Dion Dublin
Former England striker on Amazon Prime

Trent Alexander-Arnold is the best they have but they can afford to leave him out and give him a rest.

Alexander Isak being fit is huge for Newcastle and he has to hit the ground running. They are creating chances but just can't put the ball in the back of the net.

Liverpool

Liverpool manager Arne Slot speaking to Amazon Prime: "Not starting Trent Alexander-Arnold has a lot to do with us being aware that we only have five defenders left in a month we will have eight or nine matches.

"Him being back from a hamstring injury two days before the Manchester City game which was so intense, it wouldn't be smart to play him in my opinion again.

"We still have very good players available and we thought it was necessary to bring in fresh legs as well.

"Good thing for us is every time we won a game, it's not by a big margin and we had to work really hard for it. The players know that if we take one step down, we play in a league where they can punish you."

On goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher: "I have been clear about the decision already. It's difficult like all other situations we have talked about. It's a long season. Goalkeeper is a different situation. Kelleher has done outstanding and that's why we should talk about now instead of what is going to happen in one week or two."

Manchester United

Man Utd boss Ruben Amorim, speaking to Amazon Prime: "Of course, it is a massive game and everyone feels that.

"It's a great test, but I dont see it that way, it is one more game. This matters a lot to our fans, but it is one more game. We have to compete and show our game with the ball."

On six changes: "Thinking about having the ball. We are looking for that as Arsenal are a strong team and Manuel Ugarte and Bruno Fernandes can run - that's important for today."

"We are playing two in two days and Arsenal has one more day [rest] so we have to rotate the team - it is impossible to play the same team."

On Luke Shaw's injury: "As a coach since I am here I have seen him in the medical department. I saw him in the gym, I saw him losing weight and he did everything right.

"If he continues with this behaviour, doing everything he can, as long as it takes we believe in him.

"Luke is an important player for us."

On winning with Sporting at the Emirates: "Arsenal saved some players for the league as they were fighting with Man City at the time.

"Martin Odegaard didn't play so that is a massive point in the team. They are so much better, but I am focusing on our game.

"We want to be competitive.

"We are trying to push the storm into time and space. We want to improve as a team and try win the game."

Chris Sutton
Former Premier League striker

Brentford's away form is awful but they are still fearless wherever they go and they have got plenty of goals in them - Kevin Schade was such a smooth operator to put his chances away against Leicester on Saturday.

The Bees are the last team you want to play when you are leaking goals the way Aston Villa are.

Villa's form is desperate and they are a bit like Manchester City in that they need a result to go for them to turn the tide.

There is no pressure on Villa boss Unai Emery whatsoever but he does need a win to get his side heading in the right direction.

Maybe this is when it happens - I am going to say Ollie Watkins will come up trumps against his old team and get Villa going again.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Brentford have never won a game away to Aston Villa in 10 previous attempts dating back to 1936.

However a more positive way of looking at that is they have only lost once at Villa since 1946. Six of the previous seven meetings at Villa Park have been draws.

The Bees have the best home record in the Premier League this season but only managed one away point so far.

"We don’t do too much different in what we do away and at home," said boss Thomas Frank.

"It’s not like we go super offensive and then super defensive or less high pressure. We try and do more or less the same. I still think it’s early days.

"The run of away opponents we have had is part of the reason it could be obscured one way. The biggest thing is we’ve performed relatively well away from home, except the Fulham game."

Stuart Pearce
Former Nottingham Forest and Manchester City manager on Amazon Prime

Forest have had a flying start to the season. Chris Wood is on fire at the top end of the pitch and they will come here tonight thinking that they can get a result.

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Stuart Pearce
Former Nottingham Forest and Manchester City manager on Amazon Prime

Man City need to be more clinical with their chances. They have been creating chances certainly before the game against Liverpool at the weekend, and not been as clinical as you would think.

Marc Whittle: Given how the media are now fawning over Slot, is anyone brave enough to say Klopp should have achieved more? I'm saying it.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter at the Etihad Stadium

It barely seems credible Jack Grealish could go a full calendar year without scoring a goal.

But the £100m man is getting perilously close.

He last found the net in this stadium on 16 December last year, opening the scoring in what seemed certain to be a comfortable home win against Crystal Palace but ended in a 2-2 draw.

Tonight would be a very good night to break that scoring drought as far as Pep Guardiola is concerned.

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Alex Turk, Stretford Paddock, external

His name is Amad.

In just a month, the infectious 22-year-old from the Ivory Coast has made Ole Gunnar Solskjaer look a genius for sanctioning his £19m arrival in 2021 and Erik ten Hag a fool for his frustrating oblivion.

It has taken a few years, but this is the talent United figures dreamed of during scouting trips to Bergamo. Ruud van Nistelrooy gave him a stage to shine, and Ruben Amorim is gratefully promoting the act.

Amad was breathtaking on Sunday. There were two United number 16s on the pitch, I am sure of it.

Utilising his acceleration and tenacity to steal the ball from unaware defenders before scoring himself or creating a goal for his team-mates is becoming his trademark move.

We saw it for his 120th-minute winner in last season's FA Cup quarter-final classic against Liverpool. That goal may go down in history as the one that finally set his United career on the right trajectory.

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Newcastle United

Eddie Howe has warned the Newcastle hierarchy of the dangers of “staleness” as he approaches January hoping for better fortunes than the last two transfer windows have brought.

The Magpies have spent in excess of £500m on players since the club’s Saudi-backed owners took charge in October 2021, but their last major signing, Tino Livramento, arrived at St James’ Park in August last year.

That lack of improvement has been brought into sharp focus by the performances Howe’s side have mustered in their most recent outings, a 1-0 home defeat by West Ham and Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace.

Asked ahead of tonight's clash with Premier League leaders Liverpool how badly he needed a fresh face in January, head coach Howe said: “I think freshness is important in a squad, I won’t sit here and deny that.

“There needs to be a certain element of trading in and out to keep the group dynamic new. A new dynamic and a new team always has to form every season.

“Sometimes the same squad can produce a staleness and a negative product, so we’re aware of that. But it’s about what we’re able to do rather than, ‘I want’. What I want is clear. It’s what we’re able to do that is the key thing.”

Gael Clichy
Former Manchester City and Arsenal defender on Amazon Prime

Forest are a team, like Feyenoord, who are eager to hurt opponents on the transition. It will be interesting to see if City can manage this, we have seen lately it has been difficult for them to do so. A team who likes transition against a team who needs to play well and score goals in front of their fans. It is going to be interesting.

Stuart Pearce
Former Nottingham Forest and Manchester City manager on Amazon Prime

Image source, Getty Images

Forest are so dangerous on the counter attack. They have Chris Wood in the box but also then Anthony Elanga, Morgan Gibbs-White and Callum Hudson-Odoi around him, the pace that those players have, is a real danger.

They also have the ability to play through the thirds and sweep up the pitch. They have gained confidence from finding their feet in the league.

Pat Nevin
Former Chelsea winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

It's a hard place to come generally, but looking at the results, Newcastle have not been that great at home here this season. It's still difficult, but that defeat to West Ham United showed there are a bit of weakness. The weaknesses are a bit simple - the players are a little tired. There is not enough strength and depth in the squad.

If Villa fail to win today it will be the worst run of Unai Emery's career.

Villa have gone eight games without a win, including five in the Premier League, for the first time since a run of 11 from February to July 2020 under Dean Smith.

"The only way I know is to work harder and analyse everything deeply," said Emery.

"The solution is to work to correct things and try to recover after our work."

BBC Sounds

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If you're on the move this evening you can also listen to tonight's Premier League commentaries from BBC Radio 5 Live on the BBC Sounds app.

Or if you're busy at home but don't want to miss a moment you could tune in via your smart speaker, simply say to your device "Play Radio 5 Live" or "Play Radio 5 Sports Extra"

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Freddie Pye, City Xtra, external

An ageing squad; ongoing fitness issues; the obvious long-term absences of Rodri and Oscar Bobb; shot confidence; continuing individual errors from senior members of the squad; and the strength of opposition means it is virtually impossible to see City not losing any further games this season.

Unfortunately, given the position we find ourselves in, that is the only scenario that could see City win the Premier League for a fifth consecutive season and while there are likely to be plenty of matches won between now and May, there are also likely to be several more lost in that time.

Will Liverpool and Arsenal lose more games than City in that time? It is very unlikely.

The task now for Guardiola must simply be damage limitation, maintaining this squad's tactical and philosophical principles, and ensuring that the Blues retain their place as a Champions League competitor for next season. He will also need to begin work on a much-needed squad refresh in January.

In a recent news conference, Guardiola said he believes the club can still do "very, very good things" this season. Unfortunately for us, we just do not see those good things happening in the Premier League.

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Pat Riddell, The Famous Club, external

Wednesday's match against out-of-sorts Manchester City, just a point ahead of us, and Saturday’s against a resurgent Manchester United — three points below us — are free hits in a sense. With no expectation, and a solid league position, Nuno Espirito Santo's team have a chance to go out and do what they did against Liverpool — hopefully.

Finish the season with double the points we have now and that is a very comfortable mid-to-lower-table finish. Carry on with the points-per-game that we have now and we are brushing up close to the European places.

Regardless, another 15 points from the remaining 25 games and Forest will effectively be safe them relegation. That's really the starting point, or end point, of any season.

The rest is a bonus.

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Laura Kirk-Francis, Latte Firm podcast, external

Jorginho has also become a fan favourite, no mean feat for a former Chelsea player. In last September's north London derby, a rare mistake led to a Tottenham equaliser. Within seconds, the Emirates was singing his name.

Jorginho has also spoken openly about his desire to go into management and coaching one day, having already completed his B Licence at Arsenal's Hale End academy. He is frequently seen coaching from the sideline, with particular emphasis on looking out for Arsenal's young players.

Arsenal have a positive track record of turning players into managers and coaches.Per Mertesacker is the current manager of the Arsenal academy, while Jack Wilshere has recently taken up a coaching role at Norwich City.

Jorginho's playing days might be numbered but fans will hope that his contribution to the game - and hopefully this club - will extend well into the future.

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