Finally, here’s the story of Ronaldo’s hat-trick against Norwich. Thanks for reading everyone.
Full-time at Wembley and Liverpool hang on to beat Manchester City 3-2 and book their place in the FA Cup final.
Late drama at Wembley? Man City have pulled another goal back. Liverpool’s lead cut to 3-2 with four minutes of added time remaining.
Match report of Brentford’s late win at Watford.
At the bottom of the table, it’s looking even more desperate for Watford and Norwich now.
Everton: 28pts, Played 30, GD -19
Burnley: 24pts, Played 30, GD -19
Watford: 22pts, Played 32, GD -32
Norwich: 21pts, Played 32, GD -44
Match reports of those defeats for Arsenal and Tottenham.
Spurs lost the early kick-off to Brighton without having a shot on target.
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Scottish update from Simon McMahon. “Arbroath ran out 5-1 winners against Queen of the South, and Dunfermline turned it round against Ayr, scoring twice in the last ten minutes to win 2-1, meaning it’s still all to play for at both top and bottom with only two rounds of fixtures to go!”
That top four-race. Suddenly it looks wide open again.
Spurs: 57pts, Played 32, GD +18
Man Utd: 54pts, Played 32, GD +8
Arsenal: 54pts, Played 31, GD +8
West Ham: 51pts, Played 32, GD +9
Cristiano Ronaldo now has 15 Premier League goals this season which seems like a decent return. Could he still catch Mo Salah in the Golden Boot race? Salah, who has just gone close at Wembley (still 3-1 to Liverpool), has 20, three clear of Son Heung-min.
Carl Whinder isn’t happy with Cristiano but at least ends on a Kinks song. “Is it me or is there something incredibly depressing about Ronaldo’s celebration. No spontaneous joy, just an adherence to the brand. I used to like Ronaldo because there was something unpredictable and exciting about him. Now he’s just a capitalist footballing robot. All the best on this sunny afternoon.”
Full-time: Watford 1-2 Brentford
Roy Hodgson trudges off, wondering just how his side didn’t win. Watford struck the post late on but Brentford then went down the other end and nabbed a winner.
Full-time: Man Utd 3-2 Norwich
United have the win thanks to one man: CR7. Ronaldo’s hat-trick gives the hosts victory and revives their flagging top-four hopes following the defeats for Spurs and Arsenal. Norwich battled well but their stay in the Premier League looks almost over for another year.
GOAL! Watford 1-2 Brentford (Jansson 90)
There is a winner at Vicarage Road and it’s gone to Brentford! Jansson heads home inside the area and the Bees have won again!
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Full-time: Southampton 1-0 Arsenal
Spurs lose and now Arsenal lose. That sums up the top-four race.
Watford 1-1 Brentford: Almost a winner for the hosts. There’s a scramble in the box, King hits the post and Louza fires over. What a chance!
Southampton 1-0 Arsenal: Five minutes added time but Saints keep getting a boot in any time Arsenal threaten.
Man Utd 3-2 Norwich: Placheta breaks forward for the visitors but the Pole loses his feet when well placed to shoot. Norwich still battling for the equaliser.
Man Utd 3-2 Norwich: Dean Smith’s men are still going for it here. They win a free-kick in a good position out on the right but the delivery is poor. Two minutes of normal time left.
Southampton 1-0 Arsenal: The Saints conceded six in an hour at home to Chelsea last week but they’re on the verge of keeping a clean sheet and getting a win here. What a very strange team.
Man Utd 3-2 Norwich: Fernandes cuts across the edge of the box and pummels a shot towards goal but Krul is behind it. United looking for the kill.
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Southampton 1-0 Arsenal: Just seven minutes left here and the Gunners are being kept out. Saka blasts a shot from a narrow angle which Forster gets behind and Smith-Rowe can’t do anything with a follow-up effort.
A good minute or so for Manchester as City pull one back against Liverpool at Wembley. Jack Grealish thumps home to cut the Reds’ lead to 3-1.
GOAL! Man Utd 3-2 Norwich (Ronaldo 76)
It’s one of Ronaldo’s Roy of the Rovers days. Yes, it’s the hat-trick! Ronnie smashes it in from a free-kick, does his leap and United are back in front. Joy and relief inside Old Trafford.
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Watford 1-1 Brentford: Toney almost scores from 40 yards after the ball drops to him and he lashes a first-time effort just wide with the goalkeeper nowhere.
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Southampton 1-0 Arsenal: Another chance for the Gunners. Smith-Rowe’s slightly botched shot bounces into the ground but Forster paws the ball away.
Man Utd 2-2 Norwich: The Canaries are almost in again but Dalot makes a last-gasp block to deny Rashica. Dear me, United.
Southampton 1-0 Arsenal: Pepe tries a spectacular manufactured volley from a Xhaka cross and it’s not too far wide. Better from Arsenal.
Southampton 1-0 Arsenal: Arteta brings on Pepe as the Gunners struggle to create chances. Arsenal’s final ball has been poor and something needs to happen. Into the final 20 minutes.
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Man Utd 2-2 Norwich: United didn’t play a defensive midfielder from the start but Rangnick isn’t happy about the space Norwich are being afforded so on comes Matic for Lingard.
Watford 1-1 Brentford: The hosts have some spring in their step since the goal and Kiko goes close to putting them in front, pulling his left-foot shot not too far wide after a corner drops to him.
Man Utd 2-2 Norwich: Ronaldo does his levitation trick from a corner and powers a header towards goal but it’s straight at Krul. United can’t muck this up, can they?
Southampton 1-0 Arsenal: Smith-Rowe is now on for Gunners with Arteta realising that this is getting away from them. Arsenal have created nothing of real danger since Saints scored.
Amazing scenes at Wembley where Liverpool lead 3-0 against Manchester City. Lovely lashed volley from Mane, who has two.
GOAL! Watford 1-1 Brentford (Dennis 55)
Dennis levels for Watford. Another VAR check as the Nigerian striker looks a tad offside when he blasted the ball in but computer says ‘good’ and Roy Hodgson’s men are level.
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GOAL! Man Utd 2-2 Norwich (Pukki 52)
Goodness me! Norwich are level. I think. Pukki lashes his shot past De Gea as the Canaries spring the offside trap again although there’s a VAR. But... it stands!!! Norwich have come from 2-0 down.
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Jim Douglas writes: “Even more importantly in Scotland, Fraserburgh are 1-0 up at halftime, which would clinch their first Highland League title in 20 years. Kick off was delayed by 15 mins to allow in a large crowd.” Scenes!
Man Utd 2-1 Norwich: Ronaldo is sniffing that hat-trick and fires wide after a swift exchange of passes with Lingard.
So, what will these second 45s in the Premier League bring? Will Man Utd blow it? Will Arsenal keep blowing it? Will Watford score a goal at home? Stay tuned.
Back to our man in Scotland, Simon McMahon. No relation to Steve I’m guessing. ”Arbroath have come from behind to lead Queen of the South 2-1 at halftime. As it stands, the part-timers are just a point behind leaders Kilmarnock, who they play next. Ayr lead Dunfermline 1-0 at the break, and if they can hold on will almost certainly be safe, while Dunfermline will be heading for the relegation play-offs. Long way to go yet though.”
Some half-time musing. Here’s Eric Peterson. “Greetings from Pittsburgh! I’m really jealous of Erik ten Hag. Not because he’s up for the Man United job, but because he had the chance to go to a job interview knowing full well that the folks across the table need him way more than he needs them. How many of us ever get to have an experience like that? “Okay, guys, here’s the deal. Right now, your club stinks. Your organizational culture, your team chemistry, your player recruitment, your talent for what you pay for it, your results considering your club’s history? It all stinks. Here’s what I’m going to do to fix it. You can accept that, all of that, with no strings attached, and let me do the job this club really needs done, or you can leave me alone and continue to stink. Your call.”
Half-time: Watford 0-1 Brentford
No big surprises here with in-form Brentford on track for a fifth Premier League win out of six. Norgaard’s close-range effort is the difference maker in a game that Watford simply have to win.
Half-time: Man Utd 2-1 Norwich
Ronaldo has a brace and also went close with a spectacular overhead kick but United haven’t been totally convincing and Norwich deservedly pulled a goal back to give the match some jeopardy. Norwich lead the corner count 4-2 if you enjoy that particular stat.
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Half-time: Southampton 1-0 Arsenal
Work to do for Mikel Arteta’s men after they failed to take advantage of some decent early chances and then conceded that Bednarek goal just before the break.
