Season's biggest game

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Head Start

Tottenham vs Manchester City

Tonight | 20:00 BST | Sky Sports

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you… The Most Interesting Game of the Season…

… well - it’s one of the most interesting.

But, seriously, there’s so much to unpack with this fixture. So, let’s not waste any more time. 

First, let’s set the scene. If City beats Spurs, the three-peat Champions will be in the driver's seat for the final day of the season - and they could be on track to be the first side ever to win four titles in a row. 

And - while some Spurs fans are exchanging their tickets for tonight’s game - they still have European football to chase after Villa’s draw last night…

Historically speaking, Pep’s men haven’t had much success against Tottenham in the league:

• City’s six top-flight losses in meetings with Spurs are more than any other opponent during Pep’s tenure. 

• The reverse fixture saw a 3 - 3 draw… at the Etihad (!)

• City have failed to score in four visits at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. 

The only issue? Form.

Spurs have taken just six points from their last six games - whereas City have taken the full 18. 

Hmm.

Anyway, eyebrows were raised when Spurs did their lap of honour after their victory over Burnley, despite facing City in their final home game this season…

… but it might be for good measure:

• Spurs have lost their final home league game in two of their last three seasons.

• And City have won their last four away league games by an aggregate score of 10-0.

When you put it like that, we’d probably do the same.

A quick note to Arsenal fans: a cat that predicts sports results has chosen Arsenal to win this season’s title… will tonight have Arsenal fans purring?

• 💉 Tottenham Quick-Hit: Spurs have denied Pep’s side of a goal or win despite conceding 74 shots from City at their new stadium.

• 💉 Manchester City Quick-Hit: City are unbeaten in their last 21 Premier League games (W17 D4) – only once have they ever had a longer run without defeat in the competition.

Plus…

Two men have been arrested after a Leeds United fan was left bloodied and injured in an altercation following their side’s Championship play-off semi-final first-leg (More)

Wayne Rooney believes some players at Manchester United are hiding behind injuries and are ‘100 per cent’ fit enough to play (Watch)

Chelsea have attempted to sell their Cobham Training Ground to themselves in their latest effort to curb PSR rules (More)

Matchday 37 Stats Zone

Aston Villa 3 - 3 Liverpool

Youri Tielemans 12’, Jhon Durán 85’, 88’ | Emiliano Martínez 2’ (OG), Cody Gakpo 23’, Jarell Quansah 48’

→ Aston Villa had an xG of 3.53 compared to Liverpool’s 1.81.

→ Jhon Durán became the first player to net a Premier League brace against Liverpool as a substitute since Leroy Sane for Manchester City in September 2017.

→ Emiliano Martínez has scored three own goals in the Premier League, the most of any goalkeeper in the competition’s history.

Game In Numbers

Free kicks are dying

There have been 1,199 goals scored in the Premier League this season.

In a 38-game season, that’s the highest on record - with 22 matches left to play. Jheez. 

But, can you guess how many goals have come directly from free kicks? 

Have a guess. I’ll wait… 

Well, if you guessed just nine you’d be correct. Yup. Nine goals of the 1,199 have come from direct freekicks. 

That’s the lowest number of free-kick goals since the 2003/04 season. 

Let’s put this into perspective:

• Between 2000/01 and 2009/10, there was an average of 32.1 direct free kicks goals per season.

• Since 2020/21 season, there has been an average of 14.7 per season. 

It’s not just that free kick takers have become worse at converting. It’s also because teams are shooting less from free kicks in the final-third… 

This isn’t just happening in the English top flight. Across the last three seasons in the top five leagues, there has been an average of 15.4 direct free kick goals per season. 

So, why are teams more reluctant to shoot at free kicks? 

It’s hard to tell. But a good guess is that coaches have more data - and it’s showing that direct free kicks aren’t efficient.

I mean, the highest expected goal (xG) from the nine scored this season was Ivan Toney’s controversial free kick goal which had a 0.11 xG. That’s essentially one goal in every 10 attempts.

Even (arguably) the best taker in the league - James Ward-Prowse - has failed to score in 15 free kick shots this season.

Bend it like Beckham. More like… pass it for better xG… doesn’t have the same ring to it.

Route One End-Of-Season Awards

Welcome back to the Route One End-Of-Season Awards.

There are only two categories to go. And today we have… Moan-ager of the Season.

Let us know which manager has moaned the most this season…

Any other suggestions? Just hit reply to this email and let us know.

Off The Pitch

🚀 Texas man reclaims world’s oldest skydiver record at 106 years old (More)

😳 John Fury covered in blood after head-butting one of Usyk’s team (Watch)

😓 Steve Buscemi is the latest celebrity to suffer a random attack after being punched in the face in New York City (More)

🕵️‍♂️ Three men have been charged with ‘spying for Hong Kong’ and will appear at Westminster magistrates’ court (More)

👶 Liam and Olivia were the US’s top baby names in 2023 (More)

🇬🇪 Around 50,000 Georgians have protested over a proposed law threatening press and civic freedoms (More)

🛜 A new study finds that using the internet promotes better physical and mental health, unless you’re a woman between the ages of 15 to 24 (More)

Around The Football World

🇫🇷 Kylian Mbappé and PSG-owner Nasser Al-Khelaifi (reportedly) clashed at the Parc de Princes before the game on Sunday. Nasser asked Mbappé why he didn’t mention him in the farewell video. This is unconfirmed (More)

🇪🇸 Real Betis’ Isco has won 19 Man of the Match awards in 28 La Liga games this season.

🇩🇪 Bayern Munich were prepared to pay €18 million for Crystal Palace coach Oliver Glasner but the deal fell through when Palace owner Steve Parish demanded at least €100 million to release Glasner (More)

🇨🇦 Jesse Marsch has been appointed as new Canada national team head coach.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Brighton midfielder Adam Lallana will leave Brighton at the end of the season and says he will “need time to reflect” before deciding his future.

🇩🇪 St. Pauli were promoted back to the Bundesliga after a 13-year absence from the top flight and their supporters turned out in numbers (Watch)

🇺🇸 Former Arsenal and Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud is joining MLS side LAFC on a free transfer with a deal until December 2025.

Extra Time

Manchester United’s 24/25 home kit leaked with new shirt sponsor…

… and so has their away kit.

Crewe goalkeeper launches Doncaster keeper’s water bottle which has notes on where each penalty taker would go. 

Andy Gray had a habit of answering his own questions.

Troy Deeney makes a bold claim about his goal compared to Sergio Aguero’s.

The contenders for Match of the Day’s Goal of the Season… but 40 years ago.

Game Face On

Question: Which club director sold her husband Paul Peschisolido to Stoke for £400,000?

Hint: The Apprentice.

Scroll below for the answer.

On Today

FOOTBALL

Premier League: Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester City (20:00 BST, Sky Sports Main Event)

La Liga: Real Madrid vs Alaves (20:30 BST, LaLiga TV)

La Liga: Girona vs Villarreal (21:00 BST, LaLiga TV)

Scottish Premiership: Rangers vs Dundee United (19:30 BST, Sky Sports Football)

Scottish Premiership: Partick Thistle vs Raith Rovers (19:45 BST, BBC iPlayer)

*EST -5. PST -8. CET +1. CST +8. JST +9.

Answer: Karren Brady

“When you are 4-0 up… you should never lose 7-1.”

-Lawrie McMenemy