Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth battling the powerhouses for a Champions League place. No one predicted that.
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There is only a third of the Premier League season remaining and the race for the top four has arguably never been more intriguing.
Liverpool appears set to have one hand on the title, eight points clear of second-placed Arsenal, who have a game in hand, but the next rung down is where things get fascinating.
Nottingham Forest third, Manchester City fourth and Bournemouth fifth.
The latter jumped into the top five after Forest, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Newcastle all dropped points last weekend.
Forest have won 14, drawn five and lost six, while Bournemouth have won 12, drawn seven and lost six.
It reads like a Forest or Cherries fan plugging away on Football Manager for hours to get their team to dizzying heights, but supporters in England’s midlands and on the south coast better stop pinching themselves.
They are not dreaming. This is real.
The struggles of regular top six clubs Manchester United and Tottenham, along with Champions League Round of 16 bound Villa slipping in the league, presented opportunities, and Forest and Bournemouth have snatched them with both hands.
The Forest story is famous.
A powerhouse decades ago with back-to-back European Cup victories in 1979 and 1980 under legendary manager Brian Clough.
A year before their first continental breakthrough, Forest won the English top flight and they were runners-up the season after.
But following relegation from the Premier League in 1999, they fell into the football abyss.
Forest did not return to the Premier League until 2022 and barely avoided relegation by finishing 16th and 17th in their first two seasons back in the top tier.
Bournemouth were promoted from the Championship in the same season as Forest and initially found themselves in the bottom half of the table too.
A 12th place finish last season was preceded by coming 15th in their prior campaign.
Unlike Forest, however, Bournemouth is not a club with a rich pedigree.
Its first season in the Premier League came under now Newcastle boss Eddie Howe in 2015/16 and a ninth-place finish in their second season was the club’s best result in the top flight.
Years of mediocrity did not show too many hints of a breakout campaign in Bournemouth’s case, nor a stunning revival in Forest’s case.
But the dream of Champions League nights at the City Ground or the Vitality Stadium is alive and well, and this how they have put themselves in the hunt for midweek action against the best clubs in Europe.
Here is how they did it.
FOREST’S KIWI FRONTMAN
Like Forest’s, Chris Wood’s story is a fairytale.
The 33-year-old captain of the New Zealand national team has remarkably played for 12 different clubs in England.
He even went through a three-year period where he was sent out on loan six times by West Bromwich Albion.
Wood bounced around the various tiers of English football after moving to the UK as a 16-year-old to chase his dreams, and now the Forest talisman is a bonified star.
NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND – AUGUST 17: Chris Wood of Nottingham Forest celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest FC and AFC Bournemouth at City Ground on August 17, 2024 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
The six-foot three striker is third in the golden boot race.
He has netted 18 goals so far this campaign, highlighted by a hat-trick in Forest’s 7-0 rout of Brighton earlier this month, to only sit behind Mohamed Salah (24) and Erling Haaland (19).
It is his best Premier League season, and he still has 13 more opportunities to add to his tally.
“When they talk about Mo Salah and Erling Haaland – they mention Chris Wood in the same breath – you can’t compete with that,” Wood’s high school coach former New Zealand international Mike Groom told Sky Sports.
“It’s theatrical, it’s magical, it’s the stuff of dreams and kids’ dreams are fuelled by those images and that exposure.
“We’re still a rugby-playing country, but Chris is single-handedly beginning to change that.”
Wood’s height automatically makes him an aerial threat as a target man, he has scored six headed goals this season, the most in the league, but his finishing is still underrated.
In fact, it is lethal.
Wood has had 28 shots on target for the season, and scoring 18 of them makes him the most effective of any of the Premier League’s top strikers in front of goal.
New Zealand’s record goal scorer, who is also nearing the record for most appearances for his country, has also endeared himself to football fans because he is not blessed with all the attributes of the likes of Salah and Haaland.
The biggest difference is pace.
Wood is not a quick player, and the fact he lacks speed seemingly contradicts the fact that Forest prefers to play counterattacking football.
But he makes it work by timing his runs perfectly and seizing big moments.
In some ways, it makes little sense but so has his entire football journey.
“It’s definitely exceeded what I dreamt of when I was a kid and hopefully, I’ve got a lot more I can achieve to make it an even better dream,” Wood told Sky Sports.
“I want to keep the path open for New Zealanders to hopefully make it into the Premier League one day – I want to grow that generation of new kids wanting to play football and wanting to dream of doing the best they can and ending up in the biggest league.”
BOURNEMOUTH CREATE CHAOS
Bournemouth’s blueprint in attack is not dissimilar to Forest’s.
The two sides are comfortably the Premier League leaders for playing fast and direct football.
They sit back and defend resolutely, and when they win the ball back, they are off to the races.
Once the ball is in their attacking half, they press high and try to force turnovers in dangerous areas.
It makes for exciting games to watch, and Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has been heaped with praise this season for his tactics.
“I sometimes value much more a player carrying the ball and forcing things to happen,” Iraola said in an interview with The Independent.
“We have to prepare [positional] patterns, but we cannot just prioritise them. If you can see that you don’t have a teammate ahead, forget about the pattern, just drive the ball and try to force things to happen. I want him to attack first.”
Meanwhile premierleague.com’s Alex Keble summed up the essence of their play as “disruption”.
“High risk, high reward: that’s the mentality of Iraola and his team, whether in hounding the ball with an all-action and full-pitch press or piercing opposition lines with sharp vertical football and attacking overloads,” Keble said.
“Perhaps the best word to encapsulate their tactical approach is “disruption”.
“Disrupt the other team’s play with furious pressing, and disrupt the expected rhythms of your own attack with improvisations and surges forward in high numbers.”
That philosophy has brought out the best in Justin Kluivert, who has scored 11 goals so far this campaign, four more than last season.
The Dutchman has really found his groove in the Premier League in recent times.
He was player of the month in January for scoring five goals and recording two assists in four appearances, of which Bournemouth won three and drew one.
The highlight of his season so far was a hat-trick, and an assist, in a 4-1 away win against Newcastle who were previously unbeaten in nine matches before that January fixture.
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND – JANUARY 25: Justin Kluivert of Bournemouth celebrates after scoring to make it 1-0 during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest FC at Vitality Stadium on January 25, 2025 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Robin Jones – AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
That victory was followed up by a 5-0 victory against Forest, where Kluivert contributed a goal and an assist to help end Forest’s eight-game unbeaten run.
Knocking off several in-form teams led to Iraola taking home manager of the month, and David Brooks’ stunning volley against Everton made it a clean sweep of the awards by winning goal of the month.
All of that came amid a length injury list, including strikers Evanilson and Enes Unal.
But Kluivert’s breakout combined with the superb form of fellow attackers Dango Ouattara and Antoine Semenyo, who have scored seven goals apiece this season, has prevented injuries from being an excuse.
No matter who is on the sidelines, once Bournemouth wins the ball back there are simply too many runners for opponents to attack.
Remarkably, one would expect such a style of play to make them vulnerable at the back.
But Iraola’s side do not play a high line, and they have the equal-third best defensive record in the league, alongside Forest, conceding 29 goals so far. Only Arsenal and Liverpool have been stingier at the back.
They key has been the centre back pairing of Dean Huijsen and Illia Zabarnyi, a combination Iraola landed on during the season.
In the 13 games they have started together, Bournemouth have lost once, to Liverpool.
Zabaryni is the rock that has played every minute this season, while 19-year-old Huijsen has been a revelation.
“Huijsen is undoubtedly the star of the two,” Keble wrote.
“Signed from Juventus for around £15 million last summer, his strength in the air, composure in possession, and – crucially – assertive front-foot style have catapulted Bournemouth to new heights.”
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 08: Dean Huijsen of Bournemouth looks on during the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Everton and AFC Bournemouth at Goodison Park on February 08, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
FOREST’S ELITE DEFENCE
ESPN’s Bruce Schoenfeld summed up Forest’s defensive brilliance in writing that manager Nuno Espirito Santo’s “football has hardly changed even though instead of a relegation battle, he has European qualification in his sights”.
Forest defends like their life depends on it.
They have comfortably made more clearances than any other team, including the equal most amount of clearances off the line.
They are level with Liverpool for the most number of clean sheets with ten.
Goalkeeper Matz Sels has punched away the aerial more than anyone else.
They are desperate.
And they are bringing an enormous amount of pride to the club’s greats.
“I haven’t watched a better pairing at the back than Murillo and Nikola Milenkovic in my 50 years of watching Forest,” former England and Forest midfielder Steve Hodge said on BBC Radio last month.
“I really mean that – pound for pound what they are as footballers and as a pair,” he added. “They have everything. As a pair, they complement each other perfectly and they both seem to be calm characters even under severe pressure.”
Nikola Milenkovic of Nottingham Forest celebrates victory during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Brighton and Hove Albion at the City Ground in Nottingham, England, on February 1, 2025. (Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Milenkovic joined from Fiorentina last summer and the 31-year-old Serbian is in many pundits’ team of the season so far.
He is an old-fashioned, no-nonsense centre back whose heading ability has led to him scoring two goals as well as clearing many attacking threats.
But in the coming games, Forest face arguably the biggest defensive test of the season.
Away at Newcastle, home to Arsenal and home to Manchester City are their next three league games.
They passed with flying colours earlier in the season, defeating Liverpool at Anfield and taking a point from them at home.
That shows that there is little to doubt that Forest’s steeliness will remain.
BOURNEMOUTH’S EXCELLENT ROAD RECORD
A major part of Bournemouth’s success has been their impressive away record.
The Cherries have won six, drawn four and lost three of their matches on the road this season, including going unbeaten in their last seven away games.
That streak has included a pair of 2-2 draws against rivals for the European places Chelsea and Fulham, as well as the Newcastle win mentioned earlier.
Their most recent away win was a 3-1 win against cellar dwellers Southampton in a south coast derby, and post-match Iraola identified fast starts as the reason for their away success.
“I think it’s key, especially when you play away,” he said.
“I think we are having good starts. I remember last games, Newcastle away, Everton the other day.
“Even the two goals in 16 minutes, but in the first minute I think we had two corners for us.
“It’s a good start and a message that we are coming here and we want to win this game and we are not happy with the 0-0 and we want things to happen quickly.
“Also, I think they are a team that now is aggressive in the press. I think there were spaces behind them. There were spaces behind us.
“The game could go very open and I’m happy, especially first half, I think we controlled the game very well.”
Their ability to get results on the road will be severely tested later in the season as they visit Arsenal and Manchester City in the final four games of their campaign.
Australia’s Josh Giddey continued his hot streak with another double-double as his Oklahoma City Thunder blew away an injury-hit San Antonio Spurs 127-89.
Giddey had 20 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists in 29 minutes in the blowout win on 7-12 shooting, with the Thunder up by 23 points after the first quarter.
The Spurs were without superstar Victor Wembanyama and were never in the contest, with Zach Collins their topscorer with 20 points and seven boards. Spurs managed just 35 points on 28.6% shooting in the first half – the best defensive record for the Thunder in a half this season.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way for the Thunder with 26 points in just 26 minutes, having scored 40 the night prior, but OKC were more than happy to bench their starters in the middle of the third quarter – this being their third game in four nights.
The win was Oklahoma City’s 55th of the season, the first time they had reached that mark since 2015-16.
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Giddey was exceptional.Source: AFP
It also keeps alive their slim hopes of winning the number one seed in the West, with two games still to play.
Giddey opened up on his impressive form after the win, comparing it to his struggles earlier in the season.
He said: “The problem for me earlier in the year was I kind of went in predetermined to do something [in games] and I thought that was what was hurting me. Going in with a plan is not the way to do it because defences throw different looks at you.
“I’ve seen different coverages … not going in with a plan, just taking what the defence gives me – whether that’s score, rebound, push the ball in transition, get other guys looks.
“It’s taking the game as it comes and playing every possession on its own.
“I thought earlier in the year I would sometimes already have this idea of what I was going to do coming into the game but now I’ve relaxed, let the game come to me and take every possession as it comes.”
Meanwhile, Nikola Jokic scored 41 points as the Denver Nuggets reclaimed pole position in the Western Conference playoff race with a 116-107 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in their top-of-the-table clash on Wednesday.
In a hard-fought showdown in Denver that saw the lead change hands 15 times, the Nuggets finally pulled clear in the fourth quarter to seal victory.
The result means Denver, the reigning NBA champions, lead the Western Conference by one game with two regular-season fixtures remaining.
With their final opponents lowly ranked Memphis and San Antonio, Denver (56-24) are now heavy favourites to finish top of the West and seal the No.1 seeding and home advantage through the playoffs.
“We found a way to win, our defence in the fourth quarter was amazing,” Jokic told ESPN, before downplaying the significance of Denver’s return to the top.
“It’s important to be honest, but the West is really, really, really tough. We could play the Los Angeles Lakers or Golden State in the first round — they’re all good teams.”
Jokic, who also had 11 rebounds, seven assists and three steals, was backed by 20 points from Jamal Murray while Michael Porter Jr. added 18.
Anthony Edwards led Minnesota’s scoring with 25 points while Mike Conley added 19. Rudy Gobert and Naz Reid finished with 13 points apiece.
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Minnesota’s defeat dropped them into third place in the West behind Oklahoma City Thunder. Although the Timberwolves and OKC have identical records of 55-25 with two games remaining, the Thunder hold the tie-breaker by virtue of the better divisional record.
Oklahoma City moved into second place on Wednesday after swatting aside the San Antonio Spurs 127-89, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scoring 26 points in a 38-point beat down of the bottom-ranked Spurs (20-60).
SUNS BOUNCE BACK
The Phoenix Suns bounced back from their 105-92 home defeat to the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday with a comprehensive 124-108 win on the road in the return fixture.
Devin Booker’s 37-point effort drove Phoenix to victory with Kevin Durant adding 24 and Bradley Beal 26.
Devin Booker (R) and Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns.Source: AFP
The win leaves Phoenix with a fighting chance of reaching the automatic playoff places with two games remaining.
The seventh-placed Suns are on 47-33, just behind New Orleans, who occupy the last automatic postseason spot in the West in sixth with a 47-32 record.
Despite the win Booker believes Phoenix still have plenty of room for improvement with the postseason looming.
“I don’t know if it was a great response,” Booker said. “I think we still started the game a little slow. It’s been our problem all season.”
Phoenix’s victory means both Golden State and the Los Angeles Lakers must go through the play-in repechage to earn a place in the playoffs.
KNICKS GET PLAYOFF SPOT
The Dallas Mavericks reeled off their fifth straight win with a 111-92 defeat of the Miami Heat. Luka Doncic scored 29 points for Dallas in a result which ensured the New York Knicks clinched a playoff place in the East.
Doncic led the Mavs to a fifth-straight win.Source: Getty Images
Elsewhere in the Eastern Conference, the Milwaukee Bucks shrugged off the disappointment of losing Giannis Antetokounmpo to injury on Tuesday to defeat the Orlando Magic 117-99.
Bobby Portis weighed in with a 30-point performance while Damian Lillard added 29 for the Bucks, who are closing in on the No.2 seed in the East with two games of the regular season remaining.
The win left Bucks coach Doc Rivers singing the praises of Portis and guard Patrick Beverley, who finished with 13 points, eight rebounds and six assists.
“They’re both nuts, in a very good way,” Rivers said of Portis and Beverley. “I like guys like them who can be that way but still be under control. They give the team energy — they’re natural instigators.
“It’s not fake, it’s what they do. But they’re not trying to do it — they just do it. Having guys like that on your team is invaluable.”
Arsenal took the Premier League’s thrilling title fight to another level with a crushing victory, while Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs have a massive clash with top-four rival Aston Villa ahead this weekend.
Here are the biggest Premier League talking points from another wild weekend!
If Arsenal are feeling the pressure of a Premier League title race, they sure aren’t showing it.
In the last two rounds, they have played their matches after rivals Liverpool and Manchester City had both played – and won – their matches.
Last week it was a 4-1 win over Newcastle, this time a 6-0 rout of dismal Sheffield United. Indeed, since beating Liverpool 3-1 in early February, they have won 6-0, 5-0, 4-1, and 6-0. It’s a terrifying run of form and has rocketed them into having the best attacking and defensive record in the league.
In Brentford this weekend they face a team severely undermanned and looking ill-equipped to handle the threat posed by the Gunners.
A slip-up from Arsenal appears unlikely. But they certainly can’t afford one.
Midfielder Declan Rice said: “I think if you look at the two other teams at the top, they don’t look like they are going to slip up anytime soon.
“It is the Premier League, you need to be on it every single game. You can’t have any slip-ups.
“Obviously we were the last to play this time, so it is always on our mind that we have to win if we want to stay in it. There is such a long way to go, anything can happen.
“Eleven games of football is a really long way. Hopefully we can keep winning matches, but it is one game at a time.
“We have been in this position before and I think it is just stay humble. Wait for the games to come and attack them when the day arrives.”
They have been in this position before. Last year they led by as many as eight points over City before three straight draws, a loss to City, and a couple of losses ended the title race with three games to spare.
Arsenal have the hunger, but their rivals have the experience of closing out the season and bringing home the silverware.
So far, they’ve held their nerve. Will they be able to keep it up until the end of the season? Against their relentless rivals, they might just need to win all 11 games.
“They were in a different league to us,” Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder said after his team’s brutal 6-0 thrashing at the hands of Arsenal.
That is figuratively already the case, but by next season it appears certain to be reality. The Blades are going down to the Championship – and they’ll do it as one of the worst teams ever to feature in the Premier League.
Sure, they’ve surpassed Derby County’s 2007-08 record of one win and 11 points in total – the Premier League record-worst season – but they’re truly fighting in the wrong weight class this campaign.
That Derby team conceded 89 goals, the record for a 38-game PL season. Swindon Town in 1993/94 conceded a whopping 100 goals, which is the all-time record (but in 42 games).
Sheffield have shipped 72 goals so far this season at a rate of 2.67 per game. That puts them on track to concede over 100 this season, and you wouldn’t bet against it.
Three times in the last five games they’ve conceded five goals or more. It happened three times earlier in the season, including that horror 8-0 to Newcastle.
It’s been a disastrous season from Sheffield.Source: Getty Images
“That first half from Sheffield United was a disgrace,” Liverpool great Jamie Carragher said on Sky Sports. “It’s one of the most one-sided games of football I’ve ever seen.
“To consider you come into this game on the back of losing two Premier League home games 5-0, that’s shocking – it really is. It’s probably one of the worst performances I’ve ever seen.
“I can’t think of anything worse I’ve ever seen in a half of football than that.”
Fans started leaving after just a quarter of an hour – of course, the team were already down three goals by that point.
In a staggering statistic, Sheffield had 19 per cent possession – less than the number of shots (22) that Arsenal took.
In the second half, Wilder turned to the kids. 20-year-old trio Oliver Luke Arblaster, William Osula, and Andre Brooks all came off the bench. Wilder is already preparing for the team’s future in the second tier. Now it’s just a matter of time, and how bad things will get before then.
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‘SEASON OF HIS LIFE’ FROM VILLA STAR DRIVING CHARGE
The race for top spot is still firmly a three-way tussle. But sitting pretty in fourth spot, for now at least, is Aston Villa. They are five points clear of fifth-placed Tottenham, though Ange Postecoglou’s men have a game in hand.
Driving the success of the Villans is Ollie Watkins, who has 21 goals and 10 assists in all competitions this season (16 and 10 in the PL). He’s the only player to hit double-digits in both categories. It puts him top of the charts for goal involvements, and equal-first for assists (alongside Newcastle’s Kieran Trippier and Brighton’s Pascal Gross).
Iconic England striker Alan Shearer said: “He’s having the season of his life. With the form he is in, he is not hoping to score, but expecting to score.”
Darren Bent told TalkSport that he believes Watkins is the player of the season so far.
“He’d certainly be mine, I think he’s been outstanding,” he said.
“I think the goals that he’s got, the assists as well. I think he’s been dangerous. He’s getting better and better … He’d be my player of the year.”
Is Ollie Watkins the player of the season?Source: Getty Images
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery deserves plenty of praise for getting his striker to already deliver his best-ever league goal tally for a season.
But Emery lavished praise on his star man for his commitment and mentality.
“He’s fantastic. But he needs his teammates as well to help him. We are a team. We have to try to get our performances through the team. With the commitment he’s showing, for everyone he is an example.
“For mentality, it’s difficult to find a player better than him. But his skill is also a high level.”
Villa, meanwhile, announced a £119.6 million loss for the period covering last season. While they’re still within the league’s strict Profit and Sustainability (PSR) regulations, it means qualifying for next season’s Champions League will be vital to funding any big splash in the off-season transfer window.
If Watkins keeps his current rich vein of form, you’d back them in.
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‘NO CEILING’ FOR SPURS STAR AHEAD OF MASSIVE CLASH
Ange Postecoglou bet 40 million pounds on Micky van de Ven being a superstar. So far, the 22-year-old is quickly repaying the faith shown in him. And when we say quickly, we mean at 37.38 km/h – the top speed he reached against Brentford a month ago, which is the fastest recorded since the data started being collected in the Premier League 2020/21.
The young centre-back has been a standout for Spurs this season – not just their best signing but arguably their best player overall.
He was outstanding in Spurs’ 3-1 comeback win Crystal Palace on the weekend, completing 95 out of a whopping 101 attempted passes and stifling Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta.
Afterwards, Postecoglou said (per Spurs’ website): “Micky has been outstanding all year, and he’s growing all the time, we see it in training. The growth in him, his maturity, his physical capacity, there is just no ceiling for that guy.
“He was important today. We didn’t have to defend deep, they were going to try to play on the counter attack and there was going to be a lot of space, and that suits him because of his speed and ability to track people down. I thought he was really important today.”
Micky van de Ven of Tottenham Hotspur holds off Jean-Philippe Mateta.Source: Getty Images
Van de Ven has started and played 16 full matches – the only time he didn’t was when he suffered a hamstring injury and was taken off at halftime against Chelsea in early November.
Including that match, Spurs have lost just twice in van de Ven’s 17 league appearances. When he was sidelined with the injury, they lost four out of nine matches. Sure, other injuries were a key factor in that poor run, but there’s no doubting his impressive performances all season long.
They face fourth-placed Aston Villa on Sunday night, and van de Ven will face one of the toughest tests of the season against in-form Ollie Watkins. The outcome of that battle could go a long way to deciding the match – and fourth place in the league.
Liverpool could have gone eight points cleat at the top of the Premier League ladder had they beaten Arsenal, but the Gunners instead closed the gap to just two points after a 3-1 win over the Reds.
It means the title race is well and truly on, with Manchester City playing tomorrow (Tues. 7am AEDT) against Brentford – and with a second game in hand, they could go top of the league with two wins.
The Reds’ defence was torn apart by ‘schoolboy’ errors that evidenced a lack of intensity compared to Mikel Arteta’s men.
Meanwhile, Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino is under a dark cloud after two big losses in the space of a week.
And there’s promising signs for Manchester United as three young stars continued a hot run of form – but they were also struck down by a ‘personal disaster’ as a key player was injured.
Here’s the biggest talking points from the Premier League!
Liverpool’s defence has played a key role in their return to the pointy end of the ladder this season. Entering this round, they had conceded 19 goals in 22 matches – the best defensive record in the league.
The turning point, and the most egregious error, handed Arsenal a second goal for a 2-1 lead.
Virgil van Dijk failed to head away a long ball and collided with goalkeeper Alisson as the keeper came out to clear, with the ball falling to Gabriel Martinelli to pass it home into an empty net.
Van Dijk was also caught out of position for Arsenal’s opening goal, and probably should have done better for the final strike as well.
“In terms of the intensity from the first whistle to the last whistle from Liverpool, I can’t believe how bad they were,” Manchester United legend Roy Keane said on Sky Sports.
“Credit to Arsenal, they turned up and were at it. But Liverpool defensively, the goals they gave away – it was like a pub team defending.
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher added: “[For the Arsenal second goal] van Dijk just has to head it. Don’t let it bounce. We’re talking schoolboy stuff here. We’re talking about players at the top level. This is something you learn at the bottom level of football.”
Ex-Manchester United skipper Gary Neville said: “They’ve been outstanding all season, Alisson and van Dijk, so they’re allowed one. Today, it summed up Liverpool.
“That edge wasn’t there.”
Jurgen Klopp (L) comforts defender Virgil van Dijk. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP)Source: AFP
Arsenal have rebounded from a Christmas slump, where they lost to West Ham and Fulham and were dumped from the FA Cup by Liverpool, and have now won three on the trot.
Mikel Arteta said his side were back in the title race – but must find consistency.
“We were ruthless when we had a chance and it feels like a big win,” he said. “At the moment Liverpool are probably the best team in Europe and the levels they have, they are an incredible team.”
“We have come so far and now it is about doing it consistently. Liverpool have done it for six to seven years.
“It gives us momentum and the way we have done it, we are back on it,” said Arteta.
For Liverpool, it is just a second league defeat of the season after a September loss to Spurs, as van Dijk apologised for his error and Jurgen Klopp said the Gunners “deserved the points”.
They also clearly missed the verve and ruthlessness of Mohamed Salah – having not returned from AFCON and a hamstring injury yet – and the hard-running of Darwin Nunez, who could only come off the bench after a niggle of his own.
With Man City looming large, the pressure is well and truly on for the Reds to respond.
During a difficult second season for Erik ten Hag at Manchester United, the emergence of Rasmus Hojlund, Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo is providing hope of a bright future.
The trio were exceptional as the Red Devils beat West Ham 3-0 to move into sixth.
Hojlund failed to score in his first 14 Premier League games after a £64 million ($124 million AUD) move from Atalanta, but the Dane celebrated his 21st birthday by scoring for the fourth consecutive league game – United’s youngest-ever player to do so.
Garnacho, 19, then struck twice to give United a second consecutive win after 18-year-old Mainoo scored the winner in a thrilling 4-3 victory at Wolves on Thursday.
“A month ago there was a lot of talk about us (Hojlund and Garnacho) not scoring enough goals but we are both young and growing every day,” said Hojlund. “You can see the connection between us.”
Ten Hag said: “I have said it before in the last couple of months, the future for Manchester United is very bright.
“The goals today showed young players with high potential … Every game they are growing and improving and adapting to a higher level.
“When they enjoy their football the confidence comes and you can see the belief is growing.”
After the second goal against the Hammers, the trio celebrated by sitting together on the advertising hoardings behind the goal, the photo summing up the strong potential in this side.
“The picture covered a lot, I think, of the three youngsters celebrating together,” said the United manager.
“It’s not about one player, it’s about a team. That’s what I have seen today. It looked like a team: 11 defending, 11 attacking. The celebration I liked it. It is showing we do it together.”
Hojlund (L), Garnacho (C), and Mainoo.Source: AFP
While the trio have hit strong form, there are still lingering concerns over Marcus Rashford, who started the match after missing their FA Cup win at Newport County last week, having pulled a sickie earlier in the week after a night partying in Belfast.
The club’s highest-paid player – having been handed a new five-year contract after career-best 30-goal season – has scored just five goals in 22 league matches this season and there are concerns about his dedication.
While the young guns are providing the goals right now, if United want to overhaul the six-point gap to fourth-placed Aston Villa and qualify for the Champions League, they’ll hope that Rashford rediscovers his form of last year.
But an even bigger issue could have struck in their win over West Ham, with Lisandro Martinez appearing to suffer a serious knee injury.
Having only just returned from a foot injury that has limited him to a mere handful of appearances this season, the World Cup winning Argentinian has added plenty of leadership to their back line.
United have won three and drawn one of the four games since his return on January 14.
Ten Hag said: “I can’t say (how bad) but it doesn’t look good. There is a bad concern.
“We have to wait for a few days for the diagnosis. We do everything to get the right diagnosis and see what is the damage.
“He is very sad, very disappointed. We all feel really with him. First of all, it is a personal disaster when it is really bad, but also for the team it is really bad because he definitely brings us a lot.”
For a young team growing in confidence, an injury to a veteran player who provides plenty of spirit and energy could prove a major setback to their top four hopes.
Lisandro Martinez of Manchester United goes down with an injury.Source: Getty Images
CLOCK TICKING FOR POCHETTINO AFTER 45-YEAR FIRST
Chelsea have bet the house on long-term projects in the transfer market, but time may soon be running out for Mauricio Pochettino as the club’s American owners have their patience tested by another woeful season.
Graham Potter was sacked after just seven months in charge at Stamford Bridge last season despite being sold on a long-term project by Todd Boehly’s consortium when he left Brighton.
Chelsea have splurged over £1 billion on players over the past two years, though bought no players in the January transfer window as they desperately tried to stay within the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
But for all their spending since Boehly’s arrival, Chelsea have gone backwards on the field as Wolves’ first win at Stamford Bridge since 1979 saw them leapfrog the Blues into 10th.
Chelsea’s Argentinian head coach Mauricio Pochettino is having a horrid time.Source: AFP
Wolves’ 4-2 win came just days after Liverpool defeated the Blues 4-1 – making it a week from hell for Chelsea and Pochettino.
His side was booed off at full-time, having led through Cole Palmer’s 10th goal in 20 appearances before crumbling to another bruising defeat.
Pochettino apologised for the loss, saying: “When we scored the game was for us. Then when we concede we start to feel nervous and we didn’t manage well the stress.
“It was difficult to manage the team, the stress. We had chances for 2-2 but then we conceded the third. So disappointed, apologise to the fans and thanks to those who stayed and supported the team until the end. We are sorry and we are disappointed.”
Chelsea finished last season with a worst-ever tally of 44 points and a negative goal difference. Currently 11th, and a whopping 15 points off the top four and therefore Champions League qualification, the season is quickly slipping away.
The only positive on the horizon is the League Cup final against Liverpool at the end of the month – and the chance for Pochettino to claim his first piece of English silverware.
Before then is an FA Cup replay against high-flying Aston Villa on Wednesday (local time).
“Of course the disappointment is massive,” added Pochettino. “We started to play with a nervousness, made rash decisions, we need to reset and be ready for the FA Cup on Wednesday against Aston Villa.
“It is normal that we are not matching the history of the club …
“We need to show more and the circumstances are difficult. We were good until Liverpool but after Liverpool and Wolves it is like everything is going wrong.”
Pochettino knows his job is under increasing threat. Upsetting fourth-placed Villa on Wednesday could solidify his position – or else the club hierarchy could look for a fresh manager to inspire a rebound in the league cup final.
After mounting a surprise title tilt last season, with Granit Xhaka enjoying one of his finest campaigns for the Gunners, Mikel Arteta still believed he could find an upgrade in the centre of the park – and he splashed a Premier League-record £105m for Declan Rice.
Now, Rice is becoming an integral cog in the engine room as the Gunners remain firmly in the mix for the title.
What impresses Arteta most about Rice? “The way he dominates key aspects of the game,” replied the manager.
“First of all, it’s the way he reads the game, his intelligence, his decision-making on and off the ball, when to pass the ball, how to pass it, where to look, how to execute, and the timing of that, which is very, very relevant, especially in his position.”
He’s only growing more and more connected with his teammates. He could be the key to going one better than last season and finishing with the coveted trophy.
Although the Gunners rounded out the first half of the season with a disappointing defeat at the Emirates to West Ham, it doesn’t take away from what’s been yet another dazzling run for Arteta’s side.
Declan Rice has looked worth every bit of Arsenal’s major investment. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
ASTON VILLA (3rd, +15 GD, 39 pts): A
Mid-season MVP: Douglas Luiz
Plenty of expert predictions for this season had Villa finishing well out of the title race. Manchester United great Gary Neville predicted a sixth-place finish, while former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher had them out of the top six. It’s fair to say precious few predicted a genuine title challenge, but that’s what Unai Emery’s men have served up. A staggering 15-game win streak on home soil came to an end just before Christmas, though they salvaged a draw with a 97th-minute equaliser against Sheffield United.
Villa’s inability to beat a number of lower-table teams this season — see Nottingham Forest, Wolves, Bournemouth and now Sheffield United — is their biggest blemish this season.
Three of those four games also came away from home, so if Villa are serious about a top four finish they must find a way to take maximum points when expected, especially against those who are struggling.
Ollie Watkins continues to turn in several all-action displays up front, contributing nine goals and six assists to date this season.
But the player most vital to Villa’s transformed fortunes is Brazilian midfielder Douglas Luiz who orchestrates every deadly move from midfield.
Luiz’s box-to-box displays have been something to behold as he breaks up opposition attacks only to drive the team up the field and thread the needle with aplomb.
Douglas Luiz is the midfield lynchpin driving Aston Villa forward. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)Source: AFP
BOURNEMOUTH (12th, -5 GD, 25 pts): B+
Mid-season MVP: Dominic Solanke
Last season was a shemozzle, a mess, a rollercoaster (but not the fun kind). Remember the 9-0 thumping from Liverpool that saw Scott Parker sacked in August? Then came an ownership takeover, a slump to last place in March, before a late-season resurgence to finish 15th under Gary O’Neil, who probably deserved to win manager of the season.
They embarked on a stunning spending spree in the off-season, with a whopping net spend of €126.19m – sixth in the Premier League and in front of Liverpool and Newcastle United. Then they sacked manager O’Neil before the season began. The new owners had high expectations – but while there’s been some promising signs, things haven’t been smooth sailing. They were 19th and winless after nine games (three points), but have since turned things around impressively to rack up 22 points from the next nine games (W7 D1 L1).
After a 6-1 defeat to Man City they could have fallen apart, but instead they’ve been one of the form teams in the league to soar out of the relegation battle.
The big difference from last season has been Solanke’s form, with the ex-Liverpool striker hitting 12 league goals in 18 games – more than last campaign’s top scorer Philip Billing (7) managed in a full season. If he stays at Bournemouth (amid interest from Tottenham and West Ham), the Cherries could even threaten a top-half finish.
Dominic Solanke is enjoying an absurd goalscoring run. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
BRENTFORD (14th, -3 GD, 19 pts): C-
Mid-season MVP: Bryan Mbuemo
It was always going to be a tall task spending half a season without star striker Ivan Toney, but Brentford have managed to survive.
Toney was banned from playing until early January after breaching the FA’s gambling rules, meaning the Bees had to rely on other sources for goals.
Cameroonian winger Bryan Mbuemo has largely shouldered the burden and has a club-leading seven Premier League goals to his name.
However, Brentford — and this will be a constant theme for a lot of these teams, so bear with us — have been crippled by serious injuries throughout the season.
Kevin Schade, who turned his loan move to Brentford into a permanent one in the summer, was meant to help share the goalscoring duties but has been out of action since late September with no return date set in.
Star defender Rico Henry is out for the season while right back Aaron Hickey has also been sidelined for several months among others.
The Bees’ form this season has also been quite patchy, winning just one of their first eight games before four victories in their next six. But they’ve now lost four in a row and six of their last seven, seeing them slide towards the relegation zone.
