Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown
Football Focus

"For the last six months of last season Liverpool played magnificent, attacking football. Since then Brendan Rodgers seems to have confused himself with the decisions he has made - where is the best place to play Steven Gerrard, for example. I would not play him as a number 10. Gerrard can pick a pass, but to play in the same way he used to, with Fernando Torres, he doesn't have the legs to do that now. There are times when Rodgers has to pick a team that shows he loves his players, but I am confused as to what his best team is now."

This morning we'd like to hear your stories about the most inspirational football coaches you've played under (see 10:12) as part of a collaboration with Get Inspired, a BBC initiative that aims to increase participation in sport.

Ed, Bristol: Was coached at school by Raphael Burke, member of the class of '92. Great bloke and unbelievably talented. I remember going back to school, years after I left, to show him his name in Giggsy's autobiography, and he embarked on a lap of the school celebrating wildly, legend!

Lewis: I was coached by my dad who was a goalkeeper for Hereford and England under 18s in the 1970s. Always do something wrong every game according to him...

Tell us your tales using #BigThankYou, external on Twitter, send a text on 81111 (UK only), or post a comment on the BBC Sport Facebook, external or Google+ page., external

Liverpool legend Mark Lawrenson has this week accused the Reds of being "rudderless" and says they are "going backwards just as fast as they went forwards last season".

Speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan, Lawro said: "It is eight months since Liverpool blew Manchester United away to win 3-0 at Old Trafford but it seems an awful lot longer than that.

"To be frank, Liverpool are all over the place at the moment. They are rudderless, low on confidence and do not seem to have a definitive way of playing."

Image source, PA

It's not been a great week for Brendan Rodgers, has it? Held at home by Sunderland and knocked out of the Champions League, it's turning into a pretty poor season by last year's lofty standards.

The Liverpool manager is coming under increasing pressure, but still believes he is the right man for the Anfield job: "The message for me, is clear. I don't think there would be anyone better to do the job here.

"Seven months ago we nearly won the title. I had time to work with players and, above expectation, took them beyond where the club has been. This has been a difficult start with new players, less coaching time, young players, virtually starting again.

"I don't think there is anybody better equipped to deal with that having been here for the last two-and-a-half years and experienced what this club is about."

Time to switch our focus to Old Trafford then. Liverpool versus Manchester United. Need I say more?

Former Liverpool and England midfielder Danny Murphy
MOTD

Image source, PA

"Sunderland are lacking quality in front of goal. Where are the goals going to come from? They are well organised but they're lacking massively in front of goal."

Big Sam's one-man quest for global footballing dominance suffered a little knock yesterday, when his high-flying Hammers were held to a draw by coupon bankers Sunderland. Stewart Downing equalised Jordi Gomez's controversial first-half penalty - and Big Sam was not happy afterwards.

"It was not a penalty and it is as simple as that," he said. "It was given by the assistant referee and he got it horribly wrong.

"I wanted three points. I think the performances and chances created deserve that but we respect a point away from home in the Premier League."

This morning we'd like to hear your stories about the most inspirational football coaches you've played under (see 10:12) as part of a collaboration with Get Inspired, a BBC initiative that aims to increase participation in sport.

George: I've played under Curtis Woodhouse at Goole AFC - does that count?

Curtis Woodhouse, footballer turned boxer - now there's a guy you wouldn't want to let down in training..., external

Tell us your tales using #BigThankYou, external on Twitter, send a text on 81111 (UK only), or post a comment on the BBC Sport Facebook, external or Google+ page., external

Former Liverpool and England midfielder Danny Murphy
MOTD

Image source, Getty Images

"Hector Bellerin, the young right-back, was terrific. He showed character after being dragged off at half-time at Stoke last week. He was so keen to get forward against Newcastle and make things happen. Others would have faltered. It's as though he said to himself 'forget the disappointment of last week, I'm going to show the manager why he has put faith in me again'. I'm really pleased for him because he has had some criticism lately."

Arsenal might have had a disappointing start to the season, but they are just two points outside the top four following yesterday's hammering of Newcastle. Gunners fans sang the name of manager Arsene Wenger during the game - and that delighted the Frenchman.

"We lost, unfortunately, at Stoke and we feel guilty for that," Wenger said. "But 99.9% it is people with full respect even when they're not happy.

"I can take the 0.1%. Yes, of course, I'm thankful for the fans singing my name at the end of the match. It's very nice to get support from the crowd."

This morning we'd like to hear your stories about the most inspirational football coaches you've played under (see 10:12), as part of a collaboration with Get Inspired, a BBC initiative that aims to increase participation in sport.

Clarence: I was coached by my dad who went on to coach a successful multi-disabled Northampton Town and England team respectively.

George Lucking: Playing for my dad on Sundays inspired me to be an amateur coach. He got level one and two just to make our experience better.

Josh: When I was eight my football coach was an ex-Nigerian professional player who got sent off at the 1994 World Cup and refused to leave the pitch.

Not sure Nigeria had a player sent off, external in '94 Josh - are you thinking of the right guy?

Tell us your tales using #BigThankYou, external on Twitter, send a text on 81111 (UK only), or post a comment on the BBC Sport Facebook, external or Google+ page., external

Former Liverpool and England midfielder Danny Murphy
MOTD

Image source, PA

"I fear for Leicester. I've been down there and when you look up and it's not one game you need to get out of the bottom three but two, it's tough. You have to be strong, you need strong personalities."

Former Liverpool and England midfielder Danny Murphy
MOTD

Image source, Reuters

"He is hugely important to Manchester City especially as the fixtures get more and more important. He will only get properly appreciated when he is finished. If I was at Manchester City I'd be doing everything to keep him."

Away from home. 1-0 win. Frank Lampard on the scoresheet. How many times has that happened in Premier League history?

Manchester City are certainly appreciative of ex-Chelsea hero Lampard this season. At this rate, Manuel Pellegrini will be locking the midfielder in a broom cupboard until he agrees to stay beyond the end of December.

"I think Frank is a very important player for us and I hope we will not have any problems for him to stay here," Pellegrini said earlier this week. "I hope we can have a decision as soon as possible."

This morning we'd like to hear your stories about the most inspirational football coaches you've played under, as part of a collaboration with Get Inspired, a BBC initiative that aims to increase participation in sport.

Who was it who turned you from a striker into a centre-half? Who gave you a fresh look at life when you were struggling off the field? And have you played with any famous inspirational figures?

Jason Gish: A big thank you must go to Tony Rosenberg. Not the most inspirational, in fact "useless" was the catchphrase, but first to pick me on a Saturday...

Tell us your tales using #BigThankYou, external on Twitter, send a text on 81111 (UK only), or post a comment on the BBC Sport Facebook, external or Google+ page., external

Former Liverpool and England midfielder Danny Murphy
MOTD

Image source, Getty Images

"Performances are important for Southampton manager Ronald Koeman. Despite not winning, they played OK against Arsenal and Manchester United, and they could have got something out of Burnley. As long as performances stay the same then I can't see Southampton dropping out of the top six."

Former Liverpool and England midfielder Danny Murphy
MOTD

Image source, PA

"I was one of many writing them Burnley off but they keep proving every week that they want to be in the Premier League."

It's been a good weekend for Burnley, who are finally out of the bottom three after beating Ronald Koeman's Southampton. Ashley Barnes was on target for the Clarets, while goalkeeper Tom Heaton saved Dusan Tadic's penalty. Can the Clarets keep their run going and somehow stay in the Premier League?

Image source, Independent

All eyes might be on Manchester United versus Liverpool today but there's also another game involving Swansea and Tottenham.

Swansea midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson will be facing the club he left last summer and his current manager Garry Monk told the Independent:, external "I was surprised he was available in the summer, but when I spoke to him he made it clear he wanted to come here.

"I already knew about his quality from when he was on loan here, and we have just been getting him to add little extras to his game.

"He works incredibly hard, he always stays behind after training to do more work and he has been great to have among the squad. The move could hardly have worked out better for him or us."

London-based Belgian journalist Kristof Terreur:, external Rumour has it Rodgers may drop Simon Mignolet for Manchester United clash. Confirmation one hour before the game.