McConnell plays the role in debut
Eight of Jürgen Klopp’s 20-man squad against Norwich were graduates of Liverpool’s academy. One of them, James McConnell, made his first start for the senior team. The 19-year-old from Newcastle moved in front of the defense, sitting behind Curtis Jones and Ryan Gravenberch. As he progressed through the academy, having joined from Sunderland at the age of 15, McConnell was a more attacking midfielder and his eye for an assist was on display when he spotted Jones in space at the back post and fired in the perfect cross for his colleague to go home. opener. Like Alexis Mac Allister, McConnell is not a traditional number six in the defensive midfielder role, but Klopp offers his players a lot of freedom. The German has appointed McConnell for the role in the pre-season and he has lived up to his manager’s expectations. There is a lot of competition in midfield, but McConnell showed despite good opposition in the Championship that he can more than hold his own in men’s football. Will win
United’s season continues
Will Evans, the farmer turned footballer and Manchester United supporter, puts his toes on the ball to make it 2-2 and send Rodney Parade wild. His manager, Graham Coughlan, also a boyhood United fan, is somehow holding it together on the sidelines but is bursting inside with thoughts of a possible trip to Old Trafford for a replay. Not far away, Erik ten Hag’s inner monologue is probably even more poignant. Is this how it all crumbles, with embarrassment against League Two’s Newport County? In the end, it wasn’t such a bad evening for the South Wales visitors: Kobbie Mainoo scored his first senior goal, Antony’s right foot provided a crucial touch, Rasmus Højlund has three in his last four – even without great service – and United still has a trophy to fight for. The FA Cup remains an opportunity, and even a club in perpetual dysfunction can make a strong claim to win it. Maybe that’s the real magic. Taha Hashim
O’Neil’s Wolves are starting to click
Wolves’ victory at The Hawthorns may be overshadowed by serious crowd issues, but their form during this seven-match unbeaten run has been extremely encouraging. Gary O’Neil has now embedded his playing style in a squad that is short on numbers – and unlikely to get any bigger before this week’s transfer deadline – but is high on quality and unity. The return of Pedro Neto, who opened the scoring against West Brom, has allayed fears that they would miss Hwang Hee-Chan too much in the Asian Cup, and no Premier League player has more than his eight assists; Matheus Cunha has not only found his best place in the team, starting as a left-sided forward, but has now scored six goals in his last eight games. Even though they didn’t play that well in this local derby, the confidence is there. Peter Lansley
Elokobi inspires belief in Maidstone
One of Maidstone United’s heroes, Lamar Reynolds, credited their manager George Elokobi with instilling belief in the National League South club to pull off their monumental upset at Ipswich. Reynolds’ opener at Portman Road was a goal worthy of an FA Cup final and he ensured Sam Corne’s winner toppled the Championship promotion contenders – a team 98 places above them in the football pyramid. Part-timers Maidstone have become the first club from outside English football’s top five to reach the fifth round of the FA Cup since Blyth Spartans in 1978. Reynolds said: “He [Elokobi] kept pushing us to believe in ourselves. If you believe that things like this can happen. “Then all the emotions exploded afterwards. We are now in the round of the last 16 and who would have thought? It’s ridiculous.” Reynolds, whose goal against Ipswich was his first for Maidstone, returned to his other job on Sunday as a social support worker for young adults with autism. “It feels special,” said the 28-year-old striker. “It feels great and I’m sure when I wake up it will feel even better.” Simon Mail
Spurs front line falls flat against City
Ange Postecoglou called it a ‘decent opportunity’, which may have been an exaggeration. It would be the only sniff his team Tottenham had during the 1-0 home defeat to Manchester City. It came at 53 minutes. Timo Werner played the pass and Brennan Johnson chased him as goalkeeper Stefan Ortega came out. Johnson was – just – there first and tapped the ball towards the goal, but Ortega was so close to him that the block was almost a formality. Postecoglou lamented how passive his team were in the first half and with City in the lead it was always going to be difficult to turn the tide. Spurs’ front three of Johnson, Richarlison and Werner have been disappointing and will be looking over their shoulders in the countdown to Wednesday’s home game against Brentford. If Postecoglou brings the fit James Maddison into the starting midfield position, Dejan Kulusevski could move wide, which would push someone out. David Hytner
