Marco Silva will not dwell on the twin threats of Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne when Fulham take on Manchester City on Sunday – because he believes Pep Guardiola’s team are dangerous all over the pitch.

City’s midweek victory over Arsenal made them clear favourites to retain the Premier League title and they could yet add FA Cup and Champions League crowns as well.

Fulham have seen their hopes of qualifying for Europe almost certainly ended by a poor run but will want to finish the season strongly.

Haaland needs only one more goal to hit a half=-century for the season for City, but Silva told a press conference: “We have to try to stop the Man City team.

“Of course we understand your question, so many goals that (Haaland) already scored. He is their top target man for them to finish all the moments that they create. They have so many ways to create for him and that is difficult to stop.

“And it’s not just Haaland, because if it’s not Haaland there will be another one. Last game that they played, they were winning clearly and Haaland just scored in the last minutes of the game.

“You mention a player who in this position is one of the best, if not the best, in this country – that is De Bruyne. He is one of the most important players for them, but you cannot put your focus on just one player.

“We prefer to look in a different way, to look in a collective way. They are strong, one of the best teams in the world, if not the best and clearly the best team in this competition.”

Fulham’s main goal threat, Aleksandr Mitrovic, remains suspended while Willian is a major doubt after sustaining a hamstring problem in the warm-up ahead of Tuesday’s loss to Aston Villa.

Silva is hopeful, though, that Harry Wilson will be available after he left the pitch early feeling unwell.

Aston Villa chief executive Christian Purslow says he thinks the Premier League is investigating Newcastle’s Saudi-led takeover.

The league gave the green light to the takeover which gave the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) majority control of Newcastle after receiving “legally-binding assurances” that the Saudi state would not have control of the club.

However, court documents published in the United States in February described the PIF as “a sovereign instrumentality of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia” and PIF governor and Newcastle chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan as “a sitting minister of the Saudi government”.

The documents appeared to raise fresh questions over the link between the PIF and the Saudi state.

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters did not comment on whether his organisation was investigating the takeover following the publication of those documents when he faced a Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee last month.

However, Purslow is confident the league are looking into it.

“I think they are (investigating),” he told Sky News.

“If there is a contradiction in representation made at the time of the takeover, as to the nature of the relationship between the rulers of that country – the sovereign wealth fund and Newcastle – of course, the Premier League, I’m sure, are investigating that.”

Masters told MPs last month: “Obviously we are completely aware (of the US court documents). And you’re correct about the general nature of the undertakings that we received at the point of takeover. But I can’t really go into it at all.

“The time when the Premier League comments publicly on regulatory issues is when it’s charged and at the end of the process when an independent panel has decided whether any rule breaches have actually taken place. The investigatory process, we don’t talk about at all.”

Purslow said the backing of foreign governments to clubs represented “a clear and present danger” to the league.

“I’ll speak as a football fan. I don’t want to look back in 20 years’ time and say that I was part of a group that were asleep at the wheel,” Purslow added.

“And in 20 years’ time we look back and three teams, controlled by nations, are the only three teams winning the Premier League ever again.

“How do we stop that? We stop it with what we have today, which is extremely strict financial rules.”

Dean Smith has questioned the fixture schedule and feels it put extra pressure on Leicester in the survival race.

The Foxes play their next four games on Monday nights – starting with the visit of relegation rivals Everton on May 1.

They then go to Fulham, due to the King’s coronation, host Liverpool and travel to Newcastle while having to wait to see if other results go against them.

They slipped back into the Premier League’s bottom three this week and Smith feels the fixture run is not fair, with the Foxes already a point from safety.

“I’m not so sure that I agree with the scheduling when there’s a lot of big games being played and there’s a lot of teams who are involved in getting out of a relegation battle,” said the Leicester boss.

“To be playing after everybody isn’t right, personally, with the scheduling. It is what it is and we deal with that.

“I don’t believe you’ve got any choice in it, once broadcasters have picked which games they’re going to broadcast, you’re stuck with it unfortunately.

“It’s just a bit odd that we’re playing four Monday night games on the spin.

