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The pressure is rising on Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe ahead of a huge clash with Bournemouth on Saturday that feels significant.

Three weeks without a game was supposed to see the Magpies brush off derby disappointment and launch themselves into a late charge for the European spots that they desperately need to help finance their summer overhaul. Instead it was a dispiriting case of more of the same.

Newcastle have six games left of a rollercoaster season. The run-in now feels very important for Howe’s future.

What are the problems?

Newcastle are not asserting themselves in games any more. Their ferocious press has long since dissipated and the edge that made them a nightmare to play against has been blunted.

Clearly they have failed to adapt to losing Alexander Isak, who was the focal point of the team last season. The £55m signing of Yoane Wissa has been an absolute disaster (a signing that, with financial rules structured the way they are, will weigh heavily on them for years) and Howe appears to have made a decision on Nick Woltemade as a forward in his system. Unbelievably, William Osula, who nearly left the club in September, is now the club’s first-choice striker.

Late goals and protecting a lead are both huge issues. An incredible 32 per cent of the goals they have conceded this season have been after the 80th minute and most have cost them. Inside the club they recognise the problem but have not been able to solve it.

Is he under genuine pressure?

For the first time in his reign it feels like there is genuine uncertainty about the manager’s future. Howe is not under any imminent threat but chief executive David Hopkinson’s “no stance” comment a fortnight ago was not said by accident.

“Frustration” was how one source summed up the mood on Monday. Everyone is feeling the pressure of a dreadful run of three dispiriting losses.

Defeat at Crystal Palace was certainly not make or break but it did add into the narrative that this season has been like Groundhog Day – the same problems, the same lack of solutions.

Of course there is mitigation: 11 goals conceded in stoppage time has cost them six points. They have let 25 points slip from winning positions. The margins have been razor thin. Howe is the lightning rod for criticism but his players – who he has defended publicly – have clearly let him down too.

As a manager he has been transformative at St James’ Park, the best the club has had in the modern era. But it is becoming clear that success does not represent a free pass. If results don’t improve and they finish around or lower than the position they currently occupy, the pressure will ramp up ahead of a huge summer when Newcastle have no choice but change course on recruitment and their trading strategy.

Internally there is a feeling in some quarters that the club “need more information” before a detailed end-of -season debrief that will map out what Newcastle do next.

That means the next six games are crucial, as are Howe’s plans to turn things around in the future. If they bring wins and positive performances the pressure dips. More of what we saw on Sunday and the questions – on the terraces and for the club’s decision makers – are not going anywhere.

What comes next?

The Cherries have been a nightmare for Newcastle in recent seasons and are unbeaten in seven meetings since Howe took over. Last year’s 4-1 defeat was particularly painful.

With supporter sentiment less sympathetic than it was then, Howe and Newcastle need a reaction. There were not many left in St James’ Park by the end of the Sunderland defeat but those who were there made their feelings known. It feels like a crowd on the edge.

While the team struggles on the pitch, the strategy is shifting off it. Recruitment meetings are ramping up in preparation for the summer with the suggestion Newcastle want to be “ready to go” from the start of the transfer window and Howe is involved in those talks.

Read more

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• Mark Douglas: Newcastle’s summer transfer budget revealed – and four areas they are targeting

But this will not be a summer of bringing in top flight-ready players. Over £100m of striker talent sat on the bench told its own story on Sunday and while the previous strategy brought two Champions League campaigns and a Carabao Cup, with financial restrictions biting hard it might well have run its course.

“Sometimes you need to do different things,” one source admitted.

There is no doubt that change is coming at Newcastle, but whether Howe is around to lead it feels less certain than it once did.

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Crystal Palace 2-1 Newcastle United (Mateta 80′ 90+4’ pen | Osula 65’)

SELHURST PARK — There was only so long Jean-Philippe Mateta was loathed by some fans at Crystal Palace.

The Frenchman had experienced bundles of animosity after trying to force a move away during the winter transfer window, eventually agreeing to join AC Milan before failing a medical. His ambition to leave — with 18 months left on his contract — was not the issue, but rather the manner of his attempted exit.

On his return in the Conference League against AEK Larnaca last month, following both the collapsed transfer and recovery from a knee injury, Mateta was booed and abused.

However, this week — after three weeks without a game — Palace fans drew a line under the saga, helped by three crucial goals as he worked his way back into their good books. This is his redemption arc.

