That’s all from me. I’ll be live on the site from 7pm with hot MBM action of tonight’s big game: Southampton v Leicester. Until then, have a read of Barney Ronay’s column, which is here.
You can find all your match previews for the weekend’s Premier League games right here.
Have a good weekend, folks.
This is a good tweet.
They've put Newcastle's away end in the new COD pic.twitter.com/vTZSA5K3ZL
— Dazza ⚽️🏏🏴 (@KongolosMagic) October 24, 2019
Interesting story coming out of France, Monaco look like they are going to turn their season-long loan for Islam Slimani permanent for around €10 million (£8.7m). The Algerian has been in excellent form since his August move, six assists (although the Ligue 1 official website says seven) and five goals in just seven matches. Nobody in Ligue 1 has more assists. L’Equipe claim that personal terms have already been arranged.
11 - Players involved in the most goals in their first seven Ligue 1 games since Opta analyses the competition (2006/07):
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) October 20, 2019
🇩🇿 Islam Slimani - 11 (5 goals, 6 assists)
🇧🇷 Neymar - 11 (6 ⚽️, 5 🅰️)
Kings 👑.#ASMSRFC pic.twitter.com/p4PIVuTa2t
Update: Jack Rodwell has now passed his medical and has undergone training at Roma. The club are now deciding whether to hand him a short-term deal, reportedly it will be either the Englishman or Marcel Buchel, another midfielder that most recently played at Empoli.
Rodwell was good for Blackburn last season, although he played his best football at centre back. I struggle to see how he is going to keep up with the pace of Serie A football, particularly if he plays in midfield.
Prior to Palace’s game against Arsenal, Roy Hodgson has been talking about Wilfried Zaha, and how close he came/didn’t come to joining the Gunners in the summer.
Not very close at all as far as I know. I believe that the money that was offered which was widely reported [£40m] was reasonably accurate, and of course that was way below our valuation. I thought he got over his disappointment very, very quickly and he has been good in both training and matches.
I don’t think the fact it is Arsenal will change his performance enormously - I would hope not, because I’m expecting his performance to be very good against all the teams we play.
Featuring 6ft7in Dan Burn at left back, ladies and gentlemen.
It’s your Friday Fiver!
Here’s an update from the retrial of David Duckenfield on a charge of manslaughter. We will have something live on the website soon.
Hillsborough Trial: Judge Sir Peter Openshaw has told the jury to draw "no adverse inference" from ex Ch Supt Duckenfield, charged with manslaughter, showing no emotion. He has PTSD so this may be a "medical explanation." Report on @guardian shortly.
— David Conn (@david_conn) October 25, 2019
This is a bizarre story. Gareth Barry, 38 years old, was released by West Brom in the summer and has since been a free agent. Now West Brom want him back, but because there was some sort of clause related to his loan spell from Everton to the Hawthorns in 2017, West Brom would now have to pay the Premier League club a small amount of money if they want to sign Barry again. This is the first deal of its kind that I’ve heard of.
“It’s frustrating for us and for him,” West Brom head coach Slaven Bilic told BBC West Midlands. “We had a meeting yesterday. The deal is agreed with him but we have that situation with Everton. There is a little clause. I spoke to the board and we are doing everything we can.
“He would be a major boost for us and one that comes from within too. He already knows the place and most of the players. We have a lot of young players. At times they need the kind of support that he can bring.”
That’s for a friendly against Argentina, by the way, on Friday 15 November. Neymar hasn’t been called up because of injury. He’ll stay in Paris.
There was some chat earlier about Villa’s Douglas Luiz, and how Pep Guardiola thinks Man City still have a buy-back clause for the midfielder. Anyway, he’s just been called up to the Brazil squad, alongside Real Madrid new boy Rodrygo.
Douglas Luiz hasn’t started for Villa in exactly a month. Does this mean John McGinn is good enough to play for Brazil?
Updated
Some quotes have arrived, via PA, from Craig Bellamy (who is now a coach at Anderlecht under Vincent Kompany) following the conclusion of Cardiff’s investigation into allegations of bullying and abuse against him and others.
“The allegations of bullying and xenophobic behaviour made against me were difficult for me to come to terms with as I deplore bullying and any form of discrimination. I am not the subject of any disciplinary proceedings which, of course, comes as an immense relief to me.
“Whilst I have always categorically denied and disputed the allegations against me, the whole process was still very difficult to deal with and has resulted in a long period of self-reflection.” PA understands no current academy coaches at Cardiff have lost their jobs in the wake of the investigation report’s findings.
Bellamy’s statement highlighted Cardiff’s investigation had “covered a lengthy period of time, including long periods when I was neither involved with the academy nor the club”.
The 40-year-old said he had “co-operated at all times with the investigation and answered every question that was asked of me”, adding he had “voluntarily removed” himself from the Cardiff academy to allow the “full and robust investigation” to be carried out.
Bellamy added: “As a player and now as a coach, self-improvement was always my aim. My love for coaching has not for a moment been diluted, but I accept the report highlighted aspects of my coaching skills that could perhaps be improved.
“I have probably relied too much on my own life experiences playing under some of the best coaches in the world, rather than assessing the sensitivities of a new generation of players.
“My only aim was to produce winners and if I upset any young players or their parents or if I was insensitive in any way towards their feelings, then that was never my intention. If I inadvertently offended anyone then I am truly sorry.”
The final few quotes are particularly interesting, and he got in a little dig about how modern players are soft. Not sure how sorry he really sounds.
It’s the Ruhr derby in Germany this weekend, between Schalke and Dortmund. The Bundesliga is probably Europe’s most interesting league at the moment: Borussia Monchengladback lead Wolfsburg at the top of the table on goal difference, with Bayern and Dortmund a point behind in third and fourth. Schalke remain a point behind them, in seventh - there are just two points between the top nine teams.
Dortmund slightly edge Schalke in the all-time Ruhr standings, 34 wins to 32. It is also the 50th anniversary of arguably the most famous derby the two sides have had, in 1969-70, when Schalke’s Friedel Rausch was bitten on the arse by a police dog during a pitch invasion after Hans Pirkner had given Schalke the lead, which wasn’t too popular with most of the 40,000 locals. You can also see Schalke’s Gerd Neuser reeling (on the left) from a bite on the thigh.
Friedel Rausch being bitten by a dog in the 1969 Revierderby pic.twitter.com/fqSa3v3SC0
— Footballers with animals (@ftbllrswanimals) December 8, 2018
Also this snippet, from the Bundesliga: Several years later Rausch told Die Welt that he still has a scar from the bite and had to sleep on his stomach for two nights, but remarkably he carried on and completed the 90 minutes of a 1-1 draw – but only after receiving a tetanus jab from the team doctor. Rausch later received 500 Deutsche Mark (around $290) and a bouquet of flowers as an apology from Dortmund.
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The Dutch are here! Lock up your bicycles!
An email, from Michael Gibson.
Personally I might take Son over Bobby Firmino in a combined XI, but he’s the only one, and that’s really only because he’s quicker across the ground so offers something else. Although I like Ndombele, I think a fully match fit Ox has the edge on him. Although whether Ox even gets in the team, despite doing so well on Weds evening, is another thing.
On a related note, I just watched highlights of the 1978 Liverpool - Spurs match after reading the wonderfully evocative BTL piece by Sidfishes. Even though I didn’t watch the whole game (would love to have been there though!), you can see King Kenny Dalglish’s first thought every time is “can I score?”. If he can’t, he passes. It really, really, reminded me of Salah at the moment. I think we should lay off Mo, and let him get on with his game rather than castigate him for greediness. Yours, hoping for another 7-0 a la 1978!
Here is that BTL piece Michael is talking about, and here are some highlights (the seventh goal is an absolute beauty, by the way). No gloves for the goalkeepers and a simple handshake for a celebration. Delightful.
Aston Villa manager Dean Smith has a plan for dealing with Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling on Saturday:
He’s an extraordinary player. I think he’s proving that with club and country at the moment. We’re looking at trying to tie his laces together. He’s one that has to be stopped because he’s been incredible over the last 12 months. What a challenge for our players to go and stop him and make him have a lesser performance than he he has done recently.
In the Championship last season we were showing clips of Sterling and some runs that he makes to help improve our wide players and forwards. He’s one who is up there as one of the best players in Europe at the moment.
Was thinking earlier - one for the neutrals here perhaps - would you actually have any Spurs players at all in the Liverpool-Tottenham combined XI? I would prefer Firmino to Kane, Son would be a nice option off the bench (but probably doesn’t beat any of the Reds’ front three to a starting berth) and Joel Matip is having a better season than either of the Belgians at the back. The only one I might include in Tanguy Ndombele, he’s a phenomenal talent and is just getting started.
Answers - or any thoughts to be honest - to michael.butler@theguardian.com or tweet me @michaelbutler18.
Hi everyone, and thanks to Luke. There certainly is some rugby going on. I’ve booked an area in a local pub, and am planning to be on the tea and coffee (I’ve got a 11-a-side game early afternoon) as the early morning Guinness is flying about. But anyway, we’re here for football (mostly). Let’s get on with that.
And that’s all from me today. Michael Butler will be along very shortly to edge you ever closer to the weekend’s football, and that Super Massive Sunday meeting between Liverpool and Spurs. I think there is some rugby on too.
