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Liverpool were very impressive in their 3-0 win over Bournemouth at Anfield on Saturday. Goals from Sadio Mane, Georginio Wijnaldum and Mohamed Salah earned all three points for the Reds in what was a thoroughly professional display, befitting of Premier League title contenders.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the Merseyside outfit’s performance was how they controlled the match against tough opposition. The midfield trio of Wijnaldum, Fabinho and Naby Keita was brilliant and credit must go to Jurgen Klopp for that.

Watch the video below to see the most insane overhead kick you will see this week…

As a midfield three, the aforementioned trio boasted a perfect blend of attributes, as between them they provided technical quality, creativity, pace, physicality, goal threat and defensive discipline. Klopp should now seek to keep this unit together for the remainder of the season.

By making this his regular starting midfield unit, they can gel together further and gain some momentum. Such momentum and consistency could prove to be a deciding factor in the title run-in. Klopp relying on his best midfield setup could be enough to ensure that the Reds get the wins they need between now and the end of the campaign.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

Before the clash against Manchester City on Sunday afternoon, you would have been hard pressed to find many Arsenal fans who may have hoped, or even expected a win. But even the most ardent of Gunners supporters would have been shocked by just how easy things were for the Premier League champions.

The Citizens romped to a three-goal lead by half-time, and in the end, took the gas off the pedal as they sauntered their way to another three points. It was much an indictment of Arsenal’s own struggles, as the sheer gulf in class between the two teams right now. And speaking after the game, a beleaguered Freddie Ljungberg made it abundantly clear that the job he is doing at the moment, is essentially only a plaster job.

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He said (as quoted by Sky Sports): “I’ve said to the club, it’s a great, great honour to do this. But of course, Per (Mertesacker) is an academy manager, and is doing two jobs at once. I think it needs to be cleared up to make a decision, so everybody knows, but that’s up to the club.

“I’m very honoured, and try to do things as good as I can, but I think as well it would be good to make a decision, regardless of what it is. I’ve said to them I think they need to make a decision.”

The Swede is doing the Gunners a favour by holding the fort as the club’s dithering board look to appoint a permanent successor to Unai Emery. But leave it any longer, and the north London side are just exposing themselves to self-harm beyond belief. It’s a situation of their own making, and they are simply making it worse by showing no signs of being proactive.

Can you get full marks on the Ultimate Arsenal Quiz? Test your knowledge below…

Ljungberg’s pleas for a decision to be made – whether it’s a new manager coming in or him taking the job to the end of the season – has to be heard by the likes of Edu and Raul Sanllehi, the king-makers of this entire process. In trying to be so scientifically pragmatic about things by supposedly having a 12-man shortlist and preparing lengthy interviews with all of them, the Gunners are completely forgetting about matters on the pitch – the place which ultimately is the most important.

The Arsenal board have nowhere to hide. Ljungberg has thrown down the gauntlet, and a decision must be taken in immediate fashion.

Meanwhile, Freddie Ljungberg must do this one thing to leave a legacy behind as Arsenal’s interim head coach.

Wolves fans have taken to Twitter to pile the praise on Adama Traore, following the impressive 2-1 comeback win over Norwich at Carrow Road on Saturday.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side went 1-0 down after Todd Cantwell smashed a powerful effort past Rui Patricio in the 17th minute, although two second-half goals from Roman Saiss and Raul Jimenez helped Wolves take all three points – the Midlands-based side now have 27 points to their name after 18 games.

Despite not grabbing a goal or an assist, Adama was in excellent form and posed a real threat to the Canaries all afternoon in Norfolk.

The Barcelona academy graduate had three shots against Norwich – the third-most of anyone on the pitch behind Teemu Pukki and Jimenez – while he also recorded four key passes, second only to Emiliano Buendia’s nine.

Watch Wolves vs Man City Live and Free with Amazon Prime on December 27th

Additionally, the 23-year-old wide man completed a whopping eight dribbles, while also getting involved defensively with two successful tackles to his name.

The Spaniard has three goals and three assists to his name in the Premier League this term, and these Wolves fans on Twitter have sung his praises following the win over Norwich.

This supporter said that it’s “amazing” how Traore has come on under Nuno, and branded the winger as “absolute quality”.

Elsewhere, this particular fan called the No.37 a “stud” and also stated that his transfer value has shot through the roof this year.

Meanwhile, the adoration for the rapid forward continued as one fan said “what a player” while also dubbing Traore as a “baller” – another said that he has been “awesome” this season.

Furthermore, Traore received more praise from this supporter named Matt, who, despite stating that he isn’t one to overreact, thinks that Traore may just be the best player in the world!

Lastly, this fan said that Adama’s shirt number – 37 – isn’t far off the amount of times he is fouled per game, before stating that the £18m attacker has been a “monster” this season.

In other news, this Wolves man put in an erratic display against Norwich despite picking up the three points…

West Ham United are showing an interest in signing Genk midfielder Sander Berge, as reported by ExWHUemployee.

What’s the story?

The Hammers are said to be prioritising a centre-midfielder during the January transfer window, with Declan Rice, Mark Noble and Carlos Sanchez currently acting as the main men in that position.

It is also suggested that West Ham have worked with his agent before, something that they will hope gives them a slight advantage.

This comes with the 21-year-old having made 28 starts and one appearance off the bench in all competitions for Genk this season.

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Ambitious move

This can be seen as an ambitious move from the Hammers, especially when the competition they will likely face in securing the Norwegian’s signature is considered.

That is because he has been heavily linked with Liverpool ahead of the January transfer window, as reported by The Express.

Considering Liverpool are currently the Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup holders, as well as sitting 13 points ahead of any other competitor in the Premier League table, it is hard to see how they can compete with them.

It’s the dawn of a new decade in the Premier League, but how much do you know about the last 10 years?

Another move that can be seen as ambitious is that the Hammers are targetting Gedson Fernandes, who is also wanted by Manchester United, AC Milan and Lyon, according to Sky Sports.

It is a good sign that West Ham are aiming high regarding the quality of player they are looking to attract, but that also has to be matched with a sense of realism.

If West Ham manage to beat Liverpool to the signing then it will be a real coup, but they should have a backup option due to the lack of options in the squad at the moment.

In other news, West Ham’s key man put in a brilliant performance against Bournemouth.

Eric Dier endured a terrible display as Tottenham Hotspur drew 1-1 with Middlesbrough in the third round of the FA Cup on Sunday.

On the chalkboard

The 25-year-old played in central defence against the Championship side, alongside Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen.

He made a severe error in the second-half, playing Boro striker Ashley Fletcher onside before his opening goal at the Riverside Stadium.

The England international touched the ball 85 times throughout the game but won just one tackle and made two clearances. While Dier also made one interception, this was a performance that was characterised by anonymity.

His inability to provide a key pass or complete a dribble saw him regularly look to play the easy pass and his mistake, leading to Fletcher’s goal, was decisive.

He was actually looking down the line and could have stepped up, rendering the former Manchester United man offside, but his decision not to left Spurs a goal down and chasing the game.

The big fat Tottenham quiz of 2019 – how much do you remember about the last year at Spurs?

Finished

Dier is a midfielder.

But even then, he seems to be finished as a top-level player.

He has averaged a WhoScored rating of just 6.63 in the Premier League under both Mauricio Pochettino and Jose Mourinho and has struggled with injuries throughout his Spurs career.

Per Transfermarkt, he has missed 25 games since the 2016/17 season and his injuries have robbed him of a turn of pace that is required in the Premier League.

That isn’t really his fault but this is an issue for Jose Mourinho.

He wanted to sign him when he was manager of Manchester United but this is a remarkably different player now.

He needs to be out of the team for good; it doesn’t feel like he is even close to having the required attributes to be a starter in this Spurs team.

Meanwhile, Spurs fans have savaged one man. 

Sheffield Wednesday boss Garry Monk refused to rule out a move for a Premier League winger earlier this week.

According to Football Insider, the Owls are one club of the two Championship teams battling New York Red Bulls to clinch Southampton’s Josh Sims on loan this month.

When asked about his interest, the 40-year-old said: “He would be one of the names that came up in our recruitment meetings but there is nothing concrete I can really tell you. I would like there to be something to tell you but there isn’t.”

It remains to be seen if the south Yorkshiremen will make a move for the 22-year-old, but it’s clear that Monk would like to make him an addition at Hillsborough.

Sims has only just returned from a loan spell in the MLS, and it appears as if he still cannot break into the Saints’ first-team setup, so would a loan move to Wednesday be worth it? Is it a deal that Monk should pursue?

Here’s are the thoughts of Football FanCast’s finest…

Viji Jeevathayalan

“Whilst Josh Sims has hardly set the world alight in his fledgling career, this may be a risk worth taking for Sheffield Wednesday. At 22, he has plenty of scope to improve and develop under the guidance of Garry Monk, and perhaps most importantly, would add some vital depth to the wide areas. Capable of playing on either flank and even in an attacking midfield role, Sims’ versatility would allow Monk to chop and change with his team selections when necessary. The Championship campaign is long and arduous, and having players who can fill different roles makes Sims a manager’s dream. Whilst his overall goal record may be poor with just 12 to his name, he does have six goals and six assists from 29 games on the left-wing. A move for the 22-year-old would be an exciting gamble for Monk.”

