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How are the Premier League stars performing at Copa America?

Posted on by Harry Howes

With the late kick-off times and Euro fever taking over the nation, it can be difficult keeping up with Copa America.

Yet the tournament in the USA has been quietly bubbling away across the pond. The quarter-finals get underway this weekend, with Argentina looking to retain the title they won in Brazil three years ago.

Ahead of the knockout stages, we’ve taken a look at how all of the Premier League representatives have been performing.

Quarter-final fixtures

Argentina v Ecuador – Friday 5th July

Venezuela v Canada – Saturday 6th July

Colombia v Panama – Saturday 6th July

Uruguay v Brazil – Sunday 7th July

Liverpool pair to lock horns in quarter-final

The final eight has drawn South American sides Uruguay and Brazil together in a game that will be keenly observed by Liverpool fans across the globe. The match sees the often impenetrable goalkeeper Alisson come up against teammate Darwin Nunez who is proving to be rather prolific on the international stage.

The 25-year-old has scored twice in the tournament so far, helping his side top Group C with three wins out of three. In fact, Nunez’s blank in Uruguay’s final game ended his run of scoring in seven consecutive games for his nation.

Nunez has Premier League back-up supporting him in attack, notably in the form of Manchester United youngster Facundo Pellistri. The winger has played almost every minute for Uruguay, popping up with a goal and an assist. Meanwhile, Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur has found gametime hard to come by. Despite this, he still found himself on the scoresheet in Uruguay’s 5-0 drubbing of Bolivia.

Nunez and co. will fancy their chances when they take to the pitch in the early hours of Sunday morning. While Brazil are traditionally among the world’s best, they’re yet to find their rhythm in the tournament and finished as runners-up in their group behind Colombia.

Alisson will be hoping he can thwart Liverpool colleague Nunez, aided by the assistance of Premier League stars Bruno Guimaraes and Joao Gomes, who have been near ever-present during the competition.

West Ham attacker Lucas Paqeuta has contributed, popping up with a goal and an assist in Brazil’s 4-1 win over Paraguay. However, Arsenal duo Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Martinelli have barely featured.

Crystal Palace duo star for Colombia

It’s a measure of the progress Crystal Palace have made in recent years that their players are starring at both the Euros and Copa America, something their fans have certainly never been used to.

Yet it’s a pair of Eagles that are soaring for surprise package Colombia, most notably marauding right-back Daniel Munoz. The 28-year-old has his sights set on the Golden Boot having scored twice so far, including an equaliser against Brazil on Wednesday.

Munoz also netted in his side’s opening game, as did Palace teammate Jefferson Lerma. The 2-1 victory against Paraguay set Colombia on their way as they finished ahead of Brazil to top Group D and set up a quarter-final meeting with Panama.

Liverpool star Luiz Diaz has also been a key figure in Colombia’s success. He scored the opener in their 3-0 win over Costa Rica and he’ll be essential if they want to reach the latter stages of the tournament. Chelsea target Jhon Duran and Bournemouth’s Luis Sinisterra are part of the Colombia squad but have struggled for minutes so far.

Chelsea midfielders go head-to-head

Much like Nunez’s impending battle with Alisson, the Copa America quarter-finals could see another pair of club team-mates come up against each other. Argentina take on Ecuador this Friday, with Chelsea midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo competing on opposite sides.

Fernandez will be desperate to prove himself against his west London counterpart but he’s been mainly used from the bench so far despite starring for Argentina as they won the World Cup in Qatar 18 months ago.

Elsewhere, Argentina’s squad resembles a ‘who’s who’ of Premier League stars. Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Maritnez has kept three clean sheets so far, with Lisandro Martinez and Cristian Romero playing their part in a solid defence.

Manchester City star Julian Alvarez has scored once so far, netting in the opening game against Canada. Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister will be hoping to continue his promising season by contributing in the tournament, while Alejandro Garnacho and Giovani Lo Celso have also seen minutes.

Caicedo’s former Brighton teammate Jeremy Sarmiento has been a bright spark for Ecuador so far. The tricky winger, who spent last season on loan at Championship sides West Brom and Ipswich, has been heavily involved and scored in his side’s defeat against Venezuela.

An early exit for some Premier League stars

While there are plenty of Premier League players in with a shout of winning the competition, for some familiar names it just wasn’t to be. Jamaica crashed out after losing all three games, with Aston Villa’s Leon Bailey refusing to be part of the squad after falling out with the hierarchy.

Brentford’s Ethan Pinnock was unable to prevent his side shipping seven goals in their three defeats. However, there was some joy for West Ham attacker Michail Antonio. He scored Jamaica’s first ever Copa America goal and their only one of the tournament in a 3-1 loss to Ecuador.

Elsewhere, the USA were eliminated as they finished third in Group C after a shock defeat to Panama. Palace defender Chris Richards was an ever-present alongside Fulham duo Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson. Matt Turner and Tyler Adams also featured.

And finally, Paraguay finished rock-bottom of their group following three defeats. Brighton’s Julio Enciso netted in their game against Colombia, while Newcastle’s Miguel Almiron was also involved.

Premier League fixtures: The ultimate guide to the 2024/25 season

Posted on by Harry Howes

While the Euros is currently providing us all with our football fix, this summer’s international tournament will be done and dusted in a few weeks. Luckily, the Premier League fixtures for the 2024/25 season were released this week, whetting the appetite for what’s set to be another thrilling campaign.

Manchester City are looking to defend their Premier League crown as they target a record fifth consecutive title. Meanwhile, we’ve got three new teams to add to the mix. Leicester and Southampton have bounced back up at the first time of asking, while Ipswich return to the top table for the first time since they were relegated back in 2002.

With hundreds of fixtures to look forward to throughout the season, we’ve taken a look at all the key match-ups.

The opening weekend

There’s nothing quite like the opening weekend of the Premier League season. New kits, new signings and a new sense of optimism for everybody involved. This year’s campaign gets underway on Friday 16th August as Manchester United host Fulham in the season’s curtain raiser, with Erik ten Hag set to remain in charge after guiding the Red Devils to FA Cup success last month.

Meanwhile, new Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca faces a baptism of fire as his side welcome City to Stamford Bridge. Arsenal have gone toe-to-toe with City in the title race in the past two seasons and they’ll be hoping to go all the way this time. Mikel Arteta’s Gunners begin their new campaign at home to Wolves.

Meanwhile, things couldn’t have been much harder for new boys Ipswich. They start their campaign by hosting Liverpool at Portman Road, although it could be a good time to face the Reds as they start life under new boss Arne Slot following Jurgen Klopp’s departure.

Friday 16th August

Manchester United v Fulham

Saturday 17th August

Ipswich v Liverpool
Arsenal v Wolves
Everton v Brighton
Newcastle v Southampton
Nottingham Forest v Bournemouth
West Ham v Aston Villa

Sunday 18th August

Brentford v Crystal Palace
Chelsea v Manchester City

Monday 19th August

Leicester v Tottenham

The title race

Arsenal finished two points shy of City last season despite dropping points in just two league games in 2024. They’ll be targeting wins over their title rivals as they look to win the league for the first time since 2004. A late season trip to Anfield could be crucial in both theirs and Liverpool’s seasons.

City will have all of their games against Arsenal and Liverpool wrapped up before March, which may alleviate some of the pressure on them if they’re in a good position. On the contrary, if they’re playing catch up then not having the chance to face their rivals could limit their opportunities to make up ground.

Key matches in the title race

Manchester City v Arsenal – Saturday 21st September
Arsenal v Liverpool – Saturday 26th October
Liverpool v Manchester City – Saturday 30th November
Arsenal v Manchester City – Saturday 1st February
Manchester City v Liverpool – Saturday 22nd February
Liverpool v Arsenal – Saturday 10th May

Derby days

After the opening day, final day and the festive period, the games every fan looks for when the fixtures are released are those against their fiercest rivals. Liverpool will be desperate to get one over on neighbours Everton after the Toffees’ 2-0 win at Goodison Park in April ended any remaining hopes they had of winning the title.

Manchester City v Manchester United – Saturday 14th December
Manchester United v Manchester City – Saturday 5th April

Tottenham v Arsenal – Saturday 14th September
Arsenal v Tottenham – Tuesday 14th January

Manchester United v Liverpool – Saturday 31st August
Liverpool v Manchester United – Saturday 4th January

Everton v Liverpool – Saturday 7th December
Liverpool v Everton – Wednesday 2nd April

Tottenham v Chelsea – Saturday 7th December
Chelsea v Tottenham – Wednesday 2nd April

Brighton v Crystal Palace – Saturday 14th December
Crystal Palace v Brighton – Saturday 5th April

Leicester v Nottingham Forest – Saturday 26th October
Nottingham Forest v Leicester – Saturday 10th May

The final day

The season hasn’t even begun so it feels strange to already be looking ahead to the final day. However, with so many twists and turns to come, the last games of the campaign could be crucial at both ends of the table.

City head to Fulham where they’ll be looking to be crowned champions again, while Arsenal face a trip to Southampton. Meanwhile, Liverpool face a potential bana skin at home to Palace, who beat them 1-0 in April.

At the other end of the table, Ipswich may well be fighting for their lives as they take on West Ham. Forest may struggle again and they’ll be hoping their opponents Chelsea have nothing to play for by then. Bournemouth face Leicester and Wolves meet Brentford in two games that have the potential to be deciding six-pointers.

Sunday 25th May

Bournemouth v Leicester
Fulham v Manchester City
Ipswich v West Ham
Liverpool v Crystal Palace
Manchester United v Aston Villa
Newcastle v Everton
Nottingham Forest v Chelsea
Southampton v Arsenal
Tottenham v Brighton
Wolves v Brentford

Euro 2024 ultimate preview: Can England win it all?

Posted on by Harry Howes

The wait is over – today’s the day. 24 nations across Europe are gripped with football fever as Euro 2024 is about to kick off.

The first match takes place tonight, with hosts Germany taking on Scotland, and we’re then set for wall-to-wall football action for a month, with the final taking place on Sunday 14th July.

England will be desperate to be there as they look to heal the wounds of coming so close last time out. But it won’t be an easy ride, with plenty of competition looking to stop them in their tracks.

Can England end 58 years of hurt?

They’ve got a very good chance! While on paper many believe France have the best squad, England remain the bookies’ favourites. The Three Lions reached the final last time out as a penalty shootout defeat to Italy broke the nation’s hearts.

