Premier League

As Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United prepare to meet in Wednesday’s UEFA Europa League final, football writer Ben Bloom looks at just how important the match is for each club.

Spurs and Man Utd's UEFA Europa League showdown is unlike any of the five previous all-English European finals.

Never before have two clubs gone into such a glorious occasion off the back of quite so much struggle.

Separated by just a point in the Premier League standings, Man Utd (39) and Spurs (38) sit above only the three relegated sides in 16th and 17th positions respectively.

For United, a worst ever Premier League finish is a certainty by some considerable margin, while Spurs must rise three places to avoid the same fate.

Between them, the pair have lost 39 and won just 21 league matches this season.

Redemption, in the form of a major European trophy, UEFA Champions League qualification and a hefty financial boost, could scarcely be of greater importance.

The quest for silverware

Spurs fans need no reminding how rare it is to win a trophy. They have lost their last four finals (2018/19 Champions League, 2020/21, 2014/15 and 2008/09 EFL Cup), and have not lifted silverware since beating Chelsea in the 2007/08 EFL Cup final.

The wait is significantly longer in Europe, dating back to a penalty shootout victory over Anderlecht in the 1983/84 UEFA Cup final.

Ange Postecoglou believes winning a trophy could have a major impact both outside and within the club.

“I feel like it could be a turning point in terms of the way the club is perceived but also more how it perceives itself, which is the biggest thing,” he said.

“Because until you do that, irrespective of what else you accomplish, people are always going to say, ‘But you have not won anything.'

“That’s the hurdle this club has to overcome because it’ll always be there. Until you actually do it, then you are fair game for people to say, 'You have always kind of fluffed it on the big stage.' ”

There is no such silverware drought for Man Utd, who lifted the FA Cup last season and EFL Cup the year prior.

Nonetheless, there is a necessity for 20-time English champions to claim regular trophies.

A first European triumph since the 2016/17 Europa League would go some way to alleviating the strain on a team who Ruben Amorim earlier this year dubbed “maybe the worst” in United’s history.

Watch Man Utd set the scene

A Champions League return

Aside from trophy joy, victory will also provide a spot in the Champions League next season.

This season has been one of only five in which United have not featured in Europe’s leading club competition since 1993, while Spurs have been involved five times over the past decade.

The cachet of Champions League football will be vital to both club’s finances, with an estimated £100million at stake through various income streams associated with featuring in the competition.

Inclusion will also help attract the best players as both teams look to overhaul their personnel this summer.

However, Amorim has admitted he is unsure whether his United side are ready for a Champions League return.

Asked if the club’s long-term progress may benefit without midweek football, he said: “That is my feeling. We need more time with the team. We need to arrange a lot of things in Carrington that we need more time to do.”

Managers under scrutiny

At the end of a season marked by underperformance, both Amorim – who only took charge of United in November – and Postecoglou have faced scrutiny over the future of their positions.

Following defeat against West Ham United earlier this month – United’s seventh successive winless Premier League match – Amorim suggested that if next season starts with the same poor form it may be time for “new persons to occupy this space”.

He later clarified: “I am far from quitting. What I am saying is we need to perform this season, and in the future we need to perform, or else they [the executive] will change us.”

Early in this campaign, Postecoglou boldly stated that he always wins a trophy in his second season as a manager.

Indeed, he won the Australian title with both South Melbourne and Brisbane Roar, and the Japanese league with Yokohama F Marinos. He also won the Scottish Premiership with Celtic and the Asian Cup with Australia - all in his second season or year.

Hitting back at those who have cast doubt over his future, Postecoglou said a Spurs Europa League triumph would “upset a lot of people”.

What would defeat mean?

Given how much is at stake for the winners, defeat in the final for either would be a bitter pill to swallow given their awful domestic season.

“If we don’t win it is going to be really tough,” admitted Amorim. “The patience of the fans and you guys [the media] next year is going to be on the limit.”

Attempting to reset from a lowly league position and no European football is a different prospect entirely to starting 2025/26 as a Champions League side.

Defeat for Spurs would also perpetuate the idea of a club of nearly men.

Amorim has suggested defeat would render an otherwise successful Europa League campaign a “waste of time”.

He said: “My message to the players is we have to win or it doesn’t matter.”

Football writer Alex Keble analyses important wins for Chelsea and Aston Villa in the race for UEFA Champions League football next season, while Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United's focus turns to Wednesday's Europa League final.

