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Manchester City have a chance to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table to four points from Arsenal by winning their game in hand this afternoon against a struggling Leeds United side.

Pep Guardiola’s men haven’t dropped points in the league since a 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest back in February and all the signs are ominous that the club will run away from the Gunners and claim their third title on the bounce.

City defeated West Ham United 3-0 in midweek and the momentum is building ahead of a frantic end of the season spell, which could see the club win the league, FA Cup and Champions League, matching Manchester United’s wonderful treble from 1998/1999.

With fixtures coming thick and fast, the Spaniard may be inclined to freshen his team up and give some key first team players a rest ahead of a blockbuster Champions League semi-final clash against Real Madrid in midweek.

Julian Alvarez, who featured in the victory over West Ham, should be unleashed again, this time slightly further forward in the hope that he could demonstrate his clinical nature.

Will Julian Alvarez start for Manchester City against Leeds United today?

Against the Hammers, Guardiola utilised the Argentinian just behind Erling Haaland and he enjoyed a decent game, having registered two shots on target, succeeded with both his dribble attempts and showcased his physicality by winning 70% of his ground duels while making four tackles, via Sofascore.

An effective performance for sure, but could the manager unleash him instead of Haaland against Leeds? Allowing him to potentially score a couple of goals while resting the Norwegian hitman for bigger tests to come, it’s certainly a thought.

The £50k-per-week gem has enjoyed a solid debut campaign in Manchester, scoring ten goals across both the Premier League and in Europe, while also shining at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, netting four times as Argentina won their third World Cup.

Irons boss David Moyes previously dubbed Alvarez as a “very good technician” while Lionel Messi even declared that his international teammate was “spectacular” following his excellent performances at the World Cup.

Even with Big Sam now at the helm, Alvarez could terrorise a Leeds side who have leaked a whopping 67 goals this term, the most in the top flight and with the Argentine dynamo in full flow, he could boost his confidence ahead of a crucial final few weeks of the season.

A win would put clear daylight between them and Arsenal at the top of the table, and it could prove to be the catalyst for a stunning treble.

Newcastle United's sole focus at present will be on securing what would be a remarkable top-four finish come May, although the Magpies hierarchy will also have one eye on the upcoming summer transfer window, with further additions set to be made in order to help the club kick on even further.

As manager Eddie Howe himself previously revealed, the Tynesiders have different budget plans in place depending on where they finish in the table over the coming weeks, with the lucrative benefit of securing Champions League football undoubtedly the ultimate goal.

One man who the northeast side are already seemingly targetting ahead of next season is Crystal Palace sensation, Wilfried Zaha, with the Daily Star reporting that both the St James' Park outfit and West Ham United are the frontrunners in the race for the 30-year-old's signature.

The former Manchester United man – who is currently sidelined with a groin injury – could well still sign an extension at Selhurst Park with just a matter of weeks left to run on his existing deal, albeit with the report suggesting that the Ivory Coast international will be 'open to offers' amid that Premier League interest.

Would Zaha be a good signing for Newcastle?

The signing of the long-serving Eagles talisman would appear to be an attractive prospect for Howe and co due to his proven ability in England's top-flight, having scored 67 goals and registered 29 assists in 302 Premier League games in the competition to date.

That being said, however, the £130k-per-week man has endured a far more underwhelming campaign this time around for the relegation-threatened outfit, having scored just six goals and provided only two assists in the league, prior to his injury setback.

Such below-par form may be of concern to those back on Tyneside, as too may be Zaha's apparent likeness to Man United enigma, Antony, with the pair said to share a number of statistical and stylistic similarities, according to FBref.

That comparison between the two fleet-footed wingers is showcased by their creative flair with the Palace man having racked up 70 progressive carries and 60 progressive passes so far this season in the league, with the Red Devils dynamo has recorded 78 progressive carries and 58 progressive passes.