James Beavis

“Josh Sims has shown rare glimpses of what he is capable of such as the assist less than 60 seconds into his Southampton debut and his brilliant run to set up Shane Long to score against Liverpool to take the south coast outfit to Wembley, but never anything more.

“The 22-year-old is at an age now where he can no longer use the excuse of being a youngster for not showing that consistency, and there must be a reason the likes of Claude Puel, Mauricio Pellegrino, Mark Hughes and now Ralph Hasenhuttl have barely used him in their matchday squads over the course of the previous three-and-a-half years – especially when the club has largely been performing badly on the pitch.

“One goal and one assist during a loan spell with the New York Red Bulls in 2019 hardly caught the eye, but perhaps a loan move to a club like Sheffield Wednesday could be just what he needs.

“The winger may have to see it as one of his final chances to prove he has a future at St Mary’s, and that would only benefit the Owls. In addition, he picked up three assists in 18 appearances during a spell at Reading at this level previously, which suggested he can make a difference.

“If he can be direct and use his pace like he did on that brilliant night at Anfield, the lightning-quick wide man would be a threat in the Championship. Garry Monk has nothing to lose with this deal.”

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Matt Dawson

“If Wednesday aren’t careful, this could have the makings of another Jacob Murphy. The winger is renowned for a lack of end product, scoring just twice this season and with him in the side, they seem to struggle. Loan moves may be low-risk but landing Josh Sims wouldn’t be a huge upgrade.

“He’d give them another option, but like Murphy, he struggles for regular goals and assists. At New York Red Bulls, he contributed to just two strikes while a spell at Reading last term garnered only two assists in the Championship. If the Owls want to achieve promotion they’d be better off searching elsewhere and bringing in someone who’s proven in the division. Sims is not their man and would do little to help them reach the playoffs this season.

“His 0.5 key passes throughout his career is indicative of someone who lacks flair and a cutting edge. Monk would be foolish to go ahead with this deal.”

Lewis Blain

“I don’t think there can be any harm in adding a player in a wide area this month and with it being a loan deal, there’s minimal risk in it. Josh Sims has experience in plenty of divisions, including the Premier League and the Championship. Jacob Murphy has failed to live up to the standards expected of him whilst Kadeem Harris and Adam Reach have been hit and miss recently. 12 goals and 20 assists from 120 matches isn’t the greatest return, but a fruitful spell somewhere like Hillsborough could be exactly what he needs.”

How much do you remember about football in 2019? Our quiz will test your knowledge…

While in other Hillsborough news, fans at the club have been hailing one defender as being better than both Liam Palmer and Moses Odubajo…

Tottenham fans have taken to Twitter to pile the praise on Lucas Moura, despite watching their side suffer a 1-0 defeat to Liverpool on Saturday evening.Jose Mourinho’s side battled hard and had more shots than Jurgen Klopp’s men on the day with 14 attempts to Liverpool’s 13, although a smartly-taken effort from Roberto Firmino shortly before half-time ended up being the winner.

Despite the loss, one man was excellent and has rightly received praise from the Tottenham fans on Twitter for his performance.

Lucas Moura.

The Brazil international had four of Spurs’ 14 shots, while also making three key passes against the European champions and winning three aerial duels – no Tottenham player won more aerial duels than the former Sao Paulo attacker.

The former PSG forward also embarked on four dribbles and was fouled on five occasions, as he proved to be a real handful for the Merseysiders to contend with throughout the game – additionally, the 27-year-old also didn’t let his defensive work suffer having made one tackle and one clearance as well.

Let’s see what the Tottenham fans on Twitter thought of the Brazilian’s showing…

‘TalkingTHFC’ kicked off the reaction by saying that Lucas was “brilliant” against Liverpool, a game in which he “ran his socks off and worked relentlessly” while he also demanded the ball even at times when he was under pressure.

Another fan agreed with this statement, saying that the attacker is “never one to shy away” and also “gives it his all”.

Elsewhere, this fan named Harrison added that Lucas is “always looking to get forward” and “deserves more respect” – on the basis of his display against Klopp’s side, it’s hard to argue with that.

‘Rickles’ went as far as saying that it was Lucas’ “best game for us in a while” – high praise indeed – while another supporter named Ian said that the Tottenham No.27 “was like the Energiser Bunny”!

The big fat Tottenham quiz of 2019 – how much do you remember about the last year at Spurs?

Lastly, a fan with the username ‘Yorkspur’ said that Lucas “always turns up when Kane doesn’t play” – an interesting piece of information to add to the discussion without question.

