Liverpool

Mandeep Sanghera
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, PA Media

It has been quite the start for Arne Slot as Liverpool manager, with 11 wins from his first 12 games.

The past week has also seen his side clear two hurdles in a testing run of seven games in 21 days, beating Chelsea at home in the Premier League and RB Leipzig in Germany in the Champions League.

The Reds face another tough test in that run with the trip to Arsenal on Sunday and a big incentive for Slot's side is that they will move seven points clear of the Gunners if they win.

The absences of Martin Odegaard and William Saliba for Arsenal, with Bukayo Saka also a doubt, might help Liverpool's cause and we will hear what Slot's thoughts are on a huge game when he chats to the media at 10:30 BST.

The Dutchman took Mohamed Salah off after 63 minutes at Leipzig as he had one eye on the game on Sunday and he is trying to utilise his squad to keep them as fresh and in form as possible.

However, he does have his own injury issues. Goalkeeper Alisson Becker and attacking midfielder Harvey Elliott are out, while we will see if Slot has anything to say about the fitness of forward Diogo Jota, winger Federico Chiesa and right-back Conor Bradley, who missed the trip to Germany.

Captain Virgil van Dijk has said he is in talks about extending his contract with the club, so we will also find out if Slot has anything to say on that.

Come back to this page later for all the key lines from Slot's news conference

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

Besiktas are keen on the possibility of taking Everton's Dominic Calvert-Lewin on loan, with Manchester United, Newcastle United and Arsenal also interested in the striker. (Fotomac in Turkish), external

Want more transfer news? Read Friday's full gossip column

Liverpool's Federico Chiesa is being linked with a loan move away from the club, as the winger looks to regain form, with AC Milan, Roma and Inter Milan all potential options. (Calciomercato.it - in Italian), external

Liverpool and Arsenal are still keen on a potential transfer move for 19-year-old Real Madrid midfielder Arda Guler, as the Turkey international continues to struggle for playing time this season. (Caught Offside), external

The Reds are set to step up their interest in 24-year-old Crystal Palace and England defender Marc Guehi, amid uncertainty surrounding the future of captain Virgil van Dijk. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer news? Read Friday's full gossip column

Everton boss Sean Dyche has been discussing the form of midfielder Dwight McNeil after his impressive start to the season and how he has found the right role for the former Burnley man.

Arsenal will be looking to make amends for their Premier League defeat by Bournemouth, while Liverpool face another tough test against a potential title rival when they go to Emirates Stadium on Sunday, having beaten Chelsea last weekend.

As the two teams prepare to go head to head on the pitch, we have asked our fan contributors for each club to go head to head off it.

Each fan was asked where the showdown might be won and lost.

Here is what Harry Symeou from Chronicles of a Gooner, external thought...

And this is what Josh Sexton from The Anfield Wrap, external had to say...

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Everton boss Sean Dyche has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Fulham (kick-off 17:30 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Jarrad Branthwaite is "certainly" available for Saturday's game, with Dyche confirming it was his decision to rule the centre-back out last weekend to give him an extra week of training. Jesper Lindstrom has also recovered from illness.

• He said they are waiting for an update from the specialists on James Garner's back injury and Youssef Chermiti and Tim Iroegbunam will remain out for a number of weeks.

• Summer signing Armando Broja is "on the edge of coming back to training" and Dele Alli "is just getting back on the grass again after another minor injury".

• On their recent performances: "We’ve found ourselves in a better position on the pitch and with injuries. That sharpness has helped and we’ve found a way to get results. We are showing we are a capable outfit and we can win games in the Premier League. There’s certainly a good feeling around the group at the minute."

• He said opponents Fulham "have shown they are more than capable" at competing in the top-flight, so "we have to make sure we impact the game to make them have a flat day".

• On the competition in defence: "We have four very good centre-backs all fighting for the shirt. It will all work out for itself."

• He said Michael Keane and Ashley Young's "professionalism is outstanding" and they are "everything you want" in footballers.

• More from Dyche on Young: "He could have easily walked away [in the summer] but he said he still has the edge and he wants to play so I said OK. He has a great old school thing in the sense that he just gets out there and does it. I wish them days were back more often."

