Football

THE FA Cup fourth round has got off to a thrilling start – and plenty more exciting ties are coming up TODAY.Premier League leaders Liverpool make the mammoth trip to Championship strugglers Plymouth Argyle, hoping to avoid a huge upset.Later, Aston Villa and Tottenham go head-to-head in a blockbuster clash for a spot in the fifth round, with Marcus Rashford in line to make his debut for the Villans.Kick off times: 12.30pm/3pm/5.35pmTV channel: ITV1/BBC OneFREE live stream: ITVX/BBC iPlayerCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSFollow our live blog below…SECOND HALFBack underway at Home Park as we await the opening goal.Copy linkCopiedBack outWe’re preparing for the restart as the two players head out.Can Liverpool step up and progress here? Can Plymouth hold out and create one or two chances of their own?Copy linkCopiedFrom Justin Allen at Home ParkThis has been an awful first-half from Liverpool, who are so off the boil.Arne Slot has made 10 changes with the team currently having three games in six days with the Merseyside derby with Everton coming on Wednesday.But this performance against the Championship’s bottom team has not been good enough.They look toothless up front — with only a deflected effort from James McConnell making Argyle keeper Conor Hazard work so far.Darin Nunez will surely have to come on in the second half.But he has a young bench and his lack of insurance options could bite him back unless the starting XI up their game.Copy linkCopiedStats at the breakJust the one shot on target in that 45 minutes and even I could’ve saved it.Liverpool have made almost 4x as many passes as Argyle but not doing an awful lot with that possession.Copy linkCopiedHALF TIME! Plymouth 0-0 LiverpoolPlenty of effort, dedication and fight out there.Unfortunately, lacking any sort of quality at the break. But the job’s half done for Plymouth who’ve not looked out of place in this tie.Copy linkCopied45 – Plymouth 0-0 LiverpoolThree minutes added on in the first half.Copy linkCopied44 – Plymouth 0-0 LiverpoolNyoni just overhits a through ball for Chiesa and even he can’t keep it in as it heads towards the touchline for a throw.He does his best to keep it in, sliding in and instead knocking it out for a goal kick to Plymouth instead.Copy linkCopied42 – Plymouth 0-0 LiverpoolMabaya picks up a yellow card for kicking the ball away and delaying the restart on a Plymouth throw.He didn’t quite deal with the ball, running it out of play in his defensive third and didn’t want it coming back in quickly.The offside flag goes up to prevent the Plymouth move coming to anything.Copy linkCopied39 – Plymouth 0-0 LiverpoolTwo corners in quick succession for Liverpool.Both go short, both a waste of time as the ball never made it into the box.Copy linkCopied36 – Plymouth 0-0 LiverpoolMcConnell’s turn to try his luck from distance and this one takes a nick on the way through.It makes it slightly tricky for Hazard who has to get down to push it away and Plymouth clear to safety.Copy linkCopied34 – Plymouth 0-0 LiverpoolStraight down the other end and Elliott has an effort from 25 yards blocked on its way through.Just slowly coming to life with 10 minutes until the break.Copy linkCopied33 – Plymouth 0-0 LiverpoolPenalty shout for the home side and the supporters are up out their seats.Bundu capitalises on a mistake from Tsimikas who misjudges the ball into the box.But the defender gets back in to put Bundu off and the forward goes to ground looking for a spot kick. It would’ve been soft but worth the shout.Copy linkCopiedFrom Justin Allen at Home ParkNot really taken off here yet. Liverpool have not  been moving the ball around quickly enough against an organised Argyle.But it has been the hosts who have looked more likely to score in the opening exchanges with Ryan Hardie getting past Joe Gomez on the right but his ball quickly smothered by keeper Caoimhin Kelleher.Hardie also saw an effort charged down.Mustapha Bundu also tried to weave through but Kostas Tsimikas managed to stop him in his tracks as he was set to shoot 12 yards out.Gomez going off was an early blow – given he has only recently returned from a hamstring injury.Arne Slot’s team have started to enjoy more possession. Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones are still available on the bench to come on.Copy linkCopied28 – Plymouth 0-0 LiverpoolTold you there wasn’t much to shout about.Plymouth defending strongly and have a real presence up front should the chance to counter arise.Liverpool dominating the ball the last 10 minutes or so but it’s all in front of Argyle.Copy linkCopied23 – Plymouth 0-0 LiverpoolTalovierov just does enough to prevent Diaz breaking down the left.The big defender actually wins a goal kick though Diaz protests it should be a corner.Talovierov then celebrates having gotten the better of that exchange. I’m never too sure where my thoughts lying on defenders celebrating like that but good for him anyway.Copy linkCopied21 – Plymouth 0-0 LiverpoolMiron Muslic claps his players after they win a throw in on halfway.He’d likely have set getting through the first 20 minutes as a target and checkpoint and they’ve come through it well.Probably slightly better than Liverpool, too. Not much quality in the opening quarter of the game at all though.Copy linkCopied18 – Plymouth 0-0 LiverpoolFirst booking of the afternoon is dished out as Nyoni is late with a challenge in the middle of the park.It could well be enough for a yellow on its own but he has already had a couple of niggling fouls, the youngster.Copy linkCopied14 – Plymouth 0-0 LiverpoolNow Nikola Katic is down for Plymouth. It looks like a head knock and that he’ll be OK thankfully.He’d at least one serious injury when playing north of the border but this doesn’t look too bad.In fact the physios are seeing to his teeth, such was the knock.Incidentally, Diogo Jota took the armband from Gomez.Copy linkCopied12 – Plymouth 0-0 LiverpoolKelleher comes out to punch a swinging corner from underneath his crossbar.Only as far as the edge of the box where Gyabi waits for it and smashes towards goal but it’s block on the way.Copy linkCopied10 – Plymouth 0-0 LiverpoolHis afternoon is done. A real shame.But one man’s downfall is another man’s opportunity. Isaac Mabaya comes on for a Reds debut.OFF: GomezON: MabayaCopy linkCopied8 – Plymouth 0-0 LiverpoolNightmare for Joe Gomez and Liverpool as he sits down on the turf.He’s only just back from a hamstring injury and this is his first appearance of 2025.Skippering the side today too. You can see the devastation in his face.Copy linkCopied4 – Plymouth 0-0 LiverpoolEnd-to-end start here!Luis Diaz has THREE men on him when trying to attack down the left.He tries to work a one-two with Elliott who can’t return the pass. Plymouth break and Hardie gets down the right and fizzes a cross in towards Wright but Kelleher sprints off his line to drop low and intercept it.Copy linkCopied1 – Plymouth 0-0 LiverpoolFirst effort on goal comes for the home side as they work the ball well into the final third.The ball just won’t sit for Hardie and when waiting for it to come down, he gets his shot away but it’s blocked.Copy linkCopiedKICK-OFF!We’re underway at Home Park!Copy linkCopiedFrom Justin Allen at Home ParkArne Slot has had to manage the squad this week with three games in the space of six days so rung the changes.Only keeper Caoimhin Kelleher kept his place from the Liverpool team that thumped Tottenham 4-0 on Thursday with one eye on the Merseyside derby on Wednesday night.Seventeeen-year-old Treymaurice Nyoni made only the second start of his senior career while James McConnell, 20, also was in the XI for the second time, having played against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League.There was almost a carnival atmosphere inside Home Park.Argyle, while a League Two club, famously held Liverpool to a goalless draw in 2017 at Anfield before earning a replay, which they lost 1-0 in Devon.Copy linkCopied More

SUNDAY’S FA Cup fourth round has delivered with Liverpool shock LOSS to Plymouth – and heads to Birmingham for a blockbuster. In the lunchtime game, Wolverhampton Wanderers dispatched Championship Blackburn Rovers with the Brazilian duo of Matheus Cunha and João Gomes on target to secure fifth round passage. Premier League leaders Liverpool crashed OUT of the FA Cup to the hands of Championship bottom-club Plymouth Argyle. Ryan Hardie’s 53rd-minute penalty separated the sides, but keeper Conor Hazard took all the plaudits for superb saves to shut the Reds out late on.The action rounded up as Aston Villa edged out Tottenham 2-1 to make their first FA Cup quarter-final in a DECADE. Jacob Ramsey first-minute effort and Morgan Rogers close-range tap-in on the 65th minute were sandwiched by a late Spurs consolation by Mathys Tel as Marcus Rashford also made his debut off the bench. Two more ties to come across Monday and Tuesday. CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSFollow our live blog below…FA Cup fifth round draw detailsThe draw for the FA Cup 5th round will be made live on BBC’s ‘The One Show’ TOMORROW NIGHT.Proceedings will begin at around 7.10pm GMT.The draw will be able to watch for FREE on the FA Cup’s official social platforms.Copy linkCopiedMatch reportThe misery just continues for Ange Postecoglou. Although the moment his team conceded after 58 seconds with his keeper producing a howler, the beleaguered Aussie must have known it was going to be another rotten day.His spell as Tottenham manager is now turning into a proper nightmare.Three days after Spurs were annihilated by Liverpool in their Carabao Cup semi-final, Postecoglou’s team were beaten fair and square by Villa and the situation is becoming toxic to a point where a change is inevitable.Jacob Ramsey’s first minute goal was followed by the second by the outstanding Morgan Rodgers’ in the 64th minute. Tottenham’s new striker Mathys Tel, who did not have a kick all game, set up a nervous couple of minutes with a lovely finish in injury time but anything other than a home win would have been a robbery.Copy linkCopiedTwo to goTwo more ties still to be played too!Doncaster vs Crystal Palace – MONExeter City vs Nottingham Forest – TUESCopy linkCopiedFourth round resultsMan Utd 2-1 LeicesterLeeds 0-2 MillwallLeyton Orient 1-2 Man CityCoventry City 1-4 Ipswich TownEverton 0-2 BournemouthPreston 0-0 Wycombe (Preston win on pens)Southampton 0-1 BurnleyStoke City 3-3 Cardiff City (Cardiff win on pens)Wigan Athletic 1-2 FulhamBirmingham 2-3 NewcastleBrighton 2-1 ChelseaBlackburn 0-2 WolvesPlymouth 1-0 LiverpoolAston Villa 2-1 TottenhamCopy linkCopiedAnge reactionAnge Postecoglou tells BBC: “When you go a goal down it gives them confidence and momentum and we struggled to get a grip of the game.”We were still in the game and had a big chance to make it 1-1.”We had to try and hang in there and second half was more like ourselves.”The second goal made it a bit more difficult for us but I always felt we were a threat but just not enough.”Copy linkCopiedSleepless night?Several times throughout the night Villa fans sang: “You’re getting sacked in the morning.”Spurs fans throughout constantly singing to get chairman Daniel Levy out.Now 21 defeats in 46 games for Postecoglou. Can he survive this?Copy linkCopiedFrom Tom Barclay at Villa ParkFull-time here and despite Mathys Tel’s best efforts at the end, it is another cup exit for Ange Postecoglou in three daysTeenager Tel netted his first goal for the club in stoppage time with a smart finish, but it was not enough to turn the tie around as Villa ran out 2-1 winners.The focus will now shift to Postecoglou’s position which looks under increasing threat after the disappointments of the last week, in addition to the horrendous league form.He has a crippling injury list with a full first XI missing here.But whether that, plus the team still being in the Europa League, is enough to keep him in a job remains to be seen.Chairman Daniel Levy, who came under heavy fire from the away fans as he sat in the stands, has resisted any temptation to make a change so far.Postecoglou had to endure chants of ‘You’re getting sacked in the morning’ twice in the match, which overall was a pretty poor one from his side, despite Tel’s late intervention.Copy linkCopiedFULL TIMEAston Villa are through to the fifth round for the first time in a decade!ASTON VILLA 2-1 TOTTENHAMCopy linkCopied90+3 – Aston Villa 2-1 TottenhamSomeone HAS to take these set pieces off Son.Again it’s a lofted, floated, aimless ball into the area and too close to the keeper for Martinez to come out and collect.Copy linkCopied90+2 – Aston Villa 2-1 TottenhamBig chance for Spurs as they win a free kick wide on the left.It’s only 20 yards from the byline so a huge chance to load the box and get a good delivery in.Copy linkCopied90 – Aston Villa 2-1 TottenhamFive minutes added!Copy linkCopiedGOAL DETAIL: Aston Villa 2-1 TottenhamWho’d have thought putting a cross into the box might bring some joy!!?????Kulusevski with a peach of a cross in from the right. Tel on the move and he stretches a right leg out to get good contact on it with the outside of his right foot to direct it back across the keeper and into the net.Game on with a couple of minutes to go.(ps, I’m free to come to training tomorrow, Ange…)Copy linkCopied90 – GOAL! Aston Villa 2-1 TottenhamA grandstand finish indeed, MATHYS TEL with his first Spurs goal!Copy linkCopied89 – Aston Villa 2-0 TottenhamRashford’s BIG moment arrives as he’s played in down the right.Only Archie Gray to beat as he drives at pace into the box, onto his right foot but the teenager matches him and gets a toe to the ball.Terrific defending by Spurs’ best player by a country mile. Damning for his teammates.He actually wins a free kick as Rashford’s attempted shot sees him clatter the youngster. The replays have showed it again and it looks horrible. Gray lucky to be up and walking.Copy linkCopied88 – Aston Villa 2-0 TottenhamSarr tries a threaded pass into the box instead of crossing it and passes it straight out for a goal kick.Absolutely mince in the final third.Copy linkCopied86 – Aston Villa 2-0 TottenhamWhy, why, WHY don’t teams just whip it into the box anymore!? Son rolls it along the edge of the box in between Porro and Kulusevski. They can’t work out who should get it and eventually Porro toe pokes it pathetically at goal and Martinez saves.Sorta sums up Son’s evening’s work.Just put it in and make them defend, man!Copy linkCopied85 – Aston Villa 2-0 TottenhamBogarde trips Tel on the left side of the penalty box, just a yard outside it.A chance for Spurs and you feel this HAS to go in if they want to set up a grandstand finish.Copy linkCopied81 – Aston Villa 2-0 TottenhamVilla change:OFF: DigneON: MaatsenCopy linkCopied80 – Aston Villa 2-0 TottenhamPorro has been wound up for a little bit and he goes crashing into Ramsey out on the Villa left.Really tough challenge and Ramsey didn’t like it. The referee books the Spurs man eventually.Porro runs back into the box punching his other palm as if to tell his teammates to be stronger too…Copy linkCopied77 – Aston Villa 2-0 TottenhamOh they HAVE to have scored there!Porro flashes the ball across the six-yard box and Kevin Danso is seven yards out at the back post and misses the target by a yard.Real head in hands moment, how’s he missed that!?Copy linkCopied76 – Aston Villa 2-0 TottenhamGood link-up between Tel and Kulusevski and Spurs win a corner.They need to score the next goal – and soon!Copy linkCopied74 – Aston Villa 2-0 TottenhamRashford nutmegs Porro to give the ball to Digne.He takes it back off the left back before Porro races back and has an almighty swipe at him. Completely losing his head there but Anthony Taylor sees nothing wrong with it somehow.Copy linkCopied72 – Aston Villa 2-0 TottenhamVilla are taking the you-know-what out of Spurs at the minute.Stunning touch from Asensio before a backheel into Rogers path out on the right.He gives it back to Asensio on the corner of the box, who rolls it back into the path of Rogers again inside the box and he toe-pokes wide.Almost the goal of the day.Copy linkCopiedFrom Tom Barclay at Villa ParkMarcus Rashford’s moment has arrived – and with the game looking pretty much done.The England man, loaned from Manchester United, had been called to come on along with fellow debutant Marcos Asensio with the score still at 1-0.But then Morgan Rogers, who has been way too good for Spurs, doubled the lead from close range before the pair made their entrance.Rashford’s only involvement so far has been to catch Kevin Danso with an elbow as they vied for a high ball.The break in play while the Austrian received treatment led to chants of “You’re getting sacked in the morning” in the direction of Ange Postecoglou.Copy linkCopied70 – Aston Villa 2-0 TottenhamDigne floats a cross to the back post which Bergvall misses.Tielemans behind him swings a foot at it for the volley but misses it altogether.Copy linkCopied More