Premier League

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Forest fans never took to Ange Postecoglou - not that they had much time together.

In the 39 days of Postecoglou's reign they turned after just 23, goading him he was going to be sacked during defeat to Midtjylland.

Now, supporters have to get behind Sean Dyche as Forest's third manager in six weeks and if he can do what Postecoglou failed to do in his eight games - win - then it will be a far more harmonious relationship.

Forest, in the Premier League relegation zone, need victories and managers can quickly make friends with three points.

Chief organiser Dyche is expected to quickly bring Forest to order, a side who have conceded 15 and scored just five in the league this season.

Do that and victories should come and once they do any doubters will come on board swiftly enough.

Nuno Espirito Santo - it seems a long time since he started the season as manager - and Steve Cooper had to win over supporters and did it in spectacular style, Cooper earning promotion to the Premier League and Nuno taking the club back to Europe.

One of Dyche's strongest skills is unifying a squad and fanbase and while he may have to win round some supporters, he lives locally and knows the club having been in the academy so he should easily be able to tap into the fans' feelings.

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on Nottingham Forest announcing Sean Dyche as the club's new head coach.

Some of you are thrilled:

Martin: Spot on - should have hired him straight after Nuno. Will get us organised and bring out the best in the star players - and the new players, who must be wondering what they signed up to!!

Patrick: Dyche is a solid appointment given where we are and the other options out there were not great. We have played the 'sexy football' card already with Ange and it turned us into a complete mess. You cannot keep gambling, Forest need to stay in the Premier League.

Amol: Sean Dyche will offer stability that Nottingham Forest need. But, their fans might miss out on the success and the style of football they enjoyed under Nuno.

Chris: Whilst it's not a great appointment. I think it's exactly what Forest need right now to sort the team out and give them the confidence back.

Others are no so happy:

Ben: Will Dyche be the manager to propel Forest on to more than we achieved last year? No. Is he going to steady the ship enough and manage the relationship with the fans better so that we don't have an absolute calamity of a season? I really hope so.

Bill: Sean Dyche is an adequate Premier League manager but his appointment shows a lack of ambition at Forest who are likely to remain a bottom half of the table team under him.

Rob: They must be desperate. Dyche is the most boring manager ever. Nobody else would work for Marinakis.

David: What a joke football is now, especially the Premier league. Managers circulate from club to club. We will never have a Robson or Ferguson again because they never get a chance to bed in and make their mark. The fear of a lack of success is so great.

Will Faulks
Fan writer

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It is a great day to talk about Josh Acheampong.

The defender has been highly rated at Chelsea for years, but his appearances so far have largely been limited to the youth teams and to the Conference League last season, where he made his senior breakthrough.

But a start, and the opening goal against Nottingham Forest at the weekend have brought him to the attention of a broader audience, and his renown is only going to grow if he continues to perform at such a high level.

He is a perfect modern defender - technical, athletic, versatile and intelligent. The Chelsea academy has a well-earned reputation for producing quality players, but it is in defence that they excel in particular.

Why were the Blues not keen to replace (academy product) Levi Colwill with (academy product) Marc Guehi when the former picked up an injury in the summer?

Largely because they had (academy product) Acheampong waiting in the wings. On Saturday, he put in a great showing alongside (academy product) Trevoh Chalobah at the back.

Questioned in the past about when the young defender will get more first-team chances, Enzo Maresca has pointed out Acheampong is already more than just an emergency option. He played in league games last year when senior defenders were available, and it was the same story on Saturday. He started while Tosin Adarabioyo sat on the bench.

The question now is what Acheampong needs to do to become truly first choice for Maresca. Colwill will likely miss the whole season, Benoit Badiashile is out injured again and Wesley Fofana's status is always in question.

The 19-year-old has a superb chance over the next few weeks to continue proving he should be starting even when everyone around him is fit.

On the evidence of what we have seen in his young career so far, we back him to take it.

Find more from Will Faulks at Chelsea News, external

Do you agree with Will on Acheampong's future?

How can he establish himself as first choice at Stamford Bridge?

Tell us here

Jordan Chamberlain
Fan writer

Arne Slot won the Premier League for Liverpool last season. That much gives him an entire year to make mistakes without even the threat of losing his job.

But my word, he made some strange decisions against Manchester United.

