Scott Murray's Blog

Premier League news and buildup to Eu... West Ham 2-3 Tottenham: Premier Leagu...

Bellerín calls for 'unity' and Mourinho welcomed back – as it happened

Guardiola, Klopp et al welcome back MourinhoScotland to face Israel in Euro 2020 qualification play-offsGranit Xhaka may return for Arsenal

5.00pm GMT

That’s all from today’s Weekend football countdown blog. Thanks for reading. We leave you with - what else, given it’s 5pm? - today’s edition of the Fiver. Bye! See you!

4.50pm GMT

Our match preview packs are beginning to drop. Clickity click! Enjoy, enjoy.

4.40pm GMT

The Liverpool fan who unfurled an offensive and racially insensitive banner of Divock Origi during the club’s Champions League match at Genk has had his temporary ban lifted. The supporter is free from suspension having agreed to undergo an education course with Kick It Out. He will also attend a session within the club’s community programme.

4.30pm GMT

Steve Harper - Newcastle’s all-time longest-serving player, who spent 20 years at the club between 1993 and 2013 - has returned to St James’ Park. He joins Steve Bruce’s staff as first-team coach, with a remit to establish links between the senior side and the academy. The former keeper says: “I’m looking forward to it. The manager said to me he’d like me to come in with a role around the first team, but more than just that. I’ll officially be a first-team coach, but with a conduit for keeping an eye on, and almost as a link to, the under-23s, who I worked with last season, and the academy where I’ve worked in various capacities over the last three years. So it made sense, and I’m looking forward to getting started.”

4.20pm GMT

Here’s Jamie Jackson on Pep Guardiola’s defence of the suspended Bernardo Silva.

4.10pm GMT

Ederson will be back in goal for Manchester City against Chelsea tomorrow, in the clash between fourth and third at the Etihad. Some good news for Chelsea too, with Christian Pulisic back after a groin problem. However Callum Hudson-Odoi is unlikely to feature after tweaking a hamstring.

4.02pm GMT

Across the city, Steven Gerrard is busy bigging up Glen Kamara. The midfielder has just helped Finland to qualify for Euro 2020, their first-ever major tournament, while his recent displays for Rangers have attracted interest from Leeds.

We haven’t heard of any interest down south, we’ve read tons about it though. But I wouldn’t be surprised if there was interest in Glen Kamara because he’s an outstanding footballer. He’s been outstanding since he walked in the door. Sometimes I still have to pinch myself for how we got him and what we got him for. [He cost £50,000 from Dundee.] He’s in good form and playing well. The message for Glen and the other players is we always reward our players for consistent performances over a long period of time. Glen will be treated no different. All he needs to worry about is bringing success back to the club and I’m sure he will be well looked after.

3.55pm GMT

Scotland! And the champions and league leaders Celtic welcome Leigh Griffiths back to their squad ahead of the visit of Livingston on Saturday. The striker has been out since late August due to personal problems, then niggling injuries and a virus. He’s unlikely to start the match, but boss Neil Lennon is preparing to give him some much-needed game time.

He will be involved with the squad. Slowly but surely. He had an hour on Tuesday, he looked good so he will be in and around it. He is good, he is happy. He needs to stay there now and improve his conditioning. It is bit by bit but we have seen enough now to think he may make a contribution. We have 11 games between now and the end of December and we will be using the squad and Leigh obviously is a part of that. When he is ready and if he is in the groove he will be a real asset for Scotland, there is no doubt about that.

3.50pm GMT

Here’s one star definitely on the move, though.

3.40pm GMT

Never change, Diego. We love you just the way you are.

3.30pm GMT

Second-placed Leicester, then, and Brendan Rodgers is certain the international break will have no adverse affect on his side’s momentum. Since the last break in October, the Foxes have won every game they have played, and go to Brighton tomorrow looking to make it six victories on the bounce.

