VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a video address released Sunday that Canada’s strong economic ties to the United States were once a strength but are now a weakness that must be corrected.
In the 10-minute address, Carney spoke about his government’s efforts to strengthen the Canadian economy by attracting new investments and signing trade deals with other countries.
“The world is more dangerous and divided,” Carney said. “The U.S. has fundamentally changed its approach to trade, raising its tariffs to levels last seen during the Great Depression.
“Many of our former strengths, based on our close ties to America, have become weaknesses. Weaknesses that we must correct.”
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Carney said tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump have affected workers in the auto and steel industries. He added that businesses are holding back investments “restrained by the pall of uncertainty that’s hanging over all of us.”
Many Canadians have also been angered by Trumps comments suggesting Canada become the 51st state.
Carney said he plans to give Canadians regular updates on his government’s efforts to diversify away from the U.S.
“Security can’t be achieved by ignoring the obvious or downplaying the very real threats that we Canadians face,” he said. “I promise you I will never sugarcoat our challenges.”
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Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks at the Liberal national convention in Montreal, April 11, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP, File)
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Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks at the Liberal national convention in Montreal, April 11, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP, File)
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It’s not the first time Carney, who served as a central bank governor, first at the Bank of Canada and later with the Bank of England, has spoken about a shift in world power.
During a speech in January at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, he received widespread praise for condemning economic coercion by great powers against small countries.
“Canada lives because of the United States,” Trump said after the speech. “Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements.”
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There was no immediate White House reaction Sunday to the address.
Carney’s comments came days after securing a majority government following special election wins and as the opposition Conservatives push him to deliver a U.S. trade deal, which was among his promises in last year’s election.
In his address, Carney said he wants to attract new investments into Canada, double the size of clean energy capacity and reduce trade barriers within the country. He also emphasized Canada’s increased defense spending, reduction in taxes and efforts to make housing more affordable.
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“We have to take care of ourselves because we can’t rely on one foreign partner,” he said. “We can’t control the disruption coming from our neighbors. We can’t control our future on the hope it will suddenly stop.
“We can control what happens here. We can build a stronger country that can withstand disruptions from aboard.”
Carney said simply hoping the “United States will return to normal” is not a feasible strategy.
“Hope isn’t a plan and nostalgia is not a strategy,” he said.
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Carney said Canada has “been a great neighbor” standing with the U.S. in conflicts including Afghanistan, plus two World Wars.
“The U.S. has changed and we must respond,” he said. “It’s about taking back control of our security, our borders and our future.”
Is The Last of Us Part 3 inevitable? (Sony Interactive Entertainment)
The Tuesday letters page argues that the Zelda movie will be good for the game series, as a reader is glad he took a chance on buying Capcom’s Pragmata.
Games Inbox is a collection of our readers’ letters, comments, and opinions. To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.uk
Sooner or later It really is shocking to know that it’s been a decade since Naughty Dog made a proper new game. Literally, what a waste of time. I don’t imagine they meant for things to turn out like this but even if they’d released The Last Of Us Online in that time, I’d still consider that to have been a waste of their talents, given they still had no plans for a new single-player game.
Hopefully we can start to put all that behind us now with Interstellar: The Heretic Prophet and maybe a new Uncharted. But does anyone really believe there won’t be a The Last Of Us Part 3?
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Even if the TV show has lost some of its shine it’s still a huge brand now and there is no way Sony is going to let things go on without a new sequel. They’d sooner shut down Naughty Dog (or at least chase off Neil Druckmann) than let the series end and I’m a little shocked they haven’t insisted on a new one by now.
But even if you assume that when is it coming out? There’s no sign they’ve started any serious work so that’s going be… at least six years? I look forward to seeing what Ellie does as an old grandma in the year 2032 AD. Purple Ranger
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Cinematic storytelling Everyone seems pretty down on the idea of the Zelda movie and I get why. The Mario movies have had zero plot, the Zelda games have almost zero plot, and the director hasn’t done much that’s interesting. I agree it’s not a very promising set-up.
