Chelsea

Enzo Maresca has made a big point during this news conference about a particular stat he says he heard about this morning.

It's that Chelsea have lost five games in the last six months and four of them were when they played with 10-men.

He must have repeated the stat a good three or four times.

Chelsea

More from Enzo Maresca on whether he expects a different game to the one Chelsea faced against Benfica in the Club World Cup: "They have played three or four games with Jose [Mourinho]. All the games I started to watch unfortunately was with the former manager. I also watched some games when Jose was with Manchester United or Roma, but for sure it will be a completely different game than the Club World Cup game."

Chelsea

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca countered a question on whether he felt pressure looking at pictures of successful managers lifting trophies at the club training ground - another reference to Jose Mourinho - by listing some of his own achievements in one season at the club: "I feel already to be in some picture at the club training ground with the Club World Cup, so I feel already lucky with that after one season. And also with the Conference League. For sure the target is to one day all together enjoy these kind of moments [once more]."

Chelsea

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca on trying to bounce back from defeat to Bayern Munich in their opening game: "We try to prepare every game to win the game. And hopefully we can do that tomorrow."

Chelsea

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca on the new Benfica manager: "It's an absolute honour to be facing Jose Mourinho tomorrow. He is not just a legend at this club, he is a legend at a lot of clubs. It will be a privilege to face Jose tomorrow."

Enzo Maresca's here and he's wearing a lovely cream jumper.

Click the 'watch live' tab at the top of the page to follow along.

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport Chelsea reporter

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca will not feel like he is in a position of weakness when facing the media today before a Champions League match with Benfica.

The Italian has endured a difficult post international break and only won once in five matches - an unconvincing victory over League One side Lincoln City - and the latest 3-1 defeat to Brighton on Saturday was disappointing.

However, there is no sense his job is in any immediate danger.

His post-match meeting with Chelsea's four sporting directors, Paul Winstanley, Laurence Stewart, Joe Shields and Sam Jewell, along with co-owner Behdad Eghbali at Stamford Bridge at the weekend was routine.

As part of that meeting, it was mentioned that four of Chelsea's five defeats in the last five months have been in matches where one of their players has been sent off.

There is an acknowledgement that Chelsea are in a rut through injuries at the moment.

Yet, there is still a belief Maresca can qualify for the Champions League to achieve the club's goals before a post-season meeting to appraise his performance as manager.

Maresca will be confident he will continue for at least seven more months.

Regardless, today will likely feel like Jose Mourinho's day.

The legendary former Chelsea manager returns to Stamford Bridge in a later media conference that will be highly attended by both British and Portuguese press.

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea suffered a second red card in consecutive Premier League matches for the first time since December 2023 on Saturday, and it lost them the game against Brighton.

The Blues looked comfortable and appeared they would coast to victory at Stamford Bridge after going 1-0 up through Enzo Fernandez halfway through the first half.

But Trevoh Chaolbah's desperate challenge on Georginio Rutter in the 53rd minute and subsequent dismissal allowed Brighton to take control, with a Danny Welbeck double either side of Maxim de Cuyper's headed goal.

Sami Mokbel
BBC Sport Senior football correspondent

Heading into the new season, at least from the outside looking in, Enzo Maresca's job appeared one of the safest in the country.

He had led Chelsea to a top-four Premier League finish which booked their return to the Champions League. Then later in the summer, Maresca masterminded the club's triumph at the Fifa Club World Cup, becoming the competition's inaugural winners in its new format.

Yet, despite those notable achievements, Maresca's position has again come under scrutiny in recent weeks following Chelsea's indifferent start to the season, where they are currently eighth in the table, seven points behind leaders Liverpool.

However, as things stand, there is no significant concern at Stamford Bridge over the side's early season malaise, with BBC Sport sources indicating Maresca continues to hold the club's full confidence heading into a high-profile week.

Image source, Getty Images

Guess what? A manager has arrived to chat to us. It's Enzo Maresca, who will be answering questions before Chelsea's Champions League match with Benfica on Tuesday.

What will his fresh thoughts be on Saturday's disappointing 3-1 home defeat by Brighton? We'll all find out together by clicking the 'watch live' tab at the top of this page at 12:00 BST.

Image source, Getty Images

Are Crystal Palace going to stick around at the top of the table until May?

The Eagles have now gone 18 games unbeaten in all competitions, which includes the historic FA Cup win against Manchester City four months ago, to equal a club record set back in 1969, and are now the only unbeaten Premier League side, having won three and drawn three of their opening six games.

"We played an amazing first half and had a deserved lead. We deserved the win," manager Oliver Glasner told Match of the Day.

"To overcome the pressure of Liverpool - they deserved an equaliser - but I'm delighted at the reaction of our team.

"We talk about our personality. We always go for the win. Everybody who is close to Crystal Palace got their reward here."

Sophie Brown
BBC Sport

The atmosphere at St James’ Park on Sunday was described in Radio 5 Live commentary as “like a bear pit” and it’s one where Arsenal have certainly struggled in recent seasons.

Under Mikel Arteta, the Gunners have only lost more away games at Manchester City in all competitions than the four they have at Newcastle.

Arsenal had lost their last three visits to St James’ Park in all competitions, without even scoring, and despite dominating possession, had had just one shot on target in their last two Premier League matches there.

But on Sunday, despite again going 1-0 down, being up against a fiercely partisan crowd and being repeatedly foiled by an inspired Nick Pope in Newcastle’s goal, they fought to the end and found a way to win, with Arteta’s attacking substitutions again proving crucial.

Arsenal’s winning mentality under Arteta has often been called into question but perhaps the fightback at Newcastle shows the Gunners do now have the edge that can turn contenders into champions.

Arteta certainly feels that the win at St James’ Park will be crucial: “That is how you get to a different level. By going through those moments and take those lessons from it. It was a massive opportunity to make a statement and to prove to everybody and ourselves the team that we are.”

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Former Premier League striker Wayne Rooney says summer signing Florian Wirtz "damages the balance" of Arne Slot's side.

The 22 year-old is still searching for his first goal as a Red, and is yet to directly contribute to a goal since his assist in the Community Shield final.

"It's been tough for him. I don't think there's any denying that." Rooney told the Wayne Rooney show.

"I think he's played OK. But I think when you sign so many players like Liverpool have, and this is not normal for Liverpool. Liverpool don't normally do this and they've signed basically a whole new front line and then you've got [Mohamed] Salah there as well, they're all competing, they all want to do well. And I think Wirtz, he's the one who's probably not doing as well, but he's got so much ability.

"For me, I don't see where he gets into the team. I think it was a lot of money. I think Wirtz actually damages the balance of Liverpool, how they play. But he's a top player and I'm sure he will get better, of course he will. But he's had a slow start and I think there's no denying that.

"I've seen players come into this league and it takes time. For me, it's not the price tag, it's not the player and his ability. I don't see where he fits into what Liverpool do in that system. So, is he a third midfield player? For me, no, he's more of an attacking player. So if I have to choose between him and Szoboszlai, then I choose Szoboszlai."

Alex Howell
BBC Sport football reporter

The feeling around Arsenal's win is as important as the three points that the team picked up.

The Gunners have had a tough start to the Premier League with games against Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City and now Newcastle.

Mikel Arteta's team selection had been criticised for being too conservative but in the match against Newcastle, Arteta showed that he is not afraid to take risks.

The Arsenal manager started Eberechi Eze in place of Mikel Merino and having his creativity and goal threat made a difference.

Arteta also played Leandro Trossard at left back when chasing the win and his messages from the sideline were for his players to push for the win.

Arsenal have played well in most of their matches but navigating a tricky start and picking up a win in this manner at a place where they have struggled in the past will be so important for this squad.

Noel Sliney
BBC Sport

History suggests that Arsenal have their work cut out to win the title despite moving within two points of leaders Liverpool following yesterday’s late winner.

Only two of the previous 36 sides with 13 points after six Premier League games have gone on to become champions: Manchester United in 2006-07 and Manchester City in 2021-22.

It’s not great reading for Liverpool fans either, though. There have been 12 previous instances of teams reaching 15 points at this stage – and just two eventually won the title: Liverpool last season and Manchester United back in 1995-96.

Arsenal actually had more points at this stage in each of the past three seasons – only to finish second every time. For Arsenal fans seeking good omens, the only previous time the Gunners were runners-up three times in a row – from 1998-99 to 2000-01 – they went on win the league title the season after that.

For Liverpool, they face Chelsea next at Stamford Bridge - a ground they haven't won at in the Premier League since 2020. The two Manchester clubs are also in the mix of the next five games, with Man United at home and Man City away.

Saturday, 4 October

Chelsea (A)

Sunday, 19 October

Manchester United (H)

Saturday, 25 October

Brentford (A)

Saturday, 1 November

Aston Villa (H)

Sunday, 9 November

Manchester City (A)