Prized Premier League Points Up for Grabs in Friday Football
Bournemouth vs Manchester United
A Friday night on the south coast on the eve of the first day of spring – sound romantic?
Well, yes, it does, but there will be little time for love, especially at this stage of the campaign with prized Premier League points on the line.
Bournemouth host Manchester United at the Vitality Stadium with both sides in need of victory for their respective European bids.
Talking Points
As it stands, United sit in third place with their quest to secure Champions League football in their own hands.
Michael Carrick, interim manager until the end of the campaign, has won seven of his nine games in charge and helped deliver Premier League 2026 highlights, which have transformed the mood of fans and (presumably) players alike.
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick gives instructions during a Premier League match at Old Trafford against Aston Villa
For the Cherries, who have not been beaten by the Red Devils in almost three years, their gifted boss Andoni Iraola has helped their followers dream of a maiden European campaign.
What he has masterminded has been particularly impressive, especially after losing key players last summer and, in January, footballer of the year contender (as far as this SBOTOP writer is concerned), Antoine Semenyo.
To lose a player who had been their top performer this term, with 10 goals and three assists until his January move to Manchester City, was a massive blow.
In fact, the smart money always said Bournemouth would be much poorer without the Ghana international, who Iraola admitted is “almost impossible to replace”.
Despite this, the respected Spaniard has overseen a decent run and last week’s goalless draw at Burnley – albeit a game they really needed to win to get closer to the potential European berths – extended their unbeaten streak to 10 matches.
It should be said that six of those contests have ended level pegging, and the stalemate at Turf Moor was their 14th draw of the season and felt like a big chance missed as they eye a maiden European voyage.
It all begs the question whether Semenyo was one sale too many for a squad that lost Dean Huijsen, Milos Kerkez, and Illia Zabarnyi in the summer.
The obvious answer is yes, understandably so, for the hosts who will hope to welcome back Tyler Adams after he missed out last week after experiencing some discomfort in training, although Lewis Cook (hamstring) remains unavailable, as does Justin Kluivert, who underwent knee surgery in January.
United remain without Lisandro Martinez, Matthijs de Ligt, and Patrick Dorgu, but Mason Mount was fit enough to be named among the substitutes for their 3-1 win over Aston Villa on Sunday.
With plenty at stake, I expect both teams to be attack-minded, and that could make for a compelling encounter, though perhaps not quite as lively as their meeting in December.
History
The neutrals called that a 4-4 draw, one of the games of the season. I called it another example of the way in which the United boss, Ruben Amorim’s system was failing. It was certainly a thriller for the neutral who saw United lead 1-0, 2-1, and 4-3, and Bournemouth led 3-2 in a topsy-turvy encounter.
For the record, United’s scorers that night were Amad, Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes (with a quite brilliant free-kick), and Matheus Cunha, with Semenyo, Evanilson, Marcus Tavernier, and Eli Junior Kroupi finding the net for the visitors.
For clubs of very different statures, there should be no surprise that Bournemouth have only tasted victory over United on a handful of occasions.
The corresponding fixture last season ended 1-1 when Rasmus Hojlund equalised deep in stoppage time to earn a point after Semenyo’s 23rd-minute opener and a controversial 70th-minute sending off for Evanilson.
Their very first meeting came in a 1949 FA Cup tie when United romped to a 6-0 third round FA Cup victory against the then Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic.
In a tie played at Maine Road, famous names such as Stan Pearson, Jack Rowley (two), Charlie Mitten, and Ronnie Burke (two) were the scorers.
It’s been a tough old campaign for Scott Parker’s Burnley. The Clarets made it back to the top flight in a blaze of glory last May, racking up 100 points in the Championship, only to be shot down in flames.
With eight games to play Burnley, currently 19th in the table, are nine points from safety; they need five wins from their last eight to have any hope of survival, and Premier League: Fulham vs Burnley is not the easiest place to start. But Parker will meet some old friends at Craven Cottage; he led Fulham to promotion back to the Premier League in 2020.
He may receive a warm welcome by the Thames but Parker and his men are unlikely to get an easy ride when they cross the white line on Saturday afternoon; the Cottagers are currently 11th but only four points behind Brentford in seventh, and two behind Everton in eighth, with both positions likely to earn a place in Europe next term.
Marco Silva’s Fulham need a win to keep up the pace with the top half of the table while the Clarets may have already passed the point of no return; and the Fulham vs Burnley betting odds say this clash is a home banker.
Talking Points
Europe is now Fulham’s sole aim
A defeat to Championship side Southampton two weeks ago saw the end of the Cottagers’ FA Cup ambitions and, in so doing, left Silva with one objective, to achieve European football for Fulham for the first time in ten years. It will be a furious race, with only six points separating the Bees in seventh from Crystal Palace in 14th. It was a similar story last season when Fulham were in the shake up until the very end, but just fell short.
The Cottagers’ visit to Nottingham Forest last week ended in disappointment as they played out a goalless draw, the first time Fulham had drawn a league game since 4th January, in the meantime winning four and losing five. They have been dogged by inconsistency and lost to West Ham United recently. The last time Fulham picked up a win was against Tottenham Hotspur on 1st March when Harry Wilson scored in a 2-1 victory, the ninth goal in a superb league season for the Welsh wizard.
Without a goal in three games Fulham will be on the front foot against the Clarets and Wilson, alongside Alex Iwobi, Oscar Bobb and Raul Jimenez will aim to test their visitors to the full.
Clarets first target is to avoid an all-time low
Scott Parker on the touchline during Burnley’s match against Crystal Palac
Burnley were relegated in 2023/24 before Parker took over that summer, with a huge rebuilding job to do. The five wins Vincent Kompany’s 23/24 team achieved was the lowest in the club’s 140 year history. To be strictly accurate the Clarets only managed four victories way back in 1890, but then they only played 22 games in a 12 club league.
Parker needs at east one more win and five points from the last eight games to better the efforts of the current Bayern Munich boss, and that is not beyond his team of battlers. Once again, Burnley’s owners spent around £100m over the summer, bringing in a raft of inexperienced players from Europe, as they did in 2023, and with the same result.
The best players were already at the club last season. Jaidon Anthony and Zian Fleming, with seven goals each are on the Premier League leading scorers list at joint 23rd and the centre back pairing of Bashir Humphries and Maxime Esteve has been another plus point, as has the skill, passion and aggression of midfield ace Hannibal. If the club can keep hold of these players then I wouldn’t bet against them bouncing back again next season.
History
This SBOTOP writer was at Turf Moor for the return fixture, back in mid December; at a time when the Cottagers were a sitting duck away from home, while the Clarets were in the midst of a season wrecking seven match losing run. Hardly surprisingly Fulham won 3-2 as Burnley gifted them two first half goals.
But the head to head Fulham vs Burnley results make pleasant reading for Clarets fans as the East Lancashire side has won seven to the Londoners’ three of the last 13 meetings. And at Craven Cottage Burnley have picked up four wins from six visits.
In terms of recent form Fulham are stronger, with three wins, one draw and two defeats from their last six games while Burnley have won one, drawn two and lost three.
The Cottagers are at odds of 1.50 to win this clash with Burnley at 6.00 and a draw at 3.95. But this is a happy hunting ground for the Clarets and Fulham have gone three games without scoring. I expect a home win but a low scoring one.
West Ham United welcomes Leeds United to the London Stadium on Sunday for a quarter-final FA Cup meeting, a huge game in itself and a welcome distraction from their league worries.
The two sides are embroiled in a relegation battle, sitting 18th and 15th in the Premier League table with just four points separating them and, with Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur with their new manager Roberto De Zerbi, in a four way fight.
Back to Sunday, the FA Cup 2026 betting odds see both Nuno Espirito Santo’s West Ham and Daniel Farke’s Leeds as rank outsiders; but they are only one win away from an appearance at Wembley Stadium in a semi-final experience to savour, and fans of both clubs would simply love that day out, late in April.
West Ham overcame Brentford on penalties to reach this tie, thanks to a bizarre Dango Ouattara Panenka attempt and a Jarrod Bowen brace in normal time. Leeds had an easier ride, seeing off Championship side Norwich City 3-0 at Elland Road.
Talking Points
Summerville hoping to meet his old mates
Crysencio Summerville during West Ham’s FA Cup fifth-round clash with Brentford at the London Stadium
West Ham’s recent revival and fighting spirit have been down to a collective effort under Nuno, but one player who has clearly enjoyed the club’s fight-back, and is desperate to make some FA Cup 2026 highlights on Sunday, is winger Crysencio Summerville.
