The Premier League returns this weekend with one of the biggest games of the season as Manchester City host title rivals Arsenal at the Etihad.
Mikel Arteta’s side return from the international break at the top of the table as they look to win a first Premier League title in 20 years, but an immediate visit to champions City will be the ultimate test of their ambitions.
Arsenal have not won at the Etihad in nine years, as both teams await crucial injury updates ahead of the match. Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli missed the international break, while John Stones and Kyle Walker both picked up injuries while on England duty.
Liverpool will have the chance to return to the Premier League summit when they host Brighton on Sunday, but the Reds have been dealt a blow after Xabi Alonso, their leading candidate to replace Jurgen Klopp, was ruled out of contention for the Anfield job.
Follow all the latest Premier League team news and injury updates from today’s press conferences as the top-flight returns this weekend
Premier League news LIVE: Arsenal vs Man City build-up and Liverpool latest
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Premier League returns this weekend as Man City host Arsenal
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Pep Guardiola to give Kyle Walker and John Stones updates at 1230
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Mikel Arteta and Jurgen Klopp both speaking at 1330
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Bayer Leverkusen’s Xabi Alonso ‘ruled out’ of Liverpool job
Eddie Howe hopes Sandro Tonali avoids extended ban
10:48 , Jamie Braidwood
Tonali, 23, is currently serving a 10-month ban after admitting gambling offences in Italy.
“He has suffered during this period, he has sought help, he’s been very honest, he has admitted he has an issue, and I think the best thing for Sandro would be to resume his career having taken his punishment and having learned a lot of lessons from this,” Howe said.
“I certainly hope for Sandro that there is no further consequences [after the latest charge].
Eddie Howe urges FA to not ‘throw the book’ at Sandro Tonali
10:33 , Jamie Braidwood
Eddie Howe responds to Sandro Tonali’s betting charge and says the FA must “protect” player.
“The news that there was an FA charge, that illness didn’t stop when he moved from Italy to England, that illness was there and people should look at it that way, not ‘let’s throw the book at him and let’s punish him even further’ because I don’t think that gets to the root of the problem.
“We need to protect all our players because this is something that’s open to everybody and becoming a bigger problem in society, so this isn’t just a problem for Sandro.”
FPL Gameweek 30: Five transfer tips for players to sign this week
10:28 , Jamie Braidwood
Following a bizarre gameweek 29 featuring only four matches and no shortage of disappointment (any points, anyone?), Fantasy Premier League managers can look forward to a return to normality in GW30.
A full fixture list kicks off the run towards the finish line, and with only nine gameweeks remaining, every point is crucial in your mini-leagues.
It is worth noting that gameweeks 34 and 37 are likely to feature plenty of clubs with two matches, so keep an eye on fixture announcements and be prepared to stock up on the doublers.
Here are our top tips for GW30:
FPL GW30: Van Dijk and more transfer tips for players to sign this week
Liverpool’s alternatives to Xabi Alonso in search for next manager
10:24 , Jamie Braidwood
Liverpool’s manager search has been dealt a blow after the news that Xabi Alonso is not expected to be on their shortlist to replace the outgoing Jurgen Klopp this summer.
Alonso was considered to be the favourite to step in for Klopp at Anfield, and was named by the German as the outstanding candidate, but Bayer Leverkusen are confident of keeping the former midfielder.
Leverkusen are on the brink of winning a first Bundesliga title under Alonso this season – Bayern Munich are also likely to try and convince the Spaniard to join them, but the German giants also face an uphill task.
It means Liverpool will have to look elsewhere as they try to replace Klopp, who will be stepping down at the end of the season.
The picture is rather complicated by the fact that Bayern and Barcelona will also be looking for new managers this summer too, and perhaps Manchester United too.
Liverpool’s alternatives to Xabi Alonso in search for next manager
Willie Kirk sacked as Leicester boss after investigation into alleged player relationship
10:02 , Jamie Braidwood
Leicester have sacked manager Willie Kirk following an investigation into an alleged relationship with a player.
The Women’s Super League club said Kirk, 45, had “breached the team’s code of conduct to a degree that makes his position untenable”.
Kirk was suspended by Leicester earlier this month, with the club announcing that he was “assisting with an internal process”.
The Scot who was appointed manager in 2022, has not been on the touchline for the past three games while the club investigated a complaint about the alleged relationship between Kirk and a player, first reported by the Guardian.
Willie Kirk sacked by Leicester after investigation into alleged player relationship
Sean Dyche hoping Everton’s latest Premier League charge ‘comes to nothing’
09:37 , Jamie Braidwood
Everton boss Sean Dyche is hoping for a quick resolution to the club’s latest profit and sustainability charge and that the case “comes to nothing”.
The Merseysiders, who have already been deducted six points this season, are facing further punishment over a second alleged breach of the Premier League’s regulations.
A hearing took place earlier this week and the club are now awaiting a verdict, which should be delivered before April 8.
