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Lots of Manchester United fans have taken to Twitter in the aftermath of the 1-1 draw against Liverpool, and have been quick to point the finger at one man for Adam Lallana’s 85th-minute equaliser.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

The England U21 right-back – who cost the Red Devils £50m back in the summer – had a fairly solid game from a defensive aspect as he so usually does, making three tackles – the second most out of everyone on the pitch behind Roberto Firmino.

However, his failure to close down Andy Robertson in the final moments of the match proved costly to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and the United players.

The Scotland international whipped in a cross which was then tucked away by Adam Lallana, resulting in the Red Devils throwing away yet another lead.

One fan below said that the former Crystal Palace man needs to get out to players quicker, whereas another supporter said that the 1-1 draw was not Wan-Bissaka’s best game by any means while also backing up the previous fan’s thoughts about closing Robertson down.

Let’s take a look at some more of the Twitter reaction…

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

Tottenham Hotspur announced on Friday that Moussa Sissoko had signed a new four-year deal with the club in what is an unprecedented move under Daniel Levy, and it could have a significant impact on the futures of Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld.

What’s the word, then?

Well, Spurs haven’t been a club to hand out lengthy contracts to players in and around their 30s in general during Levy’s tenure, so Friday’s announcement was a bit of a shock in many ways.

For the north London outfit to give a player who turned 30 last month a four-year contract is certainly notable, and if he stays for the duration it means he could leave the side just months before his 34th birthday.

Meanwhile, the contracts of two others players in and around the same age in Vertonghen and Alderweireld are due to expire next summer, with no progress or developments yet on whether they duo will eventually commit, or leave.

Long-term deals on the cards?

Presumably, one of the things the Belgian duo will be wanting is a contract longer than one or two years if they are to remain at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and the fact Spurs have handed a long-term one out to Sissoko is certainly promising in that regard.

Watch Tottenham Hotspur Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

It is proof that if you are performing well enough then Levy is willing to be flexible and change his usual strategy, and there is no reason why the same wouldn’t happen with two defenders who have been so key during the Mauricio Pochettino era.

Both players would be difficult to replace – especially if they go for nothing – without spending big money, and perhaps something like a four-year contract on slightly increased wages could be enough to tempt them to stay, and would suit Levy from a financial point of view, too.

Whatever happens the Spurs chairman should be trying to get it sorted one way or the other, with Harry Kane suggesting to Sky Sports that the uncertainty is affecting performances on the pitch.

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…

Speaking to ESPN FC, Manchester City star Rodri has declared Liverpool are the “best team in England and in Europe” at the moment.

What did he say?

The two sides have dominated domestic football over the past couple of seasons, and last year saw one of the most dramatic title races in Premier League history.

Watch how to cross the road like a boss with freestyler Ben Nuttall in the video below…

Whilst City ended up clinching the league for the second year in a row, Jurgen Klopp’s side lifted the Champions League by beating Tottenham in the final.

Now, Rodri has turned up the heat a notch by insisting the Reds’ achievements in Europe means they are now the team for everyone to beat.

Watch Manchester City Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Asked who out of Manchester United and Liverpool are City’s biggest rivals, the Spain international said: “I don’t know, I had never been in the city before, I don’t know how people in the city feel.  But the team to beat is Liverpool now and that has been seen the last two seasons. They are the champions of Europe so everyone wants to beat them, not just us.

“They’re a great team, they have improved a lot of things, they’re a very good team, and they’re the best team in England and in Europe.”

Mind games

The psychological warfare has well and truly begun. Mind games have always been a constant theme in sporting competitions, with players and teams alike seeking to get an edge on their closest rivals. In City’s case this season, Liverpool’s flawless start to the Premier League has ensured they are already playing catch-up, and attempting to gain that advantage back in any way, shape or form is welcomed.

Rodri’s comments are designed to put the pressure on the Anfield side’s shoulders, and even get opposition teams more fired up when they play them. Everybody wants to beat the best after all. And, by placing that honour on Klopp’s men, City can lie in the shadows, waiting for a slip-up to occur.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets… 

Lucas Digne has been one of Everton’s best performers so far this campaign but his failure to produce against Bournemouth was a key reason why they succumbed to defeat.

Everton were lacklustre in attack on Sunday and, for all their possession, they had just five shots on target.

As usual, Digne provided an outlet down the left-flank throughout, but he was wasteful too often, and the Toffees cannot expect to pick up points away from home if they lack a clinical edge in the final third.

Prior to Sunday, the Frenchman had contributed three assists in five games, and although he cannot be relied upon to be the sole creative outlet, he can be expected to provide dangerous crosses.

It wasn’t like he didn’t get in the positions either. According to Whoscored, the left-back had 12 crossing attempts, yet just two found a teammate. One did reach Richarlison and the Brazilian perhaps should have turned the ball in, but it is still a very poor return from Digne and one which ultimately counted against them.

That wasn’t the only area in which the former Barcelona player was wasteful. He achieved a pass accuracy rate of just 68%, and from six attempts only succeded with one pass into the final third, which goes some way in explaining Everton’s lack of threat going forward.