With Toney due to return in mid-January, it could be the boost Brentford need to kickstart their season once again.
Brentford have struggled without their star striker Ivan Toney this season. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
BRIGHTON (8th, +5 GD, 30 pts): B-
Mid-season MVP: Pascal Groß
After the lofty heights of a sixth-place finish last season, high expectations had been set for the Seagulls in the 2023/24 campaign.
But a bright start in which Brighton won five of their opening six games is in the distant past, as Roberto De Zerbi’s side have tasted victory just three times in the following 12.
Although De Zerbi’s great entertainers have been kept scoreless just once this season, they have scored two or more goals just five times since a 3-1 win over Bournemouth in late September.
What is most alarming about Brighton this season is the number of goals they’ve shipped, which stands at 33.
For reference, 16th-placed Nottingham Forest and 18th-placed Luton Town have conceded 34.
Part of this is no doubt down to a backline crippled by injuries.
Star left back Pervis Estupinan had been out for some time before marking his return to action with a screamer against Tottenham, while Tariq Lamptey and Adam Webster have also spent time on the sidelines.
De Zerbi has also switched between Jason Steele and summer signing Bart Verbruggen in the goalkeeper position, offering little consistency in a crucial part of the field after Roberto Sanchez’s exit to Chelsea.
One shining light of consistency this season has been German stalwart Pascal Groß, who continues to be a vital cog in De Zerbi’s Brighton machine.
Another bright spot for Brighton is the goalscoring prowess of Joao Pedro, who joined from Watford for a club-record fee of £30 million.
And despite all of the things that have gone awry for the Seagulls this season, they’re still just three points away from the Europa League spots.
Joao Pedro (centre) leads the goalscoring charts for Brighton. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
BURNLEY (19th, -20 GD, 11 pts): D
Mid-season MVP: Josh Brownhill
Burnley won the Championship last season at a canter but life in the Premier League has most certainly not been kind.
There was plenty of intrigue as to whether Vincent Kompany’s brand of football at Turf Moor would hold up against the best England has to offer and so far, the answer has been a resounding no.
Kompany took a significant risk going into the season with the youngest squad in the Premier League with an average age of 24 years and 170 days.
So far, it is a risk that has not paid off as Burnley sit 19th and have conceded the second-most goals in the league.
Burnley lost 11 of their first 13 games, achieving a win and a draw over fellow relegation candidates Luton Town and Nottingham Forest respectively.
But apart from that, there hasn’t been much to sing about on the terraces of Turf Moor although a much-needed 2-0 victory away at Fulham will give Kompany’s troops a needed lift going into the second half of the season.
Skipper Josh Brownhill has been one of the few shining lights in this Burnley team, providing a wiser head in a team brimming with young and eager minds.
Staying up this season will be a mammoth task but with Kompany’s remarkable leadership skills, don’t count out the Clarets just yet in the fight for survival.
Vincent Kompany has a massive job on his hands to keep Burnley in the Premier League. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
CHELSEA (10th, +2 GD, 25 pts): F
Mid-season MVP: Cole Palmer
If Chelsea fans thought last year would be the worst of it, well, can only provide our condolences.
A fresh start under new manager Mauricio Pochettino as well as several of the players becoming more familiar with the Premier League had Blues fans hoping for the world.
Instead, they’ve been delivered an atlas.
Chelsea managed to ship off $AUD435 million worth of talent (per Transfermarkt) elsewhere including Kai Havertz (Arsenal), Kalidou Koulibaly (Al-Hilal), Mateo Kovacic (Manchester City) and Mason Mount (Manchester United) to name just four.
But the players brought in — at an estimated total expense of $756 million — have simply not lived up to the billing.
Defensive midfielder Moises Caicedo was the most expensive of the lot, joining Chelsea from Brighton for an eye-watering $187 million.
Yet the Ecuadorean continues to struggle to live up to his price tag and doesn’t look at home in Pochettino’s system.
Sure, Pochettino has been dealt a somewhat rough hand with injuries as skipper Reece James continues to spend more time off the pitch than on it while the likes of Ben Chilwell, Wesley Fofana and Marc Cucurella are sidelined for some time.
Yet for a team that has been so expensively assembled and one of Chelsea’s grand stature, just six wins from 17 league games is simply not good enough.
One summer signing who has looked sharp since arriving is Cole Palmer, who looked to be a seriously risky piece of business at $76 million.
But the Manchester City youth product has delivered several crucial performances for Pochettino’s side and is cold as ice when stepping up to take penalties.
Despite Palmer’s emergence, it cannot be ignored that Chelsea are a serious risk of failing to qualify for European football for a second-straight season.
And if that happens, it’s safe to say Chelsea’s answer will be to throw more money at it and hope it fixes itself.
Despite heavy investment in the summer, Chelsea are still struggling badly. (Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
CRYSTAL PALACE (15th, -9 GD, 18 pts): C-
Mid-season MVP: Eberechi Eze
After Roy Hodgson steered the club away from relegation at the end of last season, Crystal Palace rewarded him with a one-year extension.
It’s taken just 19 games for Hodgson, a boyhood Palace fan, to have the Eagles once again nervously looking over their shoulder at the drop to the Championship.
After just two defeats in the first eight games, Hodgson’s troops have suffered a massive nosedive in form.
Palace have lost seven of their last 11 fixtures, with only one win — against 19th-place Burnley — in that run.
The main issue crippling Palace is their inability to find the back of the net, with their tally of 19 goals the third-lowest in the league: only Burnley (18) and Sheffield United (15) are worse.
Talk is heating up about the Palace top brass eyeing up a move for Steve Cooper, who was recently sacked by Nottingham Forest, as a mid-season replacement for Hodgson.
It could be what the team needs if it is to surge up the table and unlock the attacking talent it possesses.
The dynamic duo of Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze is one of the league’s most exciting on paper, but largely due to injuries they have not been able to share the field.
If those two can start to fire, Palace theoretically should pull away from the danger zone.
Roy Hodgson has overseen a worrying run of form at Crystal Palace lately. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
EVERTON (17th, -1 GD, 16 pts): B+
Mid-season MVP: Dwight McNeil
It’s worth starting with the obvious: Everton copped a Premier League-record ten-point penalty for financial breaches last month that dropped them to 19th and level on points with the bottom-placed team. Without it, they’d be in the top half of the table right now. But the players have responded brilliantly to that hefty blow, beating Newcastle and Chelsea comfortably in recent weeks to climb out of the relegation zone. They are doing so even after recording a €42.30m transfer profit in the off-season – one of only four teams to receive more than they spent. After narrowly avoiding relegation in recent seasons, the points penalty has ignited a fire in their collective belly and they look set to push well clear of danger.
The key marker of improvement behind Everton’s resurgence is their defensive record, a hallmark of Toffees boss Sean Dyche.
Everton have conceded just 25 goals this season, a figure equal with heavyweights like Newcastle and Manchester United.
Although Everton have improved as a collective, one star who looks especially rejuvenated under Dyche is winger Dwight McNeil.
The winger burst onto the scene at Burnley during Dyche’s tenure and the two are once again getting the best out of each other, with McNeil constantly whipping in dangerous crosses that have opposition backlines scrambling.
Despite a 10-point deduction, Everton have not been feeling sorry for themselves. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)Source: AFP
FULHAM (13th, -8 GD, 21 pts): C
Mid-season MVP: João Palhinha
After losing talismanic striker Aleksandar Mitrovic to Saudi club Al-Hilal in the summer, serious questions were going to be asked about Fulham and Marco Silva this season.
Would they have the same goalscoring credentials? Will Silva tweak his team’s style of play to mitigate the loss of Mitrovic?
Could they actually replace Mitrovic and achieve the same results?
In short, no.
Summer signing Raul Jimenez and Willian lead the club’s goalscoring charts in the Premier League with just four to their names, followed by Bobby Decordova-Reid and Alex Iwobi who have three each.
However, Fulham somehow managed to score 16 goals in the space of four games, including back-to-back 5-0 wins at home over Nottingham Forest and West Ham United.
Throw in a recent 2-0 defeat at home to relegation battlers Burnley and you start to see why Fulham are just a very, very odd team this season.
One man crucial to Fulham’s hopes of a comfortable mid-table finish this season is defensive midfielder Joao Palhinha, who almost joined Mitrovic out the exit door but to German giants Bayern Munich instead.
Palhinha could have easily downed tools given the move of a lifetime didn’t come off, but the opposite is true.
The Portuguese start leads the league in tackles by a massive margin and will be crucial to Fulham’s efforts in the second half of the 23/24 campaign.
Fulham are all but certain for a comfortable midtable finish. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
LIVERPOOL (1st, +23 GD, 42 pts): A+
Mid-season MVP: Mohamed Salah
They’re scoring goals for fun, have the best defensive record in the league and if it weren’t for an egregious officiating error, would be undefeated.
Oh, and they’re sitting in first place too.
It’s been some start to the season for Liverpool who have won 12 of their 19 league games so far.
Unsurprisingly, Mohamed Salah has been pivotal to Liverpool’s success this season thanks to his 12 goals and seven assists in the Premier League.
The new-look Reds midfield has also impressed, especially summer arrival Dominik Szoboszlai.
Despite all of the Reds’ success this season, they have not been without their flaws.
Liverpool have had to come from behind to either win or draw on eight occasions this season and of those eight games, a goal has arrived in second-half stoppage time.
One side of that argument plays into Jurgen Klopp’s previous comments about his players being “mentality monsters”.
On the other hand, it is an unsustainable trend that could come back to bite Liverpool dearly.
Of course, the biggest question that faces Klopp’s side is how they will cope without Salah when he takes off for the African Cup of Nations with Egypt.
Given he has been involved in 19 of Liverpool’s 39 league goals this season, his absence takes away the team’s best goalscoring threat.
But Klopp is one of the best managers in the world for a reason and will have devised a plan to make up for Salah’s absence.
Just how well that plan works will likely prove the difference between winning the Premier League and falling agonisingly short yet again.
Mohamed Salah is vital to Liverpool’s title hopes. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)Source: AFP
LUTON TOWN (18th, -13 GD, 15 pts): C-
Mid-season MVP: Ross Barkley
They’ve got no money, the smallest ground in the league, and it’s fair to say they were given no chance of survival. From the start of the season, they showed they were up for the fight. But the big question was always around whether they had enough quality.
In their first 12 games, they had six points and had scored just 10 goals. It felt like they probably deserved more – they gave Man Utd a huge scare and came within inches of beating Liverpool.
But they turned things around after that. Since then, they’ve scored 10 goals in six games and racked up nine points!
After being all-but-written-off in pre-season, they’re mounting a genuine run at avoiding relegation.
The Hatters have now won both games since captain Tom Lockyer suffered a cardiac arrest, including a genuine ‘six-pointer’ over Sheffield United.
Ex-PL defender Stephen Kelly told BBC Radio: “Sometimes it can be a horrendous moment like that that galvanises you as a group of players.
“Quality-wise I don’t think Luton are there when it comes to the Premier League and they can’t compete with the finances. But they compete with hard work, energy and desire.”
Maybe the magic touch of quality comes from Barkley, who has slotted in perfectly after joining from French first-tier team Nice in the off-season.
The former Everton and Chelsea midfield star is shining in a deeper role, picking up the ball deep and driving forward. His long balls and ability to draw in defenders has been crucial for Luton’s attack. The 30-year-old is undergoing a career resurgence – and it might just carry the Hatters to survival.
Ross Barkley is enjoying a career resurgence at Luton Town. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
MANCHESTER CITY (4th, +22 GD, 37 pts): A-
Mid-season MVP: Rodri
The status that comes with winning four Premier League titles in a row explains why this season so far feels a little below par for Manchester City.
It’s been a rather bizarre season for Pep Guardiola’s side, who found themselves in fourth at the halfway mark of the 23/24 season.
Some things remain relatively normal: Erling Haaland leads the golden boot race with 14, City are the league’s highest scorers with 43 and have conceded the third-fewest goals (21).
But there’s a feeling City, for the first time in a long while, might be a little vulnerable.
The absence of star Belgian midfielder Kevin de Bruyne has no doubt played a major role in that sentiment, while Haaland’s recent injury has lightened the load on opposition backlines.
Yet there’s one alarming stat which suggests those two aren’t the vital pieces to City’s title charge.
Instead, it’s Spanish midfielder Rodri.
Granted he’s not going to provide the mind-boggling assist and goal numbers De Bruyne and Haaland provide.
But from the three games City have not had Rodri available, they have lost all three: a 2-1 loss to Wolves as well as 1-0 defeats to Arsenal and Aston Villa.
City also could and perhaps should have a better defensive record, if not for the 4-4 and 3-3 goalfests against Chelsea and Tottenham respectively.
In fact, City have conceded goals in the 90th minute and beyond for three of their four draws this season, pointing to a serious concentration issue that has crept in for Guardiola’s side.
However, there’s always a sense of inevitability with City given they know exactly when to peak during the final run-in and simply cannot be counted out until it’s mathematically impossible.
Manchester City have not won when Rodri has been absent. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)Source: AFP
MANCHESTER UNITED (7th, -4 GD, 31 pts): B-
Mid-season MVP: Bruno Fernandes
Let’s start with the positives. They’re seventh on the ladder and still in top-four contention. Bruno Fernandes is putting together a season for the ages when it comes to playmaking (more on that below). But it’s fair to say there are still big problems.
Ten times this season, Manchester United have conceded more than one goal in the space of 10 minutes or less. This month alone that has included two in five minutes (Villa), two in six (West Ham), two in five (Bournemouth).
Then there’s the attack. United have scored just 21 goals this season, which is the equal-third fewest of any team in the Premier League.
Before their impressive comeback win over Aston Villa, United’s forwards had scored a combined four league goals from open play in 18 games. The team had gone over 420 minutes without scoring before Garnacho’s opening goal against Villa. Big-money signing Rasmus Hojlund’s goal in the game was his first in the league … in his 15th appearance!
“Too many people talk about the strikers at Man Utd,” Garnacho said after the game.
United fans will be hoping their forwards can finally find some form and shut up the critics.
Thankfully, they’re getting plenty of service from Fernandes, who keeps creating chances at a remarkable rate. His expected assists this season stands at 6.47 per understat, while his actual assists is just three. If his teammates can stop missing so many chances, United can still make something of this season.
Bruno Fernandes is providing chances but his United teammates are struggling to finish them. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)Source: AFP
NEWCASTLE (9th, +12 GD, 29 pts): B-
Mid-season MVP: Anthony Gordon
It was always going to be a difficult ask for Newcastle to build on the wild ride all the way to the Champions League they enjoyed last season.
And so far, that’s exactly what it’s proving to be.
A 5-1 win over Aston Villa and an 8-0 thrashing of Sheffield United are distant memories as Eddie Howe’s side limped its way to the halfway mark, losing four of their last five games.
The depth of Eddie Howe’s squad has been tested beyond belief as the addition of a European schedule has placed plenty of strain on a playing group desperately short on depth.
Couple that with lengthy injury spells to key players like Nick Pope, Harvey Barnes and Sven Botman to name three and it’s easy to understand why the Magpies are suffering this season.
There’s also been the unwanted distraction of marquee summer recruit Sandro Tonali’s suspension for gambling, robbing Newcastle of a player deemed pivotal to their domestic and European hopes.
But amid all the doom and gloom in the Toon, winger Anthony Gordon has been a shining light.
Gordon wears his heart on his sleeve and it’s his relentless energy that has resulted in vital goals for Newcastle.
The 22-year-old has six league goals to his name but, most crucially, has started 17 of 19 games.
Having guided Newcastle back to the Champions League last season, Howe’s job is extremely likely to be safe despite the team’s struggles this season.
But given it is the first sustained period of on-field woes, it will be extremely intriguing to see how patient Newcastle’s Saudi ownership are.
Newcastle are struggling to emulate the highs of last season. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
NOTTINGHAM FOREST (16th, -12 GD, 17 pts): D
Mid-season MVP: Morgan Gibbs-White
It wasn’t anything close to the transfer extravaganza prior to their Premier League return last year, but Nottingham Forest still decided to loosen the pursestrings and bring a raft of stars to the City Ground, including star wingers Callum Hudson-Odoi and Anthony Elanga.
Despite the high-profile additions, Forest boss Steve Cooper couldn’t quite get them firing when he needed to and as a result the cult hero was sacked.
Looking at Forest’s results this season and it’s hard not to see why club owner Evangelos Marinakis lost patience with Cooper.
Things appeared reasonably bright for the Reds at the start of the season having lost just four of their opening 11 games and even then, those defeats were to Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool.
But after a surprise 2-0 win at home against Aston Villa, the wheels fell off for Cooper and his team.
Four straight losses — including a 5-0 humiliation away to Fulham which resulted in Marinakis hurling his matchday accreditation into the front garden of a home near Craven Cottage — cranked up the pressure on Cooper.
A 1-1 draw against Wolves only proved to be a brief stay of execution, as a 2-0 loss to Tottenham the following week brought an end to Cooper’s time at the club.
Former Wolves boss Nuno Esperito Santo has now arrived and although he tasted defeat amid controversial circumstances in his first match in charge, Forest looked a brighter side in a 3-1 win away to Newcastle.
Although Forest may privately harbour aspirations bigger than just survival, Nuno’s remit will no doubt be to avoid the drop.
Dynamic forward Morgan Gibbs-White will be vital to achieving this aim, as will the goalscoring prowess of Kiwi striker Chris Wood.
Morgan Gibbs-White (left) is one star who is set to play a big role in keeping Forest up. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
SHEFFIELD UNITED (20th, -32 GD, 9 pts): E
Mid-season MVP: Gustavo Hamer
The Blades have lacked a cutting edge (sorry) up front, but they’ve also been sliced apart defensively. They’ve got the worst offensive and defensive record in the league by some distance. In fact, after 19 games, they hold the second-worst defensive record in Premier League history. Their 47 goals conceded is second only to Barnsley 1997-98 (50 conceded).
But to be fair, expectations were low this season, especially when they sold two key players in Iliman Ndiaye to Marseille and Sander Berge to rivals Burnley. At times they have been a shambles that feels more like a bunch of individuals than any sort of united team. They’ve lost two games 5-0 and another 8-0, sacked a manager and need a miracle to avoid relegation. It’s been a sorry season.
Hamer, a 15 million pound signing, has been a rare shining light. He struck an absolute screamer on his Premier League debut and has impressed with his workrate on and off the ball. He is creative and courageous – which sometimes results in gifting possession to the opposition too frequently – but he has the kind of intensity and drive to win that is infectious. At least, Sheffield fans will hope so, otherwise it will be straight back to the Championship for the Blades.
Sheffield United are favourites to be relegated. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
TOTTENHAM (5th, +11 GD, 36 pts): A
Mid-season MVP: Ange Postecoglou (we had to!)
From leading the league in October, to managing to find a way to score goals after losing arguably the club’s greatest-ever striker Harry Kane, and most importantly playing an attractive style of football, it’s been one hell of a start to the season for Spurs. They’ve faced a major injury crisis that’s about as bad as any team in the league, and took out two of their star signings (and most important players overall) James Maddison and Micky van de Ven.
At the same time, they’ve been struck down by suspensions – like Cristian Romero, who sums up their season with his two red cards followed by a big injury.
Sure, they had a poor November, but overall the first half of the season has been more than impressive.
They lost 14 games last season. At the mid-point of this season, they’ve lost five.
And if Postecoglou thought he had already undergone a brutal test with a casualty ward at capacity as well as constant suspensions, he’s got a nightmare scenario in the very near future.
He’s about to lose star midfield duo Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr to the African Cup of Nations as well as club captain Heung-Min Son to the Asian Cup.
But the Australian boss has never shied away from a challenge and he won’t be about to do so now.
Perspective is also needed when viewing Postecoglou’s achievements amid the brutal hand he has been dealt when it comes to the unavailability of several of his first team stars.
When he’s had everyone free to play, we’ve seen just how good this Tottenham team can be.
Postecoglou has enjoyed a true rollercoaster of a Premier League season and we’re only at the halfway mark. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
WEST HAM (6th, +3 GD, 33 pts): B
Mid-season MVP: Jarrod Bowen
Prior to the season, the big question surrounding West Ham was about how they would navigate life without talismanic midfielder and captain Declan Rice after his £105 million move to Arsenal.
Granted, a direct replacement of Rice’s quality was just about impossible.
But thanks to the summer additions of Edson Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse, Rice’s absence is not as keenly felt as first feared.
Hammers boss David Moyes also began the season as one manager tipped as a likely chance of getting sacked and, for a brief period this season, it looked like that could have eventuated.
A run of five defeats in seven games heaped pressure on the Scot, but in typical Moyes fashion, he managed to turn the ship around.
Since that run, West Ham have lost just once — a rogue 5-0 hammering at the hands of Fulham — and have won six of their last eight to rocket up from 12th place all the way to sixth.
Pivotal to this uptick in form is the dynamic trio of Lucas Paqueta, Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen.
Paqueta leads the league in the most through balls with 19, ahead of the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Bruno Fernandes and Martin Odegaard, and has five assists to his name.
After a slow start, Kudus has found his feet in the Premier League and has four goals in his last six league games.
But it is Bowen who has been the real shining light of West Ham, with his 11 goals to date proving vital.
His pace and ability to stretch opposition backlines is crucial to the Hammers hitting teams in transition and, as it stands, should be considered a lock for England’s squad at EURO 2024.
Jarrod Bowen is in sensational form for West Ham this season. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
WOLVES (11th, -4 GD, 25 pts): C
Mid-season MVP: Matheus Cunha
When Julen Lopetegui resigned on August 8, many Wolves fans would have been forgiven if they feared the worst going into this season.
The relatively underwhelming appointment of Gary O’Neil — who was sacked by Bournemouth not long after the end of the 2022/23 season — did little to allay those fears.
Despite the initial fears, Wolves fans backed O’Neil to the hilt and that bond has strengthened over the course of this season.
The highs have been very high for Wolves so far, with home wins against the likes of Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester City giving the Molineux faithful plenty to sing about.
But the one thing that has tightened the bond between Wolves fans and O’Neil is the fact the club has been on the wrong side of an alarming number of VAR calls.
It began in the first match of the season when Wolves were denied what looked like a stonewall penalty after Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana clattered into Sasa Kalajdzic.
Wolves also had two penalty calls go against them in the 3-2 defeat to Fulham, with O’Neil even claiming referee Michael Salisbury told him he made a mistake in awarding one of the penalties.
It led O’Neil to state his team had lost seven points as a result of VAR’s ineptitude, but it also helped create a siege mentality amongst the entire club.
To an extent it’s paid off, with Wolves sitting 10 points clear of the relegation zone and only six points off seventh, the position which qualifies a team for the Europa Conference League.
Matheus Cunha, who joined on a permanent deal in the summer, is a big reason for Wolves’ improvement this season as are the goals from Hwang Hee-Chan.
Cunha’s four goals and five assists goes some way to explaining the attacking threat he provides for O’Neil’s team and will look to continue to be a nuisance for the opposition.
Goals from Caitlin Foord and Hayley Raso did the business for Australia, but it was certainly not a straightforward contest as Denmark had the better of the early chances.
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Crucially, Australia’s backline did the business once again while there was a very warm welcome for a certain substitute as Tony Gustavsson now plans for the Matildas’ next match against France or Morocco.
