Liverpool

Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders on Ryan Gravenberch: "He's good. It doesn't happen often that you send a player for a scan and everything comes out clear.

"Normally when a player feels something and goes for a scan, they find something. But he is just extra fatigued so we have to be careful.

"But today there's a possibility he could train which is good news because he's played well, especially against man-marking sides, he's helpful to keep the ball.

"Alexis [Mac Allister] is out. He's a player who we really miss. Something play is really rushed and he is really calm, we miss a few boys.

"But with Wataru [Endo stepping up], Harvey [Elliott], Curt [Jones], Dom [Szobozslai], it's all good."

Liverpool

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Liverpool are record nine-time winners of the EFL Cup, most recently lifting the trophy in 2021-22, while they have finished runners-up on four occasions.

They dispatched of Championship leaders Leicester 3-1 in round three at Anfield and ran out 2-1 winners at Bournemouth in round four.

The Reds are yet to lose at home this season across all competitions, winning 11 and drawing one, with their last home defeat coming when they went down 5-2 against Real Madrid in a Champions League last-16 tie in February.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport

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Arsene Wenger says FIFA’s expanded Club World Cup will help make football ‘global’ and shouldn’t just be looked at through the prism of European clubs.

The 32-team event will be launched in 2025, with 12 European clubs, including Real Madrid and Premier League duo Manchester City and Chelsea.

World players’ union FIFPRO has already voiced its unease at the lack of consultation, whilst City boss Pep Guardiola has expressed concerns about elite players getting the right amount of rest.

However, Wenger, FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development, feels there is a different way of looking at the event.

“The positive impact this will have on clubs is going to be huge, because it will increase resources for clubs all over the world to develop and to compete,” he said.

“In Europe we are lucky but it’s important that we make football really global and this creates a chance for other clubs to progress. It will give more opportunities to more players all over the world to compete at the highest level.

“I accept that the football calendar is a busy one, but this is a competition that is going to take place every four years and of course the rest period during the competition and afterwards has to be respected.”

Liverpool

We've had one news conference already today, hearing from West Ham assistant Billy McKinlay earlier and shortly we'll be getting the view from the other side.

It's another assistant on duty with Pep Lijnders filling in for Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.

We'll keep you across everything from AXA training centre.

Liverpool

Should Liverpool have offered more in their 0-0 draw with Manchester United?

Former Premier League keeper Shay Given feels the Reds did well across much of the pitch in Sunday's fixture but missed a key final element in their performance.

Watch Monday Night Club on BBC iPlayer in full here

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Pep Guardiola says the Fifa Club World Cup offers Manchester City the chance to "close the little circle and win all the trophies we could" as they prepare for Tuesday's semi-final with Urawa Red Diamonds.

City are the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and Uefa Super Cup holders and have also won the EFL Cup and Community Shield under Guardiola.

"It's the first time Man City is here [the Club World Cup]," said Guardiola. "We don't take it for granted, it's a privilege, an honour to be here."

Shay Given
Former Republic of Ireland goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

Manchester City are not clicking. They’re conceding too many goals; they are still scoring but Erling Haaland has been out for the last couple.

Kevin de Bruyne will be like a new signing. City have got that capability of going 10, 12, 15 games unbeaten, dragging those above them back in.

It is worrying. Liverpool and Arsenal have two more games until City play again so the gap could be 10, 11 points. They’ve been there before.

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Former England and Everton midfielder Izzy Christiansen on the Monday Night Cub: "I don’t think there is any reason to panic for Manchester City. They are playing pretty well; I’d be drawn to saying there is perhaps a slight flaw in recruitment. We know Pep Guardiola likes to operate with a small squad. I wonder whether that needs bolstering in January.

"Look at Kalvin Phillips. There’s been many occasions where he could have been used if he was what Guardiola believed in, but he doesn’t. Are they burnt out? The quantity of games they’ve played, they are dropping off. But traditionally they pick up in the New Year."

Rory Smith, of the New York Times, says their recruitment has been "weird" and wonders if more players left than the club were maybe anticipating.

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Urawa Red Diamonds sealed their spot at the Fifa Club World Cup after winning the AFC Champions League, beating Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal in the final.

They have won the top-flight in Japan on five occasions and have made two previous appearances at the Club World Cup, finishing third in 2007 and losing in their opening match in 2017.

After beating Mexican club Leon in the second round on Friday, Urawa Red Diamonds booked a dream tie with Man City.

The Reds finished fourth in the J League in 2023 with the season ending on 3 December.

Well-travelled manager Maciej Skorza has been in charge since 1 February.

Guinea striker Jose Kante is one to keep an eye on after top-scoring for Urawa with 13 goals across all competitions in 2023, while Danish defender Alexander Scholz has chipped in with 11 and could pose a threat from set-pieces.

Adam: Hello Phil, at what point will you no longer consider Manchester City favourites for the title? I'd look at whoever wins at Anfield this Saturday as my favourite since City look like in a hangover, plus four in a row has never been done before!

Phil: I won’t do it just yet, Adam. I still fancy City to come back strongly and let’s not forget they could and should have won the four games they have drawn recently against Chelsea, Liverpool, Spurs and Crystal Palace.

They have not been at their best but have shown they can put incredible sequences of results together in the second half of the season. I still think they are favourites but I think it will be really tight this season.

What I would agree on is that we might have a slightly (only slightly) better idea of where the closest challenge might come from after Liverpool play Arsenal at Anfield on Saturday.

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Bernardo Silva says the amount of games elite footballers have to play now is "crazy" but big wages mean he cannot complain, as Manchester City prepare for the Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia.

City play Urawa Red Diamonds in the semi-finals with a potential final against Fluminense on Friday.

"The amount of games we have nowadays, it is a bit crazy because of the rest that players get," said Silva. "The risk of injury is up quite a lot."

This trip is squeezed in between Premier League matches on 16 and 27 December more than 3,000 miles away.

"We were not consulted but we try to do our jobs, to represent our clubs the best possible way, and the people that pay our salaries and the fans that support us," said Portugal midfielder Silva.

"At the end we cannot complain because we earn a lot of money, but in my opinion, for the people that love the game and are entertained by the game, if we have this many games for so long, at the end the games will lose the energy and the intensity."

Read more here.

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Manchester City will face Urawa Red Diamonds in the semi-finals of the Fifa Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia.

The Japanese side beat Mexico's Leon in Friday's second-round game to set up a last-four tie against City on Tuesday.

Brazilian club Fluminense are awaiting the winners in the final after beating Al Ahly in the other semi-final on Monday.

European champions City and Copa Libertadores winners Fluminense both qualified for the last four of the competition automatically.

It is the final edition of the competition in its current format after Fifa confirmed an expanded tournament featuring 32 teams will take place in 2025.

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Chelsea are prepared to sell left-back Ian Maatsen in the January transfer window, with Manchester City, West Ham, Borussia Dortmund, Napoli and Roma interested in the 21-year-old Dutchman.(90min), external

Maatsen spent last season on loan at Burnley.

James: Hi Phil, with a few managers in precarious positions there might be a few more sackings before the season is done. Which managers, who haven't managed in the Premier League before, would you like to see have a go at a Premier League team?

Phil: I am not keen on talking about managers getting sacked but if you want to me throw contenders in I would say Carlos Corberan at West Bromwich Albion (although Baggies fans will want him to get there with them.)

The same applies to Kieran McKenna at Ipswich Town. He is forging a big reputation and might be managing in the top flight next season without having to move.

Shay Given, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, believes former club Aston Villa are going under the radar in the Premier League.

Sunday's victory over Brentford has them trailing league leaders Arsenal by just a point and there's every chance they could be top of the pile at Christmas.

Villa, who have won 15 in a row at home in the Premier League, host strugglers Sheffield United on Friday at 20:00 GMT.

Second-placed Liverpool and first-placed Arsenal meet at Anfield (17:30 GMT) on Saturday.

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Former Premier League goalkeeper Shay Given praised Emiliano Martinez on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club and said the Aston Villa stopper deserves huge credit for where the side are this season, saying: "I think one of the reasons they are up there is because of him."

Given added: "He's got personality, he's got a presence on the pitch, he's got leadership qualities and he's a winner."

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Mick: Hi Phil. Do you think Aston Villa have the legs to do a Leicester or do you think they will hit a bad patch and drop off?

Phil: I think momentum is a huge thing, Mick. Leicester City had it and Villa have it now. I would still be surprised if they ended up as champions but no-one can question their right to be up there under an outstanding manager in Unai Emery so why not?

Villa also have very ambitious owners and you can be sure if Emery feels he needs reinforcements in January to keep a challenge going then they will do their best to get them. On a separate note, I really fancy Villa to win the Europa Conference League under the expert Emery.

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Newcastle United sporting director Dan Ashworth is the Ineos Group's prime choice to assume the role at Manchester United, although they remain open to retaining John Murtough.(Manchester Evening News), external

Phil, Chigwell: Morning Phil, not a Man Utd fan but I have often thought they were in decline prior to Sir Alex Ferguson leaving. He did not leave them with the best squad to go forward with and of course was a very difficult act to follow. Your thoughts?

Phil: When Ferguson won his last title before leaving in 2013, it was not exactly a vintage United side but they were still champion by 11 points. Of course, Robin van Persie had effectively been signed to add to their weaponry to win the title.

While being an admirer of David Moyes, I think he was a poor choice to succeed Ferguson and all the elements – including David Gill leaving – came together and United have never really recovered.

United should have gone all out to get a manager such as Jurgen Klopp, Pep Guardiola or Carlo Ancelotti as a successor to Ferguson. I think they will always regret this.

I agree, they were not the best and maybe there was a start of a decline but there is no question the club has also lost its way since.

Jeff: I’ve not seen anything to clarify if the Bournemouth v Luton game will be replayed or the score when the match was abandoned stands. Do you know what the rules are?

Phil: Hi Jeff. Not seen any official announcement but as I understand it, under Premier League Rule L15 any match that is abandoned with the consent of the referee will be replayed. The date and kick-off time is expected to be confirmed by the Premier League Board.