yesterday? What if the pyogenic granuloma (a small red, oozing and bleeding bump that looks like raw hamburger meat) on my chest bursts under my shirt in the middle of class tomorrow and my students all think I’ve been shot, but am carrying on regardless? Why am I hoping it does burst? I have others, but that’s a start. Has anyone ever told you you’re such a good listener?”

Have you ever thought about being the sidekick to a maverick cop?

4.42pm BST

11 min Kane plays a sharp pass to the edge of the area for Moura, who has the chance to shoot with his right foot but instead tries to move past Henderson onto his left foot. It’s the wrong decision, and he loses the ball.

4.40pm BST

9 min There’s a nice, breezy feel to the game, with both sides looking busy and purposeful in attack.

4.37pm BST

6 min Spurs have started well. Eriksen plays a cute angled pass into the area for Lucas Moura, who is preparing to pull the trigger when Alexander-Arnold slides in to concede a corner. Good defending.

4.36pm BST

4 min It looks like Eriksen is playing a bit deeper, alongside Sissoko in a 3-4-1-2 formation, certainly when Spurs don’t have the ball. They aren’t the greatest screen, however, and Liverpool will want to get the ball forward to the front three as quickly as possible.

4.34pm BST

3 min Alisson slides in front of Alli to claim the ball, only for it to slip from his grasp. Thankfully for him it falls not to Alli but to Alexander-Arnold, who gets rid.

4.34pm BST

2 min With Rose down, Alexander-Arnold kicks the ball out of play. No idea what happened but Rose looks groggy and is receiving treatment. Actually, all that happened was that he headed the ball, but it seems to have briefly affected his vision. He seems fine now.

4.31pm BST

1 min Peep peep! Amid a cracking Anfield atmosphere - and with ‘Bon Jovi: This House Is Not For Sale Tour’ beaming from all the advertising boards - Spurs get the game under way. They are in white; Liverpool are in red.

4.30pm BST

The players are ready for business. This, I can say without fear of contradiction, is going to be lively.

4.29pm BST

“They did indeed,” says Matt Dony (see 16:20). “The actual quote was either ‘gold’ or ‘yellow’ (I forget which), but I took some artistic license, cos I’m just that kind of plays-by-his-own-rules rock n roll rebel. If I was in a cop show, I’d drive my superior officer crazy, before ultimately saving the day in an unconventional manner. It’d be called ‘Loose Cannon’, with my character being Dirk Cannon. I’m accepting auditions for a sidekick. (Looking at you, McMahon...)”

Rust Cohle over here.

4.24pm BST

Prediction Liverpool 4-2 Tottenham Hotspur.

4.24pm BST

“If you’re quoting Mint Royale lyrics in the context of Liverpool fans’ emotions,” begins Alix, “you should know that the band’s farewell 2016 single contained this deathless verse:

“‘The sunlight sunk every plan I got
When my dreams all died cause I know I still have time.’

4.20pm BST

“I admire Peter Oh’s wordplay,” says Matt Dony, “but I’m a simple man who subscribes to the Martin Johnson school of committed defending, c. 2003. ‘If you see someone in a white shirt, hit them.’”

Didn’t his team wear white?

4.19pm BST

Pre-match interviews

Jurgen Klopp

4.07pm BST

“The duck’s done barking; the turtle’s sniffed the air; and yet still it’s squeaky bum time,” says James Debens. “Fabinho needed to start instead of Milner.”

I’m sensing nerves.

4.04pm BST

“If you ask me, the Liverpool defence’s job is simple,” says Peter Oh. “Keep the great Dane on a tight lead, harry Kane constantly, and always remember, less is Moura.”

3.53pm BST

Chelsea have gone 2-1 up in injury time, and Neil Warnock looks like he is about to go postal.

Related: Cardiff City v Chelsea: Premier League – live!

3.51pm BST

“My dear Rob,” writes Ian Copestake. “Can I apologise in advance for the sheer volume of emails you will now be getting from Liverpool fans getting their gammon on about Fabinho being on the bench and our midfield being that conservative midfield beloved of no one but our otherwise pretty damn fine manager?”

Mrs Doyle was a football fan, too.

3.48pm BST

Chelsea have scored a late equaliser at Cardiff, although it was painfully offside. You can follow the last few minutes with Daniel Harris.

Related: Cardiff City v Chelsea: Premier League – live!

3.37pm BST

Pre-match reading

Related: Jürgen Klopp piles praise on Spurs and Pochettino before Anfield clash

Related: ‘Dig in and stay in’: resilience key as epic season enters final lap | Andy Hunter

Related: Mo Salah remains remarkable but Liverpool’s strength is in the collective | Barney Ronay

Related: Klopp and Pochettino have reminded English football what it does best | Jonathan Wilson

Related: Son Heung-min: ‘I miss White Hart Lane but the new stadium is amazing’

3.35pm BST

Liverpool (4-3-3) Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, van Dijk, Robertson; Milner, Henderson, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mane.
Substitutes: Fabinho, Lovren, Keita, Lallana, Mignolet, Shaqiri, Origi.

Tottenham Hotspur (3-3-2-2) Lloris; Alderweireld, Sanchez, Vertonghen; Trippier, Sissoko, Rose; Eriksen, Alli; Lucas Moura, Kane.
Substitutes: Son, Wanyama, Llorente, Foyth, Davies, Skipp, Gazzaniga.

2.28pm BST

Hello. In their 2000 single Don’t Falter, a jaunty cogitation on love’s capacity to influence serotonin levels, Mint Royale featuring Lauren Laverne opined that ‘You must decide to risk your heart for love to find you.’

Liverpool fans know the feeling. They have risked their heart and their soul this season, and their sanity may yet follow. The more you invest, the more you stand to gain - and to lose. Whatever happens, the next six weeks are going to be the most heightened experience for all Liverpool fans. They will experience euphoria and desolation at different times. But by 5pm on 12 May, the final day of the season, only one of those feelings will be available.

Continue reading...

Birmingham City 0-1 Arsenal: Women's Super League – as it happened

Katie McCabe’s emphatic 79th-minute goal gave Arsenal a vital victory which moved them to within two wins of their first title since 2012

2.26pm BST

Peep peep! Arsenal clinch qualification for next year’s Champions League – and, more importantly, move to within two wins of entering that tournament as champions. That was a huge win in an increasingly nervy match, and they were having their toughest spell of the match when Katie McCabe scored an emphatic winning goal in the 79th minute. Thanks for your company, bye!

2.23pm BST

90+2 min Arsenal make their final substitution, with Tabea Kemme replacing the goalscorer Katie McCabe.

2.21pm BST

90 min Four minutes of added time. Arsenal have the game under control.

2.21pm BST

89 min Another Arsenal change: Victoria Schnaderbeck on, Danielle Van de Donk off.

2.18pm BST

88 min McCabe’s goal has demoralised Birmingham, who had been the better team for much of the second half.

2.16pm BST

86 min A change for Birmingham: Claudia Walker comes on for Emma Follis.

2.14pm BST

85 min “Ooo, thanks for the tip (BBC red button),” says Bill Hargreaves. “Unfortunately, I have an eleven-year-old son who monopolises the life-focus screen, and I’m in Dublin so BBC access limited to non-national stuff, I’m afraid. But thanks anyway. What a year of cricket we have ahead of ourselves! I’ll be in the members area for the Thursday of the Ireland v England at Lord’s. Wonders never cease.”

2.13pm BST

84 min Arsenal make a change, with Danielle Carter replacing Beth Mead.

2.13pm BST

83 min If it stays like this, Arsenal can clinch the league by winning at home to Everton and away to Brighton.

2.12pm BST

82 min Now McCabe misses a great chance, sidefooting over from close range after a fine cross from Mead. Actually, Hampton got a touch.

2.11pm BST

80 min Mead almost adds a second with a vicious cross-shot, from the left this time, that is palmed behind by Hampton.

2.10pm BST

What a fine goal from Katie McCabe! Moments after Ellen White missed a great chance at the other end, shooting from distance when she should have put Staniforth through on goal, McCabe zipped infield from the right and drove a cracking left-footed shot from the edge of the area that went through the legs of Mannion and beat Hampton at the near post.

2.08pm BST

78 min A brilliant counter-attack from Arsenal, sparked by a majestic interception and pass from Williamson, ends with McCabe’s disguised shot being well held by Hampton.

2.08pm BST

76 min It’s very dangerous to predict results in a title race, so that’s exactly what I’m going to do. If other results turn out as expected, a defeat is effectively as good as a draw for Arsenal, so they can afford to take risks in the last 15 minutes. A win here would leave them tantalisingly close to their first title since 2012.

