Monday’s briefing: Liverpool on brink as Newcastle lift Eddie Howe’s spirits

Liverpool snatched a late win over West Ham at Anfield to move a step closer to the Premier League title.

Newcastle lifted the spirits of Eddie Howe in his hospital bed with a 4-1 win over Manchester United – increasing the pressure on Reds Devils boss Ruben Amorim as his side came under fire again from Roy Keane.

Elsewhere on Sunday, Wolves bolstered their survival hopes by beating Tottenham, while Chelsea fought back to draw 2-2 with relegation-battlers Ipswich and Rangers put Celtic’s Scottish Premiership title celebrations on hold with a dramatic draw at Aberdeen

In the Women’s FA Cup, Manchester United defeated depleted rivals Manchester City to book their place in the final against Chelsea.

Arne Slot has title fever

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot allowed his relief to give way to something more celebratory after seeing his side snatch a late 2-1 win at home to West Ham to move within touching distance of the title.

Virgil van Dijk’s 89th-minute header – just four minutes after the Hammers had equalised – clinched three points which Slot accepted they may not have fully deserved.

“It was a big relief,” said Slot, whose side are just two more wins away from a record-equalling 20th league Championship.

“From the moment they scored the 1-1 we started playing again, we started pressing again, the fans were really loud at that time.

“We saved a big set-piece for a very important moment.

“It is always at the end of the season – moments getting bigger and bigger and bigger.”

Magpies give Eddie Howe perfect tonic

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe sent congratulations to his players from his hospital bed after watching them dismantle Manchester United to go fourth in the table.

Howe, 47, was admitted on Friday evening after being unwell for several days and was undergoing tests as his assistant Jason Tindall and Graeme Jones prepared the team.

The Magpies roared to victory at St James’ Park in Howe’s absence – but he was with them in spirit.

“I had a message from him just before I came to do the press, congratulating the team on the performance and work from everybody,” Tindall said.

“He was able to watch the game and I’m sure that performance will have put a smile on his face.”

Roy Keane blasts “weak” United

Former Manchester United midfielder Keane said excuses could not continue to be made after watching Amorim’s men slump to another demoralising defeat – labelling his old side a “weak team”.

Harvey Barnes struck twice in the second half at St James’ Park – where United goalkeeper Andre Onana had been dropped – after Alejandro Garnacho had cancelled out Sandro Tonali’s opener, with Bruno Guimaraes’ late goal heaping more pressure on Amorim.

“It was not good enough, the second half,” Keane said on Sky Sports. “That’s 14 league games they have lost now and we keep making excuses for this team.

“There are not enough players who can run in this team or want to run, not enough of a goal threat.

“I think United now are physically and mentally a weak team.”

Gers fightback delays Celtic title party

Ianis Hagi scored a stoppage-time equaliser as 10-man Rangers roared back to draw 2-2 at in-form Aberdeen and deny Celtic an early title party.

Barry Ferguson’s makeshift team – featuring nine changes from the Europa League quarter-final first leg against Athletic Bilbao on Thursday – were torn apart in the first half.

The bedraggled visitors found themselves two goals and a man down at the break after strikes from Reds pair Leighton Clarkson and Pape Gueye, either side of Ross McCausland’s 40th-minute red card.

But Rangers improved after the break and Hamza Igamane pulled one back before substitute Hagi struck in the fifth minute of stoppage time to ensure Celtic – 15 points clear with five to play – will have to wait a while longer to be confirmed as champions.

United up for the Cup, again

Celin Bizet and Grace Clinton scored as Manchester United defeated depleted rivals Manchester City 2-0 to set up a Women’s FA Cup final with Chelsea.

The holders were good value as they reached their third final in a row, scoring both goals in the first quarter of the game before goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce did her bit to see off any hopes of a revival from the hosts.

City – reduced to a six-strong bench and without the likes of Khadija Shaw, Vivianne Miedema and Lauren Hemp – were underpowered and unable to keep their last realistic hope of success this term alive at the Joie Stadium.

What’s on today?

Monday night’s Premier League action sees Bournemouth host Fulham, with both sides looking to maintain hopes of European qualification.

In the Sky Bet Championship, Coventry head to relegation-battlers Hull, aiming to keep themselves in the play-off picture.

Elsewhere, Aston Villa manager Unai Emery will hold a press conference ahead of the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Paris St Germain.