Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea: Diego Costa misses penalty but Blues tighten title grip

Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea

Chelsea strengthened their grip on the Premier League title with a 1-1 draw at Liverpool although Diego Costa missed a late penalty.

On a night where Arsenal and Tottenham dropped points, Chelsea, who remain nine points clear, took a first-half lead courtesy of a wonderfully executed 30-yard free-kick from David Luiz that caught Simon Mignolet unawares.

Georginio Wijnaldum headed an equaliser for Jurgen Klopp's team but they had to be thankful to Mignolet with 15 minutes remaining as he saved Costa's spot-kick after the Chelsea striker had been fouled by Joel Matip.

The result snapped a run of three straight defeats for Liverpool but they still remain winless in the Premier League in 2017.

Chelsea take on third-place Arsenal, live on Sky Sports, on Saturday lunchtime.

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Liverpool were boosted pre-match with the return of Sadio Mane to their ranks, although he was only fit enough for a place on the bench. Chelsea kept to their tried and tested formula that had won 15 of their last 16 Premier League games, making just one change as Pedro was given a rest with Willian coming in.

Klopp's men tried to get in Chelsea's faces in the early stages, but the visitors were in wily mood as they sat deep and took the sting out of Liverpool's high press.

Wijnaldum stung the palms of Thibaut Courtois on 12 minutes but that was Liverpool's only shot on target of the first-half.

David Luiz scored from a free-kick at Anfield

Chelsea looked a threat when Eden Hazard and Costa got the ball in Liverpool's final third, and it was the former being tripped by Adam Lallana in the 24th minute, which paved the way for Luiz to open the scoring.

Willian lined the set-piece up but Luiz took the initiative while Mignolet was still getting himself set and fired an arrow-like effort into the net via the post. Liverpool complained to referee Mark Clattenburg but he had clearly whistled four seconds before Luiz struck the ball. It was the Brazilian's first goal since returning from Paris Saint-Germain last summer.

Moments later, a free-kick from a similar position by Willian had to be palmed away by Mignolet as the ball skidded off the sodden Anfield turf.

Liverpool managed to open up Chelsea for the first time after 49 minutes but Roberto Fimino miscued an effort from 12 yards into the stands when well found by Nathaniel Clyne.

But the Anfield faithful were celebrating an equaliser eight minutes later. Jordan Henderson chipped a magnificent ball to the back post, where James Milner was waiting. The full-back kept his cool and headed back across goal and Wijnaldum climbed highest to bundle head home.

Diego Costa of Chelsea and Joel Matip of Liverpool compete for the ball

The equaliser changed the atmosphere inside the stadium but Chelsea rode the storm and hit Liverpool on the break with 15 minutes left.

Cotsa, who had run Matip ragged all night, turned the defender inside the area and after a collision of knees, the Blues top scorer hit the deck. Clattenburg pointed straight to the spot.

With Arsenal losing at Watford and Spurs drawing at Sunderland, this was a penalty that could take Chelsea 11 points clear at the top.

Costa stepped up but - despite striking it with power - Mignolet guessed correctly and clawed the ball behind for a corner.

Both teams had chances to win it in injury time as Firmino headed straight at Courtois and Pedro curled an effort inches wide from the edge of the box.

Diego Costa was unable to secure a win for Chelsea

Player Ratings

Chelsea: Courtois (7), Azpilicueta (7), David Luiz (8), Cahill (7), Moses (5), Kante (8), Matic (7), Alonso (6), Willian (7), Diego Costa (7), Hazard (7)

Subs: Fabregas (7), Pedro (6), Batshuayi (6)

Liverpool: Mignolet (6), Clyne (7), Lovren (5), Matip (5), Milner (7), Henderson (7), Can (6), Wijnaldum (7), Lallana (6), Coutinho (6), Firmino (6)

Subs: Mane (6), Origi (6)

Man of the match: N'Golo Kante

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Sutton 1-0 Leeds: Jamie Collins penalty fires Sutton into FA Cup fifth round

Jamie Collins was the hero as Sutton United made more FA Cup history at the expense of much-changed Leeds

Garry Monk's team selection backfired as Jamie Collins' unanswered penalty humbled Leeds and fired non-league Sutton into the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time in their history.

Collins kept his cool from the spot (53) after a mix-up at the back saw Maxime Biamou upended as the part-timers, who famously ousted top-flight opposition back in 1989, made fresh memories at the expense of the Championship heavyweights.

The hosts had seen an early Roarie Deacon goal disallowed and been thwarted by a series of Marco Silvestri saves but the belated breakthrough was richly deserved and a young Leeds side - who saw Liam Cooper sent off late on - never really threatened to force even a face-saving replay.

