West Ham on brink of Premier League relegation, Man Utd seal third

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West Ham United’s English striker #20 Jarrod Bowen (L) vies with Newcastle United’s Italian midfielder #08 Sandro Tonali (C) during the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and West Ham United at St James’ Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on May 17, 2026. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP)

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West Ham’s 3-1 defeat at Newcastle left Tottenham realistically only needing one more point to win the battle for Premier League survival, while Bruno Fernandes made history in Manchester United’s 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

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Spurs can avoid dropping out of the English top flight for the first time in nearly 50 years with victory at Chelsea on Tuesday, but a draw would also likely suffice thanks to their much superior goal difference over West Ham.

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A third consecutive defeat left the Hammers needing favours and they were well beaten at St. James’ Park against a Newcastle side who had little to play for.

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Nick Woltemade turned in Harvey Barnes’ cross for his first league goal since December.

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William Osula then finished off a flowing Newcastle move to double the lead inside 20 minutes.

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Osula struck again with his fifth goal in six games and even a stunning strike from Taty Castellanos was little consolation for the visitors.

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West Ham’s only hope of survival is if they beat Leeds on the final day and Tottenham lose to both Chelsea and Everton.

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– Assist king –

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Fernandes equalled the Premier League record of 20 assists in a season as United secured third place at Old Trafford.

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The Portuguese international moved alongside Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne in the single-season assist list when his cross was turned in by Bryan Mbeumo for United’s third goal at Old Trafford.

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Luke Shaw volleyed United in front after just five minutes, but Forest levelled a wide open encounter early in the second half when Elliot Anderson’s cross was headed in by Morato.

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United raced down the other end and Matheus Cunha’s goal was allowed to stand despite a VAR check for handball by Mbeumo in the build-up.

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Fernandes’ record-equalling moment arrived 14 minutes from full-time when Mbeumo prodded in his drilled cross for his first goal since February.

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Morgan Gibbs-White reduced the deficit in the 78th minute.

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But United held on to add another victory to their impressive run since interim boss Michael Carrick arrived in January.

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Carrick is expected to sign a two-year contract to remain in charge on a permanent basis.

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“Over the coming days there’ll be clarity in the situation,” the former United midfielder said of his future.

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– European dreams –

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Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored the only goal in stoppage-time at Elland Road as Leeds beat Brighton 1-0 to damage the Seagulls’ hopes of European qualification.

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Brentford, in eighth place, also suffered a blow to their European ambitions in a 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace.

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Ismaila Sarr’s sixth-minute penalty put Palace ahead before Dango Ouattara hauled Brentford level in the 40th minute.

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Adam Wharton restored Palace’s advantage with his first goal for the club in the 52nd minute, but Ouattara struck again in the 88th minute.

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Sunderland are also in contention for European qualification after a 3-1 win at Everton lifted the Black Cats up to ninth.

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Fulham slipped to 13th after a 1-1 draw at relegated Wolves hampered their chances of Europe next season.

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Earlier, troubled Chelsea hired Xabi Alonso as their new manager, less than 24 hours after losing 1-0 against Manchester City in the FA Cup final.

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Alonso, who agreed a four-year contract with 10th-placed Chelsea, led Bayer Leverkusen to the Bundesliga title in 2024 but was sacked by Real Madrid in January after just seven months in charge.

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