Burnley v Manchester City: City must avoid 'embarrassment' to remain in title race, says Jamie Redknapp

Jamie Redknapp says it would be a 'huge embarrassment' for Manchester City if they don't beat Burnley on Saturday Night Football.

There has been a lot of talk at Man City in previous years about wanting to win a certain amount of trophies in so many years, and rightly so, because the owners have ploughed so much money into the club.

For them to be on the verge of going out of the Champions League, out of the FA Cup and Capital One Cup, and five points behind Chelsea - who we saw on Wednesday aren't the real deal that perhaps we have been talking about this season - is hugely disappointing.

If they don't win the league, there are going to be a lot of questions about whether Manuel Pellegrini is the man to take them forward and are this group of players in need of change.

The players have to take responsibility as well, you can’t just look at the manager all the time and keep sacking managers.

Jamie Redknapp

The players have to take responsibility as well, you can't just look at the manager all the time and keep sacking managers. You win the league one year, then have a disappointing campaign the next; that is not good enough when you are ploughing that much money in.

City have to try to put some pressure on Chelsea by winning this Saturday. It could go two ways for Chelsea after that defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. It could galvanise them and they could win the league or it could put a few doubts in their mind, so City have to try to at least put some pressure on them.

 

Burnley vs Man City

March 14, 2015

If they can win on Saturday and Southampton can get a result at the Bridge, then it is game on again, but we can’t say that unless they take care of their own games. I think they have to win every game; for them to win the league, they have to a 10-game winning run. Are they capable of doing that? It doesn't look like it at the moment but they have the players to do it.

If City don't win this game, then it will be a huge embarrassment to the club because of the situation they are in. There is a huge gulf in the quality of the sides and City have to win to keep the title race alive.

Kompany's struggles

Vincent Kompany was dropped against Leicester.

It's very strange with Vincent Kompany. I am a big fan of his, but he has had a very poor season. I don’t think it has helped that he has had a lot of different partners at the back.

One minute it’s Martin Demichelis, the next it’s Eliaquim Mangala, but there is no doubt that Kompany's performances have dipped dramatically. He is the one player you would say they could always rely on, who could save goals, but he hasn’t this year, and I think that has had a really big effect on how City have played.

When you have spent £25m on a player like Wilfried Bony, you have to play him otherwise what was the point of signing him?

You could argue some of their best performances over the last few years have been with Yaya Toure playing off the striker; maybe that gives them a better balance in midfield because when they play 4-4-2, they leave themselves wide open as we have seen. They certainly have an abundance of options.

Edin Dzeko played really well against Newcastle but if you don’t play Bony sooner or later, then his confidence is going to drop. He will be thinking 'what am I doing here? I've got a lovely wage packet but I want to play some football'.

Battling Burnley

Burnley manager Sean Dyche.

Burnley were 2-0 down earlier in the season before coming back to draw 2-2. After going behind, they went really direct and asked a lot of questions of City and I am sure they will do the same again.

The stats suggest they play a lot of long balls and work on second balls. I have no problem with that because if that gets them goals and success, it’s fine. There are lots of different ways to score a goal so I think they will do the same again.

I think City might do just enough to win, so I’m going for them. Burnley have a lot of character, they won’t roll over, they will create chances and they will get the ball in the box and in Danny Ings they have one of the best strikers in the Premier League. 

Merson's predictions: 'Manchester United's top-four hopes over if they lose to Tottenham'

Sky Sports' Paul Merson gives his predictions ahead of an important weekend in the Premier League.

After an FA Cup break, Merse is back to cast his expert eye over the Premier League fixtures. Here's how the "Magic Man" sees the 10 games going.

Crystal Palace v QPR (Saturday, 12:45pm)

I think Palace will win. QPR have lost both of their last two at home in London derbies and they are not the best away FROM HOME. Chris Ramsey was following in big footsteps. He's won a game but they are still behind the eight ball. They were unlucky against Tottenham with the refereeing decisions but they won't get nothing at Palace. I think Palace are a decent team and they should win.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 

Chris Ramsey had big boots to fill at QPR

Arsenal v West Ham (Saturday, 3:00pm)

West Ham have hit a bit of a bad run and this time of year, Arsenal are very reliable. It was good to see Danny Welbeck score for Arsenal at Manchester United but I think they'll play Olivier Giroud in this game and he can score first in a 3-0 win.

PAUL PREDICTS: 3-0 

Olivier Giroud can fire Gunners to simple victory

Leicester v Hull (Saturday, 3:00pm)

This is a must-win for Leicester. I don’t mind them. They’ve been unlucky. I think they’ll win this game. They have to win as a draw is no good. I think this is the game to watch on Saturday because they'll have a right go.

