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Celtic 2-1 Livingston: League leaders restore nine-point lead at summit

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Celtic restored their nine-point lead at the summit of the Scottish Premiership after overcoming stubborn Livingston.

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Ayo Obileye’s own goal and a close-range Kyogo Furuhashi finish put the dominant hosts in control in Glasgow.

But an instant reply through Nicky Devlin seconds before the break threatened an unlikely comeback.

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Liel Abada had a third controversially ruled out after a VAR check, but Celtic still closed out the game comfortably.

Ange Postecoglou’s side, who enjoyed the vast majority of chances but failed to put the result beyond doubt, have won both matches since returning from the World Cup break, while Livingston remain sixth after their first game in over a month.

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What was never in doubt was the direction of travel for the majority of this contest.

Celtic attacked with utter relentlessness from the off with Livingston forced into reverse gear. What was unexpected was how cagey this would become.

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Reo Hatate was first to threaten with a dangerous low cross, then thundered a shot just past.

Anthony Ralston was next with a shot just over before releasing Abada scampering down the right. His cross was accurate but Obileye got in a fankle and diverted home to unlock the door. The last thing Livingston needed as they tried to hang in, but a deserved outcome if not a touch fortunate.

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Celtic combined, probed and urgently harried on the rare occasions they lost possession. Livingston were still alive in the game, but couldn’t get out.

But when it eventually arrived, the second, and ultimately decisive goal, was exquisite.

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Ralston picked out Abada with a tremendous ball inside the wing back. His cross was first time, as was Kyogo’s finish, as he slammed home from close range just before half-time.

That was that, or so everyone thought. How many more was the question?

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Devlin, on his 100th Livingston appearance, had other ideas. He muscled into Celtic’s box, withheld a challenge and poked home exposing a moment of slackness 90 seconds after Celtic’s second.

The hosts’ rhythm was disrupted. Things didn’t flow as easily. Passes were off target, shots became more scarce. The outcome became less straightforward.

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That idea intensified when Stephen Kelly battered a first-time shot on the volley but Joe Hart responded well.

Abada had a strike ruled out for offside as Livingston refused to relent, with referee Euan Anderson going to the screen following a lengthy pause.

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Celtic got over the line. They deserved the victory, but it was far less straightforward than it might have been.

Player of the match – Liel Abada

Liel Abada
Liel Abada was always a threat on the wing and provided two assists which proved vital. He might have had one or two goals to add to his impressive numbers on a different night

Postecoglou will have private frustrations – analysis

This was a curious encounter.

Celtic were coasting, cruising towards Ivan Konovalov’s goal with wave after wave and could have been ought of sight with better finishing.

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That was until Devlin’s goal just before half-time.

Livingston’s performance vastly improved with some tactical and personnel changes and it was a far more even contest in the second half. They will take real positives from that.

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Yes, Celtic had more of the ball but struggled to create clear opportunities. There was always a nagging thought that Livingston might just somehow nick a second.

It’s a 10th straight Premiership win for Postecoglou’s side. That regained their nine-point cushion over Rangers, but the manager will have private frustrations about how this game developed.

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What they said

Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou: “I thought the performance wasn’t one of our best. The first half was OK – but I’m disappointed that we had balls across the box and we didn’t have bodies in those areas.

“At 2-0 the game should have been over for us. When you’re faced with teams sitting back you’ve got to find ways of getting in behind.”

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Livingston manager David Martindale: “I think it was a fair outcome. We were always in the game. I was disappointed in the manner of the two goals.

“We managed to get ourselves back in the game and there was a spell in the second half, maybe 15-20 minutes, when the game was more competitive and we got more pressure on the ball in the final third.”

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What next?

Celtic host St Johnstone on Saturday (12:30 GMT) looking to stretch their winning run and, at least, maintain the cushion over Rangers.

Livingston travel to a Hibernian side struggling for points and will go there with encouragement (14:00).

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Player of the match

KellyStephen Kelly

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Celtic

  1. Squad number11Player nameAbada

  2. Squad number42Player nameMcGregor

  3. Squad number56Player nameRalston

  4. Squad number41Player nameHatate

  5. Squad number20Player nameCarter-Vickers

  6. Squad number33Player nameO’Riley

  7. Squad number3Player nameTaylor

  8. Squad number17Player nameJota

  9. Squad number4Player nameStarfelt

  10. Squad number1Player nameHart

  11. Squad number8Player nameFuruhashi

  12. Squad number25Player nameBernabei

  13. Squad number7Player nameGiakoumakis

  14. Squad number9Player nameHaksabanovic

  15. Squad number14Player nameTurnbull

  16. Squad number13Player nameMooy

Livingston

  1. Squad number17Player nameKelly

  2. Squad number31Player nameKonovalov

  3. Squad number9Player nameAnderson

  4. Squad number18Player nameHolt

  5. Squad number2Player nameDevlin

  6. Squad number10Player nameEsmael Gonçalves

  7. Squad number8Player namePittman

  8. Squad number29Player namePenrice

  9. Squad number5Player nameFitzwater

  10. Squad number22Player nameShinnie

  11. Squad number11Player nameCristian Montaño

  12. Squad number3Player nameLongridge

  13. Squad number15Player nameBoyes

  14. Squad number6Player nameObileye

  15. Squad number33Player nameOméonga

  16. Squad number24Player nameKelly

Line-ups

Celtic

Formation 4-3-3

  • 1Hart
  • 56RalstonSubstituted forBernabeiat 56′minutesBooked at 86mins
  • 20Carter-Vickers
  • 4Starfelt
  • 3Taylor
  • 33O’RileySubstituted forMooyat 82′minutes
  • 42McGregor
  • 41HatateSubstituted forTurnbullat 64′minutes
  • 11Abada
  • 8FuruhashiBooked at 62minsSubstituted forGiakoumakisat 82′minutes
  • 17Neves FilipeSubstituted forHaksabanovicat 64′minutes

Substitutes

  • 6Jenz
  • 7Giakoumakis
  • 9Haksabanovic
  • 13Mooy
  • 14Turnbull
  • 25Bernabei
  • 31Siegrist
  • 38Maeda
  • 49Forrest

Livingston

Formation 5-4-1

  • 31Konovalov
  • 2Devlin
  • 5Fitzwater
  • 6ObileyeSubstituted forBoyesat 45′minutesBooked at 77mins
  • 3Longridge
  • 11MontañoBooked at 57minsSubstituted forShinnieat 69′minutes
  • 17Kelly
  • 33OméongaBooked at 47minsSubstituted forPittmanat 70′minutes
  • 24KellySubstituted forHoltat 69′minutes
  • 29Penrice
  • 9AndersonSubstituted forEsmael Gonçalvesat 76′minutes

Substitutes

  • 7Bahamboula
  • 8Pittman
  • 10Esmael Gonçalves
  • 15Boyes
  • 18Holt
  • 19Nouble
  • 22Shinnie
  • 25Cancar
  • 32Hamilton

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Scott Brown: Former Celtic captain on hair, Ayr & choosing ‘to be horrible’

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Venue: Somerset Park, Ayr Date: Friday, 29 March Kick-off: 19:45 GMT
Coverage: Watch on the BBC Scotland channel and follow live text commentary on the BBC Sport website & app

“It was my identity – what I needed to be the best I could be.”

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Normally a player has hair and then loses it when he becomes a manager. Scott Brown did it the other way round.

For the best part of two decades, this shaven-skulled enforcer dominated the Scottish football landscape on a journey during which he would become one of the game’s most decorated players.

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These days, he can be spotted in the Somerset Park dugout with a thick thatch.

Turns out being bald was all part of the plan for the former Celtic and Scotland captain.

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“I made a decision when I retired I would grow my hair for the kids and I do look like a more approachable person,” the Ayr United head coach tells BBC Scotland.

At 38, the boots have been hung up for a while and Brown’s focus is all about navigating the notoriously choppy waters of the “tightest division in the world”.

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‘I did it to intimidate players’

Being bald was just part of Brown. It fed into the psychology of a player who would adopt an uncompromising attitude whenever he crossed that white line. A mindset suit of armour to improve the chance of victory.

“[I did it] just to intimidate people,” he says. “I made that decision just to be horrible. Not really speaking to anybody on the park. If players tried, I would refuse to speak to them.

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“Not being big time but just to make sure my head was focused and I was ready and organised, because if I had a laugh and a joke about stuff on the park, I probably would not have played as well as I could have.

“You can be whoever you want for 90 minutes on that pitch. You can be a winner, want to dictate games, be passionate, be louder than you normally are in the changing room. It worked really well for me.”

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It sure did. A deluge of silverware followed, including 10 Scottish Premiership titles, six Scottish Cups, seven League Cups, not to mention 55 Scotland caps.

“After the 90 minutes, I could go back to being Scott – sit down, chill and relax,” Brown adds.

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‘It’s about getting the balance right’

But age brings many gifts. Maybe a softening of attitudes in some aspects of life. And family has an impact too.

“During Covid, the kids asked if I had hair,” he explains. “I wasn’t 100% sure if I actually did.”

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It will be there for all to see on Friday night as BBC Scotland broadcasts Ayr’s home game with high-flying Airdrieonians.

Rhys McCabe’s SPFL Trust Trophy winners occupy fourth – the last of the promotion play-off places – while the hosts are eighth, just three points above the relegation play-off spot.

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However, a win for Ayr would take them to just one point off Friday’s visitors, such is the congested nature of the Championship.

“Two good weeks and you could be challenging for the top four – two bad weeks you could be challenging for the relegation zone,” Brown admits.

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When an Anton Dowds-inspired Ayr triumphed against Airdrie five games ago, it lifted them to fifth. Now, they’re back looking over the shoulder.

However, Brown believes he has the players capable of the primary objective this season, which is staying in the division, and aims to harness the local passion for the club.

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“[Former head coach] Lee [Bullen] brought in a good squad and I have got the benefit of the lads now,” he says.

“We have a couple of experienced pros, but we are a very young team. It’s about getting the balance right.

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“There are young players coming through who have never been anywhere else, so we are lucky enough they understand the club and what it means to them.

“When Fraser Bryden, a lifelong Ayr fan, scored against Inverness Caledonian Thistle the other week, his mates were all in the crowd singing, cheering and chanting his name. When he does score those goals, it’s emotional for everyone.”

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That emotional rollercoaster is full steam ahead as the campaign nears its end.

Brown knows what it takes at this stage of the season and, while the shaven head is no more, that driven, uncompromising attitude is going nowhere.

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Premier League fantasy football tips: Mohamed Salah, Erling Haaland, Son Heung-min

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Alistair Bruce-Ball

The fixture calendar for the rest of the Premier League season is pretty much set so now it’s up to you to decide on your strategy depending on what chips you have left in the game.

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We know there are seven teams with a double gameweek 34 – Arsenal, Liverpool, Wolves, Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Everton and Sheffield United.

Tottenham don’t have a fixture in gameweek 34, which makes things slightly trickier if you don’t have a Free Hit chip, because they will then have two double gameweeks before the end of the season.

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Chelsea will also double twice in the last four gameweeks of the season, while Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle and Brighton will all have a double gameweek, which is almost certainly going to be in gameweek 37.

Managers who still have their second wildcard available will rightly be debating whether to play it now, either in gameweek 30 or 31, or in gameweek 35 to really attack the last four weeks of the season with a potential Bench Boost in mind for gameweek 37.

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If you’ve still got that Free Hit chip then the earlier wildcard could be tempting because you can bring in as many Tottenham and Chelsea players as you like without having to worry about gameweek, 34 when Tottenham blank and Chelsea are away to Arsenal.

I like that strategy because the fixtures look good for both Tottenham and Chelsea in the next few weeks – but if you’ve already used your Free Hit then you might want to hold on to the wildcard until gameweek 35 and focus your transfers on Liverpool and Arsenal in the short-term as we start to build up towards gameweek 34.

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Captaincy

Those managers who can get Mohamed Salah into their squads this week will certainly want to consider him for Liverpool’s game against Brighton at Anfield on Sunday as his ownership is relatively low.

Many will be taking a points hit to get him because they can’t afford him in a straight swap or they may decide to wait until next week, which will give those of you who get him on the wildcard a nice little edge.

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If you don’t own Salah then I would suggest a Tottenham attacker for their game at home to Luton, preferably Son Heung-Min, or the man I’m looking to as a slightly differential captaincy pick this week in Cole Palmer, who has a home game against Burnley.

Fixtures to target

This is one of those gameweeks when two of the best teams in the Premier League go head-to-head and we own four or five of their players, in this case Manchester City and Arsenal, who face each other at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

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I would be very happy to field my attackers in this game, the likes of Bukayo Saka and Erling Haaland, but I would try to bench my defenders if I could.

Arsenal’s defence has been superb this season and we know all about their prowess at set-pieces so fielding one of Gabriel, William Saliba or Ben White isn’t really too much of a problem, but I wouldn’t want to have two of them in my starting line-up if I could avoid it.

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If you’re looking for a defender to bring into your squad this week then Statman Dave and Chris Sutton each had a suggestion in this week’s Fantasy 606 podcast – Dave has gone for Chelsea’s Malo Gusto, while Chris likes the look of Conor Bradley for Liverpool – and both come in at only £4.2 million.

Bradley has the advantage of the double gameweek 34 but if Trent Alexander-Arnold returns to fitness in the next few weeks then he is less likely to start every game. Gusto looks undroppable for Chelsea at the moment and we still don’t know when Reece James may return to action to provide competition for him.

