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There’s no denying the last few seasons have been nothing short of an embarrassment for Manchester United – especially considering the glory days achieved under Sir Alex Ferguson.

From Carabao Cup first round exits against League Two opposition, to 15th-placed Premier League finishes, it truly has been a period to forget for the fanbase on the pitch.

However, Ruben Amorim has shown glimpses of transforming the situation over the last couple of outings in the Premier League, with key results starting to arise.

A win against Sunderland saw the Red Devils keep their first clean sheet of the 2025/26 campaign, before claiming a remarkable 2-1 victory over Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.

Such a performance saw Amorim’s side limit the defending league champions to limited opportunities throughout, with goalkeeper Senne Lammens producing the goods between the sticks.

However, it’s safe to say it’s not been a straightforward process for the manager, especially considering the failures his side suffered last campaign.

How bad United were defensively throughout 2024/25

If a side as big as United are finishing 15th in the Premier League table, there are evidently fundamental problems within certain areas of the pitch – many of which needed addressing.

The defensive department came under huge scrutiny throughout 2024/25 and rightly so, given the lack of quality that was on display for prolonged periods of the campaign.

When delving into their underlying figures, the Red Devils’ woes were truly something to behold, as seen by their tally of 46 goals conceded in just 38 outings.

Their average 1.42 goals conceded per 90 was the ninth-worst of any side in the division, with such a tally undoubtedly contributing to their demise in England’s top-flight throughout 2024/25.

Amorim’s men also produced an xG against of 55.1, a figure that was the 8th worst in the league – showcasing that other sides were easily able to create opportunities in front of goal at will.

Whilst Lammens has fixed the situation between the sticks, the manager will likely still want to improve the situation at the back to help his chances of success at Old Trafford.

However, one first-team player should remain crucial to any attempted efforts, especially if his recent showings in the Premier League under his guidance are anything to go by.

The United player who’s becoming Amorim’s best player

Despite £200m worth of new additions during the summer transfer window, very few of the funds were directed to the defensive unit – with the majority being invested into the forward line.

Bryan Mbuemo, Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha were all brought to Old Trafford, with the former of the trio already proving his worth with his strike at Anfield on Sunday.

Harry Maguire also found himself on the scoresheet in such a triumph, once again popping up with a clutch goal for the Red Devils despite his usual defensive role.

The Englishman appears to have forced himself back into the manager’s plans, but he’s not alone in doing so with the 40-year-old’s preferred three-man backline.

Matthijs de Ligt was originally brought into the club last summer for a reported £42m, with real hope of providing key experience at the back given his time at Bayern Munich and Juventus.

However, the Dutchman endured a season to forget in England, only starting 25 league outings and coming under fire for his lack of positive displays by one well respected player in England’s top-flight.

Former Liverpool defender and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher labelled the 26-year-old as “awful” – further highlighting how disappointing he was during his debut campaign at Old Trafford.

His displays in 2025/26 have been night and day, with De Ligt now becoming a crucial member of Amorim’s squad – subsequently starting all eight league games to date.

Games played

8

Minutes played

720

Pass accuracy

88%

Duels won

5.6

Aerials won

3.3

Interceptions made

1.1

Dribble success

50%

Tackles won

1.9

The centre-back’s underlying stats are just as impressive, subsequently winning 5.6 duels per 90 – a tally that ranks him within the top 20% of all players in the Premier League.

He’s also won 3.3 aerial battles and made 1.1 interceptions per 90, with such numbers undoubtedly handing the side the defensive presence they lacked last season.

De Ligt’s 6”2 stature at the back has allowed him to be a dominant presence within the defensive third, which has led to him undoubtedly being one of the Red Devils’ star performers this season.

There’s a real hope emerging at Old Trafford that he could be a vital player in any success achieved this season – but he desperately needs to stay on his current path.

If the club are to rise up the table, the Dutch international will likely be a key component, with Amorim needing to utilise him on a regular basis throughout the months ahead.

It's important to remember that Tottenham Hotspur have made great strides in their overall performance since Ange Postecoglou was appointed in the summer, but their defeat against Manchester City in the FA Cup was a sombre reminder of the progress still to be made.

