Simon Stone
BBC Sport

Erik ten Hag has had another mixed week.

An unconvincing win at Fulham last Saturday was followed by a convincing 30-minute performance and then eventual defeat in Copenhagen.

The upshot is Manchester United are in a slightly better position in the Premier League as they await the visit of Luton but their Champions League place is hanging by the slimmest of threads.

Given the only time United have lost at home to Luton was in the 19th century, if they fail to win on Saturday - having already been beaten nine times so far this season - Ten Hag would really be in a tricky position.

Tottenham Hotspur

Sorry Spurs fans, we've just had some bad news from boss Ange Postecoglou.

The club confirmed earlier that midfielder James Maddison has been withdrawn from the England squad because of an ankle injury he suffered against Chelsea on Monday, when defender Micky van de Ven (hamstring) also went off injured in the first half.

Postecoglou has now said that Maddison's injury is "a lot worse than we thought" so he will be until 2024, while Van de Ven could also be out for "a couple of months".

The Daily Mail

The Mail has reported, external that player bodycams will be used for the first time during Tottenham's trip to Wolves on Saturday.

A player from each side will wear a bodycam during the warm-ups at Molineux after TNT Sports and the Premier League struck a partnership.

Aston Villa and Newcastle trialled bodycams during a match on their US tour in the summer.

Chelsea

Summer signing Cole Palmer missed out on the England senior squad on Thursday but did get a mention by boss Gareth Southgate. The 21-year-old winger is set to face his former club this weekend.

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino said: "He is a really clever guy that has had to adapt quickly. We are building the team at the minute and he showed character and personality to take the move.

"We are so happy with him but I think he will improve. It is a special chance for him to play his former team-mates."

Image source, EPA

Chelsea

Before we hear from Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino, the club has provided a fitness update, confirming that Trevoh Chalobah, Ben Chilwell, Carney Chukwuemeka, Wesley Fofana, Romeo Lavia and Christopher Nkunku are continuing to undergo their rehabilitation programmes.

And we're set to hear from the Tottenham manager and a host of other Premier League bosses, with the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United set to hold their pre-match news conferences over the next hour or so.

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has won his third consecutive manager of the month, external award, becoming the fourth Premier League boss to do so.

He joins Antonio Conte (Oct-Dec 2016), Pep Guardiola (Sep-Dec 2017), and Jurgen Klopp (Nov 2019-Jan 2020), with Guardiola going on to win four in a row.

Spurs currently sit one point behind Guardiola's Manchester City in the league having scored 23 goals - showing no Harry Kane, no problem.

Postecoglou, who is now well known as 'Big Ange', has brought his warm Australian charisma to the league, with a positive, unfiltered and fresh approach to his media duties.

The 58-year-old said his goal was to bring the excitement around the club back and he is certainly achieving that. But is a first bit of silverware since 2008 for Spurs the ultimate goal?

Image source, Getty Images

There was little for Mohamed Salah to celebrate after Liverpool's Europa League defeat at Toulouse on Thursday but today he has been named the Premier League's player of the month for October.

The Egypt forward, 31, scored five goals in three league games to win the award for a fifth time - more than any other active Premier League player.

He goes level with Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie and is behind only Steven Gerrard and Cristiano Ronaldo (six), plus Sergio Aguero and Harry Kane (seven).

Image source, EPA

Michael Davis: Re 10:53. For me Rachel the question is not whether it was handball or not. The question is do we want VAR back tracking 13 seconds? If it had happened in own penalty area would you have disallowed goal and give penalty? I doubt it = totally illogical.

Despite making nine changes to the team which started the draw at Luton Town in the Premier League on Sunday, Liverpool's XI for last night's Europa League game in France featured plenty of first-team strength, with Luis Diaz making his first start since his father was kidnapped.

Liverpool's bench was particularly eye-catching. Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai and Trent Alexander-Arnold all came on at half-time - but made little impact.

Darwin Nunez was introduced when the visitors pulled the score back to 2-1, while Diogo Jota was thrown on with 10 minutes of normal time to play, and found the net to make it 3-2.

Yet even a point would have flattered Liverpool, for whom the defeat could have been even worse had Thijs Dallinga not had two goals ruled out for a foul and offside respectively.

