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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Tom Bassam

Morocco edge Tanzania to reach last eight: Afcon and Premier League clockwatch – as it happened

Brahim Diaz fires in the opener for Afcon hosts Morocco.
Brahim Diaz fires in the opener for Afcon hosts Morocco. Photograph: Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters

Morocco 1-0 Tanzania

Brahim Díaz scored his fourth goal for Morocco at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations to put the hosts into the quarter-finals with a nervous 1-0 victory over Tanzania in Rabat.

Morocco dominated possession but Tanzania had opportunities too, and it took a fine strike from Díaz to book a place in the last eight and a meeting with the winners of Sunday’s second fixture between South Africa and Cameroon.

Captain Achraf Hakimi fed Díaz on the right side of the box on 64 minutes and the Real Madrid playmaker worked his way to the byline, before firing into the goal from a tight angle when most expected a cross.

Morocco wasted several other chances but were also fortunate that Tanzania did too, Simon Msuva and Feisal Salum missing gilt-edged opportunities for the East Africans with the score at 0-0. Reuters

Updated

OK, that’s it from me after a marathon clockwatch. Thanks for following along and be sure to check out the rest of our live sport on the Guardian throughout the rest of the evening.

Full-time: Morocco 1-0 Tanzania

Morocco deservedly through thanks to Brahim Díaz’s goal. The hosts will be tough to beat for the winner of the game later tonight, South Africa v Cameroon.

Afcon: There’s a big appeal for a Tanzania penalty as Iddy Nado goes over, there was a clip but not enough for a foul.

Afcon: Four minutes added in Rabat. Morocco heading through as it stands.

Afcon: Dickson Job is lucky to escape with a booking for a wild challenge on Morocco winger Abde Ezzalzouli. I’m surprised VAR hasn’t looked at that, the Tanzania man was off his feet and lunging.

Afcon: Brahim Díaz has the crowd on his feet as he makes way for Oussama Targhalline with little more than five minutes left. Morocco comfortable at 1-0.

Afcon: It’s getting quite testy in Rabat. There’s 12 minutes left and Tanzania are flying into tackles as they try to force an equaliser, Alphonce Msanga follows Feisal Salum into the book. The fans are going wild at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, which looks an incredible venue.

Report: Fulham 2-2 Liverpool

Perhaps they underestimated Harrison Reed. Certainly there was little reaction when the ball came back to the Fulham substitute with 96 minutes gone at Craven Cottage. Liverpool simply stood off Reed, almost daring the midfielder to shoot, and were made to regret their lack of urgency when one of Fulham’s more unfashionable players rescued a point for Marco Silva’s stubborn side by ripping a stunning shot into Alisson Becker’s top corner.

It was only the popular 30-year-old’s fourth goal in six years in west London, and it said a lot about the state of Liverpool this season. The champions, after all, had just gone 2-1 up through Cody Gakpo and should have defended their lead with more determination. Instead their complacency gave Fulham hope and left Arne Slot’s side ruing a missed opportunity to tighten their grip on fourth place.

Jacob Steinberg was at Craven Cottage, here’s his report:

Updated

Report: Newcastle 2-0 Crystal Palace

Eddie Howe describes January as “season defining” for his side and Newcastle’s manager looked suitably delighted to kick it off by collecting three points as Crystal Palace’s winless run continues.

Yet snapshots of a beaming Howe allied with the bald statistics do no quite tell the story of this often chaotic collision between the Carabao Cup and FA Cup holders. By the 78th minute, when a corner was dropped for Malick Thiaw to poke the ball past Dean Henderson, the disappointment writ large across Oliver Glasner’s face suggested the Crystal Palace manager knew the game was up.

Until then though, Palace had looked eminently capable of securing a draw from an ugly match almost as bleak as the bitter chill that ensured there would be no imminent thaw on a snowy, icebound Tyneside.

Read Louise Taylor’s full report from St James’ Park:

Goal! Morocco 1-0 Tanzania (Brahim Díaz 64)

That man again! Brahim Díaz breaks the deadlock and gets his fourth goal of the tournament with a fierce shot. Masalanga has to do better, though, the Real Madrid forward’s effort squirms through the Tanzania keeper an in.

