Build-up, team news and news conferences before the Premier League weekend
Mikel Arteta speaking as Arsenal look to continue their sensational form at Sunderland on Saturday
Slot confirms that striker Alexander Isak will return to training on Friday after injury
The two teams appear to be Arsenal's most likely rivals for the Premier League title this season and are separated by just a point
Howe 'frustrated' by Wissa injury and gives latest on Gordon injury
We'll bring you all the team news before our FPL Q&A at 15:30 GMT
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Written by Sam Drury, Craig Nelson, Adwaidh Rajan & Grace Wheeler.
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Brentford rubbing their hands together. Sent Newcastle a £55million hologram of Wissa.
Gary
Sunderland v Arsenal (Sat, 17:30 GMT)
Among the things that Mikel Arteta is likely to be asked about when he arrives is Myles Lewis-Skelly, who has been left out of the England squad.
The young full-back was excellent for Arsenal last season to force his way into Thomas Tuchel's plans but has found playing time harder to come by this campaign, especially in the Premier League.
That has resulted in him being dropped by Tuchel with just a matter of months to go before the World Cup.
Sunderland v Arsenal (Sat, 17:30 GMT)
Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist
It might be too early to make a fair judgment of how a Premier League season might pan out but it does provide a good marker for comparison with just over a quarter of the campaign gone.
The fewest points a team has had after 10 games in the Premier League and gone on to win the title is 18 – something achieved by both Manchester clubs, with Manchester United doing so in 1992-93 and 2002-03 and City in 2020-21.
By both winning last weekend, Manchester City and Liverpool have avoided having to make Premier League history by winning the title with fewer than 18 points after 10 games.
However, the most points a team has been behind the leaders after 10 matches and still gone on to claim the trophy is six – something again achieved by both Manchester clubs, with United doing so in 2002-03 and City in 2013-14.
As both the Gunners and City picked up three points last weekend, it means they have the same points as in 2013-14, when City were six points behind then leaders Arsenal and still won the title (25 v 19).
On the other hand, Liverpool are – according to history – effectively out of the title race as they now sit seven points behind the north London side and overcoming that difference at this stage of the season has never been done before.
The Gunners' six-point lead is, in fact, the joint-biggest ever after 10 games of a Premier League campaign and it is just the third time in the competition's history a team has had such a big lead at this stage – with both Chelsea in 2005-06 and Liverpool in 2019-20 going on to win the title on those occasions.
I don't think anyone would argue Alexander Isak has been at his best, or even got close to it, yet for Liverpool but not good enough, Billy?
We all saw more than enough during his time at Newcastle to see he's a world-class striker. If he can get back to full fitness then I think we'll start seeing that version of Isak before too long.
For now, though, Hugo Ekitike is definitely in possession of the shirt and has looked very good so far.
No reason they can't play together, of course. With Mohamed Salah off to Afcon in December, that seems an obvious solution.
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Isak back in training that is bad for the team Ekitike is far better than him, Isak needs to prove he deserves to play and not play because of his price tag. All he has proven so far is that he’s not good enough.
Billy
Sunderland v Arsenal (Sat, 17:30 GMT)
Arsenal have had a near perfect season so far but they won't have it easy in their upcoming set of fixtures as they face an in-form Sunderland before things get even more tricky after the international break.
Three consecutive London derbies await the Gunners in the Premier League including a short hop to Stamford Bridge on 30 November while they also host high-flying Bayern Munich in the Champions League earlier in the same week.
That's it from Eddie Howe, we're off to Arsenal next. Mikel Arteta was due at 10:00 GMT but no sign of the Gunners boss just yet.
Brentford v Newcastle (Sun, 14:00 GMT)
Newcastle United
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe speaking to media about forward Yoane Wissa's injury: "Injuries are part and parcel of football and especially with the schedule we have had.
"The only frustrating thing about this one is that we haven’t seen him, he wasn’t with Newcastle when he did it.
"It’s been difficult because the transfer was with the sight of trying to help us here and now. We need him and we desperately want to see him fit."
Brentford v Newcastle (Sun, 14:00 GMT)Newcastle United
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe speaking to media about Anthony Gordon's injury and how that will effect him playing for England: "I feel relaxed about him being with England.
"It will all be done with England’s blessing in terms of weather he is fit or not fit. We will work together to find the best solutions for Anthony."
Brentford v Newcastle (Sun, 14:00 GMT)Newcastle United
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe speaking to media about Anthony Gordon's injury: "We don’t think it is a serious injury but we are getting him scanned and waiting on the result.
"I think there is every chance he might miss our game on Sunday but we will give him every opportunity to be fit."
Brentford v Newcastle (Sun, 14:00 GMT)Newcastle United
No time to waste on these busy Fridays and next up it's Newcastle manager Eddie Howe…
Ask Me Anything
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Well, as you've just mentioned yourself, Mick, Florian Wirtz was also in the XI for Liverpool's best performance of the season on Tuesday. He was excellent as well.
Would Arne Slot not be tempted to go again with that XI if everyone is fit and have Cody Gakpo as an option off the bench?
No doubt, there has been a reversion to last year's iteration of Liverpool in the past two games, though.
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When Arne Slot was asked to "pick a team of eleven players and stick to it" it turns out that, barring Hugo Ekitike in for Darwin Nunez, his best XI was the same team he already had… Cody Gakpo back in for Florian Wirtz and away we go again?
Mick Murray
Manchester City v Liverpool (Sun, 16:30 GMT)
Liverpool
That's it from Arne Slot.
The Liverpool boss was certainly in good spirits after their win over Real Madrid and with Alexander Isak back in training, Alisson Becker set to return after the international break and Jeremie Frimping on the comeback trail as well, things are improving on the injury front, too.
Manchester City v Liverpool (Sun, 16:30 GMT)Liverpool
Liverpool boss Arne Slot on when he expects Jeremie Frimpong and Alisson Becker to return: "Alisson, for sure, and I also expect Jeremie to be back after the international break – because there isn't another one until March!
"I don't expect Frimpong to be fully fit for Nottingham Forest (22 November) but I expect Alisson to be fit for that game."
Manchester City v Liverpool (Sun, 16:30 GMT)Liverpool
More from Liverpool manager Arne Slot on Mohamed Salah: "It helps a lot that the main focus in on players who scores goals. It's very important for us to have [Salah] scoring goals and it's also important for us to have him help the team out with his defensive work, which he also did in recent games."
Manchester City v Liverpool (Sun, 16:30 GMT)Liverpool
More from Liverpool manager on Andy Robertson's future at the club: "It's been a while I have had to talk about contracts, but here it's again.
"I was very please to see [Robertson] was able to play three games in seven days. He has done well as the team did. It's so helpful for everyone if the team play well. He's been calm on the ball and done a job defensively. Happy with his two, maybe three, performances.
"Over 30 doesn't tell me anything about the player. If you look at Virgil van Dijk or Mohamed Salah and [Robertson] – all three of them were able to win the Premier League and played a big part in it. Being 32 is not old for a football player in my opinion."
Manchester City v Liverpool (Sun, 16:30 GMT)Liverpool
Liverpool manager Arne Slot on the midfield trio of Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister: "I haven't been able to play all three of them together many times for obvious reasons – injuries mainly. It helps if the team plays more and more together.
"[Szoboszlai] has been outstanding throughout the season but these two games brought more out of him and the team for me for obvious reason, but maybe it's smarter not to say those reasons because I don't want to say it over and over again.
"He has a lot of qualities but one of them is work without the ball and I like that. The last two games, it was even above his own standards."
Manchester City v Liverpool (Sun, 16:30 GMT)Liverpool
More from Liverpool manager Arne Slot: "It has been two good games. Although in my opinion, and I think I am the only one, I liked the performance against Manchester United more than against Aston Villa. But I liked the result at Villa much more.
"We created much more chances from open play against United than Villa. [And conceded more] because we were 1-0 and 2-1 down so had to take more risks.
"If you win a game, everything else doesn't matter. But I try to balance it out a little bit in this building."
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Premier League news conferences: Maresca speaking; Jesus returns; Isak back in training – BBC
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