Summary

  • Decision on West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui's future to be made before weekend

  • Should the Hammers give Lopetegui more time? Poll at top of this page

  • News conferences: Spurs, Brighton, Bournemouth and Fulham

  • Six matches on Wednesday including Arsenal v Man Utd (20:15 GMT)

  • United abandoned plans to wear a jacket supporting LGBTQ+ community before Sunday's win over Everton because a player refused to wear it.

  • Wales reach major women's tournament - Euro 2025 - for first time with win over Republic of Ireland, but Scotland miss out

  • Get Involved: #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

  1. Postecoglou to speakpublished at 10:15 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December

    Bournemouth v Tottenham (Thu, 20:15 GMT)

    Tottenham Hotspur

    Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou is due to speak this morning ahead of Tottenham's trip to Bournemouth on Thursday night.

    Spurs currently sit seventh in the Premier league table but do have the chance to put pressure on the top five, should they win at the Vitality Stadium.

    Postecoglou is likely to be asked about team news. In particular, the availability of centre-backs Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, as well as striker Dominic Solanke, who missed Sunday's 1-1 draw with Fulham.

    We will bring you all of the top lines from that news conference shortly.

    Dominic Solanke with his feet up in the airImage source, Getty Images
  2. 'Guehi defies FA over armband'published at 10:10 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December

    Wednesday's back pages

    The Times

    The Times run with Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi "defies FA over armband" after the England defender again wrote 'Jesus loves you' on his rainbow captain's armband last night.

    TimesImage source, Times
  3. Guehi writes on rainbow armband despite FA reminderpublished at 10:05 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December

    Ipswich 0-1 Crystal Palace

    Marc Guehi's rainbow armband with the words 'Jesus Loves You' written on it.Image source, Getty Images

    Marc Guehi wrote a 'Jesus loves you' message on his rainbow captain's armband for Crystal Palace's match at Ipswich Town, despite being reminded by the Football Association that religious messaging on kit is banned.

    The rainbow armbands are being worn as Premier League clubs show support for LGBTQ+ inclusion in sport by taking part in charity Stonewall's Rainbow Laces campaign.

    The Football Association told Guehi and his club that religious messaging on kit is banned after the 24-year-old's rainbow armband in Palace's draw against Newcastle United on Saturday had the message 'I love Jesus' written on it.

    Ipswich Town captain Sam Morsy did not wear a rainbow armband again on Tuesday, after his club said he elected not to do so at the weekend because of his "religious beliefs."

    Read more about the rainbow gesture and what it means.

  4. 'The win was well deserved' - Glasnerpublished at 10:00 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December

    Ipswich 0-1 Crystal Palace

    Media caption,

    Glasner hails 'amazing' Mateta winner for Palace

    Oliver Glasner spoke to the media after Crystal Palace's victory at Ipswich: "I feel very happy. It was not the best performance but the result was more important.

    "Most of the time we controlled the game and we scored an amazing goal - a fantastic finish from JP [Mateta].

    "We had more chances to decide the game. We couldn't but I think the win was well deserved. We didn't give them any chances from open play and with a clean sheet you can always take the win.

    "It's a big win. Now it's not time to sit back and relax but to keep going. In four days we face Manchester City. We stay humble. There are still many things to improve but we are on the right path."

  5. 'It's a fair punishment and I have to learn from it'published at 09:56 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December

    Fulham v Brighton (Thu, 19:30 GMT)

    Brighton & Hove Albion

    Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler on serving a touchline ban on Thursday evening: "I've had this experience once in the Bundesliga. It's a fair punishment for me and I have to learn from it. Honestly, I trust my team, I trust my staff. I have a great coaching staff around me and I have two great assistant coaches around me in Crofty [Andrew Crofts] and Jonas [Scheuermann] and they will do a great job.

    "In the end, I'm also very convinced that the players will do it on the pitch. It's a bad experience, I don't want to experience that but in the end it's the fair thing so I have to go through it and hopefully I learn from it."

  6. 'Dunk is a defender with the whole package'published at 09:52 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December

    Fulham v Brighton (Thu, 19:30 GMT)

    Brighton & Hove Albion

    Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler on Lewis Dunk and his improvement over the years: "What I see is a defender with the whole package. He's good in and out of possession. He's good in box defending, driving the ball and making passes in the final third. He's very complete. Maybe he can improve a bit his left foot but his right foot is very good.

    "I think he's also improved as a person. He is a captain now, he's a leader now, he's a role model for a lot of young players and a role model for everyone who loves the word loyalty because he's always there for the club and always gives his everything and that is very special.

    "That's why I am happy that he is here in my team and I am happy that he can still improve and he has this attitude - he's coming in every day, trying to be the best leader he can be and best captain and that's what he has shown so far this season."

