Ian Wright has questioned Arsenal’s mentality following their 2-0 defeat to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final, suggesting their performance at Wembley fell short of the standards required to win major trophies.

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Mikel Arteta’s side were second best after the break as City found another gear, with Nico O’Reilly scoring twice in quick succession to seal a deserved victory and leave Arsenal still waiting for silverware.

What Ian Wright said after full-time whistle

"A very disappointing one for me… a really poor performance."

Ian Wright reacts to a disappointing afternoon at Wembley for his beloved Arsenal. pic.twitter.com/jj8KhOPk33

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) March 22, 2026

Speaking on Sky Sports via BBC Sport, Wright made it clear that the display raised concerns, particularly when viewed against Arsenal’s ambitions in the Premier League title race.

“Arsenal’s project is about them trying to win the league. It’s a different team that’s going out there [in the league]. The mentality has got to be better than it was today.”

The former Gunners forward’s comments point towards a gap between Arsenal’s league form and what they produced on the biggest domestic stage, with the performance lacking both intensity and belief once City took control.

Arsenal performance raises questions ahead of title run-in

There is no doubt that Arsenal remain in a strong position domestically, sitting top of the Premier League table, but this defeat will inevitably raise questions about how they handle pressure in decisive moments.

Declan Rice, who has been widely praised this season and even tipped as a Player of the Season contender, was among those criticised after the match for failing to influence the midfield battle, with City’s technical quality proving decisive.

Arteta’s decision to persist with Kepa Arrizabalaga in goal also came under scrutiny after the Spaniard’s costly error led to the opening goal, a moment that shifted the momentum firmly in Manchester City’s favour.

With a crucial run of league fixtures still to come, including a meeting with City at the Etihad Stadium, Wright’s warning about mentality could prove significant if Arsenal are to turn their promising campaign into tangible success.

For a team chasing the title, performances like this serve as a reminder that consistency in high-pressure matches remains the final step in their development.

The post Ian Wright questions Arsenal mentality after Man City loss appeared first on CaughtOffside.

There was a notable moment of sportsmanship involving Kepa Arrizabalaga after Arsenal’s 2-0 defeat to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final, with players from both sides offering support following the final whistle at Wembley.

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The Spanish goalkeeper endured a difficult afternoon, with his costly error leading to City’s opening goal before Pep Guardiola’s side went on to secure victory with a dominant second-half display.

What happened to Kepa after the final whistle

According to BBC Sport reporter Alex Howell at Wembley, the immediate reaction from fellow goalkeepers highlighted the respect within the position.

“The goalkeepers union really is a thing.

All of the goalkeepers on the pitch from both Manchester City and Arsenal have consoled Kepa Arrizabalaga and had some words for him.”

It was a small but telling moment after a high-pressure final, with the 31-year-old clearly affected following a mistake that ultimately shifted the momentum of the contest in City’s favour.

Kepa error proved decisive in Arsenal defeat

The Arsenal stopper had been trusted to start in the competition ahead of first-choice David Raya, despite some uncertainty from Mikel Arteta earlier in the week when discussing his selection, and that decision unfortunately backfired in the second half.

Kepa’s dropped cross allowed Nico O’Reilly to head City in front, and the same player doubled the lead just minutes later, leaving Arsenal chasing the game with little response.

That contrasted sharply with Manchester City’s own goalkeeping display, with James Trafford producing a crucial triple save in the first half to keep his side level before the breakthrough arrived.

Declan Rice was among those criticised after the match for failing to influence proceedings in midfield, but it was the decisive moment involving the Spain international that proved the turning point in a final where fine margins were always likely to be decisive.

Despite the disappointment, the reaction from both teams’ goalkeepers ensured Kepa was not left to dwell on the error alone, underlining the unique bond that exists within the position even on football’s biggest stages.

The post What opposition players did to Kepa after Arsenal final loss appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Mikel Arteta defended his decision to select Kepa Arrizabalaga in the League Cup final after the Arsenal goalkeeper's costly mistake sparked a 2-0 defeat against Manchester City on Sunday.

Kepa was guilty of a horrendous blunder in the second half at Wembley when he let Rayan Cherki's cross slip through his fingers, gifting Nico O'Reilly the chance to head in City's opener.

Arsenal never recovered and O'Reilly struck again four minutes later to leave the Gunners still waiting for their first major trophy since 2020.

Arteta had opted to keep faith with Kepa instead of picking first-choice stopper David Raya because the former Chelsea star has been a regular in the League Cup this season.

The gamble backfired as Kepa endured another League Cup final moment to forget after his 2019 refusal to be substituted by Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri prior to a penalty shoot-out defeat against Manchester City in which he failed to save a kick.

Kepa also missed a penalty in a shoot-out loss to Liverpool three years later.

Asked about the criticism of his decision, Arteta said: "I understand but I have to do what is right and fair. 

"Kepa had played all the competition, I think it would have been unfair to him and the team to do something different.

"He had gone all the way through this competition. Errors are part of football and unfortunately it happened today at a crucial moment."

Sitting nine points clear at the top of the Premier League, Arsenal were favoured to beat City but they failed to rise to the occasion.

Far too conservative for long periods at Wembley, Arsenal remain without a trophy since the 2020 FA Cup after their quadruple bid came to a painful end.

"Very sad, very hard one to take. We know how much it means and how much we wanted it. The fact we haven't delivered that is disappointing and leaves a bad taste," Arteta said.

"First half we were the better team and had the biggest chance of the game, if we scored that it would have changed the game. 

"In the first 20 minutes of the second half we weren't at our best. We struggled to get out of our block and conceded the goal in an unexpected manner obviously.

"You have to give credit to the opposition. They raised their level and capitalised on their moments. We didn't."

smg/nf

Declan Rice faced criticism following Arsenal’s 2-0 defeat to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final, with the midfielder unable to impose himself on a game that swung decisively in the second half at Wembley.

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Mikel Arteta’s side had competed well during a cagey first period, but were ultimately overpowered after the break as City found another level, scoring twice in quick succession to secure the first trophy of the season.

What has been said about Declan Rice performance

Writing in The Guardian, Daniel Harris offered a blunt assessment of Rice’s display, suggesting the England international struggled to match the technical quality of City’s midfield.

“I know Declan Rice is a fantastic player, but what we saw – or didn’t see – from him today is why I rank him just below the top tier.

“He didn’t affect the match at all, the superior craft of the City midfielders too much for a player who is too heavily reliant on physicality.”

It is a harsh critique of a player who has been central to Arsenal’s push at the top of the Premier League this season, but it reflects the reality of a final where the midfield battle ultimately slipped away from Arteta’s side.

City midfield dominance exposes Arsenal limitations

The contrast between the two midfields became more apparent as the game wore on, with Manchester City increasing the tempo and control after half-time while Arsenal struggled to regain their earlier foothold.

Rice, so often the driving force behind Arsenal’s best performances, found it difficult to influence proceedings either defensively or in possession, with City’s movement and technical sharpness limiting his usual impact.

Performances like this are why pundits like Paul Scholes have criticised the former West Ham midfielder.

That will inevitably fuel debate, especially given that the 27-year-old has been tipped as a Player of the Season contender for his consistency, leadership and ability to dominate matches physically and technically.

However, this was one of those occasions where the England international couldn’t dictate the rhythm or wrestle control back, and with Arsenal chasing the game after Nico O’Reilly’s quickfire double, the midfield became an area where City’s superiority was clear.

For a player of Rice’s stature, performances in games of this magnitude often shape wider perceptions, and this was a difficult afternoon for the Arsenal No.41 to assert himself against elite opposition.

The post ‘Below the top tier’ – Rice criticised after Arsenal defeat to Man City appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Jeremy Doku came in for criticism from Gary Neville during a subdued first half of Manchester City’s Carabao Cup final meeting with Arsenal, with the Belgian winger struggling to make his usual impact in a game that took a long time to properly spark into life.

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For all City’s territorial control in spells, particularly later in the opening period, Pep Guardiola’s side lacked incision in the final third and the 23-year-old was one of several attacking players who found it difficult to impose himself at Wembley.

What Gary Neville said about Jeremy Doku

Speaking on Sky Sports via BBC Sport, Neville suggested Doku was well below the level normally associated with his one-v-one threat.

“Doku has not quite been able to get going. Ordinarily, he’s a nightmare to play against one on one.”

It was a fair observation in the context of a half in which Arsenal appeared determined to crowd the City wide man out of dangerous areas, with Mikel Arteta’s side often doubling up and forcing the former Rennes attacker backwards rather than letting him drive directly at defenders.

That naturally blunted one of City’s most unpredictable attacking weapons, and it contributed to a first half that was more tense than entertaining despite the significance of the occasion.

Arsenal’s plan limited one of City’s main attacking threats

The Gunners started the stronger of the two sides and created the clearest opening of the first half, with Kai Havertz denied by James Trafford, but City gradually took more control in the first 45 without ever looking especially convincing in the final third.

That made Doku’s lack of influence stand out even more, especially given that Antoine Semenyo looked the sharper threat on the opposite flank and Erling Haaland was feeding on scraps for much of the contest.

The Belgium international has been linked with a possible Manchester City exit this summer amid interest from Atletico Madrid, and while that remains one for the months ahead, this wasn’t the kind of display that will quieten debate about his long-term place in Guardiola’s plans.

With Ruben Dias also missing the final through injury, City were already dealing with disruption before kick-off, and they needed their attacking players to provide the edge that their reshuffled side lacked elsewhere.

The post Gary Neville says one Man City player has not got going vs Arsenal appeared first on CaughtOffside.

A controversial refereeing decision involving Piero Hincapie became one of the early talking points as Arsenal faced Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley.

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The Ecuador international found himself in the book during the opening stages, with referee Peter Bankes quick to brandish a yellow card following a challenge on Matheus Nunes.

Matt Upson questions referee Peter Bankes decision

As reported by BBC Sport, the incident drew immediate criticism from former Arsenal defender Matt Upson, who was unconvinced by the decision.

“First big moment for referee Peter Bankes. Piero Hincapie arrives very late on Matheus Nunes in midfield and the ref gives the Arsenal man a yellow card.”

Offering his verdict shortly after, Upson was particularly critical of the referee’s interpretation of the challenge.

“Piero Hincapie doesn’t really catch Matheus Nunes. The referee was very rash with that yellow card, it was nowhere near a booking.”

The 46-year-old pundit’s view reflected a wider sense that the contact itself was minimal, even if the timing of the tackle from the Arsenal defender appeared mistimed at first glance.

Early booking impacts Arsenal approach at Wembley

Hincapie’s caution had the potential to shape Arsenal’s defensive approach for the remainder of the contest, particularly given the intensity and pace Manchester City brought in wide areas.

The South American, who is set to join Arsenal permanently in the summer after an agreed deal worth around €52 million, has impressed with his versatility this season, operating both centrally and at full-back depending on Mikel Arteta’s needs.

Arsenal’s line-up for the final already featured notable absentees such as Eberechi Eze and Jurrien Timber, placing greater responsibility on players like the Ecuadorian to maintain defensive discipline against City’s attacking threats.

In a game where fine margins often decide the outcome, an early yellow card inevitably added an extra layer of caution to Hincapie’s performance, while also fuelling debate over whether the referee had set the bar too low for disciplinary action in such a high-stakes fixture.

The post ‘Very rash’ – Upson slams referee after Hincapie yellow vs Man City appeared first on CaughtOffside.

The USA Flag Football team made a huge statement during the Fanatics Flag Football Classic.

Team USA rolled over teams consisting of current and former NFL stars and celebrities on March 21 in Los Angeles. The national squad won its three games by a combined score of 106-44, showing the world that flag football is a different ballgame.

Flag football makes its Olympics debut during the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles. Several NFL players expressed an interest in playing for the USA squad before the Fanatics event.

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According to Front Office Sports, each member of the USA Flag Football team received $100,000 for winning the championship.

USA defeated the Wildcats and Founders, teams made up of current NFL stars Joe Burrow, Jayden Daniels, Saquon Barkley, Jalen Hurts, Von Miller and Alvin Kamara, among others. Retired stars Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski and Odell Beckham Jr. also joined in, along with celebrities Logan Paul and iShowSpeed.

As a result of the event, USA quarterback Darrell “Housh” Doucette III, the MVP of the classic, felt vindicated. In 2023, Doucette said it was “disrespectful” that NFL players assumed they could join the USA team for the Olympics.

“We came out this weekend with that on our mind to say hey, ‘Let’s show these guys that we are talented, that we are flag football, and not to be overlooked by anyone in the world,'” Doucette said, per The Sporting News.

The current USA squad has won six of the past seven International Federation of American Football world championships.

Brady, who helped organize the event, gave the USA team credit.

“Really happy for the USA flag team,” he said, per Yahoo Sports. “They did a great job. Really, they got a lot of talented, humble kids. And they did a great job. Really well coached.”

Manchester City were dealt a significant setback ahead of the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal, with Ruben Dias missing out due to injury as the game began at Wembley.

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The absence of the Portuguese centre-back immediately raised questions about Pep Guardiola’s defensive options, particularly against an Arsenal side arriving with pace and attacking fluidity.

What happened to Ruben Dias before the final?

According to Sam Lee of The Athletic, the issue stems from a hamstring problem suffered earlier in the week.

“Manchester City centre-back Ruben Dias will miss the Carabao Cup Final due to a hamstring injury.

The 28-year-old came off at half-time during the 2-1 defeat against Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday, having been an unused substitute in the Premier League draw away to West Ham at the weekend.

Dias missed eight games at the beginning of this year with a hamstring injury, returning in early February. And he has not been called up by Portugal manager Roberto Martinez for their upcoming friendlies against Mexico and the USA.

City will already be without starting centre-back Marc Guehi. The 25-year-old, who joined City in January, has already played for former club Crystal Palace in the competition and is cup-tied.

Pep Guardiola is also without fellow defender Josko Gvardiol, who is still recovering from the broken leg he suffered in January.”

The 28-year-old’s latest setback continues a frustrating run of fitness issues this calendar year, with the Portugal international already having missed a spell earlier in the campaign with a similar problem.

Man City forced into defensive reshuffle vs Arsenal

Dias’ absence left Guardiola short of trusted options in central defence, forcing a reshuffle at the back for one of the biggest matches of the season.

When Manchester City’s line up to take on Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final was confirmed, with Phil Foden only on the bench, while Erling Haaland and Rodri started at Wembley, it underlined the strength elsewhere in the side despite the defensive concerns.

Still, not so long ago it would have been unthinkable for a big name like Foden to be benched for a huge match like this, though the bigger talking point remains their missing No.3 at the heart of defence.

Arsenal, for their part, were also without key duo Eberechi Eze and Jurrien Timber, though Mikel Arteta still named a competitive XI as his side looked to capitalise on City’s weakened back line.

With the first trophy of the season on the line, Dias’ absence ultimately shaped the tactical battle from the outset, leaving City more vulnerable than usual in high-stakes moments.

The post Man City rocked as Ruben Dias ruled out of Carabao Cup final appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Tottenham slipped ever closer to relegation from the Premier League with a 3-0 defeat to fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest on Sunday as Sunderland stretched their hex over local rivals Newcastle.

Spurs have not tasted life outside the English top flight since 1978 but remain the only side without a Premier League win in 2026.

Goals from Igor Jesus, Morgan Gibbs-White and Taiwo Awoniyi inflicted the latest in a series of damaging defeats on interim Tottenham boss Igor Tudor.

West Ham's 2-0 defeat at Aston Villa ensured Spurs remain one point outside the relegation zone with seven games remaining.

Vitor Pereira's first league win as Forest boss propels his side four points above the drop zone.

Tottenham fans gathered in north London en masse before kick-off to line the streets in a show of support under the banner "all together, always."

But nerves quickly took over the state-of-the-art 63,000 capacity Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after Jesus rose highest to head in a corner just before half-time.

Gibbs-White could have been starting in white rather than red had Forest not stood their ground after Spurs reportedly met his buyout clause last summer.

The Forest captain instead signed a new deal at the City ground and has played a big role in leading his side away from trouble.

Gibbs-White was left completely unmarked to turn in Callum Hudson-Odoi's cross on the hour mark for his third goal in four league games.

No side has taken fewer points at home in the Premier League this season than Tottenham and they failed to muster a response.

Awoniyi inflicted the final blow when he met Neco Williams' cross three minutes from time.

- No excuses for Newcastle -

Villa took full advantage of defeats for Liverpool and Chelsea on Saturday to close in on a return to the Champions League next season.

Unai Emery's men had taken just one point from a possible 12 in their previous four league games.

But the return of skipper John McGinn from injury has been a timely boost.

The Scotland international curled in from outside the box to give Villa the perfect start.

Ollie Watkins then pounced after Mads Hermansen spilled Morgan Rogers' shot to bounce back from his exclusion from Thomas Tuchel's England squad on Friday.

Villa open up a six-point cushion on sixth-placed Chelsea with the top five set to qualify for next season's Champions League.

Newcastle's European ambitions and local pride were dealt a major blow as Sunderland came from behind to win 2-1 in the first Tyne-Wear derby at St. James' Park for 10 years.

Bryan Brobbey struck a 90th minute winner for the Black Cats, who have not lost to Newcastle in the league for 15 years.

Defeat compounded a miserable week for Newcastle, who were humbled 7-2 by Barcelona in exiting the Champions League in midweek.

"I've got very little to use as an excuse. Once you haven't performed and you know how much the game means you have to accept the criticism," said Newcastle boss Eddie Howe.

Defeat sees the Magpies slip below Sunderland in the table to 12th.

Newcastle also promised to identify and hold accountable anyone guilty after Sunderland defender Lutsharel Geertruida reported an incident of racist abuse from the crowd in the second half.

kca/dmc

Tottenham suffered a potentially seismic 3-0 defeat to Premier League relegation rivals Nottingham Forest on Sunday, failing to rise to a rallying call from their massed ranks of fans. 

Thousands lined the streets to cheer the squad before the crunch fixture in north London and there was a crackling atmosphere in the ground as kick-off approached.

Spurs bossed the first half but Forest took the lead on the stroke of half-time when Brazilian forward Igor Jesus headed home a Neco Williams corner.

Forest doubled their lead just after the hour mark when Morgan Gibbs-White finished under Guglielmo Vicario and substitute Taiwo Awoniyi compounded Tottenham's misery with a late strike.

The vital win for Vitor Pereira's men lifts them above Spurs, who are now just one point and one place above the bottom three.

Last year's Europa League winners are staring at the nightmare prospect of relegation from the top tier of English football for the first time since 1977 unless they can arrest their steep decline.

As if to underline the club's current plight, a few miles across London, bitter rivals Arsenal were gunning for their first trophy of a potential quadruple in the League Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley.

Spurs, led by interim boss Igor Tudor, came into Sunday's game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium without a win in the Premier League since late December.

But they were buoyed by last week's 1-1 draw at Liverpool and a midweek win against Atletico Madrid, even though they exited the Champions League on aggregate.

- Fans rally -

Fan groups set up a initiative ahead of the game called "Show Up, Sing Up, Stay Up", calling for supporters to rally.

Fireworks were let off and a section of fans chanted the name of former boss Mauricio Pochettino before the team bus was serenaded with chants of "Come on you Spurs" as white and blue smoke filled the air.

A message on the stadium screens from captain Cristian Romero said: "We'll fight for everything, all together."

Forest, who started the day just outside the drop zone, looked the more dangerous team in the early minutes but Tottenham settled and started to enjoy the bulk of the possession, with Richarlison heading wide.

However, the home side struggled to create clear-cut chances and paid the price when Jesus put Forest ahead in the 45th minute, meeting Williams' corner with a bullet header.

