After a set of eventful midweek Premier League fixtures – which ended with two managerial sackings – attention turns to the FA Cup fourth round this weekend.
A host of managers are previewing the weekend’s action today – stay tuned here with Daily Mail Sport for all of the latest…
Howe sorry after Premier League axe falls
Eddie Howe has expressed sympathy for the two managers who were sacked on the back of poor results this week.
Nottingham Forest sacked Sean Dyche just over two hours after they drew 0-0 at home to Wolves – after Thomas Frank lost his job at Tottenham following a 2-1 home defeat by Howe’s Newcastle.
That was a much-needed win for the Magpies but Howe admitted this morning he was sad to see his rival managers lose their jobs.
Eddie Howe knows the pressures of the Premier League
Howe said: ‘It always saddens me when that happens. You just have sympathy for every manager because you know how difficult the job is, and especially the modern day life of a manager. The sways and the speed of opinion changing is quicker, I think, than it’s ever been due to various different factors and forces that you have to compete against. I have sympathies for any manager that loses their job.’
Meanwhile, the Newcastle boss confirmed that Bruno Guimaraes has suffered a hamstring injury but the full extent of the problem is not yet known. He and fellow midfielder Lewis Miley (dead leg/thigh) look set to miss Saturday’s FA Cup tie at Aston Villa.
Craig Hope
Endo set for long spell on sidelines at Liverpool
Arne Slot’s right back curse has continued with utility man Wataru Endo set to be out for a ‘long time’.
The Liverpool midfielder, who has filled in at right back and central defence in recent weeks, was stretchered off in Wednesday’s win at Sunderland.
And now there are fears that the Japan captain is in a battle to play again this season, which would be the club’s third long-term defensive injury with Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni also not scheduled to play again this term.
Wataru Endo suffered a nasty injury in Wednesday’s 1-0 win at Sunderland
There are fears that Endo has suffered a serious foot injury after he hurt himself stretching for a crucial clearance as his team were defending their one-goal lead at the Stadium of Light.
Slot said on Friday morning: ‘We still need to do some assessment but it is clear and obvious that he will be out for quite a long time.’
Fellow right back Jeremie Frimpong is also injured and unlikely to be fit to face Brighton in the FA Cup on Saturday though the Dutchman is hopeful that his groin problem does not leave him on the treatment table for too much longer.
Lewis Steele
