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Tom Garry<\/p>\nA precious chance to get to Wembley is what\u2019s at stake for Liverpool and Brighton here in St Helens this lunchtime, something neither of their women\u2019s teams have done since the new Wembley was built and something Brighton have never managed in their women\u2019s teams history. It\u2019s now by far and away the biggest game of the season for both teams with little to play for in the league. Brighton arrive in the north west in great form, having beaten Manchester City and drawn with Arsenal in recent games, while Liverpool have picked up their form well since Christmas, so this is a tricky one to call. The sun is shining (although it\u2019s pretty chilly in the shade!) and the Liverpool fans have brought half a dozen huge red, yellow and white flags that are waving pitchside as the team warm up in front of me.<\/p>\n
Brighton fans in St Helens before the game against Liverpool. Photograph: Kate McShane\/The FA\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.05 EDT<\/p>\n It\u2019s also semi-final day in the Women\u2019s FA Cup. Liverpool take on Brighton in the first of the two games at 12:15pm BST before Chelsea host newly-crowned WSL champions Manchester City later on.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Patrick Crumlish says:<\/p>\n \u201cI think Slot has to go, for the simple fact that he lost the trust of the fanbase in an alarmingly short time. A drop-off from so many players this season suggests they don\u2019t suit Slot\u2019s ideas, and there\u2019s no excuse for being 20 points off the pace. I\u2019d like the decision made early so the new manager has time to get his ideas across to the squad.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The conversation around Arne Slot\u2019s time at Liverpool continues, and there appears to be more fans that would prefer him to leave \u2013 at least, from what I\u2019ve read this morning.<\/p>\n Alas, I believe Mike Gordon of FSG must step in and tell Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards that Arne Slot must be handed his redundancy notice at the end of this season. The simple reason is that if the 202627 season starts badly they will have missed out on trying to get Alonso, Iraola etc.<\/p>\n Ben Barclay has emailed in to say:<\/p>\n \u201cThe incredibly tribal environment of Scottish football is experiencing very mixed emotions as this title race draws to a close. Tony Bloom for a knighthood.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Team news: Celtic v Rangers<\/p>\n Celtic starting line-up: Sinisalo; Johnston, Trusty, Scales, Tierney; McGregor, Engels, Nygren; Yang, Maeda, McCowan Rangers starting line-up: Butland; Tavernier, Fernandez, Djiga, Rommens; Barron, Chukwuani, Diomande; Moore, Chermiti, Antman Kick-off is in just under 30 minutes.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Joshua Keeling has messaged in to say:<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not a Hearts fan, or a Rangers fan, but I\u2019m desperate for Rangers to win today. Like a lot of neutrals I\u2019m really rooting for Hearts. It\u2019s an unbelievable story, let\u2019s hope it gets the ending it deserves.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Billy Munday is live now for minute-by-minute coverage of Celtic v Rangers. You can join him and follow along by clicking here:<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Mbapp\u00e9 out of Real Madrid squad for El Cl\u00e1sico<\/p>\n Kylian Mbapp\u00e9 is out of the Real Madrid squad for tonight\u2019s match against Barcelona. The Frenchman has not been named on the squad list ahead of the clash. Instead, Vin\u00edcius J\u00fanior, Gonzalo Garc\u00eda, Brahim D\u00edaz and Franco Mastantuono are the chosen forwards.<\/p>\n Mbapp\u00e9 has been recovering from a hamstring injury and trained with his teammates on Friday.<\/p>\n Kylian Mbapp\u00e9 is not available to face Barcelona. Photograph: Peter Byrne\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.14 EDT<\/p>\n How the Scottish Premiership table looks ahead of the Old Firm derby\u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Hearts ensured they will go into their penultimate match of the season with at least a one-point lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership by drawing with Motherwell in a pulsating match at a packed Fir Park yesterday.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n And let\u2019s not forget\u2026 It\u2019s also Old Firm derby day! Celtic host Rangers his afternoon as both clubs look to chase down Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts.<\/p>\n Celtic fans gather before the match. Photograph: Steve Welsh\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.57 EDT<\/p>\n Chaos at Prague derby after pitch invasion<\/p>\n The derby between Slavia Prague and Sparta Prague was abandoned on Saturday after hundreds of home fans stormed the pitch in the closing minutes, when Slavia were leading 3-2 at their Fortuna Stadium and seconds away from clinching the Czech league title.<\/p>\n Slavia supporters breached security barriers during stoppage time and flooded the field, with some carrying lit flares and running toward the visiting section. Pyrotechnics were thrown into the stands as players from both teams attempted to leave the pitch.<\/p>\n Czech police intervened to restore order and said they have launched criminal proceedings on suspicion of rioting. Authorities confirmed that Sparta goalkeeper Jakub Surovcik was among those targeted by home fans and was struck by a flare.<\/p>\n The referee later called off the match. Czech media reported that Sparta players feared for their safety and left the stadium shortly afterwards on the team bus under police escort.<\/p>\n Fans of Slavia Prague invading the pitch few minutes before end. Photograph: Dominika Kortvelyesiova\/AlamyShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.57 EDT<\/p>\n Elsewhere in La Liga today<\/p>\n Mallorca v Villarreal<\/p>\n Athletic Club v Valencia<\/p>\n Real Oviedo v Getafe<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.57 EDT<\/p>\n \u201cThe vice-captain was taken to hospital for stitches having been laid out by his midfield partner. Another midfielder said he wouldn\u2019t play any more; as if he was going to play anyway. The manager wasn\u2019t asking for much, just that they didn\u2019t swan out there as if wearing tuxedos, and that\u2019s still asking too much. The centre-back hit the left-back. The winger fell out with the last coach. The captain fell out with this coach. And the superstar, already accused of not caring, swanning off to Sardinia, drives out of the training ground, past the cameras and away from the whole sorry mess, laughing his head off. Now here\u2019s Barcelona\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Trent Alexander-Arnold in training on the eve of the cl\u00e1sico. Photograph: Antonio Villalba\/Real Madrid\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.39 EDT<\/p>\n Barcelona host Real Madrid in another El Cl\u00e1sico this evening. A win \u2013 or even a draw – for Hansi Flick\u2019s men will see them win the league title.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Los Blancos have endured an eventful week\u2026<\/p>\n Fede Valverde and Aur\u00e9lien Tchouam\u00e9ni clashed in training on Thursday, resulting in the Uruguayan being taken to hospital with a head injury. The pair were subsequently fined a record \u20ac500,000 each for the incident.<\/p>\n Head coach \u00c1lvaro Arbeloa has since defended both players.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Let\u2019s take a step away from the Premier League for a moment and take a look at what is happening elsewhere today\u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Liverpool fans, what do you think? Should Arne Slot stay or go this summer?<\/p>\n Arne Slot seems like a genuinely nice guy and, last season, in calming down Klopp\u2019s frenetic heavy metal football just enough, he struck a perfect balance and made the team unstoppable. This season, it\u2019s all gone horribly wrong. Should Liverpool stick or twist? I have no idea. But something needs to change.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a tough one to call between Nottingham Forest and Newcastle today. If the hosts win and West Ham drop points this afternoon, they will be safe. Despite their Europa League defeat to Aston Villa on Thursday, they have maintained good form in the Prem.<\/p>\n Another early start heading to Nottingham. Through a combination of me staying up late to watch the boxing (should\u2019ve been stopped 2-3 rounds before it eventually was) and the cat deciding lie-ins are for losers, I am absolutely shattered.<\/p>\n Hopefully a livener or two at the pub will shake me up but I won\u2019t miss Sunday kick-offs next season. Obviously we\u2019ll still have our fair share but the silver lining after being hammered by Villa on Thursday means no European football next season and hopefully a few more kick-offs at a more civilised time and day.<\/p>\n Onto the match itself – it\u2019s a tough one to call. With us being as good as safe, injuries to key players and the exertion of playing out of our skins recently I think the squad are running on empty. Newcastle themselves haven\u2019t been any great shakes for a while but are coming off the back of a decent result, and with Howe\u2019s future seemingly confirmed, I make them slight favourites. Prediction 2-1 to the away side.<\/p>\n As always, feel free to email in<\/a> with any thoughts, feelings, predictions, observations and all that jazz. What are your plans for the day? Where will you be watching the football? Supporting West Ham or Arsenal? Let me know!<\/p>\n Share<\/a> \u201cWest Ham have been competing with Tottenham this season. The only problem there is that no one had Spurs as relegation candidates. That was an unexpected but welcome bonus for miserable Hammers but even that lifeline is starting to slip away\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Arne Slot has a big task ahead to get the Anfield faithful back on side.<\/p>\n Feel like Liverpool are not even limping, but walking towards the finish line in a marathon towards the ‘goal’ of Champions League qualification. I’m not a ‘boo-er’ but we are lacking in anything resembling a Liverpool style of performance. There is no identity. Regardless of any mitigating factors, Liverpool being front foot at Anfield should be the baseline and we are fallkng below that. This is the problem we have going into next season. It’s not the personnel.<\/p>\n I have to say, that little West Ham comment at the end of his press conference yesterday did make me laugh\u2026<\/p>\n Pep, like Klopp, is a colourful character, and I suspect his little antics will be missed once he leaves. For all the brilliance of the football, without those interludes, the modern game can too often feel like metronomic rondos, hopeful hoofing, and the heavy beat of data.<\/p>\n And at Craven Cottage, Bournemouth clinched a 1-0 win against Fulham after both teams went down to 10 men.<\/p>\n Rayan and Bournemouth teammates celebrate at Fulham. Photograph: Jacques Feeney\/Offside\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a004.58 EDT<\/p>\n At the Amex Stadium, Brighton kept their European hopes alive with a 3-0 win over Wolves.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Elsewhere yesterday, Sunderland held Manchester United to a 0-0 draw at the Stadium of Light.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Arne Slot\u2019s decision to bring off Rio Ngumoha for Alexander Isak against Chelsea was not well-received by fans, but the head coach insisted that he only did it because the 17-year-old winger had been suffering from cramp.<\/p>\n He explained: \u201cRio had cramps before then when he went to the floor. Then I had contact with him and he said that was enough, that\u2019s why I took him off. It makes complete sense [the boos] if you take off a player who is playing well and had assisted. It wasn\u2019t my intention to take him off but he is not at the level yet where he can play at 50\/60% and make a difference. He wasn\u2019t fit enough to sprint.<\/p>\n \u201cI knew the moment his number went up that would be the reaction but that is not the reason. After the game, I think it [the boos] also makes sense because this club should not be happy with a 1-1 against Chelsea. We always aim for a win and if we don\u2019t win we are disappointed, especially in a season when we have not won as much as people expect. It is frustration building up and that came out probably after half-time. The players and myself feel the same way.\u201d<\/p>\n Arne Slot admitted he did not want to substitute Rio Ngumoha. Photograph: Richard Martin-Roberts\/CameraSport\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a004.33 EDT<\/p>\n Arne Slot said he understood the boos that greeted Liverpool\u2019s draw with Chelsea and his decision to substitute Rio Ngumoha but remains \u201c100% convinced\u201d he can win back the Anfield crowd next season.<\/p>\n Ryan Gravenberch, who opened the scoring with his first league goal of 2026, claimed the criticism \u2013 some of which was aired during the first half \u2013 was unfair. \u201cOK, we didn\u2019t win, but I don\u2019t really think we deserved this,\u201d said Gravenberch of the fans\u2019 reaction. \u201cWe need them. Hopefully they wouldn\u2019t do it again in the next two games.\u201d<\/p>\n Slot accepted the criticism after another disappointing result but was adamant he could regain the trust of Liverpool supporters with a new-look team next season. The head coach, asked whether he believed he can get the match-going fans back onside, replied: \u201cYes I do. Not this season, this season the fans will have their opinion and it will not change. But if we can have the summer that we are planning then I am 100% convinced we will be a different team next season. Different in terms of results and different in how things look. For me, it is really clear what we are lacking this season and we are trying [to fix it].\u201d<\/p>\n Arne Slot during the match between Liverpool and Chelsea. Photograph: COLORSPORT\/Alan Martin\/ShutterstockShare<\/a><\/p>\n Enzo Fern\u00e1ndez snatched a point for Chelsea against Liverpool yesterday with a 35th-minute equaliser following an early strike from Ryan Gravenberch. The result left the Blues ninth and Liverpool fourth in the table.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Here is how the Premier League table looks ahead of today\u2019s fixtures\u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Mikel Arteta has urged his Arsenal players to build on their Champions League semi-final win against Atl\u00e9tico Madrid and channel energy in right way ahead of the final three Premier League games of the season \u2013 starting against West Ham.<\/p>\n The manager said: \u201cI think we\u2019re in a really good moment. You could sense the energy the night after the game. I see every single day, here, I know how much we want it, and those are elements that are very, very positive. I think we have to channel that energy in the right way \u2013 it\u2019s very, very powerful. They [the players] feel confident. They are convinced, and they are really looking forward to playing on Sunday. That\u2019s probably the best part of it.\u201d<\/p>\n Mikel Arteta in a training session for Arsenal. Photograph: David Price\/Arsenal FC\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a003.37 EDT<\/p>\n Pep Guardiola ended his press conference with four words yesterday: \u201cCome on you Irons.\u201d<\/p>\n Arsenal cannot be caught in the title race if they win their last three matches, starting at the London Stadium this afternoon. Conscious of this, City manager Guardiola crossed his arms to mimic the hammers on the West Ham badge before saying the phrase.<\/p>\n Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola applauds fans at the Etihad Stadium. Photograph: Karl Vallantine\/Focus Images Ltd\/ShutterstockShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a003.37 EDT<\/p>\n Manchester City cruised past Brentford yesterday to pile the pressure on Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table. City now sit two points below the league leaders.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Today\u2019s Premier League fixtures<\/p>\n![\"avatar\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/102680072.gif\")
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Subs: Doohan, Iheanacho, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Tounekti, Sarrachi, Hatate, Murray, Forrest, Ralston<\/p>\n
Subs: Kelly, Sterling, Aarons, Meghoma, Aasgard, Gassama, Bajrami, Miovski, Skov Olsen<\/p>\n![\"Sid](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Sid_Lowe,_L.png\")
Sid Lowe<\/p>\n![\"avatar\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/13085342.png\")
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Jacob Steinberg<\/p>\n![\"avatar\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/109051305.gif\")
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