Here is a story on the new injury problems for Pep Guardiola at Man City - Rodri and Zinchenko:
Random, interesting Arsenal v Palace stat courtesy of the Premier League website:
“Luka Milivojevic has scored more Premier League goals against Arsenal than he has against any other side in the competition, netting four goals in five matches for the Eagles against Sunday’s opponents.”
Personally, I think the always-entertaining Patrick Van Aanholt should stay on penalty duty.
Updated
Yet more excellent Friday reading for you here.
It’s Ben Fisher on the south Wales derby - Swansea host Cardiff at 12.00 on Sunday in a super-massive Championship clash:
Updated
Did we do the two Liverpool lads who accidentally got the train to Gent on Wednesday, instead of Genk, and hence missed the 4-1 win?
Sky Sports News are building up to Sunday and Liverpool’s encounter with Spurs. They are dubbing it not just a Super Sunday Clash, but a MASSIVE Super Sunday Clash.
Reds boss Klopp has just been asked if he thinks the All Blacks will target England’s line-out with George Kruis on the bench.
He hasn’t really. But here is Klopp on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s double against Genk a couple of days back: “It’s no secret how much I like ‘Ox’ as a person, and a player...the goals were incredible, the second, I’ve not seen one like this for a long, long, long time, if ever. The first one is what Ox is able to do, the unexpected shot. My expectations on him are high, the goals were good, but there is more to come. He knows that, I know that, all good.”
Updated
Zinchenko out
Man City defender Oleksandr Zinchenko is going to be out for ‘four or five weeks’ after minor knee surgery.
PEP 💬 Zinchenko had contact with the knee and felt something in the bone. He has to stop for four or five weeks. He had (surgery) to clean the knee.
— Manchester City (@ManCity) October 25, 2019
After the international break Rodrigo may be ready again.
Rodri, who hobbled out of Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Atalanta, also had a hamstring problem and will be out for the next few weeks.
Also asked ‘what John Stones needs to do to become first-choice,’ Guardiola added:
“It’s not about the first choice, it’s about being fit. He has had many injuries. That’s why he couldn’t play.”
Updated
“Sometimes life is like this,” philosophises Pep, with regard to Douglas Luiz, now at Aston Villa:
PEP 💬 (On Douglas Luiz) Sometimes life is like this. We wanted him. The rules here in England with the work permit meant it was not possible. He was good in pre-season and last season in the States.
— Manchester City (@ManCity) October 25, 2019
He’s at Aston Villa. I think we have an option to buy back.
Oh, a lot of quotes from Norwich boss Daniel Farke are on the Norwich website, which is nice. Here are a few ahead of their meeting with Manchester United :
“We created a magic night against Man City. We can’t take it as a given to repeat that on a weekly basis but we are trying to be outstanding with our performances. The atmosphere has to be like a cup game, a do or die game.
“I’m sure they’ll be switched on because they’re not where they want to be in the league. I expect it to be unbelievably difficult, regardless of what formation they use. If someone makes a successful tackle the whole stadium has to be buzzing. We need that mood or we have no chance.”
“De Gea is a world class keeper, rested just for this game! Maguire is one of the best centre backs in the world. Pogba one of the best holding midfielders. Martial, Rashford, James, Lingard... so many good options and top class players. We’re not naive about that.”
Updated
Roy Hodgson is asked how close Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha was to signing for Arsenal in the summer: “Not very far at all, as far as I know, the money that was offered was way below our valuation.”
Will Zaha go there with a point to prove? “I hope not,” Hodgson says. “I expect him to want to perform against all the teams we play.”
Thanks to Kristof Künssler-McIlwain, who emails from Berlin about the Man City/Hacienda kit story:
“As much as I adore the idea of honouring a city’s culture, I think it actually really does suck that Puma and the club didn’t contact/include the original creators, where they clearly benefit from their work.
There’s a MixMag interview with the designer responsible for the [Manchester City] Hacienda kit, and it sounds a bit lame, considering it wouldn’t be much of a hassle to actually reach these people mentioned. I mean, New Order are still a band and do use communication devices I suppose.”
Extract from the interview in question:
“Did you speak with anyone involved in The Haçienda, Factory Records or New Order at any point during the process?
We couldn’t! Because it was a secret that we signed with Manchester City until earlier this year so we couldn’t talk to anyone outside Puma or the club. Unfortunately we couldn’t get in touch with anyone who was working back then at The Hacienda, Factory Records or New Order, although I would have loved to.”
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Pep Guardiola is speaking now
... in that passive-aggressive way of his.
Asked what has impressed him about promoted Aston Villa so far this season, he says: “Team spirit...quality up front... they are getting good results, and it looks like they have a good environment in the team.”
Then, asked how he has helped Raheem Sterling reach his current level, he adds: “I didn’t help him. The credit is all for Raheem.”
Updated
Norwich team news
Courtesy of the wires, here’s an update from that Norwich City press conference, ahead of their meeting with Manchester United:
Centre-back Ben Godfrey, who had hernia surgery over the international break, went off early in the second half of the goalless draw at Bournemouth, but is expected to feature.
Winger Onel Hernandez should also be involved despite some knee pain.
Goalkeeper Ralf Fahrmann (groin) and midfielder Mario Vrancic (calf) plus defenders Christoph Zimmermann (foot), Timm Klose (knee) and Grant Hanley (groin) all continue their own rehabilitation.
Updated
Meanwhile, the Southampton boss is clearly no Saint. He wants his team to get down and dirty against Leicester tonight.
Ralph Hassenhuttl: “The time has come for, I call it, dirty wins … make this goal, and then defend with every you have, make it as nasty as possible for the opponent to get something here. The players know what it’s about. We have to make it as hard as possible for our opponents. We’re going at this game with all we have.”
Updated
Leicester head to Southampton tonight.
Here is Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers on the game that people are already calling #SOULEI: “We’ve shown resilience, quality, creativity … for me the nice thing in all this is we can be better and improve. We were happy with three points against Burnley but there are lots of elements that can be better. We play a tough team … but we’ve relished every challenge that we’ve had, we’re looking forward to this game, and hopefully we’ll collect another three points.”
Updated
No quotes to speak of from Daniel Farke at Norwich yet. Man City and Pep Guardiola at 1.30pm.
Updated
From the generic Friday afternoon football quotes dept., courtesy Chelsea boss Lampard, who takes his side to Burnley.
“Never an easy game ... we respect our opponents ... we will focus on their threats.”
Frank on Burnley: 'They never give an easy game against opponents and I expect no different tomorrow.' He adds that we respect all our opponents and will focus fully on the threats they can pose.#BURCHE
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) October 25, 2019
Press conferences coming thick and fast now. Palace boss Roy Hodgson says Vicente Guaita and Martin Kelly both trained today, and that he will make a ‘late call’ on their ability to face the Gunners:
🗣 Roy: Vicente Guaita and Martin Kelly trained today, so we will make a late call on them.
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) October 25, 2019
💻 https://t.co/TTogt6KZzQ
📱 Official club app#CPFC pic.twitter.com/QQ6qCyQXuF
Blues team news
Rudiger, Kante, Christensen, Barkley are all sidelined for Chelsea’s trip to Burnley tomorrow:
Frank starts by reporting that Rudiger, Kante, Christensen and Barkley are all out of tomorrow's game at Turf Moor.#BURCHE
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) October 25, 2019
I’m now launching a new, almost certainly one-off, feature for the Friday blog - Kit Corner.
Firstly, Liverpool have won a high court battle against New Balance. The honourable Justice Teare said the club are entitled to end the New Balance deal and switch to Nike as of next season, basically because the Nike deal is better and contractually/legally speaking, Liverpool are within their rights to take it:
Secondly, a story about Manchester City, who have been criticised by designer Ben Kelly, who says their Hacienda-themed jersey is ‘beyond appropriation’.
“Ultimately, I can’t copyright stripes. I would be a very rich man if I could,” said Kelly.
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Pochettino quotes
“In the Champions League it was important to get three points, and not only because of three points, but to build our confidence again, start to build confidence. We are happy with that but we know it’s only a small step.”
With regards to the slap-up meal the players’ treated him and the staff to this week, to show support for the management team: “It was very nice, very kind from them to invite all the staff ... we spent a few hours there, it was nice to spend a few hours together, and to spend time in a different environment helps to build a positive dynamic.
Updated
Arsenal striker Nicolas Pépé banged in a couple of late free-kicks last night to see off the challenge of Vitória Guimarães.
He tells Nick Ames that he’s struggled to adapt to life in the Premier League:
Updated
Apropos of, well, football, did you see that Dulwich Hamlet are LIVE on telly in a couple of weeks’ time? They’re at home to Carlisle United in the FA Cup 1st Round on Friday 8th November, live on BBC2. That is going to be a cracking night at Champion Hill and will be well worth watching.
A touch of team news from Tottenham. Lloris is still out after that dislocated elbow a couple of weeks back, but that is their only injury worry:
TEAM NEWS: Hugo Lloris (elbow) remains our only injury concern ahead of Sunday's trip to Anfield.
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) October 25, 2019
Our captain is continuing his rehabilitation. #THFC ⚪️ #COYS pic.twitter.com/mExsxGBAtc
Here’s a fun little skills compilation with a bass-heavy soundtrack from Premier League Instagram:
Good stat from Sky: Liverpool have a 77% win rate since the Champions League final in June. Spurs just 31%. Klopp was asked why Spurs haven’t been able to kick on in the same way.
