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Southampton’s goalless draw against Leicester City on Thursday and their 2-0 FA Cup semi-final defeat to Chelsea at Wembley on Sunday were just two more signals that they remain on course for the Championship next season.

Saints went into their must-win clash against the Foxes on the back of a 3-2 loss and collapse against Antonio Conte’s men at St Mary’s, well aware that they were running out of time to save themselves.

However, it seemed as though they were so determined not to lose and to keep things tight at the back – which was no surprise given they had suffered four successive top flight defeats and conceded 12 goals in the process – they didn’t really go and try and win a game against a Leicester side that were ultimately there for the taking, with Shane Long wasting their best opportunities.

It has left the south coast outfit on the brink and while they will be just four points from safety heading into their match against local rivals Bournemouth at home on Saturday, the fact that they have one league win in their last 21 attempts and have tasted success just five times all season – against 10-man West Ham, both Crystal Palace and Everton when they were in dire straits, and twice against West Bromwich Albion who are bottom of the standings and in an even worse position.

The cup encounter against Chelsea was a chance to put in a positive performance with the pressure off in many ways, and while the players did ok in the first half, to find themselves 1-0 down just 30 seconds into the second period summed up their whole season – especially as it could have easily been avoided from a defensive point of view.

Mark Hughes’ men now have four top flight matches to save themselves, and anything less than three wins from those will probably be not enough for a side that will likely be without Sofiane Boufal, who looks to have played his last game for the club.

Given they have only won five all season and have one Premier League win since the end of November – and with few signs of improvement from a defensive point of view especially – it is difficult to see that happening and the south coast outfit realistically need to start preparing for life in the Championship.

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It is a notoriously difficult division, and while the board and the majority of Saints supporters may be happy to keep the Welshman in charge next season should the worst happen, they should in fact consider appointing someone else instead.

While Hughes has proven he is a decent manager during his career, he has never managed in the Championship, and while Nuno Espirito Santo has done fantastically well with Wolves this term – albeit with plenty of help in terms of recruitment – it says it all that the likes of Neil Warnock, Slavisa Jokanovic and Gary Rowett are all challenging at the top end of the table.

They are managers that know the division like the back of their hands now, and they know what is required to win games on a consistent basis promotion.

The same couldn’t be said for Hughes, and given he is only on a contract until the end of the campaign, the Saints hierarchy should have been alerted to the news of Mick McCarthy quitting Ipswich Town earlier this month.

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The 59-year-old worked on a really tight budget at Portman Road for five-and-a-half years before his departure, and while he was unable to win promotion to the Premier League with Town, he did do achieve it previously with both Sunderland and Wolves.

McCarthy has proven himself as a more than solid boss at this level, and with some money behind him – with the parachute payments – he would certainly fancy his chances of taking Southampton straight back up to the top flight, and he would be a popular figure for the St Mary’s faithful because of his personality.

The club won’t have too much time to waste if they want an immediate return to the Premier League, and they should get the 59-year-old in place as soon after the current season has concluded as is possible, to ensure they are best prepared to get themselves sorted and hit the ground running.

The former Republic of Ireland boss may not be the long-term appointment that some supporters would be hoping for, but they need a manager that knows the Championship – even more so having seen Sunderland’s second successive relegation – to ensure they don’t find themselves in trouble again next term.

Following Liverpool’s crushing semi-final defeat to Aston Villa at Wembley, they will end another season without silverware.  In turn, as another trophy slipped through his fingertips, Brendan Rodgers will finish his third season as the Kop manager without a trophy, the first time a manager as suffered such ignominy since the 1950’s.

With Liverpool looking certain to miss out on top four, as well as leaving their trophy cabinet no fuller than it was 12 months ago, serious questions are being asked of their manager. For all of the free flowing, cavalier football that bought them so close to their first title in 20 years, a cup win of any variety remains elusive.

Will the Rodgers’ reign be remembered as a barren one?

The Anfield fans are ones that demand success, they have a culture of winning tournaments; even in their league drought they have consistently managed to win tournaments, so for all of the good work Rodgers has done, patience may run thin from his own supporters.

Rodgers and the ‘transfer committee’ gambled big last summer, spending vast sums of money in order to replace the irreplaceable Luis Suarez. Many of their signings whilst the Northern Irishman have been in charge have proven to be failures, the amount of accountability the manager takes for these transfer blunders is unknown, but his reputation is certainly being damaged by their performances on the field.

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Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has recently come out and defended the current boss stating that one game doesn’t define your career, but as Rodgers is beginning to find out, that one result on a sun-soaked Wembley may prove to be the most pivotal one of his Liverpool reign.

