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Tag: Title race

  • EPL Title Race: Guardiola predicts outcome of Liverpool, Arsenal games

    EPL Title Race: Guardiola predicts outcome of Liverpool, Arsenal games

    Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola,  has predicted that both Arsenal and Liverpool will win their Premier League fixtures against Crystal Palace and Aston Villa on Sunday.

    Guardiola made his prediction shortly after his team thrashed Luton Town 5-1 on Saturday.

    The victory took City to the top of the table with 73 points, two more than both Arsenal and Liverpool.

    The Gunners host Aston Villa while Jurgen Klopp’s men take on Crystal Palace at Anfield.

    “I don’t know [what will happen] tomorrow but knowing today, they [Liverpool and Arsenal] will win 100 per cent.

    “The only way is to win our games and put pressure. Luton is a difficult game, okay we scored five goals. This is the only message we can do,” Guardiola said.

  • EPL: Arsenal maul Newcastle 4-1 at Emirate, keep title hopes alive

    EPL: Arsenal maul Newcastle 4-1 at Emirate, keep title hopes alive

    Arsenal’s pursuit of the English Premier League title remains on course as they recorded a massive 4-1 victory against visiting Newcastle United at the Emirates on Saturday night.

    The Gunners’ first goal came via an own goal when by Sven Botman and a simple Kai Havertz finish put Arsenal 2-0 up at the break before Bukayo Saka and Jakub Kiwior struck to wrap up the points.

    Newcastle’s only goal came in at the death when substitute, Joe Willock scored the Visitor’s consolation goal.

    The victory took Mikel Arteta’s side to 58 points after 26 games, two behind leaders Liverpool and a point adrift of Manchester City, who earlier won 1-0 at Bournemouth.

    Arsenal have now scored 25 goals in their last six Premier League games and the win over Newcastle was the perfect tonic.

    The race for the EPL title continues to hot up among three contenders, Liverpool, City and Arsenal.

  • EPL: Yaya Toure tips Manchester City to win the league

    EPL: Yaya Toure tips Manchester City to win the league

    Ivorian and Manchester City legend, Yaya Toure, has tipped his former club to win the premier League title ahead of league leaders Arsenal this season.

    According to Toure, the gunners will still drop points, insinuating that there is a very long way to go for both teams chasing the title.

    “At the moment, it’s really tight. Man City are just playing really well and are hoping Arsenal will drop points,” Toure told talkSPORT.

    “I think Arsenal will drop points. It’s a long way still, the pressure is there. Man United are still doing well, Liverpool [had] a brilliant result a few days ago, and Arsenal are competing fantastically well.

    “I don’t want to say it’s a decider of the league, as it is a long way to go. I hope Man City will do it because I am a fan of Man City.”

    “At the moment, it’s really tight. Man City are just playing really well and are hoping Arsenal will drop points,” Toure told talkSPORT.

    “I think Arsenal will drop points. It’s a long way still, the pressure is there. Man United are still doing well, Liverpool [had] a brilliant result a few days ago, and Arsenal are competing fantastically well.

    “I don’t want to say it’s a decider of the league, as it is a long way to go. I hope Man City will do it because I am a fan of Man City.”

    Arsenal are currently five points ahead of Man City on the Premier League table with 12 games remaining.

    “At the moment, it’s really tight. Man City are just playing really well and are hoping Arsenal will drop points,” Toure told talkSPORT.

    “I think Arsenal will drop points. It’s a long way still, the pressure is there. Man United are still doing well, Liverpool [had] a brilliant result a few days ago, and Arsenal are competing fantastically well.

    “I don’t want to say it’s a decider of the league, as it is a long way to go. I hope Man City will do it because I am a fan of Man City.”

  • EPL: Fabregas issues warning to Arsenal over title race

    EPL: Fabregas issues warning to Arsenal over title race

    Arsenal legend and former captain, Cesc Fabregas issued a warning to Arsenal, saying that the title race, is far from being over.

    Fabregas added that they still have a long way to go in the title race this season.

    The gunners are five points clear of second place Manchester City with a game in hand.

    Speaking on Sky Sports, Fabregas said: “I think it is a process.

