Brighton & Hove Albion

Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler has said James Milner will not be involved tonight against Arsenal because he has "suffered a small muscle issue".

Also Kaoru Mitoma and Brajan Gruda "are getting closer" to a return but Wednesday's game will come too soon for them to feature.

Arsenal

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta heaped praise on former teammates and Brighton forward Danny Welbeck before the Gunners take on the Seagulls tonight.

He said: "Very happy for him. We were team-mates [at Arsenal] and the whole history of him, the good and difficult moments in his career - it's remarkable what he's doing.

"The same with the team and Fabian [Hurzeler] and the coaches and the work they've done at the club. Fabian has something slightly different. A very well prepared team, you've seen the results against the big teams so we expect a really tough match obviously."

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Could 15-year-old Max Dowman feature against Brighton?

Dowman has made two Premier League and one EFL Cup appearances so far this season, with all three of these appearances coming from the bench.

He played for 27 minutes in Arsenal's only other EFL Cup game this season against Port Vale, and he could feature in their tie last 16-tie against Brighton this evening.

When asked about his lack of first-team opportunities so far this season, Mikel Arteta said: "He is 15 years old and still growing. There are a lot of things we have to make sure are under control so he develops in the way he can do.

"He will play minutes with us, for sure. When he has the chance to do that he needs to take it.

"If we looked at his passport every day, we would never play him - simple as that. But when you look at what he does in training, you have to play him. If not, you are blind, or I'm blind.

"So it is finding a balance and an understanding - especially with the load, the things that are changing in his life, and make sure he can cope with that. So far, he has done that."

Rich: Hi Phil, Given Arsenal are serious league contenders this year, would you start the super-talented Max Dowman tonight to help give senior players a much-needed rest before the weekend?

It would be great to see, Rich, as Dowman is such a talent. Mikel Arteta has a very strong squad to use and rotate, but he has already shown he is not afraid to play Dowman, even though he is only 15

Jack: Hi Phil, I'll follow up on the question about Slot being under pressure. Do you think that if nothing has changed by Christmas, he will be under heavy scrutiny and could be on the verge or even have been sacked? Considering his current squad, I'd say it's very likely.

Hi Jack. Of course, Slot would be under heavy scrutiny if the current dreadful run continues until Christmas, as any manager of a club of Liverpool’s stature would be. He would be under pressure – but not, in my opinion, for his job.

Liverpool’s owners are measured. They saw Slot win the title in his first season and I am sure there will be an acceptance and understanding that there has also been a lot of change in the summer.

What he needs now is for established stars and new acquisitions to simply play better. He also needs to find his best team as I am not sure he actually knows.

I also think the presence of both Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak gives him a conundrum, on how to best utilise those two players. So far Ekitike has delivered. Isak has not.

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Natasha Dowie
Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

I think Mo Salah starts. He scored the other night, he didn't have the best of performances again but you need to keep playing him. He needs to find his form and you need to keep Mo happy as well. I think it is really important.

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The Reds last kept a clean sheet against Burnley on 14 September, and that is one of only two they have managed in 14 games in all competitions.

While since the beginning of May, Liverpool have conceded two or more goals in more top-flight games than any other side, having done so in a remarkable nine of their 13 league fixtures in that time.

At this stage of 2024-25 they had let in just five goals. That has rocketed to 14 this time round as Arne Slot's side have looked increasingly vulnerable at the back.

Natasha Dowie
Former Liverpool striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

When you really break it [Liverpool's form] down there are several things you have to take into consideration. First and foremost the death of Diogo Jota and the effect that has had on the players and the staff, I think you can't really underestimate that.

But when you look through the team, you are without your number one keeper, your new full-back has juts done his hamstring, your new centre-half has done an ACL. Conor Bradley didn't really have a full pre-season so he trying to manager his minutes... You move forward line and the players they have lost and the relationship Mo Salah had with Trent [Alexander-Arnold], how that may have affected his performance.

When you strip it back they do have to look at themselves a bit. As a fan when I watch them at the moment what I want more is little bit more of a fight, a little but more nastiness. I think this Liverpool team are so good, technically so gifted. But for me teams are bullying Liverpool at the minute in the physical side of things.

Sean: Hi Phil, Sean here. Do you feel Liverpool's new signings has caused a rift with the senior players of the squad because of their price tag? Some of them look very unhappy.

Hello, Sean. No, I don’t. I think there has been a surprisingly long period of adjustment, but I think Liverpool’s players look very unhappy because they keep losing.

The relationship on the left side of the defence between Virgil van Dijk and Milos Kerkez looks an uneasy alliance at present and there have certainly been one or two quizzical looks between the pair, but I certainly do not think it is a personal matter. They are just struggling to adapt.

On the flip side, I think we would be asking more questions and think it was more of a problem if Liverpool’s players looked happy.

Real Madrid

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Vinicius Jr's reaction to being replaced with 20 minutes left to play against Barcelona on Sunday caused headlines.

As Vinicius left the pitch, cameras from broadcaster DAZN picked up the Brazilian saying: "Always me! I'm leaving the team! I'm leaving! It's better if I leave, I'm leaving."

It's unclear whether Vinicius meant leaving the club itself, or just the pitch. But either way, he was not happy.

After storming down the tunnel, Vinicius then returned to the bench for the closing stages.

But the drama did not stop there.

After the full-time whistle, he had to be restrained as he attempted to confront Lamine Yamal.

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Real Madrid striker Vinicius Junior has apologised to fans for his reaction after being subbed during their recent Clasico meeting with Barcelona.

The Brazil forward, 25, expressed his frustration at being substituted in the 72nd minute and went straight down the tunnel.

He returned to the Real bench later and, after his side's 2-1 win, tried to confront Barcelona's 18-year-old winger Lamine Yamal during unsavoury post-match scenes.

"Today I want to apologise to all the Madridistas for my reaction when I was substituted," Vinicius has written on X, external. "Just as I have already done in person during today's training, I also want to apologise again to my teammates, the club, and the president.

"Sometimes passion gets the better of me because I always want to win and help my team. My competitive character stems from the love I feel for this club and everything it represents. I promise to keep fighting every second for the good of Real Madrid, as I have done since the first day."

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

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It is just 38 days since Pereira signed a new three-year contract and sources have told BBC Sport he is not in immediate danger.

Those in charge still feel his experience will be crucial in the survival battle, having taken them from second bottom to safety last season.

Domenico Teti's arrival as director of professional football in the summer is also a sign of the position of strength Pereira held at the end of last season, the pair having worked together in Saudi Arabia at Al-Shabab.

There is a hesitancy to change given the amount of managers the club have gone through recently, and the fact Wolves stayed up after failing to win any of the opening 10 games in 2024-25 shows it can be done again - although it is six months since their last Premier League win.

"It's normal in football, if we win two or three games in a row everything changes," Pereira said at the weekend.

"Two months ago they sing my name because of the work we did last season [means] we are competing in the Premier League and not in the Championship. Now they sing my name maybe to sack me."

Wolves are bottom of the Premier League table after not registering a win in nine games.

The most recent of their two points this season came on 5 October, in a 1-1 draw with Brighton.

They have scored seven goals across their league fixtures but conceded 19.

The only glimmer of hope for fans at the moment is their EFL Cup run but they face Chelsea this evening, who are 11 places above them in the table.

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Nick (an utterly miserable Wolves fan): Morning Phil. Do you agree that Wolves are pretty much down? Our owners' plan to simply be better than the promoted sides has finally backfired.

Phil: Hello Nick. I feel your pain.

I’m afraid I did predict trouble ahead for Wolves this season – relegation in fact – and I’ve seen nothing to change my mind. They lost such crucial players in Matheus Cunha and Rayan Ait-Nouri, so hard to replace.

Wolves have looked poor from day one and I must admit I was surprised Vitor Pereira was given a new three-year contract, so soon into the season, in September, although this current crisis is not all down to him as he has seen his two best players sold.

It is never a good look when you see scenes like altercations between Pereira and fans, as we did when they lost to Burnley, and such unrest between supporters and owners. It is a clear sign of problems.

Wolves is a great old club with Premier League pedigree, but they are in real trouble.

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Christian: Does the current trend for long balls, set pieces and long throws weaken the overall Premier League product? To me, it feels like a regression.

Phil: Morning, Christian. This is such a thorny subject, as I can tell from the various questions we are receiving about it.

I don’t think it’s a regression. I think it is simply a question of teams identifying their strengths and using them, which is surely common sense.

Ask fans of Bournemouth and Sunderland whether they feel the product has been weakened or the league is regressing. Maybe it is because the established order has also been shaken up a little bit.

As always, there are various ways to win football matches and managers and coaches are finding ways to suit them.

We've also been discussing alternative ways to decide cup matches instead of a penalty shootout, and you have not disappointed with your replies, including:

• Manager arm wrestles
• I'm a Celebrity-style Cyclone for strikers
• Squid Game-style Green Light Red Light to the halfway line
• Fan penalties
• A penalty shootout before the game
• Goalkeeper keepy uppies
• And even dodgeball

Definitely keep those creative solutions coming in too!

In case you're just joining us, today we've got a Q&A with BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty.

Keep your questions for Phil coming in - especially those of you who are supporters of clubs we've not yet discussed!

Chelsea fans, we've not heard from you yet. Should your club be making the League Cup a priority after a mixed start to the Premier League?

Just use the 'Get Involved' button at the top of this page and remember to mark your questions for Phil's attention.

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It doesn't feel all that long ago that there were whispers of a 'crisis' at Aston Villa having gone without a goal in their first four Premier League games.

Fast forward to the present, and Villa are just three points off second place, having won their last four league games and scoring eight in that time.

Apart from a shock defeat to Go Ahead Eagles in the Europa League last week, Unai Emery's side have turned their worrying start around, topped off with a brilliant win against Man City at the weekend.

They've got a tough couple of league fixtures to come, with Liverpool away at the weekend before a visit from high-flying Bournemouth the week after.

Take six points from those two games, and Villa fans will no doubt start believing that a big season lies ahead.

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Paul: Will Aston Villa qualify for a Champions League spot this year?

Phil: I predicted they would finish fifth when I did my pre-season predictions so thought they would be in the shake-up at least.

Villa had a shaky start to the season but Unai Emery, like the outstanding manager he is, has put it right and they got an outstanding result against Manchester City on Sunday.

The Premier League has a bit more of an unpredictable look to it this season, so I think they have got a great opportunity.