Are Man Utd really back? Forest to test progress
Nottm Forest vs Man Utd – Tuesday, kick-off 8pm, watch free highlights shortly after full time
Three games is more than enough time for a narrative shift around Man Utd but there are deeper, genuine positive signs that things are beginning to click for Ruben Amorim.
Whereas earlier positive performances against big rivals have proven false dawns, the hard-fought draw with Arsenal at the start of March appears to have cemented something in the Old Trafford psyche.
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim was asked about Marcus Rashford’s upturn in form after the on-loan player indicated that he’s fitter and playing better since joining Aston Villa
Instead of falling away, Man Utd this time saved their best display of the season to dismantle Real Sociedad four days later. That night, even Joshua Zirkzee and Casemiro, so painfully out of form and favour at different points of the season, had a notable spring back in their step.
The signs are good, but no one can suggest thrashing a 10-man mid-table LaLiga side and then doing the same to a lifeless Leicester side is anything more than a positive base.
The improved patterns of possession and more settled floating No 10s will face a sterner test on Tuesday against a Nottingham Forest side who have kept the joint-most clean sheets in the Premier League.
Without the same big-game motivation as when United have impressed against Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea under Amorim it will be as much a test of mental mettle as any tactical understanding at the City Ground.
Emerge unscathed, and the next three upcoming matches with Newcastle, Lyon and Man City become a lot more appealing – and the Amorim era really might really be beginning to take off.
Ron Walker
Saka is back… and Arsenal might need him against Fulham
Arsenal vs Fulham – Tuesday, kick-off 7.45pm, watch free highlights shortly after full time
Arsenal received what Mikel Arteta described as a “massive boost” with news of Bukayo Saka’s availability for their game against Fulham following a three-month injury absence.
The 23-year-old has not featured since suffering a hamstring tear in December but Arteta made it clear he will not hesitate to throw him straight back into his team on Tuesday, insisting he is ready to start having rejoined full training during the international break.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta reveals Bukayo Saka is ready to face Fulham
He returns as Arsenal’s best and most important player. “We know the impact he has had on the team and how important his role and his contribution is to our success,” said Arteta.
Having provided a combined total of 22 goals and assists in only 24 appearances before his injury earlier in the campaign, Saka will hope to pick up where he left off. Arsenal may well need him against a Fulham side which have caused them big problems in recent encounters.
The Gunners were held to a 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage in December and managed only one point from a possible six against Marco Silva’s side last term, losing the away game 2-1 after a 2-2 draw at the Emirates Stadium in August. Saka’s return might prove timely.
Nick Wright
Wolves out to ease relegation fears without Cunha
Wolves vs West Ham – Tuesday, kick-off 7.45pm, watch free highlights shortly after full time
With Matheus Cunha continuing to push for a summer departure from Molineux that now looks inevitable given his £62.5m release clause, his current team-mates will attempt to drag Wolves further clear of the relegation zone without him against West Ham.
Clinton Morrison had high praise for Matheus Cunha after Wolves tied the forward down to an extended contract in January.
Despite the absence of the suspended forward, Vitor Pereira’s side have managed to pick up four points from their last two games and could move 12 points clear of the relegation zone with victory on Tuesday evening. It would surely end any lingering fears.
Graham Potter’s side, just one place but eight points better off than their hosts, have less to play for as they look to build towards next season. The Irons are out of European contention but have no chance of being relegated. Wolves soon hope to say the same.
Adam Bate
Who will fill in for Real-bound Alexander-Arnold?
Liverpool vs Everton – Wednesday, 8pm kick-off, watch free highlights shortly after full time
Trent Alexander-Arnold was in the headlines last week after the Liverpool right-back’s expected summer switch to Real Madrid appeared to move a step closer, but it is his fitness that will be causing Reds boss Arne Slot headaches ahead of Wednesday night’s Merseyside derby with Everton at Anfield.
Wednesday 2nd April 7:00pm
Kick off 8:00pm
Alexander-Arnold suffered a high ankle sprain in the club’s Champions League loss to Paris Saint-Germain before the international break that will see him miss the visit of Everton, and with his back-up Conor Bradley also likely to be absent with a hamstring issue, Slot must decide who starts on the right-hand side of the defence as the Reds look to take another step closer to the title.
Central defender Jarell Quansah filled in for Alexander-Arnold as a makeshift right-back in Liverpool’s most recent outing, their Carabao Cup final loss to Newcastle United, and unless Slot opts to switch to three at the back, or to utilise one of his left-backs Andy Roberston and Kostas Tsimikas in the role, the England international should get the nod against the Toffees.
Rich Morgan
Is Mbeumo set for a Newcastle audition?
Newcastle vs Brentford – Wednesday, 7:45pm kick-off, watch free highlights shortly after full time
The dust is starting to settle on Newcastle’s Carabao Cup win. One sub-story to the Magpies’ Wembley success is the question of how they start making trophies a regular occurrence.
Watch Bryan Mbeumo score for Brentford vs Newcastle in the return game earlier this season…
One solution is by taking the squad to a next level. And an answer to that solution could be coming up against them on Wednesday night.
Right wing is one of the positions where Eddie Howe’s side could be vastly improved, with Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo a long-term target for Newcastle, as well as Liverpool. Will he choose black and white or red all over?
The Cameroon winger has been one of the sharpest shooters in the Premier League this season and could well be into the final 10 games of his Brentford career.
Newcastle fans could get a proper look at one of their next attacking stars at St James’ Park.
Sam Blitz
Man City can go into top four as they host Leicester
Man City vs Leicester City – Wednesday, 7:45pm kick-off, watch free highlights shortly after full time
How Leicester supporters would love a season of disappointment like the one Manchester City are ‘enduring’ – a FA Cup semi-final at Wembley to look forward to with Pep Guardiola’s side still well placed to secure Champions League football next term.
City would move back into the top four with victory over Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Foxes on Wednesday night and it will need a major improvement from the visitors to stop them. Leicester have lost their last seven games, dashing hopes of Premier League survival.
Guardiola’s side have lost as many as they have won in front of their own fans over the past two months but their two defeats came against Real Madrid and Liverpool. If Leicester were to add their name to that list of City’s conquerors it would be dramatic indeed.
Adam Bate
Spectre of Derby looms for Saints as Palace march on
Southampton vs Crystal Palace – Wednesday, 7:45pm kick-off, watch free highlights shortly after full time
For Southampton, the contest is not so much with visitors Crystal Palace, it is more with the Derby County team of the 2007/08 season that mustered only 11 points. Saints are still two shy of that total and running out of games in which to pick those points up.
It would be a surprise if they manage it against in-form Palace. Only Liverpool have a better points-per-game record since Christmas than Oliver Glasner’s slow starters and while minds might be on a trip to Wembley in the FA Cup, confidence will be sky high.
The cup could be the priority but given that Palace go into the week six points off eighth with a game in hand, they are charging their way up the table too and will surely fancy their chances at St Mary’s. There will be some old Derby players watching with interest.
Adam Bate
Can Brighton recover from another Forest defeat?
Brighton vs Aston Villa – Wednesday, kick-off 7.45pm, watch free highlights shortly after full time
Brighton’s 7-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest in February proved to be a turning point in their season – they must use their latest setback in the same way.
Forest tormented Fabian Hurzeler’s side again on Saturday with a victory on penalties to book their place in the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley.
Brighton’s Joao Pedro and Nottingham Forest’s Murillo battle for the ball
“We proved it this season so far that we are able to come back, that we can stick together as a team,” said Hurzeler, “and we have to prove it another time now.”
Brighton had won six of their previous seven games since their Forest drubbing to boost their European hopes. They suffered injuries to Georginio Rutter and Adam Webster at the weekend, but are just two points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa have everything to play for with a Champions League quarter-final and an FA Cup semi-final to come and a European place to secure.
Marcus Rashford did his confidence no harm with his first goals for the club at Preston on Sunday, and Unai Emery has the luxury of his squad being almost entirely available for an exciting run-in.
David Richardson
Cherries must make Vitality a fortress again to achieve shock CL spot
Bournemouth vs Ipswich Town – Wednesday, kick-off 7.45pm, watch free highlights shortly after full time
Bournemouth head into Wednesday’s home encounter against struggling Ipswich Town with an unlikely Champions League qualification next season within their grasp, but Andoni Iraola’s side will need to start making the Vitality Stadium a fortress again if they are to have any hope of making it into Europe’s premier club competition.
The Cherries sit in 10th place in the standings, just four points behind champions Man City in fifth, with a top-five finish currently enough to earn a place in next season’s Champions League given the impressive performances of English clubs in Europe so far this season.
A home clash against an Ipswich side heading for relegation would normally be just the recipe for a team in Bournemouth’s position, but they have not won at home in the league since thrashing Nottingham Forest 5-0 on January 25, while they also lost at home to City in their FA Cup quarter-final on Sunday.
Iraola must now get his players up for the season run-in and will dearly want that winless run to come to an end against the 18th-placed visitors.
Rich Morgan
Can Spurs pounce on restless rivals?
Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur – Thursday, 8pm kick-off, watch free highlights shortly after full time
Despite their gradual fall from grace over recent seasons, Chelsea have still been able to rely on meetings with Tottenham to provide some light amid the gloom.
Mauricio Pochettino did the double over his former club, including the chaotic 4-1 win that knocked Ange Postecoglou’s reign off course. Another barmy encounter in December marked the high point of Enzo Maresca’s reign.
In that sense, this match comes at the perfect time for Chelsea, who have won just five of 14 Premier League matches since that victory in north London nearly four months ago. A pick-me-up is needed and their neighbours usually oblige.
Spurs’ brief February resurgence has been undermined by a three-game winless run heading into this trip to Stamford Bridge – where they have not won since Pochettino was in charge in 2018.
Thursday 3rd April 7:30pm
Kick off 8:00pm
But there is a route to victory for Spurs. Like their counterparts, some Chelsea supporters are growing restless over both results and the style of football. If Postecoglou’s side can take an early lead – and, crucially, not throw it away like they did in December – could the mood inside Stamford Bridge turn?
Pound-for-pound, this may be the most consistently wild and entertaining fixture in the Premier League. Calming the inevitable storm – and increasing the angst among their rival fans – will be key to claiming a morale-boosting victory.
Joe Shread
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