All posts by h716a5.icu

A number of Liverpool supporters have been lauding Nathaniel Phillips after he won the club’s Player of the Month award for March.

This season has seen the Reds suffer a disastrous number of injuries at centre-back, playing a huge part in their overall struggles.

Virgil van Dijk’s campaign was ended way back in October, but if that wasn’t bad enough, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip have also joined him on the treatment table.

All three have been long-term absentees and it has forced Jurgen Klopp into playing Fabinho and Jordan Henderson at centre-back at times, as well as signing Ozan Kabak on loan.

Someone else who has filled in is Phillips, with the 23-year-old a relative unknown until recently, now producing a string of impressive performances.

The defender has done admirably in an extremely tough situation and his efforts have been rewarded, following the confirmation of his Player of the Month triumph.

It is something that most Liverpool fans would never have been able to see happening last summer, so Phillips deserves a huge pat on the back.

Liverpool supporters laud Phillips.

These Reds fans have taken to Twitter to hail the likeable Englishman.

“Hero”

Credit: @jonahs__

“Brilliant! Come through for us when we needed him. Well deserved”

Credit: @JamieHolme

“Maldini watches Nat Phillips compilations”

Credit: @hitmanharj

“Imagine seeing this at the start of the season”

Credit: @_lfcnick

“Is right lad”

Credit: @lfcSafsaf

“Absolutely love this. Underdog stories are the best”

Credit: @HenryJackson87

In other news, some Liverpool fans have been reacting to an interesting transfer story – read about it here.

Rangers look set for a big summer ahead of next season, with the Ibrox outfit no doubt preparing to retain the title, whilst also hoping to give a good showing of themsevles in the Champions League.

If the Gers want to push on as a club, then they should perhaps focus on getting rid of some of the deadwood around Ibrox and unfortunately for 22-year-old Jamie Barjonas, that includes him.

The midfielder has made just nine appearances for Rangers in his career thus far but hasn’t featured since 2017, and has endured some disappointing loan spells away from the club in the seasons since.

Barjonas is a product of the Rangers youth academy and made his senior debut for the club as an 18-year-old in May 2017 under Pedro Caixinha, in a 2-1 win against Partick Thistle.

He joined Bury on loan for the 2018/19 League Two season but was limited to just eight appearances in all competitions under Ryan Lowe and was recalled in January before being sent to Raith Rovers on loan.

Barjonas was something of a regular with the Scottish League One side and seemingly impressed, registering two goals and three assists in 19 appearances.

However, this was clearly not enough to see him come back into the Rangers senior side, as after some more appearances for the academy side, he was sent out on loan again, this time to Partick Thistle, where he made just five appearances last season.

Unfortunately for the young midfielder, he hasn’t made a single senior appearance during this campaign and it seems clear that he is never going to make it as a regular at Rangers.

The 22-year-old’s contract with the club is set to expire at the end of this season and therefore, Ross Wilson should ensure that he definitely leaves Ibrox, as no appearances in the last four years really speaks for itself.

With Rangers taking their performances to another level this season, he is never likely to get muc, if any, game time under Steven Gerrard.

Certainly, you could argue that the youngster has been stealing a wage with Rangers for the past few seasons, as he hasn’t been able to have any impact whatsoever, but hopefully, he can find regular football with another club should he leave Ibrox at the end of the season.

And, in other news… Rangers could be set for huge boost on £7.5k beast Gerrard dubbed “world-class”

He may only have just returned from injury, but Rodrigo simply has to start when Leeds United welcome Chelsea in the Premier League on early Saturday afternoon.

The Spaniard has been out of action for Marcelo Bielsa’s side in recent weeks due to a groin injury picked up against Leicester, but came on as a second half substitute against West Ham last week.

Naturally a striker who can play out wide, the £22.5m-rated flier has been playing in a more withdrawn role at Elland Road, but with the licence to push forward and support Patrick Bamford.