Fans flooded Gander Green Lane's 3G pitch at the final whistle as Paul Doswell's National League side - 84 places below their opponents in the __football pyramid - evoked the spirit of the team that toppled Coventry 28 years ago to embarrass their guests and join fellow underdogs Lincoln in the last 16.

Jamie Collins sent Silvestri the wrong way from the penalty spot

Monk had warned of changes with a midweek game at Blackburn looming for his promotion-chasers and made 10 of them, Stuart Dallas the only man to keep his place from a Nottingham Forest victory that had lifted Leeds third and brought greater ambitions into sharper focus.

The visitors - who hit six when the sides last met here in 1970 - played keep-ball in the opening stages, feeling their way around the artificial surface in the driving rain, but they were saved by an early offside flag, Deacon racing onto Dan Spence's punt forward but dubiously ruled to have strayed by the time he blasted high into the net (6).

Kalvin Phillips was part of a young Leeds side as Garry Monk prioritised the club's promotion push

A long Nicky Bailey ball caused fleeting panic but Silvestri was forced into real action with 12 minutes on the clock when Deacon - who had scored in each previous rounds and was a menace once more - swivelled and drew a one-handed stop.

Bedsente Gomis was afforded a snapshot before Deacon cut inside again and took aim, only to find Cooper in the way, as amber shirts beat white ones to first and second balls.

It took Leeds until the half-hour to really test Ross Worner, Dallas glimpsing goal but seeing a curling effort deflected, yet Deacon sent Silvestri sprawling again and manager Doswell could well have felt hard done-by as he returned for the second half - steaming mug of tea in hand - without an advantage.

Marco Silvestri and Lewie Coyle tussle with Maxime Biamou in the incident that prompted the penalty

But the man not paid a Sutton salary and in the construction trade by day was punching the air just minutes after the restart following some shambolic Leeds defending.

Silvestre darted off his line to meet Biamou but succeeded only in colliding with a dithering Lewie Coyle, the Sutton forward falling to the the turf and referee Stuart Attwell pointing to the spot.

Collins stepped up and sent Silvestri the wrong way to spark wild celebrations on the old-style terraces as Monk looked on grimly.

Jamie Collins is mobbed by Sutton United fans after the FA Cup win over Leeds

The Leeds boss threw on Hadi Sacko and Kemar Roofe but Sutton rarely relented and the matchwinner went close to a second when he connected with a late free-kick at the back post.

Cooper's trip on Craig Eastmond moments earlier had earned him a second yellow card but Monk's men offered scant promise of wrestling back momentum before their afternoon got worse.

Attwell's whistle at the end prompted a joyous pitch invasion as humiliated Leeds made a hasty exit towards the tunnel, Sutton's triumph for a new generation ensuring that two non-league sides have got this far for the first time in the tournament's modern era.

West Ham accuse Dimitri Payet of lack of respect after £25m sale to Marseille

David Sullivan says he wanted to make an example of Dimitri Payet

West Ham lashed out at Dimitri Payet after selling him to Marseille, accusing the attacker of a lack of respect.

Hammers' co-chairman David Sullivan issued a statement as Payet's £25m move back to his former club was announced, stating that he wanted to make an example of him and keep him at the club.

Sullivan said it was manager Slaven Bilic and his squad that wanted Payet out of the London Stadium once and for all.

Payet refused to play in recent matches after signing a new deal last year

He said: "The club would like to place on record its sincere disappointment that Dimitri Payet did not show the same commitment and respect to West Ham United that the club and fans showed him, particularly when it rewarded him with a lucrative new five-and-half-year deal only last year.

"I would like to make it clear that we have no financial need to sell our best players and that the decision to allow Payet to leave was in accordance with the wishes of the manager and the interests of squad unity.

"To be frank, my board and I would have preferred for him to have stayed in order to make an example of him, as no player is bigger than the club.

Payet returns to his former club 18 months after leaving for West Ham

"I am confident that with the quality of the players we have brought in during January already, the squad will be stronger at the end of this transfer window than it was at the start.

"We now look forward to building on our recent good run of form with five league wins in the last seven matches as we focus on continuing our rise up the Premier League table."

There had been a protracted stalemate over the transfer fee but West Ham finally agreed to Marseille's final £25m offer on Sunday, after accepting the insertion of a 25 per cent sell-on clause.

Payet leaves West Ham having scored 15 goals in 60 appearances for West Ham.

