Liverpool were quiet in the transfer market last summer, which makes their title stroll even more impressive. This summer, Arne Slot will have his imaginary chequebook at the ready.
On this day in 1972…the first leg of the first-ever all-English European final. (Longer highlights, including the Wolves goal, are available.)
At 11am, Ben Fisher will be here to answer your questions about all things EFL. Let’s be havin’ them: emailmatchday.live@theguardian.comor post below the line.
You think the life of an algorithm is easy?Try being an as-it-stands table on the last day of the season.
The best dead rubbers in the world
The 2000-01 season is another contender for this dubious award.The biggest thing at stake on the last day of the season was whether Liverpool would qualify for the Champions League ahead of Leeds (they did).
Man Utd won the title on New Year’s Day, pretty much; and though the bottom three weren’t quite as far adrift as this season’s, they were all relegated with games to spare.
Leicester and Southampton have had miserable seasons,picking up 18 and 11 points respectively. But at least one of them will add to that total at the King Power Stadium today.
The young are getting younger.A 14-year-old is thetalk of cricket’s IPL; my friend’s nine-year-old has the vocabulary of a learned quadragenarian; and three years on fromEthan Nwaneri’s record-breaking Premier League debut, Arsenal have another 15-year-old who looks ready for first-team action.
Enough of Tony Adams.What are you plans for this beautiful Saturday? Going to a game? Mowing the lawn while listening toNessun Dorma? Settling into an all-dayer at JD Wetherspoons? Let us know either below the line or viamatchday.live@theguardian.com
On this day in 1998,Tony Adams writes his own scriptas Arsenal win the Premier League.Wonderful commentary from Martin Tyler, too, right up there with Aguerrooooooooo.
Chelsea’s young players will form a guard of honour for Liverpool tomorrow. Jacob Steinberg has been looking at what Enzo Maresca and friends can learn from the champions.
Barney’s regular Saturday column is about a young man who, on Wednesday night, came agonisingly close to breaking the internet
On this weekend five years agothere was no football, just Covid and a whole lotta fear. Barney Ronay has been looking at how the pandemic changed sport – for richer and poorer.
Guardiola to take a break from football when he leaves City
De Bruyne sinks Wolves to move City up to third
Five teams fighting for Championship survival
Government to back plan for ban on games abroad
Negative Spurs narrative can change, says Postecoglou
Hello and welcome to live coverage of another super soccer-filled Saturday. This is our home for all the latest news and previews ahead of today’s action, which begins at 12.30pm with Aston Villa v Fulham and the last day of the regular Championship season. Then we have the final round of fixtures in Leagues One and Two, plus Bayern Munich’s chance to win back the Bundesliga after a shocking one-season drought.
At 11am we’ll have a special Q&A with Ben Fisher, who knows more about the Football League than 99.82 per cent of sentient beings, so please send in any questions for that. You can contact us atmatchday.live@theguardian.comor post below the line.
Before we get started, these are some of the key matches we’ll be following today.
Premier League
Aston Villa v Fulham (12.30pm)
Everton v Ipswich (3pm)
Leicester v Southampton (3pm)
Arsenal v Bournemouth (5.30pm)
Championship (all 12.30pm)
Bristol City v Preston North End
Burnley v Millwall
Coventry v Middlesbrough
Derby v Stoke
Norwich v Cardiff
Plymouth v Leeds
Portsmouth v Hull
Sheff Utd v Blackburn
Sunderland v QPR
Swansea v Oxford Utd
Watford v Sheff Wed
West Brom v Luton
Bundesliga
RB Leipzig v Bayern (2.30pm)
League One (3pm)
Huddersfield v Leyton Orient
Reading v Barnsley
League Two (3pm)
Accrington v Chesterfield
Bradford City v Fleetwood
Carlisle v Salford
Colchester v Barrow
Crewe v Walsall
Grimsby v AFC Wimbledon
Notts County v Doncaster
Port Vale v Gillingham
You canperuse a fuller fixture list here.