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Poll: Should the current whip rules be even more stringent?

Many changes have been made in recent years, both to the whip rules and the construction of the whip itself. However, the whip issue just refuses to go away. Nine jockeys incurred the wrath of the stewards at the Cheltenham Festival, while on the Flat, Eddie Ahern hit the headlines for the wrong reasons when receiving a three-month ban for a cumulative set of whip offences. 

While the newly designed whips have much morecushioning than their predecessors, the public perception of whip abuse remains something about which racing's administrators are rightly concerned. Should the current whip rules be made even more stringent? If so, what form should this take? Should jockeys receive longer bans, heavier fines or maybe you think that the horse should be disqualified? Should the whip be banned completely?

Please vote in our poll and we would also welcome your comments, which can left in the box at the bottom of this post.

The poll comes in two parts: vote either yes or no to part one, which asks where you think the whip rules are stringent enough. If you do, your work is done, if no is your chosen answer, then please complete the second poll, which asks you about more severe penalties for those jockeys who transgress.

ROB WRIGHT
Racing Editor

Opinion Polls & Market Research

Opinion Polls & Market Research

FT: France 1 England 0

One last chance for England. Bentley crosses deep from the right, Downing helps it into the danger area and Makelele is able to hack clear from Johnson after a slip, I believe, from Thuram. Abidal threads the ball through to Ribery, but although his shot is well struck, David James is behind it all the way and you would not expect a goalkeeper of his calibre to be beaten from 25 yards, not unless he is playing Game Boy, that is. France break from an England corner, the ball finding its way to Cisse, who shows a clean pair of heels to Cole before trying a shot at goal from out on the left with the outside of his right foot which finds the side-netting.

That's the last piece of meaningful action - France are victorious, 1-0, with that Ribery penalty just after the half-hour. Pretty poor fare from both sides, if I am honest.

Here's a summary for the late-comers:

1. Few clear-cut chances, a setpiece was always likely to decide it.
2. James shouldn't be pilloried for conceding that penalty, there was little he could do to avoid it and it was Terry's fault for letting Anelka get free.
3. Wayne Rooney looks lost at this level playing as a solitary striker and deploying him in that position is a waste of his wonderful talents.
4. England got into some promising positions but their final pass or cross was woeful. Hang your heads in shame, Ashley Cole and Stewart Downing.
5. Don't think France are good, they're not anything special on this display and were not much better than the visitors.
6. David Beckham? He tried his heart out, but he just doesn't have it any more. Time to give someone else a chance. The days of that inspirational display against Greece at Old Trafford are long gone.

I'll leave the final word to Martin Tyler, the Sky Sports commentator, who sums it up rather succinctly when he says, and I quote: "It's not been the most incident-packed international." Exactement, M. Tyler, exactement.

85 mins: France 1 England 0

France make another change and again it's a face familiar to England fans. Djibril Cisse, formerly of Liverpool, now at Marseilles, replaces for me, tonight's man of the match, Nicolas Anelka. Owen carelessly gives the ball away to Cisse, whose shot is blocked by Ferdinand, but that sort of carelessness is not going to endear the Newcastle United striker to his new international manager.

80 mins: France 1 England 0

Lovely interplay from France there. Jeremy Toulanan and Anelka combine to manufacture a shooting chance for Ribery around 22 yards from goal, but his angled effort fizzes several yards wide of the post. Pity. Had that found the back of the net it would have brought an end to the Mexican wave...

76 mins: France 1 England 0

David Bentley gets a ticking off from the referee after pushing Malouda to the floor in frustration at the Frenchman's willingness to go to ground in the hope of earning a free-kick. Capello is animated on the sidelines, as frustrated as I am, hopefully, about his side's inability to up the tempo and put some pressure on this France backline. That curse of boring football matches, the Mexican wave, strikes up. England fans are refuse to play ball and are being booed by their Gallic counterparts.

70 mins: France 1 England 0

Is that the end of an era? David Beckham is given a great ovation as he leaves the field, and you cannot help wondering if that will be the last time we see him in an England shirt. David Bentley, the Blackburn Rovers player, replaces him and Glen Johnson takes over from Brown in a straight swap. France, for their part, replace the anonymous Trezeguet with Sidney Govou, another member of Lyons' all-conquering side in the French Championnat.   

62 mins: France 1 England 0

Positive signs for England at last. Beckham's long ball from the right flank drops over the head of Thuram perfectly for Downing, but the Middlesbrough player is inexplicably caught unawares and miscontrols, allowing Gregory Coupet to gather. A nifty turn from Downing then affords him some space for Ashley Cole...it's looking good. But the cross, with three players waiting in the middle, is disappointing and straight into the goalkeeper's hands. Sorry, Ash, that would have been unacceptable over at Hackney Marshes.

55 mins: France 1 England 0

Anelka is proving a real handful to the England central defenders. Here he turns Rio Ferdinand before getting in a left-foot shot which, despite the referee awarding a goal-kick, stung the fingertips of the Portsmouth and England goalkeeper. Malouda then unleashes a low drive from just outside the area which is inches wide of James's left-hand post. Much better start to this second half. All France.

50 mins: France 1 England 0

Four changes at half-time for England. Off go Terry, Rooney, Gerrard and Joe Cole. Their replacements are Michael Owen, Stewart Downing, Joleon Lescott and the big fella, Peter Crouch. Owen will be desperate to prove a point to his manager, who at least has given him the targetman he craves. Terry's withdrawal, we understand, is due to a slight hamstring strain, but he should be OK for the weekend's Premier League fixtures, so fear not, Chelsea fans. The picture is of David James letting in the penalty, in case you hadn't guessed. Click to enlarge. Click 100 times to see him save it*.

* = statement may not be entirely factually correct.

HT: France 1 England 0

I've not seen much of Francois Clerc, the right back from Lyons, but he has been lively tonight and launches another rampaging run down the wing after snuffing out an England attack. Luckily for the visitors, France do not have enough men in the box and James gathers easily. That's half-time. Entertainment value four out of ten and the goal coming from a predictable source, a setpiece. It has to get better in the second half, one would hope. Come back and join us if you dare.   

38 mins: France 1 England 0

Some trickery and a fancy backheel from Anelka earns a cry of ole from the crowd, then Malouda drives a low shot from a narrow angle that is comfortably dealt with by James and suddenly England are on the back foot. Beckham is booked on his 100th appearance for tugging at the shirt of Ribery. No complaints there, that was cynical from the man in the golden boots. 

31 mins: France 1 England 0

France win a penalty out of nothing. Clerc's excellent ball from right-back frees Anelka behind the static England defence and the Chelsea man, in trying to round James, runs in to the goalkeeper. Ribery, the Bayern Munich winger, slots comfortably. Daylight Ribery or a deserved award? Hard to say really. My first instincts were that it was a penalty, though James did not really try to take out the striker. The scorer removes his jersey to dedicate the goal to Monsieur Gilardi, the commentator we mentioned earlier, who died yesterday. It does not stop him earning a yellow card, however.

29 mins: France 0 England 0

England are starting to exert more of an influence on this match and they almost have a goal to show for their superiority. Rio Ferdinand, the captain, sneaks in unmarked at the back post to meet a David Beckham corner. His header is back across the face of goal whence it came and Gerrard, arriving late himself, heads over. No end product, but promising, nonetheless. France mix things up, with Ribery and Malouda changing flanks. Can't see David Beckham operating effectively on the left, can you?

23 mins: France 0 England 0

You will remember, of course, the last time these two teams met. It was in the finals of Euro 2004 when England were leading 1-0 going into the final minute of normal time and managed to end up on the wrong end of a 2-1 scoreline. Steven Gerrard collects the ball in front of the France defence, but bottles it somewhat, opting to shoot from 20 yards and skying his effort over the bar rather than commit his marker. The Liverpool man is more convincing a minute later, making a prodigious leap to meet Wes Brown's right-wing cross, though again his effort is too high.

