League One playoffs.
That’s it for tonight’s bumper clockwatch. Thanks for your company and emails - I’ll leave you with some heartwarming news from Molineux. Goodnight!
The final scores
- Everton 1-0 Wolves
- Newcastle 1-0 Sheff Utd
- Spurs 1-2 Aston Villa
- Crystal Palace 1-3 Arsenal
- Burnley 0-3 Liverpool
- West Brom 1-3 West Ham
Home advantage still ain’t what it used to be.
Full time: West Brom 1-3 West Ham
Peep peep! An excellent comeback from West Ham leaves them needing one more precious point to qualify for the Champions League. Tomas Soucek, Angelo Ogbonna and Michail Antonio got the goals after Matheus Pereira had put West Brom ahead from a corner. It was an open, entertaining game, loads of fun for the neutral.
Full time: Burnley 0-3 Liverpool
Liverpool’s third away win in seven days takes them into the top four for the first time in three months!
Burnley 0-3 Liverpool The margin of Liverpool’s win means their goal difference is now four better than Leicester, so it won’t be a factor on Sunday. Leicester need to better Liverpool’s result, it’s that simple. They play at home to Spurs, Liverpool are at home to Roy Hodgson.
“Crap, crap, crap,” says Mary Waltz, who may or may be an Everton fan. “That’s all I have to say.”
Don’t take this the wrong way, but you could still qualify for the Europa Conference League.
GOAL! West Brom 1-3 West Ham (Antonio 88)
Michail Antonio seals a priceless win for West Ham! Pablo Fornals led a three-on-two break and found Jesse Lingard 20 yards from goal. He played in Antonio, who crashed a first-time shot back across Sam Johnstone. Expertly done.
Updated
GOAL! Burnley 0-3 Liverpool (Oxlade-Chamberlain 89)
Liverpool have now won seven and drawn two of their last nine games.
West Brom 1-2 West Ham Right, here’s the Premier League table as things stand. If it stays like this, West Ham will only need a point at home to Southampton to finish sixth and qualify for the Europa League. That would be a mighty achievement. If it does happen, the solitary Europa League Conference place will be between Spurs, Everton, Arsenal and Leeds. Admittedly Leeds would have to win by around 14 goals at home to West Brom and hope Spurs, Everton and Arsenal all lose, but it’s Leeds, I’m ruling nothing out.
Updated
GOAL! West Brom 1-2 West Ham (Ogbonna 82)
Angelo Ogbonna puts West Ham into the lead! The resulting corner was swung to the far post by Cresswell, and Ogbonna stormed into the six-yard box and thumped a header into the ground that bounced up into the roof of the net. VAR does its best to disallowed it for handball but replays show it came only off his head and the goal stands
Updated
West Brom 1-1 West Ham The substitute Jarrod Bowen cuts infield and plays a penetrative reverse pass to Fornald, whose shot on the run is kicked away by Johnstone. If West Ham do get a winner here they will only need a draw at home to Southampton on Sunday.
Burnley 0-2 Liverpool I’ve just realised that Liverpool’s back four tonight (and for the past few games) have a combined shirt number of 185. The game’s gone!
“Re: your (mis)fortune at having the duty of handling the Clockwatch on Sunday,” says Matt Burtz. “We as readers wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Both of you?
West Brom 1-1 West Ham It’s end-to-end stuff at the Hawthorns, and West rom are having fun in front of their home fans. Hal Robson-Kanu hits a good shot from the edge of the area that is blocked by his teammate Matt Phillips. At the other end, Pablo Fornals shoots tamely at Johnstone after a surging run from Declan Rice.
The game is probably too open for David Moyes’ liking. He’d love to win but it’s not essential. It’s far more important that West Ham don’t concede, because that would mean a Europa League place is out of their hands.
It’s still Burnley 0-2 Liverpool, with just under 20 minutes remaining at Turf Moor.
West Brom 1-1 West Ham Now Cresswell has hit the outside of the post with a terrific free-kick! He was a long way out, at least 35 yards, but Sam Johnstone was anticipating a cross and left a big gap at the near post. Cresswell almost found it.
West Brom 1-1 West Ham Cresswell’s near-post corner is headed across goal and just wide by Soucek. Antonio almost got a touch inside the six-yard box as well. Soucek really is so dangerous at set pieces.
West Brom 1-1 West Ham Just under half an hour remaining at the Hawthorns. If it stays like this, West Ham will be guaranteed a Europa League place if they beat Southampton at home on Sunday. If they lose, all bets are off.
“It looks like it will be four of the Big Six in the Champions League despite the interlopers,” says Phil Haran. “In the end only Arsenal & Spurs need a Super League to get into the Champions League. Money always wins!”
