Nottingham Forest

Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Forest captain Morgan Gibbs-White says the team are ready to fight until the very end for a Champions League spot.

It is all to play for on the final day of the season when Forest host Chelsea, with the result deciding who could finish fifth.

"We've made it difficult for ourselves from where we were but we are going to fight until the end," said Gibbs-White. "We're at home, the City Ground is going to be rocking and we'll need the fans.

"We will plan this week how we're going to go into the game but we will be fighting."

Chelsea are one of three teams on 66 points, alongside Newcastle and Aston Villa, with Manchester City and Nottingham Forest on 65 points.

Five English sides will qualify for the Champions League through the league, up from the usual four, with an extra place secured because of positive results by Premier League clubs in Europe this season.

Chelsea know a win would be enough to secure qualification, but Forest need to beat the Blues and hope at least one team above them slips up if they are to grab a spot in Europe's elite competition.

Match of the Day 2 pundits have been having their say on the race for the Champions League.

Danny Murphy expects Newcastle to be "fine", adding: "At home to Everton, I would say so with those fans behind them.

"Manchester City have got it all in their own hands with that extra game. Bournemouth and Fulham - not easy games but I'd tip them as well.

"If you look around the dressing room and you look at the manager, they're just the best in their class. If they don't have the resilience and fortitude to get through those games then there is a real question mark. They should beat Bournemouth and Fulham nine out of 10 times when they need to."

"That Chelsea-Forest game next week is the pick of the bunch. That's going to be one hell of an atmosphere down there."

Martin Keown said: "I think Forest have been magnificent this year - a breath of fresh air to see how they've performed. It's looking tough for them right now. They just had a little blip at the wrong time but they can't have any regrets to the way they've played this season.

"I think Man City will have enough to get there and so will Aston Villa as well."

Which way will it go? Read more and hear from the managers

Highlights and analysis from Sunday's five Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from the rest of the weekend.

If you missed Match of the Day 2, catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

And you can watch Saturday's Match of the Day here.

Listen back to the weekend's full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

Saturday 17th May

FA Cup final: Crystal Palace 1-0 Manchester City - 5 LIVE

Sunday 18th May

West Ham 1-2 Nottingham Forest - 5 LIVE

Brentford 2-3 Fulham – SPORTS EXTRA 2

Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle - 5 LIVE

Nottingham Forest are keen to tie down midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White, 25, and winger Callum Hudson-Odoi, 24, to new contracts as soon as possible. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Nuno Espirito Santo spoke to BBC Match of The Day after Nottingham Forest's victory against West Ham: "A lot of stoppage in the game so we were anxious to get the game finished.

"Until then [West Ham goal] we were in control. Then the anxiety comes when we allowed the goal and everything is difficult from there. Matz [Sels] did great again so we're happy.

"We started really well. Previous games a lot of bad things happened to us but today was not the case. Today we pressed good, got a good goal, started well in the second half, on the front foot. Generally a good performance.

"The players worked hard to put West Ham under pressure."

On VAR delay: "The referee came to explain the situation, they lost connection with Stockley [Park] that was the delay."

On fighting for Champions League: "It's great. Let's enjoy it, it's going to be a good week for us. If we'd thought in the beginning of the season that we'd be playing to play in the Champions League we'd sign it."

Emma Smith
BBC Sport journalist at London Stadium

Image source, Getty Images

Whatever happens next Sunday against Chelsea, this has been Nottingham Forest's best season since they finished third in 1994-95.

The current class, 30 years later, are matching and yet may exceed the side who earned Uefa Cup qualification under the management of Frank Clark.

Against West Ham, Anthony Elanga recorded his 11th league assist of the campaign - equalling Forest's Premier League season record, set by Bryan Roy in 94-95.

And if he scores twice against the Blues, Chris Wood will match the 22 goals scored by Stan Collymore in Forest's best season of the Premier League era.

Forest need to beat Chelsea and hope other results go their way to avoid going into the Europa League, the successor the competition graced by Clark's boys.

But this win at West Ham, earned over an astonishing 112 minutes and 55 seconds, shows they are ready to fight and go one better with Champions League qualification.

