The Full Time Report — Ep.16: Watkins Fires Villa to Istanbul, Carrick Is Your Man, and the FA Cup Final Is Today

Published: 2026-05-16 · Duration: 18:54 · Host: Tom · Format: Solo

Ollie Watkins scored twice as Aston Villa hammered Liverpool 4-2 at Villa Park to seal Champions League football and set the stage for Wednesday's Europa League Final in Istanbul. Arne Slot called the defeat "damaging" and admitted his side "crumbled" — Liverpool now need a win at Brentford on the final day to guarantee a top-five finish. Michael Carrick is officially the permanent Manchester United manager, confirmed by Ornstein and Romano simultaneously last night. Jose Mourinho is heading back to Real Madrid. Chelsea and Xabi Alonso had a direct meeting and a decision is imminent. And this afternoon at Wembley: Chelsea vs Man City, 3pm BST, FA Cup Final.

[0:06] Ollie Watkins. Two goals. Liverpool absolutely dismantled. Villa are going back to the Champions League.

[0:14] What a Friday night. Welcome to The Full Time Report, Episode 16. I'm Tom. It's Saturday the 16th of May, eight o'clock in the morning, and there is an absolute pile-on of news to get through today.

[0:27] We've got the full match report from Villa's four-two win over Liverpool. Michael Carrick — now permanently your Manchester United manager, confirmed by both Ornstein and Romano last night. Jose Mourinho heading back to Real Madrid. And then this afternoon, three o'clock at Wembley, it's the FA Cup Final — Chelsea versus Man City.

[0:47] Loads to get through. Let's go.

[0:50] Villa Park, Friday night, Premier League GW37. And Unai Emery — this is what he does. He builds teams, he wins the big game, and then he grabs the microphone and shouts at the crowd.

[1:02] It finished four-two. Morgan Rogers opened it in the forty-second minute, a curling effort from a short corner routine — you can tell Austin MacPhee was involved, it had that clinical, manufactured-brilliance feel to it. Liverpool equalised through a Van Dijk header just after half-time, and for about ten minutes it actually looked like Liverpool might nick something.

[1:21] Then Szoboszlai slipped deep in Liverpool's half. Rogers was onto it in a flash, and he picked out Watkins one-on-one with Mamardashvili. You already know what happened. One-nil becomes two-one, fifty-nine minutes.

[1:33] The third came from another corner — Mamardashvili saved from Tielemans and Pau Torres, and Watkins was first to the rebound. Tapped in. His nineteenth Premier League goal of the season. Seventy-three minutes. Game over.

[1:46] McGinn added a gorgeous fourth in the eighty-ninth — cut inside from the left, curled it into the far corner. Left foot. Absolute beauty. Van Dijk grabbed a consolation header in stoppage time, but the away end had long since emptied.

[1:59] That was Emery's six hundredth win as a manager, by the way. Six hundred. And it means Aston Villa have guaranteed Champions League football for next season regardless of what happens in Istanbul on Wednesday.

[2:11] Now, let's talk about Watkins, because he was extraordinary. Nineteen Premier League goals this season. Twenty-four goals and assists in total — more than any other Englishman at a Premier League club. Eight goals in twelve appearances against Liverpool alone. Eight.

[2:26] He was left out of the England squad in March. And he's basically spent the last two months running rings round Premier League defences with something to prove. His words after the game: "It gave me that fire in my belly to come back and prove to people what I can do." You'd say he's managed that.

[2:42] And he had a great line about Liverpool's defensive shape: "They play a high line and don't play offside, so they're disjointed at the back and there's a lot of space for me to run into." That's not trash talk — that's a clinical analysis from a centre forward who's found his form at exactly the right moment.

[2:59] Morgan Rogers was brilliant too. A goal and an assist, and he now has twenty-three goals and assists this season — second only to Watkins among Englishmen at Premier League clubs. McGinn called the whole night "unbelievable." Emery grabbed the mic and screamed: "Absolutely fantastic! Brilliant!" And he's right.

[3:19] The best line of the night though came from McGinn on Watkins. He said: "I wish he was Scottish. He was obviously disappointed in March, but if it gave him a kick up the backside, he's certainly responded in the best way. I think he may have just snuck his way onto that plane." That's a World Cup spot he's talking about.

[3:35] One important note: Emery played his strongest available side. No rotation. Watkins played ninety minutes. That's a manager who trusts his players and is gunning for both objectives. He was clear after the game: "Now we can play the final thinking only about the trophy." Champions League is already secured through the league. Istanbul is just for the silverware.

[3:57] Villa vs SC Freiburg. Wednesday. Istanbul. Villa's first European final since 1982. Emery chasing a record fifth Europa League title. We'll build that up properly tomorrow, but the vibe coming out of Villa Park last night was just pure, unbridled joy. Champions League anthem blaring over the speakers. Emery with the microphone. McGinn calling it the pinnacle of his Villa career. Brilliant scenes.

[4:24] Right. Now the other side of that coin.

[4:28] Liverpool were dreadful in that second half. Fifty-two goals conceded in a thirty-eight game Premier League season. That's a club record — and not the sort of record you want. Twenty goals conceded from set-pieces this season — league high. And Arne Slot, to his credit, didn't hide from it.

[4:44] He called the result "damaging." His words: "We need a win next week if we have to do it ourselves." Liverpool are fifth on fifty-nine points and must beat Brentford at Anfield on the final day to guarantee Champions League qualification.

[4:58] He also said: "After two-one, we crumbled. That's not for the first time." Which is a remarkable thing for a manager to say about his own team mid-season. But it's been a consistent pattern — Liverpool dominate possession, fail to create, and then collapse when they concede.

[5:14] Jamie Carragher on Sky Sports was brutal about it. He said: "Liverpool don't excel at anything. They look like a really, really average team." He also said this is the first season he's seen Virgil van Dijk look human — and that it's had an effect on everyone around him. Quite a verdict from someone who knows the club inside out.

[5:32] Slot acknowledged the fans have lost confidence, but said: "I think they are underestimating what a window can do, what a new start can do." That's a manager looking forward to the summer. And with Salah leaving, Robertson likely going, potentially Alisson too — it's going to be quite a window.

[5:49] Salah came on as a sub in the seventy-fourth minute, by the way. Described as his penultimate Liverpool appearance. One more game, Brentford at Anfield, and then that's it. A decade at the club. Whatever you think of the timing of how it came out, it's going to be an emotional send-off.

[6:07] Right. Switch gears completely. It is FA Cup Final day.

[6:11] Chelsea versus Manchester City. Three o'clock this afternoon. Wembley. The nation stops. Or at least the football-watching part of it.

[6:20] City are heavy favourites — they're around ten-to-eleven to win in ninety minutes. Chelsea are out at around ten-to-three. Chelsea haven't beaten City in ninety minutes since the Champions League Final in 2021 — which was, funnily enough, in Porto. Thirteen meetings since then, City have won ten.

[6:38] The big injury news from the City camp: Rodri is travelling but needs a final fitness test. He's been out five games with a calf injury. Even if he passes the test, the expectation is he wouldn't start — Nico Gonzalez or Kovacic are likely in the middle.

[6:52] From Chelsea, Tosin Adarabioyo picked up a hamstring problem in Friday training and missed the final sessions. He's a doubt, but Levi Colwill is fit, Wesley Fofana's available, so it's probably not a crisis for them defensively.

[7:05] Guardiola held his press conference on Friday, and he was — as you'd expect — quite entertaining. He joked that the FA should name a Wembley stand after him, because this is his twenty-fourth trip to the ground as City manager. He said: "I'm so disappointed English football that they don't make a stand to Pep!" Which is funny. Also probably slightly true.

[7:25] He's also been asked again about his future, given Ornstein has previously reported there's a very strong chance he leaves at the end of the season despite his contract running to 2027. His answer on Friday? "No way! No way. I have one more year on my contract." Clear as mud, then.

[7:44] He did confirm two backroom staff — fitness coach Buenaventura and goalkeeping coach Mancisidor — have both been given new three-year deals. And City's Under-18s won the FA Youth Cup on Thursday night as well, beating Man United two-one. Reigan Heskey — yes, Emile's son — scored the winner. Good week to be a City fan.

[8:02] The subplot for today that I find genuinely interesting is Erling Haaland's Wembley record. Eight appearances for City at Wembley. Zero goals. He's never scored in a major final either. Never even managed a goal or an assist in twelve knockout finals for the club. The stats are remarkable for a man who's scored a hundred and sixty-one goals in a hundred and ninety-six games for City.

[8:24] He's had seven in his last seven in the league, mind you. And he was rested for the Crystal Palace game midweek, so he's fresh. Today feels like the day he breaks that hoodoo.

[8:34] From the Chelsea side — keep an eye on Enzo Fernandez. Six goal involvements in nine FA Cup appearances this season, four goals two assists. McFarlane has called him a fighter, said: "When it gets tough, you see the fight in him." He's their most likely match-winner today.

[8:49] Also worth noting: there's a Chelsea fan march planned on Wembley Way before the game, thirteen-thirty kick-off for the protest. The group called Not A Project CFC are holding banners against the Clearlake-Boehly ownership. Chelsea have spent over one point six billion pounds on transfers under the current regime and fired two managers this season alone. The protest is real, the frustration is real, and the question of whether an FA Cup would paper over the cracks is one of those things where honestly — probably not.

