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Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has been talking ahead of his team’s visit to Luton and notes: “They have the advantage that they play at home this time and it has been difficult for every team that has gone there.”

Well, it kind of has but Luton’s home form is a rather unchallenged cliche this season. ‘Mr Hard Facts’ is a curmudgeon, who doesn’t win many friends but he says this: Luton have won three out of 15 home Premier League games and lost nine. Only bottom two Burnley and Sheffield United have tasted more defeats in front of their own fans. Palace (16pts), Brentford (18pts) and Everton (13pts) have won more home points than Luton (12pts) this term and no-one keeps wanging on about that, adds ‘Mr Hard Facts’, finding his stride now.

Brennan Johnson is having a growing impact at Spurs and the Welshman will hope to make another key contribution when he faces his former club Nottingham Forest at the weekend. Ben McAleer of WhoScored runs the numbers.

The FA must help England now to avoid World Cup winners Spain dominating the women’s game over the next decade, says Kelly Simmons in today’s Sportblog.

Time to turn the gaze forward rather than back. Things to watch for here, including:

“Michael Olise’s anticipated return from injury for Crystal Palace against Manchester City could not be more timely for Oliver Glasner’s struggling side. The France Under-21 international has been in sensational form this season on the rare occasions he has made it on to the pitch – Olise has played only 755 minutes so far in just 11 appearances, but in that time has scored six goals and provided three assists. City are believed to be one of several clubs who have been monitoring his progress and will be wary of the threat he poses to their title ambitions, especially if he can adapt quickly to Glasner’s favoured 3-4-2-1 formation.”

Here’s the top of the Premier League table after last night. Arsenal’s +10 goal difference over City shouldn’t be overlooked.

While Jürgen Klopp flashed his teeth post-match, Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag was fuming after his side entered injury-time 3-2 up at Chelsea and lost 4-3. Conceding a corner and forgetting to mark one of the Premier League’s best attackers, who had already scored twice on the night, is likely to get your goat(ee).

Let’s start with leaders Liverpool and some deserved praise for Alexis Mac Allister, the Reds’ best player on a regular basis at the moment.

Here’s Klopp: “Wonderful player, wonderful boy and really happy for Liverpool that we got him.”

After the latest international break seemed to last in the region of three weeks to a month, we now have Premier League action coming out of our ears. Following a full round of matches across Tuesday (well done Forest), Wednesday (all hail Phil Foden) and Thursday (all hail Cole Palmer), we’re straight back into it with another round of top-flight fixtures, including Manchester United v Liverpool on Sunday afternoon.

The Reds remain top of the pile with eight games of the run-in to go but all three title hopefuls are showing fleeting vulnerability so your guess is as good as mine.

While the bottom three were just about everyone’s bottom three at the start of the season, even they are being awkward buggers to other teams, even if not getting the victories they need to avoid an immediate return to the Championship.

And, of course, who will finish sixth: the question on everyone’s lips? Manchester United hold that position but as they basket case their way to season’s end, a whole host of clubs are waiting to pick them off. Seventh to 13th are separated by just six points.

Righty, lots of reflection and projection to come as we work our way through today’s managerial press conferences and keep a beady eye on everything else. Let’s play.