Chris Sutton
Former Premier League striker

I can understand the excitement about Ruben Amorim from Manchester United fans because he is a hugely charismatic guy who comes across so well in interviews.

I am pleased for him that he has got off to a decent start, because he is unbeaten after his first three games, but this is the real acid test that will demonstrate where United are at.

We have seen some classic games between these teams down the years, but Arsenal are a long way ahead of United, especially now Odegaard is back - he has taken them to the levels we were expecting from them all season.

It would be a real eye-opener if United go to Emirates Stadium and get something, but I can't see it.

Arsenal have scored a lot of goals in the past week and that should continue here. They will win, and win well.

Sutton's prediction: 3-1

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Chelsea's only three defeats in the past 28 top-flight fixtures came away to Arsenal and Liverpool and at home to Manchester City.

Enzo Maresca has won 38 of his 59 league games in charge of Chelsea and previous club Leicester City – a joint-high in England’s top two divisions since the beginning of last season, alongside Leeds manager Daniel Farke.

"We are ahead of my expectation - in the way we are playing and in terms of results. We started four or five months ago. It's very, very early - a short time together," said Maresca.

"But the best feeling I have is that there are many things we can do better and we are [going] in the right direction."

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter at the Etihad Stadium

Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden is ruled out of tonight's game due to bronchitis.

Shay Given
Former Man City goalkeeper on the Monday Night Club

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We said Liverpool had an easy run of fixtures, but they have gone through some of the big boys now - they look unbelievable.

They look like they are really in the groove. They've got a busy December but games can't come fast enough for them. When you are sitting at the top, you want the games to come at you quick.

Listen to the Monday Night Club here.

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport football news reporter

Ruben Amorim says the "storm will come" for his Manchester United team as he refuses to be carried away by an unbeaten start.

United began a tricky run of nine games in December by thrashing Everton 4-0 at Old Trafford.

They face second-placed Arsenal - a game described by new head coach Amorim as "by far" his biggest challenge so far.

The Red Devils will contest important matches in the Premier League, Europa League and Carabao Cup by the end of the year, with tough trips to Manchester City and Tottenham included in that run.

But United head to Emirates Stadium with confidence, having gone unbeaten in seven games since the sacking of Erik ten Hag - four of those under interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy and three with Amorim.

"We are going to have difficult moments and we will be found out in some games, I know that," said Amorim.

"I know it is really hard to be a Manchester United coach and say these things in press conferences - and we want to win all the time, no matter what - but we know we are in a different point compared to Arsenal.

"I would like to say different things, but I have to say again, the storm will come."

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Charlotte Robson, True Faith: Newcastle United Podcast, external

I do not think our current struggles (struggles to win, struggles to score, struggles to break down teams, for example) are down to one person. There are of course complexities - profit and sustainability rules, leadership changes, the league being so tight - but ultimately the buck stops with the coaching staff.

Our problems seem to revolve around a lack of solutions on the pitch. This weekend, Alexander Isak had to come off after 23 minutes with an injury. Callum Wilson, recently back from injury himself, was on the bench. So was Will Osula, a 21-year-old striker we paid £15m for in the summer. And yet, the thing we did was throw on Harvey Barnes and move Anthony Gordon into the middle.

It may come as a shock to you, but I am not a football manager. I am prepared to say that there must have been a reason that we did not put one of our two strikers on the pitch. Wilson probably does not have 65 minutes in him yet. OK, fine, put him on then sub him off! It is allowed, I checked the rules.

We have never won a game in the past three years without a striker on the pitch. We did not have a single shot on target this weekend. I am not shouting for change just yet - but the next couple of games are crucial.

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Mike Taylor
BBC WM commentator

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The obvious diagnosis is that Champions League fixtures are putting a pressure on the squad that they are struggling to bear, but both Emery and his captain John McGinn said they did not agree.

"We had a more difficult turnaround last season," said McGinn. "The Conference League games - Thursday to Sunday - are much more difficult to recover from. It is an easy excuse, but not one we want to use."

