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Liverpool were heavily linked with a move for Sevilla centre-back Diego Carlos during the summer and the Reds will definitely regret not signing the Brazilian considering their defensive injuries this season so far.

Both Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez have been ruled out with long-term injuries, whilst Joel Matip has struggled with injuries in the past and has missed sporadic games throughout the season through injury problems.

This has meant that Fabinho has been forced to fill in at centre-back for most of the season, usually alongside youngsters Nathaniel Phillips and Rhys Williams.

Whilst all three have done a superb job when relied upon by Jurgen Klopp, the Reds will surely want to avoid having to play the rest of the season with their current centre-back options, as any more injuries could seriously harm their chances of retaining the Premier League table.

The Merseyside club returned to the top of the table with a dramatic 2-1 win against Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday night, but with just three clean sheets to their name in the top-flight so far this season, their defensive vulnerabilities could be exploited later in the season.

Therefore, it could be argued that the Reds made a mistake in not securing the signing of Carlos during the summer, with it suggested that they were unwilling to match the defender’s release clause of £67.6 million.

Whilst this would have been an expensive deal for the club, the 27-year-old has been solid for the La Liga side since joining from Nantes, averaging a 6.90 rating for his performances last season, whilst also helping Julen Lopetegui’s side win the Europa League, as his overhead kick led to the Spanish side’s extra-time winner.

He has averaged a strong 6.81 rating for his performances this season and with WhoScored suggesting that the Brazilian’s main strength is passing, whilst he has no significant weaknesses, implying that he could’ve been a superb replacement for Van Dijk while he recovers from injury.

Perhaps we will see the Reds reignite their interest in Carlos in next month’s transfer window, with his release clause perhaps not seeming so bad now that Klopp is so short on senior defensive options.

And, in other news… Klopp must sanction January exit for LFC liability with “a taste for the big games” 

23-year-old Angelino joined Julian Nagelsmann’s RB Leipzig side on loan during the summer transfer window and worryingly for Manchester City, they have an option to buy him for as little as £16.3 million (per Sky Sports).

The former PSV Eindhoven man has three goals in seven Bundesliga appearances so far this season, which has seen him average a superb 7.50 rating (per WhoScored).

He also has another two goals, plus an assist, in just three Champions League appearances for Die Roten Bullen, resulting in a strong 7.11 rating in that competition (per WhoScored).

This is significantly better than the average ratings offered by Benjamin Mendy and Oleksandr Zinchenko for City so far this season, with the Frenchman having earned a terrible 5.89 rating across his three top-flight appearances, whilst the Ukrainian has averaged a 6.86 rating in his two Champions League performances and is yet to start a game in the Premier League.

This begs the question, why was Angelino sent out on loan, when his performances this season suggest that he would have been a much better option in Guardiola’s side?

The 23-year-old has featured for City’s first-team on just 15 occasions in his career, in which he contributed three assists, so you could definitely argue that he was never given much of a chance with the Citizens.

Nagelsmann was full of praise for the defender after his performance in the Champions League win against Istanbul Basaksehir recently, saying:

“Angelino is only unpleasant when he doesn’t play, which only happened twice this year. That pretty much describes his character.” (per Goal)

He also described one of the goals the Spaniard scored as “world-class”, suggesting that he rates Angelino highly and it is perhaps likely that Leipzig will make his loan move permanent.

Therefore, it looks as if City will lose out on Angelino to the German club in the near future, which is perhaps a shame, as he was never given a run of games to prove himself in Guardiola’s side and he could have been the solution to their left-back problem this season.

There is however a catch, which could see City rectify their error and offer him an Etihad future. Indeed, as per Sky Sports, Leipzig can only activate their option-to-buy after 12 matches across the season, with five of those matches coming in the second half of the campaign.

So if City can recall him before his move is made permanent in the January window, they should do so given his excellent form.

Former Barcelona and Chelsea midfielder Deco has said that Leeds United’s summer signing Raphinha is one of a kind.

