Premier League team news and EFL clockwatch: weekend countdown – live

Half time: Millwall 0-0 Luton Nothing much to report from the first half at the Den. Millwall have had the only two shots on target, and they have the more impulse-buyable kit, but it remains goalless. It’s also Rotherham 0-0 West Brom, though that game has only been going for around 15 minutes.

On this day in 2020… bugger all. Nada. Zilch. Have you forgotten already?

On this day in 2005… Alan Shearer gives Newcastle hope of a European semi-final. (Alas…)

“Lots of video highlights this morning!” says Joe Pearson. “Is that the new Weekend Countdown style? If so, I’m here for it! In response to your earlier question, I’m looking forward to the Masters this weekend. Given the forecast, though, it might spread into next week.”

It’s the new ‘Rob’s off his ADHD meds at the moment and is thus all over the place’ style. I’m not a golfer, obviously, but I’ve just been reading about the weather in Augusta – happily for us, Scott Murray is doing the hole-by-hole/shower-by-shower blog, and there is literally nothing he can’t make entertaining.

Fulham v West Ham

Here’s Jacob Steinberg on what happens next if David Moyes loses at Fulham tomorrow.

Moyes is expected to be safe if he picks up at least a draw but he is running out of time to save his job. West Ham are out of the bottom three on goal difference and there is major alarm at board level after the humiliating 5-1 home defeat by Newcastle on Wednesday.

Championship: Millwall 0-0 Luton It’s goalless after half an hour, and here’s a summary of the excitement so far:

Female athletes are up to six times more likely to have a non-contact ACL injury than their male counterparts

Here’s Louise Taylor on why menstruation is an even bigger issue for female footballers than many of us realised.

On this day in 2010… a marvellous goal from Arjen Robben puts Manchester United out of Europe.

Championship: Millwall 0-0 Luton It’s goalless after 15 minutes at the Den. Plenty of endeavour, not much quality yet.

Brentford v Newcastle (Saturday, 3pm)

Two of the league’s better defences meet in west London, and Thomas Frank has been praising Newcastle’s organisation.

They deserve huge praise for the way they defend. They are clear in what they want. They have a very well drilled and well picked back five, including [Nick] Pope.

It looks like they have played together forever. They are always in the right positions and they are very good in the duels. We need to match their energy and intensity, win enough second-balls and the set-piece battle. Hopefully we will be good enough in spells on the ball to create enough opportunities.

[Eddie Howe] did a top job at Bournemouth. They were an example to follow having got promoted and established themselves in the Premier League He has got an opportunity at a club that wants to be in the top four and they are definitely doing everything that can to maybe even be there this season.

“They have done fantastic, the way [Howe and his coaching staff] came in last year and turned things around relatively quickly. Now how they have finetuned their style to be energetic, pressing, physical and dynamic is very impressive.

It shouldn’t be possible [for Brentford to be pushing for Europe], but on the other hand, it is possible because this is football and that is the beauty of it

No matter how big of a difference there is in terms of the financial situation, there is always a chance when you go into a game.

I think we have found a way to compete in the Premier League, but also a way to compete against the ‘top six’ where we tweak it slightly compared to some of the other games, maybe that is the key.

I love my team. I think their application, determination and work rate is an example to follow for a lot of clubs.

From the archive: Liverpool v Arsenal

Fulham v West Ham (Saturday, 3pm)

David Moyes is fighting for his job after taking West Ham to consecutive European quarter-finals for the first time in almost 60 years. Here’s what he had to say to the press this morning.

Of course I need [football], it’s like a drug. This is why you see Roy Hodgson coming back when he’s 75 and Neil Warnock coming back, and so many people who are in the game and the journey they are on. They continue to stay on it because they’ve got a great love for the game and they want to stay in it.

Part of being a football manager is that you don’t win all of the time. Sometimes you have to lose and you have to try and learn to deal with it.

But when you do lose, you’ve got to learn how to bounce back and we’re looking forward to try and bounce back in our next game.

On this day in 1993… Ian Durrant scores a banger in Marseille to keep Rangers in the hunt for a Champions League final place.

And for more on one of Rangers’ most famous seasons, let’s hear from this man.

(Also, while we’re in this particular ballpark, Martyn Ramsay’s book on Rangers 1986-92 is really top-class.)

Barney Ronay on Chelsea (again)

Chelsea have now re-hired the guy they sacked so they could hire the guy who was sacked so they could hire the guy who was just sacked, thereby allowing the rehiring of the guy they sacked before the guy they sacked.

“I found myself reading that to the chorus of Girls and Boys by Blur?” says Antony T.

Nothing is wasted, only reproduced.

On this day in 1992… Man Utd’s pursuit of a first league title in 25 years starts to unravel.

“The battles await,” writes Bill Hargreaves. “Not only the final matches of the pig’s bladder season, but the start of the leather on willow one, too. (Don’t say that with a Kenneth Williams voice. Go with Ray Winstone.)”

Gamble responsibly. And fakkin read Tanya Aldred, she’s the best.

Eriksen could return against Everton

Some good news for Man Utd fans worried about their season going down the drain: Erik ten Hag says Christian Eriksen, who has been out since being butchered by Andy Carroll in late January, could be on the bench against Everton tomorrow.

On this day in 1996… Brian Laudrup beats Celtic in the Scottish Cup semi-final.

Liverpool v Arsenal

Two more moments from the archive that I’ve always loved. The swagger and quick-witted efficiency of John Radford’s goal in 1973, and pretty much everything about John Barnes’s free-kick in 1989, including the perfect synchronisation of Brian Moore’s commentary and the crowd roar.

On this day in 2004… a miracle in A Coruna.

Live scores!

Liverpool v Arsenal

Here’s Arsenal’s back-up keeper Matt Turner talking, among other things, about what makes Mikel Arteta so great.

On this day in 1982… Barcelona give Spurs a lesson in kiki-haka.

Heard the one about the groundsman and the goalkeeping coach?

Here’s a slightly unusual story from the news wires.

Nottingham Forest’s head groundsman Ewan Hunter and Brentford goalkeeping coach Manu Sotelo have been charged by the Football Association over an alleged pre-match clash.

The pair became involved in a disagreement ahead of the Premier League fixture between the two clubs at the City Ground on November 5.

Hunter has been charged with improper and/or violent conduct, while Sotelo has been accused of improper behaviour.

An FA spokesperson said: “Nottingham Forest’s grounds manager and Brentford’s goalkeeping coach have been charged following an incident that occurred prior to their Premier League game on Saturday 5 November.

“It’s alleged that Ewan Hunter’s behaviour was improper and/or violent and Manu Sotelo’s behaviour was improper.

“Both of them have until Thursday 12 April to provide their respective responses.”

Bees boss Thomas Frank claimed after the dramatic 2-2 draw that Sotelo had been injured during an altercation which it is understood centred on the length of time top-flight clubs are allowed to use the penalty area during their warm-up.

It proved an eventful afternoon with Bryan Mbeumo cancelling out Morgan Gibbs-White’s opener from the penalty spot following a VAR review of Forest keeper Dean Henderson’s challenge on Yoane Wissa.

Wissa later put the visitors ahead only for Mathias Jorgensen’s own goal, which was awarded with the help of goal-line technology, six minutes into stoppage time to hand the home side a point.

On this day in 1979… the leaders Liverpool maintain their advantage over West Brom by thumping Arsenal.

ICYMI, here’s Sean Dyche on Harry Kane, the difference between gamesmanship and cheating, and a society that has become oh so precious.

On this day in 1973… Sunderland shock Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-final.

“Good morning Rob,” says David Horn. “I haven’t yet read your 9,000 word magnum opus. (I’m still at work, so have a semi-decent excuse), but I did ask ChatGPT to summarise it for me in 15 words. It came back with ‘Arsenal triumphs over Liverpool at Anfield, marking turning point in their season under Arsène Wenger’ so I feel like that’s captured the essence of what you were trying to convey.”

Like Evan Ferguson, I’m sensing an opportunity here.

Sky Sports are showing an interview with the boy of the moment, Brighton’s Evan Ferguson. He is so level-headed, but there’s a look in his eye as well, the kind we are contractually obliged to describe as “steely”.

This is what he had to say when asked about Graham Potter leaving the club.

I took it differently to the others. I think for those already settled in and playing under Potter, it was different, but I saw it as an opportunity to try and get myself in the team.

To quote another Ferguson, when talking about a young Paul Scholes: ‘If he doesn’t make it, we might as well all pack up and go home.’

Liverpool v Arsenal team news, culled absent-mindedly from the news wires

Liverpool winger Luis Diaz will make his long-awaited return to the squad against Leeds at Elland Road in 10 days’ time.

Manager Jurgen Klopp said the Colombia international, out since October with a knee injury, is on the verge of a comeback.

“The plan with Luis is that he will be available 100 per cent for Leeds (on 17 April),” said Klopp, ahead of Sunday’s visit of Premier League leaders Arsenal.

“Again, it looks good, everything is fine, but it was a long, long injury and so we have to be careful. We will probably not involve him for Sunday.”

Midfielder Thiago Alcantara, sidelined for two months with a hip problem, is fit to return, however, while Virgil van Dijk will be back after illness forced him to miss Tuesday’s draw at Chelsea.

“Thiago looks slightly different. He was not out that long, trained now three, four times with the team and might be available but we have to check how he feels today,” added Klopp.

“Virgil, completely normal, was back in training.”

On this day in 1982… Klaus Augenthaler mistakes himself for Franz Beckenbauer in a European Cup semi-final.

This is a story about Diego Maradona and Mexico 86, so Og Mandino’s services are not required to sell this one.

Liverpool v Arsenal (Sunday, 4.30pm) is the game of the weekend. We’ll have a number of preview features later in the day. In the meantime, here’s a modest little 9,000-word humblebrag I rustled up in my spare time.

It’s not very good. Read it anyway. (NB: link contains adult language so don’t open it in front of your kid, unless they already talk like a docker.)

The Women’s World Cup is just over three months away, and England’s preparations went up a notch with last night’s Finalissima against Brazil at Wembley. You’ll never guess who scored the winner.

Meanwhile, here’s Barney Ronay on the latest developments at Chelsea

Chelsea have now re-hired the guy they sacked so they could hire the guy who was sacked so they could hire the guy who was just sacked, thereby allowing the rehiring of the guy they sacked before the guy they sacked.

Championship

Burnley will be promoted with seven games to spare if they win at Middlesbrough tonight and Luton fail to win at Millwall in their lunchtime game.

Second-placed Sheffield United, who look good for automatic promotion after last Saturday’s drama, host Wigan at 3pm.

Here’s Max Rushden, trying to make sense of this most peculiar Premier League season.

It is hard to know whether this is the best season for The Greatest League In The World™ or some kind of Premier League nadir. Are Nicola Berti and Andrea Silenzi laughing at us during their late-night radio show on Parlare Di Sport?

So, what are you looking out for this weekend? Ah, sorry, that’s not included – this is strictly a football blog – but read it anyway.

Preamble