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Slot news conference: Gomez out of Merseyside derby, Alexander-Arnold could play 'Our players are ready for another battle tomorrow' Moyes news conference to come at 13: 30 (GMT) FA Cup: Palace beat Doncaster to reach fifth round, plus Exeter v Forest on Tuesday - fifth round draw in full Champions League play-offs first-leg: Manchester City v Real Madrid (20: 00 GMT) Phil Mc Nulty Q&A to come - get your questions in Get Involved: #bbcfootball, via Whats App on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply) Sam Drury, Joe Rindl, Ben Ramsdale & Tasnim Chowdhury. Edited by Murray Burnell. Possibly, Kev, but given not one player puts so much as a toe on the badge, I think it is pretty deliberate. It is very much "a thing" now, more respect that than paying homage. Cristiano Ronaldo was praised for doing the same thing when he walked into Etihad Stadium ahead of a Manchester derby a few years, while on the opposite end of the scale, Ander Herrera had to deny that he intentionally spat on the City badge back in 2018. Anyway, I'm not having it. Just walk on the badge, it's really not disrespectful. #bbcfootball, Whats App on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply) Aren't the RM players (09: 00) just walking around the bollards and the cameraman? Strategically placed by the City PR team, a cynic might say, but it just looks like some ballers walking out to train, not paying homage to another club's badge. Kev Everton v Liverpool (Wed, 19: 30 GMT) Despite losing 2-0 in the FA Cup against Bournemouth, Everton are looking pretty decent in the league under new boss David Moyes. They've won each of their past three in the Premier League and in their past two home games raced into 3-0 leads by half-time (v Tottenham and Leicester). Liverpool, be warned. Everton v Liverpool (Wed, 19: 30 GMT) This is the big one. A rejuvenated Everton hosting a Liverpool team who had their first slip in a long, long time. And it's the final ever Merseyside derby at Goodison Park. Arne Slot hasn't faced Everton before, with Wednesday's game a rearranged fixture that was supposed to take place in December but was curtailed by Storm Darragh. The last time these two met was in April, and the Blues overpowered the Reds in a 2-0 win. Phil Mc Nulty Q&A Phil Mc Nulty BBC Sport chief football writer Chris, Stourbridge.

Morning Phil, We know Ange Postecoglou has been particularly vocal about

injuries in the Spurs squad recently but the fact is nearly every side has had

serious injuries and players missing all season. There's clearly an issue with

the amount of games they are being asked to play so when do you think there

will be a proper discussion around this and why don't the media back the

players more in this respect? Are journalists happy with the amount they play

or just afraid to bite the hand that feeds them? Good morning, Chris. I

am at Manchester City v Real Madrid tonight then the Merseyside Derby tomorrow

so you won’t find me complaining about those games. I think there is a

discussion to be had about the amount of games played, but it is the clubs who

have agreed to them, new formats, formats being adjusted such as no FA Cup

replays. It has led to teams prioritising, as we saw when Arne Slot handed

Liverpool’s team sheet in at Plymouth Argyle. They need to have the discussion. Rodri mentioned the

workload shortly before getting injured in September, but the bottom line is

this an issue for clubs and authorities rather than the media. I have a measure of

sympathy for Postecoglou as Spurs have had to deal with an horrendous injury

list and he has to keep counting on the same group of players for an awful lot

of games – although I think he could reflect on bringing Cristian Romero and

Micky van de Ven back too quickly. Everton v Liverpool (Wed, 19: 30 GMT) Since the start of December, Liverpool and Everton have had a game in hand over everybody else. On Wednesday we'll finally be back up to schedule. Will Liverpool go three wins clear at the top, or can Everton stretch the gap between them and the bottom three to 12 points? Everton v Liverpool (Wed, 19: 30 GMT) Liverpool That's your lot from the Liverpool boss. We'll hear from his Evertonian counterpart David Moyes later on today, 13: 30 GMT to be precise. Everton v Liverpool (Wed, 19: 30 GMT) Liverpool Liverpool manager Arne Slot on whether there is a positive in terms of less games for his side now they are out of the FA Cup: "There was a wise man that once said to me, nothing good comes from losing a football game and I completely agree. "We would definitely have prepared to play six games in 18 days or seven in 21 or eight in 24 because that's the schedule we are in. Now with us losing this game, there is one moment that we have a normal week, but that is definitely not what we wanted when we went to Plymouth. "It was difficult because the plan was to play with Joe [Gomez] for 60 minutes or longer. The plan was to start Curtis [Jones] but he came on Sunday and said he didn't feel well enough to play so then all of a sudden we missed two important players. I think people know Darwin [Nunez's] situation that he became a dad one or two days before the game and that happened in Spain so he came in a bit later. "There were some circumstances that weren't perfect when it comes to Plymouth. The idea was to play with an even stronger team but that team still should have been able to win that game and the fact that we didn't and the fact that we didn't against PSV as well also tells us that these players definitely need these games to get the best out of them. "It is so difficult to get the best out of them if they hardly play any games and that's again why it's disappointing for them. " Everton v Liverpool (Wed, 19: 30 GMT) Liverpool Liverpool manager Arne Slot on whether the congested fixtures over the next few weeks will define the team's season: "No because this period of five games in 15 days is what we've done for seven months now. Every phase of the season is crucial if you play in the Premier League. "This is the hardest league to win because there are so many teams that can win this league and there are so many teams that are able to win 10-15 games in a row. You cannot slow down and you cannot have a few games where you aren't on the top of your game because all of a sudden another team will catch you up. "That is what the Premier League is, that's why it is such an exciting league and such a beautiful league to work in. "Last season Arsenal only lost two of their last 15 or 17 but still City were able to win the league probably because they won every game. That is the league we are in, so the upcoming five fixtures are important but the nine afterwards are important. But the first 23-24 games have been just as important. " Everton v Liverpool (Wed, 19: 30 GMT) Liverpool Arne Slot has now finished his news conference but we've got plenty more quotes to bring you from the Liverpool head coach ahead of a crucial Merseyside derby tomorrow. #bbcfootball, Whats App on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply) Firstly as a Liverpool fan I completely agree with Arne Slot's team selection on Sunday and disagree entirely with the ridiculous view that he is somehow "disrespecting the FA Cup". That is a nonsensical statement. Good luck to Plymouth, they deserved their win. Alan Everton v Liverpool (Wed, 19: 30 GMT) Liverpool Liverpool manager Arne Slot on the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park: "I think it's an extra reason why the atmosphere will be even better than all the ones before. I haven't been to one before but people tell me at Goodison Park, as at Anfield, it is always a fantastic atmosphere. "It is probably going to be a fantastic atmosphere and that is never easy to play against because every single time they cross the halfway line or corner kick, whatever happens, the fans will cheer for that and you have to be mentally strong as the away team to resist all of that atmosphere. "When you have the ball you have to be as calm as you can in this fantastic atmosphere but it is not the first time for these players that they are playing in atmospheres like this so I hope they can focus on what they have to do. "I assume our players are ready for another battle tomorrow for the simple reason that they have been ready for the whole season and many of them are experienced in this tie. " Everton v Liverpool (Wed, 19: 30 GMT) Liverpool Liverpool manager Arne Slot on the impact it will have on the side going out of the FA Cup: "It should have impact because if you are working at a club like this, you should compete for every trophy, we've said this from the start. "We beat Accrington Stanley but to lose to Plymouth is, of course, not acceptable. As a team and I think our fans are disappointed by that result. "We have to show a different side of us tomorrow because it was not only the result but the performance was far from what Liverpool standards are as well. " Everton v Liverpool (Wed, 19: 30 GMT) Liverpool Liverpool manager Arne Slot on the injuries to Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez: "Trent has done part of a training session with us yesterday so let's see how he is today. He will train hopefully with us again today and then we will decide if we take him to the game. "Joe, it's the same leg again where he had the injury last time so we are still assessing that but he will definitely not be available tomorrow. It is a concern [that it is the same leg]. " Everton v Liverpool (Wed, 19: 30 GMT) Liverpool Arne Slot is in position and starts his news conference by saying that Liverpool will have to "wait and see" if Trent Alexander-Arnold will be fit enough to feature at Goodison Park tomorrow evening. Man City v Real Madrid (20: 00 GMT) We're going to be hearing from Liverpool boss Arne Slot very shortly but before we do, take a look at this video of the Real Madrid players walking out to train at the Etihad. They make sure not to walk on the huge City crest right in the middle of the floor, which has become something of the norm in recent times. What do you make of that? It's supposed to be a sign or respect but would anyone really be offended if players walked on a crest that is literally on the floor that people could reasonably be expected to walk on? Allow Twitter content? This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’. 2025 marks 29 years since Aston Villa last won a major trophy. The last one in their cabinet was the 1996 EFL Cup which they got their hands on following a 3-0 victory over Leeds United in the final. Four times since that date have they reached major finals, twice again in the EFL Cup (2010 & 2020) and twice in the FA Cup (2000 & 2015). It will have felt oh so close, yet oh so far to breaking that hoodoo in recent years but as mentioned previously - they will be among several clubs viewing this year's FA Cup as a huge opportunity. Three wins now separates them from a place in another final and maybe, finally, the end to that barren streak. Thanks Tom. Bournemouth's trophy cabinet when it comes to knockout competitions isn't exactly full. .. Associate Members' Cup/Football League Trophy Third Division South Cup #bbcfootball, Whats App on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply) The FA Cup is looking very open this season. The Manchester clubs are loitering but both are so fragile this season that a traditionally smaller club can take them out and certainly won’t fear them. Personally, I would love to see Forest, Fulham, Palace or Brighton go far but I really want, and think it might be their time, Bournemouth to win it all! Tom in London #bbcfootball, Whats App on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply) Right, it's that time again. BBC Sport chief football writer Phil Mc Nulty will be answering your questions throughout the day. So whatever burning football-related questions you have, now is the time to ask. Get in touch using #bbcfootball on X, via Whats App on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply). Last Updated 1st February 2025 at 03: 05 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.