07/05/2025

SPORTS WEDNESDAY | MAY 7, 2025

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Forest push their luck Draw against Crystal Palace edge Numo’s men closer to European place N OTTINGHAM FOREST grabbed another point towards their European push as Murillo’s lucky strike secured a 1-1 Premier a look at the replay, booking Sels for his troubles, with Eze tucking away the spot kick.

Club World Cup dilemma for Tuchel

Palmer back to his best for Chelsea COLE PALMER said he felt “free” during Chelsea’s 3-1 win over Liverpool after he rounded off the victory with a penalty to end his 16-week scoring drought. The new Premier League champions were seen off by an excellent display from Enzo Maresca’s side with Palmer back to his brilliant best. The England forward had not scored since Jan 14 but there had been signs during recent matches of his form returning, and against a Reds side featuring six changes from their title triumph a week ago his flair and invention bloomed. “I felt good all game,” he told Chelsea’s official website. “I thought I was playing free, I was playing well before the goal. “I felt confident and just thought about trying to score. We would have won anyway to be honest but to seal it felt good.” Palmer’s moment came with virtually the game’s final kick and it was a fitting finale. After Jarell Quansah had upended Moises Caicedo’s dart into the penalty area, Palmer took the roof off Stamford Bridge to cap a perfect afternoon for Chelsea who moved level on points with fourth placed Newcastle. It left their Champions League fate firmly in their own hands, holding a two-point lead over Nottingham Forest. Chelsea travel to St James’ Park on Sunday, then after a home game against Manchester United they round off the campaign with a potentially season defining trip to the City Ground to face Forest, a match that could prove a straight shoot-out for the top five. Yet in Palmer, Maresca’s side have a key weapon back in their armoury. His return to form could not have come at a better moment, and the Blues will likely be favourites to pip Villa and Forest should the 22-year-old keep firing for the next three games. “I knew that patches like this (scoring drought) were going to come, it was going to happen,” said Palmer. “It’s not really affected me, it’s just one of those things in life. Maybe it was on my mind at the start, but as it’s gone on I’ve realised that it’s just life. I’m not going to stay in a good patch for 18 months and never have a bad patch.” – The Independent ENGLAND head coach Thomas Tuchel faces a dilemma over releasing his players early next month before the Club World Cup. His side are scheduled to play two games in June – a World Cup qualifier against Andorra in Barcelona on June 7 before a friendly against Senegal at Nottingham Forest three days later. The game at the City Ground on June 10 takes place just four days before the club tournament starts in the USA. Players from Manchester City, Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid – who are all involved in the inaugural Club World Cup – could all be selected in Tuchel’s squad for the international double header. Tuchel and the FA’s decision over releasing players could impact as many as 12 players. Chelsea contingent Cole Palmer, Reece James, Levi Colwill and Noni Madueke could be selected by Tuchel. Captain Harry Kane is at Bayern Munich while Jude Bellingham plays for Real Madrid and fellow midfielder Conor Gallagher for Atletico Madrid. Should all players remain with the England squad, Chelsea could be the worst hit. Teams competing at the Club World Cup are required to arrive in the USA no later than three days before their opening tie. With that in mind, Enzo Maresca’s side face a potential Europa Conference League final in Poland on May 28 May – three days after the final day of the Premier League season – before joining up for international duty. Their first game of the Club World Cup is against Leon on June 16 June – six days after the clash versus Senegal. Manchester City’s first game of the tournament is on June 18 June versus Wydad AC. Bayern play Auckland City and Atletico face Paris St Germain on June 1 while Real are up against Al Hilal on June 18. – Agencies

mentally because we are in a battle no one expected us to be in. “The schedule is very hard. It is a big fight we are involved in and we need characters.” Murillo also seemed to pull up injured, but Nuno added: “We’ll assess him. Hopefully it’s nothing.” As for whether Murillo meant his slightly fortuitous goal, Nuno said: “I think he just wanted to touch the ball. Sometimes they go in.” Palace boss Glasner is hopeful the ankle injury suffered by Wharton will not rule his key midfielder out of the FA Cup final. “I hope it’s not that serious,” said Glasner. “It’s a little bit sore, he twisted it a bit but hopefully it’s nothing serious.” Glasner was delighted his side proved they were not only focused on their Wembley date with Manchester City on May 17. “I was pleased with the desire to win the game,” added Glasner. “We missed a couple of chances, especially at the end. “We weren’t efficient enough but the players showed they 100 per cent wanted to win this game. I’m

