LiveScore Daily: Today's football news in bite-sized chunks

Matthew Hill
LiveScore
Sebastien Haller scored twice in Borussia Dortmund's win at Augsburg
Sebastien Haller scored twice in Borussia Dortmund's win at Augsburg

LiveScore Daily is here to deliver all the big talking points from the world of football throughout the day. Keep refreshing this page for the latest stories in bite-sized chunks.

Hal of fame

Sebastien Haller admits his role in Borussia Dortmund's push for Bundesliga glory has been beyond even his wildest dreams.

BVB regained control of this season's dramatic title race when beating Augsburg 3-0 yesterday, having seen arch-rivals Bayern Munich slip up in a 3-1 home defeat to RB Leipzig 24 hours earlier.

Haller, 28, scored twice in the win and having only returned from a battle with testicular cancer in January, the Ivory Coast international now stands on the cusp of a fairytale success. 

Victory over Mainz on Saturday will seal the title for Dortmund and Haller confessed: "If someone would have told me this six months ago, I would not have believed it. 

"Let's say it's destiny, I don’t know! But we just need to believe. Stay positive between each other because a lot of things are possible if we believe and stick together.

"The last month since I've been here, I have seen a lot of good things in the group and I can tell you we are not finished."

Silky Ilkay

Ilkay Gundogan has helped Manchester City clinch yet another Premier League title
Ilkay Gundogan has helped Manchester City clinch yet another Premier League title

Roy Keane has dished out some uncharacteristic praise in the direction of Manchester City ace Ilkay Gundogan.

Keane, who enjoyed huge success captaining City's bitter rivals Manchester United during the Alex Ferguson era, was listening in to Gundogan's post-match thoughts after their 1-0 victory over Chelsea.

The German international, 32, has now lifted five Premier League titles with the Citizens but was typically humble about his own contribution to that success.

He told Micah Richards: "I am not the most special player in terms of giving decisive assists or scoring decisive goals, although occasionally that may happen.

"But I think my qualities are more in terms of bringing my team-mates into the best possible situation, to give them the most easy solutions and leading them to simple situations."

That led Keane, 51, to eventually interject, saying: "I would like to disagree. You said you are not a special player but I think you are a special player. Well done."

Gundogan's future at the Etihad remains unclear, with both Barcelona and Arsenal said to be tracking the out-of-contract star.

Cov are coming

Wembley will host all three Football League play-off finals this coming bank holiday weekend
Wembley will host all three Football League play-off finals this coming bank holiday weekend

Coventry have sold their entire ticket allocation for Saturday's Championship play-off final against Luton.

Mark Robins' men are one win away from a Premier League return and will be backed at Wembley by over 36,000 fans — with their opponents having sold 28,600 tickets themselves.

Both the Sky Blues and the Hatters have graced the top tier before but have more recently endured spells at the bottom end of the English Football League. 

As well as a coveted spot in the Premier League, the winner of the contest is set to bag a financial windfall in the region of £140million. 

Carlisle and Stockport will meet a day later in the League Two play-off final, before Sheffield Wednesday and Barnsley do battle for a place in next season's Championship on Monday.

Sou's swim

Graeme Souness is taking on a new challenge for charity
Graeme Souness is taking on a new challenge for charity

Graeme Souness will swim the English Channel to raise money for a rare skin condition charity.

Ex-Liverpool, Rangers and Scotland legend Souness, 70, only stepped back from his long-standing role as a Sky Sports pundit earlier this month.

And he is diving straight into a fresh challenge, hoping to raise £1.1million for the Debra charity, which supports those suffering from a rare condition known commonly as 'butterfly skin'.

Souness was inspired to do something after meeting 14-year-old sufferer Isla Grist and will now swim the 21-mile route alongside Isla's Dad in an attempt to fund more research into the illness.

He explained: "She is just unbelievably courageous, brave and strong.

"It is just the most horrendous disease and if you are affected by it you must wake up every morning and think, 'Why me?'

"We need to get on top of this condition because it is brutal."

Taylor-made

Gareth Taylor hopes to stay on at Manchester City
Gareth Taylor hopes to stay on at Manchester City

Gareth Taylor is reportedly close to extending his stay as Manchester City boss.

The 50-year-old has been in charge of the Women's Super League outfit since May 2020 and has overseen another positive campaign, with City's title challenge only fading in recent weeks.

Reports suggest a new one-year deal has been tabled by the club, though no formal announcement has yet been made.

After yesterday's stoppage-time defeat to Manchester United, Taylor reaffirmed his desire to stay, saying: "I love the club. I work hard, I love working with the players, so I don't see anything changing on that front."

Tags

Borussia DortmundSebastien HallerBundesligaManchester CityPremier LeagueIlkay GuendoganCoventryChampionshipManchester City WomenWomen’s Super League