Key events
Thanks John. Good afternoon all.
Just listening to Ange Postecoglou asking journalists at today’s press conference why he should make Tottenham more pragmatic. And I have to say, last night’s 2-2 draw against Roma was one of the most entertaining games I’ve seen in a long time. Keep doing what you’re doing, Ange.
That’s my stint on the blog done. Over to Luke McLaughlin. But first, a quiz.
A reminder of the table. Just look at Liverpool’s advantage. Shades of 2019-20, hopefully without the outbreak of a novel virus.
Nottingham Forest were in the top four but have lost their last two. Nuno’s been speaking to his club’s TV channel. Forest host Ipswich at 3pm on Saturday.
“Very positive. When you have a problem you have to address it, you have to take care of that and we did that. Now Saturday comes a test.
“But the mentality, the way we want to do things, we must go back from where we start, how we start, how we want to be as a team. When we speak I say over and over these words to the press, to the players, we must be compact, solid. We must be a team that is hard to beat, we must be a team that opponents don’t get anything. The first step has to be always like that when you go into the games.”
Kev McCready gets in touch about Arne’s day off: “I’d like to think Arne is enjoying some of Liverpool’s trendier venues – News From Nowhere (an independent bookshop run by a collective of women), The Open Eye (photography gallery) or maybe 69a (antique shop).“
It’s been a busy week at Tottenham, might it be a busy January? Here’s Ange on some transfer business.
“I’ve already had a few minutes with [Tottenham technical director] Johan [Lange] about a strategy for January. Last year, we did some business which helped us. We’ve got a lot of injuries but a lot of clubs have. At some point it is going to come home to roost, you will either get a diminished product or clubs will have to carry bigger squads.”
That West Ham v Arsenal game previewed here by Jacob Steinberg.
In that context Lopetegui needs to keep his guard up. Although suggestions that the former Borussia Dortmund manager Edin Terzic was being lined up to take over are wide of the mark, the situation remains precarious. Another bad run would inevitably bring more noise. Some at the club were unsure about Lopetegui’s appointment and suggested alternatives. However Sullivan, still the main power, has championed the 57-year-old and is determined to give him time to silence the doubters.
Kompany ready for “tough” Klassiker
Dortmund v Bayern is at 5.30 on Saturday.
Per Reuters
Bayern Munich have won seven straight matches with as many consecutive clean sheets but coach Vincent Kompany said that is all in the past and will count for nothing in Saturday’s Bundesliga ‘Klassiker’ at Borussia Dortmund.
Undefeated in the Bundesliga, Bayern are already six points clear at the top of the table ahead of second-placed Eintracht Frankfurt.
They have not conceded a goal in their last five league matches and seven across all competitions and have netted 36 times in their 11 Bundesliga matches so far with the league’s leading scorer Harry Kane having already bagged 14 league goals this season.
“The last results are gone now. I just want us to win the game tomorrow. It’s the Klassiker,” Kompany told a press conference on Friday. “I like that these games have this special build-up. We all look forward to these games.”
“If you look at the big picture, it’s important for us not to look too much at how others see our players. It’s how we see them that’s important.”
Bayern travel to Dortmund with the hosts far from convincing in the league despite their good run in the Champions League.
Hampered by injuries, Dortmund have dropped to fifth in the Bundesliga on 19 points, 10 behind Bayern, after failing to win any of their away matches in the league this season. But Kompany is preparing to face what he said would be “the best version” of Dortmund no matter their recent Bundesliga results. Dortmund have won all six Bundesliga home matches.
“Our preparation is for the best version of the team. If they are top then they go high into their pressing game, they are extremely dangerous on the break with their speed on the wings,” Kompany said of Dortmund. “When they are at their best, they are also very, very good at building up the play. It’s not going to be an easy game, it’ll be tough.”
Ben Dawson is the caretaker – interim – manager at Leicester. On Ruud van Nistelrooy’s reportedly imminent arrival, he’s keeping cards close to his chest.
“Nothing at the moment. I was hoping you could shed some light on the situation. We probably know as much as you do and we’re just continuing and focusing on the game tomorrow.”
Leicester play at Brentford on Saturday at 3pm.
Ruben Amorim held his TV duties with fans singing his name.
Arteta admits Liverpool could be tough to catch
Per PA Media
When asked if Arsenal’s form needs to be perfect to finish ahead of Liverpool, Arteta said: “If they continue then that’s for sure, with the numbers they’re producing and the amount of games they’re winning.
“The focus is on us to maintain the consistency especially and performances that will give us the right to win games, keep the availability in the squad. This is a long run.
“Winning lifts the energy and our confidence up. We’ve had two big wins for us and now it’s about consistency and getting that momentum, take it further against a good opponent tomorrow and try to replicate the performance to win the game.”
Arteta on the Pep crisis at City.
“A bump, everybody has a bump. For them it is very strange because for nine years they have never had it. It tells you the level and the environment that we are in, everything has to be almost perfect – performance and ability has to be perfect and things have to go your way. It is so hard to win.”
Arteta on Raheem Sterling, who hasn’t played too much for Arsenal.
“I would like to see him more and this is down to me. He is trying his best. His application and his commitment around the team has been exceptional and now it is time for me to get him more minutes.
“That’s the intention [to get him more minutes] and that’s why I put him in against Forest and I wanted to put him in against Sporting and now getting him in that rhythm because he can really impact the team.”
It’s West Ham v Arsenal at 5.30pm on Saturday.
Mikel Arteta has been speaking about Martin Odegaard: “With the way he prepares himself and how much work he put in with the physios and medical department to get in the best possible condition to face the period and importance of the season that we are in and to hit the ground running – he has been exceptional since the Chelsea game and he has been very consistent the last three games.
“Good players that are so consistent and so reliable that can take the game to a different level and make the players better around them, that’s a huge quality of Martin’s and he has been missed.”
Last night’s Europa League action:
Colin gets in touch: You won’t hear from Arne Slot today. As Andy Hunter reported he held his press conference yesterday. I think on TNT on Wednesday he said his family was visiting for a few days. Maybe he’s off to visit the Three Graces, Albert Dock, The Cavern & The Cathedrals – “we’ve got one to spare”.
Højlund says Amorim style suits him
Jamie Jackson
After Ramsus Højlund scored twice against Bodø/Glimt in Manchester United’s 3-2 Europa League win, the No 9 stated Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-3 suited his game.
The victory over the Norwegian champions at Old Trafford was United’s second in the competition and lifted them to 12th with nine points after five games.
Højlund said: “I think the new system, new ideas, are suiting my style of play. I’ve played this sort of football – I don’t say it is the same, but a 3-4-3. I used to play in Atalanta a little bit the same.”
Højlund played for the Italian club in the 2022-23 season, scoring 10 goals in 34 appearances. The Dane was asked what is different between Amorim’s system and that of his predecessor, Erik ten Hag, for him as the centre-forward.
“The press is very different,” the 21-year-old said. “I have to focus a little bit more on what’s in front of me instead of behind. I showed last season with being the top scorer for the team that I can score goals. I’m still very young but obviously I would like to take the responsibility and that’s why I took the No 9 this year because I want to take the next level and the next step. But I still have a lot to grow – I’m still not the finished article.”
Højlund’s goal celebration featured a thumbs-up and thumb-down. “It’s the Gladiator one. We watched it when we were with the national team and I thought it was a nice celebration.”
Let’s get it going with the usual 10 things.
Ahead of that Wembley friendly, here’s a piece from the ever excellent Emma John, comparing the England manager to her English opposite number.
Warnings from the US for Liverpool as the Salah contract saga goes on. Good piece from Ryan Baldi.
Preamble
The Manchester City saga, the on-field stuff that is, continues on Sunday. Whatever next? They take on all conquering Liverpool on Sunday, and could end up 11 points back in the Premier League. That would be amazing but is it time the champions kick back? We’ll hear from Arne Slot and Pep Guardiola today, and the rest of the Premier League managers.
We also await white smoke from Leicester, where Ruud van Nistelrooy is expected to be announced as manager.
Join us throughout the day.
