Tottenham looked tired in loss to West Ham ahead of Ajax UCL clash

As Tottenham slumped to their first defeat in their new ground at the hands of West Ham, you couldn't help but think of the contrast between them and their Champions League opponents, Ajax.

Ahead of Tuesday's fixture here at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the Dutch FA has postponed an entire round of Eredivisie fixtures to allow Ajax the opportunity to rest ahead of the Champions League semifinal. They might not have spent the day with their feet up -- more likely they've been working on tactical plans on the training ground -- but they will go into the two-legged tie considerably fresher than Spurs, who looked dreadfully fatigued throughout this disappointing 1-0 defeat.

Mauricio Pochettino has soldiered on with an undermanned squad this season, but this match was a fine example of Spurs' lack of depth. Without Harry Kane, they were depending upon Son Heung-Min and Lucas Moura to provide a penalty box presence; Son couldn't time his runs to meet the through-balls his 

teammates attempted, with both Christian Eriksen and Danny Rose expressing their frustration with his movements. Lucas was barely involved.

There were suggestions after Spurs' dramatic quarterfinal second leg at the Etihad, where they scored three goals, that this side can be better without Kane. That's an understandable argument in matches where Spurs are allowed to play almost exclusively on the counterattack, but against deeper defences when they dominate possession, they desperately miss him. There was nothing similar to Christian Eriksen's long-range winner against Brighton this time around.

Watford and Wolverhampton Wanderers seek for Seventh place position

Wolverhampton Wanderers will seek revenge against the Hornets after the latter’s come from behind victory in extra time. Wolves can still qualify for the Europa League but must finish in seventh and hope Watford lose the FA Cup Final to Manchester City.

Since losing to Watford in the semifinal, Wolverhampton Wanderers have blown hot and cold. The side has collected just four points from nine possible. They are coming off of a fantastic midweek 3-1 win against Arsenal at the Molineaux, however.

Watford have also been inconsistent since winning against Wolves in the FA Cup semifinal. Javi Gracia’s team has collected four points with a win over Huddersfield followed by a draw in midweek with Southampton.

Gracia will be without club captain and top scorer Troy Deeney for the fixture. He is serving a three-match ban for a straight red card received against Arsenal. Deeney will miss Wolverhampton Wanderers visit to Vicarage Road before returning against Chelsea.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have secured 20 of the 51 points on the road this term. Nuno Espirito Santo’s team has not been as good on their travels as at home posting a –5-goal difference.

Santo’s team has taken points off of Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, and Chelsea at the Molineaux. However, playing away from the Black Country hasn’t gone quite as well.

It is that away form that has prevented Wolverhampton Wanderers from getting any closer to the top six.

Twenty-seven of Watford’s 50 points have come at Vicarage Road. It is the 10th best home points total in the Premier League. However, Gracia’s team is winless in their last two home fixtures.

Watford and Wolverhampton Wanderers have met twice this season already in the league and FA Cup. Watford won away at Molineaux in October, 2-0. Etienne Capoue and Roberto Pereyra scored the team’s goals.

Their FA Cup meeting saw Wolves score on either side of halftime before collapsing in the final 11 minutes. Watford scored twice to secure extra time where Gerard Deulofeu scored the winner.

Gracia goes into the match without injured players. Sebastian Prodl, Domingos Quina, Jose Holebas, and Tom Cleverly are all doubts for the fixture.

Meanwhile, Santo continues to have a full-strength squad to choose from. Wolverhampton Wanderers have not had to worry about injuries and suspensions like other teams this term.

There isa lot on the line for both teams. A seventh-place finish would not only meanpossible Europa League qualification, but further financial rewards. Both sideswill go for goal and the clubs will play another four-goal thriller ending indraw.

Can Everton secure seventh place in the Premier League

Crystal Palace are safe for another season but cannot trouble the teams competing for 7th place in the table. One of those teams is Everton and the Toffees know a win in this match will give them a good chance.

The home fans will be looking forward to seeing their team in action having witnessed Crystal Palace’s excellent 3-2 win at Arsenal last weekend.  It was a big shock but not the first time the Eagles have troubled one of the Champions League contenders on their travels his season.

