Postecoglou defends Vicario, Glasner on Mateta’s recovery, and more: football – live

Kieran McKintosh emails in: “Nothing shows the decline of Manchester United quite like the definition of a big character for the club going from Ronaldo in the 2000s (justified) to Ronaldo again in the 2020s (not as justified) to Casemiro (er…when did he last score? Or assist?)

“Wonder how Ten Hag is doing right now. Probably enjoying himself and laughing out loud whenever he checks latest match results.”

Liverpool: Some stats, courtesy of Opta, on just how good the Reds and Mo Salah have been this season.

• Liverpool have scored at least twice in 25 of their Premier League games this season, at least 10 more than any other side. It’s the highest percentage of games (89%) any team has scored multiple goals across a single campaign in the competition.

• Mohamed Salah has scored or assisted a goal in 12 of Liverpool’s 13 Premier League games at Anfield this season, including each of his last 11 in a row since the Reds’ only league defeat of the season so far against Nottingham Forest in September. Only two different players have ever had a longer run of goal involvements in home games within a single Premier League season: Alan Shearer twice (13 in 1995-96, 15 in 1996-97) and Thierry Henry (12 in 2002-03).

That Casemiro eh. I guess being your club’s highest-paid player kind of gives you a cloak of confidence and invincibility.

Talking about Manchester United’s 1-1 draw at Real Sociedad, the Brazilian roared: “I’m happy with my game in particular, but the result could have been a little better.”

And as for the speculation about his future: “It’s too soon to talk about next season, but of course I have another year of contract and then an option. We have important games, and on Sunday we have Arsenal. It’s too soon to talk about next season.

“I’m here, I’m available, with total happiness, and I’m ready for the coach and the club. As everyone knows, I’m a big character for the club.”

Thanks Stu. Hopefully I can have the same impact as Harvey Elliott. Although I very much doubt it.

Talking of that PSG game – now officially the biggest smash and grab in the history of football despite it being fairly easy to think of plenty of others – the French outfit return to domestic action with a trip to Rennes this weekend. Like Liverpool, PSG have a 13-point lead at the top. But, unlike the Reds’ weekend foes, Southampton, their opponents, Rennes, are half decent. Well, at home anyway. Only three sides have won more on their own patch then Jorge Sampaoli’s side. Pencil it in for a 3-0 PSG win then.

Time for me to toddle … spinning around while clapping all four stands. David Tindall is the man on the touchline wondering how long I can drag this out for before he can actually make it on to the park and get cracking. May the afternoon, evening and weekend treat you all well.

More Palace: While Roberts awaits word on whether an automatic three-game ban for his red card will be extended by the FA, Glasner said: “It’s their decision. They have rules and they will decide. I know the goalkeeper apologised to JP, he texted him. For me, the game has gone, his action has gone.

“I’m pleased that it’s not the worst that we thought it could be during the game.”

Glasner hopes Mateta can return for late-March FA Cup tie

More Arsenal: Arteta will oversee his 200th Premier League game on Sunday – he has amassed 118 victories in that time. What chance another 200? “It’s gone fast! I have a lot of energy still and I’m very driven to have more success,” Arteta said. As for the immediate future: “Win on Sunday – that’s what happens in this industry. We try out best.”

Quite aside from the disparity in trophy tally, he will lag behind Arsène Wenger in the stats for a while yet – between 1996-2018 the Frenchman racked up 828 matches in charge.

Arsenal: Mikel Arteta has been merrily lobbing morsels into the media Sarlacc pit. He reflected on a “great night” on the road as his side tonked PSV Eindhoven 7-1 on Tuesday: “The manner – the way we did it – lifted everybody … but that is the past unfortunately.”

He also opened up on the decision to withdraw emerging card magnet Myles Lewis-Skelly in the 35th minute, after the 18-year-old had received a yellow in the 24th. “We didn’t want to take any risks and learn from that experience of managing the game for so long, especially with how important the Champions League is.

“It’s a lesson for Lewis-Skelly to learn. We will support and help him. The line is really thin in sport, and he needs to understand that. He is very intelligent, he’s extremely demanding of himself … a perfectionist. He’s got a great environment around him to learn, and he will.”

Amorim: ‘I will not have the time Arteta had’

Maresca unconcerned about ‘fantastic’ Palmer’s goal drought

Russo backs Slegers in search for new run of Arsenal success

More Silva: The Fulham manager is one of five nominees for Premier League manager of the month, alongside Oliver Glasner, David Moyes, Ange Postecoglou and Arne Slot.

