And finally, our feature of the day ...
Stuart James went to the Aromas de P{ortugal coffee shop and restaurant in King Street, Wolverhampton, to meet wolves players Ruben Neves and Dioga Jota for a fascinating chat over coffee and custard tarts. If you haven’t read it yet, you’re in for an absolute treat.
Chelsea remain grounded after win
Chelsea were forced to delay their planned flight home following their Europa League win over PAOK last night, due to adverse weather conditions in London.
Could stress have caused Lloris injury?
SPurs manager Mauricio Pochettino says the stress of appearing in court on a drink-driving charge may have contributed to the thigh injury currently keeping the goalkeeper sidelined.
In defence of Manchester United
Jose Mourinho has put his side’s improved defending down to a team effort, rather than the work of individual defenders.
Good and bad news at Manchester City ...
Sergio Aguero has inked a contract extension, but Pep Guardiola has revealed Benjamin Mendy remains indefinitely sidelined with a fractured metatarsal.
Last orders! We’ll be wrapping up this blog shortly, but before we go we’ll post a reminder of the main news stories of the day ...
Nuno Espirito Santo speaks: The Wolves boss has responded to praise lavished upon him by Jose Mourinho, for whom he played at Porto, earlier today. Wolves face Manchester United at Old Trafford tomorrow.
“Jose Mourinho was my manager for two years - what we achieved for Porto will be in our memories forever. It’s an honour that he speaks about me, but it’s not about me it’s about Wolves against Manchester United. Tomorrow what we’ll see is two good teams of football trying to achieve the best result possible.
“To all the players that were in the squad in 2003-04, when we won everything, he was a big inspiration. It will stay in our memories forever. But since then things change, you go on with your career personally - he was a big inspiration for me personally and I have great memories of those days.”
Wolves update ...
Wolves are likely to be unchanged for a sixth consecutive Premier League game when they travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United. Head coach Nuno Espirito Santo has resisted making alterations to his starting line up so far this season, with club-record signing Adama Traore being used as an impact substitute since his £18m arrival last month. Portuguese winger Ivan Cavaleiro is expected to be Wolves’ only absentee as he continues his recovery from a back injury.
Provisional squad: Patricio, Ruddy, Norris, Doherty, Dendoncker, Bennett, Batth, Enobakhare, Hause, Boly, Coady, Gibbs-White, Jota, Otto, Saiss, Neves, Costa, Moutinho, Vinagre, Bonatini, Traore, Jimenez.
Roy Hodgson on Wilf Zaha’s protests
Roy Hodgson has supported Wilfried Zaha in his pursuit of greater protection - but Crystal Palace have no intention of making an official complaint to help his cause.
After last week’s 1-0 victory at Huddersfield, in which he scored but was again fouled, this time by Mathias Jorgensen, Zaha said: “I’d have to get my leg broken for anyone to get a card. That’s why I lose my head. Why am I getting different treatment from other players?”
Gary Lineker said that he should take the intense attention he receives as a “compliment”, but the incident was the latest in which he appears to have been targeted. Watford’s Etienne Capoue had already been accused by Graeme Souness of trying to “nail” Zaha in a fixture earlier this season.
That he has already been fouled 11 times since it began has contributed to concerns about the treatment he receives, but Palace will regardless resist contacting Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) to demand greater protection for their most influential player.
“People are entitled to say what they think, if it is heartfelt and honest,” said Hodgson. “It is the person making the comment who has to stand for that, and I don’t think it is for others to chip in and make comments about it.
“He said what he had to say and he has no reason to apologise for that. We want to move on from there. Let’s hope that he will survive the coming matches in the way he wants to. Our chances are better with him in the team.
“After every game, clubs are asked to comment and send in a report on the game. I’m pretty certain we did that, as we do after every game. But there’s been no specific contact with the Premier League or Mike Riley and his people at all. I see no reason for that. We’ve not made any overtures to the Premier League or the PGMOL.”
Mundo Deportivo say (surprise surprise) Barça scouts watched Rabiot, De Jong and Pogba in the Champions League this week, while SPORT say Dembélé is “better than Neymar” pic.twitter.com/H43pPHULOH
— The Spanish Football Podcast (@tsf_podcast) September 21, 2018
This just in: Oscar Tabarez has signed up for another four years in charge of Uruguay’s national team, which will take him up to Qatar 2022. The 71-year-old, who suffers from “a chronic neuropathy” which means he is no longer able to walk without a stick or crutches, has been in charge of Uruguay for the past 12 years. Jonathan WIlson wrote this tribute to “a man who somehow includes on his CV both being a primary school teacher and holding a raging Gabriel Batistuta back by the nipple during a riot in Santiago” during the most recent World Cup.
Meanwhile in Spain ...
The Spanish FA have dug in against La Liga by declaring there is “zero per cent chance” that the planned match between Girona and Barcelona in Miami will go ahead on 27 January.
La Liga had intended to take the fixture to Florida without consulting the Spanish players’ union (AFE) or the FA. Luis Rubiales, head of the Spanish FA, has announced his intention to block the proposal, with the backing of Uefa and Fifa. His La Liga counterpart, Javier Tebas, remains confident that the game will go ahead in Miami, rather than Girona. ““Uefa haven’t announced their stance publicly,” he said. “Fifa don’t have legal authority and we are negotiating with the AFE.”
Rafael Benitez speaks ...
Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez is confident referee Andre Marriner will not be influenced by Crystal Palace striker Wilfried Zaha’s pleas for protection and expressed mild surprise that the player has not been sanctioned for his very public complaints.
“I’m surprised because normally the FA deal with these comments, but I have a lot of confidence in Andre Marriner,” said Benitez. “He has experience - even if his record with our players is not the best in terms of red cards. But I am quite confident. He is a very good referee with experience and he will deal with the situation in a normal way.”
Benitez insisted the Magpies would not change their plans to deal with Zaha in the wake of his comments. “Not really,” he said. “He’s a good player, no doubt about that, but I think the FA has to deal with these comments and I’m sure that Andre Marriner will not have this in the back of his head.”
Pep Guardiola speaks ...
The Manchester City manager has been speaking to the press and said he was delighted with this morning’s news that Sergio Aguero has signed a contract extension that – if he sees it out – will see in his 10th anniversary as a City player.
“I really appreciate it a lot,” said Guardiola. “I am so happy he has signed a new contract and can stay 10 years at the club. City’s manager refused to criticise his players for losing against Lyon in their Champions League opener, which he was forced to watch from the stands as he was serving a touchline ban.
“The players don’t have to apologise. ,” he said. “They tried to make a comeback. They put everything in. The ban - I have to accept it. Hopefully next time I can be there.”
Guardiola also confirmed Benjamin Mendy, who has missed the last two games with an ankle injury, is still sidelined and will miss City’s game against Cardiff City this weekend. “I don’t know [how long he will be out],” he said. “He has a problem in his bone.”
Our man on the Mersey beat writes ...
Jurgen Klopp has insisted there are no concerns over Mohamed Salah’s early season form and the Liverpool forward’s defensive work in the wins over Paris Saint Germain and Tottenham Hotspur was “outstanding”.
The Egypt international has yet to recapture the prolific form that yielded 44 goals last term but has scored twice in his six appearances so far. At the same stage of last season Salah had scored three goals. “Wow, that’s a crisis,” said the Liverpool manager – sarcastically of course – when told of the comparison.
Klopp said: “On the defensive side he was outstanding in the last two games, perfect, and it is so important in these games especially so that says everything about him: that he is really ready to work for the team in these moments. It is a completely normal situation for an offensive player that they have times when they don’t score. But he is still a threat, has fantastic situations in both games and he is in a good shape. Finishing is something you can never take for granted; I would never do that, the players should never do that – only the supporters are allowed to do that. The most important thing is physically he is in a very good shape, which helps.”
Salah has not scored in his last three outings and was substituted shortly after his error led to Kylian Mbappe equalising for PSG in the Champions League on Tuesday.
