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• Philadelphia Union v New York City FC: Cushing salutes togetherness of in-form NYCFC

  Nick Cushing hailed the togetherness demonstrated by New York City FC as they look to continue their impressive form against a struggling Philadelphia Union.

  The Boys in Blue endured a poor start to the MLS season – losing four of their opening five matches – but have tasted defeat just once in their last seven.

  Last weekend's 3-2 victory over Toronto FC was New York's fourth in five matches, and Cushing saluted the character shown by his squad in recent times.

  "We're training incredibly well," he said. "Our intensity and our culture is excellent at the moment.

  "I'm so proud of the team because if you look at the way the bench celebrated the third goal [against Toronto], these are guys there that really want to get on the field.

  "The way they celebrate for their team-mates and for the team shows me that [togetherness]."

  Despite their impressive form, though, NYCFC face a potential banana skin in Philadelphia, who have prevailed in each of the last five meetings between the Eastern Conference sides.

  "They are a really hard team to get results against, especially there [at home]," Cushing added. "There's an opportunity there for us, but we have to prepare well."

  The Union are without a win in five matches – losing three – and have been beaten in each of their last three on home soil.

  Jim Curtin's side had started the season with a seven-game unbeaten run, and the head coach has urged his players to draw inspiration from that as they bid to turn their fortunes around.

  "I'm a big believer that you can make your own luck," he said. 

  "We've shot ourselves in the foot quite a bit in recent games, played from behind quite a bit, had to chase games and put a lot into them, and we get punished.

  "We have to stick together as a group and find a way to tighten things up. We're on a really bad stretch here, but we know we're capable of going on unbeaten streaks already like we've had this year.

  "We have to turn it around, and we can't feel sorry for ourselves."

  PLAYERS TO WATCH

  Philadelphia Union – Daniel Gazdag

  Despite Union's recent struggles, Gazdag has been in fine form – scoring in three straight home games, though they have all ended in defeat.

  The Hungary international is the first player to score in three successive home matches but appear on the losing side each time since Colorado Rapids' Kei Kamara in 2019.

  New York City FC – Hannes Wolf

  Wolf set up two of NYCFC's three goals in their victory over Toronto FC last time out.

  The midfielder became the first Austrian to claim at least two assists in an MLS game after Daniel Royer (2020), Andreas Ivanschitz (2016) and Andreas Herzog (2004).

  MATCH PREDICTION: NEW YORK CITY FC

  New York have won four of their last five matches, scoring multiple goals in each of their victories.

  They had only scored two or more goals once in their opening seven games of this season.

  Meanwhile, Philadelphia are currently on the longest losing home streak in their history, having lost each of their last three at Subaru Park.

  OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

  Philadelphia Union: 49.7%
  New York City FC: 22.8%
  Draw: 27.5%

• Ten Hag reveals Martinez could return when Man Utd host Newcastle

  Erik ten Hag says Lisandro Martinez could make his first Manchester United appearance since March when the Red Devils host Newcastle United on Wednesday.

  Having made just 11 appearances during an injury-hit season, the Argentina international is set to return from a calf problem that has kept him sidelined since his most recent outing in the draw at Brentford six weeks ago. 

  Although, the game comes too soon for fellow defender Raphael Varane, who announced he will leave the club at the end of the season, but Ten Hag hopes the France international can feature again before he departs Old Trafford.

  The Dutchman said of Martinez: "I think he will return [against Newcastle]. He had some [training] sessions and, if everything is okay, he will be involved.

  "We are definitely planning [for Varane to play] for the last games. Not tomorrow, but we hope for Sunday and then, of course, for the last game [against Manchester City in the FA Cup final on May 25]."

  With two games remaining, the Red Devils are in eighth place and three points adrift of Newcastle in sixth, while the Magpies boast a far superior goal difference.

  And Ten Hag underlined the necessity to achieve a positive result to keep his side’s European qualification hopes via league position alive.  

  "It's a very important game," he said. "We have to do everything to get the win; we have to fight hard for it."

  Meanwhile, Newcastle will take a huge stride towards securing European football for a second successive season with a win at Old Trafford.

  And Eddie Howe, who revealed the Magpies are waiting on the fitness of Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson, is eager to ensure his players arrive there in the best shape possible. 

  "It is a massive fixture. We are under no illusions of the magnitude of this game," he said.

  "We must make sure our players go to Manchester United in really good spirits, confident and prepared.

  "We find ourselves in this position, and it is where we deserve to be. We will be hoping to finish off these two games strongly. Our motivation is to qualify for Europe."

  PLAYERS TO WATCH

  Manchester United – Bruno Fernandes

  In Fernandes’ absence, the Red Devils have lost both of their last two Premier League games.

  Since the Portugal international made his debut in the competition, they have won 40 per cent of their league games and averaged 1.3 points-per-game when he has not started; compared to a 53 per cent win rate and 1.8 points-per-game when he has been in their starting XI.

  Newcastle United – Sean Longstaff

  Following his strike against Brighton and Hove Albion last weekend, Longstaff has scored in successive Premier League appearances for the first time, with 60 per cent of his goals in the competition coming this season (six out of 10).

  Newcastle have never lost a Premier League match in which the midfielder has found the net (winning six, drawing three).

  MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW

  Man United have lost just one of their 28 Premier League home games against Newcastle (winning 18, drawing nine), going down 1-0 in December 2013.

  Meanwhile, the Red Devils have only lost their final home league game in one of the last 16 seasons (winning 11, drawing four), suffering a 2-0 defeat against Cardiff City in 2018-19.

  They are also unbeaten in their last 14 midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday) home games in the Premier League (winning 11, drawing three). Liverpool were the last visiting side to win at Old Trafford in midweek in the competition, courtesy of their 4-2 triumph in May 2021.

  Having already beaten the Red Devils twice in all competitions this season, Newcastle are aiming to become the first team to beat the Red Devils three times in a single season since Chelsea in 2012-13.

  The Blues were also the last side to beat them twice away from home in the same campaign (2004-05).

  Although, Eddie Howe has never won a Premier League match away in Manchester against United or City in 14 attempts (drawing two, losing 12). Only Steve Bruce has managed more away games in Manchester in the competition without success (26).

  OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

  Manchester United: 42.9%
  Newcastle United: 29.3%
  Draw: 27.8%

• Pochettino: European qualification would be a major step for Chelsea

  Mauricio Pochettino believes it would be "amazing" for Chelsea to secure European qualification ahead of their trip to Brighton and Hove Albion on Wednesday.

  After replacing Graham Potter in the Stamford Bridge dugout last July, the Argentine oversaw just three wins from his first 10 Premier League games in charge of the Blues this season.

  However, his side are finishing the campaign strongly and occupy seventh place – level on points with sixth-place Newcastle United and six behind Tottenham in fifth with two games remaining.

  "The team is doing well, in the second part of the season – in the last 26 or 27 games," Pochettino told reporters. 

  "If we can compete well in the last two games then there is a possibility to get into Europe, which would be amazing for us.

  "If we are able to finish well and get into Europe, for sure, we can start the next season with hope to be in a better position than we were in this season."

  Meanwhile, 10th-place Brighton have struggled for form in recent times, winning just one of their last eight league games – albeit that victory came against Champions League-chasing Aston Villa last time out on home soil.

  Nevertheless, head coach Roberto De Zerbi is targeting a third successive top-half finish in the English top flight.

  "I want us to finish in the top 10," he said during his pre-match press conference. "It’s important because, after Sunday, we go on holiday. When we’re on holiday, if we have no points [from the last two games], it will be a problem for me."

  De Zerbi also paid tribute to the departing Adam Lallana, who will leave the Seagulls when his contract expires at the end of this season after four years with the club.

  "I've been lucky to work with him because he is an honest guy, a top man," the Italian added. "I have learned a lot from him because he loves football."

  PLAYERS TO WATCH

  Brighton and Hove Albion – Joao Pedro

  Scoring the match winner against Aston Villa last time out at the American Express Stadium, Pedro became the first Brighton player to bag 20 goals in a single season since Glenn Murray in 2016-17 (23).

  The Brazilian has now been on target five times in the Seagulls’ last five Premier League outings on home soil.

  Chelsea – Nicolas Jackson

  The Senegal striker has been directly involved in five goals in his last three Premier League appearances for Chelsea (four goals, one assist), as many as in his previous 11 such games (three goals, two assists). 

  With 14 league goals already this season – none of which have been penalties – he could be the first Blues player to score 15 non-penalty goals in a Premier League campaign since Tammy Abraham in 2019-20.

  MATCH PREDICTION: CHELSEA

  Chelsea have won 29 points in the Premier League in 2024, with only the top three clubs – Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool – collecting more since the turn of the year. 

  The Blues have lost just one of their last 13 league games (won seven, drawn five), and are aiming to win four in a row for the first time since October 2022.

  Meanwhile, Brighton have now failed to score more than once in each of their last 11 Premier League outings, their longest such run in the competition.

  OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

  Brighton and Hove Albion: 33.8%
  Chelsea: 37.3%
  Draw: 28.9%