The friend of an aspiring young golfer killed in a car crash has been jailed for 18 months for causing his death.

Jack Lloyd Kay, 20, of Gosmore, was driving a Peugeot when it overturned near Hitchin early on 4 October 2015.
Jack Mudd, 19, who planned to go to a US university to continue his golfing career, died in the crash.
Kay had already pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving while over the alcohol limit and was sentenced at Cambridge Crown Court.
Mr Mudd's family spoke after his death of their "pure devastation", saying: "We simply cannot imagine life without you."
Kay was also banned from driving for two years and will have to take extended retest before driving again.


People linked to four Premier League football clubs in London are being investigated over historical sex abuse allegations, the Met Police have said.

Officers say they are looking at 106 claims related to 30 clubs or teams - including two in the Championship and three in Leagues One and Two.
Twenty-one non-league, non-professional or amateur teams are also involved.
It comes as the Scottish Football Association has set up an independent review of child abuse allegations.
Several former players have come forward in recent weeks to say they were abused as children by people in positions of authority.
Football abuse claims: What has happened so far?
Stories of child abuse: 'Not the only one'
More than 20 UK police forces have confirmed they are investigating claims of historical child abuse in football.
Last week police chiefs said there were 83 potential suspects and 98 clubs involved.
The National Police Chiefs' Council said 98% of the identified victims were male and that they were aged between seven and 20 when they were allegedly abused.
In an update to the action being taken by the Met, Det Ch Supt Ivan Balhatchet said specialist officers would be working through information passed to them.
He added: "The number of referrals, pieces of information and allegations will change."
He urged anyone who had been the victim of sexual assault to contact their local force, or call the NSPCC help line on 0800 023 2642.
Thirteen London-based clubs are in the four top English football league divisions, with five in the Premier League - Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham and Crystal Palace.
The Met did not name any of the clubs involved in its inquiries.
Chelsea, however, have already apologised to former player Gary Johnson over abuse he suffered in the 1970s and are conducting their own review.
QPR say they are taking allegations made against a former employee "very seriously", while Charlton Athletic have also opened an investigation into historical abuse allegations.
The sport's governing body in England, the Football Association, has said it plans to conduct an internal review to determine whether it could or should have done more.
Meanwhile, BBC Scotland has revealed that about 2,500 coaches are working in youth football in Scotland without having full background checks.
Of the 15,385 coaches registered with the Scottish Youth Football Association, 2,500 had not had Protecting Vulnerable Groups clearance.


After many hours of waiting in the pitch black and freezing cold for the bakery to open, the crush of men at the head of the queue started drumming on the doors in frustration.

An activist was explaining to me how the bread shortage in rebel-held parts of Aleppo was another crime to be heaped on the head of Bashar al-Assad.
He was waved away by a stout matron in a hijab and long black coat.
"Don't blame Bashar. What's happening to us is of our own making," she said as, behind her, Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters struggled to keep order.
It is widely believed in Aleppo that the bread shortage was caused by the FSA stealing flour to sell elsewhere.
An FSA officer confirmed as much when I asked him if this had been done by individual fighters or was ordered by commanders to fund their operations.
"Both," he said, "including my own brigade." He added, ruefully: "We are all thieves."
It was a joke, and his men erupted in laughter, but he meant it seriously, too.
The beneficiaries of this are the hardline Islamists, especially Jabhat al-Nusra, or the Nusra Front.
They have now taken over distribution of flour to bakeries in rebel-held areas of Aleppo.
None of the FSA brigades - all accusing each other of looting - trusted anyone else, the officer told me.
The Nusra Front is outside the FSA and has a reputation for discipline and honesty. It is also a jihadi group behind most of the suicide bombings in Syria and as such is on a US blacklist of terrorist organisations.
Source: Quilliam Foundation
New insight into Nusra Front
Profile: Syria's al-Nusra Front
It announced itself to the world one year ago in an internet video that claimed several recent car bombings.
A masked man on the video declared: "We are Syrian mujahedeen, back from various jihad fronts to restore God's rule on the Earth and avenge the Syrians' violated honour and spilled blood."
He went on: "Every free and noble man must take up arms, even if he has to sell his furniture to do soâ€¦ Oh people of manliness! Jabhat al-Nusra has taken upon itself to be the Muslim nation's weapon in this land."
The Nusra Front is a feared and a secretive organisation but after long negotiation we were able to speak to an emir, or senior commander.
As you might expect, the emir, Abu Lokman, set out a vision of Syria as an Islamic state ruled under Sharia.
This was not a fight for democracy.
"In the name of God, praise is to God and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad," he began, "the people in Syria are religious by nature."
"They like Islam. People here are fed up with socialist and secular regimes. They are all looking forward to an Islamic state. It is impossible there could be anything else in Syria."
Abu Lokman was in his thirties and had been a student before being arrested by the regime in 2008.
He was active on jihadi internet forums and joined Jabhat al-Nusra while it was still a secret organisation, six months before the video announcing its existence.
He wore a ski-mask for our interview, a necessary precaution against the regime's spies, he explained.
Outside his office were bearded fighters, including two in Yemeni dress, carrying traditional curved knives along with their Kalashnikovs and wearing the short dish-dasha of the pious.
A bag of explosives was delivered, a sample sent by a dealer. It was white powder - probably ground-up fertiliser and diesel. It was tested by setting a teaspoonful on fire. It burned very nicely.
I asked: How do you justify suicide bombings which might kill civilians?
"It's not just us who use suicide bombings; many other factions of the FSA do.
"The regime plants car bombs among civilians and accuses us of doing it to destroy our reputation... God forbid we take any civilian lives, whether Muslims or non-Muslims, Christians or others."
The United States calls you a terrorist group, I said.
"The West is afraid of our long beards - even though the Jews grow their beards, too.
"Muslims are portrayed in the West as savages. The West is conspiring against us
"When the US placed us on their list of terrorists, it did us no harm, it elevated our reputation. The Syrian people hate the American government. Thanks be to God, we consider this a medal of honour."
Are you al-Qaeda, I asked.
"We both use the same language, the same terminology as we are all Arabic speakers. But there is no connection [between Jabhat al-Nusra and al-Qaeda] - we are Syrians."
What if the US and others wanted to bomb the regime?
"We are not campaigning for or against this. Of course, if they destroy the regime's military posts, that is in our favour. But we don't want an intervention because we are the people of this country and we are able to defend our own country."
This was the first broadcast interview by a member of Jabhat al-Nusra's leadership.
The emir was being cautious.
This was a Syrian fight, not part of a wider jihad. They had no hostile intent to any other states - as long as they did not support the regime.
There would be no sectarian attacks against Syria's minorities. Christians, especially, had nothing to fear.
"Our religion allows us to marry Christians, eat your food and live amongst you.
"We have many fatwas telling us not to exploit the Christians' blood and possessions. Christ is our prophet too - how much do you love Christ? I love him more than you do."
When not attending to military matters, the emir dealt with a variety of requests.
A trail of supplicants came and went.
It was clear how important the group had become to daily life here.
A man had run out of cooking gas. Another complained his sons would not support him in his old age.
A widow begged for help in getting her inheritance from her dead husband's family. A man asked for help in freeing his cousin, arrested by an FSA brigade.
The man detained was a tribal elder accused of having had a "loyalty tent", where before the revolution people would chat under a framed picture of the president.
His family said they had been told the price of his release would be several million Syrian pounds (tens of thousands of UK pounds or US dollars).
We heard many such stories of people arrested - kidnapped might be a better term - based on flimsy claims of a connection to the regime.
Demands for money often followed. Raising a voice in protest could invite the deadly allegation of being a Shabiha, a member of the brutal regime militia.
The atmosphere in Aleppo has a touch of Paris in 1944: the mistrust and the score settling, the finger-pointing at collaborators, real or imagined.
In our block of flats, if people spot a car full of FSA fighters coming to arrest someone, they swarm onto the street to try to stop them.
We heard about a man whose new car was seized at an FSA checkpoint.
He complained to the Nusra Front. The FSA brigade concerned brought witnesses who swore he was a Shabiha and he was thrown into jail.
He was later freed - and his car returned - after the Nusra Front assigned the case to Aleppo's new Sharia court.
The Sharia court is being set up by the Nusra Front along with three of the more Islamist brigades of the FSA.
It is supposed to be an alternative to the secular justice system formerly run by the Syrian state and to operate in parallel with it.
But its influence can already be felt widely.
Difficult problems, which cannot otherwise be solved, are sent over to the court.
An FSA official had been too nervous to grant us a permit to film at the bakery, for instance.
"Often people in bread queues start chanting slogans against the FSA," he'd said.
He directed us instead to the Sharia court, which provided the necessary piece of paper.
All of this is happening as the battle for Aleppo continues.
The day after we left, an air strike hit a block of flats in the area where we had been staying, leaving some 26 people buried under the rubble.
But the war seems more distant, the bombing and shelling an occasional interruption rather than a constant thump, gripping the stomach in a permanent spasm of fear.
The regime's forces are bottled up in a few bases; the areas of "liberated" territory expanding.
The FSA always suspected that Aleppo's heart was never really in the revolution.
Now the shopkeepers, farmers and small businessmen of the countryside are in charge in large parts of the city.
They are discovering that victory has a taste of ashes.
"Free Aleppo" has eight-hour bread queues, power cuts, children scavenging for rubbish to burn and trees in the parks all cut down for firewood.
Some people here - many in fact - still support the FSA, but amid the chaos and shortages, and the problems of the FSA's own making, others are turning to hardline groups such as the Nusra Front, attracted by their reputation for discipline and honesty, bravery and piety.
They will undoubtedly have a big say in Syria's future.
What does this mean for Western governments debating whether to intervene?
Taking tea in a neighbour's shop, I met a 30-year-old Nusra Front fighter called Abdullah.
"The Nusra Front is the son of al-Qaeda," he told me.
"We are this close," he went on, rubbing his two index fingers together.
He had worked in a woman's clothes shop before the revolution. And after the revolution?
"No more dresses," he said. He would take the jihad to Somalia, Mali, Jordan, Iraq, "wherever there are Muslims".
Western governments, then, face a dilemma.
If arms are allowed to reach the Syrian rebels, they could end up in the hands of radical Islamists.
But if moderates in the uprising are not identified and supported, power will flow to the best organised and most disciplined fighters. At the moment, those are the jihadists.


Middlesbrough forward Cristhian Stuani has joined La Liga side Girona for an undisclosed fee.

The Uruguayan, 30, scored five goals in 28 games during 2016-17 as Boro were relegated from the Premier League.
Stuani joined the club in 2015 and went on to make 66 appearances, winning promotion to the top flight in 2016.
The former Espanyol player's departure follows the arrival of forwards Britt Assombalonga and Martin Braithwaite to the club during the summer.
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.


If like this guy, you regularly find yourself being paid for extra time in work, you could be in line for even more cash in future.

It's after a group of workers won their legal challenge for overtime to be included in their holiday pay.
Business leaders say it could cost companies billions of pounds. They claim some will be forced to close, meaning jobs will be lost.
The government was also worried about changing the current rules.
But there could still be an appeal, meaning a final decision might be years away.
So with lots of uncertainty around the ruling, employment lawyer Nickie Elenor answers some of the big questions...
If you regularly get overtime as part of your pay, you might have a claim. But it's thought the extra work will need to be so regular it's become a normal part of your salary. Exactly how regular that is is still unclear though. And if the overtime's voluntary, we still don't know if you'll benefit.
Look at your average weekly pay over the three months before a week's leave. We think that's how much you'd be entitled to for your first four weeks holiday every tax year. If you get more than four weeks leave, you'll only receive basic pay for the rest of it, because companies don't have to give you that much time off.
That's a tricky one. Because this case is still going through the courts, it might take some time to become established law. Or the idea might get chucked out altogether. Until then, you could try writing to your employer to tell them that you know this is a rule that you believe is going to become law, therefore you believe they should pay and provide them with your calculation. Good Luck!
We've never heard of this happening, but that's not to say it doesn't happen.
Another tricky one. At the moment it looks like you won't be able to claim back more than three months from an underpayment, but watch this spaceâ€¦
It is always a good idea to keep records of your pay and your pay slips. If this does become law there may be rules about how you claim the money but for the moment put your request in writing with your calculations.
Money. At the moment.
Possibly, but only if you have to make an employment tribunal claim to recover any money owed to you.
This will be a controversial law. Some business leaders say there are already too many costs to do with employing people and that this added cost will prevent some organisations from growing and employing more people. However, there have been these sort of complaints for years now and the planet (and business) is still turning.
You will be able to make a claim at the employment tribunal under the Working Time Regulations 1998.
This is part of the big debate at the moment but if it becomes law, employers must think about this cost when they work out their annual budgets for payroll.
In theory this shouldn't happen. The case is moving on to the Court of Appeal so employers have time to either fall in with what might become established law now or alternatively make plans now.
The government's setting up a taskforce to look at the impact that this will have on business if it does become law. So there may be many changes yet to come. But even this is causing a row because it's said to be too much on the side of the employer, without enough representation from employee groups.
Follow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter and Radio1Newsbeat on YouTube


Surveyors have warned of a "dire shortage" of housing in the UK, which is continuing to drive up prices.

The warning, from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics), comes ahead of a government White Paper on housing supply, expected this month.
Rics said that house hunters were returning to the market after the EU referendum in June, but there was not enough property for them to buy.
It said prices were continuing to rise across most areas of the country.
In October, surveyors seeing price rises outnumbered those seeing falls by a majority of 23%. That compares with 18% in September.
Central London was the exception. Rics said prices there have now fallen for the eighth month in a row.
"The dire shortage of available housing across the UK is continuing to push prices upwards, regardless of the uncertainty linked to the ongoing discussions surrounding Brexit," said Rics chief economist, Simon Rubinsohn.
The government has already launched a new fund to help build 225,000 extra houses, and is expected to announce further measures in a White Paper.
It could be published as soon as the Autumn Statement on 23 November.
The paper is expected to include plans to encourage small developers, and to speed up housebuilding on land where planning permission has been granted.
The CBI business organisation has already called for more help for smaller house builders, and the faster release of public land.
Last month, the Communities Secretary, Sajid Javid, told the Conservative Party conference: "The big developers must release their stranglehold on supply.
"It's time to stop sitting on land banks, delaying build-out: the homebuyers must come first."
Where can I afford to live?


A memorial service is being held to celebrate the life of a man who went missing 10 years ago.

Terry McSpadden, from Elm, was 24 when he disappeared after a night out at The Locomotive pub in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, in March 2007.
Despite an extensive police inquiry, the father-of-two has never been found and is presumed dead.
His mother Helen Thrower said she believes the family will "know the truth eventually".
The service is being held at Walsoken Church in Wisbech at 14:00 GMT.
Mrs Thrower, who lives in Skegness in Lincolnshire, said she wanted to show Mr McSpadden's children "how much he was loved and is missed".
Mr McSpadden, who would have been 35 this year, has a daughter Kayci, 13, and son Charlie, 11.
Mrs Thrower said: "I sometimes sit and wonder what he would've been like now.
"It's still as hard now as it was the first year he went missing. As long as there's no body, there's always a bit of hope.
"It would be really good for us to know what happened to Terry and where he is so we could put him to rest properly."
The last sighting of Mr McSpadden was at Tesco in Wisbech at 01:00 GMT on 2 March when he said he was going home to nearby Elm, but he never arrived.
In 2013, a judge dismissed a murder charge against Jonathan Porter, citing insufficient evidence.
Norfolk Police said the case remains "unsolved" and, while it is not currently conducting an active investigation, "should any new information come to light it would be reviewed accordingly".
Mrs Thrower said: "Something will come out one day. I do believe we will get to know the truth eventually.
"Sooner rather than later would be nice to have peace of mind."


Egypt have moved into the Top 20 of the Fifa world rankings for the first time since January 2011.

Back then, the Pharaohs were tenth after winning Africa Cup of Nations crowns in 2006, 2008 and 2010.
They returned to the top of the African rankings last month, for the first time in six years, after finishing runners-up at this year's Nations Cup.
Burkina Faso, who finished third at the Nations Cup, have moved up to 36th, the best ranking in their history.
Africa's top 10 in Fifa's rankings for March (last month's rankings in brackets):
1 (1) Egypt
2 (2) Senegal
3 (3) Cameroon
4 (6) Burkina Faso
5 (4) Tunisia
6 (5) DR Congo
7 (7) Nigeria
8 (8) Ghana
9 (9) Ivory Coast
10 (10) Morocco


A 20-year-old woman has died following a crash in Blaenau Gwent during the early hours of Wednesday.

The incident, involving a black Volkswagen Polo, happened on King Street, Brynmawr, at about 00:25 BST.
The victim, named by Gwent Police as Sophie Brimble from Crickhowell, Powys, died at the scene.
A 24-year-old man was seriously injured and is being treated at Cardiff's University Hospital of Wales.


Perth Scorchers made home advantage pay as they beat Brisbane Heat by nine wickets in the semi-finals of the Women's Big Bash League at the Waca.

England pace duo Katherine Brunt and Anya Shrubsole took the new ball for Perth but were expensive and wicketless as Brisbane made 124-5 from 20 overs.
Australia's regular openers Elyse Villani (52 not out) and Nicole Bolton (36) got Perth off to a flier.
After Bolton was run out, Villani saw Perth home with 4.2 overs to spare.
England batter Lauren Winfield, who made 11 from 10 balls, finished on the losing side with Brisbane, for whom opener Kirby Short top-scored with 39.
Hobart Hurricanes, captained by England skipper Heather Knight, face Sydney Sixers in Wednesday's second semi-final in Brisbane, with the winner meeting Perth in Saturday's final.


A teenager caught on a CCTV camera with a girl riding on top of his car has been banned from driving.

Ryan McMillan, 18, drove around a car park in South Shields, South Tyneside, with the girl face down on his roof.
McMillan, of Ashington, Northumberland, was sentenced to 240 hours of unpaid work for dangerous driving and disqualified for 18 months by North Tyneside magistrates.
The girl, who cannot be named, was also disqualified from driving for a year.
She had been charged with aiding or abetting dangerous driving and must re-sit her test, Northumbria Police said.
Police road safety officer PC Anthony French said: "One slight mistake can lead to a fatal incident that will destroy lives forever.
"Some people may find this behaviour funny, but if you choose to get involved in this kind of foolish activity it is only a matter of time before you are involved in a serious collision."


Twitter's decision to open a UK office could leave it more vulnerable to prosecution over what its users write.

