Key events
Klopp continued: “We have to be good until we are outstanding. From here go and go and go, improve … we have to perform. The body language was good [against Rangers] and now things have to be really good again on Sunday.
“We have to defend the shit out of everybody we face, and that’s why we the word rubbish.”
(I didn’t quite catch Klopp’s previous use of the word ‘rubbish’, so I am not entirely sure what he means there, but will try and clear it up once I’ve seen more quotes.)
Wolves’ Neto needs ankle surgery and will be out until next year
Ben Fisher
Not great news for Wolves or Portugal this morning, with winger Pedro Neto ruled out of the World Cup and sidelined until next year because he requires ankle surgery after straining ankle ligaments in defeat by West Ham last weekend. It is another blow for Wolves, who are already without Raúl Jiménez and Sasa Kaladjzic for their trip to Chelsea on Saturday. Nathan Collins and captain Ruben Neves are also both suspended. Academy coaches Steve Davis and James Collins will lead the team at Stamford Bridge but Wolves hope to have a new man in charge soon.
A football fan died in Argentina and the match between Gimnasia La Plata and Boca Juniors was abandoned on Thursday after teargas fired by police outside the venue drifted into the stadium and made it difficult for players and spectators to breathe.
Klopp gives an injury update: “Curtis Jones was in training yesterday … he’s closest … nothing new about Naby [Keita] and Ox [Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain] are still a little bit away. One new injury is Arthur Melo, in the last session before the Rangers game … he just injured a muscle … we have to wait for further assessment.
“Robbo [Andy Robertson] is running a lot, looks like he’s close, but probably Curtis is closest.”
The Liverpool gaffer, Jürgen Klopp, is speaking to the media now before Sunday’s seismic clash with Arsenal. The hottest lines coming up shortly.
The Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard believes Steve Cooper must be given time to turn Nottingham Forest’s fortunes around. Gerrard’s Villa face bottom-of-the-table Forest on Monday night, with Cooper facing a fight to save his job following five consecutive Premier League defeats.
“To sign so many new players in one window is unique,” said Gerrard ahead of his side’s trip to the City Ground. “I’ve never seen it or heard it before. From where I am, to think about how you’d deal with that and manage that, it would be extremely tough and challenging.
“He [Cooper] deserves the time for that to settle, for them to get used to the club, and how Steve plays. That takes time.” (PA Media)
Erling Haaland is banging them in like Franny Jeffers in his pomp. Here’s a piece about the Norwegian goal machine, and Premier League records:
Suzanne Wrack
Midway up the stands inside Wembley, the signage flashes with “European v world champions”. The buildup to England’s showdown with the USA has been overshadowed, rightly, by the weight of the findings of the Sally Yates report into abuses in women’s football in the States and the burden of it on the US players, but the narrative of the match itself is hugely exciting.
Sport-washing latest from Newcastle – the head coach Eddie Howe has been speaking, and says it’s down to the Premier League to decide who can and can’t own Premier League clubs. This is from PA Media:
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has insisted he put his faith in the Premier League’s owners’ and directors’ test as he considered the club’s offer of employment. Howe was offered the job of head coach by the Magpies’ new Saudi-backed owners, who completed their takeover a year ago on Friday, prompting criticism as a result of the Gulf state’s human rights record.
However, asked if he understood why some people were uncomfortable with that, he said: “Yes, I do and I understand the question. But for me, the directors’ and owners’ test ratified by the Premier League, I have to have faith in that process. Obviously I’ve been the decision-maker behind where some of that money has gone, and I’ve looked at it purely from a football perspective trying to recruit the best players for Newcastle.”
Asked how he dealt with that focus on a day-to-day basis, Howe added: “I’ve said this right from day one – it’s always about the football for me. If I veer too far from that and I go into areas of the club that won’t benefit my players or the team, then I’m not going to do my players justice. “Everything for me is about trying to get the best out of the players that I have every single day, and hopefully that shows when we play. I’ve never veered too far from that in my management career and I think that’s vitally important for me.”
A minute’s applause will take place before Tottenham’s match at Brighton on Saturday in memory of fitness coach Gian Piero Ventrone. Spurs confirmed on Thursday morning the highly respected Italian had died at the age of 61.
Ventrone had joined the club last November alongside manager Antonio Conte and was described as a “hugely popular figure with players and staff” in a statement to confirm his death. Tottenham have now revealed plans to pay their respects to the experienced coach, with players from both clubs wearing black armbands at Brighton while further tributes will occur in next week’s home fixture with Eintracht Frankfurt.
“Following yesterday’s sad news, we can confirm that we shall pay our respects to Gian Piero Ventrone at Saturday’s Premier League fixture against Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium,” a club statement read. “Our squad will warm up in t-shirts that pay tribute to our late fitness coach, while players on both sides will wear black armbands as a mark of respect. There will also be a minute’s applause ahead of the 5.30pm kick-off.
“We shall look to further honour Gian Piero at Wednesday night’s UEFA Champions League fixture against Eintracht Frankfurt at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, our first home match since his passing. Our thoughts continue to be with his family and friends at this sad time.” (PA Media)
If you were busy having a life last night and missed the football, here are some match reports:
A bit of breaking Chelsea news: Wesley Fofana looks set to be out for around a month, maybe six weeks, with the knee injury he suffered in the win against Milan on Wednesday. There were fears he may have badly damaged his ligaments so Graham Potter will take it, no doubt:
Preamble
England Lionesses return to action at Wembley this evening for the first time since their famous Euro 2022 final triumph against Germany at the end of July. Each and every ticket for the friendly match against the world champions was snapped up inside 24 hours of going on sale, and excitement will doubtless build through the day as we move closer the 8pm kick-off.
The Premier League programme kicks off with Newcastle v Brentford at 3pm tomorrow and the weekend’s action includes a tasty match-up between Arsenal and Liverpool on Sunday.
QPR v Reading is this evening’s fixture in the Championship – there’s a full dose of EFL action and football all across Europe, too. Team news and previews coming up, but let’s start with 10 thing to look out for in the Premier League this weekend: