2 hours ago
8
Key events Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature
Some more on non-league football if you want to catch up on all the action…
Richard Batsford says:
“I know the focus is on Prem and FA Cup, but please please cast an eye to the absolutely barking finale of the National League. Rochdale v York, both way over 100 points, facing off for the only automatic promotion spot (and title). Whoever misses out ends up in the play off lottery. As a Scunthorpe supporter I obviously want us to prevail in the play offs, but it would be criminal if a team with 100+ points *didn’t* go up.
“Anyway, it’s been a fantastic season all round in the NL.”
Funnily enough, I was just about to get to this! What a match to end the season with. A straight shootout between first and second. For York City, on 107 points, a draw will be enough to snatch the title. A win for Rochdale, however, will see them win it.
Kick-off for that one is at 12:30pm BST at the Crown Oil Arena.
Jeff Sax has messaged in about Arsenal and the Premier League title race:
“Arteta has a record of not succeeding. This season will be no different. He may be Spanish, he may have worked with Pep but he is only better in being more anxious and under pressure.”
Speaking of Arsenal and the Women’s Champions League, Suzanne Wrack spoke to Olivia Smith recently about her football journey and playing in her first major European semi-final.
The FA Cup semi-final is not the only major football semi-final happening today. The Women’s Champions League semi-finals also kick off this weekend, starting with Bayern Munich v Barcelona this evening.
Arsenal then host Lyon at the Emirates Stadium tomorrow.
Fancy a bit of reminiscing on this Saturday morning, Southampton fans? Give this a read…
It’ll be really interesting to see what team Pep Guardiola names today. Will he go full strength? Or will he significantly rotate with the Premier League title race in mind?
1. I wouldn't mind a Leeds-Saints Final. That'll be great for neutrals and non Chelsea or City fans.
2. We hope Pep rotates. I loved the team that beat Newcastle away in the FA Cup,it was fool of fresh legs and hunger. Nico and Reijnders at the centre of it plus a rejuvenated Ake at the back with Marmoush hunting for the goals.
Not only do we have lots of Premier League action today, we also have the first FA Cup semi-final to look forward to.
Manchester City take on Southampton at Wembley at 5:15pm BST for a place in the final.
Will the underdogs prevail?
Dave Estherby has emailed in about Tottenham:
“I think Spurs could be bang in trouble today. Wolves have shown this season that as well as being fairly abject for most of it, they’re perfectly capable of playing very good, even great football when the mood strikes them.
“Tottenham probably looked at this fixture not long ago and thought, well that’s 3 points, no problem.
“Wolves are probably thinking, well if we’re going down we’re taking you with us.
“Can see Spurs getting a hiding, which with a current -11 goal difference, could be fatal.
“West Ham won’t beat Everton though...”
In a boost for Arsenal, Bukayo Saka is set to return today following a month-long absence with injury.
Mikel Arteta said: “We have given him some time because there was a moment that he was struggling to sustain the performances because he wasn’t comfortable at all. We’ve done that so he had the right treatment, the right space. He has some time as well for himself and it’s the most important part of the season and it’s part of us.
“I think it was a good moment for him as well to reflect on that, to have some peace because we’ve been constantly asking and demanding him, and it was a moment to say: ‘OK, now when you feel ready let us know and we’ll go for it.’”
The Arsenal manager added: “He was in great spirits today, you can see the sun is shining and now he’s back with the team, because he had a different energy. He’s had a tough period, we certainly missed him and he’s back with us now.
“Bukayo is a player when it comes to those moments, we expect him to produce those moments to win it for us. We need him in the squad. We have him now. Hopefully we can use him in the right way.”
If you get the chance to read this at some point today, please do. It’s a brilliant summary from Jonathan Liew of the panic going through north London right now – on both ends of the spectrum.
At the other end of the table, Arsenal host Newcastle as they look to leapfrog Manchester City and move back to first in the Premier League. The Gunners slipped to second earlier this week after City clinched a 1-0 win over Burnley.
They need a win today to keep some control in the title race.
Krishnamoorthy has messaged in to say:
“The phrase ‘throw them to the wolves’ never appeared more apt than today, even if these Wolves are neither scary nor capable. But since when did Tottenham need an enemy to capitulate?”
It does feel like West Ham have the more challenging game compared to Spurs this afternoon…
But this is the Premier League – anything can happen!
Today is when my WHU drop back into the bottom 3 and stay there. Brady has gone,hopefully soon followed by Sullivan. Next season in the Championship we can at least begin the process of becoming a football club again.
Today’s Premier League fixtures
-
Fulham v Aston Villa
-
West Ham v Everton
-
Wolves v Tottenham
-
Liverpool v Crystal Palace
-
Arsenal v Newcastle
Speaking of West Ham and Tottenham, both teams are in action at 3pm BST this afternoon. The Hammers host Everton and former boss David Moyes, while Spurs travel to face Wolves.
It could be a huge day in the race for survival.
So, my question to you today… Who will be the final team to get relegated?
Wolves and Burnley are already down, and following last night’s match it now looks like it’s between West Ham and Tottenham. What do we think?
Here’s how that result left the Premier League table…
Nottingham Forest completely stunned Sunderland last night with a huge 5-0 win at the Stadium of Light which should keep them safe in the Premier League. Goals from Chris Wood, Morgan Gibbs-White, Igor Jesus, Elliot Anderson and an own-goal from Trai Hume fired Forest to a much-needed victory, putting space between them, West Ham and Tottenham in the relegation battle.
Hello, good morning and welcome to another Matchday live! We have plenty to look forward to this afternoon, from Premier League fixtures to Championship and EFL match-ups. We also have a WSL game to preview as well as a Women’s Champions League semi-final and an FA Cup semi-final.
In the Prem, Fulham host Aston Villa at lunchtime. Everton then travel to face West Ham at the London Stadium, already-relegated Wolves take on Tottenham and Liverpool face Crystal Palace. And in the late fixture, Arsenal will be looking to return to the top of the table with a win over Newcastle.
But before we look ahead to those fixtures, let’s recap what happened at the Stadium of Light last night…
Preamble
Emillia will be here shortly to tee up a huge day of action from the FA Cup, Premier League, Football League, National League, Scottish Premiership and Europe.
To start you off, here is all the the latest team news for the first two of those competitions …
… and 10 things you need to look out for this weekend. Enjoy!