Spurs came within a whisker of levelling at the other end but Forest goalkeeper Matz Selz touched Mathys Tel's powerful shot onto the crossbar in the dying seconds of the opening period.

As the half wore on the home fans among the crowd of 61,519 became increasingly edgy.

And they were shocked into silence when Gibbs-White, a target for Spurs in last summer's transfer window, slotted home in the 62nd minute from Callum Hudson-Odoi's cross.

Tudor made a number of attacking changes, bringing on Randal Kolo Muani and Xavi Simons, but to no avail.

Awoniyi's goal in the 87th minute sent home fans scurrying for the exits.

The only chink of light for Spurs on Sunday was a 2-0 defeat for West Ham against Aston Villa, which leaves the Hammers in the bottom three.

jw/iwd

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The Tyne-Wear derby between Newcastle and Sunderland was briefly halted after allegations of racist abuse from the crowd towards Sunderland defender Lutsharel Geertruida.

Five minutes into the second half, the Premier League encounter at St James’ Park was paused by referee Anthony Taylor, who called both teams’ captain over to the dugout to discuss the situation with the respective benches.

There was already a break in play after Newcastle centre-back Sven Botman was caught by a high boot, for which he was forced off as a concussion substitution, and Sunderland skipper Granit Xhaka took the opportunity to run over to Taylor and alert him to the abuse of Geertruida – the Dutch defender on loan with the Black Cats from RB Leipzig – that had come from the crowd.

The game was stopped for three minutes, in line with the competition’s on-field anti-discrimination protocol, and only resumed after Taylor had spoken to Geertruida, Xhaka and both teams’ benches.

The Premier League quickly released a statement confirming that the incident will be fully investigated.

“Today’s match between Newcastle United and Sunderland was temporarily paused during the second half after a report of discriminatory abuse from the crowd, directed at Sunderland’s Lutsharel Geertruida,” read the statement.

“This is in line with the Premier League's on-field anti-discrimination protocol. The incident at St James’ Park will now be fully investigated.

“We offer our full support to the player and both clubs. Racism has no place in our game or anywhere in society. We will continue to work with stakeholders and authorities to ensure our stadiums are an inclusive and welcoming environment for all.”

The match was the first Tyne-Wear derby at St James’ Park since 2016 and the build-up was marred by violent clashes between both sets of fans outside the stadium.

A small cluster of Sunderland fans reportedly made their way to the stadium without a police escort and were eventually attacked after antagonising a large gathering of Newcastle supporters, with punches thrown and objects hurled in violent clashes.

Earlier on, the Sunderland team bus had also been a target for the home fans, with bottles and cans thrown as the visiting team arrived. Police were seen scrambling to put an end to the incidents, and reports suggest the violence was over quickly.

The Black Cats went on to win the game 2-1 as Brian Brobbey grabbed a 90th-minute winner to extend Sunderland’s unbeaten league record against their bitter rivals to 11 matches, stretching all the way back to 2011 – the longest such streak by either side in the 128-year history of the fixture.

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The build-up to the Tyne-Wear derby was marred by ugly scenes as Newcastle and Sunderland fans clashed outside St James’ Park.

The bitter rivals were playing in a 12pm kick-off in the Premier League on Sunday, though there was drama outside the stadium before the game even got underway as a small cluster of Sunderland fans made their way to St James’ Park without a police escort.

The visiting fans were eventually attacked after antagonising a large gathering of Newcastle supporters, with punches thrown and objects hurled in violent clashes. Earlier on, the Sunderland team bus had also been a target for the home fans, with bottles and cans thrown as the visiting team arrived.

Videos posted on X show large groups of fans outside the stadium, with home supporters seen throwing objects at a group of Sunderland supporters. Police were seen scrambling to put an end to the incidents, and reports suggest the violence was over quickly.

Fighting outside of St James’ Park. One fan appeared in a bad way. CPR administered before being taken away. Not good 🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/PwZuo8248l

— Craig Hope (@CraigHope_DM) March 22, 2026

Daily Telegraph journalist Luke Edwards was at St James’ Park, and reported “brief violent clashes” as “small pockets of Sunderland supporters decided to walk to the stadium without a police escort”.

Edwards said the group disappeared “under a mass of bodies as they unveiled a Sunderland flag which was subsequently stolen, with punches “clearly thrown and missiles hurled”.

“It was over very quickly and nobody seemed to be seriously hurt as police moved in to separate the two rival groups,” he added.

The two teams face off in just the second Tyne-Wear derby in the last decade, with only two points separating them ahead of kick-off.

Sunderland began the day in 13th, with Newcastle sitting in 11th as they look to hunt down Chelsea and Liverpool in their bid to return to the Champions League next season.

Northumbria Police had revealed details of the policing operation prior to this weekend's match, including advice for Sunderland fans coming to the game.

Their statement read: “We can confirm for the safety of all that a police-supported escort to St James’ Park for Sunderland supporters will depart Newcastle Central Station at 10.15am.

