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'I am backing Tottenham'

Crystal Palace v Tottenham (14:00 GMT)

Crystal Palace are desperate to get their first league win of the season, but any sort of positive result would do after losing their past three games.

I was at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday with BBC Radio 5 Live for Arsenal versus Shaktar Donetsk in the Champions League, and Roy Hodgson was there as a Uefa technical observer. Is his next step a return to the Palace hotseat?

I am saying that tongue in cheek because there is no way they will bring him back - or that he would go back - but Eagles manager Oliver Glasner is already under pressure and the heat will really be on if they lose this game.

I am backing Tottenham, although I am a bit concerned about the fitness of Son Heung-min, who is back from injury but was rested for their Europa League game with AZ Alkmaar on Thursday.

Tiredness could affect other players. Spurs play high-pressing and high-energy football and I wonder what playing twice a week will do to them.

Also, the way Tottenham play might suit Palace more, because Eberechi Eze will have a lot more space than he had in their defeat against Nottingham Forest on Monday.

So Palace should pose more of a threat, but Spurs blew West Ham away and, while this will be a lot closer, I still expect them to win.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

'Ugarte won't change the world but why not throw him in?'

West Ham v Man Utd (14:00 GMT)

Ellen White

Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

I don't think it is fair on Manuel Ugarte to put all of United's issues on him and to say that when he comes in he will fix it. They are in need of a great player in the number six role, in front of that back line.

But why not throw him in there and allow him to get the minutes and build connections with his teammates? He won't change the world because other players need to step up, but why not play him?

'I'm always wrong about Man Utd - I'm going to let my daughter predict this one'

West Ham v Man Utd (14:00 GMT)

Things did not get any better for Hammers boss Julen Lopetegui with their defeat against Tottenham, and it seems he still doesn’t know what the 'West Ham way' is.

The Hammers need a big improvement, but this game is more about what Manchester United do and whether they turn up.

They were excellent in the second half of their win over Brentford last time out, but now they need to back it up, and for 90 minutes.

Can they do it? You just never know with Manchester United, and I've given up on backing them to beat anyone.

They are inconsistent and what doesn’t help is that they are playing in Turkey in the Europa League on Thursday night, so team selection and tiredness has to come into the equation too.

My daughter is doing some maths revision with me at the moment, working out the area of triangles - you multiply the height by the width, then halve it.

I can get all of those sums right, but I am always wrong about United, so I am going to let her make this prediction.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

Isak contract situation 'complex'

Chelsea v Newcastle (14:00 GMT)

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has described contract talks with Alexander Isak as a "complex situation".

Newcastle signed Isak, 25, from Real Sociedad in August 2022 for a club record fee of £63m.

The Sweden striker has scored 36 goals in 74 games for the club but has netted just once this season.

Speaking before Newcastle's Premier League trip to Chelsea on Sunday, Howe was asked about Isak's future at St James' Park.

"That's a slightly more complex situation," Howe said.

"Regarding contracts, I'm not involved in those discussions day to day. With Alex, he's got a long contract anyway at the football club and we have to be really careful with our spending due to profit and sustainability rules (PSR). It's not a clear-cut situation."

Read more here.

'I was almost crying on the pitch'

Chelsea v Newcastle (14:00 GMT)

Shamoon Hafez

BBC Sport football news reporter

When Premier League champions Manchester City came to St James' Park last month, the Newcastle fans showcased a huge banner in the Gallowgate end in recognition of their star winger Anthony Gordon, which the player admitted almost left him "crying on the pitch".

Now there will be a feeling of relief from supporters after one of the club's 'untouchables' seemingly ended any speculation about his future by signing a new long-term deal.

The 23-year-old's bumper new contract is a show of faith from the club for his fine form last season and a signal of intent to maintain a team around Gordon, striker Alexander Isak and midfielder Bruno Guimaraes.

"I was almost crying on the pitch," Gordon said in a post-match interview, with the club. "I don't think fans will ever quite know what that stuff will mean because I have got family and a little son watching in the stadium so they are memories that will stay with me forever."

Read more from Shamoon after Gordon extended his Newcastle deal here

Man Utd must 'stay patient' with Ugarte

West Ham v Man Utd (14:00 GMT)

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag says "we have to stay patient" with midfielder Manuel Ugarte as he continues to integrate into the team.

The 23-year-old Uruguay international, who joined from Paris St-Germain in the summer, has made four Premier League appearances so far, with three of those coming off the bench, and is among the substitutes again today.

"You have to integrate them," said Ten Hag on Ugarte. "He came in late in the window and then we had to integrate him during the competitions, and that takes time.

"We have to stay patient but, as you see, if the quality in that position is not right it's very difficult for a team to control games - and then I don't even speak about dominating games.

"So, that position needs one who brings the quality all the time, and we have to integrate him now in this team.

"I'm pleased with his performance [against Fenerbahce] and from here on he can build up."

Tottenham Hotspur have been fined £20,000 by the Football Association after accepting a charge of failing to control their players during the 4-1 win against West Ham United.

Both clubs were charged on Tuesday for failing to ensure their players "didn't behave in an improper and/or provocative and/or violent way".

Spurs admitted the charge and accepted the fine for the scuffle in last weekend's game.

The altercation occurred after Mohamed Kudus kicked Spurs defender Micky van de Ven then pushed the Netherlands defender and midfielder Pape Matar Sarr in the face.

The Ghana winger was initially shown a yellow card but it was upgraded to a red after a review by the video assistant referee.

The 24-year-old will serve a three-match ban for his dismissal.

He was separately charged on Tuesday for improper conduct for an incident "after the offence he was sent off for".

The former Ajax winger could serve an extra punishment on top of the three-game suspension if found guilty.

West Ham and Kudus have until Thursday to provide their responses.

The dart celebration. The beaming smile. The silky football that characterised the start of 2023-24 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

This time last year it would have seemed barely believable that people might be questioning James Maddison's place in Ange Postecoglou's side.

But after his half-time substitution for (defensive?) midfielder Pape Sarr launched an enterprising second-half display to thrash West Ham on Saturday, the vice captain's status as an automatic starter has to be up for debate.

Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Maddison has still started all of Spurs' Premier League games this season and, while he had been subbed off in all of them, before Saturday the earliest he had left the field was the 77th minute.

In 40 appearances for Tottenham, he has 19 goal contributions - essentially one every other game - with six goals and 13 assists.

The previous time Maddison was withdrawn after 45 minutes for Tottenham was that seminal game against Chelsea last November, when Postecoglou's outstanding start to life in north London hit a significant bump in the road.

He subsequently missed 10 games and, as Spurs' campaign spluttered, he never quite rediscovered his early-season razzamatazz.

It could be argued he still has not, albeit two goals and three assists in eight games this season is totally in keeping with his record.

Indeed, he remains Tottenham's metronome, having had more touches (561) than all but the defensive trio of Cristian Romero, Pedro Porro and Micky van de Ven, averaging two shots per game and only ranking second for dribbles behind Dejan Kulusevkski (22 to 29).

As the graphic above shows, very little has changed.

Last season, Maddison averaged 48 passes per game - so far this year, it is 49. In 2023-24, he averaged 67 touches per game - in 2024-25, it is 70. Shooting-wise, he has dropped from 2.0 shots per game to 1.88.

Different games beget different tactics - and Saturday's tweak made a tremendous difference for Tottenham.

But before we even think about writing Maddison off, we need far more evidence.

'I don't want to comment about Marinakis' ban'

Leicester v Nottm Forest (Fri, 20:00 BST)

Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo on owner Evangelos Marinakis’ five-match ban: "No, we didn’t have a chance to speak about it. It is an issue that is not of my concern and I don’t want to comment about that."

On whether negative headlines are distracting: "Hopefully not. We have to stick to what we can control inside of the pitch. But hopefully, it doesn’t distract us and we keep on being focussed and being switched on for what is inside of the pitch."

On not being on the sidelines at an away ground in Leicester: "We have taken care of that and making sure things go normal like they did in this game. We have constant communication with the coaching staff, we know that we are trying to prepare that in Leicester and hopefully, we can do the same. What I want is to be in touch with the coaching staff."

Forest's Marinakis appeal still stands despite damning reasons

Nick Mashiter

BBC Sport football news reporter

Nottingham Forest are still appealing the five-game stadium ban handed to owner Evangelos Marinakis by the Football Association.

The FA released the written reasons from an independent regulatory commission on Tuesday.

It said Marinakis, who was charged with misconduct, spat on the floor as match officials walked past following the 1-0 home defeat to Fulham last month.

In his defence, Marinakis claimed he had a hacking cough because he smokes two or three cigars a day and the incident was unintentional.

The commission rejected this defence, pointing to the fact none of the officials' statements mentioned coughing and CCTV footage of the tunnel backed up that assertion.

The written reasons behind the decision said there was "no excuse" for such an "an egregious display of disrespectful behaviour" that could "fuel disrespect towards match officials".

Marinakis' punishment includes all stadiums, not just the City Ground.

It followed boss Nuno Espirito Santo being given a three-game touchline ban for his reaction to Morgan Gibbs-White's red card in September's 2-2 draw at Brighton. Gibbs-White was also given a one-match suspension for his own reaction.

Cooper on adding 'experience and know-how' to the squad

Leicester v Nottm Forest (Fri, 20:00 BST)

Leicester City

Leicester City manager Steve Cooper, speaking with Sky Sports, on the "experience and know-how" brought by summer signings Jordan Ayew and Facundo Buonanotte: "We feel we have a good variety in the team, both in positions and age and experience. We keep saying that this is a Premier League club in every shape or form, but we left and we came back and we have to try and become an established Premier League team again.

"It was important we brought in extra players in the summer and in they had to bring some experience and know-how."

'We enjoy being part of this club'

Leicester v Nottm Forest (Fri, 20:00 BST)

Leicester City

More from Leicester City manager Steve Cooper's interview with Sky Sports News, on how much he's enjoying life with the Foxes: I've really enjoyed it to be fair. It's a great infrastructure, wonderful facilities and because of that, myself first and foremost and the staff take our responsibility very serious. We enjoy our work and enjoy being part of this club. Having the two victories in the last two games has been great because we have seen the joy it has brought to the fans, the staff and the players."

'It doesn't matter who we are playing' - Cooper on facing Forest

Leicester v Nottm Forest (Fri, 20:00 BST)

Leicester City

Leicester City manager Steve Cooper, speaking to Sky Sport News, on facing old side Nottingham Forest: "I'm looking forward to it like any other game. It's a very good culture here and even though we didn't get the results in the early season, it's always been a motivated and hard-working training ground.

"We look forward to every single game day. Forest is the next game, it doesn't matter who we are playing because we are so focused on ourselves. We are enjoying the journey that we are on."

'I think I know more about Dutch football than Micky'

Tottenham v AZ Alkmaar (Thu 20:00 BST)

Tottenham Hotspur

A final word from Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou on Micky van de Ven: “For us last year he was outstanding in his first year in the Premier League. He's growing all the time, maturing."

And whether he’s asked Van de Ven about AZ Alkmaar:, the Spurs boss joked: “I think I know more about Dutch football than Micky. We played AZ when I was at Celtic a couple of years back. Always a good side, always good at identifying young talent.”

Kudus behaviour against Spurs 'out of character' - Postecoglou

Tottenham v AZ Alkmaar (Thu, 20:00 BST)

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou touched upon the club's £20,000 fine, confirmed by the Football Association today, after the they accepted a charge of failing to ensure their players "didn't behave in an improper and/or provocative and/or violent way" at the end of Saturday's 4-1 win at home to West Ham.

He said that he did not feel "there was much in the match" in terms of aggressive behaviour by either side and added that the incidents that led to Hammers forward Mohammed Kudus being sent off were "out of character" for the player.

Click here to read more on this story. , external

Team news - Son 'a bit sore', Richarlison available

Tottenham v AZ Alkmaar (Thu, 20:00 BST)

Tottenham Hotspur

More from Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou on team news: "Sonny [Son Heung-min] was a bit sore after the weekend. He was never going be involved tomorrow, leaving him out of tomorrow and see how he is from there

"Djed [Spence] trained individually today, everyone else was out there."

On whether Richarlison is available: "Yeah, Richy got through this weekend really well, almost the second week of training now. Ready to go in terms of being available."

Wilshere appointed Norwich first-team coach

Guy is referring to this story, which was confirmed earlier today...

Former Arsenal and England midfielder Jack Wilshere has joined Norwich City as a coach with the first team.

The 32-year-old moves to Carrow Road from the role of Arsenal's Under-18 manager, which he began after ending his playing career.

There had been a vacancy in head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup's backroom team since Narcis Pelach left last month to become Stoke head coach.

"It is a fantastic opportunity at a very impressive club, and one which has come at the right time to progress my coaching career within a first-team environment," Wilshere said.

Click here to read the full story.

Burton sack head coach Robinson

A bit of League One news for you from earlier today.

Burton Albion this morning sacked head coach Mark Robinson following a run of seven successive defeats in all competitions.

Robinson, 58, left his previous job as Chelsea's development squad boss to become Burton head coach in June.

But he won only one of his 14 games in charge - in the EFL Trophy - and the club's Scandinavian owners decided enough was enough following Tuesday's 3-2 home loss to Wycombe Wanderers.

The Brewers are bottom of League One with four points from 11 games, already 11 points from safety.

Players 'wait on Fifa payments'

Simon Stone

BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

World governing body Fifa has been accused of not paying the final part of agreed sums to players across Europe whose contracts have not been honoured by their clubs.

Numerous sources across different countries with knowledge of the situation say while some payments were made, the final one has not.

Many players affected are either unemployed or now retired and the sums are said to be vital.

The money was due to come out of Fifa's ‘Fund for Players’,, external which was set up in 2020. The outstanding payments were due in September 2023.

BBC Sport has seen an email sent to Fifa from one national union highlighting in excess of 30 named players, stressing the financial difficulties being faced, with a plea to release the outstanding sums.

In total, 420 players are owed a total of $4m (£3.09m).

Fifa has been approached for comment.

The organisation is currently in dispute with global players’ union Fifpro over changes to the international match calendar. Fifpro, which is being backed by the Professional Footballers’ Association, believes too much is being demanded of players at the elite end of the game which potentially puts them at risk of greater injury.

Their biggest area of contention is the expanded 32-team Club World Cup, scheduled for the United States next summer. So far, Fifa has failed to negotiate television contracts for the event and confirm the prizemoney involved.

United will succeed sooner or later - Mourinho

Fenerbahce v Man Utd (Thu, 20:00 BST)

A final word from Jose Mourinho on his former club Manchester United: "Maybe you English guys think I'm bluffing, playing mind-games. I'm not playing anything - they have a better team than results are showing.

"I studied them the maximum I could. We watched everything in the Premier League, [and previous Europa League games against] Twente and Porto - there is work there.

"They will succeed sooner or later. Hopefully sooner and before one day I go back to the Premier League and they become my opponents. At this moment they are just my opponents for one match."

Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven said his side are determined to end their trophy drought and achieve "beautiful things" at the club.

Spurs face Dutch side AZ Alkmaar on Thursday in the Europa League at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Ange Postecoglou's side could make it three wins from three in the competition this season as they go for a first piece of silverware since 2008.

"Of course we want to win a trophy," Van de Ven, 23, said. "That is something we all want and we are working towards every day."

Earlier this season Postecoglou said he "always wins things" in his second year in charge.

Postecoglou won the Australian title with both South Melbourne and Brisbane Roar, and the Japanese league with Yokohama F Marinos - all in his second season or second full season in charge.

"I think even if the gaffer didn't say this, we still had the same belief as a group," said Van de Ven, who spent time in the AZ Alkmaar academy.

"We all trust in the process and the system that the gaffer wants to play. We all trust in each other and we know we can achieve some beautiful things. Hopefully we can win a prize - that's a big thing for us."

Tottenham's last trophy was the 2008 League Cup - the only competition they have won in the 21st Century.

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Tottenham have only won more Premier League games against Everton (31) and Manchester City (28) than they have vs West Ham (26).

West Ham came from behind to win this exact fixture 2-1 last season – they’ve not won consecutive league visits to Spurs since doing so in April/November 1966.

This will be the eighth time Tottenham and West Ham have faced each other in the first Premier League matchday back after an international break, with Spurs so far unbeaten in the previous seven (W4 D3).

Tottenham have lost four of their last six Premier League London derbies (W1 D1), as many as they had in their previous 16 (W9 D3). They did beat Brentford 3-1 in their last such match, however.

West Ham are unbeaten in their last three Premier League away London derbies (W1 D2), with those accounting for all three of their away games so far this season. They last had a longer such run without defeat between January and December 1999 (6).

West Ham beat Ipswich 4-1 in their last Premier League match – they’ve not won consecutive league games since March.

Brennan Johnson has scored in each of his last six games in all competitions for Tottenham, with his six goals in these games more than he’d netted in his first 38 appearances for the club (5).

Including crosses, no player has played more passes into the opposition box in the Premier League this season than Tottenham’s James Maddison (64). Maddison’s next goal will be his 50th in the competition, with the midfielder netting in two of his last three league games.

West Ham’s Michail Antonio has scored more Premier League goals against Tottenham than he has vs any other opponent (6). Five of his six goals against them have been the opening goal of the match, with only Ryan Giggs (6) netting the opener more often against Spurs in Premier League history.

Captain Jarrod Bowen has been involved in 34 shots this season (15 shots, 19 chances created), more than any other West Ham player. Indeed, last time out against Ipswich he became the first Hammers player to have 5+ shots and create 5+ chances in a single Premier League match since Michail Antonio against Arsenal in March 2021.

Tottenham have announced that defender Djed Spence has signed a new contract which will run until 2028.

Spence, 24, joined Spurs for an initial £12.5m from Middlesbrough in 2022 but has struggled to break into the first team and has made just 10 appearances for the club.

The former England Under-21 international has had loan spells at Leeds, Rennes and Genoa in recent seasons but has featured four times under Ange Postecoglou so far this campaign.

Spence scored his first Tottenham goal in September's 2-1 Carabao Cup first round win at Coventry.

What do you make of the news, Spurs fans?

And where does Spence fit into Postecoglou's plans going forward?

It is both a blessing and a curse that Tottenham face West Ham this weekend.

After their abject second half at Brighton, Spurs fans have spent the international break grinding their teeth in frustration, despite a decent run of form that preceded the game at Amex Stadium.

They will return to action against a Hammers side whose recent fortunes have been the reverse of Spurs' - their wretched run of form ending just before the two-week hiatus with a relatively comfortable dismantling of newly promoted Ipswich.

This is just one of the issues that surrounds Saturday lunchtime's game: just who exactly is in the better form?

Games against West Ham - just like against Arsenal and against Chelsea - are one of a set Tottenham must negotiate each year that are full blooded, unpredictable and difficult to move on from if you lose.

It is quite unfortunate that Ange Postecoglou's side have six vital, hotly contested fixtures like this to deal with on an annual basis. Most teams really only need to deal with bitter local rivals twice a season.

It is therefore an occupational hazard for these Spurs players. Whether they like it or not, high-pressure, high-expectation matches will keep coming.

West Ham fans enjoy nothing more than beating Spurs - especially away from home - and their fans will demand more from their players this weekend than at any stage this season so far.

So even though it will be a huge challenge, Tottenham fans and players know how rewarding success would be.

That second half against Brighton would suddenly look like a pretty insignificant blip.

Elisabeth Terland scored her first two goals in Manchester United colours to help them cruise to a 3-0 win over Tottenham in the Women's Super League.

Terland, who joined United from Brighton in July, slammed in a cross from former Spurs forward Celin Bizet off the underside of the crossbar for the opener at Leigh Sports Village.

The Norwegian pair linked up again a minute later to give United a healthy lead just before the break, with Terland heading home Bizet's whipped ball to the back post.

Captain Maya Le Tissier completed the scoring when she slotted in from the penalty spot after Ashleigh Neville was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box.

Terland was denied a hat-trick when her low strike was tipped onto the post by Becky Spencer, but she left the pitch to a warm standing ovation when she was replaced by Rachel Williams after 76 minutes.

The result ensures Marc Skinner's side maintains their 100% record in the WSL with three wins from three this season.

Despite a comfortable scoreline for the hosts, it was Spurs who made the brighter start with Martha Thomas forcing an early save by Phallon Tullis-Joyce.

Clare Hunt and Bethany England saw efforts drift just wide, while Drew Spence saw her rifled strike from the edge of the area tipped over by Tullis-Joyce.

However, Spurs were left playing catch-up thanks to Terland's double and the visitors' chances were limited in the second half.