Righto, that’s us done here. Thanks for your company and comments – I’ll see you for Manchester United v Crystal Palace at 1pm for a 2pm kick-off. But between now and then, have a bit of this!

“Agree with you regarding GNev’s odd comments,” begins Dave Estherby. “A big tall striker who can hold the ball up, link play and score goals – all from the bench recently – is exactly what Man Utd need right now. Respectfully disagree about Amorim though; I think he had lost at least some of the players (both human and the plastic ones on that wonderful little board of his) and was getting the boot regardless. If only there were 10 million or so things that could soften the blow for him...”

I agree he was going to get fired eventually, and I’m sure the players didn’t believe in him, but I don’t think it was reflected in the effort they put in for him.

“In your discussions with the co-congregationalists,” says Charles Antaki, “I wonder if you had the chance to puzzle out the conundrum that Spurs offered in their match against (but not very much against) Arsenal? On the one hand you might say that their dismal performance allowed Arsenal to run riot and thereby recharge the morale batteries. On the other hand, you might say that that very same dismal performance was indeed so hopeless that even the local scout troop’s under-13 team would have found a way to beat them, so any hubris it will have generated among the Arsenal players will immediately meet its nemesis in whichever at-least-generally-competent team they meet next. Cue Chelsea.”

I’d be pretty sure Arsenal know exactly how dreadful Spurs were, again. I find the problem with them isn’t over-confidence, it’s desperation: so much of what they do feels contextualised, rather than a team living in the moment. They feel the weight.

We’re under way in Cremona, where Cremonese face Milan. We’ve seen Inter pull away at the top of Serie A in recent weeks – they lead by 12 – but it’s tighter behind them, with Napoli, Roma and Como all within striking distance.

If Hearts can see this out to win the SPL, we’re talking about one of the great footballing efforts. Circumstance has helped them – the Old Firm are a mess – but even so, Derek McInnes is doing an amazing job in convincing his players it’s possible.

I’m absolutely buzzing for this one. Join Will Magee to see how things unfold.

Harry Kane, though. I try not to toss off absolutes when talking about footballers, but I can say that, without doubt, he is the best finisher I’ve ever seen from 15-22 yards. Quick decisions, short backlift, outrageous precision – which, I think, is more or less why he’s also so good playing at a no 10.

The big game of the afternoon comes at the Emirates, where Arsenal take on Chelsea. The last time these teams met at this venue, Chelsea allowed a cup semi-final to expire without making any apparent effort to win it and though their results have generally been decent, I can’t say I’ve been impressed with them under Liam Rosenior. I’d expect Arsenal to find a way to win this one because I don’t think there’s a single area of the pitch in which Chelsea are superior and they don’t have the attacking verve to override that.

What is wrong with people, part 9,068,994.

How good is it to see Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain back and enjoying his football? I don’t know him personally, but he seems a really excellent lad, who’s had terrible luck with injuries. I do find it slightly surprising that a bloke as obviously bright as he is didn’t develop as much as he was expected to, but he’s not got too many miles on the clock though he’s 32, so there’s no reason he can’t keep going for a fair old while yet.

Team news from Ibrox Stadium:

Rangers: Butland, Sterling, Souttar, Fernandez, Rommens, Chukwuani, Raskin, Moore, Skov Olsen, Chermiti, Naderi. Subs: Kelly, Meghoma, Djiga, Tavernier, Aasgaard, Bajrami, Gassama, Diomande, Miovski.

Celtic: Sinisalo, Araujo, Murray, Scales, Tierney, McGregor, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Nygren, Yang, Maeda, Adamu. Subs: Doohan, Cvancara, McCowan, Tounekti, Saracchi, Hatate, Arthur, Forrest, Donovan.

I do, tough, think it’s a little harsh to say Sesko is less effective when he doesn’t have time to think. His finish at Everton saw him pointing to where he wanted the ball delivered, having had time to decide what finish to apply, likewise his goal against Fulham, when he controlled in the box, then picked the perfect shot.

