BBC

Match of the Day - 2025/26 Highlights: Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur Highlights  BBC

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery defends the rotation of his squad after his team lose a third consecutive game with a 2-1 home defeat against Tottenham.

MATCH REPORT: Premier League - Aston Villa 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur boss Roberto De Zerbi says his players "cannot be happy yet" after they moved out of the relegation zone after beating Aston Villa 2-1 at Villa Park.

MATCH REPORT: Aston Villa 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur propel themselves out of the relegation zone with a 2-1 win at Aston Villa in the Premier League.

MATCH REPORT: Premier League - Aston Villa 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur

Roberto De Zerbi had demanded all negative thoughts be dismissed as he attempted to salvage safety in this wretched, turbulent season for Spurs.

And the Italian's message looked to have been received loud and clear on and off the pitch on what might yet be viewed as the most important night of the club's season.

Even before kick-off, when the Spurs players came out to warm up, they were greeted with deafening roars from the packed away section at Villa Park.

The response on the pitch was also outstanding as they tore into Villa from the first whistle, pressing high to force goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and his defenders into poor clearances and uncertainty.

Spurs suddenly looked like a team bursting with self-belief and confidence as the hosts, closing in on a place in next season's Champions League, were run ragged.

Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur ruled midfield with quality and physical presence, while the tireless Richarlison never allowed the Villa defence a moment's peace.

On the rare occasions Villa did threaten, Micky van de Ven and Kevin Danso held firm at the back. Even Emi Buendia's goal in the sixth minute of added time came far too late to make Spurs nerves jangle.

This was a complete performance from De Zerbi's men in what looked like one of their most hazardous fixtures, offering a shaft of light after the dark clouds that have hung over them for most of the campaign.

Who do West Ham have to play?

Here's how West Ham's final three games look.

Nuno Espirito Santo's side host title-chasing Arsenal next, in a huge game at both ends of the Premier League table.

A trip to St James' Park to face Newcastle precedes their home match against Leeds United on the final day.

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Craig Nelson

BBC Sport reporter

Let's see if you guys agree with Opta.

We are going to publish the fixtures for West Ham, Tottenham and Nottingham Forest.

Then take the poll at the top of the page on who you think will finish in the final relegation spot and send us your views using the 'Get Involved' button.

We also have a poll coming up on how many points you believe it will take to earn Premier League survival this season...

Opta relegation predictions

Look away, West Ham fans...

The supercomputer gives Nuno's side a 76.77% chance of going down this season and expects the Hammers to finish with around 39 points.

Spurs now have a 20.73% chance of relegation, with expected points just over 41, while Forest are given just a 2.36% chance of going down. They're expected to finish with around 44 points.

get involved

Get Involved - Who will be relegated?

Click 'Get Involved' to have your say

The poll at the top of this page asks the question - after this weekend's matches, who do you think will finish in the final relegation spot?

Stick with us and we will have a look at the remaining fixtures for both West Ham - currently in 18th - and 17th-placed Tottenham, as well as Nottingham Forest, who are three points above the Hammers and one above Spurs, with a game in hand.

In the meantime, as well as taking the poll, we would love to know why you think your chosen club will go down.

Just message us with your views using the 'Get Involved' button and we will publish a cross section.

The fight for survival

Things look a little better for Tottenham, and a little worse for West Ham with three games to go.

It's Spurs who are now outside the bottom three after last night's victory, one point above the Hammers.

Nottingham Forest will hope to move six points clear of trouble against Chelsea this afternoon.

Who are you backing to achieve survival from here?

Good morning

Come on, let's be honest, who saw that one coming?

Relegation rivals West Ham and Tottenham both had tough away games on paper as their relegation dogfight went into gameweek 35.

But a defeat for the Hammers at Brentford on Saturday opened the door for Roberto de Zerbi's reinvigorated Spurs and they needed no second invitation to barge their way through it - albeit against an Aston Villa side that potentially had one eye on Thursday's Europa League semi-final second leg against Nottingham Forest.

Stick with us for all the reaction from the weekend's key Premier League fixtures involving sides battling against relegation, before we build up to this afternoon's clash between Chelsea and Forest at Stamford Bridge.

Spurs win at Villa as De Zerbi's rescue mission gathers momentum

Aston Villa 1-2 Tottenham

Phil McNulty

BBC Sport chief football writer

Tottenham Hotspur moved out of the Premier League relegation zone with an outstanding victory at Aston Villa as new head coach Roberto de Zerbi's rescue mission gathered momentum.

West Ham United's defeat at Brentford on Saturday left the door ajar for Spurs to go above their rivals - and they stormed through it with arguably their finest performance of the season.

They made light of injuries to key forwards Xavi Simons and Dominic Solanke in last weekend's victory at Wolverhampton Wanderers - their first in the league since 28 December - to establish a fully deserved two-goal lead at the interval against their fifth-placed hosts.

Conor Gallagher's first goal since his January move from Atletico Madrid, a crisp low finish from 20 yards, was just reward for a fine start as the visitors led after 12 minutes.

Spurs' second goal was not long in coming as Richarlison headed emphatically past Villa keeper Emi Martinez from Mathys Tel's cross in the 25th minute.

Substitute Emi Buendia pulled a goal back for Villa with seconds left but it was too little, too late as Spurs secured the crucial win that moved them a point ahead of West Ham with just three league games left.

Aston Villa vs Tottenham: Confirmed team news  BBC

There are three games in the Premier League on Sunday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

Kick-off times BST

Follow Bournemouth v Crystal Palace here

Go here for live text and radio commentary of Man Utd v Liverpool

And stay across Villa v Spurs here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Bournemouth v Crystal Palace" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Man Utd v Liverpool".

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Tottenham 2-0 London City Lionesses

Isa Kardinaal spotted Lize Kop off her line and tries to dink it over her.

It just sails wide and Kop has to untangle herself from the net.

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Tottenham 2-0 London City Lionesses

Freya Godfrey looks to head towards goal but it is just over and lands on the roof of the net.

She has made a difference to London City's attack since coming on.

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Man City 0-0 Liverpool

Izzy Christiansen

Former England and Man City midfielder on Sky Sports

Liverpool's intensity has dropped a little bit. They are starting to fatigue. They have put a lot of work in today but this game is far from done.

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Man City 0-0 Liverpool

Was that a shot or a cross?

Either way it's wasteful from Aoba Fujino. The ball goes harmless behind for a goal kick.

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Tottenham 2-0 London City Lionesses

Matilda Vinberg's cross into the box is cleared by London City.

Signe Gaupset plays a brilliant ball across goal but nobody is there to get on the end of it.

'Huge opportunity'

Man City 0-0 Liverpool

Natasha Dowie

Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

Again, it was a huge opportunity. Olsson normally, you give her one chance and she puts it in the back of the net.

She’s free and unmarked, she’s gotten between the two centre-halves and put the header wide. She knows she’s not getting an opportunity better than that.

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Man City 0-0 Liverpool

Another Liverpool break and the ball falls for Ceri Holland on the edge of the box.

The shot is slightly rushed and sails high over the bar.

Another little warning for City, though.

'You know you can rely on England'

Tottenham 2-0 London City Lionesses

Molly-Mae Sharpe

Crystal Palace forward on Sky Sports

Spurs will miss Beth England this summer, she's a pivotal player and has been since joining from Chelsea. You know you can rely on her.

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Man City 0-0 Liverpool

Natasha Dowie

Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

For a 0-0 this is one of the most entertaining games. I’m really struggling to call which way it’s going to go. I think that there are players on either side who can win this game.

CLOSE!

Man City 0-0 Liverpool

Huge chance for Liverpool.

Alejandra Bernabe with the cross from the left and Beata Olsson is completely unmarked in the middle.

For a moment the header looks destined for the far corner but it drifts wide.

Let off for City.

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Man City 0-0 Liverpool

There are less than 18 minutes of the 90 remaining. But that clock will feel like it's in fast-forward for Manchester City at the moment.

'Spurs have rocketed since Ho arrival'

Tottenham 2-0 London City Lionesses

Molly-Mae Sharpe

Crystal Palace forward on Sky Sports

Spurs have really rocketed since they bought Martin Ho into the club. You can tell he's building something really special for the future.

'Big chance'

Man City 0-0 Liverpool

Izzy Christiansen

Former England and Man City midfielder on Sky Sports

Luckily for Greenwood the flag has gone up, because that was a big chance. A player with a world class left foot like her should do better.

YELLOW CARD

Man City 0-0 Liverpool

Tame shot from Alex Greenwood at the end of a flowing City move. The full-back will be relieved that the offside flag went up so it wouldn't have counted anyway.

The referee then goes back to book Ceri Holland for a late tackle on Kerstin Casparij in the build up.

SUBSTITUTION

Man City 0-0 Liverpool

Liverpool boss Gareth Taylor turns to his bench for the first time and sends on Alice Bergstrom for Risa Shimizu.

Shimizu has had a tough time against Lauren Hemp so she might be glad to get out of the firing line.

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Man City 0-0 Liverpool

Natasha Dowie

Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

You just wonder where this City team has been for the first 45 minutes of the game.

They have put so much pressure on themselves to get a result now, where as if they started the game like this it would be a completely different story.

When Tomas Soucek's effort grazed the post in the final stages of West Ham United's defeat at Brentford on Saturday afternoon, their supporters could've been forgiven for exchanging exasperated looks.

The 3-0 scoreline at Gtech Community Stadium may point to a comfortable victory for Keith Andrews' Europe-chasing side, but it tells only half the story.

Victory would have lifted West Ham five points clear of the bottom three, but instead they have left the door ajar for Tottenham to leapfrog them with victory at Aston Villa on Sunday night.

The Hammers currently remain two points above Spurs, but Roberto de Zerbi's side have a game in hand and are nine goals healthier in terms of goal difference.

"We had chances, we hit the post twice, we hit the bar and we hit the post again," captain Jarrod Bowen told Sky Sports. "It's really disappointing. We had good opportunities.

"On another day we would have got the win. We have done a lot of good things."

But if Tottenham win at Villa Park, it would leave them in the driving seat - just - to avoid the drop.

It would also leave West Ham hoping for a result against title-chasing Arsenal, who are six points clear at the top of the table and have plundered 11 goals on their previous two league visits to London Stadium.

After facing Aston Villa, Tottenham's next game is at home to a Leeds United side who have lost their past five league meetings against the north London club.

So although the form book often means little as the battle for survival reaches its climax, Brentford's win could prove pivotal for West Ham and Spurs.

In an interview on West Ham United's website, external, Nuno Espirito Santo urged his players to respond against Arsenal and called on the fans to play their part.

"Let's realise that how we react from a bad day is going to keep us alive in this [relegation] fight," the head coach said.

"We have been asking our fans for their support and our fans are giving back. They are disappointed with us [after this result], but we need them more than ever."