Athletic Bilbao will look to end a painful 40-year title drought when they face Real Mallorca in Seville on Saturday.

After losing to Basque rivals Real Sociedad in 2020 and Barcelona in 2021, Bilbao have reached their 40th Spanish Cup final while also bidding for a top-four La Liga finish under Ernesto Valverde.

Unbeaten at home since August, the Basque club are fifth and in a rich vein of form which has cheered their fans set to invade the streets of the southern city. More than 82,000 Basque supporters are expected to travel to Seville, half of them without tickets, for the match at a sold-out La Cartuja stadium which holds 60,000 spectators.

Bilbao fans will outnumber Mallorca’s four to one, according to Spanish authorities who have set up a special operation with 1,500 officers to police just over 100,000 supporters expected, with hotels and restaurants fully booked. Mallorca are aiming for only the second major trophy in their history after their Copa del Rey win in 2003.

Bilbao last won silverware in 1984, when they beat Barcelona 1-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu to lift their 23rd Copa del Rey, still the second most behind Barca with 31. Bilbao are the fourth oldest Spanish club and among three never to be relegated, alongside Real Madrid and Barcelona, while staying loyal to their philosophy of only fielding players of Basque origin. (Reuters)

The tedious hyped-up narrative around Erik ten Hag’s future shows no sign of abating.

“How much of United’s struggles are down to him?”, was a question asked on my telly just now.

I am pretty sure the club’s been a disaster area for about 10 years?

‘I believe in betting aggressively and, occasionally, to win big, you have to risk losing.”

Tony Bloom has always been a gambler, although when it comes to running Brighton the owner has tended to steer clear of taking too many risks. So it’s unlikely the man known as “the Lizard” during his days as a professional poker player has been losing too much sleep about what will happen this summer with Roberto De Zerbi, especially in a week when Brighton banked record Premier League profits of £122m.

Over on the social media platform formally known as Twitter, the Premier League is bigging up the amount of seven-goal thrillers that have occurred this season. Dreadful defending from start to finish, if you ask me.

Trevor Birch, the EFL chief executive, was just quoted on Sky explaining why there are no immediate plans to introduce VAR below the top flight.

He said it takes a lot of man power, but also –

“It’s almost introduced one level of subjectivity with another.”

Which is absolutely right, although perhaps he meant replaced rather than introduced.

Gary O’Neil, the Wolves gaffer, has revealed that qualifying for Europe would be massive. He also said that tomorrows’s 3pm kick-off against West Ham will be a tough test. Absolutely classic Friday press conference material all round.

“It would be massive,” O’Neil said of the possibility of getting into Europe. Wolves are 11th, three points behind West Ham in seventh, and six behind sixth-placed Manchester United. “There’s been an awful lot of hard work that’s gone in to get us into this position from everybody and we’re still right there with eight games to go.

“We’re still in with a shout, but it will take a lot of hard work still from now until the end to get us there, but really pleased with the position we find ourselves in. It’s a home game after two tough away games this week and we’ve done very well at home, but West Ham will be a tough test.

“They’ve got a lot of their key players back now, they went through a tough spell. So it will be a test, but one we’re looking forward to. The players worked really hard for their point away from home the other day, then to be able to add three at home will make it a good week for us.”

Yes, I see your point Justin. I see Postecoglou’s point too. Football clubs are not banks, as he said, and money generated via involvement in the Champions League does not automatically equal success. By the same token Champions League qualification is also not just about money – it would also be a signifier that a team such as Tottenham is making progress.

“With multiple managers being clearly annoyed when asked financial questions they really should not be asked, at what point are the business people going to be obliged to give weekly press conferences?” emails Justin Madson.

“Given the impact of finances and the correlating growth of front office suits, doesn’t it seem feasible that they could have at least one person to answer these questions? That way the managers get to talk stuff about the game, suits get to answer the business questions, and the journos can ask the appropriate person the appropriate question. Everyone is happy - except the suit that is chosen to face the media, I’d guess.”

