Man City in make or break tie against high-flying Bournemouth
Today, May 19, 2026 could be the night that Manchester City officially lose the Premier League title, as the Citizens tackle Champions League outsiders Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.
Should leaders Arsenal get the job done against Burnley on Monday as expected, Pep Guardiola‘s men must prevail on the South Coast to take the race for first place down to the final day.
Man City have already won two more trophies than Arsenal this season, and a terrific domestic treble is still a possibility for the EFL Cup and FA Cup holders, but there was not pandemonium when the Sky Blues clinched the latter honour on Saturday.
Antoine Semenyo’s solitary strike against Chelsea proved decisive in the 2025-26 FA Cup final, handing Guardiola his 20th major trophy as Man City boss.
Guardiola’s men would be consigned to a second-placed finish with a draw or defeat against Bournemouth, but a 10-game unbeaten run across all tournaments – including nine victories – at least stands the visitors in good stead.
City have also avoided defeat in each of their last 10 domestic matches away from the Etihad Stadium – keeping four clean sheets in their last five – although none of their last four Premier League trips to South Coast teams has ended in victory.
Not only are the coastal omens against Man City this week, but the runners-up are battling a Bournemouth crop boasting the longest Premier League unbeaten run of any team this season – a sensational 16 games.
Too many draws and not enough victories in that sequence have thus far prevented Andoni Iraola‘s men from breaking into the top five, but the Cherries are finally turning stalemates into successes.
Also spurred on to give their departing manager the Vitality Stadium farewell he deserves, we have confidence in Bournemouth to extend their spectacular unbeaten streak and potentially trigger title parties in North London.
Only Rodri was doubtful for Man City prior to the FA Cup final, but the Spaniard started and completed 65 minutes of the Wembley showdown, so Guardiola boasts a fully-fit squad for the trip to the Vitality.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Relegation threatened Tottenham travel away to face Chelsea
As Xabi Alonso scrutinises from afar, Chelsea play their final Premier League home game of the season on Tuesday night, when London rivals Tottenham Hotspur visit Stamford Bridge.
The Blues are at an increasing risk of missing out on European football altogether in 2026-27, whereas the Lilywhites have the chance to secure survival in the capital derby.
An appropriate response to losing a fourth consecutive FA Cup final, Chelsea confirmed the appointment of Bundesliga Invincible Alonso on a four-year contract fewer than 24 hours after a 1-0 defeat to Manchester City under the Wembley arch.
Chelsea’s Champions League hopes are not dead and buried just yet, as they are six points adrift of Bournemouth in sixth spot, which will present a pathway to the top tier of European competition if Aston Villa finish fifth and win the Europa League.
Chelsea are still on the verge of making unwanted history; defeat on Tuesday would see the hosts lose five straight league home matches for the first time ever.
However, Roberto De Zerbi‘s Tottenham come into Tuesday’s crunch clash as the form team, having equalled their longest unbeaten run of the Premier League season by winning two and drawing two of their last four matches.
Tottenham should not come under siege from their hosts, but a low-scoring draw still feels the most likely outcome as Spurs’ fight for survival goes down to the final day.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
West Ham relegation may cost London taxpayers £2.5m
London taxpayers may have to pay an extra £2.5m if West Ham are relegated from the Premier League this season, because of the club’s lease agreement for London Stadium.
The Hammers are 18th in the table with one match remaining, and will be as good as relegated to the Championship if Tottenham – two points above them with a game in hand and a much better goal difference – draw with Chelsea on Tuesday.
Under the 99-year lease agreement, West Ham would pay the Greater London Authority about half their current annual rent of £4.4m if they are relegated.
London taxpayers, who currently contribute to stadium operating costs such as stewarding, will have to make up the funding gap.
“If West Ham are relegated, we, the taxpayers, we City Hall, could lose up to £2.5m a year,” said Mayor of London Sadiq Khan.
“So what I say to Londoners who don’t support Spurs is you should probably be cheering on West Ham, because the taxpayer will lose out if West Ham go down.”
Khan blamed predecessor Boris Johnson for agreeing “the worst deal imaginable” in 2012.
Commercial revenues from London Stadium are expected to fall if West Ham play in the Championship, while stewarding costs over 23 home games would be greater than 19 Premier League home matches.
Credit: bbc.com
Man United‘s 2nd goal over Nottingham Forest should have been disallowed -PGMO
Manchester United‘s second goal in Sunday’s Premier League win over Nottingham Forest should have been disallowed for handball, Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO) has admitted.
The referees’ body contacted Forest on Monday to confirm there had been a misjudgement by referee Michael Salisbury, who rejected a video assistant referee (VAR) review to rule out the goal.
The ball came off the arm of United forward Bryan Mbeumo before the Cameroon international saw a shot blocked by a defender.
Team-mate Matheus Cunha moved on to the loose ball and fired a shot past Forest keeper Matz Sels to score.
Salisbury was sent to the pitchside monitor by the VAR, Matt Donohue, to disallow the goal.
But Salisbury decided the handball was accidental and stuck by his on-field decision of goal.
It put United 2-0 up in a game they went on to win 3-2.
“From the angle I was standing at, it looked like he caught the ball,” Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White said after the game.
“Whether he scores or not, for me it was still a handball.”
Referees’ boss Howard Webb spoke to Forest to explain that while there could be justifiable reasons to judge this was not handball, a better decision, and one that would be expected, is for it to be disallowed.
The Premier League has a more lenient approach to handball, understanding the natural movements of players, but the VAR review should have been accepted.
Credit: bbc.com
