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Everton fans have taken to Twitter to express their love for Mason Holgate after the defender put in another impressive display for the Toffees against Watford.

Holgate stepped in for his first Premier League start of the season against Brighton & Hove Albion last week, where he registered an assist in replace of Yerry Mina. On Tuesday, however, was when the 23-year-old may have established himself as a starter after scoring his first goal for the club.

Holgate got on the end of a fabulous Theo Walcott cross to give the Blues the lead and ease the tension at Goodison Park. In doing so, and by keeping a clean sheet, the defender may have given Marco Silva some food for thought.

Fans are loving his performances of late with some of them hoping he starts the upcoming games. One fan even said he was “head and shoulders above the rest” against Watford.

The supporters may get to see Holgate much more often, as once again, Mina limped off injured in the game. It is unclear whether or not he will miss the Tottenham Hotspur clash, but perhaps it’s time for Holgate to step in and allow the Colombian some rest time.

Here’s what some fans have had to say…

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha has spoken to BBC Africa about his failed attempt to leave the club back in the summer.

The Ivory Coast international was the subject of interest from Arsenal and Everton, and was said to be ‘devastated’ after no such move materialised – Zaha had even handed in a transfer request.

Since then, the former Manchester United man has appeared in all eight of the Eagles’ Premier League games – Zaha hasn’t found the back of the net, but has registered one assist.

What did he say?

Speaking to BBC Africa after picking up an award for ‘Philanthropic Endeavour’, Zaha said: “I had to put my head down and play my football.

“I would have been hindering my own progress by moaning and not wanting to perform properly.

“I have too much respect for my manager, the fans and my team-mates to treat them that way. It was a thing where ‘OK, this hasn’t happened but I’ve got to get on with it’.

“I had to nail down and just get on with it because the team deserved that.”

Oozes maturity and understanding

Any Palace fan who was annoyed with the forward’s antics in the summer simply cannot maintain that ill-feeling after reading Zaha’s comments.

It is evident that he respects Crystal Palace and those at the club, a place where he has risen from an academy graduate into arguably one of the greatest players to have ever pulled on the shirt.

Zaha is spot on. If he had downed tools and moaned, his chances of getting a move away would’ve become even slimmer, so it is in his best interests to knuckle down and get on with things.

The 26-year-old wants to better himself and perform in the Champions League – that much is evident in this interview with the player.

That isn’t a problem.

Causing a stir amongst the squad because he didn’t get his wish would be a problem, and while Zaha may have been entitled to throw a tantrum given the fact that it appears he was misled by Steve Parish and the board, the attacker has handled things with great maturity and understanding.

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…

It’s doesn’t make for ideal reading, but there’s something good to come out of it.

Nottingham Forest are getting ready to take on Wigan Athletic this weekend, but they’ll have to do it without a number of their first-team players.

Speaking in his press conference on Friday, Forest boss Sabri Lamouchi laid out just how extensive the Forest injury list was – ruling Samba Sow, Alfa Semedo and Michael Dawson out of the match.

“Samba Sow and Alfa Semedo, they need more days and more weeks maybe to work with the medical department,” he commented. “Dawson has started to run on the pitch, so he will be back soon,” Lamouchi added.

The Frenchman also said: “It creates opportunities for others.”

Quite frankly, this should really be seen as a blessing in disguise for Forest, rather than a crisis. Now we will get to see exactly what Lamouchi is made of.

He has had a relatively successful start to his Forest career, and he has done so without any major hiccups, guiding his team to a rather remarkable second place over the international break.

Now, though, he is potentially set to be without not just one, but a number of first-team players for a significant period of time.

He will have had a rough idea of just how bad these injuries were during the international break and made plans accordingly based around what he has left. This will act as a test to see if it was the players that were making things click, or if Lamouchi really deserves his Manager of the Month award.

Wigan Athletic might not look the most dangerous side on paper, currently sitting 19th in the table, but their home form in the league has been incredibly impressive, losing just once, and will serve as a tough test for Lamouchi and the Reds.

If they can come out of this game, and to a lesser extent the game against Hull next week with a full set of six points, it will show just how good their strength in depth is.

