Match report: Everton 1-2 Luton
Time to sign off with a report from Goodison Park. Thanks for joining me, and enjoy your weekends.
Some post-game quotes from Luton hero Cauley Woodrow and his manager, Rob Edwards.
“To be fair I don’t really remember much. It just fell to me and I managed to tap it in,” Woodrow told the BBC. “I’m really pleased with myself because I’ve been waiting a long time for a goal, and also for the travelling fans – they were unbelievable today.”
“We believe we can go anywhere and win,” said Edwards after the Hatters’ second victory at Goodison Park this season. “I didn’t enjoy many Cup runs as a player. We will enjoy this, it does mean a lot and it is important that we enjoy these moments.”
Here’s more on today’s all-Championship ties as Leicester eased past Birmingham, while Plymouth earned a replay against Leeds.
There’s live WSL action under way – join Taha Hashim for Brighton v Chelsea.
Michael Beale got a boost as Sunderland saw off Stoke despite Alex Pritchard’s absence from the squad as he seeks a move away.
Jamie Jackson was at Bramall Lane to watch Brighton win this fourth-round tie twice …
Port Vale have issued a statement condemning a supporter who ran on to the pitch towards referee Craig Hicks near the end of their defeat to Portsmouth. Hicks was able to retreat safely to the touchline without being harmed, but the club have vowed to deal with the pitch invader with “zero tolerance”.
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Full time: Las Palmas 1-2 Real Madrid
Real Madrid return to the top of La Liga but were given a scare by mid-table Las Palmas, who took a second-half lead through Javi Muñoz. Vinícius Júnior got the visitors level, before Aurélien Tchouaméni got the winner in the 84th minute.
Who’s in the FA Cup fifth round? Luton, Leicester and Brighton join Bournemouth, non-league Maidstone and holders Manchester City in the draw. Leeds and Plymouth, like Bristol City/Forest, Chelsea/Villa and Coventry/Sheffield Wed, will require a replay.
Scottish Premiership results
Celtic 1-0 Ross County
Hearts 2-0 Aberdeen
Kilmarnock 2-2 Hibernian
Livingston 1-4 Dundee
St Johnstone 1-1 Motherwell
Real Madrid have turned it around, as you always thought they might – they lead Las Palmas 2-1 thanks to Aurélien Tchouaméni’s late goal.
EFL full-times
Championship
Millwall 1-1 Preston
Sunderland 3-1 Stoke
League One
Barnsley 1-2 Exeter
Blackpool 1-1 Charlton
Bristol Rovers 3-1 Oxford
Cambridge 0-0 Burton
Carlisle 1-4 Bolton
Derby 2-1 Cheltenham
Lincoln 0-0 Peterborough
Northampton 0-2 Shrewsbury
Port Vale 0-1 Portsmouth
Reading 1-1 Leyton Orient
Wigan 2-3 Stevenage
Wycombe 2-2 Fleetwood
League Two
Crewe 2-3 Salford
Doncaster 1-5 Stockport
Forest Green 0-1 Accrington
Grimsby 1-2 Tranmere
MK Dons 2-1 Gillingham
Morecambe 0-1 Colchester
Notts County 1-1 Barrow
Swindon 2-0 Bradford
Walsall 1-1 Sutton
Wimbledon 2-1 Mansfield
Full time: Sheffield United 2-5 Brighton
And that’s that, João Pedro’s hat-trick squashing Sheffield United’s comeback to advance to Sunday’s fifth-round draw.
GOAL! Sheffield Utd 2-5 Brighton (Welbeck 97')
Danny Welbeck adds a fifth for the Seagulls, who are soaring into the fifth round.
Updated
In the Championship, it’s finished Millwall 1-1 Preston, while Sunderland are back to within touching distance of the playoffs after a 3-1 home win over Stoke.
In League One, Exeter have ended Barnsley’s unbeaten run, Portsmouth have held on at Port Vale, and Bolton have thrashed Carlisle 4-1 to climb above Peterborough, who couldn’t find a winner at Lincoln. In League Two, high-flying Mansfield, down to 10 men, have conceded a late goal at Wimbledon.
