Time to wrap up today’s Clockwatch, but there’s plenty more hot MBM action to come. Thanks for your company and emails – goodnight.
Match report: Crystal Palace 2-1 Leicester And finally, Jean-Philippe Mateta scored an injury-time winner to give Roy Hodgson a precious victory on his return to Selhurst Park. Leicester are in bother.
Match report: Brighton 3-3 Brentford
A minor classic at the Amex between two of the Premier League’s most admirable teams.
Match report: Nottm Forest 1-1 Wolves
Daniel Podence scored a late equaliser for Wolves and was then accused of playing Frank Rijkaard to Brennan Johnson’s Rudi Voller.
Match report: Man City 4-1 Liverpool
A reminder of the early game at the Etihad, where Manchester City came from behind to destroy Liverpool.
Full time: Bournemouth 2-1 Fulham
At half-time, Bournemouth were 19th in the table. After a stirring fightback at the Vitality Stadium, they sit proudly (if still a little nervously) in 15th.
Man City 4-1 Liverpool
Match report: Arsenal 4-1 Leeds
Nick Ames was at the Emirates to see Arsenal restore their eight-point lead. They still need 23 points from the last nine games to be certain of winning the title, but a result at the Etihad would given them more margin for error.
“The last time Arsenal finished above Chelsea was 2015-16 (the Leicester season),” says Eagle Brosi. “Arsenal are now at 72 points and the most Chelsea can get is 71. It’s not a trophy but it is funny.”
There’s another game tonight, one that some people think is even bigger than Chelsea v Aston Villa. Alex Hess is your man for that one.
The late game is Chelsea v Aston Villa. Both have already had a good day, given results elsewhere, and a win for either team would move them within two points of sixth place.
After all that drama, these are the final scores in our featured games
Premier League
Manchester City 4-1 Liverpool
Arsenal 4-1 Leeds
Bournemouth 2-1 Fulham
Brighton 3-3 Brentford
Crystal Palace 2-1 Leicester
Nottm Forest 1-1 Wolves
Scottish Premiership
Rangers 2-0 Dundee United
Championship
Huddersfield 4-2 Middlesbrough
Norwich 0-1 Sheff Utd
GOAL! Cardiff 2-3 Swansea (Cabango 90+9) Ben Cabango has just scored a 99th-minute winner in the South Wales derby!
Updated
Snakes and ladders latest
That late goal at Selhurst Park leaves Leicester in the relegation places. My word; they would be the best team to go down since, what, West Ham in 2002-03?
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 29 | 43 | 72 |
| 2 | Man City | 28 | 45 | 64 |
| 3 | Man Utd | 26 | 6 | 50 |
| 4 | Tottenham Hotspur | 28 | 12 | 49 |
| 5 | Newcastle | 26 | 20 | 47 |
| 6 | Brighton | 26 | 15 | 43 |
| 7 | Brentford | 28 | 9 | 43 |
| 8 | Liverpool | 27 | 15 | 42 |
| 9 | Fulham | 28 | 0 | 39 |
| 10 | Chelsea | 27 | 1 | 38 |
| 11 | Aston Villa | 27 | -4 | 38 |
| 12 | Crystal Palace | 29 | -15 | 30 |
| 13 | Wolverhampton | 29 | -19 | 28 |
| 14 | Nottm Forest | 28 | -27 | 27 |
| 15 | AFC Bournemouth | 28 | -28 | 27 |
| 16 | Leeds | 28 | -12 | 26 |
| 17 | Everton | 28 | -18 | 26 |
| 18 | Leicester | 28 | -10 | 25 |
| 19 | West Ham | 26 | -10 | 24 |
| 20 | Southampton | 28 | -23 | 23 |
Updated
Full time: Rangers 2-0 Dundee Utd
Two goals for Mark Tillman gave Rangers a routine victory at Ibrox.
Full times: Norwich 0-1 Sheff Utd, Huddersfield 4-2 Middlesbrough
Boro’s hopes of automatic promotion may be over after a dramatic collapse at Huddersfield. They are six points behind Sheffield United, who earned a big victory at Carrow Road.
Full time: Brighton 3-3 Brentford
Handshakes all round after a marvellous game at the Amex, where Brighton thrice came from behind against Brentford in the battle of the overachievers. In their own different ways, these two teams are making the world a better place.
Updated
Full time: Nottm Forest 1-1 Wolves
Daniel Podence scored a vital late equaliser and was then accused of spitting in Brennan Johnson’s face.
Full time: Arsenal 4-1 Leeds
Gabriel Jesus scored twice on his return to the starting XI as Arsenal hammered Leeds to move eight points clear at the top.
Full time: Crystal Palace 2-1 Leicester
Palace win their first game of 2023, and now Leicester are officially embroiled.
Full time: Bournemouth 2-1 Fulham
Bournemouth jump from 19th to 15th (provisionally) after a vital second-half comeback.
Updated
GOAL! Crystal Palace 2-1 Leicester (Mateta 90+4)
Roy Hodgson is 17 years old again! The substitute Jean-Philippe Mateta has scored a superb goal in the fourth minute of added time!
Updated
“I appreciate your opinion about Patrick Kluivert but, for me at least, Batistuta was one of the best strikers ever,” says Bogdan Kotarlic. “He had a great, thundering shot, he was consistent, scoring something like 20 goals in the Serie A every season and he could score some incredible goals.”
He was a magnificent monster. But he was fairly one-dimensional, no? That’s my point about Kluivert really – when he was at his best (‘when’ doing a lot of work there), he had an allround game that arguably nobody in the world could match.
Nottm Forest 1-1 Wolves The Sky Sports pundits are saying that Daniel Podence may have spat in the face of Brennan Johnson – but the replays can’t be conclusive because VAR hasn’t intervened. We’ll hear more about that, I’m sure.
Updated
GOAL! Brighton 3-3 Brentford (Mac Allister 90 pen)
Alexis Mac Allister scores Brighton’s third equaliser, smashing the penalty past David Raya.
Updated
Penalty to Brighton! Deniz Undav’s goalbound shot is handled by Aaron Hickey, and a penalty is given after advice from VAR. Hickey is booked, which Brighton aren’t thrilled about.
Updated
GOAL! Arsenal 4-1 Leeds (Xhaka 87)
A superb header from Granit Xhaka restores Arsenal’s three-goal lead. Since that little blip in February they have won seven league games in a row.
Updated
The latest scores in our featured games
Premier League
Arsenal 3-1 Leeds
Bournemouth 2-1 Fulham
Brighton 2-3 Brentford
Crystal Palace 1-1 Leicester
Nottm Forest 1-1 Wolves
Scottish Premiership
Rangers 2-0 Dundee United
Championship
Huddersfield 4-2 Middlesbrough
Norwich 0-1 Sheff Utd
GOAL! Nottm Forest 1-1 Wolves (Podence 83)
Another twist at the bottom! Daniel Podence finishes emphatically to bring Wolves level at the City Ground. That’s a problem for Forest, who have stopped winning at home.
Updated
“If you’re looking for mid-season signings that maintained momentum,” says Andy Flintoff, “then Ronny Rosenthal in 1990 helped that creaking Liverpool team over the line. Arguably Dalglish’s best signing towards the end of his first spell as manager.”
Funnily enough, he’s on the longlist (along with Avi Cohen) for another Joy of Six I’ve been planning: unlikely title-race heroes.
“Kluivert was a great talent,” says Robert Lin, “but there is really no argument to be made for him as a superior striker to the likes of Ronaldo, Batistuta, Raul or even Shearer.”
Really? I think in the late 1990s, there’s a case he was better than all of them. Ronaldo and Shearer weren’t the same players after injury (and Ronaldo was out most of the time), and none of the four you mention had Kluivert’s range of skills. There was a window of maybe 2-3 years when I thought he was fantastic.
GOAL! Arsenal 3-1 Leeds (Kristensen 76)
Rasmus Kristensen’s shot deflects past Aaron Ramsdale to give Leeds a consolation goal.
Updated
GOAL! Bournemouth 2-1 Fulham (Solanke 79)
Oof, this is a huge goal at the Vitality Stadium. Dominic Solanke gobbles up the rebound after a save from Bernd Leno, and as things stand Bournemouth are out of the relegation places. In fact, they’re not even in the picture.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | Leicester | 28 | -9 | 26 |
| 17 | Leeds | 28 | -11 | 26 |
| 18 | Everton | 28 | -18 | 26 |
| 19 | West Ham | 26 | -10 | 24 |
| 20 | Southampton | 28 | -23 | 23 |
Updated
GOAL! Huddersfield 4-2 Middlesbrough (Akpom 74)
What the Klaxons and Grace said.
“Good word, rumpus,” says Rob Wolf Petersen. “Underused, for mine. I wonder how one describes more than one rumpus. Rumpi? Rumpum?
“Hope it’s not rumpuses. That would be far too workaday. Also sounds like it should refer to numerous peculiar cats, as opposed to numerous colourful altercations.”
Apparently it is, alas, rumpuses. Oh well, we’ll always have Miller’s Crossing.
Brighton 2-3 Brentford Lewis Dunk has missed a great chance for Brighton, whose xG has apparently been through the roof in the second half.
Arsenal 3-0 Leeds “He’s going completely under the radar,” says Andrew Hurley, “but has any January signing ever had the stats Trossard has to date?”
Edgar Davids? I suggested a Joy of Six on this – shrewd mid-season signings who quietly keep a title-chasing team on track. We tend to focus either on the gamechangers (Cantona) or the buzzkillers (Marsh, Asprilla, Cascarino), but Trossard has been an inspired signing.
Updated
GOAL! Huddersfield 4-1 Middlesbrough (Pearson 66)
Middlesbrough have gone to seed. Matty Pearson has scored his second goal and Huddersfield’s fourth of the second half.
Man City 4-1 Liverpool
“Few realise that Pep loves a big No9 with a good touch,” says Phil Podolsky. “Apparently since playing with Patrick Kluivert back in the day. The Zlatan saga at Barcelona was about that and had I watched the Bundesliga I’m convinced I could’ve provide another example to clinch it. Gomez? Lewandowski? That Italian guy? There must’ve been someone sizable.”
Kluivert is so underrated historically. I know he was erratic, but at his best, certainly in the late 1990s, he was arguably the best centre-forward in the world. Kluivert and Ruud van Nistelrooy were born on the same day, 1 July 1976, and if you combined their careers (Kluivert 1994-2001, van Nistelrooy 2001-12) you’d have one of the all-time greats.
Man Utd 7-1 West Ham (1 April 2000)
“Hi Rob,” says Liz White. “That West Ham game caused so many conflicting feelings. As a United fan, Solskjaer was always one of my favourite players, but as a Canadian, I was also a big fan of West Ham’s keeper, Craig Forrest. He was named the tournament MVP in Canadian men’s team Gold Cup win in 2000.
“After that, more Canadian fans started showing up for national team home games. Until then, most of the supporters would be there to cheer for the away team. The first football game I attended was a friendly between Canada and Jamaica in 1999, where I was about a third of the Canadian support, in a stadium where half the stands were condemned, and attendance in the open section was maybe two thousand.
“All that to say, it hurts my heart a little to watch one of my football heroes get absolutely creamed by one of my other football heroes.”
You say that, but in some ways it was a good day for Forrest: on his previous visit to Old Trafford, with Ipswich in 1995, he conceded nine.
Brighton 2-3 Brentford As things stand, Brentford are only four points away from a Champions League place! That really is astonishing.
Arsenal 3-0 Leeds “That goal by White is a perfect example of what’s so great about Arsenal this season,” says Kári Tulinius. “White, at the far end of the 18 yard box, signals to Martinelli, and without a second’s thought the winger drills a pass across the face of the goal. They all trust each other’s judgment, almost like they’re thinking collectively.”
GOALS! Huddersfield 3-1 Boro (Pearson 57); Norwich 0-1 Sheff Utd (McAtee 62)
At half-time, Middlesbrough were closing in on second-placed Sheffield United. Now, thanks to James McAtee’s goal at Carrow Road, United are six points clear with a game in hand.
GOAL! Crystal Palace 1-1 Leicester (Iversen 59 og)
Palace are level! Ebere Eze’s free-kick hits the bar, rebounds off the back of the keeper Daniel Iversen and into the net.
Updated
GOAL! Rangers 2-0 Dundee Utd (Tillman 55)
Rangers are cruising at Ibrox, where Mark Tillman has scored his second with the aid of a goalkeeping error.
