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Minute-by-minute updates on the 7.15pm GMT kick-off Sign up for the Fiver | Follow all Sunday’s goals here And you can email Luke or tweet @LukeMcLaughlin 6.25pm GMT Two changes for the hosts, with Oliver Norwood and David McGoldrick coming back into the team. Liverpool’s first-choice goalie, Alisson, is absent following the death of his father. Adrián starts in goal, with Nat Phillips and Ozan Kabak forming the central defensive partnership, and a front three of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mané. Sheff Utd: Ramsdale, Ampadu, Jagielka, Bryan, Baldock, Norwood, Lundstram, Fleck, Stevens, McBurnie, McGoldrick. Subs: Sharp, Mousset, Lowe, Burke, Foderingham, Osborn, Brewster, Ndiaye, Maguire. Our line-up to face @SheffieldUnited ⚽️ Alisson is absent on compassionate grounds, while Jota misses out due to illness. 6.23pm GMT Chelsea and Manchester United have just finished playing out a Stamford Bridge stalemate: Related: Chelsea v Manchester United: Premier...

Former defender also managed Watford, Newcastle and Norwich ‘He was a fantastic person. Well respected,’ says Gary Neville Glenn Roeder, who managed West Ham United between 2001 and 2003, has died at the age of 65 following a long battle with a brain tumour. Roeder was a much liked and respected coach who also managed Gillingham, Watford, Newcastle United and Norwich City. He also worked as a coach with England during Glenn Hoddle’s spell as the national team manager. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/feb/28/former-west-ham-manager-and-england-coach-glenn-roeder-dies-aged-65

Arsenal’s manager, Joe Montemurro, said his team “have the football, have the players, have the belief and have the preparation” to kick-start a winning run to the end of the season after securing a 4-0 victory over Aston Villa, their first of 2021. The Gunners sit outside of the Champions League qualification spots in fourth but play third-placed Manchester United in two weeks. “From our perspective it’s one game at a time, we know what we need to achieve, we’ve got targets we can control and we know we can,” he said after a game where Women’s Super League top scorer Vivianne Miedemaopened the scoring in the 59th minute. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/feb/28/aston-villa-arsenal-wsl-match-report

Forward scores after just 32 seconds in 3-0 home win Bundesliga bottom club Schalke sack Christian Gross Romelu Lukaku scored after just 32 seconds as Internazionale maintained their title charge with a comprehensive 3-0 win over Genoa at San Siro. With Milan playing Roma in Sunday’s late game, Antonio Conte’s side had an opportunity to pull seven points clear, and pile pressure on their local rivals. They got off to the perfect start when Lukaku immediately drove through the visiting defence to score his 18th league goal of the season. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/feb/28/european-roundup-serie-a-la-liga-bundesliga

This was exactly the kind of afternoon Tottenham had anticipated when Gareth Bale jetted back in five months ago. Two goals and an assist offered compelling evidence he has a clear use beyond Europa League cameos and heightened the impression that, at long last, he is ready to be both the gamechanger and team player José Mourinho wants. Perhaps even more encouraging than the individual showpieces was his harmony with the rest of Spurs’ front four, all of whom were outstanding. Everyone was on the same page and that was evident through the marvellous ball Bale played to Harry Kane for the strike that effectively put this game beyond a sub-standard Burnley. Lucas Moura deservedly got in on the act too; given their woeful run of domestic form in recent weeks Spurs’ performance was an importantly timed reminder that, when it is harnessed properly, they have attacking power capable of blowing opponents away. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/fo...

Those who pour scorn on the relevance of a national final between Livingston and St Johnstone do a huge disservice to a group of history makers from Perth. St Johnstone have now taken delivery of the League Cup for the first time since formation, 137 years ago. Until this behind-closed-doors experience, St Johnstone had only featured in two League Cup finals, losing 1-0 to Jock Stein’s Celtic and 2-1 to Rangers 29 years later. This victory takes ‘overdue’ to fresh extremes. If the absence of bigger clubs is bemoaned by sponsors and television executives, it provides the kind of welcome opportunity St Johnstone seized upon. Scottish football is a better place when honours are shared; St Johnstone have now broken Celtic’s consecutive trophy haul at the 13th attempt. The names of Clark, Rooney, Kerr, Gordon, Booth, McCann, Craig, Conway, Kane, Wotherspoon, McCart and May have been etched into St Johnstone folklore. Tens of thousands of supporters aren’t required for that to be a celebrat...

Updates from the 4.30pm GMT kick-off at Stamford Bridge Sign up for the Fiver | Follow all Sunday’s goals here Any comments? Email rob.smyth@theguardian.com 3.33pm GMT Thomas Tuchel makes three changes from the team that beat Atletico Madrid: Ben Chilwell, N’Golo Kante and Hakim Ziyech come in for Marcos Alonso, Jorginho and Timo Werner. Manchester United didn’t play their best XI against Real Sociedad, as they were effectively through, but there are two changes from the 3-1 win over Newcastle in their last league game: Scott McTominay, fit again, and Mason Greenwood come in for Nemanja Matic and Anthony Martial. That means Marcus Rashford will play up front. 11.36am GMT Hello. Progress, like hope and potatoes, comes in many forms. In football it can be measured by trophies, signings, performances, even unexpected praise escaping from the open face of Royston Keane. And – duh – league position. Last season, Chelsea and Manchester United were competing to finish third; this ye...

Teemu Pukki and Adam Idah both found the net in the second half as Norwich restored their seven-point lead at the top of the Championship with a comfortable 2-0 win over bottom club Wycombe. Gareth Ainsworth’s side kept the visitors goalless for 51 minutes, but an 18th goal of the season for Pukki broke the deadlock and Idah wrapped things up three minutes from time. Victory means Daniel Farke’s team are now 10 points clear of third-placed Watford and on course for an immediate Premier League return. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/feb/28/teemu-pukki-strikes-again-as-leaders-norwich-battle-to-win-at-wycombe

On a lovely, soft, sunny day at the King Power Stadium it was Arsenal’s Europa League troubadours who looked to have been touched by the breath of spring. Behind after six minutes, Arsenal dominated possession, scored three times before the hour mark and looked good value for a 3-1 win against a depleted Leicester City team. Much of the build-up to this game had focused on status. Is there such a thing as the “big six” in Stenosing football, and if so how do we measure it? Finance? Expectation? Actual league positions? At kick-off Leicester were 12 points and six league places clear of their visitors. By full-time it was hard to avoid the feeling that Arsenal’s greater squad depth had carried the day, that the quality of their replacements, most notably Nicolas Pépé, was simply too much. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/feb/28/leicester-arsenal-premier-league-match-report

If Fulham end up being relegated this season, Scott Parker may well look back at this match as the one that got away. Another strong performance that stretched their unbeaten run to five matches and moved them another point closer to safety should really have ended with Parker’s side claiming a crucial victory. Yet this Crystal Palace team is, like their manager, nothing but obdurate and another masterful display of team organisation and some wasteful finishing from their opponents means a club record ninth successive top-flight season is almost assured. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/feb/28/crystal-palace-fulham-premier-league-match-report-football

Club won their first league championship last season Jiangsu owned by Suning Group who also own Inter Chinese football was thrown into disarray on Sunday as the owners of reigning Chinese Super League champions Jiangsu FC announced the club would cease operations with immediate effect. A post on Jiangsu‘s official WeChat account expressed hope of new backers or that a “company of insight” would be willing to consult on the team’s future. The announcement stated all of owners Suning Group’s football clubs, including the hugely successful Jiangsu Suning Women, would “cease operations from today”. The Nanjing-based retailer, one of China’s biggest and which also owns Italian Serie A club Internazionale, earlier in February said it intended to focus on core businesses, leaving non-retail assets at risk. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/feb/28/chinese-super-league-in-disarray-as-champions-jiangsu-cease-operations

Minute-by-minute updates on the 2pm UK time kick-off Sign up for the Fiver | Follow all Sunday’s goals here And you can email Luke or tweet @LukeMcLaughlin 1.40pm GMT Mourinho speaks: “We want to win. That’s the main objective. We want to win and we believe these players are ready for it ... we think we are going to play against a team that defends very well - they can press high, but also defend low, and Gareth is a player with quality to help us. So we decided to play with [Erik] Lamela in the Europa League and rest Gareth for this match.” 1.33pm GMT Arsenal are currently beating Leicester 3-1, having come from a goal behind. Daniel Harris is live blogging that one, right here: Related: Leicester City v Arsenal: Premier League – live! Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2021/feb/28/tottenham-v-burnley-premier-league-live

Live updates on the action, kick-off 2pm GMT Sign up for the Fiver | Follow all Sunday’s goals here And you can email John Brewin or tweet @JohnBrewin_ 1.21pm GMT Some quotes, courtesy of the excellent Tim Stillman of Arseblog, from the Arsenal coach Joe Montemurro. (This international round) was really important for the players, just so they don’t have to look at my ugly face day in and day out if nothing else! I’ve always been a big supporter of players going away with their countries, it’s an honour and whatever they can get from that perspective is really important for them. We support that. It’s been an interesting one because some teams have just gone into camp to get their players together. All the testing that is required to get players back into our group has been a bit challenging. It has been a good round in terms of getting our players more game time and getting them into a different environment with their international colleagues- that’s been really important from...

But Rishi Sunak says he wants "to be honest" with the public about the shock suffered by the economy.

Minute-by-minute updates on the action at the King Power Will Hodgson, English football’s tourist, be haunted by regret? Any comments? Email daniel.harris.casual@theguardian.com 11.39am GMT We’ve just seen tape of Brandan telling Robbie Savage that at 48, he’s coming into his prime as a coach – a happy chance! – and notes that development is generally associated with young players, but he’s just as focused on his older players. I really enjoy hearing him talk football and find his refusal to play down his own role in things refreshing, but he could really use a trophy. He says a successful season would be European football –at this point, I’m not so sure about that, given they’ve been in the top four for the duration and botched it a year ago – and is also desperate to win the cup. 11.33am GMT BT reckon Leicester will play Iheanacho behind Vardy, which sounds slightly odd; like Vardy, he’s a finisher not a prompter, but you can’t legislate for Brendan’s transformative genius....

Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s criticism of LeBron’s activism is a rehash of the familiar Fox News double standard: that it’s OK for athletes to speak out on issues as long as conservatives agree At the end of Black History Month, the Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, a larger-than-life figure who has resuscitated an entire city during a remarkable season with Milan, felt the need to take time out of his schedule to criticize LeBron James for using his global platform to turn a spotlight on social injustices in the United States. LeBron has been one of the NBA’s leading voices in the ongoing fight against police brutality, racism, inequality and social change, using his voice in a way that will have him permanently listed with the great athlete-activists of the past such as Bill Russell, Muhammad Ali, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, John Carlos, Tommie Smith, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, Craig Hodges and Colin Kaepernick. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/...

US Soccer repeals 2017 policy that requiring standing for anthem Federation condemns ‘offensive’ remarks by dissenting delegate Seth Jahn downplayed impact of police brutality and US slavery The United States Soccer Federation voted on Saturday to repeal a controversial 2017 policy that had required players stand for the national anthem, then issued a statement hours later condemning the “offensive comments” of a dissenting delegate who downplayed the impact of slavery and dismissed police brutality against African Americans as a media-hyped “statistical anomaly” in remarks from the floor. Related: Stand or kneel? How Megan Rapinoe helped US Soccer change its tune Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/feb/27/us-soccer-anthem-kneeling-policy

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John Stones is enjoying the season of his career as he illustrated via an emphatic strike that took Manchester City to a 20th consecutive victory. If Riyad Mahrez’s feet bedazzled West Ham’s defence to create the opening to find him, then Stones instantaneous shot that burst Darren Randolph’s net was supreme. This came on 68 minutes and was the centre-back’s fourth of the campaign. It also means that West Ham’s winless run against City stretches to 12 matches and Pep Guardiola’s irresistible side are now unbeaten in 27. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/feb/27/manchester-city-west-ham-premier-league-match-report

Danjuma scores only goal in Bournemouth’s 1-0 victory Both sides reduced to 10 men after fractious encounter Arnaut Danjuma scored the only goal as Bournemouth picked up a crucial 1-0 win over Championship promotion rivals Watford in an ill-tempered game which both teams finished with 10 men. Danjuma fired the winner – his seventh goal of the season – 16 minutes into the second half to end the Cherries’ two-matching losing run. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/feb/27/championship-roundup-wilshere-red-as-cherries-win-over-watford-ends-in-brawl

Crystal Palace’s manager has enjoyed extraordinary longevity – but if these are the final months of an impressive coaching career, how should he be remembered? The whole dynamic of the game was Brighton attacking. Everything was about whether they could find the goal they so clearly deserved. When Christian Benteke then volleyed a winner for Crystal Palace , it felt so implausible it was impossible not to pause. It didn’t feel right: was that allowed? Had the whistle already gone? On the touchline, a huge grin broke across Roy Hodgson’s face, he gave a little skip, and he turned instinctively to hug Ray Lewington. These are the best wins, particularly in a derby: stolen against all odds, against all justice. Analysis and fretting about midfield shape can wait: first you just have to enjoy the euphoric implausibility of it all. “It’s a wonderful feeling,” Hodgson beamed afterwards, and you could see that it was. He may be 73, he may have been coaching for 44 years, but he still feels ...

The latest on a key relegation battle plus EFL and Europe latest Premier League: 10 things to look out for this weekend Any comments? You can email Simon | tweet @simon_burnton 1.06pm GMT It’s that time again. Saturday afternoon brings just the one Premier League fixture but also the usual avalanche of action across the Football League. Let’s start with a run-through of today’s fixtures. The best of the Championship games is probably at Swansea , where Bristol City , who after a run of six successive league defeats appointed Nigel Pearson and immediately won at Middlesbrough in midweek, while talking of high-impact managerial appointments Mick McCarthy’s Cardiff juggernaut heads to Boro on a six-match winning run. Rotherham’ s game against Reading might be 22nd v 5th but Reading have four points from their last six and the early-season pace-setters could be out of the play-off places by the end of the day (I write this without knowing the result of the early kick-off at Bou...

The forward had scored equaliser against Nottingham Forest Attacks continue the trend of social media abuse of players Derby County have condemned the racist social media abuse aimed at Colin Kazim-Richards after he scored the equaliser in Friday’s 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest. Related: English football is consumed by racism and hatred. Can the cycle be broken? | Jonathan Liew Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/feb/27/cannot-continue-derby-social-media-abuse-of-colin-kazim-richards

Win the Scottish League Cup against St Johnstone on Sunday and talk of the Livingston manager’s dark past will fade and switch fully to his football If Livingston see off St Johnstone to claim the Scottish League Cup, David Martindale will have no chance of seeing his wish for diversion being granted. A peaceful, football-centric life for Martindale would have to wait for those already captivated by his incredible journey of rehabilitation. The winners at Hampden Park will make history as the Scottish side to lift the trophy that breaks Celtic’s run of 12 domestic triumphs in succession. Try telling St Johnstone and Livingston that the absence of the Old Firm renders Sunday’s showpiece final at Hampden Park irrelevant. Within that, Martindale supplies the key intrigue. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/feb/27/david-martindale-livingston-scottish-league-cup-final

Live updates from the 12.30pm GMT kick-off Premier League: 10 things to look out for this weekend Any comments? You can email Scott.Murray@theguardian.com 11.40am GMT The big news: Sergio Aguero is back, making his first start for City since October, when he faced ... West Ham. He’s one of seven changes to the team that won in Monchengladbach during the week. Also back in: John Stones, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Kevin De Bruyne, Ferran Torres, Fernandinho and Riyad Mahrez. Dropping to the bench: Aymeric Laporte, Joao Cancelo, Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Raheem Sterling, Phil Foden and Gabriel Jesus. It’s fair to say City have a decent squad. West Ham make two changes to the side that beat Spurs last weekend. Lukasz Fabianski injured his elbow in training, so Darren Randolph pulls on the gloves. Jarrod Bowen makes way for Ben Johnson. 11.32am GMT Manchester City: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Dias, Zinchenko, De Bruyne, Fernandinho, Gundogan, Mahrez, Aguero, Torres. Subs: Sterling, Gabriel...

Rhian Brewster’s Blades take on his former club Liverpool on Sunday but the £23.5m striker may not even get on the pitch When Rhian Brewster missed the decisive penalty for Liverpool in their shootout defeat by Arsenal in the Community Shield last August, he could not have known that was merely the first act in a season of anguish – for Liverpool, for him and even for Sheffield United, the club he would join for a record fee in October . When the two clubs meet at Bramall Lane on Sunday with United marooned at the bottom and Liverpool aiming to avoid a fifth league loss in a row, Brewster may not feature. He has played only four minutes in United’s past four league matches. His figures for the season so far are anything but flattering: 18 Premier League appearances, seven starts, no goals. A meagre return, then, for the £23.5m paid to lure one of England’s hottest striking prospects. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/feb/27...

Milan striker said James should stick to ‘what you’re good at’ NBA star points to Ibrahimovic’s comments on Swedish racism LeBron James has responded to criticism from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and vowed never to stay silent about social causes. In an interview on Thursday, Ibrahimovic said sportspeople such as James – who has been one of the NBA’s leading voices against racial injustice and police brutality – should avoid involving themselves in political matters and focus only on sports. “I don’t like when people with a status speak about politics,” he said. “Do what you’re good at doing.” Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/feb/27/lebron-james-zlatan-ibrahimovic-criticism

Fulham have put together an excellent run of eight points from four matches to move within striking distance of safety. Newcastle are three points ahead in 17th but face a resurgent Wolves side, so defeat could be on the cards. Goals are still at a premium for Scott Parker’s side, though, and Roy Hodgson will be scheming to keep it tight and hit Fulham on the counter as they go in search of another vital set of three points. Crystal Palace will also be looking for Jean-Philippe Mateta to build on his fine night’s work against Brighton on Monday. Graham Searles Sunday noon BBC One Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/feb/27/crystal-palace-fulham-match-preview-premier-league

Chelsea disappointed for the first time under Thomas Tuchel in last week’s draw with Southampton so all eyes will be on his side, scrutinising how they respond. Tuchel was particularly upset with Callum Hudson-Odoi, who received the ignominy of being a subbed substitute, so Reece James will be eager to continue impressing on the right flank. James will have to be working hard to help shut down Manchester United’s impressive attacking unit. Bruno Fernandes is easy to single out as key to United’s successes but Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s defence need to continue their improvement, since a shocker against Everton, if they are to best Chelsea. Graham Searles Sunday 4.30pm Sky Sports Premier League Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/feb/27/manchester-united-chelsea-match-preview-premier-league

Tottenham need to beat Burnley. A team with their talent should be higher than ninth and José Mourinho should be able to extract more than his side are currently giving him. Sean Dyche presents a nightmare for Mourinho. An expert at sitting back and stealing victories means Tottenham have to play on the front foot. Mourinho will be taking notes on Sunday if Burnley snatch a result. Any points picked up would be a boost to Burnley’s survival ambitions. Graham Searles Sunday 2pm Sky Sports Premier League Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/feb/27/tottenham-burnley-match-preview-premier-league

Everton are feeling good following a first win at Anfield since 1999, planning permission for a new stadium and a new contract for Lucas Digne – all in the space of five days – but major improvement is required at Goodison Park to give it more foundation. Carlo Ancelotti’s team have lost four of their past five Premier League home games, including 2-0 defeats by Fulham and Newcastle, and Southampton offer another test of what the Italian suspects is complacency among his players when facing struggling sides. Ralph Hasenhüttl’s team are sliding towards trouble after eight league games without a win. Andy Hunter Monday 8pm Sky Sports Premier League Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/feb/27/everton-southampton-match-preview-premier-league

Liverpool have been all over the place recently and deserved to lose against Everton but Sheffield United present an open goal for Jürgen Klopp’s side to get back on track. Injuries are mounting for Chris Wilder much like the pressure of relegation as the drop looms ever larger. United will hope to exploit Liverpool’s patchwork defence but as the cliche states: attack is the best form of defence. Ping it up to Mohamed Salah and let him take care of Phil Jagielka. A possible victory of sorts over Everton as the former Blue is unlikely to still have the legs to hold off Liverpool’s athletic attacking unit. Graham Searles Sunday 7.15pm Sky Sports Premier League Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/feb/27/sheffield-united-liverpool-match-preview-premier-league

Leicester have tended to recover well from the few disappointments they have suffered this season and will be hoping to put Thursday’s Europa League elimination behind them by continuing their strong Premier League form on Sunday. That will required showing much more intensity than they did against Slavia Prague and overcoming the loss of James Maddison, who joined the club’s long injury list when he limped out of last week’s win at Aston Villa. Arsenal enjoyed a happier night of European action on Thursday and will be aiming to take advantage of their hosts’ troubles. Paul Doyle Sunday noon BT Sport 1 Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/feb/27/leicester-arsenal-match-preview-match-preview

Increased use of analytics has opened club doors to a new and more diverse set of experts, including a teenager in Bengaluru who is working with Dundee United Last week Jay Socik got a new job. As head of recruitment analysis at Luton Town, he will take responsibility for providing the manager, Nathan Jones, and his team with the data to sign the players to help continue the Championship club’s impressive, thrifty rise up the football pyramid. It has also meant a change to his Twitter account; a new, clean-shaven profile picture and the use of his real name. It was through Twitter, as @blades_analytic , that the Sheffield United fan Socik made his name in football. It was also how he became a leading example of why the popularisation of analytics – the interpretation of data on every pass, shot and tackle on a football field – is transforming the game inside and out. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/feb/27/how-data-is-pushi...

The Spanish midfielder on success at Valencia with Claudio Ranieri, lockdown DJing and the ups and downs at Boro It feels a little strange to start at the end with Gaizka Mendieta, but this is one that still smarts. The Spaniard, who was twice named the best midfielder in Europe by Uefa and captained Valencia to two unlikely Champions League finals, finished his career at Middlesbrough in less celebrated circumstances, as a knee injury and a falling out with Gareth Southgate dominated his final playing days. “I did not see Southgate becoming England manager at all but now that he is, he’s a perfect fit,” says Mendieta. “We had a good relationship at Middlesbrough as teammates but when he became manager he still wanted to be a friend, a mate. But he wasn’t honest. Rather than just say, ‘We don’t want you here, find yourself another club’, he would keep telling me I was needed. We both knew it was not true; why did he tell me those things? He felt pressure from the board but later tol...

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Leeds will be without the injured Kalvin Phillips and Aston Villa lacking the similarly indisposed Jack Grealish. Only time will tell which talisman will prove the bigger miss but Villa may need to be mindful of their hosts penchant for so called tactical fouling. After Marcelo Bielsa’s side beat Southampton 3-0 in midweek – a result which lifted Leeds to 10th – Ralph Hasenhüttl said Bielsa’s players were far more streetwise than his team. “They’re very clever,” Hasenhüttl said. “They always stopped our counter-attacks with a simple foul in midfield. It stopped everything. They do it very smart.” Louise Taylor Saturday 5.30pm Sky Sports Premier League Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/feb/26/leeds-aston-villa-match-preview-premier-league

Last-16 draw also pairs Arsenal with Olympiakos Spurs face Dinamo Zagreb, Rangers to play Slavia Prague Zlatan Ibrahimovic is returning to Old Trafford after Manchester United were drawn against Milan in the last 16 of the Europa League. The 39-year-old striker established himself as a fan favourite during his almost two-season spell at Old Trafford, scoring in the Community Shield and League Cup triumphs in 2016-17. Ibrahimovic played a key role in that season’s victorious Europa League run, but a serious knee injury in the quarter-final against Anderlecht ruled him out of the remainder of the campaign. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/feb/26/manchester-united-draw-milan-europa-league-zlatan-ibrahimovic-arsenal-spurs-rangers

West Brom need to beat Brighton as time ebbs away for them to save their season. Sam Allardyce appears to have finally shored up their defensive problems, only two goals conceded in West Brom’s past four games, with the introduction of Okay Yokuslu as a holding midfielder but West Brom are 11 points from safety and are not scoring enough goals to win matches. Allardyce will hope Brighton are still baring the scars of a gutting last-minute defeat to Crystal Palace. The incentive of not dropping further into danger should give Graham Potter ample motivation though. Potter can flex his superior tactical knowledge and deliver a welcome win. Graham Searles Saturday 3pm Sky Sports Premier League Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/feb/26/west-brom-brigton-match-preview-premier-league

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Goalkeeper has a reputation as a joker but it belies a serious approach to her game – and to studying business and German Mary Earps doesn’t want to be misunderstood but Manchester United’s goalkeeper no longer cares if she is. The 27-year-old has a reputation for being a joker off the pitch. It can influence the way people view her as a footballer but there is a lesser-known seriousness and intelligence to Earps that underpins her bubbly persona. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/feb/26/manchester-united-mary-earps-goalkeeper-joker-business-german

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BBC editors Faisal Islam and Simon Jack tell us what Chancellor Rishi Sunak might have in store.

Draw for the Europa League is due to start at 12pm GMT Premier League: 10 things to look out for this weekend And feel free to email Barry or tweet him @bglendenning 10.42am GMT Aston Villa: Dean Smith has revealed that Jack Grealish will miss out on Villa’s match against Leeds United at Elland Road tomorrow evening as he recovers from a leg injury. Villa’s star was also absent for his side’s defeat at the hands of Leicester City last weekend, prompting a subsequernt storm in a teacup after Leicester got wind of his injury when several Aston Villa players removed Greealish from their Fantasy Football teams. Speaking to the press yesterday, Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa said he hoped Grealish would be fit for the encounter, despite the threat he poses. “He is a great player who can unbalance you,” he said. “But I always prefer that opponents have their best players available because even if that fortifies a team, and makes them more scary to face, it’s also a stimulus for us to fa...

Forward has found his place and contributed to success story at a club seemingly inept at signing players in that position For West Ham fans there are certain sentences that, regardless of context or circumstance, are basically guaranteed to bring you out in a cold sweat. “Roberto starts in goal.” “The owner’s just tweeted again.” But if you really want to conjure up that heady brew of exhilaration, anxiety and dread-soaked foreboding, then you will struggle to improve upon these seven words: “West Ham have signed a new striker”. The revolving door of forwards signed in the 11 years that Davids Gold and Sullivan have been in charge of the club has been well-documented: from Championship makeweights (Nicky Maynard, Jordan Hugill) to established stars (Marco Borriello, Simone Zaza) to players you would swear were made up (Brian Montenegro, Wellington Paulista). Last month the club’s £45m record signing Sébastien Haller was sold to Ajax for £20m: a reminder that even in this most sparkl...

This season Birmingham City are fighting to avoid relegation to League One. Ten years ago, they won a cup final at Wembley By Sean Cole for The Blizzard By most conventional measures, Obafemi Martins’s loan spell with Birmingham City could not be deemed a success. Recruited in January 2011 to score the goals that would keep the club in the Premier League, he only found the net twice and his season was cut short by injury when he was needed most. The club was relegated in his absence. Yet something remarkable, and unexpected, happened in his fourth appearance. A late substitute in the League Cup final, Martins had only been on the pitch for six minutes when a moment of confusion between Laurent Koscielny and Wojciech Szczesny led the ball spilling at his feet with the goal gaping. He couldn’t miss and Arsenal had no time to recover. In the strangest of circumstances, the Nigerian striker marked his temporary stay at Birmingham City with perhaps the most significant goal in the club’...

US Soccer has apologized for a 2017 policy that banned kneeling for the anthem. But the issue won’t officially be settled until Saturday, when it’s put to a vote at the annual general meeting It wasn’t long after the death of George Floyd that the decision-makers at the US Soccer Federation realized they needed to make some changes – and one change was immediately obvious. Years earlier, the federation had issued an edict requiring national team players to stand during the national anthem. It was targeted at Megan Rapinoe, who had been kneeling to protest systemic racism, and the federation framed its new policy as minimizing distractions and showing respect for the flag. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/feb/26/megan-rapinoe-national-anthem-vote-general-meeting

The electric car battery plant will be the biggest industrial investment in the North East for years.

