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Tottenham Hotspur need to overcome a two-goal deficit to make their second successive Carabao Cup final without several of their first-team stars this evening.

Antonio Conte’s depleted side welcome his former club Chelsea to north London for the second leg of their semi-final clash but the Italian does not have the likes of Eric Dier, Cristian Romero, Heung-min Son or Steven Bergwijn available.

Spurs will be buoyed by some confidence, at the very least, following their FA Cup third-round win over Morecambe on Sunday afternoon but the Champions of Europe are a different kettle of fish.

It will be interesting to see what sort of side the Italian does opt for, with crucial Premier League encounters against arch-rivals Arsenal, Leicester City and then Chelsea again on the horizon.

Here’s the XI we’re predicting at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium tonight…

There could be as many as seven changes from the side that won against the League One minnows at the weekend.

Club captain Hugo Lloris is likely to return between the sticks, taking the place of Pierluigi Gollini but without Dier and Romero, it’s hard for Conte to field much of a different backline.

Therefore, Ben Davies and Joe Rodon could remain, with Davinson Sanchez returning in place of Japhet Tanganga, who was at fault for the Shrimpers’ opener.

There could be a return for Sergio Reguilon at left wing-back and Matt Doherty may even keep his place on the right, with Emerson being held back for this weekend’s derby.

Meanwhile, in midfield, Harry Winks may make way despite a Man of the Match display as it allows for the usual partnership of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Oliver Skipp.

The £36m-rated Dane, dubbed a “monster” in midfield, has been one of Conte’s best-performing players and he offers some much-needed leadership in the engine room.

In the absence of Son, Conte could push Giovani Lo Celso further forward to partner Harry Kane and Lucas Moura, who are the two final changes. The duo made a considerable goalscoring impact at the weekend and will surely start here this evening.

AND in other news, Spurs “confident” of soon landing £20m “monster” in bargain swoop, Conte will love him…

Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa could be set for a shock January exit from Elland Road, according to a report from the continent.

The Lowdown: Bielsa a Leeds icon

The Argentine are arguably been the most influential figure at Leeds in the past decade or so, bringing the good days back to the club.

Bielsa has of course guided the Whites back into the Premier League, finishing ninth in their first season back in the division and playing some superb football along the way, endearing himself to those in Yorkshire with his enigmatic personality and obvious passion for the beautiful game, even showing up to coach football-loving local kids out of the blue.

The 66-year-old’s current Leeds deal expires at the end of this season, however, and it remains unknown if he will extend his stay beyond that point.

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The Latest: Shock exit rumour emerges

According to Jeunes Footeux [via Leeds All Over], Bielsa could actually leave Leeds in January, in what Leeds All Over describe as a ‘significant twist’ and ‘big shock’.

A board meeting is rumoured to be taking place next month and his future will be discussed there.

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The Verdict: Surely not?

The thought of Bielsa leaving at any point is a sad one but it seems unfathomable that he would either leave or be sacked in January.

The Leeds hero is a man of his word and has committed his future until at least the summer, so it would be an almighty shock if that suddenly wasn’t the case. It would also feel incredibly harsh for the club to take decisive action even despite the poor form to kick off this campaign, given his role in their promotion back to the big time.

It may be that Bielsa decides he has taken Leeds far enough come the end of the season, but with key men like Patrick Bamford back fit again, the hope is that the Whites rise up the Premier League in the coming months, increasing Bielsa’s chances of staying put even beyond this season, let alone through the winter.

In other news, Leeds are reportedly keen on a January move for one player. Find out who it is here.

It has been a month-and-a-half since Antonio Conte was appointed Tottenham manager, with the north London club already seeing rapid improvements under the Italian.

Spurs have picked up ten points from a possible 12 in the league under Conte, winning their last three Premier League matches. However, they haven’t played in two weeks after a recent rise in virus cases in the top flight.

The Lilywhites are set to return to Premier League action on Sunday as they host Liverpool in what could prove to be Conte’s toughest test since taking the reins at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The 52-year-old has tinkered with numerous combinations within his preferred three-at-the-back setup, deploying a 3-4-2-1 system since taking over for the clash against Everton in November.

