Latest news with #ChrisSutton
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
'That sums up modern football, doesn't it?'
Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton on Tottenham's decision to dismiss manager Ange Postecoglou:"I'm not a Tottenham fan but, from the outside, the reason Postecoglou was employed was because they wanted to win a trophy and, if they couldn't do that, they wanted to watch an entertaining team - and I think he has ticked both boxes."I am not saying it has been brilliant this season because I understand the Premier League has been a disappointment - but he has won a major European trophy and that is a huge achievement - their first trophy since the 2008 League Cup and their first European trophy since the Uefa Cup in 1984. He has done something no other manager has done there in 41 years, since Keith Burkinshaw."To get someone in who wins them silverware, then straightaway get rid of him, that sums up modern football, doesn't it? It's absolute bonkers."You only have to look at the other side of north London, where Mikel Arteta has won one trophy in five years - the FA Cup in 2020 - and he is still in a job, and Arsenal are still building."Ange has had to sell Harry Kane in the process too. In many ways, when something like this happens to a manager then I just always think he is better off out of it."He was largely ridiculed when he came out and said he always wins a trophy in his second season, but if you looked at his track record he was right. He showed a bit of belief, then he went and did what he said he would - and Tottenham fans will remember that night for a long time."Have your say on Postecoglou's departure
Daily Record
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Chris Sutton warns Celtic they're screwed if they fall into Scottish Cup Final trap as year of the underdog can't be dismissed
Sutton has seen Hoops batter Aberdeen before this season but also how Crystal Palace and Newcastle have upset the odds Chris Sutton has warned Celtic to take Aberdeen seriously at Hampden – or risk being on the end of another massive underdog story. The Hoops legend knows the Dons have been written off as cannon fodder ahead of Saturday's Scottish Cup Final showdown. But the Record Sport columnist is convinced Aberdeen will look to cause a major shock like Crystal Palace pulled off against Manchester City in the FA Cup Final. Sutton said: 'Everyone I see is saying Celtic are going to win 5-0. 'If the players cotton on to that and walk out with that mindset, they will be screwed. 'Honestly, if they think they can just rock up and expect to hammer a team, they could be in for a fright. 'You simply cannot afford to have that mindset in any game, but especially not in a cup final. 'Listen, I get why Celtic are heavy favourites, of course they are. They've battered Aberdeen a few times this season, including the other week with their reserves. 'You also look at the recent run of form the Dons have been in and it doesn't look great. 'Aberdeen fans will go to Hampden in big numbers but not even they will be too optimistic. 'That doesn't mean there can't be a shock. We've seen a few of them in the cups. 'Look at Crystal Palace winning the FA Cup last weekend, Newcastle ending their trophy drought earlier in the campaign, even Spurs winning the Europa League. 'A fair few underdogs have had their day this year and when it comes down to a one-off game it's true when they say anything can happen. It will all be about mentality – for both teams. 'You look at how weak Aberdeen have looked in recent months but in the first half of the season, there was a toughness about them. They came back from behind to win games, scored later winners, they even came back from two down at Celtic Park and nearly won. 'That's the mentality they need at Hampden. As for Celtic, they need to expect a tough challenge and not simply go through the motions. 'There's too much at stake to take this lightly.' You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers and Celtic pages, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. We're also WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to you phone. Join our Rangers community here and our Celtic community here. Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport's newest podcast, Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sutton's final-day predictions v superstar DJ Paul Oakenfold
Liverpool were crowned Premier League champions weeks ago but the predictions title race has gone to the wire. BBC Sport football expert Chris Sutton leads the way going into the final day of the season, but only by virtue of the total points he has scored compared to his guests (see tables at bottom of page). The BBC readers are further back but can still have a say on who will finish top - if you or Chris win this week, then he will triumph for a third-successive season. "I really hope the readers win this week, because I am not confident of beating my guest at all," said Sutton. "The last day of the season always sees some unexpected results, whether teams have anything to play for or not." Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against a variety of guests. For week 38, he takes on superstar DJ and producer Paul Oakenfold, who is a Chelsea fan. Oakenfold's new track, Novacaine, is out now. He starts his European tour in Brighton on Friday. Do you agree with their scores? You can make your own predictions below. The most popular scoreline selected for each game is used in the scoreboards and tables at the bottom of this page. A correct result (picking a win, draw or defeat) is worth 10 points. The exact score earns 40 points. Oakenfold has been a Chelsea fan for more than 50 years but he could easily have started supporting a different London club as a boy, until a visit to Stamford Bridge made his mind up for good. "My whole family are Arsenal supporters but I went to Chelsea with my cousin, and that was it for me," he told BBC Sport. "I was so young, I just liked the whole King's Road and the colour blue. "I just wasn't feeling Arsenal despite them being a much more successful team at that time - I liked the whole idea of an underdog, and that's what we were back then." A lot has changed at Chelsea down the decades that Oakenfeld has been following them, but he has got favourite players from every period. "My first heroes were when I first went, the era of Peter Bonetti, Peter Osgood, Ron 'Chopper' Harris and Ian Hutchinson," he explained. "That was the era that I first got excited and was going to watch them. "We have had plenty of big stars since then, like Ruud Gullit, Michael Ballack and Gianluca Vialli but the big moment for Chelsea and Chelsea fans was actually when Gianfranco Zola came in 1996. "Zola would pick up the ball and run at people, he would do tricks to beat them and he got you out of your seat. That was the first time we had someone really that good, and that exciting. "Since then we have players like Eden Hazard who can do the same but Zola was the first one where you would watch him and just be thinking 'oh my god!' Diego Maradona taught him how to take free-kicks too - there was nothing he couldn't do." Chris Sutton and Paul Oakenfold were speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan. Vitality Stadium, 16:00 BST It's a little odd that Jamie Vardy is not going to play for Leicester on Sunday after his farewell game at King Power Stadium last week. I'd only just got him in my Fantasy team, in time for his 200th goal for the Foxes, but he is coming out again now and, without him, I don't fancy Leicester to score. Bournemouth were a bit flat against Manchester City on Tuesday and were well beaten in the end, but I am expecting a better showing from them here. That defeat means the Cherries can no longer finish eighth so their hopes of European football are over but a win here would give them a chance of equalling their highest-ever finish of ninth place (in 2016-17). That's what I'm going for. Sutton's prediction: 2-0 Paul's prediction: Bournemouth to win this one. 2-0 Craven Cottage, 16:00 BST Manchester City were really good in their win over Bournemouth on Tuesday, and they did not let the disappointment of last weekend's FA Cup final defeat affect them. Omar Marmoush was excellent, they created lots of chances and defended strongly too. City still made mistakes, though, and the stray passes that led to Mateo Kovacic being sent off and also gifted Bournemouth a late goal are the kind of simple errors you don't expect their players to make. City will miss Kovacic here because he gives them legs in midfield and knits their play together so well, and without him I have a sneaky feeling that this will not be a straightforward afternoon for them. The way the season has gone for Pep Guardiola's side, I would not put it past them to screw this up. They only need a point to secure a top-five finish and maintain their ever-present record in the Champions League since 2011 but, with the way Fulham play, they are in for a tough time at Craven Cottage. I still think City will find a way of winning, but me saying that is probably bad news for Pep Guardiola's side. I've found it impossible to predict Fulham all season and, whatever I say they will do, I am usually wrong. Sutton's prediction: 1-2 Paul's prediction: A draw would do for City but they are going to win this. They are going to go for it, and Fulham don't have much to play for but I still think it will be close. City will definitely grab two goals and while Fulham will score, it will only be a consolation. 1-2 Portman Road, 16:00 BST Fair play to any fans, home or away, who are going to this game. Ipswich have won only once at home all season, while West Ham have been woeful for weeks now and will be glad to see the back of this campaign too. The Ipswich fans have still always backed their team despite their poor form at Portman Road so it would be nice for them to end on some kind of a high note after their relegation, but I just don't see it happening. West Ham supporters have not had much to smile about either, but Jarrod Bowen has been one of the few bright spots for the Hammers recently. He is a quality player, and he might make the difference here too. Sutton's prediction: 0-1 Paul's prediction: Neither of them have had good seasons, have they? 1-1 Anfield, 16:00 BST This is an example of an end-of-season game which is impossible to predict. It is the champions versus the FA Cup winners but I have no idea what kind of teams both managers will put out. Liverpool have pretty much been on the beach since they secured their title at the end of April, while Palace left out several first-team players in their win over Wolves on Tuesday, with Eberechi Eze and Jean-Philippe Mateta only coming on for the last 10 minutes. Palace are on a high after their Wembley win last weekend and if Eze and Mateta start against a weakened Liverpool side then I'd fancy the Eagles' chances. They have got some good players, and the pressure is completely off them. You have to think that Arne Slot will go with a strong side here, though, to finish a great season with a win in front of the Anfield crowd before Liverpool get their hands on the Premier League trophy at full-time. That's what I am guessing Slot will do, but it's a big gamble by me with my predictions title on the line. Slot might do something very different and Eze and Mateta could cause carnage if Virgin van Dijk is left on the bench again, like he was in Monday's defeat by Brighton. Sutton's prediction: 3-1 Paul's prediction: It's good for the Premier League to see two teams like Newcastle and Crystal Palace win a cup this year. I am going for a draw because Palace are on a high. It is at Anfield and it is the last game of the season - usually I would go with Liverpool all day long but they have taken their foot off the pedal. 