But since then, their key players have gone from strength to strength. Young stars from Euro 2021 like Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden and Declan Rice have developed into world class talents. Meanwhile, England stalwarts like Harry Kane, John Stones, Kyle Walker and Jordan Pickford have retained their class.

Kane will be playing the tournament on home soil having enjoyed a stunning debut season at Bayern Munich, scoring 44 goals in all competitions as they reached the Champions League semi-final. Meanwhile, Bellingham took no time in finding his feet at Real Madrid. After dazzling at Borussia Dortmund for three years, the 20-year-old scored 23 times in a more advanced role as Real won La Liga and the Champions League.

Gareth Southgate has often been accused of picking his favourites and ignoring players in form but that couldn’t be further from the truth this time. He threw up a shock as Marcus Rashford was left out of the preliminary squad after a disappointing season for Manchester United. And then when the final squad was announced, Jack Grealish and James Maddison were notable omissions.

Their loss is the gain of others, as the likes of Eberechi Eze, Adam Wharton, Anthony Gordon and Kobbie Mainoo have been rewarded for their spectacular club form in recent months. England now have a genuinely quality squad, with a balance of formidable world beaters, reliable stars and exciting wildcards.

They’ll have every confidence of going all the way – the only question mark will be whether Southgate adopts a bold attitude when it comes to his team selection. He’s been guilty of a negative set up in the past but when you have a side packed with quality, you need to be on the front foot and controlling games, which certainly wasn’t the case in England’s final friendly against Iceland.

But with their opening game just a few days away, football fans up and down the country are starting to get excited and if you listen carefully, you can hear the faint sounds of ‘It’s coming home’ starting to build momentum.

England’s group games

●    England v Serbia – Sunday 16th June, 8pm
●    England v Denmark – Thursday 20th June, 5pm
●    England v Slovenia – Tuesday 25th June, 8pm

Who are England’s main challengers?

It goes without saying that France are among the biggest threats. Long gone are the days when the French would collapse at international tournaments and crash out in the group stages. Their exciting young squad won the World Cup in 2018 before reaching the final again in Qatar 18 months ago, where they couldn’t quite beat Lionel Messi’s Argentina.

Yet despite their strengths, they’re not invincible and they were shocked at the last Euros when neighbours Switzerland held them to a 3-3 draw before knocking them out on penalties.

In any case, Didier Deschamps boasts an incredible array of talent with a winning mentality. Kylian Mbappe is among the clear favourites to claim the Golden Boot (if he can shake off his illness) and as well as his young teammates, he’ll also be backed up by the experience of Olivier Giroud and Antoine Griezmann, who both seem to age like a fine wine.

Elsewhere, Germany may not be the formidable side they were 10 years ago when they won the World Cup in Brazil. However, they’ll fancy their chances at winning on home soil in what would be their first Euros triumph since 1996.

They’ve entered a new era under Julian Nagelsmann and they’re looking to the future, with exciting youngsters like Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz ready to take the mantle from old guard Thomas Muller, Toni Kroos and Manuel Neuer, who are surely entering their final tournament for Germany.

Euro 2024 may also be the final time we see Cristiano Ronaldo grace this competition. The 39-year-old helped his side to glory in France eight years ago and he’ll be desperate to go out with another piece of silverware. The Portuguese squad is littered with notable attacking stars, including Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Diogo Jota and Joao Felix, while veteran defender Pepe is still holding firm at the back.

Meanwhile, Spain will also be looking to challenge. Their days of winning tournaments before they’ve even started are in the past, but they still boast a strong squad. However, these competitions often throw up a shock with a big nation going out in the groups and Spain find themselves in the traditional ‘group of death’ alongside Croatia and Italy.

Who are the dark horses?

It seems bizarre that the holders of the trophy can be considered outsiders but Italy aren’t particularly fancied to retain their crown. They went all the way last time out, beating England on penalties in the final. However, their squad lacks the ‘X factor’ it once had, with no standout star like Ronaldo, Mbappe or Kane that can win them a game out of nowhere. Saying that, they always seem to find a way to grind out a route to the latter stages.

Elsewhere, Croatia and Belgium will always pose a threat, with talismen Luka Modric and Romelu Lukaku regular stars in this competition. The Netherlands will fancy their chances with Virgil van Dijk at the back and although Memphis Depay struggled at Manchester United all those years ago, he always shows up for his country.

Finally, Denmark are a genuine overlooked outsider. They reached the semi-finals four years ago, narrowly losing 2-1 to England in extra-time after taking the lead at Wembley. Their squad is full of recognisable Premier League talent and we’ll truly see what they’re made of when they face England in the group stage.

FA Cup Final Preview – Another Manchester Derby at Wembley

Posted on by Duncan Hughes

The weekend saw the end of a thrilling Premier League campaign with a title decider on the final day. Manchester City won their fourth consecutive title, snatching the trophy from Arsenal’s grasp by two points. For 18 of the Premier League clubs that is the season complete as far as they are concerned, however, for the two Manchester clubs there is still silverware to play for.

A repeat of last year’s final, Wembley will host another Manchester derby as Erik Ten Hag’s Manchester United will try to prevent Manchester City from winning a second consecutive FA Cup over them. City are targeting yet another trophy at Wembley while a defeat for United would put the lid on a very mediocre season and unveil further questions about Ten Hag’s future as head coach.

An 8th place finish in the league, knocked out in, what seemed, a comfortable Champions League group and no European football on the cards for next year, unless they win the FA Cup; it has been bleak for the Red Devils. Questions over Ten Hag’s tenure at the club have been raised, however, two wins to complete the season over Newcastle and Brighton may provide momentum for Ten Hag to redeem himself under the Wembley Arch.

City, on the other hand, have been ruthless once again this season. Narrowly knocked out of the Champions League on penalties to Real Madrid, they are unbeaten (excluding penalties) since December helping them storm to their eighth Premier League title; their sixth in seven years. At the moment they seem unstoppable, with 9 Premier League wins on the bounce and 20 goals in their last six games, any team will fear Guardiola’s side at the moment. Can they also claim their eighth FA Cup?

The 2023 FA Cup final was also a Manchester Derby and one in which City came out on top. Ilkay Gundogan opened the scoring in just 12 seconds as City took an early lead, before Bruno Fernandes levelled the scoring from the penalty spot just after the first half hour.

However, it was Gundogan again who ultimately grabbed the winner just after half-time as City were 2-1 winners. Gundogan’s opening goal was the fastest goal in FA Cup final history, surpassing Louis Saha’s record goal by 13 seconds from 2009.

Treble winners last year, City will be determined to add to their Premier League trophy after the disappointment of not being able to defend their Champions League title. The Blue side of Manchester will go into this one as strong favourites. With that said, City will need to be on their A game with the added pressure of a derby and a final, anything is possible as Ten Hag’s men will be keen to rain on City’s parade.

So who do you think will win this famous fixture and add another piece of silverware to their illustrious collection? An underdog win for United, or do Manchester City win yet another major trophy? It will certainly be a thrilling spectacle and has the possibility of a classic Wembley final.

Want to watch it live from the best seats in the house? Check out Engage’s hospitality offers to watch the FA Cup finale!

Looking back on another thrilling Premier League season

Posted on by Harry Howes

There are three certainties in life: death, taxes and Manchester City winning the league. Another incredible Premier League season has come to a close, with City pipping Arsenal to claim yet another title.

As we start counting down the days until the next campaign starts (only 88 to go!), we’ve taken a look back at all the key moments that made the 2023/24 season so special.

Man City hold off Arsenal to claim record title

The title race went down to the final day but sadly for Arsenal, they needed something to happen that so very rarely does at this stage of the season – Manchester City to drop points.

And the north London side’s hopes were as good as over after just two minutes as Phil Foden fired City ahead against West Ham. The defending champions were imperious in the final few months of the campaign as they became the first team to ever win four successive Premier League titles. It was their sixth under Pep Guardiola and they could complete yet another double when they meet neighbours Manchester United in the FA Cup final on Saturday.

For the second year in a row, Arsenal were second best but they improved this time around, only missing out by two points. Yet they’ll be confident of improving next season with their young talismen like Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and William Saliba developing into genuine world class players in recent years.

The signings of Declan Rice, David Raya and Kai Havertz have undoubtedly made them stronger and a few shrewd additions in the summer could be the difference for Mikel Arteta’s side next year. But ultimately, to compete with City you can’t afford to take your foot off the gas and Arsenal will look at defeats to Fulham, West Ham and twice against Aston Villa as key turning points in their season.

The champions could argue they weren’t even at their brilliant best this season but their robotic ruthlessness shone through. Erling Haaland didn’t quite hit the heights of last season in terms of goals but he still blew the competition out of the water with 27 goals to claim the golden boot.

Meanwhile, Foden continued to show his brilliance and was rewarded with the Premier League Player of the Year award. England fans across the country will have their fingers firmly crossed that he can continue his form into the Euros.

With Arsenal likely to improve further and City looking as good as ever, it’s clear that these two will once again be the frontrunners in next season’s title race. But whether the Gunners can finally make up the ground is a different question.

Jurgen Klopp signs out with top-four finish

The title battle seemed to be a three-horse race for much of the season but a drop off from Liverpool in recent months saw them ultimately finish third. While Jurgen Klopp would have loved to have signed out with another Premier League trophy, he’ll be pleased to have secured Liverpool Champions League football having missed out a year ago.

The German has called time on his nine-year spell at Anfield in which he won eight trophies, including the 2019 Champions League. Klopp bid an emotional farewell to his home supporters on Sunday and went out on a high as Liverpool ended the season with a 2-0 win over Wolves.

With Arne Slot confirmed as his successor, next season will be an interesting one for Liverpool. The Dutchman has big shoes to fill and Liverpool fans will be forgiven for having reservations, particularly when you look at how Arsenal and Man United struggled in the wake of Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson’s departures.

However, new dawns can be exciting and they have the skeleton of a really strong squad. If Mohamed Salah fancies sticking around and they can add some new faces alongside their young talent, there’s no reason why they can’t challenge.

Liverpool will be joined in next season’s Champions League by Aston Villa, who were the surprise package as they secured fourth. The 1982 European Cup winners are back in the elite competition following a remarkable season that demonstrates the incredible job that Unai Emery has done since taking over 18 months ago.

As well as beating the teams they’d expect to throughout the season, they also proved they can compete with the big boys with a number of huge results, including doing the double over Arsenal and beating Man City, as well as smashing Brighton 6-1 early in the season.

With fourth place confirmed before the final day, there wasn’t a Villa fan in the away end at Selhurst Park on Sunday who cared that their campaign fizzled out with a 5-0 drubbing at the hands of in-form Crystal Palace.

