All posts by z3u9t.icu

Tottenham Hotspur completed their January transfer business with plenty of time to spare and now Ange Postecoglou has the luxury of sealing a final swoop before the window closes if an apt opportunity arises.

In other words, Spurs' priority of boosting their backline this winter has been achieved through the £27m acquisition of Radu Dragusin from Genoa, with Timo Werner's loan arrival adding a layer of mettle to the attacking ranks.

Now, with the window's culmination just a few days away, Tottenham appear to be targeting a new centre-midfielder, with Chelsea star Conor Gallagher at the top of the shopping list.

However, the Blues have placed a price tag of £80m on the 23-year-old and meeting such a sum is not really feasible at the season's midpoint, especially after Tottenham's outlay for Dragusin.

He's not the only player on Daniel Levy's radar though, with a recent update naming Tottenham as one of the possible suitors for a Premier League star.

Spurs admire exciting Premier League star

According to The Athletic's David Ornstein, Spurs are keen admirers of Aston Villa's Jacob Ramsey, with German giants Bayern Munich also interested and Newcastle United making an approach for his services.

The 22-year-old has been hampered by injury this season but has established himself as a key player under Unai Emery's leadership and his departure from Villa Park is not what the Spaniard wants.

However, Villa need to stay compliant with the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules and they will consider offers of £50m for the dynamic midfielder.

Jacob Ramsey's style of play

Ramsey has moved up the ranks with Aston Villa after graduating from the club's academy and has posted 13 goals and ten assists across 115 appearances, announcing himself as a major player last term as Villa commenced their rise.

As per Sofascore, Ramsey posted a healthy return of six goals and seven assists from 31 starting mathces in the English top-flight, completing 84% of his passes, averaging 1.2 key passes, 2.0 tackles and 4.6 successful duels per game.

Harvey Barnes

Newcastle United

Luis Diaz

Liverpool

Marcus Rashford

Manchester United

Miguel Almiron

Newcastle United

Joelinton

Newcastle United

As per FBref, Ramsey ranks among the top 5% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals and assists, the top 3% for progressive carries and the top 2% for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90.

It's still uncertain if Ramsey's future lies on the left wing or in a more central, orchestrating role, but he has the quality to make his mark in either placement and discover his true calling under Maddison's wing.

Late transfer could see Spurs sign Maddison's dream partner

Ange Postecoglou could complete the perfect finish to the transfer window by signing this star.

ByAngus Sinclair Jan 29, 2024

Creating eight big chances in the Premier League last year, the £70k-per-week star certainly has the trappings of a rounded creative threat and while there is a pathway to success at Villa Park, Tottenham could now take advantage of the Midlands side's quandary to fortify their own ranks.

Of course, he's spread his time across the wide flank and centre of the park under Emery's management but such metrics illustrate his cutting edge and efficacy as an offensive force nonetheless.

How Jacob Ramsey compares to James Maddison

Predicted to bloom into a “top-class” Premier League player in the future by pundit Jamie Carragher, Ramsey has evidently already enjoyed success at the highest level but has unfortunately played a bit-part role this season, struggling for fitness.

However, he's already proved the calibre of his skill set and could thrive with a move to the capital to join Postecoglou's project, especially if Werner's loan move is not made permanent in the summer.

Incisive with his striking and creative with his passing, Ramsey could serve as Maddison's understudy upon a prospective transfer to Tottenham, with the England international one of Europe's finest playmakers.

Tottenham signed Maddison from Leicester City in a £40m deal in June to commence the Postecoglou era with a flourish, and with the 27-year-old clinching three goals and five assists across 11 outings before an ankle injury in November stifled a brilliant first term, he's one of English football's golden standards for his position.

As per FBref, Maddison ranks among the top 4% of attacking midfielders and wingers for assists, the top 1% for shot-creating actions and the top 6% for progressive passes per 90.

He has also supplied 2.9 key passes per game in the league this year and completed 85% of his passes, with that crispness in possession something that Ramsey implements in his own game.

Hailed as a "top-class player" by his teammate Ezri Konsa, Ramsey's dynamism illuminates the worth that Tottenham would find in acquiring his signature, with electric energy and breezy technical skills that could make him the perfect understudy for a star such as Maddison at Tottenham.