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Differentials

Fulham striker Rodrigo Muniz was one of the rare successes in gameweek 29, his two goals in Fulham’s 3-0 win against Tottenham taking his tally to seven goals in his past seven games and his next three matches are against Sheffield United, Nottingham Forest and Newcastle.

He only costs £4.6 million, which also makes him a great makeweight if you’re having to use two transfers to get to Salah this week.

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Gamble of the week

We run a listeners’ team on the Fantasy 606 podcast whereby a different listener comes on each week to manage the side. This week’s listener, Alex from Vancouver, has taken the gamble to remove Haaland from the squad to enable the signing of Salah.

Haaland obviously has the tougher fixture this week, he doesn’t have a double like Salah in gameweek 34 and it enables the listeners to have Salah, Son and Saka in their midfield.

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It comes down to your budget – if, like me, you can’t afford to have all four of Haaland, Salah, Son and Saka then which one makes way? It’s Son for me, who will be replaced by Salah next week, but I might then have to turn to a cheaper Tottenham attacker to try to fill Son’s boots.

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My Mate’s A Footballer: Patrick Bamford tests podcast co-host Joe Wilkinson’s free-kicks

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Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford meets up with his My Mate’s A Footballer podcast co-host, comedian Joe Wilkinson, for a free-kick challenge.

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Can Wilkinson finally prove himself to be the elite free-kick “specialist” that he claims he is?

Listen to episodes of ‘My Mate’s A Footballer’ here

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Chelsea expect to be in Women’s Champions League semi-finals, says boss Emma Hayes

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Chelsea celebrate
British record signing Mayra Ramirez scored as Chelsea drew 1-1 with Ajax on Wednesday night to progress 4-1 on aggregate

Emma Hayes says Chelsea “expect to be” in the semi-finals of the Women’s Champions League after securing their spot for a second season running by dispatching Dutch side Ajax.

Chelsea were beaten in the semi-finals by champions Barcelona last season.

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“We expect to be here, I should say that,” said Hayes.

“If you look at our record in the Champions League, even in the last five years, it was only once we didn’t qualify from the group. We’ve made the latter stages every [other] year.

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“I don’t make any excuses, we should be at this level and we should be at the semi-finals. Of course we have a little bit more depth to be able to do things like make more changes [on Wednesday] than we’ve ever had.

“But we haven’t won anything, we’re in the place we want to be. I don’t know who the opponent will be – but we’re ready.”

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Chelsea could set up another meeting with Barcelona in the last four. The Spanish giants have a 2-1 aggregate lead going into the second leg of their quarter-final tie with Brann on Thursday.

Hayes, who leaves Chelsea in the summer to manage the United States women’s national team, hopes to guide her side to the quadruple this season but will need to rely on every member of the squad after being hit with long-term injuries.

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As well as chasing a first European crown, Chelsea are top of the Women’s Super League, face Arsenal in the Women’s League Cup final on Sunday and play Manchester United in the Women’s FA Cup semi-finals next month.

“We love winning. I always say this to the players. No-one cares who scores. Everyone has a role to play,” said Hayes.

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“We have to count on each other. Some will play more than others throughout the season. I trust the squad, I trust the players. We’re in the place we want top be.

“There were some that absolutely needed to recover [on Wednesday] so I’m really happy with the whole squad.”

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Thursday’s gossip: Sesko, Branthwaite, Guimaraes, Alexander-Arnold, Diaz, Paqueta, Anselmino, De Zerbi

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Benjamin Sesko

Arsenal have a 10-man shortlist for a new striker this summer with RB Leipzig’s Slovenian Benjamin Sesko, 20, Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres, 25, and his fellow Sweden international, Newcastle’s Alexander Isak, 24, among those being monitored. (Mirror)external-link

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Manchester United are keen on Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite, 21, as they prioritise improving their defence next season. (Telegraph)external-link

Pep Guardiola is “obsessed” by Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, 26, but Manchester City would have to pay 100m euros (£85.7m) to sign the Brazil international. (Fichajes – in Spanish)external-link

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West Ham expect Manchester City to move again for their Brazil midfielder Lucas Paqueta, 26. (Football Insider)external-link

Chelsea are among the clubs interested in Athletico Paranaense goalkeeper Bento, 24, who made his Brazil debut against England last week. (Globo – in Portuguese)external-link

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Tottenham want to sign Feyenoord’s Mexico striker Santiago Gimenez, 22, as their replacement for Harry Kane this summer – one year after the 30-year-old England striker’s departure to Bayern Munich. (Caught Offside) external-link

Liverpool forward Luis Diaz, 27, has not given up hope of moving to one of the big Spanish La Liga clubs in the future, according to the Colombia international’s father. (Daily Mail)external-link

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Manchester United are interested in signing Argentine defender Aaron Anselmino, 18, from Boca Juniors. (Ole – in Spanish)external-link

Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi is Bayern Munich’s leading managerial candidate if they cannot persuade their former midfielder Xabi Alonso to join from Bayer Leverkusen. (Florian Plettenberg)external-link

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Tottenham, West Ham, Brighton and Everton are all plotting moves for Juventus and England Under-21 winger Samuel Iling-Junior, 20. (Football Insider)external-link

Italy midfielder Jorginho, 32, could leave Arsenal this summer to return to his homeland. (Football London)external-link

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The Gunners’ hopes of signing winger Xavi Simons, 20, have been hit because Paris St-Germain want to give the Netherlands international more game time when he returns from a loan at RB Leipzig. (Express)external-link

Manchester United will let Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen, 32, leave this summer. (Football Insider)external-link

Real Madrid cannot afford a rumoured move for Liverpool and England full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, 25. (Goal)external-link

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Germany midfielder Toni Kroos, 34, is set to sign a one-year contract extension to stay at Real Madrid. (Fabrizio Romano)external-link

Liverpool assistant coach Pep Lijnders is a contender to take charge at Ajax next season. (Telegraph – subscription required)external-link

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Steph Houghton: Manchester City defender and ex-England captain to retire

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Steph Houghton claps the Manchester City fans
Steph Houghton has won 121 caps for England, while representing Sunderland, Leeds, Arsenal and Manchester City at club level

Manchester City defender and former England captain Steph Houghton will retire at the end of the current Women’s Super League season.

Houghton, 35, is City’s record appearance holder and is part of the squad in contention to win the WSL title this season.

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Houghton has 121 England caps but has not played for her country since 2021.

“I hope I leave the game in a better place than when I started,” Houghton, who began at Sunderland in 2002, said.

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“And [I hope] I have contributed in some small way to giving the girls of tomorrow a better future in football.”

Centre-back Houghton spent five years at Sunderland, followed by three-year spells at Leeds and Arsenal, before joining City in 2014.

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She made her England debut against Russia in March 2007, going on to appear at two World Cups and two European Championships.

However, Houghton missed out on a place at Euro 2022, having not played for eight months because of an Achilles injury, and was also left out of Sarina Wiegman’s squad for last year’s World Cup.

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Houghton also represented Team GB at London 2012 and Tokyo 2020.

“Taking the decision to retire, is such a difficult thing to do,” said Houghton, who was awarded an MBE in 2016 for her achievements in women’s football.

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“Whilst age comes to every player, it makes it no easier having to say the words out loud. Football has been my life; my passion and I have loved the career I have had.”

The Lionesses posted on X: “We wish you all the best in your retirement.

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“From leading the Lionesses to growing the women’s game – your impact will never be forgotten.”

How Houghton become an ‘icon of the game’

Houghton has played 241 games for City and is their most decorated player having won eight major trophies – four Continental Cups, three Women’s FA Cups and the FA Women’s Super League title in 2016.

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She also won two WSL titles with Arsenal in 2011 and 2012, also helping the Gunners to five cup victories.

“Steph is – without question – an icon of the game,” said City head coach Gareth Taylor.

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“Although her professional career on the pitch is now coming to an end, her legacy will be felt for so many years to come.

“She’s paved the way for so many to thrive in the future.”

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City captain Houghton signed a new one-year deal in June 2023, taking her into a 10th year at the club during which she will stop her playing career.

“I feel incredibly privileged to have been able to work with her since 2020 and know her name will be written into the history books as a true footballing great,” added Taylor.

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City are level with leaders Chelsea with five matches left in their WSL season, which is set to conclude on 18 May against Aston Villa.

“I am excited for whatever comes next,” said Houghton, who is married to former Liverpool defender Stephen Darby and helped him complete a 178-mile march for ex-players with motor neurone disease this week.

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“In the meantime, I remain focused on giving everything I have left for Manchester City, over the next two months.”

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Stoke City supporters banned for tragedy chanting at Elland Road

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The force said the two men were in the away supporters’ section of the upper West Stand at the time, which is immediately above home fans.

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Turner, 44, of Longport Road, Stoke-on-Trent, was fined £553 and ordered to pay £85 in costs and a £221 victim surcharge.

Lawton, 28, of Johnson Place, Stoke-on-Trent, was fined £120 and told to pay £85 in costs and a £48 victim surcharge.

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Kevin Speight and Christopher Loftus were both fatally stabbed in April 2000, on the eve of Leeds’ UEFA Cup semi-final tie with Galatasaray.

Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, external, X (formerly Twitter), external and Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk.

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