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Liverpool failed to maintain their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League as they were held to a 1-1 draw by West Ham at the London Stadium – Manchester City’s comfortable win over Arsenal at the weekend meant that the gap has now been reduced to just three.

The Reds have now dropped seven points in their last five Premier League games and have drawn their last two, leaving the door ajar for Pep Guardiola and City to take the lead next time out.

Jurgen Klopp’s side failed to improve on their apathetic performance against Leicester, instead reproducing a similar calibre of display that lacked verve and imagination.

The Reds were uncharacteristically outmanned and outplayed in the middle of the park – they usually swarm opponents in numbers but the Hammers rarely looked under pressure until the last ten minutes or so, when the visitors finally started to wake up.

The absence of the industrious Gini Wijnaldum in Klopp’s midfield three may have had something to do with that, as did the presence of Adam Lallana, who was given the nod in the Dutchman’s stead.

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s injury meant that utility man James Milner filled in at right-back for his compatriot and the Anfield Stadium outfit could have done with his tenacity in the middle of the park, as Lallana was poor.

The former Southampton man, making just his third start of the season in the Premier League – he has made six appearances off the bench – is usually reliable in possession, but completed just 82% of his passes on Monday night.

That might not seem too bad, but when you consider Naby Keita and Fabinho, the former of which was dispossessed three times, both recorded upwards of 90% passing accuracy, the 30-year-old was clearly the weakest link.

A benefit of Klopp’s high-pressing style is that, when the ball is won back, there are usually plenty of players in attacking positions to have a shot but Lallana had just one attempt on goal – the joint-fewest out of the Reds’ attacking contingent.

West Ham sat deep and limited Liverpool’s opportunities to break quickly and instead allowed the league leaders to have more more possession – in theory that should have allowed Lallana even more opportunities to test Lukasz Fabianski, who had a comfortable 90 minutes.

The Reds lacked focus at times and this manifests in Lallana’s two unsuccessful touches – again, the highest in their midfield – the Hammers were able to pounce on the loose ball and counter through Felipe Anderson.

The 30-year-old completed one key pass, which was in the build up to Sadio Mane’s opener – he tidily flicked the ball between two West Ham defenders for Milner to fire into the feet of Mane, who swivelled in the box and finished neatly – but, beyond that and like so many of his teammates, he struggled to find a killer, forward ball.

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West Ham’s Declan Rice completed a whopping 8 tackles in the 90 minutes he played, while Lallana completed just one and was substituted in the second half as Klopp opted to keep the equally unimpressive Keita on the pitch and bring on Xherdan Shaqiri.

While he may not feel too disappointed by his performance, he needed to have outshone the other Liverpool midfielders if he was to be in with any chance of increasing his game-time going forward and he failed to do so, even when the entire starting XI was having an off-day. How much time does he have left in a red shirt?

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According to football.london journalist Alasdair Gold, Tottenham Hotspur have made progress in their contract talks with attacker Christian Eriksen.

What’s the story, then?

Eriksen is enjoying another fine campaign for Tottenham, contributing seven goals and 12 assists in 33 appearances for the London club in all competitions.

The 85-time Denmark international will be out of contract at the end of next season, however, and his future with Tottenham is far from secure.

Real Madrid, Barcelona and Chelsea have all been credited with an interest in the former Ajax playmaker.

However, Gold said the following in a recent question-and-answer session:

“Spurs are working hard to tie Eriksen up to a new deal and I’d heard there has been some progress in recent weeks”.

The news is potentially huge for Tottenham, who are obviously desperate to keep hold of the Dane due to his immense talent.

How will this one end?

With the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona said to be in the hunt, Tottenham are in a tough spot when it comes to keeping Eriksen.

Indeed, the attacker could expect to earn significantly more money with a move to Spain, whilst his chance of trophies would obviously increase.

It is not a surprise to learn that clubs are monitoring developments, with Eriksen scoring 63 times and registering 81 assists in 259 appearances for Spurs.

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There are few better attacking midfielders in the world of football and whilst Gold’s update will hand the Tottenham supporters confidence, there is still every chance that Eriksen could move on in this summer’s transfer window.