“It does (add pressure), because the table can look very different after some fixtures and you’re having to react to that, I suppose, in some games.

“We can’t do anything about that, all we can do is concentrate on ourselves and look to get wins, especially at home.”

Meanwhile, Kelechi Iheanacho faces a race to be fit for Leicester’s survival run-in.

The striker injured his groin in Tuesday’s 1-1 draw at Leeds and could miss the final five games.

Iheanacho has scored twice in Smith’s opening three matches and suffered the injury helping to set up Jamie Vardy’s leveller at Elland Road.

There is a hope he will recover in time to play a part in the battle to beat the drop, with the Foxes back in the bottom three ahead of the visit of Everton.

Smith said: “He’s not great, he’s got a tear in his adductor muscle. It’s significant enough. I’m not going to rule him out for the rest of the season but it will be tough to get him back. Hopefully we can.

“He’s disappointed, scored two goals and was putting in good performances. Like always, it gives opportunities for others.

“It’s a blow, he came on at half-time against Man City and did ever so well. He did well in the Wolves game, scored the penalty, and his all-round displays have been really good.”

Jonny Evans should return to training on Saturday but Ricardo Pereira remains out with a hamstring injury.

Unai Emery has termed Aston Villa’s hopes of Champions League football as “maybe impossible” ahead of their crunch visit to Premier League top-four rivals Manchester United.

Sixth-placed Villa are six points adrift of United, who occupy the final Champions League spot and have played two fewer games, going into Sunday’s showdown at Old Trafford.

“The last step is to keep in the European places,” said Villa manager Emery, whose side are unbeaten in 10 games having won eight of those.

“We escaped the bottom, we got top 10 and now the European places is the last step but it is more difficult.

“There’s still five matches to play for us, but not for Liverpool, Brighton, Manchester United.

“We have to face the match on Sunday enjoying this opportunity we have in front of us.

“Of course, Europe could be Champions League, Europa League or Europa Conference League.

“Champions League is very, very difficult, maybe impossible.

“Europa League and Conference League could be, but as well it’s going to be very difficult.”

Emery began his Villa reign in November with a super-charged 3-1 home victory over United.

At the time Villa – who lost 4-2 at United in the Carabao Cup a few days later – were just one point above the relegation zone and playing in Europe for the first time since 2010-11 seemed highly improbable.

But having beaten Fulham in midweek for a sixth win in seven games, Emery said: “We are now fighting teams like Tottenham and Liverpool, three or four years ago they were both playing in the Champions League final.

“We are now fighting with those teams, with the same players, and then Brighton, who are having an exceptional season, playing brilliant and big performances as a team, deserving to be there as well.

“And we are with them. Three months ago, we were a big (points) difference off them.

“We deserve to have this opportunity and to have the last new target in front – enjoy it with our supporters and, of course, trying to be very demanding trying to get it.”

Villa will again be without Matty Cash, Philippe Coutinho, Leon Bailey and Boubacar Kamara at Old Trafford.

Emery says the four players are “close” to returning and hopes they can all train next week.

Charles Leclerc saw off Max Verstappen to put his Ferrari on pole position for Sunday’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Verstappen and Leclerc set identical times in their opening Q3 laps in Baku before the Monegasque returned for a final run to beat his Red Bull rival by 0.188 seconds.

Sergio Perez qualified third ahead of Leclerc’s Ferrari team-mate Carlos Sainz with Lewis Hamilton fifth, 0.974 sec off the pace.

Formula One bosses have tinkered with the weekend format here in Baku by introducing two qualifying sessions.

Friday’s result decides the order for Sunday’s Grand Prix, while a second shorter qualifying session on Saturday determines the starting grid for a 17-lap dash – the first of six sprint events this season – later that day.

The sport’s chiefs hope the revamp will enliven the weekend and Leclerc’s pole here is the first non-Red Bull pole of a campaign the world champions have dominated.

Verstappen has opened his championship defence with two victories from three rounds – with team-mate Perez winning the other – but Leclerc’s lap will provide hope of a Ferrari fightback.

