Liverpool will be hoping to gain an advantage during the second leg of the Champions League round of 16, whilst also continuing their fine league performances in the upcoming weeks.

It appears that within the next month or so, those adoring Liverpool fans will have a far clearer picture of whether silverware will be returning to Anfield this summer or not.

With a number of critical games coming up, this will be a massive test for Jurgen Klopp and his players.

As hard as it is to concentrate on anything else, Liverpool must also consider the bigger picture and the fact that they still need to recruit in the summer, whether they win anything or not.

Despite how brilliant they have been, all their title rivals will strengthen in the summer and Liverpool then have to ensure they do as well.

A weakness in the Reds side could arguably be up-front, where they have little in terms of quality back-up for Roberto Firmino.

In a bid to solve that, Liverpool must look at recruiting Bayer Leverkusen forward Kevin Volland.

Volland, (who is valued at £22.5 million on Transfermarkt) has been very consistent for Bayer Leverkusen this season and his side are reaping the rewards because of it.

With Europa League football again in sight, they have Kevin Volland’s goal contribution to thank for that especially, seeing as the German forward has so far accumulated nine goals and ten assists in all competitions.

At 26, Volland is set to reach his prime years in the game and as a versatile back-up in the forward department, playing anywhere from wide to the main man up-front, he would be a fine option for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Do you agree… Let us know!

[ad_pod ]

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed that the club are trying to sign new players in January.The club have not signed a new player since last January, but Pochettino has opened the door to potentially reinforcing the squad this month.What’s the word?Tottenham’s transfer dealings have been a bone of contention for many fans.Chairman Daniel Levy failed to bring in a single new player in the summer and it has appeared for the duration of January that lightning would strike twice.A Carabao Cup semi-final defeat to Chelsea on Thursday highlighted the need for reinforcements, however, with the likes of Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Heung-Min Son all unavailable.CheekySport’s Joel claims Spurs badly need to invest in January after not having “the balls” to beat Arsenal. Check out his uncensored opinion in the video below…And Pochettino has now given fans hope of a new recruit arriving in north London.He said, per Goal: “There are a few options. We will see if we are capable to deliver [on] it.”He added: “I am more than open to improve and to add players to the squad. You can find on the internet or my previous press conferences that I always say the same thing.”If we can find the right player that is going to help us improve, then we will…but we were never close. There is always a chance. We have still seven days [of the transfer window].”Challenge for LevyPochettino has regularly towed the party line at Tottenham.He has a superb track record of improving the players he has and Spurs rarely splurge on players in the transfer window.However, this is crunch time for Tottenham’s project.They are third in the Premier League and remain in both the Champions League and the FA Cup.With their new stadium seemingly close to completion, it is high time that the club starts showing some ambition in the transfer window.Pochettino’s words, then, appear a direct challenge to Levy to do just that; he has confirmed that there are options available to Spurs, but it remains to be seen whether they will be taken over the coming week.

كشف مصدر مقرب من محمد إبراهيم لاعب مصر المقاصة، حقيقة توقيع اللاعب لـ بيراميدز أو الأهلي، في الوقت الحالي.

وكان الأهلي تقدم بعرض لمصر المقاصة قيمته 10 ملايين جنيه، للحصول على خدمات محمد إبراهيم. طالع التفاصيل من هنا.

وقال المصدر في تصريحات خاصة لـ بطولات”: “الأهلي يتواصل مع مسئولي المقاصة من أجل إنهاء الصفقة وتم عرض مبلغ 10 ملايين جنيه”.

وأشار المصدر إلي أنه تم رفض العرض المقدم لضعف المقابل المادي وما زالت المفاوضات مستمرة.

وأضاف: “اللاعب لم يوقع لـ بيراميدز، وهناك أكثر من ناد داخل مصر وبعض الدول الخليجية يرغب في ضم محمد إبراهيم وما زالت الأمور لم تحسم بشكل نهائي حتى الآن لأي منهما”.

طالع | رئيس المقاصة يوضح.. هل تواصل الأهلي معه لضم محمد إبراهيم؟

وكان بكري سليم المدير التنفيذي لنادي مصر المقاصة، قد رحب في تصريحات تلفزيونية بانتقال محمد إبراهيم للأهلي، مؤكداً أن اللاعب يستحق أكثر من مليوني دولار.

كما صرح محمد إبراهيم في وقت سابق، بأن انتقاله إلي الأهلي وارد. طالع التفاصيل من هنا.

يذكر أن الأهلي أبرم أولى صفقات الصيف، بالتعاقد مع طاهر محمد طاهر مهاجم المقاولون العرب.

[ad_pod ]

Filip Benkovic has suggested his injury issues aren’t as bad as initially feared.

