Premier League

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Former Crystal Palace forward Wilfred Zaha has hit back at Jean-Philippe Mateta after the Frenchman claimed his ex-team-mate doubted he would ever play for his national team.

Mateta, 28, made his first start for France during the international break and told L'Equipe newspaper, external: "At Crystal Palace, right at the start, when I wasn't even playing, I spoke about the France team in the dressing room and I had team-mates like Wilfried Zaha who were laughing.

"They said that I was mad to think about the France team when I wasn't even playing at Crystal Palace, but I responded saying that it was my objective and that I simply had to play to show what I could do."

Zaha took to social media to defend himself, saying his "head's on fire" at what he has been reading and he wanted "to clear up this Mateta situation".

He added that "it's disgusting" because he has "never mentioned him," and questioned why he singled out his name from 10 players.

The 'beef' has caused a social media storm but European football journalist Rafael Honigstein is confused by Zaha's response.

"It didn't seem that bad a comment [by Mateta] and was perhaps said more in jest as 'well I've shown everyone'," Honigstein told BBC Radio 5 Live's Euro League's podcast.

"I don't get where the animosity or hate comes from.

"Zaha said in an interview before that he doesn't have any friends in football, maybe that is because he takes things very seriously - too seriously.

"I think Mateta was just making the point that people didn't believe in him. He mentioned one name and Zaha has taken it very badly.

"I don't really see what the fuss is!"

Listen to the full chat on BBC Sounds

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

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Nottingham Forest have been criticised by the Football Association for failing to address their behaviour on the pitch.

The club and Chelsea were charged and fined for failing to control their players during a mass confrontation in the 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge last October.

They were fined £125,000 and £40,000 respectively, although Forest appealed and their punishment has now been reduced to £112,000 following a hearing last Friday.

It was a sixth issue in two years and eight months for Forest. The club was fined following similar incidents against Derby and Crystal Palace in 2022, twice against Wolves in the EFL Cup and Premier League in 2023 and last year against Liverpool, which resulted in a £75,000 fine.

The FA has now released its written reasons and, despite giving Forest credit for their guilty plea, has been critical.

"We accept that their role within the incident itself was a lesser one but nevertheless contributed to a deeply unseemly scene," it wrote.

"Their position is aggravated by a significantly worse misconduct history for E20 offences. It seems to this commission that the club are doing very little to address this sort of behaviour."

The FA had previously criticised Forest following their EFL Cup quarter-final penalty shoot-out win over Wolves in January 2023.

Tempers boiled over at the City Ground after the west Midlands side lost on penalties and former Wolves midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White celebrated in front of the travelling fans.

The commission said at the time: "There has been no evidence put forward to the commission to demonstrate that the club are addressing what is now becoming a serial problem."

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Our chief football news reporter Simon Stone has been answering some of your questions on our BBC Sport Premier League live page today.

Laura asked: A concerned Fulham fan here. Do you think we are in trouble?

There are several injuries to key players, we haven't got a fit striker (or at least not one Marco Silva wants to play), we have a difficult run of fixtures and we are bottling almost every lead we have.

Simon: Marco Silva made it pretty clear he wasn't happy with the way the club went about their business in the summer transfer window, and it feels the effect of doing business on deadline day lingered into the series of matches between the first two international breaks, as the players had to get fit and get used to playing with their new team-mates.

That said, Fulham deserved more than a point against Manchester United. The PGMOL have admitted they wrongly disallowed their opening goal at Chelsea, and they led at Aston Villa and Bournemouth before eventually losing.

Even three points from that tale of woes would have pushed Fulham well into the top half of the table.

If club-record signing Kevin settles down and produces performances somewhere near the levels his £34.6m fee suggests he is worth, it will clearly help.

But Fulham have shown a capacity to challenge bigger clubs already this season, so I don't view their position as negatively as you appear to.

Follow the rest of Simon's Q&A and the rest of Thursday's football news

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Legendary Manchester United forward Eric Cantona was a "shy guy" but also an "inspiration", according to former team-mate Peter Schmeichel.

Cantona joined the Red Devils in 1992 and made 185 appearances, scoring 82 goals, before leaving in 1997.

He played alongside ex-goalkeeper Schmeichel throughout that period and the Dane remembers the Frenchman's first day at the club well.

"He was quiet, still is very quiet. If you follow him on social media, the way he speaks is just the way he speaks. He's a fantastic guy and I enjoyed rooming with him," Schmeichel told BBC's Sacked In The Morning podcast.

"[He is] just a nice guy. He is different, and that was a very good thing. That's exactly why he became the final piece in the jigsaw because that differentness was incredibly difficult for other teams to work out back then.

"Back then, most teams, even ours, played similar systems and in similar ways. So the difference between the teams were obviously physicality and ability, and all of a sudden you have this guy.

"My god, did [Sir Alex Ferguson] get the best player ever."

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Cantona's footballing prowess, unique quotes and infamous kung-fu kick all played their part in issuing him icon status at Old Trafford. Despite this outward persona, Schmeichel insists the multiple title winner was quiet off the pitch.

"Eric is a shy guy. He wasn't very vocal in the dressing room at any time," he said. "You don't really know anybody [when you arrive], and especially if you come from abroad.

"He went out to the pitch, and behind one of the goals at The Cliff [training ground] is a wall into the indoor arena.

"So he went up to that wall and just started to volley balls up against it, chest it down, left and right foot. The building at The Cliff training ground - the canteen, the treatment room, the manager's office - had windows to the pitch and everybody was watching from up there and saying: 'What is he doing? We've never seen anything like that. Why is he doing that?'.

"We loved to be at The Cliff, but it was also the pitch for youth team matches, so you had to preserve it a little bit. To go down and start training on that pitch was just unheard of.

"All of a sudden you've got people up against the wall playing, training, practicing stuff, and that never really happened.

"Eric did that. Eric gave that little bit of inspiration, and because he did it, the manager loved it and then he allowed everybody else to do it as well."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Jordan Butler
BBC Sport journalist

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Cody Gakpo has undoubtedly been a standout player for the Netherlands in recent months.

The 26-year-old has provided three goals and two assists in his past three caps and after his stunning strike against Finland on Monday, Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf considered him "almost unbeatable at speed", adding that "his return for the national team is incredibly high".

So have Gakpo's best performances come in the famous orange shirt or in the red of Liverpool?

Since he joined the Reds in January 2023 he has contributed 43 goals and 16 assists in 138 appearances - that is a goal involvement every 2.3 games.

That ratio improves to a goal involvement every 1.7 matches with the Netherlands, with Gakpo notching 16 goals and eight assists in 37 caps during his spell on Merseyside. He also creates more chances while on international duty.

His expected goals per 90 minutes is higher for Liverpool, however, and he also takes more shots and has more touches in the opposition box for the Premier League side.

Gakpo is a genuine focal point and source of goals for his country. But, he has not quite reached that status at Anfield yet, despite his excellent return of 18 goals last season.

He is also given more freedom in orange and has a little less defensive responsibility.

The Netherlands deploy him in a similar system to that of Liverpool and he is used either on the left of a front three or on the left wing in Ronald Koeman's preferred 4-2-3-1 formation. However, Koeman often plays a defensive-minded left-back, with Nathan Ake and Micky van de Ven less inclined to attack when compared with Liverpool's Milos Kerkez or Andy Robertson.

It is also worth noting that the Dutch often face a lower calibre of opposition, especially during a qualification campaign. Gakpo scored twice against Malta last week and registered an assist versus Lithuania in September, with both nations ranked well outside of the world's top 100 according to Fifa.

Regardless of opposition, Gakpo has found the net in three successive matches for club and country. He has never scored in four consecutive games since signing for Liverpool.

It is fierce rivals Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday - and that would be the perfect way to achieve that personal milestone.

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Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

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One of the biggest unkept secrets in English football is finally out: Fabio Paratici's official return to Tottenham Hotspur has been confirmed.

Of course, since severing ties with Spurs because of his suspension, the Italian - renowned as one of Europe's leading sporting directors - has been working on a consultancy basis for the club.

BBC Sport has reported regularly over the year that the wheels were in motion towards Paratici returning to the club on an official basis in 2025, though there was a dalliance with AC Milan in the summer.

Given his links to Daniel Levy, the Italian's return looked unclear when the former executive chairman left Spurs last month.

So it is testament to Paratici's reputation that the club's new-look ownership team have retained their commitment to re-employing the administrator.

The attraction to Paratici is clear. He has one of the most extensive contacts book in the game - who he doesn't know probably isn't worth knowing.

It will be interesting to see how he works with joint sporting director Johan Lange, but either way, Paratici's know-how and understanding in the transfer market will continue to be invaluable for Tottenham.

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Laura Kirk-Francis
Fan writer

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When the fixture list was released back in June, many Arsenal fans looked at the first few weeks in horror.

An away trip to Old Trafford on the first day of the season, followed by visits to Anfield and St James' Park - all before the start of October.

With such a brutal opening run of games, Arsenal could have been out of the title race before it had even started.

Fast forward to now and you would struggle to find a fan not impressed with how the Gunners have dealt with this difficult start. Sixteen points from a possible 21 and only three goals conceded. Arsenal have more than weathered the storm.

Attention now turns to what looks - on paper - like a kinder run of fixtures. But there is still reason to be cautious.

