7 hours ago
6
Key events Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature
Deep breaths, Everton fans … it’s going to be an emotional one. With what looked like being a precarious season long-since righted, fans will be able to pour everything into a goodbye to Goodison Park. As aforementioned, the creaky old stadium will remain – news that caught the Blue half of Liverpool unawares – but will have its capacity reduced as it prepares to become home to the women’s side.
Tom Jenkins has produced a stunning photo essay that captures a lot of what made the “Grand Old Lady” so special, and why fans of the men’s side are going to be in bits on Sunday. Whatever your affiliation, it’s well worth your time …
It’s also the second-to-last round of Fantasy Premier League matches. Here’s Paul MacInnes – currently third in Guardian Sport’s in-house league (caps doffed to leader sub Ronnie Ruff, 2,461pts and 19,361th overall, and our chief sports reporter Sean Ingle, who’s in second).
Only two weeks to go. That’s the mantra. Two more weeks to endure the familiar trauma of logging on to the fantasy football app, picking a team, celebrating the wise decisions that have led you to create an unbeatable unit, watching the weekend’s football disabuse you of this notion, then repeating the whole thing again.
It’s supposed to be a game, but Fantasy Premier League (FPL) is more like a lifestyle. Or a second job. Or even exactly like being a professional footballer: the focus, determination and relentless commitment should really be rewarded with a weekly salary, preferably in the five figures. But no, instead we have to make do with a brief appearance of a green arrow next to our team name or, more likely, a red one.
(Full transparency btw: I’m currently 16th of 26 because I can’t stop effing tinkering.)
Because of the FA Cup final, it’s a stretched round of Premier League fixtures.
Tonight, Villa host fourth-bottom Spurs, 45 mins before Chelsea host fifth-bottom Manchester United. Probably for the best that the “all-important” 40-point mark wasn’t needed this season, as Tottenham and United have just 38 and 39 from their 36 matches.
Saturday is kept clear to ensure all eyes are on Wembley, before Everton make a noon farewell to Goodison … but it’s only a goodbye for the men’s team, as was revealed this week. Then Forest will hope to try and get back into the Champions League reckoning at West Ham … and can Newcastle get past Arsenal into second spot?
Premier League fixtures
Friday
Aston Villa v Tottenham (7.30pm, all times BST)
Chelsea v Manchester United (8.15pm)
Sunday
Everton v Southampton (12noon)
West Ham v Nottingham Forest (2.15pm)
Brentford v Fulham (3pm)
Leicester v Ipswich (3pm)
Arsenal v Newcastle (4.30pm)
Monday
Brighton v Liverpool (8pm)
Tuesday
Crystal Palace v Wolves (8pm)
Manchester City v Bournemouth (8pm)
Palace have it all to do at Wembley tomorrow. Recent form has been spotty, including a 5-2 defeat by tomorrow’s opposition, City, but they’ll arrive at Wembley buoyed by last weekend’s 2-0 win at Spurs.
Ed Aarons has been talking to Palace names from finals past – Geoff Thomas, Alan Smith and Papa Souaré.
“Please don’t ask me about our appearance on Sky to sing our version of Glad All Over,” Thomas, captain in the dramatic two-game 1990 final, told him. “I remember John Salako and Gary O’Reilly giving it some! It was quite embarrassing having to sing in front of a live TV audience …”
Lots, lots more here to gee up the Palace faithful …
Chelsea are chasing a domestic clean sweep in the women’s game. Sunday’s Women’s FA Cup final arrives with Catarina Macario in form and having recaptured elusive fitness following her injury-ravaged start to life at the club.
It hasn’t been the smoothest time or transition back into playing. Having been out for so long, other things come, different little niggles, and it’s hard to pick up form in general, especially in the middle of a season, like this year. Thankfully I feel like I’ve finally been able to be on the pitch consistently since January or so, which has been a big achievement.”
Plenty more with Suzanne Wrack here …
Infantino prioritised ‘private interests’ on Trump’s tour, Uefa says
First up, those bizarre events in Paraguay. Delegates including European members of the Fifa Council – and Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin – walked out after Gianni Infantino had arrived hours late for the governing body’s annual congress. The Fifa president had been accompanying Donald Trump on a tour of Gulf states and despite making numerous apologies after his eventual arrival, members opted to leave at the scheduled time.
A particularly strong statement from Uefa said: “To have the timetable changed at the last minute for what appears to be simply to accommodate private political interests, does the game no service and appears to put its interests second.
“We are all in post to serve football; from the streets to the podium, and Uefa members of the Fifa council felt the need on this occasion to make a point that the game comes first and to leave as originally scheduled.”
Preamble
It’s all kicking off. Tomorrow, FA Cup fever at Wembley where Crystal Palace hope to make it third time lucky – having been denied in their two previous final appearances by Manchester United, will they have better luck against Manchester City?
Pep Guardiola’s side were last year’s losing finalists and may have a bit of a bear-with-thorn-in-paw air given their disappointing campaigns in the league and Europe.
The Women’s FA Cup follows on Sunday, where United aim to keep their mitts on the trophy they won last season … but come up against Sonia Bompastor’s unbeaten WSL champions Chelsea. The Blues got the edge in both league meetings this season.
Before then, expect fallout from astonishing events at yesterday’s Fifa congress in Paraguay, where Gianni Infantino watched several delegates turn on their heels in protest after the governing body president turned up hours late, having been hobnobbing with Donald Trump in the Middle East.
The weekend starts tonight, with plenty to play for in the Premier League and League Two playoff action. Then comes the last men’s match at Goodison and Jamie Vardy’s Foxes farewell. Lots of buildup and news to come.