Asked about being in the running for the award, Silva said: “What gave me more satisfaction is that the team reacted really well after a very good end of November and December. The load of the games was very big, and January as a month was not the best. For me to be there means that the team did well in February. For me, that is the most important thing. The reaction from the team has been really good. We have been performing well.”

Elsewhere in south-west London … Fulham again: Marco Silva feels his side’s impressive away form will be tested when they head to Brighton against a team on an “incredible” run.

The Cottagers have not lost a Premier League fixture against Brighton since Silva took charge in the summer of 2021, with four wins out of five matches. They have also only failed to win only one of their last nine away games – a run of five wins, three draws and a 3-2 defeat at West Ham.

Silva still cautioned against complacency. “It [our record against Brighton] gives us confidence, definitely, but all those games were really difficult because they are a really good side,” Silva said. “They always create a lot of problems, a really offensive side that is always playing with two strikers, the wide players are really quick, and it is always difficult to play against them.

“They have been on an incredible run of results as well after the heavy [7-0] defeat against Nottingham Forest, they reacted really well.”

Maresca willing to risk Caicedo against Leicester

Jacob Steinberg

Cheers Barry. Afternoon (GMT or adjacent) all. Some Chelsea news incoming to get this lunchtime stint rolling …

Handover: Stuart Goodwin is here to take up the cudgels o’news for the next while. Thanks for your time and company. Have a great weekend.

Postecoglou: “Vicario is one of the purest human beings”

Leicester City: Five points from safety and having taken just four points from the past 39 available, Leicester’s prospects of survival look bleak and going into Sunday’s match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, Ruud van Nistelrooy was asked if his team’s games are becoming increasingly must-win.

“The approach and it always has been, is to get the maximum out of games and always plan to be able to win one way or the other,” he said. “If you can’t win, you want to protect the result. In the end it depends how the game goes. In that sense it’s a similar approach for Sunday to all the other games.”

Van Nistelrooy was also asked if the fact that his players had a full week to prepare for this game against a Chelsea team that played in Copenhagen last night would give Leicester any sort of advantage.

“You have to take advantage of this time,” he said. “We had five sessions, five days together here including today and tomorrow, to prepare for the game. Those seconds, every second we use, we’ve always done that to work with the team.

“Of course you have to recover from a bad result and rise again but this team is capable of doing it. We are not the only team in this situation where we have to deal with loss after loss, more teams are doing that around us so we have to make sure we are ready for Sunday.”

Fulham: The Cottagers have won four of their past six away games but travel to Brighton tomorrow to face a team that has won five games in a row. “They always create a lot of problems,” he said of Fabian Hurzeler’s side. “A really offensive side that is always playing with two strikers, the wide players are really quick, and it is always difficult to play against them.

“They have been on an incredible run of results as well after the heavy defeat against Nottingham Forest, they reacted really well. Our away form has been top as well so far, and it is going to be a really good game, in my opinion. It is always good when you have a very good record. The reality is that it gives us and our fans the confidence that we can repeat again, and let us hope we can get a good result.”

Fulham will be without midfielder Sasa Lukic, who is banned for two games after accumulating 10 yellow cards in the Premier League this season. Adama Traore is a also doubt with an ankle injury he picked up in Fulham’s FA Cup win over Manchester United last weekend.

Romero and Van de Ven in line for Spurs return

Tottenham Hotspur: Ange Postecoglou has been picking over the bones of his team’s dismal performance in defeat in the first leg of their Europa League tie against AZ Alkmaar last night.

““I don’t think last night was a matter of individuals,” he said. “I thought as a collective, we just weren’t anywhere near the levels we had to be. It’s tough playing away in Europe, we knew that. The crowd create a really good atmosphere for the home side, they got the goal which gave them some momentum.

“Last night was not about individuals. It’s about the collective, we were nowhere near the level we had to be.”

Spurs host Bournemouth on Sunday afternoon and while his team has little or nothing to play for in the league, Postecoglou feels his team need another match before the return leg against their Dutch opponents next Thursday.

“We definitely need another game to get the squad to get to where we need it to get to,” he said. “Giving us the opportunity to get more game time to certain guys. Last night’s disappointment, the best way to sort of put that to one side is to perform at the weekend.