“This will mirror the escort seen at the reverse fixture in Sunderland in December last year, and is expected to be utilised by the vast majority of away fans.

“Those who arrive later face having to wait at the station until officers are able to facilitate a second escort, which given the time needed for the journey and the required safety and ticketing checks unfortunately poses a risk of them not being in their seats in time for the 12pm kick-off.

“Sunderland fans are therefore urged to do their utmost to arrive into Central Station ahead of the 10.15am start time. Once inside the station, Sunderland supporters will be directed by officers and partners to the start location where they can gather ahead of departure.”

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All the ways to watch Newcastle vs Sunderland live streams online and from anywhere, with the latest edition of the Tyne-Wear derby scheduled for Sunday.

Newcastle return to action after their 8-3 hiding by Barcelona in the Champions League last-16 with possibly an equally hotly anticipated game: the Tyne and Wear derby.

Eddie Howe’s men largely acquitted themselves well over two and a half legs against the Spanish giants but capitulated in the second half on Wednesday, ultimately losing 7-2 on the night and 8-3 overall.

Now they face North-East rivals Sunderland and will bid to avenge their defeat in the reverse fixture earlier this season - and end an 11-game winless run in this most fiercely fought of fixtures.

In a highly congested mid-section of the Premier League table Sunderland - who lost 1-0 to Brighton at home last time out - sit four places behind their local rivals but just two points behind, so a win would see them leapfrog them into ninth place and be a huge boost going into the final few weeks of the season.

Here’s everything you need to know.

When is Newcastle vs Sunderland?

Newcastle host Sunderland at St James’ Park on Sunday 22 March, with kick-off at 12pm GMT.

How can I watch it?

Viewers in the UK will be able to follow the game live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, as well as streaming service Sky Go.

If you’re not a Sky customer, you can grab a NOWTV Day Pass here to watch without a subscription.

Team news

Sandro Tonali is a doubt after going off in the defeat to Barcelona, joining Bruno Guimaraes, Lewis Miley and Fabian Schar on the injury list.

Dan Ballard, Robin Roefs, Enzo Le Fee and Nordi Mukiele are being monitored and require late fitness tests but Reinildo is available.

Predicted line-ups

Newcastle XI: Ramsdale; Livramento, Thiaw, Burn, Hall; Willock, Joelinton; Murphy, Woltemade, Barnes; Gordon

Sunderland XI: Ellborg; Hume, O’Nien, Alderete, Reinildo; Xhaka, Sadiki; Talbi, Diarra, Le Fee; Brobbey

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College stars like Fernando Mendoza and Jeremiyah Love headline the 2026 draft. However, UTSA has its own standout special teams player entering April’s event that is starting to garner lots of attention.

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On Wednesday, the UTSA kicker put together one of the most impressive non-quarterback Pro Days in recent memory. Murphy ran a 4.50 40-yard dash while also drilling 12 of 13 field goals in front of NFL scouts.

What happened at UTSA's Pro Day on Wednesday was insane, and I don't see anyone talking about it:

Kicker (!!) Jaffer Murphy was clocked as low as 4.47 in the 40-yard dash and made a 70-yard FG. He also made 12 of his 13 attempts.

Murphy spoke with over a dozen teams, I'm told. pic.twitter.com/NH8OsnE07f

— Arye Pulli (@AryePulliNFL) March 21, 2026

Meanwhile, Murphy’s signature highlight from the UTSA Pro Day came when he drilled a 70-yard field goal. The current NFL record is 68 yards after Jacksonville Jaguars star Cam Little broke the mark during the 2025 season.

Although the UTSA kicker likely won’t be a first-round draft pick, more NFL teams are beginning to recognize the importance of the position. The Dallas Cowboys have a lethal weapon in the kicking game with Brandon Aubrey.

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However, Murphy has the chance to become the sixth-ever kicker selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. Sebastian Janikowski, Charlie Gogolak and Steve Little are three of the others that went early in drafts, but Gogolak is the only top-10 selection ever.

The Philadelphia Eagles reportedly even made a “special trip” to visit Murphy’s Pro Day. Meanwhile, other NFL teams were in attendance to watch the future pro show off his leg.

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Chelsea failed to take advantage of another Liverpool stumble in the race to qualify for next season's Champions League on Saturday, thumped 3-0 by Everton to remain outside the top five.

Champions Liverpool had slipped to a 2-1 defeat at Brighton in the early kick-off -- their 10th loss of a dismal Premier League title defence.

But Chelsea's thumping reverse at the Hill Dickinson Stadium gives renewed hope to a clutch of clubs below them, including Everton themselves, Brentford and Fulham.

The top five teams in the Premier League are almost guaranteed to play Champions League football next season due to the strong showing of English clubs in Europe.

Arsenal are hot favourites to land the Premier League title for the first time since 2004, with second-placed Manchester City well clear of city rivals Manchester United in third. 

United, who drew 2-2 at Bournemouth on Friday, are four points clear of fourth-placed Aston Villa, who host struggling West Ham on Sunday.

Liverpool arrived on the sunny south coast after a morale-boosting 4-1 aggregate win over Galatasaray at Anfield in midweek to reach the Champions League quarter-finals.

But they were well beaten by Fabian Hurzeler's hungry Brighton, for whom evergreen forward Danny Welbeck scored twice, either side of Milos Kerkez's well-taken goal for the visitors.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot pointed to key injury absentees and a swift turnaround from Champions League commitments to explain the damaging defeat.

The Dutchman was without goalkeeper Alisson Becker and forward Mohamed Salah at the Amex Stadium, while top-scorer Hugo Ekitike limped off early.

Defeat left the reigning champions with only one point from the past nine after they conceded late goals in a 2-1 loss at bottom club Wolves and last weekend's 1-1 draw at home to relegation-threatened Tottenham.

"Brighton away, that's a difficult game for any team, especially if you miss out on a few very influential players," said Slot.

"Of course now, looking at the league table, this loss hurts a lot and it should hurt us a lot."

Brighton's Welbeck, who made his Premier League debut for Manchester United in 2008, is enjoying his highest-scoring season in the league, though was not included in Thomas Tuchel's latest England squad.

Liverpool are still alive in the Champions League and the FA Cup but face the real prospect of ending the season trophyless, with daunting quarter-finals to come against Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City.

- Chelsea slump -

Chelsea collapsed to their fourth straight defeat in all competitions against Everton, giving new coach Liam Rosenior a major headache as he tries to salvage their season.

With United drawing and Liverpool losing, Chelsea had the chance to go fourth, four points behind the Red Devils, but they blew it in spectacular style.

Everton's win, courtesy of two goals from Beto and a curler from Iliman Ndiaye, lifted them within three points of neighbours Liverpool with a home Merseyside derby to come next month.

Rosenior, who replaced Enzo Maresca in January, must now find a way to lift his expensively assembled squad, who won the Club World Cup and the UEFA Conference League last season.

Chelsea are still in the FA Cup but were humiliated 8-2 on aggregate by PSG in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Fulham leapfrogged Brighton, moving to within five points of Liverpool, after coming from behind to beat relegation-bound Burnley 3-1.

Zian Flemming gave the Clarets a shock lead at Craven Cottage, but Fulham hit back through Joshua King, Harry Wilson and Raul Jimenez.

Burnley are nine points adrift of safety with just seven games remaining.

jw/ea

Serge Gnabry scored twice and Harry Kane inched closer to the Bundesliga single-season goal record as Bayern Munich beat Union Berlin 4-0 at home on Saturday. 

Kane's second-half strike took him to 31 this campaign -- the same number Union have scored all season -- and 10 short of Robert Lewandowski's mark from 2020-21, with seven games to play. 

Michael Olise struck for the brilliant Bavarians. 

"It's still possible, I just have to keep doing what I'm doing," Kane told reporters about the record. 

"All it takes is a hat-trick or a couple of braces in a row and then it'll look a bit more likely."

Bayern have 97 goals this season, four short of the best mark set in 1971-72, when Franz Beckenbauer and Gerd Mueller helped the Bavarian giants tear through the Bundesliga. 

Coach Vincent Kompany made five changes from the side which thumped Atalanta on Wednesday to set up a Champions League quarter-final clash with Real Madrid, but kept Kane front and centre. 

Union, who had never beaten Bayern in 14 clashes, held out until the 41st minute, when Olise collected a punted Leon Goretzka pass and curled the ball into the top corner. 

Gnabry made it two just before the break, knocking in a rebound at the far post. 

Kane pirouetted and curled in Bayern's third just after the break, boosting his tally to 48 in 40 games in all competitions this season. 

Gnabry was again in the right place to volley in with 67 minutes gone to add gloss to another big Bayern win. 

- Wild comeback for Dortmund, Leverkusen 'speechless' -

Ramy Bensebaini scored two second half penalties as Borussia Dortmund came from two goals down to win 3-2 at home against promoted Hamburg and all but lock up second spot. 

Philip Otele and Albert Sambi Lokonga scored to put Hamburg two goals up at half-time, after Dortmund's Felix Nmecha missed a penalty just before the break. 

Bensebaini converted a penalty after 73 minutes to bring Dortmund back into the match and Serhou Guirassy hammered in a rebound while off balance five minutes later. 

With six minutes left, Jobe Bellingham tried a long-range effort which hit Miro Muheim's hand, bringing Bensebaini to the spot again. 

The Algerian nervelessly converted to bring Dortmund in front and put the hosts on track for victory. 

Second-placed Dortmund are 11 points clear of RB Leipzig in third but remain nine points behind leaders Bayern. 

Bayer Leverkusen's top-four hopes took a hit with a 3-3 draw at rock-bottom Heidenheim after leading 2-0 at half-time and 3-2 with five minutes remaining. 

The draw leaves Leverkusen sixth, four points behind Leipzig, Stuttgart and Hoffenheim, who are all level on 50 points. Stuttgart have a game in hand. 

"I'm speechless," goalkeeper Mark Flekken told DAZN. "We talked at half-time about not getting complacent."

Hoping to bounce back from Tuesday's Champions League exit at Arsenal, first-half goals to Malik Tillmann and Patrik Schick had Leverkusen on course for a routine win. 

Heidenheim fought back through a Hennes Behrens goal and a Marvin Pieringer penalty. Schick once again gave Leverkusen the lead with a header but Pieringer levelled  again from a corner with 85 minutes gone. 

Justin Njinmah scored the only goal as Werder Bremen won 1-0 at Wolfsburg to push their hosts closer to a first ever Bundesliga relegation. 

Second-last with just one victory in the calendar year, 2009 German champions Wolfsburg could be six points from safety if St Pauli beat Freiburg on Sunday. 

Elsewhere, Rhine rivals Cologne and Borussia Moenchengladbach played out a 3-3 draw. 

dwi/ea/pb

Chelsea's hopes of Champions League qualification suffered another damaging blow as Everton stormed to a 3-0 win on Saturday to compound a miserable week for Liam Rosenior's men.

Dumped out of the Champions League 8-2 on aggregate by holders Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday, the Blues have now lost four consecutive games to put Rosenior under pressure just over two months into his reign.

Beto struck twice for the Toffees as they surged into contention for a top-five finish, before Iliman Ndiaye rounded off Everton's best win so far at their new home.

Only two points now separate the sides as Chelsea remain in sixth, while Everton climb to seventh.

A place in the top five will almost certainly guarantee Champions League football next season due to the strong performance of English sides in European competitions this season.

But Chelsea's chances are fading fast with a tough run-in after the upcoming international break with Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool to come in their remaining seven games.

The debate over who should start in goal for the Club World Cup winners will also rage on after another error-strewn night for Robert Sanchez.

James Garner celebrated his first ever call-up to the England squad with a brilliant pass that allowed Beto to beat Sanchez for the opening goal on 33 minutes.

Moments later Jordan Pickford proved the value of a top goalkeeper with a stunning save to tip over Enzo Fernandez's blistering strike.

Worse was to come for Sanchez after the break when he allowed Beto's fiercely struck shot to slip between his legs just after the hour mark.

Beto even played a part in his side's third as he bullied the Chelsea defence to head Pickford's long ball into the path of Ndiaye.

The Senegal international wriggled into the box before blasting into the top corner to this time give Sanchez no chance.

Everton have struggled to settle into their new 53,000 capacity stadium.

But for the first time they have won back-to-back home league games this season to climb within three points of neighbours Liverpool.

And they face off in the first ever Merseyside derby at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in Everton's next home game on April 19.

kca/ea

Danny Welbeck scored twice as Brighton beat Liverpool 2-1 on Saturday to deal a major blow to the Reds' push for a Champions League spot next season.

Arne Slot's men came into the match on the sunny south coast in buoyant mood after hammering Galatasaray 4-0 in midweek to reach the Champions League quarter-finals.

But a goal in each half from the evergreen Welbeck gave the home team a fourth win in five Premier League matches, keeping alive their own hopes of European football next season.

Liverpool were missing both goalkeeper Alisson Becker and forward Mohamed Salah at the Amex Stadium.

And they suffered a further injury blow early in the game when topscorer Hugo Ekitike hobbled off with an apparent dead leg after a firm challenge from former Liverpool stalwart James Milner.

The champions found themselves behind when Welbeck scored his 11th Premier League goal of the season in the 14th minute, nodding home from close range after Diego Gomez headed a cross-field pass back across goal.

That made the 35-year-old former Manchester United and Arsenal forward the top English goalscorer in the league this season.

Liverpool found some rhythm after falling behind and Alexis Mac Allister went close to an equaliser in the 22nd minute but Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen got down smartly low to his left to claw the ball away.

However, the visitors were level in the 30th minute after some clever opportunism from left-back Milos Kerkez, capitalising on an error from Brighton captain Lewis Dunk, who paid the price for heading a high ball back to his goalkeeper without looking behind him.

Hungary defender Kerkez nipped in and produced a composed finish, flicking the ball over the stranded Verbruggen.

Brighton started the second half brightly and were back in front in the 56th minute, with Welbeck again on the scoresheet.

Yankuba Minteh's pinpoint cross was played into Welbeck's path by Jack Hinshelwood and he finished confidently, with the goal confirmed following a VAR check.

Welbeck, who made his Premier League debut for United in 2008, is enjoying his highest-scoring season in the league.

Slot threw on teenager Rio Ngumoha, Andy Robertson and Federico Chiesa in a desperate search for an equaliser but it was Brighton who remained the more threatening team.

Defeat leaves Liverpool fifth in the Premier League, two points behind Aston Villa and one ahead of Chelsea, with the top five almost certain to qualify for the Champions League next season.

The club's Premier League title defence collapsed earlier in the season but they remain alive in the Champions League and face Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals early next month.

Liverpool's Brazilian international goalkeeper Alisson posted on social media that he would be "out of action for a while".

jw/jc

With Barcelona defending their crown, here's our full guide to watching La Liga 2025/26 season live streams, broadcasters and TV channels around the world.