Football

Relentless Man City on the brink of Premier League glory

Published

7 months ago

19/05/2023

Nancy

Manchester City are preparing for their Premier League coronation the first leg of a potential treble that would write the club’s name into the history books. Victory at home for Pep Guardiola’s side against Chelsea on Sunday would seal the deal but it will be all over the previous day if Arsenal lose to relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest.

Liverpool are still in the hunt for a top-four finish after seven straight wins while Leicester and Leeds look destined for the drop. AFP Sport looks at some of the key talking points ahead of the weekend’s action in the English top flight. They can complete the job themselves if they beat struggling Leicester on Monday.

Fourth-placed Manchester United, three points behind Newcastle but with a game in hand, need two more wins from their final three games to guarantee Champions League football next season.

If either slip up, Liverpool are waiting to pounce, seeking to qualify for the Champions League for the seventh consecutive season. Jamie Vardy still believes 19th-placed Leicester can survive in the Premier League after a horrific season but the odds are heavily stacked against them.

The 2016 champions and 2021 FA Cup winners started the campaign with six defeats in their first seven games and their sporadic mini-revivals have petered out.

Last season City were pushed to the limit by Liverpool, only sealing the title after a thrilling comeback from 2-0 down against Aston Villa on the final day of the season.
This year they are in a more comfortable position after winning their past 11 games to take a vice-like grip on the Premier League.

Arsenal, for so long front-runners, must avoid defeat at Forest to keep the race alive but it is now a question of if, rather than when, for Guardiola’s team.

Even if Arsenal win at Forest, few would back against City beating Chelsea at the Etihad and becoming Premier League champions for a third straight year. It would be their fifth title in six years, underlining their dominance in the richest league in the world.

Once they have lifted the trophy, City will have the luxury of focusing on the FA Cup final against Manchester United and the Champions League final against Inter Milan as they seek to emulate United’s unique 1999 treble.

Newcastle are within touching distance of a top-four finish for the first time in two decades just 19 months after the launch of their new era. A Saudi-backed consortium bought the club in October 2021 with the Magpies in the doldrums and made it clear they were dreaming big.

Source: eNCA

In other news – Five things to know about Mandisa Mkhize

Zandie Khumalo, the sister of Senzo Meyiwa’s “side chick” Kelly Khumalo testified at his ongoing murder trial — who was his wife Mandisa Mkhize?

Former Bafana Bafana captain Senzo Meyiwa married Mandisa Mkhize in March 2013 but their relationship involved tons of cheating allegedly. Learn more

Related Topics:Manchester City Nottingham Forest Premier League

Up Next

Guardiola demands Man City intensity despite Premier League triumph

Don't Miss

Manchester City 4-0 Real Madrid

Football

Joao Felix gives Barcelona home win over Atletico Madrid

Published

4 hours ago

04/12/2023

Nancy

Barcelona‘s Joao Felix scored in the first half to secure a hard-fought 1-0 home win against his valiant parent club Atletico Madrid in a compelling LaLiga clash on Sunday.

The Portuguese, on loan at Barca, netted with a fine finish over goalkeeper Jan Oblak from a counter-attack in the 28th minute and the hosts held on against Diego Simeone’s side.

Barcelona moved above Atletico into third place on 34 points, four behind leaders Real Madrid and Girona. Atletico are fourth on 31 points with a game in hand.

Source: eNCA

In other news – Photos: Mihlali Ndamase’s Goddess look wows Mzansi

Popular Mzansi influencer Mihlali Ndamase set social media abuzz after she dropped her picture-perfect photos on Instagram. She is undoubtedly pretty as a picture and is not shy to show it.

The bubbly reality star is topping trends after her banging photos made rounds on social media. Read more

Football

Spurs snatch point at Man City after Liverpool drama

Published

4 hours ago

04/12/2023

Nancy

Dejan Kulusevski headed a dramatic late goal as Tottenham held Manchester City in a six-goal thriller on Sunday after Liverpool staged a sensational comeback on a breathless afternoon in the Premier League.

High-flying Aston Villa scored in the 90th minute to draw 2-2 at Bournemouth while 10-man Chelsea shrugged off a red card for captain Conor Gallagher to edge Brighton 3-2 on a day when 24 goals were scored in five matches.Champions City looked set to move to within one point of leaders Arsenal when they led Spurs 3-2 in the dying minutes at the Etihad.

But Kulusevski headed home from Brennan Johnson’s cross in the 90th minute to leave City ruing dropped points for the third match running. Son Heung-min put the away side ahead in the sixth minute but three minutes later the South Korean forward turned villain, putting the ball into his own net.

Phil Foden put City in front just after the half-hour following a sweeping move but Giovani Lo Celso levelled about 20 minutes from time.Jack Grealish restored the home side’s lead once more, only for Kulusevski to stun the Etihad late on.

“Of course, that’s why we love football,” Tottenham captain Son told Sky Sports. “That’s what I told the lads.

“Obviously Man City are a huge, huge team and one of the best teams in the world but that’s why we love football, it happens sometimes. We kept believing until 90 minutes so I’m very very proud of the team.”

Earlier, Liverpool appeared set for their first home defeat in the Premier League since October 2022 when they went 3-2 down to Bobby De Cordova-Reid’s goal in the 80th minute.

But they turned the tables in dramatic fashion through Wataru Endo and Trent Alexander-Arnold, who struck in the 87th and 88th minutes for a 4-3 win.

It was the latest Liverpool have ever fallen behind in a Premier League match that they went on to win.

Source: eNCA

In other news – Euphonik’s baby mama wants R25K child maintenance

Sunday World reports that the Busa producer and the woman – who cannot be named for legal reasons – are at loggerheads about co-parenting their two children.

The woman, who left the musician after he wanted to take a third wife, reportedly told the Johannesburg High Court that the musician only pays for their children’s school fees. She told that court that she wants R12 500 per child. Read more