But I actually have some hope for it. The good news (apart form the hat being in it) is that they’re not doing any particular game but, I assume, a sort of mish-mash of everything Zelda. If they’re sensible they’ll streamline the whole backstory and start a new cinematic history for the series. Give Link and Zelda clear origins, and Ganondorf as well, and you’d already be doing better than the games.
Personally, I like that the games are very light on storytelling, but a movie could be the perfect way to flesh things out and keep everyone happy. Mario doesn’t really have that problem to solve but a movie for Zelda could really help the games. Vondam
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Reverse logic Opening a store in London and then not telling anyone is the most Nintendo thing ever. I guess they figured it wouldn’t need advertising if it’s central, so that would avoid queues and stuff, but it still comes across as really weird, which I have to admit I like.
For me Japanese companies like Nintendo and Capcom doing odd things and backing games that don’t seem to be obvious sellers is the only thing, other than indie, that keeps me interested in games. I’ve all but given up with everything else, not just because the games board me but because I don’t like supporting these horrible companies.
And no, I won’t make an exception for GTA 6. I’ll be happily playing something else, anything else at that point. I’ll try and find the cheapest looking indie game possible and play that instead, just to be contrary. Colin
Swings and roundabouts RE: Paulie. I generally really like role-playing games and although I thought the presentation of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was brilliant, I didn’t like the combat and just gave up about 20 hours in. Maybe I’ll go back one day, as I feel it’s a game I should like but just didn’t.
I also gave up on The Witcher 3 recently, on my first run, as I found the combat pretty lacklustre and just too much dialogue (much of which I just didn’t find very well written).
So whilst this is clearly a me issue, given both of these games were well received, it just shows you might not like something else which others do.
I did buy Borderlands 4 though, last week, and am really enjoying it! So much fun. Would recommend it! Tom
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GC: Even many fans would agree that The Witcher 3 combat is weak.
Risk and reward Absolutely loving Pragmata and I’m so glad I took a chance on it at launch. Not only is it a great game but I’m clearly not the only one, as it sold 1 million copies in two days, which must be great for a new IP that’s a relatively hard sell.
I’m sure it’s never going to sell as much as Resident Evil and other even bigger name games but kudos to Capcom for taking the risk and reaping the reward. They’ve still got Onimusha out this year so imagine if that’s good too! What a run they’re having this year.
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They’ve always been one of my favourite publishers and they must be one of the few companies that’s actually getting better with time. We all know how much publishers love to copy a successful idea but what’s the betting they don’t bother in this case?
Make a good game? Take a chance on a new IP? Make it a weird dad/daughter sci-fi story with robots as the only enemy? Somehow, I doubt EA or Activision are going to make that effort. Symbel
Free Sword I wrote in about the Broken Sword The Smoking Mirror: Reforged Kickstarter last week, which is doing very well currently at £457,437 and then had a bit of surprise on Thursday when I went to download the free game on Epic Store on mobile, to find they are giving away Broken Sword The Shadows Of The Templar: Reforged!
So I downloaded that as soon as I saw it. With Epic Games Store, if you claim the free games every time you claim a game the developer gets paid for you claiming the free game! If you haven’t played the first Broken Sword game I recommend you download it on mobile or tablet from Epic Games Store now until this Thursday at 4pm. Andrew J.
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Out of control What in the seven blazes is that Forza Horizon 6 controller meant to be? Why would a Forza Horizon game set in Tokyo be that colour, with those patterns?
Not that I’d buy a controller that had a game’s name written all over it (I can’t believe enough people do for that to be a common thing) but I think this proves that Microsoft has lost the plot when it comes to controllers. The Xbox Series X one is a big disappointment and the one for Project Helix needs to be a serious step up. Siega
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Preferred options In response to Amesia’s email about always choosing performance mode, I have to say it’s not always the smoothest option. There are plenty of games where the performance mode results in a jittery frame rate, jumping between 30 and 60 fps because the PlayStation 5/Xbox Series X can’t quite manage 60. Whereas switching to 30fps fidelity mode locks the frame rate and therefore looks smoother (and also better resolution and maybe increased settings, ray tracing, etc.).
I would personally watch a video like Digital Foundry to see which is the smoother option on a game-by-game basis. Starfield, Crimson Desert, and Ghost Of Yōtei are some examples off the top of my head that offer a smoother experience in 30fps than they do it performance mode. Obviously, the balanced mode, if available, is a good compromise in these situations, if you have a 120Hz TV that can support 40fps.
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On another note, I’d be curious to know how many readers use the Game Mode on their TV? I was recently at a friend’s house and noticed he didn’t. He didn’t even seem to realise it was an option. He turned on the setting and was blown away by how much crisper and more vibrant it looked and even more so by the noticeable increase in controller responsiveness.
He had some motion smoothing setting on as default and it, along with all the other needless TV post effects was resulting in about half a second input lag before we switched to Game Mode. So how many other readers out there are playing with lag and inferior picture quality due to ignoring this important setting? P Donnelly
GC: An interesting point. Our one switches automatically when it detects a console turned on; we thought that was the norm.
Inbox also-rans I think the new Sonic game in 2028, after the next Sonic Frontiers game, should feature a new hedgehog character. I want the new hedgehog to be inspired by Gohan, Ryu, and Static Shock. Scott
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The only game to make me cry was one in a ZX80 magazine, where I spent six hours typing in the program and hitting run and nothing happened. Tried multiple times but I don’t think I ever got any of the free game programs to work right. TWO MACKS
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Charles concluded his message by urging all to follow the late Queen’s “example” and improve the world around us: “So, young or old, and whatever our differences, let us therefore seek to follow this example as we make today not the marking of a milestone felt by absence but the celebration of a life well-lived, and a legacy of hope, as we strive together towards a ‘better, happier tomorrow’ – one rooted in peace, justice, prosperity and security.”
New research has revealed that retired Brits are often faced with 500 hours of household chores every year – the equivalent to 21 days a year or an unpaid part-time job.
Instead of relaxing, many over-55s are instead being weighed down with a seemingly endless list of jobs to do around the home.
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Research by McCarthy & Stone, the UK’s leading developer and manager of later life communities, reveals that retirees are spending an average of 24 hours a week on household chores.
Cooking and meal prep takes, on average, 10 hours, seven hours is dedicated to cleaning, laundry eats into four hours while gardening and general home maintenance can take up to seven hours.
Reinvested, it’s the equivalent time taken to learn to pick-up a new language (600 hours) or develop the skills to play drums in a band (500 hours).
More adventurous Brits could even become a ski instructor (125 hours) or get a PADI Open Water Diver certificate (24 hours).
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The most dreaded of the chores are the most commonplace – topping the list is cleaning (36%) closely followed by ironing (31%).
If they were taken off the daily agenda, a fifth of over-55s (22%) would spend more time with family or explore new places and travel (20%).
Hobbies like hiking (29%), catching up on TV (28%) and crafting (13%) would also be picked-up more readily.
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Having time to learn something new is also on wish lists. One in 10 are keen to learn a new language, 23% want to spend more time in the garden, and 18% would take up meditation, yoga or Feng Shui. A more chilled 22% would take the time to simply ‘be’.
McCarthy & Stone provides on-site maintenance teams that can handle homeowners’ everyday household tasks.
The teams are increasing the scale of in-apartment services, tackling almost 10,000 hours of chores each month or 120,000 hours a year.
This includes in-apartment cleaning, communal garden management, preparing meals and laundry.
Chrissy Fice, Marketing Director at McCarthy & Stone, said: “McCarthy & Stone is focused on creating communities and ‘homes’ for people to enjoy.
“As part of this, we’ve increased the scale of our in-apartment services that can help with household chores and everyday tasks.
