LONDON: Liverpool remain top favorites to win the English Premier League (EPL) championship but Arsenal received new light heading into the weekend after Everton tied their long-term leaders in midweek.
Tottenham plays Manchester United in a clash between two giant clubs that are not in action at the real stage while the four dropped clubs need to recover now or accept the disadvantage of falling further.
Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice promised this week “big things are coming” before Liverpool splashed out two points at Goodison Park.
Behind that blow, following Everton’s James Tarkowski’s late equalizer, Arne Slot’s men had no need to panic after widening their lead over the Gunners to seven points.
Liverpool will be confident they can overcome troubled Wolves on Sunday but the next two weeks could be decisive for the club, who are seeking to match Manchester United’s feat of winning 20 Premier League titles.
The Reds travel to face Unai Emery’s Aston Villa side early next Thursday before a visit to Manchester City and home action against Newcastle.
According to football analyst Opta, nothing can disturb Slot’s sleep when his team, which features players including Mohamed Salah, still has almost a 90 percent chance of winning the championship.
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou said he was not worried about being sacked, but the depressed Australian could not face another heartbreaking defeat against Manchester United at midnight on Sunday.
Postecoglou is sticking to his principles after Tottenham’s lackluster season was worsened by elimination from the League Cup and FA Cup in four days last week.
Tottenham squandered a 1-0 lead in the first leg of the League Cup semi-final when Liverpool beat the north London club 4-0. They then lost 2-1 to Aston Villa in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Stranded in 14th place in the EPL, Postecoglou’s injury-plagued squad is desperate for a win when United, who are just two points ahead of them, visit the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Defeat at the hands of a United side who are also coming off a poor season is sure to increase fans’ anger and may be the final straw for Postecoglou.
“I just need to continue working as usual,” he said. “You need to live with it. It doesn’t change the decision I made.”
Mikel Arteta hopes Arsenal’s hot weather training camp will ease the pain of his players and spark encouragement for a strong finish to the season.
Meanwhile, German striker Kai Havertz has been ruled out for the remainder of the campaign with a hamstring injury that requires surgery.
Havertz’s inconsistent form has often been criticised, but Arsenal boss Arteta has kept faith with the 25-year-old, with few other options at his disposal.
Bukayo Saka has not played since December and Gabriel Jesus suffered a serious knee injury that ended his season prematurely last month.
Gabriel Martinelli has also been ruled out, leaving Leandro Trossard, Raheem Sterling and teenager Ethan Nwaneri as Arsenal’s strikers for the visit of lower club Leicester tomorrow evening.
MANCHESTER, England: Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti praised his team’s efforts after they put in a solid performance to come from behind to win 3-2 at Manchester City in the first leg of their Champions League play-offs early this morning.
Ancelotti was delighted to finally steer Real to their first win at the Etihad Stadium, a victory he felt was deserved given the chances they created, with Real having 20 attempts to City’s 11, despite trailing twice.
Kylian Mbappe and Brahim Diaz cancelled out Erling Haaland’s double for City with Jude Bellingham grabbing a late winner to give the reigning champions the lead.
“I think it was a complete game in all aspects, no criticism from me,” Ancelotti told Movistar Plus.
“Everyone worked hard. We had a lot of chances. We didn’t give up when we were behind. It was a complete and flawless performance. I think we deserved to win.
“We defended well, with a compact block… they took the lead through penalties but up front our players were very effective. They could have been sharper, but they created a lot of chances with movement, teamwork and individual quality.”
Ancelotti was not surprised that his team was able to put on such a performance but asked his players to focus and not be overconfident for the second leg.
“This decision is a complicated one. You win, it can relax your challenge, believe you don’t have to rise and we can’t be fooled by the trap,” said the Italian.
“You have to prepare well, like we did today, with the same focus, quality and sacrifice, like tonight, a great performance.”
LONDON: Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has expressed concerns that the Premier League’s tight schedule will affect his team’s chances of knocking defending champions Real Madrid out of the Champions League.
After beating Club Brugge yesterday to qualify for the knockout stages, City were drawn to face the 15-time Champions League champions in the play-offs.
City will host Real in the first leg on February 11 or 12 before travelling to Madrid for the return leg a week later.
However, a busy schedule awaits City throughout February with them facing Arsenal in league action this Sunday, followed by meetings with Newcastle and Liverpool between the return leg against Real.
In addition, City are also scheduled to meet Leyton Orient in the fourth round of the FA Cup and face Tottenham in league action.
“It’s like a derby, four years in a row against Madrid,” Guardiola told a news conference.
“Could the draw be better? Yes. Bayern Munich is very difficult, Real Madrid is also difficult, we know that.”
Guardiola also expressed dissatisfaction with the Premier League schedule remaining unchanged despite English clubs competing in Europe.
“Usually the Premier League sets the toughest schedule for teams playing in Europe,” he said.
“The problem is not just Madrid or Bayern Munich, but the match with Newcastle in the middle of the schedule.”
When asked if the Premier League should provide better scheduling assistance, Guardiola said: “You’re asking this stupid question again after all these years? Don’t ask me to answer rudely.
“Alex Ferguson, Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger have all made the same complaints. Will it change? No. The broadcasters decide, not me.”
This is the fifth time City and Real Madrid have met in two back-to-back legs in the last six seasons.
Last season, Real finished City’s campaign in the quarter-finals, but City beat them in the semi-finals in 2022/23 en route to a first Champions League title.
MANCHESTER, England: Manchester United are inching closer to automatically qualifying for the Europa League round of 16 after Bruno Fernandes scored a late winner to beat Rangers 2-1 early this morning in the ‘Battle of Britain’ clash.
The Red Devils looked set for more disappointment at Old Trafford when Cyriel Dessers equalised for injury-hit Rangers in the 88th minute.
But Fernandes saved United’s honour and avoided a possible play-off spot by firing home in injury time.
United jumped to fourth place in the table with one match remaining in the group stage.
The top eight teams qualify directly for the last 16, which may now be difficult for Rangers after they slipped to 13th place.
Ruben Amorim has slammed United’s current squad as the worst in the club’s history after their agonising 3-1 defeat to Brighton last weekend.
It was the fourth defeat in five home games and United’s nervousness in front of their fans was evident early in the half.
Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland never played for United when he was briefly on the Red Devils’ roster in 2023.
The former England international goalkeeper endured a horrific night when he headed Amad Diallo’s corner into his own goal to break the deadlock in the 52nd minute.
But United were almost punished when Dessers shot in after Harry Maguire was tricked by a through ball.
Not for the first time this season, Fernandes came to United’s rescue with a moment of quality in a lacklustre match when he finished Lisandro Martinez’s cross past Butland’s reach in the 92nd minute.
United travel to Romanian club FSCB next week with a point enough to secure a place in the last 16.
IPSWICH: Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said his team is back to their old ways after thrashing Ipswich Town 6-0 and moving into the top four of the Premier League.
City put their woes of the past two months behind them with Phil Foden scoring twice and assisting another, while Erling Haaland also found the target to put them in fourth place on 38 points.
“We are very happy, we are back doing what has been the foundation of this team for the last 10 years. Happy with the three points and being in the Champions League qualification for next season,” said Guardiola.
The Spanish manager was impressed with his team’s performance after a disappointing period over Christmas.
“Better, maybe not our best but close to what we are used to in the game. Everyone is smarter, faster with the ball. Everyone is connected. You can’t be fast, smart and good if you don’t connect defensively,” he said.
For Ipswich, who remain in 18th place on 16 points, the heavy defeat was a valuable lesson for them.
“We didn’t execute our plan. They can’t be underestimated. It was always going to be tough, and we wanted to give it a fight – but we failed to do so.”
“We need to look at our mistakes and bounce back. The main thing is to learn from them, we can’t be too disappointed. There’s a lot of confidence in this group and this club,” said Ipswich defender Dara O’Shea.
LONDON: Defending champions Manchester United will face Leicester City in the fourth round of the FA Cup, while the draw also sees three other clashes between Premier League sides.
The fourth round match will see the return of Ruud van Nistelrooy – Man United’s caretaker manager for four games earlier this season before being appointed Leicester – to Old Trafford.
Last season’s runners-up, Manchester City face an easier path when they are drawn to meet the winner of either Leyton Orient or Derby County.
Premier League leaders Liverpool will host Championship side Plymouth Argyle, while League Two side Doncaster Rovers will face Premier League side Crystal Palace.
Brighton & Hove Albion face Chelsea, Everton meet Bournemouth and Aston Villa host Tottenham Hotspur in three more Premier League clashes.
The remaining third-round matches will take place tonight and tomorrow. The fourth round will take place on February 7-10.
LONDON: Amad Diallo is aiming to make “history” with Manchester United after the Ivory Coast winger signed a new contract that will keep him at Old Trafford until 2030.
Diallo has been in fine form since Ruben Amorim took over as United manager in November, scoring three goals in his last six games.
The 22-year-old, whose previous contract was due to expire at the end of this season, has made 50 appearances and scored nine goals since arriving from Atalanta in 2021.