Also See:

• Marseille announce Payet signing
• Hammers want 'keeper Hart
• Noble 'angry and disappointed'
• Payet refusing to play

Cameroon knocked favourites Senegal out of the Africa Cup of Nations with a penalty shoot-out victory to book their place in the semi-finals.

Sadio Mane: Missed crucial spot-kick

After a goalless 120 minutes at the Stade de Franceville, Sadio Mane proved the fall guy and Cameroon goalkeeper Joseph Ondoa the hero as he saved the Liverpool winger's spot-kick.

In scenes reminiscent of Cameroon's 2002 final victory in this tournament over the same opponents, Vincent Aboubakar then made no mistake with his penalty to seal the deal 5-4.

Four-time champions Senegal made the running from the outset but exited with nothing to show, while Cameroon go on to face either Congo or Ghana next.

Before the half-hour mark, Mane put Mame Diouf through - but the Stoke striker was closed down by the busy Ondoa and put the ball over the crossbar.

Abdoulaye Diallo was seeing precious little action in the Senegal goal but had to be alert at his near post when Benjamin Moukandjo had a breakaway half-chance from close range in the 36th minute.

Ondoa reacted well early in the second half to keep out Mane's header and did enough to stop Keita Balde Diao's follow-up challenge almost on the goalline.

Cameroon very nearly took a surprise lead in the 66th minute when the ball broke to Moukandjo in the penalty area before Diallo dived low to his right to stop his effort across goal.

Mane and substitute Moussa Sow both had good opportunities as Senegal pressed for a late winner, but - when needed - Ondoa proved too good.

In extra-time it was again Diallo who kept the scores level, moving smartly to stop substitute Jacques Zoua scoring from six yards after combining well with Aboubakar.

In the end, though, Senegal were thwarted.

Substitute Aristide Bance struck with an 81st-minute free-kick to help Burkina Faso into the semi-finals of the African Nations Cup at the expense of Tunisia.

Burkina players Aristide Bance, Herve Kouakou Koffi and Bakary Kone celebrate at full-time

Bance's right-foot shot into the bottom corner, from a set-piece awarded after Syam Ben Youssef's handball, put Burkina Faso on course for a 2-0 win in Libreville to go through to face either Egypt or Morocco.

Bance almost made it 2-0 in Burkina Faso's next attack but hit the post this time, and instead it fell to Prejuce Nakoulma to settle the match in the 84th minute after being left in the clear on the counter-attack.

The first clear-cut chance of a tight match had fallen to Nakoulma just before the quarter-hour when he was put through by Bertrand Traore but blazed his right-foot shot over.

Seven minutes later, Traore's deft left-foot shot grazed the bar on its way over.

Tunisia might easily have conceded a penalty before the half-hour, but Hamdi Naguez's blatant shirt-tugging in the box was not spotted by the referee.

Tunisia's best chances came in quick succession soon afterwards.

Mohamed Ben Amor had room to shoot when a free-kick was worked back to him, but he curled his right-foot effort wide, and then Mohamed Ali Yacoubi could not quite get on the end of a flick header from a corner.

Just after the hour, Bakary Kone got on the end of Charles Kabore's deep free-kick only to head over the Tunisia bar, but Bance's arrival heralded a telling change of fortune for Burkina Faso.

Lincoln shock Brighton; Reds woe

A review of Saturday's FA Cup fourth round action as non-league Lincoln City went through and Liverpool crashed out.

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Vanarama National League side Lincoln pulled off another FA Cup shock as they knocked Sky Bet Championship leaders Brighton out in the fourth round with a 3-1 win at Sincil Bank.

Premier League Tottenham needed two late goals to beat League Two Wycombe 4-3 at White Hart Lane, while Liverpool lost at home to Wolves.

Lincoln, who beat Ipswich after a replay in round three, had to come from behind after Richie Towell put the Championship side ahead on 24 minutes.

The Imps, currently top of the National League, were handed a way back into the tie on 57 minutes. Glenn Murray grappled with Robinson, and Alan Power converted the spot-kick past substitute goalkeeper Casper Ankergren, who replaced the injured Niki Maenpaa.

An own-goal from Seagulls defender Fikayo Tomori, who is on loan from Chelsea, put the non-league side in front on 62 minutes.

Robinson added a third on the break to secure Lincoln's place in the FA Cup fifth round for only the second time since losing to Glasgow Rangers in 1886-87.

Wycombe went ahead at Spurs on 23 minutes when captain Paul Hayes fired a volley past Michel Vorm.

Spurs, who showed nine changes from the starting XI which drew at Manchester City, were stunned again when Hayes converted a penalty in the 36th minute.