In the first half, five Liverpool players were standing on United's backline when we had the ball. All three forwards, plus Alexis Mac Allister and Dom Szoboszlai. There was no midfield and, as a result, no chance for build-up.

Mac Allister, who is having a genuinely dreadful season, is not a striker. If you are going to play a midfielder that high up, why would you not use Florian Wirtz? The German was just about Liverpool's only bright spark when he came on for 30 minutes - he created three chances and showed a sublime touch between the lines.

Mac Allister is way, way off it. He scored two for Argentina during the international break, but looks a complete shadow of himself. He is not getting stuck in, he is not controlling play and he is not making any passes. It is very odd.

Mac Allister and Mohamed Salah were in contention for Premier League player of the season last term, with the latter winning it, but he has been very poor, too.

It says a lot when Slot is taking Salah off with five minutes to go. His replacement, Jeremie Frimpong, beat his man and put a cross on a plate for Cody Gakpo, who somehow missed an open goal.

There is an issue with confidence, an issue with coherence and an issue with tactics; there are none. Liverpool have multiple brilliant players but all are playing in slightly odd positions that do not suit them.

Slot has lost four games on the trot with one of the most expensively assembled squads in the history of football. He needs to step it up.

Put yourself in Slot's shoes - what does he need to change to turn Liverpool's form around?

Send us your thoughts here

Find more from Jordan Chamberlain at Empire of the Kop, external

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Michael Emons
BBC Sport journalist

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Brentford started the day 16th in the table but jumped up to 13th as boss Keith Andrews celebrated his first away Premier League victory as a manager.

He would surely have been surprised by just how easy it was against struggling West Ham, as the visitors to London Stadium had 58% of possession.

Andrews' side were better in every department and just about every statistic. Their 15 shots in the first half alone was their joint highest ever in the Premier League, while the overall total of 22 shots in the match was their highest in this campaign, as was the 451 attempted passes.

With England midfielder Jordan Henderson superb in central midfield, Brentford were outstanding throughout. They were also a constant threat from corners and Michael Kayode's impressive long throws.

Igor Thiago scored just before half-time, but so many other chances were not converted: Nathan Collins headed over, Thiago volleyed against the top of the crossbar, Mikkel Damsgaard had a header saved by Areola, Dango Ouattara twice missed with headers, Kevin Schade headed against the bar and Keane Lewis-Potter curled a shot wide.

Substitute Mathias Jensen's late goal gave the scoreline a closer resemblance to the domination Brentford had enjoyed.

Michael Emons
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

It is hard to imagine how Nuno Espirito Santo's first home game in charge of West Ham could have gone any worse

This was a miserable night on and off the pitch for the hosts.

There were plenty of empty seats amid the latest phase of protests organised by fan group Hammers United, who want chairman David Sullivan and vice-chair Karren Brady to leave.

Those who were there then booed the team off at half-time, most had left long before the final whistle with the few that did stay again displaying their frustration at the final whistle.

The Hammers have now lost their first four home league games, and did not deserve anything from a woeful showing against a Brentford side that had not picked up a point on their travels before coming to London Stadium.

Apart from one bright run from Crysencio Summerville from the halfway line to the penalty area and Jarrod Bowen's low strike being saved, there was little to excite West Ham fans.

This was a painful reality check of how big a challenge Nuno faces as he attempts to keep West Ham in the top flight. On this evidence, the Hammers face a long season and a relegation battle.

Alex Howell
Arsenal reporter

Image source, Getty Images

In the aftermath of Arsenal's 1-0 win over Fulham on Saturday, there was a picture doing the rounds on social media.

It was not of the goal or of any of the celebrations. Instead, it was an image of defender William Saliba watching Atletico Madrid, the Gunners' opponents in the Champions League, on the team bus leaving Craven Cottage.

There is a quick turnaround between the games with just two days of preparation before Diego Simeone brings his Atletico side to north London.

The Gunners have only conceded three goals this season, keeping eight clean sheets and boss Mikel Arteta says he was happy to see the dedication from members of his squad.

"Very pleased because I didn't encourage it - that came from them. Arteta said.

"We know this will be a tough one, so the earlier we think about it the better. I love that initiative from the players."

Full commentary of Arsenal v Atletico Madrid on BBC Radio 5 Live from 20:00 BST on Tuesday

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

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Manchester United's Anfield matchwinner Harry Maguire concedes he does not know if he will still be at the club when they play Liverpool next season.