The 24 year old Netherlands U21 star moved to the London Stadium in a £25m deal in 2024, following four years with Leeds, where he scored 23 goals in 77 games. He scored the winner in a 1-0 victory over Fulham recently, but following a calf strain he picked up in the FA Cup victory over the Bees he missed the next two games, and was not involved with the Netherlands over the international break. Reports from East London suggest the time off has been beneficial and Summerville may be ready to play his part, and that is good news for Hammers fans.
Captain marvel Jarrod Bowen will be a key man in attack, as always, while Tomas Soucek, always a danger from set pieces, will look to dominate the midfield; and Alphonse Areola is set to return in goal as Nuno’s first choice for cup games.
Farke will rotate his squad
On their return to the Premier League, the Leeds United owners, fans and manager knew they would likely be in a relegation fight and they must, collectively, be pretty happy to have a four point cushion with seven games to play. Much like the Hammers, the Yorkshire side’s number one priority is to retain their Premier League status, so Farke, knowing this will be a difficult game, may well rest some players and rotate his squad.
With a near fully fit group, Switzerland striker Noah Okafor the only doubt, Farke has plenty of choice, and he may give a chance to Argentine forward Facundo Buonanotte, who arrived from Brighton and Hove Albion on loan in January. The 21 year old has already made an appearance in the FA Cup but he was an unused substitute in the win over Norwich. This may be Buonanotte’s chance to shine and alongside the likes of Daniel James and Joel Piroe, he has the potential to stretch the Hammers’ defence.
Captain and defensive midfielder Ethan Ampadou has had an excellent season and he will relish a tussle with Soucek, while Slovenian centre back Jaka Bijol is sure to have a busy afternoon.
History
Both clubs have won the FA Cup before, West Ham three times, the last occasion in 1980 while Leeds won their one FA Cup title in 1972.
In terms of head-to-head meetings, Leeds have won 14 to West Ham’s seven and there have been seven draws over the past 28 encounters, and at the London Stadium the men of Yorkshire are still ahead by five wins to four while there have been five draws.
When the two teams met at Elland Road in October, Leeds won 2-1 while the last meeting at the London Stadium, in 2023, saw the Hammers win 3-1.
Both teams have won one, drawn three and lost two of their last six games.
With Leeds at SBOTOP odds of 2.75 and the Draw at 3.63 all three results are well in play, and recent form says we’ll have a tight match. But I think West Ham’s more experienced squad will rise to the occasion and, for a correct score line, I believe a 2-1 home win, at a price of 8.85, will not be far from the mark.
FA Cup: Arsenal Face Crucial Final Stretch as Focus Returns to Club Duties
Southampton vs Arsenal
After the international break, it’s now the real acid test period for Arsenal.
The fact so many of their players withdrew from international duty over the last fortnight showed just how crucial the final two months of the club campaign are to the club.
No one was being risked given what is at stake; especially after such a lengthy wait for glory.
With the exception of the Community Shield, it’s approaching six years since the North London giants had any silverware to celebrate (the 2020 FA Cup) and more than two decades since they were last top of the tree.
That run continued following their defeat in the League Cup Final last time out, but surely with a nine-point advantage in the Premier League and eminently winnable quarter-finals to come in the FA Cup and Champions League, starting this weekend, that is about to change.
Talking Points
A trip to Championship side Southampton is where the run-in begins and, even if manager Mikel Arteta rests some key players – as he did against Mansfield in the previous round – the squad depth should mean they have too much for the promotion chasing Saints.
First-choice centre-back William Saliba pulled out of France’s squad with a left ankle injury and was swiftly followed by Jurriën Timber, who has been struggling with a groin issue.
In the next 24 hours, Gabriel – who would have been at the forefront of Arteta’s mind when referring to “our recent history” after the defender suffered a groin injury in a friendly win over Senegal at the Emirates in November that kept him out until the new year – withdrew from Brazil’s squad.
Leandro Trossard did the same from Belgium’s, while Eberechi Eze was also forced to excuse himself from England duty due to the calf problem that ruled him out of the League Cup Final.
In addition, midfielder Martin Zubimendi pulled out of Spain duty with a pain in his left knee – making it 11 Arsenal players in total.
With the exception of Eze, I expect the others to be ready to return, if not on the South Coast this weekend, then for the trip to Sporting Lisbon in Europe next week.
