League Cup Semi Finals 1st Legs (5th/6th Jan)

[Reg]

BTSE=BT Sport Europe

TUESDAY

Genoa v Sampdoria (BTSE, 19:45)
Stoke City v Liverpool (SS1, 20:00) League Cup SF

WEDNESDAY
Udinese v Atalanta (BTSE, 11:30)
Juventus v Verona (BTSE, 14:00)
Empoli v Inter Milan (BTSE, 17:00)
Napoli v Torino (BTSE, 19:45)
Everton v Man City (SS1, 20:00) League Cup SF
Vitoria Setubal v Sporting Lisbon (BTS ESPN, 20:15)
FC Porto v Rio Ave (BTS2, 20:15)

THURSDAY

Wigan Athletic v Gillingham (SS1, 19:45)

[Manc]

This could be anything. Disappointed Ibe isn't starting.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Will the tailors, and the haberdashers, and the craftsmen, and the fruit sellers of Udine all have the day off so that their team's 11.30am kickoff against their rivals from across Lake Garda will not be missed?

[Reg]

Will the tailors, and the haberdashers, and the craftsmen, and the fruit sellers of Udine all have the day off so that their team's 11.30am kickoff against their rivals from across Lake Garda will not be missed?
It's a bank holiday apparently.


Epiphany is celebrated in Italy on January 6 every year. This holiday is based on the story of the three wise men (or kings) offering Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Getting some co-ordinates on Udine just then I note that it's closer to Ljubljana than it is to Venice. Europe fucks with my mind at times.

[Reg]

Hamstrings must be the shittest muscle. Pretty routine kick there for Coutinho, and he could be out for 6 weeks now.

[Manc]

Here we go.

[Reg]

Terrible technique, Bojan. That's the reason you're ex-Barca, ya mug.

[Weaver]

Hamstrings must be the shittest muscle. Pretty routine kick there for Coutinho, and he could be out for 6 weeks now.

Sturridge has had a few hamstring injuries, I think that's what Origi is out for and Skrtel did his hamstring as well. I think I noticed Lovren holding his when he cleared there, as well.

EDIT: Hang on, he's sitting down in the box.

[Max Power]

Kinda want to go to the "Murder Mystery Evening" at the Britannia. Bet it's fucking great

[Manc]

Allen with a god like dummy. Woof.

[Boydy]

Kinda want to go to the "Murder Mystery Evening" at the Britannia. Bet it's fucking great

But who did it on a cold and rainy night in Stoke?

[Reg]

:D Nicely done.

[Manc]

Solid performances from Can and Kolo tonight. Firmino was as frustrating as ever. He seems to do everything right and then bottles it when he gets a sniff of a goal.

What a cunt "Sparky" is.

[CJay]

Listening to 5 Live's build up to the game tonight and it was all hype about how great Stoke have been this season. Went home and checked and they're 10th. I thought from the way they were being talked up that they were pushing into the top 4 by now.

What are we doing to our players that they keep getting hamstring injuries? Toure looked in danger at the end too.

[Manc]

Giving it bifters.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Anyone above Chelsea is 'having a great season' this year, I find the perception is.

[Magic]

Good game then, lads?

[Spoonsky]

Stoke seem better than they are because for once in their history they've been entertaining.

[Toby]

And Stanley Matthews turned in his grave.

I think it's largely because they beat City and United quite convincingly, and looked the part while doing so. Pundits probably don't want to admit that a team fronted by Bojan, Shaqiri and Arnautovic is exactly as hit or miss as you would expect it to be.

[Reg]

Our coach Nathan Jones has taken the Luton manager's job. In his playing days, he once had a very questionable haircut and our fans sang (to the tune of "He's got the whole world in his hands") "He's got a dead squirrel on his head".

[Giggles]

That's a fucking soft penalty shout there.

EDIT: Lucky Reina is so limp wristed too.

[Waffdon]

Mirallas :(

[CJay]

Only been watching since half-time - why is this game so dead? And the atmosphere too?

[Giggles]

League Cup innit.

[Giggles]

Both coaches sent off in the Napoli game.

[Waffdon]

Drogba back at Chelsea after all?

[SincereTheRebel]

Ibe's hamstring has broken.