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Liverpool have come out of the blocks with a vengeance this season after struggling to impress last time out, with Jurgen Klopp's squad desperate to restore intensity and success to the club.

The Premier League giants have asserted their authority over the lion's share of rivals in domineering fashion since the German manager took the reins, with a wealth of silverware – including the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup – snapped up.

But after falling flat last term, finishing fifth and going trophyless, the Reds have made the requisite summer changes for success once more, and while the term's in its fledging phase, three wins and a draw (against Chelsea, again) have created a sturdy foundation to build from.

Who did Liverpool sign this summer?

It was a summer characterised by midfield upheaval, with James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain leaving in June after their contracts expired before Jordan Henderson and Fabinho's heads were turned by the lucrative Saudi Arabian transfer raid.

With Fabio Carvalho also leaving on loan, replacements were important, but the calibre of the additions was imperative, and it certainly appears to have been a successful summer so far.

Creative midfielders Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai were signed before the unlikely move for Wataru Endo was made to replace Fabinho – after missing out on Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia to Chelsea – and Bayern Munich's Ryan Gravenberch was snapped up on deadline day to complete the rebuild.

However, there could be a significant move on the cards in future transfer windows with Kylian Mbappe's name the centre of attention once more.

Are Liverpool interested in Kylian Mbappe?

A window exclusively made up of midfield transfers, the discourse surrounding Mohamed Salah's future remains, with Al-Ittihad looking to make an exorbitant £200m offer for the Egyptian forward.

Figures sourced via talkSPORT

In the wake of this, L'Equipe report this week that Paris Saint-Germain's Mbappe is on the Reds' radar once again, with his contract set for expiry at the end of the campaign.

The prominent outlet claim that the 24-year-old France star is tempted by a move to Anfield, though the complications that would arise from swooping for the £1.2m-a-week World Cup winner are daunting.

Such a financial commitment may be out of the question for Liverpool, who instead could turn to options already at their disposal. A certain Ben Doak is one name that could benefit from a lack of forward acquisitions in the future.

How good is Ben Doak?

The thought of Mbappe plying his trade on Merseyside, wreaking havoc on Premier League defences and rivalling Manchester City's Erling Haaland as the eminent offensive force on English soil is tantalising to say the least.

But Liverpool would have to shatter their wage bill, their structure, to make room for the phenomenon. Because of this, Klopp might be inclined to provide rising star Doak with greater responsibility this season as he nurtures the young Scotsman to the fore.

Doak, aged just 17, has been riding the crest of a wave in the maiden phase of his career after impressing at Celtic and earning a move to Liverpool for a compensation fee of around £600k.

Hailed as a "special" talent by Klopp, the teenager has made six senior appearances for the Anfield side having posted 11 goals and eight assists from 22 outings for the youth sides.

A genuine "prodigy" – as has been said by Liverpool reporter Keifer MacDonald – the young Scot impresses with his barrelling gait, maintaining a low centre of gravity and weaving through the lines with his blistering pace and diminutive stature.

The three-cap Scotland U21 international has all the innate qualities to soar to the very highest level, remarked by his agent Jackie McNamara as a 'Scottish Wayne Rooney' for his style and stature.

A very pacy player with impressive physicality, to say that Doak will reach the same heights as Mbappe would receive ridicule from many, and while Mbappe – who has scored 217 goals and provided 98 assists from just 263 displays for PSG, by the way – has a transcendent ability to leave defenders in anguish, there's no reason why he can't develop into a starring member of Klopp's Liverpool team.

With Liverpool anticipating Salah's departure at some point, even if they rebuff the relentless advances of Al-Ittihad, Mbappe would be the dream replacement, but that might just have be accepted as somewhat unrealistic.

With Doak waiting in the wings, Liverpool have a youth star ready for a prominent role, and as he grows into his skin he could leave the Kop roaring his name in adulation for years to come.

Manchester United boss Erik Ten Hag hasn't fielded one of his first-team players much this campaign and BBC pundit Gary Lineker can't comprehend why.