Image source, PA Media

Nottingham Forest have scored 17 goals from opposition errors in the Premier League this season – the most of any side across a single campaign in the competition since Chelsea in 2013-14 (21).

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

What did you make of West Ham's performance?

Have your say on how well Nottingham Forest played

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Five matches make up Sunday's Premier League action and BBC Sport will bring you every kick.

• Everton v Southampton (12:00) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• West Ham v Nottingham Forest (14:15)

• Brentford v Fulham - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

• Leicester v Ipswich

• Arsenal v Newcastle (16:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 15:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

This is a huge game for my boyhood side, Nottingham Forest.

They need to win to keep their hopes of a top-five finish alive, but my fear is they have already blown it.

I played at the City Ground many times but I think my stint there as a Sky pundit for last weekend's draw with Leicester was the first time I've watched a game there rather than been on the pitch, and it was not enjoyable viewing for us fans.

I thought that game was a must-win for our Champions League hopes, and if they drop more points here they could drop out of contention completely.

I've heard some people say that Forest have bottled it, but I don't agree. They have just run out of steam.

Forest's aim now is to get to next weekend and still be in touch before they host Chelsea in their final game of the season, but whether that happens or not relies on which West Ham team turns up.

The Hammers were on a poor run before they went to Old Trafford last weekend and won. That would usually be an impressive result but it is not much of an achievement at the moment.

I know who I want to win but, for different reasons, it is hard to back either side here.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Karan Vinod
BBC Sport Journalist

Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against West Ham (kick-off 14:15 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On Taiwo Awoniyi: "He went to surgery, the surgery went well, thank God. He's in observation now. I think he's recovering but we still have to wait for the doctors to allow visits. His family are there, we are concerned but we are positive. The information that we have is that he has to be there for at least five days in observation. We will try to visit him, I will try to visit him as soon as possible but he is in very good hands. What he needs is the support of their family."

• Nuno reiterated that the referees cannot be "blamed" for how the situation with Awoniyi developed because the "law is like that". He said referees have "instructions to follow."

• On the mindset going into last two games: "The mindset is very clear, it is our last opportunity to try and fight for Champions League. We are talking about something so huge for us. We are preparing ourselves and training hard."

• Nuno stated that "it has been difficult" to focus on West Ham because of the absence of Awoniyi and the concern of the players as they were constantly looking for an update on his condition. He reaffirmed that they have an "obligation to prepare" for the game and move forward.

• On West Ham: "We are going to improve our game, we have to be solid. But we are also facing a tough team. Good players, good squad, Potter is there and it's going to be tough on us."

• Nuno said that the group is disappointed with recent results and performances but the "only solution is to regroup and go again".

• The Forest boss stated they "have been able to bounce back from bad moments" and they want to "give it a go".

• On nominations for Anthony Elanga, Morgan Gibbs-White and himself in the young player, player and manager of the year awards respectively, Nuno said: "The players have been working really well and hard. We've been able to have more good performances than bad and we are delighted. I am a part of something big that is the coaching staff. There's too many people that work really hard behind the scenes that you don't know. I am just the face."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Image source, Getty Images

In addition to Premier League manager and player of the season, the shortlist for young player has also been announced.

Chelsea's Cole Palmer is in the running to win the award for the second year in a row.

The 23-year-old forward has 15 goals and eight assists in 35 appearances.

Liverpool's Ryan Gravenberch and Liam Delap, who has scored 12 of Ipswich's 35 goals, are also on the eight-player shortlist.

The other nominees are Anthony Elanga (Nottingham Forest), Dean Huijsen (Bournemouth), Joao Pedro (Brighton), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa), and William Saliba (Arsenal).

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Former Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Mark Crossley has been discussing the club's European qualification on the Shut Up and Show More Football podcast: "It is a great achievement, and something I don't think at the beginning of the season any of us expected.

"It has been a great season, it is a bit of a shame it has filtered off towards the end of the season but there is still a chance of Champions League football and the main thing is that club is back in Europe.

"We experienced the Uefa Cup back in the 90s and it was a great tournament with great teams, and it will be nice to get Forest back on the map that way - they're certainly going the right way about doing that again these days.

"I've always been one for saying possession doesn't win you football matches, clean sheets win you football matches and the team have done it superbly. I like the way Nuno has been relaxed about it all and just get on it.

"I think the injuries they are getting towards the end of the season now is down to the sheer hard work. When you watch the team, I love the way the players come off absolutely shattered which means they have out hell of a lot into every single game. Eventually it will catch up to you when you have not got a massive squad.

"The players will be thinking now, after all the hard work we have done, just the final step now in the season – can we go that one step further?

"Everyone can be very proud of this season."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

The Premier League have announced the nominations for Premier League player of the season award.

After winning the league title, Liverpool have three representatives with Mohamed Salah, captain Virgil van Dijk and Ryan Gravenberch.

Forward Salah has scored 28 goals and provided 18 assists, and is just one goal or assist away from matching the all-time record for most goal involvements in a single campaign.

Nottingham Forest have two nominees in Morgan Gibbs-White, who has netted six goals, made eight assists and created 50 chances, and Chris Wood, who has enjoyed the best season of his career in scoring 20 goals.

Arsenal, who had been Liverpool's closest challenges for much of the season, are represented by Declan Rice, after the midfielder reached double figures for combined goals (three) and assists (seven).

Newcastle United have one player on the list with Alexander Isak, who is nominated for the second season running after scoring 23 times - the second-most goals in the 2024-25 Premier League campaign.

Bryan Mbeumo becomes the first Brentford nominee for the award having reached 25 direct goal involvements - the third-most in the Premier League - thanks to 18 goals and seven assists.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

The Premier League 2024-25 manager of the year shortlist, external has been announced.

Nottingham Forest's Nuno Espirito Santo, Brentford's Thomas Frank, Newcastle United's Eddie Howe, Wolves' Vitor Pereira and Liverpool's Arne Slot have all been nominated.

Voting closes 12:00 BST on Monday 19 May.

The votes from the public will then be combined with those of a panel of football experts to decide the winner.

Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Forest have won their past two league games against West Ham and are looking to complete their first league double over the Hammers since 1983-84.

Anthony Elanga has provided 10 assists in the Premier League this season - the only Nottingham Forest player with more in a single campaign is Bryan Roy (11 in 1994-95).

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on the future of offside rules, which is currently a big talking point following the injuries sustained by Taiwo Awoniyi against Leicester City.

Here are some of your comments:

Chris: Letting play continue where there is uncertainty or it's marginal is fair enough. But where offside is clear and obvious, as it was in this case, then the flag should have gone up immediately and we wouldn't have a player in hospital. Time to review the rules.

Rob: People have been saying for years that this was something that could happen as a result of keeping the flag down. If they do decide to change the rule now as unsafe (which they should), serious questions need to be asked of the people that made the original decision, because there's no way they can say this was unforeseen.

Nigel: If a player is in a offside position when they receive the ball the flag should be raised, not later. This has all come about since VAR was introduced, which in my opinion has ruined football.

Ian: It's been said all along that an incident like this was eventually going to happen. However, watching from the stands, it was so far offside that the guidelines of keeping the flag down should have gone out the window. Common sense should have prevailed. Just shows how VAR has changed how matches are officiated now.

Pete: It was only a matter of time before a serious incident occurred that was preventable. One of the most ridiculous laws in the 'modern' game. They have to rectify this!

Rob: Rule needs to be changed and more common sense used when players are clearly offside. That all said my main concern at the moment is the health and well-being of a young footballer, husband, son and father. Hope you make a full and quick recovery Taiwo. Love to you and your family.

Image source, PA Media

BBC Sport senior football correspondent Sami Mokbel, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live with the latest on Taiwo Awoniyi's injury:

"He was taken into hospital on Monday night after he took a turn for the worse after the game on Sunday. He underwent the first phase of surgery on Monday night. My understanding is the damage caused to his abdomen was worse than they first thought it might be.

"He spent yesterday [Tuesday] asleep, in an induced coma, and there's hope that today they can complete the second phase of the procedure, which will effectively be the last stages of the repair, with a view to awakening him from the coma at some point today."