Don't Put the Bernaise Sauce on That Steak Just Yet

In a long-standing tradition dating back to May 2018, I buy Michael B a steak dinner once Newcastle are mathematically safe from relegation.  He's been talking about how he can taste that steak now but I'm counseling him to keep his taste buds in check.  With their recent form, including the frustrating loss to Crystal Palace, Newcastle have not put the issue to bed.  In fact, they have gone from a negligible chance to a 1% chance of relegation according to 538.  Okay, not time for panic but we're not done here.

Milivojevic sends Dubravka the wrong way on PK

As for that frustrating loss, we rarely see Newcastle statistically dominant but they outpossessed Crystal Palace 54-46 and outshot them 18 (5 on target) to 3 (just 1 on target).  Unfortunately, they were outgoaled 1-0 on the strength of a Milivojevic PK in the 81st minute.  The call was deserved as Yedlin was just plain careless in the box. The reminders just keep piling up that Newcastle simply need more finishing quality.  Hopefully the lesson was not lost on owner Michael Ashley.

Newcastle's situation wasn't helped by the season ending injury to Florian LeJeune as he damaged his other ACL.  Fortunately, there is some depth there but LeJeune was definitely a first choice.  Also, there is continued (endless?) speculation about Rafa's contract, Rondon's future with the club, and persistent rumors about whether Ashley will sell.  Perfect backdrop to the relegation struggle. 


Toffees Gumming Up the Works

Everton, who just two weeks ago dealt a serious blow to Chelsea's top four hopes, put a crimp in Arsenal's Champions League plans with a stubborn 1-0 win over the Gunners.  Arsenal had been looking good enough for a third place finish but now look to be neck and neck with Chelsea for the 4th spot.  Chelsea got their three points this weekend on the back of Eden Hazard, who put in two in the 2-0 win over West Ham.  Liverpool struggled early at Southampton and didn't take the lead until the 80th minute on this incredible counterattacking goal from Salah. Jordan Henderson added another minutes later making the final 3-1 but it was much closer than that.  At the other end of the table, Burnley were dismantling Bournemouth 3-1 for their second straight win.  The Clarets jumped to 14th with their second straight win; two weeks ago they looked mired in the relegation battle but now are almost home.


Watchable FA Cup Semi Finals

The killer bee was at it again

Man City kept their quadruple hopes alive with a narrow 1-0 win over Brighton.  BFS favorites Wolverhampton couldn't hold a 2-0 lead and ended up losing in distressing fashion 2-3 in extra time to Watford.  At 79 minutes Gerald Deulofeu (left), who surprisingly was left out of the starting line up, cut the lead in half with a brilliantly placed shot.  Seconds from advancing to the final, Wolves surrendered a PK in the 94th minute that Troy Deeney absolutely buried to level things.  Deulofeu then added the game winner in extra time to send the Hornets into the final.



Champions League

A mixed bag for the Premier League.  Liverpool handled Porto well and take a 2-0 lead to the second leg in Portugal.  Spurs got a late goal from Son to take a 1-0 lead to the Etihad next week.  A quick rant here about players doubling as referees.  As you check out Son's goal here, notice how many City players raise their hands to indicate they thought - incorrectly we might add - that the ball was out, having gone past the goal line.  I count at least three, including Fabian Delph, who would have been much better off letting the refs do their job and focusing on keeping Son from getting a shot off.  No sympathy for the players who do that, love to see them get burned. Okay where was I?  Was hoping for more out of the Man United - Barcelona match up.  The Red Devils managed no shots on target and the only score was an own goal off Luke Shaw.  In the last quarter-final, Ajax and Juventus played to a 1-1 draw.  Second legs for those ties are next Tuesday and Wednesday.  All are still competitive, at least in theory, though Liverpool, Barcelona and Juventus may be in the drivers seats.


Union Comeback

The scene at Chester-on-Delaware was distressingly like the action at Newcastle-on-Tyne from earlier in the day.  The Union were all over Dallas, except that for all the possession and shots in the final third we weren't all that threatening.  Dallas carried the lead late into the match thanks to a first half free kick goal.  Then Curtin changed things around and every move worked.  We were giving away three inches and 30 pounds at every position so he switched out Picault for Burke.  We needed some dribble penetration so he switched out Accam for Ilsinho.  And we needed more offense so he switched out Gaddis for Monteiro and played with just three defenders.  Monteiro took the shot that was parried as high as the Commodore Barry Bridge.  Burke was tackled by two Dallas defenders to keep him from getting that rebound, resulting in a PK; Burke was also there to put away the rebound when Fabian was stymied on the PK attempt.  And Ilsinho did nice work to get the ball to Bedoya, who then did some nifty work of his own to get the game winner in extra time.  We offer two views of this week's YouTubeableMoment, here and a fan's eye view here.  Great fun to have that unfold right in front of us.


Schedule

Match of week "Top of Table Division" - Liverpool vs Chelsea (11:30 Sunday on NBCSN)
Match of the week "Relegation Division" - Burnley vs Cardiff City (10 am Saturday on NBCSN)

In the former match, neither has any room to give.  Chelsea have to pick up points in unexpected places if they hope to get to 4th; with Man City likely favored in all their closing matches, Liverpool can't drop any points either.  For the latter, Burnley have pulled their asses out of the depths and a win over Cardiff would all but mathematically give them another year in the top flight.

Newcastle have to travel to Leicester so we're not really expecting anything from that match.  They have a special Friday match (3 pm NBCSN) so we can get the misery out of the way early. We'll watch it so you don't have to.

Other fixtures at the top end include Man City traveling to Crystal Palace, Tottenham vs Huddersfield (we'll have to pull Michael B off the ledge if that's anything less than three points), Arsenal on the road to Watford and Man United hosting West Ham.  Frankly, it looks like status quo at the top, with the exception of the Liverpool Chelsea contest.

Don't forget midweek Champions League action.  Also, there's a relegation special on Tuesday at 2:45 with Brighton hosting Cardiff City on NBCSN.  With the right (or wrong depending on your perspective) set of results, Cardiff could actually pass Brighton and put the Seagulls into the last relegation spot.  On the other hand, Brighton might be able to just about put Cardiff out of their misery.

Union fans get a late night with a 10:30 pm West Coast match as they take on the LA Galaxy.  The four game unbeaten streak might not survive this one.  The good news is that currently Philly are 4th in the conference with 10 points, twice as many as they had after six matches last year.

Somehow have to fit Masters viewing into this too.  That burning smell is my dvr.