Not taking that excuse is a noble sentiment, but it may still be reason for their relative decline. This week may tell us much more than last – two home games that ought to be winnable for a club aspiring to a high finish, although Brentford have shown repeatedly that they are dangerously full of goals.

The league table is packed tightly enough for two wins to make a substantial difference to Villa’s position - and their mood.

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Khan Karn: Is Quansah playing at RB again? He looked good last time out against Man City there. Gomez is better at CB. Maybe Slot is onto something by tweaking positions ala Gravenberch(to DM), Gakpo(to LW). Although Diaz is still much better on the LW than as a ST

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter at the Etihad Stadium

Kevin de Bruyne is one of four changes to the Manchester City line-up from Sunday’s defeat at Liverpool.

The Belgian takes over as captain as he starts for the first time since 18 September.

Josko Gvardiol, Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku are also included. Phil Foden is not in the squad.

Manchester City XI: Ortega, Gvardiol, Dias, Akanji, Ake, Grealish, Doku, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Gundogan, Haaland. Substitutes: Carson, Walker, Nunes, Wright, McAtee, Savinho, O’Reilly, Nunes, Ederson.

Anthony Elanga returns to the Nottingham Forest side along with Nicolas Dominguez and Alex Moreno as Nuno Espirito Santo makes three changes.

Callum Hudson-Odoi, Neco Williams and Elliot Anderson drop to the bench. Forest are looking for their first away win against City since 1989.

Nottingham Forest XI: Sels, Murillo, Milenkovic, Dominguez, Alex Moreno, Aina, Yates, Gibbs-White, Elanga, Silva, Wood. Substitutes: Awoniyi, Williams, Anderson, Hudson-Odoi, Morato, Sosa, Moreira, Ward-Prowse, Carlos Miguel.

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Mike Richards, Unholy Trinity, external

Another week passes and another abject performance. Everton continue to operate in a constant state of paralysis.

I think we would all agree that managerial change would have happened weeks ago, if it wasn't for the soon-to-be-completed takeover.

The last time Everton scored a goal was 26 October. Our last win coming the week before that against Ipswich.

Football is meant to be an escape from the rigours and stresses of every day life. Sadly such release is currently unavailable at Everton.

Speaking to fellow supporters, it is incredibly sad to hear many say they are "numb" to results, with defeats expected every single week. It feels like Everton merely exist.

We enter a defining week feeling lower than a snake's stomach.

The sense of dread about the visit of lowly Wolves is a clear indication of where we are at this moment in time.

Combine that with our lofty neighbours' final league visit to Goodison Park on Saturday, and you have got the potential for a calamitous week.

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Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

Southampton make four mostly enforced changes for Chelsea's visit to St Mary's Stadium.

James Bree, Nathan Wood, Joe Aribo and Ryan Fraser come in as Tyler Dibling, Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Flynn Downes all serve suspensions after picking up their fifth yellow cards of the season away in the 1-1 draw at Brighton last week.

Injured goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale remains out with Joe Lumley continuing in goal as Yukinari Sugawara drops to the bench.

Southampton XI: Lumley; Walker-Peters, Bree, Stephens, Wood, Manning; Fernandes, Aribo; Armstrong, Archer, Fraser.

Subs: McCarthy, Edwards, Sugawara, Diaz, Sulemana, Taylor, Cornet, Amo-Ameyaw, O'Brien-Whitmarsh.

Or me buying any new flavour of cola I see in the shop no matter how awful it sounds. Cinnamon cola anyone? Cookies flavour?

Everton

Everton manager Sean Dyche admitted he was working harder than at any time in his coaching career after accepting he had made errors this season.

While his team have lost just twice in the last nine matches, five draws and only two wins have seen them drop to within two points of the bottom three.

Of greater concern is their status as the top-flight’s joint-lowest goalscorers (10 in 13 fixtures) compounded by their current run of four games without a goal.

“Sometimes me, my staff and the players haven’t delivered as well as we could do,” he said. “But we work tirelessly. This is the most work I’ve done in all my years in management, at this club, without a shadow of a doubt.

“I’m more than ready for the challenge. It could be easier because for sure I’ve made errors this season, the team has made errors, they are there for all to see. It’s a fact of life as a manager, you have to get the margins right and we haven’t done so far this season.

“You’ve got to win games and we haven’t won enough games."

A boost for Newcastle as Alexander Isak is fit to start tonight’s match against Liverpool.

The striker was taken off with an apparent hip injury against Crystal Palace at the weekend but is in tonight’s first XI.

There’s just one change as Jacob Murphy comes into the side.

Newcastle XI: Pope, Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall, Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton, Murphy, Gordon, Isak.

Subs: Dubravka, Wilson, Barnes, Targett, Osula, Almiron, Kelly, Willock, Longstaff.

For Liverpool, Darwin Nunez comes into the attack while Curtis Jones and Jarell Quansah start.

They replace Trent Alexander-Arnold, Luis Diaz and Dominik Szoboszlai.

Liverpool XI: Kelleher, Gomez, Van Dijk, Quansah, Robertson, Mac Allister, Jones, Gravenberch, Salah, Gakpo, Nunez

Subs: Jaros, Endo, Diaz, Szoboszlai, Elliott, Nallo, Alexander-Arnold, Morton, Nyoni.,

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

Chelsea have made seven changes for their trip to Southampton, including a first Premier League start for number two goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen.

Malo Gusto, Axel Disasi, Tosin Adarabioyo, Noni Madueke, Joao Felix and Christopher Nkunku are all drafted in.

Only one change is enforced, as Wesley Fofana misses out through a hamstring injury, with in-form striker Nicolas Jackson among those dropping to the bench.

Chelsea XI: Jorgensen; Gusto, Disasi, Tosin, Cucurella; Fernandez, Caicedo; Madueke, Palmer, Felix; Nkunku.

Subs: Sanchez, Badiashile, Colwill, Veiga, Dewsbury-Hall, Lavia, Neto, Sancho, Jackson

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Will Faulks, Chelsea News, external

While Enzo Maresca's side are yet to take the scalp of one of their top-four rivals, a win over a broken Aston Villa on Sunday was a step in the right direction. They have another chance to take that next step this weekend at Tottenham.

Even if they fail to beat Spurs, there are a lot of winnable games for the Blues between now and February, so it is hard to see them falling too far off the pace given they can rest their first team in the majority of their midweek games.

The difficult first few months that were expected have already gone far better than anticipated.

And that means if the improvements one would naturally expect to occur as the team comes together through the second half of the season are significant, Chelsea will end the campaign as one of the most improved teams in Europe and a real contender on all fronts.

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Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter at the Etihad Stadium

There have been so many occasions down the years when I have read Manchester United programme notes where various managers are reflecting on periods of poor form and vowed to turn it round.

I don't recall ever doing that with Pep Guardiola.

But, after six defeats and a draw with Feyenoord which must have felt like a loss given Manchester City were 3-0, this is what Pep has to say to the fans tonight.

"It is obvious we are in a difficult moment right now," he said.

"But I am confident, if we all pull together, we can improve and have a good season.

"It is my job to find solutions and I will. I feel sure of that.

"I have lived my best years in Manchester. I love this club, this city and our fans. I am determined to make us better."

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport football news reporter at Goodison Park

Everton boss Sean Dyche makes two changes to the side that were thrashed 4-0 at Manchester United on Sunday.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin, on a run of nine Premier League games without a goal, returns to the starting line-up in place of Beto.

The other alteration sees Orel Mangala come in for Jesper Lindstrom.

Meanwhile, striker Armando Broja makes a matchday squad for the first time since joining on-loan from Chelsea on deadline day in the summer.

Everton XI: Pickford, Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Doucoure, Gueye, Mangala, Ndiaye, McNeil, Calvert-Lewin.

Wolves manager Gary O'Neil makes four changes to the side that were beaten 4-2 by Bournemouth at the weekend.

Matt Doherty, Craig Dawson, Santiago Bueno and Goncalo Guede come in for Nelson Semedo, Toti Gomes, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Rodrigo Gomes.

Wolves XI: Sa, Doherty, Dawson, Bueno, Ait-Nouri, Joao Gomes, Andre, Lemina, Guedes, Cunha, Larsen.