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Manchester United return to Premier League action today, hoping to translate their Europa League form into another win today over Southampton.

The Red Devils may have seemingly put their Anfield disaster behind them, but the horrors of that afternoon remain fresh in the memory of those who took to the field against Liverpool. Perhaps they could seek to inflict their own humiliation, revisiting the past to once again wreak havoc on the Saints.

To do this, Erik ten Hag might seek to reemploy a tactical ideal that he has flirted with on occasion to not only give his team more balance but far more attacking impetus too.

Whilst one might assume this should come from the front four, by instead returning Luke Shaw to centre back and starting Tyrell Malacia, he could have two offensive-minded defenders willing to play on the front foot from the back.

It could be the key to administering another 9-0, should history seek to repeat itself.

Will Tyrell Malacia play against Southampton?

Although the 23-year-old has seen his minutes wane of late, the Dutchman likely remains a key figure for the future of the Ten Hag regime.

Of the last seven league fixtures, Malacia has started just once. However, he did find himself as a mainstay throughout the early portions of the campaign where he announced himself as an incredibly solid asset who can help defend from the front.

His 6.69 average rating perhaps belies the 1.1 interceptions, 1.9 tackles and 2.1 clearances per game that support this earlier statement (via Sofascore). Relentless in the tackle, the left-back has more than earned the title of “machine” that the United U21 star Matej Kovar labelled him.

It is this addition of defensive security that could allow Shaw more freedom from centre-back, where he has also excelled.

His manager even lauded him for his positional dexterity, noting: “He’s the example at this moment, and with his skills and his physical power he brings a lot to the team.

“But now also with his mentality. He’s an example of how to win big games. I’m really happy with his development. I think it’s been huge either at centre-half or left full-back. He’s a great player and a great personality for the dressing room.”

Moving his 84% pass accuracy and 1.1 key passes per 90 to a role where he would see far more of the ball could be a stroke of genius from the Dutch manager who has already begun showcasing his vast knowledge of the game at Old Trafford.

Therefore, Malacia’s introduction could be a necessity, as the £75k-per-week star facilitates moving the 25-year-old in a potential change of formation. Indeed, it would offer far more defensive security than their 7-0 defeat last weekend.

Newcastle United are reportedly eyeing up a potential move for Inter Milan right-back Denzel Dumfries this summer.

The Lowdown: January interest

It was reported that Newcastle were interested in signing Dumfries in the January transfer window, and even spoke to his agent over a potential move.

Inter were demanding a fee of up to €50m (£44.5m) to sell, with both Manchester United and Chelsea also thought to be interested.

The Latest: Summer move?

As per La Repubblica (via Sport Witness), the St. James’ Park outfit are still ‘on’ Dumfries along with Chelsea, with Inter looking at Juventus right-back Juan Cuadrado as a potential replacement.

They also mention that Sven Botman could welcome him to the North East and play a part in the deal, given that they are international teammates with the Netherlands.

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The Verdict: Get it done?

The Tynesiders already have four right-backs in the senior squad, and so will have to get rid of at least a couple of them in order to make room for Dumfries.

That would likely be Emil Krafth and Javier Manquillo, with Kieran Trippier remaining and Harrison Ashby only being signed in January as an academy addition.

Hailed as a ‘monster’ by journalist Alan Rzepa, the six-foot-two colossus has impressed at a high level for both club and country, recording seven goals and 12 assists in 75 games for Inter from right-back, including contributions in the coveted UEFA Champions League (Transfermarkt).

At the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Dumfries played every single minute for the Netherlands on route to the quarter-finals, and produced a ‘world class’ finish to help defeat USA in the last-16.

At 26 years of age, he is about to enter his prime, and could be an ideal long-term replacement for 32-year-old Trippier.

Chelsea have retained an interest in budding Russian talent Arsen Zakharyan and could look to issue a concrete transfer move this summer for a player who was previously missed in a transfer swoop…

What’s the latest on Chelsea’s interest in Arsen Zakharyan?

