Month: May 2023

Bournemouth head coach Gary O’Neil feels Sunday’s trip to relegation battlers Everton can provide a marker as to just how his own squad will shape up for the challenges ahead next season.

The Cherries looked set to be fighting an uphill battle to retain their Premier League status when sitting in the bottom three at the beginning of April.

However, rookie boss O’Neil – who replaced Scott Parker following a 9-0 loss away to Liverpool at the end of August – masterminded an upturn in fortunes with a run of four wins from five games to pull clear of the relegation zone.

Although three straight losses followed a rousing 4-1 home victory over Leeds, other results have meant Bournemouth’s future was secure ahead of what is set to be a nerve-shredding final day of the survival battle.

Unlike Everton boss Sean Dyche – whose side sit 17th, two points clear of the dropzone – O’Neil can plan for next season again with certainty as he looks to keep his club moving forward.

“Everton will be direct and the atmosphere will be tough,” O’Neil said.

“But what a great opportunity for the players to go and show what a good side we are, to see how well we can stand up to the questions that are undoubtedly going to be asked of us.

“So (it is) a real good marker for me, with last game of the season, going into a summer break and then pre-season to just see where we are against what will be a real good test.”

O’Neil told a press conference: “I have not really been looking at any other part of the picture (in the league) other than our own.

“I am aware of the situation with Everton, involving Leeds and Leicester is something I am aware of because we were involved in it for a big part of the season, but up until this moment, it is just pure focus on us.

“We have been on 39 points for a while and have given our best in the last three games to add to that.

“We are just looking to go and be ourselves, to put in a good showing and finish the season on a high.”

Bournemouth will have midfielder Philip Billing available after back issue kept he Denmark midfielder out of last weekend’s home defeat by Manchester United.

Hamed Traore should also be in contention again following his foot problem, but midfielder Joe Rothwell’s thigh injury continues to be assessed.

“We have another training (session) to go. We will see how they come through, but hopefully (the squad will be) as close to full strength as possible,” O’Neil said.

– Bournemouth have lost their last three 
– Everton’s Yerry Mina has been booked in three of his seven appearances this season 
– Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze has scored six times since Roy Hodgson returned

Everton will avoid relegation by beating Bournemouth on Sunday in arguably the key fixture as all 10 matches kick-off at 4.30pm.

Other permutations are possible for them to survive but that is the simplest, while Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest have already got the job done and the Eagles can soar against Steve Cooper’s side.

These matches are the focus of Sunday’s Bet Builder.

Everton vs Bournemouth (Sunday, 4.30pm)

Bet 1: Everton to win

If you had told Sean Dyche when he was appointed in January that his side would have to beat Bournemouth on the final day to stay up, he would have bitten your hand off.

The Cherries have enjoyed a fine first season back in the Premier League but look to have taken their foot off the gas, losing their last three matches.

Everton have improved recently but have not won at home since March 11. However, they have lost just one of their last four and should have enough to take the points.

Bet 2: Dwight McNeil to score anytime

A player who has benefitted from Dyche’s appointment is Dwight McNeil. The winger looked lost under Frank Lampard but is approaching the form he showed under Dyche at Burnley.

McNeil’s has scored four goals since the start of April and with Dominic Calvert-Lewin sidelined, he could play a more central role.

Bet 3: Yerry Mina to be shown a card

Yerry Mina may not be everyone’s favourite but his passionate style of play always endears him to his club’s fans.

The Colombian has seen three yellow cards in his seven appearances across all competitions this season and will happily take another caution if it helps his team win.

Back Everton to win, Dwight McNeil to score anytime and Yerry Mina to be shown a card at 13/1 with LiveScore Bet

Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest (Sunday, 4.30pm)

Bet 1: Crystal Palace to win to nil

Forest have performed remarkably to seal their top-flight status and could be forgiven for taking their eye off the ball.

Palace have been safe for some time and are playing with freedom under Roy Hodgson.

They have taken 10 of a possible 12 points at home since he returned to Selhurst Park, keeping a couple of clean sheets and could record another shutout.

Bet 2: Eberechi Eze to score anytime

Eberechi Eze has thrived under Hodgson and will look to celebrate his maiden England call-up in style.

The playmaker has netted six times and provided four assists under the former Three Lions boss and seems a natural candidate to net again on Sunday.

Bet 3: Palace to have over eight corners

Something different to finish but Palace have had eight or more corners in all four of their home outings under Hodgson.

In a game in which they are expected to have most of the ball, a repeat is not unthinkable and provides plenty of value.

Back Crystal Palace to win to nil, Eberechi Eze to score anytime and Palace to have over eight corners in the match at 25/1

Get full control over your Bet Builder

With LiveScore Bet’s Bet Builder, you can edit your selections in the betslip.

So, whether you have built your own or chosen one of the pre-built ‘popular’ builders, you can change any of the individual selections without having to go back to the main menu.

To change a line, simply click on the selection, choose the new bet and return to the betslip.

Chelsea boss Emma Hayes says it is “business as usual” for her side as they prepare for Saturday’s Super League finale, looking to wrap up another title.

Ahead of the season’s concluding round of fixtures, the Blues – who have won the WSL five times and for each of the last three seasons – are two points clear of second-placed Manchester United, with a goal difference better by five.

Chelsea, aiming to complete a league and FA Cup double, play bottom side Reading away, while Marc Skinner’s United are at Liverpool.

Hayes told a press conference: “I think back to every campaign, we’ve only won the league by a couple of points at best, maybe (with) a game (to spare) somewhere along the line, so this is just business as usual for us.

“The preparation is what we’d prepared for at the very beginning of the season.

“It’s not like we’ve won leagues comfortably in the past – so nothing is different from our perspective. We’ve always known from previous experience it goes to the last game.”

A win to seal the title would be a seventh successive league victory for Chelsea, who have scored 24 goals in the past six games, conceding once.

Reading, meanwhile, have lost each of their last five games, conceding 16 times across their last four.

The Royals pulled off a shock 1-0 win at home against Chelsea last season, and Hayes said: “We don’t think about that. What we think about is we are exactly where we want to be – a position to control the outcome.

“I have to keep reminding the team we’re 90 minutes away from winning the title and all of my energy’s focused on doing that.”

Regardless of what happens on Saturday, United – guaranteed at least second, their first finish in a Champions League berth – have had their best WSL campaign to date, as well making a debut FA Cup final appearance, when they were beaten 1-0 by Chelsea and Skinner has said he feels his side do not “get enough credit”.

Asked about that comment, Hayes said: “They should. They’ve had an outstanding year. I’m sure Marc will build on that and make them even more competitive next year.”

Reading need to win to have any chance of surviving, lying two points adrift of 11th-placed Leicester, who have an inferior goal difference by three and go to Brighton.

Reading boss Kelly Chambers said: “If you just give up now or don’t believe then, for me, what’s the point of stepping out there on Saturday?

“There’s still a glimmer of hope there for us and we just have to give everything we can. If we are beaten by the better team, I can accept that – what I can’t accept is that we don’t turn up and fight for everything.”

Third-placed Arsenal look set to seal the final Champions League spot, currently three points clear of Manchester City and holding a goal difference advantage over them of 11.

Jonas Eidevall’s Gunners host fifth-placed Aston Villa, whose 21-goal forward Rachel Daly was named WSL player of the year on Friday, while Gareth Taylor’s City play Everton at home.

It would be the first time since 2014 that City have finished outside the European places.

Taylor said: “It’s fine margins between being successful in the season like Chelsea and where we’re at coming up short.

“With the group we have and the support, if we can squeeze more out of these players with another season, it’s exciting times.”

Saturday’s other match sees West Ham entertain Tottenham.

Meanwhile, according to Football Association statistics released on Friday, WSL attendances are up 173 per cent this season compared to the last, with the 2022-23 average being 5,272, up from 1,931.

The cumulative attendance for the current WSL campaign stands at 664,211, and all of the three highest-ever WSL crowds were achieved this season.

They were 47,367 for Arsenal against Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium in September, 44,259 for Manchester City v Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium in December, and 42,700 for Arsenal against Chelsea at the Emirates in January.

Manchester City’s third-choice goalkeeper Scott Carson has signed a new 12-month contract, the Premier League champions have announced.

The former England international, 37, has made just two first-team appearances since joining City, initially on loan, in 2019 but has been an important part of manager Pep Guardiola’s squad.

“I’m excited to be staying at City,” Carson told the club’s website. “I love working with Pep, Xabi Mancisidor and our incredible players every day.

“Hopefully I can help all of our goalkeepers be at their best.”

Guardiola said: “He deserves it. He’s an important figure for us. You cannot imagine how important.

“We are very pleased to have him. We have him in the locker room and you cannot believe the impact.”

Leicester boss Dean Smith has said his message to his players ahead of their all-or-nothing game with West Ham on Sunday will simply be “just win”.

The Foxes have to win and hope that Everton cannot beat Bournemouth if they are to avoid relegation to the Championship.

Smith, who was parachuted in on an eight-game SOS mission following the sacking of Brendan Rodgers, says that what happens at the King Power Stadium against the Hammers is the only thing the Foxes need to focus on.

He said: “We have got to win the game plainly and simply, we have got to figure out and balance the best way to not give big chances away and create big chances against West Ham, who are in a European final and after a tough first half of the season have climbed away from danger and have got a very good manager there.

“We have to win the game and not look at the Everton result until after the game. We have to do our job and see where it takes us.

“We can only control what we can do. We have to control our performance, help your team-mates out and go and get a good performance and a win.

“If we do our part we are looking at other people to help us, but we have to make sure we concentrate on what we do. It’s quite a simple message really and the lads have trained well so far.

“The players want clarity of what their positions are, what we are asking of them and our job is to give them that. It doesn’t get any clearer for me: They have to win. That’s all they need to know and that’s all they do know.

“We just have to concentrate on our own game. It’s simplistic, we have to win, it doesn’t matter what is going on at other grounds. Just win.

“Whatever else is going on elsewhere we are not in control of. But we have seen how quickly things can change around in the last 15 minutes of games, whether it is this season or previous seasons. We win our games and then see where it goes.”

Smith did not want to discuss his future beyond Sunday’s game, insisting that there will be a post-season debrief.

Asked whether the outcome of the match will impact his future, Smith added: “Not at all, my future was to come in for seven weeks and eight games and that hasn’t change. My future is exactly the same. That is a question to have after the game and not before it.”

The Foxes will be without Caglar Soyuncu, but Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Jonny Evans and Ricardo Pereira will all be fit. Wilfred Ndidi is a doubt with a hamstring injury.

“Caglar is not fit, he has tried to get himself back into training this week but he just felt it, obviously it was too close but the fact he wanted to push it to be in contention shows a lot about his character. He’s definitely out,” Smith said.

“Dewsbury-Hall is good, he’s been training with us for a couple of days now, so he’ll be available for selection.

“(Kelechi)  Iheanacho is fine, Jonny Evans had cramp he’s fine. Ricky we scanned him and he is fine, Wilf is the only question mark at the moment, we are waiting to see if he is good enough to train tomorrow.”

West Ham boss David Moyes has confirmed Gianluca Scamacca will miss the Europa Conference League final next month.

Italian striker Scamacca, the £30.5million summer signing from Sassuolo, underwent knee surgery in April but there were hopes he could return before the end of the season.

However, Moyes has ruled the 24-year-old out of the final against Fiorentina in Prague on June 7.

“I see him being nowhere near it. He’s not back training and not back,” said Moyes.

“He’s still doing his rehab in Italy just now, so I don’t expect to see him back before then, no.

“He had his operation about four weeks ago, so he has still a few weeks of rehab to do but hopefully, he will be back ready at the start of pre-season.”

The Hammers face relegation-threatened Leicester on the final day of the Premier League season, knowing a win on Sunday could lift them as high as 12th, above Chelsea.

That would not be a bad result from a campaign which looked at times destined to end in relegation.

“I take every game one at a time, that’s all we can ever do,” added Moyes. “It’s a chance to get your league place higher up and we’re all well aware of the value of that in the Premier League.

“If you’d given me this position a few weeks ago I’d have snapped your hand off because we go into the last day without any real problems and, more importantly we go into it knowing we’ve got a cup final in a week or so’s time.”

