Premier League

NONI MADUEKE believes Chelsea suffer from huge hangovers and it is hampering their masterplan to break back into the Premier League elite.The winger scored a cracking goal at Sheffield United but finished the game a frustrated figure from a 2-2 draw.Noni Madueke has revealed Chelsea’s key weakness this seasonCredit: GettyChelsea have struggled to maintain winning momentum after a big resultCredit: APMadueke has developed a theory that Chelsea experience massive comedowns after big results – Sunday’s late collapse at Bramall Lane came three days after an epic 4-3 win over Manchester United.The England Under-21 player said: “Our Achilles heel this season has been cashing in after a big win. We had an amazing result the other day and needed to keep rolling.“The way we drop points sometimes, it’s in the palm of our hands.“I don’t know what to say other than there are still games to go and we have to go again and stick together.”Read More on ChelseaThe wobbly performance prompted fed-up boss Mauricio Pochettino to claim his young team is “not mature enough to compete every few days”.Madueke, 22, added: “We still have faith we can finish in the places we want to finish in. But we have to cut that [dropping points] out sooner rather than later.’‘This was always going to be a difficult game, a different game to Manchester United at home.“However, I feel like it’s a game we should’ve won and until the end, it looked like we would. But we couldn’t quite get over the line which is disappointing for sure.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSChelsea have some challenging fixtures coming up“It’s the fashion in which we drew the game. Credit to them, they are at the bottom and they are fighting, but we really should’ve wrapped up the points.“It is not about killing each other, we have to stick together. There are eight games left, that’s 24 points up for grabs and our mentality has to be to get as many of them as possible, if not all of them.”Mauricio Pochettino refuses to kiss Chelsea badge or ‘do stupid things’ on touchlineThey have a point. This is Chelsea’s first season under Pochettino and at regular intervals, his expensive but raw squad has failed to build on a positive result.SunSport have looked at some of the club’s most memorable results this season and the games that followed.Chelsea 1-1 Liverpool (August 2023)Chelsea drew 1-1 with title-chasing Liverpool in their first game of the campaign then crashed 3-1 at London rivals West Ham.The Blues lost to West Ham after sharing points with LiverpoolCredit: GettyThe Hammers had even gone down to ten men with over 20 minutes to play.It was also a disastrous debut for record signing Moises Caicedo, who gave away a penalty late in the match.Chelsea 2-2 Arsenal (October 2023)October saw a creditable 2-2 draw at Arsenal, also bidding to win the Premier League now, followed by an embarrassing 2-0 home defeat to minnows Brentford.Chelsea held Arsenal to a draw, but then lost to BrentfordCredit: GettyChelsea 4-4 Manchester City (November 2023)Pochettino thought the season had been ignited in a spectacular 4-4 draw with Treble winners Manchester City the next month, only for them to get stuffed 4-1 at Newcastle a week later.Chelsea 3-2 Brighton (December 2023)A narrow victory over Brighton preceded a defeat at Manchester United last December.Cole Palmer cancelled out Scott McTominay’s opener at Old Trafford, but the Scot restored United’s lead in the second half.Chelsea 3-2 Leeds United (February 2024)Conor Gallagher’s stunning winner eight seconds from time to see off Leeds in the FA Cup fifth round was hailed as a huge psychological booster in an erratic campaign.Chelsea fans turned on manager Pochettino and the club’s owners just three days after when they were lucky to escape from Brentford with a point in February.Chelsea 4-2 Leicester City (March 2024)The Blues booked their spot in the FA Cup semi-finals with a 4-2 win over Leicester at Stamford Bridge.However, they failed to keep the momentum going with a 2-2 draw against relegation candidates Burnley the following week.Chelsea 4-3 Manchester United (April 2024)Last week’s memorable victory over Manchester United sparked mayhem in the stands and on the pitch at Stamford Bridge.Sunday’s feeble follow up was met with a resigned shrug by most of the travelling supporters who are used to the erratic nature of their players.Chelsea clinched a dramatic win against Man Utd last week but then dropped points to Sheffield UnitedCredit: APThe nasty habit of inconsistency leaves Pochettino under intense pressure as time ticks away on the attempt to qualify for the Europa or Europa Conference League next season.READ MORE SUN STORIESChelsea have missed European football this year and it costs them dearly. It could cost Pochettino his job ultimately.They have until next Monday to get their act together following the disappointment at Sheffield United. More

GARY NEVILLE slammed Manchester United for their defensive frailties after the draw with Liverpool.The pundit took aim at Erik ten Hag and the way he has set up his team in recent weeks, questioning why his side concede so many shots on goal.Gary Neville slammed Erik ten Hag for the way he sets up his sideCredit: GettyManchester United conceded 28 shots against LiverpoolCredit: GettyUnited sat back for large spells during the matchLiverpool had 28 shots in the 2-2 draw – the most United have ever conceded in a Premier League home game.It has been a recurring theme in recent weeks for the Red Devils, who allowed Brentford to have 31 shots and Chelsea 28 in recent games.Neville criticised United’s lack of defensive structure and claimed they are the worst team in the league out of possession.He said on The Gary Neville Podcast: “Their structure defensively goes from being in shape and being OK to all of a sudden emptying the whole midfield. Players press on their own without the rest of their team-mates going with them.READ MORE ON MAN UTD”You have players in front of the ball at throw-ins and the ball gets thrown in behind towards the back four.”All of the things that you see as, if you like, the easiest things in football to do, Manchester United do really badly.”No other team in the league plays as badly out of possession as they do. That’s why they concede so many shots, and over 20 against Liverpool. That has got to stop and stop quickly.”Neville also reserved criticism for one Red Devils in particular – Kobbie Mainoo.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERThe youngster scored a brilliant goal but Neville claimed his positioning throughout the match “defied logic”.Neville said: “Look where Mainoo is there, he’s ahead of the ball at the throw in. As a central midfield player, I always think you’ve got to run back.”Neville and Carragher’s reaction to Man Utd vs Liverpool emerges in behind-the-scenes clip but fans spot bigger concernFellow pundit Jamie Carragher interjected: “There’s a man-marking system, no doubt he’s got his eye on Mac Allister.”Neville replied: “Forget about that, forget about Mac Allister, don’t be ahead of the ball, get up to that one, he’s moving up there now.”Kobbie Mainoo left acres of space in midfield at times More

