LONDON: The battle for the Premier League title may be compelling, with three heavyweights in contention, but the fight to avoid relegation from English football’s top-flight is nearly as fierce.
At the top, leaders Manchester United travel to Norwich today with a two-point advantage over champions Manchester City, at home to Aston Villa.
European champions Chelsea, a point further back in third, travel to surprise package West Brom, an impressive fifth in the table, in a match that pits Blues boss Roberto di Matteo and the Baggies Steve Clarke, once an assistant manager at Stamford Bridge, against their former clubs.
In an era where Premier League players are routinely criticized for being primarily concerned with their pay packets, United veteran Rio Ferdinand said the lure of silverware remained as strong as ever.
“It doesn’t matter how much money you have, at the end of your career, what you will be most proud of are your achievements,” said Ferdinand.
“If you have won things and continue to win things for this great club, that is something to talk about. I wouldn’t sit down and talk about how much money I have.” It was a point echoed by City winger James Milner, who said: “Our fans turn out in big numbers.
“They were here when we weren’t winning things for so many years so it’s nice that we are now and as I say, that’s not a feeling we could ever get tired of,” the England international added.
There will be plenty of attention at Eastlands on City and England goalkeeper Joe Hart, beaten on four occasions by striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic during Sweden’s 4-0 friendly international win in midweek, with the striker’s stunning scissor-kick fourth set to become a staple of all great goal compilations.
But there will be a different sort of grim fascination in watching bottom of the table QPR welcome second-bottom Southampton to Loftus Road as both clubs battle to remain in the lucrative top flight.
West London club QPR have yet to win in 11 Premier League matches this season while Southampton have just one victory to show for their efforts since ending seven years’ of Premier League exile.
QPR’s Malaysian owner Tony Fernandes, the man behind budget airline Air Asia, has been steadfast in his support of manager Mark Hughes.
Meanwhile Southampton boss Nigel Adkins has been similarly well supported by his board.
But the temptation for one side or other to change manager in a bid to fashion a rally against relegation should they suffer defeat in Saturday’s ‘six-pointer’ could prove irresistible.
However, Adkins was convinced both he and Hughes would still be in their respective posts after the weekend.
“I am pretty sure, I am pretty confident that both managers will be in situ come on Monday.
“I am looking forward to another game. It has been a good week’s training. I feel fit, I feel fresh and I’ve got energy about myself.
“I feel stimulated and I am looking forward to the next game in the Barclays Premier League game, which is away to Queens Park Rangers.” The North London derby between Arsenal and Tottenham sees both clubs battling to get back into the four while Everton will look to maintain their place among the leading quartet at home to strugglers Reading.
Liverpool will look to Luis Suarez to continue the form that has already yielded 11 goals this season, eight in 11 Premier League matches.
Reds manager Brendan Rodgers has denied reports the Uruguay striker is on his way out of Anfield in a big-money move to City.
And Suarez, who has four years left on his Liverpool contract, said: “I have a very long contract here and it’s a dream come true to be playing at a club like Liverpool because, as I’ve said, as a boy I dreamt of playing for a team like this.”
Fixtures (1500GMT unless stated)
Saturday: Arsenal v Tottenham (1245GMT), Liverpool v Wigan, Manchester City v Aston Villa, Newcastle v Swansea, Norwich v Manchester United (1730 GMT), QPR v Southampton, Reading v Everton, West Brom v Chelsea
Sunday: Fulham v Sunderland (1600GMT)
Monday: West Ham v Stoke (2000GMT)
Premier League hots up at both ends of the table
Premier League hots up at both ends of the table
Hosts Morocco set up Senegal AFCON final showdown
- Hosts Morocco will play Sadio Mane’s Senegal in this weekend’s Africa Cup of Nations final after both emerged victorious in tense last-four ties on Wednesday as Mohamed Salah’s dreams of winning
RABAT: Hosts Morocco will play Sadio Mane’s Senegal in this weekend’s Africa Cup of Nations final after both emerged victorious in tense last-four ties on Wednesday as Mohamed Salah’s dreams of winning the title were again dashed.
Morocco beat Nigeria 4-2 on penalties after their semifinal showdown of few chances in capital Rabat finished 0-0 at the end of extra time, with goalkeeper Yassine Bounou performing heroics by saving twice in the shoot-out.
Bounou, of Saudi side Al-Hilal, saved from Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi, allowing Youssef En-Nesyri to convert the winning kick and spark wild celebrations among over 65,000 fans inside the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.
As well as joy there was relief for Hamza Igamane, who had appeared distraught after his kick — Morocco’s second in the shoot-out — was saved by Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali.
He was the only Moroccan player to fail to score in the shoot-out, however, with captain and talisman Achraf Hakimi among those who converted their penalties.
“It was one of the hardest matches we have had against a very solid and talented team,” said Morocco coach Walid Regragui, who played in the last Atlas Lions team to reach the AFCON final when they lost to Tunisia in 2004.
“I am very happy for the players and for the Moroccan people who really deserve this.
“It is a great gift for them to be in the final but we will need to recover quickly because we put a lot of energy into the game.”
The shoot-out came after a cagey encounter, with almost all the chances of note coming in the first half and Nigeria mustering just two shots in the entire game.
Morocco have been under enormous pressure to deliver a first AFCON title for their country in half a century and just their second overall.
However, as their dream remains alive it is an agonizing way for Nigeria’s hopes to end, two years after they lost the final to the hosts in Ivory Coast.
Led by two recent winners of the African player of the year prize in Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, Nigeria had been arguably the best team at the tournament up to the semifinals and the top scorers with 14 goals in their first five matches.
“The players fought for every ball and it is difficult to lose on penalties, but this is football and we have to accept it,” said Nigeria coach Eric Chelle.
He added: “I am proud of my players but I am disappointed for them because the reality is we were maybe the best team that there has been in this AFCON.”
Mane ends Salah’s dream
Earlier, Mane scored a 78th-minute winner to give Senegal a 1-0 victory over Egypt in Tangiers, then said he was playing in the tournament for the last time.
“I’m very happy to be able to play in my very last AFCON. I hope to win it (the final) and bring (the trophy) back to Dakar,” the 33-year-old said.
Senegal, champions in 2022, dominated possession against cautious Egypt as the Cup of Nations title continues to elude Liverpool superstar Salah.
This was Salah’s fifth AFCON and the closest he has come to a winners’ medal is finishing a runner-up twice.
It will be Senegal’s fourth Cup of Nations final appearance overall and their third in the last four editions.
“I think we managed the game well from start to finish and, overall, we deserved to win. We’ll try to be ready for the final, above all to give our best,” said Mane.
“The most important thing for me is that Senegal wins every time... I am a soldier of the nation. I try to give my all every day, whether in training or in matches.
“The Africa Cup of Nations is the most difficult competition in the world. All the teams are evenly matched.”
Referring to his former Liverpool teammate Salah, Mane said the Egyptian is “one of the best players in the world.”
The goal that decided the game came with 12 minutes remaining, as Mane’s low shot flew past the goalkeeper and into the net.