Full time: Everton 1-2 Luton Town
It’s all over at Goodison Park, and Luton have earned a late win that was probably deserved, on the balance of play. They’re into the last 16 for just the second time since the 2012-13 season – when they got to the fifth round as a non-league team.
GOAL!!! Everton 1-2 Luton (Woodrow 96')
Wow. Everton are going out of the FA Cup, as Cauley Woodrow taps home from a corner to grab a last-gasp victory for Luton!
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Full time: Leeds 1-1 Plymouth
Both sides spurn late chances to grab victory, so we head to Home Park for a replay. Jaidon Anthony put Leeds in front, but Adam Randell’s leveller keeps Argyle in the Cup.
Full time: Leicester 3-0 Birmingham
After a poor first half, Enzo Maresca made changes and Leicester eased to victory through goals from Jamie Vardy, Yunus Akgun and Dennis Praet. They’re in the hat for Sunday’s fifth-round draw.
Updated
Tempers boiling over at Goodison Park, Burke and Patterson jostling in the time-honoured fashion as we enter added time. Heading for a replay there, while Plymouth are minutes away from forcing Leeds to take a trip to Home Park.
League One leaders Portsmouth strike late at Port Vale, through Colby Bishop’s penalty – and look to have denied Bolton top spot. Wycombe are level at home to Fleetwood, and there’s a turnaround at the DW Stadium too – Stevenage now lead Wigan 3-2.
GOAL! Leicester 3-0 Birmingham (Praet 88')
A first goal in more than a year for Dennis Praet, who strokes the ball home to make victory absolutely certain for Leicester.
Real Madrid are level at Las Palmas, Vinícius Júnior on the scoresheet – but Carlo Ancelotti will want a winner, with 20-odd minutes left to play.
In Scotland, Celtic still lead Ross County by a single goal after Luis Palma missed a penalty twice, Hearts are two up at home to Aberdeen, and Hibs have levelled against 10-man Kilmarnock. Dundee are also a man down … but still 4-1 up at bottom club Livingston.
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Jack Harrison goes close with an acrobatic effort as Everton aim to grab a winner and cross the replay off their fixture list. Leeds also want to get the job done, but can’t find a way past Hazard in the Plymouth goal.
In the Bundesliga, Harry Kane got what proved to be the winner as Bayern Munich won 3-2 at Augsburg, while Denis Undav’s hat-trick earned Stuttgart a 5-2 home win over Leipzig. Elsewhere, it finished Werder Bremen 3-1 Freiburg, Hoffenheim 1-1 Heidenheim anad Wolfsburg 1-1 Köln.
At Elland Road, Leeds have sent on Patrick Bamford – but he is denied by Conor Hazard as Plymouth stay level! Derby have scored another very nice goal, and now lead Cheltenham 2-1, some good vibes returning to Pride Park.
Stoke have pulled one back at the Stadium of Light through Jenson Seelt’s own goal. “As a friend just texted me, Stoke are so terrible they can’t even score their own goals,” sighs Joshua Reynolds. “It’s a grim time for the Potters.”
GOAL! Sheffield United 2-4 Brighton (Pedro 67')
João Pedro fires home from Van Hecke’s pass to complete his hat-trick, and surely Brighton are through now. Then again, they were 2-0 up in the first half, in a game that is running a little behind the other three.
A big goal in La Liga: Javi Muñoz has put Las Palmas in front at home to Real Madrid, finishing a fine counter to put the visitors under serious pressure.
GOAL! Leeds 1-1 Plymouth (Randell 73')
Plymouth are level at Elland Road, Adam Randell finishing off a devastating break after good work from substitutes Matt Butcher and Mustapha Bundu.
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GOAL! Leicester 2-0 Birmingham (Akgun 72')
The 2021 Cup winners are heading for the fifth round. It’s Yunus Akgun who gets the goal, the Turkish winger finishing in style to double the hosts’ lead!
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Another goalline clearance, this one at Goodison Park as Nathan Patterson denies Carlton Morris what looked a certain goal. Elsewhere, Wycombe have one back at home to Fleetwood, and Pierre Ekwah has put Sunderland 3-0 up on Stoke.
Plymouth go close! They’ve been on the back foot for long spells, but Argyle almost equalise as Morgan Whittaker lifts the ball over Illan Meslier – but Sam Byram clears off the line.
Leicester made three changes at half-time – James Justin, Ricardo Pereira and Kasey McAteer all coming on – and are much improved in the second half. Tony Mowbray decides to do the same with his Birmingham team, throwing on Scott Hogan, Tyler Roberts and Oliver Burke – just as Vardy heads off, replaced by Tom Cannon.
In League One, Charlton – who have been linked with Nathan Jones this week – are a goal down at Blackpool. Paul Hurst is back in the hot seat at Shrewsbury, and his side are 1-0 up at Northampton. Fleetwood, without a win since 11 November, are two goals up but a man down at Wycombe.
GOAL! Sheffield Utd 2-3 Brighton (Pedro pen 52')
It’s a barn burner at Bramall Lane, where João Pedro has converted a second penalty to put Brighton back in front. The spot-kick was given for a Bogle handball which was then subject of a long VAR check, as if you had to ask.
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Derby are level at home to Cheltenham with a tidy training-ground routine from a free kick. In Scotland, Kilmarnock lead Hibernian 2-0, Matty Kennedy getting the hosts’ second goal.
GOAL! Everton 1-1 Luton (Harrison 55')
Relief around Goodison as Jack Harrison gets them level, his hopeful shot slipping through Tim Krul’s hands to gift Everton an equaliser!
Updated
Hey, what’s Phil Brown up to these days? He’s the new manager at Kidderminster, and it’s going well – the National League strugglers are a goal up at Dagenham & Redbridge!
Jamie Vardy thinks he’s doubled his tally, and Leicester’s lead, at home to Birmingham – but it’s ruled out for a very tight offside. No VAR to help Vardy out at the King Power, either. Leeds are still on top against Plymouth at Elland Road, but haven’t been able to add to Jaidon Anthony’s opener yet.
Updated
Everton still not clicking, with Jack Harrison and Dwight McNeil struggling to get into the game from out wide. Just one shot on target for the hosts, and Luton still a goal to the good.
Derby are in a spot of bother at home to Cheltenham, going 1-0 down to continue a worrying blip. Paul Warne’s side were held at Lincoln last week, then lost 1-0 at Reading on Tuesday. Lincoln are frustrating another promotion-chasing side today, holding Peterborough to a goalless draw as it stands.
Sunderland double their lead at home to Stoke, Abdoullah Ba on target to make Michael Beale (slightly) more popular on Wearside. In League Two, Stockport are having fun at Doncaster – the leaders are 4-0 up early in the second half.
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GOAL! Leicester 1-0 Birmingham (Vardy 47')
It’s ………… Jamie Vardy on the scoresheet, heading home Marc Albrighton’s cross in true 2015-16 style.
Updated
Peep, peep, peep
The second halves are under way … and we’ve got a goal pretty much straight away at the King Power …
Other half-time scores
Championship
Millwall 1-1 Preston
Sunderland 1-0 Stoke
Scottish Premiership
Celtic 1-0 Ross County
Hearts 0-0 Aberdeen
Kilmarnock 1-0 Hibernian
Livingston 0-1 Dundee
St Johnstone 1-1 Motherwell
League One
Barnsley 0-2 Exeter
Blackpool 0-0 Charlton
Bristol Rovers 2-0 Oxford
Cambridge 0-0 Burton
Carlisle 0-2 Bolton
Derby 0-0 Cheltenham
Lincoln 0-0 Peterborough
Northampton 0-0 Shrewsbury
Port Vale 0-0 Portsmouth
Reading 1-1 Leyton Orient
Wigan 2-1 Stevenage
Wycombe 0-2 Fleetwood
League Two
Crewe 2-1 Salford
Doncaster 0-3 Stockport
Forest Green 0-1 Accrington
Grimsby 1-1 Tranmere
MK Dons 0-0 Gillingham
Morecambe 0-1 Colchester
Notts County 1-1 Barrow
Swindon 2-0 Bradford
Walsall 1-1 Sutton
Wimbledon 1-0 Mansfield
FA Cup half times
Everton 0-1 Luton Town
Leeds United 1-0 Plymouth
Leicester 0-0 Birmingham
Sheffield United 2-2 Brighton
GOAL! Sheffield Utd 2-2 Brighton (Osula 45+8')
Will Osula, who has had an excellent first half, brings Sheffield United level on the stroke of half-time with a header into the far corner! There’s another VAR check, but this time Igor is playing him on. Brighton need to work on that offside trap.
