Premier League manager news conferences as the deadline looms
1.
Konate back and available
Published at 09:14 GMT
Liverpool v Newcastle (Sat, 20:00 GMT)
Liverpool manager Arne Slot on the return of Ibrahima Konate, who has been out since the death of his father: "Ibou trained with us today and will be in the squad tomorrow."
2.
Frimong out for 'a few weeks'
Published at 09:11 GMT
Liverpool v Newcastle (Sat, 20:00 GMT)
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has arrived and first up, he is asked for an update on Jeremie Frimpong: "He will definitely not be in the squad tomorrow. He is out for a few weeks but not as bad as we thought, so something positive from something not so positive."
3.
Liverpool's upcoming fixtures
Published at 09:08 GMT
There is undoubtedly a section of Liverpool supporters that feel frustrated at their team under Arne Slot this season.
It has been a weak defence of their Premier League title and even when results have been there - worryingly - the performances a lot of the time have not.
However, football fans can always be won back. All it takes is a consistent run of positive results.
A look at the next group of fixtures for the Reds, though, and that could well prove to be a tough ask.
Liverpool's next seven:
- Newcastle (h)
- Man City (h)
- Sunderland (a)
- Brighton (h) - FA Cup
- Nottingham Forest (a)
- West Ham (h)
- Wolves (a)
4.
Get Involved
Published at 09:02 GMT
Click 'Get Involved' to have your say
Liverpool needed a CB in the summer & that need has increased as the season's gone on, yet there's no indication of them signing anyone. If we did, we could alleviate the pressure on the squad & actually win something.
Jay, Bristol
Seriously why are Liverpool either leaving it ridiculously late to sort out a defence or actually not even going to bother, we might get relegated in our current form. Can't survive like this rest of the season.
Kennedy, Oxfordshire
Liverpool are aiming for top 4 without having a back 4. I definitely expect them to do it but I had thought FSG would find a CB signing somewhere in their pockets. It'd be criminal if their attacking talent wasn't on show in the CL next season, best of luck.
Harry
5.
'I do not care, I play for Liverpool' - Ekitike
Published at 08:57 GMT
Liverpool v Newcastle (Sat, 20:00 GMT)
For all of Liverpool's ups and downs in 2025-26, there has been one constant - the form of Hugo Ekitike.
The striker has been a revelation for the Reds since joining in the summer from Eintracht Frankfurt and netted his 12th goal of the season in the 6-0 victory against Qarabag.
His pathway could have looked a lot different, though. Before he made the move to Liverpool, the Frenchman very nearly joined Saturday's opponents Newcastle.
"You're in trouble," Ekitike told BBC Radio Merseyside, when asked how close he was to joining the Magpies.
"No, obviously, we were close [to a move] but I made my choice. I knew where I wanted to come and I'm where I wanted to come and that's all I can give to you."
When asked if Newcastle fans might give him a bit of stick on Saturday at Anfield he replied: "I don't care, I play for Liverpool and I have my fans here.
"We've played there already [at St James' Park] and we won so hopefully we'll have a great week of working and I don't care about this - I just want to play and that's the most important thing."
6.
Get Involved
Published at 08:54 GMT
Click 'Get Involved' to have your say
I cannot believe Liverpool are not looking to sign at least 2 defenders in this transfer window. They are desperately short of cover at both right back and centre back.
Keith, Leeds
7.
Get Involved
Published at 08:51 GMT
Click 'Get Involved' to have your say
@Rob (08:30). Imagine being a Spurs fan - our decision to get transfers apparently rested on our Champions League progress! Well, we’ve still got no concrete leads and our squad is a mess. Fingers crossed some real quality appears shortly for us.
Nicholas, Harrogate
8.
Frimpong set for another spell on the sidelines
Published at 08:46 GMT
Liverpool v Newcastle (Sat, 20:00 GMT)
While Wednesday night was a good one for the most part for Liverpool, it was marred by the injury picked up inside the opening five minutes by Jeremie Frimpong.
The right-back, who has already had two spells on the sidelines this season due to hamstring problems, once again pulled up with a non-contract injury in the 6-0 victory.
Liverpool are already without Conor Bradley who was ruled out for the remainder of the season due to the knee injury he picked up in the 0-0 draw against Arsenal and are now down to zero fit senior right-backs.
Speaking in his post-match news conference on Wednesday, Arne Slot said he expects Frimpong to be "out for a period of time."
The Liverpool boss will undoubtedly be asked for a more accurate timeframe when he sits down in his news conference this morning.
If it's a long spell out for the Netherlands international, you would think the Reds will simply have to dip into the transfer market this month to remain competitive on all fronts.
9.
