Despite the criticism they have faced this season, Manchester United sit sixth, just three points adrift of Premier League champions Manchester City – and Erik ten Hag has just won the Manager of the Month award for November.

The Red Devils quietly enjoyed a much improved month of results, even if the performances weren't always there to match. Having just defeated Chelsea at Old Trafford too, things could finally be looking up for those at the Manchester club.

As January approaches, some ruthless decisions may still be needed, however, and that could result in the sale of one particular player who only joined Manchester United last summer.

Man Utd transfer news

As Sir Jim Ratcliffe's takeover edges ever closer, change is afoot at Manchester United, who are desperately hoping to finally return to their dominant best. Among those changes, Ten Hag could finally clear the deadwood in his squad – deadwood that has held his side back at times, including those who only recently joined, to sum up just how disastrous the Red Devils have been in the transfer market. It looks as though Ten Hag is ready to rectify those transfer mistakes, though, with one specific player potentially exiting.

According to Football Insider, Manchester United are now ready to sell Christian Eriksen and will listen to offers for the Dane in January, as they feel as though his legs are gone. Eriksen only joined the Red Devils last summer after initially being granted an emotional return to the Premier League by Brentford, where he defied the odds to impress.

It remains to be seen just where the midfielder will end up if he moves on in January, but the former Tottenham Hotspur star should not be short on suitors. At 31, Eriksen looks set to seek a new project once more in the forthcoming transfer window.

"Remarkable" Eriksen has been better than Mount this season

When looking at Eriksen's stats (as per FBref), it's interesting that it is the Dane who United are ready to sell. He has been better than summer signing Mason Mount this season and has shown signs that he is still more than capable of adding some control for Ten Hag in the middle of the park. Mount, meanwhile, has struggled to find his feet, albeit amid his own injury problems.

Player

Progressive Carries

Progressive Passes

Goals

Assists

Christian Eriksen

14

32

1

1

Mason Mount

6

15

0

0

It's no wonder that it is the Dane who has received such high praise in the last few years, having mounted an incredible comeback from collapsing on the pitch at Euro 2020 to signing for Manchester United. France manager Didier Deschamps has been among those with nothing but good things to say about Eriksen, saying via Manchester Evening News: "There is an attacking player who even surprised me, and not just because of what had happened that could have been dramatic for him, and obviously it’s Christian Eriksen.

"But the ability that he shows with his club in the position he plays, because he has always been someone who has a remarkable technical ability. But to play so frequently for his club in the midfield, to see the volume of games he plays, this ability even to recover is impressive. And he has always had the ability to score goals, to make other players score – he has always had that."

Liverpool enjoyed an impressive summer of transfer business as they overhauled their midfield options in order to bounce back from a disappointing 2022/23 campaign.

The Reds failed to win any major trophies last season and finished outside of the top four, in fifth place, as they missed out on Champions League football this term.

Jurgen Klopp's side are currently competing in the Europa League, due to their struggles last year, and the German head coach will be hoping for a swift return to the continent's elite competition for the 2024/25 campaign.

The former Borussia Dortmund tactician clearly identified his midfield as an area of the squad that needed surgery as the likes of Naby Keita, Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all moved on from Anfield over the summer.

This opened the door for Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch, and Wataru Endo to come in and compete for a place in the middle of the park, alongside Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott.

Szoboszlai and Mac Allister, in particular, have been outstanding additions to the squad and Liverpool played a blinder with the latter as they brought in a proven Premier League performer who could hit the ground running.

Liverpool transfer news – Douglas Luiz

The Reds could now replicate that masterclass by swooping for another player who has already showcased their quality on a regular basis in the English top-flight – Douglas Luiz.

TEAMtalk reported at the end of last month that Liverpool are one of a number of clubs interested in a deal to sign the Brazilian maestro during the upcoming January transfer window.

The outlet claimed that Premier League rivals Manchester City and Arsenal, who both finished above Klopp's side last term, are also eyeing up the impressive whiz to bolster their own midfield options.

It is said that the Villans do not want to lose their star player in January and that it would take a fee within the region of £80m to even make them consider a deal.

TEAMtalk added that Pep Guardiola, who had Luiz on City's books prior to his move to Villa, is a big admirer of the central midfielder and that Liverpool believe he suits what they need in the middle of the park.

It was also claimed that Tottenham Hotspur have previously held an interest in his services but it remains to be seen whether or not they are ready to rejoin the race for his signature.

