Liverpool

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is now speaking to the media and begins with an update on whether Luis Diaz will return: "We just wait to see where we can pick the boy up from and go from there.

"It's all about him, that he makes himself available or not, and I don't want to force anything."

Image source, PA Media

Image source, BBC Sport

Newcastle's third team beat Manchester United in the EFL Cup on Wednesday, and the whole club will be buoyed by that result.

In the same competition, I found it really odd that Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta waited until his side were 3-0 down to West Ham before bringing on Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard.

Was he really expecting them to turn the game around? Either play them from the start or bring them on when they are 1-0 down.

Both sides will be back to full strength on Saturday and I am expecting this game to be really close. There won't be many goals, but I just have a sneaking feeling that Arsenal will take the points. Sutton's prediction: 0-2.

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal could make a £13m move for Royal Antwerp midfielder Arthur Vermeeren in January, but Barcelona are also keen on the 18-year-old Belgium international. (Sport - in Spanish), external

Vermeeren won the Belgian Pro League and the Belgian Cup with Royal Antwerp last season.

Read the full gossip column here.

Arsenal

Image source, Getty Images

It's not just manager Mikel Arteta who has been recognised for Arsenal's strong run of form in October.

Midfielder Declan Rice, a £105m summer signing, played all-but one minute of Arsenal's three matches last month - scoring in a draw at Chelsea and laying on an assist in the 5-0 win against Sheffield United.

Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Pedro Neto (Wolves), Cristian Romero (Tottenham), Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa) and Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford) are also on the shortlist.

Arsenal

Image source, Getty Images

Mikel Arteta has been nominated for the Premier League Manager of the Month award for the third successive time this season.

Tottenham counterpart Ange Postecoglou edged out the Spaniard to the prize for August and September.

Arsenal won two and drew one in October - extending their unbeaten start to the season. Arteta has been nominated with Postecoglou, Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp and Aston Villa's Unai Emery.

BBC Sport has a dedicated Arsenal page packed with news, analysis and fan views - get it here

Arsenal

Liverpool had been Manchester City's closest challengers in the Premier League until last season, when Arsenal emerged as title contenders while Newcastle broke into the top four.

On the strength of the Premier League, Gunners boss Mikel Arteta added: "What has happened in the last five years in this league is unprecedented. The level of the teams is increasing."

Arsenal

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta on injuries: "We have another training session so there is a possibility [some players may return], but I don't know.

"Nothing has changed with Emile Smith Rowe - he will be out for weeks. We'll see how he progresses. It's a big blow because he was getting some minutes."

On the fitness of Gabriel Martinelli: "He had a little issue but he has felt better in the last few days. He will train today and if he's fine he will be ready."

Arsenal

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta on losing 3-1 to West Ham in the EFL Cup in midweek: "It always takes a few days to get over a defeat like that but now we focus on Newcastle. I don't think the scoreline reflects the performance but we move on.

"You have to be at it and if you take your foot off the gas against any opponent at this level, you get punished.

"We dropped in one phase in the second half and we need to find a different way to recover to keep momentum. The way we played in the second half was not good enough."

Arsenal

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta on facing Newcastle: "It's one of the toughest places to go and win. We have done that before and it's nothing new to us."

On Newcastle boss Eddie Howe: "Huge credit to him. He has transformed the club, environment and atmosphere. I give huge compliments to him for the job he has done.

"The way his team plays and the environment he's created is great. He's had a lot of support and now they are big contenders."

Now then, that's enough on Manchester United for the time being. It's almost time for the first of today's news conferences.

Make yourselves comfortable, we're set to hear from Arsenal, Newcastle, Liverpool and Burnley over the next hour.

Image source, BBC Sport

You cannot blame Manchester United's owners for their team's poor form - their players are not thinking about any boardroom uncertainty when they are out on the pitch.

Erik ten Hag has spent £411m on players since he took charge at Old Trafford before the start of last season and, for that amount of money, the team should be doing far better than they are.

I like Ten Hag - he seems a decent man and he did well last season - but he is under serious pressure now. 'Erik ten games' is what I called him last week, and that was being optimistic.

United won at Craven Cottage in November last year but that was the only win they managed in London under Ten Hag in seven attempts in 2022-23, and they have already lost twice in the capital in the current campaign.

All things considered, I should really predict another United defeat, shouldn't I? There is nothing whatsoever that tells me to back them.

But, with regards to Fulham, they don't appear to be quite at the same level they were at last year, especially in attack. That's the only reason I am going for a draw.

Next up for United is a midweek trip to FC Copenhagen in the Champions League, and then Luton come to Old Trafford next weekend.

Including this game, you would normally expect United to put all three of these teams away. If the results don't go to plan, then this is where things could really start to unravel for Ten Hag. Sutton's prediction: 1-1.

Peter Schmeichel
Former Manchester United goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

This is the time where we stand united and we support the manager, we let him get through this period.

We’ve never won the Premier League since Sir Alex Ferguson left. Some managers will claim they had big results, but they never developed the club or moved it forward. This is a result of that, that’s what we’re seeing now.

If we love Manchester United, we have to come in behind him. Against Newcastle our own fans are singing: ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’. That isn’t how you support Manchester United.

Everywhere in the world, people are talking about Manchester United not doing well. If this was another club we wouldn’t get this much talk, this much airtime on the radio or space in the newspapers.

If we can sit on top of the world in terms of narrative, it’s brilliant. That’s something you have to deal with. It requires enormous mental strength as a player and manager.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, BBC Sport

Manchester United have lost eight of their first 15 games this season - but will they bounce back with a much-needed win against Fulham on Saturday?

BBC Sport football expert Chris Sutton said: "Fulham are no great shakes but how can you back United at the moment?

"They have had one decent display, performance-wise, all season - and that was against Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup."

The former Norwich and Blackburn striker is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches again this season, against a variety of guests. This week, he goes up against singer-songwriter Willie J Healey, who is a Chelsea fan.

See all of Chris and Willie's predictions right here.

Peter Schmeichel
Former Manchester United goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

I don’t think it’s a sticky period, I think it’s not the level that [Manchester United] are at.

It is of course a different situation that I can remember the club being in, but I do think it can be turned around. It requires everyone to do their job a little bit better, group up and become a unit.

At times it looks on the pitch that there are certain players that play with some players and not others.

We can talk about ownership of the football club, manager of the football club, but the people doing the job on the pitch are the most important ones, they have to go out and fight.

Against Newcastle, you just wonder where those players are mentally. The minimum you can do is run and fight. It needs a change in mentality and approach to everything.

Image source, Getty Images

PGMOL on X, formerly known as Twitter: "History will be made this weekend when Rebecca Welch becomes the first woman referee to act as fourth official in a #PL match.

"Rebecca will form part of the team appointed to Saturday’s fixture between Fulham and Manchester United at Craven Cottage.

"Congratulations, Rebecca."

By Vanessa Buschschlüter
BBC News Online Latin America editor

The Colombian government says that the father of Liverpool footballer Luis Diaz was kidnapped by left-wing rebels of the National Liberation Army (ELN).

Luis Manuel Diaz was seized at gunpoint along with his wife on Saturday. The player's mother was left behind in a car by the kidnappers as police closed in, but the gunmen dragged away his father.

Hundreds of police and soldiers have been deployed to free him.

Police had originally said that a criminal gang was most likely to blame.

But on Thursday, a government delegation which is currently engaged in peace talks with the rebel group, said that it had "official knowledge" that the kidnapping had been carried out by "a unit belonging to the ELN".

A representative of the group has reportedly said the group will free Díaz's father in the coming days.

Image source, EPA

The Mail's back page mentioned the story involving the father of Liverpool forward Luis Diaz, saying that hopes have risen that he will be released after being kidnapped in Colombia.

We'll give you the latest shortly...

Image source, PA Media

The Daily Telegraph

And finally from today's newspapers, even the Telegraph says that the Manchester United players have "turned" on their "strict" manager Erik ten Hag.

Image source, Daily Telegraph

Simon Stone
BBC Sport

Manchester United's ownership situation needs a quicker resolution to bring greater clarity to Erik ten Hag's position, numerous sources connected to the club have told BBC Sport.

The Dutchman is under pressure following successive 3-0 home defeats by Manchester City and Newcastle.

Ten Hag says he is "a fighter" and admitted United are "in a bad place", while club officials have attempted to play down speculation about his future.

United face a run of "must-win" games over the next week, against Fulham, FC Copenhagen and Luton.

Image source, PA Media

Newcastle fans were as determined for Mike Ashley to sell the club as Manchester United fans are for the Glazers to move on.

And the latest from Simon Stone is that United's ongoing takeover saga needs to be resolved to ease the current issues at Old Trafford...