Category: News

And so it is here – the biggest game in club football, taking place on 26th May at 19:45. The 2018 UEFA Champions League Final waits in Kiev, with Liverpool, five-times winners themselves, looking to stop European royalty. Real Madrid await in their third consecutive final, looking to make legendary status for the players and the club well and truly sealed. Can the Reds stop Los Blancos?

Liverpool News

The Reds come into this with a weakened squad, it has to be said. Emre Can and James Milner are both doubts for the Final, while Joe Gomez, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Joe Matip will all sit this one out.

That’s a lot of players to be missing from an already shallow squad. While Milner is more likely to make it than Can, it does leave Jürgen Klopp a touch short on numbers. It means that his team is likely to be a touch more predictable than some might have expected when they arrived in Kiev.

Madrid News

Madrid are literally without a single missing player – rare for such a peak time of the season. With everyone filly fit, including Gareth Bale, Madrid have plenty of firepower to call upon. With Karim Benzema expected to start another big game for Madrid, though it will be interesting to see how he handles himself in many ways.

The two minor doubts, Sergio Ramos and Cristiano Ronaldo, are both passed fit and ready to go. This is likely to be a draining final, and the energy of both sides will be 100% called into question.

Verdict

It’s hard to say – there is no real way to determine such a Final. For all the arguments of Madrid having the experience and the arrogance to expect to win, Liverpool feel like a team that is emboldened by destiny. Whatever happens, it’s sure to go down as the most exciting Champions League Final in recent memory.

Well, Man City made the magic 100 points mark.  fantastic season all in all!

This South Coast Derby has a huge amount riding on it. With Southampton more or less down and Bournemouth in a good position, it’s arguably the first time in a long time that the Cherries have travelled to the Saints in a better position.

Home News

The loss of Sofiane Boufal from a fall-out with Mark Hughes is a major blow for Saints. While the Algerian has struggled to live up to his pre-arrival hype, he’s a fine player with an eye for a rich performance when it suits. His exit from the squad is just another sign that things are going from back to worse for Southampton.
So, too, is the loss of Steven Davis. The Northern Irish international has not been his usual self this season, but his experience will be majorly missed in this match. In a make-or-break tie, the leadership void at St. Marys is beginning to show.

Away News

Meanwhile, the Cherries are without Junior Stanislas and Adam Smith. The English duo have been two of their more consistent performers this year. While the loss of Tyrone Mings again won’t be a huge blow due to his lack of form, it does leave Eddie Howe with a few less options than he might want to have at this point of the season.
They’ll be reliant on Steve Cook at the back to keep it together alongside Nathan Ake and Simon Francis. For a side known for their flair, Bournemouth’ back-three is absolutely vital.

Verdict

We can see Bournemouth driving the pain of relegation deep into Southampton’ heart. Bournemouth are comeback specialists, taking more points than any team from losing positions this season. Southampton, meanwhile, are specialists in throwing away leads; if they come into this one without a total personality transplant, they’ll go down.

This weekend, the Premier League title is up for grabs in the most dramatic way: a local derby. Manchester City turn up to this one knowing that they need to pick up the three points to win the title. However, can they break down a United side that’s so stubborn?

City News

City know that they need a win here to seal the title. With Sergio Aguero likely to make it, though, it provides them with some much-needed impetus upfront. His big game record is outstanding, and if he’s involved a goal would seem pretty likely.

With the likelihood of needing to rest some stars, though, we might see a different City side than you would expect. With such a big gap to make up on Tuesday, City will need to either play the full team and face the consequences, or rest players and risk missing out on the best possible way to life the league.

United News

United only come into this one missing Daley Blind and cup keeper Sergio Romero. It’s likely that the Red Devils will stick to the same side as last weekend’s 2-0 win at Swansea. That being said, we think that Maroaune Fellaini will find a place – he usually does for the big games.

So, too, will be United’ go-to war dog in Ander Herrera. He brings a combative nature that is hard to deal with, and he could be the key to being able to harry and harass the City midfield. If United are to get anything, their midfield will have to be perfect.

Verdict

We think City will walk this. United are poor, and their league position feels false at times. With so much to play for, including the need for restored confidence ahead of Tuesday’ return leg against Liverpool, City will have too much for United.