That said, if Eriksen was made aware that investment would be made this summer to turn Tottenham into real contenders for the major trophies then the situation could be entirely different.

West Bromwich Albion have hit top form at the perfect time in the Championship as they continue to chase down an automatic promotion place.

The Baggies are unbeaten in their last four Championship games and they’ve won their last two, with only one point separating them from the automatic promotion places at this moment in time.

One rising star in the current campaign at the Hawthorns has been Rekeem Harper, and it appears as if he’s set to sign a new deal in the Midlands, according to the Express and Star.

Indeed, the 18-year-old has established himself as a regular in the middle of midfield for the Baggies in recent times. He’s shown great maturity levels for a man of his age and he’ll only get better from here on in, so Darren Moore really does have a special talent at his disposal.

Of course, the Englishman has all the ingredients to become a hero at the Hawthorns as he’s already given the fans plenty to shout about, with his no-nonsense defending and passing ability making him a well-rounded midfielder. And, he’s already managed to aid the Baggies’ promotion push this season and will play a huge part from here on in, with his recent performances suggesting that he may already be ready for Premier League football.

What do you think West Bromwich Albion fans?

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The term ‘confidence player’ is consistently branded among footballing circles, and it applies to Cardiff City striker Kenneth Zohore more than most.

Aside from an uncharacteristic collapse against Watford last Friday, results and performances of late have been markedly impressive for Neil Warnock’s men. They rallied defiantly in a 2-1 defeat away at Arsenal, before recording successive top-flight triumphs for the first time since April 1962.

A commanding 2-0 victory at home against Bournemouth was coupled by a dramatic last-gasp win away at Southampton. Zohore was the hero on that occasion, slotting home an invaluable winning goal in the game’s concluding moments.

It was the Dane’s first career goal in the Premier League, and while the scrappy nature of the finish has mirrored his struggles this season, it could prove to be a defining moment for the 25-year-old, a stepping stone to improved fortunes that will in turn dramatically improve Cardiff’s hopes of survival.

Zohore, despite mostly being fit this season, has been restricted to eleven league appearances for the Bluebirds. Warnock has tinkered and alternated between personnel, but even the versatile Callum Paterson has been favoured as a make-shift centre-forward ahead of Zohore. Furthermore, the January addition of Oumar Niasse and the new-found form of Bobby Reid could conceivably further restrict his involvement.

However, Zohore is largely dependant on confidence, and his first league goal of the season could provoke a dramatic alteration in form. Between January and May 2017, the Dane embarked on a scoring streak of ten goals in 17 games for the Bluebirds. Unsurprisingly, that ended up being his most prolific campaign to-date, scoring 12 goals in 29 Championship appearances.

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The gulf in quality between the Championship and the Premier League is sizeable, and it would be unrealistic to expect a similar increase in output from the forward, but Zohore is more than capable of producing important goals as we enter a decisive period in the Premier League calendar.

Zohore is a powerful centre-forward, able to hold the ball up when required and bring other players into play. His goal-scoring record isn’t particularly prolific, but during his career as a Cardiff City player, the striker has amassed a catalogue of fine finishes, and generally, he’s a potent player in the opposition penalty area.

Chance creation is certainly an issue for promoted teams in the Premier League, Cardiff are positioned 18th for the most goals scored in the division this season, and they’re positioned 18th for most big chances missed – more of an indication of their inability to create chances rather than refined application in the final third.

Resultantly, a higher premium is placed on finishing, and considering the Bluebirds only average 39.7% possession in the Premier League, the margin for error in the final third is exceptionally tight. Simply put, when Cardiff create chances, their strategy dictates that they need to score them.

This is unfavourable conditions for a confidence player such as Zohore to impose himself on a game, especially during his inaugural season in England’s top-flight.

Nonetheless, his recent goal-scoring exploits should provide renewed optimism ahead of the remaining 12 games in the Premier League season. Cardiff were largely dismissed as a relegation-bound before the season started, yet they’ve been persistent in their efforts to defy expectations.

They’re characteristically stubborn and dogged in their determination. So don’t write Zohore off just yet – and if he starts firing, Cardiff’s chances of staying up will dramatically improve.