1-1 Old Trafford, 16:00 BST This might seem like one of the most stupid things I have ever said, but this is a massive game for Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim. In the fall-out after their Europa League final defeat, there have been further question marks over his inability to change his system, and also how there is seemingly a lack of thought going into his substitutions after how late he left them against Spurs - his first changes came after 71 minutes. Amorim said after Wednesday's defeat in Bilbao that if the club's owners want to get rid of him, he would go without getting any compensation. When he comes out with stuff like that, it almost sounds to me as if he wants the sack. We had a lot of United fans on 606 after the game and I can understand both sides of the argument when it comes to Amorim's future. On one hand, he hasn't adapted his tactics to English football and you could say the United team has got worse under him, which is a hard thing to do after Erik ten Hag's stint in charge. But then you also have to consider how Amorim was kind of railroaded into taking the job in November, after being told he had to come in straightaway or he might not get the job at the end of the season. He said then that he needed to play his system, and he hasn't been able to bring his own players in to do that. His problem now, though, is even if he does get the backing of the United hierarchy and gets given the chance to bring his own players in this summer, who is going to want to come to Old Trafford? There is no European football as an incentive, and that is a massive problem. So, Amorim badly needs some kind of positive result to end the season with, and he would probably bite your hand off now if you offered him a draw against Aston Villa, who really need a win to have a chance of making the top five. With what's at stake for Villa, though, I am expecting them to take the points. Unai Emery's side will be too good for United, and Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers could really do some damage to their defence. I feel sorry for Amorim, because he seems like a really nice guy who is very likeable, but that won't help him keep his job. We asked one United fan who called up 606 on Wednesday night whether he would want to keep Amorim on and he said he would love to have Sunday lunch with him, but that's not the same as wanting him to stay on as manager, is it? Sutton's prediction: 1-2 Paul's prediction: I have DJed at Old Trafford and at Etihad Stadium for Soccer Aid. I sat in the directors' box at both grounds and at City they have got heated seats - you can press a button and warm them up. Man United have not got that! We could do with Villa dropping points here, but I can't see United helping us out. 1-2 St James' Park, 16:00 BST Newcastle are at home, and their superior goal difference means they know any sort of win will keep them in the Champions League places regardless of what Aston Villa do. I usually fancy Eddie Howe's side to win when they are at St James' Park but there are serious doubts over Alexander Isak's fitness which is a real worry. I would have a different feeling if he was in the team. On top of that, Everton are an awkward team to break down, who also carry an attacking threat with Beto in such good form. So, I don't think this will be straightforward at all. I am still backing the Magpies, but I would not be surprised if Everton nicked a point. Sutton's prediction: 2-0 Paul's prediction: Newcastle need a win and they are going to get it. 2-1 City Ground, 16:00 BST What a game this is, and it's a must-watch if you're a neutral too. Nothing against my old club Chelsea, but I'd love to go with my heart and say Nottingham Forest will beat them and finish in the top five - it's just I don't think either of those things will happen. The City Ground will be absolutely jumping, of course, but it was the same for Forest's past three home league games, against Leicester, Brentford and Everton, and they only have one point to show for them - from their draw with the Foxes. Chelsea are probably going to need a win too, to finish above Aston Villa and stay in the top five, but I can see this ending in the result neither team wants, which is a draw. That was the result when they met at Stamford Bridge in October, in a game that saw a thrilling finish with chances at both ends. I am expecting more of the same here, with both sides ending up disappointed. Sutton's prediction: 1-1 Paul's prediction: I think we will win but I am not sure who is going to get our goals because both our senior centre-forwards are out. Listen, this could be a disaster season. We could draw at Forest and see Newcastle and Villa win so we don't make the Champions League, and Real Betis [who Chelsea play in next week's Europa Conference League final] are dangerous too. They are sixth in La Liga and they are on fire, especially Antony, the kid on loan from Manchester United. On top of that, Tottenham are one place above the bottom three but they have got in the Champions League, so we really have to get in there next season too. I don't care who scores our goals, we just have to win! 1-2 Paul on his favourite Chelsea player: How can you pick one? Frank Lampard obviously comes to mind as well as Zola but then there is Didier Drogba, there is Diego Costa and Eden Hazard... I can't pick one, I don't think you can, really. Paul on Chelsea's future prospects: I look at our team and think we are still two to three seasons away from where people eventually expect us to be because we have a lot of young players, on long-term deals. Already we seeing some of them really come good - Enzo Fernandez, Marc Cucurella and Moises Caicedo for example. I am still not sure about our manager, but we will see. St Mary's Stadium, 16:00 BST There will be Arsenal fans going to this game who are really jealous of Tottenham and what they have achieved this season, you can be sure of it. Mikel Arteta's side have been miles better than Spurs, obviously, but they don't have a trophy to show for it, unlike