Match report: Newcastle 1-0 Huddersfield Town
Premier League: Louise Taylor was at St James’s Park to see Newcastle take a major step towards securing their Premier League status.
Match report: West Ham 3-0 Southampton
Premier League: Jacob Steinberg was at the London Stadium to see wretched Southampton get thumped in the day’s six-pointer.
Match report: West Brom 1-2 Burnley
Premier League: West Brom lost their eighth consecutive league match and are all but doomed to relegation to the Championship.
Match report: Watford 2-2 Bournemouth
Premier League: Jermain Defoe came off the substitutes’ bench to rescue a point for a Bournemouth in injury time.
Match report: Crystal Palace 1-2 Liverpool
Premier League: Sachin Nakrani was at Selhurt Park to see Liverpool come from behind and take all three points.
Match report: Brighton 0-2 Leicester City
Premier League: Glenn Murray missed a penalty for Brighton before Leicester scored the goals that won the game. Paul Doyle was there.
Match report: Manchester United 2-0 Swansea City
Premier League: Paul Wilson was at Old Trafford to see Manchester IUnited reclaim second place, in a match where Swansea gave them a second half scare.
Scottish Premiership results: Motherwell 2-2 Rangers, Aberdeen 4-1 St Johnstone, Celtic 3-0 Ross County, Hibernian 2-0 Partick Thistle, Kilmarnock 2-0 Hamilton Academical.
League One: Walsall 0-1 Portsmouth - Gareth Evans won the points for Portsmouth with a 79th minute strike in the third tier’s only contest this afternoon.
Championship: Birmingham City beat Ipswich Town 1-0 in the first of today’s two fixtures to climb out of the relegation zone at the expense of Barnsley.
Full time: Newcastle 1-0 Huddersfield Town
Premier League: Ayoze Perez bagged the goal that may well have secured Newcastle’s Premier League survival.
Full time: West Ham 3-0 Southampton
Premier League: Marko Arnautovic was the hero as West Ham thrashed Southampton in the big six-pointer of the day.
Full time: West Brom 1-2 Burnley
Premier League: A late rally from West Brom wasn’t enough to help them avoid their eighth consecutive Premier League defeat. Relegation beckons.
Full time: Watford 2-2 Bournemouth
Premier League: Comeback kings Bournemouth did it again, with Jermain Defoe’s late, late equaliser rescuing a point for Eddie Howe’s men.
Full-time: Brighton 0-2 Leicester City
Premier League: Vicente Iborra and Jamie Vardy scored the goals after Kasper Schmeichel saved a second-half penalty from Glenn Murray.
GOAL! Brighton 0-2 Leicester City
Premier League: Jamie Vardy has had a quiet afternoon, but pops up to double Leicester’s lead in the knockings.
Full time: Manchester United 2-0 Swansea City
Premier League: Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez got the goals as Manchester United saw off Swansea City to go leapfrog Liverpool into second place.
GOAL! Watford 2-2 Bournemouth
Premier League: On as a substitute, Jermain Defoe scores his first goal in aeons to level proceedings at Vicarage Road.
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Everton v Manchester City - live!
Scott Murray has the team news from Goodison Park, where a win for City will give them an opportunity to win the title against Manchester United at the Etihad next weekend.
Red card at the Amex Stadium ...
Premier League: Wilfred Ndidi’s second yellow is followed by a red after he fouls Shane Duffy. Off he goes and Leicester are down to 10 men.
GOAL! West Brom 1-2 Burnley
Premier League: Salomon Rondon sparks a West Brom mini-revival at the Hawthorns near the end of another lethargic display from the home side. Can they rescue a point?
GOAL! Brighton 0-1 Leicester City
Premier League: Vicente Iborra fires Leicester ahead at the Amex Stadium to riff, be-bop and scat all over Glenn Murray’s penalty-miss pain.
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GOAL! Newcastle 1-0 Huddersfield
Premier League: Ayoze Perez slides home to get on the end of a pass from Kenedy and Newcastle take another step towards safety. They’ll be on 35 points if they win this match, level with Brighton.
