Cup

League One side, and 2021 champions, Leicester City avoid an upset as they beat sixth-tier Oxford City 4-2 at the MGroup Stadium, to reach the second round of the FA Cup.

MATCH REPORT: FA Cup – Oxford City 2-4 Leicester City

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Hussey, known as ‘Mr Cricket’ for his technical expertise, will also work with Australia during the LA 2028 Olympics.

Mike Hussey was appointed on Friday as a consultant coach to the Australian team for next year’s blockbuster Ashes series against England and the 2027 Cricket World Cup.

The former Australian batsman revealed in August that England’s new red-ball coach, Stephen Fleming, had informally approached him to be their Test batting mentor.

But the 51-year-old turned down the audacious offer and has instead committed to helping his home nation arrest a batting crisis, highlighted by their recent 2-1 Test series defeat in South Africa.

Hussey, known as “Mr Cricket” for his technical expertise, will also provide coaching assistance during this month’s home T20 series against England and the subsequent four-Test series against New Zealand.

He will additionally work with Australia during the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where cricket is on the agenda, and the T20 World Cup in 2028.

“I am extremely excited about being a part of the team in a more formal and meaningful role in the coming years,” said Hussey, who played more than 300 matches for Australia across all formats.

“This team has achieved so much in recent times, to which I hope I can add value to the coaching and playing groups ahead of what will be an exciting and challenging period.”

Hussey has extensive experience as a coach, including with both Australia and England.

He was part of England’s coaching setup when they won the T20 World Cup in 2022 and was the Chennai Super Kings’ longtime batting coach under Fleming in the Indian Premier League. He also led Welsh Fire in this year’s Hundred.

“Mike has been a highly valued part of our staff in the past and brings a considerable skill set which is complementary to the coaches and players,” said Australian head coach Andrew McDonald.

“Not only is his expertise as a player and coach across multiple formats, competitions, countries invaluable, so are his qualities as a person.”

Last week, player Rob Hawkins said England “were not playing to our standards” in their opening 98-18 win over Wales and rated the team five out of 10.

Asked how he would rate England’s showing against the USA, Billington told Premier Sports: “At least a seven. All week, we have been banging on about playing the way we want to play, and the boys really stuck to their principles.

“I’m over the moon for the guys to put on such senior performances.”

Finlay O’Neill was named player of the match as he recorded 38 points, with two tries and 15 conversions.

“It was a good team effort, not just myself,” O’Neill said. “We talked about how we could improve, and I think we did that.

“We need to take the positives – [there are a] few areas to work on but I think we can be very happy with that performance.”

The four semi-finalists have now been set, with the final group games to decide who faces who in the knockouts.

In Pool A, Ireland ensured they will qualify alongside England with a 68-28 victory over Wales.

Ireland, who are ranked third in the world, will face the English in their final group game on Friday in Wollongong (06:00 GMT).

In Pool A, two-time champions France and hosts Australia both booked their passages through while scoring triple figures.

France, who were losing finalists against England in 2022, thrashed New Zealand 120-10.

Australia beat Scotland 104-24, and will play the French on Friday to determine the pool winners.

Scotland, New Zealand, Wales and USA all go into a ranking competition to determine fifth through to eighth place.

Wales will face USA in Pool A on Friday, while Scotland play New Zealand.

FIFA Council members may view documents related to Gianni Infantino’s doomed plan, but only in person in Zurich

FIFA will release details of President Gianni Infantino’s aborted plan to sell off stakes in future World Cups to private investors, but they will not be shared with the public.

Reports in the British media said members of the FIFA Council, the main decision-making body of football’s world governing body, will be given access to “key documents” related to the proposal, named FIFA Forward Enterprise.

However, they can only view them under “strict protocols to preserve confidentiality”, the reports said. Those include the 37 members of the council having to register for an in-person appointment to view selected paperwork in Zurich, Switzerland, in the next two weeks.

The news came out late on Monday, the deadline European football’s governing body, UEFA, had set for FIFA to release details about the $4.2bn scheme and answer questions about how the proposal came about and who approved it before the plans were dropped in July amid a worldwide backlash.

UEFA set the deadline after a tense council meeting at which Infantino apologised for the proposal but provided no details about how the plan was formed. He asked council members to submit their questions in writing.

UEFA is leading attempts to remove Infantino before or at the FIFA presidential election on March 18 in Rabat, Morocco. Infantino, who was elected in 2016, is seeking a fourth term through 2031.

Start date for AFC Cup 2027 moved from January to December due to ongoing Houthi attacks on host nation Saudi Arabia.

Football’s upcoming Asian Cup 2027 tournament in Saudi Arabia has been rescheduled from a January start to December due to the ongoing conflict in the region, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has confirmed.

The 24-team competition, which was due to get under way in Riyadh on January 7, 2027, will now begin on December 23, the AFC said in a statement on Tuesday.

Asian football’s governing body announced the decision following “extensive discussions and close consultation with the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 and the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF)”.

The tournament will now run from December 23, 2027, to January 21, 2028.

“The organising committee for the AFC Asian Cup approved rescheduling the tournament in light of the current exceptional circumstances arising from developments in the region, including substantial logistical complexities and travel disruptions,” the AFC’s statement added.

Saudi Arabia has repeatedly come under attack from Yemen’s Houthis since September, with capital Riyadh among the cities repeatedly targeted by missiles.

The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen reported on Friday that it “intercepted and destroyed” a drone launched by the Houthis towards Saudi Arabia’s Mecca region.

It was also reported that a missile aimed at western Saudi Arabia was earlier brought down, as hostilities between the Riyadh-backed Yemen government and Iran-backed Houthis continue to escalate.

The tournament’s fate hung in the balance in past weeks, with several participating nations expressing concerns about the security situation.

The AFC said while “exceptional circumstances” had been created for the organisation and delivery of the competition as originally scheduled, the postponement became necessary “in the interest of all participating teams, officials, spectators and other stakeholders.”

The AFC will submit the new tournament dates to FIFA for approval from football’s global governing body.

Australian jockey Ethan Brown has ridden Point Of Law, a horse previously owned by King Charles, to victory in this year’s Melbourne Cup, the country’s most prestigious race.

Point of Law, which was bought from the King earlier this year for an undisclosed sum, was considered an early favourite.

Brown pushed Point Of Law from the middle of the pack to take the lead with just a few hundred metres to go.

The Melbourne Cup has run in Australia since 1861, often referred to as the “race that stops a nation”. With a prize of A$10.2m ($7.04m; £5.3m), it is the country’s third richest race.

“Don’t wake me up,” said Brown, in the post-race interview.

“Just stay cool, stay patient,” Brown said, recalling his thoughts as he pushed Point Of Law to overtake Royal Supremacy from a dozen lengths behind on the home stretch.

This is a breaking news story – we’ll bring you more details as we get them.

Fifa says “key documents” relating to president Gianni Infantino’s failed plan to sell off stakes in the World Cup to private investors will be made available to members of its council.

Last month, Uefa gave football’s world governing body until 2 November to release details about the hugely controversial Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal, and to answer a list of questions relating to its governance and decision-making.

That followed a council meeting at which Infantino apologised for the abandoned sell-off plot but failed to offer a full explanation for how the proposal was devised, asking that questions be submitted in writing.

Just hours before the deadline from European football’s governing body passed, Fifa secretary general Mattias Grafstrom wrote to members of its main decision-making body – saying they will be able to view “key documents”, but only in person at the organisation’s headquarters in Zurich.

In his letter – seen by BBC Sport – he says the paperwork will be available “under strict review protocols to preserve confidentiality”, with council members asked to register to see them within the next two weeks.

It is unclear which documents will be made available.

BBC Sport has been told Fifa viewed Uefa’s two-week deadline to respond to more than 100 questions as unfeasible, given their recent focus on organising a new youth World Cup in Azerbaijan and preparations for an extraordinary congress later this month.

Sources have also indicated Fifa’s ability to answer some questions is limited by legal action that Uefa launched in October in the US, requesting disclosure of evidence and documents, warning it could lodge a criminal complaint in Switzerland.

Last month, Uefa told Fifa that it had failed to address “a number of fundamental questions”.

The letter included eight pages of questions covering a number of issues, from FFE and funding to national associations, to the awarding of an inaugural Fifa Peace Prize to US President Donald Trump and the controversial suspended ban given to USA striker Folarin Balogun at the World Cup.

“The withdrawal of FFE, the acknowledgement of mistakes and the announcement of ‘potential governance reforms’ do not answer how the relevant decisions were taken or why the Fifa Council was not involved at the appropriate stage,” the letter said.

“These questions require answers now. They cannot be deferred until the next meeting of the Fifa Council – nor can future governance reforms substitute for scrutiny of decisions already taken and accountability for them.”