What's the latest news involving Manchester United?

According to The Sun, disgruntled Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho could be offered an escape route from Old Trafford in the form of his old club Borussia Dortmund, who are said to be monitoring his situation in light of his public spat with Red Devils' boss Ten Hag.

Dutch coach Ten Hag dropped Sancho from Manchester United's matchday squad before their eventual 3-1 defeat to Arsenal due to his level of performance in training; however, the England international responded to criticism on social media platform X, branding the claims as "completely untrue" and indicating that he has been made a "scapegoat" figure at the club.

Telegraph Sport have revealed that crunch talks are set to take place over Sancho's future at Manchester United; however, there are doubts that he will be able to reignite his career at Old Trafford even if he is forthcoming with an apology to Ten Hag.

Football Insider meanwhile detail that Manchester United made a late move in the summer to try and bring in Brentford defender Rico Henry. They apparently couldn't facilitate a deal to land the 26-year-old and instead brought in Serio Reguilon on loan from Tottenham Hotspur on Deadline Day.

The report does state that Manchester United are still keen on Henry, who is now believed to be on the fringes of Gareth Southgate's England squad ahead of EURO 2024 next summer.

What has Gary Lineker said?

Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, BBC pundit Lineker has noted his disbelief that Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay hasn't been involved more for the Red Devils this term, as the Scotland international has managed just seven minutes of Premier League action so far this term.

McTominay has notched six goals and one assist in five matches during EURO 2024 qualifying for Scotland and has been utilised in a more advanced midfield role by Tartan Army boss Steve Clarke.

In conversation about McTominay's form for his country, Lineker stated: "I notice Scott McTominay playing and getting in the box a lot. He scored again in this game; he scored a couple in the game first time against Cyprus. He’s top scorer in qualifying. It’s nuts, yet he’s not really getting a look in at Manchester United. Someone will go for him surely."

The 26-year-old came through Manchester United's youth academy as a striker and is no stranger to breaking further forward when needed, something that Ten Hag touched on in an interview earlier this year, stating: "I think Scott can play in many roles, and it's clear, he has scoring capabilities, it's clear. We have seen it for Scotland, but also this season for us, he is a really good finisher, yeah. But I see him as a midfielder."

Manchester United have lacked incision in the forward areas at times over the last few months and McTominay could offer a surprise solution if he can replicate his Scotland form at Old Trafford.

Glasgow Rangers could be set to lose another of their first-team players to injury alongside Tom Lawrence, if the latest update is to be believed.

What Rangers players are out?

Michael Beale has confirmed that Lawrence has sustained a calf injury after going for a scan the day after the Europa League game vs Real Betis, so he is set to be on the sidelines until the middle of October, alongside three other stars north of the border.

The Light Blues boss also revealed that Todd Cantwell, Nicolas Raskin and Danilo are expected to return at a similar time as the formerly mentioned ace, with Kieran Dowell still slightly lacking when it comes to fitness so he's one that supporters will have to keep an eye on.

During the Scottish Premiership 1-0 victory over Motherwell on Sunday, Rabbi Matondo had to be removed from the pitch and replaced by John Souttar on 38 minutes, which was a real shame for the right-winger who joined last summer from FC Schalke, and it sounds like the 23-year-old won’t be staging his comeback anytime soon.

How long is Rabbi Matondo out for?

Speaking during his post-match interview following the weekend win against Stuart Kettlewell’s side, Beale was asked for an update on the fitness of Matondo, which as quoted by The Scotsman, he replied:

“Rabbi today we think that might be a bad one. He’s taken a blow on the outside of his knee. That’s the information I was given. Abdallah] Sima and [Kemar] Roofe came into today’s game with niggles and we need them for Wednesday [against Livingston in the Viaplay Cup quarter-final]. So the reality is that we had on the pitch what we had and we had to do something to get a result today, because we weren’t very good. I will leave it there with that.”

How quick is Rabbi Matondo?

