As the English Premier League season edges toward the final stretch, the pressure is intensifying, both on and off the pitch. Key positions are still up for grabs, and every result now carries added weight for clubs chasing European football. Managers are under scrutiny, squads are being tested, and big decisions are looming behind the scenes.
From tactical shifts and training ground influence to contract uncertainty and potential summer moves, this is a defining period for several top sides. Emerging talents are also stepping into the spotlight at a crucial time, offering hope and unpredictability in equal measure.
The coming weeks will not just shape final standings, but could also dictate the direction of clubs heading into next season.
RACE FOR CHAMPIONS LEAGUE IS ON
Five teams will earn their place in the Champions League competition next season, and Arsenal and Manchester City are virtually assured of qualification. The question is: who will join them?
Manchester United are considered favourites to win a place. Michael Carrick’s team have lost only once in their last 10 games, and the atmosphere in the dressing room at Old Trafford is both exciting and confident. It feels like a completely different club with Carrick in charge and Ruben Amorim gone. His influence has grown and was one of the main reasons Harry Maguire signed a new one-year extension to his contract this week.
United also hold a seven-point lead over sixth-placed Chelsea. Aston Villa, Chelsea and Liverpool are in contention, with Everton also chasing a place alongside Brentford. Fulham can join them with a win away at Liverpool, but Brentford play Everton, so one of them is likely to slip back unless the match is a draw.
Villa have a tricky away game at Nottingham Forest, who are fighting for their Premier League survival, but somehow coach Unai Emery seems to conjure up wins from almost nothing. Forest are long-distance goal-scoring specialists, with Morgan Gibbs-White, Callum Hudson-Odoi and even attacking midfielder Elliot Anderson joining in.
Villa have missed Youri Tielemans and John McGinn for several games, but Emery is a clever coach and will likely push his team over the line. They do, however, have two tricky final matches against Liverpool and Manchester City.
Chelsea players are still trying to master Liam Rosenior’s style of football. They have struggled but must win their next three games against both Manchester clubs at home and Brighton away to have any chance of making the top six while keeping Brentford and Everton behind them.
Liverpool are the most unpredictable team, as their form has been hot and cold. Arne Slot is under pressure, but he does have quality players to choose from. They have a difficult run to the end of the season, with a trip to United and Aston Villa, but they are also at home to Chelsea.
After speaking to all the major contenders for a Champions League place, the majority of clubs think United will make it and Liverpool will finish fourth. Villa and Chelsea could hang on for a place in Europe, but Everton and Brentford might crash the party.
DE ZERBI IMPRESSES IN TRAINING
Last week, newly appointed Tottenham coach Roberto De Zerbi took his first training session. It was typical of the man, classic De Zerbi.
The Italian was in the middle of everything, shouting, pointing, pushing, praising and instructing players to motivate his team. He organised a rondo, physical warm-ups and a drill that relied on players keeping possession from one end of the full-size training pitch to the other. Finally, he set up six-a-side games using all available players to make up three teams.
I was intrigued to notice that he spent considerable time with Lucas Bergvall. Standing with his arm around the shoulder of the young Swede, he had three separate long talks. He also focused on Mathys Tel during the rondo and told him to look around more and move with the ball before passing.
One golden gem for all budding footballers to remember was directed at 20-year-old Archie Gray. De Zerbi told him that many teams now play man-to-man, so there is pressure on defenders when they have the ball. The key is to pass quickly using one or two touches, and no more.
Spurs have been notoriously poor at playing out from the back this season, but De Zerbi believes in taking on a high press and quick tackling to win the ball. He said, “Win the ball. Attract the pressure. Attract the pressure.”
De Zerbi commanded respect from the outset, and either some of the players had done their research on the new coach or remembered that the Italian played top-level football as a No. 10 in Serie A.
There was no sign of Pedro Porro, club captain Cristian Romero or Pape Matar Sarr after their return from international duty, and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario is still recovering from his hernia operation.
I have seen and heard enough to think this could be an exciting Spurs revival if relegation can be avoided.
MAX DOWMAN, ARSENAL’S ACE TO WIN EPL
Following Arsenal’s surprise crash out of the FA Cup to Southampton and their Carabao Cup exit to Manchester City, Mikel Arteta said defiantly, “Now we have to show who we are.”