Uefa did not outline what steps it intended to take should Fifa not meet the deadline, but hoped it added to the pressure on Infantino before 18 November – the cut-off date for any candidates to confirm they are standing against him in next year’s presidential election.

In his letter Grafstrom says that Uefa’s demand “contains significantly more questions than the Fifa administration could reasonably have anticipated” and that it is “currently working on a response which we will share with all council members in due course.”

He adds that the FFE proposal “could not have proceeded without the cumulative and mandatory approval of the council, and a majority of member associations, and in that event, there would be and has been no penalty to Fifa for withdrawing from the proposal”.

Uefa has been approached for comment.

In some ways, wheelchair rugby league is the same as the running game. Teams of five players have six tackles to score. Tackles on the ball carrier are made by pulling off a tag attached to each player’s shirt. A try scores four points, with two points for penalties and conversions, which are taken by punching the ball off a tee over the posts.

The game is played with an oval ball and lasts for 80 minutes, with a maximum of two non-disabled and three disabled players allowed on the field at any one time.

But unlike the running game, the balance of power lies not in Australia and the Pacific Islands, but firmly in Europe.

England’s main title rivals are France. The old enemies have met in the past three finals, the French winning in 2013 and 2017 before being beaten 28-24 in Manchester four years ago.

Ireland, ranked third in the world, are also genuine contenders and began their World Cup campaign by thrashing the USA 110-10.

But Australia, who are hosting every match in Wollongong, have their strongest ever squad and thumped New Zealand 112-14 in their Group B opener. An Australian sweep of the men’s, women’s and wheelchair tournaments, all taking place concurrently, for the first time by any nation is not out of the question.

Bayley McKenna is their first non-disabled captain, having picked up the sport in 2006 to support his father, who was paralysed in an accident.

McKenna is far from the only non-disabled person in this tournament – England’s Brown is too, he likewise entered the sport alongside a disabled family member, his brother.

Non-disabled players are crucial to the sport’s survival, helping teams fill their squads and boost interest. But McKenna was targeted by social media abuse during the last World Cup by those who thought he shouldn’t be playing in a wheelchair sport.

“I would have copped about a dozen messages from people all around the world saying, ‘you’re a fraud, you shouldn’t even be in the chair, this is a sport for disabled people’,” he told ABC, external.

“These guys were coming at me, like, ‘you’re lucky you’re not out there on the street by yourself’.

“There is such a stigma around able-bodied athletes playing in wheelchairs. It is ridiculous. I’d be lying to you if I said I was going into this World Cup not expecting it.”

Australia gave England a couple of good games in a two-match Test series last year, indicating the big two in wheelchair rugby league may not be so exclusive for long.

So don’t turn away, England fans. The Rugby League World Cup has plenty left to give.

Hawkins, 24, and Scarlets partner Eddie James have developed as Wales’ first-choice centre pairing during the past 12 months.

Wales head coach Steve Tandy has selected five different starting centre partnerships in 13 games since taking charge in September 2025.

Hawkins and James are the most prolific pair, having been together for seven games which include victory in an uncapped match against Barbarians.

Tandy did go back to Ben Thomas and Max Llewellyn for the 43-0 defeat by South Africa in July, but the Scarlets pair have been the preferred option.

“Eddie and I have a good relationship on and off the field,” said Hawkins.

“That is starting to grow on the pitch with the more opportunities we get together.”

The make-up of the Wales midfield has caused debate with Tandy and attack coach Matt Sherratt wanting a creative ball-playing inside centre like Hawkins or Thomas.

This leaves James as the physical presence at outside centre with Tandy stating he sees his long-term future as a Test 13.

Many observers believe James should be considered as a 12 but Wales are determined to keep their creative options open.

With Thomas missing because of a calf injury, Hawkins appears to be competing for the Wales’ 12 jersey with uncapped Dragons centre Aneurin Owen, although Llewellyn has also featured at inside centre for Gloucester this season.

“The ball-playing stuff is stuff I enjoy doing but you still need to go forward as well and I feel like I can also produce that side of it,” said Hawkins.

“Matt [Sherratt] likes you always in and around that first receiver position so you are always in those decision-making roles.

“You’ve got to be comfortable on the ball and making decisions at high speed.

“But there’s not always going to be opportunities to ball play, so you’ve got to try and have a bit of a rounded game.”

Hawkins has also been employed as an outside-half by Scarlets but he sees his future at 12.

“It gives me a lot more respect for the 10s, having been in there, with all the work they do,” he added.

“It probably helps me when I play centre from being a 10, I know what they need from me a little bit more, so the information and communication I’m feeding helps the whole team.”

New Zealand delivered a statement victory as they thrashed Fiji 78-0 to book their place in the Rugby League World Cup semi-finals.

The Kiwis established a 24-0 lead with four converted tries in the opening 13 minutes as Fiji – who pushed reigning world champions Australia close just under a week ago – had no response on Australia’s Gold Coast.

Fiji conceded eight tries in the first half and five in a fiery second period, during which half-back Brandon Wakeham was sent off along with New Zealand winger Ronaldo Mulitalo.

Centre Casey McLean claimed four tries, Keano Kini scored two and Jahrome Hughes, Dane Gagai, James Fisher-Harris, Mulitalo, Xavier Willison, Briton Nikora and Erin Clark also crossed for Stacey Jones’ team.

“Pretty special and pleased about how we went about our business,” said New Zealand captain Fisher-Harris.

“Fiji are a good team but I thought we played really well. It was a battle of the forwards.”

Fiji’s woes were not confined to the scoreline, with captain Apisai Koroisau suffering a suspected broken jaw and he clashed heads with Joseph Tapine in the eighth minute

Semi Valemei, who impressed with a hat-trick of tries against the Kangaroos, also left the field with a head injury during the first half.

Meanwhile, New Zealand will now face an anxious wait to discover if Mulitalo faces a tournament-ending ban for a high shot on Ronald Philitoga, which prompted a fracas involving Wakeham.

However, in his post-match news conference Kiwis head coach Jones confirmed that star full-back Kalyn Ponga, who broke his arm in the tournament opener against Australia on 15 October, has trained this week and could be involved in their last-four match against either Samoa, Tonga or England.

Samoa and Tonga meet on Sunday and both look set to advance from Pool B & C.

England’s slim hopes rest on the unlikely scenario of Tonga defeating Samoa by more than 46 points.

The losers of the contest between the Pacific Island rivals will take on Australia next.

Kevin Walters’ side maintained their 100% record in their final group match with a comfortable 66-6 success over the Cook Islands in Townsville.

Jack Bostock and Tom Trbojevic both scored three tries each in a game the Cook Islands briefly led 6-4 when Rua Ngatikaura went over and Valentine Holmes added the extras.

LeBron James scored 20 points, including a late tip-in, to help seal the Philadelphia 76ers’ 98-93 victory over the NBA champions New York Knicks on Friday.

The 76ers notched their second win of the young season over the Knicks after spoiling their championship banner-raising with a victory at Madison Square Garden on opening night.

The win had a double edge as Friday’s games marked the start of the fourth edition of the NBA Cup, the NBA in-season tournament won by the Knicks before they went on to beat the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals for their first championship since 1973.

Group-stage Cup games will be played throughout November, all counting in the regular-season standings. Quarterfinals will be played December 4-5 and semifinals December 8-9 before the final on December 11 at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Tyrese Maxey scored 27 points to lead the Sixers, who took control early against the sloppy Knicks.

They led by 14 in the third quarter and weathered a late Knicks surge.

Jalen Brunson’s step-back three-pointer put New York up 90-89 with 1:32 remaining.

James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, answered with a basket that put Philadelphia back in front and pushed the lead to 96-91 with a tip-in off a Maxey miss with 11.9 seconds left.

LeBron’s ‘best game’

James, 41, added nine rebounds, eight assists, one steal and a vintage chase-down block in what 76ers coach Nick Nurse called his best game since joining as a free agent in July.

“I thought he was really good all the way through,” Nurse said. “When we got some downhill stuff, he used his size and knocked them around a little bit for some layups … kind of pushed and organised it.

“He’s been good, but that was his best game, for sure.”

Brunson led New York with 24 points, and Karl-Anthony Towns added 22 points and 12 rebounds for the Knicks, who fell to 2-4.

The Dallas Mavericks, fuelled by 35 points from Kyrie Irving and 33 from Cooper Flagg, rallied to hand the Houston Rockets their first defeat of the season, 116-111.

The Rockets had emerged from a back-and-forth first half with a 51-44 lead, pushing the advantage to as many as 11 before taking an eight-point lead into the final frame.

Irving’s three-pointer with 7:01 remaining put Dallas back in front, and they wouldn’t trail again, the Mavs finding an answer when Houston twice pulled level in the final stretch.

“It felt good,” Irving said. “We came in at halftime, we weren’t proud of our effort. We looked each other in the eye, and we were just like, we’ve got to do better.