2.03pm BST

73 min “Lots of good performances all round,” says Charles Antaki. “Veje looks a terrific player. Credit to the crowd though for managing to find evidence from somewhere to assert that it’s the same old Arsenal, always cheating, as yet another Birmingham player crunches into her opponent.”

2.02pm BST

71 min Staniforth’s curling free-kick is headed this far wide by Arthur at the far post. That was a great chance, eight yards from goal, but she just couldn’t get enough on the ball to steer it inside the post.

2.01pm BST

70 min White scarpers down the right and is fouled by Veje, who is booked. White is starting to look very threatening.

2.00pm BST

69 min This is undoubtedly Birmingham’s best spell of the match. Ladd nods the ball over Quinn for White, whose shot is crucially blocked by Williamson. The ball took an age to come down so that White could hit the shot.

1.57pm BST

66 min For the first time in the match, Arsenal look a bit frantic and desperate in possession as they search for the goal they desperately want. They will be still favourites for the title whatever happens today, but a draw or defeat would leave them so much more vulnerable.

1.55pm BST

64 min Ladd is booked for a foul on Mead.

1.55pm BST

64 min The game is very open now, and Arsenal are at risk of being stung on the counter-attack.

1.54pm BST

63 min Fine play from Birmingham. Staniforth plays in Wellings, whose fierce low cross is headed wide by the diving Scott. She took a boot in the head for her efforts.

1.53pm BST

62 min White dribbles between Quinn and Williamson on the edge of the area before falling over under pressure from Williamson. The referee gives nothing; White is furious.

1.50pm BST

60 min A good effort from Mead, who pings a low shot from 20 yards that is well saved by Hampton, plunging to her right.

1.50pm BST

59 min Miedema tries to dribble past Scott, who again defends superbly. She’s had a fine game.

1.49pm BST

58 min Staniforth’s flailing arm catches the face of Veje, who falls over. I don’t think the referee saw it.

1.47pm BST

57 min Arsenal really need a goal. If they win this, they should clinch the title before that meeting with Manchester City on the final day of the season. If they don’t, we’re probably heading for a title decider.

1.46pm BST

55 min A fine effort from Haley Ladd, who controls Arthur’s pass on the run and thrashes just over the bar from 20 yards.

1.42pm BST

52 min Mead’s brilliant cross pinballs around the six-yard box before Mannion shovels it behind for a corner.

1.41pm BST

50 min A slow start to the second half, with nowt to report.

1.37pm BST

47 min It looks like McCabe and Mead have swapped wings for Arsenal, with McCabe now on the left.

1.36pm BST

46 min Peep peep! Arsenal begin the second half.

1.28pm BST

Some half-time reading

Related: As women’s football skyrockets, Spurs miss a trick at stadium test event | Suzanne Wrack

1.28pm BST

“COYG!” says Bill Hargreaves. “They ought to put more of these on the eejit box.”

It’s on the BBC red button, if you have access thereto.

1.21pm BST

Peep peep! Arsenal should be ahead, but a combination of poor finishing, bad luck and good goalkeeeping from Hannah Hampton has denied them. They need a goal in the second half if they are to keep their safety net in the title race. See you in 15 minutes!

1.18pm BST

44 min I have precisely 0.00 per cent idea how this is still goalless.

1.17pm BST

43 min Miedema makes space for a fierce left-footed shot that is well held by Hampton at the near post.

1.15pm BST

41 min: Yet another chance for Arsenal! Mead curled a pass behind the defence for Miedema, who went round Hampton but in doing so made the angle too tight for a shot. Instead she turned and played a precise pass back to Van de Donk, who curled over the bar from the edge of the area.

1.12pm BST

38 min The corner is played short to McCabe, who overhits her cross - and almost scores! Hampton had to backpedal smartly and leap top tip it over the bar.

1.12pm BST

38 min Another good save from Hampton. Van de Donk moved across the line of the area, onto her left foot, before clipping a low shot that was turned round by the diving Hampton.

1.11pm BST

37 min Little turns smartly in the area and hits a shot that is deflected into the side netting. Mead’s corner is headed away.

1.08pm BST

34 min: A chance for Birmingham! Staniforth plays a short pass down the inside-right channel to White, who hits a rising shot across goal that is palmed behind by the diving Peyraud-Magnin.

1.06pm BST

32 min There’s an excellent battle going on between the two No23s, Beth Mead and Harriet Scott. So far, Scott is ahead on points.

1.03pm BST

29 min: Another chance for Arsenal! Van de Donk slips the ball through to Miedema, who tries to go round Hampton but gets the ball stuck under her feet and decides to shoot instead. Hampton makes a fine block.

1.02pm BST

27 min The corner leads to an absurd scramble in which Mannion hits her own crossbar! Mead played the corner short to Little, who floated it towards Van der Donk at the far post. She headed it back into the six-yard box towards Bloodworth, whose attempt to run the ball into the net was blocked. The ball rebounded to Mannion, who tried to clear it off the line and shanked the ball onto the underside of the bar. Eventually it was cleared by White and Birmingham survived.

1.00pm BST

26 min Miedema tries to run Sargeant on the left of the box and wins a corner.

12.57pm BST

24 min Staniforth’s flighted corner is headed away excellently under pressure by Quinn.

12.57pm BST

23 min Scott wins another cortner for Birmingham, who are slowly coming into the game.

12.55pm BST

22 min Van de Donk has gone down off the ball. She’s feeling her throat but seems to be okay.

12.52pm BST

18 min Birmingham are struggling to deal with the intensity of Arsenal’s pressing, and have lost possession a few times in dangerous areas.

12.51pm BST

16 min Saying which, Birmingham win their first corner after an excellent passing move. Staniforth’s lofted corner is half cleared by Quinn to Follis, who turns smartly away from Little but shoots high over the bar from 12 yards.

12.48pm BST

14 min Birmingham are struggling to get out of their half. They look really rusty.

12.47pm BST

12 min Lovely feet from McCabe, who zig-zags past two players before being fouled 25 yards from goal. Bloodworth’s free-kick smacks Scott in the face, but Birmingham can’t clear the ball and moments later Hampton makes a fine save from Miedema! It came from a good right-wing cross to the near post, which Miedema headed powerfully towards goal. Hampton reacted smartly to touch it onto the bar and behind for a corner.

12.42pm BST

8 min Nothing much to report so far, apart from that bulldozing tackle from Mannion. Arsenal are still on top, though they haven’t troubled Hannah Hampton.

12.38pm BST

4 min Birmingham have started sluggishly, which is no real surprise given they haven’t played since 20 February. Arsenal look composed and confident.

12.36pm BST

2 min Mannion overruns the ball and ploughs through McCabe. That’s an abysmal challenge. She is booked, but it might have been a red card.

12.34pm BST

1 min Peep peep! Birmingham kick off on a blustery afternoon in Solihull. They are in blue; Arsenal are in red.

12.24pm BST

A win for Arsenal would ensure Champions League football next season, but their sights are a lot higher than that.

11.58am BST

Alternative reading

Related: Celtic v Rangers: Scottish Premiership – live!

11.57am BST

“Automated Technology Group?” muses Charles Antaki. “That must surely mean Kraftwerk. An excellent commemorative name for a stadium. And think of the intro music!”

11.55am BST

The last time we faced @BCFCWomen, @VivianneMiedema popped up with a last-gasp winner

That pass from @Katie_McCabe11 tho... pic.twitter.com/z5UHqjATUZ

11.43am BST

Birmingham City (4-2-3-1) Hampton; Scott, Sargeant, Mannion, Harrop; Ladd, Arthur; Follis, Staniforth, Wellings; White.
Substitutes: Brooks, WIlliams, Walker, Ewers, Scofield, Quinn, Mayling.

Arsenal (4-3-3) Peyraud-Magnin; Evans, Williamson, Quinn, Veje; Bloodworth, Van de Donk, Little; McCabe, Miedema, Mead.
Substitutes: Van Veenendaal, Arnth, Schnaderbeck, Kemme, Carter.

9.57am BST

Hello and welcome to live coverage of Birmingham City v Arsenal from the Automated Technology Group Stadium. A win today would put Arsenal on the brink of th- Hang on, the Automated Technology Stadium! On the great Stadium Name Scale of 0 to evocative, that’s been disqualified from going within 10 miles of a Stadium Name Scale ever again.

Erm, where were we? Yes, Arsenal’s swashbuckling side need nine points from their last four games to win their first title since 2012. They are a point clear of Manchester City with a game in hand. The plot is thickened, however, by the fact their last game is against City, so only a win today will keep their destiny out of City’s hands.

Continue reading...

Real Betis 1-4 Barcelona: La Liga - as it happened

Four awesome goals - three from Lionel Messi and one from Luis Suarez - gave Barcelona an easy victory despite being outpassed by Betis

European round-up: Juve lose to Genoa, Messi hits hat-trick

10.31pm GMT

Messi’s hat-trick, Inter’s win in the Milan derby and Juventus’ first league loss of the season is all covered in our European round-up

Related: European roundup: Genoa condemn Juventus to first Serie A defeat of season

9.43pm GMT

We’ll have a match report to follow, but that’s it for tonight’s blog. By hook or by crook, by fair means or foul, make sure you find a way to watch the goals from this game. All of them were utterly barbaric. Thanks for your company, goodnight.

9.39pm GMT

Luis Suarez is limping heavily, which will interest Manchester United fans, if they haven’t already turned the TV off in a resigned funk after watching the quality of Barcelona’s goals.

9.37pm GMT

Peep peep! Barcelona move 10 points clear with a clinical victory. Betis dominated possession but they had Jese and Barcelona had Messi. He scored an outrageous hat-trick, while Luis Suarez added a ridiculous solo goal of his own.

9.37pm GMT

90+3 min Messi smacks the inside of the post with the last kick of the game!

9.35pm GMT

90+1 min Vidal’s thumping long-range strike is well held by Pau Lopez.

9.34pm GMT

90 min Coutinho replaces Suarez.

9.34pm GMT

89 min I think Suarez twisted his right ankle as he slipped. That could be serious. He certainly won’t be continuing tonight.

9.33pm GMT

88 min Luis Suarez is down, having slipped as he ran to challenge Mandi. He’s in a lot of pain here. While he’s being treated, Carles Alena replaces Ivan Rakitic.

9.31pm GMT

Messi picked the ball up 30 yards from goal, curved a pass to the left for Rakitic and scurried across to make himself available for a return pass. As the ball came to him just inside the area, he shaped to hammer it first time towards the near post and instead kissed an exquisite chip across goal that beat the leaping Pau Lopez, hit the underside of the bar and fell into the net. Even by Messi’s standards, that is a staggeringly good hat-trick.

9.29pm GMT

Lionel Messi completes his hat-trick with another vile goal. The whole stadium is applauding him.

9.28pm GMT

84 min Here’s Phil Podolsky. “Suarez had a challenging first few weeks adjusting to the team’s rhythm, after being banned for a few months over that unfortunate business at the World Cup where, according to his version of events, his tooth was on the receiving end of a foul.”

9.27pm GMT

83 min Vidal almost restores the three-goal lead with a big curling shot that is tipped over acrobatically by Pau Lopez.

9.27pm GMT

This is a fine goal. Tello’s low cross from the left is behind Jese but runs through to the substitute Lainez. He twists and turns before laying the ball back to another subsitute, Loren, who shapes a curler into the top corner from the edge of the area.

9.21pm GMT

77 min Eight titles in 11 years. That’s some achievement from Barcelona, especially at a time when Real Madrid have regularly been champions of Europe.

9.19pm GMT

75 min Another Betis change: Loren Moron replaces William Carvalho.

9.18pm GMT

75 min “Betis are giving a collectors’-item display of asymmetric football - playing miles better than 9 of the 11 Barcelona team but three goals worse off,” says Charles Antaki. “Shame that there isn’t a league rewarding moral victories.”

Give it time. The xG La Liga should be with us by 2021-22.

9.18pm GMT

74 min Another good effort from Suarez, whose low shot is well held by the plunging Pau Lopez.

9.17pm GMT

73 min Betis did so many good things in the first half, but that second goal just before the break flattened them. Barcelona have been cruising since then.

9.15pm GMT

71 min Suarez comes this close to putting Sergi Roberto clear with a brilliant reverse pass. He has literally got eyes in the back of his head tonight.

9.13pm GMT

69 min “As an addendum, in Suarez’s first year he ‘only’ scored 16 league goals and 7 in Europe,” says Neil Mackie. “But they did win the league and European Cup double, Messi scored 58 goals in all and Neymar scored another 39. Suarez should really be ashamed of himself for such a poor start that dragged the team down!”

Didn’t he have about 20 assists as well?

9.12pm GMT

68 min A double change for Betis: Joaquin and Do Celso are replaced by Emerson, who will move to Barcelona this summer, and Diego Lainez.

9.11pm GMT

66 min Semedo is booked for a pathetic dive. He went round Pau Lopez, felt a slight touch on his left foot and went down - but only about three steps later, when he realised the ball was running out of play.

9.10pm GMT

65 min “Suarez is an absolutely ridiculous footballer,” says Matt Dony. “He’s responsible for some of the finest Liverpool goals I’ve seen, and at least one of the finest should’ve-been goals (THAT volley on the turn against Arsenal). I never doubted he would succeed at Barca, but I don’t think I expected him to hold his own against Messi quite so swaggeringly. He was obviously the best player in Rodgers’ team, the best player in the league, then went to Barca, and actually raised his game. (I never loved him like I loved Torres, though...)”

9.08pm GMT

64 min Barcelona take the opportunity to give Arthur a rest. He is replaced by Nelson Semedo, so Sergi Roberto will move into midfield.

9.08pm GMT

Suarez finally gets the goal he deserves, and it’s all his own work. He goes on a long, winding run from the halfway line, twisting past three defenders before finishing emphatically from 12 yards. That’s another great goal.

9.06pm GMT

60 min Suarez almost makes it 3-0. He dances round Pau Lopez on the edge of the six-yard box, but makes the angle too tight in the process and can only turn the ball back across the face of goal with his left foot.

9.02pm GMT

58 min Betis are still dominating possession, though Barcelona don’t mind that. They have been devastating on the counter-attack.

9.01pm GMT

56 min Canales misses an excellent chance. He ran onto a chipped pass down the left before moving into the area towards ter Stegen. As Pique came back, Canales shaped to shoot – and accidentally stabbed the ball out of play with his standing foot. Oh dear.

8.57pm GMT

52 min Lenglet is booked for a cynical foul on the marauding Joaquin, very close to the right edge of the penalty area. Canales whacks the free-kick into the wall.

8.56pm GMT

50 min “Evening, Rob,” says Neil Mackie. “Remember when Suarez was getting whistled and booed by the Barca faithful and getting a load of criticism from the Catalan press in his first year there? It seems like they have forgotten it all and just pass it on to Dembele or Coutinho (even as a Liverpool fan I want him to succeed there). A friend was working in Barcelona at the time and would constantly get into arguments over Suarez, defending him, talking about how great he is (possibly being defensive in talking Liverpool up, mind) and so it is satisfying seeing how well he has done there in the end. I know this isn’t really insightful, but would love to see the socios and press reign themselves in a wee bit. Also, I still think Joaquin is 19 and Messi is a shaggy haired youth. Really hammers home how old I am.”

I didn’t realise he’d had such a difficult start. I was going to say there was surely no doubt he’d be a success, but I’d have said the same about Alexis Sanchez when he went to Manchester United.

8.52pm GMT

48 min Victor Lindelof and Chris Smalling are going to have fun against Messi and Suarez.

8.51pm GMT

47 min Suarez cuts infield from the left, twists Mandi inside out and smashes the ball into the side netting at the near post.

8.50pm GMT

46 min Suarez is down holding his face. He Cruyff-turned inside Bartra, who caught him with a flailing arm. It wasn’t deliberate.

8.49pm GMT

46 min Peep peep! Barcelona begin the second half. To be honest, I’d rather just watch that Suarez backheel on loop for another 45 minutes.

8.47pm GMT

Half-time viewing

Related: The Dozen: the weekend’s best Premier League and FA Cup photos

8.41pm GMT

Suarez’s backheeled through pass for the second goal was an absolute disgrace to honest, limited footballers all around the world. I don’t think he looked behind him once, yet the weight and angle were perfect for Messi. Suarez even stabbed the ball into the ground, Ozil-style, so that it bounced over the trailing leg of Bartra. It verged on genius.

8.38pm GMT

Peep peep! Two majestic goals from Lionel Messi have put Barcelona in complete contol. Betis contributed a lot to an enjoyable half and had 57 per cent of the possession. But they have Jese and Barcelona have Messi.

8.36pm GMT

Messi waved a pass forward to Suarez, lurking 25 yards from goal, and kept running. Suarez ran infield, taking a posse of Betis defenders with him, and then played a stunning angled backheel into the space they had all just vacated. Messi surged onto the ball and flicked it devastatingly past Pau Lopez with the outside of the foot. That was so good.

8.33pm GMT

This, my friends, is the most glorious goal.

8.30pm GMT

43 min Barcelona have been superb in the last 10 or 15 minutes, and Betis are in urgent need of a half-time whistle.

8.28pm GMT

41 min Suarez tries to redeem his miss, bursting onto a return pass from Sergi Roberto and driving a low shot that deflects behind off Bartra.

