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Liverpool’s squad has improved dramatically this season, and arguably the greatest growth has come in the defence. The backline was undoubtedly the weakest facet of the Liverpool first team last season, and it cost Jurgen Klopp and his team points throughout the campaign.

However, with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson impressing on the flanks, and Virgil van Dijk now at the top of his game, things are turning around quickly.

However, the Dutchman’s partner is still uncertain. Joe Gomez has filled in for much of the season in the absence of Dejan Lovren, but the Croatian is now back and also stands a chance of retaining his spot.

Gomez has looked good when he has played, and so Jurgen Klopp should retain his faith in the Englishman, but in the case of Lovren, perhaps the German should think twice. Indeed, Lovren’s form over the last few years has been inconsistent at best, and though he’s good on his day, a more solid and consistent replacement could be calling.

Jamaal Lascelles – who is rated at £13.5 million by Transfer Markt – would certainly be a significant upgrade on the Croatian.

Rafael Benitez’s Newcastle have been inconsistent over the years, but Lascelles has remained as solid as ever. His steady rise over the last few years has been remarkable to watch, as he’s gone from just another player at Newcastle to arguably the most important facet within their squad.

In terms of his ability, his presence and frame are immediately visible, and that’s what makes him such a force at the back for the Magpies. Beyond that, he’s comfortable with the ball at his feet, as would be demanded at Anfield, and his range of passing is solid, too.

The club captain, the Englishman offers far more than just quality on the field. He’s a leader of men at the back, and whilst Virgil van Dijk offers that already at Anfield, the introduction of another natural leader could make Liverpool’s defence even more robust and consistent.

Liverpool have struggled to fill their central defence over the years, but the signing of Virgil van Dijk proved that there are solutions out there. At just 24-years-old, Lascelles could be, like van Dijk, an option for the present and the future.

Liverpool fans – thoughts?

Let us know below!

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Loads of Leeds fans have been reacting to some comments from Marcelo Bielsa on Samuel Saiz, and they’re heaping praise on the little Spaniard.

Leeds continued their brilliant start to life under Bielsa with a comfortable win over Hull on Tuesday night, courtesy of a wonderful goal from Tyler Roberts.

Bielsa’s side have recovered well from the shock defeat to Birmingham, and their tally of 21 goals in 11 games is second only to West Brom, impressive given the injuries to key attackers like Pablo Hernandez and Kemar Roofe.

One man who hasn’t been amongst the goals yet is Saiz, but Bielsa is still clearly a huge fan of the 27 year-old.

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“Sometimes you don’t see what a player allows his team-mates to do,” the boss said after the win over Hull.

Saiz has no goals and two assists in the Championship this season, and he can be very wasteful and very inconsistent.

While it is worrying that he hasn’t found the net yet, he is one of the hardest-working players in the league, and on his day the little Spaniard is absolutely unplayable.

Fans are in complete agreement with the gaffer on this one, and you can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…

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Belgium defender Toby Alderweireld has remained coy on his future with Tottenham as he approaches a significant period in his contract, as quoted by Metro.

What’s the word?

Major changes are taking place in North London as Tottenham prepare to finally move to their new stadium, while there could be a shake-up to Mauricio Pochettino’s playing continent during the coming year.

One of those whose future is uncertain is Toby Alderweireld as he is rapidly approaching the final months of his contract and, although Tottenham have the option to extend his deal by a further 12 months, activating that would see a release clause of £25m become active.

That price is far below his market value and it is not clear what will happen next year, with Alderweireld remaining coy on his future in quotes published by Metro.

What was said?

“Honestly, I’m not thinking about it at the moment. I feel good and I’m playing so I’m happy. We’ll see what happens.”

What will happen?

At this stage, it is extremely difficult to predict what will happen with Alderweireld and Tottenham as there have been no signs of progression in negotiations for a new deal, which hands Pochettino a difficult decision to make.

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The Lilywhites could opt to cash-in during the January transfer window, avoiding the chance of him leaving for a minimal release clause of £25m in the summer, but it is unlikely that the Lilywhites will earn a fee that is much higher than that price.

Replacing the Belgium international, who has featured in seven of Spurs’ eight league games this season, would be an extremely difficult task though and one that would prove expensive – his latest coy comments are surely a hint that he is set to go in 2019, however.

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Arsenal paid a then club-record fee of £46.5m to sign Alexandre Lacazette on a five-year deal in the summer of 2017, and fans of the Gunners could have been forgiven for thinking then that their long-term striking problem had been solved.

However, despite Lacazette netting eight goals before Christmas in the 2017/18 season, Arsene Wenger opened the chequebook once again and broke that record in the next window with the capture of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Borussia Dortmund for £56m.