“We didn’t bring it in the first half, but the second half we definitely brought it.”

Curry climbs scoring list

Golden State star Stephen Curry scored 31 points to lead the Warriors to a 112-95 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in a rollercoaster contest in San Francisco.

The Lakers outscored the Warriors 38-15 in the first quarter, the Warriors erasing the 23-point deficit by outscoring Los Angeles 38-15 in the second to knot it 53-53 at halftime.

Luka Doncic scored 37 points for the Lakers. The night’s abiding image was of him crashing to the floor as he was wrong-footed by Curry – who fired over him for a three-pointer.

Curry took his career points tally to 26,674, surpassing Dominique Wilkins (26,668) for 18th on the all-time scoring list.

In Miami, Giannis Antetokounmpo delivered a triple-double of 31 points, 18 rebounds and 10 assists to propel the Heat to a 145-125 victory over the Indiana Pacers.

In Boston, the Celtics romped to a 125-111 victory over the Chicago Bulls. Payton Pritchard scored 30 points off the bench, and Jayson Tatum scored 26 for the Celtics, who led by as many as 32 points.

Orlando’s Desmond Bane scored 28 points, Franz Wagner added 26 and Wendell Carter chipped in 20 as the Magic fended off a late challenge to beat the Raptors 121-114 in Toronto.

The Magic drained 18 three-pointers and withstood a career-high 41-point performance from Toronto’s Scottie Barnes.

Detroit shook off a slow start to hand the winless Nets a fifth straight defeat in Brooklyn, where Cade Cunningham scored 20 points, and Ron Holland added 18 off the bench in a 110-94 Pistons victory.

A parade of short-priced winners opened the Breeders’ Cup on Friday, with the afternoon’s heaviest favorite capturing the headline race as Hughes won the $2 million Juvenile.

Hughes, named for New Jersey Devils forward and U.S. Olympic hockey hero Jack Hughes, held off American History and Salahudin in the 1 1/16-mile race at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Ky., to remain undefeated in five starts and clinch the 2-year-old championship.

The son of Into Mischief, ridden by Flavien Prat for trainer Bob Baffert, went off at odds of 4-5 and returned $3.64 after covering the distance in 1 minute 42.27 seconds.

The winner of the Juvenile normally is anointed the early favorite for next spring’s Kentucky Derby, but Hughes will have to vie for that label with U.S.S. Valor, who skipped the Juvenile after a very impressive win in the Champagne Stakes last month at Belmont Park.

Friday’s win was the third in a Grade 1 race for Hughes, following victories in the American Pharoah at Santa Anita and the Del Mar Futurity.

Baffert also had the favorite in the Juvenile Fillies, but Miss Monica was runner-up behind second choice Emphatic ($7.92). The other losing favorite was Folsom Blues, who was second in the Juvenile Turf behind third choice Haffner ($9.46).

The other races were won by favorites — Libertango ($5.74) in the Turf Sprint and Sun Goddess ($3.70) in the Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Ryan Moore rode Sun Goddess and Haffner for trainer Aidan O’Brien, who broke a tie with Baffert for most Breeders’ Cup wins (23-22).

There are nine more races Saturday beginning at 10:10 a.m. PDT. The final race, the $7 million Classic, is scheduled for 3:16 p.m.

England (0) 6

Try: Cousins Goal: Rowe

Samoa (12) 24

Tries: Crichton Ropati 3, Taulelei-Siala, Fanua Rimoni

Goal: Piliae-Rasabale Penalty: Piliae-Rasabale

England’s women took one step back in the hope of taking two forward as they exited the Rugby League World Cup at the group stage.

With Stuart Barrow’s side defeated by Samoa – despite a spirited display – their focus immediately shifts forward to 2030.

Whether that long-term strategy will bear dividends, though, is as uncertain as the location of the tournament in four years’ time, which is yet to be confirmed.

After reaching the semi-final stage at the previous four World Cups, England’s eye was clearly on the future this time.

That was reflected in Barrow’s thinking for this tournament when he named a squad containing 11 players aged 23 or under.

While the 70-6 rout of a Wales team ill-equipped to compete at this level on their bow had been anticipated and briefly raised expectation levels, what has followed has only underlined the gulf in class England still have to bridge.

And having been humbled again by the Jillaroos just under a week ago, any suggestions that the experience was the “best preparation” they could have for a make-or-break final group game were trashed on Friday in Wollongong.

Instead, the great power and pace of the Samoa players showed almost straight away.

