Celtic & Rangers face double jeopardy in derby like no other

BBC Scotland chief sportswriter Tom English sets the scene going into a compelling Old Firm spectacle on Sunday.

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'Breath of fresh air' Lindsay backed for NI job

Northern Ireland midfielder Nadene Caldwell backs Kris Lindsay to take the manager's job permanently after impressing players in camp before their opening two World Cup qualifiers

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The Lionesses’ journey to the 2027 World Cup starts now.

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Declan Rice names £60m Arsenal teammate who has helped him become ‘unstoppable’

Declan Rice has enjoyed a superb season at Arsenal (Picture: Getty)

Declan Rice believes that one Arsenal teammate has helped him raise his levels even further, with the midfielder declaring he has felt ‘unstoppable’ at times this season.

Rice has enjoyed a superb all-action campaign in the heart of Arsenal’s midfield, helping to guide his side to the top of the Premier League table and still on for a historic quadruple.

The 27-year-old has barely missed a game all season, while his deliveries from corners and free-kicks becoming the cornerstone of the Gunners’ terrifying set-piece prowess.

And such have been his levels of performance that the England international even finds himself highly fancied with the bookmakers when it comes to the Ballon d’Or.

Rice has consistently improved year on year since his record-breaking move from West Ham in 2023, but he was keen to credit midfield partner Martin Zubimendi for helping unlock another level oin his own game.

Zubimendi only signed from Real Sociedad for £60million last summer, but has fitted seamlessly into the base of Arteta’s midfield, with Rice full of praise for the Spanish midfielder.

‘I think every year I’ve tried to raise my level and raise my game,’ he told The Sun. ‘It’s something my dad always said to me, like, how are you going to improve every year? How are you going to get better? 

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Martin Zubimendi has been an instant success at Arsenal (Picture: Getty)

‘It’s weird because I don’t think about it. I just go out and play and I’m lucky that I get to play football matches. I’m fit. Zubi[mendi] has been a massive help this season. He’s been really, really good.

‘Once you get in that momentum and into the swing of things, your confidence comes, and there’ve been points this season where I felt unstoppable at times, and there’s no better feeling than going onto a football pitch with confidence, you know you’re going to go on and play well.’

Rice continued: ‘I think I always have in my mind, first thing of the game, always do it to a good standard, whether it’s a header, a tackle, a duel. If you win that, it gets your mind in the right place.

Rice hailed Zubimendi’s impact on his performances this season (Picture: Getty)

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‘Whereas if you lose it, it can have a negative impact and you start to think the other way. So I always try to get my mind in the right place and that spurs me on to go and play well.’

Asked about being in the discussion to win the Ballon d’Or, Rice was keen to not look too far ahead, adding: ‘It’s unreal, obviously. You want to be involved in them conversations. I think they’re the right ones to be involved in.

‘Obviously, I appreciate the fans for saying that. It’s such a long way away because I need to keep playing well. I need to keep maintaining this level. But also, you see the recent Ballon d’Or winners, what they’ve won during their season.

‘Hopefully we can have a successful season and I can be involved in them conversations. That would be amazing. If not, that’s not something that I’m setting my eye on. I really want the team to do well first. 

‘We’re lucky enough, like I said, to be in every competition still at this stage of the season. There’s so many big teams who’ve been knocked out already.

‘So we put ourselves in a really strong position to go forward and put ourselves in the best way.’

Arsenal are back in action on Sunday as they host Chelsea at the Emirates.

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VAR 'debilitating' for referees - Celtic's O'Neill

Martin O'Neill is of the view VAR is "debilitating" for officials on the pitch as he brands the Scottish FA process for appealing against decisions "worthless".

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The comment that left Casemiro feeling ‘disrespected’ at Manchester United

Casemiro is into his last few months at Manchester United (Picture: Getty Images)

Casemiro is leaving Manchester United at the end of the season, with the Brazilian feeling ‘disrespected’ by a comment from a senior figure at the club, according to reports.

The 34-year-old will depart on a free transfer in the summer, bringing to an end a four-year stay at Old Trafford.

It has not all been plain sailing for the midfielder, with a strong start to his time at the club, a notable dip in form, but then a resurgence of late.

The former Real Madrid man has been a fixture in the team under interim manager Michael Carrick, completing an impressive midfield trio with Kobbie Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes.

Manchester United were keen to offload him in 2024 when his form was not so good, hoping to get his £350,000-a-week wages off their books.

He will now leave having regained a good level of performance, but having felt disrespected by minority owner Jim Ratcliffe, reports The Sun.

In a headline-grabbing interview in March 2025, Ratcliffe namechecked a number of Manchester United players as he vented his frustrations over the club still paying for deals done before INEOS invested.

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Jim Ratcliffe bemoaned the huge wages some Manchester United players are paid (Picture: Getty Images)

Casemiro was one of the players he mentioned and while he did not specifically say this of the Brazilian, he said some players in the squad are not good enough and some overpaid.

‘If you look at the players we are buying this summer, that we didn’t buy, we’re buying Antony, we’re buying Casemiro, we’re buying [Andre] Onana, we’re buying [Rasmus] Hojlund, we’re buying [Jadon] Sancho,’ Ratcliffe told the BBC in March last year. ‘These are all things from the past, whether we like it or not, we’ve inherited those things and have to sort that out.

‘For Sancho, who now plays for Chelsea and we pay half his wages, we’re paying £17m to buy him in the summer.’

Casemiro has been in good form this season (Picture: Getty Images)

He added: ‘It takes time for us to move away from the past into a new place in the future.

‘Some are not good enough and some probably are overpaid, but for us to mould the squad that we are fully responsible for, and accountable for, will take time.

‘We’ve got this period of transformation where we move from the past to the future.

Jadon Sancho is on loan at Aston Villa after spending last season at Chelsea (Picture: Getty Images)

‘There are some great players in the squad as we know, the captain is a fabulous footballer. We definitely need Bruno, he’s a fantastic footballer.’

The Sun’s report states that Casemiro intends to continue his career in a top European league after leaving Manchester United.

The midfielder is expected to be in Brazil’s World Cup squad this summer and he is reportedly keen on a move to Italy for the first timein his career.

Explaining his decision to leave the club this year, Casemiro said last month: ‘I will carry Manchester United with me throughout my entire life.

‘From the first day that I walked out at this beautiful stadium, I felt the passion of Old Trafford and the love that I now share with our supporters for this special club.

‘It is not time to say goodbye; there are many more memories to create during the next four months.

‘We still have a lot to fight for together; my complete focus will, as always, remain on giving my everything to help our club to succeed.’

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Williamson 'wouldn't rule out' striking over scheduling

England captain Leah Williamson says she would "never rule out" strike action to get players' messaging across to governing bodies about schedule concerns.

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Chelsea to host Spurs or Lionesses - full FA Cup quarter-final draw

Chelsea handed London derby and WSL 2 leaders Charlton Athletic host Liverpool in the Women's FA Cup quarter-finals.

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Everton vs Man Utd LIVE: Premier League latest score and confirmed lineups

Everton host United to round off the weekend’s action (Picture: Getty/Metro)

Manchester United are out to tighten their grip on a top four spot away to Everton this evening.

Michael Carrick’s winning run came to an end last time out against West Ham United with Benjamin Sesko rescuing a dramatic draw in east London.

United have had 13 days without a game since and face a stern examination tonight at the Hill Dickson Stadium having lost to a 10-man Toffees in the reverse fixture in November.

David Moyes’ side are flying high in eighth place but haven’t registered a home win since 6 December.

Metro’s LIVE matchday blog will bring you all the build-up, confirmed team news and starting XIs, goal updates and minute-by-minute coverage.

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Barcelona sign 16-year-old Norwich prospect Tavares

Spanish giants Barcelona have signed 16-year-old Norwich City academy prospect Ajay Tavares, who has played for England age-group teams.

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Watch the best of Saturday's Premiership action

Highlights from the day's matches in the Scottish Premiership.

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McTominay in race to face Atalanta with Napoli live on BBC

Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour's chances of a second Italian title in a row could depend on Napoli downing in-form Atalanta on Sunday - and you can watch the action live on the BBC.

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Manchester United urged to sign £37m Chelsea star after ‘disappointing transfer’

Jorrel Hato joined Chelsea in a £37m deal from Ajax last summer (AMA/Getty)

Former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen has urged the club to sign Chelsea defender Jorrel Hato.

The 19-year-old joined Chelsea in a £37 million deal from Ajax last summer but has struggled to secure a regular role in the team, starting just three Premier League games this season.

Hato, who has six caps for the Netherlands, was the youngest player to captain Ajax and Meulensteen believes the defender could already be looking to leave Chelsea in the summer transfer window.

‘It is a disappointing move for Jorrel Hato because he was absolutely outstanding for Ajax at the time,’ Meulensteen told BetGoat.

‘He was very, very young and was the captain, which says a lot about the trust the manager put in him in terms of his personality and his leadership qualities.

Liam Rosenior has been impressed with Jorrel Hato since arriving at Chelsea (Getty)

‘Then a club like Chelsea comes in because they want to pick up all the best players here, there, and everywhere. However, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they fit in with the way the team wants to play. He’s been one of the guys who hasn’t really settled.

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‘Yes, he can get a big paycheck and a lot of money in the bank, but young players should be playing. Nobody can guarantee success for players wherever they go, but you want to get a sense of the manager’s plan and what he has planned for you.

‘He is also versatile, he can play left-back, centre-back, or as a number six. He is technically very, very good.

‘It doesn’t help his career, so it wouldn’t surprise me if he is looking for a loan move or another challenge elsewhere.

‘If I were any Premier League team, including Manchester United, and he were available or became available, I would definitely be looking at him because he is still very young, and there is a lot of potential to unlock.’

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