Liverpool captain will not return before April He misses England matches as well as club games Jordan Henderson has been ruled out for at least five weeks after undergoing groin surgery. The Liverpool captain’s absence is the latest blow to Jürgen Klopp in a season marked by injuries and setbacks. Henderson will miss a minimum of five Liverpool matches as well as three England games at the end of March. He was hurt during last Saturday’s defeat by Everton . Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/feb/26/liverpool-jordan-henderson-out-at-least-five-weeks-groin-surgery-jurgen-klopp

Airline group IAG's call comes as it posts a huge annual loss after the pandemic grounded many flights.

Rare cards based on the popular Japanese video game and cartoons are regularly fetching six figures.

Villa need to plan for life without Grealish, Jota could be back for Liverpool and Guardiola should not take West Ham lightly Atlético Madrid sat deep hoping to hit Chelsea on the break in midweek but got little or no change out of a well-drilled side that made it difficult for the Spanish league leaders to muster much in the way of counterattacks with their ferocious intensity whenever they lost the ball. While Manchester United are unlikely to be as compliant as Atlético when they visit Stamford Bridge, Ole Gunnar Solskjær and his coaching staff will need to figure out a way of … er, countering Thomas Tuchel’s fabled counter-press or risk spending far more time than they would like playing on the back foot even when they have the ball. BG Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/feb/26/premier-league-10-things-to-look-out-for-this-weekend

The UK produced 27% fewer cars than a year ago, the worst January figure for over a decade.

Cheaper beer could support struggling pubs MPs argue, but alcohol awareness campaigners are opposed.

A benefits top-up to help the poor survive lockdown is due to end - unless it is extended at the Budget.

Clubs have been closed for almost a year but what will the clubbing experience be like when they reopen?

The toy's maker, Hasbro, says it will drop the "Mr" to "promote gender equality and inclusion".

Brands are starting to embrace social media influencers with disabilities to target the "purple pound".

Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now! In days gone by, Big Vase was won by the likes of Ipswich Town, Gothenburg, a club known to most folk as Neverkusen, and Schalke, who are Germany’s version of Newcastle United, for goodness sake – and that’s being generous and polite. But the chances of any similar gusts of fresh air blowing across the continent these days seem slim. Take Wednesday night’s match between Spurs U-17s and Wolfsberger , which ended 4-0 to the mid-table Premier League outfit. The only whiff of a shock came in the post-match presser, when José Mourinho spoke quite nicely of Dele Alli. That it’s come to this for the greatest second-rate pan-European competition in the whole goddamn world. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/feb/25/the-worlds-greatest-second-rate-pan-european-football-competition

Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning , Jonathan Liew , Ewan Murray and Jacqui Oatley to review this week’s Champions League games, tackle a host of questions that have never been asked before and talk coats Rate, review, share on Apple Podcasts , Soundcloud , Audioboom , Mixcloud , Acast and Stitcher , and join the conversation on Facebook , Twitter and email . The pod discuss Manchester City overwhelming Mönchengladbach , as Pep Guardiola bemoans his side’s finishing while sporting a Partridge-esque branded jacket. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/audio/2021/feb/25/lennon-quits-celtic-and-guardiola-gets-his-coat-football-weekly-extra-podcast

Deal ends in 2024 and ground could be ready later that year ‘I would like to stay as long as possible,’ manager says Carlo Ancelotti has said he hopes to extend his Everton contract beyond 2024 and lead the club into its planned new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock. Everton received planning permission from Liverpool city council on Tuesday for a 52,888-capacity stadium on Liverpool’s waterfront and, subject to final approval from the government, could start the 150-week construction project this spring or summer. That would enable Everton to relocate for the 2024-25 season. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/feb/25/carlo-ancelotti-keen-to-extend-contract-and-lead-everton-into-new-stadium

Around one in ten rail services should be cut while passenger numbers remain low, says Network Rail.

Proposed Middle Eastern buyout has failed to materialise and owner Mel Morris’s top-flight dream is more distant than ever “I hope together we can help steer this club back into a sustainable place in the Premier League,” said Mel Morris in September 2015. Born and raised in Littleover – less than five miles from Pride Park – the man who made most of his estimated £500m fortune after backing the firm behind the mobile gaming app Candy Crush Saga had finally achieved a lifelong dream of buying his beloved Derby . The club had missed out on the play-offs a few months earlier and Morris’s optimism appeared understandable. Yet 10 full-time and interim managers later, Derby are battling to avoid relegation under Wayne Rooney with a squad whose wages were unpaid at the beginning of January. The club no longer owns its own stadium and has mortgaged its training ground in pursuit of further finance. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021...

The lack of diversity in women’s football in England is striking and society’s racial and class inequality are at the heart of that England’s all-white starting XI taking a knee before the 6-0 defeat of Northern Ireland highlighted a big problem. It is a problem seemingly getting worse: women’s football is very, very white. This is not meant to be in any way a slight on the players who bent knees to the ground on Tuesday lunchtime. Allies are important. As long as they are aware that taking a knee is not a formality and should not be the extent of their support for the Black Lives Matter movement and a more diverse game, then it is an important gesture of solidarity. A huge number, if not all, of those players do a lot beyond the pitch and it is important to acknowledge that. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/feb/25/england-women-all-white-xi-shines-light-on-a-deep-rooted-problem

The number of people on furlough rises by 700,000 to 4.7 million after fresh lockdown measures imposed.

The supermarket says it has begun consulting with workers over a major restructuring of its business.

The High Street-only retailer says it has lost £1.1bn in sales due to the recent lockdown.

This week’s roundup also features Sarah Taylor’s wicket-keeping skills and the pain of being an NHL official 1) It’s not often the Guatemalan third division features in this roundup, but it’s also not often a player – in this case Rosbin Ramos of Batanecos – drops to the ground writhing in agony, pretending to have been hit by an object thrown from the crowd. Ramos is not the first: who could forget Dida’s slight overreaction to an admittedly stupid pitch invader at Celtic Park? Or Feyenoord’s Steven Berghuis ? Worse still is the tale of Roberto Rojas. Back in 1989 , Chile needed to beat Brazil to qualify for the World Cup and were trailing 1-0 when keeper Rojas pretended to have been hit by a flare, cutting himself with a razor blade hidden in his glove. The game was abandoned and Rojas banned for life (a sanction lifted in 1991) while Chile, whose manager and doctor were in on the sting, were excluded from the 1994 tournament. 2) Some referees are frustrated players, just like th...

Two clubs are fighting to win the league on the last day of the season in Brazil – and they both face tricky assignments By Tom Sanderson for Yellow and Green Football For all the shortcomings of Brazilian domestic football, fans can still take pride from the fact that the Brasileirão continues to provide unpredictable winners and title races that go down to the wire. With just one round of fixtures left to play – all 20 teams in the Brazilian top flight are in action on Thursday night – there are two clubs competing for the title. It is no surprise that reigning champions Flamengo are in the running. They are hoping to win back-to-back titles for the first time since the days of Zico in 1982 and 1983. That Internacional are their challengers is more of a surprise. Even though they won the Copa Libertadores in 2006 and 2010, Inter have not been Brazilian champions for 42 years. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/feb/25/flam...

The boss of outsourcer Serco says there are now as many people being tested per week as vaccinated.

In their short spells with Real Sociedad three players left an indelible mark, as former teammates recall The day John Aldridge turned up at Real Sociedad’s Zubieta training ground in September 1989, he was confronted by graffiti saying foreigners weren’t welcome. A year on, he had been so good that they welcomed two more of them, this time with open arms. For almost 30 years, la Real didn’t have a player from outside the Basque Country; now they had three, and all from Britain and Ireland. They were in San Sebastián together for only a season and not even a particularly good one, la Real finishing 1990-91 in their lowest position since returning to the first division 22 years earlier, but Aldridge, Kevin Richardson and Dalian Atkinson left an indelible mark, says Jon Andoni Larrañaga. “I have lovely memories of all three,” the then club captain adds. Whoever you ask there is warmth. No one scored more goals than Aldridge or Atkinson and only Larrañaga played more games than Richard...

Some 29 million people in the UK could be entitled to up to £30 back on Apple or Samsung smartphones.

The ex-chancellor says Boris Johnson must "do the right thing", even if it means risking unpopularity.

Remote working is "an aberration" that will be corrected as soon as possible says Goldman Sachs chief.

The mini electric vehicle being made by China's biggest carmaker is now outselling Tesla two to one.

Struggling shops warn they may have to shut if business rates are brought back at the Budget.

UK consumers will soon be able to sell back used items with the aim of reducing waste.

Trading in GameStop shares halted minutes before markets closed but jumped again in late trading.

Local communities in the US have come up with a novel way to help feed those going hungry.

Figures show Australians are moving out of the large cities in search of a better quality of life.

Greg Jackson, founder and CEO of Octopus Energy, explains why he doesn't need a human resources team.

Granit Xhaka has damned social media abusers saying that they are 'not supporters of my club'. The Swiss midfielder, who has been subject to abuse online, said: 'It’s not a problem when you win. If you lose everyone hates you. I wish I could meet the people who write these things, to sit with them eye to eye and ask: ‘Why are you writing things like this?' Arsenal face Benfica in Athens on Thursday for the 'home' leg of their Europa League last-32 tie, poised at 1-1.   Granit Xhaka wants to sit 'eye to eye' with his social media abusers Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2021/feb/24/they-are-not-supporters-granit-xhaka-condemns-social-media-abusers-video

Awful recruitment and unrest from not selling key assets leave a big rebuilding job but also a chance to shape club’s future For a number of months it has been more about how Celtic extricate themselves from such a dismal position than how they got there. As Ross County delivered a final blow to Neil Lennon on Sunday, it was pointed out that the struggling Dingwall club had replaced a manager in between bouncing Celtic out of the League Cup and this rather unsurprising Premiership result. The Celtic board were portrayed as dallying dunces. Awful recruitment and an unhealthy focus on the all-consuming pursuit of 10 domestic titles in a row – so what? – ultimately led to Celtic’s behind-closed-door implosion. Celtic’s hierarchy should have sensed trouble when Ferencvaros dumped the team out of the Champions League, with subsequent decisions to stick with the management team limiting options for succession and eventually leaving Lennon in a dire position. Failure to win 11 of 30 leag...

Club report ‘sickening and abhorrent messages’ to police Hate crime unit is investigating the incident Aston Villa have reported to West Midlands police “sickening and abhorrent” online racist abuse of their teenage winger Tyreik Wright. The Premier League club said the messages received on Wright’s Instagram account had also been flagged to the social media platform. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/feb/24/aston-villa-appalled-by-racist-abuse-of-teenager-tyreik-wright-on-instagram

Con-artists claimed people could receive a tax rebate or a grant, as they tried to steal financial details.

Dame Irene Hays says tributes to her husband John have given her "determination" to carry on.

Arsenal midfielder says the vitriol will ‘kill football’ Mikel Arteta urges team to thrive on pressure against Benfica Granit Xhaka says fans who hurl personal abuse on social media are “not supporters of my club” and that he wishes he could challenge the perpetrators face to face. The Arsenal midfielder has had a chequered relationship with his club’s fanbase and his family have also been targeted online, particularly after his stormy departure from the home game against Crystal Palace in October 2019. There have been issues this season too and he says those involved are not genuine Arsenal fans. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/feb/24/granit-xhaka-wants-to-sit-eye-to-eye-with-his-social-media-abusers-arsenal

The Anti-Racist Project (ARP) aims to fund a toolkit that will see 5,000 coaches, 60,000 young people, and 115 staff trained in over 400 communities in the first year A coalition of leaders from the US soccer industry have partnered with the Common Goal movement to launch the Anti-Racist Project (ARP), an action-based approach to tackling systemic racism in soccer and society. The initiative, which was officially unveiled on Wednesday, brings together clubs from the three top divisions of US soccer – the Chicago Fire of MLS, Angel City FC of the NWSL and the Oakland Roots of the USL Championship – along with former US international Tony Sanneh and the American Outlaws supporters’ group. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/feb/24/anti-racist-project-common-goal

La Liga’s leaders regressed to a defensive mindset and defeat raises more questions about the health of Spanish football Atlético Madrid went back to their origins but this team are not that one and the old plan didn’t come together. In the Bucharest stadium where they won their first trophy under Diego Simeone in 2012, a home from home 2,500km east of the Metropolitano, one aim took priority to the detriment of all others: do not concede. Once it might have worked and perhaps here it could have done, but it didn’t and that didn’t entirely surprise. With 20 minutes remaining, Olivier Giroud sent a superb overhead kick past Jan Oblak. “ The game was decided by a detail,” said Koke Resurrección. Some detail. And it was deeper than that. By the time this game ended, it was hard to avoid the conclusion that Chelsea had got what they deserved and harder still to avoid the conclusion that so had Atlético; that this was not just a detail, it was by design. Atlético had invited this, a lac...

Musiala born in Germany and moved to England aged seven ‘It wasn’t an easy decision for me,’ midfielder says Jamal Musiala has pledged his international future to Germany over England. The 17-year-old, who became Bayern Munich’s youngest Champions League goalscorer in Tuesday’s 4-1 victory over Lazio , was born in Stuttgart to a German mother and British-Nigerian father, but moved to England with his family as a seven-year-old and has represented both countries at youth level. Musiala was spotted by Chelsea as a youngster before swapping their academy for Bayern’s two years ago. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/feb/24/bayern-munich-jamal-musiala-opts-to-play-for-germany-rather-than-england

A chance to travel and earn good money attracts many to cross the Atlantic. But the system they become part of is under scrutiny How desperate are youth soccer clubs in the US to hire foreign coaches? And how desperate are UK coaches to land jobs in the US, with visions of Hollywood (or at least Boston) and good pay, courtesy of parents willing to shell out for an “elite” soccer experience? The answer to both questions: so desperate that one club, Global Premier Soccer (GPS) – which once operated in dozens of locations across the US – came up with a convoluted scheme to bring coaches across the Atlantic with the help of professional teams. The plan drew plenty of interest from coaches but also from law enforcement. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/feb/24/are-british-football-coaches-lured-to-the-us-under-false-pretenses

The hair and beauty industry is calling for a cut in VAT to help mend the sector's finances.

Campaigners are backing a rebellion by Tory MPs to ensure leaseholders are protected from extra costs.

Manchester City full-back has put a muted spell behind her and debutant forward impressed with movement and vision Jill Scott’s 150th cap , Ellen White’s first England hat-trick, four debuts, a managerial debut and the Fifa The Best player Lucy Bronze looking like, well, the best – England’s 6-0 defeat of Northern Ireland in the side’s first game in 349 days made as much of a mark as a friendly could. White and Scott stole the headlines but the performances of two others, one new, one old (experience-wise), stood out. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/feb/24/lucy-bronze-ella-toone-shine-england-women

In an exclusive interview, the manager talks about his philosophy, being a defender under Klopp and playing City in the Champions League In order to understand Marco Rose, the best place to start is towards the end of an extensive interview and the most open of questions. How would he describe the blueprint for one of his teams? Related: Manchester City better than their recent European conquerors, claims Guardiola Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/feb/24/borussia-monchengladbach-marco-rose-interview-manchester-city-jurgen-klopp

Manager is using all his years of experience to turn Championship strugglers into play-off contenders Listening to those who have lived amid Cardiff City’s miraculous upturn since Mick McCarthy took charge last month , the common denominator is that he has simplified things, his first day in the job a prime example. “There was no big, long speech,” says the midfielder Will Vaulks. “It was just: ‘Listen. I’m here to try and improve you. I know how good you are. I want to get the best out of you.’ It was 30 seconds of introduction and ‘let’s get on the pitch and improve’.” McCarthy has got to work in double time and galvanised Cardiff, taking 17 points from a possible 21. For context of how remarkable a response McCarthy has elicited, on the day he was appointed Cardiff trailed Bournemouth by 13 points and were 15th in the table following seven defeats in eight matches. Last weekend Cardiff put four goals past Preston and on Wednesday they travel to Bournemouth knowing that with victo...

Plus: has any player scored more than four headers in a match and more footballers named after footballers Mail us your questions or tweet @TheKnowledge_GU “In view of the recent attention around Ederson potentially taking penalties for Manchester City, has a goalkeeper ever finished top scorer for their club over the course of a season?” asks Alan White. Quite a few readers with memories better than ours have emailed in with a not-quite-correct answer. Alex Stepney was Manchester United’s top scorer (jointly, with two goals) for much of their 1973-74 relegation season after Tommy Docherty saw him as a more reliable penalty-taker than any of his outfield players. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/feb/24/has-a-goalkeeper-ever-finished-a-season-as-top-scorer-for-their-club

Passenger numbers in 2020 dropped to levels last seen in the 1970s, the UK's largest airport says.