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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

The Athletic’s Patrick Boyland has suggested that Fabian Delph could be a key player for Everton this season after he impressed in the 3-2 win over Wolves on Sunday, and he’s right.

What did he say?

Fabian Delph arrived at Goodison Park in a £10m move which some consider to be a real bargain. He had failed to start a Premier League match prior to the weekend due to injury but his introduction led to a win and seemingly more of a attacking threat from his team.

The England international replaced Morgan Schneiderlin in midfield to slot alongside Andre Gomes, and the pairing helped the Toffees to 58.7% possession, with Delph’s 62 passes the most of any player on the pitch.

In his assessment of the match, Patrick Boyland wrote for The Athletic: “Delph makes a difference, both with his leadership and ability in possession. He’s got to be a definite starter in there now, for me.”

The 29-year-old is amongst Everton’s most experienced players with 20 international caps, and has also captained Aston Villa and England on occasion, which suggests Boyland is accurate about his leadership qualities.

Just what Everton needed

Marco Silva’s side have dominated possession in all but one Premier League game so far this season, and therefore their failure to breakdown Crystal Palace and Aston Villa suggests they lacked intensity when on the ball.

Delph, by comparison, is a player who likes to drive forward with the ball at his feet and in doing so helps his team get up the pitch to support the forwards, thus given the opposition more to think about.

The former Manchester City player is more energetic than Schneiderlin and is able to get around the pitch at a faster pace, and it was his ability to press which resulted in Everton’s first goal against Wolves.

Watch Everton Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Similarly, his presence in midfield should allow players like Gomes and Gylfi Sigurdsson to be more adventurous, and take up positions out wide to cross the ball, as the Icelandic did for Everton’s second goal on Sunday.

If he can stay fit he should be a very useful asset for Silva this season, and his versatility makes him a great option to have.

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Scotland lost their second European Championships qualifier in a row on Monday night, managing to hold out against Belgium for just nine minutes before capitulating in an abysmal first half display.

Despite the fact Scotland lost 4-0, much like Friday’s 2-1 defeat to Russia it was the lone striker that was the target of some Scotland fans’ ire. Oli McBurnie was maybe grateful to be on the bench for this one.

Watch West Bromwich Albion Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Matt Phillips, of West Brom, was played centrally and had the sizeable task of occupying Thomas Vermaelan, Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen – better strikers have tried and failed.

And some Scotland fans took to Twitter to vent their frustration at the Baggies front man. It’s safe to say he isn’t rated as highly by them as he is by his club manager Slaven Bilic.

However, to those that follow either West Brom or the English Championship, you will know that Phillips isn’t deployed by Bilic as a centre forward. Two goals in six games from midfield so far is a decent return – but this doesn’t equate to being enough to punish a Belgian side that has conceded one goal in six qualifiers as a central striker. A few Scotland fans seemed to believe that Phillips was being hung out to dry by Scotland boss Steve Clarke and that he should never have been played in that role in the first place.

Phillips didn’t have a great night up front for Scotland scoring just 3/10 on the BBC Sport website. It can’t be ignored that he was playing out of position against three centre halves with nearly 300 caps between them though, more than the entire Scotland squad put together.

How’s that for perspective?

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Charlie Nicholas has suggested to Sky Sports that Kieran Tierney and Hector Bellerin should start for Arsenal against Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday.

What did he say?

Tierney and Bellerin are yet to feature for the Gunners this term, but both returned to first-team training last week as they enter the final stages of their recovery.

Watch Arsenal Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Unai Emery’s side have struggled defensively in recent weeks, conceding seven goals in their last three matches.

Nicholas, therefore, wants to see the two full-backs in the side to face last season’s Europa League semi-finalists.

He said: “I would play Kieran Tierney on Thursday and see if Hector Bellerin could start too. Regarding Sunday’s game against Watford, when you see David Luiz giving instructions with 20 minutes to go, you know you are in trouble.”

“Konstantinos Mavropanos is still game time away from being fit. It would be the end if Shkodran Mustafi was to be brought back. We need to get Rob Holding, Bellerin and Tierney back into the side as soon as possible. I would take a hit and play these players to give them game time and let them get match fitness.”

Too soon to risk them

It is, of course, a boost to the north London outfit that the two wide defenders are approaching full fitness, and the former Sevilla boss will be looking to introduce them to the side sooner rather than later. However, it is too early to risk them from the start.

