Thank you very much for joining me. Having a lovely rest of your evening.
Andy Hunter saw Liverpool’s latest win.
A fine goal from Almiron was the difference but Everton never looked like scoring. Louise Taylor was in attendance.
Van Dijk: “We got a win, that is the most important thing. We play for one of the biggest clubs in the world and to have this goalkeeper with us in one of the things we need. It is all about the three points especially in this hectic period.”
A fine 0-0 for Jacob Steinberg to enjoy.
Carrick to Middlesbrough.
Graham Potter: “I think over the course of the game a point is about fair. A really tough game. Brentford make it really difficult to control things throughout the match. The boys gave everything and I am proud of them.”
You wouldn’t pay to watch Spurs. So little ambition.
GOAL! Manchester United 2-0 Tottenham (Fernandes, 69)
A calm finish into the corner.
The lad himself, Ben Fisher, was there to see Che Adams lead Southampton to victory at Bournemouth.
Everton failed to muster a shot on target at Newcastle. Admittedly, they only had one off target.
Go and join Barry Glendenning for Man United v Spurs.
Full-time: Newcastle 1-0 Everton
Almiron’s goal was a worthy winner on a night of 1-0s.
Full-time: Brentford 0-0 Chelsea
A pretty entertaining goalless draw.
Full-time: Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
Klopp has Nunez and Alisson to thank for another 1-0 win at Anfield.
Full-time: Bournemouth 0-1 Southampton
Saints hold on for a crucial win and end Gary O’Neil’s unbeaten start thanks to Adams’ first-half header.
GOAL! Manchester United 1-0 Tottenham (Fred, 47)
Fred with a deflected strike from the edge of the box.
Bournemouth 0-1 Southampton: Tavernier swings in a corner from the left which Bazunu drops but Cook cannot direct the ball on target.
Brentford 0-0 Chelsea: Aubameyang cuts in from the left and aims for the near post from 20 yards bu Raya reads it and gets down to hold on.
Liverpool 1-0 West Ham: Benrahma does fine work on the left to dig out a cross, Bowen controls it and pulls the ball back to Soucek who jabs at goal only to see Milner prevent it from going in.
Brentford 0-0 Chelsea: Sterling goes into the box but the ball gets stuck under his feet, allowing Pinnock to get in possession and block his shot.
Liverpool 1-0 West Ham: Salah goes through one-on-one with Fabianski but the goalkeeper comes out quickly and repels the Egyptian’s shot.
Brentford 0-0 Chelsea: Mee sends in a cross from the left wing. is he a left winger now? This really is total football.
Liverpool 1-0 West Ham: The Hammers break and the ball reaches Scamacca in the box but he flashes his shot wide.
Colum Fordham emails: “Klopp’s faith in Nunez, despite his behavioural misdemeanours and profligate lack of passing against Manchester City, seems to be justified by his display this evening which has been full of dynamism, with excellent shots and a beautifully headed goal.”
Liverpool 1-0 West Ham: Henderson gets down the right and sends in a low cross forcing Zouma to intervene. The defender sticks out a foot to send the ball towards his own goal but it bounces off the top of the bar.
Meanwhile in Germany …
@Will_Unwin feast your eyes on this Bayern kit in the German cup tonight. It's a crime against colour, art, football and humanity all in one. pic.twitter.com/lOlFf5rHKA
— Harvey Mayne 💙 #Staysafe #Bleibgesund (@HarveyMayne) October 19, 2022
Brentford 0-0 Chelsea: Henry breaks into the box and takes aim but his shot from a tight angle is deflected wide by Azpilicueta. The officials miss the touch and give a goal-kick.
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Liverpool 1-0 West Ham: A bit of a scramble inside the Hammers box after a corner but Jones takes a swipe and the ball goes over.
Bournemouth 0-1 Southampton: A cross from the right hits a Southampton defender on the arm inside the box. VAR takes a look but they have no interest.
Liverpool 1-0 West Ham: A looping cross finds Benrahma at the back post but he fails to get any power on his volley, allowing Alisson to grab hold.
Brentford 0-0 Chelsea: “To all my fellow Yanks hoping for Pulisic to get more time,” emails Mary Waltz. “I feel the same way. But this is the third manager to restrict his playing time. All three want to win and there is no conspiracy against him. We don’t know what goes on in training.”
Brentford 0-0 Chelsea: Mee lunges in on Kovacic and gets nowhere near the ball but the referee waves play on. To add to the amusement, Raya then does a 360 turn in his own box.
Liverpool 1-0 West Ham: Antonio is readying himself to come on …
Liverpool 1-0 West Ham: Alisson comes out and flaps at a cross from the left, forcing Tsimikas to clean things up at the back post and turn the ball behind for a corner.
Liverpool 1-0 West Ham: Firmino runs onto a pass but his shot is deflected just wide.
Brentford 0-0 Chelsea: A triple change for Chelsea with Pulisic, Sterling and Chukwuemeka for Cucurella, Havertz and Broja.
Liverpool 1-0 West Ham: Moyes takes off Fornals and sends on Benrahma. They have looked pretty blunt in the final third so need to change things up.
Brentford 0-0 Chelsea: Onyeka off, Baptiste on.
Liverpool 1-0 West Ham: Nunez, Carvalho and Nunez off, Fabinho, Jones and Elliott on.
Newcastle 1-0 Everton: Almiron receives a pass in a similar position to the one he scored from earlier, he takes a touch and takes aim but his shot drifts just over the bar.
Brentford 0-0 Chelsea: An inch-perfect cross finds an unmarked Mbuemo on the edge of the six-yard box but he heads the ball straight at Arrizabalaga. He really should score from there.
Liverpool 1-0 West Ham: Alexander-Arnold gets to the byline but he pulls the ball back to a vacant spot in the area.
Liverpool 1-0 West Ham: Henderson plays the ball into Salah and gets it straight back but he lifts his shot over the bar from the edge of the box.
Newcastle 1-0 Everton: Willock is on for Joelinton.
Second half
Here we go again!
More pedantry, this time from Ian Sargeant: “Just to be the counter pedant to Peter Oh the flash is far too far down the shirt to catch stray sauces.
“The all black second kit is probably the best defence. Think we’ve only worn it the once. First game if the season on 700 degree heat. Ideal for black.”
If you want non-stop action and goalmouth scrambles, then the live politics blog could be for you tonight.
“At the risk of sounding pedantic, that is West Ham’s Third shirt, not Away,” offers king of the pedants, Peter Oh. “I’m not a fan of its ‘vibrant flash’ and ‘graphic spark’ but it does have one thing going for it. You don’t have to worry about dripping ketchup and mustard stains onto your beery belly as you sloppily chomp on a hot dog while crammed into a hard stadium seat.”
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Half time scores
Brentford 0-0 Chelsea
Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
Newcastle 1-0 Everton
Bournemouth 0-1 Southampton
PENALTY SAVED! Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
Bowen steps up and … Alisson goes right and saves the penalty. Gomez will be relieved.
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Liverpool 1-0 West Ham: PENALTY WEST HAM!
Liverpool 1-0 West Ham: Bowen chests the ball dow inside the box and then is taken out from behind by Gomez. I think that is a penalty … VAR is taking a look. McCoist agrees with me. This is taking a while. The referee is going for a look …
Liverpool 1-0 West Ham: Nunez chests the ball down on the edge of the box and whacks a shot with his left foot which whacks back off the post. He looks to be finding his feet.
Liverpool 1-0 West Ham: A speedy attack sees Firmino lay the ball into Salah’s path for a first-time shot from 18 yards but it goes straight at Fabianski.
Brentford 0-0 Chelsea: A Bees free-kick is lumped into the box, Mee challenges Loftus-Cheek who flicks it backwards allowing Toney is nod towards goal but Arrizabalaga reads it and makes a fine save. The goalkeeper is in good form at the moment.
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Bournemouth 0-1 Southampton: Tavernier is tripped on the edge of the box and a free-kick is awarded. In the background Smith and Walker-Peters have a little push and shove to amuse themselves but the referee asks them to cut it out. Cook takes the free-kick but it goes well over the bar.
Newcastle 1-0 Everton: The wind is at Newcastle’s back and they almost get a second when a free-flowing move ends with Guimaraes receiving the ball in space inside the area but he shoots while off balance and it drifts wide.
GOAL! Newcastle 1-0 Everton (Almiron, 31)
WHAT A STRIKE! Almiron sets himself on the edge of the area after the ball is laid into his path by Guimaraes before curling his shot into the top corner without taking a touch.
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The football elsewhere …
Liverpool 1-0 West Ham: West Ham’s Johnson is dispossessed by Carvalho and the ball lands at Nunez feet, he takes a touch or two and strikes at goal but Fabianski is equal to it.
Newcastle 0-0 Everton: Onana is on the deck holding is face after coming up against Wilson. There is nothing in the clash and the Everton midfielder needs to get up and grow up.
GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 West Ham (Nunez, 22)
It is a fine header from the Uruguayan to open the scoring. Tsimikas finds space on the left and sends in a great cross for Nunez to attack and direct down into the corner across Fabianski.
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Brentford 0-0 Chelsea: Tim Sherwood thinks Loftus-Cheek should be starting for England. Bold.
Brentford 0-0 Chelsea: It has not been a great season for Gallagher overall and it continues to be a struggle as he is forced off injured.
Liverpool 0-0 West Ham: Thiago lifts a ball over the top for Nunez to latch onto, he whacks a shot first time from 20 yards but Fabianski makes a fine save to tip over.
Liverpool 0-0 West Ham: “Good grief,” says Justin Kavanagh, “who designs these away kits these days? The West Ham shirt looks like the dog got sick on their laps. Or, given it’s West Ham, maybe a kicked cat?”
Not a fan.
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Brentford 0-0 Chelsea: The hosts are getting balls into the box, they must think Chelsea are weak in the air …
Brentford 0-0 Chelsea: A cross from the right finds Toney in the box but his header towards goal is easily tipped over the bar by Arrizabalaga.
GOAL! Bournemouth 0-1 Southampton (Adams, 9)
The centre back leaves Adams to find space six yards from goal, allowing him to guide a header into the corner from a perfect left-wing cross.
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Liverpool 0-0 West Ham: Another dreadful clearance from Alisson but once against the Hammers fail to make the most of it. Not sure what the Brazilian is doing tonight his distribution has been awful. Gareth Southgate is at Anfield tonight …
Liverpool 0-0 West Ham: Firmino collects the ball 20 yards from goal, turns and takes aim but his shot flashes wide without concerning the goalkeeper.
Newcastle 0-0 Everton: The ball is played back to former Sunderland goalkeeper Jordan Pickford who is roundly booed. Classic.
Brentford 0-0 Chelsea: The Bees break down the left and the ball is swung into the box where Toney is waiting, he takes a touch but Arrizabalaga is out quickly to force the striker wide and the danger subsides.
Updated
Liverpool 0-0 West Ham: Alisson pings a clearance straight to Rice who is just outside the area but he plays a loose pass and Liverpool get away with it.
Kick-off
Whistles are peeping across the country.
A bit of Squires …
“Surely Potter is just helping out England’s HRWC chances,” suggests Joe Pearson. “Keep Pulisic on the bench so he gets sufficiently rusty so as to be effectively useless in Qatar.”
Cunning like a fox.
Neal Butler says: “The problem with Pulisic, as I see it, is that he is a streaky player, and kind of a one-trick-pony. And, despite him being a big deal here in the States, Potter is under no obligation to play Pulisic into form so the USMNT can benefit from that at the HRWC.”
“Why won’t Graham Potter let Christian Pulsic start?” asks Kurt Perleberg. “He’s the USMNT most important player. He has a memoir out right now (My Journey So Far) and he is in a Volkswagen commercial here in the States. But as we saw a few weeks ago when he comes out of the bench.he could touch the ball a few times & score a goal!”
I guess he just prefers others at the moment. He seems to be getting most decisions right.
Elsewhere tonight …
“Chilwell isn’t even on the bench. Is he injured again?” asks Julian Menz.
Not that I know of …
Hopefully tonight’s games are better than Brighton v Forest. Poor Jesse.
🆕📈
— Liam Henshaw (@HenshawAnalysis) October 19, 2022
Jesse Lingard | Nottingham Forest | Premier League 2022-23 | Attacking Midfield / Winger Template
Lingard is just anonymous in general. #nffc https://t.co/R93ExHNuMp pic.twitter.com/NOXLVnoFwy
There is now more discipline at Everton …
Some good news for Everton as Dominic Calvert-Lewin starts. They have struggled up top this season as their ‘for’ column confirms. Could he make a late run for the World Cup?
A new manager in at Wolves?
Starting lineups: Bournemouth v Southampton
Bournemouth: Neto, Fredericks, Mepham, Senesi, Smith, Cook, Lerma, Billing, Christie, Tavernier, Solanke.
Subs: Travers, Rothwell, Stacey, Stanislas, Dembele, Moore, Pearson, Anthony, Zemura.
Southampton: Bazunu, Walker-Peters, Caleta-Car, Salisu, Perraud, Maitland-Niles, Ward-Prowse, Elyounoussi, Aribo, A Armstrong, Adams.
Subs: McCarthy, Lyanco, S Armstrong, Mara, Djenepo, Edozie, Diallo, Larios, Walcott.
Starting lineups: Newcastle v Everton
Newcastle: Pope, Trippier, Botman, Schar, Burn, Longstaff, Guimaraes, Joelinton, Murphy, Almiron, Wilson
Subs: Karius, Lascelles, Shelvey, Lewis, Targett, Wood, Fraser, Willock, Anderson.
Everton: Pickford, Tarkowski, Onana, Calvert-Lewin, Gordon, Gray, Iwobi, Mykolenko, Coleman, Gueye, Coady.
Subs: Begovic, Holgate, Keane, McNeil, Doucoure, Maupay, Davies, Vinagre, Garner.
Starting lineups: Brentford v Chelsea
Brentford: Raya, Pinnock, Mee, Zanka, Roerslev, Onyeka, Jensen, Janelt, Henry, Mbeumo, Toney.
Subs: Cox, Canos, Dasilva, Wissa, Ghoddos, Ajer, Lewis-Potter, Damsgaard, Baptiste.
Chelsea: Arrizabalaga, Azpilicueta, Chalobah, Koulibaly, Cucurella, Jorginho, Gallagher, Loftus-Cheek, Mount, Havertz, Broja.
Subs: Mendy, Silva, Kovacic, Aubameyang, Pulisic, Sterling, Zakaria, Ziyech, Chukwuemeka.
Starting lineups: Liverpool v West Ham
Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Henderson, Thiago, Carvalho; Salah, Firmino, Nunez
Subs: Kelleher, Fabinho, Milner, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jones, Elliott, Robertson, Clark, Phillips:
West Ham: Fabianski; Johnson, Kehrer, Zouma, Cresswell; Rice, Downes, Soucek; Bowen, Scamacca, Fornals
Subs: Areola, Randolph, Coufal, Antonio, Lanzini, Ogbonna, Benrahma, Coventry, Emerson
Preamble
There are five games tonight (we will focus on the 7.30pm BST kick-offs) in the Premier League, and there is no shortage of intrigue among the offering.
Liverpool will be looking to follow up their victory over Manchester City when West Ham visit. Jurgen Klopp’s side looked more aggressive and confident at Anfield on Sunday so a replication of such a performance will ensure it is a tricky night for David Moyes’ side. The Hammers, however, will not be fearful thanks to a five-game unbeaten run and if they can carry on such a sequence they will be ecstatic.
Elsewhere, Newcastle are hosting Everton. Eddie Howe’s side sit sixth at the start of the night and could move up a place if Spurs get something at Manchester United in the 8.15pm kick-off. The Magpies and their expensively assembled squad are looking like a side who can challenge for European spots, having not lost since August. Everton are slowly improving under Frank Lampard thanks to a more stable defence and midfield but they really need to find some zip in the final third if they are to get back to being a top-half team because they are struggling for goals.
Brentford and Chelsea are doing battle in a west London derby. The Bees showed what they could do against Brighton on Friday and Graham Potter can do no wrong at Chelsea, making it an intriguing 90 minutes ahead.
If all that is not too much for you, then we can indulge ourselves with Bournemouth v Southampton. One side is looking composed under a caretaker manager, while the other could soon need one. Gary O’Neil is unbeaten since replacing Scott Parker on a temporary basis and Southampton, arriving in the relegation zone, are tipped to send Ralph Hassenhuttl packing if results do not take a dramatic upwards turn.
Here’s to a fun night!
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