Football/Soccer 24-Hour Briefing
×Premier League Drama
Sunderland bbc.com reached the 40-point mark with a crucial 1-0 win at Leeds through a penalty from Habib Diarra bbc.com. The result has all but secured Premier League survival for the Black Cats by early March. Leeds manager Daniel Farke bbc.com felt it was "written in the stars" his side would lose despite dominating the match, particularly after contentious penalty decisions went against them.
Wolves bbc.com produced a stunning 2-1 victory over Liverpool at Molineux, with manager Rob Edwards praising his team's commitment to improvement. The result leaves Liverpool's Arne Slot bbc.com bemoaning the "same old story" after another disappointing performance. Slot bbc.com admitted he found most Premier League games no longer a joy to watch following the defeat.
Everton bbc.com secured their first home victory of 2026 with a comfortable 2-0 win over Burnley, with manager David Moyes now looking up the table as his European hopes grow. The Toffees ended their troubling run at the Hill Dickinson stadium skysports.com.
European Football Updates
Barcelona espn.com came desperately close to pulling off an incredible comeback against Atlético Madrid in the Copa del Rey, ultimately falling short despite Hansi Fick being "disappointed but proud" of his team's performance. The Catalan giants are also stepping up interest bbc.com in Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven while their squad spending limit has risen by almost €100 million espn.com.
Barça presidential race espn.com has been whittled down to three candidates, with incumbent Joan Laporta continuing his campaign.
International Football
England Lionesses bbc.com started their World Cup qualifying campaign with a "clear win" against Ukraine as Sarina Wiegman wanted. With 100 days until the World Cup bbc.com, focus is shifting to national team preparations, with the USMNT's prospects being analyzed espn.com. ScotlandREF: