The Premier League season is building towards a dramatic conclusion, with the title race, European qualification, and a relegation spot still hanging in the balance. Managers are offering their insights, and here is the latest roundup.
Howe Dismisses Doubts Over Gordon Injury
Eddie Howe has firmly rejected any suggestion that Anthony Gordon is not genuinely injured. The Newcastle manager was displeased with a question about players potentially choosing games to be available for, amid the winger's ongoing absence.
Newcastle Confidential revealed on Thursday that Gordon has not trained this week and will miss Saturday's trip to Arsenal due to a lingering hip issue. Despite speculation about his future, conspiracy theories have emerged regarding the legitimacy of the 25-year-old's fitness.
Multiple sources confirmed to Daily Mail Sport that a scan last week revealed an injury, and Howe responded strongly when Gordon's commitment was questioned. 'Anthony Gordon is injured, 100 per cent,' he stated. 'So it's a non-question.'
Earlier, Howe provided an update on Gordon's condition: 'He won't make the game. He hasn't trained this week. It's not a serious injury, but not in time for this game. Hopefully for the next game (Brighton at home on May 2).'
Tino Livramento is definitely out with a thigh injury and faces a race against time to play again this season. However, captain Bruno Guimaraes could start after returning from two months out as a second-half substitute in last weekend's 2-1 defeat by Bournemouth.
Howe commented: 'He's had a full week of training and he's trained really well. I've been very pleased with him. It's been tough for him. I think you could see against Bournemouth that he came on with all the right intentions to deliver a really good physical performance, but you could see that he was struggling at times physically to adapt to the pace, because he really had minimal training. He was playing on heart and spirit and determination. But the week he's had will serve him really well. He's such an important player for us on so many levels that, of course, we're keen to get him on the pitch as quickly as possible, but I've just got to make sure it's not to his detriment. It's been great to have him back around the group, though. He's such a positive person that he can only help and inspire the players around him.'
Woodman Set for First Premier League Start for Liverpool
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot insisted he was only focused on the short-term future of goalkeeper Alisson Becker, and that was getting him back into the team after injury. The Brazil international has been sidelined for over a month with a hamstring injury, his second of the season, and was recently linked with Juventus, even though the club has taken the option to extend his expiring deal by 12 months.
Alisson's unavailability has become increasingly problematic, and this has been highlighted by Giorgi Mamardashvili being ruled out with a gashed leg sustained in last week's Merseyside derby victory. This means 29-year-old third-choice Freddie Woodman is set for his full Premier League debut for the club, having come off the bench against Everton.
Slot said on Alisson's future: 'I am only focused on the short-term future and that is getting him back into goal as soon as possible. All these rumours that are out there about him and about probably me and about others, we don't react to. We only react when facts need to be told and that is not the situation at the moment. The main focus for Ali is very clear, that is getting back in goal as soon as possible for the club he loves to play for and then he wants to be in goal for the country he wants to play for, that is Brazil. I think that is already the short and mid-term future.'
Liverpool have had more than their fair share of injuries this campaign, but the Achilles problem sustained by Hugo Ekitike against Paris St Germain 10 days ago is set to rule him out well into next season. 'The surgery went well. That is the first and important step he had to make,' said Slot of the France striker. 'It is going to take a long time and then it all depends on how rehab goes.'
