Build-up to Premier League weekend

Are West Ham interested in signing Danny Ings from Liverpool?

David Moyes discusses.

"There seems to be a lot of names being banded about at the moment, but I've not had any involvement in it at the moment but I will do over the coming weeks," said the Hammers boss.

"Maybe Tony Henry and the chairman are talking to some people, but I have no idea about that at the moment."

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David Moyes was super late to his news conference as he was still out on the training pitch with his West Ham players.

But he's rocked up to give his views on the visit of Chelsea.

"It's looking much better," Moyes said of his team's fitness issues.

"We've got a whole host of players back training and it's good to get them back. Chicharito is one of those who is back training."

What about his goalkeeping conundrum - will he play Joe Hart or Adrian?

"I wouldn't give the team out as I don't want to help Chelsea," said the Scotsman.

"I have got the decision in my mind but I'll keep it to myself. "I'd always try to speak to the players. There are some occasions when I do and others when I don't need to."

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Jose Mourinho thinks both Manchester clubs have upped the ante since last season.

"We are a better team than last year. No doubt about that. So are they," he said.

Asked if one of the clubs will be title winners, he replied: "We can. Other teams can be champions too."

Jose Mourinho was asked about the fact that Sunday's game is the first Premier League meeting between the two Manchester clubs since the terror attack in the city, which killed 22 people.

"The clubs were ready to work together for the city," he said. "It would be really sad if that was not the case.

"This is an important football match. If taken in the right way, the derbies are beautiful thing. Different colours, even under the same roof.

"I hope before the game you have a city full of colour. Red and blue. After the game the same.

"During the match it is a football match."

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Jose Mourinho has given us a team news update for the Manchester derby on Sunday.

He said Zlatan Ibrahimovic is available for the hosts, as is Phil Jones.

The Red Devils will wait until Saturday to decide on Marouane Fellaini, while Michael Carrick, and Eric Bailly will not feature.

As for Nemanja Matic: "He is injured but he plays," said Mourinho.

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Southampton manager Mauricio Pellegrino has confirmed that Cedric Soares will be his side's only absentee for their game against Arsenal.

The Saints have had mixed results over the last few weeks, leaving them mid-table. They have four points from their last three games, having suffered back-to-back defeats before that.

Striker Charlie Austin is in decent form at the moment - he's nabbed three in three games - and it's not gone unnoticed.

"I hope Charlie can continue in the same way, he is in great scoring form and his confidence is high," added Pellegrino.

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Jose Mourinho was not entirely expansive in his media briefing today.

He spoke at length about how the city came together after the Manchester attack in May, but also admitted he doesn't know the place that well because he only goes to the training ground and Old Trafford when he leaves his hotel.

Any insight, such as it was, was restricted to the title race and whether he thinks the winner will be one of the teams playing at Old Trafford on Sunday.

"Other teams can win it," he said, without elaborating on who he meant.

Allardyce is not beating around the bush as he tries to explain his tactical views more clearly for Everton fans.

Asked how you stop Liverpool, he said: "We've just been installing some of the basics we believe in; team play and how we effect each other's game and live or die by our team work.

"What sort of areas do we want to try and expose?

"When we keep the ball, why are we keeping it? It's one thing at a time.

"We can't let the occasion over-awe us. We have to deliver a performance that is tactically right and block off the areas Liverpool try and work in; then it's how good we are when we get possession.

"We know we probably won't get as much possession as them so how will we utilize it? If and when we get a chance we need to score."

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Team news incoming from Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez.

"Jamaal Lascelles and Christian Atsu are available. Paul Dummett will play for the under-23's tonight," said the Spaniard.

The Magpies are without a win since October, and have picked up one point from their last six outings.

"We have to improve as a team to make sure we can compete," added Benitez.

"We have to maximise what we have. We have to be really, really united if we want to stay in the Premier League."

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Allardyce also provided updates on long-term absentees Yannick Bolasie and James McCarthy, although neither will be ready to face Liverpool.

"Yannick Bolasie and James McCarthy have trained," he said. "Bolasie will have a couple of games in the under-23's and if there is no reaction to the knee we could see him on the bench to begin with.

"James seems to have had a lot of occurrence of similar injury so I'm more wary of that.