Prior to his arrival at Rangers, Matondo recorded a top speed of 22mph on the pitch, making him one of the fastest players on the planet, but his rapid pace and the prolific threat that he brings to the final third are qualities that the manager will now have to cope without.

The Wales international, who pockets £28k-per-week, has three goal contributions (two assists and one goal) to his name in five league appearances so far this season, but even if the ball doesn’t hit the back of the net, he’s always a handful for the opposition to deal with.

The Wasserman client has been averaging two dribbles and 1.6 shots per game in the Scottish Premiership, via WhoScored, so he loves to burst down the flank, take on his marker and create the best possible chances for himself and his fellow teammates.

Furthermore, Matondo, who has been “reborn” this campaign according to journalist Josh Bunting, has the ability to play in seven various positions, including everywhere across the frontline and three roles in the midfield, but his versatility is another attribute that Beale won’t have at his disposal for the foreseeable future.

While things are going swimmingly for all at West Ham United right now, it has not always been the case, especially when considering the numerous deals on the transfer front over the past decade or so.

Frankly, the Hammers have spent much of the past two decades languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League – and have indeed fallen into the second tier on multiple occasions.

David Moyes' appointment in the managerial position (for the second time) has proved to be a masterful move, with the squad and culture built at the club over the past several years paving the way for success unseen in east London for many, many years.

Last term, West Ham won the Europa Conference League after beating Italian side Fiorentina in the final, ending a 43-year wait for major silverware, having last triumphed with an FA Cup victory in 1980.

It shrouded the woes on the domestic front, with West Ham struggling for form all season and actually seeing Moyes edge into territory begging questions over the sustainability of his tenure.

One of the main strugglers was Gianluca Scamacca, who had arrived in the summer to serve as the starring new talisman, but ultimately proved to be one of the worst deals struck throughout Moyes' successful reign.

How much did West Ham pay for Gianluca Scamacca?

After completing the 2021/22 season as Europa League semi-finalists and finishing seventh in the Premier League, West Ham felt the time was right to target a new starring striker to bolster the chances of retaining their position of power.

Scamacca was the man for the job, and completed a move from Serie A side Sassuolo for £35.5m on a five-year contract, with the possibility of extension for a further year.

It was a move that created much fanfare after such a promising rise, having scored 16 goals from 36 appearances in the Serie A the past season and eight from just 13 starts the season before.

The 24-year-old was expected to prosper and was expected to be the heir to put right the past failed deal of Sebastien Haller, who scored just 14 times from 54 games for West Ham after joining from Eintracht Frankfurt for £45m, but it was not to be.

How much did Gianluca Scamacca earn at West Ham?

The 6 foot 4 colossus certainly earned a pretty penny with West Ham, taking home £90k-per-week for an annual salary of nearly £4.7m.

The Hammers did manage to demonstrate their shrewd business sense and shipped him off to Atalanta in a £27m deal, but that still represents money down the drain for little outcome and yet another failed centre-forward signing for the club, who have had their fair share over the years.

Indeed, it's around a £13m loss for the east Londoners, when factoring in what they paid in terms of a transfer fee and his wages.

The 11-cap Italy star – who has yet to score for his country – moved back home after his English sojourn, and given that he has already scored twice this season despite only making one starting showing, there is much disgruntlement among the Irons that he did not prove himself under Moyes' wing with the outfit on the up.

How well did Gianluca Scamacca play for West Ham?

Despite earning praise for his “complete' skill set by Luigi Di Baggio, before his move to the London Stadium, Scamacca was unable to showcase the full scope of his talents under Moyes' tutelage.

Scamacca was remarked at for his "miserable" presence by pundit Chris Sutton and really did fail to gel with the team, and while he scored eight times across all competitions, two of those strikes came against Viborg in the Conference League qualifiers and a further three arrived in the group phase, against Silkeborg IF, Anderlecht and AEK Larnaca.

It was in the Premier League, where he was expected to strut his stuff, that the Italy international endured the most substandard of his displays; as per Sofascore, he scored just three goals across 16 appearances, missing as many big chances and completing only 67% of his passes.

It was a far cry from his past feats in his homeland, and given the expensive price tag and lofty wage, he is undoubtedly one of the biggest misfires of recent memory.

There have been a few. Felipe Anderson, in particular, stings to this day after enjoying such a tremendous maiden year at United after signing from Lazio on a club-record £36m transfer in July 2018, plundering ten goals and five assists from 40 outings and was heralded for his "outstanding" efforts by the late Hammers chairman David Gold.

The club-record phenom was sold after three years – back to Lazio – having spent his final campaign on West Ham's books with Portuguese giants Porto, and given that he scored just once in his final season within the West Ham squad, this was probably worthwhile.

To Anderson's credit, he did capture the awe of Hammers fans for that impressive debut term, something Scamacca failed to do, proving to be a colossal failure and waste of money for an ambitious squad targetting sustained success at the forefront.

A player who, ultimately, decided that English football was not for him, Scamacca sought a return to his homeland after just one year, very much a 'miserable' presence in east London.

Subjective, of course, but his failure to serve in the talismanic role as anticipated impacted the club's seasonal endeavours, and had he performed as was expected, the Irons might not have been embroiled in a relegation battle at all.

Moyes opted not to sign a striker this summer, sticking with Antonio and signing the mercurial Mohammed Kudus from Ajax, who can serve across a wealth of offensive roles.

With such a measly contribution in the paramount Premier League fight, Scamacca's signature might have been laced in gilt, but he proved to be a colossal failure and one which Moyes will certainly rue, with his striking replacement still not yet found.

Dele Alli has been advised to “step down a league or two” in a bid to rebuild his career, with the ex-England international a “disaster” for Everton.

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• Midfielder lost his spark at Spurs
• Unable to rediscover it on Merseyside
• Heading towards free agency

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The former Tottenham midfielder was once considered to be one of the hottest prospects in world football, with 37 caps earned for his country. He was a goal-scoring force to be reckoned with at Spurs and regularly drew links to some of the biggest sides in Europe.

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  A spark soon fizzled out in north London, though, and Dele was presented with a clean slate when linking up with Everton in January 2022. That move has not worked out as planned, with a succession of frustrating injury problems holding him back, and another change is now on the cards as his contract runs down.

• WHAT KING SAID ABOUT DELE

  Former Everton scout Bryan King has suggested that the MK Dons academy graduate may have to step back into the Football League when hitting free agency, telling of a player that is still just 27 years of age: “He’s not an Everton player, I can’t see his future there. He’s got to get his head around rebuilding his career, and I can’t see him rebuilding it at Everton. I think maybe he needs to step down a league or two, he’s still young enough. Ever since he stepped foot at Everton, he’s been a disaster. He had so much going for him at Tottenham, he’s just dropped off the radar. Terrible.”

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  WHAT NEXT FOR DELE?

  Dele has been struggling with a persistent groin problem of late, having undergone surgery in January, and appears destined to sever ties with the Toffees after making just 13 appearances for them – with a forgettable loan spell at Turkish side Besiktas thrown into the mix last season.

Aston Villa weathered an early storm and struck in the second half to clinch victory against Chelsea at Villa Park.

It ended a five-match winless run in the Premier League and bridges the gap to the Champions League places, with Unai Emery’s substitutions doing the business.

Indeed, Marcus Rashford was welcomed at half-time and he showcased the electric power that he carries so well, with one football writer saying that the Three Lions star “changed the game.”

Emery's substitution pays off

January recruits Marco Asensio and Manchester United youth graduate Rashford combined to fire Villa into a second-half lead and advance to seventh in the Premier League, just two points behind Manchester City in fourth.

Asensio proved his clinical quality, but Rashford’s introduction was the difference-maker against a Blues side that was combatting Chelsea’s wide play, allowing the hosts to ramp up the gas.

It’s a further string to Emery’s bow, for his tactical expertise blends so well with a shrewd eye in the transfer market that might just pay dividends across different competitions over the coming months.