Freedom Crichton Ropati twice went over in the right corner as England fought a rearguard action and the Parramatta Eels winger completed her hat-trick before the break as Samoa enjoyed a huge territorial advantage.

And it looked ominous for England when Mercedez Taulelei-Siala capitalised on a huge overload down the left to score straight after half-time and extend Samoa’s lead to 16-0.

However, when Evie Cousins, who had been in tears towards the end of the first period after failing to catch a routine high ball, skipped over in the left corner, after a superb line break from Hollie-Mae Dodd, it sparked England back into life.

Isabel Rowe added the extras and when Pauline Piliae-Rasabale elected to take two points from a penalty for Samoa it underlined the pressure that Barrow’s side had been able to apply.

While England went out in the last four on a dark and dank night in York four years ago, their departure from this World Cup was in an altogether more scenic setting, with the Pacific Ocean as the backdrop.

Had Fran Goldthorp been able to offload without her pass straying forward, when England had two players spare and the try-line at their mercy, it could have made for an entirely different conclusion.

Instead, when they then failed to find touch after winning a penalty, they were punished ruthlessly as Fanua Rimoni crashed over for Samoa’s fifth try to seal their passage into the last four and a meeting with New Zealand.

After a 1-1 draw in normal time, Liverpool win 6-5 to edge a narrow win after penalties in last-16 match at Liverpool.

Liverpool beat Chelsea 6-5 in a dramatic penalty shootout to reach the English League Cup quarterfinals.

In a clash between childhood friends Andoni Iraola and Xabi Alonso, it was the Liverpool manager who took the bragging rights in the last-16 tie at Anfield on Wednesday.

A 1-1 draw in normal time set the stage for the shoot-out as Chelsea’s Morgan Rogers netted from the spot, only for Cody Gakpo to equalise with a penalty of his own just before half-time.

Chelsea’s Valentin Barco hit the post in the shootout before Liverpool’s Kostas Tsimikas wasted a chance to win it when he blazed over.

Ryan Gravenberch was denied by Chelsea keeper Mike Penders, but Giorgi Mamardashvili saved Emmanuel Emegha’s kick to keep Liverpool alive.

After Joe Gomez scored for Liverpool, Blues defender Wesley Fofana miscued into the Kop as the hosts advanced.

It was former Liverpool midfielder Alonso’s third defeat in his three visits to Anfield as a manager, following losses with Bayer Leverkusen in 2024 and Real Madrid in 2025.

In their debut campaigns at Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp and Arne Slot both reached the League Cup final, and Iraola is on course to follow in their footsteps with the 10-time winners of the competition.

“We are really happy. Three wins at home in a row is very important. We were struggling at home in the league but now we go against Arsenal on Sunday,” said Iraola, who will face his former club Bournemouth in the last eight.

Alonso added: “Every time you reach the penalties, someone will feel it is harsh to go out of the competition.

“We were showing a good level and this is what it takes to come to these stadiums. The Premier League is the main focus.”

Alonso made just four changes to the Chelsea side that lost 2-0 at home to Tottenham on Saturday, while Iraola made seven changes from Liverpool’s 2-0 win against Brighton on Sunday.

Rogers put Chelsea in front with a 40th-minute penalty after Gravenberch clattered into Moises Caicedo.

But Liverpool were level three minutes later with a penalty of their own as Gakpo converted from the spot following Fofana’s handball.

The pros and cons of a stuttering run-up are under debate after two crucial penalty misses in the Carabao Cup last 16.

Chelsea midfielder Valentin Barco missed the Blues’ fourth penalty in their entertaining shootout defeat by Liverpool when he hit the post after a stuttered run-up.

Xabi Alonso’s side would be in the EFL Cup quarter-finals had he scored, but they crashed out as defender Wesley Fofana sent one in sudden death high into the Kop at Anfield.

Barco’s miss came after Arsenal midfielder Bruno Guimaraes had his spot-kick saved after a similar ‘stutter’ run-up as the Gunners crashed out against League Two Fleetwood Town on Tuesday night.

Both were shown how to do it by Liverpool defender Joe Gomez – a player who has never scored a senior goal in 319 professional appearances – who rifled the winning penalty into the top corner after a simple run-up.

Players opt for the stutter in a bid to trick the goalkeeper into giving them a clue as to which way they will dive.

The problem is it can backfire spectacularly if the goalkeeper holds their nerve or – in Barco’s case – the taker fails to hit the target.

Former Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta told ITV: “Every player picks his style where he feels confident, and for Valentin Barco, I believe that is his way of shooting it. I don’t believe that was his first time, I hope not!”

