Former striker Carlton Cole featured for the Three Lions just seven times throughout his career but that certainly didn't stop his team-mates from playing pranks on him in the cruelest of ways.

JANINE SELF AT ST ANDREWS: Lee Camp saved spot kicks from Jamie Allen and Liam Walsh and Birmingham were finally home sweet home.

James Milner opted to stay put in chilly England despite his team-mates enjoying luxury trips around the world as he watched Liverpool's youth team beat Shrewsbury in the FA Cup fourth round.

Less than 24 hours after watching their young team-mates beat Shrewsbury in the FA Cup, Liverpool's leading lights were back to the grind in warmer climes.

Jose Mourinho gave a frank assessment of his Tottenham stars after they edged through to the FA Cup fifth round against Southampton - admitting 'the best team lost the game'.

Speaking before the match, Alan Shearer believed the kids deserved to have Klopp, who is on holiday amid the Premier League winter break, watching on from the sidelines.

For the first time, the clubs of the Premier League are set for a winter break this month. But it's already proving chaotic and a little controversial with lots of clubs forced to change their plans last-minute.

Jan Vertonghen's time at Tottenham appears at an end, with no new contract extension in sight for the 32-year-old who has been at the club since 2012.

Andre Gray has accused the FA and police of doing 'nothing' after he and his team-mates were hit with a barrage of racist abuse online. He was speaking for new BBC Three film Shame In The Game.

ON THE ROAD - ADAM SHERGOLD: Ronnie Radford's famous goal for Hereford in 1972 is generally considered a great football moment. But not in the Cumbrian town of Barrow-in-Furness.

EXCLUSIVE BY MATT HUGHES: The Premier League winter break will clash with FA Cup fourth-round replays again next season, raising the prospect of more clubs being denied rest.

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has revealed James Ward-Prowse is in contention to feature against Burnley on Saturday - just 10 days after suffering a nasty cut on his leg.

Newcastle head coach Steve Bruce has been handed a double boost by the return to training of strikers Joelinton and Yoshinori Muto.

Former England captain Dave Watson has a neurodegenerative disease that was 'most likely' brought on by head injuries and repeated heading of the ball during his playing days.

Such are the fine margins in football, determining whether Frank Lampard's first season in charge of Chelsea has been a success is set to hinge entirely upon the crunch month ahead.

Mikel Arteta has praised the reaction of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after his skipper missed a last-gasp chance as Arsenal crashed out of the Europa League to Olympiacos.

DANNY MURPHY: There won't be any tears in the Liverpool dressing-room about failing to become Invincibles. In hindsight, you could say that this defeat at Watford had been coming.

Pompey lifted the cup in 2008 and were beaten finalists two years later before dropping out of the Premier League and plummeting through the footballing pyramid amid major financial problems.

FA Cup fifth round action gets under way on the south coast, as Arsenal travel to Fratton Park to lock horns with Portsmouth. Sportsmail's DANNY GALLAGHER brings you the action live.

Frank Lampard has revealed Kepa Arrizabalaga is in line for a Chelsea recall tonight, but warned the keeper his fading Euro 2020 hopes are the least of his worries.

Sokratis Papastathopoulos insists he will not "sit" on his contract at Arsenal and would look to move on if he becomes disillusioned at being out of the team.

Several Gunners' stars were reluctant to make too much contact with players from opponents Portsmouth as they lined up at the start of Monday night's FA Cup match.

MATT BARLOW AT FRATTON PARK: Arsenal have made it through to the FA Cup quarter-finals with a 2-0 victory over Portsmouth in the fifth round.

The French midfielder was cautioned by veteran referee Mike Dean during the first half of the Gunners' FA Cup tie with Portsmouth, leaving supporters bemused as to why he was booked.

Mikel Arteta admits he took a risk making nine changes for the FA Cup win at Portsmouth but claims he was left with no choice as some of his players were 'knackered' after Europa League exit.

Leroy Sane has missed the whole of the season so far after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in the Community Shield against Liverpool on August 4, 2019.

Chelsea host Liverpool at Stamford Bridge in their first FA Cup meeting since 2012 when Blues won 2-1 in the final as Frank Lampard looks to repeat the victory as a manager now.

For Frank Lampard, his side - which included impressive 18-year-old midfielder Billy Gilmour - beat the 'best team in the land' in Liverpool due to their 'focus', 'determination' and 'quality' on the night.

Billy Gilmour was the name on everyone's lips as Chelsea dumped Liverpool out of the FA Cup. And the youngster could get more game time as Chelsea grapple with an injury crisis.

Billy Gilmour has boosted his chances of being fast-tracked into Scotland's senior squad with his breakout performance in Chelsea's FA Cup win against Liverpool on Tuesday night.

Gilmour, 18, led the way for Chelsea in the win at Stamford Bridge, where Willian and Ross Barkley scored to lead Frank Lampard's men into the quarter-finals.

Chelsea booked their place in the FA Cup quarter finals after seeing off Premier League champions-elect Liverpool 2-0, thanks to goals from Willian and Ross Barkley.

Billy Gilmour's man of the match performance for Chelsea in their FA Cup win over Liverpool has seen calls grow louder to insert him straight into the next Scotland line-up. 

JACK GAUGHAN AT HILLSBOROUGH: De Bruyne missed Wednesday night's slender FA Cup victory at Sheffield Wednesday after landing awkwardly towards the end of the Carabao Cup final.

Tim Krul had Spurs' penalty takers and the directions they would shoot listed on his water bottle ahead of Norwich's shock win on spot kicks in the FA Cup on Wednesday night.

Norwich goalkeeper Tim Krul saved penalties from Troy Parrott and Gedson Fernandes as Tuesday's fifth round tie at White Hart Lane was settled in a shoot-out after a 1-1 draw.

Jan Vertonghen admits Tottenham must address the problem of goals they concede if they are to salvage something from their disastrous season after crashing out of the FA Cup on Wednesday.

Torreira was taken off on a stretcher early on during the 2-0 victory at Fratton Park following a crunching tackle from Portsmouth's James Bolton. The midfielder will see a specialist on Friday.

Harry Maguire is doubtful for Sunday's Manchester derby after missing Manchester United's FA Cup tie at Derby with an ankle injury.

The left-back has impressed in recent weeks and continued the good form by opening the scoring with a volley that deflected off team-mate Jesse Lingard before looping into the net.

While Manchester City's clash with Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough took place on Wednesday night, United's game at Derby County was the last of the eight ties on Thursday.

Carlo Ancelotti is braced for an emotional return to Stamford Bridge, but says Roman Abramovich never revealed why he sacked him as manager of Chelsea in 2011.

Frank Lampard believes top players deserve more credit for not snapping in the face of abuse from fans after Eric Dier clambered into the stands to confront a supporter.

MATT HUGHES - AHEAD OF THE GAME: The 30-year-old Gabon striker is in talks over a new contract and his demands represent more than a 30 per cent increase on his existing deal.

Frank Lampard insists Billy Gilmour will keep his feet on the ground despite the teen midfielder's star turn against Liverpool, where the Scotland youngster Gilmour produced a first-class performance.

DANNY MURPHY: As a footballer, I heard a lot of things from fans they shouldn't be shouting. I caught a lot of stuff about my mum, my wife, my kids. But you still don't go into the crowd, full stop.

Roy Keane has slated Adam Lallana for being no match for Chelsea youngster Billy Gilmour, who the Manchester United legend heaped praise on after his Liverpool display.

Arsenal will be without midfielder Lucas Torreira for the remainder of the campaign after the ankle injury he sustained in the FA Cup against Portsmouth.

Leicester and Chelsea are set to open the action at lunchtime on the same day, and supporters can watch the encounter live on BT Sport 1.

Lucas Torreira has provided Arsenal fans with a positive update on his recuperation after he sustained a fractured ankle in the FA Cup win at Portsmouth.