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With just one win in their past 13 Premier League games and a dismal 2-1 defeat against relegation strugglers Norwich City at the weekend, Rafa Benitez’s time in charge of Everton was brought to an end, leaving the Toffees in 16th place in the league table and on the hunt for a new manager.

In terms of who could come in as the next figure to try and steady the ship, it seems as though Everton owner Farhad Moshiri has one name in mind to come in and replace Benitez and try and get the Toffees’ season back on the rails.

What’s the news?

According to a recent report from The Athletic by Everton journalist Patrick Boyland and Greg O’Keeffe, the Merseyside club have identified former Borussia Dortmund manager Lucien Favre as a potential candidate to take the reins at Goodison Park.

During his stint in charge of Dortmund between July 2018 and December 2020, Favre took charge of 110 matches across all competitions, winning 68, drawing 17 and losing 25, which is an impressive record to have.

The 64-year-old has had spells at other German clubs such as Hertha BSC and Borussia Monchengladbach as well as having a period in charge of French club OGC Nice and FC Zurich in his native country of Switzerland, highlighting the experience he has in management.

Even though he hasn’t had a job since leaving Dortmund, this would give Everton the opportunity to get him to Goodison quicker than potentially any other manager they see as a possible candidate for the job that is currently working at another club.

In his own words, Favre has said in the past that his players “have to be ready to suffer in training,” suggesting just how much he expects from them. That could be just what Everton need to get the right attitude and work ethic in the squad that can deliver strong performances and positive results on the pitch.

After all, Benitez clearly didn’t get the most from his players but a stern coach such as Favre appears to fit the bill.

Moving forward, Everton should definitely make an approach to the Swiss boss in the coming days and weeks if they haven’t already to see if he would be willing to test his managerial abilities in the Premier League with a side that need a big change in fortunes before the end of the current campaign.

In other news: “As things stand”: Fabrizio Romano drops fresh EFC manager claim, fans surely relieved – opinion

A number of Liverpool supporters have hailed FSG’s decision to create a new supporters board with the help of Spirit of Shankly.

The Reds are flying on the pitch at the moment, jumping to second place in the Premier League table and winning their last four matches in the competition.

Jurgen Klopp has masterminded a glorious period in the club’s history and the hope is that there are still many more great years to come with the German at the helm.

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The club is being run well in general too, and while some fans will certainly feel they could add stronger depth in the market, the business they have done can only be called astute, and a new venture sums up the Reds’ healthy situation off the pitch.

On Monday, The Athletic‘s James Pearce took to Twitter to confirm that Spirit of Shankly and Liverpool’s leadership have worked together to form a supporters’ board that will ‘provide fan representation at main board level.’

It was agreed by owners FSG and it is hoped that it will improve decision-making at the club further and give fans more of a say with key decisions, such as the much lamented creation of the European Super League.

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Liverpool fans hail new venture

These Reds fans took to Twitter to react positively to the news.

“Can only be a positive given what’s gone before”

Credit: @dan_clubbe

“First order of business, give Salah whatever he wants”

Credit: @Oyskalh

“This is soo positive”

Credit: @LFCaditya_

“Great news”

Credit: @Lfcbobbyy

“Good. Just let no one from Twitter join”

Credit: @NotoriousJOS

“GET IN”

Credit: @raameshk_LFC

“Finally”

Credit: @Ishank595

In other news, some Liverpool fans have erupted over a fresh injury update. Read more here.

Rangers are monitoring Racing Santander’s Pablo Torre ahead of the January transfer window, according to The Daily Record. 

The lowdown

The 18-year-old attacking midfielder has featured five times for Spain at under-19 level, along with scoring three goals and providing five assists in 15 appearances in the Spanish third tier this season.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig has raved about the teenager, labelling him an ‘amazing talent’ and a ‘magician’; and he has already been compared to the likes of Euro 2020 winner Marco Verratti and Ballon D’Or recipient Luka Modric.

The latest

According to The Daily Record, Torre has apparently been recommended to Rangers’ scouts, who will now be watching him.

His contract, which runs until 2025, contains a £4m release clause, but Racing are said to be in financial trouble and could therefore possibly accept a lower offer.

The Gers aren’t the only club interested in the teenager, though, with Spanish giants Real Madrid also admirers of his, along with clubs in Italy.