After an impressive cameo against Arsenal earlier this season, former Leeds man Noel Whelan explained just how important Rodrigo is to this side: “He’s always looking for it, he’s never ever standing still, he’s always on the move and that’s what I like about him. He can’t be marked, he’s always looking for a space – very much the next Hernandez.

“He is a player that looks like he can make things happen. He’s very intelligent, he brings other people into play and makes space for them.”

Whelan also delivered his verdict on why the Spaniard should start against the Blues on Saturday, saying: “If you ask 100 Leeds fans who they would prefer in that position, Rodrigo or Tyler Roberts, they would all say Rodrigo all day long.

“He’s your star signing, your record signing. He’s the one player that if he is fit then you’ve got to have him in your side to give you that extra opportunity. Roberts didn’t do anything wrong but I just think it brings a different dimension to the game when Rodrigo’s out there.”

Given Roberts’ poor form in recent weeks, Rodrigo’s return to full fitness could not have come soon enough. The Spaniard has managed five goals in 23 games in all competitions in his debut campaign in English football, showing flashes of brilliance.

Dubbed “extraordinary” by former Barcelona boss Quique Setien, Rodrigo simply has to come into the starting line-up against Chelsea on Saturday afternoon.

With Leeds in a bit of rut – they’ve won just once in their past five games – bringing a real live-wire like Rodrigo into the team could be the kind of game-changing move to tip things in Leeds’ and Bielsa’s favour.

Meanwhile, Leeds must drop this £70k-p/w flop vs Chelsea…

Fans of Liverpool have been reacting to a post on Twitter, in which James Pearce relayed an article of his regarding the recent comments made by Roy Keane.

In his recent article for The Athletic, Pearce responded to the former Manchester United midfielder’s claim that Liverpool are ‘bad champions’ following the Reds’ 4-1 loss at home to Manchester City, with Pearce labelling the 49-year-old a ‘shock jock’, as well as claiming that the former Republic of Ireland international’s input is ‘not entertaining’ but rather ‘tiresome’.

However, after the journalist relayed his article on Twitter, fans of Liverpool flocked to have their say on the matter, with many, rather surprisingly, appearing to be in agreement with Keane, with a number of them taking aim at Jurgen Klopp and the club’s owners for their apparent poor performances this season.

So, what exactly did these Liverpool fans have to say in reaction to James Pearce’s post on Twitter?

“Klopp is the one to blame. This is bottling of the highest order.”

@florida_FSGOUT

“I do think you’ve got to look at our demise. This has been slowly coming since the original lockdown was lifted for football. Didn’t Dortmund have the same problems after 3 or 4 years? Maybe teams can’t physically play the way Klopp wants for more than a couple of seasons.”

@grahamcopping05

“If Klopp can stop playing Milner in midfield we will do better and also Curtis Jones should be playing every minute.”

@lvpl_muktar

“Although there are very valid reasons, for me, Klopp’s lack of tactical awareness has to be an issue. The fact that he is still reluctant to change things is a real concern.”

@Mr_ITellYah

“We do not show hunger or desire to win by all means as in last season. Only a few players are consistently giving their top performance like Robbo & Fab. Yes, many players came out say we will fight for the championship but actions speak louder. Tons of poor decisions by the manager as well.”

@Ericccccccc2

“Every season it is always late in making decisions in the transfer market, it always happens until now… hopefully it won’t happen again. Improve the academy.”

@mochyu

“It’s simply down to lack of investment in the first team in 2018 and 2019.”

@DavidElliott720

“If Klopp replaced Lovren you wouldn’t have this problem. We tried to outsmart common sense.”

@BobanovBobby

In other Liverpool news, this ‘catastrophic’ claim from James Pearce has shocked many fans, find out more here!

Carlo Ancelotti should look to rotate his squad and unleash Alex Iwobi on West Bromwich Albion on Thursday night, with Everton in action three times in the space of eight days.

The Toffees hosted and beat Southampton 1-0 on Monday but return to the field at the Hawthorns, before travelling to Stamford Bridge for a clash with top-four rivals Chelsea next Monday.

Taking points in south west London may prove crucial to the Blues’ hopes of qualifying for the Champions League, with Thomas Tuchel’s club currently above Everton by a single point ahead of their midweek visit to Liverpool later on Thursday following the Baggies affair.

Sam Allardyce’s Hawthorns natives will not be expected to present as much of a threat to Everton as Chelsea will, with the relegation-threatened side claiming only their third win in 26 games with a 1-0 victory over fellow strugglers Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday.

West Brom were winless in their previous seven home Premier League fixtures, while Ancelotti’s Blues are one of the top-flight’s best travelling sides with only Manchester City, Leicester and Manchester United claiming more points on the road this season.

Ancelotti will look to keep Everton’s record going on Thursday but should have an eye toward Monday’s trip to the capital, and look to rest and rotate his options.

The Italian has not named an identical starting line-up in any of the Toffees’ last 22 Premier League games, with the last fixture to feature an unchanged side being Everton’s 2-1 win at Crystal Palace on September 26th.

Iwobi has played a minimal role in the Blues’ recent top-flight ties, with the 24-year-old only featuring for a mere seven minutes over two substitute outings against Liverpool and Southampton.

The £23m-rated winger had opened last month’s 3-1 loss to Manchester City for his fourth and most recent start of the calendar year, having only opened three of the previous six available games after sitting out New Year’s Day’s defeat to West Ham United through injury.

Iwobi had been a regular of Ancelotti’s plans before the Irons visit to Goodison Park, starting the Toffees’ prior eight matches across all competitions, and should now be afforded what has become a rare opportunity for the versatile dynamo to feature.

Ancelotti will be loath to lose one of his favoured trio, Richarlison, Dominic Calvert-Lewin or James Rodriguez, for Everton’s trip to Chelsea, but he can take confidence in the displays Iwobi produced prior to the turn of the year.

The former Chelsea and Real Madrid boss described Iwobi’s efforts at the tail end of 2020 as being among his best performance during his tenure, after providing a real grit to his displays.

“It’s his best moment since I arrived. He is showing confidence, is really good in one-versus-one situations and is working hard. The key is to work hard – the team is working hard,” Ancelotti said, via quotes by Royal Blue Mersey.

Iwobi is yet to build on his sole goal or two assists registered in the Premier League this season since striking the back of the net against Wolverhampton Wanderers in January, but has provided a key pass in each of his last two starts.

He also displayed his intent to drive Everton up the field during his brief cameo at home to Southampton on Monday, with Iwobi attempting a game-high six dribbles – more than double his average 2.5 per top-flight outing.

Fitness should not be a concern given his lack of recent action, either, so Ancelotti should have no reason to not start Iwobi at West Brom on Thursday night.

AND in other news, Everton are tracking a prolific 15-goal winger backed to reach another level…

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly one of the sides interested in signing Wigan Athletic striker Kyle Joseph this month and if he were to sign, it could prove to be a repeat of the excellent decision to sign Alfie Devine from the Lancashire side during the summer.

According to The Mirror, Spurs are battling it out with Celtic, Rangers and Sheffield United for the 19-year-old, who has impressed with his performances for the League One strugglers this season.

Spurs have already raided the Tics once in recent times, having signed Devine from them during the summer for a minimal fee, with the former FA Cup-winners forced to cash in on a lot of their players due to financial struggles.

The young midfielder became Spurs’ youngest ever player and goalscorer when he marked his substitute appearance against Marine with a goal earlier this month, so it is safe to say his signing has already proved to be a success.

Joseph has been a shining light on what has been a difficult season for Wigan, as they currently sit in the relegation places of the third tier.

In 12 league appearances, the 19-year-old has managed five goals and one assist, averaging a solid 6.88 rating. This also includes a hattrick in Wigan’s 4-3 win against relegation rivals Burton Albion, suggesting that he is establishing himself as a key player with the League One club despite his age, and he could well be important to whether they can stave off relegation to League Two.

However, his contract is set to expire at the end of the season, meaning that Spurs could sign him for a relatively small compensation fee in the summer.

Former teammate Kal Naismith was full of praise for Joseph earlier this season, saying:

“He’ll be a top player, a really, really good player and he works his nuts off not just in the games but all week in training as well, he has a great appetite for the game and a great attitude – I enjoy playing with him, he did a lot of work for me in what was my first game back after not having a lot of training.”

The Scottish U19 international has already shown he can score goals in a struggling side, so looks to have a bright future in the game, and this looks to be a risk worth taking by Daniel Levy and the Tottenham board, as if he can have anywhere near the impact Devine has had since signing, it will prove to be an excellent decision to bring him to the North London club.

And, in other news… Bye-bye Vinicius: Levy can land Kane’s Spurs partner in “outstanding” £18m-rated beast

Steve Bruce should urge Newcastle United to revive their failed interest in SC Braga forward Ricardo Horta with the Liga NOS star now said to be a target for Olympique Lyonnais.

What’s the word?

According to A Bola, Horta has aroused the interest of clubs from around Europe with his unstoppable form this season, with his relentless output proving difficult to ignore.

Lyon strived to sign the 26-year-old last summer but were rebuffed in their efforts, yet have continued to monitor the one-time Portugal international’s situation and are said to be back on the charge for his signature.

Braga are refusing to sell Horta for anything less than €12m (£10.5m), having seen the SL Benfica product score nine goals and provide six assists in 23 games across all competitions and captaining Carlos Carvalhal’s side on several occasions this term.

Telefoot journalist Simone Rovera believes Lyon have revived their interest in Horta as they prepare for the potential loss of Memphis Depay, with the Dutchman out of contract at the end of the season but could yet leave the Groupama Stadium this month.

Newcastle were credited with submitting a €12m bid to sign Horta in the previous January transfer window, but were rebuffed at the time as Braga demanded sums closer to his €30m (£26.5m) release clause.

Horta has continued to be a star of the Braga side after ending the 2019/20 Liga NOS season with a career-best haul of 12-goals, netting the joint-most goals (5) and the second-most assists (2) among his Arcebispos teammates in the Portuguese top-flight this term.

Should Newcastle revive their interest?

With Braga now said to be willing to accept the exact sum Newcastle were alleged to have tabled a year ago, Bruce should be urging the Toon hierarchy to bring out the chequebook and make Horta a Magpies player before February 1’s 23:00 deadline passes.

Horta has the potential to distance the Toon from the relegation scrap, which Newcastle are now well and truly in after losing to Leeds United on Tuesday night. The result was United’s fifth-straight defeat and left Bruce without a win in nine Premier League games.

But the Whites affair was not all doom and gloom, as it showed there is the potential for the Tyneside outfit to turn their season around. Allan Saint-Maximin instantly sparked life into the side following his second-half introduction, while Miguel Almiron looked much more like the £21m man he was when signed from Atlanta United after moving into a central role.

Issues were still there with Ryan Fraser passed from pillar to post trying to find a position that will allow the summer arrival from AFC Bournemouth to thrive, though was eventually hauled off having failed to leave a positive impression on proceedings.

Fraser still lacks his first league goal in black and white while boasting only the one assist, too, and would find his place in the side is seriously under threat with Horta in the squad. Quite simply, the Portuguese maestro can offer Bruce the wide-right option that will free Almiron to play in his best position and work in tandem with Saint-Maximin to guide Newcastle to safety.

Horta has shown in the Liga NOS this term with 2.9 shots and 1.6 key passes a game – enough to rank first in both accounts at St. James’ Park, per WhoScored – that he can bring a creative presence to the side. Just what Bruce needs if he is to keep the Toon in the top-flight.

AND in other news, Newcastle may have found Steve Bruce’s ideal midfielder in a £1.9k-p/w target.