Lawyers who spoke to the BBC agreed that the move meant the company may no longer be able to claim to be solely US-based and immune to English law.
The micro-blogging site is the subject of a High Court legal challenge in relation to the naming of a footballer who had obtained a privacy injunction.
Twitter has so far declined to comment on the case.
Until recently, Twitter's operations were largely confined to Silicon Valley in California.
Last month, the company began advertising for staff to work at new European headquarters in London.
Among the posts on offer are Account Executive and Communications Manager.
Many legal experts believe that having a physical presence in the country would potentially expose Twitter to local sanctions.
Kim Walker, a partner at law firm Pinsent Masons said: "Opening an office in the UK would unquestionably make Twitter more vulnerable to lawsuits.
"The law enforcement authorities would be able to argue that it is Twitter UK which has been involved in the contempt of court or which has published the defamatory statement, so is directly responsible for the misdeed."
Mr Walker suggested that the company could claim its UK office existed for specific purposes, such as sales and marketing, and was not directly involved with the business of tweeting.
However, he warned that the argument might not convince the courts.
"If Twitter has any assets in the UK - assets in this instance is a fairly loose term, and covers staff as well as buildings and equipment - then those would be at risk if it chose not to obey rulings imposed upon it by the High Court."
That view was echoed by Simon McAleese, a defamation lawyer based in Dublin, where many US technology companies have their European headquarters.
"It is back to the very basic rule that possession is nine-tenths of the law and if you have possessions and staff then you are going to be very vulnerable to the laws of that jurisdiction," he told BBC News.
The exact nature of Twitter's London office, as well as the number of staff, is not yet known.
Industry insiders told the BBC that while lawyers may have strong views on the matter, it would take a test case to properly establish the law's authority.
They also pointed out that, although UK injunctions do not apply in the United States, individuals who feel they have been defamed are free to raise a legal action in the American courts.
Even among those lawyers who believe the law is clear-cut, there was doubt that a real-world action would be straightforward.
"Twitter would say their site operates in the States and they are simply facilitating access," said Paul Tweed, a senior partner at Johnson's Solicitors.
Mr Tweed suggested that internet companies, operating in the UK, might seek to limit their potential liability by leasing rather than buying property and limiting staff numbers.
He warned that similar cases would continue to appear if the issue of internet jurisdiction was not addressed at a higher level.
"We have to get some sort of international arbitration set up which the Americans would need to be involved in," said Mr Tweed.
Twitter was unavailable to comment on the story at the time of writing.


The BBC has confirmed the "global" version of its iPlayer on-demand service will close next month.

The corporation had charged users subscription fees to watch programmes via the app in Western Europe, Australia and Canada.
However, it never came to the US.
Reports suggest American pay-TV operators had threatened to drop the BBC America channel if the app had launched locally because they believed it would cost them viewers.
Both BBC America and the international edition of iPlayer screen some of the corporation's best known programmes, including Doctor Who, Top Gear, Sherlock and David Attenborough's natural history documentaries.
Press releases had always described the online facility as a "pilot" meant to provide "consumer insights".
BBC Worldwide - the broadcaster's commercial arm -  first announced it intended to pull support for the Global iPlayer app in October 2013, saying it would instead focus on making material available via the BBC.com website.
The corporation repeated the point in its annual review last July, but until now had not provided an exact shut-off date.
"As announced in July 2014, the service will be closing this year as planned," said a spokeswoman.
"The service will close on 26 June."
She declined to provide usage statistics.
The global iPlayer app was first made available as an iOS app in July 2011 but was never extended beyond Apple's platform.
European users were charged a €5.99 (£4.30) monthly fee, while Canadians and Australians were offered a slightly cheaper rate of 6.99 Canadian dollars (£3.70) and 7.49 Australian dollars (£3.80).
The content provided was distinct from that offered via the UK version, including older shows from the corporation's library in addition to recently broadcast programmes.
In total, more than 2,000 hours of shows were on offer on the global edition of iPlayer, including Gavin and Stacey, Fawlty Towers, Planet Earth and "classic" episodes of Doctor Who.
Users have been notified of the switch-off, and auto-renewing subscriptions are being cancelled.
"We would like to thank all of our subscribers for using the service. We are now developing plans to launch new digital services across multiple devices," reads a statement on BBC Worldwide's site.


Leicester need only two more points to seal the Premier League title after a 1-1 draw at Manchester United.

They have a couple more games of the season remaining and now an eight-point lead over Tottenham who are at Chelsea on Monday.
Third-place Arsenal scraped a 1-0 victory over struggling Norwich, but fourth-place Manchester City slipped up in the chase of the Gunners as they went down 4-2 at Southampton.
At the bottom, Newcastle moved out of the drop zone with a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace.
But who were the outstanding performers? Here are my selections...
They call them understudy goalkeepers for some reason and I have never understood why. Granted Darlow has come in for the injured Tim Krul and Rob Elliot, but with performances like this he is a goalkeeper who should be playing regular first-team football.
The 25-year-old produced a number of cracking saves against Crystal Palace in a game Newcastle just had to win to keep their hopes of Premier League survival alive. His first save from Yannick Bolasie at full stretch was superb, but it was his penalty save from former Magpie favourite-turned-villain Yohan Cabaye that changed the game.
Darlow held his nerve brilliantly which is more than I can say for Newcastle midfielder Moussa Sissoko who seemed to have had a rush of blood to the head when he appeared to try to parry the ball in the box. But that was before Darlow came to the rescue.
It looks like Leighton Baines is at it again. To think it's his first goal of the season seems remarkable bearing in mind the full-back used to score free-kicks for fun. His winner against Bournemouth was emphatic, in fact I don't think I've seen a defender appear so casual about a goal. His finish was almost nonchalant.
Now Everton have won at home, does that mean their fans will lay off manager Roberto Martinez and let him do his job at least until the end of the season?
What a tackle! It couldn't have been more than seconds into this vital game for Newcastle, with in-form Connor Wickham bearing down on the Magpies goal, when defender Jamaal Lascelles made the tackle of the game. Not only did it set the tone for an impressive performance by the 22-year-old but it was the catalyst for Newcastle's first clean sheet in four games.
Manager Rafa Benitez has only been playing the youngster because of injuries to the experienced Steven Taylor and club captain Fabricio Coloccini. However, the youngster has been so impressive in the games he has played under Benitez, the Spanish manager should have no qualms whatsoever about Lascelles holding the Newcastle fort in their remaining fixtures.
I don't think I've seen a team defend like it. They went a goal behind at Old Trafford, with no Jamie Vardy available to help them out up front yet they defended like champions and captain Wes Morgan was at the heart of it.
What I didn't expect was to see Morgan so intent on getting among the goals in order to put his team on level terms. He bulldozed his way past his marker Marcos Rojo to get his head on the ball to equalise before returning to his full-time job of defending the Leicester City goal. Should referee Michael Oliver have awarded Manchester United a penalty for the foul on Memphis Depay with minutes of this match to spare? Of course he should have, but Leicester earned a little luck.
Analysis: 'Now we find out if Tottenham can respond' - Shearer
My goodness has this lad grown into a super defender. The way he recovered and got back to snuff out Jesse Lingard's attempt on goal without conceding a free-kick was nothing short of sensational. Earlier in the season against Arsenal at the Emirates, Danny Simpson seemed to let the occasion get to him, and he and his team paid the price but not so against Manchester United. The full-back is playing the football of his life and Leicester are top of the league to prove it.
This lad has such a tremendous willingness to cover the ground especially when he wants to get on the end of something in the box, it's quite scary.
The way he left Gareth McAuley trailing in his wake for Mark Noble's toe-poke and West Ham's second goal characterised precisely what Kouyate is all about. He seldom misses games and has been a talisman for the Hammers for most of this season. He doesn't have the artistry and touch of Dimitri Payet, but players like that don't exist without the Kouyates of this world.
His first goal was brave and his second goal just brilliant.
Mark Noble has become a leader in the true West Ham mould. Quietly letting others like Dimitri Payet and Andy Carroll take a starring role, but always there as an impressive support act. Well, his performance against West Brom was award-winning like many of his roles this season for the Hammers. What is surprising is that he never gets mentioned whenever discussions around England are raised. And I'm not entirely sure why.
What a week it's been for Andre Ayew. A father for the first time, but judging by his display against Liverpool he didn't seem to be suffering from any sleep deprivation. He took both his goals exceptionally well and if the rumours are true and Swansea are thinking about offloading the Ghanaian at the end of the season, then they should seriously think again.
Frankly, the Swans have been in disarray all season and they should consider themselves fortunate that players like Ayew and Gylfi Sigurdsson have saved their skins.
I can't be hearing right. Are Watford's owners seriously considering dispensing with the services of manager Quique Sanchez Flores? Have they gone completely mad?
The manager has only been in the job for 10 months, got them to an FA Cup semi-final, secured their place in the best league in the world and they think he's underachieved!
Well, Troy Deeney's performance against relegated Aston Villa didn't provide any indication that the Hornets had lost any of their sting. While bigger teams like Norwich and Sunderland are fighting for their lives, Deeney and manager Flores have done a magnificent job and retained the club's status by keeping the owners in a league they clearly struggle to afford.
This is the second time in consecutive weeks that Kelechi Iheanacho has made my TOTW and justifiably so.
The 19-year-old is the real deal and would be playing regularly in any other side than this star-spangled Manchester City outfit who, on this occasion, lacked stardust.
This was a bad day for City and without Iheanacho they would have looked abject. What Martin Demichelis was even doing on the pitch was a mystery to me and what has happened to Raheem Sterling?
Seven goals in his last six appearances for Southampton rather suggests that Sadio Mane has got his mojo back.
I saw him tear Chelsea apart at Stamford Bridge, but then the player seemed to lose his way after speculation that Manchester United were interested in his services and his relationship with Saints manager Ronald Koeman became rather fraught.
Well, any talk of Mane joining United has gone away while the Senegalese striker looks on top of his game once again. His third goal against a poor Manchester City was superb. The way he caressed the ball around Joe Hart was just wonderful.


Efforts by owners to redevelop a Victorian hospital were impeded by Denbighshire council officials, a hearing has been told.

