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
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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
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp on West Ham manager David Moyes:
“David is one of the best colleagues. We don’t have time to spend together but actually we spoke over the years a lot before games.
“Like him a lot. Respect him a lot. I think he is doing an incredible job, to be honest. I like the team they have; offensively, really talented. He’s doing a ridiculously good job.
“Jarrod Bowen - I have said a couple of times, one of my favourite players. I like him a lot since he developed.”
Will Liverpool sell Darwin Nunez?
After 33 goals in 92 appearances for Liverpool, should the club be looking to depart with Darwin Nunez this summer?
Jamie Carragher, speaking on Sky Sports, had this to say: “I think there is a question to ask,
“You want him to do well because there is so much that you like because he gives everything, he runs and causes trouble and gets the odd goal and gets an assist.
“But after two years when Liverpool this season are going to the title and those big games, you need your man to score away at Old Trafford, away at Goodison, in the European game at Atalanta. There is no time to waste, this is not October or November. This is the business end.”
Chris Wilder previewing the weekend’s fixtures
Here’s the Sheffield United boss giving an update on his squad plus his thoughts ahead of the weekend:
Being Liverpool boss is the ‘best job in the world'
Jurgen Klopp was asked how to describe what it’s like to manage Liverpool and he said: “Best job on the world. Best club in the world, and helps, obviously, with not finishing on a high, it looks like.
“Great job, great team, fantastic people. [Slot] ‘would’ [Klopp makes quote marks sign with his fingers] be taking a really interesting job.”
Klopp on Arne Slot possibly replacing him:
“I’m not involved in the process, but I like a lot about it it, if he is the one and wants to take the job.
“I like the way his team plays football. All the things I hear about him as a guy - a good guy. Some people I know, know him. I don’t know him, but some people who know him say he’s a good guy. I like that a lot.
“So good coach, good guy. Looking forward for the club, if he is the solution, if he is the man, I am more than happy.”
Klopp on Liverpool’s title race situation:
“Did anyone expect us to become champions at the start of the season? No, but it developed in this direction.
“We go now to Aston Villa, they still have a few points less than us, so we need points still to be definitely [qualified for Champions League places], also Tottenham. Nobody here is happy at all.
“Just to explain how different it is. We cannot go back to the point where we say ‘yeah, well [qualifying for the Champions League] is good enough’.
“It is very good, but because we were so close, we are very, very disappointed in this moment in time. We cannot change that.”
Newcastle want to keep Guimaraes
Here’s Eddie Howe speaking about Bruno Guimaraes’ release clause and the possibility that he could leave in the summer:
Klopp expects West Ham to be stubborn
The Liverpool boss previewed this weekend’s fixture against West Ham saying:
“They are an opponent who, and I’m not 100% sure, are in a similar situation to us, as they have their lost games... properly. So they want, and have to show a reaction.
“We want, and have to show a reaction. So let’s see who can do this better.”
Klopp on Premier League title race
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp on if his side can still be in the fight for the Premier League title: “I cannot sit here and say [Manchester and Arsenal] still feel us around. I think even Arsenal and City see it as a two-horse race. We might have to say something else publicly, but they don’t expect for themselves to lose two games from now on, I don’t think so.
“I don’t expect them to do that. If they do it, then we would be completely silly if we were not around. So, I don’t think it will happen but if it happens, then we should be there. That means we have to win our games - starting with West Ham.”
Jurgen Klopp on recovering from Merseyside derby loss
The Liverpool boss has been speaking this morning about the rest of the season and addressed how his team can recover after losing to Everton last time out.
“It’s definitely a challenge, but it’s part of the job.” he said, “I can’t remember ever being as disappointed or frustrated after a game like I was after Everton.
“I’ve unfortunately lost a lot of games in my life, but it was special. We were not there. You see the other two (Arsenal and Manchester City) playing very positive football, high results, but we are where we are because in this precise area, we don’t play positive football.
“I blame myself for that - 100%. I don’t know why or how it happened, but I’m responsible for the mood the team is in, and this team was not. In general, like I said, we don’t play positive football. It always feels in the end, we are always catching up with something.”
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