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West Ham bounced back from their 3-0 drubbing at the hands of Wolves last time out as they held Liverpool to a 1-1 draw at the London Stadium on Monday night, with Michail Antonio cancelling out Sadio Mane’s opener with an inch-perfect finish into the bottom corner.

The Reds had taken a controversial early lead through their Senegalese winger – James Milner was definitely offside when Adam Lallana flicked the ball through to him, before the Liverpool number 7 fired into the feet of Mane, who turned and found the corner.

A clever set-piece routine, though, put the Hammers back on level terms and, from then on, the league leaders hardly had a clear chance at goal, as Manuel Pellegrini’s side worked tirelessly from back to front.

Who is West Ham’s worst ever signing? Check out the video below for a pretty strong candidate for the dubious honour…

Goalscorer Antonio has often been criticised for a lack of technique in the past, but showed that in abundance as he latched onto Felipe Anderson’s cheeky, round-the-corner pass to fire beyond Alisson despite having very little to aim at.

The strike was the 28-year-old’s third of the season in the Premier League and the power, pace and drive he displayed throughout gave the Irons fans flashbacks to his 2015/16 form – the former Nottingham Forest man chalked up eight goals and four assists in 26 appearances that year, but has scored just seven in the last two seasons.

Here’s how the West Ham fans reacted to his performance on Twitter…

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Tottenham are eyeing up a £50m move for Bournemouth sensation David Brooks, who has taken to life at Premier League level like a duck to water since his summer move from Sheffield United, as reported exclusively by The Express.

What’s the word, then?

The Welshman has excelled for the Cherries since signing in a £10m deal from the Blades, scoring six goals and recording four assists so far this season.

Tottenham are said to be willing to spend up to £50m to lure the Wales international to the new White Hart Lane in the summer, and he is well in with a chance of being named as the PFA Young Player of the Year.

Be sure to check out the incredible story of the man who rose from a Tanzanian refugee camp to become one of Australia’s biggest football stars in the video below…

Manchester United are also seriously interested in bringing the 21-year-old to Old Trafford, but Mauricio Pochettino is hoping to beat the Red Devils to Brooks’ signature and help him fulfil his huge potential.

Who could Brooks push out of the team?

The north Londoners have racked up a huge amount of debt from the construction of their new stadium, so any move for Brooks may have to be bankrolled by a significant sale.

Real Madrid were credited with an interest in signing Christian Eriksen recently, although they were quoted a huge £225m price by Spurs for one of their key players.

The Dane is, however, five years older than Brooks, and for a fee in that astronomical region or even slightly lower, Tottenham would be wise to cash in on Eriksen and mould Brooks into being his replacement.

Were he to arrive at Spurs with no departures having taken place, it is tough to see where Brooks gets into an attacking quartet of Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Eriksen and Heung-min Son, so a big sale may need to be made in order to lure the promising Welsh playmaker to north London.

The £50m figure is certainly an important one though as it would set a new club-record transfer fee at Tottenham, eclipsing the £42m spent on Davinson Sanchez two summers ago.

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Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has offered a frank assessment on injured duo Scott Arfield and Ryan Jack, as per BT Sport, with both midfielders looking unlikely to feature in the Scottish Cup replay against Kilmarnock at Ibrox on Wednesday night.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the starting XI regulars both missed the goalless draw at home to St Johnstone on Saturday with their respective issues, with Arfield having an issue with a calf muscle and Jack twisting his ankle in the original tie against Killie.

Gerrard was speaking about the duo’s chances of making the upcoming fixture to BT Sport, and he didn’t seem overly confident of welcoming the pair back.

The 38-year-old said: “Scott Arfield has a chance but Jack blocked a tackle at Kilmarnock last week and twisted his ankle, so he is a big doubt for Wednesday.

“Arfield has a chance – but it’s not a good chance.

“Scott has a couple of dead legs. One of them he actually picked up before the first Kilmarnock game, so Scott wouldn’t miss a game with a dead leg. It’s more of a flush in a calf muscle.”

Bad news?

It certainly is, with Ross McCrorie, Steven Davis and Glen Kamara looking disjointed in the centre of the park against St Johnstone.

Arfield and Jack are two of the bigger characters and leaders in the Rangers team, and there is no question that they were a big miss at the weekend as the Glasgow giants slipped further behind arch-rivals Celtic in the Scottish Premiership title race.

With their hopes in the league fading Gerrard will surely be keen to try and win the cup to get a trophy under his belt in his first season in charge at Ibrox, and he is at least boosted by the return of Alfredo Morelos from suspension should the midfield duo fail to make it.

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Huddersfield Town’s relegation from the Premier League isn’t yet mathematically confirmed, but it becomes more of an inevitability with each passing week. Barring a miraculous escape, the Terriers will be playing Championship football again next season.

David Wagner first led the Yorkshire club to promotion from the second tier in 2017. That season they finished fifth in the Championship and came up via the play-offs. In all honesty, they were a mid-table Championship club who were carried into the top flight on a purple patch. That makes the fact that Wagner kept them in the Premier League in that first season all the more incredible. 

Now, though, reality is catching up with the Terriers and the drop is imminent for Jan Siewert’s side.

However, that doesn’t mean that they should resign themselves to a return to Championship mid-table finishes. Huddersfield have grown as a club in the top flight and if they can act smartly now then they’ll give themselves a great platform to build another promotion push on.

Watch how to cross the road like a boss with freestyler Ben Nuttall in the video below…

How to strengthen

The Terriers’ big problem this season has been scoring goals. The likes of Steve Mounie and Laurent Depoitre simply haven’t delivered enough (or anything at all really) in the final third. They may fare a bit better in the Championship, but in truth their quality must be questioned. 

Siewert’s top target this summer must be a reliable goalscorer who can be prolific in the Championship. Without that Huddersfield stand no chance of coming back up.

On top of that, the Terriers must also find extra quality in the wide areas. Elias Kachunga and Isaac Mbenza don’t offer enough in terms of end product or creativity.

Who to retain

As with any side that are relegated, their top talents are going to be considered to be up for grabs.  Huddersfield must do all they can to hold on to their best players. 

The Terriers actually have a very decent Championship-level spine to their team – at least until you reach the strikers. The likes of Terence Kongolo, Christopher Schindler and Zanka are all solid and at a good age. On top of that, Aaron Mooy, Philip Billing and Alex Pritchard all represent real quality in the middle of the park.

Some other Premier League clubs are likely to be interested in Mooy and Billing, which could force Huddersfield Town into selling. If that does happen, then Siewert must ensure that their attributes and qualities are effectively replaced at the John Smith’s Stadium.

As with who they want to bring in, Huddersfield should already have clear idea of who is their priority to retain and who they can afford to cash in on.

Savvy contract management 

Assuming Huddersfield are relegated, some key departures this summer are inevitable. However, by making every effort to negotiate favourable contracts with their players, the Terriers can ensure that they extract maximum value from every sale.

As things stand, Erik Durm, Depoitre and Danny Williams are all set to see their contracts expire this summer. Meanwhile, the likes of Jonathan Hogg, Zanka, Mooy and Billing, amongst others, only have one year left to run on their current deals. Even if Siewert is happy to see some of these players go, it should be the club’s utmost priority to get them to sign new terms so that they can capitalise on their full market value when sales are made.

Failure to manage these contract situations effectively could see the club miss out in a big way this summer by losing some of their key players and being left with very little to show for it.

By putting these plans into action now, and making key decisions early, Huddersfield give themselves their best chance of making a swift return to the Premier League.

Liverpool were seven points clear in the title race last month, now they’re behind Manchester City on goal difference and their lack of squad depth is starting to show.

Joe Gomez’ fractured leg has caused the Reds to wobble and concede far more chances than they did before his injury on December 5. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dejan Lovren also joined Gomez on the injury list and, since Boxing Day, they’ve only kept two cleans sheets.

Even before the 1-1 draws at home to Leicester and away at West Ham, Liverpool were scraping results in games that so easily could’ve swung the other way. 1-0 at Brighton and 4-3 against Crystal Palace were games where, had the opposition taken their chances, they would have dropped points.

Indeed, they simply don’t have enough quality players to deal with injuries.

