Football/Soccer 24-Hour Briefing
×Premier League Drama
Arsenal espn.com dominated the north London derby with a commanding 4-1 victory over Tottenham, as Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres both scored twice to restore the Gunners' five-point lead at the top of the table. The win came after Liverpool espn.com snatched a dramatic 97th-minute victory at Nottingham Forest, with Alexis Mac Allister scoring the winner in what Arne Slot admitted was "the worst we've played." Meanwhile, Fulham skysports.com boosted their European qualification hopes with a 3-1 win over Sunderland, where Raul Jimenez scored twice and converted a penalty after VAR intervention.
Scottish Premiership Shake-up
Celtic skysports.com suffered their first domestic defeat under Martin O'Neill, losing 2-1 to Hibernian and dropping crucial points in the title race. Rangers skysports.com mounted an incredible comeback to draw 2-2 at Livingston, but the dropped points mean the Scottish Premiership title race has taken another dramatic twist. The result leaves both Glasgow giants trailing behind Hearts, who continue to lead the table after narrow victories that Derek Mc Innes suggests could be "the bedrock of success."
European Action
Paris Saint-Germain espn.com climbed back to the top of Ligue 1 with a routine 3-0 victory over bottom-placed Metz, with Désiré Doué setting them on their way. In La Liga, Barcelona espn.com returned to the summit with a 3-0 win over Levante, thanks to Frenkie De Jong's first goal in over a year and a thunderbolt from Fermin Lopez. Meanwhile, Real Madrid espn.com dropped points in the title race after a 2-1 defeat at Osasuna, with Álvaro Arbeloa admitting they "can play much better."
Women's Football
Chelsea espn.com knocked Manchester United out of the FA Cup in a repeat of last year's final, though they will miss Sam Kerr when she leaves for the Asian Cup. Arsenal bbc.com and Manchester City also cruised through to the Women's FA Cup quarter-finals with comfortable wins, while Arsenal forward Olivia Smith bbc.com was taken off on a stretcher during their 3-0 victory over Bristol City.
Managerial and Club News
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta bbc.com told his players to "be part of a different club" if they cannot handle the "noise" that comes with fighting for the Premier League title. Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner bbc.com expressed relief at his side's 1-0 win over Wolves, confirming his commitment to the club until the end of the season. Meanwhile, Aberdeen's search for a new head coach bbc.com has been delayed by "unforeseen circumstances," with chairman Dave Cormack stressing the club "mustn't rush or compromise" an appointment.
MLS and International Football
Major League Soccer espn.com is investigating allegations that Lionel Messi gained unauthorized access to the officials' locker room following Inter Miami's 3-0 defeat to LAFC in their season opener. Cristiano Ronaldo espn.com said he is happy with his time in the Saudi Pro League with Al Nassr, after a recent dispute with his club saw him miss two league matches. Ronaldo espn.com scored twice as Al Nassr beat Al Hazem 4-0 to move top of the Saudi league.
Disciplinary and Social Issues
Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana skysports.com and Burnley midfielder Hannibal Mejbri have spoken out on social media after being sent racist abuse following Saturday's Premier League match. The clubs have condemned the online abuse, with Burnley and Chelsea espn.com both issuing statements against the discrimination their players faced.
Other Football News
Sheffield Wednesday bbc.com became the first EFL club to go down in February, with their relegation confirmed after a 2-1 defeat to Sheffield United. Wrexham espn.com showed remarkable character to secure a 5-3 win over Ipswich, though manager Phil Parkinson was furious they were not awarded a penalty. In the Championship, Brighton bbc.com eased pressure on head coach Fabian Hurzeler with a 2-0 win at Brentford, while West Ham bbc.com were held to a goalless draw by Bournemouth, spurning the chance to put pressure on the teams above them in the table.