Football/Soccer 24-Hour Briefing
×Premier League Title Race Heats Up
Arsenal bbc.com passed the north London derby test with flying colours as the Premier League title race looks likely to go to the wire, says chief football writer Phil Mc Nulty. The Gunners' 4-1 victory over Tottenham restored their five-point lead at the top of the table, with Eberechi Eze bbc.com and Viktor Gyokeres bbc.com both scoring twice to torment their rivals.
Gary Neville skysports.com says Arsenal have answered questions in their win at Tottenham and withstood the pressure put on them by Manchester City in the Premier League title race. The Sky Sports pundit believes the Gunners' performance sends a strong message to their critics as they bid to end their 22-year wait for a league title.
Mikel Arteta espn.com said Arsenal "showed what we're made of" in Sunday's 4-1 win at Tottenham after feeling "ashamed" by their previous draw at Wolves. The Arsenal manager praised his team's character in responding to the mounting pressure in the title race.
Arsenal espn.com responded with character to claim victory over their local rivals and deliver a message to their critics, despite the growing pressure in the title race. The win puts them firmly in control of the title race with just over two months remaining.
Scottish Premiership Drama
After a defeat for Celtic and surprise draw for Rangers, the latest weekend of drama leaves the Scottish Premiership title race finely poised. Martin O'Neill skysports.com and Dany Röhl remained defiant in their pursuit of the title, despite both Glasgow giants dropping points on Sunday.
Rangers skysports.com mounted an incredible comeback to draw 2-2 at Livingston, but dropped points in the latest twist in the Scottish Premiership title race. The result means Celtic's defeat to Hibernian has opened up the title race once again.
Other Premier League Results
Liverpool bbc.com snatched victory at Nottingham Forest as Alexis Mac Allister scored a 97th-minute winner amid late drama at the City Ground. The win keeps the Reds firmly in the Champions League hunt after a "robbery" of a victory.
Fulham bbc.com ended a run of three consecutive defeats with a 3-1 win over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light in the Premier League. Raul Jimenez scored twice to help his side leapfrog Sunderland into the top half of the table.
Crystal Palace bbc.com beat 10-man Wolves to claim their first home win since early November, with Evann Guessand scoring a late winner. The victory eases the uncertainty surrounding manager Oliver Glasner's future after some fans questioned his position.
European Football
FC Barcelona espn.com climbed back to the top of La Liga as they brushed aside strugglers Levante 3-0. Frenkie De Jong's first goal in over a year and a thunderbolt from Fermin Lopez helped secure the win for the Catalan giants.
Paris Saint-Germain espn.com climbed back to the top of Ligue 1 with a regulation 3-0 victory over bottom-of-the-table Metz. Désiré Doué set PSG on their way as they continue their push for the French title.
International Football
South Africa skysports.com hammered hosts India in their opening Super 8s game of the T20 World Cup, inflicting a 76-run defeat on the home side. It was India's first loss in 13 T20 World Cup games.
England skysports.com fought back to beat Sri Lanka by 51 runs in their T20 World Cup Super 8s clash in Pallekele. The victory keeps England's hopes of reaching the semi-finals alive.
Transfer News and Gossip
Julian Alvarez espn.com is on the radar for Liverpool and Arsenal this summer, but the Atletico Madrid forward is apparently eyeing a move elsewhere in La Liga. Transfer Talk has the latest on the potential summer transfer.
Celtic bbc.com are watching Mexican striker as Kilmarnock midfielder attracts interest from Italy, according to the latest transfer gossip. The Scottish champions are looking to strengthen their squad for the remainder of the season.
Managerial Changes and Speculation
Igor Tudor bbc.com says his side need "to work harder than before" but is confident of avoiding relegation, despite a 4-1 defeat by Arsenal in his first game in charge of Tottenham. The interim manager labelled Arsenal as the "best team in the world" after the Premier League leaders gave his team a reality check.
Oliver Glasner skysports.com has denied disrespecting Crystal Palace fans after they held up a banner reading 'fans disrespected – Glasner finished' during the 1-0 win over Wolves at Selhurst Park. The manager says he is relieved with his side's victory and confirms his commitment to the club until the end of the season.
Player News and Performances
Ruben Loftus-Cheek espn.com was hospitalised after a collision with the Parma goalkeeper during AC Milan's 1-0 loss at home. The midfielder's injury is a blow for the Italian giants as they look to close the gap on city rivals Inter Milan.
Kalvin Phillips skysports.com saw red in the Steel City derby after a terrible challenge that caught Svante Ingelsson high on his shin. Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder does not believe his side are "reckless" despite the latest red card setback.
Racism in Football
Wolves espn.com have reported "abhorrent and unlawful" racist abuse against striker Tolu Arokodare, who has become the latest Premier League player to be subjected to discriminatory social media attacks. The club say they are "disgusted" after Arokodare was sent racist abuse by "multiple perpetrators" following their 1-0 loss to Crystal Palace.
Burnley and Chelsea espn.com have condemned online racist abuse directed at their respective players, Hannibal Mejbri and Wesley Fofana, following Saturday's 1-1 draw between the teams. The clubs are working with authorities to identify those responsible for the abuse.