Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Mikey Malone: Will Man City be able to stop West Ham's Dimitri Payet on Saturday?

Good question, Mike. He looks a quality signing, doesn't he? If any team can at the moment it will be Manchester City, who have looked so formidable, despite that Champions League loss to Juventus.

Image source, Getty Images

West Ham's win against Newcastle redressed the balance to their season a little after mixing up superb away wins at Arsenal and Liverpool with home defeats to Bournemouth and Leicester City. The co-owners David Gold and David Sullivan have shown real ambition backing manager Slaven Bilic and there are plenty of promising signs.  

A Question of Sport Teaser

Time for Friday's teaser...

Which three teams have played in a Rugby World Cup semi-final but have but have never reached the final?

Iain Carter
BBC Sport in Heidelberg

The out of form Suzann Pettersen does not figure in the afternoon fourballs, which means Europe will be without their leading player.

Tee times for Friday's fourballs (all times BST)

• 12:00 Anna Nordqvist and Caroline Hedwall v Morgan Pressel and Paula Creamer
• 12:15 Charley Hull and Gwladys Nocera v Alison Lee and Angela Stanford
• 12:30 Melissa Reid and Carlota Ciganda v Cristie Kerr and Lexi Thompson
• 12:45 Caroline Masson and Sandra Gal v Gerina Piller and Brittany Lang

Iain Carter
BBC Sport in Heidelberg

The comeback from four down by Karine Icher and Azahara Munoz came up short as the European pair fell to a 2 and 1 defeat to Cristie Kerr and Lexi Thompson.  But Catriona Matthew and home favourite Sandra Gal held their nerve to beat Stacy Lewis and Lizette Salas 3 and 2 to ensure honours even at the end of the first session.

Reasons to suspend a round of golf: Bad light, rain, wind...lightweight aircraft.

Well that is what happened at Dunbar Golf Club in Scotland on Thursday.

The small 14th hole became an airstrip today as a microlight with a broken fuel gauge had to make an emergency landing.

Tottenham head coach Mauricio Pochettino could welcome back midfielders Christian Eriksen, Mousa Dembele, and Ryan Mason for Sunday's game against Crystal Palace.

Nabil Bentaleb will miss out after suffering an ankle injury ahead of Sunday's victory over Sunderland, while Harry Kane is likely to return to the starting line-up after being rested for the Europa League win over Qarabag.

Image source, Getty Images

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Dave Jones: Do you feel the gap between the top four or five teams and the likes of Everton, Swansea and Leicester is shrinking?

I do, Dave. Manchester City are way ahead of the pack on current form, and I can't see Chelsea continuing in such a poor vein of form, but after that it may well be up for grabs.

Image source, Getty Images

Everton, Swansea etc have started the season very well but must now keep it going. Whether a team is good enough to crack the top four remains to be seen but there will be a few more thinking they can do it.

We also now have a situation where Everton can simply turn Chelsea away even though they were prepared to pay more than £30m for John Stones. That is a sign of increased confidence and greater financial security with the riches of a new TV deal on the horizon.

Richard Conway
BBC Radio 5 live sports news correspondent

BBC Sport understands Sepp Blatter has been advised by his US lawyers not to travel beyond Switzerland’s borders while the investigation into football’s world governing body continues.

Image source, Getty Images

The Fifa president was due to be in Moscow today to attend a celebration marking 1000 days until the start of the World Cup but opted to stay in Zurich. The decision is believed to be unrelated to any fear of arrest as Russia has no bilateral extradition treaty with the US.

Instead, key voices within Fifa are determined to present the governing body as undergoing wholesale reform. Continuing to present Blatter at events as its figurehead is not considered to be consistent with that aim.

Furthermore, close associates have expressed concerns over the 79-year-old’s health.

Iain Carter
BBC Sport in Heidelberg

Foursomes might not seem Charley Hull’s ideal format but she combined brilliantly with Melissa Reid.  The teenager from Kettering slotted hom a putt from just off the seventeenth green to secure a 2 and 1 victory over Michelle Wie and Brittany Lincicomee.  The English pair had four birdies and were never behind in a match that levels the contest at 1-1.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Alan Tate: Can Manchester United win the league this season?

