Finally the Premier League returns this weekend with the biggest clash being Liverpool against Tottenham at Anfield on Sunday. Manchester United new permanent boss Ole Gunnat will lead the team against Watford at Old Trafford looking for a win as the top four finish reace intensifies.
Will Liverpool sustain the Premier League Tittle pressure and actually win this time or they will choke at the end ,again?
Its safe to say its not surprising to see Gor Mahia woes continuing, suffering huge blows following another stadium ban on Friday.
Uproar as Gor Mahia is Barred from accessing Kasarani Stadium
The highly anticipated CAF Confederations Cup Clash between KPL Giants Gor Mahia and Morocco’s Berkane has been thrown in limbo because there may be no venue to host the match.
Gor host their North African opponents on 7th April but they will be forced to look for another venue as they have been told Kasarani Stadium has been booked for a Business Expo.
Gor has been playing its international matches at Kasarani, because of lack of other CAF approved facilities in the country. The government has delayed the opening of the Nyayo International Stadium.
Kasarani is under the Sports Stadia Management Board and it is not clear how they rented the stadium to an expo, knowing that there was an upcoming international match.
Is Denis Suarez ready for a Arsenal starting place?
Denis Suarez has been working his way through the gears since his January move from Barcelona. In Dubai, he accelerated.
Our loan signing started against Al-Nasr and grasped his opportunity, neatly setting up Carl Jenkinson for a goal and making a number of telling contributions throughout the game.
Suarez also shone in training and Unai Emery believes he has stepped up ahead of the Premier League run-in.
“I think yes [he is doing well],” said the head coach. “It is normal to take time [to settle].
“I think he is okay for starting in the first 11 or for giving us this impact after. But I think now, our focus is collectively very strongly focused on helping in 90 minutes, or 50 minutes, or one minute. We are going to need every player for the next matches.
“We have a lot of players ready and with a big mentality and a big performance for playing and helping us. For me, like that, we can be stronger, more competitive for taking big performances. With Denis, or with another.”
‘No Regrets’ Van Dijk Tells Liverpool To Savour Title Pressure
Liverpool’s talismanic defender Virgil van Dijk has told his teammates to have no regrets as they try to deliver a first league title in 29 years to Merseyside.
Jurgen Klopp’s men hold a two-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the table, but have played a game more so still need the champions to slip up in their remaining eight matches.
“The most important thing is to enjoy it. We have to give it our all and make sure we have no regrets at the end of it,” Van Dijk said.
Van Dijk has been so instrumental in Liverpool’s improvement from the side that finished 25 points adrift of City last season, he is being tipped to win the Premier League player of the year awards.
The Dutchman cost a world record £75 million ($98 million) fee for a defender last January and helped Liverpool reach the Champions League final last season.
“It’s definitely what I wanted,” added Van Dijk on the 15 months since his move from Southampton.
“You hope to be in this kind of position – challenging for the Premier League title, being as far as we are in the Champions League now and reaching the final last season.
“I think the ultimate thing would be winning something with Liverpool and we still have any chance to win it. So let’s just go for it.”
Klopp believes the fact Van Dijk’s transfer fee is no longer questioned is a testament to his performances.
“Nobody talks about the money anymore so that’s already a good sign,” said the German.
Tottenham’s trip to Anfield on Sunday may be the toughest Premier League test of the season left for Liverpool and Klopp has a full squad to choose from with all those away on international duty over the past fortnight returning back fit.
And Klopp echoed Van Dijk’s message to embrace the run-in and try to make Wolves’ visit to Anfield on the final day of the season a historic day.
“The problem is I’m pretty sure Manchester City believes (they will win the league) as well so one will be disappointed at the end of the season,” he added.
“Let’s go for it and nobody knows what will happen on May 13, but we try everything to make it a big day for us.”
Liverpool vs Tottenham Predicted Line Up – FOUR Injury Updates
And for Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, the fixture may come too soon for him to play FOUR injury worries.
Trent Alexander-Arnold missed England’s two Euro 2020 qualifiers this past fortnight with a back injury.
The defender has been working on rehab back at Liverpool’s Melwood training base.
But Klopp isn’t sure if Alexander-Arnold will be fit for Sunday’s 4pm kick off.
“Trent still feels his back. We are not 100 per cent sure, so we have to watch him. Trent wants to [be] 100 per cent, but we have to see,” Klopp said.
The manager is also sweating on Xherdan Shaqiri’s fitness after the player maker missed Switzerland’s two fixtures with a groin problem.
But the German boss is hopeful his diminutive gem can step up for the Spurs clash.
“Now he feels better day by day and should be fine for the weekend,” Klopp said.
Both Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Joe Gomez and on the comeback from injury.
But neither player is expected to be in the squad for the Spurs clash on Sunday.
Discussing the pair this week, James Milner expressed his delight at having more players come back from injury as the title run-in hots up.
“I think it’s important that we have everyone available. That’s why you need a squad when you have these sorts of injuries and stuff,” Milner said.
“Ox has obviously been out a long time and was playing fantastically well before he got injured, Joe the same. He’s been brilliant when he’s played this season and formed a great partnership with Virgil.
“And all credit to Joel [for] coming and stepping in when he’s had his own injury problems – he stepped in straight away like he’d never been away – and obviously Dejan is coming back and things like that.
“So it’s important with the amount of games you’ve got and the intensity of the run-in that we have the squad, and everyone’s going to have a big impact on the end of the season even if they’re not out on the field – just in training keeping that intensity and pushing people for their starting places.
“I think the more difficult it is for the manager to pick a team, the better it is for the team to achieve what we want to achieve.”
Liverpool predicted line up
Liverpool are expected to start with Andrew Robertson, Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip in central defence.
But if Alexander-Arnold cannot play right-back then James Milner may slot into the position – as he did against Manchester United in February.
Jordan Henderson and Fabinho should start in midfield alongside the in-form Gini Wijnaldum, who scored for Holland during the international break.
And Klopp’s usual front three of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane should also start for the welcome of Spurs.
Liverpool predicted team vs Spurs: Alisson, Milner, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson, Henderson, Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Salah, Firmino, Mane.