    Lewis DunkImage source, Getty Images
  7. 'Hopefully Veltman and Lamptey are two options'published at 09:47 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December

    Fulham v Brighton (Thu, 19:30 GMT)

    Brighton & Hove Albion

    Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler on team news: "He [Joel Veltman] will train today and then we will see if he's available. Tariq [Lamptey] is available for tomorrow. Jack [Hinshelwood] and Ferdi [Kadioglu] still need a little bit of time, but hopefully Joel and Tariq are two options."

    On whether there are any new injuries: "At the moment, no. Sometimes I forget but at the moment I don't think there are any new injuries."

    On whether Lewis Dunk will be involved in the starting eleven: "It's a possibility, yes."

    Joel VeltmanImage source, Getty Images
  8. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 09:43 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December

    #bbcfootball on X, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    I can't explain why West Ham have failed to click under Lopetegui, but they need to replace him sooner rather than later. I'm not sure how many more of these abysmal results I can cope with.

    Michelle Gabriel

  9. 'Normally I want to stick to one system and formation'published at 09:40 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December

    Fulham v Brighton (Thu, 19:30 GMT)

    Brighton & Hove Albion

    Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler on whether he will play a back three more often after changing to that system during the Southampton game: "It's not always the right thing to change a system during a game and during a season but in this case we were forced to do it because we had to take care of Tariq [Lamptey] who hasn't played for a long time and we had to take care of Joel [Veltman].

    "We didn't have a right full-back in the squad and that made us the situation where we had to change to a back three. Normally I want to stick to one system and one formation. We have a lot of great offensive players and we want to get them on the pitch. We have to try and get the best connection and that's why I'm not the biggest fan of making changes during a game."

  10. Mateta strike ends Palace wait for league away winpublished at 09:36 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December

    Ipswich 0-1 Crystal Palace

    Alex Howell
    BBC football news reporter at Portman Road

    Mateta celebrates after scoring for Crystal Palace against LeicesterImage source, Getty Images

    Jean-Philippe Mateta scored a stunning winner as Crystal Palace earned their first Premier League away win of the season by beating Ipswich Town at Portman Road.

    The sides were level on nine points towards the foot of the table at kick-off, and it was the Eagles who produced the moment of top quality that secured a valuable win.

    Mateta's goal came in the 59th minute. The Palace striker had an early role in the goal with a flick-on in his own half before charging forward, dribbling past defender Jacob Greaves and chipping past Arijanet Muric in the Ipswich goal from a testing angle.

    Liam Delap, one of the bright sparks for Ipswich, was again dangerous but he could not find a goal up against Palace’s back three.

    The win moves Palace up to 16th place and means that despite a tricky start to the season, Oliver Glasner’s side have now lost just once in six matches.

  11. 'I don't want to make this a big topic anymore'published at 09:33 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December

    Fulham v Brighton (Thu, 19:30 GMT)

    Brighton & Hove Albion

    Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler on his opinion of Southampton's disallowed goal in last week's 1-1 draw: "I think it's a close situation, a 50/50 situation. Honestly, so long after this game, it's in the past and I don't want to make this a big topic any more. We can also complain about other things during the game like a second yellow card for [Flynn] Downes after the amount of fouls he made he should have been sent off. I won't complain about this anymore and we keep moving on."

  12. Get Involvedpublished at 09:30 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December

    #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    As a long suffering West Ham fan of 55 years this sort of form is the norm. However, we missed a trick in the summer in not appointing a younger manager. We need someone with fresh ideas who will bring in younger players. Our squad is largely old and immobile and we are so easy to counter against. Julen needs to go while there is still time for a new manager to come in and turn things around. Would personally like to see Graham Potter but don't think that will happen. The real underlying problem at West Ham is the board and owners. Until that changes it will always be a bit of a circus.

    Steve, Horsham

  13. What is West Ham's record under Lopetegui?published at 09:25 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December

    Leicester 3-1 West Ham

    Julen Lopetegui claps the fansImage source, Getty Images

    West Ham currently sit 14th in the Premier League table after 14 matches, a position that could well get worse before they host strugglers Wolves on Monday night at the London Stadium.

    In all competitions, Lopetegui has overseen 16 matches in charge of the Hammers, winning five, drawing three and losing the other eight.

    In 16 matches, they have scored 20 goals and conceded 32 at an average of two shipped per match.

    Of West Ham's eight defeats, the last seven have seen them concede three or more goals in each game, including a 5-2 loss to Arsenal on Saturday, a 5-1 defeat at Liverpool defeat in the EFL Cup and last night's 3-1 defeat at Leicester.

    So far, West Ham have averaged 1.07 points per game in the Premier League.

  14. Get Involvedpublished at 09:20 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December

    #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    Leicester change of manager and a change of fortune. I expect Sullivan to eat humble pie, acknowledge he has made a massive mistake in appointing Lopetegui and appoint a new manager within the next 48 hours. And no, I don't want Moyes back!

    Curley63

  15. Man City and Chelsea learn Club World Cup draw potspublished at 09:15 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December

    Simon Stone
    BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

    Manchester City and Real Madrid have been put into Pot One for Thursday’s Club World Cup draw.

    The Premier League's other representatives Chelsea are in Pot Two.

    With 12 clubs, UEFA has by far the biggest number of clubs in the 32-team event, which will be played in the USA in June and July.

    Along with City and Real, Bayern and PSG have also been placed in Pot One, along with the four strongest South American teams, including Argentina’s River Plate.

    Pot Two has the remaining eight European sides, while Inter Miami and Seattle Sounders, the two Major League Soccer sides to feature, will be in Pot Four and play their first match in their 'home' city.

    The top two sides in the eight groups will qualify. The final will be played in New Jersey on 13 July, five weeks before the 2025-26 Premier League season starts.

    The Premier League is yet to decide whether Chelsea and City will be allowed to start their domestic campaign at a later point due to a potential lack of preparation time given players are supposed to get a mandatory three weeks off at the end of each season.

    Inter Miami's participation has attracted plenty of debate.

    They took the 'host nation slot' as MLS Supporters Shield winners, with FIFA president Gianni Infantino declaring them as one of the world's best teams.

    However, the move was widely believed to be based around Lionel Messi's attractiveness to broadcasters, which have still to be agreed.

    Inter Miami were knocked out in the last-16 of the MLS play-offs, with LA Galaxy and New York Red Bulls competing for the title in Los Angeles on Saturday.

  16. 'Guard Dog'published at 09:10 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December

    Wednesday's back pages

    The Daily Star

    The Star focus on suggestions of a rift between Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola and midfielder Kevin De Bruyne. Guardiola says he is "protecting" the midfielder by not always playing him.

    StarImage source, Star
  17. Guardiola's treatment of De Bruyne was 'unusual, bizarre, strange'published at 09:05 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December

    Manchester City v Nottingham Forest (Wed, 19:30 GMT)

    Simon Stone
    BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

    Kevin de Bruyne  playingImage source, Getty Images

    Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has dismissed talk of a rift with star midfielder Kevin de Bruyne and says he is "desperate" to have the Belgian back to his best.

    De Bruyne has only started four Premier League games in another campaign blighted by injury.

    However, he has featured for just 72 minutes across five substitute appearances since returning from an eight-week absence with an abdominal issue last month.

    There was just 12 minutes left at Anfield on Sunday when Guardiola introduced De Bruyne into the 2-0 defeat by Liverpool.

    De Bruyne still had the visitors' best chance, when he was denied by Caoimhin Kelleher.

    In a discussion on Sky Sports after the game, pundits Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville both questioned Guardiola's use of De Bruyne in a run of six defeats and a draw in seven matches.

    Carragher said: "Something is going on with De Bruyne. Something isn't right between those two."

    Neville agreed and said Guardiola's treatment of the playmaker was "unusual, bizarre, strange".

  18. Hurzeler to address mediapublished at 08:59 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December

    Fulham v Brighton (Thu, 19:30 GMT)

    Brighton & Hove Albion

    Brighton manager Fabian Hurzler is set to speak to the media shortly before his side's trip to Fulham on Thursday night.

    Hurzeler is the first of four managers due to hold press conferences today.

    His side currently sit fourth in the Premier League table and only two points behind Arsenal on Chelsea, who after 13 games, can only be separated via alphabetical order.

    We will bring you all of the top lines from his news conference shortly.

    Georginio Rutter(L) of Brighton and Hove Albion and Kyle Walker-Peters of Southampton during the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion FC and Southampton FCImage source, Getty Images
  19. Premier League news conferences coming uppublished at 08:54 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December

    09:00 - Brighton/Fabian Hurzeler

    10:15 - Tottenham/Ange Postecoglou

    13:00 - Bournemouth/Andoni Iraola

    13:30 - Fulham/Marco Silva

  20. 'There was more excitement which has been lacking this season'published at 08:49 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December

    Leicester 3-1 West Ham

    BBC 5 Live Breakfast

    Football journalist and Leicester City fan Amie Wilson speaking about Ruud van Nistelrooy's first game and win as Foxes boss: "There was a difference in performance, just in the energy, in the motivation of the team and that probably earned the luck that we needed last night. It felt like there was no energy on the pitch against Brentford.

    "Van Nistelrooy has had two sessions with the team. I think you could see patterns of play that he’s already tried to put in which is a really good sign.

    "We were going in with more tackles, more aggression and that translated to the stands, which brought them more excitement which has been lacking this season."