Liverpool go 2-0 up!! It’s a ridiculous goal at Wembley as Steffen tries to be as cool as Ederson but fails spectacularly as Mane slides into bundle the ball into the net before the goalkeeper can get his kick away.
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GOAL! Man Utd 2-1 (Dowell 45)
Don’t say I didn’t warn you! Norwich have their goal as Dowell pulls one back just before the interval. It’s lovely play from the visitors and Dowell heads home from Pukki’s cross to give Norwich fresh hope.
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GOAL! Southampton 1-0 Arsenal (Bednarek 44)
Well, well, well. The top four race takes another twist as the Gunners go 1-0 down at Southampton as Bednarek opens the scoring a minute before half time. It comes from a cross by Elyounoussi.
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A report on the Man Utd fan protest via PA Media.
Manchester United fans protested against the Glazer family’s ownership before Saturday’s Premier League clash against Norwich.
A recently-formed supporter group called The 1958 organised a protest that started at Tollgate in Stretford before marching to Old Trafford, with numbers building into thousands outside the ground.
Flares filled the air as well as constant chants about the Glazer family in the Munich tunnel, where entrances were shuttered and police stood guard outside the closed directors’ entrance.
There were yellow and green scarves aplenty as well as banners in the same colours, including one which read ‘Glazers and Woodward out’, with the latter’s name crossed through after Ed Woodward left in February.
Police spotters and horses were in place outside the East Stand and fans chanted “love United, stay outside” as The 1958 said supporters should not take up their seats before the 17th minute – one minute for every year of the Glazers’ ownership.
There were more empty seats than usual at kick-off, but Old Trafford still looked near enough full.
Goal in the FA Cup semi-final and it’s another header from Ibrahima Konate. Liverpool lead Man City 1-0. It’s a towering leap by the defender from Andy Robertson’s corner and Konate has scored three headers in his last three games.
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Man Utd 2-0 Norwich: The Canaries have had their chances in this first half. This time they break and have a man advantage but Lees-Melou dithers instead of passing to Pukki. Don’t rule out a Norwich goal at some point.
GOAL! Man Utd 2-0 Norwich (Ronaldo 32)
It’s a second for Ronaldo, who will now have his eyes firmly on another match ball. This one comes from a Telles corner which Ronaldo nuts in to double United’s lead. The hosts had won the corner after Tim Krul had done well to save from Lingard.
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Brentford goalscorer Christian Norgaard.
😆
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) April 16, 2022
🟡 0-1 🐝#BrentfordFC #WATBRE pic.twitter.com/H4uAnddfbb
Southampton 0-0 Arsenal: Well, Saints have got to 31 minutes without conceding. Chelsea were 4-0 up at this stage last week. Arsenal have had the better chances but Southampton are keeping them out so far.
Mary Waltz sums up the top four battle: “Now who would like the final ticket to the Champions league. Arsenal - “you can have it Spurs”. Spurs -” No, after you. I insist” MU - “ We would love to accept but we have other priorities so no thanks.”
Are Man Utd back in it if they win today and Arsenal don’t?
Watford 0-1 Brentford: No response from the hosts yet after that Norgaard goal. Sarr had an early chance for the hosts when heading over but, apart from that, they’ve created very little. Pinnock has had to go off for Brentford.
Man Utd 1-0 Norwich: Still just that Ronaldo goal so far. To be honest, Norwich have done okay although that Pukki miss could prove costly.
Southampton 0-0 Arsenal: Forster saves Saints again with a superb stop from Saka. Arsenal pushing here, the Spurs result having given them a big pre-match boost.
GOAL! Watford 0-1 Brentford (Norgaard 15)
Pinnock’s long throw causes chaos in the Watford defence and Christian Norgaard puts the visitors in front from close range after a flick on from Ajer.
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In Germany, Borussia Dortmund are 5-0 up on Wolfsburg with just 38 minutes on the clock. And Erling Haaland has only got one of them.
Southampton 0-0 Arsenal: Saints fans wince as they almost fall behind inside 10 minutes. Thankfully, Forster is on hand to keep out Martinelli’s strike. Southampton are going 3-4-3 today.
