The Athletic | Football

Liverpool are the first team to book their place in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

Curtis Jones added a third against Wolves, while Hwang Hee-chan scored a late consolation for Rob Edwards’ side.

Last night's defeat to Crystal Palace plunged Tottenham deeper into the relegation mire. Months of woeful performances have left fans disconsolate and fearing the worst.

The Athletic spoke to some of the supporters who attended last night's match to gauge the mood.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/709...

Jesse Lingard: Ex-Manchester United, West Ham midfielder joins Brazilian side Corinthians The 33-year-old has signed a contract until the end of 2026, with the option of a further year if certain thresholds are met.

Brazilian club Corinthians have completed the signing of former Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard on a free transfer.

Brazilian top-flight player handed 12-game suspension for sexist remarks Marques, 24, was also fined in 30,000 Brazilian reais ($5,700, £4,277) for his comments about referee Daiane Muniz.

A sports court in Brazil has suspended Red Bull Bragantino defender Gustavo Marques for 12 matches after he made sexist remarks about a female referee.

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Aston Villa’s Emi Martinez appears to be breaching FA’s gambling rules Argentinian sports betting website bplay announced Martinez as an ambassador in June 2024.

Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez appears to be breaching the FA's rules regarding promoting betting companies.

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Arsenal’s approach in their 1-0 victory over dismayed Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler.

But are Mikel Arteta's side really so different to their rivals?

They aren't the worst offenders when it comes to delaying the restart of play in the Premier League this season.

The day Phil Parkinson outfoxed Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea The Athletic brings the inside story of arguably Parkinson's finest hour through the lens of the footballer at the heart of his game plan

When League One side Bradford City drew Chelsea away in the FA Cup, no-one gave #BCAFC a chance.

Phil Parkinson, however, had a plan..... and the result was one of the biggest upsets in FA Cup history.

Can it be an omen for #WxmAFC versus #CFC tomorrow?

⬇️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...

Newcastle increase season ticket prices for fourth successive season Newcastle have announced a five per cent rise in season ticket prices.

◾ Above-inflation rise 🤑
◽ 15% increase for premium bar sections 🍻
◾ PSR/SCR/revenue justification 💸
◽ 35,000+ season-ticket holders 🏟️

📈 #NUFC raise season ticket prices by 5% for the 4th successive season:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/709...

Arsenal’s approach to set-pieces dismayed Fabian Hurzeler prior to Wednesday night’s game, and the 97 minutes that followed did nothing to alter that view.

But are Mikel Arteta's side really so different to their rivals?

🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/709...

Middle East conflict: Saudi game postponed, Spanish FA raises concerns over game in Turkey to UEFA Thursday’s game between Al Kholood and Al Qadsiah had been rescheduled for 10pm local time on Saturday.

The Middle East conflict has continued to disrupt the soccer calendar, with a Saudi Pro League game being postponed and the Spanish football federation raising concerns to UEFA over the staging of their women’s World Cup qualifier in Turkey.

✍️ @alirampling.bsky.social & @samjoseph17.bsky.social

WAFCON 2026 postponed fewer than two weeks before planned start date CAF said the decision was taken "in the light of certain unforeseen circumstances".

The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations has been postponed, fewer than two weeks before it was due to begin.

This comes after WAFCON 2024 was delayed until July 2025, in order to avoid a clash with the 2024 Olympic Games.

More from @colinmillar.bsky.social ⬇️

Chelsea’s Pedro Neto facing potential further punishment for Arsenal red card Neto received a second yellow card only a few minutes after his first against Arsenal, missing Wednesday's win over Aston Villa as a result.

Chelsea’s Pedro Neto has been charged by the Football Association (FA) for allegedly “acting in an improper manner” towards referee Darren England after his red card against Arsenal.

More from @nnamdionye.bsky.social ⬇️

West Ham United head coach Nuno Espirito Santo is embroiled in a legal dispute with Nottingham Forest relating to his controversial sacking at the start of the season.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...

