Liverpool

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A Liverpool related question was put to chief footballer writer Phil McNulty in Monday's Q&A.

Chris asked: Aston Villa fans constantly sing that goalkeeper Emi Martinez is “the world’s number one”. Do you reckon he is?

Phil answered: Here’s a loaded question. Simple answer – no I don’t. I think Martinez is an outstanding goalkeeper and who can argue with Villa fans believing he is the best given his form for them and the fact he was vital to Argentina winning the World Cup in Qatar in 2022?

Going back even further, I still remember his brilliant performance when Arsenal beat Chelsea to win the FA Cup in 2020. I was actually surprised they sold him to Villa. In my opinion, Liverpool’s Alisson Becker is “the world’s number one”. He has been so vital to Liverpool’s success and a game-changer since his arrival in 2018. He is remarkably consistent, relatively understated – although he would wish to avoid the injuries that have troubled him in the last couple of seasons. I think Martinez is a superb keeper, but I would place Alisson Becker ahead of him. Just.

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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Everton and Newcastle.

Here are some of your comments:

Everton fans

Greg: A gutsy performance if not much more, and would probably have taken a point seeing the team selection. Midfield needs a shake up as neither Mangala or Doucoure are capable of controlling a game, however we all know he wont change it. Nice to see Pickford taking control of his six yard box a bit more. A very commanding display.

Dixie: A good defensive display. Pickford loves these games and did well. Makeshift back four or five depending how you look at it did well against a good attacking side. Dyche made the right substitutions at the right time. Well earned but deserved point. Clean sheet a bonus.

Yozza: Makeshift defence against a makeshift attack. We knew we were up against it against a strong midfield but I just don’t get the Calvert-Lewin penalty. If Burn was playing the ball then fine but he wasn’t. He was blocking Dom's kicking arc as well as coming in from the back. Should have stood. Good point though.

Steve: Plenty of effort but lacking creativity at the top end of pitch and at times looked open in the midfield. Great save from Pickford to deny Gordon who quite clearly was affected by the crowd.

Newcastle fans

Paul: Defensively better but we didn’t convert our possession into goals. Gordon played well but missed a pen and a very easy chance. Only a point is disappointing. There’s no excuse for us not having adequate cover for Isak and Wilson as we spent very little in the past two transfer windows. Our transfer policy needs sorting out.

Andy: Against a combative Everton side it was always a tough ask of Gordon to keep playing the central striker role even with his pace. We are strongest in midfield rotation, surely Howe could use Joelinton as a hybrid forward when needed. A draw was a fair result, but had we won Everton could of had no complaints. Cohesive team performance with no end product.

Jon: Signs of continued progress from the City game - energetic, more fluid in midfield through Tonali, Joelinton and Bruno, and the press gave Everton trouble. But we lacked any real edge in the final third, and still look vulnerable on the counter. Poor summer transfer window - we're a forward and a defender short of competing where we want to.

Alex: Newcastle lack any sort of creativity from midfield. Not one player from the midfield three is able to take the game by the scruff and win the game themselves. Too much reliance on Isak/Gordon. Howe needs to figure out a way to get goals from midfield.

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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Crystal Palace and Liverpool.

Here are some of your comments:

Palace fans

Trevor: For the second game in a row we were denied an obvious penalty (is VAR becoming just an enhanced offside checker?) That aside, I thought we did enough to have got at least a point. Chalobah had a decent debut. Lacroix is improving every game. We keep giving the ball away and had several great opportunities to score. Frustrating but room for optimism.

Moggy: Liverpool were nothing special and we couldn't take advantage of that. Should have equalised at least. Hughes was great when he came on. Agree that Glasner still hasn't decided on his best XI.

Gavin: So frustrating. Woeful in the first half, losing duels and so many passes going astray. Better second half, but Eze guilty of missing our best chance, which could have gained us a point. Better selections, but Nketiah too deep to have an effective impact. Basics need to be better for us to compete and to secure victories in the Premier League.

Gilly: Tough start to the season for Palace but there are glimmers of hope. But confidence and fire in the belly seems lacking. There are new combinations and players getting used to each other. Given time, I believe it can come right but the longer the lack of goals and wins goes on the more the confidence and belief drops. Hard times. Character needed.

Liverpool fans

Kev: Hard-fought win and made harder by not scoring more, especially in the first half. Overall we probably deserved it and it's very pleasing to go into the international break top of the league.

Stuart: Lucky not to concede again and that luck will run out sooner or later. Will Salah play every minute of every game? We need him fresh and firing at the end of the season. He should be subbed for his and our own good.

Vardon: A win is a win, but it was far less comfortable at times than it should have been. The injuries overshadow the result. We're going into a very difficult run of fixtures without our first-choice goalkeeper and Mac Allister is pivotal to our midfield. This will test our mettle and hamper our chances of winning the Premier League.

Simon: We should have been out of sight by half-time. Tried to pass the ball into the net rather than shooting on sight. Over-confidence and complacency set in and we allowed Palace into the game. A better team would have punished us. Was glad to hear the final whistle.

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Liverpool "are the dark hose contenders" for the title, says former Premier League midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker.

"Everyone is still talking about Manchester City and Arsenal," he added on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "Liverpool are going about their business quietly.

"My biggest worry would be injuries from international duty as they look to be a great side as things stand."

Reo-Coker's injury worries are backed up by ex-Reds keeper David James, who also believes the games following the break could cost them points unless Arne Slot can crack the team management.

"My fear for Liverpool is the post-international break matches," said James. "We saw what happened after the last one when they produced their worst performance of the season so far against Nottingham Forest.

"Slot and his team need to work out how they are going to get the team right after an international break. If they are to play big sides after each break then it will not be good."

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Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

Liverpool have made their best start to a season since their Premier League title-winning campaign in 2019-20.

The Reds go into the international break top of the table with 18 points from a possible 21 and the best goal difference in the league of 11.

Although it is has been a near-perfect start for Arne Slot, it is important to note that they have had an easier start compared with Manchester City and Arsenal and are yet to play a team in the top half of the table.

Premier League clubs including Everton, Arsenal, Wolves and Chelsea have been monitoring Santos' 18-year-old Brazilian defender Joao Pedro Chermont. (Caught Offside), external

Want more transfer news? Read Monday's full gossip column

Real Madrid had planned to sign Trent Alexander-Arnold on a free transfer next summer when his contract at Liverpool expires, but the La Liga club might move for the right-back in January after Dani Carvajal sustained a serious knee injury. (Sport - in Spanish), external

The Reds have joined Newcastle United and Tottenham in the race to sign 26-year-old England attacking midfielder Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace. (Football Insider), external

Liverpool are progressing with contract talks for centre-backs Jarell Quansah and Ibrahima Konate. (Mirror), external

Want more transfer news? Read Monday's full gossip column

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Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe had a simple answer when asked - as a boyhood Everton fan - if he would miss Goodison Park when it closes its doors at the end of this season.

"Probably not", said Howe, adding that this was not a sign of disrespect but because of his managerial record at this grand old stage of English football.

Howe quickly added: "This is an iconic venue. It's got a very special atmosphere. If you haven't been here, you have to come. It will be missed. Just my own personal experiences here haven't been good."

In nine games as a manager at Goodison for Bournemouth and Newcastle United, Howe has lost six, won two and drawn one.

And Goodison was at its fearsome best - or worst if you were former Everton forward Anthony Gordon following his acrimonious departure for Newcastle in January 2023 - in a feisty goalless draw on Saturday evening.

As ever when Everton have struggled, which is almost always in recent seasons, the home fans provided a fierce, thunderous atmosphere which threw passionate support behind their own team and made Gordon, who also said he was a lifelong Liverpool fan when he was linked with a summer move to Anfield in the summer, a target for a very rough reception.

It felt at times as if Gordon was playing the whole stadium, which he effectively was apart from a small corner of Newcastle fans, and the occasion, especially when his tame 35th minute penalty was saved by Jordan Pickford.

Everton supporters greeted the save ectstatically, not simply for the save but because it had been made from the villain of the piece. It was as if a goal had been scored by Sean Dyche's side.

If Everton are to stay safe this season, then it is at the unique environment of Goodison Park where it is likely to be assured.

Everton move into their magnificent new stadium on the edge of the Mersey at Bramley Moore Dock at the start of next season - and one of the biggest tasks will be to replicate the special atmosphere that delivers such hostility and will mean Goodison Park, old-fashioned but gloriously traditional, will be sadly missed.

Highlights and analysis from Saturday's seven Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Man City 3-2 Fulham

• Everton 0-0 Newcastle