Presha City ikizuru Leeds, Liverpool ikivizia Newcastle

NA MASHIRIKA

LONDON, Uingereza

MANCHESTER City watakuwa na presha ya kuepuka kuteleza watakapozuru Leeds baada ya wapinzani wao wa karibu Liverpool kuvaana na Newcastle ligini, leo Jumamosi.

City na Liverpool wanashikilia nafasi mbili za kwanza kwa alama 80 na 79 mtawalia.

Wanapigiwa upatu kukanyaga Newcastle (nambari tisa) na Leeds (16) walio na pointi 43 na 34 mtawalia.

Hata hivyo, vijana wa kocha Pep Guardiola hawajavuna ushindi ugani Elland Road katika mechi tatu zilizopita.

City walipoteza uwanjani humu mara mbili kabla ya kugawana alama walipotoka 1-1 katika safari yao ya mwisho Oktoba 2020.

Mara ya mwisho timu hizo zilikutana ilikuwa uwanjani Etihad msimu huu wakati City ilidhalilisha Leeds 7-0 kupitia mabao ya Nathan Ake, Kevin De Bruyne (mawili kila mmoja) na Phil Foden, Jack Grealish na Riyad Mahrez.

Macho yatakuwa kwa washambulizi kutoka Brazil Gabriel Jesus (City) na Raphinha (Leeds).

Mechi itakayofungua siku ni kati ya Liverpool inayotesa wapinzani kila kuchao na Newcastle ambayo imeamka ikifukuzia kujiweka mbali kabisa na mduara wa kushushwa ngazi.

Vijana wa Jurgen Klopp wana rekodi nzuri ya kutopoteza ugenini dhidi ya Newcastle katika michuano minne iliyopita.

Pia, Liverpool walitoka nyuma na kulima Newcastle 3-1 walipokutana mara ya mwisho Desemba 2021 kupitia mabao ya Diogo Jota, Mohamed Salah na Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Newcastle watalazimika kuwa makini zaidi na Salah, ambaye anaongoza ufungaji wa mabao ligini akiwa ametikisa nyavu mara 22, pamoja na Luis Diaz na Sadio Mane isije ikajipata pabaya.

Joelinton atategemewa na Newcastle ambayo imeshinda mechi sita mfululizo uwanjani St James Park msimu huu.

Ratiba:

Aprili 30 – Newcastle v Liverpool (2.30pm), Watford v Burnley (5.00pm), Southampton v Crystal Palace (5.00pm), Aston Villa v Norwich (5.00pm), Wolves v Brighton (5.00pm), Leeds v Manchester City (7.30pm)

Mei 1 – Tottenham v Leicester (4.00pm), Everton v Chelsea (4.00pm), West Ham v Arsenal (6.30pm) Mei 2 – Manchester United v Brentford (10.00pm)