Report: Everton 2-4 Brentford

Brentford’s previously dismal away form defies comprehension on this evidence. Keith Andrews’s team had the good fortune to encounter Everton’s worst performance of the season, admittedly, but with the rampant Igor Thiago capping a dominant display with a hat-trick the visitors moved up to seventh in the Premier League in style at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Only Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappé and Harry Kane have scored more goals across Europe’s top five divisions than Thiago this season. Only bottom club Wolves have lost more away games in the Premier League this season than Brentford. But an abysmal display by Everton provided the ideal tonic for a visiting team in search of confidence.

Read Andy Hunter’s full report from the Hill Dickinson Stadium:

Championship

Hull City v Watford

Portsmouth v Ipswich

Sheffield United v Oxford

League One

Doncaster v Luton

Port Vale v Barnsley

Rotherham v Mansfield

Stevenage v Leyton Orient

League Two

Barnet v Crewe

Barrow v Bristol Rovers

Bromley v Oldham

Cambridge v Grimsby

Colchester v Accrington

Harrogate v Swindon

Newport v Tranmere

Notts County v Gillingham

Salford v Shrewsbury

Walsall v Fleetwood

Afcon: Hakimi has a free-kick from just outside the box and it’s a good one, forcing Tanzania keeper Masalanga to tip the effort on to the bar.

Kick-off is coming up shortly at the Etihad. Rob Smyth has updates from Manchester City v Chelsea here:

Afcon: Mohamed Hussein hits the bar and on the follow-up an off-balance Salum fires over with the goal wide open. Tanzania so close.

Report: Tottenham 1-1 Sunderland

Boos are becoming an increasingly frequent fixture at the end of Tottenham games. After travelling supporters had voiced their anger at the goalless draw at Brentford on Thursday, it was the home fans’ turn to vent their frustrations after a result against Sunderland that could easily have been worse.

After a promising first-half display and Ben Davies’ opener, this draw will be even more disappointing for Thomas Frank having seen how his team were outplayed after the break by a Sunderland team still heavily depleted by players away on international duty. Brian Brobbey’s 80th-minute equaliser came at a time when the visitors were considerably the better side and perhaps looked like taking all three points.

Read Billy Munday’s full report from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium:

Interesting questions via email from David Wall:

If Brentford are able to maintain their performances from the first half of the season should Keith Andrews be a contender for manager of the year? He was slightly dismissed for being the set-piece coach when he started (the new ‘just a PE teacher’) but they’re really in contention for a European place.

Also, do you think that Marco Silva would do well at Chelsea if they decided against promoting Rosenior? He’s used to making do with the players he’s given (though in Fulham’s case that’s more due to lack of transfers rather than someone else choosing for him), which is supposedly the conditions that a Chelsea manager has to work in.

On the first question, that’s a big if. There’s not a lot of consistency from the teams in mid-table. Brentford have definitely surprised people but today was a suprise because their away record isn’t great.

Second question, no. Silva would not be happy with the meddling model at Stamford Bridge.

Full-time: Fulham 2-2 Liverpool

Incredible drama at Craven Cottage, but Liverpool remain too soft.

Goal! Fulham 2-2 Liverpool (Reed 90+6)

OH MY WORD! That is outstanding from Harrison Reed! No one closes down the midfielder as he picks the ball up 30 yards out and unleashes a swerving shot that gives Alisson no chance as it swerves away from his outstretched glove into the top corner.

Updated

Goal! Fulham 1-2 Liverpool (Gakpo 90+4)

Drama! Finally Gakpo has one that will count, but this is all about the ball from Frimpong. It’s a wicked ball that no one deals with as it bounces across the six-yard box and there is Gakpo to prod home. He whips his shirt off in celebration and has to take a booking, worth it.

Updated

Afcon: It’s goalless at the break in Rabat. I’ll have more updates on that when the second-half kicks off shortly.

Seven minutes added at Craven Cottage. Will we get a winner?

EFL full-time scores

Championship

Blackburn 2-2 Charlton Athletic
Bristol City 0-0 Preston
Derby 1-2 Wrexham
Middlesbrough 4-0 Southampton
Millwall 2-1 Swansea
Norwich 0-2 Stoke

League One

Blackpool 2-1 Bradford
Cardiff 1-0 Wigan
Huddersfield 2-2 Exeter City
Plymouth Argyle 3-0 Burton
Reading 1-0 Stockport
Wycombe 2-0 AFC Wimbledon

Full-time: Everton 2-4 Brentford

Igor Thiago on fire as the Bees go seventh.

Full-time: Newcastle 2-0 Crystal Palace

The Eagles are now without a win in five.

Full-time: Tottenham 1-1 Sunderland

More boos at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Goal! Everton 2-4 Brentford (Barry 90+1)

Grealish makes this, he jinks through the Brentford box and stands the ball up to the back post for Barry to head in. Too little, too late.

Most of the 3pm games are in added time…

Goal! Everton 1-4 Brentford (Igor Thiago 88)

That’s his hat-trick! With Everton leaving huge gaps at the back, the Brentford man is played in one-on-one but has lots to do. Tarkowski is chasing back but only to see the Brentford man dink it over Pickford to make it 4-1.

Wilson so close to putting Fulham back ahead! Jiminez is played in and while Allison comes out to deny the striker the ball comes to Wilson who lofts a shot golward only to see it come back off the bar.

Close from Keane! Garner’s sharp cross picks out Michael Keane but his header is wide. It was a tough one from outside the six-yard box and an awkward angle.

League One: Lewis Wing has put Reading 1-0 up against Stockport, Laurent Tolay has made it 3-0 for Plymouth against Burton.

Ambitious from Beto. The Everton strikes turns and fires from fully 30 yards out but it goes way over. The home side are pushing but can’t apply consistent pressure.

Afcon: It’s still 0-0 in Rabat as with tick into the 45th minute.

Goal Tottenham 1-1 Sunderland (Brobbey 80)

Enzo Le Fée had just hit the post but he turns provider to find Brian Brobbey who lashes home the finishes. Spurs were much better the team in the first half but have not pressed home the advantage and are punished.

Updated

Goal! Newcastle 2-0 Crystal Palace (Thiaw 78)

Hard to see Palace coming back from this. A dangerous inswinging corner from Gordon drops to Thiaw inside the six-yard box, who bundles home.

Updated

Championship: Baradji has made it 2-2 between Blackburn and Charlton, Boro now lead 4-0 against Southampton and Stoke have taken a 1-0 lead at Norwich.

Goal Fulham 1-1 Liverpool (Wirtz 57)

More blushes for the linesman! Same end as Wilson’s opener and the flag goes up as Bradley flicks into the path of Wirtz before he smashes home. It’s very close but after a lengthy check it’s onside. We have parity.

Updated

Goal! Newcastle 1-0 Crystal Palace (Bruno 71)

It’s a deep cross to the back post and Miley wraps a long leg around the defender to put it back across goal where Bruno Guimarães is on hand to turn it home. A terrible game is now slightly more interesting.

Goal! Everton 1-3 Brentford (Beto 66)

That’s a great header from Beto! He gets the slightest glance on an inswinging cross from Grealish and pulls one back.

League One: Plymouth are 2-0 up against Burton and Bradford have gone back in front against Blackpool, it’s 2-1.

Championship: It’s now Middlesbrough 3-0 Southampton, Whittaker again, while Preston lead 2-0 at Bristol City thanks for Alfie Devine.

Mac Allister hits the bar! He’s not the biggest but the Argentina international gets on to Szoboslai’s corner and it crashes off the woodwork.

That’s offside. Gakpo has the ball in the net but he’s clearly ahead of the Fulham backline from Kerkez’s cross.

Championship: Sam Silvera has made it 2-0 to Middlesbrough.

League One: Ashley Fletcher has equalised for Blackpool against Bradford, it’s 1-1 at Bloomfield Road.

Afcon: Morroco think they’re ahead but Ismael Saibari is marginally offside from the ball in.

Goal! Everton 0-3 Brentford (Igor Thiago 51)

Wonderful finish this. Schade makes a run in behind the Everton defence and is able to hold it up before flicking it into the path of Igor Thiago who dinks it over Pickford. That will be that at the Hill Dickson, you would think.

Goal! Everton 0-2 Brentford (Collins 50)

Unsurprisingly it’s a set-piece and Collins gets ahead of his man to nod home.

Updated

Championship: Middlesbrough have been under pressure but Morgan Whittaker has punished Southampton’s inability to take the lead, 1-0.

Cleared off the line! Davies is there to save Vicario’s blushes after the Spurs keeper makes a mess of a cross, allowing Hume to nod back across goal. The Welshman hooks it away under pressure as the ball bounces along the line.

