Simon Stone
BBC Sport

The Premier League is prepared to formally lobby football's rule-makers for a change in the handball law.

They want to avoid a repeat of the Eric Dier handball incident that caused such controversy at the end of Tottenham's Premier League meeting with Newcastle on 27 September.

A spate of handball decisions have led to fierce criticism across the game since the rules were changed.

The league is understood to be keen on altering the section of the law which states that handball must be awarded if the ball strikes the hand or arm when it is above shoulder level, as was the case with Dier.

Top-flight referees have now been ordered to be less strict about their interpretations of the law, particularly on the distance an offending player is from the ball and whether he has extended his arm outside the natural body line.

Read more details here.

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If it doesn't seem that long ago since Bayern Munich won the Champions League you would be right, it was only five-and-a-half weeks ago.

But after Wednesday's final round of qualifying games, the line-up for the 2020-21 Champions League group stage is now complete and ready for the draw, which takes place this afternoon.

Head over here for all the details of what's to come.

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Kira Nelson: Rotate squad better to avoid injuries and DCL stays firing, no reason Everton can't have a good season. They're great to watch, have quality players, weak spot is maybe Pickford but I think they definitely have a chance to get into Europe. Early days, but good signs!

It's exactly 24 years since Arsene Wenger breezed into the Marble Halls at Highbury to succeed Bruce Rioch as Arsenal manager.

'Arsene who?' was the jibe at the time, but it turned out okay in the end...

A concerning story from the United States where players from second-tier USL Championship side San Diego Loyal left the pitch in protest after an alleged homophobic comment was aimed at openly gay midfielder Collin Martin.

An opposition player from Phoenix Rising was accused of making the comment just before half-time.

Loyal players returned after the break but walked off when the referee blew his whistle, forfeiting a match they were leading 3-1 and ending their chances of reaching the play-offs.

They forfeited a match against LA Galaxy II last week after an alleged racial slur was aimed at midfielder Elijah Martin. The player accused of making the comment has since been let go by Galaxy.

Loyal manager and executive vice-president Landon Donovan said: "We went through a really hard incident last week in the LA match and we made a vow to ourselves, to our community, to our players, to the club, to USL, that we would not stand for bigotry, homophobic slurs, things that don't belong in our game."

Read more on this story here.

Brighton have signed attacking midfielder Reda Khadra from Borussia Dortmund for an undisclosed fee.

The 19-year-old will initially link up with the Seagulls' under-23 squad.

Alistair Magowan
BBC Sport

Everton have made contact with Norwich City about signing central defender Ben Godfrey.

Toffees manager Carlo Ancelotti is looking to boost his options in defence after injuries to Mason Holgate and Jarrad Branthwaite.

Everton's preference is for a loan but Championship side Norwich would not consider that option.

Godfrey is under contract with the Canaries until 2023 and they value the 22-year-old in excess of £20m.

"We are looking for a centre-back because we are short but at the moment he plays for Norwich," said Ancelotti after Everton's Carabao Cup win over West Ham on Wednesday.

The Carrow Road club received a club record £20m - plus £4m in add-ons - from Leicester City for James Maddison in 2018 and would want more than that for Godfrey.

Everton have also shown interest in Chelsea defender Fikayo Tomori.

But with the future of fellow Chelsea centre-back Antonio Rudiger uncertain, it may prove difficult to persuade Frank Lampard's side to part with the England defender.

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The Times reports on the Premier League's proposed bail out of English Football League clubs struggling because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The report claims the Premier League want the EFL to side with it and against the Football Association in a debate over the signing of young foreign players and possible quotas post-Brexit before sanctioning any rescue package.

Image source, The Times

The Guardian focuses on the financial impact coronavirus is having on football, while the Telegraph reports that Manchester United have had a loan bid for Fiorentina forward Federico Chiesa rejected.

Image source, Guardian

Image source, Telegraph

John Rushton: Even as a lifelong Liverpool FC supporter I think we need Calvert-Lewin in the England squad. Great form, very talented, clearly loves playing. Also... is it a bit much to think Bamford deserves a call up?

Bamford has scored in each of his three appearances for Leeds this season, could be an outside shout.

The Metro also lead on Manchester United, but focus on matters on the pitch, goalscorer Scott McTominay inparticular.

Image source, Metro

We haven't had this many brolly puns since you know when.....

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Let's have a look at some of the pages, with last night's Carabao Cup action featuring heavily.

The Mirror and Star both lead on Manchester United, with boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's post-match interview under an umbrella leading to some predictable puns.

Image source, Star

Image source, Mirror

It's not just about us, we want to hear from YOU!

What are your thoughts on last night's games? Should Dominic Calvert-Lewin earn an England call-up? Predictions for tonight? Who needs what and why before next week's transfer deadline?

Let us know your thoughts by tweeting using #bbcfootball or text 81111 (UK only). Don't forget to include your names in texts so we can give you a shoutout.

It was a double celebration for Everton last night, with the Toffees' women's side beating Birmingham 3-0 to reach the FA Cup final.

Northern Ireland forward Simone Magill lashed in just before half-time and Denmark's Nicoline Sorensen doubled the visitors' lead after the break.

France striker Valerie Gauvin added a third late on for the dominant Toffees.

Willie Kirk's side, who have won the cup twice, deservedly reached their first final since 2014 as they bid to lift the trophy for the first time since 2010.

Wednesday's victory was their fourth in four games since elite English women's football resumed action earlier in September.

They will face either holders Manchester City or 14-time winners Arsenal at Wembley on 1 November.

You can watch the highlights of last night's game below:

Simon Stone
BBC Sport

Tottenham are closing in on a season-long loan move for Benfica striker Carlos Vinicius.

Spurs boss Jose Mourinho has been looking for a back-up striker to England international Harry Kane.

He believes he may have found the answer in the 25-year-old Brazilian, who scored 24 goals last season for the Portuguese side.

The former Napoli forward has a large release clause in his contract but negotiations are continuing.

Should the move go through, the loan is likely to contain an option for Tottenham to turn the transfer into a permanent deal for 45m euros (£40.83m).

It was not so comfortable for Newcastle, who needed a penalty shootout to squeeze past League Two Newport County.

Tristan Abrahams put the Exiles ahead in the fifth minute with a bouncing shot which Newcastle goalkeeper Mark Gillespie should have saved.

Scot Bennett and Padraig Amond missed chances to extend their lead, while County keeper Nick Townsend denied Ryan Fraser and Miguel Almiron.

Just as Newcastle's search for a late equaliser looked destined to end in vain, Jonjo Shelvey curled a beautiful shot into the top corner.

With no extra time played, that goal took the game straight to penalties, and it was Newport defender Brandon Cooper who missed the decisive penalty as he blasted over.

Image source, Getty Images

It was equally comfortable for Manchester City, who won 3-0 at Burnley.

Raheem Sterling scored his first two City goals of the season while Ferran Torres scored his first goal since his summer move from Valencia.

City dominated the game and Burnley keeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell had to twice smartly deny Sterling before the England forward got the breakthrough after Benjamin Mendy's cross.

His second was a close-range finish from Torres' cross before the Spain winger put the tie beyond Burnley's reach with an instinctive finish to cap a fine individual display.

Image source, Getty Images