Both Liverpool and Aston Villa had a busy summer on the whole, with Jurgen Klopp and Unai Emery both making significant additions to their squads during the transfer window. The last of those arrived at Anfield on deadline day as Ryan Gravenberch signed from Bayern Munich, completing an overhaul this summer following exits of Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and James Milner, among others. The Reds have started the season with two wins and a draw, with a very late turnaround at Newcastle last time out coming courtesy of two Darwin Nunez goals off the bench. Meanwhile for Villa, the signing of Moussa Diaby adds some real star quality to their attacking ranks, while defeat to Newcastle at the start of the season has been followed up by wins over Everton and Burnley. The two clubs clash at Anfield ahead of the international break both harbouring ambitions to perform notably better than last term. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the match; get the latest football and Premier League odds this weekend here. When is Liverpool vs Aston Villa? The Reds face the Villians at Anfield on Sunday 3 September, with the match set for a 2pm BST kick-off. Is the match being shown live on TV? This game isn’t set for live broadcast in the UK with any TV channel or live stream service. The fixture was not one selected for TV viewers by Sky or TNT and has only had the match kick-off day switched due to Aston Villa’s midweek involvement in their Europa League qualifier, as they beat Hibs to seal their place in the group stage – where Liverpool will also play this season. Both teams found out their opponents in the group stage draw. Team news Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk is suspended after being sent off against Newcastle. Thiago Alcantara had a setback so remains out injured, while Ibou Konate is also sidelined until after the international break. Curtis Jones is back in training but probably won’t feature much yet. It leaves Jurgen Klopp likely turning to Joe Gomez and Joel Matip at centre-back, though the latter also had a fitness issue last week. Darwin Nunez will hope to displace Cody Gakpo up front after his match-winning brace in the previous match. Villa have a long list of long-term injury worries, including Emi Buendia, Tyrone Mings and Alex Moreno. Leander Dendoncker, Jacob Ramsey and goalkeeper Emi Martinez have also been injured, though the latter may make it back for this match. Emery has usually fielded a narrow 4-4-2 system but switched to a back three for the win at Burnley and could stay that way here. Confirmed line-ups Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Gomez, Robertson, Jones, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Salah, Nunez, Diaz Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Carlos, Torres, Digne, Kamara, Luiz, McGinn, Diaby, Watkins Odds Liverpool 8/13 Draw 16/5 Villa 7/2 Prediction An end-to-end game of attack which the hosts end up winning through greater brute force and options. Liverpool 3-2 Aston Villa. Read More Liverpool determined to reject new Salah bids from Saudi side Al-Ittihad New signing Ryan Gravenberch says Liverpool one of ‘biggest clubs in the world’ Liverpool finally seal Ryan Gravenberch deal to complete midfield overhaul Deadline deals and Ricky Gervais plays hide-and-seek – Friday’s sporting social Liverpool reinvented as midfield shuffle hints at Jurgen Klopp’s past When does Saudi Pro League transfer window close?

Erling Haaland admits Fulham have a right to be angry over Manchester City’s controversial second goal in Saturday’s Premier League clash at the Etihad Stadium. Haaland scored a hat-trick as champions City ultimately ran out comfortable 5-1 winners over the Londoners but the game turned on a highly contentious incident just before half-time. Nathan Ake headed City 2-1 ahead but Fulham complained vociferously that Manuel Akanji, stood in an offside position, had attempted to kick the ball on its way past and hindered goalkeeper Bernd Leno. The protests, both on the field and the touchline, continued long after VAR had ruled the goal should stand and Haaland accepts the visitors had a point. “I think it was offside as well,” the Norwegian told beIN Sports. “I feel bad for them, I would be fuming after this as well. It must be a horrible feeling for them.” Prior to that, the game had been rather more sedate with few chances until Julian Alvarez scored a 31st-minute opener that was quickly cancelled out by Tim Ream. City did not dwell on the incident after the break, moving through the gears with Haaland typically coming to the fore. He finished clinically from an Alvarez pass, fired home a penalty and then turned in a Sergio Gomez cross to claim his seventh City hat-trick in stoppage time. “I’m back,” said Haaland, who scored 52 goals last season. “I am always hungry. It’s a new season and I am ready. “We started a bit sloppy but we ended in a good way. It was important to win – four out of four – and we go into the international break after a really good start.” City’s victory was their second without manager Pep Guardiola on the touchline as he continues his recovery from back surgery, but the Spaniard is expected to return for the trip to West Ham in a fortnight. “I think he misses us,” said Haaland. “We also miss him sometimes too, so we look forward to having him back.” Fulham go into the international break without a win since their season-opener at Everton, but veteran defender Ream expects the team to hit back. The American said: “That’s just the nature of the squad, the mentality (manager) Marco (Silva) has instilled in us. “It’s just a shame that we have an international break and it’s two weeks between games for some guys. “But we’ll come back. We’ll look at things we can improve upon and we go again when we come back.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Tributes paid to former Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak after his death aged 49 Sir Mo Farah finishes fourth on farewell to London racing at Big Half Ange Postecoglou expects Brennan Johnson to ‘fit in really well’ at Tottenham