We lost against Liverpool before the last international break and then refocused and have played very well in the games in between up until now. I think it is important that when players come back from international duty to press the reset button again, because lots are coming back from playing different styles and different ways. So when they come back it is important they come back into the Leicester way and how we work, and the players have been excellent in training since they came back and we will be ready for the game on Saturday.

3.20pm GMT

Bournemouth winger Ryan Fraser has recently been linked with a move to Liverpool. That may or may not explain why the 25-year-old Scotland international is, according to his manager Eddie Howe, “keeping his options open” regarding a new contract with the south-coast club. “In terms of his contract, that’s obviously for him to decide what he wants to do with his future,” said Howe. “We would love him to stay and commit to us but, if not, we need to get the best out of him between now and the end of the season. We’ve had conversations with Ryan to try and persuade him to stay but, at the moment, he’s keeping his options open.”

Howe also addressed a recent interview in which Fraser admitted to being a “loner” ever since his friend Marc Pugh left the club. “I think those comments were probably taken slightly out of context. I think people jump on things like this. He’s got some really good friends in the squad, as he mentioned in the interview, Dan Gosling, Nathan Ake, he’s very close with those guys, always socialising in and around them so I think it’s a story that isn’t entirely accurate. I think Ryan’s just very honest when he speaks and probably he’s given the impression that he’s lonely but I can guarantee you he’s not.”

3.10pm GMT

And here’s a bit more from Norwich boss Daniel Farke. He’s flatly refusing to change his easy-on-the-eye footballing style, despite the Canaries’ current predicament at the bottom of the Premier League.

You have to be convinced by your style. We built the squad in that way, so you can’t expect us to just park the bus or put the balls in the river. We have plans B, C, D and E - so we have to be flexible within our philosophies. We have to adapt to each opponent. You have to remember players are human beings, not just the young lads. They were used to winning games and being praised. We responded to every loss last season with a win, so there was no crisis. On this level, you have difficult periods. We have to learn because we are not experienced in a relegation battle.

3.04pm GMT

Some more words from Roy Hodgson ahead of the visit of his former club Liverpool tomorrow. His mind-games sensor is going haywire, and he’s not convinced that so-called injury doubts Andrew Robertson and Mo Salah will miss the match at all.

We are counting on them playing so until such time when I pick up the team sheet and they are not playing, then I’ll think about it, but I think both will be fit to play. I am presuming we will face what Jurgen Klopp has seen as his strongest team in recent weeks because I believe he has enough respect for us and what we are capable of doing not to make unnecessary changes if it is not forced upon him through injury. I am certainly very anxious that we will make it very difficult for them. We aren’t going to sit back and help them win the title; we want to win the game. We are fully prepared and fully ready for that and if we lose, it will be because they have played exceptionally well and we were unable to match them.

2.56pm GMT

As previously mentioned, Granit Xhaka could well return for Arsenal against Southampton tomorrow. With this very much uppermost in mind, his team-mate Hector Bellerin is attempting to engender some positive vibes. Let’s see what happens should Xhaka play, and Ralph Hasenhüttl get the fast start he’s hoping for (12.40pm).

@HectorBellerin has stressed the importance of unity as we prepare to return to @PremierLeague action.

#ARSSOU pic.twitter.com/uEss9xIsqX

2.47pm GMT

It’s Friday afternoon, you’re just counting the minutes until cocktails o’clock. This should help you run down an hour of your boss’s time: the very latest edition of Football Weekly Extra! Includes a blissed-out soliloquy by Elis James, who appears to have reached a state of higher consciousness in the wake of Wales’ qualification for Euro 2020.

2.35pm GMT

Mourinho’d out yet? Hopefully not, because this playful take on the joy of photographing Jose mid-brouhaha, penned by our very own Tom Jenkins, is a highly entertaining read.

2.25pm GMT

BREAKING NEWS: Frank Lampard will not take over as manager of Tottenham Hotspur in 2029. The current Chelsea boss has been asked if he could ever envisage managing Spurs, and he replied in the categorical style: “I can firmly say no, and you can replay that again in 10 years. It wouldn’t happen but I think things are different for me.”

That firm stance hasn’t stopped him wishing his old boss all the best in his new role across town. “We had a couple of messages just to wish him well in his new role as he has always done for me. I think history and results speak for themselves; the trophies, titles he’s managed to win at clubs, they are not surprises, they are for the hard work he’s put in. He’s done that consistently. People will hold up his record and expect big things from him.”

2.16pm GMT

Thanks Luke. Harry Maguire returns to Sheffield United on Sunday afternoon with his new club Manchester United. Blades boss Chris Wilder is already excited.

I usually say it’s just the next game but perhaps this one does have a little more to it. It’s Manchester United - one of the most iconic and powerful clubs in the world, and one of our former players will be playing for them. I’m sure Harry will get a great reception, he’s already been back once with Leicester, but I don’t want it to be ‘the Harry Maguire Show’. I want it to be the Sheffield United show. I want us to show how good we are. I’m sure when his name gets called out before the game he will get a round of applause but make no mistake about it he’s an opposition player, along with the other 10, and he is in the enemy camp for an hour and a half.

2.08pm GMT

As for my earlier trivia question - who scored Tottenham’s injury-time winner in the 4-3 victory against West Ham in 2007? None of you got it right, because none of you responded. Regardless, the answer is Paul Stalteri, which of course we all knew anyway.

Scott is back now to take you through the rest of the press conference news, and other Friday afternoon footballing delights. Over to you Scott.

1.58pm GMT

Marco Silva’s full press conference is available to watch on Everton’s Twitter feed.

On injuries: “Fabian Delph is not in condition for tomorrow’s match, he’s still a big doubt. Bernard is in the same situation, he has started working with the team. Cenk Tosun is OK. [Jean-Philippe] Gbamin is long-term, I don’t know [when he’ll be back], I don’t have a date. Andre Gomes, we must take it step-by-step ... he is doing his rehabilitation but it will be a slow recovery ... Possibly he will play this season. We have to be patient and supportive with him.”

| MS: "We must take it step by step [with Andre Gomes]. It's the time to be really patient with him. He has come here more often doing his rehabilitation. It will be a slow recovery." #EVENOR https://t.co/s7LpV6kMWV

1.55pm GMT

More from Lampard ahead of the mouthwatering clash with Man City tomorrow:

“I am so pleased for Tammy Abraham and Mason Mount scoring their first England goals. I remember from when I was a player what a confidence boost that is.

1.53pm GMT

“Wales, golf, Madrid,” as the old saying goes.

Sid Lowe has filed a story in which Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane plays down Gareth BaleWalesFlagGate:

1.48pm GMT

You can watch the full Pep Guardiola press conference here via the magic of Man City’s YouTube.

1.47pm GMT

Let’s head back to London, where Roy Hodgson has roared that his team won’t roll over for Liverpool at Selhurst Park tomorrow:

“There’s no way we’re going to sit back and help Liverpool win the title. We don’t go into the game with any inferiority complex whatsoever.”

Roy: “There's no way we're going to sit back and help Liverpool win the title. We don't go into the game with any inferiority complex whatsoever."

https://t.co/TTogt6KZzQ
Official club app#CPFC pic.twitter.com/msDb4G57Kw

1.45pm GMT

Meanwhile, back in Manchester, Guardiola says goalkeeper Ederson is training again, but Leroy Sané is going to be out for two-three months.

“Same situation, players fit after Liverpool are fit, those injured are still injured a few more months.”

1.44pm GMT

Everton manager Marco Silva is also speaking now.

He insists Moise Kean - who he recently dropped from the squad for poor timekeeping - is ‘the present and the future.’

| MS: "Moise Kean has all the support he needs here. He doesn't need anything else. He has support from myself, the Club, his teammates. He's adapting and working hard. He's the present and the future." #EVENOR https://t.co/s7LpV6kMWV

1.42pm GMT

Lampard on tomorrow evening’s test against the champions: “Tomorrow’s game at Man City is a great test to see where my team are at, but I won’t be making big judgements based on the result, given how early it is in the team’s development.

Chelsea FC on Twitter: “Lampard reports that Christian Pulisic returned to training this midweek and is in contention for a place tomorrow. Callum Hudson-Odoi has a hamstring issue picked up with England so there is a question mark over his participation.”

1.40pm GMT

I thought I was watching a live feed on Twitter of the Lampard press conference, but it turns out it was just a video of him sitting down, on loop. Oh well.

Breaking: Lampard wishes his old boss Mourinho well at Spurs.

Frank Lampard says he has exchanged a couple of messages with Jose Mourinho, wishing him well in his new role, as Mourinho has always done for Lampard.#MCICHE

1.35pm GMT

Quotes from Man City manager Pep Guardiola right here:

What will Mourinho bring in his new role at Tottenham? “I think you know him better than me. He was here many years with different clubs. He is an incredible manager and I am pretty sure he will do a good job.”

1.25pm GMT

Pep is imminent:

The boss is on his way for the #MCICHE press conference!

⚽️ @marathonbet
#ManCity pic.twitter.com/N9f0qcTirW

1.23pm GMT

Meanwhile, ahead of a trip to Everton, Norwich manager Daniel Farke has bad news about the fitness of striker Josip Drmic:

“He was injured in our last game. It’s a serious muscle fibre injury. Physios think he’ll be out for eight weeks,” Farke said.

1.21pm GMT

It’s all kicking off, press conference-wise. Guardiola, Farke, Hodgson, the lot.

Here is Eagles manager Hodgson speaking ahead of the visit of league-leading Liverpool:

1.19pm GMT

On the subject of Chelsea - who have won six Premier League matches on the bounce - Jacob Steinberg has been speaking to their former goalkeeper and now technical and performance advisor Petr Cech:

1.15pm GMT

Chelsea boss Super Frankie Lampard™ is due to speak at 1.30pm ahead of their visit to Manchester City tomorrow evening.

I’ll grab quotes from him ASAP, and am keeping my ear to the ground for all the press conferences.

Don't miss Frank's pre-Man City press conference, coming up at 1.30 pm (UK).

Watch live on the Chelsea app!

https://t.co/PtFw79ih9n #MCICHE pic.twitter.com/18Zfgsk2zE

1.09pm GMT

Over on Twitter, ahead of West Ham v Tottenham tomorrow lunchtime, Spurs are enjoying the memory of being 3-2 down to the Hammers with a minute left, only to win 4-3.

The match in question took place on Sunday 4 March 2007. Can you remember who scored the winner, though?

⏱️ 89: West Ham 3-2 Spurs

⏱️ FT: West Ham 3-4 Spurs #THFC ⚪️ #COYS pic.twitter.com/MLxsLXRaNo

1.05pm GMT

Afternoon all and thank you Scott.

Hot off the press from Liverpool’s website, and following his earlier quotes about José Mourinho’s return and other things, Jürgen Klopp has been talking about the Premier League leaders’ sports psychologist, former Chesterfield manager Lee Richardson:

12.56pm GMT

And with that, I’m away to get fed and watered. Back in a bit. In the meantime, Luke McLaughlin will be your guide.

12.55pm GMT

While we’re on the subject of Southampton, here’s the epic story of their south-coast rivalry with Portsmouth. A tale of war, tragedy, violence and football. Enjoy, enjoy.

12.47pm GMT

The Copa Libertadores final between River Plate and Flamengo will be televised live on the BBC tomorrow evening. It’ll be the first one-off decider in the competition’s history, and it’s had a troubled birth ...

12.40pm GMT

Southampton have lost their last three matches, a run of misery that began with that 9-0 humiliation against Leicester. But they impressed in defeat at champions Manchester City, and Ralph Hasenhuttl is hoping that performance will stand them in good stead at Arsenal tomorrow.

A fast start always helps against every opponent, because then you feel more comfortable. We had a good start against Manchester City and then you saw how difficult it was against us to turn the table for them. We were only a few minutes from taking something there. We know in away games we can start fast and score, then we are not easy to beat. Especially against big opponents, you have nothing to lose. If you go in the game and be brave, believe in yourself, then you have a big chance to get something and this is what we have to do to at the weekend.

