Time to sign off for today – I’ll leave you with the latest from Arne Slot, who takes leaders Liverpool to Goodison Park tomorrow, weather permitting.

The former Aston Villa player and European Cup winner Gary Shaw died from a severe head injury sustained in a fall, an inquest in Birmingham has heard.

Shaw, who was 63, had been out with friends on 5 September and was found on the pavement outside his home by a neighbour at 1.20am the following morning. He was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital but died from his injuries on 16 September. The senior coroner returned a verdict of accidental death.

In the Bundesliga, Leverkusen are looking to build on the midweek Cup win over Bayern Munich, at home to St Pauli – but the defending champions are without Patrik Schick, who has a calf problem, adding to Xabi Alonso’s injury list. Germany’s top three all have winnable home games on Saturday: Bayern face Heidenheim, while second-placed Eintracht Frankfurt host Augsburg.

Ipswich host Bournemouth on Sunday in a fixture that might belong in that Mitchell and Webb sketch, but is a big deal for the hosts as they seek a first home win of the season.

“All of our games are an opportunity to get points, and this fixture is no different in that matter,” said Kieran McKenna. “Of course, with two home games back-to-back, you want to get performances, first and foremost, and try and take the game to another level on Sunday. Our sole win this season came at Tottenham so that is pretty good evidence that you can’t take any game for a guarantee.

“We have shown we can compete with everyone but the league shows that every game is very, very difficult so we can only treat the next game as it comes,” he added. “We know Bournemouth are a very good side, but we are in our home stadium, we believe in ourselves, and we are going to look to perform really well.”

Ruud van Nistelrooy got off to a winning start with Leicester, and is seeking more of the same at home to Brighton on Sunday. “Getting results is the main thing,” the Dutchman said. “What does Sunday need for us to win? It starts with the performance on Tuesday again, investing in that fight and spirit, and from there looking to improve certain bits.

“That’s my goal. That gives you the best chance of a result. That was the aspect of the performance I was most happy with. You saw desire in every player, how much they fought for each other. I started with some little changes before the game that were picked up quite well. We’ve worked more on them this week. On top of the foundations, you start to build a vision for the club.”

Here’s today’s Football Daily …

Tomorrow night, the MLS Cup final will see LA Galaxy and New York Red Bulls face off to be crowned champions. So it stands to reason that the league MVP award has gone to … Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi! Admittedly, he is the best player in MLS, even if Inter Miami crashed out of the playoffs early on.

“I would have liked to have received this award in another situation, being able to play the final on Saturday,” Messi said. “But that is also what football is about, overcoming yourself every day. We had a big dream of being MLS champions this year. It didn’t happen, but next year we’ll come back stronger to try again.”

The latest pod is here, talking all the Prem midweek action …

Mikel Arteta heard about Dimitar Berbatov comparing his Arsenal side to Pulisball-era Stoke City, and he’s taking it as a compliment, yeah?

Here’s some more from Julen Lopetegui, who was repeatedly asked whether Monday’s game against Wolves could be his last as West Ham manager. Not sure there’s another profession where you’re expected to discuss losing your job quite so readily, but there we are.

“To close this kind of question, I understand all the things around football and I understand how my main aim and responsibility is to be ready to face a tough and hard match,” Lopetegui said. “In the same way, [it is] a big opportunity and challenge for us at home to be ready to achieve the three points, that is the more important thing.

“For sure, we are not happy and for sure the fans are always right. That’s why until now, I think they give us much more than we give them and we have to change this. We are working for this.”

We’re closing on the top 10 in the Guardian’s top 100 women’s footballers in the world countdown – get up to date here:

Aston Villa ended their winless run by seeing off Brentford on Wednesday, but the fixtures just keep coming for Unai Emery’s tired squad. “Today, I don’t know exactly which players are available tomorrow,” Emery sighed earlier. “Some are doubts, yesterday some had pain and some are tired.”

