Middlesbrough claimed top spot in Group 2 without playing this weekend, thanks to Sunderland being thrashed 4-1 by Arsenal. Going into the final weekend of games, Group 1 looks set to be comfortably won by current leaders Manchester City. Group 3 is extremely tight. All top five teams could still win Group 3, with Swansea City the current leaders.
GROUP 1
| GROUP 1 | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POS | CLUB | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS | ||
| 1 | Manchester City U18 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 12 | ||
| 2 | Chelsea U18 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 8 | 6 | 10 | ||
| 3 | Everton U18 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 8 | -2 | 9 | ||
| 4 | Liverpool U18 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 9 | 2 | 7 | ||
| 5 | Reading U18 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 11 | -3 | 5 | ||
| 6 | Blackburn Rovers U18 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | -1 | 4 | ||
| 7 | West Ham United U18 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 8 | -3 | 4 | ||
| 8 | Fulham U18 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 13 | -6 | 4 | ||
Everton P-P Manchester City
Postponed with City, Group 1 leaders, playing in the FA Cup Final first-leg against Chelsea their academy stadium in the shadow of the Etihad. Here’s Off The Post News’ full match report.
West Ham 0-0 Liverpool
Rosaire Longelo, Sam Ford, and substitute Idris Kane came close for the Hammers at home but they couldn’t Caoimhin Kelleher in the Liverpool goal. The goalless draw sees confirmation that Liverpool are out of contention for the national title while West Ham are level on points with bottom-placed Fulham.
Reading 1-1 Blackburn Rovers
5th and 6th placed met and drew 1-1. Blackburn have played just four games in the playoffs, two less than some teams, so could still finish as one of the top four teams in the country.
Next week:
27 April 2016: Blackburn Rovers vs West Ham
29 April 2016: Chelsea vs Liverpool
30 April 2016: Everton vs West Ham
30 April 2016: Manchester City vs Blackburn Rovers
30 April 2016: Reading vs Fulham
GROUP 2
| GROUP 2 | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POS | CLUB | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS | ||
| 1 | Middlesbrough U18 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 6 | 7 | 16 | ||
| 2 | Leicester City U18 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 10 | 5 | 11 | ||
| 3 | Aston Villa U18 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 11 | ||
| 4 | Sunderland U18 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 10 | ||
| 5 | Arsenal U18 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 11 | 1 | 7 | ||
| 6 | Tottenham Hotspur U18 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 12 | 14 | -2 | 6 | ||
| 7 | West Bromwich Albion U18 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 12 | -4 | 5 | ||
| 8 | Wolverhampton Wanderers U18 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 21 | -12 | 1 | ||
Middlesbrough are winners of Group 2. Sunderland remained the only possible challengers with a game-on-hand gainst Arsenal but the Gunners dispatched of them easily to hand the title to ‘Boro. They have looked favourites for a while now, yet to lose a game. They’ll hope to cap a good playoff run with a win against West Brom in the final game next Saturday.
Sunderland 1-4 Arsenal
A very comfortable victory for Arsenal confirmed Middlesbrough as winners of Group 2 in the 2016 U18 Premier League. Joel Asoro gave Sunderland the lead but Arsenal levelled through the prolific and consistent Edward Nketiah just before half-time. He scored in the 68th minute to take the lead and Reiss Nelson ensured the victory just moments later with a third. Donyell Malen capped it off with fourth, ten minutes from time.
Next week:
30 April 2016: Arsenal vs Tottenham
30 April 2016: Aston Villa vs Leicester City
30 April 2016: Middlesbrough vs West Brom
30 April 2016: Sunderland vs Wolves
GROUP 3
| GROUP 3 | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POS | CLUB | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS | ||
| 1 | Swansea City U18 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 15 | 12 | 3 | 12 | ||
| 2 | Brighton & Hove Albion U18 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 16 | 12 | 4 | 11 | ||
| 3 | Derby County U18 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 15 | 9 | 6 | 10 | ||
| 4 | Manchester United U18 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 16 | 12 | 4 | 10 | ||
| 5 | Stoke City U18 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 10 | ||
| 6 | Southampton U18 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 5 | ||
| 7 | Newcastle United U18 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 15 | -10 | 4 | ||
| 8 | Norwich City U18 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 16 | -8 | 1 | ||
Norwich City 2-3 Manchester United
It was a vital comeback for Tommy Martin’s Manchester United side to stay in the race for Group 3’s top spot. Norwich went in 2-0 leaders at half-time thanks to George Couzens and Kieran Higgs. George Tanner got United back into it immediately after the break and Aidan Barlow, consistently performing since being promoted to the under-18s side, leveled things up. Angel Gomes scored a dramatic late winner, with two minutes of normal time remaining, and United are now just two points off the top going into the final game.
Southampton 0-1 Derby County
Derby ensured they stayed in the race for Group 3’s top spot with a win against Southampton thanks to an 18th minute Cameron Cresswell own goal. They have better goal difference than both United and Stoke City, all three are on ten points.
Brighton & Hove Albion 3-3 Swansea City
It was the fourth 3-3 draw in Group 3 of the playoffs on Saturday morning. Liam Cullen scored twice for Swansea and Causso Darame once to mean both they and Brighton could win Group 3. A draw means that the race is extremely open, however. Brighton need to beat Stoke and hope Swansea lose to Newcastle to win Group 3.
Next week:
30 April 2016: Brighton & Hove Albion vs Stoke City
30 April 2016: Derby County vs Norwich City
30 April 2016: Manchester United vs Southampton
30 April 2016: Swansea City vs Newcastle United
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