Liverpool

Mandeep Sanghera
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Arne Slot will take the Premier League leaders side to bottom club Southampton on Sunday as the Reds look to continue their impressive start to the season.

It might seem like a game Liverpool should win but, having been impressed by the Saints while analysing them, Slot will not be underestimating his opponents.

Speaking in his pre-match news conference, Slot described Southampton's style of play as "a joy to watch" and knows it will be a "difficult" game before his side face Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday and then Manchester City next Sunday.

Interestingly, when it came to his own style of play, the Reds boss spoke about how it had developed.

"I started off at the under-14s where we lost in the first half of the season in almost every game," said Slot. "We worked our way up during that season. We just tried to play the same style as we try to do now at Liverpool."

Meanwhile, Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk, who left international duty with the Netherlands early, will be fit for the game at his former club and attacking midfielder Harvey Elliott is back in training after a fractured foot.

However, the trip to Southampton is too soon for keeper Alisson, right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, forward Diogo Jota and winger Federico Chiesa as they continue their recoveries.

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Liverpool fan and podcaster Gareth Roberts says he does not "fear anyone" in the race for the Premier League title.

After an impressive start under new boss Arne Slot, the Reds sit as the early Premier League frontrunners - five points ahead of defending champions Manchester City.

In his 17 games in charge, Slot has won 15, with just a draw against Arsenal and defeat by Nottingham Forest blotting the copybook.

The Dutchman has made life post-Jurgen Klopp look relatively simple and not what many Liverpool fans would have anticipated before the season got under way.

"If you had asked me before a ball had been kicked what I expected, I probably would have said third or fourth place, a run in the cups and a decent run in the Champions League," Roberts told BBC Radio Merseyside.

"I didn't really think we would be putting in a league title challenge, but we are top of the pile after 11, we have won nine of those 11, we are top of the Champions League table as well, so why not?

"I'm looking around at the problems that Manchester City have got, the problems that Arsenal have got, where we are in the league and I am thinking: 'Well, why not?'"

"Up until Pep Guardiola renewed his contract the other day, we were title favourites. Some of the bookmakers have changed their minds a little bit, and I get why, but I don't really fear anyone right now.

"I'm looking at how we are playing and how other teams are playing I just think: 'Why can't we win the league?'"

Listen to the full discussion on BBC Sounds

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It is that time of the season where domestic and European games come thick and fast, but who is best equipped to deal with those demands?

"Manchester City are probably in the worst position but it depends who they can get back fit," said former Premier League goalkeeper David James on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

"They have already had academy players starting Premier League and Champions League games in the past month.

"City are stretched and will be on the edge if they are bringing in freshly recovered players back in for so many games.

"Liverpool can afford to rest players because of their position in the Champions League and Mikel Arteta seems to be picking the same fit players to be playing all the games so far this season.

"He does start to rotate further into the competitions, and that works for them for now, but that is also when they will start to pick up injuries later on in the season.

"So Liverpool are probably in the best position as things stand."

Listen to the full discussion on BBC Sounds

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Everton fan Mikey Connor spoke to BBC Radio Merseyide about Iliman Ndiaye's form since joining the Toffees in the summer: "He's been a breath of fresh air. We haven't had a lot creativity-wise. We've relied a lot on [Dwight] McNeil and [Jack] Harrison. When [Ndiaye] gets the ball, he just runs.

"There has been a lot of debate about whether he should play more in the centre as a creative player. I have read a lot about there being no statistics to suggest he should play in the 10. But if you look at the team, we've got enough to cover the left side. We need more in the middle to support whoever is up front.

"If [Dyche] is giving McNeil the licence [to play the 'free role'], then you should also give it to Ndiaye. On balance, Ndiaye is probably a more creative player.

"Sean Dyche is Sean Dyche. He is very old school and is stuck in his ways. The Premier League is the best league in the world and unless you're going to adapt to the football, that is why we're towards the bottom of the table.

"I'm crying out for change, to see a bit of flair - but we're not getting it at the minute."

Listen to the full interview here

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Brentford manager Thomas Frank believes there will be an element of teams "cancelling each other out" when the Bees travel to face Everton on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

"I expect a very difficult but also even game," he said before the return of the Premier League after the international break. "It might be one top action that will decide the game.

"Offensively, we need to be good on the ball. We need to go out there and be brave, and want to turn forward and drive forward. A big thing is to be brave."

Frank has also praised Everton counterpart Sean Dyche, revealing that he is a "big admirer" of his work with both the Toffees and previously at Burnley.

"They are extremely solid," said the Brentford boss.

"I know they had a tough start where they lost their first four games; one defeat in their past seven says everything about them.

"Sean is a fantastic coach and manager. He always makes his team very difficult to play against. They are physical, intensive in pressing, they have pace on transitions, are very good on set-pieces, and they play behind you.

"What he brings is a fantastic foundation. I don't think he always gets enough credit for how dynamic they are and how good they are in the offensive third.

"What he did at Burnley was extremely impressive and was something I looked into; that journey and how we could bring some of those elements to Brentford.

"He's doing it again at Everton and it's potentially even more impressive. On paper, you could maybe say the squad is better but it's also a bigger challenge because there has been a lot of noise with points deductions and a change of owners."

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Southampton (kick-off 14:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Captain Virgil van Dijk is available despite returning early from international duty early. Harvey Elliott has returned to group training but Sunday's game comes too soon for Alisson, Diogo Jota, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Federico Chiesa.

• On those injuries: "All of them are expected to be back between now and in the next few weeks, but the last few days of recovery are always the most tricky."

• Slot "does not expect" Alisson or Jota to be recovered in time to play Real Madrid next Wednesday but Alexander-Arnold has a better chance.

• On being top of the table: "It would be a bit strange if I said I’m not enjoying the position we are in now but it has also been 11 games. We all know other teams are capable of having the same runs as us. We like where we are so if we want to stay there, we have to keep winning games."

• On Ibrahima Konate having the best spell of his career: "It’s always about the player and how much effort they put in to get fit and then stay fit. He bought into that. Every time we had a meeting with him, he was the one who I could see wanted to learn and wanted to listen to improve."

• He said he will speak to the players and various staff to determine which of the international players will be given game time but it is more difficult for those who have been in South America because of possible jet lag.

• On performances usually being affected after international breaks: "I am not so worried about the first game after the break. My worry is always the game plan of our opponents. It can have a bit of influence but the most influence is our game plan and our intensity compared to who we are playing."

• He said Southampton are "bottom of the league but they don’t play at all like this" and will "be another challenge" for his team.

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Full commentary of Southampton v Liverpool from 14:00 GMT on Sunday on BBC Radio 5 Live

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The Telegraph's Luke Edwards says Liverpool's next run of games will show "how good they truly are" as they contend with bottom of the league, Champions League, reigning champions, trip to the North East and the Merseyside derby.

"Liverpool's worst two performances of the season have come after international breaks, but I don't think many people would be backing Southampton on Sunday," Edwards said on the BBC Radio 5 Live Football Daily podcast. "Liverpool will still be too good for them, but what I am interested in is their next block of fixtures.

"After Southampton, they have Real Madrid, Manchester City, Newcastle and Everton. We will find out how good they truly are after these because that run is a proper test.

"They have been very consistent, and hugely impressive, but if they are to win the title they will have to emerge from this run with their lead in tact."

Former Reds goalkeeper David James added: "Weirdly, the Nottingham Forest defeat has done Arne Slot a favour because if they were still unbeaten that pressure to remain unbeaten would be huge.

"They have points in the bank so are in the right place at the moment if things should go slightly wobbly."

Listen to the Football Daily podcast on BBC Sounds

Mandeep Sanghera
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, PA Media

Arne Slot planned to spend the international break back with his family and helping his children with their studies.

When it comes to his day job as Liverpool boss, it is fair to say, the Dutchman has earned top marks so far with his side leading the way in the Premier League and Champions League.

The Reds get back to top-flight action on Sunday against Southampton and we’ll be hearing from Slot at 09:30 GMT on Friday in the build up to that game.

Can the Dutchman build on his impressive start and stay ahead of a Manchester City side that will be buoyed by Pep Guardiola extending his contract with them?

One thing Slot will not have missed during the international break are questions about the futures of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, who are all out of contract in the summer, and it is unlikely he will not be asked about the trio.

Alexander-Arnold withdrew from the England squad after going off with a hamstring injury in the first half against Aston Villa and we will find out what his chances are of making the trip to the south coast.

We will also find out where keeper Alisson Becker is up to in his recovery from a hamstring injury and hear if there is anything new to report on Federico Chiesa, Harvey Elliott and Diogo Jota, who have also been sidelined.

Everton and Nottingham Forest are keeping tabs on £17m-rated Brazil striker Yuri Alberto, 23, of Corinthians. (TBR), external

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Former Liverpool chief executive Peter Moore said the club's owners are working "feverishly" to get new contracts agreed with 32-year-old Egypt winger Mohamed Salah, England right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, 26, and Dutch centre-back Virgil Van Dijk, 33. (Sky Sports), external

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"No evidence to suggest that."

Sean Dyche is pleased with Iliman Ndiaye's performance down the left for Everton and rejects suggestions the Senegal forward should be moved to the number-10 position.