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Chelsea face Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday evening, with three points a must if the Blues want to keep their slim hopes of a European finish alive this season.

Following the 2-0 home defeat against Aston Villa last weekend, Graham Potter was relieved of his duties, becoming the second manager to be sacked in Todd Boehly's brief stint as Chelsea chairman.

Bruno Saltor is the man in charge for the visit of Liverpool, who are having a similarly disappointing season under Jurgen Klopp and boast just one away win in 2023.

How will Chelsea line up against Liverpool?

Here is how Football FanCast expects the Blues to line up tonight, with four changes from the side that started against Villa last time out.

(5-2-2-1) Kepa (GK); James (RWB), Chalobah (CB), Koulibaly (CB), Badiashile (CB), Chilwell (LWB); Fernandez (CM), Kante (CM); Madueke (RW), Felix (LW); Havertz (ST).

Edouard Mendy is seemingly not yet in contention for Chelsea, so it would be surprising to see anyone other than Kepa Arrizabalaga in between the sticks for the visit of Liverpool tonight.

The Spanish keeper could do little about either of Villa's goals last weekend, as Chelsea's back three formation left them regularly exposed to counterattacks, and the Blues cannot afford to set up in the same way against a dangerous Liverpool front three.

Therefore, Trevoh Chalobah and Benoit Badiashile return in the centre-back positions on either side of Kalidou Koulibaly, which allows Reece James to push up into his preferred wing-back role after he was inexplicably selected at centre-back by Potter.

Marc Cucurella drops out entirely after another disappointing display last Saturday, with his incredibly poor back header allowing Ollie Watkins to steal in and score the opening goal. Ruben Loftus-Cheek is another to be benched.

Ben Chilwell also features in the left wing-back role, in the hope that he and James can rediscover the form that made them two of the most feared attacking wing-backs in the league not so long ago.

In the middle of the park, there is one change as N'Golo Kante comes in for Mateo Kovacic, with the "world-class" Frenchman – as dubbed by Potter – possessing the work rate and ball-winning abilities to hopefully free up Enzo Fernandez to be at his creative best at Stamford Bridge.

Noni Madueke also comes in from the start after another woeful performance from Mykhailo Mudryk who missed a huge gilt-edged chance in that clash against Villa, with Joao Felix starting again on the left wing.

Kai Havertz completes the attack, although all three of Chelsea's forwards will have to be far more clinical in front of goal if the Blues are going to take their chances and take all three points against Liverpool tonight.

Mikel Arteta’s transfer business as Arsenal manager has been excellent – as managing to sign players such as Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Martin Odegaard have given the club an ideal chance to end their Premier League title drought this season.

Of course, not every signing has worked out quite how Arteta would have wanted. The likes of Cedric Soares and Willian perhaps failed to live up to expectations during their stints at the Gunners, while the jury is still out on Albert Sambi Lokonga following an underwhelming start to life at the Emirates.

But one of Arteta’s biggest mistakes so far in terms of transfer business is arguably letting striker Alexandre Lacazette go for free last summer, especially considering the club’s attacking crisis after Christmas and his resurgence at Lyon.

How much is Alexandre Lacazette worth now?

The Frenchman joined the Gunners in the summer of 2017 for a then-club record £46.5m from Lyon, and was looked upon as the striker Arsene Wenger badly needed in order to mount a serious title challenge.

This was a player who had scored 37 goals the previous campaign and was one of the most sought-after strikers in Europe, so landing him was arguably a major coup for Arsenal.

His time at the north London side was successful in terms of goals scored, netting 71 in just over 200 matches, while also chipping in with 36 assists, showcasing his abilities as not only a pure out-and-out striker, but one who could link up well with teammates and create plenty of chances.

His exploits even led Charles Watts to describe him as “magnificent” in 2020, and although his final campaign saw the 31-year-old score just four league goals, it was perhaps time for him to move on, leaving for free when his contract expired at the end of the season.

Has it been a mistake, however? Lacazette has returned to form this term, scoring 21 goals in just 30 matches back at Lyon, and with Arsenal suffering a crisis in terms of attacking options when Gabriel Jesus was injured at the World Cup, they could have done with the Frenchman’s services.

Indeed, since his move away from England, Football Transfers has now valued the player at €18.6m (£16m) and if his goalscoring form continues, that value may well increase.

Arteta may have suffered a rare howler on the striker, and although Jesus has been an inspired signing, keeping hold of Lacazette may have been the better choice rather than letting him leave for nothing.

Liverpool consider Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount a "priority signing" this summer, according to an update from renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Will Mount leave Chelsea this summer?