The report did not, however, state whether or not Liverpool are prepared to firm up their interest with an official approach for Luiz, or if they would be willing to meet Villa's £80m demand.

If the Reds were able to snap him up in January, though, then the club could repeat the blinder they played with Mac Allister earlier this year.

Alexis Mac Allister's season in numbers

The Argentina international was signed from Brighton & Hove Albion over the summer after his impressive season for club and country last term.

Starts

Six

Goals

One

Assists

One

Big chances created

Two

Pass success rate

89%

Ground duel success rate

67%

As you can see from the table above, Mac Allister played a crucial role at the 2022 World Cup as his side went on to win the famous trophy – with Lionel Messi captaining them to glory in Qatar.

The central midfielder did not allow that to detract from his club form for Brighton, though, as he played 35 Premier League matches and contributed with ten goals and two assists.

Liverpool then secured his services in a deal that could rise up to £55m and the talented whiz has enjoyed a strong start to life at Anfield.

The 24-year-old wizard has not showcased the best of his attacking qualities – with one goal and one assist in the league – but has been an excellent defensive presence in front of the back four.

Mac Allister has produced 3.7 tackles and interceptions per game for his side and currently ranks first within the squad for tackles (2.4) and joint-first for interceptions (1.3) per match.

This suggests that the World Cup winner, who has made 6.6 ball recoveries per game, has been an outstanding defender for Liverpool this season as their main ball-winner on the pitch to cut out opposition attacks.

Whilst there is more to come from Mac Allister in terms of his attacking contributions, the former Brighton star has hit the ground running, thanks to his prior Premier League experience, as a superb midfielder for Klopp.

Douglas Luiz's season in numbers

The Brazil international has been in sublime form for Villa so far this season in the English top-flight and could, therefore, follow in the Argentine talent's footsteps in 2024.

Unai Emery's side are currently fourth in the division and competing to land a spot in next season's edition of the Champions League, and Luiz has been a pivotal cog in their well-oiled machine.

The 25-year-old star has played 14 Premier League matches and caught the eye with his contributions in and out of possession from midfield.

Luiz has produced five goals – four more than any Liverpool midfielder has managed – and two assists for his team in those 14 outings.

He has created three 'big chances' for his teammates and made 1.2 key passes per game, which would place him fifth within the Reds squad.

The former Manchester City prospect has also impressed onlookers with his defensive qualities. He has made 2.4 tackles per game for the Villans, which would place him joint-first in the Liverpool squad alongside Mac Allister.

Luiz, who was hailed as "transformed" by pundit Gabriel Agbonlahor last year, has also made 6.4 ball recoveries per outing and has showcased his strength in midfield with a duel success rate of 59%, which shows that opposition players do not get the better of him with ease in physical contests.

His form this season has come off the back of his return of six goals and six assists, along with 3.1 tackles and interceptions per match, in 37 Premier League appearances for Villa during the 2022/23 campaign.

The Brazilian maestro is, therefore, a proven top-flight performer who would not need a period of adaptation in England and could hit the ground running in midfield in the same way that Mac Allister has, if Liverpool can snap him up in January.

GOAL rates all of the players on show as Mauricio Pochettino's men ran riot at Stamford Bridge to climb above Manchester United in the table

Cole Palmer was almost inevitably on target again as Chelsea boosted their hopes of qualifying for Europe next season by routing a woeful West Ham 5-0 on Sunday – but the good news for Mauricio Pochettino's job prospects that several Blues shone at Stamford Bridge.

Palmer opened the scoring in west London, thus becoming only the third player in Premier League history to reach 30-plus goal involvements in a single season while aged 21 or younger (21 goals, nine assists). However, the brilliant Conor Gallagher doubled the home side's advantage with a sweet strike before the livewire Noni Madueke made it 3-0 after just 35 minutes of play.

Jarrod Bowen hit the woodwork twice for West Ham during the first half, but David Moyes' men were outclassed on the day, and Nicolas Jackson struck twice after the restart as Chelsea climbed up to seventh in the Premier League table, just two points behind sixth-placed Newcastle.

GOAL ranks all of the Blues on show at Stamford Bridge…

Getty Goalkeeper & Defence

Djordje Petrovic (6/10):

Lucky to get away without conceding after making a mess out of a cross that he palmed straight to Bowen, who struck the bar, but made a good stop from Ward-Prowse's free-kick.

Trevoh Chalobah (7/10):

Decent in defence and was much more dangerous going forward than fellow full-back Cucurella. Also played a terrific long-ball to Madueke that led to the fourth goal.

Thiago Silva (8/10):

Typically precise with his passing and his tremendous leap at the back post led to Madueke making it 3-0 shortly before the break. The Brazilian is going to be missed so much when he's gone.

Benoit Badiashile (6/10):

Read the game well, making several smart interceptions, but a bit loose at times in possession.

Marc Cucurella (6/10):

Always willing to get forward, but booked for a cynical foul on Kudus to kill a counter-attack.

AdvertisementGetty Midfield

Moises Caicedo (7/10):

Worked hard, kept the ball well and contributed a rare assist with a clever through-ball for Jackson.

Conor Gallagher (8/10):

Scored his seventh goal of the season – his best-ever haul in a Chelsea shirt – with a wonderfully well-controlled volley and was unlucky not to score again after diverting a shot against the bar. The fan-favourite was a constant threat and his passing was excellent. If Chelsea sell him this summer, it would be a scandal; he's their best midfielder by some distance.

Getty ImagesAttack

Noni Madueke (8/10):

Easily one of his best games for Chelsea, the England Under-21 international was a constant threat down the right wing, scoring one goal and creating another, for Jackson. Got a massive round of applause when he came off.

Cole Palmer (8/10):

Opened the scoring with a terrific finish just 14 minutes in – his 21st goal of an incredible debut season at Stamford Bridge. Where would Chelsea be without him? Nowhere near a European place, that's for sure!

Mykhailo Mudryk (5/10):

Once again the weak link up front. Saw plenty of the ball but did little with it, so often just taking the easy option by passing straight to a team-mate rather than trying to make something happen. Replaced with 15 minutes to go.

Nicolas Jackson (8/10):

Saw an early attempt tipped wide by Areola and involved in Palmer's opener before getting his just reward for a good shift up top with a second-half tap-in and then netting again in the dying stages thanks to a well-timed run.

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Getty Subs & Manager

Christopher Nkunku (N/A):

The injury-ravaged Frenchman came on for Mudryk the last 15 minutes.

Cesare Casadei (N/A):

Introduced in place of Madeuke in the 75th minute.

Malo Gusto (N/A):

Came on for Chalobah late on.

Axel Disasi (N/A):

Only saw a couple of minutes at the end.

Alfie Gilchrist (N/A):

On for Palmer in the dying seconds.

Mauricio Pochettino (8/10):

It's taken an awful long time for such an expensively-assembled side to get it together, but the Argentine can at least now argue that progress is being made. Chelsea still gave up quite a few a chances but they were excellent going forward. Europe now beckons for the in-form Blues.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have been inconsistent this season under head coach Gary O'Neil, proven by a massive 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur before the international break, followed by two consecutive defeats to Fulham and Arsenal.

Scoring goals is not necessarily an issue for the Midlands club. Hwang Hee-chan is the joint-fifth top scorer in the Premier League this term and Wolves as a team have found the net more than any other side in the bottom nine.

The issue comes primarily at the back for O'Neil's men. Only five teams in the top-flight have conceded more goals than Wolves but the manager has one glaringly obvious solution to their defensive woes.

Craig Dawson's stats this season

Craig Dawson joined Wolves back in January for a mere £3.3m, having been an integral part of West Ham United's defence for several seasons under David Moyes.

The centre-back brought experience and Premier League know-how, something that was lacking in the team last term as Wolves sat rock bottom of the division heading into the winter World Cup.

Nevertheless, nearing his mid-30s, the veteran was always going to be a stop-gap signing amidst plenty of turnover, including the departures of Conor Coady and Nathan Collins.

Having played primarily in a back three this season, the 33-year-old has struggled to keep up statistically with his defensive partners Toti and Max Kilman.

Per 90 Metrics	Craig Dawson	Toti Gomes	Max Kilman
Progressive Passes	2.42	2.71	3.21
Progressive Carries	0.08	0.82	0.86
Passes To Final 1/3	2.42	2.47	3.36
Passes To Penalty Area	0.16	0.24	0.50
Pass Completion %	86.8	81	82.1
Tackles	1.56	1.88	1.29
Tackles Won	0.94	1.41	0.64
Blocks	1.88	0.71	1.79
Interceptions	0.55	0.94	1.14
Errors	0.08	0	0.07
Aerial Duels Won %	75.6	73.3	74.5
Stats via FBref

Dawson is still performing better than the pair next to him in metrics such as aerial duels and blocks which are his bread and butter.

