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West Brom have played just 2,601 passes this season - the lowest in the league.

Direct balls to Salomon Rondon? Pep Guardiola mentioned the striker several times in Friday's news conference.

"They use his style marvellously and we have to adapt," said the City boss.

Guardiola also said he has been told by staff about Tony Pulis, adding: "They informed me that it is a special, special team. He did a huge job at Stoke City - it was almost impossible to win there. It will be tough."

Jermaine Jenas
Former England midfielder on 5 live

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Manchester City for me, they are top of the league, a lot is expected of them, but people don’t understand the transition phase when a new manager comes into the team.

It upsets a lot of players – which are seeing now - it is a completely new way of playing, and they have been put in difficult circumstances. 

So to be top of the league after all the changes at this stage of season, they will be very happy.

Jermaine Jenas was speaking on last night's BBC Radio 5 live football social.

Manchester City

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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola on City's six-match winless run: "For the players, they don't deserve this. We are in this period like it is but it will make us stronger in the future, I am sure about that.

"I need time to learn, to improve. I'm still in that process. We have to learn as quickly as possible."

Who would have seen this coming?

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Pep Guardiola started life as Manchester City boss with 10 competitive wins in a row. Since then it is six without a win.

Yes they still sit top of the table but something seems amiss.

Sergio Aguero has no goals in eight games for club and country, Vincent Kompany was "too tired" to play the second-half of their EFL Cup win in midweek and Kevin De Bruyne is a doubt for West Brom's visit.

All is not well. But this is Pep. He'll sort it surely?

A reminder that Football Focus, including an exclusive interview with former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso, gets going at 12:00 BST on BBC One and by pressing the play button at the top of this page.

Also, BBC Radio 5 live's coverage building up to the Sunderland v Arsenal game also starts at midday.

Sunderland boss David Moyes makes three changes from the midweek EFL Cup defeat by Southampton. Centre-back John O'Shea, midfielder Steven Pienaar and striker Jermain Defoe start as Papy Djilobodji, Paddy McNair and Victor Anichebe make way.

Sunderland XI: Pickford, Jones, Kone, O'Shea, Van Aanholt, Watmore, Rodwell, Ndong, Pienaar, Khazri, Defoe.

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger reverts back to his Premier League side as he makes seven changes from the midweek win over Reading in the EFL Cup. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain keeps his place as he replaces the injured Theo Walcott. Nacho Monreal and Santi Cazorla are also sidelined.

Keeper Petr Cech, centre-back Shkodran Mustafi, playmaker Mesut Ozil and forward Alexis Sanchez are among those back in the starting line-up. Aaron Ramsey was injured during the first league game of the season but is on the bench.

Arsenal XI: Cech, Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Gibbs, Elneny, Coquelin, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ozil, Iwobi, Sanchez.

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Who do you think are the naughtiest team in the league? And when I say naughtiest, I mean the side who like to hand out a foul or two.

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It's Watford. The Hornets know how to mix it alright. They've dished out 137 fouls in the league, which is 14 more than Tottenham.

Hull are a bit of a nice touch on 90. Only four sides have less and Arsenal are the cleanest side in the league on 82.

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Troy Deeney could be kicking back with a slice of celebratory cake tonight. The Watford striker is on 99 goals in all competitions for the club.

Deeney has three goals in the league this season. He looks more integral than ever as his strike partner from last season Odion Ighalo is linked with a move away., external

Don't be surprised if you see Hull come out in a 9-1-1 formation today.

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They have lost four on the spin in the league and away from home it's ugly. A 5-1 loss at Liverpool was followed by a 6-1 drubbing at Bournemouth.

It's hard to find too many positives for them right now, their tally of 99 touches in the opposition penalty area is the lowest in the league.

Still, boss Mike Phelan says "everyone's got a smile on their face now" after an EFL Cup win in midweek. Do smiles win points though? 

Christopher Baxter: Xhaka's goal against Hull. Classic Arsenal. Poetry in motion

lliam Kavanagh: As an Arsenal fan, my highlight of the season so far is Arsenal beating Chelsea 3-0.

The Arsenal fans are out in force today...

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It's worth remembering that Leicester's four away games have included trips to Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea but the champions are struggling on the road in the league.

Their counter-attacking style of last season has maybe been sussed out and they still aren't seeing a lot of possession.

They average 43.9%. Only Hull (43.89), Watford (42.99), Sunderland (38.1), Burnley (36.49) and West Brom (36.04) average less.

Jermaine Jenas
Former England midfielder on 5 live

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Tottenham have got a settled manager with a settled team, and he knows how he wants them to play. Liverpool are in the same situation. 

It works well for Spurs to go under the radar. At the minute though, the only worrying thing is that the defence is keeping them in this situation.  

Chelsea and Manchester City, who are the other two favourites, have had new managers come into the fold. I expect it to take some time. It has surprised me how quickly Manchester City have adapted.

Jermaine Jenas was speaking on last night's BBC Radio 5 live football social.

John Motson
BBC Match of the Day commentator

During their famous title-winning season of 1961-62, Tottenham didn't suffer defeat until the 17th game.

So, however well they are doing this campaign, and their nine-match unbeaten run is their best ever start to a Premier League campaign, they have still got someway to go to replicate that feat.

Leicester have lost all four of their away games this season but they won at White Hart Lane in January - a six-point swing in their favour that played a pivotal role in them ultimately winning the title.

However, Claudio Ranieri's prioritising of the Champions League means I wouldn't be surprised if he rested a few first-choice players with Wednesday's trip to Copenhagen in mind.

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There's a pattern here. Manchester United started the season decently, now they struggle. Manchester City were super, now they struggle. Tottenham were great but are now four without a win in all competitions.

They are nine unbeaten in the league though, a best start to a season since 1990. Underpinning that form is solid defending as they remain the only side in the league yet to concede from open play.

Their five clean sheets is a league high but Hugo Lloris deserves some serious praise as Spurs have had 28 shots hit their target. Southampton are the meanest outfit with just 19 shots hitting the target against them.

It is the champions Leicester that will be playing Tottenham today.

BBC Radio 5 live

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Dan Walker will be on Football Focus on BBC One from 12:00 and has been showing off his football skills.

BBC Sport app users will need to click on the below link.

Jermain Defoe returns to the starting line-up for Sunderland as they take on an Arsenal side that are second in the table. John O'Shea also plays for the Black Cats in the middle of defence.

Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil play for the Gunners, but Theo Walcott is missing with a slight injury with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain included. Aaron Ramsey is back on the bench for the Gunners after being out of action since the first game of the season because of a hamstring injury.

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Has Jordon Ibe lived up to his billing yet?

A £15m summer move seemed expensive for a 20-year-old with just 20 Premier League starts to his name. But last week we saw Match of the Day pundits singing his praises.

Ibe has become a regular for Bournemouth but as of yet has not scored a league goal or managed an assist.

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Adam Smith is one of those guys barely anyone picked in their Fantasy Football team to start the campaign but now he's a popular choice.

He has one goal, a couple of assists and two clean sheets on his record, enough to see him in 12.8% of teams in the Premier League's official Fantasy Football game.

That makes him the 10th most popular defender in the game. If he earned points for being fouled he'd be an even better pick it seems.

Jermaine Jenas
Former England midfielder on 5 live

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Bournemouth are my team of the season so far.

They have maintained the way they play, Eddie Howe doesn’t veer away from what he believes is the right way to play the game. 

I think the draw last weekend was a good result for Spurs, which shows where Bournemouth are.

Jermaine Jenas was speaking on Friday's BBC Radio 5 live football social.