The 24-year-old's future has been a major talking point of late, with it becoming increasingly clear that he could leave Stamford Bridge at the end of this season. He has endured a frustrating campaign, losing his place in the team in recent months and only starting 20 of his side's Premier League matches after being such a key man for a number of years.

Mount has been continually linked with a move to Liverpool, with the Reds seemingly seeing him as someone who can be a big part of their midfield rebuild during the summer transfer window. His current Chelsea contract runs out in 2024 and he is yet to reach an agreement over an extension.

With Jude Bellingham now potentially off the table for Liverpool, they could even more of their focus on his England teammate, with a new update certainly suggesting as much.

Could Liverpool still sign midfielder?

Taking to Twitter, Romano gave an update on Bayern Munich midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, but went on to confirm Mount is the one they're really after:

"Ryan Gravenberch wants to play more, this is why Liverpool approached his agent. But Bayern have no intention to negotiate. Bayern position is very clear: they want to keep Gravenberch, feeling shared by the board and Tuchel.

"Mason Mount remains priority target for #LFC."

Mount may have had a disappointing season by high standards, but he could be such a shrewd signing by Liverpool if they strike a deal this summer. He has been lauded as "unbelievable" by Joe Cole in the past, while Jose Mourinho has described him as a "very, very intelligent" player.

The 36-cap England international has enjoyed got 70 goal contributions (33 goals and 37 assists) to his name for Chelsea, despite still being a fairly young player, and his tactical nous, techincal quality and versatility could all benefit the Reds moving forward.

He is capable of thriving as both a No.8 and a No.10 in midfield – he has even played out wide, if required, and he could provide the legs and energy that someone like Jordan Henderson no longer can, considering he is nearly ten years his junior. It might not be as glamorous a signing as some fans want, but much like Gini Wijnaldum once did, Mount could become a quiet but vital cog in the machine.

Presenter and YouTuber Conor McGilligan has warned that Leeds United may be in trouble with Harvey Barnes now looking fit to play against them tonight.

What's the latest injury news on Harvey Barnes?

Manager Javi Gracia could really do with a win tonight as three consecutive losses in the Premier League have left the Whites low on confidence.

They come up against Leicester City on Elland Road in a match that could be pivotal for both teams as just one point and one place separates the teams who hover just above the bottom three.

While Barnes has missed the last two Foxes matches, it seems as though he could be fit to return against Leeds.

Ahead of the game, manager Dean Smith explained (via LeicestershireLive): “Harvey is going to train tomorrow. As well as the win today, we’ve got a double boost of two top players [James Maddison is also in contention] coming back to fitness as well.”

With that in mind, McGilligan explained how this could be a "severe problem" for the Whites, with Barnes often too hot to handle for the club's defenders.

While speaking on the One Leeds Fan Channel, he said: “He will score against Leeds because we never seem to be able to grasp against Harvey Barnes.

"But you can mitigate Harvey Barnes by showing him on his left foot, whichever full-back it is – and this just shows how dreadful our full-backs are – he starts on the left and he just seems to cut inside continuously on his right and finish, do a couple of one-twos around our defenders, we don't seem to ever cotton on to it. It's always the same goal or assist with Harvey Barnes.

"And he just runs riot against Leeds. So that is something that is a severe problem."

How many times has Barnes scored against Leeds?

It''s not hard to see why McGilligan is fearful of Barnes. After all, his record against the Whites is frankly ridiculous. Indeed, in seven games vs Leeds, he has six goals.

This is the highest number of goals the 25-year-old has scored against any time in his career – with five in 11 games against Aston Villa the next best.

Despite his team's troubles, it's been a pretty good season for the £35k-per-week winger personally as he has netted on ten occasions so far in the league after 28 matches.

And of course, when the two teams met earlier on in the campaign at the King Power Stadium, Barnes scored in a 2-0 home win for the Foxes.

All in all, this injury development doesn't bode too well for Leeds.

Journalist Jonny McFarlane has claimed that Rangers manager Michael Beale should drop Ryan Kent amid contract uncertainty.

What's the latest Rangers contract news?

At the end of the season, the 26-year-old will see his current contract expire, alongside fellow star player Alfredo Morelos (via Transfermarkt).

There has been plenty of media speculation about just where the Teddy Bears' winger might end up, with Burnley, Everton and Leeds United a few of the clubs to have been linked.

With that being the case, it seems more likely than not that this will be Kent's last season playing Scottish Premiership football with Rangers.

Having crashed out of the Scottish Cup on the weekend and with a league title looking out of reach, there isn't much to play for in the remainder of the season.

With that being the case, when talking on the Rangers Review podcast, McFarlane has urged manager Beale to drop Kent now, effectively putting an end to his Ibrox career.

He said (5:23): "To me, Beale has to show a level of ruthlessness now here. As much as anything else, it's about showing the fans that he can make a really tough decision.

"We know that he's got a really good relationship with Ryan Kent. But really, if he's not going to sign, what's the point? What is it going to bring to the table?

"You've got a guy who is not going to want to get injured. It's the same with Alfredo Morelos, has nothing to play for.

"You know, they've already allowed the Rangers fans to make up their mind on them, based on the delivery of performance…"

Will Kent sign a new contract with Rangers?

Perhaps it would be more difficult to be ruthless with Kent if he was playing at his best. But after his showing in the Old Firm defeat on the weekend, that is hardly the case.

After all, in the player ratings for the Daily Record Andrew Newport handed the winger a 4/10 for his performance that saw him subbed off at halftime.

He wrote: "Nowhere near fit after his recent lay-off. Spent the 45 minutes he was on being bounced around by Alistair Johnston. Hooked at half-time after bizarrely running in wrong direction as Celtic pounced."

With that being the case, as the season draws to an end, perhaps it could be wise of Beale to stamp his authority now and drop £18k-p/w Kent, who looks set for the exit door regardless.

Celtic are believed to be showing interest in signing Liverpool starlet, Leighton Clarkson this summer, with the midfielder currently enjoying an impressive season on loan at Aberdeen.

What's the latest on Clarkson to Celtic?

According to Football Insider, the Parkhead giants are set to battle it out with rivals Rangers for the signing of the 21-year-old, albeit with the Dons also said to be keen on securing the Englishman on a permanent deal ahead of next season.

As per the report, Hoops boss Ange Postecoglou is said to be 'monitoring' the youngster's 'situation' at his parent club, with the Greek-Aussie seemingly intent on strengthening his midfield options in the upcoming summer window.

Despite the player's own desire to force his way into Jurgen Klopp's plans back on Merseyside, the 5 foot 9 gem is facing something of an uncertain future at Anfield, with just over a year left to run on his existing deal.

Who could Clarkson replace at Celtic?

The Blackburn-born maestro has certainly warranted such intense interest as a result of his standout form at Pittodrie this season, with the £3k-per-week ace having contributed 13 goals and assists in 33 games across all fronts, including racking up 11 goal involvements in 29 Scottish Premiership games.

The versatile asset – who can operate in a holding role, a central midfield berth or as a number ten – has undoubtedly made a big impression on those in his temporary home, with former boss Jim Goodwin describing his Aberdeen debut as the "best" he had seen in a "long time.

Such praise echoes what has been said by the likes of Klopp back in Liverpool, with the German coach having previously lauded the playmaker as "very talented" and hailed him as "one of the biggest talents" at the club.

The former Borussia Dortmund coach even went as far as to liken young Clarkson to Bayern Munich legend, Phillip Lahm, having stated: "He reminds me a lot of him. He’s just a good footballer, a smart footballer, fast, physically strong."

That glowing assessment bodes well for the impact that the one-time Blackburn Rovers loanee could make at Paradise, with the arrival of the highly-rated talent potentially set to allow Postecoglou to finally part ways with peripheral figure, David Turnbull.

The latter man is facing his own uncertain future in Glasgow with just over 12 months left to run on his current contract, with pundit Frank McAvennie suggesting prior to the January window that the treble hopefuls should "get rid" of the Scotsman, as he is "too slow".

The former Motherwell asset has managed to contribute five goals and seven assists this season in 34 games all competitions, although has been restricted to just nine starts in that time, suggesting that he may not be a truly trusted asset for Postecoglou.

As such, bringing Clarkson into the fold could well help to hasten Turnbull's exit from the club, with the younger man having shown his superior creative class this term after creating seven big chances and averaging 1.5 key passes per game in the league, while the current Celtic dud has created only four big chances and averaged 1.4 key passes per game.

Equally, the Dons loanee also perhaps offers a greater physical presence having averaged two tackles per and 0.7 interceptions per game, while Turnbull, by contrast, has averaged just 0.6 and 0.1 for those same two metrics, respectively.

That should indicate that Clarkson could potentially represent a real upgrade on the Scotland international.

Chelsea could still sign Sadio Mane this summer, but others will have the leave the club first, according to an update from transfer insider Dean Jones.

Is Mane having a good season?

The 31-year-old moved to Bayern Munich from Liverpool last summer, following six memorable years at Anfield that had seen him become one of the best players in the Premier League. Big things were expected of him in Germany, but in truth, his first season there has been a disappointment.

After a promising start to life at Bayern, Mane has seen injuries disrupt his rhythm and playing time – he also missed the World Cup – and it has affected his performances at the same time since returning. Not only that, but a recent scuffle with teammate Leroy Sane saw him suspended and fined by the club, further suggesting that all is not well.

It could be that the £306,000-a-week star is allowed to leave Bayern at the end of the season, and with Chelsea looking for attacking reinforcements this summer, they have been linked with a move for him in the coming months. Now, a new update has emerged regarding the situation.

Could Chelsea snap up Mane?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jones said that Mane could indeed sign if Mauricio Pochettino backs the deal, but only if other unwanted individuals leave Stamford Bridge at the same time:

"So, Mane back to the Premier League? I could see that, but let’s wait until Poch is through the door before knowing whether that switch is genuinely doable. Maybe Pochettino is behind a move for Mane, but they cannot make a move like that unless others are heading out the door."

Chelsea's potential signing of Mane is a scenario that has both positive and negative elements to it, so it is a difficult one to weigh up overall.

On the plus side, the 95-cap Senegal international remains a good player with huge pedigree, and the fact that he has scored 111 goals in 263 Premier League appearances is proof that he knows how to excel in the division. That being said, at 31, his best days are now probably behind him and he has lost the electric pace he once possessed, meaning Chelsea could be wiser to look at younger alternatives.

It certainly wouldn't be a bad thing if the Blues snapped up Mane, especially if Pochettino personally wants him, but it wouldn't be a shock to see him come in and not be the force of old.

Paul Coughlin’s hat-trick failed to spare Durham from defeat as Josh Cobb’s half-century and a fine debut by Moin Ashraf took Northants back to the top of North Group

ECB Reporters Network17-Jun-2016
ScorecardJosh Cobb was instrumental in Northants’ victory•Getty ImagesJosh Cobb’s second T20 fifty of the season and a fine debut bowling performance from Moin Ashraf helped Northamptonshire back to the top of the North Group in the NatWest T20 Blast with a 26-run win over Durham.Chasing 162, Durham’s chase was on its knees within four overs as they slumped to 9 for 4. Paul Collingwood and Scott Borthwick attempted a revival but Durham could only limp to 135 for 8 and lost for a fourth time this season.Paul Coughlin had earlier bowled a triple-wicket maiden to finish the Northants innings which included a hat-trick from the final three balls of the innings – the second hat-trick for Durham in T20s and the second against Northants in the shortest format after Collingwood in 2011. It was scant consolation for Durham. Coughlin finished with competition-best figures of 5 for 42Ashraf, signed on a short-team deal as injury cover and given his Northants debut here, found some swing to take two wickets in three balls in his opening over – Jack Burnham drove at an away-swinger and edged to a diving Adam Rossington behind the stumps, then Michael Richardson got a leading edge to mid-off.Ashraf’s third wicket came as Phil Mustard attempted a lofted straight drive and only found Steven Crook running back from mid-on. Richard Gleeson also played his part in the early damage as Mark Stoneman, first wicket to fall, dragged into his middle and leg stumps.”It was tough being released by Yorkshire but I wanted to give it another crack and come back stronger and I’m very grateful for the opportunity,” Ashraf said later.From such an awful position, Collingwood did as Collingwood does, keeping a cool head in a crisis to get the chase moving. He found two boundaries off Gleeson before a delightful in-to-out drive over extra-cover when Graeme White’s left-arm spin was introduced. But when he lifted Cobb to Crook at long-on, his stand of 59 with Borthwick ended and with it Durham’s chances.Borthwick nudged the bowling around carefully for 29 in 25 balls but his only boundary was an extra-cover drive off White. He was eventually run out by Rossington, called through for a leg-bye that proved too sharp.Northants were never put under pressure defending their 161 for 9, build around Cobb’s 68 in 47 balls. He followed up his match-winning unbeaten 56 against Worcestershire with a 34-ball fifty here, sweetly timing the ball throughout and striking five fours and four sixes. It was his 10th T20 half-century and he passed 2,000 T20 runs in the process.He took 14 from the final over of the Powerplay – slapping Coughlin wide of mid-off and midwicket either side of a handsome straight drive for six. His second straight six was timed superbly off Borthwick and when the leg spinner changed ends, Cobb planted him onto the roof of the Lynn Wilson centre.But there was he little he could do to get away the canny seamers of Chris Rushworth, who bowled a nagging length and changed his pace superbly in a spell of four overs that cost only 17 runs – Rossington’s pull for six over deep-backward square the only blot on his figures.Rushworth took the opening wicket after Northants captain Alex Wakely had given the innings some early impetus with 28 in 15 balls – including a well-timed pull over deep midwicket, a shot that brought his downfall, caught in the deep.Rossington didn’t play as urgently as in previous T20s, getting to 17 at a run-a-ball, but found Coughlin trying to lift Borthwick over deep midwicket.

