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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp may have something of a striker conundrum should Roberto Firmino be ruled out with the issue that saw him substituted off against Manchester United after half-an-hour on Sunday, but there might be one surprise solution.

On the chalkboard

The Reds have crucial fixtures against Watford and Everton this week as they look to keep their Premier League title hopes alive and kicking, but they could easily be without their Brazilian talisman.

Klopp of course could call on Daniel Sturridge – as he did on Sunday – or Divock Origi to fill the centre-forward role, or the German boss could choose to use Mo Salah through the middle – something he has done when he has preferred a 4-2-3-1 system.

However, one left-field option could be to use Sadio Mane there, in the hope of aiding the Senegal international’s personal development.

Make him less selfish

While the 26-year-old is clearly a great attacker who provides a huge threat for his team in the final third, there have been examples on more than one occasion this term where he has been too selfish.

It is a trait that perhaps could have been attributed to Firmino prior to him being used through the middle too, but since he moved to the centre-forward role he has clearly become much more of a team player and taken the responsibility on his shoulders.

The South American star has excelled when it comes to holding the ball and bringing his teammates into play, and basically giving Mane and Salah more time and space to thrive.

It is certainly an unselfish role that the Brazilian is playing, and Mane could learn a thing or two by taking on the same one – with last season’s top goalscorer and Xherdan Shaqiri available they wouldn’t lose quality on the wings either.

Celtic have the chance to go six points clear at the top of the Premiership on Sunday if they can secure a win in the latest Glasgow derby.

Prior to the recent international break, the Hoops recorded a convincing 4-0 win over Ross County at Parkhead, setting them up nicely to take on their fiercest rivals at Ibrox this weekend.

On the chalkboard

In terms of how Ange Postecoglou could set up his team tomorrow, one player who didn’t start against County but we feel should be in the starting XI on this occasion is full-back Anthony Ralston.

Despite seeing Josip Juranovic start ahead of him last time out, the 23-year-old replaced him with 62 minutes on the clock and managed to put on a solid show.

With 28 minutes under his belt, the Scotland international made one tackle, won 100% of his aerial duels and completed 40 of the 43 passes he attempted, two of which were key passes. This cameo ultimately earned him an overall match rating of 7/10 from SofaScore, which is higher than what Juranovic got.

Looking at his season as a whole, Ralston has shown what an impressive all-around figure he is by racking up four goals and seven assists, along with averaging 1.6 tackles and 1.6 clearances per game in the league.

Praised for his “magnificent” performances in the past and hailed as a “warrior” on the pitch by Postecoglou, Ralston certainly has what it takes to be a real nuisance for his opponents from an attacking and defensive sense.

Taking into account the magnitude of tomorrow’s showdown and what it could mean for the title race on both sides, having a player like the £1.62m-rated defender on the pitch could be vital for Celtic given how deadly he can be in front of goal and how tough he can be at the back.

Moving forward, even though Rangers have scored fewer goals and conceded more than the Hoops this season, their current position in the table means that they will only be looking to win on Sunday. Therefore, if they go all-out attacking from the get-go, having a player like Ralston who can defend and also punish teams at the other end could make him the difference between winning and losing for Celtic. He is a man they will likely need this weekend.

In other news: Celtic will rue call on £25k-p/w gem whose value has rocketed 400% since Parkhead exit

Southampton duo James Ward-Prowse and Kyle Walker-Peters could soon start ‘attracting interest’ from the Premier League’s top four, journalist Pete O’Rourke has claimed.

The Lowdown: Great season

The Saints pair have been in excellent form this season and have duly been rewarded by respective call-ups to Gareth Southgate’s England side.

According to statistical analysis carried out by WhoScored, Ward-Prowse has been Ralph Hasenhuttl’s player of the season thus far, earning himself a strong 7.04 rating. Walker-Peters trails closely behind in second, with a solid 6.94 rating.

As a result, a number of transfer rumours have arisen linking them with moves to a multitude of Premier League clubs, such as Arsenal in Ward-Prowse’s case.

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The Latest: O’Rourke’s claim on Southampton duo…

O’Rourke has said that he would not be surprised if a number of top-four Premier League clubs are interested in signing the Southampton duo in the summer.

Talking with GiveMeSport, he claimed: “You wouldn’t be surprised if both of those players were attracting interest from the top four, top six clubs in the Premier League.

“They’ve been excellent for Southampton and earning England recognition now as well, Kyle Walker-Peters.

“I think the big thing for Walker-Peters is he took that step away from Tottenham in search of first-team football, and that move has definitely paid off for him, breaking into the England team.

“And I’m sure he’s attractive to a lot of clubs because he can play right-back or left-back, and he’d be a great player to have in your squad.”

The Verdict: Saints need to keep hold of them

Both players have proven to be essential to Hasenhuttl’s side this season. As Saints captain, Ward-Prowse has been crucial in maintaining the club’s Premier League status since their promotion from the Championship in 2011/12.

The 27-year-old has been hailed one of the world’s best dead-ball specialists, having now scored 13 league goals directly from free kicks, taking him above Thierry Henry and Gianfranco Zola in the Premier League’s rankings into second in the all-time list.

Meanwhile, Walker-Peters has demonstrated his versatility this season, having played the majority of the campaign in an unfavoured left-hand role, where he has nonetheless accumulated six goal contributions in his 30 outings across all competitions.

Therefore, if either player decides to leave in the summer, it would no doubt come as a huge blow to the south coast club, given their aforementioned importance to the Southampton cause.

In other news: Ralph Hasenhuttl confirms Shane Long concern

Sky Sports have dropped a live TV update on Manchester United and their pursuit of Ajax boss Erik ten Hag.

The Lowdown: United closing in?

It seems as if the Red Devils are looking to get a deal for Ralf Rangnick’s long-term replacement in place before the summer.

United officials spoke with both Ten Hag and Mauricio Pochettino last month, with a move for Ten Hag now gathering pace.

The Telegraph revealed on Wednesday evening that United are close to appointing the Dutch manager at Old Trafford, with negotiations moving very quickly.

The Latest: Sky Sports update

Sky Sports senior reporter Melissa Reddy dropped a live TV update on Thursday regarding United and Ten Hag.

Reddy revealed that United have insisted that no deal has been signed with Ten Hag. However, ‘sources close to Ten Hag and Ajax’ told Sky Sports that compensation and an ‘announcement’ have been discussed regarding the 52-year-old, with formalities expected to be completed soon.

The Verdict: A matter of time?

It looks as if it is now just a matter of time until Ten Hag is announced as Manchester United’s next permanent manager.

The club have done extremely well when it comes to working behind the scenes for Ten Hag, who is leading his side in a title race with PSV.

Finalising a move before May should give the Red Devils the best possible chance of a successful rebuild, instead of the club searching for a new boss during the summer window.

In other news: Fresh Man Utd ‘concern’ after Romano shares ‘bad news’ at Old Trafford. 

Pete O’Rourke has said that it would be a shock if Danny Ings left Aston Villa this summer amid reported interest from Brighton and Hove Albion. 

The lowdown

Villa paid a reported £25m to land the striker from Southampton during last summer’s transfer window, making him the fifth-biggest signing in their history.

The Englishman, who has been dubbed a ‘special’ player by Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson, signed a three-year contract worth £120,000 per week, the highest salary on the club’s books.

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After 23 appearances for Villa, Ings has only managed to score five goals, although he has also provided five assists.

Nonetheless, he is on course to finish on his lowest goal tally in the top flight since the 2018/19 season, and Football Insider reported earlier in March that Brighton were hopeful of capturing him in a few months’ time.

The latest

Speaking to GiveMeSport, O’Rourke admitted that he would be somewhat stunned if Steven Gerrard were to sanction Ings’ exit from Villa so quickly.

The journalist said: “It would come as a surprise because Danny Ings arrived last year as a real secret deal. Nobody saw it coming.”

The verdict

Would it really be all that much of a surprise if Ings were to be jettisoned after only a year at Villa Park? There are other strikers in the equation here.

According to The Athletic’s Gregg Evans, Gerrard has his eye on Luis Suarez, who is likely to be available on a free transfer following the expiry of his Atletico Madrid contract in the summer.

There is also 19-year-old Cameron Archer, who has underlined his potential this season with four goals in the Carabao Cup for Villa and five in the Championship during his loan spell at Preston North End.

There may not be a way to accommodate all of these players, and perhaps the £19.8m-rated Ings, who is three years older than Ollie Watkins and has scored two fewer goals this season, will be the casualty.

In other news, Villa have opened talks over this potential transfer

As per a report in The Daily Mirror’s print edition (28.01.21, pg. 58, via The 72), a transfer update has come out of Tottenham Hotspur involving West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper Sam Johnstone.

The Lowdown: Tottenham eye Johnstone move…

The Baggies ace will be a name familiar to Lilywhites supporters given he has been linked repeatedly before, with talkSPORT most recently claiming Spurs and transfer chief Fabio Paratici remain in contention for his signature.

