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Loads of Everton fans have been slamming Andre Gomes as the Liverpool Echo highlighted some quite damning stats about the Portugal international.

As per the news outlet, he has not managed to record a single shot on target for the Goodison Park faithful since the 2018/19 term.

While his primary job is not to score goals, it is still a pretty alarming statistic considering that midfield players like him should be looking to take some of the burden off of the strikers.

Gomes did not have the best of games in his last outing versus Newcastle United in the Merseyside club’s 2-1 loss in the Premier League over the weekend, and there may now be some calls for the 27-year old to be dropped if he does not improve on his performances.

Everton fan reaction to Gomes stat

These EFC supporters slammed Gomes after reading the damning stat on Twitter, with one Toffee even claiming that he is a ‘poor’ player:

In other news, find out why this Blues star returning to training is ‘great news’ here!

The first day of the 2020-21 Premier League season is on Saturday 29 August, when Premier League champions Liverpool take on FA Cup winners Arsenal at Wembley Stadium in the Community Shield Final.

The Community Shield often gets overlooked and compared to a glorified pre-season friendly match, though no team wants to miss out on adding any type of silverware to their trophy cabinet. Last year, the Reds narrowly missed out on winning the Community Shield, as they fell short to Manchester City. This year, Liverpool are the defending Premier League champions and are certain favourites to triumph this time around.

The final will be held at Wembley on August 29, and it will kick-off at 16:30. There has been many rumours and speculation as to whether or not some fans will be allowed back into the stadium for the final as part of the plan to bring fans back to stadiums nationally. Of course, this would mean they would have to keep socially distanced from one another, and chants may not even be allowed to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

This match will be a great test for both Mikel Arteta and Jurgen Klopp who are currently strengthening their squads ready for the new campaign. Despite it being a final, it is the perfect place to try-out new formations and give new players the opportunity to show what they bring to the team in a competitive game.

The Community Shield will be followed by a short international break from 2-10 September, which leads to the start of the new Premier League season on 12 September.

It has been announced by the FA that Andre Marriner will referee the match at Wembley for the second time in his career.

Not many know this, but both Liverpool and Arsenal have won the Community Shield 15 times each so this year’s final does come with some bragging rights. Manchester United are the only club to have won the trophy more times – 21. The Gunners last won the final in 2017, whereas the Reds were last successful after their FA Cup win in 2006.

Arsenal are eyeing up young French talent Georginio Rutter from Rennes as a potential new option in attack.

According to L’Equipe (via Get Football News France), the Gunners are amongst several parties interested in snapping up the 18-year-old prospect. Newcastle and AC Milan are also said to be monitoring his situation.

Rutter currently has just 12 months left on his contract with Rennes, but he is not against remaining in France. The report states that the teenager wants be assured that he will see some game time if he extends his stay with the club.

The striker made the transition from the reserve team to senior level this summer and could be viewed as an important fringe player. Rutter made four youth appearances last season and scored one goal (via Transfermarkt).

If Arsenal are keen on bringing Rutter to the Emirates, it’s likely he won’t command too high a transfer fee. Although, his arrival could be competition for fellow young attacker Eddie Nketiah.

Despite the Gunners boasting Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette up front, the 21-year-old England youth international hasn’t been short of game time.

Nketiah played 82 minutes of the Community Shield fixture against Liverpool and he made 13 Premier League appearances last season, scoring two goals.

Mikel Arteta already has young players like of Reiss Nelson and Gabriel Martinelli who have impressed on the wing, adding Rutter could provide some healthy competition between him and fellow striker Nketiah.

Would you like to see Arsenal sign Georginio Rutter? Have your say in the comments below…

Tottenham are working on a deal for Southampton star Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, according to Foot Mercato, as relayed by Ricky Sacks. 