However, form remains patchy and Crystal Palace have won three and lost four of their last seven games in all competitions.  Recent wins have come at home against Huddersfield Town and away to Newcastle United are Arsenal.

Home form in the Premier League has not been good and trends show Crystal Palace have won only two of their last nine matches at Selhurst Park.  There have been defeats to Chelsea, Watford, Manchester United, Brighton and Manchester City.

Crystal Palace have scored in each of their last seven home league games but have kept just two clean sheets in their last eight.

Everton produced a tremendous performance to beat Manchester United 4-0 last weekend. Despite much of the media coverage being about how bad Manchester United played, the Toffees were excellent and it was arguably their best game of the season to date

Trends show Everton have won four of their last five Premier League games, with the wins coming at home against Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United plus away at West Ham United.

However, away form in the Premier League continues to be a problem for Everton and they have lost seven of their last eleven games on the road.  There have been defeats at Brighton, Southampton, Watford, Newcastle United and Fulham, which is disappointing.

Trends show Everton have scored 2 or more goals in three of their last four away Premier League matches.

Team news and Crystal Palace are without the injured trio of Jeffrey Schlupp, James Tomkins and Mamadou Sakho.  Christian Benteke will hope to keep his place up-front following his goal at Arsenal last week.

This game should be very entertaining, with chances coming at both ends of the pitch.  Expect to see both teams score in what could be a draw.

Liverpool versus huddersfield- will it be an easy victory for home team?

liverpool versus huddersfield- will it be an easy victory for home team?

There is only one team with something to play for in this game and that is the home side. Liverpool know they need to win this match, regardless of the outcome in the Manchester derby but they could be playing to open a 5 point gap or a 2 point depending on that result.

Huddersfield Town have known their fate for some time and they will be playing Championship football next season.

Liverpool have just three games left and they could not have come into this fixture in better form. Trends show they have won each of their last nine games in all competitions. There have been six wins in the Premier League and three wins in the Champions League.

Three of the six wins in the Premier League have come at home and Liverpool are undefeated in their last thirty-eight home matches, which is the equivalent of an entire season.  The Reds have scored 2 or more goals in each of their last five home league games and both teams have scored in five of their last eight.

You must go back to the 7th October 2018 to find the last time Liverpool failed to score at home in the league and that was against rivals Manchester City.

Huddersfield Town have been relegated and have nothing but pride left to play for this season. A trip to Liverpool is the last thing they want and form is very poor.  Trends show Huddersfield Town have lost each of their last seven Premier League games.

In fact, they have won only one of their last twenty-three matches in all competitions and it is little wonder they are rooted to the bottom of the table.

Huddersfield Town have picked up just a single point in their last eleven away league matches. They have failed to score in seven of their last eight on the road and have conceded 2 or more goals in five of their last six.

Team news and Liverpool could have every player available for this game. Joe Gomez is back in contention but Jurgen Klopp may not want to disrupt what has been a solid back four in recent matches. Klopp may be tempted to rotate in central midfield.

Huddersfield Town are sweating on the fitness of Philip Billing and Laurent Depoitre, both of which could feature. Adama Diakhaby is struggling with a hamstring injury and is unlikely to be involved.

Playing a team which has nothing left to play for can be dangerous but Huddersfield Town have been so poor, there is very little to worry Liverpool. Klopp’s team should take maximum points with little difficulty

How Manchester United will respond to Everton humbling, and City's tactical plan to counter them

Manchester United are arguably the biggest obstacle standing between Manchester City and a domestic treble of Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup.

United, of course, are the only English team to have won what we have come to think of as the ultimate Treble - Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League.

Victory at Old Trafford on Wednesday would take Pep Guardiola's side a huge step towards their own unique feat, a trio of trophies no English team has won before in the same season.

So as the two Manchester clubs go head to head in a game of such magnitude, it seems like the perfect time to compare United 1999 and City 2019, and consider which players might make it into a combined XI.

• Lawro's midweek predictions: Who will win the Manchester derby?
• Team news and full match preview

Goalkeeping: Creator or destroyer?

Nowhere is it more obvious that football has changed between the 1990s and now than with goalkeeping.

Peter Schmeichel's first Premier League title with Manchester United in 1993 came a year after the dreary safety valve that was the picked-up backpass was outlawed, and just six-and-a-half years after his son Kasper was born.

