That's it for Sportsday Live for Thursday.

You can follow Everton's progress in the Europa League on the BBC Sport website and Sportsday will return at 08:00 GMT on Friday.

BBC Radio 5 live

There's plenty for sportlovers on BBC Radio 5 live on Thursday evening.

At 19:00 GMT, Eleanor Oldroyd presents 5 Live Sport live from Cheltenham on the eve of the Gold Cup with all of the day's sports news plus a look ahead to Friday's big race.

From 20:00, Alastair Eykyn previews the fourth round of matches in the Six Nations with guests including England flanker Maggie Alphonsi, former Wales international Martyn Williams, and ex-Ireland hooker Keith Wood.

At 21:00, the focus switches to Formula 1 and this weekend's Australian Grand Prix in 5 live Formula 1.

Image source, PA

Players are so desperate to win football matches they will try "every trick in the book", says Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard.

Chelsea's players have been criticised for surrounding referee Bjorn Kuipers during Wednesday's Champions League exit against Paris St-Germain after he sent off PSG striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic for a tackle on Chelsea's Oscar.

"I think it's normal when you play games at that level. Players want to win so much," said Gerrard

"You've got managers who want to win so much, players will try every trick in the book to get over the line and try and win football matches. Sometimes it doesn't look nice, but we've all been guilty of it throughout our careers, of not always abiding by the rules."

Image source, Getty Images

Everton forward Steven Naismith believes his side can win the Europa League despite their poor Premier League form.

The Toffees host Dynamo Kiev in the last 16 first leg on Thursday.

"We believe we can go all the way to the final and win it, but we're at the stage now where every team is a quality team," said Naismith.

Defender John Stones and midfielder Leon Osman face fitness tests, left-back Leighton Baines is out injured and winger Aaron Lennon is ineligible.

The Rugby Football Union has agreed to an increase in the amount of money it pays to clubs in the Championship.

The new agreement between English rugby's governing body and second-tier clubs runs until the summer of 2020.

Funds will also go towards player medical insurance, while clubs will be expected to invest in their facilities.

It comes just weeks after discussions to expand the Premiership and scrap promotion and relegation to the Championship began.

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport

Amateur jockey Tom Weston has been airlifted to hospital following a fall at the Cheltenham Festival on Thursday.

Weston was taken to Southmead Hospital in Bristol after his mount Benbane Head, trained locally by Martin Keighley, came down in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Chase.

Racecourse spokeswoman Sophie Brudenell said he was undergoing further assessment and treatment.

"He was breathing and conscious when he left," she said.

Image source, AFP

West Brom head coach Tony Pulis says Chelsea's Champions League exit on does not mean English clubs are failing.

"It was one game," he said. "I watched the game and I thought PSG were good and deserved their victory.

"To write off Chelsea or English clubs in general after one game (is wrong), especially Chelsea, who have been outstanding this year but had a bad night.

"Unfortunately it was the wrong time to do it. Jose will be very, very disappointed, as will the players and the club, but I'm sure they'll bounce back."

Thursday night's Super League action sees Huddersfield up against Castleford with both sides hoping for their second win of the season.

Huddersfield recall Luke Robinson, who was rested for the last two matches and who comes in for Shaun Lunt, who has joined Hull KR on loan.

There is also a first call-up of the season for prop Josh Johnson, who takes over from Anthony Mullally.

Castleford have prop Andy Lynch and hooker Scott Moore back from injury and suspension respectively while Michael Channing is set to take over at centre from captain Michael Shenton, who dislocated his shoulder in last week's win over Wigan.

You can hear the game live on 5 live Sports Extra and via the BBC Sport website.

Burnley are without a win in two months and sit second bottom of the Premier League table, three points from safety.

But City won't underestimate the Clarets after a stunning performance at the Etihad in December, when they fought back from 2-0 down to claim a draw.

"City have got some fantastic players. We experienced that once before, we gave a good performance and I think overall deserved a point out of the game. But that doesn't guarantee us anything this time around," said Burnley boss Sean Dyche.

"They're a highly-motivated group of players, still in the hunt, still right up there, very experienced and a fantastic manager, so obviously it's a big challenge once again."

Image source, PA

Stuart McCall on his new role as caretaker manager of Rangers: "This is a big challenge, no doubt. Anyone who's seen the last few games will know this. I've got a million and one text messages wishing me good luck and I think I'll need them all.

"It's something I'm really looking forward to. The aim for us is to get out of this league. It's been difficult for the boys today, getting a group text on their day off at 11.30 to be here at 2.30, but they got here, and we've had a good meeting.

