THE FA Cup fifth round is in full swing after Everton beat Tottenham in a nine-goal thriller.
And tonight it’s the turn of Chelsea as they visit Barnsley looking to avoid a repeat of their humbling quarter-final defeat there in 2008.
Read our live blog below to get the latest from around the clubs…
WHAT’S THE POINT?
This time last season Liverpool were charging towards their first league title in 30 years.
After the same amount of games this term, Jurgen Klopp’s struggling side have picked up 27 fewer points.
However, it’s a different story for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United side.
The Red Devils have 11 more points now than they did at this stage of last season.
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RY SMILE
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wrote an amazingly supportive letter to a fan struggling with mental health issues.
The Norwegian sent a classy reply to Red Devils fan Ryan after he spoke openly about his struggles on talkSPORT last month.
It read: “Dear Ryan, just wanted to drop you a line to say I am so glad you are doing well.
“It’s heartwarming to hear that Manchester United and Andy’s Man Club have kept you going through difficult times.
“We are living in strange times at the moment and we know it’s difficult for a lot of people.
“However, I was delighted to hear you now have a spring in your step.
“Once we get back to normal I’d love to invite you to a match or to watch training. In the meantime, we want you to keep that spring in your step and we will be doing all we can on the field.
“Take care, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.”
RAVVED UP
Wilfried Zaha claimed frustration at Ravel Morrison trying to play like Ronaldinho led to the pair clashing as team-mates on the pitch with England under-21s.
The two players shoved each other during the 5-0 win over Lithuania in 2013 as tempers boiled over between the two players.
Speaking to the On the Judy podcast, Zaha said: “He was just getting me mad. He was moving like he was Ronaldinho and the rest of us were just no-one.
“He was getting the ball and he was just doing tricks and the only time he passes it if he really needs to and we’re just stood there with our hands on our hips while he’s going past six Lithuanian players.
“And it’s just like what are you doing?’.
“It was that easy – the team that we had, we had such good players and we can all do that, we can all hog the ball and go past all of them but we’re not doing it. We’re trying to be professional, play properly but he was just on his own thing.”
MESSI APPROACH PLAY
Manchester City’s pursuit of Lionel Messi has been given a boost after reports the Argentine ‘does not like’ the way PSG are going after him.
A great deal of noise has come out of PSG about the possibility of signing Messi, with Neymar and Angel Di Maria among those who have commented on his potential arrival.
And now there are reports surfacing about how Messi has not looked favourably upon that method of persuasion.
A source told ESPN: “PSG are making a mistake with the strategy they’re using.
“Leo doesn’t like all that noise in the media and even less the type of comments [which have been made].”
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NEU SENSATION
Manchester City and Liverpool are chasing Borussia Monchengladbach star Florian Neuhaus, according to reports.
The midfielder has drawn admiring glances from around Europe with his impressive performances for the German side.
But according to Kicker, his time at Borussia-Park may be coming to an end.
They claim that FIVE clubs are chasing the German, including Premier League duo City and Liverpool.
If they are to grab his signature, however, they will have to wrestle with the likes of Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich and Juventus.
IN-SANE
Manchester City are set to receive a £31million boost in their transfer budget as they await payment for Leroy Sane and Angelino.
Bayern Munich signed Sane from Man City for around £55million last summer, but have not yet been paid nearly £15m of the fee.
According to Bild, Bayern are going to have to ‘dig deep into their pockets’ to pay the additional funds to Man City despite financially struggling like the majority of football clubs during the coronavirus pandemic.
NO WAY JOSE
Totteham have been brutally trolled online, after releasing Carabao Cup final merchandise.
The Lilywhites have reached their first final since the 2019 Champions League defeat to Liverpool.
One Gooner wrote: “Small club mentality right there!
“Good old Spurs, the gift that keeps on giving”.
While a cringing Tottenham fan added: “Hoped no one would see this”.
A third commented: “That is beyond joke even to a Spurs fan”.
