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Monday’s UEFA Europa League draw threw up a tantalising tie for Celtic. They’ll face Russian side Zenit St Petersburg in the Round of 32, set to take place next February.

It’s a hugely difficult match-up for the Hoops, but perhaps not the worst case scenario given they could have drawn the likes of Arsenal and Atletico Madrid.

Celtic have a great record against Russian opposition, playing six matches, winning three, drawing two and losing just once. They’ve also progressed from every knock-out tie involving Russian teams.

Still, Zenit are a talented side and scored more goals than any other team in the Europa League group stages, demonstrating their attacking threat will be a stern test for Brendan Rodgers’ defence.

Supporters recognise that threat and most make them favourites, but some are taking solace in the fact that the Russians don’t have a competitive match until they visit Celtic Park.

The Russian Premier League’s Winter break has just started and the fact they don’t play a serious game until the two sides meet could be a factor in the tie.

Fans took to Twitter to share their thoughts on the matter…

According to reports in The Sunday Mirror, new Everton boss Sam Allardyce has targeted unhappy Sevilla midfielder Steven N’Zonzi as one of his priority transfer targets.

What’s the word, then?

Well, The Sunday Mirror says that having been promised a bumper January budget by majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri, Allardyce could look to be reunited with the 28-year-old.

The 63-year-old signed the Frenchman when he was Blackburn Rovers manager, and The Sunday Mirror also says that he was keen to see if the midfielder was eligible to play for England when he was in charge of the Three Lions.

The report adds that N’Zonzi is keen to leave the La Liga outfit and although Sevilla would be reluctant to let him go, they could be tempted if they are offered £20m.

How has N’Zonzi done this season?

The 28-year-old has been a regular in the Sevilla side this season, but he wasn’t happy when he was taken off at half-time in the draw against Liverpool in the Champions League, and he failed to turn up to training the next day.

Since then, the Frenchman hasn’t made the squad for the La Liga matches against Villarreal and Deportivo La Coruna, with the relationship between himself and manager Eduardo Berizzo still not repaired.

Do Everton need him?

With the likes of Idrissa Gueye, Morgan Schneiderlin, James McCarthy, Mo Besic, Beni Baningime and Tom Davies in the middle of the park, you wouldn’t necessarily think that they need N’Zonzi but the former two especially have been performing far worse than they did last season.

There is no doubt that the Sevilla man would add some strength and power in the centre, and he would prove to be an important player at both ends of the pitch when it comes to set-pieces.

What’s the verdict, then?

Well, if Everton could pick N’Zonzi up for £20m Allardyce would probably be happy to do it, especially having worked with the Frenchman before and the fact that he has experience of playing Premier League, Champions League and Europa League football.

That said, his fall-out with his current boss in recent weeks would bring some question marks over his attitude and character.

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Most of the nation’s attention has been on the World Cup the last few weeks, but Premier League clubs are now preparing to get their pre-season action underway.

This weekend, Liverpool will take on Chester at the Swansway Chester Stadium in their first friendly ahead of the 2018-19 campaign.

Manager Jurgen Klopp welcomed back the majority of his squad earlier this week, but there were notable first-team absentees.

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Roberto Firmino, Jordan Henderson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dejan Lovren and Simon Mignolet all remain in Russia with their respective countries for the World Cup.

Georginio Wijnaldum and Virgil van Dijk are also yet to return to the squad, while Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane have been given extended time off following their World Cup elimination.

What do you think of the World Cup so far? Let us know and win any World Cup shirt of your choice.

The likes of James Milner and Adam Lallana are expected to get game time on Saturday, while new signings Naby Keita and Fabinho could make their non-competitive debuts for the Reds.

The Liverpool Echo put together a suggested XI for the encounter against Chester, and it featured the Reds’ two new signings, as well as Divock Origi, Ben Woodburn and Harry Wilson.

Some fans discussed the possible lineup on Reddit, with some admitting that they will be watching Liverpool instead of England’s 3pm kickoff against Sweden in the quarter-finals of the World Cup.

This will be Liverpool’s most likely lineup against Chester this Saturday according to the echo. from r/LiverpoolFC

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Southampton opened their preparations for the 2018-19 Premier League season with a 3-2 win over Chinese club Jiangsu Suning on Wednesday afternoon.

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Manolo Gabbiadini, Nathan Redmond and Sam Gallagher were on the scoresheet as the Premier League outfit began their pre-season with a victory.

It was a positive 90 minutes for the Saints, and the club’s supporters were keen to pay tribute to summer arrival Stuart Armstrong, who provided a wonderful assist for Gabbiadini to make the breakthrough.

Armstrong is a recent arrival from Celtic, and has already been tipped by the Southampton fans to play a key role for the English outfit.

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The midfielder was named in a strong starting XI, and did not take long to make his mark.

Saints boss Mark Hughes has already added some exciting players this summer, and the club are said to be far from finished as they look to avoid a repeat of last season.

A selection of the Twitter reaction to Armstrong’s performance can be seen below:

According to a report from The Liverpool Echo, Jurgen Klopp is set to give goalkeeper Danny Ward a chance in the first team. The Reds have struggled in the shot-stopping department for a while now with neither Loris Karius nor Simon Mignolet doing enough to convince of their capabilities, with the former in particular guilty of high-profile errors in the Champions League final back in May.

And with the Liverpool chief reportedly ready to give £2.25 million-rated star Ward (as per Transfermarkt) an opportunity, it could actually be the best thing possible for fellow Reds goalkeeper Karius.

The Breakdown

Ultimately, the pressure has been on Karius to deliver ever since he was given the nod by Klopp to be his number one at the start of 2018, and for the most part, the young German did reasonably well.

However, two howlers in the Champions League final alongside a sluggish start to pre-season has again thrown into doubt whether the 24-year-old has what it takes to be Liverpool’s number one for the coming season, hence Klopp is reportedly willing to give Ward a chance.

But taking Karius out of the firing line and away from the spotlight could actually be a good thing for the ex-Mainz goalkeeper, as it would give him the opportunity to focus purely on training and trying to better himself as a shot-stopper, without the added pressure of having to perform on a week-by-week basis under extreme pressure.

After all, Karius is only 25 and for a goalkeeper that is a pretty young age in the early phases of his career, and while he will always be remembered for his errors in Kiev earlier this year, one mustn’t forget that, in the few months prior to that, the German did pretty well.

And while failing to play week in week out is sure to be of frustration to Karius, it could actually help him in the long term in being able to concentrate primarily on becoming the best goalkeeper he can possibly be in training, without the added weight of expectation that comes with being a Liverpool shot-stopper.

Ultimately, there is no doubt that Ward deserves an opportunity in the first team given the struggles of messrs Mignolet and Karius, yet the sheer fact that he’d no longer be in the spotlight and under pressure to perform could actually hugely benefit the latter in terms of his development as a goalkeeper.

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

Declan Rice has been developing in West Ham United’s youth ranks since 2014 when he switched from Chelsea.The 19-year-old made his first-team debut last year and has gone on to become an important member of the unit.During the 2017-18 campaign, the versatile player, who can be positioned at centre-back or as a defensive midfielder, started 15 Premier League matches and came off the bench in a further 11.Rice’s current contract has one year left to run, which has led to a conversation among fans regarding his future at the club.The Republic of Ireland international, who is valued at £9m byÂTransfermarkt, certainly has the talent to thrive at an elite level.[brid autoplay=”true” video=”273047″ player=”12034″ title=”Power Ranking the 1819 Premier League kits”]At just 19, Rice still has plenty to learn and he will continue to perfect his craft, but it raises questions over whether he deserves to be earning big bucks at this stage.Reliable source ExWHUemployee tweeted on Monday that the defence-minded star should be given a deal worth around £30,000 per week.Plenty of West Ham fans agreed.

West Ham United are considering making a move for Independiente winger Martin Benitez, according to ESPN’s live transfer blog (July 23, 14:30).

What’s the word?

New West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini has moved swiftly in the summer market since being appointed as David Moyes’s successor.

The Argentine, who won the Premier League title while in charge of Manchester City, has already recruited seven new faces.

Ryan Fredericks, Issa Diop, Lukasz Fabianski, Jack Wilshere, Fabian Balbuena, Andriy Yarmolenko and Felipe Anderson have all come through the welcome gates at the London Stadium.

Now, according to ESPN’s live transfer blog (July 23, 14:30), Argentine winger Benitez is now on Pellegrini’s radar.

The 24-year-old has played for the South American club for his entire career so far, but he has just one year remaining on his current deal.

What would Benitez provide?

Given the recent acquisitions, the Hammers are not screaming out for a new winger, but it is important to have strength in depth.

Plus, the pacy attack-minded player has versatility on his side in that he can feature in a variety of positions on the pitch.

Predominantly, the Argentine plays on the right wing, but he can also switch to the left or play behind the striker.

He has scored 15 goals and recorded 10 assists in 81 Primera Division matches, and while that may not be hugely impressive on paper, there is no doubt that he would push the likes of Felipe Anderson and Andriy Yarmolenko at the London Stadium and make the Irons an unstoppable attacking force in 2018/19.

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According to a report from the Daily Record earlier this week, Jose Mourinho is concerned at the lack of progress occurring at Old Trafford at present. The Red Devils have had a decent summer so far, but it’s fair to say that they’ve been far from as efficient as they have been in previous years – and that is not good for the club.

If they are to have any chance of catching Man City in the English top flight, further investment is needed, and Jose Mourinho clearly recognises that.

Unfortunately, as we’ve seen in the past with Mourinho, such as at Chelsea, once initial frustration sets in for him it can be a long route back.

However, if Man Utd spend big this summer, things could turn around quickly, and one player that would surely make Mourinho happy – beyond the players that the club are regularly linked with – is Leon Bailey.

Though not seemingly a target of the Red Devils at present, it’s a wonder why Bailey isn’t on Man Utd’s radar. The attacking midfielder is exactly what the club need at the moment.

An attacking midfielder by trade, Bailey – who is rated at £40.5 million by Transfer Markt – offers incredible quality going forward, making particular use of his pace and technique. Able to play across the attack, the Jamaican can make an impact both down the wings and through the middle, and that makes him a potent threat for his current team Bayer Leverkusen.

Last season he picked up a very respectable 9 goals and 6 assists, and that’s a testament to the quality that he provides going forward.

Furthermore, at just 20-years-old, Bailey is only going to improve, and a few years under Jose Mourinho could truly work wonders.

Bailey wouldn’t be cheap, but the directness and quality that he would provide for Man Utd could be hugely beneficial for the Red Devils – and a signing of that calibre would surely please Jose Mourinho.

Man Utd fans – thoughts?

Let us know below!

Newcastle United are considering a move for West Bromwich Albion left-back Kieran Gibbs, according to the Daily Mail transfer blog (August 2, 16:51).

What’s the word?

Most of the transfer news surrounding the Magpies has been centred on the lack of funds available.

For the second summer in a row, manager Rafael Benitez has been left frustrated by the limited budget.

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So far, Ki-Sung yueng, Kenedy, Fabian Schar and Yoshinori Mutu have come through the welcome gates at St James’ Park, but one was a free transfer and another a loan.

According to the Daily Mail transfer blog (August 2, 16:51), Gibbs is now attracting interest from the Magpies in a bid to solve their left-back issue.

Is Gibbs the answer?

At the moment, Paul Dummett is Newcastle’s only recognised left-back in the squad.

Last season, Javier Manquillo was often called upon to cover, so the need for an established player is required.

Gibbs has been at West Brom since 2017 when he signed from Arsenal, where he spent 10 years and won two FA Cups.

The 28-year-old is used to playing at the top level, and he is likely to be jumping at the chance to return to the Premier League following the Baggies’ relegation to the Championship.

Price could be a stumbling block, but if the Magpies manage to get a deal over the line, they could be securing a hugely important signing.

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Loads of Everton fans have been giving their verdict on Saturday’s draw at Wolves, but fans are completely split on the performance of Michael Keane.

Everton drew 2-2 at Molineux on Saturday evening in a hard-fought encounter, made even harder by the early dismissal of Phil Jagielka.

The veteran defender was sent off towards the end of the first half, leaving a lot of responsibility on the shoulders of Keane.

The former Burnley ace was signed last season to fix the Toffees’ defence, but had a difficult first year on Merseyside.

His lack of pace and positional awareness is a huge concern, but he played well under the increased pressure on Saturday.

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The 6 ft 3 defender helped set up the first goal, and impressed defensively making seven clearances and winning four aerial duels. However, he got caught under the ball for the second Wolves equaliser, which is the last straw for some fans.

The arrivals of Kurt Zouma and Yerry Mina will surely force him to up his level, but fans can’t decide on his Saturday showing.

Plenty are ready to dump him for the new signings, while others believe he showed signs of real potential.

Either way, you can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…