Premier League

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

All season, we are inviting you to send in your questions about Nottingham Forest as part of the BBC's Ask Me Anything service, using this form.

One of the questions this week was about the plans for Forest's stadium so we put it to our reporter Nick Mashiter.

Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis wants to increase the City Ground capacity to 50,000.

That will have to wait for now but Forest are pushing ahead with plans to expand their home.

The proposals will see the existing Peter Taylor Stand demolished and replaced with a 10,000-seater stand, increasing the City Ground's overall capacity to around 42,000.

Full planning permission was granted by Rushcliffe Borough Council's planning committee in June, with some conditions.

These include paying just over £1m to improve local bus services, £150,000 to upgrade the A60/Cattle Market Road junction and £200,000 for cycle improvements along Lady Bay Bridge.

They must also replace Nottingham Rowing Club's Britannia boathouse, which will be demolished as part of the plans.

It ended a long wait for Forest as they had initially announced expansion plans in 2019, meaning the club had even considered leaving the City Ground

It was originally expected to cost about £94m but an estimate from earlier this year suggested this has risen to £130m while a build date is yet to be announced.

Nina Hristova
Fan contributor

Chelsea fan contributor Nina Hristova feels that the Blues have a lot to learn in the Champions League given the quality on display in the competition.

Find more from Nina Hristova on her YouTube channel, external

Beth Tucker
Fan contributor

Find more from Beth Tucker at The United Stand, external

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We asked for your views on Liverpool's performance against Atletico Madrid, as Arne Slot's side squandered a two-goal lead yet still managed to find a late winner at Anfield.

Here are some of your replies:

Jordan: Let's be honest, so far this season our performances have been pretty subpar, but I've never been happier. The pure chaos and adrenaline from the way we are winning just can't be matched. I'd prefer all of these games as they have been, rather than straightforward 3-0 wins. To me, the scoreline is nowhere near as important as the entertainment!

Paula: Atletico kept their heads even after going 2-0 down and their first goal had been building for the final 10 minutes of the first half. Liverpool gave them too much space, but they didn't stop pressing. Why though, do we have to bite our nails down to the quick before we get a last-minute winner again? Was it really necessary after being two goals up?

Phil: We are struggling to break teams down, even though we have a lot of flair and offensive talent.

Ian: Once again, Liverpool put pressure on themselves with poor defending. This needs addressing. Milos Kerkez is erratic, Andy Robertson is slow and Ibou Konate had some hairy moments again. A very entertaining game, but Liverpool had plenty of chances to put it to bed.

CJ: It wasn't a polished performance but there were moments that showed how good we're going to be. We are not at our best and we are still winning. I'm loving the Champions League nights.

Evan: Mohamed Salah looked hungrier than ever. Whether it was the big European night, playing up to the occasion or feeling the competition with Alexander Isak in the team, it was the first time this season that he's looked dangerous.

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Pat Nevin says there remain question marks over whether his former side Chelsea can dominate games at Champions League level.

The Blues began well in their European opener in Munich on Wednesday but errors and naive defending contributed to the 3-1 defeat.

"It was the kind of performance I expected," Nevin told the Football Daily podcast.

"A lot of people were saying to us before that they are just about to break into that elite and they're World Club Champions and I'm thinking 'steady on'.

"The jump you need to make when you come to places like this is quite big. A number of players just don't have that experience yet and they have to learn a little bit.

"We don't know - they've bought very young players - are they going to be able to dominate games at this level? We don't really know.

"You need to learn how to do it and find out if you're good enough and have the personality and then do it for a while.

"Chelsea were not able to dominate as a group. They looked a good distance behind Bayern Munich but then many teams who come here do because it's a tough, tough place to come."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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On this week's Albion Unlimited podcast, former Brighton striker Warren Aspinall and BBC Radio Sussex's commentator Jonny Cantor react to Jason Ayto's appointment as Brighton's sporting director after David Weir's departure, and Mike Cave's promotion to the technical director role.

"I was surprised because he [David Weir] was linked with Everton, one of his former clubs, and he batted that away. Then Everton got somebody else," Aspinall said.

"This came out of the blue. You don't let a good man go if he's doing his job.

"I don't know what's gone on or if David's just decided to move back up north.

"Jason's been at Arsenal for a long time under Edu, who left in the summer as well. He's done numerous jobs there and lots of players have come and gone. They signed lots of players I would consider to be very good.

"Micky Cave has been under the wing for four years at the football club so he knows the ins and outs of the job.

"I wish them both all the best and I wish David all the best in his new job."

Jonny Cantor added: "They're quite long-term appointments, aren't they? You can't necessarily see the fruits of their work until a little bit later on.

"A lot of people have been very complimentary about the work that he's [Jason Ayto] done with Arsenal.

"It's interesting see they highlighted the fact that he speaks Portuguese, he speaks Spanish and his native English - and the fact that he's been in a variety of roles.

"I think sometimes it is good to get people from outside. You get fresh ideas. A different way of doing things can be really good. You get different pair of eyes on everything.

"It is part of this overall 2030 refresh that the club are doing. I know they've got a new head of technology coming in, so it'll be interesting to see how that develops as well. An exciting period coming up."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Mike Taylor
BBC Radio WM reporter

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"I don't believe in words," said Vitor Pereira, looking for the right ones to explain how he would pull Wolves up from their bad start.

"In football, you increase the level if you work on the pitch with the players."

Perhaps the most important week of the season for Wolves will be one in which we don't see the players until the end of it.

After four games without a point, there is a great deal of work to be done. Whatever other problems his team has, the evidence of those games is that Pereira's players have the appetite to do it. They are, by common consent, doing their best.

On Saturday night, Pereira was eager to get on with that work.

"Next week will be the first week that we work together as a squad to prepare for a match. It's the first week that I will have chance to go on the pitch, to show them, to work, repetition after repetition, on the pitch and not in videos or with words. I believe football is not about words, it's about work."

Quite - although such problems are not unique to Wolves.

Just as clubs have been building up their analysis teams to examine every step they and their opponents take, the time available to act on the findings - at least in the traditional, boots-on-the-training-ground way - seems more limited than ever.

Some 15 members of Pereira's squad were away with national teams during the break, a club record number, and many travelled long distances.

He explained: "In the end, we prepared this game against Newcastle with eight players and academy players."

He did nevertheless try some new things. Ladislav Krejci started his first game in midfield, marking a change of shape, and later moved into the back three, looking adept in both roles.

Most eye-catching was the switch of the wing-backs – Hugo Bueno and Rodrigo Gomes having been two of the eight at home – and both were among the brighter Wolves performers. "Tactically and strategically, we worked the last two weeks with Hugo and Rodrigo, to play with opposite foot… and I think that was a good decision," said Pereira.

Pereira, a former teacher, will have confidence that his instruction will help his team to improve. By his own account, this will be an intense week.

If his efforts have not resulted in Wolves moving off zero after they play Leeds, the belief among the supporters that the team is good enough to at least stay in the Premier League will be under even greater strain.

Listen to full commentary of Wolves v Leeds at 15:00 BST on Saturday on BBC Radio WM [95.6FM, DAB and BBC Sounds]

And tune into The West Midlands Football Phone-In from 18:00 on weeknights

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Jordan Clark
BBC Sport Journalist

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Bournemouth have released computer-generated images to illustrate how they plan to expand Vitality Stadium, but when will work start on renovating?

This is one of the questions sent in via our 'Ask about Bournemouth' form and we put it to Jordan Clark at BBC Radio Solent.

Bournemouth have not given an exact start date for the renovations to begin but if everything goes to plan then they're hoping the work will start at some point between January and March 2026.

The club is currently working with Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council on the planning and consultation phase, something Cherries chairman Bill Foley gave a positive update on in his programme notes before Saturday's win over Brighton.

If planning permission is granted, then the club wants to start the redevelopment by installing a new perimeter fence and turnstiles, a new ticket office and a 'small-scale extension' to the West Stand, as well as an internal refurbishment of the East and West Stands. They hope to have that work completed by March 2026.

Attention will then turn to building a new South Stand and infilling the four corners of the stadium by August 2026.

The final phase of the redevelopment should see the expansion of the North and East Stands, which the Cherries hope to start work on in the summer of 2027.

Ask Me Anything is a service dedicated to answering your questions.

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Alex Howell
Arsenal reporter

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Summer signing Cristhian Mosquera continues to impress for Arsenal and again showed against Athletic Club why there is so much excitement around his early performances.

The 21-year-old defender has played a key role during the Gunners' start to the season and has had a big impact since deputising for William Saliba.

Mosquera made his debut in Arsenal's first home game of the season coming on at right-back for Jurrien Timber.

He was signed for his quality and his ability to play in multiple positions in the backline, but it is his performances at centre-back which have made supporters and those around the club take notice of his potential.

Mosquera was thrust into Arsenal's match at Liverpool after just five minutes following Saliba's ankle injury. Even though the Gunners lost that game, Mosquera's performance was one of the positives.

He then started the 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest and again partnered Gabriel in the heart of the defence in Tuesday's Champions League victory in Bilbao.

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Mikel Arteta said Mosquera is going to "push" both Gabriel and Saliba for their position throughout the season and that the Spain Under-21 international "wants it a lot".

Mosquera again displayed his ability on the ball and and stayed calm in the opening 20 minutes, when a vociferous atmosphere had Arsenal under pressure.

He is an extremely physical defender who relishes duels with strikers - something Arteta values highly.

He is also quick, which allows him to recover when facing counter-attacks. Moreover, his versatility means he will be in line for a lot of game time this season.

The squad depth Arsenal have built is going to a big asset as they try to win a trophy for the first time since 2020.

Mosquera being good enough to be able to play in these games so early in the campaign means Saliba's absence has not been felt as much as it might have been previously.

Arsenal host Manchester City on Sunday it is likely Saliba - who was fit enough for a place on the bench on Tuesday - will come in for Mosquera to deal with the challenge presented by Erling Halaand.

That is no slight on Mosquera, who has shown early on in his Arsenal career he has the potential to be a first-choice starting centre-back in years to come.

Ciaran Kelly
Newcastle United reporter

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Eddie Howe needed no reminding.

"There are connections with Sir Bobby Robson that we fully embrace," the Newcastle United head coach said before Thursday's game against Barcelona. "That's what makes it such a special thing."

How fitting, then, that Sir Bobby's son, Mark, will be at St James' Park to see two of his father's former clubs meet in the Champions League.

"I wish Dad was alive to be there," he said. "He would love it."

These were the sorts of occasions Sir Bobby relished as a manager. Not only at Newcastle but Barcelona, too.

Sir Bobby walked into a divided city, following predecessor Johan Cruyff's departure, in 1996, but led Barcelona to the Cup Winners' Cup, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup.

He later went on to manage Newcastle, his boyhood club, and took the black-and-whites from the relegation zone to Europe's top table.

"Dad had incredible toughness to fight cancer and take on jobs," Mark said. "I don't know how he did it."

His legacy lives on.

When Sir Bobby faced cancer for the fifth and final time, his oncologist, Professor Plummer, asked him if he knew anyone who could help raise £500,000 to equip a new cancer drug trials centre at the Northern Centre for Cancer Care in Newcastle.

Although Sir Bobby was gravely ill, he put himself forward to launch a charity in his name, referring to it as his last and greatest team.

The former England manager went on to officially open the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre in 2009.

Plans have now been submitted for an even more ambitious project, the Sir Bobby Robson Institute, a proposed £30m research and treatment facility.

Funded by the foundation, it would pioneer more ground-breaking innovation in cancer treatment and significantly increase the number of clinical trials available for patients across the North East, North Cumbria and North Yorkshire.

Supporters have already raised £20m and the charity is seeking the remaining £10m needed.

"The two worlds of medicine and sport are coming together and hopefully creating something quite special." Mark added.

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Chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering your questions on all things Premier League.

Jamie asked: Florian Wirtz's form is going under the radar a bit. For £116m, you want an instant impact. A handful of games in and he hasn't produced one standout performance yet. At what stage do we start to question his Premier League ability?

Phil answered: He has been quiet, but I actually thought there were real signs of Florian Wirtz settling in for Liverpool at Burnley on Sunday. He linked the play a lot and seemed to be developing an understanding with those around him.

It's early days and even the best players need time to settle and fit into a new team. I certainly would not be questioning his Premier League ability. I am sure he will come good and thought the signs were there at Turf Moor.

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Watch former Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given and former Premier League striker Chris Sutton discuss the club's current goalkeeper situation following the arrivals of James Trafford and Gianluigi Donnarumma over the summer.

"James Trafford's a brilliant goalkeeper," Given told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club.

"In the year of a World Cup, I think Pep's given him the full sales pitch.

"Fast forward two weeks and the big man Donnarumma comes in from Italy and he's parked up for the season.

"If it was me, I'd be raging."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer and listen on BBC Sounds

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Dazzling Dave
Fan writer

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Wolves hit a grim milestone on Saturday. A 1-0 loss at Newcastle made it four defeats from four, a first in 127 years of league football for the club.

Lose to Leeds at Molineux on Saturday and they will join an unwanted list as only the sixth Premier League side to start a campaign with five straight losses.

Vitor Pereira's message is clear - he has not had time with his full squad. This week is his first real chance to drill tactics with everyone present.

On the pitch, it feels like last season. Individual errors. Sloppy passing. Poor choices in big moments. Too many soft goals.

Context matters, though.

Gary O'Neil had a more settled, experienced group than Pereira has now. Wolves pushed their transfer business late to stretch a tight budget, which led to seven first-team departures and six arrivals.

The result is a team learning on the job while the league shows no mercy.

There are fixes within reach. Pereira improved the defending when he first arrived; those gains can return with a proper training week and a settled XI. Tighten the shape out of possession. Cut cheap giveaways in build-up. Move the ball faster through midfield to find runners early. Be sharper on set pieces with clear roles and aggression. And find an attacking spark to turn pressure into shots on target.

For all the good work and credit Pereira earned when he came in, Wolves have not won a league game since April and have only one win if you include cup matches and friendlies.

Pressure is mounting, the fans are restless, and three of the next five fixtures are against promoted sides. These games will define Pereira's future and Wolves' season.

Leeds is a pivotal game, for belief as much as points, and it must be won.

Find more from Dazzling Dave at Always Wolves, external

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We asked for your views on whether Bruno Fernandes is undroppable from the Manchester United team, and whether the captain fits into Ruben Amorim's preferred 3-4-2-1 formation.

Here are some of your comments:

Dave: When Kobbie Mainoo came on and Bruno Fernandes pushed up into the number 10 position he was more comfortable and looked more dangerous. Apart from his passing accuracy, which was poor throughout the match. As a defender it's easy to see that he's a liability, not strong in the tackle and doesn't see danger. It's very simple - play him in an advanced position.

Andrew: Fernandes is the most consistent player United have. There is no way he can be dropped. Amorim has not been able to get the best out of rest of the players in the team.

Richard: In hindsight, we should have taken the huge offer for Bruno [from Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal] and run to the bank with it. It's sad it's come to this but he's holding us back, as opposed to leading us forward. Each passing game only highlights further that once again our midfield is in dire need of support.

Barry: If you have a player who is world class in his favoured position then why would you, unless you do not understand the fundamentals of football, play him out of position?

Graham: Fernandes needs to be dropped. He was very poor on Sunday, as he has been for a long time. Why can't United make any dead balls count, or for that matter any crosses?

Stephen: We do not have a squad that suits Amorim's preferred formation and, given the recent transfer window, that is shocking. Manuel Ugarte is the closest to the type of mobile midfielder needed, but he isn't quite good enough. Fernandes can't play that role. Amorim has to accept this and play a style that suits his squad. If he can't change then I'm afraid he must go.

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Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

Wolves have lost their first four games of a league season for the first time in their history.

Of the previous 17 teams to lose their first four games of a Premier League season, eight have survived and nine have been relegated - essentially a coin flip.

However, such a bad start has been far more costly in recent years, with just one of the past five teams to do so staying up. That was Everton last season.

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Manchester United have already suffered a humiliating Carabao Cup defeat by League Two Grimsby in the opening weeks of the 2025-26 campaign.

Alarmingly they have also managed only two goals from open play, while losing twice in their opening four league fixtures - with four points their poorest return at this stage since 1992-93 under Sir Alex Ferguson.

By then, though, Ferguson already had some credit in the bank having won the FA Cup, League Cup and European Cup Winners' Cup, while he guided United to a runners-up league finish in his first full season (1987-88).

In contrast, Amorim's 36% win rate across all competitions is the worst of any permanent United manager since World War Two and his win record is a dismal 26% in the league.

Of the 17 sides who have been in the Premier League throughout since Amorim's tenure began, his United team have the worst record - alongside Tottenham - with just 31 points from 31 games.

"Quite a lot of league seasons that is relegation form," said former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney.

"What is important when you're trying to implement a new style is you win games as well while you're doing that."

Rooney also echoed comments made by other former players now working in the media when he addressed Amorim's insistence on deploying two central midfielders, often against opposition sides featuring three.

"I have had my time as a manager, and I know how it works, and I know how it is when someone else looks and critiques your formation. I can understand that, but it is so obvious," Rooney added.

"If you're struggling, you have to put three in midfield and give yourself a chance to compete."

Watch The Wayne Rooney Show on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

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Tom Gayle
Match of the Day commentator at the Vitality Stadium

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I don't think I was alone in considering Bournemouth's deadline day signing of Veljko Milosavljevic as 'one for the future', given he is just 18 and had a mere 27 senior appearances for Red Star Belgrade.

Football moves quick.

Because Bournemouth didn't want to take any risks with Bafode Diakite, who I was told was not 100%, the stage was set for Milosavljevic to become the club's youngest player - and the youngest Serb - to start a Premier League match.

Andoni Iraola's response when I asked him pre-match if Milosavljevic was ready to play at this level was: "I'm not sure." The honest answer will have come from only having worked with the teenager for a couple of days as a result of him being away with Serbia Under-21s.

After Saturday's 2-1 victory over Brighton, the answer in the short term is an emphatic yes.

The biggest praise has to be for his mentality. The only visible sign of nerves was the slightly awkward pre-game dressing room photo posted on Bournemouth's social media, external.

As for his performance, I wouldn't go as far as saying he is the complete package of a modern, ball-playing centre-back yet, but he was more than comfortable playing out from the back and slotted in perfectly alongside Marcos Senesi.

Clearly the quicker of the two centre-halves, Milosavljevic was more effective in dealing with Brighton's pace in behind. He can do the ugly stuff too. Despite his boyish looks, Milosavljevic more than held his own when dealing with the physicality and guile of the experienced Danny Welbeck.

Described as "one of the biggest talents in Serbian football" by media in his homeland, I'm reluctant to add to the hype train after a sample size of one Premier League game.

I'm more inclined to echo the more measured assessment of match-winner Antoine Semenyo when I asked him about his new team-mate's debut: "Solid - did everything right. A great start for him and many more to come".

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Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

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Some players found out about Nuno Esprito Santo's exit this week from their team mates, shocked messages and phone calls going around with many on international duty.

Nuno was popular, he fostered a unity in the squad and club which helped push their Champions League challenge last season.

Ange Postecoglou must harness that to drive the club and squad on again. It will not be lost from within a close-knit squad and the new manager will surely recognise that.

The former Australia boss, though, is usually quiet and reserved initially, preferring to get ready for business and enjoying his own space.

Nick Montgomery, Mile Jedinak and Sergio Raimundo have joined as assistants along with Rob Burch as goalkeeping coach - having worked with Postecoglou at Tottenham - and they are likely to be the link with the rest of the staff, rather than the manager himself.

Not to say Postecoglou will ignore others but he is there to work, professional, direct and focused.

Those close to him have described him as honest, a good man, and unapologetic about how he wants to play.

He will drive them on, he tells players they will be the ones on top if they will follow him there - one of the reasons for his winning in his second season statement.

In his two years at Celtic he won two Scottish titles, two Scottish Cups and a League Cup, joining the club after they had lost the title to Rangers.

He took them back to the to the Champions League and performed well in a 3-0 defeat to Real Madrid in Glasgow in September 2022.

The hosts hit the post and had a number of chances before Madrid scored three times in the second half.

Yet the performance itself was not enough for Postecoglou who told his side, despite the level of opposition, there should not be a ceiling for them.

He told the squad he did not buy that Real Madrid were the superstars, he did not want to accept defeat. He wanted to win rather than just getting praise for playing well.

It was a good first half against one of the best teams in the world and those at Celtic at the time were pleasantly surprised by Postecoglou's stance. Reputations did not matter and he will look to drive Forest in the same way.

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Ange Postecoglou has told BBC Radio Nottingham he wants to deliver a "generational moment" as Forest boss.

Speaking to Colin Fray, Postecoglou explained: "I want the fans to dream and to almost bring to reality everything they dreamed for. The only trepidation is you might let them down but I'd much rather that than kind of fear success might come our way. I'd love that while I am here I bring a generational moment to this football club. It would mean everything I am passionate about is realised and long after I am gone there's the smallest of footprints in this football club made by me.

"I always want to make an impact at any club I am at. I think the only way you make an impact is to win things and creating moments that will outlast your tenure. That is my ambition at this club is to do something that hasn't been done for a long time or maybe done before. The intention is, the club is on an upward trajectory, in a good place, there are possibilities of making that real in terms of tangible success."

In a wide-ranging discussion, Postecoglou explained he thinks the Forest squad has the attributes to adapt to his style of play, stating: "Yes it's a different way a little bit and a little more aggressive in its approach. When I look at this squad I see an exciting squad that can play expansive football and be effective. I don't think it's such a far reach."

Listen to Postecoglou speak to BBC Radio Nottingham

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Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

There has been a lot of talk around Ruben Amorim's style of play at Manchester United but many of the questions sent in via our 'Ask about Man Utd' form have been about what Bruno Fernandes' best position is.

The United captain is facing a new challenge this season, as Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha occupy the attacking roles.

This is a big debating point. Amorim was very clear in the summer he wanted Fernandes in a deeper position because he wanted him on the ball more often.

His rationale was that Fernandes will find more room and that will allow him to have more impact on the game.

The secondary element of that is squeezing out Kobbie Mainoo as Amorim feels the Stockport-born midfielder is best suited to that position.

The alternative view is that Fernandes is more of a danger in one of the number 10 roles in Amorim's system and rather than spending most of his available resource this summer on attacking players, United should have bought a holding midfielder.

My personal feeling is Erik ten Hag got it spot on in the 2024 FA Cup final, when he effectively used Fernandes as a false nine as his football intelligence takes him into areas where he can be a danger and flanked by quick players, it causes opposition defences a major problem.

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Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

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New Nottingham Forest boss Ange Postecoglou revealed he knew he was going to be sacked by Tottenham before winning the Europa League.

The 60-year-old guided Spurs to their first trophy in 17-years after beating Manchester United in Bilbao in May.

But 16 days later he was axed having finished 17th in the Premier League - 27 points adrift of Forest last season.

He replaced the sacked Nuno Espirito Santo at the City Ground on Tuesday to return to management.

"It wasn't great. I knew it was coming so it wasn't a surprise," he said at his Forest unveiling.

"It was a great three days [winning the Europa League] and I didn't want it to damage that. Whether I feel it was unjust other people make those decisions, they make those determinations. That's up to them, they have their own reasoning for it.

"To be fair, I've done it a couple of times myself. I left Celtic and I'm sure they were disappointed. You understand that's part of the business we're in. But that's OK. It's allowed me now to move into this and maybe things happen for a reason.

"What I do know is I had two years where it was very, very challenging but we were with some fantastic people. There isn't a Spurs supporter that I don't come across now that doesn't want to hug me and take me home for dinner.

"So I must have done something right. I think ultimately that's what we do it for. I'm very proud of what we achieved there. It will always take a special place in my heart. How it ended, I don't really think about it a lot."

Nat Hayward
BBC Sport journalist

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Set-piece guru Bernardo Cueva left Brentford to join then-new Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca's backroom staff in the summer of 2024 - but there were a few murmurs over his perceived lack of impact from within the Blues' fanbase last season.

The Bees scoring the most goals from set-pieces in the Premier League (25) across the 2022-23 season coupled with a £750,000 compensation fee gave the indication Cueva's move to Stamford Bridge could be a game-changer.

However, despite a solid and promising first campaign under Maresca, Chelsea only managed 16 goals from set-pieces - actually down from 23 the year before - and ranked them 11th in the division.

Such is the significance of the role in modern football, the man who replaced Cueva as 'tactical statistician' at Brentford, Keith Andrews, will manage the Bees at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday evening.

And he will be preparing his side to face a Chelsea who now seem to be reaping the benefits of Cueva's expertise.

Five of the seven goals scored by Maresca's side so far this season have come from set-pieces, including penalties - the highest in the division - and the inventive routines on show have caught the eye.

While last term only Manchester City played a larger proportion of their corners short - the Blues have favoured in-swinging deliveries aimed at the near post and centre of the six-yard box.

Marc Cucurella has often made a late run to the near post while Liam Delap - who's role will need to filled in the injured striker's absence - has been standing close to the goalkeeper to limit his movement.

The Spanish full-back flicked the ball on for Joao Pedro's equaliser against West Ham and drew players out of position for the same player's opener against Fulham.

As our fan writer Will Faulks states, dead-ball scenarios have turned "from a weakness to a strength" for Chelsea so far this season.

However, their opponents on Saturday only conceded four from set-pieces last year - by far the fewest in the division - and that shows Andrews' own astuteness in this area.

Keep an eye on the battle of the set-piece gurus at the Gtech.

*Stats provided by Opta

Image source, Getty Images

New Manchester City signing Gianluigi Donnarumma says he is sure he and Pep Guardiola "will do great things together" at the club and that winning the Champions League again would be "a dream".

"I think his history speaks for itself," the 26-year-old goalkeeper said about his new boss.

"The fact that he wanted me here is a reason to be proud of. It's an indescribable emotion. Being coached by him I think is the best for a football player.

"I can't wait to follow him and take to the pitch with him. I'm sure he will help me a lot and we will do great things together, this season as well as in the following years. As we said, it's been an era of unbelievable success here."

The Italy international arrives after a trophy-laden spell at Paris St-Germain which culminated in Champions League glory last season.

Only Carlo Ancelotti has won the trophy more times than Guardiola and Donnarumma believes they can repeat City's only Champions League triumph as part of a historic Treble in 2023.

"It is one of our goals, I'm not going to hide it," he added.

"Lifting the Champions League trophy with City would be a dream for me.

"Together with the coach and the staff I am convinced we will be able to go far but now we have to work humbly and think game by game."

Much has been made of which direction Guardiola will take with his number one goalkeeper this season with the arrival of James Trafford from Burnley preceding Ederson's exit.

However, Donnarumma feels competitiveness within the squad can drive the club forward.

"I'm happy because competition is good for everyone," he added.

"I can't wait to meet [James], and I can't wait to meet my new team-mates. We have to be a strong and united group with people who care for each other and that is the key to success. 

"Together we can make great success."

Nizaar Kinsella
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Fulham's club-record £34.6m signing Kevin will go to another level under manager Marco Silva, according to Shakhtar Sporting director Dario Srna.

The 22-year-old, who scored 17 goals in 57 matches in all competitions for the Ukrainian club, finally moved to Craven Cottage with fellow wide player Samuel Chukwueze on deadline day.

Speaking about the move, which he negotiated directly, Srna told BBC Sport: "Fulham have an amazing winger, he has amazing skills, is so fast, good one-versus-one, he even defends well.

"With Marco Silva, for me one of the best coaches in the Premier League, he will continue to develop for sure. I believe Kevin will move to one of the biggest clubs within the next two years."

However, there were concerns that the deal may not go through with Fulham having also agreed a deal to sign Chelsea winger Tyrique George for £22m and amid reports Portuguese club Sporting hijacked the move for Kevin.

"We kept our position from the first day," Srna added. "We told Fulham our price and that's it. We cannot sell for less - than what we said.

"We had a lot offers for him and he could have gone elsewhere but he decided Fulham was best for him. It was his dream to play in the Premier League but we needed our conditions to be met to sell him."

Srna admits the move leaves Shakhtar in the usual position of having to rebuild without a star player but they are happy to keep signing top players out of Brazil before moving them on.

"Kevin came to us having not been able to get into Palmeiras' team and 18 months later he is sold for 40m euros to Fulham. Brazilians are happy to join Shakhtar because we develop them and they help us get good results, get into Europe and sell players to the top clubs.

"We brought three amazing talents, 19-year-old Lucas Ferreira from Sao Paulo and 18-year-olds Isaque from Fluminense and Luca Meirelles from Santos, they show we can still recruit well from Brazil.

"Midfielder Georhiy Sudakov also went to Benfica and we develop Ukrainian talents also. But it's harder with the war, we hope it ends soon. We keep working, the league remains competitive and this is the youngest team in Shakhtar's history."