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This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Kiko Casilla has been granted an extension for his appeal against the charge of alleged racial abuse against Charlton’s Jonathan Leko.

The Spaniard now has until November 27th to put together a case to plead his innocence, but this extension may actually be a bad thing for the Yorkshire outfit.

Casilla’s punishment

If the former Real Madrid man is found guilty he will be handed a minimum six-game ban, and if he’d stuck to the original timeframe that wouldn’t have been such a bad thing.

If the verdict had come back this week and Casilla was found guilty it wouldn’t have been the end of the world for United as their upcoming games are more than winnable without their number one stopper.

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Indeed, Leeds’ next six matches are all against clubs sitting in the bottom half of the table, but if Casilla submits his plea on the 27th and the FA still find him guilty he’ll be absent for two of the most important games of the season.

Casilla’s extension may prove to be a bad thing if he’s still found guilty as it will lead to him missing the two fixtures against Fulham and Preston.

Preston currently sit second in the league, while the London club are fourth in the Championship xG table.

These are games where Leeds may have to rely on their goalkeeper to earn them the points, but now they’re running the risk of being without him for those matches as if he receives the minimum six-game ban he’ll miss those vital clashes.

Kiko Casilla proved his worth against fellow promotion rivals Sheffield Wednesday earlier in the season, making four saves and three high claims. His influence was absolutely vital so they could be left to suffer if he’s absent versus Fulham and Preston.

Liverpool fans have been expressing their love for the club after a video was released by a BBC 5 Live Sport in which an elderly Liverpool fan expresses his admiration for Jurgen Klopp.

The video contains the interview of 5 Live presenters Steve Crossman and Robbie Savage, who discuss Klopp’s impact with the Reds fan, David. The fan stated how he’s been attending Anfield for 65 years and he touches on how delighted he was to see the German lift the Champions League trophy.

It is an emotional montage for all Liverpool fans, as the video plays through photos of the Champions League final in June and finishes with a rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone.

As you would expect, the Liverpool faithful have been getting just as emotional as the fan in the video, with one supporter saying it “always brings in chills”.

Other supporters have said they were holding back the tears during the video, with one fan saying it made him “smile and cry at the same time”.

It is a truly touching montage and it beautifully encapsulates the meaning of Liverpool and the impact Klopp has had at the club.

Here’s how the Liverpool fans reacted to the tribute…

This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

There is an indication that West Ham United manager Manuel Pellegrini is beginning to lose faith in Felipe Anderson.

On the chalkboard

The Brazilian has come under scrutiny this season, with Danny Mills telling Football Insider: “There’s a lot of talent [at West Ham], like Anderson, a lot of talented players in that side and they’re underperforming.”

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While Anderson does have three assists this campaign, the fact he is still yet to get his first goal is a negative sign for the Brazilian’s productivity.

He has averaged 2.3 dribbles per game, but this indicates that he is not really doing anything of note with that technical ability, as is supported by the fact that he hasn’t got a goal contribution in any of the Hammers’ last six games.

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Losing faith

The match against Tottenham Hotspur further backed up the view that he doesn’t do enough to get into dangerous positions, as he didn’t manage a single shot or key pass.

There was also the indication that Pellegrini is losing faith in the 26-year-old’s ability to impact a match, as the manager opted to take him off at half time.

This turned out to be the correct decision, as his replacement, Michail Antonio, went on to score and put in one of the only positive performances in claret and blue on the day.

However, this does not help Anderson’s situation, with the Newcastle United loss being the only game in the last five in which Anderson completed the 90 minutes.

Adding to that, the Brazilian, who earns £85k-per-week according to Spotrac, has been taken off before the hour mark in three of those games, while the Spurs match was the second time this season he has been substituted at half time this campaign.

One concerning sign about this is that Anderson’s struggles don’t seem to be a consequence of a lack of effort, as he made two tackles against Spurs, while he averages 2.4 per game this season.

Regardless of the reasons for his decline, Pellegrini needs players he can trust due to the pressure he is under, as indicated by links between West Ham and other managers, including David Moyes.

It is beginning to seem as though he doesn’t view Anderson as one of the players he can rely on to turn things around.

In other news, Anderson’s fellow attacker was criticised for his performance against Spurs.

Liverpool have been linked with a transfer swoop for Jadon Sancho in recent months but a recent report from the Daily Mirror suggests the Premier League leaders are not in the race for the Borussia Dortmund star, who has an asking price of £100m on his head.

Indeed, the report claims that Chelsea and Manchester United will go head-to-head to secure the 20-year-old’s coveted signature, but the Reds are not even monitoring the situation.