Saturday’s home game against Southampton will probably come too soon for Amadou Onana, while Jacob Ramsey is “still weeks away”. As for the visitors, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Flynn Downes and Tyler Dibling are back from suspension while Jan Bednarek is “touch and go” according to Russell Martin.

In news that has dismayed football fans across the globe, Kylian Mbappé is struggling at Real Madrid after holding out so long for his dream move. In fairness, Mbappé has still scored 10 goals in 20 games, but he’s also been responsible for two of the worst penalty attempts since Diana Ross was in her pomp.

After missing from the spot again in the 2-1 defeat to Athletic Bilbao, Mbappé said on social media that he took “full responsibility”. The Real Madrid manager, Carlo Ancelotti, has given his thoughts before their La Liga visit to Girona tomorrow.

“He is aware of what is going on. His post after the Athletic game is one of a player who knows how he is playing and that he can play better,” Ancelotti said. “There are players who are unaware they are not playing up to their potential, but he is aware that he can do more, and he is going to do all he can to improve as soon as possible.”

Liverpool will be without Diogo Jota, Federico Chiesa and Alisson for Saturday’s derby. Slot also backed Caoimhin Kelleher after his mistake against Newcastle in midweek, saying: “He saved us a point really because if we had gone 2-0 down, things would have been even harder for us to come back from.”

“If you make a mistake as a goalkeeper it’s difficult for someone else to cover it up for you. He’s always there to help us. He’s in a good place, although he’s disappointed like the others for dropping points from a winning situation. He can go into this game with a lot of confidence.”

After a parade of ruffled, irritable managers, here comes a cheerful Arne Slot, still riding high with Liverpool. He’s excited about his first Merseyside derby – “it being the last one at Goodison makes it even more special” – but cautioned: “It’s only a nice experience if the result goes your way. That is what we are working on the most.

“You need to be aggressive in a smart way,” Slot added, revealing he rewatched last season’s game. “I was surprised after 30 minutes because Liverpool had the ball the most but they had committed more fouls. Everton are a big threat in set pieces. Unnecessary free kicks are not smart for us.”

United face Nottingham Forest on Saturday evening; Amorim reveals that Jonny Evans is still out of training, while Victor Lindelöf is training but not available to play. Luke Shaw revealed on Thursday that he has suffered a setback in his recovery, too. In better news, Kobbie Mainoo and Lisandro Martínez are available again after being suspended for the defeat at the Emirates.

More from Ruben Amorim, who is in at the deep end at Manchester United negotiating a December packed with fixtures. “In one week you have three games; that can change the perception of the team and the table. One week can change a lot and we need to have consistency.

“Before this Arsenal game, you were asking about the top four … we have to manage expectation, be calm and continue doing the job that we are doing,” he adds. “We do not have time to train, [work on] our structure, improve set pieces … we have one game, recovery and then we have to prepare for the [next] opponent.”

Chelsea sit second in the table as they prepare to face Tottenham on Sunday, but Enzo Maresca isn’t thinking about the title race. “I don’t think we are there and ready to compete with Arsenal, Liverpool and City,” the Italian said. “We are just focused on Sunday and then the next one. We are not thinking about April, May or June. It’s too early. Things can change quick in football.”

Maresca adds that Reece James and Wesley Fofana are “slowly getting better” but won’t be fit for Sunday. Illness around the Chelsea camp has eased, but Mykhailo Mudryk is still recovering.

Ruben Amorim has paid tribute to Kath Phipps, the much-loved Manchester United employee who died this week at the age of 85.

“You feel it today, it’s a sad day,” the manager said. “Everybody talks about Kathy. I met her seven years ago during the internship, she was the lady behind the reception. She was a really important person here that represents everything about this club: friendly, professional, taking care of everybody, it’s a sad day.”

West Ham host Wolves in what some cruel online wags are dubbing ‘el Sackico’. The Hammers manager, Julen Lopetegui, has been under near-constant pressure this season but is taking things game by game. “Our main aim to be ready, to compete in the next challenge we have on Monday,” he has told the press this afternoon.

