Glasgow Rangers have been gifted an injury boost as Michael Beale says Malik Tillman could play in the Scottish Premiership on Wednesday night.

The Lowdown: Unfit…

Tillman played 65 minutes in Rangers’ 2-1 loss to Celtic in the Viaplay Cup final last week, but showed signs that he was unfit.

As such, he was left out of the squad in their 3-1 win over Kilmarnock at the weekend, with question marks over his fitness.

The Latest: Could play Hibernian

Speaking to the media in his pre-game press conference ahead of their match away at Hibernian, Beale says that Tillman ‘could be an option’, although their Scottish Cup tie against Raith Rovers at Ibrox on Sunday afternoon is the ‘priority’:

“Update on Tillman – MB clarifies he could be an option for Wednesday but cup tie is priority.”

The Verdict: Big boost

It would certainly be a big boost if Tillman is deemed fit enough to play against Hibernian.

Hailed as an ‘epic talent’ by former Gers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst, the Bayern Munich loanee has settled in very well in Scottish football, with nine goals and five assists in 37 games in total over all competitions so far this season (Transfermarkt).

There have even been reports of them wanting to sign Tillman permanently given how well he has performed, and the Light Blues certainly look a better team whenever he is on the pitch.

However, it will be up to Beale to decide whether to risk him against Hibs, or save him for the weekend.

Newcastle United are reportedly interested in signing Barcelona forward Raphinha this summer, despite the Brazilian having only made the move to Catalonia back in July.

What’s the latest on Raphinha to Newcastle?

According to Spanish outlet Sport, the Magpies could be set to target the 26-year-old ahead of next season, with the former Leeds United man seemingly one of the club’s ‘main objectives’ for the summer window.

This follows claims made prior to the winger’s move to Camp Nou that the St James’ Park outfit were in “talks” regarding a deal to prise him from Elland Road, albeit with Xavi Hernandez’s side ultimately swooping in to strike an agreement for a fee of around £55m.

Could Raphinha replace Almiron at Newcastle?

Should Raphinha be snapped up by the Tynesiders this time around, the one-time Rennes man will likely be looking to nail down a regular role on the right flank in Eddie Howe’s side, with that starting berth currently taken up by the resurgent, Miguel Almiron.

The Paraguayan playmaker has enjoyed a real standout season thus far with ten Premier League goals to his name, with the 29-year-old having been rewarded for that “amazing transformation” – in the words of club legend Alan Shearer – with a new, long-term contract.

Despite the wide man’s recent impressive statistics, it may well be that it is the former Atlanta United star who drops from the side if Raphinha is signed this summer, with the latter man potentially proving something of an upgrade for Howe and co.

The Porto Alegre native may only have four La Liga goals to his name this season, although his overall record so far this term stands at seven goals and nine assists in 34 games across all fronts, while Almiron has contributed ten goals but only three assists in 30 games in all competitions.

Equally, it is in fact the former Sporting Lisbon sensation who boasts by far the better record in the Premier League following his eye-catching stint in Yorkshire, as the 5 foot 9 dynamo provided 29 goals and assists in just 65 top-flight games, while the current Newcastle man has just 23 goals and assists despite featuring 133 times for the northeast side in the league.

It would also appear that it is Raphinha who offers more in a defensive sense in his wide berth, with the £62m-rated man ranking in the top 7% among those in his position in Europe for blocks made and the top 11% for interceptions, while Almiron ranks in just the top 49% and the top 52% for those same two metrics, respectively.

As ruthless as it may be to cast aside a player who has been such a key figure for Howe this season, it is the Barcelona “baller” – as lauded by former Whites teammate Tyler Roberts – who should be given the nod in that attacking role, provided a deal can be completed.

An update has emerged on Liverpool and their interest in signing central defender Levi Colwill in the summer transfer window…

What’s the latest on Levi Colwill to Liverpool?

According to Football Insider, the Reds are tracking the Brighton centre-back, who is on loan from fellow Premier League side Chelsea, ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

The report claims that Liverpool coaches have been seriously impressed with the England youth international’s performances in the top flight this term.

Arsenal are also said to be plotting a move for the defender, who the Blues are not actively looking to sell at this time. Jurgen Klopp is also monitoring his situation with the defender valued at around £25m as recently as last summer.

Could Colwill be Virgil van Dijk’s heir?

Liverpool could land the long-term heir to their current first-choice left-sided centre-back Virgil van Dijk by convincing their Premier League rivals to part ways with Colwill in the summer.

The 20-year-old’s contract at Stamford Bridge expires in the summer of 2025 but Chelsea have signed Wesley Fofana, 22, and Benoit Badiashile, 22, in his position this season with their presence potentially set to block his pathway to the first-team in Graham Potter’s side.

This could, therefore, open the door for the Reds to swoop in for the England U21 international if the defender decides that he needs to move on from the Blues.

Van Dijk, who turns 32 this year, has been a reliable performer yet again for Liverpool this season – averaging a Sofascore rating of 7.10 across 22 league matches – and predominantly plays on the left side of the centre-back pairing, despite being right-footed.

Colwill, who was once hailed as “outrageous” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, also lines up on the left of the defence as a naturally left-footed player and the youngster could well be the long-term heir to the Dutchman’s place in the team.

Both players rank in the top 15% of centre-backs in Europe’s top five leagues over the last 365 days for passes attempted and pass completion rate. Van Dijk (4.77) and Colwill (5.06) also excel at progressing the ball via carries and passes per 90 with these statistics showing that they are both ball-playing defenders who can start attacks for their sides on a regular basis.

They are also both in the top 14% of players in their positions for aerial duels won per 90 over the last 365 days – managing 2.82 or more – an indication that they are aerially dominant and can tower over attackers to win the ball.

Stylistically, the Chelsea man could be a like-for-like replacement for Van Dijk if the English defender can develop his game and perform to a high level consistently over the course of a campaign – instead of in just seven Premier League matches so far.

At the age of 20, the enforcer has plenty of time left ahead of him to grow and improve and Klopp’s coaching could help him to become the long-term successor to the club’s current Dutch star.

West Ham all but sealed their spot in the Europa Conference League quarter-finals as they eased to a 2-0 win against AEK Larnaca in Cyprus.

Two goals from the much-lamented Michail Antonio eased the pressure on David Moyes following last weekend’s embarrassing defeat against Brighton, although his side were always expected to win against the Cypriot minnows.

While Antonio impressed on his return to the side, contributing two impressive finishes on Thursday evening, it was arguably Said Benrahma who was Moyes’ star performer against Larnaca.

How did Benrahma perform versus Larnaca?

As per Sofascore, the Algeria international would earn an impressive 8.2/10 rating for his performance, which was the best of any player to feature in the game from both sides.

The former Brentford man was instrumental in the Hammers’ opener, as he sent Larnaca’s right back to the shops before whipping in a delightful cross, which Antonio simply had to steer home.

This was just one of two big chances that the 27-year-old would create on Thursday, with Antonio missing a chance for his hat-trick when he hit the post in the second half.

Benrahma looked extremely assured in possession and dangerous every time he received the ball, completing 24 of his 27 attempted passes with an 89% success rate, which is an improvement on his 84.6% average in the Premier League so far this season.

The wide man, who touched the ball on 42 occasions, played two key passes, registered three shots and completed four dribbles in total, which again is a significant improvement on the 1.4 key passes, 1.9 shots and 1.5 dribbles he has averaged in the top flight.

It was something of a surprise when Moyes decided to take him off just after the hour mark, as he also contributed in defence, winning six of his seven duels on the night and completing two tackles, which again is impressive given he has managed just 0.7 tackles per game in the Premier League.

This wasn’t the first time that the Algerian winger has impressed in Europe, as he also earned a huge amount of praise from Joe Cole last season after a strong performance against Genk.

Cole said on BT Sport (via Read West Ham): Tonight at times he was unplayable. Fantastic, that’s how good he is, as soon as he saw the defender and squared him up, he knew he was in control of the situation. The finish was exquisite.”

West Ham fans will be hoping that the decision to sub Benrahma was simply to rest him ahead of Sunday’s big fixture against Aston Villa, where a defeat will surely spell the end for Moyes at the London Stadium.

Chelsea defeated Leicester City at the King Power Stadium in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon, securing three successive victories across all competitions and continuing their recent revival under Graham Potter.

After a wretched run of form that left the Blues boasting just two wins across the board from 15 attempts, there was mounting pressure on Potter and his outfit, who had fallen into the middle of the Premier League and faced a miserable end to the first term of the new era under owner Todd Boehly.

And while there is still much work to be done, there is newfound optimism emanating from the west London side, who remain tenth in the division after 26 matches but are now just five points behind Liverpool in fifth.

Ben Chilwell added to his match-winning assist against Leeds United last weekend by volleying the away team into the lead in Leicester, before an exquisite dinked finish from Kai Havertz gave the Blues the lead in the dying embers before the break; Mateo Kovacic sealed the three points in the second half with a thumping finish from £88.5m winter signing Mykhaylo Mudryk’s headed pass.

How did Kai Havertz perform against Leicester?

Havertz has not always been in the limelight at Stamford Bridge since his £71m move from Bayer Leverkusen, despite scoring the match-winning goal in the 20/21 Champions League final, but with a delightful finish against the Foxes to add to his penalty against Borussia Dortmund in mid-week, he now looks like he is enjoying his talismanic role under Potter’s tutelage.

With eight seasonal strikes, the 33-cap German is now Chelsea’s top goalscorer of the term, and his overall performance in the midlands will have been most pleasing for Potter and co.

As per Sofascore, the 23-year-old’s 7.8 match rating was bettered only by Conor Gallagher, who replaced Joao Felix early into the second half, with Havertz’s indeed in the thick of the action with two goals on target and a further two wide of the mark, also having an effort blocked.

An incessant thorn in the side of the home team, the £150k-per-week gem made 55 touches, assuredly completing 89% of his passes from his robust role and created one big chance, also winning four of his 11 ground duels.

And having made three tackles on the afternoon, the forward forged an all-encompassing display that will hardly hamper his chances of remaining as the first-choice striker to lead the line of this lucrative and expansive Chelsea squad.

Hailed for his “beautiful” goal by journalist Nizaar Kinsella, Havertz expertly chipped the ball over the hapless Danny Ward, with Paul Merson even waxing lyrical over the ace’s “Bergkamp-esque” lob live on Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday (11/03/2023).

With Chelsea now paving a sturdy foundation to build upon for the remainder of the campaign, casting the cobwebs of the awful run aside, Havertz’s rise to form comes at the perfect time, and should he continue to channel this newfound goal-scoring prowess, the Blues’ chances of completing a remarkable seasonal turnaround are only enhanced.

Everton boss Sean Dyche was unable to make a single addition to his first-team squad in the January transfer window and will now have to avoid the drop without any reinforcements.

The Toffees are currently 18th in the Premier League table and have a real battle on their hands to avoid dropping down to the Championship next season.

However, the club already have one eye on what they could do in the summer if they are able to retain their top-flight status as Nottingham Forest left-back Renan Lodi is reportedly a target.

Steve Cooper’s side have an option to sign him permanently from Atletico Madrid for €30m (£26m) at the end of his current loan spell but are said to be set to pass up on the chance to exercise it, with the Spanish side willing to negotiate with the Toffees over a deal if that comes to pass.

Could Renan Lodi replace Vitaliy Mykolenko?

Dyche must now swoop to sign the Brazilian defender as it may allow him to brutally ditch current left-back Vitality Mykolenko from the side heading into the 2023/24 campaign.

Journalist Richard Buxton recently criticised the full-back, dubbing him the “defensive weak link” in the side, whilst stating that he is “getting turned over so regularly.”

The Ukraine international has been dribbled past 19 times in 24 Premier League appearances with that an indication opponents are finding it too easy to get past him out wide, as they are dribbling by him 0.8 times per game.

Mykolenko has not made up for his defensive shortfalls with attacking quality as the defender ranks in the bottom 26% or lower of players in his position in Europe’s top five leagues over the last 365 days for successful take-ons and assists per 90.

Lodi, whose “lung bursting” runs were hailed by journalist Josh Bunting, ranks in the 32nd and 69th percentiles in assists and take-ons per 90 respectively, suggesting that the Brazilian, who scored six goals and provided ten assists in 118 games for Atletico, would offer more at the top end of the pitch.

The 24-year-old has also won 54% of his duels in the Premier League this season, whereas Mykolenko has lost 53% of his. That is proof of the Forest man being an upgrade on the Everton defender in terms of the defensive strength he offers on the pitch.

Therefore, Dyche could brutally ditch the left-back by signing Lodi from Atletico in the summer as the Forest loanee could offer more at both ends of the pitch.

Indeed, the “attacking threat” – as Josh Bunting once lauded him – is far more efficient in winning possession back and providing more quality in on the ball to make things happen going forward.

Glasgow Rangers head coach Michael Beale failed to secure his first trophy in charge of the club as his side lost 2-1 in the League Cup final on Sunday.

The Hoops lost to their bitter rivals and went into the game with a number of injury issues. John Lundstram and Malik Tillman both started after their respective injuries, whilst Ryan Jack was only able to make the bench.

Kemar Roofe, meanwhile, did not make the matchday squad and his persistent injury issues could leave the manager with a big decision to make in the summer.

The Jamaica international has missed 45 competitive matches since the start of last season, after missing 14 in 2020/21, and has only played three games in the Premiership this term.

Roofe, who has scored 36 goals in 78 outings for the club in all competitions, is a good option for Beale to have when fit as the dynamo is a proven goalscorer but the £26k-per-week forward is, unfortunately, a liability with the manager not being able to rely on him to be available on a regular basis.

The Light Blues head coach could ruthlessly ditch the ex-Leeds striker in the summer by promoting B Team star Zak Lovelace to take his place in the first team.

Who is Zak Lovelace?

Rangers’ teenage centre-forward has been in phenomenal form this season since joining on a permanent deal from English side Millwall last summer.

The 17-year-old has proven himself to be a standout performer for both the B Team and the U18 side. He has scored 12 goals and provided six assists in 27 B Team matches and produced six goals contributions in six U18 games.

Lovelace made his first-team debut in the League Cup earlier this season and was named on the bench in the 3-0 win over Livingston in the Premiership last month, although the youngster did not make an appearance in the match.

This suggests that the teenager has caught Beale’s eye and done enough in his outings for the academy to convince him that he has the potential to make the grade for the senior side.

His fantastic statistics for the youth team – 24 goal contributions in 33 games – suggest that the marksman has the potential to be an exciting player for the Light Blues, which is exactly how Ross Wilson described him in 2022 as the sporting director dubbed him an “exciting” young talent.

Therefore, it’s easy to see why Lovelace could be a future star for the Gers and thus, bringing him into the first-team fold to compete with Antonio Colak, and potentially Alfredo Morelos, could benefit his development by allowing the gem to learn from experienced professionals.

It would also allow Beale to ruthlessly ditch Roofe by either selling or loaning him out as the striker’s persistent injury issues are truly hampering the Light Blues.

Manchester United are expected to offer their young prospect Facundo Pellistri a new contract before looking at a potential loan move for him in the summer.

How long does Facundo Pellistri have left on his contract?

The 21-year-old winger now has just over two years remaining on his deal with the Red Devils having returned from his loan move to Spain last summer.

Despite having spent a season and a half away from Old Trafford on loan with Alaves, Erik ten Hag decided to keep the Uruguayan around for his first campaign at the helm.

However, it seems as if he could be set to leave the club on a season-long loan over the summer in search of some more regular football.

But before he leaves, Fabrizio Romano has suggested the youngster could be rewarded with a new deal to extend his stay at Od Trafford beyond 2025:

"The idea is to send the player on loan. It's a concrete possibility. But at the moment, it's still not decided the next step because Man United's decision will be in the next weeks on the contract.

"I'm told there is a serious possibility that Manchester United will offer Facundo Pellistri a new deal before sending him on loan, probably in the summer, but this is something to be discussed internally in the next month, so there will be conversations."

Should Facundo Pellistri be sent out on loan?

Despite being kept at the club for the 2022/23 campaign, it is only recently that Pellistri has become a part of Ten Hag's side in the Premier League.

The 21-year-old has been included in numerous matchday squads, however, it is only recently where he has made an appearance from the bench.

United's recent draw against Leeds United saw the winger make his league debut for the Red Devils in front of the Old Trafford crowd.

Since, Pellistri has made another appearance in the Premier League against Southampton and came off the bench in the Europa League against Real Betis.

What is interesting to see, though, is that the 21-year-old has played significantly less than the 18-year-old Alejandro Garnacho this season.

And like Pellistri, Garnacho is expected to be handed a new deal, however, unlike the Uruguayan, Garnacho is not expected to be sent on loan for next season.

So it does leave an interesting question as to where Pellistri fits into United's plans for the future and whether this new deal offers the youngster any hope or whether it is just a tool for United to cover their asset's value.

Leeds United's illustrious history stretches back afar, and despite their 16-year hiatus from the Premier League, they have still boasted some incredible talent the likes of which many other clubs would have loved to have.

There is a reason why they were such a feared outfit in the late 90s and early 2000s, with George Graham and later David O'Leary crafting a squad laden with quality which would propel them to the Champions League semi-finals.

However, this burst of success actually marked the beginning of the end for the Whites, who quickly found themselves in deep financial trouble which brought the period crashing down.

Despite this, and the subsequent exit of most of their top assets, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink had left years earlier due to a dispute with the aforementioned O'Leary as he sought to make some quick cash.

He was quick to offload their prized player, who had starred ever since signing for the former boss in 1997. Leaving acrimoniously could have seen him fade into obscurity in the Leeds history books, but he remains an ever-present figure in best teams of the past few decades due to his undeniable talent. Were he at Elland Road now in his prime, relegation certainly would not be a threat.

How long was Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink at Leeds?

Although the Dutchman only spent two short years in Yorkshire, his impact was swift and spectacular.

A struggling first-half season quickly turned into a blistering second half, and he would score 16 times before turning that into 18 Premier League goals the campaign following.

With an electric burst of pace to partner with his powerful physique, his two-footedness made him a constant danger in front of goal for the opposition. The way in which he would score goals with such ease marks him out as a far cry from the struggling Georginio Rutter, who was brought in to uphold their survival bid.

The Frenchman is only 20 but boasts huge potential, despite only showing glimpses of the player he might become if he can find consistency.

Before moving he had just two goals to his name in this campaign for Hoffenheim, yet a club-record fee was unloaded to tempt him to leave.

Whilst he might one day be a success, Leeds needed tangible quality immediately to steer them to safety. The kind of quality that Hasselbaink had in spades, as he adapted to England with ease.

Despite their disagreements, O'Leary did praise the character of the forward by lauding him and Mark Viduka as "wonderful lads" as they returned to face their old club.

With a misfiring strike force that could see them fall further, Javi Gracia would surely be dreaming of a player like the legendary marksman who lit up the Premier League to come and have a similar impact on his side.

Liverpool supporters have slammed the news that UEFA are set to refund Reds ticket holders from the 2022 Champions League final.

The Lowdown: Disaster in Paris

Jurgen Klopp and his side suffered a 1-0 defeat to Real Madrid at the Stade de France last May, but the bigger story came before the game had even kicked off.

Merseyside fans were the subject of abuse as they attempted to enter the stadium, being tear gassed by local police and attacked by gangs to name just a few situations, with many missing the game only to see UEFA announce it was their own timeliness to blame.

Well, European football’s governing body have finally done something about it…

The Latest: Liverpool fans react…

Taking to Twitter, Liverpool journalist James Pearce confirmed that UEFA have agreed to offer refunds to all the Premier League fans who were in Paris that night, to which supporters have made their opinions known.

They said:

“Refund is not good enough.. UEFA board have to resign or [be] taken to court, any other profession the demand would be an immediate sack of the board.” – @uka8

“Big wow. I want a refund for all my travel and accommodation too.” – @Redpedro38

“Should tell them to stick it. Heads in UEFA need to roll, proper apologies and compensation for the trauma it caused people.” – @ClydaMan

“It wasn’t only LFC fans btw, it was Real Madrid fans too. Disgraceful organisation.” – @stopbaggingmee

“We should not take a penny until Real Madrid fans are also part of the refund.. we will not be bought off.” – @ifill_james

“Too little too late but better than the kick in the teeth UEFA would rather give out.” – @quid4trolley

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The Verdict: Better than nothing

UEFA offering Liverpool fans refunds is completely the right decision, and whilst it will never be able to make up for the personal trauma that people went through, it’s better than nothing.

The Anfield outfit have a three-goal deficit to overcome when they face Madrid for the second leg next week and the boss will be hoping his team can get revenge for the previous 5-2 defeat.