Premier League Daily Report - 2026-05-04

Manchester City were held to a dramatic 3-3 draw at Everton after Jérémy Doku struck a stoppage-time equaliser at Hill Dickinson Stadium, but the result still handed the title initiative to Arsenal. City had trailed 3-1 before Doku's late intervention, and the draw left Pep Guardiola's side five points behind the Gunners with Arsenal having three games left and City a game in hand.

The match hinged on a costly error from Marc Guéhi, whose back-pass helped Everton's comeback, while Thierno Barry also scored a bizarre offside goal for the Toffees before the hosts were denied a famous win. With Arsenal now five points clear and having played one fewer fixture, City must be perfect from here and hope for an Arsenal slip if they are to retain the Premier League crown.

Nottingham Forest beat Chelsea 3-1 at Stamford Bridge, with Taiwo Awoniyi scoring twice and Igor Jesus converting from the penalty spot as the second-string Reds strengthened their grip on Premier League survival. Chelsea's only reply came late from Joao Pedro, but the damage was done: Forest's win opened a six-point gap over 18th-placed West Ham and confirmed Chelsea cannot finish in the top five.

The result is a major blow to Chelsea's European hopes because their only remaining route into next season's Champions League now depends on a highly specific combination of results elsewhere. Forest, meanwhile, can now focus on their Europa League semi-final second leg against Aston Villa with their league position looking far safer after a statement away win.

Cesc Fabregas has made clear he wants to manage in the Premier League one day, but not at speed and not on Chelsea's terms. The Como head coach said he is in no rush to leave after taking full control of football decisions at the Italian club, even revealing, 'I take all the football decisions, I designed the gym.'

Fabregas has turned Como from Serie B into a side challenging for Champions League qualification in Serie A while also reaching the Coppa Italia semi-finals, which has drawn reported interest from Chelsea and Arsenal. For Chelsea, the timing matters because they are searching for a new manager, but Fabregas' insistence on control makes a comeback to Stamford Bridge look unlikely in the near term.

Manchester United beat Liverpool 3-2 in the weekend's headline Premier League clash, with Michael Carrick's side clinching Champions League qualification for next season. The victory was a major swing in the top-four race and left Arne Slot's Liverpool still waiting to secure their own European future.

The result was paired with Arsenal's strong win over Fulham, described as their best performance in months and boosted by Bukayo Saka's return after weeks of minor injuries. In the broader table picture, the weekend's results also showed Tottenham taking a significant step towards safety with a 2-1 win over Aston Villa.

Sunderland's return to the Premier League has been framed as a success story rather than a scramble for survival, with the club already guaranteeing another season in the top flight. The latest reflections on the campaign point to a side that has looked more secure and more established than the 2007-08 team that stayed up under Roy Keane and Niall Quinn.

The club's progress is also being felt off the pitch, where the fanbase has embraced the journey back to the Premier League and the squad now includes only a few remaining links to the League One years. That continuity matters because it shows Sunderland are not just back, but building something with staying power.

John Stones has announced he will leave Manchester City, ending the last direct link to Pep Guardiola's first 2016-17 squad. Stones spent almost a decade at the club and won six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, three EFL Cups, a Champions League and a Club World Cup, making him one of the defining players of the Guardiola era.

The departure is symbolically significant because it marks the end of a team-build that began when Guardiola arrived and reshaped City for sustained dominance. With City still fighting Arsenal for the title, Stones' exit underlines that the club is already moving into a new phase even before this season is settled.