Image source, Getty Images

Allardyce had his doubts about Sunderland, but the lure of the challenge attracted him to the job. Well, if it's challenges Big Sam likes they don't come much bigger in the Premier League right now.

Things are looking ominous for the Black Cats, who are winless after eight, have just three points to their name, are only kept off bottom by local rivals Newcastle's own issues and, last time out, chucked away a 2-0 half-time lead to draw with West Ham.

"Waking up and coming in here, it's not work really," said Allardyce in his first press conference. Let's see how he feels in a month!

Image source, Getty Images

In contrast to Klopp, Sunderland's new boss is a known quantity in this country. He is the man who got Bolton into Europe, who saved Blackburn once, who was axed in quick time at Newcastle and who was taken but never loved by the West Ham fans. 

He is also synonymous with a certain type of football. But does that make him the anti-Klopp? Ben Smith tries to answer that very question in this piece.

What are the most ludicrous reasons you've missed or had to leave a match?

Henry Walmsley: Lady next to me who's a die-hard Fulham fan once left after 50 minutes to get back for Strictly. We were beating Manchester United 2-0!  

Daniel Leach: I missed the Manchester City 10-1 Huddersfield game as we had to go to some show my sister was involved in at Brownies. Even now, nearly 30 years later, I can remember my dad justifying it by saying that it'd be a rubbish game anyway...

Walshybfc: Had to leave a Blackpool game as the burglar alarm at work went off and I was key holder. Name called over tannoy 1-2 down, 3-2 win.  

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To complete the hat-trick of insight into Liverpool's new manager, why not have a listen to these Sportsworld clips, from the likes of Mohamed Zidan (former Borussia Dortmund striker), Colin Bell (one of Jurgen Klopp's coaches at Mainz) and Jurgen Kurtz (German journalist). 

Image source, Getty Images

"Normal was not the word that came to mind after half an hour in the presence of Jurgen Klopp."

For some insight into why Kloppmania (is that what we're calling it?) is spreading through the Premier League (and Liverpool in particular), have a read of this piece by Ben Smith, who was in the room when the German was introduced.

Anyway, back to Jurgen Klopp.

German footballer Michael Thurk knows the new Liverpool boss better than most players. He was a team mate of Klopp's at Mainz and then was managed by the former Borussia Dortmund boss. He has spoken to BBC World Service about his friend and told some cracking stories, including the time he talked tactics with him while sat on the toilet smoking.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, .

Swansea are top, Newcastle are bottom, while Liverpool and Spurs make up the rest of the bottom three.

Our Predictor game pits fans of Premier League clubs against each other and ranks them in a table. Have a go at predicting the results of this weekend's matches now and help your club move up the league. You can do it right here.

What are the most ludicrous reasons you've missed or had to leave a match?

Sam: Spurs fan living in Oxfordshire. Car broke down on M40. Walked across fields to Gerrards Cross while Dad stayed with car. Got train into London, got tube that broke down just short of Seven Sisters. Got to WHL ten minutes before end, went to office and asked for tannoy announcement asking brother for lift home, while friend went into ground. Friend saw sixth goal of a 3-3 draw. I saw no goals, brother didn't hear tannoy. Got tube back to Marylebone and train to Banbury, which terminated early in Bicester. Dad had been home eight hours by the time I got back.  

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Jose Mourinho’s £50,000 sanction was the seventh time (totalling £181,000) he has been fined by the FA in 10 years. Here is a little rundown...

• 9 June, 2005 - £5,000: For comments made after the first leg of the Carling Cup semi-final against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on 12 January.
• 10 August, 2005 – £75,000 (reduced from £200,000): For role in the ‘tapping-up’ of Arsenal defender Ashley Cole.
• 24 October, 2013 - £8,000: "Improper conduct" during his side's Premier League match against Cardiff.
• 10 April, 2014 - £8,000 (and warned about his future conduct): After being sent off in the 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa.
• 8 May, 2014 - £10,000: For comments he made after his side's Premier League game against Sunderland.
• 28 January, 2015 - £25,000: For comments claiming there is a "campaign" to influence referees' decisions against his Chelsea side.
• 15 October, 2015 - £50,000 (plus one game suspended ban): Claimed officials were afraid to award his team penalties.

That is some rap sheet. And it is also available on this website in video form.

Image source, .

