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Southampton: With the teams separated by 52 points, Southampton face a daunting weekend trip to Anfield, where nobody gives the Premier League’s bottom side a snowball’s chance in hell of adding to their tally of nine points against the table-toppers.

While Ivan Juric could be forgiven for whimpering in fear behind the sofa, the Saints boss fronted up at his press conference to declare his side – who have already given Liverpool a decent run for their money on two separate occasions this season – will try to give a good account of themselves.

“It’s never mission impossible,” he told reporters. “We will try to do our best and we will see. Before the match, I’m always optimistic and then after maybe I think differently. But before the match, I always see the possibility of doing something good.

“When you play against Liverpool, sometimes it’s the way you want to die. If you do some things, they will find another way to beat you. If you are low block, they will find a way to beat you. I think we have to be perfect in both things. Sometimes press, sometimes low block. We will see. We have to play well.”

Football finance: The Premier League’s financial power continues to blow its European rivals out of the water, with combined revenues almost double those in Germany and Spain according to newly released figures from Uefa. Nick Ames has the latest …

Tottenham Hotspur: Guglielmo Vicario has said he “understands the frustration of the fans” after the Tottenham goalkeeper was involved in an emotional exchange following his side’s 1-0 defeat at AZ in the first leg of their Europa League tie. Ed Aarons reports from Alkmaar …

Nottingham Forest: Nuno Espirito Santo’s side welcome Manchester City for tomorrow’s early kick-off having taken just one point from the last nine available in the Premier League. Forest sit third in the top flight but will be overtaken by City if they fail to beat them. The Forest manager has said he will treat tomorrow’s game against the Premier League champions the same way he would any other game.

“The approach is the same,” Nuno told reporters. “Nothing changes. You have to realise that you’re going to play a very, very good team, a team that has been able to clearly dominate in the last years, a coach that has a big impact on the game and fantastic players.

“But it’s the same approach. It’s realising how hard it’s going to be, but at the same time with the joy of the moment. It’s going to be even more difficult than it was before [at the Etihad, where Forest lost 3-0].”

The Portuguese refused to be drawn on the reasons behind City’s decline this season and insisted Guardiola remains as influential as ever. “Pep is one of the coaches who has had a direct impact on the game,” he said. “His ideas and the way he approaches [his work] and tries to build his teams.

“He has a big impact and he’s contagious to older managers because they see new things and different things. We’ve faced each other many times and it’s always about the players at the end of the day, the ability of the players to make the manager’s ideas work.”

Nuno Espirito Santo was effusive in his praise of Pep Guardiola’s contribution to football ahead of Forest’s match against Manchester City tomorrow.

Premier League fixtures

Nottingham Forest v Man City (Sat 12.30pm GMT)
Liverpool v Southampton (3pm)
Crystal Palace v Ipswich Town (3pm)
Brighton v Fulham (3pm)
Brentford v Aston Villa (5.30pm)
Wolves v Everton (8pm)
Tottenham Hotspur v Bournemouth (Sunday 2pm)
Chelsea v Leicester (2pm)
Manchester United v Arsenal (4.30pm)
West Ham v Newcastle (Monday 8pm)
View the Premier League table

FC Copenhagen 1-2 Chelsea

Europa Conference League: Reece James and Enzo Fernandez papered over the cracks of a poor Chelsea performance as Enzo Maresca’s side assumed control of the tie in Denmark. Jacob Steinberg reports from Parken …

Chelsea’s players celebrate after Enzo Fernandez had put them two goals up in Copenhagen.

Fenerbahce 1-3 Rangers

Europa League: Vaclav Cerny scored twice as Rangers interim boss Barry Ferguson led his side to a famous and emphatic victory over José Mourinho’s side in Istanbul. Jonathan Wilson reports from the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium

Vaclav Cerny celebrates scoring Rangers’ second goal against Fenerbahce in Istanbul last night.

Real Sociedad 1-1 Manchester United

Europa League: Mikel Oyarzabal cancelled out Joshua Zirkzee’s opener, but a sensational Andre Onana save in added time means United will welcome their opponents from La Liga to Old Trafford on level terms next week. Sid Lowe reports from the Anoeta Stadium

Andre Onana made an excellent late save to keep Manchester United on level terms against Real Sociedad going into next week’s second leg.

AZ 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur

Europa League: An abject display in which Tottenham fell behind to an early Lucas Bergvall own goal means Ange Postecoglou’s chances of maintaining his record of winning a second season trophy at every club he has managed now rest on next week’s second leg. Ed Aarons reports from the AZ Stadion …

Ange Postecoglou looks on impassively as his Tottenham Hotspur side lose against AZ Alkmaar.

Preamble

Happy Friday! With another week of Premier League action looming, we’re here to bring you news from the usual Friday schedule of pre-match managerial press conferences.

As well as diligently reporting the answers to such probing questions as “any knocks?”, we’ll flag up any other major talking points and items of interest that crop up throughout the day, while gently nudging you in the direction of any pertinent and interesting Guardian content as it materialises.

To get the ball rolling, here are Ten Things our crack team of writers think you should be looking out for in the top flight this weekend …

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