Premier League Sunday preview: West Ham look to keep pressure on Chelsea

Matters at both ends of the Premier League table could potentially be decided on Sunday.

Manchester United can cement their spot in the top four with a win over Aston Villa, Brighton have a chance to preserve their top-flight status and West Brom's inevitable relegation may be rubber-stamped.

Wolves vs Brighton (Midday, BBC One)

Brighton can ensure they are in the Premier League next season with a victory over Wolves.

The Seagulls have never lost a top-flight game against the hosts and last tasted defeat at Molineux 15 years ago — they have not even conceded a goal in their past four trips.

Last Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Leeds opened up a 10-point gap to Fulham in 18th and was the sixth win of 2021 for Graham Potter's side, which is one more than they managed throughout the whole of last year. 

For Wolves, three home defeats in their past four have compounded a difficult season for Nuno Espirito Santo’s men, who will finish in the bottom half for the first time since returning to the top flight.

Joao Moutinho (ankle) and Rayan Ait Nouri (unknown) may return for Wolves, while Adam Lallana (calf) is touch and go for the visitors.

Aston Villa vs Manchester United (2.05pm, Sky Sports)

Manchester United will look to continue their remarkable 24-game unbeaten run away from home when they visit Aston Villa.

United are just three games short of Arsenal’s Premier League record. 

And with only one defeat in their past 44 games against Villa, they will will be confident of picking up another three points.

The Villans did win 2-1 at Everton last weekend but with United conceding a mere three goals in their past 10 away trips, Dean Smith’s side will face a tough task breaking down their backline.

In Bruno Fernandes, Villa also have to keep quiet a midfielder who has netted the winning goal in both of his appearances against them — though those strikes did come from the penalty spot.

Jack Grealish (calf) remains a doubt for the hosts, while Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has the same squad to pick from with Anthony Martial (knee), Dan James (unknown) and Phil Jones (knee) all out.

West Ham vs Everton (4.30pm, Sky Sports)

David Moyes faces old side Everton knowing West Ham must win to keep the pressure on Chelsea and Leicester ahead of them.

The Hammers bounced back from two successive defeats with victory at Burnley last weekend, meaning they are three points behind the fourth-placed Blues with four games remaining.

But Chelsea's clash with champions-elect Manchester City offers them a realistic chance of closing the gap and continuing their remarkable push for a Champions League spot.

For Everton, inconsistencies mean their dreams of a similar finish have disappeared, although they could still finish above neighbours Liverpool with a strong end to the campaign.

Declan Rice (knee) is not yet ready to play and Hammers skipper Mark Noble (calf) is battling to be fit. James Rodriguez (calf) could feature for the Toffees but influential midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure (ankle) is still a week away.

Arsenal vs West Brom (7pm, BT Sport)

After a tepid Europa League semi-final exit at the hands of Villarreal, Mikel Arteta finds himself under real pressure as Arsenal take on West Brom.

Starting the weekend in ninth, the Gunners are set for their worst league finish since the early 90s and will likely fail to qualify for European football for the first time in 25 years.

It is a sorry state of affairs at the end of Arteta’s first full season in charge and victory over the Baggies, who would be relegated by a defeat, will not silence too many doubters.

West Brom's impending relegation looks set to be the first of Sam Allardyce’s managerial career, but it would mark the fifth time West Brom have been dumped out of the Premier League — a joint record alongside Norwich.

David Luiz (thigh) and Granit Xhaka (unknown) are both doubts for the Gunners, while the Baggies travel without Ainsley Maitland-Niles (ineligible) and Robert Snodgrass (unknown).