Restricted to one paltry shot on goal all night, the hosts were out-fought and out-thought by last season's champions in the cup competition, whose profligacy looked set to drag the game toward Manchester for a replay, with dynamic defender Nathan Ake thumping in a messy goal, the only goal, from a late corner.

The loss means that Postecoglou's chance of securing silverware in his first season in English football borders on infinitesimal, falling in the Carabao Cup in the second round and failing to qualify for European competition last term, eight points behind top-placed Liverpool in the Premier League.

But it's important to put things in perspective: Tottenham have conducted astute and effective business in the transfer market since the end of the 2022/23 campaign, rekindled the finest form of stars such as Son Heung-min and Cristian Romero, and absorbed and adopted an identity that bespeaks the high-class potential of Postecoglou in his bid to bring eventual major honours to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

But, as already stated, Spurs were not on par with City last night; limp in attack but defiantly resilient in defence, Postecoglou's side might have lost, but the return of Micky van de Ven is crucial heading into the business end of the campaign.

Micky van de Ven's game vs Manchester City in numbers

James Maddison returned to action off the bench having spent over two months on the sidelines after suffering an ankle injury against Chelsea in November to kick off a five-match winless run, but for all his brilliance, the influential playmaker might not be the most important cog in the system.

Fellow summer signing Van de Ven, who completed a £43m transfer from VFL Wolfsburg in August, was also injured against Chelsea, but has now started two matches in succession for Tottenham and was utterly mesmerising in his defensive duties versus the Sky Blues.

As per Sofascore, the Dutchman took 76 touches and completed 97% of his passes, losing the ball only twice, and remarkably made seven clearances as he consistently thwarted City attacks and rid his zone of advances.

Also winning two of his three contested ground duels and succeeding with three out of four long balls, illustrating his laser-focussed distribution, Van de Ven is truly an exceptional star in the Tottenham rearguard, with his electric pace and elite athleticism making for a singular skill set.

To emphasise this, the £50k-per-week ace ranks among the top 9% of centre-halves across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 12% for progressive carries and the top 5% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

Penning his post-match thoughts, the Evening Standard's Dan Kilpatrick bestowed the 22-year-old with an 8/10 match rating despite defeat, writing: 'Spurs' last line of defence made several important last-ditch interventions, including a block to deny Julian Alvarez a certain goal.'

It was another monstrous showing from a young gun with so much potential yet to be realised on English shores, and while Van de Ven attracted attention for his efforts, left-back Destiny Udogie deserves plaudits for his protection and energy, another big reason behind the Lilywhites' resurgence this season.

Destiny Udogie's performance vs Manchester City

Described as an "absolute brick" for his efforts down the left channel, Udogie might not have captured the awe like the Dutch defender to his right, but the 21-year-old produced yet another impressive performance against high-calibre opposition.

Strengths

Weaknesses

Dribbling

Ball retention

Passing

Crossing

Interceptions

Tackling

Source: WhoScored

His aptitude as a defensive force was on full show as is becoming pleasingly usual, and while Udogie didn't enjoy the attacking success that he might have liked, he can hold his head high as one of the best performers on a tough evening.

Winning a whopping nine duels, Udogie was indeed crucial in stifling the visitors' surging forward motions. He also took 70 touches, completed 88% of his passes, and made three clearances and tackles apiece to further underpin a noteworthy effort.

Pundit Clinton Morrison was certainly impressed, remarking during the first-half battle that Udogie "has been the best left-back in the Premier League" this season.

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As was Kilpatrick, who handed the 6 foot 2 full-back an 8/10 match rating to perch alongside Van de Ven as Postecoglou's shining light, writing that he 'covered confidently behind the back four and stepped into midfield with usual poise.'

With Son, Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr all returning from international duty in the coming weeks, Tottenham will feel that they boast a squad of varied talent and sufficient depth to challenge for a Champions League spot come May.

But without doubt, Udogie's fitness will be imperative in this endeavour, with the Italian signing for the club from Udinese for £15m in 2022 and spending last season back on loan with the Serie A outfit, now vital in the north London team's project, having now played 20 matches across all competitions this term, starting every time.

