Premier League returns - Guardiola news conference

1. All the build-up to the return of Premier League football
2. Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola to speak to media at 13:30 BST
3. Wednesday: Aston Villa v Sheffield United, Manchester City v Arsenal
4. Get involved: #bbcfootball

Thanks and goodbye

That is the end of this live page but you don't have to wait long before more action as we have a live later on from 19:15 BST.

Werder Bremen take on Bayern Munich in the German Bundesliga from 19:30 and a win for Bayern will give them the title.

Then it is over to Spain as La Liga leaders Barcelona play at the Nou Camp against Leganes (kick-off at 21:00).

There will also be a live page on this site from 09:00 BST on Wednesday with all the build-up to the two Premier League matches later that day.

Thanks for joining us and bye for now.

The lockdown cup final

What do you do when you've got to a cup final but can't play any football because of lockdown regulations?

Compile a video of everyone playing, edit it all together and 'play' the game anyway.

We have even got some BBC Radio 5 Live commentary to describe the action. Enjoy.

Sane could feature for first time since August

Getty Images

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola with Arsenal's Mikel Arteta, then his assistant

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says his players are not yet fully fit after the three-month break because of the coronavirus pandemic but has not reported any injury problems.

Aymeric Laporte may return after he missed City's last three games before the pause with a hamstring issue, while Leroy Sane could make his first senior appearance since injuring his knee last August.

Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta says he has no injury doubts.

This game comes too soon for long-term absentees Lucas Torreira and Calum Chambers, who are regaining fitness.

'People will love him more and he'll thrive off that'

We have talked about how the government have changed their mind and extended a scheme to help children get free school meals during the summer after a campaign from Manchester United and England striker Marcus Rashford.

On the Monday Night Club yesterday, our pundits wondered whether Rashford would now be seen as more of a leader on the pitch.

Have a listen to the clip below...

Watch England v Croatia from Euro 2004

BBC Two

We have a Euro 2004 rewind going on right now, so you can watch along as an England team, featuring an 18-year-old Wayne Rooney, David Beckham and Frank Lampard takes on Croatia in a group match at the 2004 European Championship in Portugal.

Watch all the action via BBC Two or at this link.

BBC

'Nobody expected what would happen'

Manchester City

Some more quotes from Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola's news conference ahead of his side's match against Arsenal at Etihad Stadium tomorrow.

Guardiola is asked about the idea of playing games with no fans, something he was critical of before the three-month pause in the season because of the coronavirus pandemic.

He answers: "In that moment, when I made that comment, nobody expected what would happen, not even the doctors. The best scientists in the world didn’t expect what happened in this situation

"Everyone has the permission that when they made comments in that situation, no-one expected this to happen. The health of the people is important but at the end, the Premier League, like in Spain, decided we have to play and we are going to play. The players are human."

'Everyone has written us off already'

Aston Villa

Aston Villa are currently in the Premier League bottom three but will move out of it if they beat Sheffield United at home tomorrow in the first top-flight match since March 9 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Watch below as Villa boss Dean Smith says that his club has "been written off already".

Everybody has written us off already - Villa boss Smith

'We will adapt as quickly as possible'

Manchester City

Guardiola: "Hope you and your families are well. It’s nice to have routine. The way I live is the same as everyone - nothing special.

"All the people who lost family or friends, it’s a difficult time, but we have family to stay strong.

"We are waiting like everyone. What is important is the health of people. But in the end, the Premier League decided we have to play. We are going to play and we will adapt as quickly as possible."

'We have to rotate and use all the players'

Manchester City

More from Pep Guardiola, whose Manchester City side play Arsenal on Wednesday, then Burnley on Monday and Chelsea the following Thursday.

"We are ready to play one game, but three days after another and four days after another... we are not ready," says Guardiola.

"We have to rotate and use all the players. The players are in naturally good physical condition. All I am thinking about is Arsenal. And then how we recover and play against Burnley.

"Tomorrow we will see the level of the team and from there we will see what we can do better. All the teams have had just three weeks, three and a half. It is what it is. Everyone suffered during this situation - personally and economically, and we have to adapt."

Arteta helped us be who we are - Guardiola

Manchester City

Tomorrow night sees Pep Guardiola's Manchester City take on Arsenal, who are managed by his former assistant Mikel Arteta.

In his news conference, Guardiola says: "I'm excited to see Mikel again - one of the nicest people I have ever met. The game belongs to the players.

"We know each other and he knows everything of us. He is an incredibly important part of our recent success. He helped us be who we are."

'The power of social media'

Former Premier League forward Cameron Jerome is quick to praise Marcus Rashford on getting the UK government to change their decision over school dinner vouchers.

'Look at what we can do when we come together'

And this is how the Manchester United and England striker has responded on Twitter...

BreakingGovernment U-turn after Rashford campaign

A "Covid summer school fund" is being set up by the government to help feed children during the holidays, after a campaign by Manchester United and England footballer Marcus Rashford.

Children eligible for free school meals in term time in England will get a six-week voucher, Downing Street said. Prime Minister Boris Johnson welcomed 22-year-old Rashford's "contribution to the debate around poverty".

The support works out as about £15 a week per recipient, and will cost about £120m. In an emotional open letter to MPs posted on Monday, Rashford drew on his own experience of relying on free school meals and food banks growing up.

The footballer had asked others to think about struggling parents who have had their "water turned off" during the coronavirus lockdown, and whose children have gone hungry.

Pep's turn

Simon Stone

BBC Sport

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is due to do his pre-match news conference shortly ahead of his side's match with Arsenal.

It will be the first time Guardiola has spoken at a news conference since his mother, Dolors, died because of coronavirus at the beginning of April.

'Cityzens Giving For Recovery' on City's shirts tomorrow

Manchester City will have 'Cityzens Giving For Recovery' on front of their shirts against Arsenal as part of a new campaign aimed at raising an additional £1m to help people get back on their feet following the coronavirus crisis.

City Football Group has already committed close to that figure in donations, in-kind support and loaning of facilities to the Covid-19 emergency effort, with the new campaign mobilising its nine clubs to deliver even more.

CFG will match donations for the funding of recovery-linked projects near each of those clubs and every member of staff will be able to donate a day's work to volunteer as a part of a programme that will be promoted on Wednesday.

Etihad Airways have donated their front of shirt branding to the campaign when Pep Guardiola's men resume Premier League action against Arsenal after the Covid-19 suspension.

CFG chief executive Ferran Soriano said: "Frontline workers around the world have heroically responded to the immediate threat of Covid-19. At CFG, we have been privileged to play our own small part in helping to address that immediate threat. Now is the time for us to look forward, committing to meeting our responsibility to help our communities recover."

The rules

Here are another couple of tweets from the Premier League on what will be expected from players and managers when the league restarts.

Aubameyang 'very happy' at Arsenal - Arteta

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was asked about the future of striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in his club's news conference yesterday.

Have a watch of the clip below as Arteta says the player is "very happy at the club".

I think Aubameyang is very happy at Arsenal - Arteta

'Desperate for him to stay'

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is expected to lead the line for Arsenal against Manchester City, although the Gabon striker's future at the club is in doubt.

We've said earlier today that his future could depend on whether the Gunners qualify for the Champions League and club legend Ian Wright is desperate for Aubameyang to stay, as you can hear in this clip from the Monday Night Club.

'Buzzing'

Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden is one of those who can't wait to get back to playing.

Man City ready for action

We're expecting to hear from Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola inside the next hour.

Pictured below are David Silva, Kevin de Bruyne, Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero.