Manchester United continued their fine form under manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as they dismantled Fulham this weekend.

A brace from Paul Pogba and a fine solo goal from Anthony Martial put the icing on the cake for the Red Devils, who moved into the top four and stayed there with Chelsea failing to win at Man City.

For Soslkjaer, he must be delighted to see his players putting in such performances, and we here in the Tavern have been particularly impressed by two particular players during the Norwegian’s time in charge.

Those two players at pacey front-men Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford, who have been nothing short of superb since the departure of Jose Mourinho.

The speedsters have been getting in and amongst the goals, with Rashford in particular hitting top form in front of goal and making the starting striking spot his own ahead of Romelu Lukaku.

Martial to his credit has been superb too when selected, and his goal yesterday was a timely reminder of the quality he possesses when he chooses to turn it on.

For us here in the Tavern, we feel United need to build around the pair for years to come, and there can’t be many teams in the world who have two players with such quality, pace, and finishing ability among their front players.

United can be successful going forward with Martial and Rashford as the core of their plans, and there’s every reason to believe the trophies will flow with both players hitting their stride.

United fans, do you agree? Let us know in the comments!

As per L’Equipe, Liverpool are interested in signing Mathieu Goncalves from Toulouse.

What’s the story?

With the transfer window just around the corner, the rumours are starting to multiply, and the latest player linked with a switch to Anfield is the 18-year-old defender.

According to the report, the Reds want to make the 5 foot 10 teenager their latest young signing after the captures of Sepp van den Berg and Havey Elliott during the summer.

A left-back is needed

The youngster is tipped for a big future, and made his debut for Les Pitchounes against PSG earlier on this campaign. In his first four appearances to date, he has not set the world alight, picking up an average WhoScored rating of just 5.98. But given he is at the very start of his career he has plenty of time to improve, and there must be a reason why he is already receiving playing time.

Watch Leicester vs Liverpool Free Live and Free with Amazon Prime on Boxing Day

This is the second left-back the Reds have been linked with in the last few days. 90min.com have recently reported that Liverpool are leading the race for Coventry City defender Sam McCallum, who has 11 starts this season in League One.

Can you name the result these iconic Liverpool images belong to? Give it a go now…

It is quite obvious that a new recruit on that side of the defence is amongst Jurgen Klopp’s main plans. As it stands, Andrew Robertson is the only senior player in that role. In his absence, James Milner has been the man to step into the breach. He has the ability to do a job, but he is not a natural.

It is refreshing to see that it is a younger player that appears to be being targeted. By looking at players the start of their careers, it allows the 52-year-old boss to mould them into what he wants from them, rather than purchasing the end product. There are very few, if any full-backs in world football that play in the way Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold do – as their assist tallies from last year show – and that is a style of play that is so much harder to teach to an older head that has already made a name for himself in the sport.

Whether Goncalves or McCallum are signed remains to be sign, but one thing is clear: a left-back and youth are two things that are on Klopp’s wishlist.

In other news, Robbie Fowler says Liverpool will not commit one error that Manchester United did.

Naby Sarr rescued a point for Charlton in a 2-2 draw with QPR but it is now 11 games without a win for the Addicks and the defender has been criticised despite his late effort.

Lee Bowyer’s side were outplayed for large spells at the R’s, managing just four shots on target and 43% possession, and found themselves behind early on due to a bad defensive error.

Fans were unforgiving in their criticism of Sarr, who was the man at fault for Geoff Cameron’s opener.

Without that mistake the game could have taken an entirely different course altogether.

To make matters worse, it is not the first time the Senegalese has let his side down this term, and the Addicks have now conceded 32 goals in 23 games.

The fact they’ve made just four clean sheets in that time indicates that defensive reinforcements may be necessary in January.

Sarr was the late hero and made up for the goal he gave away, but for some supporters he is making defensive errors with too much regularity, and they believe it is costing the team.

Who is that?!?! Can you name all of these obscure Charlton players?

One fan has questioned why Bowyer continues to play him, which is rather harsh given Bowyer isn’t blessed with options, not to mention Sarr was a key component of the team that won promotion last season.

