Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest boss Victor Pereira speaking ahead of facing Aston Villa: "When we have quality and character, it gives you confidence in your side. We want to be mentally and physically fresh to face Aston Villa at our best level."

On what to expect from Aston Villa: "They have a good team, they have good players and a good manager but it is about us. We need to be mentally ready to face this challenge and get points every match."

On the fans: "They will be very important, they are our 12th player on the pitch. We need to feel their energy and that we are fighting together."

Jordan Butler
BBC Sport

Sunderland achieved the magical 40-point mark with victory over Leeds United in early March and, unlike Tottenham, their top-flight status is all but assured for another year.

Regis le Bris's side can now set their sights on setting a new club record for most points in a Premier League season. They require another 16 to surpass the previous highest total set by Peter Reid's men in 1999-2000. Unlikely given there are 21 points remaining, but not impossible.

Sunderland have endured a dismal recent record against Tottenham in the top flight and they are winless in 15 previous meetings (D5, L10) since a 3-1 home victory in April 2010. Four of their five Premier League victories over the north London club have come at the Stadium of Light, including a memorable 1-0 triumph on the opening day of the 2007-08 season.

Michael Chopra scored a later winner for Roy Keane's newly promoted side that day and the win proved to be very important, as the Wearside club finished just three points above the relegation zone, while Spurs placed 11th. The opposite could well be true at the conclusion of 2025-26.

Sunderland

Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris on four changes to his starting line-up: "We have a few injuries coming back so it gives us more options. Even if the squad did well against Newcastle it's important to refresh the starting 11 and we have adaptions on the bench."

On if he can take anything from the win over Newcastle last time out: "I hope so. We have shown this season we can compete at that level. In this league nothing is guaranteed, there are always new challenges ahead and this one will be tough. We know Tottenham will go strong with strong ambition. It's important to take it back at home. We did well away and at home we want to rebuild our fortress."

On how he prepared for facing Spurs under De Zerbi: "It's hard to anticipate the shape, the patterns and so on. It's more about us. How do we want to play this game? We will have to be adaptive. We don't have much information about the way they will play."

Tottenham Hotspur

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Tottenham boss Roberto de Zerbi, speaking to Sky Sports, on Antonin Kinsky starting his first game since the Atletico Madrid defeat: "I believe in Kinsky. He has to stay calm, to believe in himself. He has the right quality to play in the Premier League. He has to forget everything and stay focused on the game. We need him to have a good performance to find a good result."

On making sure being in the bottom three doesn't have a negative impact: "We have to fight, we have to play with the right spirit, we have to help teammates on the pitch, we have to keep in our head our qualities and don't forget who we are. When they play like they can, we can compete against every club in the Premier League. We have to forget the past, just focus on this game and then we see the result and prepare for the last six games."

Lola: Still think De Zerbi was more of a next season manager. Plays high risk, attacking football but lost his first five games at Brighton. Spurs need a manager who can implement a system quickly or relegation will happen.

Mark: Bit frustrated at De Zerbi benching Xavi Simons. Despite his problems with the league’s physicality, I still think he is Tottenham's most creative player.

Julien Laurens
ESPN journalist on BBC Radio 5 Live

I think there are a few reasons why De Zerbi didn't have the impact he wanted to have at Marseille and it all kind of stopped in February. He had run out of ideas. He had run out of energy. It is a great football city that lives and breathes football, just like him, so it was a great match in the beginning. But when you start not winning it is draining, very, very draining.

He looked more drained each week, he had lots of clashes with the French media, and when that happens down there you are in trouble. And the fans also wanted him gone.

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham boss Roberto de Zerbi, speaking to Sky Sports on picking his starting line-up: "It is not so easy to select the first 11. I am lucky, we have a lot of very good players. Just to understand their physical condition, their position and where they have to play. It was very difficult for me."

On the three players starting up front: "They are different players, they play in different positions. Only Solanke is a real striker, we try to win the game. To win the game we have to score and we have to know the way to create chances to score, to shoot, to attack the goal area. I think we can do well.