Sean Dyche hoping Everton’s latest Premier League charge ‘comes to nothing’
Mauricio Pochettino surprised Ben Chilwell started England games after injury
09:18 , Jamie Braidwood
Speaking yesterday, Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino admitted he was surprised Ben Chilwell started two games for England during the international break, having only recently returned from a knee injury.
The defender last started for Chelsea on March 2 against Brentford and since then has played just a few minutes for the club, as a late substitute in the FA Cup against Leicester.
Yet he played the entirety of England’s 2-2 draw with Belgium on Tuesday, three days after completing 67 minutes against Brazil.
“He didn’t play after Brentford, then he played only a few minutes against Leicester,” said Pochettino. “(Then) he started two games (for England).
“It’s a surprise for us. It’s bad luck because he got a dead leg in the last moment against Belgium. Now we need to assess if he can be available.”
Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali could face new ban after FA charge for 50 betting offences
09:03 , Jamie Braidwood
On Newcastle, Sandro Tonali faces the prospect of a second gambling ban after being charged by the FA for allegedly putting 50 bets on football games in just two months.
The Newcastle midfielder is already suspended for 10 months and ineligible to play until 27 August after being banned by the Italian Football Federation for bets he placed while an AC Milan player.
The £55m signing, who admitted those charges and whose ban was extended by Fifa to cover all football, has now been charged by the English FA which suspects him of betting on further matches after joining Newcastle.
Newcastle do not expect the latest charge to delay Tonali’s return to first-team football or his ability to train with Eddie Howe’s side with the hope that any suspension, if he is found guilty, could be served concurrently with his existing ban.
Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali could face new ban after FA charge for 50 betting offences
Premier League latest news from press conferences
09:03 , Jamie Braidwood
Premier League press conference times today:
Newcastle – 0900
Manchester United – 1200
Manchester City – 1230
Crystal Palace – 1300
Tottenham – 1300
Wolves – 1300
Arsenal – 1330
Brentford- 1330
Liverpool – 1330
Aston Villa – 1330
West Ham – 1330
Why Arsenal are finally ready to beat Man City and conquer their house of horrors
08:59 , Jamie Braidwood
To be the best, you have to beat the best. It is a familiar theory. It appears to be underpinning Arsenal’s planning, their strategy for the season. Or, even when the best are unbeatable, at least draw 1-1 with them.
The fact Arsenal topped the table for 248 days has been relegated to a subplot in last season’s tale of Manchester City’s treble. It did not have the inevitability sometimes attributed, but City retained the status of title favourites for virtually all of those 248 days. The two most significant came against Arsenal: 3-1 and 4-1 victories were emphatic, a brilliantly brutal illustration of the destructive gifts of Erling Haaland and, still more so, Kevin de Bruyne, whose 167 minutes against the Gunners produced three goals and two assists.
And take those two results away and Arsenal got 84 points and City 83. It isn’t as simple as that, Pep Guardiola’s team dropping five points after the title was won, three of them with a second-string side. The eventual standings could nevertheless be used to argue that Arsenal were better at beating the rest.
Why Arsenal are finally ready to beat Man City and conquer their house of horrors
Liverpool to omit Xabi Alonso from managerial shortlist to replace Jurgen Klopp
08:59 , Jamie Braidwood
Xabi Alonso is not expected to be on Liverpool’s managerial shortlist this summer after they concluded he is not likely to be available.
Bayer Leverkusen have pronounced themselves confident of keeping the former Liverpool midfielder, who has taken them to the brink of a first Bundesliga title, and though Alonso is also a target for Bayern Munich, the belief at Anfield is that he will not be on the market this year.
Alonso, a 2005 Champions League winner during his five years as a Liverpool player, had been seen as the favourite to replace Jurgen Klopp, who is standing down at the end of the season, but not by the Merseyside club.
It means Liverpool are likely to look elsewhere with Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim of interest and Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi a manager the incoming sporting director, Richard Hughes, had wanted previously during his time at Bournemouth.
The latest from Richard Jolly
Liverpool make Xabi Alonso decision ahead of summer managerial shortlist
Good morning
08:55 , Jamie Braidwood
The Premier League returns this weekend with one of the biggest games of the season as Manchester City host title rivals Arsenal at the Etihad.
Mikel Arteta’s side return from the international break at the top of the table as they look to win a first Premier League title in 20 years, but an immediate visit to champions City will be the ultimate test of their ambitions.
Arsenal have not won at the Etihad in nine years, as both teams await crucial injury updates ahead of the match. Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli missed the international break, while John Stones and Kyle Walker both picked up injuries while on England duty.
Liverpool FC will have the chance to return to the Premier League summit when they host Brighton on Sunday, but the Reds have been dealt a blow after Xabi Alonso, their leading candidate to replace Jurgen Klopp, was ruled out of contention for the Anfield job.
Follow all the latest Premier League team news and injury updates from today’s press conferences as the top-flight returns this weekend