The verdict

If Torre is to live up to his evident potential, £4m could end up looking like a massive bargain, and that’s assuming the club who sign him are forced to pay the full extent of his release clause.

Rangers could theoretically end up selling him on for a huge profit after a few years at Ibrox, which might factor into the club’s thinking.

Real Madrid represent daunting competition, but perhaps there’s a scenario where Los Blancos sign him and then loan him out, as they have done with a whole host of their Castilla players this season.

In other news, could this Gers forward be lured south of the border?

Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford’s return from injury for the Whites is now ‘on the horizon’, according to reliable journalist Phil Hay.

The Lowdown: Bamford out for months

The 28-year-old was a huge player for Leeds last season, topping their Premier League scoring charts with 17 goals and helping them to a ninth-placed finish.

However, Bamford has been absent since the middle of September with an injury, which has duly restricted to just five league starts in the current campaign.

It appears as though the striker’s return is edging closer, though, with Hay providing a very positive update on the situation.

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The Latest: Hay gives positive update

Taking on Twitter on Friday to promote an article on Bamford’s situation, Hay confirmed that the Leeds striker’s injury return is now ‘on the horizon’.

That suggests the England international will be able to play a key role in the Whites’ December fixtures, which would be a timely return amidst a busy upcoming schedule.

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The Verdict: Season turning point?

Bamford’s influence on this Leeds team is enormous both on and off the ball – he has averaged three shots and 1.6 clearances per game in the league this season – so his return should be huge for Marcelo Bielsa.

Granted, it may take time for him to rediscover top form, but his ability to find the net and bring teammates into the game could be priceless.

Without him, Leeds have looked far more toothless in attack, scoring just seven goals in as many games in his injury-enforced absence. Indeed, it’s not exaggerating to suggest that Bamford’s return might just be the turning point in the Whites’ season, if he can pick up where he had left off prior to his injury.

In other news, one Leeds player has been tipped for a move to Liverpool. Find out who it is here.

Glasgow Rangers have been dealt another injury blow on top of Keemar Roofe as Ryan Jack will now ‘miss out’ against Hearts at Sunday lunchtime.

The Lowdown: Injury pile-up?

Giovanni van Bronckhorst revealed in his pre-game press conference earlier that Roofe is now a ‘doubt’ for Sunday’s clash against Hearts, although both Alfredo Morelos and Fashion Sakala will join up with the squad again.

However, the Dutch manager also gave an update on Jack’s fitness, and it is not looking good considering the injury problems that he has had in the past at Ibrox…

The Latest: Jack out

GvB has confirmed in his press conference that Jack will now definitely ‘miss out’ against Hearts in the Scottish Premiership.

He revealed that the central midfield player had a ‘problem’ in their final training session before their UEFA Europa League tie away at Lyon on Thursday evening, and although he will join up with the squad ‘soon’, he will not play a part on Sunday.

The Verdict: Worrying

Given his injury record, it is certainly worrying for the Light Blues faithful that Jack has seemingly picked up yet another injury.

There is no doubt that he is an important part of the team when fit, as former SPFL striker Noel Whelan even went as far as to claim that he is ‘irreplaceable’ and the ‘heartbeat’ of the side back in September (Football Insider).

He has not featured much at all this season, as he has tried to regain his fitness from the injury setbacks that he suffered last term, but with 19 appearances in the Teddy Bears’ title-winning campaign, the Scotland international has shown that he is key when fit (Transfermarkt).

However, with Roofe potentially out as well as Jack, the Gers will now find it a lot harder to take all three points away from home on Sunday.

In other news, find out whose display against Lyon was slammed here!

Noel Whelan says the prospect of Jesse Lingard signing for Everton is ‘mouthwatering’. 

The former Leeds United forward was discussing the future of the Manchester United ace with Football Insider.

The lowdown

The publication reported on Saturday that, should United agree to let Lingard leave in January, Everton would be at the front of the queue.

West Ham, who had him on loan for the latter half of the 2020/21 campaign, and Newcastle United are also said to be keeping tabs on his situation.

However, Everton have a key advantage in that Lingard would prefer to remain in the north-west of England.

Lingard netted nine goals in 16 appearances for the Hammers but has been limited to 55 minutes of Premier League action this season (via WhoScored).

Significantly, the Englishman’s contract is up in the summer, meaning United could be tempted to cash-in at the mid-point of the season.

The latest

Whelan says that Lingard could represent a belated replacement for James Rodriguez, who left in September.

