Just a few of today’s football pieces here:
And that is all for today’s blog. Thank you as always for reading, commenting, emailing and so on. If you are in the UK, please do enjoy what some people erroneously call ‘Bombfire Night’. Will we see more fireworks in the Premier League and Football League over the weekend? With the smouldering Antonio Conte back in the hot seat at Spurs, it seems highly likely. Bye for now.
And here, you lucky people, are the La Liga fixtures for the weekend, with Barcelona, who are about to welcome Xavi as their new manager, travelling to Celta Vigo tomorrow.
Friday
Athletic Club v Cádiz
Saturday
Espanyol v Granada
Celta Vigo v Barcelona
Deportivo Alavés v Levante
Real Madrid v Rayo Vallecano
Sunday
Villarreal v Getafe
Valencia v Atlético Madrid
Mallorca v Elche
Osasuna v Real Sociedad
Real Betis v Sevilla
Juventus’s midweek win over Zenit St Petersburg in the Champions League has restored confidence following two successive Serie A defeats but the team must not relax in Saturday’s league clash with Fiorentina, manager Massimiliano Allegri said on Friday. A double from Paulo Dybala sealed a comfortable win for Juve that confirmed their place in the knockout stages, offering much-needed respite for Allegri whose side have won two of the last five league games, trailing leaders Napoli by 16 points.
“We have to stay focused. After the win against Zenit we have to defend better so as not to concede goals and also forget the last two defeats. Let’s stay quiet, keep going and keep working,” Allegri said. He added that all Juve’s league games were of huge importance until the players found a “mental continuity”.
“We have conceded 11 goals against teams that are from 10th place down in the Serie A standings and we need to improve on this. Our matches in the league have always been open and we need to work on this,” said Allegri. The striker Moise Kean and full-back Mattia De Sciglio miss out through injury and Allegri said he would take a call on whether to rest veteran centre-back Leonardo Bonucci closer to the game. He also praised the Fiorentina frontman Dusan Vlahovic, who has scored eight goals in the league this season, but added that Juve had the defensive quality to stop the Serbia international.
“He’s good and the numbers show it. But we have excellent defenders, so I’m calm... Fiorentina play well with width and have technical players. They have a good coach (Vincenzo Italiano) who did well last year with Spezia,” said Allegri. Juve are ninth in the league with 15 points from 11 games, three points behind seventh-placed Fiorentina. (Reuters)
Serie A fixtures this weekend, including the Milan derby on Sunday evening:
Friday
Empoli v Genoa
Saturday
Spezia v Torino
Juventus v Fiorentina
Cagliari v Atalanta
Sunday
Venezia v Roma
Sampdoria v Bologna
Udinese v Sassuolo
Lazio v Salernitana
Napoli v Hellas Verona
Milan v Internazionale
Bundesliga news!
The attacking midfielder Gio Reyna faces a longer-than-expected time on the sidelines after complications with his thigh injury, the Borussia Dortmund coach Marco Rose said Friday. The 18-year-old American hasn’t played since hurting his hamstring while representing the United States against El Salvador on 3 September. Rose said a tendon and nerves were also affected. Following setbacks with his rehab, he couldn’t predict with certainty when Reyna would be able to train with the Dortmund team, or even if that would happen this year.
“It’s really not foreseeable for me when he will be back in training with the team, I have to be honest,” Rose said. “But we hope that will happen before the end of this year.” Reyna had started the season well before his injury, scoring two goals in the opening three Bundesliga games for Dortmund. (AP)
And the weekend’s Bundesliga fixtures:
Friday
Mainz 05 v Borussia M’gladbach
Saturday
Bayern München v Freiburg
Wolfsburg v Augsburg
Stuttgart v Arminia Bielefeld
Bochum v Hoffenheim
RB Leipzig v Borussia Dortmund
Sunday
Hertha BSC v Bayer Leverkusen
Köln v Union Berlin
Greuther Fürth v Eintracht Frankfurt
Updated
A letter here from Phil Scraton, Professor emeritus, school of law, Queen’s University Belfast:
“There is no doubt that Brian Clough’s autobiography and persistent attacks in the mid-1990s contributed significantly to the myth that Liverpool fans were responsible for Hillsborough.”
Major League Soccer has engaged Janice Rubin and Melody Jahanzadeh of Rubin Thomlinson LLP to conduct an independent review of the Vancouver Whitecaps’ handling of misconduct allegations brought by members of the organization’s women’s team against former coaches Bob Birarda and Hubert Busby.
“Great to have Conte back in the EPL, what a formidable character he is,” comments BarryStar below the line. “I’m sure he’ll improve Spurs, the question is how much improvement he’ll get done with what result before he falls out with Levy.”
You do have to wonder, yes. I suspect that had Conte ended up at Manchester United, he would have become disillusioned with the way the club is being run. But we’ll see how it pans out at Spurs.
The pen pushers over at the Premier League have announced the matches that will be live on the telly box in January:
Friday 14 January
20:00 Brighton v Crystal Palace (Sky Sports)
Saturday 15 January
12:30 Man City v Chelsea (BT Sport)
17:30 Aston Villa v Man Utd (Sky Sports)
Sunday 16 January
14:00 West Ham v Leeds (Sky Sports)
16:30 Spurs v Arsenal (Sky Sports)
Friday 21 January
20:00 Watford v Norwich (Sky Sports)*
* Subject to change should either club be in an FA Cup third-round replay
Saturday 22 January
12:30 Everton v Aston Villa (BT Sport)
17:30 Southampton v Man City (Sky Sports)
Sunday 23 January
14:00 Crystal Palace v Liverpool (Sky Sports)
16:30 Chelsea v Spurs (Sky Sports)
Thomas Tuchel was asked earlier if he could see himself managing Tottenham in the future, given that the former Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has just taken the reins there.
That reminded me of his chucklesome line during one of his first press conferences as the Chelsea manager, when he was reminded that he had previously said he supported Tottenham as a kid:
“I was young, and I needed the money.”
The Celtic left-back Greg Taylor is eager to build on his working relationship with Ange Postecoglou after extending his contract with the club. The Scotland international, who is recovering from shoulder surgery, has pledged his future until 2025.
“It’s a nice day for myself and my family,” Taylor told Celtic TV. “I was desperate to extend my contract with the club, I’ve loved my two years since I’ve been here and hopefully I can continue that now. I enjoyed it certainly at the start of the season and had a good two or three months under the new manager and loved it.
“I really enjoy his way of playing and I feel it suits my game, coming inside. It’s definitely something I’ve enjoyed and something I can’t wait to get back out and be a part of.
“It’s just nice that the manager rewards you for what he believes you’ve done previously and it’s hopefully a relationship we can continue in the not-too-distant future.” (PA)
Bryan Mbeumo may start Brentford’s game with Norwich in the Premier League on Saturday. Mbeumo was an unused substitute last weekend following a hamstring issue but should be fit enough to secure a promotion to Thomas Frank’s XI. Kristoffer Ajer faces six weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring injury he sustained while on international duty, with Yoane Wissa and Shandon Baptiste also out through injury.
Norwich must do without captain Grant Hanley for their west London trip. The Canaries skipper has suffered an adductor problem and will be out of action for several weeks. Ozan Kabak is a doubt due to glandular fever, though Ben Gibson returns after suspension. (PA)
As we know, Xavi is heading for the Barça job. Here are a few snaps of him saying some tearful goodbyes in Qatar today:
📸 لقطات من وداع #تشافي للاعبين#السد #قطر
— 🏆 #76 Al Sadd SC | نادي السد (@AlsaddSC) November 5, 2021
( 2 – 5 ) pic.twitter.com/48EqbAHy92
And here is our story on Xavi’s appointment at Barcelona from earlier:
Mohamed Salah of Liverpool has scored no fewer than nine times against this weekend’s opponents, West Ham.
Liverpool’s social media team have kindly cut them together here:
Enjoy all 9️⃣ of @MoSalah's strikes against this weekend's opponents 👌#WHULIV pic.twitter.com/Abfr4vVikE
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 5, 2021
If, by some utterly bizarre sequence of events, you missed ‘Premier League: 10 things to look out for this weekend’, here it is again:
John Brewin is here with today’s Fiver, our daily sideways glance at the world of football:
“It’s been a big week for the yellow ticker. Forget your “Nicky Shorey signs new Reading contract” and “Stuart Watkiss takes temporary charge of Grimsby” as examples of unmissable breaking news, there’s been actual happenings, keeping those hard-working people on Big Website very busy indeed with managerial comings and goings, and not-comings and not-goings.”
Sign up here!
Scotland news now, via PA:
Rangers have no fresh injury worries before their Premiership encounter with Ross County. Ryan Kent made his return to action from a hamstring injury when he came off the bench during the Europa League draw against Brondby on Thursday. Ryan Jack is close to a comeback following a long-term calf injury but is unlikely to face County.
Filip Helander remains on the sidelines with a knee problem and Nnamdi Ofoborh (heart issue) is also still missing.
Ross County have close to a full squad for the trip to Ibrox. Only the full-back Jake Vokins is missing as he completes the latter stages of his recovery from foot surgery. The visitors travel down to Glasgow on the back of Wednesday’s 5-0 league victory over Dundee that ended a run of four straight defeats.
I’ve only gone and found some Daniel Farke quotes before Norwich’s meeting with Brentford this weekend, on the club website:
“Our offensive players need the ball to their feet and into the space,” Farke said. “The opponents won’t make this easy for us and perhaps it’s not as easy to do this as on Championship level, but to find this balance is always important. You need to find the right balance between being pragmatic and effective and not losing your DNA.
“We chose to play the ball long too early. We don’t have the players to fight for second balls or win headers. It’s important to stick to our beliefs and I want to bring that into the players heads. Don’t lose too much confidence or think too much about the table. Concentrate on what is important for the game.”
Stickingly doggedly to the Conte-themed content (Conte-nt?), here’s a video from the Premier League of his Chelsea side drilling Everton 5-0, five years ago today:
One of *the* great #PL displays 👏
— Premier League (@premierleague) November 5, 2021
Antonio Conte's @ChelseaFC emphatically swept aside Everton with a devastating 5-0 win #OnThisDay in 2016 pic.twitter.com/SvWWUfK2z9
A smidgen more Antonio Conte’s earlier press conference here:
“Now to tell that we have a specific target is not simple,” he said. “I think the club is the same. (Fabio) Paratici knows very well this is the situation. I think at the moment it’s not good or not fair to say we want to do this or reach this. At the moment we’ve only to be strong, to start to work together and think that we need to improve. And there’s a lot of space for improvement in this team. But now, and more than in the past, after three or four days, we need to work more.”
