Pinoy Portal Articles (2024)

23/05/2023

The owners of the NBA team the Cleveland Cavaliers have joined forces with one of the four remaining bidders for Chelsea as the auction of last season’s Champions League winners enters its final stages.

Sky News revealed that Rock Entertainment Group (REG), which owns a string of US sports teams, has agreed to participate in the consortium led by the Chicago Cubs-owning Ricketts family and the hedge fund tycoon Ken Griffin.

Sources said on Saturday evening that Rock Entertainment Group had agreed to invest a significant – though undisclosed – sum in the bid.

The emergence of Dan Gilbert, one of the richest people in America with wealth estimated by Forbes magazine at almost $31 billion, as a participant in the auction raises the stakes still further as a quartet of bidders vie to succeed Roman Abramovich as Chelsea’s owner.

As well as the Cleveland Cavaliers, REG owns the Cleveland Monsters ice hockey team, and the NBA G-League team Cleveland Charge. Mr Gilbert is also an investor in the fast-growing e-sports arena, with a big stake in 100 Thieves, which has a significant presence in e-sports in Europe.

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Sky Sports News’ chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol reveals that the Ricketts family are one of many potential bidder in Chelsea’s shortlist.

In total, Mr Gilbert presides over an empire of more than 100 affiliated companies across the US, employing more than 30,000 people.

He acquired majority ownership of the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2005, since when the team has made the NBA Finals five times, winning the championship in 2016.

Mr Gilbert is said to have privately invested more than $400m into the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, the stadium which plays home to the Cavaliers and the Monsters. People close to him said he had also privately invested more than $25m into the Cavaliers’ practice facility.

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FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Brentford’s win over Chelsea in the Premier League.

Ricketts-led bid has faced challenges

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Brian Wolff from the Chelsea Chicago Supporters Club and Chelsea FC’s fan forum overseas representative explains why he is opposed to the Ricketts family bid to buy the club.

The Ricketts-led bid for Chelsea has faced challenges in the last fortnight because of a backlash over historical comments made by a family member who is not involved in the offer.

After meeting supporters’ groups last month, the Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts said the bid team had “listened to all of your feedback – including from the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust – and are grateful that the door is still open for us to demonstrate our commitment to working with fans to protect the club’s heritage.

“It is now up to us to redouble our efforts and clearly lay out a vision for our stewardship of the club with diversity and inclusion at its heart.”

Supporters of their offer have pointed to the family’s successful ownership of the Cubs, having won the World Series for the first time in a century and completed a $1 billion renovation of its home, Wrigley Field – one of the most historic sports arenas in the US.

A bid insider said the Cleveland Cavaliers’ focus on diversity, equity and inclusion programs could help to allay any lingering concerns among Chelsea’s fan-base about the consortium’s suitability as owners of Chelsea.

Image: Chelsea fans protest outside the ground against the potential sale of the club to the Ricketts family

They also pointed to the philanthropic endeavours of Mr Gilbert and his wife Jennifer, who have pledged $500m towards community revitalisation projects in Detroit.

A person close to them said they had also signed The Giving Pledge in 2012, promising that at least half of their combined wealth would be donated to philanthropic causes at the end of their lives.

On Friday, Sky News revealed that the Ricketts-led bid had strengthened its advisory line-up by adding Jefferies, the US investment bank, to its team.

Jefferies’ appointment, alongside that of Lazard – another adviser to the Ricketts-Griffin bid – underlines how Wall Street banks are jockeying for roles on what could be the most lucrative sale of a sports franchise in history.

People close to the consortium confirmed that it would be an all-equity bid, with no new debt being placed onto Chelsea’s balance sheet.

Final bids are due on 11 April

Image: Todd Boehly and Sir Martin Broughton – AP Photo/PA

Final bids for Chelsea are due on April 11, and the Cubs owners will be up against three credible rivals as they vie to succeed Mr Abramovich at Stamford Bridge.

A spokesman for the Ricketts-Griffin bid declined to comment on REG’s involvement.