Time will tell how they’ll cope with the addition of high-level European games – Newcastle certainly struggled this year – but it will be a test of how good the likes of Ollie Watkins and co. really are.

A mixed season for the rest of the big six

Tottenham started the season strongly under new boss Ange Postecoglu and their front-footed, aggressive style made them exciting to watch. For a while it looked as though they were going to be just fine without Harry Kane but their campaign petered out, with injuries and loss of form to key players a big factor.

They ultimately finished fifth, two points off a Champions League spot, and too much reliance on Son Heung-min for goals makes attacking reinforcements this summer a necessity if they want to break back into the top four.

Chelsea ended the season superbly, winning their last five games to finish sixth. Mauricio Pochettino took a while to get going in his first campaign at the helm and was regularly bailed out by Cole Palmer, who bagged a remarkable 22 Premier League goals in his maiden season at Stamford Bridge.

It’s impossible to predict how Chelsea will do each season but after years of mismanagement, they look like they may finally have a bit of structure. With a clever transfer window there’s every chance that they’ll be able to compete at the top of the table again.

It’s been a season to forget for Manchester United but an FA cup win on Saturday could give them some reason to be cheerful. Erik ten Hag appears to be a dead man walking and few expect him to still be in charge by the time next season starts.

A miserable eighth-placed finish sums up their dismal performances this campaign and they need a major squad shake up this summer, with plenty of deadwood to ship out. There could be exciting times on the horizon under the new ownership but it can’t be fixed overnight so things may get worse before they get better.

The three promoted clubs go down

There’s no clearer way of showing the gulf between the Premier league and the Championship than when the three promoted clubs go straight back down. The fact that Burnley, Sheffield United and Luton were comfortably relegated in a season where two clubs suffered points deductions is indicative of their woes.

The trio just weren’t good enough and although they enjoyed good moments, particularly Luton, their squads lacked the Premier League quality to survive. Everton and Nottingham Forest will count themselves lucky that they were deducted points in a season where it ultimately didn’t matter, as they may not have got off so lightly in a stronger season.

Man United v Tottenham: Women’s FA Cup Final

Posted on by Harry Howes

The most prestigious competition in world football returns to Wembley this weekend as Manchester United take on Tottenham in the Women’s FA Cup final.

A new name will be etched onto the iconic trophy, with neither side yet to win the honour in their history. United have come closest having reached last year’s final but they were ultimately beaten 1-0 by Chelsea, who claimed their third successive FA Cup.

For Spurs, they’ll be playing the final for the first time and their fans will be forgiven for getting over excited as they’ve never progressed past the quarter-finals before.

The showpiece event gets underway at 2:30pm on Sunday 12th May and you can enjoy the action from the comfort of Wembley’s premier seats. Join us in style and take advantage of Engage’s exclusive hospitality packages.

The road to Wembley

While both sides have earned their spot in the final, their journeys to Wembley couldn’t have been much different. United have strolled past all their challengers, conceding just twice since entering the competition in round four. Meanwhile, Spurs haven’t given their fans a stress-free ride, with plenty of late goals along the way.

United cruised past Newcastle with a 5-0 win before victories at Southampton and Brighton set up a rematch of last year’s final against Chelsea in the semis. Goals from Lucia Garcia and Rachel Williams secured a 2-1 win to book their place at Wembley.

On the other hand, Tottenham’s FA Cup journey could have been over before it started. They found themselves 2-0 down to Championship outfit Sheffield United in the fourth round but

managed to fight their way back and secure a remarkable comeback thanks to Rosella Ayane’s 96th minute winner.

The north London side then edged past Charlton before another goal deep into stoppage time in the following round set up a penalty shootout win against Manchester City. Their semi-final against Leicester looked to be heading to penalties once again but Martha Thomas was on hand late on to fire Spurs through to the final.

Despite their differing journeys, both sides will fancy their chances at lifting the famous trophy for the first time. While United go into the game as favourites, Spurs will take confidence from their 2-2 draw with their opponents a few weeks ago, with a stoppage time equaliser from Maya Le Tissier salvaging a point for the northern side.

Who are the key players?

United carry plenty of goal threat and Nikita Parris has certainly stepped up this season. The 30-year-old has bagged 16 goals in all competitions so far and has taken on the goalscoring burden following Alessia Russo’s summer switch to Arsenal, backed up by the impressive England international Ella Toone.

Similarly, United may not have got this far without the goals of Williams. The striker has largely been used from the bench this year, starting just once in the league, yet she’s the top scorer in the FA Cup with four goals so far. With Sunday’s final expected to be cagey, her impact off the bench late in the game could prove valuable.

And at the other end of the pitch, United’s resilient defence has been heavily influenced by Mary Earps. The 2023 Sports Personality of the Year winner has once again been a rock at the back for Marc Skinner’s side and she’ll be desperate to add an FA Cup winner’s medal to her healthy international collection.

For Spurs, semi-final hero Thomas will be their biggest goal threat as she faces her former side. The Scotland international struggled to make an impact in her two years at United but she’s found a home at Tottenham and is their top scorer in all competitions this year with 10 goals.

Bethany England has also proven her worth up top, chipping in with seven goals. Three of those have come in the FA Cup and she’ll be looking to add to her tally in the competition as she rivals United’s Williams for the honour of the FA Cup’s top scorer.

