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Man Utd have Tottenham to thank as INEOS reaping rewards of their best decision yet  Daily Express

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Can Tottenham relegate West Ham tonight? Premier League relegation permutations explained

The relegation battle in the Premier League is going down to the wire.

Tottenham's Decisive Match: Tottenham can officially relegate West Ham United tonight if they secure a victory in their away match against London rivals Chelsea.

The Points Gap: West Ham currently sit in 18th place with 36 points and only one game left to play. Tottenham are in 17th place with 38 points but have two games remaining.

Sealing Survival: A win tonight would move Tottenham to 41 points, putting them an insurmountable five points clear of West Ham with just a single match left in the season, guaranteeing Spurs' safety.

The Slender Lifeline: To have any hope of survival, West Ham desperately need Chelsea to defeat Tottenham tonight. If Tottenham lose both of their final two matches, West Ham can still potentially bypass them on the final day.

The Impact of a Draw: If Tottenham draw tonight, West Ham are effectively relegated. West Ham would have to beat Leeds, hope Spurs lose their final game, and somehow overturn a massive 13-goal deficit in goal difference.

Toby Alderweireld has put himself forward for a remarkable comeback at Tottenham Hotspur, offering to help steer the club back on course. The former defender, who was a Champions League finalist with Spurs in 2019, has watched the north London club's dramatic decline this season, which has plunged them into a relegation battle.

Alderweireld hung up his boots last year but has made clear to Spurs that he is willing to return in a non-playing capacity should they require his assistance. Speaking to The Athletic, the 37-year-old said: "If Tottenham need help, I'm there, why not? I think the other guys would feel the same. We had a wonderful team at that time, that was our strength.

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"If I think about Sonny, Harry Kane, myself, Jan Vertonghen, they were down-to-earth people, good guys. They always put the club number one. Those are the people you want in your club."

Alderweireld pointed to his formative years at Ajax, where club legends occupied positions of authority and helped preserve the culture of the Dutch giants. He explained: "I always liked the clubs that have players who played there, who know the culture and what it is to play for the badge.

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"When I was at Ajax, there was Marc Overmars, Edwin van der Sar, Johan Cruyff, Dennis Bergkamp, Frank de Boer all in positions, and it helps to have those people in the club - players who achieved things and who are 100 per cent for the club."

Such a position would represent Alderweireld's first role within football. Since retiring after a three-year spell with Royal Antwerp, the former defender has channelled his energy into running his own spirits company and delivering business talks to audiences of more than a thousand people.

The Belgian was a firm favourite during his six-year tenure in north London. With two matches remaining in a torrid season for Spurs, the club can secure their Premier League survival with victory against Chelsea on Tuesday night.

The side are currently enjoying a four-match unbeaten run under Roberto De Zerbi, who confirmed on Monday that goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario is back in contention after recovering from hernia surgery. The Italian stressed that he expects to see the "right spirit, character and courage" as the season enters its final week.

Thomas Frank has landed himself a new job just months after being sacked by Tottenham. The Dane was ushered in to replace Ange Postecoglou at the beginning of the season, but was let go by the north Londoners just seven months into the campaign.

Tottenham’s fortunes haven’t exactly improved in the time since, with Spurs having been embroiled in a relegation battle. However, Frank has already landed himself a new role, with the ex-Brentford manager set to join the BBC as part of their 2026 World Cup punditry team.

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The broadcaster announced their line-up for the summer tournament, which gets underway in North America next month. Among the several ex-pros and managers named as pundits was Frank, who had previously worked for the BBC during the 2024 European Championship in Germany.

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Frank hasn’t spoken publicly about his time as Spurs boss yet, but the 52-year-old’s agent has commented on his departure. Ekstra Bladet said: "He is going to relax a bit and visit friends and family. Still a little too early for interviews. He is enjoying himself with family and friends right now. Has decided to pull the plug and relax."

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Frank will make up part of a star-studded line-up for the BBC, which also includes a couple of Arsenal icons. Olivier Giroud and Gael Clichy, two former fan favourites at the Emirates Stadium, have also been announced as pundits for the World Cup, while usual BBC pundits, such as Wayne Rooney, Joe Hart, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards will join the team too.

Other notable inclusions are Lucas Leiva, formerly of Liverpool, and Cesar Azpilicueta, a Champions League winner with Chelsea. Ex-Premier League referee Darren Cann will also join the team, offering insight and opinion on the biggest referee decisions.

WORLD CUP LEGENDS: The stars who lit up football’s greatest tournament - Buy the Special Edition today

On the announcement, BBC Director of Sport Alex Kay-Jelski said: "The BBC is turning the biggest World Cup in history into the most iconic one yet. We're bringing fans closer to every match, every moment and every story than ever before.

"Sport truly unites people like nothing else so we can't wait for fans to enjoy not just the live matches with us but an abundance of football content, all day, every day across our platforms.

"Whether it's our new series on YouTube and iPlayer, the biggest news stories on our website and app, our daily podcasts on Sounds or the viral moments on social media – we're here for audiences 24/7 this summer, taking them straight to the heart of the World Cup.”

It could prove a pivotal week of announcements at Manchester United following Michael Carrick's agreement to stay on as permanent manager. Carrick was appointed for the remainder of the campaign after Ruben Amorim's January exit and has overseen a marked upturn in form, with United securing Champions League qualification with three fixtures still to play.

With the managerial situation now settled, focus amongst fans will probably turn to the summer transfer window, which could prove a busy period at United. While United have made substantial strides under Carrick, the squad evidently needs reinforcing if they are to mount a title challenge next term, especially after Casemiro's departure was already announced. Beyond fresh arrivals, there remains the important question of the coaching structure to resolve.

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Carrick's backroom team has included Steve Holland, Jonathan Woodgate, former United player Jonny Evans and goalkeeping coach Craig Mawson, with all four potentially staying in their roles.

Holland spent 11 years as Gareth Southgate's assistant manager, initially with England Under-21s before progressing to the senior team. He has earned praise for his work as United's deputy.

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Carrick said: "Steve's been fantastic. He's got an awful lot of experience and seen pretty much everything before. He's gone through it in some good times and in some more challenging times.

"He's a very wise man, Steve, and says things that really are important at the right time. I think just general calmness and composure around for everyone. I think with all the staff, there's the dynamics of bringing something a little bit different."

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Evans has proven another pivotal figure in recent months. Following his retirement from playing, Evans took on the role of head of loans and pathways at Carrington, though the position proved short-lived as he stepped down in December, before returning to support Darren Fletcher during his caretaker stint.

Carrick subsequently retained him within his coaching setup, praising the Northern Irishman for his work on set-pieces. There are suggestions that a set-piece specialist, such as former United coach Andreas Georgson, could be brought in to strengthen the group, though Evans is anticipated to remain.

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Former Leeds and Real Madrid defender Woodgate was appointed, having previously worked alongside Carrick at Middlesbrough. Carrick values Woodgate's presence because he "challenges and pushes" me.

Mawson, who first joined United from Burnley in 2019, is the only member of the coaching staff to have survived from Amorim's reign. He was promoted to senior goalkeeping coach following Carrick's appointment and is expected to continue in that role.

The futures of all four could be confirmed in the near future. It also remains to be seen what role Travis Binnion will fulfil moving forward, having been promoted from the Under-21s to work alongside the first team.

West Ham United are on the brink of being relegated from the Premier League, as Tottenham Hotspur breathe a huge sigh of relief. West Ham suffered a 3-1 defeat away to Newcastle United on Sunday evening, guaranteeing they'll start the final weekend of the season in the bottom three.

But their fate may already be decided for them, should Tottenham beat London rivals Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night. Spurs remain two points ahead of West Ham, but would go five clear with one match remaining, should they take three points against Chelsea. Even a draw would effectively confirm the Hammers' fate, meaning Spurs know they just need not to lose against their London rivals.

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Nick Woltemade got things started for Newcastle with an early goal, before William Osula doubled the hosts' advantage with a second not long after. With it all to do at the break, West Ham attempted to up the ante after the break, but couldn't prevent a Newcastle third from bursting their bubble.

Osula once again with the effort, and while a Valentin Castellanos wonder goal restored a glimmer of hope for the visitors, West Ham succumbed to a devastating defeat. It's all eyes on Stamford Bridge but even a draw for Spurs would effectively send the Hammers down because Tottenham boast a much superior goal difference.

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That means in the unlikely scenario they were to finish level on points, it would likely require a 10-goal swing, or thereabouts. Tottenham's goal difference at this stage of the season is essentially worth an extra point for Roberto De Zerbi's side.

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If the result on Tuesday night was to go in West Ham's favour, they would still have a mountain to climb on the final day. West Ham host Leeds at the London Stadium, and would need a victory to stand a chance of escaping the bottom three at the death.

Meanwhile, West Ham would require the biggest of favours from ex-manager David Moyes, who takes his Everton team to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on the final day of the season. Because of the aforementioned goal difference, one point from the next two matches for Spurs should almost certainly keep them in the division.

West Ham were last relegated from the Premier League in 2010, when they finished bottom of the table. They didn't have to wait long for a return, with the east Londoners earning promotion via the playoffs the following season. Barring a miracle, West Ham's attention could turn to preparing for life in the Championship as early as Tuesday night.

Daniel Levy revealed he thanked Prince William for Aston Villa's part in helping Tottenham Hotspur secure a crucial win earlier this month in their fight for Premier League survival. Roberto De Zerbi's side left Villa Park with a 2-1 victory, a result that offered Spurs a glimmer of hope, with William also hoping they retain their top‑flight status in the battle against West Ham.

The former Spurs chairman attended an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle, where he was made a CBE by the Prince of Wales for services to charity and the community in Tottenham, including work in education, health, social inclusion and job creation through the construction of the club's stadium. Levy left his position in September following almost 25 years in charge, and relegation was not something he ever imagined when he was overseeing the £1billion stadium development in 2019.

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Tottenham are only two points above the relegation places, with nine wins from 36 matches. After sacking Thomas Frank and relieving Igor Tudor of his interim duties before appointing Roberto De Zerbi in April, Spurs finally sealed their first win of 2026 on April 25 - a 1-0 victory at relegated Wolves, though they remain winless at home in the league since the start of December.

Levy has continued to follow the club closely and, while receiving his honour, revealed he spoke with William about Villa, given the Prince is a long‑standing fan. "I thanked him for allowing us [Tottenham] to beat Aston Villa when we played them a few weeks ago," the former chairman said.

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"He wished us luck the rest of the season, very much hoping that Tottenham survive in the Premier League." Levy, who led the club for 24 years and became the Premier League's longest‑serving chairman, was also asked about Spurs' season and stressed he could never have imagined this would be the outcome when he stepped down last year.

"Look I could have never envisaged this at the beginning of the season, obviously fairly disappointed but let's hope, let's look forward and very much hope that next season we're still in the Premier League," he added.

"I'm feeling the pain but I'm feeling optimistic that we will get through it. It's been very difficult but Spurs is in my blood, as I said, I'm hopeful that we will be ok in the end."

Levy continued: "I'm always optimistic and I pray every day that we will [survive relegation]. Interesting getting into individual games but all I am focussed on is making sure Tottenham stays in the Premier League.

Spurs will continue their Premier League campaign and fight for survival next Tuesday (May 19) when they travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea. It's not a place Levy has fond memories of.

"Oh it's tough," he said of the fixture. "Never a good place for us but hopefully this year's going to be different."

Spurs haven't beat the Blues since February 2023, when they claimed a 2-0 home win with Oliver Skipp and Harry Kane scoring the goals. West Ham, meanwhile, are away at Newcastle United on Sunday (May 17), and the relegation battle looks set to go down to the final day.

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Is Tottenham vs Leeds United on TV? Channel info, live stream and kick-off time

Tottenham can increase their gap over the relegation zone with a crucial victory against Leeds United on Monday night.

How to watch Tottenham vs Leeds, including TV channel, live stream details and kick-off time...

Kick-off time: The match is due to commence at 8pm this evening, Monday, May 11. This fixture represents the concluding game of gameweek 36 as the campaign moves into the final stages.

Location: The encounter will be held at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in north London. This state-of-the-art arena boasts a capacity of 62,850 and will host this crucial encounter.

UK TV channel: Live television broadcasting will be handled by Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event. Coverage is due to commence at 7pm, offering fans a full hour of pre-match discussion and preparation.

Live stream information: Supporters can watch the match online through the Sky Go app or via a NOW Sky Sports Membership. Both services demand a valid subscription and provide high-definition broadcasting on mobile, tablet, and desktop platforms.

Watch in the US: For audiences in the United States, the fixture will be shown live on the USA Network. Broadcasting starts at 2:30pm ET, ahead of the 3pm ET kick-off time.

UK radio coverage: Live national radio commentary will be accessible on talkSPORT for listeners throughout the United Kingdom. Fans can access this via the app, online, or on DAB digital radio to track every moment of the encounter.

Team news: Tottenham are contending with a lengthy injury list, with Dominic Solanke sidelined alongside several long-term absentees including Cristian Romero, Xavi Simons and Dejan Kulusevski. Leeds will be without Gabriel Gudmundsson and Noah Okafor, while defender Pascal Struijk is facing a late fitness assessment on a hip issue.

Head-to-head record: These two storied clubs have locked horns on 104 occasions in competitive football throughout their histories. Leeds have triumphed in 33 of those encounters, with 29 matches ending all square, while Spurs have come out on top 42 times, including their 2-1 win at Elland Road earlier in the seaosn.

Recent form: Spurs go into this fixture on the back of consecutive victories under new manager Roberto De Zerbi. Leeds, meanwhile, are currently on a six-game unbeaten run in the Premier League and sit six points above their hosts in the standings.

READ THE FULL STORY ON TOTTENHAM'S TRANSFER DECISION: Roberto De Zerbi decides first Tottenham transfer that will cost club £26m

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Marcus Rashford swap deal proposed as Man Utd can solve two problems at once

Gary Lineker has conceded that Xabi Alonso replacing Arne Slot at Liverpool for next season would come as little shock. The reigning Premier League champions have endured a testing 2025/26 campaign, with defeat to Manchester United thrusting Slot back into the spotlight. Three successive Premier League victories prior to the 3-2 reverse at Old Trafford had eased the scrutiny on his position, but doubts have resurfaced, prompting Lineker to pose the crucial question and offer his managerial forecast.

"Would Slot be there next season? Eleven defeats in the Premier League, still in the Champions League positions," he said to Alan Shearer and Micah Richards on the latest episode of The Rest is Football podcast. "I wouldn't be surprised if Xabi Alonso was there next season."

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Shearer responded: "I think in terms of what he did last season and winning the league, manager of the season. With the issues and the problems they've had at Liverpool this year, then yeah, I do. If it were my choice, I would have him as manager, yeah."

Slot has already decided he will not quit the Merseyside club this summer, meaning any exit will be entirely on the Reds themselves. The Dutchman has no plans to depart despite interest from Ajax.

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Alonso has nonetheless been touted for the Liverpool role since Jurgen Klopp announced his intended departure in January 2024. At that juncture, he was enjoying a highly fruitful spell with Bayer Leverkusen.

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Last summer, Alonso succeeded Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid, though the Spaniard was dismissed earlier this year. While much of the attention has centred on who will take charge in the dugout next season, Richards turned his fire on the players themselves, directing his criticism squarely at four new signings, with Shearer visibly nodding in agreement.

The former Manchester City man said: "I think where the scrutiny comes is the signings. They've not worked. [Alexander] Isak has been injured, Wirtz has not been at the level we all expect, Frimpong is your right winger, your right-back, it's not really working out.

"[Milos] Kerkez has been a shadow of the player who was at Bournemouth. I don't know if that's pressure or if that's the system.

"Liverpool are too slow, too passive, they're too easy to play against. What you normally associate Liverpool with is being aggressive, hard to beat, work-rate, especially under Klopp and they're none of those things. I'd like the manager to get a chance to turn those things around."

One of the standout figures who embodied Klopp's side was Mohamed Salah, who is set to leave Anfield when the season draws to a close. An injury ruled him out of the defeat to United, though he is anticipated to feature in at least one of Liverpool's remaining three fixtures.

Alexander Isak and Alisson were also sidelined on Sunday, with Slot providing an update following the final whistle. He said: "Alisson hasn't trained with us yet, so that makes it quite simple. We're hoping for him to be ready next week, but we have to wait and see how the week will go. The same can be said about Alex - we're hoping to have him back next week."

Michael Carrick has admitted he is 'disappointed' at Manchester City's decision to stage the FA Youth Cup final against Manchester United at the Joie Stadium, rather than at the 53,000-capacity Etihad Stadium. The two clubs' academy sides will lock horns in the first Manchester derby Youth Cup final in 40 years next Thursday, yet City insist their first-team ground is unavailable as they work to complete the opening of the North Stand redevelopment.

United put forward a proposal to host the match at Old Trafford, but City rejected the suggestion, preferring to retain home advantage. The fixture will now be held at their 7,000-capacity ground at the training complex, which is normally used for academy and women's matches. The decision has drawn considerable criticism from United supporter groups, with the away side handed just 968 tickets for the showpiece occasion. Carrick has now made his feelings known.

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"I'm disappointed, to be honest. I think getting to the Youth Cup final always seems to have been a thing where you play at the main stadium and it's such a showcase event for players of that age group," he said.

"I think I've had some amazing memories, some of my best memories, in that competition of playing with your close mates and it's a shame that it hasn't worked out for whatever reason.

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"But listen, for the boys to go there, it's a fantastic game, it's a great opportunity. I'm sure the game itself will be good, and I'm looking forward to going and supporting the boys."

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Carrick has been an enthusiastic advocate of United's academy teams since assuming the position of first-team head coach in January. He has frequently attended Youth Cup matches, including undertaking a six-hour round journey to Oxford for their fifth round encounter at the Kassam Stadium.

United have been drawn at home in every other round this campaign and have staged all of those fixtures at Old Trafford. Carrick also understands what it requires to deliver in a Youth Cup final, having scored in West Ham's 9-0 triumph against Coventry City across two legs in 1999.

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United last featured in the final in 2022, when over 67,000 supporters filled Old Trafford to watch them defeat Nottingham Forest. Carrick was present at that fixture as a spectator and witnessed directly what it signified to the young players participating, which only heightens his disappointment at a squandered opportunity this campaign.

"I was at that game, the Forest game [was a] special special night, to see the stadium full for a game like that," he said. "It was kind of what you'd hoped really for that, but it is what it is and there's nothing from what I know that can be done about it. It's kind of agreed, and hopefully, as years go by it can be flipped to the main stadiums."

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