Tottenham will go all out to beat Manchester City – Postecoglou

On Tuesday, Ange Postecoglou affirmed Tottenham’s commitment to giving their all against Manchester City, dismissing concerns that a victory could benefit bitter rivals Arsenal in the Premier League title race.

Arsenal, currently leading the table by one point over Manchester City, faced Everton in their final fixture, while City confronted West Ham at home. With City holding a game in hand, securing victories in their remaining matches could clinch them a historic fourth consecutive Premier League title.

Ahead of the crucial clash, speculation arose about Tottenham fans’ preferences regarding the outcome, with some contemplating whether denying Arsenal the championship would outweigh their allegiance to Spurs. However, Postecoglou vehemently rejected suggestions that Tottenham would prioritize anything other than victory.

READ ALSO:

• Nigerian pastor jailed in UK for stealing church funds
• Social media abuzz over Tiwa Savage mockery of Toke Makinwa
• Edo community attacked, houses razed, 8 cars burnt

The manager emphasized Tottenham’s pursuit of success based on hard work, perseverance, and resilience rather than seeking short-term gains. He underscored the importance of focusing on long-term objectives and genuine achievements, such as winning trophies.

Addressing concerns over fan sentiments, Postecoglou expressed confidence in Tottenham supporters’ backing for the team. He cautioned against placing undue significance on social media opinions, urging a focus on genuine support rather than online rhetoric.

Drawing from his experiences, Postecoglou condemned the idea of fans wishing their own team to lose, emphasizing that such attitudes contradict the spirit of sportsmanship. He stressed the importance of unity and shared goals, especially during critical matches.

Tottenham’s aspirations for a Champions League spot have dimmed following a late-season decline, with fourth-placed Aston Villa potentially dashing their hopes with a win against Liverpool. Despite the setbacks, Postecoglou affirmed Tottenham’s determination to compete fiercely against Manchester City, prioritizing their own aspirations over external considerations.

Tottenham will go all out to beat Manchester City – Postecoglou

Aston Villa in late comeback draw Liverpool in six-goal thriller

Substitute Jhon Durán struck twice late on as Aston Villa came back from two goals down to earn a 3-3 draw against Liverpool, avoiding back-to-back Premier League defeats for the first time this season in the process.

Liverpool wanted to gift Jürgen Klopp a fitting farewell present to commemorate his final away game as the club’s manager and the Reds drew a beaming smile from the German coach in the opening minutes after Emiliano Martínez fumbled Harvey Elliott’s deflected cross into his own net.

But an Aston Villa side chasing a first top-four finish since 1995/96 were not going to submit.

The Villans restored parity 10 minutes later when Ollie Watkins dribbled forward at breakneck speed, cutting back for the lurking Youri Tielemans, who thumped his strike past a crowd of defenders and into the net.

Both sides kept the intensity high and the third goal could have gone either way until Liverpool worked the ball from left to right in the attacking third for the overlapping Joe Gomez, who crossed for Cody Gakpo to tap past Martínez.

A second Reds goal did little to dampen Villa’s hopes as Unai Emery’s side almost clawed back again before halftime.

READ ALSO:

• Rivers: Fubara sets up panel to prove Wike govt
• 2027: Atiku, Obi, Saraki, Lamido in coalition talks
• Naira declines further to N1,520/$ on parallel market

Leon Bailey ran clear of the Liverpool defence before passing across goal for Douglas Luiz to convert, but the sliding Brazilian couldn’t connect effectively, sending his effort agonisingly wide.

Recovering the lead was now a big ask for Villa, considering Liverpool haven’t lost a Premier League game when ahead at halftime since December 2016, and the hosts’ chances of a comeback diminished once Jarell Quansah’s header from Elliott’s free-kick looped over Martínez.

The end-to-end action resumed, however, as Watkins thought he pulled one back for the Villans but his tap-in was ruled out after Bailey strayed offside during the build-up.

A persistent Villa were rewarded with a late lifeline after Calum Chambers seized on Alexis Mac Allister’s poor touch, playing in Durán, who fired an unstoppable strike into the bottom corner past Alisson.

Capping off a whirlwind contest, Durán was more fortunate in the 89th minute, with Moussa Diaby’s wayward shot bouncing off the substitute’s knee and drifting over a helpless Alisson.

The Colombian forward’s late double moved Villa five points ahead of fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, allowing Emery’s outfit to secure their place in next season’s UEFA Champions League if Spurs lose against Manchester City on Wednesday.

Although Liverpool’s third-place position in the Premier League table was already confirmed, Klopp will ultimately be disappointed with his side’s late capitulation, as the Reds dropped points at Villa Park for the first time since October 2020.

Aston Villa in late comeback draw Liverpool in six-goal thriller

Finidi names International duo, Amokachi, Baruwa as Super Eagles assistant coaches

Super Eagles head coach, Finidi George, has appointed two foreigners and his former teammate, Daniel Amokachi, to be his assistants.

The names of the two foreign assistants will be announced before the Super Eagles play their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying fixtures against Bafana Bafana of South Africa and Squirrels of Benin.

He also retained Olatunji Baruwa, the goalkeeper’s trainer under the previous head coach, Jose Peseiro.