Glasgow Rangers sit at the top of the Premiership despite suffering their first defeat of the season at the hands of St Mirren in the Scottish League Cup on Wednesday, and now Steven Gerrard needs to take time to reflect and learn from this big wake-up call for the club.

The Govan-based Glaswegian giants had won ten consecutive domestic games in a row, but a combination of complacency and arrogance from some of the players proved to be their undoing, as Conor McCarthy scored late to win the Betfred Cup tie for the Saints.

Gerrard has accepted full responsibility for his side’s shock defeat and he will want to to ensure that they avoid a repeat of the last-gasp goal that brought their unbeaten run to a devastating end.

While the likes of Brandon Barker, George Edmundson and Jordan Jones could find themselves on the chopping block, which wouldn’t be all that surprising, there may be a couple surprise exits in store for Rangers fans in January.

Ross Wilson will have the unenviable task of clearing out some of the deadwood when the winter transfer market opens in just under a few weeks’ time, but he may decide to cut his losses and cash in on star striker Alfredo Morelos as well.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, former Aston Villa and England striker Gabriel Agbonlahor believes the Colombia international could be heading for the Ibrox exit after his latest charge of violent conduct.

Morelos has been handed a two-match ban by the SFA having hit Dundee United defender Mark Connolly in the face with his forearm and Rangers have decided to accept the suspension.

This isn’t the first time El Bufalo has been banned for reckless behaviour, either, as he was banned for three matches after an appeal on his red card against Aberdeen was rejected in 2019.

It’s getting to the stage now where his performances have done little to make up for his lack of discipline, as he has failed to score in the Premiership since September, while the likes of Jermain Defoe, Kemar Roofe and even Cedric Itten have been in such fine form in recent weeks.

Former Rangers centre-forward Kris Boyd has previously voiced his displeasure for the Colombian’s “appalling” behaviour but Sportscene pundit Michael Stewart insists the problem lies elsewhere.

He said, as quoted by The Daily Record: “He’s not the player he was a year ago. Before he would be on his toes, the ball would drop to him and he’d smash it into the back of the net. You can see the frustration oozing out of him.

“As a striker you go through spells where you can’t score but the problem, I think, with Morelos and for Rangers as a whole he’s not the talisman that he was a year ago. I think Rangers as a team could comfortably have him out of the side and Roofe could play at the top. Aribo could come into the side in the area that Roofe is playing in.

“I think the team would actually improve. Morelos, he doesn’t show anything as a team player. Before he was such a goalscorer and a real threat. He isn’t the same.”

Morelos became Rangers’ all-time leading European goalscorer this season, beating the record set by club legend Ally McCoist with a simple tap-in against Benfica in the Europa League.

However, in many ways he doesn’t fit in with Gerrard’s ethos, as his attitude and ill-discipline have cost the Gers on several occasions over the past couple of years or so.

If the Gers are to regain the title for the first time since the 2010-11 season, they need to get rid of the 24-year-old and put their faith in a seasoned veteran like Defoe to try and get the best out of players like Ryan Kent and Steven Davis, so Wilson must rid the club of Morelos once and for all.

AND in other news, Glasgow Rangers can deal huge blow to Celtic by winning Bright Osayi-Samuel race…

Glasgow Rangers will return to action for the third time in the space of a week when they travel to Paisley to take on St. Mirren in the Scottish Premiership on Wednesday afternoon.

Steven Gerrard faces some tough decisions as he will want to avenge their defeat to the Saints after their Betfred Cup exit earlier this month.

Despite this, the Ibrox boss is expected to rotate his squad, with Scott Arfield and Ryan Jack facing a race to prove their match fitness.

With that in mind, here is Football FanCast’s predicted starting line-up for this afternoon’s action, which sees Gerrard make four changes to the team that edged past Hibernian at Ibrox.

