Nottingham Forest win seven-goal thriller to all-but relegate Southampton

By and May 9, 2023, 11:17 AM EDT
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Nottingham Forest beat Southampton 4-3 in one of the games of the Premier League season to boost their survival hopes and all but relegate the Saints.

After 11 years in the Premier League the Saints are surely marching down to the second-tier as anything other than a win at home against Fulham on Saturday will see them relegated.

FULL MATCH REPLAY

Taiwo Awoniyi put Forest 2-0 up with two quickfire goals in the first half but Carlos Alcaraz made it 2-1 as a spirited Southampton dominated most of the first half. However, they went in 3-1 down at the break as Morgan Gibbs-White dispatched a penalty kick.

Lyanco made it 3-2 early in the second half and Southampton had chances to draw level but Danilo delivered made it 4-2 to send the City Ground faithful wild. James Ward-Prowse made it 4-3 in stoppage time via a penalty kick as the Saints, much to their credit, never gave up.

[ MORE: How to watch Premier League in USA ]

The win puts Nottingham Forest on to 33 points for the season as they sit three points above the relegation zone with three games to go. Southampton sit rock bottom on 24 points and are eight points from safety with three games to go.

Premier League news

Premier League recap
10 things we learned in the Premier League – Week 38
Premier League standings
Premier League table, 2022-23 season
Harry Kane
Premier League all-time goal leaders: Harry Kane passes Wayne Rooney

Forest embrace the chaos of the relegation scrap

This was a game neither team deserved to lose as Southampton were the better team for large chunks but came away with nothing. Forest took all three points and embraced the chaos of the situation for the second win in 14 games. This wasn’t about style of play or sparkling individual skill but more about reading the game and doing whatever it demanded. Forest were excellent on the counter attack and Steve Cooper got his tactics spot on with Brennan Johnson causing problems with his pace and Awoniyi on hand to finish twice to set them on their way. Was it shaky? Yes. Were Forest a bag of nerves? Yes. But that is what this part of the season is all about and Forest came through this high-pressure situation with the win they needed and a cushion above the relegation zone. They now travel to Chelsea, then host Arsenal before heading to Crystal Palace on the final day. It wasn’t pretty but Forest proved they are up for the scrap and are ready to do whatever it takes in a game-by-game situation to stay in the Premier League.

Stars of the show; Nottingham Forest vs Southampton player ratings

Romeo Lavia: So calm and composed on the ball in midfield. The teenager has a very bright future.

Brennan Johnson: Won a penalty kick, set up one and involved in the fourth as his pace caused so many problems on the counter. He and Morgan Gibbs-White have a great connection.

Danilo: Scored the all-important fourth goal and was a dominant force in central midfield.

Nottingham Forest vs Southampton
Graphic via FotMob.com

What’s next?

Nottingham Forest head to Chelsea on Saturday, May 13. Southampton host Fulham on the same day.

How to watch Nottingham Forest vs Southampton live, stream link and start time

Kick off: 3pm ET, Monday
TV Channel: USA Network
Online: Stream via NBCSports.com

FULL TIME: Nottingham Forest 4-3 Southampton – A huge win for Forest as they give their chances of staying in the Premier League a huge boost. Southampton are pretty much down.

GOALLL! Nottingham Forest 4-3 Southampton – James Ward-Prowse slams home a penalty kick after Lavia was fouled. What. A. Game. Plenty of time left for an eighth goal…

GOALLL! Nottingham Forest 4-2 Southampton – Danilo finishes after a cross from Johnson is brilliantly flicked on by Gibbs-White. That should be that.

SAVE! This is chaos. After Lyanco nods a corner down, Che Adams almost bundles home from close range but Keylor Navas punches clear. Southampton look so dangerous from set piece situations.

Kamaldeen Sulemana is on for the Saints. 30 minutes to go. Can they find an equalizer?

Two chances right away for Southampton to equalize. Lyanco almost gets another and then Che Adams is close to scoring. Southampton well on top now.

GOALLLL! Nottingham Forest 3-2 Southampton – Lyanco heads home early in the second half. His first goal for Southampton and he celebrates wildly. Game on!

We are back underway in the second half and Ward-Prowse whips in a dangerous free kick that Che Adams heads wide.

HALF TIME: Nottingham Forest 3-1 Southampton – What a crazy first half. Forest are 3-1 up but Southampton have added plenty to this encounter.

GOALLL! Nottingham Forest 3-1 Southampton – Morgan Gibbs-White puts his penalty kick down the middle and that feels like a huge moment in the game.

PENALTY KICK! A penalty to Nottingham Forest after a foul by Ainsley Maitland-Niles on Brennan Johnson. Maitland-Niles kicked the back of Johnson’s foot as he just nipped in ahead of him.

CLOSE! Theo Walcott tries to poke an effort into the far corner but it skips just wide.

CHANCE! What a block from Jan Bednarek. After Forest launched another great counter, Johnson caught out Bella-Kotchap but couldn’t beat Bednarek who slid in perfectly. Bella-Kotchap injured his hamstring trying to catch Johnson and Lyanco is on.

Forest are really dangerous on the counter attack but Southampton pushing hard to get level before the break. What a game we have here. The City Ground is getting a bit nervy before the break.

After Everton’s 5-1 win at Brighton, Fulham’s 5-3 home win against Leicester and now the three goals early in this game, we are setting records with 17 goals scored. What a magic Monday… so far!

GOALLLL! Nottingham Forest 2-1 Southampton – Che Adams leads a superb counter attack as he finds Stuart Armstrong and he sets up Carlos Alcaraz to slot home. Game on! Southampton have been really good early on and deserve that goal.

CLOSE! Stuart Armstrong’s shot is blocked and Theo Walcott’s header from the resulting corner flies just over.

GOALLL! Nottingham Forest 2-0 Southampton – Taiwo Awoniyi slams home on the turn. What a finish. 2 goals in 3 minutes for Awoniyi.

CLOSE! Carlos Alcaraz curls wide as Southampton look for an immediate response.

GOALLL! Nottingham Forest 1-0 Southampton – One long ball over the top and Brennan Johnson sets up Taiwo Awoniyi to slam home. Southampton had been well on top but Forest strike on the counter.

CLOSE! Theo Walcott flicks on a corner at the near post but it misses everyone and flashes wide.

CLOSE! A counter for Forest and Brennan Johnson drags his wide of the far post. That’s more like it from the hosts.

CHANCE! What a block from Felipe. Carlos Alcaraz and Theo Walcott combine to find Adams but Felipe with a crucial block.

OVER! Che Adams curls a shot over bar as Southampton have started well. My word, Romeo Lavia is some player. What a ball in the build up to that chance.

We are off at the City Ground for an absolutely massive game! For Forest and Southampton their season pretty much comes down to this game.

Key storylines & star players

This one’s focused on two hyphenated stars capable of controlling and/or changing a game on any given day.

Saints midfielder James Ward-Prowse only need a sliver of light to belt his side open, especially if it’s a free kick situation, while Morgan Gibbs-White can deal out incisive passes almost as well as his Southampton counterpart.

Nottingham Forest team news, injuries, lineup

OUT: Neco Williams (head), Dean Henderson (thigh), Chris Wood (thigh), Cheikhou Kouyate (thigh), Giulian Biancone (knee), Omar Richards (calf), Gustavo Scarpa (knee), Jack Colback (concussion), Jonjo Shelvey (undisclosed)

Southampton team news, injuries, lineup

OUT: Juan Larios (thigh), Mohammed Salisu (pelvis), Romain Perraud (surgery), Valentino Livramento (other)

10 things we learned in the Premier League – Week 38

By May 28, 2023, 3:19 PM EDT
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The relegation picture took center stage in terms of headlines going into the final week of the Premier League season, but several clubs took their last game of the season to show fans what might be possible in the future.

Arsenal showed that there’s desire left in their tank despite a sad stretch run, Manchester United showed a seriousness to their comeback bid, and Southampton hollered down to the Championship to look out for Saints.

[ MORE: How to watch Premier League in USA ]

But, yes, all focus is on Goodison Park, where Everton did what it needed to claim another season in the Premier League and fans made sure the club knew that one day of success doesn’t make amends for two seasons of big struggles.

Here’s where our writers are living, as Joe Prince-Wright (JPW), Andy Edwards (AE), and Nicholas Mendola (NM) share their observations from across the most recent PL games.

Premier League news

Premier League standings
Premier League table, 2022-23 season
Harry Kane
Premier League all-time goal leaders: Harry Kane passes Wayne Rooney
Kevin De Bruyne
Premier League all-time assist leaders: Kevin De Bruyne climbs

10 things we learned in the Premier League – Week 38

1. Toffees shake off slow start, save Premier League status (Everton 1-0 AFC Bournemouth): Everton was set up with five at the back from the start and it was too negative. Sean Dyche got it right though. All they needed was one loose ball to drop to the right on-rushing central midfielder and it did in the second half as Abdoulaye Doucoure hammered home. It was a brilliant finish in what wasn’t a brilliant game (Dyche called it “hideous”). But Everton and Dyche don’t care. With loads of injuries they found a way to get it done and the history books show that Everton have still never been relegated from the Premier League and only Arsenal have a longer active top-flight streak as they will be playing at England’s top table next season, their 70th consecutive at the top level. Off the pitch there are financial issues to solve which could impact them next season but Dyche has done his job and if Everton are smart they should give him the tools to rip things up and rebuild the squad. Just staying up like this can’t happen again to Everton. They said that last season but look what happened. This time they have to make sure they are never in the relegation scrap again. A club of Everton’s size should never be in this situation. (JPW)

2. Too little, too late for Foxes as win not enough (Leicester 2-1 West Ham): “Too little, too late” may go down as the story of the Foxes season. Leicester did not get its recruitment plans correct — somewhat forced by Financial Fair Play — and then put too much faith in Brendan Rodgers to make things work. Dean Smith got some performances out of this men, few better than Sunday, but this ultimately feels like a fait accompli: Sometimes, the whole is less than the sum of its parts. Despite big seasons from Harvey Barnes and James Maddison, this was that. There’s also the question of playing for a draw against Newcastle on Monday, but let’s not heap criticism on Dean Smith for taking a calculated risk. He deserves better. (NM)

3. Leeds final game of relegation campaign too familiar (Leeds 1-3 Spurs): It was a nightmare start for Leeds, who needed not only a victory of their own but also points to be dropped by both Everton and Leicester above them. Tottenham’s first foray into Leeds’ penalty area ended with Kane hammering the ball past Joel Robles. The second frame was a new half but same story for Leeds, who conceded once again barely a minute into the second half. Kane turned provider this time, as he lofted a blind ball into the channel for the overlapping Pedro Porro, who barely had a sight of goal with Robles smothering the near post. But, Porro placed a pinpoint strike just inside the far post from a tight angle. Big Sam couldn’t fix the defense and maybe it was unfixable. Leeds didn’t keep a clean sheet after February 25. At least they gave their fans a goal in nearly every game during that run to relegation. (AE).

4. Ten Hag’s men finish strong to reset standards (Manchester United 2-1 Fulham): It’s difficult not to talk big picture after a Championship Sunday like this where the top four was sorted before the matchday began in England. Manchester United is in as good shape as it’s been in some time because it had success this season while building upward from its foundation. Yes, the club still has some older key pieces in Casemiro and Raphael Varane, but Erik ten Hag’s system looks ready for finer ingredients and the boss will now have a great idea of what pieces work and what pieces are for someone else’s project. This was a successful year for Manchester United, the type that will make sure that success at Manchester United is measured in a relatively new but still very familiar way: by bigger ambition. (NM)

5. Gunners show glimpse that hunger for more remains (Arsenal 5-0 Wolves): It would have been easy for Arsenal to mail this one in given their poor finish to the season which stopped them from winning the Premier League title. But the young Gunners dug in and impressed as they finished with a flourish and proved they are hungry to close the gap on Man City next season. They can do it and with smart recruitment in midfield and defense this summer, Arsenal can acquire the extra squad depth they need to have more staying power next season. This was more than a 5-0 win. It was about showing they are here to stay. And they are. (JPW)

6. Saints show talent to come straight back up (Southampton 4-4 Liverpool): It was a sad day for Saints but in James Ward-Prowse, Carlos Alcaraz, and Kamaldeen Sulemana they showed they have talented players who can lead their Championship playoff push next season. But will those star players still be around? Saints now need to cut the deadwood, start again with a new manager, and try their best to keep the six or so players they have in their current squad who will be starters in the Championship. Saints need to follow the way Fulham and Bournemouth rebounded as they hit the reset this summer. There are stars at Saints but they needed defensive solidity, a clear playing style and more experience if they’re going to get the best out of their undoubted talents. (JPW).

