Summary

  • Get involved: #bbcfootball or text on 81111

  • Manchester City beat Cardiff to reclaim top spot

  • Tottenham win first game in new stadium

  • Chelsea move fifth with win over Brighton

  1. 'Our approach has to be measured'published at 11:48 BST 4 April 2019

    Man City v Brighton (Sat, 17:30 BST)

    Brighton & Hove Albion

    More from the Brighton manager Chris Hughton:

    "As a manager and a coach you want to reach the latter stages of these competitions. "It's something I shall be very proud of.

    "Our approach has to be measured. It's important we stay in the game - but at the moment we don't know how it will go, but we have to start well. We have to be positive in how we approach the game."

  2. 'Motivation won't be a problem'published at 11:44 BST 4 April 2019

    Man City v Brighton (Sat, 17:30 BST)

    Brighton & Hove Albion

    Chris HughtonImage source, Getty Images

    Brighton are playing in their first FA Cup semi-final since 1983. That year they reached the final before losing to a Bryan Robson inspired Manchester United 4-0 in a replay.

    So they have plenty of motivation.

    "The occasion will take care of itself - the motivation won't be a problem," said manager Chris Hughton.

    "We have to deal with the quality of the opposition, the message will be to give everything irrespective of the result.

    "We want to come away feeling proud."

  3. 'It's a big occasion'published at 11:40 BST 4 April 2019

    Man City v Brighton (Sat, 17:30 BST)

    Brighton & Hove Albion

    More from the Brighton manager Chris Hughton: "We know how big the game is for the club.

    "It's a big occasion, one thing we've always stressed to the players through the rounds is that there are many who don't get this opportunity. They have to make the most of it.

  4. Gross outpublished at 11:36 BST 4 April 2019

    Man City v Brighton (Sat, 17:30 BST)

    Brighton & Hove Albion

    The Brighton manager Chris Hughton starts his news conference by giving a quick update on injuries:

    "Pascal Gross (hamstring) won't make the weekend," he says.

    "We'll assess Solly March this morning and see how he is - we're hoping everyone else will be ok. Jurgen [Locadia] felt his calf very slightly yesterday so we decided not to take a risk.

    "We're hoping he'll train this morning and that being that case he'll be available."

  5. Hughton incomingpublished at 11:35 BST 4 April 2019

    Man City v Brighton (Sat, 17:30 BST)

    The Brighton manager Chris Hughton is on premises for his pre FA Cup semi-final news conference.....

  6. Tottenham make world-record £113m profitpublished at 11:33 BST 4 April 2019

    Tottenham's new stadiumImage source, Getty Images

    Tottenham Hotspur made a world-record profit of £113m after tax last season.

    The figure tops the £106m profit posted by Premier League rivals Liverpool earlier this year.

    Yearly financial results for 2017-18 reveal Spurs' income climbed from £310m to £380m thanks to player sales and increased crowds from playing at Wembley Stadium.

    The club also spent £514m building its new stadium -which opened on Wednesday- borrowing £281m.

  7. United will not be forced into De Gea salepublished at 11:30 BST 4 April 2019

    David de GeaImage source, Getty Images

    Time for a little bit of transfer gossip.

    Now according to the Daily Mirror, external...Manchester United will not be forced into selling Spanish goalkeeper David de Gea, 28, this summer - even if they fail to agree a new contract with him - and he enters the final year of his current deal, raising the possibility of him leaving on a free at the end of next season.

    Real Madrid, Juventus and Paris St-Germain are all apparently monitoring the De Gea situation.

    It's all in the gossip.

  8. 'I hid my football boots from my parents'published at 11:24 BST 4 April 2019

    Now if you're looking for a touch of inspiration today look no further than this piece.

    In 2004, JJ Roble's family fled Somalia and ended up living in the shadow of Wembley Stadium.

    She's now the first black, female, Muslim, hijab-wearing referee in the UK.

    Her aim is to inspire more women into playing football and to get the England ladies to the top of their game.

    Brilliant.

    Media caption,

    From refugee to referee: 'I hid my boots from my parents'

  9. Postpublished at 11:20 BST 4 April 2019

    Not long now until Brighton manager Chris Hughton has his pre FA Cup semi-final news conference.

    The Seagulls boss is scheduled to be up at around 11.30 am.

  10. Raining goals in Munichpublished at 11:18 BST 4 April 2019

    What about this for a crazy game? Bayern Munich scraped into the German Cup semi-finals by beating second-tier Heidenheim 5-4 in a nine-goal thriller.

