Key events
MPs have urged the Football Association to amend its policies on transgender inclusion in the women’s game, accusing the governing body of “turning a blind eye” to the issue.
Liverpool’s manager Klopp is asked about the potential to go top of the table with a win against Palace in South London: “Nobody became champion because they were top of the table at 2.15 on “matchday 16”,” he says. “But we need the points. That’s what we prepare for in a short space of time.”
The next question is about Roy Hodgson. The reporter says Klopp was nine years old when the Englishman got his first job in management. Klopp chuckles and then mentions something about watching Arrigo Sacchi on VHS video tapes along with Hodgson (no doubt referring to Hodgson’s Internazionale days). “I’m really pleased I met him in the Premier League. He’s an outstanding person and a really nice man.
“When I see him I ask: ‘What are you doing here still?’ … I couldn’t respect him more … I don’t know how he’s doing that [still managing] to be honest. But yeah, great guy.”
Klopp is asked about the relatively large number of teams battling to be in the top five this season: “I couldn’t be less interested in that,” he replies with his trademark Friday-morning grumpiness. “But it looks a bit unusual that City are not first, second. Arsenal are doing extremely well. We are doing not too bad. Aston Villa are super strong, pretty impressive performance last game to be honest. United … whatever. I’m not following it really … for sure I forgot somebody, not on purpose … what can I say? We can only beat anybody in the games we play and with consistency over a season. So far that looks all right. But we should have a few points more but we are where we are.”
Klopp is asked about Joel Matip, who has an ACL injury that may keep him out for the rest of the season. His contract is up at the end of the season, too. When a reporter says: “it would be a real shame if that was his last action for the club,” Klopp says: “Yes, it’s true … I’m pretty sure the club will show their class … I’m pretty sure the club told him, while he’s injured, everything is fine …”
“So he might get a new contract?”
“I would say so – but it’s not my decision.”
Jürgen Klopp, the Liverpool manager, is having a chat with media now.
Following last night’s win over Newcastle, Sean Dyche was asked about how the team have responded to the 10-point deduction: “It’s a season’s work … you do the best you can to control the results … the points [deduction] is done.
“Let’s get on with it. The players have responded to that. They’ve gone: ‘Yeah, OK. Let’s get on with things’ … We can guarantee our mentality and playing hard, which we were doing anyway.”
Jonas Eidevall, the Arsenal Women head coach, is having a chat before Sunday’s WSL match against Chelsea – which is very nearly a sellout. First, he’s asked about winning the WSL November manager of the month gong: “It’s a reflection of a really good month,” Eidevall said. “Credit should go to the wider staff group, and the players.”
Are the players happy for him? “I don’t know … we all need to individually contribute … the reason we’re here is to win things with Arsenal.
The Emirates is nearly sold out, does that again show the progress being made in women’s football? “I think we have to push and make it a sellout,” says Eidevall. “The atmosphere [created by fans] drives us … we’re 2,000 short of it being a sellout. Let’s push. You don’t want to miss this game.”
“It [the growth of the game] is down to so many people at the clubs clubs, commercial, communications, supporters … It can’t only be driven by a few. It has to be driven by many.”
How about this … 10 things to look out for in the Premier League this weekend:
The Arsenal head coach, Mikel Arteta, was also asked if he will potentially celebrate up in the stand at Villa Park tomorrow:
“In the director’s box, I don’t think so!” he said. “Never say never, because the game can get very emotional, but I will try not to do that.”
Just a smattering of reaction from Newcastle’s Eddie Howe to last night’s loss at Everton, who says injuries are catching up with his squad:
“We have to do better. There are then reasons behind every performance … [but] there are some quality players, outstanding players who aren’t with us at the moment. And I do think you can potentially do it for a short period of time, but the longer you do it, the harder it gets. I think it was a missed opportunity for us.”
“It was a missed opportunity, I don’t think we really grabbed it and we paid the price”
Eddie Howe reacts to Newcastle’s 3-0 defeat to Everton 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/FfriVgcclL
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 7, 2023
Arteta: “I don’t know how to stop it.”
Or in other words: “I’m about to lose control, and I think I like it.”
Arteta: I won’t stop showing my emotion despite touchline ban
Mikel Arteta insists he will continue to show emotion on the touchline despite landing himself with a ban for Arsenal’s trip to Aston Villa.
The Arsenal head coach received a third yellow card of the season during the Gunners’ 4-3 win at Luton, so will not be in the dugout at Villa Park, and may face a further touchline ban following a charge for his post-match comments after the controversial loss at Newcastle.
“I don’t know how to stop it,” the Arsenal head coach said. “It was a really emotional moment with everybody bouncing around and you lose sense of where you are and the space you have to be in.
“It was unfortunate as now I cannot be next to my team on the touchline but it is a decision that they make looking strictly at the rules. After that I straight away sat on my seat and stayed there for 30 seconds but that was after the emotion. In the moment I think it is very difficult to demand that.”
Asked if he would want to stop showing emotion, Arteta said: “If I was given the opportunity, no. I would like to be with my players because we work closely every single day to achieve what we want, which is to win the games and when you get those moments in sport you should be able to do that.
“I understand as well that there are certain boundaries and you have to respect that you are at an away ground but if I was given the chance I would be there jumping.”
Arteta did suggest that not all managers have been punished for similar reactions, adding: “Maybe we have to extend [the technical area]. We just need a very strong rope, or we don’t move. But it means we don’t move – all of us. The ‘we’ is different in the context and it is important to look at the ‘we’ in that context.”
Arteta said Unai Emery was a manager he looked up to as he started out on his own coaching career, saying: “He’s the most experienced and the most successful one, by quite a long distance with everything he’s achieved in the game and everything he’s won. He’s someone I admire. I followed him since he was in Almeria and for every team he has always been remarkable. He always improves the players, the team and the club.
“He’s Basque like I am and he is a manager that I really admire for what he has done in the game. He has done it in various countries at different levels and always been successful. I am really happy for him.” (PA Media)
Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands submit joint bid to host Women’s World Cup 2027
Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands have submitted a joint bid to world soccer governing body Fifa to host the Women’s World Cup in 2027, the countries’ football associations said on Friday.
The three countries are competing with Brazil to host after the South American country submitted their bid last month, while the US and Mexico also expressed interest.
Member associations had until Friday to submit their bids to Fifa. South Africa had also submitted a bid but withdrew last month, saying they felt it was better to present a “well-prepared bid” for 2031.
“Extensive and detailed consultations between the three federations along with key stakeholders including central governments dates back to 2021,” the Dutch football federation (KNVB) said in a statement.
“This has led to alignment around the belief that our three countries are well placed to stage a FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 of unparalleled quality and impact.”
Fifa will next organise inspection visits to bidding countries in February before the hosts are appointed in May by the Fifa Congress.
The 2023 tournament was co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, with Spain beating England in the final. (Reuters)
I’m told by my sources that Jürgen Klopp will be speaking fairly soon. Liverpool can go top of the table if they beat Palace in sunny south Norwood tomorrow (kick-off 12.30pm).
David Moyes has been speaking this morning and reflecting on last night’s win against Spurs: “A huge win for us in the Premier League,” he said. “Tottenham are one of the top teams and have been playing exceptionally well .. so for us to get a result was exceptional.”
What did he say at half time? “Possession doesn’t win you the games, although it can help … we found another way of getting a result. We hadn’t been particularly good in the first half, we sat off too much … second-half we improved greatly and gave ourselves a few chances.
On Jarrod Bowen: “Jarrod can play centre forward as well … It’s so difficult to find and buy centre-forwards who you can bring in and get success … he’s scored a lot of goals from wide areas but I think he can play centre-forward and he’s proving that he can do it … he could have a really good number of goals this year.”
Let’s start with two match reports from last night.
Everton scored three late goals to overpower Newcastle, nicely following up last weekend’s 1-0 win against Forest. And they’re out of the drop zone:
Spurs, meanwhile, threw away a lead for a record fifth straight match and fell to a 2-0 defeat by West Ham. “The excuses are starting to run thing,” writes Ben Bloom:
Preamble
Today’s weekend countdown will include football, football, football and an extra helping of football. Football has it all going on this weekend, with Crystal Palace v Liverpool kicking off the top-flight action tomorrow lunchtime before the leaders Arsenal travel to high-flying Aston Villa in the evening. There are eight other Premier League ties across the weekend and of course there’s Women’s Super League, Championship, EFL and Scottish action too. We’ll also bring you news from the continental European leagues, with Juventus v Napoli launching this weekend’s Serie A programme in style this evening.
There will probably be a smattering of football politics/football finances news to contend with too, not to mention the funny and fascinating email you are about to send me previewing the weekend.
In summary then: football.