How are they doing in the WSL?

United achieved their highest-ever finish last season, finishing second in the Women’s Super League and just two points behind champions Chelsea. This time around, they find themselves fifth in the table following Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to rivals Liverpool.

Skinner’s side will be disappointed not to have capitalised on a strong campaign last time out and will be desperate to finish the season in style by claiming the FA Cup. Despite their draw with Spurs last month, a 4-0 victory in north London back in December will give them confidence of securing silverware.

Tottenham are just one place below in sixth but are seven points shy of United. They played out a 2-2 draw with Everton at the weekend to stretch their WSL unbeaten run to five games. Following the FA Cup final they’ll finish the season with clashes against Chelsea and West Ham, while United’s only remaining league fixture is also against Chelsea.

Man United break Coventry hearts to set up FA Cup final against Man City

Posted on by Harry Howes

The FA Cup final next month will be a repeat of last year’s, with two of the country’s biggest clubs – and fiercest rivals – set to lock horns at Wembley. The Manchester derby will once again head south for the weekend, with Manchester United looking to win the competition for a 13th time against neighbours Manchester City.

While United were the favourites to progress to the final as they took on Coventry City on Sunday, things could have been so different as VAR intervened to deny the Championship outfit a late winner in extra-time. Meanwhile, City bounced back from their midweek Champions League exit to edge past Chelsea and continue their hopes of winning the double.

Man United need penalties to beat Coventry

The magic of the FA Cup was alive and well on Sunday as almost 40,000 Coventry fans filled Wembley with a sea of sky blue and hopes of causing an upset. The Midlands side are no stranger to a big day out, having reached last year’s play-off final, while also winning the FA Cup back in 1987.

Coventry fans would have been forgiven for accepting defeat against United as they found themselves 3-0 down, with goals from Scott McTominay, Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes before the hour mark.

Yet the spirit of ‘87 shone through and, combined with complacency from their Premier League opponents, Coventry mounted a remarkable comeback. Ellis Simms pulled one back in the 71st minute before Callum O’Hare added a second eight minutes later.

They piled on the pressure and were given the ultimate lifeline when Aaron Wan-Bissaka handled the ball and Coventry were awarded a penalty. In the fifth minute of stoppage time, Haji Wright stepped up and showed no signs of nerves as he fired the ball past Andre Onana to send the game to extra-time.

As football fans around the world were treated to another 30 minutes of FA Cup action, Coventry had chances to clinch the game. They thought they’d done just that when Victor Torp slotted home with seconds of extra-time left.

But Wright was adjudged to have been offside in the build up and VAR ruled out the goal, sending the match the penalties. It looked like it wasn’t going to be United’s day as experienced midfielder Casemiro fluffed the opening spot-kick.

Yet their luck changed and following misses from O’Hare and Ben Sheaf, Rasmus Hojlund buried the deciding kick to break Coventry hearts and send United to the final for the second successive year.

For Coventry, while they won’t have another FA Cup trip to Wembley this year, they’ll still have memories to last a lifetime and the belief that they can take the game to anyone as they cling on to faint hopes of reaching the play-offs again this season.

Meanwhile, while United now have the chance to end their rivals’ double dreams, their win papers over the cracks of a disappointing season, which no doubt leaves the futures of Erik ten Hag and plenty of the playing squad hanging in the balance as they prepare for a new era.

Man City bounce back from Champions League woes

After Arsenal and Liverpool both slipped up last weekend, Man City started last week on top of the world. They sat in the driving seat in the Premier League title race and were looking forward to a clash of the titans against Real Madrid.

Their joy was short lived as they took their European tie to penalties, only to miss out to the Spanish giants. But rather than feel sorry for themselves, Pep Guardiola’s side regrouped and did what they do best as they put in a professional performance to see off Chelsea at Wembley.

The London side actually had the better of the chances but a string of misses from Nicolas Jackson kept the scoreline level. Chelsea felt they should have had a penalty when Cole Palmer’s free-kick hit Jack Grealish’s arm but the officials had other ideas.

And with just six minutes left on the clock, Bernardo Silva, who missed a penalty in the shootout against Real Madrid, arrived at the back post to lash home the winning goal and send Chelsea home.

Following a disappointing first season for Mauricio Pochettino, an FA Cup win would have provided something to build on going into the summer. Yet the Blues will have to settle for a mid-table finish in a campaign to forget that would have been so much worse without the brilliance of Palmer.

For City, they’ll now have full focus as they target their fourth consecutive Premier League title before they return to Wembley next month to take on United.

The FA Cup Final 2024

As ever, Wembley will be the venue as United and City meet in the FA Cup final. This year’s showpiece match takes place on Saturday 25th May and you can watch all the action from the best seats in the house with Engage’s exclusive hospitality packages.

City came out on top last year, winning the competition for the seventh time, thanks to two goals from Ilkay Gundogan. The German volleyed home after just 12 seconds and after Bruno Fernandes levelled the score with a first-half penalty, it was Gundogan on the scoresheet again as he added a second to secure a 2-1 win.

With Gundogan no longer at the club, the responsibility will fall on somebody else’s shoulders to make themselves a hero for either side, with Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden coming up against the likes of Marcus Rashford, Fernandes and Alejandro Garnacho.

