Tottenham Hotspur extended their winning run in the Premier League to four matches with victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, maintaining their lead at the top of the table.

The meteoric rise under Ange Postecoglou's stewardship has been nothing short of exemplary, and against the Eagles, while not at their best, Spurs got the job done and brandished their title-winning credentials after securing a 2-1 victory.

Whereby last season only brought misery and a fourth managerial dismissal in as many years following Antonio Conte's sacking in March, there is now a tangible possibility that silverware – a premium so agonisingly out of reach for so long at Tottenham – could be gleaned.

Spurs' win against Roy Hodgson's side means that eight victories have been collected from ten Premier League matches, having drawn the opener away to Brentford and again against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

Tottenham's performance vs Crystal Palace

Palace were resilient and looked to stifle the away side's attacking verve through a cohesive, collective understanding of the match plan, and while they held their shape well for the lion's share of the first 45 minutes, the tactical tweaks in the second half swayed the odds in Spurs' favour.

Indeed, after a drab opening half, the away side knuckled down and started to thread their plan together, with James Maddison warming after an ineffective first 45 and Postecoglou's substitutions working well.

Ben Davies earned his first Premier League start of the campaign in the absence of Destiny Udogie, but the 30-year-old stalwart was hooked during the break and replaced by the more energetic Emerson Royal, who was in the thick of the action and actively progressed the play.

Maddison's whipped delivery, forcing an own goal, put the Lilywhites in the driving seat shortly after the break while Heung-min Son's eighth goal in seven Premier League matches confirmed that three points would be returning to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

With another win in the bag, Tottenham's manager praised the "disciplined" performance, and it was indeed the kind of composed and controlled display that was often elusively out of reach last term, as the north London club slumped to an eighth-placed league finish and conceded a staggering 63 goals.

Postecoglou deserves all the plaudits for the transformative effect that he has instilled, but there is little doubt that the signings made across the summer have been nothing short of superlative, with the likes of Maddison, Micky van de Ven and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario steering the ship on course.

James Maddison was "superb" again

Maddison, of course, has been the standout so far since joining from Leicester City for £40m in the summer, having scored ten goals and supplied nine assists in the English top flight despite only starting 28 times as his outfit plummeted into the Championship.

This term, he has already posted three goals and five assists from the opening ten games of the Premier League term, winning August's Player of the Month award, and while he did not add to his tally at Selhurst Park, he was once more at the centre of the success.

Hailed for his "superb" link-up play by football.london's Alasdair Gold, the England international warmed into his role in the second half, and after forcing Joel Ward to turn into his own net, he served reliably as the conduit, ensuring his teammates had apt supplementation.

Metric

#

Minutes played

89

Touches

57

Pass completion

31/16 (86%)

Key passes

2

Ground duels won

4

Dribble attempts

1/3 (33%)

Tackles

1

Clearances

1

It was by no means his most impressive display for the club, but it is an illustration of how consistent his performances have been since the summer, and as Spurs march on, he will continue to serve as the centrepiece.

Maddison is the obvious player to shower effusive words upon, but it was the performance of Pape Sarr that perhaps went under the radar despite exhibiting the sheer collective value of this newly-vitalised team.

Pape Sarr is Postecoglou's true hero

Sarr, aged 21, moved to Tottenham from Metz in a £15m deal in 2021 but returned to the French side on a season-long loan, and while he sat on the periphery last season, he is now very much at the core of the midfield.

Praised for his “unbelievable” performance by scout Lee Mayes, who remarked at how well he "ran the whole midfield", the Senegalese starlet took 92 touches and completed 89% of his passes – very much omnipresent in his duties.

Making two interceptions and clearances apiece and succeeding with his one dribble, he was everywhere on that pitch and played a big part in both of Tottenham's goals, with Gold among those waxing lyrical after the match.

Gold said: "Forgot to mention Pape Matar Sarr, who was terrific again. Never stopped running, providing an outlet and using the ball well on the whole. Played a big part in the second goal and still mad to think he's only 21. He's only going to get better and better under Postecoglou."

Against Crystal Palace, he demonstrated a maturity and energy that evades all but the select few midfielders who sit atop the pile, and it really is frightening to consider how good he might become over the coming years.

