Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has warned that the club will not be able to play their Carabao Cup quarter-final at Aston Villa unless the match is rearranged.
Klopp’s side progressed to the last eight last night, beating Arsenal 5-4 on penalties after the match had finished 5-5 at Anfield.
The quarter-final clash between Villa and Liverpool is scheduled for the week commencing 16 December, but the European champions play in the Club World Cup in Qatar on 18 December.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Klopp said: “If they don’t find a place for us, an appropriate place, not 3am on Christmas Day, then we don’t play it. You have to think about these things. If you have a fixture list where one team cannot be part of all the games, then you have to think about it. Hopefully it starts at one point, hopefully it starts now.
“We will not be the victim of this problem. We played [on Wednesday] and we wanted to win. If they don’t find a proper date for us then we cannot play the next round and whoever is our opponent will go through - or Arsenal will play it. I cannot change that.”
The English Football League has told the BBC they are in talks with Liverpool to “identify an alternative date” for the quarter-final tie with Aston Villa.
Italian champions Juventus maintained their one-point lead at the top of Serie A after Cristiano Ronaldo scored a 96th-minute penalty in the 2-1 victory over Genoa. Ronaldo was once again Juve’s hero on a dramatic night in Turin and the spot-kick means he has now scored six goals in 11 games for club and country this season. Last night’s winner was Ronaldo’s 114th career penalty kick.
The only change to the squad that demolished New Zealand in last weekend’s semi-final is the appearance on the bench of scrum-half Ben Spencer, who replaces the injured Willi Heinz.
Otherwise Jones has kept faith with the players who produced arguably the greatest 80 minutes of English rugby history against the reigning world champions.
Captain Owen Farrell, wing Jonny May and prop Kyle Sinckler have all been passed fit having taken knocks against the All Blacks.
South Africa have named Cheslin Kolbe in their side after the winger recovered from an ankle injury.
England starting XV
15. Elliot Daly, 14. Anthony Watson, 13. Manu Tuilagi, 12. Owen Farrell (captain), 11. Jonny May, 10. George Ford, 9. Ben Youngs; 1. Mako Vunipola, 2. Jamie George, 3. Kyle Sinckler, 4. Maro Itoje, 5. Courtney Lawes, 6. Tom Curry, 7. Sam Underhill, 8. Billy Vunipola
Replacements: 16. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17. Joe Marler, 18. Dan Cole, 19. George Kruis, 20. Mark Wilson, 21. Ben Spencer, 22. Henry Slade, 23. Jonathan Joseph
South Africa starting XV
15. Willie Le Roux, 14. Cheslin Kolbe, 13. Lukhanyo Am, 12. Damian de Allende, 11. Makazole Mapimpi, 10. Handre Pollard, 9. Faf de Klerk; 1. Tendai Mtawarira, 2. Mbongeni Mbonambi, 3. Frans Malherbe, 4. Eben Etzebeth, 5. Lood de Jager, 6. Siya Kolisi (captain), 7. Pieter-Steph Du Toit, 8. Duane Vermeulen
Replacements: 16. Malcolm Marx, 17. Steven Kitshoff, 18. Vincent Koch, 19. RG Snyman, 20. Franco Mostert, 21. Francois Louw, 22. Herschel Jantjies, 23. Frans Steyn
It was a bad night for the Golden State Warriors as they lost 121-110 to the Phoenix Suns and star player Stephen Curry broke his left hand. The two-time NBA Most Valuable Player is now set for a long spell on the sidelines.
5. Derby sack captain Keogh
The BBC reports that Derby County have sacked club captain Richard Keogh for gross misconduct. The Irish defender has been fired over his involvement in a crash that led to the arrest of two of his team-mates for drink driving. Keogh suffered a serious knee injury and was told by the Championship club he would need to accept lower wages and a new contract to stay.
6. Nationals win first World Series
The Washington Nationals have won Major League Baseball’s World Series for the first time. They beat the Houston Astros 6-2 in the game seven decider this morning. United States President Donald Trump tweeted: “Congratulations to the Washington Nationals on a great season and an incredible World Series. Game 7 was amazing!”
7. Maxwell takes break from cricket
Australia cricket star Glenn Maxwell will take a break from the sport to deal with mental health issues, The Guardian reports. “He’s a special player and an important part of the Australian cricket family. We hope to see him back in the team during the summer,” national teams manager Ben Oliver said. “The well-being of our players and staff is paramount. Glenn has our full support. Cricket Australia will work collaboratively with Cricket Victoria’s support staff to ensure Glenn’s well-being and his reintegration into the game.”
8. Brown and Curran set to make T20 debuts
England captain Eoin Morgan has confirmed that Pat Brown will make his debut in tomorrow’s first Twenty20 international (T20I) against New Zealand. Sam Curran is also set to make his T20I debut. Meanwhile, the England and Wales Cricket Board has announced that Darren Gough has been appointed as a fast bowling consultant for the two-Test series against the Black Caps.
9. Pochettino to Bayern?
Reports in Germany claim that Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino is being linked with Bayern Munich as a replacement for Niko Kovac. Earlier this month Bayern thrashed Pochettino’s Spurs side 7-2 in a Champions League group game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
10. Back pages: an all-time classic at Anfield
Liverpool’s dramatic victory over Arsenal in the Carabao Cup is the focus of many back pages today. A crazy tie at Anfield finished 5-5 after 90 minutes and Liverpool progressed to the quarter-finals 5-4 on penalties.
Today's political cartoons - December 21, 2024
Three fun, festive activities to make the magic happen this Christmas Day
The best books of 2024 to give this Christmas
The Premier League's spending cap: levelling the playing field?
Is a new English football regulator an own goal for the game?
English football and the etiquette of leaving the stadium early
2023-2024 Premier League predictions: champions, relegation and golden boot
Man City: can ‘one of the best sides in history’ win the treble?
Premier League: Man City vs. Arsenal predictions
Antonio Conte leaves Tottenham after ‘extraordinary’ rant at players
Liverpool 7 Man Utd 0: ‘welcome to Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool 2.0’
