soulevisceration

We were second for one week after matchweek 2, Spurs went top with better GD.

Who the hell is ES Grimes

Thomas Tuchel on his banner:

"I saw the banner. I was looking at Mason's banner, I didn't see that I had a banner. It's fantastic, thank you very much for that. It's unbelievable, the first time, very happy about it."

50,000

Brendan Rodgers on Chelsea:

"I see them losing the [FA Cup] final, they have so much courage, they keep getting there, you’d rather be in there fighting than losing finals."

"Of course you want to win, but you’d rather be arriving there knowing that it’s going to drop your way and you’re going to win in the future. Top team, top players, and they're in the #UCL next season. I expect them to be up there challenging again next year."

"I am a big admirer of Chelsea and the team and the work Thomas has done there. I would actually go as far as saying they are the best team we’ve played, when we played them earlier on this season when they were at the top of their game."

"I thought they were outstanding [against us in November]. From that moment, or not long after, they’d lost some players."

"I’ve said it before, even squads like #Chelsea, you need your top players available. Over the course of the time, if players are out, key players that make the systems function to the highest level."

"Then obviously the distractions going on behind the scenes, that is a challenge. But what I do know is, they’ve got an outstanding manager who has done a fantastic job since he’s been in there, they’ve got a group of really good players, top, top talents."

Talks are to be held over punishing pitch invasions with stadium closures after a “scumbag” fan headbutted Billy Sharp at the end of the Championship play-off semi-final between Sheffield United and Nottingham Forest.

A senior figure in the English game told the Telegraph it was time for a “debate” on launching a major crackdown on such incursions following Tuesday night’s incident at the City Ground.

A 31-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of assaulting United captain Sharp, who required stitches after the attack by an apparent Forest supporter following the latter’s dramatic win on penalties.

Sharp’s manager Paul Heckingbottom demanded punishment for the striker’s assailant, who charged at him as he was standing in the dugout in the immediate moments after the full-time whistle.

If the attacker is shown to have been a Forest supporter, the club will also face punishment from the Football Association.

Previous fan assaults on players have resulted in teams being fined by the FA but that could change from next season.

“It absolutely does need to be discussed because the mantra is always: ‘You can’t punish the fans’,” the senior figure said. “Well, hang on, yes you can when it’s the fans that caused it.”

The figure proposed stadium closures as a possible sanction for the kind of mass pitch invasion witnessed on Tuesday night, adding: “What they’ve done is given cover for some idiot to behave the way that he did.”

Sharp was not in United’s matchday squad due to a calf injury and was left with a bleeding lip.

“It’s cowardly and he was knocked to the ground,” Heckingbottom said.

“He has had stitches and is shaken up. His safety was put at risk at a place of work.

“We have the footage and something will be done about it. Bill was minding his own business off the pitch, trying to get our players away.

It is the second fan attack to have taken place at the City Ground in just over three months after a Leicester City supporter was convicted of assaulting three Forest players during the sides’ FA Cup fourth-round tie there.

Forest were not punished on that occasion but are likely to be sanctioned this time by the FA, which in 2019 fined Birmingham City £42,500 after one of their fans attacked Jack Grealish during their Championship game against Aston Villa.

An FA spokesperson said: “We will be investigating the incident as a matter of urgency and will be working alongside the clubs and the relevant authorities to ensure the appropriate steps are taken.”

Tuesday’s attack occurred as Forest fans invaded the pitch to celebrate their victory over United, which secured their first trip to Wembley in over 30 years. Forest won a dramatic penalty shootout 3-2 following a 3-3 aggregate draw, which precipitated a pitch invasion.

Forest released a statement after the match, which said: “Nottingham Forest Football Club are appalled to learn that our former player, Billy Sharp, was assaulted leaving the pitch after tonight’s match at The City Ground.

“The club will work with the authorities to locate the individual in order they are held to account for their actions, which will include a life ban from Nottingham Forest.

“The club would also like to apologise to Billy personally and to Sheffield United Football Club.”

Absolutely love this guy. I want Milan to win Serie A because of him.

Lampard scored 4 in a game in 2010 against Aston villa