A public inquiry is being held after the owners appealed against the council's compulsory purchase order (CPO) for the former of North Wales Hospital, Denbigh.
The hearing was told that owners Freemont (Denbigh) Limited were drawing up new plans for the site.
The hospital closed in 1996.
Solicitor Ayub Bhailok, who is assisting Freemont, said: "There is no justification for the CPO. There is a commercially viable scheme possible and the confidence in the market can only improve as time progresses."
Freemont took over the property from Acebench Investments Ltd, of which he is a director and which paid £310,000 for the hospital in 2003.
The company's own planning consent expired in 2009 after hopes of progress were halted during the building slump the previous year, the hearing was told.
Mr Bhailok claimed that since 2009, the council and Prince's Regeneration Trust had been determined to repossess the site and press ahead with their own scheme without involving him.
In 2011, Denbighshire council served an urgent works notice on the British Virgin Islands-based company after becoming frustrated at the deterioration in the condition of the listed buildings.
It then carried out the work and last October a public inquiry was held into the council's claim for £900,000 to be refunded by Freemont for the work.
A Welsh government decision on that is expected within the next three weeks.
Plans for a large-scale mixed development have been submitted on behalf of the Prince's Regeneration Trust, working in conjunction with the council.
If the CPO is confirmed, it is proposed that the property should be handed over to the North Wales Buildings Preservation Trust.
The hearing continues.


Some police officers "dread" the Notting Hill Carnival and are being used as "professional punchbags", according to rank-and-file officers.

They have called for a "full-scale review" of Carnival after eight of them were hurt and taken to hospital.
Police made 454 arrests and four people were wounded in stabbings during the annual celebration.
Ken Marsh, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said the event was being "hijacked" by troublemakers.
He said: "Last year we had an officer stabbed. This year colleagues were assaulted, abused and spat at. Forty-three were injured - with eight needing hospital treatment. How can that be right? It's completely and utterly unacceptable.
"A seemingly growing number of people appear intent on hijacking this Carnival and turning it into a Bank Holiday battleground. The Glastonbury music festival had 40 arrests this year. Notting Hill had 10 times that amount.
"The organisers need to understand that this event cannot carry on regardless. I think many Londoners will wonder whether the significant amount of taxpayers' money spent policing this event is frankly worth it."
A 15-year-old boy was stabbed in Wornington Road on Sunday. His injuries were critical but are now non-life threatening. A 14-year-old boy was arrested.
Three other males, aged 15 to 20, were also wounded in knife attacks on the opening day of the festival.
More than 400 people were arrested at Carnival, the highest since 2008. Police said they had seized 90 offensive weapons while patrolling the event.
Officers also seized a large canister of compressed nitrous oxide - so-called laughing gas - which had the capacity to fill 2,500 smaller canisters and had a street value of more than Â£150,000.
Ambulance and first aid crews treated more than 1,000 people, mostly for alcohol-related injuries.
A spokesperson for the London Mayor said his office would work to tackle gang and knife crime, and City Hall would "thoroughly review" the Carnival.
Kensington MP Victoria Borwick said she was "very disappointed that people want to spoil the carnival by using it as a cover to commit crime and inflict terrible injuries".
The making of the Notting Hill Carnival
The carnival is one of Europe's largest street parties with hundreds of thousands attending each year.
It has been held since 1964 as a way for Afro-Caribbean communities to celebrate cultures and traditions.


Theresa May should take responsibility if Britain has been too soft on extremists, the leader of Plaid Cymru has said.

Leanne Wood made the comments in a BBC TV debate, which took place a day after the terrorist attack in London.
Ms Wood also said that she would like to see the highest tax rate raised from 45% to 50%.
She said she would be willing to put up taxes to fund public services.
Referring to the prime minister's speech in the wake of the attack, where she said there had been "far too much tolerance of extremism in our country", Ms Wood pointed to the fact that Mrs May had been home secretary for six years prior to being prime minister.
"Since 2010 she has been in a position to do something about this," she said.
"And if we have been too soft on extremists as she claims, then doesn't she need to take some responsibility for that?"
Speaking on Election Questions on BBC One, Ms Wood said Plaid "would be open to a discussion" about putting income tax up for higher earners in Wales, once powers are devolved.
"For those who can afford to pay the most we would," she said.
Pushed on the subject again if, "in principle", she would put tax up in such a way, she said: "For the additional rate of income tax people who currently pay 45%, we would like to see that go up to 50%.
"That would bring in a British context Â£3bn extra to spend on public services."
But she qualified that by adding: "When income tax comes to Wales we will be having a different conversation."
Income tax varying powers could devolved to the assembly from 2019.
Asked if it would be the time to trigger a campaign for independence if there was a "very hard Brexit", she said: "It may well be".
"If that final deal is going to be very bad for Wales then we need to consider all options at that time," she said.


David Cameron has told Libyans that "the British people want to stand with you" as he visited the country on the second stage of his African trip.

The prime minister was greeted by the public in Martyrs' Square in the capital Tripoli, having spoken to recruits at a police training college.
He has also met Prime Minister Ali Zidan and President Mohamed Magarief.
At a press conference, he announced that police investigating the 1988 Lockerbie bombing are to visit Libya.
Officers from the Dumfries and Galloway force had been granted permission to pursue their investigations in the country, he said.
The BBC's political correspondent Tim Reid said discussions had been taking place about the issue since the overthrow of Colonel Gaddafi in 2011 and while the Libyan authorities had always been supportive, it is only now that it has been approved.
Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, the only person ever convicted of the bombing, died last year after having been released from a Scottish jail in 2009.
Downing Street had requested a news blackout ahead of the prime minister's arrival from Algeria for security reasons.
Mr Cameron, who is being accompanied by his national security adviser and the head of MI6 on the trip, told police recruits at the training centre, which is receiving support from the British government, that it was "very good to be back".
In September 2011, Mr Cameron travelled to Libya with the then French President Nicolas Sarkozy to celebrate the liberation of this country from Colonel Gaddafi.
"I will never forget the scenes I saw in Tripoli and Benghazi," he said.
"The British people want to stand with you and help you deliver the greater security that Libya needs.
"So we have offered training and support from our police and our military. We look forward to working together in the years ahead."
Earlier this week, the Foreign Office warned of a "potential threat" to the British embassy in Tripoli.
This came less than a week after UK citizens were urged to leave the second city, Benghazi, because of a "specific and imminent threat to westerners".
The security situation has deteriorated since the PM's last visit. As he toured Martyrs' Square, a police helicopter hovered overhead and security forces were close at hand.
Acknowledging Libya faces major security challenges, Mr Cameron told the BBC's political editor Nick Robinson the country was on a "long, painful, hard road to a genuine, secure and stable democracy".
The UK, he added, would assist Libya to take the necessary steps to improve its security, such as help with disbanding militia, training the army and supporting a singe police force.
He also defended the French intervention in neighbouring Mali and rejected suggestions that foreign involvement in Muslim countries was the best recruiting sergeant for al-Qaeda.
On the contrary, he said terrorist groups would be encouraged if the international community ignored "ungoverned spaces and chaotic countries" and allowed them to fester - adding that this "was the lesson from Afghanistan and Somalia".
The UK's former Ambassador to Libya, Sir Richard Dalton, told the BBC that Libya faced many challenges, including agreeing a constitution, setting up new ministries, integrating the militias and diversifying an economy that has been heavily reliant on oil exports.
"But Libya has got a lot going for it still because its people are determined to protect the new freedoms that they have," he added.
Visiting Algeria on Wednesday in the first leg of his trip to Africa, the prime minister said the international community should use "everything at its disposal" to fight terrorism.
The recent hostage crisis at the In Amenas gas plant, in which some 37 foreigners died, was "a reminder that what happens in other countries affects us at home", he said.
He was the first British prime minister to visit Algeria since it became independent in 1962.


A stand at Reading FC's stadium has been officially renamed in honour of the former academy coach who died following a battle with cancer.

Eamonn Dolan, who had been treated for a tumour on his bladder, died on 21 June at the age of 48.
The Eamonn Dolan stand at the Madejski Stadium was opened ahead of the team's first Championship match of the season.
Wording on a plaque on the stand described him as a "true Royal".
A giant image of Mr Dolan, made up of smaller pictures of the 32 young players he helped to graduate to the first team, has also been erected outside the north stand.
The players who came through the Academy system during his 12 years in charge include current Premier League stars Shane Long and Gylfi Sigurdsson.
Former Reading captain Ady Williams said: "Thirty two in 12 years is an amazing stat. Will it ever be done again? I'm not so sure it will."
Reading FC co-chairman Sir John Madejski joined members of the Dolan family to unveil the plaque, dedicating the stand to a "believer" and a "true Royal".


A cub leader who used internet chat rooms to groom young girls has been jailed after he was caught by a police officer pretending to be a 12-year-old.

Scott Nicholls, 41, from Taunton, Somerset, pleaded guilty to a string of sex offences at Cardiff Crown Court.
The paedophile was caught when he travelled to the Premier Inn hotel in Bridgend to meet the girl and was arrested by waiting police officers.
He was sentenced to six years with an extension of four years on Friday.
In total, he pleaded guilty to 19 charges, including attempting to incite girls, possessing indecent images of children, the distribution of indecent images of children and causing a child to watch a sexual activity.
The court heard how between 16 and 26 June, Nicholls attempted to groom a 12-year-old girl called "Welsh Beth" online - who was in fact the undercover South Wales Police officer.
Nicholls suggested they meet up and, on 26 June, arrived at the hotel where he was confronted by police.
The court heard he had a bag containing sexual items including two sets of handcuffs, bondage restraints and a camcorder.
When caught, he told police: "I knew this was a set up. My life is ruined."
After being caught, police searched his home where they found indecent images and videos on his computer.
They also uncovered further cases where Nicholls had tried to groom young girls through chat rooms, several of whom police discovered to be men themselves.
Nicholls had worked as an ambulance care assistant, was a cub scout leader in Taunton for boys and girls aged eight to 10 and volunteered at the 2012 London Olympics.
Prosecuting, Andrew Davies said: "The tenor of the conversations and the actions of the defendant demonstrates he is not only a predatory paedophile but a persistent one at that."
Defending, Kevin Seal said Nicholls realised he "had a problem" which he acknowledged had been growing since possibly 2005.
"It's reached a stage now where it does need treatment and Mr Nicholls is the first to acknowledge that," he added.
Judge Eleri Rees said a psychiatric report reached the conclusion Nicholls had "a clear pathological sexual interest in young and very young children" and that he "suffered from paedophilia".
She added he posed a "very high risk of serious harm towards children".


In a lower middle class neighbourhood of Multan, among a row of dilapidated houses, one dwelling stands out.

It's the one Qandeel Baloch rented for her parents. And this is where she died.
Inside, the walls are faded, the furniture is scarce. An old, disabled man is sobbing uncontrollably.
Qandeel's father Muhammad Azeem is grieving the death of his favourite daughter, allegedly at the hands of his own son, in the name of honour.
His wife sits on a day bed nearby. One moment she seems to sleeps as if to forget, the next she stares into space.
This is the household of the late social media sensation Qandeel Baloch, who's real name was Fozia Azeem. She was a kind of "agent provocateur" of Pakistani culture and society where religiously and culturally justified conservatism still rules.
She made a name for herself with outspoken social media posts and suggestive photos. She attracted public scrutiny and often fury, dished out with almost reckless abandon.
But her home life paints a picture of a much deeper personal struggle, a long journey from a life of poverty towards the path she carved out for herself.
How the murder reflects a divided country
The threats and abuse outspoken Pakistani women receive
Pakistan honour killings on the rise, report reveals
"We come from a very poor background," says her mother Anwar Bibi,
"We lived in a small village in Dera Ghazi Khan. Qandeel's father was in an accident and lost his foot. She brought us here, to the city, so he could get medical treatment, so we could live better."
Now her father spends his days hobbling from one police station to another on crutches, trying to seek punishment for his son for the murder of his daughter.
"She used to financially support everyone," he says, "When she sent money, they would all come running. Now when Waseem tries to see me at the police station, I don't even want to see his face. How could he kill his own sister so brutally?"
Qandeel's parents tell me their son Waseem was not living with them but he came to stay on a pretext when he heard Qandeel would be at home during the Eid holidays.
They say he put sedatives into their bed time milk so they would never know about their daughter's last moments.
Azeem's wrinkled hands tremble and jerk as his imagination takes hold of him.
"She must have cried out. She must have called her mother, she must have called out to her father, and we were sleeping like the dead", he says, beginning to cry. "Do you think we don't live with the pain?"
"I believe I am a modern day feminist. I believe in equality. I need not to choose what type of women should be. I don't think there is any need to label ourselves just for sake of society. I am just a women with free thoughts free mindset and I LOVE THE WAY I AM." (Facebook, 14 July)
Love me or hate me both are in my favour. If you love me I Will always be in your heart, if you hate me I'll always be in ur mind (Facebook, 3 July)
Originally hailing from a conservative village called Shah Saddruddin in South Punjab - where ancient traditions and customs still prevail - Qandeel moved to the city to make a future for herself.
A local photographer from Multan claims she tried to kick-start a modelling career from here.
"She came to me for her first photo shoot, but it didn't work out for her", he says. "Then she left the city and later her pictures and videos began appearing on her Facebook page."
But neighbours say that they did not know Qandeel Baloch or her social media celebrity status. Whenever she came back home, she seems to have been content to spend time with her parents in private.
One neighbour told me her fame reached the area only recently.
"We just found out about Qandeel Baloch, when news came out on TV of her selfie with religious cleric Mufti Abdul Qawi. Then her former husband appeared in the media."
"We only found out Qandeel Baloch lived here when they brought out her dead body."
Although she appeared keen on her "brand" as a woman who did what she wanted, baring her skin and her soul to all, it seems her personality had more than one dimension.
"My daughter was searching for peace, that's why she came to me," Anwar Bibi says.
"She said 'Mum I'm so tired, of the cases and the criticism. But my time will come. Everyone says I have a bad reputation but I'll show them all what a simple girl from a small village can do.' "
In a society where people often remain chained to the social class or cultural context they are born into, this woman was dreaming of freedom and escape.
Or at least this is what I think her mother wants to tell me about her, although she can't quite find the words. Then she stops suddenly, looks at me, and smiles.
"She was a girl just like you, she laughed a lot, she talked a lot."


Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has denounced the isolation of Qatar by several Arab states, describing it as "inhumane and against Islamic values".

Last week's decision by Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt to sever all ties was like a "death penalty", Mr Erdogan said.
Qatar was accused of aiding terrorist groups and Iran - charges it denied.
Mr Erdogan vowed to help Qatar overcome the effects of the crisis, which he said Saudi Arabia needed to resolve.
Turkey has already flown dairy products, poultry and juice to Doha, which began to arrive on supermarket shelves over the weekend.
Morocco, which has said it will remain neutral in the dispute, announced on Monday evening that it would also send planeloads of food to prevent shortages.
The decision was made "in conformity with Islamic precepts that call for solidarity and mutual aid between Muslim people, notably during this holy month of Ramadan", according to a foreign ministry statement.
On 5 June, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE and Egypt announced that they were severing air, sea and land links with Qatar. The three Gulf states also ordered their citizens out of Qatar and gave Qataris in their countries 14 days to leave.
The decision caused turmoil in Qatar, an oil- and gas-rich nation that is dependent on imports to meet the basic needs of its population of 2.7 million and is a major international travel hub.
In a speech at a parliamentary meeting in Ankara on Tuesday, Mr Erdogan said the methods employed by Qatar's neighbours were unacceptable.
"A very grave mistake is being made in Qatar, isolating a nation in all areas is inhumane and against Islamic values. It's as if a death penalty decision has been taken for Qatar," he added.
Mr Erdogan dismissed the allegations against Qatar, insisting the emirate had taken "the most decisive stance" against the jihadist group Islamic State (IS).
"Victimising Qatar through smear campaigns serves no purpose," he said.
He did not directly criticise Saudi Arabia, but said that as "the elder statesman of the Gulf" Saudi King Salman should "solve this affair and show leadership".
Later, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir insisted that there was "no blockade".
"Qatar is free to go - the ports are open, the airports are open," he said after meeting US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in Washington. "What we have done is we have denied them use of our airspace, and this is our sovereign right."
Mr Jubeir added that Saudi Arabia would send food or medical aid through the King Salman Centre for Humanitarian Aid and Relief if needed.
Mr Tillerson has called for the restrictions to be "eased", but President Donald Trump has expressed his support for them despite Qatar hosting the largest US military base in the Middle East.
"We are stopping the funding of terrorism," he told reporters on Monday. "We are going to starve the beast."
Qatar admits it has backed Islamist groups across the region, including the Muslim Brotherhood. But it denies supporting or funding jihadist groups like IS or al-Qaeda. It also rejects claims that it is too close to Iran, Saudi Arabia's main regional rival.
"We still have no clue what is behind these measures," said Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani during a visit to Paris on Monday.
"Whatever is related to the collective security of the Gulf countries, Qatar is ready to negotiate... but we have the right to react to these accusations that we are interfering in their internal affairs."


Chelsea's return to Anfield on Saturday brings back unhappy memories for Liverpool and their immediate future is not much brighter either.

