Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

As it happenedended

Premier League news LIVE: Liverpool, Manchester United, City latest plus reaction from Chelsea and Arsenal's Europa League results

Latest build-up ahead of this weekend's fixtures in the Premier League

Kishan Vaghela,Bradley West
Friday 08 March 2019 16:17 GMT
Comments
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: Manchester United 'always believed' in PSG comeback

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Follow live coverage of all the latest Premier League build-up ahead of this weekend's fixtures.

Manchester United are the story of the week after their historic comeback in Paris but this weekend it's Arsenal on the schedule with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hopeful he can continue to strengthen his candidacy for the job permanently. The Gunners are looking to bounce back from a disappointing result against Rennes in their Europa League last-16 tie while Chelsea have altogether different emotions after a comfortable evening against Dynamo Kiev. And don't forget Manchester City and Liverpool who will both be back in action at the very top of the table.

We'll have all the latest reaction, news and updates ahead of this weekend's games with nine press conferences on the schedule.

Please allow a moment for the live blog to load...

Hello and welcome to our coverage of a busy, busy day for Premier League managers as they face the gruelling questions from the media throughout the day.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola are three of the nine managers who will be speaking today as the race for the title and the top four enters yet another weekend.

But first, some reaction from last night's Europa league action.......

Kishan Vaghela8 March 2019 09:07

It's been a frustrating season for Chelsea's Callum Hudson-Odoi in his search for regular first-team football, and the subject of his lack of appearances was addressed again last night after he stepped off the bench to seal a 3-0 win for the Blues against Dynamo Kiev.

Here's what Maurizio Sarri had to say after the FA Cup holders' first-leg win last night:

Kishan Vaghela8 March 2019 09:12

It didn't go so well for Arsenal though last night, as they suffered a 3-1 defeat to Rennes.

Goals from Benjamin Bourigeaud and Ismaila Sarr, in addition to a Nacho Monreal own goal, saw the French side turn the game around after Alex Iwobi had given the Gunners the lead inside three minutes.

And there was no one who took greater pleasure in the Ligue 1 side's victory than the former Newcastle United and Hull City winger Hatem Ben Arfa given his acrimonious history with Unai Emery.

Kishan Vaghela8 March 2019 09:19

Shane Duffy's red card however in the 3-1 win on 29 December should serve as a reminder for the Brighton players ahead of the derby game, Hughton continues.

The 60-year-old, who hopes victory over Palace can put daylight between them and the ensuing relegation scrap, believes it is all about remaining calm under pressure for his players this weekend.

"It's about cool heads and keeping yourself controlled too - there is always a message to take on board about discipline.

"They are always good and competitive matches, you have to make sure you take the atmosphere on board and not lose our discipline, and that is the way we will have to play."

Kishan Vaghela8 March 2019 09:46

Final statement from Hughton, who hopes his squad can use their win over Huddersfield as a springboard for a positive end to the campaign.

"What I haven't seen over the last month or so is a dip in the enthusiasm of the players or a bad feeling around the place," he said.

"Our group also realise that we've also had some very tough matches in that period - we had the (FA) cup games which helped us too. Nobody has been too down, but the win always gives you a lift."

Kishan Vaghela8 March 2019 09:50

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is due to speak in just over five minutes time, two days after Manchester United's incredible night in France against Paris Saint-Germain.

Of course, United have not been the only club to have been in European action across the Channel this week, but Arsenal suffered a more frustrating evening there last night.

So here is Miguel Delaney's comparison of the current state of the two clubs, and how one can learn from the other.

Kishan Vaghela8 March 2019 09:54

  ↵And here is news on the returning members to the Manchester United squad for the weekend's game against Arsenal.

Kishan Vaghela8 March 2019 10:02

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has also been speaking in the last few minutes, and there's some good news on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Kishan Vaghela8 March 2019 10:03

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been open about injuries to the Manchester United squad in recent weeks, but has been rather more reluctant to speak about his future at the club.

Solskjaer fuelled speculation that he was due to take the post on a permanent basis himself by admitting to a Norwegian podcast that his contract with Molde, the club he was supposed to return to in the summer, had been terminated.

But the Norwegian has remained tight-lipped on whether he will remain beyond the end of his contract.

"That's just the media," he said of the speculation. "I am not here to get excited, I am here to do my job.

"And of course that contract issue there, you cannot have two contracts when you're a manager, so that contract was terminated.

"I am contracted to Man United until the end of June."

Kishan Vaghela8 March 2019 10:07

Nothing but love from Solskjaer to his players.

Kishan Vaghela8 March 2019 10:10

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in