Now, keepers pass the ball like Giuseppe Giannini and Kasper is a man in his 30s who has a Premier League winner's medal of his own. Life moves on.

Even so, Peter Schmeichel or Ederson? The United man had a pass completion rate of only 48% in 1998-99, but had to make (poetically) 99 saves in the Premier League as United edged the title from Arsenal.

This season, Ederson has stroked 71% of his passes to a team-mate but has only had to make 54 saves as City's dominance of the ball, in the form of an opposition-numbing average possession rate of 68%, makes him as much a creator as a destroyer of strikers' dreams. The Brazilian has provided more assists for Premier League goals than United's Romelu Lukaku has this season.

It boils down to this: do you want to see a goalkeeper making fingertip saves and occasionally going up for late corners, or do you want an 11th outfielder selling outrageous dummies to opponents hurtling towards them? There's no right answer, it's just a question of aesthetics.

 Defending: Forget what you thought you knew

Manchester City will have to concede 16 goals in their final four league games this season if they are to finish with a defensive record inferior to Manchester United's in 1998-99.

That famous defence of Gary Neville, Jaap Stam, Denis Irwin and one of Ronny Johnsen, Henning Berg, Wes Brown or (occasionally) David May actually conceded three at Arsenal, three at Sheffield Wednesday and three at home to Middlesbrough.

The current City team have conceded three in a Premier League game just once this season, and only three times since January 2017.

So, the United defence you thought was all about defending is worse than the City defence you thought was all about attacking. But wait: Neville, Stam, Irwin, Berg and Phil Neville contributed 10 assists between them in 1998-99.

Benjamin Mendy (who flourished briefly in the autumn) aside, City's defenders do not generally offer the same raw output. Their job is incessant circulation but it was the United defenders who could make the opposition backline's blood run cold.

• Premier League stats: Will 96 points be enough for Manchester City?

 Midfield: Icons and record breakers

So, the United defence you thought was all about defending is worse than the City defence you thought was all about attacking. But wait: Neville, Stam, Irwin, Berg and Phil Neville contributed 10 assists between them in 1998-99.

Benjamin Mendy (who flourished briefly in the autumn) aside, City's defenders do not generally offer the same raw output. Their job is incessant circulation but it was the United defenders who could make the opposition backline's blood run cold.

• Premier League stats: Will 96 points be enough for Manchester City?

Midfield: Icons and record breakers

Name a more iconic midfield than David Beckham, Roy Keane, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs.

In the Premier League alone in 1998-99, those four contributed 37 goals and assists between them, plus another five from Pele's favourite, Nicky Butt.

And before you say "that was a settled team, the modern game is riddled with rotation", bear in mind that the "classic" United Treble XI of Schmeichel, Gary Neville, Irwin, Johnsen, Stam, Keane, Scholes, Beckham, Giggs, Yorke and Cole only ever started together in one game, and that in a stadium which no longer even exists - Coventry's Highfield Road in February 1999.

But contemporary Manchester City's midfield certainly does exist and they too have players with numbers worthy of celebration. David Silva has 21 more assists than any other Premier League footballer in the 2010s, Kevin de Bruyne has the best minutes-per-assist rate (197.0) in Premier League history, followed in second place by Leroy Sane (212.1).

Then again, David Beckham has scored six more direct free-kicks (18) than any player in Premier League history and three times as many as Burnley.

• My players have 'Manchester United DNA' - Solskjaer

Cole often feels like the unfairly forgotten man in the Premier League goal-total annals, his haul of 187 - with only one penalty - putting him well ahead of the other players to reach treble figures with one or zero spot-kicks to their name (Les Ferdinand, Emile Heskey, Peter Crouch and Paul Scholes).

Yorke, meanwhile, has the unlikely honour of being the only player to score eight or more headed goals in multiple Premier League seasons.

We started this whole process by noting the vast difference between Schmeichel and Ederson, but at the other end of the pitch it feels much more interchangeable.

     If Aguero had played in United red as the 20th century came to an end, he would have racked up a lot of goals. Similarly, the interplay between Yorke and Cole would not look out of place on the scribbled pages of a Pep Guardiola tactics sketchbook.

Which team is better? One won the Treble, the other is five games from their own version of it.

Back in 1998-99, City were scrapping their way out of the third tier of English football, and had not defeated their rivals for 10 years. Things aren't quite that bad yet at Old Trafford but it's a handy reminder that football is reliably cyclical. The only currency that lasts is good players.

Tottenham vs Brighton: Mauricio Pochettino's Best Available Spurs Lineup

Tottenham lost 1-0 at Manchester City on the weekend in what was always going to be a tough game following the thrilling Champions League encounter on Wednesday night.  Spurs fell 1-0 behind early on in the match but created enough chances of their own to at least take a point from the game but it wasn’t to be.

Fortunately, both Manchester United and Arsenal lost on Sunday and that means Spurs will definitely be inside the top four come the start of this match, with their Champions League fate in their own hands.

Despite losing their last two games, the first loss to Manchester City in the Champions League felt like a win and Spurs have won three of their last five matches, two of which have been in the Premier League.

Home form has been very good and trends show Spurs are undefeated in their last six home Premier League matches, winning five of them.  There have been wins over Watford, Newcastle United, Leicester City, Crystal Palace and Huddersfield Town.

Trends show Spurs have scored 2 or more goals in four of their last six home Premier League games.

Brighton picked up what could prove to be a crucial point at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday as they held out for a 0-0 draw at Molineux.  That result saw them stretch their lead over Cardiff City to 3 points and if they can win this game in hand, it will become 6 points.

However, form remains a huge concern and the Seagulls have failed to win any of their last six games in all competitions.  There have been four defeats and one draw in the Premier League plus the 1-0 loss to Manchester City in the FA Cup final.

Brighton have won just once in their last nine away Premier League matches and have concede 2 or more goals in six of their last eight on the road. Brighton have also failed to score a goal in each of their last five Premier League games.

Team news and Spurs are without striker Harry Kane and have doubts over the fitness of goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.  Moussa Sissoko and Erik Lamela remain doubtful.

Brighton will be without Davy Propper who was forced off against Wolves and the suspended Anthony Knockaert.  Chris Hughton may need to change things in attack as Brighton search for a goal.

Spurs come into this match as the clear favourite.  Despite losing to Manchester City on the weekend, they should have taken something from the game and will create the chances to score goals against a struggling Brighton team

Get best odds here

Europa League news: Can Napoli beat Arsenal Today(Match Preview and Statistics)

Europa League news: Can Napoli beat Arsenal Today(Match Preview and Statistics)

Arsenal travel to Naples with a two goal lead from the first leg thanks to goals from Aaron Ramsey and an own goal from Kalidou Koulibaly.  The lack of an away goal could prove costly for Napoli who know they will need to score at least three times without reply if they are to progress in normal time.

Napoli have been struggling for form in recent weeks and they have won one of their last four matches in all competitions. The win came on the weekend in Serie A as Napoli defeated Chievo Verona 3-1 away from home.

Prior to that win, Napoli lost at Empoli and were held at home by Genoa before losing the first leg of this tie to Arsenal.

However, Napoli lost the away leg of their previous match in the Europa League at Red Bull Salzburg 2-0 and still managed to come away with a win overall in the tie, so will remain hopeful.  Trends show they have lost only one of their last sixteen home Europa League games and have won eleven on those matches, including each of the last two.

Napoli have scored two or more goals in five of their last seven home Europa League matches and kept a clean sheet in each of the last two.

Arsenal recorded a 1-0 win at Watford in the Premier League on Monday night although the performance was far from convincing against ten men.  The Gunners are in the final Champions League qualifying place but could also play in the Champions League next season by winning the Europa League.

Trends show Arsenal have won five of their last six games in all competitions, with three wins coming in the Premier League and two in the Europa League.

Arsenal have won five of their last seven Europa League games, losing two but both defeats have come away from home.  They have lost each of their last two away Europa League matches, with defeats coming at BATE Borisov and Rennes.

Team news and Napoli are without the injured duo of Raul Albiol and Amadou Diawara.  There could be a change in attack from the first leg, with Arkadiusz Milik coming into the team in place of Dries Mertens.

Arsenal travel without Rob Holding, Hector Bellerin and Danny Welbeck who are all injured.  Lucas Torreira and Laurent Koscielny are rated as doubtful.

Napoli have it all to do if they are to turn this around while Arsenal can afford to slow the game down and hit the hosts on the break.  It is going to be a very interesting match which could end with the score level and both teams scoring.

Source: 

Liverpool to edge Porto in Champions League quarterfinal second leg

The Reds defeated Porto 2-0 in their first leg match at Anfield with goals from Naby Keita and Roberto Firmino. Despite Liverpool going into the locker room with a two-goal advantage, they failed to add to it.

Porto didn’t go quietly at Anfield as the Portuguese giants had chances to get back into the game.

Now, Liverpool play Porto with an away goal potentially sealing their progression to the semifinal to play either Barcelona or Manchester United. Porto will put up a fight, however, as the tie is not done yet.

Jurgen Klopp will know his side has the potential to lose away from home. Liverpool were winless in the Champions League group stage. Last season, Liverpool went away to Roma in the semifinals of the Champions League and just held on to win the tie, 7-6.

Porto have experience coming for behind in the Champions League this season. They lost 2-1 to Roma in the first leg of the last 16, but turned the tie around in the second leg with a 3-1 win after extra-time.

However, Porto have one thing against them going into Wednesday night’s fixture and that is their lack of an away goal at Anfield. An away goal could have made a major difference for them. As it stands, Liverpool need anPorto will welcome back midfielder Hector Herrera and centre-back Pepe to the team. Their absences left two crucial players off the pitch for the first leg. They should make a difference in the heart of the Porto team.

Kloppcould be without captain Jordan Henderson after he left Sunday’s win overChelsea in the second half. The captain has been crucial to Liverpool’s season due to his leadership. The good news is Liverpool have vice-captain James Milner ready to step in if Henderson cannot go.

According to Klopp after the Chelsea game, Henderson was fine following the match, so he will most likely make the bench at the very least.

Both Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Joe Gomez are in full training. Gomez made the bench for the first leg and Klopp could ease him into the side on Wednesday night in a substitute role.
The two clubs met at the Estadio do Dragao last season in the Champions League last 16. The Reds put five goals into the Porto net. That large scoreline won’t be equalled as Liverpool simply need one away goal to seal progression

Will Barcelona end Manchester United’s Champions League campaign Today?

The Red Devils were outplayed during the first leg and were lucky to come away with just a 1-0 loss. Luke Shaw’s first half own goal was the difference, although Luis Suarez’s shot was headed into the goal regardless.

Manchester United did get back to winning ways at the weekend with a 2-1 victory over West Ham. The Red Devils struggled through the game and only won thank to two penalties from Paul Pogba.

The Frenchman has 16 goals this season, but eight of them have come from the penalty spot showing his scoring from open play has been lacking. Pogba was wholly ineffective against Barcelona in the first leg in front of goal as he failed to register a shot.

Barcelona head into the second leg at Camp Nou having drawn nil-nil with La Liga bottom club Huesca on Sunday. Manager Ernesto Valverde rotated his side with only goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen keeping his place.

The good news for Barcelona was Ousmane Dembele played over 65 minutes of the fixture. The Frenchman is getting his fitness back and could feature from the start against Manchester United.

Valverde rested Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. Neither player was in the team and watched from the stands. They will be well-rested for Manchester United’s arrival

 Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could have a trio of players back from injury. Ander Herrera, Nemanja Matic, and Alexis Sanchez are all in contention for a spot in the Manchester United starting XI.

The trio missed the first leg with Fred and Scott McTominay filling in for Herrera and Matic. Shaw won’t play a part in the game as he serves a yellow card accumulation suspension.

Manchester United did overturn a two goal first leg deficit against Paris Saint-Germain in the previous round. The problem is, the Red Devils must corral Suarez and Messi, two players far more capable of causing Manchester United problems than those who were in PSG’s squad.

Barcelona must attack Manchester United as their deference has shown weaknesses over the last two seasons. It was at this stage in 2017-18 that Barcelona took a 4-1 first-leg lead to Italy against Roma. The Giallorossi scored three goals without reply to dump Barcelona out of the tournament.