I thought it was gravity?
GOAL! Burnley 0-2 Liverpool (Phillips 52)
A lovely moment for Nat Phillips, one of the season’s unlikely heroes. He has scored his first goal for Liverpool, heading in emphatically from Sadio Mane’s cross. The win will move Liverpool into the top four, ahead of Leicester on goal difference. Only their beloved Roy Hodgson stands between Liverpool and a Champions League place next season.
West Brom 1-1 West Ham Matheus Pereira again tries to score from a right-wing corner! This time Randolph punches it unconvincingly onto the roof of the net. The referee had given a foul so it wouldn’t have counted. Or would it?
Peep peep! The second halves are underway at the Hawthrosn (West Brom 1-1 West Ham) and Turf Moor (Burnley 0-1 Liverpool).
“As things stand there will be six teams whose final day performance will decide the places in Europe,” says Mary Waltz. “Ulcer time this weekend!”
I pity the fool who is doing the Premier League clockwatch on Sunday. I’ll just check the rota and see which poor bugge- oh for eff’s sake.
“Re: nobody wanting to be in the Europa Conference League,” begins Oliver. “Can I say that as a West Ham fan I’ll take any level of European football we can get. We’ve had enough rubbish seasons in recent memory that a European adventure - preferably one that goes beyond the qualifying rounds - would be nice whatever level it comes at.”
Yeah, I was being flippant really. I like the idea of the Conference League for the reasons you suggest - teams outside the elite deserve more chances of glory, because the traditional opportunities have largely been removed by the inequality of modern football. I just worry that it will become an unwanted prize for the weaker Big Six teams. And I wish they hadn’t called it the Europa Conference League, which is only marginally better than the Europa Afterthought League.
Half times: Burnley 0-1 Liverpool, West Brom 1-1 West Ham
I’m going to bathe my eyes in something for 10 minutes, but I’ll be back for the start of the second halves.
Updated
West Brom 1-1 West Ham Scratch that, the Premier League have given the West Brom goal to Pereira. That’s fair enough as his corner was on target and you could certainly argue it was a shot.
GOAL! West Brom 1-1 West Ham (Soucek 45+2)
For the second time this season, Tomas Soucek has scored at both ends. Said Benrahma did all the work, sliding a lovely cross that gave Soucek an open goal from four yards. He looked offside at first, and the VAR check went on forever, but replays showed he was this far behind Benrahma when the ball was played across.
Updated
GOAL! Burnley 0-1 Liverpool (Firmino 43)
John Brewin is your man for this one.
The final/latest scores
- Everton 1-0 Wolves
- Newcastle 1-0 Sheffield United
- Spurs 1-2 Aston Villa
- Crystal Palace 1-3 Arsenal
- West Brom 1-0 West Ham
- Burnley 0-0 Liverpool
Full time: Crystal Palace 1-3 Arsenal
Peep peep! Arsenal’s late dash for Europe continues with their fourth successive league victory. They rode their luck in the second half before Gabriel Martinelli and Nicolas Pepe scored in injury time to ruin Roy Hodgson’s last home game as Palace manager. Arsenal are now only one point behind Spurs, Everton and, as things stand, West Ham.
GOAL! Crystal Palace 1-3 Arsenal (Pepe 90+5)
It’s all over now! Pepe dances into the area, twists Tomkins inside out and guides a shot into the far corner. That’s a sensational solo goal from a player who has improved enormously in the last few months.
Updated
Crystal Palace 1-2 Arsenal That goal moves Arsenal within a point of a Europa League place, never mind the Europa League Conference. Their last game is at home to Brighton on Sunday.
Crystal Palace 1-2 Arsenal Roy Hodgson is muttering away to himself, wrestling with football vicissitudes one last time. Now he’s starting to grit his teeth in frustration. It probably won’t happen, but imagine if he calmly stuck the head on Arteta at the final whistle.
GOAL! Crystal Palace 1-2 Arsenal (Martinelli 90+1)
The substitute Gabriel Martinelli has won it for Arsenal! He got the wrong side of Joel Ward to meet Martin Odegaard’s dangerous inswinging cross, looped the ball over Guaita and volleyed it into the empty net. There was a VAR check for handball but the goal stands!
Updated
“Oh you glorious Baggies!!!” says Mary Waltz. “The fact that Everton fans have to rely on a relegated team to save their bacon is sad. If I had any pride or self respect I would refuse their charity. But since I don’t, I will take it.”
Crystal Palace 1-1 Arsenal Three minutes plus added time remaining at Selhurst Park. If Arsenal don’t score, they will miss out on European football for the first time since 1995-96.
