Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton says Manchester City title bid 'none of his concern' with Conference League final the priority ahead of Arsenal
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Adam Wharton has suggested Crystal Palace will prioritise their UEFA Conference League final ahead of their final Premier League match against Arsenal next weekend.
Wharton: We have chance to make massive statement in Palace history
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Wharton scored his first goal for Palace in his 94th appearance, but Brentford came back twice through Dango Ouattara to earn a point to keep their European hopes in the balance with a 2-2 draw at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Palace, who are preparing to face Rayo Vallecano in the Conference League final on May 27, live on TNT Sports and HBO Max, raced into an early lead as Ismaila Sarr struck his 21st goal of the season in all competitions from the penalty spot.
There was a touch of good fortune when Brentford's equaliser arrived as Jaydee Canvot's attempt to head clear Yehor Yarmolyuk's cross ricocheted into the net off Ouattara.
Palace restored their lead seven minutes after the restart when Wharton's shot squirmed through Caoimhin Kelleher - but Ouattara struck again two minutes from time to earn a draw that could yet prove crucial in their quest to qualify for Europe for the first time in their history.
Arsenal know that two wins from their final two Premier League matches will clinch a first domestic title since 2004, with a trip to Selhurst Park on the final day of the season coming just three days before Palace take on Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig.
On facing title hopefuls Arsenal in the final game of the season, Wharton told reporters: "We're not deciding the title next week, there have been 37 games this season. We have another game a few days after [the Conference League final].
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Highlights: Palace reach Conference League final with famous win over Shakhtar
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"We're not looking at trying to beat them so that they don't win [the title]. That is none of our concern. We are focusing on ourselves and making sure we're in the right position for the following Wednesday."
Palace boss Oliver Glasner echoed Wharton's words, with concerns over the fitness of Maxence Lacroix, Chris Richards and Chadi Riad coming following the draw in west London.
Looking ahead to the game next week against Arsenal, Glasner said: "We want to keep our standard high against Arsenal. We have to manage the minutes and this is how we will go into the last 10 days.
"We just think what is best for us. We are not responsible for Arsenal or Manchester City. It is the last game at Selhurst [Park], so it is a big game for our fans and we need this game for top preparation for the [Conference League] final on the Wednesday."
DCL expects busy summer - but will it be with England?
Dominic Calvert-Lewin is refusing to be drawn into talking up his hopes for inclusion in Thomas Tuchel's England World Cup squad after enhancing his chances ahead of Friday's announcement with his 14th Premier League goal of the season.
Brighton & Hove Albion's hopes of qualifying for next season's UEFA Champions League suffered a blow as Calvert-Lewin's 96th-minute winner secured Leeds United a dramatic 1-0 victory at Elland Road.
Calvert-Lewin's intervention deep in stoppage time came after a mix-up between Jan Paul van Hecke and Bart Verbruggen as the England striker nipped in to intercept a poor back pass to round the goalkeeper and finish into an empty net.
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Dominic Calvert-Lewin celebrates his dramatic winner for Leeds against Brighton
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When asked if he was expecting a busy summer at the World Cup, the 29-year-old said: "Let's see. It's going to be busy anyway, I've got a two-year-old.
"I've loved it [this season]. It's been so enjoyable. I'm so grateful I can enjoy my football again. The culture at the club is the most important thing. It really is the heartbeat of the club. The characters we have got, hard-working boys in the team."
In a game of few clearcut chances, Danny Welbeck was denied the opener after a brilliant block from Ethan Ampadu.
Anton Stach was carried off on a stretcher during the second half after Karl Darlow had produced a superb save to deny Pascal Gross - allowing Calvert-Lewin to capitalise on those missed opportunities to lift Leeds up to 14th in the table.
Brighton remain in seventh place with hopes of qualifying for Europe still in their hands heading into the final game of the season at home to Manchester United.
Champions League aspirations will now depend on how Bournemouth perform in their remaining matches against Manchester City and Nottingham Forest - provided Aston Villa win the UEFA Europa League and finish fifth in the table.
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler said: "It was one mistake by us. That happens. If there weren't mistakes there would never be goals. We did a lot of things right today. It was quite open until the end.
"One match to go...that's why we stay positive. That's why we will try to prepare well."
Moyes: Points tally not good enough
Everton manager David Moyes has called for improvement next season after hopes of European qualification were all-but extinguished by Sunderland following a 3-1 defeat at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Seamus Coleman came on as a late substitute for his final Everton appearance on home soil, but his swansong after over 17 years of service would end in bitter disappointment as Regis Le Bris' side roared back to earn a valuable away win that breathes late life into their own continental aspirations.
Merlin Rohl gave the hosts a half-time advantage when his shot from the edge of the box deflected off Granit Xhaka to wrong-foot Black Cats goalkeeper Robin Roefs.
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Merlin Rohl celebrates his deflected opener against Sunderland
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Sunderland levelled after 57 minutes following a mistake from Jake O'Brien as Enzo Le Fee released Brian Brobbey, who sat down James Tarkowski to fire past Jordan Pickford at his near post.
Everton offered very little attacking intent throughout the afternoon, and Sunderland deservedly completed another second-half turnaround as Le Fee latched onto Chris Rigg's pass to direct his left-foot shot low beyond Pickford.
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O'Brien met Tyrique George's sublime cross but saw his header kept out superbly by Roefs from point-blank range. It proved crucial as Wilson Isidor met Habib Diarra's low cross to score unchallenged at the far post.
Moyes said: "I'm incredibly disappointed that we lost. There were spells in the game where it looks as if we would be the ones to get in front. Sunderland stuck at it, we didn't.
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Enzo Le Fee celebrates his decisive goal to give Sunderland the lead at Everton
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"The players know the moments and you have to take them. We haven't got over the line with games. Difficult to say today but in other games we've had a hard treatment with decisions but today was more to do with us not keeping control. We gave away a terrible first goal, then we were the better side at that point, but they got away and got a second goal.
"There's been lots of good stuff this season, but this just shows if you're not quite at it, better players not quite on it, you're not going to win.
"We need to add to it, we need to look at it. Results in the last four or five games haven't been good enough. Performances haven't been bad, but our points tally has not been good enough."
The result means Sunderland - who have won the most points from a losing position in the league this season - leapfrog Everton into the top half of the table, with Conference League hopes still alive heading into the final day.
Silva coy on Benfica reports
Fulham manager Marco Silva batted away questions concerning his future once again, despite reports he is set to replace seemingly Real Madrid-bound Jose Mourinho as the new Benfica head coach.
Already-relegated Wolverhampton Wanderers ended Fulham's hopes of European qualification after earning a 1-1 draw at Molineux, which takes them onto 19 points - and within reach of overtaking Burnley on the final day when the two teams meet at Turf Moor.
The hosts took the lead after 25 minutes when Mateus Mane met Hwang Hee-chan's lay-off to flash his first-time shot beyond Bernd Leno.
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Mateus Mane celebrates scoring Wolves' opener against Fulham
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But Fulham levelled on the stroke of half-time following a VAR review as Mane was deemed to have caught Timothy Castagne inside the box to allow Antonee Robinson to score from the penalty spot.
Silva's side are in 13th place on 49 points, but their significantly inferior goal difference to Brentford on 52 points in eighth position means victory on the final day against Newcastle - along with favourable results elsewhere - is unlikely to propel them into the European spots.
On his future, Silva told the BBC: "I have not decided. The club and I cannot communicate something when the decision is not made. I am not going to communicate something if there is not a decision. It's as simple as that.
"I understand the fans want to know the future of the club. We are going to have meetings, I am going to analyse.
"I believe there are many things to analyse, and you need to be calm at this moment to address many, many things. The next summer is going to be one of the most important for the club's future."
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