Category: English Premier League

• Move to aid Spurs before potential Europa League final
• ‘Honestly, not happy,’ says Villa’s director of football

Aston Villa officials have made clear the club’s unhappiness with the Premier League for agreeing to bring forward Tottenham’s trip to Villa Park by 48 hours in order to help them prepare for a Europa League final they have not reached yet.

Spurs were originally scheduled to play Villa on 18 May but the encounter will now take place on 16 May after a rescheduling request based on the club’s European commitments was accepted by the League. The Europa League final takes place in Bilbao on 21 May. Spurs lead Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt 3-1 after the first leg of their semi-final last Thursday and are perhaps right to feel confident about progressing to what would be their first major European final in six years before Thursday’s return at the Aspmyra Stadion, located in the Arctic Circle.

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Nottingham Forest aren’t finished just yet. A typically wholehearted performance from Nuno Espírito Santo’s side capped by an ­instinctive equaliser from Murillo rescued a point that could eventually prove priceless for their hopes of reaching the promised land of the Champions League.

It is to their immense credit that with three matches still to play, a team that ended last season in 17th place is still in contention to dine at Europe’s top table. Having fallen behind to Eberechi Eze’s penalty in front of a joyous ­Crystal Palace crowd still ­basking in the glory of their upcoming ­appearance in the FA Cup final, that Forest were back on terms within four minutes spoke volumes about the spirit Nuno has created at the two-time European champions since replacing Steve Cooper. Eze almost won it for Palace at the death but his shot cannoned off the crossbar to give the travelling supporters hope that their dreams could still come true.

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In a freakish season at the top and bottom of the league, competing incentives for the rest are unusually fractured

• Sign up for Soccer with Jonathan Wilson here

As Eddie Howe delivered his post-match press conference after Newcastle’s draw against Brighton on Sunday, Chelsea, his club’s rivals for Champions League qualification, took an early lead against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge. Howe gave a wry smile and was immediately asked whether it annoyed him that Liverpool had made six changes to their lineup from the side that had sealed the league title against Tottenham last week. Being Howe, and therefore both unflappable and impossibly earnest, he replied that team selection was their business: “Liverpool have got to do what Liverpool have got to do for them. I’m not involved in their football club, so I’ve got no opinion on that.”

And of course he was right to say so, partly because it’s true and partly because criticising other managers’ team selections is a slippery slope. All clubs have their own priorities and their job is to do what is right for them, with all due nods to the integrity of the league and satisfying those who have paid for tickets or broadcast rights. Liverpool have won the title early: giving fringe players a run out is a prerogative they have earned, and it’s not their concern how that affects other sides. But at the same time, Chelsea were given an easier game than they probably would have been had they met Liverpool a week or two earlier before the league title was wrapped up.

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Jamie Vardy targets double century, Jérémy Doku makes his mark and Arsenal rue the absence of Gabriel Magalhães

There is rarely an opportunity for champions to show a sentimental side. It is such hard work to win a title over a 38-game season, with the race often going down to the wire. Arne Slot had four matches to spare and used the trip to Stamford Bridge to give first league starts of the season to Wataru Endo and Harvey Elliott. The former has been used frequently as a late sub while the latter is often brought on to make an attacking impact, but the form of their teammates and Elliott’s long-term injury have limited chances under Slot. Jarell Quansah was given a rare start and Federico Chiesa was permitted a fifth league game which qualifies him for a medal. The four have rarely let Liverpool down; no one can blame Quansah for the own goal but he looked understandably rusty and tired when he gave away the penalty. They will have to decide if they want to be bit-part players at a title-winning club or drop down to be key men elsewhere. Will Unwin

Match report: Chelsea 3-1 Liverpool

Match report: Brentford 4-3 Manchester United

Match report: Leicester 2-0 Southampton

Match report: Manchester City 1-0 Wolves

Match report: Aston Villa 1-0 Fulham

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Andoni Iraola’s side came from behind to boost their European hopes with victory at the Emirates

Bournemouth get the ball rolling. Zabarnyi goes long down the right, looking for Tavernier. Too long. Goal kick.

The teams are out! Arsenal in their famous red shirts with white sleeves, Bournemouth in a third kit which [MBM reporter squints, adjusts pince-nez] “draws its inspiration from our seaside roots, finished in deep lagoon green with an aquatic themed design on the front featuring subtle seashells and waves.” We’ll kick off after a verse or two of North London Forever.

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The penultimate game at Goodison Park proved an occasion for relegated Ipswich to savour far more than their obliging hosts. Everton were two goals up and cruising towards a second win in 10 games when Julio Enciso changed the complexion of the contest with a stunning finish.

Substitute George Hirst completed the fightback by Kieran McKenna’s spirited side with a late header. This was a big opportunity squandered by David Moyes’ team. Everton’s energy and composure declined markedly after taking a two goal lead and Ipswich’s punishment, and point, was merited.

