Frank Lampard said Chelsea supporters have every right to be worried after they slipped to a fifth straight defeat under his management against Brentford at Stamford Bridge.
Cesar Azpilicueta’s own-goal and a late breakaway effort from Bryan Mbeumo sealed a 2-0 win for the visitors and condemned Lampard’s team to a sixth game in their last seven in which they have failed to score as their faint hopes of finishing in the Premier League’s top half became increasingly distant.
The numbers surrounding Chelsea’s fall are alarming. They have not won in any competition or on any ground since beating Leicester at the King Power Stadium on March 11 when Graham Potter was still the manager.
"Everything is going against us"
"We would love a magic wand or a magic moment" ?
Frank Lampard reflects on Chelsea's current tough time… pic.twitter.com/U9fo4rsze8
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 26, 2023
Since then, Bruno Saltor and Lampard have between them overseen a winless run that now stands at eight games.
Only one player has scored for this side since Potter’s penultimate game in charge on March 18, Conor Gallagher’s heavily deflected strike in the home defeat by Brighton.
That run is compounded by the fact that six of those eight winless matches have come at Stamford Bridge.
Afterwards Lampard defended the right of supporters to boo the team, as those who stayed did en masse at the final whistle, but he said it is confidence and not a lack of application that has set the players on their downward spiral.
“Absolutely the fans are going to be worried,” said Lampard. “If you’re a Chelsea fan, you’ve been used to 20 years of success, you’re used to it and you want it more.
West London is ? pic.twitter.com/VEoUKNlGST
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) April 26, 2023
“I’ve got no problem with fans booing. I’m not sitting here to go against the fans and say don’t boo the players. I’ll defend the players because they’re young lads who want to do well. Is there an issue with confidence? Yes. Is there an issue with the balance of the squad? Maybe yes.
“I’m not patronising everybody, I expect them to have an idea what’s going on behind the scenes, but when you work with it in this Premier League, if you think Brentford are going to come and turn you around and have corners and throw-ins against you and you’re going to walk that game, that’s not the case any time.
“When you’re in this moment with a lack of confidence, then it can be difficult to win a game. I’m not exonerating the players, far from it. I’m just supporting them. They’re in there disappointed because they wanted to win that game. They performed in my opinion like they wanted to win it.
“Is there a confidence issue? Yes. Are we dynamic enough in the final third? No. Have we been for a long time before I came here? No. Those things are not things that are going to turn overnight. We have to keep working.
“I understand the fans booing. I don’t think anybody is saying they can’t believe that’s the case today.”
Chelsea were sluggish from the start and rarely looked like breaking down Brentford, who played their way to a second straight win on this ground by patiently holding the hosts at arm’s length and waiting for their moment to strike.
Azpilicueta on his return to the team was unlucky to deflect the ball past Kepa Arrizabalaga from a Brentford corner, but Chelsea had only themselves to blame for the ease with which Mbeumo swept through them to seal the win 12 minutes from time.
Off the bench and onto the scoresheet ⚽️
Bryan Mbeumo doubles the lead as the Bees buzz around Stamford Bridge ? pic.twitter.com/J4b7glrSrj
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 26, 2023
The hosts’ staring XI had scored only 10 goals between them all season, and yet again their lack of firepower up front was evident.
“There is a balance in the squad to address, I think everybody sees that,” said Lampard. “What can you do? This has been a problem that predates me coming recently into this. When there are not so many goals you also have to have players who can do a tactical job and work for the team.
“We have to keep working and fighting to try and create opportunities to score goals. Maybe there aren’t goals so much in the team, and we’re low on confidence. There’s a clear issue in the squad, not scoring enough goals for a team like Chelsea.”
Brentford boss Thomas Frank reflected that Chelsea possibly showed his side too much respect in picking a team with so little obvious attacking threat.
“So nice to win,” he said. “This was a well-deserved win. We were aggressive in the high press especially in the first half. Second half it was a little bit more difficult for us to do.
“I was pleased Chelsea showed us so much respect.
“I respect every team. We don’t fear any team, but we need to be very respectful. We spoke about the team when we saw the line-up, it’s still top players where one moment can decide the game.”
David Moyes accused the VAR of “disrespect” after West Ham were denied a late penalty as they slipped to a 2-1 defeat by Liverpool.
Moyes angrily confronted Chris Kavanagh on the field at full-time after the referee decided not to award a penalty when Thiago’s arm hit the ball as he challenged Danny Ings in the box.
The Hammers boss was convinced VAR Neil Swarbrick should have at least told Kavanagh to review the incident on the pitchside monitor.
“I’ve a chance to see it since,” said Moyes. “The difference for me is, and you’ll probably hear them coming out with some rubbish about he needed to break his fall, but if you lunge it’s your own fault for lunging and being out of control in the tackle.
“You can break your fall by sliding and having to put your arm down but when you lunge for the ball, for me, that completely nullifies anything they’re talking about breaking your fall. I think it’s a penalty kick.
“I think the hardest thing to take is the disrespect from VAR, that VAR wouldn’t have at least said to the referee that this might be worth having a look. That tells me they don’t see that as even close to a decision. I’m surprised.
“Somebody in VAR didn’t have enough football knowledge to understand that this could be close.
“Whoever it was chose not to send the referee. VAR, for me, showed no respect whatsoever to us.
“The handball rule has changed dramatically and I don’t like a lot of it, to be fair. Do I think the boy meant tonight for it to hit his hand? No I didn’t. But he got his hand in the way of a ball going through made by his own actions.
“Look, it’s not about that (an apology). They might need to apologise to the football club because we’re trying to get points to be a Premier League team.”
Joel Matip’s towering header saw Liverpool come from behind pick up a third straight win.
The Hammers led through a wonder strike from Lucas Paqueta but were pegged back by Cody Gakpo’s long-range drive.
And moments after Jarrod Bowen had a goal disallowed for offside, Matip struck from a corner to halt West Ham’s recent revival.
“I heard now about the handball. I thought he just fell on the ball but I can see why Moyesie would think different,” said Reds boss Jurgen Klopp, whose side climbed to sixth.
“I liked the performance a lot. Parts of the first half we were exceptional. We made one mistake and they scored a great goal, what a screamer. But we stayed calm and scored our screamer.
“Second half I liked as well. We had to dig in deep because of the physicality of West Ham. I would have liked the game if it was a draw. We won so that makes it the perfect night for us.”
David Moyes accused the VAR of “disrespect” after West Ham were denied a late penalty as they slipped to a 2-1 defeat by Liverpool.
Moyes angrily confronted Chris Kavanagh on the field at full-time after the referee decided not to award a penalty when Thiago’s arm hit the ball as he challenged Danny Ings in the box.
The Hammers boss was convinced VAR Neil Swarbrick should have at least told Kavanagh to review the incident on the pitchside monitor.
“I’ve a chance to see it since,” said Moyes. “The difference for me is, and you’ll probably hear them coming out with some rubbish about he needed to break his fall, but if you lunge it’s your own fault for lunging and being out of control in the tackle.
“You can break your fall by sliding and having to put your arm down but when you lunge for the ball, for me, that completely nullifies anything they’re talking about breaking your fall. I think it’s a penalty kick.
“I think the hardest thing to take is the disrespect from VAR, that VAR wouldn’t have at least said to the referee that this might be worth having a look. That tells me they don’t see that as even close to a decision. I’m surprised.
“Somebody in VAR didn’t have enough football knowledge to understand that this could be close.
“Whoever it was chose not to send the referee. VAR, for me, showed no respect whatsoever to us.
“The handball rule has changed dramatically and I don’t like a lot of it, to be fair. Do I think the boy meant tonight for it to hit his hand? No I didn’t. But he got his hand in the way of a ball going through made by his own actions.
“Look, it’s not about that (an apology). They might need to apologise to the football club because we’re trying to get points to be a Premier League team.”
Joel Matip’s towering header saw Liverpool come from behind pick up a third straight win.
The Hammers led through a wonder strike from Lucas Paqueta but were pegged back by Cody Gakpo’s long-range drive.
And moments after Jarrod Bowen had a goal disallowed for offside, Matip struck from a corner to halt West Ham’s recent revival.
“I heard now about the handball. I thought he just fell on the ball but I can see why Moyesie would think different,” said Reds boss Jurgen Klopp, whose side climbed to sixth.
“I liked the performance a lot. Parts of the first half we were exceptional. We made one mistake and they scored a great goal, what a screamer. But we stayed calm and scored our screamer.
“Second half I liked as well. We had to dig in deep because of the physicality of West Ham. I would have liked the game if it was a draw. We won so that makes it the perfect night for us.”
Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper says his side still have work to do after they moved out of the Premier League relegation zone with a 3-1 win over Brighton.
Forest were on a seemingly irreversible slide back to the Championship after a horror run of 11 games without a victory going back to February, but they stopped the rot at the City Ground.
Another defeat had been on the cards after the Seagulls went ahead through Facundo Buonanotte’s goal on his first Premier League start after Brennan Johnson had missed an early penalty for Forest.
But an own goal by Pascal Gross on the stroke of half-time followed by second-half efforts from Danilo and Morgan Gibbs-White gave them a vital win.
The relegation battle looks like going to the wire, with six clubs realistically in the fight, and Cooper knows this victory does not count for anything if they cannot back it up.
“Delighted, the result is always the most important thing but definitely at this moment in time,” Cooper said.
“There were loads of positives, but it is a good win, you have to enjoy them until we leave the dressing room and drive out because we have got another game on Saturday and we have to be really ready for it. We have to be ready for Brentford.
“We have to look after ourselves, if you get the results you need things will take care of themselves with league position. We managed to get the win tonight. Let’s try and improve it again on Saturday and that has to be the only thing we are thinking about.
“I’m over the moon, I’m so pleased for the players and the supporters, but we haven’t won for months and I don’t think we can win a game and celebrate too much.
“I was walking off the pitch thinking about getting ready for Brentford. We have got a lot of work to do and I want everybody in tomorrow working even harder than they did today. That has to be the mentality.”
Cooper confirmed that Neco Williams had been taken to hospital after a sickening clash with team-mate Johnson in the second half.
He said: “I had a look when he came off and I saw blood so fingers crossed it is not too bad, his health comes first regardless of results.”
Brighton were looking to bounce back from the heart-breaking FA Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester United, but this loss hurt their European ambitions as they dropped to eighth, although they do have games in hand on the teams above them.
Boss Roberto De Zerbi said his threadbare squad ran out of energy after a bright opening.
“We deserved to lose the game, we played well for the first 35 minutes in the first half and then we lost energy,” the Italian said.
“We didn’t change too many players from Wembley, we knew it was a very tough game, we could have scored more goals in that 35 minutes and then we lost the spirit and energy.
“It’s a difficult period for us because we are not used to playing three games in a week but we have to use it because we will play eight games and we have to fight to reach our target.
“For sure I am honest and I don’t want to speak in this way when we lose the game. I am proud for my players today when we lost the game.”
Erik ten Hag has praised potential summer target Harry Kane’s intelligence, personality and goalscoring instincts ahead of Manchester United’s trip to Tottenham.
Fresh from edging past Brighton in Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final on penalties, the Red Devils return to London for a key match in the race for Champions League qualification.
