Spurs v Manchester Utd

Jack: Hi everybody. I’m Jack and we’re here with a little bit of extra football English for you to think about.

Rich: That’s right, Jack. Just a little bit. Hi, everybody. I’m Rich and we’re here with this week’s Premier League Prediction and some football English for you to practise.

Jack: This week there is another big match. The match is between one team fighting for the Premier League title and another fighting for a place in the top four of the Premier League.

Rich: It’s Tottenham Hotspur against Manchester Utd.

Jack: Spurs have to hope that Chelsea start losing soon or the title will surely be going to the West London club.

Rich: In fact, Chelsea might already have own the title before this game is played. We’re talking now on Monday morning and Chelsea play Middlesbrough tonight and then play West Brom away on Friday. If Chelsea win both matches they will win the Premier League with two matches left to play.

Jack: So, will Spurs have anything to play for on Sunday?

Rich: I think Chelsea will only draw against West Brom so Spurs will still have something to play for on Sunday.

Jack: But Spurs will have something to play for. It will be the last ever match at White Hart Lane so the team will want to finish with a win.

Rich: Ahh, yes, that’s right. The club is building a new stadium. They’ve played at White Hart Lane since 1899. Over 100 years!

Jack: They definitely have something to play for then whatever Chelsea do this week. What’s your prediction, Rich?

Rich: I think there will be a fantastic atmosphere at the stadium. Every Spurs fan in the world will want to be at this match. Tottenham will want to finish second even if the title is not possible this season. Second place will be Tottenham's highest ever finish in the Premier League. I think Spurs will have too much in attack for Manchester Utd. Utd will be tired after their Europa LEague semi-finals and maybe they will win that competition? Final score: Tottenham 3-1 Manchester Utd

Jack: Ah, yes. Manchester Utd play the second leg of their Europa League semi-final this week. They are winning 1-0 after the first leg.

Rich: And, remember, If they win the competition they will play in the Champions League next season even if they finish fifth or sixth in the Premier League.

Jack: I want to look at a couple of phrases we used earlier. They are ‘They have nothing to play for’. ‘They have something to play for’ and ‘Will Spurs have anything to play for on Sunday?’

Rich: We use the phrase ‘to play for’ to mean that there is something important that goes to the winner. Teams usually play for three points.

Jack: But, sometimes near the end of the season the three points are less important because nothing will change if the team wins. 

Rich: Sunderland have nothing to play for because they are already relegated. 

Jack: But, you often hear the phrase ‘they’re playing for pride’ and Sunderland won last weekend even though they are already relegated.

Rich: That’s right there is always something to play for. Teams don’t only play for points. They play for pride, and they play for the fans.

Jack: Spurs will have something to play for on Sunday and I think they will win, too. I think it will finish 3-2 to Spurs.

Rich: Right, that’s all from us for now. We’ll be back later in the week with a new podcast. Let us know who you think will win the big match in the vote and in the comments section.

Jack: And remember to discuss the rest of this week’s football fixtures in the comments section. There are some other big matches this weekend, too.

Rich: Bye for now and enjoy your football.