Aaron Lennon
Former Tottenham winger on the Planet Premier League podcast

I wouldn't say [Tottenham] have moved forward. They've definitely taken a few steps back after [Mauricio] Pochettino. In recent times, with Ange [Postecoglou] coming in, I think they've improved. I know they've been hot and cold this season, but if you look at a lot of the games this season, if you look at the likes of Leicester, that game they should have won. The Newcastle game they were dominating possession so should have won that, the one at Brighton also.

These are small margins. If you look at that now, take the points into consideration, they'd be right at the top of the league. This is why, for me, it's so frustrating watching them this season because they are so close to being right up with the top boys. They should be there in the top three.

Jordan Chamberlain
Liverpool fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

It was not the best news to wake up to from a Liverpool perspective. A few years back, Pep extended during the international break in November and it revitalised Manchester City and propelled them to the Premier League title. This happening again is obviously the worry.

Guardiola is the best manager in the world. He has been for some time. It is a lazy myth that he has only won so much because he has been at a club who have spent loads of money. If that was the case, why have Manchester United not done anything of note in the past decade? Why are Chelsea not automatically title contenders? He is a ruthlessly brilliant tactician and someone who is utterly obsessed with winning.

Over the years, his teams were always a little ahead of Jurgen Klopp's. The German often beat City in one-off games, but over the course of the season, Guardiola came out on top. Klopp lost the title on 97 and 94 points, remember.

Arne Slot, though, has come into Liverpool and hardly put a foot wrong. He is maximising the talent at his disposal and I would say, perhaps controversially, that Liverpool currently have better players than City - from back to front.

Their first ever meeting is coming up next weekend and it could be symbolic, given a Liverpool win could see Guardiola eight points behind Slot, providing both sides win on their return from the international break.

Nedum Onuoha
Former Manchester City defender on the Planet Premier League podcast

I was thinking this was going to be Pep Guardiola's last season but definitely something has been said to him that makes him want to have that one last year. Maybe it's the case that he'll end up being there for a decade and that could mean something to him, maybe it's in relation to international jobs that come afterwards, maybe the break he wants to take.

I think overall from a City perspective, they must be delighted to keep probably their greatest of all time. The timing of it is weird. You know, in relation to when they will be having discussions about charges. The fact that it's the middle of November. But it's a big boost for them. I think continuity is something most teams thrive for.

Oli Price-Bates
The Fresh Arsenal podcast

Pep Guardiola extending his stay at Manchester City led to a shrugged-shoulder reaction from myself and many Arsenal fans.

There is still the underlying expectation (perhaps more hope) that City will be punished for their alleged wrongdoings and subsequently heavily penalised.

I am sure Guardiola has some sort of break clause if that were to happen, so for me, the future of Guardiola and Manchester City is more dependent on the outcome of the charges being pursued against them, charges they are indeed fighting.

I wonder if this contract extension was announced now to provide a deflated City side an early-season boost rather than any real longer-term commitment.

In terms of how it affects Arsenal this season, I think we have got our own issues to sort out rather than spending too much time thinking about other clubs' affairs. And right now, it is Liverpool that Mikel Arteta needs to catch.

Arsenal must ensure they are there to capitalise if Manchester City are not at their 90+ point best for whatever reason, otherwise they will have only themselves to blame.

Image source, Getty Images

In the Premier League this season, Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne has started four matches. In the other seven, De Bruyne has either been absent, come off the bench, or been an unused substitute.

De Bruyne's four league starts for City this season have all resulted in wins for Pep Guardiola's side, giving City 12 points out of 12.

In their other seven league games, City have picked up 11 points from a possible 21, averaging 1.57 points per game - a drop of almost 50%.

Image source, Getty Images

Kevin de Bruyne returned for Manchester City prior to this month's international break, coming off the bench in defeats at Sporting and Brighton in City's last two matches before the break.

Prior to that, De Bruyne missed nine matches with a hamstring issue in all competitions, and was also an unused substitute against Bournemouth earlier this month.

Having only featured off the bench twice in his road to recovery, De Bruyne was left out of Belgium's squad in Uefa Nations League defeats to Italy and Israel.

Kevin de Bruyne was among four players with recent injury concerns pictured by Manchester City's club website in training.

Swiss defender Manuel Akanji missed his country's two Uefa Nations League matches over the last week. Midfielder Phil Foden and winger Jack Grealish, who has missed City's last six matches, withdrew from the England squad last week.

Oh, wow, here's confirmation that the shirt does indeed hang from the ceiling in the living room.

Doesn't it get in the way?!

Image source, Oden

The shirt hangs from the ceiling? In the living room? Your wife may have a point. Any other bizarre superstitions out there?!

And any chance you can let us have Thor's number? I need some help knocking down the garden wall.

Leicester City

Leicester City boss Steve Cooper on whether there will be a change in formation: "We'll see. We are disappointed, particularly with the Abdul [Fatawu] situation and for him, but we can't dwell on these things. It does happen and I don't want any negativity so there won't be any from me and I don't want any negativity around the club about it. I want to see it as an opportunity to show how strong the squad is and can be, and whoever is playing, we've spoken about it in press conferences and experienced it this season when people come off the bench or have started when they haven't started a game before.

