Liverpool

Image source, Getty Images

Arne Slot has said he hopes to take over from Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool manager at the end of the season.

Liverpool opened talks with Feyenoord on Wednesday about Slot's potential appointment.

The Dutchman confirmed his interest in the job to ESPN before Feyenoord's 3-1 league victory on Thursday against Go Ahead Eagles.

"It seems clear to me that I would like to work there," Slot said.

“All I can say about it is that the clubs are in negotiations. I’m in the waiting room."

He added that he was "confident" Liverpool and Feyenoord would be able to reach an agreement.

Liverpool will have to negotiate a fee with Feyenoord if Slot is appointed, as he does not have a release clause for this summer.

There is one in his contract, but it cannot be activated until next year.

Arne Slot. A name we could be hearing frequently next season in English football...

Image source, Getty Images

Marissa Thomas
BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Mikel Arteta's decision to name Martin Odegaard as Arsenal captain in July 2022 was met with some scepticism at the time, but it has proved to be a stroke of genius.

The 25-year-old has led by example both on and off the field and could become the first Gunners captain to lift the Premier League title since Patrick Vieira in 2004.

Since arriving at Emirates Stadium from Real Madrid in January 2021, initially on loan, Odegaard has made a huge impact in north London.

BBC Sport looks at how the influence of Odegaard, who also captains his country Norway, has continued to grow during the Gunners' title-chasing campaign.

Read the full story here

Sunday at 14:00 BST for that north London derby at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. A player who could have a huge influence on the game is this guy...

Liverpool

Hello, Spurs.. again. Visits to West Ham and Aston Villa (who are sitting in fourth place) are also on the agenda for Liverpool before Jurgen Klopp waves goodbye to Anfield with a home fixture against Wolves.

Saturday, 27 April

West Ham (A)

Sunday, 5 May

Tottenham (H)

Monday 13, May

Aston Villa (A)

Sunday, 19 May

Wolves (H)

Sorry, Arsenal fans. You're at home to Everton on the last day of the season. A stint in live text jail is coming up for me.

Arsenal

Tottenham are right in the thick of this Man City-Arsenal-Liverpool battle for the Premier League crown.

The Gunners face an away game against Manchester United as their penultimate game of the season. Could that be a bump in the road for Mikel Arteta's side?

Actually, there's the small matter of a north London derby first...

Sunday, 28 April

Tottenham (A)

Saturday, 4 May

Bournemouth (H)

Sunday, 12 May

Manchester United (A)

Sunday, 19 May

Everton (H)

Manchester City

Manchester City have five games left to secure a record fourth Premier League title in a row.

Sunday, 28 April

Nottingham Forest (A)

Saturday, 4 May

Wolves (H)

Saturday, 11 May

Fulham (A)

Tuesday, 14 May

Tottenham (A)

Sunday, 19 May

West Ham (H)

Simon Stone
BBC Sport

Manchester United history maker Ethan Wheatley celebrated becoming the 250th Academy graduate to make his first-team debut for the Old Trafford club by going to school.

The 18-year-old striker was an injury-time replacement for Rasmus Hojlund in last night’s 4-2 win over Sheffield United.

It capped a remarkable week for Stockport-born Wheatley, who was on the bench for the FA Cup semi-final against Coventry at the weekend and then played a key role in United Under-18s Premier League Cup final win against Manchester City on Tuesday.

But it didn’t excuse him his studies as he aims to get an Extended Diploma in Marketing.

“He has been at school this morning,” said United’s head of academy, Nick Cox.

“When you are a youth team player, you are still of scholarship age and duty bound to continue with your education. He is in the upper sixth, so he has to stay at the school until the end of the year.

“He has been pestering us to come into school and get the education finished. He has never told me this but I would suspect one motive is that it would feel pretty good walking into school having just made your Manchester United debut. I don’t blame him for that.”

An England Under-17 international, Wheatley showed no fear during his brief time on the pitch at Old Trafford and is likely to keep his place in Erik ten Hag’s squad for Saturday’s Premier League encounter with Burnley.

It is a far cry from a trip to the Czech Republic as an 11-year-old recalled in a conversation between Cox and Neil Gittens, United’s head of player development for youngsters between the ages of nine and 12 in the wake of Wheatley’s senior bow.

“Neil and I took Ethan on a tour to the Czech Republic,” said Cox. “We were recalling how nervous and tearful he was about being away from home.

“He was a little bit overawed by the whole experience. We had to encourage him and coax him to play games. We were basically bribing him with chocolate pancakes. That feels like yesterday.”

Manchester City

Image source, Getty Images

With Euro 2024 just on the horizon, the debate around where Phil Foden's best position is will no doubt pop up again when England manager Gareth Southgate - who has preferred Foden more out wide - makes his final decisions for the tournament in Germany this summer.

