Manchester City host Premier League leaders Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday after moving just six points behind them in the table with a game in hand against Crystal Palace still to play

Manchester City have just a 13% chance of winning the Premier League despite last weekend’s six-point swing in the title race.

Pep Guardiola’s side closed the gap to six points with a game in hand against Crystal Palace still to play after beating Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Arsenal gave them that opportunity after losing 2-1 at home to Bournemouth.

Sunday’s meeting at the Etihad Stadium now takes on an even greater significance as City could halve the deficit by beating the Gunners. After hosting Arsenal, City visit Burnley in midweek before facing Southampton in their FA Cup semi-final at Wembley Stadium.

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They then travel to Everton before returning home for a match with Brentford. A jaunt down to Bournemouth is their final away trip, followed shortly after by their game in hand against Crystal Palace, and City welcome Aston Villa on the final day.

The analytics company Opta still make Arsenal the overwhelming favourites for the title, with an 87% chance. The firm predicts they will finish top of the table with a total of 82.10 points, still six points ahead of City, who they project will finish on 76.57 points.

They have Aston Villa in third with a 95% chance of Champions League qualification, just ahead of Manchester United on 90%. Liverpool are in fifth with 71%, ahead of Chelsea, who have 20%.

Below is how Opta predict the final Premier League table…

1) Arsenal – 82.10

2) Manchester City – 76.57

3) Aston Villa – 64.82

4) Manchester United – 63.82

5) Liverpool – 61.24

6) Chelsea – 56.76

7) Brighton) 55.38

8) Everton – 55.16

9) Brentford – 54.94

10) Bournemouth – 53.48

11) Sunderland – 52.98

12) Fulham – 51.11

13) Newcastle United – 50.26

14) Crystal Palace – 49.83

15) Leeds United – 44.37

16) Nottingham Forest – 40.85

17) West Ham – 38.34

18) Tottenham Hotspur – 37.11

19) Burnley – 24.96

20) Wolverhampton Wanderers – 23.82

Kolkata Knight Riders have slumped to their fourth defeat this IPL season exposing not just a dip in form but a side with deeper structural flaws. It may not yet mirror the chaos of the IPL 2022 season, but that is hardly a benchmark for reassurance. For Kolkata, this starts with selecting a captain who looks increasingly out of sync with the demands of modern T20 cricket.

Lack of Firepower At Top

At the top, the lack of firepower has become a recurring concern. Ajinkya Rahane has been steady without being destructive, striking at 152 this season, but that does not meet the demands of the powerplay. He is not among the first 13 run-getters this season, and more importantly, he has not been able to consistently seize the early momentum. Alongside him, Finn Allen has flattered to deceive. Though he has struck at the rate of 192 suggesting intent, but 81 runs in five matches points to a lack of substance. The result is a top order that neither dominates nor anchors.

An Unsettled Middle Order

That uncertainty has spilled into the middle order, where roles remain fluid, but returns underwhelming. Rinku Singh, so often the finisher Kolkata have relied upon, is yet to hit his stride this season. In response, the management has shuffled the pack, pushing Cameron Green down to No. 6, a move that raises more questions. Green’s success in the IPL has largely come at No.3 including a 500-plus run season for Mumbai. He even batted at No.3 for Bengaluru. Relegating him down the order not only limits his impact but also reflects a lack of clarity

The Cameron Green Sized Blunder

Green’s overall returns have only intensified scrutiny. Acquired for Rs 25.2 crore, he has yet to justify the price tag. His role with the ball has been inconsistent. In the first three matches Cricket Australia barred him from bowling. He was handed the new ball duties in the match against Chennai. KKR may have been desperate despite knowing he has rarely been a four-over bowler, completing his quota just four times in 48 T20s. With the bat, too, he has not quite delivered the match-defining performances expected of him, and crucially, he is no where close to Andre Russell.

Shambolic Auction Strategy

That void, in many ways, is symbolic of a larger issue – Kolkata’s auction strategy. The decision to release Russell ahead of the 2026 auction to free up purse space now appears increasingly questionable. This came on the back of another significant call the previous year, when they let go of their title-winning captain Shreyas Iyer. The departures did not end there. Phil Salt, who has since thrived at RCB have been released too. The cumulative effect has been a squad that lacks both stability and match-winning depth.

Lack of a Lead Pacer

The bowling unit, in particular, has been left exposed. The absence of a lead pacer has hurt Kolkata across phases. Mustafizur Rahman‘s exit due to diplomatic and political constraints, combined with injuries to Harshit Rana and Akash Deep, has stripped the attack of experience and control. The continued unavailability of Matheesha Pathirana has only compounded the problem. Without a reliable strike bowler, Kolkata have struggled to contain runs or close out innings, particularly at the death.