8.28pm GMT

40 min: Suarez misses a great chance. Barcelona ripped Betis open with chilling ease: Vidal’s disguised pass to Messi, who played it to the right for the unmarked Suarez. He had a simple shooting chance from 12 yards, but muffed it with his left foot and Pau Lopez made an easy save. The move began with a ridiculous 70-yard pass from ter Stegen to Jordi Alba.

8.26pm GMT

39 min “I distinctly remember Joaquin being hailed as The New Figo when Figo was still playing for Barcelona and I was in high school,” says Phil Podolsky. “I’m an old man today; does it make Joaquin... the old Figo?”

I think it just makes us old.

8.26pm GMT

38 min Betis kick the ball out of play, with Rakitic down alone in their half. It was another challenge from Guardado, though this time he wasn’t penalised. He could have been, though, and he needs to be careful.

8.21pm GMT

34 min “Ah, the players we thought would be superstars,” says Ian Copestake. “The name Owen kept cropping up on the Liverpool youth team side’s results, so it was fun to follow his rise and subsequent petering out. I gave up on that game after we got rid of Conor Coady.”

I never got over Giuliano Maiorana.

8.21pm GMT

33 min Tello, who has been a big threat on the left, beats Pique and cuts back a cross that is kicked away by ter Stegen. Tello retrieves possession and tees up Jese, who rakes a low shot across goal and just wide of the far post.

8.18pm GMT

32 min Guardado, who has been booked, fouls Messi. He’d have been sent off for that in England.

8.18pm GMT

30 min There’s so much to admire about Betis, and I don’t just mean their kit. It takes a lot of courage, never mind ability, to outpass Barcelona, but they have done that comfortably. They are losing the game, though, which is considered a disappointment in some cultures.

8.15pm GMT

28 min More lovely play from Betis. Guardado’s dipping cross from the left is headed towards goal by the stooping Canales, and Alba makes a vital block. Moments later, Sidnei bulldozes into the area and wins a corner when his cross deflects behind off Busquets.

8.14pm GMT

26 min Joaquin shovels a fine ball infield to Wiliam Carvalho, the start of a nice passing move from right to left. Eventually it comes to Tello, who beats Sergi Roberto with a stepover and drives a low cross that flashes across the six-yard box before being desperately cleared. Joaquin, who started the move, almost finished it at the far post. That was lovely play from Betis.

8.12pm GMT

25 min Messi floats this one to the other side of the goal, and Pau Lopez springs across his line to make a showy save.

8.11pm GMT

24 min Bartra fouls Vidal 25 yards from goal. I RECKON LIONEL MESSI MIGHT TAKE THIS.

8.10pm GMT

24 min “Any idea,” begins Henry, “why someone is waving a black and white Union Jack, behind the Barca goal?”

None whatsoever. You’re welcome!

8.10pm GMT

23 min Betis continue to dominate possession, but so far it’s all been a bit Sarriball.

8.08pm GMT

21 min Bartra makes another vital interception, this time from Messi’s return pass towards Suarez.

8.07pm GMT

19 min Here’s Robbie Robinson. “Being St Patrick’s Day and all that, a certain Patrick O’Connell (aka Don Patricio), Dublin-born former captain of Manchester United, managed Betis to their only top-flight championship 1935. He later managed Barcelona and was known as The Man Who Saved Barcelona.”

Indeed. There’s a book about him which I keep meaning to buy.

8.05pm GMT

Messi slams the free-kick into the top corner! It was a brilliant goal, not least because he hit it to the keeper’s side. But it was curled with such speed and accuracy that Lopez couldn’t get to it.

8.04pm GMT

16 min Arthur is fouled 22 yards from goal by Canales, and Guardado is booked for dissent.

8.02pm GMT

14 min “At the Under-21 European Championship in 2013 I spent one half sitting just above Tello’s flank when Spain beat Russia with something like 97% possession, scoring the game’s only goal through a header from a free kick,” says Phil Podolsky. “Can report that he was a right speedster but not particularly clever or tricky on the ball. Thiago Alcantara and Isco looked like superstars though, and De Gea was bored out of his skull.”

8.01pm GMT

13 min: Great chance for Betis! Joaquin on the right drove a diagonal cross beyond the far post to Guardado, who cushioned a volley back towards Jese in the six-yard box. He stretched but could not make proper contact and ter Stegen was able to save.

7.59pm GMT

12 min Tello cuts infield from the left and shoots low from 20 yards. He doesn’t connect properly, though, and it’s an easy save for ter Stegen. At the other end, Suarez flicks a dangerous pass towards Messi, and Bartra dives towards his own goal to make an important headed interception.

7.58pm GMT

10 min Barcelona have been pretty sloppy in possession so far. It looks, by the way, like they are playing a narrow 4-4-2 rather than a diamond, with Vidal on the left and Rakitic on the right. Bit weird.

7.56pm GMT

9 min Every time I look at the screen, I half expect to see Denilson doing a never-ending stepover.

7.54pm GMT

7 min Messi slides a fine pass down the inside-left channel for Jordi Alba, who bursts into the area before Mandi (I think) gets back to concede a corner.

7.52pm GMT

5 min Lo Celso clips a delicious pass over the defence for Tello, who controls it on the run and is about to line up a shot when Sergi Roberto stretches to make a vital recovery challenge.

7.50pm GMT

4 min “Speaking of Tello, Munir was of the same vintage and was sent out to learn his trade elsewhere for a good while - he came back, unlike Tello, but although older, didn’t, on the couple of times he seems to have been granted some minutes on the pitch, look distinctly better,” says Charles Antaki. “The search for Luis Suarez’ replacement goes on. It’s not Gareth Bale’s natural position, but he will be free soon, probably.”

Could Ashley Young’s Indian summer take another magical twist?

7.50pm GMT

3 min It’s been a strong start from Betis, with most of the early business occurring in Barcelona’s half.

7.49pm GMT

2 min “I thought Bartra would be a first choice for Barca,” says Ruth Purdue, “but then I remembered what Bale did to him.”

It’s illegal in 43 states, that.

7.48pm GMT

1 min Busquets’ return pass to ter Stegen goes straight out for a corner. A return pass to the keeper, FHS. The corner comes to nothing.

7.47pm GMT

1 min Betis kick off from left to right. They’re in green and white stripes. Barcelona are in red and blue.

7.45pm GMT

There’s a wonderful atmosphere at the Benito Villamarin. The captains Joaquin and Lionel Messi, combined age 68, exchange pleasantries in the centre circle.

7.34pm GMT

“Happy St. Patrick’s Day Rob!” hics Peter Oh. “Betis will be more than adequately covered by their green home stripes, but Barca’s players will likely run afoul of today’s apparel requirements unless they’re wearing green boots. Will the blaugrana feel the pinch? Also, I recognise a couple of ex-Barça names in the Betis starting XI in Bartra and Tello.”

Ah, Cristian Tello. I thought he’d be a superstar.

7.28pm GMT

What’s at stake

6.59pm GMT

Pre-match reading

Related: Gareth Bale goal helps Real Madrid past Celta Vigo in Zidane’s first game back

6.39pm GMT

Real Betis (3-4-2-1) Pau Lopez; Mandi, Bartra, Sidnei; Joaquin, Carvalho, Guardado, Tello; Lo Celso, Canales; Jese.
Substitutes: Robles, Emerson, Diego Lainez, Javi Garcia, Kaptoum, Loren, Sergio Leon.

Barcelona (4-4-2) ter Stegen; Sergi Roberto, Pique, Lenglet, Jordi Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, Arthur, Vidal; Messi, Suarez.
Substitutes: Cillessen, Semedo, Umtiti, Alena, Coutinho, Malcom, Boateng.

4.52pm GMT

Pop quiz, hotshot. What last occurred on Wednesday 7 May 2008, a whopping 3966 days ago? Yes, ha ha, very good, you should try stand-up. The actual answer, which pertains to tonight’s La Liga coverage, is that it’s the last time a team completed the league double over Barcelona.

Real Madrid plugged Frank Rijkaard’s side 4-1 that night, and our Sid went to town on the patheticness of the away team’s performance. A lot has changed since then. That match was pre-Pep, pre-MSN, even pre-Dmytro Chygrynskiy. It’s a staggering statistic, really – almost 11 years without being beaten home and away by the same team in the same season. And it shows the scale of what Real Betis could achieve tonight, having already won 4-3 at the Nou Camp in November.

Continue reading...

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

Sadio Mane and James Milner scored the goals as Liverpool went back to the top of the table with a deserved, if nervy victory at Craven Cottage

4.32pm GMT

I’ll leave you with our match report from Craven Cottage. Thanks for your company - bye!

Related: Liverpool go back to the top after James Milner converts late penalty at Fulham

4.18pm GMT

The penalty Replays show that Mane made the most of the contact from Rico. I still think it was a penalty, though. Rico panicked when he dropped Salah’s shot and instinctively put hands on Mane, who did the rest.

