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Marcus Rashford will be Manchester United’s key man heading into this weekend’s North West derby against Liverpool, according to former Old Trafford favourite Darren Fletcher.The host’s job of securing a result against current league leaders, Liverpool, who are chasing their 18th consecutive victory to equal Manchester City’s record (this is a sandwich United really don’t want to find themselves in), was made that bit harder when their no.1 David de Gea pulled up with a hamstring on international duty, and while he hasn’t exactly been at his best since the World Cup, his presence will be missed.Watch Manchester United Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

United need a hero. But despite Fletcher’s protests, Rashford probably isn’t going to be that person.

During England’s Monday night clash with Bulgaria, we saw a very different Rashford to the one we’re used to in club football.

He was fearless, direct and skilful. He actually scored a goal from open play, his first since the opening game of the season, and contributed to the general run of play as Gareth Southgate’s side ran rampant in Sofia.

But like escaping the smog-filled streets of industrial Britain for a getaway break in the countryside and breathing that oh-so-sweet fresh air of freedom, the 21-year-old will soon have to return to Old Trafford and again ingest the very fumes of negativity and crippling expectations that have stifled his game since he became the “manâ€.

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Aston Villa’s disappointing start to the 2019/20 campaign continued on Sunday afternoon as they suffered a 3-2 defeat at Arsenal.

Dean Smith’s side have only won one of their six league matches this season to sit 18th in the Premier League table ahead of a home clash with Burnley this weekend.

Villa actually led on two separate occasions against Arsenal, but the Gunners scored twice in the final 10 minutes to turn things around at the Emirates Stadium.

As expected, the majority of their fans were frustrated after the match.

A number were particularly disappointed with head coach Smith, though, for failing to make more changes until the latter stages.

Ahmed Elmohamady was introduced in the 68th minute, but it took until the 86th minute for Conor Hourihane and Henri Lansbury to enter the field.

Watch Aston Villa Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

At that point, Villa had fallen 3-2 behind, and their supporters were furious at Smith for not making his second and third substitutions sooner.

A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:

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

Unai Emery had a big announcement to make last week.

Many Arsenal fans had been waiting to see who would be given the captaincy officially, and they were finally put out of their misery as all was revealed by the former Sevilla boss. Once they found out who had been given the responsibility of leading the team, though, they may have wished they hadn’t been told at all.

Emery reportedly decided to bestow the armband on Granit Xhaka following a secret ballot amongst his teammates. The midfielder is one of the more senior players at the Emirates Stadium, having joined in 2016 from Borussia Monchengladbach, and he has experience as a leader, having captained his country, Switzerland.

How do football vloggers afford to watch their team week in, week out? Find out in the video below…

However, his display against Manchester United showed that it may be all a bit too much for him at club level. The 27-year-old put in a disappointing performance, ducking out of the way of Scott McTominay’s shot before it nestled into the back of Bernd Leno’s net. A skipper should be putting his body on the line, not trying to get out of the way when the ball is coming in his direction.

Of course, it is all well and good saying that someone shouldn’t have been given the captaincy, but it is pointless without suggesting an alternative. As such, there is a strong case to be made that Matteo Guendouzi should have been chosen instead.

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Yes, he is just 20 years of age, but the commanding performances he has put in so far this season show that he can deal with the responsibility of being one of the first names on the teamsheet.

He has started in all seven Premier League matches, playing the full 90 minutes in all but one game. Even at such a young age, he is already receiving big praise from some of the sport’s legends, such as Cesc Fabregas. On his Twitter page after the clash against Manchester United, the World Cup winner said, “gotta love Guendouzi. Can play good or not so good but always shows up in difficult moments at such a young age. Big future ahead of him at Arsenal”.

That is exactly why he should have been appointed. Very rarely does a game go by when the France U21 international is not involved in the action or does not have an impact on his team. Unfortunately for Xhaka, those occasions come too often.

There is one overriding factor as to why the former Bundesliga player is not the right choice though: his popularity. A captain is meant to lead his team, which doesn’t only mean the players on the pitch, but also the club’s fans. How can that be done effectively when the supporters don’t trust or like you? Guendouzi is already a player who has been suggested as a potential captain by the Emirates Stadium faithful. For Xhaka, it is quite the opposite, with one fan even claiming it was a “nonsense decision”.

Guendouzi has his whole career ahead of him, and appointing him would have sent a message to the players and the supporters that they are planning for the future.

Xhaka seems like a safe option, but, such is his relationship with the fans, it seems like it could all end in tears.

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After the departure of Vincent Kompany earlier this summer, Manchester City’s decision not to sign a replacement centre-back for the Belgian always had an element of risk.

The 33-year-old was a defensive stalwart during his many years in the Premier League, and his exit meant the burden on the likes of Aymeric Laporte, Nicolas Otamendi and John Stones inevitably increased.

Having finally received a call-up to the France squad for the upcoming international break, Laporte may have felt on top of the world. But after being stretchered off against Brighton in the first-half, the 25-year-old could be set for a spell on the side-lines.

Pep Guardiola has since admitted the injury “doesn’t look good”, with Laporte being taken to hospital.