So where does the midfielder feel most comfortable? "I have always said that I see myself centrally," said Foden."This year I have moved inside and it has helped me massively.

"I enjoy it in the middle. It's where I want to be. At the moment, I am just enjoying my football and playing with freedom."

Manchester City moved above Liverpool into second place in the Premier League table following Thursday's 4-0 win at Brighton.

The reigning champions are one point behind leaders Arsenal with a game in hand...

Image source, .

Manchester City

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City supporter Rachel Herdson told 5 Live Breakfast that it was good to see the energy return in Thursday's 4-0 win at Brighton following a run of gruelling cup fixtures.

Pep Guardiola's side had lost to Real Madrid in the quarter-finals of the Champions League on penalties before squeezing past Chelsea at Wembley on Saturday to reach the FA Cup final.

"Brighton away is never an easy place to go. You know, it was tagged as a potential banana skin but it was a really professional performance, particularly in the first half," she said.

"I think the second half, the game had been won really, so we took the foot off the gas a little bit and were slightly sloppy but more than satisfactory.

"Great to see the energy back after Saturday’s understandable lethargy that was in the team. Just one game at a time now and we’ll see where we end up."

BBC Sport has a dedicated Manchester City page packed with news, analysis and fan views - get it here

Manchester City

Image source, Getty Images

Phil Foden scored his 50th and 51st Premier League goals last night.

He is only the third player to score 50 top-flight goals under manager Pep Guardiola while aged 23 or younger, after Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland.

Asked whether the 23-year-old England midfielder is in the running to be named player of the season, Pep Guardiola told Sky Sports: "For sure. But he wants to win the Premier League.

"His influence in the final third was better than the last two or three games. Today was more calm. The decision-making was good and to score goals is always good."

Manchester City

Image source, Getty Images

The hair is looking more and more like Zack Morris from Saved by the Bell and that fine goal against Brighton was Kevin de Bruyne's 68th in the Premier League.

Manchester City team-mate Phil Foden was full of praise for the 32-year-old midfielder.

"I think when he is at it, he is the best player in the Premier League," Foden told Sky Sports.

'It is nice that I am playing inside with him and hopefully we can do it more."

Image source, Reuters

Kevin de Bruyne took flight last night and, amazingly, scored his first Premier League goal with his head.

The Belgium international opened the scoring with a stunning header which some people likened to Robin van Persie's spectacular headed goal during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Just for fun, which one do you think is better?

On his header, De Bruyne told Sky Sports: ""It doesn't happen too much. Kyle [Walker] gave a good cross and I think the only way I could reach it is by jumping to it. I will take it but it's not something I am good at!"

Manager Pep Guardiola said to Match of the Day his captain is "more than welcome" to try it again if he wants.

Image source, Getty Images

Opta give Manchester City a 71.1% chance of winning the title. For Arsenal it's 27.3% and Liverpool are down to 1.6%.

Image source, Getty Images

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Image source, Getty Images

Brighton were chasing European football in thrilling style at this stage last season under De Zerbi - a mission they accomplished successfully.

Here, depleted by injuries, they were jaded and lacking inspiration as their campaign continues to look like it will end in anti-climax.

Brighton's supporters felt they did not get the rub of the green with decisions, especially with the free-kick award that led to City's second goal, the mood inside the Amex worsening when second-half penalty appeals were turned down.

In reality, however, they looked a shadow of the side that made life so difficult for the top teams last season, being outclassed and overwhelmed by their visitors.

Brighton lost key midfield duo Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister last summer and De Zerbi's hopes of another European challenge have been further undermined by injuries, despite some sparkling performances this term.

There has also been speculation around De Zerbi's own future, which will hopefully be cleared up so this progressive club can regroup and move forward once more.

This was a chastening experience for the Seagulls but they were unfortunate to meet Manchester City at just the wrong time, with their energy starting to run low.

Brighton & Hove Albion

Image source, Getty Images

A question posed to Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi after the defeat by Sky Sports was: Can playing out from the back be a risk?

"Yes, sometimes we took the advantage [with playing this way]," came the Italian's response.

"For sure if you make mistakes you can concede goals. You have to analyse how many goals we score and points we made playing the ball, then the advantages [outweigh] what we concede."

Brighton & Hove Albion

For Brighton, the opportunity to climb back into the top half of the table after Bournemouth jumped to 10th with their win over Wolves on Wednesday was always going to be a tough ask against Manchester City, but the Seagulls' season is in danger over petering out with a whimper following another disappointing result.

Brighton have lost back-to-back Premier League home games, as many as their previous 22 at Amex Stadium beforehand.

They have also lost successive league home games while also failing to score each time for the first time since a run of four from February-March 2022