SPORTS

5 Talking Points From This Weekend’s EPL Matches

Published

5 years ago

April 12, 2019

Another exciting Premier League weekend lies ahead as the season hurtles towards a fascinating conclusion with plenty to play for at both ends of the table.

Let’s see 5 talking points on what to expect

Will Liverpool or City blink?

It is fast approaching crunch time in the most exciting Premier League title race for many a year. Liverpool hold a two-point lead at the top of the standings after riding their luck to win at Southampton last week, when Manchester City were wrapping up their place in the FA Cup final. Pep Guardiola’s men have a match in hand as a result and few would expect them to come a cropper at Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon. Within an hour of that match ending comes the mouth-watering clash between Jurgen Klopp’s side and top-four hopefuls Chelsea. It could prove to be a defining day in the title race.

How will Spurs react to Kane’s setback?

Tottenham were pushing to make it a three-way tussle for the title not so long ago, yet now find themselves fighting for a place in the top four. Chelsea enter the weekend third, two points better off than Mauricio Pochettino’s side, who have a one-point cushion over north London rivals Arsenal. Spurs welcome relegated Huddersfield to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday lunchtime. Few are questioning the outcome of that match but it will be interesting to see how the side lines up considering the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final with Manchester City looms large and they are without Harry Kane. Spurs’ talisman faces a lengthy period on the sidelines with an ankle injury picked up in the 1-0 first-leg win and the way Spurs react will give an indication of how they plan to kick on without him at the Etihad Stadium.

Can United put wobble behind them?

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has done a superb job since taking the Manchester United reins on a temporary basis in December, but the man recently named permanent manager could really do with a shot in the arm. Wednesday’s 1-0 home loss to Barcelona in their Champions League quarter-final first leg was not too disheartening and keeps their hopes alive ahead of the return fixture at the Nou Camp – but it was their fourth loss in five matches. Defeats at Wolves in the league and FA Cup compounded the loss at top-four rivals Arsenal, meaning they desperately need to beat West Ham in Saturday’s late kick-off to get things back on track. They cannot afford to let the four-point gap to the Champions League spots grow.

Will Wolves be further wounded?

Raul Jimenez donned a wrestling mask in celebration after netting Wolves’ second goal at Wembley to put his team in control of their FA Cup semi-final but Gerard Deulofeu wrote his name into Watford folklore by inspiring a late comeback and sealing a 3-2 extra-time triumph. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side left Wembley shell-shocked and now head to resurgent, albeit still relegation-threatened, Southampton. Wolves’ hopes of capping a memorable league campaign by finishing seventh could be given a big boost at St Mary’s, where Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side will be determined to ease concerns of the drop.

Will Cardiff City be shot down at Turf Moor?

Neil Warnock leads embattled Cardiff to Lancashire on Saturday afternoon for arguably the biggest match of the day. Five points behind 17th-placed Southampton, time is running out for the Bluebirds if they are to avoid joining Fulham and Huddersfield in the Sky Bet Championship next season. There is a huge midweek trip to Brighton after travelling to Burnley, who can all but certainly secure survival by condemning Cardiff to defeat. Sean Dyche’s side have endured a topsy-turvy campaign after a memorable 2017-18 season and would move onto 39 points – 11 more than their opponents – should they triumph.

Related Topics:5 Talking Points From This Weekend’s EPL Matches Talking Points From This Weekend’s EPL Matches

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SPORTS

Tobi Amusan: Here’s What The Nigerian Track Queen Loves About Jamaica

Published

20 hours ago

May 16, 2024

Reporter

Tobi Amusan: things the track queen loves about Jamaica | Fab.ng

Nigerian track star Tobi Amusan, who holds the world record in the 100-metre hurdles, recently competed at the Jamaica Athletics Invitational. After the competition, she spoke about her admiration for Jamaica, the home country of her coach.

Tobi Amusan’s performance was a major highlight of the event.

Even with a less-than-perfect start, she managed to pull ahead and win the women’s 100-metre hurdles in a world-leading time of 12.40 seconds. This impressive feat even surpassed the reigning world champion, Danielle Williams, who is from Jamaica.

Tobi Amusan with a massive win in the women’s 100m hurdles at the 2024 Jamaica Athletics Invitational.

She finished with a time of 12.40s (World Lead) to become the fastest woman in the world this year over the 100 meters Hurdles.

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— African Hub (@AfricanHub_) May 13, 2024

Interestingly, Amusan’s victory suggests she might be nearing the top form she displayed when she set the world record two years ago.

“We have work to do and looking at the way I executed today, it could be better but I’m just thankful,” said Amusan in a post-race interview with Sportsmaxtv.

