20 h. ago Diogo Jota breaks down Everton’s blue wall as Liverpool move closer to title

The 246th Merseyside derby was as much of a cathartic release for Liverpool as another step closer to a 20th league title. Arne Slot’s side cleansed themselves of recent torment against Everton and two deflating cup defeats with a hard-fought but deserved victory courtesy of Diogo Jota’s fine individual goal. A maximum of 13 points is all that is required from the remaining eight games of the season to put the Premier League trophy on display at Anfield once again.There was a determination to seize control of the derby from the start by Liverpool and, unlike the previous two encounters at Goodison Park, a composure in possession that enabled them to do so. The painful Champions League exit and deserved Carabao Cup final defeat that preceded the international break, plus of course memories of their last run-in with Everton 49 days ago, may also have fuelled the hunger and intensity of a team closing in on the Premier League title. Continue reading...

Politics

20 h. ago Why Glasgow Warriors are backing themselves in bid for Champions Cup first

McDowall cites URC success as evidence of big game nous

Events

26 h. ago Saracens boss defends resting England stars for Champions Cup clash after claims of disrespect

Mark McCall will take Saracens to Toulon in the absence of skipper Maro Itoje and others

Sport

46 h. ago Nottingham Forest v Manchester United: Premier League – live

Premier League updates from the 8pm BST kick-offLive scores | Read Football Daily | And email ScottA pre-match palate-whetter, courtesy of friend of the site Steve Pye. “I wondered if you might be interested in a blog of mine looking back at Nottingham Forest dramatically beating Man Utd in December 1984?” Sure thing! “For the second time in two weeks, Ron Atkinson’s team threw away a two-goal lead on the road, with a couple of their players coming to blows in the dressing room after the match.”The return of the Premier League, then. It’s been a while, what with World Cup qualifiers, the Nations League, FA Cup quarters, all that. So here’s a reminder of how the division looks as we head into this full round of midweek fixtures. Forest are looking to consolidate third spot, as they chase a Champions League spot and a chance to bid for European Cup number three. United’s most realistic hope of continental competition next season is to win this year’s Europa League, though barreling up...

Politics

47 h. ago Premier League release statement as new offside technology gets start date this season

The Premier League have confirmed that they will begin using semi-automated offside technology from April 12, after debuting in the FA Cup and being implemented in the Champions League

Politics

54 h. ago Nottingham Forest vs Man United prediction: Premier League betting preview, odds and tips

Forest will be on cloud nine having secured their first FA Cup semi-final since 1991 and now their Champions League quest continues as they welcome Man United to the City Ground

Politics

56 h. ago The Breakdown | Marcus Smith’s duel with Sam Prendergast could define Lions hopes

When the two fly-halves meet at Croke Park, the result could weigh heavily on Andy Farrell’s selectionSometimes players like to pretend they barely contemplate their direct opponent. That way they can neatly sidestep all external comparisons and inner doubts and concentrate on their own jobs. It is a team game, after all, and it never pays to waste time fretting about things over which you have limited control.Every now and again, though, the “game within a game” duel narrative is unavoidable. Even if Leinster’s pack give a well-stuffed armchair ride to their young fly-half Sam Prendergast on Saturday his Harlequins opposite number, Marcus Smith, will still be expected to make some sort of impact. If not, his chances of being among the chosen few to tour with the British & Irish Lions this summer will recede and Prendergast’s will be suitably enhanced. Continue reading...

Politics

69 h. ago Manchester City suffer further setback as Erling Haaland sustains ankle injury

City’s top scorer has been ruled out for an unknown period with the club chasing a Champions League spot and victory in the FA Cup

Events

3 d. ago The Marcus Rashford gamble that leaves Aston Villa with four outcomes

The England forward has rediscovered his form under Unai Emery, but Villa’s future is tied to where they finish in the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup

Politics

4 d. ago Preston vs Aston Villa LIVE: Championship side in the tie and plot upset in FA Cup quarter

Villa face the only Championship side left in the competition, with a place in a Wembley semi-final at stake

Politics

4 d. ago Franco Smith makes bold Glasgow Warriors claim as he looks to burn candle at both ends

URC champions will now switch their attention to European Champions Cup

Events

4 d. ago Preston vs Aston Villa LIVE: Championship side plot upset in FA Cup quarter

Villa face the only Championship side left in the competition, with a place in a Wembley semi-final at stake

Politics

4 d. ago Pep Guardiola makes ruthless Man City admission and flatly rejects FA Cup theory

Manchester City only have the FA Cup and qualification for the Champions League left to play for this season after a dismal campaign by their very high standards

Events

5 d. ago Manchester City enter Last Dance era under Guardiola with FA Cup in sights

Some players’ futures are in doubt but beating Bournemouth could help those they leave behindPep Guardiola is a basketball aficionado and has often been seen courtside in America trying to learn from one of the world’s most intense sports. The Manchester City manager holds Michael Jordan in high esteem and it feels as if the next two months may be the club’s version of the basketball legend’s Last Dance documentary for some of their senior players. The FA Cup is the NBA championship for those wondering where they may start next season.City face a second trip of the season to Bournemouth, where their 32-match unbeaten run ended in November, hoping to reach a semi-final at Wembley for the seventh successive year. Guardiola and his side have barely recovered since losing Rodri, City’s Jordan according to his coach, and a second defeat by Andoni Iraola’s men on Sunday would remove any chance of a trophy for the Spaniard and his ageing charges this season. Jordan was asked for one great ...

Politics

6 d. ago ‘Not even a watch’: No prizes if City win Club World Cup, warns Guardiola

Manchester City coach says team doesn’t deserve bonusGuardiola on Rodri’s recovery: ‘We must be careful’Pep Guardiola has stated that if Manchester City win this summer’s Club World Cup he, his players and staff do not deserve even “a watch” as a bonus given their disappointing season.The champions travel to Bournemouth for Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final in the only other competition they can win. City are fifth in the Premier League, 22 points behind the leaders, Liverpool, were eliminated from the Champions League in February and went out of the Carabao Cup in the last 16. Continue reading...

Events

6 d. ago Chelsea face tough test in Women's Super League with quadruple still alive

Chelsea and Manchester City both retrain their focus on league action, with the former still in the hunt for a memorable quadruple ahead of matches in the FA Cup and the Champions League

Sport

8 d. ago Thomas Tuchel slams FIFA over massive England dilemma – 'debatable if it makes sense'

England's next fixtures are not until June, sandwiched in-between the Champions League final and start of the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup in America

Politics

1 week ago Jamie Carragher comes up with new Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk theory as contracts run down

Liverpool lost two important games in the space of four days as the Reds' Carabao Cup final defeat to Newcastle followed their exit from the Champions League at the hands of PSG

Politics

1 week ago Arne Slot sends brutal warning to Liverpool stars about throwing away title to Arsenal

Liverpool manager Arne Slot needs to get his team back to winning ways in the Premier League after suffering painful Champions League and Carabao Cup defeats in successive games

Events

1 week ago ‘Star making not star taking’: how LA Galaxy rose back to top of US soccer

Years after Beckham-mania, fan activism and changes in recruitment strategy secured club’s first MLS Cup since 2014When the Major League Soccer champions were crowned last December, Lionel Messi was not on the podium. He, Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets and the rest of the Inter Miami galácticos had been dispatched in the playoffs. Instead, the new kings of US football were the old aristocrats of LA Galaxy, back on top after a 10-year absence, but without a household name in their ranks.The team that brought you Beckham-mania, staged the Captain America show and gave a number of people Zlatan-itis had retaken the summit of the US club game with a roster of unheralded talent. But the twist was more profound than that: this 180-degree turn on strategy was brought about by fan activism, after supporters went on strike to force the club to change their approach. Continue reading...

Politics