I think it’s also worth noting that, under Amorim, United were already improving – most particularly in attack. I think it was more a reflection of player quality than anything else, but against Bournemouth in the 4-4 draw, for example, the football they played was superb, and though Amorim was entirely responsible for his own downfall, he was also extremely unlucky at the end: he lost Amad, Mazraoui and Mbeumo to Afcon at the same time Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount were injured. Had that not happened, he’d not have been fired, I don’t think.

As far as Jonathan Wilson’s piece goes, I agree the situation at United now isn’t like when José Mourinho left. He’d lost the players, so as soon as someone new came in and the players started putting maximum effort in, things were going to change. Under Ruben Amorim, that wasn’t the case, so to bring about change, greater managerial skill was required, and for all we see Kobbie Mainoo back in the team and so on, the biggest change has been the intensity and organisation out of possession. No longer are United conceding chances and goals all over the place despite having 68 defenders on the pitch.

Back to Sesko, I’m just reading that Gary Neville said this:

“I don’t think he’s ever going to be the perfect striker, like I said about Gyokeres. But if he can be a handful, contribute with goals, hold things up, link play, that’ll be enough. You don’t have to be always perfect and [his winner at Everton], it’s a big moment for him.

I’d really like to see his working on this point. In terms of quality, I wouldn’t categorise him with Gyökeres, at all, nor do I understand why he can’t be the perfect striker for what Manchester United need.

He’s big, powerful and fast; an aerial threat; his link-up can be very good already and is improving; he has one of the most powerful shots I’ve ever seen; the timing and anticipation to get into good positions; and the intelligence to calm himself down before finishing, as we saw at Everton at the end of a long flat-out sprint. What’s not to like?

On Sunday Supplement, they’re discussing VAR’s latest encroachment – it’s getting powers to check second yellow cards and corners.

No one fell in love with football because of its accurate decision-making process, and compromising the greatest feeling known to humankind – your team scoring a goal – is not worth moving from around 92% correct calls to 97% correct calls, which was the aim.

Ultimately, I now watch a game, see exactly what’s happened, and still have no idea what decision is coming. Football’s laws are open to interpretation – partly because they’re poorly drafted, partly because they can be no other way – and the quest for perfection is important to no one but officials.

Intuitively, I feel like summer football, every season, wouldn’t eventuate the best possible matches, but Suzy makes a compelling case. Thoughts?

Interesting piece from Suzy Wrack:

Also going on:

I was discussing this very thing in synagogue yesterday, and the possibility of a team getting relegated and winning the Champions League, but it’d be far more Spursy if they were to lose in the final. Either way, looking at the games they have to go, it’s not that easy to pick the likely wins – they’ve not had one of them all year – and the teams behind them, Forest and West Ham, are playing well.

Thanks Emillia and morning all. Are Tottenham going down?

Time to hand this live blog over to Daniel Harris, who will continue looking ahead to this afternoon’s football.

“Hearts finished 40 points behind Celtic last year. The great clanking hand of Tony Bloom and his big data hive-brain robots has been on site for only eight months. The word “disruption” is usually shorthand for tech bro types in $4,000 Japanese trainers working out new ways to fire people. This is actual, good disruption. A three-way title race isn’t just deeply un-Scotland, it’s deeply un-anywhere these days…”

It is also the Old Firm derby this afternoon as Rangers host Celtic. Both teams are chasing Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts, who moved seven points clear at the top of the table with a win over Aberdeen yesterday.

“Benjamin Sesko’s career at Manchester United breaks into two distinct periods. In the first, he played 1,404 minutes of football and scored two goals. In the second, he has played 274 minutes and scored six goals: 702 minutes per goal and then 45 minutes 40 seconds per goal…”

Today is also a big day for Manchester United. The Red Devils could move up to third in the Premier League table this afternoon with a win against Crystal Palace. However, if they lose it will give Chelsea the opportunity to move above them in fourth.

