Celtic will be keen to build on their Scottish Premiership campaign and have now made an approach to try and bring a defender into the building in January, according to a report.
Celtic derby day delight sets up January window…
In what was billed by some as a must-win clash in the context of their title hopes, Celtic saw off Rangers at Parkhead in front of a raucous home crowd as goals from Paulo Bernardo and Kyogo Furuhashi cancelled out James Tavernier's late reply from a free-kick for the visitors.
Speaking to media post-match, Brendan Rodgers responded to recent suggestions from some within Scottish footballing circles that had doubted the Hoops' title credentials, stating:
"Over my two spells here I’ve worked against five Rangers managers and every time Rangers 'were coming'. Every time at some point. So for me, it’s it’s normal."
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Celtic are in the market for quality in the January window…
BySean Markus Clifford Dec 27, 2023
Nonetheless, the Northern Irishman will know that Phillipe Clement's side will throw everything at trying to sway the destination of the Scottish top-flight crown, making January an important month for everyone concerned with Celtic.
Citing his need for new reinforcements, Rodgers said in an interview last month: "We want to bring in quality, especially at the top end of the field. That’s hopefully something that we can hope to resolve in the next couple of windows. We need to add quality. That’s the glaring thing that stands out within the squad. If we can have players available and add to that then we can go again and push forward."
Now, it appears that the Hoops have made a move for an experienced defender who could help to offer some valuable squad depth, according to a report.
Celtic make Scott McKenna approach
According to PLZ Soccer, Celtic have approached Nottingham Forest regarding defender Scott McKenna by making a tentative enquiry, therefore initiating contact with the Premier League outfit and the Scotland international's entourage over his possible availability.
Scott McKenna's Premier League statistics – 2023/24 (Sofascore)
Clearances per game
5.0
Total duels won
5.2 (79%)
Aerial duels won
4.0 (87%)
Accurate passes in own half
18.2 (87%)
Average match rating
6.94/10
Appearances
5
In their Glasgow Derby victory over Rangers, Stephen Welsh was withdrawn and replaced by Maik Nawrocki and Cameron Carter-Vickers was ruled out until after the winter break in the build-up to the fixture, stretching Rodgers' options at centre-back to the limit.
Scott McKenna and Scott Sinclair during Aberdeen vs Celtic.
Dubbed a "good athlete" by former teammate Barry Robson, McKenna is no stranger to Rodgers, who is a known admirer of his qualities after persistently trying to sign him during his first spell at Parkhead.
Now said to be frozen out at Nottingham Forest alongside teammate Joe Worrall, the 27-year-old could be a financially advantageous arrival for Celtic if he is to return to the Scottish Premiership in January, given that he is out of contract at the East Midlands-based side this summer, making this one to watch.
Leeds United will have been relieved that they started their 2024 off with a bang instead of succumbing to a third defeat in a row in the Championship, confidently getting the better of a now managerless Birmingham City 3-0 on New Year's Day.
That empathic win proved to be the final nail in the coffin for Wayne Rooney who was axed from his St Andrew's post after the crushing defeat, Daniel Farke's rampant Whites showing no mercy at Elland Road.
Still, to make up ground on Leicester City and Ipswich Town running away with the division in the automatic promotion places, Leeds could sense that this transfer window is a pivotal time to add positive reinforcements to the side and take the West Yorkshire outfit up a notch.
Farke's men could well be after this new addition if rumours are correct, the new face keeping Glen Kamara on his toes if a deal gets over the line.
Leeds transfer latest – Andrey Santos
As per journalist Ben Jacobs – speaking on the CaughtOffside Youtube channel – the second-tier promotion hopefuls are very much interested in the services of Chelsea youngster Andrey Santos, ironing out all the fine details to potentially land the Brazilian midfielder on a loan deal this month.
Crystal Palace and Ipswich Town are also actively interested in Santos, according to Jacobs, Leeds just one of many clubs taken aback by the South American's qualities and wanting to make a deal happen with the transfer window now open.
Returning to Stamford Bridge recently after an eye-opening loan switch to Nottingham Forest this season hadn't gone to plan – Santos only appearing once for Forest in a wasted move – Leeds will hope they can get the best out of the highly regarded midfielder when making the drop-down to the hustle and bustle of the Championship.
Santos could well even displace fixed first-team figure Kamara on his arrival to West Yorkshire, the 19-year-old eager to show what he's made of and ruffle a few feathers in the process.
