Dave Estherby gets in touch: “Ok so I think we can all ascertain from that presser that whoever’s in charge at Liverpool it sure as hell ain’t Arne Slot. One week, the public outburst, the turning-up-at-training-as-if-nothing’s-happened, the selfie in the gym alone, and still nothing. He should be made to train with the reserves for the rest of the season and yet it wouldn’t surprise me at all if he starts tomorrow.

“Slot visibly flinched and asked for the question to be repeated when asked if he wants Salah to stay, we all know what’s gonna happen; gone in January to Saudi on a ludicrous contract for a fortune. Everyone’s happy; the club get rid for nice windfall and the money-grabber grabs his money, all’s fair in love and war. Except Slot, that is, who ends up looking like a idiot. Nice.”

There has been talk of a distance between the Class of 92 and Manchester United, so this is a development. Via PA Media’s Simon Peach:

University Academy 92, founded by former Manchester United captain Gary Neville and fellow members of the Class of 92, is launching a new campus at Old Trafford.

The higher education institution was set up by Neville, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Phil Neville and Nicky Butt in association with Lancaster University and opened in 2019.
UA92 has campuses in the city centre and next to the Old Trafford cricket ground, which will be complemented from January by United’s home.

Several suites within the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand will be used as teaching spaces and Gary Neville says “bringing our students into this environment connects everything we stand for.” This is a full circle moment for me - Manchester United is where my dreams started and now we have the privilege of helping the next generation achieve theirs,” the UA92 co-founder said.

Evan Ferguson scored twice last night for Roma at Celtic, the best performance yet of his loan. There’s talk he will return to Brighton. Fabian Hurzeler has been speaking ahead of Brighton’s visit to face Liverpool.

“Evan is a player for us, that is why he will always be an option. At the moment he is on loan but we follow it, we are pleased how he performed yesterday. Of course we all follow it so definitely he might be an option.”

Hurz (not) on Salah: “We always want to face the best players, the best teams. We try to go for this challenge, to be honest we don’t have any idea how Liverpool have played with which players that will face us, which formation.

“It’s about us, focusing on our principles, our style of play. We go there, we know no matter which situation Liverpool is it will be a big challenge so we try to face it and we try to win this game.”

Bournemouth have announced Vitality as their new front of shirt sponsor from next season, replacing the gambling company bj88.

The move comes as the Premier League prepares to start a voluntary ban on gambling companies acting as front of shirt sponsors, which is due to come in from next season.

Research by the company GlobalData estimated the overall value of shirt sponsorship deals by gambling companies to be worth a combined £104million in 2024-25.

Last May, the gambling commission wrote to Bournemouth and four other Premier League sides warning them over their relationships with their front of shirt sponsors, as the gambling brands did not have a licence to operate in the UK.

The Cherries have agreed a ‘multi-year’ deal with Vitality, who are already the title sponsors of their stadium. AFC Bournemouth’s president of business operations, Jim Frevola, said: “I’m thrilled to welcome Vitality as the club’s front-of-shirt sponsor and further our relationship, which is already built around our shared principles of energy, resilience and community.”

Another fans story, via the BBC in Essex.

Southend United fans have called for a refund after their 250-mile away day to Rochdale was rained off for the second time.

The National League tie was being won by the hosts 2-1 before it was abandoned in the 77th minute on Saturday.

It followed many fans making their way to the Crown Oil Arena in September, only for the game to be postponed due to heavy rainfall less than two and half hours before kick-off. Hoping their next meeting would be third time lucky, supporters group Shrimpers Trust said: “At this or any level, this is unacceptable.”

Lancashire clubs – Rochdale is Greater Manchester but formerly Lancs – have had it wet this season. See Blackburn’s problems against Sheffield Wednesday last week. Their second abandonment of the season.

Yet more Slot: “Alex [Isak] got a knock in the first half, so let’s see how he recovers from that today and if he is able to start tomorrow.

It’s helpful in the upcoming weeks that we won’t play as many games as we did until now. I wonder if there are more teams that have played three games in seven days this season. We had to do it three times already this season.

“I am almost happy we are out of the League Cup, because if we had to play with 13 outfield players available with any Premier League experience, and we had to go to Arsenal away on Tuesday after already so many games played, then maybe people can understand a bit better why I made that line-up against Crystal Palace.

“It wasn’t good for me but I made that decision for the team. Losing a game of football is never a good idea, but sometimes players need rest as well.”

The Women’s Super League will review its broadcast slots at the end of the season amid disappointment at some viewing figures during the first half of the campaign.

An average audience of 59,000 watched live Sky Sports coverage of Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Liverpool last Saturday lunchtime, even fewer than the 71,000 people who watched Arsenal v Chelsea on Sky in the same noon kick-off slot last month, leading to criticism from fans about the scheduling of such flagship games.

A bit more Slot on Salah: “Who made the call? I think we decided as a club and I was part of that not to take him to Inter. I am always in contact with them with lineup and squads, that is always left to me. I talk to Richard Hughes more than Michael Edwards, we speak about many things.

“Do I want him to stay? Another way of asking but the next time I speak about Mo will be with him. I see no reason why I don’t want him to stay.”

Kolo Toure will be doing the Manchester City press conference today because Pep Guardiola has a personal matter to attend but the head coach will be in the dugout at Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Slot has been talking about Liverpool’s injuries, too: “Endo and Gakpo? Going to be weeks. Cody is a muscle injury and Wata is ankle.

And his new strike pairing of Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak: “What we all saw, which is normal, the more they play, the more they will adapt and the better they will cooperate. The other two No 9s on the pitch for Inter were more used to playing with each. It’s the second time they have played together and I think we will see more of this in the future. Alex got a knock in the first half, so let’s see if he is able to start tomorrow.

“I don’t think height tells you a player is perfectly equipped for that direct style. Some are tall and struggle, others aren’t and dominate. Alex and Hugo, you can better use them in behind than long balls into their body. I see Hugo trying to do this better and better but there’s room for improvement as there is with so many parts of our games.”

More Slot on Salah: “I have no reasons to not want him to stay.”

The week’s big story has been the Mohamed Salah affair. Liverpool play Brighton this weekend, a game Salah pinpointed might be his last. There’s also talk of a midweek meeting with Jordan Henderson; does that mean Saudi Arabia or Brentford? Arne Slot is due to speak this morning.