The Nottingham Forest manager, Nuno Espirito Santo, says it will be a pleasure to return to Tottenham on Sunday. There was little for Nuno to enjoy during his spell in north London, where he lasted 17 matches at the start of the 2021-22 season.

“More important is the situation we are in and that we need to keep putting points on the table,” Nuno said. “That is more important for all of us.

“It is going to be a pleasure to return, to play there and to face Spurs. It is part of the past now, I am focused on Forest and am really, really determined to try to achieve a good performance. I have learned from all moments of my life and all the experiences I have had … In the moment it was disappointing but life goes on.

“Spurs are a team full of very talented players, with a good manager. They are in a good moment. It is going to be hard.”

Nuno will pick from the same Forest squad that beat Fulham on Tuesday night, with Willy Boly and Taiwo Awoniyi out injured. The manager added: “We still don’t have an exact moment that Taiwo is going to return - he is still having treatment. Willy Boly is also still out having treatment.” (PA)

In that slightly heated debate earlier, Postecoglou said: “It [Champions League money] doesn’t guarantee anything. I keep saying it. I don’t know why people don’t understand … if I asked you, well, Newcastle made the Champions League this year, did it help them? … we’re not banks, we’re football clubs. I don’t get measured by the balance sheet at the end of the year. You can see how difficult it is for a club to juggle the Champions League if you’re not building a squad. And to be fair to Eddie he’s had horrendous injuries this year. It makes it hard.

“What I’m saying is: Champions League, great. Money, great. Does that mean we’re going to finish third next year? No. In fact, it will probably make it more challenging. So my role in that is to create a squad that can compete in the Champions League, and hopefully keep improving in the Premier League, and have success in the Cups.

“How much money you make is not why you get into the Champions League … You can do it with, you can do it without. It comes down to good coaching, good decision making, good players. When you fall into the trap of thinking money is the answer, that you don’t get the outcome.

“We’ve got to make progress … if we’re not in the Champions League next year, I’m not going to turn around and say we can’t progress. The money is a significant part of it but it’s definitely not all.”

Having just seen footage from Ange Postecoglou’s press conference, I can tell you he got really annoyed with one reporter’s questions about the Champions League, and the extra money that qualification would bring. Let me dig out some more of that …

Brendan Rodgers also had a chat before the Old Firm encounter on Sunday and harked back to the Bhoys’ 1-0 league win at Rangers last September.

“We went there, the first game, it was a lesson not only in football but in life. Rangers were on the up. We had players missing ... but we showed, if you stay together and work hard, you always have a chance to emerge the victor.

“We go into this game with the same intention, a similar storyline. Both teams are coming in with four wins and one loss. The narrative around Celtic is that we’re behind. We’re looking forward to that.”

Celtic are top of the table by a point, by the way.

Rangers v Celtic is on Sunday and it’s a crunch clash at the top of the Scottish Premiership table.

The Rangers manager, Philippe Clement, says: “It’s important to keep your head cool. I have a lot of trust in my players, and the fans have trust in this group.

“We had a good example last night when I was watching Chelsea v Manchester United - everything can be decided in a few minutes, or a few seconds ... we will be focused on every second of the game. The fans know these players can do amazing things in a few minutes.”

Sorry, Palace are at home against Manchester City aren’t they. Silly me.

Glasner also had some encouraging words for Jean-Philippe Mateta.

“He scored nice goals at Luton and Nottingham,” said the Austrian. “He’s working hard for the team. He’s getting into the situations, getting into the box. He does it really well for us. He can continue scoring tomorrow.”

Oliver Glasner has a chat before his Crystal Palace side’s rather intimidating lunchtime game against Manchester City.

“Michael Olise is coming back into the squad. We spoke with medical team. They advised us, for 15 to 20 minutes, he is ready. It gives us another option and we’re happy he is back again.”

Is Marc Guehi nearing fitness? “He didn’t train with the team, I would say at least two to three weeks [before he’s back].