The Brazilian attacker arrived at Elland Road as a European deadline day signing, costing the Premier League club £16.72m from Ligue 1 side Rennes.

A move which took Leeds’ summer spending close to the £100m mark, it saw the 22-year-old added to the Whites’ attacking options, which include the likes of Helder Costa, Jack Harrison and emerging young talent Ian Poveda.

Having only played 15 minutes since his arrival in Yorkshire, Raphinha is already gaining praise from a number of key football men with two-time Champions League winner Deco now giving his thoughts on the winger’s potential.

What has Deco said about Raphinha?

“Raphinha is a warrior boy, with a difficult history, he won everything on the wrist and still wins, because he still has a long career ahead of him,” the ex-Portugal midfielder told UOL.

“It is not easy for a player to transfer practically four times in an interval of two years, all because of his quality. Although we have many extremes in Brazilian football, I do not believe that there is another southpaw with his characteristics.”

Prior to his Leeds move, Raphinha had moved from his native Brazil and had no fewer than three different clubs including Vitoria Guimaraes, Sporting Lisbon and Rennes.

Will Raphinha make an impact at Leeds?

Under the management and guidance of Marcelo Bielsa, the 23-year-old arguably has the best chance to make an impact in English football and Europe.

Leeds have started the Premier League season in fine form, and whilst Jack Harrison and Helder Costa continue to hold down the wide positions, chances are expected to come to allow Raphinha to potentially make an impact.

For now, the youngster has to be patient, but Deco’s comments hint at the scale of his potential.

READ MORE: One Leeds player was a ‘breath of fresh air’ after his display against Aston Villa

Brandon Taylor had proven himself ready for first-team football a year ago. Well, that was according to Sunderland boss Phil Parkinson after an FA Cup First Round replay against Gillingham.

The Black Cats gaffer had been forced to promote Taylor from the Under 23s for the biggest match of his budding career last November after injuries and an international break ravished the squad available at the Stadium of Light.

Parkinson believed Taylor stepped up to the task more than admirably, feeling the academy graduate was Sunderland’s Man of the Match despite a 1-0 loss after turning in an excellent display in a three-man defence.

Opportunities in the first-team have been thin and far between ever since, with the Gateshead-born centre-half starting just three EFL Trophy ties – the latest of which coming on Tuesday night, as the Black Cats suffered a 2-1 defeat at Fleetwood Town.

Taylor was unable to replicate his efforts from 12-months before as Sunderland lost at Highbury, with the young stalwart far from the visiting side’s Man of the Match as efforts from Barrie McKay and Mark Duffy overturned James Hill’s early own goal.

Parkinson was full of praise for Taylor after his performance against Gillingham in 2019, noting via quotes by the Chronicle: “I was very pleased with Brandon. I thought he was probably our best player on the night.

“He loved every minute of it, but it was a tough game to play in because Gillingham play a certain way where they get the ball forward very early, long throws coming into the box, a lot of set-plays, and that’s a totally different type of game to the ones he has experienced at U23 level.

“But I don’t think he could do a lot more to show that he can play. Brandon and Jack [Bainbridge] are in that category and all they can do is take their chance when they get it, and Brandon certainly did that over the full 120 minutes – he played like a man.”

Parkinson would have hoped to see Taylor fare far better at Fleetwood on Tuesday night knowing how infrequent opportunities in the first-team have been over the past 12-months but, unfortunately, did not see the Black Cats product make good use of Sunderland already securing their progression through to the EFL Trophy Round of 32.

Over his 90 minutes on the field, the 6ft centre-half managed just a single successful tackle and two clearances, while not registering any interceptions or blocked shots, per SofaScore.

He further lost two of his three ground duels, two of his five aerial duels, turned over possession 16 times, committed two fouls and found teammates with just 28 of his 41 attempted passes for a 68% completion rate.

Of Taylor’s incomplete passes, 10 were long balls having attempted 16 but only completed six. Centre-half partners Jordan Willis and Ollie Younger, meanwhile, completed three of four and one of two respectively, as they sought to play the ball out from the back.

Taylor will now return to the U23s feeling he needs to prove himself once more, with Sunderland out of the FA Cup and set to contend the EFL Trophy Round of 32 in a month’s time.

AND in other news, Phil Parkinson has confirmed a major blow for a Sunderland gem he begged to “let his football do the talking”.

According to journalist Alasdair Gold, Tottenham Hotspur made an enquiry over Southampton striker Danny Ings before signing Carlos Vinicius. 

It’s been quite the summer transfer window for Spurs, landing the ‘super six’ in a transfer flurry.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Joe Hart, Matt Doherty, Sergio Reguilon, Carlos Vinicius and the sensational return of Gareth Bale capped off a window to remember for the Lilywhites (as per Football.London).

The cherry on top, arguably, would have been a centre-back, with Tottenham and Daniel Levy failing to get a last-minute deal over the line.

Regardless, there is still time in a swoop for Swansea defender Joe Rodon; and given Spurs recently blew Manchester United away with a 6-1 victory at Old Trafford, it doesn’t appear crucial for now.

Landing a striker was Mourinho’s main priority, forcing the club to enquire over numerous star option, according to Gold. Before sealing a loan move for Benfica star Vinicius, Tottenham had enquired over five star strikers.

Andrea Belotti, Habib Diallo, Patson Daka and Haris Seferovic were among those targeted, but the fifth stood out as a Premier League candidate in Southampton star Ings.

Scoring 25 goals in all competitions over 2019/20, Ings is debatably on the longest hot streak of his career. He was also worshipped as ‘unbelievable’ by Saints manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, particularly for his attitude, with Spurs taking note before the deadline.

Levy enquired over signing the 28-year-old, but it is believed the possibility of him playing second fiddle to Harry Kane was very unlikely.

Vincius’ loan deal with an option to buy is a fantastic bit of business, but Ings would have also been a standout signing.

Homegrown, a proven asset in the English top flight and currently in his prime – Lilywhites supporters may be wondering how a front two of Kane and Ings would have looked.

Spurs fans, would you have liked to have Ings at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium? Have your say by commenting below..

It speaks volumes of just how highly rate Steven Gerrard rates Alfredo Morelos, that the Rangers striker who has been linked with a move away all summer, has started in each and every single Scottish Premiership game of the new season.

The Colombia international has struck two goals and provided a further two assists in his opening four league games, but whilst that return is more than respectable, the simple fact is that Gerrard must surely be planning for life without the 24-year-old.

Lille, one of the clubs who are reported to be interested in him, are said to have bid £16m for him, whilst Football Insider have recently claimed that Morelos’ exit this summer is “almost inevitable”.

Are you a massive Rangers fan? Know everything about the club? Well do you know your Gary Stevens from your Michael Ball? This quiz will separate the loyal from the fake…

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It’s exactly why Gerrard must not waste any time, and unleash of the forwards he brought into Ibrox in the off-season: Kemar Roofe.

The former Leeds man enjoyed a fine year whilst at Belgian side Anderlecht in the 2019/2020 campaign, scoring seven goals in 16 games before a calf injury ended his season short.

His former manager at Elland Road, Thomas Christiansen, waxed lyrical about his abilities, saying: “Kemar is able to push forward, defend with it and still turn up in the sixteen. His height seems a disadvantage, but that is it is not. Kemar is strong and jumps high. He will score with his head. He is a goal-getter. He will score at least twenty. Kemar is cold-blooded for the goal. And he can also finish with his left and right.”

That ability to score off either foot makes him a dangerous striker for defenders to stop, not knowing which way to force him. And plus, being the journey man player he has been – Roofe has already played for eight different clubs all across Europe – he will inevitably be motivated to make sure he can be a success at a massive club like Rangers.

