Liverpool have made a brilliant start to the season and look like they’ll be City’s biggest contender this season but Jurgen Klopp already has a crucial decision to make.
At the back, Liverpool look incredibly solid and going forward Klopp might just have one of the best-attacking trios in the world.
Liverpool might need to dip into the January transfer market to add some depth to their squad but even before they look to add to the squad, Klopp has to make a crucial decision on the future of Ben Woodburn.
The Wales international has had a tough season so far this year, and according to Goal, Klopp is considering recalling the Liverpool youngster.
The Breakdown
Woodburn moved to the Championship side on a season-long but as of yet, he’s found it hard to break into Chris Wilder’s side.
He made five appearances to begin the season but since making an appearance against Birmingham City in September, he has only played 10 minutes of league football and has at times been sent to the under-21s.
Woodburn made his debut for Liverpool against Sunderland in 2016 to make him the club’s third youngest debutant of all time.
Since making his debut, Woodburn went on to make eight caps for Wales and was regarded as a future star for Liverpool. At 19-years-old, Woodburn is in a crucial stage of his development and needs to be playing constant first-team minutes.
If he isn’t going to play for Sheffield United, Liverpool must call him back from his terrible loan spell.
There were certainly a few scoffs when Martin Tyler suggested that the 3-2 win over Spain in Betis was a greater achievement for England than reaching the semi-finals of the World Cup for only the third time in their history. But if we expand the Sky Sports commentator’s argument to England’s Nations League campaign in its entirety, and perhaps he has a point.
While the World Cup provided the foundations of positivity to build the subsequent progress under Gareth Southgate upon, a competition few had heard of let alone understood before a ball was kicked at Russia 2018 has had a transformative impact on this Three Lions side, the legacy of which could prove far further reaching than England’s exploits during the summer.
Let’s clear something up; the idea that England were fortunate to reach the semi-finals is pure fallacy. It’s a fantastic achievement from a nation of serial underachievers because even if you believe England should have beaten every team they met up until Croatia, as the bookies and FIFA rankings dictated, the Three Lions spectacularly imploded under the pressure of being heavy favourites just two years ago at Euro 2016, crumbling against Iceland in the first knockout round.
Soccer Football – UEFA Nations League – League A – Group 4 – England v Croatia – Wembley Stadium, London, Britain – November 18, 2018 England’s Harry Kane celebrates scoring their second goal with Jesse Lingard Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine
So lowly had England fallen that merely beating the teams they’re supposed to beat, while employing a moderately exciting and technically-demanding brand of football, was a massive step forward for the Three Lions both tactically and psychologically.
Perhaps the greatest indicator of that was the 6-1 victory over Panama – probably the least qualified team at the tournament, yet one England ripped apart in style to record their biggest ever World Cup win. Compare that to 2014 and 2010, when the Three Lions failed to score against Costa Rica and Algeria respectively.
The other watershed moment was of course the penalty shootout against Colombia, lifting a curse at international tournaments that had persisted since England’s only other penalty shootout victory back at Euro 96. But just like the demolition of Panama, the penalty shootout didn’t really tell us anything new about this England team or particularly take it to greater horizons.
It expelled demons but we’ve always known England have the talent to thrash smaller nations like Panama and we’ve always known they’re capable of winning a penalty shootout – only a mental block, always shackling England to the failings of prior generations, really stood in the way.
Southgate deserves immense credit for that – it required a seismic psychological shift amongst the England camp in an incredibly short space of time, while still relying on many of the same young players that Roy Hodgson took to his final major tournament.
But it’s throughout the Nations League where England have really grown, and proved that they’re not only capable of handling the pressure to meet expectations but also exceed them to move into the top calibre of international sides. For starters, when was the last time England beat two members of FIFA’s top ten in back-to-back competitive games? Has it actually ever happened before?
Along the way, there were more transformative moments in the Nations League campaign than during the World Cup, the first and most significant of those coming in the first encounter with semi-final nemeses Croatia. It was a drab game further hindered by the ghostly atmosphere of the behind-closed-doors ruling, but one that nonetheless highlighted a tactical awareness Southgate and England seemed to lack during the summer.
In Russia, 3-1-4-2 was stuck to religiously to the point that it became England’s ultimate undoing and subsequently cost them a defeat to Spain on the Nations League’s opening weekend, but Southgate refused to be fooled twice and cancelled out Croatia’s quality in midfield by matching up with their 4-3-3.
