Bolton 1 Liverpool 2

Playmaker Philippe Coutinho celebrated his new five-year contract with an added-time winner as Liverpool kept their FA Cup hopes alive in a dramatic late turnaround at Bolton.

Liverpool 0 Bolton 0: FA Cup Fourth Round: What Liverpool missed here as they attempt to navigate a tricky FA Cup course to Wembley, they may just have available to them via the Capital One Cup.

Liverpool avoided an FA Cup upset at home to Bolton but even on a day of shocks it was not much of an achievement after a toothless display against Championship opponents Bolton.

‘Take me Out’ presenter Paddy McGuinness was forced to do some boot cleaning after making rash promises before Bolton’s match on December 26.

Emile Heskey has revealed he would be keen on a Leicester comeback to help ease their goal woes.

Scotland’s assistant manager Mark McGhee surprised nobody when asked yesterday to identify the principal threat to Scottish hopes in Friday night’s crucial Euro 2016 qualifier at Celtic Park.

The public utterances of Giovanni Trapattoni might have had us all scratching our heads from time to time but there was always at least one moment of piercing clarity to his eve of match press conferences, with the Italian happy to name his team a good 24 hours before kick-off.

Martin O’Neill’s mantra that age is no barrier to an international career has fallen kindly for Ipswich Town striker Daryl Murphy ahead of his Ireland re-launch tonight against Serbia.

No doubt you’ve heard by now that Wicked, the musical which tells the story of Oz from the witches’ perspective and one that has taken Broadway and the West End like a Kansas storm for the last 10 years, is coming to Dublin.

Waves of relief resonated around the Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon, but there was one corner that remained untouched by their restorative powers.

Liverpool 5 Norwich 0

Michael Owen's future could lie in Australia after Perth Glory claimed they have been approached by the former England striker's agent about a move.

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers will not build up his hopes of getting Michael Owen, or anyone else, in as a quick fix to bolster his squad.

Robin van Persie tops the Premier League transfers so far this summer. Here are this summer's confirmed deals so far:

Croatia was today fined €80,000 after their fans were found guilty of racially abusing Mario Balotelli during their European Championship game against Italy.

Four first-phase clashes at Euro 2012 have a historical resonance, says Paul Kelly.

Ledley King will take a decision in the pre-season as to whether to call an end to his playing career.

Former England striker Emile Heskey has been released by Aston Villa after three and a half years with the midlands club.

Norwich 2 Aston Villa 0

Aston Villa will be without striker Andreas Weimann for Sunday’s Barclays Premier League game at Norwich after he suffered a medial ligament strain in the home draw against Tottenham last weekend.

In one of those peculiar, yet typically frequent, twists of footballing fate, Harry Redknapp now needs a favour from the last man who, little over a week ago, represented his biggest rival.

Aston Villa 1 Tottenham 1

Stephen Ireland could return to Alex McLeish’s Aston Villa side for their crucial Premier League game against Tottenham.

Aston Villa defender Richard Dunne is available, after two and a half months out of action with a broken collarbone, for tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League derby at West Brom.

Stephen Warnock accepts Aston Villa’s players must stand up and be counted during the final three games of the season if they are to avoid relegation from the Barclays Premier League.

Bolton came from behind to earn a Barclays Premier League relegation lifeline and dragged Aston Villa into the thick of the survival battle with victory over Alex McLeish’s side.

Aston Villa 1 Bolton 2

Aston Villa central defender James Collins has been ruled out of tomorrow’s home Barclays Premier League clash against Bolton with a groin injury suffered during Saturday’s goalless draw with Sunderland.

Aston Villa 0 Sunderland 0

The debate about Ashley Young’s willingness to go to ground in the penalty area — and the supposedly favourable treatment enjoyed by Manchester United from Premier League officials — will continue unabated after the defending champions moved a step closer retaining their title at Old Trafford last night.

Man Utd 4 Aston Villa 0

Aston Villa 1 Stoke 1

Aston Villa will put talks on the future of a trio of players out of contract this summer on hold until the end of the season, assistant manager Peter Grant has confirmed.

Arsenal 3 Aston Villa 0

The Cork stable lad who scooped about €1.5m on a Cheltenham accumulator bet joked last night about being called ‘Heskey’ because of his poor strike rate in front of goal.

Aston Villa striker Darren Bent will see a joint specialist today to determine the extent of his ankle injury, it is understood.

Wigan 0 Aston Villa 0

Newcastle 2 Aston Villa 1

Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish believes the pressure being applied to his Arsenal counterpart Arsene Wenger is “all part of the game” ahead of tomorrow’s FA Cup clash at the Emirates Stadium.

Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor has recovered from sickness in time to face Arsenal in Sunday’s FA Cup fourth round clash at the Emirates Stadium.

Aston Villa boss Alex McLeish has challenged striker Robbie Keane to become an instant hero, with the outcome of tomorrow’s clash at Wolves set to determine whether he enjoys his 53rd birthday.

Republic of Ireland striker Robbie Keane is in contention to make his full Aston Villa debut in tomorrow’s League away clash with his former club Wolves.

Aston Villa keeper Shay Given returned after a six-week absence with a hamstring injury in place of Brad Guzan for their Barclays Premier League clash with Everton.