Eddie Howe has been described as elite, innovative, impressive and intense by the man due to become one of his key coaching lieutenants at Newcastle United.
With Howe expected to be named as the new manager within the next 24 hours, Graeme Jones is in line to take caretaker charge of the team for the third and final time at Brighton on Saturday evening.
Updated
The Brentford manager Thomas Frank believes the work done by his Norwich counterpart speaks for itself ahead of a Premier League clash between the teams on Saturday. Frank has yet to record a win over Daniel Farke’s Norwich in four matches between the teams since the Danish coach took the helm at the west London club.
“You need to look at the work Daniel has done - it speaks for itself,” Frank said. “I think it’s up to every club, if they believe in the manager, sometimes it goes up and down - like the stock market. I would stick with him, no matter what happens this year.”
On the game itself, he said: “[We’re] very aware that it’s going to be another difficult game and I understand that the Norwich game is in a bracket of games that is not Liverpool or Chelsea or Arsenal that we faced at home, and I know we had good performances and won one, drew one and lost one but I just know it’s going to be a difficult game in a different way.” (PA)
Updated
News from Serie A: The Italy international Nicolò Barella has put pen to paper on a new deal at Internazionale, that runs until 2026:
✍️ | RINNOVO
— Inter 🏆🇮🇹 (@Inter) November 5, 2021
L'Inter e #Barella insieme fino al 2026 ⚫🔵👉 https://t.co/rTmXVKBtzg #Barella2026 pic.twitter.com/l2BixLT2zY
A couple of bonus lines from Guardiola now, via Reuters:
Guardiola said Manchester City can cope without a traditional No 9 and have enough players to score goals, amid criticism that the champions are struggling without a top-class striker: “Just trust a bit how many goals we scored last year without a striker because Sergio (Aguero) was injured? Maybe in the future we will buy a proper striker a number nine who will score goals, who knows,” he said.
The Spaniard added that the addition of Cristiano Ronaldo has made Manchester United stronger. “With Ronaldo they’re even better ... they do get their results against us ... incredible physicality, people up front with ability to win games by themselves. Good runners in behind especially when [midfielder Bruno] Fernandes has the ball.”
“Crystal Palace are unbeaten in five and would be higher than 12th but for a nasty habit of conceding late equalisers,” writes Stephen Hollis in our preview of the Eagles’ meeting with Wolves tomorrow afternoon:
The Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has refused to get caught up in the hype surrounding the weekend derby at Manchester United, saying it was special for the fans but was not like playing in a semi-final or final. City travel to Old Trafford in the Premier League on Saturday, with Guardiola’s side three points ahead of their rivals after 10 games.
Asked if it was the biggest game for him, Guardiola replied: “I don’t think so, maybe for some people. We try to make every game important. Of course derbies are special for many sentimental issues but we want the same results. But in the end it is not a final or a semi-final.
“I don’t go to restaurants or pubs. I can imagine how important it is for both sides, but I have to be cool in my mind and head, to know what we have to do, to do our best, no more than that.”
Jürgen Klopp poured a bit of praise on his captain, Jordan Henderson, in his press conference earlier:
“I can say after six years working with him [as my captain]: perfect choice,” Klopp said. “He is the perfect role model for a footballer.”
A short video here via Liverpool’s official Twitter:
"I can say after six years working with him together: perfect choice" ❤️
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 5, 2021
The boss reserved special praise for skipper @JHenderson in his pre-#WHULIV press conference, as he approaches his 300th @PremierLeague appearance 👇
Updated
“A defeat, particularly a heavy one, would lead to more demands that Ole Gunnar Solskjær is sacked,” writes Jamie Jackson in our preview of tomorrow’s lunchtime kick-off: the small matter of Manchester United v Manchester City:
Updated
Chelsea will expect to tighten their grip on first place when they host Burnley, writes Jacob Steinberg in our match preview:
The West Ham manager, David Moyes, said there is “no room for discrimination” and condemned footage of the club’s fans apparently singing an anti-Semitic song towards a Jewish man on a plane.
“Well I have to say first of all that I don’t see our football club being like that. We are a diverse football club. There’s no room for discrimination anywhere,” said Moyes. “I’m really disappointed to hear about it. I’m sure it’s only individuals and not a big section of supporters. I’m just sorry to hear about it.
“I want this football club to be recognised for having a really good football team. I want this football club to be recognised as being a great club in London and well respected. We have incredible supporters who follow us home and away but I don’t want any labels connected to this whatsoever - discrimination or racism, none at all. We don’t want to be associated with supporters like this. I want us to fully move on from this.” (PA)
Going back to this week’s big story quickly, Conte’s words about the support he expects from the powers-that-be at Tottenham rather jumped out from that press conference: “The club give you everything, if we ask for something to improve the situation of the players.”
That sounds rather more like an instruction, as opposed to a glowing endorsement of his experience of working with Daniel Levy for the past two or three days.
Updated
Rafael Benítez, whose Everton side face Conte’s Spurs on Sunday, speaks: “We know we will play against a very good team. We cannot forget about that. Conte is a manager with experience, they have some good players. It will be difficult, yes, and maybe because of the new manager they will have an extra motivation.