I think they can still stay up. They've got some good fixtures coming up, they've got to win them but they're not playing any of the big boys away.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0 

Leicester still have a chance of survival - they just need some luck

Sunderland v Aston Villa (Saturday, 3:00pm)

Easy. 0-0. Villa will go there and can't afford to lose and Sunderland just don't score any goals. Villa have got some hard games coming up so they need to at least draw this game.

Tim Sherwood hasn't done much different to Paul Lambert but it's just a different voice in the dressing room. He hasn't come in and made 10 changes, it’s just a different voice. It's helping at the moment and I hope it continues.

PAUL PREDICTS: 0-0 

Gus Poyet must be very frustrated with his team's attacking

West Brom v Stoke (Saturday, 3:00pm)

I don't like going against Stoke. That result at Villa Park will have knocked West Brom sideways at Villa Park - it was a big football match that one. Stoke have got good players and are a decent team. They get the ball down and play. I think Steven N'Zonzi has been very good this season but they all have. They are a hard, hard team to beat.

PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1 

Steven N'Zonzi has impressed me this season

Burnley v Man City (Saturday Night Football, 5:30pm)

It's a good time to play Man City before they go to Barcelona but I can't see how Burnley are going to live with City. They have a right go, do Burnley, but they just can't defend properly. They are always in games and rarely sit back but with Man City’s class, I can see an away win. It sounds an easy win on paper but I don’t expect it to be easy.

PAUL PREDICTS: 1-3 

 

Burnley vs Man City

March 14, 2015

David Silva can help Man City put pressure on Chelsea in the title race

Chelsea v Southampton (Super Sunday, 1:30pm)

I think Chelsea will bounce back from the PSG game. It's a tough game for Southampton, who have done great this season. Diego Costa is definitely due a goal - he hasn't scored in seven games. He didn’t score a single goal in the Champions League. That is unbelievable as it wasn't the hardest group in the world.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0 

 

Chelsea vs So'ton

March 15, 2015

Diego Costa is due a goal in the Premier League

Everton v Newcastle (Sunday, 4:00pm)

I don't think Everton can afford not to win this game. If they don't win this, they then have to go to Kiev - which is about 25 days away from here - and then play QPR away.

They need to win this game. If they draw it, I think they are in a bit of trouble and will get dragged into the scrap. I’m going to go 1-0, but I’m not sure of it.

They would be the best team to have been relegated from the Premier League if it happens. I can’t see it, but they could easily get dragged into the relegation battle. They should be doing more with the quality they’ve got.

Everton and Steven Naismith could be in a dogfight this time next week

PAUL PREDICTS: 1-0

Manchester United v Tottenham (Super Sunday, 4:00pm)

I think Tottenham could win this but I’m going to go for a 2-2 draw. I say that because Manchester United can’t keep doing what they’re doing, surely? Will Tottenham go there with the confidence of opening up? For how poor they’ve been, it’s still Man Utd, so they need to be careful.

If Man Utd lose this match, then they can say goodbye to their top-four chances. They’ve have got some tough games to come. Louis van Gaal doesn’t know his best eleven yet and Man Utd don’t know who their best manager is.

I don’t think they can say confidently ‘he’s the man’ – not after what I’ve been watching the last seven months. Harry Kane will cause them havoc.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-2 

 

Man Utd vs Tottenham

March 15, 2015

Louis van Gaal still doesn't know his best team - Spurs can trouble them

Swansea v Liverpool (Monday Night Football, 8:00pm)

Liverpool are flying at the moment. They didn’t get the result they wanted in the cup but they are still in it. They are rolling. I think they will win this game. Daniel Sturridge is back now and he’ll be as fresh as anybody because he hasn’t played any games. That will be a massive advantage come the last 10 games.

PAUL PREDICTS: 1-3 

 

Swansea vs Liverpool

March 16, 2015

Europa League round-up: Sevilla and Wolfsburg on course for quarters

Kevin de Bruyne is mobbed by his team-mates after scoring Wolfsburg's second

Wolfsburg lived up to their billing as Europa League favourites by taking a giant stride towards the quarter-finals with a 3-1 victory over Inter Milanin the first leg of their last-16 tie.

With the sides level at the break, after Inter’s Rodrigo Palacio’s fifth-minute strike was cancelled out by Wolfsburg centre-back Naldo on 26 minutes, two second-half strikes from former Chelsea midfielder Kevin de Bruyne turned the tie in favour of the Bundesliga side.

First he punished Inter keeper Juan Pablo Carrizo's mistake after the hour mark before wrapping a free kick around his wall 15 minutes from time to put the Germans in the driving seat ahead of the second-leg at the San Siro. 

Cup-holders Sevilla produced arguably the performance of the round as they stunned La Liga rivals Villarreal 3-1 at El Madrigal.

Striker Vitolo created Europa League history as he latched onto Kevin Gameiro’s pass to convert with just 13 seconds on the clock - the fastest goal in the competition’s history.

Former QPR midfielder Stephane M’bia doubled the lead on 26 minutes before Marcelino's Yellow Submarine grabbed a lifeline through Luciano Vietto shortly after the break.

But their reprieve was short-lived as Gameiro volleyed home Vicente Iborra's knock two minutes later to restore Sevilla’s two-goal lead ahead of next week’s tie at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium.

Napoli survived an early scare at home to 10-man Dynamo Moscow as Gonzalo Higuain bagged a hat-trick to put them within touching distance of the last eight.

Gonzalo Higuain celebrates with Dries Mertens in Naples

The Russians took an early lead through former Germany international Kevin Kuranyi on two minutes, but Higuain hit back on 25 minutes with a well-taken header.

It was two shortly after when Higuain struck from the spot after Dries Mertens was brought down in the area.

Dinamo’s task got even harder a minute into the second half when Roman Zobnin was sent off after two bookable offences, and Higuain's crisp volley 10 minutes after the dismissal wrapped things up as he moved to second, only behind Everton's Romelu Lukaku, in the competition’s list of top scorers.

Fiorentina and Roma had to settle for a 1-1 draw in the round's all-Serie A tie, as Josip Ilicic's first-half strike for the hosts was cancelled out late on by veteran Seydou Keita.

Roma could have given their hopes of qualification a greater boost had Adem Ljacic not had his penalty saved by Neto on the hour mark, but Rudi Garcia's side will fancy their qualification chances ahead of next week's second leg at the Stadio Olimpico.

Zenit St Petersburg will take a two-goal lead to Italy after they saw off 10-man Torino 2-0 at the Petrovsky Stadium.

Zenit players celebrate Axel Witsel's opener against Inter

The Russians were given a helping hand in the first leg when Marco Benassi senselessly picked up two yellow cards inside the opening half hour.

Axel Witsel soon put his side in front less than 10 minutes after the dismissal before Domenico Criscito doubled the lead on 53 minutes.

Liverpool’s conquerors, Besiktas, threw away a lead as Club Brugge fought back from a goal down to win 2-1 at the Jan Breydel Stadium.

Gokhan Tore scored a precious away goal for the visitors a minute after the interval, but Bruges hit back with two goals in 15 second-half minutes.

First, Tom de Sutter's 25-yard drive levelled the tie before Lior Rafaelov's 79th-minute penalty gave the Belgians the advantage.

Dnipro will take a slender advantage to Amsterdam after Roman Zozulya's 30th-minute strike sealed a 1-0 victory over Ajax in Kiev.

Everton 2-1 Dynamo Kiev: Late Romelu Lukaku penalty secures Europa League advantage

Romelu Lukaku: Scores the winner from the spot

Romelu Lukaku became Everton's leading goalscorer in European competition as his late penalty gave the Toffees a 2-1 victory over Dynamo Kiev in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 clash.

Oleg Gusev gave the visitors the perfect start at Goodison Park, firing Andriy Yarmolenko's corner past Tim Howard in the 14th minute for a vital away goal.

However, Everton responded well after a poor start and equalised through Steven Naismith just before the interval.

Steven Naismith and Ross Barkley celebrate Everton's equaliser

Roberto Martinez's side pushed on for a winner in the second half but could not find a way past Oleksandr Shovkovskiy as he saved well from Lukaku and substitute Arouna Kone.

But Everton finally got their well-deserved breakthrough through Lukaku's penalty with just eight minutes remaining to take a narrow advantage into next week's second leg.

Martinez’s side have won just one of their last 12 Premier League games and they made a nervy start to the night with the visitors looking the more likely in the opening stages.

They got their reward in the 14th minute when Gusev got in front of his marker at the near post from Yarmolenko’s corner and he was able to fire past home 'keeper Howard.

Oleg Gusev: Celebrates Dynamo Kiev's opener

Martinez’s side were rocking and Yarmolenko was causing plenty of problems down the right, producing another inviting cross which was cleared only as far as Serhiy Sydorchuk, who fired over from distance.

The Goodison Park faithful did not have much to cheer about until the 30th minute when Lukaku used his power to surge down the left, but his cut-back was well intercepted by Miguel Veloso.

Minutes later, Sydorchuk let fly from distance but his shot was saved by Howard. Everton cleared quickly from the resulting corner and visiting 'keeper Oleksandr Shovkovskiy came out of his area to clear, although his poor attempt could only find Lukaku, who fired over from long range.