Burnley 0-0 Liverpool
West Brom 1-0 West Ham Matheus Pereira could be a great signing for someone this summer. He has oozed class and swagger in a relegated team, so imagine what he would be like with better players around him.
GOAL! West Brom 1-0 West Ham (Soucek 27 og)
Another twist in the Europa Conference League plot! Matheus Pereira’s wicked inswinging corner brushes the head of Tomas Soucek and flies past Darren Randolph. The corner was on target so it might go down as Pereira’s goal.
Updated
Crystal Palace 1-1 Arsenal At the other end, Chambers’ delicious cross is volleyed wide by Aubameyang. That was an excellent chance.
Crystal Palace 1-1 Arsenal Palace continue to push for a winner. Jordan Ayew, on for Benteke, has a close-range header saved by Leno.
“Right you are, Rob, regarding what Kane’s teary lap does and doesn’t prove,” says David Reynolds. “But I would say that when Levy digs in his much overrated heels, it is too ensure a high price, but rarely to actually keep the player who wishes to leave. Given our perilous financial straits, I think he will play it so that Kane’s price is as high as the market can stand; not a pound lower, but not a pound higher - I don’t see him deliberately pricing out all interested parties.”
As a Spurs fan you’ll know more than me, but didn’t he force Luka Modric to stay for an extra season? Part of the problem is that, because of Covid, nobody knows what the market can or should stand. There’s also the new manager to consider. But maybe you’re right, and it’s certainly hard to begrudge Kane a move.
Crystal Palace 1-1 Arsenal Chambers makes a vital block from Zaha, who created the chance with a glorious first touch to kill a long ball forward.
Crystal Palace 1-1 Arsenal Bernd Leno makes a fine save from an increasingly rampant Benteke. There’s a pulsating atmosphere at Selhurst Park.
Here’s the league table as things stand. If Arsenal don’t win tonight, they can forget about Europa League Conference glory next season.
DECLAN RICE MISSES A PENALTY!
West Brom 0-0 West Ham I say ‘misses’, it happened about eight minutes ago but I can’t keep up with everything. So sue me! Michail Antonio was brought down by Sam Johnstone, and Rice smashed his penalty against the post.
Updated
GOAL! Crystal Palace 1-1 Arsenal (Benteke 62)
Christian Benteke continues his brilliant recent form! It was a classic Benteke goal, a diving header from Andros Townsend’s free-kick that bounced up to beat the diving Leno. There was a long VAR check, both for offside and a push on Elneny, but the goal stands!
Updated
Peep peep! The 8.15pm games are under way, and you won’t believe the score at Turf Moor!
“I don’t know if you noticed, but Kane just made the last-game lap of the ground on his own with tears in his eyes - receiving a rousing reception from all 10,000,” says David Reynolds. “If there was any doubt that this was his last home game, that ends it.”
Ah, I missed that, thanks. I’m not sure it proves it was his last home game, though, only that he would like it to be. What happens if Daniel Levy asks for £150m, which is not unreasonable in the circumstances, and nobody is willing to pay it?
“Hi Rob,” says Ian Copestake. “Mistakes for Spurs seem to be a Reguilon occurrence. I know! Try the Prosciutto.”
Palace 0-1 Arsenal The second half is under way at Selhurst Park, where Arsenal are bossing possession without really threatening too much.
Updated
And Louise Taylor was at St James’ Park as Joe Willock made it six goals in six for Newcastle:
Here’s Richard Jolly’s match report from Goodison Park:
The big winners so far tonight are West Ham. A Europa League place is back in their hands after that fiasco at White Hart Lane. They need four points from the last two games to clinch it, though one might be enough.
“Among the many reasons to honour Roy Hodgson, and to regret his retirement, is that he will be the last manager of an English club to have referred to ‘the Arsenal’,” says Charles Antaki. “A chapter closes.”
Somewhere in heaven, Don Howe is nodding respectfully.
Full time: Newcastle 1-0 Sheffield United
Peep peep! Newcastle reach the magical and increasingly meaningless 40-point mark with a win over Sheffield United. Joe Willock headed the winner in first-half injury-time, and in doing so became the youngest player to score in six consecutive Premier League games. I was hoping he was born in 1992, to reinforce the point that this is when football began, but I’ve clearly lost track of time because he came into this world on 20 August 1999.
League One Lincoln have beaten Sunderland 2-0 in the first leg of their League One play-off. I think this result speaks for itself.
