Category: Football (Soccer)

After a biblical downpour, the skies cleared, and Manchester City executed the gameplan: secure victory and three points to keep their breath on Arsenal’s neck.

The clincher arrived via Erling Haaland’s 26th Premier League goal of the season – as with his side’s performance this was hardly pretty but no one in blue cared. Antoine Semenyo marauded down the right, his cross hit at least one Brentford body, the ball came to Haaland who, with a second stab at it, bundled home, the No 9 facing away from goal.

After a goalless first half, Jérémy Doku’s spectacular goal set up a crucial win for City

“Haaland has 25 goals,” begins Zach Neeley. “Arsenal’s highest is Gyokeres at 14, and not because they score fewer goals (67 to 69). Which is better, the bulk scorer who you know will go out there and usually get something? Or the balanced team, where it can come from so many places?”

That would make for a great podcast discussion. The short answer: it’s complicated. (See Van Nistelrooy, Ruud.)

Brighton put their European push back on track by flying out of the blocks en route to beating relegated Wolves at the Amex Stadium.

Jack Hinshelwood headed home inside 35 seconds to register Albion’s fastest Premier League goal before the captain, Lewis Dunk, marked his return to the starting XI by nodding in the second just four minutes later.

Liverpool started well but let Chelsea back into the game and ended the day booed off

Chelsea get the ball rolling at a lovely sunny Anfield. They’re kicking towards the Kop in this first half.

The teams are out! Liverpool in socialist red, Chelsea in royal blue. Anfield crackles with anticipation, albeit in that slightly understated 12.30pm-on-Saturday style. We’ll be off in a couple of Gerry-and-the-Pacemakers-soundtracked minutes. “I enjoyed the pre-match postbag,” trills Rob Knap. “I’m very much one of the (many, I imagine) rubberneckers today. My partner’s gone out and I’m a bit under the weather, sniffle, cough, etc - classic man flu - then I saw that Liverpool-Chelsea was on. How I’ve perked up! (Though that also might be the combo of too many Lemsips and extra-strong Lockets.) I foresee unbearable tension, slapstick defending and high aggro potential (not that any of us want to see any of the latter, of course).” Of course not.

West Ham welcome leaders Arsenal hoping to climb out of the bottom three before Tottenham host Leeds on Monday

Saturday 12.30pm TNT Sports 1 Venue Anfield

A game to suit departing Stones, West Ham’s Pablo under scrutiny against Arsenal and Maddison can rouse Spurs

Liverpool have eased one self-inflicted headache by listening to their fans and scrapping plans to raise some ticket prices for the next three seasons. Anfield’s attention can now focus squarely on eradicating another as Arne Slot’s side seek to salvage a desperately poor season with Champions League qualification. Liverpool will secure a top-five finish should they beat Chelsea and Bournemouth fail to win at Fulham. Slot could not have hand-picked a better opponent to potentially complete the job than the shambles that is this Chelsea team, even taking into account his frontline injury-list. The visitors are a collection of individual egos who turn up when they feel like it, which is Wembley and the FA Cup on current evidence. Chelsea have lost seven successive league games only once in their history – from November to December 1952 – but could equal that unwanted record with defeat at Anfield. They have lost their last two away matches by a three-goal margin, conceded at least three times in four of their last five league games, and it would surprise no one if they decide to save themselves for the FA Cup final. Andy Hunter

Liverpool v Chelsea, Saturday 12.30pm (all times BST)

Brighton v Wolves, Saturday 3pm

Fulham v Bournemouth, Saturday 3pm

Sunderland v Manchester United, Saturday 3pm