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Leeds United’s title ambitions were dealt a blow on Tuesday night as Marcelo Bielsa’s side slumped to a 1-0 defeat against QPR at Loftus Road.

The Whites had their chances to score, with striker Patrick Bamford and full-back Barry Douglas amongst those guilty of spurning clear opportunities. The defeat has seen Leeds lose the initiative in the title race too, as Norwich City now hold top spot and are two points clear.

Leeds were the dominant side against QPR but couldn’t find any end product. All too often their territory and possession fizzled out into nothing as the killer final pass was lacking. Right-back Luke Ayling was particularly guilty of failing to provide quality going forward.

The 27-year-old defender was consistently let down by his inability to accurately pick out his teammates. The No. 2 should now be taken out of the firing line by Bielsa, who ought to turn to Jamie Shackleton in his place.

After the match, plenty of Leeds fans took to Twitter to give their verdict on Ayling’s display…

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Loads of Rangers fans have been giving their verdict on Friday’s shock news, as Alfredo Morelos has signed a new contract for the second time this season.

Morelos penned a new contract at Ibrox back in September, which was designed to keep him at the club until 2022, per BBC.

The striker has been heavily linked with a move away from the club since then though, especially recently with both Leicester City and Borussia Dortmund reportedly interested in the Colombian.

He has now penned another deal with the Gers, reaffirming his love for the club that has given him his big break in Europe.

“I have come to realise just how special Rangers FC is and what it means to so many people around the world.

“Also, I feel a strong connection with the fans and they have made me feel special,” the 22 year-old told the club’s official website after signing his new and improved deal.

Despite the touching comments, fans are still preparing for his exit in the summer, as with 28 goals and 11 assists in all competitions it feels like only a matter of time before the Premier League comes calling.

Even if Morelos does intend to leave, signing this deal puts the club in a very strong negotiating position, so he deserves credit for handling his future in such a way.

You can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below, where fans fully expect their talisman to depart despite this huge development…

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Martin Keown believes, via his Daily Mail column, that Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United will finish in the top four with Manchester City and Liverpool, with Arsenal set to miss out.

The Gunners moved into the Champions League qualification spots at the weekend, as they defeated Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men 2-0 at the Emirates.

What’s he said?

Arsenal and Tottenham both have a break from Premier League duty, with the former not in action again until April.

Chelsea, however, face Everton this weekend, while United are in action in the FA Cup against Wolves.

Spurs are currently third, with 61 points, after a run of terrible form that has seen them take one point from a possible 12, while the Gunners are fourth, a point further back. The Red Devils sit two points behind Arsenal, while Chelsea are three off the pace; they can, of course, make that up against the Toffees this weekend.

There will be something of a sprint for qualification for the Champions League between now and May, then, and Keown believes that United will overhaul Arsenal, such has been their form under Solskjaer.

The Norwegian, of course, tasted his first Premier League defeat at the Emirates.

Keown also believes that Liverpool will pip City to the title.

Writing in the Daily Mail, he said: “On August 6, a week before the start of this season, I predicted this top four (Liverpool first, City second, Spurs third and United fourth) and I’m standing by it.

“(Mauricio) Pochettino is too good a manager to let Spurs slip and United’s re-emergence under Solskjaer has been stunning to watch.”

Won’t go down well in north London

Keown’s words are unlikely to go down well at Arsenal.

The Gunners have battled their way into the top four, by virtue of beating one of the most in-form teams in the Premier League, and their former defender, who won three titles at the club, demeaning their achievement is only likely to infuriate the fanbase.

Arsenal have a soft run-in, with their toughest games coming against Wolves, Everton and Leicester City away from home. They do not face a single top-six side before May.

They are currently in the box seat to qualify for the Champions League and are right to be hopeful of even overhauling Spurs in third.

Keown is a pessimist at heart; fans may well just ignore him.

The next Xabi Alonso or Cesc Fabregas. These were the comparisons being made by fans and pundits when discussing the talent of Mikel Merino following a run of stellar performances for Newcastle at the beginning of the 2017/18 season.

His physical presence and composure on the ball, led to him becoming a fan-favourite on Tyneside.

But a back injury, which sidelined him for a month, was the start of a downward spiral for him, with the Basque play-maker never regaining the level of performance he had reached during his purple patch.

