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Celtic are set to head into Christmas Day in first place in the Scottish Premiership table despite dropping points at the weekend against Dundee United.

The Hoops were unable to find the back of the net at Tannadice Park and were held to a 0-0 draw on Sunday, which was just the second time that Brendan Rodgers’ side have dropped points in the top-flight this season.

Their 2-2 draw with Aberdeen earlier in the campaign was the only other time, in 16 matches so far, that the Scottish giants failed to secure all three points.

The Bhoys have impressed across all competitions, as well as the Premiership, though, as they have already lifted the League Cup, beating Rangers 5-4 on penalties after a 3-3 draw in regulation time at Hampden Park earlier this month.

Celtic are also on course to qualify for the play-off stage of the Champions League, with one defeat in six matches in Europe’s premier cup competition.

Despite all of their success across all competitions, the Premiership champions could look to make some changes to their squad in the upcoming January transfer window, and Luis Palma is one player who could be on the chopping block.

Why Luis Palma should be sold

The Honduras international made a rare appearance in the league on Sunday, as he came off the bench to make his fifth appearance of the season in the division.

He has failed to convince Rodgers to give him regular minutes in the Premiership and has been linked with a move away from Parkhead ahead of the second half of the season.

The Scottish Sun reported at the start of this month that MLS clubs are eyeing up a move for the former Aris winger, who is said to be considering his future at Parkhead due to a lack of game time in the 2024/25 campaign.

Palma has zero goals and zero assists in five appearances in the Premiership, and no goal contributions in his 16-minute outing in the Champions League.

Appearances

28

Starts

18

Goals

7

Big chances created

14

Assists

9

As you can see in the table above, the 24-year-old flanker had a strong first season with the Scottish giants, with 21 goals and ‘big chances’ created in just 18 starts.

Unfortunately, though, the Honduran star has not been able to kick on after his initial signs of promise in Glasgow, and Rodgers has not felt that he has been in a position to start regularly over the likes of Daizen Maeda, Nicolas Kuhn, James Forrest, and Hyun-jun Yang.

The Northern Irish head coach could, now, ruthlessly cash in on Palma amid interest from the MLS by swooping to sign one of the club’s reported targets in that position.

Celtic's interest in Norwegian star

Earlier this month, Norwegian sports outlet Nettavisen, as relayed by The Celtic Star, Celtic are eyeing up a possible swoop for Sarpsborg forward Sondre Orjasaeter ahead of the January transfer window.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The report claimed that the Premiership champions have been keeping tabs on his performances in Norway during the 2024 campaign, which recently came to an end.

Orjasaeter is currently teammates with former Celtic Player of the Year winner Stefan Johansen and the ex-Hoops star could have plenty of good words to say about the Glasgow giants to convince the 21-year-old gem to make the move in January.

It did not reveal, however, how much Sarpsborg would want for the impressive left-sided attacker, or whether or not the Bhoys are prepared to make an official offer to secure his services.

The Daily Mail reports that Rodgers wants to add a left winger to his squad next month but it remains to be seen whether or not that player is Orjasaeter, who is valued at around £5m by Transfermarkt at this moment in time.

Celtic must, now, swoop to sign the Norway U21 international when the January transfer window officially opens for business next month, because bringing him to Parkhead would free up the space for the club to ruthlessly cash in on Palma.

Why Celtic should sign Sondre Orjasaeter

Firstly, his arrival would provide the Hoops manager with two quality options in the left wing position, with him and Maeda competing for that starting spot, and that would allow Rodgers to move the Honduras international on without worrying about a lack of depth in that area of the pitch.

Secondly, Orjasaeter only turned 21 last month and would arrive at Parkhead as a talented young player with the potential to develop, which means that the Hoops could help him to improve his performances on the pitch and, as a result, increase his value for a possible future sale.

Finally, the 21-year-old wizard’s form in the Eliteserien during the 2024 campaign suggests that the potential is there for him to come in and provide Maeda with real competition for his place in the starting XI in the second half of the season.

Orjasaeter, who was nicknamed “the artist” by former Wolves star Håvard Flo, is a right-footed left winger who has the quality to come inside onto his favoured foot to provide quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals for his side.