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Tottenham, joined by the likes of Southampton and West Ham, are consistently mentioned as interested clubs with Johnstone’s contract at the Hawthorns set to expire soon.

If West Brom are to make a profit, they must cash-in over the next two days or risk losing him for nothing at the end of 2021/2022.

Johnstone’s manager, Valerien Ismael, left him out of West Brom’s last squad to face Preston North End – citing it as a behind-the-scenes ‘issue’ and one which will remain ‘internal’ (Birmingham Live).

The Latest: Spurs ‘could make a last minute move’…

After this development, it is claimed by The Mirror (via The 72) that Spurs could now ‘make a last minute move’ to sign the 28-year-old before deadline.

The fellow usual suspects, West Ham and Southampton, are also mentioned as clubs who may make an eleventh hour bid.

The Verdict: Priority?

Signing Johnstone should, at the very most, be a priority for the summer window when he is a free agent – especially since Conte has four other priority positions to strengthen before January 31.

The Italian wants a right-wing-back, midfielder, left-sided central defender and a striker through the door at N17 but time is very much running out (Alasdair Gold).

Johnstone comes with merit, with the Three Lions ace even being called ‘unreal’ by former Premier League shot stopper Paddy Kenny for his form in the Midlands over this last year.

Meanwhile, Spurs favourite Glenn Hoddle raved about the 6 foot 3 powerhouse in a column for The Evening Standard – branding Johnstone ‘outstanding’.

Plaudits like these don’t come from nowhere, but with time ticking down, Conte must surely be looking at other targets first.

In other news: Spurs also preparing last gasp marquee bid to sign ‘special’ forward, find out more here.

A ‘substantial’ new kit deal for Liverpool would allow even more money to be generated for new signings, according to Leeds United employee and club ambassador and Noel Whelan.

The Lowdown: New kit deal coming?

The Reds’ kit is currently sponsored by Standard Chartered, with their deal running out at the end of the next season and bringing them around £40million a year at the moment.

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Recent reports have claimed that Liverpool are on the lookout for an even bigger deal, however – one that could earn them as much as £50 million every 12 months.

With Jurgen Klopp’s men flying on the pitch, it would be a surprise if the Reds weren’t without suitors, as they look to continue battling for Premier League titles.

The Latest: Whelan makes claim

Speaking to Football Insider, reacting to recent news that Liverpool are currently in talks with multiple companies over a possible big money off-field agreement worth around £50million-per-year, Whelan got behind the idea of a new kit sponsor.

He claims that it’s a ‘no-brainer’ for companies to be attached to the Anfield club and Klopp’s side will ‘for sure’ never be short of options.

“Look, they’re a very marketable football club. One that many, many businesses would want to be attached to.

“Liverpool is a club that pretty much sells itself. It’s like Man United, Man City these days, Chelsea. Those big four sell themselves to companies because they want to be attached to that brand.

“They’re never going to be without a sponsor, that’s for sure, because of how successful they are. Because of the history behind the club, because of the demand worldwide support that they have.

“It’s a no brainer for a company to be attached and have a logo on the Liverpool shirt. It’s one of the biggest selling shirts in the world, not just in the country.

“That is going to be something substantial to the football club that’s going to help bring players in and give them the finances to push further and stay right there at the top of world football.”

The Verdict: Reds in a great place

There was a time when a £50million-a-year deal felt like a pipe dream for Liverpool but Klopp has transformed the club since arriving as manager back in October 2015.

The German has turned them into one of Europe’s best teams on current form, creating a team spirit and togetherness that should appeal to any possible sponsor.

It could be a case of Liverpool taking their pick from those interested in sponsoring their kit from 2023 onwards, such is their position of strength these days.

In other news, a pundit has backed one Liverpool player to sign a new deal. Find out who it is here.

As West Ham United took on lower league minnows Kidderminster Harriers in a mouth-watering FA Cup fourth-round tie, BBC commentators Dion Dublin and Steve Wilson slammed forward Andriy Yarmolenko after a bizarre incident.

The Lowdown: Yarmolenko dives?

The Ukraine forward, who was ripped into by members of the media for his display today, attracted even more criticism against Kidderminster after an incident in the final 10 minutes of normal time.

Yarmolenko, driving into the box, appeared to go down dramatically under little or perhaps even no contact from a Kidderminster defender in hopes of potentially gaining a spot kick.

Following his efforts, BBC commentators Dublin and Wilson certainly weren’t impressed.

The Latest: Dublin and Wilson slam Yarmolenko…

Speaking live to on BBC’s coverage during West Ham’s win, relayed via their live feed (14:11), Dublin started off by stating Yarmolenko’s attempt at simulation was ‘totally embarrassing’.

Thereafter, his co-commentator Wilson then added that it was ‘unforgivable’ from the 32-year-old.

The Verdict: Correct?

There is certainly a strong case that Yarmolenko went down softly under the Kidderminster’s player’s touch given an appeared lack of contact from the National League North player.

The incident perhaps highlighted the overall lack of quality in the display from Yarmolenko during West Ham’s dramatic win, as evidenced by the fact he attracted such harsh criticism from other members of the media.

Journalist Joseph Mbu of The Sun claimed on Twitter that the Irons man ‘offers absolutely nothing 95% of the time’ and that is backed by how little manager David Moyes has used him this season.

According to WhoScored, he’s played just 87 minutes in total in the Premier League and his dive against Kidderminster perhaps wouldn’t have done him any favours.

In other news: West Ham weighing another marquee bid as Moyes sets sights on ‘extraordinary’ player, find out more here.

Noussair Mazraoui is poised to leave Ajax and Everton could make a move, according to Fichajes. 

The lowdown

Mazraoui has been with Ajax since 2006 but he’s now into the final five months of his £11,000-per-week contract.

He said last month that there was only a ‘five percent’ chance of him remaining in Amsterdam.

Only injury – he missed three games with a thigh problem in December – and illness have kept him out of the starting line-up in the Eredivisie. Even more impressively, given that he’s a right-back, he’s managed to score five goals already this season.

A 12-times capped Morocco international and former ‘talent of the year’ at Ajax, Mazraoui is rated at £18million by Transfermarkt.

The latest

The report states that, barring a ‘surprise’ turnaround, Mazraoui will follow opposite full-back Nicolas Tagliafico out the exit door when his contract expires.

Premier League clubs, having been alerted to this decision, are ‘knocking loudly’ on his door.

Everton, Aston Villa and Leicester City are named as his PL suitors, while there’s also been interest from Spanish giants FC Barcelona.

The verdict

This would be a somewhat strange signing for Everton.

That’s not to say Mazraoui isn’t a good player, far from it. In fact, European football expert Alex Barker has said he would be a ‘superb’ signing for a Premier League club.

But Everton have only just signed Nathan Patterson, a 20-year-old RB who would appear to be Seamus Coleman’s long-term successor.

Frank Lampard sanctioning this deal, only months later, would surely be bad news for the young Scotland international.

In other news, there’s been a big update on a ‘monstrous’ Everton target.

Everton have had a difficult season which can be partially blamed on their poor transfer business at the club ever since the arrival of Farhad Moshiri, and lessons must be learned with new manager Frank Lampard heading into his first full transfer window this summer.

It has been reported that the Toffees will need to axe up to 10 players this summer to recoup some of the financial losses incurred during Moshiri’s reign at Goodison Park, and there are many candidates that are worthy of the chop following a series of poor performances over this season.

One player who has seen a revival in his Everton career since Frank Lampard took over is Alex Iwobi, who has had a less than positive impact since he joined the club back in 2019, with the winger offering up just seven goals and six assists in 89 appearances over the last three years.

Despite the Everton boss giving the Nigerian international his opportunity to redeem himself in the second half of this season, it is too little too late for the player who has been part of a squad that has led to the demise of the club, putting them in a position to be relegated for the first time ever from the Premier League.

In one of Moshiri’s biggest transfer howlers to date, Iwobi cost the club up to £34m and following his unsuccessful spell at Goodison Park has seen his market value diminish to over half that amount, as the attacker is now worth just £16.2m.

Indeed, over his two and a half seasons at Goodison Park, the £100k-per-week flop who Michael Ball claimed plays in “panic mode” has earned seasonal SofaScore ratings of 6.75 in 2019/20, 6.74 in 2020/20 and 6.73 so far this term, ranking him as Everton’s 11th-best, ninth-worst and 14th-best player in each respective Premier League campaign.

And, when you consider that the 25-year-old winger is on one of the highest wages at the club, selling up this summer could save Everton millions on the two years left on his contract – something which could be reinvested into players who can offer something more influential on the pitch.

Lampard has some big decisions to make this summer and must be ruthless with rebuilding his squad if the Toffees are to improve upon their incredibly disappointing campaign this time out.

AND in other news: Everton must launch move for “outstanding” 25 y/o “Wolverine” as insider claim emerges