MANCHESTER United fans have been left fuming at the decision to hand Liverpool a late penalty in Sunday’s 2-2 draw after new footage emerged.Mo Salah earned Jurgen Klopp’s side a vital point when he converted from the spot following a foul on Harvey Elliott by Aaron Wan-Bissaka.New footage has emerged of Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s tackle on Harvey Elliot that handed Liverpool a late penaltyCredit: XFans claimed Wan-Bissaka made no contact with ElliottCredit: AFPElliott tripped over the defender’s leg in the 84th minute of the gameCredit: GettyReferee Anthony Taylor immediately gave the visitors a penalty, leaving United fans fumingCredit: GettyLuis Diaz put Jurgen Klopp’s side in front at Old Trafford, but Bruno Fernandes equalised for United after a mistake from Jarell Quansah.Kobbie Mainoo then scored a stunning goal to give United the lead in the 67th minute. However, controversy arose when Harvey Elliott appeared to be fouled by Aaron Wan-Bissaka in the box in the 84th minute, resulting in a penalty. Fans have since questioned the decision after slow-motion footage appeared to show Wan-Bissaka committing to the challenge before Elliott kicked the ball away and hooked his foot under the defender’s leg.READ MORE ON MAN UTDWith the footage going viral, plenty of fans had their say.One said: “Literally no contact !! So fuming.”Another added: “How tf this was a penalty. Harvey Elliot fell onto Wan Bissaka’s leg he didn’t even touch him lmao. LiVARpool at it’s finest.”A third then put: “I’m still fuming over that Penalty, Harvey Elliott dragged his right leg waiting for a contact from Wan Bissaka… What is the essence of VAR if it can rectify this silly errors?”Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERAnother supporter echoed this view, likening it to the late penalty that United conceded to Chelsea on Thursday evening.They said: ” ‘I have watched this video a million times and also watched the penalty given to Chelsea a million times WTF are these decisions? “erik ten haag post match interviewLiverpool only taking a point from Old Trafford opens up the race for the Premier League title.The Reds are behind Arsenal only on goal difference and ahead of Manchester City by a point.How the title run-ins compareIt’s going to go right down to the wire with just one point separating the top three – but how do Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City’s run-ins compare?
ARSENAL: Aston Villa (H), Wolves (A) Chelsea (H), Spurs (A), Bournemouth (H), Man Utd (A) and Everton (H)
LIVERPOOL: Crystal Palace (H), Fulham (A), Everton (A), West Ham (A), Tottenham (H), Aston Villa (A), Wolves (H)
MAN CITY: Luton (H), Brighton (A), Nottingham Forest (A), Wolves (H), Fulham (A), West Ham (H) and Tottenham (A TBC) More

ROY KEANE jokingly suggested Erik ten Hag “had a couple of glasses of wine” before his TV interview following Manchester United’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool.The Red Devils icon, 52, raged at the Red Devils’ tactics on Sunday evening as they were largely dominated by Jurgen Klopp’s men at Old Trafford.Manchester United legend Roy Keane joked Erik ten Hag had drunk some wine before his post-match interviewCredit: Sky SportsErik ten Hag still spoke about the positives following his side’s draw with LiverpoolCredit: AlamyA quick-fire double in the second half ultimately earned Man Utd a point, though the performance still left a lot to be desired.Yet Ten Hag remained somewhat upbeat as he hailed his team for “improving”.He said: “I have very mixed emotions. On one side, I am disappointed that we have dropped seven points [from their last three games], but we have to blame ourselves for making stupid mistakes.”On the other side I am very proud. You see how we are improving and the potential of this squad is amazing.”READ MORE ON MAN UTDThe comments left Keane beside himself as he admitted he sees a very different Man Utd side.Speaking on Sky Sports, he said: “Listen, obviously he’s had a couple of glasses of wine after the game.”I don’t know how strong that is, but he seemed really upbeat, and I admire him for that, because he’s obviously seen something that I’m not seeing at this moment in time.”He then went on to add: “The way Man Utd are playing is like a mid-table team, a small club.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS”You don’t know what you’re going to get.”Man Utd conceded a late penalty that Mo Salah converted as Ten Hag’s side spurned more points from a winning position.erik ten haag post match interviewThey scored in stoppage time against Brentford, only to concede an even later equaliser.Five days later, they then gave up a 3-2 lead at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea roared back to claim a thrilling 4-3 victory.And the Liverpool draw now means they have won just one of their last five Premier League games.The poor run leaves them 11 points adrift of fourth-place Tottenham and fifth-place Aston Villa with just seven games remaining as they look set to miss out on Champions League football.Keane added: “They are competing at this moment in time with Aston Villa and Spurs for that fourth and fifth position, and at this stage, they’re well behind them.”So I don’t get his positivity. Maybe that’s just me being a bit old and grumpy.”Ten Hag’s side look set to miss out on Champions League football next seasonCredit: Getty More