MANCHESTER, April 10 — The Premier League resumes this weekend after a three-week break, with key fixtures shaping the title race, European qualification hopes and relegation battle.
MANCHESTER, April 10 — The Premier League resumes this weekend after a three-week break, with key fixtures shaping the title race, European qualification hopes and relegation battle.
Arsenal can move closer to a first league title in 22 years if they defeat AFC Bournemouth at home, while Manchester City travel to Chelsea in another crucial fixture.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot faces mounting pressure, with Champions League qualification at stake when Fulham visit Anfield.
Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur have appointed Roberto De Zerbi to steer them away from relegation danger, with the Italian set to take charge for the first time at Sunderland.
AFP Sport highlights three key talking points ahead of the weekend action:
Arsenal’s title push
Defeat in the League Cup final to City and an FA Cup exit to Southampton have shifted Arsenal’s focus to the Premier League and Champions League.
Mikel Arteta’s side could go 12 points clear with a win over Bournemouth, with City playing a day later. A narrow Champions League win over Sporting Lisbon ended a poor run, though concerns remain over performance levels despite a strong display from goalkeeper David Raya.
City, in contrast, appear to be peaking at the right time after a dominant FA Cup win over Liverpool and will be eager to capitalise on any Arsenal slip-up. The two title contenders meet next weekend in a potentially decisive clash.
Liverpool under pressure
Liverpool have struggled for form, with manager Arne Slot admitting they have been in “survival mode” following a run of one win in six matches and a heavy Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.
Currently fifth, Liverpool are fighting to secure Champions League qualification, with only a small points gap separating them from mid-table sides.
Fulham could move within two points of the Reds if Liverpool suffer another defeat, increasing pressure on both the squad and manager. Fans are also expected to protest over planned ticket price increases.
De Zerbi’s Tottenham challenge
Tottenham could start the weekend in the relegation zone depending on other results, with no league win in 2026 so far.
De Zerbi has been appointed to rescue the club’s season, taking over a side just above the drop zone and with seven matches left to avoid their first relegation since 1978. Known for his progressive style from his time at Brighton, he faces a difficult task with little time to implement his system.
Fixtures (all times GMT)
Friday: West Ham v Wolves
Saturday: Arsenal v Bournemouth, Brentford v Everton, Burnley v Brighton, Liverpool v Fulham
Sunday: Crystal Palace v Newcastle, Sunderland v Tottenham, Nottingham Forest v Aston Villa, Chelsea v Manchester City
Monday: Manchester United v Leeds — AFP
JAKARTA, April 10 — Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund Danantara Indonesia has set up a new state-owned entity to speed up investment in waste-to-energy projects, amid rising demand for more sustainable waste management solutions.
KEPALA BATAS, April 10 — A six-year-old boy drowned after falling into a canal in Sungai Dua along Jalan Bertam Perdana 2 here yesterday.
MOSCOW, April 10 — Russia has handed over the remains of 1,000 soldiers to Ukraine in a rare wartime exchange, according to a Russian source in Moscow’s negotiating team, while Kyiv returned the bodies of 41 Russian troops in return.