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“Decisions Didn’t Go Our Way”: Virgil Van Dijk On Referee’s Penalty Call After Euro 2024 Semi-Final Loss

admin — Thu, 11 Jul 2024 10:37:30 +0000

Virgil van Dijk in an interaction with the referee during Netherlands vs England Euro 2024 semi-final.© AFP

Dortmund :

Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk felt that the penalty call in the Euro 2024 semi-final that saw England level the game should have gone in their favour. The Netherlands fell on the wrong side of the result after Ollie Watkins scored a late winner to inflict a heartbreak. The Dutch side crashed out of the tournament, and their dreams of lifting a tile once again shattered. Despite England’s win, there was a moment in the game that became the talking point among the fans and former players.

After the Dutch side went ahead within the first ten minutes through Xavi Simmons, England were awarded a penalty, which helped them bring the game back to parity.

Harry Kane and Denzel Dumfries appeared to have collided inside the Netherlands box in the 14th minute. Referee Felix Zwayer initially pointed for a goal kick but reversed his decision to a penalty after VAR reviewed the incident.

Van Dijk was not impressed with that decision and gave his take on the call on beIN Sports and said, as quoted from Goal.com, “I don’t know if I should say something about that. I said it to the Dutch media. I think it says it all that the referee went in quite quickly after the game. I had no time to shake his hand. But it is what it is, the game is done, we lost, certain moments were obvious that they should have gone our way, but they didn’t, whatever the outcome.”

“It is difficult to accept this. It has been a tough year. We had a big dream, and we felt we could have achieved it. They keep changing certain things, small changes that could have a big impact. Maybe it’s a good thing that they could be held accountable as well. They didn’t come here and speak to you and explain themselves like we have to when we do something wrong. That might be something. But I shouldn’t speak about others, and we have to look at ourselves,” he added.

Former England defenders Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher expressed their dissent with the referee’s decision. Neville called it “a disgraceful decision”, while Jamie Carragher wrote on X, “Never a penalty”.

England will now face Spain in Berlin on Sunday in the final of the Euro 2024.

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New Liverpool Boss Arne Slot Admits He Could Not Resist Lure Of Club

admin — Tue, 21 May 2024 05:23:05 +0000

Arne Slot said the chance to work at one of the world’s biggest clubs was “difficult to ignore” after Liverpool confirmed on Monday that the Feyenoord coach would be their new manager. Just 24 hours after Jurgen Klopp’s emotional farewell at Anfield, the Premier League club said in a statement that the Dutchman would take up the position of head coach on June 1, subject to a work permit. The club did not specify the length of Slot’s contract but it was widely reported in the British press that he had signed a three-year deal.

The new manager’s arrival was an open secret, with Liverpool reportedly agreeing a compensation deal worth up to 9.4 million pounds ($12 million) with Feyenoord.

Slot, 45, confirmed Anfield was his next destination at his final pre-match press conference at the Eredivisie club on Friday.

“It is certainly not an easy decision to close the door behind you at a club where you have experienced so many wonderful moments and worked successfully with so many wonderful people,” he told Feyenoord’s website on Monday.

“But as a sportsman, an opportunity to become a head coach in the Premier League, at one of the biggest clubs in the world, is difficult to ignore.”

Klopp, 56, announced in January that the 2023/24 season would be his last at Anfield, and took charge of his final game on Sunday, a 2-0 win against Wolves.

In his farewell speech to the crowd, the German urged fans to throw their full support behind his successor, leading them in a chant of “Arne Slot, na na na na na”.

“You welcome the new manager like you welcomed me,” he said. “You go all-in from the first day. And you keep believing and you push the team.”

Feyenoord success

Slot, linked with a move to Tottenham last year, became Feyenoord boss in 2021 after impressing in his first managerial role at AZ Alkmaar.

He led the Dutch giants to the inaugural Europa Conference League final at the end of his first season, which they lost 1-0 to Jose Mourinho’s Roma.

Slot then delivered just a second league title in 24 years to De Kuip last season before penning a new three-year deal.

Feyenoord have enjoyed a strong season, winning the Dutch Cup and coming second to an all-conquering PSV Eindhoven side in the league.

Under Slot, Feyenoord have delighted the fans at De Kuip with an attacking brand of football and Slot has won praise from Klopp himself.

“I like the way his team plays football. If he is the one, I like that he wants it,” Klopp said last month.

“It’s the best job in the world, best club in the world. Great job, great team, fantastic people. A really interesting job.”

Liverpool captain and fellow Dutchman Virgil van Dijk has hailed Slot’s attacking mindset, saying it would suit the philosophy at Anfield.

Speaking about the future under the new boss, Van Dijk said: “It is all about sticking together and giving him the chance of showing what he is capable of with the other guys who will come in.

“He probably knows already but everyone knows our expectations are always huge and it is about managing that in the right way and getting the maximum out of all of our players.”

Slot has huge shoes to fill at Anfield after Klopp restored Liverpool to the elite of English and European football during his nine-year reign.

Under his leadership Liverpool won a sixth Champions League crown and a 19th league title, as well as a clutch of other trophies.

Initially, Bayer Leverkusen boss and former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso was the favourite to succeed Klopp at Anfield.

However, Alonso committed to staying at Leverkusen as he led them to a first-ever Bundesliga title.

Liverpool finished third in the Premier League, qualifying for next season’s Champions League, and won the League Cup in Klopp’s final season.

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Premier League Live Streaming: How To Watch Final Day Matches Online?

admin — Sun, 19 May 2024 09:14:14 +0000

Manchester City will be eyeing their fourth Premier League title on trot© AFP

Premier League Final Day Live Streaming: The Premier League title will be decided on the final day of the season with both Manchester City and Arsenal still in the race. Man City will be squaring off against West Ham while Arsenal will be taking on Everton at home. Standing at the top of the table with a total of 88 points, Man City are favorites to clinch their record fourth Premier League title in a row. They just need to defeat West Ham as the victory will take them to an unassailable 91 points. On the other hand, Arsenal should defeat Everton and also hope that Man City should lose against West Ham or at least secure a draw.

Apart from these two encounters, there will be eight more matches that will be played on the final day of the Premier League. Liverpool, who are standing at the third spot on the points table, will also be in action against the Wolves.

When will the Premier League final day matches be played?

The Premier League final day matches will be played on Sunday, May 19 (IST).

What time will the Premier League final day matches start?

The Premier League final day matches will start at 8:30 PM IST.

Which TV channels will broadcast the Premier League final day matches?

The Premier League final day matches will be broadcast on Star Sports Network.

Where to follow the live streaming of the Premier League final day matches?

The Premier League final day matches will be streamed live on Disney Plus Hotstar app and website.

(All the details are as per the information provided by the broadcaster)

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Joel Matip and Thiago Alcantara to leave Liverpool when contracts expire at end of season

admin — Fri, 17 May 2024 10:04:38 +0000

Liverpool’s Thiago Alcantara.
| Photo Credit: AP

Joel Matip and Thiago Alcantara will leave Liverpool when their contracts expire at the end of the season.

Liverpool announced their imminent departures on Friday, two days before the team’s final Premier League game.

The 32-year-old Matip, a ball-playing centre back, arrived at Anfield on a free transfer from Schalke in the offseason of 2016 as one of Klopp’s first signings.

The former Cameroon international played 201 games for Liverpool and helped the team win the Champions League and Premier League.

“I have said before that if there was one person who wouldn’t care if he was underrated it would be Joel,” Klopp said, “but the truth is we could not have rated him more highly.”

Thiago, a former Spain midfielder, has spent four years with Liverpool but injuries have limited him to 98 appearances.

“An artist of the game who will only ever paint the most beautiful pictures,” Klopp said of Thiago.

“Technically, he is so, so good. A talent who could play in any team in the world and it was a privilege to have him with us.”

Other players leaving their clubs at the end of the Premier League season are Manchester United pair Raphael Varane and Anthony Martial and Chelsea defender Thiago Silva.

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Liverpool’s Premier League Title Hopes Suffer Blow, Sheffield United Relegated

admin — Sat, 27 Apr 2024 17:10:18 +0000

Liverpool’s fading Premier League title hopes were dealt a near-fatal blow on Saturday as West Ham rescued a draw against Jurgen Klopp’s men while Sheffield United were relegated in ignominious fashion. Manchester United’s push for Europe was dented by Burnley, who secured a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford, keeping alive their hopes of survival. Klopp’s glittering reign at Anfield appears to be ending on a flat note after they dropped points for the fourth time in five league games at the London Stadium. Just weeks ago Liverpool, who won the League Cup in February, were on course for a quadruple of trophies but that is now a distant memory after FA Cup and Europa League exits and a string of damaging league results.

Liverpool would have moved level on points with leaders Arsenal with a victory, at least temporarily, but they failed to make the most of their chances despite a stirring second-half fightback.

The Gunners are on 77 points, two clear of Liverpool with a game in hand, while defending champions City have 76 points with two games in hand on the Reds.

Jarrod Bowen put David Moyes’ West Ham ahead shortly before half time but Liverpool looked a different side in the second period, taking the lead through Andy Robertson before an own goal from West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.

But West Ham levelled in the 77th minute when Bowen wriggled free down the right and lifted a cross towards Michail Antonio, who headed home.

A downbeat Klopp, in the final weeks of his time at Anfield, said he did not want to talk about his side’s title chances.

“I’m not in the mood to talk about that to be honest or look at that at all,” he told TNT Sports.

“We had to win here, we knew that, and we didn’t, and now we have a little bit more time between now and the next game. We try to get the boys ready again and we will go again.”

The German bemoaned his side’s squandered chances, which have cost them dear in recent weeks.

“When we are 2-1 up we could control it, and still, as I said, in a lot of moments playing really well but the final situation we didn’t take,” he said. “That has been the story of the last four weeks.”

Klopp attempted to play down a touchline spat with Mohamed Salah, who was left out of the starting line-up, but the Egypt forward fanned the flames.

“There’s going to be a fire today if I speak,” he told reporters.

Pep Guardiola’s City, who play relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest on Sunday, are hot favourites to secure an unprecedented fourth straight English top-flight title.

Arsenal, who led the way for much of last season, are firmly in the hunt but face a tough away day at Tottenham, also on Sunday.

Newcastle’s 5-1 win against bottom club Sheffield United strengthened their push for European football next season but sent Chris Wilder’s team down to the Championship after just one season in the top flight.

Anel Ahmedhodzic gave the visitors an early lead at St James’ Park but two goals from Alexander Isak either side of a Bruno Guimaraes header turned it around.

An own goal by Ben Osborn deepened the woe for Sheffield United and Callum Wilson smashed in a fifth.

Newcastle remain in seventh place but are just one point behind Manchester United, who conceded a late penalty in a draw against Burnley.

Brazilian winger Antony scored his first Premier league goal of the season but Zeki Amdouni levelled from the spot in the 87th minute to leave the home side ruing missed chances.

Burnley are two points below Forest, who are just outside the relegation zone, and one point behind Luton.

Hwang Hee-chan and Toti Gomes scored as Wolves deepened Luton’s woes with a 2-1 win and Fulham drew 1-1 with Crystal Palace.

Everton host Brentford later on Saturday seeking their fourth win in five games while Aston Villa, chasing a Champions League spot, take on inconsistent Chelsea in the late kick-off.

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Liverpool Lose At Everton To Leave Premier League Hopes In Ruins

admin — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 04:00:02 +0000

Everton secured their first win in a Merseyside derby at Goodison Park since 2010 to leave Liverpool’s Premier League title aspirations in ruins after a 2-0 defeat on Wednesday. Defeat leaves Jurgen Klopp’s men still three points adrift of leaders Arsenal and only one point in front of defending champions Manchester City, who have two games in hand. “We need a crisis at City and Arsenal and we need to win football games,” said Klopp of his side’s shot at the title with four games to go of his reign.

Goals from Jarrad Branthwaite and Dominic Calvert-Lewin took Everton eight points clear of the relegation zone.

The Toffees now look certain to extend their 70-year stay in the English top flight despite being deducted eight points on two charges of breaching financial rules.

Klopp had never lost on his previous eight visits to Goodison but his final taste of the Merseyside derby was a bitter one.

Hopes of a glorious goodbye for the German after a nearly nine-year tenure that has transformed the club’s fortunes are fading fast.

“If we play like today we have no chance to consider ourselves in the race,” said Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk.

“I think everyone has to look in the mirror and look at their performance and if they’ve given everything. Do they really want to win the league?”

According to reports, Feyenoord boss Arne Slot is being lined up as Klopp’s successor and the past few weeks have exposed weaknesses that need addressing in a huge summer for the Liverpool hierarchy.

‘Energy, commitment’

The Reds have won just one of their last four league games and have also bowed out of the FA Cup and Europa League in recent weeks.

Klopp made six changes after resting a number of key players for Sunday’s 3-1 win at Fulham but did not get the response he desired.

Buoyed by their weekend win over Nottingham Forest to pull clear of the relegation zone, Everton are a side transformed from the one that went 13 Premier League games without a win between December and April.

“Delighted with the performance of our players and delighted for the Evertonians,” said Everton boss Sean Dyche.

“They’re a good side, we know that. The commitment and energy from us had to be there.”

Slow starts have been a recurring factor as Liverpool’s quest for four trophies has unravelled.

Everton thought they had a penalty in the opening minutes when Calvert-Lewin was tripped by Alisson Becker but VAR intervened to save the visitors as the striker was offside.

Alisson then clawed away a Calvert-Lewin header and Ben Godfrey nodded wide as Liverpool struggled to cope with Everton’s threat from set-pieces.

More comical defending from the Reds led to the opener on 27 minutes.

Alexis Mac Allister’s mishit fell perfectly for Branthwaite and the defender’s effort went in off the post despite Alisson’s best efforts.

Going behind woke Liverpool from their slumber and only a combination of wasteful finishing and Jordan Pickford preserved Everton’s lead until half-time.

Darwin Nunez blasted straight at the England number one when clean through before the Uruguayan teed up Luis Diaz to fire too close to Pickford.

Mohamed Salah‘s loss of form has come at the worst possible time for Liverpool’s title challenge and the Egyptian sliced another good opening well over the bar.

Liverpool were camped in the Everton half after the break, yet the hosts pulled further clear just before the hour mark from another dead ball.

Calvert-Lewin was afforded a free header at the back post to power home Dwight McNeil’s corner.

Liverpool’s night was summed up when Diaz’s powerful effort came back off the post with Pickford finally beaten.

But it was Klopp who was crestfallen come the final whistle as he looks set to depart Anfield with just one Premier League title to his name.

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Who Is Ruben Amorim? Portugal’s Next Coaching Superstar, Tipped For Liverpool

admin — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 05:08:12 +0000

Twenty years ago it was Jose Mourinho. Now it is Ruben Amorim who appears set to move from Portugal to the Premier League with a reputation as Europe’s next coaching superstar. Mourinho was 41 when he left Porto and took over at a Chelsea side poised to dominate English football following Roman Abramovich’s takeover. Now Amorim, at 39, is the favourite to replace Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool. Other coaches have come from Portugal with huge reputations. Andre Villas-Boas failed to live up to expectations after following Mourinho’s path from Porto to Chelsea in 2011.

But everything about Amorim suggests he really could be something special, just as Mourinho famously claimed of himself in 2004.

“I don’t know if I am going to be good or bad, but that is what I am going to be,” Amorim told Tribuna Expresso in 2017 as he confirmed his plan to move into coaching.

He had just quit playing aged 32 after a fine career was blighted by injuries.

Amorim has made his name as a coach at Sporting, but he starred as a player for rivals Benfica, the club he always supported and of whom he was a ‘socio’ (member) from birth.

“I can see myself coaching Benfica, or one of the world’s biggest clubs. Obviously only time will tell and you need so much luck,” he said in that same interview.