4.14pm GMT

Post-match interviews

Virgil van Dijk

4.08pm GMT

More live football

Related: Millwall v Brighton: FA Cup quarter-final – live!

Related: Everton v Chelsea: Premier League – live!

4.08pm GMT

Sadio Mane was again Liverpool’s star man. He scored a fine goal in the first half and won the late penalty that was converted by James Milner. There were seven minutes of misery for Alisson and Virgil van Dijk, who combined to give Ryan Babel an equaliser in the 74th minute. But Mane, who is in storming form at the moment, and Milner made it all okay by combining for the winner in the 81st minute.

4.05pm GMT

Peep peep! Liverpool go back to the top of the Premier League after a thoroughly deserved, if nervy victory at Craven Cottage.

4.03pm GMT

90+2 min Mo Salah is replaced by Daniel Sturridge.

4.01pm GMT

90 min Liverpool are three added minutes away from going back to the top of the table.

4.00pm GMT

89 min Salah, who has had a poor game and has been noticeably selfish, whacks another curler over the bar from 20 yards.

3.59pm GMT

87 min: Salah misses a great chance! It was made beautifully by Mane, who robbed Ayite on the halfway line and charged towards goal. Then he slowed down to wait for Salah, who was scampering around the outside, before putting him through on goal with a gentle pass to the left. Salah hit a first-time shot that was well saved by Rico, plunging to his left. He should probably have scored.

3.56pm GMT

86 min Not even the most rabid Liverpool-hater would deny that they deserve to win this match. There have been periods of sloppiness, sure, but they have controlled the game throughout.

3.56pm GMT

85 min Wijnaldum almost seals the match, rattling a fine, wobbling shot just wide from 20 yards.

3.54pm GMT

84 min “No, Rob, the howler was Allison’s, not Van Dyke’s,” says Ric. “The goalie needed to come forward, didn’t, and even then did not try to clear it with any conviction.”

Thanks Ric. Keep it up.

3.53pm GMT

83 min It was a double mistake from Rico, because he should have held Salah’s shot in the first place. Then he panicked and pulled Mane back.

3.53pm GMT

82 min Fulham make another change, with Tom Cairney replaced by Neeskens Kebano.

3.52pm GMT

Milner scores, clipping the penalty straight down the middle as Rico dives to his right.

3.51pm GMT

81 min Rico drops Salah’s shot and then puts hands on Mane, who was first on the scene. A clear penalty.

3.49pm GMT

79 min You’d still fancy Liverpool to get a winner, and they surely need one. This would be a dreadful result.

3.48pm GMT

77 min Salah wriggles away from Bryan and hits a deflected cross from a very tight angle that dribbles through to Rico.

3.48pm GMT

76 min Van Dijk and Alisson were both at fault for that goal. Van Dijk’s header was a bit short, while Alisson’s part was particularly egregious, because he should have just picked the ball up and taken the hit from Babel.

3.46pm GMT

75 min Just before the goal, Cyrus Christie came on for Fosu-Mensah.

3.46pm GMT

Oh my. Rico’s goalkick was headed forward and shanked back towards his own goal by Milner. Van Dijk headed it back towards Alisson, who feebly knocked the ball straight into the onrushing Babel. From there it bounced towards the empty net, and Babel was able to walk it in before putting both hands up in an apologetic celebration.

3.44pm GMT

Ryan Babel equalises after a howler from Virgil van Dijk!

3.44pm GMT

73 min: Mane hits the bar! Alexander-Arnold curled a corner towards the near post, where the unmarked Mane flashed a header across goal and onto the top of the bar. That was an excellent effort.

3.43pm GMT

72 min A double change for Liverpool: James Milner and Divock Origi replacing Roberto Firmino and Adam Lallana.

3.42pm GMT

71 min Babel slides an inviting through ball towards Mitrovic, who galumphs through treacle and is beaten to the ball in the D by the sweeper-keeping Alisson.

3.41pm GMT

70 min Another beautiful curling cross from Alexander-Arnold flashes across the six-yard box. His delivery is the closest I’ve seen to David Beckham.

3.41pm GMT

69 min “I thought with T-Ream in the side that things could only get better for Fulham,” says Ronan Heffernan, “but it doesn’t seem to be the case.”

Evidently not.

3.39pm GMT

68 min “The Bayern lead was the only one we controlled in a game this season,” says Ian Copestake. “It is what Klopp is aiming for but we have never done that in a Premiership game. Not even the Burnley lead last time was under control.”

What about Brighton away?

3.39pm GMT

67 min This is much better from Fulham. First they break three on three from a Liverpool corner, but Babel takes too long to decide what to do. Eventually Ayite’s shot is blocked, and then Anguissa’s crisp hit from 20 yards is held to his right by the diving Alisson.

3.38pm GMT

66 min Liverpool appeal for a penalty when Wijnaldum goes over after an aerial challenge with Fosu-Mensah. Nah.

3.36pm GMT

66 min Anguissa is booked for kicking Mane up the trousers. He was going for the ball and didn’t see Mane come round on the blindside.

3.35pm GMT

65 min Fulham make their first change, with Ryan Sessegnon replacing Seri.

3.35pm GMT

64 min: Ayite has a goal disallowed for offside. It was a decent attack from Fulham, their best of the game, but Ayite was miles offside when he headed Anguissa’s deflected shot past Alisson.

3.34pm GMT

63 min It’s pouring down at Craven Cottage. The primal weather, however, has not yet been much of a leveller.

3.33pm GMT

62 min ... Liverpool break four on three, but Salah tries to go it alone and is tackled on the edge of the area.

3.32pm GMT

61 min Fulham cross the halfway line, and even win a corner through Ayite. From which...

3.31pm GMT

60 min “Nothing wrong with a bit of sterile domination, as long as you’re ahead!” says Matt Dony. “I’ll happily take a minimum-of-fuss, well-controlled victory. It would finish off a reasonably satisfactory weekend of sport...”

I had no idea you were a Valtteri Bottas fan.

3.30pm GMT

59 min Fulham cannot get out at all. I can’t remember the last time Mitrovic touched the ball.

3.28pm GMT

57 min “Phil Podolsky’s upping of the Milner needs to be accompanied by an asterisk,” says Ian Copestake, “indicating that he only provides ‘urgency and purpose’ when not stymied by the presence of Henderson in midfield.”

3.28pm GMT

56 min Liverpool are attacking constantly, but with greater speed and purpose than in the first half. A corner is played short to Fabinho, whose deep cross is headed back across goal by van Dijk. Rico plunges to his left to make a very good save.

3.26pm GMT

55 min “Grrrr,” says Duncan Edwards. “Liverpool maybe have learned something from City: aim for twice as much possession as your opponents but also commit more fouls - specifically the early high-press fouls which look innocuous. Meanwhile Fulham’s ‘let’s stand around and watch the other lot play’ approach may be verging on giving Liverpool too much respect. I say this as a completely neutral Manchester United supporter praying for wind or a towering Babel header.”

I haven’t really seen that in this game, though I agree it is something that often goes unnoticed. Fernandinho is so good at it, if ‘good’ is the right word.

3.25pm GMT

54 min Alexander-Arnold’s inswinging corner beats everyone, including Rico, and flies away for a goalkick.

3.24pm GMT

53 min Fabinho hammers a brilliant crossfield pass to Alexander-Arnold, whose deep cross towards Lallana is headed behind for a corner.

3.23pm GMT

52 min … And it almost came a moment ago, when Robertson’s superb dinked cross was headed over from six yards by the stretching Wijnaldum.

3.22pm GMT

51 min Firmino’s 20-yard shot is blocked by the outrushing Chambers. A second goal is coming...

3.21pm GMT

49 min Nothing much to report. There’s another match going on, the FA Cup quarter-final between Millwall and Brighton. You won’t believe the score!

Related: Millwall v Brighton: FA Cup quarter-final – live!

3.19pm GMT

48 min “Storm Gareth wiped out my antenna so I have no telly until this Thursday,” says Hubert O’Hearn. “Thank God for MBM reports. Speaking of Liverpool and your club, were you, like me, disappointed we ended up on the same side of the draw? Dear Lord, a Liverpool – United Champions League Final would have the feel of The Rock v. Hulk Hogan at Wrestlemania – two legends meeting for the title on the grandest stage of them all. Damn that would have been brilliant.”

I couldn’t really care any more, in truth. But I still quiver at the thought of the semi-final that wasn’t in the 2001-02 Champions League, given the hold Liverpool had over United at the time.

3.19pm GMT

47 min Wijnaldum’s driven cross-shot is flicked behind his standing leg towards goal by Firmino, but Anguissa’s block takes all the pace off his effort.