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Jamie Vardy ended Leicester’s long wait for a home goal in the Premier League as they defeated Southampton 2-0 in a clash between two already-relegated teams.

Vardy’s opener at the King Power Stadium was the 38-year-old’s 199th goal in a Leicester shirt and set Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side on their way to a first win since January. Jordan Ayew added a second before half-time for the Foxes to leave Southampton still needing one more point to avoid a share of the competition’s lowest-ever total – Derby’s 11 from 2007-08.

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Youri Tielemans scored to boost Aston Villa’s European hopes and damage Fulham’s

Richard Hirst, time-honoured Cottager, gets in touch: “Fulham need to bring Cairney on early then we can channel the 2018 play off final: Sessegnon to Cairney, 1-0. Although there won’t be the added delight of the pass beating John Terry.”

Unai Emery spoke to TNT ahead of the game: “We’re so focused to try to get Europe. Europe is the highest ambition we can dream of, and to play Champions League again.

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Chelsea must beat champions Liverpool on Sunday to maintain their top-five push while Aston Villa host Fulham

Friday 8pm Sky Sports Premier League Venue Etihad Stadium

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Two worst Premier League teams still have something to play for, not least to recognise the resilience of their fans

They’re calling it the worst Premier League game in history. They’re calling it El Chaffico. El Crapico. The Derby Della Mediocre. They’re calling it the first Premier League game in which both teams somehow manage to lose. They’re posting memes of old men playing walking football and Sideshow Bob stepping on rakes.

They’re mentioning the fact that none of the three relegated teams have won more games against Premier League opposition than Paris Saint-Germain have. The fact that since Leicester scored their last league goal at home, Southampton have sacked a manager, appointed an interim, appointed a permanent replacement, sacked the permanent replacement and re-appointed the interim from earlier.

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City will be wary of a resurgent Wolves, Graham Potter needs a derby win and Roméo Lavia is vital to Chelsea

Six straight wins in a run of seven unbeaten has lifted Wolves to 13th. Now Vítor Pereira’s side pose a problem that Manchester City must solve as the latter chase maximum points from their last four games in the race for Champions League qualification. Pep Guardiola’s side are unbeaten in the last eight in all competitions and buoyed up by last Sunday’s reaching of a third successive FA Cup final, so this should be a close one. Keep an eye out for Guardiola potentially having a complimentary word with Matheus Cunha, as is his habit when coming up against a high-class opposition player. Jamie Jackson

Manchester City v Wolves, Friday 8pm (all times BST)

Aston Villa v Fulham, Saturday 12.30pm

Everton v Ipswich Town, Saturday 3pm

Leicester City v Southampton, Saturday 3pm

Arsenal v Bournemouth, Saturday 5.30pm

Brentford v Manchester United, Sunday 2pm

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Kevin Schade and Yoane Wissa made the most of defensive mistakes to dent Forest’s Champions League hopes

Nuno speaks: “All the games are the biggest ones. These ones mean a lot. Nothing else matters, just these games.

“You have to compete against very good teams, they all fight for everything. We have one result in our mind.

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Five years after Covid-19 restrictions prevented Liverpool fans from celebrating at Anfield their team's first top flight title triumph in 30 years, Reds faithful wasted little time on 27 April getting the party started on another Premier League success. With Anfield filled to the brim, Liverpool equalled Manchester United's record of 20 English top-flight titles with their 5-1 thrashing of Tottenham Hotspur. But it was after Alexis Mac Allister struck a blistering shot to put the Reds ahead for good in the 24th minute that the delirious crowd at the sun-drenched stadium erupted and they did not stop singing until well after the final whistle sounded.Thousands of fans not fortunate to be inside Anfield on Sunday celebrated outside, setting off flares before the game ended in a party that carried on through the night

• Arne Slot’s coolness lies at heart of Liverpool’s record-equalling title

• Unruffled Liverpool and Salah serve up theatre and euphoria on title day

• From Portman Road to paradise: 10 key moments in Liverpool’s title win

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• Head coach told squad what was wrong and how to fix it
• Konaté sat alone in stands after title win almost in tears

Arne Slot predicted Liverpool could win the Premier League providing they corrected the flaws that ­undermined their title challenge last season, Ibrahima Konaté has revealed. The Liverpool defender was almost in tears after the club’s ­record‑equalling 20th league championship on Sunday. He took a moment to sit alone in an empty Main Stand at Anfield long after the 5-1 rout of Tottenham to absorb the size of the achievement.

Konaté cast his mind back to Slot’s debut pre-season. Liverpool had tailed off the title pace in Jürgen Klopp’s final campaign, dropping points in five of their last eight games to slip from first to third. One of Slot’s opening acts as head coach was to show the squad where they went wrong and what needed to change.

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