Fourth-placed United boast a six-point cushion and two games in hand on Spurs, who turned to Ryan Mason as caretaker boss following their 6-1 shellacking at Newcastle.
But whatever the disfunction at Spurs, club record goalscorer Kane always seems to find a way to find the net and took his tally to 26 in all competitions at St James’ Park.
The 29-year-old’s deal at his boyhood club expires next year and United have been strongly linked with a summer move for the striker, who was subject of a failed pursuit by Manchester City in 2021.
“It’s quite clear his impact on the game from Spurs,” United boss Ten Hag said of threat posed by Kane on Thursday night.
“We have a plan of course for that. The home game we did very well, so for tomorrow we need a very good plan as well.
“You have to defend him as a team. He’s a clever player, so don’t allow him to come into situations. He can have a big impact on the game.”
Asked what makes Kane such a great striker, Ten Hag said: “First of all, the number of goals.
“And also his key actions (that) come to a goal, final passes as well. He’s just a great player, great personality as well.”
Then pushed on whether he would fit in well at United, Ten Hag said after a slight pause: “I am preparing my team tomorrow for a game against Spurs.
“He is one of the players but we have to face Spurs, so I don’t think about anything else.”
United had already looked light up top before Cristiano Ronaldo’s acrimonious November departure.
Football director John Murtough told a fans’ forum the following month that “it’s no secret that we’re looking for a new centre-forward”.
Wout Weghorst joined on loan from Burnley in January to plug that gap for the remainder of the season, but Murtough said “the main focus remains on the summer window”.
Planning was well under way for that window before the curtain came down on 2022 and Kane is among the elite number nines United have been linked with.
“I think we have to strengthen the team on more positions (than just striker) – for instance the depth in the squad,” Ten Hag said when asked about the need for a striker.
“But don’t think about that in this moment. It’s not about that.
“So far I think we have a great season so keep going, keep improving, keep progressing.
“The team is doing so well and I think it’s enjoyable to be part of this team.
“We have to keep the process going. We have good players, we have a great team, we have a great year but it’s only success if you keep going.”
United won the Carabao Cup in February and have the FA Cup final against Manchester City to look forward to on June 3.
They are on course for a top-four finish but last week’s embarrassing Europa League quarter-final loss at Sevilla provided a reality check for Ten Hag’s developing team.
“Of course it would be great but in this moment we can’t dream for that,” the United boss said when the prospect of pushing for the title next year rather than the top four was put to him.
“We know where Man United should belong, but the reality is we are not in that place, so, as a club, we have to work very hard to get back in that position.
“So, don’t dream in this moment, be in the reality and make a good plan, strategy, but work very hard and be ready for every game.
“I think we are in a good direction, but we have still a way to go. That’s also the truth.”
Ryan Mason has insisted he now feels ready to be Tottenham manager after experiencing a level of “uncertainty” during his first caretaker spell in charge.
Mason became the youngest ever Premier League boss in 2021 when he replaced Jose Mourinho for the final month of the season and he is back in the role after Cristian Stellini was dismissed following Sunday’s 6-1 thrashing at Newcastle.
The 31-year-old is Spurs’ third manager of the campaign but believes he is better equipped to steer the ship this time having spent the last 18 months as first-team coach at his boyhood club.
“At that time did I know I was ready? There was a lot of uncertainty but looking at it now, I know I’m ready to help the group and deal with the situation in a good way,” Mason reiterated.
“I’m young, yes, but not in terms of a coach. Six years of coaching solid is a long time.
“A normal player retires at 35 and if you fast forward six years then you’re 40, 41 and the perception is probably totally different.
“In terms of my age I may be young but not in terms of my coaching experience.
“Obviously there are ambitions when you start coaching and you chase things, but I’ve always lived in a way which is to deal with what is happening right now and never take your eye off the ball.
“I’m ready for this situation and I feel like the players know I’m ready as well. The focus is on these next six games and then in the summer we will see what the best situation is for the football club.”
A number of Mason’s old team-mates have left Tottenham during the past two years but several do remain at the club and the likes of Hugo Lloris, Eric Dier and Harry Kane form part of the squad’s leadership group.
Yet the former Spurs midfielder is adamant he will have no issue making difficult decisions over the next month.
All focus on Thursday ?
? @getir_UK pic.twitter.com/Ldn1joubc2
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) April 25, 2023
Mason added: “Honestly, I believe in this group and I believe in these players.
“Last season we finished the season exceptionally well and sometimes in football it is a deeper thing than just having players. It is more about the environment and the mindset or confidence.
“There are so many factors that can affect results.
“Naturally in the last two years since I have been in the first team coaching it is not a friendship, it is a professional working relationship.
“There is respect there – there has always been respect there – but ultimately they knew two years ago and they know now that I am a decision-maker. That’s my job.
“They are going to have to respect that and understand that and I am going to make decisions which I feel are the best for the team to get a result.”
Previously part of Antonio Conte’s coaching staff, Mason remained respectful of the Italian despite a difficult campaign for the club.
He did highlight the mid-season World Cup and the death of fitness coach Gian Piero Ventrone as decisive factors.
But Mason said: “First of all I am not going to get drawn into speaking about Antonio and Cristian because I worked with them for a long time and I am grateful for the opportunity I had with them.
“I learnt a lot from them and their team as well. How they managed things was how they managed things.
“My job and their job is to get results on the football pitch. How you set a culture and environment differs from every single individual but I know what I want to do and I am clear with that.”
Erling Haaland surpassed Mohamed Salah’s record tally of 32 goals for a 38-game Premier League season with his late strike in Manchester City’s 4-1 win over Arsenal on Wednesday.
Here, the PA news agency looks at the Norway international’s stunning campaign in detail.
