Liverpool

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Everton have won just one of their past 24 Premier League games against Tottenham, beating them 1-0 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in September 2020.

There are five Premier League fixtures on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you all the action.

• Newcastle v Bournemouth (12:30)

• Brentford v Liverpool - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Leicester v Fulham

• West Ham v Crystal Palace

• Arsenal v Aston Villa (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

All kick-off times 15:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

I thought Liverpool were really unlucky not to beat Nottingham Forest on Tuesday. They played well had enough chances to win, but Forest keeper Matz Sels made some excellent saves.

Now, with Arsenal winning on Wednesday, this game has become massive for Liverpool. If they don't win it, people are going to really question them.

Arne Slot's side have drawn their past two league games, and lost to Tottenham in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final.

So, since the turn of they year they have only won one game in four - the home FA Cup tie against Accrington.

It is something of a mini-blip for them, and they need to get back on track. But they are still where they want to be - four points clear at the top of the Premier League and with a game in hand on the teams below them.

This is going to be another tough game for the leaders, though.

People might see Brentford's late comeback against Manchester City as justification for them resting players in their FA Cup home defeat by Plymouth.

I disagree with that, but the Bees have shown this season that they never lie down and I can see them scoring and keeping this close.

Unlike City, though, I believe Liverpool will find a way of getting over the line.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Everton boss David Moyes has been speaking to the media about what the club would like, and can do, in the January transfer window.

Moyes only rejoined the club a week ago following the departure of Sean Dyche and has been trying to learn about his current squad, while also attempting to work out business they might need to do before deadline day.

Mandeep Sanghera
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, PA Media

Liverpool have seen their Premier League lead reduced to four points by Arsenal and, while Reds boss Arne Slot wasn't showing any signs of being ruffled when he spoke to the media on Friday, he did highlight an aspect of his side's play he would like to see improved in the second half of the season.

Having been held to draws by Newcastle United, Fulham, Manchester United and Nottingham Forest in four of their past seven league games, Slot wants his players to take their chances late on in tight encounters.

"One of the things I would like us to do better in the second half of the season than the first half, although it wasn't necessary that many times, is to make a late goal winner," said the Dutchman before his side's game at Brentford on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

"Hopefully we don't come to these situations a lot but we definitely, if we are coming in those situations, have one, two or three times a moment where we do score in the last minute of the game when we deserve it."

Liverpool have a game in hand over Arsenal and play before the Gunners kick-off against Aston Villa at 17:30 on Saturday.

However, Slot said he was staying focused on his job at Liverpool rather than looking at his rivals or the league table.

"I didn't even know they [Arsenal] were playing later than us. I only look at the opponent we have to face and I know that is a tough one," he added.

"I don't think we are thinking about the league table as much as the media are. We are trying to get the best out of the players and the players are trying to get the best out of themselves every single day.

"These players know how long the season still is and how many games they need to be in the best possible form to win something at the end of the season, which is not something that happens every season.

"We are not so focused on the league table as other people are."

Liverpool's second-half endeavour in their draw at Nottingham Forest saw them end the game with a central midfielder at centre-back, full-backs playing as wingers and a healthy 23 shots on a night where Arne Slot showed an abundance of creativity and adventure.

The Reds' attacking output has been stellar - with 48 goals a league high by a distance. The question is, as they near a junction in their season where finding a fraction more in the locker could draw them away from a chasing pack, where might such small margins be hiding?

Almost every attacking player is exceeding their xG - with Mohamed Salah frontrunning on 18 goals from an expected 16.94. Luis Diaz - eight goals from an xG of 5.28 - and Cody Gakpo - six from an xG of 3.88 - are outperforming by a margin.

The only player not hitting their xG is Dominik Szoboszlai, with two goals from an expected 4.31. Is this small slither of data an area where Slot's side can find crucial improvement?

In the Hungarian's defence, he has created 28 chances in the Premier League this season, figures only bettered by Salah (42) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (37). He can question the finishing of others as to why only two of those chances have turned into assists.

Ultimately, extracting more from Szoboszlai seems an obvious pathway to improvement - both in his own finishing and in how others process what he tees up.

In pondering what or who can improve, the Reds must make sure so many players continue to outperform as the graph above displays.

And ultimately, if anyone can make a leap to get anywhere near the 31 combined goals and assists Salah has delivered, the Reds will be almost impossible to stop.

Diaz - on a humble 10 by comparison - sits second in the ranking. Salah has trebled the critical output of his nearest counterpart. If anyone finds a burst of form to narrow the gap to him, a 20th league title would be all but guaranteed.

Is Darwin Nunez low on confidence?

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot does not believe so and says his current form is similar to what any striker goes through in their career.

He is, however, really pleased with Luis Diaz who is proving he can score when starting on the left-hand-side or centrally for the Reds.

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool have conceded the first goal in five of their past seven Premier League games, having done so in just three of their first 13 this season.

However, they have not lost any of these matches, recovering to win once and draw four.

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Everton boss David Moyes has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Tottenham (kick-off 14:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• James Garner is back on the pitch training but Dwight McNeil and Tim Iroegbunam are further back in their recovery, while Seamus Coleman picked up "a slight injury" in training.

• On Armando Broja potentially returning to parent club Chelsea: "His injury is now going to take a lot longer than initially thought. It is one of the options that might be available but people around the club are talking about it with Chelsea."

• He said he has "enjoyed" his busy start to the job but he was "disappointed" to not get something out of the Aston Villa game.

• On the performance: "A goal might have made us feel slightly different. We had a few chances but didn't finish them. We had more of the ball than we've had for a while but we need to make that special moment count."

• He said the club are "looking really closely" at the transfer market and he is "trying to spend a few hours in the recruitment room."

• He appeared to rule out an imminent deal for Lyon winger Ernest Nuamah, confirming only that "he is a player who I know we have been looking at."

• Moyes is hopeful a set-piece coach will be finalised soon, after "a lot of very good people" registered their interest including Charlie Adam.

• On what his side need to show to ignite their fight against relegation: "Team spirit, togetherness, individuals to stand up and be counted and to not hide. Quite simply it is about continuing to show desire. That's the minimum you hope you're going to get out of them."

• He accepted "winning is a problem" so that is his first priority and after that "there will be plenty of time" to implement his "ways".

• On how it feels to take over as manager midway through a season: "Trying to take over a job is never easy. This one feels easier because I've been here before but ultimately I've come into a situation that has been difficult and I've got to try and turn it around."

• He said he has been "hugely impressed" with 17-year-old midfielder Harrison Armstrong: "We've only had a couple of days training but I think he's got a bit of personality as well."

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

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Arne Slot is thrilled Liverpool are "still able to compete" as Premier League rivals Manchester City flex their financial muscles over star striker Erling Haaland.

With the Norwegian striker signing a new nine-and-a-half year contract, it shows a huge contrast as to what is happening on Merseyside with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil Van Dijk and Mo Salah all on course to be free agents in the summer.

The weekly wage cost of Liverpool's three stars is £750,000, whereas it is reported Haaland's new deal will be two thirds of that alone. And, with City reportedly expected to splurge over £150m in this transfer window and Liverpool unlikely to make a significant deal, it begs the question of whether their own position in English football's pecking order is at risk.

This was asked to Slot in Friday's news conference before the Reds' weekend game at Brentford, and he replied: "Not particularly about the investment but we know how good we have to be every single day to compete in this league.

"It is not only the club you are referring to, Chelsea also spend £1.2bn, (Manchester) United spend an incredible amount.

"Every team spends a lot of money over here, that's why it's such an interesting league to be part of.

"Some seasons this club spends a bit more, other seasons other clubs spend a bit more. That's what makes this league so intense and so difficult to win.

"But that's also the reason why we want to be here. You want to compete against the best, with the best, and we are very happy with the team we have at the moment and we are still able to compete with all the teams that are spending incredible amounts of money."

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot confirmed Diogo Jota "felt a little niggle" in Tuesday's game against Nottingham Forest and is now a doubt for Saturday's trip to Brentford.

However, the forward's latest injury is unlikely to hinder a potential loan move for academy star Jayden Danns, who has done "really well" when called upon. Slot still feels he has an adequate number of players available.

Jordan Chamberlain
Fan writer

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Being a Liverpool fan, fighting against Manchester City has often felt like we are competing on an un-level playing field.

They spent brilliantly to dominate the Premier League, but could buy with impunity. A £50m full-back does not work out? No problem, they just get another.

Liverpool would not get away with spending huge money on Kalvin Philipps and Mathueus Nunes, for example. If we stumped up £100m on this pair, that would be it - the midfield budget gone.

