Rob

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John, Marylebone: With respect to the sending off of Declan Rice, do you think Arsenal could or should appeal the automatic one-match ban for a second yellow for delaying the restart? Given that Rice was walking away from the incident, how was he delaying the restart? Why did VAR not point out to referee Chris Kavanagh that Veltman had taken a vicious swipe at Rice's knee/leg?

Phil: Hi, John. They will not appeal because under the letter of the law (sorry) referee Chris Kavanagh made the right decision. The counter argument from Arsenal will be to ask how Joao Pedro escaped punished for lashing the ball away half the length of the field in the first half? It is inconsistency that is infuriating.

As for Veltman, I thought he was very lucky not to get a red card for that wild kick on Rice.

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Dan Roan
BBC sports editor

Following the news that Arsenal have turned down an approach from Al-Ittihad for Leandro Trossard, I understand the Saudi club are also interested in Porto winger Galeno as an alternative.

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Richard, London: In my mind the standard of refereeing is quite simply the worst it has ever been. A group of referees who have now had years of VAR and who shirk all decision making with the hope that technology will intervene. Except, this year it isn't supposed to. It is actually turning me off watching games now as the inconsistency is too infuriating. Do you agree that refereeing is a huge risk for the Premier League product because it is starting to ruin the game.

Phil: Hello, Richard. I think the intrusive way VAR has been used in the Premier League, as much as the refereeing, has had an adverse impact on the product. I’ve made my views on this clear in the past, with too much interference, too much scanning for minor infringements to see if goals should be disallowed.

I was very much an advocate, but not any more. Fans are now actually reluctant to celebrate goals because they are wondering if they will be ruled out.

I’d be happy with line technology and semi-automated offside.

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Does anyone else have a vision of the Terminator as a match official? No, just me?

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Lee Blackwood: Hi Phil, do you think it's only a matter of time before AI takes over from VAR to get rid of the human element altogether?

Phil: Hi Lee. You raise a truly horrific prospect and I truly believe this will never happen. On the day it does (and it won’t) I may decide I don’t want to watch football any more.

Xlibit: Salah was tremendous. However, I don't get all the fuss about his and Van Dijk's and Alexander-Arnold's contracts. A new manager needs more than a pre-season and three league games to assess who he wants to stay beyond the season. Absolutely normal.

Joe: Hi Phil - simple question, would you sack Erik ten Hag? And a less simple one, who would you bring in as his replacement?

Phil: Hello, Joe. No I wouldn’t [sack Ten Hag]. Not after three league games when he was given a new contract extension in the summer.

I would wait to see what happens when he has all of his new signings available and the likes of Luke Shaw, Mason Mount and Rasmus Hojlund in the team – although who knows when that will be?

What I do think is that if there is no sign of significant improvement or progress around October or November then Ten Hag will be under real pressure, because there was no doubt his removal was considered last summer.

Replacement? I can see managers like Gareth Southgate and Graham Potter being linked should this happen, but maybe Thomas Tuchel can be persuaded this time.

Not a lot of options, which perhaps explains why Ten Hag is still there.

KW

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

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Sometimes, a statistic appears that delivers a sobering underlying message.

That only four Manchester United players have scored more goals at Old Trafford than Mo Salah since January 2021 tells its own story about the relative merits of United and Liverpool.

I saw Ruud van Nistelrooy come to speak to Erik ten Hag in his technical area during yesterday's game and could only imagine what he would have made of what unfolded.

Van Nistelrooy was part of a very different United side, in a very different era.

But his 150 goals in five seasons was the standard and consistency United forwards should be aiming for.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney followed Van Nistelrooy but since Robin van Persie scored 30 in the 2012-13 title-winning campaign, only Marcus Rashford in a single season has matched that figure. Only on three other occasions has United's top scorer got more than 25. Five times it was less than 20.

