From the media reporting on a manager under pressure to a manager putting a member of the media under pressure. If you didn't see it yesterday, please take the opportunity now to have a watch of Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal's interview with Match of the Day commentator Guy Mowbray after his side's 1-0 loss at Chelsea on Saturday evening.

I think it is fair to say that Van Gaal was spoiling for an argument from the word go.

Is the battle to avoid the drop more interesting than the fight for the title? Do you think Leicester will escape the drop?

Shane: With their run-in including teams around them I see Leicester surviving at Hulls expense if they keep their current form/

Master Splinter: As a Hull fan it is unnerving that for the last six games we play four of the top seven while Leicester play four of the bottom seven.

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MOTD2 Extra
BBC Sport

Match of the Day 2 Extra is just getting under way on BBC One, BBC Radio 5 live and online at the top of this page. Host Mark Chapman is joined by Hull City defender Curtis Davies, Jason Burt of The Daily Telegraph and former Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson.

Later there'll be Match of the Day 2 itself - today it's on at 22:30 BST on BBC One, and from 23:20 for viewers in Scotland.

Plus tonight there'll also be FA Cup highlights on from 23:20 on BBC One and from 00:10 in Scotland.

Image source, AshleyOut.com

To complete our three-part appraisal of Premier League managers under pressure, I present to you John Carver, a man more sinned against than sinning? Well, it depends on your point of view. Carver has certainly not had it easy at Newcastle, taking over from a man who was not universally popular himself but had done a decent job, to work under a man who now appears to have upset every disillusioned black and white clad in St James' and beyond.

How then can you assess the performance of a manager in detachment from such chaos? The answer is, you can't.

Carver's side are not entirely out of the relegation battle yet and could dearly do with a win against Tottenham today. The last thing he probably needs then is for half his supporter base to boycott the match and the other half to come armed with anti-Ashley banners and a gut-full of resentment. The Newcastle fans will be hoping they can make a crucial point at the same time their team is claiming three.

Image source, Getty Images

As m'colleague Mandeep mentioned this morning, Manuel Pellegrini is not the only top-flight gaffer under threat of a P45 in the impending future. The Man City bosses opposite number today, Sam Allardyce, seems to have been battling against the axe for the vast majority of his West ham reign, with only this season's above-expectation efforts in the first half of this season giving him some respite.

However, a run of just one win in their last 10 has restored some volume to the doubters and rumour-mongers, who are peddling the suggestion that Everton's Roberto Martinez is being eyed as the next man to try his luck in the Upton Park hot-seat.

If Big Sam's is happy to shelve his Manchester United dream and keep hammering away for now, he could do a lot worse than driving another nail into Pellegrini's City coffin today.

Image source, Getty Images

Thanks Mandeep. Top effort sir.

Between now and the end of the season, at every game, post-match interview, press conference (hell, even when he's at home in the bath) there is going to be an almighty elephant in the room for Manuel Pellegrini. And that big unwelcome beast will wear the designer specs and big grin of one Jurgen Klopp.

Regardless of whether there is any truth regarding the precariousness of Pellegrini's position (although you suspect there is) or the soon to be ex-champions' interest in the soon to be ex-Dortmund gaffer (and you suspect there should be), the rumours are not going to go away unless one or all parties opt for a different path.

Of course, 'The Engineer' could still save his job. But first he has to start beating teams again, starting today with West Ham.

I'm off to practice my goalkeeping skills as it's now time to hand over the reins to Dawksey to see you through a top day of footie action. Enjoy.

Image source, Reuters

Burnley are the new basement team of the Premier League following their defeat by Everton.

The Clarets were beaten by a goal from Kevin Mirallas and now face fellow relegation rivals Leicester next Saturday in a massive game which will no doubt be called a six-pointer.

"The loss leaves us fighting," said Burnley boss Sean Dyche. "Written off before the start, still being written off now.

"We have had plenty of knocks this season and bounced back. We will look to do that again against Leicester."

Image source, Sunday Express

According to the Sunday Express,, external Everton boss Roberto Martinez is on West Ham's shortlist of managers they want to take over if they decide to get rid of Sam Allardyce.

There is also Scottish Cup semi-final action for you today, with Inverness Caledonian Thistle playing Celtic at Hampden. Falkirk will meet the winners at the national stadium on 30 May.

That match starts at 12:15 BST and you can follow all the action on our separate Scottish live text.

Get Inspired
With BBC Sport

In combination with Get Inspired, a BBC initiative aiming to increase participation in sport, this morning we're asking for your stories of goalkeeping blunders. It seems there have been a lot of them...

Viliame Baleikasavu: Primary school... regional final. The game was drawn 1-1 with five minutes left and I got nutmegged off a deflected shot which hit my glove. We never recovered after that goal and lost the chance to go to our first national finals in the schools history. Also i never played goalkeeper again. Worst day ever.

Keiron Walker: In my debut game for my team at nine years old, my friend brought down the striker and it was a penalty. As I braced myself, the penalty taker lashed the ball hard and low to my left. I saved it but then the wind blew it over the line... the game finished 1-1. Still hurts all these years later.

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Image source, Getty Images

Leicester moved off the bottom of the table for the first time since November following their win over Swansea on Saturday.

That was their third win on the trot but manager Nigel Pearson had a warning for his side afterwards.

"The danger is people start believing the job is done," he said. "It is far from it.

"We have still got six games left and we have to get as many points as possible from them, which is going to be a big challenge."

Image source, Sunday Telegraph

The Sunday Telegraph have an interesting interview with Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers., external Reds forward Raheem Sterling has been linked with a move to Manchester City buit Rodgers does not think the 20-year-old would be going to a bigger club if such a move took place.

"I wouldn't say that this was a development ground for going to bigger clubs," Rodgers said of Liverpool. "If you say that Manchester City is a bigger club than Liverpool, you're wrong."

He added: "You've got Liverpool and Manchester United, the two biggest clubs in this country, and the rest of them are fighting to be there over the next 20 years."

Get Inspired
With BBC Sport

In combination with Get Inspired, a BBC initiative aiming to increase participation in sport, this morning we're asking for your stories of goalkeeping blunders. It seem there have been a lot of them..

Jamie Westwood: Played a game at school, so worried about my loose shin pads, bent to fix when ball at other end, got lobbed 2 seconds later!

Andy Lake: Always been a keeper, but played RB in a friendly. Corner came in and without thinking I yelled "KEEPERS!" and caught the ball

Aly Sherif: Awful low cross came in. Defenders leave it for me. I go to pick it up. Miss it completely. They score. That was the winner.

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MOTD2 Extra
BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Hull defender Curtis Davies is appearing on Match of the Day 2 Extra later today, and we've been asking him about how a footballer follows the relegation battle and what it means to score an FA Cup final goal.

"I still get a lot of stick off Arsenal fans who say: 'You thought you won the FA Cup when you scored that goal.' But it wasn't because I thought I'd won it, it was just my dream come true. It was just pure ecstasy, all the adrenaline and emotion came naturally. I went ballistic but I quickly composed myself back to normal mode."

How did you follow the Leicester and Burnley scores on Saturday afternoon?

"I took my daughter to the park on her bike so I was away from the football but I was checking the scores on the apps. To see Leicester go up so early was disappointing and then obviously they got the late one to secure the win. That's three wins in three for them and they're getting momentum at the right time. It's down to us now to do the same, to hopefully get a win down at Crystal Palace we can use as a springboard ahead of a week when we play Arsenal and Liverpool at home."

Curtis is predicting wins for Manchester City, Tottenham and Liverpool in today's fixtures and there'll be more from him on Match of the Day 2 Extra from 12:15 BST on BBC One.

Jack Beardwell: I DO think Leicester will go down...But 3 wins in a row certainly makes it interesting! #bbcfootball

Ben Speller: surely Leicester can avoid relegation against all odds if they hold their nerve!! Come on Leicester.

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Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Image source, Reuters

"Jose Mourinho and Louis Van Gaal are in the luxurious position of possessing talented squads with financial power to add - although their respective styles will not change. The basis of the tactical approaches this season are likely to be maintained next.

"Chelsea have the advantage of the stronger team, more set in its ways and totally attuned to its manager's demands.

"Manchester United are catching up - but recent weeks have suggested the battle between the two old friends and adversaries will be joined even more intensely next season."

Read more from Phil here.

Get Inspired
With BBC Sport

In combination with Get Inspired, a BBC initiative aiming to increase participation in sport, this morning we're asking for your stories of goalkeeping blunders.

Jamie O'Donoghue: My first game with the new club, we were playing of a Wednesday evening. The team we were playing against were on a counter attack so as they were coming down the pitch I kept in line with the goal post down the other end to make sure I had my positioning (rather then looking behind me). Ball was crossed in and I was like that's going wide , so I left it, went straight in the top corner at the near post. Moral of the story, Sunday League goals are never in line with each other and you shouldn't trust them for positioning.

Tony Penty: Played in goal for 35 years so made plenty, you just got to bounce back.

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Image source, EPA

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal says his side delivered their best performance of the season in the Premier League defeat at Chelsea.

It's a view he has expressed a few times this season and, despite having 70.3% of possession at Stamford Bridge as well as 15 shots to Chelsea's seven, United were beaten by a solitary Eden Hazard goal.

"I am not frustrated. I am very proud of my team," said the Dutchman.

"We played our best match of the season but in football you can lose a match even when you are the better team."

Get Inspired
With BBC Sport

In combination with Get Inspired, a BBC initiative aiming to increase participation in sport, this morning we're asking for your stories of goalkeeping blunders.

Image source, Getty Images

Martin Baines: Was at Anfield when Gary Sprake threw the ball into the net and they played Careless Hands by Des O'Connor at half time.

Sam Whittingham: I had an unnatural ability to get lobbed when I was on my own goal line.

James Blackwell: I let a shot go wide only for it to bounce off the post, hit me on the leg, and go in. We drew 3-3 with a team we'd beaten 7-0 before.

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