Summary

  1. Postpublished at 15:45 Greenwich Mean Time 28 November 2024

    Time for us to call it a day there. You can catch up with all news conferences from today by via the summary points on this page. Arne Slot, Julen Lopetegui and Fabian Hurzeler are among the managers we've heard from.

    Our coverage of Thursday's European action will begin at 17:00 GMT - and you'll be able to find that on our football page.

    In the meantime, here's some things you can read:

    We'll be back at 07:00 GMT on Friday morning to review all the Europa League and Conference League action, plus build-up to the weekend's Premier League games and the Women's Euro 2025 qualifiers on Friday night.

    See you then.

  2. Slot best bitspublished at 15:42 Greenwich Mean Time 28 November 2024

    Liverpool v Man City (Sun, 16:00 GMT)

    Liverpool

    Liverpool manager Arne Slot has been speaking to the media in his pre-match news conference before Sunday's huge Premier League game against Manchester City on Sunday.

    Here are some of the big talking points:

    • Ibrahima Konate and Conor Bradley are both "still being assessed" after picking up injuries against Real Madrid and Slot neither confirmed nor denied whether they would be available on Sunday.
    • Better news on the injury front is that Trent Alexander-Arnold is back fit and available to start.
    • Slot said that it's "far too early to say what can happen next season" with goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher but praised his "outstanding" attitude.
    • He believes Liverpool's injuries have been underplayed compared to other teams but understands that because "people only talk about injuries if the results are not there".
    • Slot regards Pep Guardiola as "the best manager in the world" and has no doubts that Manchester City's fortunes will turn around soon but joked that he hopes that will be the case after Sunday.
    Liverpool manager Arne SlotImage source, Getty Images
  3. How are Man Utd doing in Europa League?published at 15:39 Greenwich Mean Time 28 November 2024

    Man Utd v Bodo/Glimt (20:00 GMT)

    Manchester United are unbeaten in this season's Europa League after four group games, but their win over PAOK last time out was just their second in their past 12 European games:

    • 1-1 v FC Twente (h) - 25 Sep
    • 3-3 v Porto (a) - 3 Oct
    • 1-1 v Fenerbahce (a) - 24 Oct
    • 2-0 v PAOK (h) - 7 Nov
  4. Who are Bodo/Glimt?published at 15:36 Greenwich Mean Time 28 November 2024

    Man Utd v Bodo/Glimt (20:00 GMT)

    Brede Moe is challenged by Eddie Nketiah while playing for Bodo/Glimt against ArsenalImage source, EPA

    No matter how cold it gets at Old Trafford later, it's unlikely to pose the Bodo/Glimt players any problems. That's because the town of Bodo is just inside the Arctic Circle, high up on the Norwegian coast.

    The club was founded in 1916 but northern teams weren't able to gain promotion to Norway's top division until 1972, with Bodo/Glimt doing so in 1976.

    Since dropping into the third tier in 1984, Bodo/Glimt have been a bit of a yo-yo club, being promoted and relegated several times. But since their most recent return to the top flight in 2018, they have enjoyed the best spell in the club's history.

    In the last five seasons they have not finished outside the top two, becoming Norwegian champions three times and playing in the Champions League for the first time in 2021-22.

    They played in all three Uefa competitions in 2022-23, losing both their Europa League group games against Arsenal, and in each of the last two seasons they have reached the Conference League's knockout round play-offs - losing to Lech Poznan and then Ajax.

  5. Man Utd's £21.4m manager decisionpublished at 15:34 Greenwich Mean Time 28 November 2024

    Man Utd v Bodo/Glimt (20:00 GMT)

    Simon Stone
    BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

    Manchester United have confirmed the cost of replacing Erik ten Hag with Ruben Amorim.

    In the detail of first quarter accounts submitted to the New York Stock Exchange, the club said the exit of Ten Hag and his staff cost £10.4m, while hiring Amorim from Sporting cost £11m.

    This comes at a time when ticket prices have shot up to £66, with no concessions for Premier League games.

    United argue that 97% of tickets have already been sold so there will be a minimal effect on most fans and the move represents an effort to maximise income and reduce costs across the club that has led to around 250 redundancies.

    It just shows that while money can be saved at a club, by far the biggest costs are involved in first-team recruitment - which United have not been particularly good at.

  6. Amorim's European cup historypublished at 15:30 Greenwich Mean Time 28 November 2024

    Man Utd v Bodo/Glimt (20:00 GMT)

    The Europa League game at Old Trafford later will be Ruben Amorim's first home game as Manchester United's head coach.

    He has previously been in charge of 38 European games across his spells with Portuguese sides Braga and Sporting.

