Spurs defence implodes again as Everton pile pressure on Ange Postecoglou
Ange Postecoglou suffered more humiliation as David Moyes chalked up the first win of his second spell as Everton manager to deepen Tottenham’s mid-season crisis.
Another defensive shambles intensified the pressure on Postecoglou and though the travelling Spurs fans chanted for chairman Daniel Levy’s departure it is more likely that the manager will be fired if results do not improve quickly.
Spurs contrived to concede three first-half goals to an Everton team who had failed to score in nine of their previous 11 Premier League games.
They improved after the break – they could not have got much worse – and to their credit they managed to pull two goals back through Dejan Kulusevski and former Everton player Richarlison.
That made it an anxious finale for Everton who had twice squandered 2-0 leads to lose 3-2 to Bournemouth and Aston Villa earlier in the season.
But they got the win over the line to ease their relegation worries while leaving Spurs anxiously looking over their shoulders given their current form. Tottenham have won only five of their last 19 games in all competitions and continue to ship goals at am alarming rate.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin ended a 16-game drought by putting Everton ahead after only 13 minutes. He controlled a pass from Idrissa Gueye, turned Archie Gray one way and then the other, before sliding a shot past Antonin Kinsky from 12 yards.
Iliman Ndiaye added the second after half an hour. He exchanged passes with Gueye on the half-way line and then ran unchallenged for 40 yards before evading Radu Dragusin’s challenge and rifling as shot high into the net.
The third came just before the break when the unfortunate Gray turned the ball into his own net after Calvert-Lewin had flicked on a James Tarkowski header.
Everton could have had more with Kinsky saving from James Tarkowski and Calvert-Lewin and to add to Postecoglou’s concerns Dragusin had to be substituted at half-time after suffering a cut head from Calvert-Lewin’s flailing arm – an incident that saw the rejuvenated Everton striker booked.
Spurs dominated possession after the break and Kulusevski, with a delightful chip, and Richarlison, who slid in at the far post to convert a Mikey Moore made the scoreline respectable.
But it was all too little, too late. The damage as done in the first half and means Postecoglou’s position will come under even more scrutiny.
04:13 PM GMT
No shot on target from open play from Manchester United
Astonishing? Well, it might have been but these sorts of occurrences have become all too frequent.
04:11 PM GMT
Table update
Manchester United and Spurs stay 13th and 15th after their defeats – their fourth and fifth out of their previous six league games respectively. The clubs’ combined points total for their last six league games (so 12 in total) is five points from a possible 36. Man Utd have taken four of those...
04:04 PM GMT
FULL-TIME: Nottingham Forest 3 Southampton 2
Another 3-2 win but this time for a team in excellent form. Forest remain third, level on points with Arsenal and they now have a seven point buffer to Chelsea (who have played a game fewer) who are chasing the final Champions League spot. Superb stuff, even if it got a bit nervy at the end.
04:02 PM GMT
FULL-TIME: Everton 3 Spurs 2
Everton ‘escape’ with three points. Spurs came back but it was not enough and they are now languishing in 15th with seven defeats in their last 10 games. Worse than Man Utd, really.
04:01 PM GMT
FULL TIME: Man Utd 1 Brighton 3
A 10th Premier League defeat and a sixth at home for Manchester United this season. Poor. Brighton were good for their win, especially in the second half.
The team still unable to put any kind of meaningful run of form together.
03:59 PM GMT
GOAL! Spurs have another back
Richarlison pokes in at the back post for his first goal of the season! Not too long left of injury time, though.
Everton 3 Spurs 2
03:59 PM GMT
90+9 mins - Man Utd 1 Brighton 2
A bit of a pointless scuffle between Yoro and March, I think and a few other players. Leave it out, lads.
03:55 PM GMT
Can Southampton find an equaliser?
Forest clinging on here... a ball cleared off the line by Aina denies Southampton the leveller.
03:52 PM GMT
GOAL! Southampton get another!
Paul Onuachu with the goal. It’s now 3-2 with 12 minutes of added time to come. A nervy finish for Nuno’s men?
Southampton are producing a spirited response late in the game here. Matz Sels has been forced into two saves and, with a whopping 12 minutes of added time, are growing in confidence after a second goal.
This time it was substitute Paul Onuachu with a powerful header into the corner, and Southampton manager Ivan Juric is imploring his players to continue attacking. This would be quite a dramatic ending if Forest throw it away.
Nottingham Forest 3 Southampton 2
03:45 PM GMT
All three games at 3-1 then...
I don’t think it will stay that way.
03:44 PM GMT
GOAL! Spurs claw one back
Kulusevski with a lovely chipped finish over the heads of four Everton defenders but no keeper after some good work by James Maddison on the right-wing, which drew Pickford away the goal.
Everton 3 Spurs 1
Spurs have been better in the second half - but then they couldn’t have got much worse. And Dejan Kulusevski has pulled one back with a delightful chip over several defenders crowding the six yard box. Considering Everton twice managed to throw away 2-0 leads to lose 3-2 to Bournemouth and Aston Villa earlier this season there is a bit of anxiety creeping in around Goodison. And Moyes has just strengthened his defence by sending on Nathan Patterson for Ndiaye.
03:42 PM GMT
Oh no Onana (reprise)
That goal originates from Ayari again making a perfectly timed run in behind United. He’s been doing it all game. That combination of Baleba’s power and physical presence and Ayari’s guile and clever running in central midfield has been a big part of Brighton’s success here.
03:40 PM GMT
Why Spurs could keep Postecoglou despite awful form
Matt Law wrote earlier in the week why the awful results Spurs are suffering might not be enough (yet) for the club to pull the trigger in ditching Ange Postecoglou. Read the full piece here.
03:39 PM GMT
Sels annoyed after losing clean sheet
It was rather telling how upset Matz Sels appeared after Southampon’s goal. Sels was aiming to secure a 10th clean sheet of the season but was clearly very irritated by that record disappearing for now.
Forest’s players were also frustrated at only drawing with league leaders Liverpool on Tuesday, and it is that attitude that sums up the positivity in the dressing room right now.
03:37 PM GMT
GOAL! Brighton score a third after Onana howler
A comfortable cross comes in and Onana spills it, allowing Rutter to score. Oh dear. That is probably the game gone for United. A lapse in concentration perhaps. Inexcusable.
Oh Onana, what are you doing. That’s a shocking mistake from United’s goalkeeper to gift Brighton a third. Add it to the list of blunders.
Manchester United 1 Brighton 3
03:36 PM GMT
77 mins - Manchester United 1 Brighton 3
76 minutes gone. United were a goal down to Southampton at this point in the week... Amad Diallo is still on the pitch at least.
But they will need to make sure they do not concede.
03:33 PM GMT
73 mins - Man Utd 1 Brighton 2
United not really creating (m)any chances this half, it has to be said. It appears to have become a bit scrappy as they head towards yet another defeat by Brighton.
It is still 3-0 at Goodison Park which is some consolation for Spurs, I guess. The capitulation has not worsened, at least.
03:30 PM GMT
A couple of changes for Brighton with 20 mins or so to go
March on for Minteh. Rutter on for Welbeck.
03:28 PM GMT
Ramsdale enduring nightmare season
Southampton fans have just been chanting “we’ve scored a goal” in an ironic tribute to a rare event. It will only be a consolation goal and was a touch fortuitous, with Jan Bednarek deflecting Lesley Ugochukwu’s shot over Matz Sels from inside the Forest area.
Just seconds later there was a real escape for Southampton’s on-loan goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, who inexplicably fumbled a header from Nikola Milenkovic over the line. Very poor from Ramsdale, who is enduring a nightmare season, but the ‘goal’ was ruled out after referee Anthony Taylor spotted an infringement from Chris Wood when he reviewed the incident on his TV monitor.
03:25 PM GMT
65 mins - Man Utd 1 Brighton 2
A couple of changes for Manchester United. Garnacho and Collyer on. Ugarte and Mainoo off.
03:24 PM GMT
69 mins - Nottingham Forest 3 Southampton 1
Milenkovic heads towards goal, Ramsdale juggles but into the back of the net. Ouch. The game surely out of Southampton’s reach now. But, wait, the goal is ruled out by VAR because Chris Wood was offside. 3-1 it stays.
03:23 PM GMT
Everton still well on top at Goodison
This is rare territory for Everton: the first time they have led by three goals in a home League game since February 2017 – against Bournemouth.
Spurs have brought on former Everton striker Richarlison – who scored twice on his return to Goodison last season – and Ange has reverted to a back four with Davies moving alongside Gray in ther middle, Spence going to left back with Porro on the right side.
The damage has been done though and Everton have started the second half as they finished the first: well on top.
03:22 PM GMT
GOAL! Brighton go ahead!
This one won’t be chalked off, surely? Ball is floated in from the right, Onana dithers, as do some of the defenders but Mitoma is there at the far post to put his side ahead.
More problems for United.
Man Utd 1 Brighton 2
03:21 PM GMT
GOAL! Southampton have one back
A left-footed shot by Bednarek, deflected, from the edge of the area past Matz Sels.
Nottingham Forest 3 Southampton 1
03:19 PM GMT
51 mins - Everton 3 Spurs 0
Calvert-Lewin goes down clutching his ankle after a robust challenge. Spurs win a free-kick and rightly so. About 35 yards out. Could be dangerous for the Spurs defence, this. Plenty has troubled them this afternoon.
03:15 PM GMT
BRIGHTON GOAL DISALLOWED
Sounds like Van Hecke swung his leg, missed the ball and hit Dalot. Not in a major way by the sounds of it but it appears that the goal could well be disallowed... Peter Bankes goes to VAR Craig Pawson, and the goal is chalked off. Back to all square, then.
03:13 PM GMT
Brighton think they have retaken the lead
Joao Pedro the scorer after a free-kick, sliding his shot under Onana. United players are unhappy with Dalot on the floor clutching his ankle? A bit of a mess in there, really but Brighton appear to be ahead.
Will they check? They do...
03:06 PM GMT
Back under way in Manchester and Nottingham
United attacking the Stretford End in the second half as they search for a winner.
02:58 PM GMT
Half-time at Goodison
What can Postecoglou say to his players? I imagine we will hear the same old tripe from him after the game unless they miraculously manage to salvage something from this.
02:54 PM GMT
GOAL! Everton snatch a third before half-time
Dragusin lucky to avoid giving away a penalty but no worry for Everton as they have the ball in the back of the net within a minute. Gray the man who appears to be at fault this time as he directs the ball into the back of his net whilst trying to clear a header. Spurs an utter shambles.
Everton 3 Spurs 0
02:52 PM GMT
HALF-TIME
We reach the half-way point at Old Trafford and the City Ground with the Everton game in the sixth of seven minutes of added time after that Dragusin injury. Everton nearly have the ball in the back of the net again after a free-kick but the Spurs keeper saves.
02:48 PM GMT
45+2 mins - Everton 2 Spurs 0
Dragusin finally gets back on his feet with half a pound of white sludge about his eyebrow, which presumably was badly cut. Will he carry on? It looks like he will.
02:45 PM GMT
43 mins - Everton 2 Spurs 0
Dragusin is down injured on the ground and is receiving treatment. Think he has taken a knock to the head as Postecoglou and the Spurs bench look on concerned. Perhaps a broken nose? Hard to say but it does not look great.
This is a lengthy stoppage now.
02:43 PM GMT
GOAL! Chris Wood strikes again
His 14th of the season and Forest are cruising at the City Ground.
Nottingham Forest 3 Southmapton 0
02:42 PM GMT
39 mins - Man Utd 1 Brighton 1
Maguire goes down hurt after a collision with Ayari and United win a free-kick. United on top just about but only one shot on target each. Brighton have had only one shot in fairness.
Amad Diallo has a fine chance in front of goal but Verbruggen saves. Was he offside? The flag goes up at the end of the move, but not sure where exactly the offside was. Yes, a yard off so it would not have counted had he put the ball in the net anyway.
02:38 PM GMT
Questions over Spurs’ defence
Unusual end-to-end entertainment at Goodison... Jordan Pickford denies Son Heung-Min an equaliser with a fine save then at the other end Kinksy tips Orel Mangala’s shot onto the post.
And no surprise that Iliman Ndiaye has put Everton 2-0 up with a fine goal after half an hour.
He picks the ball up on the half-way line and runs unchallenged to the edge of the Spurs box where he evades Radu Dragusin’s challenge and fires an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net.
Good as it was you have to question Tottenham’s midfield and defence for not spotting the danger.
02:32 PM GMT
GOAL! Ndiaye puts Everton two up
Iliman Ndiaye smashes the ball into the roof of the net from close range! Charges into the SPurs penalty box from his own half, a few tricks with his feet as he enters the penalty box and putting it away with his left foot from 10 or so yards. Spurs in mountains of trouble here. Awful defending, particularly from Dragusin, who let him get the shot away.
Everton 2 Spurs 0
02:31 PM GMT
GOAL! Forest double their lead
The hope is being extinguished pretty quickly for Southampton. Callum Hudson-Odoi with the second.
