Premier League Diary: Sky start making regions fight one another for glory

Say what you like about Sky Sports – within the bounds of libel laws and common decency, obviously, you filthy-mouthed animal – but they know how football works. They know where the buttons are; they know what makes the ordinary fan tick. To any other television company, this weekend’s Premier League scheduling might have been a curiosity, something to mention in passing. But Sky, bouncing from the success of Red Monday a few months ago, saw their chance to create a whole new institution from whole cloth:

Bournemouth Fan View: Shameful showing at The Den

Simon Reed was at The Den to watch a second-string AFC Bournemouth get torn apart by the Lions, and the FA Cup performance should be setting off alarm bells for Eddie Howe and the fans, he says

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I was going to structure this post around evaluating each of our second string players who took part in our FA Cup tie at Millwall this weekend – to see who might be good enough to get into the first team.

FA Cup: Our full team could have drawn with Plymouth too! - Klopp

Jurgen Klopp has defended his decision to pick a young team in Liverpool's FA Cup draw against fourth-tier Plymouth Argyle.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp says a 0-0 home draw with Plymouth Argyle could also have been the result had he picked his regular starting XI.

The Reds made 10 changes to their line-up against their League Two opponents on Sunday, with only Emre Can keeping his place from their Premier League draw at Sunderland for the FA Cup third-round tie.

FA Cup: Spurs battle past Villa to reach fourth round

Britain Football Soccer - Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa - FA Cup Third Round - White Hart Lane - 8/1/17 Tottenham's Ben Davies celebrates scoring their first goal with team mates Reuters / Toby Melville Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.

 

Premier League: Conte weighing up January exits for Chelsea duo

Charly Musonda and Kenedy struggled on initial loans this season but Antonio Conte says they could leave Chelsea again this month.

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte says Charly Musonda and Kenedy could be sent out on loan again during the transfer window.