Club’s predicament raises interesting questions about principles, both for individuals and the Premier League

I felt unbelievably ponderous. My head was made of Aztec stone. I realised I didn’t want to be with all these people. Somebody came at me, a huge individual in silver and blue. I fell at his feet and grabbed one shoe. I started untying the lace. He kicked away from me. I got up and walked off. I was exceedingly hungry.

Not my words. Also not the words of the Manchester City centre-back Marc Guéhi, despite what you were thinking there. This is instead a condensed quote from the mind of Gary Harkness, existentially curious college running-back and the narrator of Don DeLillo’s great American football novel End Zone.

Bruno Fernandes owes Manchester United a performance, Mathys Tel has arrived at Spurs and Liverpool are improving

• Premier League top scorers

Michael Carrick and Bruno Fernandes held clear-the-air talks this week. Fernandes was an unused substitute against Bournemouth after criticising Carrick’s tactics during the Champions League defeat at Como but it seems the situation has been resolved – for now. Dropping Fernandes did not do United any good against Bournemouth, who ran riot at Old Trafford, and the captain is expected to return to the starting lineup for the trip to Chelsea. If that happens, he owes Carrick a performance. Fernandes has been poor this season and it is time he did his talking on the pitch. Jacob Steinberg

Chelsea v Manchester United, Saturday 12.30pm (all times GMT)

Manchester City v Brighton, Saturday 3pm