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

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts after Wednesday's Champions League game between RB Leipzig and Liverpool.

Here are some of your comments:

Michael: We were immensely lucky yet again. You need that sometimes, I know, but our underlying numbers aren't as good as our results suggest. I'm concerned that this good fortune will slip when it matters. We won't have very marginal offsides going our way forever. I see people being very cynical about Arsenal at the moment, because of their injuries, but I feel they will surprise us.

Guy: Controlled, effective and balanced. Slot and his team have clearly been watching this Liverpool team for a while and have realised what is needed. The heavy metal is out and the orchestras are starting to play. The balance between defence, midfield and attack is frighteningly good, considering the chase for Martín Zubimendi. Gravenberch is now the conductor.

Eug: A good game. Liverpool dominated the game and I'm glad Nunez scored. I'm surprised Leipzig didn't play better. I thought Kelleher made some good saves, so well done him.

Geoff: Another generally good performance where we look composed and lethal in attack but we need to, and should have, scored more goals. However, I have no real complaints when we win and gain maximum points, as we have done. Let's see how we handle this testing period ahead. Well done Reds!

Peter: It's hard to believe where we are - we haven't played anywhere near our full potential in nearly every game and yet we are still winning. I'm looking forward to when we start to put it together because we will be formidable and mightily impressive.

Liverpool's strong start under head coach Arne Slot continued with a 1-0 victory away at RB Leipzig in the Champions League.

The Dutch manager felt his side "dominated" and attention now turns to Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Premier League defender Nedum Onuoha says Liverpool "are in a groove" and are getting the results they need while still working to reach their full potential.

A 1-0 Champions League victory against RB Leipzig on Wednesday was their 11th win in 12 matches since Arne Slot took charge.

"They made Leipzig look so poor so you have to give credit to Liverpool for that," said Onuoha on the BBC Radio 5 Live Football Daily podcast. "They are in a groove and to know that they can play better, while still winning the majority of their games, is a nice position to be in.

"It isn't meant to go as smoothly as this when someone so significant as Jurgen Klopp leaves but it feels like Slot has been there for years himself. It is impressive."

Ex-winger Pat Nevin added: "They controlled the game and did enough but it is difficult to tell at the moment which gear they are in because in years gone by a Liverpool side of this quality would have scored three or four. But it is still a win."

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Real Madrid are planning to offer 26-year-old Liverpool and England right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold a contract in the range of £14m-15m per year until the 2029-30 season. (Caught Offside), external

Want more transfer news? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Image source, Getty Images

Former Everton and Chelsea winger Pat Nevin, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live: "Liverpool were kind of managing this game, but that might be a really good thing.

"If you are having this sort of run and nowhere near peaking yet, that's real good news.

"Arne Slot's aware of it. There's more to come from this team, but you wouldn't think so from the results.

"Liverpool picked up when they needed to and looked very, very good. They are not quite there yet, but then you look at the Premier League and Champions League tables and you can't say anything negative.

"Arne Slot says judge us after the end of November, because he thinks they will be playing better then. Maybe the rest of the Premier League will have to be worried because they are almost unbeatable.

"Liverpool fans have seen their team play better than this, but they haven't seen a better run than this."

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool boss Arne Slot, speaking to TNT Sports: "First of all, we're really happy for the win.

"We played a difficult away game against a group one team in Leipzig. We controlled the game in large parts apart from the last few minutes. We needed Virgil [van Dijk] and Ibou [Konate] and our goalkeeper. If we left this place with a draw then I would've felt we lost something."

On Kelleher: "Very fortunate. It's also a normal thing at a club like ours that you have very good players in every position. Alisson was out last season and out this season again.

"It's not only him. We have players who are not always in the starting line-up who did it again today."

On Darwin Nunez: "I asked for a goal. He gave us one but in the lead-up to the goal, [Cody] Gakpo was important and Mo [Salah] with an assist. It was a team goal. It's pleasing to see that Darwin did a really good job today."

On Arsenal game: "We have to play that game and we know how tough Arsenal are, especially in their own stadium. Arteta has done an amazing job in the last few years and we have to be on top of our game to get a result."