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Loads of Leeds fans have been reflecting on their win over Reading, and they’re not very impressed by Chelsea starlet Lewis Baker.

Leeds fans are very excited for Izzy Brown to return from injury but his fellow Chelsea loanee, 23-year-old Baker, is getting absolutely crucified after his first league start.

Marcelo Bielsa gave Baker the nod as one of the advanced midfielders playing just behind Kemar Roofe on Tuesday, but withdrew him at half-time after a poor first 45 minutes.

[brid autoplay=”true” video=”335560″ player=”12034″ title=”FIFA Awards”]

The Whites were able to grab all three points courtesy of Stuart Dallas’ second half strike, but Reading certainly made life difficult for the hosts.

Baker registered one shot, zero key passes and zero successful dribbles, and the England Under-21 international was reportedly spotted leaving the stadium immediately after the full time whistle.

Victor Orta’s transfer dealings are now under the spotlight once again, as nearly all of his recent captures are either injured or performing poorly.

You can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…

West Ham United’s record signing, Felipe Anderson, has revealed in an interview with the Evening Standard why he initially struggled in the Premier League and his ambition to be the Irons’ next hero like Paolo Di Canio.

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What’s he said?

The Brazilian moved to east London in the summer for a record fee, trumping the sum spent on Issa Diop two weeks earlier, but initially struggled for form as he adapted to the English game.

Speaking to the Evening Standard, the former Lazio winger  – who Transfermarkt now value at £31.5million – explained how he aims to put his early struggles behind him and become a hero to the club’s fans, just like their legendary Italian forward.

“I saw him [Di Canio] many times and knew his importance there [Lazio] and here,” said the 25-year-old. “I want to follow in his steps, play like him and earn a reputation like him. He was a great player.

“I still need to adapt a bit to the high intensity because it’s difficult. In Italy, the tempo is slower, and the teams focus a lot on tactics. Here, the intensity and aggression is permanent.

“If you’re losing or winning you can’t stop, you need to keep working. There’s always players behind the ball, and it’s difficult at times, but you need to take care of your body to do better in the tough games.”

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What did he mean?

Di Canio scored 52 times for the Claret and Blues over five seasons – playing 141 games in east London – and earned a reputation at the Boleyn Ground for his lively and animated ways.

Hopefully, Anderson sees the Italian as an inspiration for the talent he possessed with the ball rather than for some of his antics without it, including pushing referee Paul Alcock, which resulted in an 11-match ban before he joined West Ham.

In east London though, the 5 foot 10 attacker was able to get fans on side and helped the club qualify for the 1999-2000 UEFA Cup by winning the Intertoto Cup.

The difference between Italian and English ways 

Since the 25-year-old moved from Lazio to West Ham in the summer, Manuel Pellegrini has called on the Brazilian 14 times – 12 starts in the Premier League, coupled with two EFL Cup outings.

At first, things did not look great for the 5 foot 9 winger. He seemed to find another gear when he scored an early opener against Manchester United, but that turned into a red herring.

Against Tottenham particularly, Anderson ghosted around as he shrugged off his defensive responsibilities but also cut a lost figure in attack. Eventually turning things around against Burnley with two goals and the equaliser at Huddersfield.

Accepting that in England you can never switch off to meet the high intensity is a great sign that Anderson wants to do well in the Premier League. Adapting between the Italian and English ways was always going to be a problem, but Anderson now appears aware of the hard work that requires.

Liverpool will be looking to make amends following their 2-1 Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain when they take on Everton in the Merseyside derby tomorrow. 

Manager Jurgen Klopp, however, is wary of the threat Marco Silva’s squad poses, while playing down his club’s incredible record in this fixture at Anfield in the process.

The Breakdown

“Analyse Everton and then tell me it will be an easy game,” Klopp was quoted saying by BBC Sport. “It will be a proper fight but we expect that in the derby. That’s how derbies should be.

“He has the best squad. Since I’ve been at Liverpool, Everton was always really busy [in the transfer market] but now it’s the best-tuned squad.

“If you didn’t say that [Liverpool’s 19-year unbeaten record versus Everton at Anfield] I wouldn’t even think about it,” the German also added.

Only by full-time will there be a clearer picture of just how good this Everton squad really are. But on paper and looking at their recent games, everything points to this group of players being a strong one, as suggested by Klopp.

From defence to attack, there is quality all over the pitch. Kurt Zouma is a very solid defender on his day, Michael Keane’s form has improved drastically compared to last season, while Yerry Mina has looked like an absolute tank since coming into the Toffees’ starting XI.

Elsewhere, the likes of Andre Gomes and Richarlison have given Everton so much more technical ability further up the pitch.

Considering all of that, this is probably the strongest squad Everton are taking to Anfield in recent years, explaining Klopp’s warranted caution.

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According to a recent report from The Sun, Newcastle goalkeeper Karl Darlow is a January transfer target for both Leeds United and Aston Villa, and he could represent a bargain if Whites boss Marcelo Bielsa was to sanction a move.

What’s the story?

The Sun are reporting that Darlow is looking for a winter move away from St James’ Park after losing his number one spot to Martin Dubravka, who initially joined on loan in January this year before completing a permanent deal during the summer.

The Slovakian international has been hugely impressive for the Magpies, but his form has meant that Darlow has made only one appearance so far this season – in the Carabao Cup loss to Nottingham Forest.

However, this could mean that he is available for a relatively small fee given the state of the current transfer market. The Sun claim that Villa and Leeds are interested in a £4m deal for the 28-year-old, who is still in his prime for a goalkeeper.

Competition for places

Leeds manager Bielsa should certainly look to beat Villa to Darlow’s signature. The Whites will need to bring in a senior stopper during January after loanee Jamal Blackman broke his leg in an U23 game and returned to his parent club Chelsea for treatment.

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This has left the Argentine boss with just 20-year-old Will Huffer as back-up for Bailey Peacock-Farrell, but if he truly wants to push the Elland Road outfit for promotion to the Premier League then increasing the competition for places is a must.

Darlow would certainly do this, and with 140 Championship appearances to his name it is clear that he has the experience to help with a promotion push.

So, Leeds fans, would you back a move for the current Newcastle man? Have your say by voting in the poll below.

According to the Italian outlet TMW, Leeds sent scouts to watch Serie B outfit Foggia’s teenage striker Francesco Paolo Clemente recently. 

Manager Marcelo Bielsa has remained coy in recent weeks as to who the club are planning to sign in January, and has generally insisted that The Whites will not be too extravagant in the January transfer window. However, this is a clear sign that the club are targeting a striker, in a move that makes sense.

The knee injury to striker Patrick Bamford earlier in the season left the Yorkshire club looking very thin on the ground when it comes to strikers, with Kemar Roofe being their only experienced striker. An injury to Roofe spelled disaster for The Whites, but they were able to manage with teenager Tyler Roberts stepping up for the club.

However, with Bamford recently admitting to the Yorkshire Evening Post that it is likely that he will be playing through pain over the next few months, Leeds will not want to find themselves in another crisis again. While Bamford may play, he is unlikely to be fully fit for a while, and the club will try and limit his workload. In order to do so, they will need depth in this department, and Clemente will provide that.

Of course, Clemente is unlikely to rival Roofe for a place, or even Roberts for that matter, but it just adds that extra bit of depth in their squad, as well as being a huge investment for the future of the club.

Everton are on their third full-time manager in little over a year, following the axing of Ronald Koeman and Sam Allardyce before the hiring of Marco Silva, but do you fancy making it four?

Taking charge of the Toffees on Football Manager 2019 is not a job to take lightly, even if the demands are not too taxing, as the blue half of Merseyside need success following a heavy summer transfer window and plans for a new stadium, even if not all the pieces of the puzzle are currently in place.

The board’s expectations

Take the Goodison Park job and expect a reasonably relaxed board when it comes to their demands, where only the Premier League and FA Cup are prioritised.

Even then, the minimum expectation is only a top half finish, along with an FA Cup fifth round appearance, meaning you don’t have to qualify for Europe to stay in the job.

The transfer war chest

As the Toffees are heavily in debt, with a balance due exceeding £50million, the transfer budget is barely there at £4.3m.

A wage allocation of £70,000 does leave some room to re-allocate funds, but as the league and FA Cup are the only important competitions to the board, you can get away with a thinner squad in your first season.

Three players to buy

Ramiro

Without a great deal to spend, you will be forced to look at cheaper options if you wish to improve your side.

One of the key areas the club would like you to improve is in attack, as the current crop are not rated too highly for their work off the ball or their end product.

A solid contender to add is Ramiro, who, with a value of £1.7million, has an off the ball rating of 15, 14 anticipation and 12 crossing.

Gustavo Bou

As Cenk Tosun is a serious contender to start, you’ll want to play Richarlison out on the wing, but that would leave you weak up top, meaning you must sign another striker to support your attack.

Racing Club’s Gustavo Bou is a superb budget option to strengthen your strike force, as the 28-year-old harbours 16 finishing, 15 anticipation and 15 technique.

Another possible candidate is David Villa, who may be 35, but would be an excellent addition for a year with his clinical finishing and a value of just £200k.

Frank Fabra

Leighton Baines would serve as an adequate understudy to Lucas Digne, but with the former first-team regular now 33, a younger alternative should be brought in for the long-term.

Colombian full-back Frank Fabra would easily be acquirable within the limited budget as the 27-year-old is valued at £2.8million. His £5,500-a-week wage demand would also free funds from that department for other areas of your squad.

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Three players to sell

Morgan Schneiderlin

The Everton midfield ranks are not packed with talent, leaving Morgan Schneiderlin’s presence very questionable given he earns £100,000-a-week.

At 28, he should generate interest from potential suitors but at Everton, he would not challenge Idrissa Gueye for the starting defensive role, and Tom Davies presents a stronger back-up as he has the same ability level and great potential.

James McCarthy

Along with Schneiderlin, James McCarthy, who also has a similar starting rating to the rivals for his position, is another high earner who just isn’t good enough.

His injury at the start would make his departure tricky, but you should attempt to cash in on his £16.75million valuation, as he will not rival for a starting spot.

Oumar Niasse

Altogether, Everton have five options up front, but Oumar Niasse is the clear final resort thanks to a two and a half star rating in comparison to the rest of your squad.

It leaves the 28-year-old miles behind Cenk Tosun or Richarlison in the pecking order, yet he is valued at £11m.

Three for the future

Ademola Lookman

Ademola Lookman is by far the best youth player in the Toffees’ squad. The 20-year-old has attributes that make you consider starting the winger in your first-team, and he can develop into a top player in the Premier League.

Nikola Vlasic

Twenty-year-old Nikola Vlasic is the ideal creative midfielder in the Everton ranks to develop, as he can become a top player who could one day replace Gylfi Sigurdsson.

You’ll have to watch his progress from afar in the first year, however, as the Croatian is away on loan with Russian Premier League side CSKA Moscow.

Lewis Gibson

Seventeen-year-old left-back Lewis Gibson is a great teenager to have around the squad for the early cup rounds, as well as on the the bench should Lucas Digne or Leighton Baines pick up any injuries.

Unfortunately, he’ll never become a first-team star at Goodison Park but he does provide solid back-up.

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Manchester United own-goal merchant Phil Jones is set to be out of contract at Old Trafford in the summer, and there has been no news as of yet regarding whether or not the Premier League giants will extend his deal.

The 26-year-old was tipped for big things when he joined the Red Devils from Blackburn back in 2011 for around £17m, and looked likely to fulfil his potential under Sir Alex Ferguson.

Since the Scotsman’s departure, however, Jones hasn’t been the same commanding presence that he once was, and has been the source of mockery for many fans as a result of the faces he pulls and his comical own-goals.

He has made just three Premier League starts this season and doesn’t appear to have a future in Manchester, so perhaps he should start looking for a new club.

In that respect, maybe Newcastle should take the England international on the cheap and cash in on Jamaal Lascelles – it definitely sounds tempting if your name is Mike Ashley.

Should the Magpies sign Jones? Have your say down below…

According to a recent report from The Daily Mail, James McCarthy could be set for a move away in the January transfer window. The 28-year-old currently plays his football at Premier League outfit Everton and has done so since leaving Wigan Athletic back in 2013, although a lack of game time under new Toffees manager Marco Silva this season has plunged his future at the club into doubt.

And reports suggest that Fulham, West Brom, and West Ham are eyeing up a January move for the Republic of Ireland international, as should Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers as he seeks to improve his squad ahead of what looks set to be a tough Scottish Premiership title race in the second half of the season.

The Breakdown

Ultimately, Rangers’ victory over their Old Firm rivals brought Steven Gerrard’s men level on points with the Bhoys at the summit of the Scottish top-flight, and while Rodgers’ side do still have a game in hand on the Gers, it does suggest that things are going to be a lot closer this time round.

Yes, one would probably still have Celtic as favourites to win an eighth straight league title and thus continue their overall domination of football north of the border, but there is little doubting, especially after a summer of relative inactivity, that Rodgers will need to strengthen his squad this month to fend off the threat posed by Gerrard’s Rangers.

And boyhood fan McCarthy appears to be exactly the sort of addition needed to bring greater quality in the Celtic midfield for the second half of the campaign.

The Irishman has struggled hugely with injuries in recent years but has produced several decent displays in between those injury problems, with his ability both on and indeed off the ball sure to be of keen interest to Rodgers as he seeks to develop his midfield options.

The 28-year-old is extremely good on the ball in showing calmness and composure when under pressure to keep the ball moving and thus transition from defence into attack, while he is also very tenacious off the ball in breaking up play and making several crucial blocks and interceptions – there’s a reason he has played over 200 times in the Premier League.

And given he supported Celtic as a boy, very few will know better how much it would mean to the Bhoys faithful to hold off a spirited Rangers side to win the league this term – it would arguably be Rodgers’ biggest achievement in what has already been an illustrious time at Parkhead.

