Bill Rice
BBC Radio Manchester

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal was in a relatively good mood ahead of their trip to Everton, but admitted it’s been “an awful two weeks” after their comprehensive 3-0 loss at Arsenal. 

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The Dutchman explained in detail their preparations for the Arsenal game, taking almost four minutes to outline how the players were required to train the day before the game after a day off on Friday. 

He also cited details such as flying instead of taking the train to London, but stressed it was their lack of possession in the opening 20 minutes that ultimately cost them. 

Van Gaal was sharing the blame though, stressing all the players and staff – including his chef, Mike, and the atmosphere in the club canteen – can have an impact on the squad before a game, and everyone has to continue to improve, if they are to be champions.

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BBC Sport's football expert Mark Lawrenson is pitting his wits against a different guest each week this season.

Lawro's opponent for this weekend's Premier League fixtures is boxer Amir Khan.

Challenge them both using our Premier League Predictor game.

England captain Alastair Cook is now 250 not out against Pakistan. His side are 517-5 and trail by just six runs to the mammoth opening total.

Follow the live page here

After missing a deadline to pay back a £10.25m loan to the council, Northampton Town chairman David Cardoza has said that he is working night and day to secure a resolution to all of the issues that the club are facing at the moment.

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"There are plenty of headlines surrounding the club at the moment, that's understandable but all efforts are being dedicated to resolve this situation as soon as possible," he told the club's website., external

"The next step is that there are meetings planned early next week involving the interested parties and we are hoping for significant progress there."

Women’s Rugby World Cup winner Maggie Alphonsi, Commonwealth Games weightlifting champion Zoe Smith and former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan are all currently talking sport on BBC Radio 5 live.

You can listen live here

Manager Manuel Pellegrini is wary of the task in front of the league leaders. "Bournemouth have worked the last 15 days with their whole squad. We must play with 100% intensity to get the three points."

With Sergio Aguero injured, the Chilean backed another of his strikers. “I always trust Wilfried Bony – he’s a very good player. He’s had very bad luck here. He arrived here in January, he went to the African Cup and then he had problems with his knee."

Manager Manuel Pellegrini says midfielders Yaya Toure and Fernandinho are both available to play on Saturday, but is "unhappy" that captain Vincent Kompany played for Belgium in midweek.

Argentina have reverted to their strongest side for their World Cup quarter-final against Ireland after making changes for their final pool game against Namibia.

Their XV at the Millennium Stadium can boast 496 caps and an average age of 27 years and 93 days.

Argentina XV: Tuculet, Cordero, Moroni, Hernandez, Imhoff, Sanchez, Landajo; Ayerza, Creevy, Herrera, Petti, Lavanini, Matera, Lobbe, Senatore

Ireland coach Joe Schmidt has named his team for Sunday's quarter-final and the big news is that fly-half Jonny Sexton is fit to play despite going off in the group showdown with France last weekend.

Ireland XV: R Kearney, Bowe, Earls, Henshaw, D Kearney, Sexton, Murray; Healy, Best, Ross, Toner, Henderson, Murphy, Henry, Heaslip

Manager Louis van Gaal is asked about the frame of mind of players such as Daley Blind and Memphis Depay who went out of Euro 2016 qualifying with the Netherlands.

"I am confident. I have seen the training session and the reaction of my players.

"I have a philosophy and the main aspect of that is the total human being principle."

Louis van Gaal was, obviously, not happy with the defeat against Arsenal last time out.

"We cannot accept it. Not only my members of staff, but the also the players cannot accept it from each other. 

"We want to be the champions, so we have to behave like the champions. You have to improve everytime. It is no just the members of staff, it is also my cook Mike. He has a big influence in the canteen. A lot of people are important."

Can Manchester City extend their lead at the top? Will Bournemouth be able to shock the leaders? You can predict the results of this weekend's matches. 

Click here to play

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It's all over at Chelsea. A final nugget from Mourinho. 

When asked if the players are fearing the worst (relegation), he was quick to respond, "I don't believe in the 'fear factor' at this level."

Do we believe him...?

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On that note, Football Focus' Dan Walker went to speak to him this week and he seemed to suggest the FA have more punishment's coming his way... 

With a hint of sarcasm, he said he must be quiet from now in the media or risk being given a stadium ban and then "an electronic tag".

Watch a preview of that interview here and watch the whole thing on Football Focus, Saturday at 12:10 BST on BBC One. 

Liam Bradford
BBC Radio Manchester

There will be plenty of media gathered at Etihad Stadium to hear from the Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini, with the latest injury status of key players likely to be on the agenda ahead of this weekend's game with Bournemouth.

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Yaya Toure and Samir Nasri could both be back on Saturday, but Sergio Aguero isn't expected back until next month and David Silva and several others expected to be sidelined for the fortnight.

City have also started a consultation over a new badge and, looking at the branding around the stadium, that could be an expensive undertaking to replace the current crests. That said, considering the club announced a profit of more than £10m this week, it looks like pocket change in the grand scheme of things. 

Some news dribbling out of Manchester United ahead of the news conference starting.

Boss Louis van Gaal says captain Wayne Rooney and midfielder Michael Carrick are fit to face Everton on Saturday.

Mourinho says Aston Villa are "a good team with good players". When asked is other teams fear Chelsea as much as they used to, he answered: "Maybe".

Mourinho on his latest FA fine, which he says he will appeal against: "Maybe I am naive but English football fans, English passion for the game, is what makes me like this country so much. It's not the FA. If one day I have to work for those people, I will..." 

Work for them? As England manager, Jose?

Mourinho said his £50,000 FA fine for claiming officials were "afraid" to award his team penalties was a "disgrace". 

Now we get to the meat of the matter... 

Mourinho on Chelsea's poor start. Is this a must-win?

"Every game is a must win game and when we don't win it's always a frustration. But we cannot run away from the reality of the situation. 

"We need to win matches for us, for the Chelsea supporters. I don't know how to stop unfair stories but we are not worried. We are not going to be relegated - in a couple of months we will be in a position we want to be in."

Mourinho on young midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek: "Ruben has been working with us every day since January and has evolved physically, tactically, mentally. We can start him. He is ready."