'Liverpool can now focus on getting back into the top four'
Published at 08:41 GMT
Liverpool v Newcastle (Sat, 20:00 GMT)
Ian Kennedy (http://www.bbc.co.uk/radiomerseyside)
Reporter, BBC Radio Merseyside Sport
One of the big positives for Liverpool from Wednesday's win over Qarabag was not so much the six goals they scored, it was the fact they can now put the Champions League to bed until the last-16 ties in March.
Yes, there is the FA Cup to think about, but the main focus will be on getting their league form right and getting back into that top four.
After the defeat at Bournemouth, the Reds are playing catch up again - now behind both Manchester United and Chelsea, and a full 10 points behind third-placed Aston Villa. Not playing European games for a while will be a relief of sorts.
But it is another huge game on Saturday night at home to Newcastle.
Arne Slot spoke about getting it right at both ends of the pitch to have a successful end to the season. Games against Newcastle usually provide plenty of goals, but the concern will be about keeping it tight at the back, especially with Jeremie Frimpong picking up an injury two minutes into Wednesday's victory and Joe Gomez remaining doubtful for the weekend.
Whether Liverpool bring anyone in defensively before the transfer window closes remains to be seen.
10.
Liverpool's inconsistent form
Published at 08:36 GMT
Liverpool v Newcastle (Sat, 20:00 GMT)
Life is like an Arne Slot Liverpool team, you just never know what you're going to get.
Sometimes maybe good, sometimes maybe... you know the rest.
But it is hard to predict what Reds team are going to show up. One week they are struggling to create chances and the next they are putting six in for fun.
The recent form just highlights how all over the place the side have been.
Last seven results (all competitions):
- Liverpool 6-0 Qarabag
- Bournemouth 3-2 Liverpool
- Marseille 0-3 Liverpool
- Liverpool 1-1 Burnley
- Liverpool 4-1 Barnsley
- Arsenal 0-0 Liverpool
- Fulham 2-2 Liverpool
11.
Get Involved
Published at 08:30 GMT
Click 'Get Involved' to have your say
The transfer window is a joke. They have a month to get the deals done, but leave it til the last few hours.
Rob
12.
Palace move for £50m Strand Larsen in doubt
Published at 08:24 GMT
Sami Mokbel
BBC Sport Senior football correspondent
Image source, Getty Images
Crystal Palace's £50m move for Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen is in the balance after the Eagles communicated their intention to walk away from the deal.
The two Premier League clubs had agreed a deal in principle for 25-year-old Strand Larsen to move to Selhurst Park.
That was subject to Palace tabling a written formal offer for the Norway forward, which Wolves would have accepted.
However, that offer, which was expected to arrive on Thursday, is yet to be received - and sources indicate Wolves have been informed Palace no longer want to proceed with the deal.
It remains to be seen whether the development is a negotiating tactic with a view to agreeing a lower fee.
If the Strand Larsen move falls through, it could have an impact on Jean-Philippe Mateta's anticipated exit from Selhurst Park before Monday's transfer deadline.
13.
Post
Published at 08:22 GMT
Ben Ramsdale
BBC Sport
First on the agenda this morning then is Liverpool boss Arne Slot's news conference.
He's due to speak to the media around 09:00 and we'll bring you that live and in full.
Before we preview that though, an update on one of yesterday's most talked about transfer stories...
14.
Champions League play-off draw to come
Published at 08:14 GMT
Champions League
And, as we've mentioned, on top of all of those news conferences we'll be bringing you the Champions League play-off draw later this morning.
Proceedings start in Switzerland at 11:00 GMT and will involve the teams that finished between ninth and 24th in the table.
You won't miss a beat on this page but we'll bring you more on that the closer we get towards the time!
15.
Friday's news conferences
Published at 08:08 GMT
All times in GMT...
Premier League
Busy one today with news conferences and a Champions League draw to cram in throughout the day.
We'll bring you all the best lines from all 14 news conferences when we get them, though.
Friday's news conferences:
- Arne Slot (09:00)
- Andoni Iraola (09:00)
- Fabian Hurzeler (09:00)
- Mikel Arteta (09:30)
- Eddie Howe (09:30)
- David Moyes (10:30)
- Pep Guardiola (12:30)
- Rob Edwards (13:00)
- Michael Carrick (13:30)
- Liam Rosenior (13:30)
- Oliver Glasner (13:30)
- Marco Silva (13:30)
- Thomas Frank (13:30)
- Regis le Bris (13:30)
16.
Good morning
Published at 08:00 GMT
It's Friday!
You know what that means - it's Premier League news conference day.
Not only that, though, we've got a real busy one in store today because later this morning we'll be bringing you the draw for the Champions League play-offs.
Newcastle United are among those that will find out their opponents for the play-off stage of this year's Champions League and that will be live for your viewing pleasure on this page from around 11:00 GMT.
Has the potential to be an absolute belter so get yourself settled and we'll kick this one off.