Ramsey has sometimes found himself ineffectual when on the left wing and there is a good chance that, wherever he may ply his trade in the future, he will occupy a central No. 10 role, with his positional intelligence and aforementioned technical prowess the perfect ingredients for a career as successful as someone like Maddison's.

Welcoming Ramsey to the fold is an attractive thought for Postecoglou and co but it's unlikely that £50m will be paid for his signature over the coming days.

However, it's also unlikely that Newcastle will meet such demands as Eddie Howe's side juggle their own issues in meeting PSR regulations.

Therefore, while Tottenham's interest is genuine it's unlikely that Ramsey will wind up at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium by the end of the week.

Though that's not to say a deal won't be struck in the summer…

This week, it's emerged that reigning Premier League champions Manchester City want to sign centre-back Mika Marmol from Las Palmas, and then loan to him to Girona, as they try to take full advantage of the City Football Group network once again.

Brazilian winger Savio, owned by Troyes but playing his football at Girona this season, has become one of the CFG's biggest success stories so far, with Pep Guardiola's side now set to sign him after agreeing a deal.

Back in 2018, City tried to sign defender Pau Cubarsi from the Girona academy, but it was Barcelona who won the race. Six years on, Cubarsi has made a breakthrough at Camp Nou, and City are going after him again.

City determined to sign Cubarsi at second time of asking

According to journalist Xavier Bosch, writing in a column for Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo (via Sport Witness), City will now reignite their interest in Cubarsi. They had "practically" completed a deal in 2018, only for Barcelona assistant manager Oscar Hernandez to speak to the player personally and convince him to join La Masia.

Bosch says he doesn't like the news "at all" because he doesn't feel that City CEO Ferran Soriano, the vice-president of Barcelona from 2003 to 2008, and sporting director Txiki Begiristain, who worked at Camp Nou, should be poaching young talents from the club.

Puyol comparison shows Barcelona hype

From City's perspective, the quality of the player is clearly what matters most. Cubarsi made his debut for the senior team away to Unionistas CF in the Copa del Rey on 18th January, playing the second half, and then received a full debut against Real Betis in La Liga just before he turned 17.

Man City seriously eyeing 'magician' as Begiristain told to pay club-record fee

The player is secretly open to a move, but it will take an enormous outlay.

ByDavid Comerford Jan 20, 2024

As you can see below, Cubarsi put up some impressive numbers on his first full outing, particularly in possession, and he's started two of Barcelona's three league games since. Alongside 16-year-old Lamine Yamal, he's broken into one of the world's biggest teams at a remarkably young age.

Minutes played

81

Clearances

2

Blocked shots

1

Interceptions

1

Tackles

2

Duels won

3/4

Touches

69

Accurate passes

58

Passing accuracy

94%

Accurate long balls

4

Long ball accuracy

80%

The defender is inevitably generating huge excitement in and around the club, with his former under-13 coach, Albert Puig, going as far as to liken him to former Blaugrana centre-back Carles Puyol.

He said: "He’s brilliant at anticipating and reading the game, and goes into every duel with full power. He is aggressive because he loves it. Pau has the heart of a defender and would give everything to block a shot or intercept a pass. In that regard, you could compare him to Carles Puyol."

It's incredibly early to be even mentioning him in the same breath as Puyol, of course, but you already get the sense Barcelona will be absolutely desperate to hold onto Cubarsi and ensure he's one of the players they can potentially build around going forward.

West Ham United are "considering" a 48-year-old David Moyes replacement who's been called an "absolutely unbelievable" fit for the club, and it is believed Hammers chiefs are big admirers of him.

Moyes contract dilemma at West Ham

It's been a nightmare start to 2024 for the east Londoners, who are yet to win a single game in all competitions since the turn of the year.

West Ham have bizarrely ruled out hiring "serial winner" manager – insider

Tim Steidten is rumoured to be considering Moyes replacements.

ByEmilio Galantini Feb 14, 2024

This has piled pressure on head coach Moyes, who is currently set to leave upon the expiry of his contract in June as things stand. Supporters seemingly appear divided over the Scotsman and whether he can take the club forward, despite this being, arguably, one of West Ham's most successful eras in history.

Their Europa Conference League triumph in Prague will be remembered fondly by all those associated, but there are currently concerns over Moyes' dogmatic approach to games and domestic form since the summer of 2022.

Owner David Sullivan is apparently well aware of the discontent among fans (ExWHUemployee), giving the club a decision to make in regard to extending Moyes' stay at Rush Green.

14th

22/23

6th

21/22

7th

20/21

16th

19/20

West Ham are apparently set to be offered both Lille boss Paulo Fonseca and former PSG manager Christophe Galtier as potential Moyes replacements (Sean Whetstone), while there have been other suggestions that the likes of Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper could enter contention.

Sharing an update on Moyes' contract situation, 90min journalist and West Ham supporter Toby Cudworth has written in a bit more detail on the saga – on both X and in an article.

West Ham consider Potter with Moyes contract update shared

Cudworth says that West Ham are still no closer to resolving Moyes' future, but they're considering alternatives to the 60-year-old as technical director Tim Steidten and co map out a succession plan.

One of the names on their radar is ex-Chelsea boss Graham Potter. Indeed, it is believed West Ham have shortlisted Potter as a managerial candidate to replace Moyes.

"The David Moyes contract saga is no closer to reaching a resolution," he said.

"He could stay at West Ham, he could leave, but recent results and disagreements over January targets have slowed talks over a new two-and-a-half-year contract. Indications are that extending is the most likely scenario but West Ham are succession planning and considering alternatives, which is considered normal. Paulo Fonseca and Graham Potter just two of the names shortlisted."

In a 90min piece, Cudworth writes that West Ham hierarchy are real fans of Potter as well. The Englishman remains without a club after being sacked by Chelsea last year, but interestingly, talkSPORT pundit Darren Bent has called Potter an "unbelievable fit".

"It would be interesting to see what type of manager they do want because I think Potter would be a great fit,” said Bent.

“With the players they’ve got, he would be an absolutely unbelievable fit.”

It’s been a long time since the feeling of excitement and optimism has been in the air at Crystal Palace, but with new boss Oliver Glasner at the helm, the future of the club looks to be heading in the right direction.

The Austrian boss knows how to win football matches, trusting the youth and his finely crafted system to bring him success.

The Eagles will hope to be the next team that Glasner can influence and inspire, but for this season, it looks set to be one of discovery and experiment.

The former Eintracht Frankfurt boss’ first game in charge was the 3-0 home victory over Burnley, but there is one player who stood out during that match, whom Glasner could turn into a monster.

Eze and Olise's record at Palace in 23/24

Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise are two of the most entertaining forwards in the Premier League, who not only provide flair but also have the output to back it up.

When they’re in the team, Palace are a completely different side, due to the majority of their goals and creativity coming from the attackers.

This season, the French forward has scored six goals and provided three assists, while the former QPR gem has netted five and assisted once.

However, unfortunately this term, the duo have been hit by injuries, with Eze starting just 13 games in the league and Olise starting just eight – with the pair both also touted for exits in the near future.

Luckily, the Eagles have had one player step up in their absence who could become vital for the team under Glasner.

Glasner must axe Crystal Palace dud who earns more than Guehi

The experienced pro can’t justify his place in the team anymore.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Feb 28, 2024 How Jordan Ayew could thrive under Glasner

This season, Jordan Ayew has gone slightly under the radar for his consistency and, above all, his importance to the Palace team, but that wasn’t the case for Roy Hodgson, who said:

"We made the loan permanent for a small sum of money & he’s given us five further years of quite incredible service. He’s one of the most reliable and consistent players that we have."

On top of his four goals and six assists, making him the top goal-contributor in the Eagles squad this season, the star, who cost just £2.5m, provides intensity and work rate, which will align perfectly with Glasner’s philosophy, as highlighted by his 2.1 tackles per game.

Unlike Hodgson, who typically opted for a variation of a 4-3-3, the 49-year-old coach deploys a fluid 3-4-2-1, with overlapping wing-backs and two inside forwards who almost act as second strikers. Given that Ayew’s profile is neither that of an out-and-out number nine nor that of a winger, this more inverted, free role where he can use his excellent dribbling to impact the game could just bring the best out of the attacker.

Goals

1

Assists

1

Key passes

5

Successful dribbles

3/3

Duels won

11

Tackles

3

That was seen in action last weekend against Burnley in Glasner's first game in charge, as can be seen in the table above, where the Ghana international scored and assisted while making five key passes and completing all three of his dribbles.

The 32-year-old also showed his importance to the team regarding his off-the-ball tenacity, making three tackles and winning 11 duels, and that showing made it quite clear that Glasner could unearth a monster in Ayew.