Arteta is under enormous pressure not to throw away yet another season for the fourth year running. Winning against Sporting CP in midweek has helped his cause. He was criticised for pulling players out of their international call-ups, suggesting injuries, but only Gabriel started against Southampton and went off injured after 72 minutes.
Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard and Piero Hincapie did not even make the trip to the south coast. Rice and Trossard did, however, start in midweek.
One bright light is the emergence of Max Dowman, who was Arsenal’s best player in the cup loss to the Saints. The 16-year-old was fresher, more energetic, more influential and more skilful than his teammates. He quite literally glided past defenders on silky runs.
Speaking to Arsenal fans after the loss, they all recognised that Arteta has done a good job shielding the schoolboy youngster by playing him sparingly in cup games and making late substitute appearances. That said, now is the time to use every available asset to ensure Arsenal get over the line and lift the Premier League trophy after the final game of the season.
The Gunners have not won a trophy for six years, and Max Dowman is a player who could help change that. They need him now.
BERNARDO SILVA TO LEAVE MAN CITY
Pep Guardiola’s highly respected assistant coach Pepijn Lijnders has confirmed that Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva will leave the club at the end of the season.
Bernardo told close friends last September that 2025/26 would be his final year in the UK, but this is the first official comment to come out of the Etihad Stadium.
I am told that Benfica want to re-sign the 31-year-old. He came through their youth academy but only played three games for the senior team after an argument with then-coach Jorge Jesus before being sold to Monaco in 2014. Benfica have always regretted letting a player of Silva’s quality go.
The attacking midfielder has played 450 games for City since arriving from Monaco for 43 million GBP in 2017. He has worked brilliantly with Guardiola and won 19 trophies, including six Premier League titles.
KONATE YET TO CONFIRM CONTRACT EXTENSION
Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate is still only 26 years old, and it is unusual for a top-level player to be 11 weeks away from the end of a contract without clarity on whether he will stay or leave. That is the position Konate finds himself in.
Liverpool have said they want to keep him, but his agents have yet to sign any agreement, and he could become a free agent at the end of the season. However, the feeling in the dressing room at Anfield is that he will stay, although a deal is still some way off.
Konate earns 140,000 GBP a week and wants a salary more in line with some of the club’s top earners. Florian Wirtz earns 250,000 GBP a week, while Mohamed Salah takes home 400,000 GBP plus bonuses and commercial endorsements, which significantly increase that figure. Konate is not, however, looking for that level of salary.
Real Madrid showed some interest in signing the Frenchman, but that has cooled. Bayern Munich were also in the picture, but Dayot Upamecano has extended his contract until 2030, closing another potential door.
Much depends on whether Arne Slot stays and continues to support Konate, but Liverpool do not want to increase their wage structure dramatically unless necessary. It currently stands at 428 million GBP in total.
LIVERPOOL PLANNING FOR NEXT SEASON
After hearing reports regarding Arne Slot’s future at Liverpool, I travelled 300 miles north of London to Anfield to investigate what is likely to happen at the club this summer.
Much depends on the final run-in. Losing 4-0 to Manchester City in the FA Cup has not helped Slot’s cause. There is still an outside chance that the Reds could win a trophy, but progressing in the Champions League will be a major challenge. Their hopes of retaining the Premier League title were lost some time ago, and qualification for next season’s competition will be difficult.
There has been talk of replacing Slot with former player Xabi Alonso, who has enjoyed a successful managerial career. However, I am told Liverpool are not convinced by Alonso’s preferred back-three formation, as they do not believe it suits their current squad.
Slot has told friends and family that he expects to remain in charge next season after discussions with the owners, Fenway Sports Group.
After spending heavily on “technical” players last summer, Liverpool now recognise that the Premier League has shifted towards a more physical style, with pace and energy on the wings and more direct play through the centre. Set-pieces and long balls to attackers have also become more prominent, and Liverpool’s defence has struggled to cope at times.
With Mohamed Salah expected to leave, Liverpool plan to sign two new wide players. RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande is being closely monitored and is a top target. Leipzig want to keep him for another season, but Liverpool are reportedly prepared to offer 100 million GBP.
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