Igor Tudor says his Tottenham players are not fit enough and has questioned their desire to put in the hard yards without the ball.

The interim head coach has a clearer idea of the problems he faces after two weeks – and there are many of them, including low levels of confidence and the capacity of the younger players to handle the pressure of a relegation battle.

“Physically, we are not in an amazing situation,” Tudor said. “They have played lots of games in the last period without lots of players available and it made the physical condition of the team drop down. So we need to use this period where we don’t play the games to put some petrol in the engine so the engine starts to work better.

“They are fatigued. To do the pressing high you need to be fit. But [it is] all of them because if someone is not in the right shape there is a problem because someone is coming late [to the press].

“The second thing is that there is the other goal to protect. It is easy to run there but you need to run back. If you run up and don’t run back it’s a problem. For sure, we will improve and do these things better over time but in this moment it’s a big question what we can do and what we cannot do.”

Spurs could finish the day as low as 17th in the Premier League table if they lose to Fulham and Nottingham Forest beat Brighton. They will also remain just four points above the relegation zone…

Spurs fans, are you nervous for today’s game?

Triani2

01 March 2026 8:57am

This comment has been chosen by Guardian staff because it contributes to the debate

The Spurs game is massive for them today. Recent history has seen Fulham come out on top in this fixture - but if Tudor is to set a marker at Spurs (and yes, he needs one) - a positive result is really needed today, especially with West Ham losing yesterday.

Yes, the injury list has eased off slightly. We can still argue that some of Spurs best players are missing, but Tudor has enough players availble to play everyone in their right position. Spurs have been so bad for so long it's almost hard to remember the last 90 minute performance that was great. They'll need one today.

“Goaded by Tottenham and lampooned by Wolves, Mikel Arteta’s side face Chelsea this weekend with rivals hoping to prey on their sensitivities…”

Arsenal fan Balaji has messaged in to say:

“Should Spurs lose to Fulham or later, Arsenal beat Chelsea, today will mark the St. Totteringham’s Day!

“Had Arsenal beaten Wolves, we could have celebrated it at the White Hart Lane last week.”

Could this be the earliest St. Totteringham’s Day in Premier League history?

Right, now let’s look ahead to this afternoon’s Premier League fixtures…

• Brighton v Nottingham Forest

• Fulham v Tottenham

• Manchester United v Crystal Palace

• Arsenal v Chelsea

Here’s how the Premier League table currently looks…

In the Saturday evening match, Antoine Semenyo’s goal on the stroke of half-time was enough to see Manchester City take the points against Leeds United. Pep Guardiola’s side moved within two points of league leaders Arsenal as a result.

And over at St James’ Park, Everton stunned Newcastle to earn all three points in a 3-2 win.

Liverpool scored five against West Ham yesterday, improving their prospects of Champions League qualification.

Scott Parker was left sad and disappointed by more video assistant referee controversy after Burnley’s spirited comeback came to nothing.

Parker said: “Maybe a little bit of injustice. I’ve not watched it back. I saw it on the big screen and I was thinking it looks like his hand is beside his side. It looks so, so harsh.

“We’ve gone and scored five goals in the space of 60 minutes, which is quite incredible. The world we’re in, we’re all looking for perfection. The game is looking for perfection.”

The game of the weekend so far took place at Turf Moor yesterday, where Brentford clinched a dramatic 4-3 win against Burnley. The visitors went 3-0 up in the first half but Scott Parker’s side brought it back to 3-3 in the 60th minute.

Burnley then had a potential winner disallowed for an offside before Mikkel Damsgaard scored Brentford’s fourth. The Clarets equalised late through Ashley Barnes but that goal was also ruled out due to a handball.

Yesterday’s Premier League results

• Bournemouth 1-1 Sunderland

• Liverpool 5-2 West Ham

• Newcastle 2-3 Everton

• Burnley 3-4 Brentford

• Leeds United 0-1 Manchester City