Summary

  • Eight FA Cup ties this week

  • Portsmouth v Arsenal on Monday (19:45 GMT)

  • Jurgen Klopp among managers set to speak to media

  • Frank Lampard and Brendan Rodgers scheduled to take questions

  • Text 81111, tweet #bbcfootball

  1. 'Dejan is an outstanding centre-half'published at 12:50 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March 2020

    Chelsea v Liverpool (Tue, 19:45 GMT)

    Liverpool's Premier League defeat at Watford came with Dejan Lovren at the heart of defence in place of Joe Gomez. Klopp, though dismissed the idea this had a bearing on the result.

    "If anyone blames Dejan Lovren for our defeat, I can't help these people," said Klopp. "It was a massive challenge for Dejan to play against Troy Deeney. Joe Gomez has had similar problems.

    "Both Dejan and Joe have played sensational games for us in this position. Fitness and rhythm is the most difficult to get in professional football. Dejan is an outstanding centre-half.

    "If you can tell me one player from Saturday that played at his normal level, I would be surprised."

  2. 'Formation food for thought'published at 12:47 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March 2020

    West Bromwich Albion v Newcastle United (Tue, 20:00 GMT)

    Last word from Steve Bruce now...

    The Magpies boss has given a quick assessment on how he thought Newcastle's 4-4-2 formation against Sean Dyche's Burnley worked out on Saturday.

    “We tried something different and I was pleased with a lot of it and we created far more opportunities," said Bruce.

    "I was disappointed we didn’t manage to take one. It’s given me food for thought. It’s always important that you have two or three formations up your sleeve.”

  3. Postpublished at 12:45 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March 2020

    Chelsea v Liverpool (Tue, 19:45 GMT)

    If you remember, Liverpool had a fourth-round replay against Shrewsbury during the Premier League's winter break, so the Reds subsequently fielded their under-23 team. Jurgen Klopp has been discussing his team selection for tomorrow night...

    "It's a different situation to the last round," said the German "The team that played at Shrewsbury was a team that made sense for us at that moment. We didn't get the result we wanted, so we had to play a different team in the replay.

    "We want to win football matches. We have to win it if we want to go through. It won't be easy for us. Chelsea have plenty of their own reasons why they want to go through. It's two big teams playing against each other."

  4. 'We want to go through. That's the plan'published at 12:42 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March 2020

    Chelsea v Liverpool (Tue, 19:45 GMT)

    Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp: "We are Liverpool, we are always under pressure and we are always expected to deliver.

    "If Chelsea make changes, I don't know if they will, it will still be a very experienced team.

    "It's more or less pressure than before. It's the last 16 of the FA Cup and we want to go through. That's the plan."

  5. Postpublished at 12:41 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March 2020

    Not only has Steve Bruce spoken, but Jurgen Klopp is now taking questions too....

  6. 'Always at risk at the bottom'published at 12:39 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March 2020

    West Bromwich Albion v Newcastle United (Tue, 20:00 GMT)

    The Premier League table is still looking quite tight down at the bottom and Newcastle aren't quite out of danger just yet.

    With wins for Watford and West Ham at the weekend, Bruce finds his side five points above the relegation zone after the 0-0 draw with Burnley.

    "Hopefully we can start to score more goals with the 10 to 11 games that are left," Bruce added.

    "When you don’t win, of course you’re always in that risk at the bottom half of the Premier League table.

    "Some teams have won at the weekend and closed the gap - but we know the sort of target we're looking for so we'll try to achieve that.

    "A win can lift you up a couple of places. Over the last decade, 36 points has been the number to reach - but whatever the number is, we’ve got to get there and we'll keep trying."

  7. 'Saint-Maximin biggest concern'published at 12:34 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March 2020

    West Bromwich Albion v Newcastle United (Tue, 20:00 GMT)

    After Newcastle played out a goalless draw with Burnley at St James' Park on Saturday, are there any injury concerns for Steve Bruce going into the FA Cup tie with West Brom?

    “Allan [Saint-Maximin] is the biggest concern," said the Newcastle boss.

    "We’ll see how he is. He was sore yesterday in his back and his hamstring area. Everybody else is OK from the weekend.”

  8. Postpublished at 12:32 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March 2020

    Pulp Fiction tells the tale of Liverpool's unbeaten Premier League campaign of 2019-20.

    Too soon?

  9. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 12:31 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March 2020

    #bbcfootball

    TowlieDJ: Miramax was acquired in by Disney in 1993, and Pulp Fiction was released by Miramax in 1994, technically making Pulp Fiction a Disney movie.

  10. 'Cup run can give everyone a lift'published at 12:30 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March 2020

    West Bromwich Albion v Newcastle United (Tue, 20:00 GMT)

    Steve Bruce is first up to have a chat about the fifth round of the FA Cup.

    Newcastle travel to The Hawthorns to face West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday.

    The Magpies boss thinks a good cup outing can raise the mood at the club.

    “We’ve got to the fifth round for the first time in years," Bruce said. "I always believe a cup run can give everyone a lift. We’ve got a good opponent, a really good team, so it’s all to play for.”

  11. Postpublished at 12:28 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March 2020

    Anyway, I've gone off topic slightly.

    Managers speaking about the FA Cup....

  12. Postpublished at 12:25 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March 2020

    I kid you not, there was a 1958 Disney film called White Wilderness. Maybe it's about Spurs' wait for the title.

    There must be loads of other film titles that suit the plight of your club.

  13. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 12:23 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March 2020

    Text 81111

    Since Spurs won the league I've been born, married, raised three kids, put them through uni and seen them move into their own homes and careers.

    Derek Elmore

  14. Postpublished at 12:21 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March 2020

    Glory Road.

    That's more like a Bruce Springsteen album.

    If you've seen any of these films, let me know.

  15. Postpublished at 12:20 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March 2020

    Greyfriars Bobby is another.

    That could be an old police comedy, the sort your dad liked.

  16. Postpublished at 12:19 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March 2020

    The Biscuit Eater is a genuine Disney film.

    It sounds like a horror movie.

  17. Postpublished at 12:18 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March 2020

    To get some inspiration for any Disney/FA Cup chat, I've just gone to a popular encyclopedic website to browse through the list of Disney films.

    There are loads of them. Most of which I've never heard of.

  18. Postpublished at 12:14 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March 2020

    I'll start you with the tale of Michael Eisner, former head of the Walt Disney Company and now Portsmouth owner.

    "All of Disney's sports films had the same theme - the triumph of the underdog. With Portsmouth we hope to get it right in fact, not fiction," said Eisner.

    Pompey have even had Will Ferrell in the crowd.

    There must be plenty of FA Cup-Disney crossovers out there.

    You can read more on Michael Eisner here.

  19. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 12:11 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March 2020

    So, while we take this journey through the words of Premier League managers, you may feel yourself moved to get in touch.

    You can text 81111, or tweet using the hashtag #bbcfootball., external

    In my experience, what you have to say is miles more interesting than any of my musings. Football talk encouraged, but certainly not essential.

  20. Postpublished at 12:06 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March 2020

    Jurgen Klopp, fresh off Liverpool's first defeat of the Premier League season, at 1230, with Frank Lampard and Brendan Rodgers following an hour later.

    We're expecting the views of Steve Bruce very shortly.