Eddie Howe loses first game on Newcastle touchline, Wales and Scotland World Cup draw, Spurs and Chelsea transfer news

REF HALTS GAME TO MOVE HIS CAR

A red-faced ref had to halt play to move his car – after a tannoy message asked its owner to come forward.

Man-in-the-middle Simeon Lucas walked off 15 minutes into Curzon Ashton’s 2-1 FA Trophy home win over fellow National League North side Chester.

Lucas told a steward it was his vehicle causing the issue in the car park and he was allowed to stop the match so he could shift it himself.

Back on the pitch, on-loan Charlie Jolley gave Danny Livesey a perfect start to his reign as interim Chester boss.

But Jack McKay and Adam Thomas struck after the break to put Ashton into round three.

LIVERPOOL 4 SOUTHAMPTON 0

Diogo Jota’s double as Liverpool led 3-0 at the break put Jurgen Klopp’s men second, behind leader Chelsea with this impressive romp.

Jota poked home Andy Robertson’s second-minute cross and tapped in Mo Salah’s square pass just past the half-hour.

Thiago Alcantara soon punished poor Saints’ defending with Liverpool’s third goal and Virgil van Dijk blasted hoe from a corner on 52 minutes.

CONTE PREDICTS ‘BUMPY’ ROAD

Antonio Conte has vowed to make Harry Kane’s ‘dream’ of winning a trophy at Spurs come true but says it may be a ‘bumpy’ road to get there.

Kane & Co saw another cup dream dented on Thursday with an embarrassing defeat to Slovenian minnows NS Mura which has left them on the edge of elimination from the Europa Conference League.

But new Tottenham boss Conte is still confident he can deliver the silverware England star Kane and the club’s long suffering fans so badly crave.

He told Italian newspaper Gazzetta Dello Sport: “Kane wants to win with this shirt and my aim is to help make his dream come true.

“But, in general, the best thing for a coach is to be told at the end of the season, ‘Thanks coach, I have improved with you’.

“Kane is already a champion but I would like to be able to add one, two or three per cent more to what he has.”

Conte says his strategy for success will be based on improving the players he has inherited at Spurs – and not spending big in the transfer market.

He said: “Let me tell you that in my career in the end I have always made money, not spent.

“I have often worked with young people to train, depreciated athletes to be rebuilt, players who had never won until then.”

REAL TIPPED TO DROP POGBA INTEREST

Paul Pogba could be OFF Real Madrid’s summer shopping list.

Reports in Spain suggest Real now suspect the Manchester United midfielder would not ‘fit in’.

Pogba, 28, is working his way back after injury and his Old Trafford contract expires at the end of the season.

Spanish outlet MARCA claim the LaLiga leaders are “not contemplating” for Pogba, who has also been linked with old club Juventus.

CHIESA GRIN FROM CHELSEA FANS

Federico Chiesa has sparked frenzy amongst Chelsea fans by FOLLOWING the club and it’s key players on social media.

This follows reports that Chelsea are considering an £84million move for the Juventus star.

It is unknown when exactly the Man Utd transfer target followed the Blues players but screenshots show he’s keeping tabs on FIVE current members of the squad.

Chiesa, 24, followed Chelsea’s Instagram account – as well as stars Christian Pulisic, N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic, Kai Havertz, Saul and ex-Chelsea legend Eden Hazard.

His social media activity has fans wondering about a potential move to West London.

KLOPP: RANGNICK BAD FOR UTD’S RIVALS

Jurgen Klopp believes Ralf Rangnick becoming Manchester United interim boss would be a blow for other Premier League rivals.

Liverpool chief Klopp said of his fellow German: “United will be organised on the pitch

“That’s not good news for other teams.”

CARROLL DEBUT GOAL

Andy Carroll has scored on his first Championship start for Reading – teed up by Danny Drinkwater.

The 32-year-old put the Royals 2-1 up on the half-an-hour mark against Swansea after the second-tier strugglers had gone a goal down just three minutes into the game.

Carroll expertly took down a Drinkwater long ball over the top into his stride before holding off the challenge of on loan Liverpool defender Rhys Williams.