“Our league form hasn’t been too bad over the last recent period and we want to continue that. The Europa League is massive emphasis for us. We still have a massive desire to move up the table and we get that opportunity on Sunday.”

World Cup 2026: Experts warn that cooling breaks and later kickoff times may be needed to cope with scorching temperatures when North America hosts the tournament. Leander Schaelaeckens reports …

Everton: David Moyes’ side play Wolves at Molineux tomorrow in a match that kicks off at 8pm. Like many others, the Scot is of a mind that Saturday night kick-off times are not everyone’s cup of tea or bottle of Rioja.

“I’m normally a bottle of red wine down by that time on a Saturday!” he said. “If you’re a traditionalist then you probably don’t see 8pm on a Saturday night as a good kick-off time but it’s the way it’s going and I think football clubs are signing up to it due to the money that is coming in from the broadcasters. We have to go with it even if it will ruin some people’s Saturday night out.”

Everton are unbeaten on the road since Moyes replaced Sean Dyche and he was asked about their away form. “Maybe the secret is that we’ve had more home games than away games,” he said. “I have to say that our run of games – we’ve had quite a few home games and Goodison at the moment is special.

“I have to say that we’ve been away to Brighton, Crystal Palace and Brentford and the players have done a really good job. We have to try and keep it going, keep improving and making progress. The players have done a remarkable job in the last five or six weeks but I’m not thinking we’re safe, that’s for sure. We have to keep getting points.”

Slot: Liverpool ‘really lucky’ at PSG

Newcastle United: As well as revealing that Sven Botman is facing an extended spell on the sidelines, Eddie Howe explained why Newcastle did not appeal against the red card that Anthony Gordon was shown for shoving Brighton defender Jean Paul van Hecke in the back of the head towards the end of last weekend’s FA Cup defeat at the hands of Brighton.

The winger’’s impetuousness means he will miss Newcastle’s next three games, including the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool at Wembley next weekend. In short, Howe said he didn’t think there was any point in lodging an appeal as the club felt it would almost certainly be unsuccessful.

“It’s always a discussion point and we discussed it with the respective people we needed to discuss it with – lawyers etc – and we felt there wasn’t sufficient grounds to do that,” he said. “There was no intention from Anthony. He didn’t mean to hurt anybody. But, you have to look at it and ask if there is any chance of being successful and if there is no chance then what is the point of appealing and Anthony understands that.”

Liverpool: Following their midweek Champions League smash-and-grab against Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool take on Southampton tomorrow in a match where Arne Slot is expected to rotate his squad in order to keep his heavy artillery fresh for the visit of PSG next week. Unsurprisingly, it was a subject that was discussed at the Dutchman’s press conference.

“For me the one against Southampton is by far the most important, not only because it’s the first one we play but it is a very important one for us,” he said. “If I make the choice to play other players that is because I think that’s the biggest chance to win the game tomorrow and not because I want to rest them for the game against PSG.”

Hmmm …

Brighton: Fabian Hurzeler’s side have won five games in a row in all competitions, with three of those victories coming in the top flight. They host Fulham tomorrow and in the build-up to the game, the German was asked about his side’s chances of qualifying for a place in next season’s Champions League. Brighton currently sit three points off fifth place, with Fulham just a point behind them.

“It’s very important we focus on our journey and that we really believe in it,” he told reporters. “Yesterday I received a picture from a mountain. In a mountain you always have new peaks, new peaks you have to climb. That’s the goal for us we have to climb new peaks.”

His appetite for Alpine analogies sated, Hurzeler went on to reveal that Kaoru Mitoma will be fit for tomorrow’s game after recovering from cramp, while he has no other injury concerns.

Sven Botman to miss Carabao Cup final

Ipswich Town: Five points from safety, Kieran McKenna’s side travel to in-form Crystal Palace tomorrow hoping to close the five-point gap between themselves and a Wolves side who have lost Matheus Cunha, their best player, to at least four games through suspension. Despite the very real threat of relegation hanging over his side, Kieran McKenna has said he is not prepared to abandon his principles.

“If you stay consistent in your behaviour, in our processes, driving the culture here, I think that builds a trust between the group,” he said. “Of course the later you get towards the end of the season, because there’s less games ahead, the results feel more important. But the best way we believe to get the points is to focus on performances and to try and perform as well as you can with whatever the game plan is in that particular game.

