Leon Osman
Former Everton midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

I am not surprised both managers have not picked their recent signings. It takes time for their messages to get through.

They have picked players who they know what they are going to get from them for this game.

Leon Osman
Former Everton midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

Newcastle won their last game and I expect them to start quickly.

Everton have been dreadful at the start of games under Rafa Benitez - they have a negative half-time goal difference of something like -15. They have been really poor in the first half.

As much as a new man has come in and they have had a positive result, if you get at them at the start of games, put them under pressure and get the crowd on their backs they have a tendency to go under.

That would be the message from Eddie Howe - make sure you start quickly.

Loser92: I don’t think Ronaldo will be very happy about starting on the bench.

Richard Browne: What spectacular head-turning signing could Newcastle make? No top player is going to a relegation team, a few turned them down.

Image source, .

Sitting on the bench at Burnley on a wet and windy Tuesday night is exactly what Cristiano Ronaldo returned to the Premier League for...

Alistair Magowan
BBC Sport at St James' Park

It's been a long time since Newcastle last played a game - 16 days to be precise - during which time they have squeezed in a trip to Saudi Arabia, the land of their new owners.

Eddie Howe says in his programme notes his side "return a fitter and much closer group" after players mixed training with camel rides, time on the sand dunes and the odd suntan.

Skipper Jamaal Lascelles says: "We're coming into tonight's game in the best place we've been in all season."

That win at Leeds means Newcastle are unbeaten in their last three games, and are looking for successive wins for the first time since May.

Image source, PA Media

Former Everton and Newcastle player Steve Watson speaking to BBC Radio Merseyside: "Both Everton signings [Donny van der Beek and Dele Alli] have got something to prove.

"There is no doubt they are both players. We have known how good Dele Alli has been for England and Tottenham for years and Van der Beek was fantastic before the move to Manchester United, where he hasn't really been given a chance."

Simon Stone
BBC Sport at Turf Moor

Tonight's game is Burnley's 5,000th professional league game.

The only other club to reach that landmark is Preston and owner Alan Pace is a proud man.

"We are honouring a special occasion in the club's history," Pace writes in tonight's match programme.

"We are only the second club to reach this milestone. It is something which we are incredibly proud of as one of the founding members of the Football League."

Neil Lennon
Former Celtic midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

David [Moyes] has made the comment he wants to play his best players, I understand that.

The longer he left Kurt Zouma out he is maybe thinking 'it doesn't matter when I put him back in, I am going to see this avalanche of criticism that is going to come'.

Maybe he is feeling he is going to nip it in the bud, sooner rather than later.

James Collins
Former West Ham defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

I think there is a lot of anger about [Kurt Zouma being picked to play] and rightly so.

It's a big call from the football club, I personally don't think it is the right call.

I don't think the club should have made him available for the game.

I think there should be some sort of sanction against him.

It's a huge call from the club but in my opinion they have got it wrong.

West Ham United

West Ham boss David Moyes, speaking to BT Sport about whether the video of Kurt Zouma on social media this week influenced his decision to play the defender: "No, because he is one of our better players. But it is certainly ongoing and the club are dealing with it, so that is a separate matter."

Image source, PA Media

Former Everton and Newcastle player Steve Watson speaking to BBC Radio Merseyside: "Everton have gone down a certain route of late with managers - all legends of the game, very successful managers - but they have bucked the trend a little bit with Frank [Lampard].

"You can see in his interviews. There is a renewed optimism, there is a freshness about him, there is a real drive and excitement about what he says.

"He is a very articulate lad. The times I have met him off the pitch he is a great talker, he loves the game and knows it inside out. I think it is a really interesting appointment.

"When you listen to him he is a guy you find it very hard not to like or be impressed with.

"The fact they have kept Duncan Ferguson at the club I think is vital and together I think they will give the club every chance [of success]."

Frank Lampard's Premier League return also means we should get the classic serious-joke-serious interview technique back in action.

Fingers crossed it makes an appearance tonight.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

In Frank Lampard's opening game in charge on Saturday, Everton scored four times in a match for the first time in 42 matches.

This will be new Lampard's first game in the Premier League since January 2021. None of the last 12 permanent managers have lost their first league game in charge of the Toffees (W8, D4), with Gordon Lee the last to do so in February 1977.

Former Everton and Newcastle player Steve Watson speaking to BBC Radio Merseyside: "It's a huge game for both clubs. When you are playing teams that are in and around you [in the table] it makes it all the more important.

"It will be an electric atmosphere. One new manager, one relatively new manager, a lot of new players, it will be some night."

"Neither team will want to come away with a defeat but a draw doesn't help anybody that much.

"Both teams will be looking to find a way to get the three points and I think that is all they will be looking for."

Neil Lennon
Former Celtic midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

There is only Matt Targett who is going to start [of the new signings on both sides].

I was hoping a bit more freshness from both of the teams.

I think both managers have taken a pragmatic view on it, because there is so much riding on it for both teams.

Image source, PA Media

Former Everton and Newcastle player Steve Watson speaking to BBC Radio Merseyside: "Rather than making spectacular, head-turning signings, Newcastle have made sensible signings that will improve the team and are probably better than what they had available.

"I think that's all they can do. If Newcastle had gone out and signed three absolute world-class players for absolute fortunes it would probably have been the wrong reasons for them to come.

"I think they have got players who have been very good Premier League players in areas that they needed them and I think it has been a very sensible window."

Alistair Magowan
BBC Sport at St James' Park

So Eddie Howe keeps new signings Bruno and Burn on the bench, while Frank Lampard does the same with the three Ds - Dele, Donny and Dominic.

It suggests that both managers are willing to play a tactical game rather than going for broke, and see how the game develops before letting their new players loose.

Lampard said yesterday he wants to "remain calm" despite Everton's perilous position, and not focus too much on tonight's game and Leeds on Saturday as defining moments in the season.

He rightly points out that Everton still have 18 games remaining.

The Football News Show asks how much has really changed at Manchester United since Ralf Rangnick took over from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer six weeks ago.

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United interim boss Ralf Rangnick believes the club are improving on the pitch, despite the shock FA Cup exit to Middlesbrough.

The Old Trafford defeat by Chris Wilder's Championship side ended any realistic hope of United winning their first domestic silverware since 2017.

It was the fifth time in 11 games under Rangnick that United had failed to win.

"I'm absolutely convinced we're playing on a higher level than we used to play a couple of weeks ago," Rangnick said. "Both in possession and if the other team is in possession, the team has improved."