Bradley’s stature rises amid Trent rancour
Late-season at Anfield, a welcome show of spirit in a comeback from Arsenal became the tale of three full-backs. Following an early booking, Myles Lewis-Skelly, who began sketchily, found the measure of Mohamed Salah. There may be no tougher discipline for a defender in 2025. Does “MLS” have a long-term future as a defender or is his broad skillset better suited to midfield? The same questions have long been asked of Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose second-half arrival gave rise to a loud, vicious barracking, rancorous accusations of treachery that will grab headlines. If not unprecedented – Steve McManaman received similar treatment in 1999 – it was shocking to hear the Kop’s open contempt for one of their own, though one who has dared to flee the Merseyside nest. Before Alexander-Arnold’s arrival, Conor Bradley staked claims to be a first-teamer with typical ferocity in the tackle and speedy overlaps. He was also booked. As his replacement arrived to boos, the Kop pointedly sang the youngster’s name. John Brewin
Gordon not flash but fundamental
Anthony Gordon made a huge difference after coming off the bench at Brighton last week, and he was a key figure for Newcastle again on Sunday. Moisés Caicedo has performed well at right-back in recent weeks, as the return of Roméo Lavia has stiffened Chelsea’s midfield, but the Ecuadorian looked uncertain in the first half against Gordon. Perhaps in part it was the surprise of Newcastle operating with a 3-4-3, which allowed Gordon to drift infield from the left with Tino Livramento going outside, but the second-minute Newcastle opener was initiated by the surge Gordon made as Newcastle broke following a corner. He may not have quite the technical ability of some of his rivals for a place on that flank for England, but Gordon has a pleasing directness, and his return to something approaching full fitness after a calf problem is a clear boost for Newcastle’s hopes of sealing Champions League qualification. Jonathan Wilson
A week to savour for Soucek
Lining up as a false(ish) No 9, Tomas Soucek minted a lifetime memory via the cheeky backheel that opened West Ham’s account in front of Old Trafford’s Stretford End. There is more, as he could dedicate the finish to a very special young person in the Czech’s life: “Three days ago my wife gave birth to my son so I scored the goal for him. I’m so proud of how we played. Last week we played in a similar style [drawing 1-1 with Spurs] and we got three points today and I thought it was fully deserved. We were all together and fought for every ball.” Of the goal, he said: “One of my goals is I want to be in the right place at the right moment.” Soucek certainly was. Jamie Jackson
Draw loosens Forest’s grip on key talents
Missing out on Champions League qualification, after Nottingham Forest stayed in seventh place following their 2-2 draw with Leicester, could have even greater repercussions for the club should it discourage their best players from staying. Their talented captain, Morgan Gibbs-White, contributed a goal and assist. Could the Reds’ talisman be playing his last few games for the club? Manchester City are said to be looking at him as their replacement for the departing Kevin De Bruyne, and Forest losing a player of his quality would be devastating for a club set to compete in Europe, albeit one of the two lesser competitions unless one of their rivals slips up. Peter Lansley
Spence fluffs chance to stake his claim
The penny appeared to have dropped with Djed Spence earlier this season. The Tottenham full-back caught the eye after finally establishing himself as a member of the first-team squad. Spence looked quick, dynamic and capable of shining on either flank. A player overlooked by Antonio Conte after joining in 2022 was even suggested as being worthy of a spot in Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad. However, something has changed in the past few weeks. Ange Postecoglou seems to have gone off Spence. The 24-year-old is behind Destiny Udogie at left-back and Pedro Porro at right-back. Has he been affected by returning to the bench? Spence was poor after starting on the left when Postecoglou’s second string lost 2-0 to Crystal Palace. He looked unfocused and his positioning was repeatedly exposed by Daniel Muñoz and Ismaïla Sarr. Postecoglou presumably had Spence in mind when he talked about Spurs’ understudies not taking chances to impress before the Europa League final. Jacob Steinberg
Foden fails to make case for Cup final