Arguably for the first time this campaign, Gerrard faces his toughest test yet as he will want to avoid a second defeat to John Goodwin’s side in the space of little more than a week.

The Light Blues will make the trip to Paisley and they’ll be desperate to continue their newfound momentum, having won three consecutive games in a row across all competitions.

Gerrard has a few injury concerns, with both Arfield and Jack unlikely to be available for selection, which means he is likely to make several adjustments from the side he selected for the 1-0 win over Hibs with a clash with Celtic on the horizon.

It’s too early to tell exactly which players will be in the firing line but he’s likely to bring Alfredo Morelos, Filip Helander, Calvin Bassey and Bongani Zungu back into the fold.

We reckon Allan McGregor will keep his place in goal behind a much-changed back four consisting of Bassey, Helander, Connor Goldson and James Tavernier, which will give Borna Barisic a break before the second Old Firm derby of the season.

As is often the case, Gerrard will stick with his preferred 4-3-3 formation and deploy a midfield three of Joe Aribo, Glen Kamara and Zungu, with Steven Davis dropping out to make room for the South Africa international midfielder.

Ryan Kent offered little against Hibs, so switching Ianis Hagi back to the left and sticking Kemar Roofe on the right-wing could prove to be a tempting option, while Morelos will most likely lead the line. Hagi previously played on the left flank against Lech Poznan in the Europa League, scoring a header after Cedric Itten opened the scoring.

Itten could be in contention to start but the Colombian star striker will no doubt be chomping at the bit to break his goal drought, as he has so failed to score since the 3-3 draw with Benfica in Lisbon last month.

AND in other news, Glasgow Rangers must unleash Calvin Bassey vs St. Mirren…

Carlton Palmer has predicted Paul Pogba will leave Manchester United in the not too distant future.

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast correspondent Tom Ward, the former England international insists Ole Gunnar Solskjaer cannot blame Pogba for his team’s poor performances.

The Red Devils have struggled for consistency this season, having won three and lost three out of seven games in the Premier League so far.

Solskjaer’s side beat both Paris Saint-Germain and RB Leipzig but lost to Istanbul Basaksehir in the Champions League before the international break.

And Palmer believes the French World Cup winner cannot be entirely blamed for their inconsistent start to the season.

He told FFC: “I see him leaving United.”

“Why was he successful at Juventus? Well, they played three at the back, five in the middle of the park, which allowed him to play in a free role. Go and do and what you’ve got to do son.”

“He’s a talented boy, but you can’t keep blaming Pogba if you don’t play him and set the team up the right way for him to perform.”

“He [Solskjaer] can’t keep blaming him, because that’s not his game.”

Once again, Solskjaer finds himself facing the same questions over his future at a time when one of his stars faces an uncertain future.

Pogba is undoubtedly one of the best footballers in the world as he boasts an impressive trophy cabinet – one World Cup, one Premier League title, one Europa League trophy and four Serie A trophies. The Red Devils re-signed the French international from Juventus for a then world-record fee reportedly worth £89m in 2016.

Since then, the 27-year-old has established himself as one of the senior figures in the dressing room for club and country.

France manager Didier Deschamps seems to agree, as he hailed him as a “leader” after the 2-1 victory over Croatia in the Nations League in October.

Pogba began his professional career at his boyhood club, before leaving Old Trafford in unfavourable circumstances back in 2012, as he could not reach an agreement with the Red Devils over the terms of a new and improved deal.

Although not everyone is a fan of the Frenchman, with United legend Roy Keane insisting “he wouldn’t believe a word he says” following the humiliating 4-0 defeat at Everton in 2019, it’s hard to deny the fact that he is an incredible talent, as 33 goals and 35 assists in 175 games is an impressive return for a deep-lying midfielder.

Pogba, who’s market value is rated at £72m via Transfermarkt, has won 66 games in 118 appearances in the Premier League, losing on just 20 occasions so far. Not too shabby.

AND in other news, Woeful Woodward: Manchester United will forever regret not signing Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund…