Postpublished at 10:36 Greenwich Mean Time
That said, my boss has suggested I "take a screen break". This could finally be it folks...
Jonty's in charge now. Be kind to him guys.
Summary
Ronaldo at 40: Poll - do you agree that he's the "most complete player"
Ange Postecoglou in Spurs news conference (13:30 GMT) before EFL semi v Liverpool
EFL Cup semi-final second-leg build-up: Newcastle v Arsenal on Wednesday (2-0 aggregate; 20:00 GMT kick-off)
Premier League say there have been 13 VAR errors this season so far
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Postpublished at 10:36 Greenwich Mean Time
Postpublished at 10:34 Greenwich Mean Time
Now that one actually wasn't my fault! I think somebody has pressed the wrong button. Or maybe we're saving it for a bit later?
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 10:31 Greenwich Mean Time
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Where's this Ronaldo poll then, Joe? Can't see it.
Dave, Leeds.
Postpublished at 10:29 Greenwich Mean Time
I love how every live we do seems to contain a mini history lesson.
I'd never heard of that before Sam, thanks for sharing.
get involved Get Involved - VAR debatepublished at 10:23 Greenwich Mean Time
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They experimented with different offside laws in Scotland in the 1973-74 and 1974-75 Scottish League Cup seasons, where offsides only applied in the opponent's penalty area. To facilitate this, the horizontal 18-yard line would extend to the touchlines. Sir Alex famously stated that this turned out to be absolutely farcical, and furthermore, players complained about different offside rules for different competitions, and so it was scrapped and never returned.
Sam, Dundee, born and bred.
Postpublished at 10:20 Greenwich Mean Time
Haha, you guys are relentless!
And just so we're absolutely clear, I'm not on tomorrow but that was always going to be my day off - I'm not being transferred out to a different department.
I don't want you guys messaging in demanding editor Murray Burnell triggers my buyback clause or telling the poor journalist who's on tomorrow that they're only an interim live-texter.
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 10:15 Greenwich Mean Time
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Taxi for Joe Rindl, yesterday it was ACL injuries being a “knock”, today he wants rid of the offside rule. What will it be tomorrow, Steve Kean to replace Tuchel for England?
Charlie, London
Re 08.47. Surely it would be OFSTVAR, not VARSTED. The ED bit is education. If this was you, Joe, get a grip man!
Neil, Reading
Postpublished at 10:11 Greenwich Mean Time
I don't mind a captain's/manager's/team's challenge approach.
But with umpire's call, aren't we just moving the goal posts? We'll end up debating whether something was refs call or not.
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 10:06 Greenwich Mean Time
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Still can’t help but feel that the ol’ offside rule/VAR argument is less worthy of discussion than disruption to matches and the ruining of the experience. Let the referee do his job and give each team three ‘challenges’ per match, similar to Tennis.
Nick, Kent
Offside with VAR needs to develop the cricket approach of margin for error with LBW decisions, allow for 5-10cm variance and the decision stays with the onfield decisions. Looking for perfection only leads to debate and angst, if there’s a margin, less decisions will be contended, helps everyone.
Paul, Leeds
You can make offside a lot better by making it simpler, getting rid of the interfering rule nonsense, if you are offside then you are offside. The best thing to do would be to introduce an appeal system, where you stick with on field decision unless the manager says exactly where he thinks the offside has occurred.
Dave from Derby
Postpublished at 10:03 Greenwich Mean Time
And just to set up later's Cristiano Ronaldo focus, we've set up a poll at the top of this page.
"Cristiano Ronaldo at 40: Who is the 'most complete' player of all time?"
And that's Ronaldo's claim - not ours....
Give it a go!
What are we talking about?published at 10:00 Greenwich Mean Time
It's 10:00 GMT, time for a recap.
We're currently chatting VAR, referees and the offside rule. What changes would you like to see?
Earlier, Arne Slot had a news conference and confirmed Trent Alexander-Arnold will not play against Tottenham on Thursday.
Later, we'll build up to both EFL Cup semi-final second legs, and we'll also talk Cristiano Ronaldo in a bit. He turned 40 today.
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 09:55 Greenwich Mean Time
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Just copy ice hockey and draw two actual lines across the pitch dividing it into thirds. Can’t enter the final third until the ball is played. Done.
J
Not sure about getting rid of offside, however it isn't in small sided and, in my experience, doesn't usually be lead to goal hanging as teams need to defend too! Offside should be given as soon as it happens if it is blatantly obvious. There has to be a clear mandate for offside. The question should be how much of an advantage does your little toes give you? Let semi automatic draw the lines quickly but let a human realistically decide if there is any advantage gained from an arm being in advance.
Michael in Lincolnshire
In Hockey we had offside from the half way line changed to a 25yrd line then eventually no offsides at all. It greatly improved the spectacle and speed of the game. I am not saying it is the same but I would be all for moving the offside line from the halfway to a 25yrd line as it will make the pitch bigger and create more opportunities to score!
