At the top of the charts meanwhile it's been nothing but wins for Jose Mourinho and his Chelsea boys.

Diego Costa is on fire, Cesc Fabgregas is bringing art to the midfield and Thibaut Courtois is a brick wall in nets. Win today and they would be eight points clear of City, six ahead of Arsenal, nine above Liverpool and potentially 10 above Manchester United.

You can't win the league in September. But you can make a good fist of it...

Image source, EPA

At the bottom of the table the Albion have struggled so far under new manager Alan Irvine, scoring just twice in the Premier League and picking up two points from a possible 12.

Will Spurs make it five games without a win? Or does the resurgence start at White Hart Lane?

Image source, Getty Images

Thank you Saj.

Good afternoon everyone. Today is the day that Chelsea win the league, and West Brom go down. We all agree?

Let's start the day's debate with two massive sweeping statements...

That's all from me on the morning shift. Taking you through the lunchtime and Drive live text is MC supremo Tom Rostance.

Carry on reading.

Football Focus
BBC Sport

On the Premier League title race: "Chelsea have started very well and there is no doubt that Liverpool are a fantastic team but Manchester United have signed a few great players and Arsenal are also have a fantastic team.

"We know it is going to be tough this year and we have to try to be as strong as possible. We won the Premier League last season but that is now in the past and we have to focus on improving and being more consistent. As champions we want to win it again so we have to work hard because all the other teams are going to come at us and try to beat us. We need to deliver."

Football Focus
BBC Sport

Right, back to today. Four games and arguably the headline act is at 16:00 BST - champions Manchester City v Chelsea, which is live on BBC Radio 5 live.

Football Focus spoke to midfield general Yaya Toure ahead of the game.

Here he is on Chelsea and the start to the season:

"It's been quite a difficult start [two wins, draw and loss]. We finished last season very strongly and then had quite a few players at the World Cup which makes it hard to prepare properly for the start of the season.

"Chelsea are a top side who a have a great shape and are in form. We want to close the gap on Chelsea and need to win on Sunday. It is going to be really important to prove that as a team and as a club that we are growing every day."

Image source, Getty Images

At least Brendan Rodgers had a fit squad to pick from, unlike Villa manager Paul Lambert.

His squad were hit with what sounded like that virus from that 1995 film Outbreak starring Dustin Hoffman - which I'm sure you all remember.

Six of his troops were affected by a virus and Lambert was without three for the 3-0 home defeat against Arsenal, while three played with the bug.

Afterwards, the Scot revealed Villa's training base would be quarantined.

"We are probably going to let the lads stay away for a couple of days to try to clear it," said Lambert. "The staff as well as they have got it as well."

Where's Hoffman in a bio-suit when you need him?

OluwaMidaz:, external Liverpool need to admit they are 'doing a Spurs' before they can turn their season around...

Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge:, external "Can't wait till I'm fit..."

Mo, Manchester: Brendan Rodgers has got it all wrong. With Simon Mignolet, no matter how good your defence you'll concede. With Gerrard, Henderson and Lucas there's no creativity or pace in midfield. With Suarez gone, signing one striker and half a dozen unknown attacking players makes no sense. To add to all that his team selection has been pathetic and five games into the season the likes of Southampton have adapted, so he has no excuse.

To have your say on Saturday's matches and reaction use #bbcfootball,, external fire over a text to 81111, or post a comment on the BBC Sport Facebook, external or Google +, external page.

Image source, other

Liverpool. You might remember that they came close to winning the title last season.

It's been a very mixed bag for them this season - WLWLL. Their recent 'L' came at the Boleyn on Saturday.

West Ham managed a 3-1 win, which might have shocked even the most optimistic Hammer and the most pessimistic Red.

Here's Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers (much more fun if you read it out aloud in a 'Rodgers' style') with his take:

"There is a new expectation at the club. Teams have always wanted to beat us but we are even more of a rival now. We have to deal with it.

"The group has come such a long way. The level expected now has grown. But we have to be able to cope with that and at the moment we're not."

"We arrived early last year. There is no limits on what we want to achieve but we have lost three of our five games. We need to get back to that level as quickly as we can."

Before we move on to Liverpool, we'll take you on a guided tour of BBC Sport football content you should be reading while you sip on your freshly-squeezed orange juice and biting on that slice of brioche loaf.

• Amy Lawrence, who is on MOTD2 Extra at 12:15 BST on BBC One and BBC Radio 5 live, has written about the "madness" of the Premier League loan system.

• Chelsea striker Diego Costa has started well hasn't he? Seven in four games. Will it all go south for the Spaniard? European football writer Andy West investigates.

• And it's the 10th anniversary of Brian Clough's death. You can read some anecdotes from the people who met him. There are some classics.

Image source, @lukaspodolski

Ozil, obviously on a high after the game, took in a bit of 'fight night' action on Saturday.

Both he team-mate and compatriot Lukas Podolski were present as Briton George Groves defeated France's Christopher Rebrasse at Wembley Arena to win the European super-middleweight title on Saturday.

Podolski, tweeted:, external "Great fight at Wembley. Congrats to St. George Groves."

Arsenal defender Kieran Gibbs:, external "Great way to respond after Tuesdays defeat! Clean sheet and buzzing for Welbz getting off the mark."

Arsenal beat Aston Villa 3-0 at Villa Park, four days after going down 2-0 away to Borussia Dortmund, with summer signing Danny Welbeck getting his first goal for the club.

Papiss Demba Cisse:, external "Thanks to all the fans, keep supporting Jonas #happytobeback #alwayslookingforwardjonas."

Cisse scored twice as Newcastle came back from 2-0 down to draw at home to Hull, four days after midfielder Jonas Gutierrez revealed he is suffering from cancer.

Image source, Empics

Right. Enough Newcastle.

Let's race down south to revisit events in Birmingham, where Arsenal beat Aston Villa 3-0.

Germany World Cup winner Mesut Ozil - let's stress 'World Cup winner' - scored one and impressed with his all-round midfield play.

The frequently-criticised German played in the middle - his preferred position - and shone.

"He responded very well," said manager Arsene Wenger.

"He prefers playing in the middle, but I can find you about 10 other players in my squad who would say the same. It was not just his performance, the whole team played very well. It was the response we needed after Tuesday."

Image source, Sunday Express

Tommy, Bristol: Who exactly do Newcastle fans think would want to replace Alan Pardew? Not even Sir Alex Ferguson would be able to turn this French third XI into anything better than average.

Former Celtic manager Neil Lennon
Match of the Day

"You have to give Alan Pardew a lot of credit. He was feeling and kicking every ball. I have been in that situation. It is a lonely place. You can all have your staff and family around you, but you need a lot of self-belief. You have to transmit that to your players.

"In my second season at Celtic, we were 10 points behind Rangers and we were 3-0 down at half-time at Kilmarnock. I told the players if they wanted me there on Monday they had to turn it around. Thankfully they did. Maybe today is the same for Alan."

Saturday's 2-2 draw at home to Hull brought relief for Alan Pardew, but should he stay?

Jonathan Caldwell:, external Everyone has to remember his reputation. Sooner or later every club he manages gets relegated.

Ian Carr:, external Got to get behind him as Ashley ain't gonna sack him. For the good of the team.

Paul Gary Wilson:, external They should have fired him for head butting the Hull player last season.

To have your say on Saturday's matches and reaction use #bbcfootball,, external fire over a text to 81111, or post a comment on the BBC Sport Facebook, external or Google +, external page.

Image source, PA

And before we move away from Newcastle, check out Sunday's bumper gossip column.

The Sunday People are running a report stating that the Magpies will be looking to bring back local lad Andy Carroll back to St James' Park in January.

Imagine?

Image source, ALAMY

A few of Sunday's backpages have led with the Alan Pardew saga.

Our very own Chris Bevan was at St James' Park on Saturday. You can read his take on the situation up at Tyneside on the BBC Football page.