Premier League Title Race and Key Matchups
The Premier League is reaching a thrilling conclusion with the title battle, race for Europe, and fight for survival all to be resolved. A host of managers are talking today, and the latest updates are being covered by Daily Mail Sport.
De Zerbi’s Determination to Silence Negative Voices
Roberto De Zerbi is determined to banish the gloom after injuries to Xavi Simons and Dominic Solanke took the shine from Tottenham’s first Premier League win for four months. ‘We have to silence the voice inside us,’ rapped De Zerbi ahead of Sunday’s trip to Aston Villa. ‘This voice says we are unlucky, we have too many injuries, we lost Xavi Simons and he was in the last two games one of the best and most important players, and our medical staff is not good and the pitch of the stadium and the training ground is not good, and it is impossible to win two or three games in a row because we have not won too many games in 2026. All negative things. And it is rubbish. If Tottenham win at Villa Park, it is not a miracle. Maybe we lose but we have the quality to win.’
De Zerbi has Pape Matar Sarr and Destiny Udogie available after injuries and hopes James Maddison, an unused substitute in the last two games, will be on the pitch before the end of the season, although probably not at Villa. Simons will be out for months after damaging cruciate ligaments during the win at Wolverhampton Wanderers, on Saturday, and Solanke pulled a hamstring which his expected to rule him out of the final four games of the season. De Zerbi added: ‘I heard it is impossible and everyone is crying and we are relegated but no, not yet. Before we lose a game we have to fight. We have only two points less than West Ham and West Ham have difficult games to play like us. OK, it is a tough moment but the losers cry, the losers think negative. I don’t want people close to me crying or thinking in different way to me.’
Emery’s Perspective on Villa’s Situation
Unai Emery admitted he feared Aston Villa would be fighting relegation like Tottenham this season. Villa can push Spurs closer to the drop by beating them on Sunday and improve their own chances of qualifying for the Champions League next season. Yet this prospect seemed unlikely at the start of the campaign, when Villa failed to score in the league until mid-September and did not win until the end of that month. Emery said: ‘In August and September I was worried we would be in Tottenham’s situation now. I am surprised they are there, given their history and the players they have, but this is the Premier League. It is very difficult. De Zerbi will need time to do what he did at Brighton. It is maybe the biggest challenge of his career but he showed at Brighton and Marseille that he makes an impact. In time he will be able to build a strong team.’
Villa will be without midfielder Amadou Onana, who will have a scan on the calf injured he sustained at Nottingham Forest. Emery’s men must overturn a 1-0 first leg deficit to reach the Europa League final and are expected to seek clarification from UEFA about why Elliot Anderson was not sent off for his studs-up tackle on Ollie Watkins. A top-five finish will seal Villa’s Champions League spot and Emery believes they may need only two more points to make it. ‘Last year it was necessary to get 66 or 67 points but this year it will clearly be less – 60, 61, 62, something like that,’ he said. ‘The Champions League lets us compete against the best teams in the world. Then you can increase your revenue but the sporting aspect is the most important thing.’
Carrick’s Focus on the Liverpool Clash
Michael Carrick has set the scene for Manchester United’s clash with Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday by saying the pleasure of winning would mean more than edging out their arch rivals in the race to finish third in the Premier League. United are all but guaranteed of Champions League qualification, but Liverpool can go level with them on points if they win what Carrick admits is a special fixture in the English football calendar. However, he is more concerned with the bragging rights of beating the old enemy than being the best of the rest behind Manchester City and Arsenal.
‘It’s a one-off game,’ said Carrick. ‘We’re fully aware of the situation in the league and how close it is between us. To be coming into this game in such a good position probably shows the improvements of the group. But that’s not something really we’ve focused on. The league position is what it is, but Sunday’s a whole different ball game. It’s two incredible football clubs. To be so close together in so many ways, in titles and geographically. That edge and competition.’
