Time for a couple more plugs, some Sunday brunch reading.<\/p>\n
Ben Fisher caught up with Nottingham Forest\u2019s much-admired Elliot Anderson, while Simon Burnton spoke to a few people at Luton ahead of their Hatters derby EFL Trophy final against Stockport County today.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n So\u2026 are Spurs going to play \u2018Ange-ball\u2019 under De Zerbi? That\u2019s very much what the new head coach intimated when speaking ahead of his debut match in charge.<\/p>\n double quotation markI want to keep the ball. I want to see again the Tottenham I watched with Postecoglou because, in my second season in Brighton, there was Postecoglou here with a lot of these players and it was one of the best teams in terms of quality of play. With Pedro Porro, with [Destiny] Udogie, with [Micky] van de Ven, with [Cristian] Romero, and I would like to see it again.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.47 EDT<\/p>\n It\u2019s easy to forget Birmingham and Wrexham came up together from League One last season, such has been both clubs\u2019 meteoric rise over the past year or so. When they met last season it was dubbed the \u2018Hollywood derby\u2019 due to the celebrity connections in both clubs\u2019 boardrooms.<\/p>\n While the Blues are now mid-table in the Championship, having enjoyed a solid-ish season since promotion, Wrexham still have their eyes on a playoff place, but realistically need to win today to keep the pressure on Southampton and Hull in fifth and sixth place respectively. Saints are on a storming run.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Team news for midday kick-offs<\/p>\n Falkirk v Rangers<\/p>\n Falkirk: Bain; Adams, Lissah, Donaldson, Henderson; Spencer, Tait; Broggio, Miller, Yeats; Stewart.<\/p>\n Rangers: Butland; Tavernier, Djiga, Fernandez, Meghoma; Raskin, Chukwuani; Gassama, Aasgard, Moore; Chermiti.<\/p>\n Birmingham v Wrexham<\/p>\n Birmingham: Beadle; Osayi-Samuel, Neumann, Klarer, Wagner; Iwata, Solis; Vicente, Stansfield, Osman; Priske.<\/p>\n Wrexham: Okonkwo; Cleworth, Scarr, Doyle; Kabore, Dobson, James, Thomason; Rathbone, O\u2019Brien; Moore.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.29 EDT<\/p>\n Just 45 minutes until Falkirk v Rangers gets under way. And Gers fans seem fairly confident.<\/p>\n If rangers win at falkirk today I genuinely think it will be our most impressive result of the season, other than the wins against hearts and celtic. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has challenged Everton\u2019s strikers to emulate the red-hot form of Brentford\u2019s Igor Thiago as they push for a European spot.<\/p>\n Brazil international Thiago has scored five of his 21 Premier League goals this term against the Toffees following a double in yesterday\u2019s 2-2 draw<\/a> at the Gtech Community Stadium.<\/p>\n Dewsbury-Hall saved a point for David Moyes\u2019 men in west London with an added-time equaliser after Beto\u2019s first-half leveller. With seven goals, the former Chelsea player is Everton\u2019s joint leading scorer in the top flight this term, alongside Beto, while Thierno Barry and Iliman Ndiaye have six apiece.<\/p>\n \u201cLook at Brentford\u2019s striker this season, the amount of goals he\u2019s scored, and that is unbelievable for a team that is not expected to finish high,\u201d said Dewsbury-Hall. \u201cHis goals are putting them in a position to do well. If our strikers can do that then we know we have a good chance of getting the points.\u201d<\/p>\n Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall bagged a late equaliser for Everton at Brentford. Photograph: Graeme Wilcockson\/Focus Images Ltd\/ShutterstockShare<\/a><\/p>\n An update on Barry\u2019s run: He actually only got under way at 10.30am (BST) due to the \u2018waves\u2019 system these half-marathons tend to operate. So, with the best will in the world, he won\u2019t be finished for a while yet.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Brentford\u2019s Igor Thiago could be chasing down Erling Haaland for the Golden Boot. What an achievement that would be!<\/p>\n However, Haaland did find some form in the FA Cup last weekend. Here are those current top scorer standings \u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n What a day of sport. The Masters and county cricket live blogs have just been published on the site, if you\u2019re in other sports that aren\u2019t football.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Remember a few weeks ago when the relegation fight seemed done and dusted, the title was virtually Arsenal\u2019s and the only jeopardy was in the fight for Champions League spots? How quickly things can change.<\/p>\n Far from being one of the worst Premier League seasons ever (not my words, mind you), this could be one of the most exciting climaxes in years.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Forest fans, are you confident for today\u2019s clash with Villa? Vitor Pereira\u2019s side could end the day in the relegation zone\u2026 if Spurs get their act together.<\/p>\n Early start on the train to Nottingham. As much as I\u2019ve enjoyed our European escapades this season, the knock-on effect of playing a lot of Sunday matches (with plenty more to come!) irks a bit. That said, the sun is shining and the beer will no doubt be cold and it\u2019s always fun to catch up with the familiar faces so I can\u2019t moan too much.<\/p>\n Onto the match. We could\u2019ve done with Wolves doing us a favour on Friday night but West Ham blew them away to keep the pressure on us. Both ourselves and Villa were away in Europe on Thursday but they played their strongest 11 whilst we rested most of ours. Whether that makes any difference time will tell but I\u2019d happily take the draw if offered. My heart is going for an entertaining 2-2.<\/p>\n Finally, in Serie A, AC Milan are now nine points behind the league leaders, Inter, and just six points above Roma, in sixth, in the fight for the four Champions League spots, having been beaten 3-0 at home by Udinese.<\/p>\n Juventus cut the gap to Milan, who are third, to just three points, with a vital 1-0 win away to Atalanta later in the day, Jeremie Boga scoring the only goal.<\/p>\n Table-topping Inter travel to fifth place Como tonight (7.45pm BST kick-off) with second-placed Napoli going to Parma.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Elsewhere in Europe yesterday, the Swiss Super League match between Thun and Basel was postponed after a fire destroyed the first-team dressing room area at St Jakob-Park, damaging kit and other equipment, Basel<\/a> said. The fire late on Friday damaged the players\u2019 boots and kit, as well as medical and technical equipment.<\/p>\n No one was injured and the reason for the fire was not yet known, the club said.<\/p>\n A statement said: \u201cDue to the damage incurred \u2026 and the lack of usable match and medical equipment, FC Basel is unable to play the away match against FC Thun on Saturday.\u201d The league had approved the postponement and a new date will be found.<\/p>\n Basel, the defending champions, are fourth in the table, 18 points behind Thun, the surprise leaders, who have 71 points from 32 games. This weekend\u2019s games are the final ones before the 12-team division splits into two groups of six. Thun, promoted last year, were 12 points ahead at the start of the weekend and are in line for the first title in their history<\/a>.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n And in Spain \u2026<\/p>\n Barcelona took a major step towards the La Liga title<\/a> with a 4-1 victory over their city rivals Espanyol, moving nine points clear of Real Madrid. Ferran Torres struck twice, assisted by Lamine Yamal both times, in the first half, before Pol Lazano got a goal back for Espanyol. Yamal restored control in the 87th minute with Marcus Rashford adding a fourth from Frenkie de Jong\u2019s cross as Bar\u00e7a moved to 79 points with seven games left.<\/p>\n Atl\u00e9tico Madrid coach, Diego Simeone, rotated heavily for his team\u2019s visit to Sevilla to keep players fresh for the Champions League second leg against Barcelona and Atl\u00e9ti, who are still fourth, fell to a 2-1 defeat.<\/p>\n Akor Adams sent the hosts ahead from the penalty spot and after 20-year-old Atl\u00e9tico reserve defender Javier Bonar levelled, Nemanja Gudelj struck again for Sevilla<\/a> before the interval. Atl\u00e9tico have a 12-point cushion on fifth-placed Real Betis, who visit Osasuna on Sunday. The victory saw Sevilla climbing out of the relegation zone up to 15th.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Let\u2019s have a spin through the headlines from around Europe yesterday, starting with the Bundesliga:<\/p>\n Bayern Munich crushed St Pauli 5-0<\/a> to set an all-time season scoring record while also extending their lead at the top to 12 points with five games remaining.<\/p>\n Bayern, who host Real Madrid on Wednesday in their Champions League quarter-final second leg after a 2-1 win in Spain, are now within touching distance of the title on 76 points, with second-placed Borussia Dortmund still on 64 after a 1-0 home loss to Bayer Leverkusen.<\/p>\n A ninth-minute header from Jamal Musiala put the visitors equal with the record of 101 goals in one season, set by Bayern in the 1971-72 campaign. But they added two more in quick succession, with Leon Goretzka in the 53rd and Michael Olise a minute later, to beat the previous best mark and seal the win.<\/p>\n Nicolas Jackson added a fourth in the 65th before Rapha\u00ebl Guerreiro slotted in to make it 5-0, with Vincent Kompany having rested several players, including Harry Kane. Bayern are still in the running for three trophies and face Leverkusen in the German Cup semi-final on 22 April.<\/p>\n Leverkusen\u2019s 1-0 victory over Dortmund came courtesy a first-half winner from Robert Andrich, which keeps them in the mix for a top-four finish. The 2024 Bundesliga champions are now fifth on 52 points, one behind fourth-placed Stuttgart, who host Hamburg today. The top four teams are sure to qualify for next season\u2019s Champions League, with the Bundesliga vying with La Liga for a fifth place.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Meanwhile, at Spurs \u2026<\/p>\n Please Tottenham, give us a glimmer of hope today.<\/p>\n No pressure Roberto De Zerbi, but there was precisely zero new-manager-bounce under his predecessor, Igor Tudor, and the Italian needs to see an instant uptick in performance level if he\u2019s to save Tottenham from becoming the richest Championship club of all time.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Enzo Fern\u00e1ndez will not feature for Chelsea against Manchester City today, but he\u2019s back in Liam Rosenior\u2019s good books after his agent issued a full and frank apology for the player\u2019s not-so-subtle eyelash-fluttering at Real Madrid.<\/a><\/p>\n With Rodri having said something similar<\/a> regarding an exit from City to Madrid, Jonathan Wilson explains why Chelsea\u2019s existential angst helps to explain why Rosenior and the Blues had to take action where Pep\u2019s fellas did not.<\/p>\n Expect Rodri to dominate the centre of the park at Stamford Bridge today in the conspicuous absence of Enzo.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Have you tried On The Ball yet? It\u2019s the Guardian\u2019s football game. I\u2019m quite into it at the moment, quite pleased with a score of 68 today. Give it a go on the Puzzles section of the app and there\u2019s a handy explainer here. <\/a><\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Celtic and Hearts both picked up three points in the (super-tight) Scottish Premiership title race yesterday, with Derek McInnes\u2019s side leaving it super late to beat Motherwell 3-1 after going a goal down. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scored Celtic\u2019s only goal against St Mirren.<\/p>\n All of which puts the pressure on Rangers, who make the relatively short trip to Falkirk today (midday kick-off, BST). A win would cut Hearts\u2019 lead back to a single point, defeat would leave Danny R\u00f6hl\u2019s men third.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Barry runs: The London Landmarks Half Marathon gets under way in a couple of minutes. We\u2019ll try and keep an eye on Barry\u2019s progress and let you know how he gets on.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Union Berlin appoint first female coach in Europe’s top five leagues<\/p>\n Union Berlin have made Marie-Louise Eta the first woman to manage a men\u2019s side in one of Europe\u2019s top five leagues, as she was appointed interim head coach until the end of the season.<\/p>\n Eta replaces Steffen Baumgart who, along with his coaching staff, was dismissed after a 3-1 defeat at FC Heidenheim on Saturday. That left Union in the lower part of the Bundesliga table, sitting in 11th place with 32 points.<\/p>\n Eta made history in November 2023 when she became the first female assistant coach in the German top flight with Union. She later became the first woman to lead a Bundesliga team from the touchline during a 1-0 win over Darmstadt in January 2024, while then-manager Nenad Bjelica served a suspension.<\/p>\n \u201cGiven the points gap in the lower half of the table, our place in the Bundesliga is not yet secure,\u201d said Eta after her appointment.<\/p>\n \u201cI am delighted the club has entrusted me with this challenging task. One of Union\u2019s strengths has always been, and remains, the ability to pull together in such situations. I am convinced that we will secure the crucial points.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Guardian sport\u2019s very own Barry Glendenning is running the London Landmarks Half-Marathon this morning to raise money for the Great Ormond Street hospital children\u2019s charity. He\u2019s already more than quadrupled his original target of \u00a313,100 but would be grateful for any more donations in the final moments before the race because, well, it\u2019s a brilliant cause and here at Guardian Towers we think he needs every bit of motivation he can get. If you can, donate here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Go well, Barry. Illustration: Gary NeillShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a003.58 EDT<\/p>\n This is a good read from Tom Garry on the curiously-timed women\u2019s international break. With the WSL season reaching its climax and the weather improving for fans, an 11-day window for up to three international fixtures seems to take the wind out of the domestic league\u2019s sails.<\/p>\n Share<\/a> More from Jamie Jackson\/Manchester City here \u2013 as Pep Guardiola was asked about Rayan Cherki\u2019s controversial mid-match shirt-swap with an opponent.<\/p>\n Rayan Cherki impressed when Manchester City beat Liverpool 4-0<\/a> to reach the FA Cup semi-final but when replaced late on the Frenchman momentarily wore the shirt of Liverpool\u2019s Hugo Ekitike, who is a friend. With Cherki also having also showboated on occasion during games, Guardiola was asked his opinion of the 22-year-old.<\/p>\n \u201cI think he\u2019s a little bit of a free soul,\u201d said Guardiola. \u201cYou have to understand, every player is completely different. He\u2019s one of the most unbelievably talented players I\u2019ve seen. Just in the future, hopefully he can stay [here] for longer, because he has the attributes to be one of the top players. One of his attributes is difficult to find \u2013 in difficult moments, with a lot of pressure, he plays like he is in a friendly game.<\/p>\n \u201cSo in the future, what will be his behaviour: to stay humble enough, to stay and work for the team?\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n I know criticism of Arteta for supposed negativity is widespread, but I think this comment hits the nail on the head.<\/p>\n Yesterday may have been Arsenal\u2019s first league defeat since January but they\u2019ve now lost three of their past four in all competitions.<\/p>\n Arsenal’s angst has happened because they’ve decided to try to avoid defeat instead of going for the win, I really don’t understand Arteta’s mindset, you’re at home so attack, you’ll never score if you’re playing too slow or ponderous. Maybe after the Champions League this week he’ll have a change of tactics at the Etihad, because if he doesn’t they’ll get beaten easily and the title will be out of their hands and into City’s.<\/p>\n Our reporter Jamie Jackson has been speaking to Manchester City\u2019s goalkeeper:<\/p>\n Ahead of Manchester City\u2019s trip to Chelsea, Gianluigi Donnarumma is aware of the challenge that may await at Stamford Bridge. \u201cIt\u2019s always going to be a complicated game,\u201d he said. \u201cIt will be a difficult because going there to play is never easy. We hope to get a great result because it\u2019s very important for us for the title race.\u201d<\/p>\n Arsenal\u2019s defeat by Bournemouth<\/a> dented the Gunners\u2019 title quest, with City able to move within three points with a game in hand by beating them at home next Sunday if they win today at Stamford Bridge. \u201cThe destiny [of the title] is no longer in our hands, but we will try to hang on until the end and put pressure on them. These two games for us are important,\u201d said the Italian.<\/p>\n On working under Pep Guardiola, Donnnarumma added: \u201cI think until you live it, you will never understand. Until you experience him, you can\u2019t understand the importance he has and the effect he has on a team. Sometimes you are shocked, you are enchanted, sometimes to hear him speak, to prepare a game tactically. I am very lucky in my career to be coached by him.\u201d<\/p>\n Jumping for joy: Gianluigi Donnarumma of Manchester City. Photograph: Dave Thompson\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n Arsenal: There\u2019s only one place to start when it comes to reacting to yesterday\u2019s action and that\u2019s at the Emirates. After a lacklustre start it looked like the Gunners would find a way to win when Viktor Gy\u00f6keres levelled from the penalty spot, after Junior Kroupi\u2019s early strike, but Arsenal remained flat and lacking in ideas. It was a fine goal from Alex Scott that settled the game (how many suitors will the English midfielder have this summer, by the way?) with Arteta describing it<\/a> as \u201ca big punch to the face\u201d and a \u201cpainful day\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s no grey areas,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need to be very, very, very strong and determined to approach it in a different way than we\u2019ve done today, especially when the game wasn\u2019t going our way. There\u2019s a lot, a lot, a lot on our plate to look at ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a003.21 EDT<\/p>\n Preamble<\/p>\n Morning all and welcome to Sunday\u2019s matchday live \u2013 and what a Sunday it could be in the Premier League, with potential consequences for the relegation fight, the battle for Champions League qualification and the title race. Oh, and whatever Crystal Palace v Newcastle means. After Arsenal\u2019s catastrophe at home to Bournemouth,<\/a> can Manchester City capitalise with a win at Chelsea? Can Nottingham Forest and Tottenham respond to West Ham\u2019s thumping win on Friday night? And do Aston Villa have anything left in the tank to revive their top five ambitions?<\/p>\n As always, we\u2019ll be bringing you all the reaction from Saturday and buildup to today\u2019s fixtures. Feel free to drop us an email with your thoughts on the weekend so far, or predictions of what\u2019s to come.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s get straight into it, shall we? I\u2019ll begin by plugging this Paul MacInnes piece from the Emirates yesterday, where many of Arsenal\u2019s flaws were exposed.<\/p>\n
It is in our hands. Somehow, after everything with russell martin. 6 wins and the title is ours no matrer what anybody else does. Falkirk, motherwell, hearts, celtic, hibs, falkirk again. Come on. We can do this.<\/p>\n![\"avatar\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/16001786.gif\")
<\/a>Share<\/a><\/p>\n![\"avatar\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/13726489.gif\")
<\/a>Share<\/a><\/p>\n![\"avatar\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/103072193.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Jamie](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775991912_340_Jamie-Jackson,-L.png\")
Jamie Jackson<\/p>\n![\"avatar\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/15034546.png\")
<\/a>Share<\/a>Jamie Jackson<\/p>\n