All tonight’s match reports, in one handy place:
Thanks for reading and emailing in … and see you soon for more. Good night.
Updated
Aaron Bower is in Sheffield:
David Hytner was at the Etihad:
Lampard speaks to BT Sport: “It’s a difficult one. I feel for the players a bit. They’ve been living it longer than me, and they’re low on confidence. Brentford are good at what they do. They turn you around. They get throw ins, corners … we dominated the second half and they scored on the break. The details of the game are clear. We are lacking the belief when we get to the top end of the pitch … We lose the game.”
Do Chelsea just need a moment for it to turn around? “I just said that to the players. That’s what they have to believe. That game was a clear one. We had control as much as you can with Brentford. They’ll aways turn you around and break the game up … some players came in and did OK.
“At the moment, I can’t talk about any application things … everyone is 20% down on confidence. That’s the story for me.
“At this moment it’s tough. We’d love a magic wand, a magic moment … we’ll have to fight for our moment.”
Can this become a great Chelsea team, asks Paul Dempsey for BT Sport? “Possibly. Some of the recruitment has been with younger players … they need some time … it’s not easy. That’s the balance we have to find. Everyone’s very short-term in football at the moment.
“I’m proud in terms of the players giving everything … the fans can have no doubts about that … the pride is still there. We have to keep going.”
Updated
Jacob Steinberg reports from London Stadium:
Thomas Frank speaks after a 2-0 win against Chelsea: “It’s a nice atmosphere in the dressing room. We badly wanted that win. Football is a fantastic game … [but] we’ve performed well in the past six matches but haven’t got what we deserved. We performed well again today and I think we won deservedly. It was two deflections going our way. At Wolverhampton, two went the other way. Those are the margins of football. That said, I thought it was a very fair win.
“It’s not a coincidence that we scored on a corner. It takes a lot of work, a lot of details … to score a goal like that.”
On the second goal: “In many ways it was a fantastic example of defending low … three, four calm passes … and Bryan scored.
“We nailed that cool, calmness today.”
Updated
While Peter Lansley is at the City Ground in Nottingham:
Nick Ames is at Stamford Bridge:
Manchester City 4-1 Arsenal now. Erling Haaland scores his 49th goal of this Clive Allen-esque season.
Full time! Sheffield United 2-0 West Bromwich Albion
They’re back in the Premier League. Well done to Paul Heckingbottom and players, staff, supporters, etc.
Updated
A cheeky finish for Sheffield United’s second.
Anel Ahmedhodžić makes it two with a exceptional finish! ❤️😍pic.twitter.com/x6JtmT3xXL
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) April 26, 2023
Updated
Is Todd Boehly will be on the blower to James Corden as we speak?
Five minutes of stoppage time at Bramall Lane.
Glenn Hoddle on Chelsea, on BT Sport: “They’ve got no shape … and they don’t play to that, whatever their shape is.”
And Hoddle on Brentford: “Brentford have shape, they have confidence … I was down at their training ground and it’s a great place to be. The energy, the positivity.”
Brentford joy / Chelsea woe
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) April 26, 2023
Rob Holding nabs a goal back for Arsenal. 3-1 at the Etihad now.
Three points on the road.
It really is that simple for Liverpool.
Three points on the road 🙌 pic.twitter.com/pdzz0ZWecI
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 26, 2023
Joel Matip’s winner for Liverpool at West Ham, via the magic of Twitter:
You don't stop those! 💥
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 26, 2023
Joel Matip's bullet header has Liverpool in front for the first time in the game 🙌 pic.twitter.com/iyUtESUyKl
Manchester City are still crushing Arsenal 3-0:
Goal! Sheff Utd 2-0 West Brom (Ahmedhodzic)
That appears to be that, then. The Blades will be back in the Premier League next season … Hearty congratulations to them.
Updated
Brentford’s Ethan Pinnock gets man of the match from Paul Dempsey, on reporting duties for BT Sport.
“Enjoy that, you don’t get many,” points out Dempsey.
“I will, I will,” says Pinnock. “I’ll put it on my desk.”
Morgan Gibbs-White of Forest speaks after the win against Brighton: “We had to stay calm and composed … thankfully we got three points.