Sky News revealed this week that the fan-led group co-founded by the former Chelsea captain John Terry was in “positive” talks with two of the shortlisted bidders about acquiring a 10pc stake.

People close to the bidders believe the price could go beyond £2.5 billion as the contenders prepare final bids.

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Former Sports minister Tracey Crouch says that the sale of Chelsea could signal a turning point in fan involvement of club ownership and has called for more action in terms of governance and regulation.

Raine Group, the adviser handling the sale, is aiming to present a preferred bid to the government the following week, paving the way for a sale to take place before the end of the month.

Between them, the final bidders also either control or own stakes in US teams including the Boston Celtics, the Cubs, the LA Dodgers, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Sacramento Kings.

In addition to the consortia led by the Ricketts, Todd Boehly and Sir Martin Broughton, the other contender to buy Chelsea is Stephen Pagliuca, an American private equity billionaire who owns a big stake in Atalanta in Italy’s Serie A.

By the standards of conventional takeover processes, the Chelsea auction has moved at breakneck speed, with executives at other major investment banks suggesting that such a complex sale would typically have taken at least six months.

Bidders have sought clarity on legal implications

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Sky Sports News’ chief reporter Kaveh Solhedkol reveals the potential buyers on Chelsea’s shortlist will have access to all of their financial data including player wages.

Mr Abramovich’s sanctioning by the UK government has added further complications to the transaction, as bidders have sought clarity on the legal implications of buying the club.

Prior to being sanctioned, Mr Abramovich had said he intended to write off a £1.5 billion loan to the club and hand the net proceeds from the sale to a new charity that he would set up to benefit the victims of the war in Ukraine

A rapid sale is seen as essential if Chelsea is to avert the uncertainty that would trigger the break-up of one of the top flight’s most valuable playing squads.

The current FIFA Club World Cup winners have been thrown into disarray by Russia’s war on Ukraine, with Mr Abramovich initially proposing to place the club in the care of its foundation and then formally putting it up for sale.

Mr Abramovich had initially slapped a £3 billion price tag on the Stamford Bridge outfit, with the net proceeds being donated to a charitable foundation set up to benefit the victims of the war in Ukraine.

As well as government consent in the form of a special licence, Chelsea’s new owners will also require the approval of the Premier League under its fit and proper ownership test.

Chelsea sale: Ricketts family commit to diversity amid fan protests

Image: Chelsea fans protest outside the ground against the potential sale of the club to the Ricketts family

The Ricketts family pledged to put “diversity and inclusion” at the heart of Chelsea as fans protested their bid to buy the club outside Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Between 50-100 Chelsea supporters gathered ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash at home to Brentford to demonstrate against the Ricketts family’s bid to buy Chelsea.

The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust said earlier on Saturday its membership “neither supports nor has confidence in” the potential new owners and that 77 per cent of members polled did not support the Ricketts’ family bid.

The family have committed in previous statements to being diverse and inclusive and doubled down on that pledge in a statement on Saturday.

Image: Chelsea fans protest ownership bid of Ricketts family

It said: “Over the past fortnight, our bid team has met with several supporter groups to explain our vision for Chelsea Football Club. In those meetings, and by letter to all groups, we have shared a set of specific commitments we will make to fans, if our bid is successful.

“We believe these are far-reaching and certainly include an absolute commitment on the part of the Ricketts Family and the bid team to put diversity and inclusion at the heart of the club.

“We look forward to more meetings – including with the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust – over the coming days and to making a public reiteration of our values and commitments.”

Cleveland Cavaliers owners join Ricketts and Griffin bid for Chelsea

Source: Pinoy Portal Articles

The owners of the NBA team the Cleveland Cavaliers have joined forces with one of the four remaining bidders for Chelsea as the auction of ...

23/05/2023

Brentford produced arguably the performance of the season to thrash Chelsea 4-1 at Stamford Bridge, with Christian Eriksen among the goal scorers as they sealed a first west London derby victory at their rivals in 83 years.

