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Interestingly, during the last four seasons, eventual champions Manchester City had not been top after 10 games.

City would have been top this season, had they won at Bournemouth on Saturday, but a first defeat in 32 Premier League games left Pep Guardiola's side two points behind leaders Liverpool in second place.

As it is, the defending champions, who are looking to win their fifth consecutive title, are well on track if you compare their points total after 10 games with their previous record over the past five seasons.

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Tottenham fans look away...no team has amassed as many points in the last five years as Spurs did at this stage last season.

Interestingly, none of these teams won the title in that season. Too much, too soon?

Liverpool's 25 points is the highest in the Premier League this season after 10 games and they're two points better off than at this stage last year. However, Tottenham were one point better off than Arne Slot's side when they led the way at this stage last term.

When the Reds won the title in 2019/20, they had amassed a whopping 28 points after 10 matches.

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Let's start by taking another look at the table to see how things have settled.

It is Arne Slot's Liverpool who lead the way with 25 points - two in front of defending champions Manchester City.

Nottingham Forest are the surprise package in third with 19.

Sunday's win at home to Aston Villa edged Tottenham back up to seventh, two points off the top four, while Chelsea's 1-1 draw at Manchester United puts them in fourth, with their hosts down in 13th.

Right, that is the last question of today's Q&A with Phil McNulty.

Thanks for all the questions sent in today and apologies to those Phil was not able to get to.

Next up, we will have a look at some of the key stats from the first 10 games of the Premier League season, as well as a look ahead to Fulham v Brentford - with tonight's west London derby completing gameweek 10 in the top flight.

Phil in Bude: Hi Phil. Jose Mourinho seems to have gone to Fenerbahce to get in the limelight and on the back pages again to shoehorn a move back to the Premier League. I’ve got a feeling he’ll be at Everton for next season in the new stadium. What do you reckon?

Thanks, Phil. I wondered how long it would be before I got this one.

Mourinho certainly set the hare running before the Europa League game with Manchester United by suggesting he was not done with the Premier League – and might even go to a team in the bottom half of the table that is not in Europe?

Which team fits that description? Everton, of course.

And the fact Dan Friedkin, who is expected to assume control at Everton within weeks, employed him at Roma only added to the growing conspiracy theories – but don’t forget he also sacked him.

Friedkin will have high ambitions for Everton and that magnificent new stadium at Bramley Moore Dock represents the bricks and mortar of a fresh start for a club that has been in crisis for so long.

Never, ever rule anything out with Jose Mourinho. This, though, would surprise me.

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Anon: Hi Phil. Wolves have three points from a possible 30, but if you go further back then it's only eight points from a possible 60. Can a manager come back from that?

There is always time for a manager to come back from that and Gary O'Neil will feel points against Brighton and Crystal Palace constitute the start of a recovery.

Wolves showed great faith in O'Neil with a new four-year contract in the summer so they will be hoping he repays that faith, although he will know a good result at home to fellow strugglers Southampton [on Saturday] is essential to steady any nerves around Molineux.

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Anon: Further to the comment re keepers falling to the ground etc. Under Law 12 Fouls and Misconduct - an indirect free kick is awarded if the goalkeeper controls the ball with the hand/arm for more than six seconds before releasing it. When I was a referee I used to count out loud to the referee the number of seconds he was holding the ball. The introduction of that aspect of the game was to ensure the flow of the game and no time wasting.

Sean from Dorset: Bournemouth appear one of the most upwardly mobile teams in the Premier League with big huge recent results against title contenders and an ambitious American owner who wants to aim for Europe within five years. How far can the team realistically go, though, playing in a stadium with a 10,000 capacity? Do they have a ceiling until they move or develop?

Hi Sean. I always enjoy my trips to the Vitality Stadium. It is compact and atmospheric, but there is a limit to how far your ambitions can stretch as a Premier League club with a capacity of 10/11,000.

I suspect a move or development will be on the cards because, as you say, this is a club and a team with so much going for it and they are very much an established Premier League club now.

Bournemouth are also ambitious and while they have this team, and this outstanding manager in Andoni Iraola, then maybe they will strike while the iron is hot.

Good times for the Cherries.

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Ben: Hi Phil, I was curious to see how Arsenal would fare after two intense seasons against Pep’s relentless machine. Quite a few pundits have predicted an Arsenal title, seemingly without considering they may suffer the same way Klopp’s incredible Liverpool team did at times.

That team were even better than this Gunners team and they couldn’t maintain it season upon season. Injuries don’t help but perhaps they’re simply fatigued? You couldn’t blame them if they are.

Hi, Ben. I never predicted that it was Arsenal’s title but it was almost inevitable that they would not avoid injuries in the way they did last season and so it has proved. The absence of Martin Odegaard, injured on international duty, was a real blow.

He will be back soon and I expect Arsenal to get back towards their fluent best when he does. I am not writing them off yet, although I have to stick with my pre-season prediction of Manchester City as champions again.

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Justin: Hi Phil. Whilst I like the look of the new Man United manager, I am bit confused as to why the board didn't give Ruud van Nistelrooy a proper chance. United icon, fans love him, knows the club, decent record at PSV - 2 trophies and a win % of 64.7%. Any thoughts?

Hi Justin. Good question but I just think Manchester United’s hierarchy wanted a clean sweep and complete change of direction and Ruud van Nistelrooy was part of Erik ten Hag’s team, although only for nine league games so he can hardly take responsibility for the failures.

It remains to be seen whether he stays on as part of Ruben Amorim’s staff. He is understandably well loved at Old Trafford but I do not see him wanting to stay unless he can exert serious influence and I’m not sure he will get that as Amorim already has a very tight-knit, tried and trusted team.

I think it is perfectly understandable that Manchester United’s top brass wanted a total change. In some ways it almost marks the official start of their time in charge.

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Tim in Belfast: Hi Phil, what is the United thinking behind giving Amorim only 2 1/2 years? If these players are so bad and won't fit his new system, it'd take at least two summer windows to build his first team, and then a squad to challenge.

Hello, Tim. I don’t think it is any lack of faith, it is simply the way of the world now and United do have an option for another year on top of the initial term.

It is a rare breed of manager, Pep Guardiola perhaps, who get a very long-term contract but I’m pretty sure United will be quick to put a new, more long-term, deal in place should Amorim start to fulfil the hopes Manchester United have for him.

Anon: Hi Phil. Given Tottenham look so formidable at times, why do you think they are so inconsistent and unable to get results away from home?

I suspect this is the same question Ange Postecoglou is wracking his brains trying to find an answer to. Curing inconsistency is his top priority now because at their best Spurs can beat anyone. At their worst they can lose to anyone.

They have had a great last two games, beating Manchester City and Aston Villa. The trick for Spurs now is to maintain that form and win those games away from home.

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Rob, in East Sussex: Hello Phil. We Spurs won’t settle for sixth, as we are just finding our stride and there is way more to come from us this season. What should we be hoping for?

Hello, Rob. Trying to predict what Spurs will do from week to week is a hazardous business, let alone over a whole season. They have responded brilliantly, though, to losing at Crystal Palace with wins against Manchester City and Aston Villa.

I think they should be challenging for the top four if manager Ange Postecoglou can find the consistency that has eluded Spurs at times and I think with the talent at their disposal they are a very good bet for a cup. Consistency, however, is the key.

What you can predict very confidently about Spurs is that watching them is never dull.

This issue about the size of shin pads has come up before.

In December 2023, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) told BBC Sport that players - or the parents or guardians of youth players - must take responsibility for their own safety on the pitch and that the group had no intention of introducing new laws to legislate the size or shape of shin pads.

"Players' legs are all different sizes and there are so many different materials," a spokesman said.

"Ifab's view is that this is the responsibility of the individual player and not the referee. Where young players are concerned, that responsibility [should be taken by the coach, parents or guardians]."

While shin pads are mandatory, there is nothing in the laws to set a required size, although Football Association rules state players must abide by the laws and wear "suitable shin guards that provide protection".

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Michael in Lincolnshire: Hi Phil, bit left field but do you think that there is not enough notice taken of how the equipment for players has changed and how little protection this seems to offer. Shin pads that are barely more than circles of card. Footwear (can't call them boots) with the strength of carpet slippers. Used to be if a player stood on your foot it hardly registered. Perhaps something IFAB should look at.

Hello, Michael. A very fair point as you also see shin pads halfway down the shin these days.

I think it is a question of what makes players feel comfortable, which I also get, but agree some so-called 'shin' pads don’t appear to have much to do with the shin.

A very frustrated Ipswich fan: I just want to know how VAR didn’t see the penalty incident as a ‘clear and obvious’ error and did not intervene in the 75th minute. It was a stonewall penalty. Could not be clearer. If that happens then Phillips' second yellow doesn’t happen.

We have had six questionable decisions go against us this season. Not one in our favour.

And I totally sympathise with your frustration on two counts. I definitely thought it was a penalty when Abdul Fatawu clattered into Conor Chaplin and while Kalvin Phillips may have been a bit rash chasing that challenge, I actually thought he withdrew his foot.

I think you were on the end of two very rough decisions and, to add insult to injury, Leicester City score deep into stoppage time to deny Ipswich Town their first league win of the season.

I am with you on this one.

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Nathan in London: Hi Phil, so much has been made of Moises Caicedo's price tag but is he starting to show why Chelsea splashed so much on him? And where does he and Romeo Lavia's burgeoning partnership leave fellow £100m+ man Enzo Fernandez?

Hi Nathan. I’ve seen Caicedo produce two outstanding individual performances at Liverpool and Manchester United in the last fortnight. While it is very hard to justify a £115m price tag, it is easy to see why he is so highly rated and Liverpool were also prepared to pay £110m for him at the start of last season.

Caicedo came into a very chaotic place at the start of last season but he is now showing his class, as proved by his goal and all-round display yesterday.

Romeo Lavia is also starting to look a class act after an injury-plagued first season at Stamford Bridge and I actually think Chelsea have a better balance in midfield without Fernandez. He faces a real fight to get back in.

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