The defender hasn’t played since Celtic beat Hamilton on January 26 amid concerns that he could miss the rest of the season.

Brendan Rodgers played down that claim, and the defender has revealed in an interview with Sporske Novosti (as translated by The Scottish Sun) that he expects to be back in action sooner rather than later.

“That’s me, a magnet for trouble,” he joked. “Before the injury, everything was super, I was just too happy. Regardless of the injury that, I hope, will not keep me out from the field for too long, I enjoy everything.

“The matches up here play at a constant speed, every two or three days. Of course, I believe that I will continue to progress and that my performance will be even better.”

Major boost

Benkovic made an instant impact on Celtic when he joined on deadline day at the end of August.

His partnership with Dedryck Boyata gelled instantly with the two men side-by-side as Celtic won three matches to reach the last 32 of the Europa League.

Unfortunately for Celtic, with Boyata out of contract and Benkovic returning to Leicester in May, Brendan Rodgers will have to find a new central defensive partnership for next season.

Kris Ajer and Jozo Simunovic have stood in for Benkovic during his absence and although Celtic have yet to lose a domestic goal in 2019 there is no doubt that the on loan Leicester defender will walk straight back into the side when he resumes full fitness.

كشف فرانك لامبارد المدير الفني لفريق تشيلسي، غيابات البلوز أمام ليفربول قبل المباراة التي تجمعهما بعد غد السبت.

ويحل ليفربول ضيفًا على تشيلسي، في ملعب “ستامفورد بريدج”، ضمن منافسات الجولة الثانية من عمر الدوري الإنجليزي.

اقرأ أيضًا.. كلوب: تياجو ألكانتارا لن يؤثر على مستقبل أحد في ليفربول

وقال لامبارد في المؤتمر الصحفي الخاص بالمباراة: “بوليسيتش وبن شيلويل وحكيم زياش غير جاهزين لمواجهة ليفربول، نأمل أن يكونوا متاحين بعد مباراة الأحد”.

وأضاف المدرب الإنجليزي: “تياجو سيلفا؟ إنها مباراة مبكرة جدًا له، هو ما زال يعمل على تحسين لياقته”.

وأردف: “سيلفا قائد بالفعل، هو لا يتحدث الإنجليزية بطلاقة لكنه شيء نعمل عليه، التواجد والانضباط والجودة كل شئ متواجد بالتدريبات؛ بإمكانه أن يقود كل شيء حوله، ماذا يمكن أن يطلب المدرب أكثر؟”.

وتابع: “بينما سيكون تيمو فيرنر جاهزًا لمواجهة ليفربول، نحن في المباراة الثانية، إذ نعمل على رفع مستوى لياقة اللاعبين”.

وأوضح: “يوم الأحد، سنواجه أفضل فريق في إنجلترا، إنه تحد رائع للحصول على النقاط الثلاث أمام فريق عظيم ومدرب جيد جدًا، نرغب أن نؤدي بشكل جيد”.

وواصل: “تشيلسي مرشح للقب؟ لا أود التحدث عن ذلك، الناس يعلمون جيدًا حجم الفجوة وجودة ليفربول ومانشستر سيتي على مدى السنوات الاخيرة”.

وأكد: “سيكون هناك منافسة لكن ما زال ليفربول والسيتي في المقدمة عن الجميع”.

ونوه: “مباراة الأحد لا تحتاج لحافز، كلاعب أتذكر كنا نواجه ليفربول كل موسم تقريبًا في دوري أبطال أوروبا لكن الأمر مختلف بعض الشئ الآن، لأن ليفربول هم أبطال المسابقة وأفضل فريق في إنجلترا”.

وبسؤاله عن اقتراب جاريث بيل من توتنهام، أجاب: “هو لاعب مذهل ويملك موهبة عظيمة، توتنهام الآن لديهم تشكيلة ستنافس بقوة على المراكز المؤهلة لدوري أبطال أوروبا”.

وأتم: “التعاقد مع إدوارد ميندي، حارس رين؟ لا جديد في هذه الصفقة”.

[ad_pod ]Steve Bruce made his Hillsborough bow on Saturday afternoon but he was unable to make it two wins from two as Sheffield Wednesday drew 0-0 with Reading.A home clash against the Royals offered Bruce a decent opportunity to build upon the victory over Ipswich last weekend, and the new manager has reason to feel disappointed after Adam Reach spurned a glorious opportunity to get the three points in the dying embers of the game.There were positives for the manager to take from the fixture, though, as another sturdy defensive performance provided the foundations for the result, with Michael Hector continuing to impress at the heart of the defensive unit.

The 26-year-old has established himself as a popular figure in Sheffield this season, and another exemplary performance on Saturday only enhanced his reputation.

Hector posted a message to the supporters on his Twitter account on Sunday afternoon, revealing that he felt his side deserved the victory before turning attention towards the Tuesday night clash with Millwall.

In response to the post, the Wednesday fans turned out in their numbers to heap praise on the firm fan-favourite for his performance and also called for his temporary deal to be made permanent in the summer.

Here’s what the Sheffield Wednesday fans had to say in response to Hector’s Twitter post:

[ad_pod ]

West Ham were without Marko Arnautovic for Monday night’s clash with Liverpool after the Austrian failed a late fitness test, meaning that Javier Hernandez deputised up front for the Hammers.

Arnautovic was at the centre of West Ham’s January transfer business as a move to China was on the cards throughout – Shanghai SIPG plotted a £35m move for the forward but he remains in claret and blue.

The 29-year-old has netted eight goals and chalked up two assists in all competitions as he looks to fire the Irons to a respectable finish in the Premier League.

Who is West Ham’s worst ever signing? Check out the video below for a pretty strong candidate for the dubious honour…

An outlay of around £100m saw the likes of Felipe Anderson and Issa Diop arrive at the London Stadium in the summer and the former has struck up a dangerous partnership with Arnautovic – the perfect blend of pace, power and skill.

West Ham don’t quite look the same without the former Stoke man in the lineup – although that didn’t stop them from taking a point from Liverpool on Monday night – and were keen to bring in someone last month who could potentially replace Arnautovic but a swoop for Celta Vigo hitman Maxi Gomez didn’t quite cross the line.

Despite Arnautovic pledging his allegiances to the Hammers – for now, at least – the fans were quick to question his failure of the fitness test on Monday. Here’s a look at how they reacted to the news on Twitter…

[ad_pod ]

Leeds United’s title ambitions were dealt a blow on Tuesday night as Marcelo Bielsa’s side slumped to a 1-0 defeat against QPR at Loftus Road.

The Whites had their chances to score, with striker Patrick Bamford and full-back Barry Douglas amongst those guilty of spurning clear opportunities. The defeat has seen Leeds lose the initiative in the title race too, as Norwich City now hold top spot and are two points clear.

Leeds were the dominant side against QPR but couldn’t find any end product. All too often their territory and possession fizzled out into nothing as the killer final pass was lacking. Right-back Luke Ayling was particularly guilty of failing to provide quality going forward.

The 27-year-old defender was consistently let down by his inability to accurately pick out his teammates. The No. 2 should now be taken out of the firing line by Bielsa, who ought to turn to Jamie Shackleton in his place.

After the match, plenty of Leeds fans took to Twitter to give their verdict on Ayling’s display…

[ad_pod ]

West Ham United have approached Chelsea over a potential move for Olivier Giroud, according to The Daily Mail.

There were fears that Marko Arnautovic had suffered a potentially long-term injury during Tuesday’s 3-0 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League.

However, scans have revealed that the Austrian only suffered bruising to his foot and should therefore not be on the sidelines for too long.

Lucas Perez looks to be heading for Real Betis, however, while Javier Hernandez is a transfer target for Valencia.

The Hammers have been strongly linked with Celta Vigo’s Maxi Gomez, but it now seems likely that any move might have to wait until the summer.

The 87-cap Frenchman has only netted once in the Premier League this season, but managed over 100 goals during his time at Arsenal.

The West Ham fans have been offering their views on the speculation and it would be fair to say that a number have differing opinions.

Check out the video below to see Pl>ymaker FC’s American Soccer Fan give his take on all six ‘field goals’ in West Ham v Burnley…

Spurs continue to trundle along nicely in the Premier League and remain in the title picture despite a host of bad injuries and a lack of spending in recent times.

Their new stadium is almost ready for it’s grand opening, and it’s certainly an exciting time to be a Spurs fan under the stewardship of Mauricio Pochettino.

However, we at the Tavern think the club do need some help up top, and we think they need to be making big moves in the summer to bring in some fresh faces.

That’s why we think they should make a move to sign Lazio forward Ciro Immobile, who has once again been in fine form for the Rome based club, firing in the goals once again to prove himself as one of the most lethal strikers on the continent when he is at his best.

Immobile would provide movement, finishing, and genuine class as back up to Harry Kane, and there’s an argument there to be made that both could form a fine partnership too if given the chance.

While Spurs would need to splash the cash on Immobile if they wanted to secure his signature, he would be value for money, and in a team which is ever improving, he’d even more quality and depth to the attacking aspect of the London club’s play.

If Spurs do want to take the title challenge seriously and make their move, then signing someone like Immobile is the perfect sort of statement to make.

Spurs fans, what do you think? Good signing? Let us know in the comments!