Thomas Frank’s side impressed in the first half but trailed three minutes into the second when Antonio Rudiger fired home an incredible thunderbolt from 40 yards.

Rudiger and Chelsea supporters celebrated the goal-of-the-season contender wildly – and no one expected what was to come next.

Vitaly Janelt blasted in an equaliser from the edge of the box just two minutes later, sparking a spell which saw the two teams slug away at each other. During the chaos, Kristoffer Ajer pulled off a superb block to deny Kai Havertz.

But it was the Bees who then struck again with a lightning breakaway led by Bryan Mbeumo, who teed up Eriksen to tuck in the second from close range.

It’s another chapter in the fairy-tale return to football for Eriksen, who suffered a cardiac arrest at the Euros last summer but marked his comeback to the international stage with two goals in two games for Denmark last week.

As for the Brentford story, that looks set to continue in the Premier League next season after this incredible win.

Player ratings

Chelsea: Mendy (5), Azpilicueta (5), Rudiger (7), Silva (6), Alonso (4), Kante (5), Loftus-Cheek (5), Mount (5), Werner (4), Ziyech (6), Havertz (5).

Subs: James (6), Kovacic (6), Lukaku (5).

Brentford: Raya (8), Henry (7), Pinnock (7), Jansson (7), Ajer (8), Norgaard (8), Eriksen (8), Janelt (9), Roerslev (7), Mbeumo (8), Toney (7).

Subs: Jensen (6), Wissa (8) Canos (N/A).

Man of the Match: Vitaly Janelt

Janelt found the net again on the hour mark after a superb pass from Ivan Toney and although Chelsea threw themselves forward in search of a goal back – and thought they got one when Havertz had a goal ruled out and should have got one when Havertz rolled a shot from a one-on-one wide – sub Yoane Wissa capitalised on Rudiger’s poor clearance to fire in a fourth.

Image: Yoane Wissa blasts in Brentford’s fourth at Chelsea

“Champions of Europe? You’re having a laugh,” sang the travelling supporters, witnessing one of the greatest days in their club’s history.

Team news

Chelsea made four changes from their FA Cup win at Middlesbrough, with Romelu Lukaku dropping to the bench and Kai Havertz starting up front. Marcos Alonso took Malang Sarr’s place at left-back, N’Golo Kante came in for Mateo Kovacic in midfield, while Timo Werner replaced Christian Pulisic in attack.

Brentford made two changes from the side which lost 2-1 at Leicester before the international break. Christian Eriksen and Mads Roerslev came into the side, with Yoane Wissa and Mathias Jensen dropped to the bench.

The short-term value of the victory is huge – Brentford are now 11 points clear of the relegation zone – and the memories of this triumph will live long in the memory for Bees fans.

The Chelsea season ticket holders – the only Blues fans allowed in due to government sanctions – will want to move on quickly, with the defence of their Champions League title on the line against Real Madrid on Wednesday.

They had won their last five in the league and pre-game it felt as though Brentford’s Premier League fate would more likely be decided by their clash with Watford in a couple of weeks’ time. Brentford, after all, had failed to score in their two previous meetings with Chelsea this season.

Image: Kai Havertz missed a good one-on-one chance

However, in their first league game at Chelsea since November 1946, a surprise formation switch to 3-5-2 saw Brentford put their hosts under pressure from the off.

They should have been a couple clear with just 11 minutes on the clock, with Toney miscuing a lob from Edouard Mendy’s gift of a pass before the striker headed a cross narrowly over the bar.

An Eriksen free-kick and a Toney drive were among the other chances they created during an impressive opening.

Deja vu for Chelsea?

Chelsea lost at home to relegation-threatened West Brom 5-2 on April 3 in 2021 – almost a year prior to this defeat to Brentford. That shock defeat – like this one – came after the March international break.

Chelsea had to wait until the 21st minute for their first attempt when Mason Mount shot over and although there were subsequent efforts from Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Mount and Rudiger, they were tame ones, with the hosts struggling to break through the Brentford system.

Chelsea’s best moment of the first half came on 40 minutes, when Hakim Ziyech forced Bees goalkeeper David Raya to brilliantly tip over his bar, and they began the second half positively.

But Brentford seized the west London bragging rights in sensational style, winning for the first time here since 1939 – and worryingly for Chelsea, with the gap to an Arsenal side with a game in hand now just five points, their north London neighbours could be coming for them too.

Tuchel: We lost control for 10 minutes

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Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel felt his side fell apart in a decisive 10 minutes in their 4-1 defeat to Brentford.

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel: “We lost control in 10 minutes. 3-1 within 10 minutes was decisive. We lacked energy today and we looked mentally and physically tired after being around the world. We thought we got the result [at 1-0] but we forgot we still had 40 minutes to play.

“After so many wins and so many good results I refuse to make a drama out of it because why should we. Brentford made a lot of the 10 minutes we gave them. After the third goal we had a disallowed goal, we had a pressing situation against the goalkeeper, a big, big chance for Havertz, we missed three of them and a feeling ‘this is not our day’. There are some reasons we can put on us and we will analyse.”

Frank praises Eriksen’s return to ‘top’ level

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Brentford head coach Thomas Frank admitted he may allow himself a glass of red wine after watching his side beat Chelsea 4-1 at Stamford Bridge.

Brentford boss Thomas Frank: “Christian is a top player, an unbelievable character and he brings quality and calmness to the team. You can give it to Christian and he’ll always find a solution.

“From the beginning I thought ‘everything has been checked in his entire body’. He didn’t have an injury like an ACL. When he took that decision he wanted to play in the World Cup, he had that determination: ‘I want to come back into football’

“His foundation physically was quite good. We never knew how quick it would take to get to this level but it’s impressive how quick.

Frank on his surprise switch to a back three: “Today I was a genius – next Sunday I might be an unbelievable mad man! That’s football. When you play against the best team we need to defend well. The back three is much more difficult to break down.”

Opta stats – Historic day for Brentford

Brentford have beaten Chelsea for the first time in nine meetings in all competitions, since a 3-1 away win in the top-flight in February 1939.

Brentford’s 4-1 win against Chelsea is the joint-biggest Premier League away victory for a newly promoted team against a side starting the day in the top three of the table (also Leeds 3-0 Aston Villa in October 2020).

Chelsea have lost by three or more goals in a Premier League London derby at Stamford Bridge for just the second time, after a 0-3 defeat to Arsenal in April 1997.

Chelsea have conceded four or more goals in the Premier League at home to a newly promoted side for just the second time (also 2-5 against West Brom in April 2021), both occasions under Thomas Tuchel.

Brentford’s Christian Eriksen scored his first Premier League goal since December 2019 (for Tottenham against Norwich), he’s been directly involved in eight goals (three goals, five assists) against Chelsea in the competition, with all three goals arriving at Stamford Bridge.

Antonio Rüdiger’s opener (39.6 yards) was Chelsea’s longest range Premier League goal since Frank Lampard against Wigan in January 2007 (45.1 yards).

What’s next?

Chelsea are in Champions League action on Tuesday as they host Real Madrid in the first leg of their quarter-final; 8pm kick-off. Then on Saturday, April 9 the Blues go to Southampton in the Premier League; kick-off 3pm.

Meanwhile, Brentford host West Ham on Sunday, April 10; kick-off 2pm.

Eriksen scores as Brentford thrash Chelsea

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Brentford produced arguably the performance of the season to thrash Chelsea 4-1 at Stamford Bridge, with Christian Eriksen among the goal s...

22/05/2023

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Jamie Redknapp felt that Manchester Utd’s Scott McTominay was fortunate not to be sent off after a ‘reckless’ challenge on Leicester’s James Maddison.

Redknapp: McTominay tackle ‘reckless and out of control’

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Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Jamie Redknapp felt that Manchester Utd’s Scott McTominay was for...

22/05/2023

Historic win for Brentford shows what makes them special

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FREE TO WATCH: Highlights of Brentford’s win over Chelsea in the Premier League

The greatest day in Brentford’s history? Possibly. The best performance of the season? It can’t be far off.

