Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Ben: Hi Phil, Spurs have won seven handsomely in the Premier and lost seven, all by one goal. Here's a hypothetical question, if they had a (fit) Rodri holding their midfield together, would they be challenging at the top of the league table now?

Spurs are one of the most exciting teams to watch in the Premier League, simply because you have not the slightest clue what you will get from them.

I do think they would have more consistency of results if they could find a holding, defensive midfield player of the highest class because, with the high line Ange Postecoglou plays, they have those days when they are simply too easy to get at and play against.

Finding that player is not easy, though. In the meantime, the neutrals, in particular, can enjoy the ride.

Image source, Getty Images

For every winner, there has to be a loser.

Casemiro has seen the biggest drop in his playing time since the departure of Erik ten Hag, with the 32-year-old's average falling from 51 minutes to 41 minutes.

Midfield partner Christian Eriksen has also played less minutes, while Marcus Rashford, who was dropped for Sunday's derby, has gone from playing 73.7% of available minutes this season before Ruben Amorim’s arrival to 47% since he took charge.

Casemiro and Eriksen are pictured above, celebrating with Sunday's goal hero Amad Diallo on the touchline at the Etihad, while Rashford posted the scene from his living room on Instagram, external...

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Shaz: Hi Phil I'm thinking when it might be time to rest Mohamed Salah. Do you think the title will be decided by who copes better without Salah or Palmer?

Hello, Shaz. I do not think there is any chance of Salah being rested. He is too important – Carabao Cup perhaps, but not Premier League.

There is no doubt losing Salah or Palmer would be a huge blow to either side. How Arne Slot or Enzo Maresca compensate for that, should such a situation arise, would be pivotal, certainly.

They will hope this is not something they have to address.

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Amad Diallo could not have done much more to repay the faith shown in him by manager Ruben Amorim, winning the late penalty that led to Manchester United's equaliser against City at the Etihad on Sunday before scoring the 90th-minute winner.

It was just the seventh 90th-minute winner scored against City in the Premier League era and only the second netted by a United player, after Robin van Persie in December 2012.

It was also not the first time Diallo had downed one of United's rivals with a late winner.

Remember this FA Cup classic against Liverpool?

Despite the number of changes made by Ruben Amorim, some players have benefitted from the arrival of the Portuguese boss, while other are losing out.

Sunday's match-winner Amad Diallo is the biggest benefactor.

Under previous manager Erik ten Hag, the Ivorian international played a full match twice, averaging 41 minutes per match. In that time he managed one goal and one assist.

Since Ten Hag's departure, under Amorim and interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy, Diallo has played five full games and averaged 73 minutes per match.

The 22-year-old has made good use of that extra game time, weighing in with five assists before registering his first goal in the new regime at the Etihad, pouncing on indecision in the Manchester City defence to score a 90th-minute winner.

Image source, Getty Images

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Dom from Cannock: Hi Phil, is there any kind of feeling about Pep Guardiola leaving Manchester City? Whilst I don't think he should after all he has done and he is actually irreplaceable, there's no hiding the fact that any other manager would have been sacked by this point.

Hi, Dom. No, not at all. There is no disguising the turmoil at Manchester City but Guardiola’s track record is such, and the club’s faith in him so strong, that they were delighted when he signed a new two-year contract a couple of weeks ago.

I agree other managers would be under a lot of pressure if their record of recent results had been as bad – but those managers are not Pep Guardiola and do not have his proven, incredible record of success.

Image source, Getty Images

Ruben Amorim has had seven games in charge of Manchester United and, from the number of line-up changes he has made in that time, is clearly still in the process of working out his preferred starting XI from the 25 senior players available to him.

In the Premier League, he averages 3.8 line-up changes per match - 19 in total - across the five matches he has been in charge for.

Before this weekend's round of games, no other manager to have taken charge of two games or more in the top flight this season had averaged more than 2.9 line-up changes, from match to match.

Amorim has also used the maximum five substitutions available to him in each of his five Premier League matches.

That level of change is demonstrated with United's defensive line-ups - they have had a different centre-back duo/trio in all five of their Premier League games under Amorim.

Image source, Opta

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Mike COYB: Hi Phil. With regards to the blatant bear-hug hold that Rasmus Hoijlund had on Erling Haaland at a corner in Sunday's Manchester derby, when did this stop being a foul? Speaking of embarrassing behaviour, Harry Maguire hitting the deck after Haaland touched him on the shoulder is also not a good look.

I’m afraid this goes on all the time, Mike, and whether these incidents are punished or not appears to be very random. There was talk of a crackdown but it has not happened. And I’m sorry to sound all Arsene Wenger but I did not see the incident between Haaland and Maguire that you mention.

The Opta supercomputer, external has had its say on who will be playing Championship football next season.

There is a 77.1% probability that bottom side Southampton, who are looking for a new manager after Sunday's sacking of Russell Martin, will remain at the foot of the table.

There is also a 29.5% chance that Wolves will remain second bottom, while Ipswich will likely join them in the bottom three, either in 18th (30.2%) or 19th (34.6%).

Ruud van Nistelrooy's Leicester, meanwhile, are being given a 30.8% chance of finishing just outside the relegation zone in 17th.

Image source, Getty Images

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Alan: Phil, is it beginning to sound less than genuine when Enzo Maresca says Chelsea are not in title race? They are in second place, just two points behind a faltering Liverpool side.

Afternoon, Alan. I think this is what is known as expectation management. Chelsea have exceeded initial expectations under Enzo Maresca so perhaps he is just trying to keep a lid on things – which lots of managers do.