Premier League
The joint-most goals in a 38-match #PL season! @ErlingHaaland goes level with @MoSalah ? pic.twitter.com/5Q7QI4Ucl5
— Premier League (@premierleague) April 15, 2023
Haaland now has 33 goals in the Premier League, surging past the benchmark set by Salah in his debut season at Liverpool in 2017-18.
With seven games left, the overall record of 34 – shared by Andy Cole and Alan Shearer in 42-game campaigns early in the Premier League era – is surely in line to fall as well.
He scored in seven straight league games from August to October – his third to his ninth appearances in the competition – with hat-tricks against Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest and Manchester United helping him to 13 goals in those games and 18 in a 10-match scoring run in all competitions.
A fourth treble against Wolves in January left him one behind Shearer’s record of five in a season while he also has five doubles – against West Ham, Brighton, Leeds, Southampton and Leicester – and has scored in 19 of his 28 appearances.
Champions League
Haaland arrived in Manchester with 23 Champions League goals to his name in 19 appearances for RB Salzburg and Borussia Dortmund, and has more than maintained that form.
He netted group-stage doubles against Sevilla and FC Copenhagen, either side of a goal against Dortmund, and Pep Guardiola could afford to largely rest his star man for the return fixtures save for a scoreless first-half run-out on his old stomping ground in Germany.
He was quiet in a drawn first leg against RB Leipzig but more than made up for it in the return fixture, equalling the competition record of five goals in a game as City won 7-0 and 8-1 on aggregate.
Goals in both legs against Bayern Munich took him to a dozen for the European season, with an outside chance of threatening Cristiano Ronaldo’s record 17 for Real Madrid in 2013-14.
Domestic cups
FA Cup ?UCL ?Premier League ???? pic.twitter.com/omgJACPGzB
— Manchester City (@ManCity) March 18, 2023
Haaland’s first FA Cup goals came with a hat-trick in the 6-0 quarter-final win over Burnley, having sat out the clash with Chelsea and not scored against Arsenal.
He was shut out by Liverpool in the Community Shield – as well as in both league meetings – but scored against them in the Carabao Cup.
Dixie land?
There are a maximum of 11 games remaining for City this season – seven in the league, a Champions League semi-final over two legs and a possible final, and an FA Cup final.
With Haaland scoring more than a goal a game to this point, if he keeps up his season-long rate and plays every possible game, he could hit an astonishing 63 goals and match former Everton striker Dixie Dean’s all-time record for an English season in 1927-28.
His recent hot streak, even by his standards, raises the prospect of even more.
Haaland has scored 16 goals in his last nine games, including the Leipzig and Burnley games and league doubles against Southampton and Leicester.
Sheffield United clinched promotion to the Premier League with a 2-0 win over West Bromwich Albion at Bramall Lane.
Second-half goals from Sander Berge and Anel Ahmedhodzic gave the Blades the victory they needed to claim automatic promotion.
Two years and nine days after they were relegated, the Blades sealed their return to the top flight with three games remaining. With Burnley claiming the title the night before, United knew that three points would be enough to get them over the line.
The Blades are BACK!! ✊? pic.twitter.com/U3ngPmUXyt
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) April 26, 2023
Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom made three changes to the team that lost 3-0 to Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final, with Tommy Doyle, James McAtee and Oli McBurnie coming in.
West Brom manager Carlos Corberan made just the one switch from the 2-1 defeat at home to Sunderland, with Taylor Gardner-Hickman joining the starting XI.
The first chance fell to the away side when Jed Wallace’s cross from the right was met by Karlan Grant but the striker got his header all wrong.
At the other end, Berge had a go from distance but his effort sailed harmlessly over.
Wes Foderingham got down well to save Grant’s effort from the edge of the box before Eric Pieters was booked for a dangerous challenge. Next, Jack Robinson’s shot was gathered comfortably by Alex Palmer.
Wallace was causing more problems down the right but Gardner-Hickman saw his acrobatic effort saved. Iliman Ndiaye then had a penalty appeal waved away in the last action of the half.
The home side dominated the second half and they had lift-off in the 58th minute. United disposed the West Brom defence and after Ndiaye squared the ball to Berge, the Norwegian midfielder could not miss.
The Blades had several penalty shouts turned down as they ramped up the pressure in search of a second and they should have doubled their lead when Berge crossed into John Egan, but he placed his header wide.
Anel Ahmedhodžić makes it two with a exceptional finish! ❤️?pic.twitter.com/x6JtmT3xXL
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) April 26, 2023
United made the points safe in the 76th minute when George Baldock’s volley was turned in brilliantly by defender Ahmedhodzic.
From that point, West Brom struggled to offer anything going forward and it was party time for the home crowd, who can look forward to butting heads with English football’s elite next season.
The Baggies remain in ninth and two points off the play-off places.
Chelsea sunk to yet another dispiriting home defeat as Brentford inflicted a fifth consecutive loss on Frank Lampard with a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge.
The visitors led through Cesar Azpilicueta’s first-half own goal when substitute Bryan Mbeumo ran half the length of the pitch, unchallenged by anybody in blue, to slam home and condemn the hosts to a sixth winless game in a row on this ground.
The numbers are worthy of the crisis in which Chelsea find themselves. The team have scored one goal in their last seven games, and are winless in eight.
West London is ? pic.twitter.com/VEoUKNlGST
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) April 26, 2023
Such have Chelsea’s ambitions receded that a top-half finish in the Premier League from this point would rank as a success, but even that abridged, constricted dream appears vanishingly unlikely after this.
Brentford did not need to be spectacular, merely to wait patiently whilst Chelsea passed the ball about aimlessly in front of them, then take their only two chances of the match when they came.
