Manchester City

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says his side cannot afford a single slip-up if they want to beat "one of the best teams in football history" to the Premier League title.

City reclaimed top spot from Liverpool with a 3-0 win over Brighton and are a point ahead with six games left.

"We are not stupid," Guardiola told BBC Sport. "If we draw, drop just two points, Liverpool will be champions.

"If we win all our games we will be champions. The players know it."

He added: "We know the tough games we have and we must try to perform like today and win them all. If we do that we will celebrate, if not we will congratulate Liverpool."

Image source, Reuters

Nedum Onuoha
Former Manchester City defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

"It's just about the results at this stage, performances matter at the start of the season when it feels like you are building towards the end of the season, but as we've seen historically, champions just end up winning games, it doesn't have to be the way they like it sometimes.

"Watching Liverpool, they were incredible the other day against Manchester United, but I think the situation is in a different spot now because City don't have to play Liverpool. So for as good as Liverpool look, it's still in City's hands and Liverpool aren't going to affect anything that City are doing if they can handle their own business."

Here's a reminder of how the top of the Premier League table looks, with leaders Manchester City hosting Watford on Saturday (15:00 BST), before Liverpool face Everton in the Merseyside derby at Anfield on Sunday (16:30).

Image source, BBC Sport

Nedum Onuoha
Former Manchester City defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

Time to hear from former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha on City's win over Brighton on Wednesday.

"City did have a bit of luck with those first two goals but in reflection, as Graham Potter said, they definitely deserved that win. It's just the nature of it that might upset a few people but they did more than enough on the day to win the game.

"On the weekend [against Liverpool in the FA Cup semi-finals] the side Pep Guardiola put out was capable of a better performance. It wasn't a case of they played to their maximum and they weren't good enough.

"But for this game here, going back into the league and understanding the situation before the game of, if you win seven games then the title is yours, you could feel that energy on the field and in the stands because when it wasn't done and dusted by half-time, there was a sense of nervousness because every goal matters at this stage of the season."

Burnley's former boss Sean Dyche, who was sacked last week, has just published this statement via the League Managers Association: “I would like to thank the people of Burnley and fans of the club for their incredible kindness and support since I joined the club in 2012. The town has become a huge part of my life, and myself and my family thank you for everything we have all experienced together during my time as manager. Amongst the many challenges, there have been some truly incredible times, which are never to be forgotten.

“I would like to express my gratitude to all players and staff, past and present, for the hard work and commitment they have shown throughout my time at the club. The memories of promotion campaigns, European travels and competing against some of the best teams in the world will always stay with me.

“I would also like to thank the directors and owners who I have worked with for their help over the past decade. The club has changed so much during this time, with improvements across the infrastructure, training ground and academy ensuring the future of the club is protected both on and off the pitch. The successes and building process from where the club was, to where it is now has been by no means by myself. The help of so many people has made it happen and I thank them all, particularly my football staff, who have worked so diligently over the years.

“Finally, I would like to thank people across football who have been so positive about my career in recent days. I appreciate the kind words of my colleagues in the game and I look forward to the next phase of my career.”

Once stuck in the bottom three, Newcastle are now well clear of the relegation zone after winning their sixth consecutive Premier League game at St. James’ Park.

It's the first time they've had such a run since April 2004 under Sir Bobby Robson. This season is also the first in which they've had three different runs of at least three straight wins since 1996-97.

Newcastle have now won nine Premier League games in 2022, one more than they managed in the whole of 2021. Since the turn of the year, only Liverpool (35) have won more points in the Premier League than the Magpies (29).

And this is how the bottom six of the Premier League looks before Burnley's game with Southampton later.

Image source, BBC Sport

Burnley and Everton have both played 31 games but the managerless Clarets can close the gap when they play Southampton later.

Burnley midfielder Ashley Westwood is awaiting scan results on the serious ankle injury he sustained during the draw at West Ham last weekend.

Captain Ben Mee, Erik Pieters and Johann Berg Gudmundsson are set to stay sidelined by injury until May.

Southampton's only absentee is goalkeeper Alex McCarthy, who remains out with a hamstring problem.

Mohammed Salisu and Tino Livramento are among those in contention to return should Southampton rotate their squad.

Kevin Campbell
Former Everton and Arsenal striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kevin Campbell also spoke about one of his other former clubs, Everton, after salvaging a draw against Leicester on Wednesday.

"Richarlison tried all night, he had a couple of really good chances to score and it just seemed like it wasn't going to go in for him. But as a striker, you've got to keep going and he got his just rewards.

"It seemed to be a defeat and to pull a point, it just gives you a little bit more breathing space.

"A win would have been better, obviously, but the point makes it four points [above the bottom three] and that puts a lot of pressure on Burnley."

With Eddie Nketiah's contract set to expire this summer, his two-goal performance was indeed a timely reminder to Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta of what he can do.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Stamford Bridge

The battle for a place in the Premier League's top four and a spot in next season's Champions League was starting to resemble a race to the bottom as Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester United all stumbled in pursuit of the prize.

It was there waiting for someone to grab the initiative and Arsenal made a decisive move with an outstanding 4-2 win against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

The Gunners were in prime position in fourth place with games in hand weeks ago only to fall into a spell of three defeats away to Crystal Palace, at home to Brighton then at Southampton on Saturday.

