2. Brighton 1-1 Leicester
3. Pervis Estupinan takes issue with a challenge from Kasey McAteer, shoving the Leicester man. Estupinan gets a yellow card for his stroppiness.
5. Nottingham Forest 0-0 Everton
6. Leon Osman
7. Former Everton and England midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live
8. We have struggled to get a row of five consecutive passes together in this game. We need someone to inspire this game at either end of the field.
10. Nottingham Forest 0-0 Everton
11. The chase for the Champions League is set to go down to the wire.
12. Forest’s remaining six games after this are:

• Tottenham (away)
• Brentford (home)
• Crystal Palace (away)
• Leicester (home)
• West Ham (away)
• Chelsea (home)

2. Brighton 1-1 Leicester
3. Stephen Warnock
4. Former Aston Villa and Liverpool defender on Final Score
5. This is such an open game with the way Brighton are throwing players forward. They have been creating so many opportunities. That is three chances now in the last couple of minutes.
8. get involved#bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only – standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826
9. Brighton jinx against relegation team coming into play again? Dominating possession, but finding the back of the net a problem. Fingers crossed for 3-1.
11. Brighton 1-1 Leicester
12. Not for the first time today, Leicester gift a chance to Brighton, but Joao Pedro can only drag his effort wide of the post from 15 yards out.
14. Nottingham Forest 0-0 Everton
15. Leon Osman
16. Former Everton and England midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live
17. To be where Forest are in the Premier League is remarkable.
19. Nottingham Forest 0-0 Everton
20. Forest fans feel Jarrad Branthwaite should have been booked earlier for barging into Jota Silva in an off-the-ball incident.
21. This time the Everton defender flattens Silva and referee Craig Pawson shows Branthwaite a yellow card which is met by cheers of approval from home fans.
22. Image source, Reuters
24. Southampton 0-0 Aston Villa
25. Tielemans has been Villa’s best player so far this afternoon but he’ll be disappointed with that effort on goal.
26. The Belgian was afforded a good amount of time about 25 yards out but he didn’t set his curling effort far enough outside Ramsdale’s post and it’s an easy save for the England stopper.
27. Image source, Reuters
29. Brighton 1-1 Leicester
30. Brighton should instantly retake the lead, but Matt O’Riley misses with a close-range diving header.
33. get involved#bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only – standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826
34. There’s a problem with my goal alerts – it says Leicester have scored.
36. Brighton 1-1 Leicester
37. Stephen Warnock
38. Former Aston Villa and Liverpool defender on Final Score
39. This time Stephy Mavididi strikes the ball with his left foot and it goes under the goalkeeper. He’s got such great feet when he gets people in one v one situations. Super feet.
42. get involved#bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only – standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826
43. Villa demonstrating to Southampton what it felt like to play PSG in midweek.
45. Southampton 0-0 Aston Villa
46. Mateus Fernandes goes in the book.
47. The Portuguese midfielder glided past two Villa players in midfield and then messed up his pass.
48. He takes his anger out on Ian Maatsen and gets a yellow card for his work.
50. Stephy Mavidi (Leicester)
51. For the first time since 26 January, Leicester score a goal in the Premier League.
52. Lewis Dunk’s error gives the Foxes a chance to attack. There is a slice of luck about the goal as Stephy Mavidi’s cross bounces off a Brighton defender and falls straight back to him. He hits it first time and, despite getting a hand to it, Bart Verbruggen can’t keep it out.
53. “We scored a goal,” chant the delighted and long-suffering Leicester fans.
54. Image source, Reuters
56. Nottingham Forest 0-0 Everton
57. Half a chance for Everton. A header by Iliman Ndiaye this time but he’ll have to do better than that if he is to beat Matz Sels.
58. Still, more encouragement for Everton.
60. Brighton 1-0 Leicester
61. Excellent defending from Lewis Dunk, throwing himself in front of the ball to charge down Luke Thomas’ close-range volley at the back post and that keeps Brighton in front.
64. get involved#bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only – standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826
65. If we can’t score against a very poor Southampton, then you can forget any top 6, any FA cup win and any slight possibility of a comeback against PSG. Not good enough.
67. Nottingham Forest 0-0 Everton
68. Leon Osman
69. Former Everton and England midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live
70. I did think this game would be one of fine margins and I thought they’d have to be patient for chances to come.
71. I didn’t expect them to be sloppy as both teams have been.
72. Image source, Reuters

Page 2

1. Nottingham Forest 0-0 Everton
2. Leon Osman
3. Former Everton and England midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live
4. I did think this game would be one of fine margins and I thought they’d have to be patient for chances to come.
5. I didn’t expect them to be sloppy as both teams have been.
6. Image source, Reuters
8. Nottingham Forest 0-0 Everton
9. Vitalii Mykolenko goes down right in front of David Moyes after an aerial challenge with Neco Williams. Mykolenko gets a pat on the back from his boss when he eventually climbs to his feet.
10. This isn’t a great watch. It’s edgy and nervy inside the City Ground which is perhaps understandable considering what’s at stake for Forest.
12. Southampton 0-0 Aston Villa
13. Villa have stepped up the intensity of their passing in the last few minutes but they’re really struggling to create clear-cut chances.
14. Southampton’s back three is more often than not turning into a back five and the home side are defending well.
15. Image source, Reuters
17. Brighton 1-0 Leicester
18. Leicester City have conceded 38 first-half goals in 32 games, more than any other side in the Premier League this season.
21. get involved#bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only – standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826
22. Leicester City utterly useless all season it’s the same back four that relegated them a few seasons ago. Ruud van Nistlerooy has to be sacked.
24. Nottingham Forest 0-0 Everton
25. Chris Wood’s stats after 30 minutes:

• Four touches.
• One pass.
• No attempts.

1. Sums up Forest’s performance so far.
3. Joao Pedro (penalty)
4. A deserved lead for Brighton. Joao Pedro strokes the penalty into the bottom left corner, Mads Hermansen dives the wrong way and the hosts are ahead.
5. Conor Coady, who conceded the penalty, was booked, as was Hermansen for arguing the decision.
6. Image source, Getty Images
8. Southampton 0-0 Aston Villa
9. Saints fans are singing Mateus Fernandes’ name.
10. The Portuguese midfielder’s just relieved some pressure on the Saints’ defence with a really nice turn.
11. In an otherwise forgettable season, the midfielder’s been a rare bright spark.
13. Nottingham Forest 0-0 Everton
14. Leon Osman
15. Former Everton and England midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live
16. They have had nothing to get excited about because every time they have mounted an attack, Forest, someone has given the ball away.
17. That can actually lift the other team and give them confidence.
18. Image source, Getty Images
20. Brighton 0-0 Leicester
21. Stephen Warnock
22. Former Aston Villa and Liverpool defender on Final Score
23. The referee initially waved it away but seeing the replay Conor Coady puts his arm out. It is a penalty.
24. As the shot comes in he leans to his left hand side and the ball clearly comes off his forearm.
26. Nottingham Forest 0-0 Everton
27. Rachel Brown-Finnis
28. Ex-England goalkeeper on Final Score
29. Everton’s backline have not allowed themselves to be breached at all. No joy at all so far for Forest. Certainly Everton have had the better of the opportunities.
31. Nottingham Forest 0-0 Everton
32. It’s been a while coming but a first attempt on target by Forest.
33. It comes from Jota Silva but it’s no more than a routine save for Jordan Pickford.
34. Forest have been nervous and hesitant. Everton have been the better team.
36. Brighton 0-0 Leicester
37. Referee Darren Bond watches the incident on a monitor, Conor Coady clearly leaned into the ball with his left arm and it is a penalty to Brighton.
38. Image source, Getty Images
40. Brighton 0-0 Leicester
41. Pervis Estupinan makes a burst forwards down the left for Brighton, his pull-back finds Simon Adingra and the shot is blocked by the arm of Conor Coady.
42. Not given on the pitch, but the referee is told to have a look on a monitor. Potential penalty for Brighton.
44. Nottingham Forest 0-0 Everton
45. Shamoon Hafez
46. BBC Sport football news reporter at the City Ground
47. The buy-in from the Forest players into Nuno Espirito Santo’s plan is clear to see.
48. Murillo lost a challenge in his own half but captain and number 10 Morgan Gibbs-White sprinted all the way back to win the ball for his side.
49. Chris Wood then miscontrolled a pass and instead of flapping his arms around in frustrated, the striker ran back into his own half and made it difficult for an Everton man to find a team-mate.
50. Image source, Getty Images
52. Nottingham Forest 0-0 Everton
53. That’s why Matz Sels is leading the chase for the Golden Glove this season.
54. The keeper who has kept more clean sheets than any other in the Premier League this season gets down smartly to keep out James Garner after a lovely move involving the busy Jack Harrison.
56. Brighton 0-0 Leicester
57. Leicester’s marking is not great as Danny Welbeck is free in the middle of the penalty area 10 yards out, but the cross was a bit behind him and he had to leap and twist but could only head well wide.
59. Southampton 0-0 Aston Villa
60. Villa are looking for a penalty as Ramsey stumbles in the box under a couple of challenges but the referee waves play on and the Saints survive a quick VAR check.
62. Nottingham Forest 0-0 Everton
63. The TV cameras zoom in on Evangelos Marinakis, Nottingham Forest’s owner. He’s sat in a white T-shirt which exposes a tattoo on his arm which reads: “Dream, Love, Create, Fight, Survive, Win”.
64. Forest’s players are doing all that for him this season.
67. get involved#bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only – standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826
68. Southampton are kicking everything that moves. Expect some Villa injuries today…
69. Image source, Getty Images

Page 3

1. Nottingham Forest 0-0 Everton
2. Leon Osman
3. Former Everton and England midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live
4. You never felt Everton would go down this season. The bottom three have found it very difficult but you did feel like Everton were drifting.
5. I did feel that they needed fresh life in the club and they have got that with David Moyes.
7. Brighton 0-0 Leicester
8. Stephy Mavididi produces a couple of step overs to create space inside the penalty area, only to then fire over the top for Leicester.
9. Image source, Getty Images
11. Southampton 0-0 Aston Villa
12. Speedy reactions from Aaron Ramsdale.
13. Ezri Konsa heads down to Tielemans in the box but the former Arsenal goalkeeper was right on top of the Belgium international to parry his effort away.
14. Image source, PA Media
16. Nottingham Forest 0-0 Everton
17. Jack Harrison has been decent.
18. Eighteen touches and 11 passes for Everton’s No 11, who has also just lifted a shot over Matz Sels’ bar.
19. Image source, Getty Images
21. Brighton 0-0 Leicester
22. A first opportunity for Leicester as Bilal El Khannouss’s corner from the left is met by Caleb Okoli, but he heads over the crossbar.
24. Nottingham Forest 0-0 Everton
25. Shamoon Hafez
26. BBC Sport football news reporter at the City Ground
27. The stocky yet solid Murillo alongside the towering Nikola Milenkovic is a little and large defensive partnership that has been the bedrock to Nottingham Forest’s climb up to third in the Premier League table.
28. Are they the best centre-half partnership in the division?
30. Nottingham Forest 0-0 Everton
31. The City Ground has to be up there in terms of great English grounds.
32. It looks resplendent in the spring sunshine.
33. Will the Champions League anthem be booming from the speakers next season?
34. Image source, Getty Images
36. Brighton 0-0 Leicester
37. Pervis Estupinan is lucky for Brighton as he looks to have shoved Kasey McAteer to the floor, but the referee says no penalty and VAR doesn’t intervene.
38. That’s the first time we’ve seen Leicester as an attacking force.
40. Brighton 0-0 Leicester
41. Leicester are hanging on and very much on the back foot. Brighton create another chance, but Mads Hermansen is able to make a save with a leg to block the low effort from Simon Adingra after Joao Pedro’s clever ball through the Foxes defence.
42. Image source, Getty Images
44. Nottingham Forest 0-0 Everton
45. Rachel Brown-Finnis
46. Ex-England goalkeeper on Final Score
47. It has been all Everton in the opening 15 minutes or so. They have had 76% possession. Illiman Ndiaye has been impactful, Abdoulaye Doucoure has been getting forward, Armando Broja has been holding the ball up really well. They have put lots of pressure on early doors.
49. Nottingham Forest 0-0 Everton
50. Craig Pawson has had enough. This game has been punctured with niggly challenges and the referee finally reaches for his top pocket to show Abdoulaye Doucoure a yellow for grabbing at Elliot Anderson.
52. Southampton 0-0 Aston Villa
53. Southampton burst into life.
54. Kyle Walker-Peters threads a brilliant ball down the line right into Cameron Archer’s path.
55. The former Villa man was caught in two minds whether to go for goal or play it across the box but he opts for a shot, which Martinez saved well.
56. Much better from the Saints.
57. Image source, Reuters
60. get involved#bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only – standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826
61. At least Leicester have avoided going behind and conceding in the first two minutes today, unlike in their last few matches. It has been a woeful end to the season.
63. Nottingham Forest 0-0 Everton
64. Shamoon Hafez
65. BBC Sport football news reporter at the City Ground
66. Forest fans are beginning to get more and more irate over decisions being made by referee Craig Pawson here.
67. Was Jarrad Branthwaite lucky to escape any punishment for that challenge off the ball on Jota Silva?
68. Image source, Getty Images
70. Nottingham Forest 0-0 Everton
71. Now a collision off the ball between Armando Broja and Murillo.
72. This is turning into a bruising contest.
74. Nottingham Forest 0-0 Everton
75. Leon Osman
76. Former Everton and England midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live
77. Mykolenko was in control of it and Jarrad Branthwaite steps across Jota. It was a bit of a bodycheck from Branthwaite.
79. Nottingham Forest 0-0 Everton
80. That’s a big naughty by Jarrad Branthwaite who barges into Jota Silva off the ball. VAR has a look for serious foul play before deciding a free-kick is sufficient.
82. Nottingham Forest 0-0 Everton
83. Leon Osman
84. Former Everton and England midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live
85. Everton are seeing quite a bit of the ball and Nottingham Forest are a little bit sloppy at the moment.
86. They haven’t really got going.
88. Nottingham Forest 0-0 Everton
89. That’s a decent cross into the Forest box by Jack Harrison and it finds team-mate Iliman Ndiaye who is being closely marked by Neco Williams.
90. Ndiaye goes to ground and there are half appeals for a penalty.
91. No chance, says referee Craig Pawson.
93. Brighton 0-0 Leicester
94. It is all Brighton. Simon Adingra is able to twist and turn to create space for the shot from 12 yards out. He’s aiming for the top corner, but the ball doesn’t curl back in enough and wide it goes.
95. Image source, PA Media

Page 4

1. Brighton 0-0- Leicester
2. A massive missed opportunity for Brighton. Simon Adingra does well to cross under pressure from the left and it falls to Yankuba Minteh, but he tries to flick the volley goalwards with the outside of his left foot, when it would’ve been much easier to connect with the right and the ball goes wide of the post.
4. Southampton 0-0 Aston Villa
5. It’s all Villa in the early stages.
6. Morgan Rogers, fresh from his goal against Paris St-Germain in the week, has just pulled off a delightful stepover to skip past Jack Stephens.
7. Rashford then tests Ramsdale with a tame header.
9. Nottingham Forest 0-0 Everton
10. Shamoon Hafez
11. BBC Sport football news reporter at the City Ground
12. Image source, Getty Images
13. Forest fans unfurled an incredible banner before kick-off which read “Nottingham Forest are magic” with boss Nuno Espirito Santo depicted as a magician.
14. Spine-tingling stuff.
16. Nottingham Forest 0-0 Everton
17. Everton are well drilled, well organised, stubborn and hard-to-beat under David Moyes. And they’ve started well at the City Ground. They’ve spent an awful lot of time in Forest’s half.
19. Brighton 0-0 Leicester
20. Leicester nearly make a mess of it as they gift the ball to Brighton in a good position.
21. It falls to Danny Welbeck, but the shot doesn’t have the required conviction and it is a routine save from Mads Hermansen.
23. Nottingham Forest 0-0 Everton
24. Leon Osman
25. Former Everton and England midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live
26. Everton have had a real resurgence and form and the amount of draws they have, they have only lost two more games than Nottingham Forest this season.
27. It will be interesting to see who’s style takes control of this game.
28. Image source, Reuters
30. Nottingham Forest 0-0 Everton
31. Nervy start by Forest who are on the back foot as Everton dominate in the early stages. The home side are scrambling to get clear.
32. The first shot of the game comes from Idrissa Gueye but it’s blocked.
33. By the way, Gueye is wearing blue tights. It’s one of the hottest days of the year.
35. Southampton 0-0 Aston Villa
36. Early chance for Villa as Marcus Rashford latches on to a great long pass from Youri Tielemans but Jan Bednarek gets the block on as the on-loan Manchester United striker lets fly.
37. Image source, Reuters
39. Brighton 0-0 Leicester
40. Brighton are keeping hold of the ball well. Leicester can’t go down today, but Ruud van Nistelrooy will be desperately hoping for a better showing from his side compared to the tame 3-0 home loss to Newcastle on Monday, when the Foxes were two behind and out of it after only 11 minutes.
42. Nottingham Forest 0-0 Everton
43. Shamoon Hafez
44. BBC Sport football news reporter at the City Ground
45. Chants of, “Que sera sera, we’re going to Wem-ber-ley” from the Forest fans five seconds into the game.
47. Nottingham Forest 0-0 Everton
48. Great to see Everton playing in their traditional blue away from home.
49. It’s adding to a colourful spectacle at the City Ground which is mostly decked out in red and white with a pocket of blue where the travelling Toffees fans are.
50. Image source, Reuters
53. Here we go! They’re getting under way in the 3pm games.
56. get involved#bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only – standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826
57. Let’s cut the nonsense about City shall we – for the resources that City have, they’ve been awful this season. One good game doesn’t cut it, they ain’t going to win a thing they have not been good enough.
59. Man City 5-2 Crystal Palace
60. Simon Stone
61. BBC Sport’s chief football news reporter at the Etihad Stadium
62. In his post-match press conference, Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner said he had made a mistake with his decision to take Jean-Philippe Mateta off at half-time.
63. He was asked why. Apparently it was nothing to do with taking Mateta off.
64. “He can do better than he did first half,” said Glasner.
65. “He lost too many duels and too many balls.
66. “The mistake I made was to change the system, not in taking Mateta off.”
68. Nottingham Forest v Everton (15:00 BST)
69. Ellen White
70. Former Manchester City striker on BBC Radio 5 Live
71. I have been excited by the way that Iliman Ndiaye moves the ball. Hopefully Everton can keep hold of Ndiaye.
74. Right, time to buckle up!
75. The teams are in the tunnels at the Amex, City Ground and St Mary’s.
76. Have the players remembered to slap on some Factor 50? It’s pretty hot out there.
78. Nottingham Forest v Everton (15:00 BST)
79. Guy Mowbray
80. Match of the Day commentator on Final Score
81. I sense a few nerves around the City Ground. It is not the same euphoric feeling as when they beat Manchester City a few weeks ago.
82. Forest may be a little bit edgy to start with, especially in the stands.
83. They will hope to get it done today but Everton are a little bit different now, they are very hard to beat under David Moyes.
84. Image source, Getty Images
86. Southampton v Aston Villa (15:00 BST)
87. Villa have kept a clean sheet in each of their last four matches against Southampton, while the Saints’ last Premier League clean sheet came on 22 December 2024 in a 0-0 draw against Fulham.
89. FT: Manchester City 5-2 Crystal Palace
90. Joe Cole
91. Former Chelsea and England midfielder on TNT Sports
92. Kevin de Bruyne stepped up and the rest of the players followed him. That is what leaders do. That is what top players do.
93. From that moment on it was an exceptional performance from Man City, and there hasn’t been many of those here this year, where they were so dominant and comfortable.
95. FT: Manchester City 5-2 Crystal Palace
96. Manchester City
97. Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: “I would say we played really good all game. We were 2-0 down and we created a lot and I said at half time we were playing good.
98. “Our momentum was sparked with a free-kick from Kevin and after that we played a really good game considering we were 2-0 down and considering how Crystal Palace have been in the past games.”
99. On Kevin de Bruyne’s performance: “The Kevin we have known for many years. I know he’s struggled the last year and a half. He’s free without pain and completely different. The way we played helped him a lot with incredible runners, the young lads, the full-backs.”
100. On Ederson coming off: “I don’t know. He made the pass and said he felt something and couldn’t continue.”
101. On Ederson having seven assists this season: “That’s unbelievable. He has an incredible quality of pass.”
102. On moving into the top four: “We’ll see tomorrow the position, it will be so tight. It will be until the end. Six games left, difficult games.”

