As Andy Carroll leaps and almost makes it 2-0 with a downward header, Opta Joe brings us this gold...

You wait such a long time for a goal and then two come along at once.

Stuart Pearce
BBC Radio 5 live at Upton Park

"That is what Antonio can do. One minute he is two yards away from his full-back making a slide tackle but a few seconds later he is getting in the opponents' box and scoring a header.

"That is what a modern day wide player has to do."

You can listen to Stuart Pearce on BBC Radio 5 live by clicking 'live coverage' at the top of this page. To follow a live text of West Ham v Liverpool click here.

Kevin Kilbane
Former Everton winger on Football Focus

"Sunderland are in trouble, everyone recognises that.

"For both sides, this is a must-win game, but Sunderland have to stop shipping goals.

"They also didn't offer enough going forward against Liverpool and there will be a lot of activity for Sam Allardyce in this transfer window."

Complete the following sentence: "In 2016, football will..."

Tony Ransom:, external Ban half and half scarfs.

Steve Povey:, external In 2016 football will see players moving FROM Stoke to Barcelona.   

Mark Lawrenson
Ex-Liverpool defender on Football Focus

Image source, BBC Sport

“Villa lost Benteke, Delph and Vlaar and they’ve not replaced them. They’ve got no chance of staying up.

“They want Loic Remy. But why would Chelsea let Loic Remy go anywhere? Costa’s not been playing well and Falcao’s still struggling. He’s the next striker. They’re still in the Champions League.”

Stuart Pearce
BBC Radio 5 live at Upton Park

"It is exciting times for West Ham, but also good times for Liverpool on the horizon as they think they have a manager that will be there for the long run.

"West Ham have gone 4-4-2 with Valencia up alongside Carroll."

You can listen to Stuart Pearce on BBC Radio 5 live by clicking 'live coverage' at the top of this page. To follow a live text of West Ham v Liverpool click here.

The two most expensive signings in Liverpool history - Andy Carroll and Christian Benteke - are about to go head to head. You can follow it all on our live text by clicking here. They are underway at Upton Park.

Mark Lawrenson
Ex-Liverpool defender on Football Focus

“Christian Benteke has his critics, but he has just earned Liverpool six points. He’s not the answer to the way Klopp wants to play. But he is at the moment, because they have nobody else. If you watch the goals he scores, they come when he doesn’t have to think about it. When he does, he’s not quite wired up in the right way.”  

Image source, Getty Images

Complete the following sentence: "In 2016, football will..."

Elejogun Joshua:, external In 2016 more managers will be fired, British clubs to spend more money on foreign players in the transfer market, and Germany or Portugal to win Euro Championship.

Alex Cook:, external Undergo a seismic shift as Leicester pip Arsenal to the Premier League title, Palace qualify for Europe, Villa end up relegated and Louis van Gaal will scarper back to Holland with his tail between his legs.  

Stuart Pearce
Former England full-back, BBC Radio 5 live at Upton Park

"Andy Carroll's ability as a target man would cause problems in any league in the world. But what he doesn't have is the ability to get a run of games. I hope he can overcome his injury problems, if not for West Ham's sake, then for England's."

Steve Wilson
BBC Match of the Day commentator

Image source, Getty Images

"Slaven Bilic had a great record against Liverpool under Brendan Rodgers.

"In August he guided West Ham to a first win at Anfield since 1963, whilst his Besiktas side knocked Liverpool out of the Europa League last season.

"Under Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool have put in some stunning displays (Manchester City and Southampton), but also some desperately poor ones (Newcastle and Watford): consistency is an issue.

"Another issue is Liverpool's defending of set-pieces, a fault Andy Carroll will hope to exploit.

"Still Liverpool's record signing, Carroll has two goals this season - both scored as a substitute, both in the 79th minute and both in 2-1 home wins. Liverpool's German manager may not know the expression that trouble comes in threes…"

Read the preview

Newcastle Chronicle reporter Lee Ryder seems a little pessimistic in his tweet from the Emirates.

"We have been unlucky in the last three games and we are hoping in 2016 that turns a bit," Newcastle manager Steve McClaren told the media this week., external

The Toon are five losses from five visits to the Emirates.

Arsenal begin 2016 at the top of the Premier League. There are always the doubters waiting for them to slip up but no one can deny they have momentum.

Today they face a visit from Newcastle who have one point from three games and have scored just once in that spell.

BBC Radio 5 Live

There's a huge double bill of Premier League action coming up on BBC Radio 5 live. Mark Pougatch has build-up and live commentary of West Ham against Liverpool at Upton Park at 12:45 GMT. As soon as that match is over it is off to Old Trafford to see if Manchester United can return to winning ways against Swansea City. That match kicks-off at 15:00 GMT.

Image source, Getty Images

Biggest game outside the Premier League today? Look no further than Middlesbrough against Derby County - first versus second in the Championship. Boro, who have not been in the Premier League since 2009, start 2016 one point clear of Derby and with a game in hand over their title rivals.

Elsewhere, it's fifth versus sixth as Burnley host Ipswich Town. At the bottom of the table, Bolton, four points from safety, host 19th-placed Huddersfield.

Image source, Getty Images

Cardiff City's players have each been drawn by supporters and Kenwyne Jones seems happy with the effort made on him.

His image, drawn by Isaac Simmon, features his trademark dreadlocks which have now disappeared.

Kevin Kilbane
Former Everton winger on Football Focus

On Leicester City, who are second in the Premier League and will go top today if they beat Bournemouth and Arsenal drop points against Newcastle.

"What a signing N'Golo Kante has been. He has been one of the signings of the season.

"When he wins the ball, his immediate thought is to get the ball forward. He has an ability to hit a ball and is the overall package, a complete midfielder."

Football Focus
Former Leicester defender Matt Elliott

"You'll see 30,000 people here this afternoon who think Leicester can win the title. I don't necessarily concur with that, but gaining a top-four slot is looking more and more possible, isn't it?

"Claudio Ranieri has built a feelgood factor here, and there's a unique atmosphere here . In the past, the atmosphere was a little stale, but it's special now."