Getafe head coach Jose Bordalas has defended the club’s decision to hand Mason Greenwood a way back into football. The 21-year-old joined the LaLiga side on transfer deadline day on loan from Manchester United, who suspended him in January 2022 over allegations relating to a young woman after images and videos were posted online, Greenwood faced charges including attempted rape and assault, but the Crown Prosecution Service announced in February that the case had been discontinued. Asked about the decision to sign the one-cap England international after his side’s 2-1 league defeat at Real Madrid on Saturday, Bordalas told a press conference: “It is a very delicate situation to trivialise that issue. “Everyone knows what happened and appropriate measures were taken. Everyone knows how it ended, with a non-convictory sentence. “He is a footballer of a very high level and arrives at Getafe with enormous enthusiasm.” Reports suggested United might try to reintegrate Greenwood into the squad at Old Trafford after concluding an internal investigation, but they revealed last week he would be leaving the club by mutual agreement after a public outcry. Asked if signing Greenwood, who was not involved in the matchday squad at the Bernabeu, might prompt an unfavourable reaction, Bordalas added: “I can only speak at a footballing level. “We all know the potential he has. He is a very young boy and we hope that he adapts to a very different league. Surely he wants to recover his professional status and Getafe can help him in that sense.” Read More Mason Greenwood will begin to rebuild career with loan move to Getafe Mason Greenwood leaves Manchester United on loan Rasmus Hojlund fit to make Manchester United debut at Arsenal – Erik ten Hag

Ange Postecoglou believes Brennan Johnson can take a step up after completing a £45million move to Tottenham before Friday’s transfer deadline. Spurs have reinvested some of the money received from Bayern Munich for Harry Kane on the 22-year-old Wales international, who scored eight goals and provided three assists to help Nottingham Forest avoid relegation last season. Johnson was not registered in time to feature in Saturday’s 5-2 thrashing of Burnley at Turf Moor, but his arrival should add another dimension to a Tottenham side who were inspired by Son Heung-min’s hat-trick and could have scored even more in an exciting attacking display. “He’s just another exciting young player. He’s a real threat in the front third, he’s different from what we’ve already got, he’s young and ambitious,” Postecoglou said. “It’s no secret that’s the model for me. “It’s just as much about the person as well as the footballer, and looking at him he’s going to fit in really well with this group. He’s ambitious and hungry and wants to take his game to the next level. “The technical and the physical attributes he has, he should fit in really well.” Johnson was the ninth signing of a busy window for Tottenham, who spent more than £200million to reshape the squad in Postecoglou’s style. But the Australian said it was just the start and that there is more work that he wants to do in the market in future windows. “When you look at the team we have now, we virtually changed half the starting line up, the way we train, the way we coach,” he said. “The rebuild was never going to be one window.” Spurs had fallen behind to an early Lyle Foster strike at Burnley but Son levelled in the 16th minute and they ruthlessly punished defensive mistakes from the hosts as Cristian Romero got a second in first-half stoppage time and James Maddison added a third early in the second half. Son then scored twice in four minutes just after the hour to complete his hat-trick before Spurs took their foot off the pedal, with Josh Brownhill getting a stoppage-time consolation for the Clarets. The defeat means Burnley have suffered three consecutive home defeats to begin life back in the top flight, conceding 11 goals in losses to Manchester City, Aston Villa and Spurs. Vincent Kompany will now use the international break to pick the bones out of what has gone wrong for his side, but remains bullish that their methods will come good. “During my career I’ve not just been a good leader or captain because of the good times,” the four-time Premier League winner said. “It is easy to be a good captain or leader then, it is at these times I feel most confident in what you need to do to get better. You need to analyse what needs to get better and decide what the next step is. “We will do everything we can to avoid defeat but it is at these moments you learn most about your team’s character.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Issy Wong working with England bowling coach Matt Mason in bid to return to form Eddie Howe admits Brighton defeat is a warning to Newcastle On this day in 2006: Andre Agassi makes emotional retirement from tennis

