All posts by z3u9t.icu

A number of Liverpool supporters are delighted after journalist Fabrizio Romano claimed Divock Origi would not be leaving in the January transfer window.

The 26-year-old had put together a memorable Reds career – one that will likely see him considered a legend for many years to come.

While Origi has rarely been a regular starter for Liverpool since arriving in 2014, he has scored some iconic goals against the likes of Barcelona, Tottenham, Everton, Newcastle United and most recently Wolves.

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The Belgian’s current deal potentially expires in the summer of 2023 and he has even been linked with a January exit, despite Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane being away from Africa Cup of Nations duty.

Taking to Twitter on Saturday, however, Romano claimed Origi was going nowhere until at least the summer, saying Liverpool have no intention of selling him this month.

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Liverpool fans love Origi update

These Reds fans provided their positive thoughts on the matter on Twitter, no doubt delighted to keep hold of the cult hero given their lack of options up front in January.

“Not surprised, Salah and Mane already left for Afcon. And Minamino still injured…”

Credit: @biGDhee08

“HE STAYS!!!!”

Credit: @SIGHYONARA

“The hero stays!!!”

Credit: @lfc_reviews

“THANK GOD. WHAT WOULD WE DO WITHOUT LORD ORIGI”

Credit: @Muniamma007

“Good”

Credit: @lomein4real

“At least we got to keep Origi”

Credit: @Littleisprince

In other news, some Liverpool fans also love a David Ornstein transfer claim. Read more here.

Liverpool will head into the January transfer window with some important decisions to make.

They are well within reach of securing another Premier League title but they will have to negotiate the choppy waters of a winter period without Sadio Mane and most importantly, Mohamed Salah.

The Egyptian sensational has been nothing short of mesmerising this term, finding the net on 19 occasions already.

He has had to lift his game in the absence of Roberto Firmino but when he heads off to the African Cup of Nations with his offensive colleague next month, the club’s lack of depth could be exposed.

Of course, Diogo Jota will be a good stand-in having taken his tally to the campaign to nine strikes, but no one is ever coming close to replicating what Salah offers Jurgen Klopp’s men.

Adding to their ranks in the New Year would be a smart decision from Michael Edwards and FSG, but who will they turn to?

One player mooted with a switch to Anfield is Porto forward Luis Diaz. The Colombian featured against the Reds in the Champions League earlier this season and has demonstrated some jaw-dropping attributes this term which would make him a perfect fit in Merseyside.

Indeed, he has found the net 12 times in only 19 appearances this term for the Portuguese outfit, putting in some dazzling displays from the flanks.

He recently scored a screamer in a clash with Vitoria Guimaraes, rifling an effort right into the postage stamp after cutting inside. It was a goal that summed up why he’d be such a good capture for Liverpool, especially when Mane leaves his role vacant on the left wing next month.

That beautiful goal was perfectly summed up by Marino Peixoto, a Portuguese football enthusiast, who took to social media to say the following:

“The rate at which Luís Diaz is churning out otherworldly performances coupled with his ability to score screamers like this on a consistent basis is genuinely frightening. Only a matter of time before somebody pays an astronomical fee for him.”

And what may that fee be, I hear you ask? Well, it’s thought that Porto would be willing to part with the player if their price tag of €50m (£42m) is met.

That shouldn’t deter Liverpool who are clearly in need of adding further bodies to their ranks.

Diaz’s ability to carve out offensive opportunities for both himself and his teammates is inspirational and as presenter Manas Singh says, he is a “livewire” in the final third.

Based on the above evidence, FSG must do all they can to ensure he swaps the blue and white of Porto for the red of Liverpool next year. The thought of him lining up alongside the likes of Salah and Jota is a mouth-watering one. Klopp’s attack could be about to get even scarier; imagine that.

AND in other news, FSG must seal Liverpool swoop for “Jota-esque” £13m beast who sent VVD “for a hot dog”…

The Saudis’ dream signing for Newcastle United has now been revealed as Sven Botman.

The Lowdown: Interest there

Fabrizio Romano reported just a couple of days ago that the St. James’ Park faithful are ‘seriously interested’ in a deal to sign Botman, in a rumour that seems to be gathering pace.

Given that Eddie Howe’s team shipped four goals away at Leicester City in the Premier League last time out, it is clear that defensive reinforcements are needed, and a new dominating central defender would certainly help their cause in their battle to beat the drop.