Nevertheless, if he continues to slip up his boss may be forced to act in the transfer window, or call upon the likes of Tom Lockyer and Adedeji Oshilaja to come in and replace him.

Elsewhere, there is bad news for supporters as two important players have suffered setbacks in regard to injuries.

Leicester were back to their ruthless best as they saw in 2020 with a clinical 3-0 win over Newcastle.

Ayoze Perez haunted his former side as James Maddison and Hamza Choudhury scored impressive long-range strikes which silenced St James’ Park.

It was a win that ensured the Foxes remained in second place, strengthening their top-four hopes after previously being swept aside by Liverpool and Manchester City.

Brendan Rodgers has favoured a degree of rotation over the festive period, bringing players like Nampalys Mendy and Christian Fuchs in from the cold.

The latter played as part of a three-man defence on New Year’s Day and certainly didn’t look out of place, leaving many fans on Twitter to salivate over the quality of his performance.

Fuchs played in an unorthodox position compared to the usual role of left-back, but he completed four interceptions and a pass success rate of 93% in what was a commanding effort.

One supporter described him as a purring Porsche which rather sums up the classy nature of the Austrian’s display.

Fuchs has struggled for regular minutes in 2019/20, being kept out of the team by England international Ben Chilwell.

Before the beginning of last month, he hadn’t played for Brendan Rodgers’ side since late October but he gained three starts in December.

His outing on Wednesday was just his sixth appearance of the season but it left a couple of fans wanting more. One claimed the team were better when he was in the side and given Leicester’s successive wins with Fuchs playing, there is certainly an argument to suggest that’s the case.

Fuchs’ contract expires at the end of the season and after securing a one-year extension last term, there is a sense that he could leave the Foxes for good in the summer or even before.

His last contract put to bed speculation of a potential move to America and MLS, but some individuals are crying out for him to put pen to paper again, praying that he remains at the club.

Whose Line Is It Anyway: Roy Keane, Graeme Souness or Adrian Durham?

One suggested that there was no need for the Premier League winner to go to the US. Judging by his performance against the Magpies, winning four aerial duels, he still has the quality to play in England’s top-flight.

One final supporter picked up on the way he played as part of a three-man backline, labelling the player legendary and suggesting that the formation Rodgers played was the future of Leicester.

A 3-0 win and a clean sheet certainly suggest that it worked perfectly as he shone next to Caglar Soyuncu and Jonny Evans.

Meanwhile, check out five of the craziest things to happen in the last decade, including a very special moment from Leicester…

According to The Telegraph, Manchester United are considering a move for Ajax midfielder Donny van de Beek in this January transfer window.

What’s the word?

The Red Devils are in the midst of an injury crisis in central midfield, with both Scott McTominay and Paul Pogba ruled out for the foreseeable future. That has left Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with just Nemanja Matic and Fred as his only two options for the deeper-lying roles, with the experiment of testing Andreas Pereira in that position falling by the wayside.

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And now, according to The Telegraph, Van de Beek has emerged as one of the club’s “leading transfer targets”, and that whilst they are intent on not pressing the panic button, they are “determined to make signings that will help usher in long-term improvement”. The report adds Solskjaer is keen to bring in a midfielder this month to help solve the club’s issues, and believes the Ajax ace could “bring more creativity and cutting edge to the midfield.”

The solution

Van de Beek has been an integral part of Ajax’s recent success, helping the Eredivisie giants to the Champions League semi-finals last season. He scored three goals and provided a further two assists as his side enjoyed a fairy-tale run to the last four, and found the back of the net in huge away games against both Juventus and Tottenham.

And this season he has continued his fine form, netting eight times and providing another eight assists in 26 games across all competitions. The Dutchman is a goal-scoring midfielder, and quite simply someone who proves his mettle in the big games. This campaign has seen him net against both Chelsea and Valencia away from home, whilst he also set up a goal in the final of the Johan Cruijff Schaal against PSV.

Call yourself a Premier League expert? How much did each of these big-money January signings cost?

Van de Beek would certainly represent a popular choice with some United fans, who have previously thrown their backing behind a potential move. With the Old Trafford supporters seemingly on board, it really does feel like a match made in heaven for the Red Devils. The Dutchman’s big-game mentality means he could handle the pressure of playing at the Theatre of Dreams, and has the winning mindset that could make him a star.

Meanwhile, Manchester United fans discuss transfer links to this striker better than Romelu Lukaku and Anthony Martial in key area.

Tottenham Hotspur have been offered the chance to sign Thomas Lemar from Atletico Madrid, per The Independent.

What’s the word?

Lemar is said to be keen on a move away from the Spanish giants, with a €6m (£5m) loan fee reportedly needed to snaffle him away.

Any such deal could then include an option to buy, which The Independent reports would stand at €60m (£50.9m).

His manager at Atletico, Diego Simeone, has already claimed that Lemar has “failed to live up to expectations” at the club, per the report.

However, Spurs are not the only Premier League side interested, with Arsenal also said to be weighing up an approach.

The big fat Tottenham quiz of 2019 – how much do you remember about the last year at Spurs?

Not good enough

Lemar hasn’t been anywhere near good enough at Atleti. He has played 21 times in all competitions this season but has not scored a goal, nor has he registered an assist.

He last scored in La Liga in an April win over Eibar and one has to wonder if he would even get into the Spurs team.

He is primarily a left winger but Son Heung-Min occupies that position for the north London giants, and he has scored 10 goals and registered nine assists already this season.

Any move for Lemar would come with a potentially hefty price to bring him in; he simply isn’t worth it.

Meanwhile, Spurs fans have told chairman Daniel Levy to invest in one area in January. 

Sheffield United are interested in Jarrod Bowen but will wait until the summer to pursue him, suggests journalist James Shield.

What’s the word?

Bowen has been an exceptionally good player to watch over the last 18 months, racking up 22 goals last term and failing to slow down throughout 2019/20.

The Hull City winger has amassed 16 goals while proving to be a tricky customer with his dribbling, beating a man 1.8 times per game on average in the Championship.

He’s been linked with a number of clubs including both Bournemouth and Newcastle, while Leeds were ruled out of the race earlier this month because of his hefty price tag.

That’s something that’s also put off the Blades who are keen on adding him to their ranks but only in the summer.

Speaking in a Q&A on The Star, Shield had the following to say:

“United are admirers of Bowen and have been for some time. So are a lot of other Premier League clubs. Hull City have made it clear he won’t be allowed to leave East Yorkshire for anything less than £20m during this window so that rules United out of the equation I’m afraid. They could, of course, choose to revisit the situation in the summer if Bowen is still available. But City seem pretty confident of keeping him this month.”

Wouldn’t suit the system

As good as Bowen has been in the second-tier, contributing to 24 goals in just 27 outings, he wouldn’t suit Sheffield United’s system unless Chris Wilder favours a change to his tried and tested methods.

The Blades play with a three-man backline and two wing-backs which makes fitting an out and out winger like Bowen into the team a difficult challenge to overcome.

That being said, he has played through the middle as a central striker on five occasions this season and scored three times.

If United made a move in the summer and he arrived at Bramall Lane that might be where his future lies but it would restrict some of his major attributes.

Call yourself a Premier League expert? How much did each of these big-money January signings cost?

In fact, the 23-year-old manages more shots per game when he plays on the right-hand side, 3.4, than he does through the middle, 2.6. Not only that, but he also accumulates fewer successful dribbles on average each outing, according to WhoScored.

When playing as a striker this term he’s mustered just 1.2 per match compared to 2 when on the right. The Blades must think carefully about any potential pursuit.

In other news, Sheffield United are in the market for a World Cup finalist this month…

Jose Mourinho and Danny Rose have clashed in training after the left-back was left out of the club’s squad for their clash with Watford, per The Daily Mail.

What’s the word?

The report states that the England full-back attempted to receive an explanation from Mourinho for his decision to omit him from his squad.

The former Chelsea boss is said to have cited a back injury for the full-back, though he felt that he was fit to play in the game, which ended in a 0-0 draw. Japhet Tanganga was picked to play at left-back instead.

The big fat Tottenham quiz of 2019 – how much do you remember about the last year at Spurs?

The pair clashed in Sunday’s warm-down training session with there being “tension in the air”, according to onlookers cited in the report.

A number of players, however, were reportedly unhappy with Rose’s behaviour.

Get rid

Spurs need to cash in on Rose while they have the chance.

This is not the first time that he has made the Spurs narrative all about himself.

He has previously claimed that he would find a way to be paid what he believes he is worth; he also said that he did not want the club to sign players that he was forced “to Google”; more recently, and has claimed that he will not leave the club before the expiration of his contract next year.

While he may fight it, the best course of action here is for Spurs to move Rose on and bring in a replacement who is not going to be as much trouble.

Quite simply, if this article is true, Rose has crossed a line; Mourinho was merely trying to protect him. This has to be the end of his Spurs career.

Meanwhile, Spurs fans have debated the signing of a global megastar. 

West Ham United have registered an interest in re-signing midfielder Dimitri Payet from Marseille, that is according to a report from French news outlet L’Equipe via The Guardian.

The 32-year-old previously played for the Hammers between 2015-17 and he excelled during his time in east London, particularly in the 15/16 campaign.

Indeed that year the French international scored 12 goals and provided 15 assists in all competitions (Transfermarkt), helping them finish seventh in the Premier League and reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

However, he eventually left to join Marseille after claiming that he had become “bored” of the club’s defensive style of play and that he had “no desire” to play in the lower reaches of the Premier League (The Guardian).

The report suggests that West Ham have not yet made a firm offer for the playmaker, whilst there have also been conflicting reports from Sky Sports which suggest that there isn’t any interest despite L’Equipe’s claim.

Payet has been playing quite well this season, scoring eight goals and providing four assists in all competitions (Transfermarkt). However, it seems that the Hammers supporters are divided on whether they want to see the controversial character return.

Some do want him, suggesting that he would add more quality to the side. However, others are unwilling to forget the way in which he left a few years ago and because of that do not want him back. Here is what some had to say on Twitter…

West Ham fans, would you take Dimitri Payet back? Let us know in the comments below…

Crystal Palace fans have taken to Twitter in anger after Andy Madley failed to hand George Baldock a second yellow card in the Eagles’ 1-0 defeat to Sheffield United on Saturday.

The 26-year-old struggled to deal with Wilfried Zaha throughout most of the afternoon, committing three fouls during the 90 minutes – no player on the pitch committed more.

The Blades No.2 was initially booked in the 18th minute after blocking Zaha’s progress when attempting to run onto a through ball, and he really should’ve been shown a second yellow just moments after when he lunged into a challenge on the Ivory Coast international.

However, Madley saw no reason to dismiss Baldock, and play resumed.

Chris Wilder’s side then went on to win the game after Vicente Guaita dropped Oliver Norwood’s corner into his own net, although perhaps things might have been different had the Sheffield United right-back been given his marching orders in the first half.

Let’s see what the Crystal Palace fans on Twitter have said about the incident…

To kick off the reaction, these three supporters certainly weren’t happy with Madley’s performance.

Sean called the referee a “joke” before ‘Moody Ratel’ said that he “bottled it” – it’s hard to disagree.

Chris Water also said that Madley “absolutely bottled” the decision, before saying that he’ll be officiating in the Championship next week after his terrible display.

Elsewhere, Steve said that it was a “game changing decision” from Madley, although conceded that the Eagles didn’t really look like scoring.

Meanwhile, ‘Proper Democrat’ called Madley the “worst ref this season” before saying “it was a disgrace” that Baldock remained on the pitch.

Lastly, @CPFC_GH said they “have no words” for Madley’s performance and that he “needs dropping”.

Given the nature of Baldock’s lunge into Zaha, he can consider himself a very lucky man to have stayed on the pitch.

Who is that?! Nobody has been able to name the teams all of these obscure managers were once in charge of…

In other news, these Crystal Palace fans were left livid with this “ridiculous” transfer decision…