Tottenham's best chance of a trophy this season closed when Ake fired into Vicario's goal with minutes of normal time left, but that's okay, sting as it may.

Postecoglou is creating a dynasty, and rising stars such as Udogie are evidence of a glittering future. It's heard in the euphonious bellowing in the stands, it's felt in the manner that the players conduct themselves on the pitch.

The Australian will stick to his style and know that success will come, and Udogie and Van de Ven will indeed be right at the centre as Tottenham return to the success that it yearns for with every fibre of its being.

It’s been a miserable month for Liverpool and things have now been made worse by another injury to Jeremie Frimpong. The summer signing, for the second time this season, is set to be sidelined for a number of games.

Defensive injuries are the last thing that Arne Slot needs. The Liverpool backline has been at its most vulnerable in recent weeks, with the right-back spot proving to be particularly inconsistent as Frimpong and Conor Bradley fail to make the position their own.

Given the form of new signing Milos Kerkez hasn’t exactly been consistent on the other side either, it’s clear that Slot desperately needs to change things up in search of a solution.

Saturday’s game against Aston Villa is simply a must-win for the Reds. A fifth-straight defeat in the Premier League is unheard of for the Premier League champions, but that’s what’s waiting for those at Anfield if they don’t provide an answer to their problems this weekend.

Despite his side’s disastrous run of form, Slot remains confident that they will turn things around. The Dutchman told reporters ahead of Aston Villa’s visit: “The thing that gives me the most confidence is the quality of the players we have and the amount of chances they are creating. This will lead to these players scoring more goals than we have done.”

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Whether the solution really is that simple remains to be seen, however. So far, the Liverpool manager has stuck to this season’s new system and stuck with struggling arrivals such as Kerkez, which could eventually lead to major consequences.

Meanwhile, after complaining about his squad depth in midweek, the news of Frimpong’s injury couldn’t have come at a worse time for Slot.

Every Liverpool game that Jeremie Frimpong will miss

Replacing Trent Alexander-Arnold was always going to be a difficult task, but the fact that Dominik Szoboszlai has played a more prominent role at right-back than Frimpong says it all. The Dutchman simply hasn’t got going amid an earlier injury and now his latest hamstring blow.

According to the Daily Mail’s Lewis Steele, Frimpong will now be sidelined for around six weeks after limping off with a hamstring injury against Eintracht Frankfurt. This means that he’ll miss games against both Real Madrid and Manchester City in the space of a week as well as several other games.

Liverpool vs Aston Villa

Premier League

01/11/25

Liverpool vs Real Madrid

Champions League

04/11/25

Man City vs Liverpool

Premier League

09/11/25

Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest

Premier League

22/11/25

Liverpool vs PSV

Champions League

26/11/25

West Ham vs Liverpool

Premier League

30/11/25

Liverpool vs Sunderland

Premier League

03/12/25

Leeds vs Liverpool

Premier League

06/12/25

An “important” player under Xabi Alonso, according to the manager himself at Bayer Leverkusen, Liverpool are yet to see Frimpong’s ability in full amid such a disrupted campaign that will only continue in the next six weeks.

Arsenal are rampant. 25 goals. 6 games. 6 wins. The Gunners are well and truly up for the fight in this Premier League title race.

Mikel Arteta’s men have come back from some fun in the Dubai sun to revive their season after a torrid New Year period where not only could they not win, but they couldn’t even score a goal either.

There were relentless cries for a new striker in January and although that point may well still be true, they certainly don’t have any problems finding the net.

In the last three games they have beaten West Ham 6-0, Burnley 5-0 and now Newcastle United 4-1. They are the second top scorers in the Premier League and the best defensive side; if that isn’t title-winning form then we’d like to know what it is.

But who was key to that win? A certain bargain buy in Jorginho shone once more.

Jorginho’s performance in numbers

The Italian was criticised and questioned, perhaps rather maliciously after he was signed in January 2023. Why was Arteta signing a Chelsea player whose best years were behind him?

A fair enough question, but Jorginho has answered his critics and has become one of the most liked players in this Arsenal team over the last year.

He’s a player that doesn’t start every game but when the going gets tough and the difficult fixtures come around, the midfielder is always there.

He won the Man of the Match award in the 3-1 win over Liverpool a few weeks ago and stepped into the centre of the pitch with ease this time too.

Playing at the base of the midfield, it allowed Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard the freedom to play further forward.

The Champions League winner walked away with TNT Sports’ Player of the Match award once more having taken 108 touches of the ball, more than anyone else on the field.

Jorginho also completed 91 of his passes at an 89% success rate. He was fouled twice in his attempts to evade the press and played a key role in Arsenal’s second goal of the game, scored by Kai Havertz.

The former Chelsea man played the ball in behind for Gabriel Martinelli who then laid it on a plate for the German to roll home.

That said, there were a few others who were arguably just as impressive as Jorginho. One of those players was Rice.

Declan Rice’s performance in numbers

Arsenal’s £105m summer signing has been simply sensational since arriving from West Ham. He’s scored big goals, notably against Chelsea and Manchester United and now he’s become a wizard from set plays.

In that 6-0 drubbing over his former club a few weeks ago the midfielder created two goals from a set piece and also found the net with a rasping drive from range.

Rice may not have found the net on this occasion but he registered another assist, supplying the corner which led to a rare strike for the ever-improving Jakub Kiwior who made it 4-0.

It took his tally for the campaign to five assists in the league. However, it was a display that was filled with even more quality elsewhere.

Minutes played

90

Assists

1

Touches

60

Accurate passes

45/48 (94%)

Key passes

4

Crosses

3/6

Aerials won

1/1

Interceptions

1

The club’s record signing completed a staggering 94% of his passes, the best of any side at the Emirates on Saturday evening, with four of those proving to be a key pass.

Furthermore, the England international won 100% of his aerial duels during a dominant display that saw him handed an 8/10 match rating courtesy of Football.London's Kaya Kaynak.

Arsenal have fielded a number of different combinations in midfield throughout 2024, with Havertz lining up alongside Rice but in Jorginho there is a balance in the ‘bigger’ games that looks far better. On Saturday night the pair of them were both phenomenal.

Remember, this is a team still missing Thomas Partey too. Imagine what Arsenal’s central area will look like once he’s back. For Rice, it’ll only be even more beneficial.

Manchester United's lack of goal-scoring prowess has been a hot topic of conversation this season.

The Red Devils have only netted 24 goals in 21 matches this campaign, which has played a huge role in their current eighth position in the Premier League.

With that in mind, Erik ten Hag will look to reinforce the striker position this January by aiming to secure a short-term fix.

Man Utd's search for a new striker

According to Fabrizio Romano, Man United are interested in signing Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting this month.

Talks have taken place between the club and his agents, as a move could be completed this month.

The reporter took to social media to say: "Man Utd have discussed signing Eric Choupo-Moting, but no club-to-club negotiations with Bayern yet."

Why Choupo-Moting would be a good signing for Man Utd

It is well-known that United's star signing of the summer, Rasmus Hojlund, has struggled to adapt to his new surroundings and with the step up from the Serie A to the Premier League.

The 20-year-old has scored two goals all season in the league, which have both come in his last two matches. Yet, he has been firing in the Champions League with five goals, which proves he's an exceptional talent.

However, the pressure of having to perform can become overwhelming, and his winner versus Aston Villa on Boxing Day was celebrated with more relief than enjoyment. That said, Ten Hag could look to bring in an experienced striker on a short-term deal who can take some pressure off Hojlund's shoulders.

Choupo-Moting could be that individual who is currently playing second fiddle to Harry Kane at Bayern. The 34-year-old has only started three Bundesliga games all season, playing an average of 23 minutes per game.

Nevertheless, the table below proves that the ex-Stoke City player would be a good signing for Man United, based on his stats from the last year across Europe's top leagues.