“This allows people to spend more time doing what they love – whether that’s socialising, staying active or discovering new passions.
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“By taking care of the daily demands of running a home, we’re giving homeowners more freedom to enjoy a more fulfilling and independent later life.”
UK’s top ten time-stealing chores
1. Cooking and meal preparation – six hours per week
2. Cleaning (hoovering, bathrooms, dusting) – four hours per week
3. Gardening and outdoor upkeep – four hours per week
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4. Home maintenance and repairs – four hours per week
5. Window cleaning and general upkeep – four hours per week
6. Pet care – four hours per week
7. Laundry and washing – three hours per week
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8. Food shopping and errands – three hours per week
9. Household admin and organisation – three hours per week
Sir Olly, until last week the most senior civil servant in the Foreign Office, will reportedly tell the Foreign Affairs Committee that the Government pressured him into clearing Lord Mandelson, despite the peer’s relationship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, and business links to Russia and China.
New York City officials and lawmakers are raising urgent concerns over a significant shortage of public restrooms as the region prepares to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup in less than two months.
With the first game at MetLife Stadium set for June 13, city officials are looking closely at whether New York can actually handle the crowds.
The New York/New Jersey Host Committee expects around 1.2 million people to pour into the area for the tournament, but current figures show there is only one public bathroom for every 8,500 residents, Gothamist reported.
It is a ratio that lawmakers say is a struggle for locals even on a normal day, let alone during a World Cup.
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The New York City Council introduced a bill last week that would require the city to develop a formal plan to expand bathroom access before the international event begins. Council members noted that popular locations, such as Bryant Park, already experience long lines for facilities, and the expected influx of global soccer fans would likely overwhelm the current system.
New legislation would require the city to submit a detailed expansion plan by June 1, identifying high-traffic zones and adding temporary restrooms to ensure the region is prepared for the influx of millions of fans (Getty Images)
“We actually have a number of public bathrooms all across the city in parks and elsewhere,” New York City Department of Small Business Services Commissioner Dynishal Gross Menin told Good Day New York on Monday. “So we’re doing a whole map of that so people know where they can get access to public bathrooms.”
Menin added that the city was attempting to balance infrastructure needs with economic outreach.
“We’re also doing a program to support small businesses during FIFA because this is an opportunity and really an obligation to make sure that our New York City small businesses are being promoted and not left out of the equation,” she said.
The bathroom shortage is just one of several logistical hurdles facing the metropolitan area. Transit remains a primary concern for the millions of fans expected to travel between Manhattan and the stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
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As reported by The Independent, travel through New York’s Penn Station is expected to be a major obstacle during the tournament. The station, often criticized for its confusing layout and overcrowding, serves as the primary route for fans taking New Jersey Transit to the matches.
The pressure on the transit system comes as New Jersey officials have implemented significant fare hikes to address budget deficits, leading to criticism that the cost of attending the games is being passed on to local commuters and visiting fans alike.
With 48 teams competing and high-profile matches like Brazil versus Morocco and Panama versus England coming to the area, the scale of the tournament is expected to exceed the capacity of the region’s aging rail system.
The city is currently mapping park restrooms and drafting new laws to help small businesses, but council members say the lack of basic facilities is still a major oversight. They argue that adding more bathrooms is necessary not just for the World Cup, but for the health and dignity of New Yorkers who need them every day.
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“This is about dignity, cleanliness and public health as much as convenience,” City Council Majority Leader Shaun Abreu told Gothamist. “No one should have to scramble for a bathroom or cut their day short because they can’t find one in a global city like New York.”
The region is scheduled to host the World Cup final on July 19.
The popular annual giveaway, backed by a council initiative, is designed to inspire more people to get their hands dirty and discover the simple rewards of gardening, from brightening up balconies to reviving back gardens.
The Stockton Borough Council initiative supports The Royal Horticultural Society’s National Gardening Week, running from April 27 to May 3.
The family-run firm will deliver a tipper truck load on the morning of Monday, April 27 to Stockton Borough Council’s former incinerator site, available to collect on a first-come, first-served basis. A second load is planned for the following day at the same site beneath the Newport Bridge flyover.
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The donations of compost from Scott Bros have been very popular in previous years and is produced using green waste collected by councils, including Stockton and Middlesbrough.
Processing of the waste occurs at the company’s Norton Bottoms site through windrow composting which creates a nutrient-rich product meeting high-quality PAS 100 standards.
Scott Bros director Bob Borthwick said: “It’s something we always look forward to supporting.
“There’s a real appetite across Teesside for gardening, and it’s great to be able to help people make the most of their outdoor spaces, from gardens and allotments to pots and window boxes.
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“By offering this compost free of charge, we’re also showing how green waste can be recycled into something genuinely useful for the community. If the demand is there, we’ll be back with a second load to make sure as many people as possible can benefit.”
He added: “It’s a practical example of the circular economy in action, turning local waste into a resource that supports healthier soils, stronger plant growth and greener spaces across Teesside.”
This year is the national year of reading, and if you’re a music lover, I urge you to pick one up about your favourite musician. The lives of musicians are often full of highs and lows, which makes for compelling reading. Here are five of my favourites.
1. Fight The Power by Chuck D
Canongate Books
I suppose I shouldn’t really include Fight The Power in my list, given that Chuck D himself says in its prologue that it “damn sure ain’t an autobiography”. He positions himself as a tour guide rather than a protagonist, chaperoning us through the fascinating landscape of 80s and 90s hip-hop. Such guiding means it’s different from your average autobiography. But, intertwined with observations on racial oppression, media bias, politics, violence and religion, we find Chuck D’s life story. And it’s quite the story indeed.
The book moves from a childhood lived against a backdrop of assassinations, chaos and race riots, through his days as the leader of Public Enemy (one of the most revolutionary groups in music history), up to his latest challenge as a father encouraging his daughters to think as independently as possible. An engrossing, page-turning peek behind the curtain of a fascinating character living in a fascinating (albeit often troubling) world.
2. Under the Ivy: The Life and Music of Kate Bush (2024 Omnibus Remastered Edition) by Graeme Thomson
Thomson is forensic in his detail, both in terms of researching Bush’s life (he conducted more than 70 interviews with school friends, band mates, studio collaborators, former managers, producers, musicians, video directors, dance instructors and record company executives), and in analysing her songs, which he does with the keen eye of a music critic. Trying to form a single picture of an artist as enigmatic and complex as Bush is, in Thomson’s words, “like trying to complete a jigsaw when some of the pieces are missing”. And making a coherent, entertaining and informative read from that is an even bigger challenge. Luckily for us, Thomson is up to it.
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3. Things The Grandchildren Should Know by Mark Oliver Everett
book cover
By page four of his autobiography, Eels singer and songwriter Mark Everett (known professionally as “E”) has been attacked with a butcher’s knife, found his 51-year-old father dead in the family home, and told us about how, at 19, he fantasised about driving his car off a bridge. As if this weren’t enough tragedy for one lifetime, E then tells us about his sister’s suicide, the months of nursing his bedridden mother before she eventually succumbed to breast cancer, his flight attendant cousin dying during the Pentagon plane crash on 9/11, the deaths of several close friends, and the numerous rejections of his music.
In other hands, Things The Grandchildren Should Know might have been one of the saddest, most harrowing autobiographies ever written. And it certainly had every right to be. That it somehow succeeds in being one of the most uplifting, positive, and inspirational autobiographies is a testament to both E’s skilful writing, bone-dry sense of humour, and infectious optimism in the face of adversity. I’ve read it at least once a year since its release in 2008, usually in one sitting. It’s one of those books that never fails to raise my spirits. Even if you haven’t heard a single note of Eels’ music, or you don’t normally bother with books about rock or pop stars, this story is so good; it’s a must-read.
Strangely, for all the magic of the now well-known story of the band’s rise to global domination, the real highlight comes toward the end of the book, where Davies details the time he spent at each Beatle’s house. Here we get to see the world’s most celebrated icons behind closed doors, unguarded and relaxed. And the mundanity of it is delicious. There’s Lennon playing with a loose filling before swigging milk straight from the bottle; Ringo pottering around his garden; Paul eating fried eggs, bacon and buttered bread; and George answering the phone pretending to be “Esher Wine Store”.
Skinner makes it clear from the outset that he’s “going to be as honest as the publisher’s lawyers will allow”, but the book is so much more than a warts-and-all account. Much of it focuses on musical inspirations, the craft of songwriting, and his production techniques.
It may come as a surprise to some that The Story of The Streets is written with such intelligence and insight, especially given that Skinner’s lyrics brim with colloquialisms, profanity and ineloquence. But as those of us who’ve followed his career closely will know, this is a man who is able to build character as well as he builds story, and the “everyman” we see portrayed in the Streets’ songs is only the tiniest part of a much more complex person.
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This article features references to books that have been included for editorial reasons, and may contain links to bookshop.org. If you click on one of the links and go on to buy something from bookshop.org The Conversation UK may earn a commission.
Police were first called to reports of suspicious activity in a Cambridgeshire town
Four people have been arrested after a car crash on a Cambridgeshire road. Cambridgeshire Police were called to reports of suspicious activity on Cromwell Road, Wisbech, at around 10.50pm on Sunday (April 19).
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When officers arrived, they found a car crashed on Lerowe Road, Walsoken. No one was injured. Officers arrested four people on suspicion of several offences. These were:
An 18-year-old man from Wisbech has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, possession of a Class A drug, possession of a Class B/C drug, possession of an offensive weapon, fail to stop and escape from lawful custody;
An 18-year-old man from Wisbech has been arrested on suspicion of failing to stop, possession of an offensive weapon and possession of a Class B/C drug;
A 17-year-old boy from Leverington has been arrested on suspicion of failing to stop, possession of an offensive weapon and possession of a Class B/C drug;
An 18-year-old man from Whittlesey has been arrested on suspicion of failing to stop, possession of an offensive weapon, and dangerous driving.
The three men and one boy are currently in custody at King’s Lynn Police Investigation Centre.
Every year when the fixtures are announced you hear the familiar refrain that “it doesn’t matter, you play everyone twice”.
But there is no doubt that when you face a certain team can make a big difference across a 10-month campaign.
With five games remaining, Spurs will definitely think their run-in, at least on paper, gives them every chance of staying up.
Next up is a trip to Wolves, who have long since been looking ahead to Championship football next week.
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A home match against Leeds on 11 May is another they would view as an opportunity, especially if Daniel Farke’s side have beaten Burnley at Elland Road in their previous game and essentially ensured their safety.
Even a tricky looking away match at Champions League-chasing Aston Villa on 3 May comes at a good time for Spurs, as it falls between the two legs of the Europa League semi-final for Unai Emery’s men.
A visit to rivals Chelsea before hosting Everton on the final day is not straightforward way to finish given both teams seem likely to be fighting for the European places.
But given how tight things are, that is something all the relegation candidates with have to deal with.
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West Ham host Everton on Saturday before an away game at Brentford – and it only gets tougher with title-chasing Arsenal the visitors to the London Stadium on 10 May.
Even with Newcastle enduring a disappointing season, an away game at St James’ Park on the penultimate weekend is far from simple and there could be plenty riding on the home match against Leeds on the last day.
Forest arguably face the toughest last five with away games at Chelsea and Manchester United in May – the former coming just three days before the second leg of their Europa League semi-final against Villa.
Home games against Newcastle and Bournemouth, on the last day, could be crucial but getting a result at Sunderland on Friday would help alleviate a lot of stress for Vitor Pereira’s side before the remainder of the run-in.
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