Rob Smyth's Blog, page 99

December 5, 2020

Manchester City 2-0 Fulham, Sevilla 0-1 Real Madrid, EFL, WSL and more – as it happened

Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne helped City jump seven places to fourth, while an own goal from Bono gave Zinedine Zidane a vital win

5.15pm GMT

That’s it for today’s blog. I’ll leave you with Jamie Jackson’s report from the Etihad, and if you want more you can join Scott Murray for West Ham United v Manchester United. Bye!

5.08pm GMT

These are the final scores in our featured games

Premier League

5.08pm GMT

Peep peep! Real Madrid move up to third thanks to a comedy own goal from the Sevilla keeper Bono. Next up: Monchengladbach in a pivotal Champions League match on Wednesday.

5.04pm GMT

Sevilla 0-1 Real Madrid They’re into injury time at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium. Bono’s own goal looks set to give Zinedine Zidane a stay of execution.

4.59pm GMT

Cheltenham win an eight-goal thriller at the ground apparently known as the Jonny-Rocks Stadium for sponsorship reasons.

4.58pm GMT

“Dundee United won’t be going fifth, Rob,” weeps Simon McMahon. “Rangers at Tannadice next week, assuming of course our non-isolating squad members aren’t planning a Christmas shopping trip to New York...”

4.58pm GMT

Sevilla 0-1 Real Madrid The Madrid goal has now been credited to the Sevilla keeper Bono. Which explains this email from Matthew Carpenter-Arevalo.

“Last time Bono scored an own goal, Apple made everyone download the new U2 album on iTunes,” he says. “Sorry, had to do it.”

4.53pm GMT

A fine win for Cardiff, which should take them into the top half of the table.

4.52pm GMT

Norwich go top of the Championship after scoring twice in the last 10 minutes against Sheffield Wednesday.

4.52pm GMT

Peep peep! City go fourth with a comfortable victory at the Etihad. Raheem Sterling and a Kevin De Bruyne penalty did the job.

4.51pm GMT

Despite a few scares, Cheltenham have won a thriller in League Two.

4.50pm GMT

West Ham v Manchester United is the Premier League’s 5.30pm. Scott Murray has some slightly surprising team news.

4.49pm GMT

Championship It’s been an eventful afternoon at the Brentford Community Stadium, and now Jacob Davenport has scored a late equaliser for 10-man Blackburn.

4.44pm GMT

Man City 2-0 Fulham The match is petering out. Fulham have had a decent share of the second half, even if City have had all the chances.

4.42pm GMT

A notable scoreline from League Two Bolton 3-6 Port Vale.

4.40pm GMT

Two goals in three minutes for Norwich! Max Aarons has given them the lead with a beautiful goal. He played a one-two with Vrancic, whose elegant backheel put him through on goal, and he finished emphatically. If it stays like this, Norwich will be top of the league tonight.

4.38pm GMT

4.37pm GMT

Andy Williams has given all Cheltenham fans a happy heart.

4.37pm GMT

Norwich are level! Mario Vrancic plays a devastating through pass to the teenager Josh Martin, who pokes home from close range.

4.30pm GMT

Vinicius Jr has scored a priceless goal - for Real Madrid, for Zinedine Zidane and for the bald community.

4.29pm GMT

“Kamara is on,” says Fulham fan Richard Hirst. “2008 here we come!”

4.29pm GMT

Manchester City 2-0 Fulham It’s odd to say, given they are facing defeat, but this is turning into a decent day for Fulham. They have kept the score at 2-0 since the 26th minute.

4.27pm GMT

Sevilla 0-0 Real Madrid It’s still very tight in Seville. The home side haven’t had a shot on target in the first 53 minutes, it says here.

4.22pm GMT

Championship A spectacular individual goal from Sergi Canos has put Brentford 2-1 up against ten-man Blackburn. As things stand, they are in third place.

4.21pm GMT

Peep peep! Another frustrating afternoon for Borussia Dortmund, who have been held by the draw specialists Eintracht Frankfurt. It feels like their title hopes are already starting to recede.

4.19pm GMT

The latest scores in our featured games

Premier League

4.18pm GMT

Matt Jay has brought Exeter back into the match at Cheltenham.

4.17pm GMT

Man City 2-0 Fulham Alphonse Areola is preserving Fulham’s dignity. He’s just made a fine one-on-one save from Kevin De Bruyne; that’s his third excellent stop of the game.

4.16pm GMT

Another potential shock in the Championship. Josh Windass has given Sheffield Wednesday the lead at Carrow Road!

4.14pm GMT

“Morning Rob,” says Angelo. “Watching City-Fulham in California. As a youth referee out here, I appreciate Jon Moss playing the advantage on both of City’s goals. He’s on a hat trick. What a man.”

If he gets his third, I hope he celebrates in style.

Related: Referee Reed reprimanded

4.11pm GMT

Here’s more on that miserable nonsense at the Den

4.10pm GMT

Man City 2-0 Fulham Kevin De Bruyne hits the bar from 10 yards after being teed up by Gabriel Jesus. It was on his left foot, which makes the concept of De Bruyne missing from 10 yards slightly less confusing.

4.08pm GMT

Frankfurt 1-1 Dortmund Lucien Favre’s side have ten minutes to find a winner. They’ve dominated the second half completely.

4.07pm GMT

The Championship table is so tight. As things stand, only three points separate the top eight. Watford, who started the day in third, are on course to finish it in eighth.

4.04pm GMT

Peep peep! The second halves are underway in the 3pm games.

4.03pm GMT

Frankurt 1-1 Dortmund Jude Bellingham has come on for Dortmund, whose team now has an average age of 21.4 months.

4.00pm GMT

“That would be Liam Sercombe, product of the Exeter City Youth Academy and almost 250 appearances for the club, who has put Cheltenham 3-1 up,” says Mike Reddaway. “Not that I’m bitter...”

3.57pm GMT

Apparently Millwall’s fans booed their players when they took a knee before the Championship match against Derby. I am Jack’s flabbered gast.

3.51pm GMT

Peep peep! It’s half-time in the 3pm kick-offs, and these are the latest scores.

Premier League

3.50pm GMT

Liam Sercombe’s penalty has doubled Cheltenham’s lead in the League Two top-of-the-table clash.

3.49pm GMT

The veteran Gio Reyna, 18, has equalised for Dortmund, who brought on the 16-year-old Youssoufa Moukoko at half-time.

3.47pm GMT

“I accept that it isn’t easy,” says Gary Naylor, “but do you think, after a week to work something out and with videos and coaches aplenty, Fulham should have a better idea how to attack the press? It’s a bit like corners and free kicks - evidence of preparation and practice is the exception rather than the rule.”

I think that’s pretty harsh. When Pep Guardiola’s teams play well – and they’ve been excellent today – they smother teams. The 2011 Champions League final is a good example. Manchester United could not have prepared better, but they were overwhelmed to the point that they didn’t win a single corner and their only shot on target should have been given offside.

3.44pm GMT

Cardiff have taken a surprise lead at Vicarage Road. A left-wing corner hit somebody on the six-yard line and dropped nicely for Kieffer Moore, who rammed it past Ben Foster with his left foot.

3.41pm GMT

“Afternoon Rob,” says Stephen Carr. “Three observations from the Sevilla Madrid game; firstly, Sevilla don’t look like a team who were on the wrong end of a midweek shellacking; secondly, Madrid look determined to get themselves back on track; and finally, Lopetegui looks like a bad waxwork of Chris de Burgh.”

It’s still 0-0.

3.39pm GMT

“Hi again Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “The Highland League is up and running again, though without founder member club Forres Mechanics, who took the difficult decision to withdraw from this season’s competition due to the pandemic, having played every year since the league’s inception in 1893. After one round of fixtures, only the games at Brora and Huntly go ahead today, the other six fixtures postponed due to waterlogged and snowbound pitches, and the Nairn team having to self-isolate. Gotta love the Highland League! No goals in the SPFL yet, but some dancing could be in the post as Raith have taken the lead at home to Dunfermline.”

3.39pm GMT

“Hiya Rob,” says Dominic Burgess. “From that City Fulham match report you linked to: ‘Sven-Goran Eriksson played the best backs at his disposal, Michael Ball and Vedran Corluka, in the centre, the reserve right-back Sun Jihai at left-back and the creative midfielder Elano at right-back.’ Elano at right back! I might find a recording of that match and watch it instead of the current one.”

Crikey, I don’t remember that at all. Life, Kaiser, we’re celebrating life.

3.35pm GMT

Manchester City 2-0 Fulham “Fulham need half-time,” says the BT Sport commentator Ian Darke. He’s half right: they need full-time.

3.35pm GMT

Man City 2-0 Fulham Alphonse Areola makes a flying save from Raheem Sterling’s sidefoot volley. He was put clear by a lovely scoop over the defence by Riyad Mahrez. City are playing delightfully.

3.33pm GMT

Manchester City 2-0 Fulham John Stones almost scores a comedy own goal. He played the ball back towards Ederson, oblivious to the fact that Ederson was about a yard away from him, but it went just wide of the near post.

3.29pm GMT

“Any idea why Manchester City have put covers over the seats saying, ‘We’re not really here?’” asks Adam Kline-Schoder. “An allusion to lack of crowds, perhaps?”

It’s a long story. You can read the shorter version here.

3.28pm GMT

Kevin De Bruyne scores with ease. Manchester City, who started the day in 11th place, are heading into the top four. Unless...

3.27pm GMT

PENALTY TO MAN CITY Raheem Sterling has been clipped by Joachim Andersen, a clear penalty.

3.21pm GMT

Manchester City 1-0 Fulham City are in complete control at the Etihad. The last time I checked they’d had 74 per cent of the possession.

3.14pm GMT

The latest scores in our featured games

Premier League

3.14pm GMT

Cheltenham have come from behind to lead, and the game is only 13 minutes old. Alfie May scored the second goal, and I’ve no idea what happened because I’m not there and it’s not on TV.

3.09pm GMT

George Lloyd has equalised immediately for Cheltenham. You probably discerned that from the goalflash, but I have to write something here, so here it is.

3.07pm GMT

Manchester City have finally broken through against Fulham. Raheem Sterling got the goal, finishing neatly after a fine through pass from Kevin De Bruyne.

3.05pm GMT

Archie Collins has given free-scoring Exeter an early lead in the big League Two clash. Exeter will move above second-placed Cheltenham if they win today.

3.03pm GMT

“C’mon Fulham, channel the spirit of 2008 against City,” says Richard Hirst. “Kamara to come on as substitute and play the ... Kamara role, relegation averted and the Europa League final two seasons later. It’s in the stars (I can always dream)!”

3.00pm GMT

Peep peep! The 3pm games are underway.

3.00pm GMT

2.41pm GMT

Daichi Kamada has given Eintracht Frankurt an early lead against Borussia Dortmund, who are having a dog of a week. It was a really good finish - he made a good run behind the defence, killed the ball on the stretch and knocked it past the outrushing Roman Burki.

2.35pm GMT

Cheltenham v Exeter team news

Cheltenham (3-5-2) Griffiths; Raglan, Tozer, Boyle; Blair, Sercombe, Azaz, Clements, Hussey; May, Lloyd.
Substitutes: Bowry, Chapman, Flinders, Freestone, Reid, Sang, Williams.

2.30pm GMT

Watford v Cardiff team news

Watford (4-4-2) Foster; Ngakia, Kabasele, Troost-Ekong, Wilmot; Sarr, Garner, Cleverley, Sema; Deeney, Pedro.
Substitutes: Bachmann, Capoue, Kiko, Hughes, Navarro, Perica, Philips, Quina, Sierralta.

2.27pm GMT

Norwich v Sheffield Wednesday team news

Norwich (4-2-3-1) McGovern; Aarons, Hanley, Gibson, Sorensen; Skipp, Vrancic; Buendia, Stiepermann, Placheta; Pukki.
Substitutes: Barden, Dickson-Peters, Martin, McAlear, Omobamidele, Omotoye, Tettey, Zimmermann.

2.24pm GMT

“Afternoon Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “In Scotland, Dundee United travel to Livingston minus manager Micky Mellon and nine of their playing squad, who are required to self-isolate after some bright spark decided that it would be a good idea for the entire United coaching staff and players to stand shoulder to shoulder and pose for a team photo. Jesus wept.

“Hope springs eternal though, eh, and a win today could see United go fifth, depending on results between Hamilton v Kilmarnock and Motherwell v Hibs. Today’s other SPFL fixture is St. Mirren v Aberdeen. Crisis club Celtic play St. Johnstone tomorrow in Neil Lennon’s last match in charge. In the Scottish Championship there’s a tasty looking Fife derby as third placed Raith Rovers host table toppers Dunfermline.”

2.24pm GMT

A comfortable win for Reading against a Forest team that had ten men for 75 minutes.

2.23pm GMT

An honourable draw at Turf Moor. Robbie Brady gave Burnley an early lead; Dominic Calvert-Lewin equalised in first-half injury-time.

2.23pm GMT

Peep peep! United were on top throughout but hard to work hard for their victory. Two cool finishes from Leah Galton and Ella Toone were enough to give them another victory and put them four points clear of Arsenal, who play Birmingham tomorrow.

2.20pm GMT

Sevilla v Real Madrid team news

Sevilla (4-3-3) Bono; Jesus Navas, Kounde, Diego Carlos, Vidal; Fernando, Jordan, Rakitic; Munir, de Jong, Ocampos.
Substitutes: Javi Diaz, Vacas, Rekik, Gudelj, Suso, Oscar, En-Nesyri, Torres, F Vazquez, Idrissi, Fernandez.

2.18pm GMT

Manchester United are going four points clear at the top of the WSL. Ella Toone has put them 2-0 up at Banks’s Stadium, chipping calmly into an empty net from 30 yards after Lisa Weiss unsuccessfully played sweeper-keeper. She made a good interception but the ball went straight to Toone, who floated it into the net.

2.07pm GMT

‘Woe betide’ department

2.04pm GMT

Aston Villa 0-1 Man Utd There are just under 15 minutes remaining at Banks’s Stadium. Manchester United have been much the better team but they still only lead 1-0.

2.04pm GMT

Manchester City v Fulham team news

Manchester City (4-2-3-1) Ederson; Cancelo, Dias, Stones, Mendy; Rodri, Gundogan; Mahrez, De Bruyne, Sterling; Jesus.
Substitutes: Steffen, Laporte, Garcia, Silva, Fernandinho, Foden, Torres.

1.54pm GMT

It’s still Burnley 1-1 Everton at Turf Moor. Scott Murray is watching that one.

1.46pm GMT

Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Dortmund team news

Eintracht Frankfurt (3-4-2-1) Trapp; Abraham, Hinteregger, N’Dicka; Durm, Sow, Rode, Kostic; Kamada, Barkok; Silva.
Substitutes: Schubert, Ilsanker, Hrustic, Dost, Hasebe, Chandler, da Costa, Kohr, Tuta.

1.44pm GMT

Aston Villa 0-1 Man Utd Still 1-0 to the leaders at Banks’s Stadium, though Lauren James almost made it two with a blistering drive that hit the crossbar.

1.43pm GMT

Nottingham Forest are one man and two goals down at the Madejski Stadium. Michael Morrison’s flicked header from a corner has made it 2-0 to Reading, who seem to be over their November blip. The first goal killed the game, pretty much: Ryan Yates was sent off for handball on the line, and Lucas Joao scored the resulting penalty.

12.59pm GMT

Brass tacks

Manchester City will soar into the top half of the Premier League - perhaps as high as fourth - if they beat Fulham. City are in the Saturday 3pm slot for the second consecutive Saturday, which can’t have happened for a while.

Pick that out!

@Leah_Galton21 #MUWomen #BarclaysFAWSL

pic.twitter.com/CPQA6e6mbz

11.25am GMT

Hello and welcome to another bumper Saturday-afternoon clockwatch. There are literally thousands of games taking place across Europe, but at this juncture I am only in possession of two eyes, two hands and one keyboard, so we’ll have to focus on a select few. Here they are:

Premier League

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Published on December 05, 2020 09:08

December 3, 2020

Europa League: Rangers and Spurs through, Arsenal thrash Rapid Vienna – as it happened

Rangers came from behind twice to reach the last 32, Spurs drew 3-3 away to LASK and Arsenal had a party in front of 2,000 fans at the Emirates

10.05pm GMT

That’s it for tonight’s blog. I’ll leave you with Nick Ames’ report on a feelgood night at the Emirates. Goodnight!

9.59pm GMT

And these were the final scores in the 5.55pm games

Group G

9.54pm GMT

The final scores in the 8pm games

Group A

9.51pm GMT

Jordan Flores scores a late consolation for Dundalk, who have Arsenal at home in their final game next week.

9.50pm GMT

Peep peep! Rangers are through to the knockout stages with a game to spare. They were made to work pretty darn hard by Liege, who dominated the first hour and led twice. But Scott Arfield’s lovely goal in the 63rd minute gave Rangers an important cushion, and they could easily have added to their lead towards the end.

9.49pm GMT

Peep peep! Who knew dead rubbers could be so good for the soul? Arsenal and their returning supporters had all kinds of fun at the Emirates: they scored four, all classy goals in their own way, and could have had eight. The fans loved every minute of it. Arsenal FC are, once again, by far the greatest team that the world has ever seen. It wasn’t exactly 03/05/1998, but I suspect 03/12/2020 will be fondly recalled in their dotage by Arsenal fans, two thousand of them in particular.

9.44pm GMT

“Riccardo Calafiori has scored a great goal for Roma tonight,” says Ruth Purdue. “Worth a look.”

I shall do so this very same night, as soon as the Rangers and Arsenal games finish.

9.43pm GMT

Rangers 3-2 Standard Liege Kemar Roofe misses a one-on-one, smashing the ball straight at Arnaud Bodart. He’s useless from anything less than 25 yards.

9.42pm GMT

“This joke means nothing to me,” is the subject of Al Spooner’s email. “I reckon Rapid Vienna should change their name to Careful Buildup Vienna,” he says. “You don’t want to expose yourself to counter-attacks.”

9.41pm GMT

Your friend and mine, Edin Dzeko, has made it Roma 3-1 Young Boys. That result will put Roma through to the last 32.

9.38pm GMT

Rangers 3-2 Standard Liege A superb free-kick from Borna Barisic draws a spectacular save from Arnaud Bodart, who flies across his goal and fingertips it onto the bar. Rangers were second best for an hour but they’ve been terrific since going ahead.

9.37pm GMT

Arsenal 4-1 Rapid Vienna With ten minutes remaining, the exciting Folarin Balogun comes on for Arsenal.

9.31pm GMT

“Rob,” says PB. “Please tell me if Bob Mortimer was lying on that clip - it cuts out right at the end!”

Ach, sorry, I didn’t realise it cut out! It was ... true.

9.27pm GMT

Rangers 3-2 Standard Liege Rangers have had their best spell of the game since going ahead. At the moment they look pretty comfortable, especially as they effectively have a two-goal cushion.

9.25pm GMT

It’s turning into another difficult night for Dundalk, who have now conceded 15 goals in their five group games.

9.24pm GMT

The latest scores

Group A

9.23pm GMT

The substitute Emile Smith-Rowe restores Arsenal’s three-goal lead. It was a simple tap-in after good play from Pepe and particularly Maitland-Niles, who resisted the temptation to shoot and instead gave the goal to Smith-Rowe. It’s been a feelgood night at the Emirates.

9.21pm GMT

Rangers are ahead for the first time! It’s a fine goal, too. Kamara puts Kent clear on the left of the area; he looks up and cuts the ball back perfectly for Arfield, who makes a late run into the box and sidefoots the ball into the net from 12 yards.

