Football news LIVE: Liverpool confident of Salah contract agreement, Saka hints at imminent return, FA Cup quarter-final build-up

Too Slot to handle

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has previewed his side's upcoming horror run of five matches in the next 15 days.

Despite the Reds surrendering the chance to continue their quadruple push, the club still won't have a chance to draw breath.

Liverpool play the rescheduled Merseyside derby tomorrow, with an upcoming clash away at Aston Villa also squeezed in seven days time due to their commitments in March's Carabao Cup final.

In between those two games, the Premier League leaders host Wolves on Sunday, with meetings against Manchester City and Newcastle within three days of each other before the month ends.

Slot said: "This period, five games in 15 days, is what we've done for 15 months now.

"This is the hardest league to win because so many teams can win this league and are capable of winning 10-15 games in a row, so you cannot slow down and you cannot have a few games where you aren't on the top of your game because all of a sudden another team will catch you up.

"That is what the Premier League is, that's why it is such an exciting league and such a beautiful league to work in.

"Last season Arsenal only lost two of their last 15 or 17, but still City were able to win the league probably because they won every game.

"That is the league we are in, so the upcoming five fixtures are important, but the nine afterwards are important. But the first 23-24 games have been just as important."

On Red alert

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has offered an update on his side's injuries ahead of the Merseyside derby.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is recovering from a hamstring issue and could play some part in a huge boost for the Reds.

The 26-year-old was taken off during Liverpool's 2-0 win against Bournemouth and has missed the club's past two matches.

Slot said: "Trent [Alexander-Arnold] has done part of session with us yesterday [Monday]. Let's see how he is today [Tuesday] when he trains with us and then we have to decide if we take him to the game.

"Joe [Gomez], it is the same leg where he had the [hamstring] injury last time, we are assessing him, but he will definitely will not be with us.

"That [injury] is mostly a concern."

Palace progress

It's full time in the FA Cup.

Crystal Palace have beaten Doncaster 2-0 thanks to goals from Daniel Munoz and Justin Devenny.

They will now face Millwall in a London derby.

That's going to be a ferocious affair in the fifth round.

Tomorrow night, the last game of the fourth round will take place between Exeter and Nottingham Forest.

Chilwell debut

Now this has been a long time coming for Ben Chilwell.

He's come on at half time for Crystal Palace to make his debut for the club, replacing Tyrick Mitchell.

It's his first appearance since September 24.

Chilwell only played one time for Chelsea this season and that was against Barrow in the Carabao Cup on that day.

The former England international will hope this is the start of some more game time as he looks to reignite his career.

He has already celebrated a goal after his introduction, as Justin Devenny made it 2-0 to Palace against Doncaster.

Palace in front

Crystal Palace lead at half time against Doncaster.

The only goal of the game came from Daniel Munoz after half an hour as he tapped in a rebound.

A neat free-kick routine saw Daichi Kamada find Jean-Philippe Mateta in the box who turned and struck the post with a strike.

Then unfortunately for the hosts, Munoz was there to collect the ball from the rebound and finish from very close range.

Doncaster have had a couple of chances since conceding, but Billy Sharp and Luke Molyneux were unable to find the net.

Kick-off!

Tonight's FA Cup clash between League Two Doncaster Rovers and Premier League Crystal Palace is underway.

Ben Chilwell, who joined Palace on loan from Chelsea in the winter window, is on the bench and could make his debut.

The winner of this tie will host Millwall.

Doncaster XI: Sharman-Lowe, Sterry, Olowu, Anderson, Maxwell, Broadbent, Bailey, Molyneux, Sharp, Ennis, Street.

Subs: Lawlor, Sbarra, Gibson, Nixon, Ironside, Kelly, Senior, Westbrooke, Crew.

Crystal Palace XI: Turner, Richards, Lacroix, Guehi, Munoz, Wharton, Hughes, Mitchell, Kamada, Devenny, Mateta.

Subs: Henderson, Matthews, Lerma, Franca, Clyne, Esse, Chilwell, Kporha.

Ball numbers

We're closing in on the draw!

Here's all the balls numbers ahead of it so you can work out which one you team is going to be.

Doncaster vs Crystal Palace will follow the draw before Exeter vs Nottingham Forest takes place tomorrow night.

• 1 – Manchester United
• 2 – Millwall
• 3 – Brighton
• 4 – Preston North End
• 5 – Exeter City or Nottingham Forest
• 6 – Ipswich Town
• 7 – Wolves
• 8 – Fulham
• 9 – Newcastle
• 10 – Plymouth Argyle
• 11 – Bournemouth
• 12 – Aston Villa
• 13 – Burnley
• 14 – Manchester City
• 15 – Doncaster Rovers or Crystal Palace
• 16 – Cardiff City

Draw coming up

The draw for the FA Cup fifth round is coming up soon.

It will take place during BBC's ‘The One Show’ with the ball picking expected to start at around 7:10pm.

The draw will be done by Arsenal great Theo Walcott and ex-England right-back Alex Scott.

talkSPORT will have live coverage of the proceedings from 7pm before our commentary of Doncaster Rovers vs Crystal Palace.

To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream. 

You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.

It will also be shown on the official Emirates FA Cup social media channels.

Sour taste

John Eustace is leaving Blackburn to join Championship rivals Derby County.

Blackburn confirmed that Eustace has requested permission to speak with a second-tier club, although Derby were not named.

But talkSPORT understands he has accepted the manager's job at Pride Park after feeling a lack of support from the owners of his current club.

Blackburn have triggered the release clause in his contract, believed to be between £500,000 and £750,000.

Eustace is now set to head to the Rams, despite a 16-place gap separating the teams in the Championship.

It's a move that's left a sour taste at Ewood Park, however.

A strongly-worded statement has been released by the club and you can read it in full below...

'Disappointed' - Blackburn give strongly-worded statement as Eustace closes in on Derby

Keeping up hope

Manchester City defender Ruben Dias believes his side can still achieve 'something beautiful' this season.

The Citizens have had a dismal campaign in all competitions, only just scraping through in the Champions League amid well-below-par Premier League form.

Pep Guardiola's side face Real Madrid tomorrow night and judging by their season so far, they could be set for a defeat.

However, Dias is keeping up hope of a win at the Etihad.

He said: "This has been the most difficult season since I have been here but I am a firm believer that even in the most difficult moments, you can still achieve something beautiful.

"We know how difficult it will be to get through but we have loads of guns in the dressing room.

"We just have to use them in the right way."

m.A.A.d Villa

After performing the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show, Kendrick Lamar is set to ditch New Orleans for Birmingham because he's playing Villa Park.

The world famous artist dazzled in America last night, and his talents will be heard by the good people of Aston later this year.

He will be joined by SZA, and they will be playing on July 10 at Villa Park.

Done deal

The transfer window might be closed, but that hasn't stopped Aston Villa making a signing.

The Villans have confirmed that Yasin Ozcan has agreed to join the club on a pre-contract agreement.

The 18-year-old Turkish player is currently representing Kasimpasa and can play at left-back or centre-back.

He has made 21 appearances in the Super Lig, and he will join Villa in the summer for around £6 million.

Mo no

Former Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren believes that Mohamed Salah isn't fully appreciated by the board.

The ex-Reds centre-back was Salah's best friend when they were together at Anfield.

And he has been speaking in great detail about the Egyptian's future.

Salah's contract at Anfield is set to expire in four months, and there is still no new contract on the horizon.

And as the time ticks away, Lovren can see Salah leaving.

Speaking about the situation, he said: "I want Mo Salah to stay at Liverpool, he wants to stay, But I came to the conclusion that they 'the management' does not respect him enough—or at least not as much as he believes he deserves.

"Yes, I think he is closer to leaving than staying at the moment. That’s my feeling about the situation. I hope things change because, honestly, I wish him the best.

"But in the end, yes, money is an important factor, but he deserves more than just money. The question is: who will replace him? How will you find a replacement for him? How can you compensate for his absence?

"That’s the first question I would ask the club’s management: 'Who will replace him? Who will give you what Mohamed Salah gives you? Who will provide you with the stats and numbers that he delivers?'

"Well, you can replace him. If you want to replace him, I think you need to spend €200 million on a player who can offer what Mohamed Salah does. But even with that amount being spent and the high salary, will he deliver what Salah delivers?

"I think he doesn't get enough attention despite these numbers, because if it was [Lionel] Messi or [Cristiano] Ronaldo, we would see daily talk about why his contract wasn't renewed and why the right offer wasn't made to him."

Big future

Things might be crashing and burning for Tottenham at the moment, but one of their loan players provided a moment of magic at the weekend.

Jamie Donley is currently playing in League One for Leyton Orient and has enjoyed a very good season.

However, at the weekend, he pulled off a moment of pure magic against Manchester City.

A loose ball broke to him just inside City's half, and he lobbed the ball over Stefan Ortega only to see it hit the bar and go in off the shot-stopper.

So, it was an own goal, but almost certainly should have been awarded to Donley.

This shows the talent that he has, and his current manager believes he can get in the first team.

Speaking exclusively to talkSPORT Breakfast, Richie Wellens said: "We hope Donley goes back to Tottenham and gets in their first team."

Freedom

Marcus Rashford made his debut for Aston Villa last night in the FA Cup.

The England international came off the bench in the 2-1 win over Tottenham for the final 30 minutes and impressed.

Rashford came on for Jacob Ramsey and operated from the left, where he gave Pedro Porro a torrid time.

He also got a great reception from the home crowd.

The forward is set to spend the rest of the campaign on loan at Aston Villa, and immediately after the game, he posted on Instagram thanking the fans.

Interestingly, Rashford's former teammate Jadon Sancho commented, 'Freedom'.

'You can't'

Tottenham manager Ange Posteocoglou has staunchly defended his players after they crashed out of the FA Cup.

A 2-1 defeat away to Aston Villa crowned a few bad days for Spurs as they were dumped out of two domestic trophies.

Liverpool easily thrashed Tottenham 4-0 in the second leg of their Carabao Cup tie before Villa added to the pain.

However, despite mounting pressure on him, Posteocoglou refused to criticise any of his players in his post-match press conference.

He said: "What I'm saying is you can't be critical of players and players' performance during this time.

"If you do, then do that with everyone else when they've got nine or ten or 11 players out - none of them have - and for every game.

"I'm not just saying we had to do it today. We've been doing this since the middle of November.

"You can't judge the performance of these players or critique them on what they've done. All they've done is give all they can and that's all you can ask for.

Postecoglou claims criticism is agenda-driven as trophy claim comes back to haunt him

Everton 2-0 Man United

Nearly 12 years later and the same problems still persist for the Red Devils but it's no longer David Moyes' issues to sort out...

As it is, Ruben Amorim has kept his faith with the starting XI he has put out today - no changes from either manager at the break!