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THEATRE OF DOOM
Wilfried Zaha admitted his painful experience at Manchester United left him depressed and with his mind in a mess.
Speaking on the On Judy Podcast, he said: “I was in a very bad place, literally going out all the time, doing mad stuff. I was a mess.
“My brother was up there at first with his family, but then he had to go back so I was just by myself throughout the whole David Moyes period – that’s when I just went through depression and all sorts.
“I couldn’t cook so I wasn’t even eating proper.
“When you know you’re not playing, the team are training and you’re just stood on the side doing some training drill.
“I remember it was just me and Kagawa doing some shooting drill just the two of us. So you know they don’t care about you basically. Not even training with the Under 23s, week in week out. You’re not getting a look in.”
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AMAD FOR IT
Manchester United’s Under-23s coach Neil Wood admitted he must allow Amad Diallo time to settle into English football.
He said: “You see he has ability and he’s linking up well. He doesn’t really have a relationship with any of these boys here. He came to Liverpool [last] Saturday and did well and the same [against Blackburn].
“He’s training with the first team and doing well and he’s still new to England and the style of football in England so it’s going to take time and like all young players you have to be patient with them. He’s gaining more confidence as the days go on.”
TAX-PLAYER
Lionel Messi has been revealed as Spain’s biggest taxpayer for the past four years.
The Barcelona superstar paid a staggering £324million to the taxman in that time, his leaked contract showed.
In fact, according to El Periodico, he is the single biggest contributor to the Spanish treasury and even pays more than many big companies.
Of his annual pay packet of £121m, £58m is understood to be taxed – just shy of 50 per cent.
MAN DOWN
Manchester United have made the worst loss on players sales over the past decade out of all 20 clubs currently in the Premier League.
The Red Devils have spent an incredible £747.55million on players who have subsequently been moved on and only brought in £345.75m in return.
That’s an overall net loss of more than £400m and a profit/loss percentage of -53.75 per cent.
Former Man Utd defender Rio Ferdinand is the biggest financial loss incurred by any Premier League team over the past ten years (all stats according to BettingOdds.com).
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START FROM SCRATCH
A vlogger joked he might set up an ‘OnlyFans’ – after viewers mistakenly thought he was ‘pleasuring himself’ during a live stream to 40,000 viewers when he scratched his leg.
Popular online Arsenal commentator Chig appeared on Lee Gunner’s YouTube ‘watchalong’ to commentate on Arsenal’s 3-1 win over Southampton late last month.
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MOUR TROUBLE
Brendan Rodgers is the favourite to replace Jose Mourinho after another defeat for Tottenham.
Leicester boss Rodgers is now 5/4 favourite after the extra time defeat to Everton in the FA Cup.
Rodgers is followed by Julian Nagelsmann, Eddie Howe and Max Allegri with Scott Parker and Rafa Benitez also in the running, according to Betfair.
Southampton boss Ralph Hassenhuttl had been second favourite at 5/1, but is no longer in the mix according to Betfair’s market.
INTERNATIO-NO!
A host of Premier League stars could be forced to miss international duty due to the strict coronavirus regulations.
Nations which have banned people from entering from the UK may not permit footballers from returning to their home countries.
There is also the issue around quarantining upon arrival back into the UK, which would see players forced into missing matches for their clubs while they self-isolate.
The countries that are primarily at risk of not letting footballers return are those in South America and Portugal.
Among the headline names potentially missing national team games is Manchester United and Portugal playmaker Bruno Fernandes.
Also under threat is Columbia’s James Rodriguez, Brazilian pair Thiago Silva and Roberto Firmino, and Argentine pair Giovani Lo Celso and Erik Lamela.
WINDOW SHOPPING
English football will signal a return to “normality” by putting this year’s summer transfer window back to its regular place in the calendar.
Premier League and FA chiefs have already begun discussing the window dates.
And unless there is another unexpected lockdown, clubs will have three months from early June to complete their transfer business.
The plan is for this year’s window to run from June 9 to August 31, representing 13 weeks of trading opportunities.
NEY WAY
The curse of Neymar’s sisters birthday has struck again… after he hobbled off injured in the French Cup.
The 29-year-old was involved in a hefty collision on the hour mark in Paris Saint-Germain’s win over Caen and was replaced by Kylian Mbappe.
But fans on social media believe his injury may have something to do with his sister’s birthday on March 11.
Coincidentally, the Brazilian superstar almost always appears to pick up a knock just before sister Rafaella Santos celebrates her big day.
WIL I NEVER
Newcastle star Callum Wilson will miss the next two months with a hamstring injury
Steve Bruce has heavily relied on Wilson this term, with the forward involved in 60 per cent of the 25 goals that Newcastle have mustered.
He said: “You need your big players at the sharp end of the pitch so we’ve been dealt another blow.
“Without Callum it’s going to be hard because he’s been terrific all year and he’s very difficult to replace.”
FRENCH THEATRE
Arsenal target Isco has been slammed for spending a minute and 20 seconds playing with his hair during Real Madrid’s clash with Getafe last night.
Some fans were surprised when boss Zinedine Zidane opted against restoring Isco to his starting XI, instead preferring youngster Marvin Park.
But when Zizou did eventually send the Spanish playmaker to warm up, he was more concerned with how he looked.
Having been joined by fitness coach Gregory Dupont, Isco should have been being put through his paces.
But in a video revealed by Marca, the 28-year-old had bigger concerns.
The long-haired star spent 80 seconds perfecting his precious barnet, first slicking it back with water then tying it into a ponytail.
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THE SACK RACE
Jose Mourinho is the outright favourite to be the next Premier League manager to leave his position.
The Tottenham boss, 58, had previously been offered at 5/1 with bookmakers Paddy Power.
But Wednesday’s FA Cup defeat has resulted in a massive odds shift with the Spurs chief now leading the sack race at 2/1.
HAV A DAY OFF
Chelsea star Kai Havertz again missed training at Cobham yesterday.
The German has been absent from the Blues’ last two games after sustaining a knock early on in Thomas Tuchel’s tenure.
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TOUGH CAL
Newcastle star Callum Wilson will miss the next two months with a hamstring injury
The England hopeful is Steve Bruce’s top scorer this season with 10 goals.
Steve Bruce said: “We hoped it was a grade one tear so he’d be out for two or three weeks.
“Unfortunately it’s worse than that so we’ll have to be without him for the best part of eight weeks .
“At least he doesn’t have to have an operation on it, but when you’re all pace and power like him the rehabilitation has to be spot on.
“It’s devastating news for us and for him.”
FLO FOR FREE
Leicester are reportedly considering a free transfer swoop for Florian Thauvin.
The French winger, 28, has seven goals and seven assists in Ligue 1 this season.
And according to Eurosport, the Foxes are looking at Thauvin as an alternative to Cengiz Under.
SANCH-GO
Jadon Sancho is ’90 per cent’ likely to leave Borussia Dortmund in the summer, according to reports.
The Manchester United target is one of eight players that the German giants could sell at the end of the season.
According to Sky Sports Germany, Sancho is set to be up for grabs during the next transfer window.
The England international, 20, was heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford last summer.
But the switch collapsed as Ole Gunnar Solskajer refused to meet Dortmund’s £108million price-tag.
HU’S FAULT
Rio Ferdinand slammed Tottenham’s mistakes for ‘killing’ them and singled out ’embarrassing’ Hugo Lloris for particular criticism.
DOM DESPAIR
Everton suffered an injury blow as Dominic Calvert-Lewin limped off against Tottenham.
And assistant Duncan Ferguson admitted the club fear he has ‘tweaked his hamstring’ in the club’s amazing FA Cup win over Spurs.
He said: “He was complaining about his hamstring when he came off the pitch.
“We’ve not got an assessment but it does look like a wee bit of a hamstring tweak.
“It could be a wee bit of trouble for him.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
