NMP, Slough: Hi Phil. Do you think Arsenal's biggest worry is the abrupt drop in quality if a centre-back gets injured? Calafiori and Timber are preferred as left-backs, and Kiwior just appears too naive compared to Gabriel and Saliba. It showed again yesterday when he left the space totally free for Salah to wander into. They seem to have adequate squad coverage everywhere but there.

Phil: Hello, NMP. Yes, that is an area where they can least afford to lose players.

I think Arsenal’s injuries are a worry and they have come in a rush, from Odegaard then Timber and Calafiori along with the untimely one-game suspension for William Saliba.

This is why the last thing they needed to see was Gabriel going off against Liverpool yesterday then sitting on the bench with an ice pack on his knee and thigh. They will be desperately hoping this is not serious.

I think they came to rely so heavily on Saliba and Gabriel last season, with Saliba playing every league game and Gabriel missing only two, that there is bound to be a drop-off when you miss even one of these outstanding players.

They ended yesterday with Thomas Partey, Ben White, Jakub Kiwior and 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly as their back four – and that is obviously not sustainable.

This is why good news on Gabriel and the return of Saliba is essential.

England

Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman was also asked about not being able to attend tonight's Ballon d'Or awards, at which she is nominated for women's coach of the year, because of the clash in schedule: "It's really disappointing because it is a moment to celebrate women's football so you want to be there. But we have a job to do so we have to be here, it would be helpful if we were there."

Georgia Stanway was asked if her speaking to the press for the third time in a week is indicative of the results, with other players potentially not wanting to speak: "I think we are in a position where any of us would be comfortable speaking to you guys.

"I think it can be difficult depending on mood and how the game has gone but I am happy to come here and answer some questions."

England

Lionesses manager Sarina Wiegman is speaking to the media before England take on South Africa in a friendly on Tuesday. She was first asked about last week's Germany defeat: "For me it doesn't matter how unfair the criticism is. We wanted to high press and at moments we didn't get that right. Against a top-level team like Germany we were being exposed."

On changes: "You will see different faces tomorrow. You want more information but I am not going to tell you. We want to try out things, we want to see connections."

Stephen Warnock
Former Liverpool defender

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool were behind twice, playing away from home against their title rivals, and left the Emirates Stadium with a point, so they will definitely be happier with a draw than Arsenal were on Sunday.

Yes, injuries meant the Gunners finished with an unfamiliar back four, but they will have been thinking that if they could maintain their shape, and almost turn the game into a training-ground exercise, they should have been able to keep Arne Slot’s side out.

So they will be bitterly disappointed to have been pegged back to 2-2, especially when you consider the way they had ended the first half, because they were in control of the game at that point.

Stephen Warnock column on Arsenal's draw with Liverpool

Arsenal

Here's more from Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, who felt his side should have beaten Liverpool in Sunday's big Premier League game.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter in Coventry

England last played at Coventry's CBS Arena in 2023 when Aston Villa striker Rachel Daly scored twice to secure a 2-1 win over Italy.

It was an event that broke the attendance record at the stadium with 32,128 fans coming to watch them in the Arnold Clark Cup.

Attendances have dropped in the Women's Super League this season after England failed to qualify for this summer's Olympic Games.

England's attendance on Friday was less than 50,000 so it will be interesting to see how many they get at tomorrow's game.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter in Coventry

The Lionesses are back in action tomorrow when they host South Africa in their second friendly match of this international break.

They fell to a 4-3 defeat by Germany at Wembley on Friday and there was plenty of criticism for their defensive display.

Sarina Wiegman went with a tried and tested starting XI, despite a number of players struggling for domestic club form.

She was defiant in her post-match media conference when questioned about her team selection and she will no doubt face further scrutiny this morning in Coventry.

The squad trained at Arsenal's Sobha Realty Training Centre on Sunday - choosing to commute straight from London as opposed to travelling to St George's Park and then onto Coventry.

Georgia Stanway was among those in training and she will speak alongside Wiegman this morning, at around 11:00 GMT.

Rezaa: Hi Phil. Simple question. Why exactly was the last minute goal by Jesus disallowed? The referee clearly doesn't blow his whistle when Kiwior "fouls" the Liverpool player when winning the header but suddenly blows once Havertz is through on goal. Thoughts?

Phil: I think it’s a great question, Rezaa. First things first. I did not think it was a foul by Kiwior on Szoboszlai, who made no attempt to win the ball, then Anthony Taylor did not initially blow his whistle. He left it a few seconds.

Obviously, Liverpool’s players then stopped but it was certainly a very confusing incident – and was not a foul by Kiwior in the first instance.

Alex Howell
BBC football news reporter

Arsenal's match with Liverpool ended in a draw and it is probably a result that both clubs would accept was a fair result.

The Gunners were dominant in the first half and took a deserved lead into the break. However, Liverpool came back into the game in the second half as Arsenal dropped deep, looking to protect their lead.

Manager Mikel Arteta said he was "very disappointed" that his side did not win the game and that his team "gave away" the two goals that Liverpool scored.

Arsenal do have injury issues at the moment - and they could have got worse during this match.

Centre-back Gabriel came off with a knee injury and Arteta said he "could not run" and was still being assessed, which is far from ideal considering the problems they have already had in their backline.

Jurrien Timber, who was brought back into the fold after injury, had to come off with tiredness and captain Martin Odegaard is still out, although Arteta says he is "close" to a return.

Arsenal are five points off the top of the table and, although it is still early in the season, that seems a big distance when the team on top is Manchester City.

Bukayo Saka became the youngest Arsenal player to score 50 Premier League goals after his strike against Liverpool on Sunday afternoon.

At 23 years and 52 days, the winger hit the milestone after just 178 top flight appearances for the Gunners and beats out previous record holder Thierry Henry who hit 50 goals aged 24 years and 128 days.

It also means Saka becomes the seventh youngest player to reach 50 goals in Premier League history, eight days older than when England's top scorer Harry Kane netted his 50th.

Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler remains the youngest to do so at 20 years and 252 days.

Arsenal

Image source, Reuters

Bukayo Saka made a timely return from injury to score his 50th goal for Arsenal in Sunday's big game against Liverpool.

Speaking after the game, the 23-year-old winger told Arsenal's official website: "I hate to miss games, so I was buzzing to be back. I had this game in mind to come back for. I was feeling good out there and I was happy to get an early goal.

"We are disappointed [not to get three points]. I feel like we didn't show our best selves for 90 minutes and it cost us in the end. We believe we should have won it."

Lorraine: Hi Phil, Another loss for Manchester United, albeit it to a very dubious penalty. What is the root of the problem with the club? Have they got into another Gerrard/Lampard scenario, where they now have a group of individually good/great players who just aren't gelling on the pitch, no matter how hard they try, or does it just come down to the wrong manager in the job? A lot of these players are selected to play for their countries and perform better away from the red shirt.

Phil: Good morning, Lorraine. So many questions and not really one definitive answer.

I just think recruitment has been so poor over the years that Manchester United have been left with a mess that has continued under Erik ten Hag. There have simply been too many bad buys.

Lots of people in football say there are three golden rules – recruitment, recruitment and recruitment. United have rarely observed any of these since Sir Alex Ferguson left in 2013.

Now here's more from Manchester United defender Gary Neville on Sky Sports:, external "I think anybody half decent, who can play, can beat this United team.

"They are in danger and I don't think there can be another defeat next Sunday at Old Trafford [against Chelsea]. I think it is getting to that point now where there is a real worry. I am worried."

David James
Former England goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast

Over the last decade, Manchester United are not that much better than Tottenham. They are not a title contender, as much as Manchester United fans want them to be.

If you look at the realistic position of Manchester United, [Erik] ten Hag is underperforming as the manger, yeah, but he’s not underperforming by half a league. Mid-table, at the moment, is where Manchester United need to be. I think he’s got a little bit more time left.

Image source, Reuters

MOTD

Speaking on Match of the Day about Chris Wood after the Nottingham Forest striker scored twice in Friday's 3-1 win at Leicester, Alan Shearer said: "He is unbelievable. He is in the form of his life. He is in the place where you're not hoping you are going to score goals, instead you actually know you're going to go out and score them.

"He is just full of confidence. He scored two very different goals against Leicester. For the first one, it is his movement to go into the box and get around the defenders, then his first touch and the swivel, then how he wraps his foot around the ball the way that he did.

"He had no other thought in his mind. He knew exactly where the goal was and there wasn't even one thought about passing it to anyone else. He just wanted to get the shot away - and why shouldn't he with the form he is in?

"For his second goal, he is just too strong for Wout Faes. His awareness of where he is, where the goalkeeper is and what he has to do is so impressive. It was a clever finish to just guide it in with his head, over the goalkeeper. It should be a great feeling for him."

Kevin: Hi Phil, amid a weekend of controversial VAR calls and late wins and equalisers, do you think the most underrated team at the moment is Nottingham Forest? A 3-1 East Midlands Derby win, last on MOTD and up to 7th in the table with a 4th place goalscorer in Chris Wood? I think they deserve so much more recognition for their achievements.

Phil: Hi, Neil. Fully agree. Nottingham Forest deserve great praise for that they have done so far this season, although I do think they have been getting credit – and what a season Chris Wood is having.

Nuno has quietly put a Forest team together in exactly the way he likes. Solid defence, pace on the flanks and a central goal threat – very much like he did at Wolves.

The atmosphere at The City Ground is always special and it will be even better if Forest’s form carries on.

Image source, Reuters

Paul Robinson
Former England goalkeeper on the Football Daily podcast

I'd love a pound for every time Erik ten Hag uses the word 'process'. I was in Istanbul watching them last week [against Fenerbahce] and they put in a decent performance but a team like Manchester United can't be 14th in the Premier League having won only three games at the start of the season.

He seems very resilient, he seems very robust from any outside criticism. He's going to do it his way but they are where they are. It is unacceptable for a team that has spent £600m-plus. The manager has been given players he wants and he's had all the excuses he needs taken away from him.

He has been backed, he has been given a new contract and he has got all the players that he wants. Results and performances on the pitch will decide his future. For Manchester United, a defeat was damning.

Listen to the full Football Daily podcast.

Gary Neville on Sky Sports:, external "[Erik] ten Hag is asking for trouble. He is 14th in the league, nine games in. I know it is the start of the season but that's 25% of the season gone.

"It will be a big worry for everybody in the club and the fans that are watching because they should have been up today. I thought West Ham were really poor but United should have been 2-0 up but they lost again. They are 14th in the league and they have spent a fortune."

Mike, Stockport: Hi Phil, after the shocking penalty decision at the London Stadium, I fully expect the PGMOL to send an apology to Manchester United. This will be the second apology to United for bad decisions already and we are only in October. Is VAR in crisis?

Phil: Morning, Mike. I was at Arsenal yesterday so needed to look at Match Of The Day 2 for this one – and totally agree with the pretty much unanimous view that this was an horrendous decision.

It was never a penalty and referee David Coote was right not to give it. Why Michael Oliver, as the video assistant referee (VAR), felt the need to get involved is beyond me. It was a serious injustice for Matthijs de Ligt and Manchester United.

This was the opposite of what VAR was brought in for and was meant to achieve.

This was the guidance outlined to referees before the start of the season: "The referee's call should stand unless the VAR, based on readily available evidence, can see without doubt the on-pitch official has made a clear mistake. In the absence of that clear evidence, the referee’s call will stand."

Image source, Reuters