Eddie Howe admits defeat at Brighton is a warning Newcastle cannot allow their Champions League adventure to distract from the “ruthless” Premier League. The Magpies are back in the group stage of European football’s premier competition for the first time in 20 years and travelled to the Amex Stadium having been drawn to face heavyweights AC Milan, Paris St Germain and Borussia Dortmund. But anticipation of those upcoming fixtures was swiftly tempered by a third successive top-flight loss as a hat-trick from 18-year-old Evan Ferguson earned the Seagulls a 3-1 success. Manager Howe, whose side were beaten 2-1 at home by 10-man Liverpool last weekend following a 1-0 defeat at Manchester City, accepts responsibility for the mini slump but insists he will not over-react. “It’s never been lost on me how difficult the Premier League is,” he said. “I know how tough a league it is, it’s ruthless, so if you get your focus swayed, you’re going to have big problems – I don’t think our focus has been. “We’ve tried to very much concentrate on our next match, that will always be our focus and we’re determined to be successful in the league this year and win as many games as possible. “But we know the demands placed upon us are going to be extreme so this is a warning, I think, that we can’t be swayed and the Premier League is a very tough division. “We’ve lost three in a row and we have to take responsibility for that. It’s important that I don’t over-react.” Newcastle had the better of the early chances on the south coast but fell behind to Ferguson’s 27th-minute opener following defensive errors. The Republic of Ireland striker doubled his tally with a stunning long-range effort before becoming only the fourth teenager to register a Premier League treble thanks to an effort which deflected in off Fabian Schar. Howe, who revealed sidelined midfielder Joe Willock will be out for a further six weeks after his hamstring issue was compounded by a fresh Achilles problem, is itching for a swift return to action going into a two-week international break. “I’d like a game pretty quickly, if I could,” said Howe, whose team host Brentford on September 17. “We have some great games to come and we’re looking forward to that challenge. “I think the challenge to me is to lift everybody and keep our confidence levels because we are a very good team and we have to always have that in the back of our minds as we go into the next two weeks. “The lads are very disappointed. Collectively we’ve got an outstanding group of individuals, great mentalities and we know what we’ve got to do.” Ferguson’s first senior hat-trick, which was followed by Callum Wilson’s consolation, was the third in the Premier League on Saturday after trebles for Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and Tottenham forward Son Heung-min. “It’s a good day,” he told Brighton’s website. “It’s an unbelievable feeling. “It’s not bad company to be in; Haaland’s record last season (52 City goals in all competitions) and Son’s been doing it for a number of years, so it’s good company to be in.” Ahead of kick-off, the Seagulls paraded 20-year Spain forward Ansu Fati following his deadline-day loan switch from Barcelona. “He’s going to be great for the squad, especially as competition,” said Ferguson. “It’s tough up that area of the pitch and he’s going to be another one chucked in there and I reckon he’ll be very good for it.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live On this day in 2006: Andre Agassi makes emotional retirement from tennis Thomas Frank salutes ‘fantastic’ Brentford as they grab late equaliser Jack Draper is the last Brit left standing at the US Open

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Thomas Frank credited his “fantastic” Brentford side after Bryan Mbeumo’s late equaliser against Bournemouth earned a 2-2 draw in the Premier League. Mbeumo’s fourth of the season cancelled out goals from Dominic Solanke and David Brooks after Mathias Jensen took the lead for Brentford in the first half. And Frank praised his team’s second-half display which saw them extend their unbeaten start to the season. “First half we were good but second half we were fantastic,” Frank said. “I think we ran over Bournemouth in the second half and we created chance after chance. “I would love to have 10 points (Brentford have six) and I think we could easily say we deserve to have more, but it’s up to others to discuss if we should have eight or 10. “I think we had a chance to win all three draws at home (Tottenham, Crystal Palace and Bournemouth), the Tottenham and Crystal Palace games were tight but it was clear we should have won them and we have to keep going.” Cherries boss Andoni Iraola admitted Brentford’s late goal hurt as his side searched for their first win of the season. And the Spaniard revealed his side rued a series of mistakes which led to Mbeumo’s goal. “The worst thing for us is the way we concede the goal,” Iraola added. “It comes from our own goal-kick and we made two or three mistakes because we were probably not at our best but we have have to know how to finish the games because we had run a lot and (played) good stretches of football. “To lose it in this way hurts. “In set-pieces they have very good players and we needed maximum help in the duels and the crosses we received in the last minutes but it didn’t work as we conceded the second goal. Iraola highlighted that Bournemouth suffered out of possession in the lead up to the final goal. He said: “The game was a little bit territorial and the advantage was very important because we were suffering when they were playing in our half and they had set-pieces like corners, free-kicks. “Whenever the game was in their half I think we were playing better, we were more in control of the situation and so at the end they had nothing to lose and put more bodies up front and closed with three defenders. “We tried to defend the long balls, crosses and throw ins better because sometimes you have to suffer to win the games and be compact.”

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Gareth Southgate believes England can benefit from Harry Kane’s move to Germany – especially if his captain goes on to lift the first silverware of his career at Bayern Munich. Kane, 30, swapped boyhood club Tottenham for the Allianz Arena in a deal that could be worth £100million. He had been linked with a move away from Spurs for the past few summers, including while heading into tournaments as England skipper. Now Kane’s future has been sorted, during a year where England were not relying on his goals, Southgate is pleased to see him hit the ground running at Bayern. “I definitely think from a selfish England perspective it’s good that his future’s settled now for the next few years,” the England manager said. “I think potentially that can be a distraction for players. But also it’s good for him that he’s got to go and perform at a new club now. He’s been at one club for so long. “To have a change means you’ve got to impress new team-mates, new staff, new fans and also there’s the life experience of having the breadth of adjusting to a new country. I think there’s a lot of positives there.” I’m not sure that he’s going to become a better player but there might be other aspects of the mentality that this move will help him with Gareth Southgate As England and Tottenham’s all-time leading goalscorer, Kane has already hit three goals in his first two Bundesliga appearances and will be aiming to win trophies this season to break his duck. He lost two League Cup finals and the 2019 Champions League final at Tottenham but, with Bayern having won the last 11 Bundesliga titles, Kane could finally get his hands on a winners’ medal. “I’m sure for his own belief that would be brilliant,” Southgate added. “I’m not sure that he’s going to become a better player but there might be other aspects of the mentality that this move will help him with. “They’re probably the bits that as you get older are the only bits you can improve upon. “I think the Bundesliga is a bit different to some of the other leagues we’ve talked about, a bit more transitional. “There is an intensity to that. We’ll have all the data on that from training sessions and matches, so we’re able to track that really closely. “I think the big difference for Harry this year will be that there’s going to be a lot of games where they’re very dominant and in the opposition third of the pitch, so I think there will be a lot more play for him in penalty box I suspect than he had in the last couple of seasons.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Erik ten Hag tips Rasmus Hojlund to have ‘very good impact’ at Manchester United Rob Page will not be ‘influenced by negativity’ ahead of critical Wales period Mikel Arteta hails Eddie Nketiah’s fight to play for England after first call-up

Rob Page says he will not be “influenced by negativity” with his Wales tenure set to reach a critical juncture. Page has come under increasing pressure after an awful World Cup last autumn when Wales scored only once and finished bottom of their group and a Euro 2024 qualifying campaign that hit the rocks with defeats to Armenia and Turkey in June. Although Wales have lost talismanic captain Gareth Bale and others in recent months, many fans have turned on Page – a national hero just over 12 months ago as the Dragons qualified for their first World Cup since 1958 – and used social media to call for his dismissal. Page signed a four-year deal only 12 months ago and received the public backing of Football Association of Wales chief executive Noel Mooney after that miserable June double-header. But Page, who celebrates his 49th birthday on Sunday, is certain to come under intense scrutiny unless Wales revive their Euro 2024 qualification ambitions by beating Group D minnows Latvia in Riga on September 11. “Football is what it is,” said Page, who first has the opportunity to improve a record of one win in 12 games in a Cardiff friendly with Jurgen Klinsmann’s South Korea on Thursday. I can't do things to please other people because you are then riding the rollercoaster of emotions and I'd rather not do that Rob Page “I don’t need people to tell me I’ve done well. I look at myself in the mirror and, as long as I’m doing the the best I can, that’s all I ask for. “I can’t do things to please other people because you are then riding the rollercoaster of emotions and I’d rather not do that. “I played until I was 35 so I understand what social media is, but I don’t read it. I don’t read any articles from ex-players or reporters, because it will inevitably cloud your judgement and then you are going to be influenced by negativity. “I don’t need that in my life. I just want to stay focused on the job we’ve got and that is to get three points in Latvia.” Wales have won only once since beating Ukraine in the 2022 World Cup play-off final, a 1-0 home victory over Latvia in March. Page insists Wales currently find themselves in a similar position to when John Toshack blooded so many youngsters between 2004 and 2010 and gave the likes of Bale, Joe Allen and current captain Aaron Ramsey their international debuts. “This stat of one win in 12 keeps getting thrown at me, which frustrates the life out of me,” he said. “That is on paper. Yes. “But when you strip that away you see the opposition – playing Belgium, Holland and Poland twice because we got promoted from League B to League A in the Nations League and some were played around a World Cup play-off final. “So, let’s have a little bit of common sense with some of the fixtures we were up against and manage expectations. “We’ve lost arguably one of the world’s best players in Gareth Bale, some big characters on the playing side in Chris Gunter and Joe Allen, and now it’s about developing and evolving. “My remit now is to get the next batch of young kids through and it’s not going to happen overnight. Of course we don’t want too many results like Armenia – that is the one that has haunted me. ” Wales trail group leaders Turkey by six points in Euro 2024 qualifying and are three adrift of second-placed Armenia, who have a game in hand on Page’s side. Group favourites Croatia are level on Wales with four points but have played two fewer games and, with a top-two spot appearing improbable, the best the Dragons can seemingly hope for is play-off place through their Nations League status. Page said: “It’s probably the first test I’d have had since I’ve taken over. “Everything’s been rosy – we’ve had success, promotions and qualifications and this is the first time I’ve felt these two months have dragged – but I can’t wait for Sunday (the camp) to come.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Mikel Arteta hails Eddie Nketiah’s fight to play for England after first call-up Getafe boss eager to help Mason Greenwood ‘recover professional status’ in Spain Dan Evans pushes Carlos Alcaraz to limit in entertaining showdown in New York

Mikel Arteta praised Eddie Nketiah’s fight to be in the picture to play for England after the Arsenal striker earned his first senior call-up. Nketiah made the cut in Gareth Southgate’s 26-man squad for the upcoming Euro 2024 qualifier against Ukraine and a friendly in Scotland. The 24-year-old is England’s all-time record goalscorer at under-21 level but has yet to be given his chance in the senior ranks. But that opportunity could come in the next couple of weeks and Arteta believes it would be just reward for the efforts of the Arsenal forward. “I’m so pleased. If someone deserves to be in the England squad, that’s him,” he said. “An academy player that had some moments when his pathway wasn’t very clear and he had to fight. “I love his mentality, his work rate, how much he loves the game and how hard he’s fought to be recognised at that level. In this country, to play there is phenomenal.” Nketiah had gone 14 games without a goal for the Gunners before breaking the deadlock in their Premier League opening-day win over Nottingham Forest. He also came off the bench to score in the 2-2 draw with Fulham last weekend and will be pushing for a recall when Manchester United visit the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. “There are a lot of things that he has improved, first of all his decision-making, especially in certain phases in ball possession,” added Arteta. “I think his aggression without the ball is intensive, the way he reacts to that. I think physically when you look at him, he is very different. “I just had a picture of him, one of him when he was playing in (the academy) Hale End and to now and he is a different player and he’s worked so hard to achieve that. “What I like the most is his mentality and this keeps evolving, because he’s never going to be satisfied. Never. And that’s the way he is.” It’s the pinnacle of recognition for a player that represents England Eddie Nketiah Nketiah, who hit an unrivalled 16 goals in 17 under-21 caps, feels he has now reached the top of the international football mountain. “Obviously coming through the ranks as an academy boy and the youth groups at England, it’s a nice feeling to get that natural progression to go to the seniors,” he told arsenal.com. “It’s the pinnacle of recognition for a player that represents England, so I’m really happy to be there and looking forward to meeting up with the boys.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Rob Page will not be ‘influenced by negativity’ ahead of critical Wales period Getafe boss eager to help Mason Greenwood ‘recover professional status’ in Spain Dan Evans pushes Carlos Alcaraz to limit in entertaining showdown in New York