Forwards can come in all shapes and sizes. The target man, the centre full-forward or the poacher are all varieties of the traditional goal scorer. Liverpool have had their fair few exceptional marksmen over the years and any forward capable of scoring goals will soon endear themselves to The Kop.

Given the club’s failure to bring in another striker this summer, now is the perfect time to remember the good old days and run through the greatest ever forwards to have donned the red of Liverpool.

10. Jackie Balmer- 1935-52, 312 appearances 111 goals

Jackie Balmer was a prolific goal scorer for Liverpool during his 17-year stay at the club. Balmer, a clever and skilful player, helped deliver The Reds their first league title in nearly a quarter of a century with a series of impressive displays throughout the 1946-47 season in which he bagged 24 goals.

Balmer captained the club from 1947-49 but saw the best years of his career lost to the Second World War. The forward scored a total of 111 goals for LFC but will be best remember for his outstanding record of scoring three consecutive hat-tricks against Portsmouth, Derby and Arsenal in November 1946.

9. Fernando Torres- 2007-present, 120 appearances 73 goals

In 2009, Spanish striker Fernando Torres became the fastest player in the club’s history to score 50 goals for The Reds. Torres managed the feat in just 72 appearances, while also becoming the most prolific foreigner ever in a debut season in England.

El Nino, or The Kid, is a firm favourite with The Kop and has blossomed into one of the most lethal finishers in the world since moving to Merseyside for a club record £20m in 2007. Torres has yet to win a trophy at Anfield and will be keen to put that right this season.

Watch Torres’ best goals HERE

8. Ian St John- 1961-71, 425 appearances 118 goals

Bill Shankly signed Ian St John from Motherwell for a club record £37,500 in May 1961 and he proved to be worth every penny.

St John made over 400 appearances for Liverpool over a decade, scoring 118 goals in the process. He scored a hat-trick against Everton on his debut and his enthusiastic passion on the pitch made him an instant hit with the fans. After helping the club win promotion in 1962 he went onto win another two league titles at Anfield. He will, of course, be best remembered for heading the winner in Liverpool’s first-ever FA Cup triumph in 1965.

Re-live St John’s FA Cup winning goal HERE

7. Gordon Hodgson- 1925-36, 377 appearances 241 goals

South African born Gordon Hodgson remains the club’s third top goal scorer of all-time with an astounding 241 goals in 377 appearances during the 1920s and 30s.

Despite his goal scoring exploits, Hodgson failed to lift a trophy for the Reds in one of the most barren trophyless spells in the club’s history. Hodgson scored a marvellous 17 hat-tricks for Liverpool in just over a decade, a tally that has yet to be bettered.

6. Billy Liddell- 1939-61, 534 appearances, 228 goals

Billy Liddell sneaks into this list despite not being your typical out-and-out centre-forward. With 228 goals for the club it is difficult to exclude him from a list of the club’s great goal scorers, as Liddell was certainly one of them.

Scottish-born Liddell was mainly a left-winger but was also equally adept as a forward. Many fans regard Liddell as the greatest player ever to pull on a red shirt, his influence so great that the club was known for a short while by fans as ‘Liddellpool’. Liddell lifted the league title once for Liverpool in the 1946/47 season.

Continue to Page 2 for the illustrious Top Five…

5. Robbie Fowler- 1992-2001, 2006-07 369 appearances 183 goals

Known simply as ‘God’ by Liverpool fans, Robbie Fowler remains one of the club’s most popular former players after bagging 183 goals in two separate spells for the club.

Liverpool born Fowler shares a special bond with The Kop after coming through the youth ranks to hit 12 goals in his first 13 games for the club. Fowler went on to score 18 goals in his debut season for the club and remains the fifth highest scorer in the club’s history.

Watch Fowler’s three-minute hat-trick HERE

4. Ian Rush- 1980-87, 1988-96 660 appearances 346 goals

Ian Rush just could not stop scoring goals during his two spells at Liverpool throughout the 80s & 90s. Known by his team-mates as ‘the first-line of defence’, Rush harrowed and harassed defenders with a combination of fast pace and great anticipation.

Rush scored 346 goals for Liverpool, making him the top scorer in the club’s history. The former Wales international is fondly remembered for his four goals at Goodison Park against rivals Everton in a 5-0 victory in 1982.

3. Kevin Keegan- 1971-1977, 323 appearances, 100 goals

Kevin Keegan signed for the club for £35,000 as a 20-year-old in 1971. In his six years at the club Keegan won three league titles, two UEFA Cups, as well as an FA and European Cup.

Keegan’s spirit and determination was the embodiment of Liverpool’s success throughout the 1970s, chipping in with 100 goals along the way. Keegan was fast, skilful and an immense attacking force. Keegan certainly created a lot of wonderful memories for fans during his time with the club.

Watch Keegan’s best moments HERE

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2. Roger Hunt- 1958-69, 492 appearances, 286 goals

Roger Hunt remains Liverpool’s top league goal scorer of all-time with 245 goals in little over ten years with the club. Overlooked for a Knighthood in 1966, Hunt remains one of Liverpool’s most popular players of all-time and will always be known as ‘Sir’ Roger by The Kop.

Hunt averaged an astounding goal per-game for Liverpool with 41 goals in 41 appearances as they comfortably lifted the title in 1961-62. Hunt remains a hero at Anfield today was also similarly instrumental in their title win in 1966.

1. Kenny Dalglish- 1977-1990, 515 appearances, 172 goals

Bob Paisley identified Kenny Dalglish as the man to replace Kevin Keegan in 1977 when he paid Celtic a British record £440,000 to bring King Kenny to Anfield.

It was a truly inspired signing and Dalglish’s goals, technical brilliance and footballing brain helped The Reds lift three European Cups and six league titles. Dalglish remains today the greatest player the club has ever seen.

Watch Dalglish at his best HERE

Do you agree with the list? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below. Alternatively you can read more of my blogs HERE or for the latest Liverpool news, views, facts and figures you can follow me on Twitter.

TOP TEN- Premier League SCREAMERS

TOP 15- Career Defining Moments

TOP TEN- Premier League summer transfers

Iceland striker Eidur Gudjohnsen is closer to challenging for a full first-team debut after coming through the entire 90 minutes of Stoke City's reserve team clash with Walsall.

The 32-year-old former Spurs and Chelsea forward has featured once as a substitute for the Potters since his arrival on loan from Monaco, but accepts that he has had to play catch-up in the fitness stakes.

Gudjohnsen told the club's official website:"This was a big step for me, getting through the 90 minutes.

"I felt much better than when I played for the first 45 minutes of the last reserve match and I believe that I am getting much, much closer now.

"It has not been an ideal situation. I would have preferred to have done a full pre-season with the rest of the lads and then been ready from the word go.

"But playing catch-up was something I anticipated and something I needed to. Going through it hasn't been pleasant, but I knew that it had to be done.

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"Once I am ready, I will play a big part in Stoke's season and I will give the supporters something to shout about."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Inflated price tags are a commonplace in the modern game however some players appear to let the pressure of the money that has been spent on them affect their game, and as a result their performances don’t equate to the money that has been spent on them.

Here are the top 10 Premier League players who have crumbled under the weight of financial expectation:

10. Robbie Keane

In the space of just six months he has made two big money moves and failed to live up to either of them. In July 2008 Tottenham sold Keane to Liverpool for £19m, in his time there he managed just five goals in 19 games and looked a shadow of his former self. In January 2009 Keane was sold back to Spurs for £12m potentially rising to £16m, although his performances improved as he got some of his confidence back there was still something missing. He spent the last six months of the season on loan at Celtic and while many believed he would be sold this summer he still remains at White Hart Lane, albiet as a 3rd choice striker.

9. Alberto Aquilani

It is fair to say that Alberto Aquilani’s time in England has been a disaster is tantamount to saying that the Arctic is a bit nippy. With only 17 League appearances to his name, in what was an injury hit first season in the Premier League, Liverpool’s £20m man has been farmed out on loan to Juventus, with (according to some reports) a view to a permanent deal. Some Liverpool fans will claim that the Italian wasn’t given the opportunity to prove his worth at Anfield and in many ways you do feel that they perhaps have a point.