What did he make of Conte’s appointment? “It’s nothing to do with me. I don’t like to see any manager losing his job. But it’s not my decision.”
Updated
WSL news now, thanks to Manchester City’s official website. Gareth Taylor’s side will head to Leicester on Sunday afternoon, for a match at the King Power Stadium
“Everybody gets a lift when we have these fixtures played at main stadiums,” he said. “It’s great. It’s something I always enjoyed doing when I went to various stadiums. It’s a great stadium and it’s a lift for everyone,” Taylor said.
“For any team in the WSL that hosts a game in their home stadium, it’s amazing. We’re slightly different as we have our ‘mini stadium’, which simulates the Etihad, but when we played Everton, it was a real boost to play at such a fantastic stadium like that.”
Conte, the last blast: “It’s not good when a club has had to change the coach during the season. It’s traumatic, no? It’s traumatic for everybody ... I hope that this commitment, this behaviour [that he has seen in the past couple of days from the Spurs players] continues for the rest of the season.”
Conte: “The club took this choice [to hire me as manager] ... I’m pleased and honoured ... but at the same time I need time to work, to change something here on the pitch ... on the pitch we have to change many, many things and it can’t happen in a short time ... I must be honest. But we are strong, and we want to improve with the players ... we want to work every day to try and build something that the fans are proud of.”
Can Conte be the man to convince Harry Kane to stay until the end of his career? “This is a big challenge. A big, big challenge ... I know very well that this club is not winning for many years ... But I think, the winner, you have to build the winner ... it didn’t happen after one, two, three days, one month ... you must have vision. I think this club had a great vision outside of the pitch. Now I think we have to start to have a vision also on the pitch, on the football topic. I think this is important if we want to win.”
Conte contract continued: “The contract is OK for me ... I hope to find the right combination with this club for a long time, for sure.”
Will Conte stay longer than 18 months, the length of his contract? “My contract is not a problem ... I understand the sacrifices this club did for me ... it’s OK, I think that the best things for us is to work together with the players and with the club ... to understand we can work together for a long time. I hope so, because this club, if you want to work you can work ... has a fantastic training ground ... and the club give you everything if we ask for something to improve the situation of the players. But at the same time I know ... we need to have patience. I’m the first person, I need to have patience.”
Conte continued: “We have to work together ... the players know they have to work a lot ... if we want to be something important for the present, and the future, we must be all together, to be focused ... and also to show the desire to work, to improve the situation. But we are ready to do this.”
Conte: Spurs players must improve capacity to suffer
Conte on Harry Kane: “He is an important player, not only for Tottenham, but also for the national team. Harry is a really good player and for sure we have to work with him, but with all the players, to improve this situation. I have seen in these few days we need to work, we need to work a lot, to improve many aspects, for every single player, not just for one, two, three ... this squad has to improve its physical condition to go into my idea of football, to have more order on the pitch, and to be not so emotional during the game ... to improve the capacity, also, to suffer ... we have to improve many aspects ...”
Updated
Antonio Conte is speaking now. He is asked how much support he expects from the club to improve things: “For sure, when there is a win there is great work from all ... people who work for the club ... the club is an important part of this ‘win’ ... the club is very important to win at the final of the season.”
Before this weekend’s match with Everton, Conte is reminded that he lost his last match with Chelsea against Rafael Benítez, then at Newcastle: “I remember that I lost my last PL game against Benítez. For sure, it is our expectation to have a tough game ... Everton is a really good team ... but at the same time we want to show ... we want to get a result for our ‘table’. It won’t be easy. We need to work, we need to work a lot to try and improve this team. There are many aspects, not only tactical, but also physically ... we need a bit of time to do this, we need to find time.”
Updated
And finally: Tuchel on Conte’s arrival at Spurs. Could Tuchel see himself managing Spurs in the future? He laughs: “I have enough to do here and I’m happy where I am. Of course it’s good news for the Premier League ... he’s one of the best managers in the world, look at his record and look at his titles. He will make it super-tough to player against Tottenham, I am absolutely sure, but I’m in a happy place and I’m not concerned about what other people do, or what other clubs do. I enjoy very much where I am.”
A touch more Tuchel, from Sky Sports this time. He says there are too many international breaks in the season:
“There are too many windows, too many competitions,” said the Chelsea manager. “Too many games for the top players, that increase only in quantity but not quality ... I’m always fighting for quality ... everybody, the supporters, wants to have the top players on the pitch, but it’s too much. As simple as that.”
Chelsea (and England) news, via PA:
Mason Mount could miss England’s World Cup qualifiers next week due to infected wisdom teeth. Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel revealed Mount has been struggling with a dental issue but could still feature in Saturday’s Premier League clash with Burnley. The England international Mount has missed Chelsea’s victories at Newcastle and Mälmo, but has returned to training this week.
“It’s a tricky one; he was ill but the reason is his wisdom teeth,” said Tuchel. “This is the reason for the illness and for the feeling like an illness, there’s a bit of an infection. He was back in training yesterday and today. He lost a bit of weight, he cannot eat properly. So he takes medication, and let’s see. He’s in the squad for tomorrow, and can play some minutes. But we will need to wait for the reaction because it seems like a proper treatment has to be done.”
Chelsea host Burnley tomorrow bidding to consolidate their Premier League lead, but must do without Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner. Marcos Alonso has picked up a minor ankle issue and will also sit the game out. Mount missed England’s last set of fixtures despite being named in the squad by manager Gareth Southgate, and Tuchel admitted that could yet happen again.
