Chelsea

Asked if this next period is a test of Cole Palmer's character following his omission from the England squad, Xabi Alonso says: "He needs to focus on his thing - and his thing is to play good football and enjoy his game with us, with Chelsea.

"We spoke about the red card after the Spurs game, but most of the things apart from that are about our game, our football and what we can do better."

Chelsea

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea told England that Cole Palmer was fit and available for selection, but Thomas Tuchel ultimately decided to leave him out.

Palmer's return of five goals and three assists in 11 games in all competitions this season compares favourably with many of those selected ahead of him.

That includes six goal involvements in nine Premier League games this term.

He is part of Chelsea's dynamic duo this season, alongside Morgan Rogers. The pair have created 14 chances for each other in the Premier League this season - no other pairing has combined for more than nine shots.

Chelsea

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso on Cole Palmer's omission from the England squad and whether he has spoken to him about it: "No. We have not spoken about that. We have been talking about our game on Sunday."

On his form this season: "We are very happy with Cole. I think he is enjoying his game, he is connecting very well with the other attackers, he is helping the team and helping the team with developing and improving what we want and what we want to achieve knowing that everything takes time but I am very happy with his quality, his attitude and the impact he is having on the rest of the team."

On whether there are any regrets from Palmer for missing the last international break: "We haven't spoken about that. We are focussed on our things, on Chelsea things and how to do better and how to help him and how he can become more and more influential on the game. Those are our topics to talk."

On if Palmer has spoken about ambitions to get back into the England squad: "We speak about Chelsea. We have enough on our plate. My impact area is my control area and what we talk about."

Chelsea

Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso has been asked about Cole Palmer, who once again has been omitted from Thomas Tuchel's England squad.

Tuchel said Palmer "misses too many chances to impress", after the 24-year-old dropped out of England's squad for the early autumn matches.

But Alonso says the Blues are "very happy" with Palmer.

Chelsea

Chelsea added to Manchester United's woes as they picked up their fifth win in nine games to put themselves in a top-four position heading into the final round of Premier League fixtures before the November international break.

That victory over United ensured the Blues bounced back from a disappointing defeat by London rivals Tottenham and Carabao Cup exit to Liverpool on penalties.

They sign off for the break with a trip to bottom club Sunderland, who achieved their only league win so far this campaign back in August.

The pressure is on Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris after last week's 3-1 loss to promoted club Coventry was followed by a home defeat by Dinamo Zagreb in the Europa League on Thursday night.

Manchester United

Manchester United boss Michael Carrick has given updates on Carlos Baleba and Patrick Dorgu's injuries: "Carlos, we don't know exactly, but it will be a number of weeks. It won't be any time over the international break. It will be a bit longer than that.

"Patrick has done a little bit of training this week. Very, very small. We have got to be patient with Pat.

"He has had a good period of time now, a couple of hamstrings that we have to manage and be patient with that over the next couple of weeks.

"He is slowly getting back with us, so we will have to see if he can be involved with us at the weekend or not."

Arsenal

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Bukayo Saka is "going to be out for a while".

"We are talking about weeks," Arteta said.

"Let's see, after the international break he will start hitting the pitch and doing more activities depending on how he feels.

"But unfortunately he is going to be out for a while."

On a potential return date: "I don't want to put too much pressure on the guys. They are doing the best to get him fit but it's still quite early."

Liverpool

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola has been discussing the fluctuation of their season:

"I think that is the challenge, especially in a club like Liverpool. One week ago in this news conference [the talk was] we were on a run, everything was in a good place and we were in a better mood.

"Now, after two defeats [against Arsenal in the Premier League and Fenerbahce in the Champions League] it changes and it has to be like this in clubs like ours.

"Now we have to react after two defeats. We need a win against Crystal Palace away. We have been in similar situations against Bournemouth before the international break and after the Brentford game.

"So we have to go [to Palace], do a good job and win the game."

Manchester United

On whether he knows what to expect from his Manchester United side amid their inconsistent performances, Michael Carrick said: "When you watch the [Roma] game back, in the first half it wasn't so bad. There were moments in there that we left ourselves short really.

"They're the moments we have got to clean up on. Little moments here and there that have changed games for us, which is football, something we have to manage - the first half against Chelsea was very good.

"I think we are showing signs of improvement in that respect. We have got to take that moving forward."

On Sir Alex Ferguson being given time at Manchester United: "The game has certainly changed, no doubt. It has evolved. It changes, and we have got to deal with what is in front of us.

"The comparison, I get and I understand. We have got to live in the present.. We're all desperate to win football matches and win them as quickly as we can."

Manchester United

Michael Carrick on comparisons to Sir Alex Ferguson's early days as Manchester United boss, and his reaction to Tuesday's comeback against Roma: "More comparisons. You always find something to compare! It is up to us to take it forward. It was a fantastic night [against Roma].

"It was a one-off night. We scored some goals from nowhere. I thought we played really well and deserved to win the game.

"Nothing is done yet. Nothing is achieved yet. It is one moment in time that we need to use to move forward. We need more of it, for sure."

Manchester United

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United have just seven points after nine Premier League games.

That is their worst start in the competition's history.

United last took as few as seven points from their first nine matches in a top-flight campaign in 1986-87.

They had just five points after nine games that season, with manager Ron Atkinson replaced by Alex Ferguson 13 games into the campaign.

Manchester United

Manchester United boss Michael Carrick on Sir Alex Ferguson joining the club 40 years ago this week: "It's something definitely worth celebrating as a football club, 40 years this week since he came here.

"The impact and anything that he did was kind of driven from him moving forward. I am probably closer to him, and speak more to him now, than I did when I was playing.

"The relationship changes over time and that is only natural. Ever since he came here, the impact he had on me as an individual was immense."

Reigning champions Arsenal are top after nine matches, with eight wins and one defeat.

Manchester City are three points behind in second after back-to-back losses, while Brighton are third on 19 points and a healthy goal difference.

The Seagulls are flying high after a superb start that has included wins against the top two.

Sunderland are propping up the table with five points from their nine games, while Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest complete the bottom three.

Manchester United are 17th - outside the relegation zone only on goal difference.

Premier League

We have a flurry of Premier League managers speaking to the media right now and we'll bring you all the main headlines as they arrive.

Before they do, here's what's coming up over the next few days:

Friday, 6 November

• Everton v Coventry (20:00)

Saturday, 7 November

• Leeds v Tottenham (12:30)
• Arsenal v Hull (15:00)
• Fulham v Newcastle (15:00)
• Nott'm Forest v Man City (17:30)

Sunday, 8 November

• Brighton v Brentford (14:00)
• Crystal Palace v Liverpool (14:00)
• Ipswich v Bournemouth (14:00)
• Sunderland v Chelsea (14:00)
• Man Utd v Aston Villa (16:30)

Manchester United

Michael Carrick's Manchester United celebrated a memorable comeback victory from 2-0 against Roma in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

It was a much-needed win for Carrick, who appeared close to the sack at half-time.

After ending a dismal run of nine games without a win, United will attempt to back that up by achieving their first Premier League win since August against Aston Villa at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Carrick is about to speak to the media, and you can watch his news conference at the top of this page now.

Manchester City travel to Nottingham Forest on Saturday on the back of consecutive Premier League defeats to Aston Villa and Brighton.

City had won their opening seven matches under new manager Enzo Maresca.

City came up against Villa and Brighton sides in fine form, but their next opponents, Forest, are struggling.

Oliver Glasner's side have claimed just one point in their last five games and won just one of their opening nine Premier League fixtures under the Austrian.

Manchester City

A final word from Enzo Maresca on Elliot Anderson's return to Nottingham Forest for the first time since his £116m summer move to Manchester City from the City Ground:

"It’s a big game for Elliot but it’s a big game for all of us. He wants to understand, he wants to learn and improve and for a manager it’s a dream because you know that he wants to learn."

Manchester City

Image source, Getty Images

More from Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca on whether he plans any in-depth conversations with Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma over his fluctuating form this season:

"It’s much easier for me with the language! We are (having conversations) but there are players who when they make mistakes, you need conversations with them and there are players that when they make a mistake you just need eye contact to understand that he recognises and he knows.

"With Gigio it’s quite easy because every time he has made some mistake or something that was not correct, he recognises immediately.

"I spoke with Gigio but sometimes you don’t need to be so deep with some players because they know they have made a mistake and recognise that. Just try to avoid that and move on.

"Overall he’s good. He’s quite relaxed in terms of he recognises that he has done some mistakes but at the same time he has also made some good saves.

"It’s just a matter of balance – try to avoid mistakes and continue to do the right things."

Manchester City

Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca on Nico O'Reilly being left out of the England squad:

"It’s what he needs. With Nico, it’s quite easy. Since we started the season, between his back (injury) before the Coventry game and some more problems unfortunately, he’s not 100%.

"In the last game I really liked him, I thought he was playing a very good game and this is what we need from Nico.

"Let’s just keep him fit because we know how good he is and no doubt in the future that he will be back with the international team.

"Now use that break to do the right things in terms of therapy and these kind of things and be 100% after the international break."