When compared to Maeda’s form in the 2023/24 campaign, as the Sarpsborg star has just completed a full league season, the Celtic target stacks up very well.

Appearances

28

28

Goals

6

5

Big chances missed

12

5

Big chances created

5

12

Key passes per game

0.5

1.9

Assists

3

5

As you can see in the table above, the Norwegian dynamo has the potential to offer significantly more creativity, whilst not being as wasteful with the chances that come his way in the final third.

These statistics suggest that Rodgers could bring in a player to improve his team offensively by signing the Sarpsborg star, albeit it remains to be seen whether or not that form can translate over to Scottish football, due to his ability to consistently create high-quality chances for his teammates.

On paper, Orjasaeter appears to be a quality option for the Hoops to swoop for in January, and his arrival would allow them to finally cash in on Palma.

Celtic must finally sell Hoops dud who's worth 10x less than Trusty

The Celtic dud made a rare appearance in the 0-0 draw with Dundee United.

2 ByDan Emery Dec 24, 2024

Celtic are back in action in the Scottish Premiership once again as they prepare to welcome Dundee United to Parkhead with the chance to extend their lead at the top of the table.

A win for Brendan Rodgers and his men would see the Hoops move a staggering 16 points clear of Rangers in second place, with the Scottish giants on course to win a fourth straight title.

The Bhoys head into this match off the back of a comfortable 3-0 win over St Mirren last time out, thanks to a brace from Nicolas Kuhn and a header from Auston Trusty.

With this game coming in the middle of the park, Rodgers could look to rotate and refresh his starting XI. One player who should come in as part of that rotation is Paulo Bernardo.

Why Paulo Bernardo should start

The 22-year-old midfielder, who joined on a permanent deal from Benfica in the summer window, has shown plenty of signs of promise in the Premiership this season, after his initial loan spell with the club last term.

Bernardo has improved his play in and out of possession for the Hoops and proven himself to be more than a solid option in the middle of the park for Rodgers.

Appearances

22

18

Goals

3

2

Big chances created

4

5

Assists

3

3

Tackles + interceptions per game

1.4

2.2

Duel success rate

48%

58%

As you can see in the table above, the Portuguese starlet has added more creativity to his game and vastly improved defensively, with almost twice as many tackles and interceptions per match.

Bernardo did not, however, play a single minute against St Mirren and should be given a chance to start this time, potentially in place of Luke McCowan.

He is not the only player who should be offered an opportunity to shine from the start, though, as left-back Alex Valle should also be unleashed.

Why Alex Valle should be unleashed

The Barcelona loanee, like Bernardo, has shown that he has the ability to make a big impact when he gets the chance to be in the starting line-up at Premiership level.

In order to start Valle, Rodgers must ruthlessly bin Greg Taylor, who is reportedly wanted by Dinamo Zagreb and recently dropped a 5/10 player rating in the League Cup final against Rangers, giving the ball away for Nedim Bajrami’s opening goal in the match.

Taylor lost possession a whopping 22 times without creating a single chance for his teammates in the win over St Mirren, and the Spaniard has the potential to offer more than the Scottish dud on the ball.

Valle, who was hailed as a “top-notch” defender by former coach Oscar Lopez, has provided three assists and made 14 key passes in just six starts in the Premiership so far this term.

This shows that the 20-year-old dynamo, who did not play a single minute against St Mirren, has the ability to make a big impact at the top end of the pitch, after Taylor struggled badly in possession last time out.

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Therefore, Rodgers should bin the Dinamo Zagreb target Taylor from the starting line-up and bring Valle and Bernardo back into the XI this evening.

Hoping to bridge the gap on the Premier League’s top four, Aston Villa are now reportedly plotting a move to sign a defender who previously enjoyed impressive success under Unai Emery.

Aston Villa transfer news

With Jaden Philogene reportedly on his way to Ipswich Town in a deal worth £21m, Aston Villa may well find themselves in a position to welcome reinforcements of their own in the January transfer window. And that should only spark further rumours after the likes of Donyell Malen and Jamie Gittens already threatened to steal the headlines this month.