It’s going to be a nervy final day.

Of all the things we learnt from Aston Villa’s and Chelsea’s respective wins on Friday night, what came through most clearly was the tension in this race for Champions League football.

Chelsea remain in control – for now – and yet they looked considerably more anxious than Villa, squeezing over the line at Stamford Bridge courtesy of a moment of brilliance from Reece James, whose spin and cross for Marc Cucurella ensured Enzo Maresca’s side have it in their hands.

A win at Nottingham Forest on the final day will do it. Anything less and Villa, who sit just two points off second this evening, can qualify ahead of them.

There is still everything to play for and, thanks to three points for both Chelsea and Villa on Friday night, renewed pressure on Manchester City and Arsenal.

Chelsea’s reliance on full-backs is not a good sign for Forest challenge

This was never going to be an easy game for Chelsea.

Ruben Amorim’s angry response to his side’s 2-0 defeat against West Ham United last weekend ensured Man Utd would turn up here, and they certainly did, a full-strength team pushing Chelsea all the way.

The visitors had their moments, in the first half in particular, when Patrick Dorgu continually found space down the left behind a wayward Pedro Neto. The highlight of this early tactical imbalance saw Harry Maguire rifle a Dorgu cross into the net only for the VAR to find a marginal offside.

Those couple of centimetres could be the difference between Chelsea playing Champions League or Europa League football next season, although on this evidence Forest may give us one final twist.

Maguire’s brilliant hit was by far the most convincing piece of centre-forward play on the match.

Tyrique George, deputising for the suspended Nicolas Jackson, laboured up front on his full Premier League debut, while Rasmus Hojlund was again out-of-sorts for United.

Chelsea will need a better No 9 presence at the City Ground, where Forest have conceded only 15 goals, the joint-fewest in the Premier League alongside Liverpool’s record at Anfield.

Their winner tonight relied upon a wonderful cross from one full-back and a finish from the other, Cucurella. It’s hard to imagine Forest’s defenders losing track of both players in quite the same way.

Cucurella's winner v Man Utd

Villa’s confidence a sign they will take this battle to the end

The task was much simpler for Villa, who faced a much-changed Spurs side clearly more concerned with resting players for the Europa League final.

That wasn’t such a surprise. But what ought to be was the way Spurs went about their business, dropping into a low-block 4-4-2, playing ultra-defensive, counter-attacking football for the very first time under Ange Postecoglou.

There are some pretty big extenuating circumstances here of course, and indeed a low block is a decent way to stunt a Villa team without the line-breaking Youri Tielemans.

Nevertheless, their journey away from dogmatic, kamikaze attacking football was completed here. Spurs held 31 per cent possession, by far their lowest share of the season.

Villa had to work hard to build through Spurs’ defensive shape and credit to Unai Emery for tweaking his tactics after a stilted first half, moving Matty Cash into a back three - stopping Son Heung-min’s dangerous counters down that side - and pulling Morgan Rogers wider.

Rogers helped Villa attack with greater purpose, indirectly leading to their breakthrough.

Elsewhere, Ollie Watkins and Marco Asensio both stood out in a confident display of attacking football that contrasted with what we saw at Chelsea.

For that reason alone, Villa fans can remain confident their team will finish the job at Old Trafford on Sunday – and take advantage of any slip.

That slip could still come from Man City, who need to avoid defeat at home to AFC Bournemouth four days after the FA Cup final to go back above Villa.

Incredibly, not even Arsenal are safe. Indeed if Forest win at West Ham on Sunday, just three points will separate second from seventh.

For neutrals, it should be a hugely entertaining final week. For those with skin in the game, the tension will be almost unbearable.

Man Utd look better prepped for Europa League final despite defeat

Man Utd are winless in eight Premier League matches, their most since 1990. They have now lost 18 in the league, their highest tally since 1973/74.

Those kinds of statistics have been all-too common since Amorim’s appointment, and yet despite the result, the United head coach was relatively pleased with their preparation for Wednesday's Europa League final.

“It was the good things we talked about before the game,” Amorim told Sky Sports, in praise of his team’s performance. “We had some moments, we improved the way we play football, we pressed quite well, we had some chances.

“We had good build up until the last third, but then we missed something.”

There were some sharp passages of football, particularly through a midfield of Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount, that suggested Amorim’s side can get the better of an injury-hit Spurs midfield.

Postecoglou’s decision to rest so many players makes it difficult to judge their preparation, but it’s fair to say Man Utd showed more tonight than Spurs over the last few matches, even if they struggled to create clear-cut chances.

Amad was again lively, reasserting his importance to the Amorim project, while Harry Maguire led commandingly from the back.

These are small victories, minor points. But with the Europa League finalists sat 17th and 16th in the Premier League, any positive signs are worth paying attention to, and right now Man Utd look sharper and more cohesive than Spurs.

After scoring another two goals in Crystal Palace's 2-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur, Eberechi Eze is one of the Premier League's most in-form players right now.

The England international was in the right place at the right time to score in each half in north London, making it four goals in his last three league matches, ahead of Saturday's FA Cup final against Manchester City.

Because of that ruthless display in front of goal, Alan Shearer, the Premier League's record goalscorer, has named Eze in his Matchweek 36 Team of the Week, alongside Palace team-mates Daniel Munoz and Marc Guehi.

Mark Flekken (Brentford)

"Made some big saves late on as Brentford held on to beat Ipswich Town and boost their hopes of European football next season."

Daniel Munoz (Crystal Palace)

"A constant threat down the right for Crystal Palace, hitting the crossbar before setting up Eze’s opener."

Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace)

"Such an assured display, keeping the Spurs attack quiet while also initiating Palace’s attacks from the back."

Dan Burn (Newcastle)

"A rock again at the heart of the Newcastle defence and popped up with an assist in a huge win over Chelsea in the fight for Champions League spots."

Mats Wieffer (Brighton)

"Is adapting well to his new full-back role, winning several duels, with one leading to him being fouled by Matheus Cunha to win the penalty converted by Danny Welbeck."

Sandro Tonali (Newcastle)

"Made a terrific run from midfield to get on the scoresheet to cap another impressive performance."

Tomas Soucek (West Ham)

"Showed his predatory instincts to tap in for the opener and send West Ham on their way to a first league win at Old Trafford since 2007."

Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest)

"Was involved in both of Nottingham Forest’s goals, heading in the first before producing a sensational cross for Chris Wood to score."

Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace)

"He was on fire at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, scoring two more goals. He looks unstoppable at the moment."

Eze's second goal v Spurs

Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)

"Scored a huge goal in the top-five race to become Aston Villa’s all-time leading scorer in the Premier League."

Beto (Everton)

"Led the line superbly for Everton and got his goal in a terrific victory at Fulham."

Crystal Palace earned a maiden Premier League double over Tottenham Hotspur as Eberechi Eze’s brace sealed a 2-0 win for the Eagles on Sunday to match their best points total in the competition.

Eze scored either side of the interval for Oliver Glasner’s side, netting in three successive league matches for the first time in his career.

Having had two goals ruled out in the first half, it was third time lucky for Palace on the stroke of half-time when Eze tucked home Daniel Munoz’s cross from close range.

The England winger then led a lightning break three minutes after the break and was on hand to sweep Ismaila Sarr’s cutback beyond Antonin Kinsky.

The result moves Palace on to 49 points, equalling their best tally in the Premier League, while Spurs drop to 17th following their 20th league defeat of the season.

How the match unfolded

Palace dominated the opening exchanges and thought they had edged in front when Sarr tucked home from Munoz’s cross, though the goal was overturned following a VAR review, with Jean-Philippe Mateta offside in the build-up.

The visitors created several chances to take the lead, with Kinsky making a vital save to deny Sarr before Munoz crashed an effort against the crossbar.

Glasner’s team had a second goal ruled out when Maxence Lacroix’s header struck the arm of Marc Guehi before going in, but they finally made the breakthrough in the 45th minute when Munoz raced into the area before squaring for Eze to finish.

Palace picked up where they left off in the second half as Eze doubled his side’s advantage with a confident finish after being set up by Sarr in the 48th minute.

They almost added a third, but Kinsky was on hand to thwart Mateta’s effort from inside the box before substitute Eddie Nketiah saw his shot in second-half stoppage time saved by the Spurs 'keeper.

European hangover for Spurs

Domestic struggles for Spurs but were put on hold in midweek as they clinched a spot in the UEFA Europa League final following a semi-final aggregate victory over Bodo/Glimt.

Ange Postecoglou made eight changes and that contributed to a disjointed first-half display which was low on attacking intent and fluency, with Spurs giving the ball away on numerous occasions and very fortunate to go into half-time just 1-0 behind.

