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Tottenham Hotspur take on Everton this weekend as they look to kickstart their season in the Premier League.

Spurs lost 2-1 to Liverpool on Sunday to continue a poor start to the campaign that has seen them win just three times.

Following the result at Anfield, Mauricio Pochettino’s men sit 11th in the table, already eight points behind fourth-placed Chelsea and 16 behind Jurgen Klopp’s league leaders.

With that in mind, one feels that the time is right for a hard reset and a new line-up on Sunday could do just that.

Football FanCast has taken a look at the XI Pochettino should pick as his side return to the site of one of their biggest wins last season; in 2018/19, Spurs beat the Toffees 6-2 on Merseyside.

Paulo Gazzaniga should play in goal following an excellent display against the Reds. Hugo Lloris remains injured.

Switching to a back three would eliminate the need to select the full-backs branded “dumb and dumber” – Danny Rose, who is suspended anyway, and Serge Aurier – by Roy Keane.

Thus, Pochettino should opt to select Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen and Davinson Sanchez across the backline.

There will be a need to institute wing-backs if he does that, but Moussa Sissoko is capable of playing in that role – he played there in the final 10 minutes at Anfield – while Ryan Sessegnon will surely be champing at the bit to make his debut following his summer switch from Fulham.

With Rose ruled out of the game due to disciplinary issues and the youngster reportedly available after some injury issues, the timing could not be more perfect.

And with Sissoko on the flank, Tanguy Ndombele and Harry Winks should play in central midfield.

The former brings offensive energy to midfield with 1.1 dribbles per game in the Premier League this season, alongside two goals and an assist, while the England international recycles possession well.

Further forward, one has to wonder what more Lucas Moura has to do to get into the team; he scored 15 goals in all competitions last season and is a pacey, dynamic player; he should be starting.

Son Heung-Min remains a major goal threat, having netted five times in all competitions already this season, while captain and top goalscorer Harry Kane surely has to play.

Jamie Carragher has backed Steven Gerrard to succeed at Rangers and win the title as he feels “something is bubbling” at Ibrox.

The Liverpool legend, who is now working as a pundit on Sky Sports, was speaking about how well his former team-mate was doing in Glasgow and even went on to compare the feel-good factor currently being felt at the club close to the one they shared whilst at Anfield together.

Although he suggested that winning the title might not top the feeling of their heroic night in Istanbul in the 2005 Champions League final against AC Milan, Carragher believed it would be a moment that would go pretty close to rivalling it.

“There is no doubt that Celtic probably have the edge in terms of the squad, financially also,” he told the Herald. “They have the belief that they almost win the league every year. I think Celtic have a lot of advantages that Rangers don’t have.

“But I think they will do it this year. I have seen in some of the European and Old Firm games how the crowd and the atmosphere has been. You think there is something bubbling here at Rangers. I know myself from Liverpool how it feels when the manager has the crowd and the players pulled together.

“It feels like that at Rangers when I watch them. I think, for him, it is probably difficult to top that (Istanbul), really. But I think it would maybe be a close second or certainly in there and about.”

Indeed, Gerrard appears to have turned himself into a real favourite with the fans since taking the hotseat in the dugout (his admission that the club was in his heart would have helped) and that feeling was, perhaps, evident when he took to the pitch at the weekend in a Rangers strip for the final moments of the Legends game against Liverpool (The Scottish Sun).

With the Gers currently sitting at the top of the Scottish Premiership table, after a slip-up by their Old Firm rivals, it might be easy to get a little carried away with how things are going, although the manager is known to take a hard stance on complacency and demands the most from his players every single time.

Gerrard certainly appears to have built a squad capable of challenging their rivals with the manager making a number of transfers since being at Ibrox (per TransferMarkt), and with the arrival of Ross Wilson to help him at the top-level, more quality signings could come through the door in the near future.

Carragher seems to be right to suggest ‘something is bubbling’, especially with the perceived togetherness within the club, and perhaps, this will be the year that Rangers do get their hands on the Scottish Premiership title.

Rangers fans, do you agree with Carragher’s remarks? Let us know your thoughts by sharing them in the comments section below!

Some Aston Villa fans have taken to Twitter to heap praise on Jack Grealish for his match-winning performance in the 2-1 victory over Brighton on Saturday.The Englishman scored the Villans’ first goal on the day with a strike in first-half stoppage time, before he set up Matt Targett for a 93rd-minute winner to hand Dean Smith’s side all three points.

Grealish’s goal and assist now means he has found the net twice in nine Premier League appearances this season, while he has also set up three more.

The 24-year-old recorded a staggering six key passes against Graham Potter’s side at Villa Park, and in addition to that, got two of his three shots on target.

The 5 foot 9 midfielder also embarked on five dribbles and was fouled six times in what was a quite brilliant performance from the Villa academy graduate.

Let’s take a look at what some of the Villa fans on Twitter have been saying about his showing…

What team will Unai Emery choose to face Manchester United on Monday?

Arsenal travel to Old Trafford in search of a fourth successive victory, and they will fancy their chances against a side that lost 2-0 to West Ham in their last Premier League match and were also taken to penalties by League One team Rochdale in the League Cup last week.

Joe Willock could be amongst those to be given the nod after some impressive performances in the last few fixtures. He was on the scoresheet against both Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League and Nottingham Forest in the League Cup. After much promise, the 20-year-old is finally getting his chance this season, having already made seven appearances.

Watch Arsenal Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

The Gunners supporters, it appears, want him to start against the Red Devils. They have taken to Twitter to share their thoughts, and you can see some of the best comments from the social media platform below.

Just when you think things couldn’t get any worse (or better, if you’re that way inclined), they do.As an Arsenal player, it must’ve been satisfying watching close rivals Tottenham Hotspur massacred in their own backyard by the travelling Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, knowing full well they’ll likely never be in danger of suffering a seven-goal beating against the likes of Standard Liege, Vitoria Guimaraes and Eintracht Frankfurt.Watch Arsenal Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Former Gunners prospect Serge Gnabry was the main man on the night and delivered a four-goal salvo as Spurs lost 7-2, including two of Bayern’s three in the dying moments of the game – perhaps the most painful for those who stayed until the end to boo their side off.

And to think, Tony Pulis didn’t see fit to play him in his West Bromwich Albion side.

As his final effort hit the back of the net, we all thought the same thing, ‘how and why is Gnabry so good now?’ Or as Hector Bellerin put it, “Serge Gnabry joke man.â€

Gnabry has now scored as many goals as Harry Kane at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Pulis is without a job after being sacked by Middlesbrough. Funny how things turn out.

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Reported Everton target Tanguy Ndombele produced a brilliant performance for Lyon as they picked up a goalless draw in the first leg of their last 16 Champions League tie with Barcelona at the Lyon Olympic Stadium on Tuesday, surely ending the Merseyside outfit’s chances of signing him.

On the chalkboard

Well, The Liverpool Echo reported in November that Toffees chief scout Martyn Glover had been sent to watch the powerful 22-year-old midfielder in action, with the media outlet reporting at the time that the France international was worth £40m.

The Liverpool Echo said that the interest in the Ligue 1 star was evidence that Marco Silva and Marcel Brands were keen to bolster the team’s options in the centre of the park across the January transfer window and then in the summer, which could be a priority given they did no business in that area last month.

Andre Gomes is only on loan from Barcelona, Idrissa Gueye has been heavily linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain while 20-year-old Tom Davies has captained the team in recent weeks.

Could they sign Ndombele?

In a word, no.

Any chance they did have of bringing him to Goodison Park have surely vanished after his latest display in Europe, where he produced a display full of quality and composure against some of the best players in world football.

Not only did the powerful Frenchman shine from a defensive point of view – which is of course important given his usual deep-lying position – but he also made an impact going forward for the Ligue 1 outfit as well, as you can see from his WhoScored stats, as he completed five dribbles and was successful with all three long balls he attempted.

Everton may well be keen to strengthen their midfield this summer, but they won’t be getting Ndombele whose price will be soaring and who will surely be attracting interest from the very best clubs in Europe as he continues to excel at the highest level.

Ojo dedicated his goal to Ricksen and his family, and he stated that he hoped the team gave him a perfect send off.

It was rather fitting that Rangers were facing off against a Dutch side on Thursday evening, and the team’s battling performance was the perfect tribute to Ricksen.

Tottenham Hotspur are aiming to bolster Antonio Conte’s backline this summer, according to reports…

What’s the word?

The Telegraph’s Mike McGrath claims that Spurs have three central defenders on their radar ahead of next season, one of which being Lille colossus Sven Botman, who was heavily pursued by Newcastle United in January.

Conte’s former Inter Milan star Alessandro Bastoni and RB Leipzig gem Josko Gvardiol also feature on their shortlist.

Taking Spurs to the next level

It would be quite the statement to beat the Saudi-backed Magpies to Botman’s signature in the summer and he would be a signing that helps elevate the north Londoners onto the next level.

The Lilywhites have lost just once in the Premier League since the Italian’s arrival in November but still remain some way off the sides inside the top four, as the man himself referenced following their defeat to Chelsea last month.

“I have to think that in 14 days we lost three times to Chelsea. It means there’s a different level between us and them,” he told reporters (via football.london).

“To lose three games in 14 days means they are much stronger than you, as a team and as a squad.

“You have to accept this but only after a performance like tonight. Because we tried everything to get a big result here. But sometimes it’s not enough, especially when you play against this type of team. This club are on another level compared to us.”

Indeed, they are the Champions of Europe after all but they are the only side to have bested Spurs in the top-flight, so that’s an encouraging sign about the future under Conte.

The 52-year-old must be backed quite heavily in the summer if he’s to bridge the gap to the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool.

A place in the top four isn’t out of reach either but it must be built upon and they can do so with the arrival of a player like Botman – a young but ready-made talent fit for the physicality of the Premier League.

Alongside Cristian Romero and Eric Dier, Spurs could have quite the backline and results like the ones against the Blues will quickly become a thing of the past.

The 22-year-old Dutch international played a crucial role in Lille clinching the Ligue 1 title over Paris Saint-Germain last season, where he featured in 37 games and averaged 3.2 aerial duels won, 3.2 clearances and 1.5 interceptions, via WhoScored.

His former manager Christophe Galtier waxed lyrical about his influence back in October 2020. He said (via the Ligue 1 official website):

“In football, you have leaders who are vocal, ones who gesticulate and ones who shake the team up… I have a few of those but you also have people who lead by example, through their performances, and it’s true that Sven is emerging as this type of leader.”

Valued at £27m by Transfermarkt, Botman is the sort of signing that could take Spurs onto the next level and given the lack of top-quality defenders at the club, he’s someone that Conte would surely love to land this summer.

AND in other news, Conte may have an even better Eden Hazard at Spurs in “explosive” £27m-rated “monster”…

Laurens De Bock is still on the books at Leeds United, some four years after joining the club…

Christiansen flop

You could be forgiven for forgetting that name but the Belgian left-back was signed for £3m by Thomas Christiansen back in January 2018, his third arrival of the January transfer window.

The 29-year-old would only go onto play seven times for the Yorkshire outfit, including a particularly nightmare display against Derby County before he lost his place to 19-year-old Tom Pearce.

Ever since then, he’s been out on loan time and time again and appears to be set to finally depart Elland Road at the expiration of his £15k-per-week contract this summer.

Still under contract

By the time Marcelo Bielsa arrived, De Bock was deemed surplus to requirements but finding a permanent exit for him since then has proven a very difficult task.

The former Belgium U21 international has been out on loan to four different clubs, featuring for Oostende, Sunderland, ADO Den Haag and finally Zulte Waregem, where he has been since July 2020.

And they are getting fair service from the Leeds loanee, having made 54 appearances over the last year-and-a-half, including 22 matches this season where he has often taken the armband.

At least they are getting their money’s worth, right?

It remains to be seen exactly how much of his wages – if any – the Whites are covering, especially given the fact that he’s not been seen on the pitch for the club since March 2018 but either way, he has been robbing chairman Andrea Radrizzani dry for a whopping 213 weeks – and counting.

If, for instance, Leeds were paying his salary in full, then he would’ve cost around £6.2m in total – nearly £1m per game and £9,841 per minute of game time.

De Bock has been one absolutely disastrous signing for Leeds regardless of how much they paid overall.

AND in other news, Bielsa could have a new Jansson in Leeds’ 18 y/o “massive talent” who’s shades of Van Dijk…

Lots of Everton fans have been left buzzing over some injury news that has emerged ahead of their game away at Norwich City in the Premier League.

As per The Athletic journalist Patrick Boyland, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison and Yerry Mina are all now back in training for the Goodison Park faithful, meaning that they could all feature against the Canaries if deemed fit enough.

All three of them rank among the Merseyside club’s ten best players so far this season, according to WhoScored, with Calvert-Lewin number one.

The striker has scored three goals in the four matches that he has played in the Premier League this term, and having him back with Richarlison will certainly give Rafa Benitez’s team more of a goal threat, while Mina provides another solid option defensively.

Everton fans on injury news

These Toffees buzzed as the injury news was shared on Twitter, with one Blues supporter even going as far as to claim that it was a ‘huge boost’:

“Good news Boyland at the back post!!!”

Credit: @EFCMatt1

“Huge boost for weekend hopefully”

Credit: @GraemeMcV

“Yesssssss”

Credit: @Foxy0580

“Cracking news this”

Credit: @Byrdsman75

“Brilliant. Start all 3 on Saturday imo”

Credit: @CBobblers1878

“Things you love to see”

Credit: @JGreenway8

In other news, find out which EFC ace’s claim has fans speculating here!