1) Allardyce has a point to prove
Sam Allardyce arrived at St James’ Park for his May 2007 unveiling as Newcastle’s manager by helicopter. Eight underwhelming months later, Big Sam was sacked – and immediately had to hand his top-of-the-range company car to security, leaving him requiring a lift home in his press officer’s somewhat more modest vehicle. Allardyce’s hefty payoff from Mike Ashley, Newcastle’s then owner, enabled him to buy a lavish villa on Spain’s Costa Blanca, swiftly dubbed Casa St James but the Leeds manager has not forgotten this “massive, massive career setback”. Allardyce has played down any talk of old scores being settled when Eddie Howe’s Champions League-chasing team visit Elland Road on Saturday but there is little doubt that Allardyce would enjoy sticking a metaphorical two fingers in the directions of those travelling Newcastle fans whose lack of enthusiasm for his tactics arguably prompted that dismissal. Much more important, Leeds surely cannot afford to lose – and quite possibly must win – if they are to avoid falling into the Championship. Louise Taylor
Leeds v Newcastle, Saturday 12.30pm
2) Ten Hag must avoid Wolves raid
The corresponding fixture last season came in January 2022 and ended with a 1-0 defeat for Manchester United, a first league victory for Wolves at Old Trafford since 1980. A repeat of the result would set alarm bells clanging for Erik ten Hag, as it would be his side’s third successive defeat in the Premier League, a first for him. It would also come in the first of the “four finals” that close this campaign as Ten Hag’s team battle with Newcastle and Liverpool to claim the two remaining Champions League berths. Ten Hag’s team are two points behind Newcastle and one ahead of Liverpool, who have played one match more and are in flying form, so three points has to be order of the day against visitors who are now safe from relegation. Jamie Jackson
Manchester United v Wolves, Saturday 3pm
3) Drifting Blues offer Forest rare chance
Nottingham Forest’s most recent trip to west London did not end well. They went in front against Brentford, only to crack in the dying stages and concede a late winner, as a big chance to boost their survival hopes slipped away. It kept Steve Cooper’s side under pressure to perform at home and, while Forest are out of the bottom three after beating Southampton at the City Ground on Monday, their Premier League status is far from secure. Forest host Arsenal next week and can give themselves some breathing space when they visit Chelsea on Saturday. A trip to Stamford Bridge would usually be a write-off for a struggling team but this feels different. Forest should have far more motivation than Chelsea, who are playing for little more than pride. Cooper’s players need to realise that these opportunities do not come around often. Jacob Steinberg
Chelsea v Nottingham Forest, Saturday 3pm
4) Will City risk it at buoyant Everton?
Manchester City’s march towards a third Premier League title in succession appears unstoppable: 10 league wins in a row, 21 matches unbeaten in all competitions and a winning unit peaking at the right time. Goodison Park would have represented a straightforward assignment for the champions until recently but Everton’s improvement and City’s Champions League dilemma has suddenly complicated the picture. Sean Dyche’s side were outstanding in a stunning 5-1 win at Brighton on Monday, with their ability to absorb pressure and destroy on the counterattack providing a template to follow against Pep Guardiola’s league leaders. One more win would be a monumental step for Everton towards Premier League safety – it would even be enough on its own if Leeds and Leicester each lose two of their remaining three games. Goodison should be a bear pit on Sunday. With the second leg of a delicately poised semi-final to follow against Real Madrid on Wednesday, will Guardiola ring the changes he resisted at the Bernabéu? Andy Hunter
Everton v Manchester City, Sunday 2pm
5) Villa’s future is looking bright
With three games to play, European football is still in Aston Villa’s sights, an incredible feat given they were only a point above the relegation zone at the start of November. Villa have won their past five home matches without conceding and if they extend that pristine record against Tottenham on Saturday, they will keep alive their chances of a top-six finish. Victory would move Villa level on points with Spurs, before Unai Emery’s side end the season against Liverpool (away) and Brighton (home). Regardless of whether they realise their dream of playing in Europe for the first time since 2010-11, they are shaping up for a busy few months. Villa are pressing ahead with plans to increase their stadium capacity to 50,000 and are building an inner-city academy in Aston. Barcelona’s director of football, Mateu Alamany, is to take on a similar role at the club from July. These are exciting times at Villa Park. Ben Fisher
Aston Villa v Tottenham, Saturday 3pm
6) Seagulls seek response at Emirates
Roberto De Zerbi was frustrated with his Brighton players after their shock capitulation against Everton. The Italian felt they had mentally been dining out on their last-gasp win over Manchester United, and that they would do well to understand a team are only as good as their next game. That particular test happens to come at the Emirates on Sunday. It is a happy hunting ground for the Seagulls, who have won three of their last four meetings there in all competitions, but the dynamic around Arsenal has changed hugely since last season’s 2-1 success. It will be a clash of similar styles and if Brighton are half as open at the back as they were on Monday night, they will surely be punished again. It feels like a match neither team can afford to slip up in if they are to remain in the mix for their respective goals; should De Zerbi’s words have cut through, then a thriller could be in prospect. Nick Ames
Arsenal v Brighton, Sunday 4.30pm
7) Southampton’s last stand?
According to the stats gurus at FiveThirtyEight, Southampton already have a 99% chance of playing in the Championship next season for the first time since 2012. Failing to beat Fulham after kicking off eight points shy of safety would confirm their relegation. Then the recriminations could begin, from the sacking of Ralph Hasenhüttl to the employment of Nathan Jones to asking a rookie, Rubén Sellés, to save the day. Then there was the calamitous January transfer window in which six players were signed, of whom only Carlos Alcaraz, with four, has scored a goal. Ebere Onuachu and Kamaldeen Sulemana, both signed as forwards, are still yet to register. Marry those issues with a defence that has leaked sloppy goals through all three managerial regimes and you have the formula for relegation. A squad not without talent has occasionally looked capable of pulling itself from the mire. But even beating Fulham would leave Saints needing snookers to survive. John Brewin
Southampton v Fulham, Saturday 3pm
8) Foxes’ task gets tougher
So bleak is Leicester’s situation that this week Jamie Vardy said Leicester staying up would eclipse the achievement of their 5,000-1 Premier League title win. The Foxes have won one of their past 13 matches and face Champions League-chasing Liverpool and Newcastle in their next two fixtures. Dean Smith cancelled Leicester’s scheduled day off on Tuesday after the 5-3 humbling at Fulham and he can only hope the overtime his players have put in this week sparks an uplift in results. Brendan Rodgers took similar action earlier in the season, after Leicester’s poor showing in a 3-0 defeat at home to Newcastle on Boxing Day, but his side lost their next three league matches and squeaked past Gillingham in the FA Cup third round. The bad news is by the time Leicester host Jürgen Klopp’s side on Monday, they could be further adrift from safety. BF
Leicester v Liverpool, Monday 8pm
9) Johnstone can nail down No 1 slot
It has taken a while for Sam Johnstone to become Crystal Palace’s No 1, replacing Vicente Guaita only after the Spaniard suffered an injury in March. Johnstone seized his chance, which is no surprise considering the calibre of the 30-year-old with three England caps to his name and a successful Premier League career behind him. He has conceded five goals – three in a single match against West Ham – in his eight appearances in all competitions for Palace, keeping five clean sheets. Despite his fine form, Johnston will know goalkeepers are regularly in a precarious position, and will be aware of the competition he faces from Guaita. The former West Brom keeper has three more matches to prove that he should be kept in the role when pre-season rolls around, regardless of who is in charge, with Roy Hodgson set to depart at the end of the current campaign. Will Unwin
Crystal Palace v Bournemouth, Saturday 3pm
10) More derby delight for Bees?
Outwardly there is little riding on West Ham’s visit to Brentford. David Moyes’s players would probably be happy for the league season to wrap up here now that they are in effect safe and have a place in the Europe Conference League final to shoot for. Brentford’s hopes of their own European adventure appear to have faded, despite their admirable resilience and ability to bloody noses. Thomas Frank will not want his side clocking off, though: they have won all three of their top-flight games against Sunday’s opponents since promotion, which speaks eloquently of the instant ease they found at this level. Making it four in a row would do plenty for their prospects. Brentford face Spurs and Manchester City after this in a potentially sticky end to the campaign, but three points here would make a top-half finish almost certain. It would be something to celebrate for a club that never cease to impress. NA
Brentford v West Ham, Saturday 3pm
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Man City | 34 | 58 | 82 |
| 2 | Arsenal | 35 | 44 | 81 |
| 3 | Newcastle | 34 | 32 | 65 |
| 4 | Man Utd | 34 | 8 | 63 |
| 5 | Liverpool | 35 | 25 | 62 |
| 6 | Tottenham Hotspur | 35 | 7 | 57 |
| 7 | Brighton | 33 | 18 | 55 |
| 8 | Aston Villa | 35 | 3 | 54 |
| 9 | Brentford | 35 | 7 | 50 |
| 10 | Fulham | 35 | 1 | 48 |
| 11 | Chelsea | 34 | -5 | 42 |
| 12 | Crystal Palace | 35 | -11 | 40 |
| 13 | Wolverhampton | 35 | -20 | 40 |
| 14 | AFC Bournemouth | 35 | -30 | 39 |
| 15 | West Ham | 35 | -12 | 37 |
| 16 | Nottm Forest | 35 | -31 | 33 |
| 17 | Everton | 35 | -21 | 32 |
| 18 | Leicester | 35 | -15 | 30 |
| 19 | Leeds | 35 | -25 | 30 |
| 20 | Southampton | 35 | -33 | 24 |
