Laura Kenyon
BBC Final Score at St Mary's Stadium

Image source, Reuters

There’s no mistaking this could not only be a pivotal run of what both sets of fans would class as “winnable” games – but a pivotal individual game for two sides already spoken of as relegation rivals.

For Russell Martin, credit in the bank from Championship promotion and an attractive-on-the-eye possession style, will start to run out if it doesn’t materialise into points on the board for Southampton. His style couldn’t be more different from Steve Cooper, another former Swansea manager, who favours organisation and a tough to break down philosophy over flourish and possession dominance.

A win here today would certainly build Leicester momentum, after a first league win before the international break. A comprehensive win even more so with hushed chatter here about the infamous 9-0 win at St Mary’s, almost five years to the day.

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou speaking to TNT Sports: "I thought we were good today. We had to work hard in the first half but we got back into the game after conceding. After that it was outstanding from the lads, good energy, some good goals although I thought we could have gotten a few more. Good day at the office."

On the half time sub of Sarr for Maddison: "Yes it was tactical, I just felt we needed a bit more running power in that midfield area. Pape gives us some good energy there and I thought that really helped us in the second half."

Momentum after scoring a few quick fire goals: "Yes we felt the momentum, and that is what you want to create at home. The crowd played their part today. We have had periods like that so far this year and not capitalised but today we did capitalise. If we continue that we will be hard to stop."

On goals from midfield: "It is good getting goalsa across the team, guys like Brennan have been on the scoresheet recently but we do need more goals from midfield. Deki [Kulusevski] and Biss [Bissouma] did a really good job in there and it was good for the skipper [Son] to come back in and score too."

Back on track? "Great day for our fans. We know this fixture means a lot to them and the players have managed to send them home happy which is great."

Joe Hart
Former England & Man City goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

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I'm sure everyone is frustrated as the direction does not seem to be there. Man Utd are not communicating and it is not being translated when it comes to pitch time.

Me personally, I am obviously not a Man Utd fan but I'm a professional fan and I know these guys will be working hard.

It baffles me a bit knowing what capabilities they have got in the classroom.

I always fancy Fulham at home, but they have actually been decent everywhere they’ve played this season - they gave Manchester City a really good game at Etihad Stadium last time out.

A lot will depend on which Aston Villa players are back from injury. The likes of Ezri Konsa and Amadou Onana are doubts, and Villa have got next week's Champions League tie against Bologna to think about too.

The obvious prediction to go for is a draw – that’s what Kellie will go for, I’m sure, and I am going to sit on the fence too.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter at Old Trafford

Image source, Reuters

Brentford boss Thomas Frank came within a matter of minutes of securing his side's first Old Trafford victory since 1937 in the corresponding fixture last season.

Scott McTominay's injury-time double put an end to that hope.

Who knows what damage a Brentford victory would do for Erik ten Hag's job prospects but it wouldn't hurt Frank's chances of replacing the Dutchman.

Frank was one of the people spoken to around the FA Cup final and with Thomas Tuchel taking the England job, Mauricio Pochettino now installed as United States coach and Gareth Southgate ruling himself out of a return to the game for a year, aside from Ruud van Nistelrooy, Frank's name would be right in the frame.

Everton

Sean Dyche says Everton are starting show resilience after an awful start to the season, but believes there is still room for improvement.

The Toffees lost their first four Premier League games of the campaign but a goalless draw with Newcastle before the international break made it three games unbeaten.

“We’re showing signs of it [resilience] – and I think more so in the last game," said the Everton boss. "And by no means were we as good as we’ve been in other games, and there’s still work to be done in those performances.

“But we showed that resilience, keeping a clean sheet. We got a lot of the basics right to keep a good side at bay and get a result.

“If we can get the details right at both ends and perform properly and appropriately, then I believe we can win games.”

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham forward Dejan Kulusevski speaking to TNT Sports: "First half was tough because you cannot always be 100% physically. They did good and they scored but, when I scored, I knew we were going to win.

"When we play good we are unbelievable but we have to defend much better. The balance was not good enough, we have to improve that for the next game.

"When everything is clicking we can score four goals."

On the half-time change which saw Pape Matar Sarr replace James Maddison: "It's hard to do both things [attack and defend] all the time and it was good to get Pape in, he changed the game for us."

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at St. Mary's

Glorious sunshine at St. Mary's in Southampton but the storm clouds could be gathering for the manager who loses this game.

Saints' boss Russell Martin has made it clear there will be no diversion from his strict passing principles but one point from seven games is a grim return.

Leicester counterpart Steve Cooper - the man Martin succeeded at Swansea City in August 2021 - has six points but it still trying to win over Foxes' fans after taking over from Enzo Maresca, who took them into the Premier League.

A few people out there thought Newcastle boss Eddie Howe would end up being the next England manager, but clearly that has not been the case.

Howe is doing a great job for Newcastle, though, and what a cracking game this should be. We know the way Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler plays too - like Howe, he really goes for it.

This is seventh in the table versus sixth, so these teams should be pretty well-matched, but If Alexander Isak is fit enough to feature up front for Newcastle after almost a month out, then he might just make the difference.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

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Former Aston Villa midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger believes manager Unai Emery's "experience" has got the best out of striker Jhon Duran this season.

Ahead of Villa's clash with Fulham Colombia international Duran has scored six goals in 10 games so far this campaign, with five of those goals coming in his nine substitute appearances.

With Ollie Watkins the regular starter up front, it was debatable whether Duran would stay at Villa in the summer but the 20-year-old has since signed a new contract with the club.

Hitzlsperger said: "It does work for Duran coming off the bench. Duran was about to leave in the summer and most managers would just say 'I'm not interested in you any more, you don't want to be part of this team - go'. Then they would tell the owners to find a new club for him.

"But Emery managed to put his arm around Duran and said 'you have got quality, we need you, you can help this team' and he has delivered sooner than expected. That is so brilliant and that is when the experience of Unai Emery comes in and says 'I have got a spot for you, just be patient' and it all pays off."

Listen to everything Hitzlsperger said about Aston Villa on the Planet Premier League podcast via BBC Sounds here...

Fara Williams
Former England midfielder on Football Focus

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When you are a young coach and go into management, you've got to set your philosophy early and stick with that. I think Russell Martin is stubborn, but you've got to be a little adaptable within that.

There's a huge gap between the Championship and the Premier League in terms of player levels. We saw what happened with Vicent Kompany who tried to do the same with Burnley, but he's gone to Bayern Munich and you can see the difference in playing your philosophy with better players.

The calibre of players at Southampton and that style probably doesn't work in the Premier League, if you ask me.

Brentford

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Brentford have made a blistering start to many of their Premier League games, scoring inside the opening two minutes in their past four Premier League games.

Boss Thomas Frank said: "It's a fantastic story and narrative. We train and have a strategy on it, we focus on it before each game and there is a mindset to it as well. It is probably one in a billion we score three goals in under a minute and one goal just over a minute, so that is nice and we will keep trying to do that."

On under-pressure United boss Erik ten Hag, Frank said the Dutchman faces an "incredible amount of scrutiny", adding: "When a team wins the head coach is 'fantastic', but if they lose then the coach is 'terrible', but it is never only the coach or the players or the fans or the board, it is probably a combination of things.

"I believe we can go anywhere, against any team and beat any team. But I am very aware when we go to Old Trafford, against a club like Manchester United, then they are favourites. We need to go there with the approach and mindset believing we can win. We need to come up with a game plan that optimises our chances for winning.

"I would take some luck [against United]. We will do all we can to play the perfect game as we do every week. We will do it with hard work and then if we can spice it up with a bit of luck then we try to get it over the line to get three points."

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Ipswich Town defender Axel Tuanzebe came "very close" to losing his thumb in a freak accident that will sideline him for "months", says manager Kieran McKenna.

The former Manchester United centre-back sustained a deep cut to his thumb while he was washing dishes at his home in early October.

The 26-year-old DR Congo international, who had started all six of Ipswich's Premier League matches until the injury kept him out of a 4-1 defeat by West Ham on 5 October, had surgery on his hand last week.

"It's a household accident - very, very unfortunate and very, very serious," McKenna said.

"He was very close to losing his thumb. He’s had surgery to repair the tendons in the thumb that was damaged; I think the recovery is going pretty well, but it’s a long-term injury.

"As much as it sounds a pretty innocuous body part regards the game of football, it’s a pretty important body part in human anatomy. He needs to let it recover."

Mark Schwarzer
Former Australia keeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

Great result for Ange and Tottenham. It reaffirms the intent Tottenham have under Ange Postecoglou and it gives the supporters more confidence going forward.

They have an abundance of ability on the pitch and when they're in free-flow it is impressive to watch.

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

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Not only have West Ham been well-beaten by their local and arguably most hated rivals but Mohammed Kudus completely lost his head late on.

The Ghana international, 24, was one of the few playing well in this London derby match.

But the trouble began when it looked like he kicked Van de Ven as he fell following a 50/50 challenge, he then pushed the Dutchman in the face, sparking a mass confrontation, where he accidentally knocked heads with substitute Richarlison before pushing Sarr in the face.

With two Spurs players down on the floor, referee Andrew Madley shockingly only gave a yellow card initially.

But VAR Chris Kavanagh ensured it was cancelled before a straight red card was issued for violent conduct in the 86th minute.

It will only make any recovery harder for Lopetegui as Kudus faces a three-match ban.

Image source, Getty Images

Fulham boss Marco Silva said the road to striker Raul Jimenez rediscovering his goalscoring touch began with a relatively unheralded consolation goal in a 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa last season.

The Mexico international lost some of this sharpness in front of goal after since suffering a fractured his skull which threatened to end his career in November 2020.

However, Jimenez has back to the kind of form which saw him score 13 and 17 goals in his first two Premier League campaigns while at Wolves between 2018 and 2020.

He has nine goals in his past 11 Premier League starts, including six in his last six at Craven Cottage and faces Villa this time around full of confidence.

"The reality is, me and my staff we were the only ones who believed and trusted he could be back to that level," Silva said..

"After the worst moment of his career, and maybe his life, it was tough to come back and feel trust from people and to score the goals again.

"But it was in a Fulham shirt, against Villa at home [that he scored] and from that moment we saw completely different Raul again."

Fara Williams
Former England midfielder on Football Focus

Image source, Getty Images

On Newcastle boss Eddie Howe not being interviewed for the England job...

Eddie Howe has done a fantastic job at both Bournemouth and Newcastle.

You would expect him to be one of the names that spring to your mind among the English coaches who could potentially go and do a job with the England national team.

So, I was surprised he was not among the 10 coaches who the FA interviewed. But I wonder would he be open to admitting that they approached him behind the scenes, now that Thomas Tuchel has been appointed.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has accused the media of making up "fairytales and lies" about his future.

Ten Hag went into the international break under huge pressure after a run of five games without a win, which included the embarrassing 3-0 home defeat by Tottenham.

Former England midfielder Jamie Redknapp told Sky Sports after that Spurs loss that he felt Ten Hag was "out of his depth".

With United 14th in the Premier League, many felt the 54-year-old would be dismissed during the international break, particularly as members of the Glazer family attended a pre-planned United board meeting with co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and other members of the club's hierarchy in London last week.

However, Ten Hag remains in post and says journalists have deliberately ignored his post-match comments after the goalless draw at Aston Villa on 6 October, when he said "we are on one page" about the backing he was receiving at Old Trafford.

"The noise is only coming from some of you, creating stories and fairytales and bringing lies," he said.

"I know we are on one page at this club. I said this before the break. I told several journalists. Probably the journalists didn't believe me because I saw the reports. But internally, it is quiet."

We'll be all across reaction from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as and when we get it.

But, there's five 15:00 BST to build up to, with some crucial games for plenty of out-of-form sides.

Image source, Reuters

And that's that. Spurs were brilliant in the second half.