Jordan Henderson shoots the breeze with two young mascots before the small talk is over and they stroll out into a bubbling and recently-expanded Anfield.

Martin Fisher
Match of the Day commentator

How fitting that West Brom boss Tony Pulis reaches 1,000 games as a manager at Stoke - his home for nearly half of those matches over two spells in which he guided the club into the Premier League and then kept them there, season after season.

Right now, that tenure looks under threat. Four successive defeats leave Stoke bottom of the table. Their defence, so miserly under Pulis, has become shambolic.

Deadline-day signing Wilfried Bony looks rusty, and chances will be at a premium against a well-drilled Albion outfit.

A clean sheet on his return to the Potteries would be the perfect way for Pulis to celebrate his personal milestone and a win would make it four in a row against his former employers.

Ian Dennis
at Liberty Stadium for 5 live Sport

Manchester City made nine changes in midweek and have Celtic away next week in the Champions League. But they are on a terrific run of form and Pep Guardiola's side have won nine from nine so far this season, a record.

Leon Britton is at the front of the Swansea tunnel queue.

The visitors are taking a little longer to emerge. 

Here they come amid a flurry of handslaps. Kevin de Bruyne and Fernandinho lead the way for City.

Chris Waddle
Former England winger at Old Trafford for 5 live Sport

Leicester are champions, let's not forget. They have spent money and have a big, healthy squad. But today, you must say, after the first 20 minutes Manchester United controlled the football match.

Danny Mills
Ex-Man City defender on Final Score

Jose Mourinho wanted a bit more pace and dynamism up front. Most fans were saying leave Wayne Rooney out and I feel a little bit sorry for him. I'm not sure what he does now. He's not a goalscorer, he's not an out-and-out striker and he's not a centre midfielder either. What's his specialty in that team?

Garth Crooks
Former Spurs striker on Final Score

Wayne Rooney has far too much to offer Manchester United to be on the bench for long. United are in the Europa League, have a league challenge to mount and the FA Cup to compete in. He also has a crucial role to play in the dressing room as both the United and England captain.

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United goalscorer Juan Mata: "Today we showed what we can do. It was a difficult week last week but I think we are back. I think it was the movement and the intensity and we showed we wanted to recover the ball quick and play the game in their half.

"If you play for a club like Manchester United and lose one or two game you know you are going to get criticised. We have won two in a row and now we have two more before the international break.

"What we want to do is play with freedom and express, we follow the manager's instructions and then we have to do what we feeI. I think we had that today with Ibrahimovic dropping, Paul Pogba going and finding the spaces."

...in the crowd at Stoke v West Brom: BBC Radio 5 live presenter and mega Baggies fan Adrian Chiles, holding a tube of orange-flavoured effervescent tablets.

More breaking celebrity spots as we get them. 

Jonathan Pearce
Match of the Day commentator at the Liberty Stadium

Image source, Getty Images

It would be a major shock if Pep Guardiola fails to make it a perfect 10 after his club record run, for a new manager, of nine victories in his nine opening matches in charge.

Sergio Aguero is back after his ban to add to his nine goals in all competitions. It's all very positive.

Even a side showing nine changes was too strong in midweek for Swansea, who haven't won at home and will have cause for grave concern unless they rediscover their old unity and flair soon.

Image source, Reuters

Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri speaking to Sky Sports: "It is not possible to concede three goals from corners. That means you are not concentrating, We are usually very solid at corners and free-kicks, it was very strange. Until now we have been very strong, we have made some mistakes. I can understand that they score with headers, that they are very tall, but to score a smart goal from a corner is not possible.

"It is important to clean our mind and get ready for the Champions League on Tuesday."

Image source, PA

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho: "It was a very good performance and result. It is not easy against them and not easy to win in the style that we did. 

"In the second half it was more about control - we wanted a little bit more - but Ranieri was very good to read his options and keep some balance. It was a choice of losing heavily or with some control over the scoreline.

"Today we had intensity movement and dynamism. To be back home and beat the champions is good. Last season we couldn't beat them and this season we have beaten them twice already.

"Wayne Rooney is a big player for me, United and this country. he is my man, I trust him completely. He is happy.

"We have lost six points in the Premier League. We have four victories which is really important. Today it is about the security and the happiness of the fans, I don't know when the last time that they had such a scoreline at half time."

Guy Mowbray
MOTD commentator at the RIverside

Image source, Reuters

With the fixtures and underwhelming results that they've had, Middlesbrough's return to the Premier League has felt somewhat low key so far.

This game ramps things up a little and, even at this early stage of the season, could point to how the campaign will pan out for Boro. A third defeat in a row would be alarming.

Tottenham talk is dominated by the loss of Harry Kane for the foreseeable future, but I think they'll still get results without him.

Vincent Janssen will get a run of games now, and after needing eight to score his first Eredivisie goal for AZ last season, he then averaged one every match.

Image source, Reuters

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba speaking to Sky Sports: "We were very focused, we knew it was gong to be difficult and we showed a very big performance today. We want to keep on with that. I am very happy for the result and the goal - I hope that is not going to be the last. 

On recent criticism of the team: "I never look at the newspapers. I say one thing - it is at the end, at the end we will see."

  Everton manager Ronald Koeman believes in-form midfielder Idrissa Gueye has been a "great signing" for the club, but bristles when asked about his squad rotation following their EFL Cup exit to Norwich on Tuesday.  

Alan Green
MOTD commentator at Anfield

While Manchester City's 100% success record so far is rightly attracting attention, it's the sheer excitement generated by Liverpool's football, that aberration at Burnley aside, that's drawing envious eyes from everywhere.

The first-half display at Chelsea set the standard that Jurgen Klopp wants to see repeated against all opponents, no matter the competition. If it is, then the top four is certainly achievable. Who knows...the title itself?

Hull have had a reasonable start but they were thrashed at home by Arsenal last Saturday and no firm contract yet for Mike Phelan creates uncertainty.

Image source, Reuters

Chris Waddle
Former England winger at Old Trafford for 5 live Sport

Image source, Reuters

Manchester United are still searching for perfection, and Jose Mourinho will tell you he wants to strengthen still further. 

Today, it was three goals from set pieces and once the first went it we saw a different, much-improved United. They moved the ball increasingly quickly and Leicester found it difficult. Quite often the Foxes were simply undone and goodness knows what the score would have been had Claudio Ranieri not made those changes at half-time.

Dion Dublin
Former Leicester and Man Utd forward on Football Focus

"Conceding goals like Stoke have is the only problem for the Potters - they do have a good team and a good manager."

Stoke have never lost their first three home games in the league. Ever. 

They've clocked up two on the bounce...

Image source, Rex Features

League Two leaders Plymouth lost their first two league matches of the season but have since won six in a row. They will aim to make it seven at home to Hartlepool.

Their is a doubt over striker Paul-Arnold Garita (above) who hurt his hamstring in the 2-0 win over Exeter last weekend.

Second-placed Doncaster are at Luton, who lie seventh, while third-placed Crewe host Blackpool.

Bottom club Cambridge, still searching for their first league win, host third-bottom Newport.