Bournemouth have lost three of their last four but lie 12th in the table, with games against Burnley, Leicester, Southampton, Chelsea and Swansea also ahead this month.

Eddie Howe says: "It'll be a key month. The gap between top and bottom is so small and we're looking forward to the hectic schedule."

Stoke boss Mark Hughes with some injury news, including Jack Butland, who has not played a competitive match for the club since breaking his ankle on England duty in March.

"Jack Butland is playing for the U-23s this evening at Reading, so we hope that goes well for him," says Hughes.  

"The major doubt for tomorrow is Ryan Shawcross - he is still troubled by his calf. We will see how he is today. Glenn Whelan should be OK, although Geoff Cameron and Phil Bardsley are still not available."  

Some more quotes from Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, and it is not good news for Gunners fans. With first-choice right-back Hector Bellerin out with an ankle injury, his replacement Mathieu Debuchy is also out for a long period now.

The 31-year-old made his first Gunners appearance since November 2015 in a 3-1 win over Bournemouth, but a hamstring injury forced him off after 16 minutes.

"It is a severe hamstring injury. Six weeks," says Wenger. "It is frustrating for me, but even more for him. He tries very hard and has an exceptional attitude.

"He is absolutely disappointed but he is a fighter and will fight to come back. We are in December and he will not be available until mid-January  He usually recovers quicker than expected."

Wenger also says that England striker Danny Welbeck is back in training but four weeks away from a return to the first-team with another forward, Olivier Giroud, facing a late fitness test before Saturday's game against West Ham.

Image source, Getty Images

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe backs Liverpool's credentials, just one point behind leaders Chelsea after nine wins so far this term. 

"For me Liverpool are genuine title contenders," says Howe. "They've shown this season what a good side they are and we'll have to be at our best.

"We don't look at the stats and worry. They're a good team, but we're going into the game aiming to win it. We have no fear."  

Some more from Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe with thoughts on his former Liverpool player Jordon Ibe:

"There's so much more to come from Jordon Ibe," says Howe. "He has things to learn, but I believe he can make a real difference over time."

Likely to line up against the Cherries will be one of their old boys, Adam Lallana and nice guy Eddie adds: "I was aware of Adam Lallana way back. You could see he was very creative and technically gifted. We'd prefer not to see him on Sunday."

Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe, who my dear mum thinks is very nice, tells us some team news: "Artur Boruc missed out last week and is improving. But we'll have to wait and see on him.

"Andrew Surman has had a slight setback and won't be available. We'll have to make a late call on Charlie Daniels, too." 

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is asked about midfielder Santi Cazorla, who needs surgery on an ankle injury.

"For me it is very bad news," says Wenger. "There is not a date (for him to play again) I try to put everything into place to avoid surgery. It creates anxiety, rehabilitation and if you can avoid it you do. In this case we have come to the conclusion (of surgery), and now they tell me he will be out for two months at least, but two months can sometimes be three.

"Santi is desperate to play football, he is only happy when he is playing football and just wants to cure it.

"He has inflammation in the back of his foot, which no-one knows where it is coming from. The anti-inflammatory injections have not got rid of it. The specialist we discussed it with said he had to open it up."

Wenger is asked whether he will need to sign another midfielder in January to cover for Cazorla. He replies: "In midfield we have many players, in January you will not necessarily find a Cazorla. I believe on the injury front we have been very strong and not had many injuries this season, very few muscle injuries." 

Image source, Getty Images

Jay Haas (golf) - Veteran US Tour winner, born 1953.

Nigel Spackman (football) - Former Chelsea, Liverpool and Rangers midfielder, born 1960.

David Batty (football) - Former Leeds and England midfielder, born 1968.

Nick Beal (rugby union) - Former Northampton, England and Lions full-back, born 1970.

Monica Seles (tennis) - Serbia-born American, a winner of nine Grand Slam titles, who became youngest ever world number one aged 17, born 1973.

Graham Kavanagh (football) - Former Sunderland and Republic of Ireland midfielder, born 1973.

Chris Burke (football) - Former Rangers and Scotland midfielder, now with Ross County, born 1983.

Aaron Rodgers (American football) - Super Bowl-winning quarterback and MVP with the Green Bay Packers in 2010, born 1983.

Gaston Ramirez (football) - Middlesbrough and Uruguay midfielder, born 1990.

Image source, Rex Features

West Brom boss Tony Pulis with thoughts on Saturday's opponents Watford.

He says: "They have an Italian manager and he has them very organised. At the other end they have goals so it'll be tough. We will respect Watford as much as we would Chelsea or Arsenal. That's the way you do it."

Earlier this week, Crystal Palace defender Pape Souare said he did not know if he will recover fully from the injuries he sustained in a car crash in September.

He was taken to hospital after breaking his thighbone and jaw in the crash on the M4 near London and will be out for at least six months.

Eagles boss Alan Pardew has offered the player his full support. Pardew said: "The injury Pape's had is so unique to football. There aren't many situations where someone in the game has had this.

"That makes it tough to put a time on the recovery. He's in great spirits, has a positive personality. We love Pape." 

More team news from Tony Pulis, plus thoughts on potential January acquisitions:

"We need to get Gareth McAuley tested and see what he's made of - he's been great," says Pulis. "Gareth is a great character to have here.

"Salomon (Rondon) went home yesterday with what the doctor thinks is a bit of tonsillitis. We will have to have a look at him  

"We must cherry pick much better this transfer window than we have in the past. We are looking at players." 

West Brom boss Tony Pulis says Nacer Chadli is back in contention to face the Hornets tomorrow as the Baggies bid to preserve an unbeaten run that spans three matches. 

"The boys have done brilliantly. Chadli has worked hard and come back into the group. I've got selection problems tomorrow."

Englishmen Ian Poulter and Paul Waring are eight shots off the lead at the halfway stage of the Australian PGA Championship at Royal Pines.

Poulter, now down at 166 in the world rankings, carded a 68 to reach four under, while Merseyside's Waring returned a 72.

Andrew Dodt holds a two-shot lead after six birdies in a 67, while former Masters champion Adam Scott is four back after a second successive 68.

Image source, Getty Images

So you have seen the candidates for the Fifa FifPro 11 and that is the inspiration for today's Sportsday debate.

We are asking... Who deserves to be in the 2016 world team of the year and why?

The players don't have to only come from the 55-man Fifa FifPro shortlist. If there is someone else worthy then let us know, with your reasons why.

Tweet us using #bbcsportsday or write on the Match of the Day Facebook page, external and we will put your thoughts on this page throughout the day.

Voted for by players, the Fifa Fifpro World 11 aims to pick the team of the year.

Only two British men - Leicester's Jamie Vardy and Real Madrid's Gareth Bale - made the shortlist after votes from more than 25,000 professional footballers from more than 75 different countries.

The full 55-man shortlist list is...

Goalkeepers: Claudio Bravo, Gianluigi Buffon, David de Gea, Keylor Navas and Manuel Neuer.

Defenders: David Alaba, Jordi Alba, Serge Aurier, Héctor Bellerìn, Jérôme Boateng, Leonardo Bonucci, Daniel Carvajal, Giorgio Chiellini, Dani Alves, David Luiz, Diego Godín, Mats Hummels, Philipp Lahm, Marcelo, Javier Mascherano, Pepe, Gerard Piqué, Sergio Ramos, Thiago Silva and Raphaël Varane.

Midfielders: Xabi Alonso, Sergio Busquets, Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard, Andrés Iniesta, N’Golo Kanté, Toni Kroos, Luka Modrić, Mesut Özil, Dimitri Payet, Paul Pogba, Ivan Rakitić, David Silva, Marco Verratti and Arturo Vidal.

Strikers: Sergio Agüero, Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo, Paulo Dybala, Antoine Griezmann, Gonzalo Higuaín, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Robert Lewandowski, Lionel Messi, Thomas Müller, Neymar, Alexis Sánchez,  Luis Suárez and Jamie Vardy.

Image source, Getty Images

He may have presided over 12 wins out of 12 since taking charge of the England team, but coach Eddie Jones says he has made bad decisions during his tenure.

Take a listen here.

Budapest, Los Angeles and Paris have expressed confidence in their ability to control costs as they prepare for the final phase of bidding for the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Tokyo 2020 organisers this week said overall costs could run as much as 2 trillion yen ($18bn), almost three times initial estimates for their Games.

IOC members will select the 2024 host at the 130th International Olympic Committee Session in Lima next September.