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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Cormac O'Shea

Premier League news: Liverpool's Klopp on Gerrard, bad news for Man City and Ole's odd Man United decision

The Premier League is back after the international break with plenty of big games this weekend.

Liverpool will play Arsenal at Anfield in the headline fixture on Saturday evening at 5:30pm as Klopp's men look to bounce back from their shock West Ham defeat.

Meanwhile Arsenal will look to keep their good run under Mikel Arteta going on away soil.

Here are some of the big headlines ahead of the next round of fixtures.

Klopp on Steven Gerrard's Premier League return

Jurgen Klopp has told Liverpool fans to stop worrying about his future...and enjoy the good times while they last!

The Reds boss was asked about his future, after new Villa boss Steven Gerrard said he hoped the German coach would sign an Anfield contract for life.

Klopp’s current deal is up in 2024, but he brushed away all talk of an extension, when he said: “I don't have to think about these kind of things at the moment, thank God.

“It's all fine how it is. It's over when it's over but it's far from being over so let's focus on that. We are in the middle of this season and that's all we are focused on.”

Klopp has been Liverpool ’s most successful manager Since Kenny Dalglish in his first stint at the club, and the club’s support are desperate to see him sign a new deal.

He has already been at Anfield for six years, and if he sees out his current agreement until the summer of 2024, then it will be the longest he’s ever been manager at a club.

De Bruyne out for Man City

Kevin De Bruyne has tested positive for Covid-19 and is set to miss Manchester City's next three matches.

De Bruyne, who played for Belgium in a 1-1 draw against Wales on Tuesday, is understood to have received the positive test the following day and must now isolate for 10 days under current regulations.

That means De Bruyne will miss City's Premier League game against Everton on Sunday, as well as the Champions League clash with Paris St Germain on Wednesday and the league fixture at home to West Ham the following weekend.

"Kevin has tested positive for Covid so he must isolate for 10 days," said Guardiola.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 06: Kevin de Bruyne of Manchester City looks on during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford on November 06, 2021 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Matt McNulty - Manchester City/Manchester City FC via Getty Images) (Matt McNulty - Manchester City/Manchester City FC via Getty Images)

"Now he has to recover well. The human being is more important than anything else.

"He was vaccinated, so he is more protected, so hopefully the symptoms are minimised.

"Right now it's not about the rhythm or who we are going to miss, it's about the human being."

Ole explains week off

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has explained why he gave Manchester United players and staff an unexpected week off over the international break.

The under-fire United boss returned home to Norway in the first half of the break earlier this week as players not involved in international games were also given the option of a brief break.

Solskjaer, his wife, Silje, and two sons, Elijah and Noah, travelled to Norway from Manchester airport earlier this month before returning.

The move was unexpected considering the Red Devils’ alarming run of results in the Premier League, which has seen them pick up just four points in their last six matches.

Solskjaer’s side will return to league action this weekend as they travel to strugglers Watford, with the boss explaining that it was important for everyone to “refresh” over the short respite from matches ahead of a gruelling winter schedule.

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