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More Eddie Howe, asked directly about his future: “That is a surprise to me. As I said to the question earlier, I give my best every day to the football club, to all the players and staff to try and be the best version of myself to inspire the team to win games.
“That is the only thing in my thoughts. I don’t tend to look too far ahead. I try and prepare and plan for the club to move forward in every sense. My individual future is not really relevant.”
Quiz of the week: I guessed my way to a rather decent 12/16.
Virgil van Dijk has hit out at ex-pro pundits in an interview with, er, Gary Neville, ahead of Sky’s broadcast of Liverpool v Manchester City.
For me personally, I can deal with it, but I’m a bit worried for the next generation. I feel like the ex-top players have a responsibility to the new generation. Criticism is absolutely normal and part of the game, and I think it should stay that way. But sometimes criticism also goes into being clickbait, saying things to provoke things, and without thinking about the repercussions for a mental side of players, and especially the younger generation, who are constantly on social media.
Is Virg ruling himself out of a career in punditry?
David Hytner
Mathys Tel is back in Tottenham’s Champions League squad for the knock-out phase of the competition. Thomas Frank has also recalled the fit-again Radu Dragusin and added the January signing Conor Gallagher as part of the three permitted changes.
Dropping out are Brennan Johnson – who has moved to Crystal Palace – Ben Davies and Rodrigo Bentancur, who are injured. Still out are Yves Bissouma and the injured duo Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison. There is no room for the club’s other January signing, the 19-year-old left-back Souza.
Tel was left out at the start of the season only to return for the fifth game of the league phase against Slavia Prague as a replacement for Dominic Solanke. Frank then put Tel back out for the final two league matches when he was allowed to recall Solanke, who had recovered fitness. Spurs are through to the last 16 where they will play Juventus, Galatasaray, Atletico Madrid or Club Brugge.
Krishna gets in touch: “James Milner deserves all the praise for sheer longevity. However the mention of Milner only brings me this from Barney Ronay
He ran the length of the field from one end to another, like a swimmer doing laps, unaware that a match was going on around him.
Newcastle play Brentford and Eddie Howe, with his team in 11th, is coming under a modicum of fire. He’s been carrying out his press duties this morning: “I think naturally you can lose focus on the games that we’ve had. Paris, Liverpool and Man City for any team away from home in a really short period of time - all back off three-game, six-day weeks, so the lads were going into them not in the best physical condition - for any team that will be difficult.
“Watching those games, the scorelines look pretty bad but I think the games were very different, all could have been different. We have to acknowledge that and we have to protect the confidence of the players because if you carry that baggage into the next game then that can be difficult.”
Howe defended Anthony Elanga, too. Elanga got the consolation goal against Manchester City: ““He has done a load of good things that could have led to goals but I was just really pleased that he got the reward of the goal. I am delighted for him and hope it is the start of many. There is no doubting his ability, so it’s a really good thing for him.”
Slot praises Wirtz's 'biggest improvement'
Slot has praised Florian Wirtz, who has been in great form of late:
“I think it’s all, first and foremost, always credit to the player because he has to do the work not only on the pitch, also in the gym. And then as a manager, even if he is maybe physically struggling a little bit in the start, you need to keep on playing him because that’s the only way players can improve.
“He is an example of that where I had many of them this season. So, I think he did not even improve that much on the ball because from the start he was special on the ball.”
“Maybe now he has a better connection with his team-mates because he played more and more together. That’s also what you get if you play them more and more together. But off the ball I see the biggest improvement with him and with some others.
“That combination makes you ready for the Premier League, because the Premier League is about both. It’s not only on the ball, it’s also definitely off the ball.”
Looking ahead to Liverpool v Manchester City, Arne Slot seems to be getting his excuses in early.
James Milner, should he play for Brighton against Crystal Palace on Sunday, will equal Gareth Barry’s all-time Premier League appearance record of 653. His debut was on 10 November 2002, as Leeds beat West Ham 4-3. Milner replaced Jason Wilcox – whatever happened to him? –
Interesting stat via Opta: “Also featuring in Milner’s debut game was Nigel Winterburn for West Ham. Winterburn was born in 1963 and made his own top-flight debut the same year Milner was born.”
He’s played for 21 managers, and is, of course, seven years older than current boss Fabian Hurzeler. Milner was 52 years younger than Bobby Robson, who he played for at Newcastle. The boy from Horsforth, a small town on the edge of Leeds, passed his 40th birthday last month.
Let’s start with Cristiano Ronaldo, 41 on Thursday, who has caused some turmoil at his club, Al-Nassr.
Ronaldo is reported to be discontented with the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) for failing to invest in the team in the winter window while rivals Al-Hilal - also 75% majority-owned by the PIF – brought in his former Real Madrid teammate Karim Benzema from Al-Ittihad.
Preamble
Here we go, as the song goes. The Premier League turbine keeps turning, and here comes a weekend that kicks off at Elland Road this evening, and concludes with Liverpool v Manchester City, a meeting of the two formerly dominant teams when both are at a crossroads.
Friday 6 February
Leeds United v Nottingham Forest, 8pm
Saturday 7 February
Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur, 12.30pm
Bournemouth v Aston Villa, 3pm
Arsenal v Sunderland, 3pm
Burnley v West Ham, 3pm
Fulham v Everton, 3pm
Wolves v Chelsea, 3pm
Newcastle United v Brentford. 5.30pm
Sunday 8 February
Brighton v Crystal Palace, 2pm
Liverpool v Manchester City, 4.30pm
Lots of other stories from round the world of football to follow. Join us.