The Latest: Dream signing

As per Grand Hotel Calciomercato, ‘it is one of the dreams’ of the new Saudi ownership to sign Botman, however, their current position in the Premier League table does not favour their chances.

Juventus, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Atalanta, Roma and Napoli are also all interested in his signature, and he would be allowed to leave Lille in the January transfer window for an offer of between €30-40m (£25.5-34m).

The Verdict: Difficult

Given that Lille are still in the UEFA Champions League, it may be too difficult to attract Botman to the North East, especially in January.

Tipped to be ‘the next van Dijk’ by statistical experts WhoScored, fellow Dutchman Botman has a six-foot-four frame as well, and has averaged a similar number of interceptions and blocks per game in their respective domestic leagues so far this season (WhoScored).

Van Dijk is widely thought of as the best centre-back in the Premier League, and given that Botman is only 21 years of age and drawing such comparisons, his potential is scary.

He was a won the Ligue 1 title ahead of PSG last season, as teammate Jose Fonte dubbed him a ‘machine’ midway through the campaign.

He would be a very difficult player to bring to Tyneside, but what a coup it would be if the Saudis’ dream came to fruition.

In other news, find out which ‘gladiator’ who ‘can produce magic’ NUFC are interested in here!

An update has emerged regarding Newcastle United’s pursuit of Burnley defender James Tarkowski…

What’s the talk?

According to The Northern Echo, Magpies officials are confident of sealing the January signing of the Clarets centre-back.

The report claims that Burnley have conceded that he will not extend his current contract, which expires at the end of the season, and that could duly see the club cash in on him in the next transfer window.

Fans would be delighted

Newcastle fans will surely be ecstatic with this update as it appears to suggest there is a strong chance that the £70k-per-week colossus ends up at St James’ Park in January.

Officials are confident of a move being wrapped up in the winter window and his contract situation at Burnley is promising for the Magpies.

The Clarets run the risk of losing him for nothing at the end of the season if they do not sell him in January and that could play right into Newcastle’s hands. It could also mean that the Tynesiders are able to land a cut-price deal for the defender, as Burnley do not have the backing of a long-term contract to reasonably demand a huge figure in return for his services.

Newcastle fans will also be delighted with this news as the English defender is an experienced, proven player at Premier League level and could be a great addition to Eddie Howe’s squad.

Tony Philliskirk, former Head of Academy at Oldham, previously hailed Tarkowski in an interview with The Athletic as he said: “He became the main man on defensive and attacking set pieces, that as a player makes you think you are an integral part of the team.

“He became that because of his level of performance. He was humble and never got ahead of himself. His confidence increased and he became a leader which we discussed with him, organising those in front of him.”

The 29-year-old has played 171 Premier League games for Burnley and averaged a superb WhoScored rating of 7.02 last season. Since the start of the 2017/18 campaign, he has never averaged a score lower than 7.00 in the top flight, showing how remarkably consistent he has been for the Clarets over the past few years.

Also, it’s worth considering that no Newcastle centre-back has averaged a WhoScored rating of 6.49 for the current campaign, whereas Tarkowski is currently clocking 7.17.

Therefore, he seems to have the ability to come in and be a solid defender for Newcastle, as he has proven his quality over the course of a number of years at Burnley. He has been able to consistently perform to a high level in the Premier League, and the Toon Army could love to see a player with his experience and pedigree come through the door in January.

AND in other news, Shearer 2.0: Howe could get St James’ rocking with NUFC deal for “incredible” beast… 

Everton’s winless run was extended to seven matches after they fell to a disappointing 1-0 defeat at the hands of Brentford in their Premier League clash this afternoon.

The game’s crucial moment occurred in the 24th minute when Bees talisman Ivan Toney slotted home a well-taken penalty to score his first home goal of the season.

It was summer signing Andros Townsend who was guilty of committing a high tackle on the Bees’ Frank Onyeka, and referee Darren England awarded a spot kick after reviewing the challenge on the pitchside monitor.

In a match short on quality between two out-of-form teams, Salomon Rondon had Everton’s best opportunities to find the back of the net and grab an equaliser.

The Venezuela international was thwarted by Brentford goalkeeper Alvaro Fernandez in the first half before a goalbound effort was blocked after the interval.