3.18pm GMT

47 min “Is it just me or Liverpool have more urgency and purpose about them when Milner is playing?” says Phil Podolsky. “The same Milner who gave more assists in a single Champions League season than any of Messi, Zidane, Iniesta, Ronaldo, Kaka, Xavi, Figo, Deco, Seedorf, Modric, Neymar, Giggs and Nedved, which tells you all you need to know about either stats or Milner.”

3.18pm GMT

46 min Peep peep! Liverpool begin the second half. No changes on either side.

3.02pm GMT

Half-time reading

Related: Kane, Sterling and Rashford give England cause for confidence

3.02pm GMT

Peep peep! Liverpool lead through Sadio Mane’s excellent goal. They have been in complete control of the match, even if much of their domination has been sterile. It’s hard to see Fulham getting back in the game. We’ll find out soon enough; see you in 10 minutes for the second half.

3.01pm GMT

45 min One minute of added time.

3.00pm GMT

43 min “Hello Rob,” says Kári Tulinius. “I believe Tristan da Cunha has the full range of televisual football offerings, however I have been led to believe that St. Kitts & Nevis and North Korea have no televised football on offer, and one is probably a more restful place to visit.”

Not where I’m going, Kári. Where I’m going there is no television, no internet and no nothing.

2.56pm GMT

41 min The crowd want a second yellow card when Fabinho is penalised for a lunge at Seri. It was a foul; it wasn’t a yellow card.

2.55pm GMT

40 min Liverpool have been slightly sloppy in the last few minutes, with the occasional bit of showboating. You can understand why, because the game has been so easy for them.

2.54pm GMT

39 min Fabinho is booked for a late tackle on Cairney.

2.51pm GMT

37 min Good play from Babel, who skins Alexander-Arnold down the left and tees up Cairney 25 yards from goal. He curls high over the bar.

2.50pm GMT

35 min A chance for Liverpool. Robertson plays a simple give-and-go with Lallana, surges into the area and smacks a shot from a tight angle that is beaten away by Rico.

2.49pm GMT

34 min See 30 min.

2.45pm GMT

30 min Liverpool are in complete control of this game, and are working Fulham so hard defensively with their constant switches of play.

2.43pm GMT

28 min Salah whips a long-range curler that is claimed by Rico at the second attempt. Van Dijk was sniffing around but Rico got to the loose ball just before him.

2.42pm GMT

This is a really nice goal. Robertson plays the ball wide to Mane, who runs infield at Fosu-Mensah, slides a short angled pass towards the byline for Firmino and hares into the area. Firmino, realising that all the Fulham defenders have run into the six-yard box, cuts the ball back into space for Mane to guide a first-time shot into the net from 10 yards.

2.40pm GMT

It’s there!

2.38pm GMT

24 min A rare Fulham attack. Babel plays a one-two with Ayite, zips infield and hits a stinging long-range shot that is blocked by Matic.

2.37pm GMT

23 min “I am getting such a thrill,” pants Adrien de la Touche, “from the crossfield full-back to full-back passing action.”

2.36pm GMT

22 min “Following your highlights from my desk at work today,” says David Hackwood. “Expecting another big performance from Lallana today. He was sensational against Burnley. Mo Salah always seems to pop up with a goal or two when he’s under pressure so I’m thinking 3-0 Liverpool with Mo to get a brace. Come on you Reds!”

2.35pm GMT

20 min Alexander-Arnold curls a brilliant, Beckhamish pass into the area for Salah, who controls it well with his back to goal but can’t wriggle away from Chambers and Bryan.

2.33pm GMT

18 min Salah tries to run Ream, who times his tackle well. Corner to Liverpool. Alexander-Arnold swings it out towards the near post, where Matip flashes a header across goal and out for a Fulham throw-in. That was a chance.

2.32pm GMT

17 min There is so much space for Liverpool’s full-backs, and they look the likeliest source of a goal.

2.29pm GMT

14 min Nothing much is happening. Liverpool are starting to dominate the game, though at the moment everything is in front of the Fulham defence.

2.26pm GMT

11 min Matip swishes a superb 60-yard pass across the field to Robertson, who beats Fosu-Mensah on the edge of the area but then crosses too close to the keeper Rico.

2.24pm GMT

10 min “Liverpool often treat Salah like a big man up front with long balls up to him,” sniffs Ian Copestake. “Thankfully for a big small man he has a good touch.”

2.24pm GMT

9 min Seri shapes an ambitious curler off target from 25 yards.

2.22pm GMT

7 min It’s all a bit scrappy at the moment, though Liverpool’s full-backs look sharp as ever, particularly Alexander-Arnold. For a 20-year-old full-back, his passing is seriously good.

2.19pm GMT

4 min The first half chance for Liverpool. Lallana lobs a speculative short-range pass over the defence that skims off the head of Chambers and falls for Salah, whose mis-hit shot from a tight angle bobbles wide of the near post.

2.17pm GMT

3 min Fulham have started brightly, with lots of possess- Chambers lumps a crossfield pass out of play.

2.16pm GMT

2 min “We might have the marginally easier run-in,” says Niall Mullen, “but they have the more than marginally better squad. If it comes down to the Manchester derby, Rob, will you be wearing your Nicky Summerbee jersey?”

I’ll be wearing nothing, as it gets warm on Tristan da Cunha this time of year, and Bobby will be going native the moment City and Liverpool reach the Champions League final.

2.15pm GMT

1 min Peep peep! Fulham, in white, get the match under way. Liverpool are in red.

2.10pm GMT

Video

Here’s Liverpool manager Mark Morrison’s thoughts on the rest of the season.

2.02pm GMT

You have mail

“Losing is indeed so unthinkable I can’t bear the thought,” says Ian Copestake. “Surely even the many who can’t stand Liverpool want our failure to go to the wire (or the end if you are into the whole plain English thing).”

2.01pm GMT

Scott Parker dispenses words from his open face

“Training’s been first class and it feels like this is the best XI for this game. We all understand that there’s a big, long road in front of us, but a win today against a top side could be a springboard.”

2.01pm GMT

Jurgen Klopp speaks

“We had a really good week, but Munich feels longer than three days ago – it’s another competition and completely different circumstances, so we have to be ready to play another really good football game today. You’re only tired when you think you’re tired; the boys looked really sharp in training. They want to use the momentum we have, but they have to work hard today.”

1.45pm GMT

Pre-match clickbait

Related: Jürgen Klopp loves it too much at Liverpool to be swayed by Beckenbauer

Related: Fulham v Liverpool: match preview

1.45pm GMT

You can get odds of 9/4 on Liverpool winning the title, which looks pretty generous given they have the easier run-in

The two-way sprint to the line

1.22pm GMT

If you’re into the whole FA Cup thing, Daniel Harris is following Millwall v Brighton.

Related: Millwall v Brighton: FA Cup quarter-final – live!

1.20pm GMT

Fulham (4-2-3-1) Rico; Fosu-Mensah, Chambers, Ream, Bryan; Anguissa, Seri; Ayite, Cairney, Babel; Mitrovic.
Substitutes: Fabri, Odoi, Christie, Sessegnon, McDonald, Kebano, Vietto.

Liverpool (4-3-3) Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, van Dijk, Robertson; Wijnaldum, Fabinho, Lallana; Salah, Firmino, Mane.
Substitutes: Mignolet, Lovren, Moreno, Milner, Shaqiri, Origi, Sturridge.

7.48am GMT

Hello and welcome to inclusively live coverage of Fulham v Liverpool from Craven Cottage. The bad news for Fulham is that they are going down; the good news is that they are still in the title race. The next two matches at the top of the Premier League both take place in west London, where Fulham host Liverpool today and Manchester City a week on Saturday.

With City on quadruple duty this weekend, a Liverpool win will take them back to the top of the table. Their away form has been a little squeaky of late, with nervy draws at West Ham, Manchester United and Everton, but their win in Munich on Wednesday was so convincing that it should have a positive impact on their away performances for the rest of the season.

Continue reading...

When Manchester United were a nation’s darlings – and Wolves found out why

We recall how Tommy Docherty’s thrilling team won a 1976 FA Cup classic at Molineux before the sides meet there again

Let’s call it the Smash Hits double. In that beloved pop magazine’s annual poll it was not unusual for artists to be voted the best and worst in the same category. It happened three times in 1989 alone: Bros (best/worst group), Kylie Minogue (female solo singer) and Jason Donovan (male solo singer).

For the past few decades, Manchester United have had a similar relationship with popularity – the best-supported club in England but also the most hated. Yet there was a time in the mid-1970s when their young team were the darlings of the nation.

Related: Premier League, Championship and FA Cup: 10 things to look out for

Continue reading...