“It is good to be back on top,” said a delighted Leclerc over the radio.

“I am surprised,” he added after stepping out of his car. “We came into the weekend thinking it would be great if we are ahead of the Mercedes and Aston Martin cars but we are on pole.”

Mercedes’ turbulent start to the year continued with Hamilton the best part of a second down.

His team-mate George Russell will line up in 11th after he was knocked out in Q2. Hamilton sneaked through to Q3 by virtue of lapping 0.004 sec faster than his Mercedes team-mate.

“Ah, sugar,” said Russell after he was informed of his early bath.

Fernando Alonso qualified sixth for Aston Martin, one spot ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris. Lance Stroll finished ninth with rookie Oscar Piastri rounding out the top 10.

Earlier, Q1 was delayed by 28 minutes after Nyck de Vries and Pierre Gasly both crashed out.

De Vries went in too hot on his brakes at the third corner, missing the apex and slamming into the wall. Out came the red flag, and a 17-minute barrier repair job followed as De Vries’ written-off AlphaTauri was winched away.

The running had restarted for less than two minutes before the red flags were deployed again. Turn 3 claimed a second victim as Gasly thudded into the wall and came to a halt.

“I couldn’t stop the car,” said the Frenchman who missed the majority of practice earlier on Friday when his Alpine caught fire.

The two men will start Sunday’s 51-lap Grand Prix from the back of the pack.

West Ham boss David Moyes has held talks with referees’ chief Howard Webb about the VAR controversy in their midweek 2-1 Premier League defeat by Liverpool.

Moyes accused the VAR of “disrespect” after West Ham were denied a late penalty when Thiago’s arm hit the ball as he challenged Danny Ings in the box.

The Hammers boss was convinced VAR Neil Swarbrick should have at least told on-field referee Chris Kavanagh to review the incident on the pitchside monitor.

But, speaking on Friday, Moyes refused to divulge whether he had received an apology from the PGMOL.

“I’ve spoken to Howard Webb and his team, but the conversation was private and it will remain that way,” he said.

Moyes believes there is more to come from West Ham’s record signing Lucas Paqueta.

Brazil midfielder Paqueta has scored in his last three matches, including a spectacular strike against Liverpool.

The 25-year-old had initially struggled to adapt to the Premier League following his £50million switch from Lyon.

But his recent performances have played a major part in West Ham climbing away from the relegation zone.

“I think he’s beginning to get used to the Premier League, because it takes time to settle,” said Moyes.

“I think he still has a bit to go, but I have to say, it is great he is getting some goals for us recently. It has helped us a lot.”

The Hammers head to Crystal Palace on Saturday to face another side who have enjoyed an upturn in results since 75-year-old Roy Hodgson returned as manager.

“I thought Roy was mad when he came back,” said Moyes, who turned 60 this week.

“But he has an incredible passion for the game. I can understand why people want to work with him because he is such a talented coach.

“I hope we can win the game – but I have to say, Roy has done a fantastic job.”

Gianluca Scamacca remains West Ham’s only injury absentee. The Italian striker recently underwent knee surgery which has probably ended his season.

“In the main we are OK,” said Moyes. “Scamacca is the one player who is not available. People have picked up some knocks in midweek but, hopefully, it will be a similar squad.”

Line judges will be entirely phased out of ATP Tour tennis and replaced by technology from 2025 after a "landmark" decision in the sport's history.

ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi recognised it would end years of tradition on the men's main professional tour but said it was a decision supported by stakeholders from across the sport.

The Electronic Line Calling Live system has been a success at the tournaments where it has already been deployed, having been trialled for the first time at the 2017 Next Gen ATP Finals.

In a statement, the ATP said: "The advanced officiating technology covers all court lines for 'out' calls throughout matches, a role traditionally carried out by on-court line judges."

It said the move would "optimise accuracy and consistency across tournaments, match courts and surfaces" and "was supported by extensive research conducted by ATP across tennis stakeholders, including fans".

Gaudenzi said: "This is a landmark moment for our sport, and not one we've reached without careful consideration.