[9:18] One more FA Cup angle: Marc Guehi. Twelve months ago he was lifting this trophy with Crystal Palace. Then Palace lost to sixth-tier Macclesfield in a cup shock. Nine days later, he was signed by Manchester City for twenty million quid. Now he's facing Chelsea — the club he grew up at. His line was: "I've got nothing but gratitude towards Chelsea." You'd hope so, given they sold him to Palace for eighteen million and he's now at the champions-elect.

[9:44] My prediction: City two-one, Haaland breaks the Wembley curse. You can hold me to that tonight.

[9:50] Right. Manager news. Big one. In fact, two big ones — three big ones if you count the Guardiola chat, but let's start at Old Trafford.

[10:01] Michael Carrick is going to be the permanent Manchester United manager. Confirmed last night by David Ornstein in The Athletic and Fabrizio Romano essentially simultaneously. Both Tier One. It's done.

[10:12] Two-year deal with an option to extend for a third. Sir Jim Ratcliffe signed off following an executive committee meeting earlier in the week. CEO Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox both recommended him.

[10:24] Now look — this wasn't a surprise. Carrick's record since coming in as interim in January: ten wins, three draws, two losses in fifteen league games. He's secured Champions League qualification. He's named on the Manager of the Season shortlist. The players clearly love him — Kobbie Mainoo said they want to die for him on the pitch after the win over Liverpool earlier this season.

[10:44] Casemiro put it well: "In my opinion, Carrick completely deserves the job at Manchester United. I think he's a guy who has already demonstrated that he has very good qualities to be a Manchester United coach. He deserves the club's total trust." Coming from a player who's seen a lot of managers, that carries weight.

[11:05] Backroom staff staying: Steve Holland as assistant — who's been described as instrumental in the turnaround — Jonathan Woodgate, Jonny Evans, Travis Binnion, Craig Mawson as goalkeeper coach. United are also looking to add a set-piece coach, with Andreas Georgson reportedly in contention.

[11:21] The deal could be finalised before Sunday's last home game against Forest. Carrick is expected to address the fans after that game. Genuinely a feel-good story at a club that hasn't had many of those recently.

[11:33] Right. From one blockbuster manager story to another. Jose Mourinho is going back to Real Madrid.

[11:39] Fabrizio Romano dropped this last night — final stages, Mourinho's green light given, deal expected very soon. His second spell at the Bernabeu. Romano's morning update confirmed Mourinho is "super excited" about the move and never had any doubts.

[11:53] He won two La Liga titles and a Copa del Rey in his first spell between 2010 and 2013. It was also famously fractious — the fallout with Pepe, the poking of Tito Vilanova in the eye, the rows with the press. But Real Madrid are clearly willing to overlook all of that for what he brings tactically.

[12:12] Whether this is the end of the Ancelotti era or whether Ancelotti had already decided to leave — we don't know the full picture yet. But Romano saying final stages and green light is about as close to confirmed as it gets without an official announcement.

[12:24] And then we've got the Chelsea situation. Romano reported this morning — six o'clock UTC — that Chelsea held a direct meeting with Xabi Alonso and a final decision is expected very soon. That's a significant escalation. Just six days ago Romano was saying nothing advanced or concrete on this one. Something has clearly shifted.

[12:44] Chelsea's plan is to announce the new manager before the World Cup. They also spoke to Andoni Iraola, Oliver Glasner, and Marco Silva as part of their process. But Alonso is the name. He's the one they want.

[12:57] So the manager round-up as of this morning: Carrick permanent at United — done. Mourinho going to Real Madrid — final stages. Alonso to Chelsea — direct meeting held, decision soon. De Zerbi confirmed at Spurs. Vitor Pereira at Forest. Keith Andrews at Brentford. A lot has moved in a short space of time.

[13:17] Let's do the title race. Two games each to go. Arsenal lead by two points.

[13:22] Arsenal are on seventy-nine points. City are on seventy-seven. City's goal difference is marginally better — plus forty-three to Arsenal's plus forty-two — so if they finish level on points, City win the title on goal difference. That's the nightmare scenario for Arsenal fans.

[13:38] Quick correction from yesterday's preview, by the way — Crystal Palace versus Arsenal was never scheduled for May fifteenth. That was an error. The fixture is May twenty-fourth, the final day. Arsenal's next game is Burnley at home on Monday the eighteenth.

[13:52] So here's how it works. Arsenal beat Burnley on Monday: they go to eighty-two points. Then City face Bournemouth away on Tuesday night. Bournemouth are unbeaten in fifteen matches. If City drop points there, Arsenal are champions. If Arsenal win both remaining games, they can't be caught regardless.

[14:11] Arsenal are heavy favourites to win the title — various models have them around eighty-seven percent to clinch it. But football doesn't care about models, as we've seen this season more than once.

[14:22] The injury news from Arsenal is not great. Ben White is out for the season with an MCL injury — no surgery needed, targeting pre-season, but he's gone. Calafiori is doubtful for Burnley. Timber's been out since March with a groin problem, targeting the Champions League final. Merino is back on the grass but Arteta's unsure if he'll feature in any of the remaining games.

[14:43] Saka, Saliba, Havertz, Odegaard — all fine. Arsenal are short at right-back, but the core of the team is available. They beat Burnley, I'd imagine. The question is always City.

[14:56] GW37 weekend fixtures for you. Sunday: Man United host Nottingham Forest at twelve-thirty. Big game for City? Not directly, but Forest need a result to try and pinch European spots. Brentford versus Crystal Palace at three. Everton versus Sunderland at three. Newcastle versus West Ham at five-thirty.

[15:16] That Newcastle versus West Ham game on Sunday is a relegation six-pointer. West Ham are on thirty-six points in nineteenth place. If they lose to Newcastle and Spurs get anything at Chelsea on Tuesday, West Ham are down. Spurs need just two points from their last two games to be mathematically safe.

[15:33] Monday: Arsenal versus Burnley, eight o'clock at the Emirates. Burnley are already relegated, so in theory this should be comfortable. Manage your expectations accordingly — nothing in football is ever comfortable when a title's on the line.

[15:46] Tuesday: Bournemouth versus City, seven-thirty. Chelsea versus Spurs, eight-fifteen. Two huge games. The title could be settled on Tuesday night if Arsenal do their job on Monday.

[15:59] Few other things before we wrap up.

[16:01] Seamus Coleman. Thirty-seven years old. Announced yesterday that the end of this season is his last as an Everton player. Seventeen years, four hundred and thirty-three appearances, three hundred and seventy-two in the Premier League — a club record.

[16:15] He joined from Sligo Rovers in 2009 for sixty thousand pounds. Sixty thousand. He became captain, he became an institution. His words: "Coming over as a twenty-year-old from Sligo Rovers, I was just hoping to impress enough to get on the bench. To think I've gone on to make the most Premier League appearances for Everton and become captain — it was beyond my wildest dreams." One of the great club servants.

[16:36] He's not fully retiring — he wants to play for Ireland in their summer friendlies first. David Moyes said Everton have offered him every job going: "from groundsman to assistant, you name it." Everton's final home game is Sunday against Sunderland, and if Coleman plays, it'll be appearance number four-thirty-four. Make some noise for him if you're going.

[16:58] Championship 'Spygate': Middlesbrough have formally called for Southampton to be expelled from the Championship playoff final. An independent disciplinary commission is hearing the case on or before Tuesday. The charge is that a Southampton analyst intern allegedly parked at a golf club near Boro's training ground and live-streamed a session on his phone ahead of the semi-final first leg.

[17:18] Boro's statement said the conduct goes to the heart of sporting integrity. Southampton beat Boro in extra time in the semis, so they're in the final against Hull City on May twenty-third. The EFL has warned fans to think carefully before booking travel. This could get very messy, very quickly.

[17:34] Premier League Player of the Season nominees are out. Eight nominees: Bruno Fernandes — who's the favourite having won the FWA award — Erling Haaland, David Raya, Declan Rice, Gabriel, Morgan Gibbs-White, Antoine Semenyo, and Igor Thiago. Fan voting decides it. Fernandes has twenty assists and has won six Player of the Month awards this season.

[17:54] And finally, ahead of Wednesday's Europa League Final: Freiburg are without Yuito Suzuki — nine goals this season, collarbone fracture, season over. Matthias Ginter was forced off injured in a Bundesliga game last weekend and his status remains unclear. If he's out, that's a major blow for Freiburg's defensive organisation.

[18:15] Villa meanwhile have no new injury concerns after Friday's game. Amadou Onana is still targeting a return for the final. The crowd at Villa Park last night will have given this squad an enormous lift heading into Wednesday.

[18:27] That is your Saturday morning sorted. Watkins brace, Liverpool in ruins, Carrick's getting the permanent job, Mourinho's going back to Madrid, and this afternoon — Chelsea versus City. Watch that game.

[18:47] I'll be back tomorrow morning with the result, the reaction, and everything else that kicks off across the weekend. Join me then. Take care — and Up the Villa.

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