The same report goes on to suggest that the club are eyeing other targets who are more realistically valued at less than half the price.

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Given Sancho’s meteoric rise to stardom since leaving Manchester City, it is easy to understand why the Anfield faithful may be disappointed by the news.

After all, this is a world class talent in the making who has scored 31 goals and provided 42 assists in 90 games for Dortmund, while he is equally adept on both the left and right wing.

And after reading the transfer update, a handful of supporters took out their frustration on club owners Fenway Sports Group.

Indeed, some fans called for the owners to leave while another suggested Liverpool are “a joke of a club”.

Here’s what the Liverpool fans had to say in response to the report…

Former Leeds United striker Mark Viduka has revealed that he had the chance to join AC Milan during his time at Elland Road.

What did he say?

Viduka scored 68 goals in 159 appearances for Leeds over a four-year spell at the club after joining from Celtic in the summer of 2000.

His goals helped Leeds to a fourth place finish in 2001 and fifth place finish in 2002, while he also played a key role in their run to the Champions League semi-finals/

The Australian international’s form did not go unnoticed and the forward recently revealed that Leeds rejected a £38m bid from AC Milan for his services.

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“I had the chance to join AC Milan at the end of the 2001 season, after we made the Champions League semifinal,” Viduka told ESPN.

“[Leeds United] were negotiating with Milan and wanted £38 million. I was friends with [Milan star] Zvonimir Boban at the time, and we were negotiating terms through him. In the end, [Milan] offered the £38 million, and Leeds didn’t want to sell. And that was that.

“I was a huge AC Milan fan. As a kid, I grew up watching [Marco] van Basten, [Frank] Rijkaard and [Ruud] Gullit … They were my favourite team. It just wasn’t to be.”

Staying put

Viduka stayed at Leeds for a further three seasons after his Milan move failed to pan out and only left the Yorkshire club after they were relegated in 2004.

From there he joined Middlesbrough, where he continued to prove himself as a talented goalscorer at Premier League level with 41 goals in 98 games for them.

Given how prolific the Aussie was at almost all of the clubs he played at, it is unfortunate that he never joined another club of Leeds’ calibre or bigger, with the forward also holding talks with Manchester United at one stage.

Viduka is now based in Croatia, just outside of Zagreb, where he owns a cafe with his wife.

Meanwhile, Kalvin Phillips has made one Leeds fan cry.

Despite the uncertainty about what will happen to the Championship season, Victor Orta and co will no doubt be drawing up plans for the summer transfer window at Leeds.

Marcelo Bielsa’s side currently occupy top spot in the league, so promotion to the Premier League is very much on the cards. But whilst big-money signings and high-profile names may be a major statement of intent from the Whites, they would do very well to turn their attentions to one of the hottest properties in European football: Adil Aouchiche.

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According to 90min, PSG are facing a battle to persuade Aouchiche to stay at the club, with his contract coming to an end this summer. However, it’s suggested that the European giants remain hopeful they can convince him to put pen to paper on a new deal, and that they are exploring the option of potentially sending him out on loan to get first-team football – and Leeds have been name-checked as one possible destination for the youngster.

The 17-year-old has already shown flashes of greatness, with his performances at the 2019 U17 European Championships the real highlight of his fledgling career. His incredible tally of nine goals in the tournament only matched that of France icon Michel Platini back in EURO 1984.

Predominantly a number ten, the teenager could provide some goals from that attacking midfield position, with French journalist Loic Tanzi saying: “Aouchiche is better when he plays behind the striker. He’s not very tall, but very quick, he understands the game and has the right timing when it comes to playing the final pass.”

Such has been his impressive performances, that The Athletic writer Jack Lang waxed lyrical about his talents, even claiming that he has “echoes of Zinedine Zidane”. Leeds have had their fair share of inspirational figures, not least in Eric Cantona all those years ago. Those kinds of players get fans on the edge of their seats, and exude a sense of brilliance.

Having someone like Aouchiche who can provide a touch of magic in the Premier League could be the difference to securing priceless wins when opposition defences look like they’re on top. It may only be on loan, but Orta must surely make this one of his summer priorities.

Newcastle United fans have been reacting to one aspect of their imminent takeover this week as reports suggest that Steve Bruce could be replaced at the helm.

According to L’Equipe, via Sport Witness, there has been “concrete contact” between the Magpies’ prospective owners and former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino.

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The Saudi-led consortium are believed to also want both a sporting and academy director – and are willing to invest massively into the northeast outfit once the deal goes through.

And while many at St James’ Park would love to see the Champions League runner-up take charge next season, some are a little worried at such claims coming before an official announcement of the takeover.

Pochettino was sacked by Premier League rivals Tottenham back in November and has been out of work ever since. The north Londoners will be due £12.5m in compensation should the Argentine find a new club before the end of the month, as per ESPN.

Though Bruce is still under contract for the next two seasons.

Here’s how the Magpies faithful have been reacting to the report…

AND in other news, George Caulkin provides encouraging info on Newcastle takeover…

Wolverhampton Wanderers central midfield player Morgan Gibbs-White is very lucky to have gotten away without a fine following his decision to break lockdown rules to go to a party which was also attended by Love Island contestants among other reality television stars.

As per the Express and Star, the 20-year-old is back training at Compton and is currently working with the rest of the squad in small groups after proving he has not contracted the coronavirus pandemic that has been sweeping across the footballing world.

The report stated that Gibbs-White has not faced a fine for his antics, although he has been made to train from home for a couple of weeks after being caught on camera defying lockdown restrictions. The Molineux club are now drawing a line under the matter as they work towards the return of their season.

Although the academy product is still a young man and has a lot to learn under manager Nuno Espirito Santo, this does not excuse his behaviour which could potentially be seen as reckless and does shed a bad light on the club’s name.

Nevertheless, Gibbs-White will have to prove himself to his Portuguese coach in training if he wants to break into the starting XI regularly, with Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho currently holding places in the midfield. The Englishman has made just 14 appearances in all competitions so far this season, scoring one goal, according to Transfermarkt.

MGW could well be a promising talent for the future but Wolves should have been more harsh on their man in impressing upon him the seriousness of his misdeeds.

Wolves fans, what do you think should have happened to Gibbs-White? Comment below with your views!

As per Football Insider, Jamie Murphy will be told he can leave Glasgow Rangers when he returns to Ibrox following his loan spell at Burton Albion.

Murphy joined the League One outfit on loan in January as he looked for more playing time away from the 54-time Scottish champions – he featured just eight times in all competitions this campaign following horrific injury problems before leaving on a temporary basis.

With the English third tier now brought to a premature close, the 30-year-old will return north of the border but, despite scoring seven times in 10 matches at Burton, he is expecting to be told that he can leave the Gers permanently.

There is certainly plenty of competition going forward for the Gers. On the left-wing, where Murphy has made most of his appearances during his career, he has Ryan Kent to contend with, and with Alfredo Morelos and Ianis Hagi potentially at centre-forward and right-wing respectively, he would no doubt find it hard to secure a regular starting spot in Steven Gerrard’s starting XI.

However, despite just 29 appearances since joining the Gers on loan in January 2018, he has a very respectable record – six goals and 13 assists in all competitions is good going. He is also proven in Scottish football as well, having scored 49 times in 212 appearances for Motherwell before moving to Sheffield United in 2013.

Given the links to Florian Kamberi, it is clear that the Gers are still looking for improvements in the offensive area of the pitch – with his versatility, Murphy could provide strong back-up and competition across the front-line. Ross Wilson could perhaps earn a fee for him if he were to be moved on, but with a Transfermarkt value of £720,000 and one year left on his contract, he is unlikely to be able to recoup the £1m they spent on him two years ago. Following his performances at the Pirelli Stadium, he deserves to be given another chance at Ibrox.

Let us know what you think below!

Richarlison seems to be trying some new psychological tactics ahead of the derby after making some bold comments.

Liverpool and Everton are prepared to lock horns tomorrow evening as they return to Premier League action in a Merseyside derby at Goodison Park. The runaway leaders are just two wins away from clinching their first top flight title in 30 years, but the Toffees will of course be yearning to slow down their unstoppable run.

Everton forward Richarlison has given his tuppence worth on Virgil van Dijk, claiming that he is not the best defender in the world. “People talk a lot about him, yes he is a great defender but I’ve already dribbled past him,” the Brazilian boasted (via talkSPORT).

“He was chosen as one of the top three in the world as he had an excellent season. But yes, for me there are better defenders.”

Richarlison has named Thiago Silva, Marquinhos and Sergio Ramos as centre-backs who he feels are better than the Dutchman.

The comments, relayed via @LFCTransferRoom, have attracted a lot of attention from Liverpool fans. The majority are simply laughing at the forward’s bold statement, with one commenting “Richarlison’s had a mare”.

Read more replies from amused Reds fans here:

What do you think about Richarlison’s comments, Reds? Join the conversation in the comments below!