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After cruising to a 5-1 victory over FC Porto in their latest Champions League fixture thanks to goals from Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino, Liverpool are back in Premier League action today with a showdown against Manchester City at Anfield.

Ahead of the clash against Pep Guardiola’s side, the Reds were handed a double injury blow with Jurgen Klopp revealing that Trent Alexander-Arnold and Thiago Alcantara will be unavailable through injury.

Taking this into account, let’s take a look at how we think Liverpool will set up against City – we expect Klopp to make two changes from the team that started in midweek.

How will Liverpool line up against City?

In goal, we expect Alisson Becker to continue despite managing to concede three goals in Liverpool’s previous league outing in their 3-3 draw against Brentford.

At right-back, with Alexander-Arnold out and Klopp listing Neco Williams, James Milner and Joe Gomez as potential replacements for the injured defender, we feel as though Klopp will stick with Milner, who played in the right-back position against Porto before being substituted in the second half, perhaps to rest him before the City game.

At left-back we expect Andy Robertson to start after impressing in midweek by earning himself an overall match rating of 7.9/10, the highest of any Liverpool defender on the day according to SofaScore.

For the two centre-back positions, we feel Klopp will stick Virgil van Dijk but drop Joel Matip to give £70k-per-week Ibrahima Konate the chance to prove himself against a top team after taking part in Liverpool’s 3-0 Carabao Cup match against Norwich City.

In midfield, we expect Liverpool to stick with the same trio that played against Porto with club captain Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and Curtis Jones, who provided two assists in midweek and earned himself a higher match rating than any other Reds player on the day with 8.5/10 (as per SofaScore).

As for Liverpool’s attacking line, we think Klopp will stick with Mane and Salah after their success in midweek but replace Diogo Jota with Roberto Firmino to reward him for his goals against Porto.

Whether Klopp makes these changes or not, everyone who plays in the match will have to be at the top of their game if the Reds are going to beat the Manchester club, especially in an attacking sense given City have only conceded one goal so far this season.

In other news: Klopp must trust “remarkable” £140k-p/w LFC ace on Sunday, could be difference-maker – opinion

Alasdair Gold has shared some bad news for Tottenham Hotspur supporters involving midfielder and homegrown sensation Oliver Skipp amid his recent injury woes.

The Lowdown: Skipp setbacks…

The 21-year-old, who recently put pen to paper on fresh terms with the club, hasn’t been able to contribute for manager Antonio Conte since late January due to ongoing fitness issues.

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Skipp’s last minutes for Spurs came during a 2-0 Premier League defeat to Chelsea in the first month of 2022 with his pelvic injury keeping him sidelined.

The Englishman has suffered setbacks in his return to action since, coming as a source of real frustration for Conte, who has remained in the dark over his starlet’s recovery timeframe.

After the Lilywhites confirmed brilliant news of his new contract, Gold has now shared a damning update on Skipp and his injury, coming as the player himself admits it’s been a real problem.

The Latest: Gold shares Skipp update…

The reliable football.london correspondent, taking to Twitter, says that he’s still no closer to returning to Conte’s starting eleven.

Sharing an update on his recovery, in response to Skipp’s official reaction to signing fresh terms, Gold explained:

“Understand he’s not closer to a return yet.”

The Verdict: Bad news…

The promising youngster’s continued availability delay will come as bad news for both Conte and supporters as Spurs fight to finish in the Premier League top four.

Currently locked in a fierce battle for Champions League qualification with north London rivals Arsenal, Tottenham will need any quality at their disposal to come out on top.

According to WhoScored, no Spurs starter has averaged a higher pass accuracy than Skipp (90.1%) in the top flight this season, backing his real composure and assurance in Conte’s midfield.

Tipped as a future club captain, those inside and outside N17 will be hoping he can return to the grass as soon as possible.

In other news: Big name source: Tottenham in pole position to sign ‘unreal’ 6 ft 3 powerhouse for Conte! Find out more here.

An update has emerged on Newcastle United’s pursuit of Burnley centre-backs Ben Mee and James Tarkowski…

What’s the talk?

According to The Mirror, the Magpies are willing to offer the dynamic duo £100k-per-week each, doubling their current wages at Turf Moor.

The report claims that both players are out of contract in the summer and could leave on frees, with Eddie Howe desperate to land both of them to strengthen his defence at St. James’ Park.

Fans would be buzzing

Newcastle fans would be buzzing as the pair have proven themselves to be an excellent partnership at Premier League level for Burnley. Howe could bring in a ready-made defensive unit to come in and improve the back line heading into next season by signing them both.

They have played 12349 minutes alongside each other across 151 matches, with Burnley averaging 1.34 points per game in that time. This averages out at roughly 50 points per 38-game season, whilst 29 points would have been enough to retain a place in the top-flight last season.

Mee is valued at £5.4m by Transfermarkt, whilst Tarkowski is said to be worth £22.5m. This means that they are £27.9m-rated as a pair and the Magpies could be landing a gigantic bargain in terms of the initial fee by signing both on free transfers next summer. However, they would be splashing out £200k-per-week in wage, a startling amount of money.

This season, Tarkowski has averaged an excellent WhoScored rating of 7.11 in the Premier League, with Mee averaging a solid score of 6.81 as both players continue to show that they are reliable performers in the top-flight for Burnley. Therefore, they could be excellent additions to the Toon squad, as they have a proven track record of playing well at this level.

They also, as aforementioned, have a pre-existing relationship on the pitch that could translate over to St. James’ Park instantly. With over 150 matches played alongside each other and an impressive points return, they know how to work well as a pair and could come in and be effective for Newcastle in the Premier League, which is why fans would love this deal.

It is now down to PIF and Howe to do as much as they can to tempt both of them into making the switch, providing the offer of £100k-per-week each is not enough on its own.

AND in other news, “Among leading NUFC targets”: David Ornstein drops transfer update that’ll excite fans…

A frustrating injury update has emerged on Newcastle United midfielder Isaac Hayden…

What’s the latest?

According to Telegraph journalist Mike McGrath, the Magpies enforcer is set to face months on the sidelines after undergoing surgery this week.

He tweeted: “#NUFC midfielder Isaac Hayden underwent knee op yesterday at private hospital in London and faces spell of recovery. Played with injection in last game but procedure needed.”

McGrath later added: Surgery was to repair MCL damage. Faces months rather than weeks recovery.”

Fans will be fuming

Newcastle fans will surely be fuming with this news as it comes as another big blow for the club, having also lost Allan Saint-Maximin and Callum Wilson to injury after the draw with Manchester United.

Hayden has been one of the better performers in the Magpies squad this season, albeit that is not too much of a compliment given their current situation in the league. He is ranked sixth in the squad for average WhoScored ratings, with fellow midfidlers Joe Willock, Jonjo Shelvey and Jeff Hendrick all below him.

These are the players who may now be needed to cover for him in the coming weeks and months in the Premier League, which is why fans will be fuming with this body blow.

Hayden has averaged three tackles and interceptions per game, along with 0.6 blocks, and he is a natural defensive midfielder who looks to break up the play and win the ball back for the side. This means that Newcastle will be losing his bite in the middle of the park, which could have a negative impact heading into crucial matches from which they will need to pick up points to escape the bottom three.

This may also place an added emphasis on the need to sign a defensive-minded midfielder in the January transfer window. Eddie Howe may need to reevaluate his plans for new signings because of these injury blows, which could potentially slow down the recruitment process as they need to readjust their priorities to deal with these frustrating setbacks.

Fans could also be frustrated by the news on Hayden as the potential change in plans could mean that signings take longer than previously expected. It could be a tense month for supporters if it comes down to the final days of the transfer window and a couple of key positions are yet to be strengthened.

