Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Joe: Are people trying to create a title race when there isn’t one? All available evidence points to Liverpool by at least eight points.

Morning, Joe. I think there is still a title race because there are teams who can catch Liverpool, and they have to believe they can, but I think it would take quite the change for Arne Slot’s team not to win the Premier League now.

Arsenal take a step forward against Spurs then a step back against Aston Villa, and while Nottingham Forest are having a remarkable season under Nuno Espirito Santo, I cannot put my hand on my heart and say I think they will win the title.

If Forest get into Europe, even the Champions League, then that will be an incredible achievement alone.

Manchester City, in my opinion, are simply too far back to catch Liverpool now.

We have also been joined by BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty today, who is on hand to answer your questions...

Hard to argue with that Colin, unless you were a West Ham fan watching his run and thunderous shot for Bolton that saw the Trotters edge a tense relegation battle in the 2002-03 season!

Image source, Getty Images

As well as talking about those Ruben Amorim comments, we have been trying to lift the mood on what has been dubbed "Blue Monday" by asking for your happiest moments watching or playing football...

Right, we are going to move on from Manchester United now - this is your five-minute warning Tottenham fans.

But first, we would like to flag the poll at the top of this page.

It's a simple one: Was Ruben Amorim right to call his squad "maybe the worst team in Manchester United history?"

You decide...

Nigel Reo-Coker
Former West Ham midfielder on the Football Daily podcast

It's an absolute mess at Manchester United. And I can see it getting a lot worse for them before it gets better. It's a reality check for the United fans.

Why can't they put in the performances like when they play against the big boys? They are capable of it, so Ruben Amorim has to take responsibility.

When Antonio Conte went to Napoli this season and lost his first game, he came out and said how much of a big mess it was at the club. But they are now top of Serie A and competing against the likes of Inter and Atalanta. He's got a reaction from his players.

I am trying to understand why Amorim can't do the same at United? Is it only now that he is understanding how much of a big job it is? Was he naive when taking the job?

Image source, Getty Images

Alan Shearer
Former England striker on The Rest is Football podcast

You sort of get and understand why he's probably saying that, to buy himself time.

It's so unusual that you have one of, if not the biggest football club in the world and the manager's coming out and saying this is the worst side in their history.

Only last weekend, we were saying how well they performed at Arsenal [who they beat on penalties in the FA Cup] and Liverpool [in a 2-2 draw at Anfield], yet a week later he's coming out and saying they are the worst in their history, it's incredible.

Because of how bad it's been there, how bad the recruitment's been, how bad the takeover's been and how bad everything is, basically, he has a bit of a free hit until the end of the season I think.

Someone had to go in there and strip it back to the bare bones, and that's exactly what it needs. It is going to take time and whoever went in was going to face this scenario.

They need massive recruitment now and in the summer but it's going to take a lot longer than that to get that club right. The recruitment has been so bad there. It has been terrible and now they are paying the price for it. It's going to take a lot of time.

They're actually worse now than they were under Ten Hag because of what this manager wants to do with his system. They can't play it, the way he wants to play, the players just can't do it.

Image source, Getty Images

Nigel Reo-Coker
Former West Ham midfielder on the Football Daily podcast

Ruben Amorim has won league titles with Sporting in Portugal but Premier League is a different beast. It is so competitive.

I am not saying he has to go away from his principles completely but he needs to adapt and survive to get results and to get to where they have to.

Because if they are going to stay like this, Manchester United are going to be in a relegation fight.

How much is his honesty going to be a detriment to him and his players? He is only digging a deeper hole for himself now.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Anon: Morning Phil. What do you make of Ruben Amorim's repeated comments that he's not going to change his system at all? Do you think it's time to change something? I don't think he should get the sack but surely he has to adapt something to get something from this season?

Morning. I think Ruben Amorim has his system and he will not be changing it. I suspect he would regard it as an admission of defeat anyway, but he also genuinely believes it will be best for the long-term even though there is short-term pain.

The frustration will be that the home defeat against Brighton, as well as an average display in beating Southampton with three late goals, came after excellent performances at Liverpool and Arsenal.

It’s the sort of thing that has managers tearing their hair out.

I wouldn’t hold your breath waiting for a change in his strategy, though.

Following Manchester United's 3-1 defeat by Brighton, Opta's Supercomputer predicts their most likely finish to be 14th (18%).

At present United are ten points clear of the drop zone. The Supercomputer gives them a 0.1% chance of going down.

Glenn Murray
Former Brighton striker on the Football Daily podcast

Ruben Amorim has got 15-20 international players at Manchester United who should be able to play in any system you want them to.

They are elite footballers and they understand the game.

You can't hide behind the fact that they can't play in a 3-4-3 because that's laughable!

BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty is with us this morning. Have you got a question for him?

Get in touch via:

• X using #bbcfootball
• WhatsApp on 03301231826
• Or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

Nigel Reo-Coker
Former West Ham midfielder on the Football Daily podcast

Ruben Amorim's job as a manager is to get results. It's a results business.

But he is telling us he is not going to change and he is going to believe in his style and principles. We can clearly see he does not have the players to carry that out.

If you go to Manchester United, a club that is historically about winning, you have to win. They need to compete. That's his responsibility. He is the manager. It's his job to get these players to compete and to get them to do the basics.

If he can't, should we start questioning him as a manager then?

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim said that the players and fans are "going to suffer" as he looks to turn the club's form around.

He told Sky Sports: "Another loss at home and it's not acceptable. We can play some football but in small spaces of time, it's not consistent. We get nervous and suffer a goal and then it's hard to turn things around.

"We get really anxious and really nervous. You could feel it in the stadium but we can't end games like that. No matter the result we have to be a different team in all aspects.

"Brighton were comfortable, we tried with not very good football. We lost again at home and that's not acceptable. We need to change that fast.

"I'm not going to change how I see the game, I'm clear on that.

"The players are going to suffer, the fans are going to suffer, I'm sorry. I have one way of doing things but we need to survive this moment. It's very clear for everybody what we are going to do."