There may also be good news surrounding captain Martin Odegaard – who missed a large portion of last season after injuring ankle ligaments on international duty. He was reportedly close to returning for the League Cup showpiece following a persistent knee issue but didn’t feature and subsequently pulled out of Norway’s squad.
Arsenal will need most of those players back quickly given two of their international stars did return from duty on the sidelines.
Noni Madueke and Piero Hincapié both limped out of their respective friendlies for England and Ecuador. Madueke was spotted leaving Wembley in a knee brace while Hincapié has to determine the severity of a suspected muscle injury.
Friendlies! No wonder managers get frustrated about them at this stage of the season.
As for the Saints, who sit in sixth spot in the Championship table in a closely contested race to secure a play-off spot and bounce back to the top flight at the first attempt, this cup tie is, in many ways, a free hit.
After seeing off Fulham in the fifth round, the home side should not be underestimated.
Ross Stewart celebrates after scoring for Southampton during an FA Cup clash against Fulham
Tonda Eckert’s hosts have also knocked out Doncaster Rovers and Leicester City before the Cottagers fell to Ross Stewart’s last-gasp penalty which propelled the Saints into the quarter-finals for the third time in the last six seasons.
Eckert’s side have since taken 10 points from the last 12 on offer in the Championship, most recently defeating Oxford United 2-0 to put their play-off destiny in their own hands.
A marvellous run of New Year form has seen them go unbeaten in 14 games, winning 11 of them, but they won’t be at full strength this weekend.
Midfielder Flynn Downes and Kuryu Matsuki are both suspended and, to make matters worse, skipper Jack Stephens suffered a training-ground injury on Monday.
It makes a hard task even harder and, while league form is the priority for both clubs, Arsenal should deliver enough FA Cup 2026 highlights to see them through.
History
Arteta’s men defeated the Saints twice last season, including a 2-1 final-day league success in which Kieran Tierney scored in his final appearance for the Gunners before Odegaard grabbed an 89th-minute winner – all this after Stewart had equalised.
Arsenal had won 3-1 on their own turf earlier in the campaign, thanks to goals from Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka. Cameron Archer had given the Saints a shock lead which lasted all of three minutes.
Southampton’s last victory against Arsenal came in April 2022 when Jan Bednarek netted the only goal of the game in the Premier League at St Mary’s.
It was the same scoreline at the same venue the last time they met in the FA Cup, the fourth round in 2021 when a Gabriel own goal divided the sides and sent the then holders out.
Overall, Southampton have 23 successes compared to Arsenal’s 53 victories and 30 draws.
They first met in March 1927. This was the FA Cup too – a semi-final at Stamford Bridge which Arsenal won 2-1.
Charlie Buchan and Joe Hulme were their marksmen with William Rawlings replying.
Southampton often lift their games when the established big six are in town but, let’s face it, the continuous sale of their best players makes that task even tougher.
The SBOTOP FA Cup 2026 betting odds make Arsenal clear favourites and, while I think they will progress, I am expecting them to edge home by the odd goal in three, just as they did in the last round.
Sensational Saints the Toast of Madcap FA Cup Weekend
What an Easter weekend of FA Cup action!
Four quarter-final ties, 18 goals and drama – and slight craziness – right until the end.
Undoubtedly the biggest tie of the round saw sky blue and red collide and how the Merseysiders must be fed up with the sight of Erling Haaland.
He netted the opener as Manchester City ran out 3-0 home winners over Liverpool in November and then scored a last-gasp penalty to secure a 2-1 victory at Anfield in the return league fixture in February.
Now a cup hat-trick had them reeling, City fans joyous and the home fans chanting ‘You’re getting sacked in the morning’ to visiting boss Arne Slot as they scored four goals in 20 minutes either side of half-time.
All this after an even opening half hour.
Put simply, City outclassed and outfought Liverpool; the hosts as excellent as the visitors were poor.
Manchester City’s Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring against Liverpool in the quarter-finals
There was no magic of the FA Cup at Stamford Bridge. In fairness, there was never going to be and there was no right to be.
As mentioned when Macclesfield sent holders Crystal Palace packing in round three, and that wasn’t quite the shock some portrayed it to be, major giantkilling acts aren’t realistically expected nowadays.
That’s why genuine shocks should be cherished more than ever now – because a triumph for the minnows is not just about what occurs on the pitch but also in the corridors of power as the gulf between the haves and the have-nots grows ever wider.
That was emphatically clear at Stamford Bridge on Saturday teatime.
That was when Chelsea hit League Two strugglers Port Vale for seven.
In one sense, it reminded me of 1988 when Vale, then also in the third tier of English football, shocked Spurs – FA Cup runners-up just seven months earlier.
Then the team sheets for Saturday’s teatime game landed and I was quickly reminded how much has changed. Chelsea, just like Spurs then, were littered with star players and internationals but the gap could not be bridged as a multi-million-pound side ran riot against a team which started with eight free transfers and two loan players.
If there was ever any doubt – and there wasn’t – the hosts dispelled that misplaced notion by scoring after just 64 seconds as Jorrel Hato poked home from close range once Vale failed to clear a corner.
By the time the final whistle had sounded, the billionaires from West London had added six more against a side contesting an FA Cup quarter-final for the first time in 72 years.
With Vale’s run at an end, there was only one non top flight side remaining as in-form championship side Southampton entertained title favourites and Premier League leaders Arsenal.
This was a repeat of the 2003 final, although the Saints have twice fallen on hard times since then, regularly losing their best players to bigger clubs and paying the price with spells in the Championship and, at one point, in League One.
It is to their credit that they managed to rebuild and upset the establishment again as a Premier League side from 2012-2023, since then they have experienced two relegations and one promotion.
With promotion at the first attempt the main aim, this cup tie was a free hit for a side now managed by Tonda Eckert.
As they looked to bounce back from their League Cup Final defeat, the Gunners were expected to respond positively at the start of a crucial run-in, encompassing FA Cup, Premier League and Europe.
For more than an hour, the script was ripped up as the home side more than matched their illustrious visitors and led through a goal from Ross Stewart nine minutes before the break – a fine finish from a frontman of pedigree.
Not until Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta rolled the dice and used the strong bench to his advantage did the Gunners show enough urgency.
By then they were fortunate not to be two behind after Leo Scienza rifled in a superb shot that came back off the crossbar.
Within five minutes, Arsenal were level as substitute Viktor Gyokeres, the hero for Sweden in midweek, was perfectly placed to slot home an equaliser, just eight minutes after entering the fray.
Arsenal could have done without another injury blow as centre back Gabriel, who had already withdrawn from the Brazil squad last week, had to leave the field.
From that moment on, the majority would have probably expected Arsenal to take charge.
How wrong was I as substitute Shea Charles produced an excellent finish from a Tom Fellow pass to leave the South Coast faithful in dreamland.
As their fans stood and urged their team on, they had masterminded one incredible victory – and this was no fluke as they stretched their unbeaten run to 15 games, all while wearing a yellow kit to mark half a century since their FA Cup Final triumph of that year.
The spirit of 1976 is alive and well!
Exuberant celebrations for the fearless Saints, question marks for Arteta’s Arsenal – although I think they will still be celebrating come the end of the season.
Going into Easter Day and there was still for more FA Cup 2026 highlights – and, once more, we weren’t disappointed.
Leeds had one toe in the last four after Ao Tanaka’s deflected shot 26 minutes in at West Ham.
When the recalled England man Dominic Calvert-Lewin netted a second from the penalty spot with quarter of an hour remaining, Daniel Farke’s side had one foot there.
However, there was to be an amazing finish at the London Stadium.
First, Mateus Fernandes gave the home faithful brief hope when he tapped home in the third of 11 minutes of stoppage time following fine work from Jarrod Bowen.
If that roused the crowd, the majority went wild three minutes later as on-loan defender Axel Diasi managed to turn the ball home amidst astonishing scenes.
Leeds fans, who had been singing about going to Wembley, were suddenly silent in contrast to their hosts.
Extra-time came and went and there was still another storyline as, with just a few minutes left, home goalkeeper Alphonse Areola left the field with injury and was replaced by a 20 year-old debutant in Finlay Herrick.
Was the script written for him to be a hero?
Well he did save the first spot kick of the shootout from Joel Piroe and almost saved another but it was Leeds who prevailed 4-2 in the shootout.
They will meet Chelsea in the semi-finals in the national stadium where Southampton, after beating the league leaders, will meet City, the second placed team.
All Premier League weekends are important but some are more crucial than others.
Even before a ball was kicked, this seemed one such set of fixtures.
A potential title decider, a key battle in the race for Europe, a Merseyside derby and the ongoing relegation scrap – one which is proving too close to call and, ultimately, will mean disaster for the side which drops out of the top flight.
Were you ready for more Premier League 2026 highlights?
While I didn’t think either Brentford or Fulham would make Europe – and Saturday lunchtime’s goalless draw only adds weight to that view – this was still a meeting of two sides who deserve kudos for punching above their weight.
The main talking point? Why, just five days after sending off Lisandro Martinez for supposedly pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s hair, referee Paul Tierney allowed Dango Ouattara to get away with doing the same to Calvin Bassey.
No wonder interim Manchester United boss Michael Carrick described it as one of the most shocking decisions he has ever witnessed.
Whether VAR inconsistency or incompetent officiating, it again highlighted the decision making which so infuriates fans up and down and the country.
If that was the worst decision of the week, the most impressive result of the week belonged to Bournemouth.
It was confirmed a few days ago that Spaniard Andoni Iraola will leave the club when his contract expires this summer, ending a three‑year spell in charge.
Iraola arrived on the south coast on a two-year deal in June 2023, inheriting a side which finished 15th under Gary O’Neil.
In his first season, he guided them to 12th, achieving a then-club high 48 points and was rewarded with a contract extension until this summer.
The following season, the Cherries finished ninth with a record 56 points and also reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
This campaign, Iraola has placed Bournemouth – who have never played continental football – right in the midst of a fierce battle for a place in Europe with a record 13 games unbeaten in the league.
That includes back-to-back wins against leaders Arsenal and Newcastle and, on Tyneside on Saturday, any suggestion of distraction by the news was firmly dismissed by his players in their statement victory.
Marcus Tavernier opened the scoring and, after William Osula equalised for the hosts, Adrien Truffert won it five minutes from time.
Iraola and his players’ achievements are all the more impressive considering the departures of key players Dean Huijsen, Milos Kerkez, Illia Zabarnyi and Antoine Semenyo since last summer.
The Cherries are well and truly blossoming!
Another particularly impressive result of the weekend arrived in west London on Saturday night.
Michael Carrick’s Man United silence critics with a crucial 1-0 victory at Chelsea
It belonged to Carrick and United.
Sure, they rode their luck at times at Stamford Bridge, but their 1-0 victory, earned via Matheus Cunha’s 43rd minute goal, was built on a display of composure, defensive doggedness and determination.
Given a combination of defensive injuries and, in this SBOTOP scribe’s view, extremely harsh suspensions – why did it take almost four weeks after his red card to decide that Harry Maguie would have a one match ban extended – the Red Devils deserve many plaudits.
For Chelsea, the race for a Champions League spot now seems a big ask after this result, coupled with last-gasp wins for Aston Villa (at home to spirited Sunderland) and Liverpool (to break Everton hearts).
A few hours before the Chelsea-United contest, North London had played host to drama at the other end of the table.
The full impact of Georginio Rutter’s 95th minute leveller for Brighton at Spurs will not be known for a month or so yet but the despair amongst the majority of home fans and players at full-time resonated far and wide.
They were seemingly on course to win for the first time in the top flight in 2026 and mark a successful home start for new boss Roberto De Zerbi.
Instead, they are now 15 league games without a victory and remain in the drop zone, while the Seagulls still harbour outside aspirations of qualifying for Europe – something they achieved under De Zerbi in 2023.
Nottingham Forest’s 4-1 home success against Burnley on Sunday, led by a hat-trick from Morgan Gibbs-White, a player Spurs wanted to sign last summer, has lifted Vitor Pereira’s men five points clear of the drop zone with strugglers West Ham at Crystal Palace on Monday.
If the Premier League 2026 betting odds appear to be stacking up against Spurs – and I still think they will survive – then the race for the title is even closer.
The top of table clash pitted together Manchester City, in this scenario the challengers, and they could smell blood against the long-time leaders Arsenal.
The end result in a match that could have gone either way is that City have cut Arsenal’s lead at the top to three points and they have a game in hand.
Rayan Cherki and Erling Haaland grabbed the goals for the hosts, either side of Kai Havertz’s equaliser before the same players failed to convert a couple of golden opportunities for the visitors, including a free header deep into stoppage time.
There now remains a real prospect of the title being decided on goal difference for the first time since 2012.
Premier League: Fulham and Villa Each Have Euro Dreams
Fulham vs Aston Villa
12th hosts fourth in a vital game for both teams, when the Premier League game between Fulham and Aston Villa is the Saturday lunchtime fixture at Craven Cottage.
In a congested Premier League table, only three points separate Chelsea in sixth from Fulham in 12th, so there will be an almighty scramble for European places, much as there was last term when the Cottagers were one of the teams that narrowly missed out. Aston Villa suffered disappointment at the end of last term too, losing a Champions League slot on the last day, but they are almost nailed on this time around.
The Premier League has a guaranteed five places in Europe’s top competition, and Villa have a 10-point cushion over Chelsea with just five games remaining. It is surely just a matter of time. And the Villans are going well in the Europa League too, hammering Serie A side Bologna last week to make it to the semi-finals of that competition.
Last week, Marco Silva’s Cottagers picked up a hard-earned point in a goalless draw away to Brentford, while Unai Emery’s Aston Villa edged a seven-goal thriller at home to Sunderland. And while the points are arguably more important to the hosts, their visitors will arrive with bags of confidence, and we can be sure of a high-octane clash in the spring sunshine.
Talking Points
Fulham may need Europe to keep their biggest assets
Last week, the Cottagers picked up a point away to Brentford, and it was a big point too, avoiding back-to-back defeats thanks to a brilliant last-minute save from Bernd Leno. Having lost 2-0 to Liverpool last time out, Fulham struggled for fluency and, while taking 11 shots during the game, none were on target, Ryan Sessegnon missing the best opportunity. The Bees thought they’d broken the deadlock in the last minute when Dango Ouattara’s effort flew goal-wards, but Leno made a miraculous fingertip save to earn a draw. It was a crucial moment at the current time, and the Cottagers will hope to build on it to produce a fast finish.
Manager Silva joined Fulham in 2021 and has transformed them from a Championship side to a top-half Premier League outfit. In 2023, he extended his contract until the end of the 2025-26 campaign and, now on the market, he is an attractive option for clubs seeking a new head coach.
European football might persuade the Portuguese boss to stay, and that applies to his star forward Harry Wilson, who joined the Cottagers soon after Silva and is having the season of his life, with 10 goals and six assists, and he too is out of contract in the summer. Plenty of clubs with European football would be happy to take the Welsh wizard, but he is happy in West London.
Wilson’s teammates will do all they can to decide to stay more attractive, and that goes for the boss too.
The Premier League 2026 betting odds say the Cottagers have a decent chance of picking up points on Saturday, but in such a busy race, it has become a must.
Watkins back on song for Aston Villa
Villa had the chance to nail down their fourth place when they played Sunderland and they did so. But they had to dig deep, as the Black Cats roared back from a 3-1 deficit, with two strikes in a minute to take the game into injury time at 3-3. But the roof came off Villa Park when Tammy Abraham popped up to win the game with 94 minutes on the clock.
Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins applauds the fans after their recent Premier League match against Nottingham Forest
Star striker Ollie Watkins has been strangely quiet for much of the campaign, but he put in a Man of the Match display, scoring two goals to take his tally to 11 for the league season, while Morgan Rogers scored the other.
A fit and firing Watkins makes Villa a much more dangerous side, and with the excellent Rogers and captain John McGinn making space and providing ammunition for the striker, he is sure to add to the Premier League 2026 highlights in the coming weeks.
History
Villa have had the upper hand in the head-to-head record with 20 victories to 12, and there have been 11 draws in all competitions over the past 43 encounters. The tables are turned at Craven Cottage, though, with Fulham ahead by nine wins to six, while there have been six draws.
But the very latest results paint a glum picture for the West Londoners, who have lost their last seven games against the West Midlands club, going down 3-1 at Villa Park in September and by the same scoreline at the Cottage last season.
One win, two draws, and three losses in all competitions over the last six games is a poor return for Fulham at this stage of the campaign. Meanwhile, the Villans have hit a rich vein of form again at just the right time with five wins and a draw.
Can Fulham break their seven-match sequence of losses to Villa on Saturday? Well, the pre-match SBOTOP odds say they have a good shout at a price of 2.50, while the visitors are at 2.53.