Scottish Premiership latest: Aberdeen 3-1 St Johnstone, Celtic 3-0 Ross County, Hibernian 2-0 Partick Thistle, Kilmarnock 2-0 Hamilton. Motherwell 2-2 Rangers is a result.
A missed penalty at the Amex Stadium ...
I’d forgotten this match between Brighton and Leicester was being played, it’s been so uneventful. José Izquierdo goes down like a swooning Victorian lady after being bundled over in the box by Wilfried Ndidi and wins his side a penalty. Glenn Murray steps and has his effort saved by Kasper Schmeichel.
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GOAL! West Brom 0-2 Burnley
Premier League: Stick a fork in West Brom – they’re done. Chris Wood nods home at the second attempt to double Burnley’s lead and consign the Baggies to what looks like certain relegation. They’ll be 10 points from safety with just six matches to play at stumps today.
Islam Slimani about to come on for Newcastle: The Algerian international striker is about to make his long-awaited Newcastle debut, having been sidelined with a thigh injury for the two months since signing from Leicester City.
At St James’ Park: Having been totally dominated by Newcastle, for whom Dwight Gayle missed two first-half sitters, in the first half, Huddersfield have finally got into this match. Zanke has just headed into one of his team-mates, when he should have scored.
In the Championship: Birmingham continue to lead Ipswich Town in the Championship’s sole three-o’clock kick-off. As things stand they’ll move out of the relegation zone.
Scottish Premiership: Tom Rogic has just slotted the ball past Ross County’s substitute goalkeeper Scott Fox to give Celtic a three-goal lead on the hour mark.
Similar woe for Huddersfield fans: Elias Kachunga has just limped off in his first game back after an 18-match spell on the sidelines with a knee injury he suffered against Watford in December. Hopefully it’s not a recurrence.
More woe for Swansea: Trailing 2-0 at Old Trafford, the Swans have just lost Sam Clucas to what looks like a fairly serious knee injury. Fingers crossed it’s not too bad.
Meanwhile in Scotland: Celtic lead 10-man Ross County courtesy of Stuart Armstrong’s strike in the 48th minute. Elsewhere, it’s Aberdeen 3-0 St Johnstone, Hibs 0-0 Partick Thistle, Kilmarnock 2-0 Hamilton.
GOAL! Watford 2-1 Bournemouth
Premier League: Roberto Pereyra’s shot takes a slight deflection and fizzes past Asmir Begovic and Watford have the lead again.
Correction: It’s Manolo Gabbiadini who has been taken off, not Charlie Austin.
Southampton make a change: Having barely got a touch of the ball in the first half, Charlie Austin is withdrawn by his manager Mark Hughes, and is replaced by Shane Long. I suppose Hughes has to be seen to do something.
Sport picture of the day: Ashley Barnes scores in spectacular style for Burnley https://t.co/AdGS3RyYoU (Photo: Getty) pic.twitter.com/8M3TMnPuJw
— Guardian sport (@guardian_sport) March 31, 2018
Boos at the London Stadium. But it's from the Southampton fans. Their team has been wretched. West Ham 3-0 Southampton at the break.
— Jacob Steinberg (@JacobSteinberg) March 31, 2018
Championship half-time: Birmingham City 1-0 IPswich Town.
Scottish Premiership half-times: Aberdeen 2-0 St Johnstone, Celtic 1-0 Ross County, Hibernian 0-0 Partick Thistle, Kilmarnock 2-0 Hamilton. Motherwell 2-2 Rangers is a result.
GOAL! West Ham 3-0 Southampton
Premier League: Marko Arnautovic gets on the end of a wonderful Arthur Masuaku cross and shows great technique to score his second of the game to finish another counter-attack and put this match well beyond woeful Southampton. The half-time whistle blows and he walks off, staring at Southampton’s manager, with whom he has plenty of previous. Mark Hughes turns his back and David Moyes tells his player to stop taking the mickey.
