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A number of Liverpool supporters have been reacting to the Reds’ starting lineup to face Aston Villa.

The Premier League champions are back in action on Saturday afternoon, as they look to respond after their midweek defeat away to Real Madrid.

Jurgen Klopp’s men host a Villa side who also have top-four aspirations, highlighting the importance of the outcome at Anfield.

Not only that, but Liverpool are looking to stop a shocking run of six home defeats in a row – something that nobody would have predicted last summer.

Klopp has named his starting XI to take on Villa, with the German making two changes to the team that lost to Madrid.

Alisson continues in goal, while Trent Alexander-Arnold, Nathaniel Phillips, Ozan Kabak and Andy Robertson make up the back-line.

In midfield, Fabinho is joined by James Milner and Gini Wijnaldum, while Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino start in attack, meaning Sadio Mane is left out.

Liverpool fans react to XI to face Aston Villa

These Liverpool fans have been providing their thoughts on the team on Twitter, with Mane’s omission the main talking point.

“Think it’s the right call to take Mane out today. Ben Davies makes the bench with Neco Williams and Origi still out”

Credit: @JackSear

“Good. Needs a rest & has been poor in recent times”

Credit: @hayb81

“Not surprised to see Sadio Mane left out of the starting XI for LFC. Needs a rest and good for Jurgen Klopp to have an option to turn to off the bench if he needs one”

Credit: @MattAddison97

“About time”

Credit: @SteMcP

“Mane just had to be left out. Correct call”

Credit: @HenryJackson87

“Oh man. I don’t mind the line-up too much but again why would you leave Thiago on the bench?? And thank God that Mane guy was dropped. I really can’t stand seeing him play rn. Let’s get this win boys!!!”

Credit: @I_Am_Artanis

In other news, some Liverpool fans have been showing their support for one Reds player – find out who it is here.

Many Arsenal fans have been left to fume at some comments made by Bernd Leno before their UEFA Europa League tie away at Slavia Prague.

Speaking in the pre-game press conference ahead of the match, the Germany international said that he is ‘open to everything’, and added ‘maybe for a new adventure’ when asked about his future at the Emirates Stadium.

The fact that he has not ruled out leaving Mikel Arteta’s team has angered several members of the Gunners faithful, with some even going as far as to question whether they sold the wrong goalkeeper in Emi Martinez, who is now thriving at Aston Villa.

Leno could be questioned for not being 100% committed to the North London club at this moment in time after these words, and Gooners will be hoping that that does not translate onto the pitch as they face a crucial second leg in Prague off the back of being held 1-1 at home in the first meeting.

Arsenal fans on Leno comments

These AFC fans fumed upon reading the comments made by Leno on Twitter, with one even going as far as to claim that the 29-year-old is a ‘fraud’:

“He hasn’t earned the right to talk like this”

Credit: @jamser428

“Pls. Average at best GK!!!”

Credit: @arsenalmad37

“Emi always clear than this fraud”

Credit: @AyZhar_

“What a weird and non-committal thing to say about a club that has shown so much faith to you”

Credit: @thegoonersnews

“Bin him immediately. Another overhyped player not good enough for Arsenal.”

Credit: @Matteo_Olie

“Get rid.. poor attitude”

Credit: @chadfoster_9

In other news, find out what Arteta update from Fabrizio Romano has been slammed by Gunners here!

As another season draws to a close, yet more speculation surrounds Wolves manager Nuno Santo.

The Portuguese ace has been linked with Arsenal in the past but is now viewed as one of the successors to Jose Mourinho at Tottenham.

What’s the word?

According to The Daily Mail, Wolves have begun drawing up contingency plans should Nuno leave Molineux in the not too distant future.

They are busy identifying candidates and are preparing for the possibility of soldiering on without their long-serving head coach.

Nuno has been in the Wolves dug-out since 2017 but with interest emerging from elsewhere once more, they have drawn up a couple of names already.

The report states that one option is former Porto boss Vitor Pereira while ex-Benfica manager Bruno Lage is also in the mix.

Rui Faria, once assistant manager to Mourinho, is in the frame too.

Faria can fix a big problem

One of the largest issues at play in Wolves’ season has been a number of colossal injury blows.

Jonny missed a large portion at the start of the campaign with an ACL injury while the Spaniard is now undergoing rehab on the same issue that will keep him out for the best part of a year.

Pedro Neto is also due to miss the next six months with a broken knee cap, joining Raul Jimenez on the sidelines. The Mexican hasn’t been seen since November when he fractured his skull.

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There have also been injuries to Marcal; a player who missed several weeks with a groin problem and Daniel Podence. He has had three separate issues with his shoulder, thigh and abductor muscle.

Nuno has preferred to opt with a small squad and in recent years, it’s served him well. They’ve not suffered many fitness issues but clearly, that’s come back to bite them in 2020/21. Wolves sit in the bottom half of the table and could now lose their manager too.

However, by appointing someone like Faria, it could be highly beneficial for the health of the Old Gold squad.

That’s because the 45-year-old’s background is as a fitness coach. When Mourinho was given his first job in management at Leiria in 2001, Faria was quickly appointed as the Portuguese’s fitness manager and analyst.

It was at Porto where his knowledge really paid off. He won the Champions League as Mourinho’s assistant and the Special One owed his companion a lot of thanks.

Faria had a crucial role to play with Porto applying a high-pressure line that relied on strong athletes. Detailed training reports were published on the club’s website at a similar time which included details of their exercise philosophies and how each method was important to how the side plays.

Faria became one of Mourinho’s most loved disciples. He followed him to Chelsea, to Inter Milan, to Real Madrid and finally Manchester United as his assistant.

When the coach finally went off in search of his own managerial gig, Mourinho said: “Training, playing, travelling, studying, laughing and also a few tears of happiness. 17 years and the kid is now a man. The intelligent student is now a football expert, ready for a successful career as a manager.”

Speaking in 2015, Mourinho claimed there were a lot of similarities between the two: “But if one day I have to choose my successor, if you want to use that, the one that I really feel thinks like me, is adapted to my way of lead, he’s adapted to my way of coaching, he’s the one with more similarities with me even in some traces of personality, is my assistant, Rui Faria.”

He had one spell with Al-Duhail in Qatar but is now out of management. Though, judging by his expertise when it comes to fitness and physical education, he could be crucial in developing training methods that don’t cripple the body.

For Wolves’ small squad, this has the potential to be game-changing.

AND in other news, Imagine him & Neves: Wolves must sign £30m “weapon” this summer, he’s Nuno’s dream…

Celtic’s hopes of ending the season in the strongest way possible have been dealt an almighty blow.

The Bhoys went crashing out of the cup last weekend and they will now finish a season without a trophy for the first time in a decade.

What didn’t help last weekend was that James Forrest was ruled out of the clash.

Speaking in the build-up to the game John Kennedy revealed that they’d leave it late in terms of his fitness. However, he failed a late test and missed the defeat to Rangers.

Unfortunately, they will be without Forrest again on Wednesday when the Hoops face Aberdeen.

It would appear that the winger is still yet to recover from an injury problem but if there is one consolation, he should be back at the weekend.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday afternoon, the interim manager commented: “Out with that, James Forrest will still be missing for this midweek, but will hopefully be fine afterwards.”

Celtic may not have anything to play for but after the dismal way in which they lost to their biggest rivals a few days ago, being without Forrest again is a bitter pill to swallow.

They can only lust after his goal-scoring antics and ability to create. Odsonne Edouard and Mo Elyounoussi missed golden chances to score last Sunday, opportunities which Forrest surely would have lapped up.

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He scored 16 times last season, providing 22 assists for his teammates in the process. With Forrest suffering from an injury since September, missing a player with that kind of record has clearly had a big say in the title race.

Forrest has already made a pretty big impact since coming back into the fray, scoring against Falkirk in the cup and against Livingston.

To have him absent from the squad again just about sums up their torrid campaign. Kennedy and the supporters must be cursing their luck.

He is such an imperative part of what Celtic have become in the last decade; they need him fit and firing as soon as possible.

AND in other news, Exciting twist emerges in Celtic manager hunt, Desmond could now perform a big U-turn…

A big claim has been dropped on the potential takeover of Newcastle United involving Jamie Reuben.

Reuben is part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) group looking to take over at St. James’ Park from Mike Ashley, and a spokesperson for him has spoken to The Guardian in light of the news that he has donated £700,000 to the Conservative Party in the past.

The spokesperson has told the news outlet that Reuben has not contacted Prime Minister Boris Johnson about the proposed deal between the consortium and Ashley after the Daily Mail had reported that Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), who is also part of the group, had contacted Mr Johnson with the hope of trying to push the bid through.

Nonetheless, the spokesperson has insisted no such contact took place, at least not involving Reuben: “We’re not denying that Jamie has a relationship with Boris Johnson and they talk, but Jamie is quite specific that he hasn’t contacted or talked to him or Lord Lister about the Newcastle deal.”

What next for the potential Newcastle takeover?

Reuben will seemingly still want the potential takeover of the Tyneside club pushed through if possible, but there are many steps in the way in order for this to happen.

The Magpies need to find out the results of their pending arbitration case against the Premier League over the failed deal, and the KSA’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) need to come back to the table to have any hope of reviving the original bid.

Nonetheless, it is interesting to hear that Reuben has not contacted the PM over the proposed takeover, and fans will have to hope his spokesperson is telling the truth – if it is revealed that the financier is pressuring a politician who he has personally donated towards, it would be extremely easy for the Premier League to paint a picture of corruption in the pending arbitration case.

In other news, find out what big Toon transfer update has been dropped here!

Former Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie has told Football FanCast in an exclusive interview that it would be a negative step for his old side to sell John McGinn to West Ham this summer.

McGinn is currently being linked with a move to the London Stadium, with West Ham insider ExWHUemployee (via Hammers News) claiming Moyes is keen on the player.

Hendrie, though, has warned Villa that they must keep hold of their good players if they are to build on what has been a decent season for the club.

McGinn joined the Villans from Hibernian back in 2018 in a deal that is said to have cost the club just £2m.

Speaking exclusively to FFC about West Ham’s reported interest in the 26-year-old midfielder, Hendrie said:

“Villa need to keep hold of players that they’ve got, good players that they’ve got, and build on that. So I feel that’d be such a negative if they sold John McGinn, but money talks and West Ham [are] possibly entering into the Champions League.”

Even with Champions League football, it may still be difficult for West Ham to get McGinn out of Villa Park in the next transfer window.

The Scotland international signed a contract extension until 2025 last year, leaving his current club in a strong position.

Former Leeds United midfielder Carlton Palmer has told Football FanCast in an exclusive interview that moving to Elland Road and linking up with Marceloa Bielsa in the Premier League is the place to be amid interest in Ryan Kent.

The Sun are reporting that Bielsa is keen on signing the 24-year-old for the Whites this summer, and bringing him back to England in a potential £15m deal.

Rangers, of course, were just crowned Scottish Premiership champions and will have the chance to compete in the Champions League next season, perhaps giving Kent, who was described as a “wonderful player” by Jurgen Klopp back in 2018, a reason to stay at Ibrox.

Palmer, however, believes the chance to play in the Premier League is an opportunity that is too good to turn down.

When asked by FFC whether Leeds would be able to lure Kent away from Rangers, the ex-Leeds player said:

“Listen, Champions League or no Champions League, the place to play is in the Premier League. If he got the opportunity to go and play in the Premier League, I’m sure he’ll go and play in the Premier League.

“He’s got maybe an opportunity to play in the Premier League. For me, as a manager, as a player, the place to be now or the place to play is in the English Premier League.”

With Kent being a player rated highly by his manager Steven Gerrard, Rangers will be desperate to retain his services.

Earlier this season, the Gers boss tipped the English winger to reach new heights after starting the 2020/21 campaign strongly.

According to a report by Italian newspaper Tuttosport, via Sport Witness, Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City are both in a race for Lazio boss Simone Inzaghi as the Premier League duo display managerial interest.

The Lowdown: Inzaghi emerges as Spurs candidate

As yet another coach becomes touted with the Tottenham vacancy, Inzaghi has only entered the fray as an option very recently.

Indeed, whispers surrounding the 45-year-old have emerged this week with odds touting him as a new favourite to replace the departed Jose Mourinho (football.london).

He joins the long list of Italians linked to Spurs alongside Maurizio Sarri, Gian Piero Gasperini, Antonio Conte and Massimiliano Allegri (via TEAMtalk)

The Latest: Spurs and Leicester in race for Inzaghi

Now, bringing the latest, Tuttosport claim that Inzaghi is of interest to both Tottenham and Leicester as the two clubs enter a race for his possible appointment.

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Indeed, Lazio’s boss is said to be attracting the Premier League duo whilst he reflects on his future in the Italian capital – with the former Italy international still yet to make a firm decision.

It is believed by Tuttosport that Inzaghi will sit down with club president Claudio Lotito and discuss it at the end of the season.

The Verdict: The best outside candidate yet?

Inzaghi has garnered absolutely no shortage of praise since taking over at Lazio from Marcelo Bielsa back in 2016.

Being likened to Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp by striker Ciro Immobile, who called Inzaghi ‘very similar’ due their motivational skills (Football Italia), he’s also been called ‘one of the best coaches in Europe’ by FIFA agent Claudio Anellucci (TUTTOmercatoWEB).

A fan favourite at Lazio, he has also clinched silverware with the club – winning one Coppa Italia and two Supercoppa Italianas over nearly half a decade in charge.

Arguably falling into the category of a young and dynamic coach allegedly wanted by technical performance director Steve Hitchen (The Daily Mail), he could a great option for Tottenham.

In other news: Levy in pole position to sign this powerhouse, find out more here.

In an exclusive interview with The Transfer Tavern, David Norris, who made 36 appearances for Leeds United, has claimed that it appears as though Gaetano Berardi will eventually be leaving Elland Road this summer.

Berardi has been with Leeds since he signed from Sampdoria in 2014 and he has gone onto make 155 appearances for the Lilywhites, which includes 22 in their Championship-winning season.

The Switzerland international has missed much of the 2020/21 campaign after injuring his ACL against Derby County back in July, but despite that he was handed a new one-year contract in October 2020, which is due to expire next month.

Speaking on how it appears to be the end for Berardi at Leeds and how fans will be sad to see him leave this summer, Norris exclusively told The Transfer Tavern:

“I think it looks like it’s coming to an end, which is a shame. He came into the club when I was there and he was someone who looked like he could handle the pace and make it last at Leeds.

“I know Leeds fans love him and he loves the place so it will be a real shame, but it just looks like it is one of those things that is coming to a natural end and he’ll move on.”

The £32, 308 per week defender arrived when Leeds appeared to have no hope of making it in the Premier League back in 2014, but players like Berardi with the fight and desire to play for the badge have helped get them to where they are now.

Leeds will be looking to add more quality to their squad this summer as they will want to push on next season and achieve more than just a top-half finish.

Rangers have been tipped to sign Liverpool winger Harry Wilson this summer, but their hopes of bringing him to Ibrox ahead of next season have suffered a blow after the Anfield outfit named their asking price, which will surely frustrate Steven Gerrard.

In a recent interview with This Is Futbol, former Rangers defender Michael Ball suggested: “Steven’s got that connection with him. He knows of him, so that personal relationship could be a bonus. The money, we’re not too sure what they have to spend, so it all depends if any players move out as well at Rangers.

“If [Alfredo] Morelos moves on, the big money that they’ll get would give Rangers the opportunity to bring Harry and maybe a few others in.”

Rangers have been linked with a move for the Wales international in the past and he will surely be well known by Gerrard, who managed Liverpool’s under-18 side before moving to Ibrox.

However, Wilson is now 24 and at the stage in his career where he needs to move away from Liverpool permanently, as he has spent the last four years on loan with Hull City, Derby County, Bournemouth and Cardiff City.

During his spell with the Cherries last season, his manager Eddie Howe was full of praise for the winger’s ability, saying: “I think he’s been hugely impressive.

“We are going to need those players to really step up quickly and Harry is one of those who really has done.

“He understands how we play. He has picked it up really quickly and full credit to him for that.”

This season saw Wilson join Cardiff City on loan in the Championship, which was perhaps a surprising move after his decent return in the Premier League last season, but it was clear that he was desperate for first team football away from Anfield.

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During his spell with Mick McCarthy’s Bluebirds, he managed seven goals and 11 assists in 37 appearances, averaging a solid 6.96 rating from WhoScored, which certainly suggests that he could be an excellent addition to Gerrard’s side if he moves to Ibrox.

Unfortunately, Rangers’ chances of signing the Welshman this summer appear to have been dashed after it was revealed by The Athletic journalist James Pearce that, whilst he is for sale this summer, he would cost prospective suitors around £15m, which may well mean that only Premier League clubs can afford him.

Considering that Rangers’ record arrival under Steven Gerrard was Ryan Kent, who joined for just short of £7m according to Transfermarkt, it is difficult to see them splashing out £15m on Wilson.

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Gerrard will surely be frustrated that his old club are demanding so much for a fringe player like Wilson, as he could have been a superb addition at Ibrox this summer.

In other news… Rangers dodged a bullet with “outstanding” £3.15m-rated flop, he’s scored one goal in 19 games.