Key events
In a day packed full of action, Emillia Hawkins is covering the early action in the WSL. Updates here:
Our Old Firm derby live blog is now up and running, follow along with Michael Butler here:
Ewan Murray
This question, as later clarified by Fearandloathingpart2, is about George Hirst
As a Scotland fan, I’m curious about how good of a player he is. My little brother supports Ipswich and was adamant that he’s much better than he showed in his (fairly brief) Scotland cameo and I read a comment btl that said he’s probably a better all-round player than Delap. Made me curious what other Ipswich fans think of him.
It’s very hard on the basis of Scotland appearances to judge Hirst, as you rightly acknowledge. What is clear is that a dearth of attacking options means he is likely to get extended opportunity, most likely in June’s friendly games. He makes intelligent runs, he has power. Steve Clarke pursued him for long enough for us to believe he rates him very highly but June will tell us a lot more.
Team news: 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
Another via email, this time from Keith Oh: outside of the Old Firm, what are the stories we should be taking notice of in Scottish football?
The fact no club outside the Old Firm teams have won the league for now 40 years! The Scottish Cup final offers typical intrigue but it is very difficult to see Aberdeen upsetting Celtic. Hearts need a new manager. Hibs have enjoyed a terrific turnaround under David Gray. Falkirk’s back-to-back promotions under John McGlynn is worthy of huge praise. Yet the basic reality is that with a one or two – at best – horse title race time and again, competitively Scottish football feels stale.
Ewan Murray
First question is via email from John W, who asks: how do Rangers close the gap on Celtic next season and is it bringing back Steven Gerrard?
The Gerrard suggestion will not go away and feels mutually useful. Where else does he get a prominent job? And this is a manager with recent experience of succeeding domestically at Rangers. Supporters would accept him. The gap to Celtic remains a huge one; Celtic’s on and off field position is streets ahead of Rangers. The gap is closed by Rangers spending their money in a smarter manner. An imminent takeover by American investors offers hope but Rangers need to dramatically improve their decision making.
Ewan Murray will be with us very shortly to answer your Scottish football questions. Fire those over via matchday.live@theguardian.com or comment below the line.
Ed Aarons was at the Emirates to see an afternoon of frustratation for Mikel Arteta
As his side chased an equaliser in the dying moments, Mikel Arteta stood with his arms folded on the touchline and shook his head in utter disbelief. Only the embrace of Andoni Iraola, his old friend from their days growing up at the local club Antiguoko Kirol Elkartea in San Sebastián, as the final whistle sounded broke the Arsenal manager’s stare as he contemplated another frustrating afternoon that summed up their disappointing Premier League campaign.
Mikel Arteta is a funny man, but not deliberately. I woke up with a bad feeling in the tummy but that’s completely unrelated to conceding two goals at home against Bournemouth.
“We certainly wanted to create a really good vibe, a positive result would really help us to build what we wanted towards Wednesday,” Arteta said post-match. “What we have created now is a lot of rage, anger, frustration and a bad feeling in the tummy. So, make sure that we use that for Wednesday to have a massive performance in Paris, win the game and be in the final.”
Two entertaining teams with something to play for? I’d have to agree.
Surely Brighton vs Newcastle is the match of the day?
On the point about Chiesa, see 9.20am, there still seems to be some hope he will work out at Anfield…
Chiesa disappointed against Plymouth in the FA Cup but after Gomez went off injured, everyone slumped. He did however, score the consolation goal in the League Cup final. I hope Slot plays him today and in the final three games. He needs a run of matches to show us what he’s capable of doing next season.
As a Liverpool fan I would certainly like to know what is going on with regards Chiesa. Before his injury he was some player, and even in the moments he has had this season he has looked incisive. Clearly time was needed to get him up to speed, but equally clearly that time should have alredy passed. If he could recapture his previous form then he could be an important player next season.
Lost in the chat about Harry Kane’s inevitable Bundesliga title was some appreciation for another Premier League legend. Pascal Gross is sorely missed by Brighton fans, largely because he’s no longer creating goals like he did for Serhou Guirassy’s second yesterday. One turn, two defenders out of the game…
But what would the kit look like?
Imagine the scene: the television is on, the screen showing images 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 past two defenders before crossing for Robert Lewandowski, who surges forward and finishes with precision past Ederson in goal. Europe are leading the Rest of the World 1-0.
In about an hour’s time Ewan Murray will be doing a Scottish football Q&A, so please fire over your questions via matchday.live@theguardian.com.
Quoting from Andy Hunter’s piece on Slot’s rotation plans for the rest of the season, this might be an answer…
Perhaps Chiesa could get his long-awaited opportunity in a central striking role? He made a goalscoring impact in that position when introduced against Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final. Liverpool will target a new centre-forward this summer and there is uncertainty over the futures of both Núñez and Jota. Chiesa could also decide to leave after only one season unless he is able to provide effective cover in a second forward position.
As a Liverpool fan I would certainly like to know what is going on with regards Chiesa. Before his injury he was some player, and even in the moments he has had this season he has looked incisive. Clearly time was needed to get him up to speed, but equally clearly that time should have alredy passed. If he could recapture his previous form then he could be an important player next season.
This seems like a good jumping off point for a discussion around what happens next for Liverpool after securing the Premier League title. It seems as if Arne Slot wants to rotate his players in the final few games, but should they keep pushing to silence a few detractors? Email in matchday.live@theguardian.com or drop a comment below the line.
I heard it said that Liverpool fans aren’t now bothered about the points tally after wrapping this up but it’s not my experience at all after a lot of less than favourable damned by faint praise opinions on this current side winning the league.
Liverpool, if we do win today, go 18 points clear and the Premier League record winning points difference is 19, held by Man City. This being the case, I am sure the players will have the extra motivation to go out continue as we were, thus beating that record and setting people straight.
The wait goes on for Harry Kane, who watched from the stands as Bayern conceded very late to draw with RB Leipzig, surely it’s only one more week until the England captain gets his hands on a first major honour
It has been a frustrating season for City in the WSL, is a remarkable salvage job possible? Let us know your thoughts below the line or via matchday.live@theguardian.com.
Todays WSL Manchester derby is a big one alright. City are 4 points behind and the goal difference is 8 in United’s favour. Anything other than a win puts an end to what has been a frustrating season. Even then, it needs United to drop points in the last game but they are away at Arsenal while City play bottom of the table Palace at home.
Third is possible but unlikely.
Chelsea wrapped up the WSL title, their sixth in a row, with a 1-0 win at Manchester United on Wednesday. Now United must bounce back to hold off local rivals Manchester City and secure European football next season. Tom Garry previews Sunday’s big WSL clash…
Skinner’s side also have a chance to do something United’s women have never done: complete a league double over City, having won 4-2 at the Etihad Stadium in January, and beat them at Old Trafford for the first time. A victory would mark the women’s team’s greatest Old Trafford moment. United’s record against City, though, leaves a lot to be desired. City have lost only two of 10 WSL Manchester derbies and they have been buoyed by the return in last Sunday’s 1-0 win at Leicester of England’s Lauren Hemp and Alex Greenwood for their first appearances of 2025.
Ahead of a Premier League clash which both Newcastle and Brighton need to win in order to further their European ambitions for next season, Eddie Howe has said that developing Sandro Tonali as a playmaker has been his ‘most important decision’
Joelinton, Guimarães and Tonali have always bonded well off the pitch but, until they swapped stations, it looked as if the latter pair might not be able to play together. Now their on-field chemistry is almost palpable. “The balance of the team is hugely important,” said Newcastle’s manager, whose side have won 20 of their past 26 matches in all competitions. “That helped us find a better balance.”
Jonathan Wilson’s latest ‘Inside Football’ column is about how Real Madrid’s campaign against officials is tarnishing the club’s image
At the heart of it all, the ageing general in his labyrinth, sits Florentino Pérez, who has been Madrid president for all but three years of this century. He has been wildly successful, with seven Champions League titles and a revenue 25% higher than that of the next wealthiest club in the world and yet he is at war with everybody, a 78-year-old watching the world changing around him, insisting it is all fixed against him.
Liverpool’s last four games can give Bradley, Endo, Elliott, Quansah and Chiesa the chance to shine in the Reds’ ‘certain rotation’, writes Andy Hunter
The celebrations have not finished yet and will crank back up when Liverpool are presented with and parade the Premier League trophy at the end of the month. However, Arne Slot’s thoughts are already turning towards next season’s title defence. “It’s the end of the season,” he said on Friday, “but we also have to look at this as the start of next season.”
This morning’s headlines
Preamble
Hello and welcome to live coverage of a Sunday packed with Big Timetm football, follow along for the latest news and previews ahead of today’s action. We get underway with the live action at midday, as Emillia Hawkins brings you a WSL clockwatch for the Manchster derby, which has serious implications for European qualification, with a side serving of Merseyside derby, which is more about civic pride, and runs through until the conclusion of Premier League champions Liverpool’s trip to Chelsea.
On the day of the latest Old Firm meeting in the Scottish Premiership, we also have a Scottish football Q&A with Ewan Murray, a doyen of all things north of the border, at 10.30am. So please come armed with questions for that via matchday.live@theguardian.com or dropping a comment below the line.
Before we get started, these are some of the key matches we’ll be following today.
WSL
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Liverpool v Everton (midday)
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Manchester United v Manchester City (midday)
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Crystal Palace v Leicester City (2pm)
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Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea (2.15)
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West Ham v Aston Villa (3pm)
Premier League
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Brentford v Manchester United (2pm)
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Brighton v Newcastle (2pm)
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West Ham v Tottenham (2pm)
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Chelsea v Liverpool (4.30pm)
Scottish Premiership
La Liga
Serie A
You can peruse a fuller fixture list here.