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Meanwhile in Scotland: Ross County skipper Andrew Davies has recieved a straight red card his part in a contretemps with Scott Brown. County have also lost their goalkeeper Aaron McCarey to injury and trail by a goal. They’ll do well to turn this around.
GOAL! Watford 1-1 Bournemouth
Premier League: Josh King equalises from the spot for Bournemouth after Jose Holebas receives a yellow card for hand-ball.
Good news for Cowdenbeath correspondent Simon McMahon: Having seen his team go behind to a Mark McGuigan strike for Stenhousmuir in the 38th minute, he’ll have cheered up considerably when Jordan Sheerin equalised a minute later.
West Ham in complete control: The Hammers are completely bossing this afternoon’s Premier League six-pointer, while Southampton are being run ragged. They don’t usually play with two strikers, but Mark Hughes’s decision to pair Charlie Austin with Manolo Gabbiadini has left a gaping hole in midfield which West Ham are exploiting ruthlessly. They could and should be four or five goals down already.
From the Guardian’s man at the Amex Stadium: It seems like he may struggle to fill a report.
Highlight of the game so far at Brighton is Claude Puel on the sideline getting more and more exasperated at Leicester's loose passing: "Arrrgh, Shinji! No! AAARRRRRRGHHHHHH!"
— Paul Doyle (@Paul_Doyle) March 31, 2018
An email from Simon McMahon: “Afternoon Barry, from a balmy Central Park, Cowdenbeath (sleet, 2 degrees),” he writes. “For a team in 42nd and last place in the Scottish League, it’s been a positive start. Scoreless against Stenhousmuir so far, who are a whole six places above us. The only way really is up for the Blue Brazil, unless of course they’re relegated from the league - another two-legged play off against East Kilbride awaits - in which case they’ll most likely fold, after 135 years. One for fans of Man City, and others, to consider perhaps?”
Dwight Gale misses a sitter: Newcastle midfielder Jonjo Shelvey lofts a free-kick in behind the Huddersfield Town defence and picks out Dwight Gale, who’s given his marker the slip. Gale lobs Jonas Loessl but somehow contrives to send the ball wide when scoring looked easier.
Meanwhile in Scotland: Moussa Dembele has just given Celtic the lead against Ross County from the penalty spot, while Kilmarnock lead Hamilton Academical courtesy of Lee Erwin’s strike in the fifth minute. Elsewhere, it’s: Aberdeen 0-0 St Johnstone and Hibernian 0-0 Partick Thistle.
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Meanwhile in the Championship: Relegation-threatened Birmingham City have the lead against Ipswich Town. Jota with the opener from the penalty spot on 21 minutes.
GOAL! West Brom 0-1 Burnley
Premier League: Ashley Barnes scores with an acrobatic effort, converting Aaron Lennon’s cross.
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Marko Arnautovic soldiers on: Having dedicated his goal celebration to performing a pointed crossed-arms Hammers sign in front of Mark Hughes, it looked like Arnautovic might have to leave the pitch after pulling up lame. He’s playing on, however, after receiving treatment.
GOAL! Manchester United 2-0 Swansea City
Premier League: Alexis Sanchez doubles United’s lead, running on to Jesse Lingard’s through ball and slotting past Lucasz Fabianski.
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Arnautovic is hurt: It’s been an eventful opening 20 minutes for the West Ham midfielder - he’s missed a sitter, scored a goal and is now down on the turf holding the back of his thigh and receiving treatment. Remember, West Ham have already lost Michail Antonio to injury.
GOAL! West Ham 2-0 Southampton
Premier League: Marko Arnautovic doubles West Ham’s lead and gestures in the direction of his former boss and nemesis, the Southampton manager Mark Hughes in the aftermath. Southampton are in all sorts of bother at the London Stadium.
GOAL! Watford 1-0 Bournemouth
Premier League: Kiko’s shot takes a huge deflection and flies past Asmir Begovic. Watford lead at Vicarage Road.
