Liverpool's Title Bid Hit by Spurs Draw, Man Utd Thrashed at Brighton

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah and Naby Keita look dejected after the match Credit: REUTERS/Phil Noble
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah and Naby Keita look dejected after the match Credit: REUTERS/Phil Noble
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Liverpool's Title Bid Hit by Spurs Draw, Man Utd Thrashed at Brighton

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah and Naby Keita look dejected after the match Credit: REUTERS/Phil Noble
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah and Naby Keita look dejected after the match Credit: REUTERS/Phil Noble

Liverpool's Premier League title bid suffered a blow as Tottenham earned a 1-1 draw against the quadruple chasers, while Manchester United crashed to a "humiliating" 4-0 defeat at Brighton on Saturday.

Jurgen Klopp's side fell behind to Son Heung-min's second-half goal at Anfield before Luis Diaz equalized in the closing stages, AFP said.

Son tapped in Ryan Sessegnon's cross in the 56th minute after good work from Harry Kane in the build-up.

Diaz bagged Liverpool's fortuitous equalizer when his 20-yard drive went in off Rodrigo Bentancur.

Liverpool, who have already won the League Cup and have Champions League and FA Cup finals to come, moved to the top of the table above Manchester City on goal difference.

But champions City will go three points clear of Liverpool if they beat Newcastle in their game in hand at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

That would be a massive boost to City's hopes of retaining the title with just three games left for both teams after this weekend.

"It is incredibly difficult to play against an opponent with world-class players and a world-class manager when they have had a week to prepare and we play every three days," Klopp said.

"The dressing room is not flying, come on, but there are other games to play. We just have to keep going."

The draw was also not enough for Tottenham in the race to qualify for next season's Champions League via a top-four finish.

Tottenham remain fifth and will fall four points adrift of fourth-placed Arsenal if the Gunners beat Leeds on Sunday.

- United fall to new low -
Manchester United have endured a host of humiliations in one of their most embarrassing seasons for decades and their lackluster loss at Brighton was among the very worst.

Ralf Rangnick's side were routed by goals from Moises Caicedo, Marc Cucurella, Pascal Gross and Leandro Trossard at the Amex Stadium.

Sixth-placed United are certain to miss the Champions League for only the fifth time in 30 seasons.

With 58 points and only one game left, United's fifth successive away defeat means they will finish with their lowest points total in the Premier League era.

"It was a terrible performance. From the first until the last minute it was not enough, we can only apologize for this performance and a humiliating defeat," Rangnick said.

It was a day of mixed emotions at Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea blew a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw with Wolves in front of prospective owner Todd Boehly.

Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner Boehly and his consortium have won the battle to buy Chelsea from Roman Abramovich in a £4.25 billion ($5.2 billion) deal.

Boehly's consortium still need to satisfy the Premier League's owners' and directors' test and gain approval from the UK government, but Chelsea expect the sale to be completed by the end of the month.

After the protracted sale sparked fears for Chelsea's future, Blues boss Thomas Tuchel welcomed the takeover, saying: "It gives us an outlook, if terms are agreed and hopefully the process will be streamlined and go forward as soon as possible. Good news."

But Tuchel's third-placed team were unable to celebrate the deal with a victory as they squandered an opportunity to move closer to qualifying for the Champions League.

- Watford go down -
Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku scored his first Premier League goals since December 29 in the 56th and 58th minutes, the first from the penalty spot and the second a long-range effort.

But Francisco Trincao hammered home in the 79th minute and Conor Coady nodded a close-range equalizer in stoppage-time to leave Boehly shaking his head in frustration.

Watford needed a win at Crystal Palace to keep alive their faint hopes of avoiding the drop, but Wilfried Zaha's 31st-minute penalty clinched a 1-0 victory that condemned them to relegation.

"I have never given a press conference in charge of a top-flight team that has been relegated. It is a first I wasn't looking forward to claiming," Watford manager Roy Hodgson said.

Burnley wasted a chance to boost their survival chances as Aston Villa cruised to a 3-1 victory at Turf Moor.

Brentford crushed Southampton 3-0 at their Community Stadium, with the goals coming from Pontus Jansson, Yoane Wissa and Kristoffer Ajer.



Liverpool Confirm Ekitike Out for Season, Will Miss World Cup

Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk checks on Hugo Ekitike during the Champions League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain in Liverpool, England, Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk checks on Hugo Ekitike during the Champions League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain in Liverpool, England, Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
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Liverpool Confirm Ekitike Out for Season, Will Miss World Cup

Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk checks on Hugo Ekitike during the Champions League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain in Liverpool, England, Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk checks on Hugo Ekitike during the Champions League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain in Liverpool, England, Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Liverpool followed France in confirming Thursday that forward Hugo Ekitike will miss the remainder of the Premier League season and the 2026 World Cup after suffering a serious injury in a Champions League loss to Paris Saint-Germain.

