After club football returned post-international break for a round of FA Cup action last weekend, the full return to club football for most came in the form of midweek action, as the final run-in officially begins. Despite having not much to play for in the key areas either end of the table, we are still waiting on final confirmation of the inevitable title win, and relegations, while the European places are offering one of the mystery’s left this season. The midweek games saw plenty of action and drama, as we now hit full gear for the remaining 8 games until the season reaches it’s conclusion.

As always, in this post we will be picking out 3 of the biggest talking points of the midweek action, 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 this round of games, 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.

Title + Bragging Rights

Liverpool edged closer to the Premier League title with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Everton at Anfield on Wednesday. Diogo Jota’s decisive goal extended the Reds’ lead at the top of the table to 12 points over Arsenal, with just eight matches remaining. The match was marked by controversy, as Everton’s James Tarkowski made a high challenge on Alexis Mac Allister in the 11th minute. Referee Sam Barrott issued a yellow card, a decision upheld by VAR, despite widespread criticism from pundits who deemed it a red-card offense. PGMOL later admitted that Tarkowski should have been sent off for serious foul play.

Despite the contentious incident, Liverpool maintained their composure and secured the win, further solidifying their position at the top of the league. Manager Arne Slot chose to focus on his team’s performance rather than the officiating controversy, emphasizing the importance of the victory in their title pursuit. Everton, despite the bragging rights going back to the red side of Merseyside, can take pride in not being over-run and having a complete shift under Moyes in the second half of the season. With a comfortable finish to the campaign, their attention can become fully focussed on the summer preparations and new season in a new stadium.

You’re Saying There’s A Chance?

The Premier League relegation battle intensified this week as crucial fixtures unfolded. On Tuesday, Wolverhampton Wanderers secured a vital 1-0 victory over West Ham United at Molineux, with Jorgen Strand Larsen netting the decisive goal in the 21st minute. This win propelled Wolves further towards safety, in 17th place with 29 points, 12 points clear of the relegation zone, providing a significant boost to their survival hopes. Despite West Ham’s efforts, including missed opportunities from Niclas Füllkrug and Tomas Soucek, they remain in 16th place with 34 points, still not entirely safe from the drop but feeling fairly confident of survival.

The following day, Ipswich Town delivered a stunning 2-1 away victory against Bournemouth, marking their first win of the year. Goals from Nathan Broadhead and Liam Delap capitalized on defensive errors by Bournemouth, particularly from Dean Huijsen. Although Evanilson pulled one back for the Cherries, Ipswich’s goalkeeper Alex Palmer made several crucial saves to preserve the lead. This result would have narrowed the gap to Wolves had it not been for their aforementioned victory, and so we are back where we started, but with an intriguing clash to come this weekend between the two sides which could shift the dynamics at the bottom of the table.

Meanwhile, Southampton’s struggles continued as they conceded a stoppage-time equalizer in a 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace at St Mary’s Stadium. Paul Onuachu had given the Saints an early lead, but Matheus França’s late header denied them a much-needed victory. Southampton remain at the bottom of the table with 10 points, edging closer to Derby County’s record-low 11-point season. Manager Ivan Juric expressed frustration over the missed opportunity, acknowledging the team’s improved performance but lamenting the inability to secure the win.

What You Could Have Had

Nottingham Forest continued their sensational campaign with a gritty 1-0 victory over Manchester United at the City Ground, thanks to a moment of brilliance from Anthony Elanga. The former United winger came back to haunt his old club in spectacular fashion, racing the length of the pitch following a United corner before calmly slotting the ball past Andre Onana in the sixth minute. It was a goal that encapsulated Forest’s fearless identity under Nuno; swift, clinical, and unforgiving, and one that proved enough to seal a big win.

The result further cements Forest’s place among the Premier League’s elite this season, with Champions League qualification now firmly within their grasp. Currently sitting third in the table and with an FA Cup semi-final on the horizon, Nuno’s men continue to defy expectations, and nights like this only strengthen their credentials.

Perhaps most impressively, this was Forest’s second victory over Manchester United this season, having claimed a dramatic 3-2 win at Old Trafford in December. Doing the double over one of English football’s traditional giants is no small feat and speaks volumes of Forest’s evolution. While United huffed and puffed with 21 shots and waves of second-half pressure, it was Forest who stood tallest, resolute at the back, ruthless on the break, and brimming with belief. From relegation battles to chasing Europe, this is a Forest side writing its own remarkable story.

Game of the week: Bournemouth 1-2 Ipswich Town We mentioned earlier that a few of the teams at the bottom of the table had felt like they’ve given themselves a chance this week, and although most teams picked up a result which nullifies any gains from the bottom 3, the Ipswich Town away win against an impressive performance could lead them to push on and fight for survival, while the shock result could also dent Bournemouth’s Champions League hopes.

Player of the week: Morgan Rogers With Aston Villa still pushing to secure Champions League qualification for a successive season, and still fighting in the tournament during this campaign, their attack has been an outstanding part of the run they’re on. Rogers showed the epitome of this as he produced 2 assists for Villa, setting up the opener and 2nd goal of the game. Although withdrawn late with an injury, Villa fans will be praying for a full strength squad as their Champions League quarter-final awaits next week.