9.18pm GMT

It’s now Benfica 3-0 Lech Poznan in the other game in Rangers’ group. This means a draw tonight will be enough for Rangers to qualify with a match to spare.

9.14pm GMT

Rangers 2-2 Standard Liege On his big night, Allan McGregor makes an important stop from Abdoul-Fessal Tapsoba, who was put through on goal in the inside-left channel.

9.11pm GMT

Rangers 2-2 Standard Liege By their standards, Rangers have been rubbish tonight. Standard Liege are dominating the second half, as they did the first. But Rangers have already scored two equalisers and, as things stand, are going through to the last 32.

9.09pm GMT

“I wonder if Standard Liege would play better if they changed their name to Brilliant Liege?” says Niall Mullen. “Shows a real lack of ambition you have to say. Like the Average White Band or Normal People.”

No, these were Standard Fireworks.

9.04pm GMT

Rapid Vienna have got one back at the Emirates. After a helluva scramble in the area, which included Sead Kolasinac blocking two shots on the line, Kohya Kitagawa volleyed smartly into the net from 12 yards.

9.02pm GMT

“Re: that cup tie v United,” says Allan Castle. “Absolute JUSTICE that McClair missed that pen. Whiteside lost control of the ball, wrapped his legs around Thomas and fell over. Plain as day.”

I agree. I bet VAR would give it though.

9.01pm GMT

Peep peep! The second halves are underway.

8.59pm GMT

“Arsenal under Arteta are a conundrum,” says Bill Hargreaves. “Are they subconsciously focussing on European games, overly timid or lacking in confidence in the EPL? Does this performance seem like that of a team reborn, that has found its mojo, more than just a flash in the pan?”

I wouldn’t say that, partly because it’s a completely different team, but it does show the value of playing with freedom. They look like they are having fun, which hasn’t always been the case with Arsenal in recent years.

8.50pm GMT

Peep peep! These are the half-time scores:

Group A

8.49pm GMT

“Duje Cop Phil Babbing himself v Rangers defending in the Comedy Football Cup,” says Rob Moore. “He’s been very impressive, accidents aside.”

8.47pm GMT

James Tavernier slams the penalty down the middle. He slipped in the process but it didn’t affect the shot. Despite being outplayed, Rangers are level for the second time!

8.46pm GMT

PENALTY TO RANGERS! Roofe’s shot hits the outstretched arm of Lestienne, and Rangers have the chance to equalise for the second time.

8.45pm GMT

“I don’t think I’m losing perspective here,” says Matt Dony, “but I’m sure we can all agree that, in a year depressingly full of nadirs, the font on the back of Arsenal’s shirts is one of the lowest. An absolute travesty.”

Oi! That’s the Donnie Darko font! There’ll be no Dony Darko spin-off for you now.

8.44pm GMT

Arsenal and their fans are having all sorts of fun at the Emirates. Eddie Nketiah has made it 3-0, finishing at the second attempt after another gorgeous passing move.

8.43pm GMT

Ohi Omoijuanfo has made it 2-0 to Molde in, well, Molde.

8.42pm GMT

Liege take the lead straight from the kick-off! A wicked cross from Fai on the right bounced across the face of goal and was thighed into the net at the far post by Cop. His momentum took him straight into the post, an appreciable smack, and he is still receiving treatment.

8.40pm GMT

Rangers equalise out of nothing! It was a terrific header from Connor Goldson, thumped back across goal from Borna Barisic’s deep, outswinging corner. As it stands, Rangers are going through to the last 32.

8.37pm GMT

It’s Benfica 1-0 Lech Poznan in Rangers’ group, with Jan Vertonghen getting the goal. Unless Lech Poznan win (spoiler alert), a draw tonight will be enough to put Rangers through to the last 32.

8.32pm GMT

Rangers 0-1 Standard Liege Alfredo Morelos’s shot on the turn from 20 yards is comfortably saved by the diving Arnaud Bodart. But that was a bit better from Rangers.

8.31pm GMT

The Molde captain Magnus Wolff Eikrem has given them the lead against Dundalk, who are still looking for their first point in Group B.

8.30pm GMT

Arsenal 2-0 Rapid Vienna Ainsley Maitland-Niles makes a great run from midfield, straight through the Vienna defence, only to screw a left-footed shot well wide from 10 yards. He did the hard part beautifully, and the easy part terribly.

8.28pm GMT

Rangers 0-1 Standard Liege Rangers are getting a bit of a chasing at Ibrox. Liege’s aggressive approach seems to have taken them by surprise, and with the way game is going I think Steven Gerrard would take this score at half-time.

8.27pm GMT

Arsenal 2-0 Rapid Vienna After a lovely move from Arsenal, Alexandre Lacazette clips a low shot off the outside of the post. He looks really sharp the night.

8.25pm GMT

“Is the address available of whichever doctor it was who prescribed a dose of Rapid Vienna to Arsenal?” asks Charles Antaki. I could certainly do with a bit of the ease, tranquillity and sense of effortless superiority that they provide.”

8.24pm GMT

The return of supporters at Arsenal has got me thinking about great atmospheres at Highbury/the Emirates. This game would be up there; itwas pure poison by all accounts.

8.21pm GMT

The latest scores in the 8pm games

Group A

8.19pm GMT

It was a really accomplished header from Pablo Mari, flicked into the far corner from Nelson’s flat corner. The players are thrilled for him. So are the fans, who Pablo Mari applauds in return. An unashamed love-in is taking place at the Emirates, yet there’s nothing sickening about it. It’s a thing of beauty.

8.17pm GMT

Pablo Mari scores on his return to the side!

8.17pm GMT

Arsenal 1-0 Rapid Vienna Arsenal’s second XI are well on top at the Emirates. On BT Sport, Ian Darke suggests they have been energised by the return of their fans, and he probably has a point. I think having supporters - even 2,000 - will restore a bit of the old home advantage in the Premier League.

8.15pm GMT

Zorya 1-0 Leicester

8.15pm GMT

LASK 3-3 Spurs

8.14pm GMT

Rangers 0-1 Standard Liege Rangers have made a strangely listless start at Ibrox. A defeat tonight wouldn’t be the end of the world, but it would leave them vulnerable to an unlikely exit at the group stage.

8.13pm GMT

Arsenal 1-0 Rapid Vienna Shkodran Mustafi misses a great chance to make it 2-0, heading well wide of a vacant net from eight yards.

8.10pm GMT

Alexandre Lacazette gives Arsenal the lead with a screamer. He boomed the ball past Richard Strebinger from 25 yards and went straight over to the fans to celebrate. The ball ended up in the middle of the goal, which suggests a goalkeeping mistake, but it was swerved wickedly at the last minute.

8.09pm GMT

“Hi Rob,” says Peter Oh. “Two thousand fans and an emotional round of applause are all well and good, but what I really want to know is, is Gunnersaurus in the house?!”

Oh aye.

Hello Gunners

Give me a wave if you’re at tonight’s game or let me know where you’re watching from in the comments pic.twitter.com/po88ZQKLEf

8.07pm GMT

That wasn’t supposed to happen. Maxime Lestienne has given Standard Liege an early lead at Ibrox with a close-range finish from Duje Cop’s excellent near-post cross.

8.05pm GMT

The latest scores in the 8pm games (spoiler: they’re all 0-0)

Group A

8.04pm GMT

Arsenal 0-0 Rapid Vienna A quiet start at the Emirates, on the field at least. Ainsley Maitland-Niles is, as expected, playing in midfield, with Alexandre Lacazette as a No10.

8.03pm GMT

And it all goes wrong, big-time

8.00pm GMT

Peep peep! The 8pm games are underway. Arsenal are playing in their blue change strip due to a clash with Rapid Vienna’s green-and-white kit.

7.57pm GMT

The Arsenal players are clapped onto the field with feeling. It feels strange to say, but this is quite moving.

7.56pm GMT

The state of play

Arsenal are through; Dundalk are out; Rangers will go through if they beat Standard Liege, and possibly if they draw.

7.54pm GMT

There are 2,000 fans at Arsenal, including the former England cricketer Monty Panesar. The masks may hide the smiles, but everyone’s eyes are ablaze as they make their way into the Emirates for the first time since 7 March. It’s pretty delightful.

7.50pm GMT

Thanks Baz, evening everyone. Let’s start with the final scores from the early kick-offs.

Group G

7.48pm GMT

During all the late excitement, AC Milan extended their lead over Celtic with a goal from Brahim Diaz. Rob Smyth will guide you through the rest of the night’s action.

7.46pm GMT

Mamoudou Karamoko spins and scores with a wonderful from shot into the top corner from distance. Nobody in the ground looks more surprised than him to see his effort arrow past Joe Hart. That was a splendid goal.

7.40pm GMT

On as a sub for Tanguy Ndombele, Steven Bergwijn wins a penalty when he’s barged to the floor by Philip Wiesinger. His fellow susbtitute Dele Alli grabs the ball and makes no mistake from the spot.

7.39pm GMT

LASK restore parity, Eggestein scoring with a low drive that Hart got a hand to but couldn’t keep out.

7.37pm GMT

Zorya go in front, the substitute sliding in at the far post to convert a cross from the left just moments after coming on as a substitute.

7.36pm GMT

Fans in a Premier League stadium. Might catch on pic.twitter.com/NbmgAndRY9

7.32pm GMT

Zorya 0-0 Leicester: Good goalkeeping from Zorya’s Nilo;a Vasilj, who bats an Iheanacho shot out to his right at full stretch, before recovering in time to keep James Maddison’s effort on the follow-up out with his right foot. Maddison has just come on for Leicester, in place of Dennis Praet.

7.28pm GMT

Zorya 0-0 Leicester: Wesley Fofana heads a brilliant opportunity well wide of the far post from six yards out when scoring looked easier. The ball was put on a plate for him by Cengiz Under out on the right wing.

7.27pm GMT

AC Milan 3-2 Celtic: In the Milan goal, Gianluigi Donnarumma saves brilliantly to deny Ryan Christie from a free-kick.

7.25pm GMT

LASK 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur: Eric Dier comes on for Giovani Lo Celso and Spurs switch to a back three. Never change, Jose. Never change.

7.24pm GMT

LASK 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur: Just on as a substitute for LASK, Mamodou Karamoko fires a low drive just wide of the left upright.

7.21pm GMT

AC Milan 3-2 Celtic: Jeremie Frimpong has wasted a decent opportunity to draw his side level with Milan, shooting into the side-netting after being played down the right by Nir Bitton.

7.19pm GMT

LASK 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur: Bale and Son find themselves advancing down the pitch in a two on one, the Welshman with the ball at his feet. Bale unselfishly squares the ball for Son across the edge of the six-yard box, but his delivery is slightly behind the man he’s trying to pick out and a glorious chance goes begging.

7.17pm GMT

Zorya 0-0 Leicester City: On as a half-time sub for Leicester in place of Ricardo Pereira, Luke Thomas curls a lovely cross into the Zorya penalty area. It’s this much too high for Kelechi Iheanacho, who fails to make contact with it.

7.13pm GMT

7.09pm GMT

It’s textbook Son - the South Korean being played in behind the LASK by a beautifully weighted Ndombele pass. He gallops down the inside right and slots the ball past the advancing goalkeeper Alexander Schlager and into the bottom left-hand corner.

7.08pm GMT

Zorya 0-0 Leicester: A Dennis Praet handball gives Zorya a free-kick in a good position to the left of the Leicester penalty area. Yurchenko curls the ball into the box and wins his side a corner off Wesley Fofana. Nothing comes from the set-piece.

7.05pm GMT

Having been two goals down early doors, Milan now lead Celtic by the odd goal of five. Jens Petter Hauge beats three players on a slaloming run, cuts into the Celtic penalty area and finishes into the bottom corner.

7.04pm GMT

Zorya 0-0 Leicetser City: Zorya midfielder Vladlen Yurchenko rattles the Leicester crossbar with a header from distance after getting on the end of a Kochergin cross from the left. It was a splendid effort but the game remains scoreless.

7.02pm GMT

The second halves are under way: Matt Doherty is back on for Spurs, despite hobbling off with what looked like a muscle injury a couple of minutes before half-time.

6.59pm GMT

Rangers (4-3-3) McGregor; Tavernier, Goldson, Balogun, Barisic; Kamara, S Davis, Arfield; Roofe, Morelos, Kent.

Substitutes McLaughlin, Ughelumba, Hagi, Itten, Zungu, Patterson, Aribo, Barker, Stewart, Barjonas, Dickson, King.

6.58pm GMT

With Arsenal already through to the last 32, Mikel Arteta makes 11 changes to the side that lost at home to Wolves on Sunday. Most of those 11 players are on the bench, though David Luiz and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are among those given the night off.

Arsenal (4-2-3-1) Runarsson; Cedric, Mustafi, Pablo Mari, Kolasinac; Maitland-Niles, Elneny; Pepe, Lacazette, Nelson; Nketiah.

6.57pm GMT

Molde (4-3-3) Linde; Wingo, Gregersen, Sinyan, Risa; Aursnes, Wolff Eikrem, Ellingsen; E Hestad, Omoijuanfo, Knudtzon.

Substitutes Craninx, Ranmark, Mostrom, James, Christensen, Hussain, Brynhildsen, Pedersen, Bolly.

6.53pm GMT

LASK 1-1 Tottenham: A correction is required. The penalty Tottenham won at the end of the first half was not for a foul on Dombele, but a handball. Andrade was thre guilty party, the ball striking his outstretched hand from point-blank range as he slid in to try to prevent Ndombele from getting his shot away. That is an incredibly harsh decision - so harsh I originally presumed the penalty had been given for a mistimed tackle. There was literally nothing he could do to get his hand out of the way - if that is the law, then the law is an etc and so on.

6.45pm GMT

AC Milan 2-2 Celtic: It’s all square at the break in the San Siro, where AC Milan came from two goals down to level proceedings and have been bossing proceedings ever since.

6.44pm GMT

Zorya 0-0 Leicester: It’s half-time in Ukraine, where Leicester have been fairly underwhelming against their hosts. Cengiz Under squandered the pick of the chances in a game that remains deadlocked. Leciester have already qualified for the knockout stages, but will be confirmed as group winners if they win tonight.

6.42pm GMT

With the last kick of the first half, Gareth Bale slots the ball into the bottom left-hand corner. Spurs are level and have got themselves out of jail.

6.41pm GMT

Tanguy Ndombele is fouled as he attempts to control a Lucas Moura pull-back in the penalty area.

6.40pm GMT

LASK 1-0 Spurs: Just back from illness, Matt Doherty does himself a muscular mischief of some sort and has to hobble off. Tottenham seem happy enough to play on with 10 men and wait for the break before replacing him.

6.39pm GMT

Tottenham go behind and they can have no complaints because LASK have been the better team. LASK No10 sends a dipping shot goalwards and it bounces in front of Joe Hart as he dives to his left and goes into the back of the net. One suspects Hart could and should have done better.

6.36pm GMT

Elsewhere in Tottenham’s group: It’s Royal Antwerp 1-0 Ludogorets, with that game going according to the script. If Tottenham avoid defeat tonight - by no means a certainty if their fairly dreadful first half performance is anything to go by, they will advance to the knockout stages no matter what happens in Belgium.

6.33pm GMT

Elsewhere in Leicester’s group: It’s AEK Athens 1-2 SC Braga. Your friend and mine Nelson Oliveira, formerly of Swansea City, Norwich City, Reading and Nottingham Forest with the goal in the Greek capital.

6.30pm GMT

Zorya 0-0 Leicester: Cengiz Under has wasted a gilt-edged opportunity to put Leicester City ahead. Put through on goal against the advancing goalkeeper Vasilj, he aims for the bottom left-hand corner but the ball rolls the wrong side of the upright.

6.28pm GMT

LASK 0-0 Tottenham Hotspur: Joe Hart is forced to make another save to prevent his dozing Tottenham side from going behind. Moments later, Tottenham win a fre-kick in a good area, which Gareth Bales smashes into the wall. Peter Michori puts both hands up to protect his face and is penalised and booked for hand ball. Another free-kick for Tottenham, 10 yards closer to LASK’s goal. Bale’s effort hits the wall again, bounces back his way and his subsequent shot on the fly is blocked.

6.25pm GMT

Two goals in as many minutes means it’s all level at the San Siro. A Hernandez cross finds Samuel Casteillejo, who picks his spot and restores parity despite the presence of several Celtic defenders.

6.23pm GMT

It’s all going on at the San Siro, where AC Milan hae halved their deficit. HAkan Calhanoglu scores with an outstanding curled free-kick that leaves Celtic goalkeekper Vasillas Barkas rooted to the spot.

6.20pm GMT

LASK 0-0 Spurs: Lucas Moura gets booked for leading with his arm as he jumped to contest a high ball with Johannes Eggestein.

6.18pm GMT

LASK 0-0 Spurs: LASK left-back Rene Renner stings the palms of Joe Hart with a long range effort through traffic.

6.16pm GMT

Zorya 0-0 Leicester City: Just back from a fairly lengthy spell on the sidelines with injury, Leicester central defender Caglar Soyuncu is forced off and looks distraught. He’s replaced by the 19-year-old Wesley Fofana, who has been so impressive for the Foxes this season.

6.14pm GMT

Crikey! It’s too little too late but certainly better than nothing - Celtic are two up at the San Siro. Calum McGregor has a shot blocked by Donnarumma,but Celtic pull further ahead when Odsonne Eduoard converts a chipped pass from Ryan Christie.

6.11pm GMT

Elsewhere in Leicester’s group: It’s AEK Athens 0-2 SC Braga in Greece. Vitor Tormena and Ricardo Esgaio have scored two early goals to put the Portuguese side ahead.

6.08pm GMT

Celtic have taken the lead in the San Siro, Tom Rogic putting the Scottish champions ahead against their exalted opposition. The Australian capitalises on a defensive mix-up between Gianluigi Donnarumma and Rade Kunic before rifling the ball past the hapless goalkeeper.

6.05pm GMT

Zorya v Leicester: Cengiz Under tries an ambitious shot from distance for the visitors, but his effort is blocked near the source. Hamza Choudhary had made a good run forward and his team-mate might perhaps have been better off playing a pass his way.

6.02pm GMT

LASK v Tottenham Hotspur: Joe Hart might have got the faintest of touches to divert a curling Johannes Eggestein effort on to the base of his left upright. A let-off for Spurs, who have started very badly.

6.01pm GMT

AC Milan v Celtic: AC Milan win an early free=-kick at the San Siro, when Diego Laxalt fouls Samu Castillejo. Celtic clear the ensuing inswinger.

5.59pm GMT

Zorya v Leicester: Leicester goalkeeper Danny Ward, in for Kasper Schmeichel tonight, is forced to dive low to his right and make an early save to prevent his team going a goal down. Vladyslav Kochergin with the early daisy-cutter.

5.58pm GMT

LASK v Spurs: Matt Doherty concedes a free-kick out by the right touchline, allowing LASK an oipportunity to get the ball into the Spurs penalty area. It’s cleared with a meaty header.

5.56pm GMT

LASK v Spurs: LASK kick off, their players wearing pink shirts, black shorts and black socks. Tottenham’s players are visions in yellow.

5.53pm GMT

The teams are out in Austria, Italy and Ukraine as Tottenham, Leicester and Celtic go through the last of the pre-match formalities ahead of the penultimate round of group stage fixtures in this season’s Europa League. Kick-off in all three games is just a couple of minutes away.

5.46pm GMT

Jose Mourinho speaks: “People is wrong,” he says when BT SPort’s Jake Humphry suggests he might be enjoying his football more than he has in recent years. “For many, many years ago, always I enjoy it. When people thought I wasn’t enjpoying it there was nothing wrong. I still had my passion.”

He goes on to say that Tottenham are in a tough group but that Tottenham should get the point they need tonight. On the subject of Harry Winks not starting tonight, he says that like every other manager he has “options” and he’s decided to go with Tanguy Ndombele and Pierre-Emile Hoejbjerg.

5.35pm GMT

Max Rushden presided over proceedings while Marcus Bean, Archie Rhind-Tutt, Jonatahn Liew and yours turly chewed the fat in today’s episode of the Guardian’s Football Weekly podcast. You can listen by clicking on the link below and if you’re not already a subscriber, sign up for fre in all the usual pod places.

5.01pm GMT

Zorya: Vasilj, Favorov, Ivanisenia, Abu Hanna, Ciganiks, Yurchenko, Kochergin, Nazaryna, Gromov, Galdkyy, Kabalev.

Subs: Shevchenko, Matsapura, Lunov, Perovic, Ahapov, Alefirenko, Piddubnyi, Gryn, Sayyadmanesh.

4.59pm GMT

AC Milan: G Donnarumma, Dalot, Kjaer, Gabbia, Hernandez, Krunic, Kessie, Calhanoglu, Castillejo, Rebic, Hauge.

Subs: Tatarusanu, Calabria, Bennacer, Tonali, Romagnoli, Kalulu Kyatengwa, Diaz, Maldini, Colombo, Leo Duarte, Saelemaekers, A Donnarumma.

4.57pm GMT

LASK: Schlager, Wiessinger, Holland, Andrade, Ranftl, Madsen, Michorl, Renner, Gruber, Eggestein, Goiginger.

Subs: Gebauer, Karamoko, Reiter, Ramsebner, Potzmann, Plojer, Cheberko, Haudum.

4.51pm GMT

Group G: Zorya v Leicester City

With his team already qualified for the knockout stages, Brendan Rodgers has left several key members of his squad at home to get some much-needed rest and relaxation. Kasper Schmeichel, Jonny Evans, Youri Tielemans and Jamie Vardy have not made the trip to the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhia.

4.51pm GMT

Arsenal: Already qualified for the last 32. WIll be confirmed as Group B winners if they avoid defeat by Rapid Vienna or if they lose 1-0 and Molde do not beat Dundalk.

Leicester City: Already qualified for the knockout stages. WIll be confirmed as Group G winners if they beat Zorya, if Bruges lose to AEK Athens or if both games are drawn.

4.51pm GMT

Group B: Arsenal v Rapid Vienna (8pm), Molde v Dundalk (8pm)

Group D: Benfica v Lech Poznan, Rangers v Standard Liege (8pm)

1.34pm GMT

Greetings and welcome to tonight’s coverage of the penultimate round of group games in this season’s Europa League. In Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City, the Premier League has three representatives, while Rangers and Celtic are flying the flag (at half mast in the case of Neil Lennon’s side) for the Scottish Premiership. Like Celtic, Irish side Dundalk have already scuppered their chances of advancing to the knockout stages but will hope to get a win on the board in Norway against Molde.

Games kick off all over the continent at 5.55pm (GMT) or 8pm (GMT) and we’ll be here with build-up, team news, goal updates and other talking points, as well as post-match reaction and reports. Don’t touch that dial.

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Published on December 03, 2020 14:05

The Fiver | Manchester United and the blame game

The Fiver lives by a simple rule. When we mess up, it’s the world’s fault. When we do something right, it’s all on us. Sadly for the hapless, tactically clueless Ole Gunnar Solskjær, the opposite is true. The events of 2020 have provided incontrovertible proof that, when Manchester United win, it’s entirely down to Bruno Fernandes; and when they lose, it’s all because Ole’s still at the wheel, careering round another corner with a smile on his face.

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Published on December 03, 2020 07:56

November 30, 2020

West Ham 2-1 Aston Villa: Premier League – as it happened

Ollie Watkins missed a penalty and had an injury-time equaliser ruled out after a three-minute VAR check on a frustrating night for Villa

10.02pm GMT

I’ll leave you with Paul MacInnes’s report from the London Stadium. Thanks for your company and emails - goodnight.

9.57pm GMT

Apparently Bowen’s winning goal came off his shoulder, which would explain why the ball looped over Martinez and into the far corner.

9.56pm GMT

Peep peep! West Ham move up to fifth after a hard-fought victory at the London Stadium. Villa were the better team for large parts of the game, but West Ham caught them cold with goals at the start of each half. Those were West Ham’s only shots on target all night. Ollie Watkins hit the bar with a penalty and then had an injury-time equaliser ruled out by VAR for the tightest of offsides.

9.55pm GMT

90+7 min After an extended spell of pressure from Villa, Targett wafts a cross out of play. West Ham should be safe now.

9.53pm GMT

90+5 min There will be a bit more added time because of that four-hour VAR check.

9.51pm GMT

Watkins’ armpit was offside.

9.51pm GMT

90+4 min And still.

9.51pm GMT

90+3 min They’re still checking it.

9.50pm GMT

It was a good finish from Watkins, a crisp sidefooted volley from Targett’s cross. The offside is really tight.

9.49pm GMT

Ollie Watkins equalises - but it might be offside.

9.48pm GMT

90 min Grealish plays a gorgeous pass inside Benrahma to release Elmohamady, who makes a Horlicks of it and runs the ball out of play.

9.47pm GMT

90 min There will be five added minutes, it says here.

9.47pm GMT

89 min A well-struck long-range shot from Traore is comfortably held by Fabianski. He’s such an authoritative goalkeeper.

9.46pm GMT

88 min A final change for Villa: Ahmed Elmohamady replaces Matty Cash.

9.45pm GMT

87 min Grealish dances thrillingly past three players and hits a shot that deflects behind off a West Ham defender. Traore’s corner is headed away by Soucek.

9.42pm GMT

84 min Cash’s long throw is headed on by Mings at the near post. The ball hits the unsighted Konsa and rolls through to Fabianski. That could have gone anywhere.

9.41pm GMT

83 min Villa are pushing hard for an equaliser, moving the ball from side to side in an attempt to find an opening. Grealish plays in the overlapping Cash, whose cross is well blocked by Soucek. West Ham are really well organised in defence.

9.36pm GMT

79 min West Ham bring on Mark Noble for Jarrod Bowen, who made one and scored one.

9.36pm GMT

78 min The match is now taking place almost exclusively in the West Ham half.

9.35pm GMT

77 min I’m surprised Jack Grealish doesn’t take penalties, given his ability to manipulate a football and his love of glory.

9.33pm GMT

75 min Now there’s a VAR check for encroachment, but West Ham get the all clear on that one. Meanwhile, Bertrand Traore and Anwar El-Ghazi have come on for Hourihane and Trezeguet.

9.32pm GMT

74 min Oh, Ollie. He didn’t look confident and that wasn’t a great penalty. He sent Fabianski the wrong way but rifled it off the face of the crossbar.

9.31pm GMT

73 min Ah, Trezeguet fell onto Rice’s boot, which is how he injured his eye. Anyway, the penalty stands and Ollie Watkins will take it.

9.30pm GMT

72 min Rice is fuming. Trezeguet has blood streaming from his left eye; I’m not sure how that happened.

9.30pm GMT

71 min: PENALTY TO VILLA! Rice has been penalised for pulling Trezeguet’s shirt. It’s soft, a very modern penalty, but I don’t think it will be overturned by VAR. Rice did pull his shirt, albeit only for a second or two, and that allowed Trezeguet to hit the floor.

9.29pm GMT

70 min Grealish loses three West Ham players - Haller, Bowen and Soucek - with one sublime piece of skill on the edge of the area. Then he stands up a cross towards Watkins, who heads over at the far post. That was a delicious trick from Grealish.

9.27pm GMT

68 min “Is Trezeguet any relation?” says Richard Hirst.

No, it’s a nickname, which I think was given to him by a youth coach because of a perceived similarity.

9.25pm GMT

67 min Cash is booked for a scything tackle on Haller.

9.24pm GMT

66 min Cash’s cross is headed over at the near post by the diving Watkins. That wasn’t much of a chance.

9.23pm GMT

66 min A smart shot on the turn from Konsa, who was on his way back from a corner, is held by the diving Fabianski.

9.22pm GMT

63 min: Trezeguet misses a great chance! Villa almost scored from the West Ham corner. Grealish led the break and curled a beautiful pass around the defence to find Watkins on the left side of the area. He slid a precise low cross to Trezeguet, unmarked six yards from goal. Trezeguet was so excited that he almost fell over; in the end he hit an off-balance shot that was pushed away by Fabianski. I think Trezeguet’s shot was going wide anyway, though Fabianski did extremely well to change direction and make the save.

9.20pm GMT

62 min Fornals’ speculative cross hits Mings in the six-yard box and bounces over the bar.

9.19pm GMT

61 min West Ham started the season with back-to-back defeats. Since then their form has been terrific: four wins, two draws (against Spurs and Manchester City) and one narrow defeat at Anfield.

9.16pm GMT

59 min “Hi Rob,” says Peter Oh. “How many Premier League bookings does that make for John Terry?”

74 trillion.

9.15pm GMT

58 min Haller is fortunate to not be booked for a naughty late tackle on Mings.

9.15pm GMT

58 min “I like Jarrod Bowen,” confesses Gary Naylor. “My father always said that you shouldn’t have to look for a player and he passes that test every week. Old dogs like Mourinho, Moyes and Ancelotti are proving they can still improve young players.”

9.15pm GMT

57 min The game has turned a bit niggly, primarily because West Ham’s players think Jack Grealish has been diving.

9.14pm GMT

56 min The effervescent Cash wins a corner for Villa. It’s too deep and cleared by Haller.

9.12pm GMT

53 min Fornals is booked for a kick at Grealish. Two of the backroom staff are also booked, John Terry and someone on the West Ham bench.

9.09pm GMT

51 min That double substitution means a switch to 4-2-3-1 for West Ham, presumably because David Moyes wants to match up with Villa.

9.07pm GMT

50 min Grealish’s well-struck shot from an absurd angle is comfortably saved by Fabianski.

9.06pm GMT

48 min Villa almost equalise for a second time. Grealish runs infield from the left, draws defenders and slides an angled ball into the path of McGinn. His shot on the run hits Cresswell and goes behind for a corner.

9.05pm GMT

David Moyes made two half-time substitutions, bringing on Said Benrahma and Sebastien Haller for Antonio and Masuaku. And it was Benrahma who made the goal with a clipped cross from the left towards Bowen, who leant back and steered a fine header into the far corner.

9.04pm GMT

Jarrod Bowen scores after 29 seconds of the second half!

9.03pm GMT

46 min Peep peep! Villa begin the second half.

8.48pm GMT

Half-time reading

8.47pm GMT

Peep peep! Aston Villa will feel they should be ahead after having the better of the first half. They responded really well to Angelo Ogbonna’s second-minute goal, and Jack Grealish equalised after a carpe-diem surge and deflected long-range shot.

8.45pm GMT

45 min Mings is robbed by Rice, 20 yards from the Villa goal. He moves the ball across to Bowen, whose shot deflects behind for a corner. This time it comes to nothing.

8.45pm GMT

44 min “It’s happening again for Villa!” says Ian Copestake, who still isn’t over that 7-2 business last month. “If every deflection is bound for the net who needs tactics or a bucket to sit on.”

8.44pm GMT

43 min: Hourihane hits the side netting! That was a nice effort. Hourihane played a one-two with Grealish to create a better angle for a left-footed shot. He whipped it round the wall and it brushed the side netting on its way through. Fabianski had it covered though.

8.43pm GMT

43 min The free-kick is a few yards to the left of centre, perfect for Jack Grealish...

8.42pm GMT

42 min Antonio is penalised for a challenge on McGinn 25 yards from goal. That’s a bit harsh - McGinn was in the process of hitting a half-volley over the bar and kicked Antonio rather than the other way round.

8.41pm GMT

41 min Coufal gets a final warning after another foul on Grealish. It’s turning into a decent contest between those two.

8.39pm GMT

38 min Grealish plays a good ball down the left to Targett, whose cross is miscontrolled by Hourihane. That was another decent opportunity for Villa.

8.38pm GMT

37 min: Just wide from Watkins! It’s all Villa just now. The ball ricocheted around the West Ham area and came to Watkins, who improvised to bobble a shot that beat Fabianski and went just wide of the far post.

8.36pm GMT

35 min West Ham are playing more like the away team, if such a thing exists in Covid football. They need more from Antonio, who hasn’t been as dynamic as usual on his return from injury.

8.32pm GMT

32 min Masuaku drives a long square pass to his fellow wing-back Coufal, who spanks a shot into orbit from 20 yards.

8.31pm GMT

30 min After a slow start, Villa have been the better side. There’s a slight whiff of scored-too-early about West Ham’s performance.

8.28pm GMT

28 min Grealish had been quiet until that point. I’m not sure what the moral of this particularly story is.

8.26pm GMT

Replays show there was a deflection on Grealish’s shot, but it was still a fine run. He moved infield to receive possession just past the centre circle, turned and ran straight at the West Ham defence. Once he got to within 25 yards of goal, Grealish lashed a shot that took a biggish deflection off Ogbonna and flew into the far corner.

8.25pm GMT

Jack Grealish equalises with a banger!

8.23pm GMT

22 min Hourihane’s free-kick is pushed behind by the diving Fabianski. It was a good save, though one he’d expect to make.

8.22pm GMT

21 min Trezeguet is fouled just outside the D by Cresswell, though he thought he got the ball. Grealish, Hourihane and Douglas Luiz are over the ball.

8.19pm GMT

19 min: Chance for Villa Trezeguet’s tame cross-shot deflects behind for a corner. Grealish plays it short to Targett, whose floated cross is headed onto the roof of the net by Konsa. That was a decent chance.

8.18pm GMT

18 min Nothing much is happening. Jack Grealish has barely touched the ball in the first 18 minutes.

8.17pm GMT

17 min “Mr. Hirst, congratulations on a well-deserved win for your boys,” says Mary Waltz. “Being an Everton fan I have nothing but faith to live on, if it was a diet it would be a best seller.”

8.15pm GMT

14 min West Ham look a really well-organised team. Soucek and Rice, in particular, give them great protection in midfield.

8.12pm GMT

12 min West Ham continue to have the better of the game, though there haven’t been any chances since Ogbonna’s goal.

8.11pm GMT

10 min “Such is the size of Marine’s ground that, under social distancing rules, substitutes will be allocated a back garden each in which to warm up,” says Gary Naylor.

8.09pm GMT

8 min “Oh Mary, ye of little faith,” says Richard Hirst, who might just be a Fulham fan. “I never doubted it (he lied). Just sad I had to follow it on the BBC, not the Guardian.”

8.08pm GMT

7 min Villa’s away record this season has been brilliant, but they’ve started sluggishly tonight.

8.06pm GMT

4 min “Well-placed corner,” says Mary Waltz, “but that was beer-league marking.”

8.03pm GMT

Bowen’s deep corner is headed in from six yards by Angelo Ogbonna! So simple. It was a towering header from Ogbonna, who had the jump on Matt Targett at the far post. Villa briefly appealed for a foul on Martinez but there was nothing in it.

8.02pm GMT

2 min A long throw from Masuaku rebounds off Antonio and falls kindly for Soucek, whose fierce shot hits Cash and goes behind for a corner. From which...

8.02pm GMT

2 min “Of the FA Cup draw,” says Ian Copestake, “if Marine are in the eighth tier, is anyone allowed within one hundred miles of them?”

Arf, very good.

8.00pm GMT

1 min Peep peep! West Ham kick off from left to right.

8.00pm GMT

The players are out on the field. Villa are in their white third kit; you know full well what colours West Ham are wearing.

7.58pm GMT

“Of course no one thought Fulham would win,” says Mary Waltz. “But it is still 2020. So is anyone surprised?”

7.54pm GMT

In case you missed the FA Cup draw, it’s all here.

7.47pm GMT

Here’s Paul Doyle’s report on Fulham’s impressive victory at the King Power Stadium

7.35pm GMT

Pre-match reading

7.33pm GMT

“Evening Rob,” says Chris Drew. “Hope you are keeping well in these times. As a Villa fan, I must say that since that result against Liverpool (who we’ve now just drawn in the third round of the FA Cup), I think it can only be downhill from now on this season. Doomed would be an understatement.”

It wouldn’t really be an understatement to say Villa are doomed, would it? The loss of Barkley is a worry, though.

7.31pm GMT

Leicester City 1-2 Fulham was the final score in the early Premier League game. Who knew? It means that Villa will go fourth if they win tonight, with a game in hand on the teams above them.

7.12pm GMT

Michail Antonio returns for West Ham, who also have Said Benrahma on the bench. Conor Hourihane replaces the injured Ross Barkley for Villa.

West Ham (3-4-2-1) Fabianski; Balbuena, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Coufal, Rice, Soucek, Masuaku; Bowen, Fornals; Antonio.
Substitutes: Randolph, Diop, Johnson, Lanzini, Noble, Benrahma, Haller.

3.44pm GMT

Hello and welcome to live coverage of the claret and blue derby from the London Stadium. A lot has changed since West Ham and Aston Villa last met. Their 1-1 draw on the final day of the season was enough to keep Villa up, by the skin of their teeth, and ensured that West Ham would finish a place above them in 16th. Villa and West Ham were the worst of the rest.

Four months on, this is a mid-table clash. Both teams have made impressive starts to the season, and a win for either side tonight would put them fifth (or maybe fourth in Villa’s case, as Leicester are 2-0 down at home to Fulham). David Moyes and Dean Smith made some really smart summer signings, and Villa in particular look a different side to last season.

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Published on November 30, 2020 14:02

FA Cup third round draw – as it happened

All four non-league clubs will play at home, with Marine facing Spurs, while Aston Villa v Liverpool was the pick of three all-Premier League ties

7.57pm GMT

7.29pm GMT

I’ll leave you with the full FA Cup third-round draw. Please join us for West Ham v Aston Villa in the Premier League if you have nothing better to do. Bye!

7.27pm GMT

All four non-league sides got a home draw, including Marine v Tottenham Hotspur. There are three all-Premier League ties: Wolves v Crystal Palace, Arsenal v Newcastle United and, most intriguingly of all, Aston Villa v Liverpool, a game that finished 7-2 in the league.

7.26pm GMT

And that concludes the draw for the third round of the FA Cup.

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The balls are out of the bag. Here we go...

7.09pm GMT

“The FA Cup only does alphabetical order for those entering at that stage,” says Iain Brown. “Every other number relates to when they were drawn out last round. The winner of whoever is drawn out for the first match will be number 1 when the fourth round is drawn and so on.”

7.00pm GMT

“Is there rhyme or reason to the numbering beyond 44?” asks Simon McGrother. “As an OAFC fan, I’m a bit hurt by the number 64 in case this is some kind of seeding. Praying for a big pay-day. If we bang them in like we did against Bradford, nobody is safe.”

It looks like the first 44 teams are the ones who qualified automatically, ie from the top two divisions. I presume the rest were numbered before the second-round ties took place, so it wasn’t possible to do them alphabetically. Either that or someone at the FA supports a giant that Oldham slayed in 1989-90, and still hasn’t got over it.

3.51pm GMT

Hello and welcome to live coverage of the draw for the FA Cup third round. There are five non-league clubs left in the draw, with Marine, Chorley, Stockport, Canvey Island and Boreham Wood all dreaming of a Goliathan third-round tie. Only four will make it to the last 64; Canvey Island and Boreham Wood play each other in the final second-round match tonight.

The draw is scheduled to take place just after 7pm British time, and these are the relevant ball numbers:

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Published on November 30, 2020 11:29

November 29, 2020

Arsenal 1-2 Wolves: Premier League – as it happened

A goal of quick-witted brilliance from Daniel Podence gave Wolves victory in a match that was overshadowed by a sickening head injury to Raul Jimenez

9.26pm GMT

9.15pm GMT

Peep peep! Wolves move up to sixth after their first win at Arsenal since 1979. They played some exhilarating attacking football in their new 4-2-3-1 formation and fully deserved their victory. Pedro Neto and Daniel Podence scored the goals in the first half; Podence’s was a skilful, quick-witted beauty.

The match was overshadowed by an awful head injury to Raul Jimenez, who was stretchered off after being treated on the field for almost 10 minutes. Thankfully he has regained consciousness and is responding to treatment in hospital.

9.12pm GMT

90+1 min Tierney is booked for a deliberate trip on the breaking Pedro Neto.

9.11pm GMT

90 min Four added minutes.

9.10pm GMT

89 min Coady is booked for a lunge at Lacazette.

9.09pm GMT

88 min Nelson wins a corner for Arsenal, though Wolves are convinced the last touch was off an Arsenal player. The assistant referee gave a goalkick but was overruled by Michael Oliver. No matter: the corner is crap and Wolves clear.

9.08pm GMT

87 min In case you missed it earlier, Raul Jimenez is conscious in hospital and responding to treatment. That’s all we know at this stage.

9.07pm GMT

87 min Holding is booked for a tactical foul on Traore.

9.06pm GMT

85 min Traore leads a promising Wolves break, running 60 yards before finding Neto on the right. His inswinging cross is a bit too far in front of Dendoncker, who can’t control it on the stretch.

9.04pm GMT

83 min Since you asked, Thomas Partey will make a huge difference to this Arsenal team. He’s that good.

9.03pm GMT

82 min Bellerin’s deflected cross is headed just wide by Aubameyang at the far post. That was another very good chance; he was barely six yards out and had the jump on Nelson Semedo.

9.02pm GMT

81 min “Hi Rob,” says Ruth Purdue. “My opinion about all of this is for football to look to rugby. Respect for the referee, calling he/she ‘Sir/Ms’ is an example but also the attitude for concussion and other injuries. I know it is not perfect and the sport is completely different, but the attitude towards the doctor and their opinion on players should be replicated. Players and managers have too much influence on health-threatening injuries. The pressure of results is simply the reason for this.

“These past couple of weeks about heading should have woken football up a bit more but I fear progress will be slowly than I would like. I hope the journalist question both the managers (who I respect and admire) and the powers that be about this. It is important.”

9.01pm GMT

81 min The corner comes to nothing.

9.01pm GMT

80 min Lots of Arsenal pressure now, more than at any stage in the match. Willock’s shot deflects behind for a corner. Before it is taken, Alexandre Lacazette replaces Granit Xhaka.

9.00pm GMT

79 min “Arsenal will be 14th if this stays the same,” says Stephen Carr. “One can only speculate as to the reaction to that if Wenger or Emery were in charge.”

Or Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. They did win the FA Cup, though, and Arteta has definitely improved the defence.

8.59pm GMT

78 min Wolves make their third and final change: Max Kilman replaces the substitute Fabio Silva, which means a switch to a back three. Wolves have declared at 2-1.

8.56pm GMT

74 min This is a good spell for Arsenal. After a bit of a scramble in the Wolves area. Nelson’s lashes a chest/volley over the bar from 10 yards.

8.54pm GMT

73 min Aubameyang’s low drive is blocked by Coady inside the six-yard box.

8.51pm GMT

Head injuries. Concussion subs can't come soon enough but at least we've moved on a long way from mid-70s. Denis Smith, the ex-Stoke City hard man (and a lovely bloke, my first interviewee) describes in his autobiography a clash with one of Jimenez's predecessors Derek Dougan. pic.twitter.com/WmgUvoXHX8

8.51pm GMT

70 min Neto teases Bellerin again and smashes a cross that just clears Fabio Silva at the far post.

8.50pm GMT

70 min Wolves make their second change: Ruben Neves replaces Daniel Podence, whose delicious goal put Wolves 2-1 in front.

8.50pm GMT

69 min Bellerin is booked for pulling back Neto, who has trouble him all night.

8.49pm GMT

68 min Arsenal are struggling to get behind the Wolves defence. They look, understandably, pretty short on confidence.

8.45pm GMT

65 min A change for Arsenal: Reiss Nelson replaces Willian.

8.45pm GMT

64 min Saka’s scooped cross is headed over at the far post by Holding. He couldn’t get over the ball.

8.45pm GMT

64 min Arsenal have been poor since half-time. Aubameyang, in particular, looks nowhere near his best.

8.42pm GMT

61 min Sky Sports report that Raul Jimenez is conscious in hospital and responding to treatment.

8.41pm GMT

60 min Podence twists Holding inside out and rifles a shot that is brilliantly blocked by the covering Bellerin. Wolves have played some exhilarating stuff tonight.

8.38pm GMT

57 min Willian clips the free-kick over the bar.

8.37pm GMT

56 min Fabio Silva is booked for an ill-judged hack at Saka. Arsenal have a free-kick 22 yards from goal, to the left of centre...

8.37pm GMT

55 min “Speaking of ‘one-man midfields’, so very sad to hear about Papa Bouba Diop’s untimely passing,” says Matt Dony. “He was one of those players I always liked, but for no specific reason. He didn’t play for any teams I cared greatly about, he wasn’t likely to bother any World XI lists, but I had a tremendous soft spot for him, especially during his time at Fulham. And, ‘The Wardrobe’ is one of the great player nicknames. It’s always 2002 somewhere.”

31 May 2002, to be precise. That was really shocking news.

8.36pm GMT

54 min Traore is booked for diving in the area. He ran at Gabriel, who dangled a leg and seemed to catch Traore very slightly. It would have been a soft penalty, but I’m not sure it was a dive.

8.33pm GMT

52 min Moutinho’s fierce shot from the edge of the area hits Gabriel in the face and knocks him off his feet. There’s a break in play while he receives treatment.

8.32pm GMT

51 min Neto roars away from Holding and crosses low towards Fabio Silva at the near post. Gabriel does superbly to get across Fabio Silva and poke the ball behind for a corner.

8.31pm GMT

50 min Saka misses a good chance, failing to make proper contact with Bellerin’s inviting cross. He stretched to volley the ball towards goal, but it sliced off his shin. Although it came at a slightly awkward height, he should have done better.

8.28pm GMT

48 min “The NFL is the most greedy, corporate driven indifference to their players’ health, sports league in the world,” says Mary Waltz. “I despise them. But even their concussion protocol requires the player to go into a darkened tent for a proper concussion test in a tent that blocks out the light. it takes 10 to 29 minutes to do it right. The NFL only did it because they got caught trying to hide the truth and to avoid lawsuits. You can’t let players have a say. They will always say ‘I’m fine’.”

The players should have no say at all. I suppose the biggest question is whether you should have independent medical staff at each game, so that there is no potential conflict of interest.

8.28pm GMT

47 min Boly is booked for a cynical foul on Willock.

8.26pm GMT

46 min Peep peep! Arsenal begin the second half.

8.26pm GMT

David Luiz is going to be replaced by Rob Holding, on the advice of the Arsenal doctors. They haven’t specified what changed between the original concussion test and the half-time assessment.

8.24pm GMT

“Arteta,” muses Andrew Hurley. “How much longer? It would be one thing if it appeared Arsenal were building a style or developing youngsters. They are over-coached, the players afraid to step outside the plan, and Arsenal are now a great ‘little’ team - so, they can be well-organised defensively and beat top teams by being hyper-defensive, yet can’t do that actual thing called playing football. Arsenal have actually spent quite a bit, and are really going nowhere. If anything, 13th is generous - 13th!”

8.23pm GMT

“It’s an absolute scandal that David Luiz is still on the pitch,” says David Flynn. “There’s a real problem regarding how seriously football treats concussions. You can’t keep idolising that picture of Terry Butcher as a yardstick of manliness and accept it as normal that the entire 1966 squad is dying of dementia. There needs to be a sea change but everyone’s more interested in the definition of an armpit.”

I think the Terry Butcher picture is irrelevant, to be honest. I don’t think people have idolised that for years. The Arsenal doctors did a concussion test and were satisfied. I agree that Luiz playing on doesn’t sit right, and that the existing protocols need to be reviewed, but to suggest that experienced medical professionals aren’t taking concussion seriously would be out of order.

8.19pm GMT

There has been no additional update on Raul Jimenez. All we know is that he was taken straight to hospital around 45 minutes ago.

8.14pm GMT

“Arsenal’s midfield at the moment is neither beast nor fowl,” says Charles Antaki. “Arsenal fans would take a bit of beast, and then some fowl on top, were it available. Probably the best description at the moment is vaporous, or maybe insubstantial – anyway, something not there.”

That something is called Thomas Partey. He’s a one-man midfield.

8.13pm GMT

Wolves lead through goals from Pedro Neto and Daniel Podence, but an entertaining first half was overshadowed by a sickening clash of heads between Raul Jimenez and David Luiz. Jimenez was rushed to hospital after being treated on the field for almost 10 minutes; Luiz is still playing.

8.11pm GMT

45+9 min “I saw Steven Smith hit by a Jofra Archer bouncer at Lord’s in 2019 - he returned to the crease after about 30 minutes in the dressing room, having passed the tests,” says Gary Naylor. “He was subbed out the next day, having failed the morning protocols. I’m no expert on concussion either, but I suspect David Luiz should be resting not running.”

Yes, he was the first person I thought of when Luiz continued, precisely because of that delayed reaction.

8.10pm GMT

See ya! ⚡

Wait for touch from Daniel Podence as Wolves retake the lead...

Watch on Sky Sports PL
Follow #ARSWOL here: https://t.co/MQyoPBmHgR
Download the @SkySports app! pic.twitter.com/VyJHRFhMQt

8.09pm GMT

45+7 min Ceballos goes down holding his face after an aerial challenge with Podence, whose left arm caught him on the nose. After a bit of treatment, Ceballos is back on his feet.

8.06pm GMT

45+4 min: Traore misses an excellent chance! That was another dynamic attack from Wolves. Marcal swished a lovely pass down the left to Neto, who moved the ball infield to Fabio Silva. He eschewed the shot and instead played in Traore, who smashed the ball into the side netting.

8.05pm GMT

45+3 min Wolves have played some lovely football tonight. It helps having an extra attacker in this new 4-2-3-1 formation.

8.02pm GMT

45+1 min There will be ten added minutes because of that horrible injury to Raul Jimenez. Fabio Silva’s mistimed lob is comfortably saved by Leno. Seconds later, at the other end, Aubameyang’s shot from a tight angle is held by Rui Patricio.

8.00pm GMT

45 min David Luiz belts a free-kick over the bar from 25 yards.

7.59pm GMT

Traore beat a couple of players on the halfway line with a double dragback and then found Neto. He ran to the edge of the area and hit a deflected shot that was spilled by Leno. It rebounded to Podence, who lifted the ball brilliantly over Gabriel and rattled it into the net. That was such a skilful, quick-witted finish.

7.57pm GMT

Daniel Podence restores Wolves’ lead with a masterful goal.

7.57pm GMT

40 min “The blood is pouring through David Luiz’s bandage,” says Mary Waltz. “His on-field examination looked complete but honestly, sub him out. No football match is worth the risk. That clash of heads was too violent to take a chance on his long-term health.”

There is definitely a problem with delayed concussion as well.

7.55pm GMT

39 min Neto runs at David Luiz on the left and hits a terrific cross that bounces right across the face of goal. Fabio Silva and Podence couldn’t quite get on the end of it.

7.53pm GMT

That looked awful. I hope @Raul_Jimenez9 is ok. Get well soon! Some things are more important than football! @Wolves @premierleague

7.53pm GMT

36 min “How is it possible that Luiz is still playing after that?” says Jeff. “I happen to have had brain surgery a few weeks ago (relatively minor, apparently ‘the mole removal of brain surgery’), and am not allowed to even jog until January. Can’t see how Arsenal’s doctors could have determined the severity of Luiz’s injury so quickly. I can’t imagine any metric in which his continued presence on the pitch could be deemed worth it (tactical, existential, medical, etc.). While I realise I’m writing this from the other side of an ocean, that he’s still playing feels quite shameful.”

While I agree it doesn’t feel right, I’m loath to be too critical simply because I don’t know enough about the procedure or the tests they do. There’s a common assumption that doctors who allow somebody to play on after a clash of heads are fly-by-night chancers, but that surely isn’t the case.

7.50pm GMT

34 min Fabio Silva’s shot deflects behind off David Luiz, who is bleeding slightly through his bandage. The resulting corner leads to a good chance for Dendoncker, who heads tamely at Leno from six yards.

7.47pm GMT

No matter, Arsenal are level now. Willian took a short corner with Bellerin and dumped a cross towards the far post, where Gabriel ignored the shirtpulling of Marcal to thump an emphatic header past Rui Patricio. That was a fine finish.

7.46pm GMT

30 min Arsenal almost equalise straight away. Tierney gets round the back and guides a cross towards Aubameyang, who is about to score when Coady stretches to divert the ball away from him. Great defending.

7.45pm GMT

29 min “It’s a bit shocking that Luiz is still on isn’t it?” says Chris. “Considering all the news about long term damage due to head injuries in football and it’s even more egregious.”

I was pretty surprised. But I’m no expert on concussion tests, and I’d be even more surprised if the Arsenal medical staff hadn’t assessed him thoroughly. Whether the protocol is correct is another matter.

7.44pm GMT

The goal was made brilliantly by Traore, who skinned Tierney and stood up a lovely cross towards the far post. Dendoncker leapt to thump a header off the crossbar, and Neto slammed the rebound through Gabriel on the line.

7.43pm GMT

Pedro Neto gives Wolves the lead.

7.40pm GMT

24 min Dendoncker appeals for a penalty after being eased off the ball by Willock. Michael Oliver isn’t interested.

7.39pm GMT

23 min Raul Jimenez has been taken straight to hospital. That’s the only update that has been given on Sky Sports.

7.36pm GMT

20 min Nothing much has happened since the game resumed. It doesn’t feel like the most important thing in the world right now.

7.34pm GMT

18 min David Luiz went across to see Jimenez as he was being stretchered off and had a chat with one of the doctors. He looked pretty shocked. There hasn’t been an update yet, so we don’t know whether Jimenez was conscious when he was stretchered off.

7.33pm GMT

Awful looking head injury to Raul Jimenez. Hope it’s not as serious as it appears.

7.32pm GMT

16 min Play resumes just under 10 minutes after the clash of heads between Jimenez and David Luiz. There is, as you can imagine, a very subdued atmosphere around the ground.

7.31pm GMT

15 min Jimenez is slowly stretchered off the field. He is being moved really carefully around the perimeter of the pitch.

7.28pm GMT

13 min Fabio Silva has come on to replace Raul Jimenez, though he is still being treated on the field. This is really grim.

7.27pm GMT

11 min David Luiz is having his head bandaged on the touchline, which suggests he will continue. Raul Jimenez is still being treated in the six-yard box. Sky have not shown a replay, which suggests the clash of heads was as unpleasant as it sounded.

7.25pm GMT

10 min There are six or seven medical staff around Raul Jimenez, with two more holding a stretcher. He’s been down for the best part of five minutes now.

7.23pm GMT

8 min It’s not Dendoncker, it’s Raul Jimenez. This is pretty worrying; he is still being treated and is in the recovery position.

7.23pm GMT

7 min David Luiz is getting to his feet, but the Wolves player hasn’t moved. David Luiz has a gash on his forehead that is being treated.

7.21pm GMT

5 min Willian’s corner leads to an awful clash of heads between Luiz and one of the Wolves players, Dendoncker I think. This looks serious, and the Wolves players are already signalling for a stretcher.

7.20pm GMT

4 min Willian’s cross is put behind for a corner by Coady, who apparently is playing in a back four for the first time at Wolves.

7.19pm GMT

4 min Willock goes down after Traore accidentally stands on his toe. He’s limping but should be fine.

7.19pm GMT

3 min A promising Arsenal counter-attack ends with Saka’s cutback being intercepted at the near post.

7.16pm GMT

1 min Peep peep! Wolves kick off from right to left. It looks like Wolves are playing with a back four, which means they pulled a fast one on Twitter.

7.12pm GMT

The players emerge on an overcast night in north London. Meantime, my colleague Daniel Harris has sent in this pre-match soundtrack.

7.01pm GMT

This match is 14th v 11th in the table. But it’s all so tight that either team could end the night in sixth place. A Snakes & Ladders board has got nothing on the 2020-21 Premier League.

6.59pm GMT

“Act II, scene 1,” begins Bill Hargreaves. “The deathly quiet becomes a murmur as the chest of Covid football begins to rise, draw breath, then splutter once again into terrace chant, referee bonhomie, VAR debate, and critique of football ground food and beverage. It’s alive, I tell you...”

6.52pm GMT

“Notice you’ve gone for 4-2-3-1 for the Wolves line-up,” says Phil Russell, “but their Twitter has it as the usual 5-2-3 with Neto as the latest name pulled out of Nuno’s tombola to have a go at wingback. Really missing the departed Doherty and the injured Jonny Otto this season!”

Interesting; I never really thought of Neto as a wing-back. I’ll amend the team accordingly.

6.32pm GMT

Pre-match reading

6.22pm GMT

Arsenal (possible 4-3-3) Leno; Bellerin, David Luiz, Gabriel, Tierney; Dani Ceballos, Willock, Xhaka; Willian, Aubameyang, Saka.
Substitutes: Runarsson, Holding, Cedric, Elneny, Lacazette, Nelson, Nketiah.

Wolves (possible 3-4-3) Rui Patricio; Boly, Coady, Marcal; Semedo, Dendoncker, Moutinho, Neto; Traore, Jimenez, Podence.
Substitutes: Ruddy, Hoever, Kilman, Ait-Nouri, Neves, Vitinha, Fabio Silva.

5.49pm GMT

Hello. Binary is a base-2 number system invented by Gottfried Leibniz that is made up of only two numbers: 0 and 1. This number system is the basis for all binary code, which is used to write data such as the computer processor instructions used every day. Of late, it has also been used in the majority of association football matches played by Arsenal and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Yep, it’s the meeting of the binary boys at the Emirates. Wolves and Arsenal have both scored nine and conceded 10 in the 2020-21 Premier League, and most of those goals came at the start of the season. Both sides have been solid in defence and peculiarly impotent in attack. Despite their attacking riches, Arsenal go into tonight’s match having scored once in their five league games, and that was a penalty.

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Published on November 29, 2020 13:22

Southampton 2-3 Manchester United: Premier League - as it happened

The substitute Edinson Cavani made one and scored two as United came from 2-0 down to win their eighth consecutive Premier League away game

4.17pm GMT

3.57pm GMT

That win takes United up to seventh, five points behind the leaders Liverpool with a game in hand. This season they’ve gone behind in all four away games and won them all with late goals.

3.55pm GMT

Peep peep! For the first time in their history, Manchester United have won eight consecutive league games away from home. They were 2-0 down at half-time, but Edinson Cavani came off the bench to make one and score two in an exhilarating second half.

3.53pm GMT

90+4 min Fernandes has a chance to make it four, spanking over the bar on the turn.

3.52pm GMT

The substitute Edinson Cavani has made one and scored two! The goal stemmed from a free-kick35 yards from goal, which Fernandes clipped to the unmarked Rashford on the left. He fizzed a cross towards the near post, where Cavani stooped to flick an accomplished header past McCarthy. That is a seriously good goal, not just the finish but also the timing of the run.

3.51pm GMT

The big man has won it!

3.50pm GMT

90+1 min Fernandes tries to chip McCarthy from 30 yards. It’s a tame effort and McCarthy is able to watch it onto the roof of the net.

3.49pm GMT

90 min Five minutes of added time.

3.48pm GMT

90 min A change for Southampton: Stuart Armstrong is replaced by Ibrahima Diallo.

3.48pm GMT

89 min Wan-Bissaka appeals unsuccesfully for a penalty when his cross hits Bertrand. His arms were tight to his body and VAR supports Jon Moss’s original decision.

3.46pm GMT

88 min The corner is headed away by Adams.

3.46pm GMT

87 min Rashford plays a good pass to find van de Beek, whose low cross is put behind by Vestergaard.

3.45pm GMT

86 min Maguire is aggrieved to be penalised for a tackle on Adams 40 yards from goal. Ward-Prowse’s dipping free-kick is headed away by Maguire.

3.44pm GMT

85 min Fernandes leads a dangerous United break and finds Rashford on the edge of the area. He eschews the first-time shot and instead tries to play in Fred, but the pass is too heavy and Fred can’t reach it. He was also offside.

3.43pm GMT

84 min United make their final change: Brandon Williams replaces Alex Telles, who had an okay game.

3.42pm GMT

83 min Lots of pressure from United now, with Fernandes involved in everything. Southampton still look dangerous enough on the break, though, so this could still go either way.

3.40pm GMT

81 min Only one team looks like winning this game, and it’s not Romania.

3.38pm GMT

80 min Five of the last seven games between these sides have been drawn, so this scoreline wouldn’t be a complete shock.

3.38pm GMT

79 min A half chance for Adams. Bertrand’s cross is headed up in the air by Telles and collected by Adams. He turns smartly and drives a low shot just wide of the far post. Henderson probably had it covered but it was a decent effort.

3.36pm GMT

76 min “Morning Rob,” says Adam Roberts. “I was very dubious about the signing of Cavani, but he’s looked pretty good whenever I’ve seen him. And I like the look of young Henderson ‘between the sticks’.”

The same. Cavani is better - and hungrier - than I thought.

3.35pm GMT

75 min Fernandes plays in van de Beek on the left of the area. He gets a bit too cute and tries to return the ball to Fernandes, allowing Southampton to clear. The better option was surely a cross-shot.

3.34pm GMT

Telles’s corner was punched away to Fred on the edge of ther area. He teed up Fernandes, whose shot took a deflection and ricocheted towards Cavani in the six-yard box. He threw himself at the ball and headed emphatically past McCarthy. Southampton thought he was offside, but for some reason Vestergaard did not push out with his team-mates and was playing Cavani on.

3.32pm GMT

Edinson Cavani has equalised!

3.32pm GMT

73 min United are having more of the ball now, though Southampton still look reasonably comfortable in defence.

3.30pm GMT

72 min A change for Southampton: Shane Long replaces Moussa Djenepo, which means Walcott will move to the left wing.

3.30pm GMT

72 min Fernandes’s corner is headed away at the near post.

3.29pm GMT

71 min Wan-Bissaka runs at Djenepo and Bertrand to win a corner for United...

3.28pm GMT

69 min: Just wide from Cavani! That was a fine effort, a flicked header from Wan-Bissaka’s cross. It looked too high for Cavani but he stayed in the air for an age, Denis Law-style, and almost steered the header into the top corner.

3.26pm GMT

68 min The second corner is headed away by Telles.

3.26pm GMT

67 min Ward-Prowse’s corner is headed away well by Cavani. The ball comes to Armstrong, whose long-range shot deflects behind for another corner.

3.24pm GMT

65 min Che Adams has had a fine game for Southampton, especially holding the ball up. He has improved so much in the last few months.

3.22pm GMT

63 min Djenepo shoots well wide from the edge of the area.

3.21pm GMT

62 min Bruno Fernandes, bloody hell. United would be lost without him.

3.20pm GMT

Wan-Bissaka started the move by finding Cavani in space on the right. He curled a jaunty cross into Fernandes, who was in far too much space 10 yards from goal. Fernandes had time to control the ball, turn and drive a low shot past McCarthy.

3.18pm GMT

United are back in it!

3.16pm GMT

57 min Bednarek is receiving treatment after colliding with Djenepo when they threw themselves in front of Cavani.

3.16pm GMT

56 min Another chance for United. Fernandes’s cross from the right leads to a scramble in the penalty area until Cavani’s shot on the turn is deflected over the bar.

3.13pm GMT

54 min Replays suggest Rashford was offside, so had he scored the goal would have been disallowed. It was still a poor finish though.

3.12pm GMT

52 min: Good save by McCarthy! Out of nothing, Fernandes puts Rashford through on goal in the inside-left channel. His shot is well struck but too close to McCarthy, who stays big to make a good save. It was a glorious pass from Fernandes.

3.11pm GMT

52 min “Afternoon Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “I know you’ll not hear of anyone but Liverpool winning the title this season, but a genuine question - might Southampton be this season’s Leicester? It would be quite some story (again).”

No. You’re welcome! I’d love it if they did, though, as they’re a very likeable side. Everything points to Ralph Hasenhuttl being a brilliant coach; he might be a contender for the Man Utd job when it becomes available.

3.09pm GMT

51 min Southampton have started the second half really well, with most of the game being played in United’s half.

3.08pm GMT

49 min A long-range shot from Walcott is comfortably held by Henderson.

3.08pm GMT

48 min I haven’t a clue what formation United are playing now. It looks a bit like a 4-4-2 with Fernandes on the left and van de Beek on the right.

3.07pm GMT

47 min Djenepo finds Walcott in a bit of space on the right side of the area. He has a touch and drives a crisp shot that is authoritatively held by Henderson.

3.05pm GMT

46 min Peep peep! The game has kicked off with Cavani still putting his boots on by the touchline. Roy Keane will love that.

3.04pm GMT

David de Gea has gone off at half-time with the knee injury he suffered in trying to save Ward-Prowse’s free-kick. Dean Henderson replaces him. It’s his Premier League debut for (Manchester) United. In fact United have made a double substitition: Edinson Cavani is on for Mason Greenwood.

3.00pm GMT

“I haven’t formed a firm opinion on Telles, but in truth I didn’t really understand why Utd went for him,” says Francis Mead. “I’m personally a big fan of Brandon Williams, who I think is considerably better than Shaw. Yes, he needs a bit more experience, but he’s fast, highly technical and confident. Why not simply let Williams play?”

I don’t think he’s good enough either. He was really dynamic when he first came into the team but as the season went on he became far too safe in possession; I’ve no idea why. He’s also a right-footed left-back, which is not what United need if Rashford or Martial play in front of him. Maybe he could play at right-back, I don’t know.

2.52pm GMT

As things stand, Southampton are third in the table. And United are 14th.

2.51pm GMT

“I feel like VDB has played well, but this United formation does not work,” says Mark Childs. “No width, not enough space for Bruno, nowhere for Greenwood and Rashford to run into: overly simplistic?”

A little bit, I’d say, but I know what you mean. The lack of width is a recurring problem, and the early signs are that Alex Telles isn’t going to solve it.

2.49pm GMT

Half-time reading

2.49pm GMT

Peep peep! Southampton are in control thanks to the latest demonstrations of James Ward-Prowse’s set-piece brilliance. He dropped a corner onto Jan Bednarek’s head for the first goal and scored the second with a precise free-kick. United started superbly but have struggled since going behind.

2.47pm GMT

45+1 min Rashford goes down right on the edge of the area after a tackle from Djenepo. Jon Moss isn’t interested, nor is VAR as it was just outside the area.

2.45pm GMT

44 min “If only someone had alerted United that Southampton have a dead-ball expert in their ranks,” says Duncan Edwards. “So bloody predictable.”

2.41pm GMT

40 min Fernandes drives a golf shot over the defence to find van de Beek on the edge of the area. He tries to cushion a header towards Rashford but gets too much on it and the ball runs through to McCarthy. That was half a chance. It looks like United have switched to a 4-2-3-1 with van de Beek on the left and Greenwood on the right.

2.38pm GMT

36 min “Are we absolutely sure the kit isn’t grey?” says Richard Hirst.

Ha. They actually started really well, though they’ve been a mess since going behind.

2.37pm GMT

35 min That was a mistake from de Gea, a woolly save from Djenepo’s long-range shot that almost gave Armstrong a tap-in. Armstrong tried to control it on the chest but the ball ran out of play. In fairness to de Gea, he’s struggling with his left leg and may have to come off. His knee thumped into the post when he tried to save Ward-Prowse’s free-kick.

2.35pm GMT

It was an excellent free-kick from Ward-Prowse, clipped over the wall towards the near post. David de Gea flew to his right and got a good hand on the ball, but he couldn’t keep it out. At first I thought it might be a mistake from de Gea; on reflection I don’t think so. Ward-Prowse put it right in the corner, and if anything de Gea did well to get a touch on it.

2.34pm GMT

He’s done it again!

2.33pm GMT

32 min Djenepo is fouled this far outside the area by Fred. It’s a fair way to the left of centre, but still within shooting range for Ward-Prowse.

2.32pm GMT

30 min: McCarthy makes a great save from Fernandes! How did that stay out? It started when McCarthy played a dreadful pass, straight to Greenwood 30 yards from goal. He ran into the D and blasted a low shot that McCarthy could only push away as far as Fernandes. He seemed certain to score, but McCarthy plunged to his right to make a brilliant save at full stretch.

2.29pm GMT

28 min Djenepo dances past Fernandes and then Telles in the area before cutting the ball back towards the six-yard line. A United defender boots it behind for another corner. Ward-Prowse swings it in and Fernandes clears.

2.28pm GMT

27 min: Walker-Peters hits the post! It’s all happening now. Adams plays a good square pass to find Walker-Peters in space, 25 yards out. He moves into the area and drives a low shot that takes a deflection off Telles and spins onto the outside of the post.

2.27pm GMT

25 min United have conceded the first goal in all their away league games this season. They won the first three; now they need to go to the well again.

2.25pm GMT

24 min Southampton’s injury-time equaliser at Old Trafford in July also came from a wicked Ward-Prowse corner.

2.25pm GMT

Ward-Prowse’s corner was a beauty, curled at pace towards the near post. Bednarek got between Rashford and Telles in the six-yard box and flicked a simple header past de Gea.

2.24pm GMT

And it leads to a goal!

2.23pm GMT

23 min Ward-Prowse’s excellent free-kick is headed behind by Lindelof. Ward-Prowse jogs across to take the corner...

2.23pm GMT

21 min “Hiya Rob,” says Adam Kline-Schoder. “I was lucky enough to see Ajax live pre-exodus a couple years back. De Jong and de Ligt were immense, but Van de Beek was quietly brilliant. He was a true box-to-box midfielder; I remember him both dropping back to receive the ball from Onana inside his own box alongside de Jong, and also making the late run into the opposition box to score. I’m not seeing that same level of dynamism from him at United, which (as a Southampton fan) for today is great, but in the long run is something by which I’m disappointed because he was sublime a few years ago. Do you think that’s a ‘lack of game time and will improve if he’s allowed to settle’ type of thing, or a ‘United’s midfield is a bit suspect so he needs to be more positionally disciplined’ type of thing?”

It’s hard to know at this stage, especially as he has started so few games. It’s probably a bit of both.

2.20pm GMT

19 min Southampton are struggling to get out of their half. It’s been a surprisingly one-sided game so far.

2.19pm GMT

18 min “On the picture at the top of the blog, the Utd strip could almost look grey,” says Richard Hirst. “Or am I just being hopeful?”

I thought that as well, but apparently it’s legacy green and black.

2.18pm GMT

17 min Ward-Prowse has been booked for a foul on van de Beek.

2.18pm GMT

16 min: Fernandes hits the post! This has been a really good start from United. Rashford plays a square pass to find Fernandes, 25 yards from goal. He has a quick touch and then hammers a shot that takes a slight deflection and hits the outside of the post. McCarthy was well beaten.

2.15pm GMT

14 min Fernandes is crumped by Romeu, who is a bit fortunate not to get booked.

2.13pm GMT

12 min United continue to dominate possession. Southampton haven’t really pressed them, which is a little surprising.

2.11pm GMT

10 min “After the non-stop rush of Everton v Leeds,” begins Mary Walsh, “this fixture seems more like checkers at the retirement home.”

2.11pm GMT

9 min I’m glad a penalty wasn’t given for such an innocuous tackle, but I’m not entirely sure what the difference is between that and Andy Robertson’s challenge yesterday.

2.10pm GMT

8 min: VAR check for a Man Utd penalty. It would be soft but it might be given, certainly in view of some recent precedents. Ward-Prowse tried to kick the ball, missed and made slight contact with Rashford, who then went down. Martin Atkinson, the man in charge of VAR, decides it wasn’t a clear and obvious error. No penalty.

2.08pm GMT

7 min: Greenwood misses a great chance! United should be ahead. Telles stabbed a hopeful pass towards the edge of the area, where Vestergaard and McCarthy left the ball for each other. The alert Greenwood nipped in and went smoothly round McCarthy, only to slide the ball into the side netting from a tight angle. By his standards that was a bad miss.

2.07pm GMT

6 min United have had plenty of the ball in the early minutes, though most of it has been in the middle third of the pitch.

2.05pm GMT

5 min See 3 min.

2.03pm GMT

3 min A slow start, nothing to report.

2.02pm GMT

1 min United are playing a midfield diamond, with van de Beek to the left and Fred to the right.

2.01pm GMT

1 min Peep peep! Southampton kick off from left to right.

1.59pm GMT

The players are ready for business. Southampton are in their Peru-style home kit; United are wearing their legacy green (sic) and black away strip.

1.57pm GMT

“Big worry today is conceding free kicks in the Ward-Prowse range,” says Duncan Edwards. “Yes I’m looking at you, Fred.”

1.43pm GMT

Who doesn’t need another podcast in their life?

United Rewind is a brand new podcast.

Every week @DanielHarris and Rob Smyth will revisit a match from United's past and discuss the build-up, the fallout, the atmosphere and the action.

Episode one is out on Wednesday December 2nd so subscribe in your podcast app now!#MUFC pic.twitter.com/ERo8j8LxsL

1.16pm GMT

Pre-match reading

1.02pm GMT

Donny van de Beek starts a Premier League game for the first time, though it’s not entirely clear where he’ll play - United’s formation could be 4-2-3-1 or a diamond. I suspect the latter. Either way Marcus Rashford will be up front in the absence of Anthony Martial, who became ill overnight.

Southampton are unchanged from the team that drew at Wolves on Monday.

10.55am GMT

Hello. Even when Manchester United were the best team in England, Southampton were awkward opponents. They knocked United out of the FA Cup in 1992 and beat them at the Dell in three consecutive seasons from 1995-98. In the post-Ferguson era, they’ve been even trickier. United have won only six out of 15 games against Southampton in that time, and three of those victories were an affront to the run of play.

This should be a really interesting match. Styles make fights, and Southampton’s high-energy, high-pressing game has given United plenty of problems since Ralph Hasenhuttl took over as manager. But they are without their best player, Danny Ings, so it isn’t the worst time to play Southampton. And it’s at St Mary’s, which suits Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side: they’ve won their last seven away games in the Premier League.

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Published on November 29, 2020 08:17

November 28, 2020

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

Raphinha’s excellent late goal gave Leeds a deserved victory in a match of many chances at Goodison Park

7.39pm GMT

7.26pm GMT

Peep peep! Leeds continue their excellent away form with their first win at Goodison Park since 1990. Raphinha’s fine late goal has given them a deserved victory in a richly enjoyable game that included 38 shots on goal. Thanks for your company and emails - goodnight!

7.24pm GMT

90+3 min Pickford makes a superb save from Helder Costa, who looked certain to score from six yards.

7.24pm GMT

90+2 min Phillips cuts across a superb long pass out to Costa on the left. Then, when Costa ran into trouble, Phillips nips it to stop an Everton counter-attack and draw a foul from Allan. He’s a class act.

7.22pm GMT

90+1 min Rodrigo replaces Patrick Bamford, who is extremely unhappy to be taken off.

7.21pm GMT

90 min Three minutes of added time.

7.20pm GMT

90 min Cooper is booked for a tactical foul on Richarlison.

7.20pm GMT

89 min Another change for Leeds. Jack Harrison, who is limping, is replaced by Helder Costa.

7.19pm GMT

88 min Alioski misses a great chance, shooting wide of the near post from 10 yards after being put through on goal. The flag went up afterwards though, so it wouldn’t have counted.

7.18pm GMT

87 min Allan is limping heavily, and Everton have already used their three substitutions.

7.17pm GMT

86 min Poveda-Ocampo wins a corner for Leeds, who have looked very comfortable since going ahead. Nothing comes of it.

7.16pm GMT

85 min If it stays like this Leeds will move up to 11th, only four points off a Champions League place.

7.15pm GMT

84 min Leeds make their first change: Ian Poveda-Ocampo replaces the goalscorer Raphinha.

7.12pm GMT

81 min Everton make their third and final change: Bernard on, Mason Holgate off. That definitely means a switch to a back four.

7.12pm GMT

81 min Leeds deserve to win on the balance of play, although Everton have had some very good chances.

7.11pm GMT

Raphinha has put Leeds ahead with a cracking goal. Ayling and Klich worked the ball beautifully on the right, and then Harrison forced the ball infield to Raphinha 25 yards from goal. He looked for a pass, realised nothing was on and drove a crisp left-footed shot that went through the legs of Godfrey and arrowed into the bottom corner. It’s his first goal for the club.

7.09pm GMT

A-hem.

7.08pm GMT

78 min At the moment Everton look the likelier winners.

7.07pm GMT

76 min A long goalkick is headed on by Calvert-Lewin to James. He shapes to shoot and then lobs the ball towards Richarlison, who slices well wide with his left foot.

7.06pm GMT

76 min This is, by some distance, the dullest spell of the game. I’m slightly surprised Leeds haven’t brought Rodrigo on.

7.05pm GMT

75 min Allan, who has had a fine game, shoots well wide from 20 yards.

7.05pm GMT

74 min “This,” says Gary Naylor, “is a match that doesn’t need a goal.”

7.01pm GMT

71 min Surely this can’t end 0-0.

7.00pm GMT

69 min James’s awkward, dipping shot from 25 yards is fumbled by Meslier, who recovers well to dive at Calvert-Lewin’s feet and grab the ball.

6.59pm GMT

69 min In fact Doucoure has gone to right wing-back, with Gomes taking his place in midfield.

6.59pm GMT

68 min “Hi Rob,” says Richard Hirst. “Just catching up after eating (we’re an hour ahead in France) and your post about Foggia must win the niche post of the year award. And good to see that Mary Waltz has not let her award earlier today go to her head, and that she’s still with us. Though, as a Fulham supporter, I’m not talking to her after last week.”

There’s nothing niche about a mild fixation with Foggia’s 1991-92 side. Oh.

6.58pm GMT

67 min Alex Iwobi is replaced by Andre Gomes. I think that means a switch to a back four.

6.57pm GMT

66 min: Bamford has a goal disallowed. Alioski was offside in the build up, and VAR confirms it was the right decision.

6.56pm GMT

66 min “Re: Phil Podolsky’s brief moment (55 mins) - I remember,” says Gary Naylor. “It was the FA Cup semi-final 2012 and I was there. Thanks for reminding me...”

6.55pm GMT

64 min Lovely skill from Raphinhna, who drags the ball between Delph and Richarlison but then sidefoots well wide.

6.52pm GMT

61 min An Everton change: Fabian Delph replaces Tom Davies, which probably means Iwobi will move across to right wing-back.

6.51pm GMT

60 min Allan goes on a terrific run, right at the heart of the Leeds defence. He pushes the ball one side of Cooper and runs round the other before driving a shot that deflects off Dallas and hits the side netting. Meslier had it covered.

6.50pm GMT

59 min A decent long-range shot from Harrison is held by Pickford low to his left.

6.48pm GMT

57 min Phillips sprays a fine long pass to Raphinha, whose cross is too deep for Bamford. Raphinha has been nowhere near as dangerous since he moved to the left.

6.47pm GMT

55 min “Great striking partnerships...” says Phil Podolsky. “Does anyone remember that brief moment when there was talk of one between Suarez and Andy Carroll? When Suarez was doing things hitherto unseen on a football pitch and Andy Carroll was being Andy Carroll? That was good.”

Big man/little man. It’s as old as time.

6.44pm GMT

52 min Meslier plays a dreadful pass, straight to James 25 yards from goal. He chests the ball down and lofts it towards goal, but Meslier backpedals smartly to grab the ball on the line. His momentum took him a long way behind the line, but he held the ball out in front to ensure it didn’t go with him.

6.42pm GMT

51 min Yet another opening for Leeds. Klich clips a ball over the defence towards Bamford, who tries a volleyed lob over Pickford. He gets way too much on it and it goes high over the bar. Had he scored, it would have been a mirror image of this.

6.40pm GMT

49 min Ayling plays a lovely one-two with Harrison and tees up Klich, who smashes a shot high and wide from the edge of the area. This is so good to watch.

6.40pm GMT

49 min If this continues, we might need to rewrite the Joy of Six: memorable 0-0 draws.

6.39pm GMT

48 min It’s end-to-end stuff, as it was in the first half. Bamford has a shot blocked onm the six-yard line; a few seconds later, Calvert-Lewin drags wide from a tight angle at the other end.

6.38pm GMT

47 min An early half chance for Calvert-Lewin, who welts the ball towards goal from a very tight angle. Meslier pushes it behind for a corner. I think it was going wide anyway.

6.36pm GMT

46 min Peep peep! Everton begin the second half.

6.32pm GMT

“When was the last time a team in 15th place were top of everybody’s must-watch list? Too much fun.”

Agreed. They remind me a bit, certainly in spirit, of Zdenek Zeman’s Foggia when they were promoted to Serie A in 1991-92.

6.30pm GMT

Note to Leeds fans: this book is utterly brilliant

The start of chapter 13 for Friday 13th: featuring Don Revie, his eiderdown and Reginald Perrin among other things

Signed copies available from next week - I can also send out signed labels with dedications if you'd like. https://t.co/ZgyxktlUxS pic.twitter.com/qzgyyKIwHA

6.21pm GMT

Half-time reading

6.21pm GMT

And for his next trick, Marcelo Bielsa will redefine the goalless draw. Like last week’s 0-0 against Arsenal, that was so much fun. Leeds have been superb and should be ahead; Everton, despite being outplayed, have had some excellent chances and also had two goals disallowed.

6.19pm GMT

45+2 min Yet another near miss from Leeds. A loose ball comes to Klich, 20 yards out. He opens his body and steers a first-time shot this far wide of the far post. That was a lovely effort.

6.18pm GMT

45+2 min Ayling, who has been booked, leaves Allan on the canvas after a 50/50 challenge. The referee waves play on. Had he given a foul, Ayling would have been in bother.

6.18pm GMT

45+1 min Two minutes of added time.

6.17pm GMT

45 min: Harrison hits the post! This is sheer delightful entertainment. Dallas, on the left, curled a booming cross to the far post, where Harrison towered over Iwobi and thumped a close-range header off the post. The rebound was screwed wide by Bamford.

6.16pm GMT

44 min After another strong run from Allan, Richarlison shoots too close to Meslier from 15 yards. This could easily be 3-3.

6.16pm GMT

43 min: Richarlison has a goal disallowed for offside! James’s corner was headed past Meslier by Richarlison, but Godfrey was standing in front of the keeper in an offside position. Godfrey tried to head the ball as well, which made the offside decision more straightforward.

6.14pm GMT

42 min Meslier makes another smart save, plunging to his left to push Richarlison’s swirling long-range shot round the post.

6.13pm GMT

41 min: No penalty! That’s interesting. As Jamie Carragher says on Sky, that would have been given at the start of the season.

6.12pm GMT

40 min Leeds appeal for a penalty when the ball hits the slightly raised hand of Iwobi in the area. I’m sure it will be checked, and I think this will be given.

6.11pm GMT

39 min “Leeds have reduced my boys to desperate last-second escapes and have totally shut down any Everton offensive flow,” says Mary Waltz. “We will be lucky to get to halftime scoreless.”

6.11pm GMT

38 min: Chance for Everton! James is fouled 30 yards from goal by Klich. He takes the free-kick himself, teasing it towards the far post, where Holgate gets the wrong side of Phillips and sidefoots a volley that is beaten away by Meslier. That was a pretty decent chance for Everton.

6.08pm GMT

36 min “Leeds have two nice change strips - their other one in British racing green looked pretty smart too,” says Beth. “And this has been pretty entertaining so far.”

6.07pm GMT

34 min Harrison and Raphinha have swapped wings for a while. Leeds are still well on top; they have overwhelmed Everton.

6.02pm GMT

30 min Leeds have been quite brilliant in the first half hour.

6.01pm GMT

29 min: Godfrey clears off the line! Leeds have two more chances in the space of five seconds. A superb looping header from Raphinha was pawed away acrobatically by Pickford. The ball rebounded to Harrison, whose low drive beat Pickford and was kicked off the line by Godfrey.

5.59pm GMT

27 min The resulting free-kick, clipped in from the left by James, is headed over at the far post by Keane. He couldn’t quite get over the ball.

5.58pm GMT

26 min Ayling is booked for pulling back Richarlison.

5.56pm GMT

24 min: James has a goal disallowed for offside. Shame as it was an ingenious bit of play. A long cross from the left looked to be drifting out of play, but James chested it away from Dallas and swept the ball past Meslier. Replays confirmed he was fractionally offside.

5.54pm GMT

21 min: Fine save from Pickford! Leeds have started this game so well. Klich’s mishit shot flew across the area to Bamford, whose first-time shot was blocked by the right foot of Pickford. He did particularly well because he was going the other way and managed to stick out a leg to block.

5.50pm GMT

18 min Klich’s booming cross is dropped by Pickford, who is relieved to see the ball drop behind Bamford.

5.46pm GMT

14 min Phillips’ deflected long-range shot is comfortably held by Pickford. Leeds are playing some really good stuff, with Raphinha particularly influential.

5.44pm GMT

13 min After a strong run from Allan, Richarlison’s tame shot is easily saved by Meslier.

5.43pm GMT

11 min “Leeds concentrating on Everton’s left,” says Stephen Carr, “exploiting Rodriguez’s reluctance to track back and the gap between Iwobi and the centre backs.”

You’re right, although that’s Richarlison’s side rather than Rodriguez’s.

5.43pm GMT

10 min: Harrison misses a great chance! This is great fun, as it usually is when Leeds play. Raphinha runs 60 yards and angles a through ball towards Harrison, who slides the ball just wide on the stretch. The pass from Raphinha might have been slightly heavy, but Harrison should have scored.

5.40pm GMT

8 min Bamford has a shot blocked by Holgate. It’s been a cracking start to the game.

5.39pm GMT

7 min: Fine save from Meslier! Everton almost took the lead after a mistake from Cooper. He allowed the ball to run through to Davies, who fizzed a low cross into the middle from the right. Doucoure met it with a crisp first-time shot on the run, and Meslier got down really smartly to his right to push it away. He’s got superb reactions, this kid.

5.37pm GMT

5 min There’s a break in play while Ayling receives treatment. It looks like a problem with his side, but he’s going to continue for now.

5.36pm GMT

3 min Bamford’s shot deflects a few yards wide, though he was subsequently flagged offside. This time it was his whole body, not just his arm.

5.35pm GMT

59 seconds Leeds almost take the lead straight away! Bamford chests the ball off to Raphinha, who surges into the area and flicks the ball past the outrushing Pickford. It’s a tame shot, though, and Holgate has plenty of time to boot the ball clear.

5.32pm GMT

1 min Peep peep! Leeds, in their maroon third kit, kick off from left to right. Everton are in blue.

5.32pm GMT

The match is preceded by a minute’s applause in memory of Diego Maradona. The Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti just about held back the tears, but you could see the moisture in his eyes.

5.29pm GMT

“Hi Rob,” says Matt Burtz. “The absences of Digne and Coleman do not help Everton here. The absence of Nkounkou from the squad entirely is puzzling. I don’t love Davies in a wingback role, and Iwobi needs to be as effective as he was at Fulham, not his usual inconsistent self. That being said, anytime Richarlison and DCL are involved I like their chances to score. A clean sheet would be absolutely shocking, however. So I suppose another 3-2 victory?”

I assumed Nkounkou was injured, but apparently not. I’m surprised he’s not in the team, never mind on the bench.

5.24pm GMT

More pre-match reading

Here's Rob Smyth's longread on Diego Maradona at Italia 90.https://t.co/Y2Jn9xnDK9

5.14pm GMT

“Hi Rob,” says Gary Naylor. “My brother’s hot take on Everton - ‘The bench has all the pace of that Father Ted all priests over-75 five-a-side match’.”

That’s an egregious insult to Romeo Sensini.

4.33pm GMT

Everton (3-4-2-1) Pickford; Godfrey, Keane, Holgate; Davies, Doucoure, Allan, Iwobi; James, Richarlison; Calvert-Lewin.
Substitutes: Lossl, Mina, Delph, Sigurdsson, Gomes, Tosun, Bernard.

Leeds (4-1-4-1) Meslier; Ayling, Koch, Cooper, Alioski; Phillips; Raphinha, Klich, Dallas, Harrison; Bamford.
Substitutes: Casilla, Struijk, Davis, Poveda-Ocampo, Roberts, Costa, Rodrigo.

4.24pm GMT

Pre-match reading

4.02pm GMT

Hello, good evening and welcome to live coverage of Everton v Leeds from Goodison Park. Both teams made rousing starts to the season before suffering a bit of a reality check: Everton with three straight defeats, Leeds with consecutive 4-1 defeats. But both restored a bit of order last Sunday, when Everton won at Fulham and Leeds had the better of a goalless draw against Arsenal.

Everton are without both their first-choice full-backs, Seamus Coleman and Lucas Digne, while Leeds are missing Pablo Hernandez, Diego Llorente and Jamie Shackleton. Still, there’s more than enough talent and intent on both sides to make this a vivacious affair. It’s the first meeting between Carlo Ancelotti and Marcelo Bielsa; anything less than the best would be a felony.

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Published on November 28, 2020 11:39

Brighton 1-1 Liverpool: Premier League – as it happened

Pascal Gross’s injury-time penalty - Brighton’s second of the match - earned the home side a point in another game dominated by VAR

2.56pm GMT

Right, that’s it for today’s blog. Here’s Barney Ronay’s report from the Amex. Bye!

2.54pm GMT

This is an excellent point from Gary Naylor

“A big shift that VAR has brought in is that there was always a sense that an ‘ordinary’ foul was not enough for a penalty - hence the ‘soft penalty’. There’s a related point that people feel that intent is required for a penalty - but not for a foul elsewhere on the field. Now any foul is being given as a penalty as BT Sport appear to be saying. This is not a rule change, but a cultural shift, an alteration in normative behaviour by officials. Shifts like this are always uncomfortable because it feels underhand or undemocratic, but they happen all the time - as those without power in any culture will attest.”

2.53pm GMT

More from Jurgen Klopp

“When we had a talk between the managers a week ago, most wanted five subs. Since then nothing happened. Chris Wilder or whoever says constantly than I am selfish. I think all the things he said show that he’s selfish. Three subs hasn’t worked for them so far - they’ve got one point. For example, if we have five subs today I take off Robbo to protect him and bring on Kostas Tsimikas.

2.49pm GMT

This is brilliant, if slightly weird, TV. Klopp and Des Kelly are having a lively row.

2.49pm GMT

Jurgen Klopp is fuming with BT Sport’s Des Kelly

“The two offsides I didn’t see, but our analyst said they were [correct]. The penalty? Mmyeah, it’s how it is. I think the decisions were right. [But Jordan Henderson said some of the Brighton players agreed it wasn’t a penalty] Look, you’re trying to create a headline at my cost again – you always do. If I say now it wasn’t a penalty… Don’t look like this! You try, always. I said it was a penalty and you’re not happy with that. What do you want to hear? Give your answer to yourself.

2.38pm GMT

Jurgen Klopp’s post-match interview should be imbued with a certain belligerence. He was in a bad mood for most of the game, never mind after the penalty.

2.37pm GMT

“You were right, Rob,” says Patrick Crumlish. “This Liverpool team doesn’t do hard-fought 1-0 wins.”

2.33pm GMT

The more I see that Brighton penalty, the less sure I am. I’m not having that it was a clear and obvious error.

2.31pm GMT

Here’s Danny Welbeck “It was a soft penalty, but we’ll take it. In today’s game, with VAR... I touched the ball before him and he kicked me before he kicked the ball.”

2.29pm GMT

2.27pm GMT

“This new sport of penaltyball is going places,” says Niall Mullen.

2.26pm GMT

Liverpool go top of the league, though they won’t feel like celebrating after a frustrating afternoon at the Amex Stadium. It was another VAR special, with two Brighton penalties and two disallowed goals for Liverpool. There were the usual injuries too - Maupay, Lallana and Milner all had to go off.

2.25pm GMT

90+7 min Jahanbakhsh almost nicks it for Brighton with a shot that hits Phillips and deflects wide.

2.22pm GMT

90+4 min Klopp was sarcastically, and aggressively, clapping the assistant referee after the penalty was given. I love Klopp but he’s a bit out of order there.

2.21pm GMT

Gross rams the penalty straight down the middle!

2.20pm GMT

PENALTY GIVEN!

Andy Robertson is not impressed. Jurgen Klopp is laughing.

2.20pm GMT

90+1 min Stuart Attwell is looking at the monitor!

2.20pm GMT

90 min Welbeck nicked the ball away from Robertson, who kicked his foot a split-second later. I think it was probably a (very soft) foul, but I’m not so sure it’s a clear and obvious error.

2.19pm GMT

90 min: VAR check for a Brighton penalty! This might be given.

2.18pm GMT

90 min There will be five minutes of added time.

2.18pm GMT

89 min “Rob, I partially agree with you,” says Patrick Crumlish. “Liverpool don’t do 1-0 wins, no, but they do hard-fought single-goal victories. Last season they made a habit of it. It was City couldn’t do. When City when last year, it was by 3 or 4 goals, but they couldn’t eke out the tight wins. Liverpool beat Leicester 2-1, West Ham 3-2, Brighton 2-1, Bournemouth 2-1 last year, and that’s off the top of my head.”

Yeah, I meant the specific scoreline. They’re one of the best teams I’ve ever seen at coming from behind to win by a single goal.

2.16pm GMT

88 min Gross’s corner is chested (!) down by Firmino in his own six-yard box and booted clear by one of his team-mates.

2.16pm GMT

87 min Welbeck gets behind Phillips on the left side of the area. Phillips recovers really well to concede a corner.

2.15pm GMT

87 min One-nil is never a safe lead, but a Brighton equaliser would be firmly against the run of play.

2.13pm GMT

85 min “I don’t support five substitutes in a match, but I do think that a substituted player should be allowed back if a manager so chooses,” says Gary Naylor. “That would allow players to be protected if they feel a twinge in the knowledge that, if the game changes, they can return.”

That’s veering too close to Big Bash territory for my liking.

2.12pm GMT

Mane was offside. Next.

2.12pm GMT

That wrongly awarded free-kick leads to the second goal. Robertson curled it into the middle, where Mane planted a fine downward header past Ryan.

2.11pm GMT

82 min White makes an extremely good tackle on Jota - and is booked for it.

2.10pm GMT

81 min: Great chance for Brighton! March broke down the left and hit a terrific cross towards the unmarked Jahanbakhsh at the near post. He missed the header completely, and the unsighted Robertson kneed the ball over his own bar. Jahanbakhsh should have scored; Robertson almost did.

2.09pm GMT

80 min Brighton have offered very little going forward since Connolly went off. Jahanbakhsh makes a promising break down the right but his cross is tidied up at the near post by Phillips.

2.08pm GMT

79 min This Liverpool side don’t really do hard-fought 1-0 wins, but that’s what they are heading for today.

2.06pm GMT

78 min “Do you think the Premier League will bring in five subs this season?” says Ben Jackson. “Given the number of injuries it does seem to be a player welfare issue. I also think some managers are reserving one of their tactical subs so they’re not reduced to 10 men should a player go down with a hamstring injury in the last 20 minutes.”

I think they will, pretty soon probably, though really it’s a band aid for a bullet wound.

2.06pm GMT

77 min Now Nat Phillips is down after landing awkwardly. Jurgen Klopp is agape as he watches on. It looks like Phillips will be okay to continue.

2.05pm GMT

76 min If it stays like this, Liverpool will have kept consecutive clean sheets in the league for the first time since June. Who needs Virgil/Joe/Trent?

2.03pm GMT

75 min “Imagine substituting Maradona to rest him,” says Gary Naylor. “I suspect that the director might train a camera on him and the ‘Apologies for any bad language’ graphic at hand.”

2.03pm GMT

74 min March’s free-kick is comfortable saved by Alisson, falling to his right. In other news, Jones has gone to right-back.

2.03pm GMT

74 min Milner is replaced by Curtis Jones. I’m not sure yet who will play at right-back because Brighton have a free-kick.

2.01pm GMT

73 min Welbeck is also down after a clash of heads with Phillips.

2.01pm GMT

72 min Now James Milner is down with what looks like a hamstring injury.

2.00pm GMT

71 min Ah jeez, this is pretty sad: the substitute Adam Lallana, who was only on the field for eight minutes, has gone off injured. He’s run straight down the tunnel to be replaced by Ali Jahanbakhsh.

1.59pm GMT

70 min Liverpool have the game under control at the moment. They’ve been much better in the second half.

1.58pm GMT

68 min “Given you’ve broken your own no more Maradona rule, I feel entitled to return to the subject,” says Richard Hirst. “The two greatest national sides I’ve seen were the 1970 Brazil team and the Dutch team throughout the 1970s ( a new debate - the greatest team not to win the World Cup?): you can see Messi fitting seamlessly into those sides, Maradona not so much. Conclusion - if nothing else, Messi is more of a team player.”

I don’t agree with that. Liam Brady makes a good point about Maradona the team player in this fine tribute. Anyway, enough!

1.56pm GMT

67 min “I think it’s totally wrong to equate Maradona as a ‘luxury’ player who could spray passes about but not a lot else,” says Mark Hooper. “He was utterly committed on the pitch, built like a brick wotsit (albeit a short, stout one) and would run himself into the ground.”

That’s true. I’m still not sure he’d love the concept of the high press, though.

1.54pm GMT

66 min Connolly was also pretty aggrieved to be taken off, but Salah has taken it to a whole new level.

1.53pm GMT

64 min Mo Salah is replaced by Sadio Mane. He is absolutely fuming about that.

1.51pm GMT

63 min Adam Lallana comes on to replace Aaron Connolly, which is a bit of a surprise.

1.51pm GMT

62 min Brighton appeal for a penalty after a handball from Fabinho. It probably would have been given but Trossard was offside.

