Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Magpies soar into Champs League reckoning
NEWCASTLE’S expected threat to the Premier League’s traditional top six has arrived ahead of schedule, with the Mapgies well in the running for a place in next season’s Champions League.
A run of 13 points from a possible 15, including trips to Manchester United and Tottenham, has propelled Eddie Howe’s men ahead of United, Chelsea and Liverpool into fourth.
Just one year into the club’s Saudi ownership and having spent over £220 million (about R4.627 billion) on new players, Newcastle have been transformed from battling relegation to competing for Europe.
Victory at home to Aston Villa today will lift Newcastle up to third.
The former Bournemouth boss has turned around the careers of Joelinton and Miguel Almiron from seemingly expensive flops of the Mike Ashley era into stars of the season so far.
With Arsenal and Manchester City setting the pace at the top of the table, Newcastle muscling in on the Champions League places could leave three of Chelsea, Liverpool, United and Tottenham outside the top four come the end of the season.
The pressure is therefore on Chelsea boss Graham Potter to restore the Blues to winning ways in the
Premier League when he returns to Brighton today.
Potter is yet to lose in nine games since departing the south coast last month to replace Thomas Tuchel at Stamford Bridge.
But back-to-back draws against Brentford and Manchester United have seen Chelsea slip to fifth.
Promising performances against Newcastle, Tottenham and Chelsea have sparked optimism around where Manchester United are headed under Erik ten Hag.
But the Dutchman also needs to turn those plaudits into points when West Ham visit Old Trafford with the Red Devils having won only two of their last five league games.
Both Liverpool and Leeds are in desperate need of a win when they face off today.
A run of eight games without a win has plummeted Leeds into the relegation zone.
Liverpool appeared to be finding their rhythm after a slow start to the season before losing at bottomof-the-table Nottingham Forest last weekend.
The Reds are already 12 points off the top of the table, but most of their troubles have been on the road as they remain unbeaten in front of a crowd at Anfield in the league since 2017