As per FBref, the all-action midfielder ranks among the top 10% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 19% for assists, the top 18% for progressive passes and the top 20% for passes attempted per 90.

Frankly, there is so much more to come, and Tottenham really have unearthed a jewel in this rising star, who has been sensational in the early phase of the campaign and a large reason behind such a relentless start.

And while Tottenham are currently five points clear in their table-topping position, both Arsenal and Manchester City have the opportunity to close the gap this weekend.

Nonetheless, the job that Postecoglou has done so far has been remarkable, and there would have been scant optimism that such a position of strength could have been established mere months ago.

With gifted stars like Sarr in the centre, there is every possibility that this season's success will endure, and Tottenham will prevail.

Liverpool have suffered a setback in the race to sign a new player, with a fresh report revealing that an overseas admirer are the first to make an official move ahead of January.

Do Liverpool need any more midfielders?

Over the summer, Jurgen Klopp secured the services of Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch meaning that he has now got a completely revamped midfield compared to the end of last season, but that hasn’t stopped him from assessing further options. The Merseyside outfit have recently been linked with individual moves for Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala, Boca Juniors’ Ezequiel Fernandez and most predominantly Fluminense’s Andre, but should the boss fail to secure the services of any of those at the start of next year, he appears to have an his eye on an alternative.

At the Veltins Arena, FC Schalke’s attacking midfielder Assan Ouedraogo has recently been linked with a switch to Anfield, Everton and Brighton and Hove Albion, with the trio of clubs in the Premier League monitoring the 17-year-old’s progress, but chiefs from all of his top-flight potential suitors have now been dealt a transfer blow.

Assan Ouedraogo transfer update

According to TEAMtalk whilst delivering a transfer update on Assan Ouedraogo, Liverpool are no longer at the head of the pack chasing the teenager in the Bundesliga.

“Liverpool must act quickly if they are to win the race for Schalke midfielder Assan Ouedraogo with one of the Bundesliga’s big boys making early inroads over his signing, TEAMtalk has learned.

"Manchester United, Chelsea and Bayern Munich have all been present [at] the youngster’s games this season. However, it is RB Leipzig who are trying to beat the pack and land one of football’s top talents.

"Leipzig have made contact with Ouedraogo’s agents to understand the conditions of a deal. He is represented by his father Alassane and the 43-year-old was in Leipzig last week to speak about a potential move.

"That has put several clubs on red alert as the young midfielder is highly admired and could be available for as little as £15m, according to our sources.

"Jurgen Klopp is also another who has marked the Germany youth international as an option for January. The Liverpool boss is understood to be a huge fan and would be keen to bring him in before he moves elsewhere and the Anfield side are forced to pay a premium in order to facilitate a move to England.”

How good is Assan Ouedraogo?

According to football talent scout Jacek Kulig, Ouedraogo is an “absolute star” in the making having posted 31 contributions, 17 goals and 14 assists, in 46 appearances since the start of his career (Transfermarkt – Ouedraogo statistics), so it will certainly be a blow if Liverpool were to miss out on securing his signature.

The Germany youth international also currently ranks in the 99th percentile for successful take-ons (FBRef – Ouedraogo statistics), showing that he loves to use his pace, dribble past his marker and create as many chances as possible for both himself and his fellow teammates in the final third.

Additionally, Ouedraogo has already had a taste of what it’s like to compete and be successful having been crowned U17s Champion in both the Bundesliga and internationally, so getting an up-and-coming talent who possesses a winning mentality in the building like him would do no harm.

Liverpool have undergone quite the transformation since Anfield welcomed Jurgen Klopp to the dugout, with the esteemed German manager's influence welcoming a cascade of silver-laden success.

Before, Liverpool had languished for some time, and despite the unexpected title charge of 2013/14 – a season etched eternally into the club's lore despite coming up short – positivity was few and far between.

Brendan Rodgers' dismissal after an abject start to the 2015/16 season led to Klopp's appointment, and the rest is history, with Liverpool now soaring to heights that have secured Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup titles.

Now over eight years into Klopp's rule, Liverpool seems to have entered a new phase, with last season's decline serving as something of a watershed moment, comprehensively recrafting a midfield that was in dire need of renovation.

There remain many of the most important members of the first wave of triumph – namely, Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and more – but there is undeniably a different feel to the current team.

