Premier League build-up and latest football news
Live Reporting
Tim Abraham, George Booth & Tasnim Chowdhury
Good news about Mo Salah, I've gone early with him back in my fantasy Premier League team, hoping it pays off or I'm in big trouble.
Shaun, Melbourne
Manager Rob Edwards on Luton's team News: “Teden Mengi is fully fit and available.
“He’s been brilliant for us this year. For a younger player to step up, come away from home, out of his comfort zone, and performed at the highest level as he has is astounding.
“I’m not surprised with anything he does, but perhaps I was surprised by how quickly he adapted to his surroundings and his teammates. Hopefully he’ll continue that. He has a high ceiling and I know he will be desperate to play this weekend.”
“Tahith Chong been really affective coming on, especially when there’s more space and we’re a transitional threat.
“He also gives us a bit of balance with a left-footer on that side and he’s certainly pushing for a start. He’s shown many strengths in many areas and he’s somebody who trains full throttle every single day.”
Luton boss Rob Edwards, on upcoming fixtures: "Exciting few weeks ahead playing Manchester United [next] and then Liverpool at Anfield which is then quicklyfollowed up by Man City in the FA Cup.
"Kenilworth Road is fairlyunique and there are bits we can learn and take [from facing Man Utd earlier this season].
"But there was lots of things tolike about that day [in the 1-0 loss to Man Utd] when I watch it back we are a different team which isreally good.
"I think Sunday will be a different type of fixture."
Brentford boss Thomas Frank on Liverpool: "We are facing the top of the league team; a team in form in many ways. They have top players and a top manager [Jurgen Klopp].
“I think Liverpool are the best offensive team in the league, because they are very difficult to close down when they are on it.
“They play in behind, they play crosses, they combine, they do one v ones, they are good on set-pieces. They have created the most xG, which is completely aligned to how they play offensively.
“It’s going to be a huge challenge, but we are up for it, and we believe in ourselves. We believe that we can get a result.”
It was a rainy day at Liverpool training ground but JurgenKlopp arrived for his news conference earlier on with a big smile.
And, no wonder he was in a happy mood. The German hasMohamed Salah back available for the game at Brentford at 12:30 GMT on Saturday.
Salah returned to full training this week after sustaining ahamstring injury playing for Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations on 18 January.
Klopp will also be able to call on keeper Alisson Becker aswell as defenders Ibrahima Konate, Joe Gomez and Conor Bradley for a game hecalled “super tricky”.
Konate is back from a one-game suspension, Alisson and Gomezhave recovered from illness and Bradley is back at Liverpool following thedeath of his father.
However, defender Trent Alexander-Arnold and midfielderDominik Szoboszlai remain out, with Klopp saying neither had been rushed backafter respective knee and hamstring injuries.
Klopp had plenty of praise for Brentford and added that histeam will have to be at their best to get the win to keep their noses in frontin the Premier League title race.
Brentford boss Thomas Frank on the return of Frank Onyeka and Yoane Wissa from Afcon: "They’ve been important and good for us, so it’s good to have them in training. They’ve come back with energy having had, in many, many ways, fantastic experiences. Unfortunately, they finished second and fourth rather than first and third, but we are very proud of them and what they achieved.”
Fulham manager Marco Silva on his side's current form: "It's really positive, the mood during this week. We had a busy period in December and January. We are stronger now. When you have more of the squad available, it's good for competition."
On playing at Craven Cottage: "People know what they're going to face when they come to Craven Cottage. The fans play a big part and we hope that, together, we can keep the same form at home."
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery on winger Leon Bailey signing a new deal with the club: "Of course we are happy with him. His process when I arrived here was to get better, but sometimes we were trying to work with him and be consistent.
"His performances have been better at home than away but he is working hard not only when we are with the ball, in the attacking third, but when we need to compact and defensively strong. We tried to get him to be balanced and consistent. I have been demanding with him and also he wanted to stay here.
His commitment with Aston Villa is perfect. The suopporters love him but of course we have to try to be one step ahead to increase our levels and with him it's the same. He must continue working and be demanding each match. Tomorrow we are away at Fulham and hopefully we can get the best performance from him on the field."
Boubacar Kamara's injury is a serious setback for Aston Villa and, with Fulham usually strong at home, this is a difficult game for Unai Emery's side.
It feels like Villa have to win this, with Tottenham and Manchester United both hitting form in the race for the top four.
But Fulham have started scoring again, with Rodrigo Muniz getting two goals in their win over Bournemouth last week, and I feel like they will get something here as well.
Sutton's prediction: 1-1
Fulham manager Marco Silva on team news: "Raul Jimenez is going to be out for the next few weeks. All the other players are going to be available.