The United defender's late header secured a first win at United's biggest rivals since 2016 and was his 17th goal in 254 appearances for the club.

It was a notable achievement for the 32-year-old, who joined United from Leicester City seven years ago and therefore was tasting victory at Anfield for the first time.

Maguire's contract expires at the end of the season and while it is understood he and his family are settled in the north west, and he is keen to remain at Old Trafford, there has been no agreement over a new deal as yet.

"I've been here seven years now, so it's been tough not getting that win," he said. "It's been on my mind a little bit, to be honest.

"I'm in my last year now, so this could be the last time I played at Anfield for this club, so it's really important that I've come here and ticked that one off."

Head coach Ruben Amorim said the win was his best in almost a full year since arriving from Sporting as Erik ten Hag's replacement.

Maguire knows it will count for little unless United can overcome an in-form Brighton side on home soil on Saturday. The Seagulls have won on their past three visits to Old Trafford.

"We need to build momentum," he said. "The club will probably get a few plaudits this week because of our resilience and fighting spirit.

"But if we don't perform next weekend against Brighton, it will be exactly the same the following week."

Paul Birch
BBC Sport journalist

Unlike Ange Postecoglou's appointment, Sean Dyche's arrival at Nottingham Forest makes sense as his side's style of play has historically been more tactically in tune with the brand Nuno Espirito Santo employed to bring European football back to the City Ground.

With no pre-season for Postecoglou to impose his unique footballing ideologies, and with a slew of games coming thick and fast at the start of his tenure, the Australian struggled to stamp his authority on a squad so used to playing a certain way.

The appointment of another pragmatic coach similar to Nuno should, on paper, steady the ship and suit Forest's players, who were defensively sound and proved to be devastating on the counter-attack in 2024-25.

As the graphic below shows, both Nuno and Dyche teams are very happy to cede possession and allow the opposition the ball, before attacking at speed when they get it back.

All of which contrasts hugely with how Postecoglou got his players to operate at Tottenham.

Image source, Opta

PPDA is passes allowed per defensive action. It measures how often teams wait until interrupting a spell of opposition possession – whether that's winning the ball back or getting a foot in to concede a throw-in/corner. Teams aggressively trying to win the ball back will have a lower figure – teams prepared to soak up pressure will have a higher figure.

Direct speed is how quickly the ball moves towards the opponents' goal during a sequence of possession, measured in metres per second

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Jess Anderson
BBC Sport journalist

This time last year, Emiliano Buendia was struggling for opportunities in an Aston Villa shirt and facing the prospect of a January move just to get minutes.

Having joined Villa in 2021 on a five-year deal for a then club record £33m, he played a crucial part in the following two seasons, featuring in all but three of their 76 league matches.

But sustaining an ACL injury in Villa's 2023 pre-season ultimately meant he missed the whole of the 2023-24 campaign.

Last term, all 12 of his league appearances came as a substitute.

Buendia signed a new deal with Villa in January but was immediately sent to Bayer Leverkusen on loan for the remainder of the season.

He scored twice in 14 appearances for the German club, with Villa open to letting him leave over the summer.

But the 28-year-old midfielder is firmly back among manager Unai Emery's good graces this season, having scored three goals and provided one assist in his past four appearances.

The latest, a sublime finish when the substitute cut in to fire into the bottom corner after a sensational pass from Matty Cash, proved to be the winner in a 2-1 Premier League victory over Tottenham on Sunday.

Match of the Day pundit and former Aston Villa goalkeeper Shay Given described it as "world class" and an early goal of the season contender.

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Manchester United's victory at Anfield was their first at the ground since 2016.

Ruben Amorim has endured a largely difficult time at Old Trafford so far but Sunday's 2-1 win means they are up to ninth place, sitting just two points behind fourth-placed Liverpool.

"It is such a huge win for the manager," Rooney said on The Wayne Rooney Show.

"I've questioned his decisions, I've questioned his tactics and I've questioned the players' desire over this season and last season.

"That win is massive because winning at Anfield is not easy to do.

"The confidence that result will give to the players and the manager. I'll be the first to say he [Ruben Amorim] got it absolutely spot on.

"I hope we see more of it. They are only two points off Liverpool now.

"I really liked the performance. We know the players can do it now, so we have to see this on a consistent level."

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Liverpool are struggling defensively and it is costing them points.

After eight league games last term, they had only conceded three goals - none from set-pieces - and had kept five clean sheets.

So far, they have shipped 11 goals, five of which have been from set-plays, and kept two clean sheets.

"It's a little bit disjointed," said ex-Premier League striker Troy Deeney, who agreed with fellow Match of the Day pundit Shay Given that the Reds' summer recruitment was top heavy.

The former Republic of Ireland goalkeeper said it is also the role of the forward players to defend because "you defend from the front", but that is difficult when Arne Slot does not yet know his first-choice line-up.

The fragility of Liverpool meant Manchester United's front three of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Mason Mount could use their pace to their advantage and cause Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate problems.

"It was probably one of the only Liverpool games that I've watched and thought Van Dijk looked rattled, especially in the first half," said former Crystal Palace striker Clinton Morrison on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

"It's because he is having to cover Milos Kerkez, who I think right now has to come out of the team. He is struggling and does not look like he can carry that Liverpool shirt at the moment.

"Amad [Diallo] and Mbeumo were causing him a lot of problems down that side.

"It was actually Konate who was bailing Van Dijk out, which doesn't happen often. He was the best defender for Liverpool in this game."

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Michael Emons
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham would have gone second with a win and third with a draw, but instead are now sixth after losing 2-1 at home to Aston Villa, despite taking a fifth-minute lead.

They suffered only their second league defeat since Thomas Frank replaced Ange Postecoglou, whose Europa League triumph was not enough to keep him in a job.

In some regards, the poor result after a good performance on Sunday, was similar to those league matches last season under Postecoglou, who was sacked by Nottingham Forest on Saturday after only 39 days in charge of them.

Frank received a setback just before the match as club captain Cristian Romero suffered an injury in the warm-up, with Austria international Kevin Danso drafted in for his first league start of the season, while Micky van de Ven was handed the armband.

However, they still managed to take an early lead through Rodrigo Bentancur's half-volley and thought they had gone 2-0 ahead in the sixth minute only for Mohammed Kudus to be judged offside as he had started his run too early before arrowing a low strike into the bottom corner.

After Rogers' equaliser, Tottenham arguably had the better chances. Mathys Tel failed to connect with a close-range volley after referee Simon Hooper allowed play to continue, despite the ball earlier hitting him, and Van de Ven wasted another opportunity by heading over.

Villa's winner - only their second shot on target - came against the run of play and Tottenham could still have levelled.

Striker Randal Kolo Muani - on his first Premier League appearance since his season-long loan from Paris St-Germain - and Brennan Johnson failed to convert chances as Emery's men took the points, with Spurs now having just one point from their past three home league games.

Michael Emons
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Before Sunday's match, Aston Villa boss Unai Emery admitted Morgan Rogers had not been "performing very well, not confident" at the start of the campaign, but said he was "getting better and feeling confident".

But the 23-year-old is now showing his best form for club and country with his first club goal of the season coming 10 days after his opening goal for the Three Lions.

Rogers, who can perform in a variety of attacking positions, has established himself as a vital part of the England team and featured in all eight of their matches since Thomas Tuchel took over.

And Villa are getting the benefit too as Rogers now has one goal and two assists from his past three club games, having failed to score or register an assist in each of his side's opening five Premier League matches.

His goal against Tottenham was superb as, despite four home players being in close attendance, he managed to fire a sublime, looping 20-yard strike over home goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario that then dipped under the crossbar.

Both sides will feel they deserved something but a glorious second for Villa, which included a wonderful cross-field pass from Matty Cash, Lucas Digne controlling it and an excellent strike from Emiliano Buendia, proved the difference.

Rogers faces plenty of competition for an England attacking midfield role - and a place in next summer's World Cup squad - and his recent resurgence will be good news not only for Emery, but Tuchel too.

Listen to Matty Cash's post-match interview with BBC Radio WM here

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport journalist

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Wolves may have been unfortunate not to take maximum points in their two previous matches against Tottenham and Brighton after conceding late equalisers.

Yet there are few positives they can extract from their trip to Sunderland.

Vitor Pereira's side were second best for long periods, remain the only winless team in the English top flight and now appear in danger of being cut adrift at the bottom of the table.

Despite the season being only eight games old, they are already five points from safety and have the worst goal difference in the division.

The travelling supporters may have expected more against opponents who were still in League One in 2022.

Jorgen Strand Larsen is yet to score a Premier League goal since Wolves rejected bids of £50m and £55m for him from Newcastle in the summer.

The Norway international's 24 touches also represented the lowest number by any visiting player to feature for the full game and was emblematic of an attacking display that lacked inspiration.

And the tactic of repeatedly lofting the ball into the Sunderland area, sending in 31 crosses in total, when the home side were always well set to repel danger was fruitless.

Wolves have now failed to score in four of their eight games with only managerless Nottingham Forest (five) faring worse this term.

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

While there is a long way to go in the season, Sunderland have already dispelled any suggestion that they would struggle to make an impression after eight years outside the top flight.

Their start is all the more remarkable given that half of that time was spent in the third tier of English football, where they were operating as recently as 2022.

But a summer recruitment drive that delivered 14 new faces is reaping dividends.

Nordi Mukiele, who arrived from Paris St-Germain, impressed again and looks a shrewd investment in a deal worth around £12m, while DR Congo international Noah Sadiki provided plenty of industry.

And no home player covered more ground than captain Granit Xhaka, who offered an anchoring presence to Sunderland's midfield, particularly in the first period.

Listen to Gary Bennett's post-match reaction on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Bournemouth midfielder Marcus Tavernier says team-mate Antoine Semenyo is "unplayable" right now.

The winger has already scored six goals in seven Premier League games and provided three assists.

Having lost a number of faces in the summer, Semenyo has been a key figure in helping the Cherries to keep up their impressive form of last season and take them to fourth in the league.

"No surprise at all [to see Semenyo's form]," Tavernier told BBC Radio Solent.

"He has come on leaps and bounds from the first time he came here. We saw that quality from the get go, but it just wasn't quite working for him on the pitch at the start.

"What he is producing now is nothing short of what he deserves. He is one of the hardest working people I have played with, always out there doing extras, you can see him doing his shooting videos as well.

"It is great for the team, and for him especially with the success he is getting out there now."

While the versatile 25-year-old has previously played in the central striker position, he has spent the majority of his time on the pitch this campaign in either the right or left wing roles.

When asked where he think's Semenyo's best position is, Tavernier responded: "He would probably say he could play goalkeeper as well!

"That is just Antoine. The way he is playing right now he is unplayable on the wing. I don't think there is anyone who can really mark him when he is on his game.

"When he is in that form, and the way he plays, he can produce anything from those wide positions."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Ange Postecoglou dismissed any suggestions he should be concerned about his role with others under consideration to replace him at Nottingham Forest.

The 60-year-old is under pressure after seven winless games to start his reign as Forest boss going into Saturday's visit of Chelsea.

Sean Dyche has been considered as a replacement while Forest have been long-time admirers of Fulham's Marco Silva, who managed Olympiacos under Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis.

"I don't need reassurance. I'm in a no-win situation," said Postecoglou, with Forest 17th in the Premier League.

"So if you [the media] write about me getting replaced and naming replacements, either it's pure fabrication and lies the club is looking to move me on and talking to other candidates for my role, or there is some truth in it.

"Either way, what can I do about it? I'm not going to go suing a newspaper or the media and I'm not going to go to the owner because who knows what the truth is and I don't care.

"If people have made up their minds internally or externally after five weeks...

"OK, well, what am I supposed to do about that? It depends on the prism you look at.

"What I consistently say and I was mocked and ridiculed for it last year is: if you let the story play out, I'll tell you how it finishes, but I don't hold that decision in my hands."

Joe Bradshaw
BBC Sport Senior Journalist

Jordan Pickford is into his ninth season at Everton and, still only 31, may be getting better and better.

After signing a new contract on Merseyside until 2029, he declared he is hoping to "build a legacy" with the Blues – it could be argued he already has.

There are 36 goalkeepers who have played more than 5,000 Premier League minutes since Pickford's Everton debut in a 1-0 win against Stoke in August 2017.

No keeper has clocked up more time on the pitch than Pickford in that time and he has comfortably made the most saves out of all eligible number ones.

That stands to reason. After all, for much of his time at Everton, he has been scrabbling at the bottom of the table, under 11 different managers.

The one constant? Having the tenacious Englishman between the sticks, saving far more points than he cost.

Sure, when it comes to save percentage, Pickford is middle of the pack, but that is an entirely predictable consequence of facing far more shots than any other keeper in that time – see above graphic.

In the interests of balance, Pickford has also conceded a lot more goals than any other keeper in that time.

However, as my colleague Chris Bevan pointed out earlier this week, Pickford actually prevented the most goals in the Premier League last season so is continuing to prove his worth.

Things are looking up too. Having broken Gordon Banks' consecutive clean sheets for England record earlier this week – he has not conceded a goal for his country at all in 2025 – club side Everton are sitting eighth in the early standings.

Eyeing a top-six spot for the first time?

His words on signing his contract extension were notable, stating "we want to be a team that competes in Europe" and "hopefully some silverware as well".

For one of this grand old club's most loyal recent servants, that kind of legacy would be fitting.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Crystal Palace forward Wilfred Zaha has hit back at Jean-Philippe Mateta after the Frenchman claimed his ex-team-mate doubted he would ever play for his national team.

Mateta, 28, made his first start for France during the international break and told L'Equipe newspaper, external: "At Crystal Palace, right at the start, when I wasn't even playing, I spoke about the France team in the dressing room and I had team-mates like Wilfried Zaha who were laughing.

"They said that I was mad to think about the France team when I wasn't even playing at Crystal Palace, but I responded saying that it was my objective and that I simply had to play to show what I could do."

Zaha took to social media to defend himself, saying his "head's on fire" at what he has been reading and he wanted "to clear up this Mateta situation".

He added that "it's disgusting" because he has "never mentioned him," and questioned why he singled out his name from 10 players.

The 'beef' has caused a social media storm but European football journalist Rafael Honigstein is confused by Zaha's response.

"It didn't seem that bad a comment [by Mateta] and was perhaps said more in jest as 'well I've shown everyone'," Honigstein told BBC Radio 5 Live's Euro League's podcast.

"I don't get where the animosity or hate comes from.

"Zaha said in an interview before that he doesn't have any friends in football, maybe that is because he takes things very seriously - too seriously.

"I think Mateta was just making the point that people didn't believe in him. He mentioned one name and Zaha has taken it very badly.

"I don't really see what the fuss is!"

Listen to the full chat on BBC Sounds

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Forest have been criticised by the Football Association for failing to address their behaviour on the pitch.

The club and Chelsea were charged and fined for failing to control their players during a mass confrontation in the 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge last October.

They were fined £125,000 and £40,000 respectively, although Forest appealed and their punishment has now been reduced to £112,000 following a hearing last Friday.

It was a sixth issue in two years and eight months for Forest. The club was fined following similar incidents against Derby and Crystal Palace in 2022, twice against Wolves in the EFL Cup and Premier League in 2023 and last year against Liverpool, which resulted in a £75,000 fine.

The FA has now released its written reasons and, despite giving Forest credit for their guilty plea, has been critical.

"We accept that their role within the incident itself was a lesser one but nevertheless contributed to a deeply unseemly scene," it wrote.

"Their position is aggravated by a significantly worse misconduct history for E20 offences. It seems to this commission that the club are doing very little to address this sort of behaviour."

The FA had previously criticised Forest following their EFL Cup quarter-final penalty shoot-out win over Wolves in January 2023.

Tempers boiled over at the City Ground after the west Midlands side lost on penalties and former Wolves midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White celebrated in front of the travelling fans.

The commission said at the time: "There has been no evidence put forward to the commission to demonstrate that the club are addressing what is now becoming a serial problem."

Image source, Getty Images

Our chief football news reporter Simon Stone has been answering some of your questions on our BBC Sport Premier League live page today.

Laura asked: A concerned Fulham fan here. Do you think we are in trouble?

There are several injuries to key players, we haven't got a fit striker (or at least not one Marco Silva wants to play), we have a difficult run of fixtures and we are bottling almost every lead we have.

Simon: Marco Silva made it pretty clear he wasn't happy with the way the club went about their business in the summer transfer window, and it feels the effect of doing business on deadline day lingered into the series of matches between the first two international breaks, as the players had to get fit and get used to playing with their new team-mates.

That said, Fulham deserved more than a point against Manchester United. The PGMOL have admitted they wrongly disallowed their opening goal at Chelsea, and they led at Aston Villa and Bournemouth before eventually losing.

Even three points from that tale of woes would have pushed Fulham well into the top half of the table.

If club-record signing Kevin settles down and produces performances somewhere near the levels his £34.6m fee suggests he is worth, it will clearly help.

But Fulham have shown a capacity to challenge bigger clubs already this season, so I don't view their position as negatively as you appear to.

Follow the rest of Simon's Q&A and the rest of Thursday's football news

Image source, Getty Images

Legendary Manchester United forward Eric Cantona was a "shy guy" but also an "inspiration", according to former team-mate Peter Schmeichel.

Cantona joined the Red Devils in 1992 and made 185 appearances, scoring 82 goals, before leaving in 1997.

He played alongside ex-goalkeeper Schmeichel throughout that period and the Dane remembers the Frenchman's first day at the club well.

"He was quiet, still is very quiet. If you follow him on social media, the way he speaks is just the way he speaks. He's a fantastic guy and I enjoyed rooming with him," Schmeichel told BBC's Sacked In The Morning podcast.

"[He is] just a nice guy. He is different, and that was a very good thing. That's exactly why he became the final piece in the jigsaw because that differentness was incredibly difficult for other teams to work out back then.

"Back then, most teams, even ours, played similar systems and in similar ways. So the difference between the teams were obviously physicality and ability, and all of a sudden you have this guy.

"My god, did [Sir Alex Ferguson] get the best player ever."

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Cantona's footballing prowess, unique quotes and infamous kung-fu kick all played their part in issuing him icon status at Old Trafford. Despite this outward persona, Schmeichel insists the multiple title winner was quiet off the pitch.

"Eric is a shy guy. He wasn't very vocal in the dressing room at any time," he said. "You don't really know anybody [when you arrive], and especially if you come from abroad.

"He went out to the pitch, and behind one of the goals at The Cliff [training ground] is a wall into the indoor arena.

"So he went up to that wall and just started to volley balls up against it, chest it down, left and right foot. The building at The Cliff training ground - the canteen, the treatment room, the manager's office - had windows to the pitch and everybody was watching from up there and saying: 'What is he doing? We've never seen anything like that. Why is he doing that?'.

"We loved to be at The Cliff, but it was also the pitch for youth team matches, so you had to preserve it a little bit. To go down and start training on that pitch was just unheard of.

"All of a sudden you've got people up against the wall playing, training, practicing stuff, and that never really happened.

"Eric did that. Eric gave that little bit of inspiration, and because he did it, the manager loved it and then he allowed everybody else to do it as well."

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Jordan Butler
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Cody Gakpo has undoubtedly been a standout player for the Netherlands in recent months.

The 26-year-old has provided three goals and two assists in his past three caps and after his stunning strike against Finland on Monday, Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf considered him "almost unbeatable at speed", adding that "his return for the national team is incredibly high".

So have Gakpo's best performances come in the famous orange shirt or in the red of Liverpool?

Since he joined the Reds in January 2023 he has contributed 43 goals and 16 assists in 138 appearances - that is a goal involvement every 2.3 games.

That ratio improves to a goal involvement every 1.7 matches with the Netherlands, with Gakpo notching 16 goals and eight assists in 37 caps during his spell on Merseyside. He also creates more chances while on international duty.

His expected goals per 90 minutes is higher for Liverpool, however, and he also takes more shots and has more touches in the opposition box for the Premier League side.

Gakpo is a genuine focal point and source of goals for his country. But, he has not quite reached that status at Anfield yet, despite his excellent return of 18 goals last season.

He is also given more freedom in orange and has a little less defensive responsibility.

The Netherlands deploy him in a similar system to that of Liverpool and he is used either on the left of a front three or on the left wing in Ronald Koeman's preferred 4-2-3-1 formation. However, Koeman often plays a defensive-minded left-back, with Nathan Ake and Micky van de Ven less inclined to attack when compared with Liverpool's Milos Kerkez or Andy Robertson.

It is also worth noting that the Dutch often face a lower calibre of opposition, especially during a qualification campaign. Gakpo scored twice against Malta last week and registered an assist versus Lithuania in September, with both nations ranked well outside of the world's top 100 according to Fifa.

Regardless of opposition, Gakpo has found the net in three successive matches for club and country. He has never scored in four consecutive games since signing for Liverpool.

It is fierce rivals Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday - and that would be the perfect way to achieve that personal milestone.

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