Spurs ‘can cry or fight’, says embattled Tudor; Guardiola wins first monthly award since 2021 – football live

Submitted by daniel on Fri, 13/03/2026 - 16:31

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Everton are getting in on the act too. They’re showcasing Jordan Pickford’s fourth Premier League Save of the Month award. Here they are, including his outrageous stop from Sandro Tonali’s foot-like-a-traction-engine strike for Newcastle.

Some good news for Spurs at last! Dominic Solanke has won February’s Guinness Goal of the Month for his spectacular scorpion kick strike in the 2-2 draw with Manchester City. Lots of angles here. Over at Liverpool, a certain Mr Szoboszlai must wonder how he scored an absolutely worldie free-kick against City and it wasn’t even considered the best February top-flight goal scored by a man called Dominic.

Updated at 17.22 CET

Thanks Taha. Well, no luck for Harry Redknapp in the Gold Cup. His horse, The Jukebox Man, ran out of gas before the final fence and didn’t make the places. Well done if you backed Gaelic Warrior!

And here’s David Tindall again to see things through.

Here’s Harry Redknapp at Cheltenham, being asked on ITV about the Spurs job:

“I would, but I doubt very much if it’ll happen! I’d go in and have a crack, it’s a big challenge. Do I need the pressure at this stage of my life? I’m not too old, I feel fit as a fiddle. If they ask me, I think I could go there and do a job.”

He adds: “I’d bring in Kranjcar, Crouchy and Defoe, they’re are all coming back!”

How about Modric and Bale?

Liam Rosenior was a very happy man sat alongside Reece James in Chelsea’s press conference, celebrating his captain’s new six-year contract.

double quotation markI can’t stop smiling because we’ve secured the best player in world football in his position. He had many opportunities to leave this magnificent club. When you meet Reece, you see him from afar and you admire him. He can play many different positions. Technically, he can score goals, he defends, his athleticism, his tactical understanding. The thing that impresses me the most about him is his humility and him as a person. For as long as I’m here, he’ll be my leader.

Today’s Football Daily is on Unai Emery, gunning for his fifth Bigger Vase.

Fabian Hürzeler gives Mikel Arteta plenty of love despite complaining about Arsenal time-wasting when they met Brighton earlier this month.

“I really admire what Arsenal have achieved so far in this season, I really admire seeing Mikel Arteta, his team, his players and all their staff and how they work,” said Hürzeler. “I’ll be the first one to congratulate them if they win the Premier League. I didn’t want to upset anyone from Arsenal. But on the other side I will stick to my words that some things I wasn’t happy with that night.

“I also said it to Mikel afterwards that I really admire his work and what Arsenal is doing … Arteta for me is one of the best managers in the world and I see him as a role model but it’s still very important in life to say your opinion.”

Pedro Neto, of course, is also being investigated by Uefa after pushing a ballboy during Chelsea’s defeat against PSG on Wednesday.

Neto receives one-match suspension and £70,000 fine for misconduct

Chelsea’s Pedro Neto, who was sent off against Arsenal at the start of the month, has been banned for a game and received a £70,000 fine. His side face Newcastle on Saturday.

“It was alleged that the player acted in an improper manner by failing to leave the pitch promptly and/or using abusive words towards the match official/s following his dismissal in the 70th minute,” read an FA statement. “Pedro Neto subsequently admitted the charge against him.”

Updated at 15.59 CET

FA Cup quarter-finals schedule announced

Kick-off and broadcast details have been announced for the FA Cup quarter-finals. All of the games are on TNT; Chelsea-Port Vale and Southampton-Arsenal will be shown on BBC One and iPlayer as well.

Igor Tudor is asked if Vicario was dropped or rested for Spurs’ midweek defeat in Madrid.

“The idea was to make [Antonin Kinsky] play because first of all he is a good goalkeeper and seeing this situation and the moment we are [in], to give some freshness in the goal in a different competition.”

Vicario, Tudor said, will start against Liverpool.

Taha Hashim is taking the reins again now. Bye!

'You can cry or you can fight,' says Tudor of Spurs' plight

Embattled Spurs manager Igor Tudor is facing the media before the trip to Liverpool. Confidence is at a the lowest of lows after the brutal 5-2 defeat by Atlético in midweek, in which his substitution of goalkeeper Antonín Kinský after 17 minutes brought much criticism. His mood hasn’t been lifted by the continuing injury problems at Spurs. He also had this to say on the state of his side, who are embroiled in a relegation battle and on the brink of Champions League elimination.

double quotation mark[It’s] tough. For sure. Not just because of the last game but because of the period. Not an easy situation, not an easy moment. [It’s a] big challenge to change things. Like everything in life, you can choose how to see the situation. You can cry or you can fight. You can be the victim or you can change something. This is the message I communicated to the players. The bottle is either half empty or half full. Those who stand up with the courage to change these things will become better people and players afterwards. I said it’s about all of us. Not about all this bullshit.

Updated at 15.19 CET

You don’t see many title celebrations taking place while the March winds are still blowing … but that could be the case in the Netherlands this weekend. PSV could win the Eredivisie in record time. They have a whopping 19-point lead over second-placed Feyenoord with eight matches to play. If they beat NEC Nijmegen at home on Saturday and Feyenoord lose to visitors Excelsior in the Rotterdam derby at De Kuip on Sunday, the Eindhoven club will win the title for a third successive season and the 27th time overall. It would break PSV’s previous record of speeding to the title on 8 April 1978 before they eventually finished four points above Ajax and also won the Uefa Cup.

Hello folks. Michael Carrick reckons the headlines generated by Paul Scholes’s social media dig about Manchester United’s performances in recent games are much ado about nothing. Scholes posted this after United’s defeat by 10-man Newcastle: “Michael has definitely got something special about him...cos Utd have been crap last four games.” The former United midfielder later insisted he meant no offence by the remarks and contacted his former teammate about them.

But Carrick brushed it all off: “It was nothing really. There’s nothing to say about it, really. I think that is just where we are in terms of social media and things, and captions and quotes. It can be taken in different ways, so just be calm about it and understand the real meaning of things. Listen, there are different opinions out there and it’s fine. People can have different opinions. It’s just things get taken from one extreme to another. It is what it is. I am not worried about it and don’t make a big deal of it either.”

Third-placed United host fourth-placed Aston Villa on Sunday with the sides level on 51 points apiece. Carrick confirmed that Mason Mount is back in training. “[He] is back with the group, which is fantastic. He is an important player for us. He is not 100% and he has only trained for a small period of time. But he is back and that’s good for us. We will see if he is involved on Sunday. That is it in terms of the players coming back.”

Updated at 14.44 CET

Time for lunch. I’ll now hand you over to Gregg Bakowski for more press conference chatter and other hot news.

Wolves boss Rob Edwards feels there is “a different energy” around” Molineux following his side’s improved recent results. Wolves made it back-to-back Premier League wins earlier this month and although they remain bottom of the table, they have taken eight points from their last five matches.

Edwards told a press conference: “It was difficult when we came here but I feel now, across the board and with the supporters, there’s a different energy around – more people with smiles on their faces and I can see them getting behind the team.

“Our aim is, and always has been, to try to achieve as many points as possible. Go into every game trying to win it. Try to take things as far as we can and take momentum into next season.

“Once you get momentum you want to try to keep things going and ride that wave. We have had a couple of decent results but our performances for some time have been consistent.”

Barring a miracle, Wolves will be forced to rebuild in the Sky Bet Championship next season, but Edwards stressed his side will not let their season peter out.

He added: “There will be change in the playing squad. But we, as a football club, need to remember how to win games and make the whole place feel lighter and brighter, which has been happening recently. Try to lift the cloud and find that winning formula.”

Wolves will bid to bounce back from last week’s home FA Cup defeat to Liverpool with their first league win on the road this season, at Brentford on Monday. (PA Media)

Beleaguered Spurs boss Igor Tudor will speak to the press at 1.30pm. That should be interesting.