And motivation is something Morelos just seems to be lacking at the moment with all the speculation linking him away with a move, with Alan Hutton claiming after the goalless Livingston draw: “He just looked back to his previous self if you want. Even the way he came off the pitch, it’s been well highlighted that he looked angry, he didn’t look interested, it just didn’t go down well for everybody looking on.”

Roofe may not be similar in playing style to Morelos, but he could similarly rip defences to shreds. His best season at Leeds, in which he netted 15 goals in the Championship, saw him average an impressive 3.1 shots and 0.8 key passes per game. The 27-year-old comes alive in the final third, and with that chip on his shoulder, could see him wreak havoc in Scottish football.

Victor Orta could land Leeds an absolute bargain this summer if latest reports are to be believed.

According to LancsLive, reported United target Bright Osayi-Samuel is available for just £5m amid interest from Burnley and fellow Premier League new boys West Brom.

Back in May, AllNigeriaSoccer claimed that the Championship winners were keen on the winger, also citing the likes of Everton and West Ham too.

On the face of it, a new wide option isn’t something the Yorkshire giants necessarily need, especially considering Jack Harrison’s extended loan deal and the recent emergence of former Man City starlet Ian Poveda.

But strength in depth in the top-flight shouldn’t be frowned upon, particularly in these sorts of positions and at just £5m, it would be a filthy robbery.

Just think, West Brom splashed £22m on Hull City talisman Jarrod Bowen in January whilst Neal Maupay cost Brighton £16m last summer.

This season, the 22-year-old has provided an inconsistent QPR side with six goals and nine assists and has also racked up better figures than Leeds’ mainstay right-winger Helder Costa.

He’s just a third of the price of the £15m Portuguese ace.

The young Nigerian starlet has averaged more dribbles (2.9) and key passes (1.2) per game as well as a better passing accuracy (83.9%) than Costa. In addition to that, he’s won his side more free-kicks as he’s fouled 1.9 times per appearance (via WhoScored).

Osayi-Samuel’s Rs boss Mark Warburton has regularly waxed lyrical about his exploits throughout the campaign, claiming that the winger is a “real handful,” is “outstanding” and has “sheer pace which terrifies defenders”.

You’re not going to get a better talent at a cheaper price, so even if he doesn’t hit the ground running, at just £5m, it’s such low-risk – Orta must land Bielsa the tricky speedster this summer.

AND in other news, Leeds could regret selling this STAR 12 months on…

Key Information about Carrow Road

Carrow Road is the home of Premier League side Norwich City, and it has been since 1935.

The all-seater stadium holds a capacity of just over 27,000 and comprises four famous stands; the Regency Security Stand, The Barclay, the Geoffrey Watling City Stand, and The South Stand.

It is located in the East Anglian county of Norfolk, and it was opened following insufficient capacity due to constant growing crowds.

A history of Carrow Road

The Canaries lifted the Division Three title in 1933-34, and a year later they moved into their current home of Carrow Road. On 31 August 1935, Norwich moved from their previous home of The Nest as it was no longer deemed suitable for the number of fans wanting to attend matches.. The first match played in the new stadium was a seven-goal thriller between West Ham United, and the Canaries came out triumphant with a 4-3 victory – a game that will always go down in club history.

It is named after the road which it is located and was incredibly built by the football club in just 82 days. The name “Carrow” originates from Carrow Abbey which once stood on the riverside, and there are possibilities the name has Norse origins.

The club notably described the opening of their new stadium as “the largest construction job in the city since the building of Norwich Castle” and “the eighth wonder of the world”.

Over the years, the stadium has been altered and upgraded several times, and at the time of its opening the ground’s capacity was a massive 38,000 with an amazing 44,000 record overall crowd before the introduction of seating only.

This record-high attendance was set by fans who watched Norwich take on Leicester City in the FA Cup Sixth Round in 1963. Famously, King George VI watched twenty minutes of the Canaries home game against Millwall at Carrow Road which was the first time a ruling monarch had watched a second division football match.

