• Liverpool's Mohamed Salah during a training session at Melwood. Getty
    Liverpool's Mohamed Salah during a training session at Melwood. Getty
  • Andy Robertson of Liverpool during a training session at Melwood Training Ground. Getty
    Andy Robertson of Liverpool during a training session at Melwood Training Ground. Getty
  • Alisson Becker of Liverpool during a training session at Melwood Training Ground. Getty
    Alisson Becker of Liverpool during a training session at Melwood Training Ground. Getty
  • Divock Origi of Liverpool during a training session at Melwood Training Ground. Getty
    Divock Origi of Liverpool during a training session at Melwood Training Ground. Getty
  • Curtis Jones of Liverpool during a training session at Melwood Training Ground. Getty
    Curtis Jones of Liverpool during a training session at Melwood Training Ground. Getty
  • Sadio Mane of Liverpool during a training session at Melwood Training Ground. Getty
    Sadio Mane of Liverpool during a training session at Melwood Training Ground. Getty
  • Georginio Wijnaldum of Liverpool during a training session at Melwood Training Ground. Getty
    Georginio Wijnaldum of Liverpool during a training session at Melwood Training Ground. Getty
  • Takumi Minamino of Liverpool during a training session at Melwood Training Ground. Getty
    Takumi Minamino of Liverpool during a training session at Melwood Training Ground. Getty
  • Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp during a training session at Melwood Training Ground. Getty
    Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp during a training session at Melwood Training Ground. Getty
  • James Milner of Liverpool during a training session at Melwood Training Ground. Getty
    James Milner of Liverpool during a training session at Melwood Training Ground. Getty
  • Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson training at Melwood. Getty
    Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson training at Melwood. Getty

Premier League return: Liverpool destined for title but top four and relegation battles still to be resolved


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After months of uncertainty, debate, and conflict, the Premier League looks set to return from June 17 following a lockdown brought about by the coronavirus pandemic.

While the fate of the title is destined for Anfield, there are still many important parts of the season still to play for, including the race for the top four and an intense relegation battle.

As England's top-flights nears its restart, here are some key aspects of the campaign left to be decided.

When will Liverpool be champions?

Liverpool are 25 points clear of Manchester City and just two wins away from becoming English champions for the first time since 1990. While Covid-19 may have delayed their title party, it was only delaying the inevitable.

Two more wins would make it mathematically impossible for City to catch Liverpool but the Reds could triumph by winning their first game if City lose at home to Arsenal on June 17.

Jurgen Klopp's men can also break two of City's most cherished records: they need 19 points from the remaining 27 to beat the Manchester club's total of 100 points from the 2017/18 season and they could also better City's record title-winning margin of 19 points from the same campaign.

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson lifted the Champions League trophy in a packed stadium in Madrid last June but is preparing for a different experience this year.

"Of course it would feel different because if you win any trophy and receive it without any fans there, it would be pretty strange," he told the BBC.

Champions League battle

  • Chelsea's Callum Hudson-Odoi in training after the Premier League announced players can return to training in small groups. He was the first Premier League player to test positive. Chelsea FC/Getty
    Chelsea's Callum Hudson-Odoi in training after the Premier League announced players can return to training in small groups. He was the first Premier League player to test positive. Chelsea FC/Getty
  • Chelsea's Callum Hudson-Odoi leaves the club's Cobham training ground. PA
    Chelsea's Callum Hudson-Odoi leaves the club's Cobham training ground. PA
  • N'Golo Kante . EPA
    N'Golo Kante . EPA
  • Andreas Christensen. EPA
    Andreas Christensen. EPA
  • Ross Barkley. PA
    Ross Barkley. PA
  • Tammy Abraham. EPA
    Tammy Abraham. EPA
  • Chelsea's Kepa Arrizabalaga leaves training. EPA
    Chelsea's Kepa Arrizabalaga leaves training. EPA
  • Billy Gilmour after the training session. EPA
    Billy Gilmour after the training session. EPA
  • Willy Caballero. EPA
    Willy Caballero. EPA
  • Chelsea's Marcos Alonso. EPA
    Chelsea's Marcos Alonso. EPA
  • Chelsea manager Frank Lampard leaves training. EPA
    Chelsea manager Frank Lampard leaves training. EPA
  • Chelsea's Willian after training. EPA
    Chelsea's Willian after training. EPA
  • Chelsea's Mason Mount. EPA
    Chelsea's Mason Mount. EPA
  • Reece James leaves training. EPA
    Reece James leaves training. EPA
  • Chelsea's Ruben Loftus-Cheek. EPA
    Chelsea's Ruben Loftus-Cheek. EPA
  • Chelsea's Pedro leaves training. EPA
    Chelsea's Pedro leaves training. EPA
  • Chelsea's Olivier Giroud leaves training. EPA
    Chelsea's Olivier Giroud leaves training. EPA

Intriguingly, the battle for the top four might instead be a battle for the top five.

Liverpool are assured of their place in the Champions League and the other top-four places are currently occupied by Manchester City, Leicester and Chelsea.

