There’s always been a tension between connection to place and the commercial reality – but it has never felt more acuteCharlie Hurley, the greatest player Sunderland ever had, died on Monday. He was tough, powerful and composed, captain of Alan Brown’s promotion side of 1963-64, which may have been the best of all postwar Sunderland teams. Certainly...

Evertonians can sleep peacefully in May for the first time in three years. Their team has suffered two points deductions totalling eight points, their club faces an uncertain financial and ownership future, but they will have top flight football for a 71st consecutive year thanks to the superb accomplishments of Sean Dyche and his players.Idrissa Gana...

A record home crowd of 39,398 watched a brave and aggrieved Chelsea endure the end of their Champions League dream at Stamford Bridge. A first-half goal from the mercurial Aitana Bonmatí, Kadeisha Buchanan’s controversial sending-off, and a questionable second-half penalty scored by Fridolina Rolfö denied Emma Hayes’s side a place in the final in Bilbao...

Harry Kane scores twice to take total to career-best 42 goalsBayer Leverkusen grab dramatic 2-2 draw with StuttgartHarry Kane scored once in either half to guide Bayern Munich to a 2-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday and a welcome boost before Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final first leg against Real Madrid.The Bavarians, who saw Bayer...

Premier League updates, 8pm BST kick-off at Villa ParkLive scoreboard | West Ham 2-2 Liverpool | And drop Tim a mailIn other news, Everton have avoided relegation. They needed three points today and got them by beating Brentford 1-0 with a goal from Idrissa Gueye. Since capitulating at Chelsea, Everton have had three games at Goodison Park and won them...

Playoff contenders drop points as Hull prepare to face IpswichHuddersfield all but relegated after draw with BirminghamNorwich and West Brom both dropped points in the battle for Championship playoff places – while Blackburn, Sheffield Wednesday, Plymouth and Birmingham will all go into the final day at risk of relegation, with Huddersfield all but...