Arsenal, champions Manchester United and big-spending Chelsea are proving a cut abover the rest.
Heavyweights Arsenal, Atletico Madrid and Lazio took big steps towards reaching the Europa League semi-finals after convincing home first-leg victories and RB Leipzig also stayed on course with a 1-0 win over Olympique de Marseille on Thursday.
The French striker will be absent from the Arsenal first team lineup for the first time this season on Sunday.
Arsenal captain Thierry Henry has ended speculation about his future by pledging to remain with the north London club.
The German goalkeeper remains hopeful of playing at the 2006 World Cup, despite the loss of his place at Arsenal to Manuel Almunia.
Arsenal will also extend their unbeaten league run to 40 games, two short of Nottingham Forest's record of 42 set over two seasons in 1977-78.
A draw with Leicester City on Saturday will make them the first top-flight club since Preston North End to finish their campaign unbeaten.
The 20-year-old will join Arsenal on a long-term contract for an undisclosed fee and subject to a medical.
Maharashtra government has decided to provide subsidy in the range of Rs 3,000 to Rs 1.5 lakh for school games to promote sports activities in the state, according to state Health Minister Digvijay Khanvilkar.
Chelsea's woes continued when the holders were dumped out of the Capital One (League) Cup fourth round following a shootout defeat by Stoke City on Tuesday, while Arsenal suffered a humiliating 3-0 defeat at second tier Sheffield Wednesday.
Arsenal's England defender Sol Campbell has begun talks about extending his contract at Highbury.
Chelsea stay a point clear of Arsene Wenger's unbeaten team with 36 points.
Arsenal beat Liverpool 4-2 to take a seven-point lead over Chelsea at the top of the league with seven matches remaining.
Van Gaal has been criticised for showing a lack of passion on the touchline but the Dutchman showed plenty.
The Arsenal captain is a doubt for the match against Celta Vigo after injuring his knee on Saturday.
The former England goalkeeper ends a 13-year stint with Arsenal.
Robert Pires and Jermaine Pennant fired hat-tricks in a 6-1 win, a dress rehearsal for next week's FA Cup final.
Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp is a fan of Leicester's playing style.
The 28-year-old, who joined Arsenal in 2006, scored 108 goals in 397 appearances but has struggled to hold down a first-team place this season under manager Arsene Wenger.
Manchester United signed Chile forward Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal in a swap deal with midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan after a protracted transfer saga finally ended on Monday.
Manchester United consolidated their fourth place, on 22 points, after first-half goals from Chris Smalling and Wayne Rooney and a brilliant, morale-boosting strike from Robin van Persie after the break sealed a 3-0 victory over Hull City.
After settling one score with Liverpool, Manchester United will attempt to bury the memory of their most painful defeat of recent seasons.\n\n
Manchester United stretched their winless Premier League streak to four games after their manager Jose Mourinho and midfielder Ander Herrera were sent off in a 0-0 home draw with Burnley on Saturday.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Barcelona battled back from a goal down and scored twice in the second half to overcome hosts Borussia Moenchengladbach 2-1 in their Champions League Group C match on Wednesday despite the absence of the injured Lionel Messi.
Goals rained in for Manchester City and Manchester United but Juergen Klopp's first game in charge of Liverpool was solid rather than spectacular with his new side drawing 0-0 at Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Saturday.
A summary of Tuesday's League Cup matches.
Arsenal's bid to win the FA Cup for a third successive year ended on Sunday when they lost 2-1 at home to Watford in a pulsating quarter-final tie.
First-half goals by Danny Welbeck and Alex Iwobi earned Arsenal a first win in four league games to revive their Premier League title hopes in the early kickoff at Goodison Park on Saturday.
Two superb curling efforts from Jordan Henderson and Philippe Coutinho handed Liverpool a 2-1 home win against Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday to deliver a thumping blow to Manuel Pellegrini's title aspirations.
Jose Mourinho suffered a nightmare homecoming as Porto, the club he led to the Champions League title in 2004, inflicted a 2-1 defeat on his woefully out-of-sorts Chelsea side in Group G on Tuesday.
Champions Chelsea have not enjoyed the best of starts at home this season and face their biggest test yet on Saturday with the visit of free-scoring leaders Manchester City.
FA Cup winners Arsenal beat champions Chelsea 1-0 in England's Community Shield season curtain-raiser at Wembley on Sunday to end a long wait for victory over their London rivals.
Former World Cup winner and Arsenal's record goal-scorer Thierry Henry announced his retirement from soccer on Tuesday, bringing an end to his a glittering 20-year career.
Chelsea ripped apart Premier League title rivals Arsenal in a 6-0 mauling at Stamford Bridge on Saturday to ensure Arsene Wenger's 1,000th game turned sour and Liverpool and Manchester City kept up the pressure with big wins.