He reckons that the 28-year-old would elevate Everton’s entire frontline.

“I think Everton are missing that number 10, absolutely,” he said to FI. “Now that [James] Rodriguez has gone, you’re missing that X factor, that one player that can produce, that can open up the doors.

“Think about the players on either side of what he could have as well, Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison. It’s a mouthwatering prospect thinking about the front four they could have.

“Jesse Lingard could be that missing piece of the puzzle. He could bring the best out of that front three. There’s no doubt in my mind if he did go to Everton, West Ham, wherever, he would be a success.”

The verdict

It was a little surprising if Lingard didn’t wind up at West Ham, because it seemed like a move that made sense for all parties.

Geography played its part, but surely he would have also expected to feature more prominently for the Red Devils?

It’s hard to see him committing his peak years to United given his current squad role. Everton could well be wise to pounce.

In other news, could this midfielder go the other way?

Steven Gerrard is using Aston Villa as a stepping stone on his route to bigger and better things.

What’s been said?

That’s according to a claim made by Paul Merson, with the former footballer stating his belief in a recent column for the Daily Star that the 41-year-old is only using Aston Villa as a pit stop on his way to securing the manager’s position at Liverpool, before suggesting the former Rangers boss could even leave Villa Park within the next 12 months.

In his article, Merson said: “Aston Villa is a stepping stone to Liverpool for Steven Gerrard. And if things go his way he could even be at Anfield this time next year. Stranger things have happened.

“Gerrard will be Liverpool manager one day. He is on the right path. I’m sure that’s his aim. He will have a plan. This is part of the journey. Sitting here today you would think he’s got no chance of being Liverpool manager next season. But things change quickly in football.

“If you’d said to me this time last year that Dean Smith would be out of a job I’d have said no chance. It’s all about timing.

“If Liverpool start next season badly or Jurgen Klopp wakes up morning and decides to walk away, who else are they going to go for? If Steven Gerrard does well at Villa in the Premier League then surely he is the first one Liverpool would turn to.”

Fans would be furious

While Merson’s suggestion that Gerrard could be on his way out of Villa Park within the space of a year seems to be a little gung ho, should the 41-year-old indeed end up dropping Villa for the Liverpool job in the not too distant future, fans of the club would undoubtedly be furious.

Indeed, there is understandably a great deal of excitement surrounding Gerrard’s appointment at Aston Villa, as the former England international highly impressed during his time in Glasgow, winning the club’s first league title in a decade in considerable style, with Gers remaining undefeated in the 2020/21 Scottish Premiership campaign.

However, despite this, following the former Liverpool captain’s move from Rangers to Aston Villa, the Ibrox faithful were certainly less than pleased with the manner of his departure, with one Gers supporter dubbing him a “snake” for leaving their club, while another said they would “like to wish Steven nothing but the absolute worst” in his career at Villa.

So, while the hypothetical situation of Gerrard leaving Aston Villa within the next 12 months would also mean that he had done an exceptional job at Villa Park in order to merit a move to Anfield, should the 41-year-old indeed go on and leave the club at the first sniff of a bigger job, Villa fans may well come to learn how Rangers supporters are feeling at present.

In other news: Lange could transform Gerrard’s AVFC by signing “frightening” £20m gem likened to Mane

After beating Watford 5-0 on Saturday at Vicarage Road in their latest Premier League outing, Liverpool are back in Champions League action on Tuesday evening with an away clash against Atletico Madrid.

A hat-trick from Roberto Firmino and additional goals from Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah perfectly set up Jurgen Klopp’s side for their latest Champions League match in midweek after winning their opening two group games.

On the chalkboard

One player that wasn’t involved in the game against Watford, that we think should be in the starting XI to face Atletico is midfielder Fabinho, who is currently earning a weekly wage of £180k-per-week according to Spotrac.

The 27-year-old wasn’t in the squad to face Watford as he was involved with Brazil on international duty just a short period before the match against the Hornets, alongside Alisson Becker.

Given that Fabinho has now had time after returning from Brazil duty to get ready for the Atletico match, we feel he should be back in the team as he would presumably be fresher than the midfielders that played against Watford such as James Milner, Jordan Henderson and Naby Keita.

Taking into account some of Fabinho’s numbers and it’s evident why he deserves to play.