Malen’s potential arrival is particularly one to look out for as the Villans seek a greater goalscoring threat alongside Ollie Watkins even after Leon Bailey finally broke his season-long drought against Leicester City last time out.

As things stand, Emery’s side sit eighth in the Premier League and four frustrating points adrift of the Champions League places in a campaign full of inconsistency thus far. Now, as Emery seeks repeated success, he could reportedly welcome a familiar face to Villa Park.

According to Relevo, Aston Villa are now plotting a move to sign Juan Foyth, who previously thrived under Emery at Villarreal. The versatile right-back and the Spaniard even won the Europa League together when the Yellow Submarine defeated Manchester United on penalties at the end of the 2020/21 campaign.

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Foyth is also well aware of the quality needed to compete in the Premier League, having broken into the Tottenham Hotspur squad as a young player before discovering his best form with a move away to La Liga. Able to play as a right-back and as a centre-back, the Argentine defender would instantly offer key versatility in the Midlands.

"Superb" Foyth has earned Premier League return

Since leaving Spurs in 2021, Foyth has joined the list of former Lilywhites to have secured silverware before the North London club. The Argentina international has pushed on since being shown the exit door and become a reliable option for Villarreal, and may well get a second chance in the Premier League by reuniting with Emery this month.

Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig has been among those to have praised Foyth during his time in Spain, dubbing his performances against Real Madrid “superb” in 2021 and mentioning Spurs’ likely regret.

That regret would quickly become more apparent than ever if Foyth arrived in the Midlands to push Aston Villa back into the Premier League’s top four to leave a struggling Spurs side in their wake.

The defender is certainly one to watch, especially if Emery pushes for a reunion before the end of the January transfer window.

Newcastle United moved up into the top four in the Premier League as they secured a 3-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at St. James’ Park on Wednesday night.

The Magpies leapfrogged Chelsea to go into the Champions League qualification places and have Alexander Isak to thank, as their star striker scored twice and provided an assist.

Eddie Howe will surely be delighted with the display by his centre-forward in the match, with his quality in the final third ultimately making the difference.

Alexander Isak's performance against Wolves

The Sweden international put in yet another exceptional display at the top end of the pitch for the Magpies and was directly involved in all three of the goals on the night.

His opening strike was aided by the deflection off Rayan Ait-Nouri but it was still a sweet effort from the edge of the box that forced the defender to put a boot in the way.

Isak, who won four of his nine duels, then scored the second goal with a terrific, composed, finish past Jose Sa after a fine first touch around the penalty spot.

The former Real Sociedad star completed his night with a sublime pass to pick out Gordon in the second half, opting to find his teammate instead of going for the glory of a hat-trick.

Isak, who has now scored 15 goals in the Premier League this season, was far from the only top performer on the park for the Magpies, as central midfielder Bruno Guimaraes showed that he is just as valuable as the striker.

Why Bruno Guimaraes is as valuable as Alexander Isak

The Brazil international proved, once again, that he is a pivotal player for Howe with a fantastic showing in the middle of the park for Newcastle, with his ability on and off the ball.

Whilst Isak is the man at the end of every move, scoring or assisting, Guimaraes is just as important because of the work he does to win possession back for the team, as well as being able to progress the play with his quality with the ball at his feet.

Minutes played

90

Touches

88

Tackles won

5

Key passes

4

Duels won

7/12

Accurate passes

54/65 (83%)

Accurate long balls

2/5

Shots

2

Interceptions

1

As you can see in the table above, the Brazilian dynamo’s performance against Wolves had it all; plenty of touches to control the play, tackles to win the ball back, duels won to compete physically, and key passes to split open the away side’s defence.

One of those key passes, of course, found Isak in the box for his second goal of the evening, which was Guimaraes’ sixth assist in the Premier League this season.

The former Lyon star has averaged 3.2 tackles and interceptions per match and racked up one goal and nine ‘big chances’ created, illustrating the impact he has had in and out of possession for Newcastle throughout the campaign.

He is the hub of the team in the middle of the park, as everything runs through him, and that is why the Brazilian gem is just as valuable to Howe as Isak is, and the manager will be hoping that both of them can stay fit for the remainder of the season as they fight for a Champions League place.

