Premier League and FA Cup final: 10 things to look out for this weekend

• Aston Villa v Liverpool, Friday 8pm

4

World Cup thoughts at Old Trafford

A point secures Manchester United third place and Nottingham Forest are safe so this Sunday afternoon meeting at Old Trafford has a sideshow feel. Yet as the World Cup looms, United’s Englishmen Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire, and Forest’s Brazilians Igor Tudor and Murillo, lead those hoping to gain late call-ups. Any player sure of selection for the tournament will hope, if fielded, to avoid injury: Forest’s Elliot Anderson, an England starter, plus United’s Casemiro and Matheus Cunha (Brazil), and Bruno Fernandes (Portugal) will be chief among these. JJ

• Manchester United v Nottingham Forest, Sunday 12.30pm

Harry Maguire (left) hopes to force his way into Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad. Photograph: Michael Regan/Getty Images

5

Mouthwatering prospects pile up for Bees

Brentford’s push for Europe continues, with complicated permutations likely to determine their destiny. The picture may not be clear until the final kicks of the season. Should Aston Villa win the Europa League on Wednesday and finish fifth in the Premier League, a Champions League spot opens up for sixth place. Brentford can close the gap on sixth by beating a Crystal Palace side with an eye on 27 May’s Conference League final. Bournemouth do not play until Tuesday. On the final day, should Villa be beating Manchester City and closing on finishing above Liverpool or Manchester United it could well be in Brentford’s or Brighton’s interest to lose to those teams; Brentford are at Liverpool a week on Sunday. Quite the equation for Keith Andrews. Should it fall his way, he would deserve the manager of the season award. There’s a strong case to say he already does. John Brewin

• Brentford v Crystal Palace, Sunday 3pm

6

Moyes’ Blues must tighten up

Everton’s strikers have been largely responsible for limiting the team’s progress this season but it is their defence that has cost them in the final push for European qualification. That ambition appeared unrealistic at the start of the campaign, and there is still a slim chance it could be realised with several favourable results, but for a manager who prides himself on solid defensive foundations the past few weeks will have infuriated David Moyes. His team would be sitting level with sixth-placed Bournemouth but for squandering six points in their past four games, each one characterised by poor defending whether at set pieces – against Liverpool and West Ham – or from open play – Manchester City and Crystal Palace. The downturn can be pinpointed to the 87th minute of the Merseyside derby when Jarrad Branthwaite, the team’s best defender, was carried off with a season-ending injury. Everton coped well with his absence in the first half of the season but have failed to rediscover that resilience since his latest hamstring setback. Andy Hunter

• Everton v Sunderland, Sunday 3pm

7

King’s talent deserves a late-season recall

It’s more than a month since Josh King started a game for Fulham – he was hooked at half-time during the 2-0 defeat by Liverpool, since when he has featured solely off the bench and never for longer than 26 minutes. It makes sense for Marco Silva to protect and nurture such a precious talent – especially given King plays in the middle of midfield, no country for young men. But he is also preparing his team to go again – whether he is in charge or not – and a game against a relegated side is surely an opportunity to field a player who, after a period of acclimatisation this season, can be a mainstay next. There are many youngsters with vivid imagination and superb technical skill, but what marks King out is his ability to accept the ball under pressure and either pass forward or beat men, opening up the pitch in the process. He is raw, but the aim should be to be ready in August. DH

• Wolves v Fulham, Sunday 3pm

Josh King on the ball with Bournemouth’s Rayan in pursuit. The Fulham youngster catches the eye under such pressure. Photograph: Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images

8

Rutter’s reaction pleases Hürzeler

Georginio Rutter returns to Elland Road on Sunday, doubtless hoping he will not have to spend another afternoon on the bench. The former Leeds forward joined Brighton for a record £40m in 2024 but, after a decent first season on the south coast, the Frenchman has struggled for game time this term, scoring only three goals and starting just one of the past seven games. Part of the problem is that Fabian Hürzeler has made the excellent Danny Welbeck his principal striker, while Jack Hinshelwood has shone in Rutter’s preferred No 10 role. “I know Georginio’s not happy with his game minutes,” said Brighton’s head coach. “That’s normal … but he’s 100% committed. I feel he’s there for his teammates and for the club. It’s team first and there are moments when you have to put your ego behind you. Of course he’s not happy, that’s normal but I’m pleased with his reaction.” Louise Taylor

• Leeds v Brighton, Sunday 3pm

9

Wilson can add to Howe’s woe

Callum Wilson spent five seasons at St James’ Park, scoring 49 goals in 130 appearances for Newcastle before joining West Ham last summer. The 34-year-old former England striker remains close to Eddie Howe, his manager at both Newcastle and, earlier, Bournemouth but Wilson is almost certainly someone Howe would rather not see on the pitch on Sunday. Newcastle’s manager must fear his former No 9 scoring the winning goal on a day when victory seems imperative for a West Ham team desperately hoping to avoid relegation. With his own team a modest 13th, Howe is more vulnerable than at any time during a near five-year Tyneside tenure. Although he currently seems near certain to still be in charge at St James’ in August, another home defeat would hardly assuage the growing anxieties of a fanbase starting to suspect that the man who led Newcastle to last season’s Carabao Cup triumph no longer remains capable of walking on the Tyne. LT

• Newcastle v West Ham, Sunday 5.30pm

10

Another Rice rejig at Arsenal?

Arsenal’s miserly defence has been back to its best since their calamitous April, posting three successive clean sheets this month thanks largely to the heroics of David Raya and, of course, the intervention of the video assistant referee against West Ham last week. With the onus on the Premier League leaders to rack up the goals when they face Burnley, Mikel Arteta must decide whether to opt for Cristhian Mosquera to fill in for the injured duo Jurriën Timber and Ben White at right-back or go for a more attacking option by moving Declan Rice out of midfield again. That backfired at West Ham but Arteta hinted that he may be tempted to try the England midfielder there against a team that lost only 1-0 to Manchester City a few weeks ago despite already being relegated. “When he played as a full-back against Brighton, he was exceptional. But then the other night, it was something else,” said Arteta. “What is the cost of moving that player from one position to the other? That’s the balance that we need to try to find.” Ed Aarons

• Arsenal v Burnley, Monday 8pm