Premier League
Bullet point previews of Premier League weekend matches
Match-by-match facts and statistics ahead of the next round of Premier League fixtures on May 28 (all games at 1530 GMT):
Sunday, May 28
Arsenal v Wolverhampton Wanderers
* Arsenal have won 25 league games this season, only winning more in the Premier League era in their title-winning campaigns of 2001-02 and 2003-04 (both 26).
* Arsenal have won their final match of the season more than any other league side (21), with a win rate of 70%.
* Wolverhampton are winless in their last seven league away games (D2 L5), losing the last three by an aggregate score of 10-1.
Aston Villa v Brighton and Hove Albion
* A victory for Villa will see them qualify at least for the Europa Conference League next season, their first appearance in European competition since 2010-11.
* Brighton’s Danny Welbeck has been involved in five goals in his last four league appearances on matchday 38 (two goals, three assists), scoring in each of his last two games.
* Brighton have lost their last three league games against Villa.
Brentford v Manchester City
* Erling Haaland has scored five of City’s nine league goals in London this season, the joint most for a City player in a single campaign (Sergio Aguero in 2015-16 and Edin Dzeko in 2011-12 also five).
* City’s Kevin De Bruyne has been involved in nine goals in his last six final-day appearances in the league, scoring three and assisting six. Only Nolberto Solano (7) has more assists on the final day in league history than the Belgian.
* Following their 2-1 win at the Etihad in November, Brentford are looking to complete their second league double over City (previously in 1937-38).
Chelsea v Newcastle United
* Chelsea are winless in their last seven home games in all competitions (D3 L4), their longest since a run of 10 between November 1987 and April 1988.
* Kai Havertz (five) and Raheem Sterling (four) are the only two players to score more than once for Chelsea in the league at Stamford Bridge this season, with 10 players netting one home goal.
* Defender Kieran Trippier has created 110 chances in the league this season – it’s the most on record (since 2003-04) for a Newcastle player.
Crystal Palace v Nottingham Forest
* Eberechi Eze has been involved in 14 goals in 37 league games this season (10 goals, four assists), more than any other Palace player.
* Taiwo Awoniyi has scored in seven league games this season, putting Forest 1-0 ahead every time.
* Palace have lost just one of their last nine league home games (W3 D5) and are unbeaten in all four since Roy Hodgson’s return (W3 D1).
Everton v Bournemouth
* Dwight McNeil is Everton’s top league goal-scorer this season with seven goals, the lowest top scorer in a single campaign since 2001-02.
* Bournemouth have conceded 70 league goals this season but are safe from relegation and could finish as high as 13th.
* Everton are winless in their last four league home games (D1 L3), losing the last three in a row and conceding 10 goals in the process.
Leeds United v Tottenham Hotspur
* Leeds will be relegated to the Championship if they fail to beat Tottenham, their seventh top-flight relegation overall and second from the league after 2003-04.
* A defeat for Tottenham would ensure no European football for them next season, for the first time since 2009-10.
* Harry Kane has scored in 25 league games for Tottenham this season, the most of any player in a 38-game campaign.
Leicester City v West Ham United
* If Leicester fail to win this game, they will get relegated from the top-flight just seven years after winning the title.
* James Maddison has been involved in more league goals than any other Leicester player this season (10 goals, nine assists).
* West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen has been involved in five goals in his five league games against Leicester (three goals, two assists), his most goal involvements against a single top-flight opponent.
Manchester United v Fulham
* Fulham are guaranteed their first top-half finish in the league since 2011-12 (ninth).
* Aleksandar Mitrovic has scored 14 league goals this season, including three in his two games since returning from suspension.
* United have won all five of their league games against promoted sides this season, last winning all six in a single campaign in 2011-12.
Southampton v Liverpool
* Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has been involved in 17 goals in 14 league games since March (11 goals, six assists), more than any other player in the competition in that time.
* Liverpool have won their last three league away games, as many as they had in their first 15 on the road this season (D4 L8).
* Southampton have lost 10 of their last 11 league games against Liverpool, with the exception being a 1-0 home win in January 2021.
-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
WAFCON 2024: Nigeria’s Super Falcons begin ‘La Decima’ quest with Tunisian clash
Supporters Club Mourns Peter Rufai: “Another Big Tree Has Fallen,” Says Rafiu Ladipo
WAFCON 2024: Morocco Held to Thrilling 2-2 Draw by Zambia in Opening Match
- OBITUARY3 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
- 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
- OBITUARY3 days ago
Peter Rufai looked lean when I last saw him, says mourning NFF President, Gusau
- WAFCON18 hours ago
Nigeria, Tunisia Set for High-Stakes WAFCON 2024 Clash in Casablanca
- 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