Leicester need a victory and a favour from Bournemouth at Everton in order to stay up.

“I’m glad it’s a game where it’s not us needing to win it, because it was always a hard-looking game,” said Moyes. “They’ve had a great team over recent seasons, they really have.

“I think it’s a bit of a surprise to everyone that they’re in the position they are in. They have got some top players and we’re going to have to defend well and deal with it well. Hopefully, we can.”

Boss Julen Lopetegui will continue talks with Wolves about his future.

Lopetegui’s long-term future at Molineux has been in the spotlight with uncertainty about his position.

Financial fair play regulations will impact the club’s spending power this summer and Lopetegui has previously said he only discovered the constraints last week.

He has been calling for investment since securing Premier League safety and the manager will continue to speak to chairman Jeff Shi about what backing he will receive.

He said: “We will see, we have to discuss with the chairman and owners. The most important thing is what the solution is going to be. When you have a problem you have to solve the problem.

“This is all. About my future, I have a contract and we will see what is going to happen, This is football, we don’t know.

“We have to talk, it’s not about one or two days. We have to talk about the solution and the future to be able to have a squad ready to compete again.

“This year has been a wake-up call. We have to learn why it has happened and to overcome and make our homework this summer. It’s not about one or two days. We need a clear picture.

“It’s important to have the squad ready. Maybe not 100 per cent of players but maybe 90 per cent. For me it’s very important, to have the squad ready to start working with us on July 1.”

Wolves to go Arsenal for Sunday’s Premier League finale and Joao Moutinho will not feature and is likely to have played his last game for the club as he is out of contract in the summer.

Sasa Kalajdzic (knee) is out while Lopetegui himself is banned from the touchline for collecting four yellow cards.

He added: “On Sunday we have an important match because it’s the last of the season. They have been very close to winning the Premier League and will want to make a good match in front of their fans. We have to be ready to compete with them.”

Everton manager Sean Dyche insists he has no problem with the relegation-threatened club potentially already looking for his replacement.

The former Burnley boss arrived late in January as Frank Lampard’s replacement with the challenge of avoiding the drop.

Things have not gone entirely to plan with the Toffees just two points above the relegation zone, although their fate remains in their own hands as they seek to extend their stay in the top flight into a 70th season by matching the results of Leeds and Leicester.

And reports this week suggested Everton were already thinking about what comes next.

“It’s fair to say ‘interesting’ reports, but I don’t know where they come from,” said Dyche.

“At the end of the day, good businesses should be succession planning. I’ve got no problem with that, even if that were true.”

Everton go into their relegation decider at home to Bournemouth without striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin or defenders Nathan Patterson and Ben Godfrey.

“They won’t be fit. We haven’t had Dom for two-thirds of my time here. We have still won games, still got points on the board and performed,” Dyche said.

“Patto has come into the side more latterly and performed well. We lose him as well.”

Dyche holds out some hope Vitalii Mykolenko – his only remaining full-back on either flank – could return after a two-match absence.

“He’s a bit better so we will see how he reacts tomorrow to training today,” Dyche added.

Dyche was already without Seamus Coleman, Ruben Vinagre, Tom Davies and Andros Townsend so more injuries just increase the pressure in an already tough atmosphere on Sunday.

“The fact is we should be under pressure because that is what we want from this group, that’s the demand of being at Everton Football Club and I’ve learned that very quickly,” added Dyche.

“Every game should be a pressurised occasion and it is because that is being a professional footballer, not just the final game of the season.

“I think it is part of being a professional footballer. You have to use the feeling in the stadium to your advantage and I think we have a decent experience level for the ups and downs of football to understand that.

“We want players to focus on the game, which is not as easy as it sounds, but focus on the game and the idea and don’t worry about the noise. That’s the clear intention.”

– Southampton have the worst home record in the Premier League
– Liverpool have won their last three away games
– Recommended bet: Liverpool to win and over 3.5 goals

Neither Southampton nor Liverpool have got what they wanted from the 2022-23 Premier League season, but the Reds head to the south coast as the clear favourites.

Saints have battled relegation throughout the campaign and, having had their demotion confirmed a fortnight ago, plans are already afoot for their rebuild, with Russell Martin expected to be appointed as their new manager.

Ruben Selles will remain in the dugout for their final day outing against the Reds, who have had to settle for a Europa League place for next season and who are set to wave goodbye to several stalwarts.

They were disappointing in last Saturday’s 1-1 home draw against Aston Villa and Manchester United’s 4-1 win over Chelsea on Thursday means they can no longer qualify for the Champions League.

However, with a summer rebuild on the cards, Jurgen Klopp will be keen to ensure his team head into their holidays on an upbeat note.

Team news

Juan Larios (unknown), Mohammed Salisu (hip), Romain Perraud (ankle) and Armel Bella-Kotchap (hamstring) miss out for Saints, as does Che Adams (ankle). Fellow striker Paul Onuachu is also a doubt with a back problem.

Selles also says that Tino Livramento, who returned for the final 13 minutes of last Sunday’s 3-1 defeat to Brighton after recovering from a long-term knee injury, is also likely to get minutes, albeit again from the bench.

For Liverpool, Darwin Nunez, who scored a brace in a reverse game, is set to return after missing the last two matches with a toe issue, while Ibrahima Konate (illness) and Andrew Robertson (groin) are doubts.

Roberto Firmino, who scored his side’s goal against Villa, and James Milner are expected to get minutes in their final games for the club

The stats

Southampton have the worst home record in this season’s Premier League, winning just two of their 18 games and scoring a joint-worst 15 goals in the process.

They have failed to win their last 12 games and have beaten Liverpool once in the league at home since 2016.

The Reds won November’s reverse game 3-1 and also took last season’s edition of this season 2-1 at St Mary’s and have won the pair’s last four Premier League meetings.

Klopp’s side have also shown some good recent form, remaining unbeaten in their last 10 outings, while they have won their last three.

They have all come against sides in the relegation mix, beating Leeds United 6-1, West Ham 2-1 and Leicester City 3-0.

Prediction

Southampton’s dire form provides little suggestion that they are going to end the season with a bang.

The rare quality performers in the Saints’ squad are already being linked with moves elsewhere and the feeling is that even some of their more faithful stars are preparing to wave goodbye.

Liverpool are also set to bid farewell to several players and have more motivation to end an underwhelming season on a positive note.

Klopp’s team were frustrated by the Villans last Saturday, but still have momentum and will not be intimidated by their closing trip to Hampshire.

With Southampton having conceded three or more against Manchester City, Tottenham, Brighton and Newcastle, the Reds could run riot.

Back Liverpool to win and over 3.5 goals at 17/10 with LiveScore Bet.

Win big with LiveScore 6!

Fancy winning up to £100,000?

Simply predict six correct scores from the weekend action for your chance to win, with consolation prizes also on offer if you go close.

Play LiveScore 6 for free this weekend (18+, UK only). Click here for details on how to get involved.

Unai Emery has welcomed pressure as Aston Villa look to seal a European return.

Victory over Brighton in Sunday’s Premier League finale will book seventh spot and a place in the Europa Conference League play-offs.

Villa last competed in Europe in 2010-11 and Emery is relishing the task on Sunday, with the Seagulls having already sealed their Europa League spot.

“For me, the pressure is amazing to try to feel matches when you’re playing for something important,” he said.

“We want to be excited, not anxious, but to be excited, be very motivated and to enjoy the process. When you’re in the match, you have to be prepared to focus only on your game plan.

“The players are doing that. When you are very focused and you’re really trying to work hard on your style and idea, and your players are practicing hard, this is a good way.

“That is a moment you feel you are doing all you can on the pitch.”

Alex Moreno is out with a hamstring injury while Philippe Coutinho is also sidelined and Diego Carlos is expected to miss out.

Emery added: “In front of us is the most important match we are going to face. We are trying to prepare for it like the last matches we played, being motivated and enjoying the process.

“Our time is coming on Sunday with our supporters in Villa Park to enjoy this match. We are going to face a very difficult team.

“They are playing amazing football. Their structure, tactically, is very strong. I enjoy the matches we are playing in the Premier League and the matches we are watching of other teams. One of those teams is Brighton.”