However, one mainstay in the Italian’s team has been defender Eric Dier. The £19.8m-rated Englishman has played every minute of Premier League football under Conte as well as featuring in both Europa Conference League matches against Vitesse Arnhem and NS Mura.

The 27-year-old has certainly impressed, conceding just one goal in those four Premier League games in the middle of a back three alongside various others, solidifying his place in the team.

Now in his eighth year at Tottenham, Dier has been subject to various examples of both stinging criticism and glowing praise, particularly last season in what was an inconsistent campaign.

The Englishman claimed last season that he was the victim of an “unfair narrative” amid criticism from his then-manager José Mourinho, whilst also being handsomely praised by former Spurs player Jermaine Jenas after a “sensational” performance in a win over eventual champions Manchester City.

Tottenham is certainly a work in progress for Conte, particularly having come in mid-season. However, the Italian will be looking to replicate his successes at both Chelsea and Inter Milan, where he won league titles.

Dier could be Conte’s new Cahill

Whilst at Spurs’ capital rivals Chelsea, the 52-year-old famously switched to a 3-4-3 formation after losing 3-0 to Arsenal early in the Blues’ title-winning 2016/17 season. This proved to be the catalyst for the west London club’s success, and the use of a back three became a popular tactic in the Premier League, adopted by the likes of former Tottenham manager Nuno Espirito Santo.

Former England defender Gary Cahill was a mainstay in that title-winning Chelsea defence, making 37 league appearances in the triumphant campaign and proving to be a towering aerial presence, winning 2.5 headers per game. Perhaps Dier can replicate the successes of his former international teammate, with an average of 2.3 aerial duels won per match this season as he also illustrates his ability in that regard under Conte.

In the short-term, the 27-year-old will be looking to contribute to Tottenham finishing as high as possible in the Premier League this season. However, a return to the England setup will surely be on his mind.

It’s been over a year since the 45-cap defender last represented his national team in a 4-0 win over Iceland, and he will certainly look to impress Gareth Southgate over the coming months with the 2022 World Cup now less than a year away.

Life under Conte has started well for Dier, who must remain consistent if he is to seriously excel under the Italian. If he does, he could do for Tottenham what Cahill did for Chelsea when the 52-year-old was on the other side of London a few years ago.

In other news: Conte must unleash Spurs’ £80k-p/w “team player” tomorrow, he could terrify Liverpool

Wolverhampton Wanderers have been handed a boost in their bid to bring Renato Sanches to Molineux in the January transfer window.

What’s been said?

In a recent interview with French publication L’Equipe (via Sport Witness), the LOSC Lille midfielder, who has been heavily linked with a switch to Wolves this winter, revealed that he would be open to a move away from the Ligue 1 side in the coming months – as long as the right offer comes in.

Speaking about the interest in his services, the 24-year-old said: “Maybe AC Milan and Arsenal are interested but I don’t know. I spoke with my agent, I know which clubs are calling and which are not, but I can’t tell now. But I know I’m ready. If an offer comes in, I’ll find out what’s best for me.”

Shi must act

Considering just how short Bruno Lage’s Wolves side currently are in the middle of the park, with the 45-year-old manager only being able to call upon the likes of Ruben Neves, Joao Moutinho or Leander Dendoncker at present, a move to bring a pair of fresh legs into the position during the January transfer window would appear an extremely wise one for Jeff Shi to make.

And, when taking into account just how impressive Renato Sanches has been for Lille in recent seasons, the Portugal international would certainly appear to make a fantastic addition to the Wolves ranks this winter.

Indeed, over his six Ligue 1 appearances so far this term – a number which has been limited by his recovery from a knee injury – the £27m-rated midfielder has provided one assist and created one big chance for his teammates, in addition to making an average of 1.5 key passes per game – the most of any of his teammates.

The £51k-per-week man has also impressed in metrics more typical of his position, making an average of 30.8 passes, 0.5 interceptions, 1.8 tackles and winning 5.7 duels per fixture.

These returns have seen the 24-year-old average a SofaScore match rating of 7.26 – ranking him as Jocelyn Gourvennec’s best performer in the league.

As such, considering the quite obvious lack of creativity in Wolves’ current crop of players in the middle of the park, with goalkeeper Jose Sa having creating the same amount of big chances as Lage’s highest-ranked midfielders, the signing of Renato Sanches would indeed look to be an excellent piece of business for Shi to get over the line.

And, following his most recent comments, it would appear as if there is very much a deal to be done for his services in January, something which the Wolves chairman simply must act upon.

In other news: Shi must ruthlessly axe Wolves’ £43k-p/w “near miss”, he’s becoming a real liability

Even though Liverpool have managed to keep a clean sheet in all of their three previous games across all competitions against Arsenal, FC Porto and Southampton, the Reds have managed to concede more goals in the league than Chelsea and Manchester City.

With the upcoming January transfer window on the horizon, it seems as though the club could be in danger of losing one of their defensive players after Football Insider reported that West Ham United are interested in making a move to sign Nat Phillips.

Even though Phillips has only made two senior appearances for Liverpool so far this season, the club should have no plans to allow the defender to join West Ham in January.

Given how he ended up as Liverpool’s second-highest rated player in the Premier League last season with an overall performance rating of 7.29/10 according to WhoScored, Phillips certainly proved himself to everyone at the Merseyside club that he is more than capable of playing for them at a high level.

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In addition to his impressive overall performances in the league last season, the central defender also managed to rack up an average of 4.8 clearances per game, 1.3 tackles per game and 1.2 interceptions per game, highlighting his defensive talents.

Labelled as a “monster” for his efforts in the team last season by Klopp, it’s a shame that Phillips, who is currently valued at £7.2m according to Transfermarkt, has not been given the opportunity to shine once again this time out.

As a result of his impressive season, Liverpool offered the 24-year-old a long-term deal that will keep him at the club until the summer of 2025.

Taking this into account, it would seem rather silly for the Reds to let Phillips go in January after giving him a renewed contract just a few months ago.

With this in mind, it could be in everyone’s best interest if Jurgen Klopp starts to give Phillips some regular game time to make it clear that he is a valued member of the squad that has what it takes to be a long-term option for them in the future.

Furthermore, with Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip now at the age of 30, Klopp could save Liverpool millions by unleashing Phillips once again. Cementing his place in the team could swerve Michael Edwards and co from hunting European shores for a pricey replacement.

In other news: Edwards must seal Klopp’s dream Liverpool deal in “electric” £20m “bulldozer” – opinion

A number of Wolves supporters are excited after Bruno Lage’s side were linked with a move for Sporting CP defensive midfielder Joao Palhinha.

Wolves are back in Premier League action on Saturday afternoon, making the trip to Leeds United for what could be an intriguing clash.

Lage’s men have won their last three league matches, including last weekend’s unforgettable 3-2 victory away to Aston Villa, meaning they now sit 10th in the table.

While Wolves are in good form at the moment, they are always on the lookout for potential new signings and a fresh update has emerged regarding Palhinha.

According to Calciomercato [via Talking Wolves], they are keen on acquiring his signature, with the 26-year-old winning nine caps for Portugal to date.

His a destructive presence in the middle of the park, winning an enormous 3.8 tackles per game this season in Liga NOS.

Wolves fans react to Palhinha latest

These Wolves fans took to Twitter to provide their thoughts on the news, with many reacting positively, as one supporter called him a ‘perfect’ transfer target.

“If there is a god”

Credit: @tod1877

“Him or Renato Sanches in in the January window would arguably be the best winter window Wolves have had since promotion”

Credit: @krittterrr

“The perfect midfielder for us after Renato Sanches”

Credit: @WolvesNumber37

“PORFAVOOOOOR”

Credit: @raulismo9

“Do it please”

Credit: @Finsabu

“Get it done before we miss out”

Credit: @Dan__Vincent

In other news, a journalist has hinted at one Wolves player leaving the club. Find out who it is here.

Manchester United have been here before with Paul Pogba. An expiring contract, Mino Raiola, reports of interest from Juventus and questions being asked of commitment to the collective cause at Old Trafford.

None of this is new to the Red Devils. They had, however, hoped to avoid seeing history repeat itself.

They are now being backed into a corner, one where Premier League winner odds continue to drift as events outside of their control lead to uncomfortable questions being asked of the direction in which the most decorated club side in English football are heading.

As things stand, it is difficult to see how EPL betting tips could have United as anything other than 50/1 shots to claim a first top-flight crown since Sir Alex Ferguson departed in 2013, with consistency still proving elusive.

That has been an issue for Pogba as an individual, with a World Cup-winning Frenchman often struggling to replicate heroics with his country when turning out at club level. There is no doubting the ability, just the tap that turns it on and off.

There is every chance that said supply will be shut off completely in 2022. Pogba’s current contract is due to expire next summer and no fresh terms have been agreed as yet. If an extension was going to be put in place, then you would expect the paperwork to have been signed by now.

A sense of deja vu has descended on the Theatre of Dreams, with minds being cast back to 2012 and the first instalment of a long-running saga.

What will happen with Pogba?

Some nine years ago, with Pogba still a rough diamond in need of some polishing, Raiola negotiated a move to Italy. Those in Manchester were less than amused, as they prepared to part with an academy graduate in which so much time and energy had been invested.

Legendary United boss Sir Alex Ferguson told MUTV: “It’s a bit disappointing because I don’t think he showed us any respect at all. To be honest, if they carry on that way, I’m quite happy that he’s away, from me, anyway.â€

Some of the characters have changed in the soap opera of 2021, but the storyline remains the same. This time, though, no definitive decision has been made on what will happen at the end of the season. A ‘will he, won’t he’ debate continues to rage.

Having embarked on a long goodbye once before, Pogba appears to be treading a similar path. He will be free to speak with teams outside of England from January, and the grass over there may start to look a little greener.

With no transfer fee to contend with, the likes of Juventus, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain can put big-money offers on the table that will turn heads and make it almost impossible for the Red Devils to counter.

Pogba may also want a change of scenery, with his every move dissected in minute detail. Spotlights in Italy, Spain or France would shine just as brightly, but fresh starts and clean slates would be the order of the day.

That was once the case in Manchester, but an £89 million asset is now looking a little frayed around the edges and a parting of ways may become the best solution for all concerned.

With Valerien Ismael’s West Bromwich Albion side heading into Friday night’s Championship clash as the league leaders following a highly impressive 4-0 win at Cardiff in midweek, the Frenchman will undoubtedly be hoping for another positive result and performance from the Baggies against Stoke City.

However, with the Potters also currently on a run of fine form, having suffered just one defeat in their last five league fixtures, Albion leaving the bet365 Stadium with all three points is by no means a certainty, with Ismael needing to get his starting XI spot-on in order to give his side the best possible chance of a win over Michael O’Neill’s men.

Will the 45-year-old make any changes to the team which started in the demolition of Cardiff City last time out? Here’s how we think West Brom could line up against Stoke, along with the latest team and injury news…

With Ismael confirming that both Matt Clarke and Robert Snodgrass are available for selection against Stoke, as the duo have recovered from their respective injuries, the Frenchman is provided with many more possibilities with his starting XI tonight.

With this in mind, we predict that the 45-year-old will make three changes to the team which lined up against Cardiff on Tuesday.

At the back, the early return of the £2.7m-rated Clarke is undoubtedly a huge boost for the Baggies, as the Brighton & Hove Albion loanee has impressed over his three Championship appearances so far this season, averaging a SofaScore match rating of 7.03.

As such, the defender immediately regains his spot in Ismael’s back three, with Conor Townsend – who has been filling in on the left-hand side of the centre-back trio – reverting to his natural position at left wing-back.

This move sees the £23k-per-week Adam Reach drop out of the starting XI, with the 28-year-old perhaps being unfortunate if he has make do with a spot on the bench after an impressive display against the Bluebirds.

In the middle of the park, despite being the West Brom club captain, we predict that Jake Livermore will make way for another Brighton loanee in the shape of Jayson Molumby, as the 31-year-old skipper has been in rather poor form in the club’s recent fixtures.

Meanwhile, despite Snodgrass’ return to fitness, the Scotland international may have to make do with a seat among the substitutes, with the 23-year-old Grady Diangana being restored to the starting XI on the right-hand side of the Baggies’ attacking trio. That switch sees Callum Robinson move into the role of centre-forward and Jordan Hugill – who is yet to score in six Championship appearances for Albion – drop out of the team.

In other news – Forget Bryan: Ismael must unleash “quality” West Brom ace v Stoke, he’s a game-changer

After beating Watford 5-0 on Saturday at Vicarage Road in their latest Premier League outing, Liverpool are back in Champions League action on Tuesday evening with an away clash against Atletico Madrid.

A hat-trick from Roberto Firmino and additional goals from Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah perfectly set up Jurgen Klopp’s side for their latest Champions League match in midweek after winning their opening two group games.

On the chalkboard

One player that wasn’t involved in the game against Watford, that we think should be in the starting XI to face Atletico is midfielder Fabinho, who is currently earning a weekly wage of £180k-per-week according to Spotrac.

The 27-year-old wasn’t in the squad to face Watford as he was involved with Brazil on international duty just a short period before the match against the Hornets, alongside Alisson Becker.

Given that Fabinho has now had time after returning from Brazil duty to get ready for the Atletico match, we feel he should be back in the team as he would presumably be fresher than the midfielders that played against Watford such as James Milner, Jordan Henderson and Naby Keita.

Taking into account some of Fabinho’s numbers and it’s evident why he deserves to play.

He has managed to rack up an average of 2.5 interceptions per game and 4.5 tackles per game from the two previous Champions League outings he’s played in for Liverpool this season. On top of that, he’s won 73% of all duels he’s been involved in so he could definitely prove himself to be a tough and possibly even terrifying opponent for Atletico’s attacking players. That’s given how Diego Simeone’s side have only managed to score 11 goals in eight La Liga games so far this season.

One in, one out

In terms of who Fabinho could replace in the team, we feel that Klopp should take Keita out of the team given he played 90 minutes against Watford and has struggled with his fitness and numerous injuries in the past. It might be a risk to play him again in midweek, even though he played well against Watford, earning himself an overall match rating of 7.2/10 according to SofaScore.

Looking ahead to the match, whether Klopp decides to start Fabinho, who has been described as “outstanding” by the Reds manager in the past, they will definitely be looking to keep their winning streak in the Champions League going ahead of their big Premier League clash against Manchester United at the weekend.

In other news: Klopp could land perfect Mane heir at Liverpool in “pure class” £22.5m-rated star – opinion

Football finance expert Kieran Maguire suspects that Abdoulaye Doucoure is in line for an Everton contract extension. 

The lowdown

The Toffees signed Doucoure from Watford ahead of the 2020/21 season for a fee of just under £20m. He has gone on to play 38 times for the club, scoring four goals and providing six assists (via Transfermarkt).

Carlo Ancelotti, the man who brought him to Goodison Park, hailed him as a ‘complete midfielder’. He is currently thought to be pocketing £75,000 per week, placing him just inside the squad’s top 10.

The latest

Doucoure initially signed a three-year deal when he joined the Blues, meaning Everton would be paying Watford around £6.65m per year. However, if they extend his contract, they will be able to pay the fee in smaller chunks over a longer period.

“We have got people like [Michael] Keane who has just extended his contract,” Maguire told Football Insider. “Every time you extend a contract, you reduce the amortisation cost.

“They have done that with a few, and I suspect we are likely to see it with likes of Doucoure and others as well.”

The verdict

We’ll often hear when a new deal is handed out that a player is being rewarded for their performances, but clearly there are other motivations at play too.

Still, you’d think Everton fans would welcome the news of an extension. Doucoure seemed a coup when they snapped him up, and so he has proved, setting up two of their three goals against Burnley last night.

He should be a starter on Merseyside for a number of years yet.

In other news, Everton are set to revisit this move in January.