Good afternoon and welcome to Telegraph Sport’s live clockwatch of the six matches taking place across the Premier League at 3pm this afternoon.
“Who gives a flip?” were the words of Jürgen Klopp right before his penultimate pre-match press conference as Liverpool manager on Friday afternoon. Well, replace ‘flip’ with something cruder and you get the gist.
Anyway, Klopp may have already checked out of this season, but there is still a great deal on the line for several teams who kick-off in just over an hour.
For instance, Burnley and Luton Town could both have their relegations confirmed if results go against them in their respective matches.
Burnley travel to north London to take on Tottenham Hotspur, knowing anything less than a win will confirm their relegation and an immediate return to the Championship, despite their spirited efforts in recent weeks to mount a marvellous escape from the drop zone.
Tottenham enter this match on the back of four straight league losses for the first time in 20 years, with what felt like a very promising season now at risk of ending with a whimper. They know Champions League qualification is out of their hands, as they sit seven points behind Aston Villa in fifth with a game in hand. Still, if Spurs contrive to lose yet again today, their hopes of Champions League football next season will be over.
Luton may also have their fate decided in the capital city, as they travel to the London Stadium to take on West Ham, in what will be David Moyes’ final game in the home dugout after the club announced the Scot will be succeeded by Julen Lopetegui next season. Luton have kept their survival hopes alive much longer than many would have anticipated at the start of their inaugural Premier League campaign.
However, if they want to extend their stay in the top flight, they must do something they have managed only once since the start of February: Win a Premier League match. Failure to do so will mean that should Nottingham Forest proceed to better their result when they play against Chelsea later this afternoon, Luton’s relegation will be sealed today.
Elsewhere, in the Premier League, Newcastle, in sixth will hope to take a big step towards securing Europa League qualification in their match at home against Brighton. Meanwhile, Everton encounter already relegated Sheffield United at Goodison Park, Bournemouth welcome Brentford to the Vitality Stadium and Wolves will do battle at Molineux against a resurgent Crystal Palace, who enter this match on the back of thrashing Manchester United 4-0 at home back on Monday.
This promises to be a fateful day of Premier League action, and team news from all six matches will follow shortly.
