Ruben Amorim’s gamble on youth backfires as Manchester United taught a lesson by Brentford

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Manchester United defender Luke Shaw (centre) looks deflated after scoring an own goal - AFP/Justin Tallis

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There is a real possibility that Manchester United will finish the season in 17th after another defeat in the Premier League. Brentford inflicted their 16th loss of the season in a more comfortable manner than the one-goal margin suggested. Of course Ruben Amorim is focussed on securing the Europa League queue-jump route into the Champions League, but he gambled on an inexperienced team here which was frequently shown up.

Sunday was a day of rest for the heroes of Bilbao with Bruno Fernandes, Harry Maguire and Casemiro all dropping to the bench. Chido Obi became the club’s youngest Premier League starter at 17 years and 156 days, Altay Bayindir was in goal and Tyler Fredricson took a place in the back three. It was the club’s youngest starting XI overall in the Premier League era.

Brentford, unchanged, were taking things more seriously, throwing in clever crosses from all angles from the start which almost led to an own goal as Luke Shaw nodded back to AWOL Bayindir. But the visitors took the lead with Alejandro Garnacho earning a reward for his bright and busy start, being put through on the left flank by a deft Kobbie Mainoo pass, delivering accurately then finding Mason Mount who was on hand to finish.

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Man Utd celebrate Mason Mount’s opening goal - Getty Images/Ash Donelon

It was a lovely goal and United seemed in control until Harry Amass was beaten in the air too easily in the aftermath of a long throw after 27 minutes. Mikkel Damsgaard finished with opportunistic elan, Shaw’s touch steered it past the unfortunate Bayindir.

Two and too easy again for Brentford, with Kevin Schade beating Fredricson for a header. The defender looked surprised that anyone might fancy attacking Christian Norgaard’s cross. United wanted a foul for a tussle between Matthijs De Ligt and Yoane Wissa but it would have been as soft as their defensive approach.

A reconfiguration at half-time made United steadier, with Shaw removed for Lenny Yoro. They banged away bluntly in an attempt to get back into the game but Brentford weathered the mild storm. More carelessness from Amass to give the ball away led to the third goal, Mbeumo crossing for the excellent Schade, who was given plenty of space by Harry Maguire.

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Kevin Schade scores for Brentford - Getty Images/Charlotte Wilson

Yoane Wissa had soon made it 4-1 before Garnacho added some respectability with a long-range shot so good that Flekken did not bother to dive and so meaningless that Garnacho did not celebrate. Amad Diallo shot through Flekken’s legs to reduce the deficit further but with three minutes of injury time still to play there appeared no great hunger to find an improbable equaliser.

The excellent travelling fans were unbothered by all of it, singing incessantly about going to Bilbao, venue of the Europa League final. That certainly seems likely with a 3-0 lead against the team from that city going into Thursday’s second leg at home. But this latest defeat, one that would have been unthinkable not too long ago, showed that their innate fragility is never far away. Best not to book those flights quite yet.

More to follow...

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04:20 PM BST​

Thanks and goodbye​

That’s all for today’s Clockwatch, but do join Daniel Zeqiri for live coverage of Chelsea v Liverpool at Stamford Bridge. Bye.

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04:18 PM BST​

Match report: West Ham 1 Tottenham 1​

Mike McGrath was at the London Stadium for us today. Here’s his report.

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04:13 PM BST​

One to watch​

The 20-year-old right-back Michael Kayode, on loan from Fiorentina with an option to buy, had a fine game for Brentford.

Michael Kayode for Brentford vs. Man Utd:

◉ Most touches (70)
◉ Most duels won (10)
◉ Most possessions won (7)
◉ Most successful take-ons (5)
◉= Most interceptions (2)
◉= Most chances created (2)

He only misplaced one of his 31 passes and provided an assist. pic.twitter.com/uJeFJhJxYF

— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) May 4, 2025

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04:00 PM BST​

FT: Brighton 1 Newcastle 1​

Newcastle have drawn a Premier League game for the first time in five months. Brighton were minutes away from a precious victory after Yankuba Minteh’s solo goal against his old club, but Alexander Isak equalised from the penalty spot after a weird handball from his countryman Yasin Ayari. That was the third time Newcastle were awarded a penalty in the game; the first two were overturned on advice from VAR.