12.30pm GMT

Eni Aluko predicts that things are going to get ugly fast at Tottenham. And there’s nothing wrong with that whatsoever. If anything, it’s about time.

12.20pm GMT

Mourinho will be hoping for a fast start to his Tottenham reign at West Ham tomorrow lunchtime. But opposite number Manuel Pellegrini has his own urgent agenda, his side having failed to win since swatting aside Manchester United back in September.

I trust a lot in the players because I know they have demonstrated a lot of times they can do it against big teams. I think that this international break was good for us, maybe we had time to talk a lot of things. So I hope that especially in a derby game - we know that for our fans it’s the most important game of the season playing against Tottenham at home - so I hope that tomorrow we see the West Ham that we saw at the beginning of the season. The table is very tight, we must try to recover our performance as individuals and as a team and I hope this will be a good game to return to winning ways.

12.10pm GMT

We haven’t mentioned Jose Mourinho for 29 minutes. Many apologies. Here’s the man himself, upon being asked whether this new Spurs gig would be his last in England. “I would love that to be the case. I would love to stay for many years. I say many years but I know realistically how football is. If I could do a Mauricio for five-and-a-half years, it would be amazing. I would be 61 - then 10 more years. Vitoria Setubal in Portugal maybe the last job.” Current Vitoria boss Julio Velázquez is permitted a quick shudder. And Ole Gunnar Solskjaer thinks he’s got problems dealing with an out-of-work Poch.

12.00pm GMT

EFL v Bolton Wanderers. The EFL has appealed against Bolton’s “too lenient” suspended five-point penalty for failing to fulfil two fixtures. The Trotters cancelled a game against Brentford towards the end of last season, and another against Doncaster in August. An independent disciplinary commission penalised them two points for the first transgression and three for the second, with deductions only to be made should the club cancel any more matches in the next 18 months.

However the EFL is “disappointed ... and it is the firm view of the League that the sanction imposed is too lenient when consideration is given to all the circumstances of the case. Given the potential for postponements to have a significant impact on competition integrity and, following receipt of advice overnight on the reasons provided, the League will appeal the outcome in the strongest possible sense.” Bolton - who have already been whacked with a 12-point deduction for entering administration - will “vehemently defend” any appeal.

11.50am GMT

Scotland boss Steve Clarke has delivered his verdict on the Euro 2020 play-off draw. Talking to Sky Sports, he said: “The draw is what it is. I never get too carried away about who we’re going to get. We will be familiar with Israel because we played them in the Nations League group stage, and hopefully we can get a positive outcome. We had two close games, lost away and won at Hampden. It would be nice to repeat that. We’re not disappointed that the final is away from home. You have to take what you get.”

11.44am GMT

Klopp had less interest in discussing the recent stramash between England pals Joe Gomez and Raheem Sterling. “Joe is good, better than good. The people involved were fine pretty quick. Things like this happen in football. Absolutely nothing to say about it. The FA dealt with it how they saw right and I cannot judge that as I was not aware of the circumstances.”

11.41am GMT

Jurgen Klopp was in a cheery mood this morning. “Welcome back Jose! It’s nice to have him back.” He had more to say about the outgoing Mauricio Pochettino, however. “It shows how quick things change. We played each other five months ago in the Champions League final. He’s on holiday now. He can enjoy it, to be honest. He did a brilliant job at Tottenham, nobody doubts that. Everybody knows he’s an outstanding coach. A great guy. It was my first game in the Premier League against him, so we have a kind of history together. All the jobs available, Mauricio will be in contention. It was a big one when I heard, I couldn’t really believe it. I really hope Mauricio can enjoy the few days, weeks, months off. It will not last long!”