GOAL! Man Utd 1-0 Norwich (Ronaldo 7)
Bad mistake in the Norwich defence by Ben Gibson and Anthony Elanga sets up Cristiano Ronaldo to put United in front. That’ll teach them to try and play out from the back. A tap-in for Ronaldo and that’s his 19th of the season.
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Southampton 0-0 Arsenal: A reminder that Arsenal could pull level with Spurs on 57 points if they win today, and the Gunners have a game in hand. Arsenal would have to win 10-0 to go above Tottenham on goal difference although, then again, they are playing Southampton.
Man Utd 0-0 Norwich: Big chance at Old Trafford and it’s for Norwich! Teemu Pukki is one on one with David de Gea but he can’t take cash in. Great save by the goalkeeper to be fair.
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The whistles have blown and we’re in play at Old Trafford, Vicarage Road and the Brentford Community Stadium.
Manchester City v Liverpool kicks off at 3.30pm and Scott Murray is on MBM duty here. A quick glance at the teams for today’s FA Cup semi-final.
Manchester City: Steffen, Joao Cancelo, Stones, Ake, Zinchenko, Bernardo Silva, Fernandinho, Grealish, Foden, Gabriel Jesus, Sterling.
Subs: Dias, Gundogan, Laporte, Rodri, De Bruyne, Mahrez, Ederson, Delap, Lavia.
Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, van Dijk, Robertson, Keita, Fabinho, Thiago, Salah, Diaz, Mane.
Subs: Milner, Firmino, Gomez, Henderson, Jones, Jota, Tsimikas, Matip, Kelleher.
Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland).
Charles Antaki emails: “Extremely neighbourly of Spurs to concede all the points to Brighton, and give Arsenal a chance to get back in the race for the fourth place trophy. On the other hand, Arsenal are quite capable of extreme generosity themselves; their recent gifts to struggling sides has no doubt stored up a great deal of moral credit in heaven, though not so much with their Arsenal fans. The inclusion of Tavarez might help make Southampton the next beneficiaries, although fortunately it does mean that Xhaka is not at left back. Something to hang on to.”
Hearts have made their third Scottish Cup final in four years after beating local rivals Hibs 2-1. Here’s the full report.
Manchester City have seen off West Ham 4-1 in their Women’s FA Cup semi-final to set up a showdown against either Arsenal or Chelsea.
Maryam Naz’s report is here.
More pictures here...
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Man Utd fans have planned protests ahead of today’s game against Norwich. We’ll have a full story on that later. The “Glazers out” chants can be heard here.
Protest in Munich tunnel #MUFC: pic.twitter.com/CDaBFU6V3G
— Adam Millington (@AdamGMillington) April 16, 2022
Brighton boss Graham Potter, resplendent in black turtleneck sweater, applauds the travelling Brighton fans and even blows some kisses too. Even commentator Ian Darke called this very Spurs-y. Antonio Conte’s men have just six games left: Brentford (a), Leicester (h), Liverpool (a), Arsenal (h), Burnley (h), Norwich (a). The next four matches will surely decide their fate.
Brighton beat Spurs!
Tottenham have blown it. A lacklustre display is punished at the death as Trossard’s goal gives an impressive Brighton outfit a 1-0 win. The Seagulls have done a Hull 2008, winning at both Arsenal and Spurs in quick succession. Brighton go 10th while Spurs are still three clear of Arsenal in fourth although the Gunners have two games in hand.
Simon McMahon keeps us abreast of news north or the border. “It’s Scottish Cup semi-final weekend in Scotland, and *breaking news* Hearts have just made it through with a nervy 2-1 win over 10 man Hibs at Hampden. They will play either Celtic or Rangers, who meet tomorrow, in the final. No SPL games, so it’s all eyes on the Scottish Championship. Arbroath can move to within a point of leaders Kilmarnock (who lost 2-1 to Inverness last night) with a win against bottom of the table Queen of South today, and second bottom Dunfermline will draw level with Ayr directly above them should they beat them today. It’s not called the ‘business end‘ of the season for nothing I suppose.”
Oh Spurs! With a drab 0-0 looking certain, Leandro Trossard has just poked home for Brighton in the 90th minute. Deserved as well.
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Teams: Watford v Brentford
Finally, the news from Vicarage Road. For the hosts, Emmanuel Dennis comes in for Cucho Hernandez while Pontus Jansson returns for Brentford.