That likeness is also further showcased by the duo's potential inconsistency, with Antony having been branded "frustrating" by talkSPORT pundit Gabby Agbonlahor, while Zaha has been described previously as something of a "maverick" who "plays by himself", according to Liverpool legend, John Barnes.

Such a comparison is not altogether flattering as the Old Trafford wizard has only scored three league goals himself in his debut campaign at the Theatre of Dreams, having made a mixed start to life at the club after signing from Ajax on an £86m deal last summer.

For Newcastle to be able to land their answer to the Brazilian, in the form of Zaha, without having to pay a transfer fee could prove an astute move, although Howe may have to consider the wisdom of bringing in a potentially unreliable and individualistic talent to his attacking ranks.

Tottenham Hotspur making a move for Brendan Rodgers wouldn't be a surprise, but his appointment would not go down well with the supporters, according to journalist Ryan Taylor.

Who could Tottenham appoint as new manager?

Tottenham have identified a number of targets to replace Antonio Conte, and they have now set their sights firmly on Julian Nagelsmann, cementing the former Bayern Munich boss as their number one target, as per Football Insider.

However, having recently been sacked by Leicester City, Rodgers has also emerged as a potential option for Spurs, with Michail Antonio saying the Northern Irishman would be an "unbelievable" appointment and claiming "it would definitely work."

Alan Hutton has suggested Tottenham fans "would love" the 50-year-old to take over as manager, due to his attractive brand of football, however Taylor has a very different viewpoint, while he has recently relayed to GiveMeSport.

The journalist hinted that Spurs could appoint the former Leicester boss when asked of their chances, but he also says it wouldn't be popular as a result of the Foxes' severe drop off.

Taylor explained:

"It wouldn't surprise you, but I think Brendan's stock has fallen so drastically in the past 18 months and I think that would be an appointment that wouldn't be received well at Tottenham, even though it probably would have been a decent move. It wasn't long ago when he was at Leicester and flying, back-to-back fifth finishes and an FA Cup; because of that, the likes of Arsenal and Newcastle we're looking at him. It's crazy how football changes; it's such a fickle sport because, suddenly, nobody's interested in Brendan Rodgers."

Should Tottenham appoint Brendan Rodgers?

Man City boss Pep Guardiola has praised the manager as "top quality", and he has definitely earned that description with some of his achievements throughout his career.

While success is expected as manager of Celtic, the Carnlough-born manager won the league in emphatic fashion, amassing an incredible 106 points in the 2016-17 season.

That said, Rodgers left Leicester in the relegation zone upon his sacking, despite having players like James Maddison and Harvey Barnes at his disposal, which will be a real concern for chairman Daniel Levy.

As such, Tottenham should instead focus on other options this summer, and Nagelsmann, who was hailed for his "elite coaching" during his time with RB Leipzig would be a very exciting appointment, should they manage to beat Chelsea, who are also interested, to his signature,

YouTuber Conor McGilligan has claimed that the “demeanour and tone” of Leeds United midfielder Tyler Adams has changed under new manager Javi Gracia.

What’s the latest on Javi Gracia and Leeds?

After an inconsistent season, former manager Jesse Marsch was sacked and the club hired the Spaniard to come in and help amid the threat of relegation.

And while there is still a lot of work to do, a Premier League win at home against Southampton was a great way for things to begin under Gracia. But, things didn’t go so well against Chelsea.

Plenty of fans may well be glad to see the back of Marsch with a new man coming in as his replacement at last, and it sounds as though some of the players may also feel that way. That certainly seems to be what McGilligan thinks after he heard Adams speaking in a recent interview.

While speaking on the One Leeds Fan Channel, he said (24:24): “Adams’ interview with Radio Leeds today and he was basically just glowing about Gracia and saying: ‘He’s come in, he’s made us play wide. He’s given us tactical points that we’re all trying to stick to. He’s got  a certain game, he’s got individualistic game plans when it comes to opponents.’

“And he looked really… not surprised as such, but there was clearly a change in his voice, a change in Tyler Adams’ demeanour and tone.

