Manchester United are now 13 points adrift of league leaders Manchester City after a disappointing draw away to Leicester on Saturday.
The Red Devils looked like securing all three points against the Foxes after a Juan Mata double cancelled out a Jamie Vardy opener. However, Harry Maguire popped up in injury time to score a last minute equaliser and send the visitors home dejected.
The England international finished smartly after catching out Chris Smalling, who appeared to be injured in closing stages of the game.
The failure of Smalling to not move into a less vital position or deal with the danger has enraged supporters, who can’t believe their side threw away a lead so late in the game.
Man United will be hoping they can put the dropped points behind them on Boxing Day when they host Burnley at Old Trafford.
Now so far behind in the table though, is the Premier League title race already over?
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Supporters took to Twitter to share their thoughts on the Smalling situation and late conceded goal…
The atmosphere at St Mary’s is not the most jovial at the moment due to Southampton’s current predicament.
The coastal club are just one point above the relegation zone in the Premier League having not won a game since November.
In fact, the team have picked up just four wins all season, which has understandably put the fans in a foul mood.
Manager Mauricio Pellegrino has received plenty of criticism from the supporters for the team’s style of play and inability to stay consistent in front of goal.
The transfer window has certainly not helped given that the club are yet to bring in some important reinforcements, particularly up front.
Theo Walcott was reportedly tipped for a return to the club where he developed as a player, but the Arsenal star ended up signing for Everton.
Earlier this week, the club posted a behind-the-scenes video of Sofiane Boufal posing in a photoshoot for the club magazine.
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Normally a glimpse into the goings on of the club would be met with some light-hearted responses, but not this time…
Former West Ham United captain Nigel Reo-Coker has urged the Hammers to keep Andy Carroll at the London Stadium beyond the end of this month’s transfer window.
Carroll has only scored two Premier League goals for West Ham this season, but it is understood that Chelsea are interested in signing the Englishman.
Indeed, a figure in the region of £20m has been mentioned as Chelsea look to provide competition for Alvaro Morata in the final third of the field.
Reo-Coker, however, has claimed that it would be a mistake if West Ham allowed Carroll to leave at this stage of the campaign.
Indeed, the club’s former captain has said that ‘selling him in the January window is not the right thing to do’.
Reo-Coker told Sky Sports News:
“Andy Carroll is a vital player for West Ham, even though they have picked up a few results lately.
“There’s still a long way to go this season and he’s a player they need to keep right now – for the team, the system and the way they play.
“On his day he can be a handful for even the best defenders in the Premier League and selling him in the January window is not the right thing to do.”
Carroll, who is valued at £9m by transfermarkt.co.uk, has netted 32 times in 124 appearances for West Ham since joining the club from Liverpool.
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Southampton’s season is in need of rejuvenating as they currently sit in the relegation zone of the Premier League.
With just hours to go before the transfer window slams shut, supporters have been hoping for some good news.
Spartak Moscow winger Quincy Promes has been heavily linked with a switch to St Mary’s.
The Dutchman has scored 12 goals and created eight assists in 22 appearances in all competitions for the Russian outfit.
Southampton’s interest is understandable as Quincy is capable of treating the club’s attacking ailments.
However, according to BBC Radio Solent Sports Editor Adam Blackmore, Promes is unlikely to arrive at St Mary’s before tonight’s deadline, and instead could join the club in the summer.
The Saints’ current predicament leaves them one point adrift of safety and given that they have not won a league game since November, there is a chance that they will drop into the Championship come May.
With that in mind, it may be difficult to persuade Promes to join the coastal outfit if the club get relegated.
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The majority of Southampton fans have been left furious with the latest developments.
New Leeds United manager Paul Heckingbottom takes charge of his first match when his team face Sheffield United in a Yorkshire derby at Bramall Lane on Saturday, and the 40-year-old may choose to change the formation against the Blades.
Former boss Thomas Christiansen favoured the 4-2-3-1 system during his six months in charge of the Whites, but his successor often used a 4-1-4-1 formation at previous club Barnsley.
This meant that the Tykes had two out-and-out wingers and two more creative players in the middle of the park ahead of a player sitting in front of the back four, and Leeds certainly have the personnel to line up like that against Chris Wilder’s men this weekend.
Heckingbottom is likely to go with a back four of Vurnon Anita, Pontus Jansson (if he is fit to start), Matthew Pennington and Laurens De Bock, and new boy Adam Forshaw may well be asked to play the role just in front of the two centre-backs at Bramall Lane.
The new width would allow Gianni Alioski to remain on the wing, while Stuart Dallas could make a rare start on the opposite flank after his cross led to Sol Bamba putting through his own net in the 4-1 defeat against Cardiff City last weekend that saw Christiansen get the chop.
That would leave Ronaldo Vieira, Kemar Roofe and Pablo Hernandez fighting for the two spots in the middle, with Pierre-Michel Lasogga or Tyler Roberts likely to start up top.
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It will certainly be interesting to see what Heckingbottom decides to go with on Saturday, as he looks to get off to a positive start and end the club’s run of seven matches in all competitions without a win.
After an impressive victory over Russian Premier League side FC Zenit last week, it’s Celtic’s turn to make the long away trip, facing off against Roberto Mancini’s side in the second leg this Thursday.
The first leg was one of those famous European nights in the East end of Glasgow, Callum McGregor’s guided beauty from Charly Musonda’s exquisite pass making Celtic Park explode with joy.
Brendan Rodgers will know, more than anyone, that Celtic’s job isn’t complete though. While keeping a clean sheet was crucial ahead of the trip to Russia, the Hoops will be expecting to be put under serious attacking pressure given the talents available to Mancini.
Does the Celtic boss try and set-up defensively, approach the game with his usual attacking mind-set or like last week attempt to strike a balance?
This is how the Hoops should approach a difficult evening…
Defence: Three man job
Undoubtedly the area that will be under most pressure on Thursday night is Celtic’s defence.
It’s easy to forget given the Hoops kept a clean sheet last week but Zenit are one of the most fearsome attacking sides in Europe, having scored more goals than any other side in the group stages of the Europa League.
In contrast, the Hoops conceded more goals than anyone in the group stages of the Champions League.
Still, Jozo Simunovic, Kristoffer Ajer and Mikael Lustig proved that they can perform at the elite European level and the result at Celtic Park is likely to have been a massive confidence booster for all three.
Protected by James Forrest and Kieran Tierney on the flanks, a central three is the way to go again in Russia. It’s clearly the best way for the Hoops to approach European ties against ‘stronger’ opposition having largely worked against both Zenit and Bayern Munich already.
Half the battle will be not making the individual errors that have littered the Hoops’ season. If they can do that you’d back Celtic have enough to get through.
Midfield: Nullifying Zenit’s counter
Celtic dominated the middle of the park last week against Zenit and have the ability to do that again in Russia if they can overcome the mental difficulty that comes from playing away in Europe.
In Scott Brown they have a capable and ferocious ball winner who will sit just in front of the Celtic defensive line and fight fires before moving the ball on. 20-year-old Eboue Kouassi showed he can get to grips with the defensive side of the game too, his physical presence proving too much for the Zenit midfield for large parts of the first leg.
Most of Celtic’s forward play will then be outsourced to the wide areas where wing-backs Kieran Tierney and James Forrest have the space and positional intelligence to cause real problems in the final third.
Their attributes mean they are also well-equipped to try and nullifying Zenit’s counter-attacking style. Last week the likes of Emiliano Rigoni and Aleksandr Kokorin were frozen out of the game, in no small part to the Hoops’ wide men.
With Olivier Ntcham now operating at a level that allows him to pull the strings at European level, Brendan Rodgers has a playmaker that could be the difference in Russia as they look to link defence and attack.
Both Rosenborg and Real Sociedad have travelled to Zenit this season and had the majority of possession, if Celtic can replicate that they are well placed to nick an away goal and go through, even if they lose on the night.
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Attack: McGregor can shine again in support of Dembele
Moussa Dembele was back to his best against Zenit last week. While he’s had a difficult second season at the Hoops, supporters were left in no doubt he still has exceptional ability after his brilliant target man performance at Celtic Park.
Holding up the ball and bringing others into play, it was another display that made it obvious why he is rated so highly.
Supported by Callum McGregor, and at times Olivier Ntcham, from midfield, Celtic were an attacking danger all evening and it’s something they can replicate in Russia if set-up the same way.
McGregor now has European goals against Zenit, Bayern Munich, Ajax, Maribor and Legia Warsaw, demonstrating he is more than capable of popping up on these big occasions.
Who would put it past him doing so again on Thursday?
According to reports in The Sunday Mirror, Everton’s top transfer target this summer is Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy, who has scored 55 goals in 133 Premier League matches for the Foxes.
What’s the word, then?
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Well, The Mirror says that the Merseyside outfit held a meeting to discuss their plans for recruitment in the summer, and bringing the England international to Goodison Park is their priority.
The Mirror says that the England international is currently earning £100,000-a-week with the Foxes, and Toffees director of football Steve Walsh knows the 31-year-old well and is a huge fan having brought him to Leicester when he worked for the east Midlands outfit.
The report adds that Vardy would jump at the chance to sign for Everton, where he could get a hefty pay rise and earn something around the £150,000-a-week deal that Wayne Rooney currently finds himself on.
How has Vardy done this season?
While the striker has struggled to replicate the amazing form in the 2015/16 campaign when he helped Leicester win the Premier League title, the 31-year-old has still be in decent goalscoring form over the course of the last 18 months or so.
The Three Lions attacker has scored 13 goals in 28 top flight appearances this term, including four in his last six outings.
Would he be a good signing for Everton?
He certainly would be, and it could be something of a masterstroke by Sam Allardyce if he is still in charge and brings Vardy to Goodison Park.
While he may be 31 years of age, the striker is in great shape from a physical point of view and he of course has the Premier League experience and wouldn’t need time to adapt to life in England – like both Sandro Ramirez and Cenk Tosun have.
Vardy is a pain for defenders because of his never-say-die attitude while he has shown with his goal record for the Foxes that he can find the net regularly for the Toffees if he does join them, and that is exactly what they need.
Will they get him?
Vardy will have two years left on his contract in the summer, and while Leicester certainly won’t want to lose him they could be tempted if Everton make the right offer for the 31-year-old.
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Leeds manager Paul Heckingbottom has confirmed goalkeeper Andy Lonergan is out for Wednesday’s clash against Wolves, while hinting that youngster Bailey Peacock-Farrell could get the nod.Heckingbottom said in his press conference that Lonergan is unavailable, and Peacock-Farrell and Kamil Maziek have both been involved with the first team squad.
“It came at a bad time for him and us,” Heckingbottom said of Lonergan’s injury today in his press conference.
Leeds’ defensive woes have been highlighted in recent weeks, especially in Friday night’s 3-0 drubbing at the Riverside.
Vernon Anita struggled to deal with Adama Traore, but most of the fans’ concerns were centred on goalkeeper Felix Wiedwald, who has had a torrid time recently.
Wiedwald was not exactly alert for Middlesbrough’s opener, before allowing a powerful Patrick Bamford strike to squeeze under him for the second goal before half time.
Peacock-Farrell actually played through Middlesbrough’s youth system before joining Leeds in 2013, but has made just one first team appearance. Asked if the promising youngster might play this week, the manager said he would not hesitate to give the 21 year-old the nod.
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Playing the youngster against league leaders Wolves might be a disaster, but what is there to lose? Leeds fans, let us know your thoughts by commenting below…
Rob Holding was introduced to the Arsenal starting eleven for the visit of Watford and Arsene Wenger was rewarded with a much-needed clean sheet as the Gunners won 3-0.
The former Bolton man was part of a new-look back four that largely managed to nullify the Hornets, although Petr Cech still needed to produce a penalty save from Troy Deeney to earn his 200th Premier League shutout.
Holding has proved himself to be an inconsistent yet capable defender and was able to guide Arsenal towards a second straight win to nil within four days; the victory over the Hornets coming after a 2-0 triumph in the San Siro on Thursday night in the Europa League last sixteen.
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The inclusion of Holding – valued at £6.3m by Transfermarkt – might have been a surprise but he performed well enough to earn the right to retain his starting spot when the Italian giants come to the Emirates Stadium for the return this Thursday.
The Arsenal fans recognised that too and we’ve had a look at the best of their reaction to Holding’s display.
New Southampton manager Mark Hughes is reportedly lining up a club-record £20m move for Stoke City playmaker Xherdan Shaqiri this summer if he keeps them in the Premier League and extends his stay at St Mary’s, and Saints fans have been quick to have their say on the rumour.The Daily Star says that the Welsh boss is keen to be reunited with the 26-year-old, who earns £65,000-a-week according to The Mirror, after he brought him to the Britannia Stadium from Inter Milan in 2015, with the Switzerland international scoring seven goals and providing a further six assists in 29 top flight appearances for the south coast outfit’s fellow strugglers this term.Any prospective deal would be dependent on Saints securing avoiding relegation to the Championship – they currently lie two points from safety with eight games remaining – while Hughes’ future is also far from certain considering his deal is due to expire at the climax of the campaign.Southampton supporters took to social media to give their thoughts on the story, and while one described him as the “Alpine Messi”, another said “he’s the only player worth having from that team”.Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…[ad_pod ]