One former star who was among the first to depart following the prosperity in the Premier League and Champions League is Georginio Wijnaldum, who has not had the smoothest of rides since leaving Merseyside for the final time.

Georginio Wijnaldum was a machine at Liverpool

Signing from relegated Newcastle United for around £25m in 2016, there was cautious optimism that Wijnaldum would contribute effectively to the touted revival under Klopp's leadership.

The now-32-year-old ace had just completed an impressive campaign on an individual level, posting 11 goals and five assists during his sole Premier League season with the Magpies, though the Liverpool manager recognised that his talent might be best utilised deeper in the midfield.

Over 257 appearances for the Anfield side, Wijnaldum only scored 22 times, though he was hailed for his "irreplaceable" role in the middle by Richard Jolly and proved to be indispensable with his superlative distribution.

Never dropping below an 87% pass success rate at league level, Klopp's midfield machine proved to be instrumental in the illustrious feats, now heralded in the club's history books for his efforts.

The 90-cap Netherlands star ended his Anfield affiliation in 2021, joining French giants Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer, though he failed to make his mark in Ligue 1 and forged just 38 matches – clinching three goals and assists apiece.

He then joined Roma on loan and fractured his tibia in the early phase of the 2022/23 term, only returning in February in what proved to be a heavily disrupted stint in Italy.

At present, the veteran midfielder has signed for Saudi Arabian side Al-Ettifaq, where he has so far scored five goals from seven outings across all competitions from central midfield, a tally that actually means he is currently outscoring each of Liverpool's current options.

Not known for his rate of striking while under Klopp's wing, he now has free rein to wreak havoc from the middle, and it is a testament to his ability and resilience that he has rebounded to produce such stellar numbers so far this term, actually outperforming Liverpool gem Dominik Szoboszlai, who has been a revelation on English shores so far.

Dominik Szoboszlai has taken "centre stage"

Liverpool had started the midfield rebuild with great promise this summer after signing Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton & Hove Albion, but the capture of Szoboszlai for £60m from RB Leipzig confirmed that Klopp was targetting a return to the forefront and was pulling no punches in achieving this.

Deployed in the centre, the £120k-per-week machine has scored twice from 13 appearances for Liverpool so far, earning praise for the thunderous rocket against Leicester City in the Carabao Cup.

Wijnaldum deserves praise for the free-scoring touch he has unleashed on the Saudi Pro League, with his ever-impressive work rate and performances now replaced by a new form of star in Szoboszlai, who may not be matching his output but is unquestionably at the heart of the Liverpool renaissance.

The calibre and constancy in his performances has provided Klopp with the tools to restore the club's verve, with The Athletic's James Pearce remarking that the Hungarian has taken "centre stage", bringing energy and technical quality in abundance.

As per FBref, Szoboszlai ranks among the top 9% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 1% for shot-creating actions, the top 12% for progressive carries, the top 7% for successful take-ons and the top 5% for blocks per 90, underscoring his value across the pitch.

Player

Club

Teun Koopmeiners

Atalanta

Joe Willock

Newcastle United

Jude Bellingham

Real Madrid

Martin Odegaard

Arsenal

Marcos Llorente

Atletico Madrid

Once hailed as a "generational talent" by journalist Marcel Moeller, Szoboszlai registered 42 direct goal contributions from 91 appearances for RB Leipzig and played an instrumental role in winning successive DFB Pokals before his departure.

Wijnaldum might be outscoring Szoboszlai at present, but the impression that the current Reds star has left on the pitch so far into his Liverpool career transcends something as black and white as direct goal contributions.

Indeed, the same could be said for the Dutchman, who was instead utilised for his industriousness and intelligence in the centre of the park, proving to be the metronomic presence to facilitate the prolific exploits of forward-placed teammates such as Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.

So too has Szoboszlai set to work with his unrelenting approach to his craft, having completed 88% of his passes in the Premier League this season, also averaging 2.3 key passes and 7.1 ball recoveries per game, as per Sofascore.

Szoboszlai seemingly has the skills in the locker to cement his stature as one of Europe's leading midfielders, and indeed the expectation at Anfield after his blistering start bespeaks of his staggering potential.

To say that the Hungary captain has been a belated upgrade on Wijnaldum would be like claiming that one's boots are of finer quality than another's gloves; it is not quite a practical comparison.

