Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White holds up a tribute to teammate Taiwo Awoniyi. PA
Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White holds up a tribute to teammate Taiwo Awoniyi. PA
Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White holds up a tribute to teammate Taiwo Awoniyi. PA
Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White holds up a tribute to teammate Taiwo Awoniyi. PA

Premier League talking points: Forest chase Champions League dream, Alexander-Arnold and De Bruyne's farewells


Steve Luckings
  • English
  • Arabic

Nottingham Forest's historic Uefa Champions League dream is still alive as they brace for a dramatic showdown against Chelsea, while Liverpool will finally get their hands on the Premier League trophy.

As the English top-flight season comes to an end on Sunday, Forest and Chelsea are among five clubs chasing the three remaining top five spots, along with Manchester City, Newcastle and Aston Villa.

Unai Emery's Villa travel to face troubled Manchester United, whose misery was compounded by their Europa League final defeat against Tottenham in midweek.

Forest cling to a dream as the final curtain falls

From survival to soaring – Nottingham Forest stand on the cusp of rewriting history. Last season they just about scraped clear of relegation; this weekend, they could be booking flights for the Champions League.

Nuno Espirito Santo's side have defied expectations this season, clinging stubbornly to a top-five place. But a late-season wobble has left them needing more than just a final-day flourish – they need favours, too. They must beat Chelsea and hope Newcastle or Aston Villa lose.

“We are enjoying the moment,” said Nuno. “It’s a big match, and these players deserve it.”

Whether they cross the line or not, Forest’s rise has already entered the record books – the first club to double their points total from one Premier League season to the next. From wooden spoon contenders to top-table guests, this is a renaissance few saw coming.

Anfield prepares to party – finally

On Sunday, Liverpool will lift the Premier League trophy in front of their fans for the first time since that long-overdue 2020 title – cruelly celebrated in lockdown due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Arne Slot’s side clinched the crown weeks ago, but Crystal Palace's visit offers the grand finale: a trophy lift, a lap of honour, and perhaps a last look at Trent Alexander-Arnold. The academy product appears Real Madrid-bound, his exit wrapped in mixed emotions after last week’s jeers.

“Trent deserves to be part of this moment,” Slot said. “This is for everyone – 35 years of waiting has earned us this day.”

The numbers are staggering. Liverpool’s 5-1 dismantling of Tottenham sealed the deal, but Sunday will be about sentiment, send-offs, and soaking up a title that means more than most.

De Bruyne's City swansong

Kevin de Bruyne – Manchester City's midfield metronome, architect, and talisman for much of the past decade – will pull on the sky blue shirt one final time this weekend, bringing to a close the most successful chapters in the club's history.

Four league titles, countless assists, and a passing range that bordered on poetic – De Bruyne was Guardiola’s conductor-in-chief.

During his 10 years at City, De Bruyne helped the club win six Premier League titles – including four in a row, an English record, from 2021 to 2024 – as well as five League Cups, two FA cups, the Fifa Club World Cup and the Uefa Champions League – the first in the club's history.

City have replacements, but there is no replica. When the Belgian waves goodbye, a chapter ends – and the Etihad will feel it.

Expect one final act.

Old Trafford gloom – and Villa's golden chance

There’s an air of resignation around Manchester United. No banners, no belief, just the bitter taste of another campaign consigned to the scrapheap.

The 1-0 Europa League final defeat to Tottenham midweek was the final nail. And now United – a club steeped in silverware – could end the season in their lowest league position since 1974.

Enter Aston Villa. Unai Emery’s resurgent side can smell blood. A win at Old Trafford could haul them into the Champions League places – if results elsewhere swing their way.

They’ve only won twice at United in the Premier League era, but this is no longer the fortress of old. Ruben Amorim's side look lost, limp and leaderless.

The only thing harder than predicting United’s mood? Predicting what comes next.

Brighton chase European spot without Pedro

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has made it clear: standards come before stars.

Joao Pedro – the Seagulls’ top scorer – will miss Sunday’s season finale against Tottenham, not due to injury or suspension, but a training ground issue Hurzeler says is “closed” but non-negotiable.

"Principles are principles," he said. "No compromises."

Georginio Rutter remains out with an ankle knock, but the focus is firmly on what’s at stake – a possible European place, with eighth potentially enough to gain entry to next season's Conference League.

For Hurzeler, though, the message is simple: control what you can. “The other results we can’t influence.”

No Pedro, no Rutter – but no excuses either.

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
De De Pyaar De

Produced: Luv Films, YRF Films
Directed: Akiv Ali
Cast: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Rakul Preet Singh, Jimmy Sheirgill, Jaaved Jaffrey
Rating: 3.5/5 stars

How to tell if your child is being bullied at school

Sudden change in behaviour or displays higher levels of stress or anxiety

Shows signs of depression or isolation

Ability to sleep well diminishes

Academic performance begins to deteriorate

Changes in eating habits

Struggles to concentrate

Refuses to go to school

Behaviour changes and is aggressive towards siblings

Begins to use language they do not normally use

Jumanji: The Next Level

Director: Jake Kasdan

Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Jack Black, Nick Jonas 

Two out of five stars 

Electoral College Victory

Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate. 

 

Popular Vote Tally

The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.

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Oppenheimer
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The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

MATCH INFO

Borussia Dortmund 0

Bayern Munich 1 (Kimmich 43')

Man of the match: Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)

Naga
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Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion

The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.

Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".

The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.

He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.

"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.

As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

The candidates

Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive

Ali Azeem, business leader

Tony Booth, professor of education

Lord Browne, former BP chief executive

Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist

Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist

Dr Mark Mann, scientist

Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner

Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister

Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster

 

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The%20specs
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Some of Darwish's last words

"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008

His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Settlers

Director: Louis Theroux

Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz

Rating: 5/5

Specs

Engine: 51.5kW electric motor

Range: 400km

Power: 134bhp

Torque: 175Nm

Price: From Dh98,800

Available: Now

Company Fact Box

Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019

Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO

Based: Amman, Jordan

Sector: Education Technology

Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed

Stage: early-stage startup 

Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.

Quick pearls of wisdom

Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”

Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.” 

The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo

The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
​​​​​​​Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km

Jawan
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WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?

1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull

2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight

3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge

4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own

5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
NEW%20PRICING%20SCHEME%20FOR%20APPLE%20MUSIC%2C%20TV%2B%20AND%20ONE
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Our legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Results
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Updated: May 24, 2025, 8:17 AM`