Carroll, also formerly of Liverpool, then cut inside onto his left foot and fired a low effort past Ben Hamer in the Swansea goal.

He proceeded to celebrate by grabbing the corner flag out the ground and sitting down with his team-mates behind him, using the flagstick as a fake oar to imitate rowing.

It’s his first goal and first start for the Berkshire club since signing on a TWO-MONTH contract earlier this month.

His only prior appearances for the club have been cameos off the bench against Nottingham Forest and Sheffield United.

Reading’s official Twitter account could barely contain their excitement after the goal.

BARCA EYE TORRES

Ferran Torres could move to Barcelona in January with the forward keen on the move, according to reports.

Xavi is determined to add to his attacking options in the new year with the club also targeting Torres’ Manchester City team-mate Raheem Sterling.

And after having a loan move for Torres rejected last summer, Barcelona could make another bid.

Sources close to Torres claim the lure of a regular starting place at the Nou Camp is encouraging him to make a move, report The Athletic.

Torres has failed to land a first-team spot since his move to the Etihad last year.

He started four league games out of seven at the start of the season before picking up an injury.

But there could be a fresh start for Torres at Barcelona when the transfer window opens.

The forward has reportedly made the club aware of his intentions, though Torres is yet to inform Pep Guardiola.

Barcelona director of football Mateu Alemany and chief executive Ferran Reverter also visited City’s training ground this week.

But if Xavi is to sign Torres he must first raise funds through player sales.

Philippe Coutinho has been heavily linked with an exit with Newcastle also keen on Ousmane Dembele.

Rumours also suggest Frenkie De Jong could be sold but Xavi has dismissed those claims.

PHILLIPS READY TO SNUB MAN UTD

The door may be open for Liverpool to sign Leeds talisman Kalvin Phillips because he is ‘worried about’ joining Manchester United, reports suggest.

The Red Devils and Leeds have a long-standing cross-pennine rivalry, and Phillips doesn’t want to risk upsetting his family by moving to Old Trafford.

The Daily Star report that Red Devils chiefs are keen to launch a £60million move for the 25-year-old, but his connection to Leeds means Phillips remains hesitant.

Another factor is family, including mum Lindsay, all live in the Yorkshire city.

And Phillips is worried they will be subject to abuse from Leeds fans should he join bitter rivals United.

As a result the England star would be reluctant to pull on the colours of United.

He is even said to have ‘made it clear’ to his family and friends that he has no desire to play for the Red Devils.

Phillips joined the Elland Road outfit at 14-years-old and has played 223 times for the club.

The news comes as a blow to Manchester United who are crying out for a central midfielder to replace the heavily criticised Fred.

Old Trafford bigwigs had been plotting a £60million move for Phillips if attempts to sign Declan Rice failed.

RULE THE ROOST

EXCLUSIVE: Idris El Mizouni finally feels at home at Ipswich thanks to Kieron Dyer’s mentorship – and a cheeky Nando’s!, writes ISABELLE BARKER.

The extra-hot Tractor Boys midfielder, 21, has enjoyed a meteoric rise since growing up in a gritty suburb on the outskirts of Paris.

As a kid he lived in a flat with his dad, who emigrated from Tunisia at the age of eight, mum, brother and sister in a bustling, high-rise apartment block.

El Mizouni was scouted for Ipswich at 16 and arrived in Suffolk not speaking a word of English. But now he has become part of the furniture.

In his first interview since recently penning a new deal with the club until 2024, he told SunSport: “Don’t even get me started on the food. To this day, I’m still not used to it.

“France is known for great food and so when I came to England in my first year I was struggling a lot.

“I was living in digs and they made food which was all right but Nando’s was the only thing I really liked. I’d get chicken with peri-tamer sauce and rice. I don’t mind the carbs!

“I missed my mum’s food but thankfully I can cook now and, of course, my signature is chicken and rice!”

RON HIS WAY?

Cristiano Ronaldo will leave Manchester United if they fail to finish in the top four, claims Paul Merson.