Nottingham Forest 2 Southampton 0
02:30 PM GMT
Forest’s game-plan: the same as it ever was
What is so surprising about Forest’s season is that the game-plan remains the same, whoever the opposition. Even Southampton, the bottom club, are being allowed to control the ball and dominate possession here, while Forest patiently wait for their moment to attack on the counter.
With so much speed on the break, Forest’s threat can never be nullified.
02:27 PM GMT
An obvious penalty
The penalty was won on the back of Amad again pressing so effectively. He pounced off Ayari from Verbruggen’s risky pass out and stole in to win the ball. Brighton can have no complaints about the penalty after Baleba wrapped his arm around Zirkzee’s neck and dragged him down. The surprise was Peter Bankes needing a few moments to make the decision.
02:26 PM GMT
What the goal meant to Calvert-Lewin
It was a fantastically taken goal. I will now do my best to never mistype his name as Calvert-Lewis again. I blame too much time typing about F1 throughout the year.
02:25 PM GMT
GOAL! Fernandes slots a penalty away to equalise
Bruno Fernandes vs Bart Verbruggen. Fernandes wins. Verbruggen goes to the left, Fernandes goes the other way. The fired-up Portuguese has put United level!
Man Utd 1 Everton 1
02:23 PM GMT
PENALTY TO MAN UTD
Zirkzee dragged to the floor with the ball at his feet and Peter Bankes points to the penalty spot. Carlos Baleba receives a yellow card...
02:22 PM GMT
20 mins - Man Utd 0 Everton 1
United creating a few openings here but not really capitalising. Amad Diallo is having an excellent game, following on from his hat-trick in midweek.
02:19 PM GMT
Law tributes
02:15 PM GMT
GOAL! Everton take the lead
The home side are dominating so far, Dominic Calvert-Lewin does indeed end his barren run. He takes the ball with a few white shirts around him inside the penalty box, a brilliant first touch and then another couple of good ones to evade those Spurs defenders before smashing home with his right foot. Excellent goal.
Everton 1 Spurs 0
The drought is over for Calvert-Lewin .... he controls a pass from Idrissa Gueye, turns Archie Gray one way and then the other, before sliding a shot past Kinsky from 12 yards to give Everton a deserved lead after 13 minutes. He looks a mightily relieved man as his team-mates mob him with congratulations.
02:13 PM GMT
GOAL! Forest are ahead
Elliot Anderson scores from the edge of the Southampton penalty area.
Nottingham Forest 1 Southampton 0
So many smart signings made by Nottingham Forest over the last 18 months or so, despite the narrative from some observers about trolley dashes. Elliot Anderson is another outstanding recruit, arriving in the £35m deal which also involved goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos moving to Newcastle last summer.
The fee for Anderson was effectively £15m and that is brilliant business. The England under-21 international has just scored his first goal for the club and is proving a model of consistency.
They call him the ‘Geordie Maradona’, don’t you know.
02:12 PM GMT
‘Pathetic’ from United
It’s an unforgivable goal to concede so early in a game at home. Baleba fires a ball over the top and Mazraoui just fails completely to anticipate the danger or the threat of Mitoma running in behind. Mitoma tears away and squares for Yankuba Minteh to tap into an empty net. Pathetic from United, superb start for Brighton.
02:08 PM GMT
6 mins - Everton 0 Spurs 0
Meanwhile at Spurs, Kinsky has been forced to make an early save from long range, tipping it behind for a corner.
Everton have started brightly and Jesper Lindstrom has forced the first save of the game from Antonin Kinsky after six minutes with a 20 yard shot .... but the corner was held up because one of the referee’s assistants needed to change his flag!
02:07 PM GMT
GOAL! Brighton are ahead!
Brighton take an early lead through Minteh! Another dreadful start for Amorim’s men...
Manchester United 0 Brighton 1
02:06 PM GMT
King of the Stretford End
United have paid a lovely tribute to the mighty Denis Law. Alan Keegan, United’s matchday announcer, has just read out a moving poetic tribute to the man affectionately known in these parts as “The King”. The perimeter board around the pitch then revealed the message: “Denis Law – King of the Stretford End - 1940-2025. With love from everyone at Manchester United”
02:04 PM GMT
Chris Wood hoping to add to his goal tally today
Can Chris Wood add to his 13 goals this season against bottom club Southampton?
The New Zealand international has been a revelation under Nuno Espirito Santo and proved the difference maker for Forest this season.
Forest remain in contract talks with Wood’s representatives over a new contract and the expectation is that, eventually, it will be sorted. However, it is a tricky balancing act to negotiate a deal that satisfies both club and player, with Wood turning 34 later this year.
