12:01
The Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp is speaking now and is asked if they need to be at their best to win the league, given their unbeaten run: “Yes but that’s the case for all of us … this is just the standard of the league … to be there in March, April or May, in that area of the table, it means you have to perform at an incredibly high level … at this moment, we don’t know if we will be. It’s so important that you have a good start … we try to be as consistent as somehow possible, and for that, we need to be ready for example, for tomorrow [against Brighton], because it’s one of the trickiest games in the Premier League with the work that Graham [Potter] is doing there.”
Asked how he keeps the players happy: “I want them to be happy but I want them to be angry as well, when we play an opponent who wants the points, who wants our points. It’s matchday 10, with 28 to come, so really nothing happened yet … we have constantly things to improve, that’ the only thing we are concerned about … to win a football game, first and foremost, you have to be ready to defend, and that’s what we will do tomorrow.”
On current injury concerns: “Naby Keita looks good, he was obviously lucky, so I think he will be ready. Fabinho doesn’t look that good, it’s a bit more complicated … he wasn’t in team training yet, so that’s never a good sign. Thiago [Alcântara] did team training for the first time yesterday, he did most of the session, but that doesn’t mean he’s ready to play.”
Updated
11:58
In more Aston Villa news, here is Barry Glendenning on the post-Jack Grealish era Villans, and their need of a victory this weekend:
11:55
League Two Fixtures (all Saturday 3pm unless stated)
Northampton Town v Carlisle United (Saturday 2pm)
Barrow v Rochdale
Bradford City v Forest Green Rovers
Colchester United v Scunthorpe United
Crawley Town v Port Vale
Harrogate Town v Bristol Rovers
Leyton Orient v Hartlepool United
Mansfield Town v Tranmere Rovers
Newport County v Stevenage
Oldham Athletic v Swindon Town
Salford City v Exeter City
Sutton United v Walsall
11:52
Let’s hope the Norwich goalie won’t be ‘The Invisible Man’.
11:50
League One fixtures (all 3pm Saturday)
Cambridge United v AFC Wimbledon
Charlton Athletic v Doncaster Rovers
Cheltenham Town v Sheffield Wednesday
Crewe Alexandra v Milton Keynes Dons
Fleetwood Town v Wycombe Wanderers
Gillingham v Accrington Stanley
Lincoln City v Shrewsbury Town
Oxford United v Morecambe
Plymouth Argyle v Ipswich Town
Portsmouth v Bolton Wanderers
Rotherham United v Sunderland
Wigan Athletic v Burton Albion
11:44
As usual on a Friday, the press conferences will be coming thick and fast around lunchtime, so we’ll bring you news from those as speedily as we can.
11:42
Match preview: Liverpool v Brighton
11:41
Arsenal will make a late call on including the left-back Kieran Tierney in their squad for Saturday’s Premier League match at Leicester City, head coach Mikel Arteta said.
“He’s progressing, training. Let’s see how he is today. He felt a bit better in the last few days but wasn’t 100% to start the other day,” Arteta said on Friday. “There have been a few of them that haven’t been able to train. We picked up some knocks during the game against Leeds. Hopefully today we’ll have better news.”
Arteta said defender Ben White missed training due to a sickness bug while the forward Eddie Nketiah had to continue taking his chances after scoring against Leeds. “He’s another one that is constantly pushing,” Arteta said. “Every time he’s got a chance he takes it. There are other players involved in that position. “He’s the same as other players without many minutes because we don’t have Europe this season.”
Arteta, a former Barcelona youth player who had previously been linked to the manager’s job at the Spanish La Liga side, ruled himself out of contention following the dismissal of Ronald Koeman.
“I’m extremely happy at Arsenal and privileged to be here. My focus is here,” he said. “There’s been a lot going on there in the last few years… you have to overcome a situation like the departure of Lionel Messi who’s been a key player for many years and I know that takes time. I hope everything works out well.” (Reuters)
11:36
The Liverpool full-back Andrew Robertson, quoted on Sky Sports News just now, firstly on Mohamed Salah: “At this moment he’s the world’s best, and he’ll want to continue that … not just for nine or 10 games, he’ll want to do it for a whole season, like he’s done previously.”
On Salah’s ongoing contract negotiations: “He’s said he would be happy to stay here, and that’s up to the club and him to come to an agreement … I love playing with Mo, and all the lads around me … and hopefully they can get to a solution.”
And finally, after Robertson was shown on camera, willing his teammates on after they went four or five up against Manchester United last weekend: “We have to be ruthless in everything we do … in terms of defending, and in terms of scoring goals at the right moments … first half against Manchester United, we were clearly ruthless … that has to be the motto.”
Updated
11:28
The Newcastle goalie, Karl Darlow, is hoping for a big atmosphere when Chelsea visit this weekend – kick-off is at 3pm tomorrow.
“We’re excited … back at home, and after the atmosphere we witnessed a couple of weeks back at Tottenham [at St James’ Park] we’re hoping to give the fans more of a buzz to cheer about on the pitch. When that first goal went in against Tottenham, I don’t think anyone had heard a noise like it in a football stadium … We went away to Palace and we’ve ended up with a point, which on the road, is probably not a bad point. Hopefully we can build on that. We know the challenge that Chelsea are going to set us, and we need to be ready for that, and we will be ready for that.”
Updated
11:21
The end finally came for Ronald Koeman this week, as you will have seen. Read Sid Lowe’s take on the latest twist in Barcelona’s sorry soap opera – including his talking points from around the rest of La Liga heading into the weekend:
11:18
“Re: your comment on Dean Smith’s press conference, is it not time we added expected good moments to the battery of football statistics?,” emails Michael Smith.
“I’d get on to Opta but I need your endorsement to give me some much needed credibility.”
Pretending for a moment that I didn’t register that distinctly sarcastic sign-off – expected good moments – I like it, Michael!
11:14
Lilian Thuram has been speaking to Paul Doyle about issues of race, among other things, to mark the release of his new book: ‘White Thinking: Behind the Mask of Racial Identity’.
“No one is born black or white,” Thuram says. “It is important that people who are said to be white understand what it is to be white. We all need to be aware that history has led to us wearing skin-colour masks.”
11:11
Watford can welcome back Danny Rose for the visit of Southampton after a minor calf injury, but fellow full-back Kiko Femenia is a doubt with a hip problem. The Hornets will be without the suspended forward Emmanuel Dennis.
Southampton will be without Armando Broja due to an ankle issue, James Ward-Prowse returns from a three-game suspension, while Mohamed Elyounoussi is set to recover from minor hand surgery.
Here’s our match preview:
11:06
Sean Dyche is celebrating his nine-year anniversary at Burnley. They’ve edited together a nice video of various former players and luminaries of the club – and long-standing fans such as Alastair Campbell – congratulating him on his achievement. A win against Brentford this weekend would be a fitting way to celebrate …
11:00
In Burnley news: Matt Lowton believes one result can turn Burnley’s season around as the search for a first Premier League victory continues. The Clarets host Brentford on Saturday stuck in the bottom three with only four points from their first nine league games of the season.
“It’s been frustrating,” Lowton said. “We’ve actually played quite well and the attitude has been spot on. We’ve just not performed in key moments and in this league you’re going to get punished. The results haven’t been there but we’ve been playing quite well. It’s about getting that first win on the board and Saturday is a good opportunity …
“We went ahead (at Southampton) and started really well, on the front foot, and were all over them. We managed to get ahead but for some reason found ourselves behind and then we showed great character. It’s just about working hard. We’ve been down this road before and one result can turn it all around. Hopefully we get that one soon.” (PA)
10:58
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We’ll email you the stand-out features and interviews, insightful analysis and highlights from the archive, plus films, podcasts, galleries and more – all arriving in your inbox at every Friday lunchtime.
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10:54
While there’s a vague excuse to post it, here’s the riff-tastic live version of Queen’s ‘Now I’m Here’:
10:52
“I see what you’re doing with Alan Gomes’s e-mail,” writes Peter Van. “You’re trying to hijack this weekend countdown into a thin excuse to do puns with Queen song titles. I suppose you expect Manchester City fans to burst in with “We are the champions”. Or someone to point out that Norwich staying up will be “The Miracle”. Or that Harry Kane might be muttering “I Want to Break Free”. Or that the Saudi ownership promises Toon fans things will improve “Now I’m Here”.
