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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
David Tindall and Yara El-Shaboury

Slot confirms Liverpool switch, Allegri sacked, Premier League and WSL finales – as it happened

Joel Matip [ Jurgen Klopp Thiago Alcantara Joël Matip Liverpool FC Spurs UEFA Champions League
Arne Slot
Arne Slot said ‘I can confirm that I will become the trainer there next year,’ when asked about the Liverpool job. Photograph: Richard Sellers/PA

And that’s about it for the final Premier League build-up blog of the 23/24 season. Thanks for reading today and throughout the campaign. If you can’t get enough of live blog action, try our golf one, featuring Scottie Scheffler’s astonishing arrest before the second day’s play.

Quiz time. Name the seven teams who have topped the Premier League table this season and who has spent most time at the summit.

Most days at the top of the table
87 Liverpool
76 Arsenal, Man City
26 Tottenham
7 Brighton, Newcastle
2 West Ham

Here’s Football Daily’s take on the title race.

Arsenal fans aren’t giving up hope of title glory just yet but whatever the outcome on Sunday, they’ve enjoyed the ride this season. Here’s Morgan Ofori on why pride best captures the prevailing mood.

Here’s more detail on Juventus sacking Massimiliano Allegri.

Palmer PL Young Player of the Year

It’s been quite the season for Cole Palmer. A deserved winner.

West Ham boss David Moyes could be an absolute hero on Sunday evening – not with Hammers fans but Arsenal’s if he can somehow get a result at Manchester City and allow the Gunners to sneak through and pinch title glory.

In the hunt for a very obvious narrative, Moyes was asked in his press conference if he’d love to do it as a favour for his former West Ham captain Declan Rice, a key man in Arsenal’s title bid.

The departing Scot told reporters: “Everybody here loves Declan, everybody will remember him, but we’re not doing it for Declan. We’re fully focused on ourselves. We’re not playing to make Manchester City lose the Premier League or for Arsenal to win the league, we’re playing for West Ham and we’re trying to win the game for our supporters.

“It’s difficult to beat Manchester City at any time, especially when they know they’ve got to win a game to secure the championship. That puts us under pressure because of what Manchester City can do, but it also puts them under a bit of pressure.

“Football is a strange game, and you never know what moments you’re going to have to win games. We have to try and take those opportunities when they arrive.”

But before Arne Slot gets through the door, Jürgen Klopp is trying to sum up his time at Liverpool before he exits. Some reflections here from today’s press conference.

With Arne Slot set to take the Liverpool hotseat, what do we know about the fella apart from him being Dutch. And bald. PA Media takes a look here.

Winning mentality

Former midfielder Slot, 45, spent his playing career in the Netherlands with Zwolle, Sparta Rotterdam and Breda. After moving into coaching roles at Cambuur and then AZ Alkmaar, Slot stepped up into the manager’s job with the latter for the 2019–20 season, which was interrupted by the Covid pandemic. AZ finished second behind Ajax on goal difference in the shortened campaign.

Slot left for Feyenoord in December 2020, succeeding Dick Advocaat, and brought former Arsenal and Manchester United forward Robin van Persie on to his staff. In May 2022, Feyenoord reached their first Europa Conference League final, losing to Roma, and finished third in the Eredivisie. Slot’s second season at De Kuip saw Feyenoord win the Eredivisie title – the first for the club since 2017. Earlier this month, Feyenoord beat NEC Nijmegen to lift the 2024 KNVB Cup.

European experience

Liverpool’s new manager will be expected to be able to deliver more memorable European nights at Anfield. Slot would bring plenty of that experience with him. While at AZ, he took his side into the Europa League, where they played Manchester United in 2019. After moving to Feyenoord, Slot guided the club to the Europa Conference League final in May 2022. Eredivisie success brought with it a crack at the Champions League for 2023–24. Despite beating Celtic and Lazio in their group, the Dutch side did not qualify for the knockout stage and then lost out to Roma in the Europa League play-off round.

Attacking style

Slot has grown into an attack-minded coach, also with an eye on bringing through talent, plenty of which would await in Liverpool’s youth ranks. Feyenoord, who will finish second to PSV Eindhoven in the Eredivisie this season, also press high, winning plenty of tackles in the opposition’s final third, and are comfortable in different formations, whether that is with one up top or a fluid 4-3-3. Slot was linked with a switch to Tottenham last summer.

Juventus sack Allegri

More big manager news and this time from Italy where the game is up for Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri.