The 23-year-old crumpled in a heap holding his lower right leg during the first half of Liverpool's 2-0 quarter-final second-leg defeat by European champions PSG at Anfield on Tuesday and had to be substituted, reported AFP.

A brief statement issued by Premier League champions Liverpool on Thursday said scans had subsequently confirmed a "rupture of the Achilles tendon".

The statement added: "Ekitike will therefore be sidelined for the remaining weeks of the club season and unable to participate at this summer's World Cup with France."

Liverpool gave no timescale for Ekitike's recovery, saying only "further updates will be provided at the appropriate time, with Hugo receiving the full support of everyone at LFC".

Liverpool's statement followed Wednesday's announcement by France coach Didier Deschamps that Ekitike was out of the World Cup.

"Unfortunately, the severity of (Ekitike's) injury will prevent him from finishing the season with Liverpool and taking part in the World Cup," Deschamps said in a statement released by the French football federation.

"This injury is a huge blow for him, of course, but also for the French national team.

"I wanted to express my full support for him, as well as that of the entire coaching staff."

Ekitike has scored 17 goals in 45 matches in all competitions for Liverpool since arriving at Anfield for a fee of £79 million ($105.5 million) last summer from German side Eintracht Frankfurt.

Since winning his first France cap in a World Cup qualifier in September last year, Ekitike has been a regular, scoring two goals and providing one assist in his eight caps.

"It looks really bad, but difficult for me to say how bad," Liverpool manager Arne Slot said after Tuesday's match.

Injuries have been a major factor in a disastrous season for Liverpool as they sit fifth in the Premier League and will end the campaign without silverware.

"Losing a player is something we have had many times this season, but it is especially hard for him because you never want to be injured, especially at this time of the season," added Slot.


Real Madrid Season in Tatters, Arbeloa Looking Shaky after Euro Exit

Soccer Football - UEFA Champions League - Quarter Final - Second Leg - Bayern Munich v Real Madrid - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - April 15, 2026 Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa reacts REUTERS/Michaela Stache
Soccer Football - UEFA Champions League - Quarter Final - Second Leg - Bayern Munich v Real Madrid - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - April 15, 2026 Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa reacts REUTERS/Michaela Stache
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Real Madrid Season in Tatters, Arbeloa Looking Shaky after Euro Exit

Soccer Football - UEFA Champions League - Quarter Final - Second Leg - Bayern Munich v Real Madrid - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - April 15, 2026 Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa reacts REUTERS/Michaela Stache
Soccer Football - UEFA Champions League - Quarter Final - Second Leg - Bayern Munich v Real Madrid - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - April 15, 2026 Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa reacts REUTERS/Michaela Stache

Serial Champions League winners Real Madrid bared their fangs but left Munich staring down the barrel of a second consecutive season without a major trophy and left coach Alvaro Arbeloa's tenure looking tenuous.

Nine points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona, Los Blancos seem destined to end a troubled campaign empty-handed after their dramatic European quarter-final exit against Bayern on Wednesday.

Arbeloa's side took the lead three times at the Allianz Arena and until Eduardo Camavinga's 86th minute red card had every chance of going through after digging deep and going blow-for-blow with the Bavarian giants in a thrilling clash.

A late double for Bayern consigned Madrid to a 4-3 defeat on the night -- one on which Arbeloa said his team gave "their souls and their lives" -- and a 6-4 aggregate loss.

"An honorable exit that will not provide consolation or avoid another revolution," wrote Spanish newspaper AS after a heady night in Munich.

That revolution could cost Arbeloa his job and Los Blancos are braced for pain and possible change in the weeks and months to follow, AFP reported.

"I've always tried to help the club in the best way I can, and that's how it will be until the last day," Arbeloa told reporters after the match.

"I'm not at all worried (about my future) and I will understand perfectly any decision that the club takes.

"I'm a man of the club -- if I'm hurt today it's not for me, it's for Real Madrid, and because this year we will not win our 16th (Champions League title)."

Failure in the Spanish capital is rarely tolerated under president Florentino Perez without someone paying the price.

When Arbeloa was promoted to first team manager in January, Madrid did not state the length of his contract -- suggesting that he had no long-term guarantees.

The coach has found it hard to motivate the squad at times in La Liga, and has only 13 victories in 21 matches at the helm.

In his first game in charge, Real's superstars were knocked out of the Copa del Rey by second-tier Albacete.

Yet, his bold, attacking line-up against Bayern almost paid off.

