Analysis

  1. Harvey Elliott & the worst transfer of the EPL season

    Harvey Elliott is ineligible to play for Aston Villa against parent club Liverpool on Friday night. But Unai Emery wouldn't have picked him anyway. And not to save him for next week's Europa League final against Freiburg. Elliott hasn't seen a single minute of game time since March because he's one appearance away from triggering the clause in his loan agreement that would oblige Villa to buy him for £35 million ($46m) - and they've absolutely no intention of allowing that to happen.

  2. Season-defining moments will deliver Arsenal long-awaited title

    The history of football is littered with fateful moments that convince you a certain outcome is a foregone conclusion, and we can now add Arsenal's seismic victory over West Ham to that long list. The Gunners required a late goal and probably the most contentious Premier League VAR review of all time to battle past the relegation-threatened Hammers in a ridiculously dramatic conclusion to the London derby. Surely, SURELY it is going to be their year?!

  3. What the hell is going on at Real Madrid?!

    Tensions have finally boiled over at Real Madrid, resulting in team-mates literally coming to blows. There has been a sense all season that things have been a little bit fraught behind the scenes. This is more or less how it goes for Los Blancos, especially in those rare seasons where they fail to bank silverware. Rumours emerge of discontent, the local press goes mad - but rarely do the rumours turn into anything tangible.

  4. The Gyokeres conundrum: Do Arsenal need a striker upgrade?

    Last week was unquestionably the best of Viktor Gyokeres' Arsenal career so far. On Wednesday, the £64 million ($86m) summer signing confidently converted a penalty in the Gunners' 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final at the Metropolitano. Three days later, Gyokeres scored two goals and created another in a 3-0 win over Fulham that extended Arsenal's advantage at the top of the Premier League to six points.

  5. Palmer risks losing World Cup spot to in-form Gibbs-White

    Struggling to find his flow and still battling fitness issues at the end of an injury-plagued season, Cole Palmer will on Monday go head to head with the player who poses an existential threat to his World Cup dream in Morgan Gibbs-White. The Chelsea talisman and the resurgent Nottingham Forest star form part of an intense fight for the No.10 shirt in Thomas Tuchel's England squad.

  6. Biggest stars to have been ruled out of the World Cup

    The 2026 World Cup is almost here. After years of build-up, dramatic qualifiers and numerous good - and bad - news stories surrounding FIFA's flagship finals, players and coaches from around the world are completing their last preparations before descending on the United States, Mexico and Canada in June for the biggest international football tournament to ever have been staged.

  7. Diaz masterclass puts even more pressure on Gakpo to produce

    Paris Saint-Germain's exhilarating 5-4 win over Bayern Munich on Tuesday was a joy to behold. It was a timely and thrilling exhibition of 'The Beautiful Game', a captivating contest between two teams completely committed to playing fearless, free-flowing football. For Liverpool supporters, though, it was also a painful reminder of what could have been.

  8. Diego Simeone: Tactical dinosaur or still Atleti's magic man?

    Dutch legend Ruud Gullit last week labelled Diego Simeone one of the finest coaches of all time - but claimed that the Argentine doesn't get the credit he deserves. It was an interesting argument, but one always likely to divide opinions - just like Simeone himself. The man affectionately known as 'Cholo' is widely revered within the football world. The job he's done at Atletico Madrid commands nothing but respect.

  9. World's best Kane must seize his shot at immortality

    Harry Kane could be on the cusp of greatness, if such a title isn't already guaranteed. Bayern Munich will be looking to the England captain to score the goals that will give them the edge over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semi-finals, while another Bundesliga title is already wrapped up, the World Cup is fast approaching and he is already in the box seat for the Ballon d'Or. It promises to be a gilded season for the 32-year-old.

  10. EPL, take note: PSG & Bayern's flying forwards are the future

    Just like pretty much everyone else on the planet, former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock thoroughly enjoyed Bayern Munich's thrilling Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid. The tie ebbed and flowed for 180 mesmerising minutes before the Bavarians eventually prevailed 6-4 on aggregate, thanks in no small part to Eduardo Camavinga's idiotic dismissal in the closing stages of the second leg.

  11. Cesc or Iraola the only options for manager-less Chelsea

    In the wake of Liam Rosenior's all-too-predictable sacking, Chelsea's search for a new head coach could and perhaps should come down to a choice between two Spanish tacticians. Andoni Iraola and Cesc Fabregas are the two leading candidates for the role - a result of the fine work they have done at overachieving Bournemouth and Como, respectively. However, as the Blues' owners face a defining appointment of their turbulent reign, who would be the right choice?