“I expect him (to join up with England) if he feels and if everything is OK, but the tendency that I know right now is that we need proper treatment for the wisdom teeth,” said Tuchel. “So it can be that he’s out or he joins maybe the England squad a bit later. We will always push and encourage him, there is no doubt, we are proud when he’s selected, he’s proud when he’s selected. So there are no tactics behind the backs or behind closed doors that we try to manage, trying to keep Mason here; it’s exactly the opposite. But we have full responsibility for his health, and there is something going on which we need to take care about. The treatment needs to be done. This is the first priority, and we will do everything to make it happen that maybe Mason can also join the England squad.”
Moyes, continued. Is this weekend’s match against Liverpool the toughest of their season so far? “I think all the games are tough ... the Premier League’s become harder. The quality of the sides is very good ... Liverpool are certainly in that [top] category ... it’s as tough as it gets, probably ...
“I have to say Liverpool came to the London Stadium last year and they annhilated us, they were so much better than us, so for me the big thing is, I want a big improvement [on that].”
Thanks David and good afternoon, sports fans.
I am just in time to grab some fresh quotes from the West Ham manager, David Moyes, who is speaking to Sky Sports News right now. He is asked where, in the scheme of his career, he ranks qualifying for the knockout stages of this season’s Europa League: “Not that high at the moment ... we are qualified ... it would be good if we could win the group ... it’s a great achievement for us at West Ham because we wanted European football ... trying to juggle the Thursday-Sunday games is not that easy. But at the moment we’ve gone OK and long may that continue.”
Can they win it, he is asked? “We’ve still got the teams to be dropped in from the Champions League ... the quality they’ll have. Look, I think we’ve got a good team and if things go well for us ... the aim to try and win the group and then let’s see what happens.”
Right, that’s my stint over. I shall hand you over to blog favourite, Luke McLaughlin, who will steer you through to full-time.
Nice piece here by Ed Aarons on blossoming Crystal Palace defender Tyrick Mitchell.
Updated
A few Pep Guardiola lines from today’s press conference ahead of the Manchester derby on Saturday.
On Cristiano Ronaldo being linked heavily with City before going back to United: “Normally I don’t talk about players from other clubs. I am pretty sure Cristiano Ronaldo is happy at Man Utd and Man Utd are happy to have him.”
On avoiding derby hype: “I don’t feel it. When I wake up in the morning and come here I’m in this bubble 10, 12, 14 hours. I’m not in the pubs to drink a beer so I don’t know the atmosphere. I have to be cold in my mind and cold in my head.”
On Kyle Walker’s fitness after the defender came off against Brugge after a kick to the foot: “Right now I don’t know. In a few hours maybe.”
Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers wants Jamie Vardy to take his frustration out against Leeds after missing a penalty in Thursday night’s 1-1 Europa League draw against Spartak.
“That will be the message, he has saved this club so many times and we bring him into the game because he is a fantastic goalscorer. It was unfortunate, he was maybe a little bit cold in the game. It wasn’t to be,” said Rodgers, who brought Vardy off the bench in the 71st minute.
“It would have been easy for him to give the penalty to Youri (Tielemans) because he’s not quite warmed up but he backs himself in the games. He is a brilliant goalscorer and if Jamie Vardy is on the pitch and there’s a penalty you wouldn’t want anyone else to take it.
“It’s one of those things, the keeper has gone the right way and makes the save but we had other opportunities in the game. We can’t just rely on that. We can do better and that’s something we can analyse and take it into the next game.”
That next game is at Elland Road and, fun fact: Sheffield-born Leicester striker Vardy has scored in each of his last five away Premier League appearances in Yorkshire.
On the team news front, James Maddison is expected to be available after illness while Harvey Barnes and Wilfred Ndidi may start.
Some Manchester United team news for Saturday’s derby, the main angle being that French defender Raphael Varane is ruled out.
Speaking at his press conference, Ole Gunnar Solskjær revealed: “With all the technology, you expect him to be out for four-five weeks. It’s a blow for us as he’s come in and been really influential, but Eric Bailly came in last time and was exceptional. We have a squad that can cope.”
Paul Pogba is suspended after being sent off against Liverpool but Victor Lindelof, who missed the Atalanta trip, could be available.
Solskjær said: “He’s still a doubt but, hopefully, he can come in tomorrow and say he’s ready. I expect him to be ready tomorrow but I can’t confirm.”
Updated
As you might expect, Ole Gunnar Solskjær doesn’t want to dwell on Manchester United’s last home game - that 5-0 thrashing by Liverpool - as he prepares for Saturday lunchtime’s derby clash against City.
Instead, the United boss is focusing on a couple of decent results since: the 3-0 win at Tottenham and the somewhat fortunate 2-2 draw away to Atalanta.
“We’ve moved on from that one,” he said of the Liverpool game which he had described as his ‘darkest day’ at United.
“Of course it’s going to be in the history books but we’ve had a good week. Good results away from home, difficult games, and the mindset is positive.
“Of course we’ve got to go into this game believing we can do good things. It’s a local derby and everyone knows what’s at stake.”
He’s won four of his eight meetings with City boss Pep Guardiola in all competitions, which is the best win rate of any manager to face the Spaniard at least five times.
“I’m not one to talk about what I’ve done. I’ve got great respect and admiration for what Pep has done. We’ve had a few good results against them in tight games,” said the Norwegian.
“It’s a special one. The last time we had a Manchester derby with fans the atmosphere was electric.
“We’ll remember that one more than with any dark moments that we’ve had. When Scott (McTominay) scored that goal in extra time that was a special moment.
“We know it’s a one-off game. You have to start on the front foot and start ready. A lot of it depends who gets on the front foot.”
Klopp reveals "serious" Firmino hamstring injury
Jurgen Klopp says striker Roberto Firmino sustained a serious hamstring injury in Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Atletico Madrid in midweek.
The Reds boss told Liverpoolfc.com: “Bobby is not good news with a serious hamstring injury, really unfortunate. We don’t know exactly how long he will be out but it will be not now after the international break directly. We have to work on that.”
Klopp has also given updates on Joe Gomez (calf) and Curtis Jones (eye). Both will miss the trip to West Ham.
“Curtis is a completely different story [to Firmino], he was very unlucky in training – he got a finger that scratched the eye. I had a lot of injuries to players in my career, that was not involved. He is on the way back but we have to see how long exactly.
“He will be back after the international break, for sure, but in the international break we have to see when he can start doing proper stuff again.
“And Joey, hopefully after the international break as well.”
In better news, Fabinho and Thiago Alcantara will be in contention to start after returning from injury in midweek.
“Very important, you see that. Fab was clear – he was not that long out – that he can maybe go, how we decided then 60 minutes,” said Klopp.
“And swapping that with Thiago was probably exactly the right thing to do, now they should be both a big step ahead, so all good.”
A-ha! It’s the first of our weekend match previews: Brighton v Newcastle.
Some build-up to Saturday’s Manchester derby via the two clubs’ respective Twitter pages.
Marking #BonfireNight with some explosive #PL strikes v Man City at Old Trafford 💥#MUFC | #MUNMCI pic.twitter.com/UfqVQ6t0Bb
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 5, 2021
And for City...
Enjoy our top 5️⃣ goals at Old Trafford! 👊
— Manchester City (@ManCity) November 5, 2021
Some unforgettable goals here, which one's your favourite? 🤔#ManCity pic.twitter.com/X9rRSTz3VG
Ahead of West Ham v Liverpool on Sunday, a reminder that Mo Salah was scoring amazing goals last season too.
Salah has scored nine times in eight Premier League appearances against West Ham.
Trent ➡️ Shaqiri ➡️ Salah 🔥
— The Anfield Wrap (@TheAnfieldWrap) November 5, 2021
One of our best last season, this. Absolutely unreal pic.twitter.com/BDsZtosF4D
If you’re not into Bonfire Night, don’t forget there is some alternative entertainment on offer this evening: Southampton v Aston Villa.
Some stats to gawp at here:
- Southampton have lost just one of their last nine Premier League meetings with Aston Villa (W5 D3), though it was in this exact fixture in their last such meeting in January (0-1).
- Aston Villa are looking to win consecutive away league games against Southampton for the first time since a run of four between 1995 and 1998.
- Aston Villa have won none of their last 13 away top-flight matches played on a Friday (D3 L10) – their last away Friday win was in April 1950, winning 4-1 at Charlton Athletic with goals from Con Martin, Billy Goffin, Trevor Ford and Johnny Dixon.
Updated
Talking of the 80s, here’s a retro read from Steven Pye when Hafnia Everton were going for the title.
Will Eddie Howe get a tune out of Newcastle? Gather the lads around the piano maybe. That’ll motivate them.
Here’s what he told the BBC during lockdown:
“The piano has been getting some good use. My boys have lessons and I’m teaching them something I haven’t really got a clue about.
“I’m into my 80s music and I say to my wife, ‘name this tune’. She never has any idea of what I am playing.
“I can hear it and I know what I want it to sound like but she has got no idea – it’s definitely my playing.
“I’m a massive A-ha fan and I have five or six of their albums in sheet music. I’m just not good enough to play it, I’m still off that level.”
So what exactly will Eddie Howe be walking into if and when he takes over at Newcastle?
With just four points from 10 games and not a single win, Newcastle’s position looks precarious. They’re currently six points adrift from safety.
Doomed or will January’s transfer window save them, presumably due to some wheeler-dealing in the loans market?
The bookies make it touch and go although just about see the Magpies surviving. They offer Newcastle at 5/4 to be relegated and 4/7 to stay up.
A nice piece here from Rhys Richards on big teams falling outside the top tier. Older Manchester United fans will know the emotions involved.
A quick jump over to the FA Cup as several of you BTL are chomping at the bit.
Finchleyjohn writes: “Any chance of some love ABL for the FA Cup, the first round of which kicks off today?
“Plenty of dreams of glory, in particular for the smaller non-league teams left in such as Sudbury (playing Colchester tonight), Harrow Borough (at Portsmouth), Bowers and Pitsea (at Lincoln) and my own Horsham, who have a 700 mile round trip to Carlisle.
“The players left on a coach this morning and many of the estimated 300 fans making up the Lardy Army are already en route. We’ve already won our Cup Final in beating Woking to reach this stage for just the 4th time in our history, so there’s a real party vibe among the traveling fans. You just can’t beat days like this!”
SonsOfTheDesert adds: “Best weekend of the entire season, this. There is so, so much to enjoy. My own Gateshead have a less romantic but possibly winnable game at home to Altrincham. However, our record in the Cup is dire, and Altrincham’s very fine, so I’m sure we’ll be thumped.”
Harry Kane used to just be rubbish in August. Now he’s extending his traditional slow start to a season into November after just one goal in nine Premier League starts.
Kane hopes new boss Antonio Conte can help him turn the corner:
“I am a player that always believes in myself and always believes in my ability. I am 28 years old, I have still got a lot to learn, a lot to improve on.
“It’s not been the start I wanted, the team wanted or the club wanted so we all know that. We all have to take responsibility for it as players.
“It is not something I am worried about, I will keep working and I am really excited about working with this manager.
“I am sure he can improve me and that is an exciting thing when you have done what I have done in the game so far and still feel like there is more to come, that is definitely exciting so I am looking forward to it.”
As for what Conte will bring to the team:
“We have a manager and a club that believe in us. He definitely brings a lot of passion, a lot of determination, whether that’s on the training pitch or in meetings, in the dressing room.
“His resume speaks for itself, he has won trophies at the highest level with the biggest clubs so everyone is excited to learn, excited to work under him and that passion he shows every day, every meeting, every training session is what you thrive on.
“You go into games wanting to put your body on the line for him and you can feel that already.
“It has only been three days but he is a fantastic manager. We haven’t reached the standards we have wanted to over the last couple of years, but we hope that this manager can help us turn it around.
“But it’s about us and how we take it in because he has done it, he has nothing to prove. He has done it on the biggest stage with the biggest teams so he will give us everything he has to improve us and now it is down to us as players to have no excuses.
“We have to make sure every minute of our lives we are trying to improve and win for this team and that is the only way we are going to move forward.”
Being tossed from the Merry Pranksters tour bus (with Ken Kesey at the wheel), it’s the new acid-trip, Haight-Ashbury, inspired by a lava lamp-themed Premier League football. Cool or not cool? What do you cats think?
The new @nikefootball hi-vis will be used for the first time this weekend 😍 pic.twitter.com/Owiv2dCo4j
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 5, 2021
Q: When will Patrick Bamford return for Leeds?
Marcelo Bielsa: “It’s all subject to his evolution.”
Q: Can you be a tad more specific Marcelo, buddy?
Bielsa: “It’s the problem in his ankle. The time of his diagnostic has not been fulfilled yet. It’s not a simple injury and because of the disappearance of the pain or the tolerance of the pain we can’t give an exact prognosis.
“The response I give when I say it’s subject to his evolution, don’t let it be interpreted as me not giving all the information I possess. The injuries like this, their prognosis, when he will be available to play, can’t be given exactly.”
Marcelo certainly making his interpreter work hard there.
Leeds have netted just five goals since Bamford played in the draw at Newcastle on September 17. So here’s Bielsa on whether others need to do more to fill the gap as they prepare to host Leicester at Elland Road on Sunday.
“If you also look at the data you will also notice that Bamford has also gone times without scoring when he has been in the starting line-up for Leeds.
“To have a goalscorer is always very important, the fact that Patrick scored a goal every two games last season is impossible to ignore and we prepare ourselves to be able to solve the absence of any player.”
Leeds, who won 2-1 at Norwich last weekend, are assessing Jamie Shackleton and Junior Firpo ahead of the Leicester match.
West Ham have condemned footage of their fans apparently singing an antisemitic song towards a Jewish man on a plane.
Brighton v Newcastle has another layer of intrigue because, hold on to your hats, Seagulls boss Graham Potter and Magpies stand-in manager Graeme Jones were once teammates at Boston United!
Here’s Graham on Graeme: “I’ve known Graeme for a long time. I know him as a guy and a football person. He’s a fantastic friend who has been very supportive, very helpful.
“I know his qualities and how competitive he is. The team will be organised, motivated and they will play to their strengths.
“I am looking forward to seeing him but hopefully I can send him home a little bit unhappy. Afterwards, though, we will have a glass of wine and give each other a hug, I am sure.”
As for fitness news, Brighton could have Dan Burn back while Aaron Connelly should return to the squad. Looking ahead, Potter says Danny Welbeck may return before January. It initially looked as if the striker would be out for longer after suffering hamstring trouble at Crystal Palace in late September.
Rangers have reported a £23.5million operating loss for last season in their annual accounts.
More details here from PA Media:
The deficit for the year to June 30, 2021 was more than £7.5m bigger than the 2019-20 campaign.
The “total comprehensive” loss after tax, player sales and finance costs were taken into account was £26m.
Rangers reported a profit on player registrations of £1.7m but finance costs were £3m.
Revenue was down by almost a fifth at £47.7m while operating expenses were down by £4.5m. The decrease in expenses was “driven mostly by the reduced need for matchday costs”, according to chairman Douglas Park.
Park added in the club’s annual report: “The year under review was of course heavily affected by Covid, and the impact that had on revenue streams, both matchday and non-matchday.
“Initial estimates are that the adverse effect on revenues was over £20m, and the effect on the net loss over £10m.
“The group has submitted a claim on its business interruption insurance for losses caused by Covid, the curtailment of the 2019/20 season and the closed doors games and the restrictions on stadium usage throughout the 2020/21 season.
“The scale and timing of any future claim is uncertain, however we have recognised amounts received from our insurers against our claim to date.”
The annual report added that Rangers are expected to require £7.5m in funding by the end of the season to meet liabilities but the board has reached agreement with Park and fellow director John Bennett to provide loan facilities to meet the shortfall.
It’s 100 games in charge at Arsenal for Mikel Arteta when the Gunners host Watford on Sunday.
Has he been a success? The numbers tell us that only George Graham had a better winning record in his first 100 games as Arsenal boss, so have some of that Arsene Wenger!
Arteta’s own take on the milestone: “An incredible and big journey.
“A lot has happened, not only at the football club but around the world. That obviously has had a huge impact in everything that we have lived in the last two years.
“But I am so privileged to be where I am and I am really enjoying the opportunity and the challenge that we have ahead.
“I think we all update any year like any computer. With everything that has happened to us, even more so.
“I am different (from his first game in charge), I see things differently, you evolve in certain ways, you learn a lot of things. We keep evolving.”
Arteta could name an unchanged side for the third game running for the visit of Watford. Kieran Tierney’s return to fitness could earn him a recall though.
Updated
Xavi made a pleasingly palindromic 767 appearances for Barcelona. Now he’s free to take over as coach after agreement was made with Al Sadd. Here’s the full story.
Antonio Conte’s first match in charge of Tottenham went well, then badly but ultimately ended in a win. David Hytner was at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Connor Gallagher, the man-of-the-match in Crystal Palace’s shock 2-0 win at Manchester City last weekend, is our cover star as Daniel Harris, Will Unwin and Barry Glendenning run the rule over this weekend’s Premier League action:
Updated
Xavi free to take over at Barcelona
It’s happening. Al-Sadd have given Xavi the green light to become manager at Barcelona after the payment of the release clause stipulated in his contract.
Turki Al-Ali: The #AlSadd administration has agreed on Xavi’s move to Barcelona after the payment of the release clause stipulated in the contract. We’ve agreed on cooperation with Barcelona in the future. Xavi is an important part of Al-Sadd’s history and we wish him success. pic.twitter.com/3FvCOdYl5X
— 🏆 #76 Al Sadd SC | نادي السد (@AlsaddSC) November 5, 2021
Chelsea top the table by three points but after a soft run of fixtures since losing back-to-back games against Man City and Juventus - Southampton, Brentford, Malmo, Norwich, Southampton again, Newcastle and Malmo again - the difficulty level ramps up with... oh, a home game against Burnley.
Still, Tommy T’s men can only beat what’s in front of them and it’s worth noting that they’ve won 10 and drawn three of the last 14 matches against Burnley.
After the international break, Chelsea travel to Leicester and then host Manchester United.
With zero points from their last four Premier League games, Aston Villa are in worse form than Norwich. And that’s not ideal.
Martin Laurence of WhoScored looks at what’s going wrong in this Guardian Sport Network feature.
Here’s another parallel universe offering. This time Jonathan Wilson speculates on whether two of England’s finest are, in fact, at the wrong Manchester club.
In a parallel universe, Cristiano Ronaldo has signed for Manchester City as an impact player and comes off the bench after 70 minutes on Saturday to net a brace of tap-ins and complete a 5-0 City win. In the actual universe, he either scores a late winner in a 2-1 win for United or a consolation in a 4-1 defeat. Which will it be?
Here’s a hard fact from Opta that probably doesn’t help us decide anything:
- Cristiano Ronaldo has scored three goals in his last five Premier League Manchester derbies, with his last goal in his first stint at the Red Devils coming against Man City in May 2009.
I prefer this niche one:
- There have been eight red cards in 48 Premier League Manchester derby matches, with Man Utd’s Cristiano Ronaldo the only player to have been sent off more than once in the fixture (January 2006 and November 2008).
Weekend Premier League fixtures. And we’re going with a 1-5-4-0 split.
Friday 5th November
20:00 Southampton v Aston Villa
Saturday 6th November
12:30 Man Utd v Man City
15:00 Brentford v Norwich
15:00 Crystal Palace v Wolves
15:00 Chelsea v Burnley
17:30 Brighton v Newcastle
Sunday 7th November
14:00 Arsenal v Watford
14:00 Everton v Spurs
14:00 Leeds v Leicester
16:30 West Ham v Liverpool
So what exactly is going on at Newcastle? Let Louise Taylor walk you through the latest happenings.
Preamble
Morning everyone. Y’alright? Another intriguing weekend of Premier League action awaits and you better enjoy it because next week it’s the 27th (subs, check) international break of the season.
Eddie Howe looks all set to get the Newcastle job but not in time for Saturday evening’s away trip to Brighton. Will we see a suited Eddie sat next to Amanda Staveley and Yasir Al-Rumayyan in a VIP box at the Amex, applauding heartily as Newcastle take the lead before crumbling to a 4-1 defeat. Or will a track-suited Eddie be in a secret location watching the horror show unfurl on Jason Tindall’s iPad?
Elsewhere, we have the Manchester derby, with content machine Cristiano Ronaldo trying to put one over the club he could have joined.
It’s also fourth v second as West Ham host Liverpool and can Antonio Conte make it two wins out of two by following up Tottenham’s Europa Cup thingy victory over Vitesse with another success at Rafa’s ailing Everton?
Stay tuned for all the team news, manager press conferences and much more!
