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Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold has the perfect opportunity to make amends for his previous display at Old Trafford when his team face Manchester United at ‘The Theatre of Dreams’ on Sunday.

On the chalkboard

The 20-year-old has established himself as the Merseyside outfit’s first-choice right-back, but question marks were certainly raised over the England international following his outing in the 2-1 defeat against the Red Devils in March 2018, when Jurgen Klopp’s men found themselves 2-0 down after 25 minutes.

Marcus Rashford scored twice from the left-hand side and gave Alexander-Arnold a torrid time as Jose Mourinho’s men ran out victors, and the youngster will surely be keen to improve on that performance this time around.

The stakes are high this term with the Reds well in the title race and the hosts enjoying a rejuvenation period since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer succeeded Mourinho, and the Liverpool right-back should be in good shape having made his first start since his return from injury against Bayern Munich in midweek.

Can he succeed?

He certainly can, and he will feel much more confident against Rashford, Paul Pogba, Anthony Martial and others than he may have done previously.

Is the emergance of a ‘big 6’ good news for English clubs in Europe? Pl>ymaker FC’s Ed Tarlton certainly thinks to in the video below…

While Alexander-Arnold will once again be in for a tough afternoon at Old Trafford given the form United are currently in, there is no doubt that he has matured and improved just under 12 months after that nervous showing.

As well as being strong from a defensive point of view, as he showed by helping his side keep a clean sheet in the Champions League on Tuesday, he can also give Luke Shaw something to think about from an attacking point of view as well.

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Liverpool visit Everton this weekend where they will be counting on putting on a far greater show than the one they did last time the two sides met – the Reds nicked the three points in the dying seconds of an otherwise uneventful clash.

Jurgen Klopp’s side battered Watford on Wednesday, and in respect of that result, Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson feels there is little hope for their Merseyside neighbours.

What did he say?

Summarising his predictions for the weekend’s round of football, Merson said:

“Massive, massive game. Manchester City will have probably won and be top of the league, and with 10 to go, who plays first is a big mental advantage.

“If Liverpool win, they’re ticking off a big game. It’s out of Man City’s hands at the moment, but as soon as Liverpool do drop points I think they’re in trouble.

“Watford was a banana skin, it looked a hard game, and they come out with a 5-0 win. That gives them a massive boost.

“What threat do Everton have? Man-for-man, there is no threat, but it’s Everton’s cup final. Liverpool have to get through this unscathed.”

Toothless Toffees

The former midfielder thinks that the Reds quality will surely be too much for their hosts; rubbing salt in the Toffees’ wounds by stating that “there is no threat” to Liverpool, presumably if they muster a display of a similar standard to Wednesday night’s.

Marco Silva’s side dismantled Cardiff with relative ease on Tuesday, with Gylfi Sigurdsson back to his best but, on the red half of Merseyside, defensive behemoth Virgil van Dijk netted twice as well as producing yet another commanding defensive performance.

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It will take something not far short of a miracle for the Goodison Park outfit to get a result against Liverpool if they are in sparkling form once again and the Anfield faithful will surely love hearing that Merson feels there is little chance for their bitter rivals to do any damage man-for-man.

The meteoric rise of Jadon Sancho in the Bundesliga has set a precedent for young players wanting to move abroad, and Liverpool fans should be very concerned upon learning that one of their own prodigies is the subject of interest from German outfit Schalke.

According to the Liverpool Echo, Schalke are looking to make Anfield youngster Taiwo Awoniyi their answer to rival Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho, who transferred from Manchester City in 2017.

The Nigerian forward has been in sensational form since joining Belgian side Mouscron on loan, netting six goals and providing two assists in just seven appearances.

Apparently, Schalke have already approached Liverpool about securing the 21-year-old’s services in the summer.

Whether a deal is done remains to be seen. The Reds will be well aware of other interest from other parties, and will surely prefer sending the player out on another loan spell rather than on a permanent deal, so they can monitor his progress and have access to his obvious talents in the future.