Lacazette could have easily thrown his toys out of the pram when he was left on the bench for Aubameyang just four days after the Gabon international had arrived, but the Frenchman clearly got his head down and worked hard as he finished the season with 14 goals and four assists in the Premier League.

Over the summer there was then of course huge change at the Emirates, with Unai Emery replacing Wenger, but Lacazette has once again stepped up his game to prove to the new boss that he is worthy of that single striker spot in the starting XI each week.

The 27-year-old’s numbers were by no means disappointing last season, as he averaged a goal every 0.4 matches and an average of just over two shots per game, but already this season Lacazette looks like a completely different player under the former Paris Saint-Germain boss.

In his eight appearances so far, the Arsenal man has four goals and is averaging 0.3 more shots per game as he stakes his claim to be given the starting striker role permanently ahead of Aubameyang and Danny Welbeck.

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The stats show that Lacazette is also working far harder for the team, as Emery demands with his higher pressing system than Wenger. The French striker is now making 0.7 more tackles per game and is dispossessed 0.2 times less on average.

If Lacazette keeps up this form there is no doubt that he should retain that starting spot upfront with Aubameyang shifted out onto the wing. Luckily for Emery, the 29-year-old seems to be just as productive out wide, and he has also netted four Premier League goals so far this season.

After an impressive start to the season, it looks as though a top-four push could be on for the Gunners. However, much of the hard graft will be down to Lacazette to keep up those numbers and prove that he can become the 20-goal-a-season striker that Arsenal are crying out for if they are to get back into the Champions League.

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Tottenham midfielder Moussa Sissoko has had a tough time in North London since his £30m move from Newcastle in the summer of 2016, but he was thrown in to the starting line-up for perhaps his side’s biggest test of the season so far.

Manchester City were the visitors to an American-looking Wembley Stadium on Monday evening, and Pep Guardiola’s side left with the three points thanks to a sixth-minute finish from former Leicester man Riyad Mahrez.

While Spurs hardly covered themselves in glory with a disappointing display, Sissoko was one of the few that could hold his head high after the game as he put in a hard-working performance in a three-man midfield alongside Mousa Dembele and Eric Dier.

The 29-year-old Frenchman made an impressive four interceptions and won four aerial duels against the technically superior City midfield, but Spurs in the end were let down by the poor finishing of Harry Kane and Erik Lamela in their efforts to bag an equaliser.

Sissoko also made two clearances and provided two crosses on Monday evening, but although his industrious display justified Pochettino’s selection, the main argument against him during his time at Spurs has been a lack of quality.

This was again evident against City, and his 82 per cent pass accuracy, along with some notably poor mistakes, proves that unfortunately his time with the Lilywhites should come to an end either in January or next summer. A top-six club with aspirations of a title-challenge can no longer afford to have a player who can either work hard or provide quality – midfielders now need to be far more accomplished as all-rounders.

So, Tottenham fans, would you keep Sissoko after his display against Man City or should his time at Spurs come to an end in January? Have your say by voting in the poll below.

Nathaniel Clyne’s Liverpool career looks to be coming to an end.

The former England international has been plagued by injuries in recent seasons, allowing Trent Alexander-Arnold to make the first-team spot at Liverpool his own. After returning to full fitness, Jurgen Klopp has preferred to use Joe Gomez on the right flank suggesting Clyne’s career is over. The defender failed to make the bench during the 4-1 victory over Cardiff at the weekend.

Clyne’s departure would leave Klopp short of options at the back and the German should be looking to add competition during the January transfer window. Despite Gomez and Fabinho being able to play on the right side, a rotation option with Alexander-Arnold is needed. Therefore, Liverpool should make a move for Lazio wing-back – Adam Marusic.

Valued at £9m by Transfermarkt, the Montenegro international has developed into a key player for the Italian side after joining from Oostende last summer. The 26-year-old made 32 appearances in the Serie A last season, and reports suggest both Liverpool and Tottenham have sent scouts to monitor his progress in Italy. After scoring after Marseille in the Europa League, the wheels could be set in motion.

Marusic can also play on the right of midfield, and Klopp loves players who can fill more than one position making him the ideal recruit in January. Helping his side’s cause with three goals and five assists last season, the defender could prove to be an extremely valuable option for the Reds. Approaching the prime years of his career, Marusic will only get better under Klopp’s guidance.

Liverpool fans, thoughts?

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Daniel Arzani suffered what looked to be a serious injury on his Celtic debut on Wednesday night, and the Bhoys already have the ideal alternative to the Australia international in Karamoko Dembele – although he can’t play for them until February.

What’s the word, then?

