Premier League news: Guardiola dismisses exit talk and Slot has ‘moved on’ from Salah fallout

1. Guardiola dismisses speculation over City future

Pep Guardiola has insisted there are “no discussions – end of the subject” over him leaving Manchester City and the head coach wants to see out his contract. The 54-year-old’s deal runs until June 2027 but reports on Thursday suggested City were making contingency plans should he quit at the end of this season. After winning 18 major trophies at City, Guardiola says he is motivated by more than success.

City would go top of the table for a few hours at least if they defeat 18th-placed West Ham at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday to show the progress the team has made since last season’s struggles.

“There are no discussions – end of the subject,” Guardiola said. “I will not be eternally here, but I’ve said before I will not be here for ever. None of us will be for ever in this world but there are no discussions. What is going to happen will happen and the club has to be prepared for everything – for the players and the CEOs, except the owners.

“The last three or four years every time during a certain period someone asks me that question. Sooner or later, when I’m 75 or 76, I will quit Manchester City. I understand the question when I have the end of a contract [coming] but I have 18 months left and I am so delighted, happy and excited about the development of the team and being there. That is all I can say. That question happens every single season at a certain point and I’m OK. The club and I are incredibly connected in terms of the decisions we have to take and when it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen.” Will Unwin

2. Slot: Liverpool have ‘moved on’ from Salah fallout

Arne Slot feels Liverpool have “moved on” from the Mohamed Salah controversy and hopes the player’s Africa Cup of Nations involvement takes further heat out of the situation. Salah sparked crisis at the club with an explosive interview a fortnight ago in which he, among other things, claimed he had been made a scapegoat for a poor run of form.

He was consequently dropped for a Champions League game at Inter but, after talks with the manager, returned as a substitute in last week’s Premier League victory over Brighton. The 33-year-old is now on international duty, for potentially up to another month, with Egypt.

Mohamed Salah came on as a substitute for Liverpool against Brighton.

Slot said: “As I said last week, actions speak louder than words and we moved on. He was in the squad and he was the first substitution I made. But now he is at the Afcon, playing big games for himself and the country, so I think it is fair to them, and also to us because we are going to play some important games, that all the focus is for him over there and there should not be any distraction from me saying things about his time at Liverpool.

“We have moved on after the Leeds interview and he played against Brighton. Now he is there, so it is fair for his country, and for him and us, to talk about Tottenham and other games.”

Liverpool will give a fitness test to Dominik Szoboszlai ahead of Saturday’s trip to Spurs after the Hungarian suffered an ankle injury late in the Brighton game. PA Media

3. Arteta backs Gyökeres to improve in 2026

Mikel Arteta has backed Viktor Gyökeres to improve in the second half of the season but admitted Arsenal need to build on their understanding with the £64m striker. Gyökeres hasn’t scored since returning from injury against Chelsea last month and has six goals in 18 appearances. Arteta is optimistic Kai Havertz will be back from a long-term knee injury in the new year, and Gabriel Jesus has returned after 11 months and should feature against Everton on Saturday.

Gyökeres is expected to retain his place having started ahead of the Brazilian and Mikel Merino in the last-gasp win over Wolves and Arteta believes the best is yet to come from the 27-year-old.

“We bought a player with an incredible goalscoring record that had to adapt to the league,” Arsenal’s manager said. “He had no pre-season. The first few weeks were difficult because physically he wasn’t in his best state. And he’s a player that needs that, like any other player in this league almost, to perform at that level.

“Then he kicked on. I think he had a really good period and got injured. And now he’s back. But I saw a lot of positive things in the last two games that he’s done. We need to continue to tweak and understand him a little bit better in certain situations. And he needs to do the same. But that’s about time. And we have full support for him.”

Asked whether expected Gyökeres to go to another level in the second half of the season, Arteta said: “I think so, yes.” Ed Aarons

4. Bournemouth blow as Adams is ruled out

Bournemouth midfielder Tyler Adams has been ruled out for at least two months after sustaining a medial collateral ligament injury in Monday’s 4-4 draw at Manchester United. Adams was forced off after just five minutes at Old Trafford and Andoni Iraola confirmed the extent of his injury before Saturday’s fixture against Burnley.

Iraola said: “From our previous experience with MCL injuries, it is normally around two or three months. It’s a big blow because he is an important player for us. Straight away, when you see the mechanism of the injury and the action itself, we felt it could be something serious.”

Bournemouth are boosted in other areas with Lewis Cook set to return after completing his three-match suspension, while Ryan Christie, who has been out since November with a knee injury, faces a late fitness test.

Tyler Adams injured a knee in the 4-4 draw with Manchester United.

Meanwhile, Iraola insisted he is relaxed about Marcos Senesi’s future at the club after the defender’s failure to sign a new contract led to increased speculation that he is set to leave.

“The most important thing is he is playing very well,” said Iraola. “Both parties still have time regarding his contract situation – there are still seven months left. There is no doubt I want him to continue here.” PA Media

5. Parker refuses to buckle in face of Burnley unrest

Scott Parker has insisted the pressure of Burnley’s plight and the fear of failure will continue to drive him as he attempts to keep the club in the Premier League. The Clarets head for Bournemouth on Saturday sitting just one place off the foot of the table and having lost each of their last seven games.

Asked if he feels the pressure of the situation, a defiant Parker said: “Of course. I feel the pressure every time I’m sat in this position, I’ve felt the pressure every time I’ve walked out on the football pitch for 20 years of my career. There’s no one will ever put more pressure on me than I put on myself.

“I’m a winner, I’m a fighter and throughout my career and throughout my life, that’s exactly what I’ve been, and there’s always been pressure. That’s just the way it is. But that pressure is something you learn to deal with, and also it’s that pressure and that fear at times – because no doubt at times there’s fear – that drives, absolutely drives.”

Parker admitted after last weekend’s 3-2 home defeat by Fulham that he was heartbroken to hear some of the club’s own fans booing on the final whistle, and he revealed that the criticism hurts. Of course it hurts, of course it does. You work so hard, you get the team to this position, to the Premier League and in the back of your mind, you see it change so quickly. That’s hurtful, but that’s just the way it is.” PA Media

6. Farke ‘picky’ about January reinforcements

Daniel Farke has revealed the club are “open and ready” to try to improve their squad but stressed the pitfalls of a difficult market in January. Leeds’ summer rebuild after promotion was met by an underwhelming response from their fanbase, while Farke’s side, three points clear of the bottom three, face a tough battle to avoid an immediate return to the Championship.

Farke said: “If you sign [players] in the summer you have pre-season to prepare and integrate them and so they can adapt to your style and processes. It’s a bit more difficult in January. You either get a player where they’re quite often a problem because he’s coming back from injury. Or you have to spend lots to get a player in his rhythm and they can be over-priced. I’m very picky in January.

“You need many things to come together to find a solution, but we’re working on a professional level. If we find an addition who is affordable and makes us better, you have to be open and ready for it. We can speak about January when January has arrived. My whole focus is just on this group.”

Leeds face Crystal Palace at Elland Road on Saturday having lifted their fans by taking five points from their last three games against Chelsea, Liverpool and Brentford. Farke has been rewarded for switching to a flexible 3-5-2 formation, with striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin – four goals in his last four matches – proving the main beneficiary. PA Media