    He lost both of his two Europa League games with Braga, before joining Sporting, with whom he has had 15 wins in Europe, with 10 draws and 11 losses.

    They reached the last 16 of the Champions League in 2021-22, followed by the quarter-finals of the Europa League in 2022-23 and the last 16 in 2023-24.

    Sporting's 4-1 victory over Manchester City earlier this month meant he left for Manchester United with three wins and one draw from four Champions League games this season.

    Head coach Ruben Amorim with a whistle in his mouth at Manchester United trainingImage source, PA Media
  7. Postpublished at 15:30 Greenwich Mean Time 28 November 2024

    Before we wrap up for the day, we'll do a little bit more build-up to Thursday's European action.

    It is Ruben Amorim's first home game in charge of Manchester United, as they welcome Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt to Old Trafford.

  8. Postpublished at 15:26 Greenwich Mean Time 28 November 2024

    That's your lot from Arne Slot.

    We'll hear from Manchester City counterpart Pep Guardiola on Friday afternoon.

    The Blues boss will again face tough questions abou their six-game winless streak and how he and his players plan to come through the other side.

  9. 'If there's anyone that can come up with something new it's Guardiola'published at 15:24 Greenwich Mean Time 28 November 2024

    Liverpool v Man City (Sun, 16:00 GMT)

    Liverpool

    Liverpool manager Arne Slot on whether he expects Pep Guardiola to change system on Sunday: "I wouldn't be surprised if he came up with another brilliant idea. I think he was the one that started playing inverted full-backs, then he was the one that started playing a centre-back as a six, so I don't think it will be a surprise if he comes up with something nobody has ever thought about before to make his team even stronger.

    "It is one of the reasons why he has inspired so many managers around the world. When he came up with it we thought it was crazy and then we all tried the same because it was a brilliant idea.

    "It wouldn't surprise me if he came up with something again but let's wait and see because many things have been done in football now but if there's anyone in the managerial world that can come up with something new, it's definitely him."

  10. 'It's too early to say what can happen next season with Kelleher'published at 15:20 Greenwich Mean Time 28 November 2024

    Liverpool v Man City (Sun, 16:00 GMT)

    Liverpool

    Liverpool manager Arne Slot on the future of Caoimhin Kelleher at Anfield: "I'm expecting every player wants to be the number one, not only in the goalkeeper position but in every position. It is always up to the player if he can accept his role and from this moment, from the start of the season until now, Caoimhin has accepted his in a great manner, both when he did and didn't play.

    "It's far too early to say what can happen next season. I want every player to want to play every game. It's completely normal for him and all the others but then it's always about the attitude when you don't play and that has been outstanding. They should have the eagerness to play but if they don't, they have to act in a normal way and that's what they all do at the moment."

  11. 'People only talk about injuries if the results are not there'published at 15:16 Greenwich Mean Time 28 November 2024

    Liverpool v Man City (Sun, 16:00 GMT)

    Liverpool

    Liverpool manager Arne Slot on whether his side's injuries have been underplayed: "In general people only talk about injuries if the results are not there so it's a good thing that nobody has talked about ours because it means we've got our results.

    "The moment you start to lose it's about kick-off times or it's about injuries - we always come up with certain ideas why we didn't win, especially me, but nine times out of 10 it's about the quality of the opposition and their game plan.

    "We do have some very important players injured but if the replacements do so well then it's normal that people don't talk about it much.

    "Missing Alisson, missing Diogo Jota, missing Trent in the last two games - those are players that have had a lot of impact in recent years but it's a good thing that we don't talk about it."

  12. 'Guardiola is the best manager in the world'published at 15:12 Greenwich Mean Time 28 November 2024

    Liverpool v Man City (Sun, 16:00 GMT)

    Liverpool

    Liverpool manager Arne Slot on Man City and their recent struggles: "Everybody is looking at their results but if you face them, you analyse it. They were 1-0 up against Brighton and could have scored one or two more. They could have been two or three goals up against Tottenham and against Feyenoord - that has not happened many times.

    "They are still a very, very good team and one of the reasons why I think Pep Guardiola is one of the best managers in the world - I think he is the best - he always comes up with solutions for his problems. We all know he will come up with a solution but hopefully after Sunday."

  13. Alexander-Arnold fit to start after injurypublished at 15:08 Greenwich Mean Time 28 November 2024

    Liverpool v Man City (Sun, 16:00 GMT)

    Liverpool

    Liverpool manager Arne Slot on whether he is ruling Konate and Bradley out of the game against Man City: "Like I've just said, they are still being assessed. We have to wait and see where they are this weekend and after that.

    "Trent [Alexander-Arnold] will be fit to start."

  14. 'Konate and Bradley are still being assessed'published at 15:06 Greenwich Mean Time 28 November 2024

    Liverpool v Man City (Sun, 16:00 GMT)

    Liverpool

    Liverpool manager Arne Slot on Ibrahima Konate and Conor Bradley: "They are still being assessed so it is difficult to know where they are. Let's wait and see but it's never a good sign if players - Conor I had to take him off and Ibou didn't walk off the pitch as he should after such a fantastic game. He should have made a round and clapped to the fans but unfortunately he couldn't so that's not a good sign."

  15. Postpublished at 15:05 Greenwich Mean Time 28 November 2024

    Liverpool manager Arne Slot is here.

    We've got an update on Conor Bradley and Ibrahima Konate straight away.

  16. get involved

    Get Involved - Champions League formatpublished at 15:03 Greenwich Mean Time 28 November 2024

    #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    So if you finish 8th in the Champions League table you would get paired with the 7th place team and would play any of the teams who finish 9th, 10th, 23rd or 24th, is this right? If so Liverpool - if they top the group - could end up playing the 15th placed team and Aston Villa could finish 8th and play the 24th placed team? Am I right?

    Dave

    Dave, top marks. That is one of the possibilities.

  17. 'I'm not here for a holiday' - Clement returns to south of Francepublished at 14:58 Greenwich Mean Time 28 November 2024

    Nice v Rangers (20:00 GMT)

    Rangers

    Rangers manager Philippe ClementImage source, Getty Images

    Rangers manager Philippe Clement insists he is not treating his return to the south of France as a "holiday" as his side prepare to face Nice in the Europa League on Thursday.

    Clement spent 18 months as Monaco manager before taking over at Rangers, and says it is "special" to return to that part of the world.

    "It's special to be back," Clement said. "I had a really good time here. I enjoyed living here. I met some really nice people, so a lot of friends will come to watch this game.

    "So yeah, this feels like a place where you were in a really good way, so I’m happy to be back in that way.

    "But I'm not here for a holiday or to meet people tomorrow or to have talks with a lot of people. I'm here to work."

  18. 'It would be big for the team' - Souttar eyes statement win in Nicepublished at 14:55 Greenwich Mean Time 28 November 2024

    Nice v Rangers (20:00 GMT)

    Alasdair Lamont
    BBC Sport Scotland in Nice

    Rangers defender John Souttar hopes a positive result against Nice can be the catalyst for a successful season.

    "I think when everyone saw the group come out, they knew it was a tough group for us and we've got some big results at home and away and on Thursday night it would be brilliant to get the three points," he said.

    "It would be a big thing for the team. It creates belief when you get big results and brings everyone together so it's something we're all aiming for.

    "We’ve had some really good performances in Europe against some top teams, we've come away from home and won one and drawn one, which is a difficult thing to do.

    "As a group, we've got a gameplan and we're here to win. It's another great opportunity for us.

    "I don’t think it's anything to do with style. We've performed better in Europe more consistently than in the league. That's obviously something we're trying to correct in the league."

  19. Spurs 'working every day' - Udogie on trophy questpublished at 14:52 Greenwich Mean Time 28 November 2024

    Tottenham v Roma (20:00 GMT)

    Tottenham Hotspur

    Tottenham defender Destiny Udogie speaking at a news conferenceImage source, Getty Images

    Tottenham Hotspur defender Destiny Udogie spoke about the team's inability to string together positive results and quest for silverware in his pre-match news conference before Thursday night's Europa League match against Roma.

    "It's been difficult because we haven't really found the right consistency, he explained"

    "We're working every day. We're coming from a big win last week and in the game tomorrow we will try and build the right momentum."

    Asked about Spurs' quest to end the long wait for a trophy, Udogie said: "We all want to win something. We try and win every competition we are in.

    "This season is the second season together so we understand each other, we know the gaffer better and the staff. This is the big difference. We have more confidence in our ability."

  20. Postecoglou backs Forsterpublished at 14:49 Greenwich Mean Time 28 November 2024

    Tottenham v Roma (20:00 GMT)

    Tottenham Hotspur

    Tottenham goalkeeper Fraser ForsterImage source, Getty Images

    Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou gave his backing to goalkeeper Fraser Forster and ruled out signing a free agent to fill in for Guglielmo Vicario, who is expected to be out for months with a broken ankle.

    He also said the injury "doesn't change our plans" for the January transfer window.

    "That's not going to happen - I don't think signing a free agent now is going to help us," Postecoglou added.

    "Fraser, I've known for a long time. He's such a strong character in the group and always ready to play."