Updated

Look at them all. Let’s hope Arne Slot is good with names.

More from Everton where captain Seamus Coleman and Ashley Young are to be offered new one-year contracts, whilst an option to extend Idrissa Gana Gueye’s deal until the end of June 2025 has been activated.

But midfielder Andre Gomes and goalkeeper Andy Lonergan will leave the Blues when their current contracts expire at the end of next month.

Meanwhile, Arnaut Danjuma and Jack Harrison will return to Villarreal and Leeds United respectively following the conclusion of their season-long loans. Everton will continue dialogue with Leeds over the future of Harrison when the Yorkshire club’s current Championship play-off campaign is completed.

Dele Alli, whose current contract also ends next month, will remain with the club while he continues an intensive rehabilitation programme from a long-term groin injury, which he has recently been undergoing away from Merseyside.

Everton Director of Football, Kevin Thelwell, said: “Everyone at the club thanks Andre and Andy for their service and contribution to Everton. Andre immersed himself in the Everton values after joining us from Barcelona in 2018 and, rightly, was a popular player with our fans. Andy brought vital experience to our talented group of goalkeepers. Both have been valued members of our ranks, and we wish them the very best for the future.

“We also thank Arnaut and Jack for their roles in the progress made by our Men’s Senior Team this season under Sean and his coaching staff. We will continue discussions with Leeds regarding Jack’s future in the coming weeks.”

On Dele, Thelwell added: “Dele’s contract is coming to an end, but our medical team will continue to support him whilst he completes the intensive rehabilitation programme he is currently undergoing following the operation he had earlier this year. Both Sean and I agree it is important we ensure Dele’s rehabilitation is not impacted by his contract situation at such a critical point in his recovery.”

The award for most optimistic manager of the day goes to Luton manager Rob Edwards thanks to this quote: “We’ll try and win 12-0 and see what happens.”

That’s a reference to the huge turnaround in goal difference that Luton need to avoid being relegated should they win and Nottingham Forest lose.

“We’ll pick a team best suited to win the game,” said Edwards ahead of the home game with Fulham. “We want to end the season on a high, we want to reward the fans for their unbelievable support with a win and three points.

“We want to finish as high and with as many points as we can. We want to find any kind of motivation and try and go into the next season as high as possible. We’ll try and win 12-0 and see what happens. But the bottom line is, we want to give a good account of ourselves and reward the fans for the support they’ve given us over the past 37 games.”

Everton boss Sean Dyche is the latest Premier League manager to reflect on his club’s season and he’s gone for “difficult”, “tiring” and “pleasing”.

The Toffees head to Arsenal on the final day, their tally of 40 points 14 clear of third-bottom Luton. Of course the true tally is 48 (the same as 10th-placed Brighton) but they were docked a total of eight points after being punished twice for breaching profitability and sustainability rules.

“It’s been a very long season, for many different challenges that have come our way,” said Dyche. “A lot of work done by many. A very tiring season, but the balance of that is a very pleasing season.

“It’s definitely been my most difficult, because the challenges in-house is one thing, but then when it comes from outside and the varying things that have happened, the curve balls that have come along, it does make it a challenge. Everyone has played their part and of course the fans – without them and their support, it would be a more challenging season without a doubt.

“The points really have affected the season on a huge level, when we got the first lot of points and then the second lot. That definitely affected the psychology of the players for a period and then after that you get a second amount of points – hard to take that. So overall I’ve been very pleased, not just with the end but the whole season’s work.”

Aston Villa are guaranteed fourth spot and a place in the Champions League and boss Unai Emery isn’t afraid to dream big as he looks to next season.

Speaking ahead of Sunday’s trip to Crystal Palace, the Villa manager said: “When we were in the middle of the season, playing two matches at home against Manchester City and Arsenal and we won both, we were there. Those teams are amazingly consistent and competitive, with very good players. They have the best coaches as well – Mikel Arteta, Pep Guardiola.

“I want to get better always. I have my dreams and I believe in my dreams. My objective is to win the Premier League, my objective is to win the Champions League, but it’s very, very difficult. I want to dream with our supporters and the players and to believe always in our work.

“Of course, we’re not contenders, but it’s in our dreams to get something like that in the Premier League or Champions League. Always my idea is to try today to be better than yesterday and tomorrow better than today.”

History says Arsenal will keep up their end of the bargain.

A reminder of those final-day fixtures. The top three and the bottom three all play at home.

