Saturday: West Ham v Liverpool (3.30pm kick off UAE)
West Ham United are looking to avoid a third defeat on the trot having won just once in eight games across all competitions – including an embarrassing 5-2 defeat at Crystal Palace last weekend. They sit eighth in the table and are in danger of missing out on European football for the first time in three seasons next term.
Liverpool's title hopes took a body blow with a midweek Merseyside derby loss at Everton, their second defeat in three games. Manchester City's 4-0 thrashing of Brighton on Thursday saw them leapfrog Jurgen Klopp's side into second place, meaning Liverpool trail City by two points and leaders Arsenal by three with only four games left.
Prediction: West Ham 0 Liverpool 2
Fulham v Crystal Palace (6pm)
Fulham's 3-1 home defeat by Liverpool last weekend was the Cottagers' third loss in four games, which has pretty much ended any lingering hopes of making a late surge into the European places for next season.
Palace are resurgent under Austrian manager Oliver Glasner having won three games on the spin, the last of which was an impressive 2-0 victory over Newcastle United with Jean-Philippe Mateta scoring twice.
Prediction: Fulham 1 Palace 3
Manchester United v Burnley (6pm)
United were in danger of falling to a disastrous defeat at home to bottom club Sheffield United on Wednesday before eventually coming out on top 4-2 – a win that took them back up to sixth in the table.
Second-bottom Burnley have shown signs of life lately, losing only once in seven games, although four of those were draws, which means they remain three points from safety.
Prediction: Man United 3 Burnley 2
Newcastle United v Sheffield United (6pm)
The Magpies' recent improvement in form – that had seen them take 10 points out of a possible 12 – came to an abrupt halt when they were completely outplayed by Crystal Palace on Wednesday, a defeat that leaves them seventh in the table, three points behind Manchester United.
The Blades remain rock bottom, 10 points shy of safety and relegation will be sealed if they lose at St James' Park – even a draw will mean they are effectively down due to their inferior goal difference. They have conceded 92 goals and look set to pass the Premier League record of 100 – set by Swindon Town in the 42-game 1993/94 season.
Prediction: Newcastle 4 Sheffield United 0
Wolves v Luton Town (6pm)
Injuries continue to take their toll on Wolves who were beaten by Bournemouth midweek, which manager Gary O'Neil described as their “worst performance” of the campaign. The Midlands club have now gone six games without victory in the league, losing four of those along the way.
Luton remain in the relegation zone, one point behind Nottingham Forest but also have Burnley coming up fast behind them. The Hatters have lost four out of their past five games.
Prediction: Wolves 1 Luton 1
Everton v Brentford (8.30pm)
There were joyous scenes at Goodison Park on Wednesday when Everton defeated Liverpool 2-0, a win that lifted Sean Dyche's side eight points clear of the drop zone – with the added bonus of seriously damaging their local rivals' title aspirations.
Brentford are 15th in the table, two points and one place ahead of Everton, and aiming for a third win in a row having thrashed third-bottom Luton Town 5-1 last weekend. The Bees are also now unbeaten in five games which has eased their relegation fears.
Prediction: Everton 1 Brentford 2
Aston Villa v Chelsea (11pm)
Villa remain in pole position for the final Champions League spot with two successive wins leaving them six points clear of fifth-place Tottenham Hotspur, although Spurs do have two games in hand on Unai Emery's men.
Chelsea have to pick themselves up from a humiliating 5-0 demolition at Arsenal on Tuesday that brought an eight-game unbeaten league run crashing to a halt and leaves them ninth in the table. They are three points behind Newcastle, who occupy the final European place.
Prediction: Villa 3 Chelsea 1
Sunday: Bournemouth v Brighton (5pm)
Bournemouth's 1-0 midweek win at Wolves – where they played the last 11 minutes with 10 men after Milos Kerkez was sent-off – means they are 10th in the table on 45 points, two shy of achieving a new club record top-flight points tally.
Brighton's heavy defeat to Manchester City on Thursday leaves them in 11th place, further damaging their floundering European push. The Seagulls are now without a win in five games.
Prediction: Bournemouth 1 Brighton 0
Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal (6pm)
The stakes are higher than usual for this North London derby. Arsenal need three points to maintain their advantage over title rivals Liverpool and Manchester City but will be on a high after their midweek thrashing of Chelsea.
Three points are also vital for Spurs as they attempt to stay in touch with fourth-placed Villa, who could potentially be nine points in front by the time of kick off at what will be a fever pitch atmosphere at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Prediction: Spurs 2 Arsenal 2
Nottingham Forest v Manchester City (7.30pm)
Forest are just one point and one place above the relegation zone following a 2-0 defeat at Everton which resulted in the club firing out a controversial statement questioning the integrity of VAR official Stuart Attwell over penalty claims being dismissed at Goodison Park.
City's push for a historic fourth Premier League crown on the trot were boosted by Thursday's thrashing of Brighton, which saw them leapfrog Liverpool into second and a point behind leaders Arsenal.
Prediction: Forest 1 City 5
UAE SQUAD
Ahmed Raza (Captain), Rohan Mustafa, Jonathan Figy, CP Rizwan, Junaid Siddique, Mohammad Usman, Basil Hameed, Zawar Farid, Vriitya Aravind (WK), Waheed Ahmed, Karthik Meiyappan, Zahoor Khan, Darius D'Silva, Chirag Suri
The biog
Simon Nadim has completed 7,000 dives.
The hardest dive in the UAE is the German U-boat 110m down off the Fujairah coast.
As a child, he loved the documentaries of Jacques Cousteau
He also led a team that discovered the long-lost portion of the Ines oil tanker.
If you are interested in diving, he runs the XR Hub Dive Centre in Fujairah
The%20specs
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The specs: Hyundai Ionic Hybrid
Price, base: Dh117,000 (estimate)
Engine: 1.6L four-cylinder, with 1.56kWh battery
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power: 105hp (engine), plus 43.5hp (battery)
Torque: 147Nm (engine), plus 170Nm (battery)
Fuel economy, combined: 3.4L / 100km
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
No_One Ever Really Dies
N*E*R*D
(I Am Other/Columbia)
Schedule
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Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Veil (Object Lessons)
Rafia Zakaria
Bloomsbury Academic
The biog
Fast facts on Neil Armstrong’s personal life:
- Armstrong was born on August 5, 1930, in Wapakoneta, Ohio
- He earned his private pilot’s license when he was 16 – he could fly before he could drive
- There was tragedy in his married life: Neil and Janet Armstrong’s daughter Karen died at the age of two in 1962 after suffering a brain tumour. She was the couple’s only daughter. Their two sons, Rick and Mark, consulted on the film
- After Armstrong departed Nasa, he bought a farm in the town of Lebanon, Ohio, in 1971 – its airstrip allowed him to tap back into his love of flying
- In 1994, Janet divorced Neil after 38 years of marriage. Two years earlier, Neil met Carol Knight, who became his second wife in 1994
The Matrix Resurrections
Director: Lana Wachowski
Stars: Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jessica Henwick
Rating:****
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
if you go
The flights
Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.
The hotel
Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.
The tour
Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg
DUBAI SEVENS 2018 DRAW
Gulf Men’s League
Pool A – Dubai Exiles, Dubai Hurricanes, Bahrain, Dubai Sports City Eagles
Pool B – Jebel Ali Dragons, Abu Dhabi Saracens, Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Al Ain Amblers
Gulf Men’s Open
Pool A – Bahrain Firbolgs, Arabian Knights, Yalla Rugby, Muscat
Pool B – Amman Citadel, APB Dubai Sharks, Jebel Ali Dragons 2, Saudi Rugby
Pool C – Abu Dhabi Harlequins 2, Roberts Construction, Dubai Exiles 2
Pool D – Dubai Tigers, UAE Shaheen, Sharjah Wanderers, Amman Citadel 2
Gulf U19 Boys
Pool A – Deira International School, Dubai Hurricanes, British School Al Khubairat, Jumeirah English Speaking School B
Pool B – Dubai English Speaking College 2, Jumeirah College, Dubai College A, Abu Dhabi Harlequins 2
Pool C – Bahrain Colts, Al Yasmina School, DESC, DC B
Pool D – Al Ain Amblers, Repton Royals, Dubai Exiles, Gems World Academy Dubai
Pool E – JESS A, Abu Dhabi Sharks, Abu Dhabi Harlequins 1, EC
Gulf Women
Pool A – Kuwait Scorpions, Black Ruggers, Dubai Sports City Eagles, Dubai Hurricanes 2
Pool B – Emirates Firebirds, Sharjah Wanderers, RAK Rides, Beirut Aconites
Pool C – Dubai Hurricanes, Emirates Firebirds 2, Abu Dhabi Saracens, Transforma Panthers
Pool D – AUC Wolves, Dubai Hawks, Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Al Ain Amblers
Gulf U19 Girls
Pool A – Dubai Exiles, BSAK, DESC, Al Maha
Pool B – Arabian Knights, Dubai Hurricanes, Al Ain Amblers, Abu Dhabi Harlequins
ANDROID%20VERSION%20NAMES%2C%20IN%20ORDER
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TV: World Cup Qualifier 2018 matches will be aired on on OSN Sports HD Cricket channel
Take Me Apart
Kelela
(Warp)
WORLD CUP SEMI-FINALS
England v New Zealand (Saturday, 12pm)
Wales v South Africa (Sunday, 1pm)
The%20specs
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The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
The specs: 2019 Cadillac XT4
Price, base: Dh145,000
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged in-line four-cylinder engine
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 237hp @ 5,000rpm
Torque: 350Nm @ 1,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.7L / 100km
Gulf rugby
Who’s won what so far in 2018/19
Western Clubs Champions League: Bahrain
Dubai Rugby Sevens: Dubai Hurricanes
West Asia Premiership: Bahrain
What’s left
UAE Conference
March 22, play-offs:
Dubai Hurricanes II v Al Ain Amblers, Jebel Ali Dragons II v Dubai Tigers
March 29, final
UAE Premiership
March 22, play-offs:
Dubai Exiles v Jebel Ali Dragons, Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Dubai Hurricanes
March 29, final
more from Janine di Giovanni
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Six large-scale objects on show
- Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
- Torrijos Palace dome
Britain's travel restrictions
- A negative test 2 days before flying
- Complete passenger locator form
- Book a post-arrival PCR test
- Double-vaccinated must self-isolate
- 11 countries on red list quarantine
The Good Liar
Starring: Helen Mirren, Ian McKellen
Directed by: Bill Condon
Three out of five stars
The biog
Name: Gul Raziq
From: Charsadda, Pakistan
Family: Wife and six children
Favourite holes at Al Ghazal: 15 and 8
Golf Handicap: 6
Childhood sport: cricket
'I Want You Back'
Director:Jason Orley
Stars:Jenny Slate, Charlie Day
Rating:4/5