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Reece James signed a new contract, until 2032, with Chelsea yesterday – and I notice Liam Rosenior boldly stated: “We’ve secured the best player in world football in his position.”
Now, as the manager of Chelsea, some might say he’s an unbiased observer (perish the thought!). But it’s interesting. How close is James to being the world’s best right-back?
Rosenior justified his claim 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 world’s best right-back (arguably) looks at his manager. Photograph: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC/Getty ImagesShare
The Championship’s top two both kick-off at lunchtime today – but perhaps the most arresting battle isn’t for top spot, it’s for second.
After all, promotion is the name of the game and while Coventry have opened up an eight-point gap on Middlesbrough, the race for second is incredibly tight.
In-form Millwall sit one point behind Boro and host Blackburn at 3pm; Ipswich are fourth, four points behind Middlesbrough – but with a game in hand on the teams above them. And today they visit poor old 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 games today. There’s four fixtures tomorrow – but they’re overshadowed by the Women’s League Cup final: holders Chelsea v Manchester United.
The game kicks off at 2.15pm on Sunday and before it, Tom Garry spoke to Fridolina Rolfö, the former 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 is also talking positively before Manchester United take on Aston Villa at Old Trafford tomorrow. He’s not letting his first defeat as United’s interim manager get him down.
“What’s going to be the reaction?” asked 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, meanwhile, has issued a rallying cry to his Liverpool players, urging them to “get the maximum” out of the rest of this uneven 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 said before the visit 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.”
Arne Slot: the maximum man. Photograph: Peter Byrne/PAShare
Updated at 05.12 EDT
We’re not here to riff on Tottenham’s pain. But what happened the last time Spurs went down – and can the current side learn anything from the fate that befell Keith Burkinshaw’s gifted team?
Sam Cunningham has written a lovely delve into the past which even Tottenham fans may enjoy, albeit in a bittersweet fashion.
double quotation markGlenn Hoddle was in tears in the dressing room. Others sat in disbelief, wondering what the future held.
Tottenham were the first English club in the 20th century to win the league and FA Cup Double, in 1961, and the first to lift a European trophy when they won the Cup Winners’ Cup two years later. They were renowned for playing attractive football and the goals of Jimmy Greaves.
Under their manager Bill Nicholson, they added two League Cups and the Uefa Cup at the start of the 1970s. And now they had been relegated.
Tottenham are not in action today – they visit Anfield tomorrow. However Igor Tudor, the specialist ‘firefighter’ manager who seems to have turned up at Spurs with a flamethrower, has also spoken to the press.
He dismissed talk of the club being cursed by “black magic” (which is good) and said the players must not be “victims” (that’s bad). Tudor has given his players a choice: cry or fight.
Check out his fighting (or crying) talk.
On that tussle for the Champions League spots, our writers have broken down how the PL’s contenders are shaping up with reasons to be cheerful/fearful and a look at their run-ins.
Well worth a read.
Updated at 04.33 EDT
Here’s today’s five Premier League fixtures today, by the way. It’s not just the two at the top in action!
Burnley v Bournemouth, 3pm (all times GMT)
Sunderland v Brighton, 3pm
Arsenal v Everton, 5.30pm
Chelsea v Newcastle, 5.30pm
West Ham v Manchester City, 8pm
Chelsea hosting Newcastle is a tasty one. The Magpies dented Manchester United’s Champions League qualification hopes in their last league outing; Chelsea are in fifth and right around the cutoff point. What will happen?
Mikel Arteta, Pep’s protege turned title rival, also had words for the media before today’s fixtures. Specifically, words about set pieces and a denial that Arsenal have been blocking defenders as part of their corner routines.
Asked whether other teams had been learning some dark arts from Arsenal, Arteta said:
double quotation markNo. We weren’t the first. And it’s not about blocking. I’m not going to describe what we do, but it’s not blocking … Others know what we try to do. And it’s not that.”
Pep Guardiola spoke to the press yesterday before West Ham v Manchester City today. In his usual understated style, 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 game 3-0, everyone makes a big ol’ fuss.
Oh Pep! Never change.
Let’s start with last night’s Championship game in which Wrexham beat Swansea 2-0 to boost their playoff hopes. Dom Booth was watching for the Guardian and he took in a football match, plus some slavish devotion to the cult of fame. Bonus.
double quotation markClearly the suits at Sky Sports thought Wrexham v Swansea City on a Friday night needed its own sideshow. A clash between two historic Welsh clubs just five points apart in the battle for the Championship playoff places may not appeal to the TikTok generation. If only there were some Hollywood actors on hand to step into the content void, relegating Daniel Mann and Andy Hinchcliffe to second-string commentary choice.
Luckily, Wrexham’s co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac were happy 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 release before the broadcast.
Updated at 04.48 EDT
Preamble
Hello! I don’t want to get all Sky Sports promo/Mitchell and Webb on you – but this is a pretty super-sized Saturday of live football action. We’ve got both Premier League title contenders in action as Arsenal welcome Everton at 5.30pm, then Manchester City visit West Ham in the evening.
Before that, the Championship’s top two are also playing: Coventry v Southampton and Middlesbrough v Bristol City (both 12.30pm kick-offs). And to complete a top-two triple, the tight race for the Scottish Premiership sees second-place Celtic host Motherwell at 3pm, before leaders Hearts go to Kilmarnock at 8pm.
Here at Matchday live we’ll bring you the buildup to those games and many more – with team lineups, previews, breaking news, early goal alerts and such as we get them.
As always, please get in touch with your thoughts, predictions and matchday musings.