In his regular BBC Sport column, football pundit Robbie Savage looks at why Liverpool look a long way off repeating last season's title challenge, how they should line up against Chelsea and the physical and mental battle Steven Gerrard faces to secure a long-term future with the Reds.
It is only six months since Steven Gerrard's slip helped the Blues clinch a famous win on Merseyside that derailed Liverpool's title bid.
Back then, at the end of April, the title was in the Reds' grasp. This weekend, I think we will see again how far away they are from mounting another title challenge.
They are miles away from the level required for that, and will have to improve and work hard just to get in the top four.
If they manage it, then securing back-to-back seasons in the Champions League should be seen as success for Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers.
But not all their fans see it that way. I had some unhappy Reds supporters calling me up on  606 on BBC Radio 5 live last weekend to give their manager stick.
Part of Liverpool's problem is that they overachieved massively last season, which has raised expectations unrealistically. That is not Rodgers' fault.
Where he can be questioned is in the transfer market, especially up front.
Between them Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge scored 52 of Liverpool's 101 Premier League goals last  season.
With Suarez sold and Sturridge playing only three out of 10 league games so far this season because of injury, Rodgers has lost a lot of goals from his line-up.
But he has had money to spend and I do not think he has bought the right strikers to fit his system.
Looking at Rodgers' options up front for Saturday, Mario Balotelli, Rickie Lambert and Fabio Borini are his three available front men, and the bottom line is that they are not good enough.
It is not just that they do not look like scoring. There is a big difference in their work-rate compared to what Suarez and Sturridge gave the team.
That means Liverpool are not starting games with the same intensity they did last season, or pressing teams high up the pitch to force them into mistakes.
Doing that in 2013-14 Liverpool scored 59 first-half goals, 13 more than any other team, and scored in the first half of 34 out of 38 league matches - again the most in the top flight.
In their first 10 games of this campaign, they have only managed a total of four goals before half-time, in three different matches. Instead of being on the front foot, they are having to chase games.
They look pedestrian and that is not just the centre-forward's fault.
When I have watched them, no matter what formation they play, they do not seem to have any runners going past their striker from midfield.
Again, last season that used to happen all the time, but I was at St James' Park last weekend to  co-commentate on their defeat by Newcastle, and the only player to run beyond Balotelli in the first half was Gerrard, who did it once.
Another problem is set-pieces. Liverpool were lethal from them last year, scoring with more than any other top-flight team.
More than a third of their goals in 2013-14 came from corners or free-kicks, at a rate of almost one a game. That has dropped off dramatically.
Sadly for Rodgers, seeing the goals drying up is not his only problem.
Liverpool's defence was seen as their weakest link last season and, despite trying several different combinations, he did not get it right.
From Mamadou Sakho for £18m in 2013 to Dejan Lovren for £20m this summer, Rodgers has thrown a lot of money at the problem but is still trying to find an answer.
They still look all over the place at the back.
Statistically, they are no worse defensively than last season - but they are also no better.
Liverpool play and complete as many passes as before, and also keep as much possession. But with them no longer being able to outscore the opposition, it is no surprise their results have been affected.
What Liverpool lack at the back is a leader, and their goalkeeper does not give them much help there.
Simon Mignolet is clearly an excellent shot-stopper but I don't see him coming off his line enough, or commanding his box.
Rodgers tried three at the back against the Magpies, but I cannot see him doing the same against Chelsea.
He was criticised for resting players against Real Madrid on Tuesday but I agreed with him for doing it.
Liverpool can still qualify for the knockout stages in Europe if they win their last two games in Group B and their weakened team actually did better against Real in Spain than the full-strength side he picked at home.
Now he has to decide who to play against Chelsea, but whoever he picks, Liverpool will need to show a huge improvement on their recent displays.
My team to face Liverpool: Mignolet, Johnson, Skrtel, Toure, Moreno, Can, Gerrard, Sterling, Coutinho, Lallana, Borini.
For me, Lovren is the big signing who makes way, with Kolo Toure keeping his place after doing well at the Bernabeu.
It is a big call to drop Lovren when Rodgers has spent so much money on him, but he has just not been good enough.
It is hard to see Liverpool winning on Saturday because Chelsea are on a different planet
He was poor against Newcastle and has been poor all season.
Although he has got the height that Liverpool will need to defend set-pieces against Chelsea, I saw him get bossed around by Bobby Zamora when Liverpool played QPR at Loftus Road. You have to think that Diego Costa would make mincemeat of him if he is up front for Chelsea.
To compete, Liverpool will need a solid four in the middle, with their full-backs looking to join the attack.
Whether it be Glen Johnson on the right or Alberto Moreno on the left, when one goes forward, then the other should sit back.
That way, Liverpool will always have five defensive players to guard against Chelsea's counter-attacks.
Going forward, they need their full-backs to contribute in the same way they did last season when they overlapped down the flanks or broke forward with speed.
The trio of Adam Lallana, Philippe Coutinho and Raheem Sterling as attacking midfielders provide pace, trickery and creativity and, leading the line, Borini gives more energy than Lambert or Balotelli.
He will have to work hard down the channels to keep Chelsea's defence busy.
Even if all of that works, however, it is still hard to see Liverpool winning on Saturday because Chelsea are on a different planet to every other Premier League team at the moment.
Jose Mourinho's side have not been at their best in the last couple of games but they have not lost any of them either.
The only way you would describe their form as disappointing would be in comparison to the way they started the season, when they were electric.
The Blues do not seem to have a weakness and, just like in April, I see them leaving Anfield with three points.
There is no title on the line this time, but it will still hurt the home fans.
Whatever happens on Saturday will not make up for what was probably the worst moment of Gerrard's career. He may never make up for it, but there is no way he is finished.
He was Liverpool's best player against Newcastle and, despite it still being uncertain whether he will get a new Reds contract in the summer, I definitely see him as being part of their longer-term future.
Playing in that defensive midfield role, he can remain competitive in the Premier League. I cannot see him being allowed to leave Anfield but, if he does, he will end up at another top club.
The older you get, the harder you have to work, though, and extending his career will be a mental battle as well as a physical one.
At 34, he does not have to prove he can ping a ball 60 yards, deliver a great free-kick or make a crunching tackle.
What he has to show is that he can still get about the park well enough to do all of those things effectively.
Because, whether he likes it or not, every time he has a bad game he will hear the accusation that "his legs have gone".
Of course he is still fit and can still run. He is probably one of the fittest players at Liverpool. At 36, when I was at Derby, I was still in the top two or three players whenever we did the bleep test.
What happened against Chelsea last time probably destroyed Gerrard on the inside
But it is the recovery that will test him. When you are flying, you can close someone down, then charge into the next challenge or situation.
As you get older, it is harder to get to the next man in time to make a difference. That is what people mean when they say your legs have gone.
There is nothing worse as a high-energy midfield player to know that, two or three years ago, you could have made that next challenge - and now you can't.
I knew it when it happened to me. I would try not to think it but you cannot escape it and it was horrendous. I began to doubt myself and whether anybody would want me to play for them.
What does not help is what other people say. Managers and players told me I was finished but I had to keep believing in myself.
I knew I was not the player I was, but I still felt I had something to offer.
For me, Gerrard undoubtedly does too. Along with Sterling and Sturridge he is still one of Liverpool's most important players.
Of all the players I faced in my career, he was the one I would have loved to have played with.
He was a nightmare to play against because he had everything. At his peak he was the best midfielder the Premier League has seen.
Saturday will be a difficult occasion for him because what happened against Chelsea last time probably destroyed him on the inside.
Of course he will be thinking about it before the game - he must think about it all the time - but he has not let it stop him.
It would have been easy for him to quit after a disappointment like that, but he has kept going like he always does.
It is that kind of desire that will keep him going beyond the end of this season too.
Robbie Savage was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan


A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a body was found at a property in Bolton.

Detectives were called to Haydock Street in the town at about 22:40 BST on Saturday and found the man's body, Greater Manchester Police said.
The victim's family has been informed and a post-mortem examination is due to take place.
A 50-year-old man is in custody for questioning.  Witnesses have been urged to contact police.


The Tour of Britain cycling race will see two separate days of action in Scotland this year through the Borders, East Lothian and Edinburgh.

Stage three on 8 September will start in Cumbria but finish at Floors Castle in Kelso via Gretna.
The following day the race will resume in Edinburgh before heading south to Northumberland.
Paul Bush of EventScotland said the "stunning scenery" of the area would provide a "perfect stage" for the race.
"The Edinburgh start in particular will be of particular interest to Scottish cycling fans as we see the peloton ride through the capital for the very first time," he said.
"With excitement and passion for cycling at a record high following the hugely successful road race at the Commonwealth Games last year, we look forward to welcoming some of the world's top riders to Scotland once again."
The first stage to come into Scotland starts in Cockermouth but will cross the border at Gretna and head through Dumfries and Galloway before racing through Hawick, Selkirk and Melrose before finishing in Kelso.
The following day it will leave Edinburgh and pass through Musselburgh, East Lothian, Duns and Coldstream before crossing back into England.
"The return of such a prestigious event emphasises our ability to host high-profile events here in the Borders and is further recognition of the fact that the Scottish Borders is Scotland's leading cycling destination," said Stuart Bell of Scottish Borders Council.
Councillor Richard Lewis, Edinburgh's new festivals and events champion, said it was an "exciting event" for the city.
"Elite cyclists from all over the world will descend on the capital and the dramatic backdrop of Edinburgh's winding streets will make for a spectacular sight," he said.
"This is going to be a must-see event for both local people and visitors to the city."
Race director Mick Bennett said: "This year's route gives us the fantastic opportunity to have two days of racing in Scotland and to make first visits to the east of the Scottish Borders and Edinburgh," he said.
"I am sure many cycling fans will be excited, just like we are, at the prospect of seeing the world's top riders on the streets of the Scottish capital, and will hopefully use the race as an opportunity to visit the areas we pass through".


The government of the Czech Republic has become embroiled in a scandal involving allegations of corruption and abuse of office that has seen Prime Minister Petr Necas announce his resignation.

Why has he felt obliged to quit?
In the end, the pressure for him to do so proved too great. The aide at the heart of the scandal, Jana Nagyova, is his closest political - and, allegedly, personal - companion, someone with whom he was in constant contact for much of the past decade, from his time as labour and social affairs minister to when he became prime minister in 2010.
Mr Necas stood at the head of a fractious centre-right coalition which has been close to collapse on several occasions over the last three years. In the wake of last week's revelations it was increasingly clear he could not rely on his two coalition partners if the opposition initiated a vote of no-confidence. Ms Nagyova's arrest on charges of corruption and abuse of office sent the Necas government into turmoil. A court decision to remand her in custody sealed his fate.
Is this the same man elected on an anti-corruption platform?
It is. The coalition of three parties came to power in 2010 following an election campaign dominated by one theme: cracking down on high-level corruption. Critics accuse the Necas government of failing to introduce the sort of far-reaching legislation that would make Czech public tenders more transparent, sever the tentacles of an economic "mafia" that was strangling the state administration and make Czech company ownership less opaque (although on this last point there has recently been some progress).
However some commentators believe Mr Necas did more than any Czech politician to free the police and prosecutors from political control. They say the spectacular arrests of officials, former MPs and senior intelligence staff by the country's anti-organised crime unit was the natural outcome of this process. It is greatly ironic that Petr Necas himself has paid the ultimate price.
Who exactly is Jana Nagyova?
Her official job title was Director-in-Chief of the Cabinet Section of the Prime Minister's Office - something along the lines of a US chief of staff. The current scandal involves many allegations, but the most serious is that Ms Nagyova ordered the military intelligence service to spy on Radka Necasova, the prime minister's now-estranged wife (the couple announced shortly before the scandal broke that they would seek an uncontested divorce).
There are many problems with that, not least moral (Ms Nagyova is widely believed to be "the other woman" in the prime minister's life), but the key point is that as an unelected civil servant, she has no formal authority to order the intelligence services to do anything. Her lawyer told Czech media the surveillance was in Mrs Necasova's interests, as the prime minister's wife had become mixed up with "strange people" and "Jehovah's Witnesses" and Ms Nagyova was simply trying to protect her.
Will ordinary Czechs be surprised at such allegations of corruption at the heart of their government?
No. The Czech public has regularly been treated to the sight of MPs, officials and businessmen being led away from luxury villas or government offices, jackets placed diplomatically over handcuffs, for the past few years. The difference now is that the police and prosecutors are aiming rather higher, chopping away at an octopus of corruption and cronyism that many believe has its tentacles wrapped round the heart of Czech government and business.
On the other hand, some - including the outgoing prime minister - say the police are being theatrical and heavy-handed, and that some of the charges betray a startling ignorance of politics. Does persuading a troublesome MP to step down by offering him a directorship of a state-owned company really constitute corruption? Isn't that just realpolitik?
What happens next?
For a while, nothing much. After Mr Necas and his cabinet submit their resignations to President Milos Zeman, they go straight back to work as a "government in resignation" until a new one can be found. At the moment, it seems Mr Necas's party - the Civic Democrats - will come up with a new candidate for PM (the smart money is on Trade and Industry Minister Martin Kuba).
If the coalition agrees with their choice, that candidate will go to the president, who will ask him for assurances he can secure a majority in parliament. If they win a vote of confidence, there is no reason why the same centre-right coalition could not continue until regular elections in 2014. But the centre-left opposition is calling for fresh elections, and the (leftist) president is an unpredictable figure, making any reliable forecasts difficult.


On the face of it, coaches help people of different ages and abilities to develop and improve in sport, but actually they do much much more.

Media playback is not supported on this device
Most people starting a new activity need extra motivation and encouragement. A coach's support and enthusiasm can make a huge difference to the enjoyment and participation in an activity.
With the right training, a coach can help to develop important life skills in their players such as team work, respect, goal setting, confidence and control.
There are many different reasons to become a coach, and the good news is that you don't have to have had a sports background to start. Many people get into coaching as a way of giving back to their community. Inspired to be a coach yet?
Coaching is a great way to express your passion for a sport and be actively involved instead of standing on the sidelines.
It is not only exciting and self-satisfying but you can have a positive influence on people's lifelong involvement in sport. It will also help you to keep active, both mentally and physically.
There are many ways in ways to get involved, such as helping your local club, getting involved in your children's sporting activities or even helping to support the next elite sports star!
It's social, it's helpful and it keeps you on your toes.
The best starting place for trying out coaching is to assist a coach. Most coaches will be grateful for any help you can give. So why not try it out? What do you have to lose?
In England, contact your nearest county sports partnership, in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland contact your home country sports council.
If coaching is something that interests you, follow @sportscoachUK on Twitter and look out for tweets using #comeintocoaching
@sportscoachUK
sports coach UK has developed some great, practical information to give you the confidence to get involved: where to coach; questions to ask before getting involved; skills and qualities needed to be a good coach; what would be expected of you when you first start out.
Here is just a sample of the useful resources:
Skills and Qualities of an Effective Coach Top Tips
How to Become a Coach Top Tips
How to Assist at Your Child's Sport Session Top Tips
Coaching Methods (video)
"The most satisfying part of being a coach has to be seeing the little smiles on the kids' faces when they are having fun, whilst they are learning and improving their skills."
Cycling coach, Caitlin Tromans
"I can't pinpoint a day or event where I decided to begin coaching, so the trigger was probably a combination of things: realising there is more to life than work and Game of Thrones, seeing that a lack of javelin coaching in my home town 15 years ago had turned into a complete absence, my waistline.  Whatever it was, something clicked and I decided now was the time."
Javelin coach, David Turner
I hated PE at school. I was clumsy, awkward, and always picked last for the team but I was lucky to discover my local rowing club when I started secondary school, and from then on I grew to love sport and understand the difference it can make to your life…I have a life that continues to be filled with incredible experiences, friendships and opportunities thanks to some of my coaches which is why I spend my evenings and weekends coaching. I know I can be part of creating a more fulfilling life for my athletes.
Rowing coach, Rachel Hooper
---
What Next?
If you are thinking of starting coaching, complete this short online survey by sport coach UK. It will help them and their Partners understand the demand for coaching and the support you require on your journey to becoming a coach. The survey gives you the option to keep your responses confidential, or permission to share with Partners of sport coach UK.


The man accused of killing nine black churchgoers in the US has been charged with three additional counts of attempted murder.

Dylann Roof, 21, already faced nine counts of murder and one weapons possession charge for the shooting in Charleston, South Carolina, on 17 June.
The victims were shot and killed after a Bible study meeting.
The attempted murder charges relate to three people who were present during the attack but survived.
A woman and a small child survived by playing dead. Mr Roof left a third woman alive to tell others about the crime.
Governor Nikki Haley has said Mr Roof should face the death penalty.
Mr Roof reportedly sat with the group for nearly an hour before he pulled out his handgun and started shooting.
One survivor recalled him saying: "You all rape women and you're taking over our country."
After the attack, a friend of Mr Roof's said he had previously complained that "blacks were taking over the world" and "someone needed to do something about it for the white race".
Mr Roof was arrested the day after the shooting more than 200 miles away in North Carolina and then flown back to Charleston.
He is next expected in court in October.


Some 26 women who underwent breast cancer operations "may have been harmed" after serious concerns were raised about a surgeon's work, a hospital says.

Reviews of their surgery are now being carried out after complaints were made about the surgeon based at Royal Stoke University Hospital.
The unnamed medic has been barred from seeing patients since January.
The Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) is also carrying out an investigation.
University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust said the operations under review concerned breast reconstruction or risk reduction surgery.
Patients affected have been written to this week to inform them, the trust said in a statement.
More on this and other Staffordshire stories
The hospital's Breast Care Team first raised concerns over the consultant's practices in December 2015.
Trust chief executive Robert Courteney-Harris expressed his "sincere regret and apologies to any patients who may have received a standard of care that is below that expected".
"We took immediate action as soon as serious concerns about specific aspects of this consultant's practice were brought to our attention," he added.
"We are undertaking an internal investigation to examine these concerns and establish the full facts and we have also sought the expert opinion of the Royal College of Surgeons."
A spokeswoman for the RCS said its experts would "determine whether there is cause for concern and to make early recommendations for improvement".
"Through this work we enable surgical teams to achieve and maintain the highest standards of surgical practice and patient care," she added.
â€‹â€‹


Oxford-born Spaniard Marcus Walz produced a remarkable finish to take the Olympic kayak 1,000m title at the Lagoa Stadium.

Media playback is not supported on this device
The 21-year-old was fifth with 250 metres remaining before powering through to win a time of three minutes 31.447 seconds.
The Czech Republic's Josef Dostal took silver in 3:32.145, and Russia's Roman Anoshkin won bronze in 3:33.363.
Walz has an English father and a German mother, but grew up in Majorca, Spain.
Find out how to get into canoeing with our special guide.
Subscribe to the BBC Sport newsletter to get our pick of news, features and video sent to your inbox.


The head of the Met Police has said sorry to the families of three girls missing in Syria after they failed to receive a letter intended for them.

The families complained the letter - about a friend of the girls who went to Syria in 2014 - was given to the pupils instead of being sent directly to them.
It is feared Shamima Begum, Amira Abase, both 15, and Kadiza Sultana, 16, left for Syria to join Islamic State.
Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe told MPs he was sorry the letter "didn't get through".
However, he said there was nothing more police could have done to prevent the girls leaving for Syria.
"In hindsight, we now know that these girls were planning to go and neither the family, the police, the school nor anyone else realised that," he told the Home Affairs Select Committee.
The families of the schoolgirls told the committee they would have done more to monitor the girls if they had known one of their friends had already gone to Syria.
All four teenagers were friends and pupils at Bethnal Green Academy, in east London.
The committee heard the police letter about the first teenager's disappearance had been given to the three girls, and had not been passed on to parents.
Sahima Begum - sister of Shamima -  told the committee her family was "never given the opportunity" to question Shamima as they did not receive the letter.
She said her family only found the letter after Shamima had gone missing.
Ms Begum said her family "did what they could" to monitor her sister's activities, but would have done more had they known the first girl had gone to Syria.
The three girls paid more than Â£1,000 in cash to a travel agent for their flights to Istanbul in Turkey - from where they travelled to Syria - the committee also heard.
Met Police Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley - the national police lead for counter-terrorism - told the committee officers believed the girls funded the tickets by taking jewellery from a family member.
There was "no evidence" the girls had been involved in terrorism and if they returned to the UK they would not be arrested, he added.
However, he said Aqsa Mahmood - a Scottish woman who travelled to Syria and is suspected of helping to recruit the three schoolgirls online - would be prosecuted if she ever returns to the UK.
The 20-year-old is reported to have been in touch with one of the three schoolgirls.
It comes as Scotland Yard revealed two women, aged 20 and 21, were arrested on 19 February as part of a police investigation into the disappearance of the girls.
The women were arrested on suspicion of an offence under the Child Abduction Act 1984 and were bailed until April, the Met said.
Two addresses in north London were also searched.
The families had earlier called for the Met Police to apologise after the letter was given to the girls, rather than to the families directly.
Solicitor Tasnime Akunjee, representing the families, told the committee that had the parents received the letter they would have been "on notice" for issues like radicalisation and foreign travel.
Police had "put a cap" on the amount of information passed to other families about the first girl, he said.
It comes as Prime Minister David Cameron said parents and schools must also help prevent young Britons travelling to Syria.
In an interview with LBC radio, he said that no institution should be made a "scapegoat" for the girls' disappearance.
The three schoolgirls travelled from east London to Turkey last month, before crossing into an area of Syria controlled by Islamic State militants.
Mr Cameron said "everyone has a role to play" in stopping Britons joining IS, including politicians, parents, communities and schools.
"When you have got educated British schoolgirls at an outstanding school in Greenwich finding it somehow attractive to get on a plane to travel to Syria to go and live in a country where gay people are being thrown off buildings and British citizens are being beheaded, and appalling brutality is being meted out, we have a problem," he said.
He added: "Let's not pretend this is simply a problem that can be dealt with by policing."


The announcement that no-one will be charged with involvement in rendition will certainly be a relief to MI6.

