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Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini’s future continues to hog the headlines simply because it remains so up in the air, but is he already a lame duck or does he still have some authority in the corridors of power at the club, at least enough to guarantee him one more campaign at the Etihad?

It’s getting to that stage in the season where everyone takes stock and looks back on what has been achieved, or for most, what hasn’t been achieved at various clubs up and down the country; when it comes to silverware, every cup competition is nearing its inevitable conclusion and promotion tilts are either in the bag or down and out, and the same could certainly be said of City’s desire to retain their Premier League crown this season, with Mancini declaring the race all but over on Thursday with an unassailable 15-point deficit to try and claw back in the nine remaining games a thankless task. When it comes to judging the team’s overall performance, they’ve been deeply disappointing and have failed to live up to expectations and then some, but is all of that the Italian’s fault? And will he be given a chance to redeem himself?

Under the guidance of the 48-year-old former Inter Milan boss, the club have been on an upward curve ever since he took over and this season remains their first tangible setback – the failure in the Champions League, where they exited without even a win to their win saw them finish bottom of their group and fail to even drop into the Europa League and for the second season running, they left a lot to be desired, seemingly unable to stamp their authority on any game of importance against continental opposition and that presents a major concern.

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Right through his recent managerial career, Mancini has shown an inability to make an impact in Europe, with his Inter side torn apart every season at the quarter-final stage or earlier despite being the runaway leaders in Serie A. In all honesty, do the club’s fans expect him to improve upon that ropey record next term? Probably not, and he’s managed to consign himself to being something of a domestic specialist incapable of truly breaching the top tier, which is where City’s ambitions dictate they must end up eventually.

In that respect, City’s owners may see the end of this season as the ideal opportunity to get rid of Mancini, particularly with Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho thought to be looking for a return to the Premier League, with Chelsea in the running. Is there really much point in keeping faith with a manager when there are such large doubts about how far he can take the club in the future? The league is often seen as the bread and butter, but that’s not why countless millions were invested in the playing squad and star names such as David Silva, Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero were purchased, the owners will want to make a splash of sorts in Europe and the jury is well and truly out over whether Mancini is the man to deliver that progress, with the evidence that he can in short supply.

Mancini has presented an inconsistent stance to the media with regards to the constant questioning over his future, sometimes going on the attack and other simply laughing everything off, but last month in a press conference saw him reveal his true feelings on the matter: “We started our project here three years ago. In that time we’re always at the top fighting for the title. We won three trophies, we’ve the chance to win more this year. All the people who talk about this do not understand football. Because if City should sack me, the other 19 teams in the league should be without a boss. I speak with Khaldoon (Al Mubarak) every week. He is like me. When we lose, he’s upset. We have a good relationship.”

He clearly feels he is safe because by and large, his relationship with the owners has remained strong even despite recent setbacks. Nevertheless, with Txiki Begiristain and Ferran Soriano moving in upstairs, there is the danger that a power-sharing duo could push him out if they see fit, especially with Mancini’s position weak at the moment and their recent arrivals meaning they possess as much power as they will ever do.

When you compare the club to the side that Mancini inherited from Mark Hughes, the difference is huge – he’s professionalised the ranks, made the squad a lot more balanced and got them into that winning routine while also attracting better quality players than the Welshman ever could. However, there’s still a sense that the system the team uses is heavily reliant on a few key individuals to play well, with six defensive players simply hoping the creative quartet manage to do some damage at the top end of the pitch and in terms of a plan B, they’ve looked clueless at times this year, with the experimental 3-5-2 formation doing more harm than good.

For all of the money that the club have spent too, they simply don’t look good enough to become a force in Europe and there’s a real lack of depth and quality in several positions, which points to a flawed policy of which Mancini is responsible of and he is a difficult man to control, liable to fly off the handle at the slightest provocation, which is not always conducive to a healthy long-term dressing room atmosphere when everything isn’t going according to plan.

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There are plenty of positives about Mancini’s reign on the whole, but when it comes to evaluating job performance, the most important factor in deciding any manager’s future is the one just gone and without an FA Cup triumph, he could be ushered out via the back door with a handsome pay-off.

His future is intertwined largely with that of Mourinho, given City will be faced with a paucity of viable alternatives should the Portuguese boss move elsewhere. You suspect he’ll be given one more year before the club moves for someone like Jurgen Klopp, Joachim Loew or Diego Simeone, but he simply cannot afford another campaign like the potentially trophyless one this year or even his influence with the owners won’t be able to save him.

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Eric Bailly is a real character, and it certainly helps that he has been an absolute revelation since making the move to Manchester United in the summer of 2016.

Indeed, the Ivory Coast international was United’s best centre-back last term, and has recently returned to the fold following a period on the sidelines with an ankle problem.

The 24-year-old, who is believed to be on £75,000 a week at Old Trafford, is a little bit crazy, but that is exactly the reason why he is so popular with the United supporters.

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That said, his performances on the field have also been outstanding, and Red Devils boss Jose Mourinho will not be regretting making the defender his first ever signing at Old Trafford.

It was actually Bailly’s birthday on Thursday, and United’s official Twitter account paid tribute to the defender.

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As expected, the United supporters were out in force to express their views on the Ivorian, with many claiming that he is the best centre-back in the Premier League.

A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:

Sunday wasn’t the greatest day for Liverpool, they were shut out by a disciplined and resilient Blackburn side who hassled them all game with a rampant physicality.

Liverpool’s slick passers found it difficult to break down the well-drilled defence, but it was admirable how Liverpool’s own defence dealt with the threatening height and strength of Rovers striker Rudy Gestede.

Martin Skrtel fell awkwardly early on and had to leave the game. His injury looked bad and almost certainly could have been much worse, and at the time I thought that Liverpool were going to have a tough day defending the menace of Gestede without their designated ‘hard-man’. As it turned out though, Dejan Lovren, Glen Johnson, and Skrtel’s replacement Kolo Toure were able to deal with the physical battles and counter attacks.

Liverpool weren’t as impressive going forward as they have been in recent weeks, but they were solid at the back and kept possession well, and that solidity has been the basis for a run of form that’s seen Brendan Rodgers’ men unbeaten in the league since they were humbled 3-0 at Old Trafford on December 14th.

Their impressive performances in this time have turned around their difficult start to the season and put them into the mix for a Champions League place, and this is down in no small part to Brendan Rodgers’ courage in his team selections.

Yes, the man from Carnlough on the north coast of Northern Ireland is a brave man. He has some serious cojones.

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It actually started even earlier than December. Selling Luis Suarez was a decision almost unanimously agreed with. His last misdemeanour as a Liverpool player left a bad taste in the mouth and it was time to sell for the good of the club’s image. But it does take courage to do the right thing even when it means losing one of the best players in the world.

What happened since then has been tough, though. Accused of spending the reported £75m transfer fee on lots of underperforming players – ‘doing a Spurs’ – there were rumours of Rodgers’ being under pressure, that the board were considering his position as the club floundered in the league and crashed out of the Champions League.

Since then, though, the new side have turned their form around and it was the defeat at Old Trafford that sparked the revival.

That was the time this season that Brendan Rodgers went with three at the back. That was his first real gutsy play. The Northern Irishman started with the same back-three that started the Blackburn game this weekend, but Jordan Henderson started at right wing-back. This was also the first game in which Simon Mignolet was dropped. A goalkeeper was the difference on that day, as Liverpool had almost double United’s shot count, but De Gea was a match for all those on target, while Brad Jones conceded 3 of United’s.

Rodgers, however, was impressed by the energy of his team and stuck to the back three against Arsenal in the next league game. It has been that way ever since with the addition of Lazar Markovic at wing-back and Emre Can coming into the back three.

Since then Liverpool have looked back to their flowing and lightning-quick best in attack, but it is a more solid base, and one that allows them to play out from the back, that has helped their attack.

Emre Can has come into the defence – and this was the next gutsy move. Can wasn’t seen as a defender when he was signed but there he is playing regularly at centre back. A cultured midfielder playing in a back three is an interesting idea, and since he already has two team mates alongside him Can has a licence to take the ball out from the back, and has time on the ball to pick a pass or come into the midfield to start attacks.

Against Blackburn he was used in midfield, but Rodgers knew that the game was going to be played almost exclusively in the Blackburn half, so Liverpool needed to start attacks from higher up the pitch. Usually it is Can’s passing range and vision that helps launch attacks from deep, and this has been one of the reasons for their success.

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This one tactical change has had a huge effect on the morale of the players too. Underperforming players are now performing well, and even the previously-dropped Mignolet is back to good form as the team, on their day, are solid at the back and sometimes sensational up front.

Putting the theory into practice is difficult, but having the balls to do it in such big games is quite another thing. It took tremendous bravery from a young manager, while he was under huge pressure, to make the difference to Liverpool’s season. They now have a realistic hope of silverware if they can make it to the Cup semi-final against Villa, and they look on course for a top-four place and maybe a better crack at the elite European competition next season with a side that is already gelling.

The reds’ recent run can be traced back to that awful day at Old Trafford. Even though there were glimmers of bravery in the summer, that was the day when Liverpool finally laid the foundations of recovery, and the day that Brendan Rodgers’ showed the world his balls!

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Should Tottenham Hotspur eventually go on to lift the Europa League trophy in Amsterdam this May, you can place your bets now as to who might take the honour of being the first to raise it with both hands.

Following the loss of both a club legend and inspirational captain in Ledley King during the summer, the school of thought was that the armband already had a natural successor in fan’s favourite Michael Dawson. And in due time following Andre Villas-Boas’ appointment, that was eventually the case.

Although while injury has so often been a lingering shadow over the former Nottingham Forest man’s career in North London, his modest total of 16 league starts has had little to do with time on the treatment table and a lot more to do with Villas-Boas’ personal preference. For the first half of Spurs’ campaign, their newly crowned skipper found himself relegated to the substitutes bench.

In recent weeks, the 29-year-old has of course made a stellar return to proceedings and won back the trust of his previously doubting manager. But even so, Dawson still remains part of a rotating set-up at centre back. With the return of arguably the club’s outstanding defender in Younes Kaboul on the horizon, there’s every chance that he might find himself once again fighting for a starting berth.

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In spite of his obvious natural leadership qualities, every club has a chain of prospective command, but when you go down the line of those you’d expect to take the armband should Dawson not be playing, you find yourself with a slightly disconcerting lack of regular candidates.

When Dawson found himself on the bench earlier on in the season, Villas-Boas opted for the wealth of experience that was William Gallas, to take on leadership duties. Although at 35 and with his powers on the wane, the Frenchman hardly offers much in the way of security for the skipper’s role.

Likewise, as the veteran of many a Premier League campaign and as Spurs’ most experienced player, Brad Friedel was an obvious choice for the armband when Villas-Boas’ central defenders looked set to yo-yo in and out of the team. Yet since the emergence of Hugo Lloris, the American no longer offers a viable option as captain. In fact, had it not been for the injury picked up to Sandro that’s allowed Scott Parker in the team, you’d be hard pressed to pick one at all within this Tottenham side.

The role of the captain is notoriously overplayed within these shores and the definition of what we often perceive to be a good captain, has become caricature-like in its make-up. Contrary to popular belief, clubs don’t necessarily need a captain whose veins throb out the side of his head after berating his side in regular 30-second intervals. Following through on every tackle is no longer a requisite skill of the role in question.

Although what cannot be overstated is the effect a good captain can have within a side and although the armband is only a title, the quality of leadership most certainly isn’t. And past Michael Dawson – who’s rumoured to be in talks over a new deal at the club – that trait isn’t particularly in plentiful supply at White Hart Lane and at the end of the season, it could potentially get even sparser.

With Villas-Boas publicly stating his desire to trim his centre halves from five to four, the smart money must be on William Gallas – whose contract expires at the end of the season – departing the club. That’s one further leader that will most probably be on his way.