He has managed to rack up an average of 2.5 interceptions per game and 4.5 tackles per game from the two previous Champions League outings he’s played in for Liverpool this season. On top of that, he’s won 73% of all duels he’s been involved in so he could definitely prove himself to be a tough and possibly even terrifying opponent for Atletico’s attacking players. That’s given how Diego Simeone’s side have only managed to score 11 goals in eight La Liga games so far this season.

One in, one out

In terms of who Fabinho could replace in the team, we feel that Klopp should take Keita out of the team given he played 90 minutes against Watford and has struggled with his fitness and numerous injuries in the past. It might be a risk to play him again in midweek, even though he played well against Watford, earning himself an overall match rating of 7.2/10 according to SofaScore.

Looking ahead to the match, whether Klopp decides to start Fabinho, who has been described as “outstanding” by the Reds manager in the past, they will definitely be looking to keep their winning streak in the Champions League going ahead of their big Premier League clash against Manchester United at the weekend.

In other news: Klopp could land perfect Mane heir at Liverpool in “pure class” £22.5m-rated star – opinion

Crystal Palace have been warned that it’s likely to take a substantial fee to prize midfielder Conor Gallagher away from Chelsea on a permanent deal.

What’s the story?

The highly-rated 21-year-old joined Palace on a season-long loan deal from the Blues over the summer and has already established himself as a fan’s favourite following a string of full-blooded displays.

And now, journalist Tom Barclay has claimed the Eagles are going to have to stump up between £30m and £40m if they want to secure the youngster’s services on a long-term basis.

The reporter told GIVEMESPORT: “If Chelsea do want to cash in on him and don’t think he’s quite good enough for them, he’ll go for a lot of money, I imagine.

“He signed a five-year deal under Frank Lampard, so he has got another three years or so on that. We’re probably talking about £30m or £40m, I imagine. You’ve also got to think how much is it going to cost to replace a player like that?”

Crystal Palace fans may be concerned

Gallagher burst onto the scene during a 12-month spell with West Bromwich Albion last term, scoring two goals and providing a further two assists in a hugely disappointing Baggies side.

Although the box-to-box dynamo was unable to prevent the Midlands outfit from suffering relegation from the Premier League, he caught the eye with several impressive performances.

The England U21 international did enough to earn another chance in the top-flight with Palace, and he’s already shown why Eagles boss Patrick Vieira brought him to Selhurst Park.

A return of two goals and one assist in his opening eight league outings has endeared Gallagher to the south London outfit’s passionate fanbase, but pulling on a Palace shirt on a permanent basis is likely to take a substantial outlay.

With his current contract not expiring until the summer of 2025, the youngster’s current market value is £13.5m, and that fee is only set to rise.

Therefore, the capital club’s supporters may be concerned at Barclay’s latest revelation regarding their midfield maestro, with worries over life after Gallagher already setting in.

And, in other news…Vieira must unleash “fearless” £13.5m-rated Palace wizard, he could have a huge impact 

Manchester United have reportedly turned their attention to signing Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips, a potential huge blow for Marcelo Bielsa.

The Lowdown: Phillips an indispensable figure

Few players in the Marcelo Bielsa era at Elland Road have enjoyed a greater influence than Phillips, if anyone at all.

The 25-year-old has been an outstanding performer in Leeds’ midfield, inspiring them back into the Premier League and maturing into a regular starter for England – he even won the national side’s player of the year this term.

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The Latest: Man Utd keen on move

The one negative surrounding Phillips’ meteoric rise is that richer clubs are now battling for his signature, and according to the Daily Star, Manchester United want to sign him.

They were initially keen on snapping up his England midfield colleague Declan Rice from West Ham, but are now eyeing up the Leeds star instead, perhaps due to David Moyes calling for a price tag of over £100m on Rice.

Phillips’ current deal expires in the summer of 2024.

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The Verdict: Anyone but them

Leeds are going to find it extremely tough to keep hold of Phillips and there is every chance that he ends up at a Champions League-playing super club, having earned plaudits from media and fans alike up and down the country – Gary Neville called him ‘fantastic’.

That being said, the Whites’ bitter rivalry with Manchester United means that supporters would likely accept him moving anywhere other than Old Trafford.

Should Phillips pick the Red Devils, it could have a big effect on his legacy at Elland Road, as was arguably the case with Alan Smith back in the 2000s.

In other news, a Leeds player has agreed a new deal at the club. Find out who it is here.