However, the centre-back offers very little in possession and could be replaced by the end of the campaign by one man currently in the squad.

Craig Dawson's potential replacement at Wolves

Santiago Bueno moved to Wolverhampton Wanderers during the summer transfer window for £10m with high hopes after an excellent spell in Spain with Girona.

Sporting Director Matt Hobbs called the centre-back a "perfect fit" for the team and labelled him as a "front-footed" player.

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However, the Uruguayan has made merely one Premier League start for the Old Gold since his arrival which came in a 3-2 defeat away at Fulham last Monday.

Nevertheless, the 25-year-old put a decent shift in, although he certainly wasn't helped by his right wingback Nelson Semedo who dropped a 5.9 Sofascore rating, which was the lowest of any player on the pitch, and gave possession away 19 times while also conceding a penalty.

Stats vs Fulham	Santiago Bueno
Minutes	90
Passing Accuracy %	84
Touches	72
Passes To Final 1/3	2
Dispossessed	0
Tackles Won %	50
Clearances	7
Defensive Actions	12
Ball Recoveries	5
Ground Duels Won %	60
Stats via FotMob

Kilman primarily plays on the right of Wolves' back three when Dawson is in the starting lineup as the latter isn't quick enough to cover the wide spaces. However, Bueno started on the right in his absence, with skipper Kilman pushing into the centre.

While Bueno has played just 276 minutes of football since arriving in England, the £30k-per-week defender's stats last season compared to Dawson this time around show that he can be a more valuable member of the backline under O'Neil.

Per 90 Metrics	Santiago Bueno – 2022/23	Craig Dawson – 2023/24
Progressive Passes	4.43	2.42
Progressive Carries	0.90	0.08
Passes To Final 1/3	4.43	2.42
Passes To Penalty Area	0.15	0.16
Pass Completion %	86.5	86.6
Tackles	1.89	1.56
Tackles Won	1.14	0.94
Blocks	1.02	1.88
Interceptions	0.93	0.55
Aerial Duels Won %	64.3	75.6
Stats via FBref

Dawson comes out on top in aerial duels and blocks but this would be less of an issue with the latter featuring on the right side of the defence. Bueno is a superb defender, as shown by his stats last season and should be given a run of games in the team to shine.

Arsenal travelled to Anfield on Saturday evening knowing that as long as they avoided defeat they’d head into Christmas top of the Premier League.

Well, avoid defeat they did, but not without a scare as Liverpool held the Gunners to a 1-1 draw.

Arsenal were rampant in the early stages and could have been a few goals up in the opening ten minutes. Alas, they were made to settle for a solitary goal, Gabriel rising highest to head home from Martin Odegaard’s set play.

Mohamed Salah equalised for the Reds later in the first half and could have had a penalty after Odegaard handled accidentally inside the area.

The most gilt-edged chance fell the way of Trent Alexander-Arnold who rifled a glorious one-on-one chance against the crossbar in the second half.

All in all, a draw was probably deserved from a game that gave Mikel Arteta plenty to think about, notably at left-back.

Oleksandr Zinchenko’s game in numbers

Had Takehiro Tomiyasu been fit this weekend then it’s likely the Japanese would have started at Anfield.

In games of this magnitude, Arteta has preferred to operate with four centre-halves across his back four but on this festive weekend, Oleksandr Zinchenko was fielded at left-back.

This was not unusual. After all, his inverted style of playing has been huge for Arsenal since he arrived from Manchester City.

Zinchenko vs Liverpool in numbers

Minutes Played

90

Touches

85

Accurate Passes

50/58 (86%)

Long Balls

4/9

Dribble Success

50%

Shots

2

Key Passes

0

Fouls

1

Possession Lost

12x

Duels Won

5/10

Tackles

3

Clearances

2

Stats via Sofascore.

That said, he is prone to the odd blunder. We saw that only a few weeks ago against Wolves. The Ukrainian stepped in-field and gave the ball straight to Matheus Cunha whose brilliant strike from the edge of the box set up a nervy finish at the Emirates.

Well, in Merseyside this weekend he wasn’t quite as guilty on this occasion, but he could have done better to prevent Salah’s goal. The Egyptian picked up the ball inside the area and then danced past Arsenal’s number 35 as though he wasn’t there before slamming an unstoppable shot past David Raya.

Zinchenko notably gave the ball away in the second half too, gifting possession to Salah inside Arsenal's half but fortunately, the chance came to nothing.

Despite his ineffective showing, it was one man in Arsenal’s attack who was unfortunately the worst player on display.

Gabriel Martinelli’s game in numbers

The Brazilian has been nothing short of a phenomenon for Arsenal over the last 18 months.

Only last season the young winger was the club’s joint-top scorer alongside Bukayo Saka and Odegaard but in 2023/24, Gabriel Martinelli hasn’t quite been at the races.

The 22-year-old has only scored two times in 16 Premier League outings to date with his solitary strike in the last ten games coming away at Luton. Liverpool are by no means an easy opposition but he was way off the pace on Saturday night too.

What was most concerning was his decision-making. Often there was a lack of it, running down blind alleys, failing to get a shot off when space opened up or not even being in the right place at the right time.

That was summed up by the fact that the Brazil international only fashioned one shot during his time on the pitch, which happened to be off target, and only created one key pass.

Martinelli vs Liverpool in numbers

Minutes Played

68

Touches

33

Accurate Passes

11/13 (85%)

Key Passes

1

Shots

1

Dribble Success

2/6

Crosses

0

Duels Won

3/10

Possession Lost

13x

Expected Goals (xG)

0.14

Expected Assists (xA)

0.03

Stats via Sofascore.

Martinelli was eventually hauled off after 68 minutes having won just 30% of his duels and having lost possession of the ball on 13 occasions from his 33 touches – once every 2.5 touches.

It was a performance that happened to be described as “shocking” by one OPTA analyst, who urged the £74m-rated Brazilian to up his game.

Indeed, if Arsenal are to go all the way and win the league next May they will need Martinelli firing again. This has been an indifferent campaign for the youngster and as his showing at Anfield proves, improvement is required. It would not be a surprise if Leandro Trossard is unleashed from the start instead against West Ham after Christmas.

According to reliable news outlet The Athletic, Tottenham "will" attempt to move for a Premier League star in January, on one condition.

Spurs set sights on new midfielder

While a new centre-back is reportedly top of chairman Daniel Levy's to-do list when the transfer window reopens, there are claims that Spurs want a new forward and midfielder as well (The Mail).

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Indeed, it is believed that manager Ange Postecoglou wants as many as three new signings in January, with Tottenham opening talks to sign Jean-Clair Todibo from Nice already.

The 23-year-old could leave France for around £35 million. Todibo's form, coupled with a seemingly affordable valuation, has apparently tempted Levy and Spurs into trying a mid-season deal (90min).

If the Lilywhites do manage to seal Todibo's signing for such an amount, or maybe even a reported £22m alternative in Genoa star Radu Dragusin, then Postecoglou's central defensive issues would go some way to being solved.

Spare funds could then be re-invested into shoring up Tottenham's midfield, which will prove key in the winter. Both Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr travel to represent their countries at the Africa Cup of Nations early next month, while Rodrigo Bentancur is expected to be out until February at the earliest.

Postecoglou faces the very real danger of being left desperately short in the middle of the park, especially if midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg departs in January. Hojbjerg's exit is seen as a real possibility at Spurs, leaving questions as to who could fill in.

Spurs "will" attempt Gallagher deal on one condition

Now, as per The Athletic, there has been some news on star Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher as Spurs plot a January swoop for the Englishman.

Indeed, according to the outlet, Tottenham and Levy "will" attempt to sign Gallagher if Chelsea put him up for sale, which is seen as possible according to another report by the same site.

"Close" Stamford Bridge sources have apparently told The Athletic that Mauricio Pochettino's side are willing to entertain bids for the 23-year-old, seeing as they look to bolster their own transfer kitty and move around FFP.

Gallagher has been one of Chelsea's few standout players this campaign, starting 16 Premier League games and ranking as their best top flight performer overall by average match rating (WhoScored).

Tottenham 1-4 Chelsea

8.22

Chelsea 3-0 Luton

7.90

Chelsea 2-0 Sheffield United

7.80

Burnley 1-4 Chelsea

7.72

Chelsea 4-4 Man City

7.61

He's bagged four assists in that time, all while making their third-highest rate of key passes per 90 (WhoScored).

Gallagher, going by the numbers, would bring proven Premier League experience and a sense of creativity to Postecoglou's squad.

If Chelsea become willing to entertain an approach from Spurs, it could be a pretty promising deal, with ex-Lilywhites midfielder Jermaine Jenas calling him a "gamechanger".

West Bromwich Albion are experiencing an up-and-down run of form in the Championship at present, unable to find consistency with a win, a loss and a draw in their last three matches.

Carlos Corberan's Baggies do still find themselves in a strong position in the league regardless of their patchy recent form, occupying fifth position in the division with promotion aspirations still at the forefront of their minds.

The West Midlands outfit will hope that potentially picking a victory away at Middlesbrough tomorrow can kickstart a sequence of results that sees them consolidate their playoff spot further, putting recent poor displays firmly to one side.

Corberan could change his lineup slightly for the trip to the Riverside Stadium, with Grady Diangana one of two players who could drop out, following the recent draw with Stoke City.

1 GK – Alex Palmer

Corberan will stick by his number one goalkeeper Alex Palmer for the game away at Boro, despite the Baggies keeper making an uncharacteristic error against Stoke.

Palmer was caught out by a Lynden Gooch cross somehow looping over his head against the Potters into the back of the net, but won't be dropped despite this lapse in concentration owing to the Baggies number 24 picking up ten clean sheets this season in the league.

2 RB – Darnell Furlong

Darnell Furlong will also remain in Corberan's lineup for the game versus Michael Carrick's side this Saturday, the dependable right-back excellent versus the Potters with six of his seven ground duels won.

3 CB – Kyle Bartley

Kyle Bartley will also be retained for the tricky away match at the Riverside, dominant in the air against Stoke with seven of his nine aerial duels won.

When Bartley has played this season, the 32-year-old has helped his team pick up eight clean sheets. Can he add a ninth to his season tally tomorrow?

4 CB – Cedric Kipre

Cedric Kipre is the next component of an unchanged defence, the 27-year-old coming into his own this season after finding himself on the periphery at the Hawthorns in the not-so-distant past.

The imposing defender was rock solid versus Stoke once more, making a combined five interceptions and tackles whilst rarely wasting a pass out from the back by losing possession just six times.

5 LB – Conor Townsend

Conor Townsend is the last part of the settled Baggies back four, the 30-year-old important in shutting out Stoke after their fortuitous opener.

Townsend was 100% successful with all of his duels in the draw, a tough nut to crack alongside similarly resolute defenders at the Hawthorns.

6 CM – Jayson Molumby

The first change Corberan could make to his lineup for the trip to Boro is swapping out Okay Yokuslu for Jayson Molumby, giving the Irishman another opportunity at the expense of his usually reliable number 35.

Yokuslu wasn't at his best against Stoke, winning just two duels in the contest in a weak display from the midfielder.

Bringing Molumby into the side could give the Baggies an injection of energy to steer the Championship club to three points, the West Brom number eight needing to impress to reinvigorate his stuttering career at the Hawthorns before it fizzles out further down the line.

7 CM – Alex Mowatt

Alex Mowatt will more than likely start even if his midfield partner Yokuslu does face the chop by Corberan, the former Leeds United midfielder quiet but involved in many passages of play from a holding role versus Stoke.

Mowatt would only misplace four of his passes all game against the Potters, amassing one key pass for his efforts.

8 RM – Tom Fellows

With Grady Diangana continuing to blow hot and cold for the Baggies in recent matches, Corberan could look to start exciting youngster Tom Fellows in his place in a bid to shake up West Brom going forward.

Diangana was notably below-par in the draw against Stoke last match, hauled off by his manager on the 71st-minute mark after losing possession 16 times in the contest to the potential detriment of his side.

Fellows could benefit from the Baggies number 11 continuing to put in uninspiring shifts, highly rated at the West Midlands club with Darren Byfield – who had a part to play in Fellows' development at Crawley Town when the 20-year-old was loaned out to the League Two outfit – also describing Fellows' ability as "unbelievable."

Further described as a "get-off-your-seat" style figure by Byfield in more glowing praise, the young winger will hope he can fill in adequately for an out-of-sorts Diangana if picked and be an explosive presence.

9 CAM – Jed Wallace

Played down the flanks and up top this season, Jed Wallace has also been used just behind the lone striker in a central attacking position too.

The experienced EFL figure enjoyed playing in this role last game, accumulating three key passes in the contest to try and help his team pick up a second goal to go on and claim a win.

The 29-year-old has notched up three assists as the main creative spark for Corberan's men this season, hopeful of adding a fourth to his tally against Michael Carrick's side at the weekend.

10 LM – Jeremy Sarmiento

Jeremy Sarmiento is loving life with West Brom at the moment, getting plenty of game time in the West Midlands owing to first-team regular Matt Phillips being out with a serious hamstring injury.

The Brighton loanee's wonder strike away at Cardiff City in November is still the standout moment from his Baggies stint to date, but the tricky South American winger was lively against Stoke last time out too.

Firing five efforts at Jack Bonham's goal in total – Sarmiento unafraid to test the Stoke keeper as a gung-ho attacker – the 21-year-old will hope he can find the back of the net away at the Riverside to add another strike to his Baggies account in the second tier.

League One is set to host an all-American showdown as Tom Brady-owned Birmingham City were relegated from the Championship after Wrexham's promotion.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Brady's Birmingham relegated from Championship
• Blues beat Norwich 1-0 but drop to League One
• Will meet Reynolds and McElhenney's Wrexham

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Birmingham faced relegation from the Championship despite registering a 1-0 win over Norwich City in the final game of the season. They needed a victory and a few favourable results from fellow relegation fighters to stay up. While they did their part, Plymouth Argyle, Sheffield Wednesday and Blackburn Rovers all emerged triumphant in their respective fixtures.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  With the Blues getting relegated, an all-American showdown awaits in the English third tier as they are set to face Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's Wrexham next season. The Red Dragons finished second in League Two and gained consecutive promotions.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Very few fans would have imagined that Birmingham would be going down when Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney was handed over charge in October. They were sixth in the league when the former England striker took over but found themselves languishing in the 20th spot after managing to win just twice in 15 matches before he was finally relieved of his duties after just 83 days.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR BIRMINGHAM CITY?

  Despite the setback this season, Brady has massive plans in place for his club as he is all set to pump in a staggering £2 billion investment in the club ahead of the 2024-25 season.

تحدث خالد جلال لاعب ومدرب الزمالك السابق، عن اعتذار الأهلي عن عدم المشاركة في بطولة كأس مصر، مشيراً إلى أنه بعد هذا القرار منح الزمالك فرصة كبيرة لحصد اللقب، لكن الفارس الأبيض لم يستغل تلك الفرصة وودع المسابقة.

وأعتذر الأهلي عن المشاركة في كأس مصر، بقرار من السويسري مارسيل كولر المدير الفني للفريق، بسبب عدم حصول اللاعبين والجهاز الفني على راحة عقب انتهاء بطولة الدوري المصري.

وقال خالد جلال في تصريحات عبر قناة “أون تايم سبورتس”: “الأهلي انسحب من بطولة كأس مصر، وأعطى فرصة ذهبية للزمالك أن يحصد البطولة، والحظوظ كانت الأكبر للأبيض وبيراميدز للتتويج باللقب”.

طالع أيضاً.. فيديو | بركلات الترجيح.. طلائع الجيش يُقصي الزمالك ويتأهل لمواجهة الإسماعيلي في دور الـ8 من كأس مصر

وتابع: “جوميز أضاع على الزمالك وجماهيره بطولة بسبب سوء تقدير في قرار إراحة اللاعبين الأساسيين، إما الانسحاب من البطولة أو اللعب، وسيف الدين الجزيري غاب لفترة طويلة بسبب الإصابة ومصطفى شلبي ظل لعدة أشهر مصابًا، ناصر ماهر جاء منتصف الموسم، لماذا الزمالك يفرط في البطولة؟”.

وأفاد: “أشدنا بجوزيه جوميز كثير جدًا، ولكن عندما يخطئ يجب أن يحاسب، لماذا نحاسب المدير الفني المصري؟”.

وأكد: “لم نر من قبل 29 نقطة فارق بين الزمالك والأهلي في الدوري و23 نقطة بين الأبيض وبيراميدز، لا تقول لي صفقات، هذا ليس الزمالك”.

وأتم: “يجب أن يتم تدعيم حراسة مرمى الزمالك والظهيرين الأيمن والأيسر ومدافع بصورة ملحة جدًا، ولاعب رقم 6 مع دونجا”.

National selector felt allrounder was not England’s first-choice spinner, nor suitable to overseas conditions

George Dobell14-Feb-2019

Moeen Ali claimed two wickets in two balls•AFP

Moeen Ali says he was “hit hard” by comments from the national selector, Ed Smith, suggesting he was neither England’s first-choice spinner nor suitable to overseas conditions.Smith, appointed as England’s national selector last April, could not find space for Moeen in his first Test squad for the series against Pakistan, which started in May. Instead, Dom Bess was selected with Smith making it clear Jack Leach would have played had he been fit.”Moeen had a difficult winter,” Smith said at the time. “We know he can be a very productive player in English conditions. But the role of first-choice spinner might not be best suited to him. His best way might be as second spinner.”But while Moeen says those comments were “disappointing”, he also believes they “spurred” him to win a recall. That happened for the fourth Test of the series against India, when he won the man-of-the-match award after out-bowling Ravi Ashwin and picking up nine series-sealing wickets.And now, having finished both winter tours as England’s highest wicket-taker (he and Jack Leach both claimed 18 wickets in Sri Lanka, while Moeen claimed another 14 in the Caribbean) he has both responded eloquently to Smith’s challenge and re-established himself as the side’s No. 1 spinner.”It hit me hard,” Moeen said. “It was disappointing. I felt like they were looking for someone else.”But it spurred me on. I did need that break at the time. Maybe if I’d been picked versus Pakistan I wouldn’t have bowled well. But I came back against India fresh, scoring runs and taking wickets and I felt at the top of my game.”I still had the belief. So to get back in the side and prove I can do the job is… [pleasing].”Moeen had endured a grim 2017-18 Ashes. He failed to pass 40 with the bat and claimed only five wickets at a cost of 115 each with the ball. After another wicketless Test in Auckland, he was dropped for the final Test of England’s winter.There were mitigating factors. With England having picked only two spinners in their touring squad – one of which was 20-year-old legspinner Mason Crane – Moeen was obliged to go into the first Test carrying a finger injury that compromised his performance. England had been reluctant to throw Crane into the hostile environment of an Ashes Test in Brisbane on debut as the only spinner. While Moeen’s injury had healed by the back end of the series, his confidence had dipped and he was unable to compensate with his batting.That seems a long time ago now. This year, Moeen has continued to rise up the tally of England’s leading wicket-takers and is currently tied with Angus Fraser on 177. Only 17 men have claimed more Test wickets for England; only four (Derek Underwood, Graeme Swann, Jim Laker and Sydney Barnes, whose categorisation is not straightforward) are spinners.And while his average – 36.37 – is higher than all those above him, his strike-rate – 60.4 – compares well even with England’s two most prolific Test spinners: Underwood’s 297 wickets came at a strike-rate of 73.6, while Swann’s 255 came at 60.1. Over recent weeks, Moeen has surpassed the wicket totals of such respected spinners as Tony Lock, Monty Panesar, Fred Titmus and John Emburey. On every occasion, he has done having bowled far fewer – sometimes several thousand fewer – deliveries.”I’ve done better than I thought I ever would,” Moeen admits. “I must have done okay to get that many wickets. I remember reaching 50 and thinking that was a massive achievement. Someone said ‘maybe 100?’ and I thought no chance.”But when you go past some of the greats, you think ‘maybe I am a good spinner?'”I feel like I belong. People might think I don’t because they think I’m not a proper spinner. There will always be good days and bad days but I am improving. I think I can get into the side as a bowler now, even if I didn’t bat.”There have been times this winter when that has probably been just as well. While he top-scored in the Antigua Test, that innings of 60 was his only half-century of the winter. In 11 innings, he only reached 35 once. As a result, he admits he has work to do on his batting, though he now – for perhaps the first time – appears to see himself as a bowling all-rounder.”It needs working on,” he says. “But I feel set. I will stay at No. 8 and I know it. I have got my head around that and it feels natural now. Being a bowler: I’m very happy with that. Even if I do well people may say I should move up. But I’m happy.”Having experienced such ups and down, Moeen is well qualified to offer some hope to Adil Rashid who was dropped after the Barbados Test and could face an uphill journey to win a recall. But, at least as far as Moeen is concerned, Rashid requires a bit more understanding and “backing”.”Things can change quickly,” Moeen said. “We didn’t expect him to play Tests a year ago. He bowled better than me in the first innings in Barbados. Both of our beliefs is that people can plan or say things, but God’s plans are different.”He’s got so much skill maybe sometimes he confuses himself. His role is to take wickets. He will go for runs. As players, supporters, media, we have to realise that.”No one will be Shane Warne. But a mystery guy like Rash will pick up wickets given the right time, backing and mindset.”I hope it’s not the end. We know what he can do. If we can manage him right, we can get so much more out of him. I still feel he can be one of the best in the world at Test cricket.”