Furthermore, although Scott Parker has been racking up the appearances since his return from an Achilles problem, there is a feeling that the England man could well be on his way to pastures new this summer as Villas-Boas looks to raise both space and added funds for another midfield recruit. Should he depart the club, then Spurs could be left with a shortage of natural leaders.

Take away the ages of both Brad Friedel and William Gallas from this Spurs team, and the average age of the squad is around only 25-years-old. Within the likes of Jermain Defoe, Aaron Lennon and Clint Dempsey amongst others, the club boasts plenty of players with a good 180 plus Premier League games to their name, but experience doesn’t naturally transcend into leadership. And it’s here that Andre Villas-Boas may well be given some interesting food for thought come the summer transfer window.

Does this mean that the Portuguese should go out and buy an ageing midfield enforcer just because he’s at the wrong end of his 20’s and looks to be good leadership material? No, absolutely not and given the club’s policy of buying younger talent with a high potential sell-on fee, the odds are that chairman Daniel Levy wouldn’t sanction it, either.

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But if/when the club decide to try and bolster their side during the summer, they could do a lot worse than bringing in a slightly more experienced campaigner in addition to the wealth of younger, gifted talent that they currently bestow. As well as adding another leader to the ranks, given the relative lack of sustained Champions League experience in the squad, some further experience in the competition wouldn’t hurt the team, either.

It’s difficult to quantify whether Tottenham are in dire need of an added shot of leadership come the end of the season and with team spirit seemingly looking extremely positive from the outside, it’s a delicate balancing act in looking to add another big personality.

But with the right addition, a spot of extra experience could be the perfect compliment to a squad that looked perfectly balanced to push on even further next season.

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Newcastle United have the opportunity to take a huge step towards Premier League survival as they host Huddersfield Town in a match that could see them go seven points clear of the drop zone.

It could well be a tense and cagey affair, although the Magpies did blow Southampton out of the water in their last home match and a similar result today would see Rafa Benitez’s side become all but safe.

Huddersfield have approached their maiden Premier League season with bundles of enthusiasm and will try their best to exploit any nervousness in the home ranks with their heavy pressing and boundless energy.

The Terriers would leapfrog their hosts with a win, further shuffling the pack in the bottom half, so Benitez has to ensure he gets his team selection absolutely right.

Magpies fans reacted to the Spaniard’s selections and while he selected an unchanged team, they spotted something on the bench they liked a lot – Islam Slimani. We’ve taken a closer look at the best of the reaction as the forward is a surprise inclusion on the bench…

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Sir Alex Ferguson, although one of the greatest managers of all time, made his fair share of transfer boo-boos. Anderson, Bebe, Massimo Taibi… all three of these were pretty terrible additions, but right now it looks like one of the players he let go was the biggest error of all – Paul Pogba. The Frenchman was only a youngster at the time – and still is now – but the Scot’s reluctance to field him left the midfielder frustrated to the point that he slipped out of the Old Trafford exit door and right into the arms of Juventus.

At the time, the deal didn’t look such a big issue. Pogba was largely unproven and had some way to go to justify his tag as the ‘new Patrick Vieira’, yet he has gone the distance in Turin. With Serie A titles, a spot in Les Bleus’ senior squad and Champions League experience, the 21-year-old is now one of Europe’s best enforcers, and United are considering righting the wrongs with a £60m+ deal.

Such a fee would just about usurp the cash paid for Angel di Maria – the current British record buy – and is the sort of money many clubs can only dream of. Given United’s £150m summer spend, there are some opposed to a deal, but the Red Devils need to splash the cash for Pogba…

In terms of the major stats needed for a top class central-midfielder, Pogba simply wipes the flop with United’s current offerings. Although he’s played more minutes in league action than the likes of Michael Carrick, Daley Blind or Marouane Fellaini, the Frenchman boasts much better numbers in terms of chance creation, key passes and goals scored. Although these are ‘forward thinking’ attributes, he also takes the plaudits defensively, winning more tackles and more duels (both aerially and on the ground).

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And with goals in mind, Pogba scores some absolute crackers. Midfielders are required to weigh in with the odd effort that hits the back of the net, and when the Juve man does this, he does it with swagger and style. From long-range thunderbolts, to neat finishes and headers, Pogba can do it all.

The real irony with all of this is that United need a midfielder of the starlet’s quality more than ever and they let him go. The money received was minimal by football standards, and paying over £60m for him now could look like an admission of the mistake – which is not something a giant of the game will want to confess to.

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However, it’s time to put aside any reluctance and start spending that £750m adidas are set to hand over…

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Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard looks set to end his 12-year stay at Stamford Bridge at the end of the season and begin a new chapter in what has been a glittering career so far, but with murmurs of interest from Manchester United, is it the sort of move that could benefit both parties?

The 34-year-old still seems a relatively key squad member in Rafa Benitez’s side and with a contribution of seven Premier League goals in 13 outings so far this term, while he may be in decline, he still clearly has his uses. A goalscoring midfielder is a difficult quality to perfect; Paul Scholes had to adjust to his age and gradually began to drop deeper and deeper, while Steven Gerrard looks to be doing the same thing at Liverpool, but Lampard has remained consistent in that regard, grabbing at least 10 league goals in the last nine consecutive seasons and he looks well on course to do the same this term.

If it were up to Benitez, you sense that both Lampard and Cole, for their experience more than anything, would be kept around, but we are not privy to contractual negotiations and their demands; whether they expect to be assured of a starting slot, the length of the deal and the monetary value of it are all private at the moment, so Chelsea, understandably, are copping plenty of flak for letting two ageing but still valuable players slowly but surely slip out of their grasp without a fight.

Lampard’s agent Steve Kutner stated last week: “Chelsea executives told Frank in Japan during the Club World Cup, then again reconfirmed with me after the Everton victory [both in December], that in no circumstances will he be offered a new contract to stay at the club after the end of this season.

“Nothing since has changed in any respect. Frank has had to accept that and just wants to carry on playing football for Chelsea so as to finish the season as successfully as possible for the club that he loves.”

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It seems a strange position for Chelsea’s hierarchy to take, for while the need for the club to move on from the old guard is an important job that needs carrying out, completely ditching players while they can still contribute rather than fading them out seems the wrong approach to take, particularly with the club in a clear state of transition. This has led to Lampard reportedly consigned to his baffling fate, with PSG and LA Galaxy the favourites for his signature, but a rumour doing the rounds last week linking him with a switch to Old Trafford, while on the face of it would seem out of character from both sides, is certainly worthy of discussion.

Former Chelsea assistant manager Ray Wilkins and general fountain of niceness set the ball rolling over the matter last week, telling BBC Radio Manchester: “He’ll want to continue to win and play at a high level – and there’s no higher level than Old Trafford. You have the master of utilising the older player in Sir Alex Ferguson, so I think it would be a tremendous move for Frank and a good one for Manchester United as well.

“You only have to see the performances Giggs and Scholes have put in over the last few years – and they are four years older than Frank! He’ll win them over because of his footballing ability.”

First and foremost, this is not another Robin van Persie deal; the Dutchman left Arsenal in the summer to win silverware, which with the club currently seven points clear of rivals Manchester City in the league, it looks like he’ll do, thus vindicating the controversial switch. However, Lampard has been at Chelsea for 12 years and is seen as a major part of the club’s history now, winning three Premier League titles, four FA Cups and last season’s scarcely believable Champions League triumph. There is no reason for him to put his legacy on the line for what would be a relatively short-term switch to one of the club’s nearest title challengers. Can anyone honestly imagine him returning to Stamford Bridge in another club’s colours?

At the same time, though, Lampard still has something to contribute at the very highest level, which is why a switch to PSG looks the best bet for me, but it’s not like he would suddenly be out of his depth were he to move to United, but given their obvious need for a defensive midfielder, does the England international fit the bill?