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Following the sale of Jaden Philogene to Ipswich Town, Aston Villa are now set to lose another player following reports that one European club have reached an agreement to secure his signature this month.

Aston Villa transfer news

The Villans have been one of the busiest clubs in the Premier League, welcoming Donyell Malen after selling Philogene and reportedly working on deals to sign the likes of Loic Bade and Andres Garcia. The latter has now officially arrived and was announced as a new Villa player on Tuesday morning.

Currently sat four points adrift of the top four, they’re reinforcements that Aston Villa could look back on as key too, as Unai Emery seeks an improved second-half to what has been a campaign full of inconsistency so far. The Spaniard will be well aware of the quality in his side and just how important it is to cause another shock in the race to finish inside the top four, which their recent comeback draw against Arsenal certainly aided.

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Aston Villa are closing in on signing a defender…

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Away from the action and potential incomings, however, those in the Midlands look set to bid farewell to another player after Philogene this month. According to Fabrizio Romano, Aston Villa are now set to lose Diego Carlos after Fenerbahce struck a deal worth €10m (£8.4m) this month.

Already on his way to Turkey to complete his departure, the £100,000-a-week defender leaves Aston Villa after just under two years in a spell full of injury disruption to perhaps form a case of what might have been after his £26m transfer, meaning Villa are making a loss.

"Solid" Carlos needed departure

Amid Aston Villa’s pursuit of Bade, Carlos always looked destined for the exit door and the chance to work under Jose Mourinho is certainly not one that he should turn down. In truth, an ACL injury on his very first Villa Park start set the tone of what was to come for Carlos, who was forced to watch on as Emery arrived and evolved Steven Gerrard’s side beyond the Brazilian.

That doesn’t mean that he didn’t have moments to savour, however, and can look back on praise from the likes of Mat Kendrick as a positive to take away from the Premier League. Reach’s Head of Sport described the defender’s work as “solid” in 2023 and stated that he looked “very physically imposing”.

Selling before they buy this month, Aston Villa should see their new strategy as a much-improved step forward. The last thing that those in the Midlands will want to face are any profit and sustainability charges in the near future, having already been forced to act precariously last summer to avoid any trouble. And showing the likes of Philogene and Carlos the door could ensure that they steer clear far more comfortably this time.

Chelsea’s dire need for a new first-choice goalkeeper became even more apparent at the weekend when Robert Sanchez made yet another howler against Manchester City.

In an attempt to collect a long pass to Erling Haaland from City ‘keeper Ederson, the Spaniard found himself in no man’s land, allowing Haaland to turn and lob the ball over him into an empty net.

The error was his fifth leading directly to a goal this season – the joint-highest total in the Premier League.

Speaking after the City game, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca insisted that despite Sanchez’s propensity for errors, he trusts the 27-year-old between the sticks.

“We trust Robert for sure,” Maresca said. “He is completely aware he is making mistakes in this moment. We trust Robert. We have one entire week and we will see the reaction for the next game.

“Robert, for sure, is completely aware he has to do better,” he added. “He knows perfectly. In this moment it is like this. The good thing is he is the first one knowing, aware that he has to do better.”

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Interestingly, before the game, Maresca said that while he does trust Sanchez, he may not need to for too much longer.

Asked whether Sanchez can be Chelsea’s No 1 for many years to come, Maresca said: “For this season? No doubt. But then in the future, we don’t know. It is not only about Robert. It is not even about me, you know? I’m focused on this moment, this season.”

So come the end of the season, who could Chelsea bring in to replace Sanchez? Here, we’ve outlined seven possible replacements for the Spaniard.

1 Gregor Kobel Borussia Dortmund

Gregor Kobel has been one of German football’s standout goalkeepers since joining Borussia Dortmund in 2021, keeping 46 clean sheets in 142 games for BVB, including 7 in 27 Bundesliga matches last season.

Though he’s struggled a little more this term, it seems to be more a reflection of Dortmund’s poor form as a team – leading to the sacking of Nuri Sahin – than his individual performances.

Kobel’s impressive stats and lack of errors last season make him an ideal candidate for Chelsea. His experience in European competitions would also be a significant asset.

2 Djordje Petrovic Strasbourg (on loan from Chelsea)

Djordje Petrovic was Chelsea’s first-choice ‘keeper for much of last season under Mauricio Pochettino, but was deemed surplus to requirements when Maresca took over in the summer.

Now on loan with sister club Strasbourg, it would be easy for Chelsea to bring him back into the fold if they so desire, and it would certainly be a quick fix to a problem position.

The 25-year-old has impressed in Ligue 1 and was recently described as “world-class” by Strasbourg head coach Liam Rosenior.

“We have seen huge progress from Petro,” Rosenior said of the Serb. “He is a world-class goalkeeper. We see it every day and it is still paying off today.”

3 Diogo Costa Porto

Diogo Costa has been one of the steadiest hands in Europe over the past few years, keeping 77 clean sheets in 181 games for Porto, including 11 in 19 league games this season.

However, it was his remarkable performance at last summer’s European Championship that truly captured global attention. In Portugal’s last-16 clash against Slovenia, Costa made history by saving all three of the opposition’s penalties in the shootout – a feat never before accomplished in the tournament’s 66-year history.

Following that heroic display, Chelsea reportedly approached Costa during the summer transfer window, but the 25-year-old ultimately stayed at Porto. In late 2024, CaughtOffside reported that the Blues remained interested in Costa, but that Porto are expected to demand a hefty £59 million fee for their star goalkeeper.

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ByCharlie Smith Oct 8, 2025 4 Mads Hermansen Leicester City

According to reports, Maresca wanted to sign Leicester City shot-stopper Mads Hermansen in the summer, but instead ended up signing Filip Jorgensen from Villarreal.

Hermansen was the Italian’s first-choice ‘keeper during his promotion-winning season at the King Power Stadium, keeping 13 clean sheets in 44 games.

Maresca is understood to be an admirer of the Dane’s ability to play out from the back, which is something Sanchez has struggled to do this term.

TeamTALK reported in November that Leicester would want £35m for their current No 1.

5 Kepa Arrizabalaga Bournemouth (on loan from Chelsea)

Kepa Arrizabalaga remains on Chelsea’s books, but the world’s most expensive goalkeeper is currently on loan at Bournemouth, where he’s played a key role for Andoni Iraola’s side this term.

The Spaniard has started 16 of the Cherries’ 23 Premier League games this season, keeping five clean sheets and saving 76.3% of the shots he’s faced (as per FBref) – which is the second-best record in the division, ironically level with Sanchez.

Though a return to Stamford Bridge for Kepa (which he supposedly wants) would make sense on paper, his record in west London makes for poor reading.

In his second season with Chelsea in 2019/20, the former Athletic Bilbao star recorded the worst save percentage of any goalkeeper in the Premier League, stopping just 54.5% of the shots he faced.

If Chelsea can get the Bournemouth version of Kepa back, great. If they get their old version back, less so.

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2 ByStephan Georgiou Aug 23, 2024 6 Filip Jorgensen Chelsea

Signed by Chelsea from Villarreal in the summer, Filip Jorgensen has yet to make a significant impact in the Premier League, but has shown promise in cup competitions, keeping five clean sheets in 11 games.

He also boasts a mightily impressive save percentage, having stopped 80% of the shots he’s faced in the Premier League, while he’s saved 83.9% in the Conference League, as per FBref.

At just 22 years old, Jorgensen could offer a long-term solution for Chelsea in goal, and clearly has the potential to grow into a top-tier goalkeeper.

However, to do that, Maresca needs to give him more of a chance in the league rather than stick with Sanchez despite his continuous errors. Doing so will no doubt be frustrating the youngster and potentially putting a dent in his confidence.

7 Caoimhin Kelleher Liverpool

Earlier this year, Liverpool’s Caiomhin Kelleher expressed his desire to leave Anfield, stating he wants to “go and be a number one and play week in, week out”.

Though he’s impressed when called upon, the 26-year-old has never been able to displace Alisson as Liverpool’s regular No 1. In August, the Reds also completed the £30 million signing of Valencia ‘keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, who will move to Merseyside next year.

Kelleher has kept seven clean sheets in 14 games for Liverpool this season and looks at home at a top Premier League side.

