Summary

  • Sunderland move out of bottom three

  • Arsenal five points above fifth-placed Man Utd

  • Wilshere returns as sub after 10 months out

  1. Gossippublished at 11:20 British Summer Time 24 April 2016

    Mourinho linked to Man Utd... again

    MourinhoImage source, Getty Images

    Now, I might be about to blow your mind.

    But do you remember the former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho? Of course you do.

    Well, he's being linked with becoming Manchester United boss. I think it's been mentioned once or twice before, but this time it's for realsies.

    That's according to the Sunday Express anyway.

    It's just one of the many stories from today's gossip column - you should go check out the rest.

  2. Is there a howay back for Newcastle?published at 11:15 British Summer Time 24 April 2016

    Liverpool 2-2 Newcastle

    RafaImage source, Getty Images

    Rafa Benitez got a big point at Anfield yesterday - was something we were used to saying a few years ago.

    But this time he took his Newcastle United side to Liverpool and salvaged a 2-2 draw after going 2-0 down.

    It shows the Magpies have got the stomach for this relegation battle after all, although they remain a point adrift of safety.

    "We had to fight and show more character and I think the players had a fantastic reaction," said Rafa.

    Read the more here.

  3. get involved

    Get Involved - He's here, he's there...published at 11:09 British Summer Time 24 April 2016

    #bbcfootball

    While we're finding out who goes the extra mile for your club, I thought it would also be a splendid time to celebrate the players who made a living from running around a lot.

    Not necessarily the most gifted of individuals, they charge around like a headless, battery powered bunny.

    Your marathon man or woman.

    Here's one from my boys Norwich City: Gary 'Three Lungs' Holt.

    "He's here, he's there, he's every...." you know the rest.

    Use #bbcfootball to tell us yours.

    Gary HoltImage source, Getty Images
  4. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 11:04 British Summer Time 24 April 2016

    #bbcfootball

    Right now there are a ridiculous number of people pummeling 26.2 miles of Great British tarmac in the London Marathon.

    So, with that in mind, we want to know: Who goes the extra mile at your club?

    Who cleans the kit, who drives the long roads, who pays their subs but never gets a game?

    Mister GLS:@Rocket1job, external (AFC Wimbledon's kitman) on the bench every game this season, yet to make his debut.

    Stuttgart's dirty kitImage source, Getty Images
  5. Pulp fiction Carrollpublished at 10:59 British Summer Time 24 April 2016

    Maybe a slight overreaction from big Andy here. 

    I'm assuming it's the ball from your three-goal haul against Arsenal a few weeks ago?

    Maybe you and Billi Mucklow just need to talk it over.

  6. Quizzle me this, quizzle me thatpublished at 10:53 British Summer Time 24 April 2016

    PFA awards

    QuizImage source, .

    It's the Professional Footballers' Association awards event tonight, at a swanky Grosvenor House in London.

    Who will win? We can't answer that just yet.

    But here are a few questions you might be able to answer - take our PFA awards quiz and see how many you get right out of 10.

    It's right here.

  7. Let me compare thee to a Michael Graypublished at 10:48 British Summer Time 24 April 2016

    (It's the best I could come up with in three minutes)

    Shakespeare, sort ofImage source, Getty Images

    It turns out you are quite a cultured, well learned bunch. I never had my doubts, of course.

    Yesterday, the nation celebrated all things William Shakespeare, with it being 400 years since the bard's death.

    And we asked for your football-inspired Shakespearian prose and by golly you did not disappoint.

    Take this, for example, from Twitter user A Boy Called Mick, who seemed to capture the pressure on Everton boss Roberto Martinez remarkably well before yesterday's semi-final defeat.

    Is this a Cup I see before me?/Or merely a brave farewell/The game afoot will fortell /And reveal thy final destiny /Roberto

    There's loads more to read over here.

  8. What now for Martinez?published at 10:43 British Summer Time 24 April 2016

    Everton 1-2 Man Utd

    MartinezImage source, AP

    So, by the process of elimination and by my simple powers of deduction, that means it's Roberto Martinez's head for the block? No?

    The Everton boss is coming under increasing pressure - and the theory is that an FA Cup final may have saved his bacon at Goodison.

    Does he think he is the man to take the Toffees onward?

    "I am. I have got so attached to this football club and my ambition is exactly the same as this club's ambition," said the defiant Spaniard.

    You can read more from Roberto here.

  9. A final and a future at stakepublished at 10:39 British Summer Time 24 April 2016

    Everton 1-2 Man Utd

    LvGImage source, Reuters

    If you believe what you read, yesterday's FA Cup semi between Everton and Manchester United not only had a place in the final at stake, but also the livelihoods of the respective managers.

    In the end, it was Louis van Gaal's United who came out on top.

    So will he still be at Old Trafford next season?

    "I discuss this with my board," said the Dutchman.

    Read more.

  10. Coming up on BBC TVpublished at 10:34 British Summer Time 24 April 2016

    MOTD2 Extra

    Join Match of the Day 2 Extra for a look back to Saturday’s action plus a preview of today’s games on BBC Two, BBC Radio 5 live and online from 12:15 BST.