On Alex Iwobi: "He's very good mentally. Alex is a happy boy when he's on the pitch doing what he loves. If you lose a game, you lose a game together. They [Nigeria] did brilliantly until the final."
On Rodrigo Muniz: "I'm really pleased for him. When you have the chance, you have to pop up and take that chance and Rodrigo did. Last week was his best performance in a Fulham shirt."
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has said defender Diego Carlos will be out for "three or four weeks" after he sustained up a hamstring injury in training earlier this week.
On Boubacar Kamara, Tyrone Mings and Emi Buendia, all out with knee injuries, Emery added: "I think all the season they are going to be out, but hopefully they can train at the end of the season. Then starting next season being completely fine to come back playing like they were playing before."
Final words from Mauricio Pochettino, on opponents Man City: "We are going to face a very good team, but you needto be brave and force them defend.
"It is a team that can dominate you and weneed to attack, everyone needs to run to make the effort to go there together.
"Of course, the most important thing is to go there and challengethem.
"For sure, one of the best - they have made history in England.
"We are a teamwhich have had ups-and-downs, we need to find maturity and consistency and we needto try to win.
"You can see we had one of the best performances of the season [in the 4-4 draw to Man City earlier in the season] against the second best [in the league]."
If you want to get something out of a game away at Man City, you need to be brave.
At the same time, I don't think with the players Chelsea have, they can just decide to go deep and then play counter-attack because if they do that, maybe they don't even get the chance to do it.
I feel that Man City when they are in these final phases, they have very quick players.
They keep the ball. When you have players, like Enzo, Palmer, they don't like to be defending the whole game. I think they will hate it. They will get frustrated and in the end they will just be giving up.
Chelsea just need to be themselves. They are not maybe at the level to compete face-to-face against Man City at the moment, but they need to start somewhere.
I think this is a good chance, especially the last couple of results that they have had to prove their momentum and just have a go at them.
Wolves boss Gary O'Neil on forward Matheus Cunha's likely comeback from injury: "Matheus has a hamstring injury. A little bit of muscle damage so he's really optimistic and feels good.Not too much pain there. He's keen to get to work, pushing to get back to help the team as soon as he can.
"We haven't set any timelines because he's feeling really good with it.So we know there is an injury there but pain wise and symptom wise it's been really good.We want to give him every opportunity as we can to keep him pushing as hard as he can.Obviously, we respect the injury, the symptoms and how it progresses.It's important we allow Matheus an opportunity to work hard and get back as soon as possible."
Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino, on promoting young players at Chelsea: "Because it is part of the solution. I think they need tofeel sometimes the pain of how we play.
"It is difficult to grow and mature, the mostimportant thing is how you manage those situations.
"Then it is up to them to reach their limit to that we think they have."
On Enzo Fernandez:"I think he has the capacity to run [more] and it is improving us alot and we can see him building from the back and then arriving at score goals.
"It is a sign he is improving a lot because at the beginninghe was a more static and not covering space.
"He is a player with the capacityto play box-to-box and can score goals."
West Ham boss David Moyes on responding to their 6-0 defeat against Arsenal last weekend: "We didn't play well and we didn't perform anywhere close to the level. We were up against a formidable team and we were punished for it.
"We're all in it together, we're going to act as though it's a blip and try to bounce back tomorrow. I'm looking forward to seeing the attitude of the players and the commitment they show. What I've seen in training has been good."
On Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson: "Roy's a good friend, and a great colleague as well. I'm hearing he's fine, so I hope that's the case. He loves the game and his longevity has been incredible for football."
It's fair to say that both these teams need a victory - neither side has managed one in the league in 2024 - and this is a hard one to call.
The usual way of thinking with West Ham would be to ask if they are going to bounce back from their 6-0 home defeat by Arsenal.
I am going to say they won't. We know David Moyes' teams have been resilient in the past but I can't back anyone who has been beaten that heavily the previous week - it is not just a case of clicking your fingers and turning it around.
The Hammers surely can't be lax as they were against Arsenal, but I am going with Nottingham Forest to find a way through.
Sutton's prediction: 2-1
West Ham boss David Moyes on team news: "Lucas Paqueta is not fit and available for tomorrow. He's been on the grass for a couple of days, but he's not ready yet.
"We've missed Lucas loads. We've had a few players out recently, but I can see other teams who have had similar issues and that's part of the game.
"Michail Antonio's back available. We need to see exactly how he is, but he's back in the squad training.
"Kurt Zouma is fine. The bigger issue was Edson Alvarez who came off with illness last time out, but he's recovered as well."