But the Libyan case still raises difficult questions.
A four-year long investigation by the police was sparked by the discovery in 2011 of documents in Libya that appeared to come from MI6.
They appeared to show British intelligence had facilitated the rendition - sending a person from one country to another for imprisonment and interrogation - of two men to Libya, where they say they were tortured.
The Crown Prosecution Service issued an unusually long statement on Thursday explaining why they did not believe the evidence supported any charges.
(Pointedly, the police released their own statement saying they had collected 28,000 pages of evidence and that the decision was entirely one by the CPS.)
The CPS statement made clear for the first time that MI6 (without naming the agency directly) had been involved - and included details which throw new light on the transfer of two opponents of Colonel Gaddafi to Libya at a time when Britain was seeking to improve relations with his regime.
The two key areas relate to the issue of authorisation and oversight.
One of the biggest questions surrounding what happened in Libya related to who authorised the operation.
We are always told that sensitive intelligence operations are supposed to be authorised by politicians.
Jack Straw was foreign secretary at the time and, so, many had assumed he must have known.
But the statement from the CPS suggests the real story may be much more complex.
A key line reads that an MI6 officer "sought political authority for some of his actions albeit not within a formal written process nor in detail which covered all his communications and conduct". This sentence bears some examination.
For a start, it says the "suspect" (as the CPS describes him) sought political authority, but does not say they actually received it.
Secondly, it makes the point that the authority was only for some of their actions and not all of them - in other words they did not provide a detailed read-out of what was involved in the operation to the government official.
Finally, this did not take place within a formal written process.
In other words, there was not the type of written warrant - or paper trail - that you would normally expect.
One source has suggested that it may simply have involved a phone conversation with a Foreign Office official (not even a minister).
All of this alleviates some of the questions for Jack Straw but does raise the question about how MI6 was operating at the time and whether it was under the type of political control that would normally be expected for an intelligence agency.
A second question relates to oversight after the events.
In 2007 the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) investigated rendition.
In a 75-page report, Libya is not mentioned once. The reason, it seems, is that the committee knew nothing about the case.
In fact, no one did until 2011 when Colonel Gaddafi's regime fell and a series of documents from MI6 were discovered.
Had it not been for regime change, the secret of this operation would have been kept and there would have been no oversight of it.
The criticism of the ISC in the past was always that it knew only about things the agencies wanted to reveal.
There was some suggestion at the time that the failure to reveal the Libya case had been due to poor record keeping.
That goes back to the issue of no formal authorisation having ever been signed.
But it does not explain why no one had thought to bring up the case to the ISC.
Perhaps because few had known about it?
But a recent article suggested that it had been sufficiently well-known that when the head of MI5 learned about it, she had written to the prime minister and there had been a major rift between MI5 and MI6 over the latter organisation's activities.
There has been no official reaction from MI6 or the Foreign Office but they will, no doubt, stress that these events took place 12 years ago in the chaotic early years of the "war on terror" and that systems and procedures have changed.
The "consolidated guidance" on how to treat detainees has now been published.
The ISC has been given more powers to demand documents.
And, after review, the CPS has decided that the evidence does not support a prosecution.
But a question remains - what other secrets from this period remain hidden?


Melbourne police are questioning a mother who was driving a car carrying four of her children when it plunged into a lake, killing three of them.

The fourth child was critically injured after the incident at Wyndham Vale, south west of Melbourne, on Wednesday.
The mother, 35, has been released from police guard in hospital and is talking to the Victorian Police homicide squad.
Police said they were still trying to understand what made the car run off the road.
They have been talking to local people about the background of the family - originally from Sudan - and their movements on Wednesday.
When emergency services arrived at the scene the woman and the four children, all believed to be aged under six, were in the car.
One child died at the scene, one died on the way to hospital and the third child died in hospital. The fourth child, a five-year-old girl, remains in a serious condition at Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital.
Superintendent Stuart Bateson called on members of the local Sudanese community to help police with their investigations.
"We understand that there may be some social, cultural and religious implications impacting on the community but let me reassure you that we will remain respectful of those issues at all times," he said.
"We do need to understand what was happening in their lives and we do need to understand what their movements were leading up to the incident."
Local media have reported the mother and children were part of a family of seven children, who came to Australia from what is now South Sudan in 2008.


Wasps scrum-half Joe Simpson has one simple message for anyone lucky enough to have a ticket to see his side's Premiership final with Exeter at Twickenham - "Don't leave early".

A sell-out crowd of 82,000 will watch some of the world's best players lock horns on Saturday as Chiefs bid for a maiden title and Wasps a first crown since 2008.
The showpiece event of England's domestic season pairs two attack-minded sides, who have both broken the Premiership's existing try-scoring record this campaign. Wasps ran in 89 tries, while Exeter crossed the whitewash 86 times.
And both showed in their semi-finals their capacity for an exciting climax, clinching victory from the jaws of defeat.
"Never leave early when it comes to Wasps matches," Simpson, 28, told BBC Sport.
"We've won two or three matches in the last plays of the game. We really back our bench. We know we've got the fitness to keep up that level of performance for 85, 90 minutes. However long it takes, we keep battering on that drum."
Exeter must have thought they had stolen Saturday's semi-final thunder when Sam Simmonds' 79th-minute try saw off Saracens 18-16 at Sandy Park.
Victory over the holders, crowned European champions for a second successive time just a week earlier, partially avenged last year's defeat for the Chiefs in the Premiership final.
But Wasps got over the line in an even tighter game as Josh Bassett's last-gasp score earned a 21-20 victory over Leicester at the Ricoh Arena.
LISTEN: Wasps v Exeter should be a try-fest - Dawson
TEAM NEWS: Beale ruled out for Wasps
GUSCOTT COLUMN: It will be tight - but I fancy Exeter
"If you look at the two semi-finals, you'd be hard pressed to say that there's not a lot of potential there for a very good final," Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter told BBC Radio Devon.
"You look at the form of the two sides, level on points at the end of the season. It couldn't have been tighter coming through the actual league stage.
"We were the two highest points scorers and try-scorers in the league, we're both on good form and we both like to play good rugby so, if you talk about potentially good games, it kind of does have everything.
"We like to think that we've got there on merit, having played very well, but the truth is it's about getting to finals first and foremost. How you get there is only part of the story. It is very much about who turns up in the right frame of mind. Who is prepared to give as much to the game as is needed to win?
"We haven't talked too much about trying to stop Wasps doing what they do, because, if we play our game we'll deal with a lot of that anyway."
Since being established as a 12-team, 22-game league in 1999, Saracens had been the only Premiership team to have topped 80 tries in a campaign, but that haul of 83 has now been eclipsed by both of Saturday's finalists.
"There's not much difference between the two sides," says Simpson, Wasps' longest-serving player. "It's the best two attacking teams in the league. And it's a case of making sure we don't slip up.
"Mental lapses can cost you. But we've learned not to be on edge. We play better when we're relaxed. A heightened level of emotions can help but it can also be a hindrance. It's about controlling those emotions.
"I've always had the belief that Wasps should be up there challenging for silverware. It has been frustrating the last 10 years, with troubles on and off the pitch, but we feel we've really come through the other side."
Wasps have now been the Premiership's leading try scorers for three campaigns in a row, albeit jointly with Chiefs last season, and have averaged more than four tries per game in 2016-17.
Meanwhile, Exeter have broken the league record for most bonus point victories with 15, eight of them coming in a row - another record.
"We always have good games against Wasps," Exeter stand-off Gareth Steenson told BBC Radio Devon. "They're always tight affairs, but usually quite high-scoring, so hopefully it'll make for a really good final.
"History would say that it will. I believe the weather's going to be good, so hopefully we'll see some good running rugby."
"You have to give credit to the coaches," says Chiefs loose forward Thomas Waldrom, the Premiership's try top try scorer in 2015-16. "Ali Hepher does a lot on our attack but you've got to pride yourself on defence as well. Baxter does a lot on our defence. You want to make that a force too.
"It's nice to get the chance to go back to Twickenham and right the wrongs a little bit. Go out and actually play in the first half and attack. We probably didn't do that the first time around."
Former England and British and Irish Lions centre Jeremy Guscott was a key part of the Bath side which won six Premiership crowns in the late 1980s and 1990s.
And the 51-year-old expects a cracking game in the capital.
"With what Wasps have at their disposal, you just feel that they have a side made to score tries," he said.
"Kurtley Beale, Christian Wade, Danny Cipriani, Elliot Daly - it can feel like a never-ending wave of talent. All coupled with speed of thought and speed of hands.
"Then you look at the pack at someone like Nathan Hughes and the impact he has had over the past 18 months.
"But just go back to Exeter in Saturday's semi-final and you see what they're all about and why they score so many tries too.
"That kick of Henry Slade's to the corner from which they scored their late try against Saracens was an all-or-nothing moment. Just what sport is all about.
"They have evolved from when they first got to the Premiership. They have a more expansive game now. That is why they score as many tries as they do."


Cardiff City marked their return to their traditional blue kit with a win against Fulham at Cardiff City Stadium.

The team - known as the Bluebirds - played in blue shirts at home on Saturday for the first time since 2012 after the club's owner agreed to change the colour back from red.
Owner Vincent Tan gave the go-ahead on Friday after a meeting with supporters.
On Saturday, chief executive Ken Choo said fans were "buzzing" just before kick-off amid a carnival atmosphere.
Earlier on Saturday, firefighters were called to the stadium after cladding on the roof of the Ninian Stand came loose after strong winds battered Wales overnight.
The controversial rebrand to red was introduced by Tan after he bought the club but was unpopular with supporters.
The red shirt - introduced in June 2012 to appeal to international markets - will remain as Cardiff's away kit.
The Football League has given its permission for Cardiff to change their playing strip mid-campaign.
The club's badge will also be changed to give the Bluebird mascot more prominence.
In a statement, Tan said his mother had been instrumental in his change of heart over the kit's colour.
"The Christmas and New Year period has given me time to reflect on events of the last year," he said.
"Spending time with my family has had a profound effect upon me, my mother... spoke to me on the importance of togetherness, unity and happiness.
"Cardiff City Football Club is important to me and I wish to see it united and happy."