    Heidenheim had led 2-1 with goals from Paul Glatzel and Marc Schnatterer after Leon Goretzka opened for Bayern, who had Niklas Sule sent off.

    Thomas Muller, Robert Lewandowski and Serge Gnabry put Bayern 4-2 up, only for Glatzel to score again and then convert a penalty for his hat-trick. But a late Lewandowski penalty won the day for Bayern.

    Robert Lewandowski celebratesImage source, Getty Images
  11. Zidane's first defeat since Real returnpublished at 11:08 BST 4 April 2019

    Zinedine ZidaneImage source, Getty Images

    Dare I say, speaking of fallen European giants, Real Madrid suffered their ninth La Liga loss of the season and their first under the returning Zinedine Zidane after being outclassed by Valencia.

    They have now lost as many league matches this term as in their previous two campaigns combined.

    Glad to be back eh Zizou... you can read all about that here.

  12. Ajax back on top (at last)published at 11:00 BST 4 April 2019

    Daley BlindImage source, Getty Images

    There's also quite a battle going on for the Dutch Eredivisie title this year.

    Ajax ended a 1060 day wait to return to the top of the Eredivisie table with a thumping victory over FC Emmen on Wednesday.

    It was basically the sort of game you could have switched off after an hour as the 33-time winners went 5-0 up with goals by Donny van de Beek, Daley Blind, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and two from David Neres.

    The victory saw Ajax move a point ahead of second-placed PSV Eindhoven, who they beat 3-1 on Sunday. PSV do still have a game in hand though.

  13. Bolton v Ipswich to go aheadpublished at 10:50 BST 4 April 2019

    Bolton WanderersImage source, Getty Images

    Dropping down to the Championship for a moment...

    Bolton Wanderers' home match against Ipswich Town in the Championship on Saturday will go ahead as scheduled.

    The region's Safety Advisory Group (SAG) had issued a ban on fans entering the University of Bolton Stadium for their next two home games.

    "The club has been able to reassure us that they are able to host the game in a safe manner," said an SAG statement.

    You can stay in touch with that story here.

  14. Title race predictorpublished at 10:44 BST 4 April 2019

    Virgil van Dijk & Sergio AgueroImage source, Getty Images

    As I alluded to earlier, it's one of the closest Premier League title races in years and - with just a handful of games remaining - fans are nervously looking at every potential twist and turn of the run-in.

    Yes it is officially squeaky-bum time.

    So here are the remaining fixtures for the top six - and a chance for you to predict who will take the title and who will claim the top-four places for Champions League football next season.

  15. Postpublished at 10:38 BST 4 April 2019

    Brighton players after losing to ChelseaImage source, Getty Images

    I don't want to play down Brighton's chances against Manchester City in their FA Cup semi-final on Saturday (17:30 BST).

    But the Seagulls have lost all 10 of their Premier League away games against 'big six' sides, scoring just two goals in those matches.

    I know they will be on neutral territory but playing City looks like a pretty challenging assignment!

    Brighton of course also face Pep Guardiola's side on the final day of the Premier League season, in a game that could be equally important at either end of the table.

  16. Postpublished at 10:32 BST 4 April 2019

    Chelsea 3-0 Brighton

    It doesn't seem two minutes since the Brighton boss Chris Hughton last faced the press!

    This is what he had to say after his team lost 3-0 at Chelsea on Wednesday evening....

    Media caption,

    Chelsea 3-0 Brighton: Moments of brilliance changed game - Chris Hughton

  17. Hughton coming uppublished at 10:26 BST 4 April 2019

    There are a few press conferences later today including one at Brighton & Hove Albion.

    With it being FA Cup semi-final weekend, manager Chris Hughton is up front of the press before his side face Manchester City on Saturday (17:30 BST).

    I'll bring you some of that later.

    Oh and have I mentioned that game is live on BBC One.

  18. Postpublished at 10:21 BST 4 April 2019

    As a total useless aside. My personal favourite training grounds, before everyone went high tech were Exeter's Cat & Fiddle training ground and Manchester United's old base, the Cliff.

    Obviously for very different reasons.

    The CliffImage source, Getty Images
  19. New training base for Cherriespublished at 10:15 BST 4 April 2019

    Premier League side Bournemouth are set to start work on a new multi-million pound training complex, a move manager Eddie Howe says is "huge news".

    It will be located on the 57-acre former Canford Magna Golf Club site.

    Poole Council granted planning permission in December 2017 and once revised, improved plans have been approved, construction work will begin.

    We've got all the details on that swanky new development here.

    BournemouthImage source, Getty Images