England v Ireland: Nations League – Live | Nations League

Lee Carsley continues to experiment and makes another debut Tino Livramento and a full debut for his fellow Newcastle back Lewis Hall.

Harry Kane also returns in the only other change from Thursday’s win in Greece. Ezri Konsa, Rico Lewis and Ollie Watkins drop out.

The Republic of Ireland also make three changes from their win over Finland. Luton’s Mark McGuinness makes his debut in defence, with Dara O’Shea and Jayson Molumby also enters the page. Matt Doherty, Jason Knight and Mikey Johnston drop out, presumably meaning a switch to a back five.

England (4-2-3-1) Pickford; Livramento, Walker, Guehi, Hall; Gallagher, Jones; Madueke, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane.
Subs: Henderson, Trafford, Lewis, Gibbs-White, Gomes, Quansah, Harwood-Bellis, Watkins, Rogers, Bowen, Solanke.

Republic of Ireland (possible 5-4-1) Kelleher; O’Shea, McGuinness, Collins, Scales, O’Dowda; Ebosele, Cullen, Molumby, Szmodics; Ferguson.
Subs: O’Leary, Travers, Doherty, Parrott, Johnston, O’Brien, Moran, Azaz, Manning, Coventry, McAteer, Cannon.

Judge Erik Lambrechts (Belgium).

Hello and welcome to live, minute-by-minute coverage of England v Ireland at Wembley. Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson may be a qualified dentist, but Lee Carsley’s time as interim England manager has been more of a travel to the dentist. Okay, that’s had enough in common for a half-arsed analogy. We spent much of the time shaking, whimpering and worrying, only to realize too late that it was far less painful than we feared and we are in a healthier state than we were beforehand.

If England beat the Republic of Ireland at Wembley tonight, they will win Group B2 and return to – ridiculous phrase alert – the Nations League top table. All they have to do is match Greece’s result in Finland, so the win might not be decisive.

History will probably be kind to Carsley, who put his big bald head in the firing line for the bigger one. He balanced the present and the future almost perfectly, getting the necessary results while carrying out various fact-finding missions that will make Thomas Tuchel’s life easier as he takes over in the new year.

All of the above will be quickly erased if England make a Horlicks of this afternoon’s game. But let’s not go back to the dentist’s waiting room just yet.

Kick off 17.00.