He was not able to cement a place in Rafa Benitez’s starting lineup, and on the occasions where he was given an opportunity, did not impress enough to warrant another extended run.

Speaking to the Newcastle Chronicle earlier this year, he described how he still looks back fondly on his time on Tyneside, and how he still looks out for their results, seeing himself very much a member of the Toon Army now.

In the end, a move back to his native Spain, with Real Sociedad, was probably the best outcome for both the player and Newcastle, although a perceived lack of commitment to the black and white jersey, when angling for a move so soon after turning his loan spell into a permanent move, and a nominal release clause — in the modern footballing world at least — being included in the deal at the insistence of the player’s agent, left a sour taste in the mouth for many Geordies.

Since moving to Sociedad, his performances have been okay rather than spectacular.

He has largely flown under the radar since the high-level comparisons that were being aimed in his direction during his early Magpies career.

Similar to the start of his Newcastle days, he had a spell of around a month out with injury in the early stages of the La Liga season — a groin problem the culprit this time — and, again similar to his time at St James’ Park, he has struggled to reach peak levels on his return.

According to transfermarkt.co.uk Since he came back into the fray at the end of November, Merino had completed only one full 90 minutes out of 13 subsequent La Liga games (although one was an enforced absence due to suspension).

He has, however, completed the full 90 minutes in Sociedad’s last three games, with him getting one assist in that run.

The signs of a return to his best are there, but he still has a long way to go to get back to the standard he was setting at Newcastle, during which he became a regular in the Spain U-21 side, and saw him talked about as a future superstar.

A bullet dodged, or the one they let get away? The jury is still out for Newcastle fans, but regardless, it is definitely a strange tale of what might have been.

Neal Maupay and Pele being mentioned in the same sentence? Well, that’s what Dean Smith did when he was Brentford manager, so he could well be lighting up Villa Park next season.

The 22-year-old refused to rule out a move away from Brentford this week, saying ‘we will see’, according to Football London. He’s scored 20 goals in 34 appearances in the Championship this season, and that’s the form Dean Smith knows he’s capable of.

He lauded his technical ability as ‘reminiscent of Pele’ as Brentford manager at the start of last season, so to say he thinks highly of the lad is an understatement. The Frenchman will be looking to improve himself next season and Villa is the step up he needs.

They’re now sixth and very much in the running for a play-off spot but if they don’t reach the Premier League this season, their main striker Tammy Abraham is likely to move on, considering he’s on loan from Chelsea. Indeed, his 21 goals in 31 appearances will also surely make him a target for any promoted club and some established top-division sides.

This leaves a gap to fill up top and Maupay would be perfect for the role. He knows the manager well and so won’t require too long to adapt to the club. There’ll be pressure for him to perform right from the off, but knowing he doesn’t have to prove anything to Dean Smith will take some weight off his shoulders.

In the event that Villa get promoted, they’ll probably keep hold of Abraham, but their outside chance at the play-offs mean they should be planning for life without him, and Neal Maupay should be the first man on the list to replace him.

If Dean Smith’s comments are be believed then Villa Park could be in for a treat next season.

Villa fans, who do you think your club should sign if Tammy Abraham leaves in summer? Join the discussion by commenting below.

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Loads of Tottenham fans have been reacting to some comments from Jadon Sancho, as the England wonderkid said he has a “special connection” with Harry Kane.

England put in another jaw-dropping display under Gareth Southgate on Friday night, and for once it wasn’t Tottenham players that stole the spotlight.

Whether it be Kane picking up the World Cup golden boot, Dele Alli grabbing crucial goals at the back post or Eric Dier making history in a penalty shoot-out, the Lilywhites have carried a strong presence in the England squad for quite some time.

It was Sancho and Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling that were the stars of the show on Friday though, and Spurs fans are hoping the former will become the latest string of English stars to ply their trade in north London.

Speaking after picking up an assist that was provided for him by a lovely Kane pass, Sancho said the pair have a “special connection” on the pitch.

Fans are rather unsurprisingly freaking out about the comments, practically begging the club to sign the man with nine goals and a remarkable 17 assists this season.

You can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…