Non-penalty goals

0.50

Top 17%

Shots total

3.64

Top 10%

Touches (Att pen)

6.87

Top 7%

Shot-creating actions

3.81

Top 9%

Key passes

1.49

Top 15%

Passes completed

21.86

Top 9%

Progressive passes received

7.62

Top 16%

As you can see by his non-penalty goals, shots, touches in the attacking penalty box, and progressive passes received, Choupo-Moting is the definition of a true number nine who would provide a reliable source of goals, unlike Hojlund.

The 6 foot 3 star has even been called "the best target man in the world" by his teammate Serge Gnabry, which potentially foreshadows just how large his impact could be at Old Trafford. That is supplemented by a broad range of statistics, notably the fact that he ranked within the top 17% of forwards at the World Cup in 2022 for aerial duels won.

It's also echoed by his ability to shrug off defenders when running with the ball, tackled by an opponent just 28% of the time when attempting a take-on. That puts the Cameroon international impressively within the best 2% of forwards in Europe over the last year.

The 34-year-old evidently has a completely different style of play from Hojlund, however, and he could well elevate the game of those around him with his technical ability and capability to drop deeper to get on the ball.

This would provide Ten Hag with an opportunity to have different attacking patterns, depending on the opponent and who leads the line. The fact that he ranks in the top 9% for passes completed proves that, whereas the Dane ranks in the bottom 23% in the Premier League, as per FBref.

Overall, the signing of Choupo-Moting could be an extremely smart move, and one that in the interim could well have Hojlund running scared.

There has been a big late twist in the battle between Blackburn Rovers and Sheffield Wednesday to sign USMNT striker Duncan McGuire, according to an update from journalist Chris Wheatley.

Blackburn and Sheffield Wednesday updates

Rovers enjoyed an excellent 4-1 win over Wrexham in the FA Cup fourth round on Monday evening, setting up a meeting with Newcastle United in the last-16 in the process. They made light work of their much-talked-about opponents, avoiding a banana skin in the process.

Away from the on-field action, Jon Dahl Tomasson will be hoping for possible new signings to arrive at the club the January transfer window reaches its conclusion later this week, ensuring that his side have the best opportunity of keeping themselves well clear of the Championship relegation zone as they battle to keep hold of Adam Wharton.

One player who has been linked with a move to Blackburn this month is Liverpool centre-back Nat Phillips, who finds himself completely out of favour at Anfield currently, behind the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Joe Gomez and Jarell Quansah in the defensive pecking order

Over at Hillsborough, the Owls primary focus has been finding more goalscoring prowess, with links to Orlando City striker Duncan McGuire heating up in recent days as the USA international even rejected a new contract to try and force through a move to England.

Duncan McGuire transfer news

Revealing a twist on Tuesday morning, Wheatley reports that Blackburn are closing in on the signing of McGuire, jumping in at the last second to take advantage of his contract situation and seal a 7-figure deal.

"Excl: Duncan McGuire is on the verge of completing a £2.3m move to Blackburn Rovers from Orlando City. Sheffield Wednesday also in race but Blackburn’s offer includes a more favourable payment schedule. McGuire expected to travel to the UK tonight, if all goes to plan."

This is great news for Blackburn supporters and an unhappy end to the window for the Owls, with McGuire someone who has impressed in the MLS, scoring 15 goals in 37 appearances with Orlando. He has also won a cap for the USA, likely adding to that tally in the future, considering he is still only 22 years of age.

He has been described by Stars and Stripes FC as someone with a "low centre of gravity and physical presence" and who "wants to fight for every ball", not to mention "bringing a high work rate and wanting to "make defenders’ lives miserable".

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McGuire could provide Blackburn with the extra firepower required to ensure that they don't suddenly get themselves into a relegation battle, and the fact that they look likely to beat Wednesday to his services is an added boost, ensuring their rivals aren't strengthened.

Although Aston Villa have slipped up in recent matches, with zero wins coming their way so far in November, there have still been plenty of positives this season for the Villa Park masses to cling onto.

The Villans are only a point off third position in the early Premier League standings, with a winnable game up next against Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace gifting Unai Emery’s men a chance to bounce back from any recent poor results.

Emery will also know there’s more than enough talent in his camp to turn around this stumble in form, with the likes of Morgan Rogers and other stars at his disposal excelling away from some unwanted losses.

Top Villa performers this season

Rogers does feel like the obvious player to start with here, considering he has just won himself a new bumper deal at Villa Park until 2030, after also being gifted a senior England international call-up.

The constantly entertaining attacking midfielder has fired home three goals and picked up three assists across all competitions, wth his top performance levels not wavering in the Champions League whatsoever, with a ridiculous seven dribbles successfully registered against Bologna on Europe’s biggest stage in October.

There is also Rogers’ teammate up top in Ollie Watkins who has shown flashes of his brilliance in front of goal this season to date, despite failing to score for Emery’s men in their last five clashes.

He does still have a healthy return of five strikes next to his name from 11 Premier League contests, with Watkins also scoring this international break lining up alongside Rogers for the Three Lions versus Greece.

Not every top Villa star this season has been a guaranteed starter week in week out either, with Jhon Duran known now as a clinical striker in the West Midlands from off the substitutes bench.

Jhon Duran's value at Villa

Duran continues to look more and more like a bargain every game he dons a Villa strip, with the former Chicago Fire striker an Emery purchase for just £18m back in January 2023.

Whilst the Colombian would initially settle in well with five Premier League goals fired home during the 2023/24 season, this campaign has seen him become a man-possessed in front of goal, with many of Villa’s most memorable moments having the on-fire 20-year-old at the front and centre of them.

Of course, no article chronicling the insane rise of Duran at Villa would be complete without waxing lyrical about his clever strike versus Bayern Munich in the Champions League, which ended up winning the hosts the tight contest 1-0 over the Bavarian giants.

That inventive strike would come about after Duran had only been present on the Villa Park turf for 20 minutes, as he stepped up to replace Watkins in some style.

Stat – per 90 mins*

Duran

Games played

11

Games started

0

Minutes averaged*

25

Minutes played overall

278 mins

Goals scored

4

Expected goals

2.37

Scoring frequency

70 mins

He has also been an electric option late on in games in the top-flight, with four goals coming the South American’s way despite the fact he hasn’t started a single contest in the division as only 278 minutes of action have been afforded to him.

The major impact the Villa number nine has managed to have on games has resulted in the likes of Arsenal reportedly being interested in his services, with a hefty €90m (£75m) price tag now above his head, according to reports from his native Colombia.

That is a crazy increase of 316%, when taking into account his original £18m fee, with that low fee now looking to be a golden bargain for Emery and Co.

Villa won’t want to part ways with the 20-year-old anytime soon, despite ridiculous amounts of money now being discussed, as Emery no doubt views his “weapon” – as he was once referred to by football talent scout Jacek Kulig – as integral to Villa ending this current season on a high.

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Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke will be pleased with where his team currently is in the Championship table, after they moved to the top on Sunday.

A dramatic 4-3 win over Swansea in Wales, thanks to a stoppage-time winner from Wilfried Gnonto, ensured that the Whites moved above Sunderland and Sheffield United on goal difference.

However, the German boss could still have some decisions to make when the January transfer window opens for business in around five weeks.

There is one player in the squad who should be ruthlessly cashed in on ahead of the second half of the season, despite once being an exciting talent who was hailed by Marcelo Bielsa.

The Leeds talent who Marcelo Bielsa loved

In November 2021, the Argentine tactician brought teenage talent Joe Gelhardt into his Premier League squad and said that he was not surprised by his integration.

The former Wigan Athletic starlet’s finishing was described as “very good” by Bielsa, who also claimed that the forward “always creates danger” in matches.

Gelhardt, who pundit Jamie Redknapp dubbed a “wrecking ball” and hailed as “really exciting”, featured in 20 matches in the 2021/22 Premier League season and contributed with two goals and two assists as a teenage prospect.

He then played 15 times and provided two assists under Jesse Marsch in the Premier League the following term before being sent out on loan to Sunderland in January 2023.

Gelhardt scored three goals and assisted a further three in 18 appearances at Championship level for the Black Cats during that spell, before returning to Elland Road upon Farke’s arrival last year.

First Impressions

What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast's 'First Impressions' series has everything you need.

Why Joe Gelhardt should be sold

In the 18 months or so since then, the 22-year-old forward has failed to do enough to suggest that he has what it takes to kick on and become a regular in West Yorkshire.

The left-footed attacker was rarely used during the 2023/24 campaign. He finished with zero goals and zero assists in ten appearances and two starts in the Championship, which shows that Farke did not trust him to play regularly in the second tier.

Gelhardt also scored one goal in three outings in the cup competitions, with a strike in an EFL Cup win against Shrewsbury Town, but that was not enough to earn more game time in the league.

This season, the young centre-forward has only played three times and amassed 73 minutes of action across all competitions for the West Yorkshire outfit.

Per Capology, Gelhardt earns as much as both Mateo Joseph and Joel Piroe, on £15k-per-week. This suggests that the Whites are not getting value for money, as Joseph has scored two goals and provided three assists whilst Piroe has scored six and assisted two.

The former Wigan prospect, who was loved by Bielsa in his early days at Elland Road, has simply not kicked on since his early success in the Premier League under the Argentine boss.

He has failed to break into Farke’s team in the Championship and, now, must be ruthlessly ditched from the squad when the January transfer window opens, due to his lack of impact on the pitch.

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Ibrahima Konate will be a huge loss for Liverpool while he is out injured. Arne Slot confirmed following the win over Manchester City last weekend that the defender will be “out for a few weeks” after an injury sustained in the Champions League clash against Real Madrid the previous midweek.

He has been imperative for the Reds this season, as they sit top of the pile in the Premier League. The Frenchman has played 12 times in the top flight, with his centre-back partner Virgil van Dijk explaining “the qualities he has are outstanding” earlier in the season.

However, with Konate sidelined for the foreseeable future, Van Dijk will need a new partner at the heart of the Liverpool defence. Joe Gomez was the man who took up that mantle last weekend.

Gomez’s stats this season

With Konate’s impressive form this term, it has not been a campaign filled with opportunities for England international Gomez. He has played just nine games in all competitions, with four of those coming in the Premier League.

Frustratingly, he has played just 145 top-flight minutes altogether, with his first start coming last weekend against the Cityzens. Indeed, that was a positive performance against the reigning top-flight champions.

Gomez earned an impressive 8/10 for his efforts against Pep Guardiola’s side. The Guardian journalist Andy Hunter praised the former Charlton Athletic defender for “an assured defensive display” against City.

He has come a long way under Slot since the first game of the season. The 27-year-old, who has never scored a professional goal, was left out of their season opener away to Ipswich Town.

That led to a report from The Times explaining that he could depart the club over the summer, although that did not materialise. Since then, the defender – who was ironically close to a move to today’s opponents, Newcastle United – has knuckled down well and put in a strong performance against City to prove his worth in the squad.

With the games coming thick and fast for Liverpool, Slot may well decide to rotate his side around and could leave Gomez out of the starting lineup against Newcastle, in favour of Jarrell Quansah.

Why Quansah could start against Newcastle

The 2023/24 campaign was a breakout season for Reds academy product Quansah. He played 33 times under Jurgen Klopp, becoming an important squad player and even being named in England’s provisional Euro 2024 squad.

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However, this season has been the opposite for the 21-year-old. Under Slot, Quansah has featured just four times in all competitions, with just two of those games coming in the Premier League.

Interestingly, the defender did make a start at Portman Road at the start of the season, with his other appearance coming off the bench against City last weekend. In that heavyweight showdown, he helped to hold down the fort and ensure City did not find a route back into the game.

It may well be seen as a risk to drop Gomez in favour of the youngster who has had fewer minutes this term. However, as the stats from the 2023/24 Premier League season, courtesy of Squawka, there is not too much between them from a numerical standpoint.

On the ball, Quansah played more forward passes per game, with 29.6 to Gomez’s 17.9, and won more aerial duels, with 3.5 compared to just 1.6 for his teammate.

Stat (per 90)

Quansah

Gomez

Pass accuracy

88.76

86.25

Forward passes

29.6

17.9

Tackles and interceptions

3.2

3.4

Aerial duels won

3.5

1.6

Ground duels won

2.4

4

Ball recoveries

5.5

5.7

It is a chance for the “exceptional” defender, as football scout Antonio Mango described him, to stake a claim in the Liverpool side whilst Konate is sidelined. He will be coming up against Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak, one of the most deadly attacking duos in the Premier League.

They have four joint goal involvement in 60 games together so far, and although they have not been in the best form this term, there is a chance to make a statement to Slot by keeping them quiet.

It would be a bold call for Slot to bring Quansah into the side, especially coming up against Isak and Gordon. He will have his work cut out against two lethal attacking players, but it is a challenge the Liverpool academy graduate will surely rise to meet, as he tries to lock down a regular starting spot.

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Tottenham Hotspur’s poor run of form got even worse last night.

Ange Postecoglou returned to Glasgow to take on Rangers in the Europa League, but instead of getting one over his old rivals, he oversaw a rather dismal 1-1 draw.

However, while it ended a point a piece, the hosts were undoubtedly the better team and, on another night, could and probably should have been two or three goals up before the Lilywhites equalised.

That said, while it was a night to forget for Spurs, there was at least one starter who could hold his head high, a starter Lionel Messi thought could have joined him at Barcelona in the past.

Spurs' poor performers

Before we get to the player in question, we have to look at some of Spurs’ worst performers from last night, as while they got out with a point, it was an abysmal showing from one of the Premier League’s ‘big six.’

The starter who has been getting the most stick is Timo Werner, who was hooked at halftime for what might have been his worst game for the club since his arrival mid-way through last season.

That’s an opinion likely shared by Postecoglou, as in his post-match press conference, he slammed the German, saying his display “wasn’t acceptable,” which might even be too kind, as in just 46 minutes he lost the ball 16 times and received a 2/10 match rating from journalist Alasdair Gold.

Other than the former Chelsea ace, Pedro Porro was a disaster in attack and defence; Brennan Johnson went from ineffective off the right to anonymous off the left when Dejan Kulusevski came on, and the midfield duo of Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur might as well have sat on the bench all game as they were so easily bypassed.

Overall, it was the sort of showing that can get a manager the sack.

However, aside from Kulusevski, who scored but still looked somewhat off his best, there was one starter from last night who almost single-handedly kept Spurs in the game, a player lauded by Messi over a decade ago.

The Spurs star who proved Messi right

So, to get straight to the point, the player in question is, of course, goalkeeping veteran Fraser Forster.

The six-capped Englishman spent a significant period of his career playing for Celtic, and it was with the Hoops that he left a seriously good impression on the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner following a 2-1 Champions League victory against Barcelona in 2012.

The 36-year-old was an immovable object for those 90 minutes, facing 14 shots on target and keeping the Catalans out until Messi finally scored a consolation goal in the 91st minute.

It was such an incredible showing from the Hexam-born shot-stopper that the Argentine megastar later told the press that it was the “best goalkeeping performance I have seen” and that the team “even talked about him playing here.”

Unfortunately for the Englishman, that path never presented itself to him, but last night, against Rangers, he rolled back the years once more and ensured that Spurs came away with a point from Ibrox.

In his 93 minutes of action, the “magnificent” veteran, as dubbed by former manager Neil Lennon, made five saves, four of which were inside the box, prevented 0.73 goals, made one punch and high claim, took 41 touches, maintained a passing accuracy of 85%, and made one clearance.

Unsurprisingly, it was a showing that impressed the watching press, with Gold awarding him an 8/10 match rating at full-time and crediting him for his ‘crucial’ save against Cyriel Dessers just five minutes from time.

Minutes

93′

Saves

5

Saves inside the Area

4

Goals Prevented

0.73

Punches

1

High Claims

1

Touches

41

Passing Accuracy

23/27 (85%)

Clearances

1

Ultimately, the majority of the Spurs team were utterly dire against Rangers, but Forster put in another strong showing against his old rivals and, in turn, justified Messi’s high praise from all those years ago.

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