It gave England a Plan B, proved their World Cup progress was by no means due to capturing one moment of tactical zeitgeist alone and laid out along-term system to build future squads around. Most importantly though, the performance confirmed England are capable of matching opposition of World Cup finalist calibre.
The victory over Spain of course showed signs of further growth and the whole ninety minutes was another key moment for this England team, ending a run of 38 home games without defeat for Luis Enrique’s side. The last time England beat a truly top team in their own back yard in a competitive fixture was the 5-1 against Germany, all the way back in 2001.
Soccer Football – UEFA Nations League – League A – Group 4 – England v Croatia – Wembley Stadium, London, Britain – November 18, 2018 England manager Gareth Southgate gestures Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine
But within it was another, even more crucial incident for the development and longevity of this England team; alongside the prior implementation of 4-3-3, during the game itself England changed to a back five to hold onto the lead and handled the switch immaculately. In the space of 180 minutes then, England had gone from only operating within the confines of 3-1-4-2 to switching to 4-3-3 and then modifying it during a match. It required exceptional organising and implementation from Southgate, but also tactical awareness and adaptability from his players too.
And then against Croatia at home came another watershed moment of Southgate’s spell in charge. England’s run of failing to score a goal after making their first substitution spanned all the way back to the start of the World Cup, but it was Manchester United’s Jesse Lingard who netted from the bench to draw the Three Lions level on Sunday with just twelve minutes left on the clock.
Fellow substitutes Dele Alli and Jadon Sancho had a positive impact too, as England won a game after being behind in the final 15 minutes for the first time in their history – a run spanning 601 competitive fixtures.
Indeed, while the World Cup campaign restored England to where they should be, the Nations League has pushed the Three Lions to a higher level; one where they cancel out world-class midfields, change games from the bench, launch last-minute comebacks and employ a variety of formations. The squad has jumped up a level too.
Whereas there was an obvious first and second string in Russia, every player in every position – with the exception of Harry Kane and Jordan Pickford – now finds himself under threat of genuine competition for a starting role. Suddenly, Southgate has a whole raft of talented young players to call upon.
And the Nations League effect doesn’t have to stop there either; should England win their ultimate two games after qualifying for the final four, they’ll achieve a first for the Three Lions since 1966 – lift an international trophy.
Representing yet another gigantic leap for this England team, one that will no doubt help it at Euro 2020 and the next World Cup, that would complete the legacy of a Nations League campaign that is already far exceeding the ramifications of Russia 2018.
Check out Playmaker FC’s Tom Skinner’s unfiltered take on Wayne Rooney’s England legacy in the video below…
Marcelo Bielsa has completely changed Leeds this season. The Argentine has turned the Yorkshire side into one of the most dynamic and exciting teams to watch this season.
His training regime has at times taken its toll on the side but it also has seen multiple players improve. Kemar Roofe has turned into one of the best strikers in the league, Mateusz Klich has become an integral player in the side while academy graduate, Kalvin Phillips has cemented himself as a reliable performer in the side.
At the weekend, Phillips had one of his best games for the club and was a standout performer in a game where Bielsa had to rely on a lot of youngsters.
The midfielder was superb against Bristol City and aside from Pablo Hernandez, he was Leeds’ best player on the day and as a result of that, he received praise from Yorkshire Evening Post journalist, Phil Hay.
The Breakdown
After a terrible performance against a rampant West Brom side, Leeds needed their more experienced players to step up and despite being only 22-years-old, Phillips showed himself to be one of the most essential players in the side.
With academy players, Will Huffer and Aapo Halme in the side, Phillip’s role in shielding the defence was key. The Thorp Arch graduate made seven tackles in the game and provided a solid base in midfield for the side.
This year the midfielder has taken huge strides in his development under Bielsa and seems to be blossoming under the tutelage of the Argentine.
Loads of Manchester United fans have been running the rule over the 2-2 draw at St. Mary’s, and they’re fuming with the selection and performance of Scott McTominay.
Manchester United fell further behind their city rivals on Saturday, as goals from Romelu Lukaku and Ander Herrera weren’t enough to take all three points off Southampton.
The hosts raced out to an early lead courtesy of two lovely goals from Stuart Armstrong and Cedric Soares, and the Red Devils’ impressive comeback only last until half time.