The Sky Sports pundit labelled United a “shambles”, suggesting they will be thrashed by Chelsea on Sunday.

And he thinks Ronaldo may leave Old Trafford next summer given the lack of organisation at the club.

Merson wrote in his column for the Daily Star: “Manchester United needing an interim manager is a shambles – and Cristiano Ronaldo might decide to walk away in the summer.

“He won’t be hanging around if they don’t finish in the top four because he will want to end his career in the Champions League.

“And that doesn’t look terribly likely right now because United are a mess and will probably get thrashed by Chelsea this weekend.

“It might actually suit all parties if he leaves anyway because if they appoint Mauricio Pochettino and he wants to press from the front, you’re not doing that with Ronaldo.

“But what I really don’t get is why the biggest club in the world needs an INTERIM manager.”

CONTE’S VITAL TRANSFER WINDOW

If Antonio Conte needs some help with his ‘evaluations’ of the Spurs squad, the club’s disgruntled and humiliated supporters would gladly give him a few pointers.

But the Italian will have to put aside all the emotion of the embarrassing defeat by Slovenian minnows NS Mura as he prepares for one of the most important transfer windows in Tottenham’s recent history.

No-one, least of all tight-fisted chairman Daniel Levy, likes spending money in January.

But it is clear that Spurs need to do business, bringing fresh blood in and trying to shift unwanted players out, if Conte is to have a fair crack at turning the season around.

The bitterest pill to swallow – for Levy at least – will be trying to find a buyer for club-record signing Tanguy Ndombele.

The France international is all but unplayable on his day, but his days have not come round nearly often enough since he arrived for Lyon for £55m in the summer of 2019.

But Ndombele looked uninterested against Mura.

If Conte is wedded to the wing-back system that has brought him success elsewhere, Ndombele cannot play in centre midfield and has done little to justify being given a starting berth further forward.

Davinson Sanchez’s costly errors in Slovenia were his first under Conte but the latest in a long list as his Tottenham career has gone well off the boil.

Dele Alli’s performance underlined his own, even more spectacular fall from grace.

HERE’S OUR FULL GUIDE TO CONTE’S TRANSFER WINDOW

MANE MAN FOR TOON?

Newcastle are preparing to splash some of their considerable cash on Barcelona contract rebel Ousmane Dembele, according to reports in Spain, writes JAMES COLASANTI.

The Saudi-owned Toon are gearing up to spend big in January and have put the France winger on their shopping list, says Mundo Deportivo.

The former Man Utd transfer target’s contact with the Spanish giants expires at the end of the season.

Barca have apparently made him an attractive offer to stay but Dembeleand his agent Moussa Sissoko are keeping their options open.

That has opened the door for the Geordies, who have apparently made him ‘an astronomical proposal’.

Mundo Deportivo report the Magpies are willing to offer Dembele £12.6million per season in wages and a chunky commission payment to Sissoko.

ARSENAL 2-0 NEWCASTLE

65 What a goal, WHAT A GOAL by Arsenal!

The Gunners move the ball nicely down the right flank and Tomiyasu scouts Martinelli’s run.

The full-back flicks it over to the forward, who has broken through Newcastle’s defence and finishes off with an extremely composed finish!

ARSENAL 1-0 NEWCASTLE

56. It starts with Saka and ends with Saka!

The Arsenal star gets the ball down the left flank and switches with Tavares, who scouts his run and passes it back to the England international inside the box.

The versatile midfielder fires a shot from a tight angle and sends the ball to Dubravka’s bottom left corner!

HERE WE GO!

Play is underway at the Emirates where Arsenal are taking on bottom of the Newcastle. 

The Gunners are looking to return to winning ways after their ten-game unbeaten streak came to an end at the hands of Liverpool.

Newcastle, on the other hand, are searching for their first league win of the season, and new boss Eddie Howe is in the dugout. 

SunSport’s KOSTAS LIANOS will be keeping you up to date with out dedicated live match blog.

⚽ Read our live match blog for Arsenal vs Newcastleto keep up to date with all the pre-match build-up and goals at the Emirates