Updated
Tors galore in the Bundesliga, where Harry Kane has just put Bayern Munich 3-1 up at Augsburg and Stuttgart lead Leipzig 4-2, Denis Undav on target twice for the hosts.
Robbie Williams is watching on at Port Vale, where the hosts are goalless at home to League One leaders Portsmouth. At Forest Green, the Steve Cotterill era is under way and it’s not going well – Accrington lead 1-0 at the New Lawn.
GOAL! Sheffield Utd 1-2 Brighton (Hamer 44')
Sheffield United pull one back through Gustavo Hamer, the goal awarded after a lengthy VAR check – Van Hecke was just about playing the midfielder on.
Updated
Some breathing space for Michael Beale, as Mason Burstow fires Sunderland in front at home to Stoke. Birmingham are making in-roads at the King Power – Jay Stansfield has hit the post for the visitors, with a much-changed Leicester way off their fluent best.
GOAL! Everton 0-1 Luton (Mykolenko own goal 39')
The visitors lead at Goodison! Reece Burke’s shot from a corner flies in via a deflection off Vitaliy Mykolenko, who is awarded the own goal. Ross Barkley was pushing Calvert-Lewin while the corner was taken, but VAR sees no reason to intervene.
Updated
Beto denied again, this time by Teden Mengi’s late challenge, before Dwight McNeil fires wide. In the third tier, Wigan have regained the lead at home to Stevenage, Thelo Aasgaard making it 2-1 to the hosts.
Preston are level at the Den, Brad Potts pouncing on a defensive error to make it 1-1 against the run of play. In League One, Bolton are 2-0 up at struggling Carlisle, Zac Ashworth and Paris Maghoma scoring in quick succession.
At Goodison Park, Luton are playing the nicer stuff while Everton are keeping it route one but creating chances, with Beto passing up another opportunity. I fancied that he would do well in Sean Dyche’s setup; a return of one goal so far suggests I have no future in the scouting game.
GOAL! Leeds 1-0 Plymouth (Anthony 31')
Jaidon Anthony puts Leeds in front and reveals a tribute message to his mum, Donna, who died this week. Anthony is on loan from Bournemouth, where Dominic Solanke also paid a tribute after scoring against Swansea on Thursday night.
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GOAL! Sheffield Utd 0-2 Brighton (Pedro pen 28')
João Pedro wins a penalty after a challenge from Jayden Bogle and converts it, sending new Blades keeper Ivo Grbic the wrong way. Brighton very much on track for the fifth round.
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Jamie Vardy has passed up a couple of chances for a much-changed Leicester at home to Birmingham, he and Marc Albrighton getting the band back together this afternoon. At Goodison, Dwight McNeil is caught by Albert Sambi Lokonga and is trying to shake it off, while Willy Gnonto is down with a shoulder problem at Elland Road.
Half-time in the Bundesliga: Alphonso Davies has just put Bayern 2-0 up at Augsburg, while Stuttgart lead Leipzig 2-1 at home. Elsewhere it’s Hoffenheim 1-1 Heidenheim, Werder Bremen 1-1 Freiburg and Wolfsburg 1-1 Köln. Do they play the pools in Germany?
In League One, Bristol Rovers carry on without Aaron Collins – EFL stalwart Chris Martin has fired them in front at home to Oxford. At Oakwell, Exeter have taken an unexpected lead against promotion-chasing Barnsley.
Chances at both ends but still goalless between Sunderland and Stoke, where the home fans have already burned through their supply of goodwill for (relatively) new manager Michael Beale.
GOAL! Sheffield United 0-1 Brighton (Buonanotte 14')
Brighton lead the battle of last year’s beaten semi-finalists, and it’s thanks to a belter of a finish from Facundo Buonanotte!
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Leeds hit the woodwork! Willy Gnonto’s shot is tipped onto the crossbar by Conor Hazard, moments after the hosts had hit the post. Everton have also gone close, Beto putting a decent chance wide as today’s FA Cup hosts collectively strike back.
