All posts by h79snht.top

Liverpool have had a great start to the season, winning their first six games in all competitions. However, with their early season form making a few of the fans a little bit giddy, Virgil van Dijk has taken to the Liverpool website to remind the fans not to get carried away just yet.

Since Virgil van Dijk came into the Liverpool side last year the Reds’ backline has looked different class. The commanding Dutchman has shown time and time again that he’s worth the huge fee that Jurgen Klopp forked out for him back in January and if he can contribute towards the club’s first ever Premier League title then the money spent on him will look like a small price to pay.

The defender will be keen to win his first piece oif silverware at Anfield but for now, he’s keen not to get his hopes up and to just be ready for the next game. For Liverpool, that next game is against van Dijk’s former club in Southampton before they go through a tough spell of fixtures against the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City and Napoli and if they can come through those games unscathed we could be talking about the next Premier League champions.

You can read The Kopites’ verdict on Liverpool here:

The fans are loving life with Virgil van Dijk at the back and will be keen to see him continue his incredible form right the way through the season.

[ad_pod ]

[ffc_insert title=”Check out the Big Interview with Ben Dinnery & Johnny Wilson” name=”Fixture In Focus Podcast Special” image_ link=”https://fixtureinfocus.podiant.co/e/369d9b4fb86294/” link_text=”Click here to play”]

Tottenham did things the hard way in their Carabao Cup third-round clash against Watford, as a 2-2 draw saw the tie go all the way to penalties.

Paulo Gazzaniga was eventually the hero for the hosts, who played the game in Milton Keynes, after he saved two spot-kicks in the shoot-out.

He was not the only Spurs player who impressed fans on social media though as the performance of Serge Aurier was also celebrated, with the Ivory Coast international continuing his impressive form this season.

The 25-year-old has only earned a handful of appearances this season, just four across all competitions, but his display sees the former Paris Saint-Germain man challenging England’s World Cup semi-finalist Kieran Trippier for a first-team spot.

His performance against Watford has certainly aided his stake for more regular action as fans on social media expressed their delight with his display against the Hornets and we have gathered some of the best reactions below.

[brid autoplay=”true” video=”300259″ player=”12034″ title=”Mo Salah’s “7th Best Goal” Wins FIFA’s Puskas Award”]

[ffc_insert title=”Check out the Big Interview with Ben Dinnery & Johnny Wilson” name=”Fixture In Focus Podcast Special” image_ link=”https://fixtureinfocus.podiant.co/e/369d9b4fb86294/” link_text=”Click here to play”]

West Ham United are said to be open to the possibility of selling Michel Antonio, and Leeds United should move for the attacker if they are promoted to the Premier League.

What’s the word, then?

Antonio led the West Ham line in their Premier League clash with Chelsea at the weekend, and caused the Blues a number of problems with his pace and power.

The 28-year-old was guilty of missing a couple of excellent chances, however, and he is yet to get off the mark in terms of goals this season.

West Ham are said to be open to the possibility of selling Antonio, and he was linked with a move away from the London Stadium during the summer transfer window.

A record of 21 goals and 11 assists in 96 West Ham appearances is actually pretty good for a player who does not operate as a centre-forward.

Antonio also has a contract with the Hammers until the summer of 2021, but he might fancy a change of scenery at the end of the 2018-19 campaign.

Why should Leeds move for Antonio?

Any move would hinge on whether Leeds can secure promotion to the top flight this season.

[brid autoplay=”true” video=”299719″ player=”12034″ title=”Rafa’s Pub Facts Man Utd Beat Young Boys But Not New Boys”]

The Whites are currently top of the Championship table on 18 points, and certainly look capable of making a strong play for promotion to the Premier League this term.

Leeds have a very talented squad, but would need to spend next summer to compete in the top flight, and Antonio would be a clever signing when considering his experience.

The Englishman certainly has his flaws, but could become a favourite with the Leeds fans due to his pace, power and ability to unnerve opposition defences.

Valued at £13.5m by Transfermarkt, it is unlikely that Leeds would have to break the bank for a player with 81 Premier League appearances, and Bielsa’s team should make their move this summer if they can secure promotion.