Liverpool’s transfer policy can hardly be faulted over the last season. They spent the money they needed to on Virgil Van Dijk and Alisson, while strengthening their midfield with Fabinho and Naby Keita and adding Xherdan Shaqiri to their forward line. The squad needed a refresh and it began at the start of the 2017/18 season. Now, this summer should be seen as the final phase.

They need more cover at full-back, another quality centre-back, more midfielders to replace the average Jordan Henderson and James Milner and another forward to step up if Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane get injured or lose form.

Not much to ask for then, hey?

It’s demanding, but so is trying to win every competition. Something Klopp knew this squad couldn’t do, and that’s the reason for the early cup exits as a way of prioritising the league. Manchester City’s squad is far stronger and even they will struggle battling on all four fronts.

Liverpool may fall short of winning the title this year due to their lack of depth when injuries, particularly defensive ones, creep up. But when the transfer window comes, they have to spend to make the most of the momentum they have as an up-and-coming squad.

Who do you think Liverpool need to sign to take them to the next level?

Chelsea’s season has been quite the ride already, with the Blues starting the season like a house on fire, before petering out somewhat in recent times.

However, last weekend’s demolition of Huddersfield should have gone someway to improving things at Stamford Bridge.

Manager Mauro Sarri has already come under some pressure for the job he is doing, but the Italian will be hoping to see out the season and cement a Champions League spot, while he also has the chance of winning a trophy with the League Cup up for grabs in a one match shootout with Man City.

The summer is bound to be an interesting one too at the Bridge, and with January passing with little to shout home about other than the arrival of Gonzalo Higuain, it will be interesting to see if Chelsea can keep hold of star players like Eden Hazard and Willian.

It is however, the ability to keep the Brazilian that we think should be a priority for the Blues, with the 30-year-old a more important piece to the jigsaw than some might think in London.

Willian is integral at times to Chelsea and how they play, and while he might not always be the first name on the team sheet, he generally delivers when it matters.

There is not just his ability to take into account either, with his experience something which will be vital for the Blues if they are indeed to challenge for top honours in the coming seasons.

While all eyes will be on the future of Eden Hazard, Willian remains arguably just as important, and it’s vital in our opinion that Chelsea keep hold of the tricky Brazilian star.

Chelsea fans, what do you think? Will Willian go or will he be kept on? Let us know in the comments!

Leeds United failed to secure a positive result against Queens Park Rangers last time out, so they’ll be desperate to return to winning ways against West Bromwich Albion.

The Whites will still feel as if they can secure promotion to the Premier League in the current campaign, with a win against fellow promotion hopefuls West Bromwich Albion sending them on their way.

Indeed, one thing that may have been worrying supporters in recent times is Kemar Roofe’s future, as according to The Chronicle, Newcastle United are continually monitoring the Englishman.

However, Leeds fans should be more worried about the future of one of the club’s heroes, as Leeds have reportedly (as per the Daily Mail) put contract talks with Mateusz Klich and other senior players on hold until the summer while they wait to see if they are successful in securing promotion. And, it’s understood that Leeds don’t have an option to extend the Poland international’s contract, which is a major worry.

Klich has established himself as a hero at Elland Road this season and he will play a huge part in their promotion push from here on in, with seven goals and seven assists to his name up until this point.

So, after witnessing Klich’s excellence so far this season, it would come as no surprise if a number of sides swooped in for him in the summer. And, after putting contract talks on hold until the end of the season, perhaps this could come back to bite Leeds as interest from other clubs could turn his head, especially if they fail to secure promotion.

What do you think Leeds United fans?

كشفت صحيفة “بيلد” الألمانية تفاصيل عرض نادي بايرن ميونخ من أجل تجديد عقد مدافع الفريق الأول لكرة القدم، ديفيد ألابا، خلال الفترة المقبلة.

هناك مماطلة من طرف اللاعب ووكيله الحالي، بيني زهافي، لإدارة بايرن ميونخ في مفاوضات التجديد وهو ما دفع رئيس النادي السابق أولي هونيس، من وصف الوكيل بـ”السمكة الجشعة”.

ولكن الأجواء داخل بايرن ميونخ مختلفة، لأن المسؤولين في النادي الألماني يريدون التهدئة مع الوكيل من أجل التفاوض على تجديد عقد ألابا الذي ينتهي في يونيو 2021.

