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Watford will meet Manchester City at Wembley Stadium in the FA Cup final after knocking out Wolves in sensational fashion on Sunday – the Hornets’ fightback from two goals down to win 3-2 in extra time will undoubtedly go down as one of the great games of the season.

Gerard Deulofeu’s stunning strike and Troy Deeney’s last gasp spot-kick saw goals from Raul Jimenez and Diogo Jota cancelled out before the Spaniard stung again, putting the Hornets in front in the 104th minute.

It’s difficult to pick which of Javi Gracia’s side’s three goals will stay longest in the memories of the Vicarage Road faithful, although the Watford captain’s equaliser and his raw celebration after will cast fans’ minds back to the 2012/13 play-offs.

The number 9 gave John Ruddy – between the sticks for Wolves – no chance with his 94th minute penalty and sent one half of Wembley Stadium into pandemonium, just as his late volley against Leicester did six years ago.

Although not that you would have believed it having seen him wheel away passionately in the dying seconds, the former Walsall man had indicated earlier last week that he wasn’t all that up for the massive game. Speaking on TalkSport (via The Watford Observer), the bustling forward said:

“I’ve got a weird feeling about this one, it doesn’t excite me too much, it’s just another game.

“I want people to understand the perspective because people always say that it’s a big occasion for a team outside the top six.

“Where we’re aspiring to get to and where Wolves are trying to aspire to get to is to be in this sort of situation more regularly, so we don’t see it as a one off, we see it as the building blocks to do more.

“If we can get over this final hurdle and get to the final, we” say ‘alright now there’s another block can we go on and win it?”

Wolves Fan TV place the blame for Wolves’ FA Cup semi-final collapse on John Ruddy in the video below…

Deeney might have walked out the tunnel on Sunday with that attitude but he certainly won’t have the same outlook when the Hornets travel back to Wembley Stadium once again to face the Premier League champions in the final – surely?

The 30-year-old usually wears his heart on his sleeve and even he has to admit now that he was wrong in his pre-match assessment of the Wolves clash – if his jubilant antics post-penalty weren’t the epitome of excitement, then what is?

That moment in 2014 will forever be burnt into the retinas of every Liverpool fan who witnessed it.

Steven Gerrard’s slip, Demba Ba’s goal, the beginning of the end for Brendan Rodgers’ title hopes. It’s something that is still sung about today at games and is one of the most iconic moments in Premier League history.

Five years later, and we’re back in a similar situation. Chelsea will travel to Liverpool who are hot on the tail of Manchester City, and for Jurgen Klopp, he has a duty to bury the sins of the past and end the torment the club have endured because of that fateful day.

But going into Sunday’s game, the two teams couldn’t be any more different from five years ago. The Blues head to Anfield not chasing for the title, but looking to get into the top four, something fans did not expect going into this season, whereas Liverpool have the chance to keep the pressure on City in one of the tightest title races in years with arguably their best team in the history of the Premier League era.

Liverpool have also shown this season that they can take on the big teams at home and get results, beating the likes of Tottenham and Arsenal and holding on against Manchester City, but in games against Chelsea this season, the Reds have been underwhelming.

An Eden Hazard masterclass knocked the Merseyside club out of the League Cup early in the season and a Daniel Sturridge is what it took for Liverpool to rescue a point against Chelsea at the fixture at Stamford Bridge.

The Reds have what it takes to easily beat Chelsea this weekend, with the west London side under more pressure from fans to perform and get the results they need to get back into the Champions League, and Klopp’s side know that if they stick to their game plan, they will be able to bury their demons and move on with their best shot of winning the Premier League title in years.

Liverpool fans, will the Reds beat Chelsea this weekend? Let us know!

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Daniel Sturridge will see his Liverpool deal expire this summer in June after more than six years with the club.

And it is widely thought that the centre-forward will leave Anfield in search of pastures new.

The 29-year-old has appeared on 24 occasions for the Reds this term, but has only managed four goals.

It has been a tough period for Sturridge, valued at £13.5 million by Transfermarkt, considering he also struggled on loan at West Bromwich Albion during the second half of last season.

And a number of Liverpool fans have been on social media engaging in a very interesting debate when it comes to the future of the 26-time England international.

Indeed, whilst it has not happened for Sturridge over the last 12 months or so, there is still a serious player in there, providing that he can stay fit.

The Liverpool supporters have been picking out potential clubs for the striker next season, and a selection of their opinions can be viewed below:

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Matt Murray has sung the praises of Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish, a player who only seems to be getting better as the weeks go by, while speaking on The Debate podcast this week.

What’s he said?

Grealish has been a hot topic in recent months with the attacking midfielder turning in some excellent displays in the Championship.

This season, the Villa man has five goals and five assists in 28 league outings, demonstrating his importance to Dean Smith’s team.

He’s been one of the driving forces behind the Midlands clubs’ strong hopes of promotion and, as a result, has attracted reported interest from the likes of Tottenham.

The 23-year-old has earned rave reviews and he’s now received praise from Sky Sports pundit, Murray. While speaking on The Debate at 37:10, he said:

“Jack Grealish for me is an absolutely fantastic footballer. I think he’s brilliant.”

Plenty more to come

Grealish is a fascinating footballer. When he first burst onto the scene with Villa in the Premier League there seemed to be a lot of hype around him. However, after failing to get a move when they went down it seemed as though his stock had fallen.

But what’s been pivotal to his turnaround and improved form this season is the Villans’ manager, Smith. Murray’s comments on the Debate are symptomatic of this, with the midfielder adding more goals and assists to his game under the former Brentford boss.

In terms of the number of goals he’s been involved in, the 2018/19 season represents his best to date so it’s no surprise to see him attracting the interest of one of England’s top clubs.

However, it isn’t just his goals and assists that have stood out but his leadership credentials have come to the forefront under Smith too. He has given him extra responsibility and the player seems to be relishing it.

His attitude has definitely improved and you sense there is plenty more to come from Grealish. Whether that’s at Villa or another club is a different matter, though.

Here to stay: Rangers close in on a deal to sign Steven Davis on a permanent contract.

SunSport understand that Rangers are close to agreeing a deal to sign Steven Davis on a permanent contract for next season.

The 34-year-old veteran Northern Ireland midfielder has spent half a season on loan at Ibrox since joining from Southampton in January.

Ibrox boss Steven Gerrard, who evidently had a preference for youthful talent, initially only used Davis as a squad player, with the midfield playmaker’s future at the club looking uncertain.

However, SunSport has recently suggested that talks have already taken place over a new deal with an agreement close to being agreed, as Gerrard looks to bolster his options with an experienced player who can shepherd the club’s brightest prospects into stardom. One of whom being Jake Hastie, Scotland’s Young Player of the Year, who Rangers have recently captured on a four-year deal.

As great as it is recruiting Davis – his experience and wealth of knowledge are undeniable – the ex-Premier League man must improve his game if he is to show that Gerrard’s faith in him is justified.

The 34-year-old, who hardly fits the current youth intensive model Gerrard is currently enforcing at Ibrox, will now be under pressure as one of few veterans at the club to perform.

That means a major improvement is required on his pretty average looking three assists in 22 games this season, especially for a side as free-scoring and intensive as Rangers, who will be chasing Celtic again next term.

Rangers fans, how much do you think Davis can contribute next year? Join the discussion by commenting below… 

أكد جمال السلامي المدير الفني لفريق الكرة الأول بنادي الرجاء المغربي، أن الكتيبة الخضراء ما زالت تتمسك بآمال الصعود إلى نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا على حساب الزمالك.

ويستعد الرجاء لمواجهة الزمالك في إياب الدور نصف النهائي ببطولة دوري أبطال افريقيا، مساء غدٍ الأربعاء على ملعب استاد القاهرة الدولي.

وقال السلامي في تصريحات عبر صحيفة “المنتخب المغربية”: “نملك إمكانيات بشرية قادرة على تحقيق (الريمونتادا)، وفريق الزمالك يعلم ذلك بعد ما رأه من الرجاء في الشوط الثاني من مباراة الذهاب، لذا سيتحلى منافسنا بالتواضع”.

طالع | مرتضى منصور: لا أنظر لمواجهة الأهلي قبل مباراة الرجاء.. وثنائي الزمالك عاد إلى مستواه

وأضاف: “سندخل لنلعب مباراة من 90 دقيقة وليس من 15 دقيقة الأولى، كيف وبأي أسلوب واعتمادًا على أي ثوابت تكتيكية؟ هذا ما سأترككم تكتشفونه خلال المباراة”.

وتابع: “نعلم أن الزمالك سيخوض مباراة مفتوحة محاولًا اقتناص هدف مبكر ومستعدون تكتيكيًا لمواجهة هذا الأسلوب، كما أن لاعبينا جاهزين ذهنيًا لتلك المباراة التي تحمل الكثير من الصعوبات”.

واختتم معلقًا على أزمة إصابات الفريق بالكورونا وتأجيل المباراة: “ما حدث كان اختبارًا لنا، وقد أظهرنا تلاحمنا وقدرتنا على تجاوز المحن، نحن بالقوام الكامل للفريق، والتأجيل أفادنا بربح هامش زمني تعافى خلاله كل اللاعبين المصابين بإصابات عضلية”.

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Sheffield Wednesday are hoping to sell forward Lucas Joao this summer according to a report in the printed version of The Sun on Sunday 7th April (page 61). But are they wrong to be considering selling?

What’s the word?

According to Sunday’s edition of The Sun, Sheffield Wednesday are weighing up whether to sell one of their top goal scorers this season in Joao for £8m.

The Owls are hoping to balance their books by offering out the 25-year-old who has recently been missing with injury.

Joao’s contract at Wednesday ends in 2021, per Transfermarkt, so it wouldn’t be a great surprise to see the club cash in on the player, rather than seeing his value plummet over the next year. Transfermarkt values the player at £1.8m, some way off the club’s own valuation.

The same report in The Sun also suggests Fernando Forestieri could leave the club.

Joao has to stay

A potential sale of £8m looks attractive for a Championship club but the Owls simply have to keep Joao. Although injured since February, the attacker was vital for the club earlier in the season and is currently their second top goal scorer on nine for the campaign.

