Ralph Hasenhuttl has made an immediate impact since joining Southampton and the club’s ambition of securing survival suddenly looks markedly more realistic, and with the January window looming it’s a perfect time for the Austrian to stamp his personal mark on the south coast.

How much money Hasenhuttl will have to spend in January, if any, remains unknown, but there’s no doubt he will be eager to bring in at least a couple of new players to ensure the club steer clear of the bottom-three.

His time in the Bundesliga will naturally draw him towards some of Germany’s top talents, but a recent report from the Daily Mail suggests he should strongly consider a move for a player who previously wore the red and white stripes of Southampton, namely Victory Wanyama.

Indeed, the report claims that Tottenham Hotspur are set to instigate a January clear out, and Wanyama’s name is a surprise inclusion on a list of outcasts who are edging towards the exit door.

Wanyama (valued at £22.5 million by Transfermarkt) has fallen down the pecking order at Spurs following a handful injury problems.

He became a firm favourite in north London shortly after arriving from Southampton, establishing a formidable partnership with Mousa Dembele in midfield and playing with the intensity of a player who was verging on indispensable.

But his decline has made him something of a forgotten man and Southampton are in a fantastic position to capitalise on his availability.

The feel good factor which has emerged in light of Hasenhuttl’s appointment will naturally give him reason to believe St Mary’s is a solid club to join at this moment in time, while his connection with the club and the supporters should ensure a smooth transition back to the club where he made his name in English football.

Add in the fact that Wanyama’s high-energy, box-to-box approach is well suited to Hasenhuttl’s philosophy and it’s clear that a January move is in the best interests of all-parties concerned.

A loan deal with an option-to-buy clause would represent an excellent piece for Hasenhuttl in January.

Southampton fans – thoughts? Let us know below!

The festive period has been a mixed bag so far for Everton.

Their humiliating 6-2 loss at the hands of Tottenham at Goodison Park Before Christmas proceeded a resounding 5-1 victory against Burnley on Boxing Day.  However their lacklustre loss to Brighton on Saturday highlighted what has been a flaw of The Toffees so far this season.

There is no denying that Everton have looked good in spells so far this season, particularly with the form of newcomer Richarlison. The Brazilian was brought in primarily as a winger but manager Marco Silva has largely deployed him as a striker given the club’s dearth of players in that position. However, in recent weeks the Portuguese has turned to youngster Dominic Calvert-Lewin to lead the line with Richarlison on the wing. Despite his early success in the season as a striker, the the former Watford man’s impact has grown less and less. Although he did start as a striker against Brighton, this clearly was not a good idea as he could not get into the game. Furthermore, he did not even start against Burnley.

What this highlights is that Silva has now run out of options with his strikers. Despite Calvert-Lewin showing promise, he does not yet look like the man who could be the successor to Romelu Lukaku at Goodison Park.

Since the day of Belgian’s departure, The Toffees have struggled to replace him and while Richarlison looked like he could have been that man, he still looks like he will be a winger in the long-term.

Fortunately for the club,  Silva has come to this conclusion immediately before the transfer window and while they tried to remedy this problem this time last year by recruiting Cenk Tosun, that has obviously failed. Nonetheless, it is imperative that they recruit a high quality player in this position if they ever want to challenge the top echelons of the Premier League.

A new era seems to be beckoning at Chelsea, and it’s exactly what the Blues need. Maurizio Sarri appears to be more willing to afford opportunities to young players, and for the first time in years, it seems like a few Stamford Bridge starlets are getting their chance.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek, prior to his injury, had finally been given a regular role in the squad, whilst Andreas Christensen has also had some intermittent involvement.

Furthermore, Callum Hudson-Odoi picked up 90 minutes in the FA Cup against Nottingham Forest in addition to most of the game against Tottenham, and Sarri recently noted that the Englishman is ‘ready’ for the first team – meaning that he can expect a bit more action in the coming weeks.

There’s also good news for young Ethan Ampadu, and that’s maybe the most exciting admission that Sarri has made.

Gary Cahill looks set to leave Chelsea, and Sarri was recently questioned on whether he will have to be replaced. The boss has revealed that he will not – because he’s already got Ampadu.

According to Football.London, he said: “…we have Ampadu. We don’t need a replacement”. 

This is hugely encouraging, because perhaps for the first time, a young Chelsea man is looking set to take over the mantle from a current first-teamer. Previously, the Blues would have moved to sign an expensive replacement, but now the boss seems to be happy to look towards the youth.

That’s with good reason, too. Ampadu has looked so good whenever he has played for the Blues, and he’s the sort of player that – if he was a few years older and playing abroad – he’d be worth a huge sum of money. The reality, though, is that Chelsea already have him – and they need to utilise him.

Sarri is saying all the right things here.

Thoughts?

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A recent transfer rumour by the Sunderland Echo claimed Daniel Stendel will look to test the Black Cats’ resolve over Andrew Nelson’s signature in a bid to add more goals to his side.

Nelson has recently shown terrific form during a brief loan spell in the National League North with Darlington, where he scored six goals in five games, all of which came in the form of braces – Ashton United, York City and Chorley found themselves the victims.

The 21-year-old, though, has never featured for the Sunderland first-team, and only tasted senior professional football during loan spells. The Black Cats academy striker first spent the 2016/17 season in League Two with Hartlepool, where he featured four times, before another loan last season, this time to Scottish Championship outfit Falkirk, where he made 15 outings.

Already, the Tykes hold one of the best offences in League One with Stendel’s men scoring 43 times in 26 games – enough to claim fifth place with a game in hand over Play-Off chasing Doncaster.

It is unclear, however, if Sunderland would allow their striker to join a potential promotion rival, but that is not enough to stop some Barnsley fans from getting their hopes up.

In a recent poll on Football FanCast, we asked if the 21-year-old was worth a punt in the January window, and 58% of those who voted back the potential move. Hardly the greatest endorsement of his quality, but a winning majority nonetheless.

Manchester United’s season has picked up under Ole Solskjaer, with the Red Devils propelling themselves back into Champions League contention with a series of wins under the Norwegian.

A tough game awaits them this weekend though, with United preparing for a hard game at Wembley against Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs side – at the time of writing.

With the January window firmly in full flow too, there are of course all sorts of rumours circulating, and United are one of the clubs being linked with some big money moves, with it no secret the club needs some more additions if they are to continue improving.

While defence remains a priority, we here at the Tavern feel that United should be looking at attacking areas too, and we feel they need to act now to secure the signing of Bournemouth attacking midfielder David Brooks.

The former Sheffield United man has excelled in his debut season in the top flight and has drawn plenty of praise and admiring glances from onlooking scouting teams.

The Welsh star, who is still only in his very early twenties, has massive scope for improvement too, and a move to a club the size of United would no doubt not faze the youngsters confidence.

A bagful of tricks and someone who can ghost past people with ease to create chances, we feel he’d be a better option for United than Alexis Sanchez, who has been a massive disappointment since sealing a move to Old Trafford from Arsenal.

United fans, what do you think? Good signing? Let us know in the comments!

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Crystal Palace fans on social media have been reacting to their thrilling defeat at Anfield, and they’re not too happy with Roy Hodgson’s team selection.

Crystal Palace nearly grabbed their second stunning win against a title contender this season after recently beating Manchester City, as they fell to a 4-3 defeat to Liverpool on Saturday.

The Eagles took the lead courtesy of a superb first half counter attack. Wilfried Zaha danced past makeshift right back James Milner and whipped a lovely low cross in for Andros Townsend to finish.

Check out Neymar’s controversial new haircut for 2019 and Xherdan Shaqiri as you’ve never seen him before in the video below…

The hosts then gained the advantage with two quickfire strikes after half time, but James Tomkins pulled the Eagles level once again with a relatively simple header from a corner.

