Ange Postecoglou's reign at Nottingham Forest lasted just 39 days.

When he applauded fans at the end of the match there indeed felt a sense of inevitability about things.

Had Postecoglou already been told he would be gone if today ended in defeat?

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Glenn Hoddle
Former England and Tottenham manager on TNT Sports

To leave his [Evangelos Marinakis] seat after 60 minutes that was a statement in itself. I'm surprised he has done it so quickly after the game.

Eight games they've not gone well, but after eight matches as a manager, it's no time at all.

Surely he has got to be given more time than that.

Peter Crouch
Former Tottenham striker on TNT Sports

The empty seat spoke volumes.

It was pretty obvious that the decision was going to be made. I thought he [Evangelos Marinakis] might let the dust settle for a couple of hours, but this chairman doesn't mess about.

Nottingham Forest

A statement from Nottingham Forest, released 20 minutes after full-time at the City Ground, reads: "Nottingham Forest Football Club can confirm that after a series of disappointing results and performances, Ange Postecoglou has been relieved of his duties as head coach with immediate effect. The club will make no further comment at this time."

Adam Crafton
Reporter for The Athletic, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live

You kind of just wonder at what moment in the game, which miss by a Forest player triggered the decision?

We had just wondered in the office why Ange Postecoglou or any of the Nottingham Forest players had not come out to do their media duties following the defeat by Chelsea.

Now we know why. Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis left his seat for a long period of time during the second half of the match and you now have to wonder if this was the reason.

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Alan Shearer
Former England striker to BBC Sport

Ultimately the results haven't been good enough and that is on Ange. But the owner has to take some responsibility too. He chose Ange, it was his appointment.

How can you go from a manager in Nuno with one style of play to someone like Ange who everyone knows wants his teams to play in a completely different way?

Wow. Less than 20 minutes after the full-time whistle blew at the City Ground, Ange Postecoglou has been sacked as Nottingham Forest boss.

We'll bring you more as we have it.

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Adam Crafton
Reporter for The Athletic, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live

I think we probably take for granted just how normalised the numbers Haaland produces are. Even last season where people talked about Man City having a bad season, he was still scoring an incredible amount of goals and has that impact on games.

It's the reason why City have quietly crept back into form. As long as they have Haaland up front and Donnarumma in goal at the other end, they have a good chance of being competitive.

Leon Osman
Former Everton and England midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

City are getting Haaland chances again. He was going through games and getting two or three chances and converting them, but City were dominating possession and not getting the ball in and around him enough.

They are getting the best out of him. It's scary that he is even fitter and stronger now than he has been in the last few seasons.

Pat Nevin
Former Chelsea winger on BBC Radio 5 Live at Etihad Stadium

The thing with Haaland when you see him at his very best is that he just looks like a grown man playing with kids. He has got that back again hasn't he?

People just bounce off him, his pace is extraordinary and he looks superhuman. He is alive again.

Erling Haaland has scored nine goals in Manchester City’s seven Premier League games this season; a goal today would make this only the third instance of a player reaching 10+ goals in a side’s first eight games of a season in the competition, with the Norwegian himself already responsible for the first two (6th game in 2022-23, 5th game in 2024-25).

It was also a fruitful international break for the striker, who scored a hat-trick against Israel to put Norway on the brink of World Cup qualification. He was rested for a friendly against New Zealand.

Haaland has found the net in all but one of his 12 appearances for City and Norway this season.

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Phil Jagielka
Former Everton defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

On how he would mark Woltemade:

Ask for a step ladder? He looks like a handful and creative and only time will tell what is the best way to mark him. Perhaps keep him as far away from goal as possible? I wouldn't say he is slow but he is not the quickest player in the Premier League.

Nick Woltemade's three goals have all come at St James’ Park.

The only players to score more than four goals in their first five appearances for Newcastle in the Premier League are Les Ferdinand (five), Michael Owen (four), Loic Remy (five), and Callum Wilson (four).

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Brighton just do not know when they are beaten.

Since the start of last season, they have picked up 30 points from losing positions in the Premier League - more than any other team.

Newcastle will have to be at their very best to come away with the points today.

Wolverhampton Wanderers

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Wolves' average of 9.4 shots per match is also their lowest in a Premier League season. Vitor Pereira's side are one of two top-flight teams this season, along with Fulham, to have not had a player score more than one league goal so far.

They may sit at the foot of the table, but Wolves have actually improved on their start to last season. However, having two points compared to one is not something to cheer a fanbase who voiced their displeasure at the end of the frustrating draw with Brighton last time out.

They have opened the scoring in their past three Premier League games, but have failed to win any of them.

Chasing an elusive first win of 2025-26 has seen the Portuguese boss make a top-flight high 25 changes to his starting XIs so far.

Manchester City have an excellent record in this fixture and are on their best run of league form of the season so far.

Pep Guardiola's side are unbeaten in the past 16 Premier League meetings with the Toffees and have won three of their past four league fixtures (D1). Everton have not won a Premier League game at Etihad Stadium in 15 years.

City's most recent win - at Brentford before the international break - was Guardiola's 250th victory as a manager in the Premier League.

He achieved the feat in just 349 matches, the fewest of any manager to reach this milestone and in 55 fewer games than former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, who is second on the list.

David Moyes, in fourth, required 296 more matches.

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Nick Woltemade has taken to life in the Premier League like a duck to water, with three goals in four games.

The £69m striker has big boots to fill in Alexander Isak, but he's doing a fine job.

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Ciaran Kelly
BBC Sport reporter at the Amex

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It is a battle between 11th and 12th at the Amex this afternoon – and there has been nothing to separate Brighton and Newcastle United in the opening months of the campaign.

Both sides have won two, drawn three and lost two in the Premier League and they will be looking to kick on following the latest international break.

Newcastle had previously started to build a little momentum, recording back-to-back wins against Nottingham Forest and Union Saint-Gilloise.

But Eddie Howe’s side have never won at the Amex and Brighton certainly won’t lack belief.

The hosts have already beaten Manchester City and Chelsea this season and Fabian Hurzeler’s side raced into a 2-0 lead against Spurs last month – only to end up drawing the game.

No wonder a bullish Hurzeler declared his team were capable of beating anyone in the top-flight on the eve of this game.

Newcastle need no reminding of that.

Right, six more games to come today and five coming at 3pm:

• Brighton v Newcastle
• Burnley v Leeds United
• Crystal Palace v AFC Bournemouth
• Manchester City v Everton
• Sunderland v Wolves
• Fulham v Arsenal (17:30 BST)