Key events
West Ham were another Europa League casualty though that was little surprise at the hands of Europe’s most in-form team.
David Moyes had this to say afterwards:
“We’re still in the tie and we have half a chance in the second leg. We’d like to have played more attacking. The players did a brilliant job with the structure. We got done by two corner-kicks. The second one was really poor from our point of view.
“Let’s try to get one and then see if we can get two. We’ll pick ourselves up for next week and hopefully get the crowd behind us.
“This team we’re playing will be Champions League next year. We have to recognise what we’re playing against. We’ll have to do exceptionally well to get that result.”
This move essentially paywalls the EFL beyond the reach of those who do not wish to pay for Sky. Will there be a highlights show? This has the feel of the cricket deal done in 2005 that closed off access to the game.
Also, what time are the kick-offs? The EFL is currently the home of the Saturday 3pm, but perhaps not now. Perhaps this is progress, but it looks like the money was taken ahead of a greater good.
From next season, @SkySports will be the home of the EFL. 📺
With over 1,000 EFL fixtures live via Sky and NOW each season, iFollow/club streaming services will no longer offer domestic live video coverage of EFL matches.@EFL | #AD
— EFL (@EFL) April 12, 2024
Good news here on Frida Maanum, who collapsed when playing for Arsenal last week in the Continental Cup final.
Jonas Eidevall says Frida Maanum is not available to play this weekend but, if everything goes to plan, then “after that, it looks promising” that she can return #ArsenalWFC #BarclaysWSL
— Tom Garry (@TomJGarry) April 12, 2024
Eddie Howe is first up of the PL managers. He’s celebrating Joelinton signing a new contract:
“I go back to my first training session [at Newcastle] – I genuinely thought ‘what a player he is’. I saw a player immensely talented and I was aware it hadn’t gone well [before Howe arrived].
“In terms of Joelinton’s position, I am not going to change history and say I saw his transition from a forward to midfielder initially, but he has taken that opportunity superbly well.
“I know at previous clubs he has played a deeper role. That transition comes about playing in England with the speed and strength [of the game].
“You have to adapt when you come from abroad – he is robust and everything you want him to be. He is like a brick wall. In part, that has made him the player he is.”
Not a great week for Everton, though a win last weekend and a two-point deduction meant it was not all bad. It could have been worse in the eyes of many, and a further penalty may yet come.
Still, Dominic Calvert-Lewin has scored a goal.
A nasty thing to happen to the Kane family but thankfully the news is good.
Everton news, and it’s rarely good news, is it? This time, it’s news on the source of their financing loans, and a name familiar to horse racing fans, Michael Tabor, has come up.
Everton, a founder member of the Football League and the Premier League, is now believed to owe more than £500m to third-party lenders. Most of the interest charges reported in its annual report appear to relate to about £225m of debt built up with the club’s largest lender Rights & Media Funding (RMF). About £23m in interest was paid by the club in its last financial year and more than £7m in the two previous years.
And some reaction to last night.
Let’s kick it off in the usual way, with 10 things to look out for this weekend.
Preamble
Morning, all. Oh Liverpool. “And at sea with flowing hair I’d think of Dublin Of Grafton Street and Derby Square,” as Phil Lynott once had it, though all that forgot Atalanta, a rather good team in recent years. Have Liverpool lost it? Who has found it? Perhaps more will be revealed this weekend, and elsewhere too in the Premier League as much is at stake.
Newcastle v Spurs: Eddie Howe seeks to salvage the season while this week’s Euro flops mean Spurs really really need to land fourth.
Brentford v Sheffield United: Thomas Frank’s team really need to start winning soon or else Blades might get out of this mess.
Burnley v Brighton: Big Vin’s team are in trouble, Brighton are on a salvage job, too.
Manchester City v Luton: David Pleat’s moccasins will be mentioned. Will Rod Edwards wear a tan suit? The title and relegation both at stake.
Nottingham Forest v Wolves: Forest continue to be desperate for a win. What a job Gary O’Neil is doing by the way. Just don’t mention the VAR.
Bournemouth v Manchester United: How many shots will the Cherries get on Andre Onana’s goal?
Liverpool v Crystal Palace: The flags will be back at Anfield but will the defending and shooting boots? Palace, still on only 30 points, are not out of danger.
West Ham v Fulham: Perhaps the weekend’s least stakes game, though how will David Moyes be greeted by Hammers fans?
Arsenal v Aston Villa: The Premier League leaders against a team whose need for fourth has increased for coefficient reasons.
Chelsea v Everton: Two more points down for Sean Dyche’s team. What can Cole Palmer do to them?
