Premier League news LIVE: Erling Haaland latest and injury updates from today’s press conferences
The Premier League is back following the international break as Manchester City’s clash with Liverpool kicks off the weekend’s fixtures
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard and Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana are set to be fit as the Premier League returns from the November international break this weekend.
All three players withdrew or were absent from their international squads over the past fortnight but are set to be available for their respective fixtures. Haaland was considered to be an injury doubt after picking up a knock in Norway’s friendly win against the Faroe Islands, but Pep Guardiola is hopeful he will be ready to face Liverpool in Saturday’s top-of-the table clash.
The battle between Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp kicks off when should be a fascinating run of fixtures leading up to Christmas and beyond. Along with the fight for first place, there’s the battle for fourth with Aston Villa, Manchester United, Newcastle and Brighton all chasing down Tottenham who currently sit in the final Champions League place. Villa face Spurs this weekend while United host Everton.
Speaking of the Toffees, they are once again in the midst of a relegation battle having been deducted 10-points for breaking the Premier League’s financial rules. The deduction sees them drop down to 19th above Burnley, and puts them two points away from safety.
Follow along for the latest updates and injury news from the Premier League:
Ten Hag on atmosphere at Goodison Park
“We will step forward in that [these environments]. This season we have made good steps with our away form and we have a strong belief. We know what we have to do to have the platform to win games.”
Dyche on Everton’s siege mentality
“I’ve always believed the final league table is the truth of the season. I’m not going to change that,” said Sean Dyche when continuing to speak about the points deduction.
“I’ve told the lads it changes the viewpoint but it doesn’t change what we’re doing. It enhances what we’re doing. We have to go harder and stronger and longer. They are the rules of football.”
Klopp on Mo Salah
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp on Mo Salah’s scoring record for the club and whether he can improve: “Of course he can improve, but that’s all about consistency. We ask for it from him and he expects it from us.
“Of course he can [improve] but its not really about that, it’s about how he gained that experience over the years, that he knows more about the game. Now the experience and dealing with situations, he’s a completely different player.
“It’s really good that his team-mates look up to him and he’s really supportive of them, and having still this desire to score, it makes him who he is and that makes him special. Long may it continue.”
Mohamed Salah ‘a completely different animal’ for Liverpool ahead of facing rivals Man City
Jurgen Klopp has described Mohamed Salah as a “completely different animal” to the player he signed in 2017 and said the Egyptian is determined to improve again.
Salah will bring up 200 goals for Liverpool – a feat only four players have ever achieved – if he scores twice when they face league leaders Manchester City on Saturday.
And the Liverpool manager feels Salah is showing the work ethic to get better, while praising him for the way he has helped his fellow forward Darwin Nunez settle into life at Anfield and form a “pretty special partnership”.
Mohamed Salah ‘a completely different animal’ for Liverpool before Man City clash
The Egyptian is two goals away from reaching 200 for the Reds and manager Jurgen Klopp believes the forward can still improve
Everton team news and injury updates
Everton manager Sean Dyche on team news for Sunday’s match: “Amadou Onana, with his calf, I don’t think it will be right. He’s still sore.
“Ben Godfrey, Seamus Coleman and Michael Keane all played in midweek, that’s good, getting them some minutes.
“When you’ve had a long-term injury, that 90 minutes is the final marker really. It’s good for them to get as many minutes away along with the lads getting minutes on international duty.
“Andre Gomes is back on the grass. He’s had a very frustrating season. He just needs some games.
“And Dele Alli, it’s good to see him back on the grass. We’re still tentative at the moment with the sports science side of things. He’s joined in a couple of warm-ups so he’s just feeling himself back in. It will be really pleasing if we can get him back.”
Klopp on rivalry with Man City
“The rivalry I don’t know, you’ll have to ask people. For us in a sports point of view its one of the difficult games you can play since years, since I’ve been here probably.
“From a football point of view we needed some time to become rivals on the pitch.”
More from Guardiola
Pep Guardiola was asked what punishment Manchester City would need to receive to make him consider his future. He said: “It’s a good question. I will answer when I have the sentence.
“You’re questioning me like we have been punished. At the moment we are innocent. I know people want it. I feel it. But wait and see, when the sentence is done and after I will sit and explain.
“There is more chance I will stay if we are in League One than if we win the Champions League.
“It’s two different cases, it’s not the same. One of them is longer, it’s more complicated. Wait. After the sentence, I will answer the questions.”
Guardiola address City’s 115 charges from the Premier League
Man City boss Pep Guardiola was asked about Everton’s points deduction and what that could mean for his team in regards to their 115 charges:
“Why should I not believe? It’s the lawyers to make the defence in front of the judge,” he said, “I didn’t change my opinion, we wait and after we accept the resolutions.
“I’m not going to say one word about Everton because I don’t know the reality of what happened. They are two completely different cases. I know people are saying why don’t City go to the Conference but let’s wait.
“It’s two different cases, it’s not the same. One of them is longer, it’s more complicated.”
Everton boss Sean Dyche on the 10-point deduction
Everton manager Sean Dyche addressed his teams points deduction straight away in his pre match press conferenc saying:
“I think like everyone in these parts is, we’re shocked. Seemingly the wave of noise after that was most people in football were shocked.
“The enomority of it. Disproportinate is a word that has been used by the club.
“Obviously we’re going to feel aggrieved by that. On the other hand it doesn’t change the focus. The focus since I’ve been here has been about sorting things out on the pitch.
“Getting the team to win, getting the team to feel different, performances to be different. We were obviously on the right lines for that and delivering strong performances I felt.
“This has given us a push backwards to come forwards again. The job hasn’t changed for me. It’s obviously made it a bit more difficult until the appeal of course.”
Dyche then said that the team was determined to make things right on the pitch adding: “I spoke to the group and said ‘look the league table is a thing’. I don’t change my story often, I’ve always believed the final league table is the truth of the season. I’m not going to change that now.
“It changes the viewpoint but it doesn’t change what we’re doing. In fact it enhances what we’re doing. We’ve just got to go harder for longer and stronger. This is what it is.
“It’s been more about refocus than anything. The group have been really good I must say. The characters we’ve got. Seamus Coleman is a good voice. Ashley Young has excellent experience. James Tarkowski, Jordan Pickford, all the senior boys are rallying.
“It is what it is, let’s get on with it. There have been plenty of challenges since I’ve got here. This is the next one.”
Klopp on players returning from international break
“We have 12 different players, they all came back from the international break,” said Klopp when speaking about his team selection to face Man City.
“The decision to play players, I will have to wait until training. I can talk to them, figure out who is ready to start and who is better to bring on [later in the game].
“They’ve all, nearly all, had a good international break. You want to use them as often as possible. But if its possible, I don’t know at the moment.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments