Maybe it is a case of fourth time lucky for Nottingham Forest. Certainly Vítor Pereira – manager No 4 in the most chaotic of seasons – is doing something right. The Europa League semi-finalists are unbeaten in their last five Premier League games and will arrive at the Stadium of Light knowing victory would move them within touching distance of safety. Their visit should provide an interesting tactical challenge for Sunderland. Régis Le Bris’ side often excel on the counterattack but Forest are likely to sit deep and invite their hosts to unpick their packed defence while hoping to hurt them on the break. Le Bris will surely need Nordi Mukiele to advance with typical verve from right-back, while, in midfield, Noah Sadiki and Enzo Le Fée will be required to demonstrate precisely why they are being watched by several leading clubs. This Sunderland team often plays with real and refreshing personality. Can Forest subdue it? 

Fulham still waiting to get better of Emery

There are 15 sides Unai Emery has faced more than twice as a manager and beaten every time. His teams have played 12 of those more than three times and retained that 100% record. Five clubs have come up against him more than four times and lost every game. Two have done it more than five times, and just one more than six. That club is Fulham: this will be the ninth time Emery has faced them, and he has so far banked eight wins and a 22-6 aggregate scoreline. And he hasn’t just enjoyed coming up against Fulham, he owes his job to them: the last time Villa dropped points to this weekend’s opponents was in October 2022, when they lost 3-0 at Craven Cottage. Steven Gerrard was promptly sacked, and Emery appointed four days later. His first game against Fulham as Villa manager was played three years to the day before this one. At least Marco Silva has managed to avoid defeat against him in the past, if only once in eight attempts since Estoril scored a last-minute equaliser in the group stage of the 2013-14 Europa League to earn a point at Sevilla. 

Hammers playing at Everton’s level

This tussle between the teams in 10th and 17th actually looks set to be fairly even: before 17 January, the day West Ham beat Tottenham to end a run of more than two months without a win and demonstrate they had belatedly discovered how to play football (and Nuno Espírito Santo had belatedly discovered a decent formula, using for the first time the 4-4-1-1 formation he has largely stuck with since) Everton boasted just over twice their points tally, 29 to the Hammers’ 14, over 21 games, while conceding just over half as many goals, 25 to 43. Since then the teams’ records are almost identical: 12 games played, five wins each, 14 goals conceded, West Ham 18-17 ahead on goals scored and 19-18 up on points banked. “I think the players are improving, the level and the standards are improving, the players are working well, competing well,” said Nuno. “We’ve been solid, good on defence, sometimes good on attack, sometimes not so good. Finding that balance in the remaining matches is going to be crucial for us.” The Hammers have a fully fit squad and could give a start to Callum Wilson, who has scored eight goals in 11 games against Everton – the only team he’s scored more goals against is West Ham. 

Fragile Spurs must take chance at Wolves

Roberto De Zerbi stressed he would not allow his players to feel sorry for themselves after Brighton denied them an elusive first win this calendar year. The Italian acknowledged there is a fragility to his squad after Georginio Rutter equalised in stoppage time and this week Spurs advertised for a psychologist to join their staff on Hotspur Way. How quickly can they start? De Zerbi called on his players to “change the mentality” as they face up to the reality of their fight against relegation, but also backed them to the point he suggested they are capable of winning all five remaining matches. The first is a trip to relegated Wolves, a team that has conceded 12 goals in their past four matches, and if Tottenham can chalk up a first win under De Zerbi, maybe Spurs will establish a psychological edge over their rivals. 

Reds will keep a close watch on Wharton

Back-to-back league wins plus Chelsea’s decision to appoint Liam Rosenior – a counter-argument to Arne Slot’s insistence that Liverpool have had no luck this season – have placed Champions League qualification in the hands of the Premier League champions. A top-five finish “could impact our plans for the summer at this club,” said Slot before the dramatic Merseyside derby victory at Everton. With strengthening central midfield expected to be part of those plans, there will be more eyes than usual on Adam Wharton at Anfield should the 22-year-old return from a minor adductor problem for Crystal Palace. Wharton will be in demand this summer after another impressive campaign for a Palace team that have won all three encounters with Liverpool (though each one with Marc Guéhi in their defence). Slot’s side have a tricky run-in but a healthy cushion over sixth-placed Brighton. Taking another step towards the Champions League would be significant in the pursuit of Wharton should he favour a return to his native north-west.

Saints look to end half-century wait

The winning machine that is Manchester City take on a Southampton side aiming to end a 50-year wait for the second major trophy of their 140-year history. Tonda Eckert’s team are also vying for automatic promotion from the Championship and are unbeaten in 20 games so the streetwise Pep Guardiola will make clear to his league leaders the challenge that awaits when the sides walk out at Wembley. Six years ago, Saints handed City a 1-0 defeat in the Premier League: a repeat on Saturday for the 2026 iteration would be a famous win and a certifiable Cup upset. Yet while Guardiola may rest some of his A-listers, City should still reach a remarkable fourth consecutive final.

Eze could help Arsenal sustain title hopes

Eberechi Eze impressed when he made a rare start on the left-hand side of Arsenal’s attack against Manchester City last weekend, even if it was surprising to see the England forward taken off in the 74th minute as Mikel Arteta’s side chased an equaliser. That was the longest he and Martin Ødegaard have been on the pitch at the same time for a Premier League game. With Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli both out of form, Eze could be handed another opportunity in that position against Newcastle on Saturday as Arsenal try to regain top spot in the table. Arteta has mainly used him as a No 10 so far and there have been calls from some Arsenal fans for him to drop Martín Zubimendi, move Declan Rice to a deeper role and play Eze and Ødegaard in the same midfield. But having thrived at Crystal Palace because he had licence to roam off the left flank and find pockets of space, the 27-year-old could be more effective in the advanced role. 

McFarlane takes charge once again

When Calum McFarlane took temporary charge of Chelsea in January for his first stint as interim manager, having been unexpectedly promoted from under-21s coach, he had three days to prepare the side to face Manchester City. It was a task that, according to the club’s website, was eased “due to the same footballing philosophy being shared across Chelsea Football Club”. Where does that footballing philosophy stand now, 16 weeks and one full-time manager later? The concern is that it is dictated not by any of the rotating cast of characters in the dugout but by an increasingly ungovernable playing group, and that, as they fill time before the next appointment, it will be hard for McFarlane to convince them to show any more application than they did during the unravelling of Liam Rosenior’s short stint, during which McFarlane was an assistant, and a run of five points from nine games. It is hard to see how a team with five sporting directors can fail to be muddled. But maybe McFarlane can pull off the job. It was hard to judge from his two games in January, from which Chelsea took just a single point, given that one was at City and the other, against Fulham, was ruined by Marc Cucurella’s early red card. Perhaps a combination of McFarlane (and the absence of Rosenior’s odd oratory), the Cup and a trip to Wembley can defibrillate this flatlining side. 

Longstaff’s leveller gives Leeds belief

It is hard to imagine a better launchpad for a trip to Wembley than the swing of Sean Longstaff’s right boot, seven minutes into stoppage time at the end of Wednesday’s game against Bournemouth, and the massive boost that late, result-turning goal provided. “Today was a point of mentality, of fight, of belief, of dealing with setbacks,” Daniel Farke said afterwards. “It’s a perfect morale boost, not just for the Cup game but the whole run-in.” Leeds will step out on to the Hallowed Turf™ with a spring in their step, their unbeaten run stretched to seven games, and their last act on a football pitch a full-team celebratory bundle. Bournemouth thought the late equaliser should not have stood, insisting Joël Piroe had blocked the view of their goalkeeper, Djordje Petrovic, while in an offside position. “I have spoken with the referee,” said Andoni Iraola. “They [the officials] try to make it look like it’s a very difficult play. I don’t think it’s as difficult.” A few minutes earlier they had a stoppage-time goal of their own disallowed for an extremely tight offside. Such a swing on such marginal decisions: if Michael Salisbury, his assistants and the technology assisting them had been wired slightly differently, Leeds would have been coming into this game on the back of a defeat. Had that been the case they might still be fielding the same players, but would they be the same team?

Carrick still under probation period

The Manchester United hierarchy are yet to be convinced regarding Michael Carrick’s candidacy to become the next No 1, so sealing a Champions League berth is imperative. With five games left and an eight-point advantage over Brighton, who are sixth and have played a game more, two wins will confirm their place at Europe’s top table. Brentford arrive unbeaten in their last six league outings, with five in the sequence draws, indicating Keith Andrews’s men are doughty opponents. But at Old Trafford, under the Monday night lights, United should be able to claim a victory that will continue Carrick’s impressive spell as interim. 

THE GUARDIAN