Posts of the Week

Arsenal and Chelsea meet at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night for the second leg of their EFL Cup semi-final, with the Gunners holding a slender 3-2 advantage following the first-leg clash at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea face the challenge of overturning the deficit as they aim to reach the final.

Arsenal are enjoying a remarkable 2025-26 season, still competing on all four fronts. Under Mikel Arteta, the Gunners sit atop the Premier League, topped their Champions League group, advanced to the fourth round of the FA Cup, and are on course for an EFL Cup final appearance.

In the EFL Cup, Arsenal progressed comfortably past Port Vale (2-0) and Brighton (2-0) before a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace in the quarter-finals. A dramatic penalty shootout win (8-7) over Palace secured their semi-final berth against Chelsea.

At Stamford Bridge in the first leg, Arsenal raced into a 1-0 lead within seven minutes, doubled it early in the second half through Viktor Gyokeres, but Alejandro Garnacho’s strike cut the lead. Martin Zubimendi restored Arsenal’s two-goal advantage before Garnacho struck again, leaving the Gunners with a narrow 3-2 lead.

Arsenal’s domestic form has been mixed since, drawing 0-0 with Nottingham Forest and losing 3-2 to Manchester United. However, they bounced back with a commanding 4-0 win against Leeds United at Elland Road last weekend, giving them momentum heading into this crucial semi-final.

Liam Rosenior, appointed following Enzo Maresca’s departure, has quickly won over Chelsea fans. The Blues have claimed six wins from seven matches in all competitions under Rosenior, with the only defeat coming against Arsenal in the first leg.

Chelsea arrive in confident form, riding a five-game winning streak, including an impressive victory over Napoli in the Champions League and a thrilling 3-2 comeback at West Ham United, secured by a 92nd-minute strike from Enzo Fernandez.

Despite this, Chelsea’s recent record against Arsenal is poor. The Blues have not beaten the Gunners in their last ten meetings across all competitions and have suffered three consecutive defeats at the Emirates.

INJURIES & SUSPENSIONS​

Arsenal will be without Max Dowman due to an ankle injury. Bukayo Saka remains doubtful, while Mikel Merino could miss the rest of the season with a foot problem. Noni Madueke may fill the right-wing role in Saka’s absence, joining Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli, and Viktor Gyokeres in attack. Zubimendi and Declan Rice are expected to continue in midfield, with the backline likely unchanged from the 4-0 win over Leeds.

Chelsea have several injury concerns, with Levi Colwill, Tosin Adarabioyo, Dario Essugo, Romeo Lavia, and Jamie Gittens unlikely to feature. Wesley Fofana, Marc Cucurella, Joao Pedro, and Reece James, all impact substitutes in the win over West Ham, should start, while Malo Gusto, Benoit Badiashile, Jorrel Hato, and Alejandro Garnacho could drop to the bench.

POSSIBLE LINE-UPS​

Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Arrizabalaga; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Rice; Madueke, Odegaard, Martinelli; Gyokeres

Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Sanchez; James, Chalobah, Fofana, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Neto, Palmer, Pedro; Delap

EXPERT PREDICTION

Manchester United will aim to extend their winning streak to four under interim manager Michael Carrick when they host Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Saturday lunchtime. The last time these sides met, Matthijs de Ligt’s 96th-minute equalizer secured a 2-2 draw for the Red Devils in North London.

Since Ruben Amorim’s departure, Manchester United have enjoyed a remarkable turnaround. Carrick’s side has picked up nine points from nine in the Premier League and extended their unbeaten run to seven matches (W4 D3). Highlights include impressive victories over Arsenal and Manchester City, followed by a dramatic 3-2 win against Fulham, courtesy of Benjamin Sesko’s 94th-minute winner.

Interestingly, United perform better when under pressure: they remain unbeaten in all nine league matches this season when holding less possession than their opponents (W7 D2). Their current form places them fourth in the Premier League, just one point above Chelsea and two ahead of Liverpool. A win against Tottenham could see them surpass last season’s points tally of 42 with 13 games remaining.

Tottenham, meanwhile, have struggled in recent weeks. The North London side is winless in their last six league games (D4 L2) and sits 14th, precariously closer to the relegation zone than the top five. Although their home form has been disappointing, Spurs perform well on the road, securing five of their seven league victories away from home. They remain unbeaten in their last eight meetings with United across all competitions (W5 D3) and famously recorded a 3-0 win at Old Trafford last season.

Injuries & Suspensions​

Manchester United will be without Patrick Dorgu and De Ligt, while Mason Mount is unavailable due to a recent knock in training. Carrick is expected to maintain his winning lineup, though Benjamin Sesko could return to the starting XI following his impactful substitute appearance against Fulham. Bruno Fernandes, the league’s top assist provider this season, will continue to orchestrate attacks from an advanced central role.

Tottenham face a long injury list, with James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Mohammed Kudus, Pedro Porro, Richarlison, Rodrigo Bentancur, Ben Davies, Lucas Bergvall, and Kevin Danso all sidelined. Solanke, Cristian Romero, and Micky van de Ven are available after minor setbacks, while Djed Spence remains “touch and go.” Solanke will lead the attack, continuing his prolific run against United, with Wilson Odobert and Mathys Tel challenging for places alongside Randal Kolo Muani and Xavi Simons.

Possible Lineups​

Manchester United:
Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo; Diallo, Fernandes, Cunha; Mbeumo

Tottenham Hotspur:
Vicario; Spence, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Bissouma, Gallagher; Odobert, Simons, Kolo Muani; Solanke

Expert Prediction

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This year premier league is looking very strong week by week..

LeBron James hinted that his NBA career may be nearing its end after the Los Angeles Lakers fell 100–112 to the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

“Everything has to come to an end at some point,” LeBron said. “MSG will always hold a special place in my heart, but eventually, I’ll never play there again, or in certain arenas, or play again, period.”

The 41-year-old finished with 22 points, five rebounds, and six assists, though the Lakers suffered their 19th loss, sitting 29–19 and sixth in the Western Conference.

Even in his 23rd season, LeBron remains among the NBA’s elite, earning his 22nd straight All-Star selection and averaging 21.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game.

Mad looking back at this now. Proper highlights how much we underestimated Sunderland coming up—we all basically had them penned in for a relegation scrap before a ball was even kicked in August. To think we let them walk into MW1 like they were just there to make up the numbers... absolute joke. The Stadium of Light has been a proper fortress this season, honestly one of the toughest places to go. I’ve been following this league since I was in nappies and this is one of the biggest 'shove it' seasons I’ve seen from a promoted side in a long time.

i was very impressed with the outcome of this game. Liverpool was brilliant.

Xherdan Shaqiri delivered an insane performance yesterday: hat-trick + 1 assist in a spectacular match with Basel in the Swiss Clásico against Zürich.

The Swiss legend sealed a 4–3 victory for the club of his heart in the very last moments, completing a perfect match.

Nuts to think he left the MLS, and now at 34 years old, he’s still making history in Europe.

His record after returning in Europe: 35 goals and 35 assists in 71 games for FC Basel.

Morocco got Fairplay award and got fined for not being fair ..
Who's giving the awards and who's punishing the team's

11th March 2025 was the day that it all went wrong for Liverpool FC.

That day Liverpool lost at home to PSG in the Champions League Round of 16 and went out on penalties, the following game we lost the 2025 League Cup final to Newcastle Utd with probably our worst display of football I have seen for 50 years.

So let's start from the begining, Slot comes in to replace one of the greatest Legends in our entire history in Jurgen Klopp and hits the ground running with Klopp's team with just Chiesa coming in for £10m who was only used for 6 Premier League games and 14 games overall.

Out goes Adrian, Matip, Thiago and a few young players in Sepp Van Den Berg, Clarke, and Carvalho bringing in £55.3m so we made a £45.3m profit.

Start of the 2024-25 season Arne Slots first 45 games in charge in all competitions had a record of -
Played 45.
Won - 34.
Drawn - 7.
Lost - 4.
Win Rate of 75.56%.

Then came that 11th March game v PSG at Anfield when we just went into free fall.
So including that PSG game Liverpool played 11 games, In them last 11 games of Liverpool's 2024-25 season our record was -
Played 11.
Won - 4.
Drawn - 2.
Lost - 5.
Win Rate of 36.36%.

So has we can see what a spectacular drop that was from the first 45 games of the season with a Win Rate of 75.56% to the last 11 games of the season with a Win Rate of just 36.36%.

Then the start of this 2025-26 season started with challenges with the loss of Jota, Trent learning Spanish while running down his contract and going on a free to Real Madrid, selling Diaz when he should of been given a new contract and the sale of Nunez, then out went a couple of centre backs in Nat Phillips and Quansah.

Then in comes £417.2m worth of talent before Add-ons and out went £190.1m before Add-ons leaving a Net Spend of £227.1m before Add-ons for this season.
So far this season Liverpool have played 34 games in all competitions -
Played - 34.
Won - 17.
Drawn - 6.
Lost - 11.
Win Rate of 50%.

So if we include the last 11 games of last season from that PSG loss on the 11th March 2025, and the first 34 games of this season in all competitions, then we have a Win Rate of just 45% up to the Bournemouth loss which is Slots last 45 games.

So Slot has managed 90 games for Liverpool right up to that Bournemouth loss, with the first 45 games having a Win Rate of 75.56% and his last 45 games with a Win Rate of just 45%.

What is becoming absolutely clear is that this downfall did not start this season, it started on the 11th March last season with 11 games remaining of the 2024-25 season, and as Slot gets more time with this squad of players the more we move away from that Klopp free flowing, high intense, high press, dynamic style of attacking football and turns this Liverpool team into more what he wants that Dutch Eredivisie style of play, the worst we get.

Just look at the last 10 Premier League winners Win Rate record.
2024-25 Liverpool = 65.79%.
2023-24 Man City = 73.68%.
2022-23 Man City = 78.68%.
2021-22 Man City = 76.32%.
2020-21 Man City = 71.05%.
2019-20 Liverpool = 84.21%.
2018-19 Man City = 84.21%.
2017-18 Man City = 84.21%.
2016-17 Chelsea = 78.94%.
2015-16 Leicester City = 60%.

So there we have it, yes we won the League but our Win Rate of 65.79% was only 5.79% better than the Leicester City team and way off all the other Premier League winners over the past decade including 18.42% less Win Rate than Klopp's title winning team.

So Slot has managed 90 games for Liverpool in all competitions, the first 45 games had a Win Rate of 75.56% before 11th March 2025, and the last 45 games have a Win Rate of 45%.

So that's a 30.56% drop in wins, and we have lost 2 Finals in the League Cup and FA Community Shield and dropped out of the top 4 in the Premier League in them last 45 games.

It's the same story if we only count Premier League games.
In Slots first 45 games for Liverpool our Premier League record stands before 11th March 2025 -
Played - 29.
Won - 21.
Drawn - 7.
Lost - 1.
Points - 70.
Win Rate of 72.41%.

In Slots last 45 games for Liverpool our Premier League record stands after 11th March 2025 -
Played - 32.
Won - 14.
Drawn - 8.
Lost - 10.
Points - 50.
Win Rate of 43.75%.

So that's 20 points less with 3 more games played showing us that these figures clearly indicates we are going backwards under Slot.

Slot is a fraud, the sooner he gets kicked out, the better for Liverpool.