Andrey Santos' style of play
Once referred to as a "war machine" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, Santos could become a dangerous weapon for Farke to deploy to catch teams off-guard in the second tier.
A well-rounded holding midfielder, Santos' aggression and tenacity in tackling and disrupting play is matched by his willingness to join in with attacks and even find the back of the net on a regular basis.
Back in his native Brazil, the 19-year-old sensation would manage to net nine goals from 49 appearances playing for Vasco De Gama which would then alert the Blues to swoop in for the energetic midfielder and pick him up for a reported fee of £13m.
Kamara, on the contrary, has been understated in his play since joining Leeds from Rangers this summer.
The conservative holding midfielder has averaged just 0.20 shots per 90 minutes over the last year, according to FBRef, although his passing statistics per 90 coming in at a 92.2% average for accuracy is impressive.
Yet, Ampadu already excels in playing this role of being a reserved midfield presence away from the Finland international.
The ex-Chelsea man betters Kamara when it comes to statistics surrounding interceptions and blocks, Ampadu coming in with 1.54 interceptions and 1.69 blocks to his Finnish counterpart's lesser 1.29 interceptions and 0.82 blocks.
Finland international Glen Kamara.
If Farke wants to freshen up his holding midfield positions, signing Santos on a loan deal this month could be the perfect move to make with the Brazilian teenager – who is valued at around €10m (£9m) according to CIES Football Observatory – offering more creativity and energy from deep than Kamara.
Santos' addition into the lineup could help Leeds overwhelm opposition defences and blow teams away, picking up more wins on the board subsequently in their pursuit of promotion.
Aston Villa return to action this Friday as they travel to Stamford Bridge to take on Chelsea in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
It promises to be an exciting tie and one that could give the club confidence to finally end their 28-year wait for a major trophy.
Unai Emery has built a resilient side this season who have been outstanding thus far, but with the Midlands outfit battling it out in three competitions, he needs to add some depth to his squad.
Unai Emery
The January transfer window is open for the next ten days, could the Spaniard delve into the market and bring in a player or two who could perhaps contribute heavily to their chase for glory over the next few months?
Aston Villa’s search for new signings
There have been no shortage of names linked with a move to Villa Park this month, but Emery is clearly being cautious with regards to who best to sign.
Adding players for the sake of it is just a recipe for disaster (just ask Chelsea supporters), but there has been one player who could certainly add something to this Villa side – Giovanni Reyna.
According to Football transfers last week, Villa are one of the clubs who are showing interest in the young Borussia Dortmund gem and the report goes on to claim that the club have made contact with the German side with hopes of luring him to the Premier League before the month is out.
The 6 foot 1 star is currently valued at €24.4m (£21m) according to Football Transfers and with a contract that expires in just 18 months, Emery may be able to secure the sensation for a knockdown price.
Benfica, Lyon, Sevilla and AS Monaco are also keeping tabs on the American starlet this month as they seek to offer him more game time away from the Bundesliga and perhaps a fresh start is what is required for him to reclaim his status as one of the most exciting youngsters on the continent.
Former Birmingham City sensation Jude Bellingham firmly has the tag of not only the best young player in Europe, but his recent displays for Real Madrid suggest that he could well be one of the finest players in the world at this current moment in time.
According to FBref, Reyna’s former teammate at Dortmund is currently the most comparable player to him and considering Bellingham’s impact this season, it suggests Emery could be signing a sublime player.
Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham.
How Giovanni Reyna compares to Jude Bellingham
While Reyna has struggled for game time this term, making only 13 appearances in all competitions, the Madrid sensation has been on fire since arriving in Spain last summer.
He has scored a remarkable 18 goals and grabbed eight assists in just 26 games, which works out as a goal contribution every game and there is no question as to who is the brightest talent in Europe just now.
The duo share similar traits however, as according to WhoScored, both Reyna and Bellingham excel at finishing and passing, while they both like to dribble and perform layoffs, indicating that they share a similar playing style.
Jude Bellingham
2023
Real Madrid
Gavi
2022
Barcelona
Pedri
2021
Barcelona
Erling Haaland
2020
Borussia Dortmund
Joao Felix
2019
Benfica
Not only that, but the pair have also registered similar statistics this season with regards to shots per 90 (2.47 vs 2.38), pass success rate per 90 (86.3% vs 87.2%), goal-creating actions per 90 (0.71 vs 0.47) and aerial duels won percentage (44.4% vs 44.7%), demonstrating that Reyna could certainly offer some wonderful qualities to Emery should he make the move to Villa this month, especially if he continues to perform in a Bellingham like fashion when he gets his chance.
