Klopp: We can show club is really special
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp on the Merseyside Derby:
“In recent years, it was often that Everton could sort a lot of problems out beating us when they weren’t happy with things that were going on.
“It’s not a normal game but it was another where we desperately needed three points. After the game we played [at Wolves], we have to react again and I know how people want to see it. I want to see it.
“This is not a time we wanted to have, or a time we’re happy to be in. But it’s a time where we can show, if we want to show, that the club is really special.
“The boys delivered a lot of great moments in the last few years, and we are still fighting to change the situation in a better direction.
Super League plans not on Premier League shareholders’ agenda
The new proposals for a European Super League have been left off the agenda at today’s Premier League shareholders meeting, Sky Sports has learned – because England’s elite clubs don’t believe the matter worthy of discussion.
The topics for the scheduled meeting in central London were agreed last week, and the statement from the ESL publicity company, A22, was only released yesterday.
The fact the senior executives of England’s top 20 clubs have decided there is nothing new, and no relevant detail, in the ESL proposals is another damning indictment of what the Football Supporters’ Association yesterday called “a walking corpse.”
A number of Premier League clubs have told Sky Sports the amended plans are “laughable” and “flimsy”.
A22 said the revamped plans for the ESL would involve 80 teams across the continent and an element of promotion and relegation – although we have since learned that new teams would only be admitted at the lowest level of the three-tier competition.
PODCAST: Carra’s Merseyside Derby preview
On the latest edition of Essential Football, Jamie Carragher joins Ron Walker to preview this weekend’s Merseyside Derby between out-of-form Liverpool and Sean Dyche’s Everton.
Carragher assesses why Liverpool have hit what he calls their worst spell under Jurgen Klopp, how he’s trying to fix it and whether he might repeat his Dortmund exit and call it quits at the end of the season.
He also looks at what Sean Dyche has already changed at Goodison Park, whether this is the ideal time for him to take his Toffee side to Anfield and how quickly he can turn things around at the club.
Chelsea loanee Felix takes aim at Simeone
Chelsea loan forward Joao Felix has said he left Atletico Madrid to because he was struggling to get used to the Spanish side’s style of play, adding that coach Diego Simeone’s philosophy is not beneficial to every player.
“I had been looking for a change of scenery for some time because it was difficult for me to get used to the way of playing,” Felix told Spanish newspaper AS in an interview published on Friday.
“I left because my head was full of the fact I was trying and not being able to. It had to be in this transfer window and I think it has been good for Atletico and for me too.”
Felix stopped short of openly criticising the Argentine coach but hinted the pair have not always seen eye-to-eye with each other.
“He is a very good coach. He has his way of understanding and seeing football that others don’t have. That’s good for some and bad for others. It depends on each person,” he said.
Klopp: I thought it was helpful players and I didn’t see each other for two days!
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp on giving his players two days off this week:
“You can train every day but it’s not beneficial. We played bad at Wolves, had the players in on Sunday and then had two days off.
“We spoke to each other, and then gave them two days off because it’s a very long time between Saturday and Monday.
“I could’ve said from Monday on, we go for them – but it wouldn’t have been helpful at all. It would’ve caused injuries, it would’ve been bad, it would’ve caused a lot of problems.
“To be honest, 100 per cent after Sunday, I thought it was totally helpful that we didn’t see each other for two days.
“And it was helpful – I left on Sunday in an average mood, and came back in a good mood. I worked through it, but I was in a much better mood.
FPL tips! Who to bring in for GW23?
Sky Sports continues its weekly column, bringing you essential tips from the best Fantasy Premier League managers in the world.
In our latest column, Holly Shand and Lee from FPL Family discuss their FPL teams ahead of Double Gameweek 23, including the best assets to buy, whether to use the Free Hit or Triple Captain chips and tips for future tricky Gameweeks.
Fantasy Premier League 2022/23: Gameweek 23 tips and advice from experts
‘European Super League 2.0 an uninspiring rebrand’
Jonathan Liew from The Guardian and Shebahn Aherne discuss the relaunch of the European Super League and whether the competition has a future without the involvement of Premier League clubs.
Reichart: Premier League clubs not vital to European Super League
Bernd Reichart, the chief executive behind the revamped European Super League, claims Premier League clubs refusing to be involved with the project would not prevent them progressing with plans for an ESL.
Explained: Qatari interest in buying Manchester United | ‘A bid is in the balance’
Kaveh Solhekol explains the latest with the potential sale of Manchester United, with private investors linked to the Qatari royal family said to be interested in purchasing the club.
Howe: Targett and Manquillo still out
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe on team news:
“Matt Targett is out, Javier Manquillo is getting close, and Bruno is obviously out.
