The raucous atmosphere generated at Selhurst Park can drive Crystal Palace towards Premier League safety, according to Jason Puncheon.

The winger will captain the Eagles on Sunday in their relegation showdown against Hull City.

Palace go into the match off the back of three straight defeats, which have left them just four points clear of the Tigers going into this weekend’s huge encounter.

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And Puncheon, who has been at the club since 2014, compared Sunday’s clash to Palace’s relegation showdown against Norwich City last season, a match they won 1-0 thanks to the winger’s fine strike.

“This is my fourth season at the club and there have been lots of big moments similar to what is ahead of us on Sunday, and it is important, as players, that we take the positives out of our recent good run going into the game,” the 30-year-old said.

“It can be looked at like a cup final as once that game is done, we only have the one left and it’s a similar scenario to our home game against Norwich City last season, and I would certainly take scoring another goal like I did that day.”

Calling on the fans to play their part, Puncheon believes the Selhurst Park crowd could swing the pendulum in Palace’s favour.

He said: “We always know that the fans will be there for us and being our 12th man on the day this weekend can be crucial.

“The match has been a sell-out for some time and we all know that extra bit of support can carry you through.”

Swansea’s Leon Britton has revealed that the players have paid for every away fan to receive a free meal at the Stadium of Light on Saturday, as well as paying for each of the 3,000 match tickets.

The Swans travel to take on relegated Sunderland in a crucial fixture in the club’s battle to avoid the drop.

Paul Clement’s side sit in 17th place, one point above Hull City and three points behind Crystal Palace with two games remaining.

And club captain Britton said the players have made the gesture to repay the fans for their support, and also ensure a noisy away section for the all-important game.

“We thought it would be a good idea if we could get as many fans as possible to Sunderland,” said Britton.

“It has been a difficult season for everyone at the football club, especially the supporters.

“We’ve had three managers and have gone through some rough periods, we wanted to show how appreciative we are of their support.

“The effect the crowd had on us last weekend was very influential, and hopefully we will have that same effect on Saturday.

“It’s the moments when you feel the opposition are getting on top or maybe a player or two are getting a little tired – that’s when hearing the fans singing your name or singing about the team really gives you some extra energy.”

Middlesbrough may have already been relegated but they must sign off on a high in their final home game of the season, according to George Friend.

Boro were relegated on Monday by champions-elect Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, to consign Steve Agnew’s side back to the Championship after just one season in the Premier League.

With relegation confirmed, the Reds face Southampton at the Riverside before heading to Anfield on the final day of the season.

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And the defender has called on his side to produce a performance to be proud of in front of their home support.

“You have to have a reaction,” said Friend.

“You have to give it everything for the last two games then over the summer review what’s gone wrong.”

The 29-year-old urged his fellow players to play for their own pride and revealed he has been honoured to represent the nort east side.

He said: “You play for pride, you play because you’re a professional and to play for Middlesbrough should be an honour.

“Any of the 30,000 fans at the Riverside would play for nothing and we’re paid to do it. It’s important to realise that you’re a professional and you have to get on with your job.

“The fans deserve us to go out there and give it a go.”

Yaya Toure’s agent has called on Manchester City fans to bring cakes to the Etihad for Saturday’s game with Leicester.

Toure turns 34 on Saturday and his agent Dimitri Seluk is keen for City fans to mark what is likely to be his final season at the club by celebrating the Ivoirian’s birthday.

Back in 2014 Seluk prompted fears that Toure could leave City due to a lack of appreciation, citing the failure to give a midfielder a birthday cake as proof of his mistreatment.

Pep Guardiola left Toure out of his matchday squads earlier this season after another spat, and is yet to hand the player a contract at the Etihad beyond the summer.

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Seluk said: “The City fans should all bring cakes to the game to show Yaya how much they love him.

“It looks like this will be Yaya’s final season with City and I think he deserves a special goodbye from the people of Manchester.

“What happened three years ago was a joke that was misunderstood. I think everybody will be able to laugh about it if supporters gave him a cake for this birthday.

“Yaya loves City and he loves the fans. When he came, City could only dream about winning the Premier League and playing in the Champions League – and he has made those dreams come true.”

Leicester defender Yohan Benalouane will look for ‘something more’ against Manchester City on Saturday, after the Foxes guaranteed themselves Premier League football next season with a win over Watford last weekend.

The 30-year-old is pleased with the side’s recent performances which have seen Craig Shakespeare’s side jump to ninth in the table.

Victory at the Etihad Stadium would bring Leicester’s 13^th win of the season, but they face a formidable opponent and Pep Guardiola’s men showed the extent of their attacking prowess against Crystal Palace, soundly defeating them 5-0 last time out.

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However, Benalouane insists the Foxes will work hard to secure a top-half finish in their final three games, building on their impressive 3-0 victory over the Hornets.

“We have to be confident because we are in a good moment,” he said.

“It was a very good game because we’re now safe and that was the objective for the team.

“Now the objective is done so we have to think about the next game and about doing something more.

“In life and in football you always have to do something more. It is something good for me and it’s always a pleasure – I hope to continue in this way.

“I have to work a lot. When you work a lot you always have a result.”

Spurs midfielder Eric Dier has urged his team-mates not to be overawed by the occasion when the Lilywhites host Manchester United in their final match at White Hart Lane on Sunday.

The North London side will demolish their stadium at the end of the season, which has stood for more than 100 years, and the club are due to play their home games at Wembley next season.

Dier is determined to finish the season on a high, with his team having faltered at this stage last term.

(Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images)

“It’s going to be a very difficult game. We’ve got to play the match and not the occasion, but obviously we want to win so that we can enjoy the ceremony at the end to the fullest extent,” said Dier, who is reportedly a transfer target for the Red Devils.

“White Hart Lane is somewhere where I’ve learned a lot and gone through some great times – some not-so good times as well – but it will always be a very special place for me and all the players who have played there.

“Our aim was to win every game until the end of the season. We have to be ready to go again. We are trying to finish the season strongly.

“After the way we finished last season, we want to put that right this season. We need to bounce back in the right way and finish well.”

The final two games of Southampton’s season will have a big say on whether it is viewed as a success or a failure and Maya Yoshida is desperate to end on a high.

The Saints’ mid-week loss to Arsenal means they have now not won in five games and a top-half finish is not guaranteed.

In fact Claude Puel’s side can still finish as low as 16^th or as high as eighth in the league this season.

But this weekend they face already-relegated Middlesbrough and Yoshida is hoping he and his teammates have turned the corner.

“There are still three games to go and we haven’t won in five games so it’s very important to end that against Middlesbrough, especially because they’re relegated already,” he said.

“It’s important to finish the season strongly now because there’s still a chance to get 8th place or in the top half of the table.

(Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images)

“We should try to get there and I still think we have a good opportunity to do that.

“We have to recover quickly and show a good performance against Middlesbrough.

“Sometimes it’s difficult to play a team who have been relegated and now they’re free of pressure.”

Ambitious Michail Antonio has set his sights on helping West Ham United into the Champions League after penning a new contract at the London Stadium.

The versatile 27-year-old, who began his senior career with non-league Tooting & Mitcham United, has signed a new four-year deal with the Hammers but is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Antonio’s performances for Slaven Bilic’s side have seen him earn two England call-ups – although he has yet to earn his first cap – and he is dreaming of helping the Hammers to European football’s top table.

“I’m a very ambitious person. One thing I want to do is play Champions League and me signing this contract now, in my prime years, is showing that I believe West Ham can get in to the Champions League spots,” he said.

(Photo by Michael Regan – The FA/The FA via Getty Images)

“I believe that we can push on and that we can be involved in the top four, and that is my mission and something I’m hoping we achieve.

“This year has been a better year than last year because I’ve played from start to finish and I managed to get the England call-up I’ve been dreaming of since I was a child.

“Hopefully I can keep pushing on and doing even better, because I always want to do better than I have done previously.”

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is lamenting the loss of Eric Bailly for this month’s Europa League final after the defender’s red card against Celta Vigo.

The combative 23-year-old centre-back has impressed at United since his big-money summer move from Villarreal, but the Ivory Coast international lost his cool in Thursday night’s semi-final second leg and was sent off by referee Ovidiu Hațegan.

Bailly and Celta goalscorer Facundo Roncaglia were both red-carded for raising their arms during a heated clash late in the game, meaning that the United man will be suspended for the final against Ajax at the Friends Arena in Stockholm on Wednesday, May 24.

Mourinho, who believed Bailly was shown ‘the wrong card’, is none too pleased at the prospect of having to do without the defender when United aim to lift the only major trophy they have never won.

“I didn’t see the incident but he was phenomenal. The game was emotional until the end for everyone,” said the United boss.

(Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

“Some kept their control in a better way than others – and I think it was the wrong card.

“The wrong card is not new in this kind of situation and probably, Eric was a bit naive.

“I don’t know [the details of] the incident but we have lost a very important player for the final and we don’t have many.”

Mourinho added: “The boys didn’t play a phenomenal match but they fought. They gave everything they had to give and I’m really pleased for them because 14 matches and we are in the final; so it’s good.”

Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum has called on his teammates to keep a cool head as they look to finish in the Premier League top four.

The Reds are currently third in the table with a four-point cushion over Arsenal – who have a game in hand – in fifth, and take on West Ham United on Sunday.

Jurgen Klopp’s side know winning their final two league matches will secure Champions League football for next season, with the Hammers on Sunday and Middlesbrough the following week standing in their way.

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Dutchman Wijnaldum, who joined Klopp’s side from Newcastle United in a £23 million deal last summer, believes a relaxed mental approach to the games is critical for the Reds to keep their nerve and get themselves over the line.

“I think we have to be relaxed in mind and not create a thought like ‘we have to win, we have to win, we have to win’, because there are some things we’re not in control of,” the 26-year-old said.

“You have to think of a lot of things to win a game, because you play against a team who will not want to lose, so I think it’s better to keep your thoughts on your own performance and the performance of the team.

“I have the confidence that if we do that, the chance will be bigger that we can win than if we think ‘we have to win the game’, because then you put pressure on yourself that’s useless.”