The 2018/19 Everton Player of the Year possesses technical skill, so such errors are quite unforgivable in a side still looking for their first Premier League away win of the season.

He did show some positives, however, and for the Richarlison chance did very well to take the ball past Jack Stacey in what was one of his two successful dribbles, showing good intelligence and a crossing range to play the ball in from the byline.

Watch Everton Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Defensively he was not at fault for any of the goals, either, so deserves recognition for that. In fact, things could have been worse if not for his four interceptions, and on the whole he managed to keep Harry Wilson quiet – causing him to be substituted early in the second half.

By contrast, he failed to make a single tackle throughout the match, but having achieved an average of two tackles per match prior to Sunday it is not an area of concern.

If he can return to his best at the opposite end of the pitch, he should continue to create chances for his teammates.

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Ainsley Maitland-Niles will be counting his lucky stars following this weekend’s match against Aston Villa.

In the end, Arsenal recorded a 3-2 victory thanks to late goals from Calum Chambers and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. However, it could have been so much different.

In the 41st minute, the 22-year-old left-back was sent off for two bookable offences. While there seems to be some disagreement in regards to the second yellow card – Unai Emery claimed that “he didn’t touch the player” – he still gave the referee a decision to make.

Nevertheless, it was not a great performance from the England Under-21 international.

Naturally a midfielder, where he has played the majority of his games, he has been deputising at right-back since Hector Bellerin ruptured his cruciate ligament in January of this year. And in this game, he looked out of his depth.

Watch Arsenal Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

The Emirates Stadium faithful were far from sympathetic, and they slammed his display.

They took to Twitter to share their thoughts, and you can see some of the best comments from the social media platform below.

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Celtic have been rebuffed in their attempts to sign Colin Dagba as they step up their search for a right-back, according to reports from French website RMC.

What’s the story?

The 20-year-old has made three Ligue 1 appearances this season for Paris Saint Germain but appears to have a real fan in manager Thomas Tuchel, who doesn’t want the promising defender to leave.

It’s claimed Celtic would have liked to sign Dagba, although no time-frame is given for the Scottish champions expressing their interest, however Tuchel isn’t interested in parting with a youngster who recently signed a contract until 2023.

Search continues

France has proved to be a great recruiting ground for Brendan Rodgers. Moussa Dembele, Odsonne Edouard and Olivier Ntcham have all advanced their careers as Celtic swooped to a double treble.

That track record no doubt helped Celtic to take Timo Weah on loan earlier this month, so it’s natural the Hoops took a look at what PSG have in reserve for the problem position of right-back.

On this occasion the door seems closed but a lot can happen before midnight on Thursday as Celtic step up their search to bring in a right-back to compete with Mikael Lustig.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

Kelechi Nwakali has confirmed to Score Nigeria that there is a buy-back option in the deal that took him to SD Huesca from Arsenal.

What’s the story?

Nwakali left the Emirates Stadium to sign for the Spanish Segunda Division club last week after failing to make an appearance for the Gunners.

However, he has now confirmed that he could return to Arsenal should they want him back, as they have a buy-back option.

He said: “Arsenal have been my dream team, but one thing is sure, is not too late yet, the aim is to just go there and get more playing time because there is a buy-back option in the contract.”

“They have the bigger mentality” – Spurs fans come to blows after the North London Derby in the video below…

A smart deal for Arsenal

The 21-year-old joined the north London outfit in 2016, but never featured for the Gunners. Instead, he spent time on loan at MV Maastricht, VVV Venlo and Porto B.

The signing made plenty of sense at the time. He had just come off the back of a successful U17 World Cup for Nigeria, where he was the Player of the Tournament as the Super Eagles lifted the trophy.

Whilst it hasn’t worked out for him yet in professional football, he is still young and has plenty of time ahead of him to fulfil the potential he clearly has.

Should he begin to show exactly why Arsene Wenger signed him three years ago, then he could be a player in demand, and Arsenal will find themselves at the top of the queue for his services.

Of course, for that to happen, Nwakali has a long way to go. This move to Spain offers him a chance to get his career back on track after so much early promise.

Either way, though, it is a smart bit business from Arsenal, and they can be happy with their work.

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With just one win in their past 13 Premier League games and a dismal 2-1 defeat against relegation strugglers Norwich City at the weekend, Rafa Benitez’s time in charge of Everton was brought to an end, leaving the Toffees in 16th place in the league table and on the hunt for a new manager.

In terms of who could come in as the next figure to try and steady the ship, it seems as though Everton owner Farhad Moshiri has one name in mind to come in and replace Benitez and try and get the Toffees’ season back on the rails.

What’s the news?

According to a recent report from The Athletic by Everton journalist Patrick Boyland and Greg O’Keeffe, the Merseyside club have identified former Borussia Dortmund manager Lucien Favre as a potential candidate to take the reins at Goodison Park.

During his stint in charge of Dortmund between July 2018 and December 2020, Favre took charge of 110 matches across all competitions, winning 68, drawing 17 and losing 25, which is an impressive record to have.

