Fijian star keeps berth
MANCHESTER, England - Holders Liverpool survived a penalty shootout to see off thirdtier Derby County yesterday and reach the League Cup fourth round while Manchester City won a heavyweight tie with Chelsea 2-0 and Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal were both knocked out.
Liverpool, who won last season’s competition by beating Chelsea on penalties, were held to a goalless draw at home to Derby and once again Irish goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher was their hero, saving three spotkicks as his side progressed 3-2 in the shootout. Second-half goals from Riyad Mahrez and Julian Alvarez secured victory for City after Pep Guardiola made seven changes to the line-up that scraped a 2-1 win over Fulham in the Premier League on Sunday.
LONDON - Fijian giant winger Joe Cokanasiga has retained his spot in the starting England team as coach Eddie Jones has resisted the temptation to give game time to several of his rarely used training group after naming a largely unchanged 25-man squad to face Japan at Twickenham on Saturday.
With matches against New Zealand and South Africa to come, many fans had identified the Japan match as an opportunity for Jones to have a look at the likes young guns Cadan Murley, Will Joseph and Tommy Freeman.
Following Sunday’s 30-29 defeat by Argentina, however, Jones appears to have given his mainly first-choice team another chance to find the “cohesion” he said was lacking against the Pumas.
The only change to his backs is the addition of two-cap Leicester centre Guy Porter. That means no place again for Alex Mitchell, still with only one cap to his name, as Ben Youngs and Leicester team mate Jack van Poortvliet will look after the scrumhalf duties.
In the pack, the earlier-than-expected return of hooker Jamie George from a foot injury means Jack Singleton drops out, along with flanker Sean Robinson.
Jones will release two more players when he names his match- day squad on Thursday.
Forwards
Alex Coles, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Tom Curry Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Joe Heyes, Jonny Hill, Maro Itoje, David Ribbans, Sam Simmonds, Kyle Sinckle, Billy Vunipola, Mako Vunipola, Jack Willis.
Backs: Joe Cokanasiga, Owen Farrell, Jonny May, Jack Nowell, Guy Porter, Henry Slade, Marcus Smith, Freddie Steward, Manu Tuilagi, Jack van Poortvliet, Ben Youngs ■