Arsenal's undoing last term came from dropping points against the exact teams they face in their next three games.

At Craven Cottage, last December Mikel Arteta's side could only manage a draw against Fulham, who are their next Premier League opponents.

Two 1-1 draws with Brighton, who they face next in the EFL Cup, saw the Gunners lose valuable ground on Liverpool. Then, the 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace all but handed the league title to the Reds in the spring.

Arsenal can clearly get up for big games. But the true test of the team's improvement since last campaign will come over the coming weeks, including navigating the Champions League visit of Atletico Madrid and a trip to Slavia Prague.

Arteta has clearly answered his critics when it comes to registering wins against the 'big six'. The defeat at Anfield was the first time Arsenal had lost to such a side since April 2023.

The question is now: can they do it on a mild October night in Fulham?

Find more from Laura Kirk-Francis at the Latte Firm podcast, external

Mike Taylor
BBC Radio WM reporter

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The answer to Aston Villa fans feel about the impact of this international break might equate directly to asking how Ollie Watkins feels after colliding with the goalpost and being substituted off at half-time in the Wales friendly last Thursday.

His early return from England duty was worrying, but hopefully he and all of his absent team-mates will report back fit by Friday afternoon, to at least offer the option of fielding the same starting XI that beat Burnley.

As fan writer Hannah Gowen wrote in her piece earlier this week, this break might be viewed as an inconvenience, given Villa's recent upturn in results, but the form of key individuals has continued to rise over the past two weeks.

Donyell Malen popping in another goal for the Netherlands was certainly good news, and his two last time at Villa Park were perhaps the most pleasing aspect of the run of four wins before the pause.

Until then, Malen's Villa record was puzzling. His omission from the Champions League squad shortly after his arrival in January, having played in the final of the tournament just a few months earlier, still felt a shock even after reading the restrictive rules.

In other competitions he remained on the fringes, despite a brief burst of goals back in April. When used as deputy for Watkins, he has looked surprisingly ineffective, but as a complement to Watkins he may achieve more. They appeared together in the starting XI for only the fourth time against Burnley.

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Malen's recent goals give hope he may avoid being counted as "one of the players who have not worked out", as Jonathan Wilson described in a bracing survey of Villa's start to the season in The Guardian, external this week.

The PSR rules may have prevented Villa's owners from spending as much money as they would have liked to catch the top sides. Even so, it is hard to deny Wilson's point that their spending over the past two years has been inefficient, especially compared to their earlier investments, many of whom are still in the team.

Even so, if they can carry over their forward momentum from before the break to Tottenham on Sunday, they have the time and talent to catch up.

Either of the two routes to next season's Champions League - a top-five finish or the Europa League title - ought still to be viable with their resources.

Listen to full commentary of Tottenham v Aston Villa at 14:00 BST on Sunday on BBC Radio WM [95.6FM and DAB or Freeview 714]

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

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We asked for your reflections views on Liverpool's owners Fenway Sports Group completing 15 years since their takeover of the club.

Here are some of your comments:

Niall: Two Premier Leagues and a Champions League, alongside various other trophies! And let's be honest, if it weren't for Manchester City, we'd have more too. We've been blessed with one of the greatest managers in the club's history, all the while spending quite little in reality (except for this summer, of course, where we went crazy), so yes, they have been a great success.

Steve: FSG are fantastic owners. Sports people who seem to recruit well at all levels. When I look around the league, I feel fortunate that they are the owners.

Mark: Fabulous. Have won everything and bought the best players. No complaints.

William: Honestly, this is by far the best management group in modern-day football. Prudent, financially savvy, with the best interest of the football club. Yes, it is a business, but it's a very successful business.

Ian: I think I can say for everyone that new owners should always come with a warning label, but over the past 10 years, the way the club has invested (and not invested) at the perfect time has grown us into the Premier League powerhouse we are today. Not many fans could have hoped for such a fantastic relationship between us and ownership.

While most fans we heard from praised FSG for turning the club around, there were a number who remain frustrated by the ownership's attempts to join the European Super League in April 2021.

Henry: There's no doubt that FSG have done a wonderful job in bringing Liverpool back to the top of English and European football, and I'll always be grateful for that. But ultimately, I will forever remember them as the people who tried to bring in the European Super League and tried to take football away from the people, to fill their own pockets.

Adam: Mostly good. Should have backed Jurgen Klopp a bit more, think they realise that now. Also should have made a bit more mention of Klopp in the statement. Missteps regarding furlough and Super League, but would I swap them with any other owner? No.

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Spanish football expert Guillem Balague has offered a fascinating glimpse into the intensity of life under Unai Emery at Aston Villa, as part of research for his upcoming book "Rise of the Villans", which charts the club's transformation under the Basque coach.

