Arteta faces Ødegaard call; fitness problems persist at Manchester City: football news – live | Football

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk insists he isn’t bitter from the Netherlands’ Euro 2024 semi-final exit to England as he prepares to face that game’s matchwinner, Ollie Watkins.

The Aston Villa striker scored the decisive goal in the last minute to clinch a 2-1 victory for England that night and arrives at Anfield on Saturday looking to stop Arne Slot’s side, who have won 14 of 16 matches this season.

Van Dijk said: “Do the Euros play on my mind? No. I am not that, what do you call it, sentimental? Bitter? I am never bitter, but I know how good he (Watkins) can be and I think he is a very good striker.

“He always makes it difficult for the defenders and it will be a good match-up for all of us. But no, I don’t think about what happened in the summer. Obviously he scored a good goal, unfortunately, we couldn’t stop it but that is football sometimes.”

Cheers Luke. A reminder of those WSL fixtures for you:

Also tonight, it’s Watford v Oxford in the Championship (8pm) and Barnsley v Rotherham in League 1 (7.15pm for some reason. All times GMT (UK time).

I will be back for tonight’s WSL action plus any other footballing business, but Dominic Booth is stepping into the breach for the next bit.

Have you done this week’s quiz? Get cracking:

Senay Boztas

Amsterdam police have made more than 60 arrests after what authorities called “hateful antisemitic violence” against Israeli football fans.

A plane carrying football supporters brought home from the Dutch capital by the Israeli government landed on Friday at Israel’s Ben Gurion airport after the clashes on Thursday, which took place following a Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv.

The mayor of Amsterdam, Femke Halsema, described an “outburst” of antisemitism with “hit and run” attacks on the visiting supporters.

The Manchester United first-team coach Darren Fletcher has been given a three-match extended touchline ban for confronting the match officials during last month’s 2-1 win at home against Brentford, the Football Association said on Friday.

The former United midfielder was also fined £7,500 pounds for his protests when Brentford scored the opener on the stroke of half-time.

United protested when Ethan Pinnock scored with the home team reduced to 10 men after the referee Sam Barrott instructed Matthijs de Ligt to go to the touchline to stem the bleeding from a gash on his head.

United’s then manager Erik ten Hag and assistant Ruud van Nistelrooy received yellow cards for their protests but Fletcher went one step further and confronted the match officials at half-time near the tunnel.

“The coach acted in an improper and/or confrontational manner and/or he used abusive and/or insulting words towards the fourth official and the referee and/or assistant referees,” the FA said in a statement.

Fletcher admitted to the charge of misconduct but denied that he had been abusive. However, the regulatory commission said they had proof of his actions and imposed the sanctions. (Reuters)

Any thoughts on the weekend soccerball? Email me

You know what time it is …

It’s the predicted lineups for all this weekend’s Premier League action:

Meanwhile, in Turin …

Juventus are well rested after their Champions League trip to Lille and will approach the Turin derby against Torino at full intensity, coach Thiago Motta said as they look to reel in the Serie A leaders.

Although Juve are the only unbeaten team in the Italian top flight, Motta’s side lie sixth, with 21 points after six draws in 11 games. Torino are 10th with 14 points.

A victory on Saturday can bring Juve closer to leaders Napoli and second-placed Inter Milan, with points guaranteed to be dropped on Sunday when the two teams play each other.

Motta, whose side drew 1-1 at Lille on Tuesday, said he is aware of what the rivalry means to the people of Turin ahead of his first ‘Derby della Mole’ as Juve coach.

“There are good feelings, because I see the team doing well with the usual right attitude. There is a special atmosphere with our fans and we want to give our best to play a great match,” Motta said.

“The importance of a derby is that the city lives it in an intense way, we will have to do our best to play a great game. Derbies, in general, are beautiful matches to play. Here I felt exactly that and we will try to give great joy to our fans.

“The team is physically fine. We had three days of recovery and this makes the difference. I see the team and I have faith in everyone’s commitment. Tomorrow we will enter the game at 200%.”

However, Juve will be without Douglas Luiz, Nicolas Gonzalez and Vasilije Adzic who are sidelined with injuries.

“Douglas Luiz came with us to Lille at my request to speed things up. Yesterday in training he still didn’t feel great. So we won’t risk him and we’ll see him again after the (international) break,” Motta added.

“Nico Gonzalez won’t be there. Adzic also had a problem and will need to be evaluated, he won’t be there tomorrow.” (Reuters)

News from Italy. Antonio Conte says Serie A-leading Napoli are not going to San Siro and a meeting with Inter Milan on Sunday ‘to wave the white flag’.

He also got annoyed with a reporter’s question about Romelu Lukaku. Well, he claims he didn’t get annoyed, but it sounds very much like he did.

Read on for more, courtesy of Reuters:

The Napoli manager Antonio Conte has fond memories of his time at Inter Milan but the Italian said his side will give no quarter when they face the reigning champions in a top-of-the-table clash in Serie A.

Conte revived Inter and helped them break Juventus’s nine-year stranglehold on the Scudetto, stopping their run in the 2020-21 season to win the title for the first time since their treble-winning campaign in 2009-10.

Now at Napoli, a club that is looking to repeat their 2022-23 title win, Conte’s side are top of Serie A with 25 points – a point above Inter ahead of Sunday’s clash.

“It’s definitely nice to return to where I worked and won. Yes, two happy years,” Conte told reporters. “It was a wonderful experience that I carry within me, like all the past ones that I lived to the fullest.”

Napoli‘s winning run in Serie A ended against Atalanta last weekend when Conte’s side were beaten 3-0 and the Italian said he is in no mood to drop points again against Simone Inzaghi’s team.

“The three points is always important, it is inevitable that we face a team that today, for everything they have shown, is the strongest team,” Conte said. “We are not going to San Siro to wave the white flag before starting, but convinced to play our cards. Then we will see what happens. We are preparing in a major way, as we always do.

“It will be an important test, we will measure ourselves against the best and it will be important to understand our progress. Do not forget that we arrive at the top of the table… and the objective is to remain at the top.”

The Napoli striker Romelu Lukaku has scored one goal in his last four games but when asked about his form, Conte said he was tired of questions about the Belgian striker.

“At every blessed conference there is always the question about Lukaku. It becomes a bit, not annoying, but we are talking about the team. Lukaku’s growth depends on the growth of the team,” Conte said.

“But I am confident because I see them every day, they want to work and improve. I see a lot of commitment and I would not reduce it to a single player. It is not fair to the others.”

Thanks John. Hello everyone.

And with that, I hand over to Luke McLaughlin, but first Football Daily, written by me, actually.

Andrew Simmons gets in touch: “Northern Ireland and now Exeter City’s Magennis played most of his youth football as a goalkeeper – he signed for Cardiff’s academy as a keeper and was even named as a sub keeper for a League Cup match away at Anfield – before converting to a striker around 17 years old.”

“I believe Magennis was found to be the quickest player on Cardiff’s books at the time! 100+ career club goals and 80+ international caps suggests it’s probably been a successful switch. I’m not sure though if Magennis has played in goal though since the conversion – he’d have been a useful player to have had back in the days of 3 subs, or on a Neil Warnock keeper-less bench…”

Now that is a good one. Excellent stuff. Football: it’s great, isn’t it?

Jon gets in touch: “Defenders thrown up top in the old days? Goodison Park, this season, last few games!”

Sean Dyche is a man of my line of thinking.

Dominic Coughlan is in: “Gareth Bale started as a left back, moved to right wing and later became an out and out forward, and also became one of the greatest players of his generation. Not sure how that hasn’t been mentioned yet.”

It has been now, Dom.

Ange Postecoglou has discussed Hugo Lloris’ revelations about life at Tottenham, some of which feature in the goalkeeper’s Guardian interview with Don McRae.

Postecoglou, speaking ahead of Sunday’s visit of Ipswich, said: “Look I haven’t read what Hugo’s said, it’s been mentioned to me. I think with these things you’ve got to put context around them and understand the broader view and that could have been a very successful period for the club.

“They came very, very close. You’re talking about finishing runners-up in the Premier League and runners-up in the Champions League. It could have been a very different era and maybe in retrospect you be looking at those things. It’s easy to focus on the negatives when the outcome is not what you want, but there’s obviously a lot right at the time. From my perspective I’ve never allowed anyone else to dictate my ambitions, my aims, or what I try and do with everyone around me is you don’t put a limit on what you can achieve because if you do you potentially might miss something that comes along your way.”

Jeremy Boyce has the motherlode: “How about players who could play in ANY position, regardless of the system. As a Leeds fan I am obviously thinking Paul Madeley, who famously started in every shirt from 2 – 11 for Revie’s boys. He didn’t play goalkeeper, but could maybe have made a better job than Gary Sprake on occasion. There are plenty of cases of strikers etc. donning the gloves and excelling when required, in the days before 9 subs available. Olivier Giroud, Phil Jagielka, John Terry, Kyle Walker, Bobby Moore and even Pele have filled in between the sticks with distinction when required.”

Have a feeling Clayton Blackmore – mega-mega sunbed himself – played in just about every position and shirt for Manchester United, bar goalkeeper. Steve Watson for Newcastle, too. The age of subs killed off the utility man, the Alan Harper. Used to be amusing to see the one sub be a defender brought on and then made to go up front. Get in launched? You betcha.

Joe Pearson gets in touch: “Can we give a shout to the Swiss Army Knife of footballers, James Milner? Completely at ease on either side of the pitch, and has variously played as a winger, midfielder, and full back.”

Seems to be operating as some kind of auxiliary fitness coach at Brighton.

Good one from Ruari McEvoy: “I’m an Arsenal fan who was a teenager in the invincible days so a very biased answer but Kolo Toure’s move from a midfield utility man to a top centre back was a good one.”

Geoff Wignall gets in touch: “Quickly pondering positionally changed players of the past, Kenny Burns was one who came to mind – famously converted from Birmingham striker to Forest centre back by Clough.

“But a rather classier example was late model Ruud Gullit, in his Chelsea days as a sweeper. Once described in these pages as being like ‘a man standing in a field of waving corn’. Or somesuch.’

Gullit was good enough to play any position. It is my opinion that Jude Bellingham is similar, and ought to play Ruud’s old Dutch position of secondary forward, free role, if Jude would inject a bit more energy into his game.

On another note: did we do Chris Sutton? These days ubiquitous, he was once as good a centre-half as he was striker.

Form team Nottingham Forest face Newcastle on Sunday.

How good was Van Nistelrooy as a player? This good.

I thought this through well when I made the decision to come to Manchester United as an assistant manager or assistant coach. I thought that through and I knew that coming to Manchester United was for me a special occasion where I felt I wanted to be part of this journey with the club in also an assistant role. I had clear ambitions to manage, I made the decision to sign a two-year deal as an assistant and I’m still in that frame of mind to be fair, to stay in that capacity.

Guardiola: Grealish not available for City

Jamie Jackson

Pep Guardiola has stated Jack Grealish is not available for Manchester City, with the manager saying Lee Carsley should be asked why England’s caretaker has selected the forward for the international squad.

Grealish last featured as a 73rd-minute replacement in City’s 2-1 win at Wolves on 20 October. Yet Carlsley has called him for England’s matches against the Republic of Ireland on Thursday and Greece on Sunday-week.

Guardiola was asked about this. He said: “It’s a question for the manager for England. No [he’s not fit].”

The Catalan is yet to decide whether to sign new terms, with his current deal expiring next summer. Guardiola’s last two contract extensions were agreed in November when travelling to Abu Dhabi, the home country of City’s owner, Sheikh Mansour.

He was asked if there were any plans to go there again during the international break. “No,” the 54-year-old said.

Portugal’s manager, Roberto Martínez, has spoken about Rúben Amorim’s move from Sporting to Manchester United.

“I just have to wish Rúben Amorim the greatest success,” said Martínez, who spent nine years as a manager in England. “It’s a different level. I know the Premier League very well and his success will be that of Portuguese football.”

He also reflected on the form of Bruno Fernandes, who has not consistently performed at his best this season and will work with his fellow Portuguese once back from international duty. “In relation to Bruno Fernandes, he is experienced, he has a lot of responsibility,” Martínez said. “In very, very demanding clubs, it is normal to have better or worse performances. It’s part of it.”

Guardiola’s patched-up squad has no improvements by the sounds of a very short press conference.

“No good news. The same, I think, as Lisbon.”

That would be Lisbon where City lost 4-1.

Pep Guardiola patronises opposition corner. On Brighton, City’s opponents on Saturday evening.

“I’m really impressed with the way they play. They had to make a lot of signings and he is doing an incredible job. They were outstanding against Liverpool but didn’t get the result. They played really good. They always have been tough away or at home, since Graham Potter, and this will be no exception.”

Also, on Jack Grealish being called up for England but not being available for City:
“That is the question for the manager of the UK.”
(We think he meant England, not the UK. And Lee Carsley, not Sir Keir Starmer.)

Mikel Arteta on Martin Odegaard’s return: “It’s about the collective and everybody taking ownership. Certainly having a player like Martin helps because he has shown what an impact he has over the last four, five years. Let’s see how he goes, how he trains tomorrow. He’s available, he’s fit, then we make the decision.”

