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Liverpool visit Old Trafford on Sunday and they may be in a buoyant mood as Paul Pogba remains unavailable for the hosts through injury.

It is a notable absence which could possibly deflate Manchester United as much as boost Jurgen Klopp’s side, and that could prove decisive in the Reds maintaining their 100% record in the league.

Another bonus for Liverpool is that many of their players were able to rest over the international break, including Mo Salah, whilst Roberto Firmino continued his fine start to the season with a goal against Senegal.

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Salah looks to have overcome the knock he sustained against Leicester whilst there are also significant returns in other areas.

Alisson is expected to start for the first time since the opening day clash against Norwich, whilst Joel Matip is in line for a return to the team-sheet after injury forced him off against Sheffield United, a prospect which could be a big boost for the visitors.

Above all, though, is the problem of Pogba being missing, as that could have enormous tactical repercussions and determine how the game is played.

That is primarily because, without the France international, the Red Devils are a different outfit.

Their midfield lacks an attacking dimension and there is a derth of quality and creativity going forward when the likes of Scott McTominay, Nemanja Matic and Fred play.

Pogba’s passing stats suggest as much, as he completely surpasses any of his teammates in that area, with Fred’s 0.8 key passes per game the next best behind Pogba’s 2.6.

As a result, United will lack a threat in midfield to unleash the likes of Marcus Rashford and Dan James, and that means Jurgen Klopp can concentrate on attacking.

Oxlade-Chamberlain should therefore earn a recall as he can provide the injection of pace and flair in the middle of the pitch that Jordan Henderson lacks, evidenced best by the 29-year-old’s average of 1.4 successful dribbles per league game.

The Reds will not have to worry about him having to cover defensively against Man United’s midfield because of their lack of attacking threat, and that means Klopp should be more adventurous, particularly as his side failed to score at Old Trafford last year.

[ad_pod ]James Maddison isn’t averse to scoring an absolute screamer.If last weekend’s strike against Tottenham wasn’t evidence enough, Maddison shared a throwback to a goal he netted a couple of years ago while playing for Norwich.

It’s a pretty good goal, isn’t it?

Of course, someone replied to Maddison stating that it was a classic FIFA finesse shot, as the fanÂreplied ‘R1 + circle’ – that would be RB + B for anyone who plays on Xbox.

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The Leicester man was quite happy with the fan’s reaction, but he had complaints about his rating on this year’s game.

Maddison claims that his in-game counterpart wouldn’t be able to score the same calibre of goals as he can in real life due to the fact he only has 72 shooting.

Whether or not he’d be able to score the goals on the game is rather irrelevant as far as Foxes fans are concerned though, so long as he keeps banging them top bins in the real world.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Writing in his column for The Daily Telegraph, Jamie Carragher has revealed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will not be the man responsible for leading Manchester United to future trophies.

What did he say?

After enjoying an impressive start to his managerial reign at Old Trafford that included nine consecutive away wins, Solskjaer has endured a rather more difficult opening to the current campaign.

The Red Devils find themselves with just eight points from their first six Premier League games, and there has been a feeling of uneasiness over their transfer business in the summer window.

Now, Carragher has suggested Solskjaer still feels like a ‘care-taker manager’, and that he is simply a stop-gap for United before they appoint a more established name.

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He said: “To me, Solskjaer still resembles an interim manager – in place to clear the dressing room of expensive, under-performing names and put the spine of a team together for his successor.

“In my view he will never lead United to a Premier League title or win the Champions League because even if he achieves the goal of restoring stability, I believe he will be replaced by an established, elite coach. It may not be in his nature, but that is why it has reached the stage where it would be wise of Solskjaer to help himself more by putting pressure on those above to make more signings during the January transfer window as he may not be in charge for another one.”

The ball is in Solskjaer’s court

Make no mistake, this year certainly feels like United are at a crossroads. Achieving Champions League qualification is the undoubted priority, but the murmurings from the likes of Ed Woodward suggests the Red Devils are intent on making this a long-term project with Solskjaer at the helm.

If that is truly the case, the Norwegian must test that belief to the absolute limits. Demand United spend big-money in January to address the gaping holes in their striking options, and then be equally ambitious with his choice of targets for next summer.

As a former player and Champions League-winning hero, Solskjaer has an element of goodwill at the club. United fans are far less likely to completely turn on the ‘baby-faced assassin’. And so, as Carragher suggests, it’s about time he takes on the club’s hierarchy and insists they back him in the transfer market before it’s too late.

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When a Twitter account linked to Football London news on Tottenham Hotspur posted about the club’s reported interest in striker Vedat Muriqi on Tuesday night, it was gate-crashed by loads of Fenerbahce fans with some outrageous demands.

Turkish media outlet Sabah reported earlier this week that the north London outfit were keeping tabs on the 25-year-old, who only signed for the Istanbul giants this summer, and had scouted him during Kosovo’s 2-1 win against the Czech Republic at the weekend.

The centre-forward’s reputation likely went up even further given his display in his nation’s 5-3 defeat against England at St Mary’s on Tuesday, when he scored one and assisted two on a crazy night on the south coast.

Fenerbahce supporters responded to the post about Spurs’ interest following the final whistle of that game, and they weren’t afraid to offer some quite ridiculous proposals should Mauricio Pochettino want to sign him – including needing €200m as well as giving them Son Heung-Min and Harry Kane as part of the deal!

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

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West Ham are interested in signing Celta Vigo midfielder Stanislav Lobotka in a double transfer raid on the Spanish side, as they are also keen to take nine-goal forward Maxi Gomez from them as well, as reported exclusively by TEAMtalk.

What’s the word, then?

Much has been made of the Hammers’ pursuit for Uruguay international Gomez, with a report from Sky Sports suggesting that they are willing to meet the striker’s £43.2m release clause before loaning him back to the struggling La Liga side – Celta Vigo want to ensure they have Gomez available to aid their battle for survival.

However, the inclusion of Lobotka in this deal is a new revelation, and one that would see the east Londoners get a fantastic midfielder who has also been courted by other Premier League clubs such as Everton, Bournemouth and Leicester, according to the aforementioned TEAMtalk report.

Who should replace Marko Arnautovic if he leaves West Ham? FFC’s James Jones has the answer! Check out the video below to find out…

24-year-old Lobotka is an impressive figure in central midfield, often catching the eye with his composure, passing and dribbling skills that can get him out of tight areas, and he would be an excellent signing if West Ham do manage to get it over the line.

Who would be affected by his arrival?

If Lobotka were to arrive at the London Stadium, the Slovakian would surely immediately threaten Mark Noble’s position in the team.

The Irons’ captain has been a regular feature alongside the outstanding Declan Rice so far this season, but at 31 years of age, Manuel Pellegrini may want a younger face to fill that role, as well as a better player in general – Noble is a hero at West Ham, but he perhaps shouldn’t still be in the team week in, week out.

Another man whose future at the club would be thrown into serious doubt is Pedro Obiang. The Spanish midfielder has featured sporadically under Pellegrini so far this season, making just nine Premier League starts (as per WhoScored) – he also made the XI in the FA Cup game against AFC Wimbledon on Saturday, but struggled and was taken off at half-time in what turned out to be a 4-2 loss for the Hammers.

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According to The Mirror, Paris Saint-Germain are considering a £100m swoop for Crystal Palace attacker Wilfried Zaha before the European transfer window closes.

Indeed, the report claims that the French champions view Zaha as a potential replacement for Neymar, who continues to be linked with a return to Spain.

The Eagles forward had been tipped to join either Arsenal or Everton during the summer transfer window before ultimately remaining at Selhurst Park.

However, The Mirror claim that PSG are preparing to send a delegation to London with the view to discussing a swoop for the Ivory Coast international.

Zaha helped his side record a 2-1 win over Manchester United in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.

However, the 26-year-old is yet to get off the mark in terms of goals or assists in the early stages of the 2019-20 campaign.

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The Palace fans have been reacting to the transfer rumour on social media – a selection of which can be seen below:

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Former Forest man and now EFL pundit David Prutton believes the east Midlands club can mount a serious playoff charge this season, speaking to Nottingham Post.

What’s he said?

The Reds are enjoying life under Sabri Lamouchi, who was only appointed at the end of June when Martin O’Neill surprisingly received the axe on the same day.

They sit tenth in the Championship and have gone unbeaten in their last six matches following a disappointing opening day defeat to local rivals West Brom.

Last weekend’s result against Swansea City certainly put the rest of the league on notice as they knocked the Welsh outfit off the top spot by snatching a late winner at the Liberty Stadium.

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Alfa Semedo tapped home a Lewis Grabban cross in the 85th minute to hand Forest a 1-0 away victory, which was all the more impressive as they kept a clean sheet against the side that, at the time, were the league’s highest scorers.

That result in some ways backs up Prutton’s point as he claims that the league is so competitive this year that no team will run away with it.

He said:

“It looks a pretty even league. No one looks like they can run away with it.

“It’s well balanced. Forest are well placed to push on. It won’t be lost on their fans that Derby haven’t made a good start in comparison.”

Serious contenders

The last time Forest were in the top-flight was actually Prutton’s first year as a professional footballer, even though he did not make an appearance that season.

That was some 11 years ago.

After the start they’ve had and given the arguable doubts over the random nature of Lamouchi’s appointment, they could well be a dark horse in the Championship this season.

The 47-year-old manager has chopped and changed his side on multiple occasions, utilising no more than 20 players already this season, and has needed to ride some luck to pick up a point here and there – but all the signs are there to suggest they can be serious contenders.

Just four points split them from the joint-leaders, Leeds United and Swansea, which suggests that Prutton does indeed have a point that no team is likely to run away with it.

It’s still early days, and even though Lewis Grabban has got off to a hot start scoring four goals, the likes of Joe Lolley and Joao Carvalho are yet to even get going.

Lolley registered 11 assists and just as many goals last term while the Portuguese playmaker has had to battle injury.

Speaking live on Thursday during Sky Sports’ The Transfer Show, as transcribed by West Ham Zone, Kaveh Solhekol has made a claim involving the Irons and Sevilla defender Diego Carlos.

The Lowdown: West Ham in defender hunt?

Despite summer signing Kurt Zouma edging closer to a return from injury, manager David Moyes and recruitment chief Rob Newman have still been tipped to potentially sign a centre-back this month.

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At one point, it was seen as more of a major priority for the Irons due to Zouma and Angelo Ogbonna’s absences from the squad with names like Burnley’s James Tarkowski and Liverpool Nathaniel Phillips repeatedly linked.

As the January 31 deadline looms, West Ham’s search for a major mid-season signing goes on, with Solhekol now sharing what he knows after speculation arose that the Hammers may be the unnamed London side to match Newcastle United’s bid for Carlos.

The Latest: Solhekol makes live TV claim…

Making on air claim involving West Ham and the 28-year-old, Sky’s reporter has moved quickly to quash any rumours that Moyes’ men are the mystery club.

“I know for a fact it’s not West Ham United,” he said (via WHZ).

“That leaves Chelsea, Spurs, Crystal Palace and I’m not sure Crystal Palace are looking to sign a centre-back or spend £30million on a centre-back.”

The Verdict: No surprise…

The colossal Brazilian, if West Ham had tabled the bid, would arguably excite fans going by his reputation – but the player’s price tag could represent too much of a hurdle for GSB.

Lauded as a ‘beast’ and ‘revelation’ by Spanish football analyst Domagoj Kostanjšak, Carlos has averaged an impressive 3.6 clearances per 90 over his 20 Spanish top flight starts this campaign (WhoScored).

By comparison to West Ham’s current crop, only Zouma has managed more in that time (5.2) – perhaps indicating he would have been an complimentary partner in Moyes’ central defence.

Alas, with the Irons not in contention after all, it appears the Scotsman may have his sights set on other defensive targets, and perhaps ones with a cheaper price tag.

In other news: ExWHUemployee: West Ham agreement to sign ‘world class’ £17.10m striker ‘there to be done’, find out more here.

The Athletic’s Phil Hay has name-dropped James Ward-Prowse as the kind of signing he’d love to see at Leeds United.

What’s the story?

The Southampton captain was linked with a move away from St Mary’s in the summer transfer window when reports emerged of interest from fellow Premier League side Aston Villa, but the England international stayed put.

Hay has now suggested that Ward-Prowse could be a great fit at Elland Road instead.

He said in a Q&A for The Athletic: “Ward-Prowse is a terrific player who will surely move on from Southampton eventually. The sort of player I’d like to see at Leeds. From what I’m told, Leeds don’t intend to go back for Nketiah.”

Imagine him and Kalvin Phillips

While Kalvin Phillips might currently be out injured, the prospect of seeing him line up with his England colleague in the Leeds engine room is surely mouth-watering.

Dubbed a “machine” by his teammates at Southampton, the £42m-rated Ward-Prowse had a fine season in the Premier League last year.

The £100k-per-week ace would offer something that Leeds really missed last season – goals from midfield. The Saints star managed eight goals in the Premier League, as well as chipping in with seven assists, numbers which are far better than anything that Bielsa’s current options produced (Mateusz Klich was the closest with four strikes to his name).

As per FBRef.com, Ward-Prowse’s passes in the Premier League last season progressed for more than 10,000 yards, a real indication of how he is always looking to move things forward rather than keeping things simple.

That figure ranks him 49th in the entire division for 2020/21, a pretty impressive achievement considering that most of the players above him are goalkeepers and defenders – in terms of midfielders, only Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Ashley Westwood, Rodri and Granit Xhaka exceeded the 26-year-old’s tally.

Having him alongside a deeper-lying playmaker like Phillips could see Leeds have the perfect blend of control and dynamism in midfield, with the former protecting the back four and setting up attacks, and Ward-Prowse getting further forward to offer a goal threat.

It would be a real dream midfield duo for Bielsa.

Meanwhile, Leeds could finally axe one flop by signing this Championship sensation…

Last summer’s transfer window was a particularly busy one for Southampton, who brought in the likes of Valentino Livramento, Lyanco, Romain Perraud and Adam Armstrong on permanent deals.

Armando Broja also came to St Mary’s over the summer on a loan move from Chelsea until the end of the season.

Even though the 20-year-old is currently expected to rejoin the west London club when his deal at Southampton expires, it seems as though there could be a possible change of plans in that regard.

What’s the news?

In a recent Twitter post from Sky Sports journalist Lyall Thomas, Southampton are “aware of interest building” in Broja from other clubs and want to sign him on a permanent basis from Chelsea.

Since arriving at St Mary’s, the Albanian has scored seven goals in 19 appearances across all competitions so far this season, showing how much of a capable and useful attacking outlet he has been for Ralph Hasenhuttl despite not getting much senior action at Stamford Bridge.

With his goalscoring efforts in mind, it’s easy to see why Southampton would want to have him on a permanent basis rather than give him back to Chelsea at the end of the season.

In terms of the 20-year-old’s future, with the Blues having the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Kai Havertz and Timo Werner in their squad who can or predominantly play at centre-forward, it would be hard to see Broja getting as much game-time at Stamford Bridge next season as he has been at Southampton.

This could persuade the player to stay with the south coast club on a permanent basis rather than potentially wasting his time at Chelsea if he isn’t going to be guaranteed regular game-time under Thomas Tuchel.

Moving forward, either this month or in the summer transfer window, Southampton should definitely approach the west Londoners to see whether or not they would be willing to negotiate a suitable deal whoch would see Broja become a permanent Saints player and continue his career there. That would surely please Hasenhuttl and a lot of Southampton fans, especially if the Albanian can continue finding the net with regularity.

In other news – Imagine him & Ward-Prowse: Solak could form scary Saints duo with “dynamic” £18m-rated beast