Tierney has been out since June. That is long enough and means that he has not been through a demanding pre-season, but it pales in comparison to the amount of time Bellerin has spent on the sidelines. The 24-year-old ruptured his cruciate ligament in January of this year and has not played since.

They need to be brought back into the fold slowly, and should certainly not be seen as the answer to Emery’s backline woes immediately. After such difficult periods, the last thing they need is too much pressure, both mentally and physically.

Also, a match against Frankfurt is certainly not a fixture that should be seen as an easy match in which to reintroduce them. The German side impressed in Europe last term and are dangerous opposition.

Yes, both players will be needed in the side in the near future. But shouldn’t be thrown in at the deep end on Thursday.

Give them more time, and then utilise them when they are truly ready.

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Nottingham Forest put the rest of the league on notice by defeating what were the league’s frontrunners, Swansea City.

A late tap-in from substitute Alfa Semedo’s meant that the home side’s unbeaten run in the league came to an end, earning a valuable three points for Forest in south Wales.

Reds manager Sabri Lamouchi made five changes from the side that rescued a point against Preston North End before the international break with the most surprising move being in defence.

Both full-backs were changed as Yuri Ribeiro made his first league start in place of Jack Robinson while Matty Cash returned to the right side of defence in the place of the injured Carl Jenkinson.

The 22-year-old’s performance caught the eye of many supporters at the City Ground.

One fan claimed he deserves his place and he didn’t care if he wasn’t a right-back with another believing he could make the position his own.

Cash has played in the role before, starting the first three Championship matches there before the club made a move for the former Arsenal defender last month.

A further member of the Reds fanbase said he preferred him to Jenkinson while one stated that Cash had made a step up this season.

Here’s the best of the reaction:

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s In The Pipeline series, which takes a look at some of the most promising young talent either linked with clubs or emerging from their academies…

Serge Atakayi had become a forgotten figure at Rangers but with his dramatic late winner for the Ibrox club’s colt team against Ballymena in the Challenge Cup he has returned to relative notoriety.

Born in Kinsasha in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Atakayi and his youth team claimed asylum in 2010 in Finland where he remained until Rangers signed him in 2016 from FC Jaro. He went on to represent his adopted homeland at both U18 and U19 levels and was called up by DR Congo’s Olympic squad earlier this year.

Atakayi plays most of his football on the wing but can play centrally too. His goal against Ballymena is typical of his style, making a run behind a defence before finishing a 1 v 1 situation.

Graeme Murty, who is head coach for the academy side, said afterwards: “Serge has got everything in terms of pace. He’s electric. Unfortunately for them it came from a little bit of an error, but Serge got himself through there and took the goal really, really well.”

Atakayi has already experienced first team football at Ibrox but was unfortunate to suffer an injury after coming on as a substitute in a 7-1 demolition of Motherwell. Once he recovered, he went on loan back to Finland for SJK Seinajoki and managed to bag one goal and one assist. His statistics weren’t great, but he did score a fabulous goal v HJK Helsinki.

Before his move, Atakayi confirmed he had spoken to his manager: “Rangers saw this as the best solution for me. Steven Gerrard has told me he thinks I can play for the first team next season.”

Perhaps his appearance against Ballymena is a positive sign of that next step soon coming, with Gerrard seemingly outlining a squad role for him this term. He clearly harbours hopes of that too, after launching a “let me play” plea on social media.

Hopefully he gets his wish because with his contract due to expire this summer, it’s an important year for the Rangers prospect.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more… 

Everton host Manchester City on Saturday in a match which could really test the resolve of their players, but one individual in particular will likely be looking forward to the clash.

On the chalkboard

That man is Fabian Delph, who made the £10m switch from the Citizens to Goodison Park this summer and will be looking to get one over his former team. Man City, though, are hot off the back of a 8-0 demolition against Watford, a danger Everton will need to be wary of.

As a result, the 29-year-old could be key to Everton’s chances of success, particularly his handling of Kevin De Bruyne, a player whose attributes he should be better prepared for than his teammates, considering he played with him for four years in Manchester.

However, the Belgian is in excellent form and seemingly has a point to prove after missed out on parts of last season through injury, already tallying two goals and eight assists in only eight games this term.

That means he is one of several key threats in the City side, but if Delph can disrupt the flow of the game and get in the face of his opponent then he could have some luck in negating the visitors’ threat.

Since joining the Toffees he has shown that he is capable of performing that role with an average of four tackles from the five games he has played, as per WhoScored, although his success in that department could rely on how often Everton choose to press.