James’ Return and Chelsea’s Squad Updates
Reece James has returned to Chelsea training after six weeks on the sidelines – while Levi Colwill could likewise make his first match-day squad of the season against Nottingham Forest. Interim Calum McFarlane revealed at his latest press conference that the defensive pair are ‘looking good’ with the first team at Cobham as they prepare for this Monday’s match. James has been missing because of a hamstring issue, while Colwill injured his ACL on the very first day of pre-season training for 2025-26, back when Enzo Maresca was in charge.
‘We’ll see how they do day by day, but both are looking promising,’ McFarlane said. ‘Levi’s had a long injury. Reece had a really good run and has been injured again, and there’s a lot of games still to play, so we don’t want to push too much, but we’re just taking it day by day and see, hopefully, they come through.’ When asked if they can make the squad versus Forest, McFarlane said: ‘Potentially, yeah.’ Even if James and Colwill do not return in time for Monday’s clash, it is good news for Chelsea, as would suggest they may be available for the FA Cup final versus Manchester City on May 16.
Guardiola’s Comments on Fixtures
Pep Guardiola revealed that Manchester City were expecting no favours from the Premier League over their complicated final fortnight of fixtures. City had made representations to switch games against Crystal Palace and Bournemouth to ease some congestion as they do battle with Arsenal for the title. The request centred on offering another day of rest either side of the FA Cup final against Chelsea but that was rejected, with Guardiola’s side having three games in seven days.
‘When we won the Treble and [domestic] Quadruple we always had this kind of calendar,’ Guardiola said. ‘Of course it could be better but I’ve never expected [help], from a long time ago… We’ll do that and go by game by game. It is what it is.’ City sources were infuriated by what they felt was a slow process by the Premier League after flagging the potential for a pile-up in February. League officials insisted that there were valid reasons for a decision on the Palace fixture – which was scheduled on the weekend of the Carabao Cup final – to have been made this week.
Howe’s Confidence in Newcastle’s Future
Eddie Howe has revealed that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund confirmed their long-term commitment to Newcastle United during the club’s Matfen Hall summit, on the day they withdrew from LIV Golf. The country’s sovereign wealth fund will remove their multi-billion pound backing of the breakaway golf tour at the end of the season, leading to speculation that Newcastle could be next to go from their sports portfolio. However, Daily Mail Sport understands that is not the case and, after spending eight hours in the company of PIF governor and club chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan on Thursday, Howe says that long-term strategy was central to discussions.
‘What came through was the determination to succeed and to continue to grow the club in every aspect,’ said the head coach. ‘It’s always constructive because they clearly care so much about the football club, the long-term planning that’s clearly going on, on a number of levels. It’s very exciting times ahead for the club, regardless of what happens short term. The long-term vision is clearly there.’ Howe added: ‘The desire (of PIF) is unchanged, to try and get to the top of the Premier League, to try and win as many trophies as consistently as possible. They are very ambitious for the football club.’
Alisson’s Potential Return
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson is in a race against time to be fit for Sunday’s trip to Manchester United, according to boss Arne Slot. The Brazil No 1 has missed the last six games due to a hamstring problem, with Giorgi Mamardashvili also suffering an injury that meant third-choice keeper Freddie Woodman was needed to deputise last week. Alisson is hopeful of being fit for the game at Old Trafford, which could be defining for both team’s final league position, but is still yet to train and remains a doubt.
Slot said: ‘Ali hasn’t trained with us yet. He is very close to training with us. I have to hear today from the medical staff to see if he is ready to train today, either tomorrow or the start of next week. He is very close, but also we don’t want to take any risks. That is not what you do with a player and that is not what we do now.’ Meanwhile, Slot spoke of his delight at the news that Mohamed Salah will play again for the club – all being well – after going off with a hamstring injury last week that left many worried he would not be fit again this season. Slot added: ‘As we know from Mo, he is always working incredibly hard when he is fit, but also when he is injured to be back as soon as possible. Usually, he is fit sooner than other players than others when he has a minor injury – so we expect him back for the final part of the season, but not for Sunday. In all ways, it is a big relief that his injury is minor and that he is able to play for us and at the World Cup. If there is any time a player deserves to have a big send-off, it is definitely him.’ Milos Kerkez should be fit after feeling some niggles this week.