16 mins: France 0 England 0

Who on earth is marking Nicolas Anelka? This time he collects a ball from Florent Malouda on the edge of the box, but scuffs his shot straight to David James. That was a promising position again. Wes Brown has burnt his right buttock making a sliding tackle which took him from the turf to the artificial surface surrounding the pitch. He gives it a rub and will carry on, but that's certainly going to smart in the morning. England threaten for the first time: Ashley Cole gets down the left and crosses. Gregory Coupet, the France goalkeeper, inexplicably parries at full stretch and Beckham is within a few inches of applying what would have been a fairytale finish.

10 mins: France 0 England 0

First poor tackle of the night comes from Owen Hargreaves on Jeremy Toulanan. That might be a booking in the Premiership, but only when Manchester United are playing away from home. England win the first corner, but Beckham's delivery from the right is headed away by Lilian Thuram. On eight minutes, France should be in front. England leave Nicolas Anelka unmarked at a Franck Ribery free-kick from the left but the Chelsea striker heads wide with the goal gaping.

5 mins: France 0 England 0

Florent Malouda goes on a bustling run down the inside left channel, but wait, who's that tracking back and dispossessing him with a perfectly-judged tackle? Why, it's the man himself, David Beckham, eager to prove that his 100th England appearance will not be his last.

0 mins: France 0 England 0

For those of you reading this commentary in black and white, England are in the red shirts, France have a variation on their traditional home strip and they are all in blue tonight. There is a round of applause before the start for a French commentator, Thierry Gilardi, who was due to be at this game tonight, but died suddenly yesterday, aged 49. Then a minute's silence, impeccablty respected again - what's going on with these England fans, where are their bad manners?

More at stake for France?

Here is the star of tonight's show, David Beckham, who is making his 100th international appearance. There is more riding on this game for France, however, as this is the last match before Les Bleus name their squad for Euro 2008. David Trezeguet had fallen out with Raymond Domenech, the coach, but has won a recall and will be anxious to prove a point. The anthems have been respected, thankfully, and we are ready for action.

France team

This is the France side, according to the FA's official website:

France: Gregory Coupet, Francois Clerc, Lilian Thuram (c), William Gallas, Eric Abidal, Florent Malouda, Claude Makelele, Jeremy Toulalan, Franck Ribery, David Trezeguet, Nicolas Anelka

Substitutes: Mickael Landreau, Philippe Mexes, Djibril Cisse, Sidney Govou, Sebastien Squillaci, Alou Diarra, Mathieu Flamini, Patrice Evra.

And for your records, the referee for tonight's encounter is a German by the name of Florian Meyer.

The England team - Beckham starts

As has been widely predicted, the boy Beckham has been selected in the starting line-up for tonight's friendly international with France in Paris and, I would imagine, he is feeling pretty good about life at present.

The Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder will become just the fifth player to earn 100 caps for England, following in the footsteps of Peter Shilton (125), Bobby Moore (108), Bobby Charlton (106) and Billy Wright (105).

Rumours that Rio Ferdinand has forgotten about the game and has gone shopping are unfounded and the Manchester United defender will captain the side, which is: James, Brown, Ferdinand, Terry, Ashley Cole, Hargreaves, Barry, Beckham, Joe Cole, Gerrard, Rooney.

No place for Frank Lampard, then. Interesting stuff. Stop press: Lamps has stayed behind at the team hotel because of a stomach illness, though there is no indication as yet if he is really poorly or merely feeling sick at being left out of the side.

We think the formation should look something like this (from back to front, obviously, though it might be quite fun to see David James leading the attack):

                                 James

Brown             Ferdinand            Terry           Ashley Cole

                       Hargreaves         Barry

Beckham                                                     Joe Cole

                             Gerrard

                             Rooney

France v England, live commentary tonight from 2000GMT

So David Beckham will win his 100th cap and Rio Ferdinand is going to take the armband, amid dire warnings to other captaincy contenders that their behaviour must improve if they are to skipper the national side. Yes, indeed, Fabio Capello's England team will be a model of decorum, good manners and respect at the Stade de France in tonight's friendly, and you can join Richard Neale here for live commentary from 2000GMT.

And if you fancy live updates sent to your mobile, text Times to 86626. Swish, eh?

FT: Inter Milan 0 Liverpool 1 (agg 0-3)

Liverpool complete a thoroughly professional job, winning 1-0 on the night and 3-0 on aggregate. They rode their luck a little, in the first half particularly, when steadier finishing from Julio Cruz could have seen them in arrears at the interval. Ibrahimovic was equally wayward in the second half, the home side's task having already been made almost insurmountable by the 49th-minute dismissal of Nicolas Burdisso for a second bookable offence. The Inter strikers were given a lesson in finishing on 63 minutes when Fernando Torres collected Aurelio's ball from the left, swivelled past Cristian Chivu and found the net with a 14-yard right-footed drive. In Friday's quarter-final draw there will be one team from each of Spain, Germany, Italy and Turkey. And, wait for it, four from England.

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89 mins: Inter Milan 0 Liverpool 1

Riise replaces the hard-working Dirk Kuyt for Liverpool, Luis Antonio Jimenez taking the place of Stankovic for the Italians, who are understandably just going through the motions at present. Torres is within an ace of adding a second, but Chivu cuts out a dangerous cross from the right and the Inter defender then blots his copybook by becoming the umpteenth player to see yellow (sorry, there have been so many cards I have to confess I have lost count). Jermaine Pennant replaces Mascherano with three minutes left but, frankly, who cares? This game has long since been over.

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80 mins: Inter Milan 0 Liverpool 1

The card count continues to rise: Stankovic for pulling Mascherano back by the shirt, Benayoun after Maicon cons the referee that he has been elbowed in an aerial challenge. Knowing that the tie is lost, Mancini bloods the young Portuguese with the famous name, Pele, in place of Vieira. Ibrahimovic gets clear on the left and fires wastefully over again. That is his last action, as David Suazo takes his place. The substitute is a Honduran, apparently.

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73 mins: Inter Milan 0 Liverpool 1

Vieira goes down on the edge of the penalty area and Inter really have to score this free-kick to retain any chance of going through, but Ibrahimovic's effort is over the bar. Benayoun plays a ball across the face of goal but Torres is caught on his heels and cannot get to the back post in time to apply the finbishing touch.

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63 mins: Inter Milan 0 Liverpool 1

Game over. Aurelio plays a ball inside to Torres, who controls in an instant, swivels past Cristian Chivu and blasts a shot right-footed into the bottom corner past Cesar's right-hand. That was pure class. Goal number 26 of the season for the Spaniard. Liverpool are all but in the quarter-finals.

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62 mins: Inter Milan 0 Liverpool 0

Another almighty escape for Liverpool, as Skrtel, I believe it was, gives the ball straight to Ibrahimovic, who has a clear run on goal. The former Juventus striker is wayward with his finish, dragging it past the far post with only Reina to beat. That could be the home side's best chance and they have been wasteful again, just as in the first half. Gerrard forces Julio Caesar to tip his 25-yard free-kick over the cbar and from the corner Lucas should do better with a free header. First change of the match as Babel makes way for Yossi Benayoun.

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56 mins: Inter Milan 0 Liverpool 0

The Italians are unhappy with the red card and they have just cause. Materazzi was harshly treated in the first leg and Burdisso can count himself similarly unfortunate, though Liverpool are not complaining. Perhaps trying to even things up a little, the match official brandishes a yellow card in the direction of Aurelio when it appeared Rivas had simply run in to him.

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50 mins: Inter Milan 0 Liverpool 0

No changes at the interval, certainly not a surprise in Liverpool's case and Roberto Mancini, the Inter manager, is not one to panic. The first meaningful action of the second period sees a Liverpool booking. Steven Gerrard tries to cut in from the left and get in a shot on goal, but he overruns it and slides in on Cambiasso, whose pained expression makes up the referee's mind that he has to show a yellow card to the visiting captain. Then, real controversy. Burdisso catches Lucas as the pair contest a 50-50 ball and referee Ovrebo shows the Argentinian a second yellow card. Just as in the first leg, Inter are reduced to ten men.

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HT: Inter Milan 0 Liverpool 0

Inter create another good chance just before the interval. Maicon bursts past two static markers to get to the by-line and crosses for Cruz, whose cheeky near-post backheel is kept out by a one-handed save by Reina. More pace on the shot from the diminutive striker and that would have been the opening goal. As it is, we are goalless at the interval. Halfway there. Liverpool have impressively limited Inter to just a couple of opportunities (albeit decent ones) in the opening period. Fair enough, they have created little in attack, but then they don't have to, still holding a two-goal advantage from the first leg. Again, the major worry is if Babel gets sent off for a second silly yellow card: the crowd are encouraging the referee to do so every time the Dutchman goes anywhere near the ball.   