A 14-minute brace enabled Palace to recover from behind to beat Newcastle United 2-1 on Sunday. This, less than 72 hours after he scored Palace’s first goal in their scintillating 3-0 Conference League quarter-final first leg win over Fiorentina.

BOOM! Jean-Philippe Mateta levels for Crystal Palace! pic.twitter.com/txTXfPjucj

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 12, 2026

His display against Newcastle had more intensity than Thursday night as he gradually builds back to full fitness.

It was a re-energised, physical performance from the bench, cancelling out William Osula’s first-half strike and cementing his return to favour. Introduced in the 65th minute, Mateta chased every loose ball, pressed the Newcastle centre-backs and played with real menace. Palace had been stable against Newcastle, but his vigour provided the catalyst for the turnaround.

The 28-year-old geed up both his teammates and the crowd, immediately making an impact from the bench as he won a set-piece, before conducting the supporters to ramp the volume up.

It was a perfect move from the Eagles to draw level as they built at speed. Daniel Munoz’s cross to Mitchell was centralised for Mateta, who floated into space at the back post and headed into an empty net.

He had Sven Botman to thank for his second, with the Newcastle centre-back pulling Jefferson Lerma down inside the area when a long throw was launched into the box, forcing the referee to award a penalty. Mateta coolly slotted away to Aaron Ramsdale’s left to earn three points.

Mateta was awarded the Premier League’s Man of the Match, but in his typical jocular fashion, refused to take the award from Tyrick Mitchell, who was making his 200th Premier League appearance for Palace and assisted Mateta’s first, insisting he was more worthy.

His Vengaboys “Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom” theme song, played after he scores, was met by deafening shouts of “Boom”. Just a few weeks ago, he was being booed. It’s amazing what a few goals can do.

“I was delighted for JP,” said Palace boss Oliver Glasner. “This [reception] is what he deserves. As soon as it was clear he would stay at Crystal Palace, he said he would work very hard to come back and help the team win and achieve our goals. He’s getting back to his top fitness. It’s good to have him back.”

The Premier League is somewhat of a supporting act for Palace now, with the Eagles all but safe and chasing European glory.

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But the win against Newcastle, Glasner’s side are now six games unbeaten and maintain momentum ahead of Thursday’s second leg against Fiorentina.

Palace’s season will be judged on the Conference League; they must not get too high or too low in the Premier League and use the domestic fixtures to gain as much impetus as possible.

With Mateta back among the goals, the accrued confidence could make him a vital weapon on the road to Leipzig.

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Hoo boy, we actually have a title race and it has bounced back into relevance because Arsenal are tensing up all the more while Manchester City are having such wonderful fun. “We fight ‘til the end,” they chanted at Stamford Bridge and you’d have to be stupid not to believe them.

The other big story of the weekend came in Sunderland, where Roberto De Zerbi picked up where Igor Tudor left off, the occasional bright spark overshadowed by an inability to respond to adversity. Tottenham Hotspur are in the bottom three and they will not merit escaping it until they display some fight.

Finally, we have a magnificent race for European football. Assuming it goes down to at least eighth place, there are eight clubs within five points of making it. Which is delicious fun.

Here is one piece of analysis on each of the top flight clubs who played this weekend (in reverse table order)…

This weekend’s results

• West Ham 4-0 Wolves
• Arsenal 1-2 Bournemouth
• Brentford 2-2 Everton
• Burnley 0-2 Brighton
• Liverpool 2-0 Fulham
• Crystal Palace 2-1 Newcastle
• Nott’m Forest 1-1 Aston Villa
• Sunderland 1-0 Tottenham
• Chelsea 0-3 Man City

Back to panic stations for Wolves

In the build-up to Friday evening, Rob Edwards promised that Wolves “would be competitive” and we believed him. Wolves had taken seven points from their previous three league games and not lost by more than a two-goal margin since 8 December.

So this was surprising and surprisingly rotten, Wolves collapsing almost as soon as West Ham had taken the lead. It was their joint-worst result of the season (0-4 vs Man City on the opening weekend) and one of their most dispiriting performances.

For all the improvements in 2026, Edwards’ task is to maintain a half-decent mood before next season. In that context, this last stretch matters more than any other. Terrible start.

Burnley have become lame ducks

Scott Parker blamed “computers and robots” for ruling that two offside situations were in fact offside. He also stressed that Burnley have plenty of energy and endeavour but lack a little quality in the final third. Which is both perfectly reasonable but also ignores some of the flaws that Burnley could have improved.

The home record has been appalling. Burnley have not won a league game at Turf Moor for 177 days and counting. Having taken seven points from their first three in 2025-26, it’s four points from 12 games since and supporters are allowed to expect more despite the quality gap to most teams.

Parker’s tactics may have played a part. He can bemoan tight offsides and missed chances, but Burnley have had 9.28 shots per game this season (the least in the league). Without the ability to count upon clean sheets, as they did last season, Burnley have simply become lame ducks.

Nothing has changed at Tottenham

In his pre-match press conference, Roberto De Zerbi conceded that he couldn’t change too much tactically in a short period of time. Instead he would focus on the personality and attitude of his players.

So… where was that? Tottenham could consider themselves slightly unfortunate to fall behind against Sunderland, given the huge deflection off a defender’s leg. But their response to the goal was entirely abject, unable to build up territorial momentum quickly enough and then extraordinarily wasteful when Sunderland sat back.

All is not lost yet – De Zerbi has presentable home fixtures beginning next weekend. But if the supposition was that this new manager would do far more than the last new manager, the differences between Tudor and De Zerbi’s Spurs were miniscule and the end result the same.

West Ham’s spine for survival

West Ham knew that Friday night left no room for maybes. This was their most gentle fixture remaining this season. After the FA Cup exit against Leeds, Nuno Espirito Santo needed to offer a reminder that there is plenty enough in this squad to stay up. To win 4-0, vastly improving the goal difference gap to those above them, was a significant statement.

But why should we be surprised; West Ham have a dependable spine now. Mads Hermansen is back in goal and far more comfortable than he seemed in early season. Axel Disasi’s loan signing in January has made an enormous difference because there is competition for places that doesn’t include struggling Max Kilman. Up front, Taty Castellanos is busy, bullish and is now adding goals.

Konstantinos Mavropanos has scored again to give West Ham an emphatic 4-0 lead pic.twitter.com/LsWACF7xIw

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 10, 2026

But don’t underestimate the old guard. Since mid-January, Tomas Soucek has started 12 Premier League matches and West Ham have only lost three (Liverpool, Chelsea and Aston Villa – all away). Of the 17 games he missed before then, West Ham won only four.

Why Forest should try two up

The long-awaited return of Chris Wood from injury presents Vitor Pereira with an interesting option.

It’s especially salient given Nottingham Forest’s inability to create clear chances for their forwards at home. The last time a Forest striker scored at home in the Premier League was Wood on the opening weekend against Brentford. A bit has happened since then.

On 65 minutes against Villa, Pereira brought on Wood but kept Igor Jesus on the pitch. Given Jesus is busy but struggles to take chances and Wood was brutally efficient last season, it’s a combination that could work if Pereira chooses to tweak his formation, Forest have to beat Burnley at home next weekend.

Leeds

Play Manchester United on Monday night.

Same old Howe, same Newcastle result

Eddie Howe can talk up his own appetite for the job and the support he has received internally, but he knows that the next six weeks are a mini audition to keep his job. Newcastle United continue to make noises about bigger, better and dominance. Howe must prove he belongs in that picture.

Sunday was the worst possible start because it proved Howe’s weaknesses. Almost all of last summer’s expensive signings were left on the bench, proof of those serious mistakes.

And what do we know that Howe struggles with? Managing leads without sitting back and inviting pressure. Newcastle have now dropped 25 points from winning positions in the league. The manager declared himself bemused by the collapse at Selhurst Park. He must be the only one still surprised.

Palace fans should give Glasner his flowers

We are very quick to criticise managers when they make mistakes. That includes Oliver Glasner, whose public displays of mutiny and announcement of his summer departure left a bad taste in the mouths of most Palace fans.

But Glasner deserves credit for his handling of Jean-Philippe Mateta following the failed move to Milan in January.

Jean-Philippe Mateta converts from the penalty spot and Palace steal the win at the last! pic.twitter.com/pJiHnO8KPH

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 12, 2026

Mateta was initially kept out of the limelight, not starting a game in February or March. He started – and scored – against Fiorentina on Thursday to build up match fitness and goodwill. Mateta then won the game for Palace on Sunday. That’s excellent management.

Is this the long goodbye for Fulham?

There has been much talk of Fulham “being able” to keep hold of Marco Silva when his contract expires this summer.

But Fulham podcast Fulhamish asked for three-word post-match reviews from supporters and their answers on Saturday night were revealing: “Silva going stale”, “Let’s part ways”, “Good bye [sic] Silva”, “Time for change”.

These may merely reflect the aftermath online anger of a defeat, but it’s still interesting. Fulham have failed to score in four of their last five matches, have dropped points against West Ham and Forest and tumbled out of the FA Cup to a Championship side at home. Silva has been magnificent here, but how this season ends really matters.

Bournemouth’s next attacking sensation

The focus understandably lingered long upon what Bournemouth’s victory at the Emirates meant for their opponents, but Andoni Iraola is creating magic again.

This win took Bournemouth to 12 games unbeaten in the Premier League, their longest ever streak. And this club sold its best attacking player in January.

Their next attacking sensation might well be Eli Junior Kroupi. His goal on Saturday means that Kroupi has scored 10 Premier League goals as a teenager from just 36 shots and – a ludicrous – 17 shots on target. He’s also the youngest player to reach 10 in a debut Premier League season for more than 25 years.

Sunderland’s bad boy absolutely deserves a ban

Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey can consider himself incredibly fortunate not to receive a second yellow card for his push on Tottenham defender Cristian Romero. It would be no surprise if the Football Association chose to charge him for dangerous, reckless play.

You can argue – with some logic – that this type of incident happens all the time. Players wrestle for the ball and push opponents while doing so. But Brobbey was never going to get there and must have seen the potential collision.

Nordi Mukiele's shot deflects off Micky van de Ven and ends up in the back of the net! pic.twitter.com/oPqTbBSFpS

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 12, 2026

It’s an outcome-based scenario (on the vast majority of occasions nobody gets hurt), but so what?If you push a player away from the ball and they get hurt, that’s on you.

Hurzeler states Brighton’s European ambition

In a landscape where managers typically refuse to make any statement at all for fear of being tripped up, it was refreshing to hear Fabian Hurzeler say after the win at Burnley that the ambition had to be qualifying for Europe.

Hurzeler has also got a handle on his squad again. Players are no longer being routinely picked out of position, Brighton seem capable of absorbing opposition pressure without conceding and there is far less of the powderpuff attacking of the winter.

Fun fact: the Seagulls have more points in their last six matches than any other team in the division.

Comebacks define Moyes’ second era at Everton

If there is one thing to define Everton’s battle to qualify for European football way ahead of anyone’s expectation, it is their ability to squeeze points out of adversity. As Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall said at the end of Saturday’s game, if you aren’t going to win then make sure that you do not lose.

In 2023-24, the last full season before David Moyes came back, Everton took a frankly miserable four points from losing positions despite trailing in 19 of their 38 matches. In 2024-25, Everton took 12 points from losing positions but seven of those came from February onwards (after Moyes had taken over).

And this season, Everton have taken 16 points from losing positions. Whatever your criticisms of Moyes, he has always been able to produce teams that excel when required to reflect his own personality. Fire up the Moyesy in Europe dance again.

Brentford’s player of the year contender

He’s likely to miss out to the Arsenal and Manchester City cohort, but Igor Thiago should be in the conversation for the Premier League Player of the Year award. Since 2020, only six players had scored more than 20 goals in a Premier League season: Isak, Haaland, Salah, Palmer, Kane and Son.

Thiago has joined that club with six matches of his league season remaining. Last July, you could get 250-1 on him being the top scorer this season.

Now he’s competing alongside Haaland and he doesn’t even play for an elite club. That deserves serious recognition, given his injury history and his tireless work to get back to this position.

Chelsea have no defence for these standards

There are myriad ways to epitomise Chelsea’s mismanagement; Sunday offered a glaring snapshot into another. City’s second goal was created by Rayan Cherki, a magician by any measure, but it was scored by Marc Guehi. Guehi ran towards the away end at Stamford Bridge like a man not used to arrowing shots into the bottom corner. You can forgive that.

“Marc Guehi is a Blue; he hates Chelsea,” that away end sang to taunt those glum faces around them. Which probably isn’t true, but does allude to Guehi’s own history. He was sold by Chelsea for £18m in 2021, going to Crystal Palace to develop and become one of the best central defenders in the country.

Why is that so relevant? Because of the way Chelsea were cut open so easily as soon as City upped the tempo on Sunday. Because of the space Guehi found for himself for the second goal and how limp the marking was for the first.

So far this season, Chelsea have used nine different central defensive combinations: Acheampong and Chalobah. Chalobah and Tosin, Chalobah and Hato, Acheampong and Badiashile, Fofana and Chalobah, Tosin and Badiashile, Chalobah and Badiashile, Chalobah and Sarr, Hato and Fofana. It was the latest of those pairings on Sunday.

There are reasons to fear such change even if all the options are of peak age and good enough for a club that has spent a billion pounds and has supposed title ambitions now or soon. But when none of those players are as good as the one you sold on the cheap, it becomes a terrible look for everyone involved.

Liverpool’s fast starts have been the sorry exception

Although they took until the 36th minute to score their opening goal against Fulham, Liverpool finally showed some intent in the first throes of a match. Their five attempts in the opening 20 minutes equalled their league record in 2025-26.

It’s where Liverpool have fallen painfully short during their title defence. They have scored only four goals in the first 20 minutes of matches, a total higher than only Wolves and Sunderland. It’s particularly surprising given Liverpool’s successful 2024-25 strategy of taking the lead and then controlling matches.

Rio Ngumoha scores his FIRST goal at Anfield at just 17 years old!! pic.twitter.com/vWLvlZBFyS

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 11, 2026

This is the energy Liverpool need on Tuesday night. The only way they will overhaul Paris Saint-Germain is by starting furiously, scoring early and creating doubt. There is nothing to lose and it may well be Arne Slot’s last chance to keep his job beyond the summer.

Aston Villa’s starting XI shows the short-term need

Aston Villa have two chances to reach the Champions League and it would be no surprise if they assured it through both means. A decent point after Thursday exertions that would have been three had they taken one of three decent opportunities in the second half.

But I wanted to pick out something that shows why making the Champions League is so crucial here. We know that spending will be limited this summer and that Morgan Rogers may have to be sold. So it’s interesting that the starting XI against Forest was their oldest in a Premier League game since March 2001.

This is why everything must happen now. This squad is reaching the end of its peak – Watkins, McGinn, Mings, Martinez, Digne, Barkley, Torres. The money needs to come in for it to be rebuilt gradually.

Man Utd

Play Leeds United on Monday night.

Cherki helps Man City make a statement

It is 3-0 to the visitors at Stamford Bridge on an afternoon so sunny you could believe that it is late May. The celebrations in the away end could convince you of it too: Manchester City fans celebrating a statement victory like it’s a coronation.

“Are you watching Arsenal?” those from Manchester crow, and you’d have to imagine that they had probably switched off several minutes earlier when the contest ceased to exist. On the front row, one supporter had a plastic bottle with the Arsenal crest on the side, waving it towards the cameras. As visual metaphors go, it’s a little on the nose.

Anyone of Arsenal persuasion watching beforehand will have seen a team currently capable of doing what they are not; shifting through the gears with frightening ease. The first half was perfunctory and a little dull. Erling Haaland took no shots, had no touches in Chelsea’s box and had the fewest in total of any player on the pitch.

What a finish from Manchester City's Marc Guehi! pic.twitter.com/Q1NUwbNOdh

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 12, 2026

Cut to 30 minutes later and a chasm between one team quickly perfecting a new tactical identity and one that edges closer to its own ignominy under a manager who shouldn’t be here. Near Liam Rosenior, Pep Guardiola applauded two goals and looked astonished at the other. Him and us both.

Cherki was the architect because how could anyone not be with those dancing feet and that insouciant attitude towards pressure? It doesn’t always work because magic isn’t famed for its consistency, but there are few players in the world that you would be happier giving the ball to. There are even fewer who you would want to watch more when they get it.

City have now won 29 of their 32 league matches in April under Guardiola. They are the kings of fighting season because they know winning now means you win twice: once for yourselves and once for the pressure you put on the rest.

Read more

• Daniel Storey:
• Kat Lucas: West Ham are showing why they deserve to stay up – at Tottenham’s expense

Arsenal’s obvious problem

It’s something that I mentioned in this column on Arsenal last week, but almost all of Mikel Arteta’s discussion about his team’s response to adversity is to talk up emotional characteristics: “Fire in the belly”, “Look in the mirror”, “poison in the tummy”.

But does any of this actually help? Arsenal’s obvious problem is not that they have no concept of what is required, but that the strategy itself is flawed. And if you focus on the emotion rather than the tactics, you make it more likely for players to tense up than relax.

Arsenal created 0.19 open play xG against Bournemouth; that is the problem. They have become so good at – and so reliant upon – set pieces that opposition managers can prepare one-dimensionally: stop them and you have a decent chance of stopping Arsenal. Arteta might still win the league doing it, given the gap, but it’s going to be a tough watch.

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Chelsea 0-3 Man City (O’Reilly 51′, Guehi 57′, J Doku 68′)

STAMFORD BRIDGE — It is 3-0 to the visitors at Stamford Bridge on an afternoon so sunny you could believe that it is late May. The celebrations in the away end could convince you of it too: Manchester City fans celebrating a statement victory like it’s a coronation.

“Are you watching Arsenal?” those from Manchester crow, and you’d have to imagine that they had probably switched off several minutes earlier when the contest ceased to exist. In the front row, one wag had a plastic bottle with the Arsenal crest on the side, waving it towards the cameras. As visual metaphors go, it’s a little on the nose.

Jérémy Doku adds a third! Manchester City are in IMPERIOUS form pic.twitter.com/w94Slz4lq8

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 12, 2026

Anyone of Arsenal persuasion watching beforehand will have seen a team currently capable of doing what they are not; shifting through the gears with frightening ease. The first half was perfunctory and a little dull. Erling Haaland took no shots, had no touches in Chelsea’s box and had the fewest in total of any player on the pitch.

Cut to 30 minutes later and a chasm between one team quickly perfecting a new tactical identity and one that edges closer to its own ignominy under a manager who shouldn’t be here. Near Liam Rosenior, Pep Guardiola applauded two goals and looked astonished at the other. Him and us both.

Rayan Cherki was the architect because how could anyone not be with those dancing feet and that insouciant attitude towards pressure? It doesn’t always work because magic isn’t famed for its consistency, but there are few players in the world that you would be happier giving the ball to. There are even fewer who you would want to watch more when they get it.

Chelsea helped, as ever. There are myriad ways to epitomise their mismanagement; Sunday offered a glaring snapshot into another. City’s second goal was created by Cherki, a magician by any measure, but it was scored by Marc Guehi. Guehi ran towards the away end at Stamford Bridge like a man not used to arrowing shots into the bottom corner. You can forgive that.

“Marc Guehi is a Blue; he hates Chelsea,” that away end sang to taunt those glum faces around them. Which probably isn’t true, but does allude to Guehi’s own history. He was sold by Chelsea for £18m in 2021, going to Crystal Palace to develop and become one of the best central defenders in the country.

Why is that so relevant? Because of the way Chelsea were cut open so easily as soon as City upped the tempo on Sunday. Because of the space Guehi found for himself for the second goal and how limp the marking was for the first.

So far this season, Chelsea have used nine different central defensive combinations: Josh Acheampong and Trevoh Chalobah. Chalobah and Tosin Adarabioyo, Chalobah and Jorrel Hato, Acheampong and Benoit Badiashile, Wesley Fofana and Chalobah, Tosin and Badiashile, Chalobah and Badiashile, Chalobah and Mamadou Sarr, Hato and Fofana. It was the latest of those pairings on Sunday.

Read more

• Mark Douglas: Reality has just hit Tottenham – De Zerbi is managing a broken club
• Kat Lucas: West Ham are showing why they deserve to stay up – at Tottenham’s expense

There are reasons to fear such change even if all the options are of peak age and good enough for a club that has spent a billion pounds and has supposed title ambitions now or soon. But when none of those players are as good as the one you sold on the cheap, it becomes a terrible look for everyone involved.

City have now won 29 of their 32 league matches in April under Guardiola. They are the kings of fighting season because they know winning now means you win twice: once for yourselves and once for the pressure you put on the rest.

That is Arsenal’s weakness, of course; April is the month of Mikel Arteta’s lowest win percentage as a manager. A draw next weekend and he’d probably be happy for it to drop a percentage point or two. But they have been warned. “We fight to the end,” was the final retort from that away end. Don’t they just.

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STADIUM OF LIGHT – Is that it? The sum total of Tottenham’s response to sinking into relegation peril a Pedro Porro pot shot and a brief injury time flurry?

Roberto De Zerbi was meant to be the shock therapy to save their season. Instead there was barely a fizzle here as a Brian Brobbey-inspired Sunderland won with something to spare. The new man leapt and contorted himself on the touchline but you could barely notice the seams from the Igor Tudor regime. They are running out of time.

They carry the look of a side who fate is conspiring to relegate – defeat coming with a side helping of their influential captain trotting off disconsolately with what looked like a serious injury. The Championship is approaching at breakneck speed for this broken club.

What happened here was a neat summary of Spurs. Too meek, too many touches, too little stomach for a fight. Pre-match must have focused on the threat posed by Brobbey, Sunderland’s striker and prize bruiser, and yet he was still a serious problem throughout.