But Szoboszlai could certainly play a role every bit as important over the coming years, and the fact that Wijnaldum is outscoring him at present does not negate the effect that Klopp's new hero has made on Merseyside.

Liverpool’s excellent start to the season will have the Anfield faithful dreaming of more silverware as Jurgen Klopp has certainly proved that the 2022/23 campaign was a mere blip.

The Reds finished fifth in the Premier League, but it was only a late revival which saw them come close to qualifying for the Champions League, while they failed to defend either the FA Cup or League Cup in what was a season of regression.

It was evident that Klopp’s side needed a makeover, especially with regard to his midfield area. Out went five midfielders as the German lowered the average age of his squad by signing players such as Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister, and it has been a success so far.

The Reds currently sit in fourth place in the league table, just three points off leaders Tottenham Hotspur, and they have lost just one match throughout the whole season.

There is no reason why the Merseyside outfit can't challenge for another league title during Klopp’s leadership and much could depend on whether he adds any more players to his squad during the January transfer window.

Liverpool transfer news – Kylian Mbappe

Although the midfield area needed rejuvenised during the summer, Klopp failed to sign either a defender or attacker in the window, placing trust in the players he already had at his disposal.

Could this change in the coming months, however?

An update has revealed that Liverpool are hoping they can secure a stunning move for Kylian Mbappe once his Paris Saint-Germain contract expires at the end of the current season.

According to French news outlet L’Equipe, the Reds have never broken contact with the PSG sensation since trying to sign him in 2017 – the same year he moved to the capital from AS Monaco.

Mbappe’s future looked uncertain during the summer as he was made to train with the B side after a fallout with the club, while Saudi side Al-Hilal reportedly made a world record £257m bid to secure his services, yet he remained at PSG for the 2023/24 season.

It would be an incredible signing to lure the former Monaco starlet to Liverpool, especially with Real Madrid looking like they are favourites to land the wonderkid when he eventually does leave Paris.

The 24-year-old is currently valued at €136m (£118m) according to Football Transfers and while the Reds could technically secure him for nothing if he doesn’t extend his contract at PSG, that looks highly unlikely.

Klopp may need to splash the cash in order to sign one of the best players in the world, but it would be worth it.

The stats that show why Kylian Mbappe would be a good signing for Liverpool

Since enjoying a wonderful breakthrough season at Monaco during 2016/17, where he scored 26 goals across all competitions, the Frenchman has enjoyed a meteoric rise to the very top of the game.

A move to PSG was the natural choice for him six years ago, and he has become the poster boy for the capital side, winning six Ligue 1 titles during his stint with the club so far while netting 224 goals, all before he has turned 25.

Remarkable numbers from the generational talent, while his impact on the world stage has been incredible, becoming the first teenager since Pele in 1958 to score in a World Cup final five years ago as France won their second-ever world title.

He came so close to securing back-to-back titles in Qatar last year, but Lionel Messi and his Argentina side were always destined to end their 36-year drought.

His displays for club and country have drawn endless praise and during PSG’s win over Real Madrid in 2022, Carlo Ancelotti lauded him, saying: “Mbappe is the best player in European football.

“Mbappe is unstoppable, we have tried to control him. [Eder] Militao has done very well, but he is a player who always invents something.”

13

12

43

41

46

39

47

42

37

30

39

17

46

21

Having already scored 251 club career goals and grabbing a further 115 assists across just 332 matches, there is no doubt he could significantly bolster Liverpool’s attacking options.

Indeed, if Mbappe did make the move to Merseyside, he would be an upgrade on Darwin Nunez, as the Uruguayan would have to make do with a spot out wide or drop to the bench in order for Klopp to utilise the Frenchman in his favoured role.

How Kylian Mbappe compares to Darwin Núñez

The former Benfica forward struggled for consistency last season, yet he has hit the ground running in 2023/24, scoring seven times and grabbing five assists in just 14 matches as he looks to finally showcase his true talents.

As good as this is, Mbappe is still outshining him during the current campaign. The Frenchman has 12 goals and one assist across 13 games thus far, while he has also registered more key passes per game (1.9 vs 0.6), more shots on target per game (2.1 vs 1.1) and completed more successful dribbles per game (2.1 vs 0.3), highlighting how impressive he has been in Ligue 1.

When compared to positional peers, the PSG maestro currently ranks in the top 3% for shot-creating actions (4.72), the top 1% for progressive carries (4.89) and the top 1% for touches in the attacking penalty area (9.02) per 90, indicating how much of an attacking threat he really is.

In contrast, Nunez ranks in just the top 18% for shot-creating actions (2.97) while ranking in the top 2% for touches in the attacking penalty area (7.86) and the top 4% for progressive carries (3.19) per 90 when compared to his peers, demonstrating that Mbappe has the edge over him across all three metrics.

Nunez has certainly come out of his shell this season, yet Mbappe would be a major upgrade on the 24-year-old and would surely take Liverpool to the next level.

It would be a dream signing for Klopp and his side and would signify that the club are among the elite, yet luring Mbappe to the north-west of England could prove to be a challenge.

The former Borussia Dortmund manager loves a challenge however and if there is a chance of signing the French superstar, then he will give it a go.

Manchester City have been alerted to the availability of an exciting star who could be available for nothing in the summer of 2024, according to a report.

Man City's rise under Sheikh Mansour

Undoubtedly, Manchester City fans will now claim that they deserve a seat at the top table of English football and it is hard to argue with considering their trophy haul from the 2010's onwards under Sheikh Mansour. No fewer than seven Premier League titles, three FA Cup triumphs, six EFL Cups and one Champions League trophy have made their way to the Etihad Stadium over the last twelve years or so and Citizens boss Pep Guardiola has signalled his intent to keep the good times rolling in the blue half of Manchester.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has shared some quotes from Guardiola regarding their domestic dominance and his desire to prolong their success on social media platform X, as he stated: Guardiola: "Now Man City are a reality, we want to stay at top level as long as possible. We won't stop". "Maybe it’s uncomfortable because we were not in the elite and now we are. Maybe it’s uncomfortable. But we were there, we're there, we want to be there in the future."

Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva was a Barcelona transfer target alongside fielding further interest from Paris Saint-Germain and Saudi Arabian clubs in the summer; however, the Portugal international chose to stay put at the Etihad Stadium by signing a new deal tying him to the club until 2026. Making more history at the Sky Blues has been revealed as a key motivation for his decision to remain at Manchester City, with the player saying:

"We heard that four titles in a row has never been done before so we want to try to do that. It is so tough every year, especially when you remember that two of the titles were just a difference of one point and won in the last games."

Man City could sign Toni Kroos on a free transfer

As per The Daily Star, Manchester City have been offered the chance to sign Toni Kroos on a free transfer when his contract at Real Madrid expires in the summer of 2024. The former Germany international would be keen to spend some time in England before finishing his illustrious playing career. He already has a pre-existing relationship with Guardiola, as the pair worked together at Bayern Munich.

Labelled as a "spectacular player" by his former coach Zinedine Zidane, Kroos has gone on to rack up 430 appearances for La Liga superpower Real Madrid, notching 28 goals and 92 assists in the process (Toni Kroos stats – Transfermarkt).

Despite their habit of recruiting top young talent, acquiring experienced individuals who have been over the course many times is hardly an alien concept to Manchester City and bringing someone like Kroos to the Etihad Stadium on a free transfer could be an excellent piece of business.

After defeat against Chelsea last Monday, Tottenham Hotspur's striking start to the season took another hit as the Ange Postecoglou's threadbare side succumbed to Wolverhampton Wanderers pressure at Molineux in a dramatic turnaround.

Tottenham had blitzed into form in the Premier League this season and won eight of their first ten matches, also drawing twice, before this succession of losses demoted them to fourth place, though they sit just two points behind table-topping Manchester City.

The third international break of the term perhaps comes at the perfect time for Spurs, whose manager Postecoglou can now recalibrate and refocus after a testing period.

Destiny Udogie will return to action following suspension, but the likes of impressive summer signings Micky van de Ven and James Maddison are expected to be sidelined until the new year. There's no shirking away from it – it's a detrimental blow.

That being said, it does open up a window of opportunity for other midfielders to stake their claim for a starting spot in Postecoglou's first team.

