Jonathan Greening
Former Manchester United midfielder on 5 live Sport

The Everton players haven’t gelled. Yes, they’ve been unfortunate with injuries, but Marco Silva was there to make the team gel. Results have been poor this year and he’s spent a lot of money and it was time for him to go.

Every time I see Everton there’s no leaders on the pitch to get their team-mates going. There’s no one on the pitch who can do that. Darren Ferguson will be after passion and aggression.

The Everton fans are hard to please. Under Sam Allardyce they weren’t happy with the brand of football, so it [the next manager] has to be the right fit.

The fans demand passion and good football. Silva had half decent football but not the other side of things and now he’s gone as well.

Tottenham will again be without Erik Lamela and Michel Vorm because of hamstring and calf injuries respectively.

Long-term absentees Ben Davies and Hugo Lloris also remain on the sidelines.

Burnley manager Sean Dyche says Ashley Barnes has a "strong chance" of playing following a groin problem that limited him to a cameo role on Tuesday.

Johann Berg Gudmundsson is definitely out, while Charlie Taylor, Ashley Westwood and Phil Bardsley are doubts.

Crystal Palace's Christian Kabasele and Roberto Pereyra could return after hamstring injuries.

Captain Troy Deeney is in line for his first home start since mid-August but Craig Dawson is not quite ready to come back after a head injury.

Crystal Palace are likely to be without Max Meyer, who has a sickness bug.

In defence, Mamadou Sakho starts a suspension and Joel Ward and Patrick van Aanholt are still injured, but Gary Cahill or Scott Dann could return.

Bournemouth's Adam Smith has an ankle injury, while top scorer Harry Wilson is ineligible to face his parent club.

Steve Cook remains out after breaking his wrist against Spurs last weekend, while Joshua King is sidelined with a hamstring problem.

Liverpool, who welcome back goalkeeper Alisson after suspension, have no fresh injury problems.

Joel Matip continues to be troubled by a knee injury and remains out, along with Fabinho and Nathaniel Clyne.

With 40 minutes to go until we get some actual football, here is the early team news from today's three 3pm games in the Premier League...

Everton caretaker boss Duncan Ferguson on what he's done since taking over from the sacked Marco Silva: "We've been positive, everyone has got a smile on their face and working hard. It is only a small amount of time but we've tried to pick them up."

On bringing in Theo Walcott and Morgan Schneiderlin: "I felt we needed some fresh legs, Tom Davies has done well and it was a tough decision but he's played a few matches. Yerry Mina has a hamstring injury so that was forced on us."

Chelsea boss Frank Lampard on what it is like facing a team which has just sacked their manager: "It means it is a potentially more dangerous game for us, we all know when there is a change there can be a bounce effect - especially when they bring in a club legend like Duncan Ferguson is.

"And with the way he approached the game as a player, you would imagine they will have a go. You know they will give everything for a result which will turn things around for them.

"As a player I always thought at a stadium the fans can set the tone and they will be up for it. It's up to us to counter that with how we play and our aggression.

"We were really good against Villa - the only thing was we didn't score more goals. I expect more of the same."

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Goodison Park

Duncan Ferguson sets the tone for what promises to be a raucous afternoon at Goodison Park with his programme notes, presumably penned hastily to meet the deadline after Marco Silva's sacking on Thursday evening.

He writes: "I make no secret of my affection for Goodison Park when Evertonians have their blood up, encouraging the team and claiming every decision. It is the greatest place in the world."

Ferguson added: "I am the proudest man on the planet managing Everton today."

Out of the mouths of babes.

Duncan Ferguson has just turned up for his first match as the caretaker cleaning up Marco Silva's mess.

And the team mascots for the day have give Big Dunc a big ego massage.

"You're a legend," says one of the kids.

"Oh, I don't know about that mate!" replies the gaffer.

Duncan Ferguson makes two changes to the Everton team that lost away to Liverpool last time out with Theo Walcott and Morgan Scheiderlin coming in at the expense of Yerry Mina, who picked up an injury at Anfield, and Tom Davies.

Everton XI: Pickford, Holgate, Keane, Sidibe, Digne, Schneiderlin, Iwobi, Sigurdsson, Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin, Walcott.

Chelsea name the same line-up that beat Aston Villa last time out as Tammy Abraham, Christian Pulisic and Mason Mount are all included in the attack. Ross Barkley is on the bench on his return to his former club, alongside Jorginho.

Chelsea XI:Arrizabalaga, Christensen, Zouma, Azpilicueta, James, Kante, Kovacic, Willian, Mount, Pulisic, Abraham

Everton defender Michael Keane on the mood in the camp after Marco Silva’s sacking: “It has been really difficult, all the lads are really disappointed. He is a great person and a really good manager. We’re disappointed it didn’t work out."

On what to expect under Duncan Ferguson: “I think we will see a different style of play, he’s motivated us and we’re desperate to get a win for him, the fans and ourselves. We’ll fight for him.

“We've had a change of managers and the fans will be up for it and we have to use that to our advantage.”

Managerless Everton's injury woes in central midfield look set to continue, with Fabian Delph ruled out for a fifth game with a thigh problem.

Defender Yerry Mina is a doubt after sustaining an injury at Anfield on Wednesday, while captain Seamus Coleman remains out.

Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham is expected to feature despite being substituted against Aston Villa.

Midfielder Ross Barkley is back in contention following illness.

We'll have team news for you for the first game at Goodison Park in about five minutes. Here is the early chat...

Image source, Getty Images

If you'd have told me in the 90s that Ferguson would be interim Everton boss, Mullins the Watford caretaker and Ljungberg looking after Arsenal, I'd have laughed in your face.

But here we are.

Fast-forward to the 2030s and I imagine Andy Carroll will be Newcastle caretaker manager, Mason Mount interim Chelsea boss and Jake Hessenthaler the rolling gaffer of newly-promoted Grimsby.

Unless you've got other suggestions?

Image source, Getty Images

Watford have appointed Nigel Pearson as manager until the end of the season.

The former Leicester City boss will take charge after Saturday's Premier League match against Crystal Palace.

The 56-year-old is Watford's third manager of the season following Quique Sanchez Flores' sacking on Sunday after less than 90 days in charge.

"Nigel comes with all of the experience and success we believe can have a very positive impact on our season," chairman Scott Duxbury said.

Ps. If you're wondering what the ostrich thing is all about, here you go.

Image source, Getty Images

Today's other caretaker manager is Hayden Mullins, a less high-profile figure than Ferguson, who plied his trade as a player more into the 2000s.

He is taking charge of Watford for the second time today, against the club foir whom he made the most appearances in his playing career - Crystal Palace.

His tenure will be brief, though, because of this...

Frank Lampard, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Eddie Howe, Chris Wilder, Freddie Ljungberg and now Ferguson - have we ever had more legends in charge of the club at which they achieved such a status?

If you're not familiar with Ferguson, who played for Dundee United, Rangers, Newcastle and, of course, Everton during the 1990s and 2000s, here are a few photos that encapsulate the big fella (from his Toffees days)...

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

With a bit of luck, we'll now settle into a more secure spell, with managers left to, well, manage.

Unfortunately, this is the Premier League and if there is even a whiff of missing out on Champions League riches or, heaven forbid, drop into the Championship, a P45 will be printed faster than you can say "what's Big Sam up to?"

We've got five top-flight fixtures today, starting with a managerial debut for one Duncan Ferguson as Everton host Chelsea.

Image source, 20th Century Fox

To paraphrase the great Homer Simpson...

Quique Sanchez Flores... you're cut.

Unai Emery... cut.

Marco Silva... you're gone.

It is sacking season in the Premier League and in the last few weeks we've seen some big hitters bundled out the door.

It leaves a lot of bosses nervously twitching every time their mobile rings or a new email pops into the old inbox.

Question is? Who's next?!