Updated
Full time: Spurs 1-2 Aston Villa
Peep peep! Spurs are booed off after a miserable performance at the White Hart Lane Stadium. Steven Bergwijn scored a spectacular early goal, but Villa, inspired by the returning Jack Grealish and the relentless John McGinn, calmly took control of the game. Sergio Reguilon’s farcical own goal brought them level and then Ollie Watkins took advantage of another Reguilon mistake.
Spurs 1-2 Aston Villa The 17-year-old debutant Carney Chukwuemeka, who only came on in the 89th minute, has just hit the post with a fine effort from the edge of the area. That would have been quite the story had he scored.
Full time: Everton 1-0 Wolves
Peep peep! Richarlison’s header gives Everton a vital, if laboured, win over Wolves. The good news is they are still in contention for a European place; the bad news is their last game is at the Etihad.
Spurs 1-2 Aston Villa There are six minutes of added time at the White Hart Lane Stadiun.
Half time: Crystal Palace 0-1 Arsenal
Peep peep! Nicolas Pepe’s excellent goal gives City Arsenal the lead at Selhurst Park.
Updated
“Everton are currently hanging on by their fingernails praying for the final whistle,” says Mary Waltz. “Thankfully Wolves, who play lovely football, don’t seem to have anyone who can finish. I hope.”
So Wolves need a striker, you say, a proven goalscorer? Interesting.
“You said Spurs are in danger of missing out on Europe,” begins Ian Davis. “Never mind the inessentials - as things stand, Spurs are in danger of ending up below Arsenal.”
“Hi Rob,” says James Stephenson. “Won’t Spurs qualify for the new third-tier European club competition if they finish seventh?”
I’m afraid they will.
Spurs 1-2 Aston Villa Traore’s mishit shot falls kindly for Watkins, whose snapshot is crucially bloked by Eric Dier. Villa could easily have scored five or six tonight.
In the first leg of the League One play-off, it’s Lincoln 2-0 Sunderland with a few minutes remaining. I knew they should have kept Jack Rodwell.
Spurs 1-2 Aston Villa There’s a long delay while Japhet Tanganga receives treatment. He fell very awkwardly after a nothing challenge with El Ghazi, and his left leg is in a brace as he is moved gently onto a stretcher.
Crystal Palace 0-1 Arsenal Benteke and Elneny are booked after some off-the-ball business. There will be a red card in this game, nowt surer.
Updated
“Celtic wouldn’t pay £3m for McGinn a couple of seasons ago as they considered it too much for a young Scottish player who they assumed they could force another Scottish club to sell to them on the cheap,” says Simon McMahon. “It’s ok, though, cause Celtic continue to win everything in sight here, and McGinn has done nothing since moving to England, right?”
The thing that gets me about McGinn is that he’s good. He’s really effing good.
GOAL! Crystal Palace 0-1 Arsenal (Pepe 35)
This is an excellent goal. Saka’s cute backheel finds Tierney, who stands up a cross towards the penalty spot. Pepe, arriving late into the area, stretches to clatter a right-footed volley into the ground and up past Guaita. All of a sudden Arsenal are back in the race for Europe.
Updated
Spurs 1-2 Aston Villa Kane’s deflected shot is beaten away at the near post by Martinez. Spurs have been better in the second half, though Villa still deserve to be ahead on the balance of play.
Spurs 1-2 Villa Douglas Luiz comes on for Jack Grealish, who was imperious and talismanic on his first start since mid-February.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Arsenal Saka bursts through on goal, slips past Guaita and then goes over. Anthony Taylor is about to make a very difficult decision when the assistant does him a solid and puts the flag up for offside. Replays confirm it was just offside, and probably - probably - a dive by Saka.
Spurs 1-2 Aston Villa Gareth Bale comes on for Spurs to replace Steven Bergwijn. All Bale’s nine league goals this season have come at home to teams in the bottom hal fof the table. I can see the headlines now: MANCHESTER GUARDIAN SLAMS ‘FLAT-TRACK BULLY’ BALE
Crystal Palace 0-0 Arsenal Christian Benteke misses a good chance, heading a free-kick over the bar from six yards.
“Wouldn’t Harry Kane moving to Manchester City constitute a breach of Unfair Competition regulation?” says Stephen Ashworth. “If they snag him they should agree to always start with ten players. Or at least have me as their 11th.”
The latest scores
- Everton 1-0 Wolves (6pm)
- Newcastle 1-0 Sheffield United (6pm)
- Spurs 1-2 Aston Villa (6pm)
- Crystal Palace 0-0 Arsenal (7pm)
Crystal Palace 0-0 Arsenal There’s a bit of needle in this game. There was the Schlupp foul, a kick off the ball by Ward on Tierney (not enough for a red card) and a few other robust challenges. Tierney is being heartily booed, having made a meal of the aforementioned Ward kick.