“Matt’s close to training. We haven’t seen him yet. He’s working hard on his rehabilitation with the physios, and he’s getting close to returning to us.”
Howe: Isak will travel to Bournemouth
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe on whether Alexander Isak will make the travelling squad:
“Yes, he will be. He’s fully recovered, no problems. Initially he got a ball to the head and didn’t feel too bad, but we had to follow protocols.
Howe: Difficult to predict emotions of Bournemouth return
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe on his Bournemouth return:
“We’ve been preparing the game as normal, the emotional side is difficult to predict, how I’ll feel walking out in a stadium I know so well.
“That’s very difficult to put myself there, for now we’re just preparing as for any other game. I know from the other side, preparing a game as Bournemouth manager, it’s a special place to play football when it’s rocking.”
On Bournemouth’s poor recent form:
“It’s important that we don’t look at [the league table]. They’ve signed some very good players, they’ve invested in the transfer market, so I think this is a different Bournemouth team to the one we’ve seen in recent weeks.
“There’s a lot of athletes in there, a lot of pace. This is a different game and we need to be ready for what’s ahead.”
Howe: I’m really concerned for Atsu
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe on former player Christian Atsu, who is missing after an earthquake struck Turkey this week:
“It’s really worrying. I really enjoyed working with Christian, a great lad and a great player, our thoughts are with him and his family and we hope for some good news.
“I’m really concerned for him and his welfare this week. It’s been difficult [to support the players who know him] because there’s been conflicting stories coming out about his whereabouts, so it’s been very tough.
“I can’t imagine how his family are feeling, but from the bottom of our hearts, we wish him well and hope for a positive ending.
‘Everton game is always important’
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp on whether Monday’s game matters being against Everton or if it’s another opportunity for a win:
“It matters always, but it’s another opportunity [for three points] as well. It’s not a normal game for us, we have to show certain things, that’s true, but it’s still Everton.
“It’s on a different importance for them [the fans] and for us as well. It’s a very important game in our situation and in general.”
What Everton team is Klopp preparing for?
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp:
“A very compact side, very good in counter-attacking and the set pieces will be very dangerous for us and a very important subject, definitely.
“You could see that in the last game, it was a good game. Arsenal were dominant but in the end, Everton had really good chances and the goal came from a set-piece, but they could have scored in other moments as well.
“We prepare for the team we saw against Arsenal. That makes sense because they are longer together now and all the plans are a bit clearer for everybody.
“But the difference is it’s not there, it’s here so we have to male sure it’s clear in the game as well.”
Klopp: We are not happy with this time, but we can show the club is still special
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp:
“This is not a time we wanted to have or a time we are happy to be in. But I think it’s a time as well where we can show that the club is really special.
“The boys have delivered a lot of great moments in the last few seasons. In this moment, for different reasons, not all of them are clear. It is not possible that we didn’t do it, but we are still fighting to change the situation in a better direction.
“But I do believe the better you behave in your lower moments, the quicker you get to the better moments again and much more success will happen in the better moments because you’re still together.
“So far, we have done really well altogether, especially out supporters. I’m looking forward dot a derby atmosphere, a proper atmosphere and a proper football game
Klopp: We have to show a reaction and have intensity again
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp:
“Intensity is always an important part of the game. We’ve never gone into a derby and I’ve gone ‘I’ve got nothing to say, it’s a derby, go for it’. There is always information to give and we will give that this time as well.
“We know it’s a difficult game, Sean Dyche is now there and has had a massive impact immediately. We have to prepare for that. That’s what we did and will do in the upcoming days.
“In recent years, it was always like this that Everton could sort a lot of problems in just beating us when they were not happy with what happened around [the club].
“For us, it was not a “normal game” but now a game where we desperately need three points. That didn’t change, but I know where we’re coming from. We have to show a reaction again.
“I know our people want to see that, I want to see that and we have to show that.”
Rush calls on Liverpool fans to back Klopp
Liverpool club legend Ian Rush has urged the fans to come together and back Jurgen Klopp to turn their form around, starting with the Merseyside Derby on Monday Night Football.
Jota training as normal, Van Dijk expected to be out for Merseyside derby
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp:
“The players are back in training in different stages. Jota is training now normally, already for two days. Another three days of training is possible for him. I think he’s in contention but we have to wait.
“Bobby [Firmino], I don’t know. We have to see how that looks now, how he deal with training intensity and things like that, then we make a decision.
“Virgil I don’t think is that close, but we will work on that as well. Arthur is similar to Bobby, I would say.
‘I hope to be back soon’ | Luis Diaz edging closer to return from injury
Luis Diaz provided some hope for Liverpool supporters, revealing he is hoping to be available for Liverpool again next month after four months out with a knee injury.