It's not often you get a painting of a scene from Macbeth mixed with chat about Stoke's sloppy passes, is it?

On the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death we're asking for your footballing take on the Bard's great works. 

David May - but NOT the ex-footballer: "A tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing." Every manager you've ever heard seeking to justify defeats by blaming the ref, the pitch.  

David Bradbury: Bubble bubble toil and trouble, Villa's season ends in rubble.  

Image source, Getty Images

You can follow the BBC's special Shakespeare Live page here.

Kevin Kilbane
Former Everton winger on Football Focus

"Man United are starting to get a little bit more attack-minded. I think that is down to the youngsters Van Gaal has brought in like Rashford and Lingard. 

"He is certainly playing a more attacking style that you would expect from Man United."

Image source, Getty Images

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Image source, Getty Images

Speaking of Stoke, midfielder Ibrahim Afellay has suffered a knee ligament injury and could be out for eight months.

Still goalless at the Etihad but Stoke appear to have forgotten how to pass when they get past the halfway line. 

As the red arrows below indicate, 13 of their passes in the Manchester City half have been unsuccessful.

Image source, Opta

Keep your Shakespearean mash-ups coming in as as we mark the 400th anniversary of the Bard's death. Here's another corker. 

Henry 'Mauricio' V to his Spurs troops:

I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips, straining upon the start. The game's afoot : follow your spirit, and upon this charge cry 'God for Harry, England and St George !' 

He's one of our own...

Jed Fry, Bath

Image source, Getty Images

It's not quite a Shakespeare sonnet, and certainly not as impressive as Ed's effort a couple of entries ago, but Claudio Ranieri was in poetic mood yesterday:

'Dilly-ding, dilly-dong,

'We are in the Champions League man.'

Wonderful stuff. Click on the link above to see Claudio at his very best.

You can listen to the game on BBC Radio 5 live as well.

The first of four Premier League games today is under way.

Follow blow-by-blow coverage of the game here.

Today we're marking the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death and we've already had some brilliant entries for our (very unofficial) sonnet competition. But 'Palace fan and English teacher' Ed has just stolen the show.     

Shall I compare thee to Stoke City away? 

The icy potteries are not so temperate 

We question if cold December Tuesday 

Is the mark of a player we rate. 

Sometimes too hot the glare of media shines 

And often is a show boater dimm'd 

From every foul to foul he does decline 

By lack of support from those around him. 

But Leicester's eternal summer will not fade 

Nor lose possession from a foul unfairest 

Not shall United brag how much they paid

For Vardy, Drinkwater or Mahrez.

 So long as Ranieri breathes and eyes can see 

The Premier League goes to Leicester City.

Image source, Getty Images

We're not the only ones who have been celebrating Shakespeare football-style. Dan Walker got there ahead of us earlier this week with him Team of the Week - there are some absolute belters in here...

Image source, Dan Walker/Facebook

Football Focus

Good of Dan Walker to keep up the 'wearing the same coat as a TV character' theme going for the FA Cup today. 

For Reading's tie with Crystal Palace last month, he went for the Del Boy look...

...today it appears to be Inspector Gadget...

Kevin Kilbane
Former Everton winger on Football Focus

Leicester City bossClaudio Ranieri told BBC sports editor Dan Roanit is "now or never" for the Foxes to win the Premier League title this week and Kevin Kilbane has had his say.

"Ranieri only said what we were all thinking but it could come back to bite him if it doesn’t happen.

"Could Jamie Vardy missing play into Tottenham hands?"

Graeme Le Saux
Former Chelsea left-back on Football Focus

"Claudio Ranieri has been pressed and pressed for a long time now on Leicester's chances of winning the league, he's been coy in the past but now it's just the reality. The players know it's in their hands. Acknowledging that puts no more pressure on them. Ranieri is interesting; underneath the surface he is a very professional and serious man who doesn't pull his punches." 

Kevin Kilbane
Former Everton winger on Football Focus

"After next week we will know more about who will win the title. 

"Leicester go to Old Trafford and Tottenham are going to Stamford Bridge. It is a difficult place for Spurs to go and I think Chelsea will be desperate to stop them winning the league. 

"This weekend I expect both Tottenham and Leicester to win - next week we will know more."

Premier League football is not the only thing happening early doors today, with Rangers taking on Alloa Athletic in the Scottish Championship. You can follow the action from that game here.

Meanwhile, in the Championship, Derby take on Sheffield Wednesday with the visitors looking to close in on a play-off berth. Derby have already secured their place in the end-of-season tussle for a shot at promotion to the Premier League.

Follow that game here.

John Rogers: Raneiri is a reincarnated Romeo: a romantic who refuses to accept that LCFC aren't allowed the title. Will it end in tragedy?

Image source, Reuters

I wonder if there was a half-and-half scarf equivalent back in Shakespeare's day? Something that had the great man tutting every time he saw it out on display. 

By the way, did you know that one Premier League side's name is inspired by Shakespeare? Tottenham Hotspur apparently get the second part of their name from Harry Hotspur, a character in his play "Henry IV Part 1".

You can delve deeper into the world of the Bard with our ShakespeareMe tool.

Kevin Kilbane
Former Everton winger on Football Focus

"The back four will be the most interesting part of the Everton side today. If Jagielka doesn’t make it, then Matt Pennington who has just come back from loan at Walsall will come in. 

"For him to play in this game, it will be a huge occasion for him."