The Guardian

Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur: Premier League – live

Submitted by daniel on Sun, 15/03/2026 - 15:30

Preamble

Powerless patsies – among them cynics and sceptics, jokers and losers – acting with naivety and arrogance, making dreadful decisions as if on purpose, immense but obviously misplaced confidence gradually dwindling as threats and warnings are blithely ignored, peripheral characters departing the scene never to be seen again with those who remain reduced to meat puppets of gibbering jelly. Yes, Spurs’ season has more than a little in common with a horror movie.

But the tweak that makes their rendition uniquely compelling is the innovation of its meta aspect: the characters know they’re in a film, unable to escape a world they can’t control and fully aware there’s a worldwide audience wincing, laughing and cheering on the monster, their lives co-opted for kicks. There is no one anyone wants to be less.

In such circumstance, there is no staging post less inviting than Anfield. Just last season, many of the same players delivered one of the least vertebrate performances of all time, turning up in the second leg of the League Cup semi holding a one-goal lead before subsiding to a 4-0 defeat, terrified of even believing there was another way.

Of course, win today and suddenly life seems much less intense … except an unlikely triumph which suggests all will be well is yet another horror-movie trope. A horror-movie trope which precedes the most entertainingly gruesome carnage of all.

The Guardian

Embattled Spurs face Liverpool, Women’s League Cup final, and more – matchday live

Submitted by daniel on Sun, 15/03/2026 - 09:00

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Inside football: Modern, exciting football and the rise of set-pieces. Can they coexist? Some say no, including Liverpool’s Arne Slot. Some, like Mikel Arteta of Arsenal, are willing to pave the way.

But if the Champions League last 16 first ties proved anything, it is that humbled English clubs must realise that what works against the very good turns out to be inadequate against the best.

Here is Jonathan Wilson on the dilemma:

double quotation markBut this past week felt different. It’s one round of matches in which five of the Premier League sides played away and it would be wrong to read too much into that. Each game can be analysed and specific reasons found for the result. Tottenham are going through a moment and individual errors had them 3-0 down inside 15 minutes. Chelsea matched Paris Saint-Germain until a goalkeeping howler put them 3-2 down and, chasing the game, they leaked two more.

Manchester City, with a weirdly open midfield, ran into a Real Madrid side benefiting from the absence of several of the stars who typically unbalance the side, allowing the underrated and self-sacrificing Fede Valverde to have the game of his life. Liverpool yet again conceded to their opponent’s first real attack. Newcastle had the beating of Barcelona but gave away a daft last-minute penalty.

What was striking, though, was how their opponents’ expansiveness seemed to befuddle English sides, as though Premier League teams have become so used to the crabbed nature of the modern domestic game, all intense pressing and intricate marking structures, that the idea of players running at pace, rapid flurries of passes or forwards performing tricks no longer computes, as though stop-start, disjointed football has become the default, that fluency seems like some devastating alien invention. What works against the very good turns out to be inadequate against the very best.

Women’s League Cup final: A little over three hours until kick-off between Chelsea and Manchester United in the Women’s League Cup final.

Sonia Bompastor’s side have a stellar record in finals, sweeping the domestic trophies last season, and they will back themselves to go back-to-back, having won five of the last six encounters against Marc Skinner’s team.

Tom Garry sat down with Fridolina Rolfö, the Swedish winger who was a serial winner at Barcelona and hopes her experience can help Manchester United claim an all-important win today.

double quotation markThis showdown at Ashton Gate is in line to be Rolfö’s 14th major final appearance. The 32-year-old has been involved in two Swedish cup finals, two in Germany with Wolfsburg, three Copa de la Reina finals, an Olympic final and five Champions League finals, so how does she prepare for the big occasions?

“I usually try, especially when it’s an afternoon or evening game, to do something throughout the day so I’m not only thinking about the game and getting stuck in my head, so I’m trying to [go] grocery shopping or doing something that can distract my mind a little bit,” the two-time Champions League winner says.

She also tries to pass on her experience to younger players, be that “through communication” or “leading by example”. She says: “I know how you win. I know what I can bring to the team to help in those games. I hope I can help with my experience when we’re getting to those big games.”

Manchester United v Aston Villa: Michael Carrick says there is a hunger at Manchester United to get back to the top as the club looks to mark their 150th anniversary with Premier League glory in 2028.

‘Project 150’ was announced internally during a wretched 2024-25 campaign in which Ruben Amorim’s Red Devils slumped home 15th and suffered a costly Europa League final loss to Tottenham. The mission to bring a 21st English league title to Old Trafford has looked fanciful at stages and the Portuguese coach’s acrimonious January exit after a topsy-turvy start to the campaign did little to lift the mood.

But Carrick’s inspired appointment for the remainder of the season has brought renewed hope to United, who enter the weekend third in the table ahead of hosting fourth-placed Aston Villa on Sunday.

A seventh win in nine matches in charge would hugely boost their Champions League hopes and the former midfielder – part of the last Premier League triumph in 2013 – says there is a drive for more.

“You’ve got take it step by a step, I think,” the five-time league winner Carrick said when asked about ‘Project 150’. “Certainly, we want to keep improving and keep moving up the table. I’ve sat here and said that before. I mean, at the moment being in and around where we are is an exciting time because we’ve got something to play for. We would love to be playing for something a little bit more, that little bit higher and really challenging for leagues.

“There’s no way you can just say it’s going to happen and assume it’s going to happen. There’s a lot of work that needs to go into that and a lot of things that need to be put in place to achieve that. It’s tough to win the Premier League and we understand that, but certainly we’re definitely working towards it. We feel that’s where we want to be.

“We have been in the past and we want to get there again, but it’s certainly just not straightforward and I think we all understand that, but we’re certainly hungry to do it.”

Tottenham: Spurs were last relegated in 1977 and it was a big shock when Keith Burkinshaw’s talented side went down – but will the current team avoid that fate? Here is Sam Cunningham’s verdict.

double quotation markWhat happened to reach this catastrophic point? How had one of the country’s biggest clubs dropped out of the top flight? And can lessons learned from Spurs’ unlikeliest relegation help the current team, who are sucked into a struggle with Igor Tudor unable to halt the freefall?

“Sad Spurs hit rock bottom,” read a headline in the Sunday Mirror the day after relegation. Pat Jennings, considered the best goalkeeper in the world, told reporters: “Relegation has not just happened today – it’s been happening for three years.”

He was referring to Nicholson’s resignation after losing the first four games of the 1974-75 season, ending a 16-year managerial reign and sending “shock waves through the dressing room”, Jennings recalled in his 1983 autobiography. In truth, the Spurs empire had been crumbling in the seasons before that, mainly owing to an inability to replace players.

Liverpool v Tottenham: A reminder of these two sides’ last Premier League matches.

Updated at 11.21 CET

Will Unwin

Liverpool v Tottenham: Can things get worse for Spurs? Of course they can. Igor Tudor takes his miserable band of men to Anfield to face the Premier League champions. There is a catalogue of absences and the defence will probably resemble Frankenstein’s monster, cobbled together from what is left. The past five league games have ended in defeat, and that’s before we look at the nadir in Madrid. A Liverpool victory must surely end the worst tenure in English football history.

After Chelsea’s loss yesterday, Liverpool will be hoping to take advantage in their battle for Champions League qualification. It has not been a great season for Arne Slot but there is plenty of quality in his squad and if Florian Wirtz can get back up to speed after his injury interruption, then it could be a very difficult day for their north London visitors.

Bournemouth: Andoni Iraola refused to blame the loss of Antoine Semenyo for Bournemouth’s difficulties in front of goal.

Semenyo has continued to rack up the goals since joining Manchester City in the January transfer window while the Cherries drew a fourth successive game in a stalemate against Burnley on Saturday, failing to score in three of them.

“I don’t think it is for me now the reason to say this,” said the Cherries boss. “Obviously Antoine is a very good player but we are one of the teams who has scored more goals. I think before these two games we were fifth in the league with the most goals scored. Now we are a little bit more solid at the back but probably it’s taking us a little bit offensively.

“The xG (expected goals) is through the roof but we are not scoring. But I trust my forwards. As long as we play well, someone will score goals.”

Chelsea: Liam Rosenior said the referee Paul Tierney should have focused on his job rather than on crashing Chelsea’s pre-match huddle after Newcastle won at Stamford Bridge for the first time in 14 years.

Anthony Gordon scored the only goal in the 18th minute as the Blues made a hopeless mess of pressing the visitors, but the focus afterwards was on the bizarre moment before kick-off when Tierney stood in the centre of the Chelsea players as captain Reece James spoke to the team.

Rosenior, who signalled his intention to contact referees’ body PGMO over the incident, said: “I’m respectful to the game. My players made a decision that they wanted to be around the ball, to respect the ball and show unity and leadership.

“That is not my decision. That is a decision between the leadership group and the team. There is nothing that they’re doing with that huddle that is disrespectful to the opposition.”

Manchester City: Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola’s side were left nine points off Arsenal with a game in hand after a draw at West Ham.

The City manager watched from the stands as his side failed to find a winner and he faces a tough task now: to go on a winning run that will trouble Mikel Arteta’s men. Jacob Steinberg was at the London Stadium:

double quotation markCity were short of ideas before raising the tempo during a desperate finale. Erling Haaland’s aim was awry and although a defensive West Ham were limited to one shot, the problem for Pep Guardiola is the one that was allowed was the Konstantinos Mavropanos header that cancelled out a strange goal from Bernardo Silva and left Arsenal nine points clear in first place.

With Gianluigi Donnarumma at fault for the equaliser, this was City again failing to take care of the details. After twice squandering the lead against Forest in their previous league game, a similar lapse at the London Stadium was a reminder that this is a long way from being one of the great Guardiola sides. Arsenal, of course, will still fear a trademark City comeback from here, not least because the hunters still have a game in hand. For all that Arsenal will fret until the job is done, though, Guardiola will know there will be a breathless sprint for the finish if his side continue to play with such a lack of identity, cohesion and belief.

Arsenal: We will start with the Premier League leaders, Arsenal, who found a will and a way against Everton and it was largely due to Max Dowman. His cross in the 89th minute caused a scramble and unlocked Everton’s defence, allowing by Viktor Gyökeres to score the first. The 16-year-old’s audacious with a second that sent Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to no man’s land. David Hytner was at the Emirates Stadium to witness all the glory:

double quotation markEverton had sent Pickford forward for an all-or-nothing corner but when Arsenal cleared and the ball was worked to Dowman, he took over. He got away from Vitalii Mykolenko but it was the feint inside and away from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall that took the breath. The Everton midfielder slumped to the turf and stayed there. He could see what was about to happen. Everybody could.

Dowman motored across halfway and nobody was going to catch him. It was a run to glory, just him and the goal, Everton’s players fading into the background behind him. He might have shot but instead he kept running, all the way to the penalty spot before he rolled the ball home.

The noise in the stands exploded like a firecracker, Arteta taking off in a celebratory leap. It seemed as if Dowman had been installed as more than the Premier League’s youngest ever scorer. Has he provided the spark for Arsenal’s first title in 22 years?

Preamble

Hello and welcome to another Matchday live, where we look ahead to all the live football in a super-sized Sunday. We’ve got Premier League strugglers 1 (Liverpool) taking on Premier League strugglers 2 (Spurs). Fighting for their fifth straight Old Trafford victory under Michael Carrick, Manchester United are in action against Aston Villa. Plus Crystal Palace host Leeds and Fulham head to Nottingham Forest.

The Women’s League Cup final this afternoon sees Chelsea and Manchester United battle to trophy with the holders, Chelsea, attempting to defend the first of three domestic titles this season.

We will also be taking in on the reaction from the week, including Arsenal’s win against Everton that took them yet another step closer to the title – even more so after Manchester City’s humbling draw at West Ham.

So much to preview, so much to look forward to. Join me.

The Guardian

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.

The Guardian

Tottenham 1-3 Crystal Palace: Premier League – as it happened

Submitted by daniel on Thu, 05/03/2026 - 19:00

Tottenham v Crystal Palace: Premier League – live - The Guardian

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Aha, Jacob Steinberg’s match report is with us.

Consequently, that’s it from me. Thanks for your company and all your emails, sorry I couldn’t use them all. Have a good night; peace out.

“Arsenal come to West Ham early May,” says Ian Sargeant. “Imagine if they need a point for the title and we need a point to send Spurs down. It’ll either be a 0-0 to match Germany v Austria in 1982 or 3-3 with Declan Rice scoring a 25-yard own goal to level it with the last kick.”

It’s absolutely outrageous how good this season can get for Arsenal and how bad for Spurs. If Arsenal win the two big pots, simple relegation will feel like a birthday present.

“We are witnessing an extinction event,” laments Daniel Wilson. “This is a hollowed-out husk of a club run by clueless execs, sporting directors and owned by nepo babies who have overseen the worst squad building in our history, yet who is accountable?”

I read the other day that Spurs’ leaders now think wages spend is more significant than transfer spend. Imagine running a whole-arse Premier League football club and not being fully aware of that.

The league table:

FULL TIME: Tottenham Hotspur 1-3 Crystal Palace

Yet another disaster for Spurs, who lose the game and Van de Ven; their Premier League status might follow. Palace, on the other hand, are surely safe now, running into form just in time for the Conference knockouts.

Updated at 23.04 CET

My guess is they’d keep enough to return – really, who’s buying on these contracts – but where do they find a manager?

Arf. And what a lot of nonsense that is – football existing to make money, not making money because it exists. Sadly, the official body clearly doesn’t grasp the difference between sport and entertainment.

Updated at 22.47 CET

Even successful clubs treat fans poorly, but of course it’s worse when the football is as bad as it is.

Updated at 22.46 CET

Updated at 22.37 CET

I’m wondering if he’ll resign.

Updated at 22.28 CET

The Germans have a word for this, but I can’t publish it in a family newspaper.

Updated at 22.26 CET

Romero reminds me of what Shane Warne said of Monty Panesar: “He hasn’t played 33 Tests, he’s played one Test 33 time.” Just when you think he’s cut out the self-indulgent ill discipline, he does it again. Van de Ven I think might develop in a more nurturing environment, but what he did tonight was a total headloss.

Updated at 22.20 CET

The Guardian

Tottenham v Arsenal: Premier League – live

Submitted by daniel on Sun, 22/02/2026 - 15:15

Preamble

There’s a therapeutic idea that we create ourselves afresh every day, in full control of the person we are – or, to answer the Stone Roses’ question, we’re not etched in stone but sketched in the sand. It’s a liberating, comforting, affirming – and daunting – reality.

A liberating, comforting, affirming, daunting reality and not one easily inhabited, because changing ourselves is difficult – consider Mikel Arteta, to pick a name at random. His excellent work – albeit with serious boardroom backing – turned Arsenal from a rabble into title challengers but in each of the last three seasons, his desperate, flapping intensity and scalding sense of injustice surely transmitted to team and crowd, wins bringing respite more than joy and anything else disaster multiplied by travesty. We can’t say it’s been the difference; we can say it isn’t helpful.

This season, his air is calmer, but convincing players who’ve experienced him that previously, things were one way but now they’re another, isn’t easily done – especially when you look like you’ve not slept in several decades. More than that, though, demeanour only covers part of our impact – attitude is equally important and until that is altered, Arsenal will remain locked in the image of old Artetz, heavy on organisation and meticulousness but rizz and swag deficient. Seldom is there a sense that anyone is having any fun.

Consequently, a lack of freedom we might also characterise as a lack of confidence threatens to cost them a title they’ve spurned several opportunities to near-enough secure, failing every time they’ve had a chance to increase their lead to insurmountable proportions. And now, with the gap down to just two points, they face an away derby against a Tottenham side fighting relegation and eager to impress a new manager equally eager to impress the world, having had nine days to focus solely on this game.

Ultimately, Arteta has built a team guided by principles of certainty and control, problem being football is an inherently chaotic and improvisational activity. It’s true that, for a while, Pep Guardiola upended this truism, but it was only possible, for the foremost football genius of the generation, first with four of the greatest players ever, then on a budget far in excess of any competitor – and since then, even he has had to change.

It’s true that Arsenal might still set-piece, blanket defence and own-goal their way to the title; if they do, they’ll be champions as deserving as any. But restart prowess and general solidity are not the opposite of expressive attacking and exuberant confidence – rather they underpin it.

So, can Arteta liberate, comfort and affirm himself to give his team the same? He still has time, but also, time is not on his side – and that is what should really daunt him.

Kick-off: 4.30pm GMT

The Guardian

Premier League news, Spurs v Arsenal buildup, Sheffield derby, and more – matchday live

Submitted by daniel on Sun, 22/02/2026 - 08:08

It’s North London Derby day! Always a huge occasion for both teams but it feels even more so today. For Arsenal, today marks a fantastic opportunity to bounce back from their midweek 2-2 draw at Wolves. The result on Wednesday sparked an all too familiar feeling among Arsenal fans as the Gunners lost ground in the title race once again. It meant that Manchester City were able to move within two points following their 2-1 win over Newcastle last night (more on that later). But victory today could spark a much-needed resurgence going into the most important part of the season.

Meanwhile, for Tottenham it presents an opportunity to get their first Premier League win of the year. Spurs have endured a run of poor form and now begin a new – albeit likely small – era with new interim head coach Igor Tudor, who was appointed until the end of the season last week following the dismissal of Thomas Frank.

It is also a chance for Spurs to get their revenge following their humiliating 4-1 defeat in November.

Preamble

Hello, good morning and welcome to another Matchday live! We’ve got some huge games to look forward to this afternoon, including the North London Derby and the Steel City Derby.

Arsenal need a win at Tottenham later to restore their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League table. It comes after they were held to a 2-2 draw by Wolves on Wednesday, having squandered a two-goal advantage.

Meanwhile, Sheffield Wednesday need a victory against their local rivals to delay relegation to League One.

We’ll also be looking ahead to plenty more games across the UK and Europe as the day goes on, so join us!

Updated at 09.09 CET

The Guardian

Chelsea v Liverpool, Aston Villa v Tottenham, and more: Women’s Super League – live

Submitted by daniel on Sun, 15/02/2026 - 11:00

Preamble

Hello and welcome to live coverage of the Women’s Super League. We’ve got four lunchtime kick-offs (12pm GMT) to look forward to, including Chelsea v Liverpool and Manchester United v London City Lionesses.

The title race is effectively over for Chelsea, after humiliating back to back defeats against Arsenal and Manchester City. They bounced back with a win against Spurs last week so Sonia Bompastor will be hoping for an end of season rally to keep them in the Champions League places.

Meanwhile, Manchester United did what the men’s team couldn’t by winning more than five games in a row. Marc Skinner’s side are unbeaten in ten but London City Lionesses are no slouches. They’re sixth in the league in their debut season.

I’ll also keep you updated on Aston Villa v Spurs and Everton v West Ham. We have a busy day ahead so stick with me for the next few hours. Get in touch to share your thoughts.

The Guardian

Tottenham manager latest, Ratcliffe reaction, FA Cup fourth round and more – live

Submitted by daniel on Fri, 13/02/2026 - 08:21

Another grand old club currently without a manager are Blackburn Rovers. BBC Sport and others are reporting that Michael O’Neill is set to take over at Ewood Park – but will also continue in his Northern Ireland role for the World Cup playoffs, and this summer’s finals if they qualify.

Blackburn’s current interim manager is the former Northern Ireland international Damien Johnson, and he will reportedly stay on as part of O’Neill’s coaching staff. Rovers sacked Valérien Ismaël on 2 February, with the club mired in the Championship relegation zone.

Hello. The first domestic football match I ever saw on live TV was in 1991 – the FA Cup final between Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur. Two historic clubs led by long-serving managers Brian Clough and Terry Venables, who walked out at Wembley holding hands. Jumpers for goalposts, isn’t it? Marvellous.

Spurs won the Cup but Venables was soon moved upstairs by Alan Sugar, so maybe managerial turmoil is nothing new. But it’s still sad to see the current state of affairs at both of these storied clubs, who both dispensed with their managers earlier this week. Relegation is a real threat for two teams who really should be nowhere near trouble, and nobody is 100% sure who to blame.

Forest are lining up Vítor Pereira, the Premier League’s new Winston Wolf, to replace Sean Dyche, while Spurs didn’t appear to have anyone in mind to replace Thomas Frank. We’ll keep track of developments and look ahead to a busy FA Cup fourth-weekend – although Tottenham and Forest are helpfully both already out, freeing up time for their recruitment searches.

The Guardian

Chelsea v Leeds, Tottenham v Newcastle, Everton v Bournemouth: football – live

Submitted by daniel on Tue, 10/02/2026 - 19:30

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Chelsea 1-0 Leeds: Supposedly, taking Cucurella off was a tactic decision …

Second half

We are starting up once more.

Chelsea 1-0 Leeds: Hato is on for Cucurella.

Half-time reading:

Martin Gamage says: “And the chorus of boos ring out at Spurs. I don’t bet as a rule but as a Spurs fan I’m going to hedge my disappointment and put some money on this Spurs team to go down. I genuinely don’t think they have the stomach for this fight. Newcastle have been by far the better team.”

Do not forget we have West Ham v Man United going on, too. Almost 10 minutes in over in East London.

Peter Crosby emails: “I know there’s a bit of contention about this issue, but in terms of the Spurs fans’ responsibility - they may not be able to to affect the choice of the Spurs hierarchy, or the efficacy of the sporting directors, or the skill and ability of the medical department or the muscle fallibility of our best players - BUT - they can be responsible for one thing - getting those 11 mostly very young lads the support they need. It’s not rocket science. I know this is a nuanced issue but the atmosphere is terrible and the only people who can make that better are the fans.”

Half time: Tottenham 0-1 Newcastle

Boos from the home fans.

GOAL! Tottenham 0-1 Newcastle: Elanga lifts a cross to the back post where Thiaw is waiting. The defender heads it down, Vicario makes the save but Thiaw is the quickest to the rebound.

Updated at 21.34 CET

GOAL! Tottenham 0-1 Newcastle (Thiaw, 45+5)

It’s what Newcastle deserve.

Half time: Chelsea 1-0 Leeds

Joao Pedro has given Chelsea the lead.

Half time: Everton 1-0 Bournemouth

Ndiaye’s penalty is the difference at the moment.

Tottenham 0-0 Newcastle: Willock’s scalp was offside. A buzz cut might have ensured the goal counter.

NO GOAL! Tottenham 0-0 Newcastle

That might be the tightest offside call I’ve ever seen. Spurs reprieved.

GOAL? Tottenham 0-1 Newcastle: The visitors win the ball back and quickly move up the field. Ramsey threads a pass to Willock who curls a corner around a defender into the corner. We get a lengthy VAR check for offside … it is tight.

GOAL! Tottenham 0-1 Newcastle (Willock, 44)

The midfielder keeps his cool to find the corner.

GOAL! Everton 1-0 Bournemouth (Ndiaye, pen, 42)

No mistake from the spot.

Updated at 21.24 CET

Everton 0-0 Bournemouth: PENALTY TO EVERTON!

Updated at 21.21 CET

Peter Oh writes: “Calling this Newcastle strip jazzy might be an affront to jazz. According to the kit maker’s official verbiage, the design is a nod to the ‘97/’98 season, and the colours are called Victory Blue and Bahia Orange.

“Orange you glad to know this? Anyway, to Victory!”

Tottenham 0-0 Newcastle: Sarr is booked for diving in an attempt to get Ramsey booked. What a dismal night this is for Spurs so far. At least it’s level.

Tottenham 0-0 Newcastle: No need for the neighbours to complain about the decibel levels. Sounds silent inside the stadium.

Everton 0-0 Bournemouth: Barry should open the scoring but misses from very close range. Poor Thierno.

Tottenham 0-0 Newcastle: Odobert off, Tel on.

Chelsea 1-0 Leeds: Palmer is at the heart of everything for Chelsea, he flicks the ball into Joao Pedro’s path but he flashes his shot wide.

Tottenham 0-0 Newcastle: Tel seems to be getting prepared to replace the Frenchman.

Tottenham 0-0 Newcastle: More concern for Spurs with Odobert down on the ground needing lengthy treatment.

Chelsea 1-0 Leeds: There are calls for a penalty after Gusto and Gudmundsson tangle in the box. There is a pull on the shorts but the Leeds man goes down too easily.

Everton 0-0 Bournemouth: Toth fires a free-kick at goal but Pickford is behind it.

Tottenham 0-0 Newcastle: Spurs look to be making progress on the attack but they end up turning around and the ball ends up back with the defence. That does not please the fans.

Chelsea 1-0 Leeds: GOAL! Palmer finds space in midfield, opens himself up and slips a through ball for Joao Pedro, who is quicker than the defender, allowing him time to dink it over Darlow.

Updated at 21.01 CET

GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Leeds (Joao Pedro, 24)

A lovely finish from the Brazilian.

Tottenham 0-0 Newcastle: Spurs lift the ball into the box and Solanke goes down under pressure from behind. The striker wants a penalty but there is no chance of that.

Chelsea 0-0 Leeds: The Blues have a free-kick around 30 yards from goal. It is worked smartly into the box, Pedro chests it down but can’t make effective contact on the volley.

Chelsea 0-0 Leeds: Palmer takes aim from 20 yards but there is no power in the shot, allowing Leeds get possession and counter but it ends with Gudmundsson committing a foul and getting harshly booked.

Tottenham 0-0 Newcastle: Burn knocks the ball down for Ramsey to attack, he miscues his shot and Van de Ven sends it behind. The crowd is getting agitated.

The Guardian

Premier League

Submitted by daniel on Sat, 07/02/2026 - 11:05

Premier League The Guardian

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