Foxsports.com.au analyses the Matildas’ victory in Talking Points!
When Caitlin Foord started against Canada as the left winger, it was the first time she had done so at this Women’s World Cup.
But it was a masterstroke of a move from Tony Gustavsson as Foord tore up the left flank all night along and linked up superbly with Arsenal teammate Steph Catley.
Foord was once again tasked with causing destruction from the left and didn’t she deliver.
Her relentless running always provided a useful outlet for the Matildas on the counter-attack and it was no surprise that a trademark Foord burst on the left led to the first goal of the evening.
After playing a tidy pass to Mary Fowler, Foord sprinted into the vacant space on the left and was found by a perfect pass from the midfielder.
The forward showed plenty of composure to slot home the opener. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images )Source: Getty Images
Foord brought the ball under control before driving into the box and firing a perfect finish past the Danish goalkeeper.
She was relentless in her attacking adventures and wriggled her way out of positions when no-one would have given her a chance.
Emily van Egmond, who has played alongside Foord for several years in the Matildas set up, was in awe of her teammate.
“Caitlin’s an absolute weapon,” van Egmond said.
“She’s shown that for many years. Right now she’s in fine form, she’s killing it out there … I’m so happy for her to finally get a goal. It’s well deserved.
Van Egmond was also full of praise for Foord’s goal.
“I’m so happy for her, the finish wasn’t easy by any means,” van Egmond said.
“To finish that was world class.”
Foord got the goal her performance deserved. (Photo by STEVE CHRISTO / AFP)Source: AFP
THE BIG KERR ‘RISK’ FINALLY PAYS OFF
In a blunt airport interview in recent days, Sam Kerr said the three words every Australian had hoped to hear: “I will play.”
And play she did.
The Matildas superstar came on in place of Hayley Raso in the 80th minute to thunderous applause at Stadium Australia.
Granted, Kerr got off to a slow start when she blasted a simple pass out of play but she slowly grew into the game and had a decent chance to get on the scoresheet but she fired her effort over the bar.
There was also a frightening moment when Kerr slipped over in the box and had everyone frightened she could have injured herself.
But thankfully the skipper laughed it off and continued to run around.
Kerr might not have had the impact she’d have wanted having missed the Matildas’ opening three games due to a calf injury, the fact she’s finally returned provides plenty of cause for optimism.
Superstar Sam finally returns to pitch! | 00:25
Gustavsson knew it was a big “risk” bringing Kerr on even with the team 2-0 up and en route to victory, but it was one he felt comfortable enough to make thanks to the medical team.
“Last night we had a lot of meetings,” Gustavsson said in his post-match press conference.
“Today, we had a lot of meetings. A lot of talks with Sam. When do we use her, if we use her? Maybe she needs some minutes to mentally and physically get ready for the next game.
“But that means a risk as well. How much are we willing to risk?
“I’m going to be honest and open up here and say it was a tough decision.
“Today, I wanted to get it right even though I was a bit nervous when she slipped so I hope she’s OK.”
Whether Kerr is handed a starting berth in the Matildas’ quarterfinal against either France or Morocco remains to be seen.
But with several days between now and Saturday, it gives the talisman even more time to fully recover in what can only be beneficial to the team.
Kerr now has several more days to recover from her calf injury. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images )Source: Getty Images
‘MATURE’ TILLIES WEATHER EARLY DANISH STORM
From the get-go, Denmark certainly looked the likelier team to open the scoring.
In fact, they had a shot on target within the opening minute when Katrine Veje fired an effort directly at Mackenzie Arnold.
Denmark captain Pernille Harder also had plenty of joy finding space behind Australia’s central midfield duo of Katrina Gorry and Kyra Cooney-Cross.
Harder constantly had time to drive at the Matildas’ backline with the ball at her feet and have efforts at goal, but she failed to capitalise on any of her chances.
The Danes were left to rue not taking advantage of their early dominance as the Matildas struck first in the 29th minute and from that moment on, Denmark never looked as threatening.
Arnold had to make a few early stops to deny Denmark but had a quiet evening after the initial Danish onslaught. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images )Source: Getty Images
Mary Fowler certainly believed Foord’s goal proved pivotal in wrestling back control of the game after a sluggish beginning.
“I think those games, we had a bit of a slow start,” Fowler said.
“It just takes one moment to shift that kind of momentum. So I think it’s just a game that we can be proud of because everyone fought til the end for each other.”
As for Gustavsson, he conceded he was “surprised” by how well Denmark started and the fact they began in a 4-4-2 shape coupled with a high press, but was proud of how his side weathered the storm.
“I think we struggled first 15 minutes,” Gustavsson said.
“But in tournament football, I’ve said it before, you need to play the game right in front of you and find ways to win.
“The maturity of the players showed tonight and I’m very, very proud.”
Gustavsson was delighted with how his team got themselves back into the contest. (Photo by STEVE CHRISTO / AFP)Source: AFP
‘LOT OF CONFIDENCE’ AS DEFENSIVE UNIT PRODUCE THIRD CLEAN SHEET IN FOUR GAMES
Prior to the World Cup, Clare Hunt had just five international caps to her name and Alanna Kennedy had played a worryingly low amount of minutes in the 2022/23 season due to various injuries.
Fast forward to today and the duo have kept three clean sheets from four World Cup games.
Safe to say, the Matildas’ defensive unit of five is a very well-oiled machine.
Hunt oozes a calmness rarely seen at the back while Kennedy offers a towering aerial presence and a strong ability to read the game.
It’s remarkable just how comfortable the duo are when playing in the heart of defence together, especially since they played very few minutes together prior to the World Cup.
For Kennedy, it is a partnership she feels will only get better the longer the Matildas remain in the running.
“I think for us, we’re building as the tournament goes on,” Kennedy said.
“There’s a lot of confidence between the two of us and the back four, five including ‘Macca’ [Mackenzie Arnold].
Alanna Kennedy helped the Matildas keep a third clean sheet in four games. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“I think for us it was another confidence booster for us moving into the next round.”
Despite Kennedy’s joy at keeping yet another clean sheet, Gustavsson had hoped to see a little more from his team especially when it came to defending from the front.
“I think one thing we definitely need to get better at going forward is our positioning and our defending shape,” Gustavsson said.
“And also reading the pressing trigger better. We didn’t generate as much press today like we normally do. We did fix it through the game and it got much better especially in the second half.
“But in terms of the 90 minute performance … we need to look into that and get back to where we were in our defending against France and England and Sweden and Canada, that type of defending attitude with a little bit more aggressive pressing mindset, but it starts with good positioning.”
The tests will only become tougher the deeper the Matildas go in this World Cup.
But with three clean sheets in four, there’s plenty of defensive momentum in this team.
As the dust settles on the majority of European leagues, a raft of Aussies have enjoyed triumphant title celebrations, suffered the heartbreak of relegation and just about everything in-between.
Former Socceroos catapulted themselves back into the spotlight with several impressive performances while for others, they slowly crept further and further out of the national team picture.
Foxsports.com.au takes a look at how the Aussies abroad performed over the course of the season in the Roo Radar Season Wrap-Up!
We begin our end-of-season wrap in England, the nation where the majority of our Aussies abroad are based.
Harry Souttar ended our wait for an Australian player back in the Premier League when he moved from Championship side Stoke City to Leicester City for $26 million in the January window.
The towering defender saw plenty of gametime after his arrival as he started nine games in a row.
However, he was demoted to the Foxes’ bench for five games after a 3-1 loss to Manchester City on April 15.
Although he returned to help Leicester keep a clean sheet in their penultimate game of the season against Newcastle, he was an unused substitute on the final day as the Foxes were relegated.
With Caglar Soyuncu gone and Jannik Vestergaard likely to leave, there will be plenty of opportunities for Souttar to play next season and help his club secure an immediate return to the Premier League.
There was also a Premier League debut for Cam Peupion at Brighton.
The Sydney FC youth product was a constant presence on Brighton’s bench in the final six games of the season but got his first Premier League minutes in a 4-1 loss to Newcastle.
The 20-year-old midfielder came on for a five-minute cameo and here’s hoping there’s plenty more to come next season.
Souttar was relegated with Leicester back to the Championship. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Socceroos midfielder Alexander Robertson unfortunately did not receive any senior minutes for English giants Manchester City, but he made the matchday squads on a number of occasions.
A loan move for the talented City product could be on the cards next season as he looks to gain more experience in senior level football.
Dipping into the Championship and it was mixed fortunes for our Aussie contingent.
Tom Rogic joined West Bromwich Albion on a free deal in what seemed relatively good business at the time.
But Rogic started just four games from 26 and never really got going at the Hawthorns.
He has since been released by the Baggies as Aussies await his next move.
Riley McGree enjoyed a tremendous season under Middlesbrough coach Michael Carrick as a winger en route to a Play-Offs semi-final appearance.
The 24-year-old started 35 games and looks likely to continue flourishing under Carrick’s tutelage.
Goalkeeper Nicholas Bilokapic continued Australia’s proud history of goalkeepers shining overseas as the 20-year-old made six league appearances for Huddersfield Town.
Bilokapic even registered an assist in a 2-1 win for the Terries over Birmingham City in February.
Ange to coach first Spurs game in Aus | 01:58
Unfortunately Kenny Dougall was relegated to League One with Blackpool but with former boss Neil Critchley back at the helm, the all-action midfielder will look to bounce back.
In League One, Aussie duo Massimo Luongo and Cameron Burgess got to enjoy the sweet, sweet taste of promotion with Ipswich Town.
Burgess was a rock at the back for Ipswich who also had the best defensive record in the English third tier.
Luongo joined the Tractor Boys in January and proved to be an extremely influential member in the midfield.
Although the 30-year-old is now out of contract, there’s every chance he is asked to return to Portman Road for the upcoming Championship season and beyond.
Young goalkeeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer enjoyed a breakout season for Charlton Athletic and put his name into the conversation for Mat Ryan’s heir.
From November 19 onwards, Maynard-Brewer 26 of 28 games and kept five clean sheets with a string of impressive performances.
But the 23-year-old gloveman earned plenty of praise for his heroics in the Addicks’ EFL Cup fourth round clash against Brighton, with Maynard-Brewer coming up with a big stop in the penalty shootout.
Maynard-Brewer in action for Charlton. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
SCOTLAND
There were no less than 15 Aussie stars taking part in the Scottish top flight this season, but there were mixed fortunes involved for all.
At the top of the table was Aaron Mooy who moved to Celtic on a free transfer.
The midfield maestro scored seven goals and provided 11 assists in all competitions for the Hoops en route to a Scottish treble.
He enjoyed somewhat of a purple patch from December 24 to March 11, as Mooy had 14 goal involvements in 13 games.
The big question will be where he fits into the new manager’s plans after Ange Postecoglou departed for Spurs.
Cameron Devlin, Kye Rowles, Nathaniel Atkinson and Garang Kuol all played their part in helping Hearts to a fourth-place finish and a spot in next season’s Europa Conference League.
Kuol arrived in the January window to get his first taste of senior club football outside of Australia, but struggled to make his mark.
Devlin and Rowles, who moved to the club from the Central Coast Mariners last year, played 41 and 33 games respectively with the former scoring twice and notching seven assists.
Atkinson made 26 appearances in all competitions but was often injected into contests from the bench.
Mooy enjoyed a career resurgence at Celtic. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
One spot below Hearts on the Scottish Premiership ladder was their bitter Edinburgh rivals Hibernian, who boast an Aussie trio of their own in Martin Boyle, James Jeggo and Lewis Miller.
Boyle looked in strong form since he returned from Saudi Arabian club Al-Faisaly but had his season ended early thanks to a knee injury suffered on October 29.
Jeggo joined from Belgian side AS Eupen in January and started in each of his 17 appearances, while Miller featured in 16 games although 11 of those came off the bench.