According to @Santi_J_FM, Spurs have already made an offer for Hojbjerg, who was stripped of the Saints captaincy by Ralph Hasenhuttl. Tottenham have been chasing Hojbjerg for several months after Jose Mourinho identified him as a top transfer target, via Sky Sports.

The Times reported that Southampton are holding out for £35m for their former captain, even though Spurs had hoped he would be available for £20m. It is worth pointing out that the Lilywhites spent £53.8m on the club’s record signing Tanguy Ndombele last year.

Spurs are now in negotiations with the Denmark midfielder’s representative Pini Zahavi to reach an agreement to finalise the transfer.

Mourinho has paid close attention to Hojbjerg’s performances over the past couple of years. The Dane, who previously played for Bayern Munich, has made 30 appearances for the Saints this season, supplying one assist, winning 2.6 tackles per game, averaging 1.5 interceptions and completing 1.6 clearances on average (via WhoScored).

Zahavi, who orchestrated Neymar’s world-record transfer from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain, is widely credited with bringing Mourinho to England in the first place. The pair have a strong working relationship which may work in Daniel Levy’s favour.

Mourinho is well aware that he will be restricted by a tight budget in the upcoming window as the Lilywhites wrestle with the financial repercussions of the coronavirus crisis.

While Southampton’s asking price should be more than affordable, as Levy splashed the cash to sign Ndombele last summer, clubs are operating in unprecedented circumstances. As it stands, fans will have to wait and see what deals can be made before the transfer market closes.

Tottenham fans, should Daniel Levy sign Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in the summer? Let us know in the comments section below!

Leeds United’s promotion has put them in a power position in the transfer window for the first time in 16 years.

No longer do they have to worry about the big boys coming in and cherry-picking their top players, with their promotion meaning they can take their pick of some of the EFL’s best players.

They’ve already been linked with Said Benrahma and Ollie Watkins, but now they’re reportedly after an attacking talent from a recently relegated side in the shape of Bournemouth’s David Brooks.

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It shouldn’t be all that surprising to see Leeds linked with the Bournemouth man, considering Bielsa personally watched the Cherries’ game against Everton, in which Brooks started.

The Welshman was a revelation during his first season at the Vitality Stadium, contributing to 12 goals in 30 games, despite being 21 years old when he signed.

His performances have seen the Cherries hope to get up to as much as £40m for the Welshman.

Unfortunately, the youngster’s development has been hampered by injury this term, starting just eight games, but there’s no denying the quality he has shown thus far in his career.

One of the best things about Brooks is how efficient he is, he’s not one to miss 10 shots for every goal he scores or set up half chances that aren’t finished, he scores and assists at a remarkable rate for his underlying stats.

He averaged just 1.4 shots per game on his way to seven goals last term, and he still managed to get five assists, despite only putting up one key pass a game.

Compare this to Leeds’ Helder Costa, who managed just four goals and four assists on more shots and key passes per game in a worse division, and you can see that efficiency has been Leeds’ biggest problem, and that’s reflected in their xG.

Bielsa’s style of play will inevitably create chances, United have dominated the xG table all year, but that finishing touch and final ball have sometimes lacked, but if Brooks is signed that problem may be alleviated slightly.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

As quoted by Sky Sports, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has declared the club have moved past their “sticky patch” this season.

What did he say?

The Red Devils endured a miserable start to the season, falling to humiliating defeats to the likes of Crystal Palace and Newcastle in the Premier League. But following their seismic triumphs over rivals Tottenham and Manchester City in the space of a week, the momentum has well and truly shifted at Old Trafford, with the side now up into fifth in the top-flight.

And now, Solskjaer has insisted that the Red Devils have come out the other side feeling re-energised by what they have been through, and stated his belief in his team has never wavered.

He said: “Consistency is vital in football if you’re going to win trophies and this young team need to learn how to put on performances when they don’t feel like it, when they don’t feel great. That’s a learning curve and I’m sure these young boys in the next couple of years will improve and hopefully for the rest of the season.

