Premier League team news and more: weekend football countdown – live! | Football

Anyone got tickets for the big one in Manchester next month? Nope, not Cristiano Ronaldo locking horns with Liverpool at Old Trafford on the 24th, I mean Rick Astley performing The Songs of The Smiths with Blossoms at the Albert Hall on the 8th.

I recall Rick saying in Smash Hits once that The Smiths were his favourite band and finding it strangely brilliant. That one day he’d break free from the clutches of Stock, Aitken and Waterman and show us the real Rick. And now the day has come!

Here’s Virgil van Dijk being put through his paces in a training session yesterday.

Liverpool conceded two goals inside two minutes against AC Milan in midweek as the big Dutchman watched from the bench. Bit of a contrast to the single goal they’ve conceded in four Premier League games so far with van Dijk playing every single minute.

Liverpool deservedly beat Milan thanks to a lovely strike from skipper Jordan Henderson.

Newcastle v Leeds tonight. Here’s Louise Taylor highlighting a clear contrast between the two managers, Steve Bruce and Marcelo Bielsa.

One of these men said: “I clearly saw the plan of the opponent in the last game had a superior effect to the one I proposed. It is very clear it is the manager’s fault.”

Any guesses?

Tottenham also played out a 2-2 draw in their Conference League Group C clash with Rennes.

Pierre-Emile Højbjerg’s 75th-minute leveller earned Spurs a point, but Steven Bergwijn and Lucas Moura limped off. Not ideal ahead of their London derby against Chelsea on Sunday.

Leicester were also leading 2-0 last night but got pegged back by Napoli.

Paul Doyle was at the King Power Stadium where a double from “the outstanding Victor Osimhen” gave the visitors a 2-2 draw.

Those Sunday fixtures include the newest members of the Thursday night club: West Ham.

David Moyes’ men got their European adventure off to a bright start with a 2-0 away win at Dinamo Zagreb last night.

Jacob Steinburg was at the Maksimir Stadium.

Here’s the full set of weekend Premier League fixtures. It’s a 1-6-3-0 split for those who like to keep records.

Friday 17 September
20:00 Newcastle v Leeds

Saturday 18 September
12:30 Wolves v Brentford
15:00 Burnley v Arsenal
15:00 Liverpool v C Palace
15:00 Man City v Southampton
15:00 Norwich v Watford
17:30 Aston Villa v Everton

Sunday 19 September
14:00 Brighton v Leicester
14:00 West Ham v Man Utd
16:30 Spurs v Chelsea

Good morning!

Until Everton played Burnley last Monday night, the top four in the Premier League were (spoiler alert) the quartet of plucky giants who will almost certainly occupy the top four at the end of the season: Man Utd, Chelsea, Liverpool, Man City. Doesn’t take long to sort itself out, does it.

But Rafa Benitez loves a fact and the new hero (too soon?) of the Gwladys Street End will tell you that the top four going into Match Day 5 now includes Everton after their 3-1 win.

The Blues seem to love a fast start and back in those giddy days last season when James Rodriguez knew who they were playing, Everton were the pacesetters after four games following a 100% start. The Rafa-lution continues with an away game at Aston Villa on Saturday evening.

Before that, and a set of 3pm fixtures which include Liverpool v Crystal Palace and Manchester City v Southampton, the action gets underway tonight with our friends in the north, Newcastle and Leeds.

Marcelo Bielsa twice got the better of Steve Bruce last season – 2-1 at St James’ Park and 5-2 at Elland Road – and Leeds will be seeking a third straight win over the Magpies. They haven’t managed that since October 1967, the exact same time The Beatles were filming Magical Mystery Tour.

So, roll up roll up, the Friday blog has everything you need.

Roll up, satisfaction guaranteed (possibly).