However, the old guard still play a central role in Villa Park’s rise and rise. Indeed, John McGinn was the unsung engine at the heart of Villa’s push toward three points.

Emery's unsung hero vs Chelsea

McGinn has so often been a pillar of strength at the heart of Emery’s Villa project, with his robust and athletic midfield style on full show against a Chelsea team that crumbled in the face of adversity.

As per Sofascore, McGinn completed 90% of his passes, completed both his dribbles, made four tackles and won 11 duels in an all-consuming midfield display.

Birmingham Live’s John Townley handed the 30-year-old an 8/10 match rating, commenting that he ‘matched Chelsea’s energy and work rate in midfield, with no player on the pitch winning more fouls than him.’

The flashy forwards impressed, indeed, served as spearpoints to claim the win, but McGinn was the architect in the centre, thriving alongside Youri Tielemans and holding their own against the likes of Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo.

The Athletic’s Jacob Tanswell also remarked that McGinn had “started to rattle Chelsea players” in the second half, feeding into the stentorian noise that shook Villa Park and lifting his teammates.

A proper captain. The Scotland international is the ever-important talisman, guiding his squad forward. Energy, initiative and unceasing determination, he’s a paragon of leadership.

The likes of Asensio and Rashford will take the limelight, but McGinn was Emery’s unsung hero on the latest big night in a long list of big nights since things changed for this football club.

He's outscoring Watkins: Aston Villa could have Rashford 2.0 out on loan

Aston Villa have a star currently out on loan lighting up the EFL, outscoring Ollie Watkins & showing he could be the next Marcus Rashford.

By
Ben Gray

Feb 19, 2025

Manchester United are reportedly unlikely to turn Sofyan Amrabat's loan deal into a permanent move this summer – but Juventus are interested in him.

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• Amrabat on loan from Fiorentina
• United permanent move unlikely
• Juventus keen on midfielder

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to Italian publication (via ), the Morocco international will return to Fiorentina following the completion of his season-long loan at Old Trafford, but he could join Juventus instead. The report adds the 27-year-old is "feeling nostalgic" for Serie A and the Old Lady could be his next port of call, with his deal at Fiorentina expiring in 2025.

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  Amrabat has made 22 appearances for United so far, playing as a midfielder and a left-back at times. His minutes have been limited due to the rise of Kobbie Mainoo in the Red Devils' midfield and when the Moroccan has played, he has underwhelmed on occasion. It may be better for all parties if Amrabat moves on this summer.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The former Utrecht, Feyenoord and Club Brugge man was born in Huizen, the Netherlands, and represented the Dutch at Under-15 level before switching to Morocco for the Under-17s and onwards. He has since tallied 55 caps for Morocco.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Amrabat will hope to get as much game time as possible before his United loan expires, with the Red Devils facing Liverpool in the last eight of the FA Cup on Sunday, followed by an away trip to Brentford on March 30 in the Premier League.

Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola made FA Cup history after leading his side to victory over Newcastle in the quarter-finals.

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• City reach sixth consecutive FA Cup semi
• Guardiola has made it to 13 cup semis
• Cityzens to visit Wembley for 18th time under Catalan

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  City eased into the last four of the competition thanks to two deflected goals from Bernardo Silva, becoming the first team to reach the semi-finals for a sixth consecutive season.

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  City have reached the FA Cup semi-finals in seven out of eight seasons under Guardiola. The only time they failed to make it to Wembley was when they were knocked out by Wigan Athletic in 2018. They have won the competition twice under the Catalan coach, thrashing Watford 6-0 in the 2019 final and edging out Manchester United last year on their way to winning the treble.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Guardiola has reached the semi-final of the major domestic cup in 13 out of 15 seasons as a coach. He took Barcelona to the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey in three out of four seasons in Spain (winning it twice), reached three successive DFB Pokal semis with Bayern Munich (lifting the trophy twice) and seven out of eight with City. He also won the English League Cup four years in a row with City between 2018 and 2021.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR CITY?