    “We all know that I think everyone at the club is aware about it, Mikel [Arteta] the first, but the input he wants to put into the players’ heads, the message is that they’ve to go all-in, because as I said it would be a great statement for the team, for the confidence, for the Premier League, it’s a message to say ‘hey, we are here, we want to win it.’

    “Fifty points in the middle of the season, it is still a long way to go, they still have to play Europa League, that is another thing we need to see how Mikel manages, if he’ll play the starting XI or if we will keep all the firepower for the Premier League.”

  • EPL: Manchester United defeat Man City 2-1,throws title race open

    EPL: Manchester United defeat Man City 2-1,throws title race open

    Manchester United came back from a goal down to defeat neighbour Manchester City 2-1 in a thrilling encounter at Old Trafford.

    It was an amazing comeback from the Red devils as they dished out a very better performance as against their last meeting at the Etihad.

    In the 60th minute De Bruyne is slipped into the United box down the right, a cute pass from Mahrez. He stands one up into the middle for Grealish, who rises at the far post and plants a header into the top left from six yards. Easy as that! Fine goal. United picked apart forensically.

    However, in the 78th minute, Casemiro rolls a pass down the inside-right channel to release Rashford, who is well offside. Rashford runs alongside the ball, but doesn’t touch it. Fernandes, coming behind him, gives him a shout. Rashford leaves it. Fernandes opens his body and whips across Ederson and into the right-hand side of the net. What a finish!

    The 82nd minute of the encounter provided another goal, in what looked like a twist of fate, Garnacho twists and turns down the left. It looks as though there’s nothing on, but Garnacho keeps probing. One last drop of the shoulder creates a little bit of space away from Ake, and he fires a low cross into the centre. Rashford is the most alive, and he sticks out a leg to poke under Ederson from six yards!

    There’ll be some controversy over United’s equaliser, no doubt, but what a response by Erik ten Hag’s side! They’re in the title race now all right. A great result for Arsenal, too

    The result has now thrown the title race open with just one point seperating Manchester City on 39 points and Manchester United on 38 after 18 games each.

  • EPL: Liverpool’s victory takes title race to final day

    EPL: Liverpool’s victory takes title race to final day

    Liverpool ensured the English Premier League title race will go to the final day of the season by coming from behind to beat Southampton 2-1 at St Mary’s on Tuesday.

    Joel Matip’s crucial second-half winner moved the Reds a single point behind leaders Manchester City to set up a tantalising finale on Sunday.

    Jürgen Klopp’s men knew they had to be victorious on the south coast to remain in contention to become top-flight champions for only the second time in 32 years.

    But they were stunned by Nathan Redmond’s superb solo opener.

    However, the much-changed visitors controlled proceedings for almost the entire evening and levelled through former Saints loanee Takumi Minamino.

    Then, Matip completed the turnaround with the aid of a deflection off Kyle Walker-Peters.

    The Reds, who remain in contention for an unprecedented quadruple, will welcome Wolves to Anfield in five days’ time.

    They will be hoping Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa can do them a major favour away to Manchester City.

    The defeat for 15th-placed Southampton was an eighth in 11 games.

    Klopp bemoaned the scheduling of this must-win fixture due to it coming three days after the Reds’ gruelling FA Cup final win over Chelsea.

    The German opted for nine changes from that penalty kick shootout success, with goalkeeper Alisson Becker and defender Ibrahima Konate the only men retained.

    Sadio Mane joined injured duo Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah in being given the night off.

    His rejigged side enjoyed plenty of early possession but were rocked by Redmond’s fine 13th-minute effort.

    After Lyanco dispossessed Diogo Jota just outside Saints’ box, Redmond received the ball from Nathan Tella and ran almost half the length of the pitch.

    He then cut in from the left and delightfully curled home from the edge of the area via a slight deflection off James Milner.

    Klopp felt the robust challenge on Jota was a foul and he had cause for further frustration minutes later.

    This was when Roberto Firmino’s precise headed finish from a Kostas Tsimikas free-kick was flagged for offside.

    Choruses of “God Save the Queen” rang out from sections of the home support.

    This was in view of the fallout of Liverpool fans booing the national anthem at Wembley at the weekend before the visitors soon levelled.

    Japan international Minamino claimed the 27th-minute equaliser.

    He beat recalled Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy at his near post with a powerful, rising drive into the roof of the net after being expertly slipped in by Jota.

    Liverpool were forced into a change at the break as captain Jordan Henderson replaced the injured Joe Gomez, pushing the versatile Milner to right-back.

    The enforced alteration had little impact on the flow of the game and, after going close through Jota and Harvey Elliott, the visitors decisively edged ahead in the 67th minute.

    Tsimikas’ outswinging corner-kick from the left was inadvertently flicked on by Saints winger Mohamed Elyounoussi.

    Matip held off Walker-Peters to send a looping header beyond McCarthy and into the right corner in front of the delirious travelling fans.

    Southampton rarely threatened a costly equaliser, although Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson fumbled a Redmond effort from distance late on.

  • EPL: Liverpool, Man City in fight to finish as top four battle hots up

    EPL: Liverpool, Man City in fight to finish as top four battle hots up

    In a bid to claim the top spot and cement it ahead of the English Premier League ending in the 2021/2022 season, Manchester City and Liverpool have tricky away ties in week 34 of the EPL.

    Manchester City go away to Leeds United at Elland road whilst challenger Liverpool go away to St James’ park to battle Newcastle.

    Manchester City and Liverpool must quickly turn their focus from Champions League glory to the battle for the Premier League title, with no room for error in tricky away trips today .

    City, who hold a one-point advantage at the top of the table with five games remaining, travel to Leeds, who are also in need of the points to guarantee survival.

    Liverpool can go top for a few hours at least if they win at Newcastle, but the Magpies have won their last six home games to storm into the top half of the table since beginning of the takeover by Saudi Billionaires.
    Recall that Last season, Leeds city defeated Manchester City at the Etihad by 1-2 with 10 men, Leeds City were trailing by a solitary goal but scored two after a player got a matching order in the feisty encounter.
    Meanwhile, Leeds are unbeaten in five games, but are just five points clear of the relegation zone ahead of a tough run-in, with Arsenal and Chelsea to come after the visit of City.

     

    The Premier League’s top two remain on course to end their season with another showdown in the Champions League final after seeing off Spanish oppositions in contrasting fashion in midweek.

     

    Meanwhile at Anfield Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp gave fans even more cause for celebration by extending his contract at the club for a further two years and the German tactician will remain at the club till 2026.

    However, the German is far from happy at the scheduling of a lunchtime kick-off just three days after a Champions League semi-final.

    “It’s brutal but it’s fine. It’s the best situation you can have,” said Klopp.“Just go for the next one and try to play the best football you can.”

    In another development, the top four race appears a daunting task for Arsenal, Totteham and Manchester United with the fourth place finish looking like it’s going to be a direct shot between North London clubs Arsenal and Tottenham.

    Arsenal have a two-point advantage and both sides will be confident of victory this weekend against oppositions with European semi-finals on their mind.

    Arsenal have a date at London stadium with Westham who face a daunting task of upturning a 2-1 deficit at German side Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League Semi-finals.

    Tottenham will slug it out with Leicester city at the Tottenham Hotspurs Stadium with the foxes looking well in shape to go past Roma in the semi-final of the Europa Conference League tie after first leg ended 1-1 at the King Power stadium.

    However, Manchester United may feature in the Europa league come next season but they have a date with Brentford in a monday night football after playing a 1-1 draw on Thursday with Chelsea who appeared to have cemented its place as third on the EPL log.

     

  • Title race: Man City must win all remaining games – Guardiola

    Title race: Man City must win all remaining games – Guardiola

    Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes they cannot afford any slip in this season’s title race.

    Guardiola believes his side will probably have to win all their remaining matches if they are to successfully defend their Premier League title.

    A late 1-0 victory over Everton got them back to winning ways after defeat to Tottenham and restored the six-point gap to second-placed in-form Liverpool, who have a match in hand.

    “It’s not the first time we’ve been in this situation and we have learned from that in the past,” said Guardiola.

    “If you want to be champion in the Premier League, against this rival – Liverpool, they are not going to drop points – you have to do your job in nearly all the games.

    “We felt it in the past and we have to do it this year. So it’s not an exception.

    “Eleven games left and we know exactly what we need to do; we need to win all of them or nearly all of them to be champion.

    “Every game will be an incredibly tough battle and you have to face every game knowing if we drop points it will be difficult to be champion.”