Chelsea began sluggishly and only got worse. Ben Chilwell drew perhaps the only ripple of anticipation from around Stamford Bridge during the first half with a powerful burst down the left, taking the ball on after a clever first-time pass from Conor Gallagher.
His low cross was intercepted, and the only sniff of attacking intent from either side inside the first 20 minutes evaporated without threat.
FT: Chelsea 0-2 Brentford
Brentford own West London tonight ?⚪️ pic.twitter.com/pZKA1sebOj
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 26, 2023
Brentford had not won in six games, Chelsea not in seven, and so it was not a surprise to find both teams short on ideas of how to break the other down.
N’Golo Kante, again playing in an advanced midfield role alongside Gallagher, appeared on the right touchline as Chelsea sought a way through, bending over an inviting cross.
Up from the back and free inside the box was Thiago Silva, but his header into the ground lacked power, finding only the gloves of David Raya.
The first genuine test for the Brentford goalkeeper came on the half-hour mark, Kante controlling the ball inside the box from Wesley Fofana’s cut-back and laying it off for Enzo Fernandez. The World Cup-winner, still in search of his first goal since his record-breaking move to Stamford Bridge, shot too close to Raya who tipped it behind.
Azpilicueta had not played since being knocked unconscious during the win here against Leeds at the start of March, and so it was cruel on the Chelsea captain that it was off his shin that Brentford took the lead.
Things keep getting worse for Chelsea ?
César Azpilicueta puts it into his own net right before halftime… pic.twitter.com/pol87WRQuI
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 26, 2023
Mathias Jensen’s corner got a flick from Mathias Jorgensen, and Azpilicueta knew little about it as the ball deflected off him and bounced past Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Not for the first time this season, Chelsea were booed off at the break. It will not be the last if performances continue in this vein.
Lampard’s predicament was encapsulated by the sight of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, frozen out under successive managers, emerging from the bench for the second half, and his introduction seemed to inject signs of life into Chelsea’s attack, a goalscorer at last amidst its ranks.
Kante went as close as anybody for the home side when he flashed a shot inches wide from an angle just after the restart, before Aubameyang showed good footwork to make space for a strike that was straight at Raya.
The striker looked desperate to make up for all those months lost sitting on the bench, if he made the squad at all. When Raheem Sterling nodded a far-post cross back across goal, his moment looked to have arrived, but as the goalkeeper flapped, Aubameyang’s header flew into the air and down onto the roof of the net.
Then the killer blow. Mbeumo was barely inside the Chelsea half when he picked up the ball, and hardly challenged as he advanced upfield and into the box. A limp leg dangled in his path by Fofana did little to impede his march, and Mbeumo crashed it left-footed inside the near post to bury Chelsea.
‘West London is ours’ sang the jubilant away support as their home counterparts streamed for the exit. The end of this wretched season cannot come quickly enough.
Sheffield United have been promoted to the Premier League after beating West Brom.
The 2-0 victory at Bramall Lane sees them join Burnley in the automatic promotion spots in the Championship, returning to the top flight after two seasons away.
Here, the PA news agency takes a look at some of their key players.
Iliman NdiayeEven better in slow motion. ?
Goal No.14 for @iliman_ndiaye. ??? pic.twitter.com/s5HSnY31KM
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) April 17, 2023
The 23-year-old was playing at non-league Boreham Wood when the Blades brought him to the club in 2019 and he has enjoyed his breakthrough season. He is the club’s top scorer with 13 league goals and added eight assists. His ability to beat players and get out of tight situations has made him one of the most entertaining strikers to watch this season and saw Everton try and sign him in the January transfer window.
James McAteeView this post on InstagramBig things are expected of the Manchester City loanee by his parent club and a brilliant spell at Bramall Lane shows he is on the right track. With his twinkle toes and his ability to spot a pass, McAtee has been one of United’s main attacking threats, both from the off and when he has come on from the bench.
Anel Ahmedhodzic? Presenting the #SkyBetChampionship Team of the Season! ?
? Follow live: https://t.co/dmfvaztspZ#EFL | #EFLAwards
— Sky Bet Championship (@SkyBetChamp) April 23, 2023
The Sweden turned Bosnia international signed from Malmo last summer and has been one of the club’s best signings in recent years. The defender, who has played right side of a three-man defence, is physical and strong and has been a threat when asked to bomb forward.
Sander BergeBerge is a Rolls-Royce of a midfielder, never looking like he breaks sweat and so calm and composed in possession. The Norway international’s exceptionally large frame has provided the physical presence in the middle of the park. He is definitely one player who is ready-made for the Premier League.
Wes FoderinghamClean sheet Wes! ?
A 15th clean sheet of the season for our goalkeeper, @wes_foderingham! ? pic.twitter.com/86PSBJeigk
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) April 1, 2023
Despite two red cards, Foderingham has been a solid and reassuring presence in goal. Given the Blades’ dominance in the majority of games, he has never been too busy but his handling, commandment of the area and distribution have all been a key factor in their success.
Joel Matip’s towering header saw Liverpool come from behind to beat West Ham 2-1 and pick up a third straight win.
The Hammers led through a wonder strike from Lucas Paqueta but were pegged back by Cody Gakpo’s drive.
And moments after Jarrod Bowen had a goal disallowed for offside, Matip struck from a corner to halt West Ham’s recent revival.
Three points on the road ? pic.twitter.com/pdzz0ZWecI
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 26, 2023
West Ham were convinced they should have had a late penalty when Thiago’s arm hit the ball as he fell in the area, but despite a VAR check nothing was given.
The Hammers went into the match buoyed by a profitable week which saw them come from behind to draw 2-2 with Arsenal, reach the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League and climb further away from the relegation zone with a thumping 4-0 win at Bournemouth.