Brighton have a goal disallowed, Ferguson heading home from Pascal Gross’ cross – but the German was offside in the buildup. It’s been a good start for the FA Cup’s visiting teams – Luton, Plymouth and Birmingham all enjoying the better of the opening exchanges.
That early Celtic goal stands, while in the Championship, it’s Millwall 1-0 Preston – Zian Flemming heading in an early opener. In League One, Wigan lead Stevenage and in League Two, leaders Stockport are already a goal up at Doncaster through Paddy Madden.
“Alex Pritchard isn’t the only player to have dropped himself today,” reports Richard Woods. “Bristol Rovers forward Aaron Collins, last year’s League One player of the year, has also made himself unavailable for the mighty Gas this afternoon. Charlton, Bolton and Hollywood Wrexham are apparently chasing his signature.”
Here we go!
We’re underway at Goodison Park, Bramall Lane, Elland Road and the King Power … and at Celtic Park, where Alistair Johnston has scored inside the first minute for the hosts – although a VAR check is ongoing.
Teenage midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic has fired Bayern Munich in front at Augsburg, after the hosts had an opening goal chalked off. Elsewhere, Stuttgart lead Leipzig 2-0 in a battle of Champions League hopefuls.
Cyriel Dessers’ early goal was enough for Rangers to win 1-0 at St Mirren. The gap to Celtic is back down to two points before the leaders kick off at home to Ross County.
Here’s Simon Mail on a historic FA Cup shock at Portman Road.
Sunderland host Stoke in the Championship this afternoon, but Alex Pritchard isn’t on the team sheet after asking the club not to pick him as he seeks a move elsewhere.
“On Friday morning, Alex Pritchard informed the club that he was no longer available for selection and he subsequently withdrew from today’s matchday squad,” a statement released an hour before the game read.
“The midfielder also expressed his desire to leave SAFC with immediate effect. The club will be making no further comment at this moment in time.”
Leicester v Birmingham
Leicester: Stolarczyk, Choudhury, Coady, Nelson, Doyle, Akgun, Cover, Praet, Albrighton, Vardy, Marcal-Madivadua.
Subs: Ward, Justin, Faes, Mavididi, Ricardo Pereira, Cannon, McAteer,
Thomas, Raikhy.
Birmingham: Ruddy, Laird, Aiwu, Bielik, Buchanan, James, Sunjic, Miyoshi, Anderson, Dembele, Stansfield.
Subs: Etheridge, Marc Roberts, Tyler Roberts, Hogan, Gardner, Longelo, Long,
Burke, Donovan.
Updated
Full time! Ipswich 1-2 Maidstone
Extraordinary. Sixth-tier Maidstone United win at Portman Road to reach the fifth round thanks to fine goals from Lamar Reynolds and Sam Corne, and a heroic display from goalkeeper Lucas Covolan. The Cup’s still magic, you know.
Sheffield Utd v Brighton
Sheffield United: Grbic, Osborn, Trusty, Ahmedhodzic, Bogle, Norwood, Hamer, Norrington-Davies, Osula, Brereton Díaz, Archer.
Subs: Foderingham, Robinson, Vinicius Souza, Ben Slimane, Larouci, McAtee, Brooks, Seriki, McBurnie.
Brighton: Verbruggen, Hinshelwood, Igor, Webster, Estupiñan, Gilmour, van Hecke, Buonanotte, Gross, João Pedro, Ferguson.
Subs: Steele, Lamptey, Dunk, Milner, Lallana, Moder, Welbeck, Baleba, Boaitey.
Updated
Everton v Luton
Everton: Virginia, Patterson, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Onana, Garner, Harrison, McNeil, Beto, Calvert-Lewin.
Subs: Pickford, Keane, Danjuma, Young, Godfrey, Chermiti, Lonergan, Hunt, Dobbin.
Luton Town: Krul, Mengi, Burke, Bell, Doughty, Barkley, Sambi Lokonga, Ogbene, Townsend, Adebayo, Morris.
Subs: Shea, Potts, Berry, Woodrow, Chong, Mpanzu, Kaminski, Johnson, Nelson.
FA Cup team news
Starting at Elland Road…
Leeds v Plymouth
Leeds: Meslier, Shackleton, Rodon, Cooper, Byram, Gruev, Ampadu, Gnonto, Rutter, Anthony, Piroe.
