ALL eyes return to the English Premier League (EPL) after the final international break for the season.
Naturally, attention will be focused on the Etihad, where reigning champions Manchester City host Arsenal in a game that could decide the destination of the title. An away win will give the Gunners a massive boost heading into the business end of the season. A draw would probably suit Liverpool best who are joint top with Mikael Arteta’s in-form side.
Things are also getting very tight at the bottom end as Nottingham Forest have been docked four points for off-field misdemeanours, sending them into the bottom three.
FocusM takes a look at the talking points from all the weekend’s fixtures.
Newcastle United v West Ham United (Sat, 830pm)
Newcastle’s season has deflated rapidly after the Champions League group stage exit, with a lengthy injury list causing them to lose one too many games.
Thus, the Geordies find themselves languishing in mid-table which is some way off supporters’ expectations. They are still in with a chance of a Europa League spot but they will need to start picking up points starting with this home fixture against West Ham.
The Hammers themselves are in the hunt for a European spot as their fans get accustomed to regular continental football. Expect an entertaining game with both sides going for maximum points.
Bournemouth v Everton (Sat, 11pm)
Everton find their fate being determined by off-field decisions, as they were first handed a 10-point deduction for breaching financial rules, which was then reduced to six. Reports now suggest they are due to be handed another deduction, which would have severe implications for their bid to avoid the drop.
Somehow Sean Dyche needs to get his players to focus on on-file matters and pick up the points. This is easier said than done, as the Toffees winless run now stretches to 11 games and their strikers are firing blanks.
Everton are locked in a three-way battle with Luton and Nottingham Forest for the last relegation spot, with Burnley and Sheffield United looking set certainties for the drop.
Chelsea v Burnley (Sat, 11pm)
Chelsea find themselves in a strange place. Having stocked the squad full of promising young talent on long, lucrative contracts, the Blues are not able to dive into the transfer market to further improve their playing staff. They are also unable to make changes to the coaching staff as firing Mauricio Pochettino and his backroom would cost a substantial amount in severance, causing them to fall foul of Financial Fairplay Regulations (FFP).
Perhaps that enforced inactivity will allow some semblance of stability to emerge, giving Poch the time to fashion a functioning team from the disparate parts.
Nottingham Forest v Crystal Palace (Sat, 3pm)
Nottingham Forest have been sucked into a relegation dog fight due to a four point deduction for off-field issues. Like Everton, they suffer from having a blunt attack and are finding goals extremely hard to come by.
Otherwise, they remain a solid outfit with six of their last seven defeats having been by a single goal, underscoring the very fine margins involved. Nuno Espirito Santo will need his players to be focused for the entirety of the game to avoid conceding late, as exemplified by the home loss to Liverpool with a goal in the 99th minute.
It hardly needs saying, but it will be imperative that Forest pick up maximum points in their home games if they are to retain their top flight status.
Sheffield United v Fulham (Sat, 11pm)
Sheffield United are rooted at the bottom of the table and have been for some time now. Their supporters have become accustomed to five goal demolitions and are resigned to a return to the championship. However, the Blades are still not mathematically out of it, not by any stretch of the imagination. They are eight points adrift of Luton but have a game in hand.
A couple of positive results could see Sheffield United pull off the implausible, but games are running out for Chris Wilder’s men. Every game is a ‘do or die’ scenario until they are officially buried.
Tottenham Hotspurs v Luton Town (Sat, 11pm)
Spurs were wretched in their last game against Fulham, where they were comfortably beaten 3-0. A much improved display will be needed to keep up the chase for Champions League football next season. They will come up against a determined Luton side who are giving it everything in their bid to avoid the drop, and their physical approach could unsettle a makeshift Spurs backline.
Being out of all domestic cups and lacking European football could help Spurs secure fourth place as players get sufficient respite in between games.
Brentford v Manchester United (Sun, 4am)
Manchester United are buzzing from an epic FA Cup quarter-final win against bitter rivals Liverpool just before the international break. Erik ten Hag must harness that momentum to help push his side up the table and help him secure his own future at Old Trafford.
The cup tie highlighted how devastating Marcus Rashford can be on the counter, while Antony showed glimpses of why Manchester United paid big money for him.
Brentford have proven to be a banana skin for the Red Devils in the past and will fear no one. This could be a high-scoring game, with both sets of forwards looking to boost their chances of making their respective Euro2024 squads.
Liverpool v Brighton & Hove Albion (Sun, 10pm)
News that Xabi Alonso has decided to stay at Bayer Leverkusen next season suddenly means a shift in the spotlight to Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi. The former had been the bookmaker’s favourite to replace the outgoing Jurgen Klopp with the Italian coach also being mentioned as a potential successor.
Aside from being a game with heavy repercussions for Liverpool’s title chase, it has now become an audition of sorts for De Zerbi.
Pull off a win and the clamour for him to be in the Anfield hot seat will grow; while a heavy defeat could dampen such rumours.
Klopp, meanwhile, will have to get his players fired up after the painful FA Cup exit to Manchester United less than a fortnight ago. With pole position up for grabs, the German coach will be hoping his players will be plenty motivated.
Manchester City v Arsenal (Mon, 12.30am)
The clash of the titans in this top-of-the table meeting. A mere point separates the top three and the margins for error are slim. The home side is chasing an unprecedented fourth title in a row as well as an unprecedented consecutive treble of League-FA Cup-Champions League titles.
Achieve either and this City side could argue that they are the greatest team ever assembled in club football, regardless of the looming FFP charges. Arsenal though are on a fine run of form and their hard won victory against Porto in Europe signals a growing maturity within the side.
Mikael Arteta’s men seem to have learned from their failed title tit last season and are looking to grind out the results that would take them closer to that elusive league trophy. – March 30, 2024
Main photo credit: Football London