“Olise has showed his quality [in training]. His dribbling, his finishing. He was more in the rehab than on the pitch [recently].

“We will give him time to show his quality. He needs minutes, he needs training ... I don’t expect him at the best level after eight or nine weeks injured. We hope it’s a tight game at the end. Hopefully he can have some moments to decide the game for us.”

Glasner is not expecting an easy Eagles victory. Probably for the best.

Following our earlier mention of Jacob Ramsey’s injury that will rule him out of the remainder of Aston Villa’s season, some quotes from Unai Emery on that development – and on his search for consistency in the Villans’ performances before tomorrow’s trip to Brentford:

“Jacob Ramsey is again with some problems in his toe, he is not going to be available for the rest of the season,” Emery said. “Emi [Martinez] and Ollie [Watkins] are included in the squad for tomorrow ... we will prepare for the match in the final 24 hours and tomorrow we will know if they’re available and ready to play.

“We are doing the plan we prepared when I arrived here,” Emery added of the progress being made. “To include us in the teams that are now contenders to be in the top seven positions in the table is very difficult. We can achieve it like we are doing now, but to be consistent for a long time is the difficulty. That is my objective. We are trying to be a contender more than we were before.”

Thanks Taha. Hello everyone. What better way to kick off my stint than the latest Football Daily, penned by Taha himself.

Anything that mentions Federico Macheda, and his memorable flash-in-the-pan winner for Manchester United against Aston Villa 15 years ago, sounds good to me:

That’ll be enough from me, with Luke McLaughlin hopping on for the rest of the afternoon. Cheers!

Anywho, here’s a little something to keep you entertained during the mid-afternoon Friday lull. 10/15, in case you were wondering.

Ange Postecoglou says Tottenham won’t be as restricted as other clubs when it comes to spending this summer, despite announcing a loss of £86.8m for the financial year to 30 June 2023.

As has been a running theme with him, he continues to play down how much getting in the Champions League could benefit Tottenham. “It doesn’t guarantee anything. Newcastle made the Champions League last year. Did it help them this year?”

Erik ten Hag has joined Jürgen Klopp in an appeal to fans to stop tragedy chanting ahead of Manchester United’s match with Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday.

It is part of my duty to remind every supporter fortunate enough to be at the game that it must be enjoyed in the proper way, and not used as an excuse for abusing rival fans about Hillsborough, Heysel or any other historic tragedies.

Pep Guardiola’s been asked about the Premier League’s PSR (profitability and sustainability rules) and possible changes to them – and, well, he doesn’t really want to get into it. “I don’t have an opinion. What they decide is fine for me.”

As for matters on the field, Kyle Walker and Nathan Aké will miss Saturday’s game against Crystal Palace, though Ederson could be back in the squad.

Ange Postecoglou is asked the big, big question: will he be watching the Old Firm derby on Sunday? “I’ll definitely be watching, it’s one of the biggest rivalries in world football and I’m very much on the green and white side. Looking at how tight the table is this year, it takes on extra significance.”

Thanks David, good to be here. Here’s Erik ten Hag reflecting on last night’s implosion against Chelsea, just days on from United conceding a very late equaliser against Brentford. Reverse Fergie time.

In stoppage time this week we have dropped five points – it’s very expensive. The points are getting more expensive because the games are running out and we know that. We have to catch up and we are now many points behind, so it will be difficult.

We have qualities. We have great players. We can play very high standards. You see against Liverpool and [Chelsea]. We can compete with, beat, the best teams in the Premier League. When you do it in the Premier League, you can do it across Europe. But we need to learn now how to win games.

And after that brief return to the hotseat, I’ll hand you over to Taha Hashim for the rest of the afternoon.

Those with trains to book will be keen to read the newly-released Premier League fixture amendments for live broadcast and the new date for Chelsea v Spurs.

Thursday 2 May
7.30pm Chelsea v Spurs

Friday 3 May
8pm Luton v Everton

Saturday 4 May
12.30pm Arsenal v Bournemouth
3pm Brentford v Fulham
3pm Brighton v Aston Villa
3pm Burnley v Newcastle
3pm Sheff Utd v Nottingham Forest
5.30pm Man City v Wolves

Sunday 5 May
2pm Chelsea v West Ham
4.30pm Liverpool v Spurs

Monday 6 May
8pm Crystal Palace v Man Utd

A very different Golden Boot race this season compared to last when Erling Haaland was being backed to rack up 50 by some. Cole Palmer now joint second after his hat-trick against Manchester United. Let’s hope sponsors Castrol are giving away not just a boot made from gold but a bomber jacket worn at a funeral.

Thanks Yara. More from Klopp here on Sunday’s return to Old Trafford. He’s been reflecting on what went wrong in the FA Cup tie there, a game Liverpool let slip from their grasp after recent exertions had caught up with them.

We were really good that day but we didn’t finish the situations off. Extra-time was too much for us and we couldn’t avoid the mistakes we could before (in normal time). It was the day we couldn’t control it any more, United turned the game around and United is a top side playing at home but we have to do is what we did from minute 15 to 70-something.

Football is not that easy. We have to find a way to cause United problems. They will try the same. Against this opponent, in this stadium, we better play a really good game if we want something from it.

• Liverpool have announced a two percent rise in season ticket prices for the second successive year, having frozen the cost for the six campaigns previously. Junior tickets, however, will remain the same for a 10th successive season.

That is all from me today. Dave is back to take you through the afternoon. Thanks for joining me.

Jürgen Klopp has appealed for fans to “show a bit of class” at Old Trafford in response to the tragedy chanting that marred Manchester United’s recent FA Cup win over Liverpool. Two United supporters were arrested on suspicion of tragedy chanting after their team’s victory last month.

There are different aspects but one aspect is that I don’t hear it, honestly, when I am on the sideline but I get told it happens and that is obviously not great. But in general it is just helpful that we educate our kids in specific things: respect, understanding, all these kinds of things.”

The full story from Andy Hunter is below.

Looking a bit further ahead, the Champions League resumes next week and there are certainly some tasty ties on the cards.

Paris Saint-Germain will host Barcelona on Wednesday, and Lamine Yamal “can’t wait” for his first CL quarter-finals.

The 16-year-old told Mundo Deportivo that he dreams of being a Barça legend and is confident that his side will come away with a 1-0 victory at the Parc des Princes.

“Who scores? Me!”

Here’s more on Yamal and Barcelona’s reliance on their starboys from Sid Lowe last month.

Fun quiz part two (see part one at 11:28): which Premier League club has faced the most shots this year?

Surely one of the bottom three, right?

Wrong. It is Manchester United.

According to PA Media, during their defeat last night, United let Chelsea have the final 10 shots of the game, which took the Blues’ total attempts for the match to 28. This means Erik ten Hag’s side have faced 224 Premier League shots in 2024 – eight more than any other club.

Brentford (216), Sheffield United (206), West Ham (205) and Luton (201) are the only other teams to face over 200 in that time, with only the Hammers of that quartet currently outside the league’s bottom six.

Over the whole season, United have faced 525 shots, third most in the top flight behind the rock-bottom Blades on 554 and 18th-placed Luton on 531.

After the Brentford match a few days ago, this is what Ten Hag had to say when asked if he was concerned about the high number of shots his side face:

As long as we get results, no. We defended low at times, and because Brentford are very direct, we lost many second balls. And you have to defend the second balls and that is what we did quite well.

Joseph Lowery has a quick look at what is happening across the pond in his MLS power rankings. As he says himself, unlike Cucho Hernández, he is strapped in and ready to rock. And so should you.

Virgil van Dijk hopes his composure can help get Liverpool over the line in the title race, he tells PA Media.

The calmness I want in life personally – trying not to stress about the small things that shouldn’t have an influence on your state of mind – is something I try to implement in the group.