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Jacob Murphy and Dan Burn react after Newcastle’s draw at Brighton. - Andrew Couldridge/Action Images via Reuters

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03:56 PM BST​

FT: Brentford 4 Man Utd 3​

Brentford’s European hopes are alive and kicking after a madcap victory over Manchester United. They were 1-0 down, 4-1 up and eventually held on to win 4-3.

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Yoane Wissa applauds the Brentford fans after their win over Manchester United. - JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP

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03:55 PM BST​

FT: West Ham 1 Tottenham 1​

A forgettable game at the London Stadium between the worst of the rest.

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03:54 PM BST​

90+4 min: Brighton 1 Newcastle 1​

The substitute Diego Gomez has missed a really good chance to win it for Brighton, heading Brajan Gruda’s free-kick wide from about eight yards.

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03:54 PM BST​

Goal! Brentford 4 Man Utd 3 (Amad)​

90+5 min The substitute Amad has given Manchester United a sniff at the Gtech Stadium; there are still three minutes of added time remaining. If Harry Maguire isn’t playing centre-forward, he really should be.

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03:50 PM BST​

90+1 min: Brighton 1 Newcastle 1​

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And it’s another Newcastle penalty, and this time it is confirmed by VAR as substitute Yasin Ayari clearly blocks Fabian Schar’s free kick with his arm. Alexander Isak, who has barely featured in the game, converts from the spot.

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03:50 PM BST​

90 min: Brighton 1 Newcastle 1​

Nine minutes of added time at the Amex, where Newcastle are pushing for a winner.

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03:48 PM BST​

Goal! Brighton 1 Newcastle 1 (Isak pen)​

89 min Alexander Isak scores from the spot to bring Newcastle level! That’s a significant goal for Newcastle - and Brighton, Bournemouth and a few other sides hunting a European place.

Newcastle get their penalty!

Alexander Isak slots the ball home! pic.twitter.com/iwgOiX3Qje

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 4, 2025

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03:45 PM BST​

Penalty to Newcastle (again)​

86 min: Brighton 1 Newcastle 0 This one will surely count. Schar’s free-kick is handled inexplicably by Ayari on the edge of the wall, a quite bizarre piece of defending.

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03:41 PM BST​

Goal! Brentford 4 Man Utd 2 (Garnacho)​

82 min A consolation for United from Alejandro Garnacho, who played a nice one-two with Christian Eriksen and spanked a swirling shot past Mark Flekken.

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03:37 PM BST​

76 min: Brentford 4 Man Utd 1​

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Afraid that’s very poor again from Amass in the lead up to the third goal, giving the ball away to Damsgaard who fed Mbeumo on the right; his cross was steered in by the excellent Schade. Maguire perhaps guilty of giving him too much space. Wissa makes it four shortly afterwards. However much you play the “concentrating on the [Europa] League”, this is humiliating for United.

They had looked less vulnerable since the double sub at half time which reconfigured their left-hand side, but were still bumbling around bluntly up top. Garnacho oscillating between frustrated with what he perceives to be poor passing from his team and frustrating with his own fruitless shots. The latest, with plenty of time, was charged down well by Ven Den Berg.

Brentford, despite tiring, weathered that mild storm and now look good for as many as they fancy.

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Brentford’s Kevin Schade scores his second goal. - Jaimi Joy/Reuters

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03:33 PM BST​

75 min: West Ham 1 Tottenham 1​

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This has been a tough watch, with neither team playing with any fluency. Spurs’ second-string have been driven forward by Dejan Kulusevski and the running of Djed Spence from right-back - but chances have not been easy to find. It is very flat here.

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03:33 PM BST​

Goal! Brentford 4 Man Utd 1 (Wissa)​

74 min It’s a rout at the Gtech Stadium. Yoane Wissa has muscled his way onto the scoresheet, as he often does, to make it 4-1 to Brentford. All four goals have come down the Brentford right.

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Yoane Wissa celebrates. - John Walton/PA

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03:31 PM BST​

Another Newcastle penalty overturned!​

72 min: Brighton 1 Newcastle 0 Craig Pawson is sent to the monitor and decides that Joe Willock has dived. No penalty to the Newcastle and Willock is booked.

Newcastle have another penalty overturned after a VAR review pic.twitter.com/ICb5gXcTYW

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 4, 2025

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03:30 PM BST​

Goal! Brentford 3 Man Utd 1 (Schade)​

70 min Kevin Schade gets his second, heading into the net from Mbeumo’s cross.

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03:29 PM BST​

Penalty to Newcastle!​

71 min: Brighton 1 Newcastle 0 Joe Willock goes down under a challenge from Van Hecke and Craig Pawson points to the spot again. Will this one stand?

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03:26 PM BST​

68 min: Brentford 0 Man Utd 1​

Still no second half goals in any of our Premier League games. As things stand Brentford are only two points behind Brighton in eighth; they have a real chance of qualifying for European football for the first time in the club’s history.

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03:23 PM BST​

Chelsea v Liverpool team news​

The champions are in action at Stamford Bridge later today. Daniel Zeqiri has the team news from west London.

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03:19 PM BST​

60 min: Brighton 1 Newcastle 0​

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Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler has sent on Tariq Lamptey at right back to replace Mats Wieffer, who was very obviously a midfielder playing out of position. Newcastle bring on Anthony Gordon and immediately Lamptey brings down Gordon on the edge of the penalty area. Referee Craig Pawson points to the spot but VAR rules that the challenge was outside the box.

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03:18 PM BST​

59 min: Brighton 1 Newcastle 0​

No penalty! Instead Newcastle have a free-kick right on the edge of the area. Tonali hits it into the wall.

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03:17 PM BST​

57 min: Brighton 1 Newcastle 0​

PENALTY TO NEWCASTLE? Anthony Gordon has an immediate impact - he’s fouled by Tariq Lamptey and Craig Pawson points to the spot. But the contact was outside the area so this should be overturned.

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03:15 PM BST​

56 min: Brighton 1 Newcastle 0​

Anthony Gordon, who has struggled to regain his place since being sent off against Brighton in the FA Cup, has come on to replace Jacob Murphy.

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03:14 PM BST​

55 min: Brighton 1 Newcastle 0​

Newcastle are starting to put Brighton under more pressure. They can’t really afford a defeat today - the race for Champions League places is Spandex-tight and Newcastle have some tough games to come, including Chelsea at home and Arsenal away.

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Carlos Baleba challenges Sandro Tonali. - Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

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03:11 PM BST​

52 min: Brentford 2 Man Utd 1​

Manchester United, who had to replace Matthijs de Ligt in the first half, made a double change at half time: Amad Diallo and Leny Yoro are on for Luke Shaw and Patrick Dorgu.

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Leny Yoro in action at the Gtech Stadium. - Andrew Kearns /CameraSport

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03:04 PM BST​

Kick off​

The second halves are underway in the Premier League.

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02:49 PM BST​

HT: Brentford 2 Man Utd 1​

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Nearly three just before half time, Norgaard heading a Damsgaard free kick into Bayindir’s midriff. Not sure the goalkeeper knew much about it but has to go down as a good save all the same. Well, there’s no law saying it has to, but fine to bring a sprinkle of generosity to a late season game.

Brentford have been playing with a pace United cannot match since the second goal, it was only in stoppage time that the visitors managed any semblance of control. It was a game they were in command of until the equaliser but they have wilted since, with Fredricson having a particularly tough half. Little impact from Obi up front either, but the afternoon is young.

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Chido Obi in action at the Gtech Stadium. - Andrew Kearns /CameraSport

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02:49 PM BST​

HT: West Ham 1 Tottenham 1​

All square at the London Stadium. Wilson Odobert puts Spurs in front after an error from Max Kilman; Jarrod Bowen finished with his usual aplomb to bring West Ham level.

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Jarrod Bowen equalised for West Ham. - Rob Newell /CameraSport

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02:48 PM BST​

HT: Brighton 1 Newcastle 0​

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Newcastle must be wondering how they are a goal behind at half time here. They have had the majority of possession and shots, but Brighton were more clinical when a half-chance came their way. Just before Yankuba Minteh’s goal, Joe Willock marauded unchallenged down the Newcastle left but came up with something that was neither a cross nor a shot.

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Yankuba Minteh celebrates with Danny Welbeck. - Gareth Fuller/PA

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02:47 PM BST​

45 min: Brentford 2 Man Utd 1​

A reminder that the brilliant Bryan Mbeumo is a target for Manchester United this summer. He’s still only 25, and if he does leave Brentford, they will make an almighty profit of the £5.8m they paid for him in 2019.

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02:44 PM BST​

43 min: Brighton 1 Newcastle 0​

As things stand Brighton are eighth in the table, which will be good enough for a Conference League place if Manchester City beat Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final. Not that Brighton need a reason to support the team playing against Palace.

Yankuba Minteh is the only player currently aged 21 or under to be directly involved in 10+ goals in the Premier League this season.

◉ 6 goals
◉ 4 assists

Reaching double figures with a goal against his former side. pic.twitter.com/1cqKWoOr4D

— Squawka (@Squawka) May 4, 2025

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02:40 PM BST​

40 min: Brentford 2 Man Utd 1​

Matthijs de Ligt was injured in the build-up to Brentford’s second goal and has been replaced by Harry Maguire.

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02:39 PM BST​

39 min: Brentford 2 Man Utd 1​

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United don’t have much in opposition to Mbeumo, with Amass and Shaw giving him plenty of opportunities. Both Brentford goals have came down that side, the first in the aftermath of a long throw with Amass beaten too easily in the air before Damsgaard’s finish.

For the second Norgaard had an age to cross and Fredricson looked surprised that anyone might consider attacking it, or jumping over him to do so. United wanted a free kick for Wissa’s tangle with De Ligt which has ended the Dutchman’s game, but it would have been extremely soft.

“Stayed at a big club / you should have stayed at a big club,” sing Brentford’s fans at a warming up Christian Eriksen.

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02:36 PM BST​

35 min: Brighton 1 Newcastle 0​

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Brighton are ahead against the run of play and it was Yankuba Minteh, the former Newcastle winger, who twisted past Tino Livramento and Sandro Tonali before shooting left-footed past Nick Pope.

He then taunted the visiting fans behind the goal, pointing at the Amex turf and attempting to kiss the Seagulls badge on his shirt before Jan Paul van Hecke ushered him away.

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Yankuba Minteh shows the badge. - Andrew Couldridge/Action Images via Reuters

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02:34 PM BST​

Goal! Brentford 2 Man Utd 1 (Schade)​

33 min Kevin Schade has put Bournemouth in front. Man Utd aren’t happy, because Matthijs de Ligt was down, but play continued and Schade headed in at the far post.

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02:29 PM BST​

Goal! West Ham 1 Tottenham 1 (Bowen)​

29 min West Ham’s talisman Jarrod Bowen has equalised at the London Stadium. It was a typically accomplished finish, deliberately passed through the legs og Guglielmo Vicario from a tight angle.

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Jarrod Bowen celebrates his goal. - Bradley Collyer/PA

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02:29 PM BST​

Goal! Brighton 1 Newcastle 0 (Minteh)​

28 min Yankuba Minteh scores against his old club! He found space in a phonebox and lifted a shot that took a slight deflection off Dan Burn and flew into the net. I don’t think Nick Pope would have saved it anyway.

Yankuba Minteh opens the scoring for Brighton! pic.twitter.com/WuLoX8eACP

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 4, 2025

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02:28 PM BST​

Goal! Brentford 1 Man Utd 1 (Shaw og)​

27 min All square at the Gtech. Mikkel Damsgaard has equalised with a volley that deflected off Luke Shaw and into the net.

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02:25 PM BST​

25 min: Brentford 0 Man Utd 1​

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The goalscorer Mason Mount battles for possession with Kevin Schade. - Nick Potts/PA

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02:20 PM BST​

19 min: Brighton 0 Newcastle 0​

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Newcastle’s high press is causing Brighton all sorts of problems. Their defenders are not fast enough to avoid the challenges, so they play risky passes instead, possession is given up and the visiting forwards swarm around the home penalty area at times.

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02:19 PM BST​

18 min: Brentford 0 Man Utd 1​

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Lovely goal for United, with Garnacho rewarded for his bright and busy start to the game. He has been cropping up across the front line but was not set free down the left until Mainoo played a deft pass over the Brentford full-back. Garnacho had won the ball initially, then steered it across the box with perfect judgement of timing and territory, Mount finishing it calmly.

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02:16 PM BST​

Goal! West Ham 0 Tottenham 1 (Odobert 15)​

There’s been a goal at the London Stadium as well. Wilson Odobert has scored after Max Kilman was caught in possession by Mathys Tel; that’s his first Premier League goal for Spurs, and he took it very calmly.

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Wilson Odobert puts West Ham in front. - Ryan Pierse/Getty Images Europe

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02:14 PM BST​

Goal! Brentford 0 Man Utd 1 (Mount)​

14 min For the second season in a row, Mason Mount scores at the Gtech Stadium! Those are the only two goals of his injury-hit spell at Man Utd.

Kobbie Mainoo chipped a nice ball down the left to Alejandro Garnacho, whose brilliant low cross was finished deftly by Mount. Nice goal.

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Mason Mount puts Man Utd in front. - Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

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02:09 PM BST​

9 min: Brentford 0 Man Utd 0​

Brentford are on top at the Gtech, where Kevin Schade has missed a presentable chance and Luke Shaw has headed just wide of his own goal.

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Luke Shaw is challenged by Kevin Schade. - Peter Cziborra/Action Images

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02:05 PM BST​

4 min: Brighton 0 Newcastle 0​

The Amex Stadium has been their bogey ground in recent years: seven Premier League visits, no wins.

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Kieran Trippier challenges Simon Adingra. - Andrew Couldridge/Action Images via Reuters

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02:01 PM BST​

Kick off​

We’re under way at the Gtech, the Amex and the London Stadium.

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01:54 PM BST​

Brentford favourites against Man Utd’s B/C team​

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Several visits now to Nu Brentford and not sure I will ever quite get my head around how they’ve fit a full-sized football pitch onto the site. So tightly packed on every side and possible to miss it entirely if you’re driving past.

Could still be hosting European football next season if several possibilities fall into place and Brentford can clinch eighth. That race for the Conference League may be the most compelling final day narrative. What a season!

Brentford surely favourites, as they are unchanged following their win against Forest on Thursday. United down to the B/C team, with all eyes on the Europa League, but should be diverting to see Chido Obi’s first start up front.

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Altay Bayindir starts in goal for Man Utd. - JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP

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01:47 PM BST​

All hail Ruben’s Rosebuds​

22 - With an average age of 22 years & 270 days, Manchester United's starting XI vs. Brentford is the third-youngest any side has ever named for a Premier League match, behind Middlesbrough v Fulham in May 2006 (20y 181d) & Arsenal v Portsmouth in May 2009 (22y 237d). Fledgling. pic.twitter.com/Q6IsEQ1i3e

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 4, 2025

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01:44 PM BST​

Why Chido Obi left Arsenal for Man Utd​

With Chido Obi, 17, making his first Premier League start today, it’s worth revisiting this piece from Sam Dean on why Obi left Arsenal to join Manchester United in January.

Why did Obi choose to swap Arsenal for United at this crucial stage of his development? One reason, it is understood, is that he and his advisers had concerns over his pathway to first-team action at the Emirates. Another potentially relevant factor is that United were willing to go significantly further with their financial offering than Arsenal.

Arsenal are believed to have presented a plan to Obi that had him transitioning from the under-18 team to the under-21s during this campaign, with opportunities to join first-team training. The player wanted to progress faster, having already demonstrated his ability at under-18 level. Last season, after all, he scored a remarkable 32 goals in just 18 under-18 games.

Read more...

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Chido Obi warms up at the Gtech Stadium. - Alex Pantling/Getty Images

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01:41 PM BST​

Isak likely to stay at St James’​

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Alexander Isak is expected to stay at Newcastle this summer with a Champions League return - and land a major triumph in the Premier League battle for strikers.

Isak, 25, has emerged as one of the most in-demand forwards across Europe during his third season in English football but there is increasing confidence he will remain at St James’ Park particularly with a top-five finish.

Eddie Howe’s team were fourth heading into the weekend ahead of their clash at Brighton following their recent form which also saw them win the Carabao Cup, with Isak scoring the decisive goal.

Newcastle’s route back to the European elite is in their own hands and would see them fend off intense interest in their 25-goal striker, who was signed for £63million from Real Sociedad and seen his market value soar.

Arsenal and Liverpool are among the clubs who have been linked with the striker, while Paris Saint-Germain have also watched him with interest.

Newcastle themselves have looked into a deal for Ipswich’s Liam Delap - as revealed by the Daily Telegraph - but this is by no means seen as a replacement for Isak. Delap is set to have a list of clubs to choose from running into double-figures when the transfer window opens this summer.

While Isak is now of huge value in the transfer market, Newcastle have taken a hard stance on him during this season as interest has intensified. When there was previous interest in Isak, it was made clear the asking price would be in excess of £150million.

Newcastle are also open to Isak signing a new contract, extending his current agreement which has three seasons left to run. Earlier in the season, club chief executive Darren Eales suggested talk of Newcastle’s best players leaving was disrespectful.

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01:28 PM BST​

Fullkrug back after infamous rant​

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Graham Potter has brought back Niclas Fullkrug for a first start since his foul-mouthed assessment of West Ham’s draw against Southampton. “We were s***,” was his verdict. He is drafted in for James Ward-Prowse in one of two changes from the team defeated by Brighton. Aaron Cresswell also comes in for Konstantinos Mavropanos as West Ham look to end a run of seven matches without a win.

Ange Postecoglou clearly has Thursday’s Europa League semi-final in mind with his team selection. Only Yves Bissouma and Richarlison remain from the outfield players that defeated Bodo/Glimt in the first leg on Thursday. It is only four days until Spurs play in the Arctic Circle for the return leg.

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01:20 PM BST​

Eddie Howe talks to Sky Sports​

[On his health] Day by day I’m getting better. Last week I was subdued, just really pleased to get through the game. Hopefully today I’ll be closer to 100 per cent.

[On the Champions League race] It’s really tight and we’re not taking anything for granted. Today’s game is pivotal for us. Brighton are a very good team. We’re not thinking too far ahead – we’re thinking of this match and this match alone.

We’ll need to have good energy to start with. Brighton play with good composure at the back, they use their goalkeeper a lot, so we’ll have to get our press right. And we’ll have to defend well.

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Eddie Howe arrives at the Amex Stadium - PA

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01:10 PM BST​

Man Utd’s history maker​

17 - Aged 17 years 156 days, Chido Obi is the youngest player ever to start a Premier League match for Manchester United. Padawan. pic.twitter.com/KmHGgv86gw

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 4, 2025

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12:56 PM BST​

Inside West Ham’s season of recrimination and regret​

By Jason Burt

West Ham accept that they overspent last summer and also spent badly and are paying the price for assembling a squad which includes signings wanted by new head coach Julen Lopetegui and others driven by technical director Tim Steidten.

Both have left the club during a dismal campaign which is set to be the worst since the hapless Avram Grant was the manager and West Ham were relegated in 2010-11.

Senior West Ham sources argue the shocking decline can be traced to the second half of last season when performances and results tailed off under David Moyes, who had initially been expected to stay but then left when his contract ran out after not agreeing a new deal.

Read more...

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12:52 PM BST​

West Ham v Spurs team news​

The team to take on Tottenham pic.twitter.com/l5b1e4s2N6

— West Ham United (@WestHam) May 4, 2025

Your Spurs to take on the Hammers

@krakenfxpic.twitter.com/mKipeA6eA6

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) May 4, 2025

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12:50 PM BST​

Brighton v Newcastle team news​

TEAM NEWS! Here's our starting XI to face Newcastle this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/bVmlcXS7Ky

— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) May 4, 2025

An unchanged starting XI pic.twitter.com/GYqlvL11s0

— Newcastle United (@NUFC) May 4, 2025

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12:50 PM BST​

Brentford v Man Utd team news​

Your Bees to take on Manchester United pic.twitter.com/xeQNYRbtyu

— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) May 4, 2025

Ruben rings the changes #MUFC || #BREMUN

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 4, 2025

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12:26 PM BST​

Good afternoon​

Hello and welcome to Telegraph Sport’s Premier League Clockwatch. There are three games kicking off at 2pm, with Chelsea v Liverpool to follow at 4.30pm. The most important is probably at the Amex Stadium, where Brighton host Newcastle. Both teams are still fighting for a place in Europe next season, Brighton in the Europa Conference, Newcastle in the Champions League.

Brentford, who meet Manchester United at the Gtech Stadium, are also in the fight for a Conference League place. Man Utd can’t quality for Europe through the Premier League but have one foot in the Europa League final after their stirring 3-0 win in Bilbao on Thursday.

Even with such a comfortable lead, Ruben Amorim – who has made no attempt to hide the fact the Europa League is his priority – is likely to make a number of changes today.

“We know that we have always a responsibility but in this moment we have to take a risk [with team selection]. There are some positions that we don’t have more players. For example, Nous Mazraoui cannot play. He is at the limit to get an injury.

“We have always a responsibility to perform. We have always a responsibility of the result. But in this moment we have to be clear: our focus is more on saving players and trying to be competitive. It’s not a good thing to say but we need to understand the context.”

There is every chance of an all-English final after Spurs’ 3-1 win over Bodo/Glimt in the other Europa League semi-final. Ange Postecoglou’s side are at West Ham today; they will drop to 17th in the table if they lose.

All three matches kick off at 2pm. We’ll have the team news shortly.

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