And manager David Moyes, who turned 60 on Tuesday, was celebrating again when his side took the lead with a goal of real quality from Paqueta after 12 minutes.
3 goals in 3 games ?
Lucas Paquetá fires West Ham into the lead against Liverpool ?? pic.twitter.com/YxrwF6fhxE
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 26, 2023
The Brazilian twice exchanged passes with Michail Antonio as he cut in from the right before launching a rocket from the edge of the box past his international team-mate Alisson.
Paqueta has taken a painfully long time to get up to speed since his record £50million switch from Lyon to east London last summer.
But it was a third goal in three matches for the 25-year-old who is now finally starting to look the part in claret and blue.
However, the lead lasted only five minutes before Trent Alexander-Arnold, gliding around in central midfield again, found Gakpo 25 yards out.
The Dutch forward was able to take a few touches and weigh up his options before deciding on a low shot which skidded past Lukasz Fabianksi into the corner of the net.
Liverpool weren't behind for long as Cody Gakpo's long-range strike draws them level ? pic.twitter.com/YGcuyDb891
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 26, 2023
Liverpool should have gone ahead when the ball dropped to Diogo Jota eight yards out but the Portuguese forward shinned his volley over the crossbar.
Jota, who scored four goals in his previous two matches, then planted a header wastefully wide.
But West Ham remained a threat and just before half-time Virgil van Dijk got a crucial touch to prevent Antonio from converting Said Benrahma’s cross at the far post.
The hosts thought they had gone back in front when Bowen raced on to Paqueta’s through ball, cut inside Van Dijk and fired into the corner, but a VAR check showed the winger was marginally offside.
Instead Liverpool snatched the lead in the 67th minute after Fabianski saved a point-blank shot from Matip.
The defender stayed up for the ensuing corner and duly powered his header from Andy Robertson’s cross past Fabianski.
West Ham pushed for an equaliser but Maxwel Cornet blazed wide and Tomas Soucek header over.
Moyes protested furiously to the fourth official after Thiago’s slip in the area but Liverpool survived to climb above Tottenham into sixth.
Joel and Avram Glazer could remain stakeholders at Manchester United under a deal being proposed by prospective new owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, according to reports.
British businessman Ratcliffe, founder and chairman of the INEOS Group, is among those to have expressed an interest in buying the Premier League club.
It has been reported that one of the options on the table for the American owners would see Ratcliffe take a controlling stake of more than 50 per cent, with the two Glazers retaining a combined 20 per cent.
Such a deal would not be welcomed by large sections of United’s support who have campaigned for the Glazers – whose leveraged buyout in 2005 plunged the club into huge debt – to quit Old Trafford.
American bank the Raine Group are facilitating the sale of the club, with Friday being the deadline for third bids to be submitted.
The Glazer family are considering either selling the club or bringing in external investment after announcing last November they were seeking “strategic alternatives”.
As well as Ratcliffe, a Qatari consortium – led by Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani – and Finnish businessman Thomas Zilliacus have gone public in their ambition to complete a full takeover.
One other group known to be involved is American hedge fund Elliott Investment, which has made an offer for a minority stake, but it is unknown how many parties have entered the process.
It has been reported the Glazers value the club at £6billion.
Emma Hayes insists her Chelsea side are as ready as they can be to spring a Women’s Champions League surprise over Barcelona.
The Catalan club are enjoying a perfect Liga F campaign, winning all 25 of their games, and hold a narrow 1-0 lead in their semi-final tie with Chelsea after victory at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Regarded as one of the best women’s teams in Europe, Barcelona will be favourites to finish the job in front of a crowd of over 65,000 at the Nou Camp, with either Arsenal or Wolfsburg to come in the final.
Hayes, though, has backed her side to give their all against an opponent who beat Chelsea 4-0 in the Champions League final two years ago.
“Nobody denies they are a fabulous team with an amazing history, particularly here,” the Chelsea boss told reporters in Spain on the eve of the clash.
“We have to accept that we will suffer more against Barcelona than anyone else. But we showed in the previous game we can defend.
“We will have to do that at an even higher level and the execution from us with the football has to be better. It’s a football match. The game is 1-0. We have a fair and equal chance.
“This is a strength of our team. We are built to cope with the challenges. We like to suffer. We’re as prepared as we possibly can be.
“I have said it time and time again, we have a dressing room of players that want to be in this position. We will give it everything we have got.
“We’re looking forward to playing at this magnificent stadium. At 1-0 there is no doubt, with their history here, we have to be at our very best.”
England forward Fran Kirby has travelled with the squad despite being out with a knee injury that could yet see her miss the World Cup.
“Fran wanted to come with the team,” added Hayes.
“She’s part of the team. (It is) great to have her with us. At this moment in time I don’t have any more updates.
“She has been on the grass a little bit but we are having to manage day by day what that looks like and I don’t have a timeline for her return.”
Stan Wawrinka recovered from a set behind to overcome Maxime Cressy and set up a second-round showdown with Andrey Rublev at the Madrid Open.
Three-time grand slam winner Wawrinka, who is the oldest player in the main draw, hit back in the Spanish capital to progress 6-7 (7-3) 6-3 7-6 (7-4).
The 38-year-old won 46 of 54 first-serve points and now has a couple of days to recover before facing fifth seed Rublev, who was handed a bye to the last 32.
Roberto Carballes Baena is also through after defeating David Goffin 6-4 6-4, with Alexander Zverev up next, while Alex Molcan saw off Wu Yibing 6-2 6-4.
There was a shock elsewhere on Wednesday as Diego Schwartzman was downed in straight sets by Hugo Grenier.