The injury saw City fans flood to Twitter to share their concerns about what it could potentially mean for their chances of success this season.

Watch Manchester City Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Many supporters of the Manchester side issued a very dramatic proclamation, and insisted that their hopes of winning the Premier League again just went out the window.

Other fans felt Laporte’s injury underlined exactly why they should have signed a centre-back this summer and suggested they are now beginning to rue that decision.

Check out some of the reaction of City fans below:

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Vincent Kompany has named Virgil van Dijk as one of the best defenders in Premier League history.

When questioned on the subject during his testimonial pre-match press conference, and how he himself ranks in comparison, the former Manchester City man suggested the way the Dutchman has transformed Liverpool makes him a candidate.

Since arriving at Anfield in January 2018 the Reds have conceded just 36 goals in the 56 league games in which van Dijk has featured, and kept the most clean sheets of any side in the Premier League last season with 21.

Alongside the 28-year-old, Kompany also listed Rio Ferdinand and John Terry as Premier League greats due to their longevity at the highest level, which is an area where van Dijk is lacking.

Despite that, there are many Liverpool fans who believe Kompany is correct in his assessment, and point to him being named as the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year as evidence which puts him ahead of other Premier League defenders.

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Here is some of the reaction from fans, with many suggesting that van Dijk’s ability is greater than that of previous Premier League defenders.

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[ad_pod ]Leicester City defender Harry Maguire is set to be fit to face Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday evening, after making a full recovery from a knock sustained in the dramatic 4-3 loss to Wolves in the Foxes’ last Premier League outing, as reported by the club’s official Twitter account.

Whilst that may seem like good news for Claude Puel and Leicester, it could also be a blessing in disguise for the Reds.

Why could it be a good thing?

Whilst the England international is undoubtedly the Foxes’ best defender, his few weaknesses could be exploited to the maximum against Jurgen Klopp’s side. The 25-year-old is a commanding, physically imposing presence who is surprisingly very good on the ball, although his lack of pace and noticeable immobility could and should be taken advantage of at Anfield.

Those of you who remember this same fixture on Merseyside from last season should recall the joy Mohamed Salah had against the former Hull City man, in which he turned Maguire and made him look foolish before slotting into the back of the net.

Be sure to check out the incredible story of the man who rose from a Tanzanian refugee camp to become one of Australia’s biggest football stars in the video below…

Could the same happen again?

Maguire has since embarked on a memorable World Cup campaign with the Three Lions, becoming a household name in the process as he won admirers from all over the country, although he may not be the same player against the Reds on Wednesday evening.

Leicester are in a bit of a rut and have lost four of their last five games, and after being cut apart by Wolves like a hot knife through butter on more than one occasion last time out, the game against a Liverpool side who are top of the league could expose Maguire in noticeable fashion.

Salah is one of the quickest players in the league, and his new role as a central striker will see him come up directly against Maguire – if you were to ask me who I think would win the battle, I’d say the Egyptian could have a very fun evening against the team from the east Midlands.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

Everton are interested in Wigan youngster Joe Gelhardt according to Goal, but face competition from rivals Liverpool.

What’s the word?

Both Liverpool and Everton are said to have an eye on the striker for some time, who joined Wigan at the age of 10 but grew up on Merseyside, so would perhaps welcome a return home.

The Reds recently sold academy striker Bobby Duncan so have an empty space in the squad, but Everton have also made continuous checks on his young career.

He is only 17 but made his debut as early as August 2018, appearing in a League Cup clash against Rotherham, which suggests big things are expected of him.

Gelhardt also played for the Latics in pre-season and scored against Burnley, and after the match he told the Wigan Observer, as reported by Goal:

“I don’t really get nervous…well I do, but in a good way!

“It’s something I try to use to help my game rather than affect it. Rather than shy away, I like to get on the ball and express myself, and it’s going well at the moment!”

That type of confidence on the ball should allow him to flourish, and if he made the move to Everton he would be working in an academy which has produced players who are useful with the ball at their feet, as evidenced by Tom Davies and Jonjoe Kenny succeeding at the top level, with the latter currently playing in the Bundesliga.

The right mindset to succeed

In the current climate it is difficult for young players to make an impression on the first-team, but a willingness to express one’s ability and a lack of fear about failing should point Gelhardt in the right direction.

Last season Bassala Sambou was the only Everton U23 player to find the net on a regular basis, but even his record of 11 goals in 25 games could be bettered by a player more daring and more willing to attempt the speculative, as Gelhardt appears to be.

Watch Everton Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

The Wigan man has already displayed a positive attitude to manager Paul Cook, and if he continues to play with confidence then he should continue to do well at Wigan, so by the point he makes a possible move to Everton he will be able to hit the ground running.

Gelhardt has also been involved in the England U17 team and scored in a match against Sweden, underlining how his self-belief can help him to succeed.

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Many Glasgow Rangers fans have been left buzzing over some news that has been shared by the club on Alfredo Morelos.

As per the official website of the Ibrox faithful, the Colombia international has now been named as the Scottish Premiership’s Player of the Month (POTM) for December.

