All posts by z3u9t.icu

Liverpool have been handed a considerable injury boost ahead of this weekend’s clash against Southampton, with Nathaniel Phillips able to take to the pitch once again.

The centre-back has missed the last two Premier League games with an injury, both of them ending in 1-1 draws against Leeds United and Newcastle United.

Whilst he was scheduled to take to the pitch in the Reds’ Premier League game against Manchester United last time out, he did not end up playing as the match was called off due to fan protests at Old Trafford.

However, with Phillips now sure to be included in the Liverpool squad as Jurgen Klopp’s men host Southampton on Saturday night, his return will be a huge boost to the Reds for a number of reasons.

First and foremost, Phillips is one of Liverpool’s first-choice centre-backs at the moment due to the respective injuries to Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip.

He has forged a promising partnership with on-loan Ozan Kabak, having started seven Premier League games since the turn of the year. In fact, the Reds have not won any of the last nine league games in which the 24-year-old hasn’t featured, that run stretching all the way back to the 7-0 thumping of Crystal Palace in December.

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His underlying statistics are also quite impressive. Hailed as a “monster” by Jurgen Klopp, he has won a huge 5.5 aerial duels per game in the Premier League this season according to WhoScored. He has also contributed 1.2 tackles, 1.3 interceptions and 4.3 clearances per match, which are very impressive numbers.

Another huge benefit of his inclusion is the possibility of pushing Fabinho back into his preferred position. The Brazilian midfielder has been forced to deputise in the backline due to the club’s injury issues this season.

Whilst the 28-year-old is capable at centre-back, he is simply more effective in the middle of the park, so Klopp will be thrilled for a number of reasons that Phillips can return to the starting line-up tonight.

AND in more news, Harry Kane would be a “great” signing for Liverpool says Ray Houghton…

Newcastle United have received the latest on the status of star player Allan Saint-Maximin after the winger was forced off through injury during their 1-1 draw with Manchester United on Monday.

What’s the latest?

The Frenchman scored the Magpies’ opener against United on Monday night, but required treatment on his calf before being substituted as a result of the injury.

However, according to Chronicle Live, injury expert Ben Dinnery is confident that the 24-year-old has a low-grade calf injury and could be fit in time for Newcastle’s crucial game against Watford in two weeks.

This would mean that the only match Saint-Maximin would miss is next weekend’s FA Cup third-round clash against League One outfit Cambridge United after the Toon Army’s games against Everton and Southampton were postponed.

Eddie Howe will be buzzing

The Newcastle manager may have feared the worst when the 24-year-old limped off against Manchester United, especially with star striker Callum Wilson injured too and potentially facing months on the sidelines.

There’s little doubt that the North-East club will be busy this month with the club now in it’s first transfer window since the completion of the big-money, Saudi-backed takeover. However, there is no doubt that regardless of who was to come in this window (realistically), the Frenchman would remain a vital player in the Toon Army’s bid for surivival.

Newcastle remain in a dire situation as they remain in the Premier League relegation zone, sat in 19th place. Despite being just two points from safety, 17th-placed Watford have two games in hand on the Geordies which could prove significant, especially ahead of the two sides’ meeting on the 15th January.

Howe will need as many of his players available as possible as the 43-year-old looks to clear up the mess he has walked into as soon as possible.

It’s exactly why the Magpies boss will be buzzing with the news.

West Brom were relegated back into the Championship last season as they were unable to retain their Premier League status. It was a disappointing year which saw them finish 19th, 13 points off safety.

The Baggies were second in the Championship in the 2019/20 campaign. It is a division they know very well. This time the club will be hoping they can claim the title as well as promotion back into the lucrative land of the Premier League.

The Midlands club have made a positive start to their season. They have won seven of their opening 13 matches, which leaves them second in the standings, behind only Bournemouth. West Brom have English Championship betting odds of 17/10 for the title. They are odds-on at 2/5 in the promotion betting, such is the confidence behind them.

Valerien Ismael’s side have lost just two games so far through the opening three months of the Championship season. They lost 0-1 to Stoke in a tight Midlands derby, while more recently they were defeated by Swansea City.

Summer Signings Have Bolstered The Squad

West Brom did some smart business during the summer and they have added players who have not only strengthened the squad, they have also added depth in all areas. Alex Mowatt was one of their new additions. He arrived on a free transfer from Barnsley to hook up with his former head coach again.

