Manchester City’s Norwegian striker Erling Haaland
| Photo Credit: AFP
With Liverpool in League Cup closing motion towards Chelsea on Sunday, the chasing pack have an opportunity to close the hole on the Premier League leaders.
Manchester City can transfer inside one level of Jurgen Klopp’s group in the event that they win their sport in hand at Bournemouth, whereas Arsenal should beat Newcastle to keep in contact with the title pacesetters.
Arsenal can’t afford hangover
Declan Rice has urged Arsenal to use the frustration from their shock Champions League last-16 first-leg loss at Porto to gasoline their bid for Premier League glory.
The Gunners returned from Portugal empty-handed after Galeno’s stoppage-time strike gave the hosts a 1-0 victory on Wednesday.
While the frustration will linger till the second leg on March 12, England midfielder Rice is aware of Arsenal can’t afford a Champions League hangover.
Mikel Arteta’s third-placed facet shall be simply two factors behind Liverpool in the event that they beat Newcastle on the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, however a defeat could be a serious blow to their bid for a primary title since 2004.
“Look, we have lost games this year and drawn games, and I have seen the changing room after and it’s been really bad,” stated Rice, whose facet have received their previous 5 league video games.
“We have just lost (to Porto) but there is a real positivity around the group at the minute.
“We have had such a very good start to 2024, I feel we take the positives from this sport, but additionally see the place we are able to enhance.”
‘No worries’ for Man City over Haaland
Manchester City have no concerns over Erling Haaland’s form, according to the Norway striker’s close friend and team-mate Oscar Bobb.
After scoring in just one of his previous seven matches — two goals against Everton — Haaland silenced his critics with a priceless winner against Brentford on Tuesday.
The 23-year-old broke Brentford’s stubborn resistance in the second half at the Etihad Stadium with his 22nd goal in all competitions this season.
That kept City hot on Liverpool’s heels in their chase for an unprecedented fourth successive Premier League crown.
To make history, City boss Pep Guardiola will need Haaland at his sparkling best, but he fell below his own stellar standards when he missed several clear-cut chances in last weekend’s 1-1 draw against Chelsea.
However, Norwegian winger Bobb said there had never been any angst in the camp regarding Haaland, who has been mourning the death of his grandmother.
“There’s no actual worries. When you may have the standard he has, it’s nearly getting to the precise spots,” Bobb said ahead of Saturday’s trip to Bournemouth.
“As lengthy as he will get in these conditions, if he misses just a few one sport it isn’t like he is going to start lacking all his possibilities.”
Man Utd start Ratcliffe era
After Jim Ratcliffe lastly accomplished his buy of a 25 p.c stake in Manchester United this week, the British billionaire boldly declared his need to knock Liverpool and Manchester City off their perch.
Having spent the previous decade within the shadow of their two bitter rivals, Ratcliffe, who will take management of soccer operations from majority house owners the Glazer household, is aware of that repackaging an outdated line from United’s former boss Alex Ferguson will play properly with a disgruntled fanbase.
But even Ratcliffe, 71, acknowledged it’s going to take time to put United in place for a primary title since 2013.
For now, Erik ten Hag’s facet have the extra modest purpose of making an attempt to salvage a troubled marketing campaign by qualifying for subsequent season’s Champions League through a top-four end.
United, presently 5 factors behind fourth-placed Aston Villa, have little margin for error as Fulham go to Old Trafford on Saturday to formally kick off the Ratcliffe era.
