BREAKING NEWS:Big Weekend: Arsenal vs. Newcastle, Glasner, Mainoo vs. Reed, Carabao Cup Final.

An underperforming Chelsea team faces a bare-bones Liverpool team in the Carabao Cup final. A Big Weekend also has two England candidates facing off at Old Trafford, Arsenal needing to get back on track, and Oliver Glasner leading Palace.

Watch this game: the Carabao Cup final

Chelsea and Liverpool will play a rematch of last year’s Carabao Cup final at Wembley on Sunday, with the first domestic prize of the season on the line.

Chelsea has had a turbulent period since losing that championship game on penalties. They have had multiple new managers and new ownership, and this Sunday is their first opportunity to win a trophy under the new-ish regime as Chelsea’s custodians and Mauricio Pochettino’s first in English football history.

Would a win at Wembley signal that all is fine at Stamford Bridge? Naturally, no. Even though it would need going through the Conference League qualification play-offs, it would provide some relief and a route back to Europe. which, given UEFA’s tighter FFP regulations, would present its own set of issues. However, on Sunday, very few Chelsea supporters going up Wembley Way will be concerned about the books. And those who do may want to reconsider their top goals.

The state of Liverpool’s team will be a major concern for their supporters. With a team that cost less than Virgil van Dijk, the Reds defeated Luton—some would even say wonderfully and bravely—to keep their lead in the Premier League. At the conclusion of his farewell tour, every Liverpool fan wants that award for Jurgen Klopp, but a fourth domestic trophy would hardly be laughed at.

Klopp has made an attempt to put Chelsea under duress by implying that Liverpool is not the clear favorite. Which is horseshit, of course. However, you may like them even more than you did before Liverpool delivered them a beating at Anfield a little more than three weeks ago.

Watch out for: Arsenal

Arsenal had been playing at a high level for the past few weeks following their winter vacation in Dubai, so their lackluster performance in Porto on Wednesday was unexpected. When Newcastle visits the Emirates on Saturday night, the Gunners need to make sure it was just an isolated incident.

After their confrontation earlier in the season, which infuriated Mikel Arteta and his team to such an extent that neither side could control their frustration, it already looked like a delectable affair. Whatever their complaints, Arteta and Arsenal gave off the impression of being frightened and suspicious during Bonfire Weekend. Now that the Gunners have forced their way back into the title fight, they must want for poise and control.

However, that might have contributed to the issue in Portugal. For the first time in seven years, Arsenal was back in the Champions League knockout round. Rather than take a chance on losing, they chose to stay in the match. For the first time in 11 years, the performance produced no shots on goal in a Champions League match, and it was stodgy in contrast to the Arsenal of 2024.

Arsenal must regain the momentum that has put them back in a three-horse race for the Premier League against a Newcastle team that will have taken note of Porto’s achievement.

Supervisor to observe: Oliver Glasner

On Saturday, when Palace have the chance to provide themselves with some relief from the possibility of a relegation struggle, the Glasner era begins at Selhurst Park.

On goal differential, Burnley is the team that goes up against Glasner’s first game as manager after Roy Hodgson was fired this week. Even though the Eagles were disappointed by past mistakes in a 1-1 draw, the German coach saw an improved performance at Everton on Monday while observing his new club during a managerial change.

Even if Palace supporters have grown accustomed to such errors, Glasner will have been displeased with the surrender of a late goal from a set-piece. However, given the circumstances, a draw against a team the Eagles would perceive as a threat was a respectable outcome.

If Burnley at home is a must-win for Glasner to generate some positive momentum and enable Palace to look up the table rather than over their shoulders, then Everton away was a must-not-lose.

A player to keep an eye on is Harrison Reed

This week’s news that Kalvin Phillips’ position in England is in jeopardy came as no surprise. Thus, it ought to be. Since coming off the bench for Manchester City and going to West Ham, the midfield player has had nothing but shocks. Four games: one goal conceded, two crushing losses, and a red card that keeps him out of Monday’s match against Brentford.

In the event that Gareth Southgate bench Phillips, the England manager is reportedly considering three potential successors, two of whom might play against one another on Saturday at Old Trafford.

Kobbie Mainoo is one. The 18-year-old is certain to start since, in Erik ten Hag’s rush to fill out his team sheet, he may only lag behind Bruno Fernandes these days. When, eventually, every other player at United loses theirs, Mainoo is the one player who can maintain composure.

Reed is the second name that raises a few more questions. It’s surprising considering in the last 11 Premier League games for Fulham, he has only started one. However, Reed will start against United since the Cottagers are unable to employ Joao Palhinha due to suspension, giving the 29-year-old the opportunity to show the rest of us what Southgate seems to have noticed.

Watch this EFL match: Leeds vs. Leicester

A short while ago, the Championship appeared to be decided. However, we may be in for a title fight if Leicester loses at Leeds on Friday night.

At Elland Road, where the top two meet, the hosts may continue to cut into the Foxes’ lead and bring it down to six points. Leicester may only be eight points ahead of fourth place come Saturday night.

Though bottoms are squeakier in Leicester than they may have been, it’s not enough to send fear waves through the King Power. Leeds also has the greatest home record in the Championship after eight straight wins. Although Daniel Farke will continue to concentrate on being the best of the rest, defeating Leicester might provide United with an additional objective to pursue the Foxes.

Following the match between the top two teams, Southampton and Ipswich will both host teams led by different people. Town will face Birmingham, who are led by Mark Venus in lieu of Tony Mowbray, while Saints will play Millwall, who are once again coached by Neil Harris.

Watch this European match: Bayern Munich vs. RB Leipzig

Although Bayern has been mentioned frequently in this section, it’s currently difficult to look beyond Bavaria.

The Bundesliga champions of the previous eleven seasons have suffered three straight losses, which has left them trailing eight points behind Bayer Leverkusen in the domestic standings and forcing them to play catch-up in the Champions League.

The decision to break ways with Thomas Tuchel at the end of the season was motivated by their circumstances, although it may be lucky for the coach to survive that long. Does Tuchel make it to next week if they lose to RB Leipzig at the Allianz Arena on Saturday night, which would make it their worst run in 32 years and put them further behind Leverkusen, who visit Mainz on Friday?

This season, Leipzig has already defeated Bayern in their own stadium, winning the German Super Cup on Harry Kane’s historic debut. Leipzig has really won all four of their recent competitive matches against Bayern.

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