Giovanni Reyna's style of play
Reyna was hailed as having “something special” by his former boss at Dortmund, Lucien Favre and since making his debut for the club in the 2019/20 season, the attacking midfielder has since gone on to make 120 appearances for the club, scoring 17 goals and chipping in with 16 assists.
Not bad for a player who only turned 21 last November. This season has been a bit of a struggle however, as he has started only two competitive matches for the German side and this lack of game time could see him potentially seeking a move either this month or at the end of the season.
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Despite his lack of time on the pitch recently, Reyna still performs exceedingly well when compared to players in similar leagues.
When compared to positional peers in Europe via FBref, the Durham-born American international currently ranks in the top 1% for shot-creating actions (6.81), touches in the attacking penalty area (6.23) and total shots (3.48) per 90, along with ranking in the top 5% for successful take-ons per 90 (1.88) and the top 6% for progressive carries per 90 (3.04), clearly demonstrating his wonderful attacking skills over the previous 12 months.
Furthermore, Reyna can be deployed in a variety of positions and still perform well. during his career, the 21-year-old has played on the right and left wings along with his preferred role as an attacking midfielder and he has contributed goals and assists in all three positions.
This versatile nature could appeal to Emery and come in extremely useful if Villa are struggling for injuries to key players, with the manager knowing that Reyna would be able to thrive across a handful of different areas in the team.
This surely makes a move for him this month vital, especially considering how good he can be if he manages to secure a regular spot in the starting XI and performs how he did during his early career at Dortmund.
The statistical comparisons to Bellingham indicate that he is certainly a special player but has lacked the consistency to do it at the highest level of late due to a variety of injury problems.
Emery has shown he can get players firing and Reyna would be no different should he join the club in the near future.
With his contract close to expiry, this month is the best time to test Dortmund’s resolve and secure a talented young attacker for what could be a bargain price.
With injuries piling up once more and Liverpool still missing Wataru Endo due to the Asian Cup, the Reds have reportedly turned their attention to landing yet another midfielder before the end of the January transfer window.
Liverpool's midfield overhaul continues
Top of the Premier League and one leg in the Carabao Cup final, it's fair to say that Liverpool, unlike during the summer, aren't in desperate need of reinforcements during the January transfer window. That said, the injuries are gradually beginning to pile up to hand the Reds a warning sign of what could happen if their squad isn't filled to the brim with talent. Here's how Liverpool's injury list currently looks…
Joel Matip
1/09/2024
Stefan Bajcetic
24/02/2024
Thiago Alcantara
24/02/2024
Mohamed Salah
11/02/2024
Konstantinos Tsimikas
10/02/2024
Dominik Szoboszlai
28/01/2024
Trent Alexander-Arnold
28/01/2024
It's an injury list that those at Anfield will want to avoid a repeat of in the second half of the season and an issue that could be solved through the transfer market, especially if they land one potential reinforcement. According to reports in Europe, via Anfield Index, Liverpool have made contact to sign defensive midfielder Federico Redondo, who could be available for as little as €8m (£7m).
Alexis Mac Allister has apparently spoken highly about the Argentinos Juniors midfielder, which is a positive sign, and given that Redondo is just 21-years-old, the Reds could land a real talent for the future. With seven days left in the transfer window, those at Anfield will have to act quickly if they are to seal a deal this month, however.
"Brilliant" Redondo is a star for the future
Whilst Liverpool did well to welcome Dominik Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Endo and Ryan Gravenberch during the summer transfer window, the Reds must now build on their window to complete their rebuild – and Redondo could be a vital part of that. The Reds already have quite the South American contingent, with Alisson Becker, Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz and Mac Allister all sharing a dressing room, meaning that Redondo could slot straight in.
With football in his blood, the Argentine is born to reach the top and Liverpool could offer him a hand up to the path that follows in his father's footsteps. For just £7m, as Redondo's stats show, those at Anfield could also get themselves a bargain. As time ticks by in the transfer window, the Liverpool target may well be one to keep an eye on.
86.6% pass completion
85%
7.07 progressive passes
88%
1.65 progressive carries
74%
1.36 successful take-ons
86%
The midfielder is certainly highly rated by Football Talent Scout's Jacek Kulig too, given that he previously posted on X: "The son of an absolute legend, a 19-year-old academy graduate, and another brilliant young Argentinian midfield controller – Federico Redondo!"
In recent years, Arsenal's transfer dealings have included many more hits than misses, with the likes of Martin Odegaard, Ben White and Aaron Ramsdale proving to be worth every penny the club paid for them.
Of course, there have still been odd misses here and there, such as Nicolas Pepe and potentially Kai Havertz, if he doesn't improve towards the backend of the campaign, but the trend is undeniably positive for the Gunners.
However, there is one signing the club have made in the post-Wenger era that remains unmatched in terms of value for money, and has a shout for being one of the best value signings in the entire Premier League over the last five years.
The player in question has seen his value skyrocket 1333% since moving to N5, has established himself as one of the club's most important players, and was signed by Unai Emery.
Gabriel Martinelli's valuation at Ituano
The player in question is obviously Brazilian wonderkid Gabriel Martinelli, who Arsenal signed for just £6m from Brazilian fourth-tier outfit Ituano Futebol Clube in the summer of 2019.
At the time, he was a relative unknown to football fans in England but had been making a name for himself in his homeland and left Ituano with six goals and three assists to his name.
Gabriel Martinelli warming up for Arsenal
His form in Brazil also caught the national set-up's eye, and he was invited to a May training camp with the full squad before his move to Arsenal was announced.
There was clearly an element of excitement around the tricky forward early on, but his full potential wouldn't be clear until he started playing regularly for Arsenal.
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ByMatt Dawson Feb 6, 2024 Gabriel Martinelli's valuation at Arsenal
Martinelli's first appearance for the club came in the first game of the 2019/20 Premier League season – a 1-0 win away to Newcastle United – but he only came on for the last six minutes.
Emery finally gave him his first league start in gameweek 16, and he repaid the Spaniard by scoring his first league goal for the club in a 3-1 away win over West Ham United. Unfortunately, injuries to his hamstring and knee shortly after meant he missed most of the season and a large portion of the 2020/21 campaign.
However, it was just a few weeks before his serious knee injury that the young "monster", as journalist Mark Mann-Bryans described him, scored the goal against Chelsea that made rival fans stand up and take notice, a goal that saw him run the length of Stamford Bridge, beat N'Golo Kante and equalise for the Gunners all on his own.
Once he returned to full fitness, the wing wizard quickly became an indispensable cog in Mikel Arteta's first team, as his tireless running, eye for goal and selflessness in the build-up made him a threat whenever the Gunners were on the ball.
In his first full season back, the 5 foot 10 dynamo managed to score six goals and provide six assists in just 29 Premier League appearances, giving him a goal involvement every 2.41 games, but it was last year, at 21 years old, that he truly became one of the deadliest attackers in English football.
Appearances
Goals
Assists
21
5
2
36
15
5
29
6
6
14
2
1
14
3
0
In 36 league appearances, the "incredible" Brazilian, as Arteta dubbed him, scored 15 goals and provided five assists, and came agonisingly close to winning the league for his troubles, and while he might not be quite as prolific this season, he's still contributing to the team.
This string of impactful seasons in north London, combined with his age profile and future potential, has led to the CIES Football Observatory valuing the exciting 22-year-old at around €100m, which is about £86m, or a 1333% increase on the £6m he was signed for.
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Ultimately, Martinelli's move to Arsenal has been an unequivocal success both from a football perspective and a business one and if he can help fire the Gunners to a league title, his value might soar yet higher.
This one was huge. It meant a lot, an awful awful lot, certainly to Mikel Arteta and Arsenal. As Leandro Trossard knocked the ball past Harvey Elliott and raced towards goal, his crisp finish, which took a deflection off Virgil Van Dijk, sent the Emirates Stadium into a frenzy.
Like Jose Mourinho in the prime of his management, Arteta was dashing down the touchline, high-fiving supporters before warmly embracing his coaching staff.
This wasn't the night the Gunners won the Premier League, far from it, but in a game where they couldn't afford to drop points, sealed a 3-1 win that kept their title ambitions alive.
Just a few weeks ago it looked as though the north Londoners were sliding away from things. An FA Cup exit at the hands of Sunday's opponents, Liverpool, condemned them to three defeats in a row. Since that moment, they have now won three on the spin and sit two points behind the Reds. It's evident, then, just how big this was.
Had Arteta's men tasted defeat then they would have sunk eight points behind the Anfield outfit. Goals from Trossard, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli were enough, but the most praise deserved to go Jorginho's way.
Jorginho's performance in numbers
When the Italian signed for Arsenal a year ago there was despair. Why, supporters wondered, were the Gunners keen to acquire a player who was supposedly past his best and being cast out by?
Well, today's game showed why. This wasn't the first time Arteta has trusted the 32-year-old in a 'big game'. Jorginho started against Liverpool in the cup a few weeks ago and has also played against Manchester City, Chelsea and Newcastle this term. After arriving in January 2023, he also played in those fixtures last season.
Why? Well, the view of Gary Neville summed it up nicely after he starred versus the Toon in 2022/23: "The reason why Manchester United players and Pep Guardiola have said Paul Scholes is their favourite player was because in moments in the hardest atmosphere in a difficult away game those players are unique. They have the composure, the balance to get the team playing. That’s what Jorginho reminded me of – he was fantastic."
That was precisely the case again this weekend, with the midfield veteran handed the official Man of the Match award after an exceptionally calm display in the middle of the park.
No Arsenal player had more touches than Jorginho's 70, while he completed 87% of his passes and won seven duels. The stats may not look extraordinary for the former Chelsea star but it is hard to quantify just what he brought to the game through numbers alone.
That said, his midfield partner in crime was also "utterly ridiculous", as one analyst noted. Step forward £105m man Declan Rice.
Declan Rice's performance in numbers
Jorginho arguably outshone his mega-money partner in the centre, something that demonstrated his immense performance levels.
However, as Rice has been all season long, he was outstanding against Liverpool again on Sunday.
Playing in a double pivot means he doesn't have to do all of the defensive work himself. He's given extra freedom to play forward and that layer of his game certainly gives the Gunners an extra level.
It was a performance inspired by his colleague too. Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, the former West Ham star noted: “Before I signed for Arsenal, the prospect of playing with him (Jorginho), [Thomas] Partey – Playing against them before, knowing how he controls games. I think he’s got qualities that not a lot of midfielders have.”
Again, it's hard to justify just how good Rice was via numbers alone, but to put things simply, he was everywhere, winning four tackles, making two interceptions and completing 86% of his passes.
Minutes played
90
Touches
66
Accurate passes
43/50 (86%)
Key passes
2
Long balls
4/5
Duels won
6/11
Fouls
2
Interceptions
2
Tackles
4
So good was Rice that he was handed a highly impressive 9/10 match rating by the Evening Standard's Simon Collings, who wrote at full-time: "Was everywhere and bossed the midfield. Continues to deliver in the biggest games for Arsenal. Worth every penny of the £105m Arsenal paid."
That summation was just about perfect. Here was a man more than justifying his price tag. If £105m ever felt cheap, then you only need to look at the awe-inspiring level of performance he's dropped since signing.
He was largely signed to strengthen the midfield but he has been so complete that late winners have even been scored against Manchester United and Luton Town.
If Arsenal do win the league at the end of the season they'll owe a huge amount to the 25-year-old.
Sunderland are reportedly interested in appointing an "incredible" former Premier League manager, as they search for Michael Beale's long-term successor at the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland manager latest
Beale was sacked by the Black Cats on Monday, despite only taking charge of 12 matches after arriving back in December, with the job he was doing not deemed good enough by the board. Sunderland were beaten 2-1 away to Birmingham City last weekend, which proved to be the straw that broke the camel's back, especially after the Englishman seemingly ignored a handshake with Trai Hume as he left the field.
Michael Beale for Sunderland.
The hunt is now on for the Championship side to find a new long-term manager, with Mike Dodds named as interim boss until the end of the season.
A move for Will Still could be possible, with the 31-year-old having a release clause at Reims that means he may leave this summer, but another name has also been thrown into the hat.
Sunderland eyeing Steve Cooper
According to a report from TEAMtalk, Sunderland are eyeing a move for Steve Cooper, with the Welshman sacked by Nottingham Forest earlier in the season.
Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper.
"Steve Cooper is also out of work after leaving Nottingham Forest. He missed out on the Crystal Palace job despite links, as they have appointed Austrian coach Oliver Glasner to take over from the departing Roy Hodgson.
"Cooper will likely be keen to re-gain his Premier League status and wait for the correct opportunity, but a club the size of Sunderland holds a lot of potential that sources say could be of interest to Cooper."
England Under-16s
2014-2015
England Under-17s
2015-2019
Swansea City
2019-2021
Nottingham Forest
2021-2023
Cooper could be a brilliant high-profile appointment if Sunderland manage to pull it off, considering he has only recently been in the Premier League, doing a superb job with Forest for much of the time. Sam Allardyce was certainly impressed with what he saw, saying of the 44-year-old recently:
"Steve is one of the only managers to say he has too many players. Dealing with that can distract your focus. You want to keep them all involved and use them if you can and see what they’ve got, but ultimately, it’s a very tough decision. Steve has done an incredible job dealing with these issues as well as getting good results."
Cooper, who shares the same agency as Trai Hume, Anthony Patterson and Patrick Roberts, has genuine pedigree that would make him such an eye-catching arrival at the Stadium of Light, not least because he won the Under-17s World Cup with England back in 2017, in a side that featured the likes of Phil Foden and Jadon Sancho.
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The former Swansea City boss is a manager who likes to adopt a ball-playing approach, which will no doubt appeal to Sunderland fans – he is known to prefer an attack-minded 4-3-3 formation – but if a Premier League offer arrives, that could act as a problem for the Black Cats, making this one to watch.
West Ham United ended a period of struggle emphatically last weekend after Jarrod Bowen's hat-trick inspired a rousing 4-1 victory over Brentford in the Premier League.
David Moyes has been under heavy pressure of late, with his Hammers side slumping in form and failing to secure victory in any competition in 2024 before the win over Thomas Frank's side, falling in the FA Cup against Championship team Bristol City back in January.
West Ham manager David Moyes.
There have been calls for the Scotsman to close the door on his illustrious reign in east London and the West Ham hierarchy were even said to have halted contractual negotiations after an abject afternoon against Arsenal, who romped to a 6-0 victory at the London Stadium in the Premier League.
As things stand, Moyes will leave the club when his deal expires in the summer but there is every chance that the stability and consistency that he brings will convince owner David Sullivan to present him with fresh terms, despite segments of the fanbase expressing discontent with his perceived pragmatic style.
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But is this really prudent? Moyes might not provide the most free-flowing brand of football but he succeeds at the highest level, his tactical set-up mostly effective.
Moreover, he has created a truly sensational squad of players, with the aforementioned Bowen arriving not long after the 60-year-old's reappointment back in December 2019 and perhaps proving to be the most influential star since.
Jarrod Bowen's West Ham career in numbers
West Ham completed the £20m plus add-ons acquisition of Bowen back on January deadline day in 2020, with the winger impressing with Hull City in the Championship and looking every bit the successful forward in the top flight.
He started his new life in London with promise as Moyes looked to root his reign with a successful swerve of relegation, Bowen aiding his side in that feat with one goal and four assists across 13 Premier League outings.
He's somewhat flipped the switch at present, now regarded for his finishing ability and menacing presence in the final third, with his three-goal haul against Brentford taking him up to 14 strikes in the league this season, behind only Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah.
1.
Erling Haaland
17
2.
Mohamed Salah
15
3.
Jarrod Bowen
14
3.
Dominic Solanke
14
3.
Ollie Watkins
14
Noted for his "electric" ability in front of goal by journalist Rahman Osman, the England international is one of English football's standout forwards, having also scored the winning goal against Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final last June to crown the Moyes era in gold.
Of course, while the 27-year-old's dart and drive into the danger area, preceding a sumptuous placed finish, was crucial to the club's lifting of the trophy – conclusive, in fact – he wasn't the only player to have crafted silver-laden success.
Jarrod Bowen with the Europa Conference League trophy.
It was Lucas Paqueta's delightful threaded ball to send Bowen wheeling toward goal, with the Brazilian playmaker possibly even a cut above the Hammers' prolific talisman.
Lucas Paqueta's value has soared at West Ham
This season, West Ham had been in fine fettle before a slump in form throughout January and February, and Paqueta has been one of the linchpins, posting five goals and six assists across 28 matches in all competitions.
The player made the move to London back in 2022, joining in a club-record £51m deal that confirmed to the division that West Ham were indeed striving for the top, not resting on their laurels after making progress and reaching the continent under Moyes' stewardship.
West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta
And while he only scored five goals and supplied seven assists over 43 outings last term, his influence and intellect in his movement and guiding of the play transcended the expectations set by the blinkered view of a player's worth assessed only through their direct output.
That through ball to send Bowen through on goal was representative of his ball-playing quality, probably the most elegant and effective of any player in the squad, with former teammate Declan Rice awestruck by Paqueta's “mind-boggling” attributes.
As per FBref, Paqueta also ranks among the top 8% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for passes attempted, the top 5% for progressive passes, the top 1% for tackles, the top 16% for interceptions, the top 13% for clearances and the top 75 for aerial duels won per 90.
While some might question whether the £150k-per-week phenomenon's metrics have been distorted by his fluctuation between an attacking midfield role and the very centre of the pitch, he has in fact only played in central midfield on three occasions across all competitions this term, thus strengthening the argument that, yes, he is indeed one of Europe's elite distributors.
Lucas Paqueta for West Ham.
His all-action prowess had even attracted the attention of Manchester City last summer, with Pep Guardiola's side launching a series of bids to secure his signature, even offering £80m to convince West Ham to part ways, though the likely-accepted approach never saw the next phase, that eventuality slammed shut after the emergence of an FA betting investigation into possible breaches from the player.
Still, the saga underpins Paqueta's value and quality that has left the best team in world football scrambling to augment their ranks with his talent.
Bowen might be the man of the moment right now but Brentford's drubbing was also Paqueta's first match back from injury that – surprise, surprise – coincided with an alarming drop in form. He's first-class. He's the cream of the crop.
Darwin Nunez's last-second winner against Nottingham Forest last weekend said a lot about this Liverpool side, but then it also said very little; throwing in the towel is inconceivable to this remarkable squad.
The victory, Liverpool's sixth on the bounce in all competitions since a meek Premier League defeat at Arsenal at the start of February, has seen the Carabao Cup clinched, an FA Cup quarter-finals tie against Manchester United set up and the position at the summit of the top-flight protected.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
Manchester City, imperious as always, travel to Anfield on Sunday in a league showdown for the ages, with the outfits a point apart and third-placed Arsenal one behind again – a draw on Merseyside would see the Gunners reclaim pole position, should they win against Brentford on Saturday.
But first, Liverpool must journey onto the continent to meet Sparta Prague in the first leg of their Europa League last 16 tie, with Jurgen Klopp's injury-hit side likely to shuffle around ahead of the weekend's critical juncture in the Premier League.
Liverpool team news vs Sparta Prague
The big one. Liverpool are set to welcome Mohamed Salah back to the squad after the Egyptian talisman aggravated a muscular injury on his goalscoring return against Brentford in February.
Elsewhere, Nunez, Dominik Szoboszlai and Wataru Endo all made their returns last time out, all off the bench, and while Klopp will be wary of Sunday's contest, all three will play some part in the Czech Republic.
Jayden Danns is unavailable after suffering concussion against Forest, while a bloated injury list still contains Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones, Diogo Jota, Thiago Alcantara, Stefan Bajcetic and Joel Matip.
Despite all these absentees, Klopp might be wise to place his midfield general, Alexis Mac Allister, on the bench this evening, given the variables surrounding the forthcoming period of action.
Why Alexis Mac Allister must be benched
Mac Allister joined Liverpool in a deal worth £35m last summer, having been the centrepiece in Brighton & Hove Albion's excellent season that bred European qualification and won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to boot.
As per FBref, the dynamo ranks among the top 15% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists and shot-creating actions, the top 18% for passes attempted, the top 20% for progressive passes and the top 5% for blocks per 90, highlighting his rounded skill set and influence as the orchestrator in the centre.
This doesn't even paint the full picture by half, with Mac Allister's elite technical quality, his tenacity, his drive, all combining to place the woes of the 2022/23 campaign firmly in the past.
Liverpool's midfield was stagnant and sapped of strength but no more, with the 25-year-old praised for his "outstanding" level of performance by correspondent Neil Jones.
In the top flight, as per Sofascore, Mac Allister has posted two goals and four assists across 22 matches, completing 88% of his passes, completing 63% of his dribbles and averaging 2.7 tackles, 1.2 key passes, 5.7 ball recoveries and 5.6 successful duels per game.
But, with so many players sidelined over recent weeks, the £150k-per-week ace has played relentlessly and will now need to be rested, with Endo likely to assume a starting berth as the midfield anchor.
Not the only player needing a rest, Klopp might be inclined to return Andy Robertson to the bench this evening. The Scottish left-back has been beset with injury this season and while he has demonstrated much of his trademark prowess since returning in January, he's still a little rusty.
Why Klopp must ditch Andy Robertson
Robertson has been a staple of Liverpool's success throughout the Klopp era but he was felled by injury in the early stage of the current campaign and thus has been unable to hit his apex.
