Friday’s briefing: Chelsea move back into top four after win over Tottenham

Chelsea put themselves back into the Premier League’s top four with a 1-0 win over Tottenham at Stamford Bridge.

Arsenal suffered a blow after defender Gabriel was ruled out for the rest of the season with a hamstring injury.

England boss Sarina Wiegman takes her side into the first of a Nations League double-header against Belgium on Friday night, while the United Kingdom looks almost certain to host the 2035 Women’s World Cup.

Blues back on the up

Chelsea climbed back into the top four after Enzo Fernandez’s header early in the second half was enough to secure a 1-0 Derby win over Tottenham at Stamford Bridge.

Enzo Maresca’s side were under pressure after limping into the international break playing football which had ceased to excite home fans, but Spurs failed to take advantage of the growing discontent.

VAR also played its part – ruling out goals from Moises Caicedo and Spurs substitute Pape Sarr after half-time – as Chelsea dug in for victory which put their Champions League challenge back on track.

Gabriel adds to Gunners injury woe

Arsenal have been dealt a major blow ahead of their Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid after defender Gabriel was ruled out for the rest of the season.

The Gunners confirmed the Brazilian will require surgery on the hamstring injury he sustained in the 2-1 Premier League win over Fulham on Tuesday.

“Gabi will undergo a surgical repair procedure to his hamstring in the coming days, and immediately begin his recovery and rehabilitation programme, with the aim to be ready for the start of next season,” a statement from Arsenal read.

Lionesses ready to roar

England boss Sarina Wiegman admits she is using the Nations League double-header against Belgium to shape her team for the upcoming European Women’s Championship.

The Lionesses – who drew with Portugal before beating world champions Spain during the last international break – host Belgium in Bristol on Friday night before travelling to Leuven on April 8.

“Of course we go out to play Belgium twice and we want to win those games,” Wiegman said.

“But (we are) also getting the team ready for the Euros (in July) to know who we have available and know who’s in good form.”

Football’s coming home, again

The United Kingdom is all but certain to host a first football World Cup since 1966 after the four-nation plan to stage the women’s finals in 2035 was confirmed as the sole bid by FIFA president Gianni Infantino on Thursday.

Manchester United’s proposed new 100,000-capacity stadium could stage matches at the showpiece tournament in 10 years’ time, with Wembley a likely venue to host the final.

“We have got a number of different stadia being built in the country, potentially Man United, potentially Birmingham, and with a 10-year horizon you have got to work out exactly where you will be then,” Football Association chief executive Mark Bullingham said.

The UK bid will now go unopposed to FIFA Congress next year, when it could be voted through by acclamation, but will still be subject to the usual checks by the game’s global governing body – such as an evaluation report.

What’s on today?

England play the first of two Women’s Nations League matches against Belgium at Ashton Gate on Friday night.

Elsewhere, Scotland host Germany at Tannadice, Wales take on Denmark in Cardiff while in League B, Northern Ireland are away to Romania and the Republic of Ireland face Greece in Crete.

There is domestic action in the Sky Bet Championship when play-off chasing Middlesbrough head to Blackburn.

Several Premier League managers will hold press conferences on Friday – with Eddie Howe, Ruben Amorim, Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola all up on a packed schedule.