Following a challenging week for English teams in European competitions, the spotlight swiftly shifts back to the domestic scene with a thrilling lineup of Premier League matches set for the weekend.

Managers from across the league are stepping up to address the media today. Keep in touch with the latest updates and insights here at Daily Mail Sport.

Moyes sticks up for Arsenal’s style of play 

David Moyes has stepped forward to defend Arsenal amid critiques of their playing style. As his Everton squad prepares to face the Premier League frontrunners on Saturday evening, Moyes shared his perspective.

Moyes countered, “What’s wrong with any of those aspects you’re mentioning? You’re framing it as an issue because they’re skilled at set-pieces and possess a strong, physical presence. I see no problem with that. It’s part of football.”

David Moyes has come to Arsenal’s defence amid criticism over their physical style of play

He continued, “If there’s this notion that everyone must play an idealized version of the game, then it would become monotonous. Football would lose its excitement. The fact that people are discussing it indicates that it offers something different from what we’ve been accustomed to in recent years.”

“It’s sparking conversation, but I would dislike attending matches where football is played in a single manner. I appreciate seeing teams employ varying styles and approaches,” Moyes concluded.

Howe defends Gordon over sickness

Eddie Howe has hit back at Alan Shearer and Roy Keane after they questioned Anthony Gordon for not feeling well enough to start versus Barcelona on Tuesday.

The Newcastle and England star was expected to lead the line for the Champions League last-16 first leg but was named on the bench after reporting illness.

Shearer, speaking on Prime Video before the game, said: ‘Maybe I’m old school, but if you’re fit enough to train in the morning, and I know he doesn’t feel well, but this is Barcelona at Newcastle for a place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. It would take something extraordinary to keep myself out of this game tonight.’

Roy Keane then weighed in on The Overlap, when he said: ‘How can you be ill and come on for half an hour? It’s bizarre, isn’t it?’

Host Gary Neville defended Gordon, but Keane countered: ‘Oh Gary, because you did an interview with him last year and you thought he was a really nice lad! How can you be ill, but come on for half an hour?

‘You hear managers every week say, “He’s not fit enough to start, but he’ll be good enough for the bench”. Something might happen after five minutes. I don’t get it. If he’s that important, start him and take him off after half an hour.’

Eddie Howe has defended Anthony Gordon after criticism by Roy Keane and Alan Shearer

Wayne Rooney was on punditry duty with Shearer, and he said: ‘Eddie Howe said before the game that he probably has 20 or 30 minutes in him. That’s telling you the sports scientists and the doctors are (suggesting he can play). If you’re ill, you’re ill.

‘You shouldn’t be there. He walked past us before the game and wouldn’t shake our hands. He said he didn’t want us to catch anything, but then he’s going into the dressing room with his team-mates.’

Howe felt moved to address the criticism when he met the media on Friday ahead of Saturday’s trip to Chelsea.

‘I do have to clear something up with Anthony Gordon,’ he began. ‘He was absolutely willing to play in the game against Barcelona. I know there’s a lot of comments. It was my decision not to start him based on the fact that he’d been ill that morning and hadn’t attended the training session. So he was prepared to play, but in consultation with the medical team, we didn’t think he was fit to play.’

Howe added: ‘My perception is that he does face a lot of scrutiny, but I think that comes with being a top player. As soon as you play for England, you go to a different level in terms of scrutiny and expectation. I think Ant has done that well and he’s single-minded enough to blank out a lot of the noise. It’s one of his strengths.

‘I’d categorise him as a winner. He wants to win everything, he’s a real competitor. He’s got that streak to him that I think all top players need where he’s very single-minded, very focused on his development and his game. I can only speak really glowingly of him this year. He’s probably in the best moment he’s been this season.’

Gordon came on during the final half hour of the 1-1 draw against Barcelona, and afterwards Howe said: ‘We trained this morning and Anthony didn’t make it. So that’s a pretty good sign that he’s not in the best physical condition. The doctors and everyone did a great job to get him at the start line for us, albeit for a short period of time. I thought he made a good contribution when he came on.’

CRAIG HOPE