1.50pm GMT

Jota took that so well. Salah tucked the ball round the corner to find him on the edge of the area. He pushed the ball between Trossard and White and started to make an angled run into the area. Then he dummied Webster and Dunk by shaping to shoot. Finally, having made the space, he dragged a precise low shot back across Ryan and into the corner. Superb stuff.

1.48pm GMT

Diogo Jota gives Liverpool the lead with another terrific goal!

1.47pm GMT

59 min Sadio Mane is about to come on.

1.45pm GMT

57 min It must be a while since Liverpool failed to score in consecutive matches (edit: it happened at Watford and Chelsea in February/March this year). They have 33 minutes to ensure that doesn’t happen.

1.44pm GMT

54 min: Good effort from Welbeck! That was really nice play, at least the first part. Welbeck poked a bouncing ball away from Fabinho on the halfway line and ran into space down the right. He moved into the area, cut back inside Henderson and drove a low left-footed shot that was comfortably saved by Alisson. In hindsight he should probably have tried to find Connolly or Trossard at the far post.

1.42pm GMT

53 min There’s definitely a greater urgency to Liverpool’s play. He’s best known for his baseball cap, but I suspect Jurgen Klopp also has a pretty powerful hairdryer.

1.41pm GMT

52 min “It would have been fascinating to see Maradona play in the modern day,” says Chris. “Growing up in the 80s and 90 you had loads of players (Le Tiss, Hagi, Molby, Ginola, Carlton Palmer) that offered basically nothing to the team in terms of fitness or positional play but were first pick every week due to sheer talent.

“Modern teams (Bayern and Liverpool I’m looking at you) have no place for such players and are simultaneously more effective and all the poorer for it. I think Ronaldinho at Barca was the last player who excelled for a top team and fitted that mould. This brings us to Maradona because he was that good that he’d have to play for a top side. I do fear that modern coaches wouldn’t know what to do with him and there’s a risk he’d end up being a 1980s Ozil.”

1.39pm GMT

50 min Wijnaldum slides a pass down the inside-left channel, whose cross-shot on the turn flashes across the face of goal. Liverpool look a bit livelier than they did for much of the first half.

1.38pm GMT

48 min “As I lift the 2020 Guess the Job trophy I must hand it over to the nurses of the world,” says Mary Waltz. “The absolute heroes of the Covid epidemic and after Rashford has finished feeding the kids he should shift his focus to raising the wages of nurses. Underpaid life savers.”

Amen to that.

1.36pm GMT

47 min March plays a penetrative pass to find Connolly on the left. His first touch isn’t great, however, and that allows Phillips to come across and clear.

1.36pm GMT

47 min “I think the problem with VAR is simple - the definition of a ‘clear and obvious’ error is totally misunderstood in soccer,” says Madan Raja. “Cricket and NFL have the video assistant. But the on-field call has more weight. The goal is not to get to 100% in cricket and NFL. It is to avoid a blunder. In soccer, I think people are trying to design a perfect system.”

Yes, that’s an excellent point. Another difference, certainly with cricket, is the culture of entitlement and intolerance in football, which means every single decision is a DISGRACE one way or another. Anyway, that’s enough of VAR, at least until the next DISGRACEFUL decision.

1.34pm GMT

46 min Peep peep! Brighton begin the second half.

1.34pm GMT

Liverpool have made a half-time change: Jordan Henderson replaces Neco Williams, which means James Milner will go to right back.

1.30pm GMT

“Much-needed halftime for Klopp & co,” says Rob Moore. “No rhythm or pace to their play. So many times the fullback has been building up speed with space ahead of them, and the pass has been to foot, forcing a stop and cut back, killing any momentum. Brighton have done very well to keep the front four quiet, as well as create a few excellent chances of their own, but the addition of Henderson & Mané could and should change things. ‘Delicately poised’ or something like that.”

Yes, it’s odd to see Liverpool play so sluggishly. I suspect Jurgen Klopp is impolitely advising against a repeat in the second half.

1.29pm GMT

Guess the job! “I’m a psychiatric nurse at a state hospital,” says Yasin Ntume. “We are not allowed phones so our best bet are patient TVs in their dayroom lol.”

Three points to Mary Waltz (43 min).

1.26pm GMT

“Hey Rob,” says Yash Gupta. “VAR is not good and it is flawed but please things like Umpire’s Call are just calling for A HELL LOT OF TROUBLE AND NEW LEVEL OF CYNIC IN FOOTBALL.”

1.26pm GMT

Half-time entertainment

It’s the one we’ve all been waiting for: Mac Millings’ Diego Maradona Tribute XI!

1.21pm GMT

“Guess the job,” says Stephen Carr. “Election auditor.”

Heh, very good.

1.20pm GMT

“I’m a Liverpool fan so I have to declare an interest but the Salah goal was NOT offside,” says David Buckley. “If you look closely at the replay the ball had already left Firmino’s boot when the image was frozen. Half a frame it might be but the ball had been struck and was in motion. The technology is not quite there for these marginal decisions and the benefit of the doubt has to go to the attacking side.”

Yes, this split-frame issue is another problem with VAR. There’s a good argument for having the equivalent of ‘umpire’s call’ in cricket, which would have meant Salah’s goal being given.

1.19pm GMT

Half-time reading

1.19pm GMT

Peep peep! Brighton are holding Liverpool at the Amex Stadium, and the scoreline doesn’t flatter tham at all. Neal Maupay missed a penalty and Aaron Connolly has been a constant threat to Liverpool’s makeshift defence. Apart from an excellent first five minutes, Liverpool have been surprisingly sluggish. Mo Salah had a goal VARed for offside, but that was about it.

1.16pm GMT

45+1 min Veltman is booked for a lunge at Firmino.

1.16pm GMT

45 min “Hey Rob,” says Ross O’Connor. “Don’t you think the whole VAR business has gotten a bit ridiculous? The offside rule was devised to stop clumps of players goal-hanging in the opponent’s box, thus reducing the game to a series of lumped balls from one penalty area to the other. It was not designed to rule players offside by the width of a piece of paper. And I speak as someone who can’t stand Liverpool.”

I loathe almost everything about VAR, but I do understand the ‘offside is offside’ argument. I’m not sure there’s a satisfactory solution to any of it, because it won’t be put back in its box.

1.15pm GMT

44 min There’s a break in play while Bissouma receives treatment, I think to his hip. He’s going to continue for now. He’s a really important player for Brighton so they won’t want to lose him.

1.13pm GMT

43 min “Guess the job,” says Mary Waltz. “Graveyard shift at a hospital. I get Peacock on my package so I also do the 4am west coast wake up call. Retired. Afternoon naps are lovely.”

Afternoon naps are tremendous

, especially when they’re on the Guardian’s dime
.

1.13pm GMT

42 min A shot on target! Dunk’s clearance only goes to Minamino 25 yards from goal. He controls the ball and flicks a shot with the outside of the boot that is comfortably saved by Ryan.

1.12pm GMT

41 min Gary Naylor is not a fan of the high press.

“Okay lads, Mo Salah on Saturday - you know what to do.”

1.10pm GMT

40 min Neither side has had a shot on target yet.

1.09pm GMT

39 min “Like many other people, I guess, I’ve been dosing up on Maradona videos these last few days,” says Charles Antaki. “It’s tempting to mentally cut and paste those into what we’re seeing in front of us. It’s sort of works; a dribble from the halfway line, a push through a crowded box, a goal from an impossible angle… but everything else about it fails: the air of the Premier League 2020 is just too sterile for that kind of genius. Maybe all of football has been since the turn of the 21st century.”

It’s an interesting point. I’d love to have seen him on these perfect pitches and against defenders who weren’t allowed to butcher him from behind.

1.09pm GMT

38 min A cross shot from Welbeck drifts across the face of goal. Brighton have had plenty of openings like that, more than you usually get against Liverpool.

1.06pm GMT

Salah was just offside. Jurgen Klopp is telling the fourth official what he thinks of the decision.

1.05pm GMT

35 min This is really tight. I think it might be disallowed.

1.05pm GMT

Alisson drives a goalkick to Firmino on the right wing. He chests the ball down and volleys it over the defence to Salah, who runs through and bobbles the ball past Ryan with his right foot. That was devastatingly efficient from Liverpool - the ball didn’t bounce for 70 yards. It’s being checked for offside though.

1.04pm GMT

Correction: Liverpool had been rubbish.

1.04pm GMT

33 min Trossard curls a few yards wide from 20 yards after a good pass from Connolly. Alisson had it covered. Liverpool have been rubbish in the last 15-20 minutes.

1.03pm GMT

33 min “It sucks that we can’t catch any early games here in the US on NBC anymore but I appreciate the Guardian for the work you guys do to bring us the games,” says Yasin Ntume. “As someone who works at night this is a great way to follow the game that I love so dearly. Time check 4:49am.”

Let’s play ‘guess the job’. Security guard?

1.01pm GMT

32 min Liverpool have some good options on the bench, Mane and Henderson in particular. If it stays like this we’ll see both of them, perhaps as early as half-time.

1.00pm GMT

30 min “In most instances technology is often a vast improvement on the fallibility of humans,” says Mary Waltz. “VAR is the exception that proves the rule. Bin it. Yes there will be howlers from the Mike Deans of the world, yes we will scream at the officials, but I would rather complain about a human rather than a machine that is just as fickle.”

It’s too late, it’s out of the box. Like something equally poisonous, social media, it needed to be stopped at source.

12.59pm GMT

29 min Connolly’s pace and movement are causing Liverpool a lot of problems. He’s now playing down the middle in place of Maupay, with Trossard on the right. Jurgen Klopp looks pretty displeased with how his team are playing.

12.58pm GMT

27 min “I’m biased as a Liverpool fan but it looked to me that Connolly put his leg closer to Nico Williams in order to gain the foul?” says Mike MacKenzie. “He may not have done that but I’ve seen it done. Very hard for a ref to determine if that occurred.”

Yeah, Connolly often does that, though I still think it was probably a foul. It certainly wasn’t a clear and obvious error.

12.57pm GMT

26 min There’s a VAR check for handball against Robertson, who waved his hand in the air as Connolly lobbed the ball over him. It didn’t touch his hand and play continues.

12.56pm GMT

25 min Leandro Trossard comes on to replace Maupay.

12.55pm GMT

25 min Liverpool started really well but have been sluggish in the last 15 minutes or so.

12.55pm GMT

24 min Veltman clips a good pass behind Phillips to find Connolly, who can’t control a difficult ball on the run.

12.54pm GMT

23 min Maupay, who missed the penalty, is now going off with a hamstring injury. He’s walked straight down the tunnel, in a rare old funk.

12.53pm GMT

22 min That penalty award shows the inconsistency of VAR. It was almost identical to a penalty that Connolly won against Manchester United after a foul by Paul Pogba, a decision that was then overturned by VAR.

12.51pm GMT

20 min Oh my days. Maupay sent Alisson the wrong way but slid the ball this far wide of the right-hand post.

12.50pm GMT

19 min: PENALTY TO BRIGHTON! A clumsy tackle by Neco Williams on Connolly has been penalised. Stuart Attwell took his time before giving the penalty, but I don’t think it will be overturned.

12.49pm GMT

18 min Brighton are having a more even share of the game now. March’s inswinging corner is headed away at the near post by Milner.

12.47pm GMT

16 min I thought Minamino was playing as a No10 but increasingly it looks like he’s the third central midfielder alongside Wijnaldum and Milner. You can never get complacent with tactics, that’s the beauty of them.

12.46pm GMT

15 min Jota slips White neatly and is flattened. White is lucky not to be booked.

12.44pm GMT

14 min “Hi Rob,” says Gary Naylor. “I read an excellent piece last night that got to the heart of El Diego’s ‘other’ World Cup (well, one of them). It sounds, as so much does this week, more myth than truth, but truth it is.”

Oh, Gary.

12.44pm GMT

13 min Connolly almost gets in again, this time from Gross’s smart first-time pass. Alisson comes a long way from his area to clear.

12.42pm GMT

11 min “Hi Rob,” says Duncan Edwards. “It’s a shame Tariq Lamptey isn’t playing today as he’d have given Andy Robertson something to think about other than getting forward and wreaking havoc. I can’t believe his red card wasn’t overturned as I don’t think he deserved that second yellow and the fad Grealish made a meal of it. Pah.”

I don’t think they can overturn red cards that are given for two yellows, a regulation that feels a bit outdated.

12.42pm GMT

10 min: Connolly misses a great chance! Brighton almost scored with their first attack. Maupay turned on the halfway line and slid a lovely through pass to Connolly, who scooted between Phillips and Fabinho. He reached the edge of the area, opened his body and sidefooted the ball just wide of the far post.

12.39pm GMT

9 min Possession so far: Brighton 22-78 Liverpool.

12.38pm GMT

7 min Brighton’s front three have barely had a kick so far. Liverpool have started with impressive authority.

12.37pm GMT

5 min “So what if Messi didn’t score in a World Cup knockout,” says Tom Andejri. “Give it a rest man. Who cares about the WC anyway?”

The world? Anyway, that’s enough of Maradona v Messi. I can’t be bothered, and there’s a game to watch.

12.34pm GMT

3 min Liverpool have made an excellent start. Fabinho drives a pass over the defence to Salah, who makes a fine run inside Webster. He takes the ball down on his chest and smashes a half-volley just wide from 20 yards.

12.33pm GMT

3 min I thought Mo Salah might start in the centre but he is playing from the right, with Firmino as a false nine and Minamino the No10.

12.33pm GMT

2 min Firmino slides a nice pass inside White to release Jota in the inside-left channel. He tries to find the unmarked Salah at the far post but underhits the pass slightly, which allows Dunk to get back and concede a corner.

12.31pm GMT

1 min Peep peep! Liverpool kick off from right to left.

12.31pm GMT

“Can we all stop the Maradona hagiography now?” says Richard Hirst. “Not even the Argentinian GOAT, let alone the world’s. Unless of course it is true that Messi is from another planet and therefore ineligible.”

Messi has never scored a goal in the knockout stages of a World Cup. Anyway, let’s leave it, we’ll just bore each other.

12.30pm GMT

It’s a beautiful November day in Brighton & Hove, sunny and clear. There will be a minute’s applause before the game to commemorate the greatest footballer we will ever see.

12.20pm GMT

“Morning - sorry - afternoon Rob,” says Colin Young. “Why are LFC fans so fearful that Klopp ‘will be moving on’ when it’s not necessarily the case? True, there are those managers who like to make a point then move on (Mourinho being the most obvious space-hopper of the lot) but it’s not a nailed on certainty is it? Perhaps it’s all down to Arsene Wenger - who could have gone literally anywhere in the summer of 2004 but chose to stick around at Arsenal, winning diddly afterwards and watching as his career, and with it his reputation, slip away? It’s strange though... it now seems ‘obvious’ that managers will move on - even more so than players. Why is this?”

I suppose it’s because 99 per cent of them do move on. Post-Wenger, is there anybody in world football who has been at a club for over 10 years? I do think Klopp will buck the trend to some extent, though, and it won’t surprise me if he does a full decade at Anfield.

12.15pm GMT

“Hi Rob,” says Kishalay Banerjee. “Based on Pep and Klopp’s statements over the years, it seems that they have plans for managing Spain and Germany at some point in the future. Given the intensity and detail-oriented nature of their management, I wonder how (or if) they would modify their approaches to suit the fact that they will have a much limited time with their international squads. It would be fascinating to watch how their approaches differ from their club tactics, and how it affects their head-to-head results.”

It’s a really good point. I’m not sure it would suit either of them, particularly Guardiola.

12.08pm GMT

“Is that the weakest Liverpool bench you’ve seen for a while?” askys Neill Brown. “I know Mane is one of the best attackers in the world but the others are... trusted by Jurgen Klopp, so must be bloody good. But the bench still seems a bit thin for the best team in Europe. I don’t mind Brighton’s chances today.”

Henderson, Jones, Tsimikas, Mane... I’ve seen worse. I know what you mean, though - I fancy Brighton a bit more than I did before I saw the teams.

12.05pm GMT

Alternative MBM action

The biggest scandal of the Hand of God game was that Terry Fenwick could have been sent off four times.https://t.co/8dJF5jkKEU

12.04pm GMT

“Morning Rob,” says David Horn. “As a Liverpool fan I’m forced to confront (and when I say ‘forced’ I mean ‘masochistically compelled’) the fact that one day Klopp will leave us. I like to imagine who, on that terrible day, might step into the breach, bringing something new while embracing something old. And, among others, Graham Potter springs to mind. He seems to me to have the right mix of idealism and pragmatism, innovation and tradition. Of course I also like to think we have a few more years of Klopp left. (Oh and Nuno is one of the others who my thoughts turn to, since you ask.)”

How long do you think Klopp will stay? I think he’ll want at least two more league titles, and ideally one more Champions League, before he does one.

11.57am GMT

“Hello Rob,” says Martin S. “Do we really think Spurs can mount a decent challenge this year? As that’s the fixture LFC fans will surely look closest at tomorrow. Or will Lampard have a shot? OR will it be a Mourinho flop?”

I think Liverpool will win by 10-15 points, but Spurs are capable of finishing above the rest and I certainly think they’ll finish in the top four. I hope they mount a challenge, though. There are few things I would enjoy more than Jose Mourinho winning the Premier League and turning his acceptance speech into a relentless eight-hour score-settler.

11.53am GMT

“As Larkin said, the dropping of Mane ‘brings the priest and the doctor, in their long coats, running across the fields’,” says Ian Copestake. “He was last left out for the Aston Villa debacle.”

If only they’d picked him; it might have been 7-4.

11.52am GMT

Pre-match reading

11.36am GMT

Adam Lallana is only fit enough to be on the bench against his old club. Aaron Connolly replaces him, and Joel Veltman is in for the suspended Tariq Lamptey.

Liverpool have made six changes from the team that lost at home to Atalanta. Joel Matip is rested, which means a start for Nat Phillips alongside Fabinho, and Takumi Minamino starts in what looks like a 4-2-3-1 formation.

10.45am GMT

Hello and welcome to live, minute-by-minute coverage of Brighton v Liverpool at the Amex Stadium. Liverpool will go top of the Premier League if they avoid defeat. It might only be for 24 hours; it might be for the rest of the season. Although they have had a slightly odd start to this very odd season, there have been enough signs that Liverpool are still the best team in England by a fair distance.

Most of those signs have been at Anfield. Liverpool have won only one of their four away games in the league, though there were mitigating circumstances for the draws at Everton and Manchester City. It could be worse: Brighton have won only one league game at home all year. And they haven’t even drawn a game against Liverpool since 1991. Brighton are a decent, very likeable side but I’m not sure I fancy their chances today. If they do win, tomorrow’s front pages will be theirs.

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Published on November 28, 2020 06:56

November 26, 2020

Europa League: Molde v Arsenal, Braga v Leicester, Sparta Prague v Celtic and more – live!

Leicester and Arsenal clinched a place in the knockout stages, while Carlos Vinicius scored twice in an easy win for Spurs

10.02pm GMT

That it’s for tonight’s blog. I’ll leave you with David Hytner’s match report from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Thanks for your company and emails, goodnight!

9.56pm GMT

These are the final scores in the 8pm games

9.53pm GMT

Peep peep! Another cracking, high-scoring draw between Rangers and Benfica. Rangers were 2-0 up thanks to Scott Arfield and a belter from Kemar Roofe, but Benfica scored twice in the space of five minutes to grab a deserved point. Both have a five-point cushion and should go through to the knockout stages.

9.51pm GMT

Peep peep! An easy win for Spurs. Carlos Vinicius scored twice in the first half, his first goals for the club; Harry Winks added a third with a mishit cross from 56 yards and Lucas Moura finished the job. It could easily have been six or seven.