Subs: Firpo, Cresswell, Kamara, Bamford, Klaesson, Poveda-Ocampo, Gelhardt, Fernandez, Christy.
Plymouth: Hazard, Phillips, Galloway, Gibson, Mumba, Roberts, Randell, Miller, Whittaker, Hardie, Wright.
Subs: Sorinola, Pleguezuelo, Scarr, Butcher, Edwards, Bundu, Waine, Burton,
Issaka.
Team news from Celtic Park, where the Scottish league leaders host second-from-bottom Ross County. New recruit Nicolas Kühn is on the bench for Celtic, while Matt O’Riley starts amid transfer speculation. Ross County have a couple of new loanees in their starting XI – former Brighton academy player Teddy Jenks and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, once of Manchester United.
Celtic: Hart, Alistair Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Bernabei, O’Riley, McGregor, Bernardo, Abada, Furuhashi, Palma.
Subs: Kühn, Turnbull, Holm, Nawrocki, Bain, Ralston, Welsh, Vata, Michael Johnston.
Ross County: Wickens, Brown, Nightingale, Ayina, Borthwick-Jackson, Dhanda, Khela, Loturi, King, Jenks, Murray.
Subs: Laidlaw, Sims, Sheaf, Harmon, Henderson, White, Brophy, Reid.
Because Maidstone United, of the National League South, are back in front at Portman Road! Stuart Goodwin is watching that one …
It’s a big day in the Bundesliga, with Bayern Munich hoping to cut the gap in a Bavarian battle at Augsburg before Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen host Borussia Mönchengladbach later on, in a game likely to be watched closely by Liverpool fans. Stuttgart host Leipzig at 2.30pm (GMT) in a battle between third and fourth.
In La Liga, Real Madrid are in the Canary Islands to face Las Palmas (3.15pm GMT), looking to reclaim top spot from Girona (who play Celta Vigo on Sunday), and widen the gap to third-placed Barcelona, who host Villarreal in a 5.30pm GMT kick-off. But never mind all that …
This afternoon's fixtures (3pm unless stated)
FA Cup: Ipswich 1-1 Maidstone (L); Everton v Luton; Leeds v Plymouth; Leicester v Birmingham; Sheffield United v Brighton.
Championship: Millwall v Preston; Sunderland v Stoke City.
Scottish Premiership: St Mirren 0-1 Rangers (L); Celtic v Ross County; Hearts v Aberdeen; Kilmarnock v Hibernian; Livingston v Dundee; St Johnstone v Motherwell.
League One: Barnsley v Exeter; Blackpool v Charlton; Bristol Rovers v Oxford; Cambridge v Burton; Carlisle v Bolton; Derby v Cheltenham; Lincoln v Peterborough; Northampton v Shrewsbury; Port Vale v Portsmouth; Reading v Leyton Orient; Wigan v Stevenage; Wycombe v Fleetwood.
League Two: Crewe v Salford; Doncaster v Stockport; Forest Green v Accrington; Grimsby v Tranmere; MK Dons v Gillingham; Morecambe v Colchester; Notts County v Barrow; Swindon v Bradford; Walsall v Sutton; Wimbledon v Mansfield.
Preamble
In a strange quirk of the fourth-round draw and fixture schedule, all six FA Cup ties today pit former winners against a team who have never lifted the trophy. Everton (five FA Cups) have other priorities this season, but a home tie with Luton (1959 losing finalists) offers the chance to extend a galvanising Cup run. Then again, the Hatters won at Goodison in the league, back in September.
Another team deep in the relegation mire, Sheffield United (four) kick off as underdogs against Brighton (1983 finalists) despite their historical heft, while Championship leaders Leicester (2021 winners) host an all-Championship affair against Birmingham (twice losing finalists). The final 3pm (GMT) kick-off sees Leeds (1972 winners) entertain Plymouth (semi-finalists in 1984).
Later on, Fulham (1975 finalists) host Newcastle (six-times winners), while right now, Ipswich (1978 winners) have just levelled against non-league Maidstone. You can follow that game over here, and we’ll also keep an eye on the action in the Championship, League One, League Two, Scottish Premiership, Bundesliga, La Liga, etc, etc.