Tom Cleverley
Watford midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

Ismaila Sarr is a young player, he's come from France, his confidence was low, he didn't look like he was enjoying himself. The manager has seen that and put an arm around him, told the lads to give him the ball and now looks like he could be great. His stand out feature is that he is an unbelievable athlete. He is a fullback's nightmare. He can sprint in behind and then sprint back. He can sprint for 90 minutes. Technically he is not the polished article but he has more in him.

If you want to know a bit more about the wonderful work that has been done in a very short time by Nigel Pearson at Watford, why not have a read of the piece on our site all about big Nige.

The writer of the piece not only really knows his stuff, but is also an extremely handsome man, who has many leather-bound books and an apartment that smells of rich mahogany.

As we've gone past the half-way point in the January transfer window, how are you feeling about your club's business so far?

Doesn't feel like anything has really happened yet, but who do you need to shift, what positions do you need players in and who are the links you'd like to see become reality?

So no Christian Eriksen then for Spurs. Binned off to the bench.

Word on the street is that Inter Milan are in for the Dane. Although, Jose Mourinho did have a pop at Inter boss Antonio Conte for discussing a potential transfer.

No love lost between those two then.

As for Eriksen, and with no disrespect meant, I can't help but feel that Inter is a downgrade on the level of club he will have thought he could move to in the summer.

Tom Cleverley
Watford midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

Nigel Pearson has stripped it back to basics. He has come in and ruffled a few feathers which I don't think people were used to. Even in his first day, new managers usually bring the staff in and have a small meeting with the players but he said no. He was by himself, got the whole club at the training ground and gave a speech about how he wants to operate, the route he wants to go down and he had an instant aura. He is the type of guy you are willing to run for, you're a little bit scared of and he has been brilliant for us.

Watford are unchanged from the side that beat Bournemouth 3-0 last time out, but new signing Ignacio Pusseto is on the bench.

Watford XI: Foster, Mariappa, Cathcart, Dawson, Masina, Chalobah, Capoue, Doucoure, Sarr, Deulofeu, Deeney.

Substitutes: Gomes, Gray, Quina, Holebas, Kabasele, Pussetto, Pereyra.

Image source, BBC Sport

Jose Mourinho makes three changes to the side that lost 1-0 to Liverpool last Saturday, with Jan Vertonghen, Erik Lamela and Giovani Lo Celso in for Danny Rose, Davinson Sanchez and Christian Eriksen, who will be on the bench alongside new loan signing Gedson Fernandes.

Spurs XI: Gazzaniga, Tanganga, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Aurier, Alli, Winks, Lo Celso, Son Heung-Min S, Lamela, Lucas Moura.

Substitutes: Vorm, Sanchez, Dier, Sessegnon, Eriksen, Skipp, Fernandes

Image source, BBC Sport

Right, let's start focusing in on the first game of the day - between in-form Watford and Tottenham at Vicarage Road.

We'll have full team news for that in the next entry...

West Ham United goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski is facing several weeks out following a recurrence of the hip injury that previously sidelined him for three months.

New signing Darren Randolph is set to deputise but Felipe Anderson, Michail Antonio and Arthur Masuaku are doubts.

Everton forward Richarlison twisted his knee in training and will miss his first match of the season.

Gylfi Sigurdsson is also injured but Yerry Mina is available.

Long-term absentees Andre Gomes and Jean-Philippe Gbamin have returned to training.

Injury-hit Wolves will be without Ruben Vinagre, who suffered a hamstring injury in the midweek FA Cup defeat.

This has led to left-sided player Ryan Giles being recalled from loan at Shrewsbury, and the teenager is likely to be on the bench.

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has no fresh injury worries.

The only absentee is full-back Yan Valery, who has been suffering from a virus but is expected to rejoin training at the end of the month.

Norwich's Teemu Pukki is back after a thigh injury, while captain Ben Godfrey returns after missing the last five league games with a knee problem.

Josip Drmic is fit after a hamstring injury and new signings Lukas Rupp and Ondrej Duda could also feature.

Injury-hit Bournemouth remain without Joshua King and Jack Stacey, who are sidelined with hamstring injuries.

Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale could be fit, having missed the defeat by Watford because of a minor hamstring problem.

Manchester City have no new reported injury problems ahead of the visit of Crystal Palace.

Aymeric Laporte is back in full training but unlikely to play, while Leroy Sane is a long-term absentee.

Injury-hit Crystal Palace are without Luka Milivojevic, who is serving the second of a three-match suspension.

Defender Joel Ward is available after a knee injury but midfielder Max Meyer is out with an ankle injury suffered in last weekend's draw at Arsenal.

Brighton's Aaron Mooy has recovered from the knee problem that caused him to miss last week's defeat at Everton.

Shane Duffy, Adam Webster and Alireza Jahanbakhsh have overcome minor issues.

Former Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina is poised to make his first Premier League appearance since May 2013 after joining Aston Villa on loan.

Matt Targett and Bjorn Engels should be fit to return but Jonathan Kodjia is in talks about a move elsewhere and will not be involved.

Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang begins a three-match suspension on Saturday.

Sead Kolasinac and Lucas Torreira have been unable to train properly because of minor injuries and they will both be assessed.

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder has reported no fresh fitness concerns ahead of the match.

Reserve goalkeepers Michael Verrips and Simon Moore could be available after injuries.

Watford have Ignacio Pussetto available for selection following thewinger's arrival from Udinese.

Christian Kabasele is back after a ban, while Will Hughes and Kiko Femenia are close to a return from injury.

Tottenham head coach Jose Mourinho is likely to recall Toby Alderweireld, who was rested for the FA Cup replay against Middlesbrough.

New signing Gedson Fernandes could play, while club captain Hugo Lloris is back in training and nearing a return.

Moving on... much of today's potential drama comes from events taking place lower down the table.

There are a couple of classic 'six-pointers' taking place, chief amongst them being the battle of the bottom two - Norwich v Bournemouth.

And then down on the south coast, Brighton host Aston Villa.

Watford and West Ham also play, although not against each other (more on the Hornets shortly).

Before all that, though, and so we sneak in before the fantasy football deadline, here is your early team news...

Image source, Gett

As Pep went on to say this week, his side should be focused on Crystal Palace.

There is a good reason for that - Roy Hodgson's side were the only one that won at the Etihad in the league last season. You'll probably remember it - Andros Townsend scored an absolute worldy of a volley.

It didn't matter in the long run of course because City won the league, but it illustrates just what the Eagles are capable of when they get their claws out.

Image source, Getty Images

“Being so far away means it’s not interesting to look at what Liverpool do."

Not my words, but those of Pep Guardiola.

Today, he doesn't have to worry at all about what Liverpool do. They're not playing.

But if there is any (and any is rapidly riding out of town) hope of City catching the Reds this season, then a win against Crystal Palace is an absolute must.