Son Heung-min pulled the Premier League side back into the tie on the hour and Vincent Janssen levelled when the Dutchman slotted in a 65th-minute penalty.

However, the Chairboys - fifth in League Two - silenced the White Hart Lane faithful once again as Garry Thompson headed home with just seven minutes left.

England playmaker Alli, though, dashed dreams of a massive FA Cup upset before Son completed a dramatic victory in stoppage time.

An afternoon of unexpected results had started with Wolves' win over Liverpool at Anfield in the lunchtime kick-off.

The Sky Bet Championship side were ahead after just 52 seconds when Richard Stearman glanced in a free-kick at the far post.

The Reds, who were beaten in their EFL Cup semi-final second leg by Southampton on Wednesday night, fell further behind just before the break when Andreas Weimann, on loan from Derby, slotted in after a swift counter attack.

Divock Origi pulled a goal back for Jurgen Klopp's much-changed side with five minutes left, but Wolves held out for the closing stages to claim another Premier League scalp after knocking out Stoke in round three.

Theo Walcott's hat-trick helped Arsenal coast past Southampton 5-0 in the late game, with Danny Welbeck also scoring his first goals in eight months.

Welbeck netted twice in just his fourth outing since a second bout of serious knee trouble, before Walcott stole a treble as the Gunners thumped the lacklustre EFL Cup finalists at St Mary's.

Welbeck's double strike offered hope for a future resurgence, and the end to two years dogged by knee problems.

The former Manchester United forward last troubled the scorers in Arsenal's 1-0 Premier League win over Norwich on April 30. But on the south coast he appeared close to full throttle.

Arsene Wenger watched Arsenal's cakewalk from the directors' box, serving the first of a four-match touchline ban for pushing fourth official Anthony Taylor during the frenzied 2-1 win over Burnley last weekend.

Earlier, Championship high-flyers Newcastle were left to concentrate on their promotion bid after losing 3-0 at League One Oxford.

Kane Hemmings fired the U's in front two minutes into the second half.

Aleksandar Mitrovic had the chance to level from a penalty on 67 minutes, but the Serbian's spot-kick was saved by Simon Eastwood.

With nine minutes left, Curtis Nelson headed home from a corner and Antonio Martinez nodded in a late third.

There was, though, no such trouble for Premier League leaders Chelsea, who saw off Brentford 4-0 at Stamford Bridge.

Willian opened the scoring on 14 minutes with a fine free-kick, before Spanish forward Pedro made it 2-0 before the break.

Substitute Branislav Ivanovic - who is reportedly set for a move away from Stamford Bridge before the end of the transfer window - added a third on 69 minutes and Michy Batshuayi scored a late penalty.

Manchester City ran out 3-0 winners at Premier League strugglers Crystal Palace.

Winger Raheem Sterling broke the deadlock just before half-time, with Leroy Sane and Yaya Toure, in the last minute, completing a comfortable afternoon in south London for Pep Guardiola's men.

Middlesbrough saw off League Two Accrington Stanley at the Riverside Stadium with a 25-yard effort from Stewart Downing in the second half.

Burnley beat Bristol City 2-0 at Turf Moor, where Wales forward Sam Vokes and Belgian Steven Defour were on target.

Huddersfield won 4-0 at Rochdale. German forward Collin Quaner, signed from Union Berlin, scored on his debut before a penalty from Isaiah Brown and a late double for Michael Hefele secured the Terriers' place in the last 16.

Blackburn beat Blackpool 2-0, as the visitors finished with 10 men at Ewood Park.

Sam Gallagher put Rovers ahead on nine minutes, with winger Elliott Bennett doubling the lead in the 22nd minute before Blackpool midfielder Kelvin Mellor collected a second caution midway through the second half.

Scunthorpe battle to the top

A review of Saturday's action in Sky Bet League One as Scunthorpe came from behind to beat Port Vale and move to the top.

Tom Hopper was among the scorers for Scunthorpe

Scunthorpe came from behind to climb back to the top of the Sky Bet League One table with a 3-2 victory over Port Vale.

Tyler Walker gave the Valiants a half-time lead before Josh Morris levelled from the penalty spot four minutes after the interval but JJ Hooper restored Vale's lead after 59 minutes.

Ivan Toney quickly hauled Scunthorpe level again and Tom Hopper struck the winner 19 minutes from time.

Bolton missed the chance to close the gap on second-place Sheffield United after going down 2-1 to 10-man Charlton.

Lewis Page was sent off just 11 minutes into the contest before Zach Clough put Wanderers ahead two minutes later.

However, goals from Patrick Bauer and Nathan Byrne ensured the Addicks took home the points.

David Ball's last-minute equaliser saw Fleetwood move level on 50 points with Bolton after a 1-1 draw with Southend. Anthony Wordsworth had scored late in the first half for the Shrimpers.

Rory McArdle hit the winner as Bradford kept the pressure on the top four with a 2-1 win over struggling Oldham. Oldham defender Brian Wilson had cancelled out Romain Vincelot's 14th-minute goal.

Rochdale slipped four points behind Bradford after seeing their clash at AFC Wimbledon postponed due to their FA Cup commitments.

Former Swindon striker Billy Bodin struck the only goal to give Bristol Rovers the bragging rights from a 1-0 West Country derby victory over the Robins.

Chukwuemeka Aneke bagged a brace as MK Dons eased to a 4-0 win at Peterborough.

Harry Barnes opened the scoring after 59 minutes and Kieran Agard doubled that advantage before Aneke made the game save with a late double.

Tom Soares struck in stoppage time as Bury claimed a point from a thrilling 3-3 draw with Walsall.

James Vaughan and Reece Brown saw the Shakers take a 2-0 lead into the break but three goals in eight minutes from Erhun Oztumer and Jason McCarthy (two) turned the game in Walsall's favour.

However, Soares was on target late on to ensure bury enjoyed a share of the spoils.

Keshi Anderson hit a hat-trick to lead Northampton to a 3-0 win over bottom-placed Coventry, who saw Jordan Willis sent off in the 19th minute.

Gillingham and Shrewsbury played out a 1-1 draw at Priestfield, Shrews midfielder Alex Rodman cancelling out Deji Oshilaja's first-half goal.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admits it is not possible to get any lower after a second cup exit in the space of three days.

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A 2-1 home FA Cup loss to 18th-placed Sky Bet Championship side Wolves after a defeat to Southampton in an EFL Cup semi-final came on the back of a first home Premier League reverse in a year against Swansea, which saw the Reds also fall out of the title race.

Klopp accepted full responsibility for the latest upset and refused to sugar-coat the situation he now finds himself in having lost three successive matches for the first time since taking over in October 2015.

However, he believes it has to form the basis to spark a rejuvenation of a side which has won just once - against League Two Plymouth - in 2017.

"If someone asks if this is the lowest point of my Liverpool time until now, I don't know," he said.

"But if it is it is a perfect moment to turn because it is not possible to go lower.

"I don't think it is the right time to talk about being positive or optimistic. In this moment we feel really bad.

"It is absolutely right that it feels bad and we have to use it in this moment."

Klopp made nine changes from the midweek defeat to Southampton and they conceded a Richard Stearman header after just 52 seconds with an unmarked Andreas Weimann doubling their lead just before half-time.

Divock Origi sparked a frantic last five minutes with a close-range strike but it was too little, too late, as Wolves became the seventh lower-division team this millennium to knock the Reds out of the FA Cup.

"We made a lot of changes, most of them because we couldn't do differently, a few because we wanted," added Klopp.

"In our situation, after losing two games (we are) not full of confidence, not flying and the start of the game doesn't make it easier: a free-kick after a minute and a goal makes them fly.

"It makes everything easier for them and everything more difficult for us so we should have avoided a start like this but there were still 93, 94, 95 minutes to go.

"In the first half we were too static, not fluent enough and that side didn't play too often together but it should have been better.

"Second half it was better, We could have scored two times.

"I am responsible and I feel really responsible for this performance because I thought we could do better.

"I cannot explain every single thing of today but I don't look for excuses."

Remarkably Wolves boss Paul Lambert has never lost at Anfield but he felt this result surpassed all his previous visits.

"I have never been beaten here as a player or manager: that is with Celtic, Villa and Norwich," said the Scot, who made seven changes himself.

"But that surpasses everything because of the gulf in the league and the players.

"I thought we deserved it, I really did. The first goal gave us something to hold on to, on the counter attack I thought we were incredible and what we have got is incredible team spirit.

"I just thought if the young players could hold their nerve with the crowd and thrive on the atmosphere rather than fear it we would have a chance as a team.

"If you have a good team spirit and have the fans and the team bouncing off each other you have a chance."

Liverpool's January slump

Liverpool have started 2017 with a run of one win in eight games and two cup exits. Here are the details...

Wolves added to a miserable January for Jurgen Klopp and January

After an impressive start to the season, Liverpool have won just one of their last eight matches.

Here, we take a look at a dismal January so far, with a visit from Premier League leaders Chelsea still to come on Tuesday night.

January 2: Sunderland 2-2 Liverpool (Premier League)
When Daniel Sturridge scored in the 19th minute, Liverpool looked set for a routine win against the relegation strugglers. However, Jermain Defoe's penalty levelled the scores before Sadio Mane put Jurgen Klopp's side ahead again in the second half. The forward then handled the ball in his own box and Defoe made no mistake from 12 yards again to deny Klopp all three points.

January 8: Liverpool 0-0 Plymouth (FA Cup third round)
Despite bringing on Sturridge, Adam Lallana and Roberto Firmino, a resolute Plymouth defence held on to force a third-round replay at Home Park.

January 11: Southampton 1-0 Liverpool (EFL Cup SF 1st leg)
Nathan Redmond broke the deadlock in the first half to give Southampton a slender lead heading into the second leg of the semi-final. The winger could have scored more but was denied by the woodwork and several good saves by Loris Karius.

January 15: Manchester United 1-1 Liverpool (Premier League)
After taking the lead at Old Trafford through James Milner's penalty, Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored a late equaliser in a back and forth encounter. It was not a disastrous result for the Reds as they ended United's nine-match winning run in all competitions.

January 18: Plymouth 0-1 Liverpool (FA Cup third-round replay)
A rare header from Lucas was enough to earn Liverpool an FA Cup fourth round tie against Wolves.

January 21: Liverpool 2-3 Swansea (Premier League)
After a goalless first half, Fernando Llorente's double gave Swansea a two-goal lead before Firmino struck twice to level the scores. However, Gylfi Sigurdsson scored a late winner to give the Swans their first league victory at Anfield.

January 25: Liverpool 0-1 Southampton (EFL Cup SF 2nd leg)
In the second leg of the semi-final, the Saints spurned several chances before Shane Long finished off a counter-attack in stoppage time to seal a 2-0 aggregate win.

January 28: Liverpool 1-2 Wolves (FA Cup fourth round)
Championship Wolves got off to the perfect start as Richard Stearman headed in Helder Costa's free-kick in the first minute. Their lead was doubled before half-time when Andreas Weimann rounded Karius and slotted into an empty net. Although Divock Origi scored a late goal, Liverpool exited their second cup competition in less than 72 hours.

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Sunday's FA Cup predictions

Our __football experts look ahead to Sunday's FA Cup fourth-round action, including Man United hosting Wigan.

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There are four FA Cup ties to look forward on Sunday January 29, three of which are on television including Manchester United against Wigan.

Millwall take on Watford and Fulham host Hull, while non-league Sutton United play host to in-form Sky Bet Championship side Leeds.

Here, our __football betting experts David John and Matt Brocklebank preview the action.

Sunday's FA Cup best bets:

1pt Millwall to score first v Watford

1pt Leeds (-2) v Sutton United

2pts Fulham to beat Hull and over 2.5 goals

Millwall v Watford (1200 GMT, BBC One)

This has all the trappings of delivering some entertaining fare at Millwall with the lower league hosts in prime form at the moment and hardly likely to be overawed having dumped out an under-strength Bournemouth in the third round. Not for the first time in the sport, serious ramifications off the field surrounding potential re-location of the club seems to have galvanised the playing staff with an unbeaten run of seven games and four straight victories at The Den in front of some of the most exuberant, let's say, fans in the country. Watford secured creditable draws in the Premier League recently on the road at Middlesbrough and Bournemouth with the feeling inside the camp they might have turned a bit of a corner now some key players are back from injury. Manager Walter Mazzarri has also added Mauro Zarate and M'Baye Niang to boost his options up front and it will be interesting to see if the much-travelled Argentine is immediately tossed into the fray. The atmosphere will ensure this one is not for the faint-hearted and I doubt excellent home boss Neil Harris will not have to say too many words in the dressing room before kick-off to get his team well and truly fired up. The statistical nuts and bolts of their eye-catching run of home form, which includes breaking the deadlock twice inside the first 13 minutes, leads me towards a bet on Millwall to score first - it could be the first of a handful in the contest. (DJ)

Fulham v Hull City (1230 GMT)

Fulham are clear favourites here and it's certainly not hard to see this being one too many games for an injury-ravaged Hull side juggling their battle for Premier League survival with cup commitments. They obviously haven't had much of a turnaround after another stoic display when breaking Manchester United's unbeaten run but bowing out of the EFL Cup semi-finals on Thursday night and also have the added strains of the transfer window rumbling along in the background, during which they've lost prized asset Robert Snodgrass. So preparations ahead of a fourth-round FA Cup clash with a capable Fulham side are likely to have been limited and while the Tigers have showed great spirit in the face of adversity throughout most of the season, they simply can't keep going back to the well. With Man United, Liverpool and Arsenal to follow immediately afterwards, Marco Silva could be excused for taking his eye off the ball slightly and trying to rest key players again. It's not like he's got a huge number of fully-fit squad members to call upon, however, and if Fulham can put their best foot forward then they could have some fun at their top-flight opponents' expense. Slavisa Jokanovic won't have given up hope of a play-off push as they sit just five points behind the top six and while their league standing owes greatly to a strong record on the road (third in the 'away table'), they've got it together at Craven Cottage of late too, with just one defeat in their last eight at home coming in a 2-1 loss against leaders Brighton. Fulham make plenty of appeal at odds-against but it could be worth spicing things up by the addition of over 2.5 goals to the bet. Fulham have been quite low scoring in recent weeks but have cut loose on a couple of occasions earlier in the campaign - winning 5-0 against Huddersfield and Reading, while also drawing 4-4 at Wolves. There's definitely the scope for another high-scoring affair and if it develops into a shootout I only want the hosts on side. (MB)

Sutton United v Leeds (1400 GMT, BT Sport 2)

It's clichéd to suggest Sutton are already the winners ahead of their lucrative televised fourth-round clash with Leeds, but manager Paul Doswell's remarks after his non-league side came from behind to knock AFC Wimbledon out in the third round told a tale. "No disrespect to Leeds but if they make seven or eight changes against us I think we will have a chance," he offered. One element of this tie he also touched upon, which the layers seem to think may have more of an impact on proceedings than how many alterations Garry Monk makes to his team, is the state of the 3G Astroturf pitch at Gander Green Lane. "No one likes playing on it apart from us it seems. We are very good on it," Doswell added in a state of delirium after his side wrote the latest chapter in the club's FA Cup history last week. He might well be right that the U's are comfortable playing on the alternative surface but I'm far from convinced this modern pitch is going to come as a wild shock to Leeds and act as some form of leveller, like an old-fashioned mud-bath may have done in years gone by. They adapted well after a slow start against Cambridge in the previous round, a game in which they fell behind before producing a thoroughly professional second-half display to turn things around. Leeds backed that up with a home win over Derby and although edged out by Barnsley in an entertaining five-goal Yorkshire derby last weekend, a midweek win over Nottingham Forest propelled them up to third in the Sky Bet Championship. It's a position from which expectations in the league are bound to grow and Monk could certainly make the seven or eight changes Doswell was hoping for, with half an eye on Blackburn away on Wednesday, but there's genuine depth to this squad at present and as long as they don't do anything silly early on, we should see a comfortable win for the superior side. (MB)

Manchester United v Wigan (1600 GMT, BBC One)

It wasn't particularly straightforward in the end but with a place in the EFL Cup final secured thanks to a 3-2 aggregate victory over Hull, United look sure to ring the changes here. Sergio Romero is expected to get a run-out in goal, while Paul Pogba, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan are likely to be among those given a rest completely. That was the case in the last round but Mourinho could still put out a strong-looking side, with Wayne Rooney, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford all on target in a 4-0 victory over Reading and there shouldn't be too much cause for concern as they welcome Sky Bet Championship strugglers Wigan, who have mustered just three away wins all season. They dumped Nottingham Forest out in the third round and have built on that since with league victories over Burton and Brentford, which has seen Warren Joyce gain some stability at the helm since taking over in early-November. It's 20/1 and bigger if you fancy a shocker and 15/2 against a replay being required, but Wigan don't score many on the road and backing a home win to nil is the way to get with United for those wishing to have an interest. The last 10 head-to-heads between the clubs have seen the Red Devils prevail by an aggregate 33-2, eight of the games resulting in Wigan failing to register, and it's hard to make much of a case for the current Latics bucking the trend. (MB)

Beckham: Youngsters had to dance

David Beckham has revealed young players were forced to perform "a funny dance" in front of senior professionals at Manchester United as a punishment for stepping out of line.

David Beckham: A Manchester United legend

The former England captain was asked about the current child sex abuse scandal in __football during his appearance on BBC Radio Four's Desert Island Discs.

"There was never anything at Manchester United and it is disgraceful what has gone on and there has to be something done about it," he told presenter Kirsty Young.

"The closest part would have been certain professionals that if we had gone out of line they would have made us do a funny dance in the middle of the changing room in front of the professionals, in front of our heroes at the time."

Beckham said it was humiliating, adding: "That was all it was, but that was just to teach us a lesson - there was never any wrong-doing."

The 41-year-old signed for the Premier League club aged 16 and was part of the Class of '92 which included Ryan Giggs, Gary and Phil Neville, Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes.

In a wide-ranging interview on the 75th anniversary edition of Desert Island Discs, which is being broadcast on Sunday at 11.15am, Beckham did not pick a single record from his wife Victoria's Spice Girls discography.

The 41-year-old did however reveal a number of personal memories and stories, including:

• His collection of __football boots competes with Victoria's shoe collection
• The only praise he got from his father Ted was when he got his 100th cap for England
• When he first started dating Victoria they would sit in his BMW in a Harvester car park to "just kiss" and "have time together"
• When he was sold to Real Madrid he did not watch a Manchester United game for three years

Beckham, who is an ambassador for Unicef, said he keeps all his England caps at his house and his "precious" medals in a safe in a bank.

"I have so many pairs of boots, over a thousand pairs of boots. I keep them in storage. They are in boxes."

Asked by Young if it competes with Victoria's shoe collection he replied: "It does actually."

Beckham said his mother and father had made many sacrifices over the years in order to achieve his dream of being a footballer. However getting praise from his father was rare.

He said: "I knew that my dad would always be proud of my achievements. The only time my dad turned round to me and said 'you know what son, you have done really well' was when I got my 100th cap for England.

"It makes me emotional. Everybody wants to make their parents proud."

Beckham admitted it was difficult when he started dating the then Victoria Adams, given their celebrity status. He said her manager Simon Fuller wanted to keep the relationship quiet so the footballer used to drive to see his new girlfriend in his "amazing bright blue" BMW.

"We used to sit in a Harvester car park and we just used to kiss, of course, and spend time together," he said.

The pair married in 1999 and for the wedding they wore purple outfits.

"That was bold," said Beckham. "What was I thinking?"

The father-of-four stressed how important his family was to him and they have worked together "as a unit" through difficult periods and "mistakes over the years".

He said: "Do we stay together because it's a brand?. Of course not, we stay together because we love each other. We stay together because we have four amazing children."

Beckham revealed he was "shocked and devastated" when he found out United were selling him to Real Madrid in 2003.

"I honestly did not watch Manchester United play for three years," he said.

Beckham's eight disc choices included 'Every Time We Say Goodbye' by Ella Fitzgerald, 'I Am The Resurrection' by the Stone Roses and 'Si Tu Vois Ma Mere' by Sidney Bechet.

His England caps were his luxury item and his book was the cookery book 'On Fire' by Francis Mallmann.

Antonio Conte offers no assurances for Branislav Ivanovic's Chelsea future

Branislav Ivanovic's Chelsea future is not yet certain, according to Antonio Conte

Antonio Conte has offered no assurances over Branislav Ivanovic's Chelsea future as the transfer window draws to a close.

Ivanovic, who turns 33 in February, has won every major honour at the club since joining from Lokomotiv Moscow in January 2008, making more than 350 appearances.

However, having operated primarily as a right-back in recent seasons, Ivanovic has fallen out of favour in Conte's preferred 3-4-3 formation.

Ivanovic has been linked with moves to Zenit St Petersburg and Everton in the January transfer window, and was not in the matchday squad for last weekend's win over Hull.

"I don't know if anything happens about him," Conte said.

"There are four days (remaining of the transfer window) and, in this month, there is a lot of speculation."

Ivanovic has not started a Premier League game for Chelsea since the defeat to Arsenal in September

Ivanovic's last Premier League start came in the defeat to Arsenal in September. Chelsea subsequently enjoyed a 13-match winning run, with Victor Moses preferred as right wing-back and Cesar Azpilicueta on the right of a three-man central defence.

The Serbia international will be in Chelsea's squad to face Brentford in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday, but there may still be no starting place for Ivanovic in Conte's tactical system.

"When I switched to three at the back, something changed and, for sure, I have to make decisions," Conte added.

"I think that, until now, he's always involved in our squad."

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Conte does plan to rotate his options against Brentford due to the proximity of key games against Premier League title rivals, with Chelsea set to play Liverpool next Tuesday night and Arsenal four days later on February 4.

Conte said: "We play two games very tough against two rivals to win the league, but for me now my focus, my concentration is to go into the next round of the FA Cup.

"I hope the same thought is in the mind of my players. It's an opportunity for us - for me - to see many players who are not playing."

Also See:

• Lampard: I've had PL offers
• Conte: How Begovic can leave
• Chelsea's Gordon bid rejected
• Fabregas happy at Chelsea