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This week's top-flight updates, a notable midfielder has been handed a lengthy suspension, a head coach has pointed out a defender's mistakes to make an argument, and the Manchester City manager has demanded backline improvements following a chaotic win.

Mejbri Given Four-Match Ban and Fine

Burnley's midfielder Hannibal Mejbri has been handed a four-match suspension and a £15,000 fine following misconduct in October's match versus Leeds United. The Football Association said the player faced an independent regulatory commission following an incident where he spat towards visiting supporters around the 67-minute point during a 2-0 victory by Burnley.

An FA statement explained: “An independent disciplinary panel has sanctioned Burnley’s Hannibal Mejbri due to misconduct during the Premier League match with Leeds of 18 October. It was alleged that the player acted against the rules of the game and/or in an improper manner by engaging in offensive and unacceptable behaviour through spitting towards the area of Leeds United fans.”

The statement continued, “Mejbri subsequently accepted the charge, and the Regulatory Commission handing down a four-match ban and a fine after a hearing. The panel's written reasons for its decisions will be published in due course.” The team, now in 19th place in the Premier League table, travel to 12th-place Newcastle this Saturday.

Maresca Singles Out Tosin's Errors to Make a Point

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has stated that a lack of seasoned players is no an issue at team, pointing out that centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo's age did not stop him from playing poorly during the defeat to Leeds United.

The Italian coach, who oversees the youngest team in the division, rejected the idea that inexperience was a factor in the setback. He presented his case by criticising Tosin, the most experienced player on the pitch, after he produced a mistake-riddled display in central defence.

“We always mention a lack of experience when we drop points,” the coach said. “After we defeated Barcelona, we drew with Arsenal, no one was talking about older personnel. I know that if we lose, we are always looking for an explanation, but in my view why we lost against Leeds was not down to the experience, it was because we just weren't at our best.”

He added, “Who was the most senior player on our team on the pitch? It was Tosin. Did he play any good? Therefore, it’s not about experience. It's that those 11 players, they were not good enough.”

3. Guardiola Insists Defence 'Must Improve'

The Manchester City manager has stated the champions have taken lessons from a recent scare at Fulham with the game has now been forgotten. The team survived to claim a 5-4 victory during a remarkable clash on Tuesday, after leading 5-1 with almost 60 minutes played.

Coming after they resisted a Leeds fightback and won 3-2 in the previous game, it raised further doubts regarding whether they possess the defensive steel enough to sustain a title challenge against pace-setters Arsenal. “That game is forgotten,” Guardiola said. “Good lessons, I hope. At this level, at all the clubs, you have to take onboard what happens in the good things and bad things and think of what's next.”

“Of course I am worried,” Guardiola added. “We try to analyse the cause, so as not to concede the goals. With the three goals scored by Leeds, and five goals by Fulham you can see our versions, right? So, always done plenty of good things. But how many shots on target did Leeds ? Three? They scored two. That ratio is good. And attempts did Fulham ? Five, six? So, our ratio of shots conceded is is high. We must be better.”

4. Newcastle Focus on Livramento and Botman Deals

Newcastle United's recently appointed sporting director, Ross Wilson, has placed contract discussions involving key backline players Tino Livramento and Sven Botman at the top of his to-do list for the club. He joined after leaving Nottingham Forest recently and was pleased that playmaker Sandro Tonali is on a deal extending until 2029 and, potentially, 2030.

That has left Wilson free to focus on negotiations for Livramento and Botman's agents. With the former’s current deal set to expire in 2027 and Botman's a year later, the club's talks have assumed some urgency.

“My first few days in the job was when I discovered that Sandro’s contract situation was significantly better than the one I had thought,” he stated. “However, it is well known that the club would want to renew Tino’s contract and we would want to extend Sven Botman’s too. These talks are underway.”

Head coach Eddie Howe will be without Botman for the match with Burnley on Saturday, with the defender likely to remain sidelined for a further period.

Nuno Says Paquetá Will Start Against Brighton

The Hammers' manager Nuno Espírito Santo has confirmed that Lucas Paquetá is back to the starting lineup for they play Brighton on Sunday, after serving a ban for the sending-off he received Liverpool.

“It is behind us,” Nuno remarked. “I am confident it won't happen again because he personally admitted the error. We spoke internally. I believe it is over and it will not happen again.”

Nuno also acknowledged the significant pressure facing his team, currently 18th before the weekend fixtures. “We cannot ignore it,” he admitted. “It's the situation. We have to confront it. We're battling for survival. We can't hide it.”

6. Arteta Pleased with No 9 Deputy Merino

Mikel Merino could continue as Arsenal’s centre-forward despite the club's usual strikers are fit again. Merino has been playing as a makeshift No 9 because of injuries for Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus.

Merino found the net for the first goal against Brentford and set up Bukayo Saka for the second goal in a 2-0 win that maintained {their|