“I haven’t thought about it, I can’t comment on the situation at Spurs,” he answers, predictably and entirely fairly.
“Spurs’ situation, I cannot judge...Football is like this. They have not forgot how to play football, Harry Kane, Son, Alli, Eriksen, you cannot understand it from outside but they can play a proper performance. We won CL final, it was respectful night.”
Updated
Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp speaks
Injury update from the Anfield gaffer:
“Andrew Robertson, we just rested him [he came off after 60 minutes on Wednesday] ... Trent [Alexander-Arnold] is fine, he looked fine, if there is no setback. He was ill enough to not travel with us, which is not a good sign, but he had a ‘clearing’ session yesterday, he should be fine. Shaq [Xherdan Shaqiri] needs a bit longer ... big muscles need a bit longer to heal.”
Also, Liverpool will need to check on the fitness of Joel Matip, who has been sidelined with a sore knee, but may still be fit to take on the Tottenham.
How much of a selection headache has Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain given Klopp after his two goals in Genk? “None. It’s just nice.”
And as for last weekend: “The impact Adam Lallana had against Manchester United was really pleasing. A lot of subs have made a big impact for us recently.”
Updated
“When we got our yellow cards all the crowd started chanting ‘equal pay’.”
Read Suzanne Wrack’s story about how the USA women’s team inspired a school team in Burlington, Vermont, to take up the Equal Pay fight:
Who could forget the day, exactly two years ago, when Antonio Rüdiger scored his first goal for Chelsea?
You? Me too. Here it is anyway:
And two years ago today, @ToniRuediger scored his first Blues goal! 👊 #Hustle pic.twitter.com/ELJbBHH185
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) October 25, 2019
A Steve Bruce quote, on those Newcastle injuries:
“Andy Carroll picked up a groin strain last Saturday, and ‘Fab’ Schar has a sore knee which he’s been playing with for the last few weeks...We expect them not to be long-term, which is good news.”
‘Fab’ news, Steve. Meanwhile, Spurs and Norwich press conferences are due to start at 12.30pm.
Updated
Sky Sports News just teed up Crystal Palace’s press conference which will be coming up at 1pm. The Eagles face Arsenal in the ‘Ian Wright derby’ on Sunday afternoon. Stay tuned.
Updated
Sheffield United and boss Chris Wilder are coming off the back of that memorable 1-0 victory against Arsenal on Monday night.
Looking ahead to the Blades’ visit to fortress London Stadium tomorrow, to face West Ham, Wilder said: “Their team is full of quality in every department ... We need to go again, and stick to the levels we’ve shown so far, away from home especially.”
📽️ Chris Wilder expects a reaction from United's next opponents at the London Stadium, with Manuel Pellegrini's side having already beaten Manchester United on home soil this season.#SUFC 🔴
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) October 25, 2019
On the fitness front, there are no fresh injury concerns for Wilder.
Updated
Good afternoon, sports fans. Excitement is mounting with a plethora of Premier League press conferences looming in the next couple of hours. News from Spurs, Norwich, Chelsea, Man City and more coming up.
That’s all from me, but Luke McLaughlin is waiting eagerly to be tagged in. Thanks for your company, bye!
The weekend has landed
It’s hard to convey the joy that any self- loat respecting Guardian sports journalist derives from uploading the first squad sheet, the weekly reminderl that good times are only a few hours away.
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Here’s Eddie Howe on Bournemouth’s trip to Watford
We know the start they have had, but I think it in no way reflects on their quality. They have got very good players and an outstanding manager, so we know it is going to be a tough game. If we went there focusing on their league position, it would be totally the wrong way to prepare for this game. For me, it is a key game. The league is so tight.
Fantasy Football With absolutely nothing happening on the news wires, I’ve set up a Fantasy Football league for those who frequent the Friday blog. It starts this week, so points are backdated, and I’m currently top by virtue of having the only team in the league.
Here’s the link, and the code is nsid5w.
Thirty one years ago last June, Euro 88 happened.
S3 Ep3: Euro 88 is here, free of ads and early access for patreon subscriber.
— Nessun Dorma Podcast (@nessundormapod) October 24, 2019
We pick over the 1988 tournament plus Underrated Player and Journeyman nominations.https://t.co/o2CMEOYHOs
Newcastle v Wolves squad news
Andy Carroll and Fabian Schar are out of Newcastle’s Premier League clash with Wolves on Sunday through injury.
Striker Carroll suffered a groin strain during last Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Chelsea after coming on as a second-half substitute, while defender Schar has been struggling with a knee problem for some time, although neither is expected to be sidelined for too long.
Isaac Hayden completes a three-match ban, but fellow midfielder Matt Ritchie is back in training after recovering from a nasty ankle injury sustained in a challenge by Leicester’s Hamza Choudhury in August, while defender Florian Lejeune is also closing in on a return from knee ligament damage.
Ryan Bennett is expected to sit out for Wolves. The defender missed the 2-1 win at Slovan Bratislava on Thursday after injuring his groin against Southampton last weekend.
Forward Pedro Neto (hamstring) remains sidelined for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side and defender Jesus Vallejo could return to the squad after being left out of the 18 in Slovakia while midfielder Ruben Neves may be recalled.
Newcastle provisional squad Dubravka, Darlow, Manquillo, Krafth, Yedlin, Dummett, Willems, Lascelles, Fernandez, Clark, S. Longstaff, Shelvey, Ki, M. Longstaff, Atsu, Almiron, Joelinton, Muto, Gayle.
Wolves provisional squad Patricio, Ruddy, Boly, Coady, Kilman, Vallejo, Doherty, Jonny, Moutinho, Vinagre, Dendoncker, Campbell, Perry, Saiss, Neves, Gibbs-White, Traore, Cutrone, Jota, Jimenez.
Watford v Bournemouth squad news
Watford will be missing forward Danny Welbeck and full-back Jose Holebas for Saturday’s Premier League home match with Bournemouth.
Welbeck suffered a serious hamstring injury early on against Tottenham while Holebas received his fifth yellow card, so must serve a one-match ban.
Defender Daryl Janmaat is expected to feature after being substituted at Spurs, while Sebastian Prodl, Etienne Capoue and Isaac Success are all back in first-team training. Captain Troy Deeney is recovering from knee surgery.
Bournemouth expect to have Colombia midfielder Jefferson Lerma available again following a hip problem suffered on international duty.
Wales midfielder David Brooks is stepping up his recovery from a pre-season ankle injury.
Winger Junior Stanislas (knee) and midfielder Dan Gosling (hip) both continue their own rehabilitation.
Watford provisional squad Foster, Dawson, Mariappa, Prodl, Kiko, Foulquier, Cleverley, Doucoure, Hughes, Capoue, Deulofeu, Gomes, Janmaat, Cathcart, Kabasele, Chalobah, Sarr, Pereyra, Gray, Success.
Bournemouth provisional squad Ramsdale, S Cook, Ake, A Smith, Rico, Lerma, L Cook, H Wilson, Fraser, King, C Wilson, Boruc, Francis, Kelly, Mepham, Surman, Billing, Solanke, Groeneveld.
Another piece that looks well worth reading. What’s going on at Guardian Towers today?
Walter Cronkite department
Liverpool have been victorious in their court battle with kit supplier New Balance, paving the way for a new multi-million-pound deal with Nike.
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) October 25, 2019
Updated
“Hi Rob,” says Drew Gough. “I’m Canadian, and apologize for that. It’s a thing we do. Another thing we do is have really weird sports leagues, such as the seven-team Canadian Premier League, a story about which you linked to earlier.
“Canada also has an imitation of the NFL called the CFL, or Canadian Football League. It has nine teams. When I was a kid, I think it only had eight teams, and two of those teams - one from Ottawa (a city) and the other from Saskatchewan (a vast, wheat-filled province) - were both called the Roughriders. Okay, to be fair, one was called the Rough Riders and the other the Roughriders, but it always made me deeply ashamed to be from a country with such little creativity.
“The Ottawa Rough Riders folded for a while, and have now come back with a much more creative name: the Ottawa Redblacks, which doubles as a handy description of their uniform colour. Again, so sorry. Cheers!”
What are you apologising for? This all sounds great to me. I’d love to Liverpool FC (managed by Jurgen Klopp) play Liver Pool FC (managed by Phil Brown).
This is great
Liverpool v Spurs - now that game evokes memories.
Saturday 2nd September 1978, I was on leave and recovering from a bought of flu (proper 1970s flu, not like the weak millennium sniffles you get these days). My Granddad, who was a lifelong Kopite called around to my mams and asked if I was well enough to accompany him to Anfield for the Spurs game. Everton were playing Manchester United at Old Trafford and back in those dark days this was not a game a half-fit juvenile who couldn't run away or dodge the slings and arrows chucked by outrageous nobheads should attend. So, I went with him to Anfield.
We popped into the Bluebell in Huyton and then into the FlatIron where he introduced me to a lifelong friend 'to keep the chill out' warm rum and blackcurrant. We entered the Kop, me slightly unsteady and made our way to the Kemlyn Road side where he'd stood each home game for the best part of 60 years, only interrupted by his service on the Arctic Convoys and being too skint to afford it during the Great Depression when he was laid off from the docks and blacklisted for union activities.
What followed was the best team performance I've seen live, at any place, any time, anywhere. It was a complete evisceration and Spurs containing great players like Hoddle, Villa, Ardiles and Perryman were made to look like a pre-school toddler glee club who'd accidentally turned up at the Battle of the Little Big Horn with 'We hate Crazy Horse' stickers on their satchels.
Many details of this game have faded into obscurity, time, hot rum and blacks and being hit on the head with chucked slings and arrows does that to you. However, one incident, a goal by Terry McDermott was as a result of a sublime piece of football. I remember turning to my granddad open mouthed with admiration and him saying to me with his hand cupped over my ear 'See what you're missing!'. I'd broken his heart 12 years previous when I'd opted to follow the Blue side of Merseyside after watching Alex Young diddle his way through half of the opposition each week and Alan Ball dominate nearly every game he played in.
We left the game, went into The Farmers and more rum and blacks (you cant be too careful with flu) and I reflected on the exhibition of football played simple but at its finest. I didn't know it but after dodging strike breakers, the Luftwaffe and Kreigsmarine that Players Navy Cut was to catch up with my granddad before the year was out and it was to be the last game we'd ever attend together.
I fear Spurs might be on the end of another shellacking tomorrow. Whatever the result I'll be lifting a glass of rum and black to the finest man I've ever known - he just had to be a bloody kopite
Harry Kane: 10 or 9? My colleague Tim de Lisle made this point after Spurs’ last trip to Anfield, and it’s becoming increasingly apparent that, for richer and poorer, Harry Kane has evolved as a player. Even though he’s a much more impressive all-round footballer now, I still I think I preferred the netbusting beast of 2016-18.
A thought in Harry Kane. He appears to be almost playing as a false 9 now, he's very good at it indeed. The problem is now he isn't really playing as a target man, it's almost like Spurs need a real 9 as well as a false one. This is something of a dilemma for Poch I think. Clone Harry Kane?
Watford v Bournemouth
The Watford coach Quique Sanchez Flores is happy with his team’s performances in their last two games, even though they remain winless.
We were very solid, we didn’t concede space, we took the ball with clever ideas and we tried to use our tools and I can see something different. Against Sheffield, I can see something similar to what I want and against Tottenham we confirm this. For the next matches, what we need to do is confirm all these type of things.
The Miracle of Burnley I haven’t read this yet, as it only landed two minutes ago, but this looks like an excellent piece.
A bit of Newcastle team news from the wires
Newcastle will be without Andy Carroll and Fabian Schar for Sunday’s Premier League clash with Wolves.
Head coach Steve Bruce has revealed injury-plagued striker Carroll is out with a groin strain, while central defender Schar has a knee problem, although neither is expected to be missing for much longer.
He said: “They are not serious at all. Andy unfortunately picked up a groin strain last Saturday, and Fab Schar’s had a bit of a sore knee, which he’s been playing with for the last two or three weeks. Last Saturday it became too uncomfortable for him.
“They’ll both miss tomorrow. They could be in contention for midweek. We expect them not to be long term, which is good news.”
Carroll is yet to start a game after returning to his first club from West Ham during the summer, but has made four appearances as a substitute as his comeback from ankle surgery is carefully managed.
Bruce said: “Look, it’s not his ankle, thankfully, it’s not his ankle. Everybody can pick up those type of niggles, especially when you’re sitting on a bench for a while.
“He’s come on and stretched for one and and over-stretched. It’s one of those things. It’s fortunate, as I said, that his ankle is good and the way we are managing his ankle is good news.
“It’s disappointing and there’s nobody more disappointed than Andy, of course, but these things happen.”
And here’s Jamie Jackson’s follow-up from United’s victory in Belgrade. It looks like Manchester United will stick with their 3-4-1-2 system for a while. And why not?
Updated
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been talking about Norwich ahead of Manchester United’s trip to Carrow Road.
When I watched the first game against Liverpool, I saw a team with lots of courage. They were brave, they played their own way and they kept going.
And that has given them some great results, when they beat Newcastle, when they beat Manchester City.
They are a team with a clear philosophy on how they want to play.
So, I hope we’re going to stop them, because it’s always going to be difficult down at Carrow Road, but we’re ready for it now.
We’ve been to Belgrade, got some players back.
I managed to take Aaron (Wan-Bissaka) and Anthony off after 60 minutes because they’ve been out for a long time.
So, hopefully we’ll have a fresh team because we need to be at our best to have a chance.
It’s Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, so it’s only fair that we dig out this superb Joy of Six from Scott Murray. And yes, it does include that Terry McDermott goal.
Serie A Here’s more on Jack Rodwell’s unlikely move to AS Roma.