Gareth Barry is pursued by Vitaliy Buyalsky

The hosts were back on level terms in the 39th minute when Lukaku used his strength to hold the ball up, before laying it into the path of Naismith, who curled his shot beyond the onrushing goalkeeper and into the far corner.

It could have got even better for Everton just before the break as Kevin Mirallas rounded the committed 'keeper but, after being taken wide of the goal, he could not pick out Lukaku in the penalty area.

Everton kept up the pressure on the visitors after the break with Antolin Alcaraz’s long-range effort and Naismith’s header testing Shovkoskiy.

He was called into action again minutes later when Luke Garbutt whipped in a testing free-kick, but the 40-year-old 'keeper was up to the task again, punching the ball clear.

Steven Naismith: Scores Everton's equaliser

Everton were getting closer and closer to a second goal but Dynamo Kiev were still posing their own threat with Dieumerci Mbokani heading into the side-netting.

Everton threw on Kone in the 64th minute and the change nearly paid instant dividends as the striker got on the end of James McCarthy’s cross, but Shovkoskiy produced another smart save.

Time was starting to run out for the hosts to grab a winner but they were still pressing forward at every opportunity with Lukaku the next player to test the visiting goalkeeper.

But they finally got their breakthrough when Danilo Da Silva was adjudged to have controlled Seamus Coleman’s cross with his hand.

Lukaku stepped up and rolled the ball down the middle to score his 16th goal of the season and hand his side the advantage ahead of next week’s return in Kiev.

Soccer Saturday pundit Matt Le Tissier tells us what his former club Southampton need to do to beat Chelsea

Matt Le Tissier believes Chelsea can bounce back from the disappointment of their Champions League exit at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain with victory over Southampton on Sunday.

While the Sky Sports pundit will be hoping Ronald Koeman's men can enhance their own top-four chances with a result at Stamford Bridge, he expects it to be a difficult afternoon for his former club and has revealed what they need to do if they are to have any chance of picking up a positive result against the league leaders...

 

Chelsea vs So'ton

March 15, 2015

Prepare for a Blues backlash

I would have preferred to see them to go through on Wednesday night as I fear we could pay for it, them going out of the Champions League in such a disappointing manner.

I would expect a big reaction. The have only got one trophy to go for now and you’d expect them to be bang on it for all 11 games. Chelsea are not the sort of team to panic and drop silly points.

Halt Hazard

Le Tissier: Southampton must halt Eden Hazard

I was at St Mary’s for the home game and the massive threat they had was Eden Hazard, who was the best player on the pitch that day by some distance.

What he does, in terms of cutting in from the left, is fairly predictable but it is much easier said than done stopping him.

Saints must take chances

A clean sheet is going to be difficult but our defence is the best part of our team. We’ve had good possession in most games and we need to get the runners working off Pelle and be brave.

You know that you’re going to get chances against Chelsea but you need to take them.

Keep Costa calm

Diego Costa will be a key man for Chelsea against Southampton

Not winding him up and keeping him calm might be the way to go. Getting that fire burning seems to bring the best out of him. It’s also key for the defenders not to get wound up and not be drawn into battles with him and giving away penalties.

Be solid at set-pieces

Chelsea are a big physical team with a lot of height and we’ll have to match them. Hopefully, the fact that they let in a couple will shake their confidence.

Le Tiss predicts:

For the first time this season, I’m expecting a Saints defeat. Jose Mourinho will have his men fired up and ready to respond to their Champions League exit so I’m going for a 2-1 Chelsea win with Costa to score first.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic red card against Chelsea won't be overturned, say UEFA

Ibrahimovic faces at least a one-match ban for the sending off

There is "no chance" Zlatan Ibrahimovic's red card against Chelsea will be overturned, UEFA have confirmed to Sky Sports News HQ.

The PSG forward was sent off for a challenge on Oscar in the first half of his side’s Champions League clash with Chelsea on Wednesday night.

Laurent Blanc’s men went on to secure a 2-2 draw after extra time and progress to the quarter-finals on away goals despite spending 90 minutes a man short.

Ibrahimovic slammed referee Bjorn Kuipers’ decision and criticised the Chelsea players for the reaction, saying it was like he had “a lot of babies” around him.

The Sweden international insists he pulled out of his challenge and believes Oscar may have feigned injury to ensure the referee reacted.

"I pulled out, because I saw him come in the tackle," Ibrahimovic said.

"I don't know if he was acting afterwards. Doesn't matter. We won the game, we went through and let's see what happens."

UEFA’s disciplinary body will meet on Thursday next week to discuss whether they will extend his ban from the automatic one-match suspension or not.

Red cards, however, are usually only overturned in a case of mistaken identity.