9.46pm GMT

Rangers 2-2 Benfica Rangers would take a point now. Benfica are putting them under plenty of pressure, and Gabriel has just wafted an excellent long-range volley that brushed the roof of the net.

9.42pm GMT

Benfica are level! The substitute Pizzi danced onto a loose ball in the area and leathered it past McGregor. Benfica have come from two down to equalise, just as they did in the return fixture.

9.40pm GMT

Tottenham 4-0 Ludogorets Scarlett almost scores immediately! He was put through by Winks and hit a shot that was blocked by Iliev.

9.39pm GMT

Rangers 2-1 Benfica Alfredo Morelos has hit the bar for Rangers! A fierce shot was pushed up in the air by Helton Leite, who might have done better, and the ball dropped onto the bar.

9.39pm GMT

Tottenham 4-0 Ludogorets Dane Scarlett, aged 16, has come to replace Lucas Moura for Spurs. He was born in March 2004!

9.38pm GMT

Benfica are back in it! Allan McGregor made a fine save from the substitute Goncalo Ramos, but the ball hit James Tavernier and rebounded into the net.

9.35pm GMT

Napoli 2-0 Rijeka Hirving Lozano has scored the second on an emotional night in Naples.

9.32pm GMT

Rangers 2-0 Benfica It’s still 1-1 in Belgium, but a winner for Standard Liege - who are down to 10 men - would put Rangers into the knockout stages with two games to spare.

9.30pm GMT

Lucas Moura gets a fourth for Spurs, sweeping insouciantly into the net after being set up by Carlos Vinicius.

9.29pm GMT

After a fine team move, Roofe cut inside from the left and smashed a rising drive into the net from 20 yards. Pick that out!

9.28pm GMT

Kemar Roofe has scored another Europa League belter!

9.24pm GMT

Rangers 1-0 Benfica Rangers are unlucky not to get a penalty when Roofe’s cross hits the raised arm of Vertonghen just inside the area. VAR is not in use for the group stages.

9.21pm GMT

A penalty from Chris Shields has given Dundalk a soupcon of hope in Dublin.

9.21pm GMT

Harry Winks scores an extraordinary goal. He was 50 yards out on the left wing when he drove the ball over Iliev and into the net off the underside of the bar. I’m pretty sure it was an overhit cross - Winks was laughing afterwards - but he’ll not mind. It’s his first goal since January 2019.

9.19pm GMT

Rangers 1-0 Benfica Every time I look at this game, Benfica are on the attack. They haven’t created many chances, but it still feels slightly ominous for Rangers.

9.17pm GMT

A second goal from Ercan Kera has sealed victory for Rapid Vienna in Dublin.

9.14pm GMT

In Eindhoven, PSV have come from 2-0 down to lead PAOK 3-2, thus turning Group E on its head.

9.12pm GMT

Rangers 1-0 Benfica Rangers can qualify for the knockout stages tonight, but only if they win and Standard Liege beat Lech Poznan in Belgium. That match is currently 0-0. And I wouldn’t be entirely confident about Rangers beating an increasingly dominant Benfica.

9.09pm GMT

Tottenham 2-0 Ludogorets Spurs are cruising to victory. The only danger is complacency, given how easy it has been so far.

9.02pm GMT

Peep peep! The second halves are underway.

8.50pm GMT

Half-time reading (compulsory)

8.49pm GMT

Peep peep! It’s half-time in all the 8pm kick-offs. If you don’t want to know the scores, log off now.

8.47pm GMT

Rangers 1-0 Benfica Leon Balogun makes an outstanding tackle to deny Rafa Silva, who looked set to equalise for Benfica. Rangers are under a fair bit of pressure and need half-time.

8.46pm GMT

Incredible scenes in Naples this evening as the city honours Diego Maradona pic.twitter.com/6YOZ7RKFcD

8.45pm GMT

It’s looking like a fourth consecutive Europa League defeat for Dundalk.

8.44pm GMT

Here’s the great Paul Doyle on Leicester’s dramatic 3-3 draw in Braga, a result that sealed qualification for the Round of 256 with two games to spare.

8.43pm GMT

“Evening Rob,” says Tom Hopkins. “Oh, the Czechs in 2004, just a lovely team. Possibly second only to Romania 1994 in my affections. Thanks for the reminder.”

As good as Greece were, I still can’t really get my head round that result in the semi-finals. I should watch the game back some time; I don’t remember much about it.

8.37pm GMT

Tottenham 2-0 Ludogorets So far this has been a perfect night for Jose Mourinho. Carlos Vinicius has scored his first goals for Spurs, Dele Alli looks more like his old self, and Harry Kane and Son should be able to spend the entire evening on the bench.

8.36pm GMT

Carlos Vinicius gets his second, but that goal was a little triumph for Dele Alli. Ndombele’s shot was pushed out by Iliev to Alli, six yards from goal. He dummied to shoot and then squared the ball to give Vinicius an open goal. Lovely play by Alli, both in its selflessness and execution. It was very similiar to Karel Poborsky’s nerveless assist in that classic match between the Netherlands and the Czech Republic at Euro 2004.

8.33pm GMT

Tottenham 1-0 Ludogorets A second Spurs goal is in the post. They almost scored it a moment ago when Dele Alli floated a nice pass over the defence to find Ben Davies, who hammered the bouncing ball against the outside of the near post.

8.32pm GMT

Rangers 1-0 Benfica Rangers are still ahead in what has been a pretty even game at Ibrox. Whatever the final score, the fact Rangers can compete pretty much as equals with Benfica shows how far they have come under Steven Gerrard.

8.27pm GMT

Tottenham 1-0 Ludogorets Harry Winks hits a lovely left-footed shot from 25 yards that swerves this far wide.

8.21pm GMT

Tottenham 1-0 Ludogorets Spurs are in complete control of this game. Bale almost makes it 2-0 with a nice curler from 20 yards that drops onto the roof of the net.

8.19pm GMT

Here’s Ewan Murray’s report on a desperate night for Celtic, who have gone out of two European competitions before the end of November.

8.18pm GMT

Carlos Vinicius gets his first goal for Spurs! Dele Alli’s through ball towards Bale - who was in an offside position - was diverted by a defender towards the unmarked Vinicius. He opened his body as if to shoot into the bottom left corner and then dragged the ball to the other side as the keeper dived the wrong way. Excellent finish.

8.15pm GMT

Rangers 1-0 Benfica It’s been a cracking first 15 minutes at Ibrox. Rangers took the lead but Benfica are having a lot of the ball and have already missed one excellent chance to equalise.

8.14pm GMT

Spurs 0-0 Ludogorets Dele Alli splashes a shot high and wide from 25 yards. He could use a goal more than most.

8.13pm GMT

Dundalk’s hopes of a first point in Group B have taken a hit. Christoph Knasmullner has put Rapid Vienna ahead in Dublin.

8.12pm GMT

8.09pm GMT

A flying start for Rangers! Scott Arfield has volleyed them ahead from close range after James Tavernier’s header hit the bar.

8.08pm GMT

Spurs 0-0 Ludogorets Nothing much to report after eight minutes at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Antwerp’s 2-0 win away to LASK makes it imperative that Spurs win tonight.

8.05pm GMT

Every Napoli player wear the #10 shirt to honor Maradona pic.twitter.com/bPFs0nIu5Y

8.04pm GMT

Here’s more on Arsenal’s comfortable win in Molde, which included a first ever goal for the teenager Folarin Balogun.

8.02pm GMT

The 8pm games are under way. All were preceded by a minute’s silence for the greatest GOAT of all time.

7.58pm GMT

A moment Folarin Balogun will never forget

His first goal for Arsenal on just his second senior appearance!

They really like the look of him at the Emirates #UEL pic.twitter.com/FpIwurBy3M

7.58pm GMT

Thanks Barry, evening everyone. Let’s start with the full-time scores in the early games:

7.56pm GMT

Reiss Nelson and Folarin Balogum piled the hurt on Molde after Nicolas Pepe had fired them ahead on 50 minutes to give Mikel Arteta’s side a comfortable win. Rob Smyth will take over now and bring you news of the rest of tonight’s games.

7.54pm GMT

7.51pm GMT

On as a sub, Jamie Vardy stabs home a Marc ALbrighton cross at the far post to fire his side into the Round of 32!!!

7.50pm GMT

Leicester concede near the death, the victims of a counter-attack after Jamie Vardy fails to waste time by taking the ball into the corner. Fransergio scores for the hosts, firing over Schmeichel.

7.46pm GMT

Oh dear! Celtic get humiliated as Sparta Prague catch them on the break. A rush of blood to the head from Scott Bain doesn’t help - he charges out of his penalty area allowing Srdjan Plavsic to roll the ball into an empty net.

7.45pm GMT

Some reading: Not content with winning the World Cup with Diego Maradona in 1986, Jorge Valdano is a brilliant writer. And now a colleague of mine. Here’s his bit on El Diego for tomorrow’s Big Paper ...

7.43pm GMT

Lukáš Juliš, a player who none of us will ever hear of again for as long as we live, has scored five goals against Celtic over the two games. That's how bad it's got.

7.39pm GMT

Sparta Prague 3-1 Celtic: In the Celtic goal, Scott Bain takes a completey unnecessary risk, leaving his area to try to play the ball out from the back, only to have his pocket picked by Karlsson. Bain scrambles to nick the ball back before he is further embarrassed.

7.34pm GMT

Luke Thomas scores his first goal for Leicester at the age of 19, stabbing home a James Maddison cross from the edge of the six-yard box. Maddison’s delivery was inch-perfect after he’d jinked this way and that, selling his man a dummy. As thinks stand, Leicester will advance to the last 32 with two games to spare.

7.32pm GMT

Celtic get caught on the break, with Sparta Prague attacking down the left flank. The ball’s crossed to a completely unmarked Julis, who spanks home his fifth goal against the Scottish champions in two games. Celtic are on their way out of Europe.

7.29pm GMT

Good news for Leicester: Ukrainian side Zorya have doubled their lead against AEK Athens. A goal for Leicester, who have brought on Jamie Vardy, would see them through to the knockout stages with two games to spare, assuming Braga don’t bag themselves a third.

7.28pm GMT

The Guardian’s fitba correspodent tweets: Over to you, Mr Ewan Murray ...

Celtic haven't at all played like a "poorly coached" (to coin a common phrase) team this half. A lack of individual mistakes, playing on front foot. Not that I'm sure any insistence they are better than Sparta as a default is accurate.

7.26pm GMT

An email: “Clive Naylor’s stat about Arsenal not scoring from open play was ... wrong,” writes Edward Chukwurah, among others. “But more misleading than flat-out wrong. That stat is true for Premier League games only, but if you add in Europa League games, given the recency of the previous leg vs Molde (which featured goals from open play), that number falls drastically. Still, Arsenal are dreadfully uncreative lately.”

7.24pm GMT

Braga 2-1 Leicester City: Kasper Schmeichel, who has been effing, jeffing and generally cursing like a sailor throughout this game, saves well, tipping the ball over the bar, to deny Paulinho heading home from a wonderful cross. Nothing comes from the ensuing corner. As things stand in Group G, with AEK Athens behind at home to Zorya, Leicester would qualify for the knockout stages with a draw.

7.17pm GMT

Sparta Prague 2-1 Celtic: Odsonne Eduoard has just missded an absolute sitter after being teed up by a ball Olivier Ntcham squared from the left. He had the goal at his mercy with only the Sparta Prague goalkeeper to beat but seemed shocked to find the ball at his feet and “shot” straight at a very grateful Nita.

7.14pm GMT

Tottenham (4-3-3) Hart; Doherty, Sanchez, Tanganga, Davies; Ndombele, Winks, Alli; Bale, Vinicius, Moura.

Subs: Austin, Whiteman, Aurier, Dier, Reguilon, Hojbjerg, Sissoko, Kane, Son, Clarke, White, Scarlett.

7.13pm GMT

The Town (3-4-3) Rogers; Hoare, Boyle, Cleary; Gannon, Shields, Sloggett, Dummigan; Colovic, McMillan, Duffy.

Subs: McCarey, Corcoran, Gartland, Flores, Mountney, P McEleney, Leahy, Murray, Oduwa, Wynne, Kelly.

7.12pm GMT

Rangers (4-3-3) McGregor; Tavernier, Goldson, Balogun, Barisic; Kamara, S Davis, Arfield; Roofe, Morelos, Kent.

Subs: McLaughlin, Ughelumba, Helander, Hagi, Itten, Barker, Stewart, Barjonas, Dickson, King.

7.11pm GMT

Sparta Prague 2-1 Celtic: Neil Lennon’s side are dominating this second half but to no avail as far as the scoreboard stands. They’re pinning Sparta Prague’s full-backs back in their own half but haven’t fashioned much in the form of a decent scoring opportunity apart from Eduoard’s free-kick just after the break.

7.08pm GMT

Redemption of a sort for Nicolas Pepe after he dirtied his bib by getting sent off against Leeds last weekend. Moments after he’d hit the bar with a shot from distance he puts his side ahead, cushioning a cross from the left before finding the corner from 12 or 15 yards out.

7.03pm GMT

Celtic all over the place in Prague, total Keystone Kops defending since they went in front. If this doesn't get Lennon sacked, I don't know what will. Hard to believe this is the same manager who shut down Barcelona in 2012.

7.02pm GMT

Well, most of them are and those that aren’t will be very shortly. Celtic, in all sorts of bother, have a free kick in Prague. Odsonne Eduoard takes a wonderful free-kick, getting the ball up and down ovewr the wall only to be fouiled by a brilliant save by Florin Nita. A minute or so later, Ryan Christie goes close with a shot from distance.

6.49pm GMT

6.43pm GMT

Braga 2-1 Leicester: Moments after Kasper Schmeichel is forced to prevent his team from going another goal behind, Christian Fuchs gets the wrong side of his man, Wenderson Galanu and almost gives away a penalty. Braga’s players are not best pleased with the referee.

6.41pm GMT

Molde 0-0 Arsenal: Reiss Nelson sends a superb cross into the Molde penalty area, where Eddie Nketiah is denied by some superb defending. He looked a certainty to score with a close range header.

6.36pm GMT

Celtic are behind. Already on the scoresheet, Dockal turns provider, teeing up Julis to sidefoot home at the far post for his fourth goal in two matches against Celtic. Neil Lennon’s side will be exiting the tournament with two group games to spare if they can’t turn this around.

6.34pm GMT

An email: “It’s 505 minutes since Arsneal scored in open play,” wrote Clive Naylor, 16 minutes or so ago.

6.31pm GMT

He's done really well to miss from here

Didn't miss the post though #UEL pic.twitter.com/x4oNJGQmqF

6.29pm GMT

Molde 0-0 Arsenal: Eddie Nketiah tests Molde goalkeeper with a curled effort from distance. It’s not the stiffest exam Linde will ever have to pass - the ball sails straight into his arms.

6.27pm GMT

Braga 2-1 Leicester City: There was a hint of offside about the through ball that led to Braga’s second but there is no VAR being used in the group stages of this season’s Europa League.

6.26pm GMT

Molde 0-0 Arsenal: Arsenal survive a penalty scare when a cross appears to hit the hand of David Luiz from close range. There wasn’t much he could do about that and his arms were not outstretched.

6.25pm GMT

The hosts hgave equalised in the Czech Republic. Celtic failed to clear a corner and Pavelka shot on goal. His connection was anything but clean but the ball came Hancko’s way. He fired home from a couple of yards out.

6.22pm GMT

Paulinho gets his 12th European goal for Braga at the end of a lovely move. After some neat one-touch passing, Ricardo Horta was played in between two Leicester defenders, took the ball wide of Kasper Schmeichel and then pulled it back to Paulinho, who slotted home.

6.18pm GMT

Molde 0-0 Arsenal: Nicolas Pepe does what Nicolas Pepe does best - cutting in from the right flank and unleashing a curled effort towards the top corner. His aim is slightly off and a decent effort goes wide.

6.17pm GMT

Braga 1-1 Leicester: The Portuguese outfit attack down the left flank, but James Justin blocks a dangerous cross at the near post

6.14pm GMT

Celtic take a much-needed lead in the Czech Republic. Edouard finished a counter-attack down the inside-left with a neat and precise finish.

6.12pm GMT

Molde 0-0 Arsenal: David Luiz clears a corner at the near post but the ball is sent back down the left wing. It’s crossed to the far post, where Leke James somehow fails to convert. What he does succeed in doing is sliding into the upright with one leg either side. Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!

6.09pm GMT

Sparta Prague 0-0 Celtic: There have been chances for both sides in the early stages. Moberg Karlsson curl had Bain beaten but saw his long range effort curl narrowly wide. Moments later, Sparta Prague goalkeeper Nita went perilously close to letting a backpass roll under his foot and over the line.

6.06pm GMT

Leicester restore parity with their first attack of note in the game. Harvey Barnes shoots past Matheus at the near post from a quite a tight angle.

6.03pm GMT

A clearance at a corner from Leicester drops for Al Musrati a few yards outside the penalty area. He sends a low drive into the bottom left-hand corner to open his account for the Portuguese club.

5.59pm GMT

There are silent tributes all around for Diego Maradona before play begins, but sweat is now being broken. Ashley Maitland-Niles gives Molde’s goalkeeper an early fright, his looping header threateneing to drop under the bar until Linde tips it over for a corner. Nothing comes of the ensuing inswinger.

5.41pm GMT

Sparta Prague: Nita, Plechaty, Pavelka, Hancko, Vindheim,Travnik, Dockal, Krejci II, Hanousek, Julis, Moberg Karlsson

Subs: Wiesner, Gabriel, Patrak, Vitik, Soucek, Krejci, Minchev, Lischka, Plavsic, Heca, Holec, Gelashvili

5.14pm GMT

Braga: Matheus, Ricardo Esgaio, Bruno Viana, Tormena, Sequeira, Horta, Casro, Al Musrati, Medeiros, Galeno, Paulinho.

Subs: Sa, Santos, Ze Carlos, Rolando, Novais, Ruiz, Andre Horta, Fransergio, Raul Silva, Infande, Couto, Guilherme.

5.09pm GMT

Molde: Linde, Wingo, Gregersen, Sinyan, Risa, Aursnes, Ellingsen, Hussain, Hestad, Wolff Eikrem, James.

Arsenal: Runarsson; Cedric, David Luiz, Mustafi, Maitland-Niles; Willock, Xhaka; Nelson, Pepe, Nketiah, Lacazette

4.54pm GMT

Group B: Molde v Arsenal

4.54pm GMT

Diego Maradona lifted the Europa League trophy once in his career and the club he captained to victory in what was then known as the Uefa Cup play tonight on what is bound to be a poignant but unattended game at the San Apolo Stadium (soon to be renamed the Stadio Diego Maradona.

Today’s Guardian Football Weekly podcast was entirely devoted to the life and times of Maradona, with Jonathan Wilson,Philippe Auclair and special guests Marcela Maura y Araurjo, who translated his autobiography into English, and Asif Capadia, who directed the box office hit Diego Maradona, joining myself and Max Rushden.

4.54pm GMT

4.08pm GMT

Greetings and welcome to our coverage of today’s Europa League group games. There’s no shortage of them to keep tabs on but we’ll be keeping a particularly beady eye on games involving teams from the UK and Ireland with Arsenal, Dundalk, Rangers, Leicester City, Celtic, and Tottenham Hotspur all on duty tonight.

Games kick-off at 5.55pm (GMT) and 8pm (GMT) and we’ll be here with build-up, talking points, updates, news of the goals as they go in and post-match reaction until the last of the floodlights have been switched off and the grounds they illuminate plunged into darkness.

View more on Rob Smyth's website »

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Published on November 26, 2020 14:07

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