Alexander Isak and Giorgi Mamardashvili could feature for Liverpool against Chelsea on Saturday, with both players returning to training ahead of the Premier League fixture. Arne Slot confirmed that Isak trained yesterday, while goalkeeper Mamardashvili is in a similar position. Alisson Becker remains out of action, and Mohamed Salah has not yet trained with the squad but is “getting very, very close” to doing so, Slot said.
Liverpool team news and Slot’s assessment of the season
Slot offered a detailed appraisal of Liverpool’s campaign, acknowledging clear underperformance in the Premier League while insisting results have been harsher than performances warranted. “I think it always weighs heavy on the players if you lose more games than you want,” he said. “It’s never a nice feeling to lose, especially at this club.” The manager noted that Liverpool have been vulnerable to counterattacks but stressed that the problems are broader. “It’s a mix of everything and it’s clear where we have to improve. It’s something we will address in the summer, in the market and afterwards on the training ground.” In the Champions League, Slot pointed to a third-place finish in the group phase, a win over Galatasaray, and a two-legged defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, adding that “no team over two games has been able to beat them.” With the focus now on securing Champions League qualification for next season, Slot said: “The focus for this team after everything we’ve been through is now qualifying for the Champions League.” Liverpool face Chelsea at Anfield knowing a win, combined with a Bournemouth defeat, would confirm their place in Europe’s top competition.
European qualification and relegation picture
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola urged supporters to create a hostile atmosphere at the Etihad as his side host Brentford, with the chance to cut Arsenal’s lead to two points. “A long time since the last game was at 3pm on a Saturday. I love to be at home. Hopefully they can come, all we can do is put pressure on Arsenal in our games,” Guardiola said. He described Brentford as “so good” and acknowledged the difficulty of replacing Thomas Frank. The Belgian winger Jérémy Doku has been “amazing” this season, Guardiola added, with seven goals and eight assists his best numbers for City.
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola admitted European qualification is difficult but said his team are in a “good place” after a 3-0 win over Crystal Palace opened up a four-point gap over Chelsea. The Cherries are sixth, but Iraola remained cautious: “We are like six or seven teams fighting for two or three positions. We need points and we need wins and we don’t have easy games.” Eighth place could earn a European spot after Aston Villa reached the Europa League final, and Bournemouth are boosted by the return of Justin Kluivert for Saturday’s trip to Fulham.
Leeds United and Nottingham Forest moved closer to safety with wins last week. Leeds will guarantee their Premier League status with a victory at Tottenham on Monday, or even a draw if West Ham lose to Arsenal. Forest can secure survival by beating Newcastle on Sunday if West Ham fail to win, or by drawing if Arsenal beat West Ham. West Ham face Arsenal at home on Sunday, with the Hammers still in relegation danger.
Brighton head coach Fabian Hürzeler, after signing a new three-year deal, said: “We have three games to go and we want to finish strong. I’m here to improve the players. I’m here to achieve something with the players together with the staff.” The Seagulls still have a chance to finish sixth and qualify for Europe.
El Clásico and Real Madrid turmoil
Barcelona can clinch back-to-back La Liga titles with a draw against Real Madrid on Sunday. If they win their final four league games, they would match the all-time record of 100 points set by José Mourinho’s Real Madrid and Tito Vilanova’s Barcelona, and break the record of 32 wins in a season. They also have a chance to become the first team to win all home matches in a 38-game season. However, they will be without Lamine Yamal, who is out with a hamstring injury. Raphinha returned to the bench last weekend. Only once before in clásico history has the title been decided by the result of the game, back in 1931-32 when Real Madrid drew 2-2 to clinch their first league.
Real Madrid are in chaos ahead of the match. Fede Valverde was taken to hospital for stitches after a second physical confrontation with teammate Aurélien Tchouaméni in two days. Players held an emergency meeting and the club opened disciplinary proceedings. Valverde fell and hit his head during the fight, opening a gash, and was treated at Hospital Blua Sanitas Valdebebas. The club is likely to end a second successive season without a trophy, and Álvaro Arbeloa will not continue as coach.
Bournemouth defender under investigation
Bournemouth have confirmed that defender Álex Jiménez will not be in the squad for Saturday’s Premier League game against Fulham amid an investigation into posts on social media. “AFC Bournemouth are aware of posts circulating on social media involving right-back, Álex Jiménez,” a club statement read. “The club understand the seriousness of the matter and it is currently being investigated. As a result, Álex will not be included in the squad for tomorrow’s Premier League game against Fulham and the club will be making no further comment at this time.”