But as things stand, City cannot compete in Europe's top club competition for the next two seasons after being banned for financial fair play breaches.

City have appealed, however, and could still compete if the suspension is overturned.

If it is upheld, whoever finishes fifth will take their place in next season's Champions League. Manchester United currently occupy that position but Wolves and Sheffield United are both just two points behind Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's team.

Eighth-placed Tottenham and Arsenal, one spot lower, will also fancy their chances of finishing fifth with a late charge.

Battle to avoid the drop

  • Troy Deeney applauds fans as he celebrates at the end of Watford's stunning 3-0 victory over Liverpool on February 29, 2020. AFP
    Troy Deeney applauds fans as he celebrates at the end of Watford's stunning 3-0 victory over Liverpool on February 29, 2020. AFP
  • Midfielder Ismaila Sarr celebrates after scoring Watford's first goal. AFP
    Midfielder Ismaila Sarr celebrates after scoring Watford's first goal. AFP
  • Sarr celebrates the 1-0 lead against the European champions. AFP
    Sarr celebrates the 1-0 lead against the European champions. AFP
  • Sarr had a great night against the Premier League leaders, scoring again to make it 2-0. AFP
    Sarr had a great night against the Premier League leaders, scoring again to make it 2-0. AFP
  • Watford captain Troy Deeney scored the third goal past Alisson Becker. Getty
    Watford captain Troy Deeney scored the third goal past Alisson Becker. Getty
  • Deeney celebrates with teammates. AFP
    Deeney celebrates with teammates. AFP
  • Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold looks dejected after Watford's Ismaila Sarr scores their second goal. Reuters
    Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold looks dejected after Watford's Ismaila Sarr scores their second goal. Reuters
  • Liverpool's Brazilian midfielder Roberto Firmino had a tough night. AFP
    Liverpool's Brazilian midfielder Roberto Firmino had a tough night. AFP
  • Liverpool's Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah after Sarr's second. AFP
    Liverpool's Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah after Sarr's second. AFP
  • Dejection for Jurgen Klopp, defender Andrew Robertson and midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at the final whistle after their 3-0 defeat against Watford. AFP
    Dejection for Jurgen Klopp, defender Andrew Robertson and midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at the final whistle after their 3-0 defeat against Watford. AFP

Norwich, Aston Villa and Bournemouth occupy the bottom three places in the Premier League but all will harbour hopes they can escape the drop.

Norwich are rock-bottom and six points from safety but a win at home to Leicester in late February gave them hope.

Villa had lost four straight games before the shutdown so the break could end up helping the Birmingham team, who have a game in hand over their rivals, while Eddie Howe will be desperate for Bournemouth to find some form after a run of seven defeats in 10 games.

Above the current bottom three, Watford are still in trouble despite their impressive initial revival under Nigel Pearson, while West Ham and Brighton are far from safe.

Fit to play

A clutch of top players will be raring to go after lengthy spells on the sidelines.

England striker Harry Kane is hungry for a return and Spurs teammate Son Heung-min, who has spent part of the lockdown on military service, will also be able to feature after recovering from a broken arm.

Manchester United pair Paul Pogba, with just eight appearances this season, and Marcus Rashford, out of action since January with a back injury, should also feature.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA

Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi

Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser

Rating: 4.5/5

The Sand Castle

Director: Matty Brown

Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

Rating: 2.5/5

Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
  • Flexible work arrangements
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  • Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
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The specs: 2019 Mercedes-Benz C200 Coupe


Price, base: Dh201,153
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 204hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 300Nm @ 1,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.7L / 100km

Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

Dubai Bling season three

Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed 

Rating: 1/5

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Super Bowl LIII schedule

What Super Bowl LIII

Who is playing New England Patriots v Los Angeles Rams

Where Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, United States

When Sunday (start time is 3.30am on Monday UAE time)

 

Director: Laxman Utekar

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna

Rating: 1/5

PSL FINAL

Multan Sultans v Peshawar Zalmi
8pm, Thursday
Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Why seagrass matters
  • Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
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The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

The%20specs
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Farage on Muslim Brotherhood

Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.

Indoor cricket World Cup:
Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23

UAE fixtures:
Men

Saturday, September 16 – 1.45pm, v New Zealand
Sunday, September 17 – 10.30am, v Australia; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Monday, September 18 – 2pm, v England; 7.15pm, v India
Tuesday, September 19 – 12.15pm, v Singapore; 5.30pm, v Sri Lanka
Thursday, September 21 – 2pm v Malaysia
Friday, September 22 – 3.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 3pm, grand final

Women
Saturday, September 16 – 5.15pm, v Australia
Sunday, September 17 – 2pm, v South Africa; 7.15pm, v New Zealand
Monday, September 18 – 5.30pm, v England
Tuesday, September 19 – 10.30am, v New Zealand; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Thursday, September 21 – 12.15pm, v Australia
Friday, September 22 – 1.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 1pm, grand final

Yahya Al Ghassani's bio

Date of birth: April 18, 1998

Playing position: Winger

Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda

Moon Music

Artist: Coldplay

Label: Parlophone/Atlantic

Number of tracks: 10

Rating: 3/5

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