Ajinkya Rahane admitted at the end of a hapless 4-match losing streak (the only time they gained a point this season was against Punjab in a rained-out encounter) that change is on the cards. Unless he and the management clear their heads and recalibrate, Kolkata Knight Riders could reach a point of no return pretty soon.

Here are their fixtures this month:

17th April: Vs Gujarat in Ahmedabad

19th April: Vs Rajasthan in Eden Gardens

26th April: Vs Lucknow in Lucknow

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Developing a more attack-minded side as clearly been the early priority for McArdle after being appointed in March, with a focus on younger players clearly evident too.

Five of the starting XI were under 25 with Linfield’s Cora Chambers also coming off the bench to make her senior debut.

With captain Simone Magill away from the side after announcing her pregnancy in November, Northern Ireland have missed her experience, leadership and goals but after being handed the armband by McArdle, Rebecca McKenna, lead by example from defence and also helped push the side into the final third.

During his time within the Scottish FA, McArdle created a new Under-23s programme and a new Academy programme, showing he is no stranger to helping younger players develop.

Halliday added that the side need to use his trust to demonstrate their abilities as Northern Ireland aim to secure a World Cup play-off.

“It’s great that he’s trusting us to play and come on,” Halliday continued.

“He’s trusting us for a reason and we need to back ourselves on the pitch and do what we do week in week out with our clubs.

“We hadn’t scored yet on the campaign so to come out and score four is something we wanted to do and hopefully keep that up for the away game.”

Atletico Madrid forward ⁠Antoine Griezmann is ​daring to dream of a fairytale finale after his side survived a fierce Barcelona fightback to reach their ​first Champions League semi-final in nine years on Tuesday.

A 2-1 home defeat was enough for Diego Simeone’s side to progress 3-2 on aggregate, the Metropolitano crowd exhaling at the final whistle as Atletico edged into ​the last ‌four.

For Griezmann, 35, it was a night thick with emotion.

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The Frenchman has ⁠already announced he will leave at the end of the season to join MLS side Orlando City, bringing the curtain down on a remarkable ‌spell in Madrid.

A World Cup winner with France in 2018, Griezmann first arrived at ⁠Atletico from Real Sociedad in 2014.

He departed for Barcelona in 2019 before returning three years later, rebuilding his bond with supporters and becoming one of the enduring faces of ​Simeone’s 15-year project.

His numbers underline that impact: 211 goals and 97 assists, making ‌him Atletico’s all-time leading scorer.

Yet silverware has been scarce. The 2018 Europa League remains the only major trophy of his time with the Colchoneros, leaving this campaign as a final opportunity to sign off with something ‌special.

Atletico will face either Arsenal or Sporting in the semi-finals, with the London side leading 1-0 ahead of Wednesday’s second leg. Atletico are now ​two matches away from a first Champions League final since their appearances in 2014 and 2016.

“I’m very happy,” Griezmann told reporters.

“It doesn’t matter who we face, as long as we’re still in it ​and as long as we’re on top form right until the end. It’s been a brilliant ​but tough tie against a top-class side who play really well in ​Barcelona. It’s been a struggle, but we’re still in it.”

In Spain glory could come as soon as Saturday with the Copa del Rey final ​against Real Sociedad in Seville, Griezmann’s boyhood club, with Atletico chasing their first domestic cup since 2013 and an end to a four-season wait for any title.

“It’s going to be a great match, a tough one, so we’ll need to get some rest. Now it’s time to start thinking about Saturday. What ⁠a great feeling,” Griezmann said.

“I hope I can help my team mates to do something beautiful this season, something historical. Our ⁠fans deserve it.

“After the ​match was over, I stayed on the pitch with them for several minutes, just enjoying the songs and the atmosphere, which was fantastic. Let’s keep going.”

(FRANCE 24 with Reuters)

The Las Vegas Raiders are expected to make Fernando Mendoza, the national championship-winning quarterback from Indiana, the first overall pick in the NFL Draft next Thursday.

But that hasn’t stopped teams below the Raiders at No. 1 overall from calling their phone about a possible trade up scenario.

Raiders GM John Spytek spoke during a pre-NFL Draft news conference, during which he admitted to getting a “few calls” about the first overall selection his team owns.

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General manager John Spytek of the Las Vegas Raiders looks on before a game against the Cleveland Browns at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Nov. 23, 2025. (Chris Unger/Getty Images)

“Those teams know where they stand,” Spytek said, via ESPN.

Spytek said during the news conference that good trades can always materialize on draft night, sometimes even right before the pick. However, if a player stands out to the team, as Mendoza is believed to have done, the Raiders will turn down an offer.

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“If there’s a player that stands out that we feel it’s not worth losing, it’s not worth even picking up the phone, then we’ll just make the pick,” Spytek added. “But if it’s a player that we’re not as excited about, or there’s a group of players that we would love to pick from, and we can get value for that, we’re certainly open to listening to that.”

All signs point to Mendoza, who has cemented himself as the best quarterback in this draft after an undefeated season at Indiana. It also became more apparent that a quarterback was needed for Las Vegas after reaching a deal with the New York Jets to reunite them with Geno Smith, who was their starter in 2025 following a prior deal with the Seattle Seahawks.

The Raiders, however, did bring in Kirk Cousins after his release from the Atlanta Falcons, though his $20 million in guaranteed money on a whopping $172 million deal indicates he will serve as a mentor for whoever the Raiders bring in the building through the draft . Aidan O’Connell is also on the Raiders’ roster under new head coach Klint Kubiak.

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza looks to throw a pass during the school’s NFL pro day in Bloomington, Indiana, on April 1, 2026. (AJ Mast/AP Photo)

Kubiak is fresh off a Super Bowl victory with the Seahawks, serving as their offensive coordinator before taking this promotion following a one-year stint by Pete Carroll in Sin City. It didn’t go according to plan for Las Vegas, resulting in the first overall selection.

But things are looking up for the silver and black, as Spytek used the team’s vast free agent cap room to sign the likes of center Tyler Linderbaum, linebackers Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker, and wide receiver Jalen Nailor, among others.

Now, Spytek and the franchise have their eyes set on improving the roster even more with potential cornerstone pieces through the NFL Draft. The Raiders possess 10 total picks, including the first overall selection, which is the first time they’ve had that slot since 2007.

And those picks, if it’s Mendoza or anyone else in the draft, will have to earn their roster spot and playing time like everyone else across the league.

John Spytek of the Las Vegas Raiders speaks during a press conference at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Ind., on Feb. 24, 2026. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

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“Ultimately, this is a meritocracy, and the best guy will play,” Spytek explained. “It’s just really hard to play really well at a young age. But we’ve seen plenty of quarterbacks do it recently. We added Kirk, we have Aidan, and we’ll see how it goes.”

The NFL Draft begins with the Raiders on the clock next Thursday in Pittsburgh.

Chennai Super Kings assistant bowling coach Sridharan Sriram revealed that Noor Ahmad benefited from a detailed discussion with MS Dhoni during a net session, where he was advised to work on his leg-breaks.Noor delivered a match-winning performance with figures of 3/21 in four overs as Chennai Super Kings defeated Kolkata Knight Riders in their IPL 2026 match on Tuesday. He played a key role in breaking the middle order as Kolkata lost control of the chase.After the match, Sriram spoke about the adjustments Noor made and the role Dhoni played in his preparation.“It was good. The wicket helped today. There was a little bit of turn for him. The other wickets are quite flat, but today it was a little slower through the air. There was more side spin on the ball and more drop,” Sriram said.“That is something he has been working on. Even MS had a long chat with him in one of the practice sessions, especially about getting his leg-break going. I think it was very helpful today, and the results were there to see,” he added.Sriram stressed on the importance of getting deviation off the pitch for spinners.“I think to be able to get some deviation off the surface is very important. I think that is what he’s been working on. Everybody accepts there are going to be days when the wickets are going to be very flat.“But still looking to be aggressive, putting revs on the ball and getting the ball to spin will definitely help him a lot, and that’s where you can induce mistakes. Because once you start to get defensive, then the batters are going to get on top of you,” he said.Noor has taken four wickets in five matches this season, with three of them coming in this game. According to the coaching staff, the nature of the pitches earlier in the tournament also played a role in his limited returns.Chasing 193, Kolkata were 79/3 in the 10th over before Noor struck in the 11th over. He dismissed Ajinkya Rahane and Cameron Green on consecutive deliveries to reduce them to 85/5.Rovman Powell, who hit an unbeaten 31, and Ramandeep Singh (35) attempted to revive the chase but could never keep up with the asking rate.

It’s almost impossible to get hold of Premier League tickets, but you can still secure a spot at the biggest end-of-season games and bag some extra benefits via official retailer Seat Unique.

Securing tickets to Premier League matches has become increasingly difficult these days, with the biggest fixtures such as derbies and end-of-season clashes proving almost impossible to obtain. However, there’s a method to guarantee your place at the top games while also receiving additional perks including premium seating, complimentary refreshments and the opportunity to meet former players.

These benefits are accessible through official ticket supplier Seat Unique, which offers various VIP and hospitality options at 15 Premier League clubs. These encompass Man United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Man City, Aston Villa and Everton.

Matches are also available at Leeds United, Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur, with the complete list and booking links provided at the bottom of this page. Tickets are available for purchase by anyone without club membership restrictions and feature some of the most eagerly awaited fixtures during this crucial stage of the season.

Tickets for some of the most significant matches still available to reserve include Man City vs Arsenal (April 19), Everton vs Liverpool (April 19), Aston Villa vs Spurs (May 2) and Man United vs Liverpool (May 3). Costs can fluctuate considerably based on the fixture’s demand and the club’s standing, with tickets for the ‘big six’ typically commanding higher prices than those further down the table. That said, prices can vary considerably, and supporters can frequently find select hospitality packages for under £100. The included benefits also differ depending on the package chosen, but most feature premium seats in prime locations within their respective stadiums, along with a range of complimentary food and drink.

Book Premier League VIP match tickets at Seat Unique

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Seat Unique provides VIP and hospitality packages for some of the biggest Premier League fixtures.

Certain packages – including those for Liverpool and Man City – also offer the opportunity to get up close with current and former players, whether that involves watching the squad line up in the tunnel or rubbing shoulders with club legends in an exclusive lounge. Alongside Premier League hospitality packages, Seat Unique offers comparable options for other major competitions, including the Champions League, Europa League and FA Cup.

One thing to bear in mind is that some packages require group bookings, particularly where only a very limited number of tickets remain available. Even so, it remains a straightforward way to secure a seat to cheer on your favourite side, as only clubs and official channels are able to offer tickets that aren’t available through resale platforms such as viagogo or Stubhub.

For those who would rather watch the closing matches of the season from the comfort of their own home, options include Sky Sports, TNT Sports or Virgin Media. Here’s the full list of available clubs and the links to book tickets now:

Premier League clubs with tickets on sale now

Liverpool could not produce another famous European comeback at Anfield as they were knocked out of the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain – but had their second-half penalty not been controversially overturned, things could have been very different.

The hosts were trailing 2-0 on aggregate but still had the second leg finely poised at 0-0, knowing the pendulum could swing heavily in their favour if they made PSG’s net bulge.

It looked like they had secured the golden opportunity to do just that as Alexis Mac Allister went down under the challenge of Willian Pacho to earn Liverpool a penalty on 64 minutes.

Former referee Mark Clattenburg said on Prime Video’s coverage of the match that he expected the call against what he branded a “clumsy challenge” to stand, but to his and the commentators’ surprise, match official Maurizio Mariani was ordered to the pitchside monitor and promptly overturned his decision.

“We talk about clear and obvious every time we talk about interventions,” Clattenburg, bemoaning the decision. “When we see the contact on Mac Allister, people will say it’s soft but it’s not wrong. There is contact. Once the referee gives it, I expect the penalty to be upheld.”

Alan Shearer then added: “I’m surprised as well because Mac Allister does ever so well to protect that ball, inviting the challenge in from Pacho and once he tries to get the ball and doesn’t, and does make contact with him and the referee gives it, I’m really, really surprised he’s overturned it.”

It proved the beginning of the end for Liverpool’s hopes of a fightback, with PSG going up the other end and scoring through Ousmane Dembele eight minutes later, taking the aggregate score to 3-0.

Dembele then doubled his tally and PSG’s lead on the night in stoppage time to compound Liverpool’s woes.

Speaking after the match, both Liverpool manager Arne Slot and defender Ibrahima Konate expressed their frustration at the penalty decision.

“If you look at our season I am completely not surprised because so many decisions have gone against us,” Slot said, bemoaning his side’s luck with penalty call this season.

“For me it is quite simple, if the referee did not give a penalty the VAR would never have intervened. As I said I don’t think it is a surprise this season, not just the Champions League but also in the Premier League many decisions have gone against us.”

Konate added: “Last season we had a penalty like that. For me it was a clear penalty and was just behind the referee but he did not blow the whistle and we have to deal with that. If we got the penalty and score it would be completely different.”

And echoing their annoyance, Wayne Rooney was the first to highlight how he felt the referee was wrong to reverse his call, even if the original decision was “soft”.

“I think after giving it, I don’t think it should go to VAR,” he said. “It should have stood. It should be the penalty.

“Liverpool are really not to get that penalty at that 0-0 in tonight’s game. If they get that and they score, I think that it’s a different game, maybe a different outcome. You can see there’s clear contact on Mac Allister and I think that was the wrong decision.”

Robbie Fowler added that he felt “ VAR has probably not done its job there”, while Daniel Sturridge was resolute on the fact it was penalty offence.

 “There’s clear contact. If it’s on VAR and you can see the contact then it’s a penalty,” Sturridge said.

“You can say that the action is to get his body across, which as an attacker, that’s what you do normally. So if the contact’s there and the ball’s coming to me, then it’s a penalty. Simple as that.”