Liverpool FC v Manchester City FC - Premier League
Cody Gakpo scored against Arsenal last time out (Picture: Getty Images)
After plenty of spills, thrills, heartache and joy it is time for the last Monday Night Football of the Premier League season and it should be a belter when Liverpool head to the seaside to face Brighton.
It looked as though some of Arne Slot’s players were already on the beach as they squandered a 2-0 half-time lead in front of an agitated Anfield as they drew 2-2 with Arsenal with elements among the home fans jeering Trent Alexander-Arnold as he entered the fray.
The Reds will have to be at their sharpest against a Seagulls side which still has a slim chance of finishing eighth and potentially qualifying for the Europa Conference League after regrouping from a run in which they took just two points from a possible 15 by beating West Ham and Wolves either side of a draw with Newcastle.
Liverpool recovered from a tough week when they were knocked out of the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain and lost to Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley by beating Fulham, the Hammers, Leicester and Tottenham to seal the league title but since then they have eased off with a 3-1 defeat at Chelsea followed by the draw with the Gunners.
They have scored in eight games since being blanked by PSG in front of the Kop in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final and the only two previous times they failed to trouble the scoreboard were in the shock FA Cup defeat to Plymouth in February and the Carabao Cup semi-final, first leg at Tottenham, losing 1-0 on both occasions.
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Newcastle United v Brighton & Hove Albion - Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round
The Seagulls’ Kaoru Mitoma is always exciting to watch (Picture: Getty Images)
Brighton have also scored in their last six matches and in 13 of their last 15 so goals should be plentiful on a night when the hosts will seek to lift spirits dampened by the FA Cup triumph of their huge rivals Crystal Palace on Saturday.
The trouble is that they have taken just five points from their last five home games and may have to settle for a third draw in that span which is 29/10 with Ladbrokes, Coral, Bet Victor, Betfair and 888Sport.
A 2-2 draw is 11/1 with bet365 while Cody Gakpo is 11/4 with Sky Bet to score for the visitors with Kaoru Mitoma the same price with Paddy Power and Betfair to find the net for the Sussex side.
• Madison Square Garden was the scene of wild celebrations as the New York Knicks torched the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics 119-81 to advance to the Eastern Conference final for the first time in 25 years.
They now enjoy home advantage in a best-of-seven series with the Indiana Pacers, who defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers, who were fancied for the title if Boston faltered. The Knicks can make the most of playing in front of their raucous support and are 5/6 with Betfred to win the first game in the series by more than 3.5 points.
• Emma Raducanu can warm-up for the imminent French Open by beating Daria Kasatkina in Strasbourg after showing good signs at the Italian Open before running into a red-hot Coco Gauff.
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