Champions Liverpool journey to Chelsea, West Ham v Spurs and WSL Manchester derby – reside

Key occasions

In a day packed stuffed with motion, Emillia Hawkins is overlaying the early motion within the WSL. Updates right here:

Our Previous Agency derby reside weblog is now up and operating, observe together with Michael Butler right here:

Ewan Murray

This query, as later clarified by Fearandloathingpart2, is about George Hirst

As a Scotland fan, I’m interested in how good of a participant he’s. My little brother helps Ipswich and was adamant that he’s significantly better than he confirmed in his (pretty transient) Scotland cameo and I learn a remark btl that mentioned he’s in all probability a greater all-round participant than Delap. Made me curious what different Ipswich followers consider him.

It’s very arduous on the premise of Scotland appearances to guage Hirst, as you rightly acknowledge. What is evident is {that a} dearth of attacking choices means he’s more likely to get prolonged alternative, most probably in June’s pleasant video games. He makes clever runs, he has energy. Steve Clarke pursued him for lengthy sufficient for us to imagine he charges him very extremely however June will inform us much more.

Workforce information: Rangers v Celtic

Rangers: Kelly; Tavernier, Souttar, Balogun, Jefte; Barron, Diomande, Raskin; Cerny, Dessers, Bajrami.

Subs: Butland, Cortes, Nsiala, Kasanwirjo, Igamane, Hagi, McCausland, Rice, Danilo.

Celtic: Sinisalo; Ralston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Taylor; Engels, McGregor, Hatate; Forrest, Idah, Maeda.

Subs: Bain, Trusty, Yang, McCowan, Schlupp, Nawrocki, Kenny, Bernardo, McArdle.

Ewan Murray

One other by way of e-mail, this time from Keith Oh: outdoors of the Previous Agency, what are the tales we ought to be taking discover of in Scottish soccer?

The actual fact no membership outdoors the Previous Agency groups have received the league for now 40 years! The Scottish Cup last provides typical intrigue however it is rather tough to see Aberdeen upsetting Celtic. Hearts want a brand new supervisor. Hibs have loved a terrific turnaround underneath David Grey. Falkirk’s back-to-back promotions underneath John McGlynn is worthy of giant reward. But the fundamental actuality is that with a one or two – at finest – horse title race repeatedly, competitively Scottish soccer feels stale.

Ewan Murray

First query is by way of e-mail from John W, who asks: how do Rangers shut the hole on Celtic subsequent season and is it bringing again Steven Gerrard?

The Gerrard suggestion is not going to go away and feels mutually helpful. The place else does he get a outstanding job? And this can be a supervisor with current expertise of succeeding domestically at Rangers. Supporters would settle for him. The hole to Celtic stays an enormous one; Celtic’s on and off discipline place is streets forward of Rangers. The hole is closed by Rangers spending their cash in a wiser method. An imminent takeover by American traders provides hope however Rangers must dramatically enhance their resolution making.

Ewan Murray shall be with us very shortly to reply your Scottish soccer questions. Fireplace these over by way of matchday.reside@theguardian.com or remark under the road.

Ed Aarons was on the Emirates to see a day of frustratation for Mikel Arteta

As his facet chased an equaliser within the dying moments, Mikel Arteta stood together with his arms folded on the touchline and shook his head in utter disbelief. Solely the embrace of Andoni Iraola, his outdated pal from their days rising up on the native membership Antiguoko Kirol Elkartea in San Sebastián, as the ultimate whistle sounded broke the Arsenal supervisor’s stare as he contemplated one other irritating afternoon that summed up their disappointing Premier League marketing campaign.

Mikel Arteta is a humorous man, however not intentionally. I awoke with a nasty feeling within the tummy however that’s utterly unrelated to conceding two objectives at house in opposition to Bournemouth.

“We actually needed to create a extremely good vibe, a constructive end result would actually assist us to construct what we needed in direction of Wednesday,” Arteta mentioned post-match. “What we’ve created now’s numerous rage, anger, frustration and a nasty feeling within the tummy. So, guarantee that we use that for Wednesday to have a large efficiency in Paris, win the sport and be within the last.”

Two entertaining groups with one thing to play for? I’d need to agree.

Absolutely Brighton vs Newcastle is the match of the day?

On the purpose about Chiesa, see 9.20am, there nonetheless appears to be some hope he’ll work out at Anfield…

Chiesa disillusioned in opposition to Plymouth within the FA Cup however after Gomez went off injured, everybody slumped. He did nevertheless, rating the comfort aim within the League Cup last. I hope Slot performs him immediately and within the last three video games. He wants a run of matches to indicate us what he is able to doing subsequent season.

As a Liverpool fan I will surely prefer to know what’s going on with regards Chiesa. Earlier than his harm he was some participant, and even within the moments he has had this season he has regarded incisive. Clearly time was wanted to get him on top of things, however equally clearly that point ought to have alredy handed. If he may recapture his earlier type then he could possibly be an necessary participant subsequent season.

Misplaced within the chat about Harry Kane’s inevitable Bundesliga title was some appreciation for an additional Premier League legend. Pascal Gross is sorely missed by Brighton followers, largely as a result of he’s now not creating objectives like he did for Serhou Guirassy’s second yesterday. One flip, two defenders out of the sport…

However what would the equipment seem like?

Think about the scene: the tv is on, the display displaying pictures of a packed stadium. Rodri collects the ball in midfield and launches it down the wing to Lamine Yamal, who switches play to Kylian Mbappé; the Frenchman swivels previous two defenders earlier than crossing for Robert Lewandowski, who surges ahead and finishes with precision previous Ederson in aim. Europe are main the Remainder of the World 1-0.

Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski, Florian Wirtz. Composite: Guardian footage

In about an hour’s time Ewan Murray shall be doing a Scottish soccer Q&A, so please fireplace over your questions by way of matchday.reside@theguardian.com.

Quoting from Andy Hunter’s piece on Slot’s rotation plans for the remainder of the season, this could be a solution…

Maybe Chiesa may get his long-awaited alternative in a central placing position? He made a goalscoring impression in that place when launched in opposition to Newcastle within the Carabao Cup last. Liverpool will goal a brand new centre-forward this summer season and there’s uncertainty over the futures of each Núñez and Jota. Chiesa may additionally determine to depart after just one season except he is ready to present efficient cowl in a second ahead place.

This looks like an excellent leaping off point for a dialogue round what occurs subsequent for Liverpool after securing the Premier League title. It appears as if Arne Slot desires to rotate his gamers within the last few video games, however ought to they hold pushing to silence a number of detractors? E mail in matchday.reside@theguardian.com or drop a remark under the road.

I heard it mentioned that Liverpool followers aren’t now bothered in regards to the factors tally after wrapping this up but it surely’s not my expertise in any respect after numerous lower than beneficial damned by faint reward opinions on this present facet successful the league.
Liverpool, if we do win immediately, go 18 factors clear and the Premier League report successful factors distinction is nineteen, held by Man Metropolis. This being the case, I’m positive the gamers may have the additional motivation to exit proceed as we have been, thus beating that report and setting individuals straight.

The wait goes on for Harry Kane, who watched from the stands as Bayern conceded very late to attract with RB Leipzig, certainly it’s just one extra week till the England captain will get his arms on a primary main honour

It has been a irritating season for Metropolis within the WSL, is a exceptional salvage job potential? Tell us your ideas under the road or by way of matchday.reside@theguardian.com.

Todays WSL Manchester derby is a giant one alright. Metropolis are 4 factors behind and the aim distinction is 8 in United’s favour. Something apart from a win places an finish to what has been a irritating season. Even then, it wants United to drop factors within the final recreation however they’re away at Arsenal whereas Metropolis play backside of the desk Palace at house.

Third is feasible however unlikely.

Chelsea wrapped up the WSL title, their sixth in a row, with a 1-0 win at Manchester United on Wednesday. Now United should bounce again to carry off native rivals Manchester Metropolis and safe European soccer subsequent season. Tom Garry previews Sunday’s huge WSL conflict…

Skinner’s facet even have an opportunity to do one thing United’s ladies have by no means executed: full a league double over Metropolis, having received 4-2 on the Etihad Stadium in January, and beat them at Previous Trafford for the primary time. A victory would mark the ladies’s crew’s biggest Previous Trafford second. United’s report in opposition to Metropolis, although, leaves rather a lot to be desired. Metropolis have misplaced solely two of 10 WSL Manchester derbies they usually have been buoyed by the return in final Sunday’s 1-0 win at Leicester of England’s Lauren Hemp and Alex Greenwood for his or her first appearances of 2025.

Leah Galton celebrates after scrambling house one among 4 Manchester United objectives in opposition to Manchester Metropolis on the Etihad Stadium in January. {Photograph}: Nathan Stirk/The FA/Getty Photos

Forward of a Premier League conflict which each Newcastle and Brighton must win in an effort to additional their European ambitions for subsequent season, Eddie Howe has mentioned that creating Sandro Tonali as a playmaker has been his ‘most necessary resolution’

Joelinton, Guimarães and Tonali have at all times bonded effectively off the pitch however, till they swapped stations, it regarded as if the latter pair won’t have the ability to play collectively. Now their on-field chemistry is sort of palpable. “The steadiness of the crew is massively necessary,” mentioned Newcastle’s supervisor, whose facet have received 20 of their previous 26 matches in all competitions. “That helped us discover a higher steadiness.”

Jonathan Wilson’s newest ‘Inside Soccer’ column is about how Actual Madrid’s marketing campaign in opposition to officers is tarnishing the membership’s picture

On the coronary heart of all of it, the ageing normal in his labyrinth, sits Florentino Pérez, who has been Madrid president for all however three years of this century. He has been wildly profitable, with seven Champions League titles and a income 25% greater than that of the subsequent wealthiest membership on this planet and but he’s at struggle with everyone, a 78-year-old watching the world altering round him, insisting it’s all mounted in opposition to him.

Actual Madrid gamers harass referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea throughout a turbulent Copa del Rey last in opposition to Barcelona. {Photograph}: Anadolu/Getty Photos

Liverpool’s final 4 video games may give Bradley, Endo, Elliott, Quansah and Chiesa the possibility to shine within the Reds’ ‘sure rotation’, writes Andy Hunter

The celebrations haven’t completed but and can crank again up when Liverpool are offered with and parade the Premier League trophy on the finish of the month. Nevertheless, Arne Slot’s ideas are already turning in direction of subsequent season’s title defence. “It’s the tip of the season,” he mentioned on Friday, “however we even have to take a look at this as the beginning of subsequent season.”

Might Arne Slot be tempted to present Harvey Elliott, Jarell Quansah, Wataru Endo, Conor Bradley and Federico Chiesa some extra begins? Composite: EPA; Reuters; AP; PA Photos

This morning’s headlines

Preamble

Whats up and welcome to reside protection of a Sunday filled with Massive Time^tm soccer, observe alongside for the newest information and previews forward of immediately’s motion. We get underway with the reside motion at noon, as Emillia Hawkins brings you a WSL clockwatch for the Manchster derby, which has critical implications for European qualification, with a facet serving of Merseyside derby, which is extra about civic delight, and runs by way of till the conclusion of Premier League champions Liverpool’s journey to Chelsea.

On the day of the newest Previous Agency assembly within the Scottish Premiership, we even have a Scottish soccer Q&A with Ewan Murray, a doyen of all issues north of the border, at 10.30am. So please come armed with questions for that by way of matchday.reside@theguardian.com or dropping a remark under the road.

Earlier than we get began, these are among the key matches we’ll be following immediately.

WSL