Page 5

1. Nottingham Forest v Everton (15:00 BST)
2. Shamoon Hafez
3. BBC Sport football news reporter at the City Ground
4. Image source, Getty Images
5. I bet there are youngsters out there thinking, ‘wow, Nottingham Forest possibly playing in the Champions League next season. Amazing’.
6. Yes, it would be an incredible achievement, but those same people probably don’t know about Forest’s European pedigree.
7. Under Brian Clough, the side stunned the continent by winning the European Cup in 1980 but – remarkably – they went on to defend their title the following year.
8. That was in an era when English football dominated Europe with seven triumphs in eight years between 1977 and 1984 with Forest (2), Liverpool (4) and Aston Villa all lifting the famous trophy.
10. Southampton v Aston Villa (15:00 BST)
11. Chris Wise
12. BBC Final Score reporter at St Mary’s
13. There’s rotation in the Aston Villa team, as we expected given some thoughts will naturally be drifting towards the visit of Paris St-Germain. Ollie Watkins is on the bench again, so does that suggest he might be starting that big game at Villa Park on Tuesday night?
14. Southampton’s interim manager Simon Rusk was saying this week that he wants to ‘re-establish the group’s identity.’
15. There’s no doubt that there’s a huge disconnect right now between the club and the fans. Had Ivan Juric been in charge today, we might have seen some Saints fans voting with their feet.
16. But I think the fact the club have pressed the reset button already means there’s reason to get behind the (latest) new regime, even it’s just a temporary solution.
18. FT: Manchester City 5-2 Crystal Palace
19. Manchester City
20. Manchester City forward James McAtee told TNT Sports:
21. “I don’t think we deserved to be 2-0 down, I missed a few chances early on. We were playing well anyway and we knew the goals were going to come. We showed good character to come back.
22. “Everyone was up for the game and we wanted to prove a point that we’re committed, and want to finish in the Champions League spots.”
24. Nottingham Forest v Everton (15:00 BST)
25. Everton
26. Image source, Getty Images
27. Everton lost their first four Premier League games, won just two of the first 13, and were just one point clear of the relegation zone when David Moyes was appointed for a second time in January.
28. They’re now 15 points clear with seven games left and can start planning for another season in the Premier League at their brand new home at Bramley-Moore Dock.
29. What a job Moyes has done.
31. Nottingham Forest v Everton (15:00 BST)
32. Shamoon Hafez
33. BBC Sport football news reporter at the City Ground
34. The two sets of players are going through their warm-ups on a scorching day in Nottingham.
35. Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo has tweaked his side’s system today, shifting from a 5-3-2 to what appears to be a 4-2-3-1.
36. The Champions League chasers have star striker Chris Wood back in the starting line-up and the New Zealand international has had a stellar campaign.
37. If the 33-year-old can add to his 18 goals between now and the end of the campaign, you would think the hosts will be playing in European’s elite club competition next season.
39. Brighton v Leicester (15:00 BST)
40. Chris Sutton
41. Premier League title winner with Blackburn
42. Image source, Getty Images
43. If you ever want a game to get back on track, just play Leicester.
44. They have lost eight successive league games without scoring, and that run is not going to end here.
45. Ruud van Nistelrooy was a dreadful appointment as manager but I don’t blame him or his predecessor, Steve Cooper for the Foxes’ awful season because there is a deeper underlying problem at the club.
46. It didn’t help, then, that the players seemed to think – and probably still do – that they are better than they are.
47. The fans were expecting too much from this season too, but I doubt that is the case anymore, because their team has been so feeble.
48. Brighton have taken only one point from their past three matches so they need a win to boost their hopes of finishing in the European places.
49. I have absolutely no doubt they will get it – the only question is how many will they score.
50. Sutton’s prediction: 2-0
52. FT: Manchester City 5-2 Crystal Palace
53. Manchester City
54. Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: “I think we started well, had a couple of chances and out of nowhere we’re 2-0 behind and it could have been three. The response was good. I thought overall we played pretty much a good game but we gave chances away and they pounced on it. The reaction was really good and in the end I think we deserved to win.
55. On the importance of his free kick goal: “I think it was important to score as quickly as possible and change the feeling of the game a bit. I didn’t think we were playing that bad but the scoreline wasn’t good at all. We went from there.”
56. On savouring the rest of his time at Man City: “I want to go away with a Champions League for this team because they deserve it. We’ve been in the Champions League for the nine, ten years that I’ve been here so I hope we can do that for the team next year and I’ll just try to play good football like I’ve always done.”
58. Nottingham Forest v Everton (15:00 BST)
59. Nottingham Forest
60. Visitors to the City Ground in 2007-08 included: Hartlepool, Oldham, Yeovil and Southend.
61. Visitors to the City Ground in 2025-26 could include: Real Madrid, Barcelona, Paris St-Germain and Bayern Munich.
64. get involved#bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only – standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826
65. I am a Villa fan. Part of me was delighted when Palace went two up and looked like taking points off City but then our best chance of glory this year is in the FA Cup so Palace getting heavily beaten and potentially losing some form ahead of the semi might help us. Palace have looked pretty strong in the last few weeks. Our game today could be tougher than some fans think. All the pressure is of Saints now they are down and Villa haven’t done well after CL games.
67. Nottingham Forest v Everton (15:00 BST)
68. Image source, PA Media
69. Will Nottingham Forest take another big step towards qualifying for the Champions League? News this week that the Premier League will get a fifth spot in Europe’s premier club competition has boosted Forest’s chances of mixing it with the continent’s very best next season.
70. Forest start this one third – four points ahead of sixth-placed Newcastle who have one game in hand.
71. Not bad considering Forest were 17th when Nuno Espirito Santo took charge in December 2023.
72. Forest are also one win from a first FA Cup final since 1991.
74. Southampton v Aston Villa (15:00 BST)
75. Chris Sutton
76. Premier League title winner with Blackburn
77. With the best will in the world, Aston Villa are going to go out of the Champions League. They do have players capable of scoring the goals they need against Paris St-Germain in the second leg of their quarter-final, but it will be very hard for them to turn that tie around.
78. If Villa open up, you just feel that might suit PSG, who are my tip to win the competition by the way.
79. With that game coming up on Tuesday it is just as well for Villa that things will be a heck of a lot easier against Southampton.
80. Simon Rusk is in charge of Saints now Ivan Juric has been sacked, and they are not going to just lie down at home, but Villa could make a few changes and still get over the line.
81. Sutton’s prediction: 1-2
83. FT: Manchester City 5-2 Crystal Palace
84. That win lifts Manchester City back into the top four, two points behind third-placed Nottingham Forest who are getting ready for their 3pm home game with Everton.
85. Remember, the top five finishers in the Premier League will compete in the Champions League next season.
86. There is a two-point gap between fourth-placed City and sixth-placed Newcastle, although the League Cup winners have two games in hand.
87. 
89. FT: Manchester City 5-2 Crystal Palace
90. Ally McCoist
91. Former Rangers striker on TNT Sports
92. Kevin de Bruyne is one of the few players in the modern game that can grab a match by the scruff of the neck, give it a shake, and do exactly what is required to win.
93. From the moment the free-kick went in-off the post, off he went.
94. His contribution was invaluable as it has been over the years. A top- class performance from a top-class player.
95. Image source, Reuters
97. Nottingham Forest v Everton (15:00 BST)
98. Is there a better way to arrive for a Premier League game on the banks of the River Trent than by boat with red smoke billowing into the air?
99. Will Forest’s fans be pushing the boat out if their team qualifies for next season’s Champions League?
100. Image source, Reuters
101. Image source, Reuters
102. Image source, PA Media
105. Right, we’ll bring you reaction from the Etihad when it drops.
106. But it’s time to start building up to the three 3pm games.
108. Manchester City 5-2 Crystal Palace
109. Crystal Palace scored twice inside the opening 21 minutes, thought they got a third but it was ruled out for offside and then missed another chance to go 3-0 up.
110. From then on, Manchester City were fabulous. Goals from Kevin de Bruyne, Omar Marmoush, Mateo Kovacic, James McAtee and Nico O’Reilly turn the game around as City win 5-2 to go up to fourth.
111. Image source, Getty Images
113. Manchester City 5-2 Crystal Palace
114. Rob Page
115. Former Wales manager on BBC Radio 5 Live
116. He has been exceptional. What a player.
117. The miles he has put in today, not just his quality but his work ethic as well. What a performance from Kevin de Bruyne.
118. Image source, Getty Images
120. Manchester City 5-2 Crystal Palace
121. Jefferson Lerma can’t have any complaints about a yellow card for a cynical foul on Jeremy Doku, who is too fast and too good for the Palace man.
123. Manchester City 5-2 Crystal Palace
124. Ally McCoist
125. Former Rangers striker on TNT Sports
126. Fantastic performance from Kevin de Bruyne. He has been superb. A joy to watch.
127. We’ve watched a bit of greatness today.
129. Manchester City 5-2 Crystal Palace
130. A standing ovation for Kevin de Bruyne, as he goes off after a goal and an assist. He only has three more matches at Etihad Stadium after this one.
131. Mateo Kovacic also goes off, with Palace’s task not getting any easier as Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku are the pair to come on.
132. Image source, Getty Images

Page 6

1. Manchester City 5-2 Crystal Palace
2. Stefan Ortega has not been on long since the injury to Ederson but makes a vital touch to make a save and push the ball away from the advancing Nathaniel Clyne, who is unable to bundle the ball over the line.
4. Manchester City 5-2 Crystal Palace
5. Manchester City have scored at least five goals in a single Premier League match on 63 different occasions, five more than any other team in the competition, with 39 of those coming under Pep Guardiola.
7. Manchester City 5-2 Crystal Palace
8. Ally McCoist
9. Former Rangers striker on TNT Sports
10. It’s been total domination in this second half from Manchester City.
13. get involved#bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only – standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826
14. The question earlier on was ‘must keep’ players. Too late to name O’Reilly?
16. Manchester City 5-2 Crystal Palace
17. A double change for Manchester City as Savinho and Oscar Bobb come on for two of the goalscorers, James McAtee and Omar Marmoush.
18. For Bobb, it’s only his second substitute appearance since he suffered a broken leg in August.
20. Manchester City 5-2 Crystal Palace
21. Rob Page
22. Former Wales manager on BBC Radio 5 Live
23. It was a cultured finish. A controlled volley but it has been coming.
24. The wind has been knocked out of Crystal Palace now.
25. Image source, Reuters
27. Manchester City 5-2 Crystal Palace
28. Ally McCoist
29. Former Rangers striker on TNT Sports
30. Absolutely tremendous. Nico O’Reilly just opens his body up and passes it into the net. It takes a slight deflection off Nathaniel Clyne to wrong foot the goalkeeper, but it’s really composed from O’Reilly.
32. Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City)
33. Nico O’Reilly scores his first Premier League goal for Manchester City. Chris Richards can only partially head a cross into the box away and it drops for the 20-year-old midfielder, who produces a lovely side-footed volley.
34. The ball takes a nick off Nathaniel Clyne, but was probably going in anyway.
35. Image source, Reuters
37. Manchester City 4-2 Crystal Palace
38. Ederson is only the second goalkeeper in Premier League history to both provide an assist and be substituted off after Paul Robinson for Tottenham v Aston Villa in May 2005.
40. Manchester City 4-2 Crystal Palace
41. After 25 minutes of the second half, Crystal Palace were still yet to have a shot or record a touch in the opposition’s penalty area.
43. Manchester City 4-2 Crystal Palace
44. Rob Page
45. Former Wales manager on BBC Radio 5 Live
46. I understand the decision that Glasner made at half-time to bring an extra midfielder on but unfortunately they conceded.
47. It’ll be interesting to see if he has now changed the shape again.
49. Manchester City 4-2 Crystal Palace
50. It has been a mixed day for Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson. He should have done better with Crystal Palace’s second, created a goal himself for James McAtee with a lovely long-range delivery, but now has to go off as he has pulled something while playing a short pass.
51. Back-up keeper Stefan Ortega is the man to come on.
52. Image source, Getty Images
54. Manchester City 4-2 Crystal Palace
55. James McAtee slides in and catches Jefferson Lerma and that’s a booking for the City man.
57. Brighton v Leicester City (15:00 BST)
58. Image source, BBC Sport
59. Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler makes three changes to the side that suffered a 2-1 defeat by Crystal Palace last week.
60. Jan Paul van Hecke is suspended while Kaoru Mitoma misses out with an injury and Diego Gomez drops to the bench, so in comes Joao Pedro, Simon Adingra and Yasin Ayari.
61. Brighton XI: Verbruggen, Estupinian, Dunk, Hinshelwood, Baleba, Minteh, O’Riley, Ayari, Adingra, Welbeck, Pedro.
62. Subs: Rushworth, March, Gruda, Cashin, Gomez, Wieffer, Tasker, Simmonds, Howell.
63. Image source, BBC Sport
64. Leicester City manager Ruud van Nistelrooy also makes three changes from the 3-0 defeat by Newcastle United on Monday.
65. Stephy Mavididi, Kasey McAteer and Caleb Okoli return to the starting line-up as Wout Faes drops out with an injury.
66. Leicester City XI: Hermansen, Justin, Coady, Okoli, Thomas, Soumare, Ndidi, El Khannouss, Mavididi, McAteer, Vardy.
67. Subs: Stolarczyk, De Cordova-Reid, Ayew, Daka, Pereira, Skipp, Coulibaly, Aluko, Evans.
69. Manchester City 4-2 Crystal Palace
70. Ederson’s fourth Premier League assist of the season was the eighth by a goalkeeper in 2024-25, the joint-most in a single season in the competition along with 1992-93 and 2007-08.
71. By the way, Ederson has seven Premier League assists in total.
72. Image source, Getty Images
75. get involved#bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only – standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826
76. Armchair pundit here, nice to see City finally looking comfortable against a side after an entire season of abysmal dross.
78. Manchester City 4-2 Crystal Palace
79. Ally McCoist
80. Former Rangers striker on TNT Sports
81. My goodness, what a pass that is from Kevin de Bruyne. It is bordering on criminal that the move wasn’t finished off. What a pass.
83. Manchester City 4-2 Crystal Palac
84. Kevin de Bruyne has been superb today. He breaks free down the right, his cross is met by Omar Marmoush, searching for his second goal, only for Dean Henderson to make an excellent save.
85. Ilkay Gunodgan’s follow-up is blocked and Nico O’Reilly heads over with the next attempt.
86. Image source, Getty Images
88. Manchester City 4-2 Crystal Palace
89. Rob Page
90. Former Wales manager on BBC Radio 5 Live
91. Palace are trying to be aggressive in the press and it is one ball over the top and a good finish from McAtee.
93. Manchester City 4-2 Crystal Palace
94. Ally McCoist
95. Former Rangers striker on TNT Sports
96. It is amazing. What a pass that is from Ederson. James McAtee takes a lovely touch around Dean Henderson and slots it into an empty net. The finish is beautiful, matched by the pass from Ederson.

Page 7

1. Southampton v Aston Villa (15:00 BST)
2. Image source, BBC Sport
3. Southampton interim manager Simon Rusk makes two changes to the team that lost 3-1 at Tottenham last weekend.
4. Jack Stephens and Paul Onuachu replace Joe Aribo and Tyler Dibling, who are both on the bench.
5. Southampton XI: Ramsdale, Walker-Peters, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Stephens, Manning, Mateus Fernandes, Ugochukwu, Archer, Sulemana, Onuachu
6. Subs: McCarthy, Aribo, Smallbone, Stewart, Bree, Wood, Sugawara, Dibling, Robinson
7. Image source, BBC Sport
8. Unai Emery makes four alterations to the Aston Villa side that lost the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final in Paris on Wednesday.
9. Tyrone Mings, Ian Maatsen, Amadou Onana and Marco Asensio start, while Pau Torres, Lucas Digne, Boubacar Kamara and captain John McGinn drop to the bench.
10. Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Maatsen, Onana, Tielemans, Rogers, Asensio, Ramsey, Rashford
11. Subs: Olsen, Disasi, McGinn, Watkins, Digne, Torres, Garcia, Malen, Kamara
13. Nottingham Forest v Everton (15:00 BST)
14. Shamoon Hafez
15. BBC Sport football news reporter at the City Ground
16. 
17. Nottingham Forest make three changes from the side that lost to Aston Villa last weekend, as they look aim to consolidate their position in the top three of the Premier League.
18. A big boost sees the return of topscorer Chris Wood after missing the last three games with a hip injury. Alex Moreno and Jota Silva also come in.
19. Anthony Elanga is unavailable after picking up a knock at Villa, while Morato and Ryan Yates drop to the bench.
20. Nottingham Forest XI: Sels, Dominguez, Morato, Milenkovic, Moreno, Williams, Silva, Anderson, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi, Wood.
21. 
22. Everton also make three changes following the draw against Arsenal last Saturday.
23. Armando Broja, who is yet to score this season, gets a start up front in place of Beto.
24. Vitalii Mykolenko and James Garner also come in for Nathan Patterson and Tim Iroegbunam.
25. Everton XI: Pickford, O’Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Gueye, Garner, Harrison, Doucoure, Ndiaye, Broja.
27. James McAtee (Manchester City)
28. Goal stands.
29. Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson launches a superb long ball, James McAtee, who has missed a few chances to score, finally gets himself on the scoresheet for a goal on his first City start in the Premier League.
30. He takes it so well too. He races on to the ball, goes around Palace keeper Dean Henderson and slots into the net.
31. Palace missed a chance to go 3-0 ahead, now they’re 4-2 down.
32. Image source, Getty Images
35. get involved#bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only – standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826
36. That guy Kevin is some player. Great future ahead for him.
38. Manchester City 3-2 Crystal Palace
39. Ashley Williams
40. Former Wales defender on BBC Radio 5 Live
41. It is really interesting how momentum can change and you can see now in the second half, Crystal Palace look like they have 10 men.
42. As a player, mentally you know it is tough to go there, you go 2-0 up and are buzzing, then all of a sudden you are 3-2 down.
43. Image source, EPA
45. Manchester City 3-2 Crystal Palace
46. Palace defender Maxence Lacroix clatters into Ilkay Gundogan and gets a yellow card for his effort.
48. Manchester City 3-2 Crystal Palace
49. Manchester City would jump up from sixth to fourth if it stays like this, with Chelsea and Newcastle both in action tomorrow, at home against Ipswich Town and Manchester United respectively.
52. get involved#bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only – standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826
53. Always great to see the armchair pundits telling us what City have done wrong just before they come back from two down to lead. I’d say, wait till the end of the match before wading in.
55. Manchester City 3-2 Crystal Palace
56. It is all City now and James McAtee is furious at himself for not getting a goal. He runs on to a cross, has time to set himself but instead hits it first time and the finish is poor, with the ball going well over. Should’ve done better.
57. Image source, Getty Images
59. Manchester City 3-2 Crystal Palace
60. Rob Page
61. Former Wales manager on BBC Radio 5 Live
62. Glasner brought on Will Hughes and within a minute of the second half, they concede a third goal.
63. He will be very disappointed in it.
65. Manchester City 3-2 Crystal Palace
66. Ally McCoist
67. Former Rangers striker on TNT Sports
68. It was a brilliant pass inside Daniel Munoz to set Nico O’Reilly in behind, he finds Kevin de Bruyne and he lays it off perfectly for Mateo Kovacic to hit. It is all about giving Kovacic the opportunity to hit it first time and he does, cuts it back across the goalkeeper.
70. Mateo Kovacic (Manchester City)
71. Manchester City only need 80 seconds of the second half to take the lead.
72. Ilkay Gundogan plays a ball down the left channel, Nico O’Reilly crosses, Kevin de Bruyne knocks it into Mateo Kovacic’s path and he drills the ball from 20 yards into the net.
73. There was a brief check to see if O’Reilly was onside, the check is sorted out quickly, with the goal standing.
74. Image source, Reuters
77. get involved#bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only – standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826
78. @CHRIS 13:28. City let Rogers go after a bad year for Blackpool when they went down. No one could have predicted it. Captain hindsight is a wonderful thing.
80. Manchester City 2-2 Crystal Palace
81. A change for Palace as on comes Will Hughes for top scorer Jean-Philippe Mateta.
83. HT: Manchester City 2-2 Crystal Palace
84. Ellen White
85. Former Manchester City striker on BBC Radio 5 Live
86. Image source, Getty Images
87. De Bruyne is on a mission. He loves Man City and wants the team to do well for the fans.
88. That free-kick was very nice.
89. There was no need for the Kamada foul. It was ridiculous and then you have given Man City a chance.
90. If I was Glasner going in at half-time, I would be volleying things!
93. get involved#bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only – standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826
94. City let go of Palmer, Rogers and Delap. All three are better than they currently have. The rebuild may take a while.
96. HT: Manchester City 2-2 Crystal Palace
97. Rob Page
98. Former Wales manager on BBC Radio 5 Live
99. Since the equaliser, Man City have grown in quality and confidence.
100. When you have got the players on like they have, it is going to be a difficult one for Crystal Palace.
101. Image source, Getty Images
103. HT: Manchester City 2-2 Crystal Palace
104. Jean-Philippe Mateta had just five touches in the first half, the joint-fewest of any Crystal Palace player in the first half of a Premier League match this season.
107. get involved#bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only – standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826
108. Never mind Champions League qualification, City making the Europa League is far from guaranteed. They’ll likely drop to seventh if Palace win.
109. On current form, Eze should start for England ahead of Foden or Palmer. He is playing very consistently, and I hope Palace can hold onto him beyond the summer. If the club can match their player’s ambitions, then this might become easier for Palace in the future.
111. Manchester City 2-2 Crystal Palace
112. A brilliant 45 minutes of football and we’re all square. Palace stormed into a 2-0 lead, had a potential third ruled out by the semi-automated system, with Ismaila Sarr then missing a chance to make it 3-0 when he fired wide.
113. City were gifted a free-kick by Daichi Kamada in a dangerous position, which Kevin de Bruyne converted and Omar Marmoush then smashed in an equaliser.
114. Image source, PA Media

Page 8

1. Manchester City 2-2 Crystal Palace
2. Ally McCoist
3. Former Rangers striker on TNT Sports
4. What a chance. Kevin de Bruyne’s first touch is remarkable but he has to then go low and hard with the shot across the goalkeeper. He just leans back as he hits it.
6. Manchester City 2-2 Crystal Palace
7. A great chance for Kevin de Bruyne.
8. Pep Guardiola has his hands on his head after De Bruyne breaks free into the penalty area, 12 yards out and at an angle, opts for power but can’t keep the strike down and over the top it flies.
10. Manchester City 2-2 Crystal Palace
11. Ally McCoist
12. Former Rangers striker on TNT Sports
13. It’s Crystal Palace that will be looking forward to the half-time whistle now.
16. get involved#bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only – standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826
17. Fantastic to see how quickly the semi-automated offside worked. Without it, that decision would have taken 3-4 minutes.
19. Manchester City 2-2 Crystal Palace
20. #MCICRY, external – 28’ The referee’s call of no goal was checked and confirmed by the VAR – with Eze in an offside position.
21. 
24. get involved#bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only – standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826
25. This all started from that idiotic foul from Kamada.
27. Manchester City 2-2 Crystal Palace
28. Simon Stone
29. BBC Sport’s chief football news reporter at the Etihad Stadium
30. Image source, Getty Images
31. Crysyal Palace worked so hard to establish a two-goal lead and in the blink of an eye, it is gone.
32. There is not much structure about the past five minutes but it has felt like Kevin de Bruyne has decided his time at Manchester City is not going to end with a whimper.
33. It was the Belgian’s brilliant free-kick that brought City back into the game and then his knock back that Omar Marmoush crashed home after Ilkay Gundogan had failed to get a proper contact on it.
34. Last week, everyone was talking about the game being too robotic.
35. This one isn’t robotic, it’s chaotic.
37. Manchester City 2-2 Crystal Palace
38. Ally McCoist
39. Former Rangers striker on TNT Sports
40. What a first half we are getting here. Kevin de Bruyne does well to keep it alive with the header at the back post, it was not a good strike attempt from Ilkay Gundogan but Omar Marmoush hits it down into the ground and through a couple of defenders on the line.
42. Manchester City 2-2 Crystal Palace
43. Rob Page
44. Former Wales manager on BBC Radio 5 Live
45. An incredible five minutes. It was coming, you could feel the pressure.
46. As soon as they scored the first goal, Kevin de Bruyne was getting them up and it is an incredible game we have in front of us.
48. Omar Marmoush (Manchester City)
49. What a first half.
50. Palace were two up, now it’s back to 2-2. James McAtee, who had just missed a glorious chance, hangs up a cross and Kevin de Bruyne heads it back into the danger zone.
51. Ilkay Gundogan has a swing at it, slices the ball, but steers it sideways and Omar Marmoush reacts quickest to lash the ball past Dean Henderson.
52. Pep Guardiola wants to hear more noise from the City fans. The perfect response from his side.
53. Image source, Reuters
55. Manchester City 1-2 Crystal Palace
56. James McAtee with a great chance to score on his full Manchester City Premier League debut. He is unmarked, standing on the six-yard line and anything on target is surely an equaliser.
57. But he doesn’t get a great contact and nods it just wide. Should be 2-2. Great entertainment in the Manchester sunshine.
59. Manchester City 1-2 Crystal Palace
60. Ally McCoist
61. Former Rangers striker on TNT Sports
62. Excellent finish off the post from Kevin de Bruyne. It’s all about Dean Henderson’s body weight. He takes a step the wrong way at the wrong time but take nothing away from the quality and direction of the shot.
64. Kevin de Bruyne
65. It very much was in Kevin de Bruyne range.
66. His accuracy with the 25-yard free-kick is perfect, to the side of the wall, with the ball bouncing in off the foot of the post and into the net.
67. Game on.
68. Image source, Reuters
70. Manchester City 0-2 Crystal Palace
71. Daichi Kamada slides in and wipes out Nico Gonzalez and City get a free-kick central just outside the D. Kamada sees yellow.
72. De Bruyne range?
74. Manchester City 0-2 Crystal Palace
75. Rob Page
76. Former Wales manager on BBC Radio 5 Live
77. It should be Man City nil, Crystal Palace four, with the chances they have had.
78. Image source, Reuters
80. Manchester City 0-2 Crystal Palace
81. Ally McCoist
82. Former Rangers striker on TNT Sports
83. I think Eberechi Eze is just off. My initial reaction was that he was slightly off. It is very, very close. What about the finish though.
85. Manchester City 0-2 Crystal Palace
86. The ball is in the Manchester City net again, once more from a move down the right wing, with Eberechi Eze getting on the end of the cross, taking a few touches and curling into the bottom corner.
87. It was very tight, but the semi-automated system says Eze was offside, with the decision made quickly.
90. get involved#bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only – standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826
91. I’m a big fan of Ally McCoist but I think he’s calling that penalty appeal wrong. “Putting him off” is exactly the defenders job. Football is a contact sport and Richards has used (legal) contact in which to make Marmoush less likely to score – great defending in my book.
92. Since when was putting someone off a foul? Terrible take.
94. Manchester City 0-2 Crystal Palace
95. It should be 0-3!
96. Once more Palace are having so much joy down their right. Daichi Kamada gets to the byline, pulls the ball back and Ismaila Sarr is free to strike at goal, but the angle was always going to be tricky and he can only send it wide.
97. Will Palace live to regret that miss though?
99. Manchester City 0-2 Crystal Palace
100. Ally McCoist
101. Former Rangers striker on TNT Sports
102. Manchester City are really struggling with the two Crystal Palace wide players, Tyrick Mitchell and Daniel Munoz, particularly Munoz on the right-hand side.

Page 9

1. Manchester City 0-2 Crystal Palace
2. Simon Stone
3. BBC Sport’s chief football news reporter at the Etihad Stadium
4. Image source, PA Media
5. I have sat at Old Trafford on a number of occasions and condemned Manchester United for their inability to deal with corners.
6. Now the same accusation can be levelled at Manchester City.
7. That was a straightforward corner dropped into the six-yard box and Chris Richards climbed highest to head home.
8. Manchester City shouldn’t be conceding goals as easily as that.
10. Manchester City 0-2 Crystal Palace
11. Rob Page
12. Former Wales manager on BBC Radio 5 Live
13. I am really enjoying how Palace are going about their work today. Henderson launched the ball 70 yards and they got a corner from being willing to run.
14. They take the corner and they score from it. They thoroughly deserve it. Crystal Palace are proving at the moment that to win games of football you have got to be adaptable.
15. They are really good at what they are doing at this moment in time.
17. Manchester City 0-2 Crystal Palace
18. Kevin de Bruyne, in his first home game since announcing he was leaving at the end of the season, almost gets one back for the hosts.
19. He gets the ball 25 yards out and looks to whip an effort into the far post, it beats Dean Henderson but bounces back off the left upright.
20. Image source, Getty Images
22. Manchester City 0-2 Crystal Palace
23. Ally McCoist
24. Former Rangers striker on TNT Sports
25. I can’t believe that. It is a straightforward delivery into the box and a header for Chris Richards. Jean-Philippe Mateta is proving a handful for Ederson and Richards gets in front of Ruben Dias for the header.
26. Once again really poor defending and Ederson has got to be stronger.
28. Chris Richards
29. A disastrous opening 21 minutes for Manchester City and Crystal Palace are ecstatic.
30. A corner is swung in from the right by Adam Wharton, Ederson in the City goal doesn’t get there with an attempted punch and Chris Richards is able to head it into the net.
31. What a start from Palace.
32. Image source, Getty Images
35. get involved#bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only – standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826
36. Perhaps Tim would like to transfer his season ticket to St Mary’s or the King Power Stadium?
37. Tim, as a Waltham Abbey FC fan I might have to disagree with you.
39. Manchester City 0-1 Crystal Palace
40. Rob Page
41. Former Wales manager on BBC Radio 5 Live
42. You would expect Marmoush to score that and it was not to be. Great defending and goalkeeping.
43. Man City counter-attacking, that says a lot.
46. get involved#bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only – standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826
47. Stonewall penalty. VAR doubles down on the referees mistake again. Fundamental issue with use of VAR.
49. Manchester City 0-1 Crystal Palace
50. Simon Stone
51. BBC Sport’s chief football news reporter at the Etihad Stadium
52. Image source, Getty Images
53. Pep Guardiola is convinced his side should have had a penalty then.
54. He was showing fourth official Chris Kavanagh that Omar Marmoush had been pulled back by Chris Richards.
55. TV replays showed that was right but I assume VAR Peter Bankes did not feel the grab impeded Marmoush’s attempt to score.
57. Manchester City 0-1 Crystal Palace
58. Ally McCoist
59. Former Rangers striker on TNT Sports
60. Chris Richards does actually foul Omar Marmoush. He pulls him back by the right shoulder and puts him off.
61. It might not be enough for a penalty but maybe it should be. As soft as that may look, that’s a penalty for me.
63. Manchester City 0-1 Crystal Palace
64. City with a chance to equalise and Omar Marmoush gets the wrong side of the Palace defence but Dean Henderson makes the save, with Kevin de Bruyne unable to convert the follow-up attempt.
65. Palace defender Chris Richards had a grab of the arm of Marmoush just before the striker was able to get the shot away and is lucky to have got away with it. Pep Guardiola wanted a penalty, but not given.
66. Image source, Reuters
68. Manchester City 0-1 Crystal Palace
69. Ally McCoist
70. Former Rangers striker on TNT Sports
71. City had actually had a reasonable start, had enjoyed the majority of the possession. Take nothing away from Crystal Palace but that is a shabby goal to concede defensively. Not a good goal to lose.
73. Manchester City 0-1 Crystal Palace
74. Palace are having some joy down the right wing and almost a copy of the first goal, but this time Ismaila Sarr’s cross is cut out by Josko Gvardiol.
77. get involved#bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only – standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826
78. There is no easier team in world football to play against than City. A truly awful team. And I’m saying that as a season ticket holder; we are WOEFUL.
79. A bit much, Tim?
80. Image source, PA Media
82. Manchester City 0-1 Crystal Palace
83. Simon Stone
84. BBC Sport’s chief football news reporter at the Etihad Stadium
85. Pep Guardiola had his hand raised appealing for offside as Eberechi Eze tapped that in.
86. We have semi-automated offside in the Premier League now, so no need for VAR to get involved drawing lines.
87. The Palace players timed their runs just right.
88. City have a problem.
90. Manchester City 0-1 Crystal Palace
91. Rob Page
92. Former Wales manager on BBC Radio 5 Live
93. It is a great finish. Tactical perfection for me.
94. The 10 ran into the corner and it is a great ball for Eze. It is an easy tap-in for him.
96. Manchester City 0-1 Crystal Palace
97. Ally McCoist
98. Former Rangers striker on TNT Sports
99. It is a wonderful break down the right hand side. Good run inside from Ismaila Sarr and the delivery is good and it is the simplest of tasks for Eberechi Eze. Ruben Dias was a little slow in stepping out, it’s onside.
101. Eberechi Eze
102. The visitors strike first at the Etihad Stadium. Daniel Munoz plays a first-time pass down the right wing to Ismaila Sarr and he sends in a lovely, inviting low cross across the face of goal and Eberechi Eze is there free at the back post and able to guide it into the net.
103. A great counter from the visitors.
104. Image source, Reuters
106. Manchester City 0-0 Crystal Palace
107. Ellen White
108. Former Manchester City striker on BBC Radio 5 Live
109. Marmoush has amazing speed and is very gifted and he just needs time. He is very different to Haaland in terms of what he gives to the team.
110. He is a great talent for City.
112. Manchester City 0-0 Crystal Palace
113. Rob Page
114. Former Wales manager on BBC Radio 5 Live
115. It is a great start by Man City. You can see their intent.
116. Both full-backs are getting forward and then you can see them playing through the middle. A really good start from Man City so far.
117. Image source, Getty Images

Page 10

1. Manchester City 0-0 Crystal Palace
2. Simon Stone
3. BBC Sport’s chief football news reporter at the Etihad Stadium
4. James McAtee has been pushed very high.
5. He splits with Omar Marmoush to allow Kevin de Bruyne into the false nine role when Manchester City have the ball but holds his position when Crystal Palace have it.
6. He is trying to get into the space between Jefferson Lerma and Tyrick Mitchell.
8. Manchester City 0-0 Crystal Palace
9. James McAtee, on his full Premier League debut with Manchester City, gets on the end of a bouncing ball and it sits up nicely for him to attempt a lob, but he gets nowhere near enough height on it and it is an easy catch from Dean Henderson in the away goal.
11. Manchester City 0-0 Crystal Palace
12. Daniel Munoz crosses close to the right touchline for Palace and Jean-Philippe Mateta is there and glances a header wide, but it wouldn’t have mattered anyway as he had already strayed offside.
13. Image source, Reuters
16. get involved#bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only – standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826
17. This Man City team will be torn apart by Palace as I see nobody in it that can trouble Palace.
19. Manchester City 0-0 Crystal Palace
20. Manchester City make a burst down the right wing immediately, but James McAtee overcooks a cross and it goes out harmlessly for a throw-in.
22. Manchester City 0-0 Crystal Palace
23. And away we go on another busy Saturday in the Premier League.
24. Image source, Rex Features
26. Manchester City v Crystal Palace (12:30 BST)
27. Simon Stone
28. BBC Sport’s chief football news reporter
29. Five English teams will qualify for next season’s Champions League due to their position in the table.
30. Manchester City are sixth, a point behind Newcastle, who have a game in hand, and Chelsea, who don’t.
31. Given City still have Southampton to play, plus Bournemouth, who are badly out of form, and Wolves, who have been fourth bottom for ages, it would still be a major surprise if Pep Guardiola’s side missed out.
32. He does not quite see it like that.
33. “I don’t agree” was his response to my positive question.
34. Guardiola pointed to the injuries that have decimated his squad this season and mean he is currently without Erling Haaland, plus defensive trio John Stones, Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji for the encounter with Crystal Palace.
35. I still think they will do it with a little bit to spare. But it is getting too close for comfort.
36. Image source, Reuters
38. Manchester City v Crystal Palace (12:30 BST)
39. 
40. 
42. Manchester City v Crystal Palace (12:30 BST)
43. Alan Shearer
44. Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live
45. Big players are able to adapt. Yes you have got your way that you have to play but teams now are having a go at Manchester City.
46. Teams are without doubt having a bigger go at Man City than they have done ever. Yes, they are missing a freak of a goalscorer but you have to deal without having him and find a way to play.
48. Manchester City v Crystal Palace (12:30 BST)
49. Simon Stone
50. BBC Sport’s chief football news reporter at the Etihad Stadium
51. Manchester City will have a new technical director this summer when Hugo Viana takes over from Txiki Begiristain.
52. Pep Guardiola has known Begiristain since they were young players together at Barcelona, so it is impossible to replicate that relationship.
53. But Viana has been at City as part of the transition process and Guardiola is already speaking positively about the man who, together with Ruben Amorim, made Sporting such a success in Portugal.
54. “With Txiki, we were together playing in Barcelona as almost teenagers,” he said. “We’ve shared a life. No two relations are the same and what I’ve experienced in a short time (with Viana) is that it will be so easy to communicate together.
55. “He’s a perfect replacement. The vision, the way we talk, the composure like Txiki – no stress, not like me – and the balance is calm. Hopefully he can express himself. I’ve asked him to forget about what we have done. We need your vision. You don’t come here to just follow what we’ve done in the past.
56. “Let’s talk, what you see about the team over many months watching us, what we can do better.”
59. get involved#bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only – standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826
60. I’m sorry but as a blue, the team that Pep has picked today is just so poor, zero pace, I can see Palace having the easiest game of the season, they’ll tear us apart on the break and win by 2/3.
62. Manchester City v Crystal Palace (12:30 BST)
63. Rob Page
64. Former Wales manager on BBC Radio 5 Live
65. I saw quite a bit of James McAtee when he was at Sheffield United.
66. He has gone out and had that experience of playing games and benefited from having that experience and it will be interesting to see how he plays today.
68. Manchester City v Crystal Palace (12:30 BST)
69. Alan Shearer
70. Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live
71. I understand the excitement of the younger boys coming through but I think Guardiola knows he will have to spend to get back to being among the best.
72. The team today looks narrow to me, with the likes of Grealish and Doku on the bench.
74. Manchester City v Crystal Palace (12:30 BST)
75. Manchester City
76. Image source, Getty Images
77. Pep Guardiola is “optimistic” his side will qualify for next season’s Champions League because he believes their “spirit” is back.
78. City have endured a difficult season by their lofty standards and find themselves in a scrap for a top-five spot in the Premier League rather than challenging for the title.
79. They have slipped to sixth since a dismal goalless draw at Manchester United last week but Guardiola has seen enough in recent games to feel upbeat.
80. The City manager said: “I’m optimistic to finish well this season. Some spirit is back. Some games, some moments were good – United no – but the spirit is there. The spirit will sustain us. Maybe we (could) struggle in a game but the spirit has to be there.
81. “We saw with incredible curiosity the Champions League games this week and I know the spirit with which they play. That’s what we need to do.”
82. A number of factors have contributed to City’s downturn in form this season after winning the past four Premier League titles but Guardiola believes a lot of their frustration comes down to injuries.
83. He said: “We didn’t have players. We had a lot of injuries. In any sport when the important players cannot play, you cannot be the same. We couldn’t rotate, they couldn’t compete against each other and in certain moments we needed fight and we didn’t have legs. We didn’t have energy.”
85. Manchester City v Crystal Palace (12:30 BST)
86. Chris Sutton
87. Premier League title winner with Blackburn
88. Crystal Palace are a really well-balanced team who can cause Manchester City all sorts of problems with their 3-4-3 formation, even though Marc Guehi and Eddie Nketiah are suspended after being sent off against Brighton last week.
89. The Eagles are in better form than Pep Guardiola’s side too, with four wins and a draw from their past five league games – City have only won twice in the same period.
90. I still cannot move away from a City win, however. I still expect them to win these kind of games at home, even if they are miles away from being the team they were 12 months ago.
91. We saw more evidence of that last week, because Sunday’s Manchester derby was probably the dullest derby game I have ever watched. You think about when Guardiola came over, and how he transformed the game. For years, City were so watchable.
92. Now, if they were playing in my back garden I would close the curtains – although that would be a bit harsh on Palace.
93. Sutton’s prediction: 2-1
95. Manchester City v Crystal Palace (12:30 BST)
96. Crystal Palace
97. Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner said his side “have huge respect for Manchester City” and added: “It’s a great team with one of the best managers in the last decade in the Premier League but we approach with confidence and our goal isn’t to go away unbeaten but to win the game.”
98. On what he expects from City: “A possession-based team, who have a clear structure in their game. Normally Pep plays with high and wide wingers but against Manchester United he played a 4-4-2 diamond with two strikers and Kevin de Bruyne more as a number 10, so I don’t know exactly but we are prepared.”
99. Glasner worked with City striker Omar Marmoush when the pair were at Wolfsburg together and said: “He has the skills and what I loved was he was two and a half years in Germany and he spoke German perfectly and this is quite unusual.
100. “He is an amazing finisher, a great guy, has all the skills and in the football career you may not have to make a straight direction to come to the top but he had a loan at St Pauli, Stuttgart, then performing for Wolfsburg, then an outstanding season for Frankfurt. Immediately he shows Manchester [City] what kind of striker he is.”
102. Manchester City v Crystal Palace (12:30 BST)
103. Simon Stone
104. BBC Sport’s chief football news reporter at the Etihad Stadium
105. Image source, Reuters
106. Crystal Palace have a Wembley date with Aston Villa at the end of the month as they meet in the FA Cup semi-final.
107. Victory in that tournament would bring qualification for the Europa League. However, if Palace lose, the chances are they would gain a European spot in the Conference League by finishing eighth.
108. Oliver Glasner’s side are five points behind Fulham, who currently occupy that spot. However, they do have a game in hand – against Newcastle on Wednesday.
109. Anything Palace can get from this game would come in very handy indeed.
112. get involved#bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only – standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826
113. As tempted as I am to say Saka, I think he’ll stay for life and it’s more important to get Saliba (and Gabriel) signed to new deals.
115. Southampton v Aston Villa (15:00 BST)
116. Southampton
117. Simon Rusk wants relegated Southampton to begin building momentum for next season’s promotion push when his second spell as interim manager begins against Aston Villa.
118. Assisted by veteran midfielder Adam Lallana, Rusk will oversee Saints’ final seven Premier League games of a dismal campaign which has so far brought just two wins and 10 points from 31 fixtures.
119. Former manager Ivan Juric left St Mary’s on Monday in the wake of relegation being confirmed by a 3-1 loss at Tottenham, having only replaced the sacked Russell Martin in December.
120. Rusk, who previously oversaw Southampton’s goalless draw at Fulham between the tenures of Martin and Juric, wants to bring back some positivity moving towards the club’s return to the Championship.
121. “It comes down to approaching the next seven games as professionals as if it were the first seven games of the season,” he said. “That’s certainly how I’ll be approaching this.
122. “It has to be: we’re building momentum into next season. That’s important.”
124. Nottingham Forest v Everton (15:00 BST)
125. Everton
126. Everton face a Nottingham Forest outfit who, after finishing 17th last season, are currently third.
127. Toffees manager Moyes feels their boss Nuno Espirito Santo has done an “incredible” job, and added: “We did it at West Ham – we were fighting relegation and we went on to be in Europe.
128. “We didn’t qualify for the Champions League, which it looks like Forest have got a great chance of doing. So great credit to them.
129. “They’ve done an awful lot of good things, good recruitment, good signings, and sort of brought their club back to life.
130. “I think it gives everybody hope that in the Premier League there is a little bit of a chance.”

Page 11

2. get involved#bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only – standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826
3. United fan here, I think the most important player we need to keep is Mainoo. The kid is absolute class and I’m looking forward to seeing more of him.
4. Image source, Getty Images
6. Manchester City v Crystal Palace (12:30 BST)
7. Simon Stone
8. BBC Sport’s chief football news reporter at the Etihad Stadium
9. After 12 substitute appearances, Manchester City midfielder James McAtee finally gets his chance to start a Premier League game for the Blues today.
10. Pep Guardiola has admitted he might have made a mistake not calling on McAtee and Nico O’Reilly more often during that woeful mid-season run that cost them any chance of defending their Premier League title.
11. O’Reilly has excelled at left-back in recent weeks. I wonder, with Phil Foden ruled out through injury, whether that has persuaded Guardiola to place his trust in McAtee as well.
12. Image source, Rex Features
14. Manchester City v Crystal Palace (12:30 BST)
15. Kevin de Bruyne’s first ever appearance for Manchester City came against Crystal Palace as a 25th-minute substitute in September 2015.
16. He has since been involved in 12 goals against the Eagles, only having a hand in more against Southampton in the competition (14).
18. Manchester City v Crystal Palace (12:30 BST)
19. Nedum Onuoha
20. Former Manchester City defender
21. Image source, Getty Images
22. Image caption,
23. Kevin de Bruyne has helped Manchester City win the Premier League six times
24. When Kevin de Bruyne arrived at Manchester City, criticism was levelled at the club and recruitment for bringing in someone who was essentially a Premier League flop.
25. To become a player who has now gone down as one of the most iconic midfielders in Premier League history, and who will be in many all time league XIs, has been absolutely astonishing. For me as a fan of the football club, to see some of the things he’s done while wearing the City shirt has been an absolute joy.
26. My academy connections will always drag me towards academy players being some of my favourites, but De Bruyne has been one of my favourite City players in my lifetime for the way he plays and the fact he’s just so good.
27. There’s some stuff he does only he could do. When you think about how good players have to be to play at the highest level, here’s somebody that is at a level above that.
28. Some of his passes, his movement, his goals and his leadership have been astonishing and he seems to have enjoyed every single bit of it. He’s very much a Belgian Mancunian and credit to him for everything he has achieved in his time here.
29. He’ll go down as being one of the best to ever do it and the fact he’s done it for City, for me, is a real joy because I’ve witnessed it all.
31. Manchester City v Crystal Palace (12:30 BST)
32. Manchester City
33. Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola speaking to TNT Sports about Kevin de Bruyne’s first home match since announcing that he will be leaving the club at the end of the season: “Of course, it will be special. It has been 10 years here and it is special and I am sure they will show the appreciation for everything he has given here over the years.”
34. On Crystal Palace: “They have a lot of pace and quality and are a really good team. Crystal Palace is always a difficult team for us and that is the same when Oliver is here.”
36. Manchester City v Crystal Palace (12:30 BST)
37. Only league leaders Liverpool (23) have earned more points over their past 10 Premier League games than Crystal Palace (22). The Eagles have won four of their past five league matches and six of their past eight away from home.
38. Only Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah (10) has scored more Premier League goals so far in 2025 than Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta (nine).
40. Manchester City v Crystal Palace (12:30 BST)
41. Simon Stone
42. BBC Sport’s chief football news reporter at Etihad Stadium
43. Image source, Getty Images
44. We know Manchester City are planning to be active in the summer transfer window and with Kevin de Bruyne leaving and potentially Ilkay Gundogan as well, there will be vacancies in Pep Guardiola’s midfield.
45. Could Adam Wharton be a target?
46. City looked at the Crystal Palace youngster in the summer but opted against making a move for the former Blackburn star.
47. But it was interesting to hear Guardiola offer praise for Wharton in his press conference yesterday.
48. “He is an excellent holding midfielder,” said the Manchester City boss.
49. “He is in the national team already and his impact coming from the Championship to the Premier League has been really good. He has a brilliant left foot.”
51. Manchester City v Crystal Palace (12:30 BST)
52. Crystal Palace
53. Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner speaking to TNT Sports: “Since November it has started to grow and of course, with results and performances, the belief and confidence has increased.
54. “I think, across the season you have games when you miss key players. We have missed Guehi, Nketiah, Eze this season at points and managed to win. We are facing a strong Man City team and it is important for us to be at our top level this season.
55. “Always when we started as kids, in the park or as a kid, you want to win. That is no different today.”
57. Brighton v Leicester (15:00 BST)
58. Leicester City
59. Ruud van Nistelrooy admits he is hurting but is committed to turning Leicester’s fortunes around as they seek to end an eight-match Premier League losing run.
60. Defeat away to Brighton would see the team set an unwanted club record for consecutive losses and, with a 15-point gap to safety, their relegation back to the Championship seems already certain.
61. The team have lost 15 of their 16 league matches since drawing with Brighton when the two clubs last met on December 8 and hit a dispiriting new low when they were all but beaten inside 35 minutes against Newcastle, last time out.
62. “I’m committed to the now,” he said. “I’m doing everything I can with many people in this training ground. “When conversations take place over the future, we’ll wait and see. I will tell you more when things are happening.”
63. Monday’s 3-0 loss to Newcastle at the King Power Stadium saw Van Nistelrooy’s side brushed aside in the first half. They were two down after only 11 minutes to two Jacob Murphy goals before former Foxes winger Harvey Barnes returned to haunt his old side with a third before half-time.
64. “It’s blow after blow and it adds up,” said Van Nistelrooy. “After the Newcastle game, I was hurt. You’re always hurt when things don’t go your way and it adds up. It’s a challenge to break the cycle. We need personality. It’s going on too long. There’s only one way to break the cycle and that’s to fight, to believe we can end this cycle.”
67. get involved#bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only – standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826
68. A Villa fan here. A player we have to keep is Emi Martinez. A giant part of the success we’re having recently. But I also think Rogers is an exceptional player as well.
70. Southampton v Aston Villa (15:00 BST)
71. Aston Villa
72. Aston Villa play at already-relegated Southampton but Villa boss Unai Emery is not taking anything for granted.
73. “If we are not performing well, we are at risk,” he said. “This is the most important match we are playing now. I’m here because I was successful. If I was not being successful in my career as a coach and demanding like I was, I am not here.
74. “They chose me, the owners, because I was as a coach more or less in my career, always getting my objectives through the clubs. Coming here is because they wanted to try to get the same, to be ambitious, to work hard, to increase our demands, to increase our objective during the process we are.
75. “If I am not getting it (being demanding), I am going to lose my reputation, I am going to lose my position as a coach in football and maybe I will (get the) sack again.”
76. Villa have won their last three matches to climb back into the race for Champions League qualification and victory against the Saints would move them into the top five, which guarantees entry into the competition.
77. Emery added: “We have to win. Our objective is Europe. Of course, we are dreaming to repeat Champions League, and our highest ambition we are setting is to play in Champions League, but we are not contenders. But last year, we weren’t contenders, and we got it.
78. “Now, we are there because we are performing in the last matches and the last demands we are trying to set collectively and individually is clear.”
80. Nottingham Forest v Everton (15:00 BST)
81. Ex-Premier League striker Dion Dublin speaks with winger Anthony Elanga to discuss Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo and how he has got them “chasing greatness” this season.
84. Mark Chapman, Shay Given and Troy Deeney discuss the effect the video assistant referee is having on football, after Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes says it is taking the intensity out of the game.
85. Media caption,
86. MOTD2: Is VAR taking the intensity out of Premier League football?
88. Manchester City v Crystal Palace (12:30 BST)
89. Simon Stone
90. BBC Sport’s chief football news reporter at Etihad Stadium
91. It’s a beautiful day in Manchester but will the sun be shining on Manchester City at the end of the game?
92. Pep Guardiola’s side dropped out of the top five after Newcastle’s win at Leicester on Monday, so they have a bit of work to do over the final seven games of the season if they are to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
93. Guardiola has outlined his thoughts in today’s match programme.
94. “This is the first of seven games left in the Premier League,” he said. “We know the position we are in, and we know we have to win many games if we want to be back in the Champions League next season. We have to go for it.”
95. Palace are in form and have only lost on one of their last three visits to this stadium, so it will not be easy.
96. Image source, BBC Sport
97. Image caption,
99. Manchester City v Crystal Palace (12:30 BST)
100. It’s scorching in Manchester today, where Manchester City host Crystal Palace.
101. Image source, getty
104. get involved#bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only – standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826
105. People say Eze, but for me a good striker in the Premier League is gold dust. That’s why my pick for Palace is Mateta.
107. Manchester City v Crystal Palace (12:30 BST)
108. Simon Stone
109. BBC Sport’s chief football news reporter at the Etihad Stadium
110. Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola makes three changes to the side that drew at Manchester United last Sunday.
111. Young midfielder James McAtee comes in for Phil Foden, who misses out with an ankle injury. Rico Lewis replaces Matheus Nunes at right-back and Nico Gonzalez comes in for Bernardo Silva, who, like Nunes, drops to the bench.
112. Manchester City XI: Ederson, Lewis, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly, Kovacic, Nico, Gundogan, De Bruyne, McAtee, Marmoush.
113. Substitutes: Ortega, Grealish, Doku, Bernardo, Reis, Savinho, Nunes, Khusanov, Bobb.
114. 
115. Skipper Marc Guehi and striker Eddie Nketiah miss out for Crystal Palace following their red cards in last week’s victory against Brighton.
116. Chris Richards comes into the back three for Guehi as manager Oliver Glasner’s only change to his starting line-up. Twenty-year-old Irish forward Franco Umeh-Chibueze is named on the bench.
117. Crystal Palace XI: Henderson, Richards, Lacroix, Lerma, Mitchell, Kamada, Wharton, Munoz, Eze, Sarr, Mateta.
118. Substitutes: Matthews, Ward, Matheus Franca, Clyne, Hughes, Chilwell, Devenny, Kporha.
119. 
122. Nick Mashiter
123. BBC Sport football news reporter
124. After trials, delays, praise and some criticism, semi-automated offside technology (SAOT) will be introduced in the Premier League this weekend.
125. With several high-profile lengthy video assistant referee (VAR) decisions in recent weeks, it is hoped the technology will start to reduce the delays and some debates.
126. Clubs voted in the technology last April, but its rollout has been pushed back from the autumn for more trials.
127. It is designed to make the judgement of tight offside calls easier for officials by making key parts of the review process automatic.
128. The Premier League says the artificial intelligence system “enhances the speed, efficiency and consistency of offside decision-making”.
129. It is not used for other VAR involvements such as penalties, goal reviews for handballs or other fouls, red cards or mistaken identity.
130. The first Premier League game with the technology will be Manchester City’s home match with Crystal Palace on Saturday (12:30 BST).
132. Liverpool v West Ham (Sunday, 14:00 BST)
133. Liverpool manager Arne Slot says he is “very happy” that forward Mohamed Salah has signed a new two-year contract with the club.
135. Liverpool v West Ham (Sunday, 14:00 BST)
136. Watch some of Mohamed Salah’s best Premier League goals in a Liverpool shirt after the Egypt forward agrees a new two-year deal with the Reds.

Page 12

2. get involved#bbcfootball on X, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)
3. As always, we want your thoughts on all the action, and following on from the news that Mohamed Salah will be staying at Liverpool, we are asking you…
4. Which player must your club keep hold of for next season and why?
5. Contact us via the means listed above to get involved.
7. Liverpool v West Ham (Sunday, 14:00 BST)
8. Image source, Getty Images
9. Mohamed Salah has signed a new two-year contract with Liverpool.
10. The Egypt forward’s previous deal was scheduled to run out in the summer and there had been doubts he would stay.
11. That followed comments the 32-year-old had made during the season, as well as speculation linking him with a move to Saudi Arabia.
12. However, he will now have the chance to add to his 243 goals and 109 assists for Liverpool in 394 appearances.
13. “Of course I’m very excited – we have a great team now,” said Salah. “Before we also had a great team. But I signed because I think we have a chance to win other trophies and enjoy my football.
14. “I have played eight years here, hopefully it’s going to be 10. I’m enjoying my life here, enjoying my football. I have had the best years of my career here.”
15. Salah has scored 32 goals in all competitions this season, including 27 in the Premier League as the Reds chase a 20th top-flight title.
18. So Liverpool are heading towards a 20th league title, and their fans got the news they had been hoping for on Friday…
21. Manchester City have work to do if they are to get a Champions League place, although their task was made easier this week when Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Real Madrid ensured the Premier League would get an extra Champions League spot, meaning there will be at least five English teams in Europe’s top competition next season.
22. Their opponents today Crystal Palace, who, like City are in the semi-finals of the FA Cup, will still be dreaming of qualifying for Europe.
23. Leaders Liverpool don’t play today, so Arsenal could end the day eight points behind them. Southampton’s 3-1 loss at Tottenham on Sunday saw them become the first team to be relegated.
24. 
27. This is what we have coming up for us. Manchester City v Crystal Palace is at 12:30 BST, the next three start at 15:00 BST, with Arsenal v Brentford the late game at 17:30 BST.
28. 
31. Hello and welcome along to BBC Sport’s coverage of a busy Saturday in the Premier League.
32. We have live radio commentary on 5 Live later on for the Nottingham Forest v Everton and Arsenal v Brentford matches, which you can listen to in this very page.
35. Five Premier League matches today and the main focus is on the race for Europe, with Manchester City, Nottingham Forest, and Aston Villa all pushing to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
36. Image source, PA Media