Premier League news LIVE: Latest press conference updates as Jurgen Klopp responds to Liverpool defeat

Liverpool are in action in the Premier League’s early kick-off following defeat to Everton at Goodison Park in midweek

Pep Guardiola urges Manchester City to remain focused for title run-in

Manchester City closed the gap to Premier League leaders Arsenal to just one point after strolling to a 4-0 win over Brighton last night, and now Liverpool prepare to head to West Ham United as Jurgen Klopp’s side bid to keep their fading title challenge alive.

The Reds are in action in the Premier League’s early kick-off on Saturday, after Klopp conceded that Liverpool require City and Arsenal to have a “crisis” in order to win the title in his last season in charge following defeat to Everton at Goodison Park on Wednesday.

It’s been a busy week off the pitch for Liverpool, too, with Arne Slot confirming that he is interested in the Anfield hotseat after the Reds opened talks with Feyenoord for the Dutchman.

There’s also a North London derby to build up to, as Arsenal travel to Tottenham Hotspur looking to keep their title challenge on track. Anything other than a victory would give the champions the chance to go top, with a game in hand, as Pep Guardiola’s side head to Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

We’ll have the Premier League news and updates from today’s pre-match press conferences ahead of the weekend’s fixtures

Premier League news LIVE: Latest updates

• Premier League latest build-up after Man City close gap on Arsenal
• Pep Guardiola’s side thrashed Brighton 4-0 last night
• Jurgen Klopp speaks at 11:30am ahead of Liverpool’s trip to West Ham
• Mikel Arteta previews Arsenal’s North London derby against Tottenham at 1:30pm

[26 April 2024 17:30 · Mike Jones]

Pep Guardiola urges Manchester City to remain focused for title run-in

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said Liverpool’s surprise derby defeat to Everton served as a warning to his players ahead of a 4-0 thrashing of Brighton.

City moved a point behind Premier League leaders Arsenal and leapfrogged Jurgen Klopp’s side into second spot thanks to Phil Foden’s double and goals from Kevin De Bruyne and Julian Alvarez.

A thumping south-coast success came 24 hours after Liverpool lost further ground in the title race by suffering a 2-0 loss to their Merseyside rivals at Goodison Park on the back of a shock 1-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace earlier this month.

Guardiola, whose reigning champions have a game in hand over their two closest rivals, insists the Reds remain contenders and acknowledges City are also susceptible to slipping up during the run-in.

[26 April 2024 17:15 · Mike Jones]

Manchester City close the gap on leaders Arsenal with clinical performance against Brighton

Manchester City closed the gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal to a single point after Phil Foden’s first-half double helped inspire a resounding 4-0 victory over Brighton.

Kevin De Bruyne’s eye-catching diving header set Pep Guardiola’s reigning champions on course for a comprehensive success at a soggy Amex Stadium.

City, who have a game in hand on the table-topping Gunners, were in complete control by the break as Foden moved past 50 top-flight goals with a quick-fire brace, before Julian Alvarez completed the rout in the second period.

[26 April 2024 17:00 · Mike Jones]

Rooney on Klopp leaving Liverpool

Here’s more from Wayne Rooney, speaking on Sky Sports: “Players will look at that [Klopp leaving in the summer] and see that as their way of getting out as well. They’ll be speaking to other clubs, we know that happens.

“It might have got leaked, he might have had those discussions with Liverpool and someone got hold of it (the story), so he had to announce it. I’m not saying it’s his fault.

“It’s just the timing that it came out. I think that will have definitely had an affect on some of those players.”

[26 April 2024 16:50 · Mike Jones]

Rooney reacts to Everton win

Wayne Rooney was a guest on Sky Sports last night and gave his opinion on his former club’s victory over Liverpool saying: “Everton went through a difficult period, for a couple of months really, where they didn’t get results. They had the points deduction and the fans were getting frustrated.

“But the fans here, all they want to see is hard work, dedication and [players] playing for the shirt. You do that, they’ll accept it, [even if] sometimes you lose the game. They showed that tonight, and they’ve got some really good players. This will give them a lot of belief moving forward and I think Sean Dyche has done a fantastic job because I know first hand it’s not easy when you get a points deduction.

“He’s managed those players and the club, and got them through the other side. Hopefully over the next two or three years we’ll start to see some stability.”

[26 April 2024 16:42 · Mike Jones]

Daniel Sturridge speaking to Sky Sports about Jurgen Klopp’s reaction to Everton defeat

“You could see that he was deflated. He seemed as if he analysed the performance now, being in it. He probably feels like the players let themselves down, with how big the game was for them.

“He talked about the set-piece [that Everton scored from], that they knew about it and had prepared for it but [Everton] still managed to score from it.

“That’s when you are really disappointed. As a coach, when you’ve set your team up to be in a particular style, that ‘we want to stop this’, and when you see it come to light you’re thinking ‘lads, we prepared for that’.”

[26 April 2024 16:34 · Mike Jones]

Pep Guardiola hails Manchester City’s mental endurance across packed schedule

Pep Guardiola has marvelled at the mental strength of his Manchester City squad, praising their refusal to “fall down” despite a gruelling schedule.

Thursday’s Premier League trip to Brighton will be their 53rd match of a season which started with the Community Shield on August 6 and has included the European Super Cup against Sevilla, the Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia and a run to the FA Cup final next month.

Last week they bowed out of the Champions League in a draining quarter-final penalty shootout against Real Madrid, but Guardiola is full of pride for the way his side have stayed up for the three-way title fight with Arsenal and Liverpool.

[26 April 2024 16:22 · Mike Jones]

Oliver Glasner on his side’s back-to-back wins:

“Of course we hoped that it would happen. Now, the performances are really good, but it’s the same, it’s not [certain] that it happens again in the future, so you always have to deserve it, you always have to work on it.

“This is what I mentioned before, the players give us the confidence because they are listening. Every day we were sitting here and having a meeting and showing them videos and nobody was sleeping, so that gives us good feedback!

“This is the basic for a good relationship and for success. This we could feel from the first day, that they are good characters. This I’ve mentioned very often and I wouldn’t do if I don’t feel it. So the basement is built, but it’s just the basement.

“Now we have 39 points and I think it shouldn’t be our target to say ‘39 points, oh well done, staying in the Premier League’ because then I would say ‘come on guys, go wherever you want and take vacations’ – but no.

“We want to improve, we want to win games, and we have the next chance tomorrow at Fulham.”

[26 April 2024 16:18 · Mike Jones]

Fulham boss Marco Silva on facing Crystal Palace:

“When you change your manager, you get a reaction. I have huge respect for [previous manager] Roy [Hodgson] and everything he has done for the football club.

“The job [Glasner] is doing is strong. His impact for the club is clear to see with the way they play. Young players like [Eberechi] Eze and Michael [Olise] - when they are at their top level they can compete against any team.

“It’s going to be a really good challenge for us.”

[26 April 2024 16:11 · Mike Jones]

Luton manager Rob Edwards on the relegation battle: “

“The stakes are high already, we all know what it means and it’s really important to everyone that’s in this at the moment, a number of clubs that are still fighting to try and avoid it and be in the league next season, it’s so important.

“Everyone wants to try and stoke the fire I think. We’ve got a title race on at one end and obviously there’s a relegation battle we’re involved in. It’s exciting, It’s good that we’re in the fight and we’ve got a chance to get out of it, but really, all I am concerned about right now is our performance tomorrow.”

[26 April 2024 16:04 · Mike Jones]

Marcus Rashford ‘needs Manchester United’s support’ as Erik ten Hag issues backing

Erik ten Hag says Manchester United will support Marcus Rashford after the forward took to social media to highlight the “months of abuse” he has been the target of this season.

Rashford has scored just eight goals for United this season after reaching the 30-goal mark in all competitions for Ten Hag’s side last year.

United have collectively endured a tough campaign this season and Ten Hag acknowledged that Rashford “can do better” after setting such high standards last season.