Barkley continues his resurgence in Luton
It’s hard to believe that Ross Barkley is now the wrong side of thirty. It doesn’t seem so long ago that a teenager in Everton blue set himself on course for Premier League and international greatness. Of course, somewhere down the line it all went wrong; A move to Nice in 2022 seemed to herald the end of the Barkley era – until Luton took a chance on him last summer. Under Rob Edwards, Barkley was a revelation and it felt inevitable that he would make his presence felt on his return to Goodison Park in this cup tie. Barkley forced Vitaliy Mykolenko’s own goal for Luton’s opener (although VAR chose not to penalize a potential push), and then went on to shine in midfield in a manner that has become familiar to Hatters fans this season. Luton are all the better for Barkley 2.0. Dominic Boot
Pedro’s class could lead to a sale
João Pedro could be the next Brighton star to be sold for a healthy profit on the fee paid to Watford in May for the 22-year-old’s cocktail of floats and lethal finishing. His hat-trick draw eliminated Sheffield United and took his season’s tally to 18, meaning only Erling Haaland (19) has scored more. But as his manager admitted, the Brazilian could leave quickly because of the club’s model. “João Pedro is an important player for Brighton, but he will be an important player for the next transfer market,” said Roberto De Zerbi. “Brighton’s policy is clear: compete, but to progress, the young players we need to accept must be allowed to lose [Alexis] MacAllister [to Liverpool, £35m], [Moisés] Caicedo [Chelsea, £115m] and other key players. The challenge then is to find others.” Jamie Jackson
Toon enjoys Cup tonic
Newcastle’s season has faded somewhat since their exit from the UEFA Champions League, but the FA Cup could be the catalyst to revive Eddie Howe’s side. The Geordie faithful have already been treated to a 3-0 win over rivals Sunderland in the third round, and their 2-0 victory over Fulham has taken them into the last 16 of the competition. An away game against Blackburn or Wrexham awaits, while Howe’s side are just two games away from a return to Wembley. The league format has dwindled and European football no longer exists, so Newcastle may well have some eggs in the FA Cup basket. Newcastle are still in search of a first trophy under Saudi ownership, and after coming so close in the Carabao Cup last season, the side will be hungry to challenge for it again more than 12 months later. Jack Kelly
Striking issue for Chelsea
Chelsea may have struck the right note under Mauricio Pochettino of late, but the Blues are still in desperate need of a clinical number 9. It’s ironic to highlight the striker’s position as an issue considering the West Londoners are 51 have scored goals in 29 matches. corresponds to this campaign, one more than the entire last season. As Pochettino said: “I trust and believe in my players. If we play like this, we will score.” With Christopher Nkunku sidelined, Nicholas Jackson away at the Africa Cup of Nations and Armando Broja struggling since his return from injury, a new striking option could be just what Chelsea need to push on in the Premier League and the national cups. James Saint Denis
Murillo impresses for Forest
For Nottingham Forest, a home replay against Bristol City is honestly a game they could do without, but the biggest takeaway from their draw against Ashton Gate was their fourth clean sheet of the season, and a first since November. When a club has spent over £250 million on 42 players since promotion, there will invariably be a few missteps, but a handful of players have hit the sweet spot. The very first signee, Taiwo Awoniyi, close to returning from a groin injury, was a big hit, as was Morgan Gibbs-White, while Serge Aurier had been a welcome surprise. The best of them all, however, is Murillo, who was bought by Corinthians for £10 million last August. The 21-year-old Brazilian was again assured last time alongside Andrew Omobamidele, the last of the 42, and has made a big impression in a short time. Ben Visser