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Crystal Palace’s attack has often been their Achilles heel this season. Understatement of the year, right?

Indeed, their work up front’s been underwhelming, as they’ve failed to score the number of goals they should’ve with a blazing attacking force they have. So it’s no surprise Steve Parish is planning changes.

The Eagles are ready to offload both their striker’s, with Michy Batshuayi set to return to Chelsea and Christian Benteke being sold off, according to Belgian outlet Het Laatste Nieuws (via Sports Witness). The Belgian connection rarely worked as intended and Palace seem to be tired of the mediocrity haunting their progress.

While Batshuayi’s destined to return to West London, Benteke’s sale is absolutely the right decision. He’s been extremely disappointing in front of goal this season, being unable to score a single goal all season. In 13 games, he hasn’t scored or assisted a single goal, ending up missing 6 big chances in the meantime!

Yes, the former Aston Villa ace has struggled with injuries during his time in South London but the big money outlay invested in him over two years ago now looks to be a monumental error.

He’s rarely participated in Palace’s attack, averaging 13.23 passes per game and has a shooting accuracy of 27% (stats via Premier League) and the Big Belgian’s failed to live up to his reputation, consistently failing to finish off chances, ruining moves and demoralizing his team-mates with his lacklustre work up front.

In reality, Benteke’s actually held back the Eagles from becoming more prolific in the final third. They cannot rely upon Andros Townsend or Wilfried Zaha to deliver the goods every time and would be far better off accepting the Benteke embarrassment to free up space on the wage bill.

It’s time Benteke is sold for whatever price available (a lucrative offer from China was reportedly expected but never came) and a quality goal-scorer is brought in to get the Eagles playing thrilling attacking football as they’re intended to.

Cut your losses and run, Steve Parish.

Palace fans, would you be affected by Benteke’s potential departure? Join the discussion by commenting below…

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It has been reported by the Daily Express that Arsenal are keen on signing Everton centre-back Michael Keane and are keeping a close eye on him ahead of the summer window.

What’s the word, then?

The Gunners sent some members of their scouting team to London Stadium on Saturday evening to watch the Toffees beat West Ham United 2-0 in the Premier League, per The Sun, with the £50 million-rated Keane impressing.

However, they may face some very close competition from bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur to land the signature of the 26-year-old according to the Daily Express.

Starting his career at Manchester United, the tall and physical centre-half left Old Trafford for Burnley in January 2015, moving onto Goodison Park in the summer of 2017 for £25.65 million having broken into Gareth Southgate’s England squad just a few months earlier.

Hold firm Everton, we don’t want to see another John Stones

The last thing Everton need at this stage is another transfer fiasco after failing to impress in windows in recent years – and this is another one waiting to happen.

Everton’s decision to allow John Stones go to Manchester City before the start of the 2016/2017 season was a disastrous move, one that has seen concede 100 goals in the 70 games league games following his departure.

Whilst Stones has been impressing at the Etihad Stadium, the Toffees have failed to replace him properly and have struggled for defensive solidity.

It was a decision which was out of their hands to a degree but one that has set them back hugely in their bid to break into the top six.

They simply can’t let lightning strike twice by cashing in on Keane in what would be yet another pricey outgoing transfer of a key central defender.

At present, Marco Silva’s men are still firmly in the hunt to clinch seventh place and achieving that would show huge progress at Goodison, although they really wouldn’t be in this position without the United academy product.

There is finally the sense in the blue half of Liverpool that something concrete is being built, especially when you factor in the stadium move, but selling Keane and making the same mistake twice could really whip the rug from underneath the club’s feet and display nothing other than regression.

Newcastle salvaged a 2-2 draw with the last kick of the game at Bournemouth on Saturday, but it could have been so different, without an odd penalty decision, and a defensive lapse that showed just how much the Magpies rely on their captain, Jamaal Lascelles.

Federico Fernandez’s error that led to the goal looked like it had gifted the home side a win, and was the type of mistake Lascelles was prone to making in the early days of his Newcastle career.

But error-strewn games like that are a thing of the past for Lascelles, and his consistent, reliable performances are the linchpin of the Magpies’ defence, and as much was highlighted at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday, without the skipper being anywhere near the pitch.

Fernandez looked a shadow of the player that looked like an inspired, bargain signing by Rafa Benitez in the summer, and will be rueing a missed opportunity to show the manager and fans that he deserves a starting spot on a regular occasion.

His passing was poor, and it was a similar case for his positional play. However, what most fans will remember from him, was when he sloppily gave the ball away to Dominic Solanke on the edge of his own box, which saw the former Liverpool player lay it off for Josh King to fire home.

Fernandez was saved by Matt Ritchie’s wonder strike in injury time, but the black and whites will not be so fortunate in other games.

These types of defensive errors from open play are what Rafa prides his teams on not making, and having talked the player up before the game, he will be bitterly disappointed at the former Swansea man’s contribution.

Newcastle now have the international break, plus a couple of extra days — with them not playing next until their trip to Arsenal on Monday Night Football — to get their skipper fit again, and it will be a huge relief to Rafa if he is.

What are your thoughts Newcastle fans? If Lascelles is not fit, would you keep faith with Fernandez? Let us know below…

أسدل قبل قليل الستار على مباريات دور الـ 16 ببطولة كأس مصر لموسم 2020 بمواجهة الزمالك وسموحة، على ملعب استاد الاسماعيلية بفوز الأبيض بهدفين مقابل هدف.

وكان الوقت الأصلي من عمر المباراة قد أنتهى بالتعادل الإيجابي بهدف لكل فريق، قبل أن يحتكم الفريقين للوقت الإضافي، ويحسم الزمالك خلاله بطاقة الصعود.

فيديو | صلاح محسن يسجل هدف سموحة الأول أمام الزمالك

وافتتح أهداف اللقاء لاعب الأهلي المعار لسموحة، صلاح محسن في الدقيقة 55، قبل أن يعدل اللاعب البديل إمام عاشور النتيجة بهدف للزمالك في الدقيقة 81.

وبين الهدفين أهدر مدافع الزمالك محمود علاء ركلة جزاء احتسبها حكم المباراة طارق مجدي بعد لجؤه لتقنية الفار.

طالع أيضًا.. مواعيد مباريات دور الـ8 من بطولة كأس مصر

وفي الدقيقة 113 ظهر أحمد سيد زيزو ليسجل الهدف الثاني للزمالك معلنًا تقدم فريقه واقتناص بطاقة التأهل.

بتلك النتيجة يتأهل الزمالك لمواجهة نادي مصر في دور ربع النهائي من عمر المسابقة، في مباراة لم يتحدد موعدها بعد. مباريات ربع نهائي بطولة كأس مصر

طلائع الجيش × بيراميدز

الاتحاد السكندري × المقاولون العرب

الزمالك × نادي مصر

الأهلي × أبو قير للأسمدة

علق مهاجم الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي بايرن ميونخ، توماس مولر، على قرعة مجموعات دوري أبطال أوروبا لموسم 2020/2021.

وأسفرت القرعة عن وقوع بطل دوري أبطال أوروبا في الموسم الماضي مع أتلتيكو مدريد (إسبانيا)، سالزبورج (النمسا) ولوكوموتيف موسكو (روسيا).

اقرأ أيضًا.. نتائج قرعة دور مجموعات دوري أبطال أوروبا 2020/2021

وتحدث مولر عن المجموعة في تصريحات نقلها الموقع الرسمي للاتحاد الأوروبي لكرة القدم “يويفا”، وقال: “لدينا مجموعة ممتعة للغاية، لم ألعب أبدًا ضد فريقي سالزبورج ولوكوموتيف”.

وتابع: “علينا التركيز في تلك المجموعة لأنك طالما أصبحت حاملًا للقب، فأنت دائمًا تحت الضغط في دور المجموعات”.

وأتم تصريحاته: “لكنني أتطلع بشدة إلى مواجهة هؤلاء المتنافسين في دوري أبطال أوروبا”.

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Liverpool fans have taken to Twitter to react following Marco Silva’s pre-match press conference comments before this Sunday’s Merseyside Derby at Goodison Park.

The Toffees boss said: “I didn’t see a big difference (between teams) in my first Liverpool derby in December. What I felt was a special match. They celebrated their lucky goal like it was the final of the World Cup for them.”

That seems like a fair comment from the former Hull and Watford boss, as his side matched the Reds and could have even taken the lead through Andre Gomes, before Jordan Pickford’s howler and Divock Origi’s alertness cost them the game.

Perhaps it is the comment referring to the way in which Liverpool celebrated that appears to have annoyed the club’s fans on Twitter.

Following the stoppage time goal, Jurgen Klopp ran onto the pitch to embrace Alisson Becker amidst wild scenes from the Anfield crowd, celebrations that Silva clearly feels were a tad over the top.

It is tough to imagine just how Silva would have expected the Premier League leaders’ fanbase, manager and players to react after a last minute winner against their local rivals, as almost any team would’ve expressed similar emotions.

Let’s see what the Liverpool fans on Twitter are saying about Silva’s comments…

After Vicente Guaita took to Twitter to share his appreciation and his gratitude to a painting that had been made of him, a number of Crystal Palace fans flocked to his post to share their own complimentary remarks – although they were about the goalkeeper.

The 33-year-old has been in some fine form for the Eagles this season, having managed to keep nine clean sheets in his 27 Premier League matches so far, conceding just 28 (as per TransferMarkt), which has earned him an average match rating of 6.82 (per WhoScored).

Indeed, those figures have been recognised by figures picked up by OptaJoe on Twitter, who shared that the Spaniard was the highest performing ‘keeper in Europe’s top five leagues when it came down to preventing goals being scored.

Thus, fans decided to use Guaita’s post as an opportunity to wax lyrical over the shot-stopper’s abilities and performances for Crystal Palace this season, whilst others quite simply used superlatives such as ‘hero’, ‘GOAT’, ‘icon’ and ‘king’ to describe the £4.5m-rated man (per TransferMarkt).

Here are just some of the responses the Eagles’ faithful left on the veteran’s tweet…

Crystal Palace fans, what have you made of Guaita’s performances this season? Let us know below!

West Bromwich Albion will be looking to reclaim their spot at the summit in the Championship when they host Leeds United in a huge top-of-the-table clash at The Hawthorns on New Year’s Day.

The Baggies were leading the way ahead of their previous league game against Middlesbrough, but a 2-0 defeat against the Teesside outfit coupled with Marcelo Bielsa’s men’s 5-4 win at Birmingham City means they are now behind the Yorkshire club on goal difference.

It was just the west Midlands side’s second loss of the campaign in England’s second tier, as they look for a return to the Premier League at the second time of asking.

During what is a bust festive period, FFC predict the starting XI manager Slaven Bilic will select against the Whites…

Bilic has had to make do without some key players in recent matches, but according to The Express & Star, the likes of Kieran Gibbs and Kyle Bartley are in contention to return to the team-sheet, although the manager has ruled out Grady Diangana and Nathan Ferguson featuring.

We expect the former West Ham United boss to stick with Sam Johnstone between the sticks, but there will be two changes to the backline.

Watch West Bromwich Albion Videos With StreamFootball.tv Below

Ahmed Hegazi came under fire from some Baggies fans on Twitter for his display against Boro, while Ferguson was taken off at half-time to be replaced by Conor Townsend, and is now injured.

We expect Bartley and Gibbs to come in for the aforementioned duo here, with Semi Ajayi and Darnell Furlong keeping their spots.

Ahead of them, Romaine Sawyers returns to the XI in place of Gareth Barry having been an unused substitute against Jonathan Woodgate’s men, and Kyle Edwards keeps his spot on the left with Diangana still not ready.

Can you score at least 80% on this Ultimate Premier League Quiz? Test your knowledge now…

He is certainly proving to be a big miss with West Brom only taking two points from a possible nine in his absence, with him scoring five goals and providing a further six assists from out wide for them in 19 Championship outings this term.

Edwards will join Matheus Pereira and Matt Phillips in the attacking midfield positions, and we think that Bilic might take a punt on Charlie Austin up top ahead of Hal Robson-Kanu and Kenneth Zohore.