Steve Bruce hasn’t had a proper chance to see the player in action since he arrived at Hillsborough, but regardless, has to keep him at the Yorkshire club.

Gary Hooper may have returned but considering Joao’s early season form he still has to be considered as one of their top players.

With Hooper and Steven Fletcher now the wrong side of 30, Wednesday need someone younger in their ranks to stay, and considering how much they’ve missed the similarly direct Rolando Aarons in the past two matches, they must keep Joao.

His direct nature helps to give a different dynamic in the final third and his versatility can also be a huge asset.

The positives of keeping Joao, therefore, outweigh the negatives and Bruce has to keep hold of him.

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Marco Silva continued to boost his reputation at Everton by leading his side to a sensational 4-0 win over Manchester United on Sunday afternoon.

It was a result which naturally left supporters in awe of the calibre of football on show and individual praise was dished out to a multitude of players, including Kurt Zouma.

The centre-back has grown into the season and established himself as a firm favourite amongst the Goodison Park faithful.

Earlier this month, Everton fans pleaded with the Frenchman to stay at Goodison Park next season, and the vast majority now appear to be in unanimous agreement that Marcel Brands should do everything in his power to conclude a permanent deal in the summer.

However, that Chelsea have been hit with a transfer ban ahead of the summer window suggests any such deal is incredibly unlikely.

With Gary Cahil’s contract due to expire in the summer Chelsea will be left with just three senior central defenders and Ethan Ampadu, 18, for cover in that position.

And with Maurizio Sarri powerless to change that situation in the transfer market Zouma will presumably be needed to bolster his options.

It would be a major coup for Everton to land a player of the 6 foot 3 defender’s enormous quality from a club as prestigious as Chelsea, but it may take something special from Brands and the recruitment team to pull this deal off.

Either way, there’s no doubt how the Everton fans feel about the 24-year-old loanee’s future.

Here’s what they had to say in light of his performance on Sunday…

Everton’s defence has looking shaky at times this campaign, but they should still sign Kurt Zouma over Getafe hardman Djene Dakonam.

Everton must be hoping to challenge for the top six in the next few seasons, and to do that they need a solid defence capable of dealing with the spaces their attacking styles leaves at the back. They need experience to deal with this.

Mundo Deportivo have claimed Djene Dakonam is one of Everton’s targets to make their back line more solid, but his lack of Premier League experience means he could take too long to adapt. Everton fans want to see improvements quickly. Goodison can be a scary place.

He’s played 32 times this season for Getafe in La Liga and is 27-years-old so it sounds like he has lots of experience, but England is a very different animal to Spain and it’d be a major risk to even spend £12.7m on him, which is what he’s rated on Transfermarkt.

Kurt Zouma, on the other hand, has years of Premier League experience and was arguably the best centre-back in the league at Chelsea before his injury. He’s returned to be one of the shining lights of Everton’s season and they should buy him instead.

The Liverpool Echo have reported he’s the Toffees’ main target this summer and so he should be. He’s just 24-year-old and has the ability to go right to the top, so Everton should aim to go on that journey with him.

He’s rated at £18m on Transfermarkt, but his signature would be game-changing for the club and signal its intent to break into the top six. He’s more experienced in the Premier League than Djene Dakonam and that alone should make Everton’s mind up.

Everton fans, which of these two centre-backs would you want your club to sign and why? Join the discussion by commenting below.

كشف أحمد فتحي لاعب فريق بيراميدز عن تفاصيل أزمة تنازله عن شارة قيادة منتخب مصر لصالح محمد صلاح المحترف في صفوف ليفربول الإنجليزي.

وقال أحمد فتحي: “حسام البدري له وجهة نظر في عدم اختياري للمنتخب وأتمني له التوفيق في مباراتي توجو المقبلتين”.

وأكمل “ليس بيني وبين حسام البدري أي خلاف، وكان هناك جلسة كانت بين 3 أو 4 أفراد حول قضية شارة القيادة ثم تم تسريبها في الإعلام”.

وتابع: “أنا لن أدخل في النوايا ولكن عرض عليّ التنازل عن شارة قيادة المنتخب ورفضت، ولن أكشف من الذي طلب هذا، ولكن هناك أحمد حجازي لم يوافق ومحمد النني أيضًا ولا أعلم موقف عبد الله السعيد من هذا الأمر”.

طالع | أحمد فتحي يروي تفاصيل انضمامه لـ بيراميدز ومفاوضات الأهلي ويؤكد: لم يطلب مني أحد البقاء

واستطرد: “سألت المسؤول الذي تحدث معي في أمر الشارة إذا كان محمد أبو تريكة مكاني هل تطلبون منه هذا؟، فرد عليّ بالتأكيد لا، وتوقعت أنني لن انضم للمنتخب وأبلغت محمد مجدي أفشة لاعب الأهلي بهذا الشعور”.

واختتم: “أنا لعبت في المنتخب لفترات طويلة وقلت للمسؤولين إذا كنتم تعتقدون أنه لا يجوز وجودي في المنتخب دون شارة القيادة فلا تضموني”.