Premier League
SHAPE OF EXPECTATIONS AS PREMIER LEAGUE RESUMES
BY RICHARD JOLLY
With the title race all but over, let’s take a look at the race for European places and the challenges facing each club from second-placed Manchester City through to Arsenal in ninth. Who will the key player be in each team’s run-in and a prediction on where they will likely finish.
MANCHESTER CITY (CURRENT: 2ND. PREDICTED: 2ND)
Outlook: It depends on two things: their appeal against their two-year European ban and whether they can win the Champions League. City are almost certain to come second, but could do with Raheem Sterling getting a first goal of 2020. Having Leroy Sane fit again is another boost to make them more potent.
Key Player: Aymeric Laporte – City have not conceded with Laporte on the pitch since August. Injury has destroyed his campaign and disrupted their rearguard, but the crucial centre-back is available again.
LEICESTER CITY (CURRENT: 3RD. PREDICTED: 3RD)
Outlook: Eight points ahead of fifth, they should get Champions League football but a tough last two games mean they need to keep that cushion. They are without their pivotal right-back Ricardo Pereira and could do with Jamie Vardy, who only has two goals since Christmas, scoring more regularly.
Key Player: Wilfred Ndidi – It is no coincidence Leicester’s form dipped when their defensive midfielder was injured in January. They have won both times he has started since he returned.
CHELSEA (CURRENT: 4TH. PREDICTED: 5TH)
Outlook: Healthy, in that Timo Werner arrives in the summer. But worrying: after eight months in the top four, they still have to face four of the top six. They could need the departing Willian and Pedro to make fine final contributions and for Kepa Arrizabalaga to justify his fee.
Key Player: Tammy Abraham – A revelation, but has only scored once in an injury-hit 2020. Needs to produce the right response to Werner’s imminent arrival.
MANCHESTER UNITED (CURRENT: 5TH. PREDICTED: 4TH)
Outlook: Encouraging. They are unbeaten in 11 in all competitions, conceding only twice, have Marcus Rashford fit again and can pair Paul Pogba with the catalytic Bruno Fernandes. But opening games against Tottenham and Sheffield United will be a barometer if their February form was a false dawn.
Key Player: Paul Pogba – Not played in 2020, not got an assist since August or a goal all season but finally fit again and likely to stay. If motivated, he can give United an extra dimension.
WOLVES (CURRENT: 6TH. PREDICTED: 7TH)
Outlook: A marathon, 13-month season could yet end in Europa League glory but a small squad may not be suited to a world where teams can make five substitutions. Only Liverpool and Manchester City are harder to beat but a drawing habit could cost them.
Key Player: Adama Traore – A shoulder injury restricted the roadrunner before lockdown and Wolves’ goals dried up. Now the winger has had time to recover.
SHEFFIELD UNITED (CURRENT: 7TH. PREDICTED: 9TH)
Outlook: Shutdown came at the wrong time for the in-form, overachieving Blades. Now they have to try and regain that momentum. With four games against rivals for fourth, their destiny will be decided in head-to-head clashes. They have six away games, but only two defeats thus far on their travels.
Key Player: Dean Henderson – The goalkeeper has been instrumental in giving United the second best defensive record but is ineligible for next week’s clash with his parent club, Manchester United.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (CURRENT: 8TH. PREDICTED: 8TH)
Outlook: Better. Jose Mourinho was willing the season to end when Spurs were miserable in March. Now they have attackers Harry Kane, Son Heung-min and Steven Bergwijn available again. But a tough run-in, especially at home, means they face a battle to salvage anything from a sorry season.
Key Player: Harry Kane – Out of action since New Year’s Day but back now. Scored seven goals in 10 games under Mourinho. Something similar could be needed now.
ARSENAL (CURRENT: 9TH. PREDICTED: 6TH)
Outlook: Unbeaten in 2020 and with a game in hand but a July run of Wolves, Leicester, Tottenham and Liverpool threatens to end any hopes of Champions League football. But Mikel Arteta could further his good start by guiding them back into the Europa League.
Key Player: Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang – Has responded well to Arteta’s appointment and has scored from 63 percent of his shots on target. Finishing that deadly could be decisive.
The Straits Times
England and Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has been handed a 15-month suspended prison sentence by a Greek court over a 2020 incident in Mykonos, Sky Sports reported on Wednesday.
