McConnell looks the part on debut
Eight of the 20-man squad selected by Jürgen Klopp against Norwich were graduates of Liverpool’s academy. One of those, James McConnell, was making his first start for the senior team. The 19-year-old from Newcastle slotted in front of the defence, sitting behind Curtis Jones and Ryan Gravenberch. While progressing through the academy, having joined aged 15 from Sunderland, McConnell was a more attacking midfielder and his eye for an assist could be seen when he spotted Jones in space at the back post and chipped the perfect cross for his colleague to head home the opener. Like Alexis Mac Allister, McConnell is not a traditional No 6 in the role of defensive midfielder but Klopp offers plenty of freedom to his players. The German earmarked McConnell for the role in pre-season and he has lived up to his manager’s expectations. There is plenty of competition in midfield but McConnell showed against quality Championship opposition that he can more than hold his own in men’s football. Will Unwin
Match report: Liverpool 5-2 Norwich
United’s season stumbles on
Will Evans, the farmer turned footballer and Manchester United supporter, gets his toes on the ball to make it 2-2 and send Rodney Parade wild. His manager, Graham Coughlan, another boyhood United fan, is somehow keeping it together on the touchline but surely bursting inside with thoughts of a potential trip to Old Trafford for a replay. Not far away, Erik ten Hag’s inner monologue is probably more dire. Is this how it all crumbles, with embarrassment against League Two’s Newport County? In the end, it wasn’t that bad a night for the visitors in south Wales: Kobbie Mainoo scored his first senior goal, Antony’s right foot delivered a crucial touch, Rasmus Højlund has three in his past four – even without great service – and United still have a trophy for which to fight. The FA Cup remains an opportunity, and even a club in perpetual dysfunction can lay a strong claim to winning it. Perhaps that’s the real magic. Taha Hashim
Match report: Newport County 2-4 Manchester United
O’Neil’s Wolves beginning to click
Wolves’ victory at the Hawthorns may have been overshadowed by the serious crowd trouble but their form during this seven-game unbeaten run is extremely encouraging. Gary O’Neil has now embedded his playing style in a squad short on numbers – and unlikely to get bigger before the transfer deadline this week – but high on quality and unity. The return of Pedro Neto, who opened the scoring against West Brom, has allayed fears they would miss Hwang Hee-Chan too much during 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 attacker, but also now has six goals in his past eight games. Even if they didn’t play as slickly in this local derby, the confidence is there. Peter Lansley
Match report: West Brom 0-2 Wolves
Elokobi instils belief for Maidstone
One of Maidstone United’s heroes, Lamar Reynolds, credited their manager George Elokobi for instilling the belief in the National League South club to pull off their monumental upset at Ipswich. Reynolds’s opener at Portman Road was a goal worthy of gracing an FA Cup final and he set up Sam Corne’s winner to topple the Championship promotion contenders – a team 98 places above them in the football pyramid. Part-timers Maidstone are the first club from outside the top five tiers of English football to reach the fifth round of the FA Cup since Blyth Spartans in 1978. Reynolds said: “He [Elokobi] just kept urging us to believe in ourselves. When you believe things like this can happen. That’s when all the emotions exploded afterwards. We’re now in the round of the last 16 and who would have thought that? 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,” the 28-year-old forward said. “It feels amazing and I’m sure when I wake up it’s going to feel even better.” Simon Mail
Match report: Ipswich 1-2 Maidstone
Spurs front line falls flat against City
Ange Postecoglou called it a “decent chance”, which was perhaps over-egging it. What it would go down as was the only sniff that his Tottenham team had during the 1-0 home defeat against Manchester City. It came on 53 minutes. Timo Werner played the pass and Brennan Johnson chased on to it as the goalkeeper, Stefan Ortega, came out. Johnson got there first – just – and toed the ball towards goal but Ortega was so close to him that the block was a near formality. Postecoglou bemoaned how passive his team were in the first half and, with City in control, it was always going to be difficult to turn the tide. Spurs’ front three of Johnson, Richarlison and Werner were disappointing and they will be looking over their shoulders in the countdown to the home game against Brentford on Wednesday. If Postecoglou brings the fit-again James Maddison into the starting XI in midfield, Dejan Kulusevski could move wide, which would squeeze somebody out. David Hytner
Match report: Tottenham 0-1 Manchester City
Barkley continues his Luton revival
It’s hard to believe that Ross Barkley is now the wrong side of 30. It seems not long ago a teenage tearaway in Everton blue was setting himself on course to Premier League and international greatness. Of course, it all went awry somewhere down the line; a 2022 move to Nice seemed to signal the end of the Barkley era – until Luton took a chance on him last summer. Under Rob Edwards, Barkley has been 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 the own goal from Vitaliy Mykolenko for Luton’s opener (although VAR opted not to penalise a possible push), and then proceeded to dazzle in midfield in a manner that has become familiar to Hatters fans this season. Luton are all the better for Barkley 2.0. Dominic Booth
Match report: Everton 1-2 Luton
Pedro’s class may prompt sale
João Pedro may be the next Brighton star sold for a healthy profit on the circa £30m fee paid to Watford in May for the 22-year-old’s cocktail of gliding movement and dead-eyed finishing. His hat-trick knocked out Sheffield United and took his season tally to 18 meaning only Erling Haaland (19) has scored more. Yet as his manager admitted, the Brazilian could soon exit 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,” the head coach, Roberto De Zerbi, said. “The policy of Brighton is clear – to compete but to progress the young players who we have to accept may lose – like [Alexis] Mac Allister [to Liverpool, £35m], [Moisés] Caicedo [Chelsea, £115m] and other important players. The challenge then is to find others.” Jamie Jackson
Match report: Sheffield United 2-5 Brighton
Toon enjoy Cup tonic
Newcastle’s season has faded slightly since their Champions League exit but the FA Cup may be the catalyst to help revitalise Eddie Howe’s side. The Geordie faithful were already treated to a 3-0 win against their derby rivals Sunderland in the third round, and their 2-0 win at Fulham has taken them into the competition’s last 16. An away tie against either Blackburn or Wrexham awaits, as Howe’s side find themselves just two games away from a return to Wembley. The league form has dwindled, and the European football is no more, so Newcastle may have some eggs in the FA Cup basket. Newcastle are still in search of a first trophy under the club’s Saudi ownership and, after coming so close last season in the Carabao Cup, the squad will be hungry to fight for it again just over 12 months later. Jack Kelly
Match report: Fulham 0-2 Newcastle
Striking issue for Chelsea
Chelsea might have been hitting the right notes under Mauricio Pochettino lately, but the Blues are still in desperate need of a clinical No 9. It is ironic to be highlighting the striker position as a problem, with the west London side having scored 51 goals in 29 matches this campaign, one more than the whole of last season. As Pochettino said: “I trust and believe in my players, playing in this way we are going to score.” However, 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 might just be what Chelsea need to push on in the Premier League and the domestic cups. James St Denis
Match report: Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
Murillo makes impression for Forest
For Nottingham Forest, a replay at home against Bristol City is frankly a game they could do without but the major boon from their draw at Ashton Gate was their fourth clean sheet of the season, and a first since November. When a club have spent north of £250m on 42 players since promotion, invariably there will be a misstep or two but a handful have hit the sweet spot. The very first to sign, Taiwo Awoniyi, who is nearing a return from a groin injury, has been a big hit, as has Morgan Gibbs-White, while Serge Aurier had been a welcome surprise. Arguably the best of lot, however, is Murillo, a £10m signing from Corinthians last August. The 21-year-old Brazilian was again assured alongside Andrew Omobamidele, the last of the 42, last time out and has made a big impression in a short space of time. Ben Fisher
Match report: Bristol City 0-0 Nottingham Forest