8. Steve Marlet

The Frenchman was at one point Fulham’s biggest transfer fee when they paid Marseille £11.5m for his services following their promotion to the Premier League. However Marlet made very little impact during his time at the club, his performances were considered so terrible by owner Mohammed Al Fayed that he took former manager Jean Tigana to court, accusing him of deliberately overpaying for the player.

7. Chris Sutton

Sutton joined Chelsea for £10m from recently relegated Blackburn in 1999. He scored just four goals in his one and only season at Stamford Bridge before moving on to Celtic where he enjoyed a prolific spell.

6. Sergei Rebrov

In 2000 Spurs signed striker Sergei Rebrov from Dynamo Kiev for £11m but he turned out to be a total disappointment and could only score 10 league goals in 60 games. He later left the club on a free transfer in 2005 to return back to Kiev.

5. Francis Jeffers

Once proclaimed a ‘fox in the box’, Francis Jeffers cost Arsenal £8m when they signed him from Everton, tipped to be a good prospect he could only score a pathetic four league goals during his time there. The expectation following his move drained his confidence and he has never been a confident player ever since like what he was first able to show at Everton. The only personal highlight for him whilst at Arsenal was that he managed to win his one and only England cap.

4. Albert Luque

Albert Luque arrived at Newcastle with a big reputation after the club splashed out £9.5m to bring him to the club from Deportivo La Coruna. He was an outstanding player during his time in Spain and in his season at Deportivo he played a massive part in helping them reach the Champions League semi-finals. Luque had looked like a player who could have been a real hero for the club and was their major summer signing, but he failed to live up to all the expectation and joined Ajax two years later.

3. Robinho

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The talented Brazilian striker moved to Manchester City in 2008 when the club agreed to buy him from Real Madrid for £32.5m. Robinho initially started his first season well scoring a few goals here and there and showing some flashes of brilliance. However it soon became apparent that he wasn’t able to handle playing in away games and only really shone in home matches and even then wasn’t consistent. Last season he found things to be much tougher due to the competition for places at the club as they signed Emmanuel Adebayor, Carlos Tevez and Roque Santa Cruz. Although he did finish the club’s top scorer in his first season he still didn’t show enough that warranted his price-tag and last season didn’t have any impact what-so-ever. The Brazilian has since moved onto AC Milan this, where he is hoping to fulfil his massive potential.

2. Juan Sebastian Veron

Veron cost a combined total of nearly £45m in his two Premiership moves and neither worked out for him at all well. Firstly he joined Manchester United in 2001 from Lazio for £28.1m, then two years later Chelsea signed him for £15m. Almost all of his performances for Manchester United were lacking apart from when they played in the Champions League. What’s more strange is that Chelsea also agreed to pay a big figure for his services despite seeing that he couldn’t handle playing for Manchester United and unable to adapt to the Premiership.

1. Andriy Shevchenko

Never before has such a talented player been made to look so ordinary before Andriy Shevchenko’s £35m move to Chelsea from AC Milan. A striker who made Europe’s most notorious defences quiver at just the sound of his name struggled to intimidate even the worst Premier League defenders. Shevchenko managed to score just nine goals in 30 Premiership games; and Chelsea didn’t see a single penny of that £35m back when he re-joined his former club Dynamo Kiev on a free transfer in 2009.

Any glaring omissions? Feel free to add them in the comments below…

Wayne Rooney has dismissed fears about his form and fitness after insisting he feels 'sharp'.

The Manchester United striker missed two goalscoring chances during England's goalless Euro 2012 qualifying draw with Montenegro at Wembley on Tuesday.

Rooney was playing for the first time since picking up an ankle injury almost three weeks ago.

The 24-year-old has scored just one goal in six club appearances this season and is reported to be struggling to cope with the media attention that recent revelations concerning his private life have brought.

Last week Rooney pleaded for patience after admitting he was "only human" and not playing to his potential.

However, speaking after the Wembley stalemate, the striker dismissed suggestions that his game is still some way short of its best.

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"I felt sharp," he said."A couple of chances, maybe with the first I could have done better. The keeper made a good save with the second.

"I've been training for the last two months and I haven't missed a training session so there's no problem with my fitness."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Against Wolves on Saturday, if a few more of Manchester City’s stars had showed the passion of Emmanuel Adebayor and Vincent Kompany, maybe Manchester City wouldn’t have found themselves on the end of a defeat by a club that hadn’t won since the first day of the season. How Manchester City went from a united team – with their backs to wall against Arsenal, to a team devoid of any passion, hunger or ideas must be beyond most fans. For all Emmanuel Adebayor’s faults it is difficult to question his passion for the game. He is a player that may step over the mark but his desire can’t be called into question.

On the incident, Manchester City were quick to draw a line under the spat, and Adebayor himself spoke to the clubs official website.

“Sometimes you have to shout and bawl to try and get a reaction from your team-mates and sometimes that means getting them worked up in order to do the right thing for the team,” Adebayor told City’s official website.

Of course the ugly scenes at Molineux do not do the team many favours. What must frustrate City fans is that in the second half their players had shrunk into themselves. Mario Ballotelli started the game well and looked bright but one fan described his second half performance as ‘a disaster.’ He was not the only one, the team looked flat and if Adebayor was trying, like he said, to gain some sort of reaction – well someone had to try something. It would be very easy to blame Roberto Mancini, but on the pitch the players have to take responsibility for themselves. Though it looks ugly, Adebayor’s intention was roundly positive and he can’t be faulted too much for that.

Does Saturday’s game tell us a little more about Manchester City though. Manchester City were without their inspirational captain Carlos Tevez against Wolves, and it showed. City were devoid of any ideas, and most worryingly they lacked a leader. It is easy to lead a great side when things are going well but when there are issues it is much more difficult. Clearly, captain for the day Kolo Toure does not require the skills Tevez has. The players look up to Carlos Tevez, but when he is not there will City sink in on themselves more and more often, or was this a one off.

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Both Adebayor and Kompany clearly have a burning desire to succeed with this Manchester City squad. If done in the right way, such an argument can inspire a team to victory. It is very easy to say after an incident like this the squad lacks unity and the manager has lost the dressing room. In fact it was just an argument after Adebayor gave away possession and Kompany needlessly fouled Kevin Doyle. They both want to win and they hate to loose. Premier League winning teams need more players like this, and less players who accept when you concede goals. What happened on Saturday was only a show of passion – a desire to succeed. It is not like the two had a fight on the pitch and were sent off. It was a passionate disagreement, something fans everywhere want from their players.

Emanuel Adebayor showed on Saturday his desire to play for Manchester City. As well as his disagreement with Kompany, Adebayor was one of the few City players that came out of the game with credit. His work rate and desire were matched only by James Milner and David Silva. Maybe his passion to play and win spilled over. However this incident is so different to the Adebayor of old. This was not about ego’s or off field problems, it was simply about loosing a game City should have won.

For a player who has had to make do with mainly substitute appearances in the Premier League this season, Adebayor’s attitude has been refreshing. He wanted to win and show he can lead the line as well as or even with Carlos Tevez. The worrying thing for City fans must be the performance of Mario Balotelli. On his Premier League début he looked lethargic and played without desire. Compare that to Adebayor and the difference is colossal.

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Liverpool fans must be a collective of nervous wrecks with the type of football that they have been subjected to this season. What’s made more nail biting are the whole plethora of players that they’ve been linked to purchase in the January transfer window. Roy Hodgson isn’t, to many Liverpool fans, the manager that inspires majestic football or even the type who has well laid plans that will soon come to fruition. Maybe that last statement was slightly unforgiving and that the January transfer window will present the opportunity for Hodgson to bring in players who will reflect his ideology more coherently.

All we have are previous events and decisions to inform us of the sorts of players that will likely be turning up, kitbag in hand, at Anfield over the January period. The first player signed by Hodgson, but instigated by Rafa Benitez, was Milan Jovanovic who operated originally as a striker, but has been finding himself on the wing and more recently the substitute’s bench.

His second recruit was Joe Cole, who has been a disappointment after the potential he displayed at West Ham and Chelsea. But players such as Cole, after being injury stricken, require time to adjust and gain match effectiveness, he seemed a brilliant acquisition but has yet to produce. We’ll grant these two mentioned signings as unsuccessful so far.

The most notable signings during the summer were Christian Poulsen, Paul Konchesky, Raul Meireles and Fabio Aurelio. Poulsen was obviously an attempt to fill the void left by Javier Mascherano and not a very successful one by all observations. The loaning out of Alberto Aquilani absolutely baffled me, he was bought for £17 million and looked to be a player of quality, much of the same mould as Xabi Alonso, who could sit, dictate play and free Steven Gerrard. Liverpool will ultimately lose the player to Juventus, who will no doubt grasp at the option to make his loan permanent.

Meireles, for me, appeared a decent signing after having watched him during the World Cup for Portugal, he has a perpetual engine and while he may not be as technically gifted as one may wish, he still could act as decent defensive midfielder. The abundance of destroying players is probably the one downfall of Liverpool, as without Fernando Torres firing they lack goals and creativity.

This attacking deficiency should have been identified by Hodgson during the height of summer and given recourse to remedying. But thankfully for Hodgson, life is full of chances that present themselves to be either made the most of or squandered in haste. January is this chance to placate the fans and sign some truly superior players who will fabricate the kind of football that Liverpool requires.

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There are so many reports day after day of tenuous calibre linking players to Liverpool that fans must either receive them with delight or utter dismay. How apprehensive are you over Hodgson having January to buy what he deems as adequate for the club? Will he mould a resurrection of fortunes or leave the club floundering languidly from game to game?

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Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is excited ahead of tough Premier League clashes with Arsenal and Chelsea, believing they could go a long way in deciding who lands the title this season.

The Red Devils take on Blackpool at Bloomfield Road on Saturday before welcoming the Gunners to Old Trafford on December 13.

Ferguson's side then face a daunting trip to Stamford Bridge six days later and the Scot is looking to get the best out of all his squad players over the busy festive period.

"You always want to win those games because they are really significant," Ferguson said.

"We have managed to claw ourselves into a position where we are two points ahead of Chelsea, so the game at Stamford Bridge and Arsenal's trip to Manchester will certainly be very important, there's no doubt about that.

"We saw that last season – some big decisions didn't go our way in the two matches against Chelsea and they ended up costing us important points.

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"You are aware that you have to use your squad well because there are so many games, particularly during that week between Christmas and New Year.

"Three matches in six days is a lot. It is a hectic period but we have the players to cope. Hopefully we're in the right position come the start of January."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

This has been one of the most exciting starts to a Premier League season in recent memory. The title race is wide open and who knows how far the relegation battle goes up? The top teams are getting weaker but the smaller clubs are having a go – and it has been great to watch. We give you 10 surprises from the Premier League….. so far.

The Promoted Clubs

To just put Blakpool in this category would be extremely unfair on Newcastle and West Brom. All three clubs have equipped themselves fantastically well in the Premier League, and have played an attacking brand of football that some of the more established clubs could learn from. All three look like Premier League sides – and have taught a few lessons along the way. Newcastle thrashed both Aston Vill and Sunderland, West Brom thrashed Everton at Goodison Park and Blackpool hammered Wigan at the DW Stadium. It is their attitudes that have been so refreshing this season, and long may it continue. Further more, none of them look like doing a Hull City. Well played Blackpool, Newcastle and West Brom.

Samir Nasri

The best player in the Premier League this season. Where did it come from? Omitted from the French World Cup squad – granted because of an injury, but they gambled on Frank Ribery. At Arsenal, he always look average. He showed a fine touch but without ever dominating games. This season that has all changed. He looks comfortable playing from the right of Marouane Chamakh and has scored some sublime goals. Everyone knew how good he was but it is the way it has all come together this half of the season for Nasri that is surprising.

Wolves

Oh dear, what has happened here? Last season they had grit, determination and a focus to stay up. They did – with a few games to spare. This season they have been hopeless. There team has actually been improved with the signing of Steven Fletcher – but they have got worse. They look a team destined for relegation and have fallen into that second season trap. Wolves have the quality to stay up but they need to improve dramatically to be a Premier League team next season.

Continued on Page TWO…

Bolton Wanderers

Owen Coyle is pretty good isn’t he. After Gary Megson I guess the only way was up, but the way they have gone about it has been so impressive. They have a new expansive way of playing, getting the ball on the floor and using players like Martin Petrov. They still go long to Kevin Davies but in a more measured and considered way than before. Look what Owen Coyle has done with Johan Elmander. The Swede now looks like a footballer again – and a pretty good one. His goal against Wolves was sublime – a goal Lionel Messi would have been proud of. Bolton are sitting in fifth and look set to challenge for Europe come the end of the season.

Arsenal’s Home Record

The one thing Arsenal will always have is a superb home record. The Emirates has become a fortress over the last couple of years, but this season teams are starting to get at Arsenal. Arsenal have lot twice to promoted clubs and have made hard work of Bolton. It has to be worrying for Arsenal fans because they have the best away record. If Arsenal could be consistent they would be clear in the Premier League. They haven’t played any of the top teams at the Emirates, and if their form at home continues to be shaky, they could loose out on the Premier League title this season.

Wayne Rooney’s Attitude

Now cast your minds back to 19 October. Wayne Rooney announced that Manchester United had no ambition and wanted to leave the club. Old Trafford was plunged into chaos – all for money. Many Manchester United fans never thought Rooney was one of them. We were told by his PR guru – Andy Gray – that he loved the game, and would play whenever he could. How wrong we were. Rooney and Peter Stretford created a saga to get more money for themselves. Better we know his true colours now I guess.

Pepe Reina

What has happened to him? For the past couple of season he has been by far the best goalkeeper in the Premier League, and if he any other nationality, Reina would have at least 50 international caps. This season has been strange for the Spaniard. He made a howler on the first day of the season against Arsenal and hasn’t fully recovered. The keeper has terrible against Argentina and his club form has been dodgy. Is transfer speculation getting to Reina or is it just a run of bad form?

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Continued on Page THREE…

Ray Wilkins’ Departure

What a fire storm this has caused. Who is in control at Chelsea, and do they trust Carlo Ancelotti? Strange that they wouldn’t after winning the double last season – but that’s Chelsea for you. Ray Wilkins by all accounts did a sterling job when Ancelotti first arrived. He changed the whole set up of training and the club with the Italian. He was a popular figure with the players and fans, and was doing a good job. Fired? Something is wrong. Chelsea have been awful since, and Ancelotti stands a lonely figure on the sidelines. Will the Wilkins departure be the catalyst for big change at Stamford Bridge.

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Chris Hughton’s Sacking

What on earth are Newcastle thinking? A man that saved the club from imploding on itself, won the Championship – the first time of asking and masterminded victories over Arsenal, Aston Villa and Sunderland and Newcastle sit 12th in the table. If you can get sacked for that, you can get sacked for anything. Chris Hughton is one of the nice guys but most of all he is a very good manager. The club love him, the players love him and the fans adore what he did for their club. Newcastle should be ashamed.

Tottenham in Europe

How refreshing this has been. Just when the group stages needed a change, Tottenham have come along. Hats off to Harry Redknapp and his players because when the draw was made many people were concerned not only for Tottenham but for England’s co-efficient ranking. They scored eighteen goals in a group that featured the European Champions, German Champions and Dutch Champions. To win the group is extra special and is testament to this group of players. How far can Tottenham go? By finishing top – who knows?

Comment below if you feel we have missed any. Follow me on twitter here

Holy Crap – it’s live fantasy football! Become part of the FA Cup match tonight and play Picklive for FREE Watch and bet live – spices up any game!

A 2-1 victory to West Ham in the first Carling Cup semi-final leaves the tie wide open and Birmingham will be confident of overturning the deficit at St Andrew’s. Now it’s time to turn our attention to the second semi final between Championship strugglers Ipswich and Premier League high flyers Arsenal. A foregone conclusion you might think, but if Ipswich are to make the tie interesting they must perform well at Portman Road tonight. So which Ipswich players will be key to that?

Let’s get the bad news out of the way. On-loan pair Jake Livermore and Rory Fallon are ineligible, but perhaps even worse that that, is that Grant Leadbitter is still suspended. This is not a good run-up to the game for Ipswich, as Leadbitter is the leading Picklive points’ scorer for the Tractor Boys this season. He has racked up 149 points in Ipswich’s two Picklive encounters up to now, so he’s a big loss.

It is also pretty hard to take any positives from Ipswich’s 7-0 FA Cup hammering at the hands of Chelsea, but it should fire the players up to perform better against the Gunners. David Norris played in that game and he is Ipswich’s second highest Picklive points’ scorer this season, just ahead of Andros Townsend who has since returned to Tottenham.

Next in the rankings Jason Scotland, who could be a good selection as he’ll be desperate to score and show that he can perform against Premier League defences after all. His probable strike partner Connor Wickham is another one looking to catch the eye and show why so many Premier League managers are tracking the youngster. With Arsenal’s fallibility at the back, there’s a good chance that Ipswich will register their name on the score sheet tonight.

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As far as Arsenal go it’s the usual pretenders for the Gunners. Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri and Alex Song are still leading the way in the Picklive standings, but with Arsenal’s congested fixture list becoming even busier due to an FA Cup third round replay against Leeds at Elland Road, Arsene Wenger may select a youthful eleven tonight.

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Theo Walcott looked like a threat when he came on at The Emirates against Leeds on Saturday, and if he gets a start in the Carling Cup tonight you should definitely consider him for your Picklive selection. Nicklas Bendtner was largely ineffective on Saturday, but if Wenger employs him through the middle expect the Dane to put in a much better showing.

Who are you going to select as your Picklive trio for Ipswich v Arsenal tonight? Our friends over at Gunnersphere.com are hosting a game so make sure you join them at 19:45 and try your hand at LIVE fantasy football, for free!

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Love fantasy football? Love live footy? You’ll love live fantasy football! Take part in the Ipswich v Arsenal match and play Picklive for FREE Go on, give it a go!

Japan qualified for the Asian Cup final after a dramatic penalty shootout victory against South Korea on Tuesday.

Alberto Zaccheroni’s side booked their place thanks to spot-kicks from Keisuke Honda, Shinji Okazaki and Yasuyuki Konno, while goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima was the hero, saving two penalties in the shootout.

Both sides finished the 90 minutes locked at 1-1, before Hajime Hosogai’s extra-time goal looked like it would send Japan through, only for Hwang Jae-Won to equalise in the 120th minute.

Shinji Okazaki nearly gave Japan the perfect start when his early header flashed wide while South Korea also threatened, as Ki Sung-Yong’s free-kick was well saved by Kawashima before Lee Chung-Yong’s follow-up was cleared by Atsuto Uchida.

Japan continued to press and only the hands of Jung Sung-Ryong and the woodwork denied Okazaki after the brilliant Yuto Nagatomo broke down the left and provided a precise cross.

South Korea took the lead when Konno’s innocuous challenge on Manchester United’s Park Ji-Sung resulted in a harsh penalty decision, with Ki stepping up and converting the spot-kick with aplomb.

Japan responded when Honda drew three defenders before releasing Nagatomo down the left, who produced a defence-splitting pass for Ryoichi Maeda to score from six yards.

Honda exerted his dominance on the game as Japan controlled the early stages of the second half, though they could not create clear-cut chances.

South Korea then snatched the ascendancy in a scintillating 15-minute period in which Koo Ja-Cheol went close twice before Lee Yong-Rae’s free-kick flew just wide.

Okazaki headed over a Honda cross with full-time nearing but the 90 minutes petered out as both sides braced for extra time.

Ki and Koo both had early attempts in the added period for South Korea before another questionable penalty was given, when Okazaki was checked on the edge of the area by Hwang.

Honda’s effort from the penalty spot was saved by Jung, but substitute Hosogai was quickest to react as he smashed the rebound into the back of the net.

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Moments later, Nagatomo hit the post from an acute angle as Japan looked to double their lead, while South Korea had half-chances of their own through Koo and Ki.

Japan were made to pay for trying to defend their lead, as an improperly cleared free-kick led to a series of blocks and deflections before Hwang hammered the ball home to spark wild South Korean celebrations.

But those proved to be premature, as South Korea missed all three of their penalties, while Japan scored on three of their four attempts to book a place in the tournament decider.