In 2020, Maguire was found guilty of repeated bodily harm, attempted bribery and violence against public employees after his arrest in a brawl in which two police officers were assaulted.
Maguire, who was detained for two days following the incident and denied any wrongdoing, was handed a suspended prison sentence of 21 months and 10 days but was granted a full retrial after appealing against Greek court convictions on multiple charges.
In accordance with the Greek judicial process, the filing nullified Maguire’s conviction before a full retrial in a more senior court. His retrial was postponed many times.
Maguire faced allegations of non-serious assault, resisting arrest and attempted bribery. The 32-year-old was convicted on all three counts but will face no prison time. His legal team will appeal against the guilty verdict, Sky Sports reported.
Maguire’s brother Joe and friend Christopher Sharman were also found guilty of offences related to the incident and received suspended prison sentences in 2020. They also denied any wrongdoing.
-Reuters
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Arsenal maintained control of the Premier League title race as they chiselled out a nervy 2-1 win over London rivals Chelsea to open up a five-point lead at the top of the table on Sunday.
Jurrien Timber’s 66th-minute header from a Declan Rice corner ensured Arsenal took three precious points, but it was a nervy afternoon in north London.
Mikel Arteta’s side moved to 64 points from 29 games, with Manchester City, who have played a game fewer, on 59.
Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber celebrates scoring their second goal with Gabriel Magalhaes REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Defender William Saliba had given Arsenal the lead in the 21st minute from a trademark corner routine.
But it had looked as though an own goal by Piero Hincapie just before halftime would prove costly for the hosts until Timber came to their rescue.
Chelsea, whose six-match unbeaten league sequence under new manager Liam Rosenior was halted, ended the match with 10 men after Pedro Neto was sent off for a second yellow card.
-Reuters
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Premier League
Manchester United climb to third in Premier League table with come-from-behind win over Palace
Manchester United produced a stirring second-half comeback to defeat Crystal Palace 2–1 at Old Trafford on Sunday, with captain Bruno Fernandes inspiring the turnaround that lifted the hosts into third place in the Premier League standings.
Trailing inside four minutes after a dominant start by Palace, United responded through a Fernandes penalty before his pinpoint free-kick was headed home by Benjamin Sesko to seal victory against the 10-man visitors.
The win extended interim manager Michael Carrick’s unbeaten run to seven matches since taking charge in mid-January. United now have 51 points from 28 games and are unbeaten since the January 5 dismissal of Ruben Amorim, climbing into third for the first time since May 2023. Palace remain 14th on 35 points.
“It feels like a big result, we were behind and had to show some character,” Fernandes told Sky Sports. “There are a lot of games to go still, and it is important that we don’t feel that we are in the position that we need to be. We need to make as many points as we can.”
Palace, under Oliver Glasner, were electric in the opening half hour, capitalising on sluggish United play. Defender Maxence Lacroix powered home a header from a corner after muscling past Leny Yoro, scoring the earliest goal United have conceded this season.
The visitors nearly doubled their advantage when Daniel Munoz latched onto an Ismaila Sarr through ball, but goalkeeper Senne Lammens produced a crucial save.
United gradually found their rhythm before the break. Sesko forced Dean Henderson into action with a header from a Fernandes cross, and the Palace keeper also tipped a Fernandes free kick over the bar.
The turning point arrived in the 57th minute when Fernandes converted from the penalty spot after Matheus Cunha was dragged down by Lacroix. Following a lengthy VAR review, Lacroix was shown a red card, reducing Palace to 10 men.
Eight minutes later, Fernandes’ delivery again proved decisive as Sesko rose highest to nod home the winning goal.
United pushed for a third, with Casemiro’s volley drawing a diving save from Henderson and substitute Amad Diallo testing the keeper from distance in stoppage time. Joshua Zirkzee saw efforts blocked, while Kobbie Mainoo’s fierce strike drifted narrowly wide.
Carrick praised his team’s resilience. “The biggest thing for us to take from the game is really the first time that we have been in that situation going in at halftime,” he said. “Being in that position and how we react and showing that personality and belief… to then come back as we did in the second half is the biggest thing for me today.”
Palace pressed late but could not find an equaliser. Glasner admitted his side had let the game slip. “It feels like there was more possible today. A great first 30 minutes, but the red card changed it completely. The second goal just happened too quickly.”
For United, the victory reinforces growing belief under Carrick that a top-four finish—and a return to Europe’s elite competition—is firmly within reach.
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