However, unlike Rondon, Anthony Gordon was unable to impose himself upon proceedings throughout the 90 minutes and put in a rather forgettable performance in west London.

As per SofaScore, the 20-year-old was awarded a match rating of just 6.2 out of 10, the lowest received by any of his teammates to feature this afternoon.

When looking at his underlying numbers, it’s easy to understand why that was the case. Gordon lost possession a whopping 18 times against the Bees, lost eight of his 14 duels and was unable to pick out a teammate with any of his five crosses, letting Rafael Benitez down in the process.

On an afternoon to forget, the academy graduate was also disappointing in the eyes of 90min reporter Sean Walsh, who awarded the youngster a four out of 10 rating and wrote: “Some decent dribbles but nothing to worry Brentford”.

With a tricky run of fixtures coming up against the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea, Benitez will be hoping that Gordon can return to form as soon as possible after a difficult afternoon against the Bees.

In other news… Everton could secure Benitez’s next Hamsik in 18y/o prodigy with “exciting potential”

Liverpool never reached the stage of opening talks with Inter midfielder Nicolo Barella despite links to a summer move, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: Liverpool linked with Barella move

The Reds had a quiet summer, only signing Ibrahima Konate from RB Leipzig, but Barella was one player they were linked with signing.

The 24-year-old enjoyed a memorable Euro 2020 campaign with Italy, winning the competition and starting six of his side’s seven matches.

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The Latest: Romano rubbishes rumour

The reliable Romano took to Twitter on Saturday to confirm that Barella is set to extend his stay with Inter instead of moving on to pastures new.

He also added in a seven-word verdict that a move to Liverpool was never really on the cards:

“Liverpool never opened talks to sign him.”

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The Verdict: Was he needed?

Barella is an excellent footballer who has proved himself at the top level already, but bringing him in would have felt like overkill in Liverpool’s midfield.

Jurgen Klopp already has numerous strong options in the middle of the park, from experienced heads such as Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, Thiago, Naby Keita and James Milner, to younger players like Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott.

Barella would likely have been a good signing had he come in, but there didn’t feel like a crucial need to make it happen.

In other news, some Liverpool fans have reacted to some key news ahead of the clash with Manchester United. Read more here.

Many Everton fans tore into Mason Holgate during their Premier League clash against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday night. 

Everton were looking to bounce back from their 5-2 home defeat to newly-promoted Watford last time out, while Wolves were in search of a fourth win in five matches, which would lift them above their opponents and up to seventh in the Premier League.

Rafael Benitez made four changes from the game against the Hornets, with Richarlison, Jean-Phillipe Gbamin, Alex Iwobi and Holgate coming into the side. Lucas Digne, Tom Davies, Anthony Gordon and Solomon Rondon all made way.

The visitors went behind on 28 minutes as Max Kilman headed home from a corner, and Raul Jimenez then doubled Wolves’ lead after capitalising on a Ben Godfrey error. Alex Iwobi brought it back to 2-1 on 66 minutes as Everton improved following a dismal first half performance.

How did Holgate play at Molineux?

Holgate’s SofaScore rating of 6.0 was the third-lowest in the Everton team. Only Godfrey (5.6) and Gbamin (6.2, subbed off at half-time) fared worse. He won only three of his nine ground duels – equating to a success rate of just 33.3% – and he also missed one ‘big chance’ to halve the deficit late in the first half.

He also came close to giving away a penalty for a foul on Trincao which was initially awarded as a spot kick, only for VAR to judge that the challenge took place just outside the box, as per Sky Sports.

Here’s what some Everton fans on Twitter had to say about the 25-year-old’s display, with one angry supporter deriding him as a “liability”.

These Everton fans savage Holgate

“Abysmal. Lucky it’s only 2-0. Holgate consistently fails us. There are others but he is the biggest time bomb in the side”

Credit: @Everton_Fans2

“My mum is a better center half than Holgate and she is 76.”

Credit: @ChrisCundall

“Holgate is a liability and couldn’t get into the Tranmere first team”

Credit: @grahame2014

“Holgate is like trying to play golf with a stick of rhubarb.”

Credit: @mick197811

“Holgate is the laziest footballer in the world”

Credit: @Andre_Houghton

“Holgate is League 1 quality”

Credit: @SkinnyPaolo

In other news, Everton are keen on this midfielder

Leicester City have suffered a big double selection setback ahead of their Europa League tie with Legia Warsaw after Jonny Evans and Kelechi Iheanacho were ruled out of contention.

What’s the word?

The Foxes manager Brendan Rodgers revealed that the pair haven’t travelled to Poland with the rest of the first-team squad, with Evans not well enough to make the journey.

“He hasn’t travelled. He wasn’t well enough to travel. We’ll see how he is for the weekend,” Rodgers said in Wednesday’s press conference.

“He’s a top defender, and when he plays, we are better. We were hoping he was going to be available, but obviously not. We’ll see how he is for the weekend.”

The Northern Irish tactician also disclosed how an issue with Iheanacho’s paperwork has prevented him from playing any part in their second Group C encounter.

Rodgers said: “We’ve had an issue with Kelechi. His documentation coming into the country wasn’t sufficient, so he wasn’t able to travel. He will be unavailable for the game.

“The paperwork didn’t allow him to enter the country. We’ll have to look at that when we’re back.”

Brendan Rodgers will be gutted

Rodgers will surely be gutted to be without both Iheanacho and Evans for this evening’s trip to Warsaw, with both stars playing key roles in the first-team setup.

Evans has only completed one 90 minute game so far this season due to a recurring foot injury, while Iheanacho has managed to bag two goals and provide two assists in all competitions despite making just one start all campaign.

Leicester will be hoping to have the duo back available when they take on Crystal Palace over the weekend as they attempt to end a three-game winless run in the Premier League.

And, in other news…Romano delivers Leicester transfer update that will surely leave Rodgers gutted 

A number of West Ham supporters have been showing their concern at an injury update provided by manager David Moyes, ahead of the clash with Everton.

The Hammers make a welcome return to Premier League action this weekend after the international break got in the way of domestic proceedings.

Moyes’ men make the trip to Everton on Sunday afternoon for what promises to be an interesting match-up between two sides with European aspirations.

It appears as though West Ham could be without some key figures for the game, however, if the manager’s latest comments are anything to go by.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference [via journalist Tom Clark on Twitter], Moyes admitted there are questions marks surrounding the fitness of several unspecified players, saying: ‘We might have some people not available.”

West Ham fans react to injury latest

These Hammers fans were not optimistic after hearing the update, taking to Twitter to provide their thoughts on what one supporter called ‘worrying’, while pondering whether the issue could be with Michail Antonio.

“Yep it’s doomed”

Credit: @tsss67

“And so it begins”

Credit: @central_louis

“Here comes the real test of our depth”

Credit: @USAWestHamUSA

“Oh no”

Credit: @JamieWHU__

“Oh dear oh dear oh dear”

Credit: @stephenlott

“This is worrying. What do we think? Antonio injured?”

Credit: @JamesStevenson_

In other news, Everton could recall three players for the meeting with West Ham. Read more here.

Aston Villa loanee would ‘welcome’ a permanent move from Manchester United, according to The Sun.

The Lowdown: Tuanzebe’s third loan spell

Tuanzebe was one of five Villa signings over the summer, sealing a third loan move to Villa Park.

He’s started two of four Premier League games this season but won’t be able to feature in Villa’s trip to Old Trafford later this month.

The 6ft defender still has two years remaining on his Manchester United contract, but it seems as if he is open to a permanent transfer to the Midlands.

The Latest: Transfer update

The Sun shared a story on Monday afternoon regarding Tuanzebe’s future.

They were informed by an insider that the 23-year-old is ‘very happy’ at Villa Park and would ‘welcome’ a full-time move to the club, should that arise.

Tuanzebe believes Dean Smith can get the best out of him and would relish the opportunity to make his stay at the club permanent.

The Verdict: Sign

Reports back in May suggested that an offer of £7m could have been enough for Tuanzebe on a permanent basis, and if that is still the case, it could be a wise move by Villa.

Tuanzebe, who was handed his Manchester United debut by Jose Mourinho, is capable of playing as a centre-back and a right-back and is still in the early stages of his career even though he has racked up over 75 senior appearances.

Villa are fairly short of centre-back and right-back options, so keeping hold of a player who wants to be at the club seems a smart call.

In other news: ‘Bad attitude’ – Aston Villa ace’s comments have got loads of fans talking.