Slot confirms he will be Liverpool boss

Arne Slot has announced he will succeed Jürgen Klopp as Liverpool manager from next season. As reported earlier, an official announcement was imminent and now the Dutchman has confirmed in a press conference that he will be leaving Feyenoord and taking the Anfield hotseat.

“I can confirm that I will become the trainer there next year,” said the 45-year-old, who turned down offers from Leeds and Tottenham last summer.

Several sources report that Slot is set to bring Sipke Hulshoff, his assistant at Feyenoord, to Liverpool as part of his backroom staff.

Mikel Arteta has insisted he is “very optimistic” that Arsenal can become the first team to win the Premier League title after going into the final day in second place and is hoping David Moyes can do his former captain a favour by putting up a fight against Manchester City.

City go into their game against Moyes’s West Ham at the Etihad knowing that victory will make them the first team in history to win four successive top-flight titles. But with Arsenal facing Arteta’s former club Everton where he spent six years as a player under Moyes, the Spaniard is hoping West Ham can help “fulfil my personal dream” by taking points off City.

“No, I don’t think I need to do that,” said Arteta when asked if he had been in touch with Moyes this week to ask for a favour. “But he’s been instrumental in my career. Not just as a footballer, but as a person as well. If he could help us to fulfil our dream and my personal dream to win the Premier League, that would be unbelievable and he’ll always be in my memory that’s for sure.”

He added: “It’s one of the biggest weeks for sure for many of us. Certainly now is the most important moment. Can’t wait for Sunday to be in front of us. I’m very optimistic for the possible outcome.”

This will be the 10th time that the title race has been settled on the final day in the Premier League era, with the leaders yet to be overhauled. but Arteta admitted his side must retain belief that Citry can slip up.

“The more something happens the more probably something else can happen. Let’s wish for that to be the case. If I don’t believe today then imagine how much I could believe in August. Then from August with 38 games against Man City, with what they’ve done in the last 12 or 13 years and what we’ve done in the last 20 years in the Premier League, we have zero chance then. We can’t start like this. We have to believe that’s for sure.”

Time to focus on the title race. Here’s how Manchester City nearly blew it against Aston Villa two seasons ago. Except they didn’t, leaving Liverpool heartbroken once more.

Bournemouth have already secured their highest Premier League points tally but they could also bank a top-half finish if results go their way on Sunday.

Boss Andoni Iraola has been nominated for the Premier League manager of the year award and also signed a new deal with the club this week, keeping him on the south coast until 2026.

“I think with managers, I don’t feel it’s so important the contract than with players. At the end managers, you have to perform well, you have to keep winning games, otherwise you are going to be in trouble. It doesn’t matter a contract you have.

“I think it’s more a matter of renewing the confidence. It has been our first season together and I’m happy then that everyone is in a good place and we can continue working together.

“You know, really, when you arrive in a new place, you don’t know how you do. You expect that things go well but I think we’ve been improving during the season. Now that we are finishing the season and you look at the stats and you try to separate everything, analyse everything and things that you can improve for next season.

“I think we’ve been improving in a lot of different areas and I hope we can continue the same way.”

With Arne Slot set to depart Feyenoord for Liverpool, the Dutch club have made a video with wistful music to send him on his way.

Nottingham Forest are all but safe but Nuno Espirito Santo won’t allow for complacency as his side prepare for the closing game of the season, an away clash at Burnley.

For Forest to go down, they’d have to lose while Luton win at home to Fulham, the two games somehow producing a 12-goal swing in favour of the Hatters. Not happening.

Still, Nuno has this to say: “It’s very important for us to finish well, play a good game and compete well, this is how we prepare it.

“There is still a game to go, we know how football is, the best approach we can have is that we prepare the same way, all the details we can with the same commitment. We are clear what can happen, it is up to us, it is in our hands to mathematically achieve what we want.”

He also won’t be drawn on whether keeping Forest up after taking over from Steve Cooper in September will be seen as a success. Forest were 17th at the time, as they are now, five points above the relegation zone. However, they’ve also recently suffered a four-point deduction for breaking financial rules, endured a host of injuries and lost six players to the African Cup of Nations.

Nuno said: “We still have to finish the job and when we finish the job we can talk about these things but definitely credit to the players. It was very tough, they were always committed to improve and win matches. When we achieve we will speak.”

Back to Liverpool and Arne Slot looks ready to slip into some very big shoes.

Harry Kane is out of Bayern Munich’s final Bundesliga game of the season with an ongoing back injury. That’s a concern for England boss Gareth Southgate with Kane sidelined since his substitution in the second half of Bayern’s Champions League semi-final defeat to Real Madrid earlier this month.

Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel gave this update. “Harry is receiving treatment with his personal doctor – he’s no longer here and won’t travel to Hoffenheim. It was really a borderline decision in Madrid. We tried it with treatment and it got worse with every move that he made, so there was no chance for him participating in practice.”

As the season comes to a close, a few random stats. No wonder Darwin is a frustrated and frustrating figure.

Most offsides in Premier League
33 Darwin Nunez
28 Nicolas Jackson
23 Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Jean-Philippe Mateta

Most hit woodwork in Premier League
9 Darwin Nunez
5 Jarrod Bowen
4 Carlton Morris, James Garner, Ollie Watkins, Son Heung-Min

Thanks Yara. Yes, all very surreal. You can follow all the Scheffler shenanigans on our live US PGA blog.

That’s all from me for now. Dave is back (all caught up on the golf drama, I presume) and will take it from here. Thanks for joining me.

An email!

Oliver writes:

“As a coach (U8s/U9s), I’ve got to say I think the rules changes regarding heading and pass-ins are at best unnecessary and, at worst, ridiculous.

What benefit is there to teaching kids to take a pass-in rather than a throw in? And how is that at all reflective of what they’ll then go home and watch at 3pm on a Saturday? Why teach them something completely different to actual football?

As for heading, I understand and appreciate the risk and need to mitigate it – but at the same time do we really need to punish a child when, on the rare occasion they do head a, normally slow moving, football, they make a strong and high quality defensive or offensive header? It feels overly burdensome and unnecessary to do so.”

Interesting to hear the perspective of someone who works in grassroots.

Do you have thoughts on the new rule changes? Send over an email, which you can find at the top of this blog.

Here is a reminder of the issues the Tottenham manager said were at the club earlier in the week.

Tottenham: Ange Postecoglou has relaxed a bit after a frustrating match against Manchester City, but says the issues at the club have not been fixed.

The manager was very frustrated in the dugout during the loss against City and in his subsequent post-match interviews he called out fans and people working internally at the club for wanting to throw the game just to deter their rivals, Arsenal, from winning the league.

Postecoglou now says that Tuesday was “the worst managerial experience of [his] life” and he did not want anyone to question his integrity if City won comfortably.

I think, as I said at the time, we have some work to do. It is clear and evident and that is what we need to focus on.

I have been determined from day one. Nothing has changed. I haven’t been deterred, if that’s what people are worried about.

When you accept the role you accept what comes with it. Nothing has changed in terms of how we go about that. But you have to know where you are at.

On if the issues he was upset about on Tuesday had been resolved:

No, not in two days. We’ve got some work to do. It’s clear and evident and that’s what we’ve got to focus on.

Updated

Manchester City: Here is the reaction straight from Pep Guardiola when asked if he thinks his team is well liked.

Chelsea: Mauricio Pochettino recognises that it is a results-based job but believes it is still important to have the backing of the club’s owners.

Pochettino’s relationship with the London’s club board has constantly been questioned given how much money they invested in the transfer window and how tumultuous the season has been on the pitch.

It’s important to have backing from the owners, in the end they are the bosses. We know coaches are judged on results in a very short period, but it’s important to feel the backing of the owners.

We are happy with the way we are finishing the season. One or two months more [on this form] and we could be close to the top positions, so we are also a little disappointed [the season is ending now].

On feeling love from the fans:

They need to trust in us. The only way that they can trust in us is the results because the process and work we are doing inside is difficult for them to analyse because they don’t know what we are doing every single day.

I’m going to show my respect to the fans. We always try to be very respectful.

On the possibility of scrapping VAR next season:

I like the VAR. The way we need to improve is how we use VAR.

We need to be open and to welcome the new technology. I think it’s good for football, [we only need] to decide the best strategy to improve in the way we use VAR.

And on Reece James, who was sent off against Brighton in the midweek game:

It was a really difficult season but now we need to help him to move on and then to accept punishment that will be there in the next few days.

He needs to be ready for pre-season to start to train to build his fitness and then the talent is there.

For sure next season he is going to be one of the best players in the Premier League.

Manchester City: Pep Guardiola does not know what the people think about his football team but believes his side will receive full credit if they pull off an unprecedented fourth Premier League title in a row.

I don’t go knocking the door of every person and ask: ‘What do you think about us?’ It does not matter. I don’t know. Honestly. The fact is, if you ask all the Premier League teams where they wanted to be at the start of the season, we are in the best position. That’s for sure.

The Manchester City manager was also asked about his opponents on the final day, West Ham,

We would like to be 3-0 up after 10 minutes but it’s not going to happen. I saw enough West Ham games in the past three days. They have a few things we have to control.

They will be ready to beat us. I don’t have any doubt about that. It was the same with Aston Villa two years ago – they were in the same position, they didn’t have anything to play for – and we know what happened.

Don’t talk about the consequences, just what you have to do to win, to control it, the transitions, the coolness, the set-pieces, the long balls – how you defend every single ball.

On David Moyes:

He will not retire. He will be back. That is my feeling. With his age and experience, he cannot be at home. My first game in the Premier League was against Sunderland and David Moyes was there. Always an honour to see him.

On the possibility of winning the title:

We want to experience it again and we have to perform. You can’t think ‘we want to win it’, you have to do something to [earn] it, you have to be resilient in the bad moments.

Thanks Dave and hello all! Before we get to Pep Guardiola’s press conference ahead of the final day of the season, here is some more on Jürgen Klopp and Emma Hayes before the final games at their respective clubs.

Andy Hunter sat down with Klopp and the outgoing Liverpool manager reveals all in this Q&A including his feelings during his first presser, his favourite game at the club and which opposition player is a ‘fucker’ for how they performed against his side.

Meanwhile Sophie Downey broke down Hayes’ best moments during her time in the dugout. And trust me, there is quite a few: beating rivals at Wembley, domestic doubles and turning over the best team in the world at their home ground.

Righty, while I go and read more about Scottie Scheffler being arrested, here’s Yara El-Shaboury to guide you through the early afternoon.

Hayes fears decline in female coaches

Departing Chelsea boss Emma Hayes is concerned that the number of female coaches in the Women’s Super League will dwindle. Hayes ends her trophy-laden 12-year career at the Blues with a trip to Manchester United on Saturday while on the same day Carla Ward waves farewell to Aston Villa, who host Manchester City. Both are parents.

Speaking at a press conference today ahead of the trip to Old Trafford, Hayes said: “I’ve been an advocate of not just the women’s game but how to do the best for women in the game and I still think we’re wide of the mark with that.

“I think there will be declining numbers of female coaches for sure, because of the demands. And if you’re a parent, forget about it, unless we have an openness and a willingness to consider different things. It’s really, really difficult to be a parent and full-time in this industry, which isn’t nine to five, it’s seven days a week.

“So I think being open to doing things differently – I’d love to see a co-coaching team, females coaching the game, maybe two mums. I think we have to consider those things.”

Hayes, who won six WSL titles with Chelsea, is becoming the new head coach of the United States.

Klopp’s doing one. So is Tuchel. Ten Hag could be on his way. So how about Xavi? Here’s Fabrizio Romano on goings on at Barcelona.

FA to phase out heading in youth grassroots football

The Football Association has announced a plan to phase out deliberate heading in matches involving players under the age of 12 over the next three seasons. The move follows the successful completion of a two-year trial instigated by the International Football Association Board (IFAB).

Implementation of the rule will be a gradual process starting with U7 to U9 levels from next season, followed by U10 level from 2025 and U11s from 2026. It will apply to all affiliated grassroots youth football, and will be supplemented by support for young players as they adapt to heading the ball during their U12 season.

Under the new rule, a deliberate header will be punishable by an indirect free-kick. If the ball is deliberately headed out of play, the opposing team will be awarded with a ‘pass-in’ or ‘dribble-in’, instead of a throw-in. The FA was the first national association to adopt the IFAB heading trial in 2022, and it was subsequently adopted by over 16,000 teams and 107,000 players. The introduction of the rule follows a series of consultations with representatives across the grassroots game, and has been approved by the FA Board and FA shareholders.

The FA said in a statement: “We first introduced the IFAB trial with the aim to help positively shape grassroots youth football – and to ensure that matches at this level are aligned to our current heading guidance for training.

“This was established in 2020 following consultation with the grassroots game, coaches and other experts across football, and recommends that heading is removed or restricted at this level. The gradual introduction of the new rule over the next three seasons will support the players’ journey as they adapt from deliberately heading the ball in grassroots youth football matches.”

(PA Media)

Updated

Jürgen Klopp has been talking in his press conference about silverware and whether he thinks he won enough of it during his eight and a half seasons at Liverpool. The tally of eight trophies includes one Premier League title after a 30-year wait and the club’s sixth success in the Champions League. He closes out his final campaign with just one trophy, the Carabao Cup, despite somewhat fanciful hopes of a quadruple at one point.

“I really think it was the absolute opposite of a waste of time. We used absolutely everything and tried to make the best out of everything and tried to enjoy it as much as somehow possible,” said Klopp.

“For me it is absolutely fine [the trophy haul]. I know we could have won more but I cannot change that. We could have won less, that’s possible as well.

“Not becoming champion for a point [second to Manchester City with 97 points in 2019 and 92 in 2022] is not a great experience but it is an experience which shows you that you are really good.

“That will not be in the history books, obviously. And the nearly-wins won’t be there, that’s life. When you are in it you cannot see it like that. I couldn’t have done anything different in these moments.”

Eddie Howe has been reflecting on Newcastle’s season as he delivers his final press conference of the 2023/24 campaign. Currently in seventh, the Magpies could finish sixth with a win at Brentford on Sunday as long as Chelsea lose at home to Bournemouth. But they could also slip to eighth if Manchester United (away at Brighton) better their result. Seventh would leave them without European football next season if Erik ten Hag’s men win the FA Cup.

Howe said: “I think we’ll look back with a tinge of ‘what could have been’ in many aspects, whether you’re talking the FA Cup, the Carabao Cup, the Champions League, the Premier League. I think we’ve done OK, I think we’ve done well – but it could have been so different, it could have been even more memorable, so that will be a frustration that will live with me.

“Before the last two games, we had the initiative and now we don’t and it’s not in our hands any more, but we have to deal with it. We can only control now our performance and our result against Brentford and we have to do everything we can to do our part because what you don’t want is for the other teams to make a mistake and we’re not there to capitalise on it.”

Team news: Newcastle hope to have Callum Wilson back from illness but will make a late decision on Anthony Gordon, who suffered an ankle injury in the 3-2 loss at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

Former Arsenal and Manchester United striker Robin van Persie has been named Heerenveen head coach, his first first managerial post.

The 40-year-old, who has spent this season in charge of the Dutch side’s Under-18s, said: “I would like to continue my development and the role of head coach fits in perfectly with that goal. I am therefore pleased with the opportunity that Heerenveen offers me.

“Heerenveen is a very nice Eredivisie club with a rich tradition and loyal supporters. It is a fantastic challenge to contribute to the sporting ambitions and development of the club as head coach.”

Jonas Eidevall has said he understands why there are a “lot of raw emotions” after the announcement that the WSL record goalscorer, Vivianne Miedema, will leave Arsenal at the end of the season having not been offered a new contract. The 27-year-old forward is believed to be joining Manchester City and a layer of Arsenal fans have been vocal in their displeasure at the decision to let her leave.

Eidevall called it a “unified club decision” but said he would not go into the details of why they made it. “It’s a unified club decision; we obviously took a lot of care in making that decision and we had to weigh a lot of different factors in that decision and what’s best for the club,” he said. “I don’t think it would be worth me sitting here and explaining why or why not we go in certain directions, because I think it would be overshadowing what has been a truly remarkable story with Vivianne Miedema and Arsenal.”

The manager praised the connection “between the team and the supporters and the club and the supporters” over recent seasons and said it was only natural that these feelings would extend to individual players.

“I understand that football is emotions and decisions like this leave a lot of raw emotions as well. My message would be that, when we are working, when we are taking decisions like this, it’s to build Arsenal as strong as possible for the future and we want nothing more than to be as successful as possible on the pitch. That’s the direction we want to go as a club … We’ll hopefully also have positive and encouraging news here in the coming weeks in how we’re strengthening the squad and the set-up around the team.”

Skinner extends stay at Man Utd

Manchester United boss Marc Skinner has signed a one-year contract extension with the option for a further 12 months.

The 41-year-old former Birmingham manager succeeded Casey Stoney at United in the summer of 2021. The team, who were launched in 2018, finished fourth in the WSL in 2021-22, then second last season, as well as being FA Cup runners-up.

They are currently fifth in the table and Skinner has faced some fan criticism, but the news of his extension comes five days on from him overseeing United win their first major trophy, beating Tottenham 4-0 in the FA Cup final.

Skinner said in a statement from the club: “It’s an honour to extend my stay at Manchester United. I’ve always felt at home here, with our excellent players, staff, and fans. Being able to secure the team’s first major trophy at Wembley was a real career highlight for me and another sign of our continued growth, on and off the field.