“The players have been fantastic,” Lopetegui added. “I don’t have anything to say against my players. I will not talk bad about my players, I accept all the responsibility and pressure. That is why I am the coach.” He bristles slightly at mention of “walking away” from his previous job at Molineux. “That was a different situation,” he said. “I am always committed to the job. I’m happy and proud to be here.”

Fulham host Arsenal on Sunday, having beaten Brighton 3-1 and lost 4-1 to Wolves in their last two home league games. Marco Silva will run the rule over his players’ fitness this afternoon after last night’s win, but Reiss Nelson – who is ineligible for Sunday’s game anyway – will miss the next couple of games with a hamstring injury.

If you’re on your lunch break, why not have a go at our sports quiz of the week?

I’m curious about this expanded Club World Cup – it seems a ludicrous extravagance to me, but am aware the previous iteration meant a lot more to clubs outside Europe. Is anyone out there excited for it? There are some intriguing fixtures (Bayern v Boca Juniors sounds fun) but I fear it’ll have a seriously pre-season vibe with the calendar so packed already.

Coming up soon: Julen Lopetegui, Mikel Arteta, Enzo Maresca and Pep Guardiola. The latter two managers have found out their Club World Cup opponents for next summer; we’ll see if either has anything to say about player burnout today.

Here’s an insight into Premier League managers’ hot beverage habits. Twenty cups of tea, Gary? Twenty? That’s insane.

Staying with England internationals at struggling second-tier sides, here’s Wayne Rooney, under pressure at Plymouth: “I’m a fighter, I’m going to lead us and be an example to players,” he said before Argyle host Oxford tomorrow. “I’m loving the job, we’ve had good days, bad days. Hoping to lead the team to some better days.”

Frank Lampard is settling in as the new Coventry manager, and will take his team to Millwall on Saturday afternoon. “I still have the same belief in the squad after a week, it’s a good group, we’ve had a good week’s work, I’m starting to get to know them. It’s a talented group, not really reflected [in results] so I want to see progression.”

“I wonder how many goals Ian Rush might tuck away if he played in the current Liverpool team,” writes Tim Woods. “I’ll go out on a limb and wager it might be a couple more than our current number nine.”

Everton host Liverpool for what may well be the final time at Goodison Park on Saturday. The club are due to move into their new waterfront stadium next season, but worrying clips emerged of water running down steps and concourses amid heavy rain on Merseyside. Everton have played down concerns, telling the Liverpool Echo that a new drainage system, yet to be installed, will prevent repeat incidents.

Here are this weekend’s Premier League fixtures as the match weeks pile up, reducing fantasy football teams to dust.

Saturday (3pm unless stated)
Everton v Liverpool (12.30pm)
Aston Villa v Southampton
Brentford v Newcastle
Crystal Palace v Manchester City
Manchester United v Nottingham Forest (5.30pm)

Sunday (2pm unless stated)
Fulham v Arsenal
Ipswich v Bournemouth
Leicester v Brighton
Tottenham v Chelsea (4.30pm)

Monday
West Ham v Wolves (8pm)

In the WSL, more Chelsea injury news: Sonia Bompastor has confirmed striker Sam Kerr will remain sidelined until at least February. The Australia forward sustained an ACL injury in training last January. “We are looking to maybe have her back with us February, March, not before that,” said the Chelsea manager, who is also without Lauren James until the new year.

I’ve been enjoying this series – and would love to hear your club’s best five-a-side team, whether Italian or otherwise. You can email me here.

The Spurs manager adds that Ben Davies won’t feature against Chelsea after a hamstring injury last night. Cristian Romero, out since November, is back in training. “We’ve done well against the teams at the top of the table,” Postecoglou says. “It’s always a tough game against them but we are at home, and we need to produce a performance like those games [against top teams].”

On the bigger picture: “I’m here, I’m going to fight to bring success to this football club, nothing changes. Where there’s doubt, internally or externally, that just makes my resolve stronger to get things right. The supporters will feel what they feel, whether they see what we’re trying to do or not, I can’t change that without evidence on the pitch. It’s up to me that they do see that.”

Postecoglou: “The disappointment last night is a repeat of the cycle of us going into games, starting well but letting the opposition get into it by conceding sloppy goals, or not taking chances. There’s not a lot of opportunity to rest and rotate players … [but] we’ve repeatedly shot ourselves in the foot in games this season.”

Thanks, Dave. We’ll start off with Ange Postecoglou, who’s back in front of the press around 14 hours after rowing with away fans down at the Vitality Stadium.

And on that, I’ll hand over to Niall McVeigh to take you through the afternoon.

And for balance, here’s Ian Rush’s hat-trick in Liverpool’s 5-0 win at Goodison in 1982. Note the similar kit to this year’s. A good omen?

It’s the Merseyside derby this weekend, the 245th if you’ve been counting.

A little surprisingly given Liverpool’s recent dominance of the fixture, the win count is 41 each at Goodison, the Blues drawing level with a 2-0 win last season, their first at home since 2010.

Here’s a famous Everton win from the vaults, along with the famous aftermath. Pick that out Ray Clemence.

First Trent Alexander-Arnold said it and now Cole Palmer has his eyes on the ultimate individual prize – winning the Ballon d’Or.

This was TAA a few weeks ago: “I want to be the first full-back to ever do it.”

This is Palmer talking on the recent Men In Blazers podcast: “Ballon d’Or, that’s what everyone wants to win. I wish.”

Was this always the case? Is it a sign of ambition or slightly skewed priorities?

Or is it just a way of securing a future move to Real Madrid?

Palmer finished 25th in the race to be named the best player in the world for 2024, with Manchester City’s Rodri claiming the prize.

Lauren James has missed Chelsea’s last eight games due to a calf problem and boss Sonia Bompastor expects her to remain out of action until the new year.

Bompastor told a press conference on Friday: “LJ is progressing really well with her rehab.

“I think it will be difficult to see her before the end of the year. We still have a small hope on that, so we’ll see. But I’m more expecting her being able to play with us in January.

“She’s in a good position mentally, physically progressing. I saw her on the pitch, she is starting to run, she has started to touch the ball. So it’s a good signal and she will be fresh in January for sure.”

Chelsea have certainly coped well without her, winning all eight games in the WSL this season and 12 out of 12 in total.

And that dominance has prompted this…

A bit more from Eddie Howe, this time concerning team news for Newcastle’s trip to play Brentford at Fortress Gtech on Saturday.

“There were some tired bodies in the team,” admitted Howe after the Magpies played out a blood-and-thunder 3-3 draw with Liverpool on Wednesday.

“Anthony Gordon was fatigued at the end of his performance and naturally when you empty like that and you give so much to the game, there’s going to be a hit.

“Alex[ander Isak] worked extremely hard and he was tired at the end of the game, so our job is to refuel the group and go again in what is a great opportunity for us.”

Kieran Trippier, who missed the Liverpool game due to illness, is likely to be included in the travelling squad.

Eddie Howe has admitted he “can’t guarantee” that Newcastle will not sell more players in the January transfer window in order to comply with Premier League spending rules.

The Magpies were forced to offload Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh in the summer to ensure they did not fall foul of Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) and face a possible points deduction.

And speaking at a press conference ahead of Saturday’s trip to Brentford, Howe hinted that more movement is likely next month as the club continue to work within the parameters of a system he recently criticised as “not right”.

Howe said: “The days when teams don’t sell players, unless your revenue streams are so big, are gone. So I think our revenue streams aren’t where we want them to be.

“We are trying to grow them, so I think trading in and out is going to be essential. Hopefully it’s not going to be players that we are forced to sell like we were in that situation (in the summer) with a couple of days of deadlines approaching.

“Hopefully it’s a more stable setting but you can’t guarantee anything. Nothing is absolutely fixed and there will be lots of twists and turns.”

(PA Media)

In our latest Moving the Goalposts newsletter, Esther Appiah-Fei looks at how a luxury tax on foreign sanitary pads is tainting the experience of some players and harming their progress in Ghana’s Premier League.

Lauren Hemp’s knee surgery was a success but it remains too early to say when she will return to full fitness, although the Manchester City head coach, Gareth Taylor, has sought to ease concerns on the injury’s severity.

Taylor confirmed it was Hemp’s meniscus (knee cartilage) that had required treatment in November, rather than a longer-term recovery timeframe such as an ACL, when asked whether Hemp’s injury was likely to be season-ending.

“It was a meniscus injury,” he said. “Straight away when you hear ‘knee surgery’, I think everyone thinks of the worst which is ACL, so no, she did it in the game against Crystal Palace and played in the Spurs game [after that], which probably tells you it wasn’t anything significant but it is obviously significant enough for her to miss this run of games.

“The surgery was really successful, that’s the positive news. It was just an issue she had that needed taking care of, similar in a way to Viv’s [Vivianne Miedema’s].

“It’ll [Hemp’s return] be the new year, there’s no doubt; there’s no way we’re going to see her in this next run of four games. Hopefully the closer that is to new year, the better for us.

“Of course, with someone like Lauren, they have hugely quick recovery powers. She’s aligned with what she needs to do to get strong and ready and having her back would be amazing.”

Taylor also confirmed that Hemp’s fellow England winger, Chloe Kelly, would miss Sunday’s visit of Leicester City while she concludes concussion protocols.

Justin Kluivert scored a hat-trick of penalties for Bournemouth at Wolves last weekend – a first for the Premier League. But who was the last player to do it in the English top flight? The Knowledge knows.

Measuring how much pressure a manager is under can often be detected by subtle changes in the English language. Elongating to full, formal titles and third person-speak are the usual giveaways, such as this from an ex-Leicester boss: “Micky Adams needs to get back into the habit of winning football matches.”

I fear Wolves boss Gary O’Neill is going the same way. Here he is talking ahead of Monday’s clash with West Ham.

“Wolverhampton Wanderers needs to stay in the Premier League regardless of whether there are seven managers in this season or whether it’s me that takes it the whole way through. We need to find a way to keep this football club in the Premier League, that’s all that matters.”

West Ham United’s manager, Mr Julen Lopetegui, is also vulnerable of course. Monday night is a big one for these two Premier League clubs – West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Brentford’s home form is one of the great things of the 2024/25 season. The Bees have played seven times at the Gtech, won six, drawn one and lost none. Their tally of home points, 19, is the best in the Premier League as is their tally of home goals, 22. The next visitors are Newcastle and the Brentford boss, Thomas Frank, has heaped praise on his oppositie number.

Frank said: “This season I think they are back to the high level of two years ago. I don’t think they’ve been rewarded enough with points and results.

“If I see their games, they were brilliant at home to Arsenal, brilliant at home to Liverpool, very good away to Chelsea – unlucky not to get something out of the game. Home to West Ham, they absolutely dominated them.

“So, I think it’s an Eddie Howe team that is up to its best and so it is going to be a big test for us. This will be the biggest test that we’ve faced at home so far this season.”

Both teams have 20 points so far, Brentford (11th) just nudging ahead of Newcastle (12th) on goal difference.

Exciting 2025 Club World Cup news as Messi’s Inter Miami are doing something or other and Man City have been drawn with Wydad AC and Al Ain. In the group stage. Next summer. Read all about it or read Philippe Auclair’s piece on all this shenanigans.

The 100 best female footballers in the world 2024. Here’s the third instalment of our annual ranking. Temwa Chawinga, Ewa Pajor and Lauren James all feature as we move up to 11th.

The England midfielder Ella Toone will remain sidelined with a calf injury until at least the start of 2025, the Manchester United head coach Marc Skinner has said.

Toone has been absent since sustaining the injury in mid-November and missed England’s recent friendlies against the United States and Switzerland.

Manchester United have two more league fixtures before the Women’s Super League enters its winter break and Skinner said of Toone: “We’re hoping she’s back and ready for selection for the early games in January, to face Man City [19 Jan] and so on.

“Her return to play will be scheduled. That’s when we’re looking to get her back. She’s missed it, she loves playing football to her core.”

Skinner also revealed that his team’s Norway midfielder Lisa Naalsund will similarly be out until the winter break, but that the Norway striker Elisabeth Terland is available for Sunday’s WSL meeting with Liverpool.

Anyway, forget the top four, let’s take a moment to pay tribute to Fulham and Alex Iwobi.

• Fulham are sixth in the table after beating Brighton 3-1 last night.
  

• Alex Iwobi (4) has now scored twice as many goals as Erling Haaland (2) in the last six Premier League games.

A report here on how Iwobi’s double lifted the Cottagers into the top six.

So to this weekend’s Premier League fixtures. Fun fact: the top four all face away trips.

Saturday
12.30 Everton v Liverpool
15.00 Aston Villa v Southampton
15.00 Brentford v Newcastle
15.00 Crystal Palace v Man City
17.30 Man Utd v Nottingham Forest

Sunday
14.00 Fulham v Arsenal
14.00 Ipswich v Bournemouth
14.00 Leicester v Brighton
16.30 Spurs v Chelsea

Monday
20.00 West Ham v Wolves

The Premier League table is starting to take shape now with a very clear and obvious top four.

And to complete a good midweek for the chasing pack, even Manchester City managed to win. After fever dream form of LLLLLDL, Pep finally got a W thanks to a 3-0 home victory over Nottingham Forest. They’re now nine off the pace after a game that saw them double their season’s goal difference to +6.

Arsenal also pulled to within seven of Liverpool after scoring twice from corners in their 2-0 win over Manchester United on Wednesday night. That ended Ruben Amorim’s three-game unbeaten start as Old Trafford boss. The Portuguese had said prior to the Emirates clash: “The storm will come. We are going to have difficult moments and we will be found out in some games.” This was one of them.

Are Chelsea in the title race or not really? Their 5-1 win at Southampton says yes and while you read the report of that one and ponder if they have it in them to win the Premier League, enjoy a picture of the week contender: the lovely blue tones of Christopher Nkunku blowing up a balloon after he scored Chelsea’s second.

Liverpool’s lead at the top was cut to seven points after their thrilling 3-3 draw at Newcastle on Wednesday night. Conceding a 90th-minute equaliser is always going to hurt – just punch it Caoimhin! – but at least Arne Slot made some promising noises about Mo Salah signing a new contract after the Egyptian continued his ridiculously good form with two goals and an assist.

And now for Coleen, who has made quite a mark during her time on I’m A Celeb. She’s second favourite with the bookies by the way. Feature here:

Let’s take you into Rooney world and we’ll start with Wayne, who is coming to terms with recent 6-1 (Norwich) and 4-0 (Bristol City) losses which left Plymouth 21st place in the Championship. Their away form shows two points from a possible 30; the Pilgrims’ goal difference on the road is -24.

However, Plymouth owner Simon Hallet told a fans forum this week that “there are no conversations going on about replacing Wayne” and, to be fair, Rooney’s side have been pretty decent at Home Park with just one defeat in eight matches. A good time then for Plymouth to have back-to-back home matches. The first is against Oxford, who are also winless on the road.

Ange is sucking it up after Tottenham’s miserable defeat at Bournemouth. It ended 1-0 but could have easily been three of four. “You’ve got to cop it,” he growled later. Here’s the reaction as Spurs’ highly miffed fans let him know what they thought.