Arsenal and Manchester City chase historic quadruple as domestic cup ties await
Arsenal and Manchester City have created history by becoming the first two English clubs to reach March while still in contention for the quadruple.
Both sides remain in the hunt for the Premier League, FA Cup, EFL Cup and Champions League.
It marks the first time two top-flight sides have entered the business end of the season with a clean sweep of silverware still a mathematical possibility.
The two title rivals are set to meet in the EFL Cup final later this month, guaranteeing that at least one side’s pursuit will end shortly.
Before their Wembley showdown, the Gunners face League One outfit Mansfield in the FA Cup fifth round on Saturday.
Pep Guardiola’s men face a stiffer test in the same competition, travelling to St James’ Park to take on Newcastle United.
Following the Champions League knockout draw, the Premier League’s top two cannot meet in Europe until the final in May.
Celtic’s benchmark and English near-misses
Winning all four major trophies remains the ultimate rarity in British football.
Scottish giants Celtic famously achieved the feat in the 1966-67 campaign, culminating in their European Cup triumph over Inter Milan.
That historic squad, all born within 30 miles of Celtic Park, swept all before them to set a benchmark that has never been matched south of the border.
While Manchester United’s class of 1999 and City’s 2023 vintage secured historic trebles, neither reached the spring fighting on all four fronts.
Both iconic sides exited the League Cup at the quarter-final stage, ending their quadruple dreams in the winter months.
Liverpool did manage a variation of the feat in 1983-84, securing the First Division, European Cup and League Cup.
Recent history suggests heartbreak
In terms of longevity, Liverpool’s 2021-22 campaign stands as the closest an English club has come to the complete set.
Jurgen Klopp’s Reds had already lifted both domestic cups before missing out on the league title by a single point on the final day.
Their heartbreak was compounded six days later with a narrow defeat by Real Madrid in the Champions League final.
Chelsea also flirted with history that same season, reaching late February with four trophies in sight.
However, penalty shootout defeats to Liverpool in both domestic finals left the Blues with a consolation haul of the Uefa Super Cup and Club World Cup.
The Stamford Bridge club also went tantalisingly close in 2006-07 under Jose Mourinho, only to fall short in the two biggest competitions.
Manchester United faced a similar fate in 2008-09, proving how difficult it is to sustain a challenge across four distinct competitions.
Liverpool have confirmed they will pay the remaining £14.4m of Diogo Jota’s contract to his family following the forward’s tragic death last summer.
It has been eight months since the Portugal international and his brother Andre Silva died in a car accident in Spain.
The club’s owners, Fenway Sports Group (FSG), have committed to honouring the full value of the 28-year-old’s deal, which had two years remaining at the time of the incident.
This financial gesture to his wife, Rute Cardoso, and their three children is estimated to be worth around £14.4m based on his £140,000-a-week terms.
Slot praises ‘unbelievable’ support
The tragedy, which occurred on 3 July 2025, prompted tributes from across the global football community.
Head coach Arne Slot confirmed the decision regarding the contract earlier in the season, highlighting the rarity of such actions within the football industry.
“Owners are mainly criticised, like managers, but the way they’ve handled this situation by paying his wife and his children all the money from the contract is… Maybe people think it’s normal, but it is not in football.”
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot
The Dutchman also spoke movingly about the atmosphere around the club since the loss of the forward, who helped the Reds win the FA Cup, League Cup and Premier League after signing in 2020.
“The way the fans conducted themselves after that tragedy, how many flowers there were, all the memorials, I can almost get emotional thinking about it. It’s unbelievable what our fans have done and our players as well.”
United in tribute at Molineux
The gesture has come back into focus as the Anfield club prepare to face Wolves, Jota’s former employers, in the FA Cup fifth round on Friday.
It marks the second meeting between the sides this week, following a 2-1 Premier League victory for Rob Edwards’ team on Tuesday.
Supporters of both clubs united in the 18th minute at Molineux to chant the name of the former number 20 during that league encounter.
It was the first match between the two sides at the stadium since the brothers’ passing.
Travelling supporters displayed a banner reading ‘Obrigado Diogo’ as the football world continues to mourn a player who made a significant impact at both clubs.
Interim manager Martin O’Neill says the possibility of Celtic ending the campaign without a trophy must serve as a "wake-up call" for the club.
The reigning champions face a difficult trip across Glasgow to play city rivals Rangers in a Scottish Cup quarter-final on Sunday.
O’Neill’s side have already lost the League Cup final to St Mirren and currently sit five points behind Premiership leaders Heart of Midlothian.
It has become a tight four-team race for the title involving the Jambos, the two Glasgow giants and Motherwell.
"We are miles away from winning anything," admitted O’Neill.
"The overall picture is that it should be a wake-up call for the football club."
Spoiled by recent success
The interim boss recalled the 2003 season where the club finished empty-handed despite reaching a Uefa Cup final, yet were still praised by supporters.
However, the Northern Irishman believes expectations have shifted significantly since that era.
"You could say that in recent years the fans have maybe been spoiled with no real challenges in many aspects and been able to coast home in the last six or seven games of the season," he said.
"Here, Hearts have arrived, maybe a few years before they thought they would do."
O’Neill noted that Rangers have also strengthened significantly by spending money on quality additions.
"It has been a challenge all season and certainly been a challenge in my couple of spells in here when you’re winning some matches and you’re still trying to peg teams back," he added.
"But we’re in with a chance anyway – that’s the point."
Resilience on the road
The Parkhead club showed significant character to come from two goals down to draw with Rangers in the league last Sunday.
They subsequently overtook their Ibrox rivals in the table following a victory over Aberdeen on Wednesday night.
"We’ve had three games in six days, which has been a tall order for us, all away from home," O’Neill explained.
"We withstood that, which was a great effort."
He emphasised that the victory at Pittodrie was essential to keep their competitive hopes alive.
"If we play like we did in the first half [at Ibrox], we shouldn’t turn up, but the second half gave us great confidence," he said.
"It is testament to the players’ character as much as anything else."
Cup impact on title race
Despite the high stakes of Sunday’s quarter-final, O’Neill remains unsure if the result will dictate the outcome of the Premiership.
"Naturally, taking the game on its own, it would be a big boost for us getting to the semi-final," he said.
"Will it eventually have a bearing on how the league will pan out? I don’t think it will have a serious bearing, but in terms of confidence building, of course it matters."
With tough matches ahead for all four contenders, the interim manager suggests resilience will be the deciding factor.
"I suppose if you get beaten in the game, it’s how quickly you can get over it," he concluded.
Alan Shearer claims Tottenham being relegated from the Premier League would be a shock comparable to Leicester City’s miracle title triumph in 2016.
The former England captain offered the bleak assessment after Spurs slumped to a 3-1 home defeat against Crystal Palace on Thursday night.
That result marked a seventh loss in nine games for the north London club, leaving them just one point above the relegation zone.
‘One of the biggest shocks’
Despite boasting the status of Europa League holders and competing in the Champions League knockout stages, Tottenham are firmly entrenched in a battle for survival.
Shearer believes seeing the club drop into the Championship would be a sporting anomaly arguably greater than their current standing suggests.
“It would be one the biggest Premier League shocks if they were to go down. I mean, what would be bigger, Leicester winning it, or Spurs being relegated? I guess it’s on a similar scale.”
Alan Shearer, speaking to Betfair
Thousands of supporters were seen leaving the stadium at half-time during the Palace defeat, underlining the toxic atmosphere enveloping the club.
Tudor under pressure
Igor Tudor, who was brought in to replace Thomas Frank, has been unable to arrest the alarming slide in form.
The Croatian manager refused to confirm whether he would still be in the dugout for Sunday’s daunting trip to Liverpool.
Shearer suggests that another managerial change could be imminent before the campaign concludes.
“I could see Spurs getting rid of Igor Tudor before the end of the season. It wouldn’t be a surprise to me with that club.”
The team has not recorded a single victory in 2026, plummeting from fifth place in November to the brink of the bottom three.
‘They looked done’
While rivals near the foot of the table have begun to pick up points, Tottenham’s lack of cohesion has become a major concern for observers.
Shearer highlighted the contrast between Spurs’ capitulation and the resilience shown by other struggling sides like Nottingham Forest and West Ham.
“Unless that improves big style, then they’re going down… Somehow, from somewhere, they’re going to have to get some unity, because on Thursday they just looked as if they were done.”
Tottenham have been an ever-present fixture in the Premier League era, having last played in the second tier during the 1977-78 season.
Al-Nassr captain Cristiano Ronaldo has flown to Spain for medical treatment after suffering a hamstring injury that is worse than initially feared.
Manager Jorge Jesus confirmed the 41-year-old has returned to Madrid to work with his personal therapist following the setback.
The forward was substituted and seen using an ice pack during the 3-1 victory over Al-Fayha, a result that cemented the club’s lead in the Saudi Pro League.
Setback for league leaders
While Al-Nassr’s AFC Champions League fixture against Al-Wasl has been postponed due to regional conflict, the striker will officially miss Saturday’s league match against Neom.
Speaking at a press conference, Jesus provided clarity on the sudden departure of his star player and the severity of the issue.
“In the last match, the player left while complaining of a muscle injury,” explained the Al-Nassr boss.
“After medical examinations, it became clear that the injury was more serious than expected and requires rest and recovery.”
The decision to travel abroad mirrors the rehabilitation protocols used by other high-profile squad members.
Jesus added: “Cristiano traveled to Spain, like other players who went for treatment when they were injured.”
“His injury required treatment in Madrid with his personal therapist, and we hope he returns quickly and helps the team.”
World Cup focus
The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star is aiming to recover fully before the upcoming international break as Portugal finalise preparations for the World Cup.
Despite missing only two games through injury last season, the veteran attacker has recently hinted that his retirement could be within the next two years.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner currently sits on 965 career goals as he chases the 1,000 milestone before the expiration of his contract in June 2027.
Harry Kane will miss Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga match against Borussia Monchengladbach on Friday after suffering a calf injury.
The England captain sustained a knock and has not recovered in time for the fixture.
Manager Vincent Kompany confirmed the absence during his pre-match press conference on Thursday.
“He got a knock on his calf and hasn’t recovered yet,” said Kompany.
“It’s nothing serious for the time being but we’d need maybe another day for him to be involved.”
The Bayern boss added: “We’re pretty relaxed. Of course, we would have liked Harry to be involved but these things happen.”
Record pursuit hindered
The setback comes as a blow to the 32-year-old’s chances of breaking the all-time Bundesliga scoring record.
Kane has netted an impressive 30 goals in just 24 league appearances this season.
He is chasing the benchmark of 41 goals set by Robert Lewandowski during the 2020-21 campaign.
The former Tottenham striker had featured in all of Bayern’s league matches so far this term.
Should he return for the next domestic fixture, Kane will have nine games remaining to score the 12 goals required to surpass the record.
European focus
The prolific forward will now target a return to fitness for Bayern’s Champions League round-of-16 tie.
The German champions face Atalanta in the first leg of the knockout stages on Tuesday.
Following that European encounter, Kompany’s side return to Bundesliga action with a trip to Bayer Leverkusen next Saturday.
Lewandowski, now at Barcelona, recently praised Kane’s form while noting that he set his own record in just 29 appearances due to injury.
Wolves are aiming for a second victory over Liverpool in four days while Arsenal prepare to utilise their squad depth against Mansfield in the FA Cup fifth round.
Rob Edwards’ side welcome the Premier League champions back to Molineux on Friday night, fresh from a stunning 2-1 league victory over the same opponents on Tuesday.
While the Old Gold remain in a battle for top-flight survival, their recent form has revitalised a campaign that once looked destined for relegation.
Wolves have lost just once in their last five matches, a run that includes a victory over Aston Villa and a hard-fought draw against league leaders Arsenal.
With survival still a steep challenge given the limited fixtures remaining, the FA Cup represents a significant opportunity to salvage a memorable moment from a difficult season.
Arteta eyes rotation against Stags
Arsenal travel to Field Mill on Saturday to face a Mansfield Town side sitting 54 places below them in the football pyramid.
The fixture provides a crucial opportunity for Mikel Arteta to rotate his squad ahead of a demanding schedule that includes four games in 12 days and the upcoming Carabao Cup final.
Christian Norgaard is expected to anchor the midfield in place of Martin Zubimendi, who has played more minutes than any other Gunners player this season.
Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori is another senior figure likely to start as he seeks rhythm and match fitness.
There could also be a showcase for the club’s academy, with Max Dowman fit again following injury, though Myles Lewis-Skelly is unavailable due to suspension.
Despite the likely changes, the depth of quality available to the north London club makes them overwhelming favourites to progress.
Hollywood upset on the cards?
Saturday evening sees the focus shift to the Racecourse Ground as Wrexham host Chelsea in a tie that has captured global attention.
The Welsh side will be hoping the magic of the cup can help bridge the gap to their Premier League visitors in what is being billed as a potential Hollywood-script upset.
Elsewhere in the fifth round, Newcastle United face a heavyweight clash against Manchester City at St James’ Park.
The weekend’s action also features a London derby between West Ham and Brentford, while Leeds United take on Norwich City.
Harry Maguire’s legal team insists the defender remains free to travel to the World Cup despite being handed a 15-month suspended prison sentence by a Greek court.
Representatives for the Manchester United centre-back are adamant he does not technically have a criminal record following the ruling in Syros.
They maintain he retains complete freedom of movement, a crucial factor for his involvement in the upcoming tournament in the United States.
Strict US immigration laws can bar entry to individuals with convictions for crimes involving “moral turpitude”, including violence and bribery.
Carrick impact boosts recall hopes
Maguire has been in excellent form at club level following the arrival of Michael Carrick as head coach at Old Trafford.
His resurgence has prompted calls for a return to the international setup under Thomas Tuchel.
The England manager is set to name his World Cup squad in May, with Maguire potentially appearing for the first time under the German coach.
With Manchester City’s John Stones continuing to battle for match fitness, the 33-year-old has emerged as a strong candidate for selection.
Appeal filed in Athens
The defender was found guilty in his absence on Wednesday of non-serious assault, resisting arrest and attempted bribery.
The charges stem from an incident during a family holiday in Mykonos six years ago.
Maguire has always denied the allegations and is determined to clear his name.
His lawyers have already filed papers to the Supreme Court in Athens to appeal the verdict.
The legal team believes there are serious flaws in the prosecution’s case and has questioned the conduct of the proceedings.
Visa implications
The Greek prosecutor told Sky Sports News that they intend to pursue the case to the full extent of the law.
However, the specific legal status of the conviction pending appeal is central to Maguire’s ability to obtain a US visa.
Specialist lawyers have indicated that the fact the sentence was suspended and occurred outside the UK does not automatically guarantee entry.
The former Leicester City man must now wait to see if the legal challenge clears the path for his participation in North America.