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What’s happened to Dele Alli?

Gary Neville, Roy Keane and Jamie Carragher weren’t impressed by the England midfielder’s performance against Liverpool on Sunday and believe that it’s further damning evidence that the two-time PFA Young Player of the Year winner has seriously regressed as a player over the past couple of seasons.

From bossing the Premier League in his early years to barely featuring this season with just two Premier League starts so far, the 23-year-old looks half the player he once was.

“Very, very poor,” said Keane. “He’s a great example to a lot of footballers out there – you take your eye off the ball, you lose that hunger.”

“He’s lost that hunger – When you lose that hunger it’s hard to get it back,” he added.

“He needs to hear these words. He needs that spike because I think he can take it”, Neville responded.

“It’s not like he’s always had it put on a plate for him,” he added.

“He’s come from the lower leagues. He should never lose that hunger because of that, of that fight and that spirit, [but] he’s half the player.”

Tottenham have unilaterally struggled this season, having already lost six games in all competitions. But that isn’t for the want of trying on the part of some. Harry Kane still looks like they’re desperate to win and give it his all, instinctively diving on a rebound to give Spurs an early lead on Sunday. You just don’t get the same impression from watching Alli anymore.

Speaking after yesterday’s game against Liverpool, Neville, Keane and Carragher had their say on the waning Spurs midfielder…

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

It’s been a topsy-turvy campaign for Southampton so far.

A 4-0 thrashing of arch-rivals Portsmouth has arguably been the highlight, while wins over Sheffield United and Brighton are up there as some other decent moments.

However, there have probably been more lows than highs.

The Saints have lost their last three Premier League games, conceding nine goals in the process as Bournemouth, Tottenham and Chelsea have swatted Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men to one side.

The Austrian? Well, he could deservedly come in for some criticism.

Here are two reasons why the former RB Leipzig boss should be questioned…

Powder-puff backline 

Hasenhuttl’s side have conceded far too many goals, and at this point, the finger could justifiably be pointed at him rather than those in his backline.

The Saints have shipped 15 goals in eight Premier League games, the third-most out of all 20 teams.

Managers of teams who the Saints are arguably competing with, such as Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson and Burnley’s Sean Dyche, have allowed their side to ship just eight and nine goals respectively, spending considerably less on their defences – £18m Jannik Vestergaard cost more than £400k Joel Ward, £1.5m Martin Kelly, £14m Patrick van Aanholt and free transfer Gary Cahill combined.

Burnley’s defence – consisting of Erik Pieters, Ben Mee, James Tarkowski and Matt Lowton – also didn’t cost anywhere near Vestergaard’s fee – it’s all down to the coaching.

Strange substitutions

Hasenhuttl continues to make substitutions at the wrong moments in matches.

Against Spurs, he waited until the 79th minute to bring on his first sub, despite the fact that the north Londoners had Serge Aurier sent off in the 31st minute – Stuart Armstrong, Michael Obafemi and Shane Long all had barely any time to make an impact.

Then, against Chelsea, the Austrian watched on as his side went 3-1 down, and once again waited until the latter stages of the game before bringing on his first sub – Obafemi was introduced in the 73rd minute, before Sofiane Boufal and Che Adams entered the fray in the 81st minute.

His substitutions are coming far too late when his side are chasing the game – Southampton are paying for these decisions with some poor results.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Sky Sports pundit Charlie Nicholas believes Manchester City’s clash against Atalanta tonight is the perfect time to start academy graduate Phil Foden.

What did he say?

City have won their first two Champions League games in Group C, whilst the Italian side have lost to both Dinamo Zagreb and Shakhtar Donetsk, letting in six goals along the way.

Three points for the Citizens tonight would put one firm foot in the knockout stages with three games left to play.

Nicholas suggests an easy night’s work for Pep Guardiola and, with that in mind, believes Foden should be involved.

The pundit said, per Sky Sports: “Raheem Sterling is heavily involved, you can take your pick out of Bernardo Silva, David Silva or Riyad Mahrez, while Gabriel Jesus is scoring. He will probably make three or four changes again here but I expect them to win comfortably.

“Jesus has responded when he hasn’t played, but so has Phil Foden.

“Give him some game time and get him involved. This can be the balance that gives him a starting place against Atalanta. It will be a comfortable night for City.”

Foden needs the minutes

Guardiola has shown nothing but praise for Foden over the last year, calling the 19-year-old “the most talented player” he has ever seen over the summer. Despite such an incredible claim, the Spaniard is still extremely hesitant to play him, handing the youth product just 11 minutes of Premier League action so far.

Foden did, however, come on as a substitute in the last Champions League week against Zagreb, in which he registered a goal in just three minutes of game time.

It was announced earlier on in the year that David Silva will be departing the Etihad after 10 years of extraordinary service as a playmaker. As a result, Guardiola will be on the lookout for a man to fill his boots and Foden could be that player.

However, unless he gets the minutes he needs to grow, it’s hard to see the Englishman stepping into the role so early on in his career.

Nights like these are times when he can learn his trade on the big stage, and the former Barcelona manager should start the youngster if he wants him to replace Silva in the future.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Loan Watch series, which takes a closer look at those players who are aiming to galvanise their careers away from the spotlight of their parent club.

Liverpool have sent eight players out on loan this season and so far they have had varying degrees of success, but Allan’s move to Fluminense is turning out well despite falling under the radar.

That could be because the midfielder is now 22 years of age and has had five different loan spells since joining the Reds in 2015.

He is now back in Brazil and there are signs that moving back home has given him the platform he needs, as he has improved as a result.

Allan has featured 15 times in the league and has been a bright spark in a team that has struggled so far, winning just five out of 20 games. He is a very technical player and what he lacks in physical stature he makes up for with skill on the ball.

There are few players like him in the Liverpool squad. He is always looking to get on the ball and make something happen, whether that is through finding a teammate or beating his opponent with the ball at his feet – he helps Fluminense to tick.

What’s more, he does it with pinpoint accuracy, underline by his pass accuracy of 91%, which isn’t bettered by any midfielder in the current Reds’ side.

However, he is granted more time and freedom on the ball in Brazil, and though his average successful dribble of 1.7 per game shows he can get past a man, he may struggle under the intensity and high-pressing which many Premier League sides like to utilise.

Watch Liverpool Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Another drawback is his lack of defensive ability, and until he improves in that regard he will likely be continually overlooked by Jurgen Klopp.

Fabinho and Jordan Henderson, who occupy a more defensive role than Georginio Wijnaldum, both boast an average tackle success rate of two or more per game, compared to Allan’s one, which shows he has work to do.

Instead, he has committed an average of 2.1 fouls per game, which Liverpool cannot afford to do when they’re playing at the highest level. Therefore time is running out for the Brazilian to make an impression on the first-team, as there are too many flaws in his game.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

Jordan Pickford and Everton travel to Turf Moor on Saturday where the current first-choice England keeper will meet his foe Nick Pope, as the Burnley man continues to push him for the number one spot.

Pickford has been involved with England ever since Gareth Southgate sought to replace Joe Hart in 2017, with the 25-year-old taking the number one shirt as the Three Lions approached the World Cup in 2018. In the process, the former Sunderland keeper edged past Pope, Tom Heaton and Jack Butland for the main jersey, but things are looking much different nowadays.

The tide is seemingly changing with the Burnley keeper having a significantly better start to the season than the Toffees man. Pickford was arguably lucky to sneak into the England side based on form as the Sky Sports’ power rankings omitted him from the 23-man squad, based on his statistical numbers.

He also fluffed his lines against Manchester City last weekend, drawing stern criticism from Everton fans for firstly failing to save Riyad Mahrez’s free kick and then almost gifting a goal with an irresponsible failed Cruyff turn in his own third, so it certainly feels as though the pressure is on Pickford to prove he can still be trusted.

Pope, on the other hand, comes with a reputation of steadiness between the sticks, even if he’s a more understated presence than Pickford. The Burnley man has the one cap to his name and was on the bench during each match at the World Cup. However, a shoulder injury kept him out of the squad for many months, which subsequently lost him his place in the Burnley goal, as Heaton returned by the time he was injury-free.

However, having secured the number one spot after Heaton’s move to Aston Villa, now is the time for the 27-year-old to make his mark on the Three Lions setup, and recent form suggests he’s ready to become Pickford’s England nemesis by capitalising on the Everton man’s sloppy start to the season with more assured performances.

Pope currently boasts 3.3 saves per Premier League fixture, whilst winning 0.7 aerial battles each game, and at the same time has conceded three goals less than the 25-year-old’s 12 at Everton so far. On the other hand, Pickford has averaged just 2.4 saves per game in the league, whilst averaging just o.1 aerial battles won per match.

The Burnley shot-stopper has made 24 saves this season, whilst making five high claims and seven sweeper clearances. In contrast, England’s current number one has stopped just 17 shots, made two high claims and two sweeper clearances.

Not only are the statistics significantly in favour of Pope reclaiming the jersey, but his overall performance on a consistent basis proves his worth as well – averaging a 6.86 rating on Whoscored compared to Pickford’s 6.32.

There is no doubt Southgate will be watching closely as Burnley host Everton to determine who takes the spot between the sticks against the Czech Republic and Bulgaria. Right now, it may just come down to whoever makes an error or pulls off a more important save, as the England boss certainly has a tough call to make.

But while it seems Pope can only really go up in Southgate’s estimations as the current second or third choice, Pickford needs to impress to ensure he doesn’t slide down the pecking order. After such ropey beginnings to the new campaign, another disappointing performance could prove incredibly costly. Nothing shows a player up more than failing to deliver in front of a direct rival, or in this case, a potential nemesis.

Lacking in home-grown talents in their squad, Tottenham Hotspur must start targeting some English players in the summer.

Indeed, they need to fulfil their Premier League as well as Champions League home-grown quotas and are targeting Che Adams as their next coup from the championship in the summer, according to Daily Mirror via HITC.

Having spent nothing last summer, Daniel Levy will be under pressure to shell out cash to bulk up Spurs squad this time around. Adams could be a really clever signing, as Birmingham could sell him for relatively cheap and hand them a real talent. The Birmingham star’s been on a roll this season, having scored 19 goals in 32 appearances (stats via WhoScored).

Not only is he a potential goal-scorer, but a delight to watch, as the youngster loves to run with the ball and possesses commendable dribbling ability. Adams’ shooting ability from distance is promising, as his impressive link-up play means he can fit right into Mauricio Pochettino’s system.

Under the tutelage of Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen, Adams can slowly unleash his utmost potential at Spurs. His ability to play as a striker or even as an attacking midfielder means Pochettino can revolve him around in different positions.

The 22-year-old’s hunger for goals can help him thrive at Spurs, where the biggest requirement is to go forward and score goals. He can blend into their fast-paced, incisive system pretty well and considering how big a hit Dele Alli’s been, Adams can also blow up at Spurs.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more… 

If history is anything to go by Liverpool are in for a stern test for their visit to Napoli, and their control of the ball will be key to their chances of taking something back to Anfield.

In their two trips the San Paolo the Reds are without a victory, with their most recent meeting ending in a 1-0 defeat in the Champions League group stage last season.

Since then Liverpool have been crowned European champions, but their away form in the competition still requires improvement, seeing as they lost four of their seven away matches last term against the Serie A outfit, Paris Saint-Germain, Red Star Belgrade and Barcelona.

Improving that record against Napoli is a daunting task, as Gli Azzurri make things difficult for any team due to their dominance of possession, and midfielder Allan is key to their system in both attack and defence.

He is in many ways their equivalent to Fabinho, and not because they’re both Brazilian.

The pair are assured on the ball, keeping composure whilst under pressure and able to break up play when out of possession. Limiting their infleunce will be the aim of both Carlo Ancelotti and Jurgen Klopp and, judging by their impressive starts this season, whichever team is more effective in doing so will have a great advantage.

According to WhoScored, Fabinho has averaged the highest number of passes per game of any Liverpool midfielder in the Premier League with 54, whilst Allan’s 51 ranks behind only Piotr Zielinksi in the same metric.

Alongside his midfield partner, Allan has been significant in Napoli’s average of 549 passes in Serie A, and if they are able to repeat their dominance of the ball in the same fixture last season – when they had 57% possession – then they could take an early lead in the group.

This time around, however, Fabinho will likely start. He only played 14 minutes in the same fixture last year and his influence could be the difference.

Not only is he able to break up play effectively, but he can also control the tempo of matches, and if Liverpool endure spells under pressure, which is likely at some point, he will provide a platform to keep things simple, or perhaps spark a counter – he has, after all, averaged four successful long passes per game this season.

Watch Liverpool Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

His pass accuracy of 87% shows he rarely puts a foot wrong, whilst his tackling and interception stats show the defensive aspect of his game.

Unfortunately for the Reds, the same can also be said of Allan. In fact, he has bettered Fabinho’s pass success rate with 94%, albeit having played two games less, whilst his Serie A statistics prove how efficient he is in dealing with the opposition.

There is clearly little to separate them, and it could therefore come down to who performs better on the night. Both teams can mix up their game due to the pace of their forwards so controlling the midfield is vital to creating attacks, and if Fabinho can provide Liverpool with a platform to play as he often does, then they could be well placed to better their result in the last campaign.

West Ham United are interested in a move to bring David Hancko to the London Stadium in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a claim made by ExWHUemployee, who revealed on a recent episode of The West Ham Way Podcast that the Hammers are keeping a close eye on the situation of the Sparta Prague centre-back ahead of a potential move for the 24-year-old late in the winter market.

Speaking about the Irons’ interest in the Slovakia international, the club insider said: “A new name that I’ve not mentioned before, but someone who could possibly be considered is David Hancko of Sparta Prague. Again, [a Daniel] Kretinsky link there. He’s not actually Czech, he’s Slovakian. He can play left-back and the left side of centre-back.”

Fans should be excited

With Angelo Ogbonna being ruled out for the season with an ACL injury, and both Craig Dawson and Issa Diop having done little to suggest they are of the standard required for a side chasing Champions League football in the absence of the Italian, centre-back is very much a priority position for David Moyes over what remains of the January transfer window.

And, considering just how well Hancko has performed for Sparta Prague in the current campaign, the £3.6m-rated defender would appear to make an excellent addition to the 58-year-old manager’s options in the heart of his defence.

Indeed, over his six Europa League appearances this term, the 24-year-old helped his side keep three clean sheets, as well as making an average of two interceptions, 2.2 tackles, 2.3 clearances and winning 4.5 duels per game.

The versatile centre-back also chipped in for his side in an attacking capacity, scoring two goals, registering one assist and creating one big chance for his teammates, in addition to taking an average of 1.8 shots and making one key pass per fixture.

These returns saw the Slovakian average an extremely impressive SofaScore match rating of 7.02, ranking him as Sparta’s second-best performer in the European competition.

Furthermore, with West Ham shareholder Daniel Kretinsky also being the co-owner of Sparta Prague, it would very much appear that, should Moyes indeed wish to make a late move for the defender this January, a deal between the two clubs would be an easy one to strike.

As such, considering his clear ability at the back as well as going forwards, it would appear that a move for Hancko would be a very intelligent one for West Ham to make this winter – as the signing of the 24-year-old would undoubtedly be one that will excite the London Stadium faithful.

In other news: Moyes can seal dream West Ham signing in £82k-p/w gem whose “skills are outstanding”

Barcelona have reportedly agreed a five-year deal for Leeds United winger Raphinha as his time at Elland Road seemingly nears its conclusion.

The Lowdown: Raphinha on the move?

There have been numerous reports focusing on the Brazilian in recent weeks, with a summer exit from Leeds appearing to be on the cards.

There is no denying that Barcelona have emerged as the strong favourites to snap up Raphinha at the end of the season as Xavi eyes up attacking reinforcements at Camp Nou.

Now, arguably the biggest update yet has emerged regarding the matter.

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The Latest: Barcelona deal agreed

According to Spanish media outlet Sport, Raphinha has agreed terms with Barcelona over a five-year deal, despite competition from the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City and Bayern Munich.

His salary and bonuses are thought to be decided already and he has ‘given his word’ to the Catalan giants that he will join them in the summer.

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The Verdict: Matter of time

If true, this update comes as no great surprise, with Raphinha’s future increasingly looking like it belongs away from Leeds as the weeks and months have passed.

On the plus side, the Whites should earn a substantial fee for the Brazil international – Phil Hay has claimed that it will take considerably more than £30m for a deal to be done – allowing Jesse Marsch the opportunity to bring in top players of his choosing over the summer.

The main thing now is that Raphinha knuckles down and produces big performances until May, helping Leeds to stay in the Premier League and ensuring that his legacy at Elland Road is very much a positive one.

In other news, Leeds have been linked with a loan move for one player this summer. Find out who it is here.

Daniel Levy could repeat one of his biggest mistakes at Tottenham Hotspur after a shock report emerged this week…

What’s the word?

According to Italian transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Spurs tried to sign Manchester United forward Anthony Martial on loan this month but the out-of-favour Frenchman turned down their approach despite wanting to leave Old Trafford.

The Red Devils’ hierarchy are said to want his full wages (£250k-per-week) and a loan fee covered to let him leave before deadline day on January 31st.

It’s not the first time that the north London outfit have been mooted with interest in the 26-year-old, who is currently valued at €40m (£34m), after the Manchester Evening News claimed Spurs were keen during the summer window.

Another Levy mistake

What a disaster this would be.

Not only would Martial be a terrible signing for Spurs but it also shows that the Lilywhites chairman has not learned his lessons.

The 30-time France international has been a big disappointment for United, having scored only £36m move back in September 2015.

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Last season, he only found the net four times in the Premier League as his woes started to become apparent and as a result of his poor form, his attitude and work rate has been called into question – something that would not appeal to Spurs boss Antonio Conte whatsoever.

“His body language is horrible to watch, he doesn’t want to run around and work hard to be Manchester United’s number nine,” claimed former Aston Villa striker Dion Dublin after a drab outing in the Carabao Cup back in September.

Meanwhile, talkSPORT pundit Simon Jordan has been a little more scathing.

“I think he’s lightweight. I think he does it when he feels like it,” he said (via The Sun). “To me, he is the embodiment of footballers who have an inordinate amount of talent but simply don’t have the psychological application or the innate strength required to compete at that level and not be a key component of Manchester United’s team.”

Whilst Martial would not command a transfer fee the size of their club-record signing Tangy Ndombele (£55m), his extortionate wages would make this loan swoop a very expensive deal indeed.

After two-and-a-half years of inconsistency and controversy, it appears the French midfield’s time at Spurs could soon be coming to an end, making Levy’s investment in him seem ghastly – even more so after a measly ten goal and nine assists in 91 appearances.

Martial is far from the answer to Conte’s frontline woes and as such, Spurs must steer clear of going back in for the struggling United flop. If they do, Levy could well make another horrendous transfer mistake.

AND in other news, Alasdair Gold drops exciting Hugo Lloris claim at Spurs…