The PFA Women’s Team of the Year has been announced and players from Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City dominate. The prolific Dutch striker Vivianne Miedema is one of three players from Arsenal included in the team. The division’s top scorer, who has struck 21 times and provided nine assists in 18 appearances to lead the Gunners to the brink of their first title since 2012, is joined in the XI by her midfield team-mates Kim Little and Lia Walti.
PFA Women’s Super League 1 Team of the Year 2019
Sophie Baggaley (Bristol City), Hannah Blundell (Chelsea), Aoife Mannion (Birmingham), Steph Houghton (Manchester City), Demi Stokes (Manchester City), Ji So-yun (Chelsea), Kim Little (Arsenal), Lia Walti (Arsenal), Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea), Nikita Parris (Manchester City), Vivianne Miedema (Arsenal).
Raheem Sterling scooped an award last night for his powerful stance in highlighting racism, stereotyping and abuse in football and the media. He won the Integrity and Impact award at the BT Sport Industry awards and had this to say on stage:
When the next generation come through, you have to set the example. Coming through at Liverpool I had people around me like Steven Gerrard I looked up to. Looking at him I thought what can I do within myself to be half the person and player he was. You take little things and each year, try and develop not just on the field but off it. I was just speaking about my personal experiences, I didn’t expect it to get so much attention. I just wanted to bring it to the attention of my audience on Instagram. It’s been really pleasing to see people listening and trying and do better.” Well done Raheem.
If Liverpool were looking for a positive sign as they do everything they can to overcome the Manchester City machine and win their first league title in 29 years, they could look to their Under-18s for inspiration. They beat City on penalties in the second leg of the FA Youth Cup final last night to take the trophy back to Anfield for the first time since 2007. Pep Guardiola was watching too!
Good morning!
There are just three matchdays left in the Premier League, readers. You can almost smell the end. But as Grace once warbled in 1994: “It’s not over, not over, not over, not over yet!” The weekend’s Premier League action kicks off at Anfield tonight when title-chasing Liverpool host relegated and rock-bottom Huddersfield at 8pm. If the Reds win they will go two points clear of Manchester City in their ridiculously high-quality blinking contest, meaning the Premier League lead would have changed hands a staggering 29 times this season. Pep Guardiola’s side travel to Burnley on Sunday afternoon, where they can snatch the lead back if they do the business and win there. Mind you, they drew 1-1 at Turf Moor last season.
Perhaps it’s not quite as cut and dried as many believed it to be after City’s 2-0 win at Old Trafford. Jürgen Klopp is certainly of that opinion. “It was not the last chance before the [City] game [against United]. Why should it be the last chance after the game?” he said. He also helpfully pointed out that although many have been saying that Liverpool and City are both champion teams this season, the title race “is like Highlander. Only one of us will be there at the end.” Unfortunately for Klopp, he doesn’t have an immortal Scottish swordsman in his squad.
Away from the top two, there are other big matches this weekend. In the race for the top four, Spurs get the chance to close in on qualifying for the Champions League next season when they host West Ham in Saturday’s early kick-off. Cardiff can pile the pressure on Brighton in the scrap to avoid relegation if they beat Fulham before the Seagulls host Newcastle in Saturday’s late kick-off. And Arsenal will hope to put an end to their wretched away from when they visit Leicester at midday on Sunday. They can move up to fourth before Chelsea visit Manchester United in a huge match in the battle for Champions League qualification. United’s top-four hopes would be left in tatters if they lost to Chelsea.
Friday: Liverpool v Huddersfield (8pm)
Saturday: Tottenham v West Ham (12.30pm), Crystal Palace v Everton (3pm), Fulham v Cardiff (3pm), Southampton v Bournemouth (3pm), Watford v Wolves (3pm), Brighton v Newcastle (3pm).
Sunday: Leicester v Arsenal (12pm), Burnley v Manchester City (2.05pm), Manchester United v Chelsea (4.30pm).
There are some huge games in the Championship and Leagues One and Two this weekend too. After stalling countless times, Norwich will look to finally gain promotion back to the Premier League when they host Blackburn at 7.30pm on Saturday. Here’s a handy guide to what’s still at stake in England and Scotland.
And here’s some things (well, 10 of them) to look out for in the English top flight this weekend:
Updated