Key events
Let’s start with some morning headlines:
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Leeds all but confirmed their Premier League survival with a 3-1 win over relegated Burnley at Elland Road last night.
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A number of leading European countries still expect to lose money at the World Cup despite Fifa increasing the prize and participation fund by $112m (£82m) this week.
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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says freshness was the key to the Paris Saint-Germain v Bayern Munich classic in midweek, something Premier League teams just don’t have.
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Under-fire Newcastle boss Eddie Howe admits ‘a lot is riding’ on today’s game with Brighton after meeting with the Magpies’ Saudi owners.
Preamble
Good morning everyone (shuffles papers and looks into camera while staff mill around in the background) and welcome to matchday live! We’re at the stage of the football season when every day seems significant, make-or-break, do-or-die. And that’s absolutely the case this very Saturday with three teams – Ipswich, Millwall and Middlesbrough – all having a shot at clinching the second automatic qualification spot from the Championship to the Premier League. At the very summit of the pyramid, Arsenal have the chance to pull six points clear when they host Fulham this evening. So there’s that and, quite frankly, an awful lot more. Let’s do this and, as always, get in touch with via the email at the top of the page!