Key occasions
Liverpool want a degree at Anfield on Sunday to clinch the title and Spurs – at the moment 42 factors behind the Reds (my phrase!) – look preferrred opponents. Listed below are some Opta stats.
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Tottenham have gained simply two of their final 24 Premier League video games towards Liverpool (D6 L16), with each victories coming at residence. They’ve additionally did not maintain a clear sheet in any of their final 18 towards the Reds within the competitors.
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Tottenham have conceded 10 objectives towards Liverpool this season, dropping 6-3 within the Premier League and 4-0 within the League Cup semi-final second leg. They final conceded extra towards an opponent in 2013-14 (11 vs Man Metropolis), whereas probably the most they’ve conceded is 14 (vs Chelsea in 2001-02).
Thanks Dom. Time to get my soccer head on after simply watching Mark Allen knock in a 147 on the Crucible.
Time for me to seize a break so right here’s David Tindall to take over for some time. Take pleasure in Dave.
Earlier than I tuck into my lunch, right here’s a few good reads from Tom Garry on the ladies’s sport:
We would have a winner in our seek for probably the most far-flung/exotically-located Liverpool-supporting emailer. Vijayant Singh writes:
Writing to you from a automobile this Friday night in Bangkok. It’s my thirty second birthday and I’ve come down from New Delhi to have a good time it. Liverpool ought to hopefully be topped champions when the clock strikes 12 in Thailand and I herald what must be a spectacular 12 months – at the very least in soccer phrases.
Have an important weekend, Vijayant!
Hürzeler reveals frustration with João Pedro
Fabian Hürzeler revealed he has spoken to João Pedro about his behaviour after the striker’s sending off in Brighton’s 4-2 defeat at Brentford final week. The Brazilian was proven a straight purple after lashing out at Nathan Collins and is there suspended for this weekend’s residence conflict with West Ham.
“Very irritating,” mentioned Hürzeler on the incident. “He instantly apologised that he did one thing unsuitable. We had a dialogue with him – we don’t settle for issues like this.
“João is a younger participant and he makes a mistake and hopefully he has realized from this error for the longer term.”
This 12 months’s love had higher final.
We’re delighted to announce that Head Coach David Grey has signed a brand new cope with Hibernian FC! 💚
Following his facet’s magnificent run of kind, the 36-year-old has penned a brand new three-year contract with the Membership.https://t.co/a3i1Xar5Tv pic.twitter.com/o03eg59Fdl
— Hibernian Soccer Membership (@HibernianFC) April 25, 2025
Away from Liverpool for a second and right here’s Marco Silva on the steps he’s taking to make sure Fulham maintain progressing. (He’s doing a rattling good job of it).
“We now have been demonstrating the development in our soccer membership,” Silva mentioned at a press convention. “Step-by-step we’re going within the route that the membership deserves – however you aren’t, myself, by no means happy. We all the time need extra.”
Silva mentioned Harry Wilson may very well be concerned after getting back from foot surgical procedure. He added: “Harry is all the time a menace. We are able to use him from the beginning or the bench, (however) it has been a protracted interval out of the sport and coaching. He’s in fine condition and from the beginning or the bench he will certainly be concerned. We want his objectives and assists as nicely.”
Extra emails – from a few fortunate Liverpool followers:
Stephen Cunningsworth: “Getting in contact as somebody (hopefully) fortunate sufficient to be going to Anfield on Sunday. Might be travelling up on the Official London Supporters Membership coach – 5 hours up and 5 hours down though I’m anticipating we depart loads later than the standard 30 minutes after the ultimate whistle. We might be bringing our ‘420 miles to see my chicken’ flag onto the Kop on Sunday so as to add to what might be a sea of purple and hopefully one huge get together vibe!”
Michael Jones: “I’ll be heading to the bottom Sunday as a kind of fortunate individuals who might be in attendance to hopefully see us topped champions for a twentieth time
“This implies a lot to us, it’s our bread and butter as Shanks used to say. Slot might be becoming a member of the immortals, he has accomplished an unbelievable job and as soon as he’s received his arms on it and drops the delicate method to the followers an impressive love affair will start!”
Is there ANY likelihood in any respect Spurs will spoil the get together on Sunday? It appears extremely unlikely.
If the Premier League, FA Cup, Girls’s Champions League, Spanish Cup and EFL wasn’t sufficient drama and jeopardy for you this weekend, there’s loads of it to be present in non-league, as Simon Burnton experiences.
Over to Spain – the place there’s a lot left to play for within the remaining weeks of the season. Actual Madrid and Barcelona contest the Copa del Rey closing on Saturday night time and each are nonetheless tussling in La Liga’s title race.
Celta Vigo are preventing for European after beforehand flirting with relegation. Sid Lowe has the thin on Claudio Giráldez’s Galician revolution.
Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna believes his membership have made progress regardless of their impending relegation from the Premier League.
Ipswich’s return to the Championship after only one season again within the prime flight might be confirmed on Saturday until they win at Newcastle and Seventeenth-placed West Ham – who’ve a 15-point cushion – lose away to Brighton.
McKenna, although, insists the membership are nicely positioned to go once more subsequent season.
“(We’re) in a undertaking that has been an unbelievable journey – the undertaking right here is to attempt to construct a sustainable Premier League soccer membership,” McKenna advised a press convention. “We now have taken some unbelievable steps to that faster than anybody would have believed.
“It seems like we’re going to take a step again this 12 months, however that’s usually how development must occur. We’re all targeted on making the perfect of the subsequent few video games after which tackling the subsequent problem, no matter will probably be subsequent season. It’s my full 100 per cent focus.” PA Media
Some extra emails, each from Irish Liverpool followers:
Trevor Byrne: “I’m a Dubliner in Manchester (and a Liverpool supporter, usually undercover). The Premier League has cruelly timetabled Liverpool v Spurs at 4.30pm on Sunday, regardless of me having to gather two 10-week-old kittens from Warrington at 2pm. I’ll be in the home with Atari and Disco, bamboozled, amazed, delighted by their kitteny insanity as they’re launched to their new residence, and because the Liverpool sport performs out. However since there’s a pub with a giant beer backyard proper subsequent door, I’ll regulate the MBM and should – if Liverpool aren’t dropping – dare to sprint over to catch a number of the vibe (there’s one other human in the home, the sisters gained’t be alone). The massive celebration might be after the Palace sport, anyway (that’s what I’m telling myself).”
Cormac Culkeen: “I’ll be on the Menlo Park Lodge in Galway on the Poetry Foyer. They’re launching the posthumous assortment of the nice Irish poet, Kevin Higgins. He was a giant Liverpool fan like myself. So, comfortable on one hand, however a number of churning unhappiness and recollections on the opposite.”
Right here’s the total story from Newcastle, with everybody glad to see a wholesome Eddie Howe again on obligation.
An e-mail: “Hello Dominic,” writes David Shaw. “I’ve been a weekly fan for greater than 30 years. I’ve by no means lived in Liverpool however have shut hyperlinks to the town and the membership. Having watched from afar, together with everybody else, once we gained in 2020, I used to be trying ahead to being a lot nearer to occasions this time. Nonetheless, due to my spouse’s thoughtfulness and my absentmindedness, I’ll be in Marrakesh on Sunday. Any prime ideas from fellow Guardian readers on the place to catch the sport could be appreciated!”
Jamie Carragher has prompted a debate amongst some on social media with an argument in his Telegraph column that “an influence shift has taken place within the Premier League” of late. I’d largely agree.
Nonetheless, the Liverpool defender’s assertion that Manchester United and Tottenham “should marvel how they’re going to get again into the highest six, not to mention Champions League spots” is barely flawed.
The sharp rise Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa, Bournemouth and others have loved in current instances exhibits how degree the taking part in area now’s – financially and in any other case within the PSR period – however will really enable United and Spurs the prospect to leap again up the desk subsequent season in the event that they get their geese in a row. Particularly if one in all them wins the Europa League …
By the best way, should you’re a Liverpool fan heading to Anfield this weekend, we’d love to listen to from you.
Or any bizarre or wacky methods you’re planning to observe the sport on Sunday afternoon.
Away from the Premier League and FA Cup semi-final glare, this was an illuminating piece. As a brand new mum or dad, I actually hope I don’t grow to be one in all these soccer dads.
In the event you’re planning an idle non-football associated journey to Liverpool this weekend this weekend, I’d in all probability advise towards it. Little doubt the town might be completely filled with followers able to bask within the heat glow of the membership’s twentieth league title – and second within the Premier League period.
That earlier title was within the 2019/20 Covid season, so this might be a correct likelihood to have a good time drawing degree with Manchester United. Slot mentioned he hoped Liverpool’s followers would carry their common degree of noise and help … I believe it is likely to be slightly louder than regular, Arne.
Tickets within the residence sections are going for greater than £600 every on resale websites – and even some Spurs followers are promoting their away finish seats.
Southampton ‘not obsessing’ about factors tally
Interim Southampton boss Simon Rusk has advised his gamers to overlook about their share of an unwelcome Premier League report as they try to rid themselves of it for good.
The Saints have solely pleasure for which to play after being relegated from the highest flight with seven video games to go, writing themselves into the division’s historical past books within the course of, they usually matched Derby’s factors low of simply 11 for the season after final weekend’s 1-1 draw at West Ham.
They’ve 5 video games remaining by which to wash their title from that specific entry beginning with tomorrow’s sport towards Fulham – however Rusk is attempting to not deal with that.
When requested in regards to the report, he mentioned: “Nicely, we have been behind it final week and it’s good that you simply’ve identified on the optimistic entrance that we’re now equal to it, in order that was the very first thing to realize, a step ahead, and we did that and we did that basically nicely final week.
“I’m not going to obsess about it, I don’t suppose it’s useful. I can perceive – my head’s not within the sand round it – that it’s an vital factor and we wish to decide up as many factors, which might clearly make that one thing that we don’t have to speak about.
“On the minute, it’s there, however actually it’s noise. As a bunch of males that set foot on the pitch in our set of explicit video games, we’ve received to take a look at what will we wish to outline us, what are going to be the issues that contribute to good efficiency, what are going to be the issues that join us with our followers, who’ve been sensible since I took on the job?
“They’re the issues that can outline us and consequently, as a by-product of these issues, hopefully we care for the factors report. However I can’t make it the primary focus, I don’t suppose that’s helpful and it’s really destructive power, not optimistic power and that’s what I’m going after on the minute.” PA Media
Time for some gentle studying forward of the FA Cup semi-finals. Our very personal Ed Aarons has been chatting to Crystal Palace defensive stalwart Maxence Lacroix.
Howe says the tussle for the highest 5 might be “tight” and that Newcastle are in a “five-game league” to land Champions League qualification for subsequent season. His first sport again within the dugout might be at residence to Ipswich tomorrow.
Howe recovered however says pneumonia was ‘troublesome’
Eddie Howe is again up earlier than the media as we speak after his pneumonia prognosis and the Newcastle supervisor is carrying a giant smile on his face, which is good to see.
He jokes: “Excuse me if I cough … I’m not contagious, I’m all good!”
“I’m not one hundred pc in my physique however I’m very near one hundred pc in my thoughts. I’m nicely sufficient to face you guys as we speak. It’s been an actual problem, you are taking your well being as a right, so if you don’t have the posh of feeling regular it’s troublesome. I really feel like I’m on the street to restoration.”
Howe once more thanks the NHS workers for the care he acquired and admits he’s had “zero” enter on the workforce’s coaching in current days and weeks, entrusting his assistant Jason Tindall. He mentioned he was “lifted” by the workforce’s performances, which he watched on TV from his hospital mattress.
There are additional questions for Slot to reply on him changing into the twelfth totally different supervisor to elevate the Premier League – and the primary ever Dutchman – and one other, which he bats away properly, on the perceived decrease high quality of this 2024/25 league season.
“It’s by no means been so arduous to get within the prime 4, or prime 5. In my view it’s a extremely troublesome league. There’s by no means been a straightforward sport.
“The opposite groups, apart from Arsenal, Metropolis and Liverpool, even have the funds to spend.”
Slot: Liverpool have an enormous duty
Arne Slot just isn’t getting carried away earlier than this decisive match in Liverpool’s season … he’s clearly determined to elevate the league title in entrance of a packed crowd at Anfield.
“We’re conscious that the final time this membership gained the league was in the course of the Covid time,” he mentioned. “So everyone is trying ahead to Sunday.
“However we all know there’s nonetheless a job to do. We want at the very least one level. That’s what we all know and, hopefully, what our followers know as nicely after they come to the stadium that they help us in the very best approach they’ll – which they’ve accomplished all season, but in addition concentrate on the truth that we nonetheless want a degree. That’s one thing we’re conscious of.”
Slot has warned Tottenham might shock his workforce, regardless of Spurs’ fairly abject kind – and their traditionally poor report at Anfield.
He added: “We’re solely focussed on the subsequent opponent and that’s Tottenham, so we’ll attempt to put together the workforce the identical approach we have now all season. Hopefully the workforce can carry the identical mentality. It’s a pleasant sport to look ahead to but in addition a duty we have now for Sunday.”
Slot revealed the Liverpool workforce watched Arsenal’s midweek draw with Crystal Palace all collectively. These dropped factors by the Gunners have given the Reds the prospect to elevate the title this weekend with 4 video games to spare.
It was totally different. Usually if you watch a sport of soccer, you might be both alone or with household or pals. However we watched all of it collectively.
Earlier than the sport, I might have been stunned if the sport resulted in a draw. However in the course of the sport, I wasn’t as a result of Crystal Palace once more confirmed what this league is all about. It was an excellent efficiency from them as a workforce and there have been a number of excellent particular person performances as nicely.
We’ll get straight into some Arne Slot. The Dutchman’s clearly had his early morning cornflakes as a result of he’s already chatting to the press …
Preamble
Good morning all. Wow, what a weekend the soccer Gods have in retailer for us. It’s FA Cup semi-final weekend, there are all types of promotion and relegation permutations to be settled up and down the EFL, there are Girls’s Champions League semi-finals too, the Spanish Copa del Rey closing … oh, and Liverpool could be topped champions for a record-equalling twentieth time. Small matter and many others and many others.
With the April solar shining within the UK and little or no to play for within the Premier League schedule, that end-of-season vibe may be very a lot right here – and we’re right here for it. The Wembley turf will certainly be trying resplendent for these FA Cup final 4 clashes between Crystal Palace and Aston Villa, and Manchester Metropolis and Nottingham Forest.
We’ll get by way of all the assorted press conferences, together with Arne Slot’s as his Liverpool facet put together to face Tottenham at Anfield understanding only a single level would safe the Premier League title. And please be at liberty to drop me an e-mail along with your ideas on some/all/not one of the motion to return.