So Erling Haaland's new contract grates for a few reasons.

Firstly, Liverpool's own superstars have not had their deals renewed. FSG are haggling over the money and length of terms and we might lose Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk. Three of the best players on the planet. City though, despite being in a rut, extend Haaland for a decade.

Secondly, City have endured their first poor run in a very long time and immediately, Pep Guardiola is given money to fix it. Claudio Echeverri has come in, with Omar Marmoush and Abdukodir Khusanov arriving shortly in what could be a £100m+plus January spend. Liverpool are crying out for defensive reinforcements but the right opportunity just does not arise.

Thirdly, Haaland's renewal suggests City are extremely confident their punishment for the 115 charges will be minimal. After all, why would the Norwegian commit his whole career to a club facing potential relegation?

Liverpool need a win against Brentford, badly.

And a contract or transfer announcement, however unlikely, would be nice, too.

Find more from Jordan Chamberlain at Empire of the Kop, external

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Brentford (kick-off 15:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Diogo Jota "is going to struggle" after feeling "a niggle" in the draw to Nottingham Forest. He did not train on Thursday.

• Meanwhile, Luis Diaz, who also did not train yesterday, is expected to be fine having only missed the session with a sore throat.

• Slot said he expect a "tough game" against Brentford, acknowledging there "has been a lot to prepare" his players for after analysing their style and "many strengths".

• On what he expects from the Bees: "They have a high press going man to man and can defend in a low block. They can score goals in all sort of ways, are a threat from set-pieces and can score in the first seconds."

• He said his team "don't think about the league table every single day" like the media do and his players "know how long the season is and how they have to be in their best form to win a trophy."

• On an upcoming busy schedule: "It has been a double programme week since the Champions League started. It is what makes the Premier League the hardest league in the world to compete in. But we have tried to prepare them in pre-season for this. They are completely fit and ready."

• He disagreed that Darwin Nunez is low on confidence and said "it is the life of a striker that sometimes you score and sometimes you don't." Slot added: "We have so many goals in our team and Darwin will score like he has in the past for this club. I don't see him struggling that much."

• On Diaz playing more centrally given Cody Gakpo's form on the left-hand-side: "He has done really well as a nine. I am happy with how he does as a left-winger or a nine. He has scored many goals in either [position]."

• He said Liverpool's lack of clean sheets in recent games is "not a concern but it's also not what we want" as they compete for the title.

• Striker Jayden Danns could still move away from Anfield on loan in this transfer window despite Jota's new injury: "We do already have three options and we don't expect Jota to be out for a long period of time. Jayden did really well when he came in but it's up to us as the club to make the decision for him now and for the club in the long term."

• On whether he is concerned about the lack of goals from substitutes: "No, because there are not many times where they've needed to affect the game with a goal. One of the things I would like us to do better is to have a late winner. There were a few games where we created chance after chance to score a winner - and we haven't."

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

Listen to live commentary of Brentford v Liverpool on BBC Radio 5 Live from 15:00 GMT

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Mohamed Salah's future is back in the spotlight with the Liverpool forward apparently being targeted by the Saudi Pro League again.

To add to the speculation, Turki Alashikh, who is a huge figure in Saudi Arabian sport and has helped make some of boxing's biggest fights, posted a mocked-up picture on social media of Salah in an Al-Hilal shirt.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has fielded plenty of questions about the future of Salah and he will probably be asked about him again when he chats to the media at 09:15 GMT, prior to his side's game at Brentford on Saturday.

If somehow you had not heard, Salah's contract, like that of team-mates Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk, runs out in the summer and the trio have been able to talk to international clubs since the start of January.

When it comes to on-pitch issues, Liverpool have seen their lead at the top of the Premier League reduced to four points by Arsenal, who have played a game more.

It follows the Reds having won three games and drawn four from their past seven league outings in a run has included just one clean sheet and given their rivals hope that they can be caught.

They were held to a 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest on Tuesday and we will also hear what Slot has to say about the situation.

The Reds will want to quickly get back to winning ways to reassert their authority, but that could be easier said than done.

The Bees came back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 against Manchester City at home on Tuesday and have one of the best home record's in the top flight this season.

One of the team selection decisions that Slot faces is over Diogo Jota. The Portugal international scored the equaliser at Forest 22 seconds after coming on and has a strong case to start.