At St Mirren, Keanu Baccus and Ryan Strain enjoyed breakout seasons.
Right-back Strain was a constant presence in St. Mirren’s lineup and started 39 of 42 games.
His four-goal haul included some stunning free kicks while he bagged five assists.
As for Baccus, who arrived at the club from Western Sydney Wanderers, his tough-tackling performances earned him a spot in the Socceroos World Cup squad and was handed a starting berth against eventual world champions Argentina.
Sadly for Dundee United duo Mark Birighitti and Aziz Behich, they were relegated in what was a dismal season for the Tangerines.
Celtic pay touching tribute to Ange | 02:23
NETHERLANDS
Socceroos skipper Mat Ryan secured a much-needed move away from Real Sociedad and found himself at Danish giants FC Copenhagen.
Although he enjoyed a bright start in the capital, a lingering battle with fellow Copenhagen goalkeeper Kamil Grabara bubbled away in the background.
Ryan made 11 appearances for Copenhagen and kept five clean sheets, including one in a scoreless draw against Sevilla in the Champions League.
But once Grabara returned from injury, Ryan lost his starting spot.
Not willing to be stuck behind his rival, who took an unnecessary swipe at the Aussie star in the wake of the Socceroos’ loss to Argentina, Ryan found himself a new team: AZ Alkmaar.
Ryan played 25 times and recorded eight clean sheets as AZ finished fourth in the Eredivisie and were one game away from a Europa Conference League final.
With a contract until June 2024, let’s hope Ryan has found himself somewhat of a permanent home after years of turbulence.
Mat Ryan looks to have finally found a home. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
SPAIN/CZECH REPUBLIC
Well, there’s only one Aussie who fits this bill and that is winger Awer Mabil.
The 27-year-old moved to La Liga side Cadiz last summer but started just one game for the Spanish side as game time proved difficult to come by.
He moved to Czech heavyweights Sparta Prague in January and although he started once there too, he saw more time on the pitch as an impact sub.
Cadiz survived the wild final-day relegation shootout in La Liga to stay in the top flight for another season, but Mabil must get more game time if he is to play a continued role with the Socceroos.
FRANCE
After a horror run with injuries, midfielder Denis Genreau finally got to find some form with Ligue 1 side Toulouse.
Genreau saw limited minutes in the early stages of the season, but started in all but two of Toulouse’s final nine league games.
The 24-year-old also got to enjoy some silverware thanks to Toulouse’s stunning 5-1 thrashing of Nantes in the Coupe de France final.
Genreau’s regular starts in the back-end of the season should provide hope for increased game time going forward.
Also in France, 19-year-old forward Mohamed Toure made his Ligue 1 debut for Reims with three consecutive appearances off the bench in the latter stages of the season.
If Toure can kick on next season and gain some rare starts, he’ll no doubt have a strong claim for a Socceroos call-up.
Genreau (left) has returned to the Socceroos fold. (Photo by Nicolas TUCAT / AFP)Source: AFP
GERMANY
Alou Kuol can now say he has played in the Bundesliga, as the talented forward came off the bench for VfB Stuttgart against RB Leipzig on January 27.
Thanks to a 6-1 aggregate win over Hamburg in the relegation play-off to preserve their Bundesliga status, here’s hoping Kuol can make even more appearances in the German top flight next season.
In the 2. Bundesliga, Jackson Irvine and Connor Metcalfe couldn’t quite lift St. Pauli to promotion.
Irvine finished as St. Pauli’s second-top goalscorer with eight, while Metcalfe scored three times in his first season with the club having moved from Melbourne City.
ITALY
Ajdin Hrustic moved to Serie A side Hellas Verona on deadline day last summer but endured a tough start to life in Italy as he started just two league games before undergoing ankle surgery in January.
The attacking midfielder returned to the bench for Verona’s final three games but didn’t see any game time as his side now faces a relegation play-off against Spezia to stay in Serie A.
Should the worst-case scenario occur and Verona go down to Serie B, Hrustic could seek an exit just one year into his deal.
Hrustic’s time in Italy has been hampered by ankle surgery. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
However, one player who made waves in Italy’s second tier was Alessandro Circati.
The highly-rated teenager, who recently earned a Socceroos call-up, enjoyed a solid season for Parma as they came agonisingly short of promotion.
The 19-year-old may have started just ten games, but he also enjoyed the second-highest points-per-game rating in the squad with 2.00 whenever he played.
With legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon behind him, Circati will have learned plenty from one of the greats of the game and will look to continue his development with Parma.
One Socceroo who must be on the move to save his international future is right back Fran Karacic, who was relegated from Serie B to Serie C with Brescia.
BELGIUM
Jason Davidson made his return to European football with Belgian side AS Eupen after joining from Melbourne Victory.
The defender started 30 from 33 games as Eupen finished 15th from 18 teams.
AUSTRIA
Veteran midfielder James Holland moved to Austria Vienna last summer and proved to be an important player as the Austrian side ultimately finished fifth in the league.
Kai Calderbank-Park is, by his own admission, “just a lad from Wollongong.”
But, as of last Sunday, he is also a part of history that captured the imagination of football and non-football fans alike.
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The Australian will forever be a member of the Wrexham squad that ended its 15-year exile from the English Football League (EFL).
The Welsh club accomplished the feat in just the second full season under the passionate ownership of Hollywood duo Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds.
A 3-1 win over Boreham Wood at The Racecourse sealed not just promotion but also the National League title, sparking jubilant celebrations from the 10,000-plus fans inside and indeed outside the venue.
Calderbank-Park, a 22-year-old goalkeeper who wasn’t in the matchday squad but was fully immersed in the celebrations, was just one of very few who go to experience a wild, drunken night of triumph.
It was the final stop on the day’s emotional rollercoaster which extended long into the night, even though Wrexham’s players and staff still had to show up for training the next day.
Although the hangovers may have been severe for fans and players alike, no-one will forget the day Wrexham returned to the EFL.
Wrexham returned to the EFL after winning the National League. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
DISASTER STRUCK IN 40 SECONDS … THEN RIVALS GOT MULLIN’D
The equation for Wrexham was simple: win and they would be promoted with the league title in tow.
But against Boreham Wood, who went into the clash with the best defensive record in the National League, Wrexham’s wheels came unstuck in just 40 seconds.
A ball was lofted over Wrexham’s backline and Boreham Wood striker Lee Ndlovu pounced, lobbing the ball over Ben Foster and into the back of the net.
“It was weird,” Calderbank-Park told the Fox Football Podcast.
“Literally as they scored, you couldn’t hear anything. I was just like, ‘What’s happened?’
“I couldn’t even hear their fans. It was more of a shock if anything.”
Yet the silence was quickly replaced by a roar from a sea of red at The Racecourse as the Wrexham faithful rallied behind their troops.
It took just 15 minutes for the home side equalised thanks to Elliot Lee, a 28-year-old midfielder who played in the Championship with Luton Town only two seasons ago.
Elliot Lee scored the equaliser for Wrexham. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
The score remained locked at 1-1 at the half-time interval, but it took just seven minutes after the break for the third goal of the game.
For those who have followed Wrexham’s journey since the Hollywood takeover, there are no prizes for guessing who put the home side in the lead.
Paul Mullin bagged Wrexham’s second goal before adding a third in the 71st minute, allowing Wrexham fans to dream of life back in the EFL.
However, Calderbank-Park kept a lid on his excitement despite Mullin’s 38th goal of the season.
“You have it (promotion) in the back of your mind a bit, but at the same time, there’s still 15 minutes to play,” Calderbank-Park said.
“It’s one of those ones, as soon as you get the third goal, it’s technically only 2-0. They get one back, there’s still 10 or 15 minutes to play so in your head you’re thinking, ‘Crap, they could easily get another one here.’
“Don’t get me wrong, some people probably thought, ‘Yeah, we’re pretty comfortable.’ But it’s still not over.”
As the clock ticked down, the party began to start.
The crowd was in full voice and Wrexham’s players on the sideline began exchanging nervous but excited glances at one another.
“Then the final whistle goes and bang, we win the league and get promoted,” Calderbank-Park said.
Paul Mullin’s double helped Wrexham secure victory over Boreham Wood. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
CRATES OF BEER, PITCH INVASIONS AND THE ALL-TIME INSTAGRAM SELFIE
There were a handful of seconds between Wrexham’s players raising their arms in joy and being mobbed by the fans who sprinted onto the field.
As for Calderbank-Park, he has “absolutely no idea” who he hugged first, claiming “it was a random fan.”
It was all part of the fun for the young Aussie who wouldn’t have it any other way.
“I was literally on the sideline next to the coaches and staff and bench players,” Calderbank-Park said.
“We just sprinted onto the pitch and got absolutely mauled. People were hugging you and kissing you, taking photos with you.
“People had some people on their shoulders, there were flares going off, it was madness.”
It took 20 minutes for Wrexham’s players to make their way through the dugout and into their dressing room where the party cranked up a notch.
Wrexham fans stormed the pitch after the full-time whistle. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)Source: AFP
Crates of beers were wheeled in, the contents of which were rapidly emptied into their mouths or sprayed onto the walls of the changing room.
“I absolutely stank of alcohol,” Calderbank-Park recalled.
“I was absolutely drenched. Then the gaffer (Phil Parkinson) came in and got absolutely drenched. Everyone was spraying when he came in.
“We were all singing, ‘We Are The Champions.’”
As for the MVP of the celebrations, Calderbank-Park needed little time to reveal the culprit.
“You know what, Ben Foster is up there,” Calderbank-Park said.
“Ben Foster, 100 per cent. He surprised me. He loved a beer, he loved all the beer and alcohol.
“But every single one of them was happy and buzzing. Rightly so, we should be.”
The changing room celebrations were briefly paused at the request of British broadcaster BT Sport, who politely asked the team to re-emerge onto the field to lift the trophy now that the fans had returned to the stands.
Front and centre of the trophy celebrations, and deservedly so, were Reynolds and McElhenney, the men who re-energised the entire football club and indeed the town.
They’re more accustomed to clinking glasses filled with Veuve Clicquot alongside Hollywood’s elite, but on this day, the beverage of choice was Wrexham Lager, all downed alongside the tightly-knit squad they helped create.
It all speaks to how “down to earth” the Hollywood pair truly are.
Ben Foster was in the thick of the celebrations. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)Source: AFP
“They’re literally like one of the players,” Calderbank-Park said.
“It’s actually quite mad. A lot of people don’t realise and a lot of clubs don’t do it, but they’re literally like one of the boys. It’s weird. It doesn’t seem real.
“We were walking around the pitch with them, hugging them and getting selfies with them. It’s quite mad, to be fair.
“You’re just chilling and relaxing and being best mates with these Hollywood superstars which is absolutely outrageous.
“But they’re just like one of us.”
Even if Reynolds and McElhenney want to come across as one of the lads, they still remain superstars to the average Joe.
Just ask Calderbank-Park’s mother and girlfriend, who were both incredibly nervous at the prospect of meeting the duo.
“All the families came on the pitch and we were talking and celebrating, then the trophy was in the middle with Rob and Ryan,” Calderbank-Park said.
“There was actually a bit of a queue, all the players and the families were in a queue to get a photo and have a quick chat.
“I told my mum and girlfriend, ‘Come over and come and meet them.’ So we got in the queue. My mum and girlfriend were a bit starstruck. They were a bit like, ‘Oh my god, we’re about to meet Rob and Ryan.’
“Went up to them, shook their hands. I introduced them to my mum and dad and girlfriend, they’re lovely. They asked if they’re (parents and girlfriend) from Australia as well.
“We were just saying it doesn’t get much better than this.”
‘ONWARDS AND UPWARDS’: AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE AWAITS, BUT IT CAN’T CHANGE HISTORY
With Wrexham’s future in League Two now secure, there’s likely to be significant changes in personnel.
Calderbank-Park, who joined last September on a short-term deal but was extended until the end of the season in January, is one of many who faces an uncertain future.
Given Wrexham’s large goalkeeping stocks, his time at the club could be over, such is the volatile nature of contracts in the lower tiers of English football.
But the 22-year-old isn’t focusing too much on his future just yet.
Instead, he’s just basking in the joy this promotion brought to a town that had long been craving something positive on the football field.
“The club’s spent 15 years in that league,” Calderbank-Park said.
“Rob and Ryan have come in to get us out of that league. Now that has officially happened, it’s just such a relief. The celebrations and to see what it was like, you will never see anything like it.
Wrexham can now dream about life in the EFL. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)Source: AFP
“On the day, there would have been 10,150 people there. There’s a lot more people outside the stadium that couldn’t get in.
“Everyone was so happy and relieved. It was like a weight had been lifted off your shoulders. Now it’s onwards and upwards.”
Whether he extends his stay in the north of Wales or doesn’t, no-one can ever take away what Calderbank-Park has done.
He will forever be tied to a piece of Wrexham history and he’s done it at just 22 years of age.
“Hands down, probably one of, if not the best career moment I’ve had,” Calderbank-Park said.
“I’m only 22, so I’ve not had that many career moments. Being called up to the Australian national team (U19 and U23) is one of my proudest moments, signing for Burnley in the Premier League was quite a big achievement for me.
“Now, getting promoted, because it’s such a big club and it’s going places and because of what they were, 15 years in that league, to see how big and popular they are now, it’s on there as one of the best things I’ve done in my career.
“Experiencing and seeing it live in the flesh is something you’ll never forget.
“I’m just a lad from Wollongong, I’m just a guy from the ‘Gong living the dream.”
Liverpool’s humiliating 5-2 Champions League defeat at the hands of Real Madrid was emphatic proof that the Reds have reached ‘the end of an era’, two Premier League legends have declared.
Having gone two goals up at home, Liverpool capitulated in catastrophic fashion, conceding five goals at home in a European competition for the first time in club history.
After winning two domestic cups last year, missing out on the Premier League trophy on the final day of the season, and losing the Champions League final – to Madrid no less – the team has now fallen off a cliff. The team sits eighth in the league, have already been knocked out of both domestic cups, and are now all-but-out of the Champions League.
Arsenal great Thierry Henry and Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher variously described the side and its performance as ‘fragile’, ‘broken’, ‘absolutely shambolic’, ‘embarrassing’ and a ‘disgrace’.
Speaking on CBS after the game, Carragher said: “What a performance from Real Madrid, to come to Anfield … and destroy Liverpool like that. That was shambolic from Liverpool. Embarrassing.
“We’ve made excuses for them all season, reasons why they’re not doing as well as they have done in previous seasons, but that was a disgrace in that second half.
“To not even have a chance themselves, show any real fight after the goals go in. To lose that half 3-0 when you’re attacking the Kop (end), it’s 2-2 and a knockout game, absolutely shambolic from Liverpool.”
The match came on the back of two Liverpool wins in the league, in the Merseyside derby and against high-flying Newcastle, which appeared a potential turning point in Liverpool’s dismal season.
But Carragher declared: “It was nonsense, absolute nonsense, that Liverpool were back in the last two games … Liverpool, right now, and all season, have been an absolute shambles defensively.”
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Nunez WOWS as Courtois has a mare! | 01:02
His excoriating rant continued shortly afterwards, as he said: “Liverpool all season, as I said before, have been an absolute shambles defensively. This team had a great defensive record last season. But we know the midfield doesn’t have the energy anymore, the attacking players in the front three don’t press or certainly don’t have the cohesion that was there before with Firmino and Mane – they’re new to it, Nunez and Gakpo.
“This Liverpool defence who we’ve been told have got some of the best players in the world can’t cope. For years they had a front six in front of them who probably worked harder and smarter than any other team in world football. Now that’s gone it’s completely fell apart.”
In a brutal swipe at Liverpool’s Dutch centre-back Virgil van Dijk, 700-game Reds player Carragher declared he thinks he could still do a better job at the age of 45.
Carragher said: “Liverpool are eighth in the Premier League and have just been battered 5-2 in the Champions League. I know it’s Real Madrid, but these are two teams who were in the final last year. It’s not acceptable what we’re watching this season.
“We keep looking for reasons and excuses, but it’s nowhere near good enough.
“What makes me laugh … Virgil van Dijk said I wouldn’t get in the back four about two months ago (at my best). I think I could take his place at the moment!”
Madrid smack 5 past Reds at Anfield | 01:50
Arsenal icon Thierry Henry got in on the act, saying on CBS: “I saw a fragile team, more than fragile … Something needs to change. I don’t think (coach Jurgen) Klopp needs to go, that’s not what I’m saying. But some of the players don’t have the level anymore to play for Liverpool … I think it’s the end of an era.”
“You have to call a cat a cat … they’re eighth, they’re not playing well, they’re conceding a lot,” he added. “I just think it’s not good enough … they need to reinvent themselves.”
Carragher replied: “As Thierry said, this team’s come to an end. Jurgen Klopp built a team when he first came in, when that team was seventh or eighth in the Premier League, and what we saw for the next four of five years was amazing. He needs to be allowed to do it again.
“I think that’s a line in the sand. When you lose 5-2 at home in the Champions League, that is almost a slip knot. This has to stop, you have to start again.”
He added: “The second half, you’re attacking the Kop on a European night. There was nothing. Absolutely nothing. No energy, no goalmouth scrambles. There was nothing there. They just looked broken to me … it’s the end of an era.”
Meanwhile, Australian legend Mark Bosnich said on Stan Sport: “I’d be absolutely burning (if I was Klopp), considering the way they started, the way they allowed Madrid to get back in the game, then pretty much the capitulation at the end.”
Manchester City shrugged off the uncertainty caused by a series of Premier League charges to close to within three points of Arsenal at the top of the table with a 3-1 win over Aston Villa on Monday (AEDT).
A cloud is hanging over the English champions after the Premier League hit the club with more than 100 charges alleging breaches of financial rules dating as far back as 2009.
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If found guilty, City could face a severe points deduction or even relegation from the top flight.
But City boss Pep Guardiola came out swinging in defence of the club’s hierarchy as he pointed the finger at jealous Premier League rivals for the accusations and his players followed him with a show of defiance on the field.
Rodri, Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez all struck before half-time at the Etihad to edge ominously into Arsenal’s rear-view mirror ahead of a clash between the two on Wednesday.
Arsenal still have a game in hand, but City will now move to the top of the table should they win at the Emirates in midweek.
The Gunners’ 1-1 draw at home to Brentford on Saturday opened the door for City and unlike last weekend, when the defending champions missed the chance to pounce with defeat away to Tottenham, this time they made no mistake.
Guardiola also learned his lesson from an experimental line-up at Spurs. Ruben Dias, Aymeric Laporte, Kevin De Bruyne and Gundogan were restored to the starting line-up and City looked much more like their old selves.
The City support made their feelings known before kick-off as the Premier League anthem was booed and a banner raised saluting the lawyer the club have hired to defend the charges.
Just four minutes in they had something to cheer as Rodri rose highest to power home a header from Mahrez’s corner.
Jack Grealish was in the mood to do some damage against his former club and only a brilliant finger-tip save from Emiliano Martinez denied the England international from finding the top corner.
Much was made of City’s reluctance to hit Erling Haaland early in a feeble surrender to Spurs last weekend and the Norwegian was a far more persistent threat in behind the Villa defence.
Haaland, who joined City for $90m (AUD) in the off-season, created the second as his pace beat Martinez to De Bruyne’s ball over the top and he picked out Gundogan at the far post for a simple finish.
Grealish then lured Jacob Ramsey into a clumsy challenge to win a penalty, which Mahrez slotted home as Haaland surprisingly stepped aside.
That decision was perhaps explained by Haaland’s withdrawal at half-time as he appeared to be nursing a thigh issue, which will be a concern for Guardiola.
So too will be his side’s defensive record as another clean sheet was spoiled when Douglas Luiz robbed Bernardo Silva and freed Ollie Watkins to fire into the far corner on the hour mark.
Villa substitute Jhon Duran then smashed against the bar in stoppage time, but a second-half rally was too little, too late for Unai Emery’s men.
Erling Haaland has subbed off at half time. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
RASHFORD’S HOT STREAK CONTINUES AS RED DEVILS BRUSH ASIDE RIVALS
Marcus Rashford extended his hot streak with the late goal that inspired Manchester United’s 2-0 win against old rivals Leeds on Monday.
After Rashford scored to spark United’s comeback from two goals down in Wednesday’s 2-2 draw with Leeds, Rashford tormented the Yorkshire club once again.
Rashford netted with 10 minutes left at Elland Road to make it four successive Premier League games with a goal for the England forward, who has scored in eight of his last nine appearances in the competition.
Following Alejandro Garnacho’s frustrated reaction to being substituted on Wednesday, the Argentine teenager made amends as he came off the bench to seal United’s hard-fought victory five minutes after Rashford’s goal.
United’s win was just their second in their last five league games, although they have now lost just once in their last 17 matches in all competitions.
Erik ten Hag’s side moved up to second place, although Manchester City would go back above them if they beat Aston Villa later on Sunday.
More importantly, United are seven points clear of fifth placed Tottenham in the race to qualify for the Champions League via a top four finish.
The clash was marred by offensive taunts from the stands, with Leeds fans singing about the 1958 Munich air crash that killed several United players and their rivals in the away end responding by chanting about the deaths of two Leeds fans in Istanbul in 2000.
Rashford heads home the opener against Leeds. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Fourth bottom Leeds are without a win in their last nine league games and would drop into the relegation zone if Everton beat Liverpool on Monday.
Since sacking Jesse Marsch on Monday, Leeds have seen their move for Rayo Vallecano boss Andoni Iraola blocked by his club, while Feyenoord’s Arne Slot and West Brom’s Carlos Corberan ruled themselves out of contention.
Leeds chief executive Angus Kinnear insists the search is “well advanced”, but Michael Skubala was in charge for a second game on a caretaker basis.
Amid a cacophonous noise at Elland Road, Leeds made a frenzied start, with Crysencio Summerville firing over after a mistake from United left-back Tyrell Malacia.
In keeping with the aggressive tone of one of English football’s bitterest rivalries, there were early bookings for Summerville and Leeds team-mate Junior Firpo for a pair of crude fouls.
In the midst of a frenetic clash littered with fouls, Bruno Fernandes’s attempt to chip Illan Meslier was halted by a block from Robin Koch, with the United midfielder’s appeal for handball waved away.
Summerville was denied by David De Gea when he tried to poke home at the near post.
Fernandes wasted a golden opportunity when he ran clean through on goal after Max Wober’s mistake, only to shoot straight at Meslier.
Garnacho sealed the win for United. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Summerville carried the main threat for Leeds and he forced a good save from De Gea soon after the interval.
United were on the back foot and Luke Ayling went close with a shot that deflected narrowly wide off Luke Shaw.
After scoring United’s equaliser against Leeds in midweek, Jadon Sancho had been rewarded with his first league start since October, but the England forward was largely anonymous and came off after an hour.
United defender Diogo Dalot almost ended the stalemate with a fierce strike against the bar from the edge of the area.
De Gea had to make a smart save with his foot to deny Summerville’s drive from a tight angle before United finally made the breakthrough in the 80th minute.
Shaw whipped over a teasing cross and Rashford found space to thump in a powerful header from 10 yards, with the forward’s 21st goal this season surviving a VAR check for offside.
Garnacho put the result beyond doubt five minutes later when he surged into the area and shot past Meslier via the near post.