The players who could replace James Maddison

Against Wolves, Postecoglou opted to tweak the system and remove the creative role somewhat, opting for a midfield trio of Yves Bissouma, Pape Matar Sarr and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

The latter, Hojbjerg, has not been favoured for a starting spot this term and clearly doesn't offer the same level of creativity as Maddison; he produced an industrious display against Wolves, but he's not the solution over the winter period.

Coming off the bench and testing Jose Sa's goal with a fizzing strike was Giovani Lo Celso, however, with the Argentinian now presented with a lifeline after previously falling by the wayside on English shores.

Branded a "flop" by The Athletic's Jack Pitt-Brooke, Lo Celso had spent the past 18 months out on loan with Villarreal in LaLiga, but he does fit the bill to replace Maddison in the middle.

Indeed, Lo Celso ranks among the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions, the top 3% for assists and the top 1% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref.

There is past evidence that he can't quite live up to the rigours of the Premier League, though the same cannot be said for Rodrigo Bentancur, whose return to fitness comes at the perfect time for Postecoglou.

Rodrigo Bentancur's style of play

The international break is loathed by many supporters, and it does feel somewhat tedious amid the excitement of the domestic scene, but the sojourn helps Spurs pick themselves up and allows Bentancur to continue to rebuild his fitness.

The Uruguayan midfielder joined Tottenham from Juventus for £21.5m in January 2022 and posted five goals and two assists from just 17 Premier League starts last year before disaster struck and he ruptured his ACL back in February.

Described as "technically immense" by broadcaster Adam Smith, Bentancur has earned three substitute appearances for Postecoglou's side recently and could be in line for a first start of the season when domestic football swings back around.

The £75k-per-week star was incredibly clinical last term, taking only 0.8 shots per game in the Premier League – as per Sofascore – but still boasting an impressive return, also completing 85% of his passes and forging 2.5 tackles per outing.

Postecoglou could find a brilliant blend of offensive vigour and defensive authority in this dynamo, who could fill the void left by a playmaker of Maddison's ilk and ensure that Tottenham's centre retains its strength over the coming months of action.

After recent stutters against Luton Town and Toulouse, Liverpool got back to their ruthless best against Brentford in the Premier League to cap off an impressive start just before the third international break of the season. Sitting second and just one point away from league leaders Manchester City, Jurgen Klopp's side have the opportunity to go above last season's treble winners when they square off at The Etihad in the first game back after the international break.

If the Reds are to mount a serious title challenge, however, then they may need to look towards the January transfer window to complete Klopp's midfield rebuild. And reports suggest that FSG could be about to do exactly that.

Liverpool transfer news

Liverpool's summer overhaul, despite how many changes were made, has been fairly seamless. Those who arrived have slotted straight in and have impressed where the likes of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho began to fail. Dominik Szoboszlai has been particularly impressive, offering the Reds mobility in the middle of the park once again. Ryan Gravenberch, meanwhile, has shown signs of becoming yet another bargain under Klopp, as he bounces back from Bayern Munich failure.

One struggle that has remained is the defensive midfield role, however. So far, Alexis Mac Allister has been shoehorned into the role and has, therefore, been exposed at times. Reports suggest that FSG could solve that problem in January though. According to Sport, Liverpool have taken the lead in the race for Andre Trindade. The Fluminense man is reportedly worth €35m (£30m) and has attracted the interest of the Premier League giants, alongside Barcelona.

Previous Liverpool transfer news suggested that the Reds had pulled out of the race to sign Andre, but now it seems as though they are leading the way in the chase for his signature in a major twist ahead of January. When the winter window opens, the Brazilian is certainly one to keep an eye on.

Liverpool leading the way for "monster" Andre

When looking at Klopp's newest version of his Liverpool side, there's a sense that the only player missing is an out-and-out defensive midfielder capable of replicating Fabinho's role when at his best. It has become clear fairly quickly that Mac Allister is not the man to do that and would be better used in a more advanced role similar to his Brighton & Hove Albion days. Andre, however, could be that player for the Reds. Andre's stats, compared to Mac Allister's, certainly suggest as much.

Player

Progressive Passes Per 90

Interceptions Per 90

Tackles Won Per 90

Andre Trindade

6.43

1.09

1.40

Alexis Mac Allister

5.42

0.69

1.21

It comes as little surprise that the Fluminense man has been at the centre of praise over the last year or so, including from ESPN's Fernando Campos, who posted on X: "Pressing and playing with the confidence of someone who knows he's different. Get out of the hush and make the team work. André Trindade is the best defensive midfielder in the country and is a monster of a player."