Amorim began playing at Belenenses, the modest outfit from the Lisbon suburb Belem of best known for its custard tarts.

He worked under Jorge Jesus there, helping them finish fifth and reach the Portuguese Cup final in 2007.

In 2008 he joined Benfica, and a year later he was reunited with Jesus. Amorim mainly played at right-back as a team featuring David Luiz and Angel Di Maria romped to the title.

The following season, Benfica were overtaken by Villas-Boas’s Porto and Amorim struggled with a knee injury.

He needed a long loan at Braga to relaunch his career, and went back to Benfica, and Jesus, in 2013/14.

Playing regularly in midfield, Amorim starred as they won a domestic treble and lost the Europa League final on penalties to Sevilla.

His career never reached such highs again because of injury, and he wound down his playing days in Qatar.

– Influenced by Jorge Jesus –

Amorim has described Mourinho as his reference, but he admits Jesus — now managing Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia — marked him more than any other coach after he spent seven years under his stewardship.

“It is funny, because as a player I had lots of problems with Jesus, albeit other players did too, because Jesus is a coach who wears you out,” Amorim recalled.

“He is a real perfectionist. I worked with him for a long time and it is obvious that what I demand of players is quite similar to him, but I will not be a coach like Jorge Jesus, because our styles are very different.”

Amorim, who appeared for Portugal at two World Cups, began coaching in 2018 when just 33, at Lisbon club Casa Pia, and his rise since has been vertiginous.

He won the third-tier title there, but didn’t yet have the necessary coaching qualifications and left in early 2019.

Amorim really began his steep ascent upon joining Braga, managing their B team before being handed the first-team reins in December 2019.

– Huge release clause –

Braga were in mid-table when he took over but he did so well that, barely two months later, Sporting swooped, paying his 10 million-euro release clause, an astronomical sum for a coach in any country.

Sporting had not been Portuguese champions since 2002 and their supporters had some concerns about this Benfica fan.

“I am a professional and I am fanatical about winning. I know how big this club is. I played against them. I am not hiding my past,” he said at his unveiling.

In his first full season Sporting won the title, losing just one game with a team featuring the likes of Pedro Porro, Joao Palhinha and Matheus Nunes.

Amorim, who favours playing with three centre-backs and an intense pressing game, then took Sporting to the Champions League last 16.

Now he has them on the verge of another title — a second in four seasons for a club who had won two in the previous 38 — as well as being through to the Portuguese Cup final.

Players such as English forward Marcus Edwards and Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres are flourishing under him.

“I chose Sporting for Viktor when he had eight other clubs interested who all offered more money,” Gyokeres’s agent, Hasan Cetinkaya, recently told A Bola.

“I chose Sporting because of Ruben Amorim.”

The former Coventry City striker has 38 goals for Sporting this season, just one of the many examples of Amorim’s successful management at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.

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Liverpool Win At Fulham To Reignite Premier League Title Challenge

admin — Sun, 21 Apr 2024 17:46:12 +0000

Liverpool beat Fulham in Premier League© AFP

Liverpool got their Premier League title challenge back on track with a 3-1 win at Fulham on Sunday to move level on points with leaders Arsenal. The destiny of the title remains in Manchester City’s hands with the defending champions one point behind the top two with a game in hand. However, Liverpool and Arsenal have put the pressure on Pep Guardiola’s men by bouncing back from shock defeats last weekend. Jurgen Klopp said ahead of the game at Craven Cottage that the return of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Diogo Jota from injury was what gave his side “a chance” at clawing their way back into the title race. Both were on target, either side of Ryan Gravenberch’s first Premier League goal.

Klopp took the brave decision to rest a series of first-team regulars among five changes to the side that won 1-0, but failed to overturn a 3-0 first leg deficit against Atalanta in the Europa League quarter-finals on Thursday.

Mohamed Salah, Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones and Ibrahima Konate dropped the bench.

Alexander-Arnold was one of the few shining lights in Bergamo and was restored for his first Premier League start in over two months.

The England international showed the quality the Reds have been missing when he curled in a stunning free-kick to open the scoring on 32 minutes.

Liverpool failed to hold onto the lead until half-time as the defensive lapses that have cost them in recent weeks reappeared.

Timothy Castagne swept home a loose ball into the far corner after Rodrigo Muniz’s header was blocked.

Klopp had his stellar cast of substitutes warming up after a sluggish start to the second period.

But one wayward pass from Alex Iwobi cost Fulham.

Harvey Elliott intercepted on his return to Craven Cottage and teed up Gravenberch to curl in from the edge of the area.

Jota then made the points safe with his 100th goal in English football when his low effort had too much power for Bernd Leno 18 minutes from time.

Two more away trips at local rivals Everton and West Ham await Liverpool in the next six days.

But with just five more games of the Klopp era to come, they remain at least in the hunt to give the German a glorious goodbye to his transformative time at Anfield.

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Manchester United Draw Feels Like a Defeat For Liverpool In Title Race: Virgil Van Dijk

admin — Sun, 07 Apr 2024 18:42:31 +0000

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk said a dramatic 2-2 draw at Manchester United on Sunday felt like a defeat after throwing away two points in the Premier League title race. The visitors dominated the majority of the game but needed a Mohamed Salah penalty six minutes from time to avoid defeat after spectacular strikes from Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo. The draw leaves Liverpool behind leaders Arsenal on goal difference and just one point ahead of Manchester City with seven games remaining in the tightest of title races. Despite United’s struggles this season, Liverpool have failed to beat Erik ten Hag’s men in three meetings this season. United edged a thrilling FA Cup quarter-final 4-3 three weeks ago and emerged with a 0-0 draw at Anfield in December.

“It feels like a loss,” said Van Dijk. “It is our fault again.

“We had so many chances and we should finish the game off.”

Should the Reds fail to mark Jurgen Klopp’ final season in charge by winning a 20th English top-flight title, to match United’s record, they will look back on this day and wonder how they failed to win.

For Liverpool, it was a similar story from the FA Cup tie as they wasted a series of chances to extend their lead and ended up getting hit by the United sucker punch.

Liverpool finished the first half with 15 shots to United’s none.

Andre Onana produced one fine save to deny Dominik Szoboszlai but Liverpool were guilty of consistently letting the hosts off the hook.

Liverpool did lead 1-0 at half-time as Luis Diaz fired in Darwin Nunez‘s header from a corner.

But Szoboszlai, Salah and Darwin Nunez were all wasteful in front of goal.

“Being 1-0 up at Old Trafford and having a 15-0 shooting stat is incredible,” said Klopp. “Besides that we could have been calmer or clearer in moments.

“Just stay calm. We are where we are and we keep giving it a proper go. Do I wish we had 10 points difference? Of course. We take what we got and keep going.”

Liverpool were stunned as the title race took another twist out of nowhere on 50 minutes.

Jarell Quansah’s slack pass went straight to Fernandes, who spotted Caoimhin Kelleher well off his line and lobbed the Irish goalkeeper from just inside the Liverpool half.

United suddenly had a fresh lease of life and went in front 23 minutes from time as Mainoo confirmed his status as a rising star of the Premier League.

The 18-year-old has enjoyed a meteoric rise this season and produced the biggest moment of his career so far by curling into the top corner.

Klopp was incandescent on the touchline at his players for allowing Mainoo to get his shot off and immediately reacted by sending on Harvey Elliott and Cody Gakona.

Elliott was the man felled by an Aaron Wan-Bissaka lunge for the penalty and Salah kept his cool to score for the 14th time in 15 games against United.

But Liverpool failed to find a winner to hand Arsenal the advantage in the title race thanks to the Gunners’ nine-goal lead on goal difference.

A point also does little to aid United’s hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

Ten Hag’s men are 11 points adrift of fourth-placed Aston Villa having blown late leads three times in the past eight days.

United’s new co-owner Jim Ratcliffe was in attendance and Ten Hag’s future as manager remains unclear going into next season.