“I’ll have none of that. Instead, this message aim to correct one Mr. Gomes’s assertions: Vanilla Ice was not a one hit wonder. He also released “Ninja Rap” – a wildly popular tune from a Ninja Turtles movie. Now let’s try and do Premier League puns with that!”
Just the 12.2million views on YouTube for Ninja Rap, so I guess that must count as a hit:
10:46
Aston Villa manager Dean Smith has been speaking to the media before Sunday’s visit of West Ham.
A spot of team news: “Emi Martinez will be back training with us today. He’s had some personal issues that he had to fly back home for, but he’s back today so I have no worries about his availability. Other than that, Morgan Sanson and Jaden Philogene-Bidace are both off ill, and Trezeguet is still coming back from injury.”
“West Ham are in a really good moment … they’re a very good team with a very good coach, I’m full of respect for David Moyes and what he’s done at West Ham … I expect a tough game but one that we’re looking forward to.”
“In a really good moment”?? – clearly, Smith has been taking notes out of Carlo Ancelotti’s press conference handbook.
Updated
10:41
Let’s talk Leicester, seeing as they are first name on the Premier League team sheet this weekend, with the Gunners visiting at lunchtime tomorrow.
After a sketchy run of form, the Foxes have now won four matches on the bounce in all competitions, which seems to have crept up rather quickly. It all started with that encouraging 4-2 drubbing of Manchester United. Harvey Barnes has told the official club website that ‘confidence is massive’, which is hard to argue with. Three points, he insists, will be the main focus against Arsenal.
“We’ve said previously this week that confidence is going to be massive for us, and that momentum of winning [against Brighton], we’ve got four wins on the bounce now, we’ll be going into that game full of confidence,” Barnes said. “For us, it’s another chance to get three points and get high up the table.
“We know it’s going to be a tough game. They’re on a good run of form and for us, we had a tough start but we’ve really come together as a team and hit a good run of form ourselves, so it’s going to be a battle, but the stadium will be bouncing, and for us, three points will be the main focus. Hopefully we can do that.” Full story here.
And while we’re on the subject, here is a by Ben McAleer on Patson Daka:
Updated
10:33
“Dear Luke, I love the expression “under pressure”,” emails Alan Gomes. “Always makes me think of the great Queen/Bowie song or, if I’m being truthful, of Vanilla Ice’s “Ice Ice Baby”. However, I must protest at the description of Nuno Espírito Santo as “under pressure”. He has managed less than ten games in the Premier League with Spurs. He is currently sixth in the standings – an improvement on last season. Is it really fair to describe his situation as “under pressure”? I mean, your photo caption reads: “Nuno Espírito Santo (left) and Ole Gunnar Solskjær are both under pressure” … whatever one’s opinions on Ole’s and Nuno’s abilities, I think it’s a bit of a stretch to assume OGS and NES are both “under pressure” this weekend. At the very least, it should be noted that there are different levels of pressure. Maybe you could write OGS is under heavy, two-rock-legends, intense “Under Pressure” kind of pressure; while NES is merely under poppy, one-hit-wonder “Ice Ice Baby” kind of pressure. But I suppose this can’t fit in a caption?”
Thank you for the email Alan, which has made me chuckle. Would this be a good moment for me to mention, in true journalist style, that I didn’t write the photo caption? Also, as you imply, I suppose all football managers are under pressure to an extent. In that sense, the caption writers’ point stands.
But who, do we think, will be the next manager to bite the dust?
Updated
10:23
The Premier League’s official Twitter is getting us all excited for Newcastle v Chelsea (tomorrow 3pm) with this absolute banger from Papiss Cissé back in 2012:
The former Senegal international Cissé is still going, at the grand old age of 36, and plays for Fenerbahce after a spell in China and two years with Alanyaspor.
Updated
10:19
Marcelo Bielsa says Leeds’s failure to create as many goalscoring chances this season is not solely down to the absence of Patrick Bamford. Bamford, the second highest-scoring English player in the Premier League last season behind Harry Kane, has missed Leeds’ last six games due to an ankle injury and will not face Norwich on Sunday. “We’ve clearly lowered the amount of dangerous chances that we’ve created,” Bielsa said. “Of course, if Bamford was here his presence would be valued, but the fact we have not been creating as many chances is not linked solely to Bamford.”
Leeds have yet to replicate the same form which lit up the Premier League last season and Bielsa admitted his players were struggling for consistency. When asked to evaluate the contribution of winger Jack Harrison, Bielsa said: “You ask me a question where you know that I can’t praise his performances up until now. But what’s happening to Harrison is happening to all our players in the squad, where they have better or worse moments and nobody is able to maintain a regular consistency in their performances, especially when they are playing in attack.
“Harrison is a player with a lot of resources to be able to play on both wings and we’ve enjoyed his contributions. Harrison will continue to shine, or will shine again in proportion to the faculties that he has, and it’s my job to put him in situations in the game where he’s able to shine and to make him as important as I feel that he is.” (PA)
Updated
10:13
Premier League fixtures
Saturday
Leicester City v Arsenal (12.30pm)
Burnley v Brentford (3pm)
Liverpool v Brighton & Hove Albion (3pm)
Manchester City v Crystal Palace (3pm)
Newcastle United v Chelsea (3pm)
Watford v Southampton (3pm)
Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United (5.30pm)
Sunday
Norwich City v Leeds United (3pm)
Aston Villa v West Ham United (5.30pm)
Monday
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Everton (8pm)
Championship fixtures
Friday
QPR v Nottingham Forest (7.45pm)
Saturday
Fulham v West Bromwich Albion (12.30pm)
Bristol City v Barnsley (3pm)
Derby County v Blackburn Rovers (3pm)
Huddersfield Town v Millwall (3pm)
Hull City v Coventry City (3pm)
Middlesbrough v Birmingham City (3pm)
Preston North End v Luton Town (3pm)
Sheffield United v Blackpool (3pm)
Stoke City v Cardiff City (3pm)
Swansea City v Peterborough United (3pm)
Reading v AFC Bournemouth (8pm)
League One (all 3pm Saturday)
Cambridge United v AFC Wimbledon
Charlton Athletic v Doncaster Rovers
Cheltenham Town v Sheffield Wednesday
Crewe Alexandra v Milton Keynes Dons
Fleetwood Town v Wycombe Wanderers
Gillingham v Accrington Stanley
Lincoln City v Shrewsbury Town
Oxford United v Morecambe
Plymouth Argyle v Ipswich Town
Portsmouth v Bolton Wanderers
Rotherham United v Sunderland
Wigan Athletic v Burton Albion
League Two (all 3pm Saturday unless stated)
Northampton Town v Carlisle United (Saturday 2pm)
Barrow v Rochdale
Bradford City v Forest Green Rovers
Colchester United v Scunthorpe United
Crawley Town v Port Vale
Harrogate Town v Bristol Rovers
Leyton Orient v Hartlepool United
Mansfield Town v Tranmere Rovers
Newport County v Stevenage
Oldham Athletic v Swindon Town
Salford City v Exeter City
Sutton United v Walsall
Updated
10:07
Preamble
Good morning and welcome to the Weekend Football Countdown. A busy weekend of domestic action is on the menu, with Tottenham v Manchester United (5.30pm tomorrow) probably the most eagerly anticipated fixture in the Premier League.
Arsenal go to Leicester (12.30pm tomorrow) while Liverpool v Brighton and Manchester City v Crystal Palace are two of the five 3pm fixtures on Saturday.
There is life beyond the Premier League, too, with QPR hosting Nottingham Forest in the Championship this evening and Fulham v West Brom tomorrow at 12.30pm. League leaders Bournemouth are in action at Reading tomorrow night. I’ll bring you as much news as humanly possible from the Football League and across the European Leagues, too. Let’s get it on.