Liverpool haven't been short of attacking quality in their lineups over the past couple of years, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane feared components of a Reds forward line over a number of seasons – both players routinely slotting in alongside Mohammed Salah to terrorise Premier League defences week in week out.

Jurgen Klopp's choice of fresh blood in attack ever since Firmino and Mane uprooted to Saudi Arabia have performed adequately in the absence of their two former star men, with Cody Gakpo relocating from the Netherlands to play under the German head coach at Anfield last December whilst Luis Diaz has now entered into his third straight season with the Reds this campaign after departing FC Porto in 2022.

Both players have shown glimpses of quality this season to date – with Diaz scoring at the death versus Luton Town last time out to steal a share of the points for his team – but eyes are shifting towards young Liverpool attacker Mateusz Musialowski now who is currently outscoring both the Dutchman and the Colombian at youth level.

Diaz and Gakpo will hope they can improve their numbers, looking over their respective shoulders apprehensively at Musialowski who is edging closer to a first-team berth if he continues his current rich vein of form.

Liverpool's attacking numbers this season

Gakpo has been utilised mainly as a substitute option by Klopp this campaign so far, only scoring two goals in top-flight action as a direct consequence with the 24-year-old last finding the back of net in a 2-1 away defeat to Tottenham back in September.

#1 Mohamed Salah

10

#2 Darwin Nunez

7

#3 Diogo Jota

6

#4 Luis Diaz

4

#5 Cody Gakpo

4

Stats via Transfermarkt.

The Dutch attacker's recent cameos off the bench have left much to be desired, only garnering a 6.1 overall Sofascore rating from his 24 minutes on the pitch against Luton – losing possession three times on the Kenilworth Road turf, alongside hitting one of this two efforts wide.

Gakpo's poor individual display on top of Liverpool's overall underwhelming performance was fortunately bailed out by Diaz's late goal on the night, the Colombian forward netting his first Reds goal since the second matchday of the season as a result to help his team draw 1-1.

Musialowski will hope that both players continue to blow hot and cold for Klopp's men, with the German manager unafraid in the past to call upon certain youngsters to make an impact in his starting eleven – Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones springing to mind who have slotted into the first team after breaking through at youth level.

Musialowski's numbers this season

Described as "supremely talented" by Liverpool social media channel TheRedmenTV, the Polish attacker is excelling in his current age bracket for the Reds.

Linked with a move away from Liverpool this summer per reports, Musialowski has stayed focused on his game away from rumours and is playing out of his skin for the U21s as a result.

The Polish winger has bagged six goals in all competitions for the youthful Reds side after eight matches, assisting a further two goals to provide for his teammates. The latest of those goals came on Tuesday evening as the club fell to a 2-1 defeat against Barrow in the EFL Trophy.

Musialowski's effort versus Morecambe in the EFL Trophy recently saw Liverpool's number 92 remain persistent, hitting a deflected effort in eventually after the ball returned to his feet off the back of a slaloming run into the area.

Dubbed the "Polish Messi" for his tricky feet at youth level, the 20-year-old will hope his continued goalscoring exploits at U21 level means he's given the chance to impress in Klopp's first team sooner rather than later.

This could come at the expense of Gakpo and Diaz, with competition heating up in the attacking spots at Anfield.

The January transfer window is around six weeks away from opening up for business and Liverpool are reportedly looking at a possible addition to their defensive options.

Liverpool's transfer news – Valentin Barco

According to a report from Calcio Mercato, via TEAMtalk, the Reds are ready to provide 'fierce' competition to land the signing of Valentin Barco from Argentine outfit Boca Juniors next year.

The outlet has claimed that Juventus and Manchester City are also interested in the talented 19-year-old left-back, who is said to have a release clause of €10m (£8.8m) within his current contract.

However, it is not stated who is currently leading the race to secure his signature and it remains to be seen whether or not Liverpool have a realistic chance of being able to sign him.

If Jurgen Klopp is able to bring Barco to Anfield, though, then the German head coach could have his long-term heir to Andy Robertson at left-back.

Robertson's Liverpool statistics

The Scotland international has managed one goal and zero assists along with 2.9 tackles and interceptions per match in eight Premier League matches so far this season for the Reds.