They were indebted to Kinsky, in for the rested Guglielmo Vicario, as the Czech signed in January made several important saves to keep the home side in the contest.

Spurs barely improved after the break however, as they continued to be second-best in all departments and barely carried a threat going forward, with the likes of Mathys Tel isolated and the returning Son Heung-min offering no impact off the bench.

Postecoglou may also be concerned about another injury doubt ahead of the final in Bilbao on 21 May as Dejan Kulusevski limped off before 20 minutes were even on the clock.

Spurs travel to Aston Villa next Friday in their final match before their opportunity to end a 17-year trophy drought in the Europa League final against Manchester United.

Perfect preparation for Palace’s FA Cup final

Ahead of kick-off, Glasner believed that continuity within his squad was key for momentum heading into their FA Cup final against Manchester City next Saturday, and that proved to be the case at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday.

Despite the enormity of their encounter next week, Palace remained focused on the task at hand and completely dominated the first half on all fronts.

They aggressively pressed from the front, forcing Spurs into mistakes when in possession while they flooded the flanks, with Munoz especially causing damage down the right-hand side.

Sarr was denied on two occasions while Eze’s deflected strike flashed narrowly wide, and Palace were unfortunate not to be further ahead at the break.

But Eze proved to be the difference with his two goals, and the 26-year-old was at the centre of Palace’s flowing moves, taking his second goal with aplomb after being picked out by Sarr.

This was a fine way for Palace to prepare for one of the biggest games in their history, as they compete in their third FA Cup final against Pep Guardiola’s side next Saturday.

Club reports

Spurs report | Palace report

What the managers said

Ange Postecoglou: "It was disappointing. We never really got into the game and we didn't control it at any time. The issue is making multiple changes, we aren't reacting well to that. If you think we wouldn't have 20 league defeats without being in the final, then I don't know how else to describe it. I'm disappointed. It's clear we're not anywhere near the level we need to be."

Oliver Glasner: "We had so many chances in the first half because of the high line, we expected this. We created so many situations and then you need those players in the box to score the goals. I'm really delighted with the performance, it's good preparation for the FA Cup final. I think we will need to be better than today to beat Man City. It's good to have all our players in the best shape at crunch time."

Remaining PL fixtures

Key facts

Today’s defeat was Spurs’ 24th across all competitions, only losing more matches in a single season in their history in 1991/92 (25 defeats).

Eze’s two goals were his 14th and 15th goal involvements of the Premier League season (seven goals, eight assists), making him only the third Palace player to be involved in 15+ goals in multiple seasons (also 15 in 2023/24), along with Wilfried Zaha (three times) and Jean-Philippe Mateta (twice).

Spurs have conceded the first goal in 11 different home matches in the Premier League this season, their joint-most in a single 38-game season, along with 1998/99.

Spurs have conceded 31 goals at home in the Premier League this season, their most since 2007/08 (34 goals), with this season only their third campaign in the Premier League in which they have conceded 30+ home goals.

Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario has won the Premier League Save of the Month award for April 2025 for his fantastic save to deny Chelsea winger Jadon Sancho.

The Italian showed impressive reflexes and a strong left hand to push Sancho's rising, close-range shot over the crossbar in the 45th minute, to keep the contest level at half-time.

Vicario is the first Spurs goalkeeper to win the Premier League Save of the Month award since it was introduced in 2022/23.

He gives Spurs their first Premier League monthly award win since October 2023, when Ange Postecoglou won the Barclays Manager of the Month award.

Vicario's save topped a shortlist of six of the best across the month. He wins the award after votes from the public were combined with those of a panel of experts.

All three Premier League clubs have progressed through to their respective finals, setting up an all-English UEFA Europa League final between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur and leaving Chelsea the favourites to win the UEFA Conference League.

The parallels between the two sides are striking, setting up a final of monumental significance, as big as Man Utd's penalty shootout victory over Chelsea in the 2008 UEFA Champions League final or Liverpool’s 2-0 win against Spurs in the same competition in 2019.

"I think it’s quite similar for me and Ange [Postecoglou],” United head coach Ruben Amorim told TNT Sports after the game. “It’s a tough moment. One of us is going to win. It’s going to be a big final.”

For Spurs and Chelsea the task proved relatively straightforward in the end, but for Man Utd it was yet another epic cup game at Old Trafford defined – as it so often seems to be - by tension, nerves, and a spectacular finish.

