England

Make no mistake, Chelsea’s Premier League title defense has been nothing short of a disaster. In fact, their season as a whole could be summed up as outrageously underwhelming on all levels. They sit in fifth place and face an extremely difficult task in trying to catch London rivals Tottenham in fourth. 

Spurs are five points ahead and there are only three games left to play this season. Also, bigger foundational problems loom for Chelsea in the offseason — problems that no doubt contributed to the malaise and poor form throughout the campaign.

Ever since Arsene Wenger announced he is leaving Arsenal at the end of the season (or he might have been sacked, we’ll never know), speculation and rumours have been rife about who will take the reigns at Arsenal when he is finished. In recent days, one name has emerged as a frontrunner for the Arsenal gig — Zeljko Buvac. A newspaper in Bosnia of all places broke the news that Buvac is all but set to take over at the Emirates.

Roma scored what may have been the prettiest match-winner in the Champions League this season. But the celebrations following the Radja Nainggolan goal vs Liverpool were as muted as could be, because the Reds had more than enough cushion to hold on for a 7-6 aggregate victory in the Champions League semifinals on Wednesday in Rome. 

“The world is changed. I feel it in the water. I feel it in the earth. I smell it in the air. Much that once was is lost; for none now live who remember it.” -What middle-aged soccer fans will be saying come 2040  

Manchester United and Chelsea are historical rivals; we all know that. We also know it’s a mild one compared to Man United’s rivalry with Liverpool or Chelsea’s rivalry with Arsenal. Though with a bitter and old conflict between mammoth managers Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte, Manchester United and Chelsea face a more complicated battle for the FA Cup final come May 19. 

English soccer’s governing body, the Football Association (FA), received an $835 million offer from Fulham owner Shahid Khan to buy Wembley Stadium.

Arsene Wenger is on his way out at Arsenal and it seems the Gunners don’t want to quite give up some of the old Wenger ways. Slapstick defending that harkened back to Arsenal’s worst years under Wenger cost Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid in the semifinal first leg in the Europa League on Thursday at Emirates Stadium in London. 

The first leg of Liverpool Roma lived up to the billing. After a cagey first half hour where Roma had the better chances, Mo Salah took over. His goal in the 35th minute sparked a Liverpool blitzkrieg.

It's getting silly, folks.

Mo Salah AGAIN. His 43rd goal in all competitions this season. pic.twitter.com/ng4fkRt5Ol

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) April 24, 2018

The atmosphere outside Anfield is full of smoke, fire and exactly what you'd expect from Liverpool fans. Before the first leg of the Champions League semifinal between Roma and Liverpool, at least this time around Liverpool fans have allowed the opposing players to enter the stadium without incurring significant safety risks. At least off the field.

The scenes outside Anfield looked like B roll footage from a post-apocalyptic Michael Bay movie. 

In the past 10 years, there have been more U.S. presidents than Ballon d'Or winners. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have enjoyed a duopoly over the award, with five Ballon d'Ors each since Kaka won in 2007. The Mo Salah Ballon d'Or campagin could change that.