"This is just the nature of a squad in the Premier League. Of course you always want a fully-fit squad, everybody competing for places, but that isn't always the case and you do go through phases where you can pick up some injuries and we feel like we are going through that at the moment but I don't want any negativity on it, I don't want any dwelling on it. I want it to be seen as an opportunity to bring us together to show us who we are."

Leicester City

Leicester City boss Steve Cooper on team news: "Patson [Daka] is back training, so he is available. Jamie [Vardy] has been back training with the group but it's slightly modified so we will see where he is with regards to the weekend and Jordan [Ayew] has come back injured as well from international duty.

"It's not a serious injury, as it might have been reported locally in Ghana. The hope is that he may be available on the weekend but it's a little bit inconclusive on that at the moment."

Leicester City

Leicester City boss Steve Cooper on injured winger Abdul Fatawu: "He's obviously a big talent and a young player, as exciting as he can be at his age, with lots to learn. There is so much to be excited about with him and we were enjoying very much being on the journey of stepping into the Premier League.

"He was starting to show good signs of the potential that he has. It's only a pause and we will make sure, as difficult as it is at the moment for him, that he comes back being a stronger player and person, which with the mentality and character that he has, I think will be the case."

Image source, Reuters

Leicester City

Leicester City boss Steve Cooper on the injury to 20-year-old Ghana winger Abdul Fatawu: "It's a serious injury. He's had an ACL injury that is going to rule him out for the rest of the season. So a real blow, first and foremost for him, being a young player and having an injury as serious as what an ACL is. Albeit, it can be quite common in sport and in particular football, but it's still a serious injury. For it to happen at a young age is a blow for him and a blow for us as well.

"We very much now have to support him in every way and in making his rehab and return as smooth and productive as possible, with the hope that although it is going to be a long-term injury, he comes back a stronger and better player and person. It's difficult news really, but now we've all got to get ourselves together and support him as I know we will."

Brighton & Hove Albion

Image source, Getty Images

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler on Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola being set to extend his contract: "It's the best thing that can happen to the Premier League because in the end, he is one of the best coaches in the world. With his ideas, he always brings something new to the football stage and it is always a challenge to compete against him.

"He always adapts quickly, always has new ideas and he can always win the game. I'm very happy that he will hopefully extend his contract because we can learn from him and to compete with him is a big, big experience."

All eyes on those injury updates from Mikel Arteta tomorrow...

Emlyn Begley
BBC Sport

That brings us to injuries. Nine players pulled out of the England squad for the recent Nations League double-header, an amount that raised eyebrows from fans - and even Three Lions captain Harry Kane.

We will find out when managers do their news conferences on Thursday and Friday how many out of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Aaron Ramsdale, Levi Colwill and Jarrad Branthwaite will be fit for this weekend's games.

Liverpool have not yet said whether keeper Alisson Becker could be back after six weeks out injured - but if he does return that could be the end of Caoimhin Kelleher's spell in the team.

One player who will be out for a while is Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur, who was handed a seven-match domestic ban by the Football Association for using a racial slur about team-mate Son Heung-min.

He can still play Europa League matches but will not be available in the Premier League until 26 December.

Image source, Getty Images

Emlyn Begley
BBC Sport

We are approaching the first time of the season when managers have to juggle their first-team squads as the fixtures start to pile up.

Four teams have nine games in December. The Carabao Cup quarter-finals are also being played the week before Christmas - and European games continue through December as a result of the new formats.

Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United all have nine games in December, an average of one every 3.4 days.

Some clubs, including Nottingham Forest and Brighton - who are fifth and sixth in the table respectively - only have six matches in the final month of 2024.

However, rest periods from rounds 17 and 20 this year have been increased to ensure no club plays within 60 hours of another match.

Last season Chelsea played three games in the space of 142 hours.

There will be no winter break in this campaign either - meaning clubs will be playing pretty much solidly until the first World Cup qualifiers - and next Nations League games - take place in March.

Brighton & Hove Albion

In Brighton's last six Premier League games, they have picked up 10 points from a possible 18.

In that time, Fabian Hurzeler's side have beaten Newcastle, Tottenham and Manchester City, lost away to Chelsea and Liverpool and drawn with Wolves.

Liverpool (16) are the only side to have picked up more points Brighton in that time.

Next up for Newcastle: West Ham (h), Palace (a), Liverpool (h), Brentford (a), Leicester (h)

Emlyn Begley
BBC Sport

After eight games there were four teams without any wins but, three games later, Ipswich Town, Crystal Palace, Wolves and Southampton have one victory each.

Everton and Leicester, who have two wins this term, remain only three points clear of the bottom three.

The Saints are only given a 5.2% of survival by Opta, despite being only four points off safety at this stage.

"Hopefully I'll be talking to you in two weeks," Saints boss Russell Martin told journalists before the international break. "If not, we'll see."

But he remains in charge for Saturday's home game against leaders Liverpool.

Image source, Getty Images