Revealed: Everton fans backing 4-3-3 setup for Man City clash

Few away games will give Ronald Koeman as many dilemmas this season as tonight’s trip Manchester City.

Not only are the Citizens an incredibly talented side, further improved by a summer of audacious spending in the transfer market, but Pep Guardiola is also easily the most unpredictable manager in the Premier League – almost obsessed with keeping his opposite number guessing by thinking up quirky tactical ploys.

That’s inevitably left the Everton gaffer with some huge decisions to make before kickoff, not least including how to set up his side. The Toffees have switched between 3-4-3 and 4-3-3 already this season whilst winning all of their four games, so we asked Everton fans earlier today which formation should be used at the Etihad Stadium.

Somewhat surprisingly, our poll wasn’t even a relatively close-run contest. Despite a 3-4-3 setup leading to their win over Stoke City on the opening weekend, the vast majority of Toffees supporters have opted for 4-3-3. We’ll know if Koeman agrees with them later tonight!

Odds shorten on Chelsea signing Mahrez from Leicester City

Riyad Mahrez has been one of the Premier League stars regularly named in the transfer gossip columns this summer.

The Algerian international made it clear in a statement released at the end of last season that he wants to leave Leicester City.

Mahrez was pivotal in the club’s shock Premier League title win when he scored 17 goals and registered 11 assists in the 2015-16 campaign.

The 26-year-old failed to recreate that form last season, as he found the back of the net six times and set up three goals.

Earlier in the summer, the Daily Mail claimed that Leicester are holding out for a £50m fee for the winger, but so far, no clubs have been able to reach that valuation.

Soccer Football – Chelsea vs Arsenal – FA Community Shield – London, Britain – August 6, 2017 Chelsea manager Antonio Conte REUTERS/Hannah McKay

Arsenal and Roma have been among the clubs reportedly interested in the former Le Havre player, but interestingly, the odds have slashed on Chelsea nabbing his signature.

Due to the delay in any potential transfer, Leicester remain favourites to keep hold of Mahrez for the foreseeable future, but the defending Premier League champions are now 2/1 with Sky Bet to add the winger to Antonio Conte’s squad.

BetVictor are also offering odds of 5/2 for Mahrez to become a Chelsea player before the transfer window slams shut next week.

The 2015-16 PFA Player of the Year has played in every single minute of Leicester’s two Premier League games this season, and has provided two assists.

Rooney takes playful swipe at Manchester City fans

Wayne Rooney ‘s milestone moment was made even sweeter on Monday night as he scored his 200th Premier league goal in front of Manchester City fans.The Everton striker reached the feat 35 minutes into the Toffees’ 1-1 draw with Pep Guardiola’s side at the Etihad Stadium.Rooney has never been a favourite among City fans due to his 13-year spell at Manchester United.On Monday evening, the 31-year-old’s goal drew resemblance to that of the one that he scored for United in a 3-2 victory at the Etihad in 2012.Rooney himself clearly took pleasure in the fact that he scored against his North-West rivals as he took to Twitter with a cheeky dig.

The England captain returned to his boyhood club Everton from the Red Devils earlier this summer after falling down the pecking order at Old Trafford.

The striker has made a swift impact, scoring in both Premier league fixtures this season.

Rooney’s goal makes him only the second player behind Alan Shearer to score 200 in England’s top-flight.

Pundit baffled by Crystal Palace’s decision to dismiss De Boer

The football sphere in England has been dominated by the news that Crystal Palace have sacked manager Frank de Boer after just five games.The EaglesÂannounced on their official websiteÂthat the Dutchman has left the club after failing to guide the team to a win in four Premier League matches.In fact, the team lost every one of them and failed to score, which has placed the club second from bottom in the standings.The dismissal means that De Boer had the shortest reign in Premier League history.Nowadays, the swift sacking of managers is no longer a shock to most in the football community, but this latest exit has been roundly criticised.De Boer, who has previously been linked to Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool, had never coached before in England, but now his only experience is a miserable one.Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has been left reeling after the announcement, and he made his feelings clear on social media.

In Focus: Fabinho would add versatility and quality to Man United squad

As reported by CalcioMercato, Manchester United are interested in signing Monaco star Fabinho, and the Ligue 1 outfit have set a selling price for him.

What’s the story?

It’s fair to say Manchester United have recruited well since Jose Mourinho arrived at the club. With big money spent on the likes of Romelu Lukaku and Paul Pogba, they’re on the verge of a new era of success not seen since the days of Sir Alex Ferguson.

They’re constantly on the look out for the next talent that cane improve their squad and it seems Mourinho may have found his latest target.

CalcioMercato report that the Portuguese is interested in signing Brazilian international Fabinho, currently plying his trade at Monaco.

With the likes of Juventus also chasing him according to the outlet, interest is high in the versatile 23-year-old.

Monaco do have a selling price according to the report though, with the French champions said to ready to sell for around £53m, putting him well within reach of the Red Devils.

What does he offer?

With the ability to play on the right hand side of defence as well as midfield, he offers different options to Mourinho, which could be very valuable indeed as the club chase trophies in four competitions each season.

He has made almost as many appearances in midfield as at right-back and has shown he has the ability to be as much of an attacking threat as a defensive force, scoring 10 goals and providing six assists last season alone.

That kind of contribution would go down a treat in Manchester, with the Old Trafford side looking for long-term options on the right flank and in midfield.

Is he the man Mourinho will move for when the transfer window re-opens?

Tottenham Hotspur fans hail Lloris’s heroics against Real Madrid

If there was any doubt about Hugo Lloris’s ability as a goalkeeper, then there certainly will not be now after the Tottenham Hotspur star put on a stellar display against Real Madrid.

As expected, Mauricio Pochettino’s team were under the cosh at times during their Champions League group match at the Bernabeu on Tuesday night.

Zinedine Zidane’s side are reigning champions for a reason, and they knocked on the door many times during the encounter in Spain.

However, it was Spurs who went in front thanks to some skill from Harry Kane, who forced an own goal from Raphael Varane just before the half-hour mark.

Madrid continued to unleash waves of pressure, though, and it eventually paid off when Serge Aurier’s clumsy challenge on Toni Kroos in the box resulted in a penalty, which was converted by Cristiano Ronaldo.

The hosts had numerous chances to win the game and they may have done so by a significant margin had it not been for Lloris, who made a handful of saves to keep Spurs in the game.

One stop in particular will be embedded into the memory of Tottenham fans, and it came in the second half when Lloris denied Karim Benzema a header from close range.

The Premier League club will return to England with an impressive point, and they have their goalkeeper to thank for it.

Mane absence could severely hamper Liverpool’s chances against Manchester United

Liverpool have confirmed via their official website that Sadio Mane will be out for up to six weeks with a hamstring injury.

What’s happened?

The 25-year-old suffered the problem while playing for Senegal in the team’s World Cup qualifier over the Cape Verde Islands on Saturday.

Mane had played 89 minutes of the match before he was forced off in the 2-0 victory for his nation.

The attacking star will now miss a handful of games for Liverpool, including Saturday’s lunchtime showdown against arch rivals Manchester United.

As well as that clash at Anfield, Mane is expected to be absent from Premier League meetings with the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton, as well as two Champions League group games against Maribor.

Could this affect the result against United?

The influence that Mane has on the pitch for the Reds could cost them against their biggest enemies.

Liverpool possess a wealth of attacking talent in Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah, but the Senegal international has become vital to Jurgen Klopp’s team.

In seven appearances in all competitions, Mane has scored three goals and created one assist.

Not only will the winger’s pace be missed by the Merseyside outfit, they also lose his intelligence and creativity on the ball.

Liverpool were already underdogs heading into the fixture against Jose Mourinho’s team due to just one win in seven, whereas United are unbeaten in 10.

Losing Mane has made the hill a little bit steeper for Liverpool to climb.

Three changes Mauricio Pellegrino must make to his starting XI against West Brom

Southampton will be looking to improve on a disappointing start to the season and pick up just their second home Premier League win of the season when they host West Bromwich Albion at St Mary’s on Saturday.

Despite having winnable fixtures on paper against Swansea City, West Ham United, Watford and Newcastle United on their own patch this term, they have taken just five points from a possible 12 in those matches, with another defeat also coming against Manchester United.

With just seven goals in their nine games in all competitions this term, the supporters are beginning to get frustrated with their players and manager Mauricio Pellegrino seeing as Claude Puel was sacked at the end of last season because of a lack of goals and dull style of football.

Following the 2-2 draw against the Magpies on Sunday, Pellegrino will certainly be considering making alterations to his starting XI for the visit of Tony Pulis’ Baggies.

Here are three changes Pellegrino must make when Saints host West Brom…

Alex McCarthy for Fraser Forster

When Southampton are struggling to find the net at one end, they can’t afford to have a player that is costing them goals at the other end, and that is exactly what Forster has done on a number of occasions this season.

According to Squawka, the England international has made more defensive errors (4) than any other Premier League player this term, with two of those leading to goals, and the stopper should have done much better with Ayoze Perez’s goal for Newcastle on Sunday.

With his ability to save long-range efforts, command of his area and his distribution often leaving a lot to be desired, it is time for Pellegrino to take the 29-year-old out of the firing line against West Brom and replace him with Alex McCarthy.

Wesley Hoedt for Virgil van Dijk

While the majority of Southampton fans would have wanted Van Dijk back in the team following his failed transfer request during the summer because of the quality he has, his performances have left a lot to be desired so far and he doesn’t look as though he deserves to start right now.

The Dutchman was guilty of giving away a penalty against Stoke in his first start for the south coast outfit since January, while it was his poor clearance that led to Isaac Hayden’s goal for Newcastle on Sunday.

However, it isn’t just the errors that mean that he should be dropped, as the 26-year-old looked more than happy to sit as the last man when Saints were looking for an equaliser against the Magpies, when this time a year ago he would have been driving forward with the ball.

It suggests that while Van Dijk is being professional right now he isn’t putting in the effort and showing the commiment that he has previously, and Hoedt should replace his Netherlands compatriot in the XI against West Brom after being unfortunate to lose his spot in the team originally.

Sofiane Boufal for Nathan Redmond

With no goals and four assists in his last 20 Premier League appearances, it has been clear for a while now that Redmond isn’t doing enough to justify starting every week for Southampton – which is what he is doing right now.

The 23-year-old had a particularly poor day at the office against Newcastle – including when he passed the ball straight to a Magpies player from a free-kick – and when he was substituted off in the second half the decision was met with a chorus of ironic cheers and boos.

Pellegrino must take the winger out of the firing line against West Brom, and after Boufal’s impressive cameo against Rafa Benitez’s men – in which he looked good both in attack and defensively – the Morocco international deserves an opportunity from the start against the Baggies.

Do you agree, Saints fans? Let us know below.

In Focus: Zaha has quality but isn’t the Sanchez replacement Arsenal are looking for

As reported by The Sun, Arsenal are lining up a big money move for Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha, with the prospect of losing key talent Alexis Sanchez looming.

What’s the story?

With Sanchez’s contract running out at the end of the season, there’s a serious risk that the club may have to cut their losses with the Chilean in January, leaving a significant hole in the Arsenal attack.

Replacing their talisman won’t be easy but it seems Arsene Wenger has identified his prime candidate.

The Sun say that Wilfried Zaha is at the top of the list with the Gunners ready to pay £35m to struggling Crystal Palace to land their man.

While Zaha has obvious quality, does he have what it takes to fill the boots of Arsenal’s most important talent of the last few seasons?

A tough act to follow

Wilfried Zaha is undoubtedly a talented Premier League winger, at times winning points for the Eagles single handed. His injury this seaosn has been a key reason why they have been struggling to pick up points in the top-flight. Last season was arguably his best ever, scoring seven goals and creating 11 more assists for his side in the league.

However, in a direct comparison with Alexis Sanchez, there’s little to suggest he can perform at the level of the former Barcelona man. Sanchez has been unbelievable for Arsenal for years, right up to his recent off the pitch contract dramas.

He’s scored 74 goals and created 45 more in 154 appearances for the Gunners, a magnificent direct goal contribution that puts him right up there with the division’s best.

Zaha may be a smart buy, but if Wenger has hopes he can fill the boots of Sanchez, he may well be disappointed.

Tottenham fans were not impressed with Llorente performance vs West Brom

Tottenham Hotspur were expected to beat managerless West Bromwich Albion at home in the English Premier League on Saturday but had to settle for a point.

Salomon Rondon got the visitors off to a flyer at Wembley, who finished smartly past Hugo Lloris just four minutes in after winning a battle with Davinson Sanchez.

Spurs huffed and puffed from that point on but failed to find the net until 13 minutes from time when talisman Harry Kane netted to give them hope of going on to win the match.

West Brom held firm though for an unlikely point and Mauricio Pochettino’s side are now in danger of being 13 points behind league leaders Manchester City by the end of the weekend.

With the game not going their way after the break, Pochettino tried to inspire a more attacking performance on the hour mark, bringing on Fernando Llorente for Jan Vertonghen.

However, the Spaniard offered little and his showing has left Tottenham fans scratching their head about what he offers the team.

They took to Twitter to share their thoughts…

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