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Crystal Palace were unable to build on a fantastic away performance at Burnley as they were beaten 2-1 by bitter rivals Brighton at Selhurst Park – a defeat which compounded their woeful home form further.

The Seagulls took the lead through Glenn Murray, who, aside from his first-half strike, gave a masterclass in target man play – Roy Hodgson must hope that Christian Benteke was taking notes from the bench.

On the chalkboard

Veteran hitman Murray gave Chris Hughton’s side the lead after making no mistake in capitalising on a James Tomkins error, although there was far more to his excellent performance than that.

Drafted in at the last minute after Florin Andone suffered an injury in the warm up, the former Palace striker looked worthy of a start from the off – he dominated Tomkins and Scott Dann, winning 6 aerial duels.

The 35-year-old was essential to the visitors’ game plan – soaking up pressure and hoofing it to the big man up front – as they gave Palace some of their own medicine.

The Eagles have been successful playing in such a way in previous campaigns although the collapse of Benteke’s confidence in front of goal, combined with Hodgson’s less direct style and the arrival of countryman Michy Batshuayi, has seen the Belgian frozen out of the starting XI.

Lesson for Christian

The former Villa striker established himself as one of the Premier League’s most lethal aerial threats prior to arriving at Selhurst Park and looked to be a great signing in the 2016/17 season – the big number 17 chalked up 17 goals in all competitions.

However, he has been a shadow of that player since and has scored just three times. The 28-year-old may not be clinical in front of goal but at least he used to offer a physical presence up front. However, particularly this season, he has been far less effective in the air and his knock-downs are rarely into the path of a teammate.

Which player with “no potential” has just been named Crystal Palace’s worst ever January signing? Find out in the video below…

Murray, though, did everything Palace fans want from Benteke on Saturday and the Eagles man, who watched most of the tie from the bench, should have been taking tips from his opposite number if he is to ever work his way back into the first team.

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The Birmingham Mail have released a detailed questions and answers piece on the situations of Salomon Rondon, Dwight Gayle and Jacob Murphy, and it sounds like the latter pair have no chance of a future at Newcastle.

What’s the story?

According to The Birmingham Mail, Rafael Benitez was so desperate to get rid of Gayle that the club upped his wages just to incentivise him to leave on loan.

Benitez “made it clear” last summer that the striker has no long-term future with the Magpies, claims the report.

Does Newcastle’s infamous title collapse of 1996 mirror what is happening at Liverpool right now? The Magpie Channel discuss in the video below…

It also runs the rule over Murphy’s future, saying there are “major doubts” about his ability on Tyneside and that the club would be open to offers.

Improvement at last

For far too long Newcastle have flirted with relegation, constantly hovering above the danger zone with a squad packed full of mostly bang average players.

Put simply, that is exactly what Gayle and Murphy are – average players.

The English pair have both performed well in the Championship but failed to step up to the top flight, and the explanation for that is they have found their level in the second tier.

Benitez and the club would be absolutely right to seek whatever transfer fees they can recoup this summer and move on from the underwhelming pair.

رد فاروق جعفر مدرب الزمالك الأسبق على ترديد البعض أن الأهلي سيواجه بيراميدز بالناشئين لمنح الأخير فرصة تحقيق المركز الثاني في الدوري على حساب القلعة البيضاء.

ويشارك وصيف جدول ترتيب الدوري في بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا بينما يشارك صاحب المركز الثالث بالكونفدرالية.

ومن المقرر أن يتم خصم 3 نقاط من الزمالك فور انتهاء الدوري، بسبب انسحابه أمام الأهلي في مباراة القمة بالدور الأول من الدوري.

طالع | فرص الزمالك وبيراميدز في حسم وصافة الدوري

وقال فاروق جعفر في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر قناة “الزمالك”: “لا يمكن للأهلي أن فعل ذلك ولا الزمالك إطلاقًا”.

وأكمل: “التاريخ لا يتذكر إلا الفريق الذي فاز ومن خسر، مبادئ وقيم هذه الأندية لا تسمح بذلك”.

واختتم: “لا يصح أن يقال هذا الكلام هذا ما أفهمه وأعرفه”.

ويلعب الأهلي ضد بيراميدز بعد غدٍ الأحد ضمن منافسات الجولة قبل الأخيرة من الدوري.

يذكر، أن فريق الكرة بالزمالك يحتل المركز الثاني برصيد 65 نقطة متفوقًا على بيراميدز صاحب المركز الثالث بفارق نقطتين، مع العلم إن الزمالك سيخصم منه 3 نقاط كما ذكرنًا سلفًا.

Celtic’s transfers in recent years have had mixed successes, haven’t they? A mixture of permanent and loan signings arrive at Parkhead every year, despite some players not living up to expectations, the majority do, in fact, make a positive impact on the green side of Glasgow.

During this campaign, the vast majority of incomings, courtesy of Lee Congerton’s scouting, have been a success in relation to the fee paid for the player. Odsonne Edouard and Scott Bain have been the standouts on a permanent basis, with loanees such as Timo Weah, Oliver Burke and Filip Benkovic also particularly catching the eye in their performances.

However, across the last five years, not all the deals have been a success story. With that being said, here are two of the worst Celtic signings in recent years…

Stefan Scepovic

Scepovic joined from Sporting Gijon in 2014 off the back of a remarkable season in Spain where he scored 23 goals and assisted nine times for the La Liga 2 side.

The Serbian was unable to replicate this form in Scotland as he notched five goals in 25 appearances, with just three of them coming within 18 League appearances.

Having been rather unimpressive a lot of his turnouts in a Celtic shirt, the journeyman soon returned to Spain after just a year in Scotland and now plays his football for Jagiellonia in Poland.

Marvin Compper

Compper arrived from RB Leipzig in January 2018, yet has made just the one appearance for the Bhoys.

The 33-year-old started in a 3-0 victory over Morton in the Scottish Cup quarter-final two months after signing, but he has not played since having seemingly been hampered by injuries. His injury record speaks for itself and given how frequently he has been sidelined over the years, the move in the first place was certainly a risky one.

There is still over a year left on his contract so lots of variables could change within that time, but as things stand his transfer was one of Celtic’s worst of recent years.

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Gareth Southgate has announced his England squad for the upcoming Euro 2020 qualifiers, prior to which the question on every Palace fan’s mind was whether Aaron Wan-Bissaka would get a maiden call up to the Three Lions first team.

Unfortunately for the young right-back, he isn’t included in Southgate’s selection, with Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker and Trent Alexander-Arnold proving difficult to oust from the setup.

The 21-year-old has been in exceptional form for the Eagles this season and, unlike the aforementioned names, very rarely has a bad day at the office – he can surely feel aggrieved over his omission.

Which player with “no potential” has just been named Crystal Palace’s worst ever January signing? Find out in the video below…

Completing an average of four tackles per league match, the London-born defender’s numbers are up there with the best in Europe although it has to be said that, while his defensive output is immense, he offers far less on the front foot than the three names keeping him out of the team.

Perhaps a change of system is needed for Wan-Bissaka to get into the Three Lions squad but, regardless, Southgate cannot leave him out for much longer if he keeps improving at such an astounding rate.

Here’s what the Selhurst Park faithful had to say on Twitter…

أفادت تقارير صحفية إسبانية، أن الألماني يورجن كلوب المدير الفني لنادي ليفربول الإنجليزي، مهووس بالتعاقد مع أداما تراوري مهاجم ولفرهامبتون.

تراوري كان هدفًا لـ ليفربول خلال فترة الانتقالات الصيفية الماضية، ولكن الريدز نجح في ضم زميله في الفريق ديوجو جوتا، وفشلت مفاوضات التعاقد مع أداما.

طالع أيضًا.. كلوب: الخسارة بسباعية أمام أستون فيلا أكثر فائدة من نتيجة 3-2

تراوري لاعب برشلونة السابق، انتقل إلى أستون فيلا في 2015، ثم بعد عام انضم إلى ميدلزبره، قبل أن يستقر في 2018 مع ولفرهامبتون والذي شهد تطوره وتألقه في بريمرليج.

ميجيل ريكو الصحفي بصحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو” الإسبانية، أكد بأن يورجن كلوب لا يزال مهووسًا بالتعاقد معم أداما تراوري ويرى بأنه مناسب للغاية مع أفكاره في ليفربول.

وأكد ميجيل، أن ولفرهامبتون لن يتنازل عن الحصول على 70 مليون يورو، للتخلي عن أداما تراوري الذي لعب لمنتخب إسبانيا أول مباراة دولية في الشهر الماضي.

صاحب الـ24 عامًا، هدفًا للعديد من الأندية الأوروبية والإنجليزية بصفة خاصة، ولكن يورجن كلوب الأكثر اهتمامًا بضمه، وسيحاول بأقصى ما لديه لضمه إلى ليفربول في ميركاتو الشتاء المقبل.

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According to a report in The Daily Mail, in-form Aston Villa star Jack Grealish is being scouted by Tottenham Hotspur as they look to make some big moves in the transfer market this summer, and it is a predictable story that ramps up the pressure on Villans boss Dean Smith.

What’s the word, then?

Well, Spurs have long been linked with the 23-year-old and the Championship outfit managed to rebuff interest in him last summer according to The Times, before tying him down to a new contract with a £45m release clause included.

While that is a fee that could make the north London outfit make twice about making an approach, the Midlands outfit will need to be prepared for interest in their talisman and captain – especially if they don’t win promotion back to the Premier League for the third successive season.

Grealish has made a huge impact following his return from a three-month injury lay-off earlier this month, and was of course the victim-turned-hero during the second city derby last weekend.

Pressure on Smith

While the skipper did commit his future to Villa, there would be no surprise if the talented individual begins to get itchy feet should the club remain in England’s second tier for yet another season.

If a club like Tottenham do come calling it will undoubtedly interest Grealish – especially when he sees how well other English players like Dele Alli and Harry Kane have fared under Mauricio Pochettino in recent years.

Given the 23-year-old is a Villa fan however, any uncertainty would surely be removed if they are competing in the top flight next term.

The pressure is then very much on Smith to deliver in the coming weeks and months, and with automatic promotion all but out of the window they will have to rely on the lottery of the play-offs if they secure a top-six finish.

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Brentford’s Yoann Barbet is currently in discussions to renew his contract, according to Football.London.

He’s a player Aston Villa were understood to have been interested in adding to their squad in January but with the Frenchman’s future still unclear, should they revive their interest in the defender?

What’s the word?

Barbet is set to become a free agent this summer with his contract at the Bees expiring at the end of the season. However, the Frenchman has claimed that talks are ongoing to keep him with the London based club.

The ex-Bordeaux man told Football.London: “We’ve been talking but there is nothing at the moment.”

Villa have had a prior interest in the 25-year-old, with the player speaking about rumours of a possible move to the club just a matter of months ago. However, loan moves for Kortney Hause and Tyrone Mings were preferred at the time.

No verdict has been reached between Brentford and Barbet yet but it’s unclear as to whether Villa are still monitoring him.

Perfect Mings alternative

The loanee from Bournemouth has been an instant hit in the Midlands but the player has been linked with Southampton, according to the Sunday Mirror, (17/03, page 72), via HITC.

Although his loss would be incredibly difficult to deal with, Barbet offers a very good alternative. Mings would likely come at a hefty price and therefore the Bees centre-back would represent far better business for the club.

Villa have a number of central defenders on loan, with Axel Tuanzebe and Hause both not permanent members of the squad either. Therefore the club would struggle for numbers in defence if all three were to depart.

Barbet has been part of a Bees defensive line that has conceded four goals less than Villa this term, despite sitting eight places below them. The fact he’s made more challenges per game than any defender currently at Villa also bodes particularly well.

Dean Smith has worked with the French defender before, having previously been the manager of Brentford and as a result, knows the player better than most. Potentially costing nothing, he would be the ideal replacement if they fail to land Mings.

Wolves were expected to do well this season, but nobody could have predicted just how well it’s gone for the newly promoted side.

After 32 games the reigning Championship title holders are seventh in the league table, 13 points behind the top six and 19 points ahead of the relegation zone. It has been an unbelievable season for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side, who also find themselves in the FA Cup semi-final this weekend against Watford.

Wolves have been a breath of fresh air in the Premier League this season, but their most incredible feat so far since their return to the English top-flight has been their ability to get results over the top six.

This season alone, the West Midland’s side have beaten Chelsea, Tottenham and most recently Manchester United, as well as holding on against Manchester City and Arsenal, and for the Gunners, their upcoming trip to the Black Country could define their finishing place in the league table.

Unai Emery’s side have found themselves in third in the Premier League table after an upturn in fortunes in results as well as other teams in the top six slipping up in the right games, allowing the Gunners to re-enter the race for Champions League football when all hope looked lost not too long ago.

On paper, the Gunners have the easiest run-in out of the four teams going for the final two Champions League spots in the league, but this is Arsenal we’re talking about, and when the going gets tough, the north London club bottle it, and when looking at their remaining fixtures it’s hard not to be nervous for the game against Wolves on the 24th.

Wolves’ great record against the top six aside, Arsenal are a team who have found it hard to get results on the road. Although fortunes this season have been a lot better this season compared to last, the Gunners still find it difficult to get wins away from the Emirates, something that is holding the club back from entering the elite bracket of Premier League teams.

Five wins on the road all season and zero clean sheets make for hard reading for Arsenal fans, who have to endure five games away from home in their final seven matches, and with what we’ve seen Wolves do to teams in the top-six this season, the Gunners must be cautious when they head to Molineux in a few weeks time.

Arsenal fans, are you confident on a top-four finish? Let us know!

Jordan Henderson is a criminally underrated player at times and his recent performances for England have shown that.

Jordan Henderson celebrated his 50th cap on Monday night when he came on as a substitute in England’s convincing 5-1 victory over Montenegro, and it has got us reflecting on what is surely one of the most underappreciated careers in modern times.

Yes, we can admit that he hardly contributes the most exciting role on the pitch, and fans are all too prepared to remind us of that fact – but when did simplicity become a cause for criticism?

Have we moved that far away from the basics of the beautiful game, the passing, the energy, the tackling and tenacity – the very core principals we were taught as fledgeling players ourselves – that we cannot appreciate the simple arts? We think not. At least we should not have.

Gareth Southgate certainly has not, that is for sure, and we are more inclined to believe him, the man who united England and gave them their best summer in 52 years, over Joe Bloggs from the pub, weekend pundit and purveyor of all things illogical.

The England manager commented on Henderson’s milestone (via Henry Winter’s Twitter page): “he’s such an important player for us, with his winning mentality, he makes other players play well, he’s a leader”

Indeed, it must be nice for Liverpool fans to finally see their man getting some much-deserved plaudits; that long overdue recognition for the role he has performed with such admirable consistency through the years that it is hard not to appreciate him and his unbridled commitment, and discipline, to surely one of football’s most tedious roles.

Now, we want to be careful when we make this comparison – as we are hyper-aware of the huge gulf in class between the two – but you see the likes of Kante being praised no end for the simple roles they perform for their teams – so why are England fans so utterly intent on bashing Henderson?

Are we allergic to praising our domestic rivals?

Liverpool fans, is there English player better than Jordan Henderson at what he does? Let us know in the comments below…