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Premier League Top-five Hopefuls Battle For Champions League Riches

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The Premier League race is over and relegation is decided — but the battle for Champions League qualification remains wide open with just two rounds to go.

Only champions Liverpool are so far guaranteed one of the five places up for grabs in Europe’s top club competition next season and second-placed Arsenal look almost certain to join them.

But just four points separate third-placed Newcastle from Nottingham Forest in seventh spot.

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AFP Sport picks out the main talking points ahead of the weekend’s action in the English top flight.

Newcastle aim to leapfrog Arsenal

Arsenal have been Liverpool’s closest challengers for most of the campaign and a few weeks ago appeared to have second spot locked down.

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But a win for Eddie Howe’s Newcastle at the Emirates on Sunday would take the Magpies a point above the Gunners, who have won just one of their past six league games.

Newcastle, by contrast, have been buoyant since winning the League Cup final against Liverpool in mid-March, losing just once in eight league games since.

Sunday’s 2-0 win against top-five rivals Chelsea was a huge stride towards Champions League qualification for the second time in three seasons.

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READ ALSO: Real Madrid Beat Atletico On Penalties To Reach Champions League Quarter-finals

We still have two games to go and lots of twists and turns that could be around the corner,” said Howe. “We have to drive forward.”

Newcastle’s last game, on May 25, is a home match against Everton, while Arsenal travel to bottom club Southampton.

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Europa final focus a bonus for Villa, Chelsea

Aston Villa and Chelsea have a chance to steal a march on their top-five rivals, with both in action on Friday, against Europa League finalists Tottenham and Manchester United.

Villa, who have maintained fine form in the league despite Champions League and FA Cup exits in recent weeks, could finish the day in fourth place with a win at home to Spurs.

But Chelsea, who also have 63 points, would move just behind third-placed Newcastle if they win, thanks to a better goal difference.

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United and Spurs sit just outside the relegation zone after terrible league campaigns and their attention will be fixed on next week’s Europa League final in Bilbao, with their managers likely to keep some players wrapped in cotton wool.

READ ALSO: Liverpool Crowned Premier League Champions With Four Games To Go

Villa’s gritty 1-0 win at Bournemouth at the weekend secured a place in European competition but Emery’s appetite for the Champions League has been whetted by a run to the quarter-finals this season.

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UEFA Conference League finalists Chelsea could end Enzo Maresca’s first season on a high with European silverware and a return to the Champions League after two seasons away.

Last chance for Forest
Two-time European champions Nottingham Forest have been in the top four for most of the season but have stumbled at the worst possible moment and are now outsiders to secure Champions League football.

Sunday’s damaging 2-2 draw with relegated Leicester was another huge blow to their hopes of returning to the competition for the first time in more than four decades.

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Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo is not giving up hope as he takes his team to lowly West Ham on Sunday, with Chelsea to follow in the final game of the season.

“Let’s see how it goes,” said the Portuguese manager, whose team have secured European football for next season. “We have to focus on West Ham…. I promise you we are going to give it a go and we will never give up.”

READ ALSO: Inter Edge Past Bayern To Set Up Champions League Semi Against Barcelona

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Man City eye end-of-season flourish

Manchester City, currently fourth in the Premier League, have had to reset their expectations after a poor campaign by their sky-high standards.

Despite their surprise 0-0 draw at Southampton last time out, they remain likely to finish in the top five, with matches to come against Bournemouth and Fulham.

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Pep Guardiola’s men do not play in the Premier League until Tuesday, three days after they face Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final at Wembley.

“I didn’t expect differently from a month ago, that it’s a fight until the end,” said Guardiola, whose team failed to make it five Premier League titles in a row.

Fixtures

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Friday

Aston Villa v Tottenham (1830 GMT), Chelsea v Manchester United (1915)

Sunday (1400 unless stated)

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Everton v Southampton (1100), West Ham v Nottingham Forest (1315), Brentford v Fulham, Leicester v Ipswich, Arsenal v Newcastle (1530)

Monday

Brighton v Liverpool (1900)

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Tuesday

Crystal Palace v Wolves, Manchester City v Bournemouth (both 1900)

 

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EPL: Trossard Strike As Arsenal Beat Fulham 1-0

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Arsenal edged past Fulham with a narrow 1-0 victory at Craven Cottage, climbing three points clear at the top of the Premier League table. The result marked another composed and professional display from Mikel Arteta’s side, who continue to show their title credentials.

