Premier League news LIVE: Arsenal and Man City injury updates, Liverpool latest after Xabi Alonso blow
Mikel Arteta, Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp will be speaking today as the Premier League returns this weekend
The Premier League returns this weekend with one of the biggest games of the season as Manchester City host title rivals Arsenal at the Etihad.
Mikel Arteta’s side return from the international break at the top of the table as they look to win a first Premier League title in 20 years, but an immediate visit to champions City will be the ultimate test of their ambitions.
Arsenal have not won at the Etihad in nine years, as both teams await crucial injury updates ahead of the match. Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli have yet to train after the international break, while John Stones and Kyle Walker have been ruled out after both picked up injuries while on England duty.
Liverpool will have the chance to return to the Premier League summit when they host Brighton on Sunday, but the Reds have been dealt a blow after Xabi Alonso, their leading candidate to replace Jurgen Klopp, was ruled out of contention for the Anfield job.
Alonso has since confirmed that he will remain with Bayer Leverkusen, with the Spaniard also turning down the chance to manage Bayern Munich. Follow all the latest Premier League team news and injury updates from today’s press conferences as the top-flight returns this weekend
Mikel Arteta on Arsenal team news
Mikel Arteta says there is a “chance” that Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, and Gabriel are fit to face Manchester City on Sunday.
“There is a chance. They haven’t trained but tomorrow we have another session.”
Xabi Alonso explains decision to stay at Bayer Leverkusen next season
Xabi Alonso has confirmed he has decided to stay with Bayer Leverkusen next season - rejecting the chance to manage former clubs Liverpool and Bayern Munich - as the Spaniard said he is in the “right place to develop as a coach”.
Alonso has taken Leverkusen to the brink of their first ever Bundesliga title, with the club unbeaten this season and 10 points clear of Bayern with eight games remaining. With Leverkusen also in the semif-finals of the German Cup and through to the quarter-finals of the Europa League, Alonso was seen as the outstanding candidate for a number of top vacancies this summer and is viewed as the best young coach in Europe.
Jurgen Klopp backed the “exceptional” Alonso as his top choice to replace him at Anfield once the German departs at the end of the season, while Bayern also wanted Alonso with Thomas Tuchel set to depart in May. Alonso won major trophies with both clubs, as well as Real Madrid, where he has also been linked once Carlo Ancelotti departs.
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Xabi Alonso explains decision to stay at Bayer Leverkusen next season
Alonso had the choice between Liverpool and Bayern Munich, but will remain with Leverkusen
Xabi Alonso confirms he will stay at Bayer Leverkusen
Xabi Alonso has officially confirmed that he will be staying at Bayer Leverkusen next season.
The Spaniard, who had been linked to former clubs Liverpool and Bayern Munich, told a press conference:
“There has been a lot of speculation around my future, we have been busy and focused and I wanted the international break to reflect a bit better. I had a very good meeting with the decision makers, and I decided to stay at Bayer Leverkusen.
“I feel this is the right place to develop as a coach. I have to feel it, and right now I feel this is the right place… my job is not over here.”
Manchester United ‘very proud’ of Kobbie Mainoo, says Erik ten Hag
Erik ten Hag has revealed Lisandro Martinez could return for Manchester United when they travel to Brentford this weekend, while the manager praised Kobbie Mainoo’s impact for England after winning player of the match on his full debut against Belgium.
“Of course, it’s great for the academy of Manchester United to bring up a player so young going into the national team, it’s a big compliment for the whole club,” Ten Hag said. “For himself because he did it but also all the ones who worked with him during his time in the academy, it’s very good news for Manchester United.
“Yes, but we have discussed this before. So far, he handles it very well and if he crosses the line, of course, I as a manager, we as coaches, will interfere.
“But so far it is not necessary because he wants to play football, he wants to win, he wants to give his best every day because he wants to improve, he just wants to have fun on the pitch.”
Pep Guardiola reveals Man City team news ahead of Arsenal clash
Manchester City will be without Kyle Walker and John Stones for their crucial clash against Arsenal as the champions were hit with a double injury blow after both defenders were hurt playing for England.
Pep Guardiola expects his captain Walker to be sidelined for longer than Stones, but is waiting to discover how long each will spend on the sidelines.
But Manuel Akanji, who missed training on Thursday, should be fit to take one of the spots in defence and Ederson is set to return in goal after suffering a thigh injury in the draw against Liverpool.
“Kyle and John are out,” said Guardiola. “It is what it is. [The injury for] Kyle [is] tougher than [for] John but I don’t know how many games.”
Pep Guardiola confirms John Stones and Kyle Walker blow ahead of Man City vs Arsenal
Both Stones and Walker limped off while playing for England this week, but Ederson and Kevin De Bruyne are set to be available for the title clash
Pep Guardiola avoids question on John Stones’s England use
Pep Guardiola was asked about Gareth Southgate giving John Stones two England starts in the space of four days, after the centre-back had just returned from an injury layoff.
But the Manchester City manager replied: “I haven’t got any comments about that”.
Ederson and Kevin De Bruyne could feature against Arsenal
There was better news for the Manchester City manager with goalkeeper Ederson “much, much better” having recovered from a knock picked up in the 1-1 draw at Liverpool earlier this month.
While Kevin De Bruyne, who was devastating in both games against Arsenal last season, is available after returning to training this week.
Pep Guardiola confirms John Stones and Kyle Walker blow ahead of Man City vs Arsenal
Pep Guardiola has confirmed that both Kyle Walker and John Stones are out of Manchester City’s potential Premier League title decider against Arsenal on Sunday.
Both defenders picked up injuries while playing for England this week, and will play no part in the clash at the Etihad Stadium.
Walker pulled up with a hamstring injury in the early stages of England’s 1-0 defeat to Brazil at Wembley, with the right-back returning to City for a scan.
And just days later, Stones limped off with an abductor problem just 10 minutes into England’s 2-2 draw against Belgium, with the centre-back also having started against Brazil.
Forest face key week with Crystal Palace and Fulham fixtures
Nuno Espirito Santo has emphasised that relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest’s finishing must improve “now more than ever” after they were deducted four points for breaching the Premier League PSR rules.
Forest have won just one of their nine league games in 2024 and have only scored once in their last three. They sit 18th in the table with nine matches to go, a point behind 17th-placed Luton and four adrift of 16th-placed Everton, who could soon be hit with a PSR-related deduction for the second time this season.
Forest have two home games in four days, with the clash against Oliver Glasner’s 14th-placed Palace being followed by the visit of Fulham, who are 12th, to the City Ground on Tuesday.
Nuno said: “Very important games, definitely. We go game by game, it starts against Palace.
“Good team, it’s going to be tough, we are at the City Ground, the situation that we have - big game for us.”
Manchester United fans risk being stranded after kick off time change
Manchester United fans have spoken out in anger against the decision to move their Premier League match against Brentford at the weekend to the late kick off time.
The match is due to kick off at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday 30 March at 8pm GMT.
The kick off time is just two minutes before the last train is scheduled to depart London St Pancras for Manchester Piccadilly. London Euston is not in service this weekend because of engineering works between London and Milton Keynes.
The day after the game on Sunday there are also no direct services between London and Manchester, with almost all journeys scheduled to take well over three hours.
Erik ten Hag is to give his press conference shortly ahead of the trip to London.
Why Manchester United fans have been left fuming by Brentford kick-off time
Manchester United fans responded in anger over late kick off time
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