Manchester United endured a tough transfer window as they looked to bolster their ranks after a disastrous first half of the Premier League season, and now it has been revealed that they missed out on a late deal for a potential improvement to Ruben Amorim’s side.

Manchester United's awful 2025 continues

Amorim’s arrival at Old Trafford has done very little to improve matters at the Theatre of Dreams, and their latest 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace left the Red Devils marooned 13th in the Premier League.

A spot in Europe next season appears out of the question for the Red Devils, though they remain well clear of any relegation danger with Leicester City a full 12 points behind them in the final drop zone spot.

It was a difficult January transfer window too. The Red Devils landed young Lecce defender Patrick Dorgu in a deal worth up to £30m, but in Antony and Marcus Rashford lost two forwards, while speculation continued to swirl around Alejandro Garancho before he ultimately stayed put.

Though neither Rashford nor Antony featured heavily in Amorim’s plans, it has left United without any depth at the top of the pitch, and with neither Rasmus Hojlund nor Joshua Zirkzee insipring confidence with their performances, the United boss opted to play Kobbie Mainoo as a no.9 against Palace, a move that in turn leaves their midfield looking light.

Rasmus Hojlund

Joshua Zirkzee

Amad Diallo

Alejandro Garnacho

Bruno Fernandes

Mason Mount

24 hours later, the news that Tottenham had won the race to sign Bayern Munich forward Mathys Tel on loan emerged, leaving United without another forward joining the club before the deadline. And now, it has emerged that they also failed with a late bid to strengthen their midfield.

Man Utd midfielder offer rejected by Juventus

That comes according to reports in Italy, which claim that the Red Devils tried to make a late loan move to sign Douglas Luiz on transfer deadline day, only for the Red Devils to emerge too late as potential suitors.

It was widely reported that Luiz could leave Turin in January, but that Juventus were targeting a loan move with an obligation to buy the former Aston Villa man, who has endured a torrid time since signing for the Italian giants just months ago.

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Hailed as a “strong” by former Sporting Director Monchi, Luiz had been heavily linked with Manchester City, but it was the Red Devils who attempted a buzzer-beating swoop for the Brazilian. The report claims that “they made a last-minute approach to Juventus” to take the midfielder back to the Premier League.

However, they were too late. Juventus had already let Nicolò Fagioli depart for Fiorentina and as a result “decided to retain the Brazilian” for cover, with the bid coming too late for them to sign a replacement.

Instead, Juventus moved to add to their defence with a deal to sign Lloyd Kelly, keeping Luiz in limbo and leaving Manchester United short of one of their transfer targets.

Leeds United returned to the top of the Championship table on Monday night after a dramatic 2-1 win over fellow promotion-chasers Sunderland at Elland Road.

The Whites found themselves 1-0 down heading into the half-time break after Wilson Isidor got the better of Ethan Ampadu inside the box and rifled an effort in off the far post.

Before the match, Football FanCast suggested that Pascal Struijk should have been brought in to silence the French forward, but Daniel Farke stuck by his captain in the centre-back position and it was a call that did not pay off in the opening 45 minutes.

The Dutch central defender eventually got onto the pitch in the second half, but it was his play at the other end of the pitch that ultimately made the difference.

Pascal Struijk's match-winning contributions

Struijk, who recently returned from injury, was not selected to start alongside Joe Rodon at the heart of the defence, as Ampadu was preferred in the left-sided centre-back position.

Performance in Numbers

The left-footed titan won his only aerial battle from a defensive perspective but did not have to make any tackles, interceptions, clearances, or blocks, as his team were in the ascendancy towards the end of the match.

Instead, Struijk was needed at the other end of the pitch and it was his deft flick of the head to divert a set-piece into the back of the net, as Luke O’Nien failed to make a clearance on the line.

As you can see in the clip above, the former Ajax defender then sent the stadium into pandemonium with another header to win the match for the Whites in stoppage time.

Whilst, understandably, Struijk will take the headlines after coming off the bench to turn the game around with two goals as a centre-back, it was Joe Rothwell who was the real hero for Daniel Farke on the night.

Why Joe Rothwell was the real hero for Leeds

The Bournemouth loanee came on at the same time as Struijk when the German head coach made the bold call to withdraw Ilia Gruev and Ao Tanaka from the match, placing Rothwell and Ampadu in the middle of the park.

It was a masterstroke of a move by the former Norwich City head coach as it allowed the English midfield maestro to get on the ball and dictate the play.

Rothwell only had 23 touches of the ball, fewer than Illan Meslier’s 33, but that was still an average of more than one per minute due to the lateness of his introduction.

Minutes played

19

Pass accuracy

100% (19/19)

Key passes

2

Assists

2

Cross accuracy

100% (3/3)

As you can see in the table above, the central midfielder was incredibly efficient with his play in possession, completing 100% of his passes and crosses, and was integral to both goals.

It was a beautiful delivery from a free-kick for the equaliser, but his assist for the second was even better. Most players may have taken the first opportunity to cross the ball in on their strong foot but Rothwell had the presence of mind to sell the defender and move into the box before whipping the ball towards goal to create more danger.

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That intelligent piece of play turned what may have been a speculative outswinging cross into a huge chance for Struijk to head into an empty net from a couple of feet out.

Therefore, Rothwell was the real hero on the night for Farke because it was his sensational creative play that, ultimately, provided the centre-back with the chances to be the match-winner.

Liverpool have the chance to move ten points clear at the top of the Premier League table when they travel to Birmingham to take on Aston Villa this evening.

The Reds are already seven points clear of their closest rivals, Arsenal, and have played the same number of games, but they can take advantage of playing an extra match tonight by claiming all three points.

Mikel Arteta’s side had reduced the gap to four points on Saturday, before Liverpool’s win over Wolves on Sunday, when they beat Leicester City 2-0.

Mikel Merino, a central midfielder, played as a false nine and scored both of their goals in the win, amid an injury crisis in the forward department.

Arsenal are currently missing Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, and Gabriel Jesus for the foreseeable future, which should come as a boost to Liverpool in the title race.

However, the emergence of Ethan Nwaneri as a star in the first-team at The Emirates may keep the Gunners in the fight and concern Arne Slot’s side, as he has caught the eye in recent weeks.

Ethan Nwaneri's emergence at Arsenal

The 17-year-old starlet has benefitted from the injuries Arsenal are suffering from at the top end of the pitch, as they have provided him with more minutes on the pitch across all competitions.

Nwaneri started on the right flank in their 2-0 win over Leicester and, as you can see in the highlights, he produced a moment of magic to open the scoring with his brilliant in-swinging cross for Merino to head into the far corner.

The teenage sensation, who can play centrally or out wide, has racked up three goals and one assist in his last seven appearances in all competitions for the Gunners, including two goals in his last four outings in the Premier League.

His positivity in possession is refreshing to see as the England youth international consistently looks to make things happen by taking on his man in the final third, which makes him an exciting player to watch in action.

In fact, Nwaneri ranks within the top 3% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Men’s Big 5 Leagues and European competitions over the last 365 days for successful take-ons per 90 (3.71). This proves that the left-footed forward is able to consistently get the better of defenders to drive the ball up the pitch for his team.

Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)

15 years, 181 days old

Harvey Elliott (Fulham)

16 years, 30 days old

Matthew Briggs (Fulham)

16 years, 68 days old

Izzy Brown (West Brom)

16 years, 117 days old

Aaron Lennon (Leeds)

16 years, 129 days old

As you can see in the table above, Arsenal made him the youngest player in the history of the Premier League back when he made his debut in 2022 against Brentford.

You can also see that current Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott, who has only made nine substitute appearances in the league this term, was the youngest player after he made his debut for Fulham, before Nwaneri took that record from him.

Now 21, Elliott is yet to break into the first XI on a regular basis and the Reds may have to look elsewhere to find their answer to Nwaneri, as one of their young loanees has shown the potential to make the step up to the first-team – Ben Doak.

Ben Doak's form this season

Liverpool sent the Scotland international on loan to Championship side Middlesbrough at the start of the season to go and play a full campaign of senior football to develop as a player.

The left-footed sensation, who made his debut for Celtic under Ange Postecoglou at the age of 16, is an electric forward who looks to make a big impact at the top end of the pitch as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

Starts

21

Goals

3

Big chances created

7

Key passes per game

1.9

Assists

7

As you can see in the table above, Doak has showcased his creativity ability, particularly, in the Championship for Michael Carrick’s side this term.

The 19-year-old starlet, who does not turn 20 until November, is enjoying a fantastic first season of regular first-team football and it will be crucial learning for the teenage whiz, who may have his sights set on emerging as a regular for Liverpool in the future.

Why Ben Doak could be Liverpool's own Ethan Nwaneri

Whilst he is a couple of years older than Nwaneri, Doak could emerge as the club’s own version of the Arsenal talent by coming into Slot’s squad as a left-footed, teenage, ace with the ability to provide a spark in the final third next season.

Earlier this season, Ally McCoist heaped praise on the Scotland international after a strong performance against Croatia’s Josko Gvardiol for his country. The pundit compared him to Real Madrid superstar Jude Bellingham, who has scored 34 goals in 76 games for the Spanish giants by the age of 21, by claiming that both stars play with freedom and that they are both “fearless” on the pitch.

This suggests that, if McCoist’s comments are accurate, Doak has the right mentality to step up at Liverpool next season because he will go in with a fearless attitude and be ready to perform on the biggest stage.

Assists

0.35

Top 6%

Expected Assisted Goals

0.23

Top 15%

Progressive carries

6.78

Top 1%

Successful take-ons

1.77

Top 22%

Touches in opposition penalty area

6.12

Top 2%

As you can see in the table above, the left-footed right winger is also similar to Nwaneri in the sense that he constantly looks to drive forward with the ball, taking on opposition players, to make things happen at the top end of the pitch.

Doak is a progressive dribbler and could be an exciting talent for Liverpool fans to watch as he could get the supporters off their seats with his ability to fly down the flank and commit defenders.

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It is now down to the Middlesbrough loanee to prove to Slot in the summer that he has what it takes to make the jump to the first-team at Anfield next season, so that he can emerge as their answer to Nwaneri on the right wing.

Nottingham Forest are now keen on signing a “complete” forward after watching him in action recently, but there will be plenty of competition for his signature from rival Premier League clubs, according to a report.

Forest planning for the summer

Forest are enjoying a remarkable season in the Premier League, surpassing all expectations and pushing for Champions League qualification, which may mean their most important task this summer will be keeping hold of their best players.

However, new targets are also being identified, with Nuno Espirito Santo seemingly particularly keen on strengthening in the attacking third, given that a number of forwards have been linked with moves to the City Ground.

Contact has been made over a deal for Corinthians striker Yuri Alberto, while the Tricky Trees are also eyeing a move for AS Roma’s Tammy Abraham, who is currently on loan at AC Milan.

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Matheus Cunha was also heavily linked with Forest in the January transfer window, and the Wolverhampton Wanderers star is not the only Brazilian on the list of targets.

According to a report from The Boot Room, Nottingham Forest are now keen on signing Marseille forward Luis Henrique, who has put in some impressive displays in Ligue 1 this season.

In light of Henrique’s performances in France, he has been tipped to receive a Brazil call-up, and he could also be in line for a move to the Premier League, with a number of clubs believed to be queuing up.

Newcastle United and Everton are also credited with an interest in the forward, with all three clubs watching him in action in recent weeks, so there could be plenty of competition for his signature this summer.

Henrique impressing for Marseille

Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi is clearly very pleased with the Brazilian’s performances this season, having singled him out for praise earlier this month: “He is having a fantastic season. He shows us that he is a complete player, with or without the ball. In terms of finishing, he scores goals. He is young and has to be determined to keep improving. He is one of the most important players for OM.

As such, it may be difficult to prise the left-winger away from Marseille this summer, especially considering the French side are in a strong negotiating position, as he is under contract until the summer of 2028.

However, should the 23-year-old move to the City Ground, there is every indication he could be a fantastic signing, having amassed seven goals and four assists in Ligue 1 this term.

Nuno is not short on top-quality wide players, with Callum Hudson-Odoi and Anthony Elanga both enjoying impressive seasons.

However, if Forest qualify for Europe next season, they will need strength in depth, and Henrique’s performances for Marseille suggest he could be a solid addition to the squad.