The Premier League Run-In

Posted on by Duncan Hughes

It’s April and it’s crunch-time in the Premier League. After Liverpool and Arsenal suffered defeats at the weekend, was that the final twist in the title race? Are Spurs going to crumble under the pressure in the hunt for a Champions League spot? Will Luton defy all odds and maintain their place in the ‘big time’?

It’s going to be a nervy end to the season and fans all over the country will be fixed on the edge of their seats until that final ball has been kicked on the 19th May. With only 6 games to go for most teams, who will keep their cool?

A 5-1 win over Luton for Manchester City on Saturday saw them top the table with Liverpool and Arsenal still to play. City’s position at the top was precarious as wins for Arsenal and Liverpool would see them drop back down to third. But home defeats for both sides see Pep Guardiola’s team 2 points clear against all odds.

Poor performances for Liverpool and Arsenal might have seen their hopes of a title scuppered with the pair now relying on a City error if they are to have any chance of stopping the title defence.

All three sides are still in contention for European glory as well with Arsenal and City hopeful of victory against Bayern Munich and Real Madrid this week. On the other hand, Liverpool were serious favourites for the Europa League until they suffered a heavy defeat to Atalanta in the first leg of their quarter final. They have a mountain to climb in the second leg if they are to build on their League Cup victory.

City remain the only side out of the top 3 in the FA Cup. Guardiola’s side will face Chelsea in the semi-final of the competition. Can they do the unthinkable and win the treble for the second consecutive year?

What about the battle for Europe? Aston Villa’s win didn’t just have an impact on the title race, it also strengthened their hopes of a Champions League place at the end of the season. After Spurs were beaten 4-0 away at Newcastle, Unai Emery’s men capitalised at the Emirates to go three points clear of the North London side in 5th place, albeit having played a game more.

Also, still in the Europa Conference League, Villa have the chance of silverware this campaign as well as the opportunity to take on Europe’s elite for the first time since 1983.

A tough run-in for Spurs may dent their hopes of Champions League football, however, European football will almost definitely be on the cards for Postecoglou’s men. Newcastle, Manchester United and Chelsea will also join them in the hunt for European football next season after below-par terms for each side.

West Ham also find themselves in with a sniff of European football next year, however, some poor performances of late put their chances at risk. They are still in the Europa League but face a 2-0 deficit going into the quarter final second leg against unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen who are on an astonishing run.

At the other end of the table, there’s a relegation scrap. With Sheffield United all but relegated and Burnley heading in the same direction, who will be joining them in the Championship next season?

Luton currently hold the final relegation spot. It’s the Hatters’ first time in the Premier League since its inception and everyone had written them off before the season had begun.

However, Rob Edwards has done a magnificent job with the resources he has got and they find themselves 1 point from safety. It was just 10 years ago Luton found themselves in what is today known as the National League. A brilliant rise through the divisions, can they retain their Premier League status?

It won’t be easy but they have their eyes set on a Nottingham Forest and Everton side who have been struck by points deductions. Tough campaigns for both teams see the pair balanced precariously above the drop zone. After Everton’s 6-0 drubbing at Chelsea on Monday night, and one win in 2024, it’s hard to see where Sean Dyche’s team will regain their fighting spirit again.

Forest, on the other hand, face 2 out of the bottom 5 teams in their remaining fixtures. Defeat for Nuno Espirito Santo’s men was a kick in teeth but a much needed 3 points for Everton, especially with Liverpool and Arsenal still to play for the Toffees. Everton do have a game in hand, which could prove vital come the end of the campaign.

So how do you think the season will finish? Who will win the league? Who will go down? Who will secure European football? With everything to play for, find out who will finish where with Engage Hospitality from the best seats in the house. 

Euro 2024: Will Southgate finally deliver?

Posted on by Duncan Hughes

With the Premier League on pause, the International break gives us the chance to take a look ahead at this year’s major tournament: Euro 2024. Gareth Southgate and his England side will once again look to make a major international tournament count after coming so close to a trophy in recent years. After agony in 2021 when beaten by Italy in the final on home turf and a narrow defeat to France in the 2022 World Cup quarter-final, will it finally be England’s year?

The appointment of Gareth Southgate brought with it a great amount of uncertainty in 2016. Limited managerial experience and disappointment from England in previous tournaments, many greeted his arrival with a lack of optimism. However, consistently good results in major tournaments have seen hope revitalised in England fans across the country. Euro 2024 will be no different, with the influx of young talent as well as the experience of the more senior players, England may have the perfect ingredients to end that 58-year wait for a trophy.

With that said, in what many describe as England’s ‘Golden Generation’, they still don’t have any titles to show for it bringing much criticism to Southgate’s ‘boring’ tactics. Add to that a scrappy defeat to Brazil on Saturday courtesy of a late Endrick goal and a last gasp draw to Belgium on Tuesday, the critics have only become worse.

The Squad

So, what is it exactly that makes everyone excited about this England squad? For the fixtures against Brazil and Belgium a stellar 25-man team was picked with the introduction of Anthony Gordon, Jarrad Branthwaite, Kobbie Manoo, James Trafford and Ezri Konsa all in the senior squad for the first time.

The squad also starred Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane and Declan Rice who have all impressed for their respective club’s this season, particularly Bellingham. The former Birmingham City and Borussia Dortmund has set the footballing world alight this campaign starring for Real Madrid in the battle for the LaLiga title with many terming him as the ‘best footballer in the world’ at the moment. The youngster will certainly be a key part of Southgate’s midfield in Germany this summer, especially after his important last-minute equaliser on Tuesday evening.

Although the strength of the England squad has been highlighted, they are a country plagued with injuries including Kane, Kieran Trippier, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Bukayo Saka. It gives Southgate a huge selection dilemma but also the opportunity to experiment as he awarded Mainoo and Konsa their first international starts, as well as Ivan Toney, in his aim to act as Harry Kane’s understudy, against Belgium.

Questions on the manager’s selection of certain individuals have been asked with the likes of Jordan Henderson and Harry Maguire continually picked despite poor form at club level. With that said, the experience of the long-time England servants will definitely have an impact on the younger players in the group. If their quality is not still there, perhaps, they can inspire the newer faces in the camp.

Will England do it?

What are England’s chances of winning the tournament? They are the favourites for the trophy, but they will be met by some fierce competition.

France will once again be the ones to watch out for as Germany, Italy, Spain and Portugal amongst other European giants will be aiming for glory. Underdogs for the trophy may include Denmark and Croatia while Georgia are involved in their first major finals. Whatever happens, winning this trophy will not be a walk in the park for Southgate’s side.

Will Southgate silence his critics and finally bring home the trophy that England fans have been longing for? Germany 2024 has all the hallmarks of another special tournament, and you won’t want to miss it, especially if England perform. Watch international football and England’s Euro 2024 warmup game against Iceland with Engage Hospitality from the best seats in the house.

Premier League 2023/24: 10 matches to go

Posted on by Duncan Hughes

We’re approaching the crunch stage of the Premier League season. With only 10 games to go for most sides, the final international break of the season gives us a chance to take a look at how the league table is shaping up.

A title, a relegation battle and the European spots are all still to play for, there are very few teams who are not wound up in an exciting battle. With fatigue, nerves and pressure all starting to set in, the end of the Premier League 2023/24 season promises to be a thrilling encounter.

The Title Race

Starting with the title race. Three teams, ten games, one trophy. At this stage it’s far too close to call. Arsenal lead the way only on goal difference to Liverpool with both sides on 64 points while Manchester City breathe down their necks on 63 points.

Arsenal have arguably the hardest remaining fixtures as they face four of the current Premier League top 6 including what could be a title-defining moment as they travel to the Etihad on the 31st March.

With no title challengers still to play and only three of the top six do Liverpool have the better of the run-ins? With Jurgen Klopp’s final games with Liverpool approaching, the German will be determined he can deliver one last league title to Anfield before his summer departure. However, Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola will be just as eager to rain on his parade as Arteta chases Arsenal’s first league win since 2004 while Guardiola will want to repeat City’s incredible treble winning season last year.

This title race has all the chance to go right down to the wire with all three teams set to push each other until the final game. Who’s your money on?

Battle for Europe

In terms of the battle for European spots, all the places are up for grabs. Spurs and Aston Villa will battle it out for the final guaranteed Champions League place. An excellent season for Unai Emery’s men sees them in an unexpected battle for Europe’s most prestigious competition as Ange Postecoglou looks to have Spurs returning to European competition after a one year absence.

Champions League will be a tough ask for Erik Tenn Haag’s Manchester United side, however, they are still in with a shout trailing Aston Villa by 9 points with a game in hand.

In any case, they lead the way for the race to the Europa League while West Ham currently sit in the European Conference League spot (7th place), the competition they famously won last year. They will be keen to stay in Europe this season and whether that’s by winning the Europa League or through the automatic league spots, David Moyes’ men will want to do both.

With that said, neither is guaranteed for the Irons as four teams stalk the only Conference League place. Brighton, Wolves, Newcastle and Chelsea are all within reach of the European spot.

A strong mid-season run from Wolves has seen Gary O’Neil’s debut campaign become a successful one after a rocky start. A brilliant feat for the West Midlands side would be to qualify for Europe once again after being relegation candidates back in August.

Relegation Fight

Speaking of relegation candidates, the race to avoid the drop is hotting up with injuries, point deductions and shock results, it’s tough to call. Sheffield United look to be cut adrift from the rest of the pack as a poor campaign sees Chris Wilder’s side 8 points from safety with 10 games to play; survival looks an impossible task. Burnley aren’t much better off as they stare a return to the Championship in the face 5 points from safety.

After the announcement of Nottingham Forest’s points deduction at the weekend, they drop into the bottom three as Luton Town, favourites to go down, find themselves hanging on by the skin of their teeth. What a job Rob Edwards has done for the Hatters; it will be an incredible achievement if he can keep them up.

Elsewhere, Everton are four points clear of the dropzone after a 6 point deduction earlier in the season while Thomas Frank’s Brentford are one point better off after a particularly disappointing campaign for the London club.

What about the race for the Golden Boot? Erling Haaland leads the way once again with 18 goals, however, he has Ollie Watkins, Mohamed Salah and Dominic Solanke for company with the trio of goalscorers threatening to steal the trophy from the Norwegian’s grasp.

So, the 2023/24 Premier League season is into the home straight. In one of the most exciting title races and relegation battles in recent years, it’s anyone’s call what will happen. Can Sheffield United do the impossible? Will Arsenal win their first league title in 20 years?

What do you think will happen? Watch the Premier League from the best seats in the house with Engage Hospitality.

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