Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Molineux Stadium · Wolverhampton
The Premier League finally has a relegation battle | Jonathan Wilson
It was a good weekend for Nottingham Forest, although perhaps not as good as it looked like it might be on Friday night. That evening, when they handed Sunderland their record defeat at the Stadium of Light, winning 5-0, Forest must have been expecting to pull away from at least one of their relegation rivals. As it turned out, though, they ended the weekend where they began, five points clear of third-bottom Tottenham and three clear of West Ham with four games remaining after both the London strugglers also won. It was a classic Saturday afternoon in the relegation battle, the sort that is rare these days with games so spread out over a weekend. But Tottenham’s match at Wolves and West Ham against Everton kicked off at the same time, which meant that Tomáš Souček’s goal six minutes after half-time not only prompted celebration at the London Stadium but also anxiety among the Spurs fans who had travelled to Molineux. Then João Palhinha put Tottenham ahead with eight minutes remaining and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall levelled for Everton with two minutes to go. Had it stayed like that, Tottenham would have been out of the relegation zone on goal difference. But Callum Wilson scored for West Ham two minutes into injury-time, lifting them back above Spurs and within three points of Forest. In that sense, nothing changed at the bottom, except that Leeds, unbeaten in five in the league, who may have thought a run like that would have dragged them to guaranteed safety, are only a point above Forest. Newcastle, who lost their fourth successive league game at Arsenal, are only two points above that. Even Crystal Palace and Sunderland, one point and four points further clear respectively, are not mathematically safe. Realistically, it’s unlikely that Spurs, after 118 days without a league victory before Saturday, are suddenly about to win the three out of their last four games to bring Palace into play but, equally, it seems very plausible that 40 points, the traditional threshold for presumed safety, may not be enough this season. Only three sides in Premier League history have ever been relegated having amassed at least 40 points: Sunderland in 1996-97 and Bolton in 1997-98 – both got 40 – while West Ham managed 42 in 2002-03. The contrast with the past two seasons when the team third from bottom picked up 26 then 25 points is striking. Not since 2015-16 when Newcastle went down with 37 points has a side with more than 35 been relegated. So what’s changed? It’s entirely possible this season could be an exception. It’s possible as well that Tottenham lose their four remaining games and go down with 34; although they have shown more fight under Roberto De Zerbi, confidence remains low and their injury problems have been compounded by Xavi Simons sustaining a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament against Wolves. The biggest change, though, has been the performance of the promoted sides. Last season they got 59 points between them, the season before 66. This season, they have already amassed 106. While Burnley have struggled, Leeds and Sunderland spent significantly and well on players. It’s unlikely that Coventry and whichever two of Ipswich, Millwall, Middlesbrough, Southampton, Wrexham, Hull and Derby come up with them will match that level of expenditure. Though it is possible, as Ipswich and Southampton have recent Premier League experience and Wrexham have their Hollywood backing. More generally, this has been the best season for the Premier League’s middle classes since that 2015-16 season, when Leicester won the league, Southampton came sixth and West Ham seventh. The following summer was marked by a wave of spending from the traditional giants and the brief bout of equality was swept away. The Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR) have a bad reputation, thanks in part to aspirant clubs with wealthy owners who feel they prevent the sort of investment that might allow them to reach the next tier of clubs, but this perhaps is a sign of the system working, evidence of how incremental improvement and sensible husbandry can make even a relatively modest side competitive without richer clubs just surging away. PSR, though, will be replaced next season by squad cost ratio, which appears to allow those with deep pockets to exercise their advantage more thoroughly. For now, though, the Premier League has been left not only with a proper title race but also with a true battle against the drop. This is how it ought to be, with every matchday bringing multiple dramatic twists and each of the four sides likeliest to occupy that third relegation slot having unexpectedly found at least some late-season form. And that has one or two other sides beginning to feel a little uneasy. This is an extract from Soccer with Jonathan Wilson, a weekly look from the Guardian US at the game in Europe and beyond. Subscribe for free here. Have a question for Jonathan? Email [email protected], and he’ll answer the best in a future edition
The Premier League finally has a relegation battle | Jonathan Wilson
It was a good weekend for Nottingham Forest, although perhaps not as good as it looked like it might be on Friday night. That evening, when they handed Sunderland their record defeat at the Stadium of Light, winning 5-0, Forest must have been expecting to pull away from at least one of their relegation rivals. As it turned out, though, they ended the weekend where they began, five points clear of third-bottom Tottenham and three clear of West Ham with four games remaining after both the London strugglers also won. It was a classic Saturday afternoon in the relegation battle, the sort that is rare these days with games so spread out over a weekend. But Tottenham’s match at Wolves and West Ham against Everton kicked off at the same time, which meant that Tomáš Souček’s goal six minutes after half-time not only prompted celebration at the London Stadium but also anxiety among the Spurs fans who had travelled to Molineux. Then João Palhinha put Tottenham ahead with eight minutes remaining and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall levelled for Everton with two minutes to go. Had it stayed like that, Tottenham would have been out of the relegation zone on goal difference. But Callum