IT really is the business end of the season and for a change, the title has not yet been comfortably wrapped up by Manchester City. The reigning champions have the chance to go top as they travel to Craven Cottage to face Fulham in the early kick-off.
A win would put them a point ahead of Arsenal who travel to Old Trafford on Sunday to face a Manchester United side in freefall. FocusM takes a look at the talking points from the weekend’s EPL fixtures.
Fulham v Manchester City (Sat, 7.30pm)
Fulham can be feisty opposition at home, but with nothing to play for, the fear is that Marco Silva’s side will cave in easily to the reigning champions. The visitors were impervious in their last league match against the Wolves, coming out comfortable 5-1 winners. Eerling Haaland bagged four and the Cottagers will be wary of the big Norwegian who looks to have rediscovered his mojo.
Kevin De Bruyne is also finding top form just at the right time as City look to become the first team to win the English top flight four times in a row. The double remains on for City having booked a Wembley date against crosstown rivals United in the FA Cup.
Bournemouth v Brentford (Sat, 10pm)
Managers of both sides will already be planning for next season having done the necessary thing to guarantee another season in the most lucrative division in world football. Brentford will be hoping striker Ivan Toney bags a few goals in the remaining games to boost his value as he is expected to move onto bigger things in the next transfer window. Bees’ boss Thomas Frank will also be looking for a long-term replacement for David Raya who will sign permanently for Arsenal after a successful loan spell at the Emirates.
Adoni Iraola will similarly be wary that the big fish are eyeing the Cherries top scorer, Dominic Solanke, who is beginning to look like a top marksman after failing to make an impact early in his career at Chelsea and Liverpool. Solanke is hoping for a late call-up to England’s Euro 2004 squad and a couple of goals here would boost his case.
Everton v Sheffield United (Sat, 10pm)
Everton supporters have been through a lot this season with the points deductions for off-field issues dragging them into a relegation dogfight. They will have taken perverse pleasure in securing survival by winning the Merseyside Derby, ending their bitter rival’s title hopes. But off-field issues remain as the ownership issue has yet to be resolved and this leaves the playing squad in a state of limbo, with up to six players’ contracts expiring at the at the end of this season.
Manager Sean Dyche’s hands will also be tied in the transfer market which could see the Toffees facing yet another season at the wrong end of the table. With so much uncertainty surrounding Goodison Park, supporters will be hoping to see a resounding home win for some momentary distraction.
Newcastle v Brighton & Hove Albion (Sat, 10pm)
Both teams will feel they did not meet expectations this season. After breaking into the top four last season, Newcastle’s campaign seems to be derailed by their early exit in the Champions League despite some memorable nights. A debilitating injury list saw the Magpies freefall into mid-table but Alexander Isak’s goal-scoring exploits have seen them challenging for a Europa League spot.
Brighton similarly suffered a dip in league form after being dumped out of their maiden voyage in Europe. The defeat to Roma in the Europa League seemed to completely deflate the Seagulls and they will miss out on European action next season. Manager Roberto De Zerbi may feel he has taken the Seagulls as far as he can and may opt to leave in the summer.
Tottenham Hotspurs v Burnley (Sat, 10pm)
All the early-season optimism seems to have evaporated around this part of North London. A blistering start to Ange Postecoglou’s reign saw Spurs briefly occupy the top spot before reality bit. The Spurs are a team in transition and having lost Harry Kane to Bayern became overly reliant on Son Heung-min. The South Korean’s unavailability while on Asian Cup duty and subsequent dip in form also mean Spurs need to be active in the transfer market.
Burnley’s return to the Championship looks imminent, barring a late collapse from both Luton and Nottingham Forest above them.
West Ham United v Luton Town (Sat, 10pm)
David Moyes will be remembered for delivering West Ham’s first trophy in 40 years. Supporters will hope they get to see some attacking football in his final home game with the board confirming that they will not be renewing his contract. His dour tactics may have previously gotten the Hammers into Europe but supporters have grown disgruntled with what they perceive as negative football.
Incoming coach Julen Lopetegui will have his work cut out as he tries to build a team capable of playing attractive football that the fans demand while getting positive results.
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Crystal Palace (Sat, 10pm)
Wolves will want to put in a more spirited showing in their final home game of the season compared to last weekend’s capitulation to City. Manager Gay O’Neil has shown he has what it takes to bring stability to the club and steer well clear of relegation trouble.
It will be interesting to see how far the board will back him in the transfer window as the Wolves were not far off from a European place this term. Crystal Palace has talent in abundance with Michael Olise and Eberiche Eze the pick of the bunch. The trouble will be holding on to them.
Nottingham Forest v Chelsea (Sun, 12.30am)
Nottingham Forest need just one more win to secure Premiership survival. They will want to avoid going to the final day of the season with that sort of pressure hanging over their heads. Backed by their home support, Forest will be confident of getting the three points although they will be facing a rejuvenated Chelsea who are making a belated push for a spot in the Europa League.
The one obvious success of Chelsea’s muddled transfer activity has been Cole Palmer who is the club’s top scorer. He will be looking to cement his place in England’s Euro 2024 squad and Forest will need to keep him quiet if they want to win this.
Manchester United v Arsenal (Sun 11.30pm)
Once upon a time, this tie would be a title decider. It still is but one that does not involve the host in the title chase. After the humbling 4-0 reverse at Selhurst Park in their last league outing, rumours of manager Erik Ten Hag’s sack have intensified. Red Devil supporters will surely be hoping for some backbone from their players but they are also well aware that a home win will most likely deliver the title to their crosstown rivals, City.
Arsenal are in fine form and playing precisely the sort of football that could trouble a wobbly United midfield prone to leaving large gaps for opponents to exploit. Arsenal fans may sense a chance to revenge the painful 6-2 defeat suffered at Old Trafford many moons ago.
If the Eagles could stroll past United and put four past them, the Gunners certainly have the ammunition to inflict even greater damage.
Aston Villa v Liverpool (Tues, 3am)
Liverpool secured third place with their win over Spurs last weekend. With zero pressure, they have the chance to turn on the style and give the travelling support something to cheer about.
Jurgen Klopp is a messianic on Merseyside and his successor Arne Slot will have plenty of boots to fill but with a squad that needs fine tuning rather than a major overhaul, Klopp leaves a team well positioned to continue challenging at the top end of the table.
Klopp may be tempted to give promising youngsters like Jayden Danns and Stefan Bajectic a chance to impress the new manager. – May 11, 2024
All photos credited to The Guardian
