The top 10 Premier League doppelgangers

Christmas is here! The time we have all been waiting for, a day of over-eating, grotesque amounts of TV and saying thank you for gifts that you would much rather not have had to open. The build-up has been long and the preparation intense… much like the summer before a Premier League campaign, in fact.

It’s time for some festive cheer, though. Premier League football might be keeping a few of you a little stressed, but there are plenty of distractions around the football world to make you smile. Some of them are just found by searching through Vine for anything, particularly if it involves Tony Pulis laughing or an Arsenal Fan TV meltdown.

Luckily for you we’ve taken some time to compile a rather amusing Premier League list of lookalikes. There are millions of them, in truth, but few as eyebrow-raising as this TEN.

If you have any other suggestions feel free to send them in, of course…

Jurgen Klopp + Stephen Merchant

Jurgen Klopp is already a pretty popular man around the Premier League, but he would be even more popular if he were as funny as The Office creator, Stephen Merchant. Merchant is admittedly a fair bit taller than the Liverpool manager, and we reckon they would be a good pair to go for a pint with.

Maybe Klopp can fill in for Merchant in his next presenting or film role? One issue, actually, that German accent could give it all away before the fun has even begun.

Sean Dyche + Walter White

Admittedly Walter White is not actually a real person, but the Breaking Bad lead bears a frankly haunting resemblance to Burnley’s manager.

Sean Dyche has been a recent champion of ‘Proper Football Men’ and his continued paranoia about foreign managers perhaps belongs under a hat similar to Walter White’s.

Then again, there are probably a fair few men across the world that look similar to Dyche.

Mesut Ozil + Enzo Ferrari

Enzo Ferrari, if you hadn’t worked it out, is the founder of Ferrari. Funny, that. The Italian once looked rather similar to another great creator, Mesut Ozil.

The former racing driver might have invented one of the world’s most recognisable brands, but did he ever score against Ludogorets Razgrad in the Champions League group stage? Because, as we now know, that’s the real test of an individual.

Jamie Vardy + Lee Chapman

That’s right, it’s that bloke who jumped on the Leicester City bandwagon because he looked like Jamie Vardy. Lee Chapman was everywhere earlier this year and, one would imagine, made a fair bit of cash off the back of Vardy’s zero to hero tale.

Vardy has now returned to the mediocrity of midtable and Chapman is probably still trying to organise events in dodgy student clubs.

Olivier Giroud + Errol Flynn

Perhaps a little obscure, this, but Errol Flynn and Olivier Giroud do look rather similar. Flynn was a Hollywood actor in the 1930s, ’40s and ’50s, which meant that he did not have to suffer being called a fraud on Twitter.

We can’t help wondering how Giroud’s acting would fare if he tried to crack Hollywood like Flynn. So long as he didn’t have any roles that involved running it would probably go okay we reckon.

Owen Hargreaves + Richard Madden

Richard Madden is fortunate that he only looks like Owen Hargreaves. Madden’s career has not been disrupted by injury in quite the same way luckily, but the Game of Thrones star could probably talk his way onto the BT Sport sofas.

Maybe Madden would finally tell some of those pundits that they’re talking utter nonsense? Or perhaps Hargreaves could pursue a career in film?

That said, looking similar doesn’t actually mean they have to become the same people.

Ian Wright + Michael Clarke Duncan

It’s the cheeky grin that makes it for these two. Finding a picture of either Wright or Duncan not smiling is one of the hardest challenges known to man.

Duncan’s Hollywood career included award nominations and key roles in numerous successful films, including The Green Mile and Kung Fu Panda.

Jose Mourinho + Jack Dee

Two of the world’s grumpiest men happen to look rather similar, particularly when they’re both developing that lazy stubble. Mourinho and Dee would probably get on rather well, but Dee’s miserable rants are at least done with the intention of humour.

Then again, the creator of Lead Balloon could probably do a better job of motivating players than Mourinho has done over the past 18 months. What a pairing, though, maybe Mourinho will be hosting Live At The Apollo soon.

Kevin de Bruyne + The Shermanator

We can only dream that Kevin De Bruyne is as ludicrous in person as The Shermanator. American Pie’s resident creepy outcast is an icon of the series. Well, a hero in a sense, I suppose. Making fleeting appearances throughout the films, The Shermanator flickers in and out of the series just like De Bruyne does throughout a season.

Okay, they aren’t exactly a spitting image of one another, but it’s all good Christmas fun, anyway.

