Brentford v Crystal Palace, Leeds v Brighton, Everton v Sunderland: Premier League – live

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Match report: Man Utd 3-2 Nottm Forest

This is the new Manchester United era of happy accidents being overseen by Michael Carrick and helped by confusing officiating as they edged past Nottingham Forest. If it was not for a lack of obvious options five months ago, United and Carrick may not have been reunited, nor would they be third in the Premier League and heading back to the Champions League, on the day Bruno Fernandes equalled the all-time Premier League assist record.

Carrick has a two-year contract on the table and cannot require too much mulling over. The improving Old Trafford atmosphere was further boosted after the final home game being won partly thanks to a bizarre decision by Michael Salisbury to allow a Matheus Cunha goal to stand, on account of Bryan Mbeumo’s clear handball in the buildup being “accidental”, much to the confusion of everyone without a whistle.

“No drama in Scotland today, Rob,” begins Simon McMahon, “given that Dundee United were confirmed as CHAMPIONS!!! of the bottom six on Tuesday with a point at home to already relegated Livingston. Congratulations to them.

“St Mirren will play Partick Thistle in a two-legged play-off to decide who plays in the Scottish Premiership next season. There are games today, United currently 1-0 up at Paisley, and Dundee 1-1 Aberdeen, Livingston 1-1 Kilmarnock.”

Enzo Le Fée has been chatting for 25 minutes when it becomes clear that his ability to extract rabbits from hats is not confined to the pitch.

“I’m a magician,” says Sunderland’s French playmaker as the conversation drifts to life off the field. “Yes, really! I can do some magic, tricks with the cards, that sort of thing. I used to practise a lot when I was young so I got really good. I still sometimes like to do my tricks but I’m a bit shy about performing them now.”

These days Le Fée prefers to concentrate on casting his spells on rival teams, bewitching Sunderland fans and bewildering opponents in equal measure. Régis Le Bris’s £20m signing from Roma possesses an unerring ability to glimpse attacking possibilities undetected by other players and transform midfield chaos into a coherent threat.

Wolves v Fulham preview

It’s more than a month since Josh King started a game for Fulham – he was hooked at half-time during the 2-0 defeat by Liverpool, since when he has featured solely off the bench and never for longer than 26 minutes. It makes sense for Marco Silva to protect and nurture such a precious talent – especially given King plays in the middle of midfield, no country for young men. But he is also preparing his team to go again – whether he is in charge or not – and a game against a relegated side is surely an opportunity to field a player who, after a period of acclimatisation this season, can be a mainstay next.

There are many youngsters with vivid imagination and superb technical skill, but what marks King out is his ability to accept the ball under pressure and either pass forward or beat men, opening up the pitch in the process. He is raw, but the aim should be to be ready in August.

Everton v Sunderland preview

Everton’s strikers have been largely responsible for limiting the team’s progress this season but it is their defence that has cost them in the final push for European qualification. That ambition appeared unrealistic at the start of the campaign, and there is still a slim chance it could be realised with several favourable results, but, for a manager who prides himself on solid defensive foundations, the past few weeks will have infuriated David Moyes.

His team would be sitting level with sixth-placed Bournemouth but for squandering six points in their past four games, each one characterised by poor defending whether at set pieces, against Liverpool and West Ham, or from open play, versus Manchester City and Crystal Palace. The downturn can be pinpointed to the 87th minute of the Merseyside derby when Jarrad Branthwaite, the team’s best defender, was carried off with a season-ending injury. Everton coped well with his absence in the first half of the season but have failed to rediscover that resilience since his latest hamstring setback.

Leeds v Brighton preview

Georginio Rutter returns to Elland Road on Sunday, doubtless hoping he will not have to spend another afternoon on the bench. The former Leeds forward joined Brighton for a record £40m in 2024 but, after a decent first season on the south coast, the Frenchman has struggled for game time this term, scoring only three goals and starting just one of the past seven games.

Part of the problem is that Fabian Hürzeler has made the excellent Danny Welbeck his principal striker, while Jack Hinshelwood has shone in Rutter’s preferred No 10 role. “I know Georginio’s not happy with his game minutes,” said Brighton’s head coach. “That’s normal … but he’s 100% committed. I feel he’s there for his teammates and for the club. It’s team first and there are moments when you have to put your ego behind you. Of course he’s not happy, that’s normal, but I’m pleased with his reaction.”

Manchester United beat Nottingham Forest 3-2 at Old Trafford in the day’s early game. Just don’t mention VAR.

Bradley Lowery, the Sunderland mascot whose battle with neuroblastoma helped raise than more £1m before his death in 2017, would have been 15 today. There will be a minute’s applause at Hill Dickinson Stadium after 15 minutes of today’s game, and two fans – one of each club – have cycled to the ground from the Stadium of Light to raise funds for the Bradley Lowery Foundation. Hats off to them.

Two more goals have been scored in a thrilling end-of-a-season game at Old Trafford, and Bruno Fernandes has equalled a major Premier League record. Clickity click click click!

Brentford v Crystal Palace preview

John Brewin

Brentford’s push for Europe continues, with complicated permutations likely to determine their destiny. The picture may not be clear until the final kicks of the season. Should Aston Villa win the Europa League on Wednesday and finish fifth in the Premier League, a Champions League spot opens up for sixth place. Brentford can close the gap on sixth by beating a Crystal Palace side with an eye on 27 May’s Conference League final. Bournemouth do not play until Tuesday.

On the final day, should Villa be beating Manchester City and closing on finishing above Liverpool or Manchester United it could well be in Brentford’s or Brighton’s interest to lose to those teams; Brentford are at Liverpool a week on Sunday. Quite the equation for Keith Andrews. Should it fall his way, he would deserve the manager of the season award. There’s a strong case to say he already does.

Wolves v Fulham team news

Wolves (3-4-2-1) Jose Sa; Mosquera, S Bueno, Krejci; R Gomes, J Gomes, Andre, Moller Wolfe; Armstrong, Mane; Hwang.

Subs: H Bueno, Arokodare, Lima, T Gomes, Bentley, Bellegarde, Tchatchoua, A Gomes, Edozie.

Fulham (4-2-3-1) Leno; Castagne, Diop, Bassey, Robinson; Lukic, Berge; Bobb, Smith Rowe, Iwobi; Muniz.

Subs: Tete, Jimenez, Wilson, Cairney, Cuenca, Chukwueze, Kevin, Lecomte, King.

Leeds v Brighton team news

Leeds (3-5-2) Darlow; Rodon, Bijol, Bornauw; James, Stach, Ampadu, Tanaka, Justin; Calvert-Lewin, Aaronson.

Subs: Perri, Longstaff, Piroe, Nmecha, Byram, Gnonto, Chadwick, Cresswell, Lienou.

Brighton (4-2-3-1) Verbruggen; Veltman, Van Hecke, Dunk, Kadioglu; Baleba, Gross; Minteh, Hinshelwood, De Cuyper; Welbeck.

Subs: March, Rutter, Kostoulas, Milner, Boscagli, Steele, Gomez, Ayari, O’Riley.

Everton v Sunderland team news

Seamus Coleman starts on the bench, though he’ll surely come on at some stage. There will be a helluva noise when he does.

Everton (4-2-3-1) Pickford; O’Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko; Iroegbunam, Garner; Rohl, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye; Beto.

Subs: Patterson, McNeil, Barry, Travers, George, Dibling, Coleman, Alcaraz, Armstrong.

Sunderland (4-2-3-1) Roefs; Geertruida, Mukiele, Alderete, Mandava; Xhaka, Sadiki; Hume, Le Fee, Angulo; Brobbey.

Subs: Cirkin, Talbi, Rigg, Mayenda, O’Nien, Isidor, Diarra, Ellborg, Ta Bi.

Brentford v Crystal Palace team news

Brentford (4-3-3) Kelleher; Kayode, Ayer, Collins, Lewis-Potter; Janelt, Jensen, Yarmolyuk; Dango, Thiago, Damsgaard.

Subs: Validmarsson, Hickey, Van den Berg, Pinnock, Henderson, Schade, Dasilva, Nelson, Furo.

Crystal Palace (3-4-2-1) Henderson; Riad, Lacroix, Canvot; Munoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell; Sarr, Pino; Strand Larsen.

Subs: Benitez, Clyne, Richards, Devenny, Lerma, Hughes, Johnson, Guessand, Mateta.

David Moyes has described Séamus Coleman as “the glue that kept Everton together” during their relegation fights and vital to the club’s survival in the Premier League.

The Everton manager’s tribute came after Coleman announced his distinguished 17-year playing career with the club would end when his contract expires next month. Everton have offered the 37-year-old a coaching role from this summer but he wants to continue playing for the Republic of Ireland and may look for another club.

Coleman has been hampered by injuries in recent seasons but has remained a huge influence on standards behind the scenes. The captain galvanised the team during relegation fights under Frank Lampard and Sean Dyche, and Moyes said Everton’s top-flight status would have been in greater jeopardy but for Coleman.

Manchester United lead Nottm Forest 2-1 in the early game at Old Trafford. You can follow the last half an hour with Michael Butler.

Preamble

Hello, good day and welcome to our penultimate clockwatch of the 2025-26 Premier League season. There are four games kicking off at 3pm, all involving teams hoping to use their passport next season:

• Brentford v Crystal Palace

• Everton v Sunderland

• Leeds v Brighton

• Wolves v Fulham

Manchester City’s FA Cup final victory was good news for Brighton, Brentford, Everton, Fulham and Sunderland, as it means whoever finishes eighth in the Premier League will qualify for the Conference League.

Brighton and Brentford, in particular, are aiming higher – the Europe League, perhaps even the Champions League if Aston Villa beat Freiburg on Wednesday and create a sixth-placed trophy.

It’s all pretty complicated, and if we look at any more permutations our head will explode like yer man in Scanners. So for now, let’s concentrate on the here and now: four important games, for which we’ll have team news shortly.