Klopp vs Scandinavian reporter

GM football fans. Route One here, the only football newsletter that will decide to become a sports newsletter then admit it’s a mistake two weeks later. Unlike Premier League refs, we will tell you when we get things wrong. We’re back baby.

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Founder’s Notes

In case you missed the message above… we’re going back to being a newsletter just for the greatest sport in the world - eh um - football (soccer, for our readers across the pond). 

The messages from hundreds of you confirmed that we messed up. As Pelé once said, “Enthusiasm is everything.” While the late great Brazilian would be thrilled with our enthusiasm, we might have taken it a little too far this time. 

But, the show must go on. From today, expect your inbox to be blessed with a hand-crafted, perfect balance of football news, laughs and results. We’re keeping the new look but we’re going back to our roots.

And, remember, sharing is caring. If anyone you know loves football, let them know about us by forwarding this email to them or using your personalised referral code below. It means the world to us!

Tim, R1 founder.

Head Start

FA Cup

Klopp vs Scandinavian reporter

If you spent Sunday afternoon looking for a new sofa bed at Ikea, you would have missed a classic FA Cup QF fixture: Liverpool vs Manchester United.

The score? 4-3 to Ten Hag’s United side. But that only tells half the story. It was wild. Here’s a quick recap:

• In the 120-minute game, there were 53 shots. That’s one shot every 135 seconds.

• After normal time ended 2-2, Rashford put United ahead.

• That’s 3-2 United. Then Harvey Elliot scored an equaliser.

• That’s 3-3. 

• Then Amad knocked out Liverpool with a late-minute winner and received a second yellow card for taking his shirt off while celebrating. 

While it all seems very bizarre, it was Jurgen Klopp’s post-match interview with a Scandanavian presenter that went south. Annoyed at the reporter’s question, Klopp storms out while saying, “You are obviously not in great shape.” Here’s the full clip. 

Anyway… the FA Cup Semi-final looks like this: Coventry vs Manchester United & Manchester City vs Chelsea. 

If you’re looking for the FA Cup results, click here.

Premier League

Toughest run in 

Opta Analyst, the brightest nerds in all of football have told us who has the toughest Premier League run-in coming up.

We won’t bore you with the details but… we’ve checked Opta’s calculations and they’ve done a good job (we think).

Who has it the worst?

• Brighton have the toughest run… sorry De Zerb.

• Aston Villa, Arsenal and Luton are all in the top six for the toughest run too… Spurs are expected to pip Villa to fourth based on Opta’s numbers. 

Who has it the best?

• Brentford have it ‘easiest’.

• Liverpool has the most favourable run compared to the other title contenders.

• Newcastle and Chelsea fans will be happy with where they rank too. 

Does this mean much?

Kinda yes, kinda no. 

The difference between the easiest fixture rank and the toughest fixture rank is small…

… and in football (especially in the Premier League) anything can happen but it might make Liverpool fans a little more optimistic and Luton fans hopeful of survival a little more pessimistic before the last 10 games.

Ball Knowledge

→ Mo Salah has scored 13 goals in 14 appearances against Manchester United for Liverpool; no player has scored more goals against a current Premier League club since Salah joined the Reds than this (Harry Kane also 13 v Everton).

→ Manchester City are the first team in FA Cup history to reach the semi-finals in six consecutive seasons.

→ Sammie Szmodics of Blackburn is still the FA Cup top-goal scorer this season with 6 goals - none from penalties.

→ Liverpool have had 23 goals scored by substitutes in all competitions this season (excl. own goals), the most of any side across Europe’s big-five leagues in 2023-24.

→ Cole Palmer has both scored and assisted a goal in six separate games for Chelsea in all competitions this season, the most any Premier League player has done so in 2023-24.

Off The Pitch

World News

🇷🇺 Vladimir Putin won the pre-determined presidential election in Russia with a whopping 87.8% of the vote, where opposition was banned (More)

😠 More than 74 people have been detained in 17 cities across Russia for taking part in “Noon against Putin” protests (More)

🕊️ Cockney Rebel musician Steve Harley dies of cancer against 73 after being forced to cancel his tour earlier this year (More)

🫐 A palm-sized blueberry has entered the record books after being officially crowned the world’s heaviest at 20.4g (0.18oz) (More)

🎨 An artwork which appeared overnight on the side of a building near Finsbury Park in London is suspected of being by street artist Banksy (More)

Extra Time

The North Korean Juventus star who went missing for three years… has now been found.

Yeovil Town Women FC won 29-0 against Porlock F.C. They then wished Porlock a safe journey home on X.

Sergio Reguilon trolls us FPL managers. FPL is tough and even tougher when the player you picked gets sent off and posts a joke about it. 

Michy Batshuayi, remember him? Well, here is a video of him doing a spinning high kick on a Turkish fan who tried to attack him. 

Madueke’s goal yesterday against Lecister was unreal. Chelsea beat Lecister 4-2 to make it to the semi-final of the FA Cup.

On Today

FOOTBALL 

Nothing sorry : (

SNOOKER AND POOL

World Open Snooker: Multiple Matches (06:30 and 11:30 GMT, Discovery +)

League Pool: Week 11 (18:30 GMT, TNT Sports 1)

DARTS

Premier League (19:00 GMT, Sky Sports Action) 

BASKETBALL

NBA: Philadelphia 76ers v Miami Heat (23:30 GMT, TNT Sports 3)

NBA: Golden State Warriors v New York Knicks (02:00 GMT, TNT Sports 3)

COMBAT

WWE: Live Late Night Raw (01:00 GMT, TNT Sports 1)

HOCKEY

NHL: Multiple Matches (23:00 GMT, Viaplay)

*EST -5. PST -8. CET +1. CST +8. JST +9.

“I learned all about life with a ball at my feet.”

-Ronaldinho, who didn’t learn much about personal finance after going bankrupt last year