Nacho Monreal + Peter Crouch

Last but not least, it’s two footballers!

Yep, two actual Premier League footballers. Well, Crouch does not really play much anymore, he spends most of his time trotting up and down the touchline. Monreal, though, has become one of Europe’s most reliable full-backs in the last few seasons.

Despite the fact that there is nearly a foot in height difference, there’s something facially that’s a bit similar, isn’t there? No? Just me then…

Three reasons why Tom Rogic is Celtic’s next big export

In recent years, Celtic have had an excellent track record in signing young, talented players from Europe and beyond, having them at the club for a season or two before moving them on for big bucks to the English Premier League.There aren’t many advantages to being in the shadow of the massive money swilling around England, but an exposure from English media and a direct path to the Premier League were a big part of attracting the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Victor Wanyama to Celtic in the first place.While at times this model has been a source of frustration for some Celtic fans, believing the club should hold on to their top talent as long as possible, you can’t deny that overall it has brought great success and moderate wealth to the club.Celtic fans won’t forgive us for looking at their squad and thinking “who’s next?” but it is a reality they must contend with. Moussa Dembele is hitting the headlines this season as a player in line for a big money move, but for us there’s another that could beat him to it. His name is Tom Rogic.Here are THREE reasons why he is Celtic’s next big export to the Premier League…

Goal scoring magic

Since returning from a long-term injury that kept him on the sidelines at Celtic, Tom Rogic has scored 20 goals in 62 appearances from attacking midfield. Many of them have been absolute beauties, like the one highlighted above.

That ability to score from nothing situations and from distance is usually only seen in the most elite players.

He does it in key situations too. That goal against Kilmarnock was in the dying moments of a game Celtic had to win in the league, with Aberdeen breathing down their neck at the time in a race for the title.

Celtic often play against deep defences in the Scottish Premiership but Rogic has found one way of bypassing them completely on a regular basis.

He’s a big game, big time player. That ruthless streak would surely serve English Premier League teams well.

He looked very comfortable vs. Man City

Britain Football Soccer – Manchester City v Celtic – UEFA Champions League Group Stage – Group C – Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England – 6/12/16 Celtic’s Tomas Rogic in action with Manchester City’s Ilkay Gundogan Reuters / Phil Noble Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY.

When Celtic visited the Etihad in December, they put in a performance that proved they belong at Champions League level. Despite finishing bottom of the group, the Hoops put in credable performances away to Borussia Monchengladbach and Man City, earning draws. They also held City at home in a memorable 3-3 draw.

Tom Rogic was a star throughout Celtic’s European campaign and was arguably the best player on the pitch that night at the Etihad. Up against the likes of Ilkay Gundogan, he didn’t look out of place one bit and in fact used his skill and trickery on multiple occasions to outfox the opposition.

As one Celtic fan on Twitter put it on the night:

He’s managed to prove he has what it takes to compete against the best the Premier League has to offer.

National hero

Tom Rogic has always been considered one of Australia’s top prospects, often excelling for his country before his breakthrough at Celtic. However, his recent emergence into a Champions League calibre player has ‘soccer’ fans all over Australia eager to see what his next career move is.

There hasn’t been this much buzz about a player from the country since the likes of Harry Kewell and Tim Cahill were plying their trade and we all know how effective they were in the Premier League.

With 5 goals and 23 caps at the age of just 24, Rogic is destined to become an Aussie soccer legend if his upward trajectory continues.

Three issues Pochettino must address to avoid City thrashing

Second meets fifth in a Saturday evening clash. Manchester City host Tottenham Hotspur, with the home side lingering outside the Champions League places. That said, Pep Guardiola’s side are only three points off Mauricio Pochettino’s men, as the battle in the chasing pack heats up.

It is a tense period of the season, with several meetings between the top clubs in the next few weeks, and each match has the potential to set a team back a long way.

The recent history between these two teams is fascinating. From thrashings to disciplined team performances, Tottenham have had a turbulent relationship with their Manchester City fixtures. This Spurs side is different, though, and does not suffer from the same vulnerabilities as previous Lilywhite editions.

Pochettino has his team well-drilled, tactically savvy and functioning as a well-oiled unit. His opponent, Guardiola, is yet to find the answers for City as they continue to leak goals. However, Pochettino still has three key issues to address before kickoff…

Beware of the Backlash

Britain Soccer Football – Everton v Manchester City – Premier League – Goodison Park – 15/1/17 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola looks dejected Action Images via Reuters / Lee Smith Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further de

Manchester City’s humiliation at Goodison Park last time will be fresh in the memory come kick-off. Regardless of comments from Guardiola or discussions the players may have had about ‘moving on’, it is not easy to forget a 4-0 thrashing.

That memory will serve as motivation. The motivation of revenge over Tottenham is present, too, setting the Lilywhites an additional challenge. Manchester City will see this match, rightly so, as a final chance to prove their credentials as champions. Defeat here and they can wave goodbye to a third Premier League crown.

Stick or Twist

Britain Soccer Football – Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City – Premier League – White Hart Lane – 2/10/16Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino before the match Reuters / Eddie KeoghLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY.

Last time Spurs and Manchester City met, Mauricio Pochettino’s side set up in a 4-1-4-1 and produced one of the performances of the season to pip Pep’s men 2-0. City were flying high at that point and looked set to walk towards the league title, while the Lilywhites were only just awaking from their dopey start to the season.

Times are different now, but it presents a tricky decision for Pochettino. The 4-1-4-1 worked wonderfully back in October, but it has been the 3-4-3 system that has been dominant during Spurs’ recent strong form.

Rejigging Defence

Britain Football Soccer – Tottenham Hotspur v West Bromwich Albion – Premier League – White Hart Lane – 14/1/17 Tottenham’s Jan Vertonghen receives medical attention after sustaining an injury Action Images via Reuters / Paul Childs Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please con

Jan Vertonghen has been ruled out for over two months through injury and this leaves Pochettino with a dilemma defensively. Vertonghen has been integral in the success of the back three, supporting the play down the inside-left channel when Spurs have had sustained possession, and is one of the league’s best defenders.

While Kevin Wimmer presents a good backup option, Pochettino may favour adding a body to the midfield against City and reverting back to a four-man backline.

West Brom need a happy Salomon Rondon

As reported by The Daily Mirror, the real reason Salomon Rondon is unhappy and out of form right now has nothing to do with a big money offer from China.

What’s the story?

Salomon Rondon is bang out of form right now and West Brom badly need him to start performing or risk dropping into the bottom half of the table.

The Mirror report that despite being the subject of a £32m bid from Chinese side Tianjin Quanjin, that’s not the reason he’s unhappy right now.

Quoted by the paper, West Brom boss Tony Pulis said:

There’s lots of stuff going on around Salomon and I’ve got to make sure he’s focused. It’s not football stuff. It’s nothing to do with the speculation. It’s a personal thing to do with his family back in Venezuela.

Baggies fans will be hoping the big striker can sort out his personal problems, first and foremost for his benefit, but of course also be eager to see him start banging in goals again.

With the Chinese Super League transfer window not shut until the February, The Mirror say West Brom are concerned Tianjin Quanjin come back in with a higher offer.

Britain Soccer Football – Arsenal v West Bromwich Albion – Premier League – Emirates Stadium – 26/12/16 Arsenal’s Petr Cech saves a shot from West Bromwich Albion’s Salomon Rondon Reuters / Toby Melville Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representat

What’s he capable of?

Rondon had a good start to the season, scoring seven goals in his first seventeen matches this term. His good form culminated in a superb performance against Swansea at The Hawthorns when he fired a hat-trick past the visitors.

He hasn’t contributed to a goal since, an eight game streak that West Brom fans are desperate to see end.

There’s no doubting that the club’s record signing has what it takes to be an excellent Premier League striker, as Pulis said, it’s all about keeping him focused on the task at hand.

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HYS: Liverpool vs. Spurs – Who will win?

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?

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Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s Man United future is in doubt

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.

Britain Soccer Football – Leicester City v Manchester United – Premier League – King Power Stadium – 5/2/17 Manchester United’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrates scoring their second goal with Henrikh Mkhitaryan Reuters / Darren Staples Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please co

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.

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Exclusive: 88% of fans think Drogba is the best Chelsea striker ever

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!

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In Focus: Unhappy Everton striker eyed by European giants; Toffees must stand firm

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 hit with three-game ban, fans react

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.

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Three reasons Everton should cash in on Ross Barkley this summer

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

Britain Football Soccer – Everton v Sunderland – Premier League – Goodison Park – 25/2/17 Everton’s Ross Barkley walks past manager Ronald Koeman as he is substituted Action Images via Reuters / Carl Recine Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account represen

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.

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

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