Newcastle Eagles player-coach Fab Flournoy says Sunday's BBL Trophy final is a chance for Leicester Riders to make a "statement" against his side.

Eagles have won 19 trophies under Flournoy's stewardship and have already won the BBL Cup during a 14-game unbeaten run this season.

Riders are on a similarly good run and have lost just twice since November - on both occasions to the Eagles.

"They probably feel they've been in our shadow all season," Flournoy said.

Bradford City have banned three fans after a series of incidents in their FA Cup quarter-final ties with Reading.

They have also reiterated that the fan who is alleged to have abused Royals winger Garath McCleary in Monday's replay will face a life ban if found guilty.

A fifth fan is facing a five-year exclusion for attempting to take pyrotechnics into the Madejski Stadium.

More from Louis van Gaal on Sunday's match between fourth-placed Manchester United and Liverpool, two points behind in fifth.

"I want to win against them again. It's very important," said the United boss.

"I think every player knows the importance of this game. We are in a very crucial stage and cannot lose."

Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has prepared his players for Sunday's match against Liverpool by acting as referee in training.

The Dutchman wants his players to keep their emotions in check after Chris Smalling was sent off against Manchester City and Angel Di Maria was dismissed versus Arsenal.

Van Gaal said he referred a training game in a way that would prepare them for the Anfield atmosphere.

Midfielder Tomas Rosicky is expected to be back in the Arsenal squad for Saturday's trip to Newcastle after illness.

The Gunners have reported no fresh injury concerns following the midweek Champions League tie in Monaco, but manager Arsene Wenger will assess the fatigue levels of his players before deciding on any changes.

Club captain Mikel Arteta (ankle), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (hamstring), Jack Wilshere (ankle) and Mathieu Debuchy (ankle) all continue their rehabilitation.

Provisional Squad: Ospina, Monreal, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Bellerin, Coquelin, Cazorla, Ozil, Sanchez, Welbeck, Giroud, Szczesny, Walcott, Ramsey, Chambers, Gibbs, Gabriel, Flamini, Rosicky.

Image source, Reuters

Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick has signed a one-year contract extension that will keep him at Old Trafford until June 2016.

Carrick, 33, has made 376 appearances in his United career and scored 23 goals, having joined the club in 2006.

United boss Louis van Gaal described Carrick as my "second captain".

Leicester have no new injury worries as they continue their battle for survival at Tottenham.

Dean Hammond (calf) and Anthony Knockaert are the only players out for boss Nigel Pearson. Hammond is back in training but not yet match fit and Knockaert is in France to be with his ill father while Mark Schwarzer could keep fit-again Kasper Schmeichel on the bench.

Provisional squad: Schmeichel, Schwarzer, Hamer, Simpson, Huth, De Laet, Morgan, Wasilewski, Upson, Konchesky, Mahrez, Schlupp, Drinkwater, James, Albrighton, King, Cambiasso, Nugent, Kramaric, Ulloa, Vardy.

Everton boss Roberto Martinez has had more to say on the disadvantages he believes English clubs face in European competition.

He added: "We need to understand that our league is the best in world football. And when I say the best it's because if you are at 70% in a game, you're going to lose it. That's how competitive it is. It doesn't matter about position in the table and I don't think the other leagues have that.

"The top teams that are normally involved in Europe can cruise through games and that makes it a lot easier to plan a group of fixtures in a two-to-three-week period. That is a big difference and that affects English clubs.

"It's not by coincidence. Some of the clubs in the Champions League have been unfortunate, there have been small margins but those small margins could easily be the demands that you face domestically. It's something that clearly hasn't been working in our favour."

Saracens have announced chief executive Edward Griffiths will leave the club at the end of the season to pursue "new opportunities".

Griffiths has been at Saracens for seven years.

Saracens chairman Nigel Wray said: "After seven years as CEO Edward is moving on. He has created and leaves an outstanding and beautiful new permanent home for Saracens, and a team of people with a real caring and community focus and we will build upon this legacy."

Everton boss Roberto Martinez says the lack of a winter break in English football does not help Premier League clubs in European competition.

The Toffees were England's last representatives in Europe but were dumped out of the Europa League by Dynamo Kiev on Thursday, going down 5-2 in Ukraine to lose 6-4 on aggregate.

Martinez said: "I think there are aspects there that make it very, very difficult for an English club to have success in Europe.

"If you look at the top leagues in Europe most of those have got a little break in the winter. I'm not saying that's the difference but it can make a big difference in a squad that is playing domestically two cup competitions, when others are playing one cup competition."

Britain's Jack Laugher has become the first non-Chinese winner of a World Series event in 2015 by claiming 3m springboard gold in Dubai.

He is Britain's first individual 3m springboard champion and the second to win a World Series gold after Tom Daley, who has two 10m platform titles.

The 20-year-old led from the first dive and scored 564.35 across his six dives to beat China's Chong He and Yuan Cao.

Danny Charity: Andy Murray, Wimbledon 2013 final. Absolute perfection.

Daniel Gallagher: When Boro came back from 3-0 down twice in a row in the Uefa cup, goosebumps!

Tim Cawte: Taking my son to see #CFC win the European Cup

Image source, @timlimbim

Image source, Getty Images

England Test captain Alastair Cook top-scored with 35 for MCC in his first innings of 2015 in the Emirates Airline T20 in Dubai.

Cook played fluently at the top of the order in the semi-final against three-time winners and defending champions Sussex, with six fours and a six from just 26 balls, before he was caught at long on by Luke Wells off left-arm seamer Chris Liddle.

Chasing 165 for victory, MCC finished on 146 for nine, before Yorkshire beat Sussex in the final of the competition.

Cook will play for the MCC again in a four-day match against county champions Yorkshire, starting in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

The Reds boss has been talking about Steven Gerrard's importance to the team despite his impending departure to Los Angeles Galaxy this summer.

Gerrard returned to the squad after a seven-match injury absence in Monday's win over Swansea and there has been some debate over Liverpool's effectiveness with Gerrard in the side.

"I think it has been really unfair on the boy," said Rodgers. "People were trying to write him off when he was not even back fit. He is now available but I can tell you now - and it may not be the story you want - but he is a guy committed to the team.

"He is like any other player, of course he'd like to play, but his support for guys like Jordan Henderson, Joe Allen, that are in the team has been fantastic and his support to me as a captain has been incredible."

Image source, PA

Captain Paul O'Connell has warned Ireland to beware of Scotland's "nothing to lose" approach in battling against the Wooden Spoon in Saturday's Six Nations finale.

O'Connell expects Scotland to start at "100 miles an hour" in the Murrayfield clash at 14:30 GMT (live on BBC One and on the BBC Sport website)

Ireland can still retain their Six Nations title and are in a three-way fight for the championship with England and Wales.

Read who the BBC pundits think will win here.

Everton manager Roberto Martinez says his side has "nine finals" remaining as they seek to maintain their Premier League status.

The Toffees, who were knocked out of the Europa League by Dynamo Kiev on Thursday, are currently 14th, six points above the relegation zone.

"We see these nine games as nine finals," said Martinez, who claimed their European campaign had been a "huge, huge positive", despite the 5-2 hammering in Kiev.

Liverpool goalkeeper Danny Ward has joined League Two side Morecambe on loan for a month.

The Wales Under-21 international moved to Anfield from Wrexham but is yet to make an appearance for the Reds.

Ward, 21, who has been on the bench for the Premier League side 19 times, will become the Shrimps' sixth goalkeeper of the season if he makes an appearance.

"Danny is a highly regarded goalkeeper and we look forward to working with him," said boss Jim Bentley.

Image source, Getty Images

Newcastle United midfielder Jonas Gutierrez has told Football Focus about his emotional return to the club following treatment for testicular cancer.

Gutierrez was on the bench against Aston Villa in February and came on as a substitute at home to Manchester United.

The Argentine also explains his new tattoo, which features the lyrics to Eminem's No Love.

Football Focus is on BBC One at 11.30 GMT on Saturday, but you can watch a clip of the interview here.

Image source, Inpho

Ireland coach Phil Simmons has quit and will take charge of his native West Indies after the conclusion of the current World Cup.

He will lead the Windies in the upcoming Test series against England.

A Cricket Ireland statement confirmed the Trinidadian's departure after eight years in the role.

"It was a very difficult decision to leave, but I couldn't turn down the opportunity to coach my home team," said Simmons, 51.

The developing story is here.

Hughes is hoping that current number one Asmir Begovic will follow Butland's example and agree a new contract at Stoke.

He said: "We will sit down and speak to Asmir in the summer. He wants to focus on the games first, and rightly so. We are comfortable with that.

"I know Asmir is happy here and is pleased with our progression. We hope they will be good discussions with him.

"We have re-contracted Jack and our intentions are to also re-contract Asmir too. We are trying to look after business in the correct way."