Arbeloa left Camavinga and Thiago Pitarch on the bench and opted for an aggressive midfield trio of Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde and Turkish playmaker Arda Guler, who struck twice.

Ultimately, it was not enough, and Real will likely fail to win any silverware for a second successive season for the first time since the 2008-09 and 2009-10 campaigns.

Perhaps Madrid's biggest problem remains one which Carlo Ancelotti could not solve last season, nor Xabi Alonso in his short time at the helm -- how to fit Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Bellingham into the same side without losing balance.

Arbeloa could argue that the Bayern second leg showed it is possible, with England international Bellingham impressive, Mbappe on the scoresheet and Vinicius hitting the woodwork.

Yet the energy and effort the star trio put into this game was beyond their regular performances this season and unlikely to be replicated on lesser occasions.

Not to mention, the team still conceded four goals.

Real's anger at the pivotal decision to send off Camavinga and their gutsy display could help Arbeloa, but whether it is enough to save his job, only time will tell.

There is no obvious replacement for Perez to turn to either.

The final weeks of the season in La Liga may have a say in Arbeloa's prospects, including their performance in the Clasico against Barcelona on May 10, when the Catalans could capture the title.

It may be a grim procession to the end of May but Arbeloa said that his team had "no other choice" but to keep on trudging and defend the club's badge for as long as he is in charge.


Tsitsipas' Munich Switch Backfires as Rankings Slide Continues

Argentinia's Francisco Cerundolo reacts after a fall as he plays against Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas during the Monte Carlo ATP Masters Series Tournament round of 64 tennis match on Court Rainier III at the Monte-Carlo Country Club in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, south-eastern France on April 6, 2026. (Photo by Valery HACHE / AFP)
Argentinia's Francisco Cerundolo reacts after a fall as he plays against Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas during the Monte Carlo ATP Masters Series Tournament round of 64 tennis match on Court Rainier III at the Monte-Carlo Country Club in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, south-eastern France on April 6, 2026. (Photo by Valery HACHE / AFP)
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Tsitsipas' Munich Switch Backfires as Rankings Slide Continues

Argentinia's Francisco Cerundolo reacts after a fall as he plays against Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas during the Monte Carlo ATP Masters Series Tournament round of 64 tennis match on Court Rainier III at the Monte-Carlo Country Club in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, south-eastern France on April 6, 2026. (Photo by Valery HACHE / AFP)
Argentinia's Francisco Cerundolo reacts after a fall as he plays against Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas during the Monte Carlo ATP Masters Series Tournament round of 64 tennis match on Court Rainier III at the Monte-Carlo Country Club in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, south-eastern France on April 6, 2026. (Photo by Valery HACHE / AFP)

Stefanos Tsitsipas walked off the court in Munich on Wednesday after another first-round defeat that highlighted how far the former world number three has drifted from the sport's elite amid injury problems and inconsistent form.

Resuming at 2-2 in the deciding set against Fabian Marozsan after play was suspended on Tuesday due to darkness, the 27-year-old Greek crashed out 3-6 7-6(5) 6-4 in a defeat that will see his ranking slide into the 70s, his lowest in eight years.

Tsitsipas, who decided to play in Munich this year instead of his usual tour stop in Barcelona, knows that the more his ranking slides the tougher his opponents will be in the early stages of tournaments.

"I'm aware that I ⁠might need to ⁠play good players in earlier rounds at different tournaments this year," he told Tennis TV ahead of the ATP 500 tournament.

"It's not an easy thing to get to play them early, but I also accept the challenge and I accept my current position and state, that these things need to happen in order for me to get back to where ⁠I belong."

Tsitsipas showed plenty of potential when he broke through eight years ago but since reaching the finals of the French Open in 2021 and Australian Open in 2023 he has struggled to deliver a sustained run of form.

A niggling back injury derailed the second half of his 2025 campaign and while he began this year saying his goal was just to feel competitive again, his only decent run came in Doha where he reached the quarter-finals.

Questions have been asked about his professionalism, with Goran Ivanisevic, who coached him in 2025, saying after the Greek's first-round exit ⁠at Wimbledon last ⁠year that he had not seen a more "unprepared player" in his life, Reuters reported.

Before Munich, Tsitsipas said he would consider playing more ATP 250 tournaments to regain his rhythm. The Geneva Open is the only tournament at that level ahead of Roland Garros, which begins on May 24.

"I'm a player that needs matches, I'm a player that needs to play a lot of sets to feel my game better, and this is something I might need to do in the next couple of weeks," he added.

"I'm expecting to play a lot of tournaments, I want to get a lot of tournaments under my belt, but of course be careful where I choose my tournaments and when I get to play."