Journalist Balague, who has chronicled the careers of Lionel Messi and Pep Guardiola among others, has spent time around Villa Park and Bodymoor Heath to understand Emery's methods.

He says the Villa boss's meticulous approach is unlike anything he's seen before - a culture built on detail, preparation and relentless work.

"I was aware of the work that goes in with Unai Emery and his assistants, but not aware of the hours that they put in," Balague told BBC Radio WM.

"Eight am to egight pm every single day, three meetings with 50-minute videos, an hour -and-a-half meetings thrice a week.

"And what's interesting is, in my mind, I am thinking of how can players deal with all of this? Well, there is a filter. If you cannot deal with it, you are not there. It's part of your growth.

"Emery makes you grow, you have to listen to him, and you have to go into the little details. Honestly, it's like working at Nasa. There is so much going on."

Listen to the full discussion on BBC Sounds

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According to Opta, Morgan Rogers has joined an exclusive company in Aston Villa's history, becoming only the third player to feature in 10 or more consecutive England matches.

The 23-year-old midfielder's run places him alongside two distinguished Villa Gareths - Barry, who made 20 straight England appearances between August 2007 and April 2009, and Southgate, who achieved the feat twice in 1996 and 1997.

Rogers' consistency reflects his growing influence for both club and country. Since breaking into Thomas Tuchel's side earlier this year, he has become a regular feature in England's front line.

For Villa, it is a sign of the club's reemergence at the top level, given their player is representing the Three Lions with distinction, and is now standing shoulder to shoulder with two former captains in the record books.

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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Last week, Leeds United sporting director Adam Underwood sat alongside Brentford counterpart Lee Dykes at Old Trafford explaining to a captivated audience what his job entailed and what the targets are.

The two-day Training Ground Guru conference is an established part of the football calendar.

In theory, Underwood should be the senior man as on key metrics, history, fanbase, stadium size, Leeds dwarf Brentford.

The reality is very different.

Underwood knows through their extensive use of data and smart recruitment that Brentford have become an established member of England's elite.

The Bees are now into their fifth consecutive Premier League campaign. Leeds are in their fourth in 21 years. Their aim this season is to halt the current sequence of relegations for the past six teams coming up out of the Championship.

"There are a number of clubs like Brentford - Brighton are in that bracket too – who have an excellent base from which they run their football operation," Underwood told BBC Sport.

"Everyone is aware how they use data to get a competitive advantage and recruit really well. The evidence of that from those clubs is everywhere.

"I am sure it has helped to sustain them in the Premier League and helped them grow and continue to be successful.

"We know that as a Championship club promoted to the Premier League the task is huge to buck the trend of the six clubs over the past two years who have come up and gone straight back down.

"We look at clubs across the Premier League and ask: 'What did they do well?', 'How did they manage to achieve what they have achieved in staying up?'."

Manager Daniel Farke will be judged on how successful – or otherwise – he is in keeping Leeds in the top flight.

Underwood's role is to support that. But his brief goes wider.

Arriving at Leeds as academy manager in 2014, Underwood was promoted to head of football operations in July 2023 and took up his present role in April.

He knows his day-to-day work must never lose sight of the overall vision of the 49ers Enterprises Global Football Group that own Leeds.

"Having competitive success is always going to be the immediate focus, for the sporting director, manager and the ownership group," he said.

"But around that, as a foundation for sporting success, there has to be a long-term view for how you develop the club, build the infrastructure and create the conditions for that success to happen and increase the chances of it happening over a period of time.

"We want to be an established Premier League club and believe we can push back to the top half of the table and realise our potential.

"The sporting director's responsibility is to feed both of those work streams and both of those projects.

"Every weekend, you are at games hoping all the work you are doing in recruitment to support the manager and the staff, pays off and you get a result.

"But ultimately, you know as long as you are on track over the long term from a performance perspective, you are making steps towards your vision and realising the ambition of the ownership."

Will Faulks
Fan writer

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It was in May 2024 that the first links between Chelsea and Estevao Willian started to be reported. A deal to sign him the following summer was soon concluded, and since then Blues fans have waited patiently to see him unleashed.

They cannot wait much longer.

Supporters have been tracking the youngster ever since those first rumours, and the excitement has continued to build. Some really special moments - a first Brazil goal, scoring against Chelsea in the Club World Cup, some ridiculous displays in the Brazilian league - kept raising expectations further, but it felt like the last minute winner against Liverpool in the final game before the international break was the 18-year-old's real coming-out party.

After the game, TV pundits around the world showered him with praise and he took his first major step from highly-rated talent to household name, at least in footballing circles.

As talents go, you almost could not design one more suited to get supporters excited. A pure one-on-one dribbler who is not afraid to shoot and has the natural movement and instincts of a goalscorer, Estevao looks utterly fearless despite his age.

The much repeated lines about needing to be patient with him and his development are made to look faintly ridiculous by just how confident and capable he is already.

Manager Enzo Maresca is doing his best to protect the prodigy, but there is only so much he can do when Estevao continues to make such important impressions from the bench.

For now, fans will be content to see him arrive as a game-breaking roll of the dice in the second halves of games.

But if he keeps looking so much more dangerous than his rivals for minutes on the wing, it will only be a matter of time before the coach has little choice but to give him regular starts.

Find more from Will Faulks at Chelsea News, external

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We asked for your views on who Mikel Arteta should pick to replace Martin Odegaard while he recovers from injury - Eberechi Eze, Ethan Nwaneri or Mikel Merino.

Here are some of your comments:

Dave: I really hope Arteta doesn't go back to Merino. The Zubimendi-Rice-Merino axis hasn't worked, so don't go back to it. Eze is the easy choice for me. It is where he played naturally at Crystal Palace, and has shown his worth there (if not getting the goals and assits yet).

Carrick: It has got to be Eze, surely? If not, then why invest such a lot of money in signing him? This sort of situation is surely where he steps up?

Neil: Nwaneri is the most similar player to Odegaard so, if Arteta wants a like-for-like replacement, he should pick him. However, it is horses for courses, game by game. Eze offers that X-factor in games when we face the low block because he is prepared to shoot from long range or try that audacious flick or pass. Merino is solid and versatile but less dynamic and I don't see him with the speed of thought or creativity required in a number 10. A lot has been said about our squad depth. Arteta will have to have real clarity of thought around how he utilises the weapons at his disposal if Arsenal are to claim either of the big pots.

Harry: Losing Odegaard is a big blow. I'd like to see Merino in there, although Eze could possibly fill in.

Tim: Nwaneri deserves a chance. I'm not sure if Arteta trusts him, but he is the only one of the three who has the vision and range of passing comparable to Odegaard. If he gets a run in the side, he can prove himself as Odegaard's future successor.

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On the latest episode of BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast, the team discuss United's chances of Premier League survival.

Simon Rix says Daniel Farke's men won't be "relegated by March" like last season's promoted sides, adding that Elland Road is not seen as an easy place to visit and even the Premier League's top sides will take the Whites seriously.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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Ali Speechly
Fan writer

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Scrutiny of Guglielmo Vicario has increased in recent weeks, ranging from mild criticism, to some Spurs fans even calling for the goalkeeper to be dropped in favour of rookie keeper Antonin Kinsky.

At the heart of the complaints is a perception that our number one is conceding 'soft' goals.

However, Vicario's stats this season are actually very impressive.

With only Arsenal's David Raya ahead of him in the save percentage category, Vicario is leading the way in terms of prevented goals.

Last season, I wrote about Vicario often being the difference between a marginal defeat and abject humiliation.

Now, as part of a much-improved Spurs side competing under Thomas Frank, so far this term Vicario has made saves that have either secured all three points instead of one, or helped salvage one point from the brink of having none at all.

Our manager clearly has faith in the Italian – officially naming him in his five-man leadership group.

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In an interview with BBC Sport earlier this week, Anthony Taylor described the pressure referees face because of VAR creating an "expectation of perfection".

As fans, we can have similarly unrealistic demands of players – particularly goalkeepers – and this is what exacerbates frustrations when errors inevitably occur.

We all know there is nowhere to hide as a goalkeeper.

Despite sometimes spending large parts of a game with very little to do, when you are called into action, the slightest mistake can lead to a goal.

As such, it takes a special mentality to play in this position, and Vicario's stats suggest he is much stronger than some may think.

While competition for places is always a healthy thing, we are in safe enough hands for now.

How do you feel about Vicario? Let us know here

Find more from Ali Speechly at Women Of The Lane, external and on Instagram, external

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We asked for your thoughts on Ange Postecoglou's future, and whether Sean Dyche would be a good replacement if the Australian manager leaves the City Ground.

Here are some of your comments:

Dave: I want Ange to be successful and hope he can turn things around. If he does not, the more I think about it I would not be opposed to Sean Dyche. He did a good job for Everton under extremely difficult circumstances.

Ian: If you thought the reaction to Ange was extreme, expect worse if Dyche is hired. What we don't want is fans turning on the owner. He has made his first significant error in sacking Nuno Espirito Santo and hiring Ange. I'm also not a fan of Ange, but I'd rather give him more time than appoint Dyche, whose style of play is not for us or the players we have bought. There is talk also of Rafael Benitez - not sure he is a good fit either, but he is perhaps more palatable than Dyche

Peter: Dyche is who we should have appointed once Nuno had got his engineered exit granted. Appointing Ange has been Evaangelos Marinakis' worst ever decision - and this is someone who once appointed Chris Hughton. Dyche would implement a similar style that has served us so well, so give him until the end of the season and we can reassess the position then.

Kevin: Absolutely not Dyche. He is a survivor who can get a tune out of average players, but we need a winner who can improve quality players. We should stick as we are until Christmas, unless we keep getting hammered. Marco Silva would be able to do a job if he can be influenced over.

Dave: I would take Dyche over Ange any day of the week. We currently have the leakiest defence in the whole of the league and so we need somebody to stop the rot. Dyche is a defence-minded manager and much more in the Nuno mould.

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We asked for your views on whether you are confident that Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish can get Oliver Glasner to sign a new deal, and how important that would be.

Here are some of your comments:

Simon: Glasner needs to know he has the financial backing of this club. Deadline day showed he had to fight to stop us losing our best players with no replacement in sight. I can't see him staying unless he gets significant reassurance from Parish and co, and even that might be too little too late.

Joe: If the deal captures and promises progression then I think there will be another one to two years to his tenure. I don't buy into this Manchester United potential move as it is not a positive move in terms of progression. If a top, top job opens up - like the Bayern Munich job - then we need to be worried.

Tom: I wouldn't say I feel confident, but Oliver has been magnificent for the club and a bigger club wouldn't have given him the time that we gave him at the start of last season. He can (and already has) achieved big things with this club. He can go further still. I honestly think it could go either way.

Robert: I would be delighted if Glasner were to extend his contract but don't expect it to happen. Parish won't let the club overreach itself financially given our past administration history and progress in the Premier League requires serious money spent wisely. I don't see Palace being able to match Glasner's ambitions. The one plus is that Glasner seems to genuinely like being at Palace with the harmony in the squad of players.

Allan: Unless Parish allows Glasner to have new players of his choice, I am certain he will leave.

• Not a Palace fan? Find your Premier League club on BBC Sport

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

"Makelele and Kante were an inspiration to me."

Those were the words of Moises Caicedo in an interview with club media, external after completing his then British record move to Chelsea from Brighton.

Alongside an old photo of the midfielder in a kit with N'Golo Kante's name on the back, Caicedo also said: "I can say we share similar qualities, but they [Kante and Claude Makelele] were better. But now I am going to give everything for this club because they did so much for me."

While it has taken a bit more time than most expected, those watching the Blues are starting to see just how good the 23-year-old can be.

It may be early on in the season, but Caicedo has already won more player of the match awards than any other player (three), and has scored three goals from his four shots on target.

Being a defensive midfielder, the Ecuador international may be more inclined to celebrate his topping the Premier League charts for tackles and interceptions - in fact, he is joint-top across Europe's top five leagues with his 18 interceptions.

Chelsea have a strong recent history of players in the holding midfielder role.

Makelele really set the standard - the role is named after him, after all - while Kante brought his own unique style in his seven seasons and, though not strictly the same kind of player, others such as Michael Essien and Ramires are also worthy of mentions.

Arriving at an older age, both Makelele and Kante had the years on Caicedo, but how does Chelsea's latest midfield star currently rank against his idols when they were at Stamford Bridge?

Despite playing a similar position, Makelele and Kante were somewhat different in style.

Makelele was not about about distances, speed and flair - he was about protection, defence and controlling the game.

And while Kante still held these traits of his fellow countryman, the well-used football joke of '70% of the earth is covered by water, the rest by N'Golo Kante', though tongue-in-cheek, did stem from the France international's incredible ability to cover the pitch and be the engine room of the team.

Caicedo's start to life at Chelsea was not easy - perhaps weighed down by his £115m fee - but he has grown into his role and his numbers are following.

When compared per 90 minutes, the similarities between all three midfielders is what stands out.

As expected, Makelele edges it in some of the more defensive stats, like tackles and interceptions, and Kante comes to the fore when it was about winning the ball and moving with it.

Coming out on top for duels attempted, Caicedo shows his fearlessness in competing for the ball, but his ability in using it is really highlighted when it comes to passes.

With 55.7 successful passes per 90 and a passing accuracy of 90.6%, Caicedo came out ahead on those metrics.

Having grown up watching both Chelsea's legendary midfielders, perhaps Caicedo is now growing into a player that shares strengths of both - and that can only be an exciting prospect for Blues supporters.

Who do you think will end up with the greatest Chelsea midfield legacy?

Make your choice here

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Joe Bradshaw
BBC Sport Senior Journalist

Too open. Too high a line. Players keep getting injured.