The 64-year-old has had spells at other German clubs such as Hertha BSC and Borussia Monchengladbach as well as having a period in charge of French club OGC Nice and FC Zurich in his native country of Switzerland, highlighting the experience he has in management.

Even though he hasn’t had a job since leaving Dortmund, this would give Everton the opportunity to get him to Goodison quicker than potentially any other manager they see as a possible candidate for the job that is currently working at another club.

In his own words, Favre has said in the past that his players “have to be ready to suffer in training,” suggesting just how much he expects from them. That could be just what Everton need to get the right attitude and work ethic in the squad that can deliver strong performances and positive results on the pitch.

After all, Benitez clearly didn’t get the most from his players but a stern coach such as Favre appears to fit the bill.

Moving forward, Everton should definitely make an approach to the Swiss boss in the coming days and weeks if they haven’t already to see if he would be willing to test his managerial abilities in the Premier League with a side that need a big change in fortunes before the end of the current campaign.

In other news: “As things stand”: Fabrizio Romano drops fresh EFC manager claim, fans surely relieved – opinion

A number of Liverpool supporters are overjoyed after Harvey Elliott took part in a behind-closed-doors match, potentially the final step in his recovery from injury.

The Reds haven’t always convinced in midfield this season, with the likes of James Milner and Jordan Henderson arguably looking their age, while other key figures like Thiago have been injured.

One player who made an excellent start to the season was Elliott, with the 18-year-old enjoying a real breakthrough and starting three Premier League games in the early weeks.

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Sadly, the creative midfielder suffered a serious ankle injury in the 3-0 win at Leeds United back in September and he has been out of action ever since.

Elliott’s return to the fold is edging closer all the time, however, with journalist Paul Joyce taking to Twitter to confirm that the Liverpool youngster was playing in an Under-23s game against Wrexham on Saturday – he scored and provided an assist.

This is not the first piece of big news the supporters have been greeted with this week, with reliable reports claiming a deal for Porto star Luis Diaz should be wrapped up soon.

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Liverpool fans love Elliott latest

These Reds fans expressed their happiness at the news on Twitter, as Joyce confirmed Elliott could even be back in first-team action next weekend.

“This boy is special and he’s BACK”

Credit: @EmadZafar

“OMG my starboy is back”

Credit: @sweetsadio

“Love it”

Credit: @JamalJilloo

“My life just keeps getting better and better”

Credit: @SawkurGod

“Yesss”

Credit: @LFC_Lewis66

“Things you love to see”

Credit: @ste_malone

In other news, some Liverpool fans have mocked a Premier League rival after a key update. Read more here.

Speaking live on talkSPORT radio (January 6), via Read West Ham, reporter Alex Crook shared what he knows on the Jesse Lingard transfer saga.

The Lowdown: West Ham chasing Lingard…

As well known, West Ham and manager David Moyes are eager to reunite with Lingard on a permanent deal this month with the irons earmarking him as a top transfer target.

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Club insider ExWHUemployee believes the club are certain to move for Manchester United’s forward whilst reliable journalist Jack Rosser of The Evening Standard backs their interest.

Talks over a new deal for Lingard at Old Trafford recently broke down, with his current deal set to expire at the end of this season, prompting club to take note of his situation – with West Ham among the suitors for his signatures (ESPN).

Sharing what he knows, Crook has now made a live radio claim on talkSPORT.

The Latest: Crook makes Lingard to West Ham claim…

Speaking to the broadcaster (via Read West Ham), the journalist believes a West Ham bid for England’s attacker is ‘inevitable’ as the club believe they can secure him for a ‘fraction’ of what he would have cost in the summer window.

“West Ham United are looking for reinforcements,” he explained.

“One name mentioned to me that won’t come as a big surprise to fans is Jesse Lingard.

“Clearly not happy at Manchester United, out of contract in the summer. West Ham believe they could sign him for a fraction of the fee quoted in the summer.

“I think it’s inevitable that West Ham will try again. He really needs to leave Old Trafford – that would seem a no-brainer to me.”

The Verdict: A must move?

Homegrown and a proven player under Moyes, having bagged a brilliant nine goals and four assists over 16 top flight outings on loan at West Ham last season (WhoScored), signing Lingard would come as a major boost for West Ham mid-season.

Reports have suggested that the Three Lions ace could be available for as little as £10 million this month given his precarious contract situation (The Sun) – a fee certainly affordable and representing good value for money.

Former Tottenham and England goalkeeper Paul Robinson recently claimed he would be a ‘massive signing’ who could gift the Hammers ‘another dimension’ amid their chase for a top four Premier League finish (Football Insider).

Given his numbers over the second half of 2020/2021, with talkSPORT pundit Adrian Durham also calling him the best player in terms of league form at one point last year, we strongly advise West Ham to push the boat out for his capture.

In other news: ‘Tears in my eyes’, ‘Finally’…Many West Ham fans flock to ‘very exciting’ transfer development, find out more here.