“He was he was almost saying: ‘Yeah, there is this now’. That’s the phrase he used: ‘There is this now’ or ‘there is this’ – I can’t remember how je transitioned it.

“But it was almost like there’d been a massive change and in a week that is damning on Jesse Marsch, absolutely damning. More damning on the board, but we all know that.

“But it’s also great to hear in a sense, because it’s like the players almost have a routine now, they understand the points that they’re supposed to hit.”

Where did it go wrong for Marsch and Adams?

Seeing as Adams and Marsch were two of the American contingent at Leeds – while also having worked together in the past at RB Leipzig and with the New York Red Bulls – you might expect them to be close.

However, football is a fickle business and with the Whites’ form being so poor, the player will likely prioritise improved results over any prior relationship.

The 24-year-old has played 90 times in his career under Marsch – more than he has done for any other manager – but now he’s got the opportunity to build something new with Gracia and it will be interesting to see how things developed under the new Leeds’ boss over the coming weeks.

In that interview, Adams did note that the new man has helped them learn about a more “balanced approach” and praised him for ensuring his teammates are still “being brave and taking risks”.

If Gracia can turn the club’s fortunes around quickly, it certainly will be damning for the Spaniard’s predecessor Marsch.

Chelsea are still set to target Borussia Monchengladbach forward Marcus Thuram in the January transfer window despite closing in on a deal for Joao Felix, Fabrizio Romano has revealed.

What’s the word?

Chelsea made a quick swoop to unexpectedly agree a deal to loan Felix for the rest of the season, but this will not stop them from targeting further attacking signings.

Thuram has been linked, and with the Frenchman out of contract at the end of the season, a deal may be possible for a lower fee than some of their other targets.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano claimed that Chelsea are still set to pursue the 26-year-old as a centre-forward addition to Felix.

He said: “Joao Felix will be the next one. This is not going to change the Chelsea plan, for example, for players like Marcus Thuram.

“As we mentioned, he’s a central striker and they want him as one of the opportunities for the January transfer window, but it depends on Borussia Monchengladbach and what they will do.”

A new-look attack

Raheem Sterling and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang both arrived in the summer, but Sterling recently picked up an injury, whilst Aubameyang has been disappointing since his return to England.

Graham Potter clearly wants to revamp his team’s attack to add more goals to the side, and with Christopher Nkunku due to arrive in the summer, he may clear out some of Chelsea’s current options to bring in these forwards during the January window.

Chelsea are spending significantly, but if Felix and Thuram can fire them to a top-four spot, then it will have been justifiable. But given their poor recent form, this will be a tough ask.

BBC pundit Chris Sutton has questioned Chelsea manager Graham Potter after his comments to the press following the club’s recent draw.

What’s the latest?

The Blues were unable to pick up all three points on the weekend in the Premier League as they had to settle for just a draw in an away trip to Nottingham Forest.

Raheem Sterling had put Chelsea ahead but they failed to hold onto their lead as Steve Cooper’s men hit back in the second half thanks to Serge Aurier, with his strike being enough to see the match end 1-1.

Speaking after the draw, the Chelsea boss was quoted on BBC Radio Show 606 as saying that the club ‘have to accept’ that they aren’t quite as good as they would like to be at the moment.

He said: “It’s frustrating, and obviously we have expectations and want to do better. But at the moment, we’re not quite where we want to be and we have to accept that.”

Reacting to this on the same radio show, Sutton seemed quite shocked at just how blunt Potter had been with his assessment and questioned the wisdom of it all.

Indeed, he said:  “Very honest, Graham Potter was there, but if you’re a Chelsea fan, is that the sort of language you want to hear? Talking the team down, below par?”

Room for improvement

After that draw against Forest, Chelsea now find themselves on 25 points after 16 league games. Incredibly, they are level with local rivals Fulham who have played one more game than the Blues.

This means, Potter and his side are eighth in the table and seven points behind Manchester United (in fourth), with the likes of Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur also above the Blues but not inside the top four.

On that evidence, the Chelsea manager isn’t exactly wrong to suggest that his players aren’t delivering the results the club should expect. However, it’s up to him to get them to improve and it won’t inspire great confidence from the fans, the board, or the players to hear Potter sound so defeatist in his attitude.

If he can’t turn things around soon, it remains to be seen just how patient Todd Boehly will be.

Pundit Alan Hutton has been reacting to rumours linking Leeds United with a move for Newcastle United forward Chris Wood.

The Lowdown: Wood reunion?

The Whites appear to be on the hunt for a new forward in January and are thought to be plotting a move for Wood. Reports have suggested that the Leeds hierarchy are eying an alternative to Rodrigo and Patrick Bamford, and a loan swoop for the Newcastle marksman could be Andrea Radrizzani and Victor Orta’s solution.

The 30-year-old, who netted 44 times in 88 appearances at Elland Road, appears to have fallen out of favour at St. James’ Park, starting just twice in the Premier League this season.

The Latest: Hutton’s comments

Talking to Football Insider regarding a possible Elland Road return for Wood, Hutton, who now contributes for the BBC, believes the striker ‘would fit at Leeds’ but would need to weigh up a move back to Yorkshire.

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“Of course it is always going to be difficult.

“He is at a club now that is thriving. They are going places but you need to weigh that up. Is he going to be a regular starter? For me, no.

“That is no disrespect to him it is just how they are going at this moment in time. They are trying to get top four, go for league titles, get in the Champions League. So they are looking for a different type of player.

“Leeds are a big club with a big following but you do not want to fight relegation either. I think he would fit at Leeds but at this moment in time I am not sure what Leeds are capable of.

“Are they capable of being a mid-table team or are they going to be fighting relegation year-in year-out so he will have to weigh that up.”

The Verdict: Why not…

Bringing in an experienced forward like Wood could prove to be a shrewd move by Leeds officials and one that may take them away from trouble during the second half of the season.

New Zealand’s all-time record goalscorer knows where the net is at Elland Road, and a contribution of even five to ten goals could see Jesse Marsch’s side pick up some valuable points.

He may also give Marsch another way of playing in attack and an aerial threat in both boxes, so a loan swoop could be one to keep an eye on heading into 2023.

The Daily Mail’s northeast football correspondent Craig Hope has revealed that Alexander Isak has suffered an injury ‘setback’ for Newcastle United.

The Lowdown: Isak ruled out

The 23-year-old was ruled out of this afternoon’s game at Manchester United in the Premier League, despite Eddie Howe claiming that the striker was making ‘progress’ in his recovery from injury.

However, it now looks as if he is going to be sidelined for longer than first feared, having been hit by a fresh setback.

The Latest: Isak injury ‘setback’

Taking to Twitter in sharing a corresponding article for The Daily Mail on Sunday morning, Hope has revealed that Isak has suffered a ‘setback’ in his recovery from a thigh injury after pulling up with the same issue.

The Sweden international was ‘nearing’ a return to action, but he is now set to miss at least the next three matches for Newcastle in what Hope describes as a ‘fresh blow’.

The journalist stated: “Newcastle’s Alexander Isak suffers setback in recovery from thigh injury after pulling up with same problem. £60m striker was nearing return but now set to miss at least next 3 games after fresh blow. More news awaited on full timescale.”

A subsequent report from The Athletic delivered even worse news for the Magpies, claiming that the 23-year-old will ‘probably’ be sidelined until after the World Cup.

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The Verdict: Big blow

After the hope that Isak could feature in the next few games after making progress in his recovery, it is certainly a big blow for Howe and Newcastle to now lose him for what looks like until Boxing Day at the earliest.

With two goals in his first three appearances in the league, the club-record signing from Real Sociedad had adapted to English football quickly, and his manager will have wanted to ease him into the team further with more opportunities.

However, with Allan Saint-Maximin also suffering a setback in his recovery from an injury, the Magpies will need to find a way to make their attack click over their forthcoming matches without two of their key players.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has shared some injury news ahead of today’s blockbuster derby clash against Manchester United.

The Lowdown: Derby day…

One of the most important days of the footballing calendar has arrived for City supporters as the Premier League champions take on cross-town rivals United at the Etihad Stadium this afternoon. The battle for supremacy over Manchester begins at 2pm in what should be an absolutely mouth-watering clash.

Both sides come into this game on a solid run of form, but it’s the Sky Blues who boast the best numbers statistically, having scored the most goals whilst conceding the fewest out of every team in the top flight.

Spearheaded by on-fire marquee summer signing Erling Haaland, Guardiola’s side have been thrilling at times as they seek to retain their domestic crown for a third successive year.

However, Erik ten Hag is aiming to upset City, and on derby day, form is arguably more irrelevant than ever.

The Latest: Stones ruled out…

Speaking to the media ahead of this huge clash, Guardiola has confirmed that City will be without England international John Stones after he was taken off with a hamstring injury against Germany in midweek.

City’s head coach gave an estimated timeframe for the 28-year-old’s return but officially ruled the defender out of contention to feature against the Red Devils today.

Guardiola said: “It will not be four, five or six weeks, it will be less. I don’t know when he will come back, but I think maybe 10 days to two weeks.”

Goal Machine! Show your love for Erling Haaland with this awesome t-shirt! Click here to buy…

The Verdict: Setback…

For Stones himself, this latest injury problem comes as an annoyance, considering that he was just starting to recapture his best form.

The 28-year-old has contributed immensely in recent weeks, even scoring a thunderous long-range effort against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.

As per WhoScored, the elite ball-distributor has also averaged a higher pass accuracy domestically (96.8%) than any other player in City’s squad.

Called an ‘unbelievable player’ by team-mate and compatriot Kyle Walker, not being able to call upon the centre-half comes as a setback for the champions ahead of a massive occasion.

Nottingham Forest are back in action today as they prepare for their fourth Premier League game of the season, welcoming high-flying Tottenham Hotspur to the City Ground.

The Tricky Trees boast a mixed but satisfactory start to the season, with a win, draw and defeat apiece, although a win today would see them draw level on points with the Lilywhites.

Steve Cooper’s men recorded an impressive 1-1 draw against Everton last week, thus proving that the victory against West Ham United six days previously was no flash in the pan.

They will be looking to frustrate Antonio Conte’s side, who narrowly defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend.

The 42-year-old again has some injuries to contend with, along with plenty more new signings to consider integrating into his team.

With that in mind, here’s the starting XI that we’re predicting today for the Reds…

There could be as many as ten changes from the Forest side which swept Grimsby aside in the Carabao Cup in midweek.

In goal, the usual number one Dean Henderson is set to continue after his stellar display against the Toffees last week. It would also be a surprise to see any of the back five change from the Everton game, as Moussa Niakhate still seems unlikely to return after he was forced off against the Hammers.

With Cooper being coy on the severity of that injury, Steve Cook will likely continue alongside Joe Worrall and Scott McKenna, all of whom were rested in midweek, as were wing-backs Harry Toffolo and Neco Williams.

The midfield is where we are likely to see the only bit of consistency from the team which faced Grimsby, as Remo Freuler has finally had his introduction with a full 90 minutes on Tuesday. We could see him handed his Premier League debut alongside Lewis O’Brien today.

The “special” Morgan Gibbs-White could also be handed a start, as he impressed off the bench against Everton last weekend. He was involved with some neat touches, racking up 20 in just under half an hour on the pitch; he could replace the toothless Jesse Lingard, who did not record a single shot at Goodison Park.

Brennan Johnson and Taiwo Awoniyi will likely come back in after their midweek rests, although Emmanuel Dennis will surely be ready to battle with them now that he has had his club debut against Grimsby.