It was Phil Foden’s first start for Manchester City since the derby stalemate with United on 6 April, his first minutes of any particular note, and he was desperate to impress, especially with the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace looming. And yet Foden could get nothing going in another stalemate at Southampton, either off the left in the first half or the right after the interval – until his substitution on 76 minutes. It has been a difficult season for him, fitness issues not helping, his numbers significantly down after the player of the year form last time out. This was the kind of game, as Pep Guardiola noted, that Foden would have broken open last season but he was crowded out, unable to connect with Erling Haaland. With Jérémy Doku making an impact as a half-time substitute and Savinho pushing, Guardiola has a major selection teaser for Wembley. David Hytner
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Watkins keep raising the bar for Villa
Fresh from being presented with a commemorative shirt after becoming Aston Villa’s record goalscorer in the Premier League, Ollie Watkins outlined his next target: a century. “I think that puts you into another category,” he said. “I am not too far off that – 25, that can happen in a season. And to win a trophy.” He has comfortably hit double figures every season since joining from Brentford five years ago and his latest goal, an intelligent run and finish, earned a seventh win in eight matches to maintain Villa’s top-five hopes. “If you’d said to any Villa fan at the start of the season you’re going to get to a Champions League quarter-final and beat PSG at Villa Park, and a semi-final in the FA Cup at Wembley and then it comes down to the wire, the last two games of the season to fight for Champions League again, I think any Villa fan would snap your hand off.” Ben Fisher
Fulham may have blown European chance
The chances of Fulham playing European football, of midweek action swelling the coffers to help pay for the impressive new Riverside Stand, are dwindling. Marco Silva will doubtless look on the 2024-25 season as one of opportunities squandered. Everton were barely in the contest until Vitalii Mykolenko’s deflected first-half injury-time equaliser but largely in control once Michael Keane headed in their second. “We were incredibly poor in the first 30 minutes,” said a relieved David Moyes who admitted his team’s stroke of luck altered his half-time team talk. It was left to Silva to make a familiar set of complaints: “After the 30th minute and our goal and some chances from Alex [Iwobi], you need to be ruthless and clinical and we weren’t.” The Conference League would have been winnable – as West Ham and perhaps this season Chelsea have shown. Despite the club embracing modernity and Silva’s coaching talent, Europa League glory days under Roy Hodgson feel ever more distance away. John Brewin
Mané stakes claim for Wolves future
This was a forgettable afternoon for almost everyone connected to Wolves but not for the teenager Mateus Mané; the 17-year-old forward replaced André late on to make his debut for the club. Having been born in Portugal, Mané moved to England as a child and joined Rochdale, where he made the bench aged 16. He moved to Molineux only last summer, making the jump from National League academy to the Premier League, first being named in a squad by Vítor Pereira for the match against Fulham in February. Already a Portugal and England youth international, Mané has made a huge impression on Pereira and will be part of Wolves’ first-team squad next season. “I’m sure that he will be a surprise in England, in this league, because he’s a player with talent,” Pereira said. “He’s not only a talent, he’s a worker. For me, in that moment of the game, it was not just to give him the minutes, [but] because I think he can do something, because he’s special.” Will Unwin
Schade and Flekken offer transfer lesson
An early goal from Kevin Schade and a late save from Mark Flekken were the key moments in Brentford’s win at Ipswich, three points placing the race for eighth and potential Conference League football in their hands. They have Fulham and Wolves to negotiate in their remaining fixtures. Schade’s latest brilliant header continued a run of form from the Potsdam-born forward that has been as impressive as that of the more heralded Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo. Flekken, meanwhile, has quietly gained a reputation as one of the more solid keepers in the Premier League, a worthy successor to David Raya and almost custom-made for his manager. Another pointer for Ipswich, whose not insubstantial business last summer came largely from English football. Brentford’s establishment in the top tier has come via mostly investment and scouting in European talent. Quality can be found at lower premiums if a club is organised enough to know what it is looking for. John Brewin