In other news, this Tottenham target with more dribbles than Heung-min Son would add a new dimension to Mourinho’s attack…

Tottenham Hotspur fans have urged the club to sign Luka Jovic from Real Madrid this month.

Defensa Central, via Sport Witness, has claimed that manager Jose Mourinho has made a personal phone call to Real supremo Florentino Perez to ask about the possibility of signing the Serbia international.

The big fat Tottenham quiz of 2019 – how much do you remember about the last year at Spurs?

Jovic has made just four starts thus far this season, scoring once, in a 5-0 win over Leganes.

And supporters are drooling over the prospect of bringing the 22-year-old in; the forward netted 36 times in 75 games for Eintracht Frankfurt before his move to the Santiago Bernabeu.

One has to feel that Jovic would be perfect for Spurs, although the chances of signing him at this stage appear remote.

While he is not necessarily starting under manager Zinedine Zidane, he continues to come off the bench and has an important role at the club.

Some fans, however, think that Mourinho’s previous association with Real could well work in Spurs’ favour.

Indeed, Jovic’s link-up play and previous goalscoring exploits – at Frankfurt he was partnered with Sebastien Haller, with the pair scoring 69 goals between them in 152 appearances – suggest that he could both replace the injured Harry Kane in the short-term and play with him in the long-term.

As unlikely as it may be, this is a deal that Spurs certainly ought to explore.

Meanwhile, will Spurs miss a major star if he departs?

According to Italian journalist Alfredo Pedulla, Everton remain keen on adding Inter Milan midfielder Matias Vecino to their ranks, and over the weekend have made new contact to sign him.

What’s the word?

It’s believed that the Toffees were interested in the Uruguay international several weeks ago, but the Serie A outfit didn’t want to listen to any offers at the time.

However, it appears as if things have changed slightly as Milan are now open to a deal as the two clubs have initiated contact again.

There is less than a week remaining in the transfer window so Everton are working against the clock to push this one over the line with Pedulla claiming that Nerazzurri would rather sell him outright than a loan with an option to buy.

Kickstart the Ancelotti revolution

Everton are yet to make any new additions since Carlo Ancelotti took the reins last month, so he’s still mainly operating with the side that former boss Marco Silva put together and subsequently struggled with.

Director of Football Marcel Brands can kickstart the club’s revolution under the Italian with the signing of Vecino.

The Toffees squad depth at central midfield is questionable at best with Andre Gomes out for the season, both Morgan Schneiderlin and Fabian Delph entering their 30s and young 21-year-old Tom Davies still finding his feet at this level.

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Vecino would add a bite to that midfield, perhaps one they currently lack in terms of overall quality as he’s been tried and tested on Europe’s biggest stage – playing eight matches across the previous two seasons – as well as on the highest international level, the World Cup.

Per WhoScored, the 28-year-old is averaging 1.9 tackles per game in the league, which increases to 2.3 per game in the Champions League this campaign.

Calcio Mercato has described him as a “cool-headed passer” and a “strong presser,” suggesting that he’s quite the enforcer in the heart of the pitch.

Call yourself an Everton expert? How much did each of these January signings cost?

Only Schneiderlin can match his tacking numbers this season with the likes of Delph and Davies some way off.

It remains to be seen how much the 41-cap ace would cost, but Transfermarkt currently value him at £20.7m so that provides some scope into the possible price he would come at.

And in other news, Everton could have fierce competition for the signing of this fellow Serie A superstar…

West Brom returned to the top of the Championship table on Saturday afternoon after they ended a dire run of seven straight games without a victory with a win at the Hawthorns.

The Baggies defeated the league’s basement boys Luton Town to overtake their title rivals Leeds United to regain control of the second-tier.

Slaven Bilic’s side took the lead early in the first half through a Donervon Daniels own goal before Semi Ajayi’s header 20 minutes from time sealed all three points in the west Midlands.

Several Albion supporters were left with nothing but praise for their skipper Jake Livermore as he put in an industrious display in central midfield.

Here’s what has been said…

A recurring theme throughout the reaction was how the captain led by example with his non-stop work rate particularly singled out.

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Livermore played the full 90 minutes, and per SofaScore, recorded two tackles, one key pass and one interception.

It led to some serious comparisons to other midfielders in the division, including one of their own…

One supporter believed that he needed a better partner next to him in the engine room as Romaine Sayers isn’t good enough while another added that he was the best holding midfielder in the division, claiming he is better than Leeds United’s Kalvin Phillips.

And then fans were left praising him with a range of superlatives, including “class,” “quality,” and “solid.”

Who the heck is that?! Can you name all of these obscure West Brom players…

While in other news, West Brom boss Slaven Bilic has just been given a selection nightmare…