Rory Smith
Chief Soccer Correspondent for The New York Times

It's never a cause for celebration when anybody loses their job. It isn't something we talk about lightly, but I think Frank Lampard being sacked is a managerial dismission and it's really hard to object. It's hard to argue against the idea that it didn't work out.

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham striker Harry Kane tells Sky Sports: "It is down to us to do the talking on the pitch, it starts tonight with a big game. We don't play for two more weeks so important to get the three points and change the mood a bit.

"Whenever you lose two games in a row tit heightens it, we played first and second n but we know we can do better an we need to prove that on the pitch."

On possibility of becoming Tottenham's record goalscorer tonight: "Let the game takes care of itself but I want to score in every game. The main focus is winning the game and then getting on a good run."

Fulham

BBC Sport's Liam Loftus visits Fulham FC Foundation's Refugee Kicks League, which aims to help refugees establish roots in London through football.

Fulham

Image source, Getty Images

Marco Silva says Fulham's primary objective this season is still survival despite currently occupying a Europa League spot.

"Our ambition is to stay in the Premier League. It's so important for us," the Portuguese manager said.

"We know that 40 points is sometimes a magic number. If you achieve it, when you achieve it, we can talk about it. One of the keys, and from last season, my answer every week was the same: game by game, three points for the next week. We don't change."

The Cottagers are currently the highest-placed west London team in the Premier League but Silva is not getting carried away with recent form.

He added: "It's not something important for me. It's special for our fans, when they look at the table. For us, it's game by game. Of course we're pleased with the position we are in."

Arsenal

More breaking news from the capital, this time from north London.

Premier League leaders Arsenal have announced the signing of Poland international defender Jakub Kiwior from Serie A side Spezia.

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham manager Antonio Conte tells Sky Sports: "If I make this decision (naming same starting XI) it is the best decision for the team. I spoke before the game that Richarlison is recovering in the best form but still not fit, he is very close. The next game he can play from the start.

"We have to be focussed in our work, our target and try to improve, especially not to concede a goal. If I have to make a comparison to last season, we have attacked the same but the difference has been in defence. We have to continue to work.

"The confidence has to be in the team to play an important game, we have the confidence to play well and get the good result."

On a delayed kick-off: "It is not a big problem, but it would be better to start the game at 8pm and decided to move it forward. We have to respect the decision."

Simon Stone
BBC Sport

Some news from across London and what a blow this is for the Hammers...

Danny Ings is facing a spell on the sidelines after getting injured on his West Ham debut against Everton on Saturday.

Ings came on as a substitute 18 minutes from the end of West Ham’s 2-0 win.

However, he sustained a knee injury during the game and has now been ruled out for the immediate future.

Ings was not available for the FA Cup at Derby next Monday after playing for Aston Villa in the previous round.

It is not thought the damage is extensive but it is expected the 30-year-old will miss the Premier League games against Newcastle and Chelsea at the start of next month and possibly more after that.

Tottenham boss Antonio Conte said his side had to take more risks in the second half against Arsenal last weekend, when Spurs were behind and chasing the game.

But the way Spurs have been starting so many games this season so badly, surely they need to take more risks from the off?

Fulham will definitely be playing on the front foot. They were unlucky not to get anything against Newcastle last week, and they will go for it again here.

I can see them beating Spurs and cranking up the pressure on Conte even more.

Prediction: 2-1

Sutton's full predictions v The Courteeners frontman Liam Fray

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Frank Lampard is the latest manager to fall victim to the seemingly impossible job that is managing Everton.

Everton only secured safety from relegation to the Championship in last season's penultimate game and it was hoped this term would represent yet another reboot and fresh start.

Lampard, however, has failed to deliver an upturn and Saturday's 2-0 loss at fellow strugglers West Ham United, which left Everton 19th in the table with only three wins from 20 matches, brought the inevitable sacking.

The 44-year-old's win ratio was a dismal 23.68%, winning only nine of his 38 league matches in charge. Those statistics make grim reading for one of the great players of the modern game.

Read the full piece

Delaying kick-off is "not a big problem" and we have to "respect the decision", says Tottenham manager Antonio Conte.

More on that if we hear anything.

Image source, .

Antonee Robinson is back from suspension and replaces Layvin Kurzawa at left-back for Fulham.

That is their only change from their 1-0 defeat by Newcastle.

Fulham XI: Leno, Tete, Diop, Ream, Robinson, Palhinha, Reed, Willian, Pereira, De Cordova-Reid, Mitrovic.

Subs: Rodak, Kurzawa, Adarabioyo, Wilson, Cairney, Solomon, Chalobah, James, Vinicius.

Image source, .

Tottenham are unchanged from the side who lost 4-2 to Manchester City.

Richarlison is on the bench again as he waits for a first start since his World Cup injury.

Spurs XI: Lloris, Romero, Dier, Davies, Emerson, Hojbjerg, Bentancur, Perisic, Kulusevski, Son, Kane.

Subs: Forster, Doherty, Skipp, Sanchez, Richarlison, Sessegnon, Tanganga, Lenglet, Bissouma.

News coming in that kick-off has been delayed by 15 minutes...

Kevin Campbell
Former Everton striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

Results probably in the end got the better of Frank Lampard but this sacking puts the magnifying glass on the football club, and the board are going to be scrutinised for what they do next.

There has to be a plan. Everton Football Club having no footballing foundation is crazy.

I just think to myself you cannot build anything on sand. The fans know it, ex-players know it, people in football know you have to build from a foundation. It is going to be interesting to see what the board and owner do because all the eyeballs are on them right now.

Alan Stubbs
Former Everton defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

I feel for Frank Lampard because he's come into a situation where he's having to deal with a lot of problems from previous decisions from the board and managers,

Ultimately it got to the stage where it was inevitable. His record hasn't been great this season and unfortunately he's lost his job as a result of it. There is no doubt [that the problems are deeper],

The problem that Everton fans find themselves with now is that the same people are going to be making the decision. There is certainly a vote of no confidence in the people that are making the decisions for Everton going forward.

From top to bottom, there are things that are not right for the football club. Everton, I think, are staring the obvious in the face as we speak. Whoever comes in, and I have to be honest I don't know who it will be that can save them, they've got a monumental job to keep them up this season.

Everton

Image source, Getty Images

But we take a look at the big football news from earlier today...

Everton sacked manager Frank Lampard after less than a year in charge at Goodison Park.

Defeat at fellow strugglers West Ham United on Saturday was Everton's ninth loss in 12 Premier League games.

They are second from bottom of the table with 15 points from 20 matches, above Southampton on goal difference.

Former England midfielder Lampard, 44, replaced Rafael Benitez in January 2022 with the team 16th in the table and helped Everton avoid relegation.

Everton are now looking for their sixth permanent manager in five years.

Read the full piece

We've got a fascinating battle on our hands tonight at Craven Cottage.

Fulham have lost just one of their last six in all competitions and victory would see them leapfrog Tottenham into fifth place.

Spurs, meanwhile, have had an inconsistent season and won just two of their last six but three points will see them close the gap on fourth-placed Manchester United.

Image source, Getty Images

A London derby to finish off gameweek 21?

Nice.

It's seventh against fifth as surprise Champions League contenders Fulham take on Tottenham, who harbour hopes of finishing in the top four once more.