“We’ve come through a sticky patch with bad injuries and bad results and we’re looking brighter now. Results are the proof in the end but inside we’ve always believed what we are doing. There’s going to be ups and downs but we are on the right track. I see these boys every single day in training and what their attitude is, as well as the skills and the quality they’ve got, so I’ve not been that worried.”

Too soon

More than anything, the two wins over Spurs and City have given Solskjaer some much-needed breathing room. The Norwegian’s long-term future at the club was supposedly under threat, with reports even suggesting that he was fighting for his job at Old Trafford. But in defeating two big sides, the cloud hovering above the club has lifted somewhat.

Quickfire Questions: Can you get 100% on this Man United prodigies quiz?

Whilst Solskjaer is quite strong in claiming that he believes the club have overcome their rough period, the tough Christmas schedule will really test that statement. The Red Devils have been excellent in big games under their Norwegian manager, with the City win giving him an overall record against the big six as: played 13, won seven, drawn four and lost just two. It is against the sides United are expected to beat that they have encountered some trouble, so the next few weeks will be key to determining whether they really have turned the corner.

Meanwhile, Manchester United fans have been raving about transfer links to this midfielder who starred in the Champions League last season.

Tottenham are ‘certain’ to make a move for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in the summer after the Southampton star was recently stripped of the captaincy by Ralph Hasenhuttl. 

Last month, Hojbjerg made it clear that he wants to play at “an even higher level than I already am” amid interest from Spurs and Everton. As a result, Hasenhuttl swiftly removed the captain’s armband from him and has promoted James Ward-Prowse ahead of the Premier League game against Norwich this evening.

Sky Sports revealed earlier this year that Jose Mourinho indicated that the Dane is at the top of his summer shortlist. The Saints will reportedly demand £35m for their former captain, according to The Times, while the Lilywhites had hoped he would be available for about £20m.

After impressing at St Mary’s Stadium, Hojbjerg has been on the coach’s radar for a number of months. The Danish international, who previously played for Bayern Munich, has made 28 appearances for Hasenhuttl’s side this season, providing one assist, winning 2.4 tackles per game, averaging 1.5 interceptions and successfully completing 1.7 clearances per game on average (via WhoScored).

According to Ekstra Bladet, as relayed by Sport Witness, Tottenham will launch a bid for the midfielder in the summer. However, the Danish tabloid confirmed that Southampton are still holding out for their original valuation. Hojbjerg is an international teammate of former White Hart Lane favourite Christian Eriksen.

Mourinho has been informed he will be restricted by a tight budget when the transfer market opens as Spurs reel from the financial repercussions of the coronavirus crisis.

Although their asking price should be more than affordable, as Daniel Levy previously signed Tanguy Ndombele for a club record fee of £53.8m, clubs are operating in uncertain times. Therefore, fans will have to wait and see what deals can be made before the start of next season.

Tottenham fans, should Levy sign Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in the summer? Let us know in the comments below!

This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more… 

Gaetano Berardi started against Luton on Saturday and his performance showed that he is a dependable figure for Marcelo Bielsa to call upon in times of need.

On the chalkboard

Leeds are short on defensive numbers currently and have typically relied on Ben White and captain Liam Cooper to start this season, though with the latter not fully fit on Saturday it was the Swiss who got the call.

Berardi is a player who causes uproar amongst the Leeds fanbase. He can be as erratic as he is reliable, with a red card always a potential outcome for the man who has been sent off more times for the Whites than any other player.

Him starting games is a risk for some supporters who oppose him playing, but he repaid his manager with an astute defensive display last time out, helping to limit the opposition to just one goal with four tackles in the hour he spent on the pitch.

The centre-back also managed one clearance and one block, but it is also worth noting that Leeds have lost just one match out of the ten league games he has appeared in – away at Millwall when he only played 14 minutes.

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Reliable back-up?

This term Bielsa seems to have preferred quality over quantity, and that means there is a lack of depth in the striking and defensive positions.