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GOAL! West Ham 1-0 Southampton
Premier League: West Ham score on the break with Joao Mario scoring past Alex McCarthy. Saints had a corner at the other end of the pitch, made a mess of it and paidf the ultimate price. Mario sprinted the length of the pitch to put his side ahead, getting on the end of Cheikhou Kouyate’s delivery.
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An injury at the London Stadium: West Ham’s Michail Antonio is on the floor receiving treatment, having gone done injured after unleashing a shot. He wasn’t fit coming into this game and the gamble hasn’t paid off. In floods of tears, he leaves the field with his face covered by his shirt. Edimilson Fernandes replaces him.
Close at Vicarage Road: Nathan Ake hits the post with a perfectly timed diving header and Watford fans breathe a collective sigh of relief.
GOAL! Manchester United 1-0 Swansea City
Premier League: Romelu Lukaku lifts the ball over Lucasz Fabianski to score his 100th Premier League goal and give Manchester United an early lead against Swansea City.
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West Ham start assertively: Marko Arnautovic is just one of several West Ham players to have snapped into meaty challenges in the early stages of their crucial six=pointer against Southampton at the London Stadium.
Match report: Motherwell 2-2 Rangers
Scottish Premiership: A report from Fir Park, where Rangers scored two goals in as many minutes to rescue a point against Motherwell.
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Not long now ...
Opening whistles are about to blow the length and breadth of the UK in our three o’clock kick-offs. Let the games begin ...
Match report: Crystal Palace 1-2 Liverpool
Our on-the-whistle report from Selhurst Park, wqhere Liverpool came from behind to beat Crystal Palace in somewhat controversial circumstances.
Stewards by the pitch and in the stands at the London Stadium. Barriers up near the directors' box. And an attacking Southampton team. Mark Hughes clearly reckons West Ham are vulnerable.
— Jacob Steinberg (@JacobSteinberg) March 31, 2018
Result: Crystal Palace 1-2 Liverpool
Premier League: Luka Milivojevic opened the scoring for Palace, but Liverpool go second after goals from Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah helped them to come from behind to take all three points. We’ll have a report from Selhurst Park shortly.
Result: Motherwell 2-2 Rangers
Scottish Premiership: It’s finished all square at Fir Park, where second placed Rangers came from two goals down to rescue a point.
Watford v Bournemouth line-ups
Watford: Karnezis, Janmaat, Prodl, Mariappa, Holebas, Doucoure, Capoue, Femenia, Hughes, Pereyra, Deeney.
Subs: Gomes, Richarlison, Ndong, Cathcart, Gray, Lukebakio, Okaka.
AFC Bournemouth: Begovic, Fraser, Steve Cook, Ake, Daniels, Ibe, Lewis Cook, Gosling, Stanislas, King, Callum Wilson.
Subs: Boruc, Surman, Pugh, Arter, Brad Smith, Defoe, Simpson.
Referee: Andrew Madley (West Yorkshire)
West Brom v Burnley line-ups
West Brom: Foster, Dawson, Evans, Hegazi, Nyom, Livermore, Yacob, Brunt, Gibbs, Rodriguez, Rondon.
Subs: Phillips, Myhill, McClean, Gabr, Burke, Krychowiak, McAuley.
Burnley: Pope, Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Ward, Lennon, Westwood, Cork, Nkoudou, Wood, Barnes.
Subs: Taylor, Marney, Vokes, Hendrick, Lindegaard, Bardsley, Long.
Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire)
Brighton v Leicester line-ups
Brighton: Ryan, Schelotto, Duffy, Dunk, Bong, Locadia, Propper, Kayal, Izquierdo, Gross, Murray.
Subs: Saltor, Baldock, Hemed, Goldson, March, Krul, Suttner.
Leicester: Schmeichel, Simpson, Morgan, Maguire, Chilwell, Mahrez, Iborra, Ndidi, Albrighton, Okazaki, Vardy.
Subs: Gray, Iheanacho, Adrien Silva, Dragovic, Jakupovic, Fuchs, Diabate.
Referee: Chris Kavanagh (Lancashire)
GOAL! Crystal Palace 1-2 Liverpool
Premier League: Mo Salah has just scored his 37th goal of the season to put Liverpool ahead at Selhurst Park. There’s five minutes to go and Scott Murray has the latest.
Manchester United v Swansea City line-ups
Man Utd: de Gea, Valencia, Lindelof, Smalling, Young, Matic, Pogba, Mata, Lingard, Sanchez, Lukaku.
Subs: Bailly, Martial, Rashford, Ander Herrera, Shaw, McTominay, Joel Pereira.
Swansea: Fabianski, van der Hoorn, Fernandez, Mawson, Naughton, King, Ki, Clucas, Olsson, Dyer, Andre Ayew.
Subs: Abraham, Narsingh, Nordfeldt, Carroll, Routledge, Bartley, Roberts.
Referee: Robert Madley (West Yorkshire)
Newcastle United v Huddersfield Town line-ups
Newcastle: Dubravka, Yedlin, Lascelles, Lejeune, Dummett, Ritchie, Shelvey, Diame, Kenedy, Perez, Gayle.
Subs: Clark, Murphy, Slimani, Hayden, Manquillo, Darlow, Atsu.
Huddersfield: Lossl, Smith, Schindler, Jorgensen, Kongolo, Hogg, Mooy, van La Parra, Pritchard, Kachunga, Depoitre.
Subs: Malone, Billing, Coleman, Ince, Quaner, Mounie, Hadergjonaj.
Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire)
West Ham v Southampton line-ups
West Ham: Hart, Zabaleta, Rice, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Masuaku, Antonio, Kouyate, Noble, Joao Mario, Arnautovic.
Subs: Hugill, Adrian, Evra, Fernandes, Cullen, Diangana, Pask.
Southampton: McCarthy, Cedric, Stephens, Hoedt, Bertrand, Tadic, Lemina, Hojbjerg, Redmond, Austin, Gabbiadini.
Subs: Yoshida, Long, Carrillo, Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Boufal, Forster.
Referee: Jon Moss (W Yorkshire)
And it's all square at Fir Park ...
Scottish Premiership: Having been 2-0 down at half-time, Rangers have just scored two quick goals to restore parity against Motherwell. James Tavernier scored their first from the spot in the 51st minute, with Jamie Murphy following up a minute later.
It's all square at Selhurst Park
We’re four minutes into the second half, where Liverpool striker Sadio Mane has just cancelled out Luka Milivojevic’s first half opener. You can follow the rest of that one with Scott Murray’s minute-by-minute report. It’s 1-1 after 50 minutes.
And in Scotland ...
In the Scottish Premiership, Motherwell and Rangers kicked off at Fir Park earlier and you might be surprised to hear it’s currently 2-0 to the hosts against visitors who started the day 22 points and six places ahead of them in the table. There are four three- o’clock kick-offs this afternoon, with league leaders Celtic entertaining basement dwellers Ross County.
Meanwhile in the Championship ...
Relegation-threatened Birmingham City take on Ipswich Town, unsafe in the knowledge that Sunderland spanked Derby County in a huge upset at Pride Park last night. The Blues sit third from bottom of the table, just two points ahead of Sunderland, but can leapfrog Barnsley and climb out of the relegation zone with a win over Ipswich. Later on, Hull City take on Aston Villa in the late kick-off.
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This afternoon's Premier League fixtures
West Ham’s match against Southampton is arguably the pick of today’s three-o’clockers, as the pair take on each other in the mother of all six-pointers. Following the crowd trouble that blighted their most recent home match against Burnley, the potential for further bad behaviour on the part of disgruntled West Ham fans lends this fixture added spice.
The Premier League returns
After two weeks of international shenanigans, the Best League In The World™ rumbles back into action today, with eight fixtures taking place around the country. Crystal Palace and Liverpool got the ball rolling at Selhurst Park, while we have six three-o’clock kick-offs on which to keep you updated before Everton and Manchester City go toe-to-toe at Goodison Park later. Stay tuned for team news, build-up and updates on all the goals as they go in around the grounds.
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