OLE: GIVE MANCHESTER DUE CREDIT
MANCHESTER UNITED and rivals Manchester City deserve credit for keeping the title race alive, says
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
While Liverpool boss Jurgen
Klopp has moaned about his champions’ injuries, United boss Solskjaer (right) points out they and table-topping rivals City have not looked for any excuses.
United’s trip to West Brom today is their 51st game since Project Restart began last March and Solskjaer said: “Us and City were disadvantaged at the start of the season with the lack of a pre-season.
“We both had played in Europe and had less preparation, so the performances of both teams this season have been remarkable after having to play catch-up.’’
SCOTT PARKER fears a mass exodus from Fulham if they fail to retain their Premier League status.
The Cottagers find themselves 10 points from safety and have a posse of on-loan players lining up every week.
Boss Parker accepts that keeping the likes of RB Leipzig winger Ademola Lookman (right), Chelsea’s Ruben Loftuscheek and Paris Saintgermain keeper
Alphonse
Areola could be impossible if Fulham go down.
Ahead of today’s trip to Everton, Parker confirmed the battle to beat the drop will be key to determining the future of his squad.
He said: “It’s an area I’m constantly aware of. You’re developing a team and a style, and the last thing you want is a constant turnover of players and to keep starting over.”
BRENTFORD will be looking to extend their unbeaten record in the Championship to 22 matches as they host Barnsley today.
The humblewest London club beat Reading 3-1 on Wednesday to move top of the second tier and they will be hoping that by sticking to their tried and
TODAY, 1PM
trusted formula they will be returning to the top flight for the first time in 74 years.
Six months ago Thomas Frank’s side missed automatic promotion to the Premier League by losing to Barnsley on the final day of the season, then fell agonisingly to local rivals Fulham in the play-off final.
Yet despite their red-hot streak, Frank said: “We are not winning anything by being top, we are not achieving anything.
“It is about trying to get as many points as early as possible so you don’t need to play catch-up.”
AUSTRALIA’S Ash Barty won her first-ever match behind closed doors as she beat No.29 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-2 6-4.
The world No.1, who did not play after lockdown last year, said: “It felt strange.”
Heather Watson has called for electronic line calling on all courts at Wimbledon. The British No.2 said: “I love the Hawkeye system because I know there is no arguing with the technology.”
Meanwhile, Greek ATP Cup player Michail Pervolarakis has tested positive for Covid19 after arriving in South Africa from Australia.