Sharkyward
Celtic transfer window 'not ideal' concedes Rodgerspublished at 09:52 Greenwich Mean Time
Image source, Getty ImagesNews from the Scottish Premiership.
Yesterday, manager Brendan Rodgers admitted the January transfer window "wasn't ideal" for Celtic but is not apportioning blame ahead of a club review.
The Scottish Premiership leaders signed Jeffrey Schlupp from Crystal Palace on deadline day and brought winger Jota back from Rennes, with forward Kyogo Furuhashi moving in the opposite direction.
"I said it myself, we wanted another striker, so we're not hiding behind anything," said Rodgers.
"And absolutely, the supporters will look and see that a top striker has gone out, a legendary striker.
"So I understand that. But all I can do is affect what we have now and look to teach and work very hard and finish off what has been, until now, a great season for us."
Postpublished at 09:50 Greenwich Mean Time
Yep, understood. I didn't really think it through.
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 09:45 Greenwich Mean Time
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Re doing away with the offside rule: You'd end up with attackers lurking in the goalmouth trying to irritate goalkeepers, with the opposition hoofing it towards goal. Not pretty.
Lyndon, New Forest
Postpublished at 09:38 Greenwich Mean Time
And that's all from Liverpool's news conference. Many thanks to Arne Slot for distracting us from my terrible scrap offsides suggestion.
Not my finest ratio.
We'll be chatting more about Liverpool and the rest of the EFL Cup semi-finalists a little later.
'I don't understand why we cannot name 23 players in this country'published at 09:34 Greenwich Mean Time
Liverpool v Tottenham (Thu, 20:00 GMT)
Liverpool manager Arne Slot delivered a long answer when asked how he keeps all the players in his squad happy now that he has a near fully fit group to choose from: "That is one of the only things that I don't understand here in England. Everywhere around the world and in Europe as well when we play Champions League, we can take 23 players to the game. We are here in a country where we play the most games - especially the ones like us, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea - all the ones that are playing in Europe.
"We play so, so many games. If you are able to play all of these games, you need a big squad, that seems to be fair to me. One of the things that is so important for a manager - to pick the first 11 is difficult - but to tell someone they aren't even in the squad makes it even harder. I don't understand why we don't go to 23 in this country because this country plays the most games out of anywhere in the world and we only have 20 players we can take to the game. It's not for that game because nine substitute is more than enough but it would keep the dressing room going.
"You need more than 20 players in this country because we play so many games. Why can't we bring 23 players to the game instead of 20? That will be the most difficult decision I have to make tomorrow - to leave someone out who works so hard on a daily basis and wants to be involved - that is the hardest decision for me to make."
Slot remains tight-lipped on goalkeeper choicepublished at 09:27 Greenwich Mean Time
Liverpool v Tottenham (Thu, 20:00 GMT)
Liverpool manager Arne Slot on who will get the nod out of Alisson Becker and Caoimhin Kelleher for tomorrow evening's game: "The two goalkeepers don't know yet. When I leave this room, I am going to go to the media next door and then afterwards I will inform the goalkeepers which decision I have made."
'It may add even more pressure on referees'published at 09:22 Greenwich Mean Time
Liverpool v Tottenham (Thu, 20:00 GMT)
Liverpool manager Arne Slot on referees potentially announcing key decisions to the crowd from the start of next season: "For me, it is not necessary because I can go two steps backwards and see the live coverage of anything but that isn't available to fans so if the fans like this then let's do this. If the fans like it then let's continue but let's see if they do because the last time it happened I was there in the Spurs stadium and it was so obvious - it was not necessary to announce it was offside.
"I think the one we were interested in is why he didn't give the second yellow card [to Lucas Bergvall] and that is something he didn't have to explain. I think maybe if he does explain it and it's a disadvantage for the home team then it becomes even more of a pressure on the referee so I wonder if it is a good thing for the referee. It will add more pressure on the next and the next and the next decision. "
'We are happy with the team that we have'published at 09:15 Greenwich Mean Time
Liverpool v Tottenham (Thu, 20:00 GMT)
Liverpool manager Arne Slot on whether he was satisfied with the January transfer window: "I've said it many times, we have a very good squad and if you look at the league table, the players have shown that the trust we have in them was correct. We don't have, apart from Trent now, many long-term injuries.
"We did have some injury problems with Alisson and Diogo Jota and some others but at the moment, apart from Trent, they were all available today. So, there is not a reason to add something to the team unless you have a chance in the market. That is something we saw last time with the goalkeeper [Giorgi Mamardashvili] we brought in because we saw there was a chance in the market. For now, we are happy with the team that we have."
League Cup Scores and fixtures
Wednesday 5th February
Semi-finals
All times are UK and subject to change. BBC is not responsible for any changes.