Wolverhampton Wanderers could be handed a second chance to sign one of their summer transfer targets 12 months on, with a Bundesliga star thought to be available for just £8m.

Wolves revival under Gary O'Neil

It has been a Premier League campaign of highs and lows for Wolves, with the Midlands side finally having found their feet under new boss Gary O'Neil. Arriving just days before the new campaign began following the departure of Julen Lopetegui, O'Neil has seen his side on the wrong end of several big VAR calls and threateningly close to the drop zone, only for luck to finally swing their way and their performances to begin getting the results that they deserved.

Wolves battling Euro giants to land summer deal for £22m "diamond"

The Old Gold are reportedly interested in a swoop to sign the Serie A star at the end of the season.

ByDan Emery Mar 6, 2024

Many people's tip to be relegated before a ball was kicked, they currently sit in 10th and two points ahead of Chelsea, while European football is still a possibility come the end of the campaign.

The Premier League run in for Wolves

Matchday

Opponents

28

Fulham (H)

29

Aston Villa (A)

30

Burnley (A)

31

West Ham (H)

32

Nottingham Forest (A)

33

Arsenal (H)

34

Luton Town (H)

35

Manchester City (A)

36

Crystal Palace (H)

37

Liverpool (A)

TBC

Bournemouth (H)

Having been hamstrung by financial fair play over the summer, they could be more liberal with their spending this time around, and may well head back for a player they missed out on 12 months ago.

Elvedi an option after "failed" summer transfer

That comes in the form of Borussia Monchengladbach defender Nico Elvedi, with the 27-year-old having reportedly been put up for sale this summer.

The centre-back, who can also play at right back, has appeared over 250 times for the German side, as well as turning out for Switzerland on 50 occasions. He was on Wolves' radar last summer, but a move "ultimately failed" and he remained in the Bundesliga. However, he could be one that Wolves return to as his current employers try to raise funds through player sales, according to Sport Witness.

Elvedi reportedly wanted to join Wolves the last time but was let down by the two clubs failing to agree a fee. He admitted afterwards that it had been a 'very intense' summer, but put pen to paper on a new contract at 'Gladbach which ties him to the Bundesliga outfit until 2027. However, said contract is thought to contain a release clause, and Sport Witness add that 'the belief is he would be allowed to leave for around €10m' (£8m).

Speaking to Birmingham Live last summer, German football expert Chris Williams explained why Elvedi could be an excellent addition at Molineux.

Though Craig Dawson has been an excellent servant for the Molineux side, he is now 33-years-old and likely to be past his best. Beyond the veteran, O'Neil can boast just Max Kilman, Toti Gomes and Santiago Bueno as options in the heart of the Old Gold backline, suggesting that reinforcements could well be necessary.

In Elvedi, the club could find a ready-made replacement with plenty of experience to continue their upwards trajectory into next season.

Jamie Carragher is a name that football fans up and down the country have grown to become very familiar with over the past 30 years or so, due to his long football career and his thriving punditry and presenting career on television.

However, there's a whole lot more to uncover regarding the former Liverpool centre-back, as believe it or not, he does have a life outside of television and football.

So, we have decided to compile a fact file on everything about Jamie Carragher.

Jamie Carragher's age and height

James Lee Duncan Carragher was born on 28th January 1978, in Bootle, England, making him 46 years of age.

According to various sites, Carragher stands at 185cm, or 6ft 1in, tall.

Jamie Carragher's net worth

Carragher has an estimated net worth of around £16 million.

The 46-year-old enjoyed a long football career at Liverpool, which spanned over 17 years. During this time, he would have been earning a very handsome salary as one of the key figures at Anfield, with Steven Gerrard even calling him his co-captain on the field.

But he's arguably been even more successful since his career came to an end as a leading pundit for Sky Sports. His salary at Sky is believed to be around £1 million per year.

Plus, he may have various investments.

Jamie Carragher's salary

As mentioned above, Jamie Carragher pockets a large sum of money from Sky Sports every year, with his current salary at the broadcasting giants sitting at around £1 million.

Although it's not known exactly how much, he also earns a salary from CBS Sports from his role as a pundit alongside the likes of Kate Abdo, Micah Richards and Thierry Henry. And if his salary at Sky is anything to go by, it won't be cheap.

Jamie Carragher's wife

No, Carragher isn't married to Gary Neville. In fact, he's married to long-term love interest Nicola Hart.

Indeed, the pair have been together for around 26 years after tying the knot back in 2005. They went to primary school together, but things didn't click until they were 18 years of age.

In typical Carragher fashion, he actually asked Nicola to marry him twice after his first proposal went wrong after originally using a wrong-sized ring and a mis-wrapped present.

Jamie Carragher's son & daughter

Jamie and Nicola have two children together: one boy and one girl.

Their first child, James, is a professional footballer. He joined Inverness in the January transfer window on loan from Wigan Athletic, and has since made eight appearances for the Scottish side.

Meanwhile, Mia prefers creative arts and is an aspiring actor, singer and dancer. She has over 50,000 followers on her TikTok account.

West Bromwich Albion continue to look like a dark horse in the Championship promotion race, slowly but surely building momentum with four wins picked up from their last six games in the league.

That means Carlos Corberan's men are solid in their playoff spot, with the likes of Okay Yokuslu starring in the middle of the park as a reliable anchor for the Baggies when the matches have become more tense.

The Turkish midfielder would assist Tom Fellows' opener against Bristol City last time out, the dependable Baggies number 35 proving to be still be a shrewd acquisition on a free transfer.

Whilst Yokuslu's worth to the West Brom cause continues to increase in terms of output and monetary value, one former flashy buy for the second-tier promotion chasers has seen his own transfer value take a tumble to below that of the 30-year-old's.

Matheus Pereira's record at West Brom

Matheus Pereira would take the Hawthorns by storm during an impactful two-season stay with West Brom, managing to be a ray of light during the Baggies' dreadful 2020/21 campaign in the Premier League alongside setting the second tier ablaze.

He would leave West Brom with 20 goals and 26 assists next to his name from 77 games, with 17 of those coming even whilst his West Midlands outfit ended up finishing in a pitiful 19th spot in the top flight.

It felt somewhat inevitable that the Brazilian midfielder, who was described as an "incredible" talent by one of his former coaches, Nate Weiss during the peak of his West Brom powers, would move on to bigger and better things especially in the wake of his side's relegation therefore.

Valerien Ismael would be the Baggies manager that signed off on Pereira's big move to Al-Hilal, with West Brom more than happy to oblige in the end when the mega-rich Saudi Arabian club forked out a reported £16m to land him.

West Brom will now know it was even more of a correct decision to let their former £8m man move on when glancing at his value in 2024, with this estimated worth now – according to Football Transfers – putting him below Yokuslu who the Baggies once purchased for £0.

Matheus Pereira's transfer value in 2024

Residing in his native Brazil currently out on loan at Cruzeiro, the 27-year-old midfielder comes in at a worth of just €2.2M (£1.8m) which is some decline from his bumper Al-Hilal fee.

It's not as if Pereira is struggling either despite this drop-off, with the Cruzeiro number ten amassing five assists from just ten games this year back in South America.

It could well be a testament more to how crucial Yokuslu has become for Corberan's men over Pereira losing his way, with his worth now boosted up to €3.5m (£2.99m) after only joining for free last season.

The Turkish midfielder isn't alone in seeing his value rise drastically in the Baggies camp, with Brandon Thomas-Asante also boasting a huge increase from €0.3m (£256k) to now being worth more than Pereira at €3.4m (£2.90m).

Yokuslu will strive to continue being an asset for this team as they eye up a promotion to the Premier League, whilst ex-West Brom star Pereira will wonder where he'll end up next in his nomadic career after his time in Brazil is over.

Chelsea have unsurprisingly switched their attention back towards the transfer window in what could be Todd Boehly's most important summer yet, with an upgrade on Ben Chilwell now on the agenda.

Chelsea transfer news

It's a rare day when the Blues aren't stealing the headlines for their transfer activity, particularly under Boehly's ownership. Unfortunately for them, the headlines are rarely positive these days with several big-money buys struggling to adjust at Stamford Bridge to create another season of struggle and mid-table mediocrity in the Premier League.

Poch must drop Chelsea's 4/10 dud who lost 100% of his duels vs Burnley

The starter put in a “dreadful” showing and was worse than the profligate Jackson.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 4, 2024

That mediocrity could have further consequences yet too, with reports indicating that Chelsea are walking a fine line when it comes to the Financial Fair Play rules following large losses. A point deduction would sum up a disastrous spell for Boehly since arriving at Stamford Bridge. But even that has not put an end to rumours over potential incomings.

