Chelsea

Speaking of Chelsea, manager Mauricio Pochettino is set to address the media ahead of Monday's trip to his former club Tottenham.

In the meantime, the club has released an update on their injured players, saying that Armando Broja, Trevoh Chalobah, Ben Chilwell, Carney Chukwuemeka, Wesley Fofana, Romeo Lavia and Christopher Nkunku are continuing to undergo rehabilitation.

However, Ukraine winger Mykhailo Mudryk is returning to full training.

Manchester United have won five and lost five of their opening 10 Premier League games this season, leaving them eighth in the table.

Opta's 'supercomputer' calculates where teams could be come the end of the season and in its latest 10,000 season simulations, United finish in the top four just 2.5% of the time.

That’s a huge drop from 63.2% in the simulations before the start of the season, when the prediction model suggested their most-likely finishing position was fourth; it now says eighth is their likeliest final place.

Chelsea are predicted to finish 11th, exactly where they are at the moment.

Despite the speculation over Erik ten Hag's future, here's one stat that might surprise you.

Manchester United have won 48 of his 77 games in charge - that’s actually the second-most by a United manager in their first 77 games, behind Ernest Mangnall’s 49.

That's right, even more than Sir Alex Ferguson, who survived some nervy moments to become the most successful manager in the club's history.

Image source, EPA

Simon Stone
BBC Sport

Manchester United stepped in to refute a claim they are exploring their options for a potential managerial change.

Erik ten Hag will welcome the backing but he knows the forthcoming games against Fulham, FC Copenhagen and Luton need to be navigated successfully otherwise United's hierarchy will come under huge pressure to make a change.

United have not lost to Fulham since 2009, need at least a draw and preferably a win from their trip to Denmark to retain hopes of reaching the Champions League knockout stage and have not lost at home to Luton since 1897.

Before and after all of those games come news conferences that will be an ordeal in themselves for the Dutchman. His next one is at 13:30 GMT this afternoon.

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United are exploring alternatives to manager Erik ten Hag, who is considered to be "on thin ice", with Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim and ex-Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane possible replacements. (Times - subscription needed), external

It would cost Manchester United more than £15m in compensation if they were to sack Ten Hag this season. (Football Insider), external

Read Friday's gossip column here.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport

Prospective Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is willing to commit millions immediately for stadium infrastructure improvements if a planned deal to buy into the Old Trafford outfit is approved.

The search for ‘strategic alternatives’ for United, launched by the Glazer family almost 12 months ago, is still to be completed, despite a widely held belief that Ratcliffe’s Ineos Group is going to secure a 25% stake.

Numerous sources close to United have told BBC Sport the process needs to be speeded up in order to allow clarity over manager Erik ten Hag’s position as currently, Ratcliffe cannot be consulted over the Dutchman’s future.

It is thought Ratcliffe will pay about £1.25bn to buy a quarter of the club but many fans, uneasy at the prospect of the Glazer family remaining in control, have questioned where the money will go.

However, it has now become apparent that in addition to paying for a quarter stake in United, Ratcliffe would provide an additional sum, to be used for urgent work on the stadium.

It is accepted the sums involved would not cover all the work needed, which some have estimated will cost £1bn, but it is seen as a sign of Ratcliffe’s intentions for United.

Manchester United

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United midfielder Casemiro has been ruled out for an extended period with a hamstring injury.

Casemiro suffered the problem during the first half of Wednesday’s EFL Cup defeat by Newcastle.

The Brazilian, 31, was returning after a three-match absence with a minor injury picked up on international duty.

United said further assessments confirmed Casemiro has suffered a "strain that will keep him out for a number of weeks".

Liverpool

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will allow Luis Diaz to decide whether he is able to play this weekend following his father's kidnapping in Colombia.

Klopp confirmed Diaz, 26, returned to training on Wednesday as the Reds prepare to face Luton on Sunday.

Luis Manuel Diaz and his wife were seized at gunpoint on Saturday. Diaz's mother was found in Barrancas but his father remains missing.

"We will wait to see how he is and go from there," Klopp said. "We will not force the situation - it's out of our hands.

"If he feels right, he will train with us. When he's with the boys he's fine but you can tell he hasn't slept a lot.

"He was in training two days ago and yesterday did a session."

Everton

Image source, Getty Images

Abdoulaye Doucoure has thrived since Sean Dyche became Everton manager in January, the Mali international’s all-action displays, tireless work-rate and timely goals proving vital, including his winner against Bournemouth on the final day of 2022-23 to preserve Everton’s top-flight status.

That has continued into the current season, with Doucoure netting in wins over Bournemouth and Brentford, as well as the 2-2 draw at Sheffield United.

“I have long been an admirer of Doucs’ qualities and, from the moment I became Everton manager, I was keen to get him into our team and for him to show what he can do,” said Dyche.

“He repaid that decision with some excellent performances and crucial goals, not least the winner on the final day of last season which sealed our objective for that campaign to stay in the Premier League.

“Doucs has continued to impress this season and we are confident he will remain an integral part of our squad going forward.”

Everton

Image source, Getty Images

Abdoulaye Doucoure has signed a new contract with Everton until the end of June 2025.The Mali midfielder, 30, joined from Watford in September 2020 and has made 108 appearances for the Toffees, scoring 13 goals.

“I love Everton and I’m very happy to extend my stay here and look forward with the club,” Doucoure said.

“It was a very easy decision to make. I love all the people around the club and all the fans who have shown me so much love in the past couple of months. My wish was to stay here and continue to enjoy my time with Everton.

“I want to keep playing, I want to keep learning and I want to keep fighting for the badge and for the club.”

Now it's time for a quick news recap before we start looking ahead to the rest of today's Premier League news conferences, which will see Manchester United's under-pressure boss Erik ten Hag address the media.

Watch the best goals from the Premier League's Brazilian and Argentine stars, before South American sides Fluminense and Boca Juniors go head-to-head in the Copa Libertadores final on Saturday.

Watch the Copa Libertadores final live on Saturday on BBC Three, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website & app from 19:50 GMT.

BBC Three

The FA Cup isn't the only live action on the BBC this weekend as you can also watch Argentine giants Boca Juniors face Brazilians Fluminense in the Copa Libertadores final on Saturday.

The game will be streamed live on BBC Three, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website.

Fluminense will have home advantage with the game at Rio de Janeiro's iconic Maracana stadium.

Boca are six-time winners of the Copa Libertadores, South America's Champions League, but Fluminense have never won it.

This is Boca's 12th final - extending their own record - and if they win they would equal city rivals Independiente's record of seven titles. If they lose they will equal Penarol's record of six final defeats.

Boca won all three knockout rounds on penalties, with former Manchester United goalkeeper Sergio Romero their hero in the semi-finals. They also have ex-United striker Edinson Cavani.

Image source, Getty Images

Neil Johnston
BBC Sport

George Dowell has a decision to make on FA Cup first-round weekend.

The owner of Worthing is due to become a father on the day the non-league club make a first appearance at this stage of the competition since 1999.

Does he stay behind in Sussex to be at his girlfriend's side when Jessica gives birth to the couple's first child?

Or does he make the 420-mile round trip to Alfreton for Worthing's biggest FA Cup tie for 24 years?

It is something Dowell, 31, has thought long and hard about - just as he thought long and hard what to do with the compensation he received after the accident that changed his life forever.

Read the full story here

Image source, Worthing FC

Neil Johnston
BBC Sport

It's 38 years since Andy Woodman and Gareth Southgate first met as schoolboy apprentices at Crystal Palace.

They remain the best of friends despite their football careers taking very different journeys.

While England boss Southgate is planning for next summer's Euro 2024, Woodman is looking to mastermind an FA Cup first-round upset when his non-league Bromley side host League One Blackpool in front of the BBC Two cameras on Saturday.

"It's funny, Gareth and I are both dealing with similar problems albeit he is manager of England and I'm manager of Bromley," Woodman told BBC Sport.

"We talk regularly and I find myself going on about one of my players and he's going on about one of his. It's surreal."

Read the full story here

Image source, Getty Images

As well as the two live games on Saturday and Sunday, the BBC will be across all the other ties.

Final Score on BBC One on Saturday (16:30 GMT) will have news of all the upsets.

There is a 90-minute Match of the Day FA Cup highlights show on Sunday on BBC Three (20:00 GMT) and BBC Two (23:30 GMT).

In addition, the BBC Sport website will have live text commentary on this weekend's FA Cup action.

Two FA Cup first-round matches will be shown live on the BBC this weekend:

Saturday, 4 November

Bromley v Blackpool (17:45 GMT) - live on BBC Two, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website and app.

Sunday, 5 November

Charlton Athletic v Cray Valley Paper Mills (17.30 GMT) - live on BBC Two, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website.

Ged Scott
BBC Sport

Walsall boss Mat Sadler says he has still been able to do all his usual pre-match preparations for Friday's FA Cup first-round tie in Kent against Sheppey United.

A long trek to face a non-league side under lights on an artificial pitch has all the makings of a potential upset.

But Sadler says he knows just how tricky a test Sheppey could be, having seen plenty of footage of them.

"I'll be doing all the same video preparation as normal," he told BBC WM. "We're very fortunate in that I've got a fantastic analyst who, by hook or by crook, has been getting hold of games for us to watch.

"He's done really well with it. He's worked tirelessly to get those sort of things in, so our preparations will be exactly the same as for any normal league game."

That's all from the Premier League news conferences for the time being. Now let's have a look at the FA Cup as two non-league sides will be hoping to pull off upsets in the opening first-round ties later:

• Barnsley v Horsham
• Sheppey United v Walsall

Image source, BBC Sport

Burnley have lost five out of five at home so they are desperate for something, anything, here.

The Clarets had a tough start in terms of who they played early on, and everyone was waiting for the run of fixtures they are into now to see if they would kick on.

They have lost their past two league games, against Brentford and Bournemouth, so they haven't kicked on - and it's not going to be any easier for them against a pragmatic Palace side.

I don't fancy Vincent Kompany's team defensively, and I don't think they will keep their first Premier League clean sheet of the season here, even against Palace.

The Eagles don't score many goals - they have managed only eight in their first 10 league games - but I feel sorry for their manager Roy Hodgson because he has badly missed Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise.

Eze and Olise are Palace's best attacking talents and the good news for them is that they are both back in training and should be available soon.

This is going to be an interesting game, because Hodgson's side are so well drilled. Burnley will have a go at them, so could Palace exploit that? This smells of a draw to me.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1.