Chris Bevan
BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Wayne Rooney's done a column for us here at BBC Sport and we'll bring you his views on Rasmus Hojlund, who Rooney believes is "short of confidence."

Hojlund started on the bench against Arsenal, but came on to replace Joshua Zirkzee but failed to convert a couple of good opportunities to end his goal drought when the game opened up late on.

"I've got faith in him", Rooney said. "He's a good player who works hard, which is really important. He needs that bit of luck as well, but once he gets a break then more goals will follow.

"As a striker for Manchester United, when you are not scoring goals there is a lot of pressure and a lot of people questioning if you can do it for United.

"The best thing for Hojlund to do is simplify it. Making runs into the penalty box is as easy at it comes. There was an attack late on against Arsenal I highlighted on Match of the Day 2 where Alejandro Garnacho is about to put in a cross and Hojlund needs to have that desire to get in the box.

"He goes to go, then for some reason he stops. If he carries on his run then he is in the right place around about the six yard box to get a tap-in for the winner when Bruno Fernandes' shot is saved.

"When you are short of confidence you have got to make sure you make it into the penalty area and put yourself in a position where you can score, so that is something he can improve on.

It's a fair shout, Mark.

The last team to win the Premier League with 10 or more draws was Leicester City in 2015-16.

They finished the season with 23 wins, 12 draws and three defeats.

Better times, eh, Foxes fans?

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While that probably is the case at this moment in time, it's not exactly what you want to hear from your national team manager if you're Joshua Zirkzee.

Speaking on Dutch football talk show, Studio Voetbal, Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman was asked about the United striker's absence from his preliminary 25-man squad and he gave a brutally honest response.

“He wasn’t in the preliminary selection because I don’t think he’s good enough at the moment," Koeman explained. "Especially scanning when turning or passing often goes wrong.

“Yes, in principle form and fitness are always leading, but that is not always possible. We have a lot of central defenders and midfielders, but we are somewhat limited up front.

“But even then, I still think that you have to earn your selection, and I think he doesn’t deserve that now, but that could be the case again in another period.”

Chris Bevan
BBC Sport

You would never say Arsenal and Manchester United are having similar seasons, but Sunday's Premier League stalemate at Old Trafford was a reminder that they have something in common - a problem to solve up front.

While the Gunners' attacking flaw appears to be a glaring one, in that they have played much of this campaign without a recognised centre-forward, United do have some strikers, but their regular failure to find the net has left people questioning whether they are good enough to help Ruben Amorim's side climb the table.

Wayne Rooney had sympathy for Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund when he analysed their display for his former club on Match of the Day 2, but felt Arsenal's issue again proved costly after watching them lose even more ground to Liverpool in an increasingly one-sided title race.

"I always feel the teams with the best number nines have the best chance of winning things," United's all-time record goalscorer, who won five Premier League titles, told BBC Sport.

"Liverpool are probably an exception to that, with the way they rotate the player they use through the middle, rather than having a regular number nine that the team is built around.

"The number nine is still so important for them, though. Mohamed Salah, cutting in from wide areas, is their main goalscorer but, whether it is Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota or Darwin Nunez in the centre, they all chip in with a good amount of goals."

Chris Bevan
BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Wayne Rooney's done a column for us here at BBC Sport and we'll bring you his views on the issues facing Manchester United's strikers.

Five-time Premier League winner Wayne Rooney believes that any striker would find it difficult playing up front for United at present as proven by Rasmus Hojland and Joshua Zirkzee failing to registered a goal this year.

"Before they scored at the end of the first half, United had managed one shot at goal and none on target," Rooney said.

"Their problem was their lack of movement in midfield, because they could not make the passes to get up the pitch. Instead, they were forced to play balls up to Zirkzee and it was very hard for him to do anything with them.

"A lot of the time Zirkzee was getting given a 50-50 ball, the kind where you have to work wonders to win it. Ideally, what you want is your team to make a few passes and play out of the pressure, then as the striker you are getting the ball to feet, which makes it a lot easier, and you are closer to the opposition goal too.

"What United needed to do was get some control of the game, and get on the ball. Then the striker can make the little five yard bursts to get behind the defence, which give you a better chance of scoring."