United have a sustainable and clearly defined policy with older players of granting them one-year extensions, with 39-year-old Ryan Giggs and 38-year-old Scholes the recipients of this approach. Ferguson doesn’t see age as a barrier as much as other managers do, but would Lampard really settle for judging his career on a season-by-season basis? He will be 35 at the start of next season but he may still seek more long-term assurances over his future and role in the side. Both Scholes and Giggs are afforded a status in the squad due to their past achievements at the club and relationship with Ferguson, so it’s wrong to suggest Lampard will get the same treatment.

Moreover, the argument that because Scholes and Giggs are both ageing players entering the twilight of their respective careers that replacing an old squad player with a slightly less old one is somehow a logical explanation is complete and utter folly and that appears to be the only basis of this rumour, the sort of 2+2=5 journalism that helps churn out easy copy.

Could Lampard contribute to United? Yes, of course he could. Is he what they need? No. They need long-term replacements for both Scholes and Giggs, not another stop-gap measure. Ferguson’s legacy will be judged just as much by what comes after him as it is on his last few years in charge and a smooth handover is crucial, so replacing the duo is of paramount importance. It’s the sort of move that Harry Redknapp, with his short-term thinking, would feel comfortable doing but you suspect Ferguson has eyes on a more solid solution.

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The United midfield is in dire need of someone who can win the ball back quickly, with Tom Cleverley and Michael Carrick very good with it but lacking that bite in the tackle that every top side needs without it. They’ve missed it since Roy Keane and Owen Hargreaves, with Darren Fletcher’s return to injury only showing slow progress.

They need someone like Marouane Fellaini, Kevin Strootman or whatever the flavour of the month is on the continent – that every midfielder in Europe over the past five years has been labelled as the ‘perfect solution’ to the club’s midfield problems points to two things – a frustration with Ferguson from the fans that he keeps ignoring recruiting in that area and second that nobody really knows what the answer is. Nevertheless, what is clear is that while Lampard would be a useful squad option, he’s not the future of the team and it’s doubtful whether he would join United, putting his reputation at risk, then be content to play second fiddle.

Whenever you hear the Lampard to United rumour, part of you will think that it could just work, because who would say no to such a decorated, experienced and talented individual, but when you dig a little deeper, neither party would be content at the nature of the move or the length of the deal, while competition for places would be fierce. To answer the title of the article, is he worth a transfer punt? Definitely. Will it realistically happen? No.

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Seamus Coleman has only just returned to action for Everton after recovering from the horrific leg break that he suffered whilst representing Republic of Ireland in March 2017.

The full-back has five Premier League appearances to his name this term, however, and is expected to be involved in Everton’s Premier League clash with Manchester City this weekend.

In terms of popularity with the Everton fans, few Toffees players come close to Coleman.

The 29-year-old joined the Merseyside club from Sligo Rovers in 2009, with the Premier League club paying just £60,000 to complete a deal.

These days, Coleman is considered to be one of the best right-backs in the Premier League.

Earlier this week, the topic of Everton’s captaincy was put to the club’s supporters, and many were in agreement that Coleman should take on the armband next season.

Poor old Phil Jagielka, Wayne Rooney and Leighton Baines did not really get a look-in as the fans demanded that Coleman be appointed the new first-team skipper.

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A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:

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April 27th, 2014, and Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers – clearly aggrieved after Chelsea had just dealt a colossal blow to his side’s title aspirations with a 2-0 victory at Anfield – had the following to say about the Blues’s tactical approach to the game:

“I don’t think it’s a tactic. Anyone can ask a team to just sit back and defend on the edge of the box.”

Fast forward seven months, and a subtle yet significant alteration to the 41 year-old’s claim is perhaps in order, as the painful reality appears to be that any manager apart from Rodgers himself is able to coax a solid defensive performance out of his players.

Liverpool’s dreadful 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Sunday means that the Reds have now kept just two clean sheets in their last 24 games in all competitions. They have already lost as many league games this season as they managed in the entirety of the last, and a defeat against Ludogorets Razgrad in the Champions League on Wednesday would be their fifth in a row and would mark their worst run since 1953.

The small matter of Luis Suarez leaving the club in the summer – whose goals effectively deflected attention away from Liverpool’ defensive shortcomings – is no excuse for such damning statistics. Rodgers has been given considerable time and funds to improve his side’s defence, yet the Reds backline has actually regressed since the Irishman took over two years ago. In the 2011/12 season – Kenny Dalglish’s last as manager – Liverpool conceded a total of 40 league goals. In the two subsequent seasons under Rodgers, they let in 43 and 50 respectively, and the current tally for this campaign of 18 from 12 games – 1.5 goals per game – means that the Anfield outfit are well on course to break their record for most goals conceded in a Premier League season.

£63 million has been spent on defence alone by Rodgers since he became manager in June 2012. The fact that things have somehow worsened despite significant investment highlights the Liverpool boss’s two major managerial flaws: his inability to find value in the transfer market, and his lack of expertise in defensive coaching. Simon Mignolet has been woefully out of his depth since he joined the Reds from Sunderland in the summer of 2013 and is clearly a mid-table Premier League goalkeeper at best, while Dejan Lovren’s status as a professional footballer continues to beggar belief, such has been the Croat’s embarrassing incompetence in central defence. The pair cost a combined £29 million; to put this into context, Hugo Lloris – a genuine world-class goalkeeper – was bought by Tottenham for just £12 million, while Vincent Kompany was priced at £6 million when he signed for Manchester City.

Rodgers would argue that every manager has his weaknesses, and that his own strengths lie elsewhere. It is hard to dispute this; last season’s LMA manager of the year is undoubtedly very talented, and the attacking prowess of his Liverpool side has at times been breathtaking. However, his continued refusal to accept that his defensive approach simply isn’t working is having a damaging effect on the club’s on-field performances. There has been no sign whatsoever of an improvement in the Reds’ backline solidity, and until Rodgers bites the bullet and hires a defensive coach – as Dalglish did when he brought in Steve Clarke to help him out – Liverpool’s problems will persist.

The Liverpool boss is highly unlikely to do so, which is why he must go. Although the man from Ballymena is one of the most intelligent, progressive and tactically astute managers in the game, his stubbornness with regard to his clearly faulty defensive methods is sending Liverpool into freefall. A questionable record in the transfer market is just about excusable – Rafael Benitez hardly covered himself in glory with his signings, and neither did Kenny Dalglish. However, these two men at least ensured that the Reds defence retained a degree of respectable solidity.

Liverpool’s backline woes need to be addressed urgently if their season is to be saved. As talented a manager as Rodgers is, he does not seem to be the man to make this happen.

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are believed to have lined up Loic Remy and Salomon Kalou as possible transfer targets this January.

Marseille striker Remy is already the subject of talks with Newcastle, who see the French international as a credible replacement for Demba Ba, should the Senegalese hotshot leave St James’ Park next month.

But West Ham appear keen to hijack the move, after Hammers agent Willie McKay held talks in London with Marseille president Vincent Labrune on Tuesday evening, The Daily Mail reports.

It is thought that a player-plus-cash deal has been discussed with the French giants that could see Modibo Maiga go the other way, just as Gabriel Obertan had been mooted as the player to join the Ligue 1 side in the event of a part-exchange deal with Newcastle.

QPR have also been linked with Remy but their lowly league position makes Rangers an unattractive destination for the 25-year-old.

Salomon Kalou is also on West Ham’s radar, The Daily Mail has reported. The former Chelsea forward appears keen on a return to England after failing to settle at Lille this season.

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The Ivorian left Stamford Bridge for free in the summer, but has managed only three goals in 17 appearances so far this season, as the double-winners of 2010-11 have endured a poor first-half to the campaign, currently languishing in 11th place, nine points behind the leaders, Paris Saint-Germain.

The Hammers had tried to sign the 27-year-old this summer, but were beaten to his signature by the French club.