This has very little to do with the Premier League but it’s well worth reading.
Brighton v Everton squad news
Brighton will be without midfielder Aaron Mooy through suspension for the Premier League match against Everton.
Seagulls boss Graham Potter reported no other fresh selection concerns following the defeat at Aston Villa, where Mooy was sent off.
Defender Bernardo and winger Jose Izquierdo remain sidelined by their respective knee problems.
Everton defender Yerry Mina is a doubt for the trip as the Colombia international battles a knee injury.
Mina, who was substituted in the final minutes of last weekend’s 2-0 win over West Ham, has not been able to train with his team-mates during the week, with Mason Holgate ready to step in if required.
Captain Seamus Coleman returns from suspension, while midfielders Fabian Delph and Morgan Schneiderlin are fit again after minor injuries.
Brighton provisional squad Ryan, Dunk, Webster, Montoya, Burn, Stephens, Gross, March, Propper, Maupay, Connolly, Button, Duffy, Bong, Bissouma, Trossard, Murray, Alzate.
Everton provisional squad Pickford, Lossl, Mina, Keane, Coleman, Holgate, Digne, Baines, Sidibe, Gomes, Schneiderlin, Delph, Davies, Walcott, Sigurdsson, Bernard, Iwobi, Calvert-Lewin, Kean, Richarlison, Stekelenburg.
Updated
Let’s start with some transfer rumours. If I may speak frankly, most of them are recycled, but we are beholden to other forces. If other websites don’t invent gossip, we can’t possibly report it.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to our occasionally singing, sporadically dancing Premier League preview blog. This weekend’s fixture list is not, truth be telt, the most exciting season, and the Rugby World Cup may overshadow it. But these 10 games of football will shape the mood of billions, and you can’t say that about many forms of popular entertainment. Here’s a full list of the weekend’s fixtures.
Friday
- Southampton v Leicester (8pm)
Saturday (3pm BST unless stated)
- Manchester City v Aston Villa (12.30pm)
- Brighton & Hove Albion v Everton
- Watford v Bournemouth
- West Ham v Sheffield United
- Burnley v Chelsea (5.30pm)
Sunday
- Newcastle v Wolves (2pm)
- Arsenal v Crystal Palace (4.30pm)
- Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur (4.30pm)
- Norwich v Manchester United (4.30pm)
We’ll have updates throughout the day, including injury news, press conference tidbits and the rest. In the meantime, our crack team of writers have picked 10 things to look out for this weekend.
Updated
Liverpool v Spurs - now that game evokes memories.
Saturday 2nd September 1978, I was on leave and recovering from a bought of flu (proper 1970s flu, not like the weak millennium sniffles you get these days). My Granddad, who was a lifelong Kopite called around to my mams and asked if I was well enough to accompany him to Anfield for the Spurs game. Everton were playing Manchester United at Old Trafford and back in those dark days this was not a game a half-fit juvenile who couldn't run away or dodge the slings and arrows chucked by outrageous nobheads should attend. So, I went with him to Anfield.
We popped into the Bluebell in Huyton and then into the FlatIron where he introduced me to a lifelong friend 'to keep the chill out' warm rum and blackcurrant. We entered the Kop, me slightly unsteady and made our way to the Kemlyn Road side where he'd stood each home game for the best part of 60 years, only interrupted by his service on the Arctic Convoys and being too skint to afford it during the Great Depression when he was laid off from the docks and blacklisted for union activities.
What followed was the best team performance I've seen live, at any place, any time, anywhere. It was a complete evisceration and Spurs containing great players like Hoddle, Villa, Ardiles and Perryman were made to look like a pre-school toddler glee club who'd accidentally turned up at the Battle of the Little Big Horn with 'We hate Crazy Horse' stickers on their satchels.
Many details of this game have faded into obscurity, time, hot rum and blacks and being hit on the head with chucked slings and arrows does that to you. However, one incident, a goal by Terry McDermott was as a result of a sublime piece of football. I remember turning to my granddad open mouthed with admiration and him saying to me with his hand cupped over my ear 'See what you're missing!'. I'd broken his heart 12 years previous when I'd opted to follow the Blue side of Merseyside after watching Alex Young diddle his way through half of the opposition each week and Alan Ball dominate nearly every game he played in.
We left the game, went into The Farmers and more rum and blacks (you cant be too careful with flu) and I reflected on the exhibition of football played simple but at its finest. I didn't know it but after dodging strike breakers, the Luftwaffe and Kreigsmarine that Players Navy Cut was to catch up with my granddad before the year was out and it was to be the last game we'd ever attend together.
I fear Spurs might be on the end of another shellacking tomorrow. Whatever the result I'll be lifting a glass of rum and black to the finest man I've ever known - he just had to be a bloody kopite