Updated
Thanks for all your emails, which I’m trying and failing to keep up with. There’s plenty going on in the various matches, and Bertrand Traore has just a shot blocked crucially by Toby Alderweireld. It’s still Spurs 1-2 Aston Villa.
“Benitez gave us hope,” says Charlie Hopkins. “Look at our previous managers. Big Sam, Pardew, McLaren, Joe Kinnear. From poor to woeful. None of them achieving anything since leaving. Then along comes Rafa. A Champions League-winning manager who agrees to stay in the Championship because he believes in the project. The only manager of the five who ever actually called out Ashley’s lack of investment in the club and his lack of connection with the fans. Yes the football was not scintillating but there were tactics in play, a sense of building from the back and the feeling that we would be taken seriously, which is a far cry from Joe Kinnear talking about Yohan Kebab and telling journalists to F off.”
Beautifully argued. Just one question: which one’s Simon Bird?
“I’m just glad it’s not Man Utd,” says Tim Bartlett of the transfer that we have already decided on Harry Kane’s behalf. “After Sheringham, then Berbatov it seemed that the Spurs drain-pipe always ended at Old Trafford. £150m is a nice sum to squander, and what if Son wants to move as well given the shrinking prospects? Might almost be able to afford Jose’s payoff.”
Spurs 1-2 Villa Traore shapes a clever shot just wide after another Terminator run from McGinn.
West Brom v West Ham team news
📋 Team news is in at The Hawthorns. We make one change, with Maitland-Niles coming into the side.@MonsterEnergy | #WBAWHU
— West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) May 19, 2021
Saïd Benrahma starts after his goal on Saturday 🧙♂️🇩🇿
— West Ham United (@WestHam) May 19, 2021
Here's how we line up tonight...#WBAWHU pic.twitter.com/neZvVsPmJY
“Rob, I’ll level with you, I’m nervous,” weeps Liverpool fan Ian Copestake. “I’m fully expecting an evening of swearing at the brilliance of Burnley before joining Matt Dony on some street corner to throw stuff.”
You can get all the team news - all of it - here.
“I hope that Gareth Southgate is taking note of Villa’s performance tonight,” says Jon Collins. “They’re a team transformed with Grealish back in the side. He’s developed into such a good and influential player that if he’s fit England surely need to find space for him in their starting lineup in the summer.”
I love Grealish so much but I don’t think he’ll start Euro 2021. Southgate is almost certainly going to pick Mount, Foden and Kane, so I’d imagine he’ll want the fourth attacker to be genuinely fast. That probably means Raheem Sterling or Marcus Rashford, even though both are in wretched form. Not that it matters, because on tonight’s form John McGinn will beat England on his own. He has been everywhere.
Spurs 1-2 Aston Villa Spurs have been much better since half-time. Reguilon’s deep cross is volleyed over by Kane, a difficult ball to take on the run.
Spurs 1-2 Villa Kane stabs a nice pass through to Bergwijn, whose rasping shot is again pushed away by Martinez. That was a relatively comfortable save.
The Premier League table as things stand. Spurs are suddenly in danger of missing out on Europe for the first time since 2009-10.
“It’s stunning the difference one man can make to a team,” says Darren MacTavish. “Without Grealish, Villa look no better than Burnley or Crystal Palace; with him, they’re comfortably a better team than Spurs.”
It’s fascinating, isn’t it. It’s not just his genius on the ball; he clearly empowers everyone around him.
Spurs 1-2 Aston Villa It’s all happening tonight. Emi Martinez has just made a fine save, falling to his left to beat away a shot from Bergwijn. On reflection Bergwijn should have done better, but it was still a really good stop.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Arsenal Jeff Schlupp is booked for a poor tackle on Calum Chambers, and there’s a protracted VAR check for a red card. Eventually it stays yellow, but it could have gone either way. It looked much worse in slow motion, with his studs plunging into the top of Chambers’ foot.
GOAL! Everton 1-0 Wolves (Richarlison 48)
Everton take the lead early in the second half! Richarlison gets above Boly to meet Sigurdsson’s’s corner and head across John Ruddy.
Updated
Peep peep! The second halves are under way, as is the first half of Crystal Palace v Arsenal.
Updated
“Sorry to weigh in but need to answer the email pondering why Newcastle fans love Rafa,” says Oliver Lewis. “In summary, Rafa came to a club in tatters, rebuilt the team from ground up, build the best defence we’ve had in years (still relied upon by Bruce), acted with massive class in terms of engaging with fans and the community and brought through some promising young talent.
“Bruce has sidelined the young talent, brought back the useless Shelvey, slagged off the fans, blamed everything on Rafa, had a much bigger transfer budget, started a season saying top half aim then finished it saying staying up was mission accomplished etc etc etc.
“That is not to say Bruce hasn’t had some bad luck and some performances worthy of praise. But this ‘mystery’ over why Newcastle fans love Rafa because all someone has seen was us beat Man City is the weirdest thing.”
Half-time chitchat
“You never know with Raiola, but Haaland might just stay at Dortmund after they secured CL football next season, and Lewandowski isn’t going anywhere,” says Julian Menz. “That would make Kane the hottest property around, and several big clubs will be in the market, even at Levy prices. Maybe Real Madrid can’t afford him, but they always seem to find a few quid down the back of the sofa, likewise Barcelona. City are favourites though, given Aguero’s departure. £150m is crazy money/small change, depending on who you are.”
That’s a good summary. The more I think about it, the harder it becomes to see him playing for anyone other than Manchester City or Spurs next season.
Half time: Newcastle 1-0 Sheff Utd
It was a really good goal from Joe Willock. Saint-Maximin played a lovely pass inside the full back to Murphy, who stood up a textbook cross to the far post. Willock got to it first and planted a header into bottom corner.
Updated
GOAL! Newcastle 1-0 Sheff Utd (Willock 45+5)
Joe Willock scores for the sixth game in a row!
Updated
Half time: Everton 0-0 Wolves
Move along, nothing to see here.
Half time: Spurs 1-2 Aston Villa
Spurs are booed off at half-time, having been totally outplayed by a vibrant Aston Villa.
Spurs 1-2 Aston Villa Yet another chance for Villa, with Lloris saving well from Watkins after a mistake from Dier. The difference a Grealish makes; Villa have been magnificent.
Spurs 1-2 Aston Villa Anwar El Ghazi misses an excellent chance after more good play from McGinn and Grealish. Spurs are all over the show and could easily be 4-1 down.
The Premier League table as it stands
It’s almost as if nobody wants to play in the Europa Conference League.
“Hi Rob,” says David Wall. “I appreciate that it’s anathema to most Newcastle supporters that Steve Bruce might stay beyond the end of the season (even though it’s turning out that when his best attacking players aren’t all missing through various injuries or Covid they’ve done pretty well and often been entertaining), but I have never understood the adulation of Benitez.
“The football they played when he was there was frequently unambitious and turgid (perhaps not always as bad as the home match against City when they pretty much set up a line of 10 defenders across the edge of the penalty area from the first minute but rarely very enterprising). And they didn’t achieve great results either, always being around lower mid-table like now.
“It almost seems that they were flattered by the fact that a renowned manager wanted to work with them, as though he was somehow above them so was doing them a favour by being there. But it’s not as though Newcastle is an insignificant club, or that Benitez was really a superstar coach. I’d have thought they should be more demanding whoever ends up in charge.”
Benitez does seem to inspire that kind of intense devotion, at least at certain clubs. It’s an interesting subject, on which I am not remotely qualified to comment.
GOAL! Spurs 1-2 Villa (Watkins 39)
Jack Grealish is back, and so are the real Aston Villa. Ollie Watkins has given them a deserved lead after another mistake from Sergio Reguilon. His clearance hit Bertrand Traore and rebounded towards Watkins, who held off Eric Dier and dragged the ball past Hugo Lloris at the near post.
Updated
Everton 0-0 Wolves “It’s pretty much a textbook example of plus ca change at Goodison,” says Stephen Carr. “Wolves are dominating without threatening and Everton are getting ready to get booed off at half time.”
“Hi Rob,” says Mark Childs. “Re: fans being angry at refs, I didn’t think immediately about Brian Hill… but as soon as I read his name I knew exactly what incident you were referring to. I remember being angry about that call for weeks afterwards, still grumbling about it on the way to a meaningless game against Derby at Old Trafford a few weeks later when United ‘should’ have been playing in the FA Cup semi-final against Liverpool. The events at Hillsborough that day put things in perspective.”
Everton 0-0 Wolves Fabio Silva’s deflected shot loops just over the bar, with Pickford leaping desperately.
“There is no score but Wolves are pushing Everton all around the pitch so far,” says Mary Waltz. “The fans at Everton want to explode but Everton is giving them nothing to cheer about so far.”
I knew they should have registered Duncan Ferguson as one of the subs. I bet he really could still do a job, even at the age of 49.
Updated
“If Erling Haaland is, indeed, on his way to a new club, how would that impact Kane’s possible destination?” says Jake Shaffer. “I’d assume no club has the financial backing and/or need to sign both. So, I am somewhat surprised that City would go for Kane over Haaland, but I guess the former is a guaranteed finished product. Meanwhile, if not City, then who, realistically, could and would sign the Golden Boy? He is just going to wind up at Bayern, right?”
It wouldn’t be without precedent, would it. I don’t know enough about Haaland really - he still won’t answer my texts - but my instinct is that he’ll stay at Dortmund until his release clause is activated in the summer of 2022.
Spurs 1-1 Aston Villa Spurs’ last game is a tricky one, Leicester away, so they really need to win tonight. At the moment they are hanging on against a superior Villa.
Here’s the Premier League table as things stand. So far, so good for West Ham.
Spurs 1-1 Villa With Jack Grealish in the mood, Villa are dominating at the White Hart Lane Stadium. Ollie Watkins has a shot crucically blocked by Dier, and then John McGinn lashes over from distance.
The latest scores in the 6pm games
- Everton 0-0 Wolves
- Newcastle 0-0 Sheffield United
- Spurs 1-1 Aston Villa
“Watching that Man United v Forest video you posted (18:07), and laughing heartily at both Brian McClair and Bryan Robson claiming to the referee that the ball was three feet over the line, when it was barely a few inches (if that),” says Graeme Thorn. “Of course, to counter it, I would point to Pedro Mendes’ non-goal in 2005, which was more
obviously over.”
I’m still not convinced about that Mendes goal. I’m not sure any of the angles are definitive.
GOAL! Tottenham 1-1 Villa (Reguilon 20 og)
A spectacular own goal from Sergio Reguilon brings Villa level. Nakamba, who was at fault for the opening goal, put a routine cross into the area from the left. Reguilon, 15 yards out, tried to clear it with his right foot and shinned it comically into his own net.
Updated
Crystal Palace v Arsenal team news
COME ON YOU PALACE#CPFC | #CRYARS
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) May 19, 2021
🚨 TEAM NEWS IS IN…
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) May 19, 2021
🇬🇭 @ThomasPartey22 in midfield
🏴 @EmileSmithRowe starts
🇨🇮 Pepe returns out wide
#️⃣ #CRYARS
🚀 | Bergwijn is back with a bang!
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 19, 2021
The #THFC grabs his first goal of the season as fans return to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium!
📺 Watch on Sky Sports
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“Afternoon Rob,” says Tom Hopkins. “I’ll be interested to see what the going rate for someone in the Kane (or Haaland, or Lewandowski) bracket is post-COVID. It feels like the silly (in every sense) money might not be there any more (or at least that reality is starting to dawn on a few of the clubs that used to throw money around like it was going out of fashion).”
Yes, this adds another layer to the imminent saga, because I have a feeling Daniel Levy won’t recognise the concept of Covid adjustment.
Spurs 1-0 Aston Villa There’s an unsuccessful Villa appeal for a penalty when Watkins falls over Lloris near the byline. Lloris was ushering the ball out of play, and Watkins wouldn’t have got to it, but that didn’t matter when Harry Kane was given a penalty in the return fixture. Villa had a case there, though I suppose you could argue it wasn’t a clear and obvious error. I’ll level with you: I don’t know nothin’ no more.
GOAL! Spurs 1-0 Aston Villa (Bergwijn 8)
Steven Bergwijn, back in the side tonight, lashes Spurs into the lead. It was a cracking goal, all his own work. He robbed Marvelous Nakamba 30 yards from goal, held off a couple of defenders on his way into the penalty area and then scorched a half-volley into the top corner.
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“Hi there Rob,” says Francis Lee. “The omens are not good for Villa with Kevin Friend on VAR - the man who disallowed our equaliser v Palace in 2019 and instead carded Grealish for a non-dive (yes, really, he actually got straight back up!) in the build-up.”
The ability of football fans to remember which referees have it in for their team never ceases to fascinate/appal me. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me if some lost cause reads your email and immediately thinks, ‘Brian Hill, 1989’.
Peep peep! It’s Wednesday, it’s 6pm, it’s football time.
There’s a warm reception for Harry Kane and the rest of the Spurs team from the 10,000 fans at the White Hart Lane Stadium. Kane looks almost scarily focussed as he lines up for the pre-match nonsense.
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Golden Boot watch
- 22 Mo Salah, Harry Kane
- 18 Bruno Fernandes
- 17 Son Heung-min
“Afternoon Rob,” says Stephen Carr. “I’d definitely agree with Matt’s comments about Everton’s fans. One of the few fanbases capable of simultaneously entertaining the possibilities of challenging for the league and battling relegation.”
“Shouldn’t Levy want as many clubs in the bidding war for Kane to drive up the price?” says Mary Waltz. “‘But if he sells to Chelsea the fans will hate him’. They already hate him, they are calling for him to sell the club, at this point shouldn’t he get as much cash as possible?”
Absolutely, but he has his personal dual Hemi engine Jeep that he uses to drive the price up. The man got £18m for Kevin Wimmer, for goodness sake. He’s barely human.
Ten minutes to go until kick off in the three 6pm games. In short, Spurs really need to beat Aston Villa, Everton really, really need to beat Wolves, and Newcastle and Sheffield United can let their hair down.
Popcorn, please!
“I can usually be pretty optimistic about Everton, but I got nothing for you today,” says Matt Burtz. “At least fans will be at Goodison, though if it’s another dreadful performance, that won’t be a good thing.”
It’s been an odd season, hasn’t it? Some enormous highs, especially away from home, but some of the performances at Goodison Park have put the dire in diabolical. They’ve been a bit unlucky with injuries to Allan and James in particular. Their best XI is a very good team, and they could still qualify for Europe for only the third time in a decade.
Now that’s what I call taking the positives.
Ryan Mason’s pre-match interview
“[A few token answers while he waits for the inevitable Harry Kane question] No one’s said it’s Harry’s last game here - it’s our last game of the season here, and we want to perform for our fans. It’s been no distraction because it’s all speculation: Harry hasn’t come out and said anything yet, so it hasn’t been a distraction. The only focus is on the game tonight. It’s normal at a club like this to have to deal with speculation.”
“Must admit I am massively surprised by reports that Manchester City are in the race for Harry Kane,” says Rick Harris. “That surely puts pressure on other PL clubs to outbid them, as City with Kane would be even bigger favourites than they already are to win everything next season. I doubt if Kane himself would insist on moving to the Etihad if a bigger bid came in from United, Chelsea or Liverpool – what do you think?”
I might be wrong – it’s not exactly without precedent – but I don’t think Spurs would sell him to Chelsea under any circumstances. Liverpool can’t afford him, and I’m not sure he’s the sort of player they’d want anyway. United might be able to afford him, and the precedent of Robin van Persie will be in their mind, but they have greater needs elsewhere. It sounds like Kane wants to stay in England, so City it is. Nice one, can we get on with our summer now?
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Newcastle v Sheff Utd team news
🚨 𝙏𝙀𝘼𝙈-𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 🚨
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) May 19, 2021
HWTL! ⚫️⚪️ pic.twitter.com/Rq0KYDBv2M
United make one change, Bogle comes in for Baldock, who picked up an injury on Sunday and is not included as a precaution.
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) May 19, 2021
Jebbison and Didzy start up top. 👊#NEWSHU 🔴 pic.twitter.com/xfMxXQvhhV
Spurs v Aston Villa team news
Jack Grealish starts for the first since 13 February.
𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 ⚪️ Lloris (C), Tanganga, Alderweireld, Dier, Reguilon, Højbjerg, Winks, Dele, Bergwijn, Son, Kane.#THFC ⚪️ #COYS pic.twitter.com/L1L8y6j3Su
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) May 19, 2021
🟣 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 🟣@JackGrealish returns to the Aston Villa starting XI for #TOTAVL! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/uAQfdruP2h
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) May 19, 2021
Everton v Wolves team news
📋 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 📋
— Everton (@Everton) May 19, 2021
Come on you Blues! 🔵👊#EVEWOL pic.twitter.com/p8AZxjFCgM
Here's how Wolves line-up for this evening's @premierleague fixture against @Everton. #EVEWOL
— Wolves (@Wolves) May 19, 2021
🐺📋 pic.twitter.com/ZHD30BiTRa
Preamble
Hello and welcome to the last midweek clockwatch of this unique season. There are six Premier League games tonight, with most eyes on qualification for the three European competitions. We’ll have a separate liveblog on Burnley v Liverpool a bit later. These are the fixtures in full
- Everton v Wolves (6pm)
- Newcastle v Sheff Utd (6pm)
- Spurs v Aston Villa (6pm)
- Crystal Palace v Arsenal (7pm)
- Burnley v Liverpool (8.15pm)
- West Brom v West Ham (8.15pm)
There are permutations galore, but the remaining European places should be claimed by two of Spurs, West Ham, Everton and Arsenal. Here’s the table at things stand. The team in sixth will go into the Europa League; whoever finishes seventh will go into the new Europa Conference League.
There are also subplots galore tonight: Harry Kane’s last home game as a Spurs player (possibly), Roy Hodgson’s last home game as Crystal Palace manager (definitely), Sam Allardyce’s last home game as a Premier League manager (possibly) and, best of all, the return of supporters are six more stadiums.
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