“We knew the game plan was to sit in, sit in, sit in, and then when we ‘smelt’ the press we went for it."
On the penalty: “You’ve just got to be calm and composed. It is what is it. Luckily enough the keeper’s gone the wrong way. It’s huge for us to be out of the bottom three.
Hearing that David Moyes has more or less squared up to Chris Kavanagh, the referee at London Stadium, following the final whistle.
Updated
HUGE. WIN.
For Forest.
HUGE. WIN. pic.twitter.com/l96N2hZcRp
— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) April 26, 2023
Full time! Chelsea 0-2 Brentford
Five matches and five defeats for Frank Lampard. What a shambles.
On the plus side, of couruse, brilliant stuff again from Brentford. Who would have thought that a clear plan and a well-coached, settled group of players could bring you so much success?
Full-time! West Ham 1-2 Liverpool
Matip’s header wins it for the Reds in London … There will be ructions regarding the late penalty claim against Thiago.
Updated
Full-time! Nottingham Forest 3-1 Brighton
Big win. Big, big, big win for Forest. They are out of the bottom three.
Updated
A suggestion of handball against Thiago at West Ham, and a possible penalty. But the penalty doesn’t come, there is no VAR check, and Moyes is furious!
The goal is indeed disallowed. Forest still lead 3-1.
Disallowed goal for Brighton! Undav nods in at the far post … and there’s a VAR check ongoing. The match clock is on 102mins now. Forest lead 3-1. Unless this VAR check ends with a goal, of course …
Updated
More injuries at the City Ground. Navas hits the turf. The crowd don’t mind though, they are singing and urging their team on to this gynormous three points …
Sheffield United lead West Brom 1-0, and are 20 minutes away from the Premier League …
Updated
On BBC 5Live, Mark Chapman suggests that Chelsea away is Forest’s best chance of picking up some points on the road before the end of the season. (Brentford and Palace are the other away ties.) Ouch.
Updated
Now Gibbs-White is down injured for Forest. They still lead 3-1.
“Have two caretaker managers ever been sacked in the same week?” asks Gerry McManus on email. “Asking for a Friend.”
Chelsea v Brentford and West Ham v Liverpool kicked off later than Forest v Brighton and are both into the final 10 minutes. The mathematicians among you will know this means those two matches will also finish later than Forest v Brighton.
Latest scores:
Forest 3-1 Brighton
West Ham 1-2 Liverpool
Chelsea 0-2 Brentford
Man City 3-0 Arsenal
Championship
Sheff Utd 1-0 West Brom
Goal! Nottingham Forest 3-1 Brighton (Gibbs-White pen)
HUGE for Forest! Gibbs-White confidently steps up and passes the ball into the bottom corner of the net, the goalie guessing wrong, and diving to the same side that Johnson hit his penalty in the first half. Forest appear to be home and hosed for a massive, large, sizeable three points.
But there will be TEN minutes of added time!
Updated
Goal! Chelsea 0-2 Brentford (Mbeumo)
Brentford double their lead! Mbeumo embarks on a mazy run from the right wing and his deflected shot flies into the net. Chelsea’s misery deepens.
Updated
Penalty to Forest!
Handball by Dunk! Forest can win the game here and now … !
Updated
Goal! Sheffield United 1-0 West Brom (Berge)
The Blades are going up! (As it stands)
At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea have been better in the second half, but they continue to trail Brentford by a goal to nil. Lampard looks deflated on the bench, which is a bit of a worry for them.
Harry Toffolo on for Forest, Brennan Johnson, who missed a penalty in the first half, goes off.
Manchester City 3-0 Arsenal, another for De Bruyne:
Brighton have a corner. Navas does well to punch it out of the danger zone.
Into the final 10 minutes at the City Ground, where Forest lead Brighton 2-1, but there will be a ton of stoppage time following that injury to Neco Williams.
Goal! 67 min: West Ham 1-2 Liverpool (Matip)
Good corner. Good header. Good goal. A bullet header flies into the West Ham net … It looked like Benrahma was meant to be marking him at the corner, but he gave up/ran in the other direction. Matip hammers a header high into the net. Liverpool would move sixth if they take three here.