Tottenham Women managing director to leave
Tottenham Hotspur’s women’s team managing director Andy Rogers will leave the club this summer after 24 years in various roles. Rogers, who has overseen the women’s team since February 2023, said he is leaving to spend more time with his family. “I am so proud of the incredible staffing group that we’ve constructed. I sincerely believe we have created the foundations for them to continue to learn, develop and carry the ambition of the club as high as I know it can reach,” he said. Chief executive Vinai Venkatesham added: “Andy has made a significant contribution to the growth and development of our women’s team over the past three-and-a-half years. We have been building on these foundations with a renewed, more ambitious vision for Spurs Women set at the start of this season.” Spurs are guaranteed to finish fifth in the WSL with one match remaining.
Rangers boss commits to club
Danny Röhl has confirmed he will stay at Rangers despite rumours linking him with Wolfsburg. With the Scottish Premiership title slipping away – Rangers are seven points behind Hearts and four behind Celtic ahead of the Old Firm derby – Röhl said: “From my side of course, 100 per cent. My full focus is on Rangers. I think even in the last couple of days our conversations with the board, with the club, goes just in one direction, how we can win titles with the club in the future.” He added: “I feel that I’m in the right place with the right people with a lot of motivation, positive energy to bring this club not just to a one-hit wonder, back to a consistent club who can win titles in a row.”
Newcastle injury updates
Eddie Howe confirmed that Lewis Miley faces several months out after slipping in training, with the hope he will return for pre-season. “It was an innocuous moment. No one was around him and he slipped. He went down and thought it was a twist and nothing too serious. But he was unable to continue and pretty early we became aware it was more serious than we thought.” Tino Livramento is back running on grass but is unlikely to feature again this season. Howe also addressed Anthony Gordon’s future, saying the player remains committed: “It is difficult for me to comment on individual players and timescales. It is an area that is not my forte. All I am looking to do is trying to finish this season with this squad in a strong way.” On Nicklas Woltemade’s lack of starts, Howe said: “Nick is fine. That is a natural reaction. The media will no doubt will blow everything up but he is training well and is really committed.”
Championship playoffs and spying allegations
Middlesbrough have reported a spying incident to the English Football League, alleging that a Southampton analyst was caught recording their training session on Thursday morning, 48 hours before the Championship playoff semi-final first leg. Boro staff spotted an individual, believed to be part of Tonda Eckert’s backroom team, filming and photographing the session, possibly focusing on set pieces. The individual refused to identify himself after being confronted. The EFL is investigating and has requested Southampton’s observations. The incident echoes the 2019 Marcelo Bielsa “spygate” affair.
Stockport County manager Dave Challinor, who has finished in at least a playoff spot in all 15 full seasons with clubs he has managed, said: “The playoffs can bring all sorts of weird and wonderful stuff. When you’ve not been involved in them before that can be a shock. Everything is on the line here.” Stockport face Stevenage in the League One playoff semi-finals, with the first leg on Saturday.
European finals and England squad announcement
Aston Villa reached their first European final since 1982, thrashing Nottingham Forest 4-0 to set up a Europa League final against Freiburg in Istanbul. John McGinn, who scored twice, said: “We didn’t want to leave these games with any regrets. The margins are so slim. If we lost, we’re the nearly men. When we go to Istanbul, we need to make sure we’re not the nearly men.” Unai Emery is hunting a record fifth Europa League title. Crystal Palace also advanced to the Europa Conference League final, beating their semi-final opponents 5-2 on aggregate to face Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig. Captain Dean Henderson said: “It’s pretty incredible really to even get into a European competition with Crystal Palace, let alone reach the final. We’ve got to deliver something special. We’ve got to get back what we deserve.” The Football Association confirmed that Thomas Tuchel will name his England squad for the World Cup on Friday, 22 May.
Michael Carrick recalls 2012 title drama
Michael Carrick remembered the day Manchester City dramatically won the league from under Manchester United’s noses in 2012, with Sunderland fans celebrating and doing the ‘Poznan’ after Sergio Agüero’s goal filtered through. “I can remember that. I have not forgotten it. I just remember the noise,” Carrick said. “There was sarcasm in the way they were singing. It wasn’t over but we thought we had done the job. Then the Sunderland fans got smart about it and started having a pop, which exploded into laughter because we had lost the league. Sir Alex [Ferguson] was down. He was annoyed at the added time and the sarcasm. You knew he wouldn’t forget. He could turn that into propaganda for next time.”