The Washington Commanders will not exercise the fifth-year option on defensive end Chase Young’s rookie contract following a second straight injury-plagued season, according to The Washington Post.
Young, the 2020 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, has been slow to recover from a serious right knee injury he suffered in November 2021 that sidelined him over a year.
The former second overall pick returned for the final three games of last season but did not record a sack.
The 24-year-old will now be an unrestricted free agent after the 2023 season. Young would have earned around $17.5million in 2024 had the option been picked up.
A healthy Young put together a strong rookie campaign in which he registered 7.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries in 15 games and was selected to the Pro Bowl.
The former Ohio State All-American had 21 tackles, 1.5 sacks and two forced fumbles through nine games in 2021 before tearing the anterior cruciate ligament and the patella tendon in his right knee in a Week 10 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Commanders coach Ron Rivera acknowledged earlier this month that Young’s medical history would factor heavily in the team’s decision whether to exercise the option.
"That's the thing that will drive a big part of the conversation," Rivera said. "As we continue to work through this and talk about it, it will be about seeing him and watching him.
"We'll continue to work through these things – talk to the doctors, talk to the trainers, strength and medical – and just kind of get a feel for where he is. Then we'll be able to make a decision and we’ll go from there."
Ralf Schumacher has told Max Verstappen to either leave Formula 1 or accept the new Sprint Race weekend format, which will debut at the upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
The 'Sprint Shootout' gets introduced this weekend and will set the grid for Saturday's Sprint Race, which means the grid for Sunday's Grand Prix is now determined by Friday's qualifying.
It leaves just one free practice session in Baku with FP2 and 3 being replaced, and is the first of six Sprint Race weekends in 2023 after only hosting three in 2021 and 2022.
This comes after Verstappen issued a 'quit threat' if F1 continues to make race weekend changes, but Schumacher believes the championship will thrive either way.
"The past, the present and the future have shown or will show that Formula 1 is much bigger than any individual," he told Sky Sports Germany.
"Bernie Ecclestone is also gone, and without him Formula 1 wouldn't exist - and now it’s more successful than ever.
"So Verstappen should either pack his things and leave, or just accept it as it is. I understand his attitude because there are a lot of risks.
"But still, he gets paid to do it. If he wants to go, then he has to go. Formula 1 will not perish, as much I love him."
Guenther Steiner has hailed the changes saying it is what fans want, and believes F1 could eventually keep adding the format to more race weekends.
"I don't know if we will do it every race weekend," the Haas team principal told Reuters. "Maybe do a few more or maybe do half of the calendar - the F1 promoter will know what to do.
"At the moment, there is more demand for races [than slots available] so how can you get more races in, more competition, more racing if we cannot do more than 24 events? So just make the event double count."
Will Baku finally have a repeat winner?
In six previous races at Baku, there has been a different winner each time. Nico Rosberg won its inaugural Grand Prix in 2016, before Daniel Ricciardo, Lewis Hamilton, Valtteri Bottas, Sergio Perez and defending winner Verstappen all stood on the top step.
With two of that six no longer in F1 and Bottas now in an Alfa Romeo, chances are only three of them are in with a shot of victory. However, given Red Bull have dominated the opening three races to this season, they will be odds-on favourite to win again on Sunday.
To many, the battle will be between Perez and Verstappen with the double world champion currently 15 points ahead of his team-mate in the standings. If Red Bull wins again, then that will extend Hamilton’s winless run to 27 - his worst in F1 - after Mercedes have struggled since the start of 2022.
However, Fernando Alonso has stood on the podium in each race this season. Therefore, should Red Bull encounter any problems then maybe the Aston Martin driver will extend Baku's record.
Charles Leclerc faces worst ever start to F1 season
Charles Leclerc's retirement in Australia means he is the first Ferrari driver since Felipe Massa in 2009 to have two DNFs in the opening three races of a season. For the other round, Saudi Arabia, he only finished seventh which leaves Leclerc 10th in the championship on six points.
It is a stark contrast to this time 12 months ago, where the Ferrari driver was leading the championship by 34 points after winning two of the opening three races. Should he fail to score a point in Baku then that will make it Leclerc's worst start to an F1 season, despite driving for Alfa Romeo in his debut year.
Championship Standings
Drivers
Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 69Sergio Perez (Red Bull) 54Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) 45Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 38Carlos Sainz Jr (Ferrari) 20
Constructors
Red Bull 123Aston Martin 65Mercedes 56Ferrari 26McLaren 12
UEFA staging the Champions League final in the United States has echoes of the Premier League’s doomed ‘Game 39′ plan about it, according to the Football Supporters’ Association.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin told American media outlet Men In Blazers it was “possible” a future final could be played in the US in future.
“This year (the final) is in Istanbul, (20)24 is London and ’25 is Munich and after that, let’s see. It’s possible,” he said.
However, fans’ group the FSA has taken a dim view of the suggestion.
“Matchgoing supporters would not welcome the idea of playing the Champions League final in the US or any other continent away from Europe,” the organisation said.
“There are echoes of ‘Game 39’ which would have taken Premier League fixtures around the planet – and the FSA rejected that concept too.”
‘Game 39’ was a proposal from the Premier League in 2008 to play an extra round of domestic top-flight matches outside England, which ultimately came to nothing.
Ceferin spoke favourably in the interview about the appeal of top-level European football in the US, where UEFA has done a six-year deal for its club tournaments worth a reported 1.5 billion US dollars (£1.2bn).
Many sports events have been played outside of their ‘home’ location in recent years, with the NFL commonly staging regular-season matches in London.
The PA news agency understands discussions around a summer ‘opening tournament’ to replace the existing UEFA Super Cup are still ongoing, but calendar issues are one of the major difficulties.
The introduction of a Club World Cup every fourth summer from 2025 adds further complication to that. The possibility of a summer ‘opening tournament’ – albeit not a commitment to stage one – has even featured in television rights sale documents for the 2024 to 2027 cycle.
Moving a Champions League final outside Europe would have less of a calendar impact than a summer tournament, but appears to be a tougher sell to fans.
However, one senior executive in European football said a trip to New York for an English fan was arguably no more onerous than going to Baku or another eastern European city.
For a Champions League final to be played in the US, it would require approval from the national federation, US Soccer, as well as the continental confederation CONCACAF and world governing body FIFA.
Former Celtic manager Neil Lennon revealed two other players broke cross-border travel restrictions at the same time as Boli Bolingoli as he stressed the huge impact the pandemic had on his final season at Parkhead.
The Hoops had two matches postponed on the orders of the Scottish Government in August 2020 after it emerged that Belgian defender Bolingoli had flown to Spain and back without telling anyone before playing against Kilmarnock several days later.
The furore set the tone for a difficult season which saw Celtic fall short of their quest for a record 10th consecutive title and miss out on any silverware, although they clinched the treble with victory over Hearts in the previous season’s delayed Scottish Cup final.
Lennon told PLZ Soccer: “We followed the protocols to an nth degree: five different dressing rooms at the training ground then the players had to go home and stay in.
“You had the Bolingoli incident at the start of the season. We said ‘don’t leave Glasgow’ and he gets on a flight to Spain for a day. And then he comes back and says ‘I didn’t go to Spain, I went to Belgium’. He said ‘I went to Andorra and then I drove over the border to Belgium to see my family’.
“And then two hours later he rings me and says ‘actually, I went to Marbella for the day’.
“And then I had a meeting with the players. ‘Did anyone else leave Glasgow?’ No. And then later on I get two phone calls from players, I’m not going to say who. ‘Gaffer, I was in Amsterdam’. ‘I was in Manchester’. I was like ‘guys, come on’.
“When you look back on it, it was really difficult for them. They missed their families, there were no restaurants, there was no social interaction. They broke the rules and I get it now.”
Celtic also came under criticism for embarking on a mid-season trip to Dubai which resulted in Lennon and 15 players being told to self-isolate.
He resigned in February 2021 but remarked that Celtic’s form returned when crowds came back.
“It was just such a difficult, surreal experience going through the pandemic,” he said. “It was totally different.
“If you look at the main leagues: PSG didn’t win the title; Madrid or Barcelona didn’t win the title; Liverpool, who had won the title the year before by 30-odd points, scraped into fourth place during Covid; Juventus, who were going for nine or 10 in a row, didn’t win the title.
“We weren’t exclusive to this, it affected a lot of the major clubs.
“For me the big thing was no supporters and the players’ way of life was totally different from what they were used to and there was a lot of Covid anxiety among them, a lot of them were worried about their families at home.
“I know Rangers went through the season unbeaten and they had seemingly no problems but it was nothing to do with football. It was more psychological and a totally abnormal sense of living.
“There was also a lot of unhappiness because the plan was for some of those players to go, and they couldn’t go because nobody had any money because there were no crowds.
“We got a few offers from clubs that were half the price of the players. I think they were disappointed and frustrated that they couldn’t go so some of their actions were not of the standards they were before.”
England coach Shaun Wane is convinced he has the full backing of Super League bosses despite a series of high-profile withdrawals from his squad ahead of Saturday’s mid-season international against France at Warrington.
Star names including St Helens pair Jonny Lomax and Lewis Dodd and Leeds Rhinos centre Harry Newman were surprise omissions from Wane’s final squad of 19 when it was reduced from its initial number of 40 last week.
Jack Welsby is the only one of eight Saints players to survive the cut but Wane, who is preparing to take charge for the first time since England’s agonising World Cup semi-final defeat to Samoa in November, says the withdrawals were due to a variety of factors.
? We're back… ?
??????? #EnglandRL pic.twitter.com/I9XCva6dit
— England Rugby League (@England_RL) April 26, 2023
“The start we’ve had in Super League has been really tough and the way teams have being ripping in, there are going to injuries, but that means there will be opportunities for a number of other young players,” said Wane.
“It’s down to a bit of everything, including fatigue. (Saints head coach) Paul Wellens is an England man, he’s worked with me and they’ve had a tough start with the travel. I know they’ve got a number of injuries.
“I’ve had meetings with all the Super League coaches and CEOs and they have my trust. I know they all want England to do well.”
Wane is determined to use the game against the French, whom England swept aside 42-18 in their World Cup second round match in Bolton, to begin building a squad capable of challenging at the next World Cup in France in 2025.
To that end Welsby, Wigan’s Kai Pearce-Paul and his new captain, Warrington half-back George Williams, are the only three players in the 19 to have featured in the tournament last year.
“We need to improve and start developing some of the players who are coming through,” added Wane. “Everything we do now in terms of training and recovery is going to help dictate how close we get to winning that final in 2025.”
England’s game against France will be preceded by a women’s international between the same two sides, with Warrington-born Jodie Cunningham preparing to captain her country for the first time.
The 31-year-old St Helens star believes the recent moves by Hollie-Mae Dodd and Georgia Roche to sign professional deals in Australia’s NRLW heralds an exciting opportunity to improve the game in Britain.
“I can’t wait to see them rip it out there and become stand-out NRLW players, and it shows just how far the women’s game has come when we were sitting here talking about full-time professional contracts.
“If we are going to continue improving the women’s game we need more competitive fixtures on a more regular basis. I think we shocked a lot of people with the way we performed in the World Cup, and it will not take a lot to bridge that gap.”
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