“On one side I am disappointed that we have dropped seven points in one week after being in winning positions, but we have to blame ourselves for making stupid mistakes,” said Ten Hag.

“On the other side I am very proud. You see how we are improving and the potential of this squad is amazing.”

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Liverpool Face Manchester United Title Test As Top Four Battle Heats Up

admin — Fri, 05 Apr 2024 11:03:16 +0000

Premier League leaders Liverpool head to Manchester United looking to move a step closer to equalling their bitter rivals’ record of 20 English titles. In a gripping title race, Arsenal and Manchester City will hope for a Liverpool stumble, while the top four battle and relegation survival fight are also heating up. AFP Sport looks at three talking points ahead of this weekend’s action:

No ‘revenge’ mission for Liverpool

With memories of their painful FA Cup quarter-final defeat at Manchester United still fresh for Alex Mac Allister and his Liverpool team-mates, it would have been no surprise if the Argentine midfielder had branded their return to Old Trafford as a revenge mission.

Jurgen Klopp’s side twice blew the lead in a 4-3 defeat that was clinched by Amad Diallo in the final seconds of extra-time.

The end of Liverpool’s quadruple bid stung the Merseysiders but they can make amends by defeating Erik ten Hag’s men as they bid to move level with United’s record 20 top-flight titles.

Mac Allister, whose thunderous strike put Liverpool on course for their 3-1 win over Sheffield United on Thursday, insisted avenging their FA Cup loss was not the primary motivation with so much already at stake.

“I don’t know if it’s revenge but for sure it will be an important game for us because if we want to win something we have to win every game and that’s the aim,” said Mac Allister, whose team are two points clear of second-placed Arsenal with eight games left.

Arsenal head to Brighton aiming to keep the pressure on Liverpool, while third-placed City — three points behind the leaders — travel to Crystal Palace.

Top four race heats up

Tottenham are not the “finished article” according to boss Ange Postecoglou as his top four hopefuls face a vital weekend in the race to qualify for the Champions League.

Postecoglou’s side were held to frustrating 1-1 draw at West Ham on Tuesday but Aston Villa’s 4-1 defeat at Manchester City 24 hours later kept the north Londoners firmly in contention for a top four berth.

Fifth-placed Tottenham are two points behind fourth-placed Villa with a game in hand.

Struggling Nottingham Forest visit the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, while Villa host Brentford.

Both sides will be expected to win and a shock slip-up could be a decisive moment, with Postecoglou conceding his team are still a work in progress.

“I would love to have a joystick and put them where I want them but it doesn’t work like that. We are not the finished article and we know that,” he said.

Villa are aiming to play in the Champions League for the first time since 1983 and boss Unai Emery said his players relish the pressure.

“We will play a lot of matches in the next weeks, starting on Saturday. It’s clear we are motivated and excited to try to be competitive,” he said.

‘Only way is up’ in survival battle

Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White is confident his side will not crack as the tension mounts in the struggle for survival.

Gibbs-White scored as fourth-bottom Forest defeated Fulham 3-1 on Tuesday to improve their hopes of beating the drop with a first win in seven games in all competitions.

“Credit to the whole team. It looks like the only way is up from here, hopefully,” Gibbs-White said.

Forest have been deducted four points for breaching the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules, while Everton were hit with a six-point punishment — reduced from 10 on appeal — for similar financial offences.

Everton face boss Sean Dyche’s former club Burnley in a crucial clash at Goodison Park on Saturday when the Toffees will bid to snap a club record 13-game winless Premier League run.

Dyche’s side are seven points above second-bottom Burnley as they chase their first league win since beating the Clarets in December.

Third-bottom Luton host Bournemouth looking to close the three-point gap on Forest.

Fixtures (all times GMT)

Saturday

Crystal Palace v Manchester City (1130), Aston Villa v Brentford, Everton v Burnley, Fulham v Newcastle, Luton v Bournemouth, Wolves v West Ham, Brighton v Arsenal (1630)

Sunday

Manchester United v Liverpool (1430), Sheffield United v Chelsea (1630), Tottenham v Nottingham Forest (1700)

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