If they slip up, then it might just serve as a bit of a reality check to the squad and give them a wake-up call that there’s still plenty of work to do if they are to stay at the top of the table this season.

On the other hand, it will present opportunities to others, something that can help get every single member of the squad up to speed and ready to push for promotion.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Although they took a point from their 0-0 draw with Borussia Dortmund, Barcelona did not come out of the game entirely unscathed.

Jordi Alba had to be substituted off before half-time, and the Catalan giants have already officially confirmed his hamstring injury. With him out of commission, it will be Junior Firpo’s time to step up.

On the chalkboard

Injuries have been a rather common theme in Blaugrana’s ongoing 2019/20 season. After all, they had to wait until their Champions League opener to give Lionel Messi his first appearance of the season, and they’re still waiting for the return of Ousmane Dembele, who only featured in the curtain-raiser at the very beginning of the campaign.

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And now, Alba has joined his sidelined teammates as the newest face on the injury list. But luckily, not all is dark and gloomy. Firpo has the ability to replace the Spaniard, having arrived from Real Betis during the summer.

A worthy substitute

Replacing someone of Alba’s status at Barcelona is definitely easier said than done.

After all, we’re talking about a player who has featured in a total of 305 games for the Catalans and managed to tally an excellent 16 goals and 57 assists. Needless to say, that latter one is a really sublime figure, especially considering that Alba is a defender first and foremost.

But Firpo is no slouch either. He had a real breakthrough season at Real Betis in 2018/19 and that was the campaign that essentially earned him his move to Camp Nou. That year, he recorded three goals and four assists in 24 games in La Liga, an exceptional return.

Firpo has only played a total of nine minutes this season and wasn’t even on the bench against Dortmund, but this injury just might force Valverde’s hand and give Firpo a chance he’s been craving.

From this point onward, everything rests on his shoulders. It is down to him to grasp the opportunity.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Leon Osman has praised the “brilliant” Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and believes he is perfect for Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool team.

What did he say?

Oxlade-Chamberlain made a lightning start when he made the switch from Arsenal in the summer of 2017, scoring two stunning goals against Manchester City in the league and Champions League, the latter of which was vital in the Reds making the final in 2018.

The transition into the middle seems to have allowed the former Gunner to flourish. His record of three goals and seven assists in 32 Premier League matches in 2017/18 is his best-ever return in a single year, which is why his ACL injury came as such a blow.

However, he is slowly but surely making a return from that setback and Osman believes he could be a valuable asset to the Reds.

Speaking to Sky Sports [25/09, 11:09 a.m.], as reported by Live 4 Liverpool, he said: “I think he is a brilliant player. When he made the move from Arsenal, a lot of people questioned it. Was he good enough? Could he play in midfield? Could he get used to the style of play at Liverpool?

“But he’s adapted so quickly to the energetic style that Jurgen Klopp’s men have then added that quality to his game from a more central position.”

Making a difference

The positive for the 26-year-old, and a factor which means he could soon return to the side, is the fact that he offers Klopp something different to the other midfielders in the squad.

Liverpool’s regular triumvirate of Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum lack the pace of Oxlade-Chamberlain, and his dribbling ability can be key to moving his side up the pitch.

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He has averaged 1.8 successful dribbles so far this season, which shows he still has that quality despite not being fully match fit, suggesting there could be even more to come.

Such a prospect will likely be exciting for Klopp, and if the midfielder manages to hit the heights he reached in 2017/18 then reports linking Liverpool with a move for the likes of Kai Havertz and Fabian Ruiz could come to an end.

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Newcastle United have a truly excellent striker in their ranks.

Elias Sorensen is just 19 and has been in quite brilliant form for the club’s youth teams. This season alone, he has scored 12 goals in 14 Premier League 2 games and has also netted four in five in the EFL Trophy, all of which came against senior sides – Doncaster Rovers, Notts County, Grimsby Town and Macclesfield.

His step up from the Under-18s to the Under-23s has been seamless. After netting 15 goals in 33 outings for the U18s, including six assists, Sorensen found a ruthless streak upon his age jump.