"Hopefully by the end of January I have a massive headache in selection problems and new signings coming in."

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Everton hope to have captain Phil Jagielka availbale for Sunday's Merseyside derby.

Manager Sam Allardyce said he will make a decision on his squad over the next 24 hours.

"I've got 31 pros and they're nearly all fit now so I need to assess them," he said. "We've got Phil Jagielka and Michael Keane back which is good but we're missing some big players.

"As soon as we get them back it gives me a great headache with team selection. Liverpool is the big test.

"The big derby against players in outstanding form up front and that's the challenge we need to face.

"The squad will be assessed from last night's game."

Let's reminisce about Manchester derby days gone by with Pep Guardiola.

"When I grew up watching English football in the 1980's, they were the best one," said the Man City manager.

"Many years after that it was under Sir Alex, with young players for United.

"I was lucky to play two finals of the Champions League against them, and learn how important the club is.

"Going to Old Trafford is a pleasure. I am a manager to play these kind of games, to play Champions League and derbies is fascinating for us. I will enjoy it, definitely."

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Everton were linked with an ambitious £60m move for Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang today.

Sam Allardyce was coy with his answer but good value.

"It's the hardest thing to recruit today - a centre forward who scores goals," he said.

"It's the most expensive area of the pitch. We have a number of players here with decent goal scoring records; Niasse, Sandro. There are people who have scored goals.

"But it's my opinion that my first signing has to be right for Everton and my future. You make bad signings you get the sack, good signings it helps your prospects."

Then a journalist's phone rang and interrupted him, so after a gap for chortles he offered up: "Bitcoin- I wish I'd invested in that. Started at 1000 it's 14,000 now."

Make of that what you will.

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Pep Guardiola has confirmed David Silva will be fit.

"He's going to play," said the Man City boss. "After West Ham there was a bit of doubt, but today he arrived and says he’s really good."

The latest news on Vincent Kompany and Fabian Delph as follows:

"Vincent before Shakhtar felt something was not comfortable and that’s why he could not play," added Guardiola.

"Delph was sick, he was vomiting and had a fever, and that’s why he didn’t play.

"Tomorrow we’ll check their conditions."

Sam Allardyce has just been speaking to the media at Everton's Finch Farm training ground.

The Blues boss was asked the rather pertinent question of how he intends to try and stop a Liverpool side with an insatiable thirst for goals right now.

"The confidence they seem to have with one or two touch football is huge," he said.

"It's very very good but it can be stopped. What we don't want to do is play into Liverpool's hands. If they do a high press then why are we going to try and play out from the back. Is that a good idea or not?

"Playing into the right areas for us is what we must try and do.

"I won there with Palace (last season) because we played our game which on the day was better than theirs. Our tactics paid dividends on the day. Their flair and natural talent is a concern.

"The last thing we want to do is go 1-0 down on Sunday."

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Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is asked if he'll give Cesar Azpilicueta a chance to try and break his 74-game Premier League streak, or keep rotating.

He says it is difficult for a player to maintain his form if he plays two games, week after week without much training, and the "risk of injury is high".

Jose Mourinho is yet to beat Pep Guardiola as Manchester United boss.

For 40 minutes of their first clash at Old Trafford last season, United suffered the kind of chastening experience City have given most teams this campaign.

But Mourinho has built his reputation on setting sides up to win the biggest games.

They hammered Arsenal last week, have beaten Tottenham this season and drawn at Liverpool.

He will have a plan for Sunday's game. I think we can be fairly sure he won't be revealing it when he speaks to the media soon.

There's a hefty gap between leaders Manchester City and last year's runners-up Tottenham.

A whole 18 points to be precise.

So can Spurs catch Pep's boys?

"Today the gap is massive, but in football if you believe always you can achieve what you want," said manager Mauricio Pochettino, while previewing Saturday's game with Stoke.

"Everything is possible."

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Speaking about Saturday's opponents, Chelsea boss Antonio Conte admits he's surprised by their league position.

The Hammers go into the game in 19th place, three points from safety.

He adds: "Chelsea must try to win on Saturday as we know there is the Manchester derby on Sunday, but beating West Ham will not be easy."

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