Manchester United 4-1 Athletic Club (agg 7-1)

A dazzling cameo from Mason Mount will be remembered at Old Trafford for years to come.

A Cruyff turn, a brilliant low curling effort into the far corner, and in two touches substitute Mount had put Man Utd into the Europa League final.

His 72nd-minute strike, equalising the tie on the night, was the start of an impressive turnaround that ended, wonderfully, with Mount scoring a 91st-minute strike from the halfway line to complete a 4-1 victory on the night and 7-1 on aggregate.

Fans inside Old Trafford had been starting to worry after Mikel Jauregizar’s opener and some increasingly one-sided football, but a smart triple substitution from Ruben Amorim turned the tide, and by the time Casemiro added a second after 80 minutes Athletic – valiant in defeat – were already beaten.

Rasmus Hojlund’s third goal - a tap-in after great work from Amad with five minutes remaining, scored amid olés from the crowd - was so simple you could be forgiven for thinking this match had been a walk in the park.

It most definitely had not.

Man Utd seemed to be in control of the tie as we approached the half-hour mark, but out of nothing the mood darkened.

After 31 minutes a long punt forward saw the ball drop to Harry Maguire who, after losing the first header, passed the ball carelessly into open grass. Alvaro Djalo’s initial shot was blocked before Mikel Jauregizar fired a wonderful curling effort into the top corner from 20 yards.

Old Trafford was shell-shocked, Amorim began to prowl his dugout like a caged tiger, and all of a sudden the looseness of United’s performance – the pockets of space opening between the lines – felt more like an ominous prelude of things to come.

Athletic raced out of the blocks in the second half, pinning United into their own third to announce their intention to pull off a minor miracle in Manchester.

It wasn’t long before Bruno Fernandes began yelling instructions, before brows furrowed, before messiness crept into their game and Athletic began to ease through the thirds like we were back in late-stage Erik ten Hag.

Enter Mount, the forgotten man.

Injuries have restricted Mount to just 15 starts in all competitions over the last two seasons at United, and so it goes without saying this was the highlight of his United career so far.

It might even launch a revival, a renaissance of the kind this club desperately need; a major trophy, and Champions League qualification, could be transformative for Amorim.

He knows a big summer rebuild is to come and yet with Luke Shaw, Amad, and Mount all impressing off the bench, he will feel renewed confidence this evening that Man Utd’s fringe players can be like new signings next year.

Mount in particular dazzled, revelling in the limelight. His performance in particular left Man Utd fans believing this most bizarre of seasons could end in a major high – and a moment of rebirth.

Amorim, understandably, was a little more apprehensive than Man Utd supporters will feel tonight.

“It’s the least we can do for the fans, for all the support that they gave us in this tough season, and I’m stressed already because of the final, because if you don’t win it, in the end it’s nothing,” Amorim said.

Nothing. That’s what tonight’s instant classic, what Mount’s glorious intervention, will mean if United cannot make the final step.

Bodo/Glimt 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur (agg 1-5)

Spurs coped admirably with the tricky conditions in Norway, carefully swerving a banana skin with a 2-0 victory that put Ange Postecoglou’s side within one win of major silverware, Champions League qualification, and mission accomplished for 2024/25.

It’s an extraordinary situation in which to find themselves considering Spurs’ lacklustre performances in the Premier League, and yet their Europa League campaign continues to showcase a completely different side of this team.

The contrast is stark, and never more so than on Thursday night, when Postecoglou – supposedly wedded to an all-out Plan A – oversaw a competent, battling, and conservative performance on the artificial pitch to deliver a pretty dull game.

Dull is exactly what Spurs wanted.

“I couldn’t be prouder of the lads," Postecoglou told TNT Sports. “We knew it was a difficult place to come… and I think the lads handled it really, really well.

“We’ve grown in maturity through this competition and you can see that the lads understand exactly what’s required.”

And what was required, in the first half, was hard pressing to shut Bodo/Glimt down and limit the hosts to just a couple of half-chances, as well as conjure a few of their own.

In the first half, the visitors pressed very effectively to shut Bodo/Glimt down and limit the hosts to just a couple of half-chances, and indeed conjured a few of their own opportunities by winning the ball high, including a Pedro Porro freekick that was tipped over the bar by goalkeeper Nikita Haikin.

But chances were limited at either end and that continued into the second period – until Dominic Solanke’s 63rd-minute goal, from a Spurs corner, changed the mood.

Bodo/Glimt had to up the tempo and push forward in numbers, but this only created more space for Spurs to counter-attack.

Six minutes after the first, a break fell to Porro on the right wing and his cross looped in off the far post; a stroke of luck, but the sort they had earned with a mature performance few thought this Postecoglou team could deliver.

But they did. Spurs, like Man Utd, sense something special; sense a cup final victory that would completely redefine a disappointing season and – just maybe – launch the team in a whole new direction.

For now, however, Postecoglou is happy just to revel in the moment.

“That’s why we do what we do,” he said. You understand the context of what this football club has been trying to achieve for a while.

“Managers come and go, players come and go, but the one constant is the fans.

“It's just so nice to see the smiles on their faces.”

Chelsea 1-0 Djurgarden (agg 5-1)

You can’t win anything with kids - except maybe the Conference League.

A Chelsea team studded with academy players - including Reggie Walsh, who at 16 years and 200 days old became the youngest player to ever play for Chelsea in Europe - eased past Swedish side Djurgaarden to reach their first European final since they were Champions League winners in 2020/21.

A procession was always expected after the 4-1 first leg victory and, after a slow start, Chelsea duly delivered.

In the 38th minute two straight passes cut Djurgaarden open in the blink of an eye, a surge of energy after what had been a sluggish half seeing Tyrique George play in Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to fire a low shot in off the post.

In one play, in two crisp passes, the tie was done.

“We are happy! First step done, job done tonight,” Enzo Maresca told TNT Sports at full-time. “Overall I think it was a good performance with many, many young players.

“It’s almost a second team, so I’m very happy for the young boys and very happy to reach the final.”

Chelsea have strolled through this competition and are now strongly placed to win silverware in Maresca's debut year – which would be good news for a few Premier League clubs.

Football writer Tom Hancock previews the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League semi-final second legs involving Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea.

All three Premier League clubs in the Europa League and Conference League enter Thursday’s semi-final second legs with leads to protect as they aim to reach the finals of the respective competitions.

There is even a chance of a second all-Premier League Europa League final, six years after the last one, when Chelsea beat Arsenal 4-1.

In the Europa League, Manchester United host Athletic Bilbao at Old Trafford having cruised to a 3-0 first-leg win, while Tottenham Hotspur head to the north of Norway to take on Bodo/Glimt, who they beat 3-1 in the first leg.

Meanwhile, in the Conference League, Chelsea welcome Djurgarden to Stamford Bridge in a position of strength after thrashing the Swedish side 4-1 in the first leg in Stockholm.

Man Utd (3) v (0) Athletic Bilbao

Following their comfortable 3-0 triumph over 10-man Athletic Bilbao last week, Man Utd remain the only unbeaten team across this season’s UEFA Champions League, Europa League and Conference League.

United have won five consecutive Europa League home games, most recently coming from 4-2 down to beat Lyon in a 5-4 extra-time thriller in the second leg of the quarter-finals.

Ruben Amorim made wholesale changes for Sunday’s 4-3 Premier League defeat at Brentford, emphasising post-match that the visit of Bilbao was “the most important game” for his side.

"As a club, we need to understand in this moment that we have a big responsibility [to win the Europa League]," the United boss stressed.

The likes of talismanic captain Bruno Fernandes, who bagged a brace in the first leg, and Casemiro, who scored United’s other goal, didn’t feature at all against Brentford, so they should return to the starting line-up with a spring in their step. However, Amorim will definitely be missing Joshua Zirkzee, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a hamstring injury.

A three-goal lead may look comfortable, but United won’t have forgotten how they blew a two-goal advantage to almost go out to Lyon in the previous round.

Add to that the extra motivation for Athletic Bilbao - whose San Mames Stadium will stage the final - and it’s not yet job done.

But the visitors will be without a number of key players, with Nico and Inaki Williams, as well as top goalscorer Oihan Sancet, not named in the travelling squad due to injury, while centre-back Daniel Vivian is suspended after his straight red card in the first leg.

United are looking to reach their first European final since the 2021, when they were beaten by Villarreal in an epic 11-10 Europa League penalty shootout.

Bodo/Glimt (1) v (3) Spurs

Spurs almost took a 3-0 lead of their own into the second leg of their semi-final against Bodo/Glimt, only for their Norwegian opponents to pull a goal back late on in north London.

Ulrik Saltnes’ strike has left the tie less settled than Ange Postecoglou would like, as they, just like Man Utd, set their sights on a final in which victory would secure Champions League qualification for 2025/26.

This trip to the Arctic Circle town of Bodo, whose entire population could fit inside Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with plenty of room to spare, promises to be a unique experience for Spurs fans and players alike.

There’s the added quirk of the 8,270-capacity Aspmyra Stadion’s artificial pitch, which Spurs will train on the day before the game.

It’s a surface Postecoglou is familiar with, however. “I’ve been there with Celtic,” he explained. “I know the experience and what is important for us is we need to replicate what we did [in the first leg].”

Spurs have already played on synthetic turf once this season, although they were taken to extra-time by National League club Tamworth before winning their FA Cup third round tie 3-0 back in January.

The two-time UEFA Cup winners are trying to reach their first European final since the 2019 Champions League final, which they lost 2-0 to Liverpool.

And they’ll hope to be helped in their mission by the return of some important players for the second leg.

Dominic Solanke, whose penalty put Spurs 3-0 up against Bodo/Glimt last week, “should be right for Thursday” after missing Sunday’s 1-1 Premier League draw at West Ham United, according to Postecoglou. Fellow first leg goalscorer Brennan Johnson should also start after being an unused substitute at the weekend.

But Spurs do look like having to make do without their other goalscorer for the remainder of the season: Postecoglou revealed the prognosis for James Maddison’s knee injury “doesn’t look good”.

Chelsea (4) v (1) Djurgarden

There can be no room for complacency for Chelsea, who lost the second leg of their Conference League quarter-final 2-1 at home to Legia Warsaw after a 3-0 first-leg triumph.

But with a healthy advantage, Enzo Maresca can be very confident of making it to the final in Wroclaw, Poland.

Goals from Jadon Sancho and Noni Madueke and a brace by substitute Nicolas Jackson secured a comprehensive 4-1 first-leg win over Djurgarden, and the Blues appear poised to advance to their second European final in five years, after defeating Manchester City 1-0 in 2021’s all-English Champions League final.

Chelsea will be full of confidence after beating newly-crowned Premier League champions Liverpool 3-1 at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, keeping them on course for a top-five finish and, as a result, Champions League qualification.

Going all the way in the Conference League would earn the Blues a Europa League spot they may end up not needing, but there’s still the chance to become the first club to win all three current major UEFA competitions.

The Premier League match between Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur has been given a new date of Friday 16 May, kicking off at 19:30 BST.

This is following a request from Spurs in view of their potential participation in the UEFA Europa League final on Wednesday 21 May.

Additionally, the match between Chelsea and Manchester United, also taking place on Friday 16 May, will now kick off at 20:15 BST.

Both matches remain live on Sky Sports in the UK.

Liverpool clinched their second Premier League title last Sunday following their 5-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur. Through a series of captivating photos by Getty Images, we dive into the Reds' incredible journey to becoming 2024/25 champions.

Relive some of the defining moments from their path to becoming champions with four games to spare. From last-gasp winners to dazzling displays and just the raw emotion of a title race, it is all captured below.

Liverpool clinched their second Premier League title in style by thrashing Tottenham Hotspur 5-1 at a jubilant Anfield on Sunday.

Arsenal's downturn in form left Liverpool requiring just one point from their final five matches, but Arne Slot had called on the Reds to finish the job in front of their own fans.

Despite Dominic Solanke's early header threatening to spoil the party, Liverpool did exactly that.

Luis Diaz and Alexis Mac Allister struck within eight minutes to turn the match on its head, then Cody Gakpo scored Liverpool's third to kickstart the celebrations before half-time.

With Liverpool playing with freedom in the second half, Mohamed Salah made it 4-1 and Destiny Udogie put through his own net to compound Spurs' misery.

The full-time whistle sparked memorable scenes as Liverpool stretched their lead at the summit to an unassailable 15 points, while Spurs stay 16th after another demoralising loss.

How the match unfolded

Salah fired over within three minutes as Liverpool looked to harness the energy of an electric Anfield crowd, but the home fans were stunned when Solanke headed in from James Maddison's 12th-minute corner.

Spurs' lead lasted just four minutes as Diaz tucked Dominik Szoboszlai's right-wing centre home.

Though the Hungarian was initially flagged offside when receiving Salah's pass, that decision was overturned following a VAR check.

Another offside call did stand as Gakpo tapped home soon afterwards, but Liverpool completed the turnaround in the 24th minute as Mac Allister beat Guglielmo Vicario with a 20-yard blockbuster on his weaker left foot.

And Liverpool's title triumph was beyond all doubt in the 34th minute, as Gakpo found the bottom-left corner following Spurs' failure to clear a set-piece.

Liverpool should have had a fourth early in the second half when Gakpo looked to pass to Salah rather than finish, though the Egyptian got in on the act in the 63rd minute, steering a reverse shot into the corner on the counter-attack.

The scoring was complete six minutes later as Trent Alexander-Arnold's cross was touched over the line by Udogie with Salah lurking behind him, capping a dream day for Liverpool.

A Day to remember at Anfield

With Liverpool's only previous Premier League title triumph coming behind closed doors in 2019/20, the Reds' supporters had not witnessed their side being crowned champions of England since 1990.

And an occasion 35 years in the making was greeted with the atmosphere it deserved. There was a carnival feel as the Liverpool team bus arrived at Anfield before kick-off, while the Kop delivered one of its most stirring renditions of You'll Never Walk Alone.

Liverpool were determined to put on a show, going close through Salah's early sighter and when Gakpo – having juggled the ball inside a crowded penalty area – sent an overhead kick wide of Vicario's right post.

Even when Solanke nodded Spurs ahead against the run of play, a Liverpool reaction felt inevitable.

Szoboszlai timed his run to perfection to tee up the equaliser, and Mac Allister's rocket came after a relentless press kept the visitors penned in near their corner flag.

The celebrations really began when Gakpo made it 3-1, and the second half was exhibition stuff from the hosts.

Gakpo passed up a simple chance for his brace when he looked to feed Salah, but it was fitting that the crowning moment came from Liverpool's outstanding Egyptian, who celebrated his 28th Premier League goal of the season by taking a selfie on a delighted fan's phone.

Liverpool can now celebrate equalling the record of 20 English top-flight titles won by rivals Manchester United, and they might look forward to receiving a guard of honour ahead of their remaining fixtures versus Chelsea, Arsenal, Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace.

Spurs sink further

Sunday's match was of far greater importance to Liverpool than it was to Spurs, and Ange Postecoglou's team choice said as much, with Vicario, Mathys Tel and Djed Spence the only survivors from Monday's 2-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest.

While Spurs' biggest match of the season is set for Thursday, against Bodo/Glimt in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League semi-final tie, Postecoglou said his side were hoping to do more than get through Sunday unscathed.

Solanke's header raised hopes Spurs could keep things competitive, but the defensive issues that have plagued them all season then allowed Liverpool to run away with the contest.

Liverpool's third goal will have particularly irked Postecoglou.

The half-time introductions of Dejan Kulusevski and Pape Sarr failed to inspire an upturn as Spurs fell to their 19th Premier League defeat this season, the joint-most they have ever suffered in a single campaign, alongside 1993/94 and 2003/04.

And with fixtures against West Ham United, Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and Brighton to come, they could still drop further before 2024/25 is through.

Club reports

Liverpool report | Spurs report

What the managers said

Arne Slot: "It was clear we couldn't lose this game. Everyone on the bus said there's no way we're going to lose this game. They always find a way to win.

"Incredibly proud, not only of the players but the people standing here, sport directors, my staff members, we should give them a big round of applause. Let's forget it's the second in 35 years, it's the second in five years."

Ange Postecoglou: "Credit to Liverpool. They’re worthy champions – they’ve been outstanding all year. It was really hard for us. They proved to be too good.

"We were going to face a highly motivated team and so it proved. We started the game OK and tried to make it as hard as possible. We’re making a lot of changes to our team on a weekly basis. It’s affecting our fluency and consistency, and we’re paying the price for that."

Remaining PL fixtures

Key facts

Liverpool’s Arne Slot is the fifth manager to win the Premier League in their first season after Jose Mourinho (2004/05 with Chelsea), Carlo Ancelotti (2009/10 with Chelsea), Manuel Pellegrini (2013/14 with Man City) and Antonio Conte (2016/17 with Chelsea).

Only Harry Kane (213 for Spurs) and Sergio Aguero (184 for Manchester City) have scored more goals for a single Premier League club than Mohamed Salah has for Liverpool (183 - level with Wayne Rooney for Manchester United).