Last term, the 29-year-old ace racked up eight assists in 34 top-flight appearances for the club and his creativity has been a constant bright spark throughout his career at Anfield.

17/18

22

Five

18/19

36

11

19/20

36

12

20/21

38

Seven

21/22

29

Ten

22/23

34

Eight

23/24

Eight

Zero

As you can see in the table above, Robertson has always been able to provide his teammates with chances to score at the top end of the pitch, despite being a left-back.

The statistics that show why Barco could be Robertson's heir

At the age of 19, Barco is ten years younger than the current Liverpool star and could, therefore, be the long-term heir to his position in the team as he has plenty of room and time to grow and develop as a player.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig dubbed him an "exciting" prospect and once described the gem as a "wonderkid". Kulig has also gone as far as to hail him as Argentina's version of former Brazil and Real Madrid left-back legend Marcelo.

The teenage talent has showcased his attacking potential throughout 2023 and could be a like-for-like replacement for Robertson due to his ability to make things happen in the final third.

Barco has registered one assist and created three 'big chances' for his teammates in eight Libertadores starts this year, along with two assists and three 'big chances' created in six Copa de la Liga starts.

The talented left-back also caught the eye with one assist and 2.5 key passes per match across three starts at the U20 World Cup for Argentina earlier this year.

These statistics show that the young whiz has the ability to create chances and assist goals at an impressive rate from a defensive position, much like Robertson does for Liverpool.

Therefore, Klopp could land his next assist-king at left-back by securing a deal to sign Barco ahead of the likes of Manchester City and Juventus in January.

Newcastle United have been a cut above the previous standard since Eddie Howe's arrival two years ago, having turned consistent relegation battles into a fight for European football and success on the continental scene.

The PIF takeover has, of course, been a crucial ingredient to their transformation, as the riches presented to the Englishman have allowed him to splash the cash in the transfer window.

While the likes of Kieran Trippier, Bruno Guimaraes and Alexander Isak were brought in as a result of this influx of investment – and have formed the backbone of their success – much credit has to go to Howe for his transformation of several fringe players, who were at the club prior to his arrival.

One of those is energetic midfielder Sean Longstaff.

Sean Longstaff's career so far

A product of Newcastle's youth academy – after joining at the age of nine – Longstaff has been plying his trade in black and white for 17 years but it's only recently where his attributes have been allowed to flourish.

The 26-year-old's journey towards first-team stardom has been a tricky one, as the early years of his development were blighted by injuries and this curtailed his chances of becoming a regular fixture in the senior setup.

From being loaned out to Kilmarnock and Blackpool between 2017 and 2018 to suffering multiple serious injuries that saw him miss 120 days of the 2018/19 campaign, Longstaff never managed to nail a place in the starting XI, but that all changed when Howe arrived at the club.

Now a crucial cog in Newcastle's side due to his boundless amounts of energy, who brings the best out of midfield partners Joelinton and Bruno Guimaraes, Longstaff is an "unsung hero" as dubbed by pundit Paul Merson – who has popped up with some incredible moments for the Toon in recent times.

After scoring a brace in the Carabao Cup semi-final against Southampton last term to notching in the Champions League against PSG, it is clear to see why the term unsung hero is coined for the Englishman.

However, it's more than just his goals that have impressed the masses this term.

Sean Longstaff's current transfer value

Longstaff has appeared in all but one match for Newcastle this season, scoring three times and assisting once.

In addition to popping up with match-winning moments from midfield, the 26-year-old has demonstrated his ability to drive the attacking phases of play.

He is particularly adept at providing dangerous progressive passes forward and this is a crucial attribute to have as a midfielder.

Dubbed as "outstanding" previously by journalist Henry Winter, Longstaff averages 5.32 progressive passes per game, 2.22 touches in the attacking penalty box and 3.55 progressive passes received, as per FBref.

Clearly able to dictate the tempo of a match with his exquisite passing range and composure, his main strength is covering ground and winning possession back for his team, having averaged 3.8 balls recovered, 1.3 tackles and 3.2 duels won this term.

As a result of his impressive displays that have caught the eye, Longstaff is now worth £26m (€30m), as per Football Observatory, which is a testament to how much he's improved in recent years.