Pep Guardiola showed support for West Ham, who will attempt to slow down Arsenal’s title charge following Manchester City’s 3-0 win over Brentford on Saturday.
Southampton came away from the Riverside Stadium with a 0-0 draw against Middlesbrough following the pre-match ‘spygate’ in the Sky Bet Championship play-offs semi-final.
Liverpool drew 1-1 with Chelsea in a tough season for both teams, but Arne Slot said his side will be different come next season.
Pep: Come on you Irons!
Goals from Jeremy Doku, Erling Haaland and Omar Marmoush helped Manchester City put the pressure on Arsenal at the top of the Premier League.
City sit just two points Arsenal and Guardiola wrapped up his post-match press conference by making a crossed-arms gesture and saying “Come on you Irons” ahead of Arsenal’s trip to the London Stadium.
City had looked nervy against a Brentford side chasing their own European dreams, but after the in-form Doku curled in a peach of an opener on the hour mark, City turned up the heat as Haaland bundled in a second and then teed up Marmoush for a late third.
Although his side are no longer in control of their destiny after Monday’s 3-3 draw at Everton, Guardiola is loving the thrill of another title race.
“I love to be here again,” he said. “We finish second again this season minimum so I love it. I didn’t enjoy last season and that moment when we were fighting to qualify for the Champions League was so difficult.
“But the Carabao Cup is in our pocket and the FA Cup Final at Wembley is the most beautiful day of the season and I love it.”
Saints Boro all-square after first leg
Southampton parked ‘spygate’ and survived an early onslaught against aggrieved Middlesbrough as a pulsating first leg of this Sky Bet Championship play-off semi-final somehow ended 0-0.
The noise around an already eagerly-anticipated clash increased immeasurably when Boro accused Saints of snooping on training this week, leading to the south coast club being charged with a breach of EFL regulations.
Southampton boss Tonda Eckert walked out of a tetchy post-match press conference having repeatedly sidestepped questions about ‘spygate’ following the Championship play-off semi-final clash at Middlesbrough.
Asked if he was tempted to change his original plans, he said: “We tried to focus on the game as much as ever possible, to try to win it in the way we believe, in the way that is preparing a game.
“It’s sad that your first 10 questions are about that when you witness that first off from a team in the Championship, but I understand.”
Slot: Liverpool different next season
Head coach Arne Slot is “100 per cent convinced” Liverpool will be a different team next season after a 1-1 draw at home to Chelsea was greeted with boos.
Liverpool’s wait to secure Champions League football goes on, while Chelsea avoided a club record-equalling seventh straight defeat after goals from Ryan Gravenberch and Enzo Fernandez.
The result left Slot facing more criticism from supporters but he retains the backing of the Anfield hierarchy and pledged to win back fans next season.
“Yeah, I do. Not this season, by the way,” said the Dutchman when asked whether he could turn the crowd around.
“This season they will have their opinion and it will not change but if we can have the summer that we are planning to have I am 100 per cent convinced we will be a different team next season than we are now.”
Hearts four points clear
Hearts dropped points but ensured they go into their penultimate match of the season with at least a one-point lead at the top of the William Hill Premiership following a 1-1 draw with Motherwell.
The Jambos fell behind for the fifth straight game when Stephen Kingsley bundled the ball into his own net, but Lawrence Shankland’s 19th goal of the season ensured Hearts took a point from Fir Park.
Hearts are four points clear of Celtic, who will have the chance to reduce the deficit to one point if they defeat Rangers on Sunday.
Hearts boss Derek McInness thought referee Steven McLean had a poor night.
He said: “I thought the referee had a poor night. We’re all guilty of having poor nights but I didn’t think he’d settled the whole game.”
What’s on today
Arsenal will continue their pursuit of a first title since 2004 when they come up against West Ham, who will be looking to climb out of the relegation places themselves at the London Stadium.
Celtic meet Rangers in a huge clash at the top of the William Hill Premiership. A win will take Celtic to within a point of league leaders Hearts.
The Championship and League One play-offs first leg games have finished but the League Two first leg games will get underway on Sunday.
