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'Spurs have not forgot how to play,' says Klopp: weekend football countdown – as it happened

Friday’s football news and previews to a busy weekend including Liverpool v Spurs, Arsenal v Crystal Palace and Man City v Aston Villa

Premier League match previews

5.00pm BST

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.

4.54pm BST

This is a good tweet.

They've put Newcastle's away end in the new COD pic.twitter.com/vTZSA5K3ZL

4.50pm BST

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):

Islam Slimani - 11 (5 goals, 6 assists)

Neymar - 11 (6 ⚽️, 5 ️)

Kings .#ASMSRFC pic.twitter.com/p4PIVuTa2t

4.45pm BST

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.

4.38pm BST

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.

4.27pm BST

Featuring 6ft7in Dan Burn at left back, ladies and gentlemen.

4.03pm BST

4.02pm BST

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.

3.52pm BST

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.

3.44pm BST

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.

3.39pm BST

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?

3.34pm BST

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.

3.27pm BST

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

3.15pm BST

The Dutch are here! Lock up your bicycles!

3.11pm BST

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!

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.

2.56pm BST

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.

2.48pm BST

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.

2.35pm BST

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.

2.31pm BST

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.

2.23pm BST

Here is a story on the new injury problems for Pep Guardiola at Man City - Rodri and Zinchenko:

2.16pm BST

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.”

2.13pm BST

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:

2.12pm BST

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?

2.03pm BST

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.

1.51pm BST

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.

After the international break Rodrigo may be ready again.

1.49pm BST

“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.

He’s at Aston Villa. I think we have an option to buy back.

1.47pm BST

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.

1.43pm BST

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.”

1.40pm BST

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.

1.36pm BST

... 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.”

1.33pm BST

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.

1.30pm BST

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.”

1.28pm BST

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.”

1.22pm BST

No quotes to speak of from Daniel Farke at Norwich yet. Man City and Pep Guardiola at 1.30pm.

1.20pm BST

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

1.18pm BST

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.

https://t.co/TTogt6KZzQ
Official club app#CPFC pic.twitter.com/QQ6qCyQXuF

1.14pm BST

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

1.12pm BST

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:

1.01pm BST

“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.

12.59pm BST

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:

12.54pm BST

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.

12.51pm BST

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.

Our captain is continuing his rehabilitation. #THFC ⚪️ #COYS pic.twitter.com/mExsxGBAtc

12.47pm BST

Here’s a fun little skills compilation with a bass-heavy soundtrack from Premier League Instagram:

You can't defend against these top tricks

12.41pm BST

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.

12.32pm BST

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.”

12.30pm BST

“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:

12.24pm BST

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

12.21pm BST

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.”

12.18pm BST

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.

12.15pm BST

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

12.09pm BST

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.

12.03pm BST

That’s all from me, but Luke McLaughlin is waiting eagerly to be tagged in. Thanks for your company, bye!

11.57am BST

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.

11.45am BST

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.

11.38am BST

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.

11.13am BST

Thirty one years ago last June, Euro 88 happened.

S3 Ep3: Euro 88 is here, free of ads and early access for patreon subscriber.

We pick over the 1988 tournament plus Underrated Player and Journeyman nominations.https://t.co/o2CMEOYHOs

11.09am BST

Newcastle v Wolves squad news

Andy Carroll and Fabian Schar are out of Newcastle’s Premier League clash with Wolves on Sunday through injury.

11.07am BST

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.

11.03am BST

Another piece that looks well worth reading. What’s going on at Guardian Towers today?

11.01am BST

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.

10.57am BST

“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.

10.55am BST

This is great

Liverpool v Spurs - now that game evokes memories.

10.50am BST

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?

10.40am BST

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.

10.25am BST

The Miracle of Burnley I haven’t read this yet, as it only landed two minutes ago, but this looks like an excellent piece.

10.16am BST

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.

10.07am BST

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?

10.06am BST

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.

10.04am BST

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.

9.37am BST

Serie A Here’s more on Jack Rodwell’s unlikely move to AS Roma.

9.31am BST

This has very little to do with the Premier League but it’s well worth reading.

9.28am BST

Brighton v Everton squad news

Brighton will be without midfielder Aaron Mooy through suspension for the Premier League match against Everton.

9.27am BST

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.

8.28am BST

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.

View more on Rob Smyth's website »

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Published on October 25, 2019 09:00

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