Postpublished at 12:36 British Summer Time
Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporter
From the lower reaches of the Premier League to the very top, here is Phil McNulty's take on Liverpool and their summer transfer plans...
Summary
Premier League news conferences with Enzo Maresca, Ange Postecoglou and Unai Emery speaking on Thursday
Rashford and Tielemans out for Villa - Rashford to miss rest of campaign as he can't play against parent club Man Utd in final game
New Amorim quotes as the Man Utd manager says his players can still earn the chance to play in next week's Europa League final
Postecoglou news conference: Kulusevski out for months after having surgery on knee injury; Bergvall has 'same sort of recovery time' | Son will definitely play 'at least half a game' at Villa
Aston Villa and Chelsea are looking to boost their Champions League hopes with wins over Europa League finalists Spurs and Man Utd on Friday
Maresca says striker Nicolas Jackson 'recognises there has been an error' after being sent off against Newcastle
Opta give Villa and Forest outside chances of reaching the top five | Remaining fixtures for teams chasing the top five
Phil McNulty Q&A also taking place - get your questions in
Get Involved: WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)
Postpublished at 12:36 British Summer Time
Phil McNulty Q&A: Europa League winners 'deserve' Champions League spotpublished at 12:32 British Summer Time
Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writerLuke, a Spurs fan bored of the haters: Hey Phil, intrigued to know your take on the fact that finishing 5th is apparently quite an achievement and ok to get in the Champions League, but actually winning something, apparently, isn't?
Phil: Hi, Luke. I’m in your camp. The rules are there so if Spurs or Manchester United qualify for the Champions League by winning the Europa League, then they deserve to be there. End of argument.
Postpublished at 12:28 British Summer Time
Phil McNulty does not think winning the Europa League could "paper over the huge cracks" in Manchester United and Tottenham's league season.
Manchester United are set for their worst league finish since 1973-74 - when they were relegated.
While French side Paris St-Germain have won the same number of games against Premier League teams than Tottenham in 2025.
Image source, Getty Images/BBCMaresca cites recent league finishes as measure of progresspublished at 12:22 British Summer Time
Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporterTo recap what Enzo Maresca said, Ryan, the target when he was appointed in the summer was to "qualify for the Champions League within two seasons".
He said that, because they were still fighting for a top-five place by March, then that target was brought forward to this season.
When asked if that was an acceptable target for a club used to success, he cited Chelsea's recent Premier League placings - 12th in 2022-23 and sixth last season - saying that should be the barometer with which to measure the progress they have made this campaign, not previous titles and trophies.
Do you agree? Thumbs up for yes, down for no.
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 12:16 British Summer Time
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How can Maresca say that Chelsea shouldn't be aiming to win the league?!?! This Chelsea team is in the Club World Cup this summer and therefore should be one of the best in the world. How many other clubs in that competition think that a fifth-place finish is acceptable, let alone an aim for the season?
Ryan, Maidenhead
Phil McNulty Q&A: 'Winning Europa League cannot paper over the huge cracks'published at 12:14 British Summer Time
Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writerRichard, Sunderland: Question for Phil - can either Man Utd or Spurs look back on this season and say it was a success if they win the Europa League, despite their league form?
Phil: I think a trophy always equals success and should be celebrated. I also agree with Ange Postecoglou that it should not be diminished if Spurs won because they have been without a trophy for so long.
It would not disguise, however, that the respective Premier League seasons for Spurs and Manchester United have been nothing short of an embarrassment and winning the Europa League cannot paper over the huge cracks at both clubs, as well as the amount of work that needs doing to bring them back to where they feel they should be.
A trophy will always be in the history books, though, so should be a cause for celebration irrespective of league placing.
Postecoglou & Amorim coming uppublished at 12:07 British Summer Time
All times in BST
Well Simon, maybe we can read between the lines to see what the respective managers of those two clubs are planning for Friday's games.
Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou is due to speak with the media at 13:00 today, to preview his side's game at Aston Villa on Friday (kick-off 19:30).
And we will have some embargoed quotes to bring you from Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim from 13:30 BST.
Remember, United are playing at Chelsea tomorrow (kick-off 20:15).
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 12:02 British Summer Time
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Is it too much to ask for Man U and/or Spurs to actually put up a fight tomorrow night rather than gifting points in the CL race?
Simon
Phil McNulty Q&A: Do Villa need to sell to comply with PSR this summer?published at 11:58 British Summer Time
Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writerAndrew, York: Hey Phil, what will the summer look like for Aston Villa? Despite getting revenue for going deep into the Champions League, as well as getting a big fee for Jhon Duran in January, there's still talk we have to sell players to comply with PSR.
Phil: Morning, Andrew. Villa may have to do deals to fend off any lingering PSR concerns, but I think the club are in safe hands with the current ownership and those sales will be smart without weakening the squad. We have even seen Morgan Rogers linked with Chelsea, but I do not see Villa entertaining that sort of deal as they want to push on from what Unai Emery has already achieved.
Image source, Getty Imagesget involved Get Involvedpublished at 11:56 British Summer Time
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As a Villa fan, I think Newcastle will win at least one and Chelsea will win their remainder. Hoping Bournemouth can turn Man City over three days after the FA Cup final, or Fulham can again do us a favour against them.
Luke
ICYMI: Chelsea to pip Villa to top five place - Optapublished at 11:54 British Summer Time
This is the Opta prediction David was referring to, in case you missed our earlier post.
The table shows the percentage chances of finishing positions for each team currently in the top seven.
If the final two games follow Opta's prediction then Chelsea would pip Aston Villa to fifth place:
- 1st - Liverpool 100%
- 2nd - Arsenal 78.1%
- 3rd - Manchester City 42.7% [31.2% chance they could drop to 4th]
- 4th - Newcastle United 33.1% [30.8% chance they could finish 3rd]
- 5th - Chelsea 33.1% [26.9% chance they could end up 6th]
- 6th - Aston Villa 38.0% [25.8% chance they could move up to 5th]
- 7th - Nottingham Forest 59.2% [only a 13.2% chance of finishing 5th]
How they standpublished at 11:52 British Summer Time
Could goal difference prove important?
Top five race - remaining fixturespublished at 11:49 British Summer Time
Premier LeagueFriday, 16 May
- Aston Villa v Tottenham
- Chelsea v Man Utd
Sunday, 18 May
- West Ham v Nottingham Forest
- Arsenal v Newcastle
Tuesday, 20 May
- Man City v Bournemouth
Sunday, 25 May
- Fulham v Man City
- Man Utd v Aston Villa
- Newcastle v Everton
- Nottingham Forest v Chelsea
- Southampton v Arsenal
Postpublished at 11:47 British Summer Time
Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporterAgreed David, it's all just too close to call isn't it? That's why we love football so much, I guess.
While we are talking permutations, let's just remind ourselves about what fixtures are remaining for sides in that race for Champions League places, and just what those Opta predictions were...
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 11:44 British Summer Time
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I'm surprised that Newcastle are rated almost certain to get into the CL. We'll be lucky to get anything at Arsenal and home to Everton is just set up for Pickford to have a blinder in goal.
David, Worcs
Phil McNulty Q&A: 'Maresca still has things to prove'published at 11:39 British Summer Time
Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writerChelsea supporter, Telford: Phil, do YOU think Enzo Maresca is the right manager/coach to lead Chelsea back to competing for the EPL & Champions League? And if not, who would you have in charge?
Phil: I think Maresca still has things to prove, in my opinion, but if he gets Chelsea into the Champions League and wins the Conference League (Champions League is actually the priority) then that is a decent first season. The word is that he will get a full second season, irrespective of the outcome of this one.
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 11:34 British Summer Time
Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporterThanks Joe.
All this talk of A-levels and exams if bringing me out in a cold sweat.
If any of my former teachers are reading this, I can only apologise for my mis-spent youth.
But at least my healthy obsession with sport served me well in the end, right?
Anyway, back to the football [as I too often said when I should have been revising]...
Postpublished at 11:30 British Summer Time
Joe Rindl
BBC SportI'm also taking a break.
Craig Nelson is now in charge.
Postpublished at 11:29 British Summer Time
Joe Rindl
BBC SportThanks for adding context that I'd understand, Alex.
Jonny, the teachers have responded. It's time you got back to your flash cards.
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 11:28 British Summer Time
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Re: Joe Rindl at 10:43. Joe, as a teacher I’d like to tentatively suggest that spending your revision time scrolling the BBC live feed immediately before your exams is the equivalent of giving yourself an ACL knock having a kick-about with mates the weekend before your club has a cup final match.
Alex, St. Helier