Mowatt has been impressive for the Baggies, scoring three goals in the league. He has scored two fantastic goals, both of which could be contenders for the goal of the season. Those strikes came from outside the box and have been on the volley. They are a great example of how technically gifted the midfielder is.

Another notable signing for the Baggies came through the loan market. They signed Norwich’s Jordan Hugill until the end of the season. The forward played an instrumental role in helping Norwich win the Championship title last year. He played 31 games for the Canaries during their promotion campaign.

Goals Spread Amongst Team

Unlike some of their promotion rivals, West Brom have shared the goals amongst their squad so far this season. This means they are not reliant on one player. Karlan Grant leads the way with six Championship goals. He is a striker who is proven in this division as the last time he played in the second tier, he scored 19 goals for Huddersfield.

Callum Robinson and Matt Phillips have both had good starts to the season. They have supported Grant well, operating as a front three in many games. Both players have lots of experience of playing in the Premier League so should find this level much easier.

At the other end of the pitch, West Brom did well to retain goalkeeper Sam Johnstone over the summer. He was their Player of the Year last season. If they can make a quick return to the Premier League, he will get to prove himself again as one of the best ‘keepers in England.

Promotion is the minimum aim for West Brom this season but if they can do it as the champions this time, it will be the cherry on the cake at the end of the campaign.

Everton could create a formidable attacking partnership by partnering Dele Alli with Dominic Calvert-Lewin…

What’s the story?

Reports in recent days have suggested that the Toffees have got their sights set on the Spurs star, and that Rafa Benitez’s side could well make a move for the England international later on in the January transfer window.

Imagine him and Calvert-Lewin

While Alli hasn’t enjoyed the greatest of times at Spurs in the past couple of seasons, his partnership with Harry Kane when the duo were in full flight was something to behold.

In fact, as per Transfermarkt, the duo have combined for a whopping 33 goals between them ie. directly setting each other up for goal – which is by far the highest of any teammate Alli has had in his career thus far.

His ability to break into the box and get on the end of things is what led former Spurs man Darren Anderton to previously suggest that Alli was comparable to the likes of Steven Gerrard and Paul Scholes in terms of his talent.

He said: “I’ve got to say that I loved Stevie G as a player and Scholesy but Dele Alli for his age is just a freak of a talent. I love his arrogance on the pitch, how clever he is in finding the positions that he does and his willingness to try everything. He is a real joy to watch.”

And, more recently, former Scotland boss Alex McLeish tipped him to enjoy a renaissance, saying: “In those days he was looking like an absolute wonderkid then all of a sudden it plateaued and then dipped. Hopefully, he’s coming back up the hill again. Back in the day, I thought he was a kid of enormous talent and was going to be an absolute superstar.

“That’s not quite happened yet but there’s still a chance for him to resurrect his career and be that superstar. His recent form with Tottenham has been excellent.”

With another leading England striker in the ranks on Merseyside in Calvert-Lewin, Alli could thrive in that support striker role that saw him flourish alongside Kane.

Calvert-Lewin and Alli could work off each other both with their ability in the air, and their movement inside the box – the kind of double act that could fire Everton up the table.

The £100k-a-week earning star could well replicate his old partnership with Kane at Spurs, by teaming up with Calvert-Lewin at Goodison Park.

Meanwhile, Everton are considering a swoop for this Premier League outcast…

According to the Mirror, Tottenham Hotspur boss Jose Mourinho has his sights set on raiding Premier League rivals Southampton once again this summer…

What’s the word?

It’s claimed that the Portuguese is considering a move for Saints centre-back Jannik Vestergaard ahead of the next transfer window, a year after sealing fellow Dane, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, from the very same club.

The 28-year-old has entered the final 18 months of his current £60k-per-week contract at St Mary’s Stadium, leaving Spurs with a belief that they could land themselves another bargain.

It remains to be seen what sort of fee Vestergaard would command, though he is valued at just £13.5m by Transfermarkt.

Mourinho’s own Van Dijk?

A lot of comparisons will be made to the success of Hojbjerg since swapping the south coast for the capital, but instead, Mourinho could be eyeing up a solution to one of his biggest bugbears.

Back in January, Evening Standard reporter Dan Kilpatrick revealed that the Spurs boss was seeking a new centre-back, one that could totally transform their fortunes to the magnitude of that of Virgil van Dijk at Liverpool.

‘Mourinho wants his own transformative signing, a defender who could have the same impact on Spurs as Van Dijk at Liverpool or Ruben Dias at Man City.’

Vestergaard has been likened to the former Saints star, so it would not be a surprise to see him follow in similar footsteps. Martin Keown told talkSPORT: “It’s his passing. It reminds me of Van Dijk.”

The Liverpool monster cost a whopping £75m and has helped guide the Merseyside giants to Champions League and Premier League glory, so evidently, it’s well worth investing in the right defender.

At 6 foot 6 inches, the Denmark international has a very similar commanding frame to that of Van Dijk, on top of Keown making comparisons to his passing ability.

Only one other Saints player has managed a better average WhoScored rating (7.09) for the current campaign, despite all of their recent struggles, whilst he tops the charts for aerials won (3.6 per game) and clearances (four per game).

That only shows his no-nonsense nature. And despite his height, he’s no slouch for speed as outlined when tracking Dominic Calvert-Lewin down earlier this season, via The Athletic.

No other Southampton defender can match his 83.9% passing accuracy either – Van Dijk isn’t too far ahead (89.1% accuracy last season) and only Davinson Sanchez (86% accuracy) is clear from a Spurs perspective.

Vestergaard, dubbed a “role model” by current boss Ralph Hasenhuttl, would also add some leadership to Mourinho’s backline, something that could well be necessary if reports linking club captain Hugo Lloris with an exit to Paris Saint-Germain this summer are true.

If Daniel Levy is to deliver Mourinho that ‘transformative’ signing, then he should probably look no further than a player who is very much in the mould of Van Dijk himself.

AND in other news, Exclusive: Kane told he could be trophy-less legend at Spurs if he stays…

Moise Kean sealing a return to Juventus to replace Cristiano Ronaldo at the Serie A side this summer can hand Ellis Simms his big break at Everton.

What’s the word?

According to Tuttosport, via Sport Witness, Kean is on a shortlist of potential options for Juventus to target at the end of the season amid doubt in Ronaldo’s long-term Bianconeri future.

The Portuguese icon has been linked with a potential return to Real Madrid three years after leaving the La Liga giants for €112m (£99m), and Los Blancos boss Zinedine Zidane refused to deny the chances of a reunion earlier this month.

But Juve CEO Fabio Paratici has dismissed the possibility of Ronaldo moving away from Turin at the close of the campaign, insisting that the 36-year-old remains the future of the Old Lady and will play into the final year of his current €30m-a-season (£500k-p/w) contract.

That has not stopped speculation arising in the Italian media, with Tuttosport suggesting that Kean could be lined up as a replacement for Ronaldo as the striker, currently on loan with Paris Saint-Germain, would be intrigued by a return to the Allianz Stadium.

Kean is also considered to be perfect for the vision that Juventus are attempting to build by helping bring down the average age of Andrea Pirlo’s squad, and could be targeted upon his return to Goodison Park this summer.

PSG are expected to try and retain the £53k-p/w forward in the next transfer window, too, with il Bianco Nero claiming at the start of the month that the Ligue 1 powerhouse will attempt to reach an agreement with the Toffees ‘at all costs’.

That cost could be in the region of €60-70m (£51.5-60m), with Fabrizio Romano stating on the Here We Go podcast last month that Carlo Ancelotti is a “big fan” of Kean and wants him back in royal blue next term, after scoring 15 goals in 27 games for the Parisian outfit.

Should Everton let Kean go?

Kean has clearly rediscovered his form during a year on loan in the French capital, having struggled to make the grade at Goodison Park following his £25m move from Juventus in 2019.

Whether Ancelotti wants him back or not remains to be seen, but allowing the 21-year-old to call time on his Toffees career after two years could open the door for Simms to make his first-team breakthrough after impressing during his brief time on loan with Blackpool so far.

Simms has scored three goals and provided two assists in nine League One games for the Seasiders since moving to Bloomfield Road in January, and earned the admiration of head coach Neil Critchley after a 3-0 win at Charlton Athletic last month.

“I think that is a good example of Ellis playing to his strengths,” Critchley said. “When he does what he’s good at and he does it continuously, then it shows what a handful he can be. He’s got pace, a physical presence and the attribute of running in behind.

“This is his first loan move playing men’s football and it’s a big step up from Under23s to senior football. He’s adapting, and on Saturday he showed real signs of progression and coping at the level.”

Simms is yet to make his first-team debut for Everton but has been included in four matchday squads since Ancelotti’s arrival, and boasts 17 goals in 36 games for the Blues’ U23s.

His route to the first-team could clear greatly with Kean joining Juventus or PSG, as Joshua King may also be on the move amid interest from Fenerbahce, leaving Cenk Tosun – should he return from a loan spell with Besiktas – as the only support for Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

It is now up to Simms to prove that he is ready for that role as Blackpool look to edge closer to the League One play-off positions, and show Ancelotti that he can be Everton’s future.

AND in other news, Carlo Ancelotti has set his eyes on bringing a £59m flop to Everton…

An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their interest in midfield gem Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

What’s the talk?

According to The Mirror, PIF are planning a bid to sign the Denmark international from Tottenham at the end of the season.

The report claims that they want to add the defensive midfielder to their team as he is high up on their transfer wishlist and are plotting a £30m swoop for his services.

Eddie Howe must get it done

The Magpies head coach must seal a deal for the former Southampton man as he would be a fantastic addition to the squad.

He is not a flashy, skilful, player who will get fans off their seats – like Allan Saint-Maximin – but he can be as important to the team, if not more so. Hojbjerg is a player who can provide a solid base for the attack-minded players to work from and has proven his quality at Premier League level.

Jose Mourinho, who knows a thing or two about winning in England, previously lauded the Dane’s style of play as he said:

“Physically he’s very, very strong and technically he’s much better than people think. Because sometimes people think the guy that is good technically is the guy that does the backheel. The guy that is good technically is the guy that does something wonderful. But these are not my words. These are words from coaches of 30, 40 years ago. Simplicity is genius.

“And the guy is so simple in everything he does with the ball. And I think he’s a phenomenal player. Congratulations, Mr. [Daniel] Levy [Spurs chairman].”

Hojbjerg, who has also been dubbed a “monster” by Morten Bisgaard, has been exceptional in the Premier League this season as he has averaged a superb SofaScore rating of 7.16 for Spurs. The 26-year-old has made an impressive 3.6 tackles and interceptions per game whilst completing 89% of his attempted passes, showing that he is reliable on the ball and excellent at winning possession back for his team.

He has racked up 178 appearances in the top-flight for Southampton and Tottenham combined and this means that he has experience as well as quality. Hojbjerg knows what it takes to perform in the division, as shown by his statistics this season, and he still has room to improve at the age of 26.

This is why he would be an excellent, sensible, addition to bolster Howe’s midfield. The midfield destroyer would be the ideal equaliser to the panache Bruno Guimaraes shows off in the middle of the park, with his simplicity, and the Magpies must now get this deal over the line.

AND in other news, Keith Downie drops exciting £50m Newcastle transfer claim that’ll delight supporters…

Glasgow Rangers will have been thrilled with Kai Kennedy after he earned rave reviews during his Raith Rovers debut on Saturday.

Kennedy only moved to Stark’s Park at the start of the month having agreed a new two-year deal which will keep him at Rangers until 2023.

Despite appearing to be heading for the Ibrox exit in the summer, Ross Wilson hailed his “maturity” after he reiterated his commitment to the club.

On loan at John McGlynn’s Rovers, Kennedy has already made a big impression at Kirkcaldy so far as he set up a goal against Heart of Midlothian in his first start for the Championship club.

But that’s not all, as the young winger delivered a man-of-the-match performance for Rovers, providing two assists as they stunned Hearts at Tynecastle to move fourth in the table.

A puppyish bundle of energy and power, Kennedy earned the visitors’ second penalty before he teed up Regan Tumility to put Raith 3-0 ahead shortly after halftime.

Kennedy has enjoyed a fruitful spell since the start of this season, and the attacking midfielder has so far set the tone for the rest of the year in terms of productivity.

Since leaving Ibrox on a temporary basis in pursuit of more game time, the 18-year-old has proven to be a potent threat, providing four combined goals and assists in 11 appearances across all competitions.

After being criticised for his poor attitude, the left-winger has proved those doubters wrong and continues to go from strength to strength as he tries to gain some more experience.

With one goal and three assists in 11 games in 2020/21, Kennedy, who earns wages worth £31,200-per-year, has already nearly matched his tally from 2019-20, despite seeing just 775′ minutes of action first-hand.

If we take a closer look at the numbers, he contributes to a goal on average every 193′ minutes. Or, in other words, it roughly equates to a goal every two games.

In actual fact, the Scotland U19 international has been directly involved in more goals than Brandon Barker this season, which suggests that recalling Kennedy could provide an immediate upgrade on the 24-year-old.

This is further evidenced by the fact that Barker has contributed to just two goals and zero assists in 13 appearances since Kennedy left the club, which shows that the teenager has been more effective in the final third.

Furthermore, Barker has been deemed surplus to requirements by Steven Gerrard and seems set for the Ibrox exit. Kennedy, therefore, could be a fine addition to the first-team squad when he returns.

However, Rangers seem to be in no rush to hurry his development, as he will spend the rest of this season on loan at Rovers in the Championship and use that time to improve and come back as a better player.

AND in other news, Filip Helander proved a point to Steven Gerrard with his performance against Ross County…

Leeds United will have to battle Liverpool for the signature of Rodrigo de Paul this summer, according to a fresh report which has emerged from Italy.

The Lowdown: Constant interest in De Paul

The Udinese midfielder has been linked with a move to Leeds numerous times in recent months, as Marcelo Bielsa eyes up some key reinforcements.

The 26-year-old has shone in Serie A this season, registering nine goals and assists apiece, while scout and analyst Dan Altman once described him as a ‘great fit’ for Marcelo Bielsa’s style due to his ability to contribute end product and also cover lots of ground.

The Latest: Fresh link emerges

Now, a new link has emerged from Il Milanista [via Sport Witness], which claims that Leeds and Liverpool will lock horns for the signing of De Paul.

It is stated that the two clubs are in the ‘first row’ of potential suitors, providing ‘fierce competition’ to AC Milan, who may not be able to pay the required €40million (£34.4m) for him.

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The Verdict: Sprinkling of stardust

Leeds certainly don’t need numerous additions this summer, but De Paul is a player who could take Bielsa’s team up another level.

He is a midfielder who is primarily attack-minded but also savvy defensively, averaging 1.2 dribbles per game in Serie A this season, but also exactly the same number of tackles.

De Paul can be that sprinkling of magic who gives Leeds’ midfield an extra dimension, potentially elevating those around him in the way Bruno Fernandes has at Manchester United.

In other news, Leeds have been handed a boost after a rumoured target rejected a new deal at his current club. Find out who it is here.

Celtic’s pursuit of Eddie Howe is now over six weeks old but we are finally coming towards a conclusion in this drawn-out saga.

The Hoops saw Neil Lennon resign back in February and since then they’ve been trying to convince the 43-year-old to come to Glasgow.

What’s the latest?

It was reported towards the end of last week that Howe would become the new manager of the Bhoys by talkSPORT.

However, we’ve heard no official word from Celtic yet that the former Bournemouth man will arrive in Glasgow.

That being said, the hierarchy have now received a massive boost in their bid to lure Howe to Scotland.

The Englishman was one of the favourites to succeed Roy Hodgson as manager of Crystal Palace but he reportedly flopped during the interview process.

Though, in a fresh update from the Daily Record, it’s claimed that he isn’t even interested in becoming the new manager at Selhurst Park.

McKay will be elated

This is a considerable boost to Celtic’s hopes of ensuring Howe is in the dugout at Paradise next season.

Up until this point, it looked as though the former Cherries boss was leaning towards a Premier League return.

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His agent had convinced him he could get another job in England and with Hodgson leaving Palace, it seemed like the ideal opportunity, one he couldn’t really turn down.

You can hardly blame him either. The top-flight of English football is notoriously known as the best division in the world while the sheer amount of money involved in transfers would have been mouth-watering.

As Celtic know, it’s hard enough to convince their players to stay in Glasgow, let alone convince a sought-after manager to reject England and sign on the dotted line in Scotland.

With Howe wanting to bring a number of Bournemouth’s backroom staff with him, the Hoops will have to wait until their play-off campaign is done and dusted.

Once that’s concluded, it should be nothing more than a formality for McKay to conclude a deal.

After all, the biggest obstacle of them all – the chance to manage in the Premier League – has been eradicated.

Celtic chiefs should be able to rest a little easier now.

AND in other news, Forget Hickey: McKay can save Celtic millions by unleashing “tricky” rarely-seen 18y/o…