With the season now in it’s final few weeks, and following the midweek return to action, the weekend saw a variety of fixtures as final placings are being secured and some battling still onwards to the end of the season. With our first confirmed relegation, the other 2 may not be far behind, the title celebrations take a longer pause after this weekend and the battle for various European spots remains the big challenge this season.

As always, in this post we will be picking out 3 of the biggest talking points of the weekend, along with giving out the game of the week and player of the week awards. If we’ve missed something in this post that you saw over the weekend please do get in touch with us on all the usual places (Bluesky @NextGoalWinner – Instagram @NextGoalWin), and if you prefer an audio round up of the action then do check out our YouTube channel (@NextGoalWinner) where we post weekly reviews on there of all the key talking points in the Premier League and around Europe.

Let’s Just Avoid The Record

Tottenham Hotspur’s 3-1 victory over Southampton on Saturday, not only secured three points for the North London side but also confirmed Southampton’s relegation from the Premier League. Brennan Johnson’s first-half brace and Mathys Tel’s late penalty sealed the Saints’ fate, marking the earliest confirmed relegation in Premier League history with seven games remaining . Despite a late goal from Mateus Fernandes, Southampton couldn’t avoid their descent into the Championship.​

This defeat leaves Southampton with just 10 points from 31 matches, putting them at risk of breaking Derby County’s infamous 2007-08 record for the lowest Premier League points total of 11 . With seven games left, the Saints must secure at least two more points to avoid setting a new low. The club’s management upheaval continued as manager Ivan Juric departed shortly after the relegation was confirmed, ending his brief 108-day tenure . Assistant coach Simon Rusk and player-coach Adam Lallana have taken over for the remainder of the season.

Despite the dire circumstances, Juric praised the unwavering support of Southampton fans and emphasized the importance of gratitude towards them . As the Saints aim to avoid further disappointment, the focus shifts to rebuilding and preparing for a swift return to the Premier League. The club’s leadership is now tasked with instilling resilience and pride in the squad to navigate the challenges of the Championship and beyond.

Boring, Boring Derby’s

The Manchester derby on Sunday, concluded in a goalless draw, marking the first scoreless derby since 2020. Both teams struggled to create clear chances, with the match lacking intensity and drama. Former United captain Roy Keane criticized the match as a “friendly derby” and lamented the lack of quality on display . The result leaves City sixth in the Premier League with 52 points, while United remain 13th with 38 points.

Manchester United’s attention now shifts to their Europa League quarter-final first leg against Lyon on Thursday, as the European competition remains their only chance of bringing some success to a dismal season. United have been undefeated in the competition, amassing 18 points in the group stage and advancing past Real Sociedad with a 5-2 aggregate score.

For Manchester City, the draw was a setback in their pursuit of Champions League qualification. City sit sixth in the league, trailing behind Chelsea, and are now 21 points behind leaders Liverpool . The match also marked the final Manchester derby for City’s Kevin De Bruyne, who plans to leave the club at the season’s end . City will need to regroup and focus on their remaining fixtures to secure a top-four/five finish and ensure Champions League football next season.

Title Celebrations On Ice

Fulham delivered a stunning performance at Craven Cottage on Sunday, defeating league leaders Liverpool 3-2 and reigniting their aspirations for European qualification. Despite Liverpool taking an early lead through Alexis Mac Allister’s long-range strike, Fulham responded with a relentless 14-minute offensive. Goals from Ryan Sessegnon, Alex Iwobi, and Rodrigo Muniz capitalized on defensive lapses from Liverpool, including errors by Andy Robertson and Virgil van Dijk. Although Luis Díaz narrowed the deficit in the second half, Fulham’s resilience ensured they secured a memorable victory.

This victory propelled Fulham to eighth place in the Premier League standings, placing them within striking distance of the European qualification spots. Manager Marco Silva praised his team’s composure and tactical discipline, highlighting their ability to capitalize on opportunities against formidable opponents.

For Liverpool, the defeat marked only their second loss of the season and delayed their pursuit of the Premier League title. Despite maintaining an 11-point lead over Arsenal with seven matches remaining, manager Arne Slot expressed concerns over the team’s defensive vulnerabilities exposed during the match. The Reds will need to address these issues promptly to secure the title in the coming weeks .

Game of the week: Fulham 3-2 Liverpool With Liverpool now just with the league left to claim after an amazing first season under Slot, the party has to wait a little longer, as despite Arsenal dropping points on Saturday, Liverpool’s surprising defeat added a lit bit of excitement back to the inevitable title victory. For Fulham, this also marks a chance to ignite a final push for European football next season.

Player of the week: Jacob Murphy With Newcastle’s cup celebrations now calming, their quest for Champions League football has taken over and they gave themselves a huge boost with the win over Leicester City. Thanks to Jacob Murphy who bagged 2 goals inside the first 11 minutes, Newcastle were well on their way to 3 points and leapfrogging Manchester City in the process.