Erik ten Hag has told his Manchester United players they cannot afford to let their performance levels drop when they face struggling Everton at Old Trafford on Saturday.

United snapped a three-game winless streak in the Premier League, including a 7-0 hammering at fierce rivals Liverpool, with a 1-0 victory over Brentford in midweek.

That moved the Red Devils into fourth place, three points clear of Tottenham with a game in hand in the battle for Champions League football next season.

But Ten Hag warned there is still plenty of work to do in United's remaining 10 games, starting with this weekend's visit of an Everton side fighting for survival.

"You have to do it every game and that means preparation, but it has to be the standard," Ten Hag said of his side's mentality. "You're playing for Man United, so there's the demand.

"No ifs or buts. A player must deliver when you play for Manchester United. You must be accountable. It's about demands, so we must match standards always.

"For a player playing at the top, competing for trophies, competing for the Premier League, you have to do it always, consistently. It's our job to bring that mentality in."

Everton followed up a 2-2 draw away at Chelsea prior to the international break with a 1-1 draw at home to Tottenham, but they are only outside the relegation on goal difference.

The Toffees are unbeaten in four league games – their best run since a run of six that ended on October 1 – and boss Sean Dyche wants them to continue with the same mindset.

"It is about the mentality on a daily basis and taking that into games," he said. "We work at a certain level in training; we want that to go into every game we play.

"It's a different mindset for me and the work we do and the work to progress where we want to be. I think that work is in progress."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Manchester United - Christian Eriksen

Ten Hag revealed on the eve of the game that Eriksen will be part of United's squad for the first time since injuring his ankle at the end of January, having made a swifter-than-expected return.

The Denmark international was a key player for United prior to his lay-off, assisting seven goals and scoring one of his own in 19 Premier League appearances.

Everton - Alex Iwobi

Iwobi has gone six league games without a goal involvement for Everton, but there is no denying his influence in the side.

Among Everton players in the league this season, the Nigeria international ranks top for possession won in the final third (26), chances created (47) and successful take-ons (41).

MATCH PREDICTION - UNITED WIN

Everton have undoubtedly improved under Dyche, having collected 12 points from their nine Premier League matches since he took over, which is seven more than they managed in their final 12 under Frank Lampard.

United have won all three matches in the early Saturday kick-off slot this season, including victory over Manchester City in January, and they are unbeaten in 24 games at Old Trafford in all competitions.

The Red Devils have also lost just one of their past 29 Premier League home games against Everton, with that coming in December 2013, though each of the past three fixtures between the sides in Manchester have finished all square.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

United - 52.7 per cent

Everton - 20.6 per cent

Draw - 26.7 per cent

Christian Eriksen will return to Manchester United's matchday squad for Saturday's clash with Everton after over two months out.

The Denmark international suffered an ankle injury in an FA Cup win over Reading on January 28 after being on the receiving end of a crude challenge by Andy Carroll.

Manager Erik ten Hag was not shy in voicing his displeasure with Carroll's tackle over the following days, with it then emerging Eriksen was facing up to three months out.

That was a major disappointment for United given how quickly the Dane had established himself as a key player at Old Trafford.

But Eriksen's rehabilitation has gone well and he is in contention to play a part against visitors Everton on Saturday, meaning he will have missed a little over two months rather than being ruled out until May, as was feared.

The good news of Eriksen's return was tempered by the blow of losing Luke Shaw after he was substituted early against Brentford on Wednesday, but the midfielder was the chief focus in Ten Hag's pre-match press conference.

Asked for a squad fitness update, Ten Hag said: "Luke Shaw is not available for [Everton], and we have to see how it progresses in the coming week.

"The good news is Christian Eriksen is back in training and he will be back tomorrow in the squad."

Although United have since won the EFL Cup, progressed to the quarter-finals of the Europa League and remain firmly in the hunt for a top-four spot, their form over the past two months has been patchy.

United's win rate with Eriksen this season is 63.2 per cent, compared to 44.4 per cent without him.