"Tradition is core to tennis and line judges have played an important part in the game over the years. That said, we have a responsibility to embrace innovation and new technologies. Our sport deserves the most accurate form of officiating and we're delighted to be able to deliver this across our whole tour from 2025."

The ATP is not committing to a single provider of the technology, saying it expects "multiple different suppliers will be approved across the various court surfaces".

Si Jiahui’s extraordinary run at the Crucible looked set to continue as he established an 11-5 lead over Luca Brecel after the second session of their World Snooker Championship semi-final.

The 20-year-old reeled off his third century of the match plus five more breaks of 50-plus as he moved to within seven frames of victory when they resume their last four clash on Friday evening.

Si, ranked 80 in the world, is aiming to become the youngest Crucible finalist in history and also the first debutant to win the tournament since Terry Griffiths in 1979.

And his stunning pot success had the pundits purring with former world champion Dennis Taylor telling the BBC: “I’ve been coming to the Crucible since 1977 and I’ve enjoyed watching this young player as much as anyone I’ve ever seen here.”

Showing no sign of nerves, Si got off to a quickfire start with a break of 64 before fluking a snooker by easing the white into the jaws of the top right pocket.

After failing to extricate himself, Brecel showed his frustration by slamming the white off the table, incurring a warning from referee Rob Spencer, but responded with a 65 to reduce Si’s lead.

A remarkable long blue was the highlight of a 122 break from Si in the following frame, and further back-to-back breaks of 89 and 58 moved the Chinese player five frames clear at 9-4.

Brecel, who was not doing a lot wrong, won the 14th frame in two visits but the irrepressible Si maintained his astonishing long-pot success rate as breaks of 55 and 71 moved him within sight of a place in the final.

New England captain Jodie Cunningham believes the women’s game is set for a bright future after a trio of the country’s brightest stars became the first to sign professional deals in Australia’s NRLW this month.

Two of those players, Hollie-Mae Dodd and Georgia Roche, who have landed contracts with Canberra Raiders and Newcastle Knights respectively, are set to feature in England’s mid-season clash with France in Warrington on Saturday.

And Cunningham, who has assumed the England captaincy from her St Helens team-mate Emily Rudge, believes it can only be a good thing as her side look to overhaul the southern hemisphere giants at the 2025 World Cup.

“I think it’s brilliant news. I’m 100 per cent behind the girls and I can’t wait to watch them ripping it up out there,” said Cunningham.

“I think it will only help develop them further and it shows how far the women’s game has come in this country that we are sitting here talking about players and professional contracts in this way.

“What we need is more competitive games on a more regular basis and that is what they are going to get out there. Super League is progressing in the right direction and hopefully this kind of news can only help it continue to improve.”

New head coach Stuart Barrow takes charge for the first time after his predecessor, Craig Richards, admitted in an emotional press conference following England’s World Cup semi-final defeat to New Zealand in November that his contract was not being renewed.

Barrow also believes the deals for Dodd and Roche, plus Fran Goldthorpe, who is absent on rugby union duty, can only be a good thing for the England team.

“Obviously we don’t want Super League to become a feeder club for the NRLW, but from an international point of view it’s a really exciting opportunity for them and it can only improve them as players,” said Barrow.

“One of the biggest positives is that the girls who are now playing at age 14 and above in our community game can have aspirations to become full-time professionals in rugby league.”

Eight Saints players feature in Barrow’s first squad while there is also a return for York Valkyrie captain Sinead Peach, who last featured in the 2019 tour of Papua New Guinea and was controversially overlooked last year.

“When we got started in January it was a case of picking a few players up because there was a little bit of flatness after the World Cup,” said Barrow.

“But there is still a feelgood factor around the women’s game in general. It feels like it is still bouncing on the back of the impression we made at the World Cup, and it is up to us to capitalise and keep the momentum going forward.”

Wilfried Zaha’s return to fitness is just the boost Crystal Palace need following their first loss under Roy Hodgson, the Eagles boss believes.

The Palace talisman was forced off with a groin issue during his side’s April 1 victory over Leicester, dampening what was otherwise a jubilant afternoon as the former England manager began a second spell in the dugout at his boyhood club.

Hodgson confirmed Zaha will be fit for Saturday’s meeting with West Ham at Selhurst Park, where Palace will hope to bounce back from Tuesday’s 2-0 loss to Wolves.

“It is a huge boost, absolutely,” said Hodgson, whose side had won three straight and then drawn with Everton before that meeting.

“We are delighted to see him back on the training field, back doing the training sessions and exercises that we’ve been doing because for the last couple of weeks basically we have seen him running around trying to bring his fitness up to a level that would enable him to take part in a Premier League match.

“Of course you don’t want to lose your best players when you’re going into those matches, so I’m pretty certain he will give everyone a boost. I’m certain he will make our team stronger by the fact that he is now back with us, able to play.”

Hodgson was less forthcoming about Zaha’s future, with the Ivory Coast international rumoured to have been offered a would-be club record contract to extend his stay in south London after his current deal expires at the end of the season.

He said: “That’s not my business of course, that’s club business.

“If you ask me as a Crystal Palace fan I would say it’s very important to try and keep him and I’ll be more than happy if he decides to stay, but it’s certainly outside of my remit so I’m certain that if you really wanted to know the situation between him and the club then you would have to speak either to him or to [chairman] Steve Parish or [sporting director] Dougie Freedman.”

Palace will also benefit from a fit Joachim Andersen, who was forced off during the Wolves encounter.

The 12th-placed Eagles were in a very different situation when Hodgson accepted the reins from Patrick Vieira just under six weeks ago.

Their position in the table has barely changed since before Christmas, but results elsewhere meant Palace had gradually slipped deeper into the relegation conversation.

Palace have 37 points and another three will all but guarantee safety for another season. It is something Hodgson is aware of, but insists will never feature in motivating speeches to his side.

He added: “I think the reminder should be that there are five matches to play, five times 95 minutes.

“Each one of those minutes could be very, very important, each one of those games could be very important for various reasons and there is no reason for us at any stage during those five games to be guilty of not giving what we’ve given in each one of those five matches so far, because there’s not been one of those five matches which has disappointed me even slightly.

“I’ve been in fact, quite often, more than happy with the way the team has played, so I don’t see why I should be expected to have to give messages to the players and concern them with numbers of points.

“I think the message is going to be very simple – five games to go, we’ve played five good ones to date, let’s play another five good ones and end the season in a way that we can all be proud of, and let’s see what number of points that gives us.”

Pep Guardiola insists the Premier League title race is far from over despite his Manchester City side taking firm control this week with victory over Arsenal.

City overpowered the Gunners 4-1 at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday to move within two points of the leaders with two games in hand.

Guardiola’s side now have the chance to take top spot when they travel to Fulham on Sunday.

The City manager said: “People start to say they have the feeling it’s over, but it’s not over. It will be over when it’s over, and it’s not over.

“We still have seven games. Every single game we play for special things, for our opponents and ourselves. We have to do our game.”

City landed a major psychological blow on Arsenal with their performance and result in midweek but Guardiola has played down the significance.

“It’s been normal as usual, nothing special,” said Guardiola at a press conference. “We make a recovery training session. Today is a day off, so nothing special.”

Defender Nathan Ake misses the game at Craven Cottage as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury but the club are hopeful he will be fit before next month’s Champions League semi-final clashes against Real Madrid.

Guardiola said: “He’s much better, he seems good. The symptoms are good. Still he is not training with the team but I think he won’t be (much) longer.”

The Premier League title race is "not over" for Manchester City and Arsenal, but ex-player Kolo Toure acknowledged the reigning champions hold the advantage.

Pep Guardiola's side ruthlessly dismantled Arsenal in a 4-1 win on Wednesday, to move two points off the Gunners at the summit with two games in hand.

After dropping points three games on the bounce before their loss to the champions, Arsenal's hopes of a first title since 2004 look to have slipped away.

But Toure, who won Premier League titles with both clubs across his career, feels it cannot be called until the final day of the season, despite City's ascendancy.

"It is not over yet," he told Stats Perform. "There are still some games. [It was a] big statement from City. They showed their qualities, they showed their mentality.

"They showed that they want to win the Premier League. From the start of the season, they have always been the favourite to win it, but [there are a] few games to go.

"Arsenal have been doing very well this season. Challenging City is always really, really hard because of the manager, because of the depth of the team they have.

"But Arsenal are surprising everybody and until the last game, you cannot say that league is done. As soon as you have one mistake, and you lose one game, everything changes in your mind.

"The pressure starts again. That's why, for Arsenal, it's very important that they stay on it. They have to make sure they don't make any mistakes to keep the pressure on City."

Arsenal had been considered rank outsiders for the title in pre-season, but until their recent dip, looked in a commanding position to push on and secure victory.

A slew of draws with Liverpool, West Ham and Southampton have cost them dearly however, with the defeat to City taking matters out of their hands.

Toure disagrees with the idea Arsenal have choked from the pressure however, and believes the Gunners have shown exceptional growth under Mikel Arteta to even be in the conversation.

"It's very harsh [to say so]," he added. "That's harsh because no one expected Arsenal to do what they are doing. Until the season is over, it's not over.

"I would say they're on the right road and the right track, because Arsenal have been suffering for a few years with some of their results. Arteta came, he did a great job.

He has put the club on the right path now. They just have to believe in him, they just have to carry on with what they're doing. I believe they are on the right track.

"[If they] stay calm, keep doing the process, keep putting pressure on those immense clubs like City, like Liverpool, then there is a moment where your time will come to shine."

Arsenal next face a London derby with struggling Chelsea on Tuesday before a clash with top-four rivals Newcastle United a week on Sunday.

Pep Guardiola has warned Arsenal will not give up on their bid to deny Manchester City a third successive Premier League title.

After a Kevin De Bruyne-inspired City thrashed Arsenal 4-1 on Wednesday, Guardiola's men sit two points behind the faltering leaders with two games in hand.

Arsenal are not in action again until they host Chelsea on Tuesday, meaning City have the opportunity to go top of the table when they visit Fulham on Sunday.

With Arsenal only taking three points from their last four league games and City winning their last seven, some have declared the title race to be over, despite the Gunners leading the way.

Guardiola, however, is adamant City still have work to do.

Asked about the importance of going top at Friday's pre-match press conference, Guardiola said: "Psychologically, it's important, but its more the fact it depends on us, we don't have to look at anything except performing as well as possible to win games.

"People start saying they have a feeling that it's over. It's not over. It will be over when it's over. In every single game, our opponents play for special things.

"I know what happened when we played at the Emirates, we won and everybody was happy, people saying we had already caught them. Then we went to Nottingham Forest and drew – it was a fantastic game, but we drew.

"If we do our job, we will be close. But we'll take nothing for granted. We're happy, of course, for the last few games, but that's all.

"I know it's not 20 games left, it's seven games. But seven games is seven games, it's a lot, considering we have the Champions League around the corner."

Arsenal's chastening defeat at the Etihad Stadium was the Gunners' 12th in succession against City in the top flight, with Guardiola's men winning those matches by an aggregate score of 33-5.

While that result has the potential to be a knockout blow after Mikel Arteta's team were held by Liverpool, West Ham and Southampton, Guardiola believes Arsenal could yet fight back.

"I know Mikel perfectly, I think our players know it – they will not give up," he said. "One of their real prizes – to be in the Champions League next season – is done. They will not give up.

"When you are 10 points in front you can say it's over, but the reality today is we are two points behind. 

"You say we have two games in hand, but we have to be respectful to the teams we have to play, West Ham and Brighton. We have to beat them. If we beat them, I will agree with you, but we still have to play.

"If the championship finished today, they are champions. It's normal, this tendency, because of what we have done in the past, and Arsenal have not been there for a long time. 

"What happened to Arsenal in the last four games can happen to us. People say it's impossible, no. It's possible."