Having amassed 283 appearances under Klopp's guidance after signing from Hull City for £10m back in 2017 (an acquisition met with some raised eyebrows), Robertson has won it all and is currently tied with Alexander-Arnold as the highest-assisting defender in Premier League history, with 58 assists.
GK – Simon Mignolet
RB – Joe Gomez
CB – Joel Matip
CB – Ragnar Klavan
LB – Andy Robertson
DM – Jordan Henderson
CM – James Milner
CM – Gini WIjnaldum
RW – Roberto Firmino
LW – Sadio Mane
CF – Daniel Sturridge
Last time out, against Nottingham Forest, the Liverpool Echo's Ian Doyle branded him with a 5/10 match score, writing: 'Somewhat loose with some of his passing first half which led to at least one Forest opening. Missed a great chance second half. Booked and subbed.'
Lest we forget, Robertson has only started four games since returning from a long-term absence due to shoulder surgery suffered on international duty in October, and he hasn't exactly been abject since his comeback, rather, a shade off the pace while still upholding his energy, determination and creativity.
Andy Robertson in action for Liverpool.
For example, he might have been criticised for his output at the City Ground but the statistics certainly don't muddy his performance too badly, with the Scotland captain winning four of his six contested duels, making two tackles, completing 89% of his passes and creating four key passes.
However, the 29-year-old did miss a glorious opportunity while indeed culpable for some questionable defending at times, ceding possession on 15 occasions. Given that he also failed to attempt a single dribble that has become a staple of his performance on Liverpool's left flank over the years, he will need to improve.
In his stead, Kostas Tsimikas should start, with the versatile Joe Gomez likely required in his natural right-back position to give Conor Bradley a rest before the Manchester City fixture.
Klopp benches Mac Allister in Liverpool predicted XI vs Sparta Prague
The Reds travel to the Czech Republic in the first leg of their Europa last 16 tie tomorrow evening.
ByAngus Sinclair Mar 6, 2024
Tsimikas is only just back from injury himself but he provided the assist for Virgil van Dijk's winning goal in the Carabao Cup final and ranks among the top 7% of full-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 9% for shot-creating actions, the top 17% for progressive carries and the top 18% for interceptions per 90.
He can more than hold his own against Železná Sparta, who will seek to fight fire with fire and, as such, Liverpool will need to ensure their creative and offensive output holds up.
Manchester City might lurk round the corner but Klopp will have full focus on securing a result in Prague. While he will have to rotate, Liverpool have the players to succeed.
A former Sunderland player has admitted that he wants to be the next Black Cats manager, saying he understands the "culture" of the club.
Sunderland manager updates
The Black Cats parted company with Michael Beale last month, following a hugely disappointing short stint in charge, having initially replaced Tony Mowbray.
Since then, Mike Dodds has taken charge of the first team once again as interim manager, but results in the Championship have still been poor. Six straight defeats leave Sunderland languishing in 12th place, and their playoff hopes are firmly in the rear view mirror.
Michael Beale for Sunderland.
Dodds will be in charge at the Stadium of Light until the end of the season, but the search is ongoing to find a permanent replacement for Beale, in order to bring some stability back to the club.
Reims manager Will Still has emerged as a contender to come in for some time now, with the 31-year-old a highly thought of young coach with a potentially big future in the game. A "well established" agent has claimed that a Championship move is on the cards for him.
Meanwhile, it was recently reported that former Sunderland boss Alex Neil is open to the idea of returning to the club, having left for Stoke City after getting the Black Cats promoted in 2022.
Ex-Sunderland ace has applied for manager's job
In quotes shared by The Daily Mail, Dwight Yorke says he has applied to be Sunderland's next manager.
This has certainly come out of left-field, considering Yorke has next to no real experience in management. Barring a six-month stint with A-League side Macarthur FC in 2022, in which he did win the Australian Cup final, in fairness, there is little else on the Trinidadian's CV to suggest that he warrants a Championship job.
He was only in charge of 18 matches there, averaging 1.78 points per game.
Sunderland could go completely against their policy to replace Clarke
This would be a major coup…
ByTom Cunningham Mar 14, 2024
For that reason, it is extremely difficult to see Sunderland's owners taking a punt on Yorke, at a time when a proven manager needs to arrive and ensure that the playoffs are the aim next season, assuming the Black Cats miss out this term.
Granted, he is a former Sunderland player and knows the club well, but that would only get him so far, so hiring him would feel like a huge gamble, and perhaps he should be applying to a backroom role instead.