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Tottenham boss Roberto de Zerbi has only brought two coaches with him to the club - first-team fitness coach Marcattilio Marcattilii and senior professional development phase coach Marcello Quinto.

Bruno Saltor, who only arrived in February with Igor Tudor, and Andreas Georgson, who joined in the summer with Thomas Frank, remain the assistant managers.

De Zerbi said: “It's a totally different situation, because we have no time to work like in Brighton or Marseille or another place I've been. I don't want to put confusion inside of the players.

"They have to be with a clear plan of the game and not too much instruction, not too much thinking. They have to run where is the ball. They have to play with courage, with personality and they have to fight. My demand is to show the right spirit I want to see."

Newcastle United

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe speaking before facing Crystal Palace: "We are looking for a positive response to that result (2-1 defeat by Sunderland). A number of changes. We have got a few players coming back to fitness which gives us a huge lift. We need to stamp our authority in the match.

"We have got seven massive games. We have an opportunity to have a strong finish. We've had incredibly demanding season."

On Will Osula: "He is a livewire. He's got real pace, physical strength and height that will help us. He's someone who's desperate to do well. He's been patient. Hopefully he takes this chance."

Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner speaking before facing Newcastle: "We need to have the energy to get the result in front of our fans. It's the most important thing today.

"We had to make changes because Evann Guessand is injured and Jean-Philippe Mateta had to rest after his first start after three months. We want to have fresh legs against a very physical Newcastle side. We almost have a full squad available which is good."

Crystal Palace

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Jean-Philippe Mateta scored his first goal in over three months in Crystal Palace's 3-0 win against Fiorentina 3-0 in the first leg of their Uefa Conference League quarter-final tie.

Making his first start since a proposed move to AC Milan collapsed, he converted from the penalty spot in the 24th minute before playing a part in Palace's second goal.

Mateta came into the side in place of the suspended Jorgen Strand Larsen after scoring a hat-trick in a behind-closed-doors friendly earlier in the week.

"What a night. For a long time I didn't play, I didn't start. I dreamed about scoring that goal for nights. I did and I am so happy," Mateta told TNT Sports after the game.

Mateta completed a lap of honour applauding Selhurst Park after the game. On whether he has a message for Palace fans, he added: "They know me, I keep working hard. They know I am always here to reach victory and today we did it. Hopefully we can finish the job in Italy."

Ciaran Kelly
BBC Sport reporter at Selhurst Park

Image source, Getty Images

It may be tempting to suggest Crystal Palace have an eye on the Conference League today after making five changes. Not if manager Oliver Glasner has anything to do with it.

“A good run of form in the league can also help us in Europe,” he writes in his programme notes just a few days after his side's quarter-final first-leg win against Fiorentina.

“For me, winning is always the best preparation you can do for the next game. Having that confidence and believing in the work you are doing is very powerful.”

Thursday’s 3-0 victory against Fiorentina has certainly breathed new life into Crystal Palace’s season after the Eagles took a huge step towards reaching a first ever major European semi-final.

Among those watching on from afar that night was Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe, who knows all about the challenges of quick turnarounds and fighting on multiple fronts.

Following a 7-2 hammering at the hands of Barcelona in the Champions League, last month, Newcastle suffered a damaging Tyne-Wear derby defeat against bitter rivals Sunderland in the top flight just a few days later.

It felt like 13th-placed Newcastle’s season had gone up in smoke in an instant.

Yet Howe needs no reminding there is a lot riding on these final seven games of the season as his side look to restore some pride and finally mount a late push for Europe.

Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Forest have certainly improved under Vitor Pereira, but their home form remains a concern.

Forest are winless in seven Premier League home games under the Portuguese coach (four draws and three defeats), and have failed to score in each of their past three matches at the City Ground.

Their last home league win was in 2025, 119 days ago versus Spurs.

Ollie Watkins' upturn in form may in part be thanks to Michael Owen.

While speaking to Kelly Sommers for The Football Interview this week, Watkins revealed that he sought the advice of former England striker Owen, who he reached out to via Instagram DMs.

"It's easy to speak to your friends and stuff when they come and watch you, but they've got a biased opinion," Watkins said.

"Someone like Michael Owen, who has played the game... he's hit levels that I've not achieved... he can know how I'm thinking and just see from afar and give you some advice on what to do. I think it's always nice to be in my position and be able to reach out to these people.

"I was actually going through my followers on Instagram. It just said, 'Michael Owen - follow back', so I followed him back and then I messaged him and we just had a chat. And he was just saying he just feels like when I play angry and I'm being a nuisance, that's when I'm at my best. So I just try and bring that to the table as much as possible."

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Is Ollie Watkins finally getting back to his usual self?

The Aston Villa striker has fallen well short of the heights he reached last season, and was left out of the England squad during the March international break as a result.

However, he has scored four goals in his past four starts across all competitions.

Watkins scored twice in Villa's 3-1 defeat of Bologna in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final, taking him to nine goals in major European competition, equalling the club record first set by Peter Withe and matched by John McGinn.

After scoring against West Ham just before the international break, a goal today would be just the second instance of Watkins scoring in more than one game in a row.

Jordan Butler
BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Europe has provided a welcome distraction from the Premier League for Nottingham Forest for most of this campaign but, under Vitor Pereira, they seem to be finding form at the perfect time.

Forest sit two points above the relegation places with seven games remaining but they have taken four points from the past two league games, including a huge 3-0 victory at relegation rivals Spurs in their last outing.

A creditable draw in Porto on Thursday night with a much-changed side extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to four matches and Pereira seems to be striking the necessary balance between European progression and Premier League survival.

A total of 36 points has been enough to guarantee survival in each of the past nine Premier League seasons and if that trend continues in 2025-26, the Tricky Trees require only four more points from their seven remaining matches.

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Today's match at the City Ground has implications at both ends of the table.

Nottingham Forest start the day two points clear of the relegation zone, but could be leap-frogged by Tottenham Hotspur if they lose.

Aston Villa are looking to strengthen their place in the top five to ensure a return to the Champions League next season.

Julien Laurens
ESPN journalist on BBC Radio 5 Live

De Zerbi has a hot temper. He is demanding on the training pitch, if he wants two touch and you take three he is going to lose it. That is the thing I am worried for this Spurs squad, is that they don't know what is going to hit them.

If the result doesn't go their way today, if they draw or lose, I guarantee that the mood at training tomorrow will be very different to the last ten days he has been in charge.

Chris Sutton
Former Celtic striker on Football Focus

I am a little bit surprised but bearing in mind with how the season has gone for Spurs, maybe Igor Tudor isn’t that firefighter, it hasn’t worked and they got desperate.

What’s really fascinating about this appointment is the style of football that Roberto de Zerbi plays when he coaches clubs. He wants to play a high risk game of football. He talked in his press conference about wanting to play like Ange [Postecoglou], but we all saw what happened to him.

Jordan Butler
BBC Sport

Some of the conversation around Roberto de Zerbi's appointment has centred on his propensity for slow starts, with time apparently needed to convey his methods to a new group of players, something that Spurs don't have.

But at his past four clubs he has largely hit the ground running and he was victorious in his first league match with Sassuolo, Shakhtar Donetsk and Marseille.

The obvious anomaly is Brighton where, not only did he take over in mid-season, but he also failed to win any of his opening five in charge. He did, however, accrue eight points from his first seven games on the south coast and if that form were replicated in his current role it would likely ensure Tottenham's top-flight survival.

An average of 36 points has been enough to stay up since the Premier League switched to a 38-game season in 1995-96. The necessary total stands at 33 points across the past 10 seasons.

By that yardstick, one win would potentially be enough for De Zerbi, but even with a victory this weekend his work will be far from done.