“Thanks to everyone who has supported me on this journey, and I look forward to creating many more winning memories together.”

Matt Johnson, interim head of women’s football, said: “Everyone at Manchester United is delighted to see Marc continue as women’s team head coach and build on the success of the team’s historic FA Cup win. Congratulations to Marc on his contract extension and we all wish him and the team the best of luck going into the new season.”

United, who were eliminated in the Champions League qualifying rounds early in their 2023-24 campaign, conclude it on Saturday by playing Chelsea at Old Trafford in their final league game.

(PA Media)

An Arsenal fan (Ben) writes… “I don’t want to just rail against all the claims of ’bottle jobs’ and the like. This Arsenal team have made some amazing strides over the last few years. Their accomplishments should be celebrated, not discarded because we didn’t win the league. For a young team to be challenging City all the way to the end, when about three years ago we were struggling to even get into Europe, is an amazing turnaround. Especially when the one other manager to do that over recent years has admitted it is all too much and voluntarily stepped out.”

It’s not quite done yet, I suppose. Imagine if Paquetá, Bowen and Kudus use the City game as a big audition and really turn it on. A team in claret and blue nearly took it away from City two years ago. Okay, I’m clutching at straws. Man City 4-1 West Ham.

Tuchel confirms Bayern exit

Thomas Tuchel has confirmed he will leave Bayern Munich at the end of the season after failing to reach an agreement with the club to stay on as coach after talks this week. Good news for Manchester United? The German is favourite in the ‘next United manager’ betting, although an uncertain one at 7/2 ahead of 9/2 Gareth Southgate and 6/1 Thomas Frank.

Full details from Reuters below…

Tuchel took over last March and steered them to the Bundesliga title last season but Bayern will finish the current campaign without any silverware for the first time in more than a decade. Bayern bosses had informed Tuchel in February he would not stay on for the last year of his contract and would leave at the end of the season.

But after several prospective successors, including Julian Nagelsmann, Ralf Rangnick and Xabi Alonso, decided to remain in their current jobs, Bayern turned to Tuchel to discuss the possibility of him staying on.

“This is the last press conference here. The February decision remains,” Tuchel said. “There were talks again with the club in the past week but we did not reach an agreement on a continued cooperation so we stick with the February decision. We did not agree but I won’t go into individual points. That all happens behind closed doors.”

The Bavarians, who travel to Hoffenheim on the last matchday of the season on Saturday, are battling to hold on to second place in the table and are two points ahead of VfB Stuttgart. They crashed out to third-tier Saarbruecken in the German Cup and were eliminated by Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals, ending the campaign without a trophy despite spending a league-record 100 million euros ($108.41 million) to sign striker Harry Kane.

“The decision for me to leave was taken in February so you can imagine that my head, after processing, was 1000% behind that decision,” Tuchel said. “There was the theoretical possibility of a 180 degree turn now and the initiative came from the club. The reasons why it did not happen, I don’t know, are minimal. Maybe the reasons are not clear, also for the decision in February, but it is what it is,” Tuchel said.

Norwich sack Wagner

Norwich City sacked David Wagner hours after they were thrashed by Leeds in Thursday’s playoff semi-final second leg, with the club keen to embark on a fresh approach. Defeat abruptly ended Norwich’s hopes of a return to the Premier League.

Wagner, who led Huddersfield to promotion to the Premier League in 2017, was appointed in January 2023, replacing Dean Smith. He guided Norwich to 13th in the Championship last season.

Updated

Wolves’ bid to get VAR in the bin from the start of next season has a supporter, even though he can’t vote. Anyone know Arne Slot’s views? Wolves need 13 other top-flight sides to join them in voting in favour of their motion at next month’s Premier League AGM.

Some related Messi content. A look at the MLS’s top earners.

Talking of forgotten footballers, whatever happened to Christian Benteke? Well, we’ll tell you what: he’s only the joint-top scorer in the MLS this season having found the net 11 times for DC United. That’s one more than Messi. How and why? It’s all here in Joseph Lowery’s latest MLS power rankings.

Brazil will host the Women’s World Cup in 2027 after seeing off a joint Belgium-Netherlands-Germany bid by 119 votes to 78. It’s the first time the tournament will be held in a South American country.

Not too far north, Mexico played host in 1971, a tournament that had seemingly been forgotten until recently.