But his manager added: “Yes he lost the ball before we conceded the second goal but it was a very intense game and things like this happen constantly. You don’t always concede a goal after it but this time we did. It was not the reason to take him off. I am fine with him, I think he is fine with me and the situation, so that’s all. At the end of the season we will see how it was, not at the beginning. The start was good for the team and also him as well. It wasn’t like he finished last season but he needed time last year and we will take time this year, that’s all.”
The Liverpool manager confirmed Roberto Firmino is fit to start against Southampton on Saturday and Dominic Solanke is also available having recovered from concussion. Dejan Lovren, Adam Lallana and Divock Origi remain sidelined by injury, however.
Over to you, Claude ...
Leicester boss Claude Puel has vowed to stick with a four-man defence against Huddersfield despite calls from fans to switch to three at the back.
Since last weekend’s 4-2 defeat at Bournemouth, where Puel’s team were 4-0 down heading into the final five minutes, local radio phone-ins and fan forums have been inundated with supporters suggesting playing three central defenders could be the way forward.
Leicester were vulnerable to the counter-attack against the Cherries as attacking full-backs Ricardo Pereira and Ben Chilwell went forward with no cover, leaving Wes Morgan and Harry Maguire exposed. With Morgan suspended after his red card at the Vitality Stadium, it might have been the perfect opportunity to try a new formation, but Puel insists he will stick to his guns on Saturday and not make decisions based solely on last weekend’s result.
“I am not in the habit to change something,” said the Frenchman. “For example, about our last game, if I change the system defensively just to find a good solidity, we could lose all the good aspects from the offensive play.
“With four at the back, we can drive the play. I want to keep our quality and possibility to attack and then correct our game in the defensive aspect: win duels, more aggressiveness, these good things. They are good ingredients.
“Changing the system sometimes, why not? But it is not my concern or my thought at this moment because we made mistakes and we know why we made them. I think it is important to be responsible and correct the mistakes.
“All the systems are possible, but I think the desire for me is the mentality, the play, the philosophy. That is the most important thing in football.”
David Wagner high on the Hogg ...
Huddersfield boss David Wagner has yet to decide whether or not to recall midfielder Jonathan Hogg for Saturday’s game at Leicester. Hogg has completed a three-match ban and will return to the squad as the Terriers chase their first Premier League win of the season, but Wagner said Aaron Mooy and Philip Billing could resume in central midfield.
“Aaron and Phil are also performing well on a consistent level, but it’s great that Hoggy is back,” said Wagner, who also confirmed defender Erik Durm will return to contention. “Hoggy’s one of our aggressive leaders in the dressing room and will help us. Whether he plays [on Saturday] we will see. Aaron and Phil have performed consistently in the past games. We have strong competition in the squad.”
Huddersfield have struggled in front of goal this season, scoring in just two of their first five league games, but Wagner insisted he has been pleased with his side’s performances.
“If you are not scoring goals, are you creating opportunities?” he added. “If not, you have to work on that. If you are, you have to work on finishing them off and this is exactly what we have done. As long as you create opportunities, this is what we have to try to prove against Leicester.”
Eddie Howe speaks ...
Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe maintains his squad still have plenty of room for improvement despite enjoying their best ever start to a Premier League campaign.
The Cherries head to bottom club Burnley in fifth place following last weekend’s 4-2 win over Leicester. Three victories and a draw from the opening five matches makes impressive reading - but Howe is not about to let anyone’s focus slip.
“It has been a good start, there is no denying that,” he said. “We are happy with what we have done and delivered, but there is more to come from the team. There are better performances in us, and individuals can do even better, so although it has been good to this point, I am still looking for this team to grow. I have always believed that no matter where you are or what you are doing, there is always room to improve. How can we push things on again?
“We are never going to be the finished product. You are always looking to take the team to the next step. It is so early in the season, no conclusions can be drawn yet and it is all to be proved.”
Asked about their opponents on Saturday, a team he once managed briefly, Howe seemed confident they will rouse themselves from their current slump.
“In terms of performances, they are strong and are a very disciplined team,” said Howe. “When they are functioning well, they are a tough team to beat, as a lot of sides found out last year. I don’t think they will be in that position for long.”