The 42 year old has arguably made his job even harder than it was before; a club crippled by expectation for so long had them again risen to the sky following on from their heroic near miss last term. Many felt that this season they could and probably should go one better, however, the side that he currently possesses is around about where it should be. They are the fifth or sixth best team in the division and that’s exactly where they find themselves.

The counter-argument to sacking a manager is always the dearth of available replacements on the market; however, Jurgen Klopp’s announcement that he will be leaving Borussia Dortmund now means there is a name and a face who fans can dream of seeing in the technical area.

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There are six games to go in what will prove to be an underwhelming campaign for the Merseysiders, Rodgers will be hoping that every one of those games he sees his side perform to a high level to guarantee he will be given a summer extension. Sacking the manager at this point does seem implausible but the nature of modern day football and the demand for instant success may prove to be his downfall.

He may have one summer left to build a side capable of lifting a trophy of any sort, his Liverpool reign must be punctuated by success. He has done so much, it would be a shame to look back on his spell as a failure, but there is a monkey on his back and it is growing heavier with every passing trophy mishap.

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It proved to be one of the most perfect striker performances in the Champions League, up among the Gods with Ronaldo’s excellence at Old Trafford in 2003 with Real Madrid and Lionel Messi’s five goals against Bayer Leverkusen last season. Robert Lewandowski went above and beyond, reaching the near-impossible rating of 10 in L’Equipe on Thursday morning. It wasn’t the moment the world woke up to the Borussia Dortmund striker’s talents, as one English pundit confidently exclaimed; it was, however, the building of tension and excitement for what may be the forward’s final few months at Signal Iduna Park.

Borussia Dortmund has already expressed their desire to keep Lewandowski into next season, despite the player’s contract coming to an end in 2014. They were quick once again last night to confirm their stance, probably hoping in a way that glory in Europe this season will be enough to keep the key elements of their group together.

But on some level you can see through the confident tones, acknowledging that they’re more hopeful than anything else. Bayern Munich may come calling once again, adding to the storm created by their successful approach for Mario Goetze, while rumours have already arisen that Bayern have indeed stolen a march on the rest of Europe for Lewandowski’s signature.

Yet it remains the case that the Premier League is the destination many on the continent hold as the pinnacle of the game in Europe. Manchester United have made their interested known, while the most recent incident involving Luis Suarez means Liverpool may well be in the hunt for an elite forward this summer. In fact, you could make a strong case for any of the teams currently competing for the top four in England as legitimate destinations for Lewandowski.

At this point, however, you can’t ignore the possibilities and suitability of Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea. All three London clubs are in the hunt for a striker to elevate them onto the next level, with two wanting to build themselves back up to consistent title challengers, and the other needing the break into the Champions League on a yearly basis and build from there.

Manchester United have put their interest forward in at least two of Europe’s best strikers leading into the summer, but the form of Robin van Persie and the continued muddy future of Wayne Rooney suggests that for now, Lewandowski would be used in rotation rather than as the undisputed starter.

Arsenal, however, and provided rumours of a £24 million price tag are to be believed, could be the ideal club for Lewandowski moving forward. His style of play suits Arsenal far more than, say, Mario Gomez, who remains on the borders of a match until he comes into his element inside the box. Lewandowski, meanwhile, has been talked up as one of the best complete forwards in the world, with the ability to act as creator and goal scorer. His technique, versatility and intelligence could see other forwards in the Arsenal team thrive, while his status as a prolific striker is exactly what is needed to link up with Santi Cazorla in the playmaker role.

The price tag of just above £20 million isn’t too much of an issue, either. Arsenal are continuing to push the idea that this will be the summer of change, with figures of least £70 million spoken of regularly in relation to Arsene Wenger’s summer budget. If Arsenal is serious about pushing on next season, they need to make themselves known in the race for Lewandowski. But money aside, it will be about convincing the player that the club are genuinely taking steps to become a real contender for the title as soon as next year.

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With Chelsea continuing down the road towards Radamel Falcao, it opens up an avenue for Arsenal to accelerate towards Lewandowski. It will take an enormous amount of convincing, for both the club and player, but the Polish international is the level of signing Arsenal need to be making in order to convince their fans that the club are moving on from year-on-year mediocrity.

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Manchester United are on the hunt for a revamped defence during the summer transfer window in order to transform their fortunes next season but it is unlikely to include Matteo Darmian.

Despite being an international right-back, the Italian – valued at £10.8m by Transfermarkt – has been unable to get close to overtaking Antonio Valencia this season and looks surplus to requirements.

As United gear up for the FA Cup semi-final against Tottenham on Saturday, it is unlikely that Darmian will be involved at all.

That means that thoughts have turned to where the Italian will go in the summer and his comments have hinted that he could well be off to Italian giants Juventus in the next transfer window.

It would appear that there isn’t a great deal of animosity towards Darmian but not a lot of United fans rate him and would happily see him leave.

We’ve taken a closer look at the best responses…

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Manuel Pellegrini’s job has looked less secure as the season has progressed.

Now comments have emerged that could finish his job completely. Yaya Toure has had a tough season at Manchester City and it seems that his agent his not happy with how he has been treated by the Etihad Stadium outfit..Dimitri Seluk has claimed that the club have tried to use Toure as a scapegoat for bigger problems behind the scenes and has called Pellegrini a “weak manager.”

Salek said” “If City want Yaya to leave, they should just come out and say so.

“Two of the biggest clubs have already asked me if he is available and I know that if City would sell another 10 would call me inside 24 hours.”

Salek has been very open in his comments about Manchester City and it seems he is ready to show them that his player can do better without the Northern club.

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These comments show just how Pellegrini has already lost one, quite key, member of his team. Toure has been the ring leader and “go-to man” at the club for a number of years. Young players look up to him out of respect and pride and Toure has said he is hurt at how he has been treated by the media this past season.

Pellegrini seemed to stand up for the 31-year-old by giving him the captain’s armband when Vincent Kompany was out injured, but it seems that behind the scenes things are not quite right.

Whilst he hasn’t been at his best playing form, Toure is an integral part of the team. Pellegrini has been clinging onto his job by the skin of his teeth following a number of disappointing results, which sees the league’s big spenders sitting 12 points behind leaders Chelsea in the race for the title. City have also failed to reach the quarter-final stage in the Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup this season.

Seluk’s comments are just one in a number who say Pellegrini is living on borrowed time. The pressure is mounting to make sure the City finish in the top four and secure Champions League football next season. Former England manager Sven Goran Eriksson has said he is not surprised the Chilean could be on his way out.

“If you invest so much money they expect you to fight for the title in England and expect you to go a very long way in the Champions League and unfortunately, this season it hasn’t happened,” he said.

Man City’s previous boss Roberto Manchini was sacked despite winning the Premier League the season before and it looks like it could be déjà vu at the Etihad Stadium.

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Whilst Sven’s, and many other pundits’, comments will matter to the owners it could be those made by Seluk which will be Pellegrini’s downfall. Every manager will take criticism in his job every day but when you start to lose the players it is time to stop.

It seems that Pellegrini has not just lost a player but a leader and a true inspiration at the club.

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Newcastle will be boosted by the return of keeper Tim Krul for Thursday’s Europa League quarter-final first-leg trip to face Benfica.

The Dutch custodian has missed the last seven games because of an ankle injury picked up in the last-32 tie at Metalist Kharkiv, but he will oust Rob Elliot from the number one spot at the Estadio da Luz, in Lisbon.

Magpies boss Alan Pardew said: “He has trained very well and I personally think he is one of the top goalkeepers in the world.

“This is a great opportunity for him to come back as the number one ahead of Sunday [against Fulham].

“I don’t mind putting that pressure on him – he accepts at this level that if he wants to play in the Dutch national side, that is the pressure he is under.

“I have no doubt he will respond to that.”

Meanwhile, Chieck Tiote will miss out because of a muscle strain while Mathieu Debuchy and Yoan Gouffran are ineligible.

Central defender Mike Williamson could feature after not playing since mid-January, while striker Shola Ameobi, midfielder Yohan Cabaye and Argentine international Jonas Gutierrez are in the squad.

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Teenagers such as 18-year-old Adam Campbell and midfielder Gael Bigirimana are in the 19-man squad which flew out to Portugal earlier this week.

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A full-back by trade, West Ham United defender Aaron Cresswell has found himself lining up as a left-sided centre-back as part of a three-man defence for the Irons on a number of occasions over the course of this season – and in particular so far in 2018.

With Jose Fonte leaving for the Chinese Super League in February and Winston Reid and James Collins currently both injured, the 28-year-old, who is rated at £10.8m by Transfermarkt, once again lined up alongside Angelo Ogbonna and Declan Rice at the back against Stoke City at the London Stadium on Monday night, with Arthur Masuaku at left wing-back.

While his main role as a centre-back is clearly to ensure his team doesn’t concede, Cresswell, whom Hammers supporters slated on Twitter last month for his poor form, showed the attacking ability that he has and the impact he’s capable of making in the final third against the Potters, who took the lead in the 79th minute through Peter Crouch.

The former Ipswich Town man had a total of four shots at goal throughout the 90 minutes – with three of those being on target – while he also had more touches (92) than any other Irons player on the pitch, as well as making two key passes – including the assist for Andy Carroll’s late equaliser.

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While Cresswell has been needed at centre-back in recent weeks and months, his statistics against Paul Lambert’s side suggest that his manager David Moyes needs to play him in a more attacking role in the future, to help his team in the final third.

Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester United last weekend was a big moment in the Reds’ season. Not only were they beaten at home by their fiercest of rivals but also their hopes of making the Premier Leagues top four and therefore a chance of Champions League football next season faded.

Liverpool now sit in fifth place with a five-point gap separating the two teams and while there are still eight games to play for, United are definitely in a better position to fight for qualification.

Manager Brendan Rodgers has had a topsy-turvy three-years at Liverpool’s helm; he has been fortunate to work with top players like Luis Suarez, Steven Gerrard and Daniel Sturridge but likewise there have been many obstacles.

This season alone Rodgers has had to contend with rebuilding his highly effective attack after the departure of Suarez to Barcelona last summer and must now look towards a future without talisman and captain Steven Gerrard. To find themselves even in the running for a top four finish during a season of so much upheaval is admirable and whether or not they succeed in making fourth Liverpool supporters should continue to have faith in their gaffer.

At 42, Rodgers is still a young manager who on a weekly basis comes up against seasoned and highly successful tacticians yet continues to steer Liverpool in the right direction.

The Irishman has made some great signings in his three years at Merseyside – namely Sturridge who joined in 2013 from Chelsea – but also Emre Can from Bayer Leverkusen who is enjoying his maiden season. But he hasn’t always gotten it right. The acquisition of forward Mario Balotelli has brought embarrassment and at times a media circus to the club. Though obviously a mistake, it should be remembered that the Italian was a last minute deal done to cover Sturridge’s lengthy injury induced absence. No one in their right mind and with other options available would have pinned their hopes on the erratic young man.

Understandably the first half of the season was difficult for everyone at the club with some supporters even worrying how safe Rodgers’ job was. At the end of November the Reds were down in 11th place and all of the gains made last season seemed to have vanished.

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Sturridge spent five months in total out of action, even longer than was expected due to a reoccurrence of his injury but once he finally returned then a noticeable improvement could be seen and the charge up the table began.

Now with only a handful of games left, which include trips to Arsenal and Chelsea, Liverpool are still in with a chance of making the top four despite tough competition for places. In the event that they do not finish high enough then Rodgers should still be commended for getting through a tough year relatively well. Even when struggling Rodgers has kept his side functioning, not allowing their poor showing and quick exit in both the Champions and Europa Leagues to ruin their domestic campaign which is more than city rivals Everton can say.

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Rodgers needs to continue focussing on a strong league finish and look to make better acquisitions in the upcoming transfer window than he did last year. With the right group of players and a great manager in the making there is no reason why Liverpool can’t finish in the top four next season or even end their long wait for the Premier League title.

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Everton defender Phil Jagielka is adamant that uncertainty surrounding manager David Moyes’ future will not derail their season.

The Toffees have made a flying start to the Premier League campaign, and are still in with a chance of Champions League qualification with 12 games to go.

But, as the club enter the vital period of the season, Moyes’ future is far from clear, with the Scot delaying contract talks with chairman Bill Kenwright.

He is thought to be considering his future, and is keen to see whether Everton secure European football for next season.

Moyes has been linked with a number of jobs in recent times, with some suggesting he may be the long-term successor to Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson.

It is also believed that he could be keen on moving abroad to further his abilities and reputation within European football.

Despite this, Jagielka is adamant that the squad are just focused on performing week in, week out:

“The manager has pretty much brought every single player in, so we are his players.” He is quoted by the Daily Mail.

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“He has made decisions that he wants to make. He has come out in the press and said he will not sign anything until the end of the season, which is fine with us.

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Celtic dropped more points at home in the Scottish Premiership on Wednesday night, drawing 0-0 at home to struggling Dundee.

On the march to a seventh successive league title, all the Hoops need to do is secure a couple of more wins to celebrate yet another major honour under Brendan Rodgers.

They were underwhelming against the Dark Blues however, failing to produce the chances to see off the visitors and were even at risk of conceding and losing the match.

One point of contention fans had coming out of the match was the absence of Chelsea loanee Charly Musonda, who was again an unused substitute.

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The 21-year-old hasn’t had any minutes for over a month, since coming on as a substitute in a Scottish Cup match against Greenock Morton. He hasn’t started since 18th February, one of only three since joining in January.

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Fans are now calling on him to be selected more, believing he possesses the kind of creativity that can break down deep defences like the Dees’.

They took to Twitter to share their thoughts after last night’s match…