[ad_pod ]

Everton are in a strange patch of form at the moment. They started the season poorly, and in truth, they’re yet to turn it around, but the signs are there that they can. Above all else, in Marco Silva they clearly have a manager that needs time to implement his ideas, and whilst success is not at the doors of Goodison Park yet, it surely won’t be long until it arrives.

However, for some players, they may not make it to that time period.

Though the season is still young, Silva’s ideas have already become clear on the field and it’s evident as to what the Portuguese is trying to do at the club.

Unfortunately, some players just aren’t going to fit the mould of that method, and whilst Silva has been fairly open to giving a variety of players time this term, some just won’t cut it.

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

Morgan Schneiderlin

Morgan Schneiderlin has had a strange few years. He was one of the Premier League’s best midfielders at Southampton, and he duly earned a move to Man Utd. It didn’t work out for him there, though, and so a career reset at Everton made sense.

However, again, it just hasn’t been particularly good for him.

Despite the change in manager, Schneiderlin’s fortunes haven’t changed this season, and under Marco Silva, he’s continued to play a bit-part role. Furthermore, when he does play, he doesn’t assert himself on games like he used to, and whilst he’s obviously a good player, the Frenchman has really gone off the boil as of late.

From Everton’s perspective, perhaps it’s time to give up on him, especially given their midfield investment over the summer, whilst for Schneiderlin himself, perhaps a move away could help him reinvigorate his career.

Oumar Niasse

Oumar Niasse’s time at Everton has been bizarre, to say the least. From frozen out of the team to be being their most lethal forward for a short time, it’s fair to say that he’s either blown hot or cold and never in between.

Unfortunately for him, at present, he’s far closer to cold than he is warm.

He’s yet to start a single league game under Marco Silva, and when he has played, he’s often failed to make an impact. If there was ever going to be a time for him to earn his place, it would be now, given Everton’s offensive struggles, but he’s failed to do just that.

At this point, nothing is going to get him in the team on a weekly basis – and so for him, a move must be on the cards.

[ad_pod ]

FootballFanCast.com’s Fixture In Focus coverage is brought to you by 5p0rtz. Try 5p0rtz’s Beat the Streak Predictor and you could win £1million! Click here to play.

[ffc_insert title=”Try 5p0rtz’s Beat The Streak Predictor and you could win £1MILLION!” name=”Win £1MILLION with 5p0rtz” image_ link=”https://app.5p0rtz.com/?affiliate=FFCeditorialwidget” link_text=”Click here to play”]

England’s Nations League campaign continues on Friday night with Gareth Southgate’s side taking on the team that eliminated them from the World Cup in Russia –  eventual runners-up Croatia.

With a number of big-name absentees, the Three Lions will be taking a relatively inexperienced squad to the Balkans, but one thing the England gaffer does have is some options to choose from up front.

Captain Harry Kane is nailed on to start, so the ultimate question is who should play alongside Tottenham’s star centre-forward. Raheem Sterling took up that mantle at the World Cup, but Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford – who Transfermarkt value at £58.5million – scored twice leading the line during the last international break.

Then there’s Danny Welbeck who may not be the most illustrious name but boasts a strong scoring record at international level – 16 goals in 42 England outings.

So, Three Lions fans, who would you pick to start alongside Kane on Friday night? Let us know by voting below…

The majority of Manchester United fans that answered our recent poll think the club sold Memphis Depay too soon based on his recent form.

The Dutchman joined United in the summer of 2015 and immediately took up the famous number seven shirt worn by Eric Cantona, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo in the past. Unfortunately though his career at Old Trafford never took off, and his seven goals in 53 games for the club made him somewhat of a laughing stock among rival fans.

Depay eventually left Manchester for the French side Lyon in January 2017, and since then he has gone from strength to strength, and is now valued at £40.5m by Transfermarkt.

Last season, the now 24-year-old netted 22 goals and provided 17 assists in all competitions, and he proved last week that he could do it on the international stage – tearing into the Germany defence as the Netherlands cruised to a 3-0 win.

According to our poll after his goalscoring performance in that game, 79 per cent of Manchester United fans thought that the club allowed Depay to leave too soon. Check out the full results below.

Make no mistake, Anthony Martial is a top quality player, and he’s really proven that over the last few weeks. Fantastic performances against the likes of Newcastle and Chelsea have brought Martial back to the forefront of fan thought, and it’s been a while since that was the case.

The Frenchman has cut an increasingly forlorn figure at Old Trafford, owing to a lack of faith in him from Jose Mourinho, and that’s left the future looking uncertain for him.

However, with his resurgence, the Frenchman now has a far more positive outlook at Old Trafford – and that means that a few things could be coming his way.

But what exactly are some potential consequences of Martial’s return to prominence at Man Utd?

Regular Role

Naturally, if Anthony Martial continues to perform, he’ll get more game time.

He’s found it tough to get the minutes that he craves, and Jose Mourinho has often been increasingly hesitant to offer him even the smallest chance.

However, if a player takes his chances he’s usually rewarded – and Martial certainly has taken every moment that he’s got on the field.

The Frenchman has scored goals and crucial ones at that, and he’s generally looked very solid.

He’s arguably the most in-form man in the Man Utd attack – and it will be impossible for Mourinho to ignore him any longer.

New Contract

Anthony Martial’s contract expires within the next couple of years, and so if he continues to impress, Man Utd will obviously want him to agree to fresh terms.

This is almost synonymous with the previous point, given that if he plays regularly, that will encourage Man Utd to reward his involvement.

It works both ways, though. He’ll only want to renew if he’s playing, and so naturally, more game time will surely equal a new contract.

Man Utd would be foolish to lose him.

Everton have had some troubles with their forward line this season as the club’s main hitters have failed to make an impact.

In recent matches manager Marco Silva has experimented by moving Richarlison from the wing to a more advanced position.

Against Crystal Palace on Monday night, the Portuguese coach took the same approach, but it was substitutes Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Cenk Tosun who made the breakthrough and snatched all three points with a late goal each.

The pair’s instant impact may give Silva something to think about when he makes his selection for Sunday’s Premier League clash against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Jose Mourinho’s defence has been shaky this season, so it could be in Everton’s best interests to field one of Monday night’s goalscorers.

The Toffees could potentially move into the top six with a triumph over United, so who do you think would be best suited up front against the Red Devils?

Let us know by voting below.

[brid autoplay=”true” video=”310054″ player=”12034″ title=”Rafa’s Pub Facts Fake Madrid & Ross Barkley Emulates… David Ngog”]

[ad_pod ]

Middlesbrough eliminated Premier League opposition in the Carabao Cup with a beautiful strike from Lewis Wing deep into first-half stoppage-time.

Crystal Palace made the trip from south London to the north east for the Wednesday night English Football League clash at the Riverside Stadium that eventually saw Tony Pulis’ side come out 1-0 winners.

Victory moved Boro into the quarter-finals of the competition to tee up another home tie, this time with League One outfit Burton Albion in December.

Wing’s opener, and the only goal of the evening, came when the Eagles defence shut off for a split second calling for handball, leaving the 23-year-old midfielder to pick out the top corner of the net from outside the box.

As Boro players rushed to celebrate the goal, 26-year-old Hugill ran to the loose ball as it trundled back out of the net, only to smash it over the bar from yards out.

These Boro fans certainly found the funny side of the moment, and even Hugill joined in on the fun too.

[ad_pod ]

Everton paid a fee of around £10 million to prise Nikola Vlasic away from Croatian club Hajduk Split in the summer of 2017.

The attacking midfielder arrived on Merseyside looking to force his way into the Toffees’ starting line up. However, the 21-year-old’s debut campaign in English football did not go according plan.

Vlasic only made 19 appearances for his new club in all competitions – many from the bench – and largely failed to impress. With the abundance of players vying for his position at the time – including Gylfi Sigurdsson and Wayne Rooney – it was always going to be an uphill struggle for the Croatian at Goodison Park.

[brid autoplay=”true” video=”327140″ player=”12034″ title=”Rafa’s Pub Facts Leicester Trump Man City Chelsea & Liverpool”]

Ahead of the 2018/19 campaign, Vlasic made a loan move to CSKA Moscow. The midfielder has since found fine form in Russia, netting three times in ten Russian Premier League appearances. The club’s official website recently announced that the Everton loanee had been given the player of the month award for the second month in a row.

Despite his impressive form in Russia, though, with Sigurdsson currently playing so well for Everton, Vlasic will still likely be absent from Marco Silva’s plans.

What do you think, Everton fans – does Vlasic have a future at the club?