Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has revealed that the club are open to selling Lazar Markovic this summer, reports the Liverpool Echo.
What’s the word?
It is no surprise that the Serbian winger’s time at Anfield is coming to an end after he was left out of the club’s pre-season tour of Hong Kong.
Markovic joined the Reds from Benfica for £20m in 2014, but during that spell he has featured just 34 times.
He made a promising start under former manager Brendan Rodgers, but his presence in the team eventually dwindled.
Markovic has been shipped out on loan to Fenerbahce, Sporting Lisbon and Hull City while on the books at Liverpool, and now Klopp has delivered a significant update on the winger’s future.
He told the Liverpool Echo:
“With Lazar, it’s no secret that if he finds a club then we will negotiate. It was like this last year too. He’s a really good player. I like him as a person. He’s now fit and another one who is in the best shape since I’ve known him. Before he had problems with his groin but now he’s good. There will be a club out there who needs him.”
Who wants him?
The Hertfordshire Mercury claims that Watford are interested in the 23-year-old ahead of the new Premier League season.
Head coach Marco Silva is well aware of the winger’s qualities having coached him at Hull during the second half of the 2016-17 campaign.
In that time, he started 12 top-flight games and contributed with two goals, which matches the same figure that he netted during his time at Liverpool.
The Merseyside outfit will not recoup the £20m that they paid for Markovic’s signature three years ago, but it is best for both parties if a deal is agreed.
In the Premier League’s headline encounter this weekend, Tottenham Hotspur host Chelsea at Wembley.
Once upon a time, this London derby was essentially a foregone conclusion – Spurs didn’t actually beat the Blues in the Premier League until 2006 – but in recent years, it has suddenly become one of the most significant and most heated rivalries in English football, essentially deciding the last three Premier League titles.
The bitterness between both clubs spans far longer than simply 2014, but how has this fixture moved to the forefront of the English game? We take a look at 10 dramatic moments that have pushed the rivalry to boiling point.
6-1 demolition – 1997
By the time Chelsea rocked up at White Hart Lane in 1997, Tottenham fans already knew the score. The Blues had claimed four wins and six draws from their previous ten meetings with spurs in the Premier League, conceding more than two goals on just two occasions.
But Chelsea’s display that afternoon was something else altogether – a 6-1 romping in Tottenham’s manor, a humiliating result that helped compound Spurs to their second-worst finish of the Premier League era – 14th place. Goals were provided by Tore Andre Flo, bagging a hat-trick, Roberto Di Matteo, Dan Petrescu and perhaps most embarrassingly, a certain Mark Nicholls.
Poyet kisses the badge – 2002
Plenty of players have moved between both clubs down the years, but few have openly defied their former employers with the riot-inducing angst of Gus Poyet.
If watching a fan favourite joining a London rival irked some Chelsea supporters, what the Uruguayan did next truly shocked them. In the second meeting between the two sides since the South American’s departure, Chelsea found themselves on the receiving end of a 5-1 drubbing in the League Cup, with Poyet pulling many of the strings in midfield. As he was subbed off in the 83rd minute, Poyet turned to the away Chelsea support, bowed his head a kissed the Tottenham badge.
It’s become the trend for footballers not to celebrate goals against their former clubs; Poyet didn’t even bother scoring before trying to wind up the fans who once chanted his name.
Hasselbaink’s hat-trick – 2002
No player has scored more goals in this fixture throughout Premier League history than Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, netting ten from eight outings. And no performance was more dominant than in a 4-0 romping over the Lilywhites at Stamford Bridge, during which the Dutchman popped up with a perfect hat-trick.
An incredible right-footed curler and an equally incredible left-footed curler sandwiched a header from point-blank range. Whilst there may have been no grievous subplot to Hasselbaink’s striker masterclass, it certainly reminded Spurs of their status as underdogs in the rivalry.
Spurs’ first win – 2006
Jose Mourinho’s arrival in summer 2004 instantly transformed Chelsea into English football’s most dominant force, lapping up two consecutive Premier League titles in machine-like fashion.
But the bubble started to burst during the 2006/07 season and it was Tottenham who laid one of the killer blows to the Portuguese’s waning reign.
Goals from Michael Dawson and Aaron Lennon provided Spurs’ first ever Premier League victory over their bitter rivals, which also served as Mourinho’s first ever defeat in a London derby. Chelsea went on to miss out on the title that season to Manchester United and just a handful of games into the following campaign, Mourinho was sacked
Robbie Keane’s last-minute screamer – 2008
While Tottenham would have to wait another three years for their next Premier League win over the Blues, a thrilling 4-4 draw at White Hart Lane the year prior at least provided some respite from a string of five defeats in six at the hands of Chelsea.
The lead had already changed hands four times when Spurs found themselves chasing down a deficit with just minutes remaining on the clock. But a hopeful lump forward broke the deadlock, the ball finding its way to Robbie Keane who unleashed an unstoppable pile-driver from the edge of the box.
That kickstarted a run of three games undefeated against the west Londoners, heralding hints of the rivalry beginning to balance out.
Transfer market: Modric and Willian – 2012 & 2013
By 2012, the bad blood between Chelsea and Tottenham had begun to spill into the boardrooms. Chelsea were desperate to get their hands on Spurs’ talismanic playmaker Luka Modric but Daniel Levy continuously refused to sanction a move, eventually selling the Croatian midfielder to Real Madrid in a £30million deal – a figure £10million less than Chelsea’s offer.
The summer after, however, the Blues got their own back; Brazil international Willian was taking a medical at White Hart Lane when Chelsea suddenly muscled in on the deal by agreeing a higher fee with Anzhi – at that time owned by one of Roman Abramovich’s old cronies. The legend goes that Willian completed his medical before getting a cab straight to west London.
While the winger’s Chelsea career has produced two Premier League titles, Tottenham instead signed Erik Lamela. Awkward.
Capitulation – 2014
“It hurts me and I won’t forget about this when we hit the motorway, but some might. There’s a lack of character, too many of them are too nice to each other and you need to show a bit more guts.
“The club talks about fourth – wake up. You won’t finish in the top four if you don’t beat top teams. You’re miles away unless you beat the top teams. We owe the fans a performance. We let them down again on the big occasion.”
They often say the darkest hours are before the dawn and Tottenham’s 4-0 battering at Stamford Bridge in 2014 provides the perfect case in point. Having lost patience with Andre Villas-Boas after a 5-0 defeat to Liverpool, heavy losses in big games had become a recurring trend of Tottenham’s season as they sought life after Gareth Bale.
So when Spurs conceded four goals in the final 35 minutes against Chelsea, interim manager Tim Sherwood felt compelled to go public with his disappointment, accusing Tottenham of capitulation and lacking the required character and guts in an incredibly frank post-match interview.
Sherwood’s comments divided opinion but little did he know that his successor in the hot seat, Mauricio Pochettino, would soon end the days of Tottenham’s soft underbelly.
New Year’s Massacre – 2015
It was arguably the first performance that announced Tottenham as a genuine threat to the Premier League’s top order, an unexpected demolition job of firm title favourites Chelsea on New Year’s Day 2015 – Harry Kane, at that point a relatively unknown entity who certainly didn’t convince everybody, netting an iconic brace at White Hart Lane.
It wasn’t enough to stop Chelsea clinching the title by a clear margin that season, or to secure Tottenham a top four finish. But from that moment on, both in the context of the rivalry and the Premier League, Spurs have been a completely different side, universally feared for their energy, aggression and attacking prowess. Kane hasn’t looked back either.
The battle of Stamford Bridge – 2016
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It was one of the most foul-tempered games in Premier League history and produced a record-breaking nine yellow cards. Understandably so; everything was on the line when second-placed Tottenham travelled to Stamford Bridge in 2016, knowing they needed a win to have any hope of stopping Leicester City complete the most miraculous underdog story of all time.
