Image source, Daily Star on Sunday

It was a dream move for Rickie Lambert when he moved from Southampton to hometown club Liverpool last summer, but it's slowly turning into a nightmare with the Reds struggling for form going into today's game against Manchester United.

"We're hurting a lot. I've kept my head down. I haven't looked at any media because it's really hurting me," he told the Daily Star on Sunday., external

"It's something I have to try to get out of my system and the best way to do that is to have a brilliant game on Sunday. I have always believed in my ability and that I can score goals.

"I'm more than confident I can start scoring."

Image source, Mail on Sunday

Former England manager Glenn Hoddle, external has had his say on today game between Manchester United and Liverpool in the Mail on Sunday.

He hasn't compared it to a pub game like Gary Neville did, but says: "Both sides are playing poorly and both are defensively weak. When the tactical systems aren't working well, it tends to come down to the quality of the individuals, and that's why I feel this game has come at the right time for United.

"With Robin van Persie coming into form and Wayne Rooney on the pitch, they have more experienced players of quality than Liverpool. And they have the momentum of five consecutive wins, however, scratchy they were."

Image source, Reuters

Did Gary Cahill dive? Should he have been sent off? Hull manager certainly thought so, likening yesterday's game at Stamford Bridge to Russian ballet production Swan Lake. Can you imagine Bruce at the ballet?

Anyway - moving on from that thought - all of football's big hitters have had their say, including Gary Lineker, Robbie Savage, Garth Crooks and our very own Tom Rostance.

It's all here. Get clicking.

Garth Crooks
BBC Sport

"Twice, Chelsea players have dived in the first 60 minutes - first Willian and Gary Cahill. It's disgraceful. Managers can't say what I'm about to say - it questions the integrity of the refereeing. Is he intimidated by Stamford Bridge? The referee is not being fair. Cahill is on a yellow card and dived. He should have got another booking for that. The only conclusion you can come to is because it's Chelsea and now the injustice has got the Hull players' blood boiling. They're thinking they might as well take the law into their own hands."

Chelsea continue to lead the Premier League, but their win over Hull yesterday was not without controversy. Two Chelsea players were booked for diving while a third, Gary Cahill, escaped without punishment when he did likewise while on a yellow card.

Tom Huddlestone was sent off for Hull in a stormy encounter, which was settled by goals from Eden Hazard and Diego Costa.

Get Inspired
With BBC Sport

Has your Sunday league game been called off today? Good... you can get us started on our early-morning social media chat. Our colleagues at Get Inspired having been celebrating the best amateur coaches in the game at #BigThankYou., external To tie in with that, we want to know if you've ever played under anyone famous? Or you can tell us about the most inspirational football manager you have played with, and why they were so good.

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?

Different sports, but I was once converted from a non-bowling number 11 in my cricket team to captain and opening bowler. The wickets tumbled, the wins stacked up. Halcyon days.

Using #BigThankYou, let us know your tales on Twitter. You can also text us on 81111. We're looking forward to hearing from you.

Hold on to your horses, though. We've got the best part of three and a half hours to go until kick-off yet. That's gives us plenty of time to build up to the big kick-off, and also allows us time to reflect on yesterday's goings-on in the Premier League.

OK, these two sides might not be fighting it out at the top of the table at the moment - but that won't dilute the fervour once the whistle goes at 1.30pm. The biting cold of a December day will be replaced by the intense fire of a derby date. Bring it on.

Image source, Getty Images

The day has arrived. The day which you circled in big red ink when the fixtures were announced in the summer - back when England were still in the World Cup, Louis van Gaal was yet to step foot inside Old Trafford and back when Luis Suarez was still residing in Merseyside.

It's that one day of the year when nothing can be left to chance. Early night? Tick. Full breakfast? Tick. Lucky scarf dusted down? Tick.

So, now you've got your full allocation of Zzzs, are suitably full to the brim with bacon and eggs, and have dug out the team colours, it's time for the nerves to kick in.

It's Manchester United v Liverpool today, folks. One of the biggest games on any footballing calendar.