The Championship: A marathon, not a sprint
Leeds have got off to a flyer under the fascinating reign of Marcelo Bielso, but many observers have questioned whether or not the Championship leaders will be physically able to maintain the levels of intensity the Argentinian demands until the end of the season. Bielsa himself touched on these concerns as he spoke to the media today, ahead of Leeds match against Birmingham City, at Elland Road this weekend.
“The Championship is a long season and it is not a sprint,” he said. “Birmingham are a team that concedes very few goals, so that is an important difficulty for us, and the few goals that Birmingham have conceded, doesn’t correspond with their league ranking. The Blues, along with Ipswich, are one of just two teams in the Championship who have yet to record a win this season.
“Garry Monk was the head coach of Leeds when they finished seventh in the Championship and has been the head coach of several teams, so he is experienced,” added Bielsa.
Javi Gracia speaks ...
Javi Gracia insists his Watford side remain mentally strong after their perfect start to the new Premier League campaign came to an end. The Hornets will look to get back to winning ways quickly at Fulham in Saturday’s televised lunchtime kick-off after seeing Manchester United inflict a first defeat on them last weekend. Gracia’s well-drilled squad are only three points behind leaders Chelsea and Liverpool, so the Spaniard sees no reason not to remain positive.
“We had a good performance last week regardless of the result,” he said. “We played well - we didn’t get a good result, but I’m pleased with the performance. After four wins in a row, the team is mentally strong. They don’t need to get a good result to know we are doing good performances.
“Now in this moment, we are confident of keeping our level. We try to get better results knowing it will not be easy. We are training really well. Mentally, the team is strong and has the confidence it needs to take the result.”
Fulham were beaten 3-0 at Manchester City last time out, a third Premier League defeat on their return to the top flight. Slavisa Jokanovic’s men, though, won their previous home match 4-2 against Burnley. Gracia is not expecting an easy afternoon by the Thames as Jokanovic prepares to tackle his former club.
“Fulham are playing really well, so I know it will be a tough game, but we are going to compete,” said the Spaniard. “They are a team who like possession, have an average of 54 or 55 per cent, and with a style of play where they are organised. We have to be ready to defend well when we don’t have possession, but we will see what happens. We try to keep our style of play, our mentality and to be aggressive.”
Updated
Mark Hughes speaks ...
Southampton boss Mark Hughes believes his side can head to Anfield confident of giving Premier League high-flyers Liverpool plenty of cause for concern.
Their opponents this weekend maintained their perfect start to the new campaign with a more-emphatic-than-the-scoreline-suggests 3-2 Champions League win over Paris St Germain.
Southampton, meanwhile, are unbeaten from the last three matches - but were left frustrated after allowing a 2-0 lead to slip at home on Monday night as Brighton fought back to earn a draw with a stoppage-time penalty.
“It is a game that is going to test us clearly because the team we are facing looks on top of their form, with individuals and the collective functioning really well,” the Southampton manager said at a press conference.
“But we will go there with the intentions of causing them problems and maybe taking chances when we are presented with them, because in most games we are creating opportunities, that has not really been a problem for us.
“You would like to think if we can remain in the game and have a good platform, that will enable us to create chances and take chances if they come around. Liverpool are in outstanding form at the moment and if it was a great performance in Europe.
“It’s going to be a big test for us, we understand that - but we are on a decent run in terms of confidence. “Yes, Monday night was a disappointment, but it does not affect us confidence-wise. If we had been dominated in the game and poor for long periods, which was not the case, we would have been more concerned going up against an in-form Liverpool team.”
Updated
Some Fulham news ...
Fulham will give Ryan Sessegnon time to “grow up” and adapt to the Premier League, according to boss Slavisa Jokanovic. The 18-year-old Craven Cottage sensation could pass 100 Fulham appearances this season, already his third full senior campaign.
The England Under-21 talent had a host of top clubs courting his services in the summer, but opted to stay put in south west London. Manager Jokanovic has called for calm however, as the left winger starts to realise his rich potential.
“It is a new experience for him, he has come from one level to another: it’s not time to rest, it’s time to continue with this learning process,” Jokanovic told Sky Sports.
“He must understand the difference between the Championship and the Premier League. It’s a huge experience for him, all the minutes he is getting. We must be calm with him and give him space to grow up. He’s a little bit more experienced now but there’s huge space for him to reach his best level.”
Burnley need a win ... and some goals
Matej Vydra has been speaking about Burnley’s poor start to the season and has admitted the team’s strikers need to start pulling their weight as they bid for their first Premier League win of the season, against Bournemouth tomorrow.
Sean Dyche’s side sit bottom of the table with only one point from five games, and they have not been helped by the combined failure of Vydra, Ashley Barnes, Chris Wood and Sam Vokes to find the net in the league.
“Especially for the strikers, when you score goals, when you have opportunities almost every game, you believe more in yourself that a goal will come, and if you score one or two then your confidence is high, you feel much better on the training pitch and during the games,” said Vydra.
“All the team are behind you because you’re scoring goals and you are the main guy and everyone gives you the ball around the box. Now we need to score one or two goals and confidence will come. Right now the top goalscorer is Tarky [defender James Tarkowski], so it’s not the best statistic for the strikers. But we’ve played only five games and now it’s time to bring goals to the club.”
The Czech is playing for his fifth English club after moving to Turf Moor from Derby in an £11m deal last month, and has settled in quickly despite the difficult start to the season.
“I think I was a little bit scared when I came here,” he said. “New club, new manager, you have to meet so many new people, but in the group it’s very good guys, no big egos and was more easy than I expected and I’m more happy than I was thinking. It was a hard start for us, Europa League and Premier League, it’s not going well for us but when I came here from the first session and after that I said, ‘Wow, there’s good players here’. We show it on the training pitch and now we have to bring it to the pitch.”
More on Chelsea’s disrupted travel plans
Chelsea’s preparations for Sunday’s Premier League clash at West Ham were disrupted after the team were forced to delay their return from Greece.
Maurizio Sarri’s side had planned to fly out straight after Thursday’s 1-0 win at PAOK, but adverse weather conditions in the UK saw Chelsea postpone their return flight until Friday morning. They were scheduled to land late on Friday afternoon.
Chelsea have five wins from five Premier League games ahead of the derby at the London Stadium. Head coach Sarri hinted at his frustration over the proximity of Sunday’s fixture - and that was before the flight delay emerged.
“We have to play again in 63 hours, on Sunday morning,” Sarri said after the game in Thessaloniki. Eden Hazard and David Luiz were rested for the trip and so were unaffected by the flight delay. Sarri made five changes for the Europa League Group L win, rotating his options ahead of a busy period.
Chelsea play at Liverpool in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday and host the Reds in the Premier League in September 29.
Pedro could be rested for the West Ham game after he suffered a shoulder injury in stoppage time in Thessaloniki. However, the Spain winger tweeted to say “everything’s ok despite the incident at the end of the game”.
What makes a latex bladder and synthetic leather panels so special to you? ⚽
— Nat. Football Museum (@FootballMuseum) September 21, 2018
We want to know your favourite ball from the annals of time, be it an iconic tournament classic, or one you knocked around your back garden. pic.twitter.com/2999BAget1
More on Manchester United
Marcus Rashford and Nemanja Matic will miss Manchester United’s return to Premier League action against Wolves through suspension.
Rashford serves the second of a three-game ban while Matic will complete a one-match suspension after being sent off at Watford last weekend. Both players started Wednesday’s Champions League win at Young Boys, where Antonio Valencia and Jesse Lingard were rested.
The duo are back in contention on Saturday when Phil Jones could return, but Ander Herrera and Marcos Rojo are not fit to be involved. United boss Jose Mourinho confirmed Diogo Dalot will not start despite impressing on his debut in Switzerland and will instead start next week’s Carabao Cup match against Derby.
Provisional squad: De Gea, Romero, Grant, Valencia, Dalot, Darmian, Young, Shaw, Smalling, Jones, Bailly, Lindelof, Pogba, Fellaini, Mata, Pereira, Fred, McTominay, Lingard, Lukaku, Martial, Sanchez
José Mourinho speaks ...
Manchester United’s manager has been talking to the ladies and gentlemen of the Fourth Estate ahead of his side’s intriguing match against Wolves at Old Trafford tomorrow. Despite having masterminded three consecutive victories for a team many considered to be approaching “crisis”, he looked in decidedly morose mood. Jamie Jackson was there for the Guardian and reports that Mourinho thinks United are resolving “defensive problems” better due to a concerted team effort rather than Victor Lindelof and Chris Smalling being selected as the centre-back pairing in their run of three successive victories.
“I think the team as a team is resolving the defensive problems better than before. I don’t want to say it was [Eric] Bailly or [Phil] Jones and is now Smalling or Lindelof.
“The team is more compact, more solid, the spirit, the cooperation, the empathy, the communication all of that improves in the team and good results bring confidence. And I think we are improving as a team, I don’t want to say our improvement has the name of Chris or Victor, the team is playing better and they are part of the team that plays these matches.”
On the subject of 19-year-old Diogo Dalot, who impressed on debut in Wednesday’s 3-0 win at Young Boys, Mourinho had this to say.
“I want him in this process of adaptation to play totally fresh, so he’s not playing tomorrow,” said the manager. “He plays Tuesday again [against Derby County in the EFL Cup]. “To play for Manchester United is difficult enough for a kid of 19-years-old coming from another country and after an important injury [to his knee] and surgery is different enough, he doesn’t need to face more difficult.
“He is not a player to be here just [for development] – is a player to be here for positions, he’s a very good player.”
Women’s Super League: Everton 0-4 Man City
Manchester City earned their first win of the Women’s Super League season with an emphatic win over Everton. Read on ...
Mind the gap! ⚠️
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) September 21, 2018
FC Zurich's Benjamin Kololli learned a harsh lesson about AEK Larnaca's stadium last night! 😂 pic.twitter.com/jm7tORBHaX
A new arrival ...
At the risk of going all Hello! magazine, may we take a moment to congratulate Derby County manager Frank Lampard and his wife, Christine, who have just announced the arrival of their new baby daughter, Patricia Charlotte, this morning.
Let us introduce you to our little girl. Patricia Charlotte Lampard! We’re so in love ❤️💕👶🏻 @franklampard pic.twitter.com/9mY6RMBV2i
— Christine Lampard (@clbleakley) September 21, 2018
Updated
Neil Warnock speaks ...
Cardiff City’s manager has been chatting ahead of his team’s game against Manchester City in the Welsh capital. Warnock said City got a “kick up the backside” in their shock 2-1 home defeat to Lyon in midweek to become the first English side to lose four consecutive Champions League matches.
“It’s a blip and might give them a kick up the backside,” Warnock said at his pre-match press conference. “I don’t think it helps us at all. They made a few changes and looked a lot stronger when they put the regulars on in the second half. When I watch them I think ‘thank goodness we only play them twice!”’
Pedro to miss trip to West Ham
Pedro is a major doubt for Chelsea’s Premier League clash at West Ham on Sunday. The Spain winger sustained a shoulder injury in Thursday night’s Europa League win at PAOK - a trip Eden Hazard and David Luiz missed.
The rested pair are expected to return against the Hammers, while Mateo Kovacic has a minor injury and may miss out again. Chelsea’s return to England has been delayed after their scheduled post-match flight was cancelled due to adverse weather conditions.
Provisional squad: Kepa, Caballero, Rudiger, Alonso, Fabregas, Jorginho, Kante, Barkley, Hazard, Pedro, Loftus-Cheek, Moses, Giroud, Zappacosta, Willian, Cahill, Christensen, Azpilicueta, Morata, Luiz, Emerson Palmieri, Ampadu, Hudson-Odoi, Bulka.
Updated
Gross out for Brighton
Pascal Gross remains Brighton’s only absentee ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash with Tottenham. The German midfielder, who missed Monday’s draw at Southampton, is sidelined with an ankle injury sustained against Fulham before the international break. Winger Jose Izquierdo and forward Florin Andone are awaiting their first appearances of the season after returning to fitness.
Provisional squad: Ryan, Button, Steele, Bernardo, Montoya, Bruno, Bong, Dunk, Duffy, Balogun, Schelotto, Suttner, Bissouma, Stephens, Propper, Kayal, Knockaert, March, Jahanbakhsh, Izquierdo, Andone, Locadia, Murray.
Arsenal to bring back big guns
Unai Emery is likely to recall a number of first-team regulars for Arsenal’s Premier League clash at home to Everton on Sunday.
The Spaniard made eight changes for Thursday’s 4-2 Europa League win over Vorskla Poltava but the likes of Petr Cech, Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil and Alexandre Lacazette will be pushing for returns.
Lucas Torreira took a knock to the knee during the game but Emery hopes he will be fine to face the Toffees, while Laurent Koscielny (achilles), Sead Kolasinac (knee), Ainsley Maitland-Niles (leg) and Carl Jenkinson (ankle) remain absent.
Provisional squad: Cech, Leno, Bellerin, Lichtsteiner, Holding, Mustafi, Mavropanos, Papastathopoulos, Monreal, Xhaka, Elneny, Torreira, Guendouzi, Ramsey, Iwobi, Mkhitaryan, Ozil, Welbeck, Lacazette, Aubameyang.
📝 @aguerosergiokun... new contract... enough said! #mancity pic.twitter.com/J8v60LUEPQ
— Manchester City (@ManCity) September 21, 2018
Fulham team news
Fulham take on Watford at Craven Cottage in tomorrow’s lunchtime kick-off and will be without Tom Cairney and Neeskens Kebano. Cairney continues to nurse a foot concern, with Kebano still unable to shake off an ankle problem.
Defender Tim Ream is back in training after a thigh injury but will not be fully fit in time to feature against the Hornets.
Some team news from Burnley
Sean Dyche’s team entertain Bournemouth at Turf Moor this weekend as they attempt to kick-start their season by getting a win on the board. If they are to increase their tally of one point accrued from five games, they will have to do so without Ben Gibson, who has been ruled out after undergoing minor surgery for a hernia and will be absent for several weeks.
Midfielder Steven Defour and winger Robbie Brady continued their comebacks from long-term absences with appearances in a game at the training ground on Thursday but are not yet ready for the first team.
Provisional squad: Hart, Heaton, Lowton, Taylor, Tarkowski, Mee, Ward, Bardsley, Long, Cork, Gudmundsson, Hendrick, Westwood, Lennon, McNeil, Vokes, Barnes, Wood, Vydra.
Football Weekly .... Extra
Led by Max Rushden, our crack team of podcasters got up at 4.30am yesterday following their live show in Oslo, to get the red-eye back to London in time to record the latest thrilling instalment of Football Weekly ... Extra. We discussed the midweek European action, previewed the pick of the weekend’s games and argued tediously over whether or not cows are able to tell the time. You can listen here ... and if you’re not already a subscriber, please sign up in the usual pod places.
Sergio Aguero signs contract extension
We bring Manchester City fans good news from the Etihad Stadium, where it has been confirmed that Sergio Aguero has inked a new one-year deal with with the club. The Argentinian striker has already been at the club for seven years and will have completed a decade of service if he sees out the new deal, which will take him up to 2021.
Aguero, 30, became City’s record goalscorer last season and has won three Premier League titles and scored 204 times since joining the club from Atletico Madrid in 2011. “I am happy for this additional year,” he said. “My idea was being here for 10 years. I’ve been here for seven years, it’s going to be 10 when the contract expires.
“This was the main reason I signed. I’m very happy because they have treated me very well since the first day I got here. I’m very happy with everything that involves the club, my team-mates, the staff and the management team. We have a good team, we need to be focused and if we are at 100 per cent, we have lots of chances to do great things.”
Our Reni hat-wearing man on the Manchester beat, Jamie Jackson, has more details.
Updated
Hello everybody ...
Welcome to our rolling blog o’news, in which we’ll bring you all the football news that’s fit to print and some that almost certainly isn’t as we look ahead to the weekend’s action.
We’ll have updates and fact-asms from assorted pre-match press briefings, get news from the provinces and elsewhere with occasional looks at the local press and flag up anything else that catches our eye as the hours roll by.
Updated