Chelsea, meanwhile, had capitulated spectacularly and entered the fixture in ninth place. They knew the most they could get out of the season was ensuring Tottenham didn’t win the title which, in the most dramatic circumstances possible, is exactly what they did.
Tottenham took a two-goal lead in the first half through Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son, but Chelsea hit back at the start of the second as Gary Cahill found the net.
Then, just seven minutes from time, Eden Hazard, who had been a shadow of himself all season, dazzled his way through the centre of the pitch, linking up with Diego Costa before placing an unforgettable curler in the top right corner.
Incredible, drunken scenes in Leicester ensued as Spurs were forced to accept their fate at the hands of their London rivals.
Matic’s belter at Wembley – 2017
During 2016/17, Tottenham and Chelsea were the top two sides in English football, finishing second and first in the Premier League respectively.
After a 13-game winning streak, however, which Tottenham ended, their title race was very much a cold war, Chelsea always a handful of points and both top flight fixtures between the two crown chasers already played. An FA Cup semi-final at Wembley, however, produced the ultimate skirmish the title race couldn’t provide. In a relentless encounter under the beating sun, Tottenham came from behind to draw level twice through Dele Alli.
But it was Chelsea who upped their game in the closing stages; Hazard put the Blues ahead before Nemanja Matic unleashed one of the new Wembley’s greatest ever strikes to make it 4-2. Chelsea would eventually lose in the final to Arsenal, but the dramatic win knocked the stuffing out of Spurs – two games later, a 1-0 defeat to West Ham ended their title hopes once again.
Arsenal fans’ misery is set to continue after reports emerged claiming that Liverpool are keen to secure a shock last-minute deal for Monaco midfielder Thomas Lemar.
According to The Telegraph, the Merseyside outfit have made enquiries about a possible £55m deal, which would be a club-record figure.
Lemar has been linked to Arsenal throughout the entire summer, but manager Arsene Wenger recently told reporters that a deal is “dead” due to Monaco’s reluctance to sell another player following the departures of Bernardo Silva, Tiemoue Bakayoko and Benjamin Mendy.
The Telegraph claims that Liverpool’s approach was made earlier in the window, but they maintain an interest in Lemar amid continuing uncertainty over Philippe Coutinho’s future.
The publication suggests that Monaco will stand firm and refuse to sell Lemar, who has been part of the Ligue 1 club since his 2015 switch from Caen.
The rumours of Liverpool’s interest emerged after the Reds humiliated Arsenal in a 4-0 romp at Anfield on Sunday.
Fans are now worried that the Merseyside outfit will rub salt into the wound by stealing their target before the close of the transfer window this Thursday.
Ronald Koeman has made no secret of his desire to sign another striker before the summer transfer window slams shut but as the 11pm deadline looms, Everton are quickly running out of options.We at FootballFanCast, however, have an interesting suggestion. Sky Sports claim the Goodison Park outfit are interested in a loan deal for Arsenal misfit Lucas Perez, while the Gunners are said to be one of the clubs eyeing the Toffees’ want-away midfielder Ross Barkley.
So, all things considered, a swap deal involving Barkley and Perez (perhaps with a bit of cash involved on Arsenal’s part too considering the 6 foot 2 midfielder is much younger than the Spanish forward) would suit both parties.
That’s the exact question we’re putting to Arsenal and Everton fans ahead of tonight’s transfer deadline; let us know if you’d back a swap deal for Perez (plus cash) and Barkley by taking part in the poll below…
There are few better occasions to make your debut than in a Champions League clash at Wembley against high-quality opposition, such was the situation Tottenham’s summer signing Serge Aurier, who Transfermarkt value at £13.5million, found himself in last night.
And it didn’t take long to see exactly what the former PSG man offers his new club; while Kieran Trippier is a smart and tidy player, Aurier provided something a little more dynamic and a little more reminiscent of Kyle Walker down the right flank through his power and pace.
