Tuesdays briefing Van Dijk backs Alexander Arnold and Blades are Wembley bound

Sheffield United moved within 90 minutes of a return to the Premier League after polishing off a record aggregate play-off win over Bristol City.

The Blades will face either Sunderland or Coventry with promotion at stake after bouncing back impressively from some poor late season form that had cost them an automatic slot.

The fall-out continues from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s departure from Liverpool, with captain Virgil Van Dijk admitting he was shocked by the reaction the full-back received during Sunday’s draw with Arsenal.

Nuno Espirito Santo believes Nottingham Forest can still salvage a place in next season’s Champions League, while veteran Carlo Ancelotti has been confirmed as next coach of Brazil.

Blades deliver knockout blow

Sheffield United are one win away from ending their play-off hoodoo after booking their place in the Sky Bet Championship final with a record-breaking semi-final demolition of Bristol City.

The Blades will meet Sunderland or Coventry at Wembley after a 6-0 aggregate victory over the Robins – the biggest winning margin in Championship play-off semi-final history.

After doing the heavy lifting in Thursday’s first leg at Ashton Gate, where they won 3-0, they finished the job on home soil thanks to goals from Kieffer Moore, Gus Hamer and Callum O’Hare.

They will be hoping it is 10th time lucky on May 24, having lost in their previous nine play-off encounters, which has included three Championship finals.

Van Dijk shocked by Alexander-Arnold boos

Liverpool captain Virgil Van Dijk has admitted he was shocked by the crowd reaction to Trent Alexander Arnold during their side’s 2-2 draw against Arsenal on Sunday.

Alexander-Arnold was booed following his introduction as a 67th minute substitute, having previously confirmed that he will leave Anfield at the end of the season to join Real Madrid.

And Van Dijk also admitted the newly-crowned Premier League champions would miss the 25-year-old full-back, whose 20-year association with the club is nearing an end.

Van Dijk said: “We are gutted that he’s not here with us next year because he’s a fantastic player with outstanding, exceptional qualities that we have seen over the last seven years.

“The (crowd) reaction happened. He has to deal with it. We as a team have to deal with that as well.

“I wasn’t really expecting something, to be honest, but I think maybe he expected this. It’s not easy, not at all. We’re here for him anyway.”

Ancelotti heading for Brazil

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has been confirmed as the next manager of the Brazil national football team.

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has announced the Italian, one of the most successful managers in the history of European club football, will take up the position from May 26.

The appointment had been widely anticipated with it also expected the 65-year-old would be leaving his post at the Bernabeu Stadium at the end of the Spanish domestic season.

Ancelotti will become the first foreigner to lead Brazil and will take charge ahead of the five-time record champions’ World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay in June.

A statement from the CBF described Ancelotti as “a legend of the game as the most successful manager in football history”.

It added: “This landmark moment sees the coming together of two icons – the only five-time FIFA World Cup champions and a coach with an unmatched record across Europe’s elite competitions.”

Nuno staying confident

Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo has not given up hope of Champions League qualification, insisting “anything can happen” in the remaining two games.

Forest suffered a possible terminal blow to their top-five bid on Sunday after conceding a late equaliser in a 2-2 draw with relegated Leicester, which saw frustrated owner Evangelos Marinakis storm on the pitch to remonstrate with the Portuguese after the final whistle.

While the point confirms seventh-placed Forest are guaranteed to be in at least the Conference League next season, a place in the premier European competition is out of their hands.

Even if they win their final two games – a visit to West Ham and a crunch home game with fifth-placed Chelsea – they need Aston Villa, Manchester City or Newcastle to drop points.

However, Nuno said: “I totally believe in these two games anything can happen. There’s competition, finals involved also. Many things.

“Let’s see how it goes. We have to focus on West Ham. They achieved a good result today (against Manchester United) so it is going to be tough. But I promise you we are going to give it a go and we will never give up.”

What’s on today?

Sunderland are strong favourites to seal their place in the Championship play-off final when they face Frank Lampard’s Coventry at the Stadium of Light in the second leg of their Championship play-off semi-final.

Eliezer Mayenda’s late goal left the Wearsiders firmly in control with a 2-1 win at the Coventry Building Society Arena last week.

Published: 13/05/2025 by Radio NewsHubClick here to read this story in full at Radio News Hub