Liverpool remain on course to land their first Premier League title after sealing a 4-3 win over Crystal Palace this weekend in a dramatic tie at Anfield.
The Reds saw off a firm challenge from the Eagles to snatch what could prove to be a massive three points in the title race, and the fans at Anfield will be getting genuinely excited that this is the year for their club.
However, a lack of January transfer window action will be of a concern to some Liverpool fans, especially with Champions League football just around the corner again, meaning injuries and suspensions could well mount up in the winter months.
That’s why we here at the Tavern think adding one or two players of massive quality would be a wise move for the club, and we think it’s not entirely unfeasible for the Reds to go out and make a move to re-sign former midfielder Philippe Coutinho.
The Brazilian has not shone at Barcelona like many thought he would do, and he seems to be overshadowed by the consistent brilliance of the likes of Leo Messi and Luis Suarez.
Coutinho would be welcomed back to Anfield with open arms, especially as his big money replacement Naby Keita has simply not come off as yet.
A loan move, or even a big money move but at a fraction of what Barca paid for the Brazilian is not out of the question for Jurgen Klopp’s men, and if he were to come back, then the title would surely be there for Liverpool to take.
Reds fans, what do you think? How good a signing would this be? Let us know in the comments!
Kieran Tierney continued his role as a fan as Celtic won 2-0 away to St Johnstone.
A frustrating hip injury has kept him out of action since December 13th but nothing will deter him from following the Hoops with his mates in the stand.
It was an early start on a freezing morning but with a title to be won, snow, ice and cold wasn’t going to deter anyone in the away support as they made their way to Perth for a 12.30 start.
Tierney didn’t see much action during the first half other than Oliver Burke go down in a heap as the first 45 minutes ended goal-less as a reminder of Celtic’s stuttering away form.
When Odsonne Edouard went past Tierney lying on a stretcher Celtic’s chances looked bleak but a new hero was about to emerge from the substitutes bench.
Timothy Weah is the new cult hero, setting up James Forrest for the breakthrough then putting the points beyond St Johnstone when he drilled home a low pass from Callum McGregor.
At the final whistle the players left standing took a bow in front of the fans – hopefully Tierney will soon be back in action helping to deliver another title for the supporters he loves to sit among whenever the chance arises.
Here’s a look at how Celtic fans reacted to Tierney’s presence on the terraces…
Arsenal will have their sights set on securing nothing less than a top four spot in the current campaign, as fans can’t stand another season in the Europa League.
The Gunners have certainly looked impressive at times under the guidance of Unai Emery, but the defensive side of things has let the North London club down on a number of occasions.
Interestingly, it appears as if Emery is already looking towards the summer transfer window, as according to football.london, Arsenal have their sights set on a summer move for Leandro Trossard.
Sven Mislintat was reportedly targeting Leandro Trossard back in November, according to Metro. Indeed, according to Trossard’s agent (as per Sporza), Arsenal were monitoring the attacker last year, but his representatives ruled out a January move for the Belgian.
Here’s what Josy Comhair had to say:
‘I contacted representatives from Arsenal and Tottenham.
‘At Spurs, nobody wanted to confirm that Trossard is an option, but Arsenal did.
‘They told me Leandro has a very interesting profile for them and that they have been following him since August.
‘They also added it was a good choice to stay at Genk for another year. They ended the phone call with ‘They are keeping a close eye on him’.’
So, it appears as if Unai Emery has Mislintat to thank for bringing Trossard into the picture as the Spaniard now has his sights set on securing the attacker in the summer transfer window.
Trossard has been prolific in the current campaign having found the back of the net 17 times, with eight assists to his name. His pace, dribbling ability and creativity makes him a very dangerous asset.
The Gunners should go ahead and pay the reported £22 million as he has plenty of potential and has already shown that he can produce an incredible amount of contributions at his current club. Arsenal are lacking quality in wide areas at this moment in time, so it seems like a no brainer.
Arsenal fans – thoughts on a potential move for Leandro Trossard?
Arsenal are interested in the prospect of signing Jean-Philippe Gbamin from Mainz this summer, per The Daily Express.
The Gunners, according to the report, tabled a bid for the 23-year-old last summer as they looked to bolster their defence.
And after failing to secure a defensive reinforcement in the January transfer window, it is reported that the club have reignited their interest in Gbamin.
Mainz, the Express report, value Gbamin at around £40million and it remains to be seen if Arsenal will be willing to match that asking price.
Football FanCast look at the potential consequences of the Gunners securing the defender’s services…
Mustafi sold
Shkodran Mustafi has been a walking disaster zone in recent seasons.
The defender has done nothing to mark himself out as a Premier League-level centre-back since his move from Valencia in 2016.
Arsenal paid £35m to take him away from the Spanish club and, after a half-decent start, his stay in north London has been characterised by hesitant defending and a number of high-profile gaffes.
Check out Neymar’s controversial new haircut for 2019 and Xherdan Shaqiri as you’ve never seen him before in the video below…
Bringing in Gbamin is something of a risk, as he has never played Premier League football, but it would allow Unai Emery to move Mustafi on.
Arsenal are not likely to turn a profit on the Germany international, but they can shift him off the books and ensure they do not have to suffer many more mistakes from the 26-year-old.
Arsenal turn to youth
Arsenal have a history of signing young players and embedding them into the first-team. Gbamin is just 23 and his signing could mark something of a change in recent transfer strategy.
The likes of Stephan Lichtsteiner, Sokratis, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are all over the age of 28 and have joined the club in recent seasons.
But securing Gbamin would be more akin to the signing of 19-year-old Matteo Guendouzi, offering fans hope of a potential switch to bringing in younger, more promising players.
It must be said, of course, that the defender already has an international pedigree – he has won five caps for the Ivory Coast and has also made over 80 appearances for Mainz, who are understandably keen to hold onto one of their prized assets.
Emery allowed control over transfers
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After the departure of Sven Mislintat as the club’s Head of Recruitment, it appears that some of his responsibility may well fall to Emery.
And that would be good news for Arsenal fans.
Emery has been trying to implement a very specific style in recent months and has repeatedly had to place round pegs in square holes.
Allowing the manager the chance to have the final say on transfers offers up the prospect of Arsenal recruiting players who suit his style, and who can instantly adapt to life in the Premier League.
Gbamin may well be one such acquisition. He was pursued by the club in the summer and Emery now appears ready to go back with another bid.
That is a high recommendation for the young Ivorian, but it remains to be seen if the deal gets done. If it is, Emery deserves a lot of the credit.
Sheffield United secured a sensational result at Bramall Lane on Saturday with a 4-0 win over Championship strugglers Reading. The win kept the Blades in the thick of the title hunt.
The victory was particularly impressive considering Chris Wilder had excluded so many key figures from the starting XI. Strikers Billy Sharp and David McGoldrick were both on the bench, which allowed Gary Madine to play from the start.
Watch the video below to see the most insane overhead kick you will see this week…
Madine joined the Yorkshire outfit on loan from Premier League outfit Cardiff City in the January transfer window. Whilst he has made plenty of appearances for United since his arrival, the 28-year-old has failed to cement himself in the starting line-up. His well-taken brace against Reading ought to see him become more central in his manager’s plans though.
The centre-forward’s strength, power and finishing ability make him a lethal goalscorer at this level. What’s more, with Sharp and McGoldrick both ageing, they’re likely to tire towards the end of the campaign. In their stead, the former Sheffield Wednesday man can step up and play a key role in the Blades’ promotion push.
That’s the question coming out of every mouth following their destructive work in recent weeks. Pep Guardiola’s champions have struck prime form at the best time possible, boosting City’s chances in all four competitions they’re involved in.
Not only are the Citizens favourite to win their first crown in the EFL Cup in the weekend, but it also doesn’t seem like anybody can stop them in the FA Cup either. With only Manchester United or Chelsea remaining (depending on their game), among the big sides, Guardiola’s side knows they can overcome either side with their superiority.
When it comes to the Premier League, City’s winning mentality gives them the edge over Liverpool, who might get caught up by nerves. While the league title race goes down to the wire, City needs to take the Cup competitions seriously to pull off something special. They face Schalke in the UEFA Champions League knockout stages, a tricky yet relatively comfortable tie.
The injured players are slowly coming back to add more punch to their squad and everyone else is hitting stride in the business end of the season. Because of their luxurious options, Guardiola has the option to play different teams in different competitions.
The world-class starting XI can triumph over any side, while their “reserve players” are talented enough to plough through mediocre oppositions. If bad luck or more injuries don’t curse Pep Guardiola’s side, they seem on course towards creating history by winning some kind of treble come May.
According to The Express and Star, West Brom’s Zhang Yuning, previously on loan at ADO Den Haag, has returned to The Hawthorns before a proposed move to an unnamed Chinese Super League.
The Chinese striker, signed in 2017, is expected to depart for the East next week with zero minutes in Baggies blue and white under his belt.
The 22-year-old will not be returning to England to train in B71, instead leaving straight for China to finalise his move. Fortunately for the Baggies, the player has cost them nothing in fees as owner Guochuan Lai financed the transfer himself and paid his wages.
Who do you want to see promoted this year? The Pl>ymaker FC squad have picked their 3 favoured teams in the video below…
Lai had surely been hoping that the hitman would significantly boost the Midlands club’s fanbase in Asia and perhaps develop into a useful player, but that hasn’t been the case as he has been unable to secure a work permit in England.
Here’s how the West Brom faithful reacted to the news on Twitter…
Leeds brushed West Brom aside on Friday night at the Hawthorns, and the incredible performance of Ezgjan “Gjanni” Alioski epitomised what Marcelo Bielsa has brought to the club.
Pablo Hernandez scored after just 16 seconds as Leeds completely destroyed the Baggies on Friday night, finally getting revenge for the 4-1 thrashing that Darren Moore’s side dished out at the Hawthorns back in November.
Patrick Bamford will hope to kick back into form now after scoring twice in Friday’s 4-0 win, and practically every player in a white shirt gave at least an eight out of ten performance.
No one was more impressive than Alioski though, who has gone from laughing stock to first name on the team sheet since Bielsa’s arrival at the club, and the gaffer deserves all the credit for it.
Who are the best away fans in the Championship? Pl>ymaker FC’s Thogden gives his top 10 in the video below…
Perfect management
Aforementioned, every single Leeds player will be proud of the way they played on Friday, but Alioski’s engine is like something from another planet.
Deployed at left-back again, a position he has made his own since the injury to Barry Douglas, the 27 year-old touched the ball 72 times and made a remarkable nine tackles.
To put that in perspective, no other player on the pitch managed more than six tackles (Kalvin Phillips) and no West Brom player managed more than just three.
His tap-in at the end was richly deserved for an all-action performance, and these performances are now becoming a regular occurrence for the man who’s most notable trait used to be getting flagged offside 50 times per game.
Put simply, Bielsa has taken an underperforming winger with poor end product, recognised versatility and work rate as the strengths in his game, and deployed him in a position and system where he can do what he does best – bomb up and down the wing and whip crosses in.
The Macedonian international’s end product has then improved as a result of improved performances and confidence, racking up seven goals and five assists despite playing left-back for around half of his appearances.
Practically every player at the club has improved under Bielsa, but Alioski’s transformation from scapegoat to cult hero has been incredible to witness, and the versatile ace epitomises the combination of positive reinforcement and tactical genius that Bielsa has unleashed on his squad.
Alberto Aquilani will likely always remember the day he transferred to Liverpool as the moment his career ended.
According to the Telegraph, the £20 million man joined Rafael Benitez’ Liverpool in 2009 after impressing in his home nation for Roma.
Liverpool and Benitez really thought they had a player on their hands as well. The former Roma man was truly a quality player in Italy, his YouTube compilations full of exciting drilled passes cutting across the grass of the Stadio Olimpico to release the talent of Francesco Totti and co in the forward positions.
This was the player to replace outbound, world-class talent Xabi Alonso. The Italian messiah; the man with all the answers.
“Alberto has a winning mentality and great experience in both Serie A and the Champions League,” Benitez said at the time (via Telegraph).
“He has long been seen as a top-class talent, captaining his country at under-19 and under-21 levels.”
Oh how different things turned out to be.
The harsh reality of things is that he was a complete and utter flop. A sham; a wasted ‘talent’ who found more space in the medical centre than he did on the pitch.
The Italian playmaker managed only 18 league appearances in Liverpool’s colours before being shipped off to Juventus. And this pretty much signalled the beginning of Aquilani’s nomadic life; from Liverpool to AC Milan; to Fiorentina (where he spent a moderately long three years), and then to Sporting – a trend slowly begins to form where the quality of team deteriorated on every move.
It is at this point we wonder: how did he keep finding somewhere to play?
A move to Serie A minnows Pescara could have been his saving grace. A former ‘star’ with plenty of experience and a lot to teach, what was there not to love about Aquilani? Well, apparently quite a lot. The midfielder managed only four months at the club before being shipped out on loan to Sassoulo, who, believe-it-or-not, decided not to take up the option to sign him on a permanent basis.
Like saying goodbye to a family pet, it was about time someone cut Aquilani’s career short. And Las Palmas were the ones to do it.
Spain was the end of the road for the Italian. Leaving after only a season, he made 23 appearances for the club and created a grand total of zero assists.
Now without an employer, he is probably reflecting on his long and arduous journey through the footballing world and wondering where it all went so wrong.
Wolves once again got themselves a fine result this weekend with an excellent 2-1 FA Cup win over Manchester United.
Nuno Santo’s men are putting in some excellent performances on their return to the Premier League, and we here in the Tavern would love to see them win the FA Cup to cap off what has been a fine season for the Molineux club.
However, to keep improving, Wolves need to ensure they keep bringing in top talent and we think that the summer could be a big period for the club if they are to keep going and take their game to the next level.
And one man we feel would be an excllent signing for the club is current West Brom midfielder, Rekeem Harper, who has had a superb debut season for the Baggies since being given his chance by Darren Moore at the Hawthorns.
Harper has been putting in some fine performances beyond his teenage years and a move to the Premier League seems to be the next logical step for the youngster.
Wolves themselves will be wise to keep adding the best talent they can, as if injuries do strike, they do appear somewhat light in some areas of the field.
Harper would bring his talent with him, but theres is plenty to his game to develop too, and his passing, calmness in possession, and potential make him a superb potential signing for Wolves.