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Liverpool still in English Premier League control but title race warming up
Summary
- *Liverpool visit Brentford with a four-point cushion
- *Arsenal closest title challengers as they host Villa
- *Third-placed Forest welcome bottom club Southampton
Liverpool remain in the driving seat in the Premier League title race but there are signs that instead of Arne Slot’s side vanishing over the horizon in the second half of the season they could face a real battle to be crowned champions.
The leaders head to Brentford on Saturday with a four-point cushion over second-placed Arsenal and a game in hand but suddenly they are not having it all their own way.
While unbeaten in the league since losing at home to Nottingham Forest in September, a run of 16 games, they have drawn four of their last seven, having dropped points in only two of their first 13 matches.
The failure of the teams below them to take full advantage, namely Chelsea and Arsenal, and Manchester City’s meltdown towards the end of last year means Liverpool still look secure.
But Arsenal’s 2-1 home win over Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday, the night after Liverpool were held 1-1 by surprise package Nottingham Forest, has left the door ajar.
Arsenal, who are unbeaten in 11 league games and host seventh-placed Aston Villa on Saturday, look the most likely side to chase Liverpool down but Forest, who are six points off the pace have become part of the conversation.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side reeled off six successive league victories before the draw with Liverpool and should get back to winning ways this weekend as they host bottom club Southampton at the City Ground.
Newcastle United are the form team with six straight wins pushing them into fourth spot, although they are nine points adrift of Liverpool having played a game more. Eddie Howe’s side host Bournemouth, who are eighth, on Saturday.
Chelsea’s climb has tailed off after a five-match winless streak in the league and Enzo Maresca’s fifth-placed side will be desperate to get back on track at home to relegation-battling Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday.
HOME GOALS
Liverpool will be mindful of a Brentford side who show scant regard for reputations and hit back with two late goals to draw 2-2 with Manchester City on Tuesday at the Gtech Community Stadium where they have scored 29 goals, more than any other side has managed at home this season.
They have leaked 21 there too, so Saturday’s visit from Liverpool is unlikely to be a cagey encounter.
Arsenal’s midweek victory over Tottenham revived their mood after a difficult start to the year which has included a draw at Brighton & Hove Albion, back to back home cup defeats and a season-ending knee injury for forward Gabriel Jesus.
But opponents Villa are showing returning to form and the last time Arsenal lost at home in the league it was to their former manager Unai Emery’s Midlands side — a 2-0 defeat in April that dealt a huge blow to the Gunners’ title ambitions.
The return of manager David Moyes to Everton fell flat on Wednesday as the Scot began his second spell in charge with a 1-0 home defeat by Villa.
Everton are one point above the relegation zone having scored one goal in six league games but Sunday’s visit of a woefully out of form Spurs offers a chance to gain momentum.
Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham side have won once in their last nine league games and talk of a top-four challenge has now been replaced with that of a potential relegation battle if things do not improve rapidly.
“The reality is that our results and our form in the league has been nowhere near good enough. That needs to change,” the Australian said on Wednesday.
-Reuters
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Mamelodi Sundowns and Ulsan HD had targeted their Group F opener as their best chance to get a win on the board at the Club World Cup, with Brazil’s Fluminense and German side Borussia Dortmund expected to advance from Group F.
South Africa’s Sundowns took all three points with a 1-0 win over the South Koreans and went top of the group after Fluminense drew 0-0 with Dortmund.
WHY IT’S IMPORTANT
African and Asian teams are not expected to make much of an impact at the new-look 32-team Club World Cup so points are like gold dust for the likes of the Sundowns and Ulsan.
KEY QUOTES
Miguel Cardoso, Mamelodi Sundowns coach: “We prepared tactically and strategically very well, and then we found a commitment between everybody. I think it was clear we made a very wonderful first half. It was important that we could keep the pace and not stray from the game plan in the second half, so that we could score a second goal that for little details or little centimetres, we could not do.”
Kim Pan-gon, Ulsan HD head coach: “We had targeted this game to win because we understand the other two teams in the group, Fluminense and Borussia Dortmund, are favourites. Our players gave their best efforts in this game and we’re very proud of their efforts. Now we need to recover quickly for the next game.”