Mitchell booked for timewasting. That is an early but deserved caution for the Palace man who took an age to take a midfield free-kick.

Championship: Matty James has put Wrexham 2-1 up Derby County and Ben Cabango has equalised for Swansea against Millwall, it’s 1-1 at The Den.

Peeeeeeep!

We’re back underway.

Afcon: Huge chance for Simon Msuva to give Tanzania a shock lead as he gets his head on Selemani Mwalimu’s cross from the byline but the forward is slightly ahead of the ball and it goes wide with the goal gaping.

Half-time: Fulham 1-0 Liverpool

Wilson’s strike the difference at the break. Gakpo has the best of Liverpool’s chances, but not much else to write home about.

Two added minutes in west London. Little in the way of goalmouth action to tell you about. Aside from Wilson, there has been little in the quality in front of goal from either side.

Kick-off: Morocco v Tanzania

It’s loud in Rabat!

Still playing at Craven Cottage. We have about five minutes left of normal time after this game kicked off 15 minutes late due to a medical emergency at the ground.

Premier League half-time scores

Everton 0-1 Brentford
Newcastle 0-0 Crystal Palace
Tottenham 1-0 Sunderland

A flurry of chances at the Hill Dickinson. First Pickford makes a smart stop to deny Igor Thiago a second goal and then Caoimhin Kelleher has to be at his very best to keep out Thierno Barry’s effort after some lovely work from Jack Grealish to find the Everton frontman. Brentford still lead 1-0.

Updated

EFL half-time scores

Championship

Blackburn Rovers 1-2 Charlton
Bristol City 0-1 Preston
Derby County 1-1 Wrexham
Middlesbrough 0-0 Southampton
Millwall 1-0 Swansea
Norwich 0-0 Stoke

League One

Blackpool 0-1 Bradford
Cardiff City 1-1 Wigan
Huddersfield 2-1 Exeter
Plymouth Argyle 1-0 Burton
Reading 0-0 Stockport
Wycombe 1-0 AFC Wimbledon

Gakpo hits the post! The flag goes up but it’s an inviting cross from Szoboszlai that finds Gakpo, whose header hits the post. It wouldn’t have counted but Liverpool are pushing here.

Updated

Brentford close to doubling their lead. Another great cross, this time from the right, finds Kevin Schade but the German’s first-time effort is straight at Pickford. Either side and he scores.

Newcastle have the ball in the net again! Great finish from Joelinton but he’s gone way too early, no need to for VAR on that one, he’s well off.

Blow for Palace! Palace long-throw merchant Lerma has been forced after a collision, with youngster Jaydee Canvot coming his replacement. That is a concussion sub.

Championship: Moussa Baradji has pulled one back for Blackburn against Charlton, it’s now 1-2. Millwall have the lead against Swansea thanks to Mihailo Ivanovic, 1-0.

Championship: It’s 1-1 between Derby and Wrexham, Charlton are 2-0 up against Blackburn, Preston are still leading at Bristol City and all of the other games are 0-0.

Goal! Fulham 1-0 Liverpool (Wilson 17)

That’s onside! Wilson has the ball in the net but the linesman’s flag is up. This is close, Jiminez flicks it on to the Welshman and he fires home. After a quick check Fulham have the lead!

Updated

Goal! Tottenham 1-0 Sunderland (Davies 30)

A deep corner is swung in and Cristian Romero has time to bring it down and roll it back for Ben Davies for slots home.

Updated

Another chance for Gakpo. The Dutch springs the Fulham offside trap and has only Bernd Leno to beat. It’s an awkward attempt from the Dutchman on his left foot with his always bobbling away from goal.

League One: Calum Chambers has put leaders Cardiff ahead against Wigan, playoff chasing Bradford are also ahead after Aden Baldwin’s strike at Blackpool. Plymouth lead Burton 1-0 thanks to Brendan Galloway.

Updated

Good effort from Gakpo! We’ve had about five minutes of play at Craven Cottage and Liverpool have the game’s first significant effort on goal. The Dutchman spins and shoots on the edge of the box but it’s deflected wide.

Updated

VAR check! Gordon thinks he’s scored after an unselfish pass from Wissa when forward gets in behind the Palace back line but it looks like the DR Congo international was just offside.

Updated

Big save from Henderson! The Palace keeper flaps at a cross and the ball falls to Lewis Hall, who finds the head of Schar. The defender nods it goalwards and Henderson redeems himself to push it away.

Goal! Everton 0-1 Brentford (Igor Thiago 11)

Brentford win the ball high up the pitch and Vitaly Janelt picks out Igor Thiago with a pinpoint cross that the Brazilian strikes can run on to and finish first time passed Pickford.

Not really got going at St James’. Bruno Guimarães has just blzed a cross well over the bar.

The players are heading out at Craven Cottage. Kick-off there in less than five minutes after a delay for a medical emergency.

Bristol City 0-1 Preston

Lewis Dobbin has put Preston ahead at Ashton Gate. A win could North End as high as fourth in the Championship table.

Updated

Palace on the front foot. Will Hughes has Palace’s first effort after some decent work from Brennan Johnson in the box, Schar deflects it away for a throw. Jefferson Lerma will try and launch that in, but it comes to nothing.

Updated

Early chance for Wissa! Anthony Gordon speeds into space on the left and finds Yoanne Wissa on the edge of the box, the forward is able to run on to the shot but places it straight at Dean Henderson.

Updated

Peeeeeeeep!

We are underway!

Our reporter Billy Munday is at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, here’s his view from the press box:

After the Spurs fans chanted “boring, boring Tottenham” during the goalless draw at Brentford on Thursday, Thomas Frank has ditched a holding midfielder for a striker in his XI against Sunderland here. Mathys Tel is in for João Palhinha to partner Richarlison up front, while Ben Davies makes his first start of the season at left-back. Sunderland, still missing six players at Afcon, are unchanged from their draw against Manchester City three days ago. Granit Xhaka, ex-Arsenal captain of course, got a few half-hearted boos from home supporters during the warmup.

Kick-off delayed: Fulham v Liverpool

Fulham have announced that kick-off has been delayed by 15 minutes at Craven Cottage ‘due to a medical emergency at the ground’, that game will now get underway at 3.15pm (GMT). More detail on that when I get it.

Updated

Some pre-match reading from Jonathan Wilson:

Premier League’s warped economics make £65m fee for Semenyo a snip

Antoine Semenyo, it seems likely, will soon join Manchester City from Bournemouth for a fee of £65m. Given how well Rayan Cherki and Phil Foden have played from the right this season, it is not immediately obvious why City need him, but the modern game is the modern game, the rammed calendar makes large and flexible squads essential and Pep Guardiola may have some esoteric plan for the Ghanaian anyway. But perhaps what is most striking about the deal is the fee – or, more precisely, how little attention it has drawn.

English football has become inured to big transfers. The fee feels about right. Semenyo is 25. He has four and a half years left on his contract. He is quick, skilful, intelligent and works hard. He is disciplined, but has the capacity to do the unexpected. Of course a player of his ability costs that much. Yet £65m would make him the third-most expensive player in Bundesliga history. He would be the seventh-most expensive in Serie A history, the 14th-most expensive in La Liga history. Only nine non-English clubs have paid a fee higher than that. Even in Premier League terms, Semenyo sneaks into the top 25.

Perhaps that’s fine. As anybody who has raised any qualms about World Cup ticket prices recently has found out from online Americans passionately committed to being ripped off because that’s what capitalism demands, the market is what it is. Value is what people are prepared to pay. If one club say they will pay £65m for Semenyo, his price is £65m. City can afford it.

Read Jonathan Wilson’s latest ‘Inside football’ column in full here:

Updated

Brennan Johnson is the headline move of the early part of the January window after his £35m move from Tottenham to Crystal Palace. The Wales international goes straight into the Eagles’ starting XI for the game at St. James’ Park. He will provide a goal threat to a Palace side that have seen their European commitments impact the league form, where they haven’t won since 7th December.

Full-time at Elland Road, it’s a 1-1 draw between Leeds and Manchester United. Reaction with Taha Hashim here:

With Portsmouth v Ipswich postponed, a win for Middlesbrough will see them go up to second in the Championship and six points behind Coventry.

Championship

Hull City v Watford

Portsmouth v Ipswich

Sheffield United v Oxford

League One

Doncaster v Luton

Port Vale v Barnsley

Rotherham v Mansfield

Stevenage v Leyton Orient

League Two

Barnet v Crewe

Barrow v Bristol Rovers

Bromley v Oldham

Cambridge v Grimsby

Colchester v Accrington

Harrogate v Swindon

Newport v Tranmere

Notts County v Gillingham

Salford v Shrewsbury

Walsall v Fleetwood

Updated

That Birmingham v Coventry game was a wild ride. Five goals, one red card and at the end of it the league leaders lose their second game in three.

Updated

EFL full-time scores

Championship

Birmingham 3-2 Coventry
QPR 3-0 Sheffield Wednesday

League One

Bolton 0-0 Northampton
Lincoln 5-2 Peterborough

League Two

Cheltenham 3-0 Crawley
MK Dons 2-2 Chesterfield

In the 12.30pm kick-off between Leeds and Manchesster United it’s currently 1-1. There’s probably about 20 minutes left in that one and you can follow that with Taha Hashim here:

Team news: Everton v Brentford

Everton XI: Pickford, O’Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko, Iroegbunam, Garner, McNeil, Dibling, Grealish, Barry.
Subs: Travers, King, Patterson, Aznou, Welch, Campbell, Rohl, Armstrong, Beto

Brentford XI: Kelleher, Kayode, Ajer, Collins, Hickey, Jensen, Janelt, Yarmoliuk, Damsgaard, Thiago, Schade.
Subs: Valdimarsson, Henry, van den Berg, Pinnock, Henderson, Peart-Harris, Donovan, Nelson, Lewis-Potter.

Team news: Tottenham v Sunderland

Tottenham XI: Vicario, Pedro Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Davies, Kudus, Tel, Gray, Odobert, Bentancur, Richarlison.
Subs: Kinsky, Dragusin, Danso, Spence, Bergvall, Palhinha, Williams-Barnett, Kolo Muani, Scarlett.

Sunderland XI: Roefs, Hume, Mukiele, Alderete, Cirkin, Xhaka, Geertruida, Le Fée, Adingra, Mayenda, Brobbey.
Subs: Patterson, O’Neil, Ballard, Hjelde, Neil, H.Jones, Tutierov, Mundle, Rigg.

Team news: Newcastle v Crystal Palace

Newcastle XI: Pope, Miley, Thiaw, Schär, Hall, Bruno Guimarães, Tonali, Joelinton, Murphy, Wissa, Gordon.
Subs: Ramsdale, Trippier, Botman, Livramento, Murphy, Barnes, Willock, Ramsey, Woltemade.

Crystal Palace XI: Henderson, Lerma, Lacroix, Guéhi, Clyne, Wharton, Hughes, Mitchell, Johnson, Piño, Mateta.
Subs: Benítez, Canvot, Sosa, Benamar, Uche, Esse, Rodney, Devenny, Drakes-Thomas.

Team news: Fulham v Liverpool

Fulham XI: Leno, Diop, Andersen, Cuenca, Castagne, Lukic, Cairney, Robinson, Wilson, Smith Rowe, Jimenez.
Subs: Lecomte, Amissah, Reed, Berge, Ridgeon, Traoré, Kusi Asare, Kevin.

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez, Gravenberch, Jones, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Gakpo, Wirtz.
Subs: Mamardashvili, Woodman, Gomez, Chiesa, Robertson, Frimpong, Nyoni, Ramsay, Ngumoha.

First up, team news!

Preamble

Four three o’clock kick-offs in the Premier League, a (kind of) full programme of EFL and some tea-time action in the top flight, are we sure it’s not Saturday?

There’s a solid rump of clubs hovering in the top-point gap between fourth and 15th and all of this afternoon’s fixtures are very much in that group. We have Everton v Brentford, Newcastle v Crystal Palace, Fulham v Liverpool and Tottenham v Sunderland – all teams with top-half aspirations, if not higher.

I’ll have updates from all of those games, plus points of interest from the EFL. Sadly most of League Two’s action is off (ten matches in total), two have gone in the Championship – Sheffield United v Oxford and Portsmouth v Ipswich – have also fallen foul of frozen pitches, as have four in League One.

Of the games on in the second tier, Hull v Watford and Bristol City v Preston look promising.

Later on I’ll also have updates from the Afcon last-16 match between hosts Morocco and Tanzania. That should be a lively one in Rabat.

As ever, you can get in touch via the email link at the top of the page. Settle in.

Updated

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