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Arsenal icon Paul Merson has set out the blueprint David Moyes will need to utilise on Sunday for West Ham United to “hurt” Tottenham Hotspur.

The Irons visit their London rivals this weekend looking to build on commanding victories over Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leicester City, knowing that a win will move the claret and blue side above Jose Mourinho’s Spurs in the Premier League standings.

Tottenham have endured a mixed campaign to date, having started the season with defeat at home to Everton before entering the October international break after hitting Manchester United for six at Old Trafford.

Mourinho will be confident that his side can claim their first set of successive league wins this term against West Ham, who have won just one of the last six meetings between the two London outfits and lost on four occasions.

Merson, however, is not totally convinced that Tottenham will have things go all their own way this weekend, as the 52-year-old pundit believes Moyes can set the Hammers up to make Sunday’s clash a real contest.

“It suits West Ham when they can sit back and counter-attack,” Merson said on Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday (October 17, 13:50). “What I worry about is when they play at the London Stadium against bottom-half teams and they’ve got to go out and take the game to them.

“They start getting picked off. When they can work from a base, they are a very, very good team. I think they will make it hard for Tottenham. I think they’ve got players who can majorly, majorly hurt you.”

West Ham’s 3-0 win away to Leicester last time out was a perfect example of the Irons using a strong base to hit sides on the counter to devastating effect, with the likes of Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen using their pace to stretch the field and the Foxes’ backline.

The Hammers’ defence also wonderfully nullified their host’s offensive weapons to the point Lukasz Fabianski was left a mere passenger of the result, with Leicester unable to register a single shot on target at their own stadium.

West Ham were physically, technically and tactically the superior side at the King Power, intimidating Leicester into a tame display whilst being weak at the back. Antonio’s fast thinking and quick footwork also ensured Moyes’ men overpowered Brendan Rodgers’, reacting best to the situation with a quick-free quick before heading in low Aaron Cresswell’s cross.

Leicester tried to respond but could find no way through the Irons’ brick wall, and replicating this against Tottenham may be enough for Moyes to see Merson’s prediction come true in West Ham hurting Spurs on Sunday.

Tottenham have been one of the best defensive units in the Premier League so far this season, so creating chances could otherwise be hard for West Ham, with Mourinho’s rigid tactics restricting opposing sides to the least open play goals (one) through their first four fixtures.

AND in other news, a £27m-rated West Ham man must utilise the east London outfit’s transfer failings to his advantage.

Arsenal are being linked with different players this summer, although one rumour might not go down well with supporters as former Tottenham player Marcus Edwards is a name being linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium.

According to GiveMeSport, Spurs are not likely to re-sign Edwards, who is currently playing in Portugal, and this has opened the door for other clubs to sign the player.

He has a €15m (£13.4m) release clause in his contract with Vitoria de Guimares and apparently Edwards would prefer a move to north London rivals Arsenal, but the Gunners have yet to properly express any real interest in the player as of yet, per GiveMeSport.

The 21-year-old has has a pretty impressive campaign in Portugal, picking up eight goals and five assists in all competitions, per WhoScored. This is a pretty impressive tally for the attacking midfielder, and the fact that he has 1.7 shots, 3.1 successful dribbles and 1.4 key passes per game emphasises the attacking potential that he possesses, which could make him a good signing for the Gunners.

However, there are a couple of things which should stop the Gunners from signing Edwards. One is the fact Tottenham have a sell-on clause for the player, so Arsenal would be giving their arch-rivals some money which they could then use in the summer transfer window.

Arsenal also have their own young prospects illuminating the Emirates, including Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka and Eddie Nketiah, and the Gunners should focus on this attacking talent instead of spending more than £10m on Edwards.

Gunners fans, should Arsenal steer clear of signing Edwards this summer? Comment below with your views!

Tottenham Hotspur have been tipped to make a sensational move in the transfer market this summer, though it would be very atypical of Daniel Levy and could be a nightmare for Jose Mourinho to deal with…

What’s the word?

Former Spurs winger Andros Townsend believes Gareth Bale would love a return to north London as he continues to play the outcast at La Liga champions Real Madrid.

Speaking to talkSPORT, via the Evening Standard, he said: “I think if anything the Bale situation, he’d want to go back to Spurs. The memories of Spurs. His happiness. He was the main man. He was loved. He was at the top of his game. So, if anything I think it would work the other way.”

Spanish outlet El Chiringuito claimed back in January that Mourinho was keen to land the former Spurs legend during the January transfer window for around £25m, so it’s certainly a story that refuses to go away.

Nightmare on so many levels

But go away it must. It simply spells all sorts of trouble for those at the club.

Firstly, Levy is known for his tight financial control so trying to sign a player who’s on a reported £485k-per-week really isn’t his style – but would he do it for one of their greatest modern-era stars? That remains to be seen.

You then have to consider whether or not Spurs need another winger after adding Steven Bergwijn at the start of the year. Unless there are any major and unexpected departures, you’d have to say no.

Bale has grown tired at his lack of regular game-time and treatment by Zinedine Zidane in the Spanish capital, so why would it be any different in north London when Heung-min Son, Lucas Moura and the aforementioned Dutchman likely to be ahead of him in the pecking order.

Such behaviour has led to talkSPORT’s Simon Jordan blasting the 31-year-old for being “disrespectful” despite having “incredible ability”.

Although, the Welshman is someone that Mourinho has always admired. He even tried to sign him whilst in charge of Los Galacticos, claiming that he is a “fantastic player.”

It’s about time Spurs’ infatuation with their former star stops. There’s no room for sentiment anymore.

AND in other news, Mourinho has identified three right-back transfer options…

Ever since news first emerged that Newcastle could be undergoing a takeover, fans of the Tyneside club have no doubt been waiting anxiously to see whether it would actually come to fruition.

Now, The Chronicle’s Mark Douglas has revealed just why things aren’t progressing as quick as many of them would have hoped for. He said: “This is the sixth week of checks and despite surges of excitement that an announcement could be soon, the situation remains that Premier League confirmation and transfer of funds are required to complete the buy out.

“It’s understood that this deal has been one of the most complex the Premier League has ever dealt with. The process has required lawyers and outside investigators to look into stacks of sensitive information and interrogate objections from several parties. But buyers’ side sources insist there have been no red flags raised and remain hopeful of an announcement soon.”

And after hearing about Douglas’ insight into the takeover process, Newcastle fans took to Twitter to voice their thoughts on the situation.

Key information about Anfield

Anfield was built in 1884 and is now the home of Liverpool football club. The stadium is located in the city of Liverpool on Merseyside and less than a mile away from Goodison Park, Everton’s own ground.

Its current capacity stands at 54,074 and it has a pitch that measures 101m by 68m. The surface is covered with GrassMaster’s hybrid turf and it has undersoil heating installed. There is no running track surrounding it.

Anfield’s record attendance was set on 2 February 1952 when 61,905 supporters watched Liverpool play Wolverhampton Wanderers.

A history of Anfield

Anfield was built back in 1884 but when it was first opened for business, it were actually Everton who first settled into Liverpool’s now holy ground. The stadium got its name from the old town land of ‘Annefield’ just outside New Ross over in Ireland and with the Toffees calling it home for a while, the first game ever played there was actually between Everton and Earlestown, ending in a 5-0 victory for the ‘hosts’.

However, some dispute over the rent at their new ground resulted in Everton leaving for Goodison Park in 1891 and just a year after that, the newly-formed Liverpool F.C. and Athletic Grounds Ltd would move in. The inaugural clash at the stadium for the Reds was a friendly against Rotherham Town with the game ending in a resounding 7-1 victory for the home side.

Liverpool’s first official Football League match at Anfield, however, was played on 9 September 1893 in front of 5,000 supporters as the Reds thrashed Lincoln City 4–0. This period was also when the club first started to improve their ground, erecting a new stand on the site of the current Main Stand in 1895 and then following it up with another one at the Anfield Road end in 1903.

More construction followed suit in 1905 with a stand along the Walton Breck Road which would later be known as the Spion Kop. The progress was somewhat halted for a while and until 1928 when the Kop was revamped and extended to host 30,000 fans in an all-standing area and the roof was added as well.

Soon afterwards, in 1958, Anfield would register its highest ever attendance with 61,905 people watching their clash with Wolves. Between 1963 and 1973, they also demolished the Main Stand and replaced it with a new one. In the 1980s, however, the first plans to convert Anfield into an all-seater were set into motion and in 1982, the iconic Shankly Gates were constructed.

Some of the last developments made at the ground date back to the 1990s, when the Centenary Stand was improved and the Kop converted into an all-seater stand. Finally in 1998, a second tier on the Anfield Road Stand was added.

Since then, plans to move to a different stadium were scrapped in favour of simply improving Anfield further, which resulted in increasing the capacity by redeveloping the Main Stand and possibly expanding the Anfield Road Stand as well with the second phase of total redevelopment set to finish in 2022.

