Newcastle United

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe on consistency: "We are looking at improvements this year. Consistency is a big, big word for us. Not the most interesting response, I know, but these are the things that we judge ourselves by.

"I think, if we can find that ability to win games and put a sequence of results together, the Premier League is so tight, it can really change the feeling."

Newcastle United

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe on Nottingham Forest: "Yeah, they are [having a great season]. Nuno deserves credit for the job he has done. They have recruited very well in recent transfer windows. They've added some really good players to their squad. They have a way of playing that really works for them.

"They are very tough to play against. What a test that's going to pose to us to score against them. They have a solid defensive base, really good pace in wide areas and threats in the forward positions."

Newcastle United

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe on Tino Livramento: "[I've been] very pleased with his recent performances. I think he's shown his strengths, I think that's key to any player. You've got to be clear in what you are and how to produce your best performances to show your strengths.

"There's more to come from him, especially in the attacking third. Also his defending, as well, when he comes up against opponents, his one v one [defending] is good. His career is in a good place and he's got to continue to improve."

Newcastle United

Now here's Newcastle boss Eddie Howe on Lewis Hall's England call-up: "I am delighted for him. He has a had a really good start to the season. He's very consistent, [has produced] really mature displays. There is still a lot to come from him, we are seeing him evolve week in, week out. He is adding layers to his game all the time. It’s a great achievement for someone so young and we are delighted for him.

"We signed a talented player, there's no doubt about it. [He] just had a few things to work on, as we all do, regardless of age."

Seven Premier League appearances with just one goal for Darwin Nunez this season. Does he cut it?

Image source, BBC Sport

This is going to be a great game between two in-form teams, but how on earth do I call it?

Bournemouth have just taken seven points off Arsenal, Aston Villa and Manchester City, while Brentford have got the best home record in the Premier League this season.

I was a bit worried about the Cherries when they sold striker Dominic Solanke to Tottenham in the summer, because they had to replace his goals, but the whole team has been chipping in and they have had some special results that will live long in the memory for their fans.

I'm basing this prediction on Bournemouth's recent form and confidence, but I still don't think Brentford will be beaten at home. With Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo, they carry a real threat and I always expect them to score.

The readers will go for a draw, no doubt about it... and I am doing the same.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Bournemouth

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola on how difficult it is to choose which goalkeeper to start: "It is difficult for me, not only the goalkeepers but every position. Every week I have difficult decisions to make and I try to pick a team I think is best to start the game. Sometimes it is not the best team because I also have to think of the end of the game, but natural decisions I will have to make."

And on how last week's win over Manchester City could influence future performances: "I would say it is a different week but probably in the end it is just three more points for us, an important three points, but it is true there is more noise around. The players are getting more recognition, people are talking more about them, but we have to focus."

Bournemouth

Bournemouth managerAndoni Iraola has spoken to the media before his side play Brentford and was first asked about Dango Ouattara, who has picked up an injury: "He is not ready but it is not something big, it is very similar to Kepa's injury. I expect him to be ready for the next game against Brighton."

On Luis Sinisterra's injury: "He is disappointed because he has tried this week, but he is not feeling well. He will probably need more time. Also I think he was in a good moment before the last international break and we put him in for 30 minutes against Arsenal. It is difficult [to balance game time]. We wanted to use him and maybe it was too soon. He knows the process, he will have to be more patient."

Some bad news now for Galatasaray as the Turkish club has confirmed that Mauro Icardi ruptured his ACL during Thursday's Europa League win over Tottenham.

The Argentina striker, who was stretchered off during the match, is scheduled for surgery and will be out for the season.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, BBC Sport

It was such a lethargic performance by Aston Villa against Club Brugge on Wednesday. I was expecting far more from them.

Villa will need much more intensity if they are going to compete at Anfield, but the form Arne Slot's side are in means I cannot see past a home win for this one.

There is a lot of speculation about Mohamed Salah’s future at Liverpool, but what isn’t in doubt is his quality and he showed it again with his finish against Brighton last week.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

Once again this week I find myself wrestling with the Mohamed Salah or Erling Haaland question.

Last week, I stuck with Haaland to my cost but he still had good chances to score in Manchester City’s defeat at Bournemouth and I’m sure he will do again against a Brighton team who never park the bus against anyone.

Salah looks razor-sharp and is clearly playing for the more in-form team at the moment - Liverpool didn’t have to travel in Europe this week and host an Aston Villa side that have looked a little jaded recently.

If I go for Salah then I would also captain him but if I don’t I would be tempted to give the armband to one of my Tottenham players, Brennan Johnson or Dominic Solanke, for their home game against Ipswich.

Statman Dave told us in this week’s podcast that Son Heung-min would be his top Tottenham pick for the captaincy but there is a risk of an early substitution, as we saw against Aston Villa last Sunday.

Chris Sutton has the tempting differential option of going for Bruno Fernandes for Manchester United’s home game against Leicester. Fernandes is owned by less than 8% of the managers in the game.

Rasmus Hojlund is under 2% ownership if you want a differential striker with fixtures against Ipswich and Everton to follow, although those will be under the new manager Ruben Amorim - so we're yet to see how he will set up the team.

Our listeners' manager has gone for a Tottenham captain this week in James Maddison and has made one transfer in defence - Wolves full-back Rayan Ait-Nouri coming in for Micky van de Ven.

Get all your FPL tips and see the team of the week here

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool

And finally from Arne Slot, here's the Liverpool boss on the challenge posed by Aston Villa: "[Manager] Unai Emery has played in a similar style for years now. It is almost always the same formation but sometimes depends on the players.

"His idea about football has been the same always. If you ask me now if I expect Unai to change a lot, I would not expect that. In terms of personnel, he may change a bit, but it's always been a 4-4-2 that he's been playing for many years now."

Liverpool

Liverpool boss Arne Slot on rotating between Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas at left-back: "My line-ups tell you what I think about this. We have two very good left-backs and we play many, many games. Both of them need their games.

"It also has to do with the qualities of the players. Kostas has started a few times. Let's see who starts on Saturday."

Liverpool

Liverpool boss Arne Slot on Luis Diaz's improved conversion rate this season: "He has better numbers than last season. I have no clue why that is. The team provides a lot of chances for these players and if Diogo [Jota] is playing he scores, if Darwin [Nunez] plays he scores, if Cody [Gakpo] plays he scores.

"That tells me the team is providing chances for these quality players. If they are in promising situations they can score a goal.

"It's difficult to compare Lucho [Diaz] to last season, I can only say what I see this season."

Image source, Reuters

Liverpool

Liverpool boss Arne Slot on the ongoing contract situations of Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah:

"It would be strange if I had no input but I am a head coach now, no longer a manager.

"In general, contract situations are talked about by the people they should be talked about by. I am one of them but I should not talk about this in public. I do talk about this with Richard [Hughes] and that's the place we have to talk about it - not in front of a microphone."

Liverpool

Liverpool boss Arne Slot on Diogo Jota's return: "We expect him back in the first weeks after the international break."

On his injury: "There is privacy about this. He will be back one or two games after the international break."

Liverpool

Liverpool boss Arne Slot on Curtis Jones following his England call-up: "With Curtis he became a fighter and I had nothing to do with that. Since the moment he became a father [last month] he started putting great performances in. He already did in the first few weeks of pre-season and I thought he was a quality player.

"His performances dropped a bit but from the moment he became a father he has been outstanding again. It might have a bit to do with that but I think it is more to do with how the team plays. As a result of that, individual performances are good as well."

On Jones' qualities: "He has a lot of qualities on the ball, when he has it he's never afraid to do something special. Sometimes he is a bit too over-confident but confidence is important. He also has an incredibly high work-rate and we can trust him defensively. You saw how he performed against Cole Palmer. If he wants to continue progressing he has to show every three days these performances."

Image source, PA Media

Liverpool

Liverpool boss Arne Slot on expectations for his side:

"I'm not trying to manage expectations with the squad because we don't talk about expectations. The only expectation I have is that they put in the same effort every day. The only expectation is that they work as hard as they can.

"With that, normally results come as well. I'm not asking them to win every game but effort on a daily basis is the only thing we focus on."