That could act as a concern for a team who need to be at their best for a full season if they are to win promotion, particularly if the first-choice personnel are unavailable.

In defence, it is of concern because Berardi is viewed as an unreliable option, but he is beginning to prove that the Argentine was right to stand by him after his red card against Millwall.

He kept a tight grasp on James Collins and Harry Cornick for most of the game, limiting them to a combined three shots on target, and therefore the knock he picked up in the second half is an issue for the management.

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It means that unless Cooper is deemed fit enough to start, Leeds’ only natural fit centre-back available will be a 22-year-old, and Bielsa may have to draft in Luke Ayling to deal with the threat of Reading on Tuesday.

That shows that Berardi is a more important member of the team than some give him credit for, and if he can continue acting as a solid back-up then he will most likely be appreciated by the end of the campaign.

Ayling, too, has been underperforming recently. Here we discuss whether he deserves to start against Reading and the decision Bielsa should make.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

Liverpool have relied on several stars over the past 18 months in their various pursuits of glory.

Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah, for example, have been fantastic in front of goal. Last term, they bagged 68 strikes between them in all competitions, whilst the Senegal and Egypt international even shared the Premier League Golden Boot, along with Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, in the previous campaign. Virgil van Dijk, too, has earned himself a lot of headlines, and even finished second in the Ballon d’Or rankings for 2019.

Whilst those players deserve all the credit they receive, the unsung heroes in the squad also merit praise for the way they have contributed to Jurgen Klopp’s team. Such as James Milner, for example. Under the former Borussia Dortmund manager, the 33-year-old has made 187 appearances, scoring 24 goals and providing an impressive 38 assists. Not only that, he has played in a variety of different positions for his boss, including left-back, central midfield and at right-back, showing his versatility and commitment to the cause.

In a recent interview with The Guardian, Liverpool’s assistant manager Pep Lijnders shared an anecdote illustrating how the 61-time former England international has inspired him.

He explained: “The five-v-two rondo is a good example. It’s actually called Milly’s rondo now, after I got inspired by James Milner, because he always intercepted the ball within the first few passes. He was really quick and brought the focus of the rondo to another level.

“I was like: ‘How can I come up with a rule that everyone will execute with his kind of intensity?’ So I gave an extra incentive for the two players in the middle if they would intervene within the first six passes. So I told Milly: ‘This is your idea!’ The other players loved it.”

Often under-appreciated by portions of the club’s fanbase, this shows just how important Milner is to the Liverpool squad. He is the model professional, and has the strongest desire to win even in the twilight of his career. What would Klopp do without him?

We may soon find out the answer. The former Leeds man’s contract is up at the end of this current campaign, meaning that he could talk with other clubs as early as January. Whilst he is not getting any younger, his experience and work-rate can still be an inspiration for his teammates just like it is for the coaching staff. Klopp’s concentration will likely be 100% focused on the title race, but those in the higher positions should be looking to get Milner tied down to a new deal as soon as possible.

In other news, Stephen Warnock says Liverpool could miss out on signing world star because of his Ballon d’Or aspirations.

After returning from an almost two-month injury lay-off against Liverpool, Anthony Martial announced his comeback to the Manchester United side with a series of impressive goal-scoring displays.

The France international netted the winner against Partizan Belgrade, and got on the score-sheet in the comfortable win against Norwich too. But against Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon in the Premier League, the 23-year-old didn’t look anywhere near best.

As per Sofascore, the forward had just one shot on target and 27 touches over the course of the 90 minutes, and finished with a match rating of 6.6 – the worst of any United player who completed the full game.

After seeing the Frenchman’s display, fans of the Manchester side flooded to Twitter to voice their thoughts about their number nine.

Many Red Devils supporters questioned his work ethic and insisted he simply doesn’t put in the hard yards to be a top-level striker for the club.

Check out some of the reaction of United fans below: