Arsenal v Fulham: Premier League – live

⚽ Updates from the 5.30pm BST kick-off at the Emirates
⚽ Scores | Premier League table | Read Football Daily

“My thanks to Richard Hirst, but if we’re talking races to the grave, I’m probably a way ahead of him,” writes Charles Antaki. “So should the Arsenal men’s team fail at this Premier League hurdle, the next may be beyond my span. Today, the universe has a chance to right the wrongs of the women’s unsatisfactory performance at Lyon; but given that the universe seems to show absolutely no interest in righting wrongs of any description, and there are a few around at the moment, I’m not particularly hopeful. But, as ever, we shall see.” toffler.lol

Mikel Arteta’s pre-match thoughts

Some of the changes are forced. There are other reasons as well – we need a lot of energy, freshness and quality as well.

[On Myles Lewis-Skelly playing in midfield] He’s been very patient, extremely understanding about the situation and he deserves another chance. Every time he’s played, he’s done really well.

BlogPakistan cricket abroad toursEarly Year Tours and the T20 World Cup The cricket calendar for Pakistan in 2026 begins with a short but important tour of Sri Lanka in January. The Men in GreeOpen →

Mohamed Salah has not kicked his last ball for Liverpool. Probably. According to him, at least.

The Liverpool legend gave an interview with some lad named Steven Gerrard, and when asked if he’d be back before the finale against Brentford, Salah replied, “Yeah, for sure. The injury is fine. Definitely. I probably will be [back] before that, probably.”

Great. Definitely. Probably.

Salah definitely deserves a proper Anfield send off, which he will get either way, but we’re all hoping for one last bit of magic from the Egyptian King before he closes an incredible chapter to his career.

“I really want to be remembered in this club,” Salah continued, “After the first year, I would say I want people to remember me as if I’m one of the best. And somehow it got into my head I want people to remember me more than you [Gerrard], more than Kenny [Dalglish]. I’m not trying to be rude! They will not. But it doesn’t matter.”

Wildly modest from Mo. As if his name will not forever be mentioned in the same breath as these other Liverpool greats. As if he’s not one of the first names on an all-time Liverpool XI.

Of course, where he ultimately falls on that list is a topic for another day. Or, more accurately, for the decades to come, assuming humanity has decades left at this rate.

CSK's IPL 2026 playoff chances detailed: Qualification scenarios, wins and points required for Chennai Super Kings originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Chennai Super Kings' path to the playoffs have been boosted after their 8-wicket win over the Mumbai Indians at home.
• Ruturaj Gaikwad’s side squad need to win atleast four wins from their five remaining matches to ensure playoff qualification.
• A massive boost in net run rate remains essential to see off the surrounding competition.

Rules for the play-off qualification in IPL 2026

The 2026 IPL season features 10 teams split into two groups of five. They play twice against the other four teams in their own group. They play twice against one specific team from the opposite group.

Whereas, they play once against the remaining four teams from the opposite group. Cumulatively, they will play 14 matches.

Teams collect points based on their match results:

• Win: 2 points
• No Result (Rain/Cancelled): 1 point
• Loss: 0 points

Once all the league matches are finished, the top four teams on the leaderboard move on to the playoffs.

MORE: 'It's a skill to pause': Ashwin gives 'green flag' to Tariq

Here is how the league position will be decided if two or more teams have the same points:

If two or more teams end up with the same number of points, officials use these rules (in order) to decide who ranks higher:

• Total Wins: The team that won more matches gets the higher spot.
• Net Run Rate (NRR): If wins are equal, the team with the better "Net Run Rate" (a score based on how quickly they score runs versus how quickly they concede them) moves up.
• Wickets Taken: If the NRR is also identical, the team that took the most wickets during the season is preferred.
• Drawing Lots: In the rare case that everything above is exactly the same, the winner is chosen by random draw (luck).

IPL 2026 Points Table: Latest updated standings

(After LSG vs KKR)

How can CSK qualify for the 2026 IPL playoffs?

CSK found themselves in a precarious position following their latest 8-wicket defeat to GT at home. With the tournament entering the second half, the path to the playoffs for Ruturaj Gaikwad’s men has become significantly tricky.

In a 10-team IPL format, 16 points is the gold standard for guaranteed qualification. Since each win awards 2 points, the math for CSK is clear.

• Remaining Matches: 6
• Target Points: 16 (Minimum safe zone)
• Required Wins: 4 out of 6 remaining matches.
• Maximum Possible Points: 18 (if they win all 6).

MORE: CSK injured players list IPL 2026: Latest injury updates and return date

1. If CSK win at least four of their matches (16 Points)

To avoid relying on other teams' results or the Net Run Rate, CSK must win at least 4 of their remaining 6 games. This would take them to 16 points. If they manage to win all five matches, they reach 18 points, which almost certainly guarantees a spot in the Top 2.

2. If CSK wins three out of their five matches (14 Points)

If CSK wins only 3 more matches, they will finish with 14 points. Historically, teams with 14 points can qualify for the 4th spot, but it is entirely dependent on:

• Other mid-table teams (GT, DC, LSG) are losing their key fixtures.
• After improving their NRR after their win over MI, their loss to GT has caused a huge drop in that metric, making things tougher for CSK.

3. If CSK wins two out of their five matches (Under 14 Points)

Losing 4 or more of their remaining 6 matches will effectively end their campaign, as 12 points have never been enough to qualify in the 10-team era.

IPL Qualification trends (Based on past seasons)

• 16 points (8 wins): Almost guaranteed qualification.
• 14 points (7 wins): Decent chance but depends on NRR and other results.
• 12 points (6 wins): Rare. Qualification is only possible in exceptional circumstances.

What is CSK's remaining schedule in IPL 2026?

CSK upcoming fixtures, wins required, and chances of qualification

To keep up to date with all the latest cricket news and share your opinion on the biggest topics visit our Facebook, Instagram and X (Twitter) pages.

Four-star offensive tackle Jakari Lipsey from Loy Norrix High in Kalamazoo has committed to Michigan.

Lipsey, 6-foot-5, 300 pounds, is ranked third overall among in-state recruits, according to 247Sports Composite. With his commitment on Saturday, Michigan now has six commitments to the 2027 class, half of which are from Michigan. Four-star edge Recarder Kitchen (Muskegon) is ranked No. 4 in the state, and offensive lineman Louis Esposito (Saline) is No. 16.

This was another recruiting win for offensive line coach Jim Harding, who is in his first season at Michigan. Although he has coached out west since 2009 and joined new Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham’s Utah staff in 2014, Harding has local roots and knows how important it is to keep local talent. Harding is from Maumee, Ohio, was a standout offensive lineman at Toledo, and coached at Troy Athens from 2005-2008, including his last season as head coach.

During a recent interview with The Detroit News while in Detroit to meet local high school coaches, Harding said his focus was recruiting in state.

“If it was in a perfect world, you'd like to build the offensive line room from inside out, meaning trying to get the top offensive linemen from the state,” Harding said. “I think that promotes pride and interest from fans around the state. Having seen the kids play in high school and having coached in the state of Michigan, I know there's really good high school football here, and so we’re doing things like this to try to network and get the high school coaches comfortable with a brand new staff.”

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Michigan football lands in-state four-star lineman

The Vikings’ draft effort in 2026 wasn’t without some detractors. Consider the anonymous NFL executives among those who aren’t totally sold.

Mike Sando of The Athletic leveraged his league connections to assemble a piece covering the NFC’s draft hauls alongside the AFC’s draft hauls. Maybe predictably, the Minnesota Vikings didn’t earn pristine grades. Check out what some NFL employees had to say about the draft haul under Rob Brzezinski.

NFL Executives Aren’t Sold on Vikings’ Draft Picks

On a basic level, the Vikings did much to beef up the roster. Minnesota went defense early, showing a particular preference for the front seven (consider a complete tracker if there’s a desire for more precise details).

Sando’s article offers a few words on opting for Randy Moss a while ago, a similarly controversial pick that happened to turn out alright. Can the same be said of the Caleb Banks decision? Someday, perhaps, but not everyone thinks it will turn out well.

To begin, there’s a reflection on the influence of Minnesota’s defensive coordinator. Some Sando and some NFL executive thoughts:

“The takeaway from the Minnesota draft is that (defensive coordinator) Brian Flores has a lot of say in the building,” an exec said.

In 2019, when Flores was the Dolphins’ new head coach, many believed he wanted to draft defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, who was not invited to the combine after video footage (from 2016, when Simmons was in high school) showed him punching a woman while she was on the ground. The Dolphins, then led by fourth-year GM Chris Grier, instead drafted Christian Wilkins, a solid player with less perceived risk.

Flores got his guy this time. There is no denying the immense talent Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks brings to the field — if he makes it there after breaking his left foot before the 2025 season and again at the combine.

Consider another opinion: “‘Caleb Banks is really talented but does not play with great desire and is hurt all the time,’ a different exec said. ‘Scares me to death.'”

Likewise, there’s skepticism about the merit of moving on from Jonathan Greenard. “‘Greenard is too good of a player at a premium position to let go,’ a fourth exec said. ‘You gotta figure out a way to make that one work.'”

Note that there’s some optimism about the Jake Golday addition sprinkled into the mix, with a different NFL executive insisting that he’s “‘a perfect scheme fit for what Flores wants to do on the edge there.'”

Add it together and there’s an overwhelming takeaway: the Vikings made some risky decisions that defied expectations. People outside of the NFL and inside of the NFL don’t see things working out particularly well. Or, at the very least, there’s a widespread leaning toward a more negative assessment.

Minnesota’s path toward a strong draft haul begins with DT Caleb Banks. Seeing him turn into an elite defensive lineman who generates All Pro attention will mean that Vikings did tremendously well. Falling short of that lofty ideal means criticism will be upcoming, especially if the problem ends up being due to his health.

What should be remembered, though, is that the Vikings aren’t betting everything on the powerful defensive lineman. Minnesota’s legendary 2015 draft is considered so remarkable not because of the 1st-Round selection (CB Trae Waynes) but due to the 2nd-Round selection (LB Eric Kendricks), 3rd-Round selection (EDGE Danielle Hunter), and 5th-Round selection (WR Stefon Diggs).

So, keep an eye on what the other young lads do. They’ll be leaned on to help the Minnesota Vikings, too. Getting a stud in the Golday selection, the Domonique Orange add, and/or the various others (I’ve got my eye on CB Chuck Demmings) will mean that the chorus of critics start singing a different song. Even the UDFA haul has a role to play.

Next week, the Vikings are going to get into rookie minicamp. There will then be OTAs alongside mandatory minicamp coming up (read more). The other most notable story to watch is how these young fellas develop alongside whether the Vikings get a Jauan Jennings deal done.