Manchester United team news LIVE: Press conference updates as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer speaks ahead of Everton game
Re-live updates from the manager’s press conference this afternoon
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer spoke to the media this afternoon to preview his side’s Premier League clash with Everton.
The Red Devils scraped past Villarreal in the Champions League on Wednesday night, Cristiano Ronaldo’s late winner securing some revenge for United following their Europa League final defeat by the Spanish club at the end of last season. Next up are Rafael Benitez’s Everton, who beat Norwich 2-0 in the Premier League last time out to bounce back from a 3-0 loss to Aston Villa, whose most recent top-flight result was a 1-0 win over United at Old Trafford.
Kortney Hause’s later goal in that game saw United slip to fourth in the Premier League table, though they are level on 13 points with second and third-placed Man City and Chelsea, and they only trail leaders Liverpool by one points. Solskjaer reflected upon the victory over Villarreal and provided updates on the fitness of defenders Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire, as well as forwards Marcus Rashford and Amad Diallo. He also spoke about Donny van de Beek’s frustration over a lack of game time.
Re-live updates from the Manchester United manager’s press conference, below.
Liverpool press conference: Other team news
If Alexander-Arnold is absent, James Milner is likely to continue to deputise at right back and is set to start against his former team.
Roberto Firmino is also in contention after returning in the 5-1 win over Porto, in which he came off the bench to score two goals late on.
Virgil van Dijk is yet to play three matches in a week since returning from his serious knee injury but is expected to stay in the team for such an important match.
Curtis Jones, meanwhile, could be handed another start for the Reds after impressing at both Brentford and Porto, where he was man of the match on Tuesday night.
Liverpool press conference: Trent Alexander-Arnold injury news
Jurgen Klopp is set to give an update on Trent Alexander-Arnold today but barring a late fitness boost the full-back is not expected to be involved on Saturday.
Alexander-Arnold missed the 5-1 win away to Porto on Tuesday and Klopp confirmed afterwards that both he and midfielder Thiago are unlikely to feature.
“No,” Klopp said when asked if he had an update on the pair following the Champions League match.
“No ‘news’ means they are doing well but they won’t have enough time for being back against City, but I expect them both to be back after the international break.
“But we have a good team so we still have solutions and we have to use them and yeah, after the international break the boys will be back I think.”
Liverpool press conference
Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp is set to address the media this afternoon ahead of his team’s Premier League match against Manchester City on Sunday.
The manager is expected to reflect upon the Reds’ victory over Porto in the Champions League from earlier this week, while previewing the meeting with Man City and offering updates on the fitness of some key players. On Tuesday, Liverpool were 5-1 winners away to Porto, with Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino both scoring twice and Sadio Mane rounding out the result. That win extended the side’s unbeaten run at the start of this new season to nine games.
Upcoming opponents Man City have stuttered here and there since the beginning of their campaign, including on Tuesday evening when they were beaten 2-0 by Paris Saint-Germain in the French capital, but Pep Guardiola’s players achieved an impressive 1-0 win against Chelsea in their most recent Premier League outing, dragging themselves into the title race. They sit second in the table on 13 points, one behind leaders Liverpool, who could be without Trent Alexander-Arnold again after his absence in Paris, while Klopp should reveal whether or not Thiago Alcantara can return this weekend from his recent calf injury.
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