Playmaker FC exclusive: Jermaine Jenas reveals he often received racist abuse after North London Derbies – Check out the video below…
The second half was devoid of any creativity from either side, and fans simply cannot understand the decision to play McTominay in a back three.
The youngster did not look comfortable there, and the decision is made even more absurd by the fact that £52m summer signing Fred was sat warming the bench.
McTominay wasn’t the worst player on the pitch by any means, but the Twitter reactions below suggest fans simply don’t think he is good enough…
Tottenham should make a cheeky swoop for Stoke City’s Jack Butland, and use out-of-favour keeper Michel Vorm as a bargaining chip in getting the England international to the new White Hart Lane.
What’s the word, then?
Well, you may think that Spurs absolutely do not need a new keeper, as they have France’s number one, and World Cup winning stopper, Hugo Lloris as their current first choice. However, fans of the north London club aren’t as happy with the former Lyon man as you would expect them to be.
The general feeling around the club is that the 31-year-old can be, of course, a world-class keeper who, on his day, is one of the best around. However, he also makes a lot of rash decisions and can be held accountable for losing some vital points for Spurs in the past.
Additionally, behind him in the pecking order are Paulo Gazzaniga and the aforementioned Vorm, who can be dependable options in between the sticks but are not good enough to be the club’s number one if they want to realise their ambitions.
What can they do about it?
In Butland, there is a player who used to be rated as one of the best in England, and may arguably have been the Three Lions’ number one at the World Cup had he avoided some of the many injuries he has picked up in the past.
Now in the Championship with the Potters after suffering relegation from the Premier League last season, the 25-year-old is far too good to be playing in the second tier of English football. 35-year-old Vorm doesn’t appear to have a future at the club anymore, but the Dutchman would be a good keeper for Stoke, so a swap deal and a bit of cash would be a decent deal.
Butland is six years younger than Lloris as well, which could perhaps see him succeed the Frenchman in years to come. Whilst he is still performing under the radar in the Championship, however, Spurs should be shrewd and decisive in bringing him back to the top-flight before he starts catching the eye of the other top clubs once again.
Would you like to see Butland at Spurs? Have your say down below…
Former Leeds United midfielder David Prutton has claimed that the Whites will have far too much for Bolton Wanderers in their Championship clash this weekend.
Leeds have won each of their last four in the Championship, with that run of form leaving them second in the table, just one point off league leaders Norwich City.
Bolton, meanwhile, sit 23rd in the table having gone 11 matches without a victory in the second tier of English football.
Leeds have actually only won two of their last four away from home in the Championship, and were thumped 4-1 at West Bromwich Albion last month.
However, Prutton, who turned out for Leeds between 2007 and 2010, has tipped his former team to record ‘a comfortable away win’.
Prutton wrote on Sky Sports:
“It really doesn’t bode well for Bolton that they scored two goals in a game for the first time since September 1 against Norwich but they still came away without a point.
“Leeds have a massive injury list but it hasn’t caught up with them yet and Marcelo Bielsa has done a terrific job of managing their squad.
“Even with all the absentees I can’t see this being anything but a comfortable away win.”
Liam Cooper, Stuart Dallas, Luke Ayling, Tom Pearce and Gaetano Berardi are all currently on the sidelines for Leeds during a busy stage of the season.
Who are the best away fans in the Championship? Playmaker FC’s Thogden gives his top 10 in the video below…
One of the most important months of the year is looming on the horizon for Victor Orta as he prepares to make some vital decisions regarding Leeds United’s transfer activity.
Marcelo Bielsa has remained consistent in his stance towards the size of his squad and his refusal to be drawn into discussion over the January window, but it seems likely that both he and Orta are lining up a move for a new goalkeeper.
Bailey Peacock-Farrell has showcased his excellent shot stopping ability with a multitude of outstanding saves this season, but individual errors and a glaring lack of experience may cost him a place in the starting eleven in January.
Bielsa admitted that he had planned to drop the Thorp Arch academy product last month before Jamal Blackman’s spell with Leeds was cruelly cut short by a serious injury, and that admission hints at a lack of trust in the young goalkeeper.
With that being said, it is no surprise that Leeds are interested in making a move for Newcastle United’s Karl Darlow, according to the Daily Mirror.
Darlow is effectively surplus to requirements at St James’ Park and his experience in the Championship makes him a great option for the Whites to consider, however, there is another Premier League outcast who could transform Leeds’ defence, Fraser Forster (valued at £9 million by Transfermarkt).
The 6’7″ man mountain possesses a physical presence which Peacock-Farrell is distinctly lacking. Leeds’ first-choice stopper has not been made to pay for his physical shortcomings too regularly this season, but his lack of confidence when stepping out to collect crosses could ultimately come back to bite the club when it matters most.
This is where Forster comes in. The 30-year-old goalkeeper has seen his reputation dwindle rapidly in recent years following a bright start to life in English football, but the role which momentum has played in that fall cannot be underestimated.
Most great goalkeepers go through periods of time which are riddled by individual errors, and sometimes the best solution to the problem is simply embarking on a new challenge.
Forster will be craving a fresh start in January to resurrect his stuttering career at a club where his brilliant reflexes and assertive command of his penalty area would be put to good use.
Elland Road is certainly a destination which can provide that for Forster and, if Leeds are indeed interested in signing a new stopper, they would be foolish not to target him over Darlow.
Recently promoted Cardiff City offer a job with the future in mind in FIFA 19, so consider that if you fancy replacing Neil Warnock in the Bluebirds’ dugout.
The board won’t expect too much from your first season in charge, either, so take on Football FanCast’s handy tips and you’ll be set to make it big in Wales.
The board’s expectations
The Welsh outfit’s domestic target is just to avoid relegation, yet even that is a very low priority – the least important of all.
Instead, the main focus from their side is that you keep spending to a minimum, with at least £8.8million still in the war chest by the end of the season.
The transfer kitty
Even though the squad needs improving, the transfer kitty is just £28.6million with £80,000 set aside for wages, so any transfers will have to be negotiated to the max.
The best way to go about the first transfer window is just to ignore the board’s primary target. Strengthening where you can and letting a few go will better set the Welsh side to reap the rewards of progressing in the cups, and you can turn attentions back to the budget in January.
Three players to buy
Willi Orban
RB Leipzig’s Willi Orban can slot straight into your starting XI, pushing aside the four out-and-out centre-backs Cardiff already have.
One of whom is a youngster and would be a risk in a survival battle, so consider the 25-year-old Hungarian as a must when the Bundesliga side will only ask for a figure close to £14million.
Lucas Alario
The south Wales outfit have a string of mediocre options when it comes to strikers, so spare a thought for Bayer Leverkusen’s Lucas Alario when you’re looking for your next goal-getter.
The 25-year-old has solid foundations and is a fantastic target man, with 85 positioning, 90 jumping and 81 heading accuracy, yet, with 84 finishing and 72 pace, he can be relied on to work the space for a chance of his own making.
Alario will cost you just shy of £20million, providing you negotiate from a respectable starting point close to £15m, otherwise Leverkusen will come back set on an even higher figure.
Hans Vanaken
If you wish to add a touch of creativity, one player to consider in midfield is Club Brugge’s Hans Vanaken.
The 6 foot 5 attacking midfielder can work his socks off all game long with 91 stamina, and, with a £21m release clause, is a relative bargain for someone with his ball control and passing abilities.
You can even ignore the Belgian’s break clause, as the club will accept just shy of £14m for his services and the player is keen to make the switch.
Three players to sell
Matthew Connolly
Despite having the lowest rating of the three possible first-team right-backs (67), Matthew Connolly is the most valuable option there.
The 31-year-old’s departure will undoubtedly help fund your spending, while Ashley Richards & Lee Peltier will refuse to allow his absence to be felt.
Loic Damour
Central midfield is a very congested position at Cardiff, and out of the players to consider, Loic Damour has the lowest rating. The 27-year-old comes in at 69 and carries a transfer value of less than a million, but the Frenchman would only ever be needed if your entire side developed injuries.
Anthony Pilkington
Striker is another congested area for the Bluebirds, even if the options could all be bettered in the transfer market.
Anthony Pilkington can easily be replaced, for there are two men ahead of him in the pecking order and youth options snapping at his heels.
Three for the future
Mark Harris
If you have desires of developing wonderkids into future stars, spare a thought for the scouting network as Cardiff only have one Under 21 player with good potential.