Chelsea have to be mentioned in the title race conversation, whether Maresca agrees with it publicly or not. He’s responsible for all the talk because he is doing such a fine job!

Image source, Getty Images

Despite Nottingham Forest moving up to fourth place in the Premier League, they are only being given a 1.5% chance of claiming a Champions League place by finishing the season in the position.

Forest are currently one point above defending champions Manchester City, but, according to Opta's supercomputer, external, are most likely to finish eighth.

Would you be happy with that, Forest fans?

Image source, Getty Images

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Sandford Seth, Grimsby: Phil, isn't it about time that we look at play-acting and punish it retrospectively? Particularly Walker and Cucurella yesterday were absolutely embarrassing. They both should be ashamed of themselves. However, this reprehensible behaviour will continue across all teams, until it comes with punitive measures. It is not a good look for anyone!

Phil: I was at Manchester City against Manchester United and you would hope a player of Kyle Walker's experience will look back with serious personal embarrassment for the theatrical way he hit the floor after the mildest of head-to-head contacts with Rasmus Hojlund.

I would have no problem with such incidents being a red card offence.

It would stop that nonsense instantly.

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United fans might want to look away...

The supercomputer, external thinks Ruben Amorim's side are most likely to finish in 11th place - which would be their lowest finish in the Premier League era.

According to Opta, they have an 11.6% chance of finishing 11th and a minuscule 1.4% chance of ending the season in fourth.

Image source, Getty Images

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Harrison, Johannesburg: Hey Phil, Considering Manchester United's late-game strategy and Manchester City's defensive lapses in the recent derby, how might both teams adjust their tactical approaches in future encounters to address these specific challenges?

Phil: I actually thought Manchester United looked very solid throughout with the three central defenders Harry Maguire, Mathijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez all pretty untroubled in a formation favoured by Ruben Amorim.

As for Manchester City, they desperately miss the holding midfield presence of Rodri, while Mateo Kovacic, who has also been injured, is not really a natural fit in that role.

It makes City easy to run through, a real faultline in their decline. Add in some individual errors and you have trouble.

Matheus Nunes had a horror show in giving the ball away then conceding a penalty, while even experienced defenders like Ruben Dias and keeper Ederson were asleep for Amad Diallo's winner.

City have problems everywhere at the moment and finding that defensive shield in midfield should be a priority for Pep Guardiola in January.

Afternoon to anyone new joining us.

Our chief football writer Phil McNulty is currently answering your questions from the weekend's football - more to come from him.

If you've missed any of this morning's main talking points then click down below.

• Premier League reaction: Man Utd win derby in dramatic fashion, Chelsea win again, Southampton sack Martin
• Pereira could be Wolves boss within the next 48 hours
• What happened between Hojlund and Walker?Keane 'embarrassed' for Walker and Hojlund's response
• Simon Stone: 'No real expectation' that Guardiola could be sacked

Coming up we will look at Chelsea and if they are realistic title challengers, with more predictions from the supercomputer.

We will also look at some Opta stats in relation to how Ruben Amorim is setting up his Manchester United team.

Stay tuned.

The supercomputer, external doesn't predict a title charge for Man City but it does predict a fourth-placed finish is 42% likely and ending the season in third is 28.9% possible.

For the most optimistic of City fans out there, Opta is predicting a 1.9% chance that City win a fifth title in a row.

Image source, Getty Images

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Kev on X: How worried are Liverpool about their reliance on Mohamed Salah's goals and assists. First time in years with so few players up for top goal scorer and assists.

Phil: Hello, Kev. I think all the best teams still rely on their great players, so I don't think Liverpool will be too worried, especially with Cody Gakpo in a rich vein of scoring form.

We also saw a very significant development on Saturday with the goalscoring return of Diogo Jota against Fulham.

There is actually a case to be made that he is Liverpool's most clinical finisher. If they can keep him fit then he is a huge weapon in their attacking armoury.

Image source, Getty Images

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

RealEd on X: Morning Phil, hope all is well. With the imminent takeover of the Friedkin Group at Everton, do you have any insight into the futures of both Kevin Thelwell and Sean Dyche? And any names that will be a part of the make up of the board?

Phil: Hello, Ed. I wish I could shed more insight other than to tell you I understand the takeover is understood to be imminent.

My own opinion is that I think there will eventually be a change of manager because American billionaires such as Dan Friedkin like to have their own choice in charge and the fact Sean Dyche's contract ends at the conclusion of this season provides a natural break.

I would be surprised if there was an instant change in manager because the priority this season is safety and Dyche has shown he can provide that, for which he deserves respect.

Other than that piece of educated guesswork on my part, we simply do not know what the Friedkin Group's plans are at this stage.

Image source, Getty Images

Those of you who love supercomputer, external predictions, you're in luck because we've got some coming your way right now!

Liverpool saw their lead cut at the top of the Premier League to two points after a 2-2 draw at home to Fulham before second-placed Chelsea beat Brentford 2-1 last night.

Despite that, the supercomputer thinks it is 82% likely that the Reds will win their 20th league title come May. Arsenal have a 10.6% chance of being crowned champions.

And, with Chelsea having a 5.5% chance of the title, the supercomputer believes Arsenal, rather than Chelsea, are the closest challengers to Liverpool.

Image source, Getty Images

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Simon Elliot: Does Manchester City's continued poor run point to Pep being a great coach but not a great manager? Two very different skill sets.

Phil: You are right. They are two very different skill sets but I think Pep Guardiola's record tells us he possesses both of them.

He is a great coach and a great manager but he is currently in totally unknown territory for him, leading a team losing regularly and having to find different answers, which he admitted last night he has not done yet.

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