Arsenal 3-0 Rennes (agg: 4-3): Europa League last 16, second leg – as it happened

Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang scored twice as Arsenal overcame a 3-1 first-leg deficit to beat Rennes and reach the Europa League quarter-finals

10.05pm GMT

Amy Lawrence’s match report from the Emirates has landed, so I’ll leave you with that. Thanks for your company, congratulations to Arsenal. Bye!

Related: Aubameyang the hero as Arsenal beat Rennes and reach quarter-finals

10.04pm GMT

Post-match reaction

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang “I missed two chances to close the game, but okay. Everyone is happy that we are through. Arsenal have to be proud to have young players like Ainsley. We are all happy. Rennes were a bit nervous and angry, but that’s football. I needed a mask to represent me, so I chose the Black Panther, because in Gabon we call the national team the Panthers.”

9.59pm GMT

The line-up for the quarter-final of the Europa League is Arsenal, Benfica or Dinamo Zagreb, Chelsea, Frankfurt, Napoli, Slavia Prague or Sevilla, Valencia, Villarreal.

9.58pm GMT

Arsenal started the second leg 3-1 down, yet they were ahead in the tie on away goals by the 15th minute thanks to Aubameyang and Maitland-Niles. It was nervy and scrappy after that, but Aubameyang’s second goal gave Arsenal a safety net and they held on despite a couple of exhilarating late runs from Hatim Ben Arfa.

9.56pm GMT

Peep peep! Arsenal become the sixth English side through to this season’s European quarter-finals.

9.54pm GMT

90+4 min Iwobi gets away with kicking Traore off the ball. He could have been sent off for that.

9.53pm GMT

90+3 min Kolasinac is booked for timewasting.

9.53pm GMT

90+2 min A long cross from the left is headed to the edge of the area, where Niang cracks a left-foot volley that is desperately blocked. For the first time in the match, Arsenal are hanging on.

9.51pm GMT

90+1 min Hunou, flagged offside, shoots wide from eight yards anyway. The chance was created by another exhilarating surge from Ben Arfa.

9.50pm GMT

90 min Arsenal are five added minutes away from the quarter-finals.

9.49pm GMT

88 min An electric burst from Ben Arfa, who beats three players and slides the ball through to Hunou, whose close-range shot is smothered superbly by Cech. It wouldn’t have counted as Hunou had rightly been flagged offside.

9.47pm GMT

87 min Arsenal make their third substitution, with Lucas Torreira replacing the excellent Aaron Ramsey.

9.44pm GMT

83 min Aubameyang misses an even better chance, dragging miserablywide from eight yards after some fleet-footed brilliance from Ramsey. It was beautiful play from Ramsey - a kind of two-footed elastico pass, if that isn’t a complete contradiction. It is a complete contradiction. Just watch it on YouTube.

9.42pm GMT

83 min “Ozil has off days, like any player, but he’s far better than the English media are willing to admit,” says Petr Fremont. “For all the silly noises that get spoken and printed, name another player in that side who makes the players around him better when he plays. The more pertinent question is how does the team respond to him and the usual answer is quite well.”

Have you been secretly filming the English football media’s Agenda Meetings?

9.42pm GMT

82 min Aubameyang misses a great chance for his hat-trick, stabbing wide from close range after a nice through pass from Iwobi.

9.41pm GMT

81 min Bourigeaud is booked for dissent. Rennes have their sulk on.

9.40pm GMT

80 min “Interesting take on ‘both sides trying it on’,” says Francis Peppett. “I count Aubameyang going down once, to at least 7-8 examples of theatrics from Rennes. Kudos to the ref for not rising to it so far.”

I’d argue there’s more than one way to try it on.

9.39pm GMT

79 min Another Rennes change: James Lea Siliki replace Andre.

9.38pm GMT

77 min Mkhitaryan is booked for something or other. Rennes are starting to look resigned to defeat, even though they are only one goal away from taking it to extra-time.

9.36pm GMT

74 min Rennes had to score a goal anyway, so their task hasn’t really changed. The only difference is that a 2-1 scoreline would have put them through, whereas 3-1 would take it to extra time.

9.34pm GMT

73 min Aubameyang was booked for putting a mask on while celebrating the goal. Don’t.

9.33pm GMT

Another simple goal for Aubameyang. Mkhitaryan bides his time before easing a pass down the left to Kolasinac, who fizzes a superb low cross into the area. It beats everyone at the near post and is tapped into an empty net by Aubameyang at the far. He might have been offside then, too, though I suspect he was just okay.

9.31pm GMT

71 min Iwobi almost scores straight away. He controlled Mkhitaryan’s lofted pass nicely on the edge of the area before dragging a left-footed shot just wide.

9.31pm GMT

70 min Rennes also make a change, with Adrien Hunou replacing Clement Grenier.

9.30pm GMT

69 min Unai Emery changes two things, in fact. Alex Iwobi and Henrikh Mkhitaryan replace Alex Lacazette and Mesut Ozil.

9.28pm GMT

68 min It’s all Rennes at the moment. Arsenal need to change something.

9.27pm GMT

67 min Arsenal were so good until they went 2-0 up, and then they stopped playing. It’s human nature, I know, but it could come back to bite them because they are a bag of nerves now.

9.26pm GMT

65 min Traore surges forward to win a corner for Rennes. It’s curled towards Bensebaini, who mistimes a flying header onto Koscielny and behind for another corner. That was a chance. Moments later, Bensebaini cracked a fine volley onto the outside of the far post, though he was miles offside.

9.23pm GMT

61 min: Brilliant tackle from Kolasinac! Rennes worked the ball nicely to release Sarr on the right side of the area. His first touch was slightly heavy and that allowed Kolasinac to get back and make a vital sliding block.

9.20pm GMT

60 min The brattish nonsense is so overbearing that it’s easy to forget how close Arsenal are to going out. One Rennes goal is all it would take, unless Arsenal score again.

9.19pm GMT

59 min “I’ve come in late to this game, which seems to be a mix of some football and a lot of something else, perhaps a falling-down contest,” says Charles Antaki. “Have Arsenal scored two very good tumbles? That’s fine with me, but presumably in future rounds the football will become more important.”

9.18pm GMT

58 min Now Arsenal are at it, demanding a custodial sentence for Andre after a foul on Kolasinac. The referee doesn’t show a yellow card this time. I’m not even sure it was a foul.

9.17pm GMT

57 min Sarr drives a cross straight into the hands of Cech. He’s had a very poor game so far.

9.16pm GMT

55 min Lacazette, who has been booked, is penalised for a challenge on Bensebaini. Rennes demand a yellow card, and the referee agrees: he shows it to Grenier.

9.14pm GMT

53 min Both sides are still trying it on with the referee every time there’s a challenge. It’s so boring.

9.11pm GMT

50 min A great long pass down the right from Ramsey releases Aubameyang, who goes around the outrushing keeper Koubek on the edge of the area. The angle becomes too tight, however, and he can only loft the ball into the arms of the recovering Koubek.

9.09pm GMT

48 min Niang’s shot took a deflection off Koscielny, in fact, though I’m not sure whether it would have bothered Cech without that touch. At the other end, Lacazette heads a set piece over the bar from 15 yards.

9.08pm GMT

47 min: Niang hits the post! Mustafi was faffy and lost the ball in a dangerous area to Grenier, who moved it square to Niang on the edge of the area. He took a touch and drove a low shot that beat Cech and rattled off the outside of the near post.

9.07pm GMT

47 min Evening Rob,” says Matt Emerson. “Fancy seeing a picture of Charlie George playing in a charity cricket match? Of course you do – looks like he could have been the next Denis Compton...”

Simon Pegg alongside him has aged well.

9.05pm GMT

46 min Peep peep! Rennes begin the second half.

9.04pm GMT

“Dear Rob,” says Malte Zumbansen. “Just rushed through an exam to be able to watch as much of the match as possible... didn’t see much of that half but oh what a relief it is to see the Arsenal in the classic kit again. Last week in Rennes was shambolic, but perhaps the most embarrassing thing was the way those mint green kits emphasised the players’ sweat. A fright to the eyes, truly.”

You need to play for Brazil in 1982 to get away with that.

9.01pm GMT

“Hi Rob,” says Graham O’Reilly. “Anyone noticed how much better Arsenal suddenly are with Ozil back in the team?”

I don’t watch Arsenal enough to comment, but I suspect some people would answer your question with a question: anyone noticed how much better Ozil is playing since he was dropped?

8.59pm GMT

Offside update Aubameyang was well offside - and in line with the assistant referee - for the second goal. I assume the assistant was distracted by Kolasinac, but it was still a clear and obvious error.

8.51pm GMT

Half-time reading

Related: Ronaldo’s defining display shows ‘fino alla fine’ spirit is alive at Juventus | Eni Aluko

8.50pm GMT

Peep peep! Arsenal are ahead on away goals after early goals from Aubameyang and Maitland-Niles. At that stage it looked like they could run away with the tie, but Rennes dominated possession after that, albeit without giving Petr Cech anything to do.

8.46pm GMT

45+1 min Four minutes of added time.

8.45pm GMT

45 min “Bonsoir Rob,” says James Lewis. “I studied at Rennes Uni back in the day (2000-2001) and regularly attended Stade Rennais games. Decent fans and you could stand, sing and drink with relatively no bother (unless Nantes were in town). My guess is that the fans Tekin Sahan heard shouting (ref: 6 min) were singing: ‘Nous sommes Stade Rennais, nous allons gagner!’ Which of course they won’t now...”

8.45pm GMT

44 min Both teams are trying it on all the time with the referee. It’s getting very tedious.

8.43pm GMT

42 min Ramsey is receiving treatment. He slipped when trying to foul Andre and is limping to the touchline. I think he’ll be okay to continue. The Rennes corner is eventually played short to Ben Arfa, who hits a feeble shot through to Cech.

8.42pm GMT

41 min Traore wins a corner for Rennes. Arsenal are starting to look a bit frazzled in defence, and the mood of the game has changed significantly in the last 15 minutes.

8.40pm GMT

39 min A good move from Arsenal. Ozil ghosts infield from the right and slides a pass to Lacazette, who lays it off first time to Ramsey. He opens his body to sweep a rising shot from 20 yards that is too close to Koubek.

8.39pm GMT

37 min “Rob,” says Simon Xu, “just wanted to point out his name is Bourigeaud, not Boungeaud! Talented young player.”

Ach! Thanks. I blame my inadequate eyesight.

8.38pm GMT

36 min Ben Arfa, playing in a free role, is looking increasingly dangerous. He beats Xhaka and Maitland-Niles with ease on the left and whips another dangerous cross that skims off the head of Mustafi and away to safety.

8.36pm GMT

35 min “Just waiting for the away team to get more frustrated and start squaring up to Arsenal players,” says Matt Dony, “so the ref can advise them to ‘Walk away, Rennes.’ I’m here all week. Try the horse.”

8.35pm GMT

34 min Ozil’s flat, curling cross is scissor-kicked well wide by Aubameyang. He shinned it.

8.34pm GMT

34 min Rennes are getting increasingly radged off with the referee, and the game is heating up nicely as a result.

8.33pm GMT

33 min “Hoping Arsenal keep going and win tonight,” writes Peter Tuhill. “We have family watching it from UK, Canada and New Zealand so there will be a global meltdown if they blow it!”

8.32pm GMT

32 min Lacazette is booked for a clumsy scissor tackle on Andre.

8.31pm GMT

30 min A superb, dipping cross from the left by Boungeaud is lumped away a little awkwardly by Kolasinac. Rennes have been excellent in the last few minutes.

8.29pm GMT

28 min Aubameyang accidentally studs Da Silva in the chest as he jumps for a high ball. The Rennes players, already hacked off with the second goal, are fuming that Aubameyang has not received at least a yellow card.

8.26pm GMT

26 min Traore tries a snapshot from 20 yards with his left foot. Throw in to Arsenal.

8.26pm GMT

25 min Rennes suddenly look much more sprightly going forward. The second goal has probably reinforced their clarity - they know that if they don’t score, they are out.

8.24pm GMT

23 min Boungeaud’s corner is a stinker, straight out of play on the other side of the field.

8.23pm GMT

23 min Ben Arfa has come alive. First he flips a fine pass over the defence that just evades the stretching Boungeaud, and moments later he wins a corner down the left.

8.21pm GMT

21 min If Rennes aren’t careful, this could be over by half-time. They look a bit shell-shocked.

8.19pm GMT

18 min Moments after Monreal is not booked for taking a shortcut through the back of Grenier, Mexer is booked for an aerial challenge on Lacazette. That seems a bit harsh.

8.18pm GMT

Rennes are not happy with this goal. It was made by Aubameyang, who came infield from the left and played a square pass to Ramsey. He zipped it first-time towards Kolasinac, who realised he was miles offside and ignored the ball. Aubameyang ran onto it and stood up a lovely left-footed cross that was headed in decisively at the far post by Maitland-Niles.

At first I thought it was a good goal, and clever play from Kolasinac to ignore the ball. But replays suggest Aubameyang was probably also offside. There’s no VAR in the Europa League.

8.16pm GMT

Arsenal double their lead!

8.14pm GMT

13 min Arsenal have been excellent so far, both with and without the ball. Rennes look slightly shocked by the speed and intensity of the game. THEY DON’T LIKE IT UP ’EM.

8.12pm GMT

11 min Lacazette and Aubameyang combine to release Kolasinac, whose dangerous low cross is booted clear by Mexer.

8.10pm GMT

9 min Maitland-Niles leads an Arsenal counter-attack, shoving the ball down the right for the speedy Aubameyang. He wins a corner, which is headed away decisively by Mexer.

8.07pm GMT

6 min “Hi Rob,” says Tekin Sahan. “I heard some chanting outside my house this afternoon and went outside to see what it was and saw a march by several hundred Rennes fans under a police cordon marching through Camden Street presumably towards the Emirates. They seemed like a jolly bunch. I waited till they were out of sight and screamed ARSENAL! behind them as any hard man would do.”

I know you won’t believe it, but English football fans used to behave like that.

8.06pm GMT

It was a good team goal from Arsenal. They moved the ball nicely from left to right, where the overlapping Maitland-Niles had a bit of space. He waited for support and then played a short pass infield to Ramsey, whose low cross on the turn was sidefooted into the net from four yards by Aubameyang.

8.05pm GMT

That didn’t take long.

8.04pm GMT

4 min It’s been a lively start from both sides, with no suggestion that Rennes have a bus to park.

8.03pm GMT

3 min In other news, here’s Dom Fifield’s match report on Chelsea’s 5-0 win in Kyiv.

Related: Olivier Giroud’s perfect hat-trick fires Chelsea into Europa League last eight

8.02pm GMT

2 min “I wonder how this Arsenal side would fare against their greatest team,” says Duncan Edwards. “You know, Wilson, Rice, McNab, Storey, McLintock, Simpson, Armstrong, Graham, Radford, Kennedy, George.”

Textbook stuff.

8.01pm GMT

1 min Peep peep! Arsenal kick off from right to left. They are in red and white; Rennes are wearing their black change strip.

7.54pm GMT

The player are in the tunnel, ready for another night’s work.

Prediction: Arsenal 5-1 Rennes (AET).

7.49pm GMT

The early games have finished, with Chelsea, Napoli and Valencia going through to the last eight. Valencia were going out to FC Krasnodar until Goncalo Guedes scored in the 93rd minute.

Related: Dynamo Kyiv v Chelsea: Europa League last 16, second leg – live!

7.28pm GMT

On today of all days

#OnThisDay in 1998...

Marc Overmars silenced Old Trafford pic.twitter.com/v2uDZljF0Q

7.27pm GMT

Some pre-match reading

Related: Aubameyang and Lacazette pals’ act drives Arsenal towards bigger things | Amy Lawrence

Related: Rennes admit surprise at Uefa reprieve for Arsenal’s Alexandre Lacazette

7.10pm GMT

In other Europa League news, Chelsea went to Kyiv with a 3-0 lead from the first leg. You will not believe the score!

Related: Dynamo Kyiv v Chelsea: Europa League last 16, second leg – live!

6.57pm GMT

Arsenal (3-4-1-2) Cech; Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal; Maitland-Niles, Ramsey, Xhaka, Kolasinac; Ozil; Lacazette, Aubameyang.
Substitutes: Leno, Mkhitaryan, Torreira, Iwobi, Denis Suarez, Guendouzi, Nketiah.

Rennes (4-4-2) Koubek; Traore, Da Silva, Mexer, Bensebaini; Sarr, Andre, Grenier, Bourigeaud; Ben Arfa, Niang.
Substitutes: Badiashile, Zeffane, Doumbia, Lea Silki, Del Castillo, Hunou, Gelin.

6.32pm GMT

A main course of shallot and chicory tatin, young vegetables, new potatoes with chestnut dressing never hurt nobody. But despite the almost parodic gastronomic options at the Emirates Stadium, and the nu-footy reputation, it has become an intimidating place for away sides. Only Manchester City have picked up more league points at home than Arsenal in each of the last two seasons, and they were again impressive in beating Manchester United at the weekend.

Arsenal’s home form – and the bonus availability of Alexandre Lacazette – means they are most people’s favourites to go through to the last eight of Europa League despite their 3-1 defeat in France a week ago. Even the Rennes manager Julian Stephan thinks so. “Arsenal remain favourites given their past and their experience,” he sniffed. “The only thing I think is that we will need to score there, at least once, if not twice.”

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