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Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper says his side cannot let the outcome of Everton’s game with Wolves affect preparations for their clash with Arsenal. Forest welcome the Gunners to the City Ground on Saturday night knowing that if Everton lose at Molineux earlier in the day then a victory for them would ensure their survival. Even if they lose against Arsenal they could virtually be safe if West Ham beat Leeds and Leicester lose at Newcastle. But Cooper is wary of the attention being anywhere other than a hugely difficult fixture against Mikel Arteta’s side. “I understand, but the opposite could happen as well,” the Welshman said in reference to Everton losing. “In the end it’s about us trying to get whatever we can out of our game. If stuff outside of us helps us then great but the other teams will be thinking that about our game as well. “We’ve got one of the toughest games you can have, there’s no doubt about that. “There’s a lot of thinking you can do outside of your own game and the impact it might have but you’ve still got to go and play the game and whatever happens before and after the biggest determination of the weekend has to be on what we do. We’ve got one of the toughest games you can have, there’s no doubt about that Steve Cooper “Anything can happen this weekend and that’s why I think that we’ve got to be careful that you don’t let your mind wander too much into good or negative outcomes. That’s dangerous, we’ve got to just focus on the game. “We’re in control of our game and performance, decision-making and what we do. All of the other stuff and what we want to achieve and happen is motivation but you have to focus on what achieves your motivation and outcome. “You’ve got to understand context, of course, and we do but I don’t want the context of ‘what if’s’, good bad or in between that. At the forefront of our mind is what does it take to be at our best because we need to be against Arsenal.”

Lyon boosted their chances of securing a place in Europe next season by coming from behind to claim a 3-1 Ligue 1 win over Monaco, whose slim hopes of finishing in the Champions League spots have been dashed. Within seconds of kick-off, Wissam Ben Yedder was upended in the area by Anthony Lopes, who was sent the wrong way from the resulting spot-kick by the Monaco forward at the Groupama Stadium. But Lyon regrouped and had several chances to draw level before they did through Alexandre Lacazette seven minutes before half-time, with the former Arsenal striker finishing from Bradley Barcola’s cutback. A diving header from Lacazette after the break was saved by Alexander Nubel but the Monaco goalkeeper could then only parry Rayan Cherki’s strike, with Maxence Caqueret converting the 57th-minute rebound. Cherki then got on the scoresheet himself 12 minutes from time after cutting in from the right and firing beyond Nubel to down Monaco, who are now unable to catch third-placed Marseille. Lyon remain seventh but are just a point behind Lille in fifth, albeit having played a game more. Lille take on Marseille on Saturday. Freiburg moved level on points with fourth-placed Union Berlin in the Bundesliga courtesy of a 2-0 victory over Wolfsburg in their final home game of the season. Substitute Christian Gunter opened the scoring within moments of being brought on as a substitute in the 70th minute alongside Nils Petersen, who wrapped up victory with a quarter of an hour to go. Nicolas Hofler was given his marching orders in the final few seconds but it did not affect a result which boosted Freiburg’s hopes of claiming a Champions League spot next term. Theo Bongonda’s second-half brace lifted Cadiz four points clear of the LaLiga drop zone after a 2-0 win over Real Valladolid, who had Martin Hongla sent off and stay just a point above the bottom three. Monza moved up to eighth in Serie A after hitting back from a goal down to win 2-1 at 10-man Sassuolo, with Matteo Pessina handing the visitors all three points in added-on time.

Tottenham acting head coach Ryan Mason has challenged Richarlison to finish the campaign strongly and give supporters a glimpse of what could be in store next season. The Brazil international has endured a difficult first year at Spurs, scoring only three goals in 33 appearances following a £60million move from Everton last July. Richarlison himself described his season as ‘s***’ in March and even when he got off the mark for Tottenham in the Premier League at Anfield last month his celebrations were cut short after Diogo Jota netted a stoppage-time winner. It saw West Ham forward Michail Antonio and Newcastle striker Callum Wilson make fun of Richarlison on The Footballer’s Football podcast after previous occasions where he took his top off only to be denied by the offside flag. Interim boss Mason made his feelings known on the behaviour of Antonio and Wilson while backing his player to shine ahead of Saturday’s last home game of the season against Brentford “As a coach, I wouldn’t do it and as a player, I’ve never done it as well,” former Tottenham and Hull midfielder Mason insisted. “I don’t really like that type of thing. We’re all trying to do our best, we’re all professionals, we’re working hard. “We dedicate our lives to get to this level and to compete at this level, so I don’t really like that type of thing personally. “Richy, I don’t think he’s thinking about other players. I think it is his own pride and his own determination that will probably drive that most of all. “Maybe he’s heard it, maybe seen it? Maybe. Maybe it might give him a little bit more (motivation). I’m not sure. “He’s a fighter, who works hard, trains hard and I’ve never seen someone that’s shirked responsibility. “Yes, of course, we would have wanted more goals and he would have wanted more goals from himself, but that’s not happened. “Hopefully now he can influence the last two games and score goals to help us. “And then I’m sure come pre-season, he’ll come back full of energy to really show us what he’s really all about.” Goals for Richarlison will help ensure Spurs bid farewell to their campaign at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on a positive note. It has been a difficult campaign on and off the pitch, with the club searching for a new head coach and managing director of football while chairman Daniel Levy continues to feel the ire of the fanbase at home and away fixtures. Mason wants to give the supporters on Saturday plenty to shout about, he added: “It’s part of our job, it’s our duty to go there and show the energy. “You naturally understand the frustration because it’s been an up-and-down season and we’ve been quite inconsistent. “So, it’s normal that fans feel that, but ultimately the fans are coming to the stadium, they work hard, they pay their money and they’re coming to support us. “That’s the first thought in their mind and as a group of players representing the club, we want to show our appreciation and show the energy to try and get a positive result.” While Richarlison is the future of Tottenham, Lucas Moura will soon be the past, with Saturday set to be his final home outing ahead of his summer departure. Another forward that Spurs have big hopes for is teenager Dane Scarlett, who is out in Argentina with England for the Under-20 World Cup. Scarlett recently returned to Hotspur Way after a challenging loan spell at Portsmouth where he scored six goals in 40 appearances. But Mason said: “I have seen Dane in the last week or so since he came back and he looks different from a physical point of view. “You can feel that he has played men’s football so from that point of view I am sure he is in a better place than he was 12 months ago. “But at the same time going into an Under-20 World Cup, it is a great opportunity for him and probably a different style and different type of football he will come up against. “I am sure he will go into that challenge full of confidence.”

Erik ten Hag is confident Manchester United and Marcus Rashford will “find each other” regarding the forward’s contract situation. Rashford has only one year left on his deal at the club he has played for since the age of seven. The 25-year-old rubbished reports earlier this year that he was demanding £500,000 per week but the situation continues to drag on. Ten Hag is publicly calm, saying: “I know (it is taking time), but I don’t talk about the process. “This is not important at the moment for me or Rashy. For him, it is to get more goals this season and he is playing a wonderful season and the team is playing a wonderful season. “We have to get into the Champions League and focus on that. Marcus wants to stay and we want him to stay, so I think we will find each other.” The uncertainty over United’s takeover process will inevitably lead to concern about their prospects for the summer transfer window. Ten Hag said: “We do our job in the background and we are working hard but, for now, it is about games, getting into the Champions League and the FA Cup. “For me, it is about finance and that there is the money available to do the right things.” United have a big fortnight ahead, with their final three Premier League matches determining whether they will qualify for the Champions League before a first FA Cup final showdown with Manchester City. Up first is a trip to Bournemouth on Saturday, where United, who could be without the unwell Rashford, will look to put their away struggles behind them. Eight of the Red Devils’ nine league defeats this season have come on the road, with their last three trips away from Old Trafford yielding just one point between them. Marcus wants to stay and we want him to stay, so I think we will find each other Erik ten Hag Ten Hag said: “I think there are some reasons. For instance, one thing is clear and that is from the back we have to be better on the ball. “But we have one opportunity tomorrow to show that we can improve and we definitely have to improve for next season.” Manchester City are moving ever close to matching United’s achievement of winning the treble, adding an extra edge to the FA Cup final on June 3. Asked if he is relishing the opportunity to stop City, Ten Hag said: “When we have three games and (the Premier League) is gone, yes, I will enjoy it. Before that, it is not important at all. “I think we have to keep doing what we have all season, improve every day and improve every game and not look too far ahead. Focusing on the next game is the most important.”

NFL legend, actor and social activist Jim Brown has died at the age of 87

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said Friday he’s planning to meet with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman about the possibility of moving the Arizona Coyotes to Hartford

The sports world reacts to the announcement that Jim Brown, an NFL star, social activist and actor, has died at the age of 87

Poorly as Phil Mickelson acknowledges he played in the opening two rounds of the PGA Championship, “Lefty” can hang his optimism one one thing: He's likely to make the cut at Oak Hill

Jim Brown, the transcendent athlete-actor-activist who ran roughshod over the NFL and its record books in the 1950s and 1960s and won multiple MVP awards before retiring abruptly at age 30 to focus on the civil rights movement and a career in Hollywood, has died, his former team and his widow said Friday. He was 87.

Southern California athletic director Mike Bohn has resigned

Wales greats Alun Wyn Jones and Justin Tipuric have stunned the rugby world by announcing their international retirements

Juventus is in more legal trouble after the Italian soccer federation charged the club and seven former team directors with alleged fraud for the way they handled player salary cuts during the coronavirus pandemic