Floodlights were introduced to the stadium just over 20 years after its construction, and the £9,000 cost in 1956 almost sent the club into bankruptcy, only to be saved by an FA Cup semi-final appearance two seasons later. In the wake of the Ibrox Stadium tragedy in 1971, Carrow Road’s capacity was lowered to just 20,000 with many dangers associated with standing, and nine years later, seats replaced the terraces around the ground.

The Barclay stand is famously named after former Captain Evelyn Barclay who was also a former vice-president of the club, and The South Stand is named in honour of former chairman Sir Arthur South.

Tickets to Watch Norwich City at Carrow Road

Norwich have capped their season ticket allocation for Carrow Road as 22,000, and there is currently a waiting list.

The canaries typically sell out of their home allocation of tickets making it very hard for supporters to watch their team live. Despite this, it is advised for fans to visit the clubs site (canaries.co.uk) to purchase tickets online or by phone when advertised by the club prior to a fixture.

For a regular Premier League game, the Canaries price their adult tickets at around £26, 65+ and under-18s at £11.25, and under-16s at £10. Coach travel is priced at £25 with a £1 discount for away members and season ticket holders. The cost of a regular adult season ticket is around £500 if paid before 21 February, and for under-12s they are as low as £70.

Related Links

https://www.canaries.co.uk/ – Official website of Norwich City

https://www.canaries.co.uk/tickets/home-away-tickets/ – Norwich City Ticket Office

Liverpool were left frustrated in the second Merseyside derby of the campaign, but the goalless draw at Goodison Park moved Jurgen Klopp’s men one point closer to claiming their maiden Premier League title.

Despite enjoying almost 70 per cent possession, the Reds were unable to turn their domination into clear-cut chances – with Roberto Firmino’s tame left-footed effort and Fabinho’s last-gasp free-kick the closest that the league leaders came to beating Jordan Pickford in the Toffees net.

The draw means that if Manchester City beat Burnley on Monday, then Liverpool won’t be able to win the title against Crystal Palace on Wednesday, but could remarkably seal their first league crown since 1989-1990 at the home of the current champions on Thursday week.

But, had it not been for some late heroics from the ever-impressive Alisson Becker in the Reds net, then Klopp’s side could have suffered their first defeat to their neighbours in 22 matches in all competitions.

Becker did well to keep out both Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison in the closing stages – but it was the introduction of Dejan Lovren that allowed Everton to create chances and gain a foothold.

From the moment the Croatian replaced the injured Joel Matip in the 73rd minute, Liverpool looked vulnerable and the Lovren would have no doubt been thankful to his goalkeeper for bailing him out after some questionable defending.

Lovren is on the verge of becoming the first Croatian to win the Premier League, but it’s safe to say that plenty of Reds fans want him sold in the summer.

Take a look at some of their best reactions on Twitter.

Newcastle United’s prospective £300m takeover has taken a new hitch this week although the Daily Mail’s Craig Hope has shed some light into why it may not be as big a problem as it’s being made out to be.The Guardian reported on Tuesday that the World Trade Organisation had ruled that the Saudi government was behind the illegal streaming of sports in the Middle Eastern country, thus putting the whole deal in doubt due to a potential breach of international laws.Hope relayed a similar story before adding that his “sources maintain” that those involved in the Magpies’ takeover – namely crown prince Mohammed bin Salman and governor of the public investment fund Yasir Al-Rumayyan – have “no ability to influence of fix” the issue of piracy in the country.He tweeted:

This is an interesting claim to make and one that is slightly more positive as, if it is true, those involved should pass the Premier League’s owners and directors test and not create any contradictions.

Spot the fact from the fib: Are these Premier League records true or false?

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Pirate streaming service beoutQ is said to have illegally streamed PL matches in Saudi Arabia, thus leaving the English top-flight in a rather difficult situation, which is why this whole process has taken much longer than it should have.

AND in other news,ÂReport: Pochettino close to Newcastle job, wants Spurs star to come with him…