Talking Points: Can Buendía and Co. inspire Aston Villa to a second-half of the season European push?

It couldn’t be against Liverpool. It couldn’t be against Manchester City. It must be against Arsenal then, right? The Magpies will be hosting Mikel Arteta’s lads (or whatever is left of them) next Monday at St James’ Park for the home-turf finale of the 2022 campaign and the second Monday Night Football of Newcastle’s season.

The other day, Pep Guardiola, the manager of the richest and most dominant team in England over the past half-decade, if not more, had himself a bit of a whinge about how “the media and everyone” supports Liverpool, and wants them to win the title. It was a comment you might expect to read on an online fan forum or hear from a talkSport radio caller, not coming from the serial winner of (league) titles in Spain, Germany, and England.

Fulltime Thoughts - Yet again in this godforsaken season that Everton have had the rug pulled out from under them by poor refereeing. Oliver’s decision to not call a penalty when Richarlison had his shirt pulled, and then not sending off Ajer when he did give a penalty irreversibly changed the game.

The Blues follow on from Wednesday’s tentative goalless draw at Watford with a return to Goodison Park, hosting a resurgent Brentford outfit in this afternoon’s late game. Frank Lampard will be in the enviable position of knowing how relegation rivals - Burnley and Leeds United - have fared before his side take to the pitch; if the latter lose to Brighton & Hove Albion at Elland Road then, given Everton’s vastly superior goal difference a draw against the Bees would effectively assure their Premier League survival.

The fans were bouncing well before the game, just the raucous welcome the Everton coach got when it pulled in to Goodison Road showed that they were ready to carry their team to victory and Premier League security following Burnley’s loss and Leeds United’s draw before kickoff. The...

Trap game - /trap ɡām/ - noun: A game played against an opponent generally deemed to be easy to defeat. As a result a person or team may not prepare as thoroughly as they would for a formidable opponent. Often this attitude and its attendant lack of preparation lead to a loss.

For the first time under Jürgen Klopp, Liverpool have lifted the FA Cup. It’s their first FA Cup victory in 16 years, the eighth in the history of the club. And it’s their second trophy of the season after winning the League Cup. “This is again a...

According to reports from journalist Alan Nixon, SPL side Rangers have enquired about Bolton Wanderers’ Player of the season and top goalscorer, Dapo Afolayan. The Europa League finalists are rumoured to have asked about his availability as they anticipate bids on their own players. Nixon also states that Dapo...

Virgil Van Dijk was subbed off in the 91st minute of Liverpool’s FA Cup final against Chelsea at Wembley stadium. He made way for Joel Matip, and the Reds went on to win the game and the trophy on penalties. The injury is hopefully minor, and Van Dijk explained...

Millie Bright’s cross almost heads straight into goal. Luckily Sam Kerr is there to give the final push and score the opening for the Blues against Manchester City at Wembley.

Former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has asked why Manchester City’s dramaticfinal day win over Queens Park Rangers has never been questioned – ten years after it happened. In one of the most iconic finale’s to a Premier League season, Edin Dzeko levelled the score at 2-2 before...

Adding the FA Cup to his laurels meant that Trent Alexander-Arnold has won every trophy he can possibly win in club football, and all at the green age of 23. And it all seems “unreal” to him, as he mentioned in a post-match interview. “I was sat there...

Reading are, supposedly, on the hunt for a new manager. The premise of hiring Paul Ince as interim boss after sacking Veljko Paunovic was for the former England captain to hold the fort while the club look for a more permanent appointment. Putting someone in caretaker charge for a couple...

William Saliba was named Ligue Un Young Player of the Year and to the Ligue Un team of the year. The Arsenal centerback has spent the season on loan at Marseille, leading the French side in minutes played and helping them to a spot in next year’s Champions League. Saliba joined the Gunners in July 2019 but was loaned back to St. Etienne. He spent the first half of last season with Arsenal but did not make a senior appearance before being loaned to Nice in January 2021.

Liverpool return to Wembley for the FA Cup 2022 final where Jürgen Klopp’s Reds will take on Thomas Tuchel’s London Blues with a chance to win their second piece of silverware in the 2021-22 season following their previous League Cup triumph. For the Reds there is also a Champions League final to come as well as a slim chance of catching Manchester City—with the Citizens currently three points clear—in the Premier League title race with two rounds left in the season.

Left with very little support for Jeffrey Schlupp’s equalizer, the Argentine made a number of strong saves throughout the match and was key in relieving some of the Crystal Palace pressure through his ball distribution. Matty Cash: 7/10. Mainly tasked with focusing on the defensive side of his game...

Ending our exasperating profligacy in front of net against Leeds was certainly a welcomed and wonderful feeling. While it was a relatively comprehensive victory, to nab three goals while limiting ourselves to an xG under 1.5 after such dreadful finishing lately, all while keeping a clean sheet and zero shots on target, allows us to appreciate it all the more.

Players and coaches often look to forget and move on quickly from defeats. You must have short memories in that regard, as the old saying goes, which allows you to function as an athlete at the highest level. But I suppose it’s a bit different for a major cup final...

With a week (featuring two games) left in the 2021-22 Premier League season, it’s almost time for the main event, for the real thing that brings all the boys and girls to the yard. Yes, that’s right. You know what time it is. It’s almost time ... for the transfer window. For Silly Season! The thing that’s not actually football, but the thing that everyone just loves to talk about in football.

Tottenham Hotspur’s 1-0 win over Burnley today was tense for everyone involved. For Tottenham supporters it was because this match was a must-win if they were to keep pressure on Arsenal for a top four finish. For Burnley supporters, it was because the Clarets are awfully close to relegation and so any points are good points.