Achraf Lazaar has become a forgotten figure at Newcastle United, but it seems that there could be a way back for the left-back.

The 26-year-old has been part of the club since 2016 when he signed from Palermo, but under manager Rafael Benitez he has struggled for game time.

In fact, last season in the Magpies’ first campaign back in the Premier League, Lazaar was sent to Benevento on loan, where he made made just nine appearances and scored one goal.

Throughout the summer transfer window, it seemed likely that Morocco international would move on, but a proposed switch to Genoa fell through.

The only thing left for Lazaar to do, until January at least, is work his way back into Benitez’s team.

It appears that there is a route for him to do so having been named in the squad for the first half of the campaign, unlike teammate Rolando Aarons.

On Twitter, some Newcastle fans have been posting their thoughts on Lazaar’s inclusion.

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According to ESPN, Liverpool have made contact with the agent of Adrien Rabiot in order to negotiate a deal with the PSG midfielder.

What’s the story?

Rabiot has so far refused to sign a new contract with the French reigning champions, and so may leave as a free agent come the end of the season when his current deal with the club expires. 

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Having been with PSG since joining the club’s youth academy in 2010, the 23-year-old has since made over 200 senior appearances for the Parisien outfit and has won Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France four times each. Now, however, the France international appears set upon seeking pastures now.

Foreign clubs may offer the powerful midfielder a pre-contract agreement as early as January, and Liverpool look to have made the first move. Before the Reds can land their man, though, Arsenal would be wise to make their own approach for Rabiot.

Adrien for Arsenal

New Gunners boss Unai Emery could really do with a player of Rabiot’s physical stature and technical ability being added to his midfield contingent. Despite the recent arrivals of Lucas Torreira and promising youngster Matteo Guendouzi, this is still an area of the pitch that requires work.

Granit Xhaka lacks the defensive awareness and mobility required to thrive in the Premier League, Mohamed Elneny has suffered a severe loss of form and Aaron Ramsey could be set to leave on a free transfer. A reunion for Emery, a former PSG manager, with Rabiot at the Emirates Stadium would represent the injection of steel that the North London outfit’s midfield desperately needs, and he would be an upgrade on Xhaka.

The Gunners must act fast and put up a fight to ensure that Jurgen Klopp isn’t able to attract this perfect Arsenal target to Anfield first. 

Manchester United will be looking forward to getting back to action following the international break as Jose Mourinho looks to build on last weekend’s win at Burnley.

A difficult few weeks for United and their manager was put to bed briefly at Turf Moor, but more will be needed and on a consistent basis if the critics currently hounding Old Trafford are going to go away any time soon.

The summer transfer window turned into a frustrating one for United, despite the addition of Fred and young right back Diogo Dalot. Missing out on the likes of Harry Maguire turned out to be a big moment, and it would appear that those sort of deals not happening are bringing Mourinho and United supremo Ed Woodward to blows.

However, we at the Tavern think there could be cheaper alternatives out there, and one who we think fits that mould is Brighton defender Lewis Dunk.

The big centre half has been a model of consistency for the Seagulls in the last few years and has taken to Premier League football with ease.

Much like Maguire, Dunk honed his craft in the lower regions of football, and has impressed during his time under Chris Hughton at the AMEX, leading many to believe he can indeed cut it at an even higher level.

The step up to United is huge, but one Dunk could well make given the time and coaching available at Old Trafford. Dominant in the air and comfortable enough on the floor, Dunk could well go on to be a star for a team like United, he just needs the opportunity.

United fans, what do you think? Can Dunk cut it at your club? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

Nottingham Forest announced the signing of free-agent Claudio Yacob last week, and a huge majority of Reds fans that answered our poll wanted him to be thrown straight into the starting lineup by Aitor Karanka, even though the Reds boss claimed he was not yet match fit, according to BBC Nottingham Sport on Twitter.

Forest currently sit in 14th place in the Championship having won just one game, drawn four and lost one of their first six. The Reds however spent over £20m this summer and would have expected better.

Incredibly, Yacob became Karanka’s 17th new addition of the summer on a free transfer after he had left his former club West Brom at the end of his contract.

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Karanka has favoured Jack Colback, who is on loan from Newcastle, and Ben Watson so far in the two defensive midfield roles that his 4-2-3-1 formation requires, but theÂ5ft 11in tallÂYacob, who has two caps for his national side Argentina, seems to be the player that Forest fans want to protect the back four.

Check out the full results of our poll below.

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Tottenham Hotspur were linked with a move for Lazio striker Ciro Immobile during the summer transfer window, and with Harry Kane struggling for form and with the Italian scoring for his side in the Europa League on Thursday night, Daniel Levy should have taken a big-money risk on the 28-year-old.

What’s the word, then?

Well, The Mirror reported back in April that Spurs were lining up a £100m double swoop on Lazio for duo Sergey Milinkovic-Savic and Immobile, rated at £45m by Transfermarkt, and that the funds for any potential deal could come from selling the likes of Mousa Dembele, Danny Rose and Toby Alderweireld during the summer.

However, the trio – along with teammates like Moussa Sissoko and Victor Wanyama – all remained with the north London outfit, as they failed to make a single addition to their squad before the window slammed shut on August 9.

While Mauricio Pochettino’s men got off to a decent enough start to the current campaign, three straight losses for the first time since the Argentine took charge of Tottenham – and a number of their players looking a shadow of their former selves following the 2018 World Cup – mean they are really struggling right now.

Why should they have signed Immobile?

The Italy international showed the goalscoring ability he has with 41 goals in 47 appearances in all competitions for Lazio last term, and while he may only have two in five outings so far this season – including the winner from the penalty spot against Apollon Limassol on Thursday – there is no doubt he would have made a difference for Tottenham.

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Kane is showing signs of fatigue following his exploits for England in Russia, and Levy and Pochettino failed to find a suitable alternative to the Three Lions captain during the summer window with Fernando Llorente far from an able back-up.

Immobile would have been exactly that, and even if he came at a cost Spurs should have splashed the cash on the 28-year-old, and they would be in a much better position right now if they had.

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Involving two sides that employ similar philosophies, virtually the same formation and have scored precisely 14 top flight goals this season, Chelsea and Liverpool’s Premier League clash on Saturday looks set to be something of a thriller.

They gave a preview on Wednesday night in the form of a Carabao Cup encounter, but what will determine the next instalment this weekend? Football FanCast take a look at the key factors that will decide where Chelsea vs Liverpool is lost and won…

The Key Battle – Eden Hazard vs Mohamed Salah

It may seem an obvious one but when there are two world-class attacking talents on show, it’s difficult to resist drawing parallels. Eden Hazard seems to have kicked up a gear this term and produced an utterly unstoppable cameo outing at Anfield in midweek, scoring an early goal of the season contender to compliment his Premier League haul of five goals and two assists. Maurizio Sarri has even tipped the Belgium international to net 40 times by the end of the campaign.

Mohamed Salah, on the other hand, just hasn’t quite seemed like his usual self – certainly less smiles and less goals. But the Egyptian attacker has still notched up three strikes in six Premier League outings and statistically at least, his per game returns for the season have so far been in line with what he produced during his debut campaign at Anfield. Salah will be desperate to find the net against his former club and provide the kind of performance that will silence his emerging critics.

The Key Dynamic – Who can attack without leaving themselves too open?

It’s the delicate balance that decides every football game, but the poise between attack and defence on Saturday will be particularly important due to the teams involved. Jurgen Klopp and Maurizio Sarri will both insist their sides take the game to the opposition but it will need to be done in a way that doesn’t give complete freedom to the array of offensive quality on show.

Throw in the fact they employ similar philosophies and exactly the same formation, and Saturday’s game could quickly transgress into an incredibly open game of chess.

Based on performances so far this season, though, Liverpool surely boast the upper hand here. They’ve only conceded two goals in the Premier League and one of those was the Alisson howler against Leicester City. They appear to have found that crucial equilibrium by steadying themselves in defence, whereas the Blues are still glaringly open – especially when both full-backs push up the pitch to join the attack.

The Deciding Factor – Surviving Liverpool’s early onslaught

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Liverpool have scored the most first half goals of any Premier League team so far this season and remain the only side yet to concede in the opening 45 minutes. That’s an incredibly telling statistic but isn’t all that surprising; historically, the Reds have always looked to start games as strongly as possible and charge their way to an early lead, before controlling the match from then on.

That trait can, however, be used against them. In a 4-1 win at Wembley last season Tottenham started hard as well, scoring twice in the opening twelve minutes, and while attempting to replicate that is no doubt a risky strategy, the alternative is simply to survive Liverpool’s early onslaught by any means possible.

After that, they begin to run out of steam and those surging attacks become a lot less effective – something Jose Mourinho proved when Chelsea ended the Reds’ title hopes by winning 2-0 at Anfield during the 2013/14 season.

It’s not how Sarri likes to play the game but a pragmatic first half hour could be what wins it for the Blues. On the other hand, if Chelsea don’t pull it off and Liverpool blitz them in the early exchanges, the match could be over before half time.

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The Impact Subs – Ross Barkley vs Xherdan Shaqiri

Ross Barkley will likely need to settle for a spot on the bench after starting at Anfield in midweek but his potential impact on this game shouldn’t be overlooked.

Sarri is clearly fond of the England international, having included him in Chelsea’s early outings this season, and Barkley will always carry an extra motivation when playing Liverpool as an Everton academy product.

It’s not quite happened for him yet at Chelsea but Saturday’s clash could provide Barkley’s breakthrough moment for the Blues.

Liverpool fans finally saw the impact Xherdan Shaqiri could have this season last weekend when the summer signing dazzled in the first half of a 3-0 win over Southampton.

It won’t be quite so easy for the 75-cap Switzerland international away at Stamford Bridge but from dead ball situations especially, he could make a real difference for the Reds late on when there are tired legs and tired minds in Chelsea’s defensive third.

Liverpool lacked a real impact substitute last season but they’ve certainly found one in the former Stoke talisman, who can change the shape of Klopp’s midfield and the rhythm of the Reds’ attack.

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The majority of Wolves fans that voted in our poll are now backing Nuno Espirito Santo’s side to qualify for the Europa League after their fantastic start to the season.

Wolves took the Championship by storm last season, picking up 99 points on their way to the Championship title, but it would still be a huge task to finish in seventh place in the league, and this would still mean two of the top six would have to win the domestic cups.

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In the summer though Wolves spent big, forking out over £60m in transfer fees for a total of 11 new players, many of which were seasoned internationals such as Portugal stars Joao Moutinho and goalkeeper Rui Patricio.

The boys in old gold currently sit 10th in the table, despite having had a difficult start to the season in terms of fixtures, and look in good shape on their first season back in the Premier League. Check out the full results of the poll below.

Jose Mourinho’s regime at Man Utd has been a fraught one, and that doesn’t look set to change any time soon. Wherever the manager goes, controversy is always likely to follow, and that’s largely down to his very divisive and hard management style.

One repercussion of his style comes in the players that he selects. Generally speaking, Mourinho has a core group of individuals that he trusts to the hilt, and they’re usually the ones that start most games.

That, unfortunately, means that some players are rarely given a chance to impress, and that’s no different at Man Utd.

In truth, there are a few players at Old Trafford that, if they’re honest with themselves, would be better served by leaving the club, because they just don’t seem to be rated very highly by their boss at Man Utd. In truth, a departure would probably be best in the eyes of Mourinho, too.

With that said, the writing should be on the wall for these two Man Utd players…

Juan Mata

Juan Mata seemed a likely candidate to leave Man Utd as soon as Jose Mourinho came in, given that the boss sold him when he was at Chelsea a few years prior.

However, he chose to stick it out, and that’s delivered mixed success. He’s played a fair amount of football, but much like at Stamford Bridge, Mourinho hasn’t regularly chosen to rely on Mata. He’s never been the main man at Old Trafford like he was at Chelsea.

That’s a shame, given that on his day, nobody is as good as Mata with the ball at their feet. His range of passing is sublime, and he’d no doubt be a valuable asset for any number of clubs elsewhere.

He’s started just 2 league games this season, and that’s not enough.

Anthony Martial

Anthony Martial came to Man Utd as one of Europe’ best young players, but he’s quickly lost that title since the arrival of Jose Mourinho. Though he’s earned minutes, rarely has he been at his best, and there are a few reasons for that.

Undeniably, the main one comes in the form of Mourinho himself. The Portuguese has never seemed to rate Martial, and whilst most managers would likely be glad to have a player of his quality, he’s seen fit to put Martial down and prevent him from earning game time on a regular basis.

Despite the struggles of players like Alexis Sanchez, Martial has continued to play a backseat role, and that’s not good enough.

He’s going to be an unbelievable player in the future, but it’s hard to see him excelling at Man Utd.

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Crystal Palace fans who made the trip to Imperial Fields last night were treated to a dominant display over South London neighbours, Dulwich Hamlet.

The Eagles ran out 5-0 victors in a fundraising match which gave fans the opportunity to see youth players and a handful of first-team faces in action during the lull of the international break. Given that it was a friendly, the result will mean little to the 1226 in attendance but Palace fans were pleased to see Scott Dann and Connor Wickham’s names on the team-sheet, whose injuries have seen them sidelined for a long time.

Summer signing Max Meyer grabbed both his first goal for the club and the away side’s first of the game with a composed, curling finish into the corner, followed by an excellent drive from Sullay Kaikai to give Roy Hodgson’s side a two-goal advantage going into the break.

The returning Wickham was brought on for the second half and netted his first goal for the SE25 outfit since November 2016 with an emphatic header that cannoned in off the bar, before academy prospects James Daly and Kian Flanagan finished off their National League opposition by turning in a rebound and finding the top corner from 25 yards respectively.

Here’s how Palace fans reacted to the action.

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[ad_pod ]According to The Mirror, Arsenal are considering a move for Liverpool full-back Alberto Moreno whose contract expires in the summer meaning he could then be available on a free.Unai Emery’s current first choice full-back Nacho Monreal isn’t getting any younger and the his distrust in Bosnian Sead Kolasinac has seen young midfielder Ainsley Maitland-Niles become a makeshift second-choice.Left-back Andy Robertson’s form at Liverpool has seen Moreno limited to a single EFL Cup appearance so far this season, with Jurgen Klopp even likely to deploy utility man James Milner on the left side of defence ahead of the Spaniard if Robertson is injured.The 26-year-old has made 88 league appearances for the Reds, scoring three goals and assisting five, but his time at Anfield seems to be up with reports suggesting that he has no interest in renewing his contract with the Merseyside club.Emery worked with Moreno at Sevilla in the 2013/14 season but since making the switch to Liverpool the latter has been criticised for his defensive abilities, or lack of, on a couple of occasions. The fact that he might not cost the Gunners a penny in transfer fees is a positive, but not all Arsenal fans are feeling good.Here’s how they reacted on Twitter.