The ‘stutter’ penalty became a theme of this year’s World Cup. There were 26 at the summer’s tournament but 11 were missed.

The stop-start run-up technique does not have a strict definition but a player is allowed, under Fifa rules, to stop or feint in the run-up as long as they don’t do it directly before kicking the ball.

Even Harry Kane tried it in the summer and missed. His stuttering run-up led to Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic saving his penalty in England’s 4-2 win.

But because Livakovic came off his line early, Kane got a retake and smashed it home with a straightforward approach.

Arsenal and Brazil midfielder Guimaraes was one of those 11 to miss at the World Cup but did not change his approach at Fleetwood.

Some players have used it to their advantage. Brazil icon Pele was famous for it while Cristiano Ronaldo has used it with both success and failure.

Manchester United‘s Bruno Fernandes, former Chelsea and Arsenal midfielder Jorginho and Wolves striker Raul Jimenez are others who often use the ‘stutter’ style.

“I wouldn’t allow it if I was a manager,” former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy told TalkSport on Wednesday after Arsenal‘s defeat the night before.

“It is ridiculous, self-indulgence, a player trying to be the centre of attention.

“When they do the stutter they think the keeper might go, but they aren’t going that early, they aren’t being tricked any more. It is naive.”

But former Liverpool and Chelsea full-back Glen Johnson had a different view and pointed to the fact that Barco missed by mere inches.

“I like the technique,” he told ITV. “It gives the players a bit of time.

“W what confused me about that one [from Barco] is usually players are watching the keeper. He has moved, he has got it right and gone the right way but lifted it in the air for no reason.

“You have the whole goal to shoot at and that is the surprising part. He has already beaten the goalkeeper, he doesn’t have to hit it into the top corner.

“If he puts that ball three inches to the right you would say it is the best penalty you have seen.”

The surprising loss to Fleetwood, a team 84 places below Arsenal in the football pyramid, was made even worse by the fact that the Gunners’ under-21 team had beaten AFC Wimbledon, a side in a division higher than the hosts, on the same night in the EFL trophy.

The first incident of the match came with under two minutes on the clock when the game was stopped for more than eight minutes when a drown was flown above the pitch.

Perhaps Arsenal should have taken that as a warning.

Arteta named an experimental side and gave a debut to 18-year-old Ceadach O’Neill, started 17-year-old Marli Salmon at centre back, 16-year-old Dowman on the wing while goalkeepr Illan Meslier was making his first start for the club too.

But the Gunners boss surrounded that inexperience with seasoned internationals such as Jurrien Timber, Piero Hincapie, World Cup winner Martin Zubimendi, Champions League winner Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres.

All of those players played a huge part in the Gunners winning the Premier League title last season.

However, even after introducing captain Martin Odegaard and £75m signing Bruno Guimaraes from the bench, Arsenal produced a poor performance.

“First of all, congratulations to Fleetwood for going through the next round. The manner that they have done it, and for us a very sad day.” Arteta said of the result.

“There is nothing to criticise the players for their attitude, their application. The determination – you could see that was there from the start.

“Even with 10 men, we conceded a really poor goal to start with that gave them some momentum.”

The loss in this competition is not the Gunners’ first, but it does mean they have not won the League Cup for 33 years.

In 2012, Arsenal lost to League Two side Bradford City on penalties and they were also beaten by Championship side Sheffield Wednesday in 2015 at the same stage too.

With Dowman now suspended, Saka out for around six weeks, Tzolis working to return and Arteta revealing after the match that Madueke was unavailable with an injury, their options in the wide areas for the match with Liverpool on Sunday are looking slim.

Given their league positions, form and pedigree there could only have been one winner predicted.

Fleetwood played Arsenal on Tuesday with 83 places separating the teams and most home fans arriving in hope rather than any expectation. But remarkably, it was the hosts who booked their place in the Carabao Cup quarter-final thanks to their penalty shootout win over the Gunners.

For the Cod Army, who won six promotions in 12 years in their impressive journey from non-league, this result will surely be remembered longest of all. Against the reigning Premier League champions, the club from a small seaside town in Lancashire created history in claiming one of the biggest cup upsets ever.

Aaron Loupalo-Bi gave the hosts the lead after 21 minutes but, after the break, Viktor Gyokeres pulled the visitors level.

And from there, they might have been expected to take charge but Fleetwood remained resolute, prospering from a wasteful performance from Arsenal that included Max Dowman being sent off for kicking out after a robust challenge from Harrison Neal.