"This club has been kicked for too long. The fans don't want to come and boo."

Celtic's Virgil van Dijk will be available for the League Cup final after his ban for a red card against Dundee United was quashed.

An altercation in the aftermath of a Scott Brown challenge on Nadir Ciftci resulted in Van Dijk and United's Paul Paton both being sent off.

Image source, SNS

Celtic appealed against Van Dijk's red card, and the Scottish FA judicial panel ruled it should be rescinded.

The decision on Paton's appeal has yet to be announced.

Rangers have confirmed the appointment of Stuart McCall as manager until the end of the season.

Sean Dyche added to his squad this week with the recruitment on a three-year deal of Norwegian midfielder Fredrik Ulvestad.

The Burnley boss has been keen for the club to expand their scouting network into Europe and signed 22-year-old Ulvestad after a two-week trial.

The Clarets were already short in midfield before Dean Marney was ruled out for the season with a knee injury last month but Dyche insisted Ulvestad will not be rushed.

"At the moment it's that cooling-off period, him getting used to how we work. I don't know that much about the Norwegian league but I know it's not the Premier League," said the boss.

"If he's needed this season and we think he's ready, then we'll use him."

The new Formula 1 season starts this weekend with the Australian Grand Prix and drivers including Sebastian Vettel, Daniel Ricciardo, Jenson Button and Max Verstappen have told BBC Sport that they are looking forward to getting back to action.

Toro Rosso rookie Verstappen says he will treat the event as "just another weekend" as the 17-year old is set to becomes the youngest driver in history to take part in a Grand Prix.

West Ham striker Carlton Cole has been fined £20,000 after he admitted breaching Football Association rules in relation to social media.

It comes after he sent an abusive tweet following West Ham's 2-2 draw with Tottenham on 22 February.

Burnley boss Sean Dyche believes dressing-room spats between players are "a natural occurrence" at the highest level.

Image source, Reuters

Manchester City visit Turf Moor on Saturday at the end of a week where the champions have been forced to play down reports that captain Vincent Kompany was dropped following a bust-up with team-mate Fernandinho.

"I think it's a natural occurrence when you've got highly-talented, highly-motivated people, all in a working environment - that's very challenging," said Dyche.

"Everyone wants a shirt, everyone wants to play, and also, I can only imagine, at that level you're borderline into 25 mini companies. It's not just players, you're dealing with the whole shebang - PR consultants, agents, PAs, who knows what else.

"I imagine it's like having 25 CEOs and trying to align them all with whatever the bigger picture is. There's always going to be challenges because they're powerful-minded people, which is why they're at the top of the game."

Why are British (with apologies to Gary; see below) teams struggling in Europe?

Phillip Barlow: European football is peaks and troughs. English clubs peaked in the mid-late noughties. Now it's a trough.

Gary Sweeney: Why say British? Ultimately its the English teams struggling. With their financial muscle they should be dominating Europe.

Mark Fletcher: Prem is lower quality throughout. Bottom half sides in La Liga are technically miles ahead and can actually play good football.

Peter: English teams aren't as good as we think. Best marketed league yet quality wise isn't. Not as competitive as people think either.

More to #bbcsportsday

Image source, Comic Relief

As part of Comic Relief, DJ Dermot O'Leary is embarking on a special challenge later this evening - Dermot's Day of Dance - where he will dance for 24 hours continuously from 19:00 GMT to raise money for Red Nose Day, which takes place on Friday.

You can follow the whole thing live, external on BBC Radio 2 and on the BBC Red Button.

Discover more about Dance on the BBC Get Inspired website.

Jamie Codd and The Package ran out comfortable winners of the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase in the penultimate race on day three of the Cheltenham Festival.

The 9-1 shot, trained by David Pipe, beat Bless The Wings (28-1), ridden by Nina Carberry into second with Buddy Bolero (20-1) in third while fourth went to Grand Vision (11-1).

The final race of the day is the St Patrick's Derby charity race.

Bournemouth midfielder Andrew Surman believes the Cherries are mentally prepared to win promotion to the Premier League after returning to the top of the Championship.

Eddie Howe's side endured a five-match winless run in February, but have won two straight games in March to move ahead of Derby, Watford and Middlesbrough at the summit.

"It's easy to get downhearted, but it's important not to," Surman told BBC Radio Solent.

"We've come out of it mentally stronger. I think that is why we have won our last two games and hopefully we can put a run together now."