Premier League news conferences return before the season begins this weekend
Liverpool face Bournemouth in the Premier League's opening match on Friday
Brentford manager Keith Andrews says that forward Yoane Wissa is "not in that space" to be ready for his side's trip to Nottingham Forest on Sunday after he asked to leave the club
More from Andrews: 'I have a very good relationship with him, and that will persist. But we have to focus on the players who are ready'
'We have been too passive' - Marco Silva on Fulham's lack of transfer activity this summer
Iraola on club's transfer activity: 'We are not where we want to be'
Potter on the mood at West Ham: 'We've had a positive pre-season'
Slot on the club's pursuit of Parma defender Giovanni Leoni: 'The clubs have agreed a deal'
Team news: Liverpool latest on Joe Gomez | Diakite 'ready' for Bournemouth | Summerville out for West Ham | Parker: Burnley in a good place
Transfer news: Forest close to signing Kalimuendo
Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say
Wayne Rooney
Former Man Utd striker on BBC One
Image source, Getty ImagesTop five:
Most important signing? Jeremie Frimpong
Golden Boot? Mohamed Salah
Breakout star? Rio Ngumoha
Highest promoted team? Leeds United
Right then, the new season is upon and hope springs eternal for fans across the country.
It is also a time for predictions and we've spoken to Premier League legend and former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney to see how he sees the coming season going.
How much will Man Utd improve on last season's disappointment? Can Arsenal end a run of three straight second place finishes and win the title? Who will have the most success of the three promoted sides?
Let's find out what Mr Rooney thinks...
The Redmen TV's Dan Clubbe speaking to BBC Sport on Giovanni Leoni: "It's an exciting one. It has been stark some of the defensive issues we have had at pre-season. Getting more bodies at the back was essential.
"I've had a few conversations with people that watch more Serie A than I ever would, and they've been really impressed with what they've seen and how he manhandled Lukaku really stood out to people."
Image source, Getty ImagesLiverpool v Bournemouth (Fri, 20:00 BST)
Arne Slot had the honour of the very first news conference of the new campaign and if you want to hear reaction to what the Liverpool boss had to say, you've come to the right place.
Watch at the top of the page as Dan Clubbe from Redmen TV joins us to reflect on the major talking points following on from Slot's chat with the media.
Ahead of the first weekend of the season, we'll be hearing from another six Premier League managers this afternoon.
Here's what we've got coming up (I'd take the timings as a rough guide, Premier League managers are busy people expecting them all to show up bang on time might be asking to much)...
All times BST.
We've heard from the manager of the champions so now feels like the perfect time to remind you of how the first weekend of the 2025-26 Premier League season is shaping up...
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
All times BST.
Liverpool v Bournemouth (Fri, 20:00 BST)
That's it from Arne Slot. The first pre-match news conference of the Premier League season has been completed.
It's good to be back...
Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say
In the last 20 minutes Spurs didn't even try to play. We have seen it so often with teams playing PSG. Defend the box and try to hang on, just handing the initiative, and the match to PSG. Spurs got what they deserved, nothing.
Kevin Barber, Manchester
Liverpool v Bournemouth (Fri, 20:00 BST)
Arne Slot on Jeremie Frimpong replacing Trent Alexander-Arnold: "Trent brought the best out of Mo [Salah], but we think the same thing is going to happen with Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong in regards to Mo."
On Florian Wirtz: "Factually we can see him as a young player, but I don't see him as one. He won the cup and league in Germany, and his mentality is his biggest strength.
"That says a lot, because when you see him play he is so creative. He is mentally strong, he doesn't get distracted by a transfer fee or anything else.
"Good players always find a way to play well in good teams. He has to adjust to England, the league and the intensity, and his team-mates. His adjustment has already gone quite well, more than we expected."
Liverpool v Bournemouth (Fri, 20:00 BST)
Arne Slot says he will have to make a decision on whether Joe Gomez is in the squad tomorrow with the defender only having been involved in two training sessions on his return from an Achilles injury.
Image source, Getty ImagesLiverpool v Bournemouth (Fri, 20:00 BST)
Liverpool manager Arne Slot on his side's defensive inconsistencies during pre-season: "The standard here is 10/10, we are doing everything well but 'well' is not good enough. We have to go a step up.
"Against Bilbao [pre-season friendly] we were really good defensively, but then we conceded from two set pieces."
Slot listed some of the injuries and player absences his side have suffered from during pre-season, but assured that his side "we will 100% be ready on Friday".
Liverpool v Bournemouth (Fri, 20:00 BST)
Image source, Getty ImagesLiverpool manager Arne Slot on Bournemouth: "They are intense. They made it very difficult for us last season [even though] we beat them 3-0. They scored a goal but it was fractionally offside. Then we counter attacked three times, fast in moving the ball from back to front.
"At halt-time we were 3-0 up, I thought it was going to be 4, 5, 6-0, but they mentality they had, they just kept on going. They showed that the whole season.
"They've lost some players, brought in good new ones. Very good team and a good manager. We look forward to it, playing an evening game at Anfield is something everyone looks forward to."
Liverpool v Bournemouth (Fri, 20:00 BST)
Asked about Liverpool's record signing Florian Wirtz, Arne Slot says "good players always find a way of playing in a good team - he is a good player and he plays in a good team."
Image source, Getty ImagesLiverpool v Bournemouth (Fri, 20:00 BST)
Liverpool manager Arne Slot on if his side can win back-to-back Premier League titles: "The main reason that is so difficult is because there are so many competitors who can win the league. It's unbelievable if you are able to do it in this league.
"This year will be even harder than before. Every season and pre-season has its challenges. We have lost many starters. It is not always yourself but the teams you face.
"We start with Bournemouth, probably the most intense team in the league last season, in running and playing style. Afterwards it's Newcastle and Arsenal.
"We have lost five to six players who played quite a lot of minutes last season, and brought in four, so it's normal there is adaptation."
Image source, Getty ImagesLiverpool v Bournemouth (Fri, 20:00 BST)
Arne Slot has been asked about Liverpool's defensive issue during pre-season.
He says "there are reasons for it", mentioning mixed teams, injuries and new players adapting but insists that come tomorrow evening against Bournemouth "there are no excuses".
Liverpool v Bournemouth (Fri, 20:00 BST)
Liverpool manager Arne Slot on the club's pursuit of Parma defender Giovanni Leoni: "The clubs have agreed a deal but he hasn't signed for us yet, the moment he has signed for us I can go into more detail."
Image source, Getty ImagesLiverpool v Bournemouth (Fri, 20:00 BST)
Arne Slot has arrived and it's straight in with the transfer questions.
He confirms that Liverpool have agreed a deal with Parma for Giovanni Leoni but that he can't say anything more until it is completed.
Daniele Verri, Italian football journalist
Image source, Getty ImagesGiovanni Leoni is very strong in the air. He's a technically gifted player as well. He can come out from defence and start building from the back, but he's obviously at his most impactful in the air. He's improved a lot in that area too.
A couple of big clubs in Italy, including AC Milan and Inter Milan, were also after him. So I didn't expect a bold move from a Premier League club so early, to be honest. But Liverpool put the money on the table - probably even a bit more than Parma were originally asking for.
Who wouldn't fancy playing Anfield? I think any player would be happy to join Liverpool - and, of course, the Premier League, which is the most entertaining and attractive league in the world right now.
I would have loved to see Giovanni join a big Italian club before moving abroad. But that's football - the market is open. If a club like Liverpool comes in with 30m euros plus bonuses, it's difficult to turn down such an offer.
It will be difficult for him to start regularly - he knows that. But I don't think that's a major problem at his age.
Having the opportunity to be part of such a strong squad and play alongside great players, especially someone like Virgil van Dijk, is a huge opportunity.
Listen to the rest of Daniele Verri's interview with Radio Merseyside on BBC Sounds.
Sami Mokbel
BBC Sport Senior football correspondent
Image source, Getty ImagesLiverpool are closing in on the signing of 18-year-old defender Giovanni Leoni from Parma for a fee of about £26m.
The centre-half has emerged as a key target for Arne Slot's side and is now set for a move to Anfield.
The Italy Under-19s international began his career at Padova and had a short spell at Sampdoria before joining Parma last summer.
Liverpool could further bolster their defensive ranks and remain in talks with Crystal Palace for England centre-back Marc Guehi.
FA Cup winners Palace are believed to want £40m for their captain, who only has 12 months left on his contract, but Liverpool want to pay less than that.
While we wait for the Liverpool boss to arrive, there is time to bring you news on the Reds' latest bit of business in the transfer market...