Liverpool then re-established their lead after a howler from veteran shot-stopper Julian Speroni, and the Reds added another before Max Meyer’s stoppage time consolation goal made it 4-3.

While there were plenty of positives to take from the performance, fans are fuming that Meyer didn’t start the match.

The crafty attacking midfielder has shown brief glimpses of brilliance since joining the club in the summer, and he did more in his ten-minute cameo than James McArthur managed in his 80 minutes on the pitch.

You can find how some Palace fans responded to Hodgson’s selection call on Twitter down below…

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Sunderland have confirmed the signing of Lewis Morgan from Celtic, with the winger joining on loan from the Scottish champions until the end of the season (via the BBC).

What’s the word, then?

The Black Cats have reunited Morgan with his old boss Jack Ross, as the pair worked together whilst at St Mirren. After signing on the dotted line for the League One promotion chasers, Morgan told the club’s official website: “I’m joining coaching staff I’ve worked with before, and once I got the opportunity to speak with them, my decision was made.

“My game is based around scoring and creating goals, but I obviously also try to work hard for the team, and that is the most important thing.”

Be sure to check out the incredible story of the man who rose from a Tanzanian refugee camp to become one of Australia’s biggest football stars in the video below…

It is clear that Ross’ influence was key in getting the 22-year-old to the Stadium of Light, and Sunderland will be getting a very good player who was instrumental in helping St Mirren win promotion to the Scottish Premiership last season.

He looks to be surplus to requirements under Brendan Rodgers at Celtic, having made just one start this season, and he will be hoping he can gain a second promotion in two seasons with the Wearsiders.

What sort of player is Morgan?

The Scottish international is a speedy left winger who enjoys taking his man on and looking to make things happen. At 22 years of age, Morgan still has a high ceiling for improvement and is in the perfect place to develop that potential further under a manager who trusts him.

Sunderland are in need of a new spark in attack following the departure of Josh Maja to Bordeaux, as the 20-year-old Englishman scored 15 league goals before his departure and was the main spearhead behind the club’s promotion push.

There seems plenty more to come from Morgan, and he appears hungry to prove himself in English football as Ross has given him no guarantees over his place in the team after telling the official site: “I’ve been very open and honest with him about how hard he will have to work to get into our team, as we have some very good players, but he’s welcomed that challenge.”

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Eric Dier is set to miss Tottenham Hotspur’s clash with Leicester City on Sunday, the club have confirmed.

The midfielder has struggled with injuries this season and will this time be on the sidelines due to a virus.

What’s the word?

Spurs take on Leicester City on Sunday as they look to keep pace with Manchester City and Liverpool at the top of the Premier League.

Mauricio Pochettino’s men are currently five points behind the two sides, though they sit seven ahead of fourth-placed Chelsea.

There is little room for error in the run-in, then, as Spurs look to complete an unlikely title triumph.

Check out Neymar’s controversial new haircut for 2019 and Xherdan Shaqiri as you’ve never seen him before in the video below…

However, Pochettino will again be without Dier, who last completed the full 90 minutes in December, in a 2-0 win over the Foxes.

An appendectomy saw the England international ruled out of games against Burnley, Everton, AFC Bournemouth, Wolves, Cardiff City and Manchester United and he made his return in defensive midfield against Fulham in January, though he played just 11 minutes as a substitute.

Dier was left on the bench for the 2-1 victory over Watford and played just a minute against Newcastle United.

Ben Davies, meanwhile, is also unlikely to play any part in the game, as Spurs confirmed that he is continuing his recovery from a groin injury.

Wanyama return?

It may be time for Victor Wanyama to make his long-awaited Premier League return for Spurs.

The Kenya international has also struggled with injuries this season and has played just four times in the Premier League but he managed 27 minutes against Crystal Palace in the FA Cup at the end of January and was on the bench against Newcastle.

Bringing him into the fold seems a logical choice for Pochettino, with his physicality offering a neat counterpoint to the fleet-footedness of the impressive Harry Winks.

Moussa Sissoko played alongside Winks against Newcastle but a more physical player may be needed to counter the pacey threat offered by Leicester on the break, opening the door for Wanyama’s comeback.

At left-back, the choice is obvious, with Danny Rose surely set to continue in Davies’ stead.

Liverpool will play Watford on Saturday as they look to consolidate their place at the top of the Premier League table.

As it stands, the Reds are currently eight points clear of Leicester City, and a further six ahead of champions Manchester City. A win against the Hornets would mean they have picked up maximum points in 25 of their last 26 league matches.

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

This, of course, will be their last fixture before they depart for the Club World Cup in Qatar. With the entirety of the first-team squad to travel to the Middle East, we are likely to see a heavily-rotated XI against the division’s bottom side.

Here, we try to predict Jurgen Klopp’s starting XI.

In goal, Alisson should remain. Given he is a goalkeeper, and he has already missed a number of games this campaign due to injury and suspension, there is no need to give him a rest.

At right-back, Trent Alexander-Arnold is likely to keep his place in the team. Had Dejan Lovren not injured his hamstring against Salzburg in the Champions League on Tuesday, the 21-year-old may have been able to rest, but Joe Gomez will now be needed at centre-back. Alongside the former Charlton man, Virgil van Dijk should start once again, but there could be a change at left-back. Andrew Robertson may be given a rest, which would see James Milner come into the side. With no natural back-up option, he is the best bet.

In the middle of the park, we could see two changes. Adam Lallana may take up a defensive midfield role that he has already played in this term, whilst Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could start after scoring against Bournemouth. Georginio Wijnaldum is likely to stay in the side.

Up front, expect Divock Origi and Xherdan Shaqiri to be included. They both started against Everton, and scored three between them, so Klopp will be not be worried about giving the them the responsibility of starting here. On the left flank, Sadio Mane should be the man to be included. With 13 goals and eight assists in 24 matches this season, he has arguably been the Merseyside team’s best player this term. Although they could win this game without him, Klopp will likely want to keep him in the XI just for it to be slightly more comfortable.

In other news, Liverpool fans don’t want the club to sign this superstar.

[ad_pod ]Liverpool have been handed a huge boost in the title race after Jordan Henderson, Gini Wijnaldum and Trent Alexander-Arnold all returned to training following a period of time out through injury, as reported by the Liverpool Echo.

Obviously, Jurgen Klopp will be delighted to have two midfielders back in Henderson and Wijnaldum, but the major boost for the former Borussia Dortmund boss will be to have Alexander-Arnold back in the fold.

Why is Alexander-Arnold so important?

In the England international’s absence, Klopp had been given a huge headache at right-back.

Fans of the title challengers have watched uncomfortably as utility man James Milner has been deployed in the role, whilst Henderson also played there in the 1-1 draw against Leicester – in the three games without Alexander-Arnold, the Reds haven’t kept a clean sheet and picked up five points out of a possible nine.

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Milner, in particular, was given a torrid time by Wilfried Zaha against Crystal Palace playing in that area, receiving a red card for two bookable offences, whilst Felipe Anderson also had him on toast in another 1-1 draw, this time against West Ham.

Alexander-Arnold is pivotal to Liverpool’s style, as he uses his technical ability to play incisive passes into the midfield as well as switching the play to kickstart the attack.

The 20-year-old’s pace is also far superior to that of Henderson and Milner, meaning he should be able to cope with tricky wingers such as the aforementioned duo of Zaha and Anderson.

Snatching the initiative back from Manchester City

Liverpool’s academy graduate is also a much better crosser of the ball, and should be able to provide added impetus going forward to help pin back the opposition, who have been given far too much encouragement in recent games going forward as a result of Milner and Henderson’s reluctance to push on effectively and consistently.

The Reds have allowed Manchester City, and even Tottenham, back into the title race as a result of their inability to capitalise on the Cityzens’ loss to Newcastle, but Alexander-Arnold’s return should reinvigorate them.