Liverpool lacked flow and created few clear-cut chances until the frantic final minutes, when Jarell Quansah thought he had equalised deep into stoppage time, only to see the goal disallowed for an Alexis Mac Allister handball in the build-up following a lengthy and confusing VAR check.

Image source, Reuters

ICYMI, Liverpool and Colombia forward Luis Diaz's father was released on Thursday by the left-wing guerrillas who kidnapped him 13 days ago.

Luis Manuel Diaz was handed over to United Nations and Catholic church officials by members of the National Liberation Army (ELN).

He was abducted on 28 October in the family's hometown, Barrancas. The footballer's mother was also seized, but was freed within hours.

Image source, EPA

Elsewhere on Thursday, Manchester United continued their rich scoring form by beating Everton 7-0 in the Women's League Cup.

Two goals in two minutes, headers from Nikita Parris and veteran Rachel Williams, handed the hosts a deserved lead.

Parris completed an impressive a hat-trick with two more second-half goals, with Hayley Ladd, Geyse and Leah Galton rounding off the scoring.

Marc Skinner's side beat Everton 5-0 in the Women's Super League last month.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport reporter

Manchester United manager Marc Skinner says he wants to "demand" more consistency from his side in the Women's Super League.

United are hoping to challenge for the title this season but have already dropped points in draws with Brighton, Leicester and Arsenal.

They have been a mixed bag in all competitions - thrashing Everton 5-0 and then 7-0, either side of a 1-1 draw with Leicester City.

I asked Skinner if consistency was crucial to their title hopes and whether they could afford too many WSL draws this season.

"Yes, of course [we need consistency], and we are well aware of that," said Skinner.

"Even though it’s not a loss, it’s dropped points. In this league you can’t do that. It just gives you more pressure to win against the teams around you.

"I want to see that consistency now and I want to demand that from my players. It’s the final bits. We’re in the right position. You can’t stand still. You have to move forward."

Chris Sutton
BBC Sport football expert

Newcastle's injuries are piling up but I still fancy Eddie Howe's side to bounce back from Tuesday's defeat at Borussia Dortmund, on his return to his former club.

No matter how stretched the Magpies squad is, they should have too much for a Bournemouth side that is in a relegation battle. I'm going for another Cherries old boy, Callum Wilson to score the winner against his old club.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2. Suggs' prediction: 0-1. Tom's prediction: Newcastle will get the job done. 0-1.

Joe's prediction: I am going to go with them getting more goals than that. Bournemouth created a few chances against City last week though, so they might nick one too, especially at home. 1-3.

BBC Sport football expert Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches again this season, against a variety of guests.

This week, he takes on two Manchester City fans - frontman and guitarist Tom Ogden and drummer Joe Donovan from indie band Blossoms - and a Chelsea supporter - Madness frontman Suggs.

Click here to see this week's predictions in full.

Bournemouth

However, there is some positive team news for Bournemouth, with captain Neto having returned to training on Thursday after missing the last three games with injury.

The Brazilian goalkeeper, 34, was back working with fellow keepers Ionut Radu, Darren Randolph and Mark Travers, Romanian Radu, 26, has filled in for Neto while he was out.

Bournemouth

Sticking with Bournemouth, we now have a fitness update from boss Andoni Iraola. The Spaniard has confirmed that winger Alex Scott will have a spell on the sidelines through the knee injury he suffered during last Saturday's 6-1 defeat at Manchester City.

On how long the summer signing will be out, Iraola said: “It depends. It’s a grade two injury and it is tough. It is on the other knee than the one he had an injury with earlier in the season."

Image source, Reuters

Bournemouth

Bournemouth midfielder Ryan Christie has signed a new contract with the club until 2027.

"I'm absolutely delighted, I’ve loved my time ever since I joined the club so it was an easy decision to make," said the 28-year-old, who joined the Cherries from Celtic in 2021.

"When I joined, everyone was welcoming and that’s not really stopped.

"Anyone looking at the club can see we’re on an upward trajectory. As a player, it's really exciting to be a part of that.

"[Andoni] Iraola has been brilliant - I've loved working under him so far. The way he wants to play football is definitely a way I want to play football, so it suits me. I think it suits the whole squad.

"I'm learning new things. At 28, I'm probably one of the more experienced boys in the team now, but when you’re learning every day it keeps it fresh."

Image source, Getty Images