AND in other news, PIF could save NUFC’s season with £20m move for “decisive” gem likened to N’Golo Kante…

Tottenham Hotspur could seal their best signing since Heung-min Son following an exciting claim from transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.

The north London outfit are in desperate need of fresh additions this month, certainly if Antonio Conte is to stand a chance at reviving this sinking ship.

Given his tactical system – primarily deploying three-at-the-back – he needs further reinforcements to his backline, where left-back Ben Davies has been plugging a gap and the likes of Davinson Sanchez and Japhet Tanganga have had to be trusted.

One player that Spurs appear keen on is Villarreal defender Pau Torres, who rejected a move to the club during the summer window but back then, it was the underwhelming Nuno Santo in charge – rather than the trophy-laden Italian.

And Romano believes their interest is something to keep an eye on heading into deadline day in a little under two weeks time.

“Let’s see what happens with a centre-back. Tottenham want to sign a new centre-back in January. Pau Torres has always been on their list since last summer, but Villarreal have no intention to let him leave in January,” he told the ‘Here We Go’ podcast last week.

Torres’ desire may well hinge on any sort of Champions League involvement but Spurs are firmly in the race for a top-four finish and that could well be achieved with the Spaniard’s arrival.

He played an integral role for former Arsenal boss Unai Emery at the Yellow Submarines as they defeated Manchester United to clinch the Europa League title last season.

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Meanwhile, domestically, the 25-year-old colossus ranked as their fourth-best player (6.76) in La Liga last season. Across 33 starts, he proved to be an excellent ball-playing option by averaging an 87.8% passing accuracy and 0.8 dribbles per game, as per WhoScored.

“When he was small you could see he had an extraordinary talent to construct the play, I even played him for a few games in midfield, but he told me he was more comfortable at the back. Bit by bit he picked up more intensity, more strength, becoming more physical and he kept developing,” once claimed his former youth coach, ex-Villarreal midfielder Javi Calleja.

His profile is exactly the sort of one that Conte would love in his backline – an aggressive but astute on-the-ball beast to pair alongside summer signing Cristian Romero and Eric Dier.

As such, any move for Torres would surely excite the manager and fanbase alike. He’d be such a necessary addition that it could well equal the arrival of Son, who has quickly become one of Tottenham’s most reliable players over the years.

Fabio Paratici and co must seal a move for the £45m-rated Villarreal star at all costs this month.

AND in other news, “I understand..”: Sky Sports reporter drops transfer claim that’ll anger Spurs fans…

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Son Heung-Min is set to return to action for Tottenham Hotspur after playing for South Korea at the Asian Cup.

The winger, playing in his second international tournament this season, could not avert a shock defeat for his country in the quarter-finals as they were beaten 1-0 by Qatar on Friday, and Son needs to be back in Mauricio Pochettino’s XI as soon as possible.

On the chalkboard

Spurs have struggled without Son.

Of course, Harry Kane and Dele Alli both sustained injuries at the worst possible time with Son already away, leaving Pochettino without his three most potent attacking weapons.

He had been on an electric run of form before his departure to the United Arab Emirates, scoring eight goals and providing five assists in just 10 games, as per Transfermarkt.

Spurs lost 1-0 to Manchester United in his final game, and have since been knocked out of two cup competitions without the winger.

Which big 6 club needs to do the most business in January? Check out what the Pl>ymaker FC squad think in the video below…

A 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace on Sunday saw them eliminated from the FA Cup, while they were beaten by Chelsea in the Carabao Cup semi-finals on Thursday, losing on penalties at Stamford Bridge.

Son, during his time at the Asian Cup, drew a blank for South Korea, but he did provide two assists in the final game of the group stages against China as they won 2-0. Perhaps unfortunately for Spurs, Son played 89 minutes against China, 120 against Bahrain – in which his nation won in extra time – and 90 in the defeat to Qatar.