A failure to close down the midfielder will likely lead to goals for the visitors. De Bruyne is brilliant at finding his forward, as evidenced by his average of 4.5 key passes per game, and failing that he is not afraid to go for goal himself.

According to WhoScored he has averaged almost three shots per game so far this campaign, a complete contrast to Delph, whose defensive role will have to continue on Saturday if his side are to get anything from the game.

Watch Everton Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Looking at the stats, De Bruyne could dominate in all departments, with even his rate of interceptions matching that of the Everton man despite occupying more of an attacking role in his team.

However, Delph has got on the ball often and used it well for his team. Against Sheffield Wednesday he was a key outlet to his team with 78 touches, and a pass accuracy of 87% this season shows he doesn’t often give the ball away.

If he can stick to De Bruyne and limit his influence, which is he capable of, then he should help to reduce the threat posed by Guardiola’s side and perhaps even earn Everton a surprise result.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Injury News series, which considers the impact of the latest updates on players’ fitness.

Joel Matip will miss Liverpool’s clash with Red Bull Salzburg, and the likely switch to Joe Gomez will place more pressure on Trent Alexander-Arnold’s defensive abilities.

What’s the word?

Matip will not make Wednesday’s battle with the Austrian outfit after picking up a knock against Sheffield United, Paul Joyce has confirmed.

Given how well the Cameroonian has played in 2019 it makes sense not to take any risks, and so Gomez is expected to fill in against Salzburg and possibly against Leicester, depending on the extent of the injury.

Gomez though has one weakness in his game, and it will force Alexander-Arnold to focus slightly more on his defensive duties, thus affecting the side’s ability to create chances.

Alexander-Arnold has to help

So what is that weakness? Well, for all Gomez’s qualities, which include excellent recovery speed and fantastic ball-playing ability, the England international does tend to lose his man at the far post sometimes. Quite simply, he just switches off.

It happened at the Emirates in that crazy 3-3 draw back in 2017 when he allowed Alexis Sanchez to run straight past him and score, and again a few months later when he lost Johann Berg Gudmundsson. Even some fans have noticed it over the years.

Given that Salzburg wonderkid Erling Haaland stands at 6 foot 4, it would be ne surprise to see the Austrians look to expose Gomez by standing balls up to Haaland at the back post. The Englishman averaged just 1.5 aerial wins in the league last term, while Matip is winning a whopping 6 per game this season.

So, it will be up Alexander-Arnold to just provide that little bit of extra support for his compatriot, and perhaps not push forward quite as much as Liverpool’s full-backs usually do.

This will of course harm the Reds’ creativity, which comes mostly from the flanks, as well as the fact that they will lose Matip’s marauding runs and incisive passes, something Ian Wright heaped praise upon after the clash at Bramall Lane.

The injury to Matip may seem a simple straight swap to Gomez, but it could actually effect the Reds more than you would think, especially down that right flank.

Liverpool have to be considered one of the most dramatic teams in the world to follow.

Never is this more true than when the Reds are playing European football.

The Merseyside outfit are famed for their incredible European performances, and there have been some fantastic displays from Liverpool in the Champions League.

Watch Liverpool Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Undoubtedly two of their greatest performances came in the 2005 final and the 2019 semi-final second leg.

The miracle of Istanbul is well documented as the Reds came back from 3-0 down to beat AC Milan on penalties and lift the continent’s most prestigious trophy.

The semi-final against Barcelona is more recent, but it certainly rivals that night in Istanbul.

Choosing between those two games is almost impossible for any Liverpool fan, but Georginio Wijnaldum and Divock Origi had the task of naming the greatest Champions League comeback ever.

The two stars had to list the greatest comebacks in the competition’s history, and they had a number of games to choose from.

Despite being able to pick from games such as Barcelona’s 6-1 win against PSG and the 1999 final, they whittled it down to the two aforementioned Liverpool performances.

It was tough for them to decide, but in the end they paid homage to the legends from 2005 and decided that the Istanbul encounter eclipses their second-leg comeback last season.

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Liverpool’s imperious domestic form has seen the Merseyside side rise to 1st in the Premier League table with eight wins from eight games, with Manchester City’s latest defeat last Sunday meaning Jurgen Klopp’s side are eight points clear at the summit of the league table.

The eclectic trio in Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino have been typically outstanding for the Reds, though the defensive prowess that had been seemingly ever-present in the 2018/19 campaign has evaded the 2019 Champions League winners in the current campaign.

Ahead of the international break that will see the top-flight’s high-flyers pause domestically for two weeks before re-mounting their pursuit of Premier League glory, we take a look at five of the key points that Klopp will be keen to address ahead of their return to league action against Manchester United at Old Trafford on October 20th.

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Although Liverpool’s last-minute winner against Leicester on Saturday sent Anfield into a state of euphoria, it was not all smiles for manager Klopp after the game when questioned on the injury sustained by Salah.

The Egyptian was taken down after a foul from Hamza Choudhury, who was booked for the challenge, and the German coach fumed that the Leicester midfielder had not received stricter punishment – especially after a similar challenge from the 22-year-old on Newcastle midfielder Matt Ritchie last week.

Although initial scans have suggested Salah’s injury is not serious, ensuring the forward is fully fit ahead of the return to Premier League action will be simply vital for Liverpool and Klopp if they are to maintain the momentum that has seen them excel in the 2019/20 Premier League campaign.

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From a defensive perspective, Liverpool were in simply sensational form in the 2018/19 campaign, guiding the club to a sixth European trophy whilst also laying the foundations for a title push that fell fractionally short, owing to the excellence of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.

The likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson contributed both offensively and defensively as the Reds battled in domestic and European competition, but the defensive rigour that saw Klopp’s side concede just 22 league goals is currently not present to the same extent at Anfield in the current campaign.

Whilst Liverpool have conceded just six goals so far, they have kept just two clean sheets in eight games and the lack of solidity is starting to spill over into their Champions League endeavours – where they conceded three goals to Red Bull Salzburg. Solving these issues will be vital for Klopp and the German will be hoping to address the lack of clean-sheets after October’s international break. 

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Whilst Salah’s injury understandably agitated Klopp due to the nature of the challenge, the return to fitness of centre-back Joel Matip, who was absent against Leicester last time out, will also be extremely important for the Reds after the international break.

Matip, 28, has formed a promising partnership with Virgil van Dijk at the heart of Liverpool’s defence, resigning Joe Gomez to a place on the bench.

Although Liverpool have been comparatively less resilient defensively, it will be vital for Klopp that Matip returns to full-fitness, and if the Cameroon international is unable to return after the international break, the form and fitness of fellow centre-back Gomez will be crucial for the club’s domestic and European prospects.

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Netherlands international Georginio Wijnaldum has played a starring role under Jurgen Klopp in the Premier League, and the Liverpool midfielder is once again proving his worth in the 2019/20 campaign.

Alongside his typically resilient performances in central midfield, Wijnaldum has also been getting his name on the scoresheet with a fortuitous strike against Sheffield United, but the 28-year-old is contributing significantly to Liverpool’s attacking and defensive endeavours in 2019/20.

Klopp will be hoping for a series of similar performances when the Dutchman returns from international duty, but the German will also be looking to further utilise the incredible consistency that Wijnaldum is providing in the Liverpool starting XI.

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Despite enjoying a breakthrough season in the 2018/19 campaign, Liverpool centre-back Joe Gomez has, so far, been unable to establish himself as a starting selection in Jurgen Klopp’s first-choice XI.

Gomez, 22, had seven caps for England at international level, but the Liverpool boss has decided to partner van Dijk alongside Joel Matip, with the former Charlton man starting just one league game so far in 2019/20 – the opening 4-1 victory over Norwich City.

With the gruelling festive fixture list on the horizon, Klopp is likely to be looking to utilise the extensive squad depth at his disposal.

Ensuring Gomez is able to continue to develop whilst playing a vital role in Liverpool’s bid for domestic and European success should be at the top of his priorities.

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Cenk Tosun scored a late winner as Turkey recorded a 1-0 victory over Albania in their Euro 2020 qualification match on Friday night.

The 28-year-old has now netted five times in his last six appearances at international level for a Turkey side very much on the up.

The 6-foot centre-forward is hardly getting a sniff for Everton, though, making just one Premier League appearance in the early stages of the 2019-20 campaign.

Tosun has not even made the squad for two of Everton’s last four league outings, which is somewhat of a surprise when considering Marco Silva’s side are not exactly flying in the final third of the field – netting just six league goals.

As expected, a number of Everton fans took to social media to react to their centre-forward’s effort on Friday night.

And it would be fair to say that many believe the Turk should be given more of a regular chance, potentially at the expense of Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

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A selection of the Twitter reaction from the Merseyside club’s fans can be seen below: