Nedum Onuoha
Former Manchester City defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

Looking at Everton's team today, seeing Richarlison through the middle, having Anthony Gordon, Andros Townsend, and Demarai Gray behind him, that is energetic. If I was a defender, I'd be relying on them to take the ball forward and hit City on the break because that is what it is going to be. Even though Dominic Calvert-Lewin isn't there, they do have a threat.

Here come the teams. Rafa is dressed in a grey suit, waistcoat and tie. Where's your coat, Rafa? It's a chilly November afternoon up north.

Nedum Onuoha
Former Manchester City defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

Raheem Sterling is 26 and we are asking can he get back to his best? He's 26 years old, turning 27 next month I think. Back in the day, that wasn't even your peak. We haven't seen the best of him in his career, I think he can kick on again.

Sylvain Distin
Former Manchester City and Everton defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

I feel like Rafa Benitez might not have as much time as the other managers because of his relationship with the fans.

I can guarantee you a lot of fans still find it difficult to accept having an ex-Liverpool manager as an Everton manager.

So does that mean another manager coming in again bringing in his own players? Where is this going?

Sylvain Distin
Former Manchester City and Everton defender Sylvain Distin on BBC Radio 5 Live

Is Joao Cancelo the best left-back in the world? We need to give him a bit of time. Manchester City have got so many good players that he seems to fade away and you tend to forget about him.

He's not the type of player who is going to be flashy, he's not the type of player who is going to be in the newspapers. He's just doing his job.

He keeps getting better and better and I personally enjoy watching him.

Karen Carney
Former England and England international on BBC Radio 5 Live

We wish Kevin de Bruyne well and hope he's OK, but his absence is a massive bonus for Everton.

Another bonus for Everton is they are playing Manchester City off the back of the international break.

It might be a good time to play City in that they are not in their rhythm, they're not in their free-flowing football. They're out of sync with that.

Sylvain Distin
Former Manchester City and Everton defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

It's hard to speak about Everton without being harsh. They are a club that I love but at the moment I don't recognise the club.

I don't see or understand the direction the club is taking. There have been a lot of changes in terms of managers and players in the past six or seven years and I don't think they have found an identity yet.

Changing the manager every other season doesn't help but I'm not sure of their philosophy or what they are trying to achieve.

We're 10 minutes from kick-off in our first game of the day.

Shall we have a bit of Man City-Everton chat?

Gone on then.

Manchester United

Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards, speaking on Sky Sports: “Antonio Conte is a serial winner. We talk about the Manchester United values, forget the values for just one minute. It is about winning games.

“You’ve got [Cristiano] Ronaldo, [Paul] Pogba, [Bruno] Fernandes, Sancho and all them players. Something has to give and Ole [Gunnar Solskjaer] was not getting the best out of those players.

“Conte is proven. He is the Tottenham manager now but there was window where they could have got him so I don’t understand it.”

Former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, who is at the Qatar Grand Prix, told Sky Sports F1: "It's really sad - on Ole's behalf, on the football club's behalf, on the fans' behalf. Too many managers we've had to dismiss in too short a time. "I feel for Ole. He's done everything he could."

Manchester United

More from former Manchester United defender and Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville: "Manchester United have obviously tried to crawl towards the end of the season. They have not got an option there. There is nobody waiting to take over. They were never going to appoint Antonio Conte.

"They are scrambling and reacting. It is three times now that they have given a manager a long contract or extension and then sacked them within a few months. So the planning at the club has been poor.

"I just hope the work Ole [Gunnar Solskjaer] has done as a bridge.. from the dark days when Jose Mourinho was sacked...I hope they can get a manager in place that can keep the momentum. going.

"I do worry a bit about the last few weeks and how that dressing room has disintegrated.

"They are waiting on Mauricio Pochettino not being successful at another club. If he did win the Champions League Paris St-Germain would not let him go. He is the only name I have really thought suited Manchester United."

Manchester United

Former Manchester United defender and Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville: "Three years in the job so Ole Gunnar Solskjaer can't have any complaints. Managers get between two and three years at the top level and they have to deliver. The results and performances in the last couple of months have been horrific.

"That was a wimpish performance at Watford. I hope the problems are just the manager and that something hasn't happened in the changing room that has made them be as bad as they have [been].

"That dressing room at this moment in time looks absolutely broken. They look completely drained of any confidence and like they have the world on their shoulders when they play football.

"They have got to go back to being like they were as kids playing on the street because it looks too much for them at the moment."

Louis Saha
Ex-Man Utd & Everton striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

I scored two goals in the first half for United and I got hairdryered. Maybe the biggest mistake was not bringing in a character, who’ll scare the players.

A character who the players will fear if they don’t play well, they don’t have that. There’s no pressure on any of the Manchester United players.

Manchester United

Former Liverpool and Tottenham midfielder Jamie Redknapp speaking on Sky Sports: "Manchester United are the same as everyone else now. They are in the rat race. They need to win games. I don't think anyone has a clue about what they are doing. I don't think the Manchester United board know what they are doing.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer never felt right the right fit. This has not just crept up on Manchester United.

While United have scored a lot, they have conceded too many under Solskjaer.

His team conceded 183 goals in his 168 matches - an average of 1.09 per game. Mourinho's United let in 121 in 144 matches - an average of 0.84

Only the current top four have outscored seventh-placed United this season - but only the bottom two sides, Norwich City and Newcastle United, have conceded more.

In 12 league games, United have managed just two clean sheets. So why is that?

One factor is an excess of defensive mistakes. Their 11 errors leading to shots on goal is the joint-worst tally in the division, alongside Arsenal, while only three sides have committed more errors leading directly to goals.

Image source, Getty Images

Another factor is that Solskjaer's team have given the ball away too often in key areas - and have then failed to win it back.

Of all the teams in the Premier League, only Leicester City fare worse for failed passes in their own half, while only four teams have a lower tackle success rate.

United's pressing tactics were criticised heavily in the wake of the dismal 5-0 home defeat by Liverpool in October, and the stats also suggest Solskjaer's side were lacking in this regard.

They have regained possession in the final third just 45 times this term - less than four times a match, and a total lower than all but five other Premier League clubs.

Louis Saha
Ex-Man Utd & Everton striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

The way you judge such a big club is by winning trophies. But the spirit has to be there. In previous managers I’ve switched the TV off, it’s been so frustrating.

With Solskjaer you felt like something was there. Previous managers, players were told not to dribble, not to shoot.

It’s a strong foundation now for any manager to come. It’s a sad step for Solsjkaer, but it could be a good step for the club. The club now has a foundation, there is now only a little percent missing to get the consistent wins.

Mic Medeska: Why are all these people mad that Carrick is in charge temporarily? They have a match in 2 days! What’s the difference if it’s a youth coach or Carrick, they just need to get someone on until a more permanent person can be in place. Relax.

Nedum Onuoha
Former Manchester City defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

What happens if the interim manager who comes in does really well? Do they offer him a contract? Will the caretaker be replacing the caretaker? There doesn’t seem to be any sort of long-term plan.