Wilson scored for West Ham two minutes into injury-time, lifting them back above Spurs and within three points of Forest. In that sense, nothing changed at the bottom, except that Leeds, unbeaten in five in the league, who may have thought a run like that would have dragged them to guaranteed safety, are only a point above Forest. Newcastle, who lost their fourth successive league game at Arsenal, are only two points above that. Even Crystal Palace and Sunderland, one point and four points further clear respectively, are not mathematically safe. Realistically, it’s unlikely that Spurs, after 118 days without a league victory before Saturday, are suddenly about to win the three out of their last four games to bring Palace into play but, equally, it seems very plausible that 40 points, the traditional threshold for presumed safety, may not be enough this season. Only three sides in Premier League history have ever been relegated having amassed at least 40 points: Sunderland in 1996-97 and Bolton in 1997-98 – both got 40 – while West Ham managed 42 in 2002-03. The contrast with the past two seasons when the team third from bottom picked up 26 then 25 points is striking. Not since 2015-16 when Newcastle went down with 37 points has a side with more than 35 been relegated. So what’s changed? It’s entirely possible this season could be an exception. It’s possible as well that Tottenham lose their four remaining games and go down with 34; although they have shown more fight under Roberto De Zerbi, confidence remains low and their injury problems have been compounded by Xavi Simons sustaining a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament against Wolves. The biggest change, though, has been the performance of the promoted sides. Last season they got 59 points between them, the season before 66. This season, they have already amassed 106. While Burnley have struggled, Leeds and Sunderland spent significantly and well on players. It’s unlikely that Coventry and whichever two of Ipswich, Millwall, Middlesbrough, Southampton, Wrexham, Hull and Derby come up with them will match that level of expenditure. Though it is possible, as Ipswich and Southampton have recent Premier League experience and Wrexham have their Hollywood backing. More generally, this has been the best season for the Premier League’s middle classes since that 2015-16 season, when Leicester won the league, Southampton came sixth and West Ham seventh. The following summer was marked by a wave of spending from the traditional giants and the brief bout of equality was swept away. The Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR) have a bad reputation, thanks in part to aspirant clubs with wealthy owners who feel they prevent the sort of investment that might allow them to reach the next tier of clubs, but this perhaps is a sign of the system working, evidence of how incremental improvement and sensible husbandry can make even a relatively modest side competitive without richer clubs just surging away. PSR, though, will be replaced next season by squad cost ratio, which appears to allow those with deep pockets to exercise their advantage more thoroughly. For now, though, the Premier League has been left not only with a proper title race but also with a true battle against the drop. This is how it ought to be, with every matchday bringing multiple dramatic twists and each of the four sides likeliest to occupy that third relegation slot having unexpectedly found at least some late-season form. And that has one or two other sides beginning to feel a little uneasy. This is an extract from Soccer with Jonathan Wilson, a weekly look from the Guardian US at the game in Europe and beyond. Subscribe for free here. Have a question for Jonathan? Email [email protected], and he’ll answer the best in a future edition
The Premier League finally has a relegation battle | Jonathan Wilson
It was a good weekend for Nottingham Forest, although perhaps not as good as it looked like it might be on Friday night. That evening, when they handed Sunderland their record defeat at the Stadium of Light, winning 5-0, Forest must have been expecting to pull away from at least one of their relegation rivals. As it turned out, though, they ended the weekend where they began, five points clear of third-bottom Tottenham and three clear of West Ham with four games remaining after both the London strugglers also won. It was a classic Saturday afternoon in the relegation battle, the sort that is rare these days with games so spread out over a weekend. But Tottenham’s match at Wolves and West Ham against Everton kicked off at the same time, which meant that Tomáš Souček’s goal six minutes after half-time not only prompted celebration at the London Stadium but also anxiety among the Spurs fans who had travelled to Molineux. Then João Palhinha put Tottenham ahead with eight minutes remaining and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall levelled for Everton with two minutes to go. Had it stayed like that, Tottenham would have been out of the relegation zone on goal difference. But Callum Wilson scored for West Ham two minutes into injury-time, lifting them back above Spurs and within three points of Forest. In that sense, nothing changed at the bottom, except that Leeds, unbeaten in five in the league, who may have thought a run like that would have dragged them to guaranteed safety, are only a point above Forest. Newcastle, who lost their fourth successive league game at Arsenal, are only two points above that. Even Crystal Palace and Sunderland, one point and four points further clear respectively, are not mathematically safe. Realistically, it’s unlikely that Spurs, after 118 days without a league victory before Saturday, are suddenly about to win the three out of their last four games to bring Palace into play but, equally, it seems very plausible that 40 points, the traditional threshold for presumed safety, may not be enough this season. Only three sides in Premier League history have ever been relegated having amassed at least 40 points: Sunderland in 1996-97 and Bolton in 1997-98 – both got 40 – while West Ham managed 42 in 2002-03. The contrast with the past two seasons when the team third from bottom picked up 26 then 25 points is striking. Not since 2015-16 when Newcastle went down with 37 points has a side with more than 35 been relegated. So what’s changed? It’s entirely possible this season could be an exception. It’s possible as well that Tottenham lose their four remaining games and go down with 34; although they have shown more fight under Roberto De Zerbi, confidence remains low and their injury problems have been compounded by Xavi Simons sustaining a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament against Wolves. The biggest change, though, has been the performance of the promoted sides. Last season they got 59 points between them, the season before 66. This season, they have already amassed 106. While Burnley have struggled, Leeds and Sunderland spent significantly and well on players. It’s unlikely that Coventry and whichever two of Ipswich, Millwall, Middlesbrough, Southampton, Wrexham, Hull and Derby come up with them will match that level of expenditure. Though it is possible, as Ipswich and Southampton have recent Premier League experience and Wrexham have their Hollywood backing. More generally, this has been the best season for the Premier League’s middle classes since that 2015-16 season, when Leicester won the league, Southampton came sixth and West Ham seventh. The following summer was marked by a wave of spending from the traditional giants and the brief bout of equality was swept away. The Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR) have a bad reputation, thanks in part to aspirant clubs with wealthy owners who feel they prevent the sort of investment that might allow them to reach the next tier of clubs, but this perhaps is a sign of the system working, evidence of how incremental improvement and sensible husbandry can make even a relatively modest side competitive without richer clubs just surging away. PSR, though, will be replaced next season by squad cost ratio, which appears to allow those with deep pockets to exercise their advantage more thoroughly. For now, though, the Premier League has been left not only with a proper title race but also with a true battle against the drop. This is how it ought to be, with every matchday bringing multiple dramatic twists and each of the four sides likeliest to occupy that third relegation slot having unexpectedly found at least some late-season form. And that has one or two other sides beginning to feel a little uneasy. This is an extract from Soccer with Jonathan Wilson, a weekly look from the Guardian US at the game in Europe and beyond. Subscribe for free here. Have a question for Jonathan? Email [email protected], and he’ll answer the best in a future edition
FA Cup and Premier League team news: predicted lineups for the weekend action
FA Cup semi-finals MANCHESTER CITY v SOUTHAMPTON Saturday 5.15pm BBC One, iPlayer, TNT Sports 1 Venue Wembley Referee Craig Pawson This season G23 Y67 R3 3.04 cards/game Manchester City Subs from Donnarumma, Bettinelli, Lewis, Khusanov, O’Reilly, Alleyne, Guéhi, Kovacic, Silva, Cherki, Doku, Semenyo, Phillips, McAidoo, Gray, Mukasa Doubtful None Injured Dias (hamstring, May), Gvardiol (fractured tibia, May), Rodri (groin, unknown) Suspended None Form LWWWWW Leading scorer Haaland 35 Southampton Subs from Long, Stephens, Jelert, Kayi-Sanda, Quarshie, Traoré, Romeu, Fellows, Archer, Edozie, Sesay, Bragg, Williams, O’Brien-Whitmarsh, Larin, Robinson, Oyekunle, Dibaga Doubtful Stephens (calf) Injured Roerslev (knee, unknown), McCarthy (wrist, unknown) Suspended Downes (first of three), Manning (one match) Form WWWWWD Leading scorer Armstrong 11 • Stats from all competitions *** CHELSEA v LEEDS Sunday 3pm TNT Sports 1 Venue Wembley Referee Jarred Gillett This season G23 Y88 R1 3.87 cards/game Chelsea Subs from Jörgensen, James, Badiashile, Fofana, Sarr, Adarabioyo, Lavia, Essugo, Delap, Garnacho, Guiu, Mheuka, Merrick, Sharman-Lowe, Acheampong Doubtful Jörgensen (hip), Palmer (hamstring), James (hamstring), João Pedro (thigh) Injured Colwill (knee, 24 May), Gittens (hamstring, 9 May), Estêvão (hamstring, unknown) Suspended Mudryk (indefinite) Form LLWLLL Leading scorer Pedro 19 Leeds Subs from Perri, Bornauw, Byram, Longstaff, Gruev, Buonanotte, Piroe, Nmecha, Gnonto Doubtful None Injured Stach (ankle, 1 May), Rodon (ankle, 1 May), James (adductor, 1 May) Suspended None Form DDDWWD Leading scorer Calvert-Lewin 12 • Stats from all competitions *** Premier League FULHAM v ASTON VILLA Saturday 12.30pm TNT Sports 1 Venue Craven Cottage Referee Michael Oliver This season G25 Y75 R2 3.08 cards/game Fulham Subs from Lecomte, Diop, Cuenca, Robinson, Berge, Reed, King, Jiménez, Chukwueze, Kusi-Asare Doubtful None Injured Iwobi (hamstring, May), Kevin (metatarsal, May), Tete (foot, May) Suspended None Form WLDWLD Leading scorer Wilson 10 Aston Villa Subs from Bizot, Proctor, García, Mings, Lindelöf, Bogarde, Digne, Elliott, Buendía, Douglas Luiz, Sancho, Alysson, Bailey, Abraham Doubtful None Injured Kamara (knee, Jun) Suspended None Form LLLWDW Leading scorer Watkins 11 *** LIVERPOOL v CRYSTAL PALACE Saturday 3pm Venue Anfield Referee Andy Madley This season G18 Y56 R3 3.28 cards/game Liverpool Subs from Alisson, Pecsi, Gomez, Robertson, Mac Allister, Jones, Nyoni, Chiesa, Ngumoha, Ramsay Doubtful Alisson (muscle) Injured Mamardashvili (knee, 9 May), Endo (ankle, 17 May), Bradley (knee, Aug), Leoni (knee, Aug), Ekitiké (achilles, unknown), Bajcetic (hamstring, unknown) Suspended None Form WLDLWW Leading scorer Ekitiké 11 Crystal Palace Subs from Benítez, Matthews, Clyne, Riad, Sosa, Hughes, Lerma, Doucouré, Mateta, Devenny, Uche, Johnson, Cardines, Umeh, King, Jemide, Agbinone, Drakes-Thomas Doubtful None Injured Nketiah (hamstring; unknown), Guessand (hamstring) Suspended None Form WLWDWD Leading scorer Mateta 10 *** WEST HAM v EVERTON Saturday 3pm Venue London Stadium Referee Stuart Attwell This season G21 Y98 R3 4.81 cards/game West Ham Subs from Areola, Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Scarles, Magassa, Potts, Wilson, Lamadrid, Traoré, Herrick, Mayers, Kante Doubtful None Injured Fabianski (back, unknown) Suspended None Form LWDLWD Leading scorer Bowen 8 Everton Subs from Travers, King, Coleman, Patterson, Aznou, Iroegbunam, Röhl, Armstrong, Barry, Dibling, George Doubtful None Injured Beto (concussion, May), Branthwaite (hamstring, Aug), Grealish (foot, Aug) Suspended None Form WWLWDL Leading scorer Beto 8 *** WOLVES v TOTTENHAM Saturday 3pm Venue Molineux Referee Anthony Taylor This season G26 Y100 R2 3.92 cards/game Wolves Subs from Bentley, Møller Wolfe, Arias, Arokodare, Hwang, R Gomes, González, Chiwome, Mané Doubtful Sá (shoulder) Injured Krejci (whiplash, May), Johnstone (shoulder, Jun) Suspended Mosquera (second of two) Form LWWDLL Leading scorers Arokodare, R Gomes 3 Tottenham Subs from Austin, Dragusin, Souza, Byfield, Palhinha, Bergvall, Gray, Maddison, Williams-Barnett, Olusesi, Richarlison, Kolo Muani, Wilson Doubtful Maddison (match fitness) Injured Vicario (hernia, May), Udogie (unknown, May), Romero (knee, Jun), Sarr (shoulder, unknown), Odobert (knee, unknown), Kulusevski (knee, unknown), Kudus (thigh, unknown), Davies (ankle, unknown) Suspended None Form LLDLLD Leading scorer Richarlison 9 *** ARSENAL v NEWCASTLE Saturday 5.30pm Sky Sports Premier League Venue Emirates Stadium Referee Sam Barrott This season G20 Y72 R1 3.65 cards/game Arsenal Subs from Arrizabalaga, Setford, White, Timber, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly, Nørgaard, Gyökeres, Saka, Martinelli, Trossard, Jesus, Dowman, Harriman-Annous, Ibrahim Doubtful Timber (ankle) Injured Merino (foot, unknown) Suspended None Form WWWWLL Leading scorer Gyökeres 12 Newcastle Subs from Ramsdale, Botman, Willock, Ramsey, Woltemade, Wissa, A Murphy, Neave, Shahar, Elanga Doubtful None Injured Schär (ankle, May), Gordon (hip, May), Krafth (knee, Aug), Livramento (thigh, unknown) Suspended Joelinton (second of two) Form LWWLLL Leading scorer Guimarães 9 *** MANCHESTER UNITED v BRENTFORD Monday 8pm Sky Sports Premier League Venue Old Trafford Referee Chris Kavanagh This season G25 Y92 R3 3.8 cards/game Manchester Utd Subs from Bayindir, Heaton, Mazraoui, Yoro, Malacia, León, Ugarte, Mount, Sesko, Zirkzee, Obi, Fredericson, Mee, J Fletcher, T Fletcher, Mantato, Lacey Doubtful Yoro (match fitness) Injured Dorgu (muscle, May), De Ligt (back, unknown) Suspended Martínez (second of three) Form WLWDLW Leading scorers Mbeumo, Sesko 9 Brentford Subs from Valdimarsson, Balcombe, Ajer, Pinnock, Hickey, Donovan, Nelson Doubtful Dasilva (match fitness) Injured Furo (knock, May), Henderson (knock, May), Carvalho (knee, Jun), Milambo (ACL, Jun), Henry (hamstring, unknown), Janelt (metatarsal, unknown) Suspended None Form WDDDDD Leading scorer Igor Thiago 21
Premier League and FA Cup semi-finals: 10 things to look out for this weekend
Forest aim to stifle Black Cats’ personality Maybe it is a case of fourth time lucky for Nottingham Forest. Certainly Vítor Pereira – manager No 4 in the most chaotic of seasons – is doing something right. The Europa League semi-finalists are unbeaten in their last five Premier League games and will arrive at the Stadium of Light knowing victory would move them within touching distance of safety. Their visit should provide an interesting tactical challenge for Sunderland. Régis Le Bris’ side often excel on the counterattack but Forest are likely to sit deep and invite their hosts to unpick their packed defence while hoping to hurt them on the break. Le Bris will surely need Nordi Mukiele to advance with typical verve from right-back, while, in midfield, Noah Sadiki and Enzo Le Fée will be required to demonstrate precisely why they are being watched by several leading clubs. This Sunderland team often plays with real and refreshing personality. Can Forest subdue it? Louise Taylor Sunderland v Nottingham Forest, Premier League, Friday 8pm (all times BST) Fulham still waiting to get better of Emery There are 15 sides Unai Emery has faced more than twice as a manager and beaten every time. His teams have played 12 of those more than three times and retained that 100% record. Five clubs have come up against him more than four times and lost every game. Two have done it more than five times, and just one more than six. That club is Fulham: this will be the ninth time Emery has faced them, and he has so far banked eight wins and a 22-6 aggregate scoreline. And he hasn’t just enjoyed coming up against Fulham, he owes his job to them: the last time Villa dropped points to this weekend’s opponents was in October 2022, when they lost 3-0 at Craven Cottage. Steven Gerrard was promptly sacked, and Emery appointed four days later. His first game against Fulham as Villa manager was played three years to the day before this one. At least Marco Silva has managed to avoid defeat against him in the past, if only once in eight attempts since Estoril scored a last-minute equaliser in the group stage of the 2013-14 Europa League to earn a point at Sevilla. Simon Burnton Fulham v Aston Villa, Premier League, Saturday 12.30pm Hammers playing at Everton’s level This tussle between the teams in 10th and 17th actually looks set to be fairly even: before 17 January, the day West Ham beat Tottenham to end a run of more than two months without a win and demonstrate they had belatedly discovered how to play football (and Nuno Espírito Santo had belatedly discovered a decent formula, using for the first time the 4-4-1-1 formation he has largely stuck with since) Everton boasted just over twice their points tally, 29 to the Hammers’ 14, over 21 games, while conceding just over half as many goals, 25 to 43. Since then the teams’ records are almost identical: 12 games played, five wins each, 14 goals conceded, West Ham 18-17 ahead on goals scored and 19-18 up on points banked. “I think the players are improving, the level and the standards are improving, the players are working well, competing well,” said Nuno. “We’ve been solid, good on defence, sometimes good on attack, sometimes not so good. Finding that balance in the remaining matches is going to be crucial for us.” The Hammers have a fully fit squad and could give a start to Callum Wilson, who has scored eight goals in 11 games against Everton – the only team he’s scored more goals against is West Ham. SB West Ham v Everton, Premier League, Saturday 3pm Fragile Spurs must take chance at Wolves Roberto De Zerbi stressed he would not allow his players to feel sorry for themselves after Brighton denied them an elusive first win this calendar year. The Italian acknowledged there is a fragility to his squad after Georginio Rutter equalised in stoppage time and this week Spurs advertised for a psychologist to join their staff on Hotspur Way. How quickly can they start? De Zerbi called on his players to “change the mentality” as they face up to the reality of their fight against relegation, but also backed them to the point he suggested they are capable of winning all five remaining matches. The first is a trip to relegated Wolves, a team that has conceded 12 goals in their past four matches, and if Tottenham can chalk up a first