The influential Adam Wharton had taken a knock to his ankle knock and went off, with Oliver Glasner taking no chances with him 11 days before the Wembley date with City. Forest levelled in the 64th minute when Murillo, up for a corner, stuck out a leg to flick Williams’ shot past the wrong-footed Dean Henderson. Forest rode their luck late on as Eze agonisingly clipped the crossbar with a 20 yard curler before substitute Eddie Nketiah had the ball in the net only to be flagged offside. Forest’s top-five bid may no longer be in their hands, but with distinctly winnable games against Leicester and West Ham to come, all eyes could yet be on a final-day shootout with Chelsea for a Champions League spot. “It was a very intense game, with lots of chances. I’m proud we’ve been able to improve,” said boss Nuno Espirito Santo. “We need a lot of

League draw at Crystal Palace. Murillo might not have known much about his goal as he diverted a Neco Williams shot into the net, but it could prove vital during the run-in. Forest’s top-five bid may no longer be in their hands, but with distinctly-winnable games against Leicester and West Ham to come, all eyes could yet be on a final-day shootout with Chelsea for a Champions League spot. Palace, playing their first match since beating Aston Villa to reach the FA Cup final, had taken the lead through Eberechi Eze’s penalty. Forest, who suffered Wembley heartbreak 24 hours later against Manchester City, were without the injured Callum Hudson-Odoi – who instead joined the away fans in the stand. After a goalless first half, Palace who went ahead on the hour after Mitchell was felled by a combination of Nicolas Dominguez and keeper Matz Sels in the area. Referee Andy Madley did not initially give the penalty but changed his mind after

delighted we scored a penalty after missing two.” – The Independent

character, a lot of belief. We are pushing the players physically and

Nottingham Forest’s Neco Williams (centre) in action with Crystal Palace’s Maxence Lacroix (right). – REUTERSPIC

Europa League on Amorim’s mind Ű BY REUBEN ROSSO-POWELL

than one game but it’s hard. “Of course we want to be competitive, we struggled a lot during these 90 minutes. We have to think about the next game and then the Premier League. “It’s really hard but we are doing the best we can to try to manage (the situation) and try to risk in some games.” Thomas Frank’s Bees capitalised on an injury to Matthijs de Ligt by using the extra man to score their first goal. The Dutch defender was substituted and is a doubt for Friday’s European tie. “Yeah, I definitely have sympathy about De Ligt and, you know, it’s clear that they struggle in many ways,” boss Frank said. “When you are in football, the struggles are part of football but you just know it is not nice. Of course, it’s a tricky situation so I hope De Ligt is OK.” – The Independent

even in this context. “So we have to take all the hits in this moment. We are losing games in the Premier League, but we are fighting for the Europa League so we need to accept that and to think about now Thursday which is the most important game for us.” Kevin Schade’s brace, a Luke Shaw own goal and Yoane Wissa’s 18th of the campaign helped Brentford to victory at the Gtech Community Stadium, after Mason Mount had opened the scoring. “We, as a club, need to understand in this moment that we have a big responsibility (to win the Europa League). “We have to prepare a squad for different competitions,” Amorim said on the eight changes he made to his starting XI. “(Rotation) is good for the players. Everybody is playing, we are preparing more

RUBEN AMORIM said Manchester United’s Europa League semifinal second leg on Friday (3am Malaysian time) is what is important after a 4-3 Premier League defeat at Brentford on Sunday. The Red Devils’ winless run in the League was extended to six matches despite a late comeback that saw Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo score consolation goals. However, after their 3-0 first-leg win over Athletic Bilbao last Thursday, United know they have the chance to qualify for the Champions League by winning the Europa League. “I think it’s stressful to lose games. When we’re fighting for a title it’s not stressful,” said Amorim, whose side are 15th in the table. “I have no doubts that we are playing better and we are understanding the way we play,