Five more Premier League managers will host pre-match press conferences on Friday ahead of the weekend’s FA Cup ties.
We’ll round up all the key injury updates that could affect Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers ahead of Tuesday’s Gameweek 22 deadline.
Any team news bombshells will still be dwarfed by the day’s other major news.
Jurgen Klopp has announced that he will step down as Liverpool manager at the end of the season.
He too will face the media today at 3pm GMT, so we will round up the key quotes from that previously unannounced press conference.
- READ MORE: Haaland, Salah, TAA, Maddison: The latest FPL injury news from Thursday’s FA Cup press conferences
FRIDAY’S TEAM NEWS UPDATES
- Newcastle United: Murphy trains, Wilson + Barnes latest, Howe on Newcastle rumours
- Manchester United: Bayindir debut, Shaw + Maguire feature in friendly, Rashford ill
- Brighton and Hove Albion: Igor returns, Fati back in training but not ready
- Fulham: Adama remains out, three still away on international duty
- Luton Town: Andersen still out, Kabore remains at AFCON
FRIDAY’S PRESS CONFERENCE TIMES
NEWCASTLE UNITED
Jacob Murphy (shoulder) is the next Newcastle player who could return from injury, while Callum Wilson (calf), Joe Willock (Achilles) and Harvey Barnes (toe) are not thought to be too far from a return.
The Magpies face Fulham in the FA Cup this weekend before travelling to Aston Villa in Gameweek 22.
“It’s still a long injury list. Jacob Murphy has trained and he has looked good, so I’m pleased with his progress. That is a big positive.
“Apart from that, no-one else is there. They’re all still working back to full fitness, but they are getting closer. The likes of Harvey (Barnes), Callum (Wilson) and Joe Willock are showing good signs.
“Just wait and see [whether they’ll be in contention for Gameweek 22]. – Eddie Howe
Joelinton (quad), Sandro Tonali (banned), Nick Pope (shoulder), Elliot Anderson (back) and Matt Targett (hamstring) remain out.
Joelinton, who will be sidelined until May after undergoing surgery this week, is one of a handful of Howe’s squad who has been linked with a move away from Tyneside.
Kieran Trippier, Miguel Almiron and Callum Wilson have also been the source of much speculation over the winter break.
Eddie Howe addressed some of those rumours in Friday’s press conference.
“I’m not a fortune teller. I hope that’s not the case but there’s a possibility that [Joelinton could be sold in the summer]. Eighteen months is a vulnerable time left on your contract.
“Before a player signs a contract he has to be happy with everything and we are not there yet.
“From our side, Callum is a huge part of what we’re doing. We’re desperate to get our two strikers fit at the same time which we haven’t had for a long time now. That’s hurt us in a lot of different ways but he’s nearing fitness, he hasn’t trained with us yet but he’s getting there. There’s no part of me that wants to lose Callum.
“We want to keep him here. But obviously, some things are out of my control and the club is acting with the long-term interests of the club; it has to and I understand that and I’m fully supportive of it. Let’s see what happens.
“We hope [Trippier] will stay and we’re very confident he will be part of our long-term future.
“But I have to make it clear, he has never asked to leave or even questioned his future here. He’s always been fully committed. We’ve had conversations in the last week and it’s always been about Newcastle. It’s important I make that clear and got that out there. His commitment to Newcastle shouldn’t be questioned.
“[Almiron’s situation is] very similar, really. There’s been a lot of noise and a lot of speculation. Certainly, as his manager, I’m desperate to keep him. He’s been an integral part since I’ve come to the club. His contribution has been immense.
“But there has been a lot of noise. That noise comes from somewhere. Hopefully, we can keep him and the window shuts quickly.” – Eddie Howe
MANCHESTER UNITED
Erik ten Hag confirmed that goalkeeper Altay Bayindir will start in goal for the Reds against Newport County this weekend in the FA Cup.
Andre Onana is currently away on international duty with Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations but could be back in Gameweek 22 if his nation is eliminated in the round of 16.
“Yeah, he [Bayindir] will be in the goal.
“I think it is clear what we can expect from him. He waits for his chances but he is experienced. He played for a big club in Turkey under big pressure.
“So, he knows how to deal with it. We were all very convinced when we brought him into this club.” – Erik ten Hag
Sofyan Amrabat, like Onana, is away at AFCON, while Anthony Martial is out for over two months after undergoing groin surgery over the winter break.
Tyrell Malacia (knee), Mason Mount (calf) and Victor Lindelof (groin), who aren’t thought to be far from a return, also remain unavailable.
Marcus Rashford and Jonny Evans are fresh concerns with illness, meanwhile.
But Harry Maguire (groin) and Luke Shaw (hamstring) were sighted in training this week and also reportedly featured in a behind-closed-doors friendly on Wednesday.
“It’s a strong side and we have still some injuries, like [Victor] Lindelof and [Tyrell] Malacia. This morning, Rashford was ill and Evans was ill. So we have to see how they recover but we have, for the rest, players returning, like Martinez, like Shaw, like Maguire, like Casemiro, which is a good thing.” – Erik ten Hag
BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION
Igor Julio is back in contention after returning from an Achilles injury but Ansi Fati (muscle) isn’t yet available for selection, despite his return to training this week.
Joel Veltman (knee), Solly March (knee) and Julio Enciso (knee) remain on the injury list, while Simon Adingra and Kaoru Mitoma are away on international duty.
“Ansu Fati isn’t ready yet but Igor is better and he can be in the squad.
