Arsenal denied Liverpool the chance to win the Premier League title this weekend as they comfortably beat 10-man Ipswich at Portman Road. In their first match since seeing off Real Madrid to reach the Champions League semi-finals, the Gunners produced another excellent display against an Ipswich side on the verge of relegation. Arsenal dominated from kick-off and took the lead in the 14th minute when Bukayo Saka's cross into the box was helped on by a slight touch from Martin Odegaard and turned into the net by Leandro Trossard. They doubled their lead after more good work by Saka, whose cross into the area was cleverly flicked on by Mikel Merino for Gabriel Martinelli to tap into an empty net. Ipswich's task was then made even harder when Leif Davis was shown a red card in the 32nd minute for a poor tackle on Saka. Trossard added his second of the game in the 69th minute when he finished smartly from inside the area after a well-worked Arsenal short corner. Substitute Ethan Nwaneri scored a fourth for Arsenal with a deflected shot two minutes from time. The Gunners had good chances to score more - one for Merino and two for Saka - and Mikel Arteta would have expected them to be taken. This was Ipswich's seventh home defeat of 2025, which leaves them clinging on to their Premier League status for one more week. This victory delayed Liverpool's inevitable title win but the focus for the Gunners is on their Champions League campaign. Mikel Arteta is going to be without Thomas Partey for the first leg of their semi-final against Paris St-Germain on 29 April, and took the opportunity to trial a midfield that could take to the pitch for that game. Declan Rice, who has been so good in his number eight role in recent weeks, was pushed deeper to anchor the Arsenal midfield, while Merino - who has been playing as a makeshift striker - was used in his natural midfield role. They were joined in the middle by captain Odegaard, who linked up superbly with Saka on the right-hand side of the pitch. The Norway international was involved in both of Arsenal's first-half goals. The only concern for the Gunners at Portman Road was that Saka required strapping to his ankle once he was substituted in the 57th minute, as a result of the tackle that led to Davis' red card, as Arteta looked to protect his key man. Arsenal take on Crystal Palace next but these games feel like a build-up to their season-defining Champions League assignment. Ipswich were never really in this match - and it sums up their struggles that they have now lost 20 of 33 Premier League games this season. Manager Kieran McKenna admitted in his matchday programme notes that his side were unlikely to achieve their aim of staying up. Defeat here rendered their survival mission all but mathematically impossible. Ipswich possess some exciting young players but they did not have enough quality to pose Arsenal any problems and their ability to attack was made more difficult after Davis was sent off. Striker George Hirst was starved of any service but did go close in the second half when he broke away on an Ipswich counter-attack and curled just wide. Liam Delap has been excellent for Ipswich this season, scoring 12 Premier League goals, but the forward was only fit enough to be on the bench after picking up a rib injury in the match with Wolves. Ipswich visit Newcastle United next Saturday looking to delay confirmation of a drop back to the Championship.

Easter weekend in the EFL is an English football staple and, after a pulsating round of games on Good Friday, we're all set to go again on Monday. There are three games of the regular season remaining and plenty of drama in store at the top and bottom of the Championship, League One and League Two. Lets take a look at what could happen when the pendulum takes another huge swing to close out the long weekend... It has been an exciting race for automatic promotion from the Championship, with Leeds United, Burnley and Sheffield United swapping places in the top three for much of the season. But three defeats in succession for the Blades recently has opened up a five-point gap between themselves and the top two. Although they returned to winning ways against Cardiff City on Good Friday, they may be consigned to a place in the play-offs in order to secure an immediate Premier League return come Monday night. Chris Wilder's men travel to Burnley (17:30 BST) knowing a loss, coupled with a Leeds win over Stoke at Elland Road (15:00) will end their hopes of a top-two finish. But Leeds boss Daniel Farke isn't getting too carried away after his side's 1-0 win at Oxford United on Friday. "I've had so many games in this crazy league, I know what can happen," he told BBC Radio Leeds. "We are in really good shape. When you hit win after win after win in the crunch-time period it is always really good. We are in a good position but nothing is done yet. "You have to fight for every point. The upcoming games will be difficult, you have to keep your nerve. This league is relentless and to succeed you have to be relentless and this is what we are but we have to keep going." Burnley, meanwhile, control their own destiny and manager Scott Parker has no doubts about his squad's mentality as they look to complete the job. "This group, in terms of a mindset, just find a way," he told BBC Radio Lancashire. "There is quality there of course, but in those moments, the mentality can get you there." Victory would also secure a joint-record for the Clarets, making it 31 non-play-off Championship wins in a single season - which Reading did in 2005-06. It has been a long, hard season for Plymouth Argyle, who had won just four of 23 Championship matches when Wayne Rooney departed in December. Since then, they have kept themselves in with a chance of survival under Miron Muslic, but their time is running out fast. Their last-gasp defeat at Middlesbrough on Friday was a body blow to their hopes of staying up, and they could be all but extinguished if results go against them on Monday. They host Frank Lampard's in-form Coventry City side, while Derby County, hovering just above the drop zone, travel to West Brom. While the gap between the two sides is only three points, Argyle's poor goal difference is the problem; it is 28 goals worse than the Rams'. Effectively, if the Pilgrims are beaten by Coventry and Derby win at the Hawthorns, they will be six points adrift with two games remaining and facing a near impossible task to stay up but Muslic will be buoyed by his side having won their last two games at Home Park - against Sheffield United and Norwich. Should results go against Plymouth, it would also end West Brom's slim chances of a top-six finish this season as they would be nine points adrift of the Sky Blues in the final play-off spot. After Birmingham's title win, the race for the second automatic promotion spot in League One is looking extremely tight, with Wrexham one point behind Wycombe. But arguably the most exciting battle is that for the final play-off place, with six points separating Leyton Orient, the current occupiers, and Blackpool in 10th. The Tangerines also have a game in hand, though it is against the champions. Steve Bruce's side welcome Wrexham, while Orient travel to struggling Cambridge who could be relegated on Monday if they fail to win. Reading, level on points with the O's, go to Mansfield while eighth and ninth-placed Bolton and Huddersfield go to Lincoln and Stockport respectively. Defeat for the Terriers would end their hopes of an instant Championship return, with the gap currently standing at five points for them after their home defeat to Cambridge on Friday. Interim boss Jon Worthington told BBC Radio Leeds that his side will fight until the end to keep promotion hopes alive. "Until it is mathematically impossible, we'll keep fighting," he said. "We have to do that for the club. "Stockport are a good side, they've had a really good season but we've got to focus on ourselves." Incidentally, a point for Stockport will secure their own play-off place. Carlisle United looked all but certain to exit the EFL this season when Mark Hughes arrived as manager in February. But they now have a genuine hope of survival after winning their last three games, cutting the gap to safety from nine points to four. Friday's 3-2 victory over leaders Port Vale puts them four points behind Tranmere Rovers, who go to Barrow on Monday, and six adrift of Accrington Stanley, their next opponents. While Accrington received a confidence boost by beating Salford on Friday, it was their first win in six, and Hughes is hoping his side can add more pressure on those above them with another win. "We're still fighting," Hughes told BBC Radio Cumbria. "It isn't over until its over. We're in the best possible place; momentum is important at any stage but for us to win three games back-to-back is huge for us." Bottom club Morecambe will be relegated if they fail to beat Salford. Meanwhile, the race at the top is equally as captivating. With seven points separating leaders Port Vale and Notts County in sixth, all the teams in between have hope of going up automatically. Vale will be looking to bounce back from the loss at Carlisle when they host a Grimsby Town side very much still in the play-off race. It is a similar permutation for second-placed Doncaster Rovers, who host Colchester, a team who sit level on points with Grimsby in the final play-off spot. Stumbling Walsall can steal a march on the pack in the early game with a win at Newport County (12:30 BST), while third-placed Bradford City go to Chesterfield who also have seventh place in their sights.

Bukayo Saka's ankle injury is "nothing serious" after he was forced off during Arsenal's 4-0 Premier League win at Ipswich on Sunday, manager Mikel Arteta said. The winger was injured by a high challenge on the back of his ankle in the 32nd minute by Leif Davis, who was sent off. England international Saka was substituted early in the second half and was pictured with strapping on his ankle. Arteta said the winger was "sore" - but added that the decision to take him off was just a precaution, with Arsenal facing the first leg of their Champions League semi-final against Paris St-Germain on 29 April. "He was a bit sore, but it's nothing serious, so it's good," Arteta said. "I haven't seen the slow motion, I've just seen the normal pace image and yeah, he cuts him from the back. "I don't think it's intentional at all, but it's dangerous because he cannot really react to anything, because you cannot see him coming." Arsenal have suffered an injury-hit campaign, with Saka, Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus all absent for long periods. And Arteta acknowledged that because of that, he does get concerned when he sees one of his players struggling during a match. "I do," he said, "especially with the numbers that we have right now and especially when they are back to goal, because normally it's the moment when the foot is planted, your weight is there, and you cannot really react to it, but he's fine." Arteta was thrilled with the way his players kept up their levels four days after sealing a Champions League semi-final place with a victory over Real Madrid at the Bernabeu. "I think the first 35 minutes is one of the best 35 minutes we played this season," Arteta said. "We scored two goals [in the first half]; we could have scored three or four to be fair. "We really dominated the game. Very high intensity and understanding what we had to do today to win here. "And after, obviously, when they got the red card, the context of the game changed and we were much in control, scored another two goals, made certain rotations, so overall a very positive afternoon." With PSG to consider, Arteta must now decide whether to rest key players for Wednesday's Premier League home game against Crystal Palace. "We have to somehow put 11 players out there and have four or five changes, so let's see how they recover in the next few days," Arteta said. "The good thing is they are willing to play because they like the rhythm as well. "We are so used to that rhythm every three days that the boys are demanding and then we don't have a game at the weekend, so we have a gap there, so let's see how we get on Wednesday." At Portman Road, Arteta selected a midfield perhaps with PSG in mind - as Thomas Partey will be suspended for the first leg of the semi-final. The manager moved Declan Rice to a deeper midfield role, with Mikel Merino - who has been playing as a makeshift striker - taking up his natural position in the middle. Leandro Trossard came in up front and scored two goals - and is ready to start against PSG if needed, according to Arteta. "Yeah, he's certainly ready to play in any position," he said. "We have to make certain adjustments, not because of PSG but because of the situation we had with Thomas and a few other players. "But that's good because the team shows adaptability, versatility for certain players to play in different positions. And that's very much needed, especially when we have the numbers that we have at the moment."

Nearly two years ago, when Brendan Rodgers was mulling over a return to the role of Celtic manager, he caught up with captain Callum McGregor. During Rodgers first spell at the helm, the midfielder was learning from the armband-wearing Scott Brown while continually nudging his level up a notch. All the ingredients were there when Rodgers left, but when he returned, the McGregor masterpiece was fully made and the pair, who previously enjoyed so much success together, vowed to make more. With three trophies in the cabinet since the Northern Irishman came back, another Premiership title edging ever closer, and a Scottish Cup final against Aberdeen to come, the indomitable duo of Rodgers and McGregor are sticking to their word. "We were talking about trying to win as many trophies as we can, be as dominant as we can, keep pushing the club," McGregor said of that chat with Rodgers after opening the scoring in Sunday's thumping cup semi-final win over St Johnstone. "He's a manager that's done so much for my career and put so much trust and faith in me, so, every time I go on the pitch I try and repay that for him. "The best way to do that is by winning trophies." With 23 trophies in 11 years, former Scotland international McGregor knows a thing or two about doing just that. He's a serial winner. Level on accolades with Lisbon Lions captain Billy McNeill, only Bobby Lennox and current team-mate James Forrest are ahead of him on the roll of honour. Should Celtic seal the Premiership title - they can do so on Saturday against Dundee United - Forrest will move ahead, on his own, as the most decorated Celt. Rather than focus on his own player of the match performance, he was keen to heap praise on his long-time pal who has "dedicated his life" to the club. McGregor, 31, is at the stage where reaching, and winning, finals is "normal". The Celtic captain will now prepare for a 15th domestic cup final. He's never lost any of the previous 14. It's a winning feeling that he craves. "If you ask any football player, success is addictive," he added. "It becomes a habit. You just keep wanting more and that's what we're trying to instil in the team. "When we get to these moments, they become normal. You have to win, you have to play well. "So, as much as we can normalise that and keep being successful then hopefully that will keep the group in a good place." No matter Celtic's dominance in the last decade-plus, it's still frankly outrageous that winning has become so commonplace. But such has been the way of it under Rodgers. The Northern Irishman is on the cusp of his own slice of history, as the first Celtic manager to oversee three trebles. His first was secured in the most dramatic of fashions against Aberdeen in 2017, with Tom Rogic's extra-time goal clinching the Scottish Cup. Since then, what used to be a rare achievement has become a yearly target for Celtic, Rodgers and "the glue" to it all, McGregor. Even from afar, the understanding the pair have is evident. The manager fleetingly singles players out, but he's never shy to do so with his captain. "He is such a unique player, the tempo setter for the team," Rodgers told BBC Scotland after the St Johnstone game. "He's tactically so good, he really is a coach on the pitch. "He sees all the pictures we want and he knows when to release himself to shoot or create goals. A wonderful player who is the glue for this team." When McGregor is missing - rare as that is - it's undeniably noticeable. See the defeat by Rangers last month for a recent example. But with him, Celtic are a different animal.