Watford: Foster, Louza, Joao Pedro, Kamara, Sissoko, Femenia, Samir, Sarr, Dennis, Kabasele, Kucka.
Subs: Bachmann, Ngakia, Etebo, King, Cleverley, Cathcart, Gosling, Kayembe, Forde.
Brentford: Raya, Ajer, Jansson, Pinnock, Henry, Norgaard, Janelt, Eriksen, Mbeumo, Wissa, Toney.
Subs: Fernandez, Jensen, Dasilva, Ghoddos, Fosu, Baptiste, Bech, Roerslev, Stevens.
Teams: Southampton v Arsenal
No Alexandre Lacazette for Arsenal who isn’t in the squad for “private reasons”. Eddie Nketiah starts up front. Elsewhere, Nuno Tavares returns.
Ralph Hasenhüttl shakes things up after the heavy home defeat against Chelsea. Yan Valery and Lyanco come back and Armando Broja returns in attack.
Southampton: Forster, Valery, Bednarek, Lyanco, Walker-Peters, Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Perraud, S. Armstrong, Elyounoussi, Broja.
Subs: Caballero, Stephens, Livramento, Salisu, Redmond, Tella, A. Armstrong, Adams, Long.
Arsenal: Ramsdale, White, Gabriel, Saka, Odegaard, Cedric, Tavares, Sambi Lokonga, Nketiah, Xhaka, Martinelli.
Subs: Leno, Smith Rowe, Holding, Pepe, Elneny, Azeez, Ogungbo, Swanson, Hutchinson.
Teams: Man Utd v Norwich
Four changes for Man Utd from that tepid defeat at Goodison. In come Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Anthony Elanga and Diogo Dalot. Out go Nemanja, Matic, Fred, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Marcus Rashford.
Man Utd: De Gea, Dalot, Lindelof, Maguire, Telles, Pogba, Lingard, Fernandes, Sancho, Elanga, Ronaldo.
Subs: Henderson, Bailly, Jones, Wan-Bissaka, Matic, Mata, Rashford, Mejbri, Garnacho.
Norwich: Krul, Byram, Gibson, Hanley, Giannoulis, McLean, Normann, Dowell, Lees-Melou, Rashica, Pukki.
Subs: Gunn, Aarons, Zimmermann, Tzolis, Sorensen, Gilmour, Rowe, Placheta, Rupp.
Still Tottenham 0-0 Brighton and Spurs have looked somewhat asleep so far. Rob Smyth is on MBM duty and will guide you through the final quarter of the match.
Preamble
Welcome 3pm kick-off fans. We have a trio of your favourite old-skoolers today and all could have a serious impact on important stuff such as who finishes in the top four and who gets relegated.
Southampton v Arsenal: The Gunners were favourites to bag that final Champions League slot a few weeks ago but they’re wobbling again after three defeats in their last four Premier League games. Perhaps this is the perfect fixture though. Saints were smashed 6-0 by Chelsea last weekend and, like Stuart McCall, they don’t respond well to being hammered. A scroll through past results shows Southampton lost next time out after both their 9-0 gubbings by Leicester and Man Utd. Homework: why are Southampton quite decent and yet susceptible to such bonkers scorelines?
Man Utd v Norwich: Ralf Rangnick hasn’t exactly had an impact. An infographic I saw the other day said he actually boasts the worst winning percentage (47.1%) of any United manager in the Premier League era. Surely he’ll bump it up a few percent against bottom-placed Norwich although the Canaries did show some chirp last weekend when beating Burnley and their previous four Premier League wins this season came in pairs.
Watford v Brentford: The ‘Ford’ derby completes the 3pm Premier League action with in-form Brent fancied to sink third-bottom Wat. Bees manager Thomas Frank has created an atmosphere where he’s a friend first and a boss second. Best players? I’d go... Eriksen, Toney, Mbeumo… Pinnock. Do you know who I feel sorry for? Poor old Roy Hodgson. Watford have failed to win a single point at home since he took over.
Tottenham are currently in action at home to Brighton so we’ll have updates on that. And at 3.30pm it’s the FA Cup semi-final between Manchester City and Liverpool. You’ll get goal alerts and anything major on here but Scott Murray is your man for hot MBM action from Wembley.
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