Arsenal could get to 89 points on Sunday and still not win the title. Little sympathy from Liverpool fans who racked up enormous points tallies of 97 (2019) and 92 (2022) and were still pipped by Manchester City. Here, Guardian Sport looks at the fine margins that look set to cost the Gunners their first Premier League title since 2004.

Let’s revel in some more Klopp. Andy Hunter sat down with the Liverpool boss to reflect on the German’s Anfield career that delivered seven major trophies and made him a club legend.

The general view on life in Liverpool is very similar to mine. I’m ready to fight for the right things. Do I think I deserve everything? No, and it’s fine that other people should have things as well. I’m not a socialist but I do come from there and I understand life like that. I fitted so well. I didn’t have to change a bit – that was the biggest blessing. Just be myself. That’s why it worked out so well in my relationship with the people.

Will Leeds be back in the Premier League next season? Well, they’re only one step away after reaching the Championship playoff final at Wembley on Sunday week thanks to a 4-0 gubbing of Norwich at Elland Road last night. Louise Taylor was there.

More quotes from Klopp soon as his unforgettable reign at Anfield comes to an end. In the meantime, let’s break off from the chin wobbling stuff with a solid and meaty dose of ‘Ten things’.

And more tears in Liverpool circles. It’s also farewell to Thiago Alcantara, the Reds’ silky but very injury-prone Spanish midfielder. Thiago, whose father won the World Cup with Brazil, made 98 appearances over his four seasons with the Reds after signing from Bayern Munich, sometimes looking their best player but too often watching on from the bench.

The 33-year-old has done an Instagram to say goodbye.

Appreciation and gratitude – they are two words that come to mind on the day I have to say goodbye to all of you, Reds. Thankful, too.

Thankful for the opportunity to have been a part of this city, this club and this community. The continuous support I have received since day one has been incredible: Anfield cheering, the Kop chanting… amazing, overwhelming. A very unique fan base for a unique club.

These past four years have been a time of learning for me and my family. Some wins, some defeats, but without a doubt, a life-changing experience.

Teammates, coaches, staff and club employees: you were all part of it. And to the fans, I don’t have the words. Just know you will have my deepest gratitude forever. Thank you, it was an honour. All the best always, Liverpool FC.

Updated

Matip bids goodbye to Liverpool

Farewell Joel Matip. Liverpool’s centre-back is leaving the club after eight seasons with the Reds. The 32-year-old was among the first signings made by Jürgen Klopp in 2015, snapping the Cameroon defender up on a free transfer from Schalke 04. He went on to make 201 appearances, scoring 11 goals and setting up the second goal in Liverpool’s 2019 Champions League final win over Spurs.

Klopp has been fulsome in his praise of the defender, whose mazy dribbles towards opposition territory helped secure cult status with the Anfield crowd.

In all the years that I have been involved in football, I am not sure I have come across too many players who are more loved than Joel Matip. I’m not even sure it would be possible to say anything bad about him,” said Klopp.

A wonderful professional, a wonderful footballer and a wonderful human being – we have been blessed to have him with us for as long as we have and now all we can do is wish him well as he heads off in a new direction.

Joel’s qualities as a player are there for all to see and as a club we have benefited from them since the first moment that he joined. I don’t think he has had too many headlines over the years but he has only ever been a very famous figure within our group.

I have said before that if there was one person who wouldn’t care if he was underrated it would be Joel, but the truth is we could not have rated him more highly. Not only has he set the standards for himself, he has set them for others and this is one of the main reasons why his time here has been so successful.

If I had to choose one moment from his time here it would definitely be his assist for Divock Origi at the Champions League final in Madrid,” added Klopp. “This was the touch that detonated an explosion in the LFC family. What a moment. What a player.

We wish Joel and his family the very best for the future.

Updated

Preamble

And for the final time in the 2023/24 Premier League season, matchday 38 of 38, we bring you hot build-up to all the top-flight weekend action.

By weekend, we mean Sunday: all 10 games kick off at the same time, 4pm. And by ‘hot’ we, erm, mean the race for sixth.

Okay, there’s still a title race to complete but Manchester City are 1/12 with the bookies to get the home win over West Ham that would leave Arsenal fans performing a collective ‘what more could we have done’ shrug. “Not lost at home to Villa,” says a Spurs fan out of the side of his mouth. And if Luton win 25-0, or something like that, they could still survive on goal difference and send Nottingham Forest down.

So, yes, it’s all to play for. Come on, you won’t get another of these until August so jump aboard, see what the managers have got to say and look for the clues that will help decide who will finish higher out of Brighton (10th) and Bournemouth (11th).

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