League One and League Two fixtures<\/p>\n
League One:<\/p>\n
Lincoln City v Leyton Orient<\/p>\n
Plymouth Argyle v Exeter City<\/p>\n
Cardiff City v Bolton Wanderers<\/p>\n
Bradford City v Stevenage<\/p>\n
Huddersfield Town v Wycombe Wanderers<\/p>\n
Burton Albion v Wimbledon<\/p>\n
Blackpool v Peterborough United<\/p>\n
Rotherham United v Barnsley<\/p>\n
Wigan Athletic v Mansfield Town<\/p>\n
Doncaster Rovers v Reading<\/p>\n
League Two<\/p>\n
Bristol Rovers v Crawley Town<\/p>\n
MK Dons v Bromley<\/p>\n
Newport County v Harrogate Town<\/p>\n
Salford City v Gillingham<\/p>\n
Shrewsbury Town v Oldham Athletic<\/p>\n
Chesterfield v Tranmere Rovers<\/p>\n
Grimsby Town v Crewe Alexandra<\/p>\n
Cambridge United v Notts County<\/p>\n
Accrington Stanley v Fleetwood Town<\/p>\n
Walsall v Cheltenham<\/p>\n
Barnet v Barrow<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n On the topic of squad building and transfers, Arne Slot has said last season\u2019s title triumph \u201cpostponed\u201d the end of an era at Liverpool but insisted the club were under no illusions a rebuild was required when appointing him as J\u00fcrgen Klopp\u2019s successor.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n We\u2019ve reached the point in the season where players are beginning to announce their imminent summer departures. This time last week it was Kieran Trippier at Newcastle, and yesterday Andy Robertson revealed that he will be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season. Bernardo Silva is also poised to leave Manchester City.<\/p>\n We could see a few more announce exits in the coming weeks, with the likes of Ibrahima Konat\u00e9, John Stones and Jadon Sancho all counting down the final months of their respective contracts.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Amid another big week in the Premier League, let\u2019s take a quick look at the latest team news\u2026<\/p>\n (Apologies if you have only just realised that you forgot to update your fantasy team before yesterday\u2019s deadline)<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n This relegation battle is a difficult one, even if you’re on the outside. For me it is anyway.<\/p>\n You know how we all have a first love and maybe some affection for another team ‘on the side’ (perhaps a big and small local team, or another side because of moving away…whatever) ? – well, we can often have bits of affection for so many other teams for whatever reasons too, can’t we. And then I think (for most of us) there are many teams we are just 100% indifferent to. You just don’t care what happens with them.<\/p>\n For me, the 4 in the relegation battle are all in the ‘bit of affection’ bracket for one reason or another, so honestly, I’ll be quite sad to see any of them go down this season.<\/p>\n Jeff Sax has emailed in to say:<\/p>\n \u201cI cannot imagine what the suits at Spurs are thinking after reading that De Zerbi wants Ange football! I am speechless.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n How are you feeling, Coventry fans?<\/p>\n A momentous day for Coventry City. A win vs Wednesday virtually guarantees promotion, given their superior goal difference over Millwall and Middlesbrough. It won’t be easy though, no such thing in the Championship. Championship fixtures<\/p>\n QPR v Bristol City<\/p>\n Coventry City v Sheffield Wednesday<\/p>\n Norwich City v Ipswich Town<\/p>\n Oxford United v Watford<\/p>\n Leicester City v Swansea City<\/p>\n Stoke City v Blackburn Rovers<\/p>\n Southampton v Derby County<\/p>\n Middlesbrough v Portsmouth<\/p>\n Sheffield Untied v Hull City<\/p>\n Charlton Athletic v Preston North End<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n It\u2019s also another big day in the Championship as Coventry City look to take another huge step towards promotion. They face already-relegated Sheffield Wednesday in one of the early games.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n David Estherby has messaged in to say:<\/p>\n \u201cHave to agree with godfrey007 (8.33); it\u2019s clear Ange prioritised a cup over league position last year, theres no way he would\u2019ve let them slide to 17th or worse again. More importantly, there\u2019s not a chance Spurs would be where they are if Vertonghen and Alderweireld were still there, let alone Kane. Club\u2019s a mess but until the board prioritise Tottenham Hotspur over the Jacksonville Jaguars\/Beyonce\/the karaoke singer from the Bricklayers not a jot will change. <\/p>\n \u201cS**t runs downhill, folks.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Some more on Spurs\u2026<\/p>\n I think the problems at Spurs go deeper than the coach. But saying that – the decision making at the club has certainly contributed – especially with the choices of coach post Ange.<\/p>\n Frank inherited a squad built for the front foot, proactive football. We were promised flexibility from Frank after Ange’s mostly myopic approach, but instead we kind of got a non-football under Frank which seemed to leave the players confused. Spurs didn’t really have problems scoring goals under Ange. But that became difficult under Frank – with a focus on set piece play for a team that used to like to press from the front, have possession, play the ball on the floor and dominate games. With Frank Spurs started to launch it long (with a keeper who couldn’t) – and that was the start and downhill from there. Historically bad xG’s occurred game after game, players p\u00f6layed out of position or simply mis profiled. Frank’s tenure was absolutely awful. Injuries played their part (when don’t they at Spurs?) – and the club selling two season’s in a row top scorers who weren’t replaced certainly added bluntness in front of goal to the mix.<\/p>\n De Zerbi sees players in this Spurs team that can play the game in his style -or at least to his principles . As we’ve seen with West Ham – they are getting out of this mess by trying to win games. Spurs need to be more positive in their intent and they actually have the players to do this. Let’s see if De Zerbi can raise the confidence levels.<\/p>\n The firing of Ange – after delivering a trophy – and with most of the season having a depleted squad as we have now (for context) – was an achievement. This talk of Spurs getting used to losing is denied by the EL win – an ultimate in winning. There was a sense of togetherness between players, fans and coach after Bilbao. The club decided to end that abruptly and the club hasn’t recovered.<\/p>\n Today\u2019s Premier League fixtures<\/p>\n Arsenal v Bournemouth<\/p>\n Brentford v Everton<\/p>\n Burnley v Brighton<\/p>\n Liverpool v Fulham<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Arteta also admitted he is proud to be coming up against former team-mate Andoni Iraola, who is also from the Basque Country.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cYes, it\u2019s amazing what he has done together with the club. The consistency that they\u2019ve shown, the manner that they\u2019ve done it and the amount of players they\u2019ve sold – how they\u2019ve then reinvented themselves. The run that they are on is incredible because we know how tough the Premier League is. When it comes to pride, it\u2019s huge, when it comes to rivalry on matchday, it\u2019s even bigger – it goes out the window.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Mikel Arteta urged Arsenal fans to bring the noise at the Emirates Stadium this afternoon as the Gunners look to go 12 points clear at the top of the table.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cWe know the meaning of every match here and the opportunity that we have, especially when we play at home. We need to maximise every result. It\u2019s about each individual and how we turn up there. It\u2019s actually impacting the game, the atmosphere and energy in the stadium. Whoever comes tomorrow, I ask them to be with that mindset, energy and commitment, because the team is going to respond beautifully to that.\u201d<\/p>\n Mikel Arteta during the Champions League match between Sporting Lisbon and Arsenal on Tuesday. Photograph: Miguel Lemos\/NurPhoto\/ShutterstockShare<\/a><\/p>\n It should be a good match between Arsenal and Bournemouth this afternoon, although I don\u2019t think anything could beat this game\u2026 the DRAMA!<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Now from one end of the table to the other\u2026 Arsenal will look to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table with a win over Bournemouth at lunchtime. The Gunners currently lead by nine points, although second-placed Manchester City have a game in hand.<\/p>\n This could be a huge weekend for the title race, with Pep Guardiola and Co facing a difficult clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge tomorrow.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Speaking of \u201cAnge-ball\u201d \u2013 Roberto De Zerbi wants to bring it back as he attempts to prevent Tottenham\u2019s first relegation in 49 years.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Another question for Tottenham fans, do you think the club would be in this position if Ange Postecoglou had stayed?<\/p>\n De Zerbi to bring back Angeball. Along with the majority of other Spurs fans, I can’t help thinking that the club should never have sacked Ange in the first place! A terribly run club<\/p>\n With Burnley and Wolves looking pretty much certain to go down, the battle to avoid that last relegation place is heating up. Tottenham slipped into that spot last night following West Ham\u2019s 4-0 win \u2013 and they face a challenging game away at Sunderland tomorrow.<\/p>\n Nottingham Forest and Leeds United are also down there. The question is, who will face the drop? Let me know what you think!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Thank you, James, for getting this Matchday live up and running while I battled through train delays to make it into London! I just about made it\u2026 eventually!<\/p>\n Anyway, Premier League football is back and we have four games to look forward to later today. Arsenal will look to extend their lead at the top of the table when they face Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium. Brentford then host Everton, with Brighton travelling to face Burnley at Turf Moor.<\/p>\n And in the late game, Liverpool will look to bounce back from defeats to Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain when they take on Fulham at home.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Friday night\u2019s European roundup<\/p>\n Real Madrid had to settle for a 1-1 draw against mid-table Girona in La Liga, extending the hosts\u2019 winless run to three games in all competitions and giving leaders Barcelona the chance to stretch their advantage at the top.<\/p>\n Federico Valverde put Madrid ahead six minutes after half-time but Girona levelled in the 62nd minute through Thomas Lemar. \u00c1lvaro Arbeloa\u2019s side are six points behind with league leaders Bar\u00e7a, who have a game in hand against Espanyol on Saturday and could move nine clear with seven games to play.<\/p>\n Girona\u2019s Vitor Reis in action with Kylian Mbapp\u00e9 during their 1-1 draw in Madrid. Photograph: Gonzalo Fuentes\/ReutersShare<\/a>West Ham’s rout of Wolves sends Spurs into bottom three Two-nil up in a must-win game, Nuno Esp\u00edrito Santo\u2019s side looked unrecognisable from the doomed bunch who dropped seven points off 17th place in early January. This is a different West Ham. This is a West Ham with a punch in attack and, if this daring escape act does end with Premier League football secured for another season, a key part of the story will be how Nuno strengthened his squad in January.<\/p>\n While Axel Disasi has brought order in defence, the best way to compliment Castellanos and Pablo Felipe is to call them the modern equivalent of John Hartson and Paul Kitson.<\/p>\n West Ham, after all, have form in this department. They were fired to safety in 1997 after signing Hartson and Kitson halfway through a difficult campaign and, 29 years on, have given themselves a fighting chance thanks to the mid-season arrivals of Pablo and Castellanos.<\/p>\n Konstantinos Mavropanos celebrates scoring West Ham\u2019s fourth goal with Axel Disasi. Photograph: Matthew Childs\/Action Images\/ReutersShare<\/a>Preamble<\/p>\n Emillia will be here shortly. In the meantime, here\u2019s what happened in east London last night \u2026<\/p>\n
Maybe it’s a part of your childhood memories, or some old relative, friends at school, a random game you went to once… whatever…
And then there are those teams some people just actively dislike. (I don’t have any of them – maybe it’s an age thing – but as a Liverpool man some people have expected me to actively dislike Man United, Everton…and as an English lad, Scotland, etc, for years and years of my life).
Yeah, I’ll laugh at shitty results, but dislike or even hate ? – Nah.<\/p>\n![\"avatar\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/4538397.png\")
<\/a>Share<\/a><\/p>\n
This has been a fantastic season, and all credit to Lampard and the players. And massive shout to owner Doug King, who has finally secured the stadium for the club. 24,000 season tickets sold, every game home and away sold out. Whatever happens from now on, we’ll talk about this season for the rest of our days.<\/p>\n![\"avatar\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/4754315.gif\")
<\/a>Share<\/a><\/p>\n![\"avatar\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/114151460.png\")
<\/a>Share<\/a><\/p>\n![\"avatar\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/10703165.gif\")
<\/a>Share<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Jacob](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Jacob-Steinberg,-L.png\")
Jacob Steinberg<\/p>\n