Well, expectations were high when the Bhoys signed Manchester City new boy Arzani on a two-year loan deal over the course of the summer, with the 19-year-old starring for Melbourne City and his country at the 2018 World Cup prior to his move to the Etihad.

Despite his clear potential and quality, the teenager was not involved with the first-team squad until the 5-0 Scottish Premiership victory against Dundee on Wednesday.

Arzani entered the field as a 57th minute substitute and he impressed and looked lively, almost teeing Kieran Tierney up with a sixth goal before he suffered a nasty-looking injury that saw him taken off just 23 minutes after he came on.

What happens now?

Reports have already suggested that the talented youngster has suffered an ACL injury which is something that could keep him out of action for nine months, but it remains to be seen whether this is actually the case or not.

Meanwhile, 15-year-old Dembele made a huge impression on his debut for Celtic’s reserves last month with a brilliant solo goal, and Brendan Rodgers has already suggested that he has enough quality to be involved with the first-team squad.

However, that isn’t possible until the wide man celebrates his 16th birthday in February, and if Arzani’s absence proves to be as long term as is reported that the Bhoys may already have the perfect alternative in the form of another teenager.

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Ander Herrera started in central midfield on Wednesday evening as Manchester United snatched an unlikely win away at Juventus in the Champions League, and here at Football FanCast we’d like to know whether you think he should keep his place for the Manchester derby on Sunday.

The Spaniard played alongside Nemanja Matic and Paul Pogba in Turin, with summer-signing Fred dropping to the bench, and this is the midfield we would stick with for the trip to the Etihad if we were Mourinho.

Herrera, who is now 29 years of age added some much needed defensive work-rate against a team who theoretically should have beaten the Red Devils, especially after Cristiano Ronaldo’s volley fired them into the lead.

United struck late though as substitute Juan Mata scored an exquisite free-kick before the winner was bundled over the line thanks to a combination of former Juve man Pogba and the Bianconeri’s left-back Alex Sandro.

So, United fans, should Herrera start in midfield against City in an attempt to nullify their considerable threat? Have your say by voting in the poll below.

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As reported by the Daily Mail, Manchester City have set their sights on Ajax wonderkid Frenkie de Jong despite being under investigation for their spending. However, they should by no means be allowed to chase the 21-year-old uncontested.

Who should challenge them? 

Whilst the Citizens possess phenomenal midfield options in abundance, Pep Guardiola clearly isn’t prepared to let one of the most precocious talents in world football slip away from him. They have the money to get the Holland international, the pulling power to lure him to the Etihad, and the facilities and potential for silverware to keep him there for a decade.

However, City’s main challengers at the moment, Liverpool, cannot let this happen. Many of those fans associated with the Reds are already comparing almost everything their side do to that of those in the blue half of Manchester, begrudging the fact that their best side in years exists at the same time as City’s exquisite side.

With that in mind, the first step that Jurgen Klopp can undertake to slowly overturn their dominance is the beat them to this kind of player. As aforementioned, if City get de Jong, their midfield will be sorted for the next decade along with Bernardo Silva.

What Klopp needs to do

It is no secret that the German boss has charm and charisma, characteristics that have lured the likes of Virgil van Dijk to Anfield amid competition from other huge clubs, including City.

It can be argued that beating the champions to the Dutchman’s signature was maybe the first sign that Liverpool are serious about being a thorn in City’s side.

Klopp must do all he can to convince the player to join, as well as convince his bosses to back him yet again. His midfield has already been reinforced with the likes of Fabinho and Naby Keita, but still seems stale in some areas as seen in the defeat to Red Star Belgrade.

In that game, Gini Wijnaldum, James Milner and the injury prone Adam Lallana started, and offered very little in terms of keeping the ball and being creative with it.

Additionally, Liverpool do not really possess a player of de Jong’s possession-based abilities; a key feature of any top side.

[ad_pod ]Switzerland came from two goals behind to record an incredible 5-2 win over Belgium in the UEFA Nations League at the weekend.Thorgan Hazard scored twice to put Belgium ahead, but Switzerland answered back with five goals during an incredible match.One of those to impress for Switzerland was Young Boys defender Kevin Mbabu, who has previously represented Newcastle United.Mbabu joined Newcastle in 2013 following a successful trial, but only made five first-team appearances for the Magpies before moving on.The former Switzerland Under-19 international had a successful loan spell at Young Boys during the 2016-17 season before joining the club on a permanent deal last summer.Check out Playmaker FC’s Joe Street’s unfiltered take on Wayne Rooney’s England legacy in the video below…The full-back has played in the Champions League against Manchester United this season, and is now earning praise on the international stage.The Newcastle fans cannot believe that their club allowed Mbabu to leave, and want their club to explore the possibility of re-signing the 6ft 1in ace.A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below: