Brent Bentley: I remember playing CM97/98 with my neighbour and one time he signed a random CB/DM called Marco Van Hoogdalem who went on to be a 5 times world footballer of the year and score 20 goals a season...with a name like that it's hard to forget, amazing fun with this game.

When Everton signed Bakayoko, every non-Everton CM fan shuddered at the prospect. Needn't have worried really. Should have signed Tommy Svindal Larsen instead.

It has not been the best of starts by Sheffield United to their second season back in the Premier League.

After six games in 2020-21, Chris Wilder's side sit 19th in the standings with just one point to show for their efforts so far - though they battled hard against defending champions Liverpool last weekend.

The Blades have equalled their worst record of one point after six league games, set in 1975-76, and could fail to win any of their first seven league games in a season for the first time since 1991.

They could also match their worst Premier League record of going five home games without a win, set in 1993 and equalled in 1994.

However, manager Chris Wilder is just one win away from his 100th win as Sheffield United in all competitions.

Sheffield United have never beaten Manchester City in the Premier League in eight attempts (D3, L5).

That's the most they've faced any side in the division without winning, while their only goal in those fixtures was scored by Brian Deane in April 1993.

Manchester City are vying to win four straight league games against the Blades for the first time since March 1930, with Sheffield United winless in the past six league meetings since a 1-0 triumph in the second tier in January 2000.

Still pace 10 at 65. Remarkable stuff.

Pep Guardiola is currently sat, stoney faced in the away dug out at Bramall Lane staring out at a largely empty, rain-swept ground. Just the home keepers doing their warm-up.

Wonder what he's thinking? Can't always be something football related. "Hmmm, Hermine has been consistent so far, but I can't shake the feeling young Peter will come through this year. Sad to see Mark L go though."

What can we expect from the Liverpool and West Ham team sheets this evening? Here's what we know already...

Liverpool are without Fabinho because of a hamstring problem, which means 19-year-old centre-back Rhys Williams could make his Premier League debut.

The Reds are monitoring the fitness of Thiago Alcantara and Naby Keita, but this game may come too soon for Joel Matip.

For West Ham, Michail Antonio is absent and could be replaced by Sebastien Haller at Anfield.

Deadline-day signing Said Benrahma awaits his Hammers debut, having not been involved against Manchester City last weekend due to a lack of match fitness.

Oh, and why not do the game at Anfield too. We spoil you, we really do...

Here's the early team news ahead of Chelsea's trip to Turf Moor.

Burnley's Johann Berg Gudmundsson is doubtful with a calf injury, while Erik Pieters misses out with a similar problem.

Phil Bardsley remains unavailable after a positive coronavirus test, while this game comes too soon for Ben Mee and Jack Cork.

Meanwhile, Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has reported no new injury concerns following Wednesday's win against Krasnodar.

Thiago Silva was rested in midweek and is set to reclaim a starting spot, though Kepa Arrizabalaga's shoulder problem could keep him out and Billy Gilmour is still recovering from knee surgery.

Might as well sling some early team news for today's second game while we're in the zone...

A return for Max Lowe, who had a brutal debut in the 1-1 draw with Fulham, taking a big blow to the head early on before having to be subbed.

We'll give him a mulligan for this.

Maybe not a huge surprise to see Lundstram out of the starting XI after it emerged this week that he had rejected a new deal with the club.

One change for Sheffield United as Max Lowe comes in for his second Premier League start of the season.

The defender comes in for John Lundstram, who is on the bench.

Sheff Utd XI: Ramsdale, Basham, Egan, Stevens, Baldock, Berge, Ampadu, Osborn, Lowe, Brewster, McBurnie. Subs: Lundstram, Sharp, Burke, Norwood, McGoldrick, Robinson, Verrips.

Image source, .

There are three changes for Manchester City from their midweek win against Marseille in the Champions League.

Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez and Joao Cancelo all come into the side. Ilkay Gundogan, Phil Foden and Oleksandr Zinchenko drop to the bench.

Man City XI: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Laporte, Joao Cancelo, Bernardo Silva, Rodri, De Bruyne, Mahrez, Torres, Sterling. Subs: Stones, Ake, Gundogan, Zinchenko, Carson, Foden, Garcia.

Image source, .

No doubt about it, that City injury list is a brutal one.

I'm guessing we'll see Raheem Sterling or Riyad Mahrez as a fill-in striker again today?

Can't say I've been entirely convinced, but what choice do they really have?

Here's what we already know regarding team news ahead of this one...

Sheffield United full-back Max Lowe is available to face Manchester City after passing concussion protocols, while John Lundstram's refusal to agree a new contract is not expected to have an impact on his involvement.

For Manchester City, defender Nathan Ake could return from a groin problem, while Aymeric Laporte is under consideration for only his second league game of the season.

However, manager Pep Guardiola remains without Sergio Aguero, Gabriel Jesus, Fernandinho and Benjamin Mendy.

Looks like it's a bit damp and breezy at Bramall Lane...

So, as it stands, just 12 points separate the team at the top of the Premier League (Everton) from the team at the bottom (Fulham), we've had pretty much an extra goal per game on average, Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal are in the bottom half, Leeds and Villa are in the top seven and we don't have a single unbeaten team - the first time this has happened at this stage since 1967-68.

So 1-0 wins for City, Chelsea and Liverpool today then, yeah?

On this very day in 1997, something momentous occurred, something life changing, something that would make superstars of the likes of Ibrahima Bakayoko, Tommy Svindal Larsen and Bjorn Heindenstrom.

Yes, Championship Manager 1997-98 was released.

To mark this, I want to hear your stories of playing the game (and I'm insisting they stick only to the 97-98 version - I don't care how many goals Maxim Tsigalko scored for you in CM 00-01).

I want in-game tales of Champions League wins with John Curtis at the back and Tom Youngs in attack, I want to hear about the regens that helped you dominate English football with Crewe, and outside the game I want to know about the meals you skipped, summers you lost, and exams you flunked, all in pursuit of CM glory.

Raise a flute of champagne please, to Sir Bobby Robson.

You can contact us using the hashtag #bbcsport on Twitter or using 81111 (UK only) via text.

Yeah, hello and welcome to our live coverage of another Saturday of Premier League football.

Coming up we've got Sheffield United v Manchester City at 12:30 BST, followed by Burnley v Chelsea at 15:00 and finally Liverpool v West Ham at 17:30.

But first...

After five rounds of brilliant insanity - goals, big teams getting turned over, goals, mad penalties, goals, red cards, goals and more - last weekend's Premier League action was all a bit, well, routine.

But I've not given up on it yet. It can still turn it back around.

Come on Premier League, don't go all normal on us now.