That said, fans have reason to be anxious. No player enjoys the uncertainty of successive loan spells nor do they appreciate what they have come to symbolise: a clubs unwillingness to commit, but absolute readiness to deprive a player of their immediate future.

Both parties will be aware of Sancho’s success and both will be keen on ensuring they get the best deal.

For Liverpool, this means ensuring they are backed-up financially. A buy-back clause will likely be inserted into any future deal, much like Manchester City’s who, if they match the offer, get first refusal (as per Manchester Evening News) making it harder for other clubs to sign the player should he come good.

On the other hand, Awoniyi will just want a chance at first-team action.

Liverpool fans, do you think letting Awoniyi go now would be a huge mistake? Join the discussion by commenting below.

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As reported by The Sun’s Alan Nixon, Crystal Palace are hoping to beat arch-rivals Brighton to the signing of Chelsea star Reece James, who is currently enjoying a stint out-on-loan with Wigan.

What’s the word, then?

Well, according to Nixon, the Blues are keen on sending James out on loan once again next season, although that may not be what suits James the most.

The Eagles and the Seagulls are keen to buy the England Under-21 international outright, although that may prove difficult what with Chelsea’s failure to successfully appeal their transfer ban.

Which player with “no potential” has just been named Crystal Palace’s worst ever January signing? Find out in the video below…

James is one of England’s top talents and has been earning rave reviews for his performances in the Championship this season, where he has excelled in his 36 appearances for the Latics – the 19-year-old also has a goal and two assists to his name, whilst he has shown his versatility by playing right-back and centre-midfield impressively.

James must force a move if not given first-team guarantees

Given the right-back situation at Stamford Bridge this season, in which Cesar Azpilicueta seems to be struggling with the demands of Maurizio Sarri, whilst backup option Davide Zappacosta doesn’t appear to be trusted by the Italian, there is a realistic pathway into the first-team.

However, as we have seen in Sarri’s refusal to grant consistent first-team minutes of Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, it doesn’t matter how well the young players perform at Chelsea, they never seem to be rewarded for their efforts.

The transfer ban could change that, but if not, James must seek a way out of west London if he is to fulfil his obvious vast potential, or he risks ending up in the period of stagnation that the aforementioned duo currently find themselves in.

As we saw in Bayern Munich’s protracted transfer saga over Hudson-Odoi in January, however, it won’t be easy for Palace or Brighton to prise James away from Chelsea – the teenager should force his way out, especially to Palace if the Eagles lose Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

Having failed to sign players in the last two transfer windows, Tottenham are almost certain to bring in some reinforcements this summer with midfield one area of their squad that needs strengthening.

And former Chelsea striker Tony Cascarino believes there is one name in particular that the north London club should be looking at.

The Breakdown

Speaking on talkSPORT’s recent Weekend Sports Breakfast show, Cascarino suggested that Tottenham move for Paris Saint-Germain’s Marco Verratti, describing the 26-year-old as exactly what Mauricio Pochettino needs.

“[From a Tottenham perspective] I would want to know what’s happening with Verratti at PSG because I think he is a proven winner in his career. I think he is a fabulous player,” Cascarino said on talkSPORT (via HITC).

As good as a signing Verratti would be, simply put, it is a transfer that would never happen for plenty of reasons, with one being that PSG do not sell any player they want to keep hold of.

And even if they did, based on the two previous transfer windows, what are the chances of Tottenham stumping up the cash for a player of that calibre?

The Premier League outfit undoubtedly need some new additions if they are to seriously challenge for the title, but Cascarino is mad if he thinks Verratti is the man to help them do that.

Tottenham fans, do you think the club are capable of landing a player like Verratti? Join the discussion by commenting below.

Three things are certain in life. Death, taxes, and every football fan loving Michy Batshuayi.

The Belgian international has asserted himself as one of the most likeable players in world football. From his brilliant social media presence to his impact on the pitch, Batshuayi’s presence in the beautiful game is one of the few bright spots in modern football, and Palace fans are enjoying his current loan-spell in south London.

The Chelsea loanee has notched up three goals for Roy Hodgson’s side already this season since joining the club January and the former Marseille man is looking like the solution to Palace’s striker problem that has plagued the club for some seasons.

With Premier League safety looking likely this season, attention has turned to the summer transfer window and to who Palace can bring in during the off-season, and Hodgson must assure the club can retain Batshuayi on a permanent basis.

And signing Batshuayi permanently on paper seems like a plausible idea.

Chelsea have shown many times in recent years they are a club who are more than happy to let go of promising players, and with the likes of Olivier Giroud and potentially Gonzalo Higuain as well as returning youngster Tammy Abraham all competing for one striker position, the Belgian international might push for a move away from west London.

However, with the Blues’ one-year transfer ban looking likely to take effect this summer and a cap being emplaced on how many players a club can have out on-loan, Chelsea might have to do the unthinkable and actually rely on youngsters who have come through the club and high-calibre players currently out on-loan, meaning Batshuayi could be forced to stay with the 2016/17 Premier League champions.

Chelsea will be allowed to sell players during this proposed transfer bad, though, and with a squad as big as what Maurizio Sarri has at his disposal Palace might get lucky and be able to tempt Batshuayi back to Selhurst Park.

In south London, the 23-year-old striker will be guaranteed first-team football, and as we have seen this season, Batshuayi is a striker who suits Hodgson’s style of play well and will only get better with consecutive minutes in the Premier League.

Palace fans, would you want Batshuayi on a permanent deal?

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The Sun have reported that Tottenham Hotspur are eyeing a remarkable cut-price move for Fulham and England wonderkid Ryan Sessegnon in the summer transfer window.

What’s the word, then?

According to the report, Spurs are keen on a swoop for the 18-year-old after they move into their new White Hart Lane stadium in April, reviving three-year-old interest in the player.

The outlet have also suggested that bidding could start at just £25 million which, relatively speaking, would be an extremely modest price for one of the most promising young talents in European football.

The hotshot is a product of Fulham’s academy and has been playing first-team football at Craven Cottage for three seasons now, making 114 senior appearances, scoring 25 times and registering 18 assists, as well as working his way into the England under-21s squad.

Sessegnon would be the perfect motivation for Rose improvement

In recent times, Tottenham have been in decline, working their way out of the Premier League title race – the UEFA Champions League looks like their only remaining shot at glory this season and even that seems unlikely.

There’s little doubt that every player in the squad needs to improve after a run of three defeats in four in the English top flight, especially left-back Danny Rose, who has been a shadow of his former self since he returned from a lengthy injury layoff.

In many ways, a cheap move to bring Sessegnon to north London in the summer would be exactly what the England man needs to re-establish himself as the club’s undisputed first-choice left-back.

Pl>ymaker FC Exclusive: Jermaine Jenas reveals he would have snubbed Tottenham for Arsenal if they’d come knocking in 2005…

Whilst more known for his attacking capabilities, Sessegnon can play as a left-back, a left-wing-back and left winger.

Rose is also an attacking left-back by nature and the arrival of someone who is arguably a ten-years-younger version of himself would certainly have him looking over his shoulder.

This, in turn, would force the 28-year-old, and Ben Davies too, to step up a level.

And if it had the opposite effect, Sessegnon would be waiting to jump into his shoes anyway, which wouldn’t exactly be bad news for Spurs.

It’s for these reasons that Daniel Levy needs to be clever and dip into his pockets this summer for the budding starlet.

Leeds United are in capable hands if Marcelo Bielsa understudy Carlos Corberan leads the club in years to come.

To take a spot in the school of one of the most influential managers in the modern era, at least by Pep Guardiola and Mauricio Pochettino’s reckoning, is no easy feat – but Corberan has managed it. And deservedly so.

Carlos Corberan may only be 35-years-old but a career at the top level of coaching has been a long time coming with 12 years of experience to his name, and if his recent success with the under-23s is anything to go by (via Leeds-Live) then he is going to be quite the leader.

A Valencia academy player who never made it past the third tier of Spanish football, the Spaniard admitted he always saw his future outside of the playing realm. “I finished my career pretty fast,” he told Yorkshire Evening Post, “and I was 23 when I started to feel like my future would be more in coaching than as a player.”

Corberan was blooded at Villareal in 2006 when Spanish football was undergoing a major transition thanks to the ‘tiki-taka’ master Pep Guardiola. Both the Spanish national team, who enjoyed serious success in the ensuing years, and Villareal adapted their models, to match that of the former Barcelona man. He admits that this cataclysmic shakeup shaped his educational experience and coaching style: “From this moment there was a link between Guardiola and the Spanish national team and the style of Villarreal was in the same direction. It gave me new ideas about how you can train teams and what the best methodology is to have one style of play. It’s something that goes inside of you. It changes your mind and changes your feelings towards football.”

Indeed, to experience a change first-hand and to study one posthumously is a completely different experience. You get a tangible feel for it; the subtle shifts and differences that are often overlooked by scribes and commentators; the feedback from players who are adapting their game; the ways a coach can successfully harness the new style and things you must avoid for the future.

Interestingly, it is widely considered that Guardiola’s football is an extension of Bielsa’s (Yorkshire Evening Post) – and Corberan is tapping straight into that well of knowledge as we speak.

If the Spaniard is the man to inherit the Leeds United job, then he is certainly qualified enough to do it – at least in theory, anyhow.

Leeds United fans, do you think Carlos Corberan is the man for the job? Let us know in the comments below…

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According to UOL, via Sports Witness, the agent of Everton forward Richarlison has recently met with Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, who is a huge fan of the Brazil international.

What’s the word, then?

Well, this is a very interesting one.

The Liverpool Echo recently quoted Everton boss Marco Silva as saying that Richarlison would not be sold this summer amid reports of interest from AC Milan.

However, according to UOL, Richarlison’s agent, Renato Velasco, has recently met with Liverpool boss Klopp at his house.

The report goes on to claim that the Reds head coach is a huge fan of the 21-year-old, suggesting that a bid could arrive from Anfield.

It is some claim and it would also be some story if the South American did leave Everton for their bitter rivals in this summer’s transfer window.

UOL report that the Toffees do not want to sell Richarlison, but would consider an offer in excess of £70m for the player that they signed from Watford last summer.

Should Liverpool make a move?

There is no question that Richarlison is a talent.

The versatile attacker has struck 12 Premier League goals for Everton this term, which is a good record when considering that Silva’s side do not create bundles of chances.

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There is every reason to believe that the Brazilian will continue to improve, but paying in excess of £70m this summer would be bad business by Liverpool.

Indeed, if Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino all stay this summer then Richarlison would not even make the first XI next season.

And spending that sort of money on a player who has been erratic at times is not something that the Reds should consider in this summer’s transfer window.

If Liverpool are to win the Premier League this season, they will have Jurgen Klopp and Virgil van Dijk to thank for it.

The signing of van Dijk has been one of the best bargains in football this decade, which is impressive considering the Dutch international remains the most expensive defender in history.

His physicality and style turned Liverpool from a solid top four side to genuine title contenders overnight, but despite his impact on the Reds, he shouldn’t be labelled as the ‘Premier League Player of the Season’ just yet.

There’s no doubt that van Dijk has been the best defender in the Premier League this season by a country mile and has been amongst the best performing players in the league, but to call him as the ‘Player of the Season’ when there is still six games of the season left to go is a stretch.

The title race is yet to be concluded, and run-in for a Champions League place has only just started, and players are and have been performing on par with van Dijk, mainly Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling of Manchester City, are also in contention for the Player of the Season award.

The trio will likely be the favourites for the award, and if you are to argue who will likely be the player to get the accomplishment come award season you can make a good case for either of the City players claiming the prize.

We live in an era where defenders are the underrated stars, but in van Dijk Liverpool have a defensive superstar who has taken the Merseyside team from potential league chasers to genuine title contenders, and if the Reds can make it to the end of the season still top of the pile and unbroken by the pressure, the former Southampton man will emerge as the favourite for Player of the Season.

Liverpool fans, will van Dijk win Player of the Season? Let us know!