Image source, Getty Images

More from Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso when asked about interest from Liverpool and Bayern Munich: "I think it wouldn't be correct of me to talk about other clubs when they are in this situation. For sure there are clubs I have a strong link, I play there. So I respect them. But it's not correct for me to talk about them right now.

"It's more that the conviction I am in the right place at Bayer Leverkusen and I want to keep growing with the club, growing with the players. I am at this stage in my young career. I had to feel the decision was in a natural way and that's why I have taken it."

When asked if it was a commitment for beyond next year, until the end of his contract in 2026: "It's my contract. We are not starting to speculate more about the future. We have speculated enough. I want to enjoy wherever I am and I am enjoying it at Leverkusen. I want to match the ambition with the club. That's my wish for the future."

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola on Kevin de Bruyne's return to training: "He is such an important player. It has been a tough season for him with injuries, he has been out for a long time. But he trained really well yesterday so we will see what we're going to do in the next few days."

On how De Bruyne tends to be at his best in big games: "He's played so consistently for many years, that's the most important thing. In important games we need important players, of course, but for the balance of the team we expect everybody to make a contribution.

"We won't put all the responsibility on Kevin, we have to do it all together, with our people as well."

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Getty Images

More from Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso on his decision to stay at the club: "Last week was my deadline for sure. All my cards on the table. I have thought about the decision because you need to reflect well. Once I took it I felt I needed to share it with everyone. It is a sign of respect. I informed the players at a team talk this morning. We have prepared in a normal way.

"You guys did a lot of speculation - even since last May! It's part of the business, and I haven't been stressed by it. It was important it wasn't affecting the team and the mentality of the team was good. Everything is clear."

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag on Luke Shaw: "I expect him back before the end of the season, he is still on schedule and will return to our team."

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola on the run-in: "It's good to be here (in this position). This season has been really good, winning two titles after what happened last season. To be in contention for the three important titles now, we've done incredible work.

"Now it's the last 10 games of Premier League, we start an important time. We play the leaders of the Premier League and I'm sure the people (City's fans) will give us what we need to perform at our best.

"Right now, every game is so important. If we are able to do it (beat Arsenal), the next game will be important as well."

Image source, Reuters

Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso on his decision to stay at the club: "It's been a season we have had a lot of speculation regarding my future. Until now we have had so many games, been pretty busy and focused, and I wanted to reflect during the international break and take a decision.

"Last week I had a very good meeting when I informed them [Leverkusen's directors] of my decision to continue being coach of Bayer Leverkusen. For sure all the decisions you need to analyse well. I try to take the right ones, I try to take them in a natural way.

"At the moment this is the right place for me to develop as a coach, I am a young coach. Right now this is the right place. I have to thank the management. The club had been supportive and I feel respected by all departments. The fans they have shown great support and they have reasons to believe and dream we will have a great season. I have a great staff to help me work day by day, and so for sure the players."

Image source, Getty Images

Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso has just spoken at a news conference ahead of his side's Bundesliga fixture with Hoffenheim.

Alonso addressed rumours about his future after it was reported he will stay at Bayer Leverkusen this summer and turn down the chance to replace outgoing Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.

We'll have his full quotes shortly, but he has confirmed he will be staying at the club.

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag on Lisandro Martinez's return to fitness: "We have one more training session but it's most likely that we have some players back in the squad. There is a chance that [Lisandro] Martinez will be in the squad. We missed him every game because he brings a composure and calmness in the team and a winning attitude which he expresses very clearly in the team and that contributes to our levels."

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag on getting back on track after the international break: "It was a wonderful break, always good to go into international break with a win. The players go into different playing styles and systems on national duty and now we have to get them back into our team."

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola added that Kyle Walker's injury is worse than John Stones' but he "doesn't know how many games" he will miss.

Guardiola also confirmed that fellow defender Manuel Akanji is fit after appearing to pick up a knock on international duty.

"If we want to fight in all competitions, we need all the players," he said. "Unfortunately that is not possible (that all City's players are fit)."

Image source, PA Media

Mat in Salisbury

Georgie Brooke in Sydney, Australia

David in Formby

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola said that injured goalkeeper Ederson is "much better", while Kyle Walker and John Stones have joined him on the sidelines after suffering injuries on England duty.

With Stones having been injured earlier this season, Guardiola was asked how he felt about the defender playing in both friendlies for England but replied simply: "I haven't got any comments about that".

Image source, PA Media

Gav in Portugal.

Jay

Anon

Everton have just published a statement from chief executive Colin Chong, in which he mentioned the club's charge for breaching Premier League profit and sustainability rules (PSR).

"As I know you will appreciate and understand, I am not able to share specific details relating to the charge we face, or the commission process. But what I can share with you is my understanding of the uncertainty it has created for every Evertonian," he says., external

"This has been a season unlike any other the club has ever experienced - and when I talk about the club, naturally, I talk about not only the players and staff, but every fan."

On the club's takeover, Chong adds: "Out of respect for that process and aside from affirmations of a collective commitment to complete the transaction, [club owner] Mr Moshiri and 777 Partners have deliberately not provided detailed running commentary during the regulatory review period. And that must remain the case until the process has concluded."

Image source, BBC Sport

This is an interesting one. Brentford thumped Manchester United 4-0 in this fixture last season but the Bees are in terrible form at the moment with just one point from their past six games.

Manchester United beat them at Old Trafford in October but only after two Scott McTominay goals in stoppage time, and they are not exactly flying either.

United will score but I can still see this being another tricky evening for Erik ten Hag's side, and they might have to settle for a point.

Sutton's prediction: 2-2

You can read the rest of my predictions for the weekend's Premier League matches here...

Image source, Getty Images

It's going to be a frantic lunchtime with no fewer than 10 Premier League managers set to hold news conferences between now and 14:00 GMT.

First up, Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag and Manchester City counterpart Pep Guardiola who will be taking questions from journalists any moment now.

We will bring you all the key things they have to say shortly.

Gerry

Dave

Andy in Derbyshire

Image source, Getty Images

Bundesliga commentator and European football expert Kevin Hatchard has spoken to BBC Sport about Xabi Alonso's decision to remain at Bayer Leverkusen.

He said: "I think it was always a possibility that he would lean towards staying at Leverkusen for at least one more season, but I did feel like the lure of Liverpool, as a former Liverpool player, a very successful former Liverpool player would be too strong.

"It’s clear that Liverpool wanted him, that’s my information, that he was a name on their list, not the only name on their list, but very much on that list. And so I wondered whether that would be too strong a lure, but it seems like he’s going to be pragmatic about it, he’s going to stay at Bayer Leverkusen, and you can understand that.

"He’s built something incredible, Leverkusen are having a season for the ages, they’re well on course to win their first-ever Bundesliga title, they’re in the semi-finals of the German Cup as well and the strong favourites to win that tournament, and they’re in the quarter-finals of the Europa League so he is building something very, very impressive.”

Arsenal were meant to be the team who ripped up the rule book and rotated their goalkeepers this season, but it has ended up being Brighton who have kept on swapping who plays between the sticks.

Seagulls boss Roberto de Zerbi has broken a Premier League record by changing his keeper 17 times already in 2023-24, with Jason Steele playing 15 league games and Bart Verbruggen the other 13, and neither starting more than three times in a row in all competitions.

This is certainly a new idea - no top-flight team has done it before in the Premier League era, and when they have even come close it has been for different reasons. The most changes previously were down to injuries, form, or both.

It's fascinating to see it happening, but I wanted to explore whether it has worked… and why Brighton are even doing it in the first place.

Click here for Karen's latest column as she crunches the numbers.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, BBC Sport

There is talk about Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi possibly being the next Liverpool manager when Jurgen Klopp leaves in the summer but this is not really an audition for the the job because the Reds' new sporting director Richard Hughes is supposedly a big fan of his anyway.

Regardless of where that subplot goes, the Seagulls will definitely fancy their chances on Sunday.

Brighton have been a bit of a bogey team for Liverpool recently, especially at Anfield where they have not been beaten since 2019.

I can see why this has been such a dangerous fixture for Liverpool because of the way that Brighton play, but if the Reds are anywhere near their best then I still think they will win this time.

They have to really. If they want to win the title, they have to win games like this.

There might be a bit of anger from Liverpool after the way they lost to Manchester United in the FA Cup last time out, and that might help.

Mohamed Salah was not at his best in that game, but he has had a couple of weeks to get his fitness levels up and he could make the difference here.

Sutton's prediction: 3-1

You can read the rest of my predictions for the weekend's Premier League matches here...