Our daily round-up of the latest news from clubs and players across the Premier League
Here is your daily briefing for the latest Premier League stories on Friday 24 April.
Arteta receives double injury boost ahead of Newcastle test
Mikel Arteta’s attempt to stabilise Arsenal’s title challenge has been helped by the return of Bukayo Saka to the squad.
Saka has not played since the EFL Cup final defeat to Manchester City a month ago and his absence has been keenly felt.
Arsenal have not won in the league since beating Everton 2-0 five weeks ago – Saka’s last league appearance – suffering bruising defeats to AFC Bournemouth and title rivals Manchester City.
His influence is significant. This season, Arsenal have only lost two of 27 Premier League games he has played. Without Saka in the side, they have lost three of six.
Arsenal’s Premier League record with/without Saka starting, 25/26
Stat
With Saka
Without Saka
Games
27
6
Wins
18
3
Draws
7
0
Losses
2
3
Win %
66.7%
50.0%
Points/match
2.3
1.5
Arteta also confirmed that Riccardo Calafiori will be back in the squad after missing the title showdown with Man City.
Arsenal’s chances have improved further after Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe revealed that Anthony Gordon and Tino Livramento will miss the match.
Forward Gordon has not trained this week and while it is “not a serious injury,” the Arsenal game comes too soon. “Hopefully, the next one,” Howe said. On Livramento, he added: “We will wait and see whether he will play again this season.”
Man Utd set for 10th centre-back pairing as Maguire nears 600 games
Michael Carrick looks set to turn to a new-look centre-back partnership when Manchester United play Brentford on Monday night. According to Opta, Man Utd have had 10 different centre-back combinations this season.
Lisandro Martinez will serve the second game of a three-match ban. Leny Yoro is close to returning, but the head coach is “not 100 per cent sure” he will be ready. Man Utd also released images of Matthijs de Ligt back training on the grass, though he remains short of full fitness.
Teenager Ayden Heaven impressed by keeping a clean sheet against Chelsea when paired with Noussair Mazraoui, who is naturally more comfortable at right-back.
But with Harry Maguire returning from suspension for what will be the 600th club appearance of his career, it is likely that two defenders at opposite ends of their careers, Maguire and Heaven, will partner each other for the first time.
Woodman in contention for first Liverpool start – against his dad’s former club
It was quite the weekend for the Woodman family last week.
On Saturday, Andy Woodman guided Bromley to promotion to League One for the first time in the club’s history. On Sunday, his son Freddie Woodman came on for his Premier League debut and kept a clean sheet as Liverpool snatched a late winner in the Merseyside derby.
He may be called upon again this weekend against Crystal Palace as Liverpool aim to cement their place in the top five. Both father and son started their playing careers at Palace.
Freddie left the club’s academy for Newcastle – where Andy worked as a goalkeeper coach under Alan Pardew – but after six loans and limited first-team action, he spent three years at Preston North End before agreeing to become back-up to Alisson and Giorgi Mamardashvili at Anfield.
Mamardashvili, whom he replaced in the Everton game, is out. And while Slot says Alisson is “close to returning,” it is likely this weekend will be too soon.
“That leaves Freddie,” Slot said, “as an option who is definitely fit.
“For a reason we signed an experienced third goalkeeper,” he added. “Usually, you don’t need him that much. But there could be situations… and that is why we were happy we could pick him up on a free transfer.”
Premier League milestone catches Moyes by surprise
When David Moyes walks out of the tunnel at London Stadium on Saturday, he will take charge of his 750th Premier League match.
Moyes’s eyes lit up when he was told he is not for short of catching up with Sir Alex Ferguson, who managed for 810 games, and Arsene Wenger, who presided over 828.
Watch: Moyes on reaching milestone
“I’m a bit closer than I thought!” the 62-year-old said. “I thought they were miles away. I’ve always said I don’t want to be too grey, too fat on the touchline. I’m becoming both, so that’s a problem.
“I’m enjoying my football, I feel young, the players keep me young, and as long as I can keep up the energy, I’m happy to keep going.”
Rodri ‘not risked’ for Man City’s FA Cup semi-final
Pep Guardiola has decided not to risk Rodri in Man City’s FA Cup semi-final against Southampton.
The midfielder injured his calf against Arsenal last weekend and was ruled out of the midweek Burnley game.
Guardiola said Rodri is “better” but that “we don’t want to take the risk” for fear of losing him for the remainder of the title run-in. “Rodri is so important,” he added.
The Man City manager did not confirm whether Rodri would be back to face Everton nine days after the semi-final.
Sunderland surprise fan
Sunderland surprised 93-year-old fan Rosemary Gavin by arranging a meeting with her favourite player.
Gavin believed she was being interviewed about her lifelong love of the club when she mentioned Luke O’Nien as the player she admired most.
“The thing I love about Luke is he’s always so happy,” she said. “Even when he wasn’t getting picked. Because he was one of the team that saw us get up into the Premier League again.
Watch: O’Nien meets 93-year-old Sunderland fan Rosemary
“But even when he was on the bench, he was still there, he was so enthusiastic and cheering the players on. And he’s just a lovely guy. He’s taken to Sunderland in the same way that I have. He’s like a native now.”
Rosemary was stunned when the defender walked into the room, before sitting down with O’Nien to talk about the club.