Our Livewire service brings you all the day's latest football news including team news, quotes, transfer rumours, videos and much more.
Headline stories
- Paper Talk: Arsenal want Ayoze Perez
- Aubameyang sends Gunners to Baku
- Chelsea book final berth on pens
- Hazard's last act at the Bridge?
- Shaw named United Player of the Year
- Sky Bet League Two semi-final tips
🔄 REFRESH PAGE FOR LATEST UPDATES 🔄
PODCAST TIME
Our weekend best bets podcast includes a look back at a frenetic week in football and Classic trials in racing, before we reveal our selections for Saturday and Sunday.
🐺 WOLVES TEAM NEWS
Wolves could be unchanged for their final day trip to Liverpool. Boss Nuno Espirito Santo has no fresh injury worries ahead of the game at Anfield with the Reds a point behind Manchester City, needing them to slip up at Brighton to stand any chance of winning the title.
Ruben Vinagre, Adama Traore and Helder Costa are all pushing to start after being on the bench.
Provisional squad: Patricio, Ruddy, Norris, Doherty, Bennett, Dendoncker, Boly, Coady, Gibbs-White, Jonny, Saiss, Neves, Costa, Moutinho, Cavaleiro, Vinagre, Traore, Jimenez, Jota.
👋 NO SPERONI SEND-OFF
Despite leaving Crystal Palace after 15 years on Sunday, goalkeeper Julian Speroni will not make a final appearance at Selhurst Park - but that's at his own request.
The goalkeeper, 39, has made 405 appearances for Palace since his arrival from Dundee in 2004, but even with them guaranteed a mid-table finish he will not make a 406th - and largely because of the Argentinian's influence.
Roy Hodgson explains: "Those sentimental moments are debatable, whether they're the right approach or not. But certainly I didn't have a decision to make anyway on that front. Julian's a consummate professional.
"He made it clear to me we should carry on approaching this game in the professional way we've approached all games this season; that he doesn't see any reason he should be the second goalkeeper or put onto the field of play just because it's the last day of the season.
"I was actually quite touched by the fact he wasn't looking for that gesture where he'd come on for five to 10 minutes and the crowd will go wild."
📝 PARKER GETS FULHAM JOB
Fulham have appointed caretaker manager Scott Parker as their new permanent boss.
"Scott was brave to accept a very difficult challenge in February when appointed as our caretaker manager," said Fulham chairman Khan.
"Since that time, day by day, whether in training or on match day, we've undeniably become a better football club.
"Scott will now have another challenge to face, and that is to return Fulham to the Premier League. I fully believe Scott is more than up to the task."
Read more here.
📢 UNITED CHASING JAMES
Manchester United are among a host of clubs looking at a deal for Swansea's Daniel James, Press Association Sport understands.
The speedy 21-year-old has impressed in the Sky Bet Championship this season and saw a January move to Leeds collapse at the last minute.
Asked about a move for James on Friday morning, Solskjaer said: "I can't comment on every single individual.
"There are many players. I don't like when other managers talk about my players and I wouldn't talk about any others, even if I wasn't or was interested."
👋 BYE-BYE BRUNO
Brighton captain Bruno is to retire after Sunday's climax to the Premier League season against Manchester City at the Amex Stadium.
Spanish defender Bruno joined the club in 2012 and has gone on to make over 200 appearances. It is hoped he will continue on the south coast in a non-playing capacity.
"To put it simply Bruno has been outstanding - for the club and also for me personally. He's been an outstanding player, an outstanding professional and is an outstanding person," boss Chris Hughton said.
📝 PREMIER LEAGUE TIPS
For the final time this season, George Pitts digs out the best bets from this weekend's Premier League coupon.
Click the image below to get his fancies.
🔴 TEAM NEWS: LIVERPOOL
Mohamed Salah, Jordan Henderson and Andy Robertson are all likely to be fit for Liverpool's Premier League finale at home to Wolves.
Salah missed the midweek Champions League win over Barcelona with concussion, while Henderson (knee) and Robertson (calf) both sustained injuries in that match.
Forward Roberto Firmino, however, is still out with a groin problem although manager Jurgen Klopp expects him to be fit for the Champions League final on June 1.
Provisional squad: Becker, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson, Wijnaldum, Fabinho, Milner, Salah, Mane, Origi, Gomez, Moreno, Lovren, Henderson, Shaqiri, Sturridge, Brewster.
HOWE: NO BEGOVIC BUST-UP
Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe insists he has not fallen out with goalkeeper Asmir Begovic.
The Bosnia-Herzegovina goalkeeper was a surprise omission from the squad for last weekend's impressive 1-0 home win over Tottenham, with 19-year-old Irishman Mark Travers making his debut.
"Some of the things that have come out this week have been totally inaccurate," said Howe.
"We decided to play Mark (Travers) and rest Asmir (against Spurs). He's been given the final week of the season off to spend some extended time with his family.
"But nothing malicious or any stories to read into that, to say that he's played his last game for Bournemouth. Who knows what the summer brings for him or for us, but there's been no fall-out and he's still a top professional."
When asked if Bournemouth will sign a goalkeeper this summer, Howe said: "Who knows? It's a difficult one for us to reflect on at the moment.
"We'll get the game out of the way first then sit down and make our plans."
AGENT: TOURE HAS RETIRED
Yaya Toure has announced his retirement from playing and is set to launch a coaching career, according to his agent.
Toure's agent Dimitri Seluk has been quoted by Russian website Sport 24 saying the 35-year-old former Ivory Coast international has made the decision after having his contract at Greek club Olympiacos terminated in December.
Selcuk said: "Yaya has decided to end his career as a champion.
"The farewell match which Manchester City gave him was, in principle, the real end of his playing career, not only in that team, but in general.
"Yaya is one of the best players in Africa and had one of the brightest careers in the history of African football, so should leave football at its peak. We talked for a long time on this topic.
"Of course every footballer wants to play as long as possible and in terms of his physical condition Yaya could do this at a sufficiently high level for another five years."
LUIZ READY TO EXTEND
David Luiz expects to tie up a new Chelsea contract in the coming days.
The Brazil defender's current Blues deal expires at the end of the season, with the 32-year-old having been in protracted talks with the club over an extension.
Asked if he will be at Chelsea next season, Luiz said: "Yes I think so. Soon everybody is going to know. It will be before the Europa League final, in five days.
"I love this club. My great moments in football were here, especially the European titles - the Champions League and Europa League.
"My relation with the fans has always been great since the first day I played here. I just try to do my best and make them happy.
"Nobody wants to play in an empty stadium when you have an opportunity to understand that we play for them."
OLE: DON'T EXPECT TITLE CHALLENGE
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admitted it would be "miraculous" if Manchester United were among the sides challenging for the Premier League title next season.
United were initially rejuvenated when Solskjaer replaced Mourinho, winning 14 of the Norwegian's first 17 fixtures at the helm, but their progress has stuttered since then.
Irrespective of their result against Cardiff in their final game of the season, United will miss out on a top-four finish and Solskjaer knows his side have some catching up to do on their rivals.
Solskjaer, whose side are 29 points behind league-leaders City, said: "Challenging for the title next year would be a miraculous season because we are so far behind at the moment, points-wise.
"It's not like when I used to play that it was us or Arsenal that were going to win the league, and then Chelsea came.
"Now it's a very, very competitive competition and we're challenging against the best teams in the world for these trophies. That tells us that it's going to be a great challenge. We want to get back to where we used to be.
"Next season, we've got to close that gap. If we manage to get to February or March and being close then that's fantastic."
TEAM NEWS: MAN UTD
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is set to inject some youth into his Manchester United line-up against Cardiff while club captain Antonio Valencia could make a farewell appearance.
The likes of Tahith Chong, Angel Gomes, and Mason Greenwood have trained with the senior team this week and may come in for United's final fixture of the season, with doubts over Romelu Lukaku, Alexis Sanchez and Anthony Martial.
Valencia, who has played 338 times in his 10 years at United, is set to depart at Old Trafford at the end of an injury-hit campaign but is in line for his first appearance for the club since January, while Jesse Lingard could return after injury.
Provisional squad: De Gea, Grant, Kovar, Young, Darmian, Valencia, Shaw, Rojo, Smalling, Jones, Smalling, Lindelof, O'Connor, Herrera, Lingard, Garner, Matic, Pogba, Pereira, McTominay, Mata, Chong, Sanchez, Martial, Lukaku, Rashford, Levitt, Puigmal, Gomes, Greenwood.
NO PAIN NO GAIN...
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has called on his team to focus on the "big moment" of playing for the Premier League title on Sunday and put aside the success of reaching the Champions League final.
Klopp told a press conference: "It would be a big football moment for us. Nothing has changed for us, we knew it before.
"The only thing we can do is win. (Wolves manager) Nuno (Espirito Santo) is doing an incredible job there."
Klopp added on fitness issues ahead of Sunday: "The famous four words in the dressing room this week is 'It is only pain'."
Klopp thinks Jordan Henderson and Andrew Robertson should be fit, and possibly Mohamed Salah, but Roberto Firmino will miss out.
TEAM NEWS: CARDIFF
Loan pair Harry Arter and Victor Camarasa will miss Cardiff's Premier League trip to Manchester United and have played their final games for the club.
Arter has missed the last month with a calf strain, while fellow midfielder Camarasa was forced off against Crystal Palace last weekend with a dead leg.
Cardiff manager Neil Warnock has confirmed Arter and Camarasa will both be leaving the relegated Bluebirds after Sunday's final-day visit to Old Trafford
Provisional squad: Etheridge, B Murphy Smithies, Peltier, Bennett, Richards, Manga, Morrison, Gunnarsson, Bacuna, Harris, Hoilett, Zohore, Niasse, Reid, J Murphy, Mendez-Laing, Ward, Healey.
COOL FOR CATS
Sunderland boss Jack Ross is refusing to let the pressure of the League One play-offs get to him as looks to make the most of a second chance.
The Black Cats saw their hopes of automatic promotion back to the Sky Bet Championship go up in smoke after their final seven games yielded just one win and only six points.
As a result, the first leg of their play-off semi-final clash with Portsmouth on Saturday evening has proved a hard sell with disappointed fans and left Ross and his players facing a degree of criticism, although the Scot is taking that squarely on his shoulders and is determined to enjoy what lies ahead.
He said: "It shouldn't be hell, otherwise you're in the wrong job.
"Is there an anxiety and stress about being a football manager? Yes, of course there is, but that should be the same for any manager at any level because it just goes with the territory.
"But the only way you really enjoy it is if you win it. I know it's very cliched, but it's the truth."
🤝 PHELAN STAYS
Mike Phelan has agreed a deal to stay on as Manchester United's permanent assistant manager on a three-year contract.
Phelan was Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's "first port of call" to join him as his No 2 when he was appointed United caretaker manager in December and the Norwegian has been keen to get his future tied down beyond this season.
"I think he is fantastic at his job, assistant manager, I'm very pleased they have finally agreed." said Solskjaer ahead of Sunday's visit of Cardiff.
We are delighted to announce the appointment of @Mike_Phelan_1 as our new assistant manager. #MUFC
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 10, 2019
Ole on @Mike_Phelan_1: "He walks around Carrington and players really respect him. They know what he can do and he's worked with the best. I'm a young manager, I still feel I'm young anyway, and Mick's got more experience in a few areas than I have." #MUFC pic.twitter.com/TeiKzsHhBP
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 10, 2019
🏆 PLAYER OF THE YEAR - CLUB BY CLUB
The 2018/19 Premier League campaign is over but which players earned individual recognition from their clubs, peers and fans?
🏆 SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP GOAL OF THE MONTH
🗳️ Receiving a majority 72% of the public vote...
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) May 10, 2019
🚀 Fernando Forestieri's rocket for Sheffield Wednesday against Norwich is the Sky Bet Championship Goal of the Month winner for April
🔄 It just doesn't get old
😍 #SWFC @swfc @Forestieri45 pic.twitter.com/2N4grB1cbo
🏟️ EUROPA LEAGUE FINAL: ARSENAL AND CHELSEA SHORT CHANGED IN TICKET ALLOCATION
Arsenal and Chelsea booked their places in the Europa League final on Thursday night following the thrilling progress of Liverpool and Tottenham into the Champions League showpiece.
But the battle for their supporters for the chance to be there is only just beginning.
The Reds and Spurs have each been allocated 16,613 tickets for the Champions League final, which will take place at Atletico Madrid's 67,800-capacity Wanda Metropolitano stadium on June 1.
But Arsenal and Chelsea will only receive approximately 6,000 tickets for the Europa League final in Baku's Olympic Stadium on May 29. The arena in Azerbaijan, 2,850 miles from London, has an official capacity of 68,700.
⏱️ MAN UNITED CLOSE IN ON WALES ACE
BREAKING: Manchester United are close to agreeing a deal to sign Swansea City winger Daniel James for £15m
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) May 10, 2019
🙏 WILLIAN: WE HOPE HAZARD STAYS AT CHELSEA NEXT SEASON
Willian insists Chelsea have refused to give up hope that talisman Eden Hazard can stay at Stamford Bridge next season.
Hazard fired the winning spot-kick as Chelsea edged out Eintracht Frankfurt 4-3 on penalties to book an all-English Europa League final against Arsenal, in what could prove his last act at Stamford Bridge.
The Belgium forward is still expected to join Real Madrid in a big-money move this summer, but his Brazilian team-mate Willian continues to hope otherwise.
Luka Jovic cancelled out Ruben Loftus-Cheek's strike to take Thursday's semi-final second leg into extra time before penalties had to separate the sides with the aggregate score level at 2-2 and one away goal apiece.
Asked if Hazard's decisive penalty could prove his last kick at Stamford Bridge, Willian replied: "I don't know, I don't think so.
"For me I hope he stays, but in football you never know.
"I think his head is here, to play for Chelsea.
"Then after he's finished the season maybe he can talk about his situation.
"I don't know anything about him leaving so for me I hope he can stay.
"He's very important, a special player, he's very important for us, he helps us a lot.
"And he's one of the best players in the world."
Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta's missed penalty handed Eintracht the early advantage in the shoot-out, only for Kepa Arrizabalaga to pull off two fine saves.
And when Hazard buried his spot-kick, Chelsea had scraped their way into their first European final since the 2013 Europa League.
Hazard appears closer and closer to sealing his Madrid move, with his Chelsea contract expiring next summer and the Blues understood to be holding out for £100million to let him leave for Real.
The Belgium star told BT Sport "In my mind I don't know yet" when asked if he had already played his last game at Stamford Bridge.
🕰️ TIME RUNNING OUT FOR BRUNT'S PREMIER LEAGUE SWANSONG
West Brom captain Chris Brunt admits time is running out for a dream Premier League swansong.
The 34-year-old is chasing his third promotion with the Baggies, and fourth of his career, this month.
Albion head to local rivals Aston Villa for their Sky Bet Championship play-off semi-final first leg on Saturday after finishing fourth.
Brunt has been at the Hawthorns for 12 years and knows he will not get many more chances for glory.
"I'd say so unless somebody gives me a new set of legs," said the Northern Ireland international.
"I am not daft. I know time is running out for me in my career and if we could get promoted at West Brom, over my time here, it would be one of the things I'd look back on when I finish and be most proud of.
"Last season was a difficult season and his one was always going to be difficult given that in Portugal back in June we only had 10 or 12 first-team players.
"To get to this stage now and still have a chance of getting promoted, if we could do that it would be a fantastic achievement.
"There are ups and downs and let's hope this season ends on a massive high."
👋 FORMER PREMIER LEAGUE GOALKEEPER FRIEDEL SACKED
Former Blackburn and Aston Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel has been dismissed as manager of MLS side the New England Revolution.
Friedel, who made 290 appearances for Blackburn and won 82 caps for the United States, had been in charge of the club since 2017.
But the side have lost their last two games by five goals - going down 5-0 to the Chicago Fire on Wednesday after a 6-1 loss to the Philadelphia Union at the weekend.
The Revolution have won two of their 12 games so far this season and the side sit bottom of the Eastern Conference.
📰 FRIDAY'S PAPER TALK
Friday's Paper Talk rounds up the latest football rumours and transfer gossip, including:
- 🔲 Arsenal join race for Ayoze Perez
- 👍 Transfer boost for Man United
- 🔎 Atletico Madrid want Premier League defender
- 🔴 Southampton eye £30m move for Prem striker
