Slot eyes European boost against Chelsea

Liverpool have eased one self-inflicted headache by listening to their fans and scrapping plans to raise some ticket prices for the next three seasons. Anfield’s attention can now focus squarely on eradicating another as Arne Slot’s side seek to salvage a desperately poor season with Champions League qualification. Liverpool will secure a top-five finish should they beat Chelsea and Bournemouth fail to win at Fulham. Slot could not have hand-picked a better opponent to potentially complete the job than the shambles that is this Chelsea team, even taking into account his frontline injury-list. The visitors are a collection of individual egos who turn up when they feel like it, which is Wembley and the FA Cup on current evidence. Chelsea have lost seven successive league games only once in their history – from November to December 1952 – but could equal that unwanted record with defeat at Anfield. They have lost their last two away matches by a three-goal margin, conceded at least three times in four of their last five league games, and it would surprise no one if they decide to save themselves for the FA Cup final. Andy Hunter

• Liverpool v Chelsea, Saturday 12.30pm (all times BST)

Seagulls show confidence in Hürzeler

Fabian Hürzeler’s reward for resurrecting Brighton’s European dream is a three-year contract until June 2029 at the Amex Stadium. The German’s future looked in doubt back in February after a poor start to the new year. But a run of six wins in nine matches means Brighton now have a great opportunity to make it a memorable second season at the helm for Hürzeler. Victory over the bottom side, Wolves, on Saturday is a must for their hopes of qualifying for Europe again, with a trip to Elland Road up next week before they entertain Manchester United on the final day. Ed Aarons

• Brighton v Wolves, Saturday 3pm

Silva’s sights on pastures new?

Andoni Iraola has already made his mind up. The Spaniard is leaving Bournemouth when his contract expires at the end of the season but there is no such clarity over Marco Silva’s future at Fulham. Silva’s deal is also running out and he is in a similar situation to Iraola. Both managers may be wary of becoming the next Thomas Frank, who had such a good reputation before swapping the stability of Brentford for the dysfunction of Tottenham. Silva, who is on Chelsea’s shortlist, is wondering whether now is the time to go. He has been at Fulham for five years, taking the team up from the Championship and establishing them in the top flight. The Portuguese demands good football and Fulham will have a strong chance of qualifying for Europe if they win at Craven Cottage on Saturday. But how high is the ceiling? Iraola has Bournemouth in sixth place with an outside shot of qualifying for the Champions League, but he is still on his way. If Silva has an itch to scratch, he may decide it’s time to try something new. Jacob Steinberg

• Fulham v Bournemouth, Saturday 3pm

United wary of superb Sunderland

One thing is certain: Michael Carrick will not underestimate Régis Le Bris. As Middlesbrough manager, Carrick lost twice to Le Bris’s Sunderland in the Championship last season and knows his Manchester United side cannot afford to relax against a promoted team that has not quite abandoned hopes of European qualification. While Le Bris’s Manchester United-supporting son, Noah, has assured him he will be cheering on Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Saturday, Amad Diallo is looking forward to playing in front of his former public. The Ivorian winger enjoyed a successful season-long loan from United in 2022-23, and thrived under Tony Mowbray’s management. “Tony was like a dad to me, we had such a good relationship,” said Amad this week. “I really enjoyed my time in Sunderland, I have nothing but good to say about the club. Now I’m one of their big fans. I watch every game when they’re playing and I’m happy they’ve done so well.” Louise Taylor

• Sunderland v Manchester United, Saturday 3pm

A game to suit departing Stones?

If Manchester City are to come from behind once more to win the title, banging in some goals feels like the way to go, although stopping them at the back is a bigger problem. Abdukodir Khusanov and Marc Guéhi had a terrible time at Everton and Pep Guardiola will need to decide whether to stick or twist, especially with a set-piece bombardment planned by Brentford. This feels like a day that could suit John Stones with his comfort on the ball, while Guéhi could test himself against Igor Thiago. Stones has under two months remaining at City and he will not want to spend it on the bench, especially when injury problems have made him unavailable for far too much of his time in Manchester. The centre-back will be desperate to make a difference in the title race, particularly with an FA Cup final coming up. Will Unwin

• Manchester City v Brentford, Saturday 5.30pm

Amdouni can lift the mood at Burnley

Zeki Amdouni returned to action after 291 days out against Leeds on Friday, having suffered a cruciate ligament injury when on international duty with Switzerland at the end of his loan spell with Benfica. Amid a dreadful season for Burnley, who are now under the interim guidance of Mike Jackson, Amdouni being fit is one of few positives the club can take out of the campaign. At 25, the forward still has time to improve and showed he has the quality to thrive in the Championship. The visit of Aston Villa needs to be used proactively by Jackson, who is highly unlikely to get the job permanently. Giving Amdouni a chance to remind Burnley fans of his capabilities seems a straightforward way to offer some optimism to those who gave up on survival before Christmas. WU

• Burnley v Aston Villa, Sunday 2pm

Palace to have major say in title outcome

Even with Crystal Palace still not mathematically safe from relegation, Oliver Glasner is likely to rotate his team again for Everton’s visit to south London on Sunday after their Conference League exertions. But with a trip to Manchester City up next in midweek in a game that Pep Guardiola’s side must win to keep up the pressure on Arsenal, Palace could decide to go full strength at the Etihad Stadium should they still require a result to be certain of survival. They travel to Europe-chasing Brentford next weekend in their penultimate game before Arsenal visit Selhurst Park on the final day, with last year’s FA Cup winners to have a major say in who are crowned champions at the end of the season. EA

• Crystal Palace v Everton, Sunday 2pm

Elanga to relish a stage he knows?

With Eddie Howe set to stay on at Newcastle, who start the weekend in 13th, he only has a few more games to decide who will continue the journey with him. Last weekend Anthony Elanga, Nick Woltemade and Anthony Gordon all stayed on the bench in the impressive 3-1 victory over Brighton. With clubs such as Bayern Munich reportedly circling around Gordon and a lack of European football available on Tyneside, this could be the summer the England winger leaves. For Woltemade and Elanga, it is time to prove they have the ability to lead Newcastle forward. This weekend, Elanga returns to the City Ground, where his performances earned him a £55m valuation, with a chance to show the qualities familiar to Forest fans. Sometimes familiar surroundings can get the best out of a player, especially when he knows an opponent’s weaknesses. WU

• Nottingham Forest v Newcastle, Sunday 2pm

Pablo needs to step up in sternest of tests

Pablo Felipe certainly works hard. The striker joined from Gil Vicente in January and has made an impact. West Ham paid too much for him – an initial £18.3m – but it is unfair to call him a dud. The 22-year-old has potential, is settling into new surroundings and his physicality has created space for West Ham’s wingers, Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville. Pablo’s only goal involvement in 11 league appearances, though, was his assist for his strike partner Taty Castellanos to score against Wolves last month. The end product has been lacking. Pablo is yet to register a goal for his new club, and missed a good chance during last week’s defeat to Brentford. West Ham, who are back in the bottom three, need the youngster to find the back of the net – but breaking his duck in a home game against Arsenal looks a daunting challenge. JS

• West Ham v Arsenal, Sunday 4.30pm

Maddison’s presence galvanises Spurs

There will be plenty of pressure on Tottenham as they have to wait until Monday night to find out where they stand in the relegation battle, but recent victories have boosted confidence. It seems little coincidence that James Maddison’s return to the squad has resulted in two wins from as many games, even though the attacking midfielder is yet to step on to the pitch having spent more than a year out with a ruptured cruciate ligament. “Experience, personality, calm, because anyway, if you have much experience, you are calmer,” Roberto De Zerbi said of Maddison’s influence after the defeat of Aston Villa. If Maddison can come on for the briefest of cameos at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, it could provide the end-of-season boost that supporters require after a desperate Premier League campaign. WU

• Tottenham v Leeds, Monday 8pm