My colleague Sam Wallace examines the dilemma in a very well argued piece here.
02:03 PM GMT
Can Calvert-Lewin end his barren run?
Spurs have one of the worst defensive records in the Premier League so Everton’s misfiring striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin will be hoping this will be the day when he finally ends his 16-game barren run – his last goal came in the 3-2 defeat at Villa Park back on September 14.
02:00 PM GMT
A piper leads the teams out
A piper Terry Carr is leading out the teams playing A Flower of Scotland in honour of Denis Law. The teams are being joined on the pitch by Law’s former teammates Paddy Crerand, Alex Stepney and Brian Kidd as well as his great friend and fellow Scot, Sir Alex Ferguson, the former United manager. A poetic tribute is due to be read and a celebratory minute’s applause held.
Carr also played the pipes, I believe in 1994 in United’s first home game after Sir Matt Busby passed away.
01:56 PM GMT
Sir Alex Ferguson tribute: They had Best and Charlton yet still called him Denis the king
Sir Alex Ferguson has paid tribute to the late, great Denis Law. “Once you knew Denis and saw him as a player, you just thought ‘wow, this is a player’. There is a saying in Scotland ‘who do you think you are? Denis Law?’,” the former United manager told MUTV.
“He was the best Scottish player of all time. He was a fantastic player. He epitomises Scotland, fighting away, have a fight in an empty house. He was an incredible human being.
“He had the gift of being able to take the mickey out of people when they don’t know. The great thing is he didn’t use his fame. He was so level headed.
“It is an interesting thing. Why did they call him ‘The King’. They had George Best and Bobby Charlton. But they called him the King. I think it is something to do with the determination and will to win he showed every time he came onto the football field. He was a really competitive human being, no matter what the game, that was always there. It was a natural thing for the supporters to associate with him and their king.
“He turned the club round, that was the greatest thing. Sir Matt was recovering from the Munich air disaster. They won the first trophy [in 1963] just after they signed Denis. The part he played was vital in the renovation of the team. He was the cornerstone of the future success.”
01:45 PM GMT
A bit more on the teams at Goodison
Jake O’Brien will make his first Premier League start for Everton following his £16.4m summer move from. Lyon. The Republic of Ireland defender has started in the FA Cup and twice in the League cup, plus has made three substitute appearances in the League, but this will be his full League debut.
He replaces Ashley Young at right back while the other change made by David Moyes is that Jesper Lindstrom replaces Jack Harrison. Spurs recall James Maddison after he was left out of the starting line-up for the defeat at Arsenal, with Ben Davies also coming back in.
They replace Yves Bissouma and the injured Dominic Solanke. Former Everton striker Richarlison is on the bench.
01:43 PM GMT
Can Southampton avoid the worst season in Premier League history?
There will be much interest in Southampton’s season down the dual carriageway known as Brian Clough Way.
Derby County supporters are feeling more optimistic than they have for some time that, finally, the awful record of 11 points from the 2006/07 season may be beaten. Southampton are currently on six points, with 17 defeats from 21 Premier League games so far.
However, there were signs of life in the defeat at Manchester United on Thursday night to give new manager Ivan Juric some hope of a revival. While they appear doomed, it is just six points required to escape further embarrassment, with 17 games left to play.
01:41 PM GMT
Law tribute from fans at Old Trafford
More to come, I am sure.
01:36 PM GMT
Nuno filled with dread?
Nuno Espirito Santo had the look of a haunted man at his pre-match press conference on Friday. After the euphoria of Nottingham Forest’s draw with league leaders Liverpool, the visit of bottom club Southampton today fills him with dread.
At his old club Wolves, Nuno always adopted an equally cautious approach when facing struggling teams. It should be a simple home win, shouldn’t it? It rarely works out like that, though, and Nuno will be drumming that into his players.
Southampton may be bottom but proved at Manchester United on Thursday that they do have some good players
01:31 PM GMT
‘Postecoglou’s record is indefensible – his job should be at risk’
Chief Sports Writer Oliver Brown weighed in on the debate surrounding the future of Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham.
The longer this goes on, the more difficult it will be for Postecoglou to defend his record. With each day that passes, the greater the significance the Carabao Cup assumes, as Tottenham’s most realistic chance of ending a fraught season with silverware. Traditionally, the finest tribute you could pay to him was that even if you did not always like the destination, you could sit back and savour the journey. As it stands, his long-suffering disciples are enjoying neither.
01:25 PM GMT
‘Manchester United fans have never loved anyone as much as Denis Law’
Denis Law passed away earlier this week. He is the final to pass away of the ‘Holy Trinity’ of Manchester United players from their mid-late 1960s glory years. George Best died in 2005 whilst Bobby Charlton passed away in 2023. Law scored 237 goals in 404 appearances for the club over 11 seasons.
There have been many tributes in the past week and Manchester United will be paying their own respects to him before kick-off. Telegraph Sport’s Jim White wrote about why he is perhaps the most loved of any Manchester United player in history.
Read the full piece here: Manchester United fans have never loved anyone as much as Denis Law
01:11 PM GMT
Premier League - bottom seven
Three teams in action at 2pm today inhabit this zone, with Man Utd just above it. Ipswich are in action at 4.30pm against Man City.
01:04 PM GMT
Premier League - top seven
Of the 2pm kick-offs it is just Forest who inhabit this part of the table.
12:58 PM GMT
Forest vs Southampton
Nottingham Forest
Starting XI: Sels (GK), Murillo, Williams, Anderson, Gibbs-White, Wood, Hudson-Odoi, Dominguez, Elanga, Milenkovic, Aina
Substitutes: Miguel (GK), Morato, Awoniyi, Ward-Prowse, Moreno, Silva, Yates, Sosa, Boly
Southampton
Starting XI: Ramsdale (GK), Walker-Peters, Downes, Harwood-Bellis, Aribo, Armstrong, Bree, Sugawara, Fernandes, Archer, Bednarek
Substitutes: McCarthy (GK), Manning, Smallbone, Wood, Sulemana, Fraser, Ugochukwu, Onuachu, Bella-Kotchap
12:54 PM GMT
Everton vs Spurs line-ups
Everton
Everton XI: Pickford, O’Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Gueye, Mangala, Lindstrom, Doucoure, Ndiaye, Calvert-Lewin
Substitutes: Virginia, Begovic, Patterson, Keane, Harrison, Beto, Young, Armstrong, Sherif
Tottenham
Starting XI: Kinsky, Porro, Dragusin, Gray, Davies, Spence, Bergvall, Sarr, Maddison, Kulusevski, Son
Substitutes: Austin, Regulion, Richarlison, Yang, Lankshear, Moore, Ajayi, Olusesi, Hardy
12:52 PM GMT
The line-ups at Old Trafford
Manchester United
Starting XI: Onana, Yoro, Maguire, De Ligt, Mazraoui, Ugarte, Mainoo, Dalot, Amad, Fernandes, Zirkzee
Substitutes: Bayindir, Malacia, Martinez, Casemiro, Collyer, Eriksen, Antony, Garnacho, Hojlund
Brighton & Hove Albion
Starting XI: Verbruggen, Dunk, Van Hecke, Veltman, Estupinan, Baleba, Ayari, Minteh, Mitoma, Pedro, Welbeck
Substitutes: Steele, Lamptey, Webster, March, Enciso, Adingra, Rutter, Gomez, McConville
12:43 PM GMT
Good afternoon
Welcome to our live coverage for the three 2pm Premier League kick-offs which are as follows:
Everton vs Tottenham Hotspur
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
Nottingham Forest vs Southampton
Plenty of interest at both ends of the table as Everton will be looking to give themselves a buffer over their relegation rivals, having not won in six league games, losing their last three. Spurs are only one slot above Everton but have a seven-point buffer and are eight points above the relegation zone. That will be little comfort to their fans as they are without a win in their last five league games and four losses in that period.
In the second game Manchester United will be hoping to improve on an improvement in results and, to some degree, performances in the last two weeks but certainly have not escaped their poor run of form in which they have slipped to 13th in the table, 12 points away from the top four after just 21 games. They host a Brighton side that are three places and five points ahead of them, but whose form has slipped in recent weeks too, with just one win in their last six games, coming at Ipswich earlier in the week. Only one loss in that period but plenty of draws.
In the final game, high-flying Forest can theoretically move into second but it would take a 13-goal victory to do so. The more important thing is keeping up with Arsenal and keeping the pressure on Liverpool as much as they can. As well as building a gap to the sides chasing the Champions League places. They will be heavy favourites against bottom-of-the-table Southampton who have just six points all season and a single win from their 21 games.
We will have the team news for you from all three games very shortly as well as live updates from Goodison Park, Old Trafford and The City Ground.