Speaking of Jose Mourinho, the Chelsea boss has got himself in more hot water with the Football Association over his comments after his side's loss to Southampton, which have resulted in a £50k fine.

This didn't go down to well with Jose, who branded the fine a "disgrace" before adding: "I'm happy I don't have an electronic tag. The latest is that he is going to appeal. When it rains, it pours at Chelsea at the moment.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Sun

Imagine if Chelsea finished 10th (It is not that much of a stretch at the moment). If that were to happen, would you expect Jose Mourinho to keep his job as manager? No, me neither. He does, though. In fact, he's adamant, as the Sun reports., external

The paper also goes with a manager blame game double whammy of Van Gaal's chef-slamming along with Tim Sherwood making villains of the Aston Villa board.

What are the most ludicrous reasons you've missed or had to leave a match?

Paul: James Hayter's parents had to leave early to get a ferry, and missed their son scoring the fastest hat-trick.

Dave Covell: Curried egg sandwiches between games at a junior carnival... You know the score.  

FK: Brazil v Nigeria, Atlanta 96 Semi. Brazil leading 3-1, thought a massacre was on, went to bed. Next morning, heard we won 4-3.  

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Image source, Daily Star

It would appear that Louis van Gaal is focusing special attention on striker and captain Wayne Rooney over his contribution this season. Or should that be lack of contribution? Rooney has five goals for United this season, although three did come in one Champions League game in Brugge. According to the Star, Van Gaal doesn't think this is enough.

Image source, Daily Mirror

Excuses are a key part of a manager's arsenal. Remember when then-Newcastle boss Kenny Dalglish blamed his side drawing with League Two Stevenage in the 1998 FA Cup on the balls being too bouncy?

Anyway, after a good start to the season, Manchester United are having a bit of a blip, culminating in that 3-0 loss at Arsenal last time out. And who is boss Louis van Gaal blaming for all this? Well, everyone... including the chef, say the Daily Mirror.

That Daily Mail back page also mentions the story that emerged yesterday regarding the 2006 World Cup and allegations that Germany had a secret fund to secure votes to host the tournament. 

German news weekly Der Spiegel , external says a 6.7m euro (£4.9m) fund was set up using private money from the late former Adidas boss Robert Louis-Dreyfus.

However, as the BBC reported this morning, the German Football Association (DFB) has"categorically rejected" , external these allegations.

You can read more about that here.

Look at that. Just look at it. That man was born to manage Liverpool. Lawrenson, Souness and Rush would be proud.

Image source, Daily Mail

OK, get ready for a belting photo of a young moustache-sporting Jurgen Klopp, courtesy of the back page of today's Daily Mail. Ready? Here it comes...

Image source, Getty Images

"If I am sitting here in four years, we will win one title [piece of silverware] in this time."

That was Jurgen Klopp's pronouncement when he spoke to the media for the first time after being named Liverpool manager.

So this morning, as he prepares for his first game in charge, we're asking: will Liverpool will win the league during Klopp's time in charge?

You can vote now at the top of this page. The vote will close at 12:30 BST and terms and conditions can be found here.

Every Saturday morning we team up with the Danny Baker Show on BBC Radio 5 live to ask for your unusual footballing anecdotes.

As ever, Danny chooses the topic and this week he has gone for:

Most ludicrous reason you've missed or had to leave a match.

Image source, Getty Images

That brings to mind an anecdote I heard on the radio this week. Singer Tom Jones confessed he left 15 minutes early from the England v Wales Rugby World Cup match at Twickenham because Wales were losing and the game looked up. 

What did he miss? Only the Welsh overturning a 10-point deficit to win it right at the death and record one of the great victories in their history. Still, at least he beat the traffic.

So what are your horror stories when it comes to missing or leaving a match? Let us know using #bbcfootball,, external81111 on text (include your name) or head over to the Match of the Day Facebook page., external

Jurgen Klopp's debut as Liverpool boss is the first of an eight-game Premier League bonanza today, with Big Sam's bow one of six 3pm kick-offs. Here is the full list of top-flight fixtures for Saturday (15:00 BST kick-off unless stated)...

Tottenham v Liverpool (12:45 BST)

Chelsea v Aston Villa

Crystal Palace v West Ham

Everton v Man Utd

Man City v Bournemouth

Southampton v Leicester

West Brom v Sunderland, external

Watford v Arsenal (17:30 BST)