Mark Harris starts life with a rating of just 56, but can go on to reach 73 at striker once he returns from a loan to Newport County.
Josh Murphy
As Harris is the only U21 with good potential, the next ‘for the future’ option comes in at 23 years old.
Josh Murphy has excellent pace and solid dribbling stats, and can play on the left-wing or as a striker as he develops towards a 77 rating.
Victor Camarasa
For this one, we’re going even further away from the wonderkid category and technically out of the club, as Victor Camarasa is 24 and belongs to Real Betis.
Nevertheless, the Spaniard, who starts as a first-team option with a 76 rating, can take well-rounded stats to the heart of the midfield and develop into an 83-rated unit that you should consider purchasing on a permanent basis come the end of the season.
According to Spanish outlet Marca, Everton are interested in signing out of favour winger Malcom this January from European giants Barcelona.
The Toffees have obviously built up quite a rapport with the Catalan club, having signed André Gomes, Yerry Mina and Lucas Digne from the club in the summer, and are looking at making a quartet.
However, the Brazilian, who joined Barca in the summer for £45.5m over the summer, will not come cheaply to The Toffees, and it is for this reason that the club are getting their transfer approach completely wrong.
The club already have a stock of wingers at Goodison Park, and it is surely not an area of the field that they need to prioritise in January. With star Brazilian duo Richarlison and Bernard, Everton have two huge names. Alongside Ademola Lookman and Theo Walcott, this is not a concerning position for them. Of course, Lookman is still young, and Walcott may be past his best, but they can still perform.
On the other hand, they are still lacking in the striker position with the likes of Cenk Tosun and Oumar Niasse seriously underperforming. Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been deployed as a striker in recent weeks, but the club will still want someone more solid and dependable.
The likelihood is that Everton would probably need to pay over £40m to land Malcom, and that is money that should go to an out-and-out striker. The fans will not want manager Marco Silva to fashion another striker out of a winger, which he has tried to do with Richarlion. That can prove to be hugely counterproductive.
This is just an indication that Everton have perhaps got their priorities wrong, and look like they may be doomed to repeat past mistakes.
According to a recent report from The Sun, Aston Villa are interested in a January move for striker Neal Maupay. The 22-year-old currently plays his football at fellow Championship outfit Brentford and has done so since 2017, with his mightily impressive efforts in front of goal for the Bees seemingly attracting the interest of Villans manager Dean Smith.
And that’s because reports suggest that the Englishman, formerly in charge at Griffin Park, is keen on reuniting with the striker at Villa Park – a deal which would signal that promotion is very much on for the Midlands giants this season.
The Breakdown
Ultimately, there is little doubting that the arrival of new boss Smith has injected some fresh optimism and impetus into Villa’s season, which was certainly stagnating when they parted company with former manager Steve Bruce, what with the Villans sat 12th in the table at the time of his exit.
And while they have only moved a few positions up the division following Smith’s arrival, they have only lost three times under the 47-year-old to suggest that they are certainly heading in the right direction under the Englishman – they just need to turn their plentiful tally of draws into victories to seriously sustain a promotion push.
And while it could be argued that it is defensively in which the Villans need to strengthen this month, given they have kept just six clean sheets in their 26 Championship games this term, the possible departure of Tammy Abraham is sure to leave them short upfront – not if they land Maupay though.
The 22-year-old has been one of the standout performers, alongside Abraham, in the second tier so far this season with 15 goals from his 24 league appearances, sitting just a goal behind the 21-year-old in the division’s goal-scoring charts.
And with six assists in that time as well, adding to the 12 goals and five assists he contributed last time round under the stewardship of Smith, it’s clear that the France Under-21 international has what it takes to succeed in the second tier – he is exactly the sort of striker one would want to spearhead a promotion charge.
And given just how impressive and prolific he has been in the last 18 months, he’d add a great deal to Villa’s striking ranks – even if Abraham were to remain at the club, Maupay would give him plenty to think about in their battle for the main striker’s role.
Clearly, Maupay has proven to be one of the hottest properties outside of the Premier League pretty much ever since he made the move to Brentford – his goal record speaks for itself.
And in a Villa team eyeing the Premier League under new boss Smith, who of course got the very best out of Maupay during their time together at Brentford, promotion would certainly be on for the Midlands giants were they to seal a deal for the 22-year-old this month.