The noises before the game had seemed much more positive too. There was a buzz at the pre-match meal, excited chatter around the tables. De Zerbi’s work on the training ground has been positive, diligent and has shown the human touch. In one stirring speech he told players seeking an exit route to come and see him in May – but until then invest everything in saving Spurs from the most catastrophic relegation in Premier League history.

But, as it did with Tudor’s tough talk, the dream of a new manager bounce collided with reality. Spurs were, frankly, a whole ball of nothingness. There was a semblance of competence in the first half but they were dreadful when asked to chase the game.

Predictably the goal that consigned them to a seventh defeat from eight was laced with misfortune. Nordi Mukiele’s shot was going nowhere when it left his foot but it careered off Micky van de Ven’s back to beat the desperately unlucky Antonin Kinsky.

Predictably, there was no response. There very rarely is with this version of Tottenham, whose resilience has been a problem all season. They are everything Sunday’s opponents are not. Sunderland find ways to win, screwing with xG stats to rejuvenate their dream of qualifying for Europe. Spurs seem to relish discovering new ways to lose.

That could end up costing them but not nearly as much as their almost complete lack of threat in the final third. De Zerbi rolled out a front three of Richarlison, Randal Kolo Muani and Dominic Solanke here but with the exception of a snap shot from the latter and the weakest of efforts from the Brazilian, they created next to nothing on Wearside.

Perhaps with another week De Zerbi will be able to inject more of his trademark attacking anarchy into this side. But don’t bet on it. This is a squad pieced together in a summer that was three managers ago and they have already gambled the house on a new voice being the answer. That ship sailed a while ago.

De Zerbi appeared to want a return to Angeball and there were a few early signs of life as they looked to pick off Sunderland’s full-backs. Richarlison should have done better when freed and they won a penalty, which was rightfully overturned by VAR.

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• Kat Lucas: West Ham are showing why they deserve to stay up – at Tottenham’s expense
• Michael Hincks: The cost of Tottenham relegation: 75% pay cuts, four key sales and £200m lost

But it said it all that Kinsky’s fine save from Brobbey was the most encouraging moment of their first half. He was competent throughout, a quiet moment of rehabilitation amid the general chaos.

As Spurs flounder Sunderland, whose impressive return to the top flight was in danger of fizzling out a few weeks ago, appear to have found a second wind. Brobbey is a big part of that, always difficult to shake off the ball but now with unshakeable self belief.

Tottenham didn’t seem to know what to do about him.

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West Ham 4-0 Wolves (Mavropanos 42’, 83′, Castellanos 66’, 68’)

LONDON STADIUM – In a hushed moment after Konstantinos Mavropanos’ header hit the net, there was an unusual sight. In unison, thousands of West Ham supporters took phones out of pockets to look at the Premier League table. Not so much at the prospect of their own great escape, but to check they really had just plunged Tottenham Hotspur into the relegation zone. You could see one man even taking a picture of it.

Yet there was another reason that first goal felt so decisive. Until that point, Wolves had been holding up an unflattering mirror. Headed for the Championship, too many stars sold, too little ambition, a civil war between owners and fans. If that all sounds painfully familiar in these parts, it is supposed to. West Ham had been staring grimly into their own future as they repeatedly ceded possession.

They refused to cede hope. With that Jarrod Bowen cross, two Taty Castellanos goals within 99 seconds of each other and another Mavropanos clincher, those reasons for optimism exploded into view. There is cause to dream again in east London.

Nuno Espirito Santo will not care that the first goal came against the run of play, or whether the initial corner was wrongly given. Nor that Castellanos had seized on some abject defending, showing exactly why hapless Wolves are where they are despite the improvement under Rob Edwards.

Nuno has become an enigmatic figure at the heart of the battle for survival, the ghosts of his past dissipating at every turn. In Wolves, he gave one former club an unsympathetic shove towards the drop – in Spurs, he nudged another into mortal peril.

It is not only that he has organised a defence which looked unsalvageable under Graham Potter. The whole attitude has changed. At one point Bowen sparked a brilliant break by retrieving the ball close to his own box to recover a botched pass.

The Hammers are ultimately showing enough signs of why they are still in with a fighting chance. It does not matter whether they actually recruited well in January, only that they recruited well enough. Castellanos made the difference here, but even when not firing he and Pablo have created a better-oiled front line for Bowen and Crycencio Summerville. The latter clearly needs time to get back to full sharpness.

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Should they survive, it will do little to stem fan ire directed at the board – and nor should it, given the series of events which got West Ham into this position in the first place. But there is increasingly an argument to be had that they deserve to stay up.

While Spurs dithered over Thomas Frank, they acted swiftly to replace Potter with Nuno. They went for an old school, 4-4-2 loving, oft-critiqued coach, but one with Premier League experience who could reshape them in his own image. Tottenham went for the stopgap option in Igor Tudor, who lasted five league games. If it is to be Spurs who go, their supporters – like West Ham – will point the finger firmly at boardroom level.

The north Londoners have been horribly unlucky with injuries but their reserved approach in January has left them in serious trouble. Again, the question is whether West Ham have done just enough.

The additions of the two forwards could swing it. Callum Wilson was also given a new deal, when he might have been sold amid interest from Everton. Now, West Ham are grinding out results in high-pressure matches.

Still, there is a long way to go between now and 25 May. The last time West Ham and Wolves faced one another, Nuno called his side’s 3-0 loss his most “embarrassing” day in football. Travelling fans berated their own players with “you’re not fit to wear the shirt”. This time, there was only the appetite to taunt their opponents: “Going down with the Tottenham.” They might just be right.

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Newcastle United want the future of Sandro Tonali and other star men resolved early in the summer as part of their plan to overhaul the club’s ageing squad.

The Magpies kick off a crucial seven-game period against the backdrop of genuine uncertainty over what the future might look like. Secure Champions League or Europa League football – which feels like more of a long shot after defeat to Sunderland at St James’ Park – and some of the pressure on key figures will ease. Miss out on Europe entirely and there will be difficult calls to make.

Insiders acknowledge the project is at a crossroads but are adamant on one point – Newcastle’s player trading model “has to change”. “Buying well and selling well” is the new mantra but sources stress that is very different to the idea that Newcastle will acquiesce to Tonali’s suitors and sell below their valuation.

While the narrative since CEO David Hopkinson’s warts and all accounts briefing has been that the door has been opened for Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City to sign Tonali, any deal would have to be done on Newcastle’s terms.

And a big part of that will be potential buying clubs having to declare interest early and meet Newcastle’s asking price of close to £100m for the Italy midfielder. If that doesn’t happen, Tonali will stay and the club believe the player – who has never expressed a desire to leave – will knuckle down and play his part.

Having clear terms for his departure feels like a sensible strategy. The prospect of uncertainty chasing Newcastle through the summer like it did with Alexander Isak is seen as “unacceptable”, in the words of one senior source.

The long, drawn-out £125m deal ruined the club’s summer and undermined their recruitment. Some of those inside Newcastle now acknowledge it would have made more sense to sell earlier in the close season rather than the last minute deal that facilitated the sky high £55m move for Yoane Wissa that will weigh on the club’s squad cost ratio (SCR) calculations for years to come.

Those new rules mean the sale of a Tonali, Tino Livramento or even Anthony Gordon will have to be considered. And an earlier sale would give them a much better idea of how much they can spend.

Complicated new rules mean Newcastle fans will have to get used to the concept of squad costs, which will dictate how they can operate in the financial market.

As part of SCR calculations, which limit spending to 70 per cent of a club’s revenue, each player has a “squad cost” figure assigned to them that is based on their amortised value (their transfer fee divided by contract length) and wages. Tonali’s, given he is half way through a six-year contract, would be around £9m.

If they are able to sell him for something close to £100m they would free up £9m of headroom before the whopping profit they would make on the deal is factored.

In theory, this would allow Newcastle to sign six or seven players at around the £45m mark, effectively funding their entire summer recruitment drive without the need for further sales. The nature of the rules – which require squad costs to be constantly balanced – mean it’s not quite that simple but big sales can be transformative in the new regulations.

In the meantime there’s a feeling that Tonali owes Newcastle.

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• Mark Douglas: Newcastle’s summer transfer budget revealed – and four areas they are targeting
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Tonali absorbed some criticism from supporters for missing the Tyne-Wear derby – only to be passed fit for Italy’s crunch World Cup qualifiers against Northern Ireland and Bosnia, where he completed 90 minutes and extra time before scoring a penalty in an ultimately unsuccessful bid to make the tournament.

But sources have stressed that Tonali had not made himself unavailable for the Sunderland game and had initially been keen to play. There was a fear he would have risked a more serious injury had he played just 72 hours after hobbling off against Barcelona.

Now fully fit – and with Bruno Guimaraes facing another two games on the sidelines during the Premier League run-in – it will fall to Tonali to be the talisman.

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