Steve Hoare gets in touch: “Paul Warhurst changing from centre-back to striker for Sheff Weds was the best change of position I can remember. He was sensational, scoring 12 in 12 and earning a big money move to Blackburn and winning a champions medal. However, he generally played in midfield with the SAS up front and was never really quite as effective as during that glorious 12 games at Wednesday. He really looked like a world beater for that short period.”

I remember him as a young, classy defender with Joe Royle’s Oldham.

Is Cole Palmer fit for Chelsea? Enzo Maresca: ““He’s getting better,” said Maresca. “[Just because] he can walk and have dinner it doesn’t mean he is completely fit, but we still have two days to prepare the game.

“Hopefully we can have him for the session at least on Saturday and then we’ll take a decision.”

More Gary O’Neil. He and Russell Martin were Norwich teammates.

“Lots of things that have gone on at the football club, lots of things that have gone on on the pitch – [I take] full responsibility from my part in that as well. We are where we are and there is nothing we can do about the last 10 games.

“The next one is the next one we can affect right now and the focus and prep and everything that has gone into it has gone very well so I know the boys are looking forward to the next challenge.”

More from Arne Slot.

Wolves v Southampton is this week’s relegation six-pointer. Both managers have been speaking.

Russell Martin: “We want to impose the game we want and create the chances we want. I’m sure Gary is preparing his team in the same way.”

Gary O’Neil: “I don’t ask the club for any backing or support, I’m very comfortable in my own skin and the work we do. I’ve given everything and there’s been some challenges. It’s important I take full responsibility and we embrace every challenge.”

Good afternoon, and let’s start with a look ahead to Sunday’s London derby. If Arsenal lose to Chelsea, they could drop 10 points off the top of the table.

The feeling from us is that we can compete and win against any team. If you don’t take it serious you can lose against any team. But we have the feeling that we are going in the right direction.

Right then, enough from me: it’s time for John Brewin to take over.

Some more words from Arne Slot, this time on Curtis Jones’s fine form:

Bobby Holmes has another for us:

Another Irishman, Steve Staunton banging in a hat-trick in the League Cup against Wigan as part of a front two with Jan Molby (!) It’s the second leg in this vid. And here’s Stan’s account of the feat. Staunton also played in goal for Liverpool, replacing Sander Westerveld, if memory serves.

Regarding favourite changes of position, Nicholas Ridgman points to the versatility of a Manchester United cult hero: “It would have to be John O’Shea briefly having to go in goal against Spurs in 2007, making him the only United player to have played in goal, CB, fullback, CM, wing, and up front.”

Outfield players going in goal is obviously popular. Rio Ferdinand, Harry Kane and Kyle Walker are others who’ve had a go.

On the subject of Luis Díaz enjoying success as a centre-forward, I’ll open the floor to hear your favourite positional changes from players. Think, I don’t know, Gareth Bale moving from left-back to left wing. It doesn’t even have to be a long-term switch: e.g Steven Caulker coming off the bench to play up front for Liverpool in the early-Klopp era.

Oh boy. José wants another go at the Prem … should Eddie Howe leave Newcastle.

Mourinho is understood to have reached out to intermediaries asking to be kept abreast of any developments at Newcastle.

Ange Postecoglou has been offering some injury updates ahead of Tottenham’s meeting with Ipswich on Sunday. He says his team came through “unscathed” in their loss to Galatasaray last night. Cristian Romero “is a chance” for the weekend, having come off after an hour in the 4-1 win over Aston Villa. Mikey Moore (illness) and Timo Werner (groin) are set to miss out on the game.

A lunch-time read for you: Barney Ronay reviews Miguel Delaney’s new book, States of Play.

Stick to football. It doesn’t really work does it? The big problem with sticking to football is that football doesn’t stick to football. Instead, football keeps sticking to other things, such as nation building, geopolitics, contrived Hollywood bro-ship vehicles and cruelty.

Jobe Bellingham, younger brother of Jude, has received his first call-up to the England Under-21s setup.

The 19-year-old has started 13 of Sunderland’s 14 matches in the Championship this season, helping them to top of the league, but is currently serving a three-game ban after getting sent off against QPR last weekend.

The Under-21s are set to face Spain and the Netherlands this month.

Arne Slot has expressed his surprise at Luis Díaz’s midweek success as a No 9. The Colombian scored a hat-trick in the Champions League win over Bayer Leverkusen.

Lucho did really well and if was, even for me, maybe a bit of a surprise to see how well he did. I played him there for a reason, I expected him to do good but that he did so well, that was even a surprise for me.

Díaz is firing them in this season, with nine goals in 15 games. He’s not scored in his last five league games but maybe that changes if he gets another central role against Aston Villa tomorrow.

Uefa has released a statement regarding the reported violence in Amsterdam last evening. More on that story below:

Uefa strongly condemns the incidents and acts of violence that occurred last night in the city of Amsterdam before and after the Uefa Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv.

We trust that the relevant authorities will identify and charge as many of those responsible for such actions as possible. Uefa will examine all official reports, gather available evidence, assess them and evaluate any further appropriate course of action in accordance with its relevant regulatory framework.

Brighton are up against the struggling Manchester City tomorrow and their manager, Fabian Hürzeler, wants his side to learn how to win “ugly”. His side are eighth in the league, with Hürzeler – 31 years young – settling in pretty well after joining in the summer. Here are his ambitions, courtesy of PA:

On the one side I think we can be happy about the performances, how we play, the style of play, how we have developed. On the other side, when we look at the results, we could have more points. There we have to find a good balance between playing a good style of play and getting the results for the style of play.

So, on the one side happy, on the other side there are still things we can improve, especially the game management, how to win the games, maybe in an ugly way, how to win the games in an efficient way.

I don’t want to be recognised or want to be seen as the small Brighton and Hove Albion. It’s more that we have a big potential in our squad. We have a great leadership in the club.

Suzanne Wrack writes about the fixture conundrum that has forced Arsenal to move their Women’s Champions League fixture against Bayern Munich next month away from the Emirates.

The reality is that this mess was an opportunity for all involved to go beyond paying lip service to the value of women’s football and its place in the football ecosystem; to say: women’s football should not play second fiddle, we value it, and we want you to value it too.

Speaking of Chris Wood, here’s what Eddie Howe’s had to say on his former player. Wood struggled for goals at Newcastle, scoring five in 39 games.

I’m delighted for Chris on a personal level. For me it was never lost how well he played for us. He did everything but score. His positive performances were so important in our efforts to stay in the league especially that first season when he joined. The work he did, the unseen things, bringing other players into play. If you asked his teammates that played with him in that season, they’d say Chris was one of the reasons that we changed our position in the league and were able to win consistently. But he just didn’t get the goals that elevated his performances or probably got the wider world seeing what a transformation he played in our team. He was very selfless, he was very team-orientated and that’s why now on a personal level he’s getting the individual accolades that his goals are bringing him.

Here’s what to look out for in the Premier League this weekend. To the key question: how many will Chris Wood score against his former club Newcastle?

Following those illuminating extracts from his book, Hugo Lloris has spoken to Donald McRae about Spurs, losing the World Cup final two years ago and that watch story.

Here he is on that loss to Argentina:

I’d meet people in the street who’d thank me for the beauty and emotional intensity of this final, assuring me that it was the most wonderful match they’d experienced in all their lives. Maybe when I’m old I’ll be able to see it like that. But not yet: it was a disaster because we lost, because we were crap for 80 minutes. And so the pain was unbearable.

Diallo targets long-term United deal

Jamie Jackson

Amad Diallo wants to sign a new long-term contract with Manchester United, with the forward’s terms expiring next summer.

The 22-year-old, who joined in January 2021, was the standout performer in Thursday’s 2-0 win Europa League over PAOK, scoring both goals, as United registered a first win in European competition for 380 days. This lifted United to 15th in the standings. Diallo was asked about agreeing a new deal.

“I’m happy to be here,” he said. “I’m happy to play for this club, and yeah, I want to stay here for a long time to make history with this club.”

Thursday’s start was his first for more than a month. “I know I was the [club’s] player of the month in August, but I have moved on,” he said. “I am focused for now.”

On Monday Rúben Amorim takes over as United’s head coach. “I am excited to have him here and I can’t wait to work with him,” Diallo said.

Hello, hello, hello and welcome to the hype machine: here’s to another incredible weekend of football! Live! Top-tier, pure, raw football! And it’s live!

Before we get into what’s to come, here’s the wrap on what happened last night in Europe: Amad Diallo struck a brace for Manchester United in their win over PAOK, Spurs were done in by Galatasaray and Chelsea put, um, eight past Noah. The Conference League is doing wonders for those goal bonuses at Stamford Bridge.

Anywho, drop me a line with all your thoughts, queries, Fantasy Football conundrums, whatever you want to get off your chest.