Premier League team news: Liverpool, Man Utd, Arsenal, Chelsea & all the big press conference talking points

THE BIG TALKING POINT

Ahead of arguably the biggest game on the Premier League calendar, Jurgen Klopp was asked about comparisons between his start at Liverpool and Erik ten Hag's at Manchester United.

"For me, it was easier because I didn't come for the start of a season," he claimed. "I didn't have a transfer window. In England, people tend to then say 'it's not his team' so whatever I did, it was never my team. I actually thought after just one day that it was my team so I felt really responsible for all the performances from the first game.

"But it's easier and I don't think you can really compare it, different times. My arrival was obviously seven years ago, it's a long time in football - nearly a decade. A lot of things have changed since then.

"It's not easy, definitely not. Especially when you have to rebuild or whatever, however they see it but change a lot of things."

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With a potential departure for Naby Keita being reported in the last few days, Klopp was clear in stating that there was nothing behind those particular rumours.

"It's really funny, I have to respond on news. What you would learn if you sit on my side of the table how often 0.0 [substance] is behind news. Then you would think 'oh really, what can I believe?' No, absolutely nothing [in the Keita rumours].

"Naby was ill for a week, last week on the bench, last game on the bench, he's full in training and looks really good, all fine. But he's not a player who is overly happy when he's not playing but that's completely fine. Nobody came to me and asked me anything about it."

THE TEAM NEWS

Klopp claimed that Roberto Firmino "trained yesterday and is ready" for the trip to Old Trafford which will come as a relief following Darwin Nunez's three-match ban.

He then claimed that Joe Gomez will start after he was only fit enough to make the bench in the draw against Crystal Palace. Meanwhile, Diogo Jota and Curtis Jones are continuing their respective comebacks from injury but are not quite at a stage where they are available for selection.

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Manchester United (A), August 22

THE BIG TALKING POINT

With matters on the pitch certainly taking care of themselves at Arsenal so far this season, attention off the field has turned to potential further incomings. Mikel Arteta was asked whether there will be any more players coming through the door at the Emirates this summer.

"It has to be the right person and it has to be the right player," claimed the Spaniard. "And we want to only bring top quality through that door. If not, it's not worth it.

"I will be totally happy [if we don't sign anyone else] and focused on getting the best of those players, for sure."

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There isn't too much speculation linking Arsenal with incomings but departures are likely to follow before the transfer window closes at the end of the month. Firstly, Arteta discussed rumours linking Nicolas Pepe with a move back to Ligue 1.

"When we communicate, we always do when it is the right moment," he said. "We discussed that we have a big squad, we have made some decisions and we allowed some players [the chance to leave] and while the window is open, everything is possible with any player."

Then, he was asked about Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Hector Bellerin. He responded: "Again, we are addressing those things personally and internally."

THE TEAM NEWS

Arteta passed his squad with a clean bill of health going into Saturday's clash at Bournemouth. He confirmed that Emile Smith-Rowe, Cedric Soares and new signing Fabio Vieira had played with the Under-21s and were available for selection.

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Bournemouth (A), August 21

THE BIG TALKING POINT

Conte stole the vast majority of the headlines in Tottenham's draw at Chelsea for his touchline spat with Thomas Tuchel. The pair of managers were shown red cards by Anthony Taylor and have subsequently been charged by the FA.

Responding to a question about the punishment, the Italian said: "I see that the FA made us, both coaches, more soft charge, no? And we have to accept. We have to accept and have respect for every decision. But I think sometimes this type of situation can happen.

"It's not the first time, it won't be the last time that two coaches are not in the right way or do not agree. But the most important thing is we have to move on, to have respect for each other. And for me, the situation finishes there."

Conte was then asked whether he expects to be on the touchline for the visit of Wolves on Saturday. He replied: "I hope so. I think that it's right, it's right to stay in my place.

"Then I repeat for sure after this type of situation you can learn a lot but at the same time I think that for many situations I was really good to keep calm and don't have an excessive reaction in the situation."

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"We're okay [for squad depth]. But if someone goes away, for sure another player has to come. Especially if some players want to go to play regularly. It's difficult to keep them here," Conte said.

"But at the same time, it has to be very clear that if a player wants to go play, I have to replace this player. This is very important. We need to have a squad capable to face a lot of games until November. This is very important for me."

TEAM NEWS

"Cristian [Romero] had a little problem during the game against Chelsea in the final part of the game, but it’s a little problem. For this reason for the game against Wolverhampton he’s not available," said Conte.

"The other player not available for Wolverhampton is [Oliver] Skipp but good news about him because today or tomorrow he will run again. This is really good news."

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Wolves (H) August 20

THE BIG TALKING POINT

Despite putting on an assist for Ilkay Gundogan in Manchester City's 4-0 win against Bournemouth last weekend, there have been questions asked of Erling Haaland's lack of input after he made just two passes throughout the whole game. Unsurprisingly, Pep Guardiola isn't unduly worried.

"We are delighted with Erling," he claimed. "The little details still we miss but not just with him, with everything. It's a question of time.

"I don't have any doubts. Like all the new players, it's a question of time with the connections, the chemistry on the pitch with the right moments, the right tempo with the players. This is a question of games, games and games."

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As they often do, Manchester City got all of their summer business out the way nice and early to avoid any late panic. That being said, Guardiola was still asked if the window is finished as far as he is concerned.

"Apparently yeah," he answered. "Unless someone moves or if there's a problem we don't expect.

TEAM NEWS
Like Arteta, Guardiola has a full squad to choose from this weekend. He confirmed that Cole Palmer and Kalvin Phillips are back to full fitness and ready for selection.

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Newcastle United (A) August 21

BIG TALKING POINT
There is only really one place to start at Manchester United at the moment: the abysmal 4-0 defeat at Brentford last weekend. Erik ten Hag was asked a number of questions about the visit to the Gtech Community Stadium.

"I think I made myself clear I was definitely not happy," he reiterated. "You can talk about football, you can talk about the plan, the philosophy, but it starts with the basic stuff and it has to be the right attitude, you need a fighting spirit on the pitch and I didn't see that from minute one.

"[You have to] bring it in every game on the pitch, especially Monday night. Obviously, a lot went wrong but we don't have to talk about anything when the attitude is not right. It's a week as normal as a manager, that you see a game, you have a plan, a way of play and then you check how the game went and then you clearly analyse and see what's wrong and what's good.

"First, I look myself and make a clear analysis, I take notice of some criticism, some are really good, good advice but also some are not that good so I lay by the side. I know the rivals, we are rivals. We have to win every game, especially this game.

"We work from game to game, and Liverpool, obviously we know what's going on when we play Liverpool, you have to be ready and to fight yourself into the season but it's from game to game."

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Casemiro and Cristiano Ronaldo were the names that got brought up to the Red Devils boss but his responses didn't give much away on either front. Firstly, Casemiro: "No. I cannot tell anything."

Then, on Ronaldo, he said: "I don't know why he's a particular focus after Saturday. It was the team performance, the whole team's attitude, including Ronaldo. He's in our plans, that's what I can say."

TEAM NEWS
Ten Hag may have a timely boost to his squad for the visit of Liverpool after confirming that Anthony Martial has been back training with the team. Although, there is a slight blow in the fact that Victor Lindelof is not yet available to be considered.
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Liverpool (H), August 22

BIG TALKING POINT

Thomas Tuchel and Antonio Conte captured the attention of the footballing world when they did battle at Stamford Bridge last weekend. Both managers have since been able to see a slightly less serious side to their touchline scuffle and the Chelsea boss was asked about it during his pre-Leeds press conference.

“Of course, we laugh [about the memes]," claimed Tuchel. "It is very important to laugh about ourselves. I was laughing in the dressing room. It was the heat of the match, for me, still not that bad. A handshake and too long, too heavy. I admit it. No harm was done.

"He’s from my side. He spoke Italian to me so I never know. We didn’t insult each other. I think the thing would have ended if there were not 20 people around us that make the thing look much worse than it was. You are right. If you have a reaction like this, you need to live with the reaction.

"Of course, I laughed about myself. I saw quite some (compilations). Everybody makes fun of me in the building as you can imagine but it’s ok."

Asked if it was purely passion fuelling the disagreement, Tuchel added: “I think it was passion between two men who fought for their team. It was not more. I hope they don’t make more out of it. Of course in the context, a hair pulling two minutes before.

"It’s not that big of a deal, for me. It was about passion and nothing more. He was fighting for his team, I was fighting for my team. As you hopefully felt before we played Tottenham last season with Conte, and now, I have nothing but biggest respect for him and this will not change because of that incident.”

TELL US ABOUT TRANSFERS
“No, the opposite of frustrated [about transfers] after last week’s match. I’m very happy, very confident after last week’s performance because I saw a good team, a very good team performance, an excellent match.

"As I told you, we work together on reinforcements but it’s never easy and it’s not like we can just wish for something and it will happen. As long as the transfer window is open, there are always possibilities. We know what we are trying, we know what we are doing.

"The focus is on what we have, not what we could have. The focus from me is the team, they get their full energy and full attention from us.”

TEAM NEWS
Unfortunately, there was bad news for N'Golo Kante from Tuchel's press conference as he confirmed that the Frenchman "will be out for several weeks".

Armando Broja and Mateo Kovacic will also miss out at Leeds while it'll be touch and go as to whether Christian Pulisic will be fit enough for selection.

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Leeds United (A), August 21