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:
Alexis Mac Allister’s performance could be key against Man City
Former Liverpool midfielder Jan Molby believes the performance of Alexis Mac Allister could be crucial in the top-of-the-table clash with Manchester City.
While the two teams are generally well-matched in most positions, the hosts boast Rodri, who is regarded as the world’s best in the holding role, while Jurgen Klopp has had to field Mac Allister as a makeshift number six.
It is an unfamiliar position for the Argentina World Cup winner, who is more effective in a slightly more advanced role, but he has been asked to do a job as Liverpool’s all-new midfield still takes shape after a summer overhaul.
Alexis Mac Allister’s performance could be key against Man City – Jan Molby
Jurgen Klopp has had to field Mac Allister as a makeshift number six as Liverpool’s all-new midfield still takes shape after a summer overhaul.
Arteta responds to reaching 200 games as Arsenal manager with best winning record
Mikel Arteta will reach 200 games as Arsenal manager with the best winning record in the club’s history.
The Premier League match between Brentford and Arsenal on Saturday 25 November will be the Spaniard’s 200th in charge of the north London club.
Eddie Howe sees no benefit to Newcastle over loans between associated clubs
Eddie Howe has insisted the decision not to introduce a ban which could have prevented Newcastle from loaning players from Saudi clubs is no great advantage to them.
Premier League clubs this week voted against a move to stop members drafting in players on temporary deals from associated clubs – those who share owners – which had been interpreted as a bid to thwart the Magpies, who had been linked with a January move for Al-Hilal’s Ruben Neves.
Newcastle are 80 per cent owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which also has controlling stakes in four Saudi Pro League clubs including Neves’ employers, and the decision means in theory that they could sign loan deals to bolster their squad in the midst of an injury crisis.
Eddie Howe sees no benefit to Newcastle over loans between associated clubs
Premier League clubs voted against a move to stop members drafting in players on temporary deals from associated clubs – those who share owners
Kompany on Burnley’s desire to win
After a tough start to the season, Burnley’s next two fixtures are matches against West Ham and Sheffield United, which bey any metric, are games the Clarets boss Vincent Kompany will have targeted to win.
He was asked if that gives his team extra desperation to start picking up points to which replied: “I hope that being desperate to win is something you always have.
“I don’t feel you can ever go into a game not being fully committed to winning. I’d like to think that is something that really lives in this club.
“The league has been tough for us. It’s just not been easy, whether we’ve played well or had games against teams that are stronger than us. It’s always been a case of adapting to this level.
“I’ve seen signs in the team where I’d like to think the team is really looking forward to games ahead.”
Arteta on facing Brentford
“Two years ago we had a really tough start to the campaign there,” sai Mikel Arteta when previewing Arsenal’s match against Brentford tomorrow.
“We have learnt from that, they are a really tough opponent and it’s a really difficult place to go to. They make it extremely difficult, they are really effective, they are well coached and it will be a tough match.
“With Thomas (Frank), the coaching staff and the club, they are one of the best run clubs in the league.
“I’ve followed them for many years and the things they do with their structure and process alongside their vision is incredible to achieve what they have so credit to them.
“They have achieved to get to this level and have maintained it with so many demands as well.”
Jamie Carragher explains how new Trent Alexander-Arnold role can leave Liverpool vulnerable
Jamie Carragher believes Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool face a ‘tactical puzzle’ when they travel to Manchester City in the Premier League on Saturday.
Liverpool head into the game just one point behind City in the table, but in their last domestic away match, the Reds were fortunate to leave Luton with a point, and cannot afford the same fallibility in Manchester.
On 1 April 2023, City ran out 4-1 winners as Julian Alvarez and Jack Grealish devastated Liverpool in an ultimate display of their class and superiority, but at that point they were also 22 points better off in the table and hunting down Arsenal and yet another league title.
Jamie Carragher explains Trent Alexander-Arnold role can leave Liverpool vulnerable
Jamie Carragher believes new Trent Alexander-Arnold role will be put to the test against Manchester City
Man Utd forward Rasmus Hojlund in race to be fit to face Everton
Rasmus Hojlund has not been ruled out of Manchester United’s Premier League game at Everton on Sunday, but Christian Eriksen will play no part.
United boss Erik ten Hag has issued an injury update on the Denmark pair, who missed out for their country during the international break.
Hojlund (muscle strain) and Eriksen (knee) both sustained injuries in United’s previous top-flight fixture, a 1-0 home win against Luton on November 11.
Man Utd forward Rasmus Hojlund in race to be fit to face Everton
Hojlund (muscle strain) and Eriksen (knee) both sustained injuries in United’s previous top-flight fixture.
‘A win would be massive for the fans’ says Vincent Kompany
Vincent Kompany’s Burnley has lost 10 of their 12 matches since being promoted to the Premier and although the manager has been pleased with some of their performances this season he says that a win against West Ham would go down brilliantly with the fans.
“For the fans and for the surrounding of the club, I can absolutely imagine a win would be massive and would mean so much,” Kompany said.
“But I can’t be here and preach when we lose that we stay calm and we don’t get too emotional but then when we win it’s a carnival. I’ve got the same approach.
“If we win, it will be like any game, there will be things you’ve done well and things you need to improve upon. If you lose it’s the same approach.
“The main thing is to have that belief. If you go through your career or life as a professional athlete and you depend on confidence you’re fooling yourself and you’ll never achieve anything.
“You have to build your own confidence through the right habits and the right behaviour at work and that will remain at the forefront whatever the result.”
Steve Cooper eyeing up strong performance against Brighton
Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper wants to continue his side’s solid start to the season when his team take on Brighton on Saturday.
Forest have taken 13 points from their opening 12 games but Cooper feels they could be even better off.
“I’m sitting here now knowing that we could and should have more points and we missed a couple of good opportunities to take points, but I also know that this time last season we were bottom of the league,” he said at his pre-match press conference.
“Let’s have the motivation to keep trying to improve and pick up more points than what we might have done last season, but also don’t get too carried away and lose sight of where we’ve come from and where we’re at.
“We’ve got to be ready, they’ve got some really good players playing in the brand of football they play and we are aware of that, but we want the most influencing factor of the game to be on our contribution and on what we do.
“If we’re trying to become something and be a certain way, it’s on us to do that and you only do that by sticking to a set of principles week in, week out.”
Premier League risks losing Champions League place after Man Utd and Newcastle form
The Premier League would be at risk of missing out on an extra Champions League place next season should Manchester United and Newcastle United fail to make it out of the group stages of this year’s competition.
The group stages of the Champions League are changing next season with the introduction of a ‘Swiss-style’ format, while four additional teams will be added to take the number of clubs to 36.
That means there will be four extra places up for grabs, with Uefa awarding two of them to the countries who collectively performed best in Europe in the previous season.
Premier League risks losing Champions League place after poor form
The Champions League group stages are set for a major change next season
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