The London giants have already been linked to the likes of Victor Osimhen in what would be a big-money move this summer, but while the Napoli man would solve Mauricio Pochettino's striker problem, it remains to be seen whether a deal is feasible.

The same can be said for Ferland Mendy. According to Mundo Deportivo via Sport Witness, Chelsea are now eyeing a move to sign Mendy this summer, with the French left-back's Real Madrid place at risk due to the likely arrival of Alphonso Davies. The report claims that "trouble is brewing" at the Bernabeu and that Davies' arrival would "surely mean" the end of Mendy's time in Madrid, with their squad planning scattered due to indecision around Mendy and Fran García's positions in the pecking order.

With Chelsea looking to take advantage of the situation, the Blues could land a perfect upgrade on Ben Chilwell this summer. The fact that Mendy is in the final 18 months of his contract may also help any deal get over the line for a cheaper price in the coming months.

"Important" Mendy would be an upgrade on Chilwell

Among those who have struggled to find their best form at Stamford Bridge this season is Chilwell. The left-back, who has captained the side in Reece James' absence this season, will be in real trouble of losing his place in Pochettino's side if Mendy arrives, with or without the captain's armband next season. Mendy's stats this season show just how much of an upgrade he'd be on the England international, particularly in a defensive sense.

Progressive Carries

18

22

Progressive Passes

73

24

Interceptions

13

4

Ball Recoveries

83

31

Ancelotti won't want to see his left-back leave even if he does welcome Davies though, having said as much last season, via Sports Mole: "I want him to continue, obviously. He has been very important. Last year he showed a high level of defensive solidity. Ferland is recovering well from his injury, hopefully he will be important."

With that said the Spanish giants would likely be forcing Mendy's hand if they signed Davies, given that the Bayern Munich left-back would take his place in Ancelotti's starting side. And that will give Chelsea the perfect opportunity to take full advantage this summer.

Manchester City star Phil Foden added another goal to his growing collection of impressive strikes in the 3-3 draw with Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

The Cityzens academy graduate has now racked up 22 goals and 10 assists in 45 appearances for the club in all competitions this season, and is further cementing himself as one of the best players to have come through the youth ranks.

Romeo Lavia and Cole Palmer, who both came through the same academy, are now at Premier League rivals Chelsea, whilst one of the most valuable former City youth stars is now being eyed up for a return to The Etihad.

Man City's interest in Bundesliga star

According to TEAMtalk, City are now chasing a deal to sign Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen for Pep Guardiola as a replacement for Kyle Walker this summer.

He spent nine years in the City academy, between 2010 and 2019, before being sold to Scottish giants Celtic in 2019, who then moved him on to Leverkusen in January 2021.

Transfermarkt values him at €50m (£42.7m) and that makes him the fourth-most valuable active former City academy star, behind Michael Olise, Palmer, and Foden.

TEAMtalk now state that City have identified him as a target this year as they have been on the search for a replacement for veteran defender Walker, and seemingly believe that Frimpong is good enough to be the long-term successor in that role.

However, the report states that his £34m price tag has attracted interest from other clubs, as Real Madrid and Liverpool are also looking at the Dutch international.

This means that it may well take a fight from City to secure his signature ahead of two of their European and domestic rivals, who are also eyeing new right-backs this summer.

Why Manchester City should re-sign Jeremie Frimpong

Frimpong, described as a "monster" in the final third by The United Stand's Beth Tucker, has been in terrific form for Leverkusen as a wing-back this season and could provide an extra attacking threat to Guardiola's side.

The 23-year-old starlet has produced 12 goals and 11 assists in 36 appearances for the German side in all competitions so far this term, which includes eight goals and eight assists in 26 league matches.

Walker, meanwhile, has only racked up six goals and 21 assists in 292 games across his entire City career, which speaks to how impressive Frimpong's form has been in Germany.

Appearances

26

26

Sofascore rating

7.31

7.12

Goals

8

0

Big chances created

8

5

Duel success rate

50%

54%

Ball recoveries per game

3.1

5.1

As you can see in the table above, Frimpong has the edge over the England international when it comes to making an impact at the top end of the pitch.

However, the former Tottenham Hotspur speedster has won a higher percentage of his defensive duels and won the ball back twice more per game on average, which suggests that the Leverkusen man still has plenty to improve on out of possession.

That is an area of his game that could be developed under Guardiola over the years to come, as he still has plenty of time left to progress at the age of just 23.

Liverpool do not know if they will be crowned Premier League champions in one month, nor do they know if six wins from six matches to close the campaign will be enough – but they do know that anything else could be detrimental.

A late-season slump has seen Jurgen Klopp's farewell parade devolve into a dirge, with two trips to Old Trafford sending the season into a spin.

Exiting the FA Cup and ceding ground in the top-flight title race after doing more than enough to win on both occasions was a hammer blow that seeped into the following fixtures, with Anfield suffering two losses in four days, against Atalanta in the Europa League and against Crystal Palace in the Premier League.

Now out of Europe and moored two points behind defending champions Manchester City in the league table, the Reds will meet Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday with sights set on rekindling the fire that had seen spectacular results for the lion's share of the 2023/24 campaign.

It won't be easy; the squad is disjointed and sapped of confidence. That said, Liverpool have proven time and time again their mentality under Klopp and will be confident that they can turn the tide in the capital.

Liverpool team news

Trent Alexander-Arnold could make his first Premier League start in over two months against Fulham, having lasted 71 minutes against Atalanta on Thursday night.

Thiago Alcantara, Joel Matip and Ben Doak all remain long-term absentees; it is unclear whether any will return to first-team action this season.

And while Conor Bradley continues to recuperate from an ankle injury, the Merseysiders boast a near-full-strength squad to get their campaign – Klopp's last – back on track.

Klopp is unlikely to make widespread changes against Marco Silva's 12th-place side but he will shuffle the pack somewhat, with Curtis Jones possibly returning to the bench.

Why Klopp must bench Curtis Jones

Jones has enjoyed an excellent campaign for Liverpool, scoring five goals and supplying three assists across 33 appearances, but he missed a series of matches after picking up an ankle injury against Brentford in February and has looked off the boil since.

Make no mistake, Jones is one of the most technically crisp and dynamic players in the Liverpool squad, ranking among the top 4% of centre-midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 11% for progressive carries and the top 17% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

But it is for this reason that he must start from the bench, with his elite control and composure utilised after the break when, hopefully, the Reds have the advantage and need to instil calm throughout the ranks.

But there's no denying that he has not found his pre-injury level yet, and starting him against Fulham could be a hindrance to Liverpool's display.

Alexis Mac Allister would be a wise pick in the left-sided central midfield position, while Harvey Elliott has done more than enough to stake a convincing claim to a starting berth in the alternate.

That leaves Wataru Endo. The Japan international has dipped in form recently but his inclusion from the outset could be key.

Liverpool must unleash Wataru Endo

Described as a "proper warrior and leader" by Bundesliga commentator Kevin Hatchard, Endo is a hard-working and intelligent holding midfielder who found himself penning a contract with Liverpool for £16m last August after Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia both chose to join Chelsea instead of the Reds.

Matches played

23

Matches started

15

Goals

1

Pass completion

87%

Key passes per game

0.6

Tackles per game

1.6

Ball recoveries per game

3.3

Duels won per game

3.8

He hasn't always found a starting berth this season but he has produced many impactful performances, winning the club's Player of the Month award back in December and being praised for his "outstanding" efforts by The Athletic's James Pearce.

Ranking among the top 18% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for passes attempted and the top 9% for aerial wins per 90, the 31-year-old is a steely, multi-skilled player and, most importantly, his role opens up the creativity of Mac Allister.

Mac Allister has been a phenomenal signing for Liverpool after joining from Brighton & Hove Albion in a bargain £35m deal last year and has recently unlocked his Midas touch in attacking moments to secure some real success for his side, clinching seven goal contributions from his last eight Premier League outings.

Ten of the Argentine's 13 goal contributions for Liverpool have come when he has been deployed as a No. 8, as opposed to a more deep-lying and defensive role, highlighting the importance of the 5 foot 10 Endo – especially so given the recent wastefulness of Klopp's team in front of goal.

All these points thread together to underline the keys to victory for Liverpool against a resilient and organised Fulham side that will have smelt blood in the build-up to this top-flight contest.

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But If Klopp moves back to his trusted midfield partnership, despite the woes against the Eagles one week ago, Liverpool will have the best possible chance of securing a vital win to propel them back into the ascendancy. Right at the crucial moment.