Arsenal responded to City’s 3–0 defeat of Brentford by taking a significant step towards glory on Sunday afternoon, even if their slender win over West Ham United was marred in controversy.

The desperate Hammers thought they’d emboldened their own survival hopes while improving City’s chances when Callum Wilson crashed home a stoppage-time equalizer. However, the striker‘s goal was ruled out for Pablo’s perceived foul on David Raya during a set-piece-induced melee in the Arsenal box.

As a result, the Gunners’ lead was restored to five points with so little time in the 2025–26 season remaining. City can trim that deficit to two with a midweek victory, but they’re going to need either the relegated Burnley or a Conference League final-prioritizing Palace to do them a massive favor in Arsenal’s final two fixtures.

The Eagles are merely playing for an improved position in the bottom half of the table domestically, yet they were still able to hinder Everton’s European ambitions by stealing two points off the Toffees at Selhurst Park on Sunday.

Man City vs. Crystal Palace Score Prediction

Cityzens Get the Job Done

After the chaos of last Monday night, Manchester City rediscovered their vintage serenity at the weekend when European hopefuls Brentford visited the Etihad Stadium. They hoped their comfortable win would have unnerved Arsenal, but the universe is seemingly pushing the Gunners to a first league title in 22 years.

All City can do here is win out the season and hope the north Londoners encounter an unlikely banana skin. The existential threat of relegation always meant West Ham were City’s most probable source of aid, but Arsenal still have to go to Selhurst Park on the final day.

Palace certainly didn’t look distracted at the weekend, and Oliver Glasner will want high standards to be maintained up until they face Rayo Vallecano with European silverware at stake. Thus, this could be a potentially tricky outing for the hosts, who have the FA Cup final upcoming, too.

• Man City’s Etihad record: Since losing their home opener to Tottenham Hotspur in August, Man City are unbeaten in 16 Premier League games at home, winning 13. They’ve scored twice in 14 of these outings.
• Recent head-to-head record: There was a period when Palace really troubled the Cityzens, but Pep Guardiola‘s side have won five of the previous eight Premier League meetings, drawing the other three.
• Dangerous Eagles: The carefree visitors aren’t playing for much, but they typically play without fear at the Etihad. Palace have scored at least twice on their previous four trips and have also won the third most away games in the Premier League this season.

Prediction: Man City 2–1 Crystal Palace

Man City Predicted Lineup vs. Crystal Palace

Rodri failed a late fitness test ahead of Saturday’s victory and is unlikely to be ready for a start midweek. The Spaniard will hope to be available for the FA Cup final, having suffered a groin injury in last month’s win over Arsenal, and could be in contention for minutes off the bench against Palace.

Abdukodir Khusanov has been a constant in City’s defense of late but missed the Brentford victory due to a knock he sustained on Merseyside. While the Uzbekistani hero has been pictured back in training ahead of Wednesday’s game, Khusanov may be preserved for Saturday’s final.

Rúben Dias is a contender to replace the former Lens center back in Guardiola’s team after he was named among the substitutes last time out. Dias has recovered from a thigh injury that had kept him out since mid-March.

The upcoming Wembley excursion could see Guardiola shuffle his starting lineup here, with Omar Marmoush among those rewarded for producing off the bench against Brentford.

Man City predicted lineup vs. Crystal Palace (4-2-3-1): Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Guéhi, Aït-Nouri; González, Silva; Savinho, Marmoush, Doku; Haaland.

Crystal Palace Predicted Lineup vs. Man City

Glasner was hardly given the deepest roster to work with this season, and the management of the players he has available will be key ahead of the Conference League final on May 27.

The visitors are certainly without former Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah and midfielder Cheick Doucouré through injury, while January arrival Evann Guessand is a doubt. Croatia international Borna Sosa is unlikely to feature, too.

Jean-Philippe Mateta scored off the bench against Everton and should start on Wednesday night, but the in-form Ismaïla Sarr is the most likely to hurt the title hopefuls. Palace’s attack could be completed by Yeremy Pino, given Brennan Johnson’s continued struggles.

Crystal Palace predicted lineup vs. Man City (3-4-2-1): Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Canvot; Muñoz, Wharton, Hughes, Mitchell; Pino, Sarr; Mateta.

What Time Does Man City vs. Crystal Palace Kick Off?

• Location: Manchester, England
• Stadium: Etihad Stadium
• Date: Wednesday, May 13
• Kick-off Time: 8 p.m. BST / 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT
• Referee: Stuart Attwell
• VAR: John Brooks

How to Watch Man City vs. Crystal Palace on TV, Live Stream

• MORE: Full list of Premier League broadcasters around the world

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Had the on-pitch official not agreed with the advice dished out by his video assistant referee (VAR) Darren England, the Gunners would have been consigned to a 1–1 draw with West Ham United at the London Stadium. The gap to Manchester City would have stood at just three points, and Pep Guardiola’s side could have recaptured the division’s summit before Arsenal played again.

At the other end of the table, Callum Wilson’s disallowed goal would have taken the Hammers to the same points tally as Tottenham Hotspur on the other side of the drop zone while keeping Crystal Palace, Leeds United and Nottingham Forest mathematically in the relegation battle.

“You’re talking about a moment that can decide the history of two massive clubs that are fighting with their lives to achieve their objectives, and the pressure is huge,” Arteta surmised.

If just one VAR intervention had enough power to dramatically change the face of the entire division, think about the impact of all the calls across the whole season made by the officials in Stockley Park.

2025–26 Premier League Table So Far If There Was No VAR

Even if VAR had not been in use across the course of the 2025–26 campaign, Arsenal would still be top of the Premier League—but only just. The Gunners have won five points thanks to decisions made by distant officials and are yet to be cost any from these interventions.

Only one Manchester City fixture, by contrast, has been materially impacted by a VAR overturn. Back in January, Guardiola’s challengers were awarded a first-half penalty which Erling Haaland converted to take a 1–0 lead at home to Brighton & Hove Albion. Kaoru Mitoma’s second-half strike would have earned the visitors all three points rather than just one had the VAR not rightly spotted a blatant trip from Diego Gómez on Jérémy Doku. This has been a common theme for the Seagulls.

Brighton are the side to have suffered most at the clawing tentacles of VAR. “I always say VAR makes football more fair,” Fabian Hürzeler mused at the end of last season. His stance may have shifted this term.

The upwardly mobile South Coast side would be seven points better off in a hypothetical world without VAR, above Liverpool and Aston Villa inside the division’s top four. Brighton have seen their opponents awarded three penalties by VAR and were denied one themselves in a goalless draw with rivals Crystal Palace. Hürzeler’s side have also seen two potential equalizers chalked off by delayed (and correct) offside calls.

Tottenham Hotspur have been similarly hampered by VAR, in stark contrast to their north London rivals. The penalty which Leeds United were awarded to secure a point on Monday night was just the latest spot kick to go against Spurs. Newcastle United were also given a penalty by VAR which denied Tottenham all three points in December while the Lilywhites have twice had opportunities to score from 12 yards chalked off by Stockley Park in narrow defeats.

With these extra six points, Spurs would already be safe from relegation. Instead they head into the season’s final fortnight with their future very much in the balance.

English soccer’s two most successful sides, Manchester United and Liverpool, would both have the exact same points tallies regardless of VAR. Rather than a case of avoiding any controversial officiating, both sides would be denied as many wins as they would gain from a lack of VAR. Not that it feels like that to Arne Slot.

“I don’t think it’s a surprise to anyone this season that if there’s a VAR intervention or if there’s something that could be left or right [50-50] then the decision goes against us,” the Liverpool manager fumed after his side conceded a controversial goal at the hands of United’s Benjamin Šeško. “That has been the whole season, every single time the same.” Well, not quite every time.

Putting aside whether Slot deemed these decisions to be just or otherwise, Liverpool’s VAR fortune has actually turned in recent weeks. The Reds saw Brentford beat them in October with a free kick upgraded to a penalty by VAR, while one of Leeds United’s three goals in a 3–3 draw last December was another spot kick awarded from Stockley Park. However, against both Everton and Chelsea this spring, Liverpool have had VAR to thank for flagging offside goals that escaped the attention of the on-pitch assistant referees.

Arsenal’s VAR Fortune

Only Sunderland have gained more points thank to VAR interventions than Arsenal this season. The key calls have come in three games split across six months. The decision to disallow Wilson’s equalizer for the Hammers has been dissected to death and is widely considered to have been the right call. The same cannot be said for events in Arsenal’s 1–0 win over Everton in December.

Viktor Gyökeres’s first-half penalty fell into the “soft” category but was ultimately judged to be a fair award from the VAR. However, the Premier League’s official Key Match Incidents panel ruled that the Toffees were wrongly denied a spot kick of their own in the same game for a clumsy challenge by William Saliba on Thierno Barry.

Arsenal’s Season-Defining VAR Interventions

• Everton 0–1 Arsenal: Arsenal penalty awarded and scored
• Wolves 2–2 Arsenal: Arsenal goal given after offside review
• West Ham 0–1 Arsenal: West Ham goal disallowed for a foul

The decision to award Piero Hincapié’s effort against Wolverhampton Wanderers in February was less contentious—however, it could have been a hot topic in a VAR-less world as the on-pitch officials deemed an offside offense to have occurred. A swift review found that the fullback’s goal was legal, which came in handy when the hosts scored twice to snatch a share of the spoils. Without that VAR intervention, Arsenal would have emerged from Molineux with a defeat.

The Gunners have racked up five extra points thanks to these three VAR calls. Should both Arsenal and City win out across the remainder of the season, the Premier League title will be decided by just two points. Arteta may not be the only one to realize how “big” a referee’s job is.

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Premier League

Chelsea have reignited their interest in Sporting CP winger Francisco Trincão. (Source: El Nacional)

Potentially departing Chelsea could be another winger, Estêvão. Liverpool have set their sights on the Brazilian as their preferred replacement for the departing Mohamed Salah. (Source: Fichajes)

Manchester United have reached an agreement over personal terms with Atalanta midfielder Éderson, who is open to moving to Old Trafford this summer. (Source: Sébastien Vidal)

Sporting CP are prepared to demand full payment of left back Maxi Araújo’s $94 million (€80 million, £69 million) release clause amid interest from Chelsea, Man Utd and Tottenham Hotspur. All three clubs have spoken with the defender’s agent. (Source: A BOLA)

Man Utd director Jason Wilcox has held meetings with officials from Nottingham Forest and Leicester City. Foxes winger Jeremy Monga is believed to be on their radar. (Source: Roundtable)

Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola is now interested in a move to Liverpool, whose pursuit of the Frenchman is growing with each passing day. (Source: Le10Sport)

Both Liverpool and Manchester City are chasing Lens center back Samson Baidoo, with a bidding war raising his price tag beyond the reach of fellow suitors Juventus. (Source: TuttoJuve)

West Ham United are confident that they will be able to fend off Man Utd’s interest in left back El Hadji Malick Diouf by demanding an enormous fee. (Source: Football Insider)

Arsenal, Man City and Tottenham all want Newcastle United right back Tino Livramento. The teams that miss out on the Englishman’s signature are expected to turn their attention to Roma’s Wesley. (Source: Calciomercato.it)

Bologna are concerned by Chelsea’s interest in winger Jonathan Rowe, who could be tempted by a return to England if the Blues make a bid of around $45 million (€38 million, £33 million). (Source: Gazzetta dello Sport)

Aston Villa are not expected to pursue a permanent deal for on-loan midfielder Douglas Luiz from Juventus. (Source: Calciomercato)

Liverpool and Man Utd are both rivaling Atlético Madrid for the signature of Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder João Gomes, with Crystal Palace also ambitious suitors. (Source: CaughtOffside)

Juventus fullback Andrea Cambiaso could be made available for transfer this summer, piquing the interest of Arsenal, Liverpool and Man Utd. (Source: TEAMtalk)

Chelsea are one of four Premier League teams to have expressed an interest in Arsenal midfielder Ethan Nwaneri, who could leave the Emirates permanently when he returns from loan with Marseille. (Source: Mark Brus)

Chelsea are looking to sign AC Milan center back Strahinja Pavlović. While Milan do not want to sell, the Blues could try and use their interest in French defender Benoît Badiashile to their advantage. (Source: Calciomercato)

Man Utd have laughed off suggestions they could listen to offers for young winger Amad Diallo in the face of interest from former loan team Sunderland. (Source: TEAMtalk)

If West Ham are relegated from the Premier League, Leeds United expect to move to the front of the queue to sign Chelsea center back Axel Disasi after his impressive loan spell with the Hammers. (Source: Football Insider)

La Liga

Barcelona have reignited their push to sign Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli. (Source: Fichajes)

Regardless of what happens with Marcus Rashford, Barcelona will look for an exit for young winger Roony Bardghji. A loan would be preferable but a permanent sale could be considered if the right offer arrives. (Source: El Nacional)

Real Madrid are ready to block an exit for midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni despite his recent off-field controversy. Man Utd are “in love” with the Frenchman but will not be allowed to pursue a deal. (Source: Fabrizio Romano)

The priority for Real Madrid this summer will not be big-name signings, but rather restoring the culture that appears to have disappeared from the locker room this season. (Source: AS)

Agent Pini Zahavi is pushing Barcelona to explore a deal for Tottenham center back Luka Vušković, even though manager Hansi Flick does not see the defender as a priority. (Source: SPORT)

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With so much on the line for both teams, the contest eventually descended into one that neither team wanted the lose. Arsenal, riding high from their progression into the Champions League final, started brightly but were soon pegged back by the plucky Hammers.

The Premier League leaders subsequently toiled, with the growing hosts creating the necessary moments worthy of winning the contest. However, David Raya was on hand to potentially ‘Stefan Ortega’ Arsenal‘s way to glory. His monumental save to deny Mateus Fernandes arrived just minutes before Leandro Trossard struck gold after a curious Martin Ødegaard meander.

In the end, Trossard’s goal was lost to the drama that followed, with West Ham believing they’d equalized at the death. This time, VAR came to Arsenal’s aid. Pablo’s impediment of Raya was deemed worthy of an overturn, with the seismic nature of the incident rationalising the lengthy delay and array of angles. That’s soccer in 2026, folks!

Anyway, after all that, here’s how Opta’s supercomputer projects the 2025–26 Premier League table to look come the end of May.

Supercomputer Predicts 2025–26 Premier League Title Race

Arsenal’s likelihood of winning their first Premier League title in 22 years has jumped up to 87.2% from 79.7% after Manchester City eventually eased past Brentford 3–0 on Saturday afternoon.

While City have the chance this week to cut the Gunners’ lead to two points, Opta are doubtless taking the difficulty of the remaining fixtures into account. The Cityzens must win out the season to have any chance of reclaiming the title. But a tough trip south to Bournemouth, who seemingly cannot lose and are hunting a Champions League berth, is still on their agenda.

Arsenal, meanwhile, have the relegated Burnley and a Crystal Palace side who couldn’t care a jot about how the remainder of their domestic campaign plays out left to play. The Eagles are now UEFA Conference League or bust, and Oliver Glasner will rotate handily for their final day clash against Mikel Arteta’s side when there is a European trophy on the line three days later.

It’s got to be the Gunners’ time, right? Everything is suddenly going their way.

Supercomputer Predicts 2025–26 Race for Europe

Champions League Battle

Manchester United secured their return to Europe’s premier club competition by beating Liverpool 3–2 this month, and they’re bound to be joined among the continent’s aristocracy by the Merseyside Reds.

Supporters are fed up with Arne Slot, and they’ll enter the summer bereft of positivity, but a Champions League berth is at least something to cling to. Their draw with Chelsea on Saturday means the Reds are crawling towards a top-five finish.

They were aided by another Aston Villa slip, with the Clarets drawing 2–2 at Burnley on Sunday. The Villans could qualify for the Champions League twice if they beat Freiburg in the Europa League final later this month, but their recent domestic malaise means Bournemouth are suddenly closing in.

Still, Opta remains bullish on Villa’s top-five hopes, with the Cherries only outsiders to usurp either Liverpool or Villa, given that just two gameweeks remain. Brighton & Hove Albion’s chances of a top-five finish were aided by their dismantling of Wolverhampton Wanderers, but it would take something special for the Seagulls to sneak in with so little of the season remaining.

The Mix for Sixth

Much of the Premier League’s top half will be pleading that Unai Emery works his magic in the Europa League final later this month. An Aston Villa victory in Istanbul would mean sixth-place also qualifies for next season’s Champions League.

And the race is fierce. Bournemouth, still unbeaten since Antoine Semenyo fled to Manchester, are in pole position, but Brighton’s fixtures are slightly less daunting, and Fabian Hürzeler’s men are merely two points adrift.

Brentford’s hopes took a hit at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, while Chelsea and Everton’s chances of competing among Europe’s elite were trimmed to almost nil after their draws over the weekend.

The Blues at least brought a historically bad losing run to an end, and supporters had reason to be encouraged from their side’s performance at Anfield. Still, there’s a genuine possibility that the Blues aren’t competing on the continent at all next season. BlueCo’s masterplan, they’re calling it.

Supercomputer Predicts 2025–26 Relegation Battle

Relegation should be an unfathomable potential for a club of Tottenham Hotspur’s financial standing, and the existential threat of succumbing to the second tier meant supporters clenched their fists with glee and without shame when Trossard struck in east London.

Sure, the result means their fiercest rivals will probably win the league, but the title-bound Gunners have given the Lilywhites an emboldened shot of avoiding the drop. Beat Leeds United on Monday night, and Spurs’ relegation chances will diminish further from the 12.35% at which they currently stand.

West Ham’s defeat also means Leeds, Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace are safe.

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The Cherries boss has plenty of admirers ahead of his impending free agency, with some of the biggest names in the Premier League adding him to their shortlists.

Chelsea are scrambling to appoint their third permanent manager of the calendar year, eager to make a decision early in the summer, while United are reported to see Iraola as perhaps the strongest alternative to Michael Carrick if they decide against giving the permanent job to the current interim boss.

Those hoping for a swift decision from Iraola stand to be disappointed, with the 43-year-old eager to wait until the end of the season before considering his future.

“I’m in no rush,” he warned. “I will not talk about my future. I’m fully focused on trying to finish this season with a reward, something tangible for the players and supporters.”

Andoni Iraola’s Most Likely Landing Spot

While Iraola remains under consideration by United, the Red Devils are expected to listen to the pleas of a number of senior players by discussing a permanent role with Carrick, who has exceeded expectations during his five months in the job to lead United to Champions League qualification.

That leaves Chelsea as the most high-profile suitor. The Blues are begging for some Premier League experience and, while Iraola may not be the flashiest name, his track record with a Bournemouth side on the cusp of sneaking into the Champions League speaks for itself.

However, Chelsea are not the only club interested in Iraola. Indeed, they are not even alone in the Premier League, where Crystal Palace have identified him as their primary target to replace Oliver Glasner, himself making a high-profile departure at the end of the season.

Palace, while technically a step back on the Premier League table, boast greater resources than those available at Bournemouth and a significant offer could easily turn Iraola’s head, particularly if Chelsea and United delay their approaches.

While Palace are focused solely on Iraola, Chelsea, in particular, are exploring a long list of candidates. Former Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso features prominently on the radar, while there has been talk of a move for Fulham’s Marco Silva. Como’s Cesc Fàbregas and former Flamengo boss Filipe Luís are also thought to be under consideration. Fàbregas and Luís both played for Chelsea.

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Premier League

Manchester United’s pursuit of Aurélien Tchouaméni has been complicated by increased interest from Paris Saint-Germain. The Real Madrid midfielder’s future in the Spanish capital has come under immense scrutiny since his widely publicized fight with teammate Federico Valverde. (Source: Fichajes)

In an intriguing twist, Enzo Fernández is expected to rule out a move to Real Madrid should the Spanish giants hire José Mourinho as manager given a decided lack of faith in the Portuguese coach. This will be a boost to Manchester City and Arsenal, who have also been linked with the wantaway Chelsea midfielder. (Source: El Nacional)

In an attempt to fill that Fernández-shaped hole, Chelsea are plotting an audacious approach for Arsenal’s academy gem Ethan Nwaneri. (Source: CaughtOffside)

Tijjani Reijnders’s Manchester City future is clouded in uncertainty. Amid interest from Arsenal, Aston Villa are also thought to have entered the race for the Dutch midfielder, with an offer of $82.4 million (£60.5 million, €70 million) in the works. (Source: Fichajes)

Arsenal’s pursuit of PSG’s fleet-footed forward Bradley Barcola is set to be challenged by Bayern Munich. Liverpool and Barcelona are also sniffing around the winger. (Source: Florian Plettenberg)

Atlético Madrid’s decision to step away from a $53 million (£38.9 million, €45 million) deal for Atalanta midfielder Éderson is a major boost for Manchester United, who are keen on the experienced Brazilian. (Source: Fabrizio Romano)

Liverpool have added FC Midtjylland center back Ousmane Diao to a list of potential summer recruits. The Reds’ attempts to bolster the middle of defense will be challenged by their Premier League rivals Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Everton and Fulham. (Source: Ekrem Konur)

Arne Slot’s dethroned Premier League champions are also interested in RB Leipzig’s towering, 19-year-old midfielder Assan Ouédraogo. There is talk of an offer in the region of $47.1 million (£34.6 million, €40 million) being prepared. (Source: BILD)

Manchester United are one of several clubs linked with Elche’s impressive Austrian center back David Affengruber. The Italian duo of Juventus and AC Milan have also been credited with interest. (Source: Florian Plettenberg)

West Ham United left back El Hadji Malick Diouf is also on Manchester United’s defensive shopping list this summer. The Hammers’ potential relegation could make an a deal far more affordable for the Red Devils. (Source: Football Insider)

Not content with an approach for Anthony Gordon, Bayern Munich are also interested in his Newcastle teammate Tino Livramento. The German champions are confident that the club’s rich prestige will be enough to convince the fullback, who is already thought to have been the subject of a $76.5 million (£56.2 million, €65 million) offer from Manchester City. (Source: Fichajes)

Newcastle have opened up a line of communication with Juventus for their goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio, who is also admired by Liverpool and Tottenham. (Source: Ekrem Konur)

La Liga

As both Valverde and Tchouaméni threaten to have their Real Madrid careers brought to an abrupt halt after a very public falling out, the Spanish giants have identified Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch as the ideal replacement. Madrid are preparing an eye-watering offer of $141.3 million (£103.8 million, €120 million) for the Netherlands international. (Source: Fichajes)

Madrid would accept an offer as low as $70.7 million (£51.9 million, €60 million) for Tchouaméni in an attempt to pave the way for the acquisition of Manchester City’s Rodri. (Source: El Nacional)

Barcelona are yet to present Robert Lewandowski with a formal contract offer, ensuring that the Poland international is expected to move on to MLS this summer. Chicago Fire are thought to be leading the race for his signature. (Source: Cadena SER)

In the expected event of Franco Mastantuono and Brahim Díaz’s departures, Real Madrid have drawn up a three-man shortlist of right wing options; Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye, Maghnes Akliouche of Monaco or Borussia Dortmund speedster Karim Adeyemi. (Source: Fichajes)

Despite repeated rumored interest from the likes of PSG, Barcelona have deemed Gavi to be an unsellable asset this summer. (Source: El Nacional)

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“A winger needs to score,” the devilish dribbler acknowledged to numerous outlets, stressing that “even five tap-ins a season” could “make a big difference.” Across his subsequent three appearances, Doku has rattled in four goals, although none of them were tap-ins. The Belgian forward swung in another superb curling effort to set City on their way to a potentially significant 3–0 victory over Brentford on Saturday afternoon.

Doku had been on target twice against Everton on Monday night, but couldn’t help City avoid dropping points in a 3–3 draw. Pep Guardiola’s side responded to that shock setback with a late flurry of goals against the Bees that could yet prove decisive should the Premier League title race with Arsenal come down to goal difference.

As it stands, City have closed the gap to just two points at the division’s summit with both sides still to play three games. Erling Haaland, who found the net himself against Brentford, had warned everyone that his side are “still in it” immediately after the setback against Everton. Saturday’s victory justified his faith, even if Opta’s supercomputer wasn’t quite as optimistic.

Supercomputer Predicts 2025–26 Premier League Title Race

Arsenal were given an 85% chance of winning the league in the immediate aftermath of City’s stumble on Merseyside earlier this week. An eventually comfortable win over Brentford has reduced the arrears, but the Gunners still emerge triumphant in the vast majority of Opta’s 10,000 simulations of the Premier League’s remaining fixtures.

This level of confidence has persisted throughout the season, ignoring the various gulleys of form endured by the Gunners over a disastrous spring. Mikel Arteta’s Champions League finalists have struck upon a strong vein of form lately, although the toll those recent performances have taken on an injury riddled roster may come to the fore over the domestic campaign’s conclusion.

West Ham United, Arsenal’s next opponents, have made a habit of unsettling their London rivals. The Hammers beat the Gunners last season to snuff out their slim hope of challenging Liverpool, set the wheels in motion for a late stumble in 2023–24 with another victory at the Emirates and scrambled a 2–2 draw in east London three years ago to help derail the club's first title tilt under Arteta.

Yet, for all the hurdles Arsenal have to overcome, Opta are even more pessimistic about City. Guardiola’s challengers theoretically have straightforward fixtures against Crystal Palace and Aston Villa—two teams preparing for European finals—sandwiched between a very tricky trip to Bournemouth. Three days after the FA Cup final, City will find themselves at the Vitality Stadium for Andoni Iraola’s last home game on the south coast while his Cherries are still chasing Champions League qualification.

Supercomputer Predicts 2025–26 Race for Europe

Champions League Battle

It was painfully evident that Manchester United had already secured Champions League qualification as they listlessly limped towards a goalless draw with Sunderland on Saturday in their first game since sealing that status. Liverpool appeared to be scarcely more motivated for much of their 1–1 draw with Chelsea despite still needing another win to guarantee a top-five finish.

A disappointing drop-off at Anfield notwithstanding, the Reds remain heavy favorites to punch their Champions League ticket. Not that the dismayed Merseyside crowd—or Arne Slot—would have been swayed by that stance.

“We wanted to qualify for it weeks ago,” Slot sighed. “It isn’t the season we're having, though. Sometimes it is really hard to accept these results because we are used to different ones.”

Intriguingly, Liverpool are next in action against Aston Villa, the other side heavily expected to join them in the Champions League places. However, neither team is quite guaranteed a seat at Europe’s top table just yet.

The Mix for Sixth

“Today was a very important step forward,” Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola beamed after his side battled to a 1–0 win over Fulham on Saturday, “but we still have to get more points.” The Cherries still have a slim chance of automatically qualifying for the Champions League. They would likely have to win their final two fixtures—including that visit from league-chasing Manchester City—and hope one of Villa or Liverpool drop points.

Brighton & Hove Albion haven’t yet given up hope of the top five, but sixth is a more realistic goal. That the Seagulls are even in with a chance of any continental competition is an example of this helter-skelter Premier League campaign. “It’s a mental season,” club captain Lewis Dunk gushed, “one minute we’re looking at relegation and now we’re talking about Europe, it’s great fun football, isn’t it?”

Chelsea haven’t had a lot of fun lately. The Blues belatedly halted their losing streak against Liverpool on Saturday yet a point hasn’t done much to boost their chances of salvaging this underwhelming campaign. Remarkably, Everton have better odds of clambering into sixth place than the reigning Club World Cup champions.

Supercomputer Predicts 2025–26 Relegation Battle

Saturday was spared any more relegation permutations, with West Ham not playing Arsenal until Sunday while Tottenham Hotspur conclude the matchday with a crunch clash against Leeds United on Monday. However, Spurs’ chances of survival still improved.

This was a consequence of their upcoming opponents Chelsea deemed to have been even more of a diminished force after a middling showing against Liverpool. Both Tottenham and West Ham still have to play Leeds while Spurs end the league season against an Everton side which may have nothing left to play for. West Ham’s last away day of the season, a long trip to Newcastle United next weekend, is also up against an unmotivated foe.

Wolverhampton Wanderers and Burnley have already had relegation guaranteed. They’ve been playing like it for a while.

READ THE LATEST PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS, ANALYSIS AND INSIGHT FROM SI FC

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Supercomputer Predicts Premier League Table As Man City Send Arsenal Title Message.

Unless you are a megalomaniacal owner with feverish ideas about superstition, there are certain lines (and zig-zags) which can’t be crossed when it comes to a club’s home strip. There is much more room for expression with the changed colors.

As attention turns towards the 2026–27 Premier League campaign, glimpses of these alternative designs have begun to tentatively filter through to the public sphere. Some are more outrageous than others.

Arsenal

🚨 Mock-up of Arsenal’s 2026/27 away kit based on leaked information (90% accuracy), acting as a ‘reverse’ of the iconic bruised banana pattern, as per @Footy_Headlines. 👕🍌

🎨 @Rode1Kits pic.twitter.com/gfCwZ7dYFq

— afcstuff (@afcstuff) January 22, 2026

Arsenal’s leaked away kit has been described as a “reverse” of the club’s famous ‘Bruised Banana’ shirts from the early 1990s.

This particular design has been an established cult classic among the fanbase for years, although its initial iteration is not quite so legendary. The 1992–93 team which first wore the black and yellow zig-zags finished a lowly 10th in the inaugural Premier League season, with George Graham’s old-school side struggling to adapt to the new back-pass law.

A navy base for the reimagined design is complemented by the iconic retro pattern, while red and yellow accents complete the shirt’s clean look.

Aston Villa

😱This marks the first time since the 2022-23 season, when Castore produced a sky blue and claret away shirt, that Villa have worn this classic color combination. https://t.co/lxMrIS2YrD pic.twitter.com/WtUuMqZHD6

— Footy Headlines (@Footy_Headlines) November 10, 2025

Aston Villa are expected to roll back the years with a predominantly sky blue away kit. The last time the Villans donned such a number was back in 2022–23, Unai Emery’s first campaign at the helm after the end of Steven Gerrard’s unhappy reign.

Bournemouth

We’re delighted to announce a new multi-year partnership with Hummel – a club-record kit deal for #afcb ❤️🖤

— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) May 4, 2026

Bournemouth have not let many details about their new kit slip. That’s understandable given the club only announced a new manufacturer in May.

Chelsea

⛔⛔⛔ This white, blue and black kit is NOT the Chelsea 26-27 away kit but a great concept by @Rode1Kits

The actual Chelsea away kit is this black and yellow design https://t.co/EPJ0e6sCs3 pic.twitter.com/CZpf6fArfg

— Footy Headlines (@Footy_Headlines) April 7, 2026

Nike’s ’Midwest Gold’ is set to appear on Chelsea’s new away kit. The color is expected to work in harmony with a predominantly black base, similar to their strip from the 2012–13 season, which ended in bizarre fashion (metaphorically, rather than literally) as the loathed interim manager Rafael Benítez led a mutinous fanbase to Europa League glory.

The identity of Chelsea’s next manager is as uncertain as the sponsor which will sit on the front of the shirts, if any at all.

Leeds United

💛💙🤍 Leeds United 26-27 Away Kit Leaked: https://t.co/bEnMYhwJBo

— Footy Headlines (@Footy_Headlines) March 21, 2026

There’s some firsts with the new Leeds United away kit, which is set to feature an adidas trefoil logo for the first time since they switched suppliers in 2020. The white Yorkshire rose is also projected to feature in the Leeds crest on a predominantly yellow shirt.

Liverpool

💥 Liverpool x adidas 💥

🎟️ New 26/27 Away Kit! pic.twitter.com/1HM266gkz6

— Opaleak (@opaleak) February 21, 2026

The projections for Liverpool’s new away kit looks an awful lot like the 2025–26 design. The color may be a little closer to white than cream and the adidas trefoil could replace the classic three stripes which currently adorn the strip.

Intriguingly, there also appears to be the prospect of using the retro badge which was redeployed on the 2025–26 green third kit. This classic, pared back design has the liver bird standing alone above the word “Liverpool” split in half. The inspiration for this particular shield was used by the club from 1987–92.

Manchester City

The leaked Man City away kit for next season is just beautiful 😍 pic.twitter.com/AGCdqXQ7DL

— Nico (fan) (@N1coSZN) March 29, 2026

Puma have been given licence to experiment wildly with some previous Manchester City strips. There have been some contentious designs in the past—the 2025–26 mix of dull grey and neon green is an assault of the senses, be that positive or negative—but the leaks for next term’s kit is more understated.

A largely black design with some gold fringing brings to mind the 2013–14 design which saw City win their second-ever Premier League title. Yaya Touré was intimidating enough, but once he seemed to become an even more imperious figure while dominating the entire division in all-black shirt.

Manchester United

✅ 𝙊𝙁𝙁𝙄𝘾𝙄𝘼𝙇: Manchester United’s 𝐀𝐖𝐀𝐘 kit for the 2026/27 season. 👕🥶 Do you like it Reds? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/y7spVfX55p

— GIDEON MUFC (@GBUnitedx) April 29, 2026

Manchester United may have gone back to royal blue for their 2026–27 away shirt, taking inspiration from their memorable SHARP-sponsored kits worn just before the Premier League’s inception. We’ve seen some modern takes on the classic, and supporters are more than content with the newest interpretation.

Newcastle United

🧱🧱 Newcastle United 26-27 Away Kit to Be Navy - Brickwork Pattern [via @Retro_NUFC]: https://t.co/JDJwgzOxri

— Footy Headlines (@Footy_Headlines) November 5, 2025

Newcastle United’s newest away kit is expected to take inspiration from St. James’ Park. The brickwork of the stadium which the Magpies have called home since 1892 is set to detail a navy design.

This retro setup could also have the club badge from 1976–83 on its chest. This short-lived number has a proud magpie perched in front of a castle, which fits the brief of a Newcastle badge more closely than the current seahorse design.

Tottenham Hotspur

👀 Thoughts on the leaked Tottenham 26-27 away kit? pic.twitter.com/iJazWBPw9o

— Footy Headlines (@Footy_Headlines) April 4, 2026

Tottenham’s predicted away shirt is far more chaotic than the home number, with its “Obsidian” base completely outshone by a vibrant and futuristic design that features more diagonal striping comprised of an array of neon colors, including pink and orange.

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Premier League Kits: Confirmed and Leaked Away Jerseys for 2026–27 Season.

While the hotly competitive race for Europe remains a muddle, and likely won’t become clear until it’s all said and done later this month, two teams are gunning for glory, and another two are bidding to survive.

And the pair are inextricably linked this weekend, to the point where North London Forever will be belted across the entirety of north London on Sunday afternoon, not merely the red half.

With so much on the line, here’s how Sports Illustrated thinks Premier League gameweek 36 could pan out.

Liverpool vs. Chelsea

• Date: Saturday, May 9
• Time: 12:30 p.m. BST / 7:30 a.m. ET / 4:30 a.m. PT

This is a fixture laden with Premier League heritage, but the upcoming bout is bound to be a rather sorry affair.

Chelsea, off the back of six consecutive league defeats, travel to Anfield with their hopes of playing in next season’s Champions League close to shattered. They were nothing short of dire on Monday afternoon, with a heavily rotated Nottingham Forest team waltzing into Stamford Bridge and prevailing at a canter—almost by accident!

They’ve been so easy to play against, but Arne Slot’s soon-to-be-dethroned champions are guilty are being similarly frail this term.

Still, Liverpool likely need just a point to secure their place among Europe’s elite for next season. Last week’s defeat at Old Trafford left a bitter taste, though, and they shouldn’t be expected to have it all their way against a woefully out-of-sorts Chelsea team.

Prediction: Liverpool 1–1 Chelsea

Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers

• Date: Saturday, May 9
• Time: 3 p.m. BST / 10 a.m. ET / 7 a.m. PT

Relegation had been rendered inevitable for months, but Wolverhampton Wanderers at least seemed to be heading in the right direction under Rob Edwards.

However, things have started to sour again at Molineux. A once-positive rapport between previously disgruntled supporters and Edwards is seemingly obsolete.

They did earn a point at home to Sunderland last weekend, having lost three on the bounce. Still, the visitors haven’t won on their travels once in the Premier League this season, and Brighton & Hove Albion will be determined to prove their dismal defeat on Tyneside was merely a blip.

The Seagulls recently extended Fabian Hürzeler’s contract, and qualification for Europe will be swift vindication for the faith they’re showing in the German.

Prediction: Brighton 2–0 Wolves

Fulham vs. Bournemouth

• Date: Saturday, May 9
• Time: 3 p.m. BST / 10 a.m. ET / 7 a.m. PT

Bournemouth remarkably remain unbeaten since they parted ways with Antoine Semenyo in January, with their stellar run of form thrusting them up to sixth in the Premier League table.

Should Aston Villa claim Europa League glory later this month, a sixth-place finish will be enough to qualify for the Champions League. Thus, the Cherries are playing for plenty down the stretch, and a potential banana skin is upcoming.

Fulham offered little resistance in north London last weekend and have generally been meek on their travels this season, but they boast the sixth-best home record in the division, winning 10 of their 17 games.

The Cottagers still hold out hope of competing on the continent next season, but they’ve so far been unable to put together a run of positive results.

Prediction: Fulham 1–1 Bournemouth

Sunderland vs. Manchester United

• Date: Saturday, May 9
• Time: 3 p.m. BST / 10 a.m. ET / 7 a.m. PT

That was some Sunday for Manchester United, who completed their first Premier League double over arch-rivals Liverpool in a decade to seal their spot in the Champions League.

Thus, Michael Carrick’s side aren’t playing for all that much during the final three weeks of the season, but they’ll want to head into the summer still riding a wave of positivity.

Sunderland surrendered five to Forest on their previous home outing and are winless in three games, hindering their European hopes. Still, the Black Cats are thrilled with the season they’ve had upon their return to the top flight.

United have won the previous three meetings between the pair, including a 2–0 win in the reverse fixture. The hosts will also be without the suspended Dan Ballard.

Prediction: Sunderland 0–1 Man Utd

Manchester City vs. Brentford

• Date: Saturday, May 9
• Time: 5:30 p.m. BST / 12:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 a.m. PT

Jérémy Doku’s stoppage-time equalizer surely won’t be enough for Manchester City in the title race, with Arsenal’s recovery post-defeat at the Etihad Stadium likely meaning Pep Guardiola’s side had to be perfect down the stretch.

City seemed to be coasting to a typical triumph on Merseyside, but they were a bundle of nerves in the second half against the Toffees and completely collapsed within a potentially season-crushing 13-minute spell.

Still, Doku’s magic meant they at least departed with something. Now, they have the chance to put the pressure back on Arsenal by beating European hopefuls Brentford. The Bees are one of the very few Premier League teams to win at the Etihad Stadium since Covid.

Prediction: Man City 3–1 Brentford

Burnley vs. Aston Villa

• Date: Sunday, May 10
• Time: 2 p.m. BST / 9 a.m. ET / 6 a.m. PT

Aston Villa’s mood heading into Sunday’s trip to Burnley was always going to depend on the outcome of their Europa League semifinal against Forest.

Unai Emery’s indifference last weekend against Tottenham Hotspur infuriated the overwhelming majority who are desperate to lap up a Lilywhite humiliation. Villa supporters were incensed at their team’s passivity, and suddenly, they’re looking over their shoulder regarding a top-five finish.

The Villans should be O.K., given that Bournemouth are six points back with three games left. Moreover, Burnley have long been cannon fodder for the rest of the top flight.

The relegated Clarets, now led by Michael Jackson—not the ’King of Pop’ but rather a 52-year-old from Cheshire—have won just one Premier League game in 2026, and are winless at home since last October.

The sweet release of Championship soccer can’t arrive soon enough.

Prediction: Burnley 0–1 Aston Villa

Crystal Palace vs. Everton

• Date: Sunday, May 10
• Time: 2 p.m. BST / 9 a.m. ET / 6 a.m. PT

Crystal Palace have done just about enough to avoid the relegation scrap, so all their eggs are in the Conference League basket. The remaining Premier League games are merely inconveniences.

They’ve lost back-to-back games in the top flight, and West Ham United could come to rue the stalemate they played out at Selhurst Park against Palace’s reserves last month.

Everton will seek to take advantage of the hosts’ priorities this Sunday, especially after Doku stole two points away from them on Monday. Still, the Toffees would’ve taken a point against the title hopefuls before kick-off.

If they’re able to build on their opportunistic second half showing that hindered Man City’s title charge, starting in south London, Everton could find themselves back in Europe next season.

Prediction: Crystal Palace 0–2 Everton

Nottingham Forest vs. Newcastle United

• Date: Sunday, May 10
• Time: 2 p.m. BST / 10 p.m. ET / 7 a.m. PT

As bad as Chelsea have been as of late, Vitor Pereira surely wouldn’t have expected his team to blow the Blues away in the manner they did after making eight changes from the XI that bypassed Villa in the first leg of their Europa League semifinal tie.

The victory in west London means Forest are all but safe. West Ham are six points back with a far inferior goal difference.

Thus, the mood should be fairly relaxed at the City Ground when Newcastle United come to town, even if elimination from the Europa League on Thursday came as a blow.

The Magpies stopped their rot last weekend against Brighton, and are committing to Eddie Howe for 2026–27 despite an underwhelming domestic campaign. Remarkably, though, they aren’t out of European contention.

Prediction: Nott’m Forest 2–2 Newcastle

West Ham United vs. Arsenal

• Date: Sunday, May 10
• Time: 4:30 p.m. BST / 11:30 a.m. ET / 8:30 a.m. PT

Arsenal and Manchester City seemed to switch personas in Gameweek 34, as the former dispatched Fulham with City-like ruthlessness before Pep Guardiola’s side crumbled on Merseyside in a manner Gooners are all too familiar with.

Everton’s point has handed Arsenal a considerable advantage in the title race with such little time in the season remaining. Given the fixtures they have, many are suggesting that a victory on Sunday will all but seal the title for Mikel Arteta’s men.

The visitors will be in a euphoric mood after grinding their way to the Champions League final, but West Ham are desperate towards the foot of the table. This will be anything but simple for the seemingly liberated Gunners.

The Hammers weren’t all that bad at Brentford last week. Suddenly, though, they’re the overwhelming favorites for the drop. A result would at least put some pressure back on Spurs.

Prediction: West Ham 1–2 Arsenal

Tottenham Hotspur vs. Leeds United

• Date: Monday, May 11
• Time: 8 p.m. BST / 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT

Sure, Villa were much-changed and woeful last Sunday, but God forbid anyone give Roberto De Zerbi’s Tottenham Hotspur a bit of credit. They were excellent at Villa Park, with the Italian’s impact keenly felt on a once-broken squad.

In the absence of creativity, De Zerbi’s is embracing Tottenham’s midfield runners. Their effort was dogged in the West Midlands, and it’s evident that the new manager has complete buy-in from this group of players.

Last week felt like a significant turning point in the relegation scrap, but Leeds United will be tough to bypass under the lights on Monday. The visitors are enjoying their best away run in 47 years, when Don Revie’s side went 17 games unbeaten. A 2–2 draw at Bournemouth means Leeds are up to nine.

In addition, a 3–1 win over Burnley last time out all but guaranteed their safety.

Prediction: Tottenham 2–1 Leeds

Premier League Predictions: Gameweek 36

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Premier League Predictions: Gameweek 36.

Premier League

Manchester United have ruled out a move for Chelsea midfielder Cole Palmer, believing their transfer priorities lie elsewhere this summer. (Source: The Mirror)

Instead, Man Utd are accelerating their pursuit of West Ham United’s Mateus Fernandes, whose chances of remaining at the London Stadium beyond this season are increasingly slim. (Source: Football Insider)

Fiorentina goalkeeper David De Gea is keen to remain with the Serie A side but has made it clear that he would consider a return to former employers Man Utd. (Source: Niccolò Ceccarini)

Liverpool have added Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba, a target for Man Utd, to their summer shortlist alongside Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, Monaco’s Lamine Camara and Lens’ Mamadou Sangaré. (Source: TEAMtalk)

Chelsea have held a meeting with the agent of Newcastle United forward Anthony Gordon over a possible summer switch. (Source: Si Phillips)

Despite links to the contrary, Bayern Munich are not looking to sign Arsenal forward Kai Havertz, even though the German is thought to be keen to play for the Bundesliga giants at some point in his career. (Source: Christian Falk)

Coming it at Arsenal could be Manchester City midfielder Tijjani Reijnders, who is set for talks about his future at the Etihad after struggling for minutes. (Source: CaughtOffside)

Liverpool are looking to sign Tottenham Hotspur center back Luka Vušković ahead of Chelsea, Man Utd and Bayern Munich. (Source: Football Insider)

Meanwhile, Tottenham are stepping up their chase of Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke, who is also on the shortlists of both Chelsea and Liverpool. (Source: TEAMtalk)

Man Utd are ready to submit a significant bid to sign Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali. The Red Devils are leading the race and are thought to have already communicated their interest to the Italian. (Source: Tuttomercatoweb)

Sporting CP left back Maxi Araújo, wanted by Chelsea, Man Utd, Tottenham and Juventus, will be allowed to leave this summer for a fee of $59 million (€50 million, £43 million). (Source: AS)

Amid all the recent chaos at Real Madrid, Liverpool are ready to try and lure midfielder Federico Valverde over to Anfield. (Source: Fichajes)

Liverpool are ready to offer a package worth up to $117 million (€100 million, £86 million) to sign Valverde, but will have to fend off rival interest from Arsenal. (Source: El Nacional)

Man Utd, meanwhile, are looking to land Aurélien Tchouaméni from Real Madrid, who are open to doing business at $95 million (£70 million, €81 million). (Source: Paddy Keogh)

Juventus forward Jonathan David is in no rush to walk away from his lucrative contract with the Serie A side. Aston Villa and Crystal Palace have both warned Juve that they will have to contribute to his wages as part of a potential loan exit. (Source: Tuttomercatoweb)

La Liga

Barcelona are looking to use the ‘Raphinha method’ when it comes to summer signings, chasing young players from the Premier League yet to establish themselves as global superstars. Chelsea striker João Pedro has emerged as a top target and is valued at $88 million (€75 million, £65 million). (Source: SPORT)

Atlético Madrid have already opened negotiations to sign another Chelsea star, left back Marc Cucurella. (Source: Fichajes)

Real Madrid are ready to part ways with Aurelién Tchouaméni after his fight with Federico Valverde and plan to use the Frenchman in a swap deal for Man City midfielder Rodri. (Source: El Nacional)

Just five players at Real Madrid are not facing uncertain futures at the club: Thibaut Courtois, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Arda Güler, Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappé. Other players, including Vinicius Junior, could be allowed to leave for the right price. (Source: Defensa Central)

Beşiktaş have made a bid of $23.5 million (€20 million, £17.3 million) for Real Madrid center back Raúl Asencio. (Source: Fanatik)

The agent of Tottenham defender Luka Vušković has held talks with Barcelona, but Spurs are trying to tie the youngster down to a new contract. (Source: Florian Plettenberg)

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Transfer Rumors: Valverde, Tchouameni Receive Premier League Offers; De Gea Considers Man Utd Return.

After taking a deserved lead at Everton on Monday evening, it seemed to be a question of how many City would rack up. Yet, by the time Haaland dinked the ball over Jordan Pickford in the 83rd minute, he was halving the deficit after watching his team briefly tumble 3–1 down. Jérémy Doku, who opened the scoring with a lovely curling effort off his weaker left foot, would bookend the night with a mirror image goal from his right side.

City escaped with a point from the 3–3 draw, but in the context of the Premier League title race with Arsenal, it was ultimately a case of two dropped. Haaland is mathematically correct in his assertion: City are five points adrift of the Gunners having played one game fewer, but as his manager Pep Guardiola fretted: “It’s not in our hands.”

Opta’s supercomputer is not nearly as optimistic as City’s No. 9.

Supercomputer Predicts 2025–26 Premier League Title Race

Arsenal have been Opta’s favorites for months. Even after City wrestled first spot from the Gunners with a win over Burnley in April, the Gunners were given the edge. Now that Mikel Arteta’s side have their destiny back in their own hands once again, their chances have swollen to a whopping 85.24%.

City have to rely upon Arsenal dropping points in at least one of their remaining three fixtures against West Ham United, Burnley and Crystal Palace, three opponents the north London outfit have already beaten in the Premier League this season.

The quality of Arsenal’s performance in their 3–0 thumping of Fulham on Saturday suggests that it should be a straightforward run-in, but rarely is soccer ever so simple. There is the intangible avalanche of nerves to consider as these players, who have suffered through three years of second-place finishes, try to end the club’s 22-year wait for top-flight glory. What’s more, none of their upcoming opponents will be as forgiving as a Fulham side struck down by a roster-wide virus.

Guardiola’s challengers can scarcely afford another slip-up. The calendar is working against City, who face four games in the space of 11 days, with an FA Cup final stuffed into the mix for good measure. Guardiola has already ceded the title once this season only to see his side race back into the mix and was in no mood to crown Arsenal champions just yet. “We have games left,” he pointed out on Monday. “We will see what happens.”

Supercomputer Predicts 2025–26 Champions League Race

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It was a miserable weekend for West Ham. After repeatedly testing the structural integrity of Brentford’s goal frame during a misleading 3–0 defeat on Saturday, Tottenham actually put together a competent performance in victory over a weakened Aston Villa XI.

Nottingham Forest also rung the changes but still managed to comfortably thump Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Monday to move onto 42 points and effectively clear of the drop.

Spurs are only one point above West Ham but have been given such a sizeable advantage thanks to the nature of the two sides’ remaining opponents. While the Hammers host title-chasing Arsenal next weekend, Tottenham take on a Leeds United side who have all but secured their own survival.

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Supercomputer Predicts Premier League Table After Man City’s Bonkers Everton Draw.

Saturday’s emphatic 3–0 win over Fulham saw Mikel Arteta’s side move six points clear at the top of the table, but things are not as they seem. Manchester City, having only recently tied things up in the games played column, are two matches behind once again.

That gap of six points could easily have shrunk to zero by the time Arsenal next play in the Premier League, proving it really is all to play for at this tense stage of the season.

With the crowning of a champion inching ever closer, the Opta supercomputer has offered up a prediction for the conclusion of this fascinating title race.

Supercomputer Predicts Premier League Title Race

On paper, Arsenal are in an imposing position. A six-point lead over Manchester City warns Pep Guardiola’s side that they must be perfect over their next two games if they want to match their pace. A 3–0 win over Fulham also did wonders for the Gunners’ goal difference.

This pressure is nothing new to City, who begin the latest chapter of their title charge away at Everton on Monday. They then host Brentford on Saturday, one day before Arsenal’s next Premier League game, at which point the two sides would be tied up on games once again.

Supercomputer Predicts Champions League Race

Manchester United can confirm their spot in next season’s Champions League with victory over Liverpool on Sunday. Michael Carrick’s side are in an imposing position and have long known their spot in Europe’s top competition is waiting for them.

Aston Villa and Liverpool are separated by less than a single point in the simulation, but neither side will care particularly. Both threatened to be dragged into a battle for their place in the Champions League, so there will be few tears among the fanbase that ends up fifth.

However, Villa’s final position could be massive. If Unai Emery’s side slip to fifth but end the season lifting the Europa League, then the team that finishes sixth will sneak into the Champions League as well. As it stands, that honor would go to Brighton & Hove Albion.

Bournemouth and Brentford are still on the outside looking up, while Chelsea are just focused on securing any form of European action next season after a miserable slump under Liam Rosenior saw them tumble down the standings.

Supercomputer Predicts Premier League Relegation Battle

We already know Wolverhampton Wanderers and Burnley are heading down to the Championship, to be replaced by Coventry City and Ipswich Town.

The identity of the team joining them in the second tier remains to be determined. Tottenham Hotspur are currently backed for the drop, although victory over Aston Villa in Sunday’s late game would actually see Roberto De Zerbi’s side climb out of the relegation zone with four games left to play.

West Ham United’s 3–0 defeat to Brentford was not entirely unexpected but was still incredibly frustrating for Hammers fans, who know their fate is not currently in their hands.

With all this going on beneath them, Nottingham Forest are perilously close to putting their feet up and starting their planning for the 2026–27 Premier League season.

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Supercomputer Predicts Premier League Table After Arsenal’s Statement Victory Over Fulham.

Fortunately, every week is a new opportunity to shoot up the standings, and a host of intriguing fixtures offer the potential for major returns from the traditional big-hitters and a range of differentials.

Strategy is crucial at this point in the campaign, especially for managers with chips remaining. Each team finds itself in a unique position, but some picks appear essential for all squads in Gameweek 35.

Here are those worthy of selection before Friday’s deadline.

Goalkeepers

Within the unglamorous world of goalkeepers, David Raya (£6.0m) remains king. The highest-scoring stopper produced a 10-point haul last weekend and remains fantastic value, allowing managers to double up on the Arsenal defense. Against Fulham (H) this Saturday, who have blanked in four of their last six league games, another clean sheet is on the cards.

At the other end of the price scale is Leeds United’s Karl Darlow (£3.9m). Having delivered 24 points across his last five games, an appetizing fixture with already relegated Burnley (H) this weekend adds to his appeal—and that of his Leeds teammates. He’s a great enabler and double act alongside Raya.

With one eye on double Gameweek 36 in which Crystal Palace play twice, Dean Henderson (£5.1m) is worth exploring. This Sunday’s game against Bournemouth (A) isn’t the greatest, but his arrival allows managers to profit from his two fixtures in the next round. There’s always the chance of a clean sheet at the Vitality Stadium, too.

Defenders

Aside from the must-have Gabriel (£7.2m), Manchester City’s Nico O’Reilly (£5.1m) is now in the territory of an essential pick. With the Cityzens the other side enjoying a double gameweek in the next round, the left back becomes even more enticing, especially following 27 points from his past three fixtures. The clash with low-scoring Everton (A) on Monday provides another appealing opportunity for points.

Crystal Palace defenders will be desirable this week, Jaydee Canvot (£4.5m) and Chris Richards (£4.4m) offering cheap routes into their backline, while the more expensive Daniel Muñoz (£5.8m) has the upside of greater attacking potential. The Colombian even scored in the defeat at Liverpool last weekend.

Leeds’ strong fixture makes James Justin (£3.9m) their standout defensive pick, although Jayden Bogle (£4.4m) and Pascal Struijk (£4.3m) are also quality options.

Bournemouth remain worth investing in, too, with James Hill (£4.2m) and Adrien Truffert (£4.7m) great choices at low prices.

Midfielders

There is only one truly essential midfield pick at present: Bruno Fernandes (£10.4m). The Manchester United skipper is chasing the Premier League assist record for a single season and has delivered returns in each of his past seven matches. Even in a tricky fixture with rivals Liverpool (H) this weekend, he should still reward managers.

Arsenal don’t have too many reliable attacking threats, but Eberechi Eze (£7.2m) has grown in importance and could follow up his goal against Newcastle with another return in the Fulham clash. The Englishman was only used from the bench midweek in Europe and made a swift impact, meaning he’s likely to start on Saturday.

Rayan Cherki (£6.5m) is the most appealing Man City midfielder at present, offering a cheap and effective route to points. The Frenchman has become indispensable for Pep Guardiola and has managed 23 points across his last three matches. Everton will be worried about his ingenuity.

Ahead of the double gameweek, Ismaïla Sarr (£6.3m) is worth investing in. While his minutes are a slight risk following Thursday’s Conference League semifinal first leg, he’s the leading threat for the Eagles.

Noah Okafor (£5.6m) is currently thriving for Leeds and should feature on Friday against Burnley despite a slight injury concern. Enzo Fernández (£6.5m) has enjoyed life during his brief spell under Calum McFarlane and is an option in the Chelsea team ahead of Monday’s clash with Nottingham Forest (H).

Forwards

Erling Haaland (£14.5m) is an essential pick following his recent goalscoring exploits, but there are some interesting options available to partner the Man City star.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£5.7m) has the potential to haul against Burnley, especially after the recent dismissal of Scott Parker. The Clarets have completely given up and Leeds are ready to take full advantage as they look to step closer to safety.

West Ham United are another team in desperate need of points toward the foot of the table and Jarrod Bowen (£7.8m) continues to deliver for them. While most of his points come on home soil, including 24 across his past two games at the London Stadium, a clash with Brentford (A) remains a decent fixture for the England international.

João Pedro (£7.5m) could punish a fatigued Forest defense, who were in action on Thursday night. His compatriot Igor Thiago (£7.4m) could reward backers against West Ham after his series of dismal misses at Old Trafford last time out.

When Is the FPL Gameweek 35 Deadline?

Leeds vs. Burnley is staged on Friday night, meaning the GW35 deadline arrives at 6:30 p.m. BST (1:30 p.m. ET, 10:30 a.m. PT) on May 1.

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as 2025–26 FPL: Best Players to Pick for Gameweek 35.

Monday’s bank holiday in the United Kingdom facilitates two matches, while a battle toward the foot of the table gets the ball rolling on Friday night. In between, there is plenty of consequential entertainment.

The title race between Arsenal and Manchester City will once again dominate headlines across the gameweek, as will the increasingly nervy relegation scrap. European spots are still up for grabs, too.

With plenty to play for, here’s how Sports Illustrated thinks Premier League gameweek 35 could pan out. Click here to see the latest version of this article.

Leeds United 3–1 Burnley

• Date: Friday, May 1
• Time: 8 p.m. BST / 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT

Leeds United kicked off the round with a big 3–1 win over Burnley that has effectively secured their place in next season’s Premier League.

Anton Stach’s low drive from range opened the scoring after just eight minutes, before a quickfire double from Noah Okafor and Dominic Calvert-Lewin shortly before the hour mark took the game away from Burnley.

Loum Tchaouna did pull one back for the relegated visitors but it was little more than a consolation.

Brentford vs. West Ham United

• Date: Saturday, May 2
• Time: 3 p.m. BST / 10 a.m. ET / 7 a.m. PT

Callum Wilson was West Ham United’s stoppage-time hero last weekend, clinching the 17th-placed Irons victory over Everton and ensuring they stayed ahead of rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the relegation dogfight.

The result means the Hammers are one point clear of Spurs and unbeaten in three matches, but face an awkward assignment at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Brentford are their hosts and motivated by a push for European qualification in a congested league table.

West Ham are at the point of the campaign where victories become gold dust, but even a point across London wouldn’t be the worst outcome. Brentford have been draw specialists in recent weeks and might participate in yet another stalemate this weekend.

Prediction: Brentford 1–1 West Ham

Newcastle United vs. Brighton & Hove Albion

• Date: Saturday, May 2
• Time: 3 p.m. BST / 10 a.m. ET / 7 a.m. PT

The vultures are circling at St James’ Park, Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe the prey. A disastrous domestic campaign means the Magpies are only eight points clear of the drop zone, despite harboring ambitions of Champions League qualification at the start of the term.

Howe’s position is under serious threat and the visit of Brighton & Hove Albion is the last thing he needs. The Seagulls top the form table after 13 points from their last five matches and are flying high after a recent 3–0 win over Chelsea.

European qualification remains on the table for Fabian Hürzeler’s resurgent side, who appear likely to pile further misery on Howe and his players in the process of securing another victory.

Prediction: Newcastle 1–2 Brighton

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Sunderland

Wolves and Sunderland could hardly have played out more contrasting campaigns. The former have endured a rotten year, demoted to the Championship with little resistance, while the latter have wildly upset the odds and still remain active in the hunt for a stunning European berth.

Motivation lies with Molineux’s visitors on Saturday, who will need to respond swiftly to their 5–0 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest last time out. Thankfully, they face a Wolves team that have failed to score in their last three and have completely given up even playing for pride.

Sunderland have proven an unpredictable beast in recent weeks, but they should get back on track from successive defeats by triumphing in the West Midlands.

• Date: Saturday, May 2
• Time: 3 p.m. BST / 10 a.m. ET / 7 a.m. PT

Prediction: Wolves 0–2 Sunderland

Arsenal vs. Fulham

• Date: Saturday, May 2
• Time: 5:30 p.m. BST / 12:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 a.m. PT

The headline act of Saturday’s schedule, Arsenal must once again overcome the growing pressure when they host fellow Londoners Fulham. The Gunners kept their nerve to narrowly beat Newcastle last weekend, and they now have the chance to move six points clear of chasers Man City before Pep Guardiola’s side take to the field on Monday.

Arsenal’s midweek excursion in Madrid for their Champions League semifinal has taken some energy out of the tank, but Mikel Arteta has a deep squad to call upon—one boosted by the recent return of key personnel.

Fulham are among the cohort fighting for Europe, buoyed by last weekend’s win over Aston Villa, but they have been far from scintillating in recent matches. Struggling for creativity will be a major issue against the division’s sturdiest defense.

Any slip-up could prove fatal for the Gunners, but they should clinch another vital victory—no matter how nervy.

Prediction: Arsenal 2–0 Fulham

Bournemouth vs. Crystal Palace

• Date: Sunday, May 3
• Time: 2 p.m. BST / 9 a.m. ET / 6 a.m. PT

Bournemouth and Crystal Palace find themselves in similar predicaments heading into the final weeks. Both will be forced to rebuild this summer when their head coaches depart, Oliver Glasner and Andoni Iraola moving on to pastures new.

Hopefully, the two in-demand managers can deliver a spectacle similar to that witnessed at Selhurst Park back in October, Jean-Philippe Mateta completing his hat trick in the 97th minute to secure a 3–3 draw for the Eagles.

A stalemate is often the outcome when Bournemouth take to the field, their 16 draws from 34 games by far the highest in the division. After Thursday night’s Conference League semifinal first leg, Palace might be happy with a point.

Prediction: Bournemouth 1–1 Crystal Palace

Manchester United vs. Liverpool

• Date: Sunday, May 3
• Time: 3:30 p.m. BST / 10:30 a.m. ET / 7:30 a.m. PT

The stakes are not at their highest for Sunday’s clash between bitter adversaries Manchester United and Liverpool. Both sides appear likely to secure a Champions League berth at the end of testing seasons, leaving bragging rights as the prevailing motivator at Old Trafford.

Man Utd currently have hold of them after their dramatic victory at Anfield earlier this term, but Liverpool have enjoyed some memorable wins away at the Red Devils in recent years, including their 3–0 triumph in Arne Slot’s debut term.

Neither team are operating at their absolute peak, but the combination of home advantage and greater self-belief could result in a hard-fought victory for Man Utd this weekend.

Liverpool may well have won their last three league games, but they remain unconvincing in attack and defense. Man Utd appear primed to punish the Reds in the way Fulham, Everton and Crystal Palace couldn’t, despite encouragement.

Prediction: Man Utd 2–1 Liverpool

Aston Villa vs. Tottenham Hotspur

• Date: Sunday, May 3
• Time: 7 p.m. BST / 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT

Things are becoming increasingly desperate for Tottenham. Even their first Premier League victory of 2026 couldn’t lift them out of the relegation zone last weekend, and a trip to fifth-placed Aston Villa will have downtrodden supporters fearing the worst—especially if Leeds and West Ham can win before they play.

Spurs have look slightly improved under Roberto De Zerbi, but it’s an incredibly low bar. Injuries continue to decimate their playing squad and they were indebted to a rare João Palhinha goal to squeak past Wolves last time out.

In more bad news, they have lost twice to Villa already this season, both 2–1 defeats on home soil. Providing Unai Emery’s side aren’t totally spent from their Europa League semifinal on Thursday night, they remain significant favorites as they look to secure Champions League qualification.

Prediction: Aston Villa 1–0 Tottenham

Chelsea vs. Nottingham Forest

• Date: Monday, May 4
• Time: 3 p.m. BST / 10 a.m. ET / 7 a.m. PT

Chelsea began life without Liam Rosenior in the best way imaginable, interim head coach Calum McFarlane guiding the Blues to the FA Cup final last weekend. Whether they can follow up their win over Leeds when facing an in-form Nottingham Forest side remains to be seen.

The Blues appear incredibly unlikely to make the Champions League via a top-five finish following their recent string of dismal results, but a victory could keep their slim hopes alive. They will also be eager to build some momentum before the FA Cup final against Man City.

The result is more significant for Forest, who are just five points above the relegation zone and still in the scrap. Having been in Europa League action on Thursday, fatigue may play its part in a narrow Stamford Bridge defeat.

Prediction: Chelsea 2–1 Nottingham Forest

Everton vs. Manchester City

• Date: Monday, May 4
• Time: 8 p.m. BST / 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT

Man City will be watching Arsenal’s match with bated breath before they return to league action against Everton on Monday night. Fresh from surviving an almighty scare in the FA Cup semifinal at the hands of Southampton, they must refocus on usurping the Gunners at the summit.

As mentioned, there could be a six-point gap needing to be overturned by the Cityzens come their trip to the Hill Dickinson Stadium. While they still have a game in hand on their rivals, they simply can’t afford anything but a perfect run down the stretch.

Everton’s home form has been uninspiring this season and that will offer City encouragement, but David Moyes’s team have the capacity to be tricky customers. Defensively stubborn and indefatigable, they will cause Pep Guardiola’s men issues.

Any win will do for City—and they should get over the line.

Prediction: Everton 0–1 Man City

Premier League Predictions: Gameweek 35

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Premier League Predictions: Gameweek 35.

The serial Championship promotion winner once again failed to enjoy his experience of the Premier League. The Clarets made an encouraging start to life back in the top flight before enduring a swift decline. A solitary win since October has kept Burnley in the same position of 19th for 22 consecutive weeks.

Given Wolverhampton Wanderers’ relative uptick in form, there is the very real possibility that they end the season rock bottom.

Once relegation was mathematically confirmed with last week’s defeat to Manchester City, Burnley’s hierarchy entered into discussions with Parker regarding his future. As the club confirmed on Thursday, those talks ended with the former England international’s exit.

“The Club would like to place on record its sincere thanks to Scott for his professionalism, dedication and contribution,” a statement read. “He leaves with the respect and gratitude of everyone connected with Burnley Football Club.”

Burnley also revealed that Mike Jackson would reprise his role as interim manager for the club’s final four league fixtures. Jackson took temporary charge at Turf Moor in April 2022 following Sean Dyche’s exit, overseeing an immediate run of 10 points from four games which earned him the Premier League manager of the month award.

Jackson would require an even more impressive sequence of results to establish himself as a candidate for the full-time position. It appears as though Steven Gerrard is leading that race.

Steven Gerrard Tipped for Managerial Return

Gerrard was thought to be “of interest” to Burnley’s owners before the decision to part ways with Parker was made. Now that his compatriot has been moved on, the Daily Mail claim that the retired England captain is the “favorite” for the vacant post.

It’s been 15 months since Gerrard’s last managerial position, an awkward stint in the Saudi Pro League with Al Ettifaq. The ex-Liverpool midfielder’s only previous experience of senior management in English soccer came during an 11-month stint at Aston Villa.

Gerrard steered the Midlands giant to a 14th-placed finish in the 2021–22 campaign before results tailed off dramatically during his second term. Villa relieved their iconic coach of his duties just eight games into the following season. Unai Emery took the helm and oversaw a remarkable ascent with a similar squad which is now a serial Champions League contender.

Burnley’s soon-to-be Championship rivals Bristol City have also been linked with an approach for Gerrard, who is thought to be keen on a return to management. After watching his former international colleague Frank Lampard thrive in England’s second tier with Coventry City, Gerrard could be in position to try and replicate that feat next season.

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Scott Parker Leaves Burnley, Premier League Legend ‘Favorite’ for Replacement.

Late Tuesday, the FIFA Council, convening in Vancouver this week for the 76th FIFA Congress, unanimously approved to consult the possibility that all senior club teams be “obliged to always have at least one homegrown player from the Under-20 or Under-21 category on the field of play.”

A proposal for the radical change—aimed at progressing the development of young players—will be submitted to the FIFA Council sometime within the next year, with the exact definition of “homegrown” still yet to be determined.

This rule could drastically affect club teams all over the globe, influencing not only how and when managers substitute players, but also the activity of transfer windows and how rosters are built in the first place. The change would ultimately deter clubs from buying and importing so much veteran star talent, encouraging them to put more emphasis and resources into developing their own youth.

It would specifically rattle the Premier League, in which several clubs have not had a homegrown youngster start a match all season.

Premier League’s Current Pool of Young Talent

At present, England’s top flight requires that each club’s 25-player squad has “no more than 17” who are not homegrown, meaning eight spots are for locally-trained talent.

However, there is no specifying how often those players should be actually on the pitch. A similar rule exists for the UEFA Champions League, and both define a homegrown player as one that has played at least three full seasons between the ages of 15 and 21 within the club’s youth system or at another club’s youth system in the same country.

There are four Premier League teams that have not included a homegrown player under 21-years-old in their starting lineup at all this season: Brentford, Leeds United, Aston Villa and recently-relegated Burnley. These four would be the most affected by the rule change, leaving them with the arduous task of swiftly developing youngsters or scrambling to find new diamonds in the rough.

Conversely, Manchester City would be in the best position of any Premier League club, having had 30 of their 33 league matches so far include an U21 homegrown player in the starting XI, per The Times. Nico O’Reilly, 21, worked his way up City’s youth ranks since the age of eight and is largely responsible for that feat, having started 26 league matches so far this season.

Manchester United would also be in a good position, with 20 league games out of their 34 including an U21 homegrown starter, with a lot down to Kobbie Mainoo. The 21-year-old graduate has made 12 starts in the last 13 league matches, shining under interim manager Michael Carrick’s tutelage.

United also hold an impressive 89-year-old record of naming at least one homegrown player in every single matchday squad, dating back to Oct. 30, 1937. Nevertheless, even this record does not account for or promise playing time, with youngsters not always making it to the pitch.

While the Premier League clubs eagerly await FIFA’s decision, they would all be smart to begin exploring better avenues to get their youth pathways up to speed.

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as How a Wild FIFA Rule Change Could Shake Up the Premier League.

Premier League

Manchester United have “already made their move” for Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali, keen to beat Juventus to the signature of a player seen as the perfect replacement for Casemiro. (Source: TuttoJuve)

Galatasaray’s recent meeting with rivals Fenerbahçe was attended by Arsenal director Andrea Berta, who went to watch Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen in action ahead of a possible summer bid. (Source: AS)

Arsenal are also chasing a deal for Real Madrid midfielder Brahim Díaz, who could be allowed to leave the Bernabéu for the right price. (Source: Fichajes)

Chelsea striker Liam Delap is not looking to leave the club this summer despite struggling during his debut season at Stamford Bridge. (Source: The Telegraph)

Meanwhile, Enzo Fernández has made it clear he would be prepared to sign a new contract at Chelsea, if the Blues offer him a higher salary and promise to try and match his ambition through the signing of more experienced players. (Source: Si Phillips)

Liverpool want around $17.5 million (€15 million, £13 million) to sell goalkeeper Alisson, but Juventus have frustrated the Reds with their determination to sign the Brazil international on a free transfer. (Source: Calciomercato)

Aston Villa and Newcastle have both joined Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur in pursuit of Sporting CP left back Maxi Araújo. (Source: Sport Witness)

Striker Nick Woltemade is no longer wanted at Newcastle. Aston Villa are interested in signing the Germany international. (Source: Fichajes)

Potentially replacing Woltemade at Newcastle could be Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson, who has emerged as a target for the Magpies after Bayern Munich confirmed they will not trigger their permanent transfer clause. (Source: talkSPORT)

Man Utd are planning to try and capitalize on Leicester City’s relegation to League One with a move for highly rated winger Jeremy Monga. The 16-year-old features on a shortlist which also includes Foxes midfielder Louis Page, 17, and right back Olabade Aluko, 19. (Source: Paddy Keogh)

Similarly, Man Utd are watching Tottenham center back Micky van de Ven, whose price tag could drop if Spurs are relegated from the Premier League, alongside Nottingham Forest’s Murillo. (Source: The Telegraph)

Wolverhampton Wanderers have already been relegated from the Premier League and Brentford, Crystal Palace, Leeds United and West Ham United are all trying to take advantage with moves for center back Santiago Bueno. (Source: Sport Witness)

Manchester City director Hugo Viana has held talks with the agent of Bournemouth striker Eli Junior Kroupi. (Source: Sacha Tavolieri)

Al Nassr manager Jorge Jesus has requested the signing of Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah, who will be given the chance to link up with Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia if the club can first agree a new contract with Jesus himself. (Source: Okaz)

La Liga

Real Madrid have turned down an offer of $94 million (€80 million) for midfielder Federico Valverde from Saudi Arabian side Al Ahli. (Source: Fichajes)

Hansi Flick wants Barcelona to sign a more attacking right back to better compliment Lamine Yamal. Borussia Dortmund’s Julian Ryerson and Rayo Vallecano’s Andrei Rațiu have both been suggested. (Source: El Nacional)

Atlético Madrid have reignited their pursuit of Liverpool left back Andy Robertson. The Scotland international has been in talks with Tottenham, but a deal hinges on their Premier League survival. (Source: Daily Record)

Franco Mastantuono wants to stay at Real Madrid but is reluctantly considering a return to River Plate, well aware that he cannot continue to struggle as much as he has during his debut season in Spain. (Source: Defensa Central)

Marcus Rashford is solely focused on continuing his career with Barcelona beyond this season, even though the Catalan giants are not expected to trigger their option to sign the Man Utd loanee permanently. (Source: Mundo Deportivo)

Barcelona sporting director Deco has met with the agent of Osasuna winger Víctor Muñoz. The Blaugrana have doubts about the 22-year-old and are also wary of doing business over a player whose sale would trigger a significant sell-on clause for Real Madrid. (Source: SPORT)

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Transfer Rumors: Arsenal Plot Osimhen Move; New Salah Suitor Emerges.

The Red Devils prioritized attacking signings and while that has paid dividends, they’re still in the hunt for someone capable of bolstering a poorly-stocked and ageing engine room.

Manuel Ugarte continues to struggle at Old Trafford, while Casemiro has announced his impending exit at the end of the current campaign.

An energetic midfielder with expert defensive instincts will top United’s wishlist and they’ve already established a lengthy list of appropriate targets.

Here is Sports Illustrated’s ranking of midfielders reported to be on United’s shortlist.

Ranking Criteria

• Suitability: How they would fit the needs of United’s awkward midfield.
• Affordability: United have to keep an eye on finances in the days of strict spending regulations.
• Likelihood: There has to be some form of reality behind the rumors.

9. André

Age: 24
Club: Wolverhampton Wanderers
Contract: 2029

United successfully poached Wolverhampton Wanderers’ prized asset last summer, Matheus Cunha, but again turning to the Premier League’s worst side in the transfer market hardly inspires confidence.

Midfield is evidently not functioning as required, but their Brazilian pairing offered up encouragement last term. André, who was plucked from Fluminense in the summer of 2024, has been an overwhelmingly positive addition at Molineux.

As per FBref, he ranked in the 99th percentile for pass completion among Premier League midfielders last season, while he also sat in the 89th and 97th percentile for attempted tackles and recoveries respectively.

The Brazil international certainly boasts commendable energy and has proven his ability to mix it with England’s leading sides, but the move to Old Trafford could prove a step too great.

8. João Gomes

Age: 25
Club: Wolverhampton Wanderers
Contract: 2030

André’s midfield partner, João Gomes, is another who has caught the attention at Wolves without ever producing truly dazzling displays. Still, he’s worked his way into the Brazil squad alongside his teammate, with tenacity and a tough-tackling approach making him a desirable asset.

Like André, the ex-Flamengo talent is struggling to stand tall within an underperforming Wolves side at present, but he would prove a cut-price signing with Premier League experience for United.

Gomes has been touted with a move to Old Trafford as a cost-effective solution to their midfield dilemma and the Red Devils could do significantly worse than the aggressive South American. There are better options out there, though.

7. Adam Wharton

Age: 22
Club: Crystal Palace
Contract: 2029

Adam Wharton’s ascent to stardom has been remarkably swift. The midfielder played his final match for Championship outfit Blackburn Rovers in January 2024 before his switch to Crystal Palace. Less than six months later, he was named in England’s Euro 2024 squad.

Wharton hit the ground running like few do when stepping up to the Premier League, garnering attention for his silky passing and a level of composure more fitting of a Spaniard than an Englishman. Comparisons with Paul Scholes soon followed.

By that logic, he would be the perfect addition to United’s squad. At just 21 years old, his potential is even greater than his exceptional ability, and he’s destined to be one of the smoothest operators around for the next decade.

However, an eye-watering price tag expected to exceed £100 million could dissuade the Red Devils from taking the plunge, while he’s no Casemiro replacement when it comes to his defensive work. He’s much more of a tempo-setter and creator than midfield destroyer.

6. Angelo Stiller

Age: 25
Club: VfB Stuttgart
Contract: 2028

Angelo Stiller has been critical to VfB Stuttgart’s resent ascent. The graceful midfielder helped the German side clinch second place in the 2023–24 Bundesliga, while also propelling them to DFB Pokal glory for the first time in 28 years last term. Another cup final has been secured this season.

Serhou Guirassy stole the headlines two years ago, but Stiller earned greater renown last campaign. The Germany international continued on an impressive trajectory that pits him against Europe’s elite, hitting double digits for assists in each of the past two seasons.

However, much like Wharton, the 25-year-old is not your traditional defensive midfielder. An incredible passing range, uncanny ability to beat the press and attacking verve ensures he’s a star in the making, but his defensive work is not his greatest strength.

Stiller would be a much cheaper alternative to Wharton and would likely thrive in England, but United are ideally seeking someone with a stronger bite than the Stuttgart man.

5. Sandro Tonali

Age: 25
Club: Newcastle United
Contract: 2028

United’s interest in Sandro Tonali has been almost as widely reported as the contradictory comments made by the Italian midfielder’s agent. As Newcastle meander towards a mediocre conclusion to an underwhelming campaign, it appears as though Tonali will be leaving Tyneside.

The all-action outlet could certainly fill a few roles in the Old Trafford engine room, proving to be capable of operating at the base of midfield or crashing between both boxes with similar success and enthusiasm. The ex-AC Milan starlet has the experience of playing under the burning spotlight of San Siro to support his chances of surviving the scrutiny of playing for Manchester United. Yet, it remains to be seen whether the Red Devils will be prepared to cough up the £100 million it may take to secure his services.

4. Carlos Baleba

Age: 22
Club: Brighton & Hove Albion
Contract: 2028

It’s no secret that United would have liked to sign the Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder over the summer, whom many consider a Moisés Caicedo regen. The 22-year-old has filled the Ecuadorian’s sizeable shoes on the south coast in tremendous fashion, hence why a bid of around £120 million would have been required to prise him away before September’s summer deadline.

In the end, United accepted defeat in their pursuit—for now, at least.

While Baleba’s staggering asking price could prove prohibitive in coming transfer windows, he remains an intriguing prospect.

Baleba is everything required of a defensive midfielder in the Premier League. He’s tenacious, aggressive, intelligent, press resistant and an incredibly hard worker. Brighton’s clever recruitment network have struck gold once more.

Given his age, he would easily be able to guard United’s midfield for the next decade and the addition of the exceptional starlet would be a statement of intent.

3. Aurélien Tchouaméni

Age: 26
Club: Real Madrid
Contract: 2028

While flicking through a book on the legacy of New Zealand’s rugby union team, the All Blacks, Tchouaméni noted down the phrase “aim for the highest cloud” on his phone. A move to Real Madrid in 2022 saw that target achieved.

Tchouaméni has not always had it all his own way while winning every available major honor in the Spanish capital, yet it would be incredibly harsh to solely blame the 26-year-old for Madrid’s failure to move on from the generational midfield of Casemiro, Toni Kroos and Luka Modrić. His introduction as the successor to the Brazilian has actually worked out as well as could be expected.

In Manchester United’s quest to replace Casemiro themselves, they have sensibly added Tchouaméni to the shortlist.

2. Éderson

Age: 26
Club: Atalanta
Contract: 2027

It remains a mystery as to how Éderson wasn’t plucked from Atalanta following his expert performances during their Europa League-winning campaign in 2023–24. Plenty of suitors were mooted, but nobody took the punt on the Brazilian dynamo.

Éderson continued to dazzle away from the limelight last season, with his performances ever so consistent. Operating in a similar formation to the one utilized by Ruben Amorim during his time under Gian Piero Gasperini, the 26-year-old even knows exactly what it takes to thrive in a two-man midfield.

While the Brazil international exhibits his technical strengths on a regular basis, thriving in tight areas under opposition pressure, his defensive ability is what will strike United. He averaged just under three tackles per 90 in Serie A last season with a 66.7% success rate.

The absence of a Premier League tax would make Éderson a significantly cheaper signing than many of those already mentioned, while he is soon to enter his peak years. He’s capable of making an immediate impact, while not blocking future midfield additions.

1. Elliot Anderson

Age: 23
Club: Nottingham Forest
Contract: 2029

Profit and sustainability rules pushed Newcastle United to sell academy product Elliot Anderson, who has since flourished at Nottingham Forest. An impressive debut season at the City Ground has paved the way for even shinier performances this term.

Anderson has been mightily impressive amid Forest’s struggles and has been rewarded for his consistency with a route into Thomas Tuchel’s England squad. He hasn’t just made up the numbers, either, instead sparkling on regular starts. He’s almost certain to feature at next summer’s FIFA World Cup bar a dramatic downturn in form or major injury.

Naturally, the Premier League’s vulturous elite are beginning to circle the £100 million-rated midfielder, whose comfortable as a box-to-boxer or operating in a more reserved role. Incredible positional intelligence makes him such a desirable asset.

Anderson is an all-rounder and more than capable of waltzing into a ‘Big Six’ side. His price tag is really the only negative, especially for United.

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Nine Man Utd Midfield Transfer Targets—Ranked.

“I don’t expect after 22 years of not winning [the title] that it’s going to be a path of roses and beautiful music around it,” he scoffed after a scratchy 1–0 win over Newcastle United. “It’s going to be like this and we are ready for it.”

Nobody said it would be easy, but it didn’t have to be this hard. Arsenal had ample opportunity to establish a chasm between themselves and Manchester City, only to fritter away points in the spring. Pep Guardiola’s side have enjoyed a familiar return to form over the recent sunny weeks and even returned to first place on Wednesday night.

The Gunners reclaimed that lofty position at the same time City booked a spot in the FA Cup final on Saturday. In a question between points on the board and games in hand, Opta’s supercomputer clearly favors the former in a prediction for how the title race will unfold.

Supercomputer Predicts 2025–26 Premier League Title

The supercomputer’s faith in Arsenal is unwavering. Even after City clambered above the north London outfit in midweek, Opta still gave the Gunners a considerable edge. That confidence has only been bolstered by Saturday’s three points against Newcastle.

Rather than the quality (or lack thereof) in Arsenal’s recent performances, this stance appears to come from the caliber of opponents both sides have yet to play. The Gunners are set to face two of the current bottom four, 13th-placed Crystal Palace and a Fulham side sitting 10th with a negative goal difference.

City are also scheduled to face Palace but have to travel to Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium before taking on Brentford (ninth), Bournemouth (seventh) and ending the campaign against fifth-placed Aston Villa.

As Arteta repeated ad nauseam over the week, Arsenal’s clash with Newcastle was “Game One” of a five-match shootout. While the percentage chance of title success is surprisingly wide, Opta predict City and the Gunners to be separated by just two points come the end of the campaign.

Supercomputer Predicts 2025–26 Champions League Race

In the eyes of the most widely revered data provider across soccer, the top-five race is done. Manchester United, Liverpool and Aston Villa are all given at least a 96% chance of finishing immediately behind Arsenal and Manchester City.

However, the Champions League qualification race is not quite wrapped up just yet.

Villa’s slide into fifth place following Saturday’s 1–0 defeat to Fulham has opened up a devilish prospect. Should Unai Emery’s side finish the campaign in that exact position—they are given a 34.5% chance of doing so—and win the Europa League which comes with Champions League qualification, then the team which sneaks into sixth place also gains entry to Europe’s premier club competition.

If the top five is secure, the race for sixth is anything but.

The Race for Sixth Place

This should have been Chelsea’s spot for the taking. In fact, guaranteed Champions League qualification seemed within their grasp as recently as last month when the Blues thrashed Villa 4–1 in Birmingham. Chelsea have lost every league game since and sacked Liam Rosenior.

Brighton & Hove Albion condemned their former defender to his premature fate with a 3–0 thumping in midweek which saw the Seagulls soar all the way up to sixth. Fabian Hürzeler’s side are favorites to finish the campaign in that spot—which will guarantee at least Europa League qualification for only the second time in the club’s history—but they are only one win away from Everton in the bottom half of the table.

Supercomputer Predicts 2025–26 Relegation Battle

With Burnley and Wolves already condemned to the Championship while Nottingham Forest and Leeds United have almost certainly pulled clear of the division’s plughole, it is now a straight shootout between Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United.

For four entire minutes on Saturday, April 26, Spurs were out of the relegation zone. João Palhinha’s winning goal against already-relegated Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux was compounded by an 88th-minute equalizer for Everton in their clash with West Ham 130 miles south at the London Stadium.

Callum Wilson had other ideas. The Hammers forward snatched victory for the capital club against Everton to ensure that his side remained two points clear of Spurs.

Not that Roberto De Zerbi was disheartened. “I believe,” he declared after earning Tottenham’s first league win of 2026. Injuries to both Dominic Solanke and a particularly serious-looking problem for Xavi Simons have some fans thinking otherwise, but the Italian remained defiant.

“When I knew better my players, I understood that we have the possibility, the chance to stay up,” he warned. “We have two points [the gap to West Ham], not 10 points.”

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Supercomputer Predicts Premier League Table As Arsenal Climb Back Above Man City.

The clubs have already locked horns on three separate occasions this season, all of which have ended in defeat for Liverpool. There was penalty shootout heartbreak in the Community Shield, late misery in the Premier League and pure humiliation in the Carabao Cup, with the Reds desperate to earn a slice of redemption this time around.

Victory over the Eagles would also do wonders for Liverpool’s Champions League bid. Currently perched in fifth, they would move eight points clear of sixth-placed Brighton & Hove Albion by conquering Oliver Glasner’s men, all but securing their place in Europe’s premier competition with four games to spare.

Palace will prove an awkward opponent, however, especially considering their recent purple patch of form. They have lost just two of their last 12 matches in all competitions and are unbeaten in four Premier League games—as well as on their last four trips to Anfield.

Liverpool vs. Crystal Palace Score Prediction

Liverpool Earn Much-Need Revenge

Liverpool’s confidence levels will have risen following last weekend’s last-gasp Merseyside derby victory and the buffer they have created between themselves and sixth. While the Reds are still operating beneath themselves, they have now won their last two Premier League matches and have no other distractions down the stretch.

Palace do have other competitions on their mind, however; the Eagles face their Conference League semifinal first leg with Shakhtar Donetsk on Thursday night. They will be wary of exerting too much energy at Anfield, perhaps opening the door to a third straight domestic win for the Reds.

• Anfield advantage: Liverpool’s form has been wildly inconsistent no matter the venue, but they have been much sharper at Anfield than on their travels. Losing just three league games on their own patch and winning nine of 16 in total, home advantage could prove the difference between the sides.
• Set pieces: Liverpool’s growing reliance on set pieces and Virgil van Dijk’s aerial prowess will alarm Palace. Only four teams have conceded more from set pieces than them in the Premier League this term, while Liverpool boast the fifth-strongest record from dead balls in the division.
• Alternative ambitions: With European qualification appearing unlikely via their Premier League position, Palace’s eggs are in the Conference League basket as they chase another trophy in Glasner’s final season. Liverpool will be the more motivated on Saturday, with the Eagles casting one eye to Thursday’s semifinal.

Prediction: Liverpool 2–1 Crystal Palace

Liverpool Predicted Lineup vs. Crystal Palace

Liverpool’s injury issues worsened at the Hill Dickinson Stadium last Sunday, Giorgi Mamardashvili suffering a nasty wound during the encounter. With Alisson already sidelined, third-choice stopper Freddie Woodman came on for his Premier League debut, and he will start again on Saturday.

Joe Gomez’s latest injury adds to Liverpool’s right back woes, with Conor Bradley already out for the season. With Arne Slot not overly convinced by Jeremie Frimpong, he could opt for Dominik Szoboszlai in the role.

Hugo Ekitiké’s long-term injury means the ineffective Alexander Isak needs to hit some form, while the absences of Wataru Endō and Giovanni Leoni limit Slot’s options elsewhere.

Liverpool predicted lineup vs. Crystal Palace (4-2-3-1): Woodman; Szoboszlai, Konaté, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak.

Crystal Palace Predicted Lineup vs. Liverpool

The Eagles will certainly be without forwards Eddie Nketiah and Evann Guessand this weekend. The duo is also joined by Cheick Doucouré in the treatment room.

Glasner revealed after Monday’s goalless draw with West Ham United that Adam Wharton was only absent as a precaution, insisting the England international should return at Anfield.

Ismaïla Sarr is another who could come back into the team having been benched last time out, the Senegalese winger having scored seven goals in nine past meetings with Liverpool—only against Aston Villa has he scored more.

Crystal Palace predicted lineup vs. Liverpool (3-4-2-1): Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Canvot; Muñoz, Wharton, Lerma, Mitchell; Sarr, Pino; Strand Larsen.

What Time Does Liverpool vs. Crystal Palace Kick Off?

• Location: Liverpool, England
• Stadium: Anfield
• Date: Saturday, April 25
• Kick-off Time: 3 p.m. BST / 10 a.m. ET / 7 a.m. PT
• Referee: Andy Madley
• VAR: Neil Davies

How to Watch Liverpool vs. Crystal Palace on TV, Live Stream

• MORE: Full list of Premier League broadcasters around the world

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Liverpool vs. Crystal Palace: Preview, Predictions and Lineups.

On the weekend when Manchester City capitalized on their growing momentum by beating the Premier League leaders, Aston Villa played out a seven-goal thriller with Sunderland and Tottenham Hotspur teased competence in their fight to survive the drop.

We can only hope for similar thrills this weekend, with the FA Cup semifinals meaning three games were brought forward. There are seven fixtures for us to enjoy, as Arsenal aim to respond to City’s usurping and the relegation battle intensifies.

Here are Sports Illustrated’s predictions for Gameweek 34.

Click here for the latest version of this article.

Sunderland 0–5 Nottingham Forest

• Date: Friday, April 24
• Time: 8 p.m. BST / 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT

Few expected much from Friday’s fixture. Don’t judge a book by its cover.

Nottingham Forest took a huge step towards safety with a 5–0 thumping of Sunderland, whose own hopes of sneaking into a European qualification spot took as much of a blow as the Black Cats’ morale.

Forest were 4–0 up before half-time, before the in-demand Elliot Anderson finished off the dominant victory in the dying embers of the second half to steer Forest eight points clear of the relegation zone heading into Saturday’s fixtures.

Fulham vs. Aston Villa

• Date: Saturday, April 25
• Time: 12:30 p.m. BST / 7:30 a.m. ET / 4:30 a.m. PT

Aston Villa have two avenues still open for a return to the Champions League, with Chelsea’s slump all but guaranteeing the Villans a top-five finish. Unai Emery’s side are also preparing for a Europa League semifinal against Forest.

A result for the visitors will move them up to third ahead of Manchester United’s clash on Monday night.

They’ve won their previous six meetings against Fulham, including a 3–1 triumph in the reverse fixture back in September. The Cottagers have had the chance over the past month to put themselves in European contention, but they’re down in 12th and struggling for momentum.

Still, Marco Silva’s side will move to within two points of Brighton & Hove Albion in sixth by securing a rare victory over Villa.

Prediction: Fulham 2–1 Aston Villa

Liverpool vs. Crystal Palace

• Date: Saturday, April 25
• Time: 3 p.m. BST / 10 a.m. ET / 7 a.m. PT

These two have already met at Anfield this season, with Crystal Palace taking advantage of a distinctly weak Liverpool team to advance in the Carabao Cup.

That victory won’t mean all that much when the pair lock horns on Saturday afternoon, especially with Palace putting all their eggs in the Conference League basket for the final month of the season. After beating Fiorentina in the quarterfinals, an exciting two-legged affair against Shakhtar Donetsk’s latest generation of Brazilian imports separates them from the final.

Liverpool should thus be able to make the most of their distracted visitors, given that they enter Saturday’s game off the back of earning Merseyside bragging rights in dramatic fashion. Virgil van Dijk’s 100th-minute header meant the Reds claimed victory in the first derby played at Everton’s shiny new home.

That win handed them breathing room in the top-five race. Brighton are the team they have to worry about now, but Arne Slot’s side can pull eight points clear of the Seagulls this weekend.

Prediction: Liverpool 2–1 Crystal Palace

West Ham United vs. Everton

• Date: Saturday, April 25
• Time: 3 p.m. BST / 10 a.m. ET / 7 a.m. PT

A huge couple of hours beckon in the dogfight down at the bottom after the fates of Wolverhampton Wanderers and Burnley were sealed in the week.

With Leeds and Forest starting to cut themselves adrift, it looks like it’s a straight shootout between West Ham United and Tottenham to avoid finishing 18th.

Both teams missed big opportunities last week, but West Ham remain in good touch. They’ve lost just twice in the Premier League since the start of February.

David Moyes is unlikely to be in a merciful mood when he returns to the London Stadium on Saturday, mind. His Everton team were beaten in the derby, but they’ve impressed on their travels this season. Win here, and they’d have collected the third-most points away from home in the top flight.

Moreover, a strong finish should see the Toffees play in Europe for the first time since 2017–18 next season.

Prediction: West Ham 2–2 Everton

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Tottenham Hotspur

• Date: Saturday, April 25
• Time: 3 p.m. BST / 10 a.m. ET / 7 a.m. PT

Georginio Rutter’s 95th-minute leveller sucked the life out of a euphoric Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, as Spurs failed to see out their first Premier League victory of 2026 after Xavi Simons lifted the roof off their glorious amphitheatre with a sumptuous strike.

Still, there were signs of life from the Lilywhites. Roberto De Zerbi’s impact was certainly felt after an inauspicious start at Sunderland, with Spurs impressing out of possession and offering a creative spark via Xavi’s right boot.

This is as must-win as it gets for the Lilywhites. De Zerbi believes his team can go five for five down the stretch to preserve their Premier League status, but they must take each game as it comes. Supporters will be thrilled if they merely go one for one.

Wolves haven’t performed like one of the competition’s worst-ever teams for much of Rob Edwards’s tutelage, but they’re down after losing heavily in back-to-back games to West Ham and Leeds United.

Prediction: Wolves 1–3 Tottenham

Arsenal vs. Newcastle United

• Date: Saturday, April 25
• Time: 5:30 p.m. BST / 12:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 a.m. PT

Arsenal could perhaps take some solace from the fact that Manchester City didn’t run up the score on Wednesday night, even if their 1–0 win at Burnley left the Gunners second in the table for the first time since October.

The two teams are level on points and goal difference, with City only ahead on goals scored. However, it’s Pep Guardiola’s side who boast all the momentum. Arsenal desperately need to reset and go again at the start of this exciting new mini-league which has been crafted for the final month of the season.

Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United often trouble the Gunners, beating them three times last season, but they’re currently one of the division’s poorest-performing teams and are looking towards the summer already.

The visitors have lost three in a row since exiting the Champions League.

Prediction: Arsenal 1–0 Newcastle

Manchester United vs. Brentford

• Date: Monday, April 27
• Time: 8 p.m. BST / 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT

There’s no Premier League action on Sunday, so the gameweek concludes at Old Trafford on Monday night.

Leeds prevailed at the Theatre of Dreams during Manchester United’s previous outing on home soil, but the Red Devils impressively bounced back at Stamford Bridge last weekend. Matheus Cunha’s well-taken finish proved the difference between the two sides, as United took a giant leap towards securing a top-five finish.

They have a comfortable buffer over sixth, even if Villa leapfrog them into third on Saturday afternoon.

Brentford, meanwhile, have never won a Premier League game at Old Trafford, and now would be an excellent time to claim a historic victory. They’ve remarkably drawn five league games in a row, allowing others to capitalize on Chelsea’s stunning downturn.

Still, they’re well in the European mix, with an eighth-place finish potentially enough to qualify for the Conference League.

Prediction: Man Utd 2–1 Brentford

Premier League Predictions: Gameweek 34

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Premier League Predictions: Gameweek 34.

The six clubs that have just doubled will not be involved in the upcoming round, meaning the majority of managers will be forced to use their chips or make several transfers to ensure they have a full XI in place.

Blank fixtures create significant dilemmas, but fortunately there remain plenty of desirable assets taking to the field for GW34. Here are those worth picking.

Goalkeepers

With Bournemouth, Brighton & Hove Albion, Burnley, Chelsea, Leeds United and Manchester City not in Premier League action this gameweek, plenty of selection options are off the table.

However, the division’s most consistent goalkeeper remains a candidate, Arsenal’s David Raya (£6.0m) facing an out-of-form Newcastle United (H) this Saturday. The Spaniard is the highest-scoring stopper and has still managed two clean sheets from his last four despite Arsenal’s slump.

Robin Roefs (£4.8m) has enjoyed an excellent debut season with Sunderland and boasts a strong fixture this weekend. The Black Cats face relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest (H) and Roefs delivered 11 points during his most recent home game.

There will be those wanting to take a risky punt on Liverpool’s third-choice goalkeeper Freddie Woodman (£3.9m) after injuries to Alisson and Giorgi Mamardashvili, with the cheap enabler making his first Premier League start against Crystal Palace (H) this weekend.

Defenders

Liverpool’s Merseyside derby hero Virgil van Dijk (£6.2m) will start in front of Woodman. The Dutchman has managed 58 points across his last eight matches, underscoring his goalscoring potential once more with his late winner against Everton.

Arsenal’s defensive assets remain assured picks, most notably Gabriel (£7.1m) due to his immense goal threat. He’s managed seven goal involvements this season in the league and will also fancy his chances of a clean sheet against Newcastle at the Emirates Stadium. Jurriën Timber (£6.2m) is worth the money if passed fit.

Pedro Porro (£5.1m) scored 10 points last weekend and has an appetizing fixture against relegated Wolverhampton Wanderers (A) this weekend. While Tottenham Hotspur are in horrendous form, the Spaniard appears set to enjoy a more attacking role under Roberto De Zerbi.

Sunderland’s Nordi Mukiele (£4.5m) and Manchester United returnee Harry Maguire (£4.4m) could also be wise picks this gameweek, the latter facing off against Brentford (H) on Monday night.

Midfielders

Brentford will be wary of Bruno Fernandes (£10.3m) as he chases the Premier League assist record. Reaching 18 for the season last time out, the Man Utd skipper is absolutely essential for the remaining weeks of the campaign and could very well haul against the Bees. Casemiro (£5.7m) and Matheus Cunha (£8.0m) offer cheaper routes into United’s midfield.

Those wanting to spend big in midfield could look at Mohamed Salah (£14.0m). The Egyptian has been staggeringly inconsistent this season, but looked lively during his goalscoring performance at Everton last weekend and could punish a Palace defense with one eye on a European semifinal. Dominik Szoboszlai (£7.1m) could also deliver for the Reds.

Fulham vs. Aston Villa is not so appealing from a defensive standpoint, but there are strong options in midfield. Harry Wilson (£6.0m) remains a solid choice at a middling price, while Morgan Rogers (£7.4m) delivered nine points last weekend and could be galvanized for the trip to Craven Cottage.

Fresh from his hat trick and 20-point haul against Burnley last time out, Morgan Gibbs-White (£7.5m) cannot be ignored against Sunderland. Similarly, Spurs’ Xavi Simons (£6.5m) delivered a goal, assist and 11-pointer against Brighton last Saturday and could run riot against Wolves.

Forwards

Ollie Watkins (£8.7m) appears determined to work his way back into the England squad ahead of the World Cup. Having scored 16 points last weekend, he’s now bagged six times in his last five matches across all competitions.

Another in claret this weekend is Jarrod Bowen (£7.7m) of West Ham United, who face Everton (H) in a crucial encounter for Premier League survival. The Englishman has managed 41 points across his past five home games and is West Ham’s likeliest route to goal.

There are few elite forward options worth considering in GW34, meaning managers could take a risk with their selection. Sunderland’s Brian Brobbey (£5.3m), Everton’s Beto (£5.0m) and West Ham’s Dominic Solanke (£7.2m) are all potential one-week wonders.

When Is the FPL Gameweek 34 Deadline?

With Gameweek 34 beginning before the weekend arrives with Sunderland vs. Nottingham Forest, the current deadline is Friday, April 24 at 6:30 p.m. BST (1:30 p.m. ET, 10:30 a.m. PT).

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as 2025–26 FPL: Best Players to Pick for Gameweek 34.

Pep Guardiola’s men extended their winning streak to five matches across all competitions on Wednesday with a 1–0 victory over Burnley at Turf Moor. It wasn’t exactly a vintage City performance, but all that matters is the three points they collected to snatch first place from the Gunners.

The two title-contenders now sit level at 70 points atop the table, each with a goal difference of +37. But the Citizens have scored 66 goals to Arsenal’s 63, which is enough to put the Sky Blues in pole position for the Premier League title, a feat that looked nearly impossible just four months ago.

City’s midweek win also officially sent Burnley down to the Championship, leaving the relegation race down to just four clubs: Leeds United, who snatched a point against Bournemouth on Wednesday evening, Nottingham Forest, West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur.

As the Premier League enters its final month of fixtures, here’s how Opta’s supercomputer predicts the final table to shake out after City’s latest win.

Supercomputer Predicts 2025–26 Premier League Title Winner

Opta still backs Arsenal to win the Premier League title, but with each passing week, the supercomputer lowers the Gunners’ chances. After blowing a nine-point lead, Mikel Arteta’s men now only have 66.38% odds to end their nearly 22-year wait for the English crown.

The odds are still in their favor upon first glance. After all, Man City have just a 33.62% chance to claim their 11th league title. But the predicted points are far closer than the percentages.

Arsenal are expected to finish with near 81 points, while the Citizens stand to collect around 79. The projected 1.58-point gap leaves little room for error for either side; one slip up could decide the title race.

Supercomputer Predicts 2025–26 Champions League Race

In Opta’s eyes, the race for the Champions League places is all but wrapped up. Aston Villa and Manchester United lead the way in third and fourth respectively, each with over 98% odds to qualify for Europe’s premier club competition with around 65 points.

Liverpool, who currently sit just three points behind the Villans and Red Devils, are the last and final English team expected to compete in the 2026–27 Champions League. Despite the Reds’ troubling campaign, the defending Premier League champions are projected to collect around 63 points, enough to secure a place among Europe’s elite next season.

The supercomputer favors Brighton & Hove Albion as the only other team with any sort of hope to crack the Champions League places, though a 6.42% chance is rather bleak. The Seagulls will be more than happy, though, to settle for the Europa League, a competition they previously qualified for in 2023 for the first time in history.

Bournemouth are clinging to the final European spot as it stands with 49 points. Opta has the club collecting just five more points to close out the season, but it thinks that will be enough to secure a place in the Conference League.

Looking for Chelsea? The Blues are slated to finish ninth with just 53.83 points, missing out completely on European competition next season. The prediction is no surprise considering the Blues have lost their last five league matches and just cut ties with Liam Rosenior.

Supercomputer Predicts 2025–26 Relegation Battle

Leeds United are well on their way to safety with 40 points through 34 games. Their chances of falling to the drop zone are a minuscule 0.21%, essentially nonexistent.

Not far behind are Nottingham Forest, who are projected to finish in 16th place with around 42 points. Two massive wins over Spurs and Burnley put the Tricky Trees in a prime position to fend off relegation despite losing nearly half of their league matches this season.

The real battle is between West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur. The Hammers sit in 17th, just two points above Roberto De Zerbi’s men in 18th place. According to Opta, it will still be two points separating the two sides come the final matchday, with Spurs dropping to the Championship for the first time since 1977.

Tottenham have a staggering 56.93% chance of relegation, a number that would have sounded ridiculous at the start of the season. Yet the team has yet to win a league match in 2026 and are running out of time to save themselves. In fact, the supercomputer deems them incapable of doing so.

Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers, meanwhile, have already been officially relegated.

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Supercomputer Predicts Premier League Table After Man City Leapfrog Arsenal to Go Top.

Manchester City’s combative victory over Arsenal has guaranteed an enthralling end to the title race, while Manchester United, Liverpool and Aston Villa all took massive steps towards qualifying for the Champions League—all at the expense of Chelsea.

At the other end of the table, there was heartbreak for a Tottenham Hotspur side who were just seconds away from climbing out of the relegation zone, while the round ended with confirmation of Wolverhampton Wanderers’ tumble out of the top flight.

Here are the top performers of the gameweek according to FotMob’s ratings.

9. Curtis Jones (Liverpool)

Rating: 8.4

Right back has been a problem area for Liverpool all season. Arne Slot clearly banked on Curtis Jones, a natural midfielder, using his hometown superpowers in the Merseyside derby against Everton on Saturday, and that is exactly what happened.

His total of 28 defensive contributions was at least twice as many as any other player on the pitch, while nobody had more touches (118), attempted passes (84) or completed passes (79) than Jones, who came out of his duel with the in-demand Iliman Ndiaye unscathed.

8. Erling Haaland (Man City)

Rating: 8.4

Erling Haaland scored the goal that has invited Manchester City back into the Premier League title race. A job well done.

Not many strikers enjoy their battles with Arsenal’s William Saliba and Gabriel, but the towering Norway international played the full game with a smile on his face—even as he was getting his undershirt ripped off his arm and targeted by a headbutt. His smirk at the camera after the final whistle was perhaps his best moment.

7. Jaydee Canvot (Crystal Palace)

Rating: 8.4

Having been thrust into the spotlight at Selhurst Park following Marc Guéhi’s mid-season exit, it’s safe to say Jaydee Canvot has relished the extra pressure. The young Frenchman has been excellent over the past few months and his showing in Crystal Palace’s stalemate against West Ham United on Monday was just the latest stellar performance.

Canvot enjoyed taking on Jarrod Bowen, usually coming out on top defensively, but what really stood out was his confidence on the ball as he repeatedly drove into midfield to get things going. A real star.

6. Noah Okafor (Leeds United)

Rating: 8.5

Leeds United effectively secured their spot in next season’s Premier League with a 3–0 thumping of Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday that featured a number of excellent individual showings. First on this list is Noah Okafor.

The 25-year-old single-handedly forced his side into an imposing advantage inside the first 20 minutes, grabbing the assist for Leeds’ first goal before slotting home the second just moments later.

5. Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds United)

Rating: 8.6

A 95th-minute penalty from Dominic Calvert-Lewin wrapped up the victory for Leeds and capped off an impressive outing from the striker.

Calvert-Lewin was his usual disruptive self both on the ground and in the air, and probably should have found the back of the net before stepping up from 12 yards.

4. James Justin (Leeds United)

Rating: 8.7

The last of the Leeds trio is the game’s opening scorer. James Justin produced the headline moment of the match with an acrobatic overhead kick to finish off some penalty box pinball.

With a touch map that makes it hard to see the actual pitch, Justin was a nightmare for Wolves at both ends of the field, rampaging forwards in attack and combining that with a team-leading 17 defensive contributions.

3. Xavi Simons (Tottenham)

Rating: 8.7

Tottenham Hotspur fans have had to be very patient with Xavi Simons, whose debut season struggles have been one of several miserable narratives at the club. The Dutchman has started to find his feet recently and was a standout performer in his side’s 2–2 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion.

Simons walked away with a goal and an assist, celebrating his stunning strike with real emotion before the heartbreak of the late equalizer brought him crashing back down to earth.

2. Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)

Rating: 9.2

Tammy Abraham’s 93rd-minute winner may have stolen the headlines for Aston Villa this weekend, but Unai Emery’s side had Ollie Watkins to thank for even having a chance to beat Sunderland on Sunday.

The England striker steered home two first-time headers and set up international teammate Morgan Rogers after the break as part of his ongoing audition to be Harry Kane’s backup at the World Cup.

1. Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest)

Rating: 9.6

For an hour, it looked like Nottingham Forest were going to be stunned by Burnley. Then Morgan Gibbs-White woke up.

His first career hat-trick, completed across just 15 second-half minutes, saw him fly to the top of this week’s rankings.

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as The Nine Best Players of Premier League Gameweek 33—Ranked.

As much as the Gunners may wish to wash away the previous few weeks, the campaign’s conclusion only stands to serve as an addendum to what unfolded over the first eight months of the season. In the eyes of many, much has already been decided.

Arsenal’s traditional spring collapse has supposedly given way to another City title procession, while Chelsea’s defeat to Manchester United rubber-stamped the Champions League qualification battle. Tottenham Hotspur’s dramatic draw with Brighton & Hove Albion also sealed their fate for a large portion of onlookers. However, the upcoming fixtures suggest otherwise.

Many of those teams in positions of strength have decidedly tougher run-ins than their direct opponents. Rather than a question of guesswork, Opta’s statistical power ranking of each club puts an exact figure on how difficult each team’s remaining games actually are.

Arsenal Given Boost Over Man City

* Fixture yet to be scheduled. Higher the number, better the team.

Pep Guardiola had every reason to gloat in the aftermath of City’s 2–1 victory over Arsenal at the Etihad. After effectively ceding the title race back in March, the Catalan coach has once again managed to reel in Arteta’s side.

However, Guardiola took the cautious approach, even if he was wearing a wry smile. “Still we are ‘hopes,’” he grinned, pointing out that City remain second in the league, “but the only reality is that we have a terrible calendar, in terms of the quality of the opponents.” For all the performative gesturing of title race mind games, Guardiola had a point.

Arsenal face a demonstrably more straightforward set of opponents than Manchester City. All five of the Gunners’ remaining foes lie in the bottom half of the table and have already lost to Arteta’s side this season. City, by contrast, have a tough trip away to Everton while also hosting high-flying Brentford and Champions League-chasing Aston Villa.

Yet, for an Arsenal team enduring something akin to a psychological unraveling, any opponent at this stage of the season is tough. The precise opposite is true for City.

Across Guardiola's previous 20 Premier League matches in April and May, he has collected 56 points from a possible 60.

Champions League Race Could Still Twist

Even Liam Rosenior was forced to admit that Chelsea had made life “very difficult” for themselves in their quest for Champions League qualification. The Blues head into the final five rounds of fixtures seven points adrift of Liverpool in fifth place.

For some, Chelsea’s best chance of sneaking back into Europe’s premier club competition is if Aston Villa drop into fifth and win the Europa League. The Premier League has already booked an extra ticket into the competition but that doesn’t automatically go to fifth place: It is handed to the highest ranked team not already qualified for the Champions League. If Villa were to win the Europa League, booking an alternative avenue to Europe’s top table, and finish fifth, that would see sixth place join them there.

Nevertheless, Chelsea have, on paper, the easiest run-in of all the Champions League chasers. Liverpool, the Blues’ closest challengers, have the hardest, with direct matchups against all three of Manchester United, Villa and Chelsea yet to come.

“What we can’t do is give up,” Rosenior concluded, “We keep fighting.” There is plenty of reason to expect some more twists and turns to come in this particular battle.

Relegation Battle

Roberto De Zerbi annoyed a lot of Tottenham fans with some outspoken statements before he even joined the club. The reaction to his latest outburst has caused more confusion than consternation. “This team is able to win five games in a row,” he declared after watching the club’s winless run extend to 15 Premier League matches.

“Now, it is difficult to hear my words,” De Zerbi continued, “but if you watch the players and analyze the level of the players, I think we can win five games in a row.” The level of Tottenham’s upcoming opponents will also help.

Spurs have a kinder run-in than their closest relegation battlers West Ham United and Nottingham Forest. The Hammers still have tough trips to Brentford and Newcastle as well as an unwanted clash with league leaders Arsenal, while Vítor Pereira’s Midlands outfit also take on the Magpies and Manchester United.

It is by no means plain-sailing for Spurs—at this rate, the upcoming trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Molineux could prove to be catastrophic—but there is at least some sliver of hope to cling onto.

Leeds United have no trouble finding optimism amid the run-in. Daniel Farke’s side may already be safe following consecutive wins over Manchester United and Wolves, but also have the added benefit of a relatively straightforward conclusion to the campaign.

Every Premier League Club’s Remaining Schedule—Ranked

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Every Premier League Club’s Remaining Schedule—Ranked From Easiest to Hardest.

It was Pep Guardiola’s City who emerged victorious, snatching a nervy 2–1 win to move just three points behind Arsenal in the standings ahead of their midweek game against Burnley, before the Gunners next play. We could be looking at a straight shoot-out as to which team scores the most goals between now and the end of the season.

With a mammoth weekend now in the books, the Opta supercomputer has offered up its latest prediction for the Premier League title race.

Supercomputer Predicts Premier League Title Race

Despite their crushing defeat on Sunday, Arsenal are still top of the predicted standings.

The supercomputer gives Arsenal a 72.97% chance of retaining top spot all the way to the end of the season, predicting City will end the season two points behind their fierce rivals and giving them just 27.03% chance of toppling Arsenal.

City are back in action on Wednesday against strugglers Burnley, when a victory could steer them to first place with just five games remaining.

Supercomputer Predicts Champions League Qualification Race

Manchester United’s victory over Chelsea on Saturday has sealed a spot in the Champions League in every sense but mathematically. While the Red Devils still could tumble out of the qualification places, they almost certainly aren’t going to, backed with a 98.64% chance of qualifying.

Both Aston Villa and Liverpool boosted their own chances of finishing in the top five with late victories on Sunday. Virgil van Dijk’s 100th-minute header against Everton opens up a seven-point cushion for the Reds, with Villa a further three points up thanks to their own stoppage-time triumph over Sunderland.

Chelsea, meanwhile, have lost all sense of form at the worst possible time, tumbling out of the Champions League spots and in danger of missing out on any European action at all next season, such are the fine margins in this area of the table.

Tied on 48 points with the Blues are Brentford and Bournemouth, and the Cherries are even backed to leapfrog Liam Rosenior’s side into sixth. That being said, Chelsea’s chances of qualifying (4.75%) are still higher than Bournemouth (2.55%).

Brighton, Everton, Sunderland and Fulham are all on the outside looking in, well aware that just one good result could send them flying up the standings.

Supercomputer Predicts Premier League Relegation Battle

Leeds United fans will be delighted to see their team left out of this section. Victory over bottom side Wolverhampton Wanderers leaves Daniel Farke’s side eight points clear of the drop zone with five games left to play.

Wolves’ fate has been sealed for months now and could be made official on Monday if West Ham United get anything from their visit to Crystal Palace. The same outcome is coming Burnley’s way in the next few weeks, with both sides given 100% chances of relegation.

The identity of the team joining Burnley and Wolves in the Championship next season is up for debate. Tottenham Hotspur currently occupy that unwanted spot after conceding a late equalizer to Brighton on Saturday, leaving them one point behind West Ham having played one game more.

West Ham’s chances of survival will be impacted by Monday’s game, but if their odds of relegation are anywhere close to the 38.97% they currently sit at, Nuno Espírito Santo will be satisfied.

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Premier League

Manchester United are planning to splash as much as $117.9 million (£87.1 million, €100 million) on Newcastle United’s star forward Anthony Gordon. Arsenal, Liverpool and Bayern Munich have all also been heavily linked with the England international. (Source: Fichajes)

Arsenal’s mercurial forward Gabriel Martinelli has been linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain as a potential replacement for Bradley Barcola, who could be lured away from the French capital should he not sign a new contract. (Source: L’Équipe)

Amid swirling interest from Real Madrid, Liverpool have put a firm “no sale” sign around Ryan Gravenberch’s long neck with a price tag of $200.4 million (£148.1 million, €170 million). (Source: Fichajes)

Out of all the swirling interest for Real Madrid’s outcast midfielder Eduardo Camavinga, Arsenal and Manchester United are leading the race for his signature. The stunning prospect of the Frenchman crossing the Clásico divide to join Barcelona has also been raised. (Source: CaughtOffside)

Should Manchester City fail with their approach for Newcastle’s Tino Livramento, they have identified Feyenoord’s Givairo Reid and Michael Kayode of Brentford as suitable alternatives. (Source: TEAMtalk)

Following promotion to the Premier League, Coventry City have registered their interest in the Liverpool duo of Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones. (Source: Indykaila)

Manchester United’s midfield transfer priority this summer is Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson. Should there be room in the budget for a second addition, Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton has been considered. There is also the under-the-radar option of Alex Scott at Bournemouth. (Source: The Athletic)

Girona’s sought-after midfielder Azzedine Ounahi is juggling interest from Brighton & Hove Albion as well as Aston Villa. (Source: Fichajes)

Arsenal have made enquiries about three Sporting CP players; captain Morten Hjulmand, towering center back Ousmane Diomande and spritely fullback Iván Fresneda. (Source: CaughtOffside)

Aston Villa are sniffing around Real Madrid’s teenage gem Thiago Pitarch, with talk of an offer in the region of $29.5 million (£21.8 million, €25 million) being floated. (Source: Fichajes)

La Liga

Much to the surprise of Real Madrid, there have been no offers from any European clubs for Vinicius Junior. Chelsea’s decision to rule out a move for the Brazilian forward has reportedly “stunned” Madrid. (Source: Fichajes)

Robert Lewandowski’s representative has been spotted in discussions with Juventus. The Barcelona striker who will be out of contract at the end of the season and is also on the radar of AC Milan. (Source: Gazzetta dello Sport)

Barcelona have made contact with Palmeiras regarding a potential move for 16-year-old wonderkid Eduardo Conceição. (Source: SPORT)

The Brazilian sprite Conceição is also being chased by Manchester City and is rated at a swollen $117.9 million (£87.1 million, €100 million). (Source: The Times)

Ajax are sniffing around Real Madrid’s talented but unloved central midfielder Dani Ceballos. The scarcely spotted Spaniard will only have one year remaining on his Madrid contract come the summer. (Source: AS)

In a surprise twist, Barcelona have been linked with soon-to-be relegated Burnley striker Armando Broja as a potential Lewandowski replacement. (Source: Markaj News)

MLS

Four-time Premier League champion Raheem Sterling, currently plying his trade at Feyenoord, has emerged as a potential target for MLS outfit Charlotte FC. (Source: Markaj News)

Former Tottenham Hotspur forward Lucas Moura has been tipped to make an unlikely reunion with Son Heung-min at LAFC in MLS after doubts of his São Paulo have swelled. (Source: ESPN Brasil)

FC Cincinnati are prepared to challenge a whole host of European suitors for the signature of Julian Brandt once his Borussia Dortmund contract expires in the summer. (Source: Markaj News)

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Transfer Rumors: Man Utd Break the Bank for Gordon; Liverpool’s $200 Million Gravenberch Pledge.

There are narratives aplenty up and down the Premier League standings, the majority of attention paid to the battle between title hopefuls Manchester City and Arsenal on Sunday afternoon.

However, there are also crucial clashes in the race for Premier League survival and qualification for next season’s Champions League, the bulk of the weekend’s games having something significant riding on them.

Here are Sports Illustrated’s predictions for Gameweek 33.

Brentford vs. Fulham

• Date: Saturday, April 18
• Time: 12:30 p.m. BST / 7:30 a.m. ET / 4:30 a.m. PT

Gameweek 33 begins with an intriguing west London derby. Brentford make the short trip to Fulham as both sides continue their push for continental qualification—a place in the Europa League or Conference League not beyond the realms of possibility for either team.

Fulham are playing catch-up, however, three points off seventh-placed Brentford, and such is the congested nature of this season’s table, that puts Marco Silva’s men all the way down in 12th. In fact, they could finish as low as 14th come the end of Monday night.

The Cottagers have won just one of their last four Premier League games, but that record is still superior to Brentford. Keith Andrews’s team have drawn their last four on the spin, although they could return to winning ways here.

Prediction: Brentford 2–1 Fulham

Leeds United vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers

• Date: Saturday, April 18
• Time: 3 p.m. BST / 10 a.m. ET / 7 a.m. PT

Leeds United’s survival hopes grew on Monday, the Whites celebrating a famous 2–1 victory over historic foes Manchester United at Old Trafford. Noah Okafor’s double means they’re now a nerve-easing six points clear of the drop zone.

At home to last-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers this Saturday, Leeds have the perfect chance to pull even further clear of the bottom three, Elland Road certain to be rocking for a critical and very winnable fixture.

Wolves could well be officially relegated come the end of Crystal Palace vs. West Ham United on Monday night, and their lack of motivation will prove a real issue against their scrappy hosts this weekend.

Prediction: Leeds 1–0 Wolves

Newcastle United vs. Bournemouth

• Date: Saturday, April 18
• Time: 3 p.m. BST / 10 a.m. ET / 7 a.m. PT

The pressure continues to pile on Eddie Howe as Newcastle United’s miserable season continues to underwhelm, last weekend’s late defeat at Selhurst Park marking the club’s 14th league loss of the campaign. Former employers Bournemouth could exacerbate Howe’s woes.

Currently 14th in the standings but still somehow involved in the race for European qualification, the Magpies will be desperate to respond to successive league defeats. The 3–3 draw between the teams at St James’ Park in the FA Cup third round suggests the home fans could be in for another goal-fest this weekend.

Unfortunately for Newcastle, they face one of the Premier League’s form sides. Bournemouth’s stunning win at table toppers Arsenal last weekend means they’re unbeaten during their last 12 Premier League matches—although recent news of Andoni Iraola’s departure at the end of the season could rock the boat.

Prediction: Newcastle 2–3 Bournemouth

Tottenham Hotspur vs. Brighton & Hove Albion

• Date: Saturday, April 18
• Time: 5:30 p.m. BST / 12:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 a.m. PT

Former Brighton & Hove Albion manager Roberto De Zerbi endured a nightmare debut in the Tottenham Hotspur dugout as his new team tumble towards a staggering demotion to the Championship. The 1–0 defeat to Sunderland exposed familiar problems.

The Lilywhites are in the bottom three, two points adrift of safety and in dire need of their first league victory of the calendar year this weekend. No matter how they do it, they simply must get over the line on home turf.

The bad news for Spurs is that Brighton have hit some form. The Seagulls have propelled up the table in recent weeks after five wins from six games, and they could inflict yet another harrowing defeat on Tottenham this Saturday.

Prediction: Tottenham 0–1 Brighton

Chelsea vs. Manchester United

• Date: Saturday, April 18
• Time: 8 p.m. BST / 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT

The race for a top-five finish and subsequent Champions League qualification is heating up nicely and Saturday night’s battle between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge could provide another twist.

Victory for United would see them move a likely insurmountable 10 points clear of the Blues in sixth, while a win for the Blues would take them within just one point of fifth-placed Liverpool prior to Sunday’s Merseyside derby.

However, a stalemate is in the offing, points regularly shared when these two giants collide. Half of the last 10 meetings have ended in draws and there appears little to separate the sides this time around, neither team in impressive form heading into the clash.

Prediction: Chelsea 1–1 Man Utd

Aston Villa vs. Sunderland

• Date: Sunday, April 19
• Time: 2 p.m. BST / 9 a.m. ET / 6 a.m. PT

Aston Villa return from Europa League action with an awkward encounter. Sunderland are their visitors on Sunday, the Black Cats in resurgent mood after three victories from their last four matches. They have thrust themselves back into the European picture.

Villa should still manage Champions League qualification despite allowing their previously untouchable cushion to be slashed over the past few months, victory this weekend allowing them to take full advantage of guaranteed drop in points for at least one of their rivals at Stamford Bridge.

But with the Villans fatigued after Thursday’s battle with Bologna and Sunderland having generally been involved in low-scoring affairs this season, goals might be at a premium in the West Midlands.

Prediction: Aston Villa 0–0 Sunderland

Everton vs. Liverpool

• Date: Sunday, April 19
• Time: 2 p.m. BST / 9 a.m. ET / 6 a.m. PT

The first ever Merseyside derby at the Hill Dickinson Stadium will be staged this Sunday, Everton boasting one of their best opportunities to beat arch rivals Liverpool during recent years.

The Reds are seriously struggling at present and their 2–0 win over Fulham last weekend did little to paper over the glaring cracks. Having been dumped out of the Champions League midweek, confidence will be low within the away dressing room this weekend.

Everton, meanwhile, have won three of their last five Premier League matches and are only five points behind their foes. They have a genuine chance of making the Europa League or Conference League this season, the Toffees having been without continental football since 2017–18.

Of course, there are also bragging rights at stake, Everton fancying their chances of clinching them on a momentous occasion.

Prediction: Everton 2–1 Liverpool

Nottingham Forest vs. Burnley

• Date: Sunday, April 19
• Time: 2 p.m. BST / 9 a.m. ET / 6 a.m. PT

Nottingham Forest have been edging their way toward safety since Vítor Pereira’s appointment, three draws and a victory from their last four moving them three points clear of the relegation zone. The visit of all but demoted Burnley offers an incredible opportunity to widen that buffer.

The Tricky Trees were one of five Premier League sides in midweek action, taking on Porto in the Europa League on Thursday, and fatigue could come into the equation at the City Ground. However, their visitors are in dreadful form.

The Clarets have lost four of their last five Premier League games as their Championship return looms, and they appear to have also lost the fight which had previously offered them the faintest glimmer of hope.

Prediction: Nottingham Forest 1–0 Burnley

Manchester City vs. Arsenal

• Date: Sunday, April 19
• Time: 4:30 p.m. BST / 11:30 a.m. ET / 8:30 a.m. PT

Manchester City vs. Arsenal will almost certainly prove the biggest match of the Premier League season. It has been billed as a title decider, Arsenal victory moving them within touching distance of the crown, while a Man City triumph puts the ball back in their court.

Despite being six points behind Arsenal—albeit with a game in hand—City are considered favorites for this one. They boast home advantage, were able to rest midweek and landed a major psychological blow on the Gunners by beating them in last month’s Carabao Cup final.

Arsenal’s form also feeds into City’s status as favorites, Mikel Arteta’s men having lost three of their last five games and been entirely unconvincing in the process. Even in qualifying for the Champions League semifinals midweek, they failed to sparkle during a drab goalless draw with Sporting CP.

Realistically, this match could spin in either direction, but form, confidence and experience favors the Cityzens.

Prediction: Man City 2–1 Arsenal

Crystal Palace vs. West Ham United

• Date: Monday, April 20
• Time: 8 p.m. BST / 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT

West Ham United are another team scrapping for their lives toward the foot of the table, but few of their competitors are in better form. The 4–0 win over Wolves last gameweek was another example of how far this team has come under Nuno Espírito Santo.

The trip to Crystal Palace is daunting, especially given the recent upturn in results for the Eagles, but West Ham have now proved capable of consistently coherent performances.

They are the side with all the motivation for Monday night’s game, Palace also tired from their midweek exploits in the Conference League. While the Hammers might not secure all three points at Selhurst Park, they will gladly take a hard-fought point.

Prediction: Crystal Palace 1–1 West Ham United

Premier League Predictions: Gameweek 33

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Premier League Predictions: Gameweek 33.

Premier League

Leeds United midfielder Ao Tanaka is a surprise new addition on Manchester United’s midfield shortlist. The 27-year-old is open to leaving Elland Road in search of more consistent minutes, and he could find them at Old Trafford as Casemiro’s replacement. (Source: TEAMtalk)

Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson remain Man Utd’s top target, though, but the Red Devils have competition from Manchester City. Where the England international ends up could be decided by which club is willing to shell out the record-breaking transfer fee the Tricky Trees want. (Source: The Athletic)

Also on Man Utd’s radar is Atalanta midfielder Éderson, but Arsenal are now also in pursuit of the Brazilian, whose price tag is set at around $58.8 million (€50 million). (Source: The Athletic)

Liverpool lead the race for Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi, who is expected to leave the Cherries once he becomes a free agent this summer. The Reds see the Argentine as the answer to their defensive depth crisis, beating out Chelsea and Man Utd as it stands. (Source: The i Paper)

The Blues could instead turn to Werder Bremen center back Karim Coulibaly, who is garnering interest from Chelsea, as well as Newcastle United, Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille. (Source: Bild)

Liverpool are ramping up interest in Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton. The England international is seen as a necessary upgrade to Alexis Mac Allister after the Argentine’s steep decline in form this season. (Source: TEAMtalk)

Manchester City winger Savinho could engineer his own exit from the Etihad this summer if he decides to pursue more consistent minutes elsewhere. Tottenham Hotspur remain interested in the Brazilian after trying and failing to secure his signature over the summer. (Source: Football Insider)

With the end of his Liverpool career swiftly approaching, Andy Robertson has had talks to return to Celtic amid Spurs’ relegation battle. (Source: SportsBoom)

Bayern Munich highly rate Newcastle United forward Anthony Gordon and he remains on their shortlist this summer. The club views the 25-year-old as a versatile option up top who could fill in for Luis Díaz, Harry Kane or Michael Olise. (Source: Christian Falk)

La Liga

Real Madrid no longer view midfielder Jude Bellingham and winger Vinicius Junior as untouchable. Should the right price be met—rumors continue to swirl of a potential $176.6 million (€150 million) bid from Saudi Arabia for the Brazilian winger—the club will explore offers for both players in an effort to complete a squad overhaul this summer. (Source: Fichajes)

Still searching for a long-term replacement for Robert Lewandowski, Barcelona have set their sights on Atlético Madrid striker Alexander Sørloth. (Source: MARCA)

The Catalans’ top target remains fellow Atlético Madrid man Julián Alvarez, but Los Colchoneros are focused on keeping the Argentine in the Spanish capital by rewarding him with a hefty pay raise. (Source: MARCA)

Despite Real Madrid’s interest in winger Michael Olise, the Frenchman is untouchable at Bayern Munich. There is no chance he makes the move to the Bernabéu next season. (Source: Defensa Central)

Barcelona and Man Utd are preparing to step up talks concerning Marcus Rashford after the season’s end. The Catalans want to keep the winger, but likely only if they can secure him on another loan to avoid triggering his $35.2 million (£26 million) buy clause. (Source: The Daily Mail)

Bayer Leverkusen fullback Alejandro Grimaldo desires a move back to Spain, attracting the attention of Barcelona and Atlético Madrid. Elsewhere, Juventus and AC Milan have also shown interest. (Source: Fichajes)

Former Barcelona manager Xavi has emerged as Inter Miami’s top candidate to replace Javier Mascherano in the dugout. (Source: SPORT)

READ THE LATEST TRANSFER RUMORS FROM THE PAST FEW DAYS

• Transfer Rumors: Mourinho Plots Arsenal Raid for Real Madrid; $175 Million Olise Offer
• Transfer Rumors: Real Madrid Consider Bellingham Sale; Man City Eye Mbappe
• Transfer Rumors: Man Utd Decide Amad Future; Liverpool’s Shock Estevao Bid
• Transfer Rumors: Liverpool Receive $140 Million Gravenberch Bid; Fernandez’s Real Madrid Ultimatum
• Transfer Rumors: Valverde, Tchouameni Receive Premier League Offers; De Gea Considers Man Utd Return

This article was originally published on www.si.com as Transfer Rumors: Arsenal Hijack $59 Million Man Utd Target; Real Madrid Set Vinicius Jr Price.

With the countdown towards the U.S. men’s national team’s tournament-opening clash against Paraguay on June 12 heating up, manager Mauricio Pochettino is watching closely to ensure he’s picking the most in-form players to fit into his ideal setup. 

Over the last week, U.S. players have earned promotions, enjoyed standout performances in continental competitions and more. 

Here, Sports Illustrated dives into stock up, stock down analysis for the men in Stars and Stripes.

Stock Up: Haji Wright

More Americans are heading to the Premier League. On Friday, Haji Wright played 28 minutes for Coventry City in a 1–1 draw with Blackburn Rovers, helping his side get back to the English top-flight for the first time in 25 years. 

While Wright didn’t score, posting a single shot after entering in the 62nd minute, his contributions to the club’s promotion have been integral. This season, he has 16 goals and an assist in 29 Championship games, good for second in the Golden Boot race, behind Swansea City’s Žan Vipotnik.

Reporting live from Coventry: Haji Wright and @Coventry_City are PREMIER LEAGUE! 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/Pxpi0qcpWG

— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) April 17, 2026

With his goalscoring record and the potential of him staying with Coventry for the step up to the Premier League, the attraction of having Wright on the World Cup roster only improved. At the same time, with some attackers not scoring, having one in stellar form could be of use, even if he ranks outside the starting lineup. 

Stock Up: Brenden Aaronson

Brenden Aaronson is enjoying one of his best seasons with Leeds United and is hoping his performances will be good enough to crack the USMNT’s World Cup squad.

He played 86 minutes in Monday’s Premier League fixture against Manchester United, offering dynamic play and an assist on a day where Noah Okafor netted a brace, beating the Red Devils 2–1 at Old Trafford. 

Outside of his helper, Aaronson also sparked several chances and attacking waves in a vital win for a Leeds side not yet fully out of the woods when it comes to the relegation race. Now, he has four goals and four assists in 31 Premier League matches this season, with hopes that it leads the 26-year-old to a second World Cup, after making his tournament debut in Qatar four years ago. 

While relegation remains a slight concern, the focus for Aaronson and Leeds remains on the FA Cup semifinal against Chelsea, after ousting West Ham United in the quarterfinal, leaving the potential to win Leeds’ first FA Cup since 1972. 

“The biggest thing was the Premier League, staying up and just having a great season, which I think we’ve done and we’ve put ourselves in a great position," Aaronson told ESPN. "And then the cherry on top is being in the FA Cup and getting to the semifinals ... It’s going to be a massive game for this club and for this team.”

Stock Up: Chris Richards

Chris Richards 😳 pic.twitter.com/a9atMPjVVP

— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) April 13, 2026

Chris Richards has established himself as a defensive stalwart with both the USMNT and Crystal Palace over the past two seasons. Still, his stock continued to rise with a starring performance against Italy’s Fiorentina in Conference League action. 

Despite a 2–1 loss, Palace advanced to the Conference League semifinals 4–2 on aggregate. The Birmingham, Alabama native was a constant presence in the Eagles’ back three. Through 90 minutes, he had 10 defensive actions and nine clearances, shoring up the backline even as the Serie A side pressed for goals late in the game. 

The performance came on the back of a shutdown showing on Sunday against Newcastle United, where he made vicious tackles on the ground, amassing nine defensive contributions as Palace picked up a thrilling 2–1 win, with Jean-Philippe Mateta completing his brace with a 94th-minute penalty kick. 

Stock Down: Christian Pulisic

If his name wasn’t Christian Pulisic and he hadn’t reached the heights that he did earlier in his career, there would be a possibility that the AC Milan man would be left off the World Cup roster this summer. Since the calendar flipped to 2026, he has been anything but impressive for club and country, and this week offered no respite to that form. 

The 27-year-old is now up to 17 goalless games for Milan after failing to score in his side’s 3–0 loss to Udinese, where he was unable to muster a shot on target despite a trio of shooting attempts. Since scoring his last goal, he has only amassed a single assist against Torino in March. It comes as no surprise he wasn’t able to put together any positive appearances for the USMNT against Portugal and Belgium. 

There’s still hope for Pulisic to hit his stride ahead of the World Cup, but without him at a top level, the USMNT lacks a significant elite-level difference maker to advance deep into the tournament.

Stock Down: Tim Ream

Tim Ream’s veteran presence remains a vital piece to the USMNT, but his recent performances with Charlotte FC spark concerns about the level he can offer on the pitch when up against some of the world’s most talented attackers. 

In his latest MLS match, Ream and Charlotte fell 2–1 to a heavily-rotated Nashville SC side that had prioritized Concacaf Champions Cup action. While that scoreline would have been acceptable against the potent trio of Sam Surridge, Hany Mukhtar and Christian Espinoza, it was a disparaging result for the Ream-led defense against the Coyotes’ secondary attackers. 

He finished the performance with just seven defensive contributions and was unable to help solidify the already-leaky backline, in particular when Australia international—and potential World Cup opponent—Patrick Yazbek burst by him for a goal. 

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as USMNT Stock Up, Stock Down: Wright Earns Premier League Promotion, Pulisic Struggles Continue.

Six clubs play twice during the current FPL round—prior to blanking in GW34—and managers are desperate to overload their squads with those doubling. It’s prime time for chip use, too, whether it be triple captain, bench boost, free hit or wildcard.

The upcoming set of fixtures could prove decisive for managers aiming to climb the rankings and reach the summit of their mini-leagues.

With that in mind, here are the best players to target in GW33.

Goalkeepers

Naturally, managers should be targeting the assets playing twice during GW33—Bournemouth, Brighton & Hove Albion, Burnley, Chelsea, Leeds United and Manchester City all playing multiple games.

The most appetizing option as a result is Karl Darlow (£3.9m) of Leeds, whose ridiculously low price point is combined with fixtures against Wolverhampton Wanderers (H) and Bournemouth (A). He’s scored 16 points across his last three fixtures, too, and appears a nailed-on starter for the remainder of the season.

Gianluigi Donnarumma (£5.6m) is another excellent option with games against Arsenal (H) and Burnley (A), but the Italian’s presence takes up one of three Man City spots for managers. They’re best being used on midfield and forward assets from within Pep Guardiola’s squad.

Đorđe Petrović (£4.6m) is an alternative for Bournemouth, the stopper having kept three clean sheets in his last six outings and facing games against Newcastle United (A) and Leeds (H).

Defenders

Bournemouth’s defenders are also worth investing in for GW33, chiefly Marcos Senesi (£5.2m) and James Hill (£4.2m), both of whom have great clean sheet potential and impressive defensive contribution totals across the term. Adrien Truffert (£4.7m) is also worth considering, offering greater attacking potential via assists.

From the Leeds backline, Pascal Struijk (£4.3m), Jayden Bogle (£4.4m) and Gabriel Gudmundsson (£3.8m) are solid options, the latter two providing stronger attacking potential, yet less reliable defensive contribution points.

Marc Cucurella (£6.0m) is the only Chelsea candidate worth considering, although games against Manchester United (H) and Brighton (A) are not massively appealing when it comes to possible clean sheets.

Nico O’Reilly (£5.0m) would be an absolute no-brainer for GW33 and beyond, his 14-point haul at the weekend taking his tally to 52 points across the last six gameweeks. However, the Man City defender is an injury concern, making Marc Guéhi (£5.1m) a viable alternative if the left back is ruled out of contention.

Midfielders

City’s midfield options are even more appealing. Antoine Semenyo (£8.2m) remains an excellent choice despite being very highly owned, while the in-form Rayan Cherki (£6.3m) offers a great differential to his teammate. Those really wanting to take a risk could plump for Jérémy Doku (£6.4m), who does boast explosive potential.

Chelsea’s woes mean even the double gameweek doesn’t make many of their players essential, but Cole Palmer (£10.5m) could devastate non-owners. While not in fantastic form, the attacking midfielder will start both games and is on spot kicks.

Bournemouth’s midfielders are all cheap and many could provide a nice haul in GW33. Marcus Tavernier (£5.4m) competes with the likes of Rayan (£5.5m) and Alex Scott (£5.0m) in the plans of FPL managers, but it’s the former who could offer the greatest upside given he’s likely on penalties and takes plenty of other set pieces.

Brighton don’t have the simplest double gameweek, facing ex-manager Roberto De Zerbi and Tottenham Hotspur (A) prior to their clash with Chelsea (H). However, Pascal Groß (£5.5m) and Yankuba Minteh (£5.5m) could offer good value for money in the short-term.

Forwards

Forward picks are slightly simpler in GW33, with Erling Haaland (£14.4m) the first name on the teamsheet. Despite his underwhelming Premier League form since the turn of the year, he looks certain to offer backers something across two games—especially during the second at Burnley.

João Pedro (£7.7m) is another sure-fire choice given both his form and Chelsea’s double, the Brazilian having amassed 82 points since Liam Rosenior took charge. He faces no serious competition for his starting berth, either, meaning rotation shouldn’t be an issue.

Other doublers worth targeting include Bournemouth’s Evanilson (£6.7m), Brighton’s Danny Welbeck (£6.3m) and Leeds’ Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£5.6m), but it’s the latter who is most intriguing for two palatable fixtures.

When Is the FPL Gameweek 33 Deadline?

With no Friday football this week, GW33’s deadline arrives at 11 a.m. BST (6 a.m. ET, 3 a.m. PT) on Saturday, April 18.

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as 2025–26 FPL: Best Players to Pick for Gameweek 33.

Premier League

Moisés Caicedo is closing in on a new contract at Chelsea as the Real Madrid target enters into advanced negotiations with the Blues. (Source: César Luis Merlo)

Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are thought to be circling Manchester United’s record-breaking 15-year-old JJ Gabriel, who already snubbed approaches from Manchester City last summer. (Source: The Telegraph)

In better news for Manchester United, Nico Williams has given the green light for a summer switch to Old Trafford. Whether the Red Devils will have the funds for a player with a $106.2 million (£78.3 million, €90 million) buyout clause is another question. (Source: CaughtOffside)

In an attempt to boost a midfield area which could be weakened by the exit of Alexis Mac Allister, Liverpool have been credited with interest in a fleet of Manchester United targets, namely Adam Wharton of Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson. (Source: The Daily Mail)

As the prospect of relegation inches ever closer, Tottenham Hotspur are forced to consider the potential sale of star players. Pape Matar Sarr is one such figure, who has garnered interest from Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain with a price tag at around $67.8 million (£50 million). (Source: CaughtOffside)

Marcus Rashford is thought to be “open” to the prospect of returning to Manchester United once his loan deal at Barcelona expires this summer. (Source: BBC Sport)

Chelsea’s divisive midfielder Enzo Fernández has emerged as a target of extreme interest to Jürgen Klopp should the German coach take over Real Madrid in the summer. One of the most appealing aspects of Fernández’s potential arrival is his price, which has been surprisingly slashed to just $82.6 million (£60.9 million, €70 million) with a further $17.7 million (£13 million, €15 million) in add-ons. (Source: El Nacional)

In the event that Fernández does leave west London, Chelsea have indentified Bournemouth’s Alex Scott as a replacement. The England hopeful is valued at $67.8 million. (Source: The Independent)

Arsenal are poised to challenge Aston Villa and Fulham for the services of Spanish right back Óscar Mingueza, who is set to become a free agent once his Celta Vigo contract expires in the summer. (Source: The Telegraph)

Amid swirling talk of Anthony Gordon’s future at Newcastle United, his stance could be shifted by a shock approach from the Magpies for the services of ex-Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur boss José Mourinho. (Source: Fichajes)

Following the confirmation of Bernardo Silva’s exit in the summer, Manchester City are lining up a move for Bayer Leverkusen’s Ibrahim Maza. (Source: Florian Plettenberg)

Bayern Munich are thought to have “serious interest” in Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey, who has been priced up at a record sum of $47.2 million (£34.8 million, €40 million). (Source: Football Transfers)

Jan Paul van Hecke’s Brighton & Hove Albion exit is framed as a “matter of time.” Chelsea, Newcastle and Tottenham have been billed as his most likely suitors. (Source: VI)

La Liga

Jude Bellingham is hell bent on rediscovering his best form at Real Madrid amid widespread rumors linking him with a move to the Premier League. (Source: Fichajes)

Among the “big changes” tipped to be made at Real Madrid following another season without a major trophy are the departure of manager Álvaro Arbeloa and the sale of midfielder Eduardo Camavinga. (Source: The Athletic)

Camavinga is expected to command a fee in the region of $47.2 million (€40 million) and can count Paris Saint-Germain among his list of suitors. (Source: Fichajes)

Barcelona are expected to pounce on the outgoing Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva once his contract expires this summer. (Source: El Nacional)

As Como prepare for Nico Paz’s expected return to Real Madrid, Cesc Fàbregas is eyeing Barcelona’s talented backup winger Roony Bardghji. The Serie A side will have competition from Porto and multiple Bundesliga clubs. (Source: Fichajes)

Sensing a moment of uncertainty within the ranks at Real Madrid, Saudi Arabian clubs are sidling up with offers in the region of $118 million (€100 million) for Vinicius Junior. (Source: Fichajes)

READ THE LATEST TRANSFER RUMORS FROM THE PAST FEW DAYS

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• Transfer Rumors: Liverpool Receive $140 Million Gravenberch Bid; Fernandez’s Real Madrid Ultimatum
• Transfer Rumors: Valverde, Tchouameni Receive Premier League Offers; De Gea Considers Man Utd Return

This article was originally published on www.si.com as Transfer Rumors: Man Utd Record Breaker Hunted; Klopp Eyes Fernandez for Real Madrid.

“If you have a Ferrari and I have a small car,” the two-time Premier League winner José Mourinho once mused, “to beat you in a race I have to break your wheel or put sugar in your tank.”

Time-wasting has been the dark art with a spotlight shone on it most consistently in recent years. FIFA are so hell-bent on removing this nefarious aspect of the game that they are set to introduce a series of drastic new rules at this summer’s World Cup.

The Premier League has tried to combat this seedy underside to the sport by extending the time tacked on to the end of each half. Yet, some clubs have been able to consistently while away however many minutes are put on the clock.

The Times have conducted an in-depth analysis of how much time each club spends during each different type of restart, looking specifically at when a team is winning—a crucial marker in terms of the most deliberately sinister reasons for winding down the clock.

How Every Premier League Team Wastes Time While Leading

When looking across corners, free kicks, goal kicks and throw-ins, it’s Leeds United who boast the longest average time to get the game going again while defending a lead. Daniel Farke has ironically spent a great deal of energy complaining about time-wasting from opponents, most notably taking aim after both games against Manchester City.

However, the numbers tell a different story. The Yorkshire outfit are particularly ponderous over throw-ins, sending Ethan Ampadu across for long launches into the box at any restart in the final third, as well as direct free-kicks. And for good reason: Anton Stach has already rattled in three set-piece goals this season.

Fellow promoted side Burnley have also dawdled over restarts while desperately trying to cling onto a rare lead, underscoring an understandable sense of inferiority among clubs that spent last season in the Championship. How Arsenal, the top-flight leaders and serial title challengers, find themselves in this same category is rather more eyebrow raising.

Arsenal Break Top-Six Trend With Tactics

The Gunners have been repeatedly accused of dark arts this season. Brighton & Hove Albion manager Fabian Hürzeler captured a widely held sentiment with a frazzled rant in March after losing 1–0 to Arsenal in a horribly bitty affair on the south coast. “Only one team tried to play football,” the young German coach sighed.

“I ask you one question,” Hürzeler posed to assembled media. “Did you see in a Premier League game a goalkeeper going down three times? You can’t control these kind of things ... therefore the Premier League has to find a rule.”

Arsenal are the only Premier League team that rank among the top half of the division for time wasted across all five types of restart. As Hürzeler pointed out, there is a particular delay when the north London outfit take corners, with only Burnley needing more time to prepare for such deliveries while they are winning.

Arteta could justifiably argue that this preparation is well spent—Arsenal comfortably lead the league for corners scored and Nicolas Jover can’t instantaneously appear on the edge of the technical area—but the club’s rivals aren’t impressed.

“No one recognizes it,” Hürzeler seethed, “but when Arsenal have a corner and they are leading, sometimes they spend over a minute just to take a corner.” Now people are noticing.

Intriguingly, Arsenal break the trend of elite teams when it comes to time-wasting. Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea all rank among the five clubs who are quickest at getting the ball back in play (along with Hürzeler’s Brighton themselves).

City serve as a telling counterpoint to Arsenal as their closest title rivals. Pep Guardiola is not entirely opposed to dead-ball tactics, recognizing it’s importance in the modern game, but is adamant that his team has other priorities.

“Of course you have to be concerned and prepared,” Guardiola mused earlier this season, “but at the same time always there are a lot of things you prepare for the game so be focused with that and you as a manager have to decide what you like to work with. And there are other things I prefer to work with.”

This balance of values is abundantly apparent on the pitch. While Arsenal have struggled for consistent fluency beyond corner kicks—a problem only heightened as title race tensions heat up—City remain the most prolific side from open play, boasting an unrivaled 52 Premier League goals from such scenarios. No team is within 10 of that lofty figure.

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as The Premier League’s Worst Time Wasters—Ranked.

Iraola, 43, has given the Cherries a clear identity since arriving in the summer of 2023, improving the players that have worked under him—several have left the club in big-money transfers to elite teams.

But the two-year contract the Spaniard signed in 2024 will end in June and, as reported by The Athletic, Bournemouth’s efforts to negotiate new terms are set to fail.

Iraola has done excellent things with the club, but his ambition is set higher than the Premier League’s smallest team with clear limitations and low ceilings that will be tough to break. His track record over the past three seasons is sufficient evidence that he deserves a bigger stage.

8. Real Madrid

In reality, Real Madrid might be a step too far for Iraola at this stage of his career, but heading back to Spain to the bright lights of the Bernabéu is not completely impossible because he is an impressive manager prospect that would excite domestic fans as a Spaniard.

Xabi Alonso was swallowed up and spat out within a matter of months and had both a higher profile than Iraola and a stronger record of success because of his trophies with Bayer Leverkusen. One of the biggest criticisms of Alonso following his dismissal was trying to do too much and an eagerness to coach players who didn’t want or need to be coached.

7. Liverpool

Should Liverpool find themselves in pursuit of a new manager this summer, Iraola would surely be towards the top of the list given his Premier League pedigree, ability to improve talented young players—Reds left back Milos Kerkez can attest to that—and his high-energy style of play.

The key condition of that even being a possibility is what happens to Arne Slot.

It doesn’t currently seem as though the Dutchman, who won the Premier League title in his first season at Anfield but has struggled to rebuild Liverpool in his own image since, is going anywhere.

He has publicly stated his belief that club officials are behind him and reporting on the subject suggests that is true. Liverpool’s chance of qualifying for next season’s Champions League is also strong, given Chelsea’s poor results and fifth place now being good enough.

But, if anything changes suddenly, it would be wise to keep Iraola’s contract details close by.

6. Manchester United

There is a greater likelihood that someone new will be on Manchester United’s bench next season, as the club nears crunch time on who to appoint as Ruben Amorim’s permanent successor.

The Portuguese coach left in January and has been admirably replaced in the interim period by modern Old Trafford legend Michael Carrick. The 44-year-old has done a good job so far and looks set to achieve his chief objective: secure Champions League qualification.

It was reported last month that United had not yet approached any alternative candidates, essentially making it Carrick’s job to lose as long as results were sufficiently good enough. But there is still time for the club to assess the situation in more detail.

As Bournemouth manager, Iraola has overseen impressive results against United, unbeaten across all six meetings since 2023 and winning 3–0 at Old Trafford in both 2023–24 and 2024–25.

5. Atalanta

Juventus might have been an option until the Serie A giants very recently extended Luciano Spalletti’s contract until 2028. But it does not mean Italy is a no-go for Iraola.

Thanks to the work of legendary former boss Gian Piero Gasperini—now with Roma—Atalanta have emerged as one of Serie A’s strongest clubs. But there is still plenty left to achieve, including a maiden scudetto and the first major domestic silverware in more than 60 years.

Raffaele Palladino is currently in charge. Things appeared to be heading towards an extension on a contract that already runs to 2027, but senior executive Luca Percassi recently told Sky Sport Italia that talks are “postponed” while crucial matches are played. Following Champions League humiliation, the season could fall apart, but it’s also feasible that Atalanta win the Coppa Italia.

In Serie A, two wins in six games—including a defeat to Juventus at home last time out—has put distance between Atalanta and the top six places to qualify for the European competitions. For a club that won the Europa League in 2023–24 and has grown accustomed to Champions League involvement after qualifying in five of the last seven seasons, to have no UEFA action on the schedule at all is potentially intolerable. It could be made for a fresh start, with Iraola a good match.

4. Tottenham Hotspur

Consider the scenario. Spurs are relegated from the Premier League and Roberto De Zerbi, despite signing a five-year contract on April 1, leaves. The volatile Italian has not been known throughout his career for sticking around, with Spurs already his seventh job since 2016.

Dropping out of the Premier League for the EFL Championship would be a short-term step down for Iraola. But what it offers is a blank slate to start from the bottom and rebuild a club that, at its best, has the potential to challenge in the Premier League and Champions League.

Spurs are crying out for a reset moment and he could effectively create a club-wide project in his own image. Unlike at Bournemouth, the ceiling is enormous.

3. Chelsea

Chelsea’s decision to hand Liam Rosenior a six-year contract at the start of 2026 highlighted a commitment to the wider BlueCo vision. But, ultimately. results on the pitch have to justify that long-term faith and they simply do not. Since needing extra time to beat Wrexham in the FA Cup, it’s five losses and only a single win, which came against Port Vale—bottom of EFL League One.

Champions League qualification looks increasingly unlikely and Chelsea, in the title race in November, are within three points of falling into the bottom half.

Chelsea have gone backwards since Enzo Maresca fell out with the club hierarchy. And while that isn’t solely Rosenior’s fault, there is only one person who will pay the price.

Iraola is exactly the kind of manager Chelsea would go for. But plenty would hinge on whether he wants to get in bed with a volatile club that is proving once more to be ruled by chaos.

2. Athletic Club

Ernesto Valverde’s confirmed Athletic Club departure this summer creates a job that would represent the romantic choice for Iraola. He was born and raised in the Spain’s proud Basque region and played more than 500 matches for the team during his own career as a right back.

Last month, Iraola called Valverde his “biggest reference” in soccer. However, there have been reports that Athletic Club are already quite far down the road with Edin Terzić, who took Borussia Dortmund to the 2024 Champions League final.

There also appears to have been some hesitance from Iraola about whether now is the right time to go back. That said, him being available and the job coming open, might be difficult to ignore.

1. Crystal Palace

One look at the Premier League table and Crystal Palace seems like a step backwards from Bournemouth. But the Eagles are a club more primed for success—having already won the FA Cup in 2025—and are the biggest team outside from England’s elite in need of a new manager.

Oliver Glasner is leaving this summer and could feasibly bow out by delivering the UEFA Conference League, despite a disappointing Premier League campaign that looks set to finish with a place in the bottom half of the standings.

Glasner had clear frustrations with the Palace hierarchy last summer and into the January transfer window over the way player sales were handled, which may have pushed him towards the door. It means Iraola would require assurances that the Eagles are firmly on his page when it comes to developing the squad and kicking on after demonstrating clear potential to win trophies.

Given that top-level managerial experience is the thing that most counts against Iraola, Palace could represent a stepping stone that mutually benefits both parties.

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Eight Potential Destinations for Andoni Iraola—Ranked.

The Gunners returned to Premier League action with a shock 2–1 defeat to Bournemouth on Saturday, tallying their third defeat in their last four matches across all competitions. To make matters worse, City came out 24 hours later and bulldozed Chelsea 3–0 to shrink Arsenal’s cushion atop the table to six points.

Not only do the Citizens have a game in hand, but they also get the advantage of hosting Arteta’s men next weekend. In the blink of an eye, the gap separating the two sides could all but disappear with only a handful of matches remaining.

Meanwhile, Liverpool and Chelsea are battling for the final Champions League place, with the Reds’ 2–0 win over Fulham giving them some breathing room in fifth place. At the bottom of the table, Tottenham Hotspur are inching closer to relegation after a 1–0 defeat to Sunderland.

Here’s how Opta’s supercomputer predicts the final Premier League table to pan out after the weekend’s chaotic results.

Supercomputer Predicts 2025–26 Premier League Title Winner

Despite their recent downturn in form, Arsenal are still Opta’s pick to win the Premier League. The Gunners are expected to tally around 82 points come the end of May, two less than Liverpool collected to top the league last season.

Arteta’s men are given a staggering 87.36% chance to secure the English crown for the first time in nearly 22 years, but before the international break, they had 97% odds. The change comes from City’s increased title chances, which now sit at 12.74%.

Still, the supercomputer sees the Citizens recording around 76 points, enough only for a runners-up finish. Sure, it’s an improvement from their shock drop to third place in 2024–25, but after so many years at the top, anything less is ultimately a failure for Pep Guardiola’s men.

Supercomputer Predicts 2025–26 Champions League Race

Manchester United’s resurgence under Michael Carrick has the Red Devils sitting pretty. They are expected to finish third with around 66 points, enough to comfortably secure their return to the Champions League.

Aston Villa are not far behind. Unai Emery’s men might have fallen off in the Premier League title race, but they still are given a 94.4% chance to play in Europe’s premier club competition next season.

The fifth and final team set to qualify for the Champions League is Liverpool. The Reds, who are predicted to finish with an underwhelming 61 points, are a far cry from their 2024–25 Premier League-winning form. Still, they have the edge over Chelsea, who have won just one of their last seven Premier League matches, all but squandering their hopes of snagging a place in the top five.

Opta surprisingly rates Brighton & Hove Albion to finish seventh with 55 points, just two points behind the Blues’ predicted total. It won’t be enough for the Seagulls to notch a spot in the Europa League, but the Conference League is a reasonable consolation.

Everton are on the outside looking in. Although the Toffees will be disappointed to come so close to Europe without any reward, they will be more than happy with their predicted eighth-place finish, which would be their highest placing since the 2018–19 season.

Supercomputer Predicts 2025–26 Relegation Battle

Leeds United sit relatively safe in 15th place, the same position Opta expects the Whites to finish. They must be careful, though, considering they have dropped points in their last six league matches.

The same can be said for Nottingham Forest, who are predicted to finish in 16th place with around 41 points, one less than Leeds. Both sides have slim relegation chances—8.15% and 10.23% respectively—compared to the four teams at the bottom of the table.

Several impressive results from West Ham United over the last two months, including draws with Man Utd and Man City and their recent 4–0 thumping over Wolves, give the Hammers newfound hope. Opta has Nuno Espírito Santo’s men just escaping relegation with around 38 points.

West Ham’s climb up the standings coincided with Tottenham Hotspur’s fall. Spurs have tallied just three points in their last 12 league matches, and Roberto De Zerbi’s arrival did little to right the sinking ship in north London. Currently with a 46.06% chance of relegation, the team’s time in the Premier League is quickly running out.

One thing—or rather, two—is all but certain: Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers will compete in the Championship next season. Both teams have a 100% chance of finishing in the drop zone.

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Supercomputer Predicts Premier League Table After Man City Capitalize on Arsenal’s Implosion.

After a week dominated by FA Cup thrills and Champions League drama, the Premier League will hope to live up to expectations by throwing out some massive fixtures which seem destined to have massive impacts on both ends of the table.

Time is running out for players and managers across the country, with just seven matches remaining to determine whether fans will leave this season with smiles on their faces or heads in their hands.

Here are Sports Illustrated’s predictions for all the fun across Gameweek 32.

West Ham United vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers

• Date: Friday, April 10
• Time: 8 p.m. BST / 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT

We kick things off on Friday with an enormous clash at the bottom of the table. Bottom side Wolverhampton Wanderers, earning significant pride en route to inevitable relegation, travel to face a West Ham United outfit staring the drop in the face.

The Hammers currently sit 18th, one point adrift of safety having produced a real mixed bag of form in recent weeks (months and years). Their recent FA Cup defeat to Leeds United—largely dire but sprinkled with real glimmers of excitement and hope—sums up things at London Stadium this year.

West Ham will recognize the chance to climb out of the relegation zone here and that should will Nuno Espírito Santo’s side on to a huge three points.

Prediction: West Ham 2–1 Wolves

Arsenal vs. Bournemouth

• Date: Saturday, April 11
• Time: 12:30 p.m. BST / 7:30 a.m. ET / 4:30 a.m. PT

Early the next day, title hopefuls Arsenal will seek to end their domestic slump with a statement victory at home to Bournemouth.

An ugly 1–0 win away at Sporting CP will have boosted morale for Mikel Arteta’s side, who have the chance to extend their lead at the top of the table to an almighty 12 points by the time Saturday’s action comes to a close.

They won’t have an easy ride against Bournemouth. The Cherries may sit 13th heading into the weekend but are one of several teams in an almighty fight for Europe. Just 10 points separate fifth and 14th and Bournemouth could feasibly be thinking about a spot in the Europa League with victory here.

Bournemouth have beaten Arsenal in two of their last three league meetings, including a 2–1 win at the Emirates last season. That solitary loss, back on Jan. 3, was actually the last time Bournemouth lost a Premier League game. Confidence is high and that could be a problem for Arsenal.

Prediction: Arsenal 1–1 Bournemouth

Brentford vs. Everton

• Date: Saturday, April 11
• Time: 3 p.m. BST / 10 a.m. ET / 7 a.m. PT

There promises to be plenty of entertainment when Brentford host Everton, the two sides both eyeing entry into the race for Champions League qualification.

Brentford sit seventh on 46 points, ahead of eighth-placed Everton only on goal difference. Both teams are just two points back from Chelsea and three behind the team currently holding the final Champions League spot, Liverpool.

The margins for error are so slim at this level and both teams will know that, but being cagey would not aid either team. Points are needed and the chance to take some from a direct competitor is too alluring to pass up.

Of the two, Everton spirits are highest heading into the game. Brentford are on a frustrating run of draws, but the Toffees stunned Chelsea before the international break to boost their confidence, and that could make the difference.

Prediction: Brentford 1–2 Everton

Burnley vs. Brighton & Hove Albion

• Date: Saturday, April 11
• Time: 3 p.m. BST / 10 a.m. ET / 7 a.m. PT

Like Wolves, Burnley are simply awaiting the inevitable, but the Clarets are going out with a whimper and are in danger of dropping to the foot of the table if results go against them this weekend.

Burnley fans will not be expecting much from the visit of Brighton, 10th in the table with four wins from their last five, including a 2–1 victory over Liverpool to lead them into the international break.

The Seagulls are locked in a race for Europe and will fancy their chances of boosting their standing with a comfortable victory at Turf Moor.

Prediction: Burnley 0–2 Brighton

Liverpool vs. Fulham

• Date: Saturday, April 11
• Time: 5:30 p.m. BST / 12:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 a.m. PT

Few teams need a win quite like Liverpool right now.

Morale is on the floor after defeat to Man City at the weekend was followed by a humiliating defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, leaving Arne Slot’s on a run of three straight defeats. Given the tight nature of the table, a few more poor results could see them tumble out of contention for any European action next season.

Sunday’s opponents, Fulham, could move just two points behind the Reds with victory and will fancy their chances of doing so, propelled by the form of former Liverpool youngster Harry Wilson, who has two goals and two assists in his last four games.

Anfield is not the fortress it once was, and Fulham may well take advantage of that.

Prediction: Liverpool 0–1 Fulham

Crystal Palace vs. Newcastle United

• Date: Sunday, April 12
• Time: 2 p.m. BST / 9 a.m. ET / 6 a.m. PT

Crystal Palace and Newcastle United are both on the fringes of the European races, aware one victory could ignite the end to their seasons just as much as one defeat could end their hopes of glory.

Much will depend on which version of Newcastle turns up here. The Magpies drew with Barcelona and beat Chelsea before a 7–2 humbling at Camp Nou was followed by defeat in the Tyne-Wear derby against Sunderland. Inconsistency has been a massive problem for Eddie Howe’s side.

Anthony Gordon has scored in each of Newcastle’s last three Premier League games and will hope to conjure up the moment of magic that could well decide where the points end up here.

Prediction: Crystal Palace 0–1 Newcastle

Nottingham Forest vs. Aston Villa

• Date: Sunday, April 12
• Time: 2 p.m. BST / 9 a.m. ET / 6 a.m. PT

A 2–0 win over Wolves ended Aston Villa’s slide down the Premier League standings and, with things going well in the Europa League, Unai Emery’s side will feel good about their push to qualify for the Champions League.

Nottingham Forest had similarly lofty aspirations last season but have been focused on survival this time around. The 3–0 thumping of Tottenham Hotspur before the international break not only raised spirits but, perhaps most importantly, raised Vítor Pereira’s side away from the relegation zone.

Forest may have won just three times in the Premier League this calendar year, but they have rarely been easy to beat. Five of their last 12 have ended in draws and two of four defeats have only come by one goal, although Villa were one of the two sides to pick up a bigger win when these two opened up the year back in January.

Villa won 3–1 on that day and a similarly comfortable win could be on the cards again.

Prediction: Nottingham Forest 0–2 Aston Villa

Sunderland vs. Tottenham Hotspur

• Date: Sunday, April 12
• Time: 2 p.m. BST / 9 a.m. ET / 6 a.m. PT

If there is one team that can rival Liverpool’s need for victory, it is Tottenham Hotspur, who mark the debut of new manager Roberto De Zerbi with a trip up north to face Sunderland.

Spurs are an entirely unknown quantity under the new manager and that makes it tough to predict a continuation of the doom and gloom, but has that not been the case all season? The players are surely too good to be in this situation and the same can be said of the manager, yet for whatever reason, nobody has been able to figure things out.

Traveling to face a Sunderland side in high spirits after being their arch rivals is hardly the baptism De Zerbi would have wanted. The Black Cats have failed to maintain their hot form from the start of the season but are still punching well above their weight. Perhaps simply avoiding defeat would be a good start for Spurs in this new era.

Prediction: Sunderland 0–0 Tottenham

Chelsea vs. Manchester City

• Date: Sunday, April 12
• Time: 4:30 p.m. BST / 11:30 a.m. ET / 8:30 a.m. PT

Beating Port Vale 7–0 in the FA Cup brought some positivity back to Chelsea, but Liam Rosenior will fear plunging right back into crisis when his side host Manchester City on Sunday.

As is tradition, City have rediscovered their mojo at the late stages of the season. They may well have left it too late in pursuit of the Premier League title but Pep Guardiola’s side, fresh off demolishing Liverpool, will back themselves to win every game between now and the end of the season. Whether that would be enough in the title race is, unfortunately for them, no longer in their hands.

Chelsea have the potential to derail City’s dreams, but few Blues fans are expecting that to happen after a bruising March brought miserable low after miserable low.

Prediction: Chelsea 1–3 Man City

Manchester United vs. Leeds United

• Date: Monday, April 13
• Time: 8 p.m. BST / 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT

We end the round with a resumption of one of England’s most famous feuds. The Roses Rivalry between Manchester United and Leeds United has been historically intense but was put on pause during Leeds’ spell outside the Premier League, although the tensions between the two fanbases has never calmed.

Under Michael Carrick, United’s confidence has grown with each passing week. A spot in the Champions League is very much theirs to lose and there will be few around Old Trafford who genuinely believe they could relinquish that spot at this stage in the season.

Leeds are not safe of a relegation fight just yet and will hope that their status as the final team to play their game is a blessing, rather than a curse, as they seek to at least match the results of those sides below them in the division.

After a disappointing draw against Bournemouth before the break, expect the Red Devils to come out firing to try and set things right.

Prediction: Man Utd 2–0 Leeds

Premier League Predictions: Gameweek 32

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Premier League Predictions: Gameweek 32.

The Gunners’ dreams of an unprecedented quadruple were dashed by Manchester City at Wembley, but their post-international break defeat at Southampton means a treble was only a brief fantasy.

The Saints’ 2–1 triumph on Saturday night knocked Arsenal out of the FA Cup and only fueled speculation that Arteta’s men are primed to ’bottle’ what would be a first Premier League title success in a little over 20 years.

Arsenal still boast a healthy nine-point lead over City, who have played a game less, but momentum has undeniably shifted towards the Sky Blues after a pair of domestic cup disappointments in north London.

Here’s how back-to-back defeats have impacted Arsenal’s Premier League title chances, according to Opta’s supercomputer.

Supercomputer Predicts 2025–26 Premier League Title Winner

Manchester City followed up their Carabao Cup capture with an emphatic beatdown of Liverpool in their FA Cup quarterfinal, with Erling Haaland scoring a hat-trick in a 4–0 rout.

Despite the shift in mood, Opta hasn't yet panicked. Arsenal are still the firm favorites to win the Premier League, with their chances of lifting the title only dropping by 0.77% since the division’s top two last played a league game.

City have a mere 3% chance of regaining their crown, but that likelihood will steeply rise should they beat Arsenal when the pair face off at the Etihad Stadium on April 19.

Supercomputer Predicts 2025–26 Champions League Race

Arsenal’s cup woes, of course, don’t have much bearing on the race to secure a spot in next season’s Champions League, with three more places likely to be up for grabs behind the top two.

Aston Villa were the big winners of the previous Premier League gameweek, capitalizing on Liverpool and Chelsea’s respective defeats to Brighton & Hove Albion and Everton by beating West Ham United 2–0.

Their chances of securing a Champions League spot have increased to 77.38%, with third-place Manchester United all but assured of a return to the biggest European stage. The Red Devils continue to fly high under Michael Carrick, and are seven points clear of Chelsea in sixth.

The Blues, who reached the FA Cup semifinals courtesy of a 7–0 win over Port Vale, have seen their hopes of securing a top-five finish decline to just 10.12%. Still, they’re the most likely to usurp Liverpool over the next seven games, with Brentford and Everton only boasting small hopes of stunning first-time qualifications.

Supercomputer Predicts 2025–26 Relegation Battle

Tottenham Hotspur have turned to Roberto De Zerbi to get them out of the mire, after Igor Tudor’s 44-day reign ended with Spurs just a point clear of the relegation zone.

Despite De Zerbi’s arrival, Spurs’ chances of going down more than doubled to 26.33% after losing 3–0 at home to relgation rivals Nottingham Forest, whose survival hopes were boosted immensely.

With Wolverhampton Wanderers and Burnley all but condemned, West Ham remain Opta’s favorite to join them in the Championship next season.

Leeds United’s six-game winless run means they haven’t escaped the dogfight yet, but home games against the bottom two still to come mean Daniel Farke’s side have a great chance to earn the necessary points to keep them in the league.

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Supercomputer Predicts Premier League Table as Wheels Come Off at Arsenal .

Premier League

Liverpool have identified Monaco forward Maghnes Akliouche as the preferred target to replace Mohamed Salah, above and beyond the likes of Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise. (Source: Fichajes)

Bruno Fernandes is expected to inspire “huge offers” from the likes of Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and Saudi Pro League clubs this summer. Manchester United may be inclined to accept those eye-watering sums after watching Liverpool suffer from hanging onto Mohamed Salah for one season too many. (Source: CaughtOffside)

PSG have entered the race to sign Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli. The Brazil international could be sold for a sum of $66.2 million (£50 million) or more. (Source: Media Foot)

Manchester City have tried to get the jump on Arsenal by lining up a $100 million bid for Barcelona playmaker Dani Olmo, who is seen as an upgrade on the waning Phil Foden. PSG are also interested in a player courted by Saudi Pro League side Al Qadsiah. (Source: Fichajes)

Should they lose Harry Kane this summer, Bayern Munich are prepared to rival Arsenal and Chelsea for the acquisition of Bayer Leverkusen’s Christian Kofane. The teenager is expected to command as much as $80.8 million (€70 million). (Source: Fichajes)

Bernardo Silva has already struck a principal agreement with Barcelona regarding a free transfer once his Manchester City contract expires in June. (Source: El Nacional)

Chelsea have struck a deal with sister club Strasbourg for Valentín Barco who will join the Blues in the summer. (Source: Gastón Edul)

Arsenal are actively pursuing Real Madrid’s exciting young striker Gonzalo García. To fund such a move, the Gunners are preparing to offload Gabriel Jesus for around $28.9 million (€25 million). (Source: Fichajes)

After accepting defeat in their chase of William Saliba and giving up the pursuit of Ibrahima Konaté, Real Madrid have settled on a new French Premier League center back: Crystal Palace’s Maxence Lacroix. (Source: DefensaCentral)

La Liga

Lamine Yamal has demanded Barcelona keep Roony Bardghji, allowing him to move into a central position which he sees as his future role. Such a tactical switch would also prevent the arrival of Atlético Madrid’s Julián Alvarez, which is thought to be of no concern to the increasingly influential Yamal. (Source: El Nacional)

Alexis Mac Allister has tasked his agent with securing a move to Real Madrid this summer. The Spanish giants could be inclined to sign Liverpool’s midfielder over his compatriot Enzo Fernández if he fails to agree a new contract, which would make Mac Allister considerably more affordable. (Source: Fichajes)

Jorge Mendes has demanded a contract for his client Vitinha which reflects his status as one of PSG’s star players. Should he not be financially compensated, the Real Madrid target is prepared to entertain outside offers. (Source: El Nacional)

PSG are not interested in signing Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga despite being offered France international this summer. (Source: Media Foot)

Alessandro Bastoni has given the go-ahead for a move to Barcelona. However, the Catalan giants are only willing to splash $57.7 million (€50 million) while Inter are demanding closer to a fee in the region of $80.8 million. (Source: Fichajes)

Barcelona target Victor Muñoz has put an abrupt halt to negotiations with the Catalan giants after informing his representatives that he doesn’t want to play with Lamine Yamal or Raphinha guaranteed to be starters on the wings. (Source: El Nacional)

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Transfer News, Rumors: Yamal Fires Barcelona Ultimatum; Man City Eye $100 Million Foden Upgrade.

How well do you know the competition’s recent history? You’ve got three minutes to name the winners of the last 10 editions. Good luck!

Did you get 10/10? If you did, share it with your friends, family and colleagues (if applicable)—can they get them all as quickly as you did?

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The Most Successful Teams in FA Cup History

Some of English soccer’s most successful clubs, unsurprisingly, are the top dogs when it comes to FA Cup triumphs.

There’s no team in competition history more successful than Arsenal, who have lifted the trophy 14 times. That’s one more than Manchester United, who have 13 victories to their name and boast the most appearances in the final at 22.

Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are eight-time winners of the FA Cup, one more than Manchester City and Aston Villa, who first won the competition in 1887.

Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers have six competition wins each, though the latter have not tasted success since 1928.

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Premier League

Manchester United and Liverpool will go head-to-head for the signature of RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande this summer. The Red Devils hope Benjamin Šeško will use his links to Leipzig to convince the teenager to move to Old Trafford. (Source: SportsBoom)

There could also be a battle between Man Utd and Liverpool over Borussia Dortmund center back Nico Schlotterbeck, who has delayed signing a new contract after fresh interest from the two Premier League sides. (Source: Christian Falk)

Riccardo Calafiori is not pushing to leave Arsenal but is open to a return to Serie A, where Inter are plotting to take advantage of his fall down the pecking order under Mikel Arteta. (Source: CaughtOffside)

Leaving Inter could be right back Denzel Dumfries, whose release clause of $28.8 million (€25 million, £21.8 million) will activate at the start of July. Aston Villa are ready to rival both Liverpool and Manchester City for a bargain deal. (Source: L’Interista)

Man Utd are ready to make a bid for Benfica left back Samuel Dahl at the end of the season. (Source: Record)

Bayern Munich are the new favorites to sign Tottenham Hotspur center back Micky van de Ven. (Source: Fichajes)

But Bayern are not looking to sign Phil Foden from Man City, believing the England international will be too expensive. (Source: SPORT BILD)

Chelsea and Newcastle United are interested in signing Paris Saint-Germain striker Gonçalo Ramos, who wants to leave the French side and has asked his agents to reach out to the Premier League. (Source: TEAMtalk)

Roberto De Zerbi has asked Tottenham to make Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli his first signing of the summer. (Source: Calciomercato.it)

Sporting CP are ready to listen to offers for a number of center backs. Among those available are Ousmane Diomande, a target for Crystal Palace, Newcastle and Man Utd, as well as Gonçalo Inácio, who is of interest to both Man Utd and Liverpool. (Source: A BOLA)

AC Milan will not look to retain striker Niclas Füllkrug after his loan from West Ham United expires this summer, but Schalke are keen to sign the German veteran. (Source: Calciomercato)

La Liga

Atlético Madrid are looking to move quickly in pursuit of Atalanta midfielder Éderson, fearing a rival approach from Arsenal. (Source: MARCA)

There could still be business between Arsenal and Atlético, with Gunners forwards Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli both interesting Los Rojiblancos. (Source: Fichajes)

PSG have held fresh talks with the agent of Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal as they continue to explore a route to the biggest transfer in history. (Source: El Nacional)

Barcelona’s option to sign Marcus Rashford permanently from Man Utd expired at the end of March, with the La Liga side no longer certain he actually wants to stay beyond this season. (Source: Cadena SER)

On the other hand, Barcelona’s purchase clause for Rashford remains very much active. (Source: Manchester Evening News)

Real Madrid are keeping a close eye on 18-year-old Atalanta defender Honest Ahanor, who is comfortable both at center back and left back. (Source: Gianluca Di Marzio)

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Transfer News, Rumors: PSG Step Up Yamal Pursuit; Rashford’s Shock Barcelona Twist.

Premier League

Paris Saint-Germain are looking to sign Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes this summer. (Source: Fichajes)

Coming in at Man Utd could be striker Robert Lewandowski. With a decision on the Poland international’s future with Barcelona not yet made, United are ready to him offer a one-year contract. (Source: SportsBoom)

Gabriel Jesus hopes to remain with Arsenal this summer but, if the Gunners decide to offload him, he will look to seal a switch to another Premier League side. (Source: Bruno Andrade)

Tottenham Hotspur are plotting a triple swoop on Galatasaray, with goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır, winger Barış Alper Yılmaz and midfield star Gabriel Sara all of interest. (Source: Turkish-Football)

If Man Utd qualify for next season’s Champions League, Old Trafford would become the preferred destination for Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali, who would be prepared to turn down a switch to Arsenal. (Source: Football FanCast)

Bayern Munich are ready to offer around $115 million (€100 million, £86.9 million) to sign midfielder Cole Palmer from Chelsea, whose asking price is significantly higher. (Source: Fichajes)

Chelsea’s top target to bolster in midfield this summer is Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton. (Source: Si Phillips)

João Gomes of Wolverhampton Wanderers is another midfielder of interest to Chelsea, who have joined Man Utd, Newcastle, Tottenham and Napoli in pursuit of the Brazilian. (Source: CaughtOffside)

Arsenal and Chelsea are ready to rival Liverpool for the signature of Real Madrid midfielder Arda Güler, who could be made available for transfer this summer. (Source: TEAMtalk)

Newcastle right back Tino Livramento could leave the club this summer amid interest from both Arsenal and Manchester City, but teammate Lewis Hall hopes to stay at St James’ Park. (Source: Football Insider)

Aston Villa and Man Utd are both plotting moves for Borussia Dortmund center back Waldemar Anton. (Source: Sky Sport Deutschland)

West Ham United are among the sides to have lodged bids for Fluminense midfielder Martinelli, but they have fallen short of his asking price of $23 million (€20 million, £17.4 million). (Source: O Dia)

La Liga

Mohamed Salah would be interested in joining Real Madrid when his Liverpool contract expires this summer, but Los Blancos have no desire to make an offer. (Source: Defensa Central)

Similarly, Barcelona are not interested in making an offer for Man City midfielder Bernardo Silva. Not only is too old to fit with the club’s strategy, but Barcelona simply do not believe his form has been good enough to earn a move to Camp Nou. (Source: Mundo Deportivo)

Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella is the top left back target for Atlético Madrid, but the Blues’ refusal to sell has seen Atléti pivot to the likes of Sporting CP’s Maxi Araujo or Villarreal’s Carlos Romero. (Source: AS)

Marcus Rashford’s wage demands are still too high for Barcelona. The Man Utd loanee has halved his salary expectation and is happy to agree to any deferals, but the impact of his permanent signing on the club’s wage cap could still prove too severe. (Source: SPORT)

Real Madrid officials are looking at Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitiké, having been impressed by his form in his debut Premier League season. (Source: TEAMtalk)

Another Liverpool star, center back Ibrahima Konaté, is waiting for an approach from Real Madrid before deciding on his next move as he enters the final three months of his contract. (Source: AS)

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Transfer News, Rumors: Real Madrid Chase Ekitike; Man Utd Make Lewandowski Offer.

Premier League

Both Manchester United and Real Madrid are keeping tabs on Chelsea’s “disillusioned” star Cole Palmer. The England international tipped for a move away from Stamford Bridge is also on Bayern Munich’s radar, but will cost $199.3 million (£150 million). (Source: The Sun)

Chelsea’s keen interest in Como playmaker Nico Paz, a player potentially capable of filling Palmer’s creative role, has been snubbed by the Argentine midfielder destined to return to Real Madrid. (Source: CaughtOffside)

Liverpool are prepared to open up the rare pathway across Merseyside with an offer for Everton midfielder James Garner. Manchester United are also interested in a player who has garnered attention from Real Madrid. (Source: Fichajes)

Arsenal would be willing to part ways with both Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus this summer should the right offer emerge. Atlético Madrid may be the club to table such a bid, with the La Liga giants very much interested in the Brazilian duo. (Source: TEAMtalk)

Benfica forward Andreas Schjelderup has been upheld as a potential replacement for Marcus Rashford should Barcelona turn down the chance to make his loan move from Manchester United permanent. However, the Red Devils themselves have reportedly made a $69.1 million (£52 million, €60 million) bid for the Norwegian 21-year-old. (Source: Fichajes)

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has given his golden seal of approval regarding the club’s approach for Newcastle United star Sandro Tonali. (Source: Daily Mail)

LAFC have joined MLS rivals Inter Miami in the race to sign Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva on a free transfer in the summer. (Source: CaughtOffside)

Arsenal are one of several clubs interested in Borussia Dortmund midfielder Julian Brandt, who is set to become a free agent in the summer. Aston Villa and West Ham United are also circling with intent. (Source: Ekrem Konur)

Amid talks of a speculative return to Manchester United or even a possible approach from the Saudi Pro League, Scott McTominay remains focused on sticking with Napoli. (Source: Fabrizio Romano)

Liverpool are mulling over an approach for Crystal Palace center back Maxence Lacroix this summer. There will be stiff competition for French defender, however, with Chelsea and Aston Villa both monitoring the situation. (Source: TEAMtalk)

Arsenal are billed as “favorites” to sign Club Brugge’s exciting young German strike Nicolò Tresoldi. Talks are already said to be underway for the 21-year-old. (Source: Christian Falk)

La Liga

The prospect of Robert Lewandowski remaining at Barcelona for another season is not yet off the table, although the Pole will likely have to accept a lower salary. (Source: Fichajes)

There is “not the slightest doubt” at Real Madrid that Vinicius Junior will agree a contract extension in the Spanish capital. All details are thought to already be settled, all that remains is for pen to be put to paper. (Source: José Félix Díaz)

Barcelona and Alessandro Bastoni are already at the stages of discussing potential salaries although Inter are yet to present a transfer fee. (Source: Fabrizio Romano)

Liverpool and Real Madrid have seen their attempts to sign Nico Schlotterbeck extinguished by news that the Borussia Dortmund center back has agreed to a new contract with the Bundesliga outfit. (Source: Florian Plettenberg)

Benfica have approached Real Madrid regarding a potential loan offer for Franco Mastantuono for next season. (Source: Fichajes)

João Cancelo is pushing to stay at Barcelona beyond the end of the current campaign, which is when his loan deal from Al Hilal expires. Talks are thought to be ongoing. (Source: Fabrizio Romano)

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Transfer News, Rumors: Man Utd, Real Madrid Battle for Palmer; Liverpool Eye Shock Rival.

Back in the sepia-tinged days of a world where Stockley Park was just another business estate on the outskirts of Heathrow Airport, the theory went that bad refereeing decisions eventually even themselves out over the course of a season.

That cliché doesn’t quite translate to VAR calls. With less than a fifth of the campaign left to play, some Premier League sides have benefitted from favorable VAR interventions far more than others, while there are those in the division who have repeatedly suffered at the rounded edge of the league’s pitchside monitors.

Using Walker’s watertight logic, VAR’s popularity varies wildly from club to club.

2025–26 Premier League Table So Far If There Was No VAR

At the sharp ends of the Premier League table, VAR has not wreaked too much havoc. The division’s top five and bottom three would remain unchanged even if every goal allowed or disallowed by the officials at Stockley Park had been ignored by the on-pitch officials. However, the points involved would look a little different.

Arsenal’s actual nine-point lead over Manchester City would be shrunk to seven in a VAR-less world, giving Pep Guardiola’s side the chance to move just one behind the Gunners were they to win their game in hand and the meeting between the two teams at the Etihad in April.

Mikel Arteta’s side have twice enjoyed VAR’s influence this season. Back in December, Arsenal won a desperately tight contest with Everton on Merseyside thanks to a Viktor Gyökeres penalty given by the video assistant referee. As the Premier League would sheepishly admit three months later, Everton should also have been handed a spot kick in that 1–0 win for the visitors, which could have looked very different.

In less controversial circumstances, Arsenal’s bleak 2–2 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers in February could have been even more grim had VAR not intervened to find that Piero Hincapié was indeed onside while scoring his side’s second goal.

Erling Haaland is a huge fan of video-assisted technology, as it prevents any incorrect offside decision. “I think VAR has helped me even more because you get the decision, it’s as simple as that,” the City striker shrugged earlier this term. The TV monitors also helped Haaland score a penalty against Brighton & Hove Albion in a tetchy 1–1 draw at the Etihad after Diego Gómez was found to have committed a foul.

Manchester United, intriguingly, are the only team in the entire division whose points tally has not been impacted by VAR. However, this is a case of two decisions canceling each other out.

At the start of February, Fulham’s Samu Chukwueze had a delightful strike chalked off for offside at Old Trafford while United were already 2–0 up. The Cottagers would score two legitimate goals to level the game before Benjamin Šeško’s stoppage-time winner. Yet, in a world without VAR, that third goal would only have been good enough for a point rather than all three.

Later that same month, it was United’s turn to be denied by a delayed offside flag when Casemiro’s effort was ruled out against West Ham. Once again, Šeško would ride to the rescue late on, but that equalizer could have been a winner in a VAR-less reality.

Liverpool would be three points better off without VAR, which twice awarded their opponents decisive penalties. Brentford owed their 3–2 win over the Reds to a controversial spot kick which had been upgraded from a free kick, while Leeds United would not have salvaged a 3–3 draw in December without a penalty given by VAR.

In this alternative scenario, Liverpool would still be fifth in the table, but the cushion above Chelsea would be a lot more comfortable.

Biggest Premier League Winners From VAR

Chelsea have earned five points thanks to the intervention of the division’s various VARs. Most of which came in the opening weeks of the season.

Both Crystal Palace and Fulham had goals chalked off at Stamford Bridge in August, while the Cottagers also conceded a penalty Chelsea earned thanks to the video-assisted officials.

Bournemouth were twice struck by the fickle VAR fates across their two meetings with Chelsea this term. The Cherries were denied an admittedly offside Antoine Semenyo winner in their goalless stalemate with the Blues back in December before Cole Palmer helped his side earn a 2–2 draw in the reverse fixture at Stamford Bridge later that same month with a penalty dished out by VAR.

“We have been very affected by refereeing decisions,” Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola lamented, with some justification.

Biggest Premier League Losers From VAR

Brighton have been harmed even more grossly than Bournemouth by VAR. The Seagulls would climb all the way up from 10th to sixth had they not been denied three extra wins and seven additional points by the powers that be just outside the M25.

Back in November, Fabian Hürzeler’s side had a penalty overturned which could have won them a goalless derby with Crystal Palace. Brighton’s opponents, by contrast, have been all too readily handed spot kicks by VAR. All three of West Ham, Manchester City and Bournemouth have denied Brighton wins thanks to penalties dished out retroactively.

Danny Welbeck also saw a potentially decisive goal in a 2–1 defeat to Fulham chalked off for the most slender of offside calls. The experience scarred the striker so much he couldn’t bring himself to celebrate his recent strike against Liverpool (which was rightly deemed to be onside by the assistant referee in real time) for fear of having his ecstasy extinguished once again.

“It’s so annoying, honestly. I think I have a bit of PTSD,” Welbeck moaned to Match of the Day, referencing that Fulham debacle. “It’s difficult because you want to celebrate, but you don’t know if you’re offside so you have to wait for the VAR. It takes a lot of time, and it takes the joy out of it.”

Well, as Walker would point out, some teams and players have taken more joy out of VAR than others.

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as 2025–26 Premier League Table Without VAR: Chelsea Sent Spiraling.

Premier League

Manchester United want additional depth at left back and Arsenal youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly sits atop their shortlist. The teenager is open to a move so he can play consistent minutes and continue his development next season. (Source: TEAMtalk)

The Red Devils are also keeping an eye on Crystal Palace’s Tyrick Mitchell and Fulham’s Antonee Robinson as alternatives to Lewis-Skelly. The club believes Luke Shaw needs true competition for his place on the left flank. (Source: TEAMtalk)

Manchester City will block superstar striker Erling Haaland from completing a dream move to either Real Madrid or Barcelona. The Cityzens have no intention of parting ways with the Norway international. (Source: Football Insider)

Liverpool received interest from Atlético Madrid for record-breaking signing Alexander Isak, but the Reds are unwilling to part with the forward for less than $115.9 million (£86.9 million, €100 million). (Source: Fichajes)

As question marks surround Enzo Fernández’s future in a blue shirt, Chelsea and the midfielder could not come to an agreement over terms for a new deal. If there is no further progress to close out the season, the Argentine will explore proposals from other teams. (Source: Fabrizio Romano)

Former Spurs manager Harry Redknapp has offered his temporary services to the north London outfit for the rest of the season should Tottenham Hotspur part ways with Igor Tudor. (Source: Indykaila)

The agent of Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimarães did meet with Man Utd over a potential transfer despite Eddie Howe denying the rumors. (Source: Fabrizio Romano)

The Magpies, meanwhile, are in the market for a No. 9 this summer and have strong interest in Chelsea outcast Liam Delap and loanee Nicolas Jackson. (Source: Fichajes)

Hoffenheim standout Bazoumana Touré is being closely watched by Bayern Munich, Man Utd and Arsenal. Negotiations are expected to start around $57.9 million (£43.4 million, €50 million) for the versatile forward. (Source: Fussball Daten)

La Liga

Barcelona are expecting massive offers to come in for Raphinha following the 2026 World Cup, but the club is confident the star forward’s future lies in Catalonia. A transfer is off the table. (Source: SPORT)

Real Madrid are planning an exodus this summer should Álvaro Arbeloa remain in charge. The 15-time European champions will bid farewell to Dani Carvajal, David Alaba, Dani Ceballos and Fran García. (Source: DefensaCentral)

Young striker Gonzalo García is also at risk of being pushed out of the Bernabéu ahead of the 2026–27 season due to the return of Endrick, who is in line to become Kylian Mbappé’s backup after a sensational loan stint at Lyon. (Source: DefensaCentral)

Barcelona have their sights set on signing Inter Milan center back Alessandro Bastoni to finally fill the absence left by Iñigo Martínez. The Serie A outfit set an asking price of $81.1 million (€70 million), but the Catalans believe they can negotiate that fee down. (Source: Fichajes)

Just when it looked like center back Antonio Rüdiger would leave Real Madrid as a free agent this summer, the club is now considering offering the German defender a contract extension due to his return to top form. (Source: AS)

Atlético Madrid have drawn up a $46.3 million (€40 million) offer for Atalanta midfielder Éderson. Diego Simeone views the Brazilian as the key to bolstering his midfield. (Source: Fichajes)

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Transfer News, Rumors: Man Utd Plot Arsenal Raid; Isak Receives Madrid Escape Route.

Manchester United got things underway on Friday, with both Liverpool and Chelsea in action on Saturday. None of the European hopefuls ended up winning.

United were held to a 2–2 draw with Bournemouth in controversial circumstances, before Liverpool fell 2–1 to Brighton & Hove Albion and Chelsea were humiliated by the blue side of Merseyside, coming away from the Hill Dickinson Stadium with a 3–0 defeat to Everton.

Here’s how the Opta supercomputer sees those results impacting the race for European qualification.

Supercomputer Predicts 2025–26 Premier League Title Winner

The statisticians are still not looking past Arsenal to go on and win the title at the end of the season.

The Gunners hold a huge lead over Manchester City and will hope to deal a psychological blow to their title rivals in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final, which comes just three weeks before the two giants face off in a Premier League clash that could dictate the destination of the trophy.

Supercomputer Predicts 2025–26 Champions League Race

Man Utd’s slip-up against Bournemouth was tough to swallow for the Red Devils, but in the grand scheme of things, they still had a better weekend than both Liverpool and Chelsea. Michael Carrick’s side are still in an imposing position with seven games left to play.

Aston Villa are also heavy favorites to take the final spot in the top four, boosted by the struggles of the teams behind them. Unai Emery’s side may have dropped off in 2026 but they appear to have done most of the hard work early in the campaign.

Heading down to fifth, England’s strong UEFA coefficient is excellent news for Liverpool, who were not punished for their bleak defeat away at Brighton on Saturday. Arne Slot’s side should still have enough about them to squeeze into the Champions League.

Chelsea, meanwhile, are in freefall.

Liam Rosenior’s side have an incredibly tough run of fixtures ahead and face an uphill battle to even reach fifth, let alone the top four. The supercomputer sees the Blues in the Europa League next season.

Brentford, Everton, Newcastle United and Brighton are all locked in the battle for the Conference League as it stands.

Supercomputer Predicts 2025–26 Relegation Battle