Arsenal's old failings - a lack of battling quality, a tendency to choke when the pressure is on - were all revisited in the build-up to this visit to Chelsea, where they started as underdogs with the pressure building.

One win, however significant, does not answer all the questions but this was a night when Arsenal showed they do have hope for development under manager Mikel Arteta - but they must show they can do this again if they are to achieve their goals.

Click here for more from Phil on Arsenal's win on Wednesday.

Kevin Campbell
Former Everton and Arsenal striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

Here's more from Kevin Campbell on Arsenal's chances of getting a top-four finish:

"I think it's all going to go down to the north London derby (12 May).

"I'm sure Spurs fans will have been looking at the Chelsea fixture thinking it's another defeat for Arsenal but Arsenal turned up and were worthy winners and now it's back on level pegging.

"It's a sprint to the finish, there are some big games coming up for Arsenal, there's a lot of football to be played."

Arsenal

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says he "has not been fair" on Eddie Nketiah after the young striker scored twice in a rare start to stun Chelsea.

The 22-year-old, who is out of contract this summer, produced two fine finishes at Stamford Bridge in only his second Premier League start of the season.

He expressed frustration at his lack of game time and questioned his future in an interview earlier this week.

"I should have been playing him more," Arteta told BBC Sport. "I said to him I haven't been fair."

The Gunners have been in talks with Nketiah over a contract but the striker suggested he wants assurances about regular first-team football before signing a new deal.

"There have been talks and offers of a new contract but at the moment my aim is to play football and play regularly," he told The Beautiful Game podcast, external.

"That's my ambition and that's what I hope to do but at the same time I'm at Arsenal, I love Arsenal."

Image source, Reuters

Eddie Nketiah scored his first Premier League goals in over a year – since a stoppage-time equaliser against Fulham in April 2021 – whilst also netting his very first double in the top flight.

The English forward, 22, is the first Arsenal player to score twice against Chelsea since Robin van Persie in October 2011, when the Dutchman scored a hat-trick.

In Nketiah, Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka, Arsenal saw three English players score in the same Premier League match against Chelsea for the first time since September 1996, when Ian Wright, Martin Keown and Paul Merson did so in a 3-3 draw at Highbury.

Image source, Reuters

Kevin Campbell
Former Everton and Arsenal striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

Former Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell was on Radio 5 Live Breakfast earlier, looking back at the Gunners' win at Chelsea on Wednesday.

"It was very much needed, Arsenal dipped after the international break. I can't really put the finger on why - Crystal Palace, Brighton then Southampton was catastrophic.

"But I think Brighton doing Arsenal a favour on Saturday [by beating Tottenham] actually kept Arsenal in it and going into this game it could have been a fourth defeat in a row, which hasn't happened in so many years, but fair play to Mikel Arteta and the team.

"They came out and showed willingness, changed the system as well to start with, then reverted back to 4-4-2. It was a great day.

"I'm pleased for Eddie Nketiah. His contract is running down but he showed he's committed and to get two Premier League goals in such a big game to keep Arsenal on track was immense."

Elsewhere on Wednesday, Juventus beat Fiorentina to ensure they will play Inter Milan in the Coppa Italia final

The hosts, who won the semi-final first leg 1-0 back in March, took the lead through Federico Bernardeschi's powerful finish.

Danilo sealed a comfortable aggregate win when he converted Juan Cuadrado's cut-back in second-half stoppage time.

Inter beat rivals Milan 3-0 at the San Siro on Tuesday to book their place in the final, which takes place at Rome's Stadio Olimpico on 11 May.

Image source, EPA

Paris St-Germain were made to wait for their eighth French title in 10 years after closest rivals Marseille fought back to beat Nantes.

PSG, without Lionel Messi and Neymar, knew they would clinch the title at Angers if they bettered Marseille's result.

First-half goals from Kylian Mbappe and Sergio Ramos, coupled with Marseille trailing 2-1, left them on the brink.

But Marseille rallied to win 3-2 meaning PSG, who added a third through Marquinhos, must wait for the title.

A point for PSG in their home game against seventh-placed Lens on Saturday will see them regain the title regardless of what Marseille do at Reims, as they are 15 points clear with both sides having five matches left to play.

Image source, Reuters

Real Madrid need just four points to secure a 35th La Liga title after an eventful victory at Osasuna, which was achieved despite Karim Benzema missing two penalties inside 10 second-half minutes.

David Alaba gave Madrid the lead before Ante Budimir hit back for Osasuna, but Marco Asensio put the visitors back in front on the stroke of half-time.

Benzema then saw two spot-kicks saved by Sergio Herrera before Lucas Vazquez made sure in stoppage time.

Real are 17 points clear of city rivals Atletico while third-placed Barcelona, who have two games in hand, trail by 18.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, BBC Sport

• Real Madrid are confident of signing Kylian Mbappe, 23, and will go all out for the Paris St-Germain and France forward after conceding that their other main target, Erling Braut Haaland, is heading to Manchester City. (Mail), external
• Real are also keen on bringing England midfielder Jude Bellingham to the Bernabeu, but Borussia Dortmund are desperate to keep the 18-year-old. (Bild - in German), external

These stories and more can be found in today's gossip column.

Image source, Getty Images