Indeed, what stood out most about the Ivory Coast international is that he’s quite clearly a counter-attacking player, something that made him perfectly suited for the wing-back role in Tottenham’s 5-4-1 setup last night as Mauricio Pochettino looked to punish the visitors on the counter-attack.
That mantra resulted in a thrilling 3-1 win and Aurier played a big part both at the back and going forward, finishing up with the most touches of the ball of any Spurs player, alongside three tackles, three interceptions, one successful dribble and one created chance.
There’s still a debate to be had over who should be Tottenham’s first-choice right-back this season. But after Trippier’s struggles against Chelsea earlier this term, Aurier’s performance last night highlighted how important his physicality, dynamism and counter-attacking instincts can be for Spurs against top opposition in big games.
According to The Daily Mail, Chelsea will once again attempt to sign Alex Sandro from Juventus in January and are willing to pay £60million to land the defender.
What’s the Story?
After three failed bids in the summer, Antonio Conte is desperate to land Alex Sandro in January and is willing to bid £60million to land the talented full-back.
The Juventus star has long been admired by Chelsea’s Italian boss, who is looking to boost his options in the wing-back positions.
How good has Sandro been this season?
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Virtually an ever present in the Juve team so far this campaign, Alex Sandro has been a key part of the Turin clubs’ defence, who have conceded just 5 league goals since the start of the season.
However, the 26-year-old has, once again, been most potent offensively, with his sensational sprints down the touchline becoming something of a regular sight in Serie A in recent seasons.
The Brazilian is seen as a key element of the way that the Old Lady plays and it will require a significant sum of money to prize him away from the reigning Italian Champions.
Would Alex Sandro be a good signing for Chelsea?
There is no question that Marcus Alonso has performed above expectations since joining Chelsea from Fiorentina in 2016. However, the Spaniard’s position is probably the only area of Chelsea’s squad that is in need of some competition.
Alex Sandro, who is valued at £31.5million by Transfermarkt, would undoubtedly provide this competition and would likely thrive in a team who place a lot of reliance on the dual abilities of their full-backs.
Club football returns this weekend, much to the relief of everyone, not least fans of football in Scotland. After a disastrous international break for the country, it’s time to focus on the positives again and for Celtic supporters there are plenty.
Still undefeated in domestic football since Brendan Rodgers arrived at the club, the Hoops host Dundee at Celtic Park on Saturday hoping to strengthen their position at the top of the Scottish Premiership table.
Looming ahead next week are Bayern Munich, but it’s vital that Celtic focus on their bread and butter first, with Dundee often running them close with battling, physical performances.
The Hoops aren’t helped by injuries to Scott Brown and Stuart Armstrong who had to drop out of the Scotland squad during the break. Both have returned to training but Brendan Rodgers confirmed they are not in contention to play Dundee. Neither is Tom Rogic, who was halfway round the world this week on duty with Australia.
That means there are critical midfield decisions to be made ahead of the weekend and these are the THREE players we think should take up the central positions in the middle of the park…
Play Patrick Roberts behind the striker
Patrick Roberts has made his name at Celtic playing on the right wing but he can be just as devastating playing through the middle, roaming from flank to flank behind the striker.
The Manchester City youngster has actually found it difficult to displace James Forrest in the starting line-up on his return to the club, but a classy performance and goal against Anderlecht should give him the confidence to push on and become a regular once again.
Playing both Forrest and Roberts on Saturday though could be a fine option, with the Scotland international’s pace giving width to the side and the vision of Roberts creating all sorts of chances, using his ability to find space between the midfield and defensive line.
With one goal and three assists in six matches, the Englishman is already making an impact this season, but the Dundee match is the perfect opportunity to take his contribution to the next level. With Tom Rogic out of the side, Celtic will need him at his best.
Give Callum McGregor another chance to shine
Callum McGregor was in blistering form for Celtic before the international break, running the show against Hibernian and finally convincing now departed Scotland manager to call him up to his international squad.
He should be one of the first picks on the team sheet for Saturday’s match. His direct running, finishing ability and desire to get into the final third is the best facsimile for Stuart Armstrong in the Celtic squad and on his day he can be every bit as effective as his teammate.
He’s already scored six goals and provided three assists this season, despite not starting games as regularly as some in the Celtic side. Against Dundee he could be extra motivated to put in a performance in an effort to convince Brendan Rodgers that he deserves to start in the Allianz Arena against Bayern Munich next Wednesday.
Give Olivier Ntcham defensive responsibility
Olivier Ntcham has had an up and down start to his Celtic career. For every accomplished, confident performance there has been one that’s been less than convincing, with the young Frenchman sometimes looking a bit casual on and off the ball. However, the potential is there for him to be a mainstay in Brendan Rodgers’ side.
With the absence of Scott Brown on Saturday, the opportunity is there for the 21-year-old to take responsibility and assert himself on the match in an effort dominate the midfield. We’ve seen plenty of his creative vision and passing range in his time at Celtic so far, but we’ve not really seen him provide the kind of defensive performance that Brown has provided the Hoops for years now.
Callum McGregor should be given the freedom to break from the central positions and Rodgers should deploy Ntcham in a deeper role in front of the defence to see if he’s up to doing that job for the Hoops. Can he be the midfield all rounder that can be relied upon in the absence of the Celtic captain?
Norwich may be having a better season than Brentford in the Championship so far this season, but how do you think they’ll fare against each other when playing FIFA 18?Back in September Norwich came away from Griffin Park with a 3-1 win in the League Cup third round, but Brentford have the opportunity to get revenge of sorts before their first league clash of the season in December.LeoVegas, sponsor of both Championship clubs, have organised a FIFA 18 face-off between both sets of players, with the winners coming away with the coveted LeoVegas Trophy.Norwich, who almost came out on top against Arsenal in the League Cup fourth round on Tuesday night, are currently 6th in the Championship table after a decent start to their campaign, while Brentford are beginning to pull away from the bottom three after a difficult start to their own 17/18 season.But that all goes out of the window in the LeoVegas Trophy. Keep an eye out for the full video coming soon.
According to reports in The Sun, Newcastle United are reportedly interested in signing out of favour FC Porto goalkeeper Iker Casillas, and Magpies fans have been quick to have their say on the rumour.
The Sun says that the Tyneside outfit are keen on the 36-year-old, who has lost his place in the Portuguese giants’ team in recent weeks, with manager Sergio Conceicao saying it is for tactical reasons despite stories that the former Real Madrid man was caught using his mobile phone in training.
Rob Elliot has been the Magpies’ number one in the Premier League this season and has performed well, but the latest link suggests that Rafa Benitez is still keen to bring in a new stopper, although he could face competition from former club Liverpool for the Spain international’s signature.
Newcastle supporters took to social media to give their thoughts on the rumour, and while some said “I’ve never rated him”, others believe he is “way past it”.
Tottenham Hotspur failed to hit their usual attacking heights against Crystal Palace on Sunday, but still managed to find their way to all three points in the English Premier League.
After their exploits against Real Madrid mid-week, Spurs fans would have likely forgiven dropped points at Wembley but Mauricio Pochettino’s managed to dig deep and grind out a 1-0 victory.
Son Heung-min was the goal hero, netting excellently from the edge of the area just after the hour mark.
Spurs definitely weren’t at their best though and if not for the goalkeeping performance of debuting Paulo Gazzaniga, could have dropped points.
Fans were of course happy with the victory but were left less than impressed with some in the side and Serge Aurier was one of those receiving most criticism.
The right wing-back looked pretty shaky throughout, sloppy in possession and allowing Palace paths into the game.
Supporters are looking for more from the man who joined from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer and took to Twitter to share their thoughts on his performance…