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Premier League title race enters decisive phase

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Premier League title race enters decisive phase

With the Premier League title race reaching its climax, attention turns to the crucial remaining fixtures that will determine the destiny of the 2023–24 season.

As 20 teams gear up for the final sprint, analysis reveals intriguing insights into who holds the advantage and who faces an uphill battle in the pursuit of glory.

The race among the current top four contenders showcases a tight battle, highlighting the competitive nature of the league.

With just eight points separating table leader Liverpool, boasting 67 points, from Aston Villa, holding firm with 56 points, every match becomes pivotal in determining the ultimate outcome of the season.

In a season characterised by its unpredictability, the presence of game-in-hand fixtures has emerged as a crucial factor in the English Premier League standings.
Premier League title race outstanding games

Notably, while most teams are contending with one extra match to be played, Chelsea stands alone with the rare advantage of having two.

Among the clubs yet to fully capitalise on this opportunity are Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal, Tottenham, Manchester United, Newcastle, Brighton, Wolves, Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Everton, and Sheffield, all awaiting their respective additional matches to potentially shift the balance of power.

Currently, only Aston Villa, West Ham, Fulham, Brentford, Nottingham Forest, Luton Town, and Burnley have completed 30 games, providing them with a clearer picture of their standing as they navigate the final stretch of the season.

As the league approaches its climax, the significance of these remaining fixtures cannot be overstated, with every point potentially altering the trajectory of teams’ aspirations and determining their fate in the race for glory.
Last 10 Premier League winners

In the last ten seasons, Manchester City has won the Premier League title six times, Chelsea twice, and Liverpool and Leicester City have won it once each.

On Sunday, Liverpool beat Brighton to go top of the EPL table.

Manchester City failed to break down Arsenal as a highly-anticipated clash at the top of the Premier League failed to live up to the hype in a 0-0 draw at the Etihad on Sunday.

Liverpool seizes a crucial advantage with the most favourable remaining fixtures among title contenders.

Despite facing relatively tough schedules, all three contenders brace themselves for a nail-biting conclusion, hinting at twists and turns that could shape the final outcome of the season.

The run-in officially starts here, with the remaining fixtures set to decide who wins the 2023/24 Premier League title, who qualifies for Europe, and who avoids relegation.

So, with just nine matchweeks left, which teams have the “best” and “worst” fixtures?

PUNCH Online delves into the average points total of the remaining opponents for every team, unveiling insights into which clubs are poised for a late-season surge towards glory and which ones confront a formidable challenge to conclude the campaign on a high note.

According to data obtained from the Premier League website, the average points of the remaining opponents for Premier League teams vary significantly, offering insights into the challenges they may face in the run-in.

At the lower end of the spectrum, Newcastle has the most favourable average point of 33.5, followed closely by Everton at 34.2 and Brentford and Nottingham Forest sharing 35.4.

As the scale progresses, Burnley stands at 35.8, Fulham at 35.9, and Sheffield United at 37.0.

Manchester United also shares this average, indicating a moderate challenge ahead.

Moving up, Chelsea sits at 38.0, followed by Spurs at 38.8 and Liverpool at 38.9, showcasing a tougher road for these title contenders.

Further up, Bournemouth faces an average of 39.1 points, while Manchester City have 41.0 and Wolves have 41.5.

Arsenal, in pursuit of title aspirations, contends with an average of 42.3 points among its opponents.

West Ham and Luton share an average of 43.2, while Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, and Brighton face the toughest challenges with averages of 44.8, 44.9, and 45.1 points, respectively.

Title race fixtures club average

By implication, Newcastle United enjoys the easiest remaining schedule with an average of 33.5 points among their upcoming opponents, akin to facing a 14th-placed team in each match.

Conversely, Brighton & Hove Albion faces the toughest fixtures, with their opponents averaging 45.1 points, resembling matches against seventh-placed sides.

In the title race and before Sunday’s game, Liverpool enjoys the most favourable fixtures among the top three contenders, with their opponents averaging 38.9 points.

On the other hand, Arsenal face the toughest challenge, with their opponents averaging 42.3 points, slightly more daunting than those of third-placed Manchester City (41.0).

 

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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

‘We Know Who Deserved This’ – Vinicius Receives Widespread Support After Ballon d’Or Robbery 

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Vinicius Junior Told Ballon d'Or Triumph Would Be 'Biggest Crime In History' 

The 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony was expected to bring a moment of redemption for Real Madrid, especially after their tough loss to Barcelona in the recent El Clasico.

Many Madrid fans and the club itself saw the event as an opportunity for some positive recognition, with high hopes for Vinicius Jr. to claim the award for the best player in the world.

However, hours before the ceremony, it was revealed that Vinicius would not be receiving the prestigious honour.

In response, Real Madrid decided that no representative would attend the gala on his behalf, a decision that has intensified the disappointment among the club’s supporters.

Support for Vinicius

Real Madrid fans have expressed their frustration over the Ballon d’Or voting results, feeling Vinicius’ performances were deserving of greater recognition.

Notably, former Madrid star Toni Kroos stepped forward to show his support, posting two photos of himself with Vinicius on social media, accompanied by a message celebrating Vinicius as “The Best.”

Following Kroos’ lead, several of Vinicius’ teammates expressed their support on social media. Arda Guler posted a photo of himself embracing Vinicius, while teammates like Ferland Mendy and Rodrygo also shared images and messages of encouragement.

“And so our world goes on, we keep going. I love you,” said the Brazil forward about his teammate.

Eduardo Camavinga, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Federico Valverde joined the wave of support, with Valverde emphasising that no award could adequately represent Vinicius’ talent and contributions on the pitch.

“You don’t need that (the Ballon d’Or). You’re already the best,” said Camavinga.

“No one will take away what you have achieved. We all know that. They are not prepared for what you are going to give them,” wrote Tchouameni

Vinicius’ national teammates from Brazil showed solidarity as well, with players like Richarlison, Bruno Guimaraes, Douglas Luiz, Emerson Royal, Gabriel Magalhaes, Lucas Paqueta, and Serge Aurier sending him words of encouragement.

“We all know who really deserved to win this Ballon d’Or. We are all with you brother, we will do everything so that you can win that it. I love you. BEST IN THE WORLD. Nothing against Rodri but my congratulations,” wrote Douglas Luiz

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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Rodri Becomes First Man City Player To Win Ballon d’Or; Vinicius Reacts

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Manchester City midfielder Rodri has been awarded the Ballon d’Or after a stellar season that saw him pick up silverware with both club and country.

Rodri was handed the award at a ceremony in Paris on Monday, organised by the French magazine France Football in collaboration with UEFA.

“A very special day, for me, my family and my country,” Rodri said.

“I understand that because I have no social media, people don’t know me much. I am just a normal guy. I enjoy the sport, I enjoy my profession. And I try to be a good person. I am a very calm person.”

The 28-year-old won his fourth straight Premier League with City in May as Pep Guardiola’s side held off Arsenal’s challenge, winning their last nine games to clinch the title. He is the first player from England’s top tier to be crowned since Cristiano Ronaldo won in 2008 during his first stint with Manchester United.

Rodri’s stiffest competition for the Ballon d’Or came from Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior, who refused to travel to Paris for the ceremony after discovering that he would not take home the trophy. Jude Bellingham finished third in the voting.

Vinícius, 24, had been a leading contender to win the 2024 men’s prize after leading Madrid to a LaLiga and Champions League double last season, but sources told ESPN earlier on Monday that neither he nor his fellow Madrid nominees — eight in total across the various awards — would attend the event.

Madrid had been honoured earlier in the ceremony as the men’s team of the year, and Carlo Ancelotti received the coach of the year award, though no representatives of the last Champions League winners were present to accept it.

“I’ll do it 10x if needed. They are not ready,” Vini Jr. posted in Portuguese on X.

Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga made it clear what he thought of the vote, calling it “football politics.”

“FOOTBALL POLITICS X. My brother, you are the best player in the world and no award can say otherwise. Love you my bro,” the France international wrote on X along with a photo of him and Vinicius celebrating together.

The awards are based on voting by a panel of journalists from the top 100 FIFA-ranked countries.

Rodri was part of the Spain team that won Euro 2024, starting every game except the third group stage match against Albania, and claimed the player of the tournament prize.

He went a world-record 74 games unbeaten for club and country from March 2023 to May 2024, avoiding defeat (other than via penalties) until City’s loss to Manchester United in the FA Cup final.

Rodri becomes the second men’s player born in Spain to win the sport’s most prestigious individual prize, and the first since former Barcelona star Luis Suárez claimed it in 1960.

Real Madrid’s legendary striker Alfredo di Stefano won the award twice, in 1957 and 1959, though he was born in Argentina. The past four Ballons d’Or Féminin have been won by Spanish women (Alexia Putellas in 2021 and 2022 and Aitana Bonmatí in 2023 and 2024).

“Today is not a victory for me, it is for Spanish football, for so many players who have not won it and have deserved it, like [Andres] Iniesta, Xavi [Hernandez], Iker [Casillas], Sergio Busquets, so many others. It is for Spanish football and for the figure of the midfielder,” Rodri said on stage at the ceremony.

“Today many friends have written to me and have told me that football has won, for giving visibility to so many midfielders who have a job in the shadows and today it is coming to light.”

Rodri is likely to miss the rest of the 2024-25 campaign after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament injury during City’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal on Sept. 22. He collected the prize on crutches on Monday.

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Premier League

END OF BAD ERA! Manchester United Sack Erik ten Hag At Last

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NOT GOOD ENOUGH! Ronaldo criticises Ten Hag, says Man Utd must 'rebuild everything'

Manchester United have sacked manager Erik ten Hag following the club’s poor start to the season.

Ten Hag’s final game was Sunday’s 2-1 defeat by West Ham that left the club 14th in the Premier League with just three wins from their opening nine matches.

United are also 21st of 36 teams in the Europa League table, having drawn their three opening fixtures.

Ruud van Nistelrooy, who joined the club as Ten Hag’s assistant last summer, has been named as interim manager.

The Dutchman was informed of the decision by the club’s board on Monday morning, fewer than 24 hours after the club’s defeat by West Ham at the London Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The club triggered a one-year extension in Ten Hag’s contract following May’s FA Cup final victory over Manchester City but just three months later he has been dismissed after overseeing United’s second worst start to a Premier League campaign.

More to follow.

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