I’m quite vocal but it’s more I’d rather have a good atmosphere outside the pitch. I want everyone to feel comfortable and feel happy and express themselves in the best way possible because then you can get the best out of everyone.”

The Liverpool captain looked ahead to the match against Manchester United this weekend, three weeks after their “horrible” FA Cup exit to Erik ten Hag’s side.

[Losing games] didn’t happen too many times this year but, still, I’m a winner. You need to make sure have that mentality and it is needed to get to the top and stay at the top.

We have a big one at the weekend, then the chaos starts again with those games coming thick and fast.”

Thanks, David. A sterling shift as always. Hello everyone! Let us turn to Burnley, who are nineteenth in the league and are currently six points from safety. It is not looking good. But Vincent Kompany does not think the drop back down to the Championship will be the “end of the world”.

I might be a little bit different in this, but everybody has this habit of thinking everything stops after these next seven games. After these seven games, it’s not like we go sit on a beach and never come back; it’s a continuation.

It’s really important that the mindset goes past, ‘we’ve had a setback and that’s the end of the world’. I don’t function that way.”

The Clarets face their former manager Sean Dyche and Everton tomorrow. The Toffees have lost nine of their last 14 league home games against promoted sides, which is as many defeats as they have suffered in their previous 64 such games. Dyche’s side drew 1-1 at Newcastle in midweek and set a new club record of 13 Premier League games without a win. but as diplomatically as ever, Kompany said their winless run “was “not really relevant”.

Have any thoughts, questions, comments, complaints or musings on Burnley, Everton or any other team ahead of the weekend? You can find my email at the top of this blog to send them over to.

And on that goalkeeping note, I’ll pass this blog into the safe hands of Yara El-Shaboury.

How a goalkeeper dives is a key element in judging the prowess of a goal from the halfway line. So full credit here to FC Tokyo goalkeeper Taishi Nozawa who really flings himself for the cameras in this one. Miles better than Neil Sullivan’s against Beckham.

Who would have thought that Eddie Howe press conferences these days involve him talking about trying to keep hold of players rather than splashing enormous amounts on exciting new ones. That’s FFP.

So rather than rubbing his hands at who to bring in alongside in-form Alexander Isak, Howe is spending his time batting away speculation on the Swede moving elsewhere (Arsenal and Spurs have been linked).

Asked if he feared a transfer window of fending off approaches, Howe said: “I don’t fear that. In some senses, that’s what you want because it means your players are playing at a level that everyone appreciates and I want my players – all of them – to be playing above what they think they’re capable of being. So no, I don’t think fear is the right word. I want Alex to keep scoring goals, I want him to keep being in the headlines – I’m sure he wants the same thing – but we want to keep him long-term.”

On Bruno Guimaraes, the subject of speculation over a move to PSG, Howe added: “Let me tell you, players like Bruno, they are not around every corner. They are very rare. Bruno should be appreciated for everything he brings. My intention would be to keep Bruno at the club for as long as we possibly can. I can never make guarantees though. That would be absolutely foolish of me. We have been in football long enough to know you don’t know what is going to happen tomorrow.”

Head-to-head form between Manchester United and Liverpool is officially mad.

Man Utd 4-3 Liverpool
Liverpool 0-0 Man Utd
Liverpool 7-0 Man Utd
Man Utd 2-1 Liverpool
Liverpool 4-0 Man Utd
Man Utd 0-5 Liverpool

Spin it which way suits you. Man Utd have lost just one of the last four, winning twice. Liverpool have royally humped United three times in the last six meetings, scoring 20 goals in those half-dozen encounters to United’s six.

This season we’ve had the contrast of a super-drab 0-0 draw at Anfield with a wild 4-3 United FA Cup win at Old Trafford while Erik ten Hag’s men go into this latest showdown against their big rivals on the back of a ridiculous 4-3 defeat at Chelsea when they fought back from 2-0 down to lead 3-2 before blowing it all in injury-time. The visitors are clear favourites but this is a dangerous game for Liverpool if United decide to throw it wide open again.

Fun quiz: who are the most booked players in the Premier League this season? There are nine players on nine bookings but only two have hit the 10 yellows mark which brings a two-match suspension. They are Fulham’s Joao Palhinha and West Ham’s Edson Alvarez.

Here’s West Ham boss David Moyes talking about the latter ahead of the Hammers’ trip to Wolves on Saturday. “We’ve missed Edson’s presence and he’s had a big influence on things since he signed last summer. We’re looking forward to having him back. I haven’t spoken to him about his discipline. He’s experienced enough to deal with that. He’s still getting used to the Premier League and he’s a really important player for us.”

Those nine players walking a tightrope marked disciplinary: Bruno Guimaraes, Moises Caicedo, Douglas Luiz, Anthony Gordon, Gustavo Hamer, Nicolas Jackson, Mario Lemina and Nelson Semedo.

Those on eight – and two bookings away from a suspension - include Liverpool duo Darwin Nunez and Endo, Arsenal’s Kai Havertz and Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes.

Bukayo Saka is a doubt for Arsenal’s trip to Brighton on Saturday. The England winger missed the 2-0 win over Luton in midweek – just his second absence in the Premier League this season – after sustaining a muscle injury in the massively tedious 0-0 draw with Manchester City.

Could Saka be a fading force at the most important stage of the season? Not on your nelly, says Gunners boss Mikel Arteta. “I’m super positive. I think he’s going to fly and be so decisive. He’s so strong, how much he wants it. How excited he is about what is coming. He wants to be there, and he’s getting better and better.

“It’s normal to have little niggles, you have kicks. He’s gone through a lot of that in the last two or three years, and look at the way he is performing.”

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has been talking ahead of his team’s visit to Luton and notes: “They have the advantage that they play at home this time and it has been difficult for every team that has gone there.”

Well, it kind of has but Luton’s home form is a rather unchallenged cliche this season. ‘Mr Hard Facts’ is a curmudgeon, who doesn’t win many friends but he says this: Luton have won three out of 15 home Premier League games and lost nine. Only bottom two Burnley and Sheffield United have tasted more defeats in front of their own fans. Palace (16pts), Brentford (18pts) and Everton (13pts) have won more home points than Luton (12pts) this term and no-one keeps wanging on about that, adds ‘Mr Hard Facts’, finding his stride now.

Brennan Johnson is having a growing impact at Spurs and the Welshman will hope to make another key contribution when he faces his former club Nottingham Forest at the weekend. Ben McAleer of WhoScored runs the numbers.

The FA must help England now to avoid World Cup winners Spain dominating the women’s game over the next decade, says Kelly Simmons in today’s Sportblog.

Time to turn the gaze forward rather than back. Things to watch for here, including:

“Michael Olise’s anticipated return from injury for Crystal Palace against Manchester City could not be more timely for Oliver Glasner’s struggling side. The France Under-21 international has been in sensational form this season on the rare occasions he has made it on to the pitch – Olise has played only 755 minutes so far in just 11 appearances, but in that time has scored six goals and provided three assists. City are believed to be one of several clubs who have been monitoring his progress and will be wary of the threat he poses to their title ambitions, especially if he can adapt quickly to Glasner’s favoured 3-4-2-1 formation.”

Here’s the top of the Premier League table after last night. Arsenal’s +10 goal difference over City shouldn’t be overlooked.

While Jürgen Klopp flashed his teeth post-match, Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag was fuming after his side entered injury-time 3-2 up at Chelsea and lost 4-3. Conceding a corner and forgetting to mark one of the Premier League’s best attackers, who had already scored twice on the night, is likely to get your goat(ee).

Let’s start with leaders Liverpool and some deserved praise for Alexis Mac Allister, the Reds’ best player on a regular basis at the moment.

Here’s Klopp: “Wonderful player, wonderful boy and really happy for Liverpool that we got him.”