Desperate rush for top five place and Champions League

With only four games left this season, Aston Villa’s loss to Crystal Palace in the FA Cup has seriously dented their confidence of finishing in the top five and therefore jeopardizing a Champions League spot for next year. Coach Unai Emery told the fans to keep hopeful but claimed that his players were tired after […]

With only four games left this season, Aston Villa’s loss to Crystal Palace in the FA Cup has seriously dented their confidence of finishing in the top five and therefore jeopardizing a Champions League spot for next year. Coach Unai Emery told the fans to keep hopeful but claimed that his players were tired after some tough battles, losing out to PSG in the Champions League and then beating rivals Newcastle 4-1 followed by a disappointing loss to Manchester City 2-1.

Nottingham Forest can now concentrate on finishing their season in style and Nuno Espirito’s side have arguably the easiest run to the end of the season with a game in hand. They face Crystal Palace and then Leicester, West Ham and Chelsea.

Chelsea have the toughest draw facing Liverpool, Newcastle, Man Utd and Nottingham Forest. Coach Enzo Maresca knows that he has to do well because the new club owners have put a Champions League place next season, top of their priority list.

Manchester City have two banana skins in Wolves and Fulham away but should take care of Southampton and Bournemouth at home. The good news is that Erling Haaland is in full training and has been working on a special programme to get him fit for the final matches. He sustained an ankle injury in the 2-1 FA Cup quarter-final against Bournemouth of 30th March.

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Eddie Howe’s Newcastle face a tough final four games playing Brighton and Arsenal away and Chelsea and Everton at home.

Liverpool have clinched their Champions League spot for next season with Arsenal almost over the line. There are three spots left given the Premier League has been granted an extra place based on performance.

 

Congratulations Liverpool supporters!

The plumes of red smoke billowed across Anfield, fans sang “You’ll never walk alone” and coach Arne Slot said it was the proudest day of his football career. Club captain

Virgil van Dijk said, “This is my greatest day in football.” Well done Liverpool, kings of the Premier League for 2024/25 and congratulations to all supporters.

 

Surprise return by Rodri

The medical team at Manchester City predicted that Rodri would not return to midfield this season. They did not reckon on his determination to make the

FA Cup Final and the current Ballon d’or winner is back training on grass and has joined in with some of his teammates doing light drills. I haven’t yet checked with the medical team so Rodri’s return is more centred around his own efforts and prediction which might be more based on hope than reality. Pep Guardiola said,

“Rodri wants it but the doctor will tell me if I have a green light to give him some more minutes. In every training session he’s doing really well recovering from the cruciate knee injury but I really don’t know when he will return.”

 

Crazy words from Amorim

Manchester United coach Ruben Amorim told fans, “I am not crazy!” Liverpool have equalled United’s 20 top-flight titles whereas the United faithful face finishing with their worst record since 1973-4, forty years ago! However, Amorim, who has won only six Premier League games since taking over in November said, “The first thing is to focus on ourselves and not on other teams. The next thing is to be really honest. We are on a different level at this moment but everything can change. So, we need to go step by step. We have an ultimate goal and that is winning the Premier League. I am not crazy, I know that is not going to be next year but we are trying to build something at Old Trafford.”

Brave words but the United fans are rapidly losing patience as their beloved army follow them from one defeat to another with a team which must be rebuilt if there is to be a revival.

 

Busy early transfer summer for Chelsea

Chelsea’s recruitment team are working hard behind the scenes so they can tie up all their transfer options before the Club World Cup begins on June 14th. The Blues have put Bournemouth’s centre-back Dean Huijsen at the top of their wish list which means Trevoh Chalobah will be free to leave. He was recalled from his Crystal Palace loan in January. Palace will possibly make an official bid for the 25-year-old in the summer.

Joao Felix is likely exit Stamford Bridge following his loan to AC Milan and midfielder Andrey Santos has received word from coach Enzo Maresca that he will have a place in the team next season but his representatives have made it clear that if he isn’t given consistent minutes he will consider leaving.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is another player Chelsea are planning on offloading and newly promoted side Burnley are interested.

 

Cody drops Trent hint about staying at Anfield   

Another special treat could be in store for Liverpool supporters. Cody Gakpo revealed his feelings regarding Trent Alexander-Arnold’s possible free transfer departure to Real Madrid at the end of the season. The move has been a hot topic for much of this season but Cody said, “I think the group hasn’t changed much from last season so we can build on the team as well. Now with Mo and Virgil staying – and hopefully Trent will be with us next season too – then the club can keep building on that team for many years to come.”

 

Amorim admits Rashford and Anthony mistakes

Manchester United coach Ruben Amorim has admitted that perhaps it was a mistake to send Marcus Rashford and Anthony out on loan. United have been struggling but the two players have been very successful since leaving Old Trafford. Amorim said their absence had hurt United’s season. Rashford has played 25 games for Aston Villa creating 28 goal chances, scoring six with 16 shots on target and made 3 assists. He also passed 446 times to his teammates.

Anthony has played 12 games for Real Betis in La Liga, created 32 goal opportunities, scored 3 goals with 9 shots on target and made 2 assists with 542 passes.

Amorim also admitted that saving on their combined salaries of £500k a week had helped United but he also admitted that, “We lost a lot of things in the team without them and we did not bring in fresh talent. It has probably cost us 10 goals this season.”

Amorim hinted that Wolves’ in-form Matheus Cunha could solve a lot of United’s goalscoring problems but Ipswich striker Liam Delap is available for a bargain £30m and Napoli’s Victor Osimhen is also a target.

 

CHELSEA vs LIVERPOOL

Liverpool are confirmed champions but that does not mean they will relax and revel in their glory and this Chelsea side could easily be taken apart if they do not prepare for the game with a solid plan. The Blues coach Enzo Maresca is under pressure despite Chelsea sitting in 5th place in the table and level with Forest but the latter have a game in hand. Chelsea owners plan to rebuild this summer with fresh talent coming in however they need Champions League football and that rests on the shoulders of Maresca who could be shown the exit door if he fails.