Stoke manager Paul Lambert has refused to comment on reports on-loan Paris St Germain forward Jese has failed to report for training.

Fantasy Premier League managers everywhere love a good moan about the allocation of bonus points - usually when one of their players gets short-changed. This week was very different, though.

Martin O’Neill’s immediate future, both as manager of Ireland and prospective manager of Stoke City, hangs in the balance as the Premier League club closes in on naming a successor to Mark Hughes.

The Football Association of Ireland could be about to lose Martin O’Neill from their grasp after the Ireland manager last night held what was understood to be a productive meeting with Stoke City about their managerial vacancy.

Martin O’Neill has moved into pole position to become Stoke City manager but the club’s board are understood to be split on their choice of the Ireland boss.

Stoke hope to make a quick appointment after sacking manager Mark Hughes.

Middlesbrough have appointed Tony Pulis as manager following the departure of Garry Monk.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admits they enjoyed a slice of luck when Simon Mignolet was not sent off in a controversial 3-0 win at Stoke.

Stoke City 0 Liverpool 3: It was not always pretty and certainly not lacking controversy, but Liverpool left Stoke City with a victory that looked routine, even if much of the game told a different story.

Second-half Leicester goals from Shinji Okazaki and Islam Slimani sent Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool out of the Carabao Cup at the first hurdle.

Substitute Peter Crouch took advantage of a terrible defensive mix-up to earn Stoke a 1-1 Premier League draw at West Brom.

It was a list that should have embarrassed Stoke City’s manager: West Ham, Stevenage, Sunderland, Hull, Swansea, Watford, Burnley, Crystal Palace, Middlesbrough, and Southampton.

What it says online and in the papers.

Ronald Koeman says Wayne Rooney proved he is "still one of the best in his position" with Saturday's match-winning display for Everton.

Liverpool have finally kick-started their summer recruitment drive in earnest after completing a deal for Roma winger Mohamed Salah.

George Boyd's first-time finish put Burnley well on the way to Premier League safety as they ended an eight-match winless streak with victory over Stoke at Turf Moor.

Chelsea strengthened their grip at the top of the Premier League as they claimed a 1-0 win at Crystal Palace.

Thanks to the vagaries of the modern telly-tampered football calendar, you and I shan’t be meeting here again for three weeks.

Man City have earned more penalties in three games than some teams manage in a season.

Jermain Defoe capped a stirring Sunderland fightback as they scored a priceless win over Chelsea to leave Newcastle in the Barclays Premier League relegation zone.

Mark Hughes has given Martin O’Neill an upbeat bulletin on Stoke’s Irish contingent.

Andros Townsend's stunning free-kick dragged Newcastle out of the Barclays Premier League relegation zone as Rafael Benitez's rescue mission gathered pace with a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace.

Manchester City warmed up for Real Madrid by moving back into third place in the Premier League with a 4-0 victory over Stoke.

Everton manager Roberto Martinez hasn’t ruled out a return to action at the weekend for Irish international Seamus Coleman.

Confidence is making the difference for in-form Liverpool striker Divock Origi, according to manager Jurgen Klopp.

Liverpool 4 Stoke 1: Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes Divock Origi has all the attributes to succeed after the young striker came off the bench to score twice in Liverpool’s 4-1 victory over Stoke at Anfield.

Martin Olsson scored in stoppage time to earn Norwich a vital 3-2 win over a Newcastle side now staring at Premier League relegation.

Graziano Pelle ended a four-month wait for a goal with a first-half brace as Southampton defeated Stoke to go up to seventh in the Barclays Premier League table.

Louis van Gaal will again be under pressure to deliver a victory and an improved performance when Manchester United host Stoke tonight.

West Brom 2 Stoke 1: Stoke manager Mark Hughes believes the club will appeal Geoff Cameron’s red card as he prepares for their Capital One Cup clash with Liverpool.

Premier League round-up

Stoke 2 Sheffield Wednesday 0: Stoke eased into the Capital One Cup semi-finals last night as goals from Ibrahim Afellay and substitute Phil Bardsley secured a comfortable 2-0 home win over Sheffield Wednesday.

Kevin de Bruyne and Raheem Sterling were on top-form as Manchester City cruised to a 4-1 Capital One Cup victory at Sunderland to end a two-game losing run in explosive fashion.

The woes continued for Newcastle, Sunderland and Stoke in the Premier League today.

Sitting in the autumnal sunshine at the Arsenal on Saturday, soaking up some rays, while watching a supremely dominant display against Stoke, with the Gunners spraying the ball around in such a pleasing-on-the-eye fashion, it’s hard to imagine a more pleasurable way of passing a Saturday afternoon.