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• Jurgen Klopp: Trent Alexander-Arnold and Diogo Jota give Liverpool ‘a chance’

  Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes the return of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Diogo Jota gives their title hopes a much-needed boost.

  Defeat to Crystal Palace last weekend saw Klopp’s side drop to third as Manchester City moved into a two-point lead at the top of the table.

  But with results faltering, the performance by Alexander-Arnold in the Europa League win over Atalanta, particularly in the first half, has offered renewed hope.

  The defender was making his first start since mid-February after a knee injury and, while Jota has yet to have the same impact in three relatively short substitute appearances after a similar two-month lay-off, the clinical nature of his game could offset some of the deficiencies currently being experienced by his fellow forwards.

  “We need Trent Alexander-Arnold, of course, but we need him in a really good shape and form and that’s what he has to get up to,” said Klopp ahead of the trip to Fulham.

  “It’s not about him and it’s not his fault if he wouldn’t be, it’s just the situation. So how quick can we get him rolling if you want – the same for Diogo.

  “We have to find a way to help the boys in the best way, to bring them as quick as possible into their best form or shape and from there we have to go.

  “Without them we wouldn’t have a chance. With them we have a chance, with them in a really good football moment the chance gets bigger and bigger.”

  Klopp remains positive about their chances despite recent failures and feels six wins could see them snatch the title from the grasp of their rivals.

  Although a Europa League exit on aggregate was disappointing there were positives to take from the game.

  Alexander-Arnold’s display, drifting infield to dictate play and even popping up in the centre-forward’s position on occasions in Bergamo, was one and a first clean sheet in 10 matches was another.

  With struggles up front continuing – Liverpool have scored only two goals in the opening 15 minutes in a league game this season – a more solid backline offers a better platform and that is why Klopp is optimistic.

  “I don’t have a lot of qualities but I am always completely honest. If I don’t feel great the players feel it pretty quickly,” he said.

  “I cannot really deny or just keep it under the carpet so that means after the game against Palace people ask ‘What do you tell the team now?’.

  “But here we are a few days later and I feel absolutely great, I see the good in the situation where we are. It is fantastic.

  “The boys know that I don’t tell them things which I don’t believe in and I am 100 percent sure we can really win all of the games we will have to from now on.

  “What should influence us more: the last game, the last week or is it the chance in front of us?

  “I am fully (of the opinion) that there is a next chance for us and we can turn things absolutely around in all departments. We can make it still an outstanding season.

  “It will be a good season but of course how you look at it is in the end is massively influenced by the last part of it.”

• ‘Excited’ Gareth Taylor wants his Manchester City team to take advantage

  Gareth Taylor has urged Manchester City to step up and seize their moment in the Women’s Super League title race.

  Chelsea returned to the summit on goal difference on Wednesday night with a 3-0 win over Aston Villa but Taylor’s team will play twice before the current champions get the chance to add to their 46-point tally.

  While Chelsea switch their attention to Champions League semi-final action with Barcelona over the next two weekends, City host West Ham on Sunday before they travel to Bristol City on April 28 with the aim of being six points clear going into May.

  Taylor told a press conference: “Wednesday night changed things around a little bit again but of course we play now two games before Chelsea play again, so it is an important moment for us to step up and do our bit.

  “That is all we will do. Attack the next game, give it our very best and do what we can.

  “Yeah, I’m excited about this next period and think it is a great opportunity for us.

  “If we had looked at that at the beginning of the season, knowing that most of the time the WSL goes to the final game, I think it is a fantastic position for us to be in.

  “We’ve worked so hard and we don’t want to lose that opportunity. We want to continue with it and take it all the way.”

  City will have first-choice Khiara Keating in goal after she was able to shake off the knee issue which forced her to leave England national team duty earlier this month.

   

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  A Women’s FA Cup final dress rehearsal will also take place on Sunday when Manchester United host Tottenham.

  Grace Clinton will be a notable absentee due to the terms of her loan at Spurs from United and she will also be unavailable at Wembley on May 12.

  Tottenham head coach Robert Vilahamn has made no secret of his desire to keep the England international beyond this season-long loan but his opposite number Marc Skinner talked up his future hopes for Clinton in a United shirt.

  Skinner said: “When we signed Grace two seasons ago, it was that we saw this level of potential for sure.

  “It’s really interesting talking to people around her and so on, there is still loads more we can give to her and we can keep adding to her.

  “But I can’t stress this enough, the whole reason she went on loan was to be able to do that.

  “We couldn’t give her the minutes that needed her to be able to do that but she has now proven she is in that space, she has had that exposure and I look forward to welcoming her back to do that for Manchester United.”

  Sunday’s other fixture will see third-placed Arsenal host Leicester with the Gunners eager to close the gap on Chelsea, which stands at six points with four fixtures left to play.

• On this day in 2018: Arsene Wenger announces his Arsenal exit

  On this day in 2018, Arsene Wenger announced he would step down as Arsenal manager at the end of the season after almost 22 years in the role.

  Appointed in September 1996, the Frenchman had presided over a glittering period in the club’s history which yielded three Premier League titles, the last of them famously secured by his “Invincibles”, who went through the 2003-04 league campaign unbeaten.

  In addition, former Nancy, Monaco and Grampus Eight boss Wenger guided the club to FA Cup glory on seven occasions and secured 20 successive seasons of Champions League football during a reign spanning 1,235 matches, 828 of them in the top flight.

  However, his announcement came amid mounting disquiet over the club’s showing in both the Premier League and Europe, with three FA Cup successes in four years failing to placate his critics.

  Wenger said: “After careful consideration and following discussions with the club, I feel it is the right time for me to step down at the end of the season.

  “I am grateful for having had the privilege to serve the club for so many memorable years. I managed the club with full commitment and integrity.”

  Majority owner Stan Kroenke paid tribute to the man who had gone toe-to-toe with Manchester United counterpart Sir Alex Ferguson and Chelsea’s Jose Mourinho.

  Kroenke said: “This is one of the most difficult days we have ever had in all our years in sport.

  “One of the main reasons we got involved with Arsenal was because of what Arsene has brought to the club on and off the pitch.

  “His longevity and consistency over such a sustained period at the highest level of the game will never be matched. Arsene has unparalleled class and we will always be grateful to him.”

  Wenger, described by Ferguson as “without doubt one of the greatest Premier League managers” and by former Gunners skipper Tony Adams as “the greatest Arsenal manager”, bowed out after a 1-0 final-day victory at Huddersfield on May 13, 2018.

  The 68-year-old said afterwards: “I feel that I got a lot of respect not only from our fans, but from England. I would reiterate I loved English football, but I also learned to love England. You do not stay 22 years if you don’t like it.”