7. Blues get taught familiar lesson in draw (Chelsea 1-1 Newcastle): At home against a Newcastle team down its top goalkeeper and starting several second-choice players including youngsters Anthony Gordon and Elliot Anderson, Chelsea should’ve been able to finish this season with a win. But the team without finishers again failed to finish and left the stadium with a 1-1 draw and their bottom half status still baffling their talent level. Mauricio Pochettino, should he arrive as expected, needs to get a clinical finisher, although let’s be honest: Chelsea’s probably going to get significantly better just by getting a manager of Pochettino’s renown in the club over Frank Lampard’s entirely forgettable tenure as interim boss .Is it August yet? (NM)

8. Bees finish with win over much-changed champions’ (Brentford 1-0 Man City): It was a long wait for the game’s only goal, but the Brentford fans got to celebrate once more as they closed out a brilliant second season in the top flight. Bryan Mbeumo laid the ball back to Ethan Pinnock, who came streaking into the penalty area completely unmarked. Pinnock guided a low strike out of Ederson’s reach to secure victory no. 15 on the Bees’ season. City started Rico Lewis, Kalvin Phillips, Cole Palmer, and Sergio Gomez, and its only sub was 19-year-old newcomer Shea Charles. They still out-attempted the hosts 17-11 while keeping 66 percent of the ball. (AE)

9. Cooper, Hodgson finish unexpected jobs well done (Crystal Palace 1-1 Nottingham Forest): Neither Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper nor Palace counterpart Roy Hodgson would’ve seen themselves in this exact position earlier this season. Yes, Cooper might’ve thought his team would take time to adjust to the Premier League but did he expect a final few safe weekends without real repercussions? Probably not, but he did very well to navigate what became a dragged-out process and Forest did well to stick with the man who got them to the PL. Hodgson was retired at the start of the season and it surprised many that Palace cut ties with Patrick Vieira only to bring Hodgson back. The club legend did well right away, though, and he’Il only be more beloved should he decide to retire (again). (NM)

10. Emery gets Villa back into Europe (Aston Villa 2-1 Brighton): Aston Villa finished Unai Emery’s first (partial) season in charge by qualifying for the Europa Conference League with a 2-1 victory over Brighton at Villa Park on Sunday. Brighton (62 points – 6th place) entered the final day of the 2022-23 season having already qualified for next season’s Europa League, which will be the Seagulls’ first time in European competition in club history, and Villa was keen to join them. (AE)

Premier League table, 2022-23 season

By May 28, 2023, 2:50 PM EDT
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If it’s the 2022-23 Premier League table you’re after, you’ve come to the right place.

[ MORE: How to watch Premier League in USA ]

After the break for the 2022 World Cup, the Premier League returned with a bang and the start to 2023 delivered plenty of fun and it continued into the business end of the season.

Manchester City chased down Arsenal to win yet another Premier League title. Manchester United’s new-look side reclaimed a place in the top four, and so did Newcastle. Brighton and Aston Villa surprised by qualifying for Europe, while Liverpool dips into an unusual competition for its recent standards.

Teams were relegated. Managers were sacked. And here’s how the table looked when all was said and done.

Latest Premier League news

Premier League recap
10 things we learned in the Premier League – Week 38
Harry Kane
Premier League all-time goal leaders: Harry Kane passes Wayne Rooney
Kevin De Bruyne
Premier League all-time assist leaders: Kevin De Bruyne climbs

Premier League final table – End of season

Premier League standings

NBC Sports’ standings and scoreboard


Follow @AndyEdMLS

Premier League all-time goal leaders: Harry Kane passes Wayne Rooney

By May 28, 2023, 2:35 PM EDT
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Alan Shearer is the king of Premier League goal scorers, but Harry Kane is racing to challenge his crown.

Shearer scored 260 Premier League goals during his remarkable career with Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United, and that figure’s even more impressive when you consider his first professional seasons were played prior to the Premier League era with Southampton.

Wayne Rooney’s incredible career, played almost entirely in the Premier League, saw him become the second player to bag 200+ goals in the competition. The former Manchester United and Everton star counts 208 goals as his haul.

[ MORE: Premier League all-time assist leaders ]

Now ahead of Rooney? Harry Kane, whose 213 goals are 47 behind Shearer.

Kane, 29, scored 30 goals this Premier League season and would be running away with accolades were It not for some fella named Erling Haaland bagging goal after goal for Manchester City.

Will the Tottenham legend stay in England in a bid to chase down Shearer and, if he does, will he do it?

Read the full list of the Premier League’s all-time goal scorers, after the jump.

More Premier League

Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest
Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest split points to finish safe seasons
Leicester vs West Ham
Leicester relegated despite final day win over West Ham
Manchester United vs Fulham
Manchester United come back to topple Fulham, finish third

Premier League all-time goal leaders

bold denotes active player

  1. Alan Shearer, 260
  2. Harry Kane, 213
  3. Wayne Rooney, 208
  4. Andrew Cole, 187
  5. Sergio Aguero, 184
  6. Frank Lampard, 177
  7. Thierry Henry, 175
  8. Robbie Fowler, 163
  9. Jermain Defoe, 162
  10. Michael Owen, 150
  11. Les Ferdinand, 149
  12. Teddy Sheringham, 146
  13. Robin van Persie, 144
  14. Mohamed Salah, 139
  15. Jamie Vardy, 136
  16. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, 127
  17. Robbie Keane, 126
  18. Nicolas Anelka, 125
  19. Dwight Yorke, 123
  20. Romelu Lukaku, 121
  21. Steven Gerrard, 120
  22. Raheem Sterling, 115
  23. Ian Wright, 113
  24. Dion Dublin, 111
  25. Sadio Mane, 111

Premier League all-time assist leaders: Kevin De Bruyne climbs

By May 28, 2023, 2:30 PM EDT
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Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne tied Premier League legend Frank Lampard on the all-time assists leaderboard on Wednesday when his free kick service to John Stones gave City a 2-0 lead over Arsenal in their huge Wednesday match at the Etihad Stadium.

“KDB” now has 102 Premier League assists, and 100 PL assists is a feat that can be claimed by only four other players and has never been done faster than De Bruyne’s achieved it.

The assist is De Bruyne’s 16th of this Premier League season.

[ MORE: Premier League assist leaders ]

De Bruyne may not track down Ryan Giggs’ 162 career PL assists, but the other members are the top three are within his reach if he plays at least one more season with Man City.

DC United boss Wayne Rooney is next: He recorded 103.

Second place could take some doing, as Cesc Fabregas record 111 assists between Arsenal and Chelsea.

There are several other active Premier League players in and around the top 25 for all-time assists. Check the full list after the jump.

Premier League all-time assist leaders

bold denotes active player

  1. Ryan Giggs, 162
  2. Cesc Fabregas, 111
  3. Wayne Rooney, 103
  4. Frank Lampard, 102
  5. Kevin De Bruyne, 102
  6. Dennis Bergkamp, 94
  7. David Silva, 93
  8. Steven Gerrard, 92
  9. James Milner, 87
  10. David Beckham, 80
  11. Teddy Sheringham, 76
  12. Thierry Henry, 74
  13. Christian Eriksen, 74
  14. Andrew Cole, 73
  15. Ashley Young, 71
  16. Darren Anderton, 68
  17. Gareth Barry, 64
  18. Alan Shearer, 64
  19. Matt Le Tissier, 63
  20. Nolberto Solano, 62
  21. Riyad Mahrez, 61
  22. Stewart Downing, 59
  23. Steve McManaman, 59
  24. Raheem Sterling, 59
  25. Mohamed Salah, 59
  26. Peter Crouch, 58
  27. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, 58
  28. Andy Robertson, 57
  29. Eric Cantona, 56
  30. Theo Walcott, 56
  31. Kevin Davies, 55
  32. Didier Drogba, 55
  33. Damien Duff, 55
  34. Steed Malbranque, 55
  35. Danny Murphy
  36. Paul Scholes, 55
  37. Eden Hazard, 54
  38. Juan Mata, 54
  39. Mesut Ozil, 54
  40. Trent Alexander-Arnold, 54
  41. Jordan Henderson, 54
  42. Leighton Baines, 53
  43. Emile Heskey, 53
  44. Robin van Persie, 53
  45. Heung-min Son, 52
  46. Roberto Firmino, 50
  47. Nick Barmby, 50
  48. Aaron Lennon, 50
  49. Gylfi Sigurdsson, 50
  50. Dwight Yorke, 50