FIFA to allow cut-away TV commercials during 2026 World Cup ‘hydration breaks’ Matches at the 2026 World Cup will feature more TV ads than usual, with FIFA opening the door after instituting a blanket water break edict

FIFA will allow broadcasters to cut away to advertisements during the “hydration breaks” that will split up each half of every 2026 World Cup match, multiple people briefed on the guidelines or with direct knowledge of them told The Athletic.

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Arsenal's win over Brighton was not pretty and their approach agitated the home manager and crowd, but Mikel Arteta's side ground out an important victory on the south coast.

🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...

Championship play-offs expanded: Why EFL is increasing routes into Premier League The team finishing eighth in the Championship will get the chance to win promotion to the top flight under the expanded play-off structure.

The team finishing eighth in the Championship will get the chance to win promotion to the top flight under the expanded play-off structure from 2026-27.

There will be more routes to reach the Premier League from next season after an English Football League (EFL) vote was passed to expand the Championship play-offs from four teams to six.

Aston Villa still in process of registering January signing Brian Madjo Madjo joined in a deal worth in the region of £10million from Metz but is yet to play for any of Villa's teams.

Aston Villa remain in the process of completing the registration of Brian Madjo.

Madjo signed in January but has not yet featured for any of Villa’s teams, having been technically able, as a 17-year-old, to play for the club’s youth, reserve sides and senior sides.

@jacobtanswell.bsky.social

Brighton & Hove Albion head coach Fabian Hurzeler described Arsenal’s tactics as “not football” after accusing the Premier League leaders of time-wasting during Wednesday’s fixture.

🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...

Arsenal extend their lead at the top of the Premier League to seven points.

It comes following an evening where Mikel Arteta’s side beat Brighton 1-0, while Manchester City twice squandered their lead in a 2-2 draw at home to Nottingham Forest.

Michael Carrick’s unbeaten start to life in charge of Manchester United comes to an end.

William Osula’s late goal proves to be the winner for Eddie Howe’s side, as Manchester United taste defeat for the first time in 13 league matches.

Chelsea deliver a blow to Aston Villa's Champions League hopes with a 4-1 thumping at Villa Park.

Joao Pedro's hat-trick and another from Cole Palmer mean Unai Emery's side are now just three points ahead of both Chelsea and Liverpool in fourth.

The title is out of Manchester City's hands.

Pep Guardiola's side twice squander the lead against struggling Nottingham Forest at the Etihad.

It's a huge result at both ends of the table, as City trail Arsenal at the summit by seven points.

If Nottingham Forest are to avoid the drop this season, they will owe a lot to Elliot Anderson.

The England international curls Vítor Pereira's side level at the Etihad against Manchester City.

A huge goal at both ends of the table.

Morgan Gibbs-White equalised for Nottingham Forest with an incredible back heel to silence the Etihad, but they were on level terms for just six minutes.

Rodri heads home a second for Manchester City to restore their lead.

To make matters worse, West Ham United lead at Fulham.

Bukayo Saka opened the scoring for Arsenal after just nine minutes against Brighton.

It's taken Manchester City a little longer against Nottingham Forest, but Antoine Semenyo opens the scoring just after the half-hour mark.

It's his fifth league goal in eight games for Pep Guardiola's side.

Arsenal start quickly against Brighton to put to bed any potential nerves in the title race.

Bukayo Saka takes aim from just inside the box, and a slight deflection takes his effort through Bart Verbruggen’s legs to give Mikel Arteta’s side the lead.

On this day in 1995, Andy Cole scored 𝒇𝒊𝒗𝒆 as Manchester United hammered Ipswich Town 9-0 at Old Trafford.

High-profile signings don’t usually get that long, he explained to @andymitten.bsky.social.

𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 ⬇️

🔗 nyti.ms/3NjIrN3

Viktor Gyokeres.

Viktor Gyokeres was once a Brighton player.

The south coast club barely make a mistake when assessing young talent. But Gyokeres, signed at 19, left without making a league appearance. Tonight, he returns as Arsenal's top scorer.

Viktor Gyokeres: The one that got away for Brighton?

bit.ly/4sjfb80

Harry Maguire has been found guilty of non-serious assault and handed a suspended 15-month sentence in a retrial of his 2020 Mykonos case.

More from @mjcritchley.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...