Key events
Norwich 1-0 Ipswich is a full-time score. Huge result for the Canaries, who will now believe a playoff spot can be theirs. It’s also a boost to Leeds, Leicester and Southampton in the race for the Championship autos.
All three of those clubs are in action in the 3pm games, which in the Championship are:
Thomas Frank has explained why Ivan Toney is only fit enough for a spot on the Brentford bench today …
Thomas on Ivan Toney
“It was tough to leave him out. He has a small muscle injury in his hip that affects him. He played the full Brighton game with it. This is his fourth match in quick succession; I want him fresh for the rest of the season. He is on the bench if we need him” pic.twitter.com/4IjAX0GqeE
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) April 6, 2024
Wolves v West Ham – team news
Wolves: Sá, S.Bueno, Kilman, Toti, Semedo, J.Gomes, Doyle, Doherty, Aït-Nouri, M.Lemina, Sarabia
Subs: Bentley, Traoré, Dawson, H.Bueno, N.Lemina, Chirewa, Chiwome, Fraser, Cunha
West Ham: Fabianski, Coufal, Mavrapanos, Zouma, Emerson, Alvarez, Soucek, Kudus, Paquetá, Ward-Prowse, Bowen
Subs: Anang, Johnson, Cresswell, Ogbonna, Aguerd, Phillips, Cornet, Ings, Antonio
Luton v Bournemouth – team news
Luton: Kaminski, Hashioka, Mengi, Burke, Kaboré, Clark, Chong, Barkley, Doughty, Townsend, Morris
Subs: Shea, Krul, Berry, Woodrow, Mpanzu, Onyedinma, Johnson, Nelson, Piesold
Bournemouth: Neto, Smith, Zabarnyi, Kelly, Kerkez, Cook, Christie, Tavernier, Kluivert, Semenyo, Solanke
Subs: Travers, Aarons, Favre, Dango, Scott, Senesi, Hill, Ünal, Billing
Fulham v Newcastle – team news
Fulham: Leno, Castagne, Tosin, Bassey, Robinson, Palhinha, Cairney, Willian, Iwobi, Pereira, Muniz
Subs: Rodak, Ream, Lukic, Decordova-Reid, Traoré, Wilson, Broja, R.Jiménez
Newcastle: Dubravka, Krafth, Schär, Burn, Hall, Longstaff, Guimarães, Willock, J.Murphy, Gordon, Isak
Subs: Karius, Gillespie, Dummett, Ritchie, A.Murphy, White, Diallo, Anderson, Barnes
Everton v Burnley – team news
Everton: Pickford, Coleman, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Young, Gomes, Garner, McNeil, Doucouré, Calvert-Lewin
Subs: Virginia, Lonergan, Patterson, Keane, Godfrey, Warrington, Harrison, Chermiti, Beto
Burnley: Muric, Assignon, Estève, O’Shea, Taylor, Cullen, Berge, Bruun Larsen, Odobert, Fofana, Foster
Subs: Vigouroux, Cork, Gudmunsson, Brownhill, Rodriguez, Benson, Vitinho, Amdouni, Delcroix
Aston Villa v Brentford – team news
Aston Villa: Martínez, Konsa, D. Carlos, Torres, Digne, McGinn, Luiz, Tielemans, Rogers, Bailey, Watkins
Subs: Olsen, Moreno, Chambers, Kesler-Hayden, Kellyman, Iroegbunam, Zaniolo, Diaby, Durán.
Brentford: Flekken, Roerslev, Ajer, Zanka, Collins, Reguilon, Janelt, Jensen, Damsgaard, Mbeumo, Wissa
Subs: Strakosha, Ji-Soo, Yarmoliuk, Onyeka, Lewis-Potter, Ghoddos, Baptiste, Maupay, Toney
Prepare for team news. The 3pm-ers are about to drop their official teamsheets in five …
Whether you’re a fan or not of the term ‘Old Farm Derby’, what’s unarguable is that today’s meeting of Norwich and Ipswich is a biggie.
A 39th minute free-kick from Chilean midfield sensation Marcelino Núñez is currently the difference between the two rivals at Carrow Road. A Norwich win would certainly throw a spanner in the works of the Tractor Boys’ promotion wheels, so to speak.
Speaking of Phil Foden … eyebrows were raised when he was left on the bench for Manchester City’s lunchtime clash with Crystal Palace today – and even more surprising was the Eagles flying into a 1-0 lead early on. But order has since been restored courtesy of Kevin de Bruyne and Rico Lewis, with City now odds-on to keep the title pressure on Arsenal and Liverpool.
Preamble
Hello, hello and welcome to the show. We’ve got a whopping five 3pm kick-offs in the Premier League, with the main focus on what’s happening near the bottom of the table. Everton – who don’t seem to have won a game since the discovery of penicillin – face Burnley, who are still 19th despite going on an unbeaten run of four games.
After getting diced up by Phil Foden on Wednesday, Aston Villa face Brentford, who must still be a touch nervy about being 15th, while Luton really, really, really need three points against Bournemouth – a hard-earned point simply won’t do as we get closer to the end. Newcastle head to Fulham, while Wolves are at West Ham, but there’s more … don’t forget the Championship.
An exhilarating title race continues, with second-placed Leeds taking on Coventry and third-placed Leicester entertaining Birmingham. We’ll keep a bit of an eye on Europe, too, with Bayern and Leverkusen in action at the top of the typically, ahem, uncompetitive Bundesliga.
My inbox is always free for your thoughts, fears, dreams and whatever else you feel like sending me (within reason).