1 year ago
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1) Brighton can end 40 years of hurt
Manchester United and Brighton meeting at Wembley can only summon memories of the 1983 FA Cup final. Gordon Smith’s miss/Gary Bailey’s save, Ray Wilkins’ chip and maniacal celebration, Steve Foster’s ill-fated return from suspension for the replay, Ron Atkinson savouring the moment of United’s replay win. Halcyon days but 40 years on, two coaches who have hugely impressed in their first seasons in English football meet for the first time. With both Lisandro Martínez and Raphaël Varane missing, Roberto de Zerbi, with Alexis Mac Allister in midfield, leads Erik ten Hag on the number of World Cup winners available to him. Teams with a similarly attacking, high-pressing style to Brighton have caused Ten Hag’s team problems this season. With Evan Ferguson ruled out, former Red Danny Welbeck will lead Brighton’s line against a patched-up defence. Ten Hag must hope Brighton freeze in the fashion Newcastle did in this season’s Carabao Cup final. The Seagulls return to the stage where they narrowly lost to Manchester City in 2019, but are a different proposition to Chris Hughton’s team, from which Lewis Dunk is the sole survivor. John Brewin
Brighton v Manchester United, FA Cup semi-final, Sunday 4.30pm (all times BST)
2) Blades must blunt irresistible City
If anyone deluded themselves into thinking that competing on three fronts might cause a terminal malfunction inside Manchester City’s remorseless winning machine, the shimmering mirage has made way for a world of scorched earth, electrical storms and burning skies. Having just tossed aside Bayern Munich in the Champions League like a dog mauling a chew toy, City have clanked back into juggernaut mode and are now on a streak of 15 games without defeat. To say Sheffield United, closing on automatic promotion back to the top flight, face a daunting task at Wembley would be a huge understatement, not least given City demolished Burnley, the runaway Championship winners, in their Cup quarter-final. Pep Guardiola’s side won all four meetings during the Blades’ most recent spell in the Premier League, so the underdogs will need a remarkable performance to have any hope of an upset that ends Pep Guardiola’s treble bid. Will Magee
Manchester City v Sheffield United, FA Cup semi-final, Saturday 4.45pm
3) Smith Rowe still awaits time to shine
Emile Smith Rowe shares a terrace song with Bukayo Saka for good reason. Both are outstanding young players who, having come through Arsenal’s youth system, have shown themselves to be formidable operators at the highest level. But while Saka has been fundamental to their title charge, Smith Rowe has not started a game all season. Much of that was due to long-standing injury issues but he is now fully fit and his lack of minutes has begun to raise eyebrows. At West Ham he was not called from the bench despite a clear need for attacking urgency. If a player who scored 10 league goals last season is not to be deployed at that stage, one has to wonder when Smith Rowe will regain favour. Nobody doubts Smith Rowe has the ability to help Arsenal’s title ambitions; Arteta sought a discussion with the 22-year-old recently and said he is “in a very good place”. He will surely be in an even better one if he can kick start his campaign with a big contribution against Southampton on Friday night. Nick Ames
Arsenal v Southampton, Premier League, Friday 8pm
Monday’s thrashing of Leeds was not only notable for the quality of Liverpool’s performance once they took the lead – their best of the season according to Jürgen Klopp – but for the influence Trent Alexander-Arnold exerted and clearly enjoyed in his new, adjusted role. Klopp has maximised Alexander-Arnold’s strengths in the last two games by giving the right-back licence to roam in midfield when Liverpool have possession and has been repaid with valuable assists against Arsenal and Leeds. At Elland Road, that led to 153 touches, 124 completed passes and registering his 50th Premier League assist with a sublime ball for Darwin Núñez’s final flourish. The visit of a Nottingham Forest side without a win in 10 league games provides further opportunity for Alexander-Arnold to showcase the versatility that gives Klopp an extra, perfectly-timed option , with a midfield rebuild required this summer. Andy Hunter
Liverpool v Nottingham Forest, Saturday 3pm
5) Newcastle’s reliance on Bruno
Eddie Howe will be hoping for a positive answer following what he described as his team’s “worst performance of the season” as they lost 3-0 at Aston Villa last Saturday. Newcastle remain fourth, three points ahead of Tottenham with a game in hand, but Sunday’s meeting of Champions League hopefuls could prove pivotal. If a top-four finish remains Newcastle’s overriding aim, Howe’s problem is that the fall back of a Europa League place is far from guaranteed either. With Villa, Brighton and Liverpool all still in the running, there may be nerves on Tyneside in the weeks ahead. Bruno Guimarães is currently restricted by the ankle injury he has carried for some weeks now. When the Brazilian plays well so, invariably, do Newcastle but the decision to delay full treatment on the ankle is informed largely by a lack of high-calibre understudies in an understaffed department. Small wonder two new midfielders – one a Declan Rice style No 6 – top a Newcastle summer shopping list also including a left-back, a right sided centre-half and another forward. Louise Taylor
Newcastle v Tottenham, Sunday 2pm
6) James’s speed to trouble Leeds
Marco Silva’s response to Fulham’s loss of form was telling. Aleksandar Mitrovic’s eight-match suspension appeared to have taken a toll during the meek home defeat to West Ham earlier this month. The lightweight Carlos Vinícius made little impact after being asked to lead the line in Mitrovic’s absence and Silva used a different approach when Fulham visited Everton last weekend. The decision to play without a traditional No 9 proved inspired. Dan James played through the middle and his pace made Fulham far less predictable. Everton were unable to respondwhen James created space for Harry Wilson, Andreas Pereira and Willian. The Wales international, who can lack composure in the final third, even scored the final goal in an impressive 3-1 win and will have to be watched closely. Javi Gracia’s struggling Leeds side have conceded 11 goals in two games and James will be keen to impress against his old side. Jacob Steinberg
Fulham v Leeds United, Saturday 12.30pm
after newsletter promotion
7) Vardy’s decline mirrors Leicester woes
When Jamie Vardy was withdrawn at half-time at Manchester City last weekend it was the latest marker in a saddening slowdown. A once prolific striker has been blunted this season; Vardy’s last goal came against MK Dons in the Carabao Cup back in December. The 36-year-old has now gone 532 minutes without registering a shot on target, a dry run that dates back to January. Brendan Rodgers lost faith in Vardy but the striker was restored to the starting lineup earlier this month by the interim manager, Adam Sadler, and retained by Dean Smith at the Etihad. But Smith must be tempted to start Kelechi Iheanacho, who scored a consolation goal in defeat against his former club, or Patson Daka in Vardy’s place when they host Wolves on Saturday. Vardy’s sole league goal of the season came in a comprehensive 4-0 victory at Wolves in October. How Vardy and Leicester could do with a repeat. Ben Fisher
Leicester v Wolves, Saturday, 3pm
8) Hodgson today but gone tomorrow
Crystal Palace’s Roy Hodgson-inspired revival has created a feel-good story for this Premier League season but the bigger picture is more worrying. Amid a flurry of recent manager sackings, nothing illustrates the short-termism of the top flight quite like hiring a 75-year-old to replace an up-and-coming managerial talent such as Patrick Vieira. Three straight wins under Hodgson appear to have ensured safety from relegation this season, but what will come next? Wouldn’t football be in a better place if young managers were given breathing space to develop, rather than being dismissed as soon as the threat of relegation looms into view? This is hardly the first time that short-termism has been identified as an issue for the Premier League, but Hodgson’s restoration shows the problem is only getting worse with each passing season, with teams afraid to risk the financially-crippling drop into the Championship. Luke McLaughlin
Crystal Palace v Everton, Saturday 3pm
9) Toney and Watkins’ England battle
Brentford’s worst run of the campaign comes as Aston Villa have hit their best form. Where once Thomas Frank’s team were talked of as European contenders, now Unai Emery being touted as a Europa League (where else?) manager next season. Should they win in west London, Villa may even feel emboldened to set their sights higher. A sub-plot comes in the meeting of past and present free-scoring Brentford strikers. Ivan Toney finally made his England breakthrough last month and few could argue with his form of five goals in his 10 league games. Ollie Watkins, who has faded from the national team picture over the past year, has notched 11 in his last 12 and appears reinvigorated under Emery. A continuation of that streak would probably keep Villa’s fire burning, although Toney will expect to his own say. Whoever wins out, Gareth Southgate will relish the fact two of Harry Kane’s potential deputies are in such fine nick. NA
Brentford v Aston Villa, Saturday 3pm
10) Bournemouth repaying O’Neil’s faith
Gary O’Neil has cut an impressively composed figure in this campaign. During those times when results were going against Bournemouth – narrow defeats in which marginal refereeing decisions or other strokes of bad fortune cost his team – he often outlined his belief that consistent improvements were apparent in the playing group, even though they were struggling results-wise. Give us more time and we will show what we can do, was the manager’s line of argument when victories were scarce. A well-worn refrain for any relegation-threatened manager whose first concern is to hang on to their job rather than engage with reality. But happily for Bournemouth, there was substance to O’Neil’s positivity under pressure. Victories against Fulham, Leicester and Tottenham this month have lifted the promoted side to 14th; another win at home to West Ham and safety will be all but assured. LMc
Bournemouth v West Ham, Sunday 2pm
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