The same is true of his international career. Sorensen played for the Under-17s and the Under-18s for Denmark but did not score. But he has two in two for the Under-21s.

The Shields Gazette quote senior manager Rafael Benitez from November, when the Spaniard claimed that the teenager was knocking on the door of the first-team after training with them.

He said: “We’re lucky to have some young players coming sometimes to help the first team. He did well. He has energy and movement.

“We’re just talking about a couple of training sessions, but you could see the lad has the effort and desire to play in the first team.

“It depends on him. The players have to knock on the door by what they do on the pitch.”

His latest test came in January. Fresh from signing a new contract with the Magpies, he was loaned to Blackpool, in League One. He has made one appearance so far, managing just 32 minutes.

Chronicle Live report that Sorensen spoke to Sean Longstaff about his move, with the midfielder having played for the Seasiders before making his breakthrough at Newcastle. He has made six Premier League appearances this season.

He said: “You see Sean getting a few games in the Premier League now and he went away to Blackpool and Kilmarnock, so a few loan spells for him worked very well.

Former Wigan & Fulham man, Jimmy Bullard recently showed that he’s still got it! Check out the video below…

“I spoke to him about it and he liked it when he was here. I thought it would be a great opportunity for me as well.

“I’m excited to see what it brings. Hopefully, I can get a few games in League One and show what I’m capable of.”

If his record in the youth teams is anything to go by, Sorensen will take the third-tier by storm.

Newcastle fans should keep an eye on him. If he can reach his potential, he could well be the club’s next great No.9.

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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…

Kai Havertz is no stranger to Liverpool fans with Bild linking him to the Reds throughout the summer, and he is one to watch as Bayer Leverkusen take on Lokomotiv Moscow in the Champions League on Wednesday.

He became the youngest player in Bundesliga history to reach 50 games, and since making his debut for Leverkusen is has gone on to score 30 and assist 22 in 110 appearances, leading to a reported asking price of €100m.

This season he has started reasonably well, and because of his previous form it is easy to forget he is so young, but the fixture against Lokomotiv Moscow could allow him the chance to shine.

Leverkusen will likely look to dominate possession as they have done in the league so far, averaging 58% possession, and that should provide Havertz with the chance to get ahold of the ball in useful positions, and his effectiveness in the final third could be crucial to a home win.

The midfielder’s pass accuracy shows he doesn’t waste much, and a success rate of 85%, as per WhoScored, is impressive for a player who often looks for that killer pass.

That aspect of his game is what he could add to Liverpool, as their current central midfielders lack the ability to cut open the defence, or go for goal themselves, as evidenced by their goal and assist record last season.

By contrast, the German struck 20 times in the last campaign, and will be looking to add to his single goal this term against the Russians, though his average of 1.8 key passes per game also means that he may claim his first assist.

Watch Liverpool Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Due to his asking price and what he has shown so far, there may be pressure on Havertz to perform, but if he sticks to his natural game he should do well.

Along with his passing, he also has an eye for goal and generally keeps the ball well when in possession, whether passing or running with the ball. He has averaged two successful dribbles per game so far and that ability to take defenders on makes him unpredictable, which is suitable not only for the Champions League, but for Liverpool too.

West Ham United have launched as many as five offers for players on transfer deadline day.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a claim made by ExWHUemployee, who revealed in a recent post on The West Ham Way that the Irons have as many as five active deals on the table on the final day of the January transfer window.

In his post, the West Ham insider said: “We have five offers currently in for players and as we hear things we will let you know.”

Moyes is finally acting

Despite it being clear to everyone involved with West Ham, David Moyes included, that the Hammers were in desperate need of both a new centre-back and centre-forward this January, as the clock ticked over to 00:01 on Monday morning, the 58-year-old had yet to make a single signing over the 30 previous days of the month.

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It is undeniably good news that Moyes is finally acting in the transfer market, but if the Scot is unable to secure any of the five live deals he is working on today, West Ham’s apparent reluctance to move for any of their targets prior to the final day of the window could very easily come back to haunt the 58-year-old and his transfer team.

However, with the majority of the day still ahead, and the Hammers being linked with some very exciting players in the form of Duje Caleta-Car and Hugo Ekitike, Moyes could still have enough time to bring a number of fresh faces into the London Stadium who could improve the Irons’ first-team squad – although Monday will nevertheless be a very nervy day for West Ham fans.

In other news: ExWHUemployee drops gutting deadline day update, it’s not “what the fans want to hear”

Tottenham Hotspur journalist Alasdair Gold expects the club to allow Pierluigi Gollini to return to Atalanta and delay their pursuit of a successor for Hugo Lloris until 2023. 

The lowdown

Spurs signed Gollini on a season-long loan from Atalanta last summer, when Nuno Espirito Santo was the manager.

Under the agreement, The Lilywhites have the option to buy the 27-year-old at the end of the season.

Gollini has made ten appearances for the club, all of them coming in European competition or the domestic cups.

Even then, Antonio Conte favoured Lloris for the first leg of the EFL Cup semifinal against Chelsea, as well as the FA Cup fifth-round tie at Middlesbrough.

It’s believed that the optional fee is in the region of £13million.

The latest

Asked if Gollini is likely to stay, Gold told Football London readers that he can’t ‘see much sense’ for either party ‘in making the deal permanent’.

‘There’s no real sense,’ he says, that Gollini would be in a position to take over from Lloris in 2022/23.

Parting ways with the Italian could see Spurs bring in a new back-up ‘keeper, but Gold says he’d be ‘surprised’ if anyone gave up ‘regular first team football elsewhere’ to serve as Lloris’ understudy.

As such, a successful move for West Brom’s Sam Johnstone is unlikely.

The journalist’s expectation is that Spurs will look to recruit a long-term heir to the veteran skipper ‘the following summer’.

The verdict

Gollini may have to find a new club this summer regardless.

In preparation for his loan departure, Atalanta shelled out £18million on a new no. 1 in the form of Joan Musso.

The ‘excellent’ Gollini won praise in pre-season from former Spurs man Graham Roberts for his ‘fantastic positioning’ and ‘great distribution’, and team-mate Eric Dier has called him ‘amazing’.

But clearly Spurs haven’t seen enough to think he can genuinely challenge Lloris, who tellingly signed a new contract in January with his old deal set to expire.

In other news, a medical expert has shared his verdict on Ryan Sessegnon.

Jack Harrison, Raphinha and Pascal Struijk stood out as star performers in Leeds United’s crucial 3-2 win away to West Ham on Sunday afternoon.

The Whites picked up an enormous Premier League victory in east London, battling their way to a priceless three points after a thrilling game.

Harrison scored a hat-trick against the Hammers on a memorable afternoon for the winger, as the visitors dug deep amid more injury problems.

We’ve delved into the numbers from statistical website Sofascore to analyse the Whites’ three best performers from those to have played at least 45 minutes of action. No prizes for guessing who one of them was, but who else stood out against the Irons?

Jack Harrison – 9.0

There was no doubting who the best player was for Marcelo Bielsa’s side, as Harrison enjoyed arguably his best game for the club.

Aside from the headline-making hat-trick, the 25-year-old also won two tackles and four ground duels and played two key passes in a superb all-round display.

That’s now four goals in his last three appearances for Harrison, who appears to be returning to his best.

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Raphinha – 7.8

Raphinha has been Leeds’ best player so far this season and he was a constant threat to West Ham’s defence today.

The Brazilian was unfortunate to see a brilliant assist chalked off for offside but he still managed to play an incredible eight key passes against the Hammers.

Not only that, but the Brazilian created two big chances and hit the woodwork with a stunning free-kick, while also pitching in defensively by winning five ground duels and one tackle.

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Pascal Struijk – 7.3

Struijk has been limited to 10 league starts so far this season but he was excellent on Sunday, playing an important role in a huge win for Leeds.

The 22-year-old won all five ground duels that he contested at the London Stadium, summing up the dominant nature of his performance. The Dutchman also won five tackles and made one interception, not being dribbled past once in the whole game.

In other news, one Leeds player has been linked with a move away from Elland Road. Find out who it is here.