Today's press conference highlights: Pep issues Haaland update

Stay up to date with all the latest Premier League news with our round-up of the key talking points from today's top-flight press conferences.  

Pep has Haaland fitness doubts

Pep Guardiola does not think Erling Haaland will be fit to play in Manchester City's match against Crystal Palace on Saturday. 

Asked whether the striker could return after missing the last two games, the Spanish manager was not optimistic. 

Guardiola, 52, said: "I don't think so. Maybe surprisingly they tell me something new but I don't think so." 

Yet the Treble-winning coach denied he was worried about Haaland's absence. 

He added: "It's not a fracture, it's just stress and sometimes with players they recover quicker, sometimes longer. 

"The moment he doesn't have symptoms, doesn't feel pain, he'll be ready to play again."

Ten Hag defends Hojlund record

Erik ten Hag defended Rasmus Hojlund's goalscoring record as he prepares for Sunday's showdown with Liverpool at Anfield. 

The striker has failed to score in the Premier League this season but the Red Devils boss denied that he was concerned by this statistic. 

Ten Hag said: "He has scored in the highest level. In the Champions League he has five goals, which is a massive performance from a young player. 

"There are not so many young players who can do that. He has the potential, we recognise that and I am sure he will get there. 

"He will score in the Premier League. I can see how he is doing it in the training. 

"Of course, players can always be better. He did not score so far in the Premier League. So we have to work on that." 

Roy backs trailblazing Welch

Veteran Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson has given his thoughts on Rebecca Welch becoming the first female referee in the Premier League. 

He said: "I think it's positive and I think football has certainly embraced women and ethnicity an awful lot better, over even just the last couple of seasons. 

"We've seen enormous strides forward and I welcome those strides. I applaud people for bringing those strides about and I'm certain that everyone has to be a trailblazer. 

"Let's hope that the lady in question will be a trailblazer. There's no doubt she'll have every bit as much competence as the other people she's competing with. 

"She will be up to the people who judge refereeing performances to decide how far her career goes. But it shouldn't be in any way dampened because she happens to be a woman. 

"Women play football, women understand football, women can referee football. So why can't they referee at the highest level?" 

Emery expects away form improvement

Unai Emery has called for an improvement in Aston Villa's away form. 

The Midlands club have won each of their last 15 Premier League games at Villa Park but have only tasted victory in three of their eight matches on the road this season. 

Emery said: "We want to be improving the match against Bournemouth. 

"The way we played against Nottingham Forest away and the match we played away against Wolverhampton because we didn't get the result we wanted. 

"Of course, we won against Chelsea and we won against Tottenham. 

"They were amazing, these victories, but I want to try and be consistent."

No seventh heaven for Liverpool

Ahead of a crunch match at Anfield on Sunday, Jurgen Klopp played down talk of Manchester United's poor form and last season's 7-0 victory being an advantage for Liverpool. 

He said: "I never like when the headlines about United are not great before we play because it is the game where they can put everything right. 

"I don't follow United closely enough to know what's the problem there. But I saw Erik ten Hag became Manager of the Month last month, I saw they were the team in form last month. 

"How can it be all wrong? I just don’t understand it. 

"The 7-0 we knew on the day was a freakish result that happens once in a life pretty much. If it helps anybody for the next game, it's the team who lost 7-0 and not the team who won. 

"If we just play a football game against the historical rival at home at Anfield, that itself makes it a special game and that's what I want to see. A special game." 

Arteta praises disciplinary process

Mikel Arteta has praised the independent regulatory commission's decision to clear him of an FA charge following his comments on the officiating of Arsenal's defeat to Newcastle. 

Speaking ahed of Sunday's game against Brighton, the Gunners boss, 41, said: "It was a good, well-run process. 

"They explained how they felt, I explained how I felt. The outcome is I'm not charged. 

"We have to draw a line and look at how we can be more constructive, learn from it and move forward. 

"The pressure we are under as managers and how important details are, we depend on results. When the outcome is that important, we get emotional about it."

Poch on Chelsea keeper crisis

Mauricio Pochettino has spoken of his disappointment after Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez picked up a knee injury in the recent defeat to Everton. 

He said: "We lost our No1 keeper so far, always it's a player you are going to miss. 

"We have other keepers who are working hard to be ready when this type of thing happens." 

Asked whether he had faith in Djordje Petrovic, who is likely to start against Sheffield United, the Argentine was positive. 

Poch, 51, added: "I have faith in all my players. He arrived to Chelsea because he has potential. Of course he's young and came from different football. 

"After four or five months working with us it's the moment for him to step up and feel good. We have the confidence in him, we trust him, his team-mates trust in him."

Howe wants a hand

Eddie Howe has asked the Newcastle faithful to give his team a boost ahead of their home match with Fulham.

The Magpies lost at St James' Park against AC Milan in midweek, which saw them finish bottom of their Champions League group. 

Howe, 46, said: "I would encourage the supporters to make the environment as best as they can for the players. 

"We need the players playing with absolute freedom, with excitement, with joy — all that we have seen at St James' Park over my two years here.

"Their support has been absolutely incredible. I understand how they will be feeling but we need to inspire them tomorrow." 

Moyes praises Alvarez

David Moyes was full of praise for midfielder Edson Alvarez prior to West Ham's home clash with Wolves on Sunday. 

The summer signing, 26, found the net as the Hammers beat Freiburg 2-0 last night to win their Europa League group. 

And Moyes said: "I think he has made a big impression very quickly. He's helped us get some big results. 

"He's settled in quickly. I think he's still getting used to the Premier League, the intensity and the number of games. 

"Players from abroad, for example, aren't always used to playing at this time of the year. But he's doing very well and settled in well." 

Mexico international Alvarez was signed from Ajax in August for £35million.