-Reuters
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With a year until Mexico makes history as the first three-time World Cup host, the dream of a spectacular showcase is colliding with the practical challenges of modernising the iconic Azteca Stadium for global soccer’s premier event.
Beneath the imposing silhouette of Mexico’s football cathedral – where Pele dazzled with Brazil in 1970 and Maradona’s ‘hand of God’ propelled Argentina to glory in 1986 – construction crews tackle the formidable task of bringing one of the sport’s most storied venues into the 21st century.
The stakes are magnified as the ‘Santa Ursula colossus’ will host the tournament’s opening match, a global spectacle that will focus the world’s attention on Mexico from day one.
Renovations will expand the stadium’s capacity from 87,000 to 90,000, with upgrades centred on meeting FIFA standards through new changing rooms, enhanced hospitality zones, revamped VIP areas and additional seating in spaces previously occupied by boxes and lounges.
While government officials and football administrators envisioned the project as a symbol of national pride, the renovation process has eroded trust between developers, local residents and other stakeholders.
Stadium administrators announced in February that they had secured a 2.1 billion peso ($110.19 million) credit line from local financial group Banorte – along with a controversial new name: Estadio Banorte.
FIFA regulations mean the stadium will be referred to as “Estadio Ciudad de Mexico” during the World Cup, yet the rebranding has sparked a fierce backlash from some fans, who view it as sacrificing football heritage for commercial interests.
HARSH REALITY
The backlash over the stadium’s new name represents only one facet of the mounting tensions. Box and suite holders – some with relationships spanning decades – have threatened legal action after FIFA announced it would commandeer their seats during the tournament, overriding established contracts.
One member of the Mexican Association of Box Holders has already filed a legal challenge to defend access rights.
Beyond the stadium walls, frustration runs equally deep. Residents of Santa Ursula and surrounding neighbourhoods fear that promised infrastructure improvements like pedestrian bridges and transit lines will fail to address fundamental issues including inadequate lighting, water shortages and persistent traffic congestion.
“We’re not the stadium’s backyard,” one local resident told Expansion Politica. “But we’re always treated that way.”
By contrast, Guadalajara and Monterrey, Mexico’s other two host cities, face fewer obstacles.
Guadalajara’s 48,000-seat stadium, opened in 2010, has already hosted major events including the 2011 Pan American Games, while Monterrey’s 53,500-capacity venue, inaugurated in 2015, needs only minor upgrades – primarily new turf and a pitch ventilation system.
“We’ll install a system to ventilate and oxygenate the pitch before replacing the grass,” said Alejandro Hutt, Monterrey’s Host City Manager. “That will be an important legacy from the World Cup and beyond.”
As construction continues, Javier Aguirre’s Mexico squad are building towards a crucial summer, with a Gold Cup title defence ahead and friendly matches against Turkey this week, followed by Japan and South Korea in September.
After failing to advance beyond the group stage at Qatar 2022 – their worst World Cup performance since 1978 – Mexican fans crave more than just a well organised tournament. They want to see Mexico break the ‘fifth-game‘ curse and reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 1986, the last time they were World Cup hosts.
-Reuters
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All contenders are now known for this year’s President Federation Cup grand finale, following Saturday’s elimination of Edo Queens and Ibom Angels in the women’s semi-finals.
Multiple-winners Rivers Angels saw off the stiff challenge of Ibom Angels of Uyo 1-0 in Aba, while Nasarawa Amazons bumped Edo Queens 2-0 in Ayingba.
Cup holders Rivers Angels, who have won the competition nine times, will have their hands full against 2005 and 2019 champions Nasarawa Amazons of Lafia.
In the men’s competition, Abakaliki FC of Ebonyi are getting set to tackle Kwara United FC in the final.
Results of Semi Finals (Women)
- Rivers Angels (Rivers) 1-0 Ibom Angels (Akwa Ibom)
- Edo Queens (Edo) 0-2 Nasarawa Amazons (Nasarawa)
Results of Semi-Finals (Men)
- Abakaliki FC (Ebonyi) 0-0 Ikorodu City (Lagos) – Abakaliki FC win 5-4 on penalties
- Kwara United (Kwara) 1-0 Rangers Int’l (Enugu)
WOMEN’S FINAL
- Rivers Angels vs Nasarawa Amazons
MEN’S FINAL
- Abakaliki FC VS Kwara United
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