Chelsea say video of Conor Gallagher with young black mascot 'taken considerably out of context' and condemn 'completely unacceptable' abuse towards player
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp plays down his side being Premier League title favourites
Former Spanish football chief Luis Rubiales arrested as part of a corruption investigation.
Wednesday's matches: 19:30 BST – Arsenal v Luton, Brentford v Brighton; 20:15 – Man City v Aston Villa
Get Involved: #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)
Tim Abraham and Craig Nelson
So there you have it. We have heard from all the managers now as we build up to the remainder of the midweek Premier League programme.
Plenty of intriguing fixtures to come tonight and on Thursday that will have an impact at both ends of the table, not to mention the battle for European places.
You can click on this link from around 18:15 BST to enjoy our coverage of tonight's Premier League matches, and we will be back here bright and early on Thursday to do it all again.
Before then, why not check out some of the other main stories on our football index:
Thanks…
Liverpool v Sheff Utd (Thu, 19:30 BST)
Rob Schofield
BBC Radio 5 Live football producer
Unsurprisingly Jurgen Klopp wasn’t entertaining the idea of Liverpool being favourites for the Premier League title during his news conference today.
Referencing paper-talk after the loss to Arsenal in February, when his side were also two points clear at the top, Klopp described it all as “outside mess” that he doesn’t know or care about.
It’s clearly still game by game for the Liverpool manager, who interjected at even the mention of Manchester United at the weekend, saying he would be guilty of being “too long in the chair” if overlooking bottom side Sheffield United on Thursday.
As for Manchester City and Arsenal, Klopp said he expects them to win every week and as a result his heartrate “doesn’t go up if they play".
Liverpool are two points clear again, but unlike in February there are only nine games remaining. If they max-out between now and 19 May 19, regardless of results elsewhere, Klopp will leave the club having lifted the Premier League title for a second time.
Brentford v Brighton (19:30 BST)
This should be a decent game. Brighton did well against Liverpool on Sunday but, if anything, they scored too early at Anfield, and I never really thought they would hang on.
Brentford were excellent against Manchester United and it seems strange they are on such a poor run, with only one win from their past 10 games.
I am going to back the Bees to put that right here and pull away from the relegation zone, because they are definitely too good to go down.
Ivan Toney was very good against United and unlucky not to score, and the goals are going to start flowing for him again soon.
Sutton's prediction: 2-1
Read the rest of my midweek predictions here…
Arsenal v Luton (19:30 BST)
Here are the key facts and figures before Wednesday's Premier League fixture between Arsenal and Luton:
Arsenal v Luton (19:30 BST)
Arsenal needed a last-gasp Declan Rice goal to clinch a crazy 4-3 win last time these teams met, but it won't be anywhere near as close at the Emirates.
Luton will have a go, we know that, but the Gunners showed how strong they are defensively in Sunday's goalless draw with Manchester City and I am expecting them to control this game from the start.
Sutton's prediction: 3-0
Read the rest of my midweek predictions here…
Arsenal v Luton (19:30 BST)
Arsenal
Mikel Arteta says the defensive partnership of Gabriel and William Saliba "just flows" and is one of the reasons Arsenal continue to challenge in the Premier and Champions League.
"You can see a balance and they complement each other," said the Gunners boss.
"They are so happy to play with each other. It just flows. They have been really, really good."
In last season's title challenge Saliba was ruled out for the remainder of the season following their second leg Europa League last-16 defeat by Sporting Lisbon.
Many put Arsenal's defensive collapse down to the Frenchman's absence, while Takehiro Tomiyasu was also out.
"I didn’t know about that narrative," added Arteta. "But Saliba is a massive player for us and you see the impact he has on the team.
"We need everyone but he is really important."
BBC Sport has a dedicated Arsenal page packed with news, analysis and fan views – get it here
Trabzonspor have been ordered to play six games behind closed doors after violence broke out following last month's Turkish Super Lig defeat by Fenerbahce.
Fans ran on to the pitch and attacked Fenerbahce players and security forces at Papara Park in Trabzon.