But however you categorise Brentford’s shocking, stunning 4-1 win at Chelsea there’s no denying Thomas Frank and his players deserve huge credit for pulling off a result few would have thought possible.

Before kick-off, it seemed Brentford’s Premier League survival was more likely to rest on a clash with Watford in a couple of weeks’ time. Instead their first league win at west London rivals Chelsea in 83 years may just have secured their status in the top flight.

If so, it’s an achievement which owes everything to the key ingredients which set this Brentford team apart.

First there is the manager, whose surprise switch to a back three caught out the world and European champions. His high-quality coaching has created a team able to mix a high press and a low block and frustrate their opponents with both.

Credit to these players, too: from the bravery to take the game to Chelsea early on, to the character to respond to Antonio Rudiger’s stunner and push for more. As Frank says, this is a unique group.

And then there is Christian Eriksen, who has written another chapter in his wonderful comeback from the cardiac arrest he survived last summer. A first Premier League goal since 2019 was reward for another classy display in the middle of the park. He has inspired the players around him.

Capturing the enormity of Saturday’s win isn’t easy to do – but Brentford supporters will treasure an unforgettable day.

Peter Smith

Chelsea must shake off sluggishness with crucial weeks ahead

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Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel felt his side fell apart in a decisive 10 minutes in their 4-1 defeat to Brentford.

Thomas Tuchel was at a loss to explain Chelsea’s 4-1 home defeat to Brentford.

Fatigue from the international break? A lack of preparation time? Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy jaded from the huge effort to help Senegal to the World Cup? Even a change in the weather was suggested.

In the end, he put it down to a “strange 10 minutes” and said he wouldn’t dwell too long on it.

It seems a sensible approach because whatever went wrong, Chelsea must shake it off and regain their focus. Their players have admirably continued to deliver despite all the distractions off the pitch in the past month. But April is crucial to their season.

On Wednesday Real Madrid are in town for the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final. There is also an FA Cup semi-final to come against Crystal Palace and, later in the month, a potentially pivotal midweek match with Arsenal, the side now breathing down their neck in the Premier League table.

A similar defeat to West Brom almost a year ago to the day proved to be just a blip. Tuchel and Chelsea supporters hope that this loss to Brentford will ultimately act as a jolt to sharpen the side up for the big challenges ahead.

Peter Smith

Watford win tees up pivotal month for Liverpool

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FREE TO WATCH: Highlights of Liverpool’s win against Watford in the Premier League

Two hours and 30 minutes. That’s how long Liverpool’s lead at the top of the Premier League table lasted, but three months ago the Reds would never have dreamed of having a second at the summit.

They were 14 points behind Manchester City on January 15. At 2.22pm on Saturday they had moved two points ahead of the champions. At 4.52pm City swiftly re-took top spot with a comfortable win at Burnley, but for Liverpool it was all about starting a massive month with the right result that perfectly tees up next Sunday’s potential title-decider at City, live on Sky Sports.

Sunday 10th April 4:00pm Kick off 4:30pm

Liverpool’s win over Watford was a case of job done and move on, as Jurgen Klopp’s side laboured to a 2-0 victory over the relegation strugglers. It was not a display worthy of Klopp’s 250th Premier League game in charge, and the German admitted afterwards he was “not interested” in the performance.

“We didn’t play the best football possible today but it was enough,” he said. “I didn’t expect we would be flying – it is unlikely after the international break it will be the best game of the season.”

But he knows his side will have to turn it on in the coming weeks and produce their very best.

On Tuesday they go to Lisbon to take on Benfica in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final followed by Sunday’s trip to the Etihad.

The second leg against Benfica at Anfield is on April 13, before another match against City as they play Pep Guardiola’s side in the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley on April 16. That is followed by home league matches against Manchester United on April 19 and Everton on April 24 – both live on Sky Sports.

Throw in a potential Champions League semi-final first leg against either Bayern Munich or Villarreal on April 26 or 27, and it really is a blockbuster month for the Reds.

The win over Watford will be a minor footnote, but it is a victory that sets up Klopp’s side for a pivotal few weeks ahead.

Declan Olley

Maddison is back smiling and affecting games

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James Maddison reflects on the decision by VAR to disallow what would have been Leicester’s second goal in their game against Manchester United.

James Maddison watched on as Gareth Southgate opted to selected the likes of Emile Smith Rowe and Conor Gallagher for England’s international friendlies last month, but the Liecester midfielder provided the perfect response at Old Trafford.

The 25-year-old has just one cap for his country to his name, coming as a substitute in a 7-0 win over Montenegro in November 2019, but he created twice as many chances as any other player during Saturday evening’s 1-1 draw.

On his World Cup ambitions, Maddison said: “As an English player, the World Cup is the pinnacle. I always think what I can do better to get into the squad. All I can do is keep playing the way I’m playing.

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FREE TO WATCH: Highlights of Manchester United’s draw against Leicester City in the Premier League.

“It’s just about showing more consistency and affecting games more. My numbers have always been good, it’s just about finding the consistency. I’m feeling really good, really confident, and I’m going into games with that confidence.”

Maddison admitted to struggling with self-confidence following a hip injury, and he could not rediscover top form immediately on his return. But the zip is back now.

His cross with his weaker foot for Kelechi Iheanacho to score was sublime, and his confident finish chalked off by VAR would have capped a personal triumph.

With Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford still toiling in their search for a spark when sharing the same pitch, Southgate may not be able to ignore the undoubted qualities, and that little bit of something different, that Maddison certainly possesses.

Ben Grounds

Isolated Weghorst leaves Burnley looking toothless

Burnley moved away from their trademark 4-4-2 formation for just the third time in the Premier League this season, with Dyche’s plan to “control” Man City seeing Jack Cork starting in place of Maxwel Cornet in a bid to beef up the midfield, but the manager admitted his game plan was undone within five minutes thanks to De Bruyne’s early goal.

In truth, the chances of a home win over the champions were slim regardless of Dyche’s tactics, given Pep Guardiola’s team’s regular dominance of the Clarets, but starting with Wout Weghorst as a lone striker seemed particularly negative.

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FREE TO WATCH: Highlights of Manchester City’s win against Burnley in the Premier League

The giant Dutchman is undoubtedly a threat to opposition defences, but launching long balls towards him without anyone there to attack the second balls was a curious tactic that saw Burnley record just three touches in the opposition box in the first half.

Dyche appeared to acknowledge the issue in the second half, bringing on both Cornet and Jay Rodriguez and moving Josh Brownhill into a more advanced position, but it was too little too late, particularly against a Man City side that have not dropped a point from winning positions in the Premier League this season.

Weghorst ended the game with zero shots, zero touches in the opposition box and fewer than 50 per cent of his aerial duels won, which outlined the toothless nature of a Burnley attack that relied on his prowess in the air.

With just 10 games remaining for Burnley to make up a four-point gap on Everton – who have a game in hand – the onus is on Dyche to get more from January signing Weghorst, who was brought in to help stave off relegation but now has just one goal in 10 league games.

Joe Shread

Turf Moor trip presented perfect tune up for Man City

Pep Guardiola said before Manchester City’s game at Burnley that he and his players were aware they had been knocked off top spot by Liverpool’s win over Watford in the early game.

But the manager and his players could not have asked for a kinder fixture to allow them to return to the top of the standings, with Man City having won the previous nine games against Burnley by an aggregate score of 32-1.

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Pep Guardiola says Manchester City had to adapt to difficult conditions in their win at Burnley, but felt his side was always fairly comfortable

The Clarets lined up in a 4-5-1 formation in a bid to frustrate their visitors, but Man City quickly undermined that strategy thanks to Raheem Sterling’s raids down the right wing, and smart finishes from Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan.

While Guardiola highlighted his side’s inability to kill off the game, he would probably admit in private that his players lowered their intensity in the second half, with the three points all but secure and a formidable fixture list looming.

The impressive De Bruyne and Phil Foden were withdrawn in the second period in what seemed to be an attempt to keep them fresh for Tuesday’s visit of Atletico Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final first leg.

Man City then face the biggest game of their season to date on April 10 when Liverpool travel to the Etihad – live on Sky Sports – before flying to Madrid for their second leg against Atletico. They then take on Liverpool again, this time at Wembley for a place in the FA Cup final.

With so many season-defining games taking place in the coming weeks, a trip to Turf Moor seemed to present the perfect tune-up opportunity for Man City – an opportunity the champions emphatically took.

Joe Shread

Wolves dreaming of Europe again

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FREE TO WATCH: Highlights of Wolves’ win over Aston Villa in the Premier League

Wolves had lost four of their previous six Premier League games before their deserved 2-1 derby victory over Aston Villa at Molineux.

Having thrown away a 2-0 lead against Leeds to lose 3-2 in their last match before the international break, it looked as if an impressive debut season under head coach Bruno Lage was in danger of petering out.

But despite missing the banned Raul Jimenez and injured Ruben Neves, Saturday’s win over their west Midlands rivals – as well as inconsistent results from the teams around them – mean they are still firmly in the hunt for European football.

Now above West Ham ahead of their clash with Everton on Sunday, live on Sky Sports, Wolves will qualify for next season’s Europa Conference League if they can stay in seventh spot – that’s if Crystal Palace fail to win the FA Cup.

With tough games against Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool remaining, fixtures against Newcastle, Burnley, Brighton and Norwich will give Lage encouragement his side can finish the campaign strongly.

After reaching the Europa League quarter-finals in 2019/20 under former boss Nuno Espirito Santo, Wolves can dream of playing in Europe once more and if they can find some consistency during the run-in, they will be well on course to achieve it.

Dan Sansom

Are Brighton stagnating?

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FREE TO WATCH: Highlights of Brighton’s draw with Norwich in the Premier League

That is a question you’d have answered with a resounding no a few months ago as Graham Potter’s side looked certain for a top-10 finish. However, no wins in their last seven games and just three victories in their last 24 league matches have very much derailed their season.

It is perhaps a bit of a reality check for a club that don’t spend the same type of money in the transfer market as teams around them in the Premier League. In fact, fending off relegation with their small budget is an achievement that should not be underestimated.

One thing is for certain, and this has been said before, they need to find a striker that can be relied upon throughout the season. Neal Maupay has shown in spurts what he can do but this performance was another reminder of where Brighton need to invest in the summer. Along with his penalty miss, there were two other very appealing chances that Maupay snatched at.

Brighton are now only one point better off than at the same stage of last season when they were 16th with 33 points. Chances and attractive football are being created and served up but this was another day where it was same old story. And they may have even taken it to another level by registering 31 shots without scoring. Only Manchester City have managed to produce that many in one game this season and they won that match 7-0 against Leeds. The problem is so obvious.

Lewis Jones

Ward-Prowse closing in on Beckham as PL’s free-kick master

Is there a better free-kick taker in world football at present than Southampton skipper James Ward-Prowse? If there is, he must be hiding somewhere.

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FREE TO WATCH: Highlights of Leeds United’s draw against Southampton in the Premier League

The England international added to his already bulging repertoire of stunning free-kick goals to earn his side a point at Elland Road on Saturday.

When referee Anthony Taylor awarded the visitors a free-kick on the left edge of the area, everyone in the ground knew what was about to come, including Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier.

However, it is one thing knowing what is coming, and an altogether different proposition stopping it. The Frenchman found that out seconds later, picking the ball out of the net after Ward-Prowse’s curling free kick sailed up and over the wall and into the top left-hand corner of the net.

Incredibly, that is now the midfielder’s 13th direct free-kick in the Premier League, leaving him just five behind David Beckham at the top of the list and with time on his side to catch the former England skipper.

Richard Morgan

Hits and misses: Historic Brentford win; title rivals tune up

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