Leicester City defender Danny Simpson is hoping the revitalised Foxes will keep up the hard work when they travel to Everton on Sunday, looking for their sixth Premier League win in a row.

Under new manager Craig Shakespeare, Leicester have allayed any fears of becoming the first defending champions to be relegated since 1938 by going on their best run of the season.

Their 2-0 victory over bottom-club Sunderland moved them up to 11th in the table, putting them in a strong frame of mind for their trip to Goodison Park and their Champions League quarter final against Atletico Madrid.

Simpson said: “It’s a great run. We know we can’t take our foot off the gas. We’ve got to keep going.

“A tough away game next and then the Champions League. We’re in good form, the camp is buzzing and we just want to keep this run going.”

Simpson believes Leicester have recovered the squad spirit that guided them to the title last season, after substitutes Marc Albrighton and Islam Slimani made a big impact against Sunderland.

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“It was a tough game and I think the fans got a little anxious,” Simpson said. “But we knew if we kept going we’d get a chance and we would score.

“That’s why we’ve got a squad, Islam (Slimani) and Marc (Albrighton)  came on and changed the game.

“The whole 11 were working and defending as a group. We’ve got that edge again to make sure we don’t concede.”

West Bromwich Albion head coach Tony Pulis is delighted to have Matt Phillips back in the fold.

The winger has made a huge impact in his first season with the Baggies but a hamstring problem has kept him out for the entirety of March.

Many reports had Phillips as a £5m buy by West Brom from QPR last summer but Pulis recently revealed he was cheaper than many had originally thought.

Phillips returned as a half-time substitute at Watford on Tuesday evening and showed glimpses of his old form which could help the Baggies in the run-in.

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Pulis was frustrated with the result at Vicarage Road but picked out Phillips’ return as a consolation and highlighted how key the wide man is.

“That was one good thing to come from the game because it was good to see Matty (Phillips) back on the pitch,” said Pulis.

“I thought he did very well too but he was another who things wouldn’t quite drop for. It was very pleasing to get him back into action and he came through very well.

“He’s been a long time off and it’s a real boost for us because we need that quality wide.”

Defender Ragnar Klavan insists Liverpool’s belief in finishing in the top four in the Premier League hasn’t wavered despite them letting two points slip against Bournemouth in midweek.

The Reds looked on course to extend the gap over the teams chasing them on Wednesday when they led 2-1 at Anfield going into the final stages, only to be left stunned by Joshua King’s late equaliser.

It left them with a six-point cushion over Arsenal and Manchester United, having played two games more than both.

They go into Saturday’s trip to Stoke City after finding out they’ll be without top scorer Sadio Mane for the rest of the season due to a knee injury, but Klavan is staying confident.

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The Estonia international said: “It wasn’t good [against Bournemouth] but there are plenty of games left and we have to keep on fighting and believing.

“We are one team, we always stick together in the good times and the bad times. This is also the reason I believe we can finish in the top four because of the team spirit.

“We know we have had bad luck this season with injuries and stuff but we keep on fighting with that spirit.”

Jose Mourinho is interpreting Manchester United’s propensity for drawing matches this season as a sign of resilience, rather than a reason for their stuttering top-four bid.

United are the Premier League’s current draw specialists, having been held to stalemates at Old Trafford by both West Bromwich Albion and Everton in their last two outings.

However, Mourinho’s men are currently on a 20-match unbeaten run and the Red Devils boss is keen to draw on the positives of that sequence, despite his troops so far failing to make the most of their games in hand on the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool.

“I think it’s a good feeling to know we don’t lose many matches, that we have a fantastic run of 20 games unbeaten in the Premier League,” said the United boss, whose team host Sunderland on Saturday.

“I know, as an example, 10 matches, 10 draws, 10 points, or 10 matches, five victories, five defeats, 15 points – what’s better? The 15 points, obviously.

“But in terms of looking to the future, I prefer to look at 10 matches, 10 draws, because you have something that’s not easy to have.

“You are quite solid mentally, difficult to beat. You fight against difficult circumstances. That kind of mentality of resilience; it’s good to have it.

“But the points are the reality and it would be better for us in 10 matches to have five victories and five defeats.”

AFC Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe reckons that his side need to strike while the iron is hot and take full advantage of their impressive form.

The Cherries, who roll out the red carpet for Premier League champions-elect Chelsea in Saturday’s late kick-off, are unbeaten in five matches and came from behind to draw 2-2 against Liverpool at Anfield in midweek.

Bournemouth are just two points off venturing into the top half of the table and despite Antonio Conte’s Blues serving as a daunting prospect, Howe has called on his troops to ensure that their momentum doesn’t go to waste.

“We’re feeling good. We’re full of confidence at the moment,” said the Vitality Stadium chief.

“Our home form’s been very good. We’ve won our last two and performed well away in the last two as well.

“If we can continue that momentum, we have a chance against Chelsea.

“At the start of the season, it was all about getting over 42 points, our total from last season, and that’s still the aim.”

Bournemouth have beaten West Ham United and Swansea City in their last two home outings and Howe has requested that Cherries supporters play their part to give his side the best chance of upsetting Chelsea.

The Bournemouth boss added: “I’m content in the sense that we’ve done well up to now but our away from hasn’t been as good, so it’s evened itself out.

“The atmosphere has been special in the last two home games and the supporters have been tremendous, so I ask for them to be like that again.”

Walter Mazzarri has challenged his players to get as many points as possible from their remaining league games.

After two wins on the bounce Watford, with 37 points, are nearing safety but still have eight games left of the Premier League season to play.

The Hornets currently sit 10^th in the table, with nine points separating them from the bottom three, and travel to White Hart Lane on Saturday for the lunchtime kick-off against Tottenham Hotspur.

And Mazzarri has told his players they still have everything to play for ahead of the clash against Mauricio Pochettino’s title-chasing Spurs.

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“First we must be mathematically safe,” said Mazzarri. “Of course our target is to remain in the Premier League, but I always tell my players to never be satisfied.

“There are no limits for me. We must play every match as a final. We’ve got 24 points to play for and we want to go as high as possible for two reasons.

“First it is a question of having a winning mentality, and we will also see for next season who deserves to stay in the squad.

“Now that we have reached 37 points and we are eight games from the end of the season, my players can play more freely, they can be calmer and they have more room to play.”

Mark Hughes has calmed fears Stoke City are being dragged into a relegation fight, insisting their woeful run of form needs to be taken into context after a tough stretch of games.

Fans are calling for the Welshman’s head after Stoke slumped to their third straight defeat against Burnley in midweek – with frustrations on the verge of boiling over as a disappointing season draws to a close.

The Potters sit 12th but have not beaten a single side starting the match in the top-half side since 2015 and, with just 33 goals from 31 games, Hughes is reportedly fighting  for his job.

But Hughes insists Stoke’s poor form is down to a tricky run of games, which has included clashes with Chelsea, Manchester City and defending champions Leicester City.

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On Saturday, they face Liverpool in what could be a pivotal match in Stoke’s season – as they try to extend the eight-point gap to the bottom three.

“I feel as though our run needs to be put into context given the quality of opposition we have been up against in recent weeks,” said Hughes.

“You could say that arguably this set of fixtures is the most difficult we’ve had this season and that continues obviously with the game against Liverpool tomorrow.

“We’ve gone through fixtures against Manchester City, Chelsea, Leicester City who are in resurgent form and Burnley away which is always difficult because their home record is strong, and it’s allowed us to drop a couple of positions in the league.

“Obviously other teams have benefited from less severe runs so hopefully now we can start picking up points and sides around us start to drop them because their fixture list will be as strong as ours has been in recent weeks.”

Burnley striker Sam Vokes believes his squad’s strength in depth will aid the Clarets’ bid to avoid relegation in the coming weeks.

The Clarets are seven points clear of the drop zone with 35 points after beating Stoke City 1-0 on Tuesday night.

And Vokes, who made just his second league start since December 14 against the Potters, is determined to make the most of his chance now he is back in the side with team mates Andre Gray and Ashley Barnes also competing for places in the side.

Burnley face a trip to Middlesbrough on Saturday and Sean Dyche’s side will know just how hard they are fighting to retain their Premier League status having been in a similar position two years ago.

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“There is a lot of competition and Dre and Barnesy have been doing well so it was nice to get the shout,” said Vokes.

“Obviously when I get the shout it’s all about working hard and trying to keep that place. There’s lots of competition and it’s a squad thing to try and see this job out.

“We fully believe in the dressing room that we’ve got enough to stay up and this win reassures that. We’ve still got a job to do to finish it but that win takes us a long way.

“That’s what it’s all about this time of year. People will be looking elsewhere at other results but for us we’ve just got to put points on the board.”

Ben Gibson insists Middlesbrough will keep fighting for their Premier League lives, despite sitting seven points from safety after defeat to Hull.

Aitor Karanka was fired last month, but caretaker manager Steve Agnew hasn’t been able to turn things around with Boro having not won in the league since December.

Their survival hopes took a massive hit this week when they were hammered 4-2 by relegation rivals Hull, and they now trail the Tigers by seven points.

It’s been a mixed season for Gibson, who was called into the England squad by Gareth Southgate in February but hasn’t been able to arrest Boro’s slide.

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And the defender admits he has to taken some of the blame for the loss to Hull with just eight games left to save their Premier League status.

“It’s about the team and we won’t stop fighting,” he said. “There’s eight games and 24 points still to fight for.

“It was a big blow at Hull, but we have to get on with it quickly. It’s a massive game against Burnley now.

“We won’t stop believing and won’t stop fighting.

“We’re used to being solid, and we weren’t. I’ll hold my hands up, I’ve got to do better for some of the goals.

“We tried to be more expansive and creative up the pitch, and changed the shape. But ultimately, we didn’t do our jobs defensively and without the ball, and we have to resolve that quickly. “

Defender Gary Cahill is expecting second-placed Tottenham Hotspur to push his Chelsea side right to the bitter end in the race for the Premier League title.

The Blues remained on course for their second league trophy in three seasons with a hard-fought 2-1 over Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night that effectively knocked their opponents out of contention.

For a long time, however, it looked as though their lead at the top would be increased to ten points, with Tottenham trailing until the 88th minute of their match against Swansea City.

But an amazing finish saw Spurs score three goals in the final moments to keep their own title hopes alive with eight games of the season left.

Cahill said: “We expect that Tottenham are going to push us all the way.

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“They are never going to give up and we know that, so we just have to look after ourselves. We need to look at what we are doing and win our games.

“We have to show the same commitment and work-rate as against Manchester City, and also the ability.

“We match everyone doing the dirty stuff in the game – the hard work, the running back and the concentration.

“Our ability should take care of itself. We have some great players, we need to keep focused, we need to worry about what we are doing and try to get the job done.”