Other factors have come into play with respect to United's recent inconsistency, with Casemiro also missing a significant amount of football due to multiple suspensions.

But the importance of Eriksen's timely return at a decisive moment in the season was not lost on Ten Hag.

"I think it was not for nothing," he said. "I was so angry about that tackle and he was away – at first we feared we had lost him for the whole season, but he worked very well.

"I think the medical department did really well and in togetherness he is already returning to the squad and so is available for the final stages of the season. We are very pleased with that.

"From the first [point] it was a really bad tackle and it was also a really bad injury, but he is a little bit ahead of the schedule so we are very happy with [that]."

Mikel Arteta has "full respect and admiration" for Jurgen Klopp and says there is no lasting grudge between the pair as Arsenal prepare to face Liverpool at Anfield.

Arsenal manager Arteta was involved in a touchline bust-up with Klopp during this corresponding fixture last season, which Liverpool went on to win 4-0.

The Gunners have come a long way since that match in November 2021 and enter Sunday's latest encounter on Merseyside 29 points better off than their opponents.

With Arsenal top of the table and on course for a first title in 19 years, Arteta sees no reason for himself and his players to lose their cool this time around.

"That's football," Arteta said of his previous falling out with Klopp. "After that, we hugged each other and moved on.

"I have full respect and admiration for what he and the coaching staff have done at Liverpool. We move on. 

"I reacted that day to defend our players in the best possible way. But I don't like seeing myself like this, so hopefully I won't do it again. We know we must [keep our composure]."

Arsenal have won seven league games on the spin to retain an eight-point lead over Manchester City, who have a game in hand and host the Gunners later this month.

Liverpool have taken just one point from their past three games, meanwhile, but they have won six of their past seven home league matches.

The Reds have not conceded in seven hours and 26 minutes of league football at Anfield, but Klopp accepts his side cannot rely on their home form alone to save their season.

"Anfield is not the only thing we should rely on, but it is no secret that the combination of our people, the ground and the boys is pretty good," he said.

"That is what we have to throw in, but not rely on it. I have a very good feeling we can [overcome Arsenal]."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Liverpool – Mohamed Salah

Klopp took the surprising decision to make six changes for the midweek 0-0 draw against Chelsea, with Salah among those to drop down to the substitutes' bench.

Salah should return this weekend, and he is in great form at Anfield, where he is looking to score in four straight league games for the first time since a run of six ended in June 2020.

Arsenal – Leandro Trossard

January recruit Trossard has made a big impact since arriving at Arsenal from Brighton and Hove Albion, scoring one goal and assisting seven in 11 appearances for the club.

He scored a hat-trick at Anfield for Brighton in October and could become the first player to score there for two separate away sides in a single Premier League season.

MATCH PREDICTION – LIVERPOOL WIN

This will be the ninth time Arsenal have faced Liverpool while top of the Premier League, with the previous eight producing 33 goals at an average of over four per game.

Arsenal won the reverse meeting with Liverpool 3-2 in October and are seeking a Premier League double in this fixture for the first time since the 2009-10 campaign.

But Liverpool have performed well on home soil and have won their past six league games against Arsenal at Anfield, scoring at least three times in each game.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Liverpool – 51.0 per cent

Arsenal – 22.6 per cent

Draw – 26.4 per cent

Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal must "embrace" the pressure as they continue their Premier League title charge with a trip to Anfield to face Liverpool on Sunday.

Arteta's men head into the weekend with an eight-point lead over second-placed Manchester City, who have a game in hand on the Gunners and take on Southampton at St Mary's Stadium on Saturday.

As they bid to hold off City and prevent Pep Guardiola's men lifting a fifth Premier League title in six seasons, Arteta suggests it is important his team relish the situation they are in and use it as fuel to get them over the line.

"We do enjoy it, we have to enjoy it," Arteta told reporters at his pre-match news conference. "We really need to embrace the moment and go for it.

"The team is full of enthusiasm and positivity, and we know that we have a big challenge but also a big opportunity to go to Anfield and do something we haven't done for many years, and that is what is driving the team."

Arteta's men head to Anfield with a dismal record in recent years, with the Gunners not taking three points away from the famous old ground since the 2012-13 season, when goals from Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla earned a 2-0 victory with Arteta playing in midfield for Arsenal.

Arteta does not feel his team should fear going to Anfield, saying: "We've been in a few grounds that we haven't won at in many years, and we've managed to do that. We're capable of doing it.

"We'll need to be better, certainly than in the second half of last year. First of all, it's a different group coming from a different position. What we need to have is courage. On Sunday, we'll try to be that team."

Liverpool have failed to hit the heights of previous seasons, knocked out of all cup competitions and sitting eighth in the league as they desperately scrap to achieve European qualification.

When asked if he was surprised by the Reds' disappointing campaign, Arteta replied: "It's more admiration because it shows the difficulty of being at the top and transforming a football club.

"It shows how hard it is to maintain that. We've all had difficult moments, but what they've done at the club is remarkable."

The Arsenal manager also confirmed the Gunners are set to be boosted by Bukayo Saka being fit to start after a bout of illness saw him drop to the bench for the 4-1 home thrashing of Leeds United last weekend.

Tottenham have hired former City Football Group executive Scott Munn as their new chief football officer.

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy had been leading a thorough review of the club's "footballing activities" over the past six months in a bid to ensure "future progress and competitiveness".

The appointment of a chief football officer is considered a major step in that process, with Munn set to take charge of all football-related operations.

Munn's arrival is unrelated to Fabio Paratici's situation, with the Italian managing director of football having taken a step back pending his appeal against a 30-month worldwide ban for his alleged role in Juventus being found guilty of transfer irregularities.

If Paratici wins his appeal, which is due to be heard on April 19, he will answer directly to Munn, who also takes up a position on the Spurs board.

Confirming Munn's appointment, Levy said: "Scott has a unique and broad experience of running sporting organisations at the highest level and will take responsibility for the leadership and management of our football activities to instil best practice both on and off the pitch."

Munn formerly held a senior role with City Football Group, the ownership company that Manchester City sit within, and was also Melbourne City CEO.

In 2019 the Australian was made CEO of City Football Group China – his new position will be Munn's first in the European game.

Harvey Barnes has warned his Leicester City team-mates time is running out for them to "put things right" in their quest to avoid Premier League relegation.

Managerless Leicester have taken just one point from their past seven games ahead of Saturday's huge showdown with fellow strugglers Bournemouth at the King Power Stadium.

City are one place below Bournemouth in 19th, but just three points separate themselves and Wolves in 14th, meaning victory this weekend could change the relegation picture entirely.

"The quality is there. You see it when you look around at the players we have here, and it's difficult to see that we're in this position, but we are," Barnes told Leicester's website.

"There are teams who are doing a lot better than us in the league that on paper may not have the quality that we do here, but they've got it right and everything is working well.

"That's what we've struggled with this year, and we've got to put things right. We're obviously not happy with the position that we're in; that's clear for everyone to see."

First-team coach Adam Sadler will remain in caretaker charge of Leicester this weekend following the sacking of Brendan Rodgers.

Bournemouth themselves have a chance to climb out of the relegation zone, having kept their hopes alive with three wins in their past seven games.

Following a run of fixtures against top-half sides, Bournemouth head coach Gary O'Neill is expecting a real battle in the six-pointer with Leicester.

"We've had six games on the trot against a team in the top 10, and we've had a right go in all of them," he said.

"We've taken a decent amount of points and put ourselves in a decent position to have a right good crack at the last few games.

"It doesn’t mean the next ones are going to be any easier. Going to Leicester will be tough. There's no doubt they will be scrapping for everything."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Leicester City – Jamie Vardy

There is no denying that Vardy is no longer the prolific striker he was for Leicester, having scored just one goal in 28 Premier League games this term – 12 of those being starts.

However, he has been involved in eight goals in 13 league games against Bournemouth (seven goals, one assist), with six of those coming in six games on home soil.

Bournemouth – Marcus Tavernier

Tavernier has grown more and more in importance for the Cherries, the versatile midfielder assisting four goals and scoring four more in his past seven outings.

He has scored in Bournemouth's past two away Premier League games and could become the second player to score in three in a row for the club after Joshua King in March 2017.

MATCH PREDICTION – LEICESTER WIN

Bournemouth have won their past two games against Leicester and are seeking a first home-and-away league double in this fixture since the 1988-99 campaign.

The Cherries have lost eight of their past nine Premier League away games, however, and have kept just one clean sheet in their last 24 top-flight games on the road.

Leicester have never lost a home Premier League game against Bournemouth in five previous meetings, meanwhile, and will consider this a big opportunity to kick-start their season.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Leicester City – 61.8 per cent

Bournemouth – 15.3 per cent

Draw – 22.9 per cent

Pep Guardiola has confirmed Erling Haaland will be fit to return for Manchester City at Southampton on Saturday.

The prolific striker missed a 4-1 Premier League thrashing of Liverpool last weekend due to a groin injury but was back in training this week.

City boss Guardiola on Friday revealed Haaland, who has scored a staggering 42 goals in his first season at the club, will be available to lead the line when second-placed City face bottom-of-the-table Saints at St Mary's.

The Catalan said: "He's been training really good the past two days; he will be ready."

City have won seven games in a row in all competitions and can reduce Arsenal's lead at the top of the league table to five points with another victory on the south coast, with the Gunners taking on Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.

The champions have scored 17 goals in their past three games as they challenge for more trophies.

Southampton beat City 2-0 at home in the EFL Cup three months ago, though, and Guardiola expects another tough battle.

"The patterns are quite clear," he said. "Every team is playing for something: a fight for the Premier League and a fight to be in the Premier League.

"Every game has its own characteristic, and you have to be ready. Southampton have always been so tough there. The game we made it to 100 points [in 2018] they were much better than us; we've drawn before.

"It's tough, and I have a feeling tomorrow won't be an exception."

Meanwhile, Guardiola does not believe playing before Arsenal is an advantage for his side.

Asked if that might benefit City, he said: "I don't think so. When we had a title race with Liverpool, we sometimes played before, sometimes later. We have to win our games."

Christophe Galtier described Paris Saint-Germain's form as "unacceptable" as the champions look to prevent their lead atop Ligue 1 from being trimmed again.

After losing their last two games at home to Rennes and Lyon, PSG sit just six points ahead of second-place Lens, having already been knocked out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich.

Ahead of a trip to his former side Nice, who have not lost since early January, Galtier has made his feelings clear to PSG's star-studded squad.

"We have prepared well for Nice," he said at a press conference. "I spoke to my players the day after the [Lyon] game and I asked them to be more committed and show more personality.

"We also need to be more respectful of instructions during games. That relates to our setup and commitment, which were not enough."

He added: "We know we need to do more, and I mean everyone, including me. We need to do much more. We need to play better football and show more personality.

"We also need to be proud because at PSG, we need to perform well in every game, and the current situation is unacceptable... When the players are on the same page and are fully committed throughout the game, we know we can perform very well."

Having only lost four games in the whole of 2022, PSG have already been beaten eight times in 2023, leaving Galtier's future shrouded in doubt.

But the 56-year-old insists he is not feeling the pressure.

"Of course, when we lose, and that was the eighth one and it was a significant one, it is not about pressure," he said. "It is about analysing that moment and getting the analysis right so that there are no excuses.

"As to whether I feel comfortable, I do. But we need to get out of this spiral and put some wins together. We are after our 11th league title and this is what I said to the players as well. We have a six-point lead which may seem like a lot, but it can change quickly in football."

Galtier also drew a line under Kylian Mbappe's unhappy reaction to being used by the club in a promotional video for season ticket renewals without his knowledge.

"It is very difficult for me to talk about that," he said. "Kylian Mbappe has a relationship with the club and this morning he was very smiley and committed as always.

"He also has had a small hip problem, but that will not affect him playing on Saturday against Nice.

"Everyone has their own way of reacting. Kylian has been talking to the board and if we call that an incident, maybe there has been a misunderstanding, which has now been put to bed."

Carlo Ancelotti feels coaching Barcelona is "not an option" due to his loyalties to Real Madrid, who he labelled the "best club in the world."

Ancelotti has won a LaLiga title and a pair of Champions League trophies with Madrid across two spells, though there are rumours his time at the club could be coming to an end, with Brazil and Chelsea said to be keen on the 63-year-old.

Despite all the talk of the next destination in Ancelotti's hugely successful managerial career, he ruled out ever joining Madrid's Clasico rivals.

"For me, coaching Barcelona is impossible," Ancelotti told reporters at his pre-match press conference ahead of Madrid's LaLiga meeting with Villarreal on Saturday. 

"After 1,272 games [as a coach], I don't have to prove anything.

"I wouldn't change myself. You have to respect my personal history and that of the clubs.

"I won't change myself for anyone because I feel very comfortable here, where the people love me a lot. It's the best club in the world.

"I am loved and I feel secure, so there is no reason for me to change Real Madrid for Barcelona."

Ancelotti's side thumped Barca 4-0 in the second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final at Camp Nou on Wednesday to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit and confirm their place in the final against Osasuna.

Yet, Madrid lag 12 points behind the Catalan giants in LaLiga and their hopes of retaining the title look all but over.

Ancelotti does not feel his side have been significantly worse than last season, and instead credited Barca for their improvement, saying: "We want to end the season well.

"We only have four less points in the league than this stage last year... Barcelona has many more. We want to continue fighting for the league until the end."

Ancelotti's potential Madrid exit at the end of the season may be one of several major departures at the club, with the contracts of veterans such as Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Karim Benzema set to expire at the conclusion of this campaign.

The Italian believes the trio will extend their stays, though he remains confident Madrid will continue to enjoy future success even if they do opt to leave.

"I believe they will stay, but the day they stop, something is going to change," Ancelotti added. "[But] we have to look for the club's future along a different line, not the way [they play] with Kroos and Modric.

"We have fantastic youngsters like [Aurelien] Tchouameni, [Federico] Valverde, [Eduardo] Camavinga, [Dani] Ceballos, who are going to start an era, different from the others, of course."

Brian Schmetzer is looking for Seattle Sounders to use Lumen Field's home advantage to beat the visiting St. Louis City on Saturday and leapfrog them to the Western Conference summit.

Expansion franchise St. Louis have enjoyed a brilliant start to MLS life, rattling off five victories from their first six matches to sit top of the West.

They were beaten at home by Minnesota United last time out, though, and Schmetzer wants his Seattle team, who sit just two points behind St. Louis and will go top with a win, to embrace familiar surroundings against the early frontrunners.

"It's another home game," Schmetzer told reporters. "We want to make sure that Lumen Field is a hard place to play.

"I have confidence that if our team plays up to our potential, chances are we'll come up with a good result."

St. Louis' first MLS defeat came against an unbeaten Minnesota team, who scored with their only shot on target as the hosts lost despite managing more attempts and shots on target than their opponents while also holding 55 per cent of the possession.

Head coach Bradley Carnell is keeping a positive outlook as they try and get back on track against Seattle, saying: "It's a new window for us.

"It's a new window of opportunity to go and start something fresh, start something new."

Goalkeeper Roman Burki feels the first defeat has shown St. Louis' character, explaining: "Five games in a row, everything's good and sunshine every day.

"But I learned that we have actual winners and fighters in the team, guys who can speak up, get loud. I would say this group are a team."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Seattle Sounders – Leo Chu

After keeping his place in the starting XI following his four-assist performance against Sporting Kansas City, Chu followed it up by scoring his first goal and setting another goal up in the 2-1 victory at the LA Galaxy last time out. Can he make it three straight games with a goal involvement against St. Louis on Saturday?

St. Louis City – Eduard Lowen

Lowen (four assists) and team-mate Joao Klauss (two goals, three assists) have both contributed to at least one goal in each of their first three road matches in MLS, with only six players managing it in their first four games. Can Lowen join that exclusive club here?

MATCH PREDICTION – SEATTLE WIN

Seattle have taken 13 points from their first six matches of the season, the eighth time in 13 MLS campaigns they have managed at least 10 points from their opening six games, and they are yet to concede a goal at Lumen Field so far this term.

St. Louis, meanwhile, have the opportunity to become just the second team since 2000 to win their first four road matches of a season after the New York Red Bulls managed five in the last campaign.

But the Sounders have lost just one of their 10 home games against expansion sides, and they look the favourites to come out on top in this meeting of two of the Western Conference's early pacesetters.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Seattle: 49.5 per cent

St. Louis: 23.7 per cent

Draw: 26.8 per cent

It is over a decade since Arsenal won at Anfield in the Premier League, but they will be confident of moving a step closer to winning the title by beating Liverpool on Sunday.

The Gunners head to Merseyside riding on the crest of a wave following seven consecutive top-flight wins.

Manchester City can reduce Arsenal's lead at the top of the table to five points by beating bottom-of-the-table Southampton on Saturday and the champions will be hoping for a favour from the Reds.

Eighth-place Liverpool were held to a drab goalless draw at Chelsea after losing three games in a row and they are in desperate need of points to have any chance of securing a European spot.

The Reds have not lost at home to Arsenal in the top flight since a 2-0 defeat in September 2012 and have won their past six Premier League games against the London club in their own backyard.

Stats Perform use Opta data to preview another huge match for Mikel Arteta's side in the title race.

Reds in need of more home comforts

While this has been a season to forget for Liverpool, their struggles have not been due to their home form.

Jurgen Klopp's side have only been beaten once at Anfield in the top flight and won five of their past six Premier League home games.

They demolished Manchester United 7-0 in their last home match and have gone seven hours and 26 minutes without conceding a goal in the Premier League at Anfield since Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's strike for Leicester City in December.

Klopp is looking to win seven in a row against the same opponent in his top-flight managerial career for the first time since doing so against Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund (2009-15).

The last manager to win seven consecutive home top-flight games against Arsenal was John Nicholson between 1921 and 1928 with Sheffield United.

Ramsdale can match Cech and Ederson

Arsenal have only conceded nine goals on their travels in the Premier League this season.

Aaron Ramsdale has kept nine clean sheets away from home in a brilliant campaign that could finish with the Gunners ending such a long wait to be crowned champions.

Petr Cech (11 in 2004-05, 10 in 2008-09) and Ederson (11 in 2018-19, 10 in 2021-22) are the only goalkeepers to have recorded at least 10 shutouts on the road in a Premier League season.

Ramsdale is just one away from joining a very exclusive club.

Salah back with a bang?

Mohamed Salah was restricted to a substitute appearance in the stalemate at Stamford Bridge this week, but the forward should be back in the side to take on the leaders.

Salah has been involved in 105 Premier League goals in 105 appearances at Anfield for the Reds (74 goals, 31 assists).

The Egypt star is looking to score in four consecutive home top-flight appearances for the first time since a six-game run between January and June 2020.

He also boasts a record that suggests he enjoys facing Arsenal, having had a hand in seven goals in five appearances against the Gunners at Anfield (5 goals, 2 assists).

Trossard to torment Reds again? 

Leandro Trossard scored a hat-trick for Brighton and Hove Albion in a 3-3 draw at Liverpool back in October.

Only two players have scored at Anfield for two different sides in the same Premier League season: Dean Saunders in 1992-93 (Liverpool, Aston Villa) and Robbie Keane in 2008-09 (Liverpool, Tottenham).

No player has found the back of the net at Liverpool's home for two different away sides in a single campaign.

Bayern Munich head coach Thomas Tuchel urged his players to retain a positive mindset ahead of a crucial run of fixtures in the Bundesliga and Champions League.

Following a shock 2-1 defeat at home to Freiburg in the DFB-Pokal on Tuesday, Bayern travel to face the same opponents in the league on Saturday before going up against Manchester City in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final next Tuesday.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Tuchel repeatedly mentioned a need to be "positive" despite the cup setback.

"We need to continue with a positive approach, we can be angry but still be positive," he said, later adding: "We need a reaction, but we would have needed one even if we won.

"People don't want to hear it but there were positive things in [the Freiburg] game... Things can happen where the result is probably not right after a game like this but we have to accept it.

"We are lacking a bit of precision in the last pass, a bit of trust, cohesion, creativity. We need form and that will only come back if we remain positive, even though we were unhappy with the result."

On the reaction of his players following the loss to a 95th-minute Lucas Holer penalty at the Allianz Arena, Tuchel added: "They are very critical of themselves. I was telling them the same thing I have told you, that we just have to accept it, that the coach is talking about positive things about the game even though no-one wants to talk about it.

"We can have a bad mood for a couple of days but that doesn't help anyone, you need a positive mindset to move forward."

Tuchel confirmed the Freiburg game will come too early for injured pair Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Mathys Tel, while Dayot Upamecano misses out through suspension.

When asked who can play as the striker in Choupo-Moting's absence, he said: "Mathys Tel can play as a nine, that was his answer when I asked him his position, but he is injured.

"Sadio Mane and Serge Gnabry can play there as well, they will be my players of choice."

The former Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea boss was not keen to look beyond Saturday to Tuesday's trip to Manchester, but he acknowledged he cannot use Freiburg as preparation given the difference in approach.

"I don't believe that we can practice the things we need against Man City, Freiburg play a completely different way," he said.

Paris Saint-Germain will be without Marco Verratti for Saturday's trip to Nice due to a hamstring injury.

The Italy international was notably absent during Friday's training session, which was being watched closely by president Nasser Al-Khelaifi and football advisor Luis Campos.

PSG subsequently confirmed Verratti has been struggling with a hamstring strain that required him to stay inside for treatment.

While the club did not give much of an outline about the injury's severity, they did state more information will be provided early next week.

As such, Verratti will seemingly be unable to feature for Christophe Galtier on Saturday as PSG look to end a slump against the coach's former employers.

Defending champions PSG have lost each of their past two Ligue 1 games, suffering successive top-flight defeats for the first time since September 2020.

Nice have not been in the finest of form themselves, drawing their previous four league outings, meaning PSG will likely be confident of avoiding losing three in a row in Ligue 1 for the first time in 13 years.

You have to go back another three years to the last time PSG failed to score in three consecutive Ligue 1 games (four), with Rennes and Lyon shutting the Parisians out either side of the March international break.

PSG remain at the top of Ligue 1, but the recent blip has seen their lead cut to just six points ahead of Lens, their next opponents after the trip to Nice.

Liverpool are close to welcoming back Thiago Alcantara and Luis Diaz from injury, but manager Jurgen Klopp will remain "calm" when selecting his side to face Arsenal.

The Reds host Premier League leaders Arsenal at Anfield on Sunday desperately attempting to keep their season alive after collecting one point from their past three games.

Tuesday's 0-0 draw at Chelsea ended a two-game losing run, but it leaves Liverpool 10 points adrift of Newcastle United and Manchester United in third and fourth respectively.

Klopp surprisingly made six changes for the trip to Stamford Bridge, with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk dropping out.

Van Dijk's absence was put down to illness, which Klopp confirmed at Friday's press conference he has now recovered from, while two other key men are now back in training.

Diaz has not played for Liverpool since the reverse fixture with Arsenal in October, while Thiago is further ahead in his recovery after spending two months out with a hip injury.

"Virgil is back in training. Luis and Thiago are training," Klopp told reporters. "The plan with Luis is he will be available 100 per cent for Leeds [a week on Monday]. 

"It was a long injury, so we will have to be careful. We will probably not involve him on Sunday. Thiago is slightly different. He's trained three times and might be available."

Asked if those left out against Chelsea are in contention to start against Arsenal, Klopp said: "We've had one proper [training] session since then.

"The boys haven't shown me they don't want to play. This is not the situation we are in. I have to make decisions about the team based on what I have seen in training.

"That opens the door for everybody. I cannot constantly ask for something I didn't get. I am always really calm in this moment. In the end, we will see what the outcome is."

While Liverpool have struggled for consistency, they have won five of their past six matches at Anfield, drawing the other, including the last three by an 11-0 aggregate scoreline.

Indeed, the Reds have not conceded a goal on home soil in seven hours and 26 minutes of league football stretching back to December.

"Anfield is not the only thing we should rely on, but it is no secret that the combination of our people, the ground and the boys is pretty good," Klopp said. 

"That is what we have to throw in, but not rely on it. I have a very good feeling we can [beat Arsenal]."

Arsenal are 29 points better off than Liverpool, having played a game more, and are seeking their first league double in this fixture since the 2009-10 campaign.

However, Liverpool have won their past six home Premier League games against Arsenal, scoring at least three times in each game (22 goals in total).

Klopp has been impressed by the work of opposite number Mikel Arteta, but he remains hopeful his side can put on a show for their supporters at Anfield on Sunday.

"I know people ask for more time for managers, and I think Mikel deserved every minute when it wasn't going well, because they are there now," Klopp said.

"Arsenal made good transfers and are now pretty stable. They brought in super important players but not too many.

"Mikel has been building for a few years now and the outcome is pretty impressive. I don't know exactly what you can say about us at the moment, so that shows the situation. 

"It's still Anfield, we're at home, and we must show a reaction, an improvement. We have to help the boys with different things. In a home game, the crowd can be a massive boost."

Klopp is looking to win seven home league games in a row against an opponent for the first time since doing so against Werder Bremen with Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga.

Following the two-week international break and then a double gameweek, the Premier League fixture schedule returns to normal this weekend with 10 fixtures across two days.

That is not to say there are not still some huge selection decisions to make when it comes to picking your fantasy side in what is now very much the business end of the campaign.

Some players are quite simply undroppable at this stage, while others look good value for those willing to take a gamble and make up some points.

Using Opta data, Stats Perform has picked out four players – one for each position – that look good value to help your side this weekend.

Emi Martinez (Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest)

Villa conceded against Leicester City last time out, but they have kept six Premier League clean sheets in 2023, with that tally bettered only by – surprisingly – Liverpool (seven).

Martinez has been in goal for five of those games, the Argentina international bringing the form he showed at the World Cup with him back to Villa Park.

He has made 38 saves this calendar year and has prevented 2.02 goals – only three goalkeepers have fared better – and is up against a low-scoring Forest side this weekend.

Timothy Castagne (Leicester City v Bournemouth)

Leicester are enduring a poor campaign and have struggled badly to keep clean sheets, doing so just six times all season in the Premier League.

Right-back Castagne has masked defensive inadequacies with some solid attacking play, however, with only three other defenders being involved in more goals this term (four).

In fact, of the defenders to have created at least 15 chances, only Trent Alexander-Arnold (33 per cent) has a higher proportion that are big chances than Castagne (31 per cent).

Kaoru Mitoma (Tottenham v Brighton and Hove Albion)

Brighton attacker Mitoma is not quite the unknown figure he was a few months back, with more and more flocking to put him in their team as the weeks go by.

The Japan international is the first Brighton player to register a goal involvement in five successive Premier League games, with that the longest ongoing run in the competition.

All 11 of his goal involvements this season have come since his first start on October 29 – only four midfielders have been involved in more during that period.

Gabriel Jesus (Liverpool v Arsenal)

Having slowly built up his fitness since returning from a three-month lay-off, Jesus marked his first start in the win over Leeds United with two goals.

The Brazil international, whose most recent start at club level prior to that was against Wolves in November, now has seven goals and five assists in 17 league games this term.

Jesus tends to perform well against next opponents Liverpool, too, as only against three other sides has he been directly involved in more goals than he has versus the Reds (six).