Arsenal, United eye Europe spot
LUKAKU: BELGIAN STRIKER HAS SUDDENLY FOUND FORM
London
Arsenal host Manchester United in the Premier League tomorrow in a game that may have a bearing on who secures a Champions League spot for next season.
Third-placed Tottenham, now realistically out of the title race, are just five points clear of sixthplaced Chelsea as the finishing line comes into sight.
Leaders Manchester City host Watford and Liverpool welcome Burnley to Anfield, while Spurs visit Southampton and Chelsea entertain Wolves.
Manchester City have been installed as favourites to retain their Premier League crown after retaking top spot from a faltering Liverpool, but the picture is more complicated than it seems.
Kevin de Bruyne limped off against Bournemouth last week to compound a miserable season for the Belgian while Fernandinho is also currently out of action.
One good piece of news for Guardiola is that defender Aymeric Laporte returned to training this week.
Swiss forward Xherdan Shaqiri made a big impact in the first few months at Liverpool but he appears to have slipped off the radar in recent weeks.
Shaqiri was an unused substitute last week as Liverpool laboured to break down a stubborn Everton defence, drawing 0-0.
Former Liverpool striker John Aldridge believes Liverpool are missing his creative spark.
“He’s a player who can come on and change a game,” Aldridge said. “People are bound to question what’s happened because earlier in the season he was a great option off the bench.”
Lukaku appeared to be one of the fall guys as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made it clear Marcus Rashford was his first choice up front.
A nine-game barren run appeared to justify the decision but the Belgian, taking advantage of a spate of injuries to United’s forwards, has now turned his season around with six goals in three games.
Lukaku has improved his shot conversion rate under Solskjaer and has given United an extra goal threat, either down the right or in the middle.
Arsenal men missed out on returning to the top four after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang saw his late penalty saved by Hugo Lloris in last week’s north London derby draw against Tottenham.
Harry Kane took advantage of a blank week for Sergio Aguero, Mohamed Salah and Aubameyang to revive his chances of winning a third Premier League Golden Boot in four seasons.
The Tottenham star will fancy his chances against struggling Southampton. – Reuters