GOAL! Arsenal 3-0 Leeds (Jesus 55)
Gabriel Jesus combines superbly with Leandro Trossard to score his second goal of the day and ensure that Arsenal will be eight points clear at the top of the table tonight. They really are running out of time to mess this up.
Updated
GOAL! Huddersfield 2-1 Middlesbrough (Koroma 54)
A big turnaround at Huddersfield, where Josh Koroma has curled the home side into the lead!
GOAL! Crystal Palace 0-1 Leicester (Ricardo 56)
Rodgers in! Leicester have started the second half superbly at Selhurst Park, and now they lead through a screamer from Ricardo Pereira. That goal lifts Leicester above Palace in the as-it-stands table.
Updated
The latest scores in our featured games
Premier League
Arsenal 2-0 Leeds
Bournemouth 1-1 Fulham
Brighton 2-3 Brentford
Crystal Palace 0-0 Leicester
Nottm Forest 1-0 Wolves
Scottish Premiership
Rangers 1-0 Dundee United
Championship
Huddersfield 1-1 Middlesbrough
Norwich 0-0 Sheff Utd
Nottm Forest 1-0 Wolves Adama Traore goes down in the area after a risky challenge from Felipe. The penalty isn’t given, to Julen Lopetegui’s disgust, and then there’s a rumpus between the two benches. A member of the backroom staff on each side has been sent off.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Leicester
“Rodgers has been a victim of his own success at Leicester,” says Admir Pajic. “He has punched well above the weight with a thin squad that had an excellent XI and not so many options on the bench for the league marathon. That’s why they used to implode in the final month of the Champions League race.
“This season, it was a mix of a fixture list that didn’t allow them gain momentum (a streak of matches against big teams), defensive veterans not properly replaced (which is partly down to him though) and Jamie Vardy no longer being a goal-scoring machine.
“It’s always like this with Rodgers. You don’t know for certain if he is a good manager who is great in overachieving or a good manager who can’t live up with expectations set up by himself. It was like that in Liverpool, it is like that in Leicester.”
GOAL! Brighton 2-3 Brentford (Pinnock 49)
Brentford are ahead for the third time! Ethan Pinnock got the goal, flicking home from Bryan Mbeumo’s free-kick.
Updated
GOAL! Arsenal 2-0 Leeds (White 47)
Arsenal are going eight points clear: Ben White has scored against his old club after good play by the rejuvenated Gabriel Martinelli.
Updated
GOAL! Huddersfield 1-1 Middlesbrough (Ruffels 46)
Josh Ruffels equalises in the first minute of the second half.
GOAL! Bournemouth 1-1 Fulham (Tavernier 50)
A spectacular equaliser from the substitute Marcus Tavernier!
Updated
Peep peep! The second halves are under way.
Man City 4-1 Liverpool
“Watched City’s sensational second half display, looks like they finally found the perfect centre-forward in Alvarez,” writes Phil Podolsky. “For the first time since peak Aguero, a great goal scorer whose mobility and silky linkup play make their roster of midfield maestros even better. Anyone know why he doesn’t start every week?”
Are you saying that Haaland is Pep’s equivalent of a drunken 2am Deliveroo?
Luton 2-0 Watford
“I know no one cares, and this is a Premier League clockwatch, but bloody effing Watford,” weeps Mac Millings. “ I mean, why do I bother? No player purchasing policy other than scouting rough diamonds in the hope of polishing them up for a profit, forgetting that if the actual team’s no good, they look crap and no one wants to buy them. No managerial hiring policy other than ‘the guy we just fired was rubbish [i.e., didn’t get us to the top of the Championship in five minutes], so let’s hire the complete opposite type of coach,’ while apparently not considering that having a different boss every dozen games might be additionally detrimental to that brilliant diamond-polishing scheme.
“Then, when they do hire a bright young coach with the promise of finally building a long-term identity, and the chairman/CEO says they’ll stick with him ‘come hell or high water,’ they sack him after 11 games, upon which he goes and takes Luton Town to the playoffs, and I’m betting, I am just betting, to the Premier Bloody League. And now I’ve just looked at the table. They’re going to get automatic promotion, aren’t they? Luton F. Town, for goodness sake!