The criticisms that dogged Ange Postecoglou in his second season were varied and pointed as Tottenham limped to 17th place in the Premier League table.

After seven league games of 2025-26, his successor Thomas Frank has Spurs riding high in third with four wins, two draws and just one defeat so far.

Not only that, but they have only conceded five goals, the joint-second best record behind Arsenal (three).

So bar the improvement in results, what has changed?

Frank is much more of a pragmatist than Postecoglou and the type of football Tottenham are playing bears that out.

Witness the rise in long balls per 90, suggesting a far greater willingness to get the ball forward quickly.

And take a look at these passing maps from Tottenham's home games against Wolves over the past two seasons.

Image source, Opta

In the first, from December 2024, Postecoglou's defenders are much deeper to receive the ball from the goalkeeper. The most common passing is between the two central defenders and left-back Destiny Udogie.

Image source, Opta

In the second, from September 2025 under Frank, Tottenham's midfield is far more congested, with Guglielmo Vicario often launching the ball towards the halfway line to instigate attacks.

It is a similar story for average positions for those games. Again, Postecoglou's defenders are more spread, with two midfielders patrolling the halfway line and a spread front four. Frank's line-up is far more bunched, albeit again with a forward four.

Of course, this is only one game so a very small sample size, but it hints at a tactical transformation.

More broadly, Spurs are also sticking the ball in the penalty area more frequently, averaging 23.3 crosses per game compared to 19.8 last season.

That is despite the lack of a central focal point with their best header of the ball from last season, Dominic Solanke, mostly sidelined through injury.

What is also striking is the efficiency Tottenham have demonstrated so far.

Postecoglou's side took more passes and created more chances per game, but Frank's version have a higher shot conversion rate this season. It has meant that, although last season's Spurs were among the league's top scorers, 2025-26 Tottenham are actually averaging slightly more goals per game (1.9 v 1.7).

So far, the numbers are pointing to a more clinical, more business-like Tottenham Hotspur – and one that is flying high near the top of the Premier League.

Games against Aston Villa and trips to Monaco, Everton and Newcastle before the month's end should offer a rigorous test of just how far they have come.

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Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on Sir Jim Ratcliffe's comments that Ruben Amorim needs three years to prove himself as Manchester United manager.

Here are some of your comments:

Mike: Today's Manchester United is a joke from Ratcliffe down. A manager who has no 'Plan B' and, worse, doesn't want one, should not be there.

Hossein: I totally agree with Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Ruben Amorim needs more time and support and as a supporter of this great club we need to lower our expectations for a short period. I'm sure we will be back to our best position in the near future.

Jack: Utterly ridiculous statement by Ratcliffe! I predict United will be in a relegation battle by the new year. Will Radcliffe still be saying Amorim needs more time then?

Dave: Amorim was handed a poisoned chalice, with players that have underperformed for up to seven or eight years. To expect that to be turned around in one year is completely unrealistic. The clearout has started, more is needed, and Amorim needs real support, and more importantly - time. Back the manager, he's not swayed from his vision unlike Ten Hag. If he compromises there is a chance some of these players will revert to previous bad habits.

Paul: Whilst I agree that coaches can need time to implement their philosophy on a team, Amorim unfortunately has shown that he is out of his depth and makes selections, substitutions and tactical errors that are unacceptable for a club the size of United. Other coaches have adapted to their new clubs and progressed - unfortunately Amorim has not.

Dennis: Jim knows what needs to be done, as does the manager. They will not be distracted by (well meant) views from journalists, pundits or supporters because they have little or no experience in running/managing a football club.

Steve: If Amorim is given three years, United will be in League Two. He clearly is way out of his depth and his comments make no sense at all. Same goes for poor old Sir Jim.

Sean: Unfortunately I can't see him being here at the end of the season. Things are still the same as last season, he insists on playing this system that doesn't work. He has got players in that he wanted and nothing has improved. If things don't improve very soon the United faithful will be after blood. The Glazers and Ineos can do one as well.

Karan Vinod
BBC Sport journalist

Newcastle United's Malick Thiaw has made a positive first impression on Tyneside.

The 24-year-old summer signing has started three consecutive Premier League games and shown glimpses of why he was so highly rated during his time in Italy.

Across these three full appearances, Thiaw's per-90-minute numbers provide an encouraging snapshot of his abilities, albeit given this is a small sample size, it is too early to draw definitive conclusions.

One of the most eye-catching statistics so far is his 2.64 interceptions per 90, which currently leads the Premier League. It points to a defender who reads the game exceptionally well, positioning himself proactively to break up play before danger materialises.

In addition, his 4.29 possessions won per 90 minutes suggests that Thiaw offers more than just last-ditch defending. This is potentially a player comfortable stepping into midfield to take control - a trait that aligns with his ability to also operate as a defensive midfielder - and something Eddie Howe values highly in his aggressive press.

The 3.96 aerial duels won figure reinforces his physical presence. In a league where aerial dominance remains a key defensive asset, this early number bodes well. Meanwhile, his overall duels won (5.6) reflects a willingness to engage directly with opponents.

The one area that may warrant attention is his tackle success rate of 16.5%. Whether this is due to adjusting to the pace of the Premier League or simply a result of a limited dataset is unclear. Defensive metrics can vary significantly over small periods and it's worth bearing that in mind before making broader judgments.

It should be stressed that these are early days. Thiaw has only completed three full league matches, and while the signs are positive, consistency and context will tell us more over time.

Mark Mitchener
BBC Sport Senior Journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Another sign of Bournemouth's progress is the number of players they now routinely lose for a week or two during the international break.

Last season's away game at Aston Villa was a landmark as it was the first time in the club's history that they had fielded an entire starting XI of full international players.

They have come tantalisingly close to doing so again this season, but for the right-back role being filled by a combination of Adam Smith, James Hill and Alex Jimenez who have only been capped up to Under-21 level.

The same applies to Alex Scott, while Marcus Tavernier played for England Under-20s in his Middlesbrough days, and Bafode Diakite appeared for the French Olympic team (effectively an under-23 side) though not in the Olympics itself.

However, Diakite has seen two of his fellow centre-backs given fresh call-ups for this round of internationals.

Veljko Milosavljevic, after only one start for the Cherries since joining from Red Star Belgrade, has graduated to the full Serbia squad where he will join his goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic.

Meanwhile, Marcos Senesi's sparkling form has not only made him the top points-scoring defender in Fantasy Premier League, but has earned him a recall by Argentina - three years after winning his only cap.

Born in Argentina of Italian descent, Senesi's international career began in unusual fashion when, before the Finalissima between Italy and Argentina at Wembley in 2022, he found himself called up by both teams for the same match.

'El Gladiador' chose Argentina, eventually debuting in a friendly against Estonia a few days later, and later that summer left Feyenoord for Bournemouth.

A regular in his first two seasons with the Cherries, Senesi was unable to reclaim his starting place last season on returning from injury, because of the form of Dean Huijsen and Illia Zabarnyi.

But with that pair departed for big-money summer moves, Senesi has grasped the opportunity and taken on something of a leadership role at the back as the Cherries' young, multinational and multi-lingual defence has come together.

Senesi told the club website last week, external that he had even learned the words for "left" and "right" in Serbian, to help when playing alongside Milosavljevic.

Mike Taylor
BBC Radio WM reporter

Image source, Getty Images

"Time," said Unai Emery, when asked what Harvey Elliott might need to push his way towards more playing time. "Give him minutes, and through that he will feel confident in our structure."

He said that in the short time between the defeat of Feyenoord, when Elliott appeared only for the curtain calls, and the win over Burnley, which the 22-year-old experienced solely from the bench.

When asked recently about some of Emery's earlier comments regarding his early weeks at Villa, Elliott said he "took no offence". Plenty of onlookers were ready to take offence on his behalf. But there are case studies in the current Villa squad to suggest that such worries are unfounded - or at the very least, premature.

The timing of Elliott's arrival may have added to the scrutiny. He came in on deadline day, but crucially just as Villa were enduring their first serious stumble since Emery took charge. Only a few weeks earlier, Elliott had been the outstanding figure in England Under-21s' successful Euros campaign. Given how cautiously Villa had acted during the transfer window, no wonder so many supporters invested their hopes for a sudden improvement in Elliott.

Instead, he has played only around a quarter of the available Premier League minutes, and none at all since half-time against Fulham on 28 September. "He needs to adapt in everything, but I changed him not because he was playing bad," said Emery, when asked to explain why Elliott had been withdrawn so early. "He has to continue working, preparing and adapting to us, understanding everything."

For validation of this comment, Elliott might consult Youri Tielemans. About two years ago, many of the same opinions were being expressed about him. Signed after his Leicester contract expired, he did not start a Premier League game for Villa until November 2023, and became a regular selection only the following spring.

Donyell Malen might tell a similar tale. Omitted from the Champions League squad after his arrival last January, his acclimatisation period has lasted even longer, but his goals against Burnley indicated that he is now fully established.

Elliott need not rush. This should be the final phase of his long apprenticeship at this level.

He is a proven Premier League player. Once he becomes a proven Emery player - which, as we have seen, takes time, whatever your reputation - more chances to play will surely follow. And being in the Europa League means there are likely to be enough games to keep everyone fully engaged.

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