West Ham United’s 3-1 defeat at Newcastle United on Sunday left Tottenham Hotspur realistically only needing one more point to win the battle for English Premier League survival, while Bruno Fernandes made history in Manchester United’s 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest.
Spurs can avoid dropping out of the English top flight for the first time in nearly 50 years with victory at Chelsea today, but a draw would also likely suffice thanks to their much superior goal-difference over West Ham.
“Overall bad performance. Too many things [went wrong], I think we gifted them the goals,” West Ham head caoch Nuno Espirito Santo said. “We realize the situation is extremely difficult for us.”
Photo: Reuters
A third consecutive defeat left the Irons needing favors and they were well beaten at St James’ Park against a Newcastle side who had little to play for.
Nick Woltemade turned in Harvey Barnes’ cross for his first league goal since December last year.
William Osula then finished off a flowing Newcastle move to double the lead inside 20 minutes.
Osula struck again with his fifth goal in six games, and even a stunning strike from Taty Castellanos was little consolation for the visitors.
West Ham’s only hope of survival is if they beat Leeds United on the final day and Tottenham lose to both Chelsea and Everton.
Fernandes equaled the Premier League record of 20 assists in a season as United secured third place at Old Trafford.
The Portuguese international moved alongside Thierry Henry and Kevin de Bruyne in the single-season assist list when his cross was turned in by Bryan Mbeumo for United’s third goal at Old Trafford.
Luke Shaw volleyed United in front after just five minutes, but Forest leveled a wide open encounter early in the second half when Elliot Anderson’s cross was headed in by Morato.
United raced down the other end and Matheus Cunha’s goal was allowed to stand despite a video assistant referee check for handball by Mbeumo in the buildup.
Fernandes’ record-equaling moment arrived 14 minutes from time when Mbeumo prodded in his drilled cross for his first goal since February.
Morgan Gibbs-White reduced the deficit in the 78th minute, but United held on to add another victory to their impressive run since interim head coach Michael Carrick arrived in January.
Carrick is expected to sign a two-year contract to remain in charge on a permanent basis.
“Over the coming days there’ll be clarity in the situation,” the former United midfielder said.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored the only goal in stoppage-time at Elland Road as Leeds United beat Brighton & Hove Albion 1-0 to damage the Seagulls’ hopes of European qualification.
Brentford, in eighth place, also suffered a blow to their European ambitions in a 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace.
Ismaila Sarr’s sixth-minute penalty put Palace ahead before Dango Ouattara hauled Brentford level in the 40th minute.
Adam Wharton restored Palace’s advantage with his first goal for the club in the 52nd minute, but Ouattara struck again in the 88th.
Sunderland are also in contention for European qualification after a 3-1 win at Everton lifted the Black Cats up to ninth.
Fulham slipped to 13th after a 1-1 draw at relegated Wolverhampton Wanderers hampered their chances of Europe next season.
Earlier, troubled Chelsea hired Xabi Alonso as their new head coach, less than 24 hours after losing 1-0 against Manchester City in the FA Cup final.
Alonso, who agreed a four-year contract with 10th-placed Chelsea, led Bayer 04 Leverkusen to the Bundesliga title in 2023-2024, but was sacked by Real Madrid in January after just seven months in charge.
After letting another big lead slip with an error-strewn performance at the French Open on Wednesday, top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka felt like getting as far away from the courts as possible. “Just want to quit tennis right now,” Sabalenka said after wasting a lead of a set and two breaks in a 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 loss to Diana Shnaider in the women’s singles quarter-finals. “We’ll see in few days. Hopefully I’ll get back on track mentally.” Sabalenka’s wait for a first French Open title continues despite the four-time major winner leading 4-1 in the second set and being two points from victory while
BIG NAMES GONE: Zverev is the clear favorite for a maiden Grand Slam title, reaching semi-finals for the fifth time in six years and finishing second on three occasions Alexander Zverev on Tuesday breezed past Rafael Jodar to stay on course for an elusive Grand Slam title at the French Open, while Jakub Mensik halted Joao Fonseca’s scintillating run in the quarter-finals. Zverev, the highest-ranked player left in the men’s draw, put an end to Spanish teenager Jodar’s impressive Roland Garros debut, easing into the semi-finals with a 7-6, (7/3), 6-1, 6-3 win. The 29-year-old Zverev is the clear favorite for a maiden Grand Slam title. He has finished runner-up on three occasions, including at the 2024 French Open. “I want to win the matches that are ahead of
Liverpool are in advanced talks with former AFC Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola as they seek a replacement for Arne Slot, reports said on Tuesday. Iraola has emerged as Liverpool’s top target to replace Slot, who was sacked on Saturday last week after a turbulent second season in charge. Liverpool have reportedly agreed a deal in principle to bring the Spaniard, who left Bournemouth at the end of this season, to Anfield. Sporting director Richard Hughes was heavily involved in hiring Iraola during his time at Bournemouth and is again spearheading the recruitment of the highly rated coach. The Reds are
US President Donald Trump said he would attend Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday at Madison Square Garden, but said he does not have much sympathy for ordinary basketball fans who cannot afford sky-high ticket prices to do the same. “They can watch it on television,” Trump said aboard Air Force One on Friday as he flew to Wisconsin for an event with farmers, after he was asked about tickets that have climbed as high as US$8,000 each when the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs square off in Manhattan for the first time in the series. “It’s sorta
RSS