Key occasions
Thanks Alex. Hello readers. As ever, we’ll have a reside soccer clockwatch this afternoon going up at round 1.30pm. For reside scores round Europe, you’ll want this page. But I’ll maintain you on top of things on the 2 massive matches on the prime of the Championship till then. Boro regarded to have recovered from their February wobble with massive wins at Birmingham and QPR, however then they slumped to a 1-0 defeat to Charlton at dwelling, the place they haven’t received since January. Will they put these Riverside blues behind them right this moment? Bristol City aren’t in the most effective kind so that you’d suppose so. Here’s how the highest of the desk is trying.
I’m going to cross you over to Gregg Bakowski with the Championship kick-offs half an hour away.
Enjoy the remainder of right this moment’s soccer motion – and for those who want any pre-match studying earlier than Coventry v Southampton, get caught into Ben Fisher’s interview with Saints’ promising younger coach, Tonda Eckert, this month. It’s nice.
“Southampton are a strong outfit,” says Frank Lampard, as if he’s admiring an 80s energy swimsuit. “We’ve seen how they’re rose up the table. A Premier League team last season, lots of players with Premier League experience. A stern test today.”
Haji Wright’s return is the large information for Coventry’s XI: the Sky Blues’ prime scorer was rested in midweek, however Lampard brings him again in right this moment, “fresh and ready to go”.
Team information: Oxford United v Charlton
Oxford United: Cumming, Long, Helik, Brown, Currie, Konak, Brannagan, Mills, Donley, Emakhu, Lankshear.
Subs: Ingram, Vaulks, Placheta, Harris, Spencer, Prelec, Jeon, Makosso, McDonnell.
Charlton: Mannion, Ramsay, Jones, Bell, Clarke, Coventry, Docherty, Chambers, Carey, Dykes, Campbell.
Subs: Kaminski, Gillesphey, Coady, Gough, Rankin-Costello, Fullah, Fevrier, Leaburn, Kelman.
Referee: Matthew Donohue
The final of the trio of Championship early kick-offs! Some extent would take Twenty second-place Oxford out of the relegation spots.
Team information: Middlesbrough v Bristol City
Middlesbrough: Brynn, Brittain, Ayling, Malanda, Targett, Morris, Browne, Hackney, Sarmiento, McGree, Conway.
Subs: Wildsmith, Edmundson, Munroe, Gilbert, Castledine, Hansen, Whittaker, Sene, Strelec.
Bristol City: Vitek, Sykes, Eile, Pring, McCrorie, Morsy, Knight, Randell, Twine, Riis, Armstrong.
Subs: Lumley, Bird, Horvat, Bell, Naylor, Derrick, Ezendu, Earthy, Thelwell.
Referee: Dean Whitestone
Also a 12.30 kick-off, because the Championship’s second-placed facet purpose to get get again to profitable methods after slipping up in opposition to Charlton in midweek.
An actual corker, Coventry v Southampton: two red-hot sides. Tonda Eckert’s Saints are unbeaten in 9 within the league (six wins, three attracts).
Frank Lampard’s Championship leaders have received six on the bounce, sparked by that 3-1 victory over Middlesbrough. Kick-off in an hour.
Team information: Coventry v Southampton
Coventry: Rushworth, Van Ewijk, Woolfenden, Kitching, Dasilva, Onyeka, Grimes, Sakamoto, Eccles, Mason-Clark, Wright.
Subs: Wilson, Simms, Esse, Kesler-Hayden, Bidwell, Latibeaudiere, Thomas-Asante, Markelo, Overgaard.
Southampton: Peretz, Bree, Harwood-Bellis, Stephens, Manning, Downes, Jander, Bragg, Matsuki, Azaz, Larin.
Subs: Long, Wood-Gordon, Quarshie, Fellows, Archer, Edozie, Charles, Romeu, Oyekunle.
Referee: Farai Hallam
David Moyes has robustly defended Mikel Arteta from his critics earlier than Everton go to the Emirates Stadium later. Not a shock, as he was Arteta’s supervisor, after all, they usually retain a very good relationship*.
“They’ve done brilliant, Arsenal,” waxes Moyes. “Mikel has done brilliant. He’s got a great team, and I think they’ve probably got as big a chance this year of winning the league as they’ve ever had.
“So I’d have to question the people who have been critical. They’re a strong, physical side and I don’t see a problem with any of that – it’s part of the game.
“If there’s this thing out there where everybody has to play the beautiful game, and everything has to be perfect – if we all did that, it would be boring.”
*cue a Tuchel-Conte style barney on the touchline later right this moment
Bayern Munich go to Bayer Leverkusen in right this moment’s massive Bundesliga conflict, whereas Borussia Dortmund host Augsburg (each 2.30pm). We can’t actually name it a title race in Germany, given Bayern’s 11-point lead.
Not so in Spain! Real Madrid host Elche and might shut the hole on Barcelona to at least one level, earlier than Barça tackle Sevilla tomorrow.
In Serie A, Inter are seven factors clear on the prime – however misplaced to closest (in each senses) rivals Milan in their last outing. Inter play Atalanta at 2pm. Will they wobble?
In France, Lens can leapfrog Paris Saint-Germain and go prime in the event that they win at Lorient (4pm).
“I don’t think we can drop too many more points and win the league,” says Celtic’s Martin O’Neill. “Motherwell – a real difficult game for us. They have been fantastic; a breath of fresh air for the SPL. They play games without fear.”
He’s not fallacious. O’Neill’s injury-hit Celtic in all probability do face the trickiest activity right this moment within the newest chapter of the shut, three-way battle for the Scottish Premiership.
Hearts have a five-point lead on Celtic and 6 on Rangers (who go to St Mirren tomorrow). Stephen Robinson takes cost of his first recreation as Aberdeen boss right this moment, having left St Mirren.
Aberdeen v Falkirk, 3pm
Celtic v Motherwell, 3pm
Hibs v Livingston, 3pm
Kilmarnock v Hearts, 8pm
Dan Burn says Newcastle nonetheless have ambitions to qualify for the Champions League earlier than they go to Stamford Bridge right this moment.
“It’s very easy to look beyond Chelsea – I know that’s crazy to say, but because we have the game in Barcelona coming up – but we’re at that stage in the season where we need points,” the defender advised Sky Sports.
“Our full focus has to be on Chelsea. We want some sort of European football. At the start of the season, we spoke about wanting back-to-back Champions League [qualification], which has never been done before at Newcastle. We’ve given ourselves a bit to do, but it’s still possible.”
Newcastle are presently twelfth, 9 factors behind fifth-placed Chelsea with 9 video games to play.
Pep Guardiola has stated City’s title problem might be “over” in the event that they fail to beat West Ham.
“Now it’s West Ham. The Premier League is the most difficult title,” he advised the media yesterday. “We’re still there, knowing that if we drop points it will be over.”
Interesting take when you think about the hole to Arsenal is seven factors (and City have a recreation in hand, plus the 2 sides meet on the Etihad Stadium in April). Then there’s the tiny reality Arsenal play earlier than City right this moment and there’s no assure they’ll beat eight-placed Everton.
Mind video games from Guardiola? Firing up his gamers? A careless flip of phrase? Or does he genuinely factor: effectively, if we are able to’t beat West Ham … you resolve.
Adidas face problem for Champions League ball
Uefa has launched a young course of to discover a Champions League match ball associate for the 2027-31 cycle, with the present supplier, Adidas, understood to be going through robust competitors from Nike and Puma.
Adidas has had the Champions League contract since 2001. The tender is the primary managed by UC3, the three way partnership between Uefa and the foyer group European Football Clubs that’s liable for working continental membership competitions.
UC3 has appointed Relevent Football Partners, a subsidiary of the New York-based sports activities advertising firm Relevent, to promote its sponsorship rights and the company has opted to interrupt up a number of of Uefa’s longstanding partnerships within the business offers it has bought thus far.
Heineken has been changed as Uefa’s official beer associate after 31 years, with Budweiser’s brewer, AB InBev, profitable the Champions League and Europa League contract for six years beginning in 2027, and Paramount+ outbid the incumbent, TNT Sports, to safe UK TV rights for the Champions League starting with the 2027-28 marketing campaign.
Relevant is known to have despatched Request for Proposal paperwork to events this week and acquired a optimistic response. Adidas changed Nike as Uefa’s official match ball associate in 2001, and has provided the balls for each World Cup since 1970.
Puma has emerged as a risk to the large two international sportswear producers in recent times, with the German firm presently supplying match balls to the Premier League, La Liga and Serie A. Matt Hughes
Fantasy Premier League service announcement: your deadline for any adjustments right this moment is 1.30pm, as there’s no early kick-off.
You can learn our predicted team lineups to get the within observe on who’s in and who’s out.
Word on the road is that some fantasy gaffers have been offloading Erling Haaland. I do know he’s not been in peak type of late. But … City go to West Ham right this moment. That’s all I’m saying.
Overall, the Champions League last-16 first legs had been video games to neglect for the six Premier League sides: zero wins, two attracts, 4 defeats. Yet Barney Ronay is right here to place a optimistic spin on it!
The coefficient is protected. The coefficient is yours. You’re going dwelling with the coefficient. But maybe not, on this proof, with the microwave, the washer or the jet ski.
England’s soccer disgrace. Premier League in EURO MELTDOWN. Robot-ball disaster: how Arteta’s Arsenal destroyed all that’s good and true, together with the ploughman’s lunch and doubtless Woolworths. This sort of stuff has begun to do the rounds after this week’s Champions League last-16 matches.
Holger Heuss has emailed in and – studying between the strains – I don’t suppose he was impressed by some current goalkeeping shows within the Champions League.
“Given what happened this week I applied to both Spurs and Chelsea as a goalkeeper,” he claims.
“As a 60-year-old with very little goalkeeping experience I just fancied my chances. I got an immediate response from Spurs – I am in the team, without a trial. I was surprised and then I wasn’t … Chelsea have indicated they will give me a 15-year contract on £300k a week but I will probably end up in the bomb squad.”
Oh Holger! It’s thankless being a keeper, isn’t it?
Louise Taylor wrote a enjoyable look again on some goalkeeping disasterclasses: Antonin and Filip, you aren’t alone.
Reece James signed a brand new contract, till 2032, with Chelsea yesterday – and I discover Liam Rosenior boldly said: “We’ve secured the best player in world football in his position.”
Now, because the supervisor of Chelsea, some may say he’s an unbiased observer (perish the thought!). But it’s fascinating. How shut is James to being the world’s greatest right-back?
Rosenior justified his declare by saying: “‘Do I have to explain that when you’ve seen him play?
“When you meet him or see him from afar, you admire him. He can play many different positions, technically, he can score goals, he defends, his athleticism, has tactical understanding … As long as I’m here, he will be my leader.”
The Championship’s prime two each kick-off at lunchtime right this moment – however maybe essentially the most arresting battle isn’t for prime spot, it’s for second.
After all, promotion is the secret and whereas Coventry have opened up an eight-point hole on Middlesbrough, the race for second is extremely tight.
In-form Millwall sit one level behind Boro and host Blackburn at 3pm; Ipswich are fourth, 4 factors behind Middlesbrough – however with a recreation in hand on the groups above them. And right this moment they go to poor previous Sheffield Wednesday. Enticingly poised.
Coventry v Southampton, 12.30pm
Middlesbrough v Bristol City, 12.30pm
Oxford v Charlton, 12.30pm
Birmingham v Sheffield United, 3pm
Leicester v QPR, 3pm
Millwall v Blackburn, 3pm
Norwich v Preston, 3pm
Sheffield Wednesday v Ipswich, 3pm
Stoke v Watford, 3pm
West Brom v Hull, 3pm
There’s no WSL video games right this moment. There’s 4 fixtures tomorrow – however they’re overshadowed by the Women’s League Cup closing: holders Chelsea v Manchester United.
The recreation kicks off at 2.15pm on Sunday and earlier than it, Tom Garry spoke to Fridolina Rolfö, the previous Barcelona and now United winger.
“We should be proud, but of course we’re not happy – we want to win the final as well,” she says.
Michael Carrick can be speaking positively earlier than Manchester United tackle Aston Villa at Old Trafford tomorrow. He’s not letting his first defeat as United’s interim supervisor get him down.
“What’s going to be the reaction?” requested Carrick. “What’s the emotions in the group? What’s the motivation for the next game? And driving that forward.
“I understand with it being the first defeat it feels a little bit different, but it’s going to come at some point.
“It’s a tough league. Most teams, if not every team, has suffered that in recent times so it’s putting things in perspective and putting it in a shape where we can improve.
“We’ve taken a lot of confidence from [games recently] as a group and what we show we can achieve and how we play.
“It’s an important game, there’s no getting away from it. It’s a fantastic game.”
Arne Slot, in the meantime, has issued a rallying cry to his Liverpool gamers, urging them to “get the maximum” out of the remainder of this uneven marketing campaign.
“What I want is that every single player gets the maximum out of every single training session and games we are playing from now until the end of the season,” Slot stated earlier than the go to of Spurs tomorrow.
“That is the aim for me and that should be the aim for the players because that’s the only way to get the maximum out of what is there, what is in it for us.
“What that’s exactly going to be, that’s not always so easy to say in advance because sometimes you need a little bit of luck.”
We’re not right here to riff on Tottenham’s ache. But what occurred the final time Spurs went down – and might the present facet study something from the destiny that befell Keith Burkinshaw’s gifted workforce?
Sam Cunningham has written a beautiful delve into the previous which even Tottenham followers might take pleasure in, albeit in a bittersweet trend.
Glenn Hoddle was in tears within the dressing room. Others sat in disbelief, questioning what the longer term held.
Tottenham had been the primary English membership within the twentieth century to win the league and FA Cup Double, in 1961, and the primary to raise a European trophy after they received the Cup Winners’ Cup two years later. They had been famend for taking part in engaging soccer and the objectives of Jimmy Greaves.
Under their supervisor Bill Nicholson, they added two League Cups and the Uefa Cup at first of the Nineteen Seventies. And now that they had been relegated.
Tottenham aren’t in motion right this moment – they go to Anfield tomorrow. However Igor Tudor, the specialist ‘firefighter’ supervisor who appears to have turned up at Spurs with a flamethrower, has additionally spoken to the press.
He dismissed discuss of the membership being cursed by “black magic” (which is sweet) and stated the gamers should not be “victims” (that’s unhealthy). Tudor has given his gamers a alternative: cry or struggle.
Check out his combating (or crying) discuss.
On that tussle for the Champions League spots, our writers have damaged down how the PL’s contenders are shaping up with causes to be cheerful/fearful and a have a look at their run-ins.
Well price a learn.
Here’s right this moment’s 5 Premier League fixtures right this moment, by the way in which. It’s not simply the 2 on the prime in motion!
Burnley v Bournemouth, 3pm (all occasions GMT)
Sunderland v Brighton, 3pm
Arsenal v Everton, 5.30pm
Chelsea v Newcastle, 5.30pm
West Ham v Manchester City, 8pm
Chelsea internet hosting Newcastle is a tasty one. The Magpies dented Manchester United’s Champions League qualification hopes of their final league outing; Chelsea are in fifth and proper across the cutoff level. What will occur?
Mikel Arteta, Pep’s protege turned title rival, additionally had phrases for the media earlier than right this moment’s fixtures. Specifically, phrases about set items and a denial that Arsenal have been blocking defenders as a part of their nook routines.
Asked whether or not different groups had been studying some darkish arts from Arsenal, Arteta stated:
No. We weren’t the primary. And it’s not about blocking. I’m not going to explain what we do, however it’s not blocking … Others know what we attempt to do. And it’s not that.”
Pep Guardiola spoke to the press yesterday earlier than West Ham v Manchester City right this moment. In his typical understated model, Guardiola revealed that when he [perhaps the greatest manager in the world, in charge of a well-resourced and highly successful football club] loses a recreation 3-0, everybody makes a giant ol’ fuss.
Oh Pep! Never change.
Let’s begin with final night time’s Championship recreation through which Wrexham beat Swansea 2-0 to spice up their playoff hopes. Dom Booth was waiting for the Guardian and he took in a soccer match, plus some slavish devotion to the cult of fame. Bonus.
Clearly the fits at Sky Sports thought Wrexham v Swansea City on a Friday night time wanted its personal sideshow. A conflict between two historic Welsh golf equipment simply 5 factors aside within the battle for the Championship playoff locations might not attraction to the TikTok technology. If solely there have been some Hollywood actors readily available to step into the content material void, relegating Daniel Mann and Andy Hinchcliffe to second-string commentary alternative.
Luckily, Wrexham’s co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac had been glad to oblige on the fifth anniversary of their £2m takeover of the then National League outfit. “As with our decision to take over Wrexham, we genuinely have no idea how this will go,” the pair chimed – presumably in unison – on a cheery press launch earlier than the printed.
Preamble
Hello! I don’t wish to get all Sky Sports promo/Mitchell and Webb on you – however it is a fairly super-sized Saturday of reside soccer motion. We’ve received each Premier League title contenders in motion as Arsenal welcome Everton at 5.30pm, then Manchester City go to West Ham within the night.
Before that, the Championship’s prime two are additionally enjoying: Coventry v Southampton and Middlesbrough v Bristol City (each 12.30pm kick-offs). And to finish a top-two triple, the tight race for the Scottish Premiership sees second-place Celtic host Motherwell at 3pm, earlier than leaders Hearts go to Kilmarnock at 8pm.
Here at Matchday reside we’ll deliver you the buildup to these video games and lots of extra – with workforce lineups, previews, breaking information, early purpose alerts and akin to we get them.
As at all times, please get in touch along with your ideas, predictions and matchday musings.
