Stoke City 0 Liverpool 3: It was not always pretty and certainly not lacking controversy, but Liverpool left Stoke City with a victory that looked routine, even if much of the game told a different story.

Northern Ireland celebrated a World Cup qualifying play-off place despite a 1-0 defeat in Norway as Scotland's bid ended in heartache.

The Republic of Ireland now know that a win away to Wales tomorrow guarantees them at least a World Cup play-off spot.

Scotland's 2018 World Cup hopes remain alive after a sensational late winner in the victory over 10-man Slovakia at Hampden Park.

With the international break and the phoney wars of the transfer window now thankfully behind us, FPL managers can focus on the season ‘proper’.

It was a list that should have embarrassed Stoke City’s manager: West Ham, Stevenage, Sunderland, Hull, Swansea, Watford, Burnley, Crystal Palace, Middlesbrough, and Southampton.

Ronald Koeman says Wayne Rooney proved he is "still one of the best in his position" with Saturday's match-winning display for Everton.

Stoke manager Mark Hughes’ position is not under threat despite another disappointing end to the season, but veteran midfielder Glenn Whelan’s nine-year stay may be coming to an end.

Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has targeted further improvement as Jurgen Klopp’s men close in on Champions League qualification.

Manchester United 0 West Brom 0

Wayne Rooney surpassed Sir Bobby Charlton to become Manchester United's record goalscorer with a dramatic injury-time free-kick which salvaged his side a 1-1 draw at Stoke.

Here’s a briefing on some of the stories and issues highlighted on irishexaminer.com today

Philippe Coutinho and Sadio Mane fired Liverpool to victory over West Brom but a late defensive lapse cost them the chance to go top of the Premier League.

Substitute James McArthur rescued a World Cup point for Scotland with a late headed equaliser against Lithuania at Hampden.

“He has something really big going on now,” Quinny warned us, as Big Sam gyrated provocatively across the Stadium of Light pitch, yanking off his jacket and threatening, for a terrifying moment, a celebratory full monty.

Reading 3 West Brom 1: Chris Brunt insists he could have been blinded after being hit by a coin thrown from West Brom’s own fans.

The Football Association is investigating the incident in which West Brom's Chris Brunt said he was hit by a coin thrown by Albion fans following their 3-1 defeat at Reading, while police are treating it as an assault.

Salomon Rondon rescued a point for West Brom with a stoppage-time equaliser.

Chelsea 2 West Brom 2: Guus Hiddink had undeniably improved Chelsea — but this game showed just how much more work the interim manager has to do if he is to have any hope of steering last season’s champions back towards the leading group.

Chelsea’s search for successive Barclays Premier League wins this season goes on.

West Brom 2 Stoke 1: Stoke manager Mark Hughes believes the club will appeal Geoff Cameron’s red card as he prepares for their Capital One Cup clash with Liverpool.

Steven Fletcher scored his second Group D hat-trick against Gibraltar tonight.

Premier League

West Brom 2 Everton 3

With Gibraltar v Ireland on September 4 regarded by many – if not Martin O’Neill – as a foregone conclusion, there will almost be as much interest from Irish supporters in the Georgia v Scotland and Germany v Poland games which also take place in European Championship Group D on the same day.

Republic of Ireland winger James McClean has been given a vote of confidence by West Brom captain Darren Fletcher. McClean has been at the centre of controversy again after turning away from the English flag during the anthem before Albion’s recent pre-season friendly in America against Charleston Battery.

Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths and Dundee ‘keeper Scott Bain have been called up to the Scotland squad for their Euro 2016 qualifier against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium on June 13.

Darren Fletcher’s Manchester United’s credentials are so unquestionable that the West Brom midfielder, 15 years a player at Old Trafford, admitted he lined up on the wrong side of the tunnel before his new team’s surprise victory.

This week, over the water, Britain is agog. What will the nation decide? It’s too close to call: It may even be several weeks before we get a definitive answer to the question in front of us.

Manchester United gave Liverpool more than a glimmer of hope in their push for Champions League qualification as Louis van Gaal’s team slipped to a damaging 1-0 defeat to West Brom.

Robin van Persie started his first game in 10 weeks as Manchester United looked to return to winning ways against West Brom.

Christian Benteke scored his eighth goal in six games to hand Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood a winning return to Tottenham.

One minute relaxed and effortlessly mature whilst handling media commitments for England, the next producing outrageous moments of skill on the pitch for Manchester United, there is something significant about the development of Wayne Rooney this season as he prepares to lead his side in the Manchester derby.

Scotland 1 Northern Ireland 0: A late header by substitute Christophe Berra gave Scotland a narrow but deserved 1-0 win over Northern Ireland in their Vauxhall International Challenge match at Hampden Park.

FRANK Lampard concedes the day of reckoning is nigh for Manuel Pellegrini and his under-achieving Manchester City stars, but the veteran former Chelsea midfielder is not prepared to write off his manager just yet.