  The Cityzens will make an 18th appearance at Wembley when they contest the FA Cup semi-finals on the weekend of April 20. City will learn their opponents in Sunday's draw and will face either Coventry City, who stunned Wolves to reach the last four, Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea or Leicester City.

Chelsea are preparing a £25m bid for a defender, who is now one of their main targets to strengthen their backline, according to a report.

Blues' defence under scrutiny

The Blues’ form has been on a downward spiral for quite some time now, and they were on the receiving end of a defeat once again on Saturday afternoon, with Marco Asensio striking late to secure all three points for Aston Villa.

Enzo Maresca’s side are without a clean sheet in their last nine Premier League outings, which is likely to be a real cause for concern, and they have started to receive criticism from members of the media.

While reporter Ryan Taylor believes the west Londoners have little to show for their heavy spending, they may be forced to fix their shaky defence by making more signings in the summer, and they have now identified a new target.

According to a report from Spain, Chelsea are determined to strengthen their defence this summer and want to sign Sevilla’s Loic Bade, identifying him as one of their main targets in addition to Marc Guehi, who has also been heavily linked with a return to Stamford Bridge.

The Blues are said to be preparing a €30m (£25m) offer for Bade, who has been a key player for Sevilla for the past 18 months, and he has now caught the eye of a number of Premier League clubs, with Aston Villa trying to sign him in January.

The Sevilla defender is not the only player on the shortlist, however, with Guehi and Jules Kounde under consideration in addition to Bade, although they are expected to be more expensive.

Chelsea now join Barcelona in race to sign £67m Liverpool player

The west Londoners are looking to potentially poach their Premier League rivals.

By
Emilio Galantini

Feb 23, 2025

"Elite" Bade could go on to be world-class

The 24-year-old has been very impressive for Sevilla for quite some time, being ranked as one of the Spanish side’s best-performing players in La Liga this season, having averaged a 6.86 WhoScored match rating.

Such is the centre-back’s ability, he was previously tipped to go on to be one of the best players in the world in his position by football talent scout Jacek Kulig.

With Chelsea struggling defensively, it is promising news they are in the race to sign the Frenchman, and the fact he may be available for £25m is a real bonus.

The report also mentions Guehi as a target, but the Crystal Palace captain could command a huge fee, given that Tottenham Hotspur had a £70m bid rejected in January, so Bade could be a solid low-cost alternative.

England boss Gareth Southgate feels it is "highly unlikely" he will be able to play Luke Shaw in every match at Euro 2024 due to his injury woes.

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• Shaw still recovering from muscle problem
• Southgate says full Euro 2024 campaign "highly unlikely"
• England lacking in reinforcements at left-back

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Manchester United defender is still recovering from a muscle problem that has ruled him out of much of the season. He is currently fighting to be back in time for the final few games of United's campaign, but he may still lack match sharpness going into this summer's tournament. As a result, Southgate admits that he may have to turn to defensive reinforcements in that position, particularly if his side play the full seven matches in Germany.

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• WHAT SOUTHGATE SAID

  The Three Lions boss told reporters in Monday's press conference: "He’s going to be right on the edge of the season. We know now to play seven matches in a Euros is highly unlikely.”

  On Shaw's most likely replacement, Ben Chilwell, Southgate added: "I thought Ben defended really well [against Brazil] and it was an important game for him. I don’t want to kill Ben. But Luke’s one of the best left-backs in world football, frankly.”

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  As Southgate alludes to, while Chilwell will travel to Germany barring any late injury troubles, the drop-off from Shaw is stark. Despite his manager's kind words the Chelsea man largely flattered to deceive in Saturday's 1-0 loss to Brazil. Another likely candidate to fill in for Shaw is Newcastle star Kieran Trippier, who has played at left-back for England in major tournaments before. Joe Gomez is also familiar with that role have played there many times for Liverpool this season.

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Shaw hasn't played for United since he was brought off just before half-time against Luton on February 18. Famously an injury-prone player, this season has been no different for the 28-year-old, as he has made just 15 appearances across all competitions for his club.