“When Ansu comes back I expect from him more energy, to finish the season in the best way he can. I think he has the right motivation. He has the responsibility to show his qualities, to play well, score goals and be important for us.” – Roberto De Zerbi
Tariq Lamptey returned from injury as a substitute in Gameweek 21 but Roberto De Zerbi confirmed on Friday that the injury-prone full-back isn’t yet ready for a starting XI appearance.
“Tariq [Lamptey] is not ready to start yet. He has to reach the best physical condition which has not been easy as he has not played for three months. Against Wolves, he played 20 minutes but it was clear he didn’t feel in the best condition, but that is normal. To reach that he has to spend time on the pitch.” – Roberto De Zerbi
FULHAM
Adama Traore (hamstring), who remains a week or two away from a return, is the only senior player on the injury list.
Fulham also have three squad members away on international duty, however, namely Fode Ballo-Toure, Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey.
“Not any fresh injury news, that is a good thing for us.
“Still the same about Adama Traore, still out, and the three players that are in the African Cup.
“It was nice to see Adama back in the pitch with his teammates doing some small-sided games, all that stuff. Not ready to be involved, let’s hope more one or two weeks we can see him with full sessions with his teammates and, of course, ready to help us.” – Marco Silva
LUTON TOWN
Issa Kabore remains at the Africa Cup of Nations with Burkina Faso, while Mads Andersen isn’t ready to return from a relatively minor calf injury.
Marvelous Nakamba (knee) and Tom Lockyer (health) are longer-term absentees.
Jacob Brown returns after being suspended for yellow card accumulation in Gameweek 21, while Jordan Clark is banned in the FA Cup but available for selection in the Premier League next week.
KLOPP PRESS CONFERENCE
The Liverpool boss addressed the wider media this afternoon but first spoke to the club’s in-house team to explain his decision.
“I will leave the club at the end of the season. I can understand that that’s a shock for a lot of people in this moment, when you hear it for the first time, but obviously I can explain it – or at least try to explain it. I love absolutely everything about this club, I love everything about the city, I love everything about our supporters, I love the team, I love the staff. I love everything. But that I still take this decision shows you that I am convinced it is the one I have to take.
“It is that I am, how can I say it, running out of energy. I have no problem now, obviously, I knew it already for longer that I will have to announce it at one point, but I am absolutely fine now. I know that I cannot do the job again and again and again and again. After the years we had together and after all the time we spent together and after all the things we went through together, the respect grew for you, the love grew for you and the least I owe you is the truth – and that is the truth. That’s it, pretty much.” – Jurgen Klopp
Asked whether he thought the news could have a negative impact on the remainder of the season, Klopp added:
“I understand the question 100 per cent, [but] that’s up to us, I would say. I had a similar situation at Dortmund. The circumstances are completely different but it is a similar situation, you cannot deny that.
“There are so many things to play for and there might be some ideas from the outside to disturb what we are doing, but it is all about us. The way we grew together in the last few years is absolutely exceptional. Absolutely exceptional. I always said it, and especially now it is still true, nothing has to happen because of me. Nobody has to make the games now about me – please don’t, if I can ask for that it would be really nice – and we just support each other. I am fully here – I don’t think anybody realised any difference in the last few months. If [they did] then maybe a positive change because I have to say when I made the decision, as hard as it is, it was a relief as well. It was like, ‘OK, there is a finishing line’ and not for not being here anymore. If I could stay here in that role I would be over the moon, I just can’t. That’s it.
“I said it on the first day, as a normal guy. I am still a normal guy, I just don’t live a normal life for too long now. I don’t want to wait until I am too old for having a normal life. I need to at least give it a try at one point to see how it is and will I miss it. As I said, I never really had this before so I need to give it a try and it is the right moment for me and I think it is the right moment for the club because I can’t do the job from next year on anymore as I did it before, and then I am not the right one anymore.” – Jurgen Klopp
Klopp also made it plainly clear that he wouldn’t manage any other Premier League club in the future.
“I need to find a different purpose as well, I need to have a look for it. If you ask me, ‘Will you ever work as a manager again?’ I would say now no. But I don’t know obviously how that will feel because I never had the situation. What I know definitely – I will never, ever manage a different club in England than Liverpool, 100 per cent. That’s not possible. My love for this club, my respect for the people is too big. I couldn’t. I couldn’t for a second think about it. There’s no chance.” – Jurgen Klopp
Speaking in his presser, the departing head coach also ruled himself out of any other job in the next year.
“No club, no country for the next year. No other English club ever, I can promise that, even if I have nothing to eat, that will not happen.” – Jurgen Klopp
There wasn’t really much else new in the press conference, in all honesty, with Klopp repeating much of what he had previously said to Liverpool TV.
“You have to be the best version of yourself, especially for a club like Liverpool. It means so much for so many people.
“I can’t do it on three wheels, it’s not allowed. I never wanted to be a passenger. My managerial skills… are based on energy, emotion and relationships. That takes all of you.
“I am who I am and where I am because of how I am. If I cannot be that anymore: stop it and tell the people. I didn’t say it after one year, two years, three years, four years, five years. It was not my idea when I signed a new contract. I was 100% convinced at that moment we will go to 2026. I thought my energy level was endless because it always ways – and now it’s not. Now we have to change.” – Jurgen Klopp
Liverpool CEO Billy Hogan, who was sitting alongside Klopp in the impromptu presser, said that he “can’t commit to a timeline” regarding a replacement but that the decision–making process would “go in the background” as the season goes on.
Sticking with Liverpool but away from managerial matters, Trent Alexander–Arnold (knee) was sighted in training on Friday.
A day earlier, Klopp had said that the defender could return against Norwich in the cup this weekend or against Chelsea in Gameweek 22.