اقرأ أيضًا.. أوليفر كان: تجديد ألابا؟ لا أحد ينتظر منا مخالفة أسلوبنا ونظامنا

وأسند بايرن ميونخ الملف لرئيسه التنفيذي، كارل هانز رومينيجه، الذي بات يتفاوض مع زهافي منذ فترة لكن مع التأكيد على عدم رفع عرضه المالي بقيمة 11 مليون يورو إلى جانب 6 ملايين أخرى كحوافز أخرى كراتب في الموسم الواحد.

ويرغب بايرن ميونخ في زيادة عدد السنوات مع الفريق في العقد الجديد إلى 5 سنوات بعد أن كان الاتفاق المسبق 4 سنوات فقط.

السبب وراء إصرار بايرن ميونخ على عدم زيادة الراتب السنوي هو عدم كسر النظام الذي يسير عليه النادي الألماني منذ سنوات بشأن رواتب اللاعبين، مما قد يتسبب في أزمات بينهم.

الجدير بالذكر أن ألابا يريد البقاء مع بايرن ميونخ، واعترف من قبل أنه يتمنى توصل جميع الأطراف لاتفاق يتحول إلى توقيعه على العقد الجديد.

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Chelsea’s 6-0 mauling at the hands of reigning Premier League champions Manchester City last time out will have raised plenty of questions about the state of the Blues’ defence. 

To a man, each of Chelsea’s backline produced a poor performance at the Etihad Stadium, and as a team they lacked cohesion, discipline and tactical intelligence. Against a team as good as Pep Guardiola’s City, there was only ever going to be one outcome. 

Maurizio Sarri must now find a way to solidify his rearguard before Chelsea’s hopes of Champions League qualification fade entirely.

On the chalkboard

The Italian coach has his own style of play and preferred system, and it appears unlikely he will deviate from it during his tenure at Stamford Bridge. We cannot expect to see Chelsea switch to a back three, for instance, anytime soon then.

However, in terms of personnel and individual instructions, Sarri can make some tweaks that will make his side altogether harder to break down. He can retain his possession-heavy, passing style of football, but it must be balanced with greater defensive diligence and discipline.

Watch the video below to see the most insane overhead kick you will see this week…

Bringing balance

In order to strike this all-important balance, the make up of Chelsea’s first choice rearguard must change. Two players struggling to meet the demands of Sarri’s system are 31-year-old Brazilian centre-back David Luiz and 28-year-old Spanish left-back Marcos Alonso.

The latter’s attacking instincts make him a genuine threat in the opponent’s final third. Defensively though he is prone to lapses in concentration and errors in judgement. As a wing-back, the three-cap Spain international has perviously excelled in west London, but as Sarri will not use him in that role, Emerson must now come into the starting XI in his stead.

The same applies to Luiz. As a ball-playing defender he is amongst the elite. However, without the additional cover provided by being part of a back three, his defensive frailties are exposed. Andreas Christensen represents a more reliable defensive option than the 56-cap Brazil international.

Dropping out these more attack-minded defenders in favour of more limited, but reliable, alternatives would bring a greater balance to Sarri’s backline and team as a whole.

Liverpool are looking to win their first Premier League title this season and are in a fine position to do so under Jurgen Klopp.

The Reds sit top of the pile after a blistering campaign and they will be gutted to throw away the title now with Man City hot on their heels so to speak.

However, the January window passed them by without anything to shout home about, and we here in the Tavern feel that some more players might be needed in order for Liverpool to sustain any success they have, especially in the central midfield areas.

And one man we feel fits this mould is Brazilian midfielder Walace, who has been plying his trade over in Europe with Hannover following a move in the summer from Hamburg.

However, the Premier League can be an enticing place to play your football, and Liverpool remain a global force who Walace will be well aware of.

A natural ball winner and someone with a fantastic engine in the middle of the park, the Brazilian would be ideally suited to Liverpool given how he would compliment the attacking players that the Reds currently boast.

Some of the central midfielders at Anfield are beginning to slow down a bit, and signing the 23-year-old would be a big boost for sure. Put him alongside fellow Brazilian Fabinho in the middle of the park, then Liverpool might just have the foundation to build on for years to come.

LIverpool fans, what do you think? Good signing? Let us know in the comments!