Reporters were curious if Amusan’s win felt like a comeback after her disqualification for a false start at the Suzhou Diamond League.

The former world champion downplayed the idea of needing redemption. Instead, she explained that the disqualification was simply another learning experience that would help her improve.

“I won’t call it a redemption, there’s always a lesson from every race, you don’t want to lose. It’s just was like a confidence booster for me. I didn’t get points, I didn’t get the time, and I didn’t get the win but knowing that I crossed the finish line first, mentally I knew that I was in my space.”

Tobi Amusan added to her praise for Jamaica, mentioning that she’s ready to have a Jamaican passport.

“This is home. My coach is Jamaican, my coach’s husband, my friend, Danielle is Jamaican, give me my passport.”

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OPINION

Why Super Eagles’ Victor Osimhen Is The Best Fit For Chelsea

Published

24 hours ago

May 16, 2024

Adaeze Okechi

Why super eagles' Victor Osimhen is best fit for Chelsea | Fab.ng

Chelsea is reportedly interested in Napoli’s Victor Osimhen. The football team is flying high, and a big reason for that is their young attacker, Cole Palmer. The 21-year-old former Manchester City player just put in another impressive performance.

He scored his 22nd goal of the Premier League season in a 1-2 win over Brighton. He’s also chipped in with 10 assists, a number that could be even higher if his teammates finished their chances more consistently.

The biggest culprit here seems to be Senegalese striker Nicolas Jackson. While he’s had a decent first season with 14 league goals (17 in all competitions), his finishing has been a weakness. Jackson has missed a whopping 24 big chances this season, the third-worst mark in the league. Only Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez and Manchester City’s Erling Haaland have been more wasteful.

This lack of a reliable scorer might be why Chelsea is reportedly interested in Napoli’s Victor Osimhen.

The Nigerian striker has announced he’ll be leaving Napoli at the end of the season. Both Chelsea and PSG are in the running for his signature.

PSG needs a replacement for Kylian Mbappe, who’s leaving after seven seasons. Chelsea, on the other hand, wants a proven goal scorer who can guarantee at least 20 goals a season. The pressure has been on Cole Palmer to carry the goal-scoring load, even leading fans to call Chelsea “Cole Palmer FC.”

Napoli is asking a hefty price for Osimhen, likely exceeding £100 million. However, big-spending Chelsea, who’ve splashed over £1 billion since Todd Boehley took over, can likely afford it.

If Chelsea manages to land Victor Osimhen, the league’s leading scorer from last season with 26 goals, Stamford Bridge could be in for a treat. A partnership between Osimhen and Palmer could be a nightmare for defenders and help Chelsea challenge Manchester City for the Premier League title and return to European glory. But will they be able to pull it off? Only time will tell.

For more sports updates, check here.

MOVIES

Sha’Carri Richardson & Noah Lyles To Star In New Netflix “Sprint” Docuseries On The World’s Fastest Humans

Published

1 day ago

May 16, 2024

Reporter

Sha'Carri Richardson and Noah Lyles in 'Sprint' docuseries | fab.ng

Get ready for a new docuseries from Netflix called “Sprint”! This show dives headfirst into the lives of the world’s fastest humans, Noah Lyles and Sha’Carri Richardson. They are the elite sprinters who dedicate their lives to pushing the limits of speed.

Season 1 premieres in July, just in time to fuel your excitement for the Paris Olympics. It features exclusive behind-the-scenes access to world champions, Noah Lyles and Sha’Carri Richardson, both reigning champions in the 100 metres. You’ll see their intense training, pre-race nerves, and the raw emotions of victory and defeat during the 2023 World Championships in Budapest.

But “Sprint” isn’t just about these two superstars.

Season 1 also spotlights the incredible Shericka Jackson, the current queen of the 200-metre dash. This is just a glimpse of the phenomenal athletes viewers can expect to see.

Here’s the exciting part: Season 2 takes things a step further thanks to a partnership between Netflix and the International Olympic Committee. This allows the cameras to follow these top sprinters not just in the lead-up to the Paris Olympics but also at the Games themselves! Imagine the electrifying drama of witnessing these athletes battle it out on the world’s biggest stage.

And the talent pool is truly global! “Sprint” promises to showcase not just American runners, but also stars from Jamaica, the UK, Ivory Coast, Kenya, and Italy.

With this diverse group of athletes, viewers can expect to be inspired by stories of dedication, perseverance, and the pursuit of ultimate speed from all corners of the world.

Mark your calendars for “Sprint” on Netflix. This docuseries promises to be a thrilling and unforgettable journey into the world of elite sprinting.

Check out more updates here.