Premier League analysis: How set-piece situations are reshaping the top sides
Set-pieces are deciding more Premier League matches than ever, providing the top sides with a consistent source of opportunity.
Arsenal have refined the craft – and their competition is beginning to follow, writes Sports News Blitz’s Ruben Picardo Ashworth.
Premier League analysis: Five key points from Leeds United vs Man City
Manchester City got a narrow but important 1-0 over Leeds United at Elland Road at the weekend, moving in closer to league leaders Arsenal.
Antoine Semenyo scored the only goal of the game in first-half stoppage time, with Leeds having some strong early chances - Dominic Calvert-Lewin had the best chance to score for Leeds United but wasn’t able to convert.
Despite missing Erling Haaland, Man City held firm to claim all three points.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Tyler Cooke gives his thoughts on the game.
FIFA World Cup 2026: Intercontinental play-offs preview – DR Congo, New Caledonia and Jamaica
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup fast approaching, a mini-tournament of intercontinental play-offs is set to add two more teams to the main draw.
Scheduled for late March in Mexico, the action will feature six teams.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer AJ Becker takes a closer look at the three nations who will be taking part in Pathway 1 of the play-offs.
Premier League news: Man Utd go third after Benjamin Sesko sinks Crystal Palace at Old Trafford
Manchester United edged past Crystal Palace thanks to a hard-fought 2-1 victory at Old Trafford on Sunday, with Bruno Fernandes and Benjamin Šeško doing the damage for the hosts.
Maxence Lacroix had given Palace the lead in the first half, but it was not enough for Oliver Glasner’s troops as United found their footing in the second period to take the three points.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Robert Bore reviews the action.
England’s Champions League charge: Six Premier League clubs enter crucial last-16 showdowns
The 2026 UEFA Champions League knockout stage has delivered a draw loaded with narrative, pressure, and opportunity for English clubs.
With UEFA’s new coefficient-based system offering the Premier League a potential fifth qualification spot for the following season, every tie involving English sides carries extra weight.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Joshua Topping analyses what’s at stake.
Premier League betting tips: Viktor Gyokeres to score against Chelsea, Leeds Utd to beat Man City and more Gameweek 28 betting tips
Hope springs eternal of course and I fully subscribe to the view you're either hot, or you're due, and I’m due, so read on for a breakdown of the best bets from this weekend’s Premier League TV games from Sports News Blitz’s punting laureate - The Bookie Basher - including a massive clash in the capital between Arsenal and Chelsea on Sunday, March 1.
Premier League news: Newcastle Utd face Anthony Gordon dilemma in race for European football
European football looks like a distant dream for Newcastle United if they don’t start turning chances into goals.
Hope remains, however, after an attacking solution with Anthony Gordon was discovered.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Mosaddek Abu takes a look at the Magpies’ recent struggles.
Premier League news: Arsenal, Man City eye title while Aston Villa, Man Utd lead European charge
With 11 games left, the Premier League is heating up. From top to bottom, every side still has plenty to play for.
At the summit, Arsenal and Manchester City are battling it out for the chance to be crowned champions. Below them, the race for Europe is intensifying, with fierce competition for the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League places.
In a campaign defined by momentum swings and mounting pressure, the run-in promises drama at the top of the table, writes Sports News Blitz’s Zephryn Dockree.
Liverpool analysis: Arne Slot’s Reds rocked by injury crisis - Title ambitions hanging in the balance
Arne Slot’s debut season at Liverpool was always going to be a test of adaptation, evolution, and expectation.
But injuries, particularly in defence, have disrupted that blueprint and forced the Dutchman into uncomfortable compromises, writes Sports News Blitz’s Joshua Topping.
Soccer analysis: Exploring why Chelsea have struggled against bottom 10 Premier League sides
Chelsea’s 1-1 home draw to Burnley on Saturday, February 21 meant that the Blues have failed to beat any of the three newly promoted sides at home, and haven’t managed to beat Leeds United home or away this season.
These results could prove to be the difference in Liam Rosenior clinching Champions League qualification this season or not.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Jacob Howson discusses Chelsea’s issues and how to fix them.
England analysis: How Man City’s Nico O’Reilly can fit into Thomas Tuchel’s 2026 World Cup squad
England is not short of talent; they are saturated with it. The challenge has been arranging that abundance into a balanced, cohesive team – particularly down the left side, where structure has often looked uneven.
It is into this very gap that Nico O’Reilly has emerged, a versatile midfielder capable of operating across multiple roles and offering a tactical intelligence that could help England’s World Cup hopes, writes Sports News Blitz’s Ruben Picardo Ashworth.
Premier League news: Aston Villa and Leeds Utd share spoils in dramatic Villa Park draw
Aston Villa were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw with Leeds United on Saturday in a Premier League encounter that delivered quality goals, tactical intrigue, and a dramatic late turnaround.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Harrison Pearce reviews the action from Villa Park.
Serie A news: How repeated referee and VAR errors sparked a crisis in Italian football
Controversy has rocked Serie A in recent weeks as numerous referees, in conjunction with VAR officials, have come under scrutiny for questionable choices.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Lorenzo Gagliotta takes a closer look at the decisions that have angered fans across the league.
League One news: Cardiff City manager Brian Barry-Murphy is destined for the Premier League
Brian Barry-Murphy has done a tremendous job since taking over at Cardiff City in June, with the Bluebirds now looking for an instant return to the EFL Championship.
Cardiff are flying high at the top of League One, having collected an impressive 69 points from 32 games, and Barry-Murphy could be a manager in demand this summer, writes Sports News Blitz’s Gareth Hinton.
Premier League betting tips: Both Man City and Arsenal to win in tense Premier League title race, and more Gameweek 27 betting tips
Read on for a breakdown of the best bets from this weekend’s Premier League TV games from Sports News Blitz’s punting laureate - The Bookie Basher - including Sunday’s huge North London derby between Spurs and Arsenal.
Can West Ham still climb out of the relegation zone?
West Ham's survival battle has reached crunch time. After a nightmare run of results, back-to-back victories briefly threw them a lifeline, only for another defeat to stall that momentum and sharpen the relegation scrap narratives around the bottom of the table.
But the fight is far from over, and what happens in the next five games could define their entire season.
Survival scraps are not won in one afternoon. They're about grinding out results, holding your nerve when it matters, and claiming points wherever you can.
West Ham have dug themselves into a hole, but they're not buried yet. There's still time to claw their way out, even if the path ahead looks brutal.
Premier League news: Should Nick Woltemade remain in Newcastle XI after thriving in new role?
Newcastle United’s fourth-round FA Cup victory over Aston Villa saw a different midfield set-up as Nick Woltemade took up an attacking midfield role.
With another away fixture coming up against Manchester City, should Woltemade remain in Eddie Howe’s starting eleven?
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Mosaddek Abu explains why the 24-year-old’s new role should keep him in the team.
England women squad news: Who’s in and who’s out for the World Cup qualifiers?
England captain Leah Williamson and forward Lauren James headline a number of high-profile returns in Sarina Wiegman’s latest 25-player squad for the 2027 World Cup qualifiers.
The build-up has been shaped by persistent injury concerns and important recalls that have forced the England manager to be cautious when making her selections.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Liberty Nicholson-Hulse breaks down the key talking points from England’s latest squad announcement, taking a closer look at the notable inclusions and absences shaping Wiegman’s plans.
From the pitch to the phone: Social media’s positive influence on football
Football has always been more than a sport. It’s a culture, a community, and for millions, a core part of their identity.
But in the last decade, social media has transformed the way fans experience the game. So, how has social media created an influence on sport?
What once relied on matchday attendance, newspaper reports, or televised highlights has evolved into a 24/7 digital ecosystem where football lives, breathes and grows.
From strengthening the bond between players and supporters to creating global fanbases and preserving memories, social media has reshaped football for the better, writes Sports News Blitz’s Joshua Topping.
Premier League analysis: Have Arne Slot’s Liverpool been bad champions?
Liverpool’s transition from Jurgen Klopp to Arne Slot was always going to be one of the Premier League’s most scrutinised managerial handovers.
Klopp left behind a title‑winning culture built on intensity, emotional connection, and tactical clarity. Slot inherited that legacy and all the pressure that comes with defending a championship.
But as results, performances, and data have accumulated, a sharper question has emerged: have Liverpool under Arne Slot been bad champions? Here, Sports News Blitz writer Joshua Topping gives his thoughts.