However, time is very much of the essence given the reported interest from the likes of Fulham, West Brom, and West Ham – Celtic hold an ace in being the club McCarthy supported as a boy, but that must be backed up with a genuine willingness to get a deal done as soon as possible.

And given how much he’d add to Rodgers’ Celtic team, it’s a deal the Northern Irishman simply has to get done to enhance his side’s hopes of making it eight league titles in a row.

Celtic fans… what do you think? Let us know!

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Moussa Sissoko will have to stand up and be counted against Manchester United on Sunday, with an incredible statistic showing 45% of the Red Devils’ play comes from the left-wing.

On the chalkboard

Even in a mostly dire season, Manchester United are trendsetters in the Premier League, with the Red Devils joint-leaders in the top flight for the percentage of play to come down the left-wing.

The only other side to play as heavily in that third of the pitch is Crystal Palace, with United flop Wilfried Zaha their best and often only chance at gaining favourable results.

WhoScored statistics show 45% of United’s play comes from the left-flank, compared to a league-low 30% on the right and a further 26% from the middle of the park.

As for Tottenham Hotspur, Mauricio Pochettino’s side spread the ball an even amount, with 37% of the game spent on either wing and 26% in the centre.

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How does this affect Sissoko?

Since establishing his name as one of the first on Pochettino’s team sheet, Sissoko has featured 13 times as either a central or defensive midfielder, and is expected to line up once more on the right of a diamond on Sunday.

Should that be the case, the 29-year-old will be pivotal to his side’s success as he will have to support whoever is fielded at right-back, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer likely to continue favouring the left wing against the Lilywhites.

He’ll also need to adapt his individual game plan, as the former Newcastle midfielder will not be able to push forward as much as he may like, and be prepared to quickly snatch possession back when he’s dragged out wide.

Changing opinions

It’s safe to say that Sissoko has been a divisive figure since moving to North London in 2016, but the 55-cap France international is beginning to change opinions with the performances he is consistently delivering.

In his combined 16 appearances in the Premier League this season, only two of which have been as a substitute, the 6 foot 2 midfielder has regularly delivered a WhoScored match rating in excess of 7.0, and only once dipped below a 6.0.

Sissoko has also contributed 18 tackles, ten interceptions, and 738 passes in the Premier League for Spurs this season. It’s been a remarkable turnaround for a player who most fans wanted out of the club at the start of last summer.

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Tottenham’s midfield suddenly looks very thin after the injury sustained by Moussa Sissoko against Manchester United on Sunday.

The France international limped off with a muscle problem after pulling up unchallenged. With Mousa Dembele also about to leave the club, a move for Abdoulaye Doucoure would make sense, and go a long way to rectifying the issues plaguing the club’s midfield.

What’s the word?

Doucoure has expressed his desire to leave Watford in the January transfer window, as he bids to play in the Champions League.

A technically-accomplished, clever midfield player, the 26-year-old has been ever-present for the Hornets thus far this season, playing in all 22 of the club’s Premier League games. He has scored three goals, and also provided five assists.

Speaking to Canal+, per The Independent, he said: “Yes, I think I will leave Watford.

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“The club are aware of my ambitions and want to help me go up a level. So if it doesn’t happen this winter we’ll have a look at things this summer and the possibilities available.

“The most important thing for me is to continue improving, so obviously through my performances I can reach a club playing at European level.

“I think I will reach a new level by signing for another club, who are playing in European competitions.”

Doucoure has yet to play for France, and clearly sees playing for a marquee side as a perfect route into the squad.

A match made in heaven

Tottenham are currently lacking a midfield. The injury sustained by Sissoko against United leaves the club with only Harry Winks and 18-year-old Oliver Skipp as the fully-fit options available to Mauricio Pochettino in the centre of the pitch.

Dembele, of course, is poised to complete an £11million move to China, per Football.London.

Such is the dearth of depth right now, Pochettino opted to replace Sissoko with winger Erik Lamela on Sunday, facilitating a change in formation.

Doucoure, then, represents the perfect investment.

For a start, the Watford midfielder is able to stay fit for a long period of time, something which cannot be said of either Victor Wanyama or Eric Dier.

Doucoure is also excellent on the ball, capable of playing vertically, and retains possession well.

Add to that the fact that he has Premier League experience, and is desperate to play in the Champions League, and the move should sell itself to Pochettino and chairman Daniel Levy.

The latter, however, appears to be single-minded in his refusal to invest in the squad.

Injuries may have altered that stance, and if they have, a move for Doucoure now would make sense; Spurs should strike while the iron is hot, in order to avoid a potential bidding war with other, wealthier, Premier League clubs.