Morelos scored four goals and made one assist in six games last month, helping his team win all of them (Transfermarkt), as they march on towards another SPFL title.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst praised the striker upon receiving the award, highlighting how ‘important’ he has been and is for the side ahead of a fresh set of fixtures.

Nonetheless, he will now be hoping to continue his fine form when the Teddy Bears play Aberdeen away from home on Tuesday, and pick up the award once again for January.

Rangers fans on Morelos news

These Light Blues buzzed as the update was shared on Twitter, with one Gers supporter even going as far as to claim that it is ‘superb’ news:

“The king”

Credit: @BenDixon50

“Brilliant well deserved”

Credit: @Mikey1872786

“Thoroughly deserved! Boys been different class”

Credit: @sayersy1872

“Yessssssssssssss Alfie”

Credit: @TheRealBigMurdy

“Things you love to see”

Credit: @_meganpeffers

“Superb”

Credit: @JamesCa62108199

In other news, find out why Morelos’ Instagram post has Gers gushing here!

With moves for Philippe Coutinho and Lucas Digne this month showing that Aston Villa were keen on strengthening their first team, a subsequent move for young defender Kerr Smith showed that the club have aspirations of strengthening their youth sides as well, adding players who can hopefully grow and develop into future first-team stalwarts.

Taking this into account, it seems as though the Villans have their eye on another young player to come in this month as one for the future, which would be a source of great excitement for the fans.

What’s the news?

As per a recent Twitter post from Alan Nixon, Villa are “watching” Sunderland’s 20-year-old midfielder Dan Neil, who the journalist suggested could be the “new Gerrard” for the Midlands club.

Nixon also mentioned that fellow Premier League club Burnley are “already sniffing” around the Black Cats youngster over a potential transfer.

As a product of Sunderland’s youth academy, Neil has made 98 appearances for the Wearsiders across their youth and senior teams, with 41 of them coming in their first team, showing how highly he is rated at the Stadium on light.

In those 98 appearances, Neil has chipped in with five goals and nine assists along the way, showing his attacking capabilities from the midfield.

With only Ross Stewart having made more appearances in League One than Neil this season, this shows just how important the 20-year-old is for Lee Johnson’s side and why they could be reluctant to let him go, especially halfway through the season as they chase promotion to the Championship.

His performances in those gamees could be an indication as to why Villa are apparently looking at him. WhoScored list him as Sunderland’s joint-fifth highest rated player with an overall rating of 6.85/10, which would also put him fifth-highest among Villa’s squad when counting those to have featured in more than one Premier League game. Therefore, the Midlands club’s fan base may be buzzing to see such a capable player being linked with a move to Villa Park.

While the opportunity to join a Premier League club and potentially learn under the management of Steven Gerrard could be tempting for a young player like Neil, it seems a likelier scenario that he would be more open to leaving Sunderland at the end of the current season if they don’t manage to secure promotion from League One.

In other news: Villa could secure another transfer masterclass with £49k-p/w gem who “has everything”

According to reports by Calciomercato, Alex Meret has said that he wants to leave Napoli, with Tottenham having identified the Italian as a potential replacement for Hugo Lloris.

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The Lowdown: Lack of playing time

Despite starting the opening two games of the Serie A campaign, he has since had his playing time decimated. A fractured vertebrae kept the 24-year-old out for three games, and while he has been fully fit since, he is yet to make an appearance in the league following that enforced absence.

Meret arrived at Napoli in the summer of 2019 from Udinese in a deal worth £23.4m and he has played 85 games for the Azzurri, having kept 25 clean sheets in the process.

The Latest: Tottenham interested in Meret

According to a report by Calciomercato, Meret is keen to leave the Serie A club, and Tottenham have identified the goalkeeper as a potential replacement for club captain Lloris.

This follows a previous report by The Independent, who claimed that Spurs have identified the 24-year-old as a possible long-term replacement for when the Frenchman decides to leave the club, with retirement potentially looming as he turns 35 on Boxing Day.

Meret will look to leave Napoli in the January transfer window in a bid to secure more playing time, with hopes that he can add to his international recognition, having been capped twice for Italy.

The Verdict: A possible long-term Lloris replacement

Tottenham manager Antonio Conte has expressed his desire for Lloris to remain at Hotspur Way for at least another season, with the 34-year-old’s contract set to expire in the summer. Meret could prove to be a fantastic long-term replacement for the Frenchman, with Spurs on the lookout for a youngster who can ease their way into their first-team plans.

Serie A legend Antonio Di Natale once described Meret as the ‘new Buffon’ upon his departure from his former club Udinese. It was Carlo Ancelotti who brought him to Naples and described the ‘keeper as ‘special’, no faint praise considering the Real Madrid manager’s glittering CV at the highest level.

With such high endorsement, this raises questions surrounding the player’s lack of playing time this season. However, this could work in Conte’s favour as he reportedly looks to bring in the Italian ‘keeper in the upcoming transfer window.

In other news: Title challengers pursue Tottenham’s £42m ‘monster’; Pochettino called him a ‘beast’