The decisive moment came in the second half when Leandro Trossard calmly finished after a clever set-piece routine.

Bukayo Saka delivered a dangerous corner that was flicked on by Gabriel, setting up Trossard to slot home the winner.

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READ ALSO:EPL: Nottingham Forest Sacks Postecoglou After 3-0 Defeat To Chelsea

Arteta’s side dominated possession throughout, limiting Fulham to very few chances in front of goal.

The hosts struggled to create any real threat, with Arsenal’s defence staying compact and composed.

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With the victory, Arsenal overtake Manchester City to sit three points clear at the summit after another disciplined away performance.

More to follow…

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EPL: Nottingham Forest Sacks Postecoglou After 3-0 Defeat To Chelsea

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Nottingham Forest have sacked Ange Postecoglou barely minutes after their 3-0 defeat to Chelsea on Saturday.

A statement from the Premier league club, released 20 minutes after full-time at the City Ground, reads: “Nottingham Forest Football Club can confirm that after a series of disappointing results and performances, Ange Postecoglou has been relieved of his duties as head coach with immediate effect.

“The club will make no further comment at this time.”

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READ ALSO: EPL: Paul Merson Predicts Chelsea vs Liverpool, Arsenal vs West Ham, Other Fixtures

Postecoglou was in charge for eight games and six of those ended in defeat.

It included an early Carabao Cup exit at Championship club Swansea City, when Forest led 2-1 in the 92nd minute before conceding two in four minutes to lose 3-2.

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The other two games – away at Burnley (Premier League) and Real Betis (Europa League) ended in draws.

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Edo Sports Commission Boss Charges New Armwrestling Board To Prioritize Accessibility, Sponsorship

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Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele, has charged members of the newly inaugurated Edo State Armwrestling Association board to embrace openness, accessibility, and proactive engagement with athletes and stakeholders.

Enabulele gave the charge during the board’s inauguration held at the Media Centre of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.

The event had in attendance Executive Directors, the Permanent Secretary, and other top officials of the Commission.

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In a statement signed by his Media Officer, Mr. Edoko Wilson Edoko, the sports commission boss described the inauguration as “a new dawn in our collective journey to strengthen and elevate the standard of sports development in Edo State.”

READ ALSO:Enabulele Lauds Okpehbolo For Creating Enabling Environment For Football To Thrive

He urged the new executives to pursue sponsorships and partnerships that would drive growth and sustain the association’s programmes.

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“Financial support is the lifeblood of sports,” Enabulele said.

Through partnerships and sponsorships, we can provide the resources needed to nurture our athletes and expand our programmes.”

The Chairman also called for approachable leadership, encouraging the board to remain open to athletes, coaches, and stakeholders.

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Your guidance and presence will foster unity, strengthen teamwork, and create a culture of accountability and progress,” he added.

READ ALSO:Enabulele Hails Edo-born Athletes’ International Feats

Enabulele further announced plans to introduce quarterly appraisal sessions between the Commission and sports associations to ensure proper monitoring and measurable progress.

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These sessions will allow us to review achievements, address challenges, and design strategies for continued success,” he explained.

He urged the new board members to carry out their duties with dedication and vision, stressing that their collective efforts would transform Edo sports and inspire the next generation of champions.

In his response, the new Chairman of the Edo Armwrestling Association, Mr. Eromosele Albert, pledged to organize both national and international armwrestling competitions to boost the sport’s visibility and give Edo athletes more exposure.

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READ ALSO:Priotize Okpebholo’s ‘Catch Them Young’ Initiative, Enabulele Charges Sports Association Chairmen

Albert noted that armwrestling is gaining rapid popularity in the United States and Canada and promised to leverage global trends to enhance the sport’s profile and financial sustainability in Edo State.

He also expressed confidence that Team Edo would perform strongly at the next National Sports Festival, where the sport offers 34 gold medals.

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The inauguration ceremony ended with exhibition matches featuring male and female athletes competing in both left and right-hand categories.

Those inaugurated into the board include: Mr. Eromosele Albert (Chairman), Divine Rosemary (Acting Secretary/Coach), Hon. Frank Ilaboya, Mr. Johnson Femi, Mr. Johnny Summers, Mr. Osagie Oghuma Peter, Dr. Benson Ogala, and Mr. Iraoya Olarenwaju.

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