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38 mins: Inter Milan 0 Liverpool 0

There is a break in play after Maicon needs treatment after being hit in a rather sensitive place by a rasping cross-shot from Kuyt. The Inter defender had made a meal of one or two tackles earlier in the game, but that one brought tears even to my eyes. A cynical foul by Nicolas Burdisso, who chops down Dirk Kuyt, earns him the first Inter yellow card of the game. Babel is perhaps a little lucky that the referee decides not to book him a second time for what appeared a deliberate handball.

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32 mins: Inter Milan 0 Liverpool 0

First real chance for Liverpool. Cambiasso slips on the right edge of his own penalty area, gifting the ball to Torres. The Spaniard is in the form of his life at the moment and he skips past Nelson Rivas, only for Julio Cesar to come out and narrow the angle, blocking the low shot. At the other end, an impressive passing move carves the Liverpool defence apart. Ibrahimovic slips the ball through to Cruz, who only has to square the ball for Stankovic and it is 1-0. Instead, he selfishly opts to shoot and his left-foot effort whistles past the far post. What an escape for the visitors.

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25 mins: Inter Milan 0 Liverpool 0

So far, so good for the men in red, beyond the halfway point of the first half and yet to concede, the only dangerous moment being a sweetly-struck shot by Julio Cruz which forced a top-class safe from Reina. It appears as this game could well be a slow-burner like the first leg at Anfield, technically impressive but not a thriller early on, but catching fire in the closing stages. 0-0 looks on the cards at the moment, but I have a sneaky feeling there will be goals in this game. Fabio Aurelio picks out Babel with a magnificent 50-yard pass, but just when it appears he is clean through Julio Cesar is off his line to clear the danger.

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21 mins: Inter Milan 0 Liverpool 0

I have to confess, I am a little worried about Ryan Babel here. Having predicted the early dismissal of Marco Materazzi in the first leg, these are similarly worrying times for the Dutch international who has already been booked and must now behave impeccably in front of a referee who on first view seems to be a bit of a strict disciplinarian (aren't they all in Europe, mind you?) Another Inter free-kick, but that effort from Dejan Stankovic is not going to trouble a goalkeeper of Reina's quality.

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15 mins: Inter Milan 0 Liverpool 0

Dirk Kuyt brings a premature end to a surging run from Javier Zanetti, giving Inter a free-kick some 30 yards from goal. Ibrahimovic hits the initial kick into the wall, but Mr Ovrebo, the referee, says Ryan Babel encroached and books the Dutchman before ordering a retake. This time the Swede blasts a couple of yards over the crossbar.

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10 mins: Inter Milan 0 Liverpool 0

First sign of danger for Liverpool as Ibrahimovic collects a Vieira ball to the far post. His cross is a dangerous one, but Lucas, the Brazilian, nips in to take the ball off the foot of the bald-headed Esteban Cambiasso just as he is about to shoot. There are more than 80,000 in the San Siro tonight - can the 6,000 or so Liverpool fans make themselves heard? Fantastic save from Jose Reina down low to his right to turn aside a shot from Julio Cruz. Worrying, very worrying, for fans of English football. But there is still a big fat zero alongside the Inter Milan goals for tally, so let's give Rafa Benitez's boys a bit of slack.

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4 mins: Inter Milan 0 Liverpool 0

We are underway and Liverpool have made a positive start, Fernando Torres winning a corner inside 110 seconds. Gerrard's delivery, though, comes to nothing and Inter clear. Here's the first talking point for you - Inter have no Italians in their starting line-up - yet who won the last World Cup? No excuse for England then about the amount of imports in the Premier League.

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Team news

So Zlatan Ibrahimovic has, as had been widely predicted, been passed fit to take his place alongside Julio Cruz in the Inter Milan attack.

Fernando Torres will lead the line for Liverpool and although Dirk Kuyt, a second striker, has been included, will he play as a second striker, or drop into a more deep-lying role in midfield?

With Steve Finnan injured, Jamie Carragher will make his 100th European appearance at right back, with Martin Skrtel starting in the centre - cause for some concern for Liverpool fans even before the start.

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Tonight's teams

Inter Milan: Julio Cesar, Maicon, Burdisso, Rivas, Chivu, Zanetti, Cambiasso, Stankovic, Vieira, Ibrahimovic, Cruz. Substitutes: Toldo, Figo, Jimenez, Crespo, Maniche, Suazo, Pele.

Liverpool: Reina, Carragher, Skrtel, Hyypia, Aurelio, Babel, Mascherano, Gerrard, Lucas, Kuyt, Torres. Substitutes: Itandje, Riise, Voronin, Benayoun, Crouch, Pennant, Arbeloa.

Referee: Tom Ovrebo (Norway)

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Liverpool aiming to complete Italian job

Ok, let’s get one thing straight before we start. Don't even consider washing your hair or going to the cinema tonight under the misapprehension that Liverpool are already through. This is not a Champions League gimme, not by any stretch of the imagination.

The Italians are six points clear of second-placed Roma in Serie A with Juventus, in third, a further seven adrift. Inter are unbeaten in the league at home this season in 14 outings, 12 of which they have won, scoring 32 goals and conceding just eight in the process.

Yes, Liverpool did win the first leg 2-0, but lest you forget, both goals came in the last five minutes, courtesy of Dirk Kuyt and Steven Gerrard. The Italians played an hour of that match with only ten men after the rather harsh sending-off of Marco Materazzi and for much of the game it was easy to forget they were, in fact, a man down.

An early goal is everything tonight. If Liverpool get it, the tie is over as Inter will have to score four. But, just as importantly, if the English side do not concede in the opening half hour their opponents will become increasingly desperate and leave themselves open to the counter-attacking type of football at which the Merseysiders are past masters. Italian sides, you will appreciate, build from the back with a safety-first mentality, so for ‘increasingly desperate’ picture them pushing an extra midfielder into a more advanced position for the last ten minutes.

Please come back and join us from 1915GMT, when team news should start filtering through from the San Siro. The game itself kicks off 30 minutes later. If you have any thoughts in the build-up, or during the match itself, please feel free to e-mail us. The address is: sport@timesonline.co.uk

And remember, if you have upgraded your carrier pigeon for one of those new-fangled mobile-phone thingies, you can get live coverage in the palm of your hand simply by texting Sport to 86626 to receive our commentary on your mobile.

Inter Milan v Liverpool, live commentary from 1945GMT

Forget Emmerdale's Charlie and Chastity and Corrie's daft David (oh, you already have), the real soap opera this year is happening at Liverpool Football Club.

Yesterday's episode was a corker: first DIC announced they were in advanced takeover talks to buy the club, then Tom Hicks pulled the plug on the negotiations. And as a side story, Xabi Alonso upset the manager, Rafael Benitez, by not travelling with the team to Italy because his girlfriend is about to give birth any minute. How dare he?

Tonight promises to be just as juicy. With Liverpool 2-0 up from the first leg of their Champions League last 16 match, all they have to do is go to the San Siro and protect their lead. That's all. Piece of cake.

Make sure you don't miss a slice of the action ("cake", "slice" - I'm on fire) with our live rolling report from 7.45pm. And if you find carrying your pc around with you is too much hassle, just text Sport to 86626 to receive the commentary on your mobile.

Premier League and FA Cup goal flashes and action

theCan't get to the game but don't want to miss a thing? Perhaps you're one of the poor unfortunates who's stuck behind a desk at the weekend with no telly?

Don't worry, here is the answer.

We will bring every goal and goalscorer to you as soon as the ball hits the back of the net. Well, almost. Feel the tension, follow the goals and then watch them with our highlights package from midnight on Sunday.

Keep refreshing the page for the very latest Premier League and FA Cup goal action.

11min: FA Cup) YELLOW CARD! Papa Bouba Diop (Portsmouth) booked for foul on Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd)

20min: YELLOW CARD! Wayne Rooney (Man Utd) booked for rash challenge

39min: YELLOW CARD! Lassana Diarra (Portsmouth) booked for clumsy challenge on Ronaldo (Man Utd)

HT (FA Cup) Manchester United 0 Portsmouth 0

76min: OFF! Tomasz Kuszczak (Man Utd), who came on for the injured Edwin van der Sar at half-time, is sent off for a professional foul after bringing down Milan Baros (Portsmouth)

78min: GOAL! Man Utd 0 Portsmouth 1- Sulley Muntari (Portsmouth) converts penalty past Rio Ferdinand, Manchester United's third goalkeeper of the match

90min (+3.20): Sir Alex Ferguson, the Manchester United manager, performs GBH on his chewing gum as time runs out

FT (FA Cup) Manchester United 0 Portsmouth 1

18min: (PL) YELLOW CARD! Didi Hamann (Man City) booked for unsporting behaviour after foul on Stephen Hunt (Reading)

25min: (PL) YELLOW CARD! John Arne Riise (Liverpool) booked for unsporting behaviour after foul on  James Milner

43min: GOAL! Liverpool 1 Newcastle 0 - Jermaine Pennant (Liverpool) scores his first goal in more than a year when Jose Enrique's attempted clearance rebound's off the winger from close range and over Steve Harper into the Newcastle net

45min: GOAL! Liverpool 2 Newcastle 0 - Fernando Torres (Liverpool) hit his 19th Premier League goal of the season with a close-range shot after being released by Steven Gerrard's pass and dummying Newcastle keeper Steve Harper

45min: (PL) YELLOW CARD! Tugay Kerimoglu (Blackburn) booked for unsporting behaviour after a foul on Jimmy Bullard (Fulham)

45min: YELLOW CARD! Michael Johnson (Man City) booked for unsporting behaviour

HT (PL) Liverpool 2 Newcastle 0

HT (PL) Reading 0 Man City 0

HT (PL) Blackburn 0 Fulham 0

Attendance: Blackburn  20,362

51min: GOAL! Liverpool 3 Newcastle 0 - Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) adds a third with an 18-yard shot from Fernando Torres's pass

59min: GOAL! Blackburn 1 Fulham 0 - Morten Gamst Pedersen (Blackburn) heads in Jason Roberts's cross from 12 yards

Attendance: Liverpool 44,031

62min: GOAL! Reading 1 Man City 0 - Shane Long (Reading) fires in from 12 yards after Kevin Doyle's pass

69min: YELLOW CARD! Stephen Warnock (Blackburn) booked for unsporting behaviour after foul on Jimmy Bullard (Fulham)

Attendance: Reading 24,062

82min: YELLOW CARD! Paul Stalteri (Fulham) booked for unsporting behaviour after a foul on Jason Roberts (Blackburn)

88min: GOAL! Reading 2 Man City 0 - Dave Kitson (Reading) hits the home side's second from 12 yards as they prepare to move out of the relegation zone

89min: GOAL! Blackburn 1 Fulham 1 - Jimmy Bullard (Fulham) fires in Paul Konchesky's free kick, after Blackburn's Christopher Samba fouled Eddie Johnson, for a precious equaliser for struggling Fulham

90min: YELLOW CARD! Brian McBride (Fulham) booked for not retreating 10 yards after Morten Gamst Pedersen (Blackburn) had fouled Fulham's David Healy

FT (PL) Liverpool 3 Newcastle 0

FT (PL) Blackburn 1 Fulham 1

FT (PL) Reading 2 Manchester City 0

HT (FA Cup) Barnsley 0 Chelsea 0

54min: YELLOW CARD! Robert Kozluk (Barnsley) booked for a foul on Chelsea's Joe Cole

Attendance: Barnsley  22,410

66min: GOAL! Barnsley 1 Chelsea 0 - Kayode Odejayi leaps high above Carlo Cudicini, the Chelsea keeper, to head Barnsley into a shock lead against the run of play. Martin Devaney's cross from the right was perfect for the tall Nigerian forward to score only his second goal of the season from close range

90min: YELLOW CARD! Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea) booked for unsporting behaviour after a foul on Brian Howard

FT (FA Cup) Barnsley 1 Chelsea 0

Football footnote

Just to round off tonight's football: Liverpool ultimately ran out 4-0 winners over West Ham United to move back into fourth place in the Premier League.

Fernando Torres (8, 61 and 83 minutes) scored his second hat-trick in three games to take his season's tally to 24, with Steven Gerrard adding the fourth seven minutes from time.

The result takes Liverpool back ahead of their Merseyside rivals Everton on goal difference.

RESULTS

Champions League

Chelsea 3 (Ballack 5, Lampard 25, Kalou 48) Olympiacos 0 (aggregate 3-0)

Premier League

Liverpool 4 (Torres, 8, 61, 81, Gerrard 83) West Ham 0

FT: Chelsea 3 Olympiacos 0 (agg 3-0)

Chelsea make it three English teams in the last eight of the Champions League, with Liverpool likely to become the fourth next week when they take a two-goal lead to Inter Milan. Much like at West Ham on Saturday, Avram Grant's side played with a high tempo right from the off and the game was as good as won midway through the first half. First-half strikes from Michael Ballack and Frank Lampard gave Chelsea a two-goal advantage and Salomon Kalou added a third three minutes after the interval.

In the Premier League, Liverpool lead West Ham 2-0 at Anfield with around ten minutes left.

RESULT

Champions League

Chelsea 3 (Ballack 5, Lampard 25, Kalou 48) Olympiacos 0 (aggregate 3-0)

LATEST

Premier League

Liverpool 2 (Torres, 8, 61) West Ham 0

84 mins: Chelsea 3 Olympiacos 0

The finally Chelsea switch sees Joe Cole, who has impressed, depart the scene with Shaun Wright-Phillips replacing him. Bellushi smashes a shot from 30-plus yards which curls and dips. Cudicini is unimpressed and watches in amazement as the ball crashes against the frame of his goal. Bellushi is then clobbered by Terry, earning the Chelsea player a yellow card and from the free-kick, Cudicini keeps out Stoltidis's initial effort and an even better diving stop to keep out a header from Antzas. Chelsea have totally switched off in the past 15 minutes or so, but they can be forgiven, having done the hard work in the opening period. 

78 mins: Chelsea 3 Olympiacos 0

Lampard is still pleading his case to the referee, saying that he wasn't trying to con the official into awarding a penalty. Unfortunately for him, one of Gonzalez's pastimes is listed as diving. Two changes, one per side. Essien on for Lampard for Chelsea, Mirnes Sisic replacing Torosidis for the visitors.

At Anfield, the Spain international, Fernando Torries, has doubled Liverpool's lead against West Ham in the Premier League.

72 mins: Chelsea 3 Olympiacos 0

Moment of the night for me, as Cudicini's long punt upfield is brought down by a wonderful touch from Joe Cole, who controls the ball magically on the end of his foot before unleashing a first-time shot with his left foot that the goalkeeper beats out. Makelele controls the rebound, cuts inside and steers a right-foot shot which Nikopolidis saves with some difficulty. Chelsea make a switch, Malouda comes on for Salomon Kalou, though John Terry, who appears to be hobbling with what may be a hip injury. Lampard is infuriated to be booked for diving, he was harshly treated there by offical, Senor Gonzalez. 

67 mins: Chelsea 3 Olympiacos 0

Who says professional footballers don't earn their corn? We've just seen figures to show how far the players have run so far this evening, which, remember, is just three quarters of the way through the game. Surprisingly Michael Ballack has done the most work for Chelsea, clocking up 8,800 metres, or around five miles, followed by Lampard (8,558) and Kalou (8508). Drobga puts the ball in the net, but it is ruled out for offside. Then a rare threat from Olympiacos, but Bellushi's free-kick from the right is headed away by Ballack. 

60 mins: Chelsea 3 Olympiacos 0

Another change for the Greeks. There should be ten players holding their hands up to come off, so shameful has this display been. The man to make way is Predrag Djordjevic, with Leonardo coming on in his place and Stoltidus getting the captain's armband. An hour into this match and Olympiacos manage their first shot of the night - of any description. It is on target, but Cudicini saves Bellushi's tame free-kick.