Liverpool Braced for Premier League Title Party

Liverpool Braced for Premier League Title Party
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Liverpool Braced for Premier League Title Party

Liverpool Braced for Premier League Title Party

Liverpool have one hand on the Premier League trophy as they seek the solitary point they need against struggling Tottenham on Sunday that would guarantee a record-equaling 20th English title.

A draw at an expectant Anfield would take Arne Slot's men 13 points clear of Arsenal with just four games remaining, meaning they could not be caught.

Below them, Chelsea and Newcastle have the chance to press their case for Champions League qualification with Manchester City, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa all involved in the FA Cup semi-finals.

At the bottom of the table, Ipswich's fate could be sealed.

AFP Sport looks at three talking points ahead of this weekend's action:

Liverpool on the brink

It is tough to see struggling Tottenham delaying Liverpool's title party at Anfield.

After Arsenal's home draw against Crystal Palace in midweek, Arne Slot's men just need a draw to seal the deal and pull level with bitter rivals Manchester United on 20 English titles.

Out-of-form Tottenham are 16th in the league table and have a miserable record at Anfield -- not winning there since 2011.

Liverpool won the reverse fixture this season 6-3 and were 4-1 winners on aggregate in their two-legged League Cup semi-final.

Captain Virgil van Dijk said it had been an "outstanding season" but that there was still work to do after Liverpool's 1-0 at Leicester last week.

"Now we have the chance to finish it off on the weekend against a very good Tottenham Hotspur, in my opinion," he said. "We played three times already against them this season and every game was very intense.

"To be in this position now, it's a good position but we're not there yet. We all have to realize that and we will. We'll make sure of that. It's a good week of preparation and then we have to be ready."

Champions League shootout

Just four points separate third-placed Manchester City from Aston Villa in seventh in the race for Champions League spots next season.

For the first time the Premier League's top five will all qualify for Europe's top club competition, due to strong performances in continental competition.

Liverpool are already guaranteed a spot and Arsenal, 10 points clear of Chelsea in sixth, are practically there, leaving three places open.

City stole a march this week in the mini-league with a last-gasp win against Villa after Nottingham Forest, now fourth, beat Tottenham on Monday.

Villa play Crystal Palace in the FA Cup semi-finals on Saturday, with Forest taking on City the following day at Wembley.

It means Newcastle, who could have Eddie Howe back on the touchline after a bout of pneumonia, would leapfrog City if they beat lowly Ipswich.

Chelsea badly need to beat Everton at home with a tough run of games to come against Liverpool, Newcastle, Manchester United and Forest.

Southampton playing for pride, Ipswich on brink

Southampton's 1-1 draw at West Ham last week meant they drew level with Derby's record-low points tally of 11 from the 2007/08 season, with five games to go to better the Rams' total.

But it will be of limited comfort after a miserable season for Saints, who were relegated earlier this month.

Leicester are already down and Ipswich appear certain to follow them barring a miracle -- a draw for West Ham at Brighton on Saturday would seal their fate.

It would be the second successive season in which all three promoted clubs had been relegated straight back to the Championship.

Prior to the 2023/24 campaign, this had last occurred in 1997/98.

All the evidence points to a worrying and widening chasm between English football's top two tiers as the season nears its end.

Fixtures

Saturday (1400 GMT unless stated)

Chelsea v Everton (1130), Brighton v West Ham, Newcastle v Ipswich, Southampton v Fulham, Wolves v Leicester

Sunday

Bournemouth v Manchester United (1300), Liverpool v Tottenham (1530)



Asian Champions Al-Ahli Face Prospect of JDT Quarterfinal Clash

FILED - 03 December 2021, Saudi Arabia, Jeddah: An overview of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit during the 1st Free Practice Session of the 2021 Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Photo: Hasan Bratic/dpa
FILED - 03 December 2021, Saudi Arabia, Jeddah: An overview of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit during the 1st Free Practice Session of the 2021 Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Photo: Hasan Bratic/dpa
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Asian Champions Al-Ahli Face Prospect of JDT Quarterfinal Clash

FILED - 03 December 2021, Saudi Arabia, Jeddah: An overview of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit during the 1st Free Practice Session of the 2021 Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Photo: Hasan Bratic/dpa
FILED - 03 December 2021, Saudi Arabia, Jeddah: An overview of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit during the 1st Free Practice Session of the 2021 Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Photo: Hasan Bratic/dpa

Defending champions Al-Ahli will take on Malaysia's Johor Darul Ta'zim in next month's quarterfinals of the Asian Champions League Elite in Jeddah should the Saudi Pro League side defeat Qatar's Al-Duhail in their rearranged single-leg last 16 clash.

The Saudi city will host the centralized competition despite the ongoing conflict ⁠in the Middle ⁠East, which has already forced the four Round of 16 fixtures for clubs in west Asia to be postponed from early March until April 13 ⁠and 14, Reuters reported.

Four-time winners Al-Hilal or Qatar's Al-Sadd will take on Japanese outfit Vissel Kobe, while Thai champions Buriram United will face either Tractor FC from Iran or Shabab Al-Ahli of the United Arab Emirates.

Machida Zelvia, also from Japan, will play the winner of the ⁠last ⁠16 clash between two-time champions Al-Ittihad from Saudi Arabia and the UAE's Al-Wahda.

The quarterfinals are due to be played from April 16 to 18 with the semifinals on April 20 and 21. The final will be held at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium on April 25.


Mohamed Salah to Leave Liverpool, No Word on Next Club

A mural of Mohamed Salah of Liverpool near Anfield stadium ahead of the English Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Brighton & Hove Albion, in Liverpool, Britain, 13 December 2025 (re-issued 24 March 2026). EPA/ADAM VAUGHAN
A mural of Mohamed Salah of Liverpool near Anfield stadium ahead of the English Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Brighton & Hove Albion, in Liverpool, Britain, 13 December 2025 (re-issued 24 March 2026). EPA/ADAM VAUGHAN
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Mohamed Salah to Leave Liverpool, No Word on Next Club

A mural of Mohamed Salah of Liverpool near Anfield stadium ahead of the English Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Brighton & Hove Albion, in Liverpool, Britain, 13 December 2025 (re-issued 24 March 2026). EPA/ADAM VAUGHAN
A mural of Mohamed Salah of Liverpool near Anfield stadium ahead of the English Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Brighton & Hove Albion, in Liverpool, Britain, 13 December 2025 (re-issued 24 March 2026). EPA/ADAM VAUGHAN

Liverpool star Mohamed Salah announced Tuesday he will leave the English club at the end of the season, marking an earlier-than-planned departure for one of the club's greatest-ever scorers and soccer's biggest names.

The 33-year-old Egypt forward, who has scored 255 goals in 435 appearances for Liverpool, “reached an agreement” to quit the team a year before his contract was due to expire, the Premier League champions said.

Salah's form has dipped in his ninth year at Anfield, to such an extent that he was dropped for a stretch of games late last year — leading to the winger telling reporters in an impromptu interview that the club “has thrown me under the bus.”

“Unfortunately the day has come,” Salah said in a post on Instagram that was released around the same time as Liverpool published a six-paragraph statement announcing the imminent departure of a club great.

“I never imagined," he added, "how deeply this club, this city, these people would become part of my life. Liverpool is not just a football club. It’s a passion, it’s a history, it’s a spirit. I can’t explain in words to anyone not part of this club.”

It's a slightly acrimonious exit for Salah, who has been the superstar name in Liverpool's greatest team in a generation. He has won two Premier Leagues and a Champions League in a total of eight titles since joining from Roma in 2017, initially forming a devastating front three with Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino under manager Jurgen Klopp.

Salah is third in Liverpool's all-time scorers' list, behind Ian Rush and Roger Hunt, and has won the Golden Boot — as the Premier League's top scorer — four times.

Liverpool described Salah as “one of the greatest players in Liverpool’s history” and said his time at Anfield had been “remarkable.”

“Salah expressed his wish to make this announcement to the supporters at the earliest possible opportunity,” Liverpool said, “to provide transparency about his future due to his respect and gratitude for them.”

There was no immediate word from Salah on his next club. Leaving as a free agent would mean Liverpool wouldn't collect a transfer fee. 

Salah signed a two-year extension to his contract at Liverpool at the end of last season, tying him to the club until 2027, after being the star player in the team's march to a record-tying 20th English league title.

However, his public clash with the club and manager Arne Slot this season might have tarnished his legacy in the eyes of some fans.

"I think it is very clear that someone wanted me to get all of the blame,” he said during an explosive interview after he was an unused substitute against Leeds in December.

Since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations, Salah returned to favor with Slot but has struggled to recapture his best form.

“To the fans, I don’t have enough words,” Salah said in his farewell message. "The support you showed me through the best time of my career and you stood by me in the toughest times. It’s something I will never forget and something I will take with me always.

“Leaving is never easy. You gave me the best time of my life. I will be always one of you."

Salah is currently out with a muscle injury sustained against Galatasaray in the Champions League last week.

“With plenty still left to play for this season, Salah is firmly focused on trying to achieve the best possible finish to the campaign for Liverpool,” the club said, “and, therefore, the time to fully celebrate his legacy and achievements will follow later in the year when he bids farewell to Anfield.”

Liverpool's final Premier League game of the season is against Brentford at Anfield on May 24. The Champions League final is the following weekend in Budapest, but Liverpool is the underdog heading into a quarterfinals matchup with Paris Saint-Germain.

According to The Associated Press, Liverpool defender Andrew Robertson hailed Salah in his own post on Instagram, saying his teammate's “mentality is second to none and a lot of people could take note.”

“You have pushed yourself every single day and always demanded more from yourself and others,” Robertson wrote.

“A pleasure sharing the pitch with you for so long but even more so being able to call you a friend. You deserve a send off that reflects your status at LFC — the greatest. Second to none.”


Klopp Dismisses Real Madrid Speculation as 'Nonsense' and Denies Any Contact

23 March 2026, Bavaria, Ismaning: German football coach Jurgen Klopp  on stage at the Telekom press conference to present the concept for the World Cup. Photo: Felix Hörhager/dpa
23 March 2026, Bavaria, Ismaning: German football coach Jurgen Klopp on stage at the Telekom press conference to present the concept for the World Cup. Photo: Felix Hörhager/dpa
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Klopp Dismisses Real Madrid Speculation as 'Nonsense' and Denies Any Contact

23 March 2026, Bavaria, Ismaning: German football coach Jurgen Klopp  on stage at the Telekom press conference to present the concept for the World Cup. Photo: Felix Hörhager/dpa
23 March 2026, Bavaria, Ismaning: German football coach Jurgen Klopp on stage at the Telekom press conference to present the concept for the World Cup. Photo: Felix Hörhager/dpa

Former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp has dismissed as “nonsense” a suggestion he could take over as Real Madrid coach next season and said he hasn't heard from the Spanish club.

Klopp hasn't coached since his shock departure from Liverpool in 2024, when he said he was “running out of energy." He's stayed in the game as the Red Bull group's head of global soccer, overseeing clubs like Leipzig, Salzburg and the New York Red Bulls.

“It's all just nonsense. They haven't even called once, not one single time. And my agent is over there, you can ask him too, they haven't called him either,” Klopp said in televised comments about speculation linking him to Real Madrid.

He was speaking at an event on Monday in his role as a TV pundit for the World Cup.

Klopp didn't rule out a return to coaching someday but said he wasn't thinking about the Germany job in case Julian Nagelsmann were to leave after the World Cup.

“At the moment I'm obviously not thinking about that at all and luckily there isn't any reason to do that,” he said in comments reported by German agency dpa.

Last month, Red Bull said it was “extremely satisfied” with Klopp's work after a report in an Austrian newspaper claimed his role was in question because the drinks giant's clubs hadn't made enough progress in the year since he took charge.