    Former England midfielder Jermaine Jenas and Fleetwood Town striker Shola Ameobi are in the studio today.

    Of course later there’ll be Match of the Day 2 itself – today it’s on at 22:30 on BBC One, and from 23:25 for viewers in Scotland.

    And if it's FA Cup highlights you're after, tune in to BBC One from 23:30 (or from 00:25 if you're in Scotland).

  11. Coming up on BBC radiopublished at 10:30 British Summer Time 24 April 2016

    BBC Radio 5 Live

    BBC Radio 5 live sports extra has full match commentary of the FA Cup semi-final between Crystal Palace and Watford at Wembley - a 16:00 BST kick-off,  

    BBC Radio 5 live begins its coverage of Sunday’s football programme with updates from the Stadium of Light, where Sunderland take on Arsenal from 14:05.

    That will be followed by full match commentary of the 16:15 start between Leicester and Swansea. 

    And later this evening you can have your say on all the big football stories on 606 with Ian Wright and Kelly Cates from 18:30.

  12. Fixtures and fittingspublished at 10:28 British Summer Time 24 April 2016

    Today's football

    Wenger and AllardyceImage source, Rex Features

    But so far we've only spoken of yesterday. No point looking back now.

    Well, we will look back, as I have four hours to fill until the first game.

    But, for now, let's live for today and see what's on the football fixture menu:

    There are Champions League and relegation permutations afoot when Sunderland host Arsenal at 14:05 BST - read the preview

    We'll find out who Man Utd will face in the FA Cup final when Crystal Palace take on Watford in their semi-final at Wembley at 16:00 BST - read the preview

    And there's the small matter of Leicester City welcoming Swansea as the Foxes look to edge closer to the Premier League title at 16:15 BST - read the preview

  13. get involved

    Get Involved - Who goes the extra mile?published at 10:23 British Summer Time 24 April 2016

    #bbcfootball

    MarathonImage source, Reuters

    Right now there are s a ridiculous number of people pummeling 26.2 miles of Great British tarmac in the London Marathon.

    Inspirational, one and all.

    So, with that in mind, I want to know who goes the extra mile at your club?

    Who cleans the kit, who drives the long roads, who pays their subs but never gets a game?

    This is the time for them to shine!

    Use #bbcfootball or text on 81111 (UK only, state your name and location) to tell use who goes the extra mile for your club.

  14. Martial the late saviourpublished at 10:19 British Summer Time 24 April 2016

    Sunday's papers

    Sunday ExpressImage source, Sunday Express

    And while Martial pops up on the back of the Sunday Express, the paper leads big on Jose Mourinho apparently DEFINITELY becoming Manchester United boss.

    Deja vu all over again.

  15. Martial's moment of magicpublished at 10:17 British Summer Time 24 April 2016

    Sunday's papers

    TelegraphImage source, Sunday Telegraph

    The Sunday Telegraph captures a moment of pure joy from a wee 20-year-old lad.

  16. Smash and grabpublished at 10:15 British Summer Time 24 April 2016

    Sunday's papers

    Sunday TimesImage source, Sunday times

    Straight to the point from the Sunday Times.

    They also run a story on Manchester City and Manchester United battling to sign Benfica's Portugal international midfielder Renato Sanches.

    More on that in our gossip column.

  17. Ant and deckedpublished at 10:12 British Summer Time 24 April 2016

    Sunday's papers

    Star SundayImage source, Star Sunday

    You see what the Star Sunday have done here?

    Ant and Dec are a pair of inexplicably popular presenters on tea-time telly.

    Ant is short for Anthony Martial. Everton were decked.

    Classic.

  18. Martial roarpublished at 10:09 British Summer Time 24 April 2016

    Sunday's papers

    Mail on SundayImage source, Mail on Sunday

    And here is 20-year-old Martial. Wheeling away like nobody has ever wheeled away before on the front of the Mail on Sunday's sport supplement.

    There's also the story of Mamadou Sakho failing a drugs test - it's a story that most of the back pages have gone with, and we'll look at it in detail later.

  19. Give me a hugpublished at 10:05 British Summer Time 24 April 2016

    LukakuImage source, Rex Features

    Sorry, Romelu.

    Maybe I got a bit carried away there. But things could have been oh so different for the Belgian and his Everton side.

    Lukaku saw a penalty saved by dazzling David de Gea, and had seven shots in total - three on target - as Manchester United stamped their return ticket to Wembley with a 2-1 win in the semi-final.

    The man waking up this morning who is the knees of the bees is one Anthony Martial.

    And he, unsurprisingly, dominates this morning's back pages.

  20. What could have been...published at 10;00

    LukakuImage source, AFP

    Somewhere, in an alternate universe, a man named Romelu Lukaku is waking up this morning.

    He is stirring, slowly, his vision adjusting to the cracks of light pouring through the 100% silk curtains. He looks down. He is spooning a round, leather, spherical object.

    A match ball - the spoils for a hat-trick hero who danced so freely in front of a wonderful Wembley as dusk settled across England's capital.

    This Lukaku, he shall return to this stadium in but a few weeks - history is within reach.

    Somewhere, in this universe, Romelu Lukaku wakes up. He possibly feels a bit sad.