“I’ll be back Friday, though, won’t I, watching Watford grind out a 0-1 home defeat to relegation-haunted Huddersfield. Do you think maybe I’m not well?”
You always have the option.
Half-time reading
Half time
Peep peep! It’s half time up and down the land, and these are the scores in our featured games.
Premier League
Arsenal 1-0 Leeds
Bournemouth 0-1 Fulham
Brighton 2-2 Brentford
Crystal Palace 0-0 Leicester
Nottm Forest 1-0 Wolves (as things stand, Forest are 12th)
Scottish Premiership
Rangers 1-0 Dundee United
Championship
Huddersfield 0-1 Middlesbrough
Norwich 0-0 Sheff Utd
Crystal Palace 0-0 Leicester Bad news for Palace: Wilfried Zaha has gone down with a groin problem, and it looks like he’s done for the day.
Updated
GOAL! Huddersfield 0-1 Middlesbrough (Forss 43)
Boro haven’t played well in the first half, but Marcus Forss has put them ahead on the stroke of half-time. Who knew that Michael Carrick would be as underrated in management as he was in his playing career?
Updated
Arsenal 1-0 Leeds Arsenal are flying now, and Gabriel Martinelli has just had a lob cleared off the line by Luke Ayling.
GOAL! Rangers 1-0 Dundee Utd (Tillman 38)
It took a while, but Mark Tillman has put Rangers ahead at Ibrox.
Updated
GOAL! Nottm Forest 1-0 Wolves (Johnson 38)
The talismanic Brennan Johnson has put Forest ahead from Danilo’s pass. He’s also just been booked for diving.
Updated
Arsenal 1-0 Wolves Since you asked, these are Arsenal’s remaining fixtures. You can make a very good case for them winning the league in style, and an equally good case for a heartbreaking slip.
Liverpool (A)
West Ham (A)
Southampton (H)
Man City (A)
Chelsea (H)
Newcastle (A)
Brighton (H)
Nottm Forest (A)
Wolves (H)
Arsenal 1-0 Leeds That Gabriel Jesus goal was Arsenal’s first shot on target.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Leicester “Rodgers had credit in the bank but it’s expired,” says Graham Randall. “It’s just lifeless at the moment. Seems the more time he has with the players, the worse we get. Palace haven’t won for 12 games. Leicester look like a non-league team away to a Premier League side.”
I suspect he’ll quit at the end of the season whether they stay up or not. I was going to say it’ll be a good job for somebody, but they are probably going to lose a few of their best players, aren’t they?
GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Leeds (Jesus 35 pen)
With the usual penalty taker Bukayo Saka on the bench, Gabriel Jesus steps up to score his first goal in exactly six months. His last was against Spurs on 1 October.
Updated
Penalty to Arsenal! Moments after Aaron Ramsdale makes another good save to deny Jack Harrison, Luke Ayling fouls Gabriel Jesus at the other end!
Arsenal 0-0 Leeds Aaron Ramsdale has made a good save to deny Crysencio Summerville. It sounds like Leeds are giving Arsenal plenty of agita.
GOAL! Brighton 2-2 Brentford (Welbeck 28)
It’s a pulsating game at the Amex. Danny Welbeck has scored Brighton’s econd equaliser, heading Solly March’s cross past David Raya.
Updated
Crystal Palace 0-0 Leicester “Absolute negligence from Rodgers to have kept Danny Ward in goal for so long this season,” says Graham Randall. “Leicester would be two down if he was playing. Strange to not see much talk about Rodgers job. He needs to go. Sleepwalking towards relegation this year.”
Does he not still have credit in the bank from 2019-21? I guess not, but I hope, when he does go, people remember how good it was for the most part.
Arsenal 0-0 Leeds It’s all pretty flat at the Emirates, at least according to Paul Merson on Sky. Gabriel Jesus missed an excellent chance but that’s about it.
GOAL! Brighton 1-2 Brentford (Toney 22)
Well well. Brighton were level for less than a minute: England’s Ivan Toney has finished expertly from Bryan Mbuemo’s pass.
Updated
GOAL! Brighton 1-1 Brentford (Mitoma 21)
Brighton have been playing some lovely football, as per, but they’ve equalised with a goal Charles Hughes would have enjoyed. It required just two touches: the keeper Jason Steele drove a long pass downfield to Kaoru Mitoma, who lobbed it calmly over David Raya. That was a brilliant pass from Steele.
Updated
On this day in 2000… West Ham take the lead at Old Trafford.
The latest scores in our featured games
Premier League
Arsenal 0-0 Leeds
Bournemouth 0-1 Fulham
Brighton 0-1 Brentford
Crystal Palace 0-0 Leicester
Nottm Forest 0-0 Wolves
Scottish Premiership
Rangers 0-0 Dundee United
Championship
Huddersfield 0-0 Middlesbrough
Norwich 0-0 Sheff Utd
GOAL! Bournemouth 0-1 Fulham (Andreas 16)
Andreas Pereira has finished off a good move to give Fulham the lead at Bournemouth. They will right in the mix for a European place if they win today.
Updated
Arsenal 0-0 Leeds Another returning player, Gabriel Jesus, has just missed an excellent chance for Arsenal, heading Granit Xhaka’s cross over the bar.
Updated
GOAL! Brighton 0-1 Brentford (Jansson 11)
The Brenford captain Pontus Jansson has scored on his return! It was a cracking header, too, flashed past Jason Steele from Mathias Jensen’s cross. As things stand, Brentford are sixth in the Premier League.
Updated
Championship roundup
Here’s a bit more on the two early games in the Championship, which included another excellent win for Luton.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Leicester It sounds Palace have dominated the first 10 minutes at Selhurst Park. The Leicester keeper Daniel Iversen has made a good save from Cheick Doucoure.
Brighton 0-0 Brentford Brighton have started really well, it says here, and Ethan Pinnock has just made a terrific tackle to deny Kaoru Mitoma.
Man City 4-1 Liverpool “Looking through the chicken entrails after City’s win – it could be that they now become hopelessly complacent and come a cropper in the next few games, leaving the door wide open for Arsenal to process to the title,” says Charles Antaki. “Alternatively, they get a huge boost of confidence, only to be fatally unbalanced by the return of Haaland, leaving the door wide open for Arsenal to process to the title. A third alternative is neither of these things and, hey ho, they do not leave the door wide open for Arsenal etc etc.”
Updated
On this day in 1978… Liam Brady’s left foot takes care of business.
Updated
Arsenal 0-0 Leeds Blimey, Leeds also copied Bournemouth by scoring inside 10 seconds at the Emirates. Rasmus Kristensen forced a brilliant save from Aaron Ramsdale, according to Paul Merson on Sky.
Peep peep! Let’s get this party started.
Updated
“FiveThirtyEight now have City winning the title on goal difference,” writes my colleague Tim de Lisle. “This morning they were giving it to Arsenal, by two points.”
City could win every game from here – the only really tough fixtures are Arsenal at home plus Brighton and Brentford away. But Arsenal know that all they have to do (!) is avoid defeat at the Etihad. If they manage that, it should be theirs.
We’re seeing lots of live footage of men standing in tunnels looking serious. It means only one thing: the 3pm games are about to begin.
On this day in 1998… Juventus rout Monaco in the Champions League semi-final.
"I need to get back to the changing rooms and see how many days off we've got!! 😂
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 1, 2023
Player of the Match Jack Grealish is looking forward to a mini-break after that performance against Liverpool! 🙌
🎙️ @TheDesKelly pic.twitter.com/YafseP9vA6
On this day in 2001… Charlton’s Shaun Bartlett scores the goal of the season.
Premier League match report: Man City 4-1 Liverpool
On this day in 1972… Brian Clough’s Derby go top of the table after a huge win against title rivals Leeds.
WSL match report: Brighton 0-4 Man Utd
Arsenal v Leeds Apparently Bukayo Saka was unwell and didn’t train yesterday, which is why he’s only on the bench.
Championship
Luton’s push for automatic promotion continues – they have beaten Watford 2-0 at Kenilworth Road. The other early game finished Preston 3-1 Blackpool.
Updated
Full time: Man City 4-1 Liverpool
City, who are peaking at the perfect time, came from behind to overwhelm Liverpool in the second half. They were fantastic.
Updated
On this day in 1995… Nottingham Forest score seven at Hillsborough.
The updated Premier League table
Liverpool’s defeat means that one of Brighton or Brentford will be in sixth place (which guarantees European football, though seventh might be enough) tonight.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 28 | 40 | 69 |
| 2 | Man City | 28 | 45 | 64 |
| 3 | Man Utd | 26 | 6 | 50 |
| 4 | Tottenham Hotspur | 28 | 12 | 49 |
| 5 | Newcastle | 26 | 20 | 47 |
| 6 | Liverpool | 27 | 15 | 42 |
| 7 | Brighton | 25 | 15 | 42 |
| 8 | Brentford | 27 | 9 | 42 |
| 9 | Fulham | 27 | 1 | 39 |
| 10 | Chelsea | 27 | 1 | 38 |
| 11 | Aston Villa | 27 | -4 | 38 |
| 12 | Crystal Palace | 28 | -16 | 27 |
| 13 | Wolverhampton | 28 | -19 | 27 |
| 14 | Leeds | 27 | -9 | 26 |
| 15 | Everton | 28 | -18 | 26 |
| 16 | Nottm Forest | 27 | -27 | 26 |
| 17 | Leicester | 27 | -9 | 25 |
| 18 | West Ham | 26 | -10 | 24 |
| 19 | AFC Bournemouth | 27 | -29 | 24 |
| 20 | Southampton | 28 | -23 | 23 |
Nottm Forest v Wolves team news
Five changes apiece. Crucially, Brennan Johnson is fit to start for Forest.
✋ Five changes from #NFONEW.
— Nottingham Forest FC (@NFFC) April 1, 2023
🇧🇷 Danilo back in the XI.
🇳🇬 Taiwo back in the squad.
Your #NFFC team to face @Wolves 📋#NFOWOL pic.twitter.com/3aE7WT1UgL
5️⃣ Five changes to the starting XI.
— Wolves (@Wolves) April 1, 2023
🇵🇹 Toti into the squad.
🇧🇷 Cunha leads the line.
How we line-up to take on @NFFC.
🐺📋 @AstroPay_OK pic.twitter.com/2Ue13yGUZp
Updated
Brighton v Brentford team news
Evan Ferguson has a knock, so Danny Welbeck starts up front for Brighton. The Brentford captain Pontus Jansson, who has been out with a serious hamstring injury, starts his first game since October.
THE TEAM! 👊 Here's how we line-up against Brentford. 🔜
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) April 1, 2023
📲 https://t.co/S3j1TIedJv // #BHAFC 🔵⚪ pic.twitter.com/qFHvlg0Gi1
🐝 Your Bees to take on the Seagulls this afternoon#BHABRE pic.twitter.com/g7rEyAFQYx
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) April 1, 2023
Updated
Crystal Palace v Leicester team news
Roy Hodgson has picked a pretty attacking team for his first game back at Selhurst Park: Wilfried Zaha, Ebere Eze, Michael Olise and Odsonne Edouard all start.
Our XI to take on Leicester City 👊@shophumm 📲#CPFC | #CRYLEI
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) April 1, 2023
Back to it. Here's your Foxes XI 📝 💛#CRYLEI pic.twitter.com/w9JraxjBhL
— Leicester City (@LCFC) April 1, 2023
Bournemouth v Fulham team news
Bournemouth are unchanged. Carlos Vinicius replaces the suspended Aleksandr Mitrovic for Fulham.
📝 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 📝
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) April 1, 2023
We're unchanged for #BOUFUL 💪 pic.twitter.com/VK5E9vVP33
Lining 🆙.#BOUFUL pic.twitter.com/DXRWOo1DlD
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) April 1, 2023
Updated
GOAL! Man City 4-1 Liverpool (Grealish 74)
Jack Grealish caps an outstanding performance by finishing off yet another terrific team move. Liverpool played really well in the first half but they’ve been taken to the cleaners in the second.
Arsenal v Leeds team news
Gabriel Jesus starts for the first time since the World Cup – but Bukayo Saka is only on the bench.
🔴 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 ⚪️
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 1, 2023
🧱 Holding at the back
🤩 Trossard on the wing
⚡ Gabby leads the line
Let's keep this good form up 👊 pic.twitter.com/wlH513EC53
Leeds are without Patrick Bamford, who is on the bench, and Wilfried Gnonto, who isn’t.
📋 Your #LUFC Starting XI... pic.twitter.com/jRogbVt9FT
— Leeds United (@LUFC) April 1, 2023
On this day in 1990… Peter Reid’s lands a savage blow to Aston Villa’s title hopes.
What it says on the tin department
GOAL! Man City 3-1 Liverpool (Gundogan 54)
A finish of indecent serenity from Ilkay Gundogan has put City 3-1 up at the Etihad. Julian Alvarez, in for the injured Erling Haaland, has played a big part in all three goals.
On this day in 1970… an all-British European Cup semi-final.
GOAL! Man City 2-1 Liverpool (De Bruyne 46)
Kevin De Bruyne has put City ahead at the Etihad, finishing off another good move after just 51 seconds of the second half. As things stand, we have a belter of a title race.
Updated
Barney Ronay on the title race
Premier League: Man City 1-1 Liverpool (HT)
It was all square after a frantic, occasionally fractious first half at the Etihad. Mo Salah flashed Liverpool in front before Julian Alvarez – in for the injured Erling Haaland – finished off a classic City move.
Alvarez’s goal was set up by Jack Grealish, who moments earlier had charged back to the edge of his own area to stop Salah getting his second.
Follow the second half with Scott Murray.
Updated
Women’s Super League
The WSL leaders Manchester United won 4-0 at Brighton in the early game. Leah Galton scored twice before Rachel Williams and Lucia Garcia added some late gloss. It’s turning into one of the great title races, with the Big Four almost inseparable at the top.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Man Utd Women | 17 | 37 | 41 |
| 2 | Man City Women | 16 | 20 | 38 |
| 3 | Chelsea Women | 15 | 25 | 37 |
| 4 | Arsenal Women | 15 | 29 | 35 |
| 5 | Aston Villa Women | 16 | 7 | 29 |
Preamble
Welcome to the beginning of the end. The end of another Premier League season, that is. The next eight weeks will be a breathless orgy of drama, hyperbole, euphoria, despair, rage and contrived punditry rows. Each Premier League team has between 10 and 13 games to play before the whole thing concludes on 28 May. More importantly – perhaps uniquely – they all have something to play for.
The concept of mid-table mediocrity will doubtless reintroduce itself before the end of May. But right here, right now, all 20 teams in the Premier League are fighting for something: the title, a particular European place or the avoidance of Championship football next season.
The reason for this unusual situation is the cavernous gap between Aston Villa in 11th place (38 points, four behind Liverpool in sixth) and Crystal Palace in 12th (27 points, four above the bottom club Southampton). There was actually a similar gap between Wolves and Villa at this stage last season, but most of the mid-table teams had no realistic chance of European football or relegation.
Usually by this stage, a few teams are drifting into what the Manchester United writer Richard Kurt called a “nihilistic nothingness”. He was talking about the 1988-89 season, when United went into a prolonged funk after going out of both the title race and the FA Cup. They scored only once in five games in April - and that was a Tony Adams own-goal.
All of which is a roundabout way of saying all today’s Premier League games are important, and all have different points of interest. Just don’t call any of them six-pointers, or we may fall out.
Arsenal, who are tantalisingly close to one of the second most improbable title victory of the Premier League era, can make it seven straight league wins by beating Leeds.
Roy Hodgson, aged 75 2/3 , is back in charge of Crystal Palace for their game at home to Leicester.
Bournemouth could move out of the relegation places by beating Fulham, who are playing for the first time since that spectacular loss of noggin at Old Trafford.
Nottm Forest v Wolves is 16th v 13th, but also a relegation battle. Just don’t call it a six-pointer or we may fall out.
Last, and absolutely not least because they are two of the most impressive teams in the league, Brighton face Brentford in a European battle, with both teams hoping to jump into the promised land of sixth place. That depends in part on Liverpool’s result in the early game at the Etihad.
We’ll try to keep an eye on matters elsewhere too. Bbut don’t expect miracles, this isn’t a chatbot. These are today’s featured games, all 3pm kick-off unless stated.
Premier League
Arsenal v Leeds
Bournemouth v Fulham
Brighton v Brentford
Crystal Palace v Leicester
Nottm Forest v Wolves
Scottish Premiership
Rangers v Dundee United
Championship
Huddersfield v Middlesbrough
Norwich v Sheff Utd