“There’s no game in the Premier League that is going to be anything less than competitive. If we can do a lot of things well then we’ll make the games competitive and Crystal Palace are a very strong side, they have certainly improved as the season has gone on.”

Southampton: With the teams separated by 52 points, Southampton face a daunting weekend trip to Anfield, where nobody gives the Premier League’s bottom side a snowball’s chance in hell of adding to their tally of nine points against the table-toppers.

While Ivan Juric could be forgiven for whimpering in fear behind the sofa, the Saints boss fronted up at his press conference to declare his side – who have already given Liverpool a decent run for their money on two separate occasions this season – will try to give a good account of themselves.

“It’s never mission impossible,” he told reporters. “We will try to do our best and we will see. Before the match, I’m always optimistic and then after maybe I think differently. But before the match, I always see the possibility of doing something good.

“When you play against Liverpool, sometimes it’s the way you want to die. If you do some things, they will find another way to beat you. If you are low block, they will find a way to beat you. I think we have to be perfect in both things. Sometimes press, sometimes low block. We will see. We have to play well.”

Football finance: The Premier League’s financial power continues to blow its European rivals out of the water, with combined revenues almost double those in Germany and Spain according to newly released figures from Uefa. Nick Ames has the latest …

Tottenham Hotspur: Guglielmo Vicario has said he “understands the frustration of the fans” after the Tottenham goalkeeper was involved in an emotional exchange following his side’s 1-0 defeat at AZ in the first leg of their Europa League tie. Ed Aarons reports from Alkmaar …

Nottingham Forest: Nuno Espirito Santo’s side welcome Manchester City for tomorrow’s early kick-off having taken just one point from the last nine available in the Premier League. Forest sit third in the top flight but will be overtaken by City if they fail to beat them. The Forest manager has said he will treat tomorrow’s game against the Premier League champions the same way he would any other game.

“The approach is the same,” Nuno told reporters. “Nothing changes. You have to realise that you’re going to play a very, very good team, a team that has been able to clearly dominate in the last years, a coach that has a big impact on the game and fantastic players.

“But it’s the same approach. It’s realising how hard it’s going to be, but at the same time with the joy of the moment. It’s going to be even more difficult than it was before [at the Etihad, where Forest lost 3-0].”

The Portuguese refused to be drawn on the reasons behind City’s decline this season and insisted Guardiola remains as influential as ever. “Pep is one of the coaches who has had a direct impact on the game,” he said. “His ideas and the way he approaches [his work] and tries to build his teams.

“He has a big impact and he’s contagious to older managers because they see new things and different things. We’ve faced each other many times and it’s always about the players at the end of the day, the ability of the players to make the manager’s ideas work.”

Premier League fixtures

• Nottingham Forest v Man City (Sat 12.30pm GMT)

• Liverpool v Southampton (3pm)

• Crystal Palace v Ipswich Town (3pm)

• Brighton v Fulham (3pm)

• Brentford v Aston Villa (5.30pm)

• Wolves v Everton (8pm)

• Tottenham Hotspur v Bournemouth (Sunday 2pm)

• Chelsea v Leicester (2pm)

• Manchester United v Arsenal (4.30pm)

• West Ham v Newcastle (Monday 8pm)

• View the Premier League table

FC Copenhagen 1-2 Chelsea

Europa Conference League: Reece James and Enzo Fernandez papered over the cracks of a poor Chelsea performance as Enzo Maresca’s side assumed control of the tie in Denmark. Jacob Steinberg reports from Parken …

Fenerbahce 1-3 Rangers

Europa League: Vaclav Cerny scored twice as Rangers interim boss Barry Ferguson led his side to a famous and emphatic victory over José Mourinho’s side in Istanbul. Jonathan Wilson reports from the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium

Real Sociedad 1-1 Manchester United

Europa League: Mikel Oyarzabal cancelled out Joshua Zirkzee’s opener, but a sensational Andre Onana save in added time means United will welcome their opponents from La Liga to Old Trafford on level terms next week. Sid Lowe reports from the Anoeta Stadium

AZ 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur

Europa League: An abject display in which Tottenham fell behind to an early Lucas Bergvall own goal means Ange Postecoglou’s chances of maintaining his record of winning a second season trophy at every club he has managed now rest on next week’s second leg. Ed Aarons reports from the AZ Stadion …

Preamble