Will the edge-of-your-seat Spurs win mark a turning point?
Although the goal was disastrous, it could go down as one of the most important goals in Tottenham’s Premier League history. With West Ham trailing by four points, Joao Parinha scored from close range to win the game against Wolves.
Those three points came at a price, not only their first win under manager Roberto De Zerbi, but also Spurs’ first win of 2026. Dominic Solanke suffered a muscle injury. They will await scans on a knee problem for Xavi Simmons, who was also forced off the field. That’s a problem.
De Zerbi knows he is seen as a potential savior, but has always stressed that it will be the players, not the coach, who will decide in which division Tottenham play next season. He has already lost Cristian Romero and Mohamed Kudus.
The Italian then put on a brave face despite his injury, pointing out Matthijs Tell’s encouraging performance off the bench and stressing his efforts to persuade Randal Kolo Muani to do more. It won’t be a tactical victory that saves Spurs, but a confidence trick.
“Hopefully this result can change something in our heads, mentally.” They were still struggling at Molineux. They moved the ball too slowly and looked shaky throughout, making them vulnerable in the second half. Still, this victory now needs to be a turning point.
Adam Bate
Saka’s return gives edgy Arsenal a boost
Arsenal worked hard to win against Newcastle and will be encouraged by Bukayo Saka’s cameo off the bench. The 24-year-old entered the pitch in the 81st minute and immediately made things look good for the hosts.
He fired a shot that missed the target less than a minute after coming on, and continued to pose a threat in the tense final against the hosts. His performance, in his first appearance since the Carabao Cup final, suggested he came back from the time-out even stronger.
Asked how it felt to be back, Mikel Arteta said: “Great.”
“I think he’s had a very positive impact in the minutes he’s played. He looks sharp, he looks good, he looks fresh. When he comes in you’ll certainly notice something different within the team, within the stadium as well. So we certainly need that.”
The downside for Arsenal is that his return coincides with Kai Havertz’s possible setback. Arteta described the issue that led to his sending off as a minor “minor issue”. The Arsenal manager hopes the situation is not serious. However, Saka’s return should help allay those concerns.
nick wright
Pereira’s Bold Forest is thriving without a handbrake
Nottingham Forest achieved a consecutive victory by defeating Sunderland 5-0. Forest have scored nine goals in their last two games to avoid relegation. The numbers alone are astonishing. Even more so their attitude.
This is not a team that plays inside. This is an unfettered team.
Under Pereira, Forest have embraced an almost subversive philosophy in a league that is often wary, especially away from home. It’s something of a throwback to name two strikers on the road, in the same vein as Chris Wood and Igor Jesus at the Stadium of Light.
It’s also a gamble. However, it paid off noticeably as Forest pressed relentlessly with an intensity that Sunderland were unable to cope with.
Pereira’s willingness to double down on his aggression is refreshing in a league where approaches are often dictated by fear, as was the case under Forest manager Sean Dyche.
lewis jones
Hammer will have Moyes to thank if he defeats Drop.
If West Ham manage to continue winning this season, former manager David Moyes will have more than one way to thank him, as the Scot brought both Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen to the club during his time in charge at the London Stadium.
The pair have played a vital role in keeping the Hammers in the Premier League, and they were back in form in Saturday’s crucial final 2-1 home win against Everton, keeping them two points clear of Tottenham in the drop zone.
It was Soucek who scored the decisive first goal from a corner kick from Bowen, but he somehow managed to tip Tierno Barry’s seemingly headed shot onto the bar, preserving their slim lead with 12 minutes remaining.
And although Everton equalized with four minutes left in the game, it was the skipper who then scored Callum Wilson’s winner in stoppage time, potentially keeping West Ham in the Premier League, with Nuno praising his opposite shirt number after the game.
“I think David has left a legacy here at the club,” said the West Ham manager. “He brought success, he brought trophies, and he did it with Jarrod and Thomas and some of the guys who are still on the team.”
rich morgan
Fortune backs Liverpool despite Salah’s injury
Mo Salah’s injury overshadowed Liverpool’s important win against Crystal Palace and Alexander Isak’s long-awaited first Premier League goal at Anfield.
“Who would have thought we would be saying this eight or nine months ago?” head coach Arne Slott said of Isak’s first-half offense.
The striker controlled a wayward shot from Alexis Mac Allister and curled a shot over Dean Henderson. It was the type of opportunity Liverpool haven’t had this season and was a reminder of Isak’s quality in front of goal.
“There have been many times this season where we’ve had better chances than we had today,” Slott said. “That’s why it’s also important to have players who can score goals like this, because it can bring about a lot of growth.”
Where would Liverpool have been if Isaac hadn’t missed most of the season due to injury? The win put them on the brink of Champions League qualification at the end of a difficult trophyless season.
Palace had more shots, big chances, corners and had a higher xG total than Liverpool.
“We’ve had a lot of bad luck this season. Usually we end up dropping points, but that wasn’t the case today,” Slott added.
david richardson
Silva starts against Fulham as Cottages shake off end-of-season blunders
Fulham have a reputation for struggling to get over the line under manager Marco Silva, winning just four of 20 games before Saturday noon kick-off against Aston Villa in April and May.
They scored 5 points out of 21 points. It wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t convincing and it wasn’t particularly deserved, but there was a lot of effort and effort in Fulham’s first win and goal in three games, and it was a huge boost to their hopes of qualifying for Europe.
Silva himself was furious at the suggestion that his players had been “on the beach” at this point in the season so far, asking one of the reporters at a press conference, “Did it look like you were on the beach today?”
That certainly wasn’t the case. Granted, creativity is very important for the Cottage at the moment, but given the likes of relegated Wolves and in-form Newcastle, rightly so alongside Arsenal and Bournemouth, their solid-first approach could be enough to give them a chance to soften the memories of the famous Europa League they managed under Roy Hodgson, dating back to the 2009/10 season.
Ron Walker