A repeat of the last two scorelines 3-1 to Villa is priced at 15.00. However, I think the honours will be shared, and I prefer a 2-2 draw at 11.00.
Premier League: Manchester United are Falling Behind in the Summer Window
After investing in their attack last year, Premier League side Manchester United will do the same in their midfield this summer in the aftermath of Casemiro’s departure. But fast forward to today, and the Red Devils still haven’t found a suitable replacement for the Brazilian, who’s reportedly headed to Inter Miami.
With midfield being arguably the most important position in football, the Red Devils’ Premier League 2026 odds could hinge on the summer transfer window. They qualified for the Champions League after finishing third in the English top-flight standings last term, so they cannot afford not to add more depth pieces, given their tighter schedule in 2026-27.
Speaking of transfers, Tottenham have surprisingly done well in that regard, as they’re determined to back their manager, Roberto De Zerbi. And speaking of managers, a newbie is set to lead Fulham this upcoming season after Marco Silva left Craven Cottage.
SBOTOP has you covered with the latest Premier League 2026 updates.
Manchester United poach Chelsea youngster, Ederson deal off
Manchester United need more depth because they’ll play more games next season after qualifying for the Champions League. Their top priority is adding more central midfielders, and they’ve been linked to a few, while also adding at least one more centre-back, left-back, and a backup striker.
Ever since the offseason began, the Red Devils have been linked to Mateus Fernandes, Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes, Ederson, Carlos Baleba, and Aurelien Tchouameni, among others. Ederson is supposed to join Manchester United, but the Atalanta star reportedly failed his medical, so the deal is off. Instead, Michael Carrick’s side has pivoted to Andrey Santos, drawing mixed reactions from the fans and pundits.
Santos is seen as an unproven commodity because he barely played for Chelsea last season. But the 22-year-old midfielder has been on the scouts’ radar since his days at Strasbourg under Liam Rosenior. According to reports, Manchester United paid £50 million for Santos, who’s expected to assume a bigger role under Michael Carrick.
Tchouameni was also high on Manchester United’s list, given his credentials at Real Madrid. However, the Frenchman recently agreed to a new contract extension with Los Blancos, giving the fans an impression that he used Manchester United as a stalking horse to get the bag.
Productive window so far for Tottenham
After helping Tottenham maintain their top-flight status last season with a 17th-place finish, capped off by their win on the final matchday, Roberto De Zerbi will remain their manager for the foreseeable future, and the Italian tactician has received the backing he needs from the front office thus far.
The Spurs strengthened their backline with the shrewd additions of Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi, and Jan Paul van Hecke for £52 million combined. They also added veteran goalkeeper Martin Dubravka on a free transfer and stole Manchester United’s targets – Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes – for a whopping £177.5 million. In return, they’ve released Yves Bissouma for free.
Despite being ahead of most Premier League teams in transfers, make no mistake, Tottenham are far from done, as they need to bolster their attack after scoring only 48 league goals last term. According to reports, the Spurs have been linked to Marcus Rashford and Francisco Trincao. Rashford is back at Old Trafford after a successful loan spell with Barcelona, while Trincao was one of Sporting’s most productive players, having recorded seven league goals and 11 assists last term.
Fulham appoint former Real Madrid boss
Manager Álvaro Arbeloa during a Champions League clash between Real Madrid and Manchester City
After finishing 11th in the Premier League table last season with 52 points, Fulham have decided to part ways with Marco Silva and appointed Alvaro Arbeloa as his replacement. The 43-year-old head coach signed a three-year deal after a brief stint with Real Madrid last term.
Arbeloa stepped up to manage Real Madrid’s first team after working within the youth ranks. The former Liverpool and West Ham United full-back coached in the final 28 games for Los Blancos, guiding them to a second-place finish in La Liga and reaching the Champions League quarter-finals, where they lost to Bayern Munich.
Before hiring Arbeloa, who received ringing endorsements from Jose Mourinho and Florentino Perez, Fulham actually wanted to keep Silva, but the Portuguese opted to return to his homeland with Benfica. The Cottagers also reportedly considered a move for former Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna, but his asking price was high.
Arbeloa will have his work cut out for him in West London, as Fulham have lost a host of players this summer, including Raul Jimenez and Harry Wilson, who joined Wolves and Leeds United.
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18-Mar 2026 Wednesday
7:09 PM (125 days ago)
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