Fenerbahce players Jayden Oosterwolde and Irfan Can Egribayat were given one-game bans for fighting with rival fans.
Trabzonspor have also been fined 3m Turkish lira (£75,000).
Egemen Korkmaz, Trabzonspor's coach, has been banned from the dressing room and bench for one match for fighting with a rival player.
Fenerbahce's Nigeria winger Bright Osayi-Samuel, who was seen knocking one pitch invader to the ground, was not sanctioned.
The punishments were decided following a meeting of the Turkish Football Federation's disciplinary council.
Read the full story here…
#bbcfootball, WhatsApp 03301231826, text 81111 (UK only, standard rates apply)
Roy Keane is Manchester United through and through. Surely he is just trying to wind up Erling Haaland to get him to start banging them in because he can't bear the thought of Liverpool winning the league?
Andy, Kingston
#bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)
In all fairness I thought the same as Roy Keane for two or three years. Erling Haaland is fantastic at standing in front of goal and scoring from six yards. He is completely useless at anything else.. if you stop his production from midfield Haaland is null and void and offers nothing in terms of defensive contributions. There are many better all rounder attackers in the league.
Ryan, Sheffield
Man City v Aston Villa (20:15 BST)
I thought some of the criticism of Manchester City striker Erling Haaland after Sunday's draw with Arsenal was well over the top.
It is not Haaland's fault City did not create enough opportunities for him – it is down to players such as Kevin de Bruyne, Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva to make those chances.
To compare Haaland to a League Two player, which is how Roy Keane described him on Sky, is just ridiculous.
It doesn't matter who gets the goals against Aston Villa, but City cannot allow the gap to leaders Liverpool to get any bigger than three points.
Villa will make it tough for them and carry plenty of attacking threat themselves, but this is a must-win for Pep Guardiola's side… and I think they will win.
Sutton's prediction: 2-1
Read the rest of my midweek predictions here…
Man City v Aston Villa (20:15 BST)
The stats won't make happy reading for Aston Villa supporters, especially with striker Ollie Watkins missing with a hamstring injury.
Here are the key facts and figures before this evening's Premier League fixture between Manchester City and Villa.
Man City v Aston Villa (20:15 BST)
Manchester City
In case you missed it, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has defended striker Erling Haaland following Roy Keane's criticism after Sunday's 0-0 draw with Arsenal.
The ex-Manchester United captain said Haaland's "general play" is "so poor" and "almost like a League Two player".
"I don't agree with him, absolutely not," said Guardiola when asked about Keane's comments at a news conference before Wednesday's visit of Aston Villa.
Haaland scored 52 goals in all competitions last season and has 29 this term – 18 in the Premier League.
"He's the best striker in the world," added Guardiola of the 23-year-old Norwegian.
"He helped us win last season and the reason why we didn't create many answers from Erling is we need more presence in the final third with more people.
"We played an exceptional game, I reviewed the game against Arsenal but we just missed more people in the final third. The quality and different skillset we have, Haaland is exceptional."
Read the full story here…
All times in BST
Right, let's look ahead now to tonight's Premier League matches.
Here are this week's remaining fixtures and kick-off times:
Wednesday, 3 April
Arsenal v Luton (19:30)
Brentford v Brighton (19:30)
Manchester City v Aston Villa (20:15)
Thursday, 4 April
Liverpool v Sheffield United (19:30)
Chelsea v Manchester United (20:15)
Burnley boss Vincent Kompany has been charged with misconduct by the Football Association after he was sent off during Saturday's 2-2 draw at Chelsea.
The manager was dismissed by referee Darren England for protesting against a penalty decision that led to a red card for defender Lorenz Assignon.
Kompany said later that the standard of refereeing in this season's Premier League "hasn't been good enough".
The former Belgium defender has until Friday to respond to the charge.
Read more on that story here.
Chelsea
Chelsea say a video clip of Conor Gallagher with a young black mascot has been "taken considerably out of context" and condemned the "completely unacceptable" abuse towards the player.
In the widely shared clip, Gallagher does not acknowledge a high five from the child in the tunnel before Saturday's 2-2 draw with Burnley.
The Blues captain, 24, then walks out with the child at Stamford Bridge.
In a statement, the Blues said: "Chelsea Football Club is aware of a video clip circulating on social media from Saturday's fixture against Burnley, which has been taken considerably out of context.
"The subsequent level of abuse and defamatory comments directed towards Conor Gallagher is completely unacceptable.
"We are proud to be a diverse, inclusive club where people from all cultures, communities and identities feel welcome."
Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino added at a news conference: "It's [the abuse] upset me so much.
"No-one wants to do something like this, with this intention. I think he has many videos and photography with the mascots.
"When you play football, you are focusing to play, to start the game. I think people try to find things to create a mess and to abuse the people.
"I know Conor. I can speak for the people I know. Come on, that was never was his intention."
Read the full story here…
Liverpool v Sheff Utd (Thu, 19:30 BST)
Liverpool
That's it from Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who dismissed the notion that his side were now favourites for the title, saying he does not concentrate on the "outside mess".
Just one last nugget from the Reds boss, who confirmed that 19-year-old Spanish midfielder Stefan Bajcetic is now training with the under-21s and expected to return to full team training next week.
Bajcetic has not played since September, when he managed just one start in the Europa League and a late cameo in an EFL Cup tie against Leicester.
Liverpool v Sheff Utd (Thu, 19:30 BST)Liverpool
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp on whether Alexis Mac Allister has exceeded his expectations following the Argentine midfielder's summer move from Brighton: "I had no limits [to my expectations], I didn't want to limit him. I knew this was a player that I desperately wanted. Thank God we got him.
"He brought everything he learned at Brighton, which was super useful, but this was a new environment, a slightly different role, so it was about how he adapted to that – you never know. Not from a footballing point of view, more about character.
"There were a lot of different discussions – can he play the six and these kinds of things. It sounds like five years ago, but it was only a few months ago that people were having these kinds of discussions. I got asked the question quite frequently.
"It always helps to be playing a little bit out of your comfort zone. We all know the eight is his best position but he can play the six anyway. I am absolutely happy.
"We had talks when we signed him and after that I was super positive. He is a fantastic boy. A great player, fantastic footballer and super important for us."
Liverpool v Sheff Utd (Thu, 19:30 BST)Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp was asked about the impact Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher has made in his 23 appearances this season.
The Liverpool manager listed a number of reserve players, such as Northern Ireland full-back Connor Bradley and Kelleher, who had come in and proved their worth.
He added: "With so many players out for a really long time and we are still where we are, that is pretty special. You cannot expect that. You hope for these kinds of things but you cannot expect it. I am absolutely over the moon and happy for the boys that they can prove their point. I was never in doubt about them but they still have to prove it themselves. So that is wonderful, an absolutely outstanding season. Without Caoimhin Kelleher no chance to be in the position we are."
Liverpool v Sheff Utd (Thu, 19:30 BST)Liverpool
More from Jurgen Klopp on whether he will be watching Liverpool's title rivals Arsenal and Manchester City's matches tonight: "I didn't even know that they play tonight. That is really not my subject. I expect them always to win. That's not possible when they play against each other – but now they don't do that any more so I expect them always to win. It's not about that.
"We need to get our points in, we need to win our football games. The rest I am honestly not interested in. When they play my heart rate doesn't go up."
Liverpool v Sheff Utd (Thu, 19:30 BST)Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp dismissed the notion that he could rest players for Thursday's game at home to Sheffield United with an eye on Sunday's trip to face Manchester United at Old Trafford: "I don't think our people are like this.
"If I would talk now about Manchester United I think our people would have the right to think I am already too long in the chair. It makes no sense.
"You cannot play football, you cannot win football games by not respecting the opponent. I have no chance to influence the Manchester United game in this moment. We will play the players who are available. Sheffield United deserves our full respect and will get that."
© 2024 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.