Updated
Joe Worrall pulls off a brilliant clearance for the home side in Nottingham… then Navas beats out a shot from March. Pressure on Forest.
For Brighton, in Nottingham, Enciso off for Undav, and Welbeck on for Estupinan.
Luis Diaz and Thiago are on for Liverpool, for Jota and Henderson. It’s 1-1 at London Stadium.
At Chelsea, Aubameyang has had three chances since coming on for the second half. He has converted none of them.
At the City Ground, Forest are now edging towards what would be a sizeable three points. Mac Allister fouls Kouyate and the two players exchange a few pleasantries.
Now Gibbs-White is teed up by Danilo, and blazes over the bar from the edge of the box! Cooper would love a two-goal cushion.
Updated
Goal! Nottingham Forest 2-1 Brighton (Danilo)
A fantastic finish by Danilo, who tears down the right channel for Forest and thumps a low right-footed shot into the far corner!
Danilo lifts the roof! 🔊
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 26, 2023
Magnificent finish from the Brazilian 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/bkI9MewAOa
Updated
Disallowed goal for West Ham!
The West Ham forward Bowen nips down the right for West Ham … he finds the net with a brilliant finish, albeit some soft defending … but it is ruled out by the VAR, for offiside!
Chelsea were booed off at half-time, but now they are looking brighter. Ben “Chilly” Chilwell helps to fashion a chance for Aubameyang - Thiago Silva clipping a lovely cross to Sterling, who heads it inside for Aubameyang, who nods it over the bar.
Updated
Latest scores:
N Forest 1-1 Brighton
West Ham 1-1 Liverpool
Chelsea 0-1 Brentford
Williams is going off on a stretcher for Forest. That’s a nasty looking injury and completely avoidable, too. In fairness to Johnson the noise levels at the City Ground have been high. He genuinely didn’t hear the shout. But it’s very frustrating for Cooper and Forest to lose another player to injury in such a manner.
“Just in case Brighton are scouting for a player to match Buonanotte,” emails Colum Fordham. “… Torino have a player called Alessandro Buongiorno.”
Well that is quite stupid from Forest. Gibbs-White gets down the left wing and hangs an excellent cross up to the far post. It’s behind Johnson, who spins and tries to bring it down with a high boot … but unbeknownst to him, Williams is charging in at full pelt to try and meet the ball with a powerful header. It results in a very painful looking blow to Williams from the boot of his teammate. Johnson is pictured taking to Gibbs-White and claiming he didn’t a hear a shout from Williams …
Updated
In Nottingham, Mitoma bends an attempted finish fractionally wide of Navas’s far post!
Sounds like VAR is going to un-rule out a John Stones goal at the Etihad …
And there it is. City lead 2-0 against Arsenal.
It sounds like Lamps is going to unleash Aubameyang and Mudryk at Stamford Bridge.
Forest go close at the other end! Neco Williams batters a low shot wide of the post for Steve Cooper’s men.
Updated
Brighton stroke the ball around confidently at the City ground. They look every inch the kind of team that are going to deepen Forest’s relegation fears in this second half. A shot by Caicedo flies just wide after a positive passing move, Enciso involved again. De Zerbi applauds enthusiastically from near the dugout.
Updated
Haaland misses sitter for City. It should be 2-0.
That match is live with Scott Murray on Channel 1, of course:
Forest 1-1 Brighton has kicked off for the second half at the City Ground.
Half-times:
Chelsea 0-1 Brentford
West Ham 1-1 Liverpool
Updated
“As maybe the only person watching the game at Bramall Lane I can report that sadly the Baggies have been hosed by the referee who failed to award a penalty in the 13th minute,” emails J.R. in Illinois. “If they had VAR in the Championship you’d like to think it would have been used to make the correct call but given the state of VAR I would be hesitant to jump to such a conclusion.”
Latest score: Sheffield United 0-0 West Brom
Updated
Nottingham Forest 1-1 Brighton is a half-time score.
West Ham so nearly have another in London! Bowen releases Benrahma on the left, who squares for Antonio at the far post … But Van Dijk is there with a brilliant bit of defending for Liverpool, nicking the ball off Antonio’s toe and out for a corner.
Rice flicks on the corner for Antonio, and West Ham nearly have a goal again! But Liverpool hold firm.
Updated
Goal! Chelsea 0-1 Brentford (Azpilicueta OG)
Oh my days! A corner is swung in across the six-yard box by Brentford … two or three players jump at the near post. No one touches it … but the ball then flicks off the Chelsea captain, César Azpilicueta, and into the far corner! Lampard is pictured, ashen-faced, on the bench.
Updated
At Stamford Bridge, it appears that Chelsea still aren’t very good.
“Perhaps Chelsea should play Sam Kerr upfront and Lamps himself just in behind,” emails Trev, with regard to the Blues’ chronic lack of goals.
Goal! (45 min +2) Nottingham Forest 1-1 Brighton (Groß OG)
Renan Lodi crosses low from the left. The ball takes a massive deflection and squirts in at the near post off Pascal Groß, despite Steele’s valiant attempts to keep it out.
Updated
Good to know some of you are paying attention anyway.
Right, what’s going on in Nottingham … GOAL!
“It was De Bruyne, not Haaland Luke,” chips in Charlie Timms. “Or is that the joke? Is there a joke? Good joke Luke.”
Yes, thanks, that was it. It was a joke … because Haaland has actually scored, like, loads of goals this season. Pretty funny you have to admit.
Updated
“The surprise might be that it was not Haaland who scored [for City], but rather De Bruyne,” emails Alan Steenstrup. Whoops! Thanks.
Updated
In the Championship: Sheffield United 0-0 West Brom, as it stands, a stone’s throw from the Crucible Theatre.
Have City scored too early?
Scored too early pic.twitter.com/UJYOl0et9X
— Bryan’s Gunn (@bryansgunn) April 26, 2023
Goal! 38 min: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Brighton (Buonanotte)
A bit of a calamity for Navas, who gets down to parry a Solly March shot, but can only divert it into the path of the 18-year-old Facundo Buonanotte, who gobbles up the chance by clipping the ball into the unguarded net from close range.
Thank you, and good night?
Updated
In news that will surprise few of you, Kevin de Bruyne has put City a goal up against The Arsenal:
Updated
“Gakpo with the opposite of a screamer,” emails Niall Mullen. “A mumbler maybe.”
Certainly it paled in comparison with the Hammers goal. Still, you don’t shoot, you don’t score. (Paul Pooley, that one really should have been included in my ready-made football cliches sheet.)
Updated
“I said it last week and I’ll say it again,” emails Justin Madson. “There is no “correct” 11 for Frank [Lampard] to start, there will always be critics. Not sure what formation or personnel he can play that will magically drum up goals from a team that feels allergic to scoring them (Auba’s 1 goal in 461 PL minutes does not inspire a start). I, for one, am simply happy to see some semblance of a consistent team selection.”
Goal! 17 min: West Ham 1-1 Liverpool (Gakpo)
It’s there for Liverpool who equalise almost straight away! Another good goal … not as sweet a strike as Paqueta’s, but from outside the area again, low and to Fabianski’s right. The much maligned Trent Alexander-Arnold provided the assist from midfield.
Updated
“Luke, greetings from California!” writes Mary Waltz. “To all these lovely MBM’ers inquiring on my thoughts, I am fine, I dread that my beloved Everton will be closer to Wrexham in next years FA Cup matchups. On the sunny side of life Tucker Carlson and his MAGA minions are caught like rats in bag in a fight with Rupert Murdoch and I have to admit to my petty delight in this soap opera. Succession has nothing on real life.”
Good to hear from you Mary, sorry about Everton and all that.
Goal! 11 min: West Ham 1-0 Liverpool (Paquetá)
SCREAMER! Paquetá exchanges passes with Antonio, charging infield from the left wing, and belts a stunning shot from about 20 yards that flies into the net past Alisson. Moyes is delighted! Klopp is furious!
I think the shot takes a slight deflection, but it flies into a central area of the net, and Alisson would have hoped to do better there. It was a stunning hit though in fairness to the young man, Paquetá.
Updated
In Nottingham, Niakhate has been forced off with injury, Worrall comes on.
In London, Diogo Jota is down injured …
At the City Ground, that very handy young Paraguayan lad, Enciso, has had a shot tipped over the crossbar by Navas. Brennan Johnson has already missed a penalty there. I have this theory that right-footed players generally put particularly high-pressure penalties to the keeper’s right. Is there anything in it?
Updated
West Ham v Liverpool is also under way. Big chance for Jarrod Bowen after a mistake by Virgil van Dijk … but it remains 0-0.
Chelsea kick off against Brentford. In fact, it’s the other way around. Brentford kick off. What you need to know, essentially, is that Chelsea v Brentford has begun.
Frank's gone for the same set up as the Real 2nd leg. If Kante, Kova and Gallagher have their scoring boots on, it shouldn't be a problem, right? And Sterling's great at holding up play and winning balls in the air, so what could go wrong? Hurry up Poch!
— Martin Gaudiano (@martingaudi) April 26, 2023
“Greetings,” emails Paul Pooley.
“With so many games on your radar I trust you have some pre-loaded likely-to-be-used updates, such as:
“_______’s shot goes out for a throw in.”
“That card is soft/we’ve seen them given for less.
“We need to make the VAR offside line bigger so less goals get chalked off and reviews are faster.
“Lampard about to become the third Chelsea manager to be put on gardening leave this season.
“______ Everton ______________________, says Mary Waltz.
“Good luck.”
Lol.
Are you out there, Mary? Hope you’re well.
Updated
Forest penalty saved!
Estupinan gets in a mess in the penalty area. Neco Williams nabs the ball off him and is fouled by the same man … a penalty is the result. The Brighton players make a fuss. There is a long time for Brennan Johnson to wait … he hits the penalty to the Jason Steele’s right, the goalie guesses right, and makes a good save.
Updated
Forest have started at 100mph against Brighton. They’ve forced an early corner, and before that also launched a long throw into the danger zone. There is a lot of noise at the City Ground.
Updated
Thomas Frank has a chat with BT Sport and is asked about his side’s win at Stamford Bridge last season: “The good thing is we showed it’s not a one-off,” Frank says. “We have showed we can win at any stadium, against top clubs … when we went to the Etihad, for example. We know it’s going to be a very difficult game tonight … Chelsea have basically changed the whole team [since the Bees won here last season] so it will be very different game [to last season].”
They’ve changed manager a couple of times too, of course. Thomas Tuchel is currently residing at Bayern Munich, rather than the “Where are they now?” file.
Updated
Forest v Brighton has begun. Chelsea v Brentford and West Ham v Liverpool will kick off in under 15 minutes’ time, all being well.
Forest’s last win was against Leeds on 5 February. In truth they were pretty fortunate to take three points in that one, too. It’s relegation form and no mistake.
Updated
Nick Mullins, traditionally seen commentating on rugby or tennis, is on the mic for Forest v Brighton on BT Sport 4.
The prolific Scott Murray wrote Football Daily today, all about the gigantic encounter in Manchester:
Gerry is not enjoying the Chelsea team news, which does look a bit light on forwards:
@LukeMcLaughlin I know Super Frank was a midfielder himself but, come on man, another game where we just pack a ton of midfielders into the line-up? If we're gonna be bad, at least let's go for some goals and be entertaining.
— Gerry Martini (@Gerry_Martini) April 26, 2023
Steve Cooper, Forest manager, speaks to BT Sport: “We’ve had our best days here at home and there is no hiding from that. We’ve got to try and create another one today … it’s the time of the season you’ve got to stand up and be counted. We are on a bad run but we are desperate to turn it around … hopefully tonight we can deliver what is needed.”
Seagulls gaffer Roberto De Zerbi: “To qualify in Europe you have to win with every team at the bottom … but in the Premier League every game is tough … if you want to win, you have to give your best, and to play a good game.”
Updated
On BT Glenn Murray says the job Roberto de Zerbi has done since coming in at Brighton is ‘stupendous’.
Some newsy football bits from today, if you missed any:
Updated
BT Sport have kicked off their build-up to City v Arsenal, chatting to Mikel Arteta, Pep Guardiola and with Patrick Vieira on the analysis team. For the purposes of this clockwatch, I will be focusing on Chelsea v Brentford, with updates from Forest v Brighton and West Ham v Liverpool to boot.
Scott Murray is live-blogging the bejesus out of the seismic clash between Manchester City and Arsenal, right here:
Brennan Johnson returns to the Nottingham Forest side for the huge clash with Brighton. Johnson dropped to the bench for the 3-2 defeat at Liverpool on Saturday but started at the City Ground as Forest try to climb out of the bottom three, with Serge Aurier also returning from injury to captain the side. Danny Welbeck was only fit enough for the bench for Brighton.
West Ham are unchanged from their 4-0 win at Bournemouth for the visit of Liverpool. Michail Antonio started in attack again with Danny Ings on the bench. Joel Matip replaced Ibrahima Konate in Liverpool’s only change. (PA)
West Ham v Liverpool teams
West Ham: Fabianski, Coufal, Zouma, Aguerd, Cresswell, Soucek, Rice, Lucas Paqueta, Bowen, Antonio, Benrahma. Substitutes: Fornals, Lanzini, Downes, Areola, Cornet, Ings, Ogbonna, Kehrer, Emerson Palmieri.
Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, van Dijk, Robertson, Henderson, Fabinho, Jones, Salah, Gakpo, Jota. Substitutes: Gomez, Thiago, Milner, Elliott, Tsimikas, Diaz, Nunez, Carvalho, Kelleher.
Referee: Chris Kavanagh (Lancashire)
Updated
Chelsea v Brentford teams
Chelsea: Arrizabalaga, Wesley Fofana, Thiago Silva, Chalobah, Azpilicueta, Fernandez, Kovacic, Chilwell, Kante, Gallagher, Sterling. Substitutes: Badiashile, Aubameyang, Pulisic, Joao Felix, Loftus-Cheek, Mudryk, Mendy, Ziyech, Madueke.
Brentford: Raya, Roerslev, Jorgensen, Pinnock, Mee, Henry, Jensen, Onyeka, Janelt, Toney, Wissa. Substitutes: Hickey, Schade, Dasilva, Ghoddos, Mbeumo, Damsgaard, Baptiste, Stevens, Cox.
Referee: Andrew Madley (West Yorkshire)
Updated
Frank Lampard believes a love-hate mentality, fuelled by social media and akin to politics, is behind the whirlwind nature of managerial changes in the Premier League and that the situation will calm down only if expectations of those in the dugout become more “reasonable”.
Nottingham Forest v Brighton teams
Nottingham Forest: Navas, Aurier, Niakhate, Felipe, Williams, Mangala, Danilo, Renan Lodi, Gibbs-White, Johnson, Awoniyi. Substitutes: Worrall, Lingard, Hennessey, Toffolo, Surridge, Kouyate, Freuler, Dennis, Ayew.
Brighton: Steele, Gross, Colwill, Dunk, Estupinan, Caicedo, Mac Allister, March, Buonanotte, Mitoma, Enciso. Substitutes: Sanchez, Webster, Welbeck, Undav, Ayari, Gilmour, van Hecke, Veltman, Offiah.
Referee: Jarred Gillett.
Updated
Preamble
The main event may be happening in Manchester but this being the Premier League, there is plenty to play for elsewhere. Nottingham Forest desperately need a win as they seek to stave off the threat of relegation: they will have their work cut out in hosting an impressive Brighton side harbouring dreams of European football.
West Ham, who welcome Liverpool to east London, are in slightly less dire straits than Forest when it comes to the relegation trapdoor but would dearly love a result against Jürgen Klopp’s side, another outfit with designs on European qualification.
The most intriguing of tonight’s fixtures that are not Manchester City v Arsenal, though, is surely 11th v 10th, otherwise known as Chelsea v Brentford. The Blues have played four, lost four under Frank Lampard since the dismissal of Graham Potter. Any more of this and a dismal bottom-half finish beckons. Thomas Frank’s smart Brentford side will be living proof that there are truly no easy games in His Majesty’s Premier League.
As if that wasn’t enough excitement for one night, Sheffield United have a chance to clinch promotion from the Championship if they win against West Bromwich Albion.
Kick-off times: Nottingham Forest v Brighton 7.30pm, Chelsea v Brentford and West Ham v Liverpool: 7.45pm, Sheffield United v West Brom: 8pm