After loan spells at Rangers and Sunderland raised questions about his future at United, Diallo has finally emerged as one of the club’s most talented young players.
“I am really proud to sign this new contract. I have had some incredible moments with this club but many more will follow,” said Diallo.
“I have big dreams in this game and I want to make history at Manchester United.
“I have learned a lot since arriving here four years ago. I am very grateful to the coaches and staff who have helped me improve and to the fans who push me forward every day.
“It’s been a tough season for everyone, but I really believe we’re on the right track and the future will be really special.
“I’m ready to give everything to help the team and make our fans proud again.”
Diallo scored United’s injury-time winner at Manchester City in December and scored the equaliser in a 2-2 draw at Liverpool on Sunday.
Amorim’s men will travel to Arsenal for the FA Cup third round on Sunday.
CARTAGENA, Spain: Real Madrid advanced to the last 16 of the Spanish King’s Cup after thrashing fourth division club Deportiva Minera 5-0, with Arda Guler scoring twice.
Madrid took the lead through Federico Valverde’s fifth-minute strike, followed by Eduardo Camavinga’s strike eight minutes later. Guler scored Real’s third goal in the 30th minute.
“I’m happy to contribute goals for the team but my job is different, to help as best as I can, defend and help my teammates.
“I’m happy that the coach always gives me a chance in every game, has confidence in me. Even though I’m tired, I’m happy,” said Valverde.
Luka Modric scored the fourth goal 10 minutes after the break, a move with Brahim Diaz that was greeted with thunderous cheers from the crowd at the Cartagonova Stadium. Guler scored his second two minutes from time.
“(Luka) is a gift to football and anyone can witness it up close. Fans, players, coaches… for me it’s the greatest gift.
“The way he prepared for a game like this, it was like a final. He is the best example for the young players,” said Real coach Carlo Ancelotti.
LONDON: Arsenal closed the gap on Premier League (EPL) leaders Liverpool to six points as Gabriel Jesus continued his solid form in a 3-1 win at Brentford earlier this morning.
Mikel Arteta’s men were shocked with a first-half goal in the 13th minute through Bryan Mbeumo at the GTech Community Stadium.
But Arsenal were reluctant to be beaten in rainy and windy weather in west London when Jesus equalized in the 29th minute.
It was the Brazilian forward’s sixth goal in his last four games after he only netted once in his first 20 games this season.
Mikel Merino (50th minute) and Gabriel Martinelli (53rd minute) struck in a short time after the break to ensure Arsenal moved up to second place ahead of Nottingham Forest.
“We won in a difficult stadium against a good opponent. Their record here is extraordinary and if you are 1-0 down it makes things even more difficult,” said Arteta.
“Especially if you are one goal behind in this match it is like a mountain that needs to be climbed, but we remain patient.
“We needed to handle the situation emotionally. We were very clinical in the penalty box. Jesus’ performance was very important.”
Barring a 5-1 thrashing of Crystal Palace, the Gunners have been unimpressive in their last four league games after draws with Fulham and Everton followed by a narrow win over lowly Ipswich.
But Arsenal’s first match in 2025 proves they are ready to compete for the championship with Liverpool, who are one match less than the north London club.
Runners-up to Manchester City for the last two seasons, Arsenal are unbeaten in 12 games in all competitions, a revival that now includes four straight wins.
“We can win our next game and see what happens. It’s not on our shoulders,” Arteta said of Liverpool’s pursuit.
With Bukayo Saka sidelined for several months due to a hamstring injury, 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri made his first league appearance for Arsenal.
Kai Havertz was not in action after scoring Arsenal’s winner against Ipswich but Jesus ensured the German’s absence was not felt.
Arsenal have lost none of their 10 league games against neighbors London in 2024 and they maintained their brilliant record in the capital after surviving an early blow.
LIVERPOOL: Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah said he felt something was different about the club’s performance as Premier League leaders this season after they beat Leicester City 3-1.
Leicester stunned the hosts with a sixth-minute goal at Anfield through Jordan Ayew but Liverpool fought back with goals from Cody Gakpo, Curtis Jones and Salah.
Liverpool are currently favourites to win the league this season, but they have slipped out of reach when they were in a similar situation before, especially in the 2018-19 season when the huge gap at the top of the league was successfully bridged by Manchester City.
“It feels different but the most important thing is for us to stay humble. We had a few injuries when we were leading (before) and in the end we lost.
“I hope this time we can continue the fight without injuries and win the league.
“This time it’s very special. Hopefully we win the Premier League for this club – it’s something I dream of,” said Salah, who currently leads the league with 16 goals.
Liverpool travel to West Ham United on Sunday before hosting Manchester United on January 5.