win under De Zerbi, maybe Spurs will establish a psychological edge over their rivals. Ben Fisher Wolves v Tottenham, Premier League, Saturday 3pm Reds will keep a close watch on Wharton Back-to-back league wins plus Chelsea’s decision to appoint Liam Rosenior – a counter-argument to Arne Slot’s insistence that Liverpool have had no luck this season – have placed Champions League qualification in the hands of the Premier League champions. A top-five finish “could impact our plans for the summer at this club,” said Slot before the dramatic Merseyside derby victory at Everton. With strengthening central midfield expected to be part of those plans, there will be more eyes than usual on Adam Wharton at Anfield should the 22-year-old return from a minor adductor problem for Crystal Palace. Wharton will be in demand this summer after another impressive campaign for a Palace team that have won all three encounters with Liverpool (though each one with Marc Guéhi in their defence). Slot’s side have a tricky run-in but a healthy cushion over sixth-placed Brighton. Taking another step towards the Champions League would be significant in the pursuit of Wharton should he favour a return to his native north-west. Andy Hunter Liverpool v Crystal Palace, Premier League, Saturday 3pm Saints look to end half-century wait The winning machine that is Manchester City take on a Southampton side aiming to end a 50-year wait for the second major trophy of their 140-year history. Tonda Eckert’s team are also vying for automatic promotion from the Championship and are unbeaten in 20 games so the streetwise Pep Guardiola will make clear to his league leaders the challenge that awaits when the sides walk out at Wembley. Six years ago, Saints handed City a 1-0 defeat in the Premier League: a repeat on Saturday for the 2026 iteration would be a famous win and a certifiable Cup upset. Yet while Guardiola may rest some of his A-listers, City should still reach a remarkable fourth consecutive final. Jamie Jackson Manchester City v Southampton, FA Cup semi-final, Saturday 5.15pm Eze could help Arsenal sustain title hopes Eberechi Eze impressed when he made a rare start on the left-hand side of Arsenal’s attack against Manchester City last weekend, even if it was surprising to see the England forward taken off in the 74th minute as Mikel Arteta’s side chased an equaliser. That was the longest he and Martin Ødegaard have been on the pitch at the same time for a Premier League game. With Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli both out of form, Eze could be handed another opportunity in that position against Newcastle on Saturday as Arsenal try to regain top spot in the table. Arteta has mainly used him as a No 10 so far and there have been calls from some Arsenal fans for him to drop Martín Zubimendi, move Declan Rice to a deeper role and play Eze and Ødegaard in the same midfield. But having thrived at Crystal Palace because he had licence to roam off the left flank and find pockets of space, the 27-year-old could be more effective in the advanced role. Ed Aarons Arsenal v Newcastle, Premier League, Saturday 5.30pm McFarlane takes charge once again When Calum McFarlane took temporary charge of Chelsea in January for his first stint as interim manager, having been unexpectedly promoted from under-21s coach, he had three days to prepare the side to face Manchester City. It was a task that, according to the club’s website, was eased “due to the same footballing philosophy being shared across Chelsea Football Club”. Where does that footballing philosophy stand now, 16 weeks and one full-time manager later? The concern is that it is dictated not by any of the rotating cast of characters in the dugout but by an increasingly ungovernable playing group, and that, as they fill time before the next appointment, it will be hard for McFarlane to convince them to show any more application than they did during the unravelling of Liam Rosenior’s short stint, during which McFarlane was an assistant, and a run of five points from nine games. It is hard to see how a team with five sporting directors can fail to be muddled. But maybe McFarlane can pull off the job. It was hard to judge from his two games in January, from which Chelsea took just a single point, given that one was at City and the other, against Fulham, was ruined by Marc Cucurella’s early red card. Perhaps a combination of McFarlane (and the absence of Rosenior’s odd oratory), the Cup and a trip to Wembley can defibrillate this flatlining side. SB Chelsea v Leeds, FA Cup semi-final, Sunday 3pm Longstaff’s leveller gives Leeds belief It is hard to imagine a better launchpad for a trip to Wembley than the swing of Sean Longstaff’s right boot, seven minutes into stoppage time at the end of Wednesday’s game against Bournemouth, and the massive boost that late, result-turning goal provided. “Today was a point of mentality, of fight, of belief, of dealing with setbacks,” Daniel Farke said afterwards. “It’s a perfect morale boost, not just for the Cup game but the whole run-in.” Leeds will step out on to the Hallowed Turf™ with a spring in their step, their unbeaten run stretched to seven games, and their last act on a football pitch a full-team celebratory bundle. Bournemouth thought the late equaliser should not have stood, insisting Joël Piroe had blocked the view of their goalkeeper, Djordje Petrovic, while in an offside position. “I have spoken with the referee,” said Andoni Iraola. “They [the officials] try to make it look like it’s a very difficult play. I don’t think it’s as difficult.” A few minutes earlier they had a stoppage-time goal of their own disallowed for an extremely tight offside. Such a swing on such marginal decisions: if Michael Salisbury, his assistants and the technology assisting them had been wired slightly differently, Leeds would have been coming into this game on the back of a defeat. Had that been the case they might still be fielding the same players, but would they be the same team? SB Carrick still under probation period The Manchester United hierarchy are yet to be convinced regarding Michael Carrick’s candidacy to become the next No 1, so sealing a Champions League berth is imperative. With five games left and an eight-point advantage over Brighton, who are sixth and have played a game more, two wins will confirm their place at Europe’s top table. Brentford arrive unbeaten in their last six league outings, with five in the sequence draws, indicating Keith Andrews’s men are doughty opponents. But at Old Trafford, under the Monday night lights, United should be able to claim a victory that will continue Carrick’s impressive spell as interim. JJ Manchester United v Brentford, Premier League, Monday 8pm
Football Daily | Wolves and a simple tale of paying the price for selling the family gold
FOOLS’ GOLD? Rob Edwards did his best to keep his beloved side from the trap door marked Do One but, after eight seasons in the Premier League, Wolves have officially been relegated. West Ham – managed by former Wanderers manager Nuno Espírito Santo – earned a draw on Monday to finally put the Old Gold out of their misery, ending what has been a miserable season that had all the inevitability of Rúben Neves taking aim from 30 yards. Most relegations are an exercise in finger pointing and half-baked theories over what could have been but Wolves’ capitulation is remarkably easy to explain: years of systemic decline underpinned by Wanderers’ board of directors tendency to sell their best players and largely replace them with duds. Much like Mikel Arteta scribbling Jake Humphrey-style social media disgrace posts on to the innards of Arsenal’s dressing room, the writing has been on the wall for some time. Wolves barely stayed up last season, owing their Premier League survival almost entirely to the trio of Matheus Cunha (15 goals), Jørgen Strand Larsen (14) and Rayan Aït-Nouri (third best on … four), and so it was not entirely startling that after the club packed Cunha and Aït-Nouri off to Manchester last summer and flogged Strand Larsen to Crystal Palace in January, they found themselves in something of a pickle this time around. Wolves’s list of departees in recent years is staggering, with Pedro Neto, captain Max Kilman, Matheus Nunes, Neves, Nathan Collins, Raúl Jiménez, Adama Traoré, Fábio Silva, João Moutinho, Rui Patrício, Matt Doherty (when he was good), Morgan Gibbs-White and Diogo Jota all sold for a pretty penny since the 2019-20 heyday in which Wolves reached the Bigger Vase quarter-final. That’s not to say that Wolves have not spent money – nearly £600m since that 2020 defeat to Sevilla – it’s just they have spent it (or not spent it in the case of Vitinha) preposterously badly and have somehow now ended up with a squad where the only saleable asset appears to be Mateus Mané, a teenager signed for peanuts from Rochdale’s academy. The Old Gold will be back, probably. When? Football Daily couldn’t possibly say but the sooner that the club’s board and recruitment department stop running the club like Homer Simpson in charge of a nuclear reactor, the better. Say what you like about Monty Burns, but at least he knew how to run a tight ship. LIVE ON BIG WEBSITE Join Simon Burnton at 8pm (BST) for Premier League updates on Brighton 2-1 Chelsea. QUOTE OF THE DAY “Taking part in the [Geopolitics] World Cup with the Bosnian national team means a vast amount to me and this summer a huge dream will be fulfilled. Ahead of the playoff games I signalled there’d be drinks for the VfB fans if I really would be there at the [GWC]. Now I want to keep that promise” – Stuttgart forward Ermedin Demirovic vows to stick to his word and hand out free Tin and ice cream to fans at a spring festival in the city after booking his place at the big summer shindig. FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS I read with bemusement the suggestion that Erling Haaland’s ‘basic decency’ in Sunday’s showdown may well have saved the Gunners’ season (yesterday’s Football Daily). His refusal to ‘do an Arsenal’ and capitulate under the merest hint of pressure has been cast as an act of nobility akin to something from a Jane Austen novel. The reality is that he probably realised any such action would lead to his rightful vilification by the likes of Football Daily and various social media disgraces. As the yellow was flourished at Gabriel, I’m sure he mouthed lovingly: ‘I thought only of you.’ So selfless” – Anthony Brady. It is commendable of Haaland not to take a tumble, but as you point out, the ultimate result is that Gabriel will not now miss matches through suspension that he ought really to be missing. I think it’s worth going back a step, and considering why players started diving in the first place – it’s to make sure the referee’s attention is brought to what the diver thought was a foul. If justice was served on a regular basis anyway, the need for diving would not be there. If only there was some sort of assistance available to referees, perhaps involving cameras and monitors, maybe they’d get it right more often, and quite so many players wouldn’t feel the need to cheat. Wait, what? Oh” – Gumley Slats. Granted, your Devon Loch comparison with Arsenal is a good one (yesterday’s Football Daily), but the 1973 National with Red Rum catching and overhauling Crisp from way back after Crisp had led for a long time is, in my opinion, much more apposite. Arsenal are lolling all over the place, just as the desperately unfortunate top weight did and City are chasing them down like the multiple winners they are and Red Rum became” – Richard Askham. Fantastic to see Chelsea’s Frank Lampard’s Coventry back in the Premier League. If old Frank does a decent job of it, he could well find himself back in the hot seat as Chelsea’s Frank Lampard’s Chelsea manager” – Scott Coyne. If you have any, please send letters to [email protected]. Today’s prizeless letter o’ the day winner is … Gumley Slats. Terms and conditions for our competitions, when we run them, are here. RECOMMENDED VIEWING It’s David Squires on … Manchester City, Arsenal and an epic clash of the titans. RECOMMENDED SUBSCRIBING Want a newsletter that explains how the World Cup became the cultural, social and political behemoth that it is? Then look no further than The World Behind the Cup, a new email from Jonathan Wilson coming soon. You can pre-subscribe … but please stick with your faithful Football Daily too. RECOMMENDED LISTENING Get your ears around Women’s Football Weekly as the pod squad discuss a fourth Women’s World Cup qualifying win in a row for England and more. Then listen up, as the Football Weekly crew chew over Coventry’s promotion and Leicester’s potential relegation to the third tier. You can watch it here, too, if you like. This is an extract from our daily football email … Football Daily. To get the full version, just visit this page and follow the instructions.
Football Daily | Wolves and a simple tale of paying the price for selling the family gold
FOOLS’ GOLD? Rob Edwards did his best to keep his beloved side from the trap door marked Do One but, after eight seasons in the Premier League, Wolves have officially been relegated. West Ham – managed by former Wanderers manager Nuno Espírito Santo – earned a draw on Monday to finally put the Old Gold out of their misery, ending what has been a miserable season that had all the inevitability of Rúben Neves taking aim from 30 yards. Most relegations are an exercise in finger pointing and half-baked theories over what could have been but Wolves’ capitulation is remarkably easy to explain: years of systemic decline underpinned by Wanderers’ board of directors tendency to sell their best players and largely replace them with duds. Much like Mikel Arteta scribbling Jake Humphrey-style social media disgrace posts on to the innards of Arsenal’s dressing room, the writing has been on the wall for some time. Wolves barely stayed up last season, owing their Premier League survival almost entirely to the trio of Matheus Cunha (15 goals), Jørgen Strand Larsen (14) and Rayan Aït-Nouri (third best on … four), and so it was not entirely startling that after the club packed Cunha and Aït-Nouri off to Manchester last summer and flogged Strand Larsen to Crystal Palace in January, they found themselves in something of a pickle this time around. Wolves’s list of departees in recent years is staggering, with Pedro Neto, captain Max Kilman, Matheus Nunes, Neves, Nathan Collins, Raúl Jiménez, Adama Traoré, Fábio Silva, João Moutinho, Rui Patrício, Matt Doherty (when he was good), Morgan Gibbs-White and Diogo Jota all sold for a pretty penny since the 2019-20 heyday in which Wolves reached the Bigger Vase quarter-final. That’s not to say that Wolves have not spent money – nearly £600m since that 2020 defeat to Sevilla – it’s just they have spent it (or not spent it in the case of Vitinha) preposterously badly and have somehow now ended up with a squad where the only saleable asset appears to be Mateus Mané, a teenager signed for peanuts from Rochdale’s academy. The Old Gold will be back, probably. When? Football Daily couldn’t possibly say but the sooner that the club’s board and recruitment department stop running the club like Homer Simpson in charge of a nuclear reactor, the better. Say what you like about Monty Burns, but at least he knew how to run a tight ship. LIVE ON BIG WEBSITE Join Simon Burnton at 8pm (BST) for Premier League updates on Brighton 2-1 Chelsea. QUOTE OF THE DAY “Taking part in the [Geopolitics] World Cup with the Bosnian national team means a vast amount to me and this summer a huge dream will be fulfilled. Ahead of the playoff games I signalled there’d be drinks for the VfB fans if I really would be there at the [GWC]. Now I want to keep that promise” – Stuttgart forward Ermedin Demirovic vows to stick to his word and hand out free Tin and ice cream to fans at a spring festival in the city after booking his place at the big summer shindig. FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS I read with bemusement the suggestion that Erling Haaland’s ‘basic decency’ in Sunday’s showdown may well have saved the Gunners’ season (yesterday’s Football Daily). His refusal to ‘do an Arsenal’ and capitulate under the merest hint of pressure has been cast as an act of nobility akin to something from a Jane Austen novel. The reality is that he probably realised any such action would lead to his rightful vilification by the likes of Football Daily and various social media disgraces. As the yellow was flourished at Gabriel, I’m sure he mouthed lovingly: ‘I thought only of you.’ So selfless” – Anthony Brady. It is commendable of Haaland not to take a tumble, but as you point out, the ultimate result is that Gabriel will not now miss matches through suspension that he ought really to be missing. I think it’s worth going back a step, and considering why players started diving in the first place – it’s to make sure the referee’s attention is brought to what the diver thought was a foul. If justice was served on a regular basis anyway, the need for diving would not be there. If only there was some sort of assistance available to referees, perhaps involving cameras and monitors, maybe they’d get it right more often, and quite so many players wouldn’t feel the need to cheat. Wait, what? Oh” – Gumley Slats. Granted, your Devon Loch comparison with Arsenal is a good one (yesterday’s Football Daily), but the 1973 National with Red Rum catching and overhauling Crisp from way back after Crisp had led for a long time is, in my opinion, much more apposite. Arsenal are lolling all over the place, just as the desperately unfortunate top weight did and City are chasing them down like the multiple winners they are and Red Rum became” – Richard Askham. Fantastic to see Chelsea’s Frank Lampard’s Coventry back in the Premier League. If old Frank does a decent job of it, he could well find himself back in the hot seat as Chelsea’s Frank Lampard’s Chelsea manager” – Scott Coyne. If you have any, please send letters to [email protected]. Today’s prizeless letter o’ the day winner is … Gumley Slats. Terms and conditions for our competitions, when we run them, are here. RECOMMENDED VIEWING It’s David Squires on … Manchester City, Arsenal and an epic clash of the titans. RECOMMENDED SUBSCRIBING Want a newsletter that explains how the World Cup became the cultural, social and political behemoth that it is? Then look no further than The World Behind the Cup, a new email from Jonathan Wilson coming soon. You can pre-subscribe … but please stick with your faithful Football Daily too. RECOMMENDED LISTENING Get your ears around Women’s Football Weekly as the pod squad discuss a fourth Women’s World Cup qualifying win in a row for England and more. Then listen up, as the Football Weekly crew chew over Coventry’s promotion and Leicester’s potential relegation to the third tier. You can watch it here, too, if you like. This is an extract from our daily football email … Football Daily. To get the full version, just visit this page and follow the instructions.
Premier League buildup, Coventry on verge of promotion, and more – matchday live
David Estherby has messaged in to say: “Have to agree with godfrey007 (8.33); it’s clear Ange prioritised a cup over league position last year, theres no way he would’ve let them slide to 17th or worse again. More importantly, there’s not a chance Spurs would be where they are if Vertonghen and Alderweireld were still there, let alone Kane. Club’s a mess but until the board prioritise Tottenham Hotspur over the Jacksonville Jaguars/Beyonce/the karaoke singer from the Bricklayers not a jot will change. “S**t runs downhill, folks.” Some more on Spurs… Today’s Premier League fixtures Arsenal v Bournemouth Brentford v Everton Burnley v Brighton Liverpool v Fulham Arteta also admitted he is proud to be coming up against former team-mate Andoni Iraola, who is also from the Basque Country. He said: “Yes, it’s amazing what he has done together with the club. The consistency that they’ve shown, the manner that they’ve done it and the amount of players they’ve sold - how they’ve then reinvented themselves. The run that they are on is incredible because we know how tough the Premier League is. When it comes to pride, it’s huge, when it comes to rivalry on matchday, it’s even bigger - it goes out the window.” Mikel Arteta urged Arsenal fans to bring the noise at the Emirates Stadium this afternoon as the Gunners look to go 12 points clear at the top of the table. He said: “We know the meaning of every match here and the opportunity that we have, especially when we play at home. We need to maximise every result. It’s about each individual and how we turn up there. It’s actually impacting the game, the atmosphere and energy in the stadium. Whoever comes tomorrow, I ask them to be with that mindset, energy and commitment, because the team is going to respond beautifully to that.” It should be a good match between Arsenal and Bournemouth this afternoon, although I don’t think anything could beat this game… the DRAMA! Now from one end of the table to the other… Arsenal will look to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table with a win over Bournemouth at lunchtime. The Gunners currently lead by nine points, although second-placed Manchester City have a game in hand. This could be a huge weekend for the title race, with Pep Guardiola and Co facing a difficult clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge tomorrow. Speaking of “Ange-ball” – Roberto De Zerbi wants to bring it back as he attempts to prevent Tottenham’s first relegation in 49 years. Another question for Tottenham fans, do you think the club would be in this position if Ange Postecoglou had stayed? With Burnley and Wolves looking pretty much certain to go down, the battle to avoid that last relegation place is heating up. Tottenham slipped into that spot last night following West Ham’s 4-0 win – and they face a challenging game away at Sunderland tomorrow. Nottingham Forest and Leeds United are also down there. The question is, who will face the drop? Let me know what you think! Thank you, James, for getting this Matchday live up and running while I battled through train delays to make it into London! I just about made it… eventually! Anyway, Premier League football is back and we have four games to look forward to later today. Arsenal will look to extend their lead at the top of the table when they face Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium. Brentford then host Everton, with Brighton travelling to face Burnley at Turf Moor. And in the late game, Liverpool will look to bounce back from defeats to Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain when they take on Fulham at home. Real Madrid had to settle for a 1-1 draw against mid-table Girona in La Liga, extending the hosts’ winless run to three games in all competitions and giving leaders Barcelona the chance to stretch their advantage at the top. Federico Valverde put Madrid ahead six minutes after half-time but Girona levelled in the 62nd minute through Thomas Lemar. Álvaro Arbeloa’s side are six points behind with league leaders Barça, who have a game in hand against Espanyol on Saturday and could move nine clear with seven games to play. Two-nil up in a must-win game, Nuno Espírito Santo’s side looked unrecognisable from the doomed bunch who dropped seven points off 17th place in early January. This is a different West Ham. This is a West Ham with a punch in attack and, if this daring escape act does end with Premier League football secured for another season, a key part of the story will be how Nuno strengthened his squad in January. While Axel Disasi has brought order in defence, the best way to compliment Castellanos and Pablo Felipe is to call them the modern equivalent of John Hartson and Paul Kitson. West Ham, after all, have form in this department. They were fired to safety in 1997 after signing Hartson and Kitson halfway through a difficult campaign and, 29 years on, have given themselves a fighting chance thanks to the mid-season arrivals of Pablo and Castellanos. Emillia will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s what happened in east London last night … We’ve another stacked lineup today, including Coventry’s push for the Premier League and Arsenal’s latest test as they close on the top-flight title, along with much, much more. Let us know if you’re at a game anywhere today or how you’ll be following from around the world, just drop us an email via the link in the standfirst.
Premier League transfer links emerge and Arne Slot discusses Liverpool 'option'
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