I'm glad you asked.

• We'll be looking at Joshua Zirkzee's form at Manchester United and what Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman has said about the forward's national team prospects.
• It's looking pretty done and dusted at the bottom and the top of the Premier League but there is still loads to play for in the race of the Champions League.
• Speaking of all to play for, or not so much - the current bottom three - are they the worst ever? We'll be taking a look.
• We've also got a live stream of Liverpool's training session to bring you at 13:15 GMT before the second leg of their Champions League Last 16 tie against PSG on Tuesday evening.

All that and much more. Honestly, there really is. My fingers are on fire.

Stick with us and keep getting involved using the usual methods!

Joining us on your lunchtime break? If so, here's what you've missed so far today:

• This weekend's results see Liverpool more 15 points clear of Arsenal in second.
• But, what does that mean? Is the title race over - or can Arsenal do the unthinkable and stage a comeback?
• Mikel Arteta's swift exit from his post-match interview on Sunday.
• We've also been looking at Arteta's record since taking the reins at Arsenal and asking you whether you believe it has been a success or not.

You can have your say on that last point in our poll at the top of this live page. We'll be carrying on that chat as well as much more throughout this afternoon.

Bobbie Jackson
BBC Sport

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Joao Pedro's stoppage-time penalty snatched Brighton victory over Fulham and strengthened their hopes of securing a Champions League berth.

Pedro won the penalty for his side after beating Fulham's Harrison Reed to the ball and taking a challenge on the back of the ankle.

The Brazilian dispatched the spot-kick into the corner to score for a third successive game - the first time he has achieved that feat in the Premier League - and deliver a crucial three points for the hosts.

Raul Jimenez had put Fulham in front with a well-taken volley after some neat chest control at the far post but Brighton struck back six minutes later through Jan Paul van Hecke.

Both teams played 120 minutes when securing their place in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup last Sunday, with Brighton beating Newcastle and Fulham seeing off Manchester United, and fatigue may have played a part in a largely uneventful first half at Amex Stadium.

Brighton showed a slight improvement in the second half and had two goals ruled out for offside before eventually grabbing the winner.

Sean Kearns
BBC Sport

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Wolves moved six points clear of the Premier League relegation zone after coming from behind to draw against Everton.

Jack Harrison gave the Toffees the lead with his first goal of the season when his deflected strike beat Jose Sa.

Zimbabwe international Marshall Munetsi equalised five minutes before the break with a first-time finish past Jordan Pickford from Jean-Ricner Bellegarde's pass to score his first goal for the club.

In a cagey second half with few chances, Jorgen Strand Larsen went closest for the hosts but had his effort from a narrow angle well saved by Pickford.

Beto came closest to finding a winner for Everton but Sa denied the in-form former Udinese striker by palming his low effort away.

The draw means Wolves are six points ahead of Ipswich Town and Leicester City.

Everton move into 14th, above Manchester United and West Ham on goal difference.

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter at Stamford Bridge

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea's Cole Palmer might have found a new way to fire a blank as he missed a Premier League penalty for the first time in the 1-0 win at home to Leicester City - but the fact he played at all was perhaps equally noteworthy on Sunday.

Going into the match, Palmer's involvement was in doubt after he missed training with a fever but insisted on playing to "help the team".

And the England international was perfectly placed to end his goal drought - standing at eight games going into the match - in the 22nd minute but his well-struck effort was saved by goalkeeper Mads Hermansen.

Previously, Palmer had scored all 12 of his penalty kicks in the Premier League, beating the record for perfect attempts held previously by former Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure.

It was the latest episode in a dip in form since the end of 2024. Last year, he scored 26 times and delivered 13 assists in the Premier League, more than any other player in England's top-flight during that period. He also broke the Chelsea club record for goal involvements in a calendar year.

But having also squandered several big chances in the 4-0 win against Southampton last week, the signs are that his confidence is on the wane.

Palmer has varied his finishes from the penalty spot, but stats show that shooting with his left foot across to his right is his favoured option.

This is likely something that Hermansen will have known and he managed to get across the goal to save the shot despite it being close to the corner.

Nottingham Forest issued a highly critical post on X about five minutes after full-time following a 2-0 defeat to Everton - which left the club one point above the relegation zone at the time.

In a controversial game, Forest were upset by referee Anthony Taylor ignoring three penalty appeals, including when Everton's Ashley Young handled in the closing moments of the opening half and then when the veteran tangled with Callum Hudson-Odoi as he raced in on goal.

The Key Match Incident Panel - an independent panel that reviews decisions after each round of Premier League fixtures - found Forest should have been awarded a penalty for Young's challenge on Hudson-Odoi in the 55th minute.

Forest said they had "warned" the Professional Game Match Officials Board (PGMOL) that "the VAR is a Luton fan but they didn't change him".

"Three extremely poor decisions - three penalties not given - which we simply cannot accept," the club posted on X, on 21 April.

"Our patience has been tested multiple times."

Although they did not name the official, the VAR was Stuart Attwell.

Forest were charged by the FA, who sought a fine in excess of £1m over the club's "egregious, direct and public attack".

An independent Appeal Board has dismissed an appeal by Nottingham Forest FC in relation to misconduct for comments posted on social media after the Premier League game involving Everton FC on Sunday 21 April 2024.

The FA alleged that the comments posted on social media constituted improper conduct by implying bias and/or questioning the integrity of the match official(s) and/or the video assistant referee and/or bringing the game into disrepute.

Nottingham Forest FC denied the charge, and an independent Regulatory Commission found it to be proven and imposed a £750,000 fine and warning on the club following a hearing.

The Appeal Board dismissed a subsequent appeal by Nottingham Forest FC in relation to both liability and sanction, and it has also ordered the club to remove the social media post.

Matthew Howarth
BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Callum Hudson-Odoi scored late in the second half to earn Nottingham Forest a crucial Premier League victory over fellow Champions League hopefuls Manchester City at the City Ground.

With seven minutes of an otherwise uneventful contest remaining, Hudson-Odoi collected a magnificent Morgan Gibbs-White pass in his stride before beating City goalkeeper Ederson at his near post to send the home fans into ecstasy.

In a game billed as crucial in the race to earn a spot in Europe's premier club competition next season, City had the better opportunities before the interval but lacked the pace or ingenuity to breach the home side's dogged defence.

A powerful Nico Gonzalez effort which struck the outside of Matz Sels' right-hand post was the high point of a drab first half, and there were few signs of improvement early in the second period despite Forest's greater urgency.

After Nico Dominguez volleyed an Anthony Elanga cross straight at Ederson within seconds of the restart, Hudson-Odoi had a low effort tipped on to the post by the Brazilian midway through the second half.

Pep Guardiola introduced Kevin de Bruyne and Omar Marmoush with 20 minutes remaining but there was little in the way of goalmouth action in the latter stages until Hudson-Odoi's moment of inspiration.

Guardiola and his players can have few complaints with the outcome as they slipped to a ninth league defeat of a tumultuous season - their joint-most in a single campaign under the Spaniard.

Image source, Getty Images

Less than two months ago, the gap between the top two in the Premier League table was the smallest it had ever been.

On 16 January, just four points separated leaders Liverpool and second placed Arsenal. The Gunners had played a game more, but a turnaround looked a real possibility.

Even as soon as four weeks ago on 10 February, the gap was still only six points and Liverpool were about to enter their iffiest spell of the season which saw them exit the FA Cup to Plymouth Argyle, plus be held to draws against Everton and Aston Villa in the league.

Fastforward 28 days, the gap is now 15 points and most are accepting that this race is done and dusted.

In case you were not keeping tabs on the Premier League's matches across the weekend, here is a look at the nine matches that have happened so far.

This weekend's Premier League results

• Nottingham Forest 1-0 Manchester City
• Brighton 2-1 Fulham
• Crystal Palace 1-0 Ipswich
• Liverpool 3-1 Southampton
• Brentford 0-1 Aston Villa
• Wolves 1-1 Everton
• Chelsea 1-0 Leicester
• Tottenham 2-2 Bournemouth
• Manchester United 1-1 Arsenal
• West Ham v Newcastle (Mon, 20:00 GMT)