Pochettino, per the London Evening Standard, expects to have Son available for the midweek clash with Watford but unsurprisingly revealed that the winger is exhausted: “He’s so tired, played three games. Very tough games. Not too much energy today, but we hope he’ll be available on Wednesday.”

Fatigue be damned

Son simply has to start against Watford.

He may be tired, but an exhausted Son is better than a fully-fit Georges-Kevin N’Koudou.

The 23-year-old turned in an atrocious display against Palace, despite earning his chance in a cameo against Fulham after Son’s departure; he came off the bench to provide the assist for Harry Winks’ dramatic late winner.

Son was sorely missed against both Chelsea and Palace, however, with no player able to offer his pacey, driving runs on the counter.

Fernando Llorente has played reasonably well without him, but it is very clear that he does not have the required ability to lead the line for Spurs for a considerable period of time.

Now Son is back, he should be restored to the striking position against the Hornets and give Spurs the cutting edge they have brutally lacked.

It is, of course, a tough ask to expect him to hit the ground running but with the lack of alternatives in the squad, Pochettino simply does not have another option.

Crystal Palace midfielder Eberechi Eze is edging closer to a return to full fitness and cannot wait to feature in Patrick Vieira’s new-look side.

What’s the story?

That’s according to journalist Tom Barclay, who also claimed the admiration is mutual between the player and manager despite Eze failing to make an appearance under the Frenchman.

The 23-year-old creative talent is continuing to work his way back from a serious Achilles injury sustained at the end of last season, although he appears to be nearing his comeback to the first team setup.

Under Vieira, Palace have played some entertaining and exciting football in the opening weeks of the new campaign after four pragmatic years under predecessor Roy Hodgson, and Eze is eager to play his part.

Speaking about the attacking midfielder, Barclay told GIVEMESPORT: “He’s massively highly-rated, really well-liked, really infectious enthusiasm, loves Vieira.

“I don’t know if you saw that video talking about Vieira, seems to really, really buy into his methods and his style of play, and the way he goes about things.”

They could form a formidable duo

Last season, no Eagles player bettered or matched Eze’s tally of six Premier League assists and he also produced the most key passes and dribbles, with average totals of 1.3 and 1.9 per league game respectively, as per WhoScored.

The former Queens Park Rangers man was also Palace’s third-highest goalscorer, bagging four strikes in his 34 top-flight outings for the south London club.

Therefore, the arrival of a far more attack-minded manager at Selhurst Park could bring out even more productivity in the final third of the pitch from the 23-year-old when he eventually returns from injury.

Vieira’s arrival could see the ex-Nice manager and the £18m-rated Eze establish a formidable duo in south London, and the club’s supporters could be desperate for the attacking midfielder to join the ongoing revolution at Palace.

In other news… Signed for nothing, now worth £10.8m: Crystal Palace struck gold with £28k-p/w monster 

Leeds United’s return to the Premier League saw them embark on a bit of a spending spree under Marcelo Bielsa, and the Whites’ most high-profile signing was undeniably the capture of Valencia star Rodrigo.

Reports claimed that the Yorkshire club shelled out a club-record sum to bring the Spain international at Elland Road, and almost a couple of years later, it’s quite safe to say things haven’t really worked out for the forward – he’s managed just 12 goals and three assists in 55 games across all competitions for Leeds.

What perhaps makes a move for Rodrigo even worse now on reflection, is that they were actually also attempting to sign Rafael Leao at the same time back in 2020.

Football Insider claimed that the Portugal Leao was of interest to Leeds, although it was suggested that luring him away from the San Siro may prove to be “complicated” as Milan still had “high hopes” for him.

It was added the Whites had made enquiries for the attacker, and that if Milan were going to sell, it would be for nothing less than the £20m they themselves have paid to sign him for French side Lille.

Since that deal failed to come to fruition, Leao has come on leaps and bounds in his time in Serie A.

Now valued at £60m by CIES, the 22-year-old – almost a decade younger than Rodrigo – has really come to the party for Milan this season, bagging 11 goals and providing another six assists in 34 games across all competitions – including notching in the Champions League earlier this year.