This could easily be a close game where you need a striker to take any chances that come their way, and he is their top scorer with eight in 2019/20.

In other West Brom news, Baggies fans have been discussing one player Slaven Bilic clearly doesn’t rate after the Boro defeat…

West Ham supporters have been making a lot of noise in recent times after seeing their side ease to a fifth Premier League victory of the season on Tuesday night.

Manuel Pellegrini’s men went into their encounter with struggling Cardiff City off the back of beating Newcastle United 3-0 on Saturday, and thus went in search of back-to-back league wins for the first time since January 2017 when Neil Warnock’s Bluebirds made the trip to the capital. And the Hammers did just that as a brace from Lucas Perez as well as a Michail Antonio strike inspired the hosts to a 3-1 victory at the London Stadium, thus moving them up to 12th place in the Premier League table.

As such, there have been many delighted West Ham fans up and down the country in recent times, plenty of whom have been heaping praise on goal-scorers Perez and Antonio for their vital contributions on Tuesday night.

Yet many have also be lauding the efforts of goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski, who saved a penalty from Joe Ralls with the scores level at the London Stadium, with it becoming increasingly clearer by the day just how vital a summer signing he was by new manager Pellegrini.

And while the likes of Issa Diop and Felipe Anderson have been earning rave reviews following their summer moves to West Ham, it’s 33-year-old Fabianski who is proving to be the best signing the club made during the close season.

Ultimately, there is little doubting just how influential messrs Diop and Anderson have been so far this term, with the former helping plug a big hole in the heart of the Hammers backline, while the latter has shown great attacking pedigree to suggest that he could be a star at the London Stadium.

Yet it was plainly obvious that Pellegrini had to bolster his goalkeeping ranks during the close season, what with Joe Hart only on loan from Manchester City last season, and Adrian proving too inconsistent to be relied upon in the Premier League.

And while Fabianski was part of a Swansea City side relegated from the top-flight last term having shipped 56 goals in their 38 games, he has proven throughout his Premier League career to be hugely dependable between the sticks – something which has again been present this time round.

The Poland international has started all 15 of their league games so far and kept two clean sheets for Pellegrini’s side, and while his tally of 23 goals against doesn’t make for great reading, it’s the key saves and contributions he has made on the pitch that has seriously helped the Hammers.

Be it saving Ralls’ penalty on Tuesday night, or indeed making several important saves in prior games against Leicester City, Chelsea, and Huddersfield Town, the 33-year-old has been an absolute revelation at the London Stadium – he was exactly what the club needed after years of unconvincing goalkeepers.

Thus, while Diop and Anderson deserve credit for starting life at West Ham very well indeed, Fabianski’s impact in a side crying out for an accomplished goalkeeper has been huge, which is why the £7.2 million bargain (as per Transfermarkt) the club pulled off is proving to be their best signing of the summer.

West Ham fans… what do you think? Let us know!

West Ham United should revive their interest in Celta Vigo midfielder Nemanja Radoja this January as according to Marca, the 25-year-old was keen on a Premier League move in the summer.

What’s the word?

The Hammers had a very busy window as new manager Manuel Pellegrini recruited nine new players following his appointment.

However, the team are yet to really click this season as they have lost all four of their Premier League fixtures.

West Ham are the only club in the division not to pick up a single point, and if their dismal form continues, the club may need to jump back into the transfer market in January.

If they do, they should consider reigniting their reported pursuit of Radoja, who according to Marca, wanted to move to England in the summer.

It is also believed that West Ham expressed an interest in the defensive midfielder, who rejected offers from clubs that were not in the Premier League.

Is Radoja an upgrade?

The Serbian would add plenty of grit in the middle of the park and would be the defensive muscle that West Ham need to protect the back four.

Carlos Sanchez was bought with that in mind, but he has failed to impress so far.

On top of that, Jack Wilshere and Mark Noble have lacked energy, which has resulted in them being overrun numerous times by opponents this season.

Radoja is unproven in the Premier League and there is no guarantee that he will adapt to English football.

However, such is his desire to make a move, he would be determined to prove his quality at the elite level.

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