With the final international break of the season now over, attentions turn back to the Premier League and, particularly, the top-four race. For Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, the task is quite simple: no team has ever finished lower than fourth after reaching 76 points. Three of those teams are currently on course to surpass that target, one is not. However, fortunes in the final weeks of the season are often dictated by the fixture list and those who benefitted from easier runs earlier in the season can suffer as the schedule evens itself out. By calculating each Premier League club’s average points-per-game home and away this season, we can approximate the difficulty of each fixture and see who, on paper, has the easier run-in. Top 25 players in Premier League history 25 show all Top 25 players in Premier League history 1/25 Behind Ronaldo and Rooney, the next-most important man to United’s recovery in the second half of … [Read more...] about Premier League top-four race: Who has the best run-in? Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham or Chelsea?
Liverpool
Mohamed Salah is one of the best in the world, says Roy Hodgson ahead of Liverpool’s visit to Crystal Palace
Roy Hodgson believes Mohamed Salah is in the “top bracket” of world footballers ahead of Liverpool’s Premier League visit to Selhurst Park on Saturday lunchtime. Salah is top of the league’s scoring charts with 28 goals – one every 85 minutes – in a sensational debut season, and the Crystal Palace manager has identified the Egyptian as Liverpool’s leading threat for his players to nullify. “He’s certainly showing that this season,” Hodgson said. “I’ve never worked with him so can only talk from having watched him. He must be delighted to be performing in that top bracket of players. “The only way you can prevent quality players is through the collective work of the team.” Read more A club-by-club guide to the Premier League relegation battle Hodgson has overseen an impressive turnaround at Palace which has lifted the club out of the bottom three, and with seven games remaining he has … [Read more...] about Mohamed Salah is one of the best in the world, says Roy Hodgson ahead of Liverpool’s visit to Crystal Palace
Emre Can doubtful for Liverpool’s trip to Crystal Palace
by Press Association March 29 2018, 5.13pm FacebookTwitterWhatsAppLinkedInEmail Sign up to our Daily newsletter Want to read more?Subscribe today from £1 a week Liverpool midfielder Emre Can is a doubt for this weekend’s trip to Crystal Palace. The Germany international was called up by his country for friendlies against Spain and Brazil but was released early because of a back problem sustained early in the win over Watford on March 17. Can is still being assessed by Liverpool but did not take part in the first training session of the full squad at Melwood following all players’ return from national team duty. However, left-back Andrew Robertson, who was forced off with a suspected dead leg in Scotland’s friendly with Hungary, was pictured training with the squad on Thursday. Fellow defender Joe Gomez will miss the trip to Selhurst Park due to an ankle injury he sustained early in England’s friendly win over Holland last Friday. Sign … [Read more...] about Emre Can doubtful for Liverpool’s trip to Crystal Palace
Liverpool’s Darren Till set for hometown UFC fight
by Press Association March 29 2018, 5.03pm FacebookTwitterWhatsAppLinkedInEmail Sign up to our Daily newsletter Want to read more?Subscribe today from £1 a week Darren Till has the opportunity to put himself firmly in the frame to challenge for the UFC welterweight title when he takes on number one-ranked fighter Stephen Thompson. The unbeaten Till has recently been making waves in the 170lb division and will headline a UFC Fight Night event in his hometown of Liverpool at the Echo Arena on May 27. Victory for the 25-year-old Merseysider, currently ranked seventh by the UFC, would put him in contention to challenge champion Tyron Woodley. A statement on the UFC’s website read: “On May 27, the UFC’s first visit to Liverpool, England, will feature a hometown hero, as number seven-ranked welterweight contender Darren Till will put his unbeaten record on the line against two-time world title challenger Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson at … [Read more...] about Liverpool’s Darren Till set for hometown UFC fight
Celtic invite Liverpool fans to Ross County clash
A Liverpool supporters group will visit Celtic Park after the Scottish champions invited them to check out their rail-seating area. Fans union Spirit Of Shankly will attend the Scottish Premiership clash with Ross County on Saturday so Hillsborough families and survivors can see the safe standing section first hand. Celtic became trailblazers in the summer of 2016, becoming the first club in Britain to adopt the innovative set-up. Now Liverpool are exploring whether to have a similar section and will travel north to further understand what rail seating is and to put questions to Celtic about their experience. This follows a vote last summer when nearly 90 per cent of 18,000 supporters polled by Spirit of Shankly said they were in favour of the introduction of rail seating areas in stadia. Jay McKenna, chair of Spirit Of Shankly said: "After our overwhelming vote, and conversations since, there was clearly a need to know more. We're grateful for Celtic for the invitation and it … [Read more...] about Celtic invite Liverpool fans to Ross County clash