Manchester City moved smoothly to within one point of Premier League leaders Arsenal with a game in hand after a routine victory over Brighton at the Amex Stadium.

Kevin de Bruyne’s first header in his 68 Premier League goals, a magnificent flying effort into the top corner, set City on their way before Phil Foden controversially doubled the advantage nine minutes layer.

Referee Jarred Gillett awarded City a free-kick despite Foden only appearing to slip, Brighton seeing insult added to injury as his resulting set-piece strike took a deflection off Pascal Gross to wrong-foot keeper Jason Steele.

Any hope of a Brighton comeback was extinguished after 34 minutes by a smooth Foden finish into the bottom corner.

It was then simply a case of damage limitation for Roberto de Zerbi’s side but City extended their lead just after the hour when the ball ran away from Steele as he went into a challenge with Kyle Walker and Julian Alvarez was on hand to pounce.

Man City looking ominous

Manchester City are at it again, reaching peak form just when it matters to turn up the pressure on pace-setters Arsenal as the title race reaches the final few fences.

Liverpool’s recent decline continued as they were beaten by Everton in the Merseyside derby but Arsenal are not going away, with a win at Wolverhampton Wanderers followed by the 5-0 thrashing of Chelsea at Emirates Stadium.

This did not have any impact on City, who have been through this tension before, as what was pitched as a tricky trip to the south coast turned into a formality.

It had all the hallmarks of a City performance close to the Premier League finishing line – calm and ruthless with flashes of brilliance from those who can change any game for manager Pep Guardiola.

De Bruyne is renowned for just about anything apart from his heading ability but he scored an athletic effort to open the scoring. It was then Foden’s turn to add further flourishes.

Such was their comfort that Guardiola was even able to give De Bruyne and Foden a breather by substituting them before the end with the game won, conserving energy for the weekend visit to struggling Nottingham Forest.

Brighton running out of steam

Brighton were chasing European football in thrilling style at this stage last season under De Zerbi – a mission they accomplished successfully.

Here, depleted by injuries, they were jaded and lacking inspiration as their campaign continues to look like it will end in anti-climax.

Brighton’s supporters felt they did not get the rub of the green with decisions, especially with the free-kick award that led to City’s second goal, the mood inside the Amex worsening when second-half penalty appeals were turned down.

In reality, however, they looked a shadow of the side that made life so difficult for the top teams last season, being outclassed and overwhelmed by their visitors.

Brighton lost key midfield duo Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister last summer and De Zerbi’s hopes of another European challenge have been further undermined by injuries, despite some sparkling performances this term.

There has also been speculation around De Zerbi’s own future, which will hopefully be cleared up so this progressive club can regroup and move forward once more.

This was a chastening experience for the Seagulls but they were unfortunate to meet Manchester City at just the wrong time, with their energy starting to run low.

Scottish Premiership play-offs

Tuesday, 7 May: Quarter-final, first leg

4th in Championship v 3rd in Championship (Live on BBC Scotland, 19:45 BST)

Friday, 10 May: Quarter-final, second leg

3rd in Championship v 4th in Championship (Live on BBC Scotland, 19:45)

Tuesday, 14 May: Semi-final, first leg

3rd or 4th in Championship v 2nd in Championship (Live on BBC Scotland, 19:45)

Friday, 17 May: Semi-final, second leg

2nd in Championship v 3rd or 4th in Championship (Live on BBC Scotland, 19:45)

Thursday, 23 May: Final, first leg

2nd or 3rd or 4th in Championship v 11th in Premiership (Live on Sky Sports, 20:00)

Sunday, 26 May: Final, second leg

11th in Premiership v 2nd or 3rd or 4th in Championship (Live on Sky Sports, kick-off TBC)

Scottish Championship play-offs

Tuesday, 7 May: Semi-finals, first leg

4th in League 1 v 9th in Championship

Alloa Athletic v Hamilton Academical

Saturday, 11 May: Semi-finals, second leg

9th in Championship v 4th in League 1

Hamilton Academical v Alloa Athletic

Wednesday, 15 May: Final, first leg

Lowest-ranked team at home (Live on BBC Alba, 20:05)

Saturday, 18 May: Final, second leg

Highest-ranked team at home (Live on BBC Alba, 17:30)

Scottish League 1 play-offs

Tuesday, 7 May: Semi-finals, first leg

4th in League 2 v 9th in League 1

3rd in League 2 v 2nd in League 2

Saturday, 11 May: Semi-finals, second leg

9th in League 1 v 4th in League 2

2nd in League 2 v 3rd in League 2

Tuesday, 14 May: Final, first leg

Lowest-ranked team at home (Live on BBC Alba, 19:30)

Friday, 17 May: Final, second leg

Highest-ranked team at home (Live on BBC Alba, 19:30)

Pyramid Play-off

Saturday, 27 April: first leg

East Kilbride w/o Buckie Thistle

Scottish League 2 play-off

Saturday, 11 May: first leg

East Kilbride v 10th in League 2

Saturday, 18 May: second leg

10th in League 2 v East Kilbride

Arne Slot has said he hopes to take over from Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool manager at the end of the season.

Liverpool opened talks with Feyenoord on Wednesday about Slot’s potential appointment.

The Dutchman confirmed his interest in the job to ESPN before Feyenoord’s match on Thursday against Go Ahead Eagles.

“It seems clear to me that I would like to work there,” Slot said.

Birmingham City interim manager Gary Rowett has warned his players there is no room to “feel sorry” for themselves as they prepare for a huge clash in the Championship relegation fight against Huddersfield Town.

The Blues travel to the John Smith’s Stadium two points and a place above their hosts, but both are in the bottom three with two games to play.

Rowett’s side won 3-0 against Coventry City and drew 0-0 at already-relegated Rotherham United, but he said his side must be more consistent.

“The margins are so small you just haven’t got time to feel sorry for yourself,” he told BBC Radio WM.

“It shows the nature of the end of the season and our position that you play so well against Coventry and win, then go to Rotherham, not perform as you want or get the result you want. Four points is not enough at this stage when other teams are winning.

“It is about mentality and handling these moments. It is easier to do that with positivity, we know what is required.

“We had that extra desperation about the way we ran and competed against Coventry and perhaps didn’t match that against Rotherham.

“We haven’t got many games to be inconsistent. We need to turn up – more of Coventry, less of Rotherham.”

Rowett also confirmed Dion Sanderson had been stripped of the captaincy following a drink-driving charge, and the defender has been fined “accordingly”.

“There is a level of professionalism expected from the captain. We all make mistakes. I made the decision to remove the captaincy, I thought it was the right thing to do.”

“The Scottish FA regrets to announce that Buckie Thistle FC will not be eligible to participate in the Pyramid Play-Off tie,” the governing body has stated.

“East Kilbride FC, who were granted a bronze licence by the committee, will proceed.”

An SFA spokesperson pointed out that all Highland and Lowland League clubs were told in December they would have to meet the SPFL’s updated membership criteria requirements.

“The Scottish FA’s club licensing department has been in regular dialogue with Buckie Thistle since then to notify the club of, and provide ample time to address, issues highlighted in their club licensing report.

“Unfortunately, these issues were not addressed by the club prior to yesterday’s licensing committee decision.”

An SPFL spokesperson added that Buckie had “failed to respond to any of the three subsequent follow-up letters sent in October, February and March”.

The club had also “failed to apply for a period of grace by the 31 March 2024 deadline”.

The spokesperson added: “The SPFL board has huge sympathy for Buckie and their fans but has no option but to enforce our rules.”

Buckie have been approached for comment, but general manager Stephen Shand this week insisted to BBC Scotland that there was “a lot more enthusiasm” for their promotion bid despite admitting that some at the club were not fully behind the idea of leaving the Highland League.

Currently, Clyde are the side most likely to face East Kilbride in the play-off as they are one point behind Stranraer and three behind Bonnyrigg Rose at the foot of League 2 with two games remaining.

The play-off will be over two legs on 11 and 18 May.

Everton manager Sean Dyche says the club still have “miles to go” on and off the pitch following the Merseyside derby win over Liverpool.

The 2-0 victory at Goodison Park on Wednesday moved the Toffees eight points clear of the relegation places with four games to play.

That is despite Everton having been docked a total of eight points this season for breaches of the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules.

“There are miles to go. It’s a thing I’ve thought about, the truth line of the club,” Dyche said.

“There has to be a level where everyone across the board gets it. All the fans and all people at the club and I still think we are not quite there.

“We are getting towards it, some of the reality of the club – the finances and where it is and there is no quick fix. It has to be built on.”

Everton’s top-flight status would already be secured had the club not been hit with two separate points deductions during the current campaign.

The club have appealed against a two-point deduction for breaching financial rules in the three-year period to 2022-23, after a 10-point deduction for the preceding three-year period was reduced to six in February.

Victory over Liverpool was a third win in four league games for Dyche’s side, who will aim to move closer to confirming safety against Brentford on Saturday.

“We’ve taken big steps but there is more to come,” Dyche said.

“We can control the situation ourselves and that’s what we’ve always been aiming to do, even with the points deduction, and we are beginning to show that again.”

West Bromwich Albion manager Carlos Corberan is well aware of Sheffield Wednesday’s threat in Saturday’s trip to Hillsborough, despite their lowly league position.

Wednesday are deep in the Championship relegation battle, one point and a place above Birmingham City outside the bottom three.

Danny Rohl has reinvigorated the Owls’ season since arriving at the club in October as the youngest manager in the league, aged just 34, and Corberan knows both sides will be fighting for three points as his side continue their play-off push.

“They can’t underestimate us because we’re going to fight for a result that makes us close to our target. They are going to fight for the results that allows them to achieve their target,” Corberan told BBC WM.

“In the last 25 games, Sheffield Wednesday have collected three points less than us. They are in very good form. They didn’t start the season well, but they are in a very good moment and they are a very competitive team.”

Corberan, who was assistant manager and then head coach at Wednesday’s Yorkshire rivals Leeds and Huddersfield before moving to the Hawthorns, is expecting a fiery atmosphere with so much on the line, but wants to make the away fans proud.

“The atmosphere is going to be amazing and we like to play in front of these atmospheres. Who wants to make the fans feel proud? I can guarantee we will have the maximum commitment to make it a special season.”

Jonathan David pourrait bien fouler les pelouses de la Serie A la saison prochaine. En fin de contrat avec le LOSC Lille le 30 juin 2025, l’attaquant canadien est l’une des cibles privilégiées du Napoli pour remplacer Victor Osimhen. Giovanni Manna, nouveau directeur sportif du club napolitain à partir du 1er juillet, a d’ailleurs déjà rencontré son agent.

Mais David attire également l’attention de l’AC Milan, à la recherche d’un successeur à Olivier Giroud. C’est dans ce contexte qu’un nouveau contact a eu lieu ces derniers jours – comme l’a révélé ‘DAZN’ – entre la direction des Rossoneri et Nick Mavromaras, l’agent du joueur.

Un attaquant prometteur

Jonathan David s’est imposé comme l’un des attaquants les plus prometteurs de sa génération. Âgé de 22 ans, il a déjà inscrit 83 buts en 162 apparitions toutes compétitions confondues. Sa capacité à marquer des buts dans toutes les situations, sa vitesse et son sens du but en font un atout offensif redoutable.

L’intérêt de deux clubs de Serie A pour Jonathan David promet un duel passionnant lors du prochain mercato estival. Le Napoli, avec son projet ambitieux et son entraîneur Luciano Spalletti, semble avoir un léger avantage. Mais le Milan, en quête de renouveau après une saison décevante, ne compte pas se laisser faire. La décision finale reviendra évidemment au joueur, qui devra choisir le club qui lui permettra de franchir un nouveau cap dans sa carrière.