Liverpool welcome West Ham to Anfield on Saturday aiming to maintain their pursuit of Champions League qualification against opponents fighting for Premier League survival.
Arne Slot’s side currently sit level on points with Chelsea following a narrow victory over Nottingham Forest in their previous outing.
That result kept the Merseysiders firmly in the hunt for European football after a difficult start to their title defence left them trailing the league leaders.
With the Premier League potentially being awarded five Champions League places based on UEFA coefficients, maximum points remain vital for the hosts.
Hammers battling to beat the drop
West Ham arrive on Merseyside deeply embroiled in a relegation battle, sitting two points adrift of safety.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s men have shown resilience in recent weeks, suffering just one defeat in their last eight matches across all competitions.
The Irons have successfully closed the gap on Nottingham Forest as the fight to preserve their top-flight status intensifies.
Wirtz doubt for hosts
Liverpool are monitoring the fitness of Florian Wirtz, who was forced to withdraw from the starting line-up against Forest with a minor issue.
Manager Slot remains hopeful the German playmaker could feature, though Alexander Isak is still sidelined despite returning to light training.
Jeremie Frimpong is nearing a return from the injury sustained against Qarabag, but Conor Bradley has been ruled out for the remainder of the campaign.
Giovanni Leoni and Wataru Endo remain long-term absentees for the home side.
For the visitors, January signing Pablo Felipe faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a calf problem.
Match details and coverage
Kick-off is at 15:00 GMT on Saturday, 28 February.
The fixture will not be broadcast live in the UK due to the Saturday 3pm blackout.
Highlights will be available on Match of the Day on BBC One at 22:30 GMT.
Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice admits he was left “speechless” after receiving a private message from David Beckham following his free-kick heroics against Real Madrid.
The England international scored two set-pieces against the Spanish giants in the Champions League last season.
His strikes helped the Gunners secure a dominant 5-1 aggregate victory over the then-European champions.
High praise from a set-piece master
Rice revealed that his performance prompted contact from Beckham, widely regarded as one of the greatest free-kick takers in history.
The 25-year-old told The Sun that receiving praise from the former England captain was a surreal moment.
“He [Beckham] messaged me on Instagram about it. That was crazy, because he had some of the biggest moments ever with free-kicks.”
The former West Ham captain grew up idolising Beckham, specifically referencing the midfielder’s time in Spain as a major influence.
“I remember the first time I met Beckham was in Qatar. We all approached him. Every player was like, he was a god, you know, because it’s Becks.”
Mastering the technique
Remarkably, Rice had never scored a direct free-kick in his professional career prior to his brace against Los Blancos.
One effort curled around the wall with precision, while the second was a powerful drive into the top corner.
Rice explained that his technique relies more on natural instinct than rigid practice routines.
“When I put the ball down [for a set piece], it’s just all about feel. It’s knowing where you’re going to put the ball, how much pace you’re going to put on it.”
He added that set-piece delivery has become a crucial weapon in Arsenal’s tactical armoury as they continue to challenge for major honours.
“People might go: ‘How do you know that?’ You’ve got to go off instinct. I know it can cause chaos, but it’s one of our strengths.”
Celtic have been advised to prioritise the appointment of Graham Potter as their next permanent manager ahead of Roberto Martinez following Martin O’Neill’s interim tenure.
The Scottish Premiership champions are currently assessing their long-term options ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.
Martin O’Neill returned to Parkhead in 2025 to stabilise the club following the departure of Wilfred Nancy.
Nancy lasted just one month in Glasgow before being removed from his position, prompting the board to turn to a familiar face.
Potter brings Premier League pedigree
Potter is available immediately after parting ways with West Ham United earlier this season.
The 50-year-old reportedly tops the wish list for the Hoops as they look to rebuild their squad identity.
While his recent stints in London proved challenging, his foundational work at Brighton remains highly regarding within the game.
He successfully cemented the Seagulls as a Premier League force while developing a host of young players for significant profit.
Experience at the highest level
The tactical demands of Scottish football require a manager capable of handling intense pressure and scrutiny.
Potter has now amassed significant experience managing massive institutions following his time at Chelsea.
This exposure to the highest level of the English game stands him in good stead to take on the expectations at Parkhead.
He is an outstanding manager.
Pep Guardiola on Graham Potter
Reports suggest that this recent club experience gives the Englishman a distinct advantage over other potential candidates.
Concerns over Martinez’s absence
Roberto Martinez has also been linked with the vacancy but faces questions regarding his recent career path.
The Spanish coach has not managed at club level for over a decade, focusing instead on the international stage.
His time leading Belgium and Portugal suggests a move back to the day-to-day rhythms of domestic football carries significant risk.
Potter is viewed as the safer and more progressive appointment for Celtic as they look to secure their future dominance.
Arsenal are hopeful that Bukayo Saka and Ben White will be fit to face Chelsea on Sunday as they continue their Premier League title push.
The Gunners re-established a five-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the table with a 4-1 victory against Tottenham last weekend.
However, the north London derby win came at a cost, with Mikel Arteta’s side suffering a fresh injury scare concerning their top scorer.
Saka concern after derby collision
Bukayo Saka was forced off in the second half against Spurs after appearing to suffer an ankle injury.
The England winger went down following an awkward collision late in the game and immediately signalled to the bench for assistance.
Despite receiving lengthy treatment on the pitch, the 22-year-old was able to walk off unaided.
Saka was also observed moving freely during the post-match celebrations, raising optimism that the issue is not serious.
Arteta is expected to provide a definitive update on his talisman’s availability during his pre-match press conference on Friday.
Defensive doubts and returning forwards
Ben White is also a major doubt for the visit of Chelsea after missing the Tottenham fixture completely.
The defender sustained a minor issue in training prior to the match, forcing a reshuffle in the Arsenal backline.
“It was Ben, he had a little niggle yesterday and he couldn’t make the game.”
Mikel Arteta, Arsenal Manager
While the manager did not offer a specific timeline, the club are hopeful White will recover in time for Sunday’s showdown at the Emirates.
Elsewhere, Kai Havertz could be in contention to face his former club after missing the last four matches.
The German international has been sidelined since the victory over Sunderland in early February.
Arsenal medical staff had hoped Havertz would return for the derby, but the fixture came too soon for the forward.
Merino faces long road to recovery
Summer signing Mikel Merino remains absent and is fighting to play again this season following surgery.
The Spanish midfielder suffered a stress fracture in his foot during the defeat by Manchester United in January.
“The timeframes, we’re talking about months – whether it’s three, four or five, we don’t know.”
Mikel Arteta on Mikel Merino
With a Carabao Cup final against Manchester City on the horizon, Arteta will be desperate to get his key stars back to full fitness as the season reaches its climax.
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah is reportedly willing to fulfil his contract at Anfield until 2027 should a proposed move to the Saudi Pro League fail to materialise.
The Egypt international remains a pivotal figure for the Reds despite persistent speculation regarding his future.
Salah, 33, is content to see out the remainder of his current deal, which runs until the end of next season.
While interest from the Middle East remains high, the club’s record Premier League goalscorer has not ruled out extending his stay on Merseyside.
Premier League clubs circle Frankfurt defender
Competition is heating up for the signature of Eintracht Frankfurt defender Nnamdi Collins.
Six Premier League sides have registered an interest in the 22-year-old German centre-back.
Title chasers Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City are monitoring his progress in the Bundesliga.
Newcastle, Brighton and Brentford are also tracking the defender regarding a potential move.
Casemiro eyes European stay
Manchester United midfielder Casemiro intends to continue his career in Europe when his contract expires this summer.
The 34-year-old is expected to leave Old Trafford but does not wish to move to a developing league yet.
Italy has been identified as a likely destination for the veteran Brazil international.
Old Trafford goalkeeping overhaul
Manchester United are planning to sell Andre Onana permanently when the transfer window opens.
The Cameroon goalkeeper, 29, is currently on loan at Turkish side Trabzonspor.
United executives expect to recoup significantly less than the £50m paid to Inter Milan for his services in 2023.
However, Onana maintains a desire to fight for his place as the club’s number one upon his return in May.
Meanwhile, an agreement has reportedly been reached to sell reserve goalkeeper Altay Bayindir to Besiktas for £4.3m.
Wirtz agent reveals Real Madrid talks
An agent connected to Florian Wirtz has revealed the midfielder was offered to Real Madrid prior to his blockbuster move to Liverpool.
Volker Struth claims contact was made with the Spanish giants before the Germany international completed his £116m switch from Bayer Leverkusen to Anfield.
Elsewhere, Antoine Griezmann has received a three-year contract offer from Major League Soccer side Orlando City.
The 34-year-old Atletico Madrid forward will hold talks with his current club before making a decision on his future.
Galatasaray survived a spirited comeback from 10-man Juventus to secure a 7-5 aggregate victory after extra time in a chaotic Champions League tie.
Late drama in Turin
The Turkish champions lost 3-2 on the night but progressed thanks to their resilience over two legs.
Juventus faced a significant disadvantage after Lloyd Kelly was shown a red card.
Despite being reduced to 10 men, the Serie A side mounted a fierce response to level the aggregate score and force the match beyond 90 minutes.
Extra-time decisive
The numerical advantage eventually told for the visitors during the additional half-hour.
Galatasaray struck twice in quick succession to extinguish the home side’s hopes.
The flurry of goals silenced the Allianz Stadium and confirmed the elimination of the Italians.
The bigger picture
This result caps a high-scoring tie that saw 12 goals shared between the two European heavyweights.
Okan Buruk’s side will now look ahead to the next round of the competition following this hard-fought triumph.
Paris St-Germain survived a nervous finish to edge past 10-man Monaco 5-4 on aggregate following a thrilling 2-2 draw.
Champions strike quickly
The French champions appeared to be cruising through the tie after striking twice in quick succession.
Marquinhos opened the scoring before Khvicha Kvaratskhelia doubled the lead moments later to give the hosts a commanding advantage.
The Georgian winger’s strike seemed to have put the contest beyond reach for the visitors.
However, a spirited Monaco side refused to surrender despite suffering a significant setback midway through the contest.
Coulibaly sees red
The visitors’ task became mountainous when Mamadou Coulibaly was dismissed by the referee.
The young midfielder was shown a red card, leaving Adi Hutter’s men to chase the game with a numerical disadvantage.
Yet, the dismissal seemed to galvanise the principality club rather than deflate them.
Monaco continued to press forward, forcing the Parisians into uncomfortable defensive errors.
Nervous finale for hosts
Jordan Teze struck late on to reduce the deficit and inject panic into the Parc des Princes crowd.
Luis Enrique’s side were forced to defend deeply in the dying minutes to prevent the tie from slipping away.
Ultimately, the Ligue 1 leaders held their nerve to secure their progression in the tournament.
Alexander Sorloth scored a hat-trick to guide Atletico Madrid into the Champions League last 16 with a commanding victory over Club Brugge.
The Spanish side won 4-1 on the night to secure a chaotic 7-4 aggregate triumph following a high-scoring two-legged tie.
Sorloth joins exclusive club
The Norwegian striker produced a clinical display of finishing to settle the contest at the Metropolitano Stadium.
In doing so, the 28-year-old became only the second player in the club’s history to net a treble in the competition since 2014.
His contribution ensured Diego Simeone’s side avoided any potential upset against their Belgian opponents.
Simeone’s side march on
Despite the comfortable final scoreline on the night, the aggregate nature of the contest kept the tension high until the hosts pulled away.
The Rojiblancos displayed the necessary ruthlessness in front of goal that has occasionally been missing in recent European campaigns.
Atletico will now look ahead to the knockout stages having rediscovered their scoring touch on home soil.