Fleetwood, who sit 18th in League Two having won just once in their past eight league games, dared to dream and took the game to penalties, with fans spilling on to the pitch in the after Conor Haughey’s decisive spot kick.

“The biggest night in the club’s history in terms of opposition coming to town and we’ve managed to beat the champions,” boss Matt Lawlor told Sky Sports in the aftermath of his side’s stunning victory.

“I’m a big football fan and I watch National League all the way through to the Premier League, Championship. So for me it was a tough game to prepare for, but I’m just so glad that the lads have the feeling the way they are and took that performance in to make that town, the club, everyone proud.”

Arsenal’s match with Fleetwood Town in the last-16 of the Carabao Cup was delayed for more than eight minutes after a drone was flown above the stadium during the match.

Referee Michael Salisbury stopped play with one minute and 40 seconds on the clock after spotting the drone flying above the pitch while Arsenal waited to take a free-kick at Highbury Stadium.

The game was halted while the referee spoke to the management and staff on both benches with police also investigating.

The match got back underway with 10 minutes on the clock; the commentator on Sky saying police had located the drone operator.

More to follow.

Georgia Roche replaces Jenna Foubister at half-back for England women, with Hope Millard stepping up to the bench for their must-win final group game.

England have to beat Samoa to finish second in Group A and qualify for the semi-finals.

They beat Wales 70-6 in their opener, but were thrashed 78-0 by reigning champions Australia in Perth last weekend.

Foubister, 19, started against Australia after a superb domestic season where she was named Super League Woman of Steel.

But she struggled against the strength of Australia, so coach Stu Barrow has opted for the experience of Roche instead.

The loss of key player Eva Hunter to a leg injury suffered against the Jillaroos has prompted a pack reshuffle, with Hollie-Mae Dodd moving from prop to the back row.

Mary Coleman comes in at prop as a result, while England are boosted by captain Jodie Cunningham overcoming an ear injury suffered last week to be named on the bench.

Georgia Wilson is in for Molly Jones in the centres, while Millard – the only heritage player left in the England set-up following Jasmin Strange’s tournament-ending knee injury – is back in the squad.

A win would earn England a semi-final spot, where they would most likely face New Zealand, who beat them in the last four of the previous World Cup in 2022.

England women: Fran Goldthorp, Anna Davies, Georgia Wilson, Connie Boyd, Amelia Brown, Izzy Rowe, Georgia Roche, Mary Coleman, Keara Bennett, Liv Wood, Lucy Murray, Hollie-Mae Dodd, Megan Williams.

Interchange: Jodie Cunningham, Vicky Whitfield, Hope Millard, Lucie Sams.

Reserves: Ruby Bruce, Evie Cousins, Molly Jones

The alleged incident happened in the final minute of the Group C match in Baku.

Immediately following the allegation, England head coach Matt Thorpe was seen on the match coverage on DAZN asking for the referee to come over, before calling his players off the pitch.

After an initial report from Thorpe, the referee told England’s coaching staff, “I cannot hear”.

One of Thorpe’s assistant coaches can then be heard telling the referee “we are reporting racism”, before adding “we do not want to play”.

When another official came over, talking about what would happen after the match, the assistant told him: “No, our players do not want to play”.

He was later heard saying that a player was “upset”.

Heated words were then exchanged between each set of coaching staff, with both saying they were trying to protect their players.

This is the first time the U15 World Cup and Festival has been played, and involves 189 countries and territories.

Matches are played in an eight-a-side format, on smaller pitches, with 20-minute halves.

England are scheduled to play their next match against Zimbabwe at 20:45 local time (16:45 GMT) on Monday, with Republic of Ireland facing Cambodia at the same time.

England have won the Cerebral Palsy World Cup for the first time by beating the United States 2-1 in a thrilling final.

The hosts took the lead in Atlanta from a corner with three minutes left but Sam Dewhirst equalised to take the tie to extra time.

And the Para Lions won it when David Porcher fired home after Dewhirst’s shot was saved.

England cerebral palsy head coach Jack Rutter said the win was historic for the sport.

“It feels unbelievable,” he said.

“The amount of sacrifice these players and staff have put in to achieve this goal is incredible.

“We were coming here with hope of maybe winning a medal and I can’t believe we actually won the World Cup for the first time.

“I’m very, very proud of all the staff and all the players.”

The win comes after England’s powerchair squad were beaten by France in their World Cup final on Friday., external