Premier League predictions: Man City vs Arsenal, Everton vs Liverpool and rest of Matchday 33 Who's leading after Matchday 32? And what do our writer, the algorithm, a child and this week's subscriber expect to see in MD33?

It's week 33 of @theathleticfc.bsky.social
Premier League predictions challenge. I'm sorry to say the subscribers are running away with it.

Not much support across the board for Spurs today ... or Arsenal tomorrow

www.nytimes.com/athletic/720...

Me or him?!

‘No red cards, 25-minute halves, no small-town teams’: Napoli owner’s ideas to change football The Napoli owner invited The Athletic to his Hollywood home to discuss ways of hooking a new generation on the beautiful game

This remarkable @adamcrafton.bsky.social interview with Napoli owner Aurelio Laurentiis, who says top-level football should exclude "town" clubs, reminds me of Brian Glanville's quote about Sepp Blatter: "He has 50 new ideas every day ... 51 of them bad"

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Crystal Palace, Dad and me: Special memories that will live with me forever Football has an almost unique power to bring people together, as it did for our Palace correspondent Matt Woosnam with his dad, Andy

I lost my dad over Easter

Going to watch Palace with him was special, to both of us. For so many years it was a shared bond. It brought us joy

Loved sharing memories with him, about the grounds I visited & him recalling when he went there before

This is a piece of my memories, in his memory #CPFC

❤️

And I agree it's all about getting over the line, rather than "how" they do it. It's just that ... well, I felt they would have been worthy champions two seasons ago with a much more free-flowing style. Even if, ultimately, they win it, I don't think the change in style since then has improved them

You might well be right. I described myself as 55% Man City as of today — and if Arsenal get a result on Sunday, then I'll absolutely no doubt be back in their corner.

It's more that, with the way Arsenal are performing, I fear they could just wither away if they lose on Sunday

It's a cautious prediction, followed by a bet-hedging counter-prediction.

I mean you *could* call it two predictions for the price of none. Or at worst, none for the price of none.

No. Flopping for first time in seven months, based on unscientific calculation that, as well as having reduced the gap, Manchester City are now more likely to win Sunday's big showdown.

& if they don't, I'll most certainly be flipping back to Arsenal. I reckon it's currently 55-45 in City's favour

Who will win the Premier League title? Arsenal or Manchester City? Our writers have their say Arsenal's lead at the top has been cut to six points, with City having a game in hand. And the two teams face off at the Etihad next week

Nine Athletic writers were asked to predict who'll win the Prem Lge title.

I've said Arsenal for months ... but with less and less convinction. After this weekend's results, I'm leaning towards Manchester City. If Arsenal get anything at #MCFC on Sunday, I'll revert

www.nytimes.com/athletic/719...

I've been screamed at by Jurgen Klopp.

I've been an official for more than 400 Premier League games and a video assistant referee (yes, the dreaded VAR) more than 100 times.

My name is Graham Scott and now I'm part of the The Athletic.

🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/718...

Tottenham Hotspur are in pole position to sign Andy Robertson as a free agent this summer, subject to retaining their Premier League status.

More from @david-ornstein.bsky.social

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Football has entered a new era of pragmatism: long-throws, low blocks, corner kicks turned into wrestling matches.

Nobody, it seems, has broken that news to Luis Enrique and his Paris Saint-Germain team.

✍️ @oliverkay.bsky.social

🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/718...

Paris Saint-Germain 2 Liverpool 0 – Doue excels but was Slot’s tactical switch at fault? Are Liverpool still in it? Goals from Desire Doue and Kvicha Kvaratskhelia leave Liverpool facing a daunting task in the second leg at Anfield

Paris Saint-Germain 2-0 Liverpool. On-the-whistle report with
@greggevans40.bsky.social @liamtharme.bsky.social
PSG — Vitinha, Doué, Kvaratskhelia etc — a class above. Liverpool at least showed more fight than at Manchester City on Saturday, but outclassed
#PSG #LFC
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The Briefing: Could Arsenal end the season empty-handed? Will the FA Cup help or hinder Leeds survival hopes? Welcome to The Briefing, where every Monday, The Athletic discusses three of the biggest issues raised by the weekend’s action

It's @TheAthleticFC Monday briefing. Thoughts on Arsenal, West Ham vs Leeds, Bernardo Silva

www.nytimes.com/athletic/717...

Farewell Mohamed Salah, a player who meant more There is no risk in suggesting that Salah will go down as one of Liverpool's — and the Premier League's — all-time greats

Watching Mo Salah's greatest goals, you get a flavour of his brilliance.
But what rally defines him is the sheer relentlessness of his output. 189 goals and 92 assists in 310 PL appearances for LIverpool. It has been one of the truly great Premier League careers #LFC
www.nytimes.com/athletic/714...

Paul Clement idolised Dave, his England footballer father. Then, aged 10, his world changed (Gift Article) Dave Clement took his own life six years after his international debut. His son Paul, now Brazil's assistant, relives the day he found out

Fifty years ago today Dave Clement, a formidable full back in a QPR team challenging for the league title, made his England debut.

Six years later, struggling with depression, he took his life.

nytimes.com/athletic/714...

Dave is remembered poignantly here by his son Paul #mentalhealthmatters

The cup conundrum: Outdated ‘ego boost’, or a must for any top manager? Pochettino and Solskjaer are mocked for their lack of trophies, yet winning the League Cup or even FA Cup is surely no longer a priority

I wrote about it here specifically with reference to Pochettino’s Tottenham, who were a top team for two or three years and were unlucky to have nothing shiny to show for it — as opposed to crappy Spurs teams (under Graham, Ramos and now Postecoglou) who won cups

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I’m sounding like an Arsenal fan here! I’m not. Nor am I one of those who would play down the importance of winning trophies.

But i stress importance, rather than significance. You can be a poor team with a weak mentality and win a trophy. You can also be a top team that wins nothing.

Even though Spurs didn’t have to beat or face a single top team to win that competition — a competition they were in because they’d finished fifth in the Premier League the previous season when Arsenal were finishing second with 89 points?

It was their fourth defeat in 50 games this season. Tottenham won a trophy last season but finished 17th in the league and are 17th again now. Does this mean Tottenham's team are a bunch of winners and Arsenal's a bunch of losers?

Paul Clement idolised Dave, his England footballer father. Then, aged 10, his world changed (Gift Article) Dave Clement took his own life six years after his international debut. His son Paul, now Brazil's assistant, relives the day he found out

Fifty years ago today Dave Clement, a formidable full back in a QPR team challenging for the league title, made his England debut.

Six years later, struggling with depression, he took his life.

nytimes.com/athletic/714...

Dave is remembered poignantly here by his son Paul #mentalhealthmatters

All the “losers” talk about Arsenal from rival fans carries more than a hint of wishful thinking.

But for all their undoubted progress under Arteta, Arsenal have still to prove they can be winners, because winners end up with trophies to show for it.

✍️ @oliverkay.bsky.social

🔗 bit.ly/4uPUXVC

Premier League predictions: Tottenham vs Forest, Newcastle vs Sunderland and rest of Matchday 31 Who's leading after MD30? And what do our writer, the algorithm, a child and this week's subscriber expect to see on Matchday 31?

Week 31 of @theathleticfc.bsky.social Premier League predictions challenge, where I take on an algorithm, a subscriber and a six-year-old. And I'm in third place 🫠 #premierleague

www.nytimes.com/athletic/713...

Yep ...

The Premier League has the money but Europe’s elite are leaving it behind English clubs have had a chastening experience in the Champions League last 16, and things could be about to get worse

Thoughts on a series of sobering (and in some cases embarrassing) performances/results for English clubs in Champs Lge. Attacking/creative quality has been low in the PL all season. It's stark how much more devastatingly effective Kvaratskhelia, Vinicius Jnr etc look
www.nytimes.com/athletic/712...

Manchester City 1 Real Madrid 2 (Madrid 5-1 agg) — Vinicius Jr’s double, where does this leave Pep? Madrid made their first-leg advantage over City count as Vinicius Jr had the last laugh at the Etihad

Manchester City 1-2 Real Madrid (agg 1-5). Briefing with @samdlee.bsky.social @dermotmcorrigan.bsky.social @anantaajith.bsky.social
#MCFC created a lot of chances, but it was always highly unlikely after that first-leg defeat... & impossible after Bernardo red card
www.nytimes.com/athletic/712...

Max Dowman for England’s World Cup squad? History tells us prodigious talents must be handled with care Some will say if you are good enough you are old enough, but Arsenal and England's coaches have a duty to protect the 16-year-old

There is an inevitability about the Dowman hype machine in the media after such a moment. But I do wish everyone gave more careful thought about both quality and quantity of coverage.

This very thoughtful piece from @oliverkay.bsky.social stands out from the crowd.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/712...

Thanks very much ❤️