A reminder that Micky van de Ven will miss Sunday’s Premier League trip to Liverpool due to suspension. It’s just a one-match ban so the Dutch defender will be back for the “relegation six-pointer” at home to Nottingham Forest the Sunday after.

Those quiz answers. These are the players with 10 or more Premier League goals this season.

Those bubbling under with nine: Cole Palmer, Harry Wilson, Bruno Guimaraes, Bryan Mbeumo.

Some more lines from Pep.

On facing West Ham. “I’ve always said when we arrive in the last 10 games, every team plays for something. For relegation for Champions League. Now, there are no second chances. The Premier League is the most difficult title, the Premier League I believe is the most difficult one and still we are there knowing that if we drop points it will be over.”

On Antoine Semenyo winning Player of the Month. “I’m so happy for him. Incredible guy. He deserves it.”

Updated at 13.54 CET

Pep is asked if Erling Haaland is fit. It’s a quick and easy response. “Yes”.

Perhaps a more interesting question is what are his thoughts on why Haaland has fired blanks in 13 of his last 17 games?

Applying a filter, the Norwegian has scored in just one of his last eight away matches. Perhaps that drought will end at West Ham.

Opta: Man City’s Erling Haaland has scored more Premier League goals against West Ham than any other opponent (11). He’s netted at least twice in his last three against the Hammers – only Michael Owen against Newcastle (1998-2001) and Harry Kane against Everton (2017-2018) have scored 2+ goals in four consecutive Premier League games against an opponent.

As we approach that time when you seek out meal deals or rip the foil off your sandwiches, here’s a quiz. Name the eight players who have scored 10 or more Premier League goals this season.

I’ll bring you the results at 1pm. No googling.

Clue: only one team has two entries. Talking of which, Pep Guardiola is now speaking to the press. Updates coming up.

Krishnamoorthy v emails in. Good to take the positives.

“Hello David,

I have some good news for Spurs.

Although our correspondent’s tongue is firmly in his cheek, it’s worth noting that Spurs could actually sink further this weekend. If Forest (home to Fulham) and West Ham (home to Man City) both win and Spurs lose at Liverpool, Tottenham will be in the relegation zone. Yikes.

Updated at 13.32 CET

Rangers head coach Danny Rohl has urged fans not to risk the special derby atmosphere as he fears the consequences for away allocations following the trouble that marred their Scottish Cup defeat by Celtic.

The Scottish Football Association launched an investigation into the pitch invasions that followed Sunday’s penalty shoot-out at Ibrox, and police are probing a series of violent incidents with a number of arrests already made.

Police Scotland have already stated they would oppose a repeat of the 7,500-seat allocation of away fans and Rohl fears there may be more severe consequences.

“The emotional part was great during the game. I like to have these Old Firms with supporters from both sides. I think this is great. This makes the football exciting, it makes the atmosphere in the stadium, and everyone should take responsibility that we can keep going like this.”

When asked if he feared there would be no away fans for Rangers’ post-split league encounter at Celtic Park, the German said: “It would be a shame for us, and for all of us. That is what I’m trying to explain. Since I’m here, I really enjoyed this game with the supporters on both ends. I think this is great.

“If you’re away or at home, that makes the football exciting, and hopefully we can carry on. But, of course, if such a thing happens, then you have to be careful because it could be that there’s a consequence and it might be not be nice. There’s an investigation and we will see what that means.” (PA Media)

Antoine Semenyo wins Player of the Month

It’s a double for Manchester City. As well as Pep’s award, new signing Antoine Semenyo has been voted EA Sports February Player of the Month.

The January capture from Bournemouth has hit the ground running at City. In five games in February, the winger/forward scored three times and provided an assist. Also nominated: Dango Ouattara, Benjamin Sesko, Viktor Gyokeres, Nico O’Reilly and Virgil van Dijk.

Updated at 13.31 CET

Pep Guardiola wins Premier League Manager of the Month

Pep Guardiola has been crowned Premier League Manager of the Month for February. Whatevs you may say. Except that, remarkably, this is the first time he’s won that gong since December 2021. Yes, you read that correctly. And to think that Ange Postecoglou once won it three times in a row.

Guardiola held off Keith Andrews, Michael Carrick and Arne Slot to end his drought.

Manchester City enjoyed an unbeaten February, winning four and drawing one of their five league games. One of those victories came at Anfield.

Updated at 13.30 CET

You’ll have to wait a little for Premier League action this weekend. Nothing on Friday night or at 12.30pm on Saturday. But, weirdly, two games at 5.30pm on Saturday. Arsenal were meant to play Sunday but they have their Champions League second leg against Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday so their home game against Everton was moved back.

Saturday

Sunday

Monday

Will Iran play in the World Cup? Matt Hughes offers this Explainer on a situation that appears to be changing constantly.

May I point you towards our live Cheltenham blog where it’s the final day of the festival. And what a day we have in store with Harry Redknapp fancied by many to win the Gold Cup. Not literally although, talking of literal interpretations, let’s join Eric Idle.

Having the giant Jarrad Branthwaite available will help Everton deal with Arsenal’s set-piece threat. And David Moyes is hopeful his central defender can start following a hamstring issue.

Asked about the fitness of his squad, Moyes said. “We’re hoping everybody’s fine. Jarrad, we think, will be okay, so we’ll go into the game and hopefully we’re all fine.

“We do [want to play him]. We had to leave him out of one of the games and I think we got a bit of criticism because we changed the team around for different reasons, but it was mainly because we couldn’t play him at the time.

“He’s now back long enough – we played him Saturday [then] Tuesday, also because after it we had a 10-day rest and recovery period as well.

“I think there are times where you have to look after the players. I think the time of Jarrad’s injury and and the length of it meant that we were always going to have to be mindful of it but, look, he plays a big part and he’s a really good player. We want him fit for every game but we’ve also just got to take some [medical] advice at different times.”

A couple of Opta stats to show that Everton could be very tricky opponents for Arsenal this weekend.

Only Arsenal (9) have won more Premier League away games this season than Everton (7). The Toffees have won four of their last five league games on the road (D1).

No team has shipped fewer goals from set piece situations than Everton (8 including penalties, 6 excluding).

David Moyes won with West Ham on his last visit to the Emirates in December 2023.

Moyes defends Arsenal's style

Everton boss David Moyes has been speaking ahead of the trip to Arsenal. The Toffees manager isn’t having the criticism being chucked Arsenal’s way, especially the negative connotations of ‘physical’ and ‘set-pieces’, the knee-jerk terms when discussing the Gunners these days it seems.

“What’s up with any of those things you say? You are making it sound as if that’s a problem because they are good at set-pieces and they are a strong, physical side. I don’t see any 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, well if we all do that then it would be boring. Football would be boring. Part of the reason you people are talking about it is because it might be slightly different from what we have seen for a few years.

“It’s giving you something to talk about, but I would hate to be going to football matches all the time and seeing football only played the one way. I want teams to play different styles and in different ways.

“We have got some unbelievable managers, and Mikel [Arteta] is one of them, who have come into this country and shown us what they can do. But maybe they can’t really stay with it and do it all the time. So you can bring something in, but you have got to bring something that is going to work. Mikel has been able to evolve his team and move it on. And he’s certainly got a very good team at the moment.”

Updated at 12.17 CET

English teams’ poor results in the Champions League this week has been a hot topic. Was it random or is there something deeper at play? Here’s Barnay Ronay’s interesting take.

It’s the Women’s League Cup final this weekend with Manchester United taking on Chelsea at Ashton Gate. Ahead of the game, Tom Garry has been speaking to United’s Sweden winger, Fridolina Rolfö, who knows a thing or two about playing in finals.

The game kicks off at 2.15pm GMT on Sunday.

Need a live football fix right now? Well, we have one, courtesy of Joey Lynch.

Apart from the weather forecast, here’s a match-by-match guide of other things to look out for in the Premier League this weekend.

“Erling Haaland’s first competitive outing in English football came at the London Stadium. He ran riot that day, scoring twice as Manchester City opened the 2022-23 season with victory over West Ham, and this venue has been a happy hunting ground for Haaland ever since. He found the net in another win in September 2023 and bagged a hat-trick there last season, but he is in patchy form before City visit West Ham for a must-win game on Saturday night.”

Thanks Taha. Good morning everyone. Off to a game this weekend? Let me know. I’ll be at Anfield on Sunday which could be a bit wild. Just checking the weather forecast and it looks set to be really windy. Gusts up to 40mph! That doesn’t look ideal for two sides prone to lots of errors even in flat calm conditions.

Updated at 11.20 CET

That’s enough from me. Here’s David Tindall to take the reins.

Will Unwin

Arne Slot accepts it was a difficult week for English teams in Europe after the six Premier League sides failed to win the Champions League but does not believe it is fully reflective of the quality of those clubs.

Liverpool will be aiming to turnaround their tie against Galatasaray after losing 1-0 in Istanbul in midweek. “To jump to a conclusion after one gameday, I think that is such a small sample size that is never the smartest thing to do because maybe, after the next week, we will have a different conclusion,” Slot said.

“In general I think it is not helpful for English clubs not to have a winter break but I am not saying that all these teams have lost because we don’t have a winter break. Why? Because you are facing in the last 16 of Europe good teams and four of the five teams in the Champions League played away from home, it is usually an advantage to play at home and a disadvantage to play away.

“To jump to conclusions – missing a winter break or the level of the Premier League is not as high as we expected it to be – would be for me, at this moment in time, not right the conclusion to make. Let’s first judge us all after next week and then maybe it is still too early to jump to conclusions. But one of the things is definitely also is that if you are in the Champions League last 16 all the teams are good and strong teams and if you play four of the five teams away from home and the margins were quite as small as our own game – I thought we didn’t deserve to lose – Arsenal the margins were really small but I didn’t see the 3-0 coming when I saw the first half of City v Real Madrid. The only one I didn’t see was Paris St Germain v Chelsea but people told me Chelsea were very involved in that game and didn’t deserve to lose 5-2. Jumping to conclusions on one game is usually not what I would do.”

Updated at 11.06 CET

Max Rushden decided to rewatch the first 20 minutes of Spurs’ defeat in Madrid. Brave.

double quotation mark“Harry Redknapp rules himself out of return.” A real human person wrote the words that a 79-year-old has had to rule himself out of managing Tottenham again. In March 2026.

Time for a Europa League and Conference recap. For Villa, yay. For Palace, meh. For Forest, nay.

Slot adds on Alisson that it’s a “minor” muscle problem and he’s hoping the goalkeeper is ready to play on Sunday. “If not, I’m expecting him – if things go as planned – definitely against Galatasaray.”

Reece James signs new six-year deal with Chelsea

Jacob Steinberg

Reece James has committed his future to Chelsea by signing a new six-year deal. The club captain’s previous contract expired in 2028 but he has agreed terms on an extension. The move will quash any prospect of the right-back, who came through Chelsea’s academy, leaving on a free transfer.

The England international, who signed his previous deal shortly after the takeover by a consortium led by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, is understood to have agreed terms in line with Chelsea’s incentivised pay structure. James had enjoyed a fine season and having previously struggled with fitness problems he has largely managed to stay injury free. He is expected to be a key player for England at this summer’s World Cup.

Arne Slot’s been speaking to reporters ahead of his side’s meeting with Spurs on Sunday. He’s hoping that Alisson, who missed Liverpool’s loss at Galatasaray on Tuesday, will train today.

“He’s been with the physios and rehabbed until now,” said Slot. “We are training today and let’s see if he can join the team session. That’s something I expect but I am not 100% sure because I have not spoken to him or the medical staff this morning. I am hopeful.”

Preamble

Right then, English football has had a tough time of it in Europe this week, Aston Villa the only winners across nine games (Unai Emery always delivers in the Europa). So perhaps a return to domestic life is something to be welcomed. Manchester City got the Valverde treatment but they’re still very much in the title race; Nottingham Forest went down to Midtjylland but they’re getting closer and closer to Tottenham in the table. The good news for Spurs? Um, come back to me on that one.

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