11.30am GMT

Steve Clarke has urged the governing bodies in Scotland to “do all they can” to help his team qualify for Euro 2020, by ensuring there are no bothersome fixtures ahead of the big Israel showdown. Knowing how the suits north of the border historically roll, one could argue he may as well be shouting into a hole in the ground. However, he’s got the backing of Rangers boss Steven Gerrard, who says he’ll be willing to move fixtures to help.

I represent this club in this country so for me I give it the support I need to give it. I certainly won’t be standing in the way. But we don’t make those decisions. Ultimately it will be down to the SFA and stuff. We’ll go with the flow and if it means us skipping a game or adjusting a game we’ll do everything we can to support Scotland. That’s what you’ve got to do.

11.23am GMT

We already knew that Northern Ireland will travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina, while Republic of Ireland will be away to Slovakia. If both Irish sides make it to the Path B final, Northern Ireland will host.

11.22am GMT

To recap: Scotland will host Israel in the Euro 2020 qualifying play-offs next March. The draw, conducted in Nyon, paired Steve Clarke’s side with the nation that finished fifth in Group G. Should the Scots prevail, they’ll travel to Norway or Serbia for the Path C final.

11.20am GMT

The semi-final matches will be played on March 26 next year. The final matches follow a mere five days later, on March 31. Euro 2020 itself kicks off on 12 June. The fever’s building already.

11.18am GMT

And in path A ... Bulgaria or Hungary will play host in the final.

11.17am GMT

Path B: Northern Ireland will host the Republic of Ireland in the final, should everything go to plan.

11.16am GMT

Should Scotland defeat Israel, they’ll have to travel to Norway or Serbia for the final of path C. Bah.

11.16am GMT

Now we need to find out which semi-final winners will play the final at home. First up, path D: the victors of Georgia-Belarus will host the final.

11.14am GMT

Path A: Iceland v Romania; Bulgaria v Hungary.

11.13am GMT

Path B: Bosnia-Herzegovina v Northern Ireland; Slovakia v Republic of Ireland.

11.12am GMT

Path C: Scotland v Israel; Norway v Serbia.

11.12am GMT

Path D: Georgia v Belarus; North Macedonia v Kosovo. We knew this already.

11.09am GMT

Now some Uefa suit or other takes to the stage. Breaking news: he very much enjoys the sound of his own voice. Please get on with it.

11.07am GMT

Time for the Euro 2020 play-off draw. Who will Scotland host in their semi-final? We’ll find out in a minute. As always with these things, there’s a load of interminable pre-draw faff to suffer. This time, it’s a chat with Angelos Charisteas, scorer of the winning goal in the Euro 2004 final for Greece. He’ll be assisting with the draw. No rush.

11.00am GMT

Now then, this could be good fun. Granit Xhaka might get a run-out tomorrow as Arsenal welcome fellow crisis club Southampton to the Emirates. He’s not played for the Gunners since effin’ and jeffin’ at his own fans, who in fairness were giving him dog’s abuse as he was hauled off against Crystal Palace. But he played in both of Switzerland’s internationals last week, is raring to go again, and let’s face it Unai Emery could do with the attention being on someone else at the moment. If Xhaka plays, and Saints take so much as a point, Arsenal Fan TV will make for some mighty fine viewing tomorrow evening.

10.50am GMT

Watford captain Troy Deeney has been out with a dodgy knee for most of the season. He last played for the Hornets on the second weekend of the campaign, at Everton. But he could return for the visit of Burnley tomorrow afternoon. Otherwise it’s not great news on the injury front for Hertfordshire’s finest. Roberto Pereyra (thigh), Tom Cleverley (heel), Domingos Quina (groin), Sebastian Prodl (knee), Daniel Bachmann (hamstring) and Danny Welbeck (hamstring) are all ruled out, while Christian Kabasele is suspended. Meanwhile for Burnley, Chris Wood is fit and raring to go, despite missing New Zealand’s recent match against Lithuania.

10.45am GMT

Fed up with Jose already? Make your peace with it, this ride’s only just begun.

10.35am GMT

Here’s Jamie Jackson with the latest hot United chat ...

10.25am GMT

Meanwhile, 20 miles but half a world away ...

10.15am GMT

More from Ole. “It’s good to have Jose back, definitely - especially for you guys, maybe for me because you can talk and write about everything else! And for Mauricio, it’s always sad when one of your colleagues, a good man, you lose your job before Christmas. It’s never nice to see so I just wish him all the best. In football you can never be surprised at anything, or you can’t be shocked at anything. For me, I’ve just got to focus on us.”

10.10am GMT

Manchester United travel to Sheffield United on Sunday. They’ll do so without star turn Paul Pogba. His ankle is no longer in a cast, but he’s only just started to step up his fitness programme. “It’ll still be a few weeks,” says Solskjaer. “We hope to see him in 2019.” Meanwhile Scott McTominay is out for “a couple of weeks” with an ankle injury of his own.

10.05am GMT

Does it bother Ole Gunnar Solskjaer that Mauricio Pochettino - so often linked with the Manchester United gig - is now available? “No. It doesn’t bother me at all. I’ve got the best job in the world. I’m sure if you’re in a job, or out of a job, and you’re a manager, you want this job. So it doesn’t really matter. I’ve got to focus on my job and do as well as I can. I speak with the owners all the time about how we’re going to move the club forward. That doesn’t change if some other clubs change.”

10.00am GMT

Beep beep! What’s that noise? It’s Barry Glendenning, backing up with a truckload of salt. He’s not convinced about the rumour linking Mourinho with the superannuated Zlatan Ibrahimovic, you see. He has much better transfer gossip, and it’s all in today’s super soaraway Rumour Mill.

9.50am GMT

Meanwhile, Mauricio Pochettino has been saying his goodbyes.

9.40am GMT

Mourinho takes Spurs to West Ham tomorrow. His first Premier League match at home comes the following Saturday, when he welcomes Bournemouth. Eddie Howe is already looking forward to that one. “You always welcome the best back into the league, it makes the league better. I was as surprised as everybody else watching from afar, but Jose is an unbelievable manager and it’s great he’s back. It’s not ideal timing for us to go to Tottenham, but it is what it is, and we’ll relish that challenge. For me he’s one of the all-time greats and he’s certainly got a lot more to give.” (Non-Jose-related aside: Bournemouth host Wolves tomorrow.)

9.30am GMT

We should stress that other Tottenham Hotspur nightwear is available. Forty quid for a special onesie. Twenty-five bar for cockerel-splattered moccasin slippers. A “waffle robe”; that sounds right up Jose’s alley. They’ll be flying off the shelves. This’ll pay for Mourinho’s £13m-a-year contract in no time.

9.22am GMT

It’s early. Still feeling sleepy-eyed? Why not take a nap at your desk? Go on, your boss won’t mind. Tell her you’re taking your lead from other high-status individuals such as Jose Mourinho, who also like to kip on the job. He’s been snoozing at the Lodge, you see, the luxury facility at the Tottenham Hotspur training ground. “If you are trying to find a six-star hotel you couldn’t find better than here,” he says. “Great bed, you sleep in the middle of five or six huge soft pillows, expensive duvet. Absolutely amazing.” The Lowry in Manchester has nothing on this. He’s also been banging on about Spurs-themed pyjamas, for some reason. Poor man must be knackered.

9.10am GMT

Where else to start but here? So many questions. Can Wilfried Zaha prosper against depleted leaders Liverpool? Will Teemu Pukki prosper at Goodison Park? Is there any chance of Chelsea upsetting Manchester City? All this and more. Clickity click, be about your business. And enjoy!

9.00am GMT

Morning everyone, and welcome to the Friday football blog. The Premier League returns tomorrow after a fortnight’s hiatus. Jose Mourinho’s back, too, after 11 months away. God we’ve missed the Premier League.

Anyway, all the latest news and views to come. Plus the thunderingly underwhelming draw for the Euro 2020 qualification play-offs. That’s happening at 11am GMT. Counting down the minutes already. OK, let’s go.

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