09:25
More on the social media boycott.
09:23
Preamble
This is the weekend the Premier League title could be won, and if it is the celebrations will take place during a social media blackout from clubs, players, football authorities, newspapers, websites, broadcasters and even some journalists.
Manchester City’s Saturday lunchtime game at Crystal Palace holds the key. Win that, and Liverpool win at Manchester United on Sunday and the socially-distanced celebrations outside the boozers of Heaton Norris can begin.
Before that, Leicester can take a huge step towards securing Champions League qualification by winning at Southampton. Their last visit there? A 9-0 win, of course. Saturday sees Brighton, just about the only team who can get pulled into the mire, hist Leeds. Though should Chelsea beat Fulham and take their own grip on the top four then Graham Potter et al might be able to breathe easier. Later on, Everton play Aston Villa in the race for seventh with Tottenham, and perhaps an entry into whatever the Europa Conference League is.
To quote ESPN’s Dale Johnson, the expert on such things.
The FA Cup final is between Chelsea and Leicester, and if the winners also finish inside the top 6 in the Premier League then 7th enters the UEFA Europa Conference League.
There is a chance that Chelsea win the FA Cup and finish 7th or 8th, and in that event 6th would go into the UEFA Europa Conference League.
Sunday begins with all-but-safe Newcastle host Spotify-targeted Arsenal, who have the Europa League semi-final second leg on their minds. Sunday night sees Tottenham hunting the Europa Conference League, welcome Sheffield United, rock-bottom but coming off beating Brighton last week.
There’s a double-header on Monday, and that will reduce Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher’s talk time; West Brom are chasing a miracle and have a derby match with excitement’s Wolves in early evening. And West Ham have a chance to keep the pressure on the top four with the later game at Burnley.