Premier League
Premier League talking points
Talking points from the Premier League weekend:
TOTTENHAM PLAY KEY ROLE IN TITLE RACE
Tottenham Hotspur’s season has been a mystery. While they have looked light years behind the Premier League’s top sides on occasions, their form against the two best teams in the land, possibly Europe, has been outstanding.
They completed a double over Manchester City when the Harry Kane-inspired win at the Etihad in February blew the title race wide open. They also drew 2-2 at home to Liverpool in an absorbing clash in December and on Saturday held Juergen Klopp’s side to a 1-1 draw at Anfield.
That draw tilted the title race back in City’s favour but whoever emerges as champions, Tottenham have added some twists and turns to the race. The frustration for their fans is that the level they showed in those game has not been sustained.
Perhaps with some astute summer signings, Tottenham could have more than just a cameo role to play in the title race next season.
The mood at Anfield when Liverpool were held by Tottenham was flat and Man City’s 5-0 hammering of Newcastle United on Sunday led some to say the title race might be run.
City are three points clear with three games to go and have a better goal difference and a fourth title in five seasons is looking more than likely.
But manager Pep Guardiola faces the rest of the season with a defensive injury crisis with Ruben Dias, John Stones and Kyle Walker all out for the last three games.
He will also know that matches against Wolverhampton Wanderers, West Ham United and Aston Villa are by no means easy.
City hold the cards but they know only too well the dangers that lurk after the dramatic events in their Champions League semi-final defeat by Real Madrid.
Vitalii Mykolenko and Mason Holgate scored at Leicester City to lift Everton out of the relegation zone but it was goalkeeper Jordan Pickford who was perhaps their key man.
After excelling in last weekend’s win at Chelsea, Pickford produced a world-class performance again as the England number one pulled off a string of vital saves to keep the Merseyside club in the contest at the King Power Stadium.
“Moments like Jordan’s saves are huge. Everybody is important but you need those moments when top-level players produce,” manager Frank Lampard said of Pickford’s display.
A first away victory in over eight months moved Everton up to 16th in the standings, one point above their relegation rivals who have all played a game more
NKETIAH ASSUMES LEAD ROLE FOR ARSENAL
Eddie Nketiah has become the unlikely key man in Arsenal’s top-four battle after another superb display against Leeds United on Sunday.
The 22-year-old Englishman scored both goals in the 2-1 victory, having also scored twice in the 4-2 win at Chelsea last month — a result that revived Arsenal’s season.
His movement and link-up play has given him an extended run in the side and his form may well be able to save Arsenal an expensive outlay on a new striker in the summer.
“Eddie has been very consistent, with his performances and how little he is giving things away! Let him be, let him enjoy the moment because he completely deserves it and things will happen naturally,” manager Mikel Arteta said.
–Reuters
Thomas Partey, who formerly played for English Premier League soccer club Arsenal, has been charged with rape and sexual assault, London’s Metropolitan Police said on Friday.
Partey, a Ghana international, was charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, with the charges relating to three women and the offences reported to have taken place between 2021 and 2022, the statement said.
Partey’s management did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
He is due to appear at London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Aug. 5.
Partey, 32, was signed by Arsenal from Atletico Madrid for 50 million euros ($59 million) in October 2020 and became a key member of Arsenal’s first team.
He was first arrested in July 2022, though he was not named at the time and continued to play for Arsenal while investigations were ongoing.
-Reuters
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Five players including England forward Marcus Rashford and Argentina winger Alejandro Garnacho have informed Manchester United that they wish to explore a future away from the Premier League side, a club source said on Friday.
Brazilian midfielder Antony, Dutch defender Tyrell Malacia and England international Jadon Sancho are also looking to leave the club, the source added.
Rashford, who has made more than 400 senior appearances for United, has fallen out of favour with manager Ruben Amorim, played for Aston Villa on loan while United had their worst-ever Premier League campaign, finishing 15th in the standings.
Amorim had called Rashford’s work rate into question, saying he would rather put a goalkeeper coach on the bench than a player not giving their all.
Rashford said he was feeling fitter and better since joining Villa, where he scored two goals in 10 league appearances.
United also failed to qualify for the Champions League as they lost the Europa League final 1-0 to Tottenham Hotspur. Garnacho, who was a late substitute in the final, voiced his displeasure on social media after the loss.
“Up until the final, I played every round helping the team, and today I play 20 minutes, I don’t know,” he wrote in a post . “The final will influence (my decision), but the whole season, the situation of the club.”
Sancho was on loan at Chelsea, where he made 31 league appearances last season. Antony, who joined United from Ajax Amsterdam in 2022 for a reported initial transfer fee of more than $100 million, scored five goals in 17 LaLiga appearances on loan at Real Betis.
Malacia joined Dutch side PSV Eindhoven on loan in February.
-Reuters
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes turned down the opportunity to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal in order to keep playing “at the highest level”, he said on Tuesday.
The Portuguese midfielder admitted that he had considered the move, which media reports said was worth four times his current salary, after being contacted by Al-Hilal’s president.
“There was that possibility, the president of Al-Hilal called me a month ago to ask me about it,” Fernandes, who is preparing to face Germany with Portugal, told reporters on Tuesday.
“It was a big offer, very ambitious. There was a waiting period for me to think about the future.”
Fernandes ultimately decided to stay at United and said he was motivated by his desire to continue playing at the top level and encouraged by his family and the club’s coach Ruben Amorim.
“I would be willing to do it if Manchester United thought so,” Fernandes added. “I spoke to the coach Ruben Amorim who really tried to talk me out of it. The club said they would not be willing to sell me, only if I wanted to leave.
“I spoke to my wife and family, and she asked me what my personal goals were in my career.
“It would have been easy to move there but I want to keep myself at the highest level, playing in the big competitions and I feel capable of it. I am happy with my decision.”
The 30-year-old Fernandes scored 19 goals and provided 19 assists in 57 appearances across all competitions for United last season, winning the club’s Player of the Year award for the fourth time.
However, it was a season to forget for the team, as they finished 15th in the Premier League, their lowest league finish in half a century, and lost the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur.
-Reuters
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
- OBITUARY2 days ago
BREAKING: Nigerian Goalkeeping Legend Peter Rufai is dead
- Nigerian Football2 days ago
Football Agent John Shittu Demands Retraction and ₦250 Million Damages from Samson Siasia Over Bribery Allegation
- WAFCON1 week ago
Super Falcons Land in Morocco, Eye Historic ‘La Decima’ Women’s AFCON Title
- FEDERATION CUP1 week ago
Kwara United Clinch Historic First Title as President Federation Cup Final Goes to Penalties for the 18th time
- FEDERATION CUP1 week ago
Rivers Angels Crowned 2025 Female Federation Cup Champions After Penalty Shootout Thriller
- OBITUARY2 days ago
Peter Rufai looked lean when I last saw him, says mourning NFF President, Gusau
- OBITUARY2 days ago
Family issues statement on Peter Rufai
- IMMEMORIAL2 days ago
Peter Rufai’s Death Adds to Long List of July Tragedies in Nigerian Football