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Most goals at Old Trafford in all competitions since 24 January 2021:

31 - Marcus Rashford

29 - Bruno Fernandes

17 - Cristiano Ronaldo

13 - Scott McTominay

10 - Mohamed Salah

10 - Anthony Martial

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Well, what hasn't he achieved? The Champions League, the Premier League, the FA Cup and that's just the beginning of Salah's trophy list at Liverpool.

Individually too, the Egypt international has achieved a number of accolades including three Premier League Golden Boots and two PFA Players' Player of the Year awards.

He is the club's all-time leading goalscorer in the Premier League.

Jake: Rice's red and Arsenal's dropped points - is it just a wobble or is the title suddenly a lot harder to get?

Phil: Think you’re over-reacting there, Jake. Three games, two wins and a draw is hardly a bad start.

What is a factor in every title race now, though, is the psychological pressure Manchester City apply instantly on those who want to challenge them. Dropping two points in only your third game is suddenly painted as an expensive slip.

It almost has you feeling Arsenal must win at Spurs in the north London derby with their next game being a visit to City.

This is what City’s dominance has done.

Mo Salah's contract expires in the summer. He signed a three-year extension in July 2022, making him reportedly the highest paid player in the club's history, on more than £350,000 a week.

Last September Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad's £150m offer for the Liverpool talisman was rejected.

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Charlie Austin
Former Southampton striker on Football Daily

Mo Salah is the talisman at Liverpool - he is the main guy. For him to come out and say such words, that it's his last season at the football club - it's a tough pill to swallow.

He has really put the ball in Liverpool's hands.

Mohamed Salah says it is his "last year" at Liverpool and that nobody at the club has talked to him about a new contract.

"I was coming to the game, I was saying, 'look, it could be the last time'," he told Sky Sports after their 3-0 win over Manchester United on Sunday.

"Nobody in the club talked to me yet about contracts so I was just like, 'OK, I play my last season and see at the end of the season'.

"I feel I am free to play football – we will see what happens next year.”

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Joe: Hi Phil - simple question. Would you sack Ten Hag? And a less simple one! - who would you bring in as his replacement?

Phil: Hello, Joe. No I wouldn’t. Not after three league games when he was given a new contract extension in the summer.

I would wait to see what happens when he has all his new signings available and the likes of Luke Shaw, Mason Mount and Rasmus Hojlund in the team – although who knows when that will be?

What I do think is that if there is no sign of significant improvement or progress around October or November then Ten Hag will be under real pressure, because there was no doubt his removal was considered last summer.

Replacement? I can see managers like Gareth Southgate and Graham Potter being linked should this happen but maybe Thomas Tuchel can be persuaded this time.

Not a lot of options, which perhaps explains why Ten Hag is still there.

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Mohamed Salah (Liverpool): He got a goal and two assists. His second assist was a great pass inside. He caused Manchester United problems all day. It was a lovely finish for his goal to top off what has been a fantastic season so far.

Erling Haaland (Manchester City): The main man up front. I tried to find someone else but you can't score back-to-back hat-tricks and not get in the team of the week.

Luis Diaz (Liverpool): The two Liverpool wingers tormented Manchester United. Diaz got two goals and was excellent.

Sean: Phil. Looking at yesterday Man U v Liverpool. Do you think it is far too early for Mainoo? Great potential, but I thought he was exposed yesterday and potentially targeted as a weak point in that midfield. Why they sold McTominay is beyond me. I think he was responsible for 12 points last season.

Phil: Good morning, Sean. Mainoo was exposed yesterday but he was in a tough position because Casemiro had such a nightmare before being replaced by youngster Toby Collyer.

Mainoo just had too much to do against a very good Liverpool side. I do not think he was the specific weak point. I think there was a lot of weak points all around him and I still think he will be a big player for Manchester United this season.

It was sad to see McTominay go but he has clearly been sold to ensure funds to buy Manuel Ugarte from PSG. There is an awful lot riding on that deal for manager Erik ten Hag as he desperately needs Ugarte to be a success and make a difference.

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Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has a heated exchange with a journalist in a news conference after his side's 3-0 defeat by Liverpool at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Sunday.