Last summer, Chelsea agreed to a £12.6m deal for the teenage prodigy, according to the Evening Standard, but due to unforeseen sanctions imposed on Russia and their athletes due to the invasion of Ukraine, the deal dropped by the wayside.

However, as now revealed by transfer guru Fabrizio Romano via his CaughtOffside column, Blues owner Todd Boehly ‘remains interested’ in signing the gem, who is expected to depart from Dinamo Moscow in the summer.

Previously speaking to Sport24, Zakharyan said:

“I immediately discovered that I wanted to go.

“I do not dismiss the option of returning [to Dynamo] on loan but at least I would try myself [at Chelsea], then I’ll be back. Maybe it would be possible to start playing there right away.”

Dinamo will now only accept bids of at least €25m (£22m) for the precocious starlet, but given Boehly’s expenditure in excess of £550m since his arrival last year, a move certainly could be forthcoming as the script continues to be rewritten in west London.

Should Potter ditch Mason Mount for Zakharyan?

If Chelsea were to forge ahead with a move for a player that has already been scouted extensively, it might be that the board forgo the option of a loan, and instead look for manager Graham Potter to integrate the Russian sensation into the fold immediately.

And given the contractual uncertainty surrounding Mason Mount’s position at the heart of the Stamford Bridge-based team, the cogs might fall kindly for Zakharyan, who has been steadily growing into his skin in his homeland.

Indeed, Champions League winner Mount is reportedly desired by the likes of Liverpool ahead of the expiry of his contract at the end of next season, with Chelsea set to cash in this summer if a resolution is not clinched.

Much like the 24-year-old English ace, Zakharyan thrives among a melange of positions in-and-around the centre of the midfield, and it is this dynamic scope that could tantalise Chelsea into making a move.

As per Sofascore, the six-cap Russian has recorded an exemplary average Premier Liga rating of 7.33 this term, scoring two goals and serving five assists, making 2.7 key passes per match and averaging 1.3 shots – illustrating his offensive skill set that appears tailor-made to take the baton from Mount, should he indeed depart from his boyhood club.

And with Mount scoring 33 goals and supplying 37 assists for the Blues, averaging 1.8 shots and 0.9 key passes per match, as per WhoScored, the hype surrounding the robust Zakharyan, hailed for his “exciting potential” by Ben Bocsak, is only heightened, given the striking similarities in potency.

Ditching Mount for a relatively untested commodity in Zakharyan would be a bold move from Potter indeed, but every indication that Boehly offers thus far during his reign over Chelsea suggests he is a bold man who will pull no punches in pursuing a deal that is believed to enhance the squad.

And if Mount does leave, no better option than the 19-year-old machine, who can be nurtured and developed into a devastating midfield force, and stands ready at an affordable price at present.

Everton could be set to swiftly replace an outgoing star with a classic Sean Dyche transfer.

The former Burnley boss is set to be appointed at Goodison Park soon, with Farhad Moshiri hoping to supplement the new man with a little cash boost before the January window shuts.

That will likely be bolstered greatly by the imminent sale of Anthony Gordon, with Newcastle United preparing to pay an initial £40m fee for the 21-year-old.

It seems like Dyche already has his first man lined up, with an eye towards dipping into the Championship just like he did during his spell at Turf Moor.

Having already seen one €23m (£20m) bid rejected, it is expected that the Toffees will return in an effort to tempt Iliman Ndiaye from Sheffield United.

The 22-year-old has shone this season for the Blades, with his pace and trickery causing an immense threat in their division.

With just 28 league games played this campaign, he already has ten goals and seven assists to his name. This has already surpassed the 15 goal contributions tally that Gordon has amassed across his whole senior career at Everton.

As such, the Senegal international is also boasting a 7.12 Sofascore rating propped up by his aforementioned statistics.

This is only further supplemented by his 1.1 key passes per 90 and 58% dribble success rate.

Meanwhile, his potential predecessor has only managed a 6.74 average rating, only 0.5 key passes per game and a measly 26% dribble success rate (via Sofascore).

But what likens him to the outbound winger, and even suggests he might offer an instant upgrade are the words of one of his coaches, Jack Lester. He stated: 

“His shoulders rock, almost as if he’s dancing. He goes past defenders, puts them down with his upper-body movements. He’s a lovely lad, always smiling. Very popular. Fearless, a tough kid. Strong on the ball and not nice to play against.”

To secure this deal for just over half of the potential fee they might receive for Gordon is monumental business, and would kickstart Dyche’s reign to perfection.

Tottenham Hotspur will allow Harvey White to depart on loan before the transfer deadline, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: White’s career so far

The 21-year-old has made just one appearance for Spurs in the Premier League this season, appearing off the bench for four minutes, and he is at the stage where he should be starting to push for a place in the first team.

The youngster previously played for Portsmouth on loan during the 2020/21 season, but that is his only prolonged taste of senior football, and Spurs are now eager for him to have another spell somewhere else where he would get regular game-time.

The Latest: White allowed to leave

According to Football Insider, Spurs have told the midfielder that he is free to complete a loan move before Tuesday’s transfer deadline, amid interest from Championship and League One clubs.

Blackpool had made an enquiry about the starlet but they are now believed to be out the race as they are prioritising a defensive signing, so it is unclear where he may end up.

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The Verdict: Right call

If the youngster is ever going to stake a claim for a starting berth at Spurs, Antonio Conte needs to ensure that White has experience in men’s football rather than just youth games, and the aim should be to find him a move as soon as possible.

Hailed as a ‘brilliant player in the making’ by journalist Ben Haines, the left-footed midfielder has been showing some promising signs in Premier League 2, with five goals and six assists in 18 outings at that level last season.

However, he is unlikely to get any game-time in the Tottenham first team at present, considering that Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has been fantastic this season in boasting the squad’s second-highest Sofascore performance rating, and a loan departure is the right move for White at this stage.

Liverpoolare eyeing a young, exciting talent to return the club to winning ways this January, and could be set to make a move in the coming weeks…

What’s the word?

According toreportsstemming from Spain, Reds bossJurgen Kloppis among the admirers of Valencia’s USMNT starYunus Musah, with the German seemingly wanting Liverpool to bring him back to England.

Indeed, the midfielder has impressed both for club and country since being released from Arsenal’s academy at just 16-years-old.

Having failed to make a senior appearance for the Gunners, the 20-year-old maestro signed for his current Spanish outfit in 2019, since making84appearances, scoring five goals and providing three assists.

With Liverpool registering interest in the American last month, making contact with Valencia over his availability, according to90min, a move might come to fruition in the coming weeks, however, a stumbling block might arise in the player’s reported£86mrelease clause.

Imagine him & Salah

Musah earned acclaim for his exploits at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, dictating the play for USMNT despite his tender years and inexperience at a major international tournament.

As perSofascore, he completed 87% of his passes and made 0.8 key plays per outing, impressing as he exhibited his assurance and ball-playing prowess.

His industrious nature was also on display, highlighted by the 2.0 tackles and 0.5 interceptions made per match, with the ace also winning possession 1.0 times each game.

With Liverpool floundering for form, sitting sixth in thePremier Leaguewith only28points from 17 outings, and lacking stability and vibrancy from head to toe, a young, exciting starlet such as Musah could go a long way towards injecting some life into the depleted Anfield ranks.

His tendency to surge forwards and instigate positive manoeuvres is an arresting element to his game, and one that Klopp will lick his lips over when considering the skills that Musah would wield within his system.

As perFBref, he ranks within the top 6% of midfielders across Europe’s best five leagues for dribbles completed, the top 11% for progressive passes received, and the top 21% for touches in the attacking penalty area, indicating his presence on the pitch lingers in dangerous territory for his opponents.

His set of skills could merge wonderfully with that of Mohamed Salah, whose direct, incisive approach from the right flank could run rings around defenders with both phenoms ploughing into the area and firing with a multi-faceted approach.

Salahrankswithin the top 1% for touches in the attacking penalty area and 2% for progressive passes received, when compared to attacking midfielders and wingers over the past year.

Havingscored173 goals for Liverpool and 69 assists since arriving from AS Roma for£34min 2017, Salah has been nothing short of a sensation, and his all-encompassing aura would bounce off Musah’s, with the dynamic duo unearthing goals and assists in abundance.

Musah’s national team head coach Gregg Berhalter once lauded his prodigy for his “crazy” abilities and his work as the “connector” for his team, orchestrating the play with aplomb.

With Klopp in dire need of fresh vitality in the team, Musah might be the man to lead from the centre over the coming years.

Wolverhampton Wanderers lost 1-0 to Manchester United on Saturday afternoon, and sections of the media slammed Nelson Semedo for a ‘terrible’ mistake.

The Lowdown: Wolves defeated

Wolves were unable to follow up their victory against Everton last week with another three points, losing in a closely-contested match against Man United, but there were positive signs for Julen Lopetegui.

The Athletic journalist Steve Madeley praised the Old Gold for a good first half, defending well and creating some ‘good openings’, but a Marcus Rashford strike late into the second period ultimately proved to be the difference between the two sides.

The Latest: Semedo criticised

During the first half, Semedo under-hit a back-pass and Alejandro Garnacho raced through one-on-one, and while the full-back was luckily bailed out by goalkeeper Jose Sa, he received plenty of criticism for the blunder.

Journalist and Wanderers fan Nathan Judah labelled the 29-year-old a ‘liability’, while United correspondent Laurie Whitwell lambasted a ‘terrible mistake’ and Wolves reporter Liam Keen praised the efforts of Sa for preventing the ‘very sloppy’ error from leading to a goal.

The Verdict: Must cut out mistakes

Although Semedo’s mistake is not to blame for the defeat, on another day it very easily could’ve been, especially against a team of United’s quality, and so he cannot afford to gift teams such easy opportunities in future.

For the most part, the full-back had a decent game, winning five of the seven duels that he contested, while also making two tackles, but all of that is rendered pointless if you don’t do the basics right, and he was brought off by Lopetegui on the 65 minute mark.

Wolves are next in action against Aston Villa on Wednesday night, and Lopetegui will be hoping that his side can build on some of the positive signs today, while also cutting out some of the silly errors.

Chelsea have ‘registered an interest’ in Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi ahead of January, according to journalist Simon Phillips.

The Lowdown: Midfield revamp

The Premier League giants are reportedly planning a midfield revamp in the New Year, with Todd Boehly and Graham Potter currently in the process of identifying the right candidates.

The Spaniard still has five years remaining on his contract in La Liga, but after an impressive start to the 2022/23 season, is now being heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge next year.

The Latest: Zubimendi contact made

Taking to Twitter, Phillips revealed that Chelsea have made contact to sign Zubimendi ahead of a potential move in 2023. He wrote:

“Told Chelsea have registered an interest in Real Sociedad defensive midfielder Martin Zubimendi (23).”

The Verdict: Kante successor?

N’Golo Kante’s deal is set to expire at the end of the season, and after recently being linked with an exit next summer, Zubimendi would be the perfect successor should he depart.

The Real star is naturally a defensive midfielder, where he’s currently averaging 2.4 aerial wins and 1.6 tackles per league game, though he has also provided three goal contributions this term, showing he can be a threat in the final third too (WhoScored).

Zubimendi has been hailed a ‘special’ player by Sid Lowe, and at just 23 years of age, he would be a fantastic signing for the future of Chelsea.

Injury analyst Ben Dinnery has hinted at a potential date for West Ham United defender Kurt Zouma to make a return from his latest setback. 

The Lowdown: Zouma’s injury

In the early stages of West Ham’s most recent Premier League game against Leicester City, the Frenchman was forced off the pitch through injury, following some concern about the defender’s knee during the warm-up for that match.

Last month, the east London club revealed that Zouma has undergone surgery on his knee and will now be continuing his rehabilitation.

Some further details about the injury have now emerged, along with a potential recovery timeframe.

The Latest: Potential Zouma return date

Speaking to Football Insider, Dinnery addressed Zouma and when he could be in line for a return to action.

He said of the West Ham defender: “The fact that he’s been carrying it for a fairly long time suggests that it’s fairly minimal. It’s an issue they’ve been aware of and were treating it conservatively.

“Everything points to a meniscal problem, so a little tidy-up of the cartilage with the arthroscopy, which is minimal invasion surgery. You expect a four to six week return to play timeline on that. It’s a little bit of a tidy up, it’s nothing too serious.

“You can manage it fairly well but on occasion, it does flare up, as we saw in that last game against Leicester during the warm-up and the decision was taken to go under the knife.

“It may call into question a return for that festive fixture period but certainly for the second half of the campaign, there’s no question about that.”

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The Verdict: Good news for West Ham

Judging by what Dinnery had to say about the injury, the surgery and the potential time for which Zouma could be ruled out, it will be good news for everyone at West Ham that the 28-year-old seems unlikely to be sidelined for a considerable period of time.

With only four outfield players at the London Stadium having racked up more league minutes than the Frenchman this season, that shows how important he is to Moyes and the Hammers.

In fact, only Declan Rice (89.1%) has a higher passing accuracy percentage than Zouma (85.9%), who has also made more clearances (68) than any other player at the club, which suggests that Moyes will want him back and fully recovered as soon as possible.

Taking into account how domestic football doesn’t start again for another three weeks, this will give the 28-year-old ample time to recover and reduce the chance of him missing too many games.

It’s unlikely that Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta will shed many tears over being dumped out of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night.

The Gunners were defeated 3-1 by Brighton in what was a laboured display by a team who currently sit at the top of the Premier League.

It’s not a competition that Arsenal will have held high in their list of priorities at the beginning of the campaign but there should be cause for concern after such a loss.

Indeed, it demonstrated again that their squad depth beyond their regular set of starters leaves a lot to be desired.

The north Londoners finished top of their Europa League group but it wasn’t without a scare, as Arteta’s men dropped three points against PSV Eindhoven.

On that night, the likes of Rob Holding, Fabio Vieira and Albert Sambi-Lokonga found life difficult.

That has been the story of the season so far, particularly for Lokonga, but Vieira’s lack of form is now also becoming a worrying trend.

The Portuguese playmaker was signed from Porto in the summer and looked an underrated addition to the squad.

A fizzing goal against Brentford showed the immense quality in his locker but unfortunately, that’s as good as it’s got for the 22-year-old since arriving in England.

His performance against the Seagulls in midweek was again poor, with the Gunners succumbing to goals from Kaoru Mitoma, Tariq Lamptey and former Gunner Danny Welbeck who scored from the spot after debutant goalkeeper Karl Hein gave away a penalty.

The Estonian stopper, who became the first player from that nation to play for the club since Mart Poom in May 2007, was given a golden opportunity to prove himself but failed to take advantage.

Vieira, however, was equally as bad with the dynamic midfielder now making it nine successive matches without a goal contribution.

The youngster is still learning his trade and adjusting to English football so an element of patience must be applied to his displays.

That said, he needs to up his levels if he is to make an impression after the World Cup.

Vieira’s display was best typified by Goal’s Charles Watts who notably said he was having an “absolute howler” in the first half, with the attacking midfielder struggling to make an impression during his 72 minutes on the pitch.

Indeed, he lost the ball every 4.7 touches while just about seeing the ball more than the aforementioned Hein. Arsenal’s stopper took 40 touches and played 22 accurate passes to Vieira’s 43 and 27.

Considering he is meant to be the heartbeat of the team in his central role, it was a truly uninspiring set of numbers.

Furthermore, he made just one key pass and failed to accurately find a man with any of his three crosses. He made no notable defensive contributions, participating in just seven ground duels throughout the contest.

This was a night for Vieira to really prove himself to the manager but he spurned his opportunity and let his team down.