Liverpool and Tottenham meet on Saturday in a battle that will pit two of the strongest clubs in the Premier League against one another.
Spurs sit second in the table but are a whole nine points back on Chelsea, so a win is crucial if they want to keep pace and possibly challenge the Blues for the title. Tottenham are coming off a 1-0 win against Middlesbrough and will be eager to continue their recent good run.
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The Reds, on the other hand, are still in the midst of a slump that has yet to see them win a match in Premier League play in 2017. Jurgen Klopp’s side have dropped to fifth in the table and are coming off a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Hull. They need a win if they are to salvage their season and get the ball rolling in the right direction.
Liverpool’s attack has been struggling of late and will have a tough task against the Tottenham defence, which is one of the best, surrendering a league-low 16 goals.
Both clubs are desperately in need of the win, but which one will rise to the occasion and take it?
As reported by The Daily Mirror, Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s Manchester United future has been thrown into doubt with the striker stalling on a signing up for another season at the club.
What’s the story?
Ibrahimovic signed a one year deal with United last summer, with the option of another if both parties agreed to such a thing. Now though, the Swedish legend is having doubts.
That’s according to The Mirror, who say that Ibrahimovic has an ambition to play for a UEFA Champions League side next season before he heads of to lesser teams in MLS or similar.
United are currently 6th in the table, two points behind the necessary 4th place required to quality for Europe’s biggest club competition.
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Key man
Ibrahimovic has arguably been Jose Mourinho’s key man this season as he looks to build a side capable of competing for serious silverware and be able to sustain a significant title challenge.
Despite being the grand old age of 36, the strikers has banged in an incredible 24 goals in all competitions for the Red Devils so far this term.
Having him sticking around for another year is vital to Mourinho’s rebuilding efforts and he must be doing everything in his power to keep the red hot striker at Old Trafford.
Over the last decade or so Chelsea fans have experienced a level of success unseen previously in the club’s history. Since 2004/05 they’ve won four league titles, four FA Cups, three league cups, one UEFA Europa League and of course the big one, a UEFA Champions League trophy.
Central to much of that success was Didier Drogba, an iconic goalscoring hero whose impact on the club will likely be remembered for decades to come.
In two spells at the club he made an incredible 381 appearances, scoring 164 goals and generally providing the combative physical presence in the final third that the Blues needed for success.
Of the thirteen major honours listed above won by Chelsea, Drogba was involved in a massive twelve of them, underlining just how important he was to the team in his time at Stamford Bridge.
Now Chelsea fans have voted overwhelming to name him as their greatest ever striker, with 88% of respondents to our poll agreeing he should be considered the best.
It also just so happens to be his birthday today, so this is our present from us to him, Happy 39th Birthday Didier!
According to reports in The Sun, Everton striker Romelu Lukaku is a summer transfer target for Chelsea, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus after telling the club he won’t be signing a new deal.
What’s the story, then?
Well, despite reports on talkSPORT last week that Lukaku was on the verge of signing a new five-year contract at Goodison Park, the 23-year-old instead told the club on Tuesday that he would be turning down a deal that would make him the highest-paid player in Everton’s history as he wants to play Champions League football.
That news would have alerted the Belgian’s former club Chelsea – who tried to bring the attacker back to Stamford Bridge last summer – and Manchester United, while Juventus and Real Madrid could also be interested as they look to strengthen their attacking options this summer.
Could he leave this summer?
It depends on a few things.
Firstly, will Ronald Koeman still want a player that he knows doesn’t really want to be at the club? The Dutchman did have a similar situation when he was in charge of Southampton with one of his current players Morgan Schneiderlin, who was convinced to stay at St Mary’s for another year before making his exit.
However, with Lukaku’s contract not running out until 2019, they could easily tell him that he has to honour it.
Secondly, it could depend on the offers that come in.
The Toffees aren’t exactly short of cash and they won’t need to accept any old bid, meaning it could take a enormous amount of money to convince the Merseyside club to cash in on the striker.
How would Everton replace him?
It would be difficult.
The Belgian is the joint-top goalscorer in the top flight this season with 19 goals, and he also recently became the club’s all-time leading marksman in the Premier League era with a current total of 62 even though he is yet to finish his fourth season at Goodison.
It isn’t easy to find someone as prolific as that, but they would certainly trust director of football Steve Walsh, who discovered N’Golo Kante for Leicester, to find an able replacement.
Tottenham Hotspur star Dele Alli picked up his first ever red card last month and now he has been banned by UEFA.
The governing body has confirmed that Alli will serve a three-game suspension the next time Spurs compete in a European competition.
The England international was shown a straight red card for a dangerous tackle on Brecht Dejaegere in a 2-2 draw with Europa League opponents Gent at Wembley in February.
If Spurs finish in the top three of the Premier League, then Alli will be unavailable for half of the team’s group games in the Champions League.
If Mauricio Pochettino’s men finish fourth, then the qualifying games will be included in the ban.
Similarly, if the North London outfit seal a Europa League spot, Alli will be absent for the early stages of the competition.
Even though it is not an immediate issue for Spurs, it will be a huge blow to lose Alli, who has scored seven goals in all competitions so far this season.
After the news was announced by UEFA, football fans have given their reactions on Twitter.
Everton manager Ronald Koeman confirmed after their 4-2 win against Premier League holders Leicester City at Goodison Park on Sunday that the club will be forced to sell midfielder Ross Barkley this summer unless he commits his future to the club.
The 23-year-old put in a man of the match performance in the victory against the Foxes – setting up Romelu Lukaku for the Belgian’s first goal with a brilliant cross – but he could be on his way out of Goodison Park at the end of the season with talks over a new contract seemingly not progressing.
The England international’s current deal with the Toffees runs out in the summer of 2018 and Koeman clearly isn’t keen to keep any player that doesn’t want to be with the Merseyside outfit.
The Dutchman said: “We offer him a new contract, and there are two possibilities. One, he signs that contract. If he doesn’t sign that contract then we need to sell the player.”
Barkley, who has scored four goals and provided a further eight assists in the top flight this term, is clearly frustrating his manager – and potentially the supporters too – with the continued uncertainty.
Here are THREE reasons Everton should cash in on Barkley this summer…
His lack of progression
When Barkley burst onto the scene at Goodison Park as a 17-year-old, there were certainly glimpses that he could go on to be something special because of his technical ability.
While he is a key first team player now, he perhaps hasn’t realised his full potential yet – especially when you compare him to someone like Dele Alli – and maybe it would be the best solution for both parties if he moves on at the end of the season. A new challenge could do him a world of good.
His mentality
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Even though he was born in Liverpool and has spent all of his youth career and senior career with the Toffees – aside from brief loan spells with Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United – he has so far failed to commit his future to the club.
Rather than feeling he owes Everton something for the faith they have shown in him, it seems as though he is waiting to see if they secure European football or not before choosing to whether to commit his future to the Merseyside outfit.
While that may seem fair enough because of his ambitions, it isn’t helpful for a team that is looking to build its foundations for the future.
Transfer fee
While some may feel that the 23-year-old hasn’t made the strides he should have during his career, he has still received a lot of praise for his performances this season, despite the fact that he enjoyed a more fruitful 2015/16 campaign.
Even though he only has just over a year left on his contract, because he is English and has the potential to go on to become a key player in the Premier League, he will still be in demand and Everton could secure a large, potentially Jon Stones level, fee for his services.
According to reports in the Italian media outlet Corriere della Sera, via The Sun, Chelsea are ready to outbid Premier League rivals Manchester United in the battle to sign Inter Milan winger Ivan Perisic.
What’s the word, then?
Well, former Blues boss Jose Mourinho is understood to be keen to bring the highly-rated Croatia international to Old Trafford this summer and was said to be lining up a £50m offer for the 28-year-old, but now the Portuguese manager’s former club are ready to offer £55m for Perisic.
Inter only signed the attacker from Wolfsburg in 2015 but as they are in danger of missing out on European football next term – and they are under pressure to balance the book under the strict financial fair play rules – they could be forced to cash in on one of their star men at the end of the campaign.
How has he done this season?
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Despite the fact that it has been a disappointing campaign for Inter as they currently sit seventh in the Serie A table and they were knocked out of the Europa League in the group stages, the 28-year-old has enjoyed a positive personal season.
He has scored 10 goals and provided a further nine assists in 37 appearances in all competitions for the Italian giants, while he was also one of Croatia’s standout players during their Euro 2016 campaign last summer.
Where would he fit in at Stamford Bridge?
The Croatian would provide some more strength in depth across the wide areas and would be competing with the likes of Eden Hazard, Pedro and Willian for a spot in Antonio Conte’s starting XI.
What’s the verdict, then?
Whether Chelsea or Manchester United are willing to spend the reported amounts on Perisic remains to be seen, but he has certainly shown over the course of the last few years that he has the ability to make an impact in England.
The Blues do need more competition in the wide attacking areas, and they would of course love to get one over on Mourinho if possible.
Former Everton defender and Liverpool Echo columnist Michael Ball believes there could be some “surprise departures” from the club this summer in what looks set to be another busy transfer window.
With the Toffees looking set to end the season in seventh position following a drop off in their form in recent weeks, Ronald Koeman will be looking to make some big additions in order to try and cope with the demands of Europa League football next term, as well as moving the Merseyside outfit one step closer to competing for a Champions League qualification spot.
The Dutchman has already been linked with a number of new players, but Ball – who scored eight goals in 121 appearances for Everton between 1996 and 2001 – believes those coming into the club could put the futures of some first team players into doubt.
The form of Morgan Schneiderlin, Tom Davies and Idrissa Gueye has already limited Gareth Barry’s playing time this season for example, and he could look to move on to pastures new to ensure he is playing regularly if there are any more arrivals in the centre of midfield.
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The 47-year-old told the Liverpool Echo: “There promises to be a revolving door at Goodison this summer.
“But as well as the expected glut of incomings, there could also be a series of exits. And I wouldn’t rule out there being some surprise departures either.”
“Everton will need a squad big enough to be able to handle the added demands of Europa League football but Ronald Koeman has made it clear that having too many players creates too many problems.
“For example, Gareth Barry looks like facing more time on the bench against next season so will he want to stay?”
After taking just one point from the last nine available, Everton host Watford on Friday night before travelling to face Arsenal at the Emirates on the final day of the Premier League season.
According to reports on The Telegraph, West Ham United’s owners are ready to back manager Slaven Bilic in the transfer market this summer and are eyeing up a move for Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure.
What’s the word, then?
Well, despite continued that speculation that Bilic would get the sack at the end of the season following a disappointing campaign, the Irons owners have no intention of getting rid of the Croatian and are aiming to make some big signings that will make a statement this summer.
One of the players they are said to be interested in is Toure, whose contract at the Etihad Stadium runs out at the end of the campaign.
The 33-year-old is yet to agree a new deal with the Citizens, and manager Pep Guardiola may feel it’s time to bring an end to his seven-year stint in Manchester.
Would West Ham be able to afford him?
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As he could be available on a free transfer that wouldn’t be too much of a problem, but his wages could be.
The Ivory Coast international is understood to be on a huge amount of money at City and he would have to take a significant pay cut if he was to move to the London Stadium.
The interest does suggest that the club hasn’t learnt from his previous mistakes, as it is hardly a signing for the future.
Where would he fit in?
The 33-year-old has perhaps played his most effective football as a box-to-box or attacking midfielder over the years, but he has often played a deeper role in recent seasons as he gets older.
Depending on what formation Bilic intends to play next season – the 3-4-3 system seems to have been a success in recent weeks – Toure could play a more attacking role alongside a defensive midfielder in the centre of the pitch.
He would certainly add some goals from there too, and that is something that the Irons need to take the pressure off of the strikers and Michail Antonio.
Would he want to move to West Ham?
If he wants to stay in the Premier League, then yes he probably would.
Because of his age he certainly isn’t going to have a pick of the top clubs and the Irons would likely be one of the biggest sides that would be interested in him.
After 32 games, the most of any Premier League referee, Michael Oliver will be hoping for a quiet end to a taxing season when he officiates Arsenal’s clash with Everton on Sunday.
The Gunners have an outside chance of sneaking into the top four, but with Everton’s campaign already done and dusted Oliver will be expecting a relatively drama-free afternoon.
Yet, the 32-year-old’s previous outings this term suggest otherwise; he’s awarded almost one penalty every two matches this season – the highest average in the Premier League – and Arsenal have been amongst the biggest victims, with Oliver awarding three against them from five games.
That will be a concern to Arsenal fans and some of the Gunners’ other returns when Oliver is involved make equally grim reading; they’ve picked up just 0.8 points with Oliver officiating term, winning just one of his five games in charge.
Likewise, although the neutrals prefer matches to flow and Oliver is amongst the division’s most reluctant in terms of fouls per game, fouls per tackle and cards per game, that doesn’t necessarily suit the Gunners. They rank 15th throughout the Premier League for fouls whereas Everton come in at fifth, suggesting Oliver will be lenient towards the visitors’ more aggressive style of play.
If there’s one statistic working in Arsenal’s favour, however, it’s Oliver’s strong home bias, with almost two thirds of the games he’s refereed this season ending in victory for the hosts and only 15.6% ending in wins for the away side.
Clearly, however, Arsenal don’t have the best of luck when they come up against Oliver, which doesn’t bode well for their Champions League hopes. Everton, meanwhile, should expect a spot kick in their favour at the Emirates Stadium.