Diego Maradona, out of work since Argentina went out of the World Cup six weeks ago, might consider managing an English club if his chances of returning to the national team disappeared altogether.
Chelsea, playing with a swagger missing for much of the season, routed Aston Villa 8-0 on Sunday as Premier League leaders Manchester United wasted the chance to move six points clear after a 1-1 draw at Swansea City.
With 12 games remaining Manchester City are in fourth place with 44 points, just five ahead of 10th-placed Fulham.
Christian Benteke's superb hat-trick rescued a potentially priceless Premier League point for Aston Villa.
A round-up of Saturday's action in the English Premier League.
Images from the English Premier League matches played on Saturday.
Liverpool moved five points clear at the top of the Premier League with a 4-0 demolition of Bournemouth that extended their unbeaten league run to 14 games on Sunday.
Andy Carroll helped himself to a hat-trick as Newcastle United stunned Aston Villa 6-0 to mark a memorable home return to the Premier League on Sunday.
Liverpool moved back to the top of the Premier League with a 2-0 victory at struggling Burnley
Manchester City spent more than 180 million pounds ($223.58 million) -- more than the combined amount paid by the other 19 English top-flight clubs in a relatively quiet window.
The Spaniard became the most successful foreign manager in the history of English football, after clinching his fourth Premier League crown.
A summary of Saturday's action in the English Premier League.
Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United both sealed comeback victories to boost their European qualification hopes.
Chelsea scored twice in the last two minutes in a stunning comeback against Aston Villa on Sunday only to concede an injury-time equaliser in a 3-3 draw that severely dents their hopes of retaining the Premier League title.
Darron Gibson fired holders Manchester United through to the last four of the English League Cup on Tuesday with a 2-0 win at Old Trafford that ended Tottenham Hotspur's hopes of a third successive final.
IMAGES from the English Premier League matches played on Saturday.
Holders Chelsea advanced to the semi-finals of the FA Cup with a 2-0 home win over Stoke City while Aston Villa joined them after coming from 2-0 down to win 4-2 at Reading with a John Carew hat-trick on Sunday.
Arsenal's inability to kill off the contest will be a frustration as that has been a hallmark of their recent form. They had won their previous 18 Premier League matches in which they scored first.
Phil Foden struck twice as Manchester City stepped up their bid for a fourth Premier League crown in a row with a ruthless 4-0 victory at Brighton & Hove Albion on Thursday.
Chelsea's hopes of winning a third consecutive Premier League title have taken a knock with a third straight draw, their first match this season without scoring.
Arsenal's Arteta wary of old foe Villa
Spurs Premier League match at Brighton postponed due to COVID-19
Liverpool's Luis Diaz scored a hat-trick as they maintained their perfect Champions League campaign with a barnstorming second-half display in a 4-0 victory over Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen at Anfield on Tuesday.
Manchester United may have kept their powder dry in the transfer window but they remain the team to beat in the Premier League as two goals by Wayne Rooney helped them to a 3-1 home win over Aston Villa on Tuesday.
Nathaniel Clyne's late equaliser earned high-flying Southampton a 1-1 draw at Aston Villa on Monday, denying Paul Lambert a much-needed victory in his 100th match in charge of the Premier League strugglers.
Arsenal scored three goals in a seven-minute burst after halftime against visitors Aston Villa, including two penalties from Robin van Persie, as they staged a dramatic comeback to win 3-2 and reach the FA Cup fifth round on Sunday.
Chelsea's on-loan Brazilian international Alexandre Pato scored on his debut to help push pathetic Aston Villa to the verge of inevitable relegation with a seventh successive Premier League defeat on Saturday. Pato, the former Milan starlet who has been kicking his heels since joining from Corinthians two months ago, came on as a 25th-minute substitute and was immediately involved in the move which led to Ruben Loftus-Cheek netting his first league goal.
City open the season on Aug. 11, with the final round of matches scheduled for May 19, 2024.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger expects big-spending Manchester City and much-improved Aston Villa to turn the Premier League's established big four into a big six this season.
The 30-year-old, whose contract expires at the end of next season, says he is happy at the club amid transfer talks
Champions Manchester United will travel to Swansea City for their first English Premier League match under new manager David Moyes, while Manuel Pellegrini's Manchester City are at home to Newcastle United on August 17.
A summary of Sunday's action in the English Premier League.
Manchester City came from behind to beat Club Brugge 3-1 and secure their place in the Champions League playoffs
Liverpool moved into the Champions League qualifying spots after a 3-0 win at Burnley on Wednesday took them above Leicester City and into fourth place with one round of Premier League matches remaining.
Liverpool took another step towards the Premier League title with a 2-0 win at Manchester City.
John Terry headed a second-half equaliser to rescue a 1-1 draw for Chelsea at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday as the managerial battle between Jose Mourinho and his former apprentice Andre Villas-Boas ended in stalemate.
Manchester City clinched a 1-0 victory at Tottenham Hotspur, while Chelsea were held to a 0-0 draw at home by Aston Villa.
A number of Manchester United players are "not good enough" while some others are being "overpaid", the club's co-owner Jim Ratcliffe said.
Summary of the Europa League semi-final matches played on Thursday.
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