Newcastle United have stepped up their interest in signing RB Leipzig midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai, having declared him as a transfer target internally, according to a recent report from Sky Sports.

What's the latest Newcastle transfer news?

Newcastle are seemingly eager to get a lot of their transfer business done early, as journalist Rudy Galetti has now reported they are keen to speed up a deal for Nice star Khephren Thuram, who is also being targeted by Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea.

Journalist Dean Jones has claimed that James Ward-Prowse "would be a good fit" in the engine room for the Magpies, and the Southampton captain is open to leaving this summer, according to The Athletic.

According to Sky Sports journalist Philipp Hinze, both Amadou Haidara and Szoboszlai have been scouted by the North East club on multiple occasions in recent weeks, and they now appear to have settled on their main target.

As per Hinze's report for Sky Sports, Newcastle have internally declared Szoboszlai as a transfer target, stepping up their interest after being impressed by the midfielder during recent scouting missions.

Haidara has also been under observation, however interest in the Malian has now cooled, with his teammate becoming the Magpies' main target, due to his intelligence, athleticism, goal threat and high work-rate.

The Hungarian, who has a €70m (£60m) release clause included in his contract, wants to play in the Champions League next season, which could make a move to St. James' Park a real possibility.

Should Newcastle sign Szoboszlai?

The 22-year-old is a very well-rounded midfielder, given that he is both a threat on the front foot, and astute defensively, with the latter demonstrated by the fact he ranks in the 90th percentile for clearances and blocks per 90 over the course of the past year.

Hailed as "sensational" by members of the media, the maestro has weighed in with six goals and ten assists for RB Leipzig this season, meaning he has recorded the second-highest number of goal contributions in the squad.

Given his age, the Leipzig star is only likely to improve, but he has already emerged as a vital player for his current club, ranked as their best-performing player in the Bundesliga this season, with an averaging Sofascore match rating of 7.43.

Newcastle are on track to qualify for the Champions League next season, and Szoboszlai would be the perfect signing to upgrade their midfield before entering Europe's elite competition.

Coventry City are just one game away from the Premier League after they secured a 1-0 aggregate win over Middlesbrough in the Championship playoff semi-final on Wednesday night.

Following a stalemate in the home leg, Michael Carrick's side were perhaps seen as the favourites to progress to the final at Wembley to take on Luton Town, but there was another resolute defensive display from the Sky Blues to continue a fantastic season.

Clean sheets have been vital for Robins' side and Ben Wilson earned his 22nd of the campaign with another shutout at the Riverside Stadium last night, with Gustavo Hamer's second-half curler enough for Coventry to progress.

What happened in Middlesbrough vs Coventry?

Chances were at a premium in the first half, with Darragh Lenihan's header perhaps the closest either side would come to the opener, in what was a nervy atmosphere at the Riverside.

Jamie Allen then spurned a glorious opportunity to give the away side the lead when he failed to get a strong connection on a cross, but it wouldn't take long for the Sky Blues to score the only goal of the tie.

The ever-willing Viktor Gyokeres latched on to a ball over the top and took the ball around Zack Steffen, before unselfishly leaving it to Gustavo Hamer, who sidestepped a defender before curling into the top corner.

Although Matt Crooks did have the ball in the back of the net, and Cameron Archer hit the bar, both Middlesbrough attackers were offside, as the hosts struggled to create any chances of note.

It is for this reason that, despite Hamer scoring a wonderful goal and hitting the crossbar with a fearsome free-kick, it is arguably Luke McNally who was Robins' true hero on Wednesday.

How did McNally play against Middlesbrough?

As per Sofascore, the centre-back would earn a superb 7.9/10 rating for his performance, which ranked him joint with Hamer as the best player on the pitch from both sides.

During the 90 minutes, the 23-year-old would contribute a hugely impressive five tackles, five interceptions and two blocks, all of which are an increase on his season average of 2.3 tackles, 2.5 interceptions and 0.8 blocks per Championship game.

Former professional footballer Stephen Elliot dubbed him one of Coventry's "monsters" for his display and suggested that his physicality could be a difference-maker against Luton in the final.

This is certainly backed up by his performance against Boro, as he contributed a further seven aerial duels won, four clearances and wasn't dribbled past once, as he kept the dangerous Chuba Akpom and Cameron Archer quiet.

After seeing his parent club Burnley win the title, McNally will be hoping to make it two promotions in one season when the Sky Blues face up against the Hatters at Wembley next weekend.