The president of Leao’s former club, Lille, Gerard Lopez simply declared him the “Portuguese Mbappe”, while Sporting CP’s former youth coach, Tiago Fernandes, proclaimed: “I pushed (then-Sporting coach) Jorge Jesus to take him in the first team and I said to him: ‘Yes, Gelson Martins has talent but Rafael is the best player in the history of the Sporting Academy’. At youth level, he was better than Cristiano Ronaldo.”

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Dubbed as an “extraordinary talent” by Croatia legend Zvonimir Boban, it’s clear missing out on Leao may rank as one of  Victor Orta’s biggest howlers at Elland Road, especially when you consider how Rodrigo’s career has turned out.

The man with 34 career goals to his name could have been a superstar signing for the Whites up front.

AND in other news: Orta can now axe “awful” £55k-p/w flop as Leeds eye “underrated” £12.5m-rated “threat”

West Ham United have been dealt a huge blow ahead of their upcoming Premier League clash against Crystal Palace.

What’s the latest?

That’s according to a report by Football.London, who claim that David Moyes will once again be unable to select Pablo Fornals for the Hammers’ trip to Selhurst Park this afternoon, as the 58-year-old recently revealed that the Spain international missed out on the 4-1 win at Watford on Tuesday due to testing positive for the ongoing viral pandemic.

Speaking about the current state of his squad, Moyes said: “We don’t have any more numbers because it’s something that you can’t really say now, because you’re so worried that it changes every day. Like every other club, we’re completely unsure what’s going to happen daily. At the moment, today’s update would be that we’re pretty clean.”

Moyes will be fuming

Considering just how important a part of the West Ham side Fornals has proven to be this season, the news that the 25-year-old will once again be unavailable for selection this weekend as a result of illness is sure to have left Moyes fuming.

Indeed, over his 18 Premier League appearances this term, the £18m-rated attacking midfielder has scored four goals, registered two assists and created four big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 1.3 shots and making 1.2 key passes per game.

These returns have seen the £79k-per-week man average an impressive SofaScore match rating of 6.91, ranking him as the Hammers’ joint 10th-best performer in the top flight of English football so far this season.

As such, it is clear for all to see that it is a case of the sooner Fornals returns the better for Moyes and his West Ham side, however, with the Spaniard once again missing out against Palace this weekend, the 58-year-old will have to make do without the 25-year-old in his bid to secure a winning start to 2022.

In other news: Moyes must ruthlessly axe “shaky” £52k-p/w dud today, he could cost West Ham dearly

Wolves supporters have been expressing their delight at the news that centre-back Max Kilman has signed a new deal at the club.

Bruno Lage’s side have recovered from a forgettable start to the season, sitting seventh in the Premier League currently off the back of a great run of form.

Wolves have won four of their last five league games, drawing the other, with confidence growing that a European push could be on the cards.

A number of Wolves players have performed well in recent weeks but Kilman has arguably been a standout figure, playing every minute of league action.

On Friday, ahead of the meeting with Crystal Palace this weekend, his brilliance was rewarded with a new contract, with the defender extending his stay at Molineux until 2026 [via the club’s official Twitter account].

Wolves fans delighted with Kilman news

It is a hugely positive piece of news for Wolves and these fans took to Twitter to react to it, showing their appreciation for the centre-back who they believe should be in the England squad.

“This will go under the radar slightly but I’m calling this the best piece of business we will do this season. Class player”

Credit: @WV1Wolf

“Come on”

Credit: @adenwwfc_

“Oh you love to see it”

Credit: @fatchav

“Don’t underestimate how massive this is”

Credit: @RefJosh04

“Oh stop it”

Credit: @hannahosmoxf

“Tremendous news & thoroughly deserved, what a season he’s having. Well in”

Credit: @MrRyanLeister

In other news, Wolves’ interest in one player is set to be revived. Find out who it is here.