Football fans are being treated to a busy day of news and build-up ahead of another major weekend of action, with live coverage continuing across the game.
Among the headline talking points is Liverpool manager Arne Slot, who says he feels the support of both the club’s fans and its owners. Elsewhere, Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has dismissed talk of any “fallings out” at the club, as attention turns to the latest developments around the Premier League and beyond.
The live blog is also keeping across wider football news, including international scheduling and pre-season planning that is already taking shape well ahead of the summer.
Aston Villa and Bayern Munich plan Hong Kong friendly
One notable item involves Aston Villa, who are set to face Bayern Munich in a pre-season friendly in Hong Kong on 7 August. The match was announced by Bayern Munich despite the fact that the season is still unresolved and the looming World Cup adds another layer of uncertainty to the football calendar.
Villa have responded by saying they “hope to announce further fixtures in the far east in due course”.
The announcement has created a small race between the two clubs off the pitch as well as on it, with Bayern appearing to move quickly to get their plans in place. Villa, meanwhile, are still looking to add more matches to their pre-season schedule.
More news and updates to come
With a big weekend of football approaching, the live feed is tracking the latest developments across the sport, from club management comments to fixture announcements and everything in between.
Supporters can expect more updates as the day goes on, with the usual mix of team news, talking points and background from around the Premier League and the wider football world.