Tickets to watch Liverpool at Anfield

All tickets to watch Liverpool play at Anfield can be found on the club’s official website. The cost varies depending on the stand that is chosen as well as the age group of the buyer but the most expensive adult ticket costs £59 and the cheapest £9.

Liverpool also offer season tickets to their supporters and more information can be found on the aforementioned website.

Related links

https://www.liverpoolfc.com/ – Official website of Liverpool FC

https://www.liverpoolfc.com/tickets/match-day-premier-league-prices – Liverpool FC Ticket Office

Some Celtic fans have flocked to a tweet that was recently posted by one Hoops fan featuring the club’s former striker Maurice Johnston, with many Celtic supporters sharing critical opinions of the former Scotland international.

It may be fair to say that some Hoops supporters have not held back in their recent criticism of the ex-attacker on social media, with one Celtic fan even referring to Johnston as “the lowest form of snake that’s ever played football” in response to one Celtic supporter’s recent post featuring an image of the player in a Hoops shirt. 

The negative opinions that some Celtic fans hold of the former striker may stem from Johnston’s decision to join the Hoops’ Old Firm rivals Rangers in July 1989, despite having reportedly “supported Celtic all his life”, in addition to having previously played for the club from October 1984 until July 1987 when he left to join French side FC Nantes. 

The former Scotland striker allegedly “backed out of a move” to his former club in order to join their rivals upon leaving Nantes in 1989, which may make Johnston’s decision to join Rangers an even more controversial one. As a result of all that, it may not be too surprising that some Hoops supporters still harbour some negative feelings towards the former striker. 

Read the critical messages from Hoops supporters in response to one Celtic fan’s recent post about the former striker in the tweets below.

Celtic fans, have you forgiven Johnston? Let us know below!

Whilst the sporting market climate continues to be affected by the current global crisis, it looks more and more unlikely that clubs will be able to splurge on the transfer targets they had in mind this summer.

According to a recent report by Transfermarkt, player values have dropped by up to 20%, which could impact the way teams go about their summer business.

If spending big, or even at all, is not an option in the upcoming window then clubs may need to turn to their youth ranks in order to provide depth for the senior players next season.

We’ve put together a list of five youth players West Ham should call upon next campaign if bringing in new personnel is off the cards…

Jeremy Ngakia

West Ham have conceded the third most goals this season with 50, and are currently on 27 points, only out of the drop zone on goal difference. The Irons must tighten their defence next season if they want to avoid repeating a relegation battle.

If recruiting some stronger defensive players in the transfer window isn’t an option, West Ham should look towards 19-year-old Jeremy Ngakia. A right-back by trade, the London local has played in his preferred role in four Premier League matches this season, as well as filling in as a centre-back for the reserve side.

Ngakia’s versatility can be utilised across West Ham’s back four as they are likely to re-consider their defensive options. The 19-year-old has also registered an assist this season, showing his eye for creativity is also a strong point.

Josh Cullen

Although West Ham’s midfield has been much stronger than their attack this season, the club must ensure they have enough personnel to provide depth. With Jack Wilshere currently injured and Carlos Sánchez having played just six league games all season, the Irons should look to extend their arsenal in midfield.

Josh Cullen could be an exciting option to bring into the senior squad next campaign. Despite only tallying one goal and one assist on loan with Charlton this season, his 2018/19 performances were much better. Cullen bagged himself two goals and seven assists last term and can play in either central midfield or in a more defensive role.

Cullen’s versatility could really help bolster West Ham’s ranks and provide a fresh burst of creativity from the bench.

Xande Silva

Even though the right flank is currently well-occupied, three out of the four recognised West Ham right-wingers are ageing. Andriy Yarmolenko and Michail Antonio are both 30-years-old, and Robert Snodgrass is 32. The only youthful wide-man is 23-year-old Jarrod Brown, who recently arrived from Hull City.

Xande Silva is a winger who could really put up a fight for his place in the starting XI. The 23-year-old has made one senior appearance this season and was given just 17 minutes, however his form in the reserve league speaks for itself. Silva has scored seven goals so far this campaign and with the first team’s solid engine room behind him, that amount could be a lot higher.

David Moyes should consider bringing in the Portuguese attacker, especially if he decides not to give new deals to Snodgrass and Antonio who will both enter their final 12 months under contract this summer.

Gonçalo Cardoso

Another defender West Ham could look to bring into the senior team next season is Gonçalo Cardoso. The 19-year-old has played mainly as a centre-back for the U23s this campaign, scoring a goal and assisting two from the backline. He has also filled in as left-back on two occasions.

It seems Moyes already has plans for the Portuguese defender as he has featured on the bench three times this season. A chance-creating defender is a rare attribute to have in your team, and Cardoso’s abilities need to be utilised on the big stage.

Nathan Holland

Perhaps the most exciting prospect in West Ham’s youth ranks at the moment. Fans are desperate to see Nathan Holland be given a chance to shine with the first team.

The 21-year-old is a goal-getting left-winger who could potentially take the place of Felipe Anderson if West Ham are to offload him this season (via Mirror). Holland is due to return from loan from Oxford United where he gained some valuable time in the senior squad. This season, the Englishman has a massive 15 goals and eight assists across all competitions, scoring one in the FA Cup against Newcastle.

Holland can also switch up and play on the right-wing as well, which will add depth to West Ham’s team. He is at the point now in his career where he will be looking to establish himself as a first team regular, and Moyes should be looking to offer him that chance next season.

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… 

Sheffield Wednesday can use the international break to regroup before giving their playoff push another crack after the south Yorkshire side slipped to eighth in the table with a 2-2 draw against Swansea City.

Garry Monk’s men are now three points off fifth place, and they’ll be rueing the fact that they could easily be sitting pretty in second position behind league leaders West Bromwich Albion.

Watch Sheffield Wednesday Videos With StreamFootball.tv Below

In three of their last five matches, the Owls have seen some form of points snatched from their jaws, most notably in back-to-back games as Blackburn Rovers fought from behind late on to pick up a victory while Swansea City answered what Wednesday thought was a winner with a 94th-minute equaliser at the weekend.

Overall, Monk is making a difference, but he can’t fully stamp his mark down until January as he’s been working with a squad built by Steve Bruce and then caretaker Lee Bullen.

His impact on Morgan Fox emphasises his qualities the most.

The left-back has received his fair share of flak over the last few years ever since Carlos Carvahal signed him in January 2017.

Fans were embarrassed by his performance in August 2018 against Wolves in the Carabao Cup, and this season before Monk arrived, he could only manage three starts – he’s nearly doubled that already under the 40-year-old, per Transfermarkt.

He has even been booed on occasions this season.

The 26-year-old has made five straight starts, winning a total of 14 aerial duels, 15 clearances, eight tackles, and four accurate crosses, via WhoScored, which is more than his full-back counterpart Liam Palmer and backup Moses Odubajo.

His performances have been that fantastic that he won the October Player of the Month award, which speaks volumes in how he’s changed his reputation amongst fans at Hillsborough.

Fox very nearly joined Sunderland in the summer, they were at least confident in clinching him back in August.

With his contract up in the summer, he must surely be on track to earn a new deal, and it would be fully deserved.

Hull City attacker Jarrod Bowen continued his prolific season in the Championship with another two goals in his side’s 2-2 draw with Middlesbrough on Sunday, and his performance didn’t go unnoticed by Crystal Palace supporters on Twitter.

Having scored 14 league goals in 2017/18 and 22 last term, the 22-year-old is now onto 11 in 17 during the current campaign before December following his double at the Riverside Stadium.

A close-range equaliser followed on from a thunderbolt from the winger, whose record in recent years suggests it is only a matter of time until he makes the jump up to the Premier League – with or without Hull.

Meanwhile, despite an impressive display against Liverpool at the weekend, Palace are struggling in the final third having only found the net 11 times in their 13 top flight fixtures to date in 2019/20.

Watch Crystal Palace Videos With StreamFootball.tv Below

With little competition for Wilfried Zaha and Andros Townsend on the flanks, it is not out of the question that a new wide player could be on Roy Hodgson’s wish-list sooner rather than later.

Some Eagles fans certainly seem keen on the idea of getting Bowen given their recent comments, with one saying they “would love him at Palace”, as you can see below.

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Here’s just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

In other news, Crystal Palace fans have been hailing one midfielder after “immense” display against Liverpool…

Tottenham Hotspur fans want Christian Eriksen to be banished from first-team affairs following a major transfer update from The Athletic’s David Ornstein.

The journalist claims that there was not a single bid tabled for the Denmark international in the summer, despite his desire to join either Real Madrid or Barcelona.

Manchester United are said to have made their interest known, though Eriksen was not keen on moving to Old Trafford.

Despite his failure to move, Eriksen is said to have little desire to sign a new contract in north London, because of his desire to move to a foreign club.

Of course, the midfielder struggled throughout the club’s 2-1 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday, per WhoScored, registering just 62% passing accuracy and failing to register a single key pass.

And a number of fans are keen for him to be banished to training with the kids and away from the first-team until he actually leaves the club.

Take a look at the best of the reaction below!