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Jurgen Klopp is adamant that Liverpool won’t be dipping too much into the transfer market during January.

The Reds strengthened heavily during the summer window with Klopp addressing major areas of weakness in the squad. Liverpool invested heavily and are currently unbeaten in the Premier League. Klopp is still helping Naby Keita and Fabinho adapt to life on Merseyside while Xherdan Shaqiri has slotted in seamlessly and looks to be one of the bargain buys of the summer.

The German has opted to spend big in January in the past and perhaps he could be tempted to open his chequebook for the right player. With Manchester City looking unbeatable at the moment, one more marquee signing could give Liverpool the boost they need to catch the Citizens in the Premier League title race.

One man that Klopp should be targeting is Lyon man Houssem Aouar. Valued at £31.5m by Transfermarkt, the Frenchman is a key player for Lyon despite being just 20-years-old. The youngster made 32 appearances in Ligue 1 last year, ending the season with six goals and five assists.

Following an extraordinary start to the new campaign, Aouar should be the man that Klopp looks to lure to Anfield. In just 13 Ligue 1 appearances, the youngster already has five goals and one assist to his name. Aouar has also excelled on the European stage with three assists in his opening four Champions League appearances.

The midfielder is perfectly suited to Premier League football and would slot seamlessly into Klopp’s 4-3-3 system at Anfield. With fantastic technical ability, vision and technique, Aouar would be the ideal partner for Naby Keita in the heart of midfield. Under Klopp’s tutelage, the youngster could develop into one of the world’s best midfielders.

Losing out on a deal for Nabil Fekir was a blow in the summer, but Liverpool fans would quickly forget about the World Cup winner by securing his team-mate’s signature.

Liverpool fans, thoughts?

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Six years on from his arrival in North London, few Arsenal fans would dispute that the Mesut Ozil narrative is getting a little tedious.

It feels like we’ve all evolved from the superficial but recurring analysis of the World Cup winner’s reluctance to tackle and track back being at the root of Arsenal’s struggles, even if it did unfortunately symbolise some of the team’s most fundamental flaws under Arsene Wenger, and yet, new developments in a subplot that has persisted throughout the former Real Madrid man’s time in the Premier League keep on appearing.

Last Sunday, as Arsenal fought hard to beat an in-form Bournemouth side at the Vitality Stadium, Ozil was forced to settle for watching from the bench. Seemingly only included in the squad for scenarios of genuine extremis, Arsenal didn’t even need the former German international as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang netted in the 67th minute what later proved to be the winner.

Modern football is a squad game and there’s certainly nothing wrong with choosing the right player for the right occasion, or more accurately in this case leaving out the wrong player for the wrong occasion. The problem though, is that Ozil’s a world-class talent when at his best and the highest-earning player at the club.

Which team is the dominant force in London right now? Playmaker FC’s Tom Skinner has a very unpopular opinion on the matter. Check it out in the video below…

If somebody earning £350k per week isn’t the right fit for an away game against a mid-table Premier League club, the kind of game Arsenal should be winning, then can he really justify such a gigantic wage package?

Likewise, if Arsenal are capable of beating Bournemouth – a very talented side with the most goals of any club outside the top five so far this term – in their own back yard without Ozil, then do they really need him at all?

Come the end of their first season working together at Arsenal, that’s a tough decision Emery, Head of Recruitment Sven Mislintat and Head of Football Relations Raul Sanlleh will need to make. But the more immediate issue is Emery’s explanation for excluding Ozil from starting XI last weekend.

There’s nothing wrong with the explanation itself. In fact, it’s incredibly astute and refreshingly pragmatic after so many years of Wenger’s tactical inflexibility. Bournemouth have shown time and again this season that they have the speed and intensity to rip apart even the best teams on the break – only Leicester City have scored more than their three counter-attack goals in the Premier League.

Ozil has never been one for sprinting towards his own goal and against a side as well organised, quick and potent as Bournemouth, that could be incredibly costly. In fact, even without Ozil, Bournemouth punished Arsenal all the same as Josh King’s opener came from a move of flowing back-to-front football, as David Brooks sprinted from his own box to the Gunners’ in order to slide in the Norway striker.

Perhaps then, Emery’s decision to bench Ozil was already justified in first half stoppage time by Bournemouth’s equaliser, but the Arsenal gaffer’s explanation sets a curious precedent. If Bournemouth were seen as too intense and physical for Ozil, then where exactly does Emery draw the line? Is this Sunday’s North London derby not going to be an incredibly intense and physical game as well? Is Emery therefore going to bench his highest earner again, this time for one of the biggest fixtures on Arsenal’s calendar?

Of course, the dynamics of Sunday’s game will be different. Arsenal are always strong at the Emirates Stadium, even last season finishing second in the Premier League’s home table, and Ozil’s best form under Emery has come there as well – the venue responsible for three of the four top flight goals he’s been involved in this term. Likewise, the game should be more open than Sunday’s, at least in patches, as Tottenham will look to make a statement.

And yet, Tottenham showed against Chelsea only last weekend just how intense and physical they can be. If Emery believes Ozil struggles to handle that kind of pressure, then surely he has doubts over the 30-year-old’s suitability against Tottenham’s high press, against Moussa Sissoko and Eric Dier in midfield, against the conciseness of Spurs’ tight midfield diamond and more holistically, the all-round ambitious energy of Mauricio Pochettino’s style of play.

Inevitably, Emery will want his best talents on the pitch for such an important game but to not have those fears, after last week’s verbal justification for Ozil’s lack of involvement, feels like an obvious contradiction. The bigger picture though, is the more important one here: how long can Arsenal afford to keep paying Ozil what he currently earns, if he’s no longer a guaranteed starter every week?

Would you start Ozil against Spurs, Arsenal fans? Let us know by voting below…

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In Arsenal’s last Premier League outing against Bournemouth, Unai Emery opted not to include Mesut Ozil from the start, or at any point, with the German not even amongst the substitutes who warmed up.

The former PSG and Sevilla boss later revealed that he left the 30-year-old playmaker out due to the type of game that he expected from the Cherries, saying, “We thought how we can be better in the match today which is very demanding with the physicality and the intensity.”

Intriguingly, Eddie Howe’s side are by no means the most rugged side in the league, which suggests that the Spaniard’s comments were merely a cover-up for a deeper, underlying issue between the pair.

Ozil has already been left out of the matchday squad for the game against West Ham earlier in the season due to ‘illness’, but was seen amongst his teammates prior to kick-off.

In light of all of this, we asked Arsenal fans if they think the former Real Madrid man has a future at the Emirates under Emery.

Interestingly, 58% of the north London outfit’s fans who were polled felt that their number 10 has no place at the club whilst the 47-year-old is in charge, as shown by the results below…

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West Ham United’s summer signing Carlos Sanchez is currently sidelined with a serious knee injury. With the January transfer window approaching, Manuel Pellegrini may be considering seeking a replacement for Sanchez to add extra defensive solidity to the Hammers’ midfield contingent.

What’s the word?

If fit, the 88-cap Colombia international would offer experience and defensive diligence to Pellegrini’s squad. In his absence, the Irons are a little light on numbers in this regard.

In these circumstances, the West Ham manager would be wise to seek a trusted player to come to the London Stadium in January to bolster the ranks until the end of the campaign. For this purpose, Pellegrini ought to move for former Manchester City star Fernando in the upcoming January transfer window.

Paul Pogba and Man Utd seem to be after Harry Redknapp’s ‘King of the Jungle’ crown! Check out the video below…

A reunion in east London

Pellegrini first signed Fernando during his stint in charge at the Etihad Stadium, and the Brazilian proved himself to be a useful squad option across his three years in English football.

Currently plying his trade with Turkish outfit Galatasaray, the 31-year-old is still playing regularly at a high level. His technical quality, elite level experience and physical presence would certainly make him an asset to Pellegrini once again.

With a Transfermarkt valuation of just £5.18 million, and with only 18 months remaining on his current contract, Fernando represents an affordable and effective solution to West Ham’s midfield issue.

In fact, the former Man City ace might just end up being a better signing than Sanchez anyway.

What do you think, West Ham fans, would signing Fernando in the winter transfer window be an ideal short-term fix or an unnecessary acquisition?

Liverpool may well have improved since losing Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona but that does not suggest the club should disregard the prospect of signing a replacement. 

The arrival of Xherdan Shaqiri has provided Jurgen Klopp with an excellent number ten. The Switzerland international has been in inspired form since arriving at Anfield, pulling the strings in midfield and carving teams open with his precise vision.

But for all his quality there is no doubt that he is lacking the X factor which Coutinho provided during his time at Liverpool. The Brazilian provided countless moments of individual brilliance both in open play and from set-pieces, endearing himself to the Reds faithful in the process.

However, if Liverpool want to move on from the electric playmaker they need to complete a marque signing which really captures the imagination of the supporters, and a recent report from Goal suggests they have a prime opportunity to do exactly that in January.

Indeed, the report claims the relationship between Real Madrid and Isco is fragile, and if relations don’t improve the Spanish giants may be forced to sell the £81 million rated wizard. (as per Transfermarkt).

The Spain international is scintillating in possession and a player who possesses all of the technical and physical attributes to thrive in the Premier League.

With 46 goals and 53 assists to boast in his career with Los Blancos it’s clear to see that Isco has the decisive end product to match his build-up play.

The thought of seeing Isco link-up with Mo Salah and Sadio Mane is one which will have Liverpool supporters licking their lips, but Klopp and the rest of the club’s hierarchy may have to act in January in order to land a dream Coutinho replacement.

After all, Isco’s unhappiness may well force him to contemplate a move when the winter window opens for business, and he is likely to have plenty of offers to mull over in the event that Madrid make him available for transfer.

If Liverpool do not capitalise on the situation in January they will miss out on Isco to a European rival; it’s time for FSG to act.

Liverpool fans – thoughts? Let us know below!

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According to the Yorkshire Evening Post, Leeds United are keen to sign Newcastle United goalkeeper Karl Darlow in the January transfer window.

Darlow, 28, is currently on the sidelines with an elbow injury, but is expected to return to action in the early stages of 2019.

The stopper is no longer first choice at Newcastle following the arrival of Martin Dubravka, and is reportedly keen to move on in search of first-team football.

According to the Yorkshire Evening Post, Newcastle want to sell Darlow in a £4m deal, but Leeds are only currently interested in a loan swoop next month.

Darlow has plenty of experience of operating in the Championship having represented both Newcastle and Nottingham Forest in the second tier of English football.

The Leeds fans have been on social media offering their views on a potential swoop for Darlow, and a selection of their Twitter reaction can be seen below:

Who are the best away fans in the Championship? Playmaker FC’s Thogden gives his top 10 in the video below…

Southampton host reigning Premier League champions Manchester City at St Mary’s Stadium on Sunday, in what will be both clubs’ last game of 2018. 

By their own standards, City come into this game in dreadful form – having lost their last two league fixtures. The Saints, meanwhile, have been revitalised by new boss Ralph Hasenhuttl, who could end the year on a high by delivering a shock victory over Pep Guardiola’s side.

On the chalkboard

The Cityzens have lost their last two league games. The first defeat came at the hands of Crystal Palace, which was followed by defeat to Leicester City. On both occasions, Fernandinho was absent from the City squad due to injury. The 49-cap Brazil international may not be available for Sunday’s trip to the south coast either.

Former Wigan & Fulham man, Jimmy Bullard recently showed that he’s still got it! Check out the video below...

If City are without the 33-year-old holding midfielder then Hasenhuttl ought to set up his side to exploit Fernandinho’s absence. It has already been demonstrated, by the Eagles and the Foxes, that Guardiola has not yet hit upon a system that allows his side to cope defensively without Fernandinho.

For the taking

When in the side, Fernandinho’s defensive discipline and awareness means that he can effectively cover for City’s marauding full-backs. This means that his team aren’t punished by counter-attacks. Without him though, City are vulnerable.

Southampton must be bold. The likes of Nathan Redmond, Shane Long and Mohamed Elyounoussi have the pace to hurt City on the break. Hasenhuttl must urge his team to be relentless and ruthless on the counter-attack, as City could be there for the taking once again if the Saints take the game to them.

Loads of Newcastle fans have been reacting to a stunning transfer rumour, as reports claim they are eyeing a sensational return to the Premier League for Mario Balotelli.

According to The Daily Mail, Newcastle are ready to take a gamble on Balotelli, who has been left out in the cold at Ligue 1 club Nice.

The Italian international scored 15 and 18 Ligue 1 goals respectively in his first two seasons with the club, but manager Patrick Vieira has banished the striker from their training ground.

Playmaker FC Exclusive: Jermaine Jenas reveals why Tyne-Wear is a more intense derby than anything London can offer – check out the video below….

The 28 year-old will be a free agent in the summer, meaning clubs could snap him up for a nominal fee in January, an outcome that would be more favourable to Nice than losing him for nothing at the end of the season.

While signing the striker would certainly be a huge risk from Benitez and the Magpies, he does have immeasurable talent, and would be an upgrade on the scoring powers of the likes of Yoshinori Muto and Joselu.

Fans don’t seem too convinced about the volatile front man though, as you can see from the Twitter reactions down below…

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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer faces his first real test as Manchester United boss when his side square up with Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, but the baby-faced assassin has an incredible record for the Red Devils against Spurs.

As a player, the Norwegian forward faced the Lilywhites on 13 occasions, and won a staggering ten of those, only slipping to two defeats at the hands of George Graham sides in 1998 and ’99.

Now, when Solskjaer takes to the Wembley dugout at the weekend, the current Red Devils manager will hope to maintain not only his incredible record as a player, but also that of the man in charge, having won each of his games since replacing Jose Mourinho.

The feel-good factor has ripped through Old Trafford, and with that in mind, here are five times Solskjaer got the better of Tottenham Hotspur…

Man Utd 2-0 Spurs, 29 September 1996

The baby-faced assassin had only just moved to England back in 1996, completing a switch from Molde, but that did not stop the then-23-year-old from stamping his mark on the English game.

It was Solskjaer’s eighth match for the Red Devils when Tottenham travelled to Old Trafford, and the forward swiftly sent Spurs packing with decisive strikes either side of half time.

Spurs 1-2 Man Utd, 12 January 1997

In a year that Newcastle mounted a sizeable challenge for the Premier League title, Manchester United had to regularly perform at the top of their game to stay ahead of the Tyneside club.

Without an early strike by Solskjaer when United travelled to North London, dropped points could have opened the door for the Magpies to creep in, but thankfully the Norwegian’s effort kick-started a 2-1 win, with David Beckham bagging the winner after Rory Allen equalised.

Spurs 2-2 Man Utd, 12 December 1998

During August 1998, Solskjaer came under transfer interest from the former White Hart Lane residents, but stayed put in red only to find his minutes on the field reduced.

Altogether, the 67-cap international only took to the field for a total of 19 occasions in the league, yet managed to make the difference against the side who chased his signature.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has caused a stir in Norway! Watch the video above to find out what we’re talking about…

A quick-fire double on the 11th and 18th minutes teed United up perfectly for another win. However, a late brace by Sol Campbell, including a stoppage-time strike, ensured points were split on this occasion.

Not that those two points made a difference when the season closed, though, with the Red Devils going on to clinch the Premier League title, along with the FA Cup and the Champions League trophy.

Man Utd 3-1 Spurs, 6 May 2000

In another triumphant season for the Red Devils, as Sir Alex Ferguson’s men went on to walk away with the Premier League title again – beating rivals Arsenal to the gong by 18-points – Solskjaer shared the spotlight with Beckham and Teddy Sheringham as Spurs were swept aside at Old Trafford.

The season was coming to a close and the title already wrapped up when the Lilywhites arrived in Manchester, but the Norwegian’s final goal of the campaign broke the deadlock against Glenn Hoddle’s backline.

Overall, the 67-cap international rounded the year with ten successful strikes in the league, and found the back of the net a further three times in all competitions.

Spurs 3-5 Man Utd, 29 September 2001

While Solskjaer did not personally find on this occasion, the Red Devils had a field day at White Hart Lane back in September 2001.

Spurs had easily been the better side in the opening 45 minutes, outplaying their opponents to hold a three-goal lead at the break, but an amazing comeback saw Ferguson’s men show their class and fire home five goals to turn the side completely on its head.

The transformed side that returned out of the tunnel dominated and presented a constant threat, with Andy Cole getting a foot on the ladder with his strike on the 46th minute. Laurent Blanc then pulled United within one, before Ruud van Nistelrooy and Juan Sebastian Veron’s quickfire double put their side ahead – Beckham rounded out the scoring three minutes from time.

The White Hart Lane faithful left stunned, as the scoring efforts of Dean Richards, Les Ferdinand, and Gus Poyet all laid to waste. Will that again be the case for Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen when Paul Pogba, Marcus Rashford and David De Gea look to heap misery in London this Sunday?

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Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed that Vincent Janssen is unlikely to play for Tottenham Hotspur again.

The Tottenham manager was asked about the future of the Netherlands international after Harry Kane sustained a potentially serious injury in the club’s 1-0 loss to Manchester United on Sunday.

He replied, per Football.London: “No, he’s not in my plans.”

CheekySport’s Joel claims Spurs badly need to invest in January after not having “the balls” to beat Arsenal. Check out his uncensored opinion in the video below…

Janssen has scored just six goals for Spurs during his time at the club, having moved to Tottenham in 2016.

Signed for a fee of £17million from AZ Alkmaar, Janssen has often struggled in front of goal, and was sent on loan to Fenerbahce for the duration of last season.

While in Turkey he scored five goals in 18 games, but is not set to win a recall to the Spurs team.

However, with Kane potentially injured, Fernando Llorente seemingly mistrusted to start by Pochettino, and Son Heung-Min on international duty with South Korea, fans have reacted with surprise at their manager’s comments.