their north London rivals, and trophies are what football is about. It's absurd to suggest Arteta should be any under pressure though. As for my prediction, well this one is pretty easy to call. Arsenal are without the injured William Saliba at the back, but they have got Declan Rice as their driving force and this should be a routine win for the Gunners. Southampton held out for a draw against Manchester City in their previous home game but I expect they are still too worn out from celebrating that point to get anything here. Sutton's prediction: 0-2 Paul's prediction: Arsenal to edge it. 0-1 Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, 16:00 BST The proverb 'he who laughs last, laughs longest' certainly applies to Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou, who has answered his critics by winning the Europa League and will be able to enjoy a party atmosphere on Sunday too. I am delighted for Ange because some of the flak he has taken has been extraordinarily over the top. One newspaper suggested he would be known as a clown if Spurs had lost Wednesday's final, which is the kind of thing I haven't read since the days when England boss Graham Taylor was compared to a turnip. The people who write that kind of thing either don't look at Postecoglou's track record or they have been dismissive of it. Fair play to him, because he came out a few months back and talked about always winning something in his second season at a club. He said it because it was true and also because he believed he could win a trophy this season with Spurs too and, you know what, he has gone and backed it up. There were so many people out there who were desperate for him to fail, but he has rammed that down their throats. Postecoglou is a good guy, but people were continuously trying to poke him and provoke him in interviews. He wants to stay as Spurs boss and I hope he does but, regardless of what happens in the summer, he has proved he is a winner. He is a legendary figure at Tottenham now, and I am absolutely made up for him. His players gave everything against Manchester United and it was a defensive masterclass. I hear a lot about how Tottenham always play the same way under Postecoglou, but that wasn't 'Ange-ball' as I know it - with their lack of possession in that game (27%), it was more like 'Ange-wall'. I am not sure how much the Spurs players will have left in their legs for this game, especially against a Brighton team who have found a bit of form, are playing with freedom and are also looking to secure eighth place and possibly a European spot too. That's why I am going for the Seagulls to win - but I don't think the Spurs fans will care too much about this result, and understandably so. Sutton's prediction: 1-2 Paul's prediction: Spurs will be on a high after winning the Europa League. 2-1 Molineux, 16:00 BST I am not sure which Wolves we will see here - after going on a six-match winning streak, they have now lost three games in a row - or if their star forward Matheus Cunha will be recalled after starting Tuesday's defeat by Crystal Palace on the bench. Brentford still have an outside chance of finishing eighth despite losing at home to Fulham last week - I admit I did not see that result coming, but I rarely do when Fulham are involved. Brentford have been great on the road recently and have only lost one away game since Christmas, but I am going to go for a draw here for tactical reasons, because I think everyone else will too. Sutton's prediction: 1-1 Paul's prediction: A hard one to call, let's go for a draw. 1-1 Sutton needed a win to keep his predictions title hopes alive going into the final week of the season, and he got one in style. He got seven correct results, including four exact scores, from the 10 Premier League games in week 37, giving him a total of 190 points. That was enough to beat his guest, DJ and producer Barry Can't Swim, who got five correct results with no exact scores, for a tally of 50 points. Sutton also outdid the BBC readers - using the most popular scoreline from your predictions for each game - who got six correct results, with two exact scores, for a total of 120 points. The victory puts Chris back on top of the predictions table - level with the guests on outright weekly wins but above them thanks to his superior points tally - but will he stay there? Listen to the latest Football Daily podcast Get football news sent straight to your phone
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Sutton's final-day predictions v superstar DJ Paul Oakenfold
Liverpool were crowned Premier League champions weeks ago but the predictions title race has gone to the Sport football expert Chris Sutton leads the way going into the final day of the season, but only by virtue of the total points he has scored compared to his guests (see tables at bottom of page). The BBC readers are further back but can still have a say on who will finish top - if you or Chris win this week, then he will triumph for a third-successive season."I really hope the readers win this week, because I am not confident of beating my guest at all," said Sutton."The last day of the season always sees some unexpected results, whether teams have anything to play for or not."Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against a variety of week 38, he takes on superstar DJ and producer Paul Oakenfold, who is a Chelsea new track, Novacaine, is out now. He starts his European tour in Brighton on you agree with their scores? You can make your own predictions most popular scoreline selected for each game is used in the scoreboards and tables at the bottom of this page.A correct result (picking a win, draw or defeat) is worth 10 points. The exact score earns 40 points. Oakenfold has been a Chelsea fan for more than 50 years but he could easily have started supporting a different London club as a boy, until a visit to Stamford Bridge made his mind up for good."My whole family are Arsenal supporters but I went to Chelsea with my cousin, and that was it for me," he told BBC Sport. "I was so young, I just liked the whole King's Road and the colour blue. "I just wasn't feeling Arsenal despite them being a much more successful team at that time - I liked the whole idea of an underdog, and that's what we were back then."A lot has changed at Chelsea down the decades that Oakenfeld has been following them, but he has got favourite players from every period."My first heroes were when I first went, the era of Peter Bonetti, Peter Osgood, Ron 'Chopper' Harris and Ian Hutchinson," he explained. "That was the era that I first got excited and was going to watch them."We have had plenty of big stars since then, like Ruud Gullit, Michael Ballack and Gianluca Vialli but the big moment for Chelsea and Chelsea fans was actually when Gianfranco Zola came in 1996."Zola would pick up the ball and run at people, he would do tricks to beat them and he got you out of your seat. That was the first time we had someone really that good, and that exciting."Since then we have players like Eden Hazard who can do the same but Zola was the first one where you would watch him and just be thinking 'oh my god!' Diego Maradona taught him how to take free-kicks too - there was nothing he couldn't do."Chris Sutton and Paul Oakenfold were speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan. Premier League predictions Sunday, 25 May Vitality Stadium, 16:00 BSTIt's a little odd that Jamie Vardy is not going to play for Leicester on Sunday after his farewell game at King Power Stadium last week.I'd only just got him in my Fantasy team, in time for his 200th goal for the Foxes, but he is coming out again now and, without him, I don't fancy Leicester to score. Bournemouth were a bit flat against Manchester City on Tuesday and were well beaten in the end, but I am expecting a better showing from them defeat means the Cherries can no longer finish eighth so their hopes of European football are over but a win here would give them a chance of equalling their highest-ever finish of ninth place (in 2016-17). That's what I'm going prediction: 2-0Paul's prediction: Bournemouth to win this one. 2-0 Craven Cottage, 16:00 BSTManchester City were really good in their win over Bournemouth on Tuesday, and they did not let the disappointment of last weekend's FA Cup final defeat affect them. Omar Marmoush was excellent, they created lots of chances and defended strongly still made mistakes, though, and the stray passes that led to Mateo Kovacic being sent off and also gifted Bournemouth a late goal are the kind of simple errors you don't expect their players to will miss Kovacic here because he gives them legs in midfield and knits their play together so well, and without him I have a sneaky feeling that this will not be a straightforward afternoon for them. The way the season has gone for Pep Guardiola's side, I would not put it past them to screw this only need a point to secure a top-five finish and maintain their ever-present record in the Champions League since 2011 but, with the way Fulham play, they are in for a tough time at Craven Cottage.I still think City will find a way of winning, but me saying that is probably bad news for Pep Guardiola's side. I've found it impossible to predict Fulham all season and, whatever I say they will do, I am usually prediction: 1-2Paul's prediction: A draw would do for City but they are going to win this. They are going to go for it, and Fulham don't have much to play for but I still think it will be close. City will definitely grab two goals and while Fulham will score, it will only be a consolation. 1-2 Portman Road, 16:00 BSTFair play to any fans, home or away, who are going to this have won only once at home all season, while West Ham have been woeful for weeks now and will be glad to see the back of this campaign Ipswich fans have still always backed their team despite their poor form at Portman Road so it would be nice for them to end on some kind of a high note after their relegation, but I just don't see it Ham supporters have not had much to smile about either, but Jarrod Bowen has been one of the few bright spots for the Hammers recently. He is a quality player, and he might make the difference here prediction: 0-1Paul's prediction: Neither of them have had good seasons, have they? 1-1 Anfield, 16:00 BSTThis is an example of an end-of-season game which is impossible to predict. It is the champions versus the FA Cup winners but I have no idea what kind of teams both managers will put have pretty much been on the beach since they secured their title at the end of April, while Palace left out several first-team players in their win over Wolves on Tuesday, with Eberechi Eze and Jean-Philippe Mateta only coming on for the last 10 are on a high after their Wembley win last weekend and if Eze and Mateta start against a weakened Liverpool side then I'd fancy the Eagles' chances. They have got some good players, and the pressure is completely off have to think that Arne Slot will go with a strong side here, though, to finish a great season with a win in front of the Anfield crowd before Liverpool get their hands on the Premier League trophy at what I am guessing Slot will do, but it's a big gamble by me with my predictions title on the might do something very different and Eze and Mateta could cause carnage if Virgin van Dijk is left on the bench again, like he was in Monday's defeat by prediction: 3-1Paul's prediction: It's good for the Premier League to see two teams like Newcastle and Crystal Palace win a cup this year. I am going for a draw because Palace are on a high. It is at Anfield and it is the last game of the season - usually I would go with Liverpool all day long but they have taken their foot off the pedal. 1-1 Old Trafford, 16:00 BSTThis might seem like one of the most stupid things I have ever said, but this is a massive game for Manchester United boss Ruben the fall-out after their Europa League final defeat, there have been further question marks over his inability to change his system, and also how there is seemingly a lack of thought going into his substitutions after how late he left them against Spurs - his first changes came after 71 said after Wednesday's defeat in Bilbao that if the club's owners want to get rid of him, he would go without getting any compensation. When he comes out with stuff like that, it almost sounds to me as if he wants the had a lot of United fans on 606 after the game and I can understand both sides of the argument when it comes to Amorim's one hand, he hasn't adapted his tactics to English football and you could say the United team has got worse under him, which is a hard thing to do after Erik ten Hag's stint in then you also have to consider how Amorim was kind of railroaded into taking the job in November, after being told he had to come in straightaway or he might not get the job at the end of the season. He said then that he needed to play his system, and he hasn't been able to bring his own players in to do problem now, though, is even if he does get the backing of the United hierarchy and gets given the chance to bring his own players in this summer, who is going to want to come to Old Trafford?There is no European football as an incentive, and that is a massive Amorim badly needs some kind of positive result to end the season with, and he would probably bite your hand off now if you offered him a draw against Aston Villa, who really need a win to have a chance of making the top what's at stake for Villa, though, I am expecting them to take the points. Unai Emery's side will be too good for United, and Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers could really do some damage to their defence.I feel sorry for Amorim, because he seems like a really nice guy who is very likeable, but that won't help him keep his asked one United fan who called up 606 on Wednesday night whether he would want to keep Amorim on and he said he would love to have Sunday lunch with him, but that's not the same as wanting him to stay on as manager, is it?Sutton's prediction: 1-2Paul's prediction: I have DJed at Old Trafford and at Etihad Stadium for Soccer Aid. I sat in the directors' box at both grounds and at City they have got heated seats - you can press a button and warm them up. Man United have not got that! We could do with Villa dropping points here, but I can't see United helping us out. 1-2 St James' Park, 16:00 BSTNewcastle are at home, and their superior goal difference means they know any sort of win will keep them in the Champions League places regardless of what Aston Villa do.I usually fancy Eddie Howe's side to win when they are at St James' Park but there are serious doubts over Alexander Isak's fitness which is a real worry. I would have a different feeling if he was in the top of that, Everton are an awkward team to break down, who also carry an attacking threat with Beto in such good I don't think this will be straightforward at all. I am still backing the Magpies, but I would not be surprised if Everton nicked a prediction: 2-0Paul's prediction: Newcastle need a win and they are going to get it. 2-1 City Ground, 16:00 BSTWhat a game this is, and it's a must-watch if you're a neutral too. Nothing against my old club Chelsea, but I'd love to go with my heart and say Nottingham Forest will beat them and finish in the top five - it's just I don't think either of those things will City Ground will be absolutely jumping, of course, but it was the same for Forest's past three home league games, against Leicester, Brentford and Everton, and they only have one point to show for them - from their draw with the are probably going to need a win too, to finish above Aston Villa and stay in the top five, but I can see this ending in the result neither team wants, which is a was the result when they met at Stamford Bridge in October, in a game that saw a thrilling finish with chances at both ends. I am expecting more of the same here, with both sides ending up prediction: 1-1Paul's prediction: I think we will win but I am not sure who is going to get our goals because both our senior centre-forwards are this could be a disaster season. We could draw at Forest and see Newcastle and Villa win so we don't make the Champions League, and Real Betis [who Chelsea play in next week's Europa Conference League final] are dangerous too. They are sixth in La Liga and they are on fire, especially Antony, the kid on loan from Manchester top of that, Tottenham are one place above the bottom three but they have got in the Champions League, so we really have to get in there next season too. I don't care who scores our goals, we just have to win! 1-2Paul on his favourite Chelsea player: How can you pick one? Frank Lampard obviously comes to mind as well as Zola but then there is Didier Drogba, there is Diego Costa and Eden Hazard... I can't pick one, I don't think you can, on Chelsea's future prospects: I look at our team and think we are still two to three seasons away from where people eventually expect us to be because we have a lot of young players, on long-term deals. Already we seeing some of them really come good - Enzo Fernandez, Marc Cucurella and Moises Caicedo for example. I am still not sure about our manager, but we will see. St Mary's Stadium, 16:00 BSTThere will be Arsenal fans going to this game who are really jealous of Tottenham and what they have achieved this season, you can be sure of Arteta's side have been miles better than Spurs, obviously, but they don't have a trophy to show for it, unlike their north London rivals, and trophies are what football is absurd to suggest Arteta should be any under pressure for my prediction, well this one is pretty easy to call. Arsenal are without the injured William Saliba at the back, but they have got Declan Rice as their driving force and this should be a routine win for the held out for a draw against Manchester City in their previous home game but I expect they are still too worn out from celebrating that point to get anything prediction: 0-2Paul's prediction: Arsenal to edge it. 0-1 Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, 16:00 BSTThe proverb 'he who laughs last, laughs longest' certainly applies to Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou, who has answered his critics by winning the Europa League and will be able to enjoy a party atmosphere on Sunday too.I am delighted for Ange because some of the flak he has taken has been extraordinarily over the top. One newspaper suggested he would be known as a clown if Spurs had lost Wednesday's final, which is the kind of thing I haven't read since the days when England boss Graham Taylor was compared to a people who write that kind of thing either don't look at Postecoglou's track record or they have been dismissive of it. Fair play to him, because he came out a few months back and talked about always winning something in his second season at a said it because it was true and also because he believed he could win a trophy this season with Spurs too and, you know what, he has gone and backed it up. There were so many people out there who were desperate for him to fail, but he has rammed that down their is a good guy, but people were continuously trying to poke him and provoke him in interviews. He wants to stay as Spurs boss and I hope he does but, regardless of what happens in the summer, he has proved he is a winner. He is a legendary figure at Tottenham now, and I am absolutely made up for players gave everything against Manchester United and it was a defensive masterclass. I hear a lot about how Tottenham always play the same way under Postecoglou, but that wasn't 'Ange-ball' as I know it - with their lack of possession in that game (27%), it was more like 'Ange-wall'.I am not sure how much the Spurs players will have left in their legs for this game, especially against a Brighton team who have found a bit of form, are playing with freedom and are also looking to secure eighth place and possibly a European spot why I am going for the Seagulls to win - but I don't think the Spurs fans will care too much about this result, and understandably prediction: 1-2Paul's prediction: Spurs will be on a high after winning the Europa League. 2-1 Molineux, 16:00 BSTI am not sure which Wolves we will see here - after going on a six-match winning streak, they have now lost three games in a row - or if their star forward Matheus Cunha will be recalled after starting Tuesday's defeat by Crystal Palace on the still have an outside chance of finishing eighth despite losing at home to Fulham last week - I admit I did not see that result coming, but I rarely do when Fulham are have been great on the road recently and have only lost one away game since Christmas, but I am going to go for a draw here for tactical reasons, because I think everyone else will prediction: 1-1Paul's prediction: A hard one to call, let's go for a draw. 1-1 How did Sutton do last week? Sutton needed a win to keep his predictions title hopes alive going into the final week of the season, and he got one in got seven correct results, including four exact scores, from the 10 Premier League games in week 37, giving him a total of 190 was enough to beat his guest, DJ and producer Barry Can't Swim, who got five correct results with no exact scores, for a tally of 50 also outdid the BBC readers - using the most popular scoreline from your predictions for each game - who got six correct results, with two exact scores, for a total of 120 victory puts Chris back on top of the predictions table - level with the guests on outright weekly wins but above them thanks to his superior points tally - but will he stay there?
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Salah wins, but who's next in line? BBC Sport's players of the year
Mohamed Salah is expected to win a clean sweep of end of season awards this summer after starring as Liverpool cantered to the Premier League Egyptian is way out on his own for goals scored (28) and assists (18) and has set the record for the most goal involvements in a 38-game asked for their player of the season, a host of BBC Sport pundits, reporters and commentators were in agreement - Salah has been the standout Radio 5 Live pundit, and Premier League-winning striker, Chris Sutton, said: "His numbers are outrageous, he has scored or assisted 46 Premier League goals this season - that's more than Manchester United have managed. "How can you not vote for Mo Salah as your player of the year? Anyone not voting for Salah is a buffoon."So, to mix things up, we asked for their other leading players of the campaign - but only allowed them to pick one more player from are the picks and you can vote for who has impressed you most with their selections at the bottom of the page. Chris Sutton (Premier League winner & BBC Sport pundit) 1: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)He's my 'other' Liverpool player because he is their leader at the back and he's been as good for them this season as he was before his cruciate ligament injury in 2020.2: Murillo (Nottingham Forest)I'd definitely have a Forest player in my three and Chris Wood has obviously scored a lot of their goals. They have dried up a bit recently, but after all the ups and downs of his career it is still a great story.I am going to go with Murillo over Wood, though. No-one had really heard of him before Forest signed him in 2023 but he's been such an integral part of their superb season. I could have easily picked his centre-half partner Nikola Milenkovic because he has been phenomenal as well, and a lot of Forest's success has been based on the solid foundation they give the team.3: Declan Rice (Arsenal)He is just a phenomenal footballer whether he is playing as a number six or number eight. The drive he gives this Arsenal side is incredible and I just really love watching him play. He has been excellent throughout. Sami Mokbel (BBC Sport senior football correspondent) 1: Alexander Isak (Newcastle United)No longer potential. Isak transitioned into a genuinely world-class striker this season in full living colour.2: Declan Rice (Arsenal)Consistently excellent in Arsenal's midfield... and his two free-kicks versus Real Madrid were among the season's highlights.3: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)If Mohamed Salah supplies the stardust, then Van Dijk brings the glue. Poetry in motion. Phil McNulty (BBC Sport chief football writer) Bruno Fernandes (Man Utd)In a season, Europa League apart - although even that ended in defeat in the final - of complete mediocrity for Manchester United, captain Bruno Fernandes has been a shining light. Often questioned about his suitability for leadership, Fernandes has at least tried to set standards of quality and resilience several levels above most of his team-mates. It may be strange to offer up a Footballer Of The Year candidate for a team so low in the Premier League, but Fernandes is a deserving Rice (Arsenal)Arsenal's season has fallen short when it comes to winning trophies, but the consistent excellence of Declan Rice has been a stand-out. He scored those two sensational free-kicks in the Champions League quarter-final first leg against Real Madrid at Emirates Stadium, then scored the winner against Newcastle United that confirmed Arsenal will be in Europe's elite competition next season. When Harry Kane finally steps off the international stage, he should be England's next van Dijk (Liverpool)No-one can argue Van Dijk's Liverpool team-mate Mohamed Salah doesn't deserve the accolade of player of the year, but plenty might argue that Liverpool's captain would also have been a worthy winner. He was the leader and defensive kingpin as fellow Dutchman Arne Slot won the Premier League in his first season as manager, with the defender showing no signs of reduced powers. Everyone at Anfield was elated when he signed a new two-year contract, even though he is 34 in July. Ian Dennis (BBC 5 Live commentator) Ryan GravenberchVirgil van Dijk might have played the most minutes (at the time of writing) in Liverpool's title campaign but his fellow Dutchman, another ever present, has excelled. He has become such a key player under Arne Slot as a midfield lynchpin and has been a model of high RiceHis two memorable free-kick strikes against Real Madrid will live long in the memory but his all-action performances saw stand out in Arsenal's run to the Champions League semi-finals. I recall him making a lung-bursting run in Eindhoven even when Arsenal were comfortably ahead during their 7-1 win at PSV. Those energy levels and desire were also evident in a majestic display in IsakHis goal ratio is highly impressive but he's a quality footballer. His instinctive finish in the League Cup final highlights his prowess in front of goal but his movement, awareness and technical ability allow him to combine his skills with speed, meaning he's a constant is a world-class talent and Champions League qualification will be crucial for Newcastle United to ward off potential suitors. Simon Stone (BBC Sport chief football news reporter) Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool)Has bonded the Liverpool defence and attack together brilliantly and made the massive step up from Isak (Newcastle)Has developed into a top-class striker. Am not sure about the Thierry Henry comparisons but he's been as good as any this Eze (Crystal Palace)A stellar end to the season capped with an FA Cup final match-winner that looked easy but few could pull off. Nizaar Kinsella (BBC Sport football news reporter) Bruno Fernandes (Man Utd)No player in the Premier League has created more chances than Bruno Fernandes and doing that in a struggling Manchester United team is all the more Gravenberch (Liverpool)Probably Liverpool's most important player, bar Mohamed Salah, given he helps build attacks at the base of Arne Slot's midfield in their possession-based Caicedo (Chelsea)Most people considered Cole Palmer to be Chelsea's most important player but the British transfer record midfielder has been the star for Enzo Maresca's team this season. Nick Mashiter (BBC Sport football news reporter) Alexander Isak (Newcastle)The Sweden striker has spearheaded Newcastle's Champions League challenge and helped them end their 56-year trophy drought by winning the Carabao Cup. He has also become the first Magpies player since Alan Shearer in 2003-04 to score more than 22 league Van Dijk (Liverpool)While team-mate Mohamed Salah will take the individual awards, defender Van Dijk has also been central to their success. He has made the most touches in the Premier League, the most passes, the fourth most interceptions and is also in the top 10 for (Nottingham Forest)The defender has been integral to Nottingham Forest's exceptional season, his partnership with Nikola Milenkovic crucial at the back. He has made the most clearances in the Premier League this season, including three off the line. Shamoon Hafez (BBC Sport football news reporter) Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford)The Cameroon international has had a superb campaign for Brentford, netting 19 Premier League goals to keep the Bees in the hunt for a European place next season. Some of the top-flight's 'bigger' clubs may come circling this Eze (Crystal Palace)The Crystal Palace winger will go down in Eagles history as the player who scored the winning goal for the club's first major trophy, stunning Manchester City in the FA Cup brilliant Eze has scored a total of 15 goals this season, timing his run to perfection with seven in his last six games for Oliver Glasner's Milenkovic (Nottingham Forest)The bargain signing of the season. Forest paid just £12m to sign the Serb from Fiorentina and he has marshalled the backline performances in defence guarantee European football for Nuno Espirito Santo's side next season, but will it be the Champions League or Europa League?