Purely my opinion, Alan, but I don't think there is any chance of Manchester United winning the league this season - a statement which probably guarantees that they will.

Image source, Getty Images

I don't think they're good enough. While they have made some decent signings I still think there is such a great reliance on Wayne Rooney and I'd like to see how their defence copes against the very best. Losing Luke Shaw is also a very bad blow because he has been outstanding this season.

I certainly think they will be in the top four but champions? Not this season.

Iain Carter
BBC Sport in Heidelberg

US captain Juli Inkster was well rewarded for her faith in wildcard Paula Creamer. It was a big call to send her out in the top match, but the experienced American combined well with Morgan Pressel to post the first point for the visitors.

They collected three birdies in a 3 and 2 win against the stellar European pairing of Suzann Pettersen and Anna Norqvist. Skipper Carin Koch will need better from the Scandinavians if Europe are to mount a successful defence.

Image source, Getty Images

The remaining matches are too close to call with Europe ahead in two and down in one. In the match that they trail Karine Icher and Azahara Munoz are fighting back. They trailed Cristie Kerr and Lexi Thomson four down after six but are now only one down with three to play. Momentum is key.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Philip Robinson: Is Mourinho right for Chelsea?

Simple question. Simple answer. Yes.

Jose Mourinho is one of the greatest coaches/managers in world football and has the ability, know-how and confidence to get them away from this poor spell.

Image source, Getty Images

As he rightly pointed out, he took Chelsea to the Premier League four months ago and also won the Capital One Cup last season. Don't back against him winning another trophy this season.

And things are different now from when he left Chelsea in 2007. Mourinho's relationship with owner Roman Abramovich had broken down and there was tension. This is not the case now and he has just signed a new four-year contract - both men now realise what is good for them.

We have been asking you, external for your questions to put to BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty...

Ade Adedoyin
BBC World Service Sport

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Frank Bruno has been re-admitted to hospital after suffering a relapse in his battle with Bipolar disorder

The former boxer's management confirmed that the 53-year-old former WBC heavyweight champion sought medical assistance to help with a bout of depression after a busy spell.

Looks like the Welsh are getting into the spirit ahead of the tournament.... 

Image source, Getty Images

Wales opening game is against Uruguay on Sunday and you can follow live text commentary on the BBC Sport website.

Ben Smith
BBC Sport

The FA are looking into a complaint from the member of the public that Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho used abusive or sexist language towards team doctor Eva Carneiro during the draw with Swansea City in August. 

Football’s governing body are duty bound to investigate all reports of discrimination under rule E3, which states that players and coaches can be penalised for using “offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures”. 

Image source, Getty Images

However, although the FA’s compliance department are studying video evidence, it is understood that it is unlikely to result in a prosecution.    

Carneiro and Mourinho fell out, after the team doctor and physio Jon Fearn had run on to the pitch to treat Eden Hazard.

The Times are reporting, external that the demoted medical duo are close to resuming their first-team duties. 

Image source, Getty Images

Mark Cavendish will not compete at next week's UCI Road World Championships in Richmond, USA.

The British rider suffered a shoulder injury during stage six of the Tour of Britain.

Great Britain's technical director, Shane Sutton, said: “It’s a real blow. Unfortunately the injury he sustained during last week’s Tour of Britain is more serious than we had hoped."

Former England player Mike Tindall got more than he bargained for from one of the pupils when he visited a primary school in Twickenham to mark the first day of the Rugby World Cup.

"Do you snore?” 10-year-old Sita asked.

You can listen to the clip from 5 live Breakfast here

Mark Regan
BBC WM Sport

Carles Gil and Adama Traore are both doubtful for the game against West Bromwich Albion. Villa manager Tim Sherwood is expecting WBA to be hard to break down and is all too aware that this isn't "just another game".

"I laugh when I hear managers say it's just another game, it's actually not," he said. "It means much more than that to the fans and to the players."