1
Robinson needs reinvigorating for Fulham
Antonee Robinson has been one of the best full-backs in the league this season. He flies up and down the left flank, defends well and whips in crosses. However, the Fulham defender was not at his sharpest during his side’s defeat to Aston Villa last weekend. He found it difficult to contain Morgan Rogers and his crossing was not up to its usual high standards. The concern is whether Robinson, who had missed Fulham’s previous game, is in peak physical condition. It has been a long campaign but Marco Silva needs the USA international to be ready to go when Everton visit Craven Cottage on Saturday. Robinson’s raids are a key part of Fulham’s attacking set-up. Jacob Steinberg
2
Frank’s happy travellers show potential
In late November, the Premier League website ran a story asking why some teams were so much better at home. Brentford were the focus; Thomas Frank’s side were top of the home form table with 16 points out of 18 but only Southampton had picked up fewer points on the road. Brentford added two more home wins before defeat to Nottingham Forest sparked a run of eight without victory in front of their home fans. They even lost an FA Cup tie to Plymouth there. But fast forward to now and, remarkably, Brentford are the best away team in the top flight. They’ve picked up 19 points in their past eight away games – three more than anyone else over the same period – and will be heavily fancied to add to that record at relegated Ipswich. If Frank can somehow join the two positive streaks together, could Brentford be top-six contenders next season? David Tindall
3
City making a mockery of decline narrative
As a sense of familiarity returns to Manchester City’s results – it’s now seven wins and a draw in their past eight games – the mid-season madness seems hard to comprehend. Pep Guardiola’s side lost nine times in 12 matches, including a streak of five in a row, between October and December. They suffered another run of five defeats in nine outings across February and March. And yet a win over rock-bottom Southampton this weekend along with an Arsenal defeat at Liverpool and City will be level with Mikel Arteta’s side on 67 points. City close with games against Bournemouth (h) and Fulham (a) while Arsenal host Newcastle and travel to Southampton. It’s now a distinct possibility that the history books will show City as the 2024-25 runners-up, the end-of-a-dynasty narrative looking absurdly premature. DT
4
Wolves set for more summer upheaval
With Wolves striking up an impressive rhythm under Vítor Pereira, survival comfortably boxed off, now the challenge is to use a strong end to the season as a platform for the next. Emmanuel Agbadou and Marshall Munetsi were signed in January to increase the team’s physicality but, while Pereira has been an overwhelming success, his appointment has not worked for everyone. Neither Tommy Doyle nor Hwang Hee-chan have started a league game since January while Pablo Sarabia has been almost exclusively used as a substitute. Sam Johnstone, a £10m signing last summer, last started a league game in December and has been relegated to the role of third-choice goalkeeper. Matheus Cunha has a £62.5m release clause and the captain, Nélson Semedo, is out of contract next month. Rayan Aït-Nouri has admirers but Wolves are hopeful of rewarding him with a new deal, while the Brazil midfielders André and João Gomes are tied to long-term contracts. Beyond the talismanic Cunha, expect another off-season of change at Molineux. Ben Fisher
5
Bournemouth can punish weary Villa
Two of the season’s most watchable sides collide on the south coast with European places still up for grabs, albeit Bournemouth’s hopes are dependent on permutations elsewhere. Both they and Villa will be relieved to have rediscovered winning habits last weekend in victories that demonstrated each side’s resilience as much as their flair. The spotlight on Andoni Iraola’s attacking philosophy and talents such as Evanilson and Antoine Semenyo has overshadowed Bournemouth’s defensive improvements this term, with Dean Huijsen one of their most important acquisitions last summer. That defensive mettle will get a full test against Ollie Watkins, Morgan Rogers and co, but Villa have looked a bit weary in recent weeks and need to step up in what is probably Saturday’s most enticing top-flight fixture. Tom Davies
6
High stakes in high-noon duel at St James’
When Newcastle lost 2-1 at Stamford Bridge last October, Eddie Howe’s team seemed poised for mid-table irrelevance. It was their fifth league game without victory and Alexander Isak’s consolation goal was their first from open play for more than seven hours. The following month Howe switched Sandro Tonali from the No 8 role to the No 6 position, moving Bruno Guimarães in the opposite direction, and everything changed. With Tonali dictating the tempo, Newcastle morphed into a formidable force, not merely winning the Carabao Cup – beating Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea along the way – but placing themselves within touching distance of a second Champions League qualification in three years. After Newcastle’s run of 20 wins in their past 27 matches Howe has confounded those who questioned his position last autumn. And to think he only secured the job after first Rafael Benítez and then Unai Emery rejected it. Maresca has infinitely more to lose from this high-noon, high-stakes duel, with its subplot of an attacking beauty contest involving Isak and Cole Palmer. Louise Taylor
7
Clash of the costly flops at Old Trafford
You’ve got to credit Manchester United and West Ham – not words often written but bear with me – for their remarkable dedication to exploring just how badly a rich club can perform without fearing relegation. In 35 league games, these lavishly appointed squads have each lost 16 times, scoring 42 and 40 goals respectively; the last time United beat a side other than the relegated three was on 26 January, while West Ham have not done so since 22 February. Which is to say that both teams remain, despite changing managers mid-season, in absolutely despicable form, and as such this encounter threatens to rival United’s November game against Chelsea for ineptitude per pound spent. There might, though, be a redeeming feature: with the Europa League final imminent, Ruben Amorim will presumably play some younger players, perhaps granting a debut to Bendito Mantato, a promising right-wing-back who signed his first professional contract this week. He, and they, could scarcely do any worse. Daniel Harris
Nottingham Forest won’t have a better chance of getting their spluttering Champions League push back on track than against their east Midlands rivals. One possible snag is that Nuno Espiríto Santo’s side, at home to relegated and demoralised opposition, are likely to have plenty of the ball, which tends not to suit perhaps the best counterattacking side in the country. The match in which Forest have had the most possession this season – against Brentford at the City Ground last week – led to one of their most deflating performances and results, a 0-2 loss. The injured Callum Hudson-Odoi has also been missed. Leicester don’t have Brentford’s nous and should be seen off. However, buoyed up by a rare win in last weekend’s “El Crapico” against Southampton and with the evergreen Jamie Vardy hunting a 200th goal for the club, Leicester will not be without motivation. TD
9
Palace the ideal guests for Spurs’ planning
Tottenham are in the middle of a league season dreadful beyond all prediction and conception. Ange Postecoglou is in serious danger of losing his job even if his team win the Europa League, but capturing that trophy feels like the only way he can possibly save himself, so everything he does between now and then will be with that in mind. Spurs have suffered badly with injuries this season – Postecoglou might have mentioned it once or twice – and the balance he must find is between preserving those upon whom he intends to rely in Bilbao, and having them arrive in Spain nicely grooved. A game against Palace, themselves preparing for a final, might just be the best way of satisfying both aspects. DH
10
Time to bed in Bradley as Slot’s first choice
Trent Alexander-Arnold announced he was leaving Liverpool with three matches of the season remaining to avoid accusations of sneaking through the back door when his long-anticipated move to Real Madrid is finally confirmed. A courageous step, although one that makes the final weeks of the boyhood fan’s Liverpool career more awkward than they would have been otherwise. Anfield will deliver its first response to the news against Arsenal, who require a reaction of their own to Champions League misery in Paris with second place in the Premier League far from secure. While there may be anger